Cambs nov 14 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 67 - November 2014

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

The History of Bonfire Night

Beware

of Buying Online

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

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20,000 copies delivered to Buckden, Brampton, Cambourne, Godmanchester, The Hemingfords, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester and all surrounding villages every month

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Contents East Anglian Windows and Doors

Mr Day’s Column Restored................................................4 The History of Bonfire Night.............................................6 Local Fireworks Displays.................................................10 Dealing with Parking Tickets..........................................12 Beware of Buying Online................................................16 High Tech Warmth..........................................................18 Supporting World Mental Health Day.............................21 The King’s Men...............................................................22 Huntingdonshire Regional College.................................25 The Myth of the Common Law Wife...............................26 What’s in the Pot?..........................................................28 Pension Rules Have Changed.........................................31 East Anglian Windows and Doors...................................32 In the Garden.................................................................35

VILLAGER The

and Town

Issue 67 - November 2014

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

The History of Bonfire Night

Beware

of Buying Online

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

20,000 copies delivered to Buckden, Brampton, Cambourne, Godmanchester, The Hemingfords, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester and all surrounding villages every month

ur Yo EE FRcopy

Fun Quiz.........................................................................36 Amazing Pets.................................................................39 Children’s Page...............................................................40 Beer at Home.................................................................42 Seasonal Delights...........................................................44 Puzzle Page....................................................................48 United in Their Memory.................................................50 Last Month’s Puzzle Solutions........................................53 Prize Crossword..............................................................54 What’s On.......................................................................58 Swimming with the Manta Rays....................................61

Swimming with the Manta Rays

20,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Hinchingbrooke, Hinchingbrooke Park, Brampton, Buckden, Offord Cluny, Offord D’arcy, Godmanchester, Hemingford Abbots and Hemingford Grey, Cambourne, Chawston, Croxton, Duloe, Graveley, Great Paxton, Hail Weston, Honeydon, Little Barford, Little Paxton, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester, Roxton, Southoe, Staploe, Tempsford, Toseland, Upper Staploe, Wintringham, Wyboston, Yelling. (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Huntingdon, St Neots, Eaton Ford, Eaton Socon and Eynesbury)

Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Catherine Rose, Gillian Jones, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Centre for Complementary Health, Leeds Day Solicitors, Fiona McLeman, Tony Larkins, Gareth Arscott, Cromwell Vets, Ted Bruning, Guy Bolton and Melanie Ridley Advertising Sales Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 - nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Catherine Rose, Dawid Lech and Nigel Frost Design and Artwork Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

History

Mr Day’s Column Restored By Peter Ibbett

Every town and village should have its centrepiece to mark the heart of its community. St. Neots has its ‘Obelisk’ or Day Column to mark the centre of Huntingdonshire’s largest and most flourishing Market Square. The edifice has recently been restored and its attendant seats and monks have been polished to match the column. It has watched over much of the history of the town since it was first erected in 1822, when it was at the forefront of modern technology, bringing artificial light into the heart of the town. John Hill Day ran the Priory Brewery and provided the town

with ‘a cast iron pedestal with four arms to receive lamp brackets, for erection in the centre of Market Hill.’ He stipulated that the Town Commissioners (pre-cursors of the present Town Council) were to supply and light the lamps. Oil was the first fuel used to be replaced by locally produced gas. The inscription on its base was provided by Thomas Ingersole, grocer, corn-dealer, wine merchant and linseed cake dealer who occupied the present Fishers Yard and shop area opposite one side of the column. The 1824 engraving of the Square shows an era not long after the battle of Waterloo when the town, as today, was looking to improve its facilities for its inhabitants. Do take the time to visit St. Neots Museum to find out more about the town and its history. If you would like to be a Museum Friend or a Volunteer helping manage its growing collection of photographs and documents contact curator Liz Davies (01480 388921). If you have any Market Square photographs or memories you can pass them on via pjibbett@aol.com or direct to the museum.

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History

The History of

Bonfire Night The 5th November is Bonfire Night: the annual celebration where we let off fireworks and light big fires. It perhaps seems strange when you consider that this day marks an occasion which happened over four hundred years ago - the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his cohorts planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament (then known as the Palace of Westminster) in order to assassinate King James I. In fact, Guy Fawkes wasn’t the ringleader of the plot but he remains the individual who is most famous for his part in it and his effigy, traditionally trundled around by children since the 19th century with the archetypal request for a penny, is still burned on Bonfire Night although this tradition has waned in recent times. Guy Fawkes was born at York in April 1570 to Protestant parents. His maternal grandparents were Catholic however and after his father died when Guy was just eight, his mother re-married a Catholic named Dionis Baynbrigge. The young Fawkes subsequently became a staunch Catholic supporter at a time when there was conflict between Protestant and Catholicisim. When he was 21, Fawkes went to Europe to fight for Spain against the Protestant Dutch during the Eighty Years War. By 1603, he had risen

By Catherine Rose

through the ranks to become an army captain and changed his name to the more Spanishsounding Guido. By this time, Fawkes was already an enemy of King James I, who had strengthened anti-Roman Catholic laws in the wake of his predecessor Queen Elizabeth I. Fawkes openly declared the King a “heretic” and tried to persuade the Spanish monarch Philip III to help lead a rebellion to overthrow him. But although Britain and Spain were at war, King Philip refused. Then another opportunity presented itself. He was approached by Thomas Wintour who invited him to join a plot to murder King James by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. Masterminded by Robert Catesby, the other members of the team were Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Wright, John Grant, Robert Percy, Thomas Percy, Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates and Francis Tresham. The plot took 18 months to plan and involved renting the house next to the Parliament buildings that had a communal cellar which ran underneath. Due to his expertise, Fawkes was tasked with placing and lighting a huge quantity of gunpowder in the cellar directly beneath the House of Lords in order to blow up Parliament including the King, on 5th November 1605 when the State Opening was due to take place. But

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Fawkes was apprehended next to the 36 barrels of gunpowder with a trail set in the cellar at midnight on 4th November 1605. Francis Tresham has been identified as the ‘Judas’ of the group by revealing the existence of the plot through a warning letter to his cousin Lord Monteagle who had been due to sit in Parliament that day, following which the news reached King James’ spy Robert Cecil. However, there is also a theory that the group was somehow ‘framed’ by the government, who, discovering the plot early on, then secretly aided it so that the men could be caught and made an example of as the ‘evil Catholic traitors who were a threat to England’. After his arrest, Guy Fawkes was tortured for two days before he broke down and confessed the identities of his compatriots. Famously, Fawkes’ signature on the confession is hardly legible, showing that by then he was so physically broken, he was barely able to hold the quill. Along with the eight of his co-conspirators who were caught, Fawkes was condemned to be ‘hanged, drawn and quartered’ – the traditional death of a traitor. However, Fawkes managed an instant death by jumping from the gallow platform and breaking his own neck so that he did not have to endure the full agony of his grisly punishment. English Protestants held Guy Fawkes up as an example of Catholic extremism while the real ring leader, Robert Catesby, was shot along with another conspirator while evading capture. Consequently, Catesby was never actually tried and is not the one remembered as the main man behind this failed act of early terrorism. Even today, the cellars are still traditionally searched by the Yeoman of the Guard using lamps the night before the

State of Opening of Parliament. King James made a declaration that on 5th November every year, a bonfire should be lit in honour of his survival. Because the capture of Guy Fawkes and his men was seen as the overthrow of the Catholic threat to Protestantism, initially an effigy of the Pope was burnt. This later came to be replaced with one of Guy Fawkes himself. Fireworks were already in use at this time but were not incorporated into Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night until later. Believed to have originated in China around 2,000 years ago, fireworks came to England as early as 1486 when they were used to mark the wedding of King Henry VII. Queen Elizabeth I even created the post of ‘Fire Master’ in her court to oversee displays. Today’s firework is basically gunpowder and fuse, usually housed in a paper or cardboard shell. Gunpowder is made of charcoal, sulphur and saltpetre. By combining the powders together and setting them alight in a confined area such as a tube, a resulting explosion with fire and showers of sparks occur. By mixing powdered iron with the gunpowder, it creates the bursting ‘fire flower’ effect we all love and around a century ago, the introduction of metallic salts (strontium, copper, barium and sodium) turned fireworks into the red, green, blue and yellow spectrum of the different colours we see today. For more details of Bonfire Night celebrations in your area, please visit the What’s On pages.

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FIREWORKS DISPLAYS Cambridge Wednesday 5th November Display starts at 19:30 Midsummer Common. Entry donation of £1 Kimbolton Friday 7th November Starting 19:30. Kimbolton Castle grounds. Ampthill Friday 7th November Gates open 18:00. Pre-show 19:00. Ampthill beacon lit 19:30 Main fireworks 20:00 Ampthill Park, Woburn Road. Entry: Adult £6 advance £7 on gate. Child £3 advance £4 on gate. Family £15 advance £16 on gate Potton Saturday 8th November Mary’s Playing Fields Dunstable Wednesday 5th November Creasey Park Community Centre Entry Moggerhanger Saturday 1st November Gates open 17:30–20:00 Moggerhanger Park. Shefford Saturday 8th November White Hart Hotel Gamlingay Sunday 2nd November Gates open 16:30. Fireworks at 17:50. Eco Hub, Stocks Lane. Entry £4 beforehand; £5 on gate. Blunham Saturday 1st November Gates open 18:00. Bonfire lit 18:30. Fireworks start 19:00 Blunham Playing Fields. Entry: £5 adults Godmanchester Wednesday 5 November Gates open 18:15. Fire lit 19:00 Fireworks 19:30 Judith’s field. Entry: advance Adults £4, children £1.50. On day Adults £5 Children £2.50

Yaxley Saturday 1st November Gates open 18:00. Bonfire lit 18:30. Fireworks start 19:00 Three Horseshoes Pub field. Family ticket £10. Single (adult/child) £3 Hitchin Wednesday 5th November BlueHearts Hockey Club Meppershall Saturday 1st November Winter Fair and firework display Meppershall Village Hall and Forster’s Field Milton Keynes Sunday 2nd November Starts approx 19:00. Campbell Park Baldock Saturday 25th October Halloween Party and Firework display Starts 14:00. Finishes around 22:00 Hartsfield School. Tickets: £5 per adult; £3.50 per child; Family £15 Alconbury Friday 31st October Starts approx. 19:00 Alconbury Sports and Social Club Steeple Morden Saturday 8th November Steeple Morden Primary School Leighton Buzzard Saturday 8th November Gates open 17:30. Bonfire lit 18:30 Fireworks 19:00ish Brooklands School. Entry on gate£4-5. Toddington Saturday 1st November Toddington Scouts

Olney Sunday 2nd November Gates open 17:00. Display starts 18:30 Recreation ground behind Olney Football club off East Street. Advance tickets: Family £9 Single £4. On gate Family £11 single £5

Buntingford Sunday 2nd November Gates open 17:00. Display starts 19:00 The Bury, Buntingford. Advance Tickets: Child £3; Adult £4; Family £12. On Gate child £4 Adult £5 Family £15 Harpenden Sunday 9th November Gates open 18:00 Harpenden Rugby Club Harpenden Saturday 8th November Gates open 17:30. Display18:30 Crabtree Schools, Crabtree Lane, Harpenden Wheathampsted Saturday 1st November Gates open 18:00. Display 6:45 Beech Hyde Primary school, Wheathampsted. Advance Tickets £4 Adult; £3 child. Grafham Saturday 8th November Gate open 17:30 fireworks 18:30 Grafham Village hall. Tickets: Adults £4; Children £2. Bedford Friday 7th November Bedford Blues Rugby Club. Sandy Saturday 1st November Gates open 18:30. Display19:30 Sandpit, Cambridge Road, Sandy. Advance tickets £5. On day £8. Welwyn Garden City Friday 7th November Gates open 19:00 with fireworks starting approx. 19:45 Welwyn Garden City football ground. Ely Saturday 8th November Gates open 17:30. Bonfire lit 18:15. Firework start 18:45 Ely Park. Advance prices: Adult £3; Child £1.50; Family £8. On Gate: Adult £5; Child £2

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Dealing with Parking Tickets By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

We’ve all been there - you return to your car to find a dreadful luminous yellow packet stuck to your windscreen. The dreaded parking ticket! When should you pay up though and when should you fight it all the way? If you have been silly and parked somewhere you shouldn’t, and as long as the company/council has made you aware of their rules on parking with clear signage, you should pay up as quickly as possible. Delaying will only mean that the bill goes up. Pay it, learn from it and move on. In many cases though, things are not so clear cut. Very often motorists are left confused as to what parking restrictions are. In these cases it is always worth appealing. If you want to appeal, then follow these simple instructions: 1. DO NOT PAY if you intend to appeal the fine. Generally paying a parking fine is an admission of liability and you will not be successful with an appeal after this. 2. If you’re going to appeal, then do so as soon as possible. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Write to the company and ask them to put the penalty on hold until they have investigated your appeal. They don’t HAVE to do this, but reputable companies and councils will do. 3. When you appeal, make sure you gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim. 4. Take photographs of your car in position, the signs or lack of them nearby. Anything to demonstrate that it was not made clear enough that you could not park your car in that place. 5. If you’re claiming exceptional circumstances (i.e. you were suddenly taken very ill and had to abandon your car in a place you shouldn’t have), then obtain supporting letters etc. 6. See if you can get any witnesses to back up your claims and provide you with a witness statement. 7. Stick to the timeline dictated by the company or council. If you are late submitting information etc, then you will lose by default. When you receive a parking penalty from a council, you need to have your wits about you. These are fully enforceable and need to be taken very seriously. Private parking company ‘fines’ are a slightly different matter and should be approached as such. Firstly, they are NOT ‘fines’. They are merely invoices and unless the company is prepared to take you to the small claims court for payment of the invoice, are non-enforceable. That is not so say you shouldn’t consider carefully how to deal with them. If you have parked on private land and broken the rules of the owner of that land, then pay the fee requested as long as you consider it reasonable. If you don’t then pay a reasonable amount based on an equivalent charge for a penalty on a public road. The company would have to sue you for the difference and explain to a judge why the extra money is necessary. If you want to appeal, then use the company’s own appeals process first. If you are unsuccessful then most private companies will be members of either the British Parking Association or the Independent Parking committee. They have their own separate appeals processes that you can use to escalate your complaint. Finally, the best way to deal with parking tickets is to avoid getting one in the first place. Always look for signs and road markings when you leave your car to see if it’s allowed there or not.

Jonathan Vernon-Smith not only offers you his consumer advice here but you can listen to The JVS Show tackling your consumer problems every weekday morning from 9am. 12

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Online Shopping

by Gillian Jones

Beware of Buying Online If going to a shopping mall fills you with dread at any time of year, November and December probably used to be a waking nightmare for you. But then came the internet and buying online saved your sanity. Suddenly you were able buy everything you need, at bargain prices, and it was delivered to your door. What was not to like? Except, it doesn’t always go to plan, and not all online retailers are equal. When you buy something from a real shop you can simply take it back and get a refund. Yes, it means travelling out in your car again, but at least within a day or two the money is back in your account. Hundreds – or even thousands – of miles away from your seller though, who has terms and conditions you didn’t read, and you could find online shopping is as stressful as battling the crowds in the High Street. So do your homework before you part with your money. 1. If you are buying a gift which the recipient may want to return weeks later, check the return deadlines. 2. Just because it’s on a website, doesn’t mean it’s in stock. Check whether the product is available immediately or not, and also what the usual delivery times are, especially if you are buying fairly close to a special occasion or Christmas. 3. Always check how you will send back your purchase if you need to. If you are buying a piece of furniture, and you have to pay for and arrange your own return, look elsewhere. 4. Find out where the product is being shipped from. Goods coming from outside the EU are likely to be liable for import duty and that can make your bargain cost considerably more.

And even if the overseas supplier accepts returns, if you have to pay the postage, it could be more than the original purchase price. 5. If your purchase isn’t faulty, but just not what you wanted, you are covered by distance selling regulations so you will be entitled to a full refund. However this only applies to UK suppliers - an overseas seller doesn’t have to adhere to these rules and may only offer you a credit note. 6. Even UK suppliers can be evasive in responding to your return request. If your emails and phone calls get ignored, it’s going to take some persistence to rescue your hard earned cash. So make sure you know who you are buying from. If you are any doubt, but you really want what they are selling, check their address, do an internet search on their company name and even use Google maps to view the outside of the premises they claim to operate from. 7. Anyone can set up an online shop – just because a website looks professional, it doesn’t mean that the outfit behind it is. Fraudsters may be just trying to steal money by selling you something that’s never going to turn up or worse, trying to steal your identity. If there’s no phone number or address on the site, and you’ve never heard of the company before, be very wary of handing over your card details. 8. When buying electrical items, particularly personal computing devices, do make sure you are buying from an authorised source. The manufacturer can refuse to honour the warranty if you’ve purchased from an unauthorised dealer.

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High Tech Warmth By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Stay warm this winter with heated clothing! From gloves to gilets, socks to sweaters and hats to jackets, there is a whole range of garments out there to keep you sizzling hot! Chemical packages which react when exposed to air or when twisted, or packets of gel which store heat after being heated in the microwave, can keep you warm for several hours when placed in a pouch inside clothing, depending on the size of the packet, thickness of insulation, and the outdoor temperature. The most effective method of heating is electrical. Clothing fitted out with heating elements and powered by rechargeable batteries can stay warm for up to five hours - and some have variable heat settings as well as an on/off switch. If on a motorbike, some clothing can be wired into the cigarette lighter or straight into the bike’s battery, and other items can even be plugged directly into the mains – for example gloves that

connect to a computer’s USB port! An alternative way to keep warm is thermal clothing, which does not produce heat itself, but prevents body heat from escaping by warming the layer of air between the skin and the clothing. New synthetic materials such as polypropylene provide excellent insulation, reduce moisture and are so lightweight that they can be worn discreetly as underwear under normal clothing.

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Complementary Health

Supporting

World Mental Health Day - 10th Oct

Centre for Complimentary Health Run by the World Federation for Mental Health this initiative promotes global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. Mental health covers a large spectrum of conditions, this month we take a look at depression and how acupuncture can help. Depression is a common mental health problem that affects people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. About two thirds of adults will at some time experience depression severe enough to interfere with their normal activities. It can affect people in a number of ways and there is a huge variety of symptoms ranging from lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression will also have symptoms of anxiety. There can also be physical symptoms too: • feeling constantly tired • sleeping badly • having no appetite or sex drive • complaining of various aches and pains “We all go through short periods of time where we feel down and fed up. Put simplistically depression is more than just a few days of feeling fed up or unhappy” said Jane, owner of the Centre. “It’s not something to be trivialised as depression is as much of an illness as any other medical problem. It has real symptoms and is not just a case of snapping out of it or pulling yourself together” adds Jane. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

How can acupuncture help with depression? Traditional Chinese acupuncture can be used alongside conventional medical approaches as studies indicate that it can have a specific positive effect on depression by altering the brain’s mood chemistry, increasing production of serotonin and endorphins (chemicals in the brain that help encourage the feelings of wellbeing). The stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain which is responsible for anxiety and worry. It can also help resolve physical ailments such as chronic pain which, may be a contributing cause of depression. In addition to offering acupuncture acupuncturists will often make suggestions as to dietary and other lifestyle changes that may be helpful in overcoming depression. Finally, people struggling to cope with depression usually find that coming to see a supportive therapist on a regular basis is helpful in itself. For more information see www.centreforcomphealth. com or contact us on 01480 455221 to discuss how we can help.

More info: Phone: 01480 455221 Website: www.CentreForCompHealth.com Email: info@CentreForCompHealth.com 21

Local News

The King’s Men to sing in St Neots

In the late 1400s the people of St Neots decided to build a new parish church for the town. It took around 50 years to build, and is more or less as we see it today, using local donations. Now, nearly 550 years later it will soon need some expensive repairs done to conservation standards (it is Grade 1 listed). As a result, earlier this year a new charitable association was formed, The Friends of St Neots Parish Church, to raise money for restoration and repairs to the church building. It is open to anyone to join. Only 30 years before St Neots started building its church, King Henry VI formally founded King’s College in the University of Cambridge along with its famous chapel and choir. The current Choral Scholars of King’s College Chapel are now coming on November 15th 2014 to give a concert to help The Friends raise funds. The Scholars are the young men of the choir undergraduates who sing the daily chapel services as well as studying for their degrees - and they are

going to give an exciting and enjoyable concert. It will include spirituals (such as Old Man River), barbershop, and their own arrangements of hit parade and stage songs, as well as songs from previous centuries. You can listen to them singing Get around at http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5ZckoJiCYE. Tickets £15 (concessions) from bruceandalice26@ btinternet.com, tel. 01480 473820; or jarogus@ msn.com, tel. 01480 476314; or raggatt2@onetel. net, tel. 01480 213884. www.friendsofsnpc.org.uk

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jazzercise@btinternet.com | 01480 216090

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Christmas Wish List

Ego Travel Set £39.99

Tangle Teezer £12.99

Redken Gift Box £23.50 Redken Travel Set 10.00

Gift vouchers and other gifts also available

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Shires Mobile Footcare ...because feet matter

Treatment of common foot disorders in the comfort of your own home Professional treatment includes: • Callus reduction • Corn removal • Toe nail trimming • Fungal/thickened toe nail treatment • Cracked heel reduction • Athletes foot treatment

For further enquiries call Sam on:

01480 819 453 M. 07715 085 131 T.

Samantha Craig BA Hons, SAC Dip FHPT, SAC Dip FHPP, MRFHP

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Education

Gain the skills and qualifications

you need with Huntingdonshire Regional College Whether you are a parent wanting the right vocational programme to suit your child’s skills, an adult needing to retrain or a school leaver looking to do an apprenticeship – Huntingdonshire Regional College can help! Our learners have achieved above average results compared to Further Education colleges nationally and we constantly review our study programmes to ensure that we provide training for employers’ future requirements. We have achieved record success rates for the 8th year running, alongside a growing reputation with business and training in the workplace, showing that we are fast becoming an exceptional place to study. Full-time study programmes We want to make sure you have the right skills and experience to reach your full potential. Our range of full-time study programmes will give you the knowledge and qualifications you need to help you with your next steps, whether this is going into employment or Higher Education. Furthermore, we offer a FREE College bus service to full-time students aged 16-18 around Huntingdonshire and beyond.

Part-time courses Whether you are looking to enhance your professional development, interested in a career change, looking to climb the career ladder or wanting to gain skills to help you land that dream job, we offer a wide range of part-time professional courses that can help you achieve your goals. We understand the importance of balancing your study with work, family and other commitments, that’s why we run our courses at a variety of different times throughout the day and even through distance learning. Apprenticeships An apprenticeship is a training programme that enables you to gain real work experience, learn the right skills and work towards a national recognised qualification whilst getting paid. We work with a variety of employers to offer a wide range of apprenticeships in the local area. Whether you are leaving school, already in work and want to gain qualifications or seeking a new career then an apprenticeship might be for you. Adult Community Learning Courses Our Adult Community Learning Courses are the perfect opportunity to gain new skills, meet likeminded people and try something different that can fit conveniently around your lifestyle. There are 7 languages available to study or if you prefer something a bit more hands on then the Colleges new Creative Industries centre offers photography, art and jewellery making courses.

For more information, or to find out dates of our Open Events visit our website huntingdon.ac.uk or call our Advice and Guidance team on 01480 379106 or email college@huntingdon.ac.uk Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Family Law

The Myth of the Common Law Wife By Fiona McLeman

Resolution’s third national Family Dispute Resolution Week takes place 24-28 November 2014. This awareness-raising week aims to highlight the alternatives to court for separating couples and their families. We recently announced that Christina Hale qualified as a Family Mediator. Both Fiona and Christina are able to offer Mediation in addition to the other family law services offered by the firm. Here’s our quick handy guide to Mediation: 1. Mediation is not to be confused with Counselling. Mediation is a legal approach to enable couples to talk to each other about practical, financial and legal issues arising from separation. Couples can also talk about arrangements for their children.

2. Mediation supports couples to talk about what’s important to them and to find a resolution that takes into account of their specific needs as a family. Solutions can be found that suit the couple. 3. Rather than using lawyers to act as their spokesperson, the couple meets with the mediator and talks directly to each other. 4. The couple each takes their own legal advice but the Mediator does not advise the couple. That is for the lawyers to do. The Mediator can provide general legal information. 5. The mediator facilitates the couple’s discussions, takes notes, provides Minutes of the meeting and supports a resolution. The mediator remains impartial throughout and does not side with any one party. 6. Mediation is more personal than going to court. Our mediation meeting rooms are relaxed and informal, designed to help a couple feel at ease talking to each other about all sorts of issues arising from separation. 7. Mediation is usually a quicker way of finding a resolution. The timescale will be at the couple’s choosing thus solutions can be found quickly and more carefully. 8. The rate charged by the Mediator is far less than the combined rate charged by the parties’ two lawyers. The Mediator’s fees are usually shared equally. 9. The Mediator can signpost the couple to other services such as counselling, family therapy, legal services. 10. Co-Mediation may help some couples. This involves two mediators, rather than one, supporting the couple. Fiona and Christina could each co-mediate with another mediator and with each other. If you feel that mediation can help you through your separation then please call Fiona (01223 229933) or Christina (01223 355333) to talk more about the benefits of mediation.

Fiona McLeman Tel: 07894 095775 www.fmfamilylaw.co.uk 26

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Vendacup

(Vending Solutions) Ltd

Vending Specialists to Business and Industry

LEASE OR BUY OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Wanting convenient hot/cold drinks at the push of a button? Consider a vending machine for your business to: Prevent mess in the kitchen, Save production time, Enjoy free delivery within 24 hours, Choose from a wide variety of tasty quality drinks We have a large selection of commercial or office vending machines to suit your needs Service and maintenance options available. Call us today on free phone: 0800 999 8287 or e-mail info@vendacup.com for a free quotation 24 Warren Close, Wyton, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE28 2AW www.vendacup.com

Dedicated support for clients in relationship breakdown:

• • • • •

Separation Financial Settlements Change of Name Prenuptial Agreements Mediation

• • • • •

Divorce Living together agreements Adoption Children issues Collaborative family law

Fiona McLeman Family Law is accredited by Resolution and the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a Specialist in Family Law. For a free initial consultation contact Fiona:

fiona@fmfamilylaw.co.uk, 07894095775, www.fmfamilylaw.co.uk Regus House, 1010 Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne CB23 6DP To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

Leeds Day Solicitors

‘What’s in the Pot?’ Separating assets in divorce If you are going through or contemplating separation from your spouse or partner, one of the first questions you may have is how the family finances are dealt with. Some assets are ‘obvious’, properties, savings, investments and assets such as jewellery or paintings etc. Additionally, there are ‘invisible assets’ such as pensions, share save schemes, share options for which valuations are obtained to add to the ‘pot’. Often, separating couples will have over-looked these and may be surprised at their value. In some cases, the pensions are the largest assets of the marriage. In some instances there may be ‘hidden assets’ and if a fair settlement is to be achieved these need to be identified. These may include trusts and off shore assets; a specialised area which will necessitate both experience and persistence in obtaining the complete picture. Businesses bring a further dimension to identifying assets, whether you (or your spouse) are self-employed, a shareholder in a private business, part of a family business, a farming operation or an investor. All have different complexities and risks. It is crucial the above financial information is obtained in order to move to the next step which is to negotiate the settlement; the devil is in the detail. The importance of accurate

Our offices: Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301 28

information cannot be underestimated. It may seem possible for you and your spouse or partner to ‘just divide up the assets’ but it is imperative to ensure that any divisions or transfer of assets do not trigger tax or capital gains issues, and if they do that these issues are dealt with within the agreement. The apportionment of liabilities is equally important. At Leeds Day Solicitors, we have specialist knowledge of business and pension issues that may be involved and we can call upon assistance from our other teams on commercial matters, trust issues and investments. To find out more, contact Simon Thomas on 0844 567 2222 or send an email to family@ leedsday.co.uk. Quote this article when making an appointment before the end of November 2014 and your first 30 minute consultation will be free. Visit our website www.leedsday.co.uk We have offices in St. Neots, St. Ives and Huntingdon

St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH T: 01480 464600

St. Neots 1A South Street, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 2BW T: 01480 474661

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Anstee Gorst

Chartered Certified Accountants

- Accounts preparation for Sole traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies - Self assessment tax returns - Cash Flow Forecasting - Vat, Payroll & Bookkeeping - Business Start Up

Free Initial Consultation Phone: Antoinette Gorst ACCA or Sally Anstee FCCA 01767 650700 Ground Floor Offices, Unit 30, Green End, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds, SG19 3LF Email: office@ansteegorst.co.uk Website: www.ansteegorst.co.uk

EBAY COLLECTIONS

Local & Reliable

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Pension Rules

Have Changed

As someone who has been regarded as a pension specialist for over ten years, I cannot remember ever experiencing the significant changes we have seen this year in favour of the investor. Until March of this year most people who reached retirement bought an annuity that included a spouse’s pension of 50%. It was only those individuals that had a financial adviser and a larger fund that considered the option of drawdown. In this year’s budget the Chancellor said “no-one need ever buy an annuity again”. The Chancellor has now gone a huge step further, by saying that spouses and dependents can draw an income or take lump sums tax-free, if taken before the members 75th birthday. Previously, there could have been a tax charge of 55%. If the member is over 75 at the time of death, tax will be charged at the marginal rate, meaning for most 20% instead of 55%. The Chancellor has also stated that funds may be passed to anyone free of inheritance tax. This change will effect the way financial planning is undertaken in the future. Other changes effecting trust funds mean the “Rysaffe” protection will not work from 1st June

Beacon Wealth Tony Larkins CFP APFS Managing Director IFA Chartered and Certified Financial Planner

2014, and thus bypass trusts and pension trusts are now even more important. Pension changes are also effecting final salary schemes. This will mean far more consideration should be given before automatically taking benefits from what were previously regarded as the best type of pension. Please be aware, however, that any advice on final salary schemes can only be given by an adviser holding the G60 or AF3 pension specialist exams. A further change from April 2015 is that the first £5000 of personal savings will now be at 0% tax rather than 20%. This means using form R85 to receive interest paid gross. The new rules could mean a saving of between £1000 and £2000 each year. That said the Government know most people will not bother to do anything about it. If you want to give away money, consider a charity rather than the taxman. You should always seek qualified advice from an IFA, preferably a Certified (CFP) or Chartered Financial PlannerCM (APFS). If you have a financial question, e-mail: tlarkins@beaconwealth.co.uk

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East Anglian

Windows and Doors

Jointly owned by Scott Hawkings and Dave Richards, who between them have a combined experience of 68 years in the business, East Anglian Windows and Doors’ showroom is based on the well-known Conservatory Village at Little Paxton. Catherine Rose spoke to them about their forthcoming expansion, company ethos and stateof-the-art products. Using three well-respected national suppliers and its own dedicated teams of installers, East Anglian Windows and Doors fits conservatories, windows, doors and roofline products such as fascias, soffits and guttering. Scott says the company’s range has the “most advanced window profiles out in the market” and looking at the products they offer, it is clear to see why. Things have come a long way since the early UPVC windows and doors where you could have any colour as long as it was white. Today, you can buy frames in a wide range of shades and finishes, and composite doors that look as if they are made of wood but are stronger and more thermally efficient. The company also uses the highest specification glass, giving products such as windows an A-Plus Energy rating, while working to a far higher standard than the minimum building regulation requirements.

Scott and Dave have found that the product growing fastest in popularity is the Guardian Warm Roof Conversion System. This is a roof that effectively converts a conservatory into a proper room and is something that both Scott and Dave are enthusiastic about. “I have seen all the changes in the industry over the years and this is one of the most exciting” says Dave. “So many people don’t use their conservatories because they are too cold in

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winter and too hot in summer. These roofs are a revolutionary product and are LABC (Local Authority Building Control) approved”. The traditional polycarbonate roof that normally comes with conservatories is often poorly sound insulated and doesn’t hold the heat when it is cold while magnifying the sun’s rays when it is hot, frequently making it unusable. By removing the polycarbonate roof and having a Guardian roof installed, a customer can retain the original windows, doors, frames and walls of their conservatory while effectively turning it into an extension of their home which can be used all year round. East Anglian Windows and Doors is a registered Guardian installer. The company currently covers a 50 mile radius but will go further afield if necessary. To date, it has been growing through customer referrals which can be seen on ‘The Best of St Neots’ website where people are able to leave comments about local businesses. “One of the reasons we set up the business is that we have low overheads so we can pass these cost savings back to the customer, offering top of the range products at the most cost effective prices” explains Dave. Scott and Dave have known each other for ten years and both their backgrounds are in installing and surveying. As a result, they are not advocates of the high pressure sales technique which has tended to tarnish the conservatory and double glazing industry over the years. If a customer is interested in having work done, they will do a site visit and offer advice on the best and most cost effective solution. “We don’t put pressure on customers to buy by giving them a reduced rate if they agree within a certain time limit” explains Dave. “The price quoted is what the job is worth”. “We try to make it as easy for people as possible” adds Scott. “Our products are kitemarked and we offer insurance-backed guarantees on all our jobs.” The team of seven installers comprises trusted and experienced experts, all of whom Scott and Dave have worked with in the past. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Currently, East Anglian Windows and Doors has jobs booked well into the New Year. I am surprised to learn that November and December are in fact their busiest months. “We have even had a customer who asked for a door fitting on Christmas morning” says Dave. As a result, in addition to keeping the existing showroom (open on Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and Saturday from 10am - 5pm), the company is expanding by moving into a new industrial unit in the first week of November at Little End Road Industrial Estate in Eaton Socon. There will be an additional three offices and storage but more importantly a new trade counter for both builders and the DIY market supplying around 500 products including windows, doors, fascias, soffits, guttering and all fixings. They will also be taking on new staff. “We always knew we were going to do well” says Scott “but business has just sky rocketed!”

Showroom: The Conservatory Village, Great North Road, Little Paxton PE19 6EN Trade Counter: Unit 2, Little End Road Industrial Estate, Vulcan Way, Little End Road, Eaton Socon PE19 8TS

Tel: 01480 216677 Email: info@eastanglianroofline.co.uk or info@eastanglianguardianroof.com www.eastanglianroofline.co.uk www.eastanglianguardianroof.com 33

SURECLEAN GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

DRIVEWAY AND PATIO CLEANING SPECIALISTS ROOF MOSS REMOVAL AND GUTTER CLEANING

 Personal customer service, collection and delivery available.  Assessment of individual requirements.  Full after sales backup and parts service.

We use a revolutionary industrial pressure rotary cleaning system to restore exterior hard surfaces to as new condition.

 NEW Oregon, the world's only unique battery operated, self-sharpening s In stock. chain saw.

Block Paving, Pathways, Patios Garden Wall and Stone Ornaments Ponds and Pools Also Re-sanding and Sealing

 Ride-on and pedestrian mowers, chainsaws, strimmers, hedge trimmers, cultivators, estate and equestrian equipment. Trailers - sales, hire, service.

Local Company

 Accessories, oils, Aspen fuel, batteries, spares, security locks for garden/ horticultural machinery and trailers. horticultu

01480 468965/07870 338074 www.surecleancarpetcleaning.co.uk

Appointed dealers for:

 Main dealer for Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler, Kawasaki & Mountfield engines.

Honeydon Road, Colmworth, Bedfordshire MK44 2LY

01234 376513 www.bri-ag.co.uk

Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm

All Seasons

Garden & Property Maintenance

Some Services We Provide

Grass/Hedge-cutting, Turfing, Patios, Fencing Ground Preparation, Sheds/Conservatory Bases Repair Work - Internal/External Painting - Internal/External Clearances, Cleaning/pressure cleaning

No job too small

Certified Waste Carriers Fully Insured. Free estimates

Please call Nick

Mob: 07896668976 / Home: 01480 383605 Email: all_seasons123@hotmail.co.uk Find us on Facebook Located:St Neots

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In the Garden

In The Garden By Gareth Arscott www.buckdenperennialplants.webs.com

“Plant of the Month” will be back in the Spring, much like our perennials. To fill the void, we thought that we would talk about some of the things we get up to in our gardens during the colder months. At this time of year we always look to divide our herbaceous perennials and one genus of plants gets a lot of our attention – Geraniums. It is a wide and varied family of plants but the herbaceous perennials are divided up every two years in our gardens. With most it is simply a case of lifting the plant and using a two forks to forcibly divide them into 2 or more separate plants. Some may need a gardener’s knife to cut through the hard fleshy rootstock. Don’t be scared to be brutal – they will survive. Most herbaceous perennials can be divided in this way and it will invigorate your plants to produce another great season of flowers.

One reader asked for some recommendations. Geranium phaeum is worth a place in any garden. The white version ‘Alba’ is great for shady areas. Geranium x oxonianum ‘Claridge Druce’ is a beast of a plant, plants it just about anywhere. Geranium ‘Brookside’ is a mass of blue-purple blooms for long periods. Geranium clarkei ‘Kashmir White’ provides more delicate flowers, finely cut leaves and red veining to petals. And lastly something a little different – Geranium procurrens. A rambling, scrambling Geranium that will run through a border popping up here and there with pink flowers with a purple eye.

Bartlett Tree Experts A Complete and Comprehensive Tree Careand Service since 1907 A Complete Comprehensive Tree Care Service Since 1907 For over 100 years, Bartlett Tree Experts has led both the science and services that make your landscape thrive. No matter the size or scope of your needs, our arborists bring a rare mix of groundbreaking research, global resources and a local service approach to every task at hand. Trees add so much value to our lives; Bartlett adds even more value to your trees.

Tree & Shrub Pruning | Planting | Tree Removal Hedge Cutting | Stump Grinding Woodland Management | Disease & Inseact Control For a free quote please contact your local arborist Tim Brown

01234 354 673 bedford@bartlettuk.com www.bartlett.com To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

Fun Quiz - Theatre 1. Why was a performance of Our American Cousin not performed in full on April 14th 1865 at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.? 2. Corpsing is a word used in the world of British theatre when an actor or actress unintentionally does what? 3. Which play do many people in the world of theatre believe to be cursed, referring to it simply as “the Scottish play”? 4. Which TV show is set in a theatre that was originally known as the Benny Vandergast Memorial Theatre? 5. What name is given to the sides of a stage in a theatre that are hidden from the audience? 6. Which Agatha Christie play has been running continuously in London’s West End since it opened in 1952, giving it the record of having the longest initial run of any play in history? 7. Which famous theatre was burned to the ground in 1613 when a cannon set off during a performance misfired and set fire to its wooden beams and thatching? 8. Derived from a word referring to a particular amount of money and a Greek word meaning “theatre”, what 11 letter word was commonly used at the start of the 20th century to refer to small neighbourhood cinemas? 9. Due to a superstition in the theatre industry that says wishing someone good luck is actually bad luck, what three word phrase is traditionally said to an actor who is about to go on stage to perform as a message of good luck? 10. Which famous London theatre has the same name as the chemical element with atomic number 46? 1. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated (while watching it) 2. Laugh 3. Macbeth 4. The Muppet Show (it was later known as The Muppet Theatre) 5. Wings 6. The Mousetrap 7. The Globe Theatre 8. Nickelodeon (from “nickel” and “odeon”) 9. Break a leg 10. The Palladium

Before

After

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SAW GARDEN SERVICES

‘At The Cutting Edge’

Providing Fencing, Decking Lawn & Hedge Services • All types of Fencing & Gates supplied & erected • Decking installed/repaired • Turﬁng & Lawn Seeding • Hedge Cutting • Fully Licensed Waste Carrier • Full Liability Insurance

Call for a FREE estimate:

01767 651 962 / 07762 096 089

E: simon@sawgardenservice.co.uk

www.sawgardenservice.co.uk

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded. Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs. Inspection welcome. Boarding from ÂŁ6.60/day. Rabbits/guinea pigs also boarded. 64 Meadow Road, Great Gransden

Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year.

The cattery for caring owners. Comfort and security for your pet. 38

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Pets

Amazing Pets

his ball and walks at least an hour a day (even up to 40 miles in a week when he’s on holiday in the Lake District!). He’s even known to wake up five-year-old Jack Russell Boo to get her to play with him. Apart from being amazing, Jester is able to live such an active life thanks to the brilliant care and treatment he is receiving from his vet: treatment and medication made less stressful for Leanne because Jester is insured. Without money worries, Jester has been able to undergo advanced diagnostic procedures, receive specialist surgery for his spine and get the very best treatment for his problems. If you would like to know more about insurance and what’s best for you and your pet, come along for a free nurse appointment at any Cromwell Vets Surgeries.

We meet so many great pets every day but every so often we meet one who amazes us. Meet Jester. Jester’s story begins when he was around two years old and was brutally discarded by being thrown from a moving vehicle. Luckily he was rescued and only suffered minor injuries. After being nursed to health, Jester eventually found his forever home with Cromwell physiotherapist Leanne. Jester is now at least 14 years old and as expected for his age he does have a few health problems. But the remarkable thing is even with these conditions he’s still a very happy and energetic dog. He constantly wants to play with

BAKERY

HONEST HEALTHY HAPPINESS

Pet Food & Supplies

For all your Dog & Cat foods and treats See our new 100% natural fish and treat ranges, with venison and deer antler treats, baked in an artisan. See also our fabulous Eco bowls and toys made from rice husk & bamboo. Foods packed full of holistic nutritious goodness for your Dog & Cat to enjoy...Happy Pets! Treat your special furry friend to a Christmas gift from our wonderful and unique Woof & Meow Christmas Box ranges... Grain & Cereal Free, freshly prepared meat & fish Help with allergies & sensitive digestion High meat & fish content, fruits and vegetables Foods which closely mimic ancestral diets & much more No artificial additives, preservatives or colourants MADE IN BRITAIN

www.LuciesBakery.co.uk

Lucie’s Bakery Ltd. Cambourne Busienss Park, Cambridge, England, UK CB23 6DP Registered in England & Wales Reg. No. 08929169

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Food & Drink

Beer at Home by Ted Bruning If one of this column’s conceits is that every month has its theme, then perhaps November should be anti-terrorism month. For this is when we commemorate and celebrate the thwarting of the great plot to blow up Parliament along with the newly-installed Scottish Protestant king, James I & IV. The fate of the conspirators, personified by the crackling figure of the guy, is a warning to us all that blowing up things, however strong the temptation, is simply not on. But there’s another side to Bonfire Night and that’s the togetherness and fellowfeeling of the decent majority, symbolised by the warmth of the bonfire and cheering comfort foods such as treacle toffee and parkin. So here are two seasonal specials to match. The first is a variant on Newcastle Brown, Newcastle Nocturnal. It bills itself as “the perfect partner to the season where the clocks fall back and the evenings draw in”. It’s an attractive dark copper in colour, with a warm caramel aroma spiced up by the addition of rye malt. The body and flavour are surprisingly light and fresh and not at all sweet or cloying, while the finish is quite dry and a little sharp. Stronger and richer is Innis & Gunn’s seasonal variation on its usual oak-aged ale. This one is finished over Canadian black cherrywood and rounded off with a squirt of maple syrup to create a gorgeously toffee-ish nose; complex and sweetish flavours of spice and fruit; and a finish with a pineapple chunk fruitiness. A beautiful beer for November, but have a care: it’s 7.4% alcohol!

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Garage Door Problems?

Garage Doors All leading Makes of Doors Supplied, Fitted & Repaired Manual & Automatic Over 20 Years Experience

Phone Chris Day On:

07899 903973 To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

01480 459 721

High Street, Brampton 43

Food and Drink

Seasonal Delights Italian Lamb Shanks

Serves 4 Ready in 2 ½ hours Lamb shanks are perfect for long slow cooking as they become meltingly tender and the meat just falls off the bone. Here they are braised with all the flavours of Italy – red wine, smoked cured bacon and tomatoes. Serve with creamy mash or boiled ribbon pasta such as tagliatelle or pappardelle. INGREDIENTS 4 small lamb shanks 2 tbsp olive oil 350g shallots, peeled 2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped 150g cubed pancetta (Italian dry cured bacon) 300ml red wine 400g can chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato puree 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus extra sprigs to garnish 5ml (1tsp) sugar Creamy mashed potato, to serve

Add the shallots, garlic and pancetta to the frying pan and cook over a medium heat for 6-7 minutes until lightly browned. Pour in the red wine and bring to the boil. Add the tomatoes, sun-dried tomato puree, rosemary sprigs and sugar and pour over the lamb. Cover the casserole and cook in the preheated oven for about 2 hours, or until the lamb shanks are very tender and the sauce has thickened slightly. Adjust the seasoning to taste and serve with creamy mashed potato and garnished with fresh rosemary. TIP - Why not double up the quantities and freeze away half for another day? Allow to cool completely then transfer to a freezer-proof container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost thoroughly then reheat gently on the hob for 2025 minutes until piping hot.

Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/gas 3. Season the lamb shanks with freshly ground black pepper. Heat the oil in a frying pan and brown the lamb shanks over a high heat for 4-5 minutes, turning frequently. Transfer to a shallow casserole dish.

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Easton Blinds and Curtains ‘The little gem in Toft’

Custom made soft furnishings in Cambridgeshire. Beautiful hand made curtains, roman blinds and loose covers to your specification

The local independent store that stocks goods from South Africa! ... Boerewors, Biltong, Droewors, Chicken flatties, Koeksisters, Mrs Balls, Castle and many other groceries that you have been missing from home (see our website)....

.... and stocks local produce too Home made cakes and jam, micro-bakery sourdough bread, locally produced cosmetics, fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, and more... Toft Shop and Post Office 6 High Street Toft, CB23 2RL 01223 262204 info@toftshop.co.uk www.toftshop.co.uk Check out our facebook page for the latest news and recipes

www.eastonblindsandcurtains.co.uk Tel: 07717 058849

mily to ty for all the fa An opportuni ic in a relaxed us m e liv y jo come and en ne welcome setting. Ever yo and informal . ts en grandpar from babies to lers FREE. bies and todd Adults £5, ba included in ke memade ca Coffee and ho ticket price! 0am on the place at 10.3 Concer ts take th in St on m ch ea ay of 3rd Wednesd idge and br m esterton, Ca Andrew ’s, Ch th in St on m ch ea of ay on 3rd Thursd s ot Ne St Socon, Mar y’s, Eaton o.uk or reconcerts.c Visit www.enco oncerts ec or ok.com/enc www.facebo rmation. for more info

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GDC 1-4 Page Ad Mono:GDC Letterhead

D.S. LEWIS

GDC HEATING

Plumbing, Gas and Oil Heating Engineers

CARPENTRY & BUILDING

36 Rookery Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AX

• Property Maintenance & Improvements • Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms • Flat Pack Furniture Assembly • Extensions, Garage Conversions

Tel: 01480 215821 01582 867152

• New Build & Refurbishment

Carpentry Contracts Welcome

01480 473 524 M: 07967 184 163 T:

www.gdcheating.com Email: enquiries@gdcheating.com Boiler Repairs/Servicing/Installation Full Heating Installations Efficiency Upgrades Bathroom Design and Installation Specialist Powercleaning Service 30 Years in Business

E: danlewis.carpentrybuilding@gmail.com Fully Insured

Reg No. 112425

Established 1990 To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

15/2

Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 48

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History

United In Their Memory By Guy Bolton

The summer of 2014 has been an eventful few months as many of us commemorated the beginning of the First World War in the run up to its centenary during August. There have been many events and television programmes on the subject and we have heard many tales of bravery and honour, hardship and misery, desperation and sorrow. We have revived the memory of a generation now all but passed from living memory and tried to understand the world they lived in and the war in which many of them died. As we now enter November, we should be mindful that this is the time we traditionally remember the end of that same war, and the sacrifices made to finally bring in the long sought-for and hard won peace that was to follow. At the time, the threat of a German invasion of the British Isles was a very real possibility, and the stakes had never been higher. The nations of the United Kingdom and indeed, the rest of the British Empire, rallied to the call. Lord Kitchenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous recruitment poster â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your Country Needs You!â&#x20AC;? managed to draw together all good men from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as well as from across the Empire, to defend their homeland in her hour of need. Although the Great War is often pictured as an horrific world of mud, blood and death; about ninety percent of the men in active service actually survived the war to return home afterwards. Much of the stalemate situation with the front line moving very little for the entire course of the war was caused by the technology of artillery outperforming other methods of fighting. The trenches were originally dug

alongside the camps to provide some shelter from the long range artillery barrages, and the men jumped into them when the enemy started lobbing shells over their heads, but the sheer relentlessness and frequency of barrages soon meant it was safer to stay in the trenches all the time. This is what became the image of the First World War that we often see and, as for the generals in their comfy billets behind the lines? They had, in fact been banned from going over the top as their experience and knowledge were considered far too valuable to lose. The commanding officers, in the main, wanted to be in the thick of the fighting alongside their men. Shoulder to shoulder, our people fought against the common enemy and over the duration of the conflict, many a firm and lasting friendship was forged between men and women from different parts of the United Kingdom. For this reason, it has been rather fitting that this centenary year has seen the free will of the Scottish electorate vote to keep the Union intact for the foreseeable future. That those of our generation have wished to keep the national family together is a great testament to our forefathers struggle, and to those who gave their lives so that our generation could be free to make such a choice. I am sure they would be pleased that we would still choose to remain a United Kingdom into the TwentyFirst Century. So as we approach Remembrance Day, please remember what our nation and our people have been through over the course of the preceding century, and raise a glass to your ancestors who made sure that the last hundred years of history has been written in English!

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After 57

n O s ’ t Wha 1 November Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Speaker will be Don Witton ‘‘AGM – A Glorious Medley of plants’. Don is the former chairman of the South Pennine HPS Group and holder of national collection of Euphorbias. May be plants for sale. Visitors welcome - small charge which includes refreshments. 1 November LAD Charity Event 2pm-12.30am The Priory Centre, St Neots Tickets £8 + admin fee Soul, Ska and RNB all dayer. In aid of Life Amid Debt. Tel: Tickets 01480 437048 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 November Kingfisher Church 10.30am Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday - all welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche. Come and meet Richard Fairbairn the new Pastor. Refreshments served. Tel: 01480 214894 Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 3, 10, 17 & 24 November Comrades Chess Club 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester Keep your mind active and play chess. Over 18s only as it’s a licensed premises. Every Monday except Bank Holidays. 5 November Sir Cuthbert Headlam and the First World War 7pm for 7.30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by Dr Jim Beach examining Lt Col Headlam who served in intelligence posts before becoming a successful politician. His letters and diary entries provide an informative, acidic, and entertaining insight into the Great War. Successful politician, his letters and diary entries provide an informative, acidic, and entertaining insight into the Great War. Non-members most welcome. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com

5 November Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall Members £1, Guests £2 Guest speaker will be Lamorna Thomas who will be showing us how to fill our Winter Hanging Baskets. Plants will be on sale. All welcome, refreshments will be offered. 6, 13, 20 & 27 November St Neots Country 8-11.30am Church Rooms, Church Walk, Set Neots St Neots Country meets every Thursday. We sell homemade preserves, home cooking, home grown fruit, vegetables and plants plus knitwear and crafts. We also serve refreshments - tea, coffee, soft drinks, homemade cakes and scones. 6, 13, 20 & 27 November Great Staughton Youth Club 7-8.30pm Great Staughton Village Hall Newly formed Youth Club running every Thursday for 11-16 year olds from Great Staughton and Perry. Email: gsyc2014@gmail.com 8 November Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Concert ‘The Spirit of England’ 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets: £14 / £12 (student concession £7 / £6) Opening concert of the season is a moving tribute to those who suffered and died during the First World War. The programme includes Vaughan Williams’ hauntingly beautiful romance, The Lark Ascending, and Elgar’s powerful setting of Laurence Binyon’s war poems, The Spirit of England. Hunts Phil choir and orchestra, conductor Adrian Brown, are joined by two internationally known soloists. Violinist Laura Samuel is leader of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Soprano Janice Watson has performed in opera houses all over the world and has also sung many times at The Proms. Tickets available on the door, telephone or email. Tel: 01832 274834 Email: tickets@huntsphil.org.uk Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk

8 November Craft and Gift Fair 9am-2pm United Reformed Church, St. Neots Free admission Held in aid of The Coffee Pot Memory Café; a local charity in St. Neots for those with memory loss and their carers, run by volunteers and support from local Rotarians. Tel: Mary 07717 158549 for details and stall hire Email: maryjdcruz@gmail.com 8 November Grafham Fireworks Gates open at 5.30pm, fireworks at 6.30pm Adults £4, Children 5-16 £2, Under 5s free Refreshments available - Hotdogs at £1, Jacket Potato and Cheese £1, Jacket Potato and Chilli £2, Soup 50p, Mulled Wine £2, Coke 50p.

12 November Wildlife Trust Huntingdonshire Local Group 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton An illustrated talk by Sarah Lambert about “Wildlife in Peterborough”. Sarah Lambert, is a freelance botanist who has lived in Peterborough for thirty years and has an intimate knowledge of its wildlife resource. Through her work with the Wildlife Trust, Froglife, Peterborough Environment Conservation Trust and Natural England, Sarah has first-hand experience of many of the local wildlife initiatives, including the establishment of local nature reserves. Tel: Tim 01480 457795 for further information 15 November Hardwick Village Bazaar 11am-3pm Free admission Hardwick Community Primary School, Limes Road, Hardwick Traditional village bazaar in aid of Hardwick Scout, Guide and Community building. All the usual stalls, including Santa’s grotto and many more. Grand Opening by a very special visitor at 11am! Hot and cold food and drinks available throughout the day. Stalls still available contact Clare Tel: 01954 210072 or email: c.diston@diston.me.uk to book. 15 & 16 November Art Exhibition 10.30am-4pm Hemingford Abbots Village Hall Free admission Hemingford Art Club Art exhibition. Exciting, new and original works of art for sale. Also on sale will be cards featuring original and hand painted work. Refreshments will be on sale.

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15 & 16 November St. Ives Antiques and Art Deco Fair 10am-4pm Burgess Hall (One Leisure Centre), Westwood Road St Ives Adults £2, Concessions £1.50 New, special and dedicated ’Art Deco’ section for enthusiasts of that era. As usual, there will be a host of expert antique dealers ready to give advice and offer genuine antiques at affordable prices to suit every age and pocket. Ceramics, china and porcelain, paintings and books, costume and precious jewellery, glassware, art deco and art nouveau pieces, silver, militaria and quality small furniture. Ample free car parking, wheelchair access by lift, hot and cold snacks and refreshments available. Tel: 01480 896866 18 November Kimbolton Flower Club 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Visitors £8 including refreshments Christmas demonstration with Linda Stamp giving us “Christmas Inspiration”. Mince pies and wine will be served. Sales table and a raffle of the arrangements. Visitors most welcome. Come along and be inspired! 19 November Huntingdonshire Family History Society 7.20-9.30pm WI Headquarters, 6a Walden Rd, Huntingdon, PE29 3AZ Non-members £1 donation Talk on “The Stirling Bomber That Crashed at Godmanchester” by Roger Leivers. Bookstall or help desk. 20 November Christmas Fair 9.30am-1.30pm United Reformed Church, Moores Walk, St. Neots. Free admission Inner Wheel Club of St. Neots. Donations welcome. An ideal opportunity to buy those unique Christmas presents and gifts. Handmade crafts of many kinds. Proceeds to East Anglian Air Ambulance and Child Funeral Charity.

21 November Boyhood (15) 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Adults £4, Over 60 £3 Kimbolton Community Cinema presents Boyhood (15) “A boy’s life shot over 12 years. Tender and funny.” (The Times) Tickets from Watson’s, Dixie’s Deli and Bytes Café or on the door. Tel: 01480 860297 Web: e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/

28 November Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concert 7.30pm Tickets £12, Groups of 10 or more £9, Students £5 Mary Stuart Hall, Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Internationally acclaimed artists Miranda Dale, violin and Paul Turner, piano offer a programme to include music by Kreisler, Massenet (Meditation from Thais), Faure (Sonata in A major ), Franck ( Sonata for violin and piano). Tel: Tickets 01480 375678

22 November Christmas Fayre 10am-2pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Lots of activities and fun for the children and stalls for adults; pick up your Christmas gifts, home-made crafts, cakes and produce. Make a booking for the popular photographic sessions and enjoy tasty hot and cold food while the children are entertained. Tel: Church Office 01480 352154 for more information

29 November Christmas Fayre 10am-2pm Wyboston, Chawston & Colesden Village Hall Adults 50p, Children under 14 free Father Christmas will arrive at 11am.

22 November Little Paxton Village Fayre 11am-2pm Little Paxton Village Hall Admission 30p, Children free Stalls including Crafts, Games, Christmas goodies; Lots of family fun. Santa’s Grotto. Refreshments. Stalls still available contact Jenny Gellatly 01480 219022. 22 November Christmas Craft Fair The Hub, High Street, Cambourne Money raised will go towards the Christmas lights show in Cambourne. Come and browse a range of arts and crafts for sale. Refreshments available. For details and stall hire contact lightupcambourne@hotmail.com. 27 November St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Brook Street, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 Social evening. Competition is ‘A Christmas Decoration’. Admission includes refreshments and a raffle ticket.

21 November Gamlingay Photographic Society 8-10pm Gamlingay Village College, Station Road, Gamlingay Lecture Evening on ‘The Falkland Islands - a Nature Photographer’s paradise’ with Liz Cutting ARPS DPAGB. Non-members welcome free of charge. Refreshments and optional raffle. Tel: Nick or Jackie 01767 651025 for more info about the evening/the Society Email: Jackie on nickbruce7@btinternet.com

28 November Latin Dance Taster Night 7-10pm Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge Tickets £20, Concessions £15 Featuring performances by Harriet Bridges, 10 year old dance champion. Workshop by The Studio. Raising funds for the NSPCC and Relate charities. Web: www.relatecambridge.org.uk

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

28 November Christmas Shopping and Pamper Evening 7.30-10pm Riseley Lower School Tickets £3 on the door to include a drink and nibbles. Browse the stalls and treat yourself!

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29 November Advent Workshop 10.30am-12 noon St James’ Church, Little Paxton Stories and craft activities. Preschool and school children under 7 must be accompanied by parent/carer. Book early as places are limited. Tel: Rev Annette Reed 01480 211048 29 November Cambourne lights Switch On Market Square, Cambourne The trees along Broad Street and the High Street will be lit up with fairy lights for Christmas. Come and enjoy a free mince pie while Eversden Brass Band play Christmas carols. 29 & 30 November Christmas Tree Festival Sunday: Morning service 9.30am, Advent Carol service 6pm Free entry Alconbury Parish. Refreshments, Chocolate Tombola and activities for children. 6 December Christmas ‘Narnia’ Fair 12-3pm Riseley Lower School Themed stalls, games, hot food, refreshments 6 & 7 December Christmas Tree Festival Sat 11am-4pm, Sun 2-4pm St James Church, Little Paxton Stunning Christmas trees decorated by village groups and organisations. Refreshments. 13 December Huntingdonshire Philharmonic: A Christmas Feast 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets: £14 / £12 (Student Concession £7 / £6) A mix of old and new carols, excerpts from Haydn’s Creation and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet, and much, more… Tickets available via telephone, email or on the door. Tel: 01832 274834 Email: tickets@huntsphil.org.uk Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk

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Travelogue

Swimming with the

Manta Rays By Melanie Ridley After spending two wonderful weeks walking along white sandy beaches, taking naps in the swinging hammocks and scuba diving with the sharks in the Yasawas Islands of Fiji, I was able to swim with another amazing and breathtaking fish. This was to be my last venture in Fiji and took place on the appropriately named Manta Ray Island. Manta rays are mystical and graceful inhabitants of the sea. They are filter feeders and have a similar feeding mechanism to whales, although where whales use the baleen in the roof of their mouth as a sieve, manta rays use their gills to push water through and trap the food inside their mouths. Plankton and fish larvae are a favourite on the menu and a full grown adult can eat up to 60 pounds of food a day! I was lucky enough to be in Fiji at peak season for manta ray sightings, between May and October. Every day, a school could be spotted in a channel between two islands where they would congregate to feed. This was a perfect opportunity to experience these enchanting creatures up close. Once the manta rays were spotted, a member of the Fijian Island community sounded a drum. This told us the boat would be leaving shortly, so it was time for everyone to collect their snorkel gear and hop aboard! Once in the channel we were all told to keep an Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

eye out for any disturbances in the water and when they had been spotted amongst the current, we were then carefully positioned to be in line with their swimming path so that they would be coming right towards us! Before descending, we were advised not to swim to save our energy and allow the strong current to carry us through the channel at a steady rate. The visibility below the surface that day was unfortunately poor, about 10-15 metres so it was like looking into an abyss, but this didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t discourage my excitement. As our guide sighted a manta ray, he pointed in its direction. At first we could see nothing until a shadow began to emerge out of the murky horizon. As it got closer this beautiful creature became more and more visible. The almost effortless way the manta ray glided through the water reminded me of how a bird flies through the sky. Even though they seemed to be moving with as little energy as possible, to try and keep up with them was an impossible feat. Once we had floated to the opposite end of the channel, we were met by our boat and skipper, who took us right back to the start, ready to float back down all over again! As we headed back to the island, the sun was setting in the distance. The captivating colours of orange, yellow and red reflecting off the ocean was a perfect way to end the holiday of a lifetime.

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