Grantchester jan 14

VILLAGER The

Issue 11 - January 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Big Garden Bird Watch 25-26th January 2014

The Best Way to buy a car

Win

£25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

Bourn, Comberton, Grantchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and all surrounding villages every month

ur Yo EE y FRcop

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Contents

VILLAGER The

Issue 11 - January 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Big Garden Bird Watch 25-26th January 2014

The Best Way to buy a car

Win

£25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

Bourn, Comberton, Grantchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and all surrounding villages every month

r

u E Ey FRcop

Yo

Comberton Ramblers Club.....................................23 Fun Quiz.................................................................23 Puzzle Page............................................................24 What’s On...............................................................26 Prize Crossword......................................................28 The Game of Golf....................................................30

The Game of Golf

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The Best Way to Buy a Car........................................4

Big Garden Bird Watch

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Big Garden Bird Watch.............................................6 Wildlife Wanderings...............................................10 10 Reasons to be Positive this Christmas................13 Resolve Yourself.....................................................16 What’s Your Goal....................................................19 The Day a Dragon Came to Stay..............................21 7,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Barrington, Barton, Bourn, Caldecote, Caxton, Comberton, Grantchester, Hardwick, Harston, Haslingfield, Papworth and Toft (We also have over 100 distribution points, including pubs, garages, most shops, post offices and Bar Hill Tesco)

Editorial - Jonathan Vernon-Smith, RSPB, Christine Donnelly, Fiona McLeman, Guy Bolton, Susan Brookes-Morris and Adrienne Engleman Advertising Sales - Justine Miller- 07905 063211 justine@villagermag.com Photography - Beata Becla 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.

Three Counties Radio

The Best Way to Buy a Car

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Mobile phones, internet connections and cars are the three products I receive the most calls about on my consumer radio show. Today I’d like to help you avoid problems with the latter – cars! Buying a good, reliable car rather than a nightmare vehicle that will eat into your wallet is a good way to start.

The first important thing you must understand is that unless you buy a car from a proper retailer, you have no comeback if the car develops a fault. The minute you drive a new car away from a private seller, you’re on your own if it breaks down. I therefore always suggest buying cars from good, reputable garages, and if you can stretch to it, main dealers. They, generally (and I use that word with caution - some are awful!), offer the best after sales service.

Secondly, you must do your research. Use the internet to find the most suitable car for you. Look at reliability scores, running costs and insurance. Don’t rush into purchasing a car you know nothing about on the forecourt, just because you think you’ll look good in it. Find something that’s the right size, has a good reputation for reliability and isn’t going to cost the earth to run.

The third thing you must do is to buy LOCALLY. Please don’t make the mistake that so many people make these days. They go to a search website, enter the car of their dreams, find that the only independent garage that has one available in the colour they like is 300 miles away and travel up by train to buy it. If you have a problem with that vehicle it will be YOUR responsibility to get it back to them to repair. That’s going to be a very expensive journey on a recovery vehicle all the way to Manchester! Use the internet to research garages and the people that run them.

Fourthly, if you don’t know anything about cars, then for goodness sake, take someone with you who does! A friendly mechanic is best. If you don’t know anyone who is an expert, then I would strongly advise having an independent check on the vehicle by an organisation such as the RAC. It may cost a couple of hundred quid, but it’s worth every penny if it prevents you from buying a complete lemon. A car is normally the second most expensive thing you purchase after a house, I lose track of the number of people who spend £15,000+ on something they know and understand absolutely nothing about and then wonder why they have problems.

Please remember that when you find a car that you like, DO NOT PUT A DEPOSIT DOWN UNLESS YOU REALLY INTEND TO BUY IT. When you agree to pay a deposit, you normally enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the product. If you change your mind, you not only risk losing the deposit, you could be forced by the garage to take the car and pay the full amount owing on it. Salesmen and women often suggest the deposit in a relaxed manner. Don’t be fooled, when you change your mind, the relaxed manner will probably fly right out of the window.

Never pay the full amount requested for a vehicle. The garage will price a vehicle up with some room for negotiation. If you pay the price on the windscreen, you’re probably paying over the odds. Remember car salesmen and women are employed partly because of their ability to get as much money out of you as possible and make the company as much profit. Bear this in mind at all times when agreeing a price to pay. If you’re hopeless at doing a deal, then take someone with you who is good at it!

Finally, if you follow all of my advice and you STILL have a problem with it or the garage, then you can contact me at BBC Three Counties Radio and I’ll do my best to try and help you.

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.

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sale now on!

Call to arrange your free home visit on 01223 460192 or 01954 211037

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RSPB

Big Garden Bird Watch

25th and 26th January 2014

As the New Year gets underway, we inevitably start thinking about changing our habits and embarking upon new endeavours for the coming 12 months.

For many of us, that includes contemplating which new fangled diet we will embrace to lose those sneaky extra pounds that crept upon us over the festive period!

But why not give yourself a break this year and rather than considering your own food intake, take a look out into your gardens and think about the calorific needs of your garden visitors?

As the temperature continues to drop, and the countryside cupboards grow bare, our gardens and parks become a crucial source of food, water and shelter for our favourite garden wildlife. Unlike us, this is the perfect time of year for wildlife to be foraging for fat and stocking up on stodge.

There are some really simple things you can do to look out for your garden wildlife at this time of year, and the more you attract to you garden, the more you’ll be able to see during the RSPB’s national Big Garden Birdwatch taking place in January!

Special feeding tips for winter At this time of year, put out food and water on a regular basis. In severe weather, feed twice daily if you can: in the morning and in the early afternoon.

Birds require high energy (high fat) foods during the cold winter weather to maintain their fat reserves to survive the frosty nights. Use only good quality food and scraps.

Always adjust the quantity given to the demand, and never allow uneaten foods to accumulate around the feeders. Once you establish a feeding routine, try not to change it as the birds will

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become used to it and time their visits to your garden accordingly.

Gardeners have a vital role to play in supporting garden birds and wildlife. For advice on how to make a few simple changes to your garden, in order to attract a greater number of birds and wildlife, see the RSPB’s Give Nature a Home www.rspb. co.uk/homes.

Counting the birds that are counting on you RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 25 - 26 January 2014 On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2014, the nation takes part in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch.

The activity is the biggest garden wildlife survey in the world and last year almost 600,000 people counted the birds in their garden.

Big Garden Birdwatch provides the RSPB with masses of information about changes in numbers of garden birds in winter, and helps to alert conservationists to significant declines in UK garden species like house sparrows and starlings.

And this year, for the first time, participants are being asked to log some of the other wildlife they see in their gardens too.

The RSPB wants to know whether people ever see deer, squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs frogs and toads in their gardens, to help build an overall picture of how important our gardens are for giving all types of wildlife a home.

The charity will gather useful information about these other species and share them with its conservation partners after the survey.

For more information and to take part visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.

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STATION ROAD EAST, WHITTLESFORD BRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE CB22 4NL TEL: +44 (0)1223 832047 or 832115 FAX: +44 (0)1223 837576 E: eventsmgr@redlionwhittlesfordbridge.com W: www.redlionwhittlesfordbridge.com

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Say ‘I do’ in style

WITH FANTASTIC WEDDING OFFERS FOR 2014!

49.99

£

INCLUDING

PP

60 ADULT GUESTS*

Private Room Hire, 3-course wedding breakfast, One glass of house wine & Prosecco per person, use of the Bridal Suite on your wedding night and many other trimmings and extras.

AND for an extra £10.00 per guest receive an extra glass of House wine per person and use of our Ceremony Room for your nuptials.

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Prices are inclusive of VAT. Offers ends 31/01/2014

STATION ROAD EAST, WHITTLESFORD BRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE CB22 4NL TEL: +44 (0)1223 832047 or 832115 FAX: +44 (0)1223 837576 E: eventsmgr@redlionwhittlesfordbridge.com W: www.redlionwhittlesfordbridge.com

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Travel

WILDLIFE WANDERINGS

By Christine Donnelly

The return of the wild swans to the wetlands at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire each winter is wellknown but less famous is a similar wildlife spectacle that takes places each year in Cambridgeshire.

Thousands of swans and other wildfowl arrive on the ‘washes’ of the River Ouse from September onwards.

Amongst them are flocks of two of the world’s seven species of swan, Bewick’s and Whooper, which breed in the far north of Europe and fly south to several areas in Britain for the winter where food supplies are better. It is possible to see (and hear!) them by visiting the bird hides at Welney and Welches Dam. Joining them on the marshes and flooded grasslands of the Ouse are several species of ducks including Tufted ducks with their characteristic tuft of feathers on the top of their heads. These small ducks breed in small numbers on local lakes and can be seen throughout the year as they suddenly appear at the surface after diving to feed underwater, but seeing them with thousands of other ducks on the washes in winter is wonderful.

Tufted ducks With few leaves left on the trees, winter is a good time to try and spot our woodland birds. Amongst the more familiar such as chaffinches and blue tits, you may see less common ones including treecreepers and nuthatches. Both can climb up a tree trunk using their strong claws but only the nuthatch, a beautiful grey, white and orange bird with a black eye stripe, can climb down the trunk head first, making it easily identifiable if seen doing so.

Nuthatch at its nest hole in tree trunk If you are able to put food out for birds, winter is a key time of year to do this and you may be rewarded with many different species visiting. If you live near a wood or even just a tree belt or scattered trees, you may be lucky enough to attract a Great-spotted woodpecker to the feeder. For supplies of bird

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food and feeders visit the Cambourne office of The Wildlife Trust. Check www.wildlifebcn.org or phone 01954 713500 for more information and for details of local talks and walks over the winter, local nature reserves and how to become a member of the Trust.

Great-spotted woodpecker on bird feeder Seasonal weather changes affect ocean currents and at the start of January there is a change in currents to the west of northern South America. The Galapagos Islands lay on the equator to the west of Ecuador and for much of the year they are bathed by the cold Humboldt Current that travels north from Antarctica, past Chile and Peru. By January this current has weakened allowing warm equatorial waters to reach most of the islands, resulting in the annual ‘El Niño’. This brings Pacific green turtles to Galapagos beaches where they dig their nests and many tropical fish arrive in the islands’ waters. The wet season starts and rains produce a flowering of the iconic plants of Galapagos including cacti and the beautiful Darwin’s cotton. Many land birds, such as Darwin’s finches and the Galapagos flycatcher, breed at this time due to the availability of seeds and fruits.

Darwin’s cotton, Galapagos Wildlife Travel runs trips to the Galapagos Islands covering all aspects of natural history, including the birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, plants and geology. For details of these and other holidays worldwide contact 01954 713575 or check www.wildlife-travel.co.uk.

Any profits from Wildlife Travel are donated to nature conservation through The Wildlife Trusts.

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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

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Family Law

10 Reasons to be Positive this Christmas

By Fiona McLeman

Facing separation? Christmas can be a tough time for families, particularly those who may find their relationship is breaking down.

There can be financial constraints and other relationship conflicts that magnify tenfold under the Christmas microscope. If you’ve found Christmas difficult and you are thinking about your options, here are some positive words about possible next steps.

1. It doesn’t mean it’s over Try relationship counselling to offer you professional help to break out of the same old conflicts. Relate can help, as can private couples counsellors to help repair the difficulties in the relationship, and move you to a new start with your partner.

2. Speak to friends and family and share your feelings and thoughts with them.

Don’t bottle it up – often the most sage advice is from those closest to you, and what’s more- it’s free!

3. Don’t involve the children No matter how hurt or sad you may feel, don’t involve your children. Try and keep them out of the conflict.

4. Try Mediation Mediation helps to keep your discussions constructive and to move things along if you get stuck. It is cost effective and

with the right legal support will result in the same binding outcome as if the court had made a determination. It is means tested which means that for some it is also available with Legal Aid. 5. A fresh start for 2014?

If the relationship is at an end we can support you with practical and legal help in a kind, considerate and sensitive manner.

6. Don’t be afraid to get advice Fiona McLeman Family Law offers a free 30 minute appointment to go over your situation and to discuss some options with you. After that, we encourage our clients to resolve matters amicably with their partner and if they don’t feel up to that, we’re on hand to help as little or as much as they like.

Fiona McLeman Family Law takes this opportunity to wish all readers of the Villager a Happy New Year.

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TABLE TOP SALE Every Sunday at Papworth Village Hall Set Up from 7.00 am Public from 8.00 am Close 1.00 pm To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

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Time of Year

What’s your Goal?

By Susan Brookes-Morris Many of us use the New Year as a time to plan ahead and set goals or resolutions. What would you like to achieve in 2014, and how would you like your life to be different?

It’s possible to set goals for most areas of life: - health, career, social life, relationships and finance for instance. Or you might look at the different roles you play, such as wife, friend, mother, employer, and use your thoughts about how you could improve your success in those roles to help determine your goals.

Only you can decide what would really make a positive difference to your life, and you are most likely to succeed if you select goals that really matter to you. There is less chance of success if you are trying to achieve something because another person wants you to.

Indeed some New Year’s resolutions only last a few days. To make a lasting change it’s important to make sure your goals are realistic, and to seek motivation, inspiration and support to help you stay on track.

Do not set yourself too many goals or set targets way beyond your reach, as you will soon become disheartened and less likely to succeed. It’s better to set smaller goals that you can add to, or increase if things go well, and build on your positive results Some people like to write their goals down or

share them with others, and this can add to the accountability that individuals feel around goal setting, thus improving their chances of success. It can also be useful to ask for support from friends, who can give you gentle reminders if you are in danger of going off track. Where relevant, you may also want to get inspiration, advice and training from others such as weight loss experts, sports trainers or personal and career coaches.

Other useful tools include imagery – this might be visualising yourself having achieved your goals, or sticking photographs which represent success to your fridge door or mirror. You might also find the use of quotes, role models and affirmations useful. An affirmation is a statement which says what you are aiming for in a positive way, and in the present tense.

It helps to imprint positive beliefs on your subconscious.

Finally, don’t forget to congratulate yourself when you do achieve success. Break your goals down into manageable steps, and celebrate by rewarding yourself at each milestone.

Here are some useful Goal related quotes: ‘A goal is a dream with a deadline’ – Napoleon Hill ‘If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else’ – Yogi Berra

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Finance

The Day A Dragon Came To Stay

Keeping Exotics

We can all associate with the situation. You are out shopping for a present and before you know it you have a prehistoric beast as seen in the latest Hollywood blockbuster looking at you in your living room. Alternatively of course it may be the whirling dervish that is the school pet, all fur, teeth, and energy, that has come to stay for the summer holidays as part of the learning experience.

Of course choosing an exotic pet is more complex than that and requires a lot of thought before the decision to buy is made. Exotics include rabbits and rodents, through to the more unusual reptiles and birds. You may even fancy a tarantula, axolotl, or giant land snail. Whichever animal is for you, you need to consider some important points. These include: where has it come from (i.e. is it captive bred and not wild caught), which species it is, whether it is suitable for you, how long it lives, and what its requirements are (e.g. diet, habitat and housing, socialisation, and intensity of care). Some animals require a lot of interaction and care such as parrots, whilst even those that may be seen as simple to keep, such as bearded dragons or fish, often require a lot of special equipment and time. Even long domesticated and commonly kept pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, may not be suitable for certain owners.

Considering these

factors at the very start of acquiring a pet is thus essential and can be the point at which many problems can originate if inadequate consideration is given.

The most important question once you have chosen your pet and researched its requirements is: can I provide a good quality of life for this animal and meet its welfare needs? There are some basic ‘animal rights’ which must be met giving the animal freedom from thirst, hunger, discomfort, fear, distress, pain, injury and disease, as well as the ability for it to express its normal behaviour.

Clearly choosing, keeping, and providing for your pet requires forethought and planning and is not simply about its cuteness, personality, or its name.

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Local News

Comberton Ramblers Club Our next 3 walks are : All walks start at 10.15 a.m.

5th January 2014 Wimpole. 5.5 miles. Meet at The Hardwick Arms Public House, 96 Ermine Street, Arrington. SG8 0AH

The Comberton Rambling Group walk on alternative Sundays. Walks are from 4 - 7 miles, usually ending near a public house.

We are a friendly / informative group and enjoy exploring the varied countryside in this area. New walkers are welcome to join us with up to 2 free walks, and if you enjoy our walks we request that you become a member. Annual membership fee is £7.50 , and free if under 18 years old.

19th January 2014 Swavesey. 4.5 miles. Meet at The White Horse Public House, 1 Market Street, Swavesey. CB24 4QG 2nd February 2014 Barley. 5.5 miles. Meet at The Chequers Public House, London Road, Barley. SG8 8JQ Please see our full Walks Programme www.combertonramblers.org.uk or contact the Secretary - Stella email: stella.ramblers@hotmail.com

Fun Quiz - Review Of The Year 1. In March 2013, who famously said “may God forgive you for what you have done”?

2. In 2013, who left his career in politics to become President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee in New York?

3. In April 2013, what became the first song with a running time of less than a minute to reach the top ten of the UK singles charts?

4. In August 2013, it was announced that actor Peter Capaldi will take over the leading role in which long running TV series?

5. UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom caused controversy in July 2013 when referring to countries that receive overseas aid from the UK by what name?

6. In which competition did Gaynor Hopkins finish in 15th position when representing the UK in 2013?

7. Mad About The Boy was the sub-title of a 2013 novel centred around which character?

8. With a main building that was affectionately known by staff as “the doughnut”, what officially closed on March 31st 2013?

9. What was the final score in the 2013 Ashes series?

10. Which two singers won two awards each at the 2013 BRIT Awards?

1. Pope Francis (speaking to his fellow cardinals on his election as Pope) 2. David Miliband 3. Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead 4. Doctor Who 5. Bongo Bongo Land 6. The Eurovision Song Contest (Gaynor Hopkins is the real name of Bonnie Tyler) 7. Bridget Jones 8. BBC Television Centre 9. 3-0 to England 10. Emeli Sande and Ben Howard

Before

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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.

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n O s ’ t Wha 4 January Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm St Ives Free Church Local people selling hand-made crafts at very reasonable prices. Held on the first Saturday of each month. Charity tombola and free entry. For more details visit http://www.saintscrafters.blogspot.com 4 January Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Small charge for visitors Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk by Simon White on ‘The A-Z of Roses’. Simon is the Manager of Peter Beales Roses. Plants for sale. All welcome.

Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 January Kingfisher Church 10.30am Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday – all welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche.

Refreshments served.

Tel: 01480 394321 for further details Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk

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8 January The Great Fen - Where We Are Today 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton Suggested donation Members £2.00, Non-members £2.50 The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust is pleased to present an illustrated talk by Louise Rackham. Louise has worked at The Great Fen since 2009 and is currently The Great Fen Education and Community Manager. Louise has been involved in environmental education since 1997, taking her from Thetford Forest to the Botanic Gardens in Perth, Western Australia. Tel: Phil 01487 822835 Web: www.wildlifetrust-huntsareagroup. org.uk 14 January The World of the Documentary Film 10.30am The Labour Hall, Crab Lane, Biggleswade Course fee £55, concessions available The Workers Education Association course - 10 sessions of 1½ hours. Tutor Laurence Staig presents ‘An introduction to the world of the documentary film maker’.

Tel: Clive Bandy 01462 730147 biggleswade.wea@virginmedia.com

15 January Huntingdonshire Family History Society 7.30-9pm Women’s Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon Non-members welcome - £1 donation appreciated at the door Web: www.huntsfhs.org.uk

Paul is highly valued as ensemble partner by eminent musicians both here and abroad for his fine pianism and ‘sensitive and alert’ accompaniments.

The programme will include works by Beethoven and Brahms.

Tel: Box Office 01480 375678

16 January Evolution: The story of the last four billion years 10am St Andrews Church Hall, Church Street, Langford Course fee £55, concessions available The Workers Education Association course - 10 sessions of 1½ hours. Tutor Keith Triton presents ‘Evolution: The story of the last four billion years’. The story of the Earth and the life that inhabits it, and how the two have evolved together through nearly four billion years.

Tel: Jean Chapman 01462 700306

25 January Great Paxton Village Show Preparation 11am-1pm The Bell, Great Paxton Prepare for this year’s Village Show - a browse through Thompson & Morgan’s seed and bulb catalogue.

Refreshments available.

Entries into our What’s On sections are free. If you have an event you would like us to publicise please email the details to whatson@villagermag.com

21 January Kimbolton Flower Club 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Admission £6, including light refreshments Demonstration entitled “Floral Moments”

by Barbara Collins.

Arrangements will be raffled.

Visitors most welcome.

24 January Third of the Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concerts 2013-14 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Adults £10, Pupils & students under 21 (concessions) £5 Caroline Dale, cello; Paul Turner, piano.

Caroline won the string section of the BBC ‘Young Musician of the Year’ competition at the age of thirteen making her Queen Elizabeth Hall debut only two years later; recordings, recitals and concerto performances with leading international orchestras have followed.

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Prize

The Villager Prize Crossword

£25

Across 1 King’s title (7) 5 Herb (5) 8 Sprays water (9) 9 Curved line (3) 10 Sword (5) 12 Remote military camp (7) 13 Incendiary guns (13) 15 Highest noble rank (7) 17 Tests (5) 19 Concerned with the environment (3) 20 Raised area (9) 22 Give up (5) 23 Wandered (7)

and send to the address below before

17th January 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name:

Tel:

Address:

Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mrs P Moore from Bedford For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com 28

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Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page

Down 1 Disguises (5) 2 Glass container (3) 3 Genuine, honest (7) 4 Colourful small birds (13) 5 Hat (5) 6 E.g. EastEnders (4,5) 7 Finds (7) 11 Region in space (5,4) 13 Nervous (7) 14 Outside (4-3) 16 Fear (5) 18 Church council (5) 21 Climbing plant (3)

New Decorations Interior and Exterior Painting Wallpapering

Mark Newman

Painting & Decorating m.a.newman@virgin.net

01954212342 07969650344 164 Limes Road, Hardwick Cambridge CB23 7XX To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

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Cambridge Meridian Golf

The Game Of Golf

By Adrienne Engleman

Dear Readers My name is Adrienne Engleman and I am the PGA Professional at Cambridge Meridian Golf Club and the proprietor of Cambridge Golf Academy, and I write today to happily announce that I have warmly accepted the Villager & Town Life’s invitation to provide you (as its readers) with a monthly editorial on the game of golf.

Over the coming months I will endeavour to make these editorials informative for you, but in this month’s issue it has been requested that I tell you a little bit about myself...

Well I started playing golf when I was thirteen at a public municipal course in Essex (I wonder why this type of commodity doesn’t exist in the Cambridge area?!) and thanks to some promising results in regional junior events, I was then invited to join the nearby private members golf club (I also wonder if these invites actually occur anymore?!).

Four years later I had lowered my golfing handicap enough to turn professional (i.e. down to zero or aka ‘scratch’) and on completing my 3 year Professional Golfers’ Association ‘apprenticeship’, I then spent approximately the next decade playing relatively successfully on the Ladies European Tour.

During out of season periods I dedicated my time to learning the art of coaching, and to my delight I discovered that I was quite a good teacher!

Teaching the sport and improving pupils games soon became my new passion and subsequently I took up a coaching position at a facility in Cambridge around 12 years ago (hence the name ‘Cambridge Golf Academy’!).

I have spent more recent years coaching at my own facility situated at what was the then golf course in Longstanton (now closed due to the imminent development of Northstowe!), but as of now I am the honoured professional at Cambridge Meridian Golf Club (the new home of ‘Cambridge Golf Academy’) and I continue to enjoy my role as a community coach.

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With the support of Sport England, I am presently targeting local schools to try to introduce the game to hopefully copious amounts of interested pupils!

In addition, with help from the England Golf Partnership, I am also promoting the ‘Get into Golf’ initiative which is a national campaign to inspire people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to take up the game.

This scheme provides subsidised or free taster sessions, so ‘Friend’ up and ‘Follow’ me on Facebook and Twitter to keep updated of forthcoming events.

Anyway, until next time folks... ‘Happy Golfing & a very happy New Year to you all’!

Adrienne

Adrienne is currently offering free introductory lessons and is also holding a free family taster day on Saturday 25th January.

For details telephone 07979 500199 or email adrienne@cambridgegolfacademy.co.uk

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

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