Tribune 96 East

Issue 96 – January & February 2016

Village Tribune

East Edition

Serving the North Peterborough villages of Deeping Gate, Etton, Glinton, Maxey, Northborough and Peakirk

Mustard Seed Update - page 10

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

On the Edge WI – Shimmies, Sushi and Suffragettes

OUR November meeting saw us attempting to channel our inner goddesses’ as one of our members, Dehlia, introduced us to the finer art of Belly Dancing, and some deities proved far more elusive than others.

Donning scarves around our waists we did our very best at figure of eights and shimmies, but it is fair to say that the professionals have nothing to be concerned about. There was however, a good deal of hilarity.

As well as our regular meetings, we also organise a range of courses and events.

So far our ladies have entered a team, and won, the regional WI

quiz. We have also organised a Sushi making course, an outing to see the film Suffragette and our knitting group, Knitty Gritty continues to grow in popularity.

Up and coming extra-curricular activities include an Indian Cookery course in January, theatre trips, and musical events.

To celebrate our first Christmas, On the Edge WI enjoyed a spectacular festive meal and seasonal singalong at our regular meeting venue, the Packhorse in Northborough.

Everyone at the Packhorse has been hugely supportive in getting our group off the ground and we would like to

Peter Hiller Peterborough Highways Services are conducting an informal consultation following the recent implementation of double yellow lines at the end of The Pingle, in Northborough. They

have had representation to extend them further along the road. If you have any thoughts about this - whether you think it’s necessary or indeed suggest any other form of restriction - and haven’t been sent a letter asking for your views (these mailings tend to be very local to the area affected) let me know by email before 30th .

say a huge thank you to Keith, Sam and Jack.

Our programme for 2016 is almost in place and we are looking forward to our first complete year. For January we are welcoming a representative from the charity MIND to talk to us about mental health and help us become better informed and February will see us introduced to the intriguing world of Reiki.

We are a friendly, youngish group and happy to welcome any ladies who would like to come and see what we do.

The On the Edge WI meet in the Packhorse in Northborough from 7.00pm on the third Monday of the month.

For more information, you can contact Tracy on 07720 327145 or our President, Lorraine on 01733 245865.

December, and I’ll forward them to the relevant officer at PCC. peter.hiller@peterborough.gov.uk Steve Zealand Well it finally happened. Head on crash at the approach to Lolham crossing at 5pm tonight. Thankfully no injuries just two written off cars.

Lets go back to two way system?

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Tribune contacts...

Village Tribune Editor: Tony Henthorn 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP Tel: 07590 750128 villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Deeping Gate Distributor: Tony Bradley Tel: 01778 342468 Etton Distributor: Anne Curwen The Coach House, Rectory Lane, Etton Tel: 01733 253357 acurwen@hotmail.com Glinton Distributor: Jan Quinn 28 St Benedicts Road Tel: 01733 252161 jan@glintonbells.plus.com Maxey Distributor: Volunteers required - please contact Editor, Tony Henthorn Northborough Distributor: Polly Beasley 15 Claypole Drive, Northborough Tel: 01778 380849 polly.beasley@btinternet.com Peakirk Distributor: Mr Arthur Neaverson 26 St Pegas Road, Peakirk Tel: 01733 252398 Advertising Sales Louise Norris Tel: 07702 594674 E-mail: mypatchsales@ outlook.com Schools Editor: Kirsty Warn 22 High Street, Glinton Tel: 01733 252270 e-mail: kirsty@warnfamily.plus.com Priest in charge (Etton, Glinton, Maxey, Northborough, Peakirk): Hilary Geisow The Rectory, 11 Lincoln Rd, Glinton PE6 7JR Tel: 01733 253638 e-mail: hilary.geisow@btinternet.com

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Issue 96 Regulars

Tribune Contacts.............................Page 3 Advertising Rates............................Page 4 Farming Diary................................ Page 16 Notice Board................................. Page 36 In my Tribland Garden.................. Page 37 Parish Council & area news.......... Page 50 Church Services............................ Page 52 Letters to the Editor...................... Page 57 Planning Applications.................... Page 60 Glinton Friendship Club................ Page 62 Local Contacts Directory.............. Page 63

News & Features On the Edge WI.............................. Page 2 Liam Pridmore Memorial................ Page 4 Safe Local Trades.......................... Page 5 Improvement for Maxey path......... Page 7 Glinton Art Group........................... Page 7 Peakirk - living on the edge........... Page 8 War memorial completed............. Page 10 Mustard Seed update.................. Page 10 Kirsty’s School Report................. Page 12 Peakirk Christmas fun.................. Page 13 Whatever the weather.................. Page 14 Maxey Christmas Fayre............... Page 15 Chez Pierre................................... Page 19 Learn to meditate......................... Page 21 Lolham Crossing.......................... Page 21 1016 and all that.......................... Page 22 Eileen raises over £31,000........... Page 27 Wedding feature........................... Page 29 John Clare Cottage...................... Page 39 From little acorns - ...................... Page 40 Reducing household bills ............ Page 41 Must Farm excavations ............... Page 43 Meadows Dental Centre ............. Page 44 Tight Lines ................................... Page 45 Peakirk Fire ................................. Page 47 News from Etton ......................... Page 49 Hilary to retire in 2016 ................. Page 53 January & February ‘Collects’ ..... Page 54 Northborough Civic Awards ........ Page 56 ‘Clare Square’ opened ................ Page 59 Great War centenary ................... Page 61

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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Unit 1, Woodston Business Centre, Shrewsbury Avenue, Woodston, Peterborough PE2 7EF

Advertising Rates

Organiser’s of the annual Liam Pridmore Memorial Cycle Ride and Fun Day would like to say a very big thank you to all those who took part in this year’s event. The event raised a total of £6000, with the funds being donated to The Brain Tumour Charity, Teenage Cancer Trust and Cardiac Risk in the Young.

The day, held in early September provided three different rides for all abilities – a 60, 25 and kids’ 5 mile ride, with over 500 people attending or riding on the day. The event receives the overwhelming support of the village communities in the Glinton and Deepings areas and is also sponsored by both Princeenergy and The Golden Pheasant in Etton.

The team will be looking to improve things even further for next year’s event so SAVE THE DATE which will be Saturday 3rd September 2016 at the Golden Pheasant in Etton. You can see further info and pictures of the event itself by visiting www.liamride. com. Pictured are some of the organisers; Gary Reid, Chris Rowley, Matt Holman, Mark Gorman and Robin Pithey

4,000 copies of the Tribune are distributed free of charge in Ashton, Bainton, Barnack, Helpston, Pilsgate, Southorpe and Ufford (the West edition) and Deeping Gate, Etton, Glinton, Northborough, Maxey and Peakirk(the East edition). Prices below show the cost of going in a single edition or both and are per insertion’. Advertisers booking, and paying for four insertions over the period of 12 months are entitled to 20% discount on these prices.

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‘Stile-less’ improvement for Maxey path

of Way team at the Council it seemed the old gate had been deemed beyond economic repair and the gate opening left as it was. I’ve always preferred our villages’ rural street scenes to be preserved as much as possible and I work closely with our City Council planners and the Conservation team to this end. After discussions with Maxey Parish Councillors I decided a replacement was warranted here, as it’s opposite a similar gate we had refurbished a little while ago and would really enhance this section of West End Road for residents and visitors.

NORTHBOROUGH ward Councillor Peter Hiller “In conversation with the RoW officer we has helped to create an easier access for further decided to replace a stile at the other walkers along a popular Right of Way in Maxey, end of this relatively short section of path with after requests from village residents to reinstate a matching hardwood gate, to make the whole an original gate in West End Road, removed for experience more user-friendly for less ablerefurbishment by the City Council. bodied folk who might struggle climbing over a When contacted by the Tribune Peter told us stile, especially in wet weather” “I recently had a couple of calls for the missing The Tribune understands Peter’s two new gate to be put back after it went for a repair and gates are due to be installed early in the New make-over a while ago. When I asked the Rights Year.

Glinton Art Group In the Tribune area there are a number of small groups meeting every week. These groups provide a valuable service to the communities. One of these groups is The Art Group in Glinton.

Glinton Art Group recently exhibited a number of Remembrance Day poppy paintings in St Benedict’s Church.

These paintings did not detract from the solemnity of the occasion but gave an air of dignity and remembrance in the Church. Numerous positive comments were received from Church goers.

Both the Tuesday and Saturday Art Groups meet regularly in Glinton Village Hall

and would welcome additional members. If you would like to join please contact Sheila Bringeman on 01733 222226 for further information.

During our Art Year, Sheila regularly organises trips out to a variety of different art and craft venues – e.g. Patchings, Near Nottingham and sometimes to Oxford and this year a trip to Cambridge. If the weather is good we try our hand at painting outdoors.

We use different mediums – watercolour, pastels, acrylics, and pencil. At the Village Hall we do not use oils. Despite Sheila’s valiant efforts in the course of the art sessions giving advice and direction to all her protegees, we will never

reach the Constable or Turner standard. We do try – but our efforts will never be displayed in The National Gallery. However our attempts do give us a great deal of personal enjoyment and satisfaction. Painting is a very relaxing hobby and with intermittent exhibitions in St Benedicts Church we hope our efforts are appreciated by others.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Northborough Christingle

Northborough Church was filled with candle light, as all generations came together for the annual Christingle Service, raising money for the Children’s Society.

Village Tribune

Peakirk - 1,000 yea

Mark Johnson Barking Dog in Glinton from 3am till 5am (That is not acceptable!)

Deborah Plimsoll Oh dear! Not the same one that we hear at 6am most morning then?

PCSO details PCSO Charlotte HarveyEtton, Deeping Gate, Maxey and Northborough07525409495 PCSO Aimee HunterGlinton- 07525227398 PCSO Lorraine MooreAshton, Barnack, Bainton, Helpston, Pilsgate, Southorpe and Ufford07894482725 If you have any news, views or comments that you would like to share with other readers, please contact the Tribune editor, Tony Henthorn at: Villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

In 2016 Peakirk will be celebrating 1,000 years of living on the Fen edge. By Sally Jackson

Peakirk is a small rural village of 450 residents in the Welland Valley, 5 miles to the north east of Peterborough. It is currently part of Peterborough City Council Local Authority, but historically it was part of the ‘Soke of Peterborough’ an administrative district of Northamptonshire, created in 1889 which was traditionally associated with the City and Diocese of Peterborough.

It covered about 30 parishes in the north eastern corner of the county from Kings Cliffe to Crowland1 and was merged with Huntingdonshire in 1965.

This area has also been called the Liberty of Peterborough or the Nassaburgh Hundred, There is considerable archaeological evidence to confirm that the area around the present village of Peakirk, has been continuously inhabited for about 4000 years. Like the nearby parishes of Helpston, Northborough, Maxey, Etton and Glinton, Peakirk is located on the Fen edge.

The Roman excavated Carr Dyke, which roughly follows the 5metre contour, is immediately to the north and east of the settlement. It was an important Roman watercourse. It may also have formed the boundary between land held by the Iceni tribe led by Boudicca in the east and a Roman Estate centred on Castor in the west.

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ears of ‘living on the edge’

Peakirk from the air looking west across the Peterborough to Spalding railway line. Photo provided by Nick Jackson It is reputed that St.Pega, virgin sister to St Guthalc of Crowland, who gave her name to Peakirk, lived here, (the nearest area of permanently dry land to Crowland), as an anchoress in the early 8th century and the current Hermitage chapel is thought to be on the original site of her cell. It comprises a 13th Century chancel and a 19th Century nave.

The earliest documented settlement in Peakirk was recorded 1,000 years ago, by the granting of a charter

by King Edmund II, Edmund Ironside, to the church in 1016.

Draining the land around Peakirk had been a priority since the establishment of the monasteries, but in 1539 the Dissolution of the Monasteries caused the neglect of the channels which take away the flood water resulting in a general flooding of ‘The Great Level’, which remained the case until the 1630s when Dutch drainage engineer, Cornelius Vermuyden, was commissioned to plan the drainage of Deeping Fen. In 1653, using Scottish and Dutch prisoners of War, the River Welland from Deeping St James to Spalding was widened and deepened to reinforce the North Level [the north part of the Great Level] and reclaim land for agriculture. By 1700 the land was again flooded as the drains and sluices were not properly maintained and local commissioners were appointed to improve and maintain the main roads and commons and drain the fen marshes to win new agricultural land.

They were greatly helped by the advent of the windmill and horsemill pumps The Inclosure Act of 1809 made it possible to enclose the open fields and common land around Peakirk including Long Meadow and Moor.

The allotment of land to individuals was recorded on the Inclosure map of 1819. The landscape changed as paths or baulks between open fields were re-routed and the open landscape was replaced by

hedges and hedgerow trees surrounding small fields.

The Industrial Revolution brought steam power to the area in 1820, which made possible the excavation of deeper drains, such as South Drain and North Drain. These could be cut and mechanically maintained, finally leading to the reliable draining of the fenland.

However, until the mid-19th Century, Peakirk remained a relatively isolated, small, rural agricultural settlement. This changed with the coming of the railway between Peterborough and Spalding in 1848. A few miles up the road Borough Fen Decoy, the oldest remaining Duck Decoy, was kept profitable by supplying ducks, wigeon and teal to the London markets by train, opening up the land for agriculture and commerce which meant more people and more houses.

In 1831 there were 55 people in employment, 39 of which were farmers or labourers. In 1881 there were 124 people in employment in Peakirk, 27 of which worked in agriculture.

Modern day Peakirk is largely a commuter village with a large proportion of 4 and 5 bed houses and easy access to Peterborough station which is 50 minutes from Kings Cross.

However, its character as a small rural village, separate from other local villages like Glinton 700 yards to the west and the urban area of Werrington about ½ a mile to the south, may be under threat in the future as pressure for new houses grows.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Completed!

Enormous thanks to all those generously donated to the restoration of Glinton’s war memorial which has also enabled the plaque and list of donors to be finally been installed in Glinton village hall close to the existing roll of honour.

The metal plaque has been refinished and mounted in an oak frame that was specially manufactured by Councillor Gerry Kirt. During the restoration it was discovered the plaque is gun metal rather than bronze and it has a distinctive dent in the front probably caused by a .303 rifle round. The cleaning also uncovered the initials of the original engraver that had been punched in reverse to the back of the plaque that can only be easily read by use of a mirror!

A list of donors has been added to a framed background of poppies. It is intended refresh the list in three years to reflect any errors, omissions or additional donations made during this period. In the meantime the programme of educational and commemoration events will continue through to the end 2018

Village Tribune

Mustard Seed update HAPPY New Year, everyone!

We hope you are looking forward to what it may bring.

Ours is certainly looking promising so far: a generous donation from Allen and Nesta Ferguson Foundation means that we were able to begin construction on the next phase of the new school building and it should be almost ready for Irene, the head teacher, to move into. She will then be based in the new building where our least experienced staff are, and ideally placed to support those who need it.

As usual, our recent visit had its ups and downs but was mostly positive – and very busy. Geoff was rushing around trying to organise the next section of the building which involved many meetings with architects and contractors, amongst others, and plenty of hassle! He is a retired Civil Engineer and was very impressed with the workmanship at the new building. He also found time to work with the football team and the boxing club and is pleased with what is happening there.

The one thing Geoff was overjoyed about was his meeting with the Little Sisters of the Poor. We took out some incontinence pads for them, courtesy of the Bahari Rotary Club. Geoff went to visit the home run by the Sisters and was so impressed by the work of these selfless women.

When he discovered that their washing machine was not working, he managed to talk the hotel into sending someone to mend it.

Winnie and Flora, our two trustees who are retired nurses, joined me on a shopping trip to town for equipment for the clinic and to order drugs from

the wholesaler. They also visited the Ministry of Health about setting up the clinic. The two women are so proud to have a specific role and they are really getting their teeth into it. There are a number of things that we had to buy, or prepare, but now we are waiting for a visit from an inspector to verify the suitability of our premises as a clinic. Flora has to go to Nairobi to register it in person. But everything should be ready by February and up and running by the beginning of March. The parents are delighted. A volunteer from the UK will be going out for a month in June; a young nurse who will work with our nurse.

At school, our teachers were joined by staff from two neighbouring schools for training. One of the sessions was about using displays in school and the teachers also had the opportunity to create something themselves. They were so proud of their own efforts that they put them up in the staff room. As usual, more than 90% of the parents turned up for the parent’s meeting. It’s great to see their enthusiasm and appreciation of what their children are achieving.

We are so fortunate to know Joshua, our school manager.

He is brilliant; so calm and wise. We would certainly be struggling without his advice.

We interviewed for a new teacher for January. We had three candidates and watched them all teach a half hour lesson: two of the lessons really dragged and I am not sure what the children learnt but the third was lively and exciting, the best I have seen there. Needless to say, this candidate got the job. We put him to work straight away,

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doing supply until the end of term then starting full-time in January.

We went again to visit the school for the deaf in Mombasa.

We went into KG1 to observe for a while, a class with eighteen boys and four girls; all profoundly deaf four-five year olds. There was no teaching assistant and they were all sitting behind desks. (I am sometimes anxious about our ability to meet the needs of our deaf children, but my doubts disappeared when I saw this.)

Our teachers have been invited to the school to observe a lesson so I shall be interested to hear their feedback.

We also accompanied one of our pupils, John, to have hearing aids fitted, thanks to the generous efforts of people in the UK. He’s such a lovely boy, very bright and eager to learn and doing really well in school.

He is more profoundly deaf than our other two pupils and it was doubtful that he would hear anything, even though the aids are very powerful and at almost full volume. So you can imagine our excitement when his mother reported, a few days later, that he had started making ‘broom’ noises when motor bikes and cars go past! Hope is also progressing really well so I am hoping to push her on a little more. It’s a learning curve for all of us but I suspect that she is

capable of more than she was currently learning.

Miche Bora School enjoyed a visit from Sonal, a fundraiser who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for us. She got right to the peak (6,000 metres), exhausted but elated, and managed to raise enough money to furnish and resource a classroom for next year, and the head teacher’s office in the new building, plus make a contribution towards the running costs of the clinic – what an achievement! Having seen the school next door first (which was an incredible culture shock for her) she was able to appreciate just how far MSP has come. The older children asked her questions about the climb and she had a great time with our younger pupils, blowing bubbles and giving out sweets and generally enjoying their company (she took this photo).

Afterwards, we took her to see the school furniture being made for us by the charity, Marionist.

The whole experience made her realise what a difference her money would make and she was obviously delighted.

To find out more, please visit www.mustardseedproject.co.uk or, if you would like to make a donation via mobile phone, please text MSPK33 plus £2, £5 or £10 to 70070. Thank you.

Best wishes to you all, from Rita and Geoff.

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Cecilia Hammond Just a quick message from Belarus to all the lovely people who contributed so much in the way of toys, toiletries, first aid, sweets etc etc.

We are having a full on charity visit, we have seen several new children and have had some tragic and comedic moments!

The families are so appreciate of all your wonderful donations, so brilliant to know that a child has a special toy and to leave toiletries, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Thank you. We have a Photo Evening report on Jan 11th at Helpston Scout Hut at 8pm to which all are welcome.

David Hankins Its funny,all those years ago when I went to see the school’s career adviser Mr Trumpington-Bellow he said to me “Hankins (I didn’t know I had a first name until I got married) whatever path you chose in life you will never make a living selling trampolines” and how right he was. My efforts to send my trampoline to a good (or bad) home have failed. Not a sniff.

Deadline to receive articles for next issue: Friday 12th February

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Kirsty’s School Report

News from Peakirkcum-Glinton Primary

All Key Stage one children took part in the Nativity with great enthusiasm and delighted their audience. It is a perennial delight to anyone associated with the school to watch this and everyone especially enjoys the lovely singing!

Children in years One and Two have been learning about Polar Explorers and Cold Places this half term, and were particularly fascinated by the

Glinton 100 Club December Winners: 46 Kirsty Warn 16 Friendship Club 14 Liz Morgan 40 Eric Pollard 70 Alison Henthorn

If you have any news, views or comments that you would like to share with other readers, please contact the Tribune editor, Tony Henthorn at: Villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

adventures of Shackleton.

Year Two have also thought about other lives such as Neil Armstrong, (very topical), Grace Darling and Samuel Pepys.

The children have painted bold self-portraits, it is interesting to try to match them with their subjects! At another time the class was visited by Nigella Basta and following her instructions, produced tasty fruit Kebabs. Both classes have been very busy with Christmas Crafts. They have made charming penguin calendars, snow globe cards with white fingerprints for the falling snow and little snowmen with moving arms.

Continuing their studies of early man, the children in Year Three and Four have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the adventures of Stig of the Dump. They made small models of Stonehenge out of salt dough and painted scenes with Stonehenge in silhouette against wonderful sunset skies. In the corridor there is an evocative display of cave paintings in smudgy charcoal and faded handprints. Year Three have also been busy writing newspaper reports; “Ron the Lion Shocks Shoppers” reads one headline followed by an interview with the startled shopper “How did you recapture the Lion?”

“We put the meat in a big cage” Grace writes the caption to a picture “This is the lion recaptured by the brave shopkeepers” Years Five and Six have been immersed in their studies of World War One and Two. They held an afternoon tea in

which friends and relatives who had lived during W.W.2 told their stories and shared their experiences. Louisa’s grandma was evacuated at the age of 18 months. Lily reports that Mrs Berrill was 7 years old when she was taken to York in her Uncle’s car. She was given a bath once a week and, being the youngest, always had the water when it had turned cold and dirty! Mr Eagle had his windows blown in. Mr and Mrs Wright said that food was rationed during the war. Mrs Wright joined the Women’s Land Army. Mr Wright’s brother flew 32 missions over Germany.

Later in November both classes visited Stibbington.

Robyn was given the name of Irene Canon, a child who really was evacuated. Robyn writes;” Today I’m being evacuated to Stibbington. I met a friend called Margaret who was really kind – we walked through the fields and she told me we were having rabbit or pigeon pie for dinner. The teacher told us who we would be staying with and also told us a secret: they were using the village hall as a hospital for injured prisoners!”

A workshop was held for a day concerning Kindertransport. Year 5 and 6 were fascinated and appalled by what they heard, they were engaged in drama and discussion workshops throughout the day. Peterborough Regional College is holding a workshop production in January as the culmination of the project. The children will play an important role. Parents, carers and friends have all been invited to watch this unique educational experience.

School news? - call Kirsty on 01733 252270

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Peakirk Village Hall Peakirk’s Christmas party this afternoon.

Great fun - and not just for the children! Big thanks to those who made it happen.

A massive thank you to everyone that has supported Peakirk tots playgroup throughout the year. We ended this year with our traditional Christmas party, complete with a visit from Santa! Merry Christmas!

For anyone wishing to come along to Peakirk tots we start back on 12th Jan and run every Tuesday morning 10-12pm during term time. For further info please contact peakirktots@outlook.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Whatever the weather

BEFORE the days of weather forecasts, country dwellers relied on rhymes and sayings which were passed down through the generations whose crops and livelihood depended on the weather. The thickness of hazel shells and onion skins and an abundance of acorns and red berries all were thought to predict a cold winter rather than being a result of the previous summer’s weather. l A leap year is never a good sheep year: In 1582 the calendar was changed by Pope Gregory X111 because the calendar and the seasons were not synchronised.

It added an extra day in February every 4 years, and for that year only, 10 days were removed from October. Many country people felt that it was tinkering with nature and affected the year`s cycle of crop growing and livestock rearing. Hence fewer lambs would be born in leap years. l Cold is the night when stars shine bright: This 17th century proverb is correct. The stars appear to be brighter because their light does not pass through cloud or moisture in the air. Heavy cloud acts as a blanket and prevents heat loss from the ground. l Frost on the shortest day bodes a bad winter l The wind direction on St Thomas`s Day will stay the same for 6 months: The winter solstice on Dec 21st/22nd, St Thomas`s Day, marks the day when the sun is lowest in the sky and the hours of daylight are shortest. These sayings reflect the persistence of certain weather patterns which we now know depend of the position of the polar jet stream. This is a ribbon of fast

moving air at a height of 30,00039,000 feet, which behaves like a meandering river and can be locked in a certain position for weeks at a time, north or south of the UK. The jet stream is responsible for the succession of depressions and anticyclones which determine our weather. It was discovered because it took longer for trans-Atlantic aircraft to fly west rather than east.

Pilots adjust their flight paths to avoid the jet stream. l A green Christmas means a fat churchyard: Unseasonably mild weather can disrupt the growth cycles of plants and lead to famine the following year. l The north wind doth blow and we shall have snow: A north wind blowing out of the arctic is bitterly cold but the onset of snow depends on the humidity of the air and is most likely when the air is forced to rise along a weather front. The name “front” was given after the lines of battle in the first world war. l When gnats dance in February, the husbandman becomes a beggar. l Better a wolf in the fold than a fine February: Plenty of snow in February kept the crops safely in the ground.

If February was mild the crops could be ruined by a late frost.

A wolf in the flock would mean the loss of several sheep, too mild a winter would ruin an entire harvest.

We know now that global climate systems largely depend on variations in ocean temperatures and El Nino/La Nina oscillations in the Pacific.

They can also produce longterm weather patterns in the year ahead. A recent prediction is for a cold snap in February

Village Tribune

2016 so get out your thermals and stockpile some emergency rations.

What would we have to talk about if our weather was predictable? We plod on whatever the weather, and look forward to the first signs of spring.

Frieda Gosling

David Hankins What a weekend in Peakirk, panto on saturday, Xmas decorations up in the village hall this morning and now just back from the lights switch on at the church. Despite the weather, a great turnout giving hearty voice to a selection of carols, eating home-baked cookies and drinking an alcohol free mulled wine (a contradiction in terms?) obviously not singing, eating and drinking at the same time which could get messy. I think I deserve a couple of pints in the pub this evening.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Rosemary’s Farming Diary – January 2016 I THINK this autumn and certainly well into December will be remembered as one of the warmest with no frost one can record.

The sowing of all crops have emerged very quickly even our last sowing of winter wheat following on from the last lift of sugar beet is coming through the ground after less than three weeks, which is quite exceptional when ground temperature normally drops with frost etc. The winter beans which were sown at the end of October have also come through and are showing well in early December.

All crops sown this autumn have had a very good start and look to producing some good results given the right growing conditions throughout their growing period – we have a long way to go before next harvest!

It’s always a relief when all the sugar beet is lifted and delivered to the factory – this year the sugar beet was all into the factory by the 4th December, something I cannot remember having achieved for many years; in fact this could be a record for us, generally a good year for sugar beet with sugars and yields being very acceptable.

The cattle have all settled into their winter housing well, including all the young calves.

We like to feed as much of our own produce grown on the farm as possible with only minerals and a small amount of protein being bought in.

The young stock will spend the winter in sheltered yards with plenty of straw bedding – which in turn is turned into manure when the yards are cleaned out, put into large clamps and spread onto arable fields as organic

matter giving a good fertilizer base on which to add further components as needed for the future cropping of this land.

With the run up to Christmas all outside field work needs to be finished apart from any areas which cannot be completed usually owing to weather conditions but generally speaking we ourselves are well up to date as I think most farmers are in this area.

With having livestock on the farm there is always the daily task of feeding etc. maintenance jobs around the farm and machinery repairs, grain to load and on it goes, thank goodness no frozen water pipes at the moment, but of course this could well change before winter is out.

With only eleven more days before Christmas it’s all hands on to make sure the essentials are in stock and all Christmas orders are booked in and put into place ready for collection.

Likewise the farm has to be up to date with all it needs over the Christmas period – food and bedding for the livestock, fuel for the machinery and fingers crossed nothing breaks down while our supplies are on the Christmas break.

I have been asked my views on the EU referendum; thinking

about it my thoughts have been for some time…should we have ever joined in the first place? but we now find ourselves well and truly in and at the moment I cannot see a sufficient reason for leaving. It’s cost Britain a lot of money and our economy relying on exporting our goods abroad.

Some serious thought needs to be put into this by everyone, not only businesses – we in this country could well be used to flooding the market when it suits other countries when they have surpluses to do just that. So at the moment I personally think we could be better to be ‘in’ instead of ‘out’ of the EU. I think we all need to know a lot more about the finer impact it would have on us in this country before we can make a decision.

I notice we have the smaller birds back in the garden – robins, hedge-sparrow, blue tits etc. which is quite rewarding to see them feeding on insects etc.

I expect they like to come in to more sheltered surroundings with the extra food which they need in the winter.

By the time this edition of The Tribune reaches you Christmas will have been and gone, a New Year dawns, here’s hoping for a happy, healthy and prosperous year ahead.

villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

2016 – Its going to be a great year!

Thank you to all who supported us so well in 2015.

Coming up this year ...

The January Sale – 1st to 10th on our special drinks board.

We have a kitchen refit and cellar work being carried out so please check our opening hours. Details on our facebook page and website.

February: Thursday 4th Special themed dinner (3 courses £25) Monday 8th Ladies Pamper Night 7-9.30pm Thursday 18th ‘One Pot Wonder’ Supper (3 courses £18) Look out for our ‘Lunch for Less’ Menu – just £10 for two courses

Village Tribune

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19

From the Kitchen of Chez Pierre Poulet à l’estragon de Lorraine AH, ‘allo all you good people in your Tribuneland villages, the winter is now on us and because of this we look to heartier dishes here at Chez Pierre. One such is a recipe originating from many years ago in Neufchâteau a town in the north eastern area of France: Chicken with Tarragon. For so long this has been served in the restaurants here, each having their own little nuance to make it for themselves, non? One such is probably my favourite and is one which we serve here at CP regularly. As a matter of note we were entertained recently at friends’ house and given another version, topped with filo pastry. It was very good certainly and served with asparagus.

My own is more a rustic fare and has to be easy, using the good large free range chicken (either whole cut into 8 pieces or, as I am to normally do, 8 large skin-on boneless thighs) For four guests: chicken as above, olive oil, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 2 cups chicken stock, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 4 large oblong shallots (trimmed, peeled, and julienned), 1/3 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons tarragon, minced, plus 4 sprigs, 1/2 cup dry white wine Season the chicken with salt and white pepper. Place a heavy bottom sauté pan over medium high heat. When the pan is hot add enough olive oil to form a thin film. Add the chicken skin side down, brown to your liking then quickly remove it to a plate. Add the butter and the shallots to the pan. Sauté the shallots until golden then deglaze the pan with the white wine, letting it reduce to a couple of tablespoons or so. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste and the sprigs of tarragon then place the chicken back into the pan (skin side up) and let the sauce come to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, place a lid on the pan and simmer for about 30 minutes until tender.

When the chicken is tender remove the lid and put the pan under the grill for about 5 minutes to crisp up the skin. Remove the chicken to a warm serving platter. Place the pan over high heat and stir in the cream with the chopped tarragon and heat to thicken and reduce.

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning. Sauce the chicken

and serve with extra sauce on the side.

I will normally present this menu to friends with sides of new or baked gratin dauphinois potatoes, petis pois or courgettes and sliced sautéed baby sweetcorn. My wine choice will be always the Chez Pierre House white, a delightfully fresh Sauvignon Blanc from the south of my country.

To Mrs M at Helpston: The sauce I recommend with your fish will be Mousseline, for your chicken a sauce Choron. I have sent my easy recipes to you by email.

Bon appétite mes amis.

Pierre

askchezpierre@gmail.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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Learn to meditate for health and wellbeing in the new year FOR thousands of years, people have experienced many benefits from meditation - enjoying increased inner peace and a positive outlook on life. Meditation is also well documented as being an effective tool for combating stress, anxiety and related health issues.

Meditation makes our mind more calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful we can free ourselves from worries and anxiety, and so we can begin to experience true happiness. By training in meditation we can gradually learn to stay peaceful all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.

As we progress, we will experience a calm, spacious feeling in the mind, and many of our usual problems will fall away. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with, we will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and our relationships will gradually improve.

In January and February, Buddhist nun Gen Nyingpo will guide meditation classes in both Peterborough and

Stamford. Gen Nyingpo is a Buddhist nun based in Peterborough. She has taught meditation internationally for 20 years and has a wealth of experience practicing meditation in modern day life.

Classes in Peterborough are held at the Drolma Buddhist Centre, 260 Dogsthorpe Road, PE1 3PG (Tuesdays 7.008.15pm and Wednesdays 1.002.00pm). Classes in Stamford are held at the Stamford arts Centre (Thursdays 1.00-2.00pm and Fridays 7.00-8.15pm).

Classes cost £6.

For information please see www.meditateinpeterborough. org.uk or tel: 01733 755444

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David Over (ref Lolham Crossing) Not one car going up the wrong way this lunch time though two got to the signs then turned around. I was there, ready, with my camera!

Alastair Peat I see the barriers have been removed now though it didn’t put off the two I passed earlier today.

Vicki Wolfe I’ve stopped using the crossing - I thought when the new one-way was put in place it’d be safer but it’s worse than ever. It’s a death trap, I’d rather add a few minutes to my journey and get home safe than dare face the idiots travelling the wrong way!

Geoffrey Nichol Trouble is it still looks like a temporary closure which people won’t take seriously until the road markings have been changed.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

1016 and all that!!

by Dr Avril Lumley Prior

PEAKIRK’S parish church with its unique dedication in St Pega’s honour is now over a thousand years old. Her millennium will be commemorated by a series of special events, taking place throughout 2016. For my part, I am devoting a trilogy of Trib. articles on ‘The History of the Church in Peakirk’. If you think that this sounds like a rather dry and holier-than-thou subject, then please bear with me.

I assure you that Peakirk 1016 was by no means the tranquil haven that it is today. The church was founded during the reign of the ill-fated and illadvised Æthelræd ‘the Unready’ (‘unræd’ or uncounciled) (9791013; 1014-16) and against a backdrop of murder, intrigue, treason and the abduction of a vulnerable widow-of-substance.

Add heroes and villains, a hint of romance and hoards of rampaging ‘Vikings’ to the mix and we have all the ingredients of a swashbuckling Bernard Cornwell classic – except that this tale is quite true and as far

St Pega’s tall, narrow nave

Village Tribune

as Peakirk is concerned, has a happy ending. Although little of the action actually happened there, it was the scene of some of the excitement. Let the story unfold...

The lost kingdom During the late-tenth and earlyeleventh century, England was at war the Danes and Norwegians as well as with herself. Æthelred II only became king of England because his mother, Ælfrida, had arranged the murder of his elder half-brother, Eadward the Martyr (975-79), whilst on a ‘friendly’ visit to her stronghold at Corfe [Dorset].

At the eleven-year-old Æthelræd’s coronation, Archbishop Dunstan of Canterbury foretold of the many terrors that would befall the nation as the result of his ignoble ascent to the throne. Indeed, Dunstan’s prophecies of doom seemed to come true. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles relate that shortly afterwards there was a fiery eclipse of a ‘super-moon’, followed by ‘Viking’ raids along the Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset coasts.

Northumbria and Lincolnshire were next to be hit and to make matters worse, in 986, ‘the great pestilence among cattle (?footand-mouth disease) first came to England’.

Then in 994, Kings Olaf Tryggvesson of Norway and Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark cruised up the Thames with 94 longships intent on sacking London. However, its citizens defended it so fiercely that the invaders turned their attentions on Essex, Kent and Sussex instead. Æthelræd bought them off with £16,000 and Olaf and Sweyn duly departed promising never to return.

Peakirk: St Pega’s Church But as the saying goes, ‘once you’ve paid the Danegeld, you’ll never get rid of the Danes’.

Although Olaf kept his word, in 997, Sweyn’s ships reappeared in the Severn Estuary and he and his soldiers of fortune carried on looting and burning in the same old style, despite further payments to go away.

To cut a long story short, by 1013, Sweyn controlled all of England and was reluctantly accepted as king. The redundant Æthelræd decamped first to the Isle of Wight and then joined his wife, Emma, at the court of her brother, Duke Robert of Normandy, to whom she had fled with their

Æthelræd, sword at-the-ready (c.1450) (Wikipedia)

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children and Abbot Ælfsige of Peterborough (1006-41) at the first sign of trouble.

In 1014, Sweyn died and Æthelræd regained England but his homecoming was far from peaceful. The Danish raids resumed and in 1015, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles record that two of Æthelræd’s leading thegns [ministers], the brothers Sigeferth and Morcar, were murdered at Oxford by Ealdorman Eadric Streona of Mercia, who had ‘lured them into his chamber’. Their lands were appropriated by the king before Eadric could grab them for himself and Sigeferth’s widow, Ealdgyth, was ‘seized’ and taken to Malmesbury. She was liberated by Æthelræd’s, son Eadmund Ætheling, who promptly married her against his father’s wishes.

We cannot tell whether there was a mutual attraction between Eadmund and Ealdgyth, if she merely was expressing her gratitude to her rescuer or if she just relished the prospect of becoming queen but within a year she had provided him with an heir and a spare. It certainly was a strategic match for, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, the couple immediately headed for Mercia to recover Sigeferth’s former territory, known as the ‘Seven Boroughs’ [namely, Stamford, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Torksey and possibly York] ‘and all the

Edmund Ironside (c.1450) (Wikipedia)

people submitted to him’.

In the meantime, the treacherous Eadric had stolen 40 of Æthelræd’s ships and joined forces with Sweyn’s son, King Cnut [Canute] of Denmark. Moreover, Wessex, Æthelræd’s very heartland, decided that submission was the better part of valour and gave the raiding-party horses and hostages in exchange for being left alone. Æthelræd died a broken man on 23 April 1016 and was succeeded by his son, who showed such metal in battle that he earned sobriquet, Eadmund Ironside.

Eadmund’s reign was as turbulent as his father’s had been. Following Cnut’s victory at the battle of Ashingdune [Essex], the two kings agreed to divide England between them, Eadmund taking Wessex and Cnut Mercia. After ruling his reduced kingdom for less than seven months, Edmund died on 30 November 1016.

The twelfth-century AngloNorman chroniclers, Henry of Huntingdon and Geoffrey Gaimar, luridly describe his assassination in a London privy, though other historians believe that he succumbed to wounds received at Ashingdune or died from natural causes. His infant sons (possibly twins), Eadmund and Eadward, were dispatched across Europe to Hungary for safe-keeping by the twicewidowed Ealdgyth. Cnut was crowned king of All England on 6 January 1017 and became a reformed character. He promptly married Æthelræd’s widow, Emma (ten years his senior), enthusiastically embraced Christianity and became benefactor of monasteries, sharing Abbot Ælfsige of Peterborough’s fascination for saints’ relics. At last England had a strong leader who was capable of uniting the realm and truly deserving of the title, ‘Cnut the Great’.

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Old Monastery – ‘New Minster’?

Meanwhile, what was happening in Peakirk?

Unfortunately, for background information we are obliged to consult a late fourteenthcentury false-chronicle composed by a monk now called pseudo-Ingulph, who tried (with considerable success) to pass off his work as the writings of the real-life Abbot Ingulph of Crowland (1086-1109). Pseudo-Ingulph declares that, during King Æthelræd’s reign, there was a religious community at Peakirk, dedicated in the honour of St Pega, who had reputedly settled there several years before her brother, Guthlac the hermit (c.673-714), died at Crowland.

In 1013, ‘the Monastery of St Pega at Peykirk’ was destroyed

by Sweyn’s Danish invaders, together with its estates at Glinton, Northumburtham [Northborough], Makesey [Maxey], Etton, Badyngton [Bainton] and Bernake [Barnack]. Peakirk’s venerable Abbot Baldoc and his monks managed to escape with their lives by boat to Crowland under cover of darkness. When they returned to inspect the damage, poor Baldoc was so distressed that he had an apoplectic seizure, died five days later and was buried beneath the ruins of his church.

Of course, pseudo-Ingulph was writing at least 450 years after the event and may have invented the ‘Monastery of St

*

Cnut the Great (c.1450) (Wikipedia)

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

as a ploy to claim lands * Pega’ south of the River Welland for

Crowland Abbey, which was only saved on payment of £1,000 marks ‘to the Danes’ and then by bribing Sweyn’s turn-coat ally, Eadric, with monastic lands to keep during his lifetime. Yet, we have evidence that after Æthelræd regained his kingdom in 1014 his thegn, Sigeferth of the Seven Boroughs (died 1015) created a ‘New Minster’ [‘Nouum Monasterium’] at Pegecyrcan, exactly 300 years after Pega purportedly established her fen-edge anchorage on the site of the present ‘Peakirk Hermitage’. Therefore, it is curious that Sigeferth’s church was consecrated, not in St Pega’s name, but in those of the ‘Holy Trinity, Our Lord’s Mother [the Virgin Mary] and All Hallows [Saints]’. Was he unaware of the history of the place, I wonder? Or was he deliberately trying to disassociate St Pega from his brand-new religious house? Better to have the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary and ALL the Saints on his side than a single, somewhat-obscure one, even if she had given her name to Peakirk (‘Pega’s church’).

Sigeferth’s foundation charter is now lost. Fortunately, we do have copies of another document, in which Eadmund Ætheling ‘the King’ bestowed upon the ‘New Minster’ oneand-a-half hides of land

Escomb, Durham’s, fortress-like appearance

[approximately 180 acres] in Pegecyrcan (‘Pega’s church’) and three perches (0.01875 acres or 75.29 square metres) in Wealtun (Walton, Peterborough), including ‘fields, pastures, meadows, sluices, a water-toll and a fishery in the marsh’. Like the rector’s glebe, the church’s lands could be leased in exchange for food-rent or labour and tolls levied on river-traffic.

In return, the resident priests would dispense pastoral care to the Peakirk peasantry.

Nevertheless, Eadmund made it crystal-clear that the foremost duties of the clergy were to chant and sing prayers for the redemption of his and his wife’s souls and for that of Ealdgyth’s former husband and founder of the ‘New Minster’, Sigeferth, who had owned the Peakirk and Walton estates ‘in his lifetime’. Finally, perhaps, fearing for their chances in the Afterlife if the pagan Cnut snatched his depleted kingdom and disposed of his Peakirk chantry priests, Eadmund’s charter issues a dire warning.

Anyone who disregarded his decree or despoiled his church would suffer the same fate as the anti-Christs, Judas Iscariot and the High Priests, Annas and Caiaphas, and would be eternally condemned to the fires of Hell.

Past scholars have proposed that Eadmund’s charter of 1016 was compiled to give lands at Peakirk and Walton to the New Minster at Winchester, erected

by Eadward the Elder (899924). However, Winchester’s New Minster was consecrated in the honour of the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary and ST PETER rather than Holy Trinity, The Virgin Mary and ALL SAINTS. Furthermore, although the Peakirk/Walton document survives only in the form of three twelfth- and thirteenthcentury copies, all are preserved exclusively in Peterborough Abbey manuscripts, namely

Village Tribune the Liber Niger or Black Book (c.1146), the Register of Robert of Swaffham (c.1250) and the exquisite, white leather-bound ‘pocket’ cartulary, attributed to Prior John of Threckingham (c.1255). If these are exact copies of the original, then Eadmund’s charter contains the earliest known citation of the place-name, Peakirk.

Shortly after King Cnut’s baptism, the absentee Abbot Ælfsige was restored to his monastery at Peterborough and regained control of its lands and liberties (undoubtedly at the twice-crowned Queen Emma’s behest). Peakirk’s ‘New Minster’s’ status probably changed from a ‘chantry’, with clergy praying for the souls of its founder and benefactors, to a parish church with a single priest to administer to the spiritual welfare of the abbot’s tenants. A rental of c.1290 and a will of 1539, confirm beyond all doubt that the Sigeferth’s ‘minster’ occupied the site of present church, whilst taxation records of 1291/2 state that the ‘parish share’, payable to the abbot amounted to £1. 6s. 8d [£1.33].

By then, the triple dedication had been whittled down to just All Hallows, although the ‘Trinity’ and ‘Virgin Mary’ [Lady Chapel] altars remained until the eve of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, in 1539.

Two years later, the church became the responsibility of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral and was reconsecrated in Pega’s honour, leading us to surmise that knowledge of a pre-1016 dedication persisted.

Sigeferth’s ‘Minster’ un masked So, what if anything is left of Sigeferth’s ‘New Minster’? To find out, I recommend that you pay St Pega’s a personal visit.

The original chancel has long since vanished, replaced in the

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Peakirk west-wall: outline of Sigeferth’s nave fourteenth-century roughly at the time when the sumptuous murals were painted. The aisles, doorways, bell-cote and buttresses are all post-Conquest but if you dismantle them (in your mind’s-eye), the skeleton of a quintessentially late AngloSaxon nave emerges. You will find further clues to Sigeferth’s church in the exterior west wall. There, you will see the scar of the original-roof line and on the south west-corner massive blocks of typical Anglo-Saxon long-and-short quoins. (Some academic tomes claim that the quoins are in the south-east corner of the nave

but I am unconvinced. Their authors did not benefit from a circumnavigation of the church with Professor David Stocker, a leading authority on historical buildings.)

Sigeferth’s church would have had (and still has) a marked resemblance to an AngloSaxon/medieval hall open to the rafters, with the ‘high-end’ [the lord’s/priest’s domain] where the chancel stands, whilst the nave, with its north and south doors, represents the ‘low end’ where the hoi polloi were accommodated.

The entire structure must have had a fortress-like appearance, reminiscent of St Mary’s nave at Nassington (of similar date) and the late seventh-century St John the Baptist’s at Escomb [County Durham]. Indeed, this stone bastion of faith was a stark contrast to the humble, wattle-and daub hovels of the eleventh-century Pegekirkans.

Once, inside, the congregation’s senses would have been intoxicated by the music, drama, colour, bells and smells. The mysteries of the Latin Mass performed by chanting priests in the incense-laden, shadowfilled nave would have been mesmerising, mystical, magical and quite incomprehensible to the superstitious medieval mind.

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It is very easy to conjure up images of a scene a thousand years ago, with Ealdgyth betwixt her two husbands, kneeling and praying reverently by the flickering light of beeswax candles at the ‘New Minster’s’ consecration service. In reality, we have is no proof whatsoever that any of them actually did attend the event, although it is feasible that Sigeferth and Ealdgyth were present and/or for the initial ‘turf-cutting’ ceremony prior to the construction of the ‘New Minster’, in 1014/5.

Archaeological evidence strongly suggests that Sigeferth did not raise his church on a ‘green-field’ site but within the early eleventh-century ‘village envelope’. If so, did the ‘New Minster’ have a predecessor, an ‘old minster? Is there any truth in pseudo-Ingulph’s story of Abbot Baldoc’s ‘Monastery of St Pega’? And where was the enigmatic ‘Pegelandæ Cœnobium’ [‘Pega’s land monastery’], identified by generations of antiquarians, including John Leland (c.150352), John Bridges (1666-1724) and Reverend William Stukeley (1687-1765), as centred around ‘Peakirk Hermitage’? Well, that’s in the next instalment. Expect a few surprises!

26

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Stamford Property Maintenance

All aspects of work undertaken & free quotations Renovations, Tiling, Flooring, Kitchens, Bathrooms, General Repairs, Patios, Fencing, Landscaping

Home: 01733 254190 Mobile 07860 804648

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27

Eileen raises £31,000 locally TEAM ‘Safe Local Trades’ has raised over £6,000 for Age UK Peterborough - a total of over £31,000 since 2009!

Each year, Peterboroughbased Safe Local Trades organise fund-raising events for their chosen charity Age UK Peterborough. This year, they had volunteers getting muddy and wet in the Insane Terrain obstacle course; some hauled themselves out of a plane at 13,000 feet; and many others kept their feet firmly on the ground by taking part in the Great Eastern Run. All events were an overall success and the organiser, Eileen Le Voi, owner of Safe Local Trades, said; “we would like to thank each and every volunteer who took part, and to everyone who sponsored them in their events, all of which helped to raise an amazing £6,045 for this very worthy local charity”.

David Bache, Chief Executive of Age UK Peterborough, said; “once again Eileen and her team

of dedicated volunteers have exceeded our expectations by presenting us with this huge cheque. £6,045 is a huge sum of money and will help us to make a big difference to the quality of life for many older people in Peterborough.

On behalf of the Age UK Peterborough team, I pass on

our most sincere thanks to Eileen and everyone who took part in the events.”

Safe Local Trades have been running annual fundraising events for Age UK Peterborough since 2009 and, since then, have helped to raise over £31,000, which is an amazing achievement.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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Telephone Rob:

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Shrubs, Perennials, Standard Plants, Bedding and Hanging Baskets New stock delivered weekly

Special Offer: Bring this advert to receive 10% discount on purchases (limited time only)

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29

From this day forward

CONGRATULATIONS! Chances are, you are reading this because your big day is on the horizon.

Yet, once the best wishes and initial ‘buzz’ are over, the prospect of how to get everything ‘right’ can be overwhelming, for both bride and groom.

Take heart, you are not alone, and the process need not be daunting at all. With the help of some great planning, you really can enjoy every minute of it!

First things first

Set the date, work out your guest numbers and choose your bridesmaids if you haven’t already. Decide where you want to have your ceremony, establish that the date is free and book your chosen venue.

Buy wedding insurance, to protect your interests in the event of anything unforeseen.

Book your photographer. Once this is all done, you can send out ‘save the date’ cards to all your guests.

Prudent to prioritise

Wishes are one thing, and the budget might be another, but it is wise to begin by prioritising a few key ideas, which you can explore further when you proceed through the rest your planning.

Nevertheless, wallpapering over your initial ideas with trending Pantone colours, Pinterest board snippets, Google images of celebrity weddings and the pages of copious bridal magazines,

*

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

lead to a myriad of * could confusion rather than a rainbow

of inspiration.

The Tribune caught up Nina, Louise and Lynsey, all of whom were married recently, each with their own unique ideals, personalities and budgets.

There was a prevailing sense that an individual’s imagination is the key, to ‘do it your own way’, but to look for advice wherever and whenever it might be needed.

Remember, this is your perfect wedding day, nobody else’s.

Checklist

Helpful books on weddings that include planners are not difficult to find, but many good wedding checklists are available online. We liked this one: http://bit.ly/1PfN9oc, as it allows you to build on your original prerequisites, yet decide for yourself the

complexity of your planning.

“Think about what’s important to you and your partner... this helps you agree your budget and work out where to invest. For example we spent lots of money on food/drink and music/ entertainment but very little on my dress and his suit.” Nina

Photography

Factor in plenty of time for photography on the big day.

Wedding photographers aren’t just there for provide a service, they’re one of the most important guests at your wedding on one of the most important days of your lives.

Look at a photographer’s portfolio and see if they capture the way you would like to remember your wedding. It’s advisable to meet prior to the

*

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Cupids Wedding Shows The Regions greatest Wedding Shows!!

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Everything you need to plan your special day!

Visit www.cupidsweddingshows.co.uk or tel 07738 912092 for further information!

Weddings at The Bluebell

We can help in all sorts of ways to make your day so memorable. We’re here if you need a venue for an intimate wedding breakfast, groom and ushers breakfast, afternoon tea, or why not hire the entire pub for an evening party? We can also offer a fully staffed outside bar.

Village Tribune

wedding, preferably at the chosen venue, which can help you to discuss the specifics of the location and backgrounds that you would like included.

“I didn’t want a photographer for the whole day, only for the ceremony and after shots, Symply Photography were more than happy to accommodate these wishes, and the photographer was marvellous. We also had a handful of disposable cameras and props and just let everyone take selfies. When they are developed we will have them framed and hung in our hallway, so everyone can see!”

Louise

Dress sense

You are the belle of the ball, but don’t sacrifice timeless elegance for latest trends, especially if the silhouette and style doesn’t suit you. It’s not about how it looks on the

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hanger, so you need to try on many dresses as you need to until you are happy with your choice.

“I had an idea of what I wanted, yet ended up coming out with something the opposite! Suzy, at local bridal shop, Blush Bridal, was fantastic; she actually chose my dress for me, it was the 10th dress I tried on and I knew as soon as I put it on that it was right for me!” Louise Ask a friend to take a picture of you in your chosen dress.

You can take this photo with you to your hair stylist to help complete your look.

For the groom, it is about dressing smartly, irrespective of usual attire choices. A threepiece suit, rather than a tuxedo, is often the preferred choice as it gives the added benefit of a smart piece of clothing that will last for many years. Allow plenty of time to choose suit and shoes, as this will avoid

stress and save money.

Bridesmaids are vital at every wedding, not least for their help and support, but also as they add beauty, colour and style to the look of your day. However, bridesmaids all share the same skin tone or body shape, so it can help to go for a variety of styles with a coloured theme.

That way each bridesmaid can choose a style of dress most suitable for her.

Hair and make-up

Whether you are doing your own make-up or getting gorgeous with the help of an expert, it will be a long day, so you need to make sure your look with last. Aim to enhance your usual appearance rather than creating something drastically different. There are some great tips here: http://bit.ly/1EJjq3b. Visit your hair stylist and book an appointment for your trial style.

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Take with you anything you think will help achieve the look you love and the style of your wedding, including the photo of you in your dress from the fitting. Keep your hair in good condition and regularly trimme, but don’t have your hair cut just before your big day!

Reception and entertainment

Consider the type/s of music you want to provide, table decor, seating plans, lighting and seating plans. Establishing a seating plan can be a tenuous exercise ...who sits with who, and especially dear Aunt Agony on copious wine, but a YouGov survey conducted a few years ago concluded that most guests prefer a seating plan to an unassigned rush for ‘good seats’.

“The reception was the most expensive part of our wedding, but it cost less than

*

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune better value and more readily available. Remember that arrangements can be used in both the ceremony and in the reception afterwards.

The icing on it

*

some people pay. We went to the Wicked Witch in Ryhall; staff were always helpful and attentive, food was out of this world and the atmosphere was enchanting, it was our first choice and it was perfect.”

Louise “Choose suppliers that you like and trust and then just put faith into them to get one with it... and listen to them. The florist probably knows more about flowers than you do!

This made the process a lot more enjoyable for us - as we weren’t micro-managing lots of people.” Nina

“I turned to social media for help. People recommended local suppliers and services and this made the tasks so much easier and often cheaper too. It all fell into place very easily.’ Lynsey

Flowers

Your flowers enhance any chosen colours and themes, alongside invitations, bridesmaid dresses and reception interiors, and appear in almost all of your formal photographs. Seasonal wedding flowers tend to be

Personal preference, cultural background and trends are likely to influence your wedding cake design and taste. 2016 will apparently be heading towards more bright and bold florals (large statement peonies, roses etc.), organic floral arrangements, laser cut sugared flowers, or the versatility of a painted cake.

From bohemian vibes to luxurious and elegant, visit this link for inspiration: http://bit. ly/1Jzkpnr

Fine print

Finally, make sure you read the fine print on every contract before you sign it, and are aware of cancellation policies and fees.

We wish you all the very best for your special day, which will almost certainly be everything you hoped for and more.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Tribune Notice board...

Friday 15th January 7.30pm Glinton Horticultural Society A presentation by Geoff Hodge: “Winter colour in the garden - Beating the winter blues” in Glinton Village Hall. More details 01733 253591 or visit www. glintonhorticulturalsociety.org.uk

Arts Centre on 01780 763203 or online at www.stamfordartscentre. com

Saturday 16th January 7.30pm Handful of Harmonies sings for Mustard Seed Project Join us at Stamford Arts Centre for a charity fundraising evening of choral entertainment. A varied programme from HoH (plus Youth choir), including African songs.

Tickets £7.50 adults, £6 concessions (OAP/under16) available from SAC 01780 763203

Wednesday 10th February 12.30pm Ash Wednesday Communion and Ashing.

St Andrew’s Northborough All Welcome

Saturday 16th January Dementia Resource Centre Open Day We are trying to reach carers that are either working or unavailable Monday to Fridays. To give them the opportunity to see the support we are able to offer at the Dementia Resource Centre 24th - 30th January Breakfast week Join us for a ‘Breakfast Special’ during Breakfast week - at Willowbrook Farm.

Saturday 30th January 7.00pm Burns Night Supper Helpston Village Hall. £15pp to inc two course supper and first drink Dust off your kilt and come and help us “address the haggis!”

Tickets available from Tammy Tushingham 253770 or Caryn Thompson 252232 Saturday 30th January 8.00pm English Music for Strings The Ballroom, Stamford Arts Centre with The Stamford Chamber Orchestra. Tickets for all concerts £12.50/ £10.50/£5.00 from Stamford

Sunday 7th February 9-11am St Pega’s Cafe brunch Help us celebrate Peakirk’s Millennium

Friday 19th February 7.30pm Glinton Horticultural Society A presentation by Chris Andrews (RSPB): “Back garden beasts” in Glinton Village Hall. More details 01733 253591 or visit www. glintonhorticulturalsociety.org.uk Sunday 6th March 10.30am Mothering Sunday at Northborough Come and join us for All-Age Praise Everyone is Welcome!

Saturday 12th March 7.30pm A Musical Miscellany The Stamford Concert Singers.

At St. Andrew’s Northborough Tickets £7:50 to include glass of wine and refreshments.

Proceeds to St. A’s Church Polly 01778 380849 We are looking for families to host a Chernobyl Child. It is great fun and so rewarding! We are a registered charity who brings children from the areas contaminated by Chernobyl in Belarus to stay with local families to breath clean air and to eat food free from the Chernobyl radiation which is so damaging to health. It doesn’t matter if you work as we have an activity scheme every weekday from 8/9am to 4 or 5pm with ‘after school care’. The children come from families who are really struggling and the families are so grateful to us. The

Village Tribune children really are lovely kids. No one in the charity is paid and we all give of our talents and efforts for the of joy of seeing happy faces. If you would like to know more, please private message me. The dates for 2016 are 25th June to 23rd July. Thank you Cecilia

Dementia Awareness

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Resource Centre for Peterborough is opening its doors on Saturday 16th January 2016 to give free advice to anyone with questions about dementia.

Staff will be on hand from 10am – 1pm to offer information, support and advice. The Alzheimer’s Society team are particularly keen to welcome carers who are unable to access our services during normal office hours; anyone who would like to know more about dementia and would like to find out about the services provided at the Dementia Resource Centre.

Kevin Bowyer, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager for Peterborough, said: “We really hope that people can come along to our Open Day to find out about the services we provide for people affected by dementia. Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community yet far too many people with the condition are left feeling isolated and lonely and unable to access vital services.

The Dementia Resource Centre is a one-stop service for advice, information and support, ensuring people living with dementia and their carers in Peterborough are able to get the help they need in everyday life.

If would like any further information regarding the open day please call the Dementia Resource Centre on 01733 893853.

villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Village Tribune

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37

In my Tribland garden A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Tribland gardeners, I hope that you have all recovered from the Christmas festivities and are ready to start on the gardening tasks for 2016. January is a busy time, if you have a glasshouse it is now that you need to clean all the pots, propagators and seed trays ready for the coming season.

Glasshouses will need to be washed down with sterilising solution and any damage will require attention. Once these jobs are completed the more interesting work of seed sowing can begin.

The first seed sowing in my glasshouse is always the sweet peas, I have found over the years that early January is the best time to start them off. Plants grown on from this time do not get too leggy and they produce a good crop of flowers from early to mid-June.

The use of a heated propagator will ensure reliable germination and will give the young plants a good start.

Following on from the sweet peas the early bedding plants

will be sown in late January/ early February, antirrhinum, French and African marigolds, lobelia, pansies, petunias, etc.

You could also try geraniums and fibrous rooted begonias, although I prefer to grow these from plug plants, these are readily available from your local garden centre or by mail order later in the spring This is also the time to sow a few early vegetable seeds, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, if you have a heated glasshouse to accommodate the young plants in the early spring. Early peas and brassica seeds can also be sown, a busy time indeed. Cleanliness of seed trays propagators pots, etc. is essential if damping off is to be prevented. The use of good quality seed compost is also required for a successful result.

As we move into February the early spring flowers, aconites, snowdrops and crocus will be flowering and the shoots of narcissus, hyacinths and tulips will be showing.

Promising much colour for our

February will see the early spring flowers in bloom

Start your sweet peas in January gardens in the early spring and signalling the end of the dark and cold days.

2014 has, on the whole, been a very good year for the gardens. Many crops matured earlier than normal and vegetables were abundant.

The mild and damp autumnal weather has allowed some of the more delicate plants to remain in flower. I have gazanias and geraniums still in flower in early December.

If you have still to complete your autumn digging, try to complete it before the snow arrives. This will allow the winter frosts to break down the rough clods of soil ready to be raked into a fine tilth later in the spring. A little and often is the best approach to heavy digging, this way will reduce the risk of you getting back ache.

As I walk around the villages I am pleased to see the winter flowering jasmine in bloom, always a welcome splash of colour at this time of year.

The late winter/early spring is a good time to visit Anglesea Abbey to see the snowdrops.

Even though the days are short and cold there are plenty of jobs that can still be done, so enjoy your gardening.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Delfield Motors M.O.T. Testing Station Class IV (cars, light vans) Class VII (vans up to 3500kg)

For all mechanical, MoT preparations, accident & insurance body repairs

Courtesy car available ALL work guaranteed

Peterborough 01733 252599 Peakirk, Peterborough PE6 7NT Established since 1972

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39

John Clare Cottage News

IT HAS been a busy year at the Cottage. Since the last issue of the Tribune we have had 2 major events.

We were very honoured to hold a wedding reception for Beth and Dave Bearman, following their wedding service in St Botolph’s on Nov 28th.

They and their guests came to the Cottage for cake, mince pies and mulled wine. They then went on to Barnack for the evening reception. Beth and Dave are stalwart supporters of the Acoustic Café, hence their request to hold part of their reception at the Cottage.

Another supporter of the Acoustic Café is Sara Hawkes and we had an excellent Jazz evening with Sara accompanied

by Ivan Garford on keyboard.

We are now planning for 2016.

We have a full programme of artists coming to exhibit their works in the Cottage Café.

The Acoustic Café evenings will continue, with the next one being on January 21st.

There is new music event on Saturday 6th February. A Lighter Shade of Blues will

be performing in the Cottage starting at 8pm, entry by tickets which are £5 each and available from the Cottage. A Lighter Shade of Blues consist of Rev Dave Maylor on guitar and vocals, Doug Chapman on Harmonica, Brian Evans Ogden on double bass and Michael Permarker on guitar and vocals.

Do come along and support a local group.

The Pantaloons, outdoor

theatre group, will be coming back to perform in the Cottage gardens. In June it will be Gullivers Travels and in August they will perform the Canterbury Tales.

The Open Crafts day, which was a great success in 2015, will be held in 2016 on August 6th. Full details of these and other events at the Cottage will on our website www. clarecottage.org.

On December 15th Janet and David Dykes attended an opening ceremony for the official opening of Peterborough’s Green Square in Long Causeway with Deputy Mayor Cllr Nazim Khan MBE and Glinton Cllr and PCC Leader John Holdich OBE. Also invited were teachers and pupils from Castor CE, Thorpe and Newark Hill Primary Schools, representatives from the Queensgate Shopping Centre and Joanne Plews from Eurovia contractors. John gave an opening address from the granite circle, which celebrates the work of Helpston poet John Clare. Poetry inscriptions were also from local schools.

New Trib’ website - www.villagetribune.org.uk

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Janice Caress Kirby The blot on our landscape on my walk today.

If you have any news, views or comments that you would like to share with other readers, please contact the Tribune editor, Tony Henthorn at: Villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Glinton Parish Council has once again used funds to plant an oak tree to replace a dead specimen in the recreation ground. Councillors Gerry Kirt, Bob Randall and Pete Skinner braved the rain to carry out the planting. On examination of dead tree it was discovered the plastic bag covering the root ball had not been removed! Left to right - Councillors Gerry Kirt, Bob Randall and Pete Skinner

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41

Switch over, switch off and you could save hundreds of pounds IT’S that time of year when many of us vow to tighten our belts and save some money – not least to balance out the cost of Christmas.

You might look to spend less on your weekly shop or decide to eat out less often… but have you thought about reducing your household bills?

It could be worth looking at what you’re paying for your gas and electricity, for example. A lot of people in the area already have, and on average, dual fuel pay monthly customers are saving more than £230 a year.

How? By switching to a fair and competitive tariff for this area – Peterborough Energy.

Peterborough Energy is a partnership between awardwinning provider OVO Energy and Peterborough City Council.

It’s exclusively for residents of Peterborough and the surrounding villages within the City Council boundaries.

Those signing up include Leader of the City Council and Glinton resident, Councillor John Holdich, who saved an estimated £450 by switching to Peterborough Energy. As a British Gas customer Cllr Holdich had not switched providers for several years, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.

Cllr Holdich said: “You hear a lot about switching energy providers and it’s tempting to keep putting it off, thinking it will be a long and complicated process. But I was able to switch in just a couple of minutes and was especially

Cllr John Holdich and Anna Lewis, Partnerships Coordinator at Ovo Energy pleased to save such a considerable amount.”

So far, more than 1,000 people have switched to Peterborough Energy so, accumulatively, our residents have pocketed £237,000.

Even if you have switched before, you could stand to make savings. Paulina, from Glinton, switched last autumn and still expects to save £180.

Paulina has switched regularly in the past but found that she could save even more with Peterborough Energy.

She said: “The process was very simple, one of the best switching experiences I’ve had. I’m impressed that I could still save despite switching regularly. I was also able to set

up monthly reminders to submit meter readings which means I keep my bills accurate.”

Once you’ve made the switch, the savings don’t stop there.

There are plenty of other ways to reduce those energy bills further.

For example, did you know that adding cavity wall insulation to your home can reduce your energy bill by around £115 a year? And double glazing saves £135 a year on heating compared with single glazed windows?

To find out how much you could save visit www. peterboroughenergy.co.uk or call 0800 408 6706 (pay monthly) or 0800 408 6710 (pre-payment).

New Trib’ website - www.villagetribune.org.uk

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Chiropody at

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43

Must Farm excavation treasures

I WAS LUCKY enough to recently be one of a group of Cllrs invited to see the Must Farm archaeological excavations alongside the Hanson (London) Brick works just outside Stanground.

Tribland parents might want to enquire at their children’s schools about them visiting, as whilst we were there, several ‘invited’ groups were being shown around this marvellous site.

It was in the summer of 1999 that decaying timbers were discovered protruding out of the southern face of the old quarry pit here, and subsequent investigations in 2004 and 2006 revealed the site to be later Bronze Age

(1300-800BC) comprising a succession of large timber structures spanning an ancient watercourse.

Due to Hanson’s generosity, the team from Cambridge University have now uncovered a wonderful ancient encampment and the preservation of all manner of things including finely woven textiles made of plant fibres, glass beads, bronze tools and implements, and whole pots replete with ‘vitrified’ food, and on one occasion, a wooden spatula still stirring its contents.

In one fell swoop it appears an entire prehistoric ‘household’ was plummeted to the bottom of the stream where it was safely encapsulated in

layers of organic mud. And there it remained, undisturbed, for almost 3,000 years.

Peter Hiller

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

The Mystery of Comfortable Dentistry Solved Five reasons you will love Meadows Dental Care

l We offer services that cater to anxious patients! l Our dentists and support staff are experienced and very friendly. l We provide care using gentle, up-to-date techniques and the finest materials. l We can handle the dental needs of your whole family. l Our team is committed to continued education and training.

Most people want to take care of their teeth so that they may enjoy a beautiful, pain-free smile. However, the British Dental Health Foundation reports that at least 20 percent of those who have seen a dentist actually fear further care. What this statistic tells us at Meadows Dental Care is that we have a real opportunity to change our patients’ perspective about dental care. With every visit, every treatment, we seek to do just that by listening to our patients and responding to their needs for outstanding, painless dental care.

If you would like to improve or maintain your oral health, or enhance your smile, visiting Meadows Dental Care in Helpston is the right choice. Here, you will find a compassionate, extensively trained team with whom you can work with to achieve your smile and oral health goals.

Our team is committed to excellent patient care, gentle, pain-free dental treatments, and gorgeous, healthy smiles. Treatment plans are tailored to each individual, and care is performed with respect, integrity, and kindness so that the entire experience is positive and results long-lasting.

Patients of all ages are welcomed at Meadows Dental Care; we have the expertise and equipment to address a wide variety of dental problems. From our extensive menu of services, you will find what you are looking for when you want the best care for your smile.

Are you ready to experience dentistry that actually leaves you feeling better about your smile – and your dentist? Contact Meadow Dental Care at 01733 711019 to schedule your visit.

Village Tribune

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Tight Lines... with Mark Williams

Mark Williams takes drastic measures to break his barbel ‘duck’ and travels north to where men are men, and rivers are rivers There’s a world of difference between our local, lazy rivers which wander through the landscape and the mighty Trent.

The Trent is huge and powerful, quick to flood and, for some miles inland, influenced by the tide. But it’s just an hour up the road and, crucially, is stuffed with quality fishing.

Regular readers will, by now, have almost given up on my barbel fishing ability. I don’t blame them; a barbel ‘drought’ of more than 30 years has proven hard to fix on the Nene.

It holds plenty of big barbel

but none seemed to have my name on them. So maybe I can be forgiven for venturing out of Tribland to lay my hands on one.

The opportunity came out of the blue. A business contact and I idly chatting when he revealed he’s a member of a rather exclusive fishing club with rights to one of the best stretches of the mighty Trent, from which double-figure barbel are almost commonplace. Then an invitation which was simply too good to turn down.

So I asked the boss for the day off. I’m self-employed so, naturally enough, he said yes.

Then a quick hop up the A1 at dawn to join my friend on a stretch not far upstream of Newark. I had been warned to pack big rods and hefty

45

swimfeeders, but the scale of the challenge became apparent as I stood on the bank under a leaden sky, looking across 120 metres of water.

The Trent has so many fish in such a huge expanse of water, few have seen a hook.

Refinement is not required, so I tackled up with a 2oz feeder loaded with maggots and a three-foot hooklink of 8lb fluorcarbon tied to a size 14 forged carbon hook. The recommended bait was a bunch of maggots.

“Cast right up the far bank,” my guide suggested. But my relatively puny reels and a barbel rod powerful enough for any Nene fishing were not up to snuff. I swapped to a 2 1/2lb test curve carp rod, fished beachcaster style, pointing skywards, and got some better casts in. And bites were quick to come.

Bites count for nothing if you can’t connect, and I struggled to hook the hungry fish until, about an hour in, the rod hooped to a powerful fish and I silently prayed it would not be a chub or carp. It was quite a long wait to find out, the fish plunging deep in the strong current and kiting left and right but, five minutes later, the net went under a 6lb barbel which broke my ‘duck.’

It wasn’t a remarkable fish, and beaten hollow by two my friend caught, but the event reminded me that I paid Rutland Water 16 visits before I caught my first trout, then caught a limit bag of eight on the next two visits. Somehow, I felt I’d ‘broken the seal’ and now a winter of barbel fishing beckons on the Nene. That modest barbel meant a lot to me.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

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Fire at Wildfowl Trust site

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Peter Hiller At the official opening of Peterborough’s Green Square in Long Causeway with Deputy Mayor Cllr Nazim Khan MBE and Glinton Cllr and PCC Leader John Holdich OBE. Also invited were teachers and pupils from Castor CE, Thorpe and Newark Hill Primary Schools, representatives from the John Clare Trust, Queensgate Shopping Centre and Joanne Plews from Eurovia contractors. John gave an opening address from the granite circle, which celebrates the work of Helpston poet John Clare.

Poetry inscriptions were also from local schools.

At about 7.00pm on Saturday 18th December, the Fire Service and Police were called out to the former wildfowl trust site in Peakirk dealing with a fire in the visitors centre.

The centre was closed in December 2001 after being managed by the East of England Agricultural Society from 1991. It was making a loss and sold. It is now privately owned.

PAUL TEE

A Professional Decorating Service. High Quality Workmanship Commercial, Domestic, Interior and Exterior. Insurance work welcome too. Est. 1981

Tel: 01733 891772 Mob: 07980 863414

A member of the Guild of Mastercraftsmen

New Trib’ website - www.villagetribune.org.uk

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

01780 728012 oven.smart@yahoo.co.uk

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Experienced in working on traditional brick, stone and listed buildings 59 Garton End Road, Peterborough, Cambs, PE1 4EW Tel: 01733 897990 Mob: 07810520801 clive@maffitconstruction.co.uk

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Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor Small Car, Patient Lady Instructor

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Please feel free to call or text and have a chat about learning to drive

Book early and get your chimney swept before winter sets in

07703 597145 01733 896413

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News from Etton

ON SUNDAY 15th November Maxwell James Cross and Leo William Frank Cross were baptized at Etton Church. A group of over 50 family and friends witnessed the brothers being bathed and welcomed into the Church family.

Work continues at Etton High meadow with Langdyke Trust volunteers to prune and improve the fruit trees. As soon as there is a sufficient dry patch, Graham is hoping plough the area for the allotments.

Next autumn, the plan is to arrange an Apple Day so that villagers can collect their apples

and bring them to be pressed for cider making. But that is a long way off!

You may also have noticed that our resident builder, Kevin, has been busy destroying and rebuilding the village sign. All that is missing is the final Etton memorial stone inset that will hold the brass plaques. I think you will agree that he has done a splendid job. Although Kevin was able to use some of the existing stone, the rest has come from Joan Otley. When asked whether the stone could be used she said, “My mother would be very pleased and I

49

think it is a lovely idea.� Many thanks Joan.

Sunday 6th December was the day the Etton Christmas tree lights were switched on. Thanks to Graham Smitheringale and Gary for putting up the tree in strong winds and to Pat for doing the lights, Paul for leading the singing in the rain!

Also thanks to George at the Golden Pheasant for hosting the post-switch-on refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies and to the Parish Council for paying for it. Finally, thanks to Les and Jackie at Pond cottage for allowing us to use their electricity yet again.

In May 2016 it will be 100 years since John George Ellis died at Vimy ridge during WW1.

I would like to get a group together to organize a suitable commemoration and also to research more about the three from Etton who lost their livesJohn George Ellis, Robert Smith and William Alfred Burns. I have some information. Are you interested in history and would you like to be involved?? Let me know and I will arrange a kick off meeting.

Something else for 2016... an Etton village Fete? Happy New Year. Anne Curwen 01733 253357

villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village updates, news & reports Glinton PC

WELCOME to 2016, in which I hope all your dreams come true!

Let us start the New Year with good news; the street lights which I negotiated with Cross Keys, to provide lights for the bungalows between Walker

Road and Neaverson Road, are up and working. Thank you Cross Keys.

Glinton is trying out one of the new solar litter bins, in short, it works this way; rubbish in it is compressed by the bin and here is the clever bit, when it is two thirds full it sends a signal to the depot ‘hey, I need emptying’! The old bin needed emptying every week and was overflowing, the new one only after four weeks. Just think how much money could be saved across the rural areas alone if this works, both in cost terms and environmentally.

The Parish Council persuaded the planning committee to turn down the application for the refurbishment of the Gas Compressor Station; unfortunately not on its position within the site but on the way it looked, as it could have only been described as looking like a scrap yard in the open countryside. We are still on the case for reducing the noise levels.

Unfortunately, parish

GLINTON PARISH COUNCIL

For general enquiries please contact the Clerk. More information including agenda and minutes of meetings can be found on the web pages at: www.glintonparishcouncil.org.uk Cllr JFW Holdich OBE – Chairman 253078 Cllr RW Johnson – Vice Chairman 252743 Cllr DJ Batty 252749 Cllr CB Bysshe (Mrs) 253164 Cllr GM Kirt 252839 Cllr DJ Lane 252593 Cllr Liz Bond 07824 665947 Cllr RW Randall 253276 Cllr PD Skinner 252591 Cllr E Spendelow 252524 Cllr DC Wragg 253047 Mr J Haste – Clerk

252833 Email: clerk@glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

Village Tribune councillors are still at odds with Peakirk-cum-Glinton primary school over issues relating to their latest plans for the pre-school. In the last issue we said the new plans were more acceptable than those previous, but we had not seen any submission for planning at that time, which when seen, the council believed did not reflect the school’s presentation to the council on the main issues.

The idiots are back in the village; graffiti abounds across many parts of the village.

Someone must know who is defacing our village. Please either stop them or tell me who it is. Quite apart from the cost of removal, which we all pay for, it does nothing to enhance our village.

Much has been said about the new enforcement powers sought by the City Council, pioneered by me. The press seem to be concentrating on their effect in the city centre, when in fact it will have a really positive impact for wider Peterborough and the rural areas, and will address all forms of anti-social behaviour, from fly tipping to parking on the pavements. Most of

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL Your Parish Councillors and their contact telephone number are listed below. Agenda and Minutes of Meetings can be found on the notice boards outside the School and on East Road and junction of Clare Road and Claypole Drive.

Cllr C Cavanagh Cllr R Chiva Cllr J Dadge Cllr M Sleet Cllr M Spinks Cllr B Spriggs Cllr L Steen D Lea – Clerk

01778 348299 01733 252823 01733 254145 01778 347180 01778 343585 01778 342502 01778 345662 01733 572245

www.northboroughparishcouncil.co.uk

Email: npc@mandalea.co.uk

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these things you tell me are of concern to you. Staff have to be trained and they could come into effect as early as March.

The Parish council has changed its bankers from Barclays to the Unit Trust Bank, who are more flexible for the Parish Council’s needs.

The Parish Council has set up a working group to look at where defibrillators could be sited in the village. These need an electricity supply, so if you have any suggestions, please let us know.

I would like to thank all those who made our Christmas tree light switch-on event so successful. A great evening was had by all.

Cllr John F W Holdich OBE

Deeping Gate PC Face Book: We have recently started a Face Book page for Deeping Gate Parish Council.

We aim to keep people up to date with events in our village as well as posting the agenda and minutes of our meetings.

Litter Pick: Our next Village Litter Pick will take place on Sunday, 7th February, starting at 10.00 a.m. from the foot of the old stone bridge. We have some litter pickers, hi-vis vests and collection bags. If you would like to help us keep our Parish tidy and have a little time to spare, please join us.

We shall be arranging another event as part of the “Clean for the Queen” campaign. Details will appear on our Face Book page and in the next edition of The Tribune.

Aidan Patrick Fogarty Deceased Will Trust: As mentioned in previous editions of The Tribune, we, along with other local Parish Councils,

were fortunate in receiving a generous bequest and would still welcome ideas from residents as to how we may best use these monies within the Parish.

Kind regards, Jane Hill, Chairman DGPC

Northborough PC Neighbourhood plan: Northborough Neighbourhood Plan policies have been drafted, and will be reviewed in the light of further Government planning changes. Villagers will be consulted again in due course.

Composting: The composting areas are overflowing. It is considered compost could be a valuable resource for village gardens. Plans are to allow villagers to collect compost at certain times. Keep a look out on the notice boards for further details and collection times Bequest / New Piece of Play Equipment: The Aiden Patrick Fogarty Trust donation has been used to help purchase a new piece of young children’s play equipment. The see-saw is now installed in the bark covered section of the toddlers play area.

Dog Fouling: Dog fouling continues to be an issue.

There has been improvement, due perhaps, to the continued spraying of bio-degradable paint. A debate is underway as to whether, in the playing field, dogs should be kept on leads or banned altogether. Please let councillors have your views.

Christmas: The Christmas tree lighting-up went well. Due to the high winds over the light up weekend it was considered

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potentially dangerous to erect the gazebos, so unfortunately it was a somewhat watered down affair without mulled wine.The tree was swaying and had props added to ensure it was secure. Father Christmas however, was in good form handing out goodies to the children and many mince pies were consumed.

Correction: The green space is in front of the One Stop Shop on Lincoln Road.

Street party: Plans for the proposed Queens 90th Birthday street party are continuing. The day agreed is 12 June 2016.

If anyone would like to be involved and help, please make contact.

Councillors: Vacancies exist for two parish councillors. If anybody would like to become a parish councillor and help your village - please contact the Parish Clerk or any Councillor.

Shrubbery: Villagers have remarked that some paths in the village have overgrown shrubbery. The City Council will be asked to check and contact owners as required.

Speed Watch: Feedback received from the Neighbourhood plan consultation shows that many villagers are concerned about vehicles speeding within the 30mph speed limit boundaries.

The Parish has contacted Speed Watch and will be taking steps to designate Northborough as a Speed Watch Village. Actions will include signage and carrying out speed gun checks to vehicles on village roads when the days get longer.

Please contact Councillors or the Clerk if you have any issues that NPC could help with.

Robert Chiva – Chair - NPC

New Trib’ website - www.villagetribune.org.uk

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Services, January & February 2016

January 2016

February 2016

9.00am Eucharist

Northborough (HG) 9.00am Eucharist

Maxey (AF) 10.00am Family Service

Etton (MH) 10.30am Eucharist

Glinton (HG) 6.30pm BCP Evensong

Peakirk (HG)

9.00am Eucharist

Northborough (HG) 9.00am Eucharist

Maxey (AF) 10.00am Family Service

Etton (MH) 10.30am Eucharist

Glinton (HG) 6.30pm BCP Evensong

Peakirk (HG)

Sunday 3rd January

Sunday 10th January 9.00am

10.30am

10.30am

10.30am

Eucharist Maxey (HG) Morning Praise Glinton (MH) All Age Praise Northborough (FS) Eucharist Peakirk (HG)

Sunday 17th January

9.00am Eucharist

Northborough (AF) 9.00am BCP Communion

Etton (HG) 10.00am Family Service

Maxey V Hall (MH/FS) 10.30am Eucharist

Glinton (HG) 6.00pm Evensong

Northborough (DH)

Sunday 24th January

Sunday 7th February

Wed 10th February (Ash) 12.30pm Ashing Eucharist

Northborough (HG) 7.30pm Ashing Eucharist

Glinton (HG)

Sunday 14th February

9.00am

10.30am

10.30am

10.30am

Eucharist Maxey (HG) Morning Praise Glinton (MH) All Age Praise Northborough (FS) Eucharist Peakirk (HG)

Sunday 21st February

9.00am BCP Communion

Etton (HG) 9.00am Eucharist

Northboro (AF) 10.00am Family Service

Maxey V Hall (MH/FS) 10.30am Eucharist

Glinton (HG) 6.00pm Evensong

Northborough (DH)

9.00am BCP Communion

Maxey (HG) 9.15am Morning Prayer

Glinton (DH) 10.30am Morning Prayer Sunday 28th February

Peakirk (DH) 10.30am All Age Praise 9.00am Eucharist BCP

Northborough (FS)

Maxey (HG) 9.15am Morning Prayer Sunday 31st January

Glinton (DH) 10.30am Group Service 10.30am Morning Prayer

Etton (HG)

Peakirk (DH)

10.30am All Age Praise

Northborough (FS)

March 2016

Sunday 7th February

9.00am Eucharist

Northborough (HG) 9.00am Eucharist

Maxey (AF) 10.00am Family Service

Etton (MH) 10.30am Eucharist

Glinton (HG) 10.30am Special Family Service

Northborough (FS) 6.30pm BCP Evensong

Peakirk (HG)

Church addresses

Etton St Stephen, Main Road., Etton PE6 7DA Maxey St Peter, Main St. Maxey PE6 9HF Peakirk St Pega, Chestnut Close, Peakirk PE6 7NH Glinton St Benedict, High St., Glinton, PE6 7JN Northborough St Andrew, Church St., Northborough PE6 9BN

Baptisms

Haydn Joseph Abbey (Glinton) Correction: In the last issue we gave 2 children their mother’s surname but in fact they are registered as Maxwell and Leo Cross (Etton)

Funerals

William (Bill) Rabbett Northborough Miles Gill - Etton

AF Alan Fiddyment, DH Derek Harris, FS Freda Skillman,

HG Hilary Geisow, LE Linda Elliott, MH Mark Hotchkin, ML Mandy Loveder

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

53

A season of firsts and lasts

I’M NOT really into New Year Resolutions. Oh, I have made them alright – but I don’t keep them for very long! However, the general resolutions that I made when I came into these parishes in September 2008 have had a better run. And one of them was to make sure that people were thanked. After all, church-going is a voluntary activity and a lot of people contribute to what goes on and is supported, often unnoticed.

The maintenance of the buildings and churchyards can be a never-ending task.

Providing music, colour, bells and especially, a warm welcome for services, is often more rewarding. Doing admin. or preparing material, or opening and closing or cleaning the buildings are jobs that are less well appreciated. There are people who plan and execute

events that contribute both to church funds and help build community; there are the liftgivers and the care-providers and so many more besides.

To you all, a BIG thank you.

In this New Year I hope that the churches will continue to see the green shoots of growth that have been evident lately.

Growth in numbers and in spirituality are concerns close to our Bishop’s heart. Now I don’t get too exercised by the numbers game that some play, and in any case, as someone once said, if we want the Church to grow it’s not a case of getting bums on seats, but off them – and out into the community. The truth is that one or two new faces in each of our small parishes means that we exceed the % growth of the city parishes. How does this happen?

Well, the calling of Christians is to walk alongside people in difficult places, to listen and to reach out, to meet needs as best as can be, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in whatever ways are appropriate, and to pray with and for those who can’t. My experience of the parishes these last 7+ years is that there are people doing those things, and making a difference. These folk are not just ‘do-gooders’ though they certainly do much good. They are not just pew-

warmers either, though I see them frequently worshipping, teaching, and serving our Lord. They are ordinary people are putting their Christian commitment into practice, doing extra-ordinary things as they love their ‘neighbour’ as each loves himself or herself. The ‘neighbour’ might be Syrian refugees or local schoolchildren, a person grieving or needing regular lifts for hospital treatment. I have been humbled by just what people have done, and been, for others.

And now I’m in my season of lasts. I shall retire in the latter part of 2016 and so I am now in my last church year with you.

I have already celebrated my last Christmas services here.

I don’t yet know where I will go but there is time to look around. I look forward to all ‘the firsts’ that are to come. In the meantime, however, for all that has been, thank you. Hilary

R S Stimson

Domestic heating systems, cookers, showers, & bathrooms installed.

Gas appliance servicing, & repair, landlords gas safety certificates issued.

13 Ashburn Close Glinton Peterborough PE6 7LH

Tel/Fax 01733 252418

Mobile 07751446433 Email richardstimson@hotmail.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

3rd January - The Epiphany

Collect: O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the

Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6 Psalm: 72; 10-15 2nd Reading: Ephesians 3: 1-12 Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12

Village Tribune Prayer after Communion Lord God, the bright splendour whom the nations seek: may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light discern the glory of your presence in your Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

10th January - The Baptism of Christ Collect: Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the

unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect: Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the

Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Isaiah 43: 1-7 Psalm: 29 2nd Reading: Acts 8: 14-17 Gospel: Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

17th January - The Second Sunday of Epiphany

1st Reading: Isaiah 62: 1-5 Psalm: 36; 5-10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 Gospel: John 2: 1-11

Prayer after Communion Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer after Communion God of glory, you nourish us with your Word who is the bread of life: fill us with your Holy Spirit that through us the light of your glory may shine in all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

24th January - The Third Sunday of Epiphany Collect: Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6 & 8-10 Psalm: 19; 1-6 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 Gospel: Luke 4; 14-21 Prayer after Communion Almighty Father, whose Son

our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world: may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

31st January - The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemass) Collect: Almighty and everliving God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,

now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Malachi 3: 1-5 Psalm: 24; 7-end 2nd Reading: Hebrews 2: 14-end Gospel: Luke 2: 22-40

Prayer after Communion Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah: may we, who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Amen.

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

7th February - The Sunday next before Lent

Collect: Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the

10th February - Ash Wednesday

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness;

unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Exodus 34; 29-end Psalm: 99 2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 3: 12 - 4; 2 Gospel: Luke 9; 28-36

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Isaiah 58; 1-12 Psalm: 51: 1-18 2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 20 - 6: 10 Gospel: Matthew 6; 1-6 & 16-21

14th February - The First Sunday of Lent

Collect: Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our

Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26; 1-11 Psalm: 91; 1-2 & 9-end 2nd Reading: Romans 10; 8-13 Gospel: Luke 4; 1-13 Prayer after Communion Lord God, you have renewed us with

21st February - The Second Sunday of Lent

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Prayer after Communion Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed, that all the world may know his power to change and save. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer after Communion Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life: give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive these his inestimable gifts, and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. the living bread from heaven; by it you nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love: teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect: Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through

our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 1st Reading: Genesis 15: 1-12 & 17-18 Psalm: 27: 2nd Reading: Philippians 3; 17-4; 1 Gospel: Luke 13; 31-end Prayer after Communion Almighty God, you see that we

have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Collect: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son

our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Isaiah 55; 1-9 Psalm: 63; 1-9 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 10; 1-13 Gospel: Luke 13; 1-9

Prayer after Communion Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds.

Amen.

28th February - The Third Sunday of Lent

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Northborough ladies honoured with Civic Awards

LONGSTANDING Northborough Community Association members Linda Smith, Jessie Phillips and Karen Cooper were invited to attend December’s full council meeting in the Town Hall, to hear the nominations for the council’s annual Civic Awards. To their obvious

Sunday the 19th December saw the Benefice Singers in full flow at St Benedict’s Church, Glinton at the annual Christmas service. The choir sang to a full congregation, who were also in good voice.

Choir Master, Dr Simon Richards provided a varied programme, followed by mince pies and mulled wine. Rev Hilary led the service.

delight the Mayor confirmed their success in being chosen to receive their awards for Community Involvement at a City centre ceremony in February.

The annual awards are now highly regarded and hugely popular in the City but decided

by and given to only the most eligible recipients by the council’s cross-party Honours Panel. Chairman of the panel Cllr Peter Hiller remarked after the event; “It is actually the panel’s honour to award these accolades to folk who really go beyond the call for their communities. The value of the voluntary work the like of which these three conduct on an almost daily basis is often overlooked by the general public, but I’ve known them all for a few years now and can’t fault their commitment and dedication in ensuring the Northborough Village Hall is one of the best facilities in the City. I was very happy to be able to nominate all three for the panel’s consideration for an award” The Tribune can report the Mayor announced: ‘The awards are a small way that we can say a big thank you as a city to people who go out of their way to help others, and for us to recognise the great work they do. It gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s Civic Award winners, who will all be presented to at a ceremony on 24th February 2016, here in the Town Hall’.

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Letters to the Editor

57

All views and comments made in this section are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily shared by the Editor or any other persons associated with the production of the Tribune

Pre-School appeal...

Dear Editor, To all mums and dads who have used, are using or will have children attending either the Glinton PreSchool or Out of School Club; we urgently require your assistance! Many of you may be aware that the building currently in use is due for replacement; funding has been secured to replace the building though the planning was unfortunately refused by the local Parish Council.

Without your support in getting these plans passed, we run the real risk of this excellent facility being lost. This would have a terrible impact on many local families as well as losing an asset to both the School and the Village.

Please could all those in favour of the New Build being passed, send a brief e-mail to the school c/o Mr Kendall noting your approval and support of the new structure and how important it is to our community.

School e-mail: office@peakirk.peterborough. sch.uk Mr Kendal will be accumulating all e-mails of support to produce to the Parish Council; it will take just two minutes of your time today to show your support. Please like and share this to anyone to help the school gain as much support as possible.

Glinton Pre-School

To be clear...

Dear Editor, I write, on behalf of the Parish Council, in reply to the (Facebook) post on Glinton Pre school (above).

First of all let me say that the Parish council recognises the value of the pre-school facility and that the current temporary buildings need replacing by a permanent facility. Likewise the Parish council supports the principle an expanded facility to cater for more children and we said as much in the opening paragraph of our letter to the planning authority.

In this instance it is a case that the Parish Council can only please some of the residents

some of the time.

It may be helpful if I explain what the Parish Council does, and does not do, as Planning Consultees. l The Parish Council supports the legitimate planning concerns of residents l The Parish Council seeks to rigorously apply City Council planning policies, particularly those specific to Glinton and to the Conservation areas l The Parish Council has to be seen to be consistent in applying those policies l The Parish Council is prevented by law from advising an applicant in advance of an planning application and then commenting as consultees This latter point was made very clear to the applicants in the meeting in September when they presented TWO possible versions of a then potential planning application. One version was for a facility on the existing site, the other for a facility close to School lane. The Parish council listened to the applicant on both schemes and passed no judgement on either (being legally precluded from doing so).

What was said at the end of the presentation was that the applicant must make their own choice of which plan to choose but should note that: l The previous application had been refused and that was on the school lane site l The closest neighbours in school lane objected to the siting of the facility so close to their property l The residents in Rectory Lane wanted the facility to be retained at the present site In the event the application submitted, was for the school lane part of the school grounds, and as expected attracted objection from the nearest neighbour, and this plan was even closer to their boundary than previously.

Furthermore design of the building and the proposed materials did not comply with the city council planning policies specific to Glinton and to Conservation areas. The school site is in the conservation area.

In terms of the Design Content and the consistent application of planning policies,

Letters to the Editor: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

such design content would not have been unacceptable by any other applicant in the conservation area and therefore was unacceptable in this case I cannot comment on the communication issued by the school since they have not had the courtesy to supply a copy to the Parish Council.

I note however that you have access to the City Councils planning Portal and invite you to closely examine the submitted application.

It is an extremely shoddy submission, it refers to the conservation area and the wish to be in keeping with nearby listed buildings and yet proceeds to list buildings in the parish of Peakirk and completely ignores those in our own parish.

The conclusion of the Parish Council was that whilst wanting to support the Preschool facility in a larger permanent facility they were unable on the application in its present form because the applicant: l did not listen to the very clear steer that was given l proceeded with an application that would draw objection from school lane residents l did not accord with the wishes of Residents in Rectory lane l Did not submit a planning application that complied with planning policies and l Submitted a planning application of poor quality which would have been unacceptable from any other applicant I hope that you will see from the above that the Parish council had little option but to object to THIS planning application and the decision was in fact unanimous Yours sincerely; John Haste Clerk & RFO Proper Officer Glinton Parish Council

Super send-off...

Dear Editor, A quick message to thank my old friends and neighbours from Pingle Lane and Church Street, Northborough for the lovely send off and encouragement at the start of our 500 mile walk to nr Edinburgh at the beginning of September. We lived at 6 Pingle Lane, Northborough for about 30 years with our Mum (Evelyn) and Dad (Willie) and loved growing up there. Special thanks to Andy and Sue Garford, Julie and Aaron Jones, Wendy and Phillip Dunnett, Ray, Brian and Ruth McKie, Joan Laing, Grace Cross and, the

Village Tribune

current residents of 6 Pingle Lane, Derek and Ros. It was lovely to see everyone looking so well and sprightly - just as I remember some of them from about 25 years ago !

Sue (and Florence), Paul Wareing and my brother Dave Grierson and his wife Mandy from Glinton joined us on the first day to Stamford and we then headed across to Oakham, Kegworth and the Peak District then up the Pennine Way to the border and over the hills to nr Edinburgh. We had a fantastic time and were very lucky with the weather during September and early October.

We completed the walk on 18 Oct so it took 36 days at an average of just under 14 miles a day. We raised over £3,000 plus gift aid for our chosen charities including Parkinsons UK. Thanks - Bill Grierson and Sparky the Border Terrier!

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

‘Clare Square’ officially opened WHILST all the council press releases have confirmed the proper name of this latest phase of Peterborough’s City centre regeneration to be Green Square, it’s already been dubbed Clare Square, after its main feature, a beautiful granite central feature which celebrates the works of Helpston’s famous son, the poet John Clare. PCC Leader and Glinton councillor John Holdich OBE performed the official ceremony with an address on the 15th December, accompanied by Northborough ward Cllr Peter Hiller, Hampton ward Cllr Nigel North and other guests including Deputy Mayor of the City, local primary schools and representatives from the John Clare Trust.

The granite circle is surrounded by sustainable hardwood benches engraved with poems written by local schoolchildren, including from the Castor CE Primary

School, whose pupils were presented with a certificate by the Deputy Mayor to mark the occasion.

John said: “The city centre works we’ve completed are already encouraging people to spend more time in the City and our programme continues into the New Year. This is good

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for visitors, businesses and good for the economy. I think this is a wonderful addition and I’m proud to have been able to declare it officially open for folk to enjoy” Schools that contributed poetry for the benches are Thorpe Primary, Newark Hill Academy and Castor C of E.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Planning applications made in our villages

DUE to the fact that the Tribune is published six times each year, some of these applications could be ‘out of date’ by the time they appear. To keep up-to-date with local planning applications, please look out for the usual notices in local press.

Deeping Gate

Awaiting Decision

Helpston Demolition of existing cottage and construction of replacement threebed dwelling at 57 Riverside Timber garden shed - retrospective

Decided at 3 The Nook Decided Rear dormer extension at 103 Riverside Decided 1 x detached chalet bungalow and detached double garage Resubmission at land to the rear of 43 Riverside Decided Construction of a 2 storey 3 bed dwelling at 1 Riverside

Awaiting Decision

Glinton Installation of 1no. non-illuminated fascia sign at The Chemist Shop 4 Rectory Lane Decided Demolition of modern barn attached to old building and conversion of existing barns from approved commercial use to 5 residential dwellings at Scotts Farm Welmore Road Decided

with garaging and repositioned access at 37 West End Road

Awaiting Decision

Replace two existing single storey garage walls (one side wall and one end). Lower the height of the roof and erect stone pillars either side of Two storey side and first floor rear the existing garage doors at Chapel extensions at 93 Glinton Road Cottage 25 Castle End Road

Decided Decided Replace 17 windows with traditional flush casements at 2 Heath Road Decided Construction of agricultural building land adjacent to Stamford Stone Company Ltd Stamford Road Decided Construction of 34 dwellings land to the West of Woodland Lea Decided

Maxey

Northborough Single storey rear extension to dwelling, garage extension, and garden wall at 4 Granville Avenue

Decided Proposed dwelling at Old School House 1 Lincoln Road

Awaiting Decision

Peakirk

Internal works and alterations and installation of rooflight at Nunton House Maxey Road Decided

Single storey garage block with workshop and WC at Old Station House 2 The Mallards Decided

Demolition of existing bungalow and construction of 1½ storey house at 1A School Lane

Awaiting Decision

Alterations to barn including removal or existing mezzanine floor and internal wall, replacement of roof batons and windows. Removal of garage door and installation of internal staircase at The Corner House 6 St Pegas Road

Awaiting Decision

Change of use from car wash to A1 Shell unit, alterations to building including new pitched roof, cladding Replacement of boundary fence with and new parking areas at Glinton 1800mm high stone wall at 20 West Service Station Lincoln Road End Road Decided

Decided Single storey rear extension Single storey side extension at 52 Distance from original rear wall Elm Crescent Awaiting Decision 7.75m Height 3.9m (2.5m to eaves) at 65B High Street Demolition of existing bungalow and Awaiting Decision erection of 3x two storey dwellings at 16 Rectory Lane Erection of 2x two storey dwellings

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

61

Lay Preacher, Derek Harris - pictured right in festive attire persuaded some of the Benefice Singers to join him leading carols at Lyveden New Bield in Northants on the Saturday before Christmas. A great turnout of supporters, no doubt helped by the unseasonably warm weather (and the mince pies and hot drinks of course!)

Students help commemorate centenary On 14th December 2015, Year 5 and 6 students from Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School strolled down to the recreation ground in unseasonably warm weather to remember the centenary of Joseph Harrison death, the third Glinton casualty in the Great War and the oldest at 37 years. Private Joseph Hastings Harrison lived in Glinton where he was married with five children. As part of the 7th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment he was taken prisoner during the battle of Loos in September 1915. On the 14th December 1915 his wife received notification that he had died in a German hospital and had been buried in Cologne Southern cemetery, Germany.

After a brief introduction by Peter Skinner and a description of Joseph Harrison’s’s life, his regimental details and the events surrounding his death, Year 6 pupils Harriet Martin and William Gidney came forwards to remotely ignite the rocket. After a few moments smoke appeared from the base of the rocket then after a loud whoosh came a tremendous explosion that reverberated around the recreation ground.

This event was reinforced with a card capturing Joseph Harrison’s life and should help the children remember the sacrifice not only of Joseph Harrison but all servicemen and women who have died in conflicts and wars over the years.

This event will happen more times over the next three years to remember the fallen from the 1st World War whose names are inscribed on the new cover steps of Glinton War Memorial.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Glinton Friendship Club update

A MOST happy and fulfilling new year to all tribune readers, friends of GFC and all the other amazing people in our wonderful area.

The GFC has had a year with lots of good things, a few difficult issues and lots to look forward to in 2016.

Our Christmas Celebrations were brilliant with a fantastic meal from Bretton Caterers, some lovely prizes for our festive raffle and Bingo were generously provided by our local village shop, the Bluebell and Mears for which we are so grateful.

And Mears also sent along a troupe of elves to help out too!!

Thanks to the whole catering team especially Brenda and Dave for a gorgeous buffet and thanks to Carole for her scrumptious Christmas cake and drinks. (Hic!) We welcome two new ladies to our helpers team, Mandy

and Elaine, and hope they enjoy the club and keep on coming! We bought most of our Christmas gifts for others (and ourselves) from the wonderful array of goods offered by stallholders for Avon cosmetics, Sue Duncliffes handmade craft and cards, and Lanas Bags and scarves. We’ve also had fun with out regular activities including quizzes, darts matches, and Beetle drives.

A huge thanks must go to Dial a Ride who have served us so well over many years, getting those in wheelchairs to the meetings and fetching them afterwards. Funds are becoming increasingly tight as grants dry up but we are very lucky to have many extremely

generous friends who donate money and goods to the club.

Thank you so much, you know who you are...

We return to regular meetings on 11th January with Jeremy’s Clothes and an ABC quiz and pie and mash for lunch. Later there is a Bring and Buy day where we can ‘recycle’ those unwanted presents and add to the funds too. Also another of Barry’s fiendish quizzes and the month ends with a talk by Annette Joyce from PCC. If you want more information on membership or being a volunteer helper, please ring Barbara on 01733 253078 or Judith on 01733 252724.

Pam Kounougakis

The Glinton and Northbrough Under 10 Black are really looking the part this season thanks to their new kit. Stamford Business man Tim Mytton of Rutland Leadwork provided the side, who play in the Peterborough Junior Alliance league with the new strip. Steve Page (coach) said “We’re playing really well this season”. “From our first 10 games, we have won 7, drawn 1 and lost 2”. Pictured From Left to right: Back row - Matt Beeby (Coach), Tim Mytton (Kit Sponsor), Harry Rippon, Roman Thompson, Jack Ray, Charlie Rigby, Charlie Logan, Jack Brearley, Steve Page (Coach). Front row - Archie Ward, William Levoi, Harry Page, Sam Webb, Billy Haynes

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

The Village Tribune Directory

Mike Sandeman AMVC Head 01733 252235 Dick Talbot Benefice Administrator 01778 342581 Simon Richards Benefice Singers Choirmaster 01778 341686 Roy Pettitt Bowls - Glinton Village Hall 01733 252049 Dave Simson Chair of Governors -

P’cum G’ Primary School 01733 252126

Citizens Advice 0870 1264024 Jane Hill (Chair) Deeping Gate Parish Council 01778 343066 Sandra Hudspeth (Clerk)Deeping Gate Parish 01778 343735

Deepings Practice (main line) 01778 579000

(appointments only) 01778 579001

Delaine Bus Services 01778 422866 Tony Henthorn Editor Tribune 07590 750128 Anne Curwen Etton Churchwarden 01733 253357 Fred Morton Etton Parish Council (Chair) 01733 252912 Emma Tajar Etton Parish Council (Clerk) 01733 234542 Cecilia Hammond FOCC Helpston 07779 264591 Sue Lane Glinton Brownies/ Guides 01733 252593 Veronica Smith Glinton Churchwarden 01733 252019 Bob Quinn Glinton Churchwarden 01733 252161 Pam Kounougakis Glinton Friendship Club 01733 252018 Frank Samet Glinton Horticultural Soc. 01733 253591 John Holdich OBE Glinton Parish Council Chair 01733 253078 Mr John Haste Glinton Parish Clerk 01733 252833 Alison Henthorn Glinton PCC Secretary 01733 252996 Simon Richards Glinton PCC Treasurer 01778 341686 Nicola Litchfield Glinton pre-school playgroup 01733 252361 Pat Carter Glinton Rainbows 01733 253087

Glinton Surgery 01733 252246 Sharon Pallister Glinton Beavers/ Cubs/ Scouts 01733 223888 Ken Doughty Glinton V Hall Bookings 01733 253156 Diane Watts Glinton Women’s Institute 01733 253352 Jenny Dunk Glinton Women’s Institute 01733 254252 Rachel Simmons John Clare Primary Head 01733 252332 Derek Harris Licensed Reader 01733 574311 Richard Astle Langdyke Countryside Trust 01733 252376 Mandy Loveder Maxey Bell Tower Captain 01778 343100 Michael Loveder Maxey Churchwarden 01778 343100 Dick Wilkins Maxey Neighbourhood Watch 01778 348368 Lynne Yarham Maxey Parish Council (Chair) 01778 343077 Dick Talbot Maxey Parish Council (Clerk) 01778 342581

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Margaret Cook Maxey Village Hall 01778 343601 Tina Lapinskis Maxey Sunday School 01778 347280 Robert Ford Maxey Welcome Club 01778 346288 Tina Hughes Northborough Brownies 07432 109474 Polly Beasley Northborough Churchwarden 01778 380849 Jane Knott Northborough Churchwarden 01778 345101 Jane Knott Northborough Guides 01778 345101 Freda Skillman Northborough Licensed R’der 01778 380903 Robert Chiva Northborough PC (Chair) 01733 252823 Derek Lea Northborough PC (Clerk) 01733 572245 Alison Butler Northborough PCC Treasurer 01778 345499 Mrs Christine Moss Northborough Primary Head 01733 252204 Rachael Canham Northborough Pre School 01733 253685 Karen Cooper N/boro Village Hall Bookings 01778 347464 Peter Hiller Northborough Ward Councillor 07920 160487 Mavis Leverington NWR Co-ordinator 01733 253263 Craig Kendall P’cum G’ Primary Head 01733 252361 Trish Roberts Peakirk Churchwarden 01733 253111 Sheila Lever Peakirk Churchwarden 01733 252416 Christine Dearman Peakirk PCC Secretary 01733 252404 Pauline Cooke Peakirk PCC Treasurer 01733 253116 Angela Hankins Peakirk Parish Council Clerk 01733 253397 Henry Clark Peakirk Parish Council Chair 01733 253203 Kirsty Scott Peakirk Horticultural Society 01733 253952 Caroline Burton Peakirk Tots Toddler Group 01733 253677

Peakirk Village Hall Bookings 07938 386226 Maureen Meade Peterborough Adult Learning 01733 761361 John Holdich OBE Peterborough City Council 01733 253078

Peterborough City Council 01733 747474

Peterborough City Hospital 01733 678000 Lorraine Moore (PCSO)Police - emergency calls 999

Less urgent crimes 101

Power Failure 0800 7838838 Hilary Geisow Priest in Charge 01733 253638 Al Good Rotary Club 01733 252064

Samaritans 08457 909090 Mike Goodall St Benedict’s Bell Ringers 01733 253469 Pauline Cooke St Pegas Social Events 01733 253116 Denise Franks Toddler Group 01733 253720

Train Services 0845 748 4950 Joyce Heathcote Whist-Glinton Village Hall 01733 253386 Peter Lake Whist-Glinton Village Hall 01778 346749 Village Hall gates make a return: Re-installed on 10th November, the gates were originally paid for

by Peakirk village folk in 1951 as their contribution to the Festival of Britain. The gates were part of the old village hall grounds and taken out of use in the early 1970s when the new hall was built. After a long respite in Freda Neaverson’s garage and with a little modification from Barry Cooke they are now back in use and a small token of the village’s history.