Tribune 95 West

Issue 95 – November & December 2015

Village Tribune

West Edition Serving the North Peterborough villages of Ashton, Bainton, Barnack, Helpston, Pilsgate, Southorpe and Ufford

Walk this way - photo’ by David Hankins

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Village Tribune (West) contacts...

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

Ashton Distributor: Hilary Smith Thatched Cottage, Ashton, hilly. smith@virgin.net Bainton Distributor: Hilary Smith Thatched Cottage, Ashton Barnack Distributor: George Burage Opposite Millstone, Barnack Barnack Editor: Vacancy Owing to Zena Coles’ other commitments, we are currently looking for a volunteer to fill this role, please contact Tony Henthorn.

Helpston Distributor: Sue Young 1 Arborfield Close Helpston PE6 7DL Tel: 01733 252223 Pilsgate Distributor: Ellie Gompertz Westways, Stamford Road, Pilsgate Southorpe Distributor: Daphne Williams The Old Dairy Barn, Bottom Farm, Main Street.

01780 740511 Ufford Distributor: Frieda Gosling 2 Hillside Close, Ufford PE9 3BW Tel: 01780 740343 Advertising Sales Louise Norris Tel: 07702 594674 E-mail: mypatchsales@ outlook.com Priest in charge Dave Maylor The Rectory, Millstone Lane, Barnack PE9 3ET Tel: 01780 740234 e-mail: dmaylor@btinternet.com

Villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Issue 95 Regulars

Tribune Contacts............................ Page 3 Advertising Rates........................... Page 4 School Report.............................. Page 12 Farming Diary............................... Page 16 Notice Board................................ Page 36 In my Tribland Garden................. Page 37 Letters to the Editor..................... Page 53 Church Services........................... Page 56 Parish Council & area news......... Page 57 Planning Applications................... Page 60 Local Contacts Directory............. Page 63

News & Features Playhouse Bingo............................ Page 2 Safe Local Trades.......................... Page 5 WI brewery trip............................... Page 7 England’s green & pleasant land... Page 8 Parish review action plan............... Page 9 Good news for Gala..................... Page 10 One foot in the pulpit................... Page 13 The Rhapsody Factor................... Page 14 Mustard Seed update.................. Page 15 New book for Tribland................. Page 17 Northborough parking issues....... Page 18 Local river improvements............. Page 21 FOCC host families needed......... Page 21 Maids and Matrons of Mark......... Page 22 Knitting and Arabian nights.......... Page 27 From the kichen of Pierre............. Page 29 Enjoy Tribland countryside........... Page 30 Tribune expansion plans.............. Page 32 Village Hall refurbishment............ Page 33 Back on Broadway....................... Page 34 John Clare Cottage news............ Page 39 John and Barbara run for lives..... Page 40 The Stone Loach Inn.................... Page 43 Tight Lines.................................... Page 45 Lights of Love............................... Page 47 News from Etton.......................... Page 49 Langdyke Trust............................ Page 50 Harvesting Sweetcorn.................. Page 51 Playhouse Christmas Fayre......... Page 52 We will remember........................ Page 59 Pause for thought......................... Page 61

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Future Deadlines Issue No Issue Date 96 Jan/Feb 16 97 Mar/April 16 98 May/June 16 99 July/Aug 16 100 Sept/Oct 16 101 Nov/Dec 16

Deadline Distributed 18/12/15 2/1/16 12/02/16 27/02/16 15/04/16 30/04/16 17/06/16 2/07/16 1 2/08/16 27/08/16 14/10/16 29/10/16

Advertising Rates 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.

Save the date...Helpston’s Got Talent!! Keep Saturday 27th February 2016 free. This popular, sell out event will return once again in February. More details to come over the next few months but keep the date free and start planning your acts now!

Sixth Page Quarter Page Third of a Page Half Page Full Page

Single Edition £25 £45 £55 £75 £140

Both Editions £35 £60 £75 £95 £175

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

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

Village Tribune

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WI brewery trip

HELPSTON WI continues to thrive and have welcomed several new visitors coming to meetings. Recent talks have included traditional bread making by Hambleton Bakeries and next Month (October) will be Stamford Cupcakes.

We went to Elgoods Brewery for a fascinating tour and talk on traditional brewing .We also went around their beautiful award winning gardens and had a chance to taste unusual beers.Another visit to The

House of Commons is planned for October.

Our craft day will be on Saturday 14th November which will be open to all and a chance to learn new crafts or brush up on old ones.It is always a popular event.

We continue with regular Thursday morning walks again open to anyone. We meet at 9am at the shop.

Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

7 Stamford Chamber Orchestra Saturday November 14th at 8.00pm at The Ballroom, Stamford Arts Centre. Join Stamford’s very own orchestra in the Arts Centre Ballroom for an evening of romantic masterpieces.

Schubert’s dramatic Unfinished Symphony and Robert Schumann’s turbulent 4th frame Brahms’ thrilling Double Concerto for violin & cello, played by London soloists Francesca Barritt and Morwenna del Mar (pictured below). Ben Palmer conducts another exciting and unusual programme.

Tickets £12.50/ £10.50 concs/ £5.00 children Box Office: 01780 763203 www.stamfordartscentre.com email: stamfordorchestra@gmail. com.

Did you hear the Bells?

On Sunday 11th October a Full Peal of the 6 Bells of St. Benedict’s Church Glinton was rung to celebrate the life and Christian selflessness of Edith Cavell Edith Cavell was born in Norfolk and worked as a Nurse in various institutions. As soon as war was declared in 1914 she went to Brussels and cared for the injured. She also helped set up a network to move allied soldiers to neutral territory and for

this she was executed by firing squad on 12th October 1915.

A Peal of 5040 changes of Surprise Minor was rung in 2hours 53 minutes by the following ringers: Celia J K Wood (A Glinton ringer), Emma J Southerington (Conductor), Robert M Wood, John Stanworth, Graham J N Colbourne, Richard I Allton We congratulate them for achieving the peal. It was lovely to hear the bells rung so well

and in response to the article in the previous Tribune a number of people came and sat outside to listen to the bells .

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

England’s green and pleasant land... ... BUT, for how long?

Visitors to Tribune Country are impressed by its green fields, hedges, verges and woods.

They admire the stately homes, old stone villages, churches and walls. They enjoy our nature reserves. This is our heritage but we should not take it for granted.

Our villages have evolved over hundreds of years and each one has unique features - a church dating from Anglo-Saxon times, a butter cross, a well and duck pond, slabs of Barnack stone by the roadside and of course Hills and Holes, source of the stone.

Most old village centres have been designated as conservation areas.

In more recent times local plans have been prepared by the Peterborough City Council and these have sought to allow some villages to grow, while protecting the countryside through the drawing of village envelopes on a map. The land outside is known as the “open countryside” and new development is strictly controlled.

Up to now the parish councils and the planning department have liaised to protect the village envelopes. Everyone agrees that they do not want the villages to merge.

However there have been attempts to breach the village envelopes for inappropriate development in the open countryside. Landowners are holding on to land, waiting until such time as they can build a few houses or a whole estate.

The most recent threat is from developers who are looking to get planning permission to build dozens of houses outside village envelopes, despite local objections. This is also happening in other parts of England.

Developments in Green Belts Following the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act, with the aim of preventing urban sprawl, green belts were designated round most big cities, but there is no green belt around Peterborough.

According to the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, green belts contained 30,000 km of footpaths, 220,000 ha of woodland and 250,000 ha of good farmland. However, as a result of the re-designation of land by the Local Planning Authorities, almost 5,000 acres of green belt land was lost in the year up to March 2015 to allow for large developments.

Government Policy The Conservative manifesto promised four times that the green belt would be protected.

The national planning policy framework three years ago, which has been described as a developers` charter, claimed that there would be strong protection to prevent inappropriate development. However, there has been an obligation for councils to allocate land for housing or face a presumption in favour of development.

David Cameron and George Osborne wrote in The Times in July: “We will always protect the green belt and make sure that planning decisions are made by local people”. This reflects the spirit of the Localism Act. Do we need to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan? Parishes or groups of parishes such as Barnack Ward are being encouraged by the government to produce a Neighbourhood Plan to reflect local priorities, including the recommendation of land for development and

the identification of brown field (land previously used) sites.

There is an assurance that a Neighbourhood Plan is a policy document which has to be consulted when planning applications are being decided.

During the production of a Neighbourhood Plan there is liaison with the planning department and community involvement. It includes not just the sites and design of housing but also businesses, public buildings such as schools, open spaces and so on. Finally there is an independent inspection and a referendum.

The main disadvantages are that a lot of work is involved and it could take at least 2 years. The cost would be the responsibility of the parishes and the Ward.

Peterborough City Council is producing a new Local Plan It will include a vision for Peterborough. There will be no site allocations in the first draft. Consultation will begin in Jan-Feb 2016 and developers, agents, landowners and parish councils will be asked to put forward sites to be considered for development. These will be included in the next version due for consultation in July.

There will also be a review of village envelopes to allow for suggested changes, but these will be assessed and there will be further consultation.

As a resident with a passion for the conservation of our countryside, these are my personal thoughts. There are opportunities for us all to be involved in the planning process. It is up to us to decide whether we want to take up the challenge.

Frieda Gosling

Village Tribune

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Parish review action plan Barnack and Pilsgate Parish Council is currently reviewing the Parish Action Plan, which was first published in January 2014. Residents of these villages are invited to comment on the draft revision. Electronic copies are available from Margaret Palmer (email bmpalmer@ aol.com) and hard copies can be collected from the Clerk (Stoneycroft, Millstone Lane, Barnack). Please send comments on the Plan to Margaret Palmer by email or as hard copy (to Nethercott, Stamford Road, Barnack, PE9 3EZ) by 20th November 2015.

The first baptism to take place in the newly renovated Ufford Church was a great occasion for all present, especially for the Thorp family of Ufford. Rupert and Emma brought their two children, Esme Nell and Stanley John Ernest to join the Christian family when members of all churches in the Tribune West area came together. Parents, Godparents and grandparents of the children were invited to take their turns at signing them with the sign of the cross using holy oil which came from the Holy Land. Canon Margaret Venables, former vicar of Barnack, performed the ceremony as Rev Dave Maylor was taking a rare and well-deserved holiday. Congregations at the group of churches have held up well during the summer as members have gone around the different buildings Sunday by Sunday

David Over This is the farmland in Barnack threatened with 85 new houses. Why does a landowner from Kent and a developer want to wreck a village? Money?

Maxey Road traffic I’m becoming increasingly concerned about the traffic situation on Maxey Road in Helpston. Since they closed Lohlam cars are now using Maxey Road as their new route.

This picture was taken from the entrance of Maxey Road (by Glinton Rd) and as you can see, cars are queuing all the way to the crossing at the bottom making it impossible for residents to get to/leave their homes! Three more cars arrived in the minute it took to take these pictures - what can we do? Any suggestions?

Lesley Loveday

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Village Tribune

Good news for Gala Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

TRIBUNE readers keeping an eye out for the date of Helpston’s Church Gala this year were saddened to learn that there just wasn’t going to be one.

“We couldn’t believe it’” said one young lady. “We loved walking around the stalls, picking up bargains and playing all those old-fashioned games.”

It is a story of church people getting tired, too few carrying too much responsibility, and not finding enough people to help get the project off the ground – an event which had been running since the eighties, when an urgent building restoration was needed.

Good News at last, everyone, because spurred on by comments from the public and Helpston Parish Council, a group of enthusiastic and energetic people have come together with Vicar, Dave Maylor and St Botolph’s Gala Committee and plans are afoot for a 2016 Gala which will be bigger and better than in previous years with lots of new attractions as well as all the usual well-loved stalls and games.

At a meeting in mid-October it was decided that the Gala should take place on Saturday 11th June from 12 noon until 4pm, the usual May date being delayed so that visitors can enjoy a really special weekend with gardens looking their summer best and the Helpston Open Gardens event being held on Sunday 12th. Village organisations are invited to take a part in Saturday’s Gala and will then receive a proportion of the funds raised. St Botolph’s is an ancient building with costly upkeep. While congregations are building, thanks to the leadership of Rev Dave Maylor and his wife, Kim, there are many people who visit it rarely, but, nevertheless appreciate the building and find that when there is a wedding, baptism or funeral in the family, they are glad it’s still standing.

Our churches throughout Tribuneland, with their spires and churchyards with graves of generations of local families provide a link with the past and the spiritual. Their very size and centrality within their villages cries out that they

refuse to be ignored. Therefore in order to maintain them, fundraising needs to be regular so that when the roofs leak or rot begins in beams there is a ‘cushion’ of money to be used quickly, saving a panicky response.

Funds raised at the 2016 Gala will be allocated by allowing 50% for the church building fund, 40% for local charities and 10% for overseas charities.

So a spectacular weekend is in store, with the support of those who generously open their beautiful gardens to the public, and where here, as well, there will be added attractions this coming year.

So get out your phones, calendars and diaries (if you have them!) and book this weekend which promises fun for everybody.

If you are a representative of a village organisation and would like to get involved please contact Rev Dave Maylor on 01780 740234.

Look out for updates on the Village Tribune website for further updates on the Gala – www.villagetribune.org.uk

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

School Report

News from John Clare School

THE new school year started in September, but as ever, preparations by the staff had been underway long before this to ensure a smooth yet exciting return to school. Over the holidays, improvements were made to the school library, with the purchase of new books and comfy bean-bags for the avid readers.

Following the Government’s nation-wide introduction of a new Primary curriculum, staff have all been trained in a new Calculations policy which will encourage children to use even more reasoning and conjecture in their Maths lessons.

Saturday 12th September was ‘Ground Force Day’ at JCP (see picture above). The Wildlife Area has now been cleared, with branches lopped, undergrowth cut back, the changing rooms painted and the school field spruced up. A huge thank you is due to the band of volunteers who gave their time and were rewarded with a barbecue and ice-

cream. It is super to see our dual-use field tidy, and ready for many happy hours of play.

It is pleasing to report that the newly installed CCTV is helping to make the field a safer place for our children to play both in and out of school hours.

The new Reception children have settled in well to school life, joining the rest of the school at St. Botolph’s Church for Harvest Festival. The service was led by Reverend Dave, with each class contributing a poem, song, or piece of artwork. The children also brought with them contributions to Peterborough Food Bank.

Promoting the enjoyment of reading has always been of paramount importance throughout the school.

Following a family reading assembly, Buttercross children and their parents enjoyed sharing books in a reading workshop.

The 15th October saw the start of our sporting calendar.

Two teams from Torpel class took part in the Soke Hockey

Tournament. Following a nailbiting final, in extra time John Clare scored the decisive goal against a strong Glinton side.

The school’s Bronze Sports Ambassadors are currently planning an inter-house football goal kick shootout.

The Friends have organised a school disco for all the children on the last day of half-term.

As ever, lots to do, and lots to look forward to at JCP!

Children at JCP are now being given the opportunity to take part in lessons exploring the Wildlife Area

Village Tribune

One Foot in the Pulpit

An occasional series by Derek R Harris

The lamps are still out IT IS a few months over a hundred and one years since Viscount Edward Grey uttered his now famous line, “The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.” He was, of course, alluding the outbreak of the First World War. The number of documentaries and dramas that flooded our television screens last year certainly left us in no doubt that last year marked the centenary of the outbreak, but what has happened since then? The war had not stopped – it would continue for another four long years. One hundred years ago this year, in 1915, in January, HMS Formidable was sunk off the Dorset coast with the loss of 547 lives and Zeppelins bombed Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn. In March the attack on the Dardanelles failed. The following month, the Second Battle of Ypres took place and the ill-fated Gallipoli Campaign was begun. The Lusitania was sunk in May, while in October, Edith Cavell was shot for assisting the escape of Allied soldiers.

But apart from local commemorations concerning Nurse Cavell, it seems to me that the media has been relatively silent about the subject by comparison with last year’s barrage of programmes.

Anyone who knew no better could be forgiven for thinking that the war lasted for only a year.

The truth is different. Men were still being sent to France to live and die in the squalor of rat-infested trenches. Endless lists of the dead were still being posted. Families were still receiving the dreadful news that their loved ones, whom they had watched as they marched off so proudly, would never return.

But it was not all doom and gloom. Yes, the trenches were vile places to live. Yes, they never knew when the next deadly wave of shells was coming. Someone once described war as “months of interminable boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror”. To relieve the “interminable boredom” the troops found a number of ways to entertain themselves and each other. Back behind the

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lines they organised concert parties, while in the trenches they composed songs about their plight, often taking the tunes of hit songs of the day and rewriting the lyrics. Many of these were understandably bawdy in nature and contained not a little gallows humour.

Meanwhile, back home, the wives, sweethearts and mothers of the servicemen had their own songs to sing.

It is this aspect of the war that my friend, Julie ‘Bubbles’ and I are presenting in our show, “For Gawd’s Sake Don’t Send Me” at Glinton Village Hall on Saturday 7 November. Told in the form of a correspondence between Private Tommy Atkins at the front and his sweetheart, Mary, the girl he left behind at home, the show tells the story of the war from their points of view and is illustrated with many of the songs of the period.

The war did not start and end in 1914, and I think our show gives a flavour of how those involved in it made the best of it and how they managed to cope with the passage of time until 11.00am on the 11th November 1918.

I urge you to get a ticket and come along – not just because I helped to write the show and appear in it, but also in so doing you will support our more recent service heroes as a donation will be given to the British Forces Foundation.

villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Mustard Seed Project update

HELLO to you all, from Kenya.

As we write, we are awaiting imminent bad weather: when we arrived we were told that El Nino was about to reach Mombasa and flood the coast. They expect torrential rain which would cause huge disruption and a large amount of mud. It has been cooler than normal, with temperatures in the mid- to upper 20s, so it is currently very pleasant but it may not last‌ However, we have two pieces of good news to share – firstly; Deepings Rotary, plus a private donor, have given us money to build a cess pit and soak-away. This may not sound very glamourous but, if you think of 75 children and three teachers filling one small pit latrine for two terms, you might imagine how great the need is. It has been agreed that construction will be left until the school term finishes in the middle of November, so that it will be ready for the

start of the new term four weeks later.

And secondly; Allen and Nesta Ferguson, a charitable trust, has just given us a large donation which will allow us to complete the next phase of the school. Geoff had a very long meeting with the local architect and the contractor the day after we arrived and the senior architect is coming down from Nairobi so we are hoping to confirm a starting date soon.

As you might imagine, we are feeling very, very happy!

Instead of going into school on our first day, Miche Bora’s head teacher, Irene, came to the hotel for a meeting.

It lasted from 10 am to 4pm, and included lunch, but we both felt that it had been hugely productive. We shall certainly do it again in future, as it is so difficult to meet in a noisy school with constant interruptions.

Later in the week, we shall be holding interviews and hope to discover some more good teachers to add to our fantastic school team.

Geoff and I are looking forward to visiting the new school building again, now that the snagging work has been completed. We also need to check on some equipment that was sent out in a shared

container: it would appear that we have items that belong to others and that they have some of our things. Sending stuff to Kenya in a container is very expensive, as they tax everything even though it is second hand but it may be something that we shall have to reconsider in future as we had a big problem at Nairobi airport this time.

There is no porterage at the airport but this has never been a problem before because there are random guys who hang around to help us transfer our luggage from the international to the domestic airport. However, this time the police would not allow them to. The distance is about 500 yards - up a slope - and, with extra baggage, it was an exhausting struggle.

Nevertheless, now that we have arrived safely, we have such a lot planned and the four weeks have become booked up very quickly. If you are interested to know more, please visit our website to: sign up for regular updates; find out about fundraising; see what volunteers have achieved and the progress MSP has made since it began. www. mustardseedproject.co.uk Kind regards, Rita and Geoff

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

Village Tribune

Rosemary’s Farming Diary – November 2015 WITH the cereal harvest (combinable crops) well behind us – our last crop to combine were the winter beans finishing on 4th September; yields a little disappointing, but a good average overall.

The sowing for next year’s crop – oil seed rape began on 20th August and was completed in seven days owing to rain being persistent the last two weeks of August. With the moisture and warmth we have experienced the last six weeks the oil seed rape crop has made good growth - well out of the way of the pigeon’s damage, we hope. The sowing of winter oats followed on the 18th September, winter wheat began on 20th September and both crops are showing well at the time of writing these notes on 8th October, the winter barley was sown next following on with the winter beans towards the end of October.

The sugar beet factories opened later in September this year; with sugars ranging from 14.5% on the Suffolk marshes, a respectable 17.5% inland and locally 19% sugars being recorded locally; we ourselves expect to lift our first fields of sugar beet mid-October, these will be cultivated and sown with winter wheat. This year the sugar beet campaign will be much shorter owing to the reduced acreage which we as growers were advised to grow

by British Sugar last spring.

It’s amazing how the countryside is changing from its rich green foliage to rustic brown leaves on the trees and shrubs, the arable fields from dark brown soil to different shades of green – depending

on what crop it is that’s being grown – there also appears to be an abundance of berries on the hawthorn hedges – a country saying this ‘predicts a hard winter ahead’.

After fifty years, it’s interesting to read shoppers appear to be turning their backs on the big shop and reverting to buying habits of their grandparents. A food report “Back to the Future” compares and contrasts food shopping in 2015 with the mid-sixties and shows that less than half (48%) of today’s consumers now go shopping once a week. The modern trend of shunning the big shop in favour of buying smaller amounts locally reflects exactly what was happening 50 years ago.

A 0.1% reported annual food inflation in July 2015 following 0.4% fall in June – the first rise in seven months.

There is very little change for our commodity selling prices – there appears to be an abundance of most commodities we grow in England and abroad which is helping to depress markets worldwide and is already making its presence felt not only in the farming community but with suppliers to our industry; how long businesses will be able to carry on with these volatile and unsustainable markets is a question foremost in everyone’s mind – it’s certainly doing no one any favours in the short term – long term those that have survived – who knows… probably more imported products where labour is cheaper and possibly in larger businesses who may

be able to withstand these difficult times all of which could come at a price to our countryside and all involved.

On a more cheerful subject Christmas is fast approaching with only 10 weeks to go as people keep reminding us, the Farm shop is already taking orders and stocking with essentials for your Christmas festivities.

This week the weather has turned much colder reminding us that the more delicate plants need frost protection, any fruit (apple) still on trees need to be picked and generally the gardens tidied up for the winter.

British summer time ended on the 24th October and by the time The Tribune reaches you we shall be experiencing the first taste of those shorter daylight hours and longer nights – something I think most of us are not looking forward to, let’s hope the weather will be kind to us this winter.

As this is the last issue of The Tribune before Christmas I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

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

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Facinating Tribland ‘facts’ in new book ALL of the villages covered by the Tribune feature in Glinton author Simon Potter’s latest publication, The Dayby-Day Peterborough Desk Diary, which features space to write your own appointments along with over a thousand Peterborough-related anniversaries, typically three for each date throughout 2016.

“It’s a book that will really surprise people when they discover how much history Peterborough has,” explains Simon. “It will hopefully amaze folk with fascinating facts that they never knew while bringing back memories of events they were part of.”

From Dickens to Shakespeare, from the Beatles to Take That, from the Wombles to Star Wars: they all had links with Peterborough and it’s all in The Day-by-Day Peterborough Desk Diary.

“I discovered a lot of interesting things about our local villages while researching

this book,” adds the father-oftwo, who was formerly news editor of both Hereward Radio and Lite FM. “I was intrigued by the school of thought that author Daniel Defoe was born in Etton and the fact that the mother of our first Tudor king, Henry VII lived in Maxey.

“Obviously the likes of John Clare in Helpston, Oliver Cromwell’s widow in Northborough and St Pega in Peakirk are all included, but there are lots of other interesting tales such as the story of the Deeping Gate man who was summoned to court 130 years ago for failing to tell the authorities he had an outbreak of swine fever on his premises. He was let off on the grounds that he’d never heard of the disease, let along rules about notifying it!”

The Day-by-Day Peterborough Desk Diary is available from outlets across Peterborough such as the Visitor Information

Centre and also from www. peterboroughdiary.com It also has a promotional video on YouTube. “My son, Nathaniel made it for me,” smiles Simon. “Just don’t ask how he managed to get footage of Peterborough Town Hall being blown up in a mortar attack!” Readers can view it on the new Tribune website at www.villagetribune.org.uk

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

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Northborough parking problem relieved THE potentially dangerous practice of parking half-on the footpath has been hugely reduced by ward councillor Peter Hiller’s action to install double yellow lines along the affected Northborough end of the Deeping St James Road in Northborough Village.

The Tribune understands that since the parking restriction’s recent implementation the long-standing occurrence has virtually stopped.

When contacted by the Tribune, Peter told us: “In addition to numerous complaints I’ve had from nearby residents, concerned pedestrians and wheelchair users about the footpath being blocked by cars parked on it, PCC Highways officers and I had a genuine fear an accident was waiting to happen as drivers were forced to cross the middle line of the road

into the path of oncoming traffic to avoid colliding with irresponsibly parked vehicles” Peter continued “The bend in the road just after the Lincoln Road junction exacerbated the problem for Deeping Gate bound traffic and, frankly, the situation was unsafe and unacceptable. After a positive feedback from the statutory public consultation the lines

marking now makes it illegal to park here. I have instructed the council’s Civil Enforcement Officers to monitor this area weekly, at varied days and times, to ensure compliance.

This action, and the recent speed limit reduction from 60mph to 40mph along the long straight section of this road, will I hope improve safety here considerably”

Telephone: 01733 252426

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Village Tribune

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Local river ‘improvements’ The independent charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) has teamed up with Peterborough City Council and the Environment Agency to work on an exciting river improvement programme in Peterborough.

Residents are being invited to a series of public consultation events to have their say on proposals to create an improved river environment in Peterborough. The Werrington Brook Improvements aim to holistically improve a subcatchment of the River Welland during a 5-7 year partnership programme of communityfocused works.

The proposed plans include physical works to a series of brooks that flow into the River Welland, focusing on Marholm Brook, Werrington Brook, Cuckoo’s Hollow and their interaction with Brook Drain and Paston Brook. The programme will not only involve physical works to the river, but will also explore how the local community and businesses can work together to reduce pollution.

The programme takes an allinclusive approach to creating a healthy river environment that can benefit everyone living, working or visiting the areas around North Bretton, Walton and North and South Werrington. The partnership

aims to make the brooks physically more resilient, tackle sources of pollution and enable community involvement in helping to sustain river improvements.

“We would very much like the opportunity to explain and discuss the improvements with local people, who have significant local understanding and expertise that can really benefit the programme,” explains Catchment Co-ordinator Rob Price from the Environment Agency.

“Having a healthy river means a healthy local environment – something which everyone deserves.”

For more information, please contact Jennie Orrell (pictured below), Werrington Brook Project Officer on 01733 866437 or email jennifer. orrell@pect.org.uk. Find out further details about the project at www.pect.org.uk/ werringtonbrook.

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FOCC 2016 host families needed

The Chernobyl Children need hosts for summer 2016: 25th June to 23rd July. Do you live within 20 minutes drive of Helpston, would you like to help transform the life of a child whose life is blighted by the Chernobyl Disaster? The children are lovely kids, who just want to breath air and eat food free from the Chernobyl radiation.

They love to play outside, eat mountains of fruit and just have fun. The children attend activities every week day, so if you work you can still apply. Please get in touch with Cecilia 07779 264591, email: focc_helpston@msn.com, www.focc-helpston.co.uk

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Maids (and Matrons) of Mark

by Dr Avril Lumley Prior

INITIALLY, this feature was intended to be called ‘Men and Women of Mark’. Within thinking distance, I realised that Trib-land had played host to so many famous females that they deserved their own tribute. Moreover, it should be remembered that behind every great man there is often an even greater (and sometimes surprised) woman, working her wonders in the shadows and enthusing over his Grand Schemes. In truth, some of our Trib-land heroines’ claims to fame were through marriage and motherhood; others through their charity, chastity and piety and all through their sheer determination and high-mindedness. Let none of them be forgotten.

Undoubtedly, Trib-land’s most famous resident is St Pega (died 719), who gave her name to Peakirk. In an era when a woman’s only life-style choices were marriage or the convent,

Geddington: Eleanor Cross (Markham, 1901)

Pega embraced the latter.

Nothing is known about her early life, since she only warrants two citations in her brother, Guthlac of Crowland’s, biography written during the mid-eighth century

by Felix, a monk at Repton.

The first concerns her role at Guthlac’s funeral and elevation of his undecayed body to a sarcophagus a year late; the second, her healing of a blind man with salt that Guthlac had blessed. Then, according a fifteenth-century Crowland chronicler, Pega ‘returned by boat to her cell, which lay to the west, at a distance of four leagues’, reputedly on the site of the present Peakirk Hermitage.

And there we must leave her because I plan a series of Trib. articles to commemorate Peakirk church’s millennium (10162016) in which new information about the so-called ‘Peakirk Monastery’ will be revealed.

Miss Bertha Dorothy James (1859-1936), the niece of Reverend Canon Edward James, Rector of Peakirk (1865-1912), was captivated by the story of St Pega and aspired to revive the tradition of a religious community there.

Perhaps, she was instrumental in persuading her father, Francis James of Edgeworth Manor, Gloucestershire, to buy the copyhold of the thirteenthcentury ‘hermitage chapel’ (then a run-down farmhouse) from the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral, in 1878. Two years later, Francis converted it into a parish hall and Sunday schoolroom, leasing it to the Parochial Church Council for five shillings a year, and erected a cottage next door.

After his death, the property passed to sons, Arthur and then Frank, who sold the complex to Bertha, in 1914. Although she still lived at 107 Burton

Peakirk: St Pega (window, 1950) Court, London SW3 and drew rent from the Church Council, she paid for the maintenance of the vestry and two seats in the Lady Chapel of St Pega’s church which, apparently, had been the Hermitage owners’ responsibility since at least 1617.

In 1926, Bertha purchased the freehold and began to prepare the buildings for conventual use.

She died before its completion, bequeathing it to the Community of the Holy Family, a teaching order of Anglican nuns from Sussex, who lived there until 1980.

This was not Bertha’s only philanthropic act in Peakirk.

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During the 1920s, she was responsible for rescuing a meadow between the church and the Deeping Road from becoming a housing development. She renamed it ‘St Pega’s Mead’, and specified that it could be used only as a children’s playground or ‘a garden where old people can sit at their pleasure’. Now the village green, it remained Peakirk Hermitage’s property until September 2002, when it was bought by Peakirk Parish Council and, thanks to Bertha, continues to be a place of recreation for Pegekirkians and visitors of all ages.

A second Peakirk benefactress was Anne Ireland (1635-1712).

She was born to Zachary Ireland of Castor in the days when the inclusion of a mother’s name on a baptismal register was deemed superfluous unless, of course, she were widowed or (Heaven forbid) unwed. Nothing else is known about Anne except that she was a wellheeled, spinster and champion of universal education. Her legacy of £100 allowed her executors to buy land, the rent from which would support ‘a charity school’ in the north aisle of Glinton church. In 1715, the Rector, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of Glintoncum-Peakirk appointed a schoolmaster to teach reading to fifteen, carefully-selected, pauper children (ten from Glinton, five from Peakirk). It was anticipated that, once the income from their investments increased, writing and arithmetic would be added to the ‘free scholars’’ curriculum. Meanwhile, parents would have to pay for tuition in these subjects and the teacher could supplement his salary by recruiting fee-paying pupils from wealthier families. Although there may well have been a school in Glinton or Peakirk before 1715, Anne Ireland’s Charity must be credited for dispensing free education to children from the

humblest of backgrounds more than a century before the 1833 Education Act offered voluntary schooling to all boys and girls aged between five and ten.

In 1845, Glinton-cum-Peakirk Parochial National School was founded on the site of the present building, to which Madame Tildesley de Bosset (1777-1867) of Marylebone bequeathed £500. The money was invested and partially funded the 1895 extension.

Mary Barnard (died 1837), widow of Reverend Benjamin Barnard, Rector of Peakirk (1801-15) and Miss Ann Scott (1793-1871), who farmed 120 acres at Glinton, set up a trust to distribute winter fuel amongst to the Glinton-cum-Peakirk poor. Similar schemes to help the destitute of Deeping Gate and Maxey were operating thanks to bequests from Miss Susan Worsley (1576-1667) and widows, Mary Walsham (16851745), Jane Baines (1795-1822) and Elizabeth Bellars (1800-75).

At the opposite end of the social spectrum, Eleanor the Infanta (princess) of Castile (c.1244-90) was the epitome of a medieval queen. At ten-yearsold, she was given in marriage to the future Edward I (12741307) and had the first of their fifteen children at twenty, two of them born whilst on Crusade with her husband. Although she is portrayed as a devoted wife and mother, she was an equally-shrewd business woman and a voracious land-grabber.

The Honour of Torpel, which included estates at Helpston, Ashton, Bainton, Maxey, Nunton, Lolham, Glinton and Northborough, formed part of her vast portfolio and had been snapped up in 1282, when lord-of-the-manor John de Camois found himself in financial difficulties. Eleanor, it is claimed, grew extremely fond of Torpel and the royal couple held Court here for the last time just two months before her death on 14

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November 1290 at Herdeby, near Grantham. Edward was so grief-stricken that he erected twelve ‘Eleanor Crosses’ at each overnight resting-place for her cortege on its journey to Westminster Abbey.

Geddington and Hardingstone (Northamptonshire) crosses survive in their original form and encapsulate statues of his beloved queen. The Infanta of Castile was also immortalised in the names of several SouthLondon taverns. Their earliest proprietors knew no Spanish, so, they simply called their establishments ‘The Elephant and Castle’.

Eleanor’s direct descendant, the orphaned heiress Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond

Hardingtone Cross: Queen Eleanor (Markham, 1901)

*

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

also was mistress * (1443-1509), of Torpel. Born at Bletsoe Castle (Bedfordshire) on 31 May 1443, she had four husbands, three of them by the age of fourteen.

All pale into insignificance compared with her own brilliance, tenacity and ambition.

Her first contract, when she was about seven, was annulled in time for her to remarry in 1455, shortly after the start of the Wars of the Roses between the royal houses of York and Lancaster. Margaret was twelve years old and her bridegroom, Lancastrian Edmund Tudor, twenty-four. He died within a year and Margaret six-months pregnant with her only child, the future Henry VII (1485-1509), fled to the safety of Pembroke Castle where her brother-in-law, Jasper Tudor, was Constable.

After Henry’s birth, she became the quintessential ‘tiger mum’.

While Henry spent thirteen of his formative years in hiding in Wales or in exile in Brittany with his Uncle Jasper dodging Edward IV (1461-70; 1471-83), Margaret facilitated his ascent to the English throne, through two more strategic marriages. In 1458, she wed the Lancastrian Henry Stafford, who died fighting her cause in 1471, and then, in 1472, Yorkist sympathiser Thomas Lord Stanley, who gave her crucial access to Edward’s Court where she became the queen’s confidant.

Margaret faced seemingly-

Margaret Beaufort, artist unknown (Wikipedia)

insurmountable odds in her quest on her son’s behalf.

Edward IV’s sons, (the ill-fated Edward V and Richard Duke of York), Edward IV’s brothers, George Duke of Clarence and the future Richard III (1483-85) and their two sons all (debatably) had a stronger claim to the throne than Henry. Conveniently, King Edward and his brothers’ offspring died from natural causes, George was executed for treason, the princes were murdered in the Tower and, as we know, Richard III was killed fighting Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field, thereby ending the Wars of the Roses, the Plantagenet dynasty and, some historians propose, the medieval period.

Henry VII duly was crowned and married Edward IV’s daughter, Elizabeth, uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York.

In 1499, Margaret took the vow of chastity and decamped to Collyweston and held her manorial court at Maxey Castle.

She devoted her life to ‘good works’, including the foundation of Christ Church College, Cambridge and died six months after her son on 29 June 1509.

Like the teenage mother, Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth Cromwell (1598-1665) can almost be described as a martyr to the cause. The eldest child of Sir James and Lady Frances Bouchier of Felsted (Essex), she married Oliver Cromwell, later Lord Protector of England (1653-

Elizabeth Cromwell by Robert Walker (Wikipedia)

Village Tribune 58), in London on 22 August 1620. Their union was happy and produced nine children, eight of whom reached adulthood.

However, once her husband pledged himself to Purtanism, the couple especially Elizabeth became the butt of cruel verbal abuse and were lampooned in literature and at the theatre.

After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Cromwell’s widow lost everything and took refuge with her daughter, Elizabeth, who had married Royalist John Claypole of Northborough Castle. To his credit, John cared for his motherin-law even after his wife’s death and buried her with her daughter in the Claypole (de la Mare) Chapel of St Andrew’s church.

Not far from Mrs Cromwell, another tragic widow lies in Northborough churchyard. She is (Martha) Patty Clare, the daughter of small-holders William and Sarah Turner, who had her baptised at St Peter’s church, Tickencote (Rutland) on 13 April 1800. Nineteen years later, she had the misfortune to meet Helpston’s ‘peasant poet’, John Clare (1793-1864), then a limeburner at Pickworth and Great Casterton kilns. Following a brief courtship, which resulted in the first of Patty’s nine pregnancies, they married on 16 March 1820 at SS Peter’s and Paul’s church, Great Casterton, and later in the year moved with their infant daughter into John’s parents’ Helpston cottage. There, began Patty’s life of drudgery and heartache, the fate of so many nineteenth-century, workingclass wives.

John spent much of their early married life in London promoting his work and seeking sponsorship. When he was at home, Patty admirably catered for visiting wealthy, aristocratic and learned patrons and endured her husband’s late-night revels with his village chums. Lord Fitzwilliam of Milton, recognising John’s overcrowded cottage

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was inconducive to poetrywriting, provided them with a ‘handsome’, more-spacious dwelling in Northborough.

Uprooted from Helpston, John missed his drinking companions and his ‘Happy Eden’ at Helpston so much that he suffered bouts of severe depression. In July 1837, he was admitted to Lippett’s Hill Lodge Asylum, near Epping Forest but absconded in July 1841 only to be intercepted near Werrington (probably by Patty) and taken to Northborough. On 29 December he was re-interned, this time at St Andrew’s Hospital, Northampton, where he died of apoplexy in 1864. Patty had not seen him for nearly 23 years.

As well as her husband, four of her seven surviving children predeceased her. She remained in Fitzwilliam‘s cottage, sharing what little she had with those she regarded worse off than herself, a testimony to her generosity and strength of character. Patty Clare died of ‘heart disease’ in on 2 February 1871, whilst visiting her daughter, Eliza, in Spalding.

Poor Patty did not even have the consolation of being the love of John Clare’s life. He had met his childhood sweetheart, Mary Joyce (1896/7-1838), daughter of yeoman farmer James Joyce, at school in Glinton church. Their relationship cooled after John realised that her father viewed him as unsuitable son-in-law material. After Mr Joyce’s death, he renewed his acquaintance with Mary but did not feel ready to settle down and raise a family with her. A few months later, he found himself in exactly the situation that he had feared.

Nevertheless, Mary remained his muse and he fantasised about her throughout his confinements, believing that he was married to both her and Patty. In fact, after his 100-mile trek from Epping Forest, it was the still-single Mary, ‘his own love forever’ rather than Patty that he sought.

He was three years too late for she had lost her life in a fire on 14 July 1838, almost exactly a year to the day that he had been despatched to the asylum. John refused to accept that Mary was dead and he continued to immortalise her in his poems.

Finally, on a happier note, I would like to introduce (Adrienne) Elizabeth Snowball. She was born in the heart of Trib-land, on 14 January 1939 in the old School House on Tallington Road, Bainton, to accomplished musicians, Doris and Albert. Her father played the piano, organ and viola and her mother the cello, harmonium and accordion as well. Their daughter inherited their musical genes and gave her first public recital aged just three or four when she entertained the congregation of Barnack Methodist chapel with ‘Twinkle, Twinkle little Star’ and ‘God rest ye merry Gentlemen’ on her violin. While still tiny, she learnt the harmonium sitting on Doris’ lap, with Mum working the pedals. The piano was her next challenge, then on her thirteenth birthday, she played the organ for a service at St Mary’s Bainton. Not surprisingly, on leaving Arthur Mellows Village College she won a bursary to study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music in London. A distinguished career in performing at the highest professional level, teaching and composing followed.

Yet, Elizabeth never forgot her Bainton roots and, although based in London, she tried to spend weekends helping with her parents’ newsagency. She perpetuated the family tradition started by Albert and Doris as church organists at Bainton, Barnack, Helpston and Ufford.

When her mother died in 1988, Elizabeth composed a suite in her honour, naming pieces after local villages. She also has written a book about her adventures, ‘The Three Musical Snowballs’, and instigated

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Stamford University of the Third Age Choir. Elizabeth now lives in Helpston, a vivacious 76 yearold, whose life as ever is filled with music.

Mr Snowball faced criticism for allowing his daughter to pursue an independent career in London instead of marriage and domesticity. Sadly, even in the mid twentieth-century these were considered the ultimate goals for many women. This may explain why Pega, Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth Cromwell, Patty Clare and Mary Joyce are depicted as uncomplaining and compliant, accepting their lots with dignity, stoicism and fortitude, whilst Ann Ireland and her ilk are remembered only through their charities. In contrast, Eleanor of Castile, Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth Snowball competed in a man’s world and used their intelligence, charm and talents to squeeze, smash or gracefully glide their way through the Glass Ceiling, leaving an indelible mark on local, national and global history. What an achievement!

Elizabeth Snowball at Barnack, 2012. The author would like to thank to Elizabeth for her input and reminiscences. Please, note that Peakirk Hermitage is now a private house and closed to the public.

26

Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

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

www.stamfordpropertymaintenance.co.uk E: stamfordpm@gmail.com

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27

Knitting and Arabian nights TRUE or False - a dog was once a fully paid up member of the WI?’ Just one of the questions from the On the Edge fun quiz from September’s meeting. The evening included an ingredients hunt, the tasting of unusual preserves and the opportunity to play ‘Jerusalem’ on the xylophone. As a new group it gave us all the chance to get to know each other and have some fun at the same time. (And yes, a dog called Tinker was a member in 1915.)

October marked the Centenary of the death of heroine Edith Cavell. On the Edge honoured her with an informative presentation about her life and work. The WWI nurse, who went to school locally, was shot by firing squad for harbouring British soldiers and smuggling them out of occupied Belgium on 12th October 1915. It was a very thought provoking talk.

We have also launched our new Knitty Gritty campaign.

In conjunction with Knit for Peace, we are knitting squares to be made into blankets and dressing gowns for those suffering over the winter period.

This is a perfect opportunity for us to share skills, as those accomplished knitters amongst us are patiently mentoring the dangerous amateurs. If anyone wants to get involved, knitters or not, we would welcome any help with our campaign, call for more information.

At our 16th November meeting, we will be donning scarves around our waists and attempting some belly dancing at what promises to be an evening of the utmost mirth. Therapy of a physio or psychological kind

may possibly be required afterwards. By comparison December’s meeting will be slightly more sedate with the Christmas party, although some additional entertainment is being planned.

We are a friendly 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 7pm on the third Monday of the month.

For more information you can contact Tracy on 07720 327145 or Lorraine on 01733 24865.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Rob’s Gardening Services

FREE Quotes All gardening work undertaken

(including pressure washing)

Telephone Rob:

07920 512802 07877 583484

Village Tribune

KIRSTY & ROB’S PLANTS Nursery Address: 1 West End Road, Maxey PE6 9EJ

OPEN EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 10AM - 5PM, MONDAY 10AM-6PM

Large and varied collection of

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 the Kitchen of Chez Pierre Hachis de boeuf I have been emailed many times since the last edition of your splendid magazine asking for the Chez P version of the classic corned beef hash I mentioned when answering a question from a reader. Well who would have thought of the interest this has made? Maybe as we are now entering the autumn season and the cooler nights becoming sooner. My Chez Pierre recipe is the Hachis de Boeuf, or as you like ‘chopped beef’ and is very easy to make, cheap to create and is always well eaten by adults and kids alike. I imagine this was first cooked in America during the cowboy times when salting beef was to preserve for a long time, and is nowadays a US-Diner breakfast staple. I make no apology to those ‘foodie’ people who think this a bit of a dumbing-down of the regular CP column, as hash is also a trendy gastrodish eaten all over the world with personalised recipes from many of the celebrity chefs, and your footballer Delia Smith. I ordered a (rather expensive) plate of beautifully presented hash the last time we dined at The Ivy and, as we were sitting near the fragrant Nancy Dell’Olio, I enjoyed the experience immensely. The famous chef Gary Rhodes makes his own corned beef hash over three days and uses salted beef and a pig’s trotter in his dish – not a quick supper I think? Good Triblanders I am not encouraging you to do this, non, a simple tin of corned beef is the basic ingredient here. This brings with it much of the flavour and seasoning but there’s a couple of other things help along too. As I wrote last issue you can use tinned (jars in France) potatoes with this, and baked beans for authenticity!

For two diners: a 340g fridge-chilled tin of Corned Beef sliced into small chunks, 1 large onion (quartered and sliced not chopped), 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, good knob of butter, a 345g (drained weight) 20p tin of Tesco value new potatoes cut into halves and quarters (depending on size), 2 eggs, season to taste with the kitchen mainstay Knorr Aromat all-purpose savoury seasoning (small yellow tin at the supermarket spice rack), a tin of Heinz beans. Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the onion, stirring frequently until soft, then mix in the chopped

corned beef, Worcestershire sauce and stir until blended together. Mix in about ¾ of the sliced potatoes and cook for about 5-10 minutes until completely heated through. During this time season with the Aromat by sprinkling over carefully and tasting, and at CP I add a half glass of white wine.

Once heated through, place the pan under a medium-high grill (I sometimes add grated cheese and/or thinly-sliced tomatoes here) to crisp off; and use this time to fry two eggs in butter to serve on top. Voila! A simple, cheap yet really tasty breakfast/lunch/supper plate served with beans as a side. You can splash tabasco if you like a spicier taste but safer to leave it to your guests. Serve a good lightlychilled Medoc or Cabernet Sauvignon to compliment the food in the evening or maybe a chilled Peroni beer at lunchtime.

Bon appétite mes amis.

Pierre

askchezpierre@gmail.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Enjoy Tribland countryside

IF YOU are keen to get out more this autumn/winter and enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of our countryside, then book yourself in for one of the many Langdyke Countryside Trust events over the coming months.

The Trust manages five nature reserves in the Tribune area and has 130 household members who actively support our nature conservation and heritage work.

Our first event of the autumn season was a fungal foray around Castor Hanglands.

Walk-leader, David Cowcill, was joined by a group of all ages as we explored the woodlands and heath, rooting around in the leaves and grasses identifying a variety of poisonous and edible mushrooms. Key finds included the green wood cap, the miller, orange peel fungus, fly agaric and the appropriately named, dead man’s fingers!

Forthcoming activities include l A weekly Thursday afternoon conservation work-party from 2pm onwards taking forward activities across the Trust’s ‘western’ reserves – Torpel Manor Field, Swaddywell Pit and Bainton Heath. l A monthly Tuesday morning conservation work-party for the Trust’s ‘eastern’ reserves – Etton-Maxey Pits and Etton High Meadow. Tasks will include planting hedges, mending fences and cutting down willows! l A new Langdyke monthly working-group for the Trust’s new community orchard at Etton High Meadow. The group, meeting on a Monday morning from 10:00am to 1:00pm,will be looking after 70 recently planted apple, pear and cherry trees and is planning a number of events throughout the year, including pruning, weeding and of course harvesting the

fruit. We are looking for new members to join this project!

If you are interested in being involved in any of these regular groups, please contact Richard Astle at richard@athenecommunications.co.uk who can put you in touch with the leaders of each activity.

And of course there is our calendar of walks and visits too as follows – all welcome, both members and non-members: 1st November – conservation work party at Bainton Heath, meet at 1pm Torpel Manor Field 23rd November – community orchard work party, meet at 10am at Etton High Meadow 5th December – conservation workparty at Bainton Heath, meet at 1pm at Torpel Manor Field 12th December – Heritage and Archaeology Group annual review ‘Have Torpel’s Secrets Been Revealed’ –update on the ongoing work of the Group with a key note address from Steve Ashby of the University of York 28th December – Christmas workparty, meet at 2pm at Swaddywell Pit 1st January – Annual New Year’s Day walk, meet outside Helpston PO at 2pm

Find out more about the work of the Langdyke Countryside Trust at www.langdyke.org.uk

villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Happy new year for Trib’ BEFORE I tell you about our exciting plans for the Tribune in 2016, let me wish all our readers, advertisers, contributors and distributors a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

2016 will see a number of changes at Trib HQ. First of all we have just launched our new web site (www.villagetribune. org.uk), and in the next few months we will be developing the site to bring more features and benefits to Tribland readers and advertisiers alike. Please take a look at the site and let us

know what you think. As well as bringing you more news and information from our villages, local companies can advertise their vacancies (free of charge), there’s an event calendar with everything happening throughout our area as well as local weather, regional news and traffic details.

We hope to introduce a local ‘marketplace’ in the new year where you can buy or sell just about anything!

Secondly, I want to introduce you to Louise Norris. Louise will be taking charge of selling

Louise Norris; Trib sales exec

November and December Highlights

Join us by our crackling log fire over the Winter months and Christmas for our Winter warming menus and to join in the Christmas and New Year festivities!

The season gets off with a bang….

Sat 7th Nov from 6pm – The Annual Etton Family Bonfire and Fireworks Fiesta!

Great fireworks display, BBQ, Charcoal Baked spuds, Hot Chocolate, Mulled wine, seasonal real ales, live music (8pm) with talented rock and pop covers band ‘Cosmic Rodney’. Free entry - donations to local charities and our sparkling marshals, The Deeping St James First Scout Group appreciated. Mon 30th Nov from 7pm -Irish, Country and Rock n Roll with The Shades of Green (bar food served)

December…It’s Christmas!!!!

Real Christmas trees, blazing fire, holly and mistletoe…. Selected Fridays and Saturdays in December – Marquee Christmas Parties Celebrate with work colleagues, family or friends - 3 luxurious courses plus DJ/band for £33pp. All week Festive Menus in our restaurant and bar. Perfect for pre-Christmas group gatherings - 2 courses £16, 3 courses

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advertising into the Tribune both in our physical editions and on line. ‘Lou’ is an experienced sales executive and is very much looking forward to visiting and calling the companies in and around our area. Also, congratulations are due - Lou marries long-term partner, Steve in December when she will move from being a Norris to a Morris.

Early 2016 will also see the Tribune expanding its’ catchment area. The March/ April issue will be extended to cover two new areas - Wittering and Marholm and we look forward to greeting around 2,000 more readers into the Tribune ‘family’.

Some time ago, I wrote in the Tribune that we were looking

to ‘formalise the constitution’ of the Triune and I am pleased to let readers know that 2016 will see the magazine/ website established as a ‘Community Interest Company’. So, what does this mean? In a nutshell it will ensure that the Tribune remains as the ‘property’ of the community and not for the benefit of any individual or organisation.

A ‘Board’ will be formed to discuss the development and direction of the Tribune and will meet once a year. A number of individuals have already expressed an interest in joining this Board and it is important that the interests of many parts of our community are represented (schools, churches, charities, local councils etc),

£19 (our usual Winter menu also available). Christmas Eve from 6.30pm – Christmas Carols and Mulled Wine by our log fire. Christmas Day – final bookings invited for our Festive 5 course lunch (12pm and 3pm sittings) Adults - £63, Kids under 10 £25

New Year’s Eve Party

We’ll be seeing in the New Year once again until 2am with guitar and vocals hero, Paul Lake, free buffet and midnight nibbles! Free entry before 9.30pm, limited availability.

January 2016

New Year’s Day (Friday) lunch, Sat 2nd all day and Sun 3rd lunch bookings being taken, Monday 25th Jan – join us for a wee dram and an Ode To The Haggis!

Sat 30th Jan – missed our New Year’s Eve party? We’re doing it all over again! Free buffet and live music until late!

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so if you would like to apply for a place on the Board, please drop me a quick email. My details are on page 4 of this issue.

One of the joys of producing your Tribune is the fact that our villages are inhibitad by a ‘broad church’ of folks - and we try and ensure that ‘there is something for everyone’ on our pages. As our villages grow (at a seemingly accelerating pace!), we enjoy the introduction of new families, bringing ‘fresh blood’ and energy to our communities.

Many of these families are of a younger generation and it is imporant that the Tribune is as ‘relevant’ to them as well as our (more) established population.

Many of these families are increasingly comfortable utilising social media (Facebook, Twitter etc) and web sites, as their chosen way of obtaining information, rather than ‘hard copy’ publications and so I hope the development of our web site as discussed earlier will ‘hit the mark’. I’m also pleased to see that we now have almost 600 villagers utilising our (very active) Facebook Group. Join us by clicking the link on the website.

Tony Henthorn (Editor)

Village Hall refurbishment

It has been announced that we were successful with our Lottery grant application.

The organisation will use the funding to refurbish the kitchen facilities in their community building. This will enable the organisation to offer safe, fit for purpose kitchen facilities which will be able to cater for community events. Also within this grant we will be able to purchase new crockery, extra tables and chair trolleys.

Jessica Phillips

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Back on Broadway THE Broadway Theatre is set to be given a new lease of life with a spectacular winter season created especially for the Peterborough venue.

In response to considerable demand, West End producer Bill Kenwright will present award-winning shows such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s ground-breaking rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, which opens this season on 17 November and features West End stars Glenn Carter and Tim Rogers as Jesus and Judas, and X Factor finalist Rachel Adedeji as Mary Magdalene.

That will be followed by a week of murder, mystery and a cast of household names, as the Agatha Christie Theatre Company brings the Queen of Crime’s best-selling thriller And Then There Were None to the Broadway as part of its successful 2015 UK tour. It stars Dalziel and Pascoe’s Colin Buchanan, Peak Practice’s Deborah Grant, Blue Peter’s Mark Curry and Duty Free’s Neil Stacy.

The hills will come alive with a new production of The Sound of Music, which coincides with this year’s 50th anniversary of the film version - the most successful movie musical in history – and promises to enchant and enthral the young and the young at heart. Fresh from her success on BBC One’s The Voice, Lucy O’Byrne steps into the iconic role of Maria.

Two shows by producer Paul Taylor-Mills are set to bring festive fun for all the family.

Based on the classic and much-loved book by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is set to cause mischief and mayhem in a production that will delight younger audience members

Tommy Steele stars in ‘The Glenn Miller Story’ at the Broadway and, based on one of the most popular films of all time, Kris Kringle sets out to prove he’s the real Santa Claus in Miracle On 34th Street, The Musical.

Musical theatre and movie legend Tommy Steele will then take to the stage to star in The Glenn Miller Story, this year’s biggest new musical success. The tale of the world’s most famous big band leader features a 16-piece orchestra plus sensational performers and dazzling choreography.

December also sees the premiere of an exclusive new show created for The Broadway.

Dreamboats and Petticoats: The Christmas Party will see Bobby, Laura, Sue and Norman return to perform everyone’s favourite Christmas hits including Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree live from St Mungo’s, the youth club where it all began for the Essex gang.

By popular demand, musical

favourite of theatregoers everywhere, Willy Russell’s multi-award winning Blood Brothers returns to Peterborough.

On Sunday 20 December, Christmas Magic will include Peterborough Male Voice Choir with Peterborough Voices, Youth Choir and Festival Orchestra under the direction of Will Prideaux, who will also be the Broadway Theatre manager for the Bill Kenwright season.

Bill says: “I really hope there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Peterborough is a terrific city and last time around it was clear to me that the people of Peterborough want, deserve and support top quality theatrical productions. I would like to see a time when the Broadway is reinstated in full, and has year round shows – with your support I think that’s very achievable.”

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Tribune Notice board...

Sunday 1st Nov 9.00am - 11.00am St Pegas Cafe Excellent Brunch Peakirk Village Hall.

Saturday November 7th 7.30pm ‘For Gawd’s Sake Don’t Send Me!’ An evening with Halfcut Theatre (Derek Harris and Julie Bubbles) 7:30pm in Glinton village hall Tickets £5 including light refreshments available from Church Wardens. In the interests of authenticity this show contains strong language Sunday November 8th 10.00am Barnack & District Branch, Royal British Legion Remembrance Sunday. Service in Barnack Church, then 1045 at the War Memorial. All Welcome Sunday November 8th 10.30am Remembrance Sunday All Age Service at St Andrew’s Northborough. Come and be with us as we remember all those who have died in conflict, and honour the men and women who lost their lives in two World Wars.

Wednesday November 11th 10.45am Barnack & District Branch, Royal British Legion Armistice Day at the War Memorial.

All Welcome Friday November 13th 7.00pm Quiz & Fish & Chip Supper Glinton Village Hall, teams of six, £10 per person. Tickets from: Veronica Smith 01733 252019 Members of St Benedict’s PCC Bring your own Drinks Saturday November 14th 10.00 – 4.00 Christmas Craft Taster Day Helpston WI invite you to a Craft Taster Day to be held in Helpston Village Hall. Entry fee £3 and then a charge will be made for materials

Village Tribune Ticket Prices, £5.00 Adults £3.00 Children under 16

used Bring your own lunch. Teas and coffee will be provided. There are limited places so booking is essential.

For further details and booking your place contact June 01733 252192 or Jean 01733 252025

Saturday 28th Nov 10am-noon Christmas Coffee Morning Come catch up with friends at Helpston Church’s Christmas stalls Coffee and Cake - in St Botolph’s Church

Saturday November 14th 8.00pm Stamford Chamber Orchestra Concert held in the Stamford arts centre on Saturday 14 November 2015, 8.00pm.. Tickets are £12.50 for adults, £10.50 concessions and £5 for a child.. SCHUBERT Symphony No. 8 in B minor ‘Unfinished’ BRAHMS Double Concerto in A minor SCHUMANN Symphony No. 4 in D minor

Sunday 29th Nov 4.30pm Lighting Peakirk’s Christmas Tree Churchyard of St Pegas Church, with warming refreshments.

Friday 20th Nov 7.30pm Glinton Horticultural Society Presentation by Sue Stephenson “Puddle Paddock - An acre of land?”

In Glinton Village Hall For more details: 01733 253591 or www. glintonhorticulturalsociety.org.uk Saturday 21st November at 2:30pm St. Andrew’s Christmas Fayre Northborough Village Hall All welcome!

Friday 27th Nov St Andrew’s-tide Quiz Northborough Village Hall.

Organised by Friends of St Andrew’s.

Quiz master Gavin Duff, £5pp, teams of 4, includes light supper, bring own drinks, plus raffle.

Book your table by ringing either Hayley on 01733 252525 Or Celia on 01733 252938 Saturday 28th Nov 7.30pm & Sat 5th Dec 2.30pm & 7.30pm Puss in Boots Panto Newborough Dramatic Society at Newborough Village Hall. Tickets from, Next door to Newborough Butchers Shop on Saturday 7th and Saturday 14th November at 10.00am ‘till Midday and on the Door.

Saturday December 5th 7.00pm Grimethorpe Colliery Band Deepings Community Concert.

World Champions and stars of the film Brassed Off. Deepings Leisure Centre. Ticket £19.50 include programme, glass of wine, mince pie and entry into the raffle. Tickets available from Deepings Leisure Centre, The Spar Shop Godsey Lane, Market Deeping. Co-op Travel 7 The Precinct, Market Deeping Or by post Contact Mary Martin 01778 343927 Email martin@marycarolyn.plus.com Friday 11th Dec 7.30pm Glinton Horticultural Society Christmas Evening - Wine & Cheese plus Entertainment. Glinton Village Hall £3.50 members £4.00 nonmembers - All welcome. For more details: 01733 253591 or www. glintonhorticulturalsociety.org.uk Sunday 13th Dec 4.00pm Christingle Service Donations will go to the Children’s Society. Please collect an envelope from the Church or call Polly 01778 380849 and a Christingle will be made for you.

Sunday 13th Dec 4.00pm Carols and Mince Pies Peakirk Carol Service, with festive refreshments.

Sunday 20th Dec 10.30am Carols and Mince Pies

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Come and join us at and make it a big sing! At St Andrew’s Church Northborough All Welcome Sunday 20th Dec 6.00pm Carols and Mince Pies St Benedict’s Church, Glinton Sunday 20th Dec 3.00pm Peakirk’s Children’s Nativity Play Beginning with rehearsals at 2.00 for all who would like to take part - all welcome. Refreshments for all.

Thursday 24th Dec 4.30pm Children’s Christmas Workshop St Benedict’s Church, Glinton 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

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notes...

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

In my Tribland garden GREETINGS to all the Tribland garden lovers. This is the best time of the year to finish the digging of your various plots and to finish the tidying of your gardens. Remember to carry out the digging in short spells so as to avoid back troubles, a little and often is the best policy.

If you can obtain some stable manure this can be dug in at the same time, or use some garden compost. I have noticed the large amounts of leaves dropping and these should be swept up and placed in suitable containers, where they will rot down and produce some very valuable leaf mould. This can be used in coming seasons as a soil conditioner.

The winter vegetables are now ready for use, either to be frozen or to be cooked. Shallots and red cabbage are pickled ready for Christmas and sprouts and leeks are being enjoyed now. The apple and pear trees have produced good crops and these are also being enjoyed.

It is now time (late October) to be planting your autumn sown vegetables:- broad

beans, onions, shallots and garlic. You will probably find it advantageous to protect the broad bean plants against frost damage by covering the plants with cloches. The other plants should withstand the cold weather. My autumn sown plants last year produced some very good onions and garlic, which we were able to use in the kitchen in late June. The broad beans were also usable at the same time.

Now is the time to receive our seed catalogues and to start to select our seeds for next year. This is also a very interesting time for gardeners to see all the new varieties that the growers have produced and to compare the old and trusted varieties with the new ones. The garden centres are well stocked with seeds and autumn sown onions garlic and broad beans, a useful facility for those with small gardens. New rose trees, fruit trees and shrubs can also be ordered at this time. A good time to plant these shrubs while the weather and soil conditions are suitable.

Winter veg now ready to use Now is also the time to plant your spring flowering bulbs.

Again the garden centres are very well stocked with all the varieties you will require. Delay planting until the soil is in a workable condition.

Not a good time to visit other gardens but a good time to list the gardens to visit in 2016, the earliest open gardens are the ones that specialise in snowdrops. In a later issue I shall list the best gardens to visit.

So this is the time for working in your garden and setting everything up for the coming season. Enjoy your gardening and don’t overdo the digging!

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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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

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39

John Clare Cottage News

Calico exhibition - held in John Clare Cottage Dovecote SINCE the last issue of the Village Tribune we have had a busy time at the Cottage. It is many thanks to the volunteers that have helped to keep the Cottage going.

We had the Pantaloons, the outdoor theatre group, who gave an entertaining performance of Much Ado About Nothing to a great

audience in the garden.

Pennyless came to perform in the garden, together with a hogroast kindly provided by Willowbrook Farm, thanks to Jo and her assistants. Due to the weather changing, we had to move inside which made it cosy in the Café, Pennyless simply moved their instruments and sound system and all kept dry.

The local group, Calico, had an exhibition of their needlework and embroidery in the Dovecote, this proved very popular with our visitors.

We are now moving into the Winter season, the Cottage will continue to open Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, any changes will be noted on the website. The Acoustic Café will continue through the Winter season. We will be closed on Saturday 28th November due to a wedding reception.

We are introducing a ‘Souper Monday’ meal deal from November 1st, the deal provides two homemade soups with a roll or a cheese scone together with tea/coffee for £10 on Mondays. We look forward to seeing you.

We are now planning for the 2016 season, there will be new art exhibitions in the Café, the Pantaloons will be coming back and there will be other events.

Details will be on our website and through our facebook friends.

BILL PERRIN

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Call for advice and a free no obligation quotation Telephone: 07949 378724 or 01733 340498 Recommended and Approved member of safe local trades. Visit www. safelocaltrades.com to see my customer reviews and photographs of my work.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Anglo French meeting date

Village Tribune

Peterborough Anglo-French Association’s next meeting is on November 18th - a Quiz evening with fish ‘n’ chips.

Please contact secretary, Jackie Robinson (07944 025855/01733 253181), if you would like to attend. December’s event will be a pre-Christmas celebration with food and live music. New members are always welcome.

The Golden Pheasant at Etton is pleased to announce that they are in the CAMRA 2016 Good Beer Guide - up to 5 local, regional and national real ales and Tourism South East’s Great Country Pubs Guide 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

If any further proof were needed regarding the resolve, stamina and commitment of Peterborough City Council’s Leader and his first lady, it was there in spades at today’s Perkins run in the City centre.

Fittingly wearing numbers one and two Glinton ward councillor John Holdich OBE and his wife Barbara made a fantastic effort to complete the 5k together, in both a fine style and a very commendable time.

Congratulations! Peter Hiller

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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43

Max Gastro’s Restaurant Review Thai on the Square – The Stone Loach Inn

ANONYMOUSLY and somewhat incongruously located above this charming historic stonebuilt pub is a modern, spacious, open-plan first floor dining area, serving Thai-style food.

Regular readers of Max’s review will think there’s a far-eastern foodie love affair developing after last issue’s review but I assure you it’s coincidence, not by design.

That said, there’s a fair few of these Thai-style eateries within easy access for Triblanders and Mrs G and I just love proper Thai cuisine, as do many of our friends.

Although those of us who’ve spent time in that beautiful country shudder at some of the offerings masquerading as authentic recipes, most places in and around Peterborough do a pretty reasonable job. To be absolutely candid, Thai on the Square’s food is not equivalent to what you’re actually served in traditional Patong or Koh Samui restaurants, but it’s honest fare and imaginative enough to

please most of us Brits looking for a Saturday night change from our locally anglicised creations of ‘Indian’ or ‘Chinese’ nosebag. It’s actually pretty good and I guess, in Market Deeping, a tad more convenient than the simply sensational Jin Chieng Seng in Phra-Nakhon, Bangkok?

Dining out with friends, we’d eschewed our normal Taj Mahal visit due to our booked table being irritatingly ‘unbooked’ by the normally diligent staff. A quick walk round the corner and up a narrow staircase found an agreeable welcome by the TotS staff, Emma in particular, and a table ready and waiting. After advice we chose the set piece for four from the extensive well-priced menu and weren’t disappointed. There followed swiftly-served dishes of good food in sufficient quantity and style, a large platter of starters setting the scene for a varied, interesting and colourful meal with well cooked rice, noodles and vegetables sides. The staff are a delightful team who all seem to really enjoy what they do and make the overall experience one to be repeated and recommended – so I will.

The Thai on the Square The Stone Loach Inn, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA 01778 347653 Max’s 5-Star Rating Service **** Value *** Food **** Atmosphere ***

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Tight Lines... with Mark Williams

I’M OLD ENOUGH to remember the old A47 which ran past Milton Ferry Bridge – now just an overgrown cycleway. In the 1980s, on any summer Sunday, the layby next to the bridge featured one or two coaches, and the Nene would be hosting groups of anglers from as far away as the coalfields of Nottinghamshire, neatly spaced on the bank, waiting for the whistle which would signal the start of another fishing match.

The Nene was, at that time, full of shoals of roach and had chub under every trailing willow branch. Then the late ‘80s came, and the river’s condition plummeted like a stone. I never worked out why, but the fish just weren’t there any more.

Maybe the cormorants which descended like a black plague decimated the shoals.

I could not have predicted – nor did I even dream – that the Nene would return to glory so spectacularly. Peterborough DAA now boasts some of the finest fishing in England. The revolution may have begun with the barbel, restocked after a century of absence from the Nene which reflected the river’s use as an open sewer during the industrial revolution. But these days, it’s not just the barbel.

Ferry Meadows has become nationally famous for its bream fishing – a 50lb net may not even win a match these days.

The stretch upstream of Orton Staunch, where we used to cast a swimfeeder under the barges for the chub which lurked beneath them, is now a prime roach and bream spot.

Orton Staunch itself produces barbel every day, and some stunning perch. I even heard of a 25lb pike from the river. The Nene is in sparkling form.

But closer to home, the Welland in Tribland has not fared so well. It’s decline was in evidence in the 1980s, and has continued to this day.

Once fantastic for stalking big chub, glassy water pouring

The Deeping and Glinton Patient Participation Group are having difficulty finding someone to take over from their voluntary car scheme coordinator when she retires in March next year.

This is a valuable service for the folk of Deeping, Glinton and surrounding villages who are patients of the Health Centre but can’t access public transport to take them to hospital and other health-related appointments.

If anyone is interested and would like to find out a little bit more about what it involves I would ask they contact Margaret Parkinson, Chair D&GPPG. email: gmparky@ gmail.com or me, on: john.holdich@peterborough.gov.uk

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over gravel beds, and big, redfinned roach clustered in the pool at Low Locks, it slowly lost its lustre. There are still a few bream along the High Bank towards Crowland, but where once great beds of streamer weed waved in the flow, now duckweed and mats of silkweed gather in a sluggish trickle.

The Welland is massively and disastrously overabstracted for drinking water.

It’s been the fate of England’s chalkstreams, some of the rarest habitat on Earth, and is a scandal. The Environment Agency’s confused approach to its stated aim has allowed water companies to pump the water table literally as if there is no tomorrow. Coupled with reduced rainfall in the last two decades, the effect has been heartbreaking. True, there are one or two spots where big chub and roach still linger, but it’s a shadow of its former self.

I remember my old friend and doom-monger Mac Campbell on Angling Times lamenting its condition at a time when he lived right on the Welland.

He was right then, and we should be ashamed that in the three decades since, nothing has been done to restore this beautiful river.

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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47

Lights of Love carol concert

The Lights of Love firework finale is the perfect ending to Thorpe Hall’s open air carol concert CAROLS, fireworks and mulled wine will all feature at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice’s traditional Lights of Love concert this Christmas. But the centrepiece will, as usual, be the giant Christmas tree decked out with handwritten messages of love, remembrance and inspiration.

For thousands of people across the area, Lights of Love has become a key event in the festive calendar, offering the chance to take time out of the

PAUL TEE

hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation to remember loved ones.

This year’s carol concert will take place on Sunday, December 13 in the gardens of Thorpe Hall, in Longthorpe, Peterborough, with the mansion house as the backdrop. Doors will open at 5pm with the carol singing beginning at 5.30pm.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Jane Smith will compere the event with the City of Peterborough Concert

Band providing musical accompaniment for the carol singing. Peterborough Gospel Choir will also take to the microphones as will young bagpipe player Kathryn Johnston. The concert will be rounded off with a firework finale at 7pm.

During the event, which is free to attend, Thorpe Hall’s Chapel will be open and the hospice’s books of remembrance will be available to view.

Events fundraiser Jo Killick said: “The Lights of Love event is a favourite with so many people who see it as the start of their festive celebrations. It’s a lovely way to remember and celebrate the lives of special people with family and friends.

“Once again we’ve got some brilliant musicians to lead the singing – the City of Peterborough Concert Band and bagpipe player Kathryn Johnston. But of course we’d like all our guests to bring their best voices with them – along with scarves, gloves and hats to keep warm.”

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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News from Etton

ONCE again we held an extremely successful clean up at Etton church on Sunday 27th September. Thanks to our volunteers who worked hard to weed the paths and the base of the church, cleaned the windows and polished the brass and silver. Afterwards, the sun shone thus allowing us to enjoy a leisurely lunch at the Coach house.

Sunday 4th October was Harvest festival at Etton Church.

Thanks to all those who attended the service, and for

the many generous donations for the Food Bank.

Next month should finally be the start of the next phase of extraction of gravel from the outskirts of Etton village. The mounds of earth surrounding the village have been tended and seeded. The bridge for the conveyor should be completed shortly allowing the reopening of the footpath. Signs should be in place confirming which footpaths are open during the works. Any questions please contact me and I will pass your

49

queries to the new site manager at Tarmac.

A work party took place on Monday 19th October at Etton High Meadow to maintain the existing orchard and newly planted trees/fruit bushes. Further work parties will take place until this work is complete. Going forward Chris Topper has kindly offered to lead a work party once a month on a Tuesday (am?) to help maintain the Etton/Maxey reserves. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know and I will contact you with the details when they are agreed.

It seems far to early to confirm that the switching on of the Etton Christmas lights will take place on Sunday 6th December at 6pm. Further details will be on the Tribune website: www.villagetribune. org.uk.

Finally, our usual Christmas Eve service will take place on Thursday 24th December at 6pm. All are welcome to join our relaxed puppet Nativity service followed by mulled wine and mince pies/refreshments.

Anne Curwen 01733 253357

Congratulations to Joan Otley who celebrated her 98th birthday on 22nd September

villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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Harvesting sweetcorn near Maxey which is quite unusual for our area. Photographer; Sue Young

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

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Letters to the Editor

53

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

Thank you Helpston...

Dear Editor, Having already had a very private and secret civil marriage in London (six people – four of us having only two hours’ notice!), Tiz and Josh wanted to renew their vows in front of family and friends followed by a celebration party. Well, that sounded OK but where to hold it?

After much searching, Helpston proved to be the ideal spot. After all they had met at Arthur Mellows Village College and Helpston, being halfway between their family homes at Glinton and Bainton, held lots of memories; they still had family and friends in the area; with the A1 and Peterborough train station nearby it was fairly easy for other family and friends to get to and, crucially, it had potential for the couple’s ‘magic’ ingredient – a marching band, with sousaphone, to lead everyone from one venue to the other!!

John Clare Trust Cottage garden was chosen as the venue to renew their vows. Huge thanks go to the management for allowing us to use it and in particular to the volunteers who gave up their time to open up for the afternoon just for us. Adam Frost’s pagoda looked fabulous bedecked with flowers in simple country style (thanks to Sheila Bratley and her team) and was the perfect place to renew their vows especially when followed by a reading of one of Clare’s poems.

It was a great moment when, as Josh and Tiz got to the end of the ‘confetti line up’, the band struck up and came into sight from round the front of the cottage and the guests were told

to ‘follow the band’. We all walked to West Barn, the ‘reception’ venue, where Jim and Sue Burt had very generously (and bravely) agreed to let us hold the celebration. The Burt family will be forever in our debt – they allowed us to create in their barn and garden a cross between a garden party, a village fete and a music festival. It was everything the newlyweds had envisioned. Heartfelt thanks should also go to the residents of Clare Court for putting up with the comings and goings in the run up to the event and for days following as it was all dismantled and of course for the invasion on the day!

We had an awesome weekend with so many people – family and friends as well as local businesses – willing to help out with everything from apples and accommodation to zinc tubs and zucchini cakes! But most of all it is thanks to the generosity of the people of Helpston that Saturday 5th September 2015 will stay in our memories as an exceptional day.

Thank You Helpston.

Janette and Ian Abbott-Donnelly, Bainton.

(Mother and Father of the bride)

Arborfield Mill...

Dear Editor, I was in Helpston today and found a copy of your magazine at the parish church.

I found it very interesting, particularly the article by Andrew Gagg because it mentions the ‘beautiful papers we were privileged to get from Arborfield Mill”. The reason I was in

Letters to the Editor: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

*

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

today was because of Arborfield Mill * Helpston in Helpston, and the roads ‘Arborfield Close’

and ‘Towgood Close’. I was in Peterborough today and made the trip to see Helpston for myself.

You may already know that Alfred Towgood had a good reason for naming his mill after our village in Berkshire. He ran the paper mill here for a while.

Do any Tribune readers have any information on the Mill in Helpston in its heyday? It would be good for us to record that our village’s name had such a resonance over a hundred miles away in Helpston.

Thanking you in advance for your help, Best regards, Steve Bacon Webmaster, Arborfield Local History Society

Am I my Brother’s Keeper?...

Dear Editor, Remembrance Tide and Advent are approaching. These are seasons to make us think deeply and feel deeply about our troubled world and of our responsibilities to it, for it and within it. I was born into this world in April 1943, the third son of Denis and Nora.

Denis was a gifted Architect but working as a Civilian for the Royal Engineers designing camps for Polish Airmen and for Italian and German Prisoners of War. Nora was a ‘Daughter of the Rectory’, a scholar and a teacher of French and English literature.

Our home was next to the Holywood Golf Course with panoramic views over Belfast Lough and the shipyards and aircraft factory.

On one afternoon in the late summer of that year, Nora was dozing beside me, her infant, on a rug in the garden. She became aware of some movement and opened her eyes to see a line of German soldiers looking at us across the garden fence. Nora grabbed me and ran into the house to re-emerge moments later, with her loaded shotgun and quite prepared to use it.

As she approached the group, it occurred to her that she had not been threatened by them and she realised that they were Prisoners of war being escorted by British soldiers on a recreational walk. So Nora put down her gun and went over to them. What happened next was that I was passed around the group being showered with hugs and kisses, while they showed Nora photographs of their ‘loved ones’ in Germany. They were not to know that

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Nora’s eldest brother Ben, had been killed in 1916 at Loos in northern France, nor that her youngest brother Harry, was a Prisoner of War to the Japanese in Kuching and later in Labuan in Borneo, from where he would never return.

I do not know for sure what Denis and Nora thought or felt about this remarkable encounter, but they were undoubtedly deeply ‘moved’ by it, moved indeed to ask the Camp Commandant, who of course knew Denis well, if he would allow some of the prisoners to come to our house at Christmas under escort.

The Commandant agreed and indeed provided some fresh chickens as his contribution to the party. Something special was happening, Denis and Nora had searched their souls and had moved as the Holy Spirit inspired them. My eldest brother remembers singing Silent Night and other Christmas Carols with our guests harmonising and humming tunefully.

Seventy two years later, our world is still convulsed with many of the same issues, mass movement of persecuted groups, regimes which have failed their people and Politicians at a loss as to how to restore the situation.

So, I return to the question; ‘Am I my Brother’s Keeper?’.

I feel Denis and Nora telling me; “of course you are your Brother’s Keeper”, search your soul and let the Holy Spirit inspire you.

Columb Hanna, Bainton

Willow questions answered...

Dear Editor, In your article about the John Clare Festival, Jane Frost asked about willow.

I am not aware of any willow that is now for sale available locally. At one time, Peter Carter from Outwell nr Wisbech was selling willow, but I have not bought anything from him myself.

I buy some of the willow I use from www. musgrovewillows.co.uk/ and www. englishwillowbaskets.co.uk/ both from Somerset. If you are not already a member

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

I would suggest joining the basketmakers association. Their website ww.basketassoc. org/index.php may be able to point you to other suppliers.

There may be other ways of procuring local or cheaper willow. One option to buy cheaper is to club together with other willow workers to reduce courier costs. Some time ago now I did this with Sue Kirk www. suekirkwillowbaskets.co.uk. It might be worth contacting her.

Nene Park Trust (Ferry Meadows) have some good willow on their estate. Some of this was planted for basketry around 100 years ago and is still producing quality rods.

They had willow beds that were originally worked by the Wilcox family basketmakers.

One of their wardens, Terry Daunt, found Len Wilcox and started restoring the willow with Len’s help. Unfortunately Len has now passed on, and Terry retired, and the Trust had changed priorities, so I am not sure if this can be accessed any more. I did enquire but the Trust were keen to get people to volunteer on set days and my work commitments made this difficult. If you are able to pursue this in coming years I would be very interested.

If interested, park at the Ferry Bridge car park near Castor. Take the riverside footpath downstream from the bridge and the willow bed is about 50 yards along on the left.

Another possibility may be at Sacrewell Farm. Len helped me plant a small bed just downstream of the mill. I had to give up working this due to cancer treatment. I think Rennie Antonelli may be working it now, but it would be worth contacting Sacrewell in case.

A quick ‘Google’ shows Rennie associated with Clare cottage, so you may know him any way.

I have been fortunate enough to plant a small amount of willow at Manor farm in Glinton. This does not really provide as much as I would like. I am hoping the new owners will allow me to continue to work the bed, and I am also looking to find new opportunities to plant more.

Regards, John Conkey john.conkey@gmail.com

Justice and Peace...

Dear Editor, Consider two events, two thousand years apart:

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First, Caius Pliny was a Roman aristocrat, as cultured and humane as any in his time.

He was present, aged 19, at the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and wrote an account of it. Some 30 years later he was governer of the province of Bithynia, part of present day Turkey.

One problem he faced was the presence of Christians who were growing rapidly in numbers. There was no systematic persecution at this time but the Government was concerned because it was wary of people assembling in large numbers for whatever reason. Also, the rise of any particular cult at the expense of others was seen as destabilising and there was disaffection among traders who were disgruntled through loss of business in the shape of sacrificial animals and the like, not to mention traditionalists uncomfortable with change.

Where Christians were vulnerable was in the consensus that no worship should be permitted at the expense of the person of the Emperor. In this atmosphere individual Christians could be and were denounced by anyone who felt a strong enough need. And the penalty was death.

Pliny records in a letter to the Emperor, Trajan, that his practice when Christians are brought before him is to give them a chance to recant and to pay homage to an image of the Emperor. They are given three opportunities to comply, being warned severely each time of the consequences if they refuse. “Those who persist I order to be beheaded”.

Next, A recent incident recorded by The Barnabas Fund: School-girl and pastor’s daughter, Monica, was amongst the group of 276 girls kidnapped in Chibok by Boko Haram last year. While others submitted to being forcibly converted to Islam, Monica refused.

To punish her, the Boko Haram militants dug a hole, buried her up to her neck and stoned her to death. Her father said recently, “To die for the sake of Christ - that’s the happiest thing for me. I’m grateful she did not change her religion”. Monica’s mother added, “Monica is now in heaven because she refused to convert”.

I feel inadequate to comment on these two items. Perhaps it is a topic that could be discussed at a meeting of the Justice and Peace Group. 6.30 PM, Bainton church, each Wednesday. Everyone welcome.

John Tanner

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

November 2015

December 2015

Sunday 1st November

Sunday 6th December

Sunday 8th November

Sunday 13th December

9.00am Parish Communion

Bainton (DM) 9.00am Parish Communion

with Children’s Church

Barnack (CV) 10.45am All Age Praise

Helpston (DM) 10.00am Remembrance

Sunday Service in

Church followed by

Act of Remembrance

at War Memorial

Barnack (DM) 10.30am Remembrance

Sunday with the

Scouts & Guides

Helpston (LE) 6.00pm BCP Evensong with

Holy Communion

Bainton (DM))

Sunday 15th November

9.00am Parish Communion

Bainton (CV) 9.00am Parish Communion

with Children’s Church

Barnack (DM) 10.45am All age Communion

Helpston (DM)

Sunday 22nd November

10.45am Parish Communion

with Children’s Church

Helpston (TBC) 11.00am All Age Praise

Barnack (DM) 6.00pm BCP Evensong

Bainton (MT) 6.00pm Alternative Service

Barnack (DM)

Sunday 29th November 10.00am

Joint Benefice Communion Service Wittering (DM) No other services in the Benefice

9.00am Parish Communion

Bainton (DM) 9.00am Parish Communion

with Children’s Church

Barnack (CV) 10.45am All Age Praise

Helpston (DM) 9.00am Parish Communion

with Children’s Church

Barnack (DM) 10.45am Parish Communion

with Children’s

Church/ Christingle

Helpston (DM) 6.00pm BCP Evensong

Bainton (DM))

Sunday 20th December

4.00pm Carols by Candlelight

Barnack (DM) 5.00pm Carols by Candlelight

Bainton (TBC) 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight

Helpston (DM)

Thursday 24th December

4.00pm Crib Service

Helpston (DM) 4.00pm Crib Service

Barnack (CV) 11.30pm Midnight Holy

Communion Service

Helpston (DM) 11.30pm Midnight Holy

Communion Service

Barnack (CV)

Friday 25th December

9.00am Christmas Morning

Communion Bainton (DM) 10.00am All Age Praise

Helpston (CP) 10.15am All Age Communion

Barnack (DM)

Village Tribune Sunday 27th December 10.00am

Joint/Benefice Communion Service Bainton (DM) No other services in the Benefice

Church addresses

Bainton St Mary’s, Church Lane, Bainton PE9 3AF Barnack St John the Baptist, Main Street, Barnack PE9 3DN Helpston St Botolph, Church St., Helpston PE6 7DT Wittering St John the Baptist Church, Main Street, Barnack, Stamford. PE9 3DN

8.30am – Prayer Breakfast in Botolph’s Barn every 1st Saturday of the month

Funerals

John Bright 22/09/2015 Pat Stott 13/10/2015

There will be a Justice and Peace service held in St Mary’s Church, Bainton every Wednesday at 6.30pm.

This is a series of services for PEACE and JUSTICE, with prayers, readings and discussion on worldwide issues.

CS Canon Smart, CV Canon Venables, DM Dave Maylor, LE Linda Elliot, MH Mark Hotchkin

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Barnack & Pilsagte PC Summary of main points of a Meeting of Barnack Parish Council held in The Village Hall, Barnack, on Monday 14 September 2015 at 7.00pm.

1) Safer Peterborough Partnership, presentation by Chief Inspector Robin Sissons.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, faced with a severe reduction in its future budgets has developed three initiatives to ensure service priorities are met. Collaboration with other county constabularies.

Partnership working. Recruitment of Special Constables, who can now work in their own local area, thus giving parishes their ‘own community policeman’.

Employers are asked to support an employee becoming a Special Constable, by allowing them to have paid time off to work extra hours locally.

2) Open Forum – for the Clerk to address issues raised by Residents. How may I establish ownership of land in the village?

I want to improve bio diversity by planting wild flowers. The Parish Council is sympathetic to new projects and would like to discuss your ideas with you.

3) Outstanding Items. a) A1 dangerous junction at Barnack Drift. New sign has been installed but more adequate signage is needed. We will also continue to press for the junction to be remodelled to include a slip road. b) Pilsgate to Burghley Footpath, Litter Bins. Margaret Palmer held a meeting with Amey Plc, the fluorescent labels stating ‘recyclable waste’ have been removed to allow any litter (including bagged dog poo) to be deposited. It was agreed to relocate the bin at the entrance to Pudding Bag Lane, Pilsgate to a more sympathetic position further down Pudding Bag Lane.

c) Defibrillators. It is likely that because the phone box is on private property it will be relocated. Therefore, the Council plans to look for a new site for a defibrillator. d) Vehicles parked on pavements, road junctions and inappropriately. Despite recent publicity pointing out the inconvenience and potential danger caused by inappropriate parking in the Parish, there has been no discernible difference.

We are advised that the City Council Parking Enforcement unit will visit and impose fines on offenders, if given precise details of ongoing offenders.

4) Burial Grounds. a) Cemetery – new path. After considering several quotations for the work, it was agreed that further research was needed. Ivor Crowson offered to undertake an investigation. b) Capital programme – renovation of graves. It was agreed to use the services of R Harding. c) Tree work, felling and removal of two Holly trees in Cemetery and removal of dead portion of Holly tree in the Churchyard. It was agreed to commence with the tree work: Elwood Brothers to carry out felling of two trees in Cemetery and Peter Glassey to remove dead portion of Churchyard tree. d) Council’s maintenance responsibilities. It was agreed that the Council should carry out regular inspections concerning the safety of trees and memorial masonry. It was agreed that research should be carried out to establish the frequency of inspections and suitable organisations to perform such work.

5) Financial.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme: change to include Parish Councils with a turnover of up to £500k. To agree transfer of

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monies to a new savings account to ensure all accounts are within the new £75k protection limit. It was agreed to transfer £50,000.00 to the Loughborough Building Society Instant Access Deposit Account to achieve the best interest rate.

6) Reports. a) MUGA. Currently nothing to

Bainton and Ashton PC

Chairman, Graham Fletcher 01780 740034 Vice Chairman, Richard Harris 01780 740886 Councillor, Nicola Clough 01780 740043 Councillor, Wendy Jackson 01780 749154 Councillor, Helen Watts 07719 134858 Clerk Catherine Franks, 01780 765984

Barnack PC Chairman, Harry Brassey 01780 740115 Vice Chairman, Councillor, Margaret Palmer 01780 740988 Councillor, Phil Broughton 01780 740379 Councillor, Ivor Crowson 01780 740430 Councillor, David Laycock 01780 740267 Councillor, Eddie Barker 01780 740427 Councillor, Martin Bloom 01780 740966 Clerk Robin Morrison 07944 054546 barnackparishcouncil@ outlook.com

Ufford PC Chairman, Keith Lievesley 01780 740679 Councillor, Marian Browne 01780 740062 Councillor, Frieda Gosling 01780 740343 Councillor, Peter Grist 01780 740973 Clerk Catherine Franks, 01780 765984 uffordparishclerk@live.co.uk

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

report until meeting held with Diocesan agents. b) Traffic Calming. It was agreed to commission a feasibility study by 2020 Consultancy at a price of £960.00. c) Social Media. Progress report.

A new Facebook Page (Barnack Village) has been created and a further meeting of interested parties will be organised shortly.

7) Village Matters - for the Clerk to address issues raised by Councillors. a) Grit bin at junction of Uffington Road and Bainton Road is leaking. b) Fly tipped tires on Wittering Road.

Bainton & Ashton PC A meeting of the council was held on 1 September. Discussed at the meeting and updated since: l Police, crime and traffic: The Crime Prevention Team are starting a campaign to reduce the level of heating oil and diesel thefts with awareness posters, leaflets and promotion of the eCops email alert scheme – www.ecops.org.uk to register.

Further reports have been investigated of possible drugdealing involving vehicles parking up in Bainton. High speed vehicles have been a problem through Bainton and recent speedchecks resulted in five tickets being issued. Cameras are now in place to enforce the northbound restrictions through Lolham Bridges and subsequent changes to traffic flow through the village are being monitored.

Barnack Ward Councillor David Over is working to get action from the City Council on improvements to traffic calming. l Village maintenance: l Work is in progress on improved safety at the Washdyke and Councillor Nicola Clough will organise a date for

repainting at the Bainton play area – all volunteers welcome!

Peterborough City Council haven’t yet replied to reports of the disappearance of Bainton’s see-saw and are now being asked about the recent removal of the large slide. l In Ashton, two bollards have been knocked over on the green with one disappearing completely. This might seem trivial but the bollards are there for a reason and drivers (especially of large vehicles) are asked to take care around that junction. Of course, if anyone spots a stray wooden bollard, we’d like it returned please….. Or a children’s slide, for that matter! l Dog-fouling has been reported in the conservation area on the Ufford side of the parish and it was agreed to request a disposal bin from the City Council. l Public questions prompted updates on: l Gigaclear installation – now progressing towards Tallington, contractors will then return to carry out individual installations, with full reinstatement still to take place – Gigaclear to be reminded of bulb planting. l Road re-surfacing – white lining at the entrance to Beever Way is being chased but likely to be delayed until local roads are re-surfaced in 2016. l Various other maintenance issues are being chased up, including tree overgrowth that is obscuring traffic signs, poor rainwater drainage on Bainton Green Road and a report of graffiti on the bus shelter. l Projects: Councillor Nicola Clough has been researching the best way of providing a defibrillator for the parish, following a generous donation towards the cost. Parishes will share information at a Ward group meeting and it is hoped that the equipment will be in place in Bainton within a few months.

Village Tribune l As budget planning for 2015/16 is high on the agenda for the next couple of months, potential projects were discussed and the parish council welcomes thoughts from residents on the idea of installing a Petanque pitch in the parish. This was met with enthusiasm at the meeting, has existed in Bainton in the past and could become a focus for parish social events. This and other projects suggested by councillors and residents will be part of budget discussions in October.

Full minutes and councillor contact details can be found on village notice boards and any comments on parish issues can be sent to the Parish Clerk via the council’s post box at the rear of Bainton Reading Room.

The next Parish Council meeting will be held in Bainton Reading Room on Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 7.30pm.

Residents, media representatives and members of the public are all welcome to attend.

Ufford PC Latest news from Ufford Parish Council is based on discussions at its recent meetings held on 8 September and 13 October. The key focus has been on three main areas: Planning: Two significant planning applications have been considered. With some reservations, councillors submitted their overall approval for a solar panel array at Ufford Farm, on the north side of the village, subject to some conditions related to visibility and glare. Peterborough City Council have since rejected the application. From Newe House came a resubmission of an earlier application for extensions and major refurbishment. The Parish Council has expressed its objections and submitted

Village Tribune detailed comments to the planning department requesting that the application be turned down.

At both meetings, serious concerns were raised over communications with Peterborough’s planning department, including a lack of notification when conditions of planning approval are changed at a later date and poor enforcement of planning conditions. Chairman Keith Lievesley is a member of the Rural Scrutiny Committee and will raise the matters there, along with a concern over the time taken over enforcement action for a property in the village.

Playground equipment: Fingers are now crossed! An application was submitted

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com via Grantscape at the end of September for the funding of several pieces of play equipment to be installed at Ufford playing field. If successful, it will mean the availability of equipment at all times, accessible for younger and disabled children throughout the area. The generous donation by the Aidan Patrick Fogarty Will Trust Fund provides the necessary contributory funding.

A decision is expected soon after Christmas.

Website: Most of the content for Ufford’s new parish website is up and running. Find us at www.uffordparishcouncil.org. uk and see what you think. We welcome more photos so if you have some good ones that you’d like to share, please let the Clerk know.

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And still on technology, the Gigaclear superfast broadband installation finally seems to be complete in Ufford. Some residents (including the village hall!) are experiencing teething problems and there are some snagging issues with making good the groundworks around the parish but we’re pleased to see the workmen have moved on to pastures new in Bainton, Barnack and towards Marholm!

Full minutes and councillor contact details can be found on village notice boards and the website or by contacting the Parish Clerk via uffordparishclerk@live.co.uk or on 01780 765984. The next Parish Council meeting will be held in Ufford Village Hall on Tuesday 10 November at 7.30pm.

We will remember

Remembering our local soldiers

OVER the course of the next four years, the centenaries of the deaths in the First World War of the fifty-four men from Barnack, Pilsgate, Southorpe, Bainton, Ashton, Helpston and Ufford, will be marked by this In Memoriam notice in the Tribune.

These men either came from or worked in the villages, or had close connections with the district. Britain declared war on Germany on 4th August 1914 and by December of that year ninety two local men had enlisted.

Private Victor Barratt 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment was killed on 20th December, 1915. He was 18 years old having enlisted in Stamford when he was 17. He was the son of Samuel and Roseanna of 14, The Terrace, Barnack and he worked at Burghley

Gardens as a trainee gardener.

Several of his letters home have survived. In them he describes the ordeal of life in the trenches.

‘Am sitting in a dugout now to write this and it is over boot tops in mud and still we keep smiling.’

‘It is quite an acrobatic feat to walk along the communication trench there are duckboards but you have to find them if you don’t there is always a hole about three feet deep to put your foot into.’

‘It has been bitterly cold…… there have been a good few cases of trench feet…. We have to rub our feet with anti-frost bite grease.’

Victor was killed when the mine shaft in which he and his section were sheltering took a direct hit from an artillery shell.

He had been at the front for only five months. He is buried at the Menin Road South Military Cemetery near Ypres. His last postcard home to his parents was posted on the day he died.

Private Victor Barratt Readers will recall we are going to remember the fallen of the First World War, who have a connection to our villages, near the centenary of their deaths.

From the records available to us in Helpston, we believe the village again had some respite from the great losses other places were experiencing. Present knowledge indicates no man lost his life during these months a hundred years ago.

Kate Hinchliff Tel: 01733 253192 Email: kate@ rhinchliff.plus.com

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Planning applications made in our villages...

Deeping Gate Demolition of existing cottage and construction of replacement threebed dwelling at 57 Riverside

Awaiting Decision Rear dormer extension at 103 Riverside Awaiting Decision Single storey rear extension at 85 Lincoln Road Awaiting Decision

Barnack Construction of three dwellings at land at the junction of Millstone Lane And School Road Decided Minor internal alterations to downstairs WC and creation of new back door at Close House Jack Haws Lane Decided Replacement of front door at Jasper Cottage Main Street

Awaiting Decision Screening opinion for residential development of up to 85 dwellings land to the West of Uffington Road

Decided Demolish existing bungalow and garage and replace with detached house and garage at Pasque Lodge Wittering Road Decided

Helpston Internal and external rear alterations to form new internal layout and walkway to existing public house at 3 Church Lane Decided Loft conversion with two dormer windows and rooflights at 2 Heath Road Decided Single storey side extension to

form garage, front porch, render to external walls and replacement doors and windows at 51 West Street Decided Proposed two storey dwelling and detached garage at land to the rear of 1 The Nook Decided Erection of single storey front porch at 38 Glinton Road Decided Construction of 34 dwellings pursuant to outline permission 13/01112/OUT at land to the West of Woodland Lea Decided Timber garden shed - retrospective at 3 The Nook Awaiting Decision Residential and employment development including landscaping, roads and parking at Arborfield Mill Glinton Road Awaiting Decision Two storey side and first floor rear extensions at 93 Glinton Road

Awaiting Decision 3 bay single storey mobile classroom at John Clare Primary School West Street

Awaiting Decision

Pilsgate Proposed pitched roof to existing flat roofed attached garage at The Barton, Pudding Bag Lane Decided

Southorpe Change of use of land to permit temporary stationing of caravan in association with Alpaca farm at Southorpe Quarry Main Street Decided

Ufford Demolition of existing conservatory to the rear and addition of two storey side and single storey rear extension, and extension to existing stable/outbuilding (resubmission at Highlands Marholm Road

Decided Construction of 3 bed cottage at land to rear of Field End Marholm Road Decided Installation of ground mounted solar PV array at Ufford Farm Main Street Decided Proposed ground floor extension at rear Weathervane Cottage Main Street Decided Single storey extension to North and first floor extension to East of existing dwelling at The Old Well House Walcot Road

Awaiting Decision Two storey front extension, single storey rear extension, conversion of garage and loft to create habitable space - including raising roof height and additional dormers Re-submission at Newe House Main Street Awaiting Decision Partial demolition of existing single storey side extension, two storey side extension and single storey rear extension. New external insulation, rendered, to front and rear elevations; external insulation to front gable with stone outer leaf. Detached garage to front with alterations to front driveway at Hightrees 2 Walcot Road

Awaiting Decision Replacement of 4 windows to south elevation at Hill Top Cottage Main Street Awaiting Decision

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

Pause for thought

Avoiding Cynicism I CONFESS that I will struggle over the next two months as the Christmas juggernaut approaches and passes. Already the redundant church of St John the Baptist in Stamford is selling Christmas cards and has decorations up. And when the church diary fills up with carol services, mince pies and the like, I confess that I can get cynical about many aspects of the season. I question people’s motives, their understanding of the season and just why we seem to equate Victorian practices and sentiment with the Biblical events in Bethlehem.

I am reminded of an incident in the Bible when I think of cynicism. Firstly, in 1st Samuel chapter1 we read that a woman called Hannah is praying earnestly in the ‘house of the LORD’. Hannah felt the grief of her childlessness bitterly, exacerbated by the provocation of her husband’s other wife. She did the wise thing and brought her troubles to God in prayer.

But whilst she was praying, Eli the old priest saw her moving, silent lips and thought her to be

drunk. His initial cynical thoughts changed when she explained her situation.

Unfortunately, life can often fuel cynicism. However, there are heroes of the opposite too – people who think the best of people. Barnabas was one such man. After St Paul had his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, he returned to Jerusalem seeking fellowship with the Christians there. However, given his previous record for arresting and opposing Christians, their reaction to the news of Paul’s turn around was sceptical, fearing it might be a cynical ploy to get to them. The man who saw or assumed the best in Paul was Barnabas, who introduced Paul to those fearful, persecuted Christians. We are told in Acts 4 that the name Barnabas means ‘One who encourages’.

We are creatures of habit and our reactions to news, whether through the media or in conversation, will tend to follow certain patterns. As a follower of Jesus, perhaps I should try harder to watch my reactions to what I see happening around me, actively guarding my thoughts, trying to be less like Eli in his reaction to Hannah, and more like Barnabas in his reaction to Paul.

Wouldn’t it be better if we were all a little less cynical and more affirming and encouraging – at any time of the year?

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David Hankins Dog on roof alert in Marholm.

Cecilia Hammond Do you need a speaker for your Society or Organisation? Would you be interested in hearing more about the Chernobyl Children? Please do get in touch. Cecilia Sally Curtis Woollard We are looking for stallholders for a Christmas fair at Maxey village hall on Saturday 12th December 11am to 3pm. Only £5 a stall.

If you have a craft or gift stall and want to book a table please message me.

The Bluebell Helpston A pub full of Morris Men - great lunch with some lovely people.

Rev Dave Maylor

JT Fencing - Northborough

All types of fencing supplied and fixed. FREE estimates and advice. Phone

07711 726834 (days) 01733 253438 (evenings)

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Woodgate Barn, 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP

Village Tribune

Based in Helpston

Village Tribune

email: villagetribuneeditor@mac.com

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The Village Tribune Directory

Mike Sandeman Richard Hardy John Wreford Graham Fletcher Richard Harris Nicola Clough Wendy Jackson Helen Watts Catherine Franks Graham Dunn Julie Stanton Phil Collins Neil Fowkes John Ward David Laycock Roy Chowings Ted Murray Elaine Ward Debbie Martin Jill Unsworth Harry Brassey Margaret Palmer Eddie Barker Phil Broughton Ivor Crowson David Laycock Martin Bloom Robin Morrison David Over Adrienne Collins Kerrie Garner Rachel Wright Kate Hinchliff Max Sawyer

Tony Henthorn Cecilia Hammond

AMVC Head Bainton Church Churchwarden Bainton Church Churchwarden Bainton Parish Council Chair Bainton Parish Council Vice Chair Bainton Parish Council Bainton Parish Council Bainton Parish Council Bainton Parish Council Clerk Barnack Baptist Church Barnack Baptist Church Barnack Bowls Club Barnack C of E Primary School Barnack Church Churchwarden Barnack Church Churchwarden Barnack Community Association Barnack Community Choir Barnack Darby & Joan Club Barnack Horticultural Show Barnack Methodist News Chairman Barnack Parish Council Vice Chair Barnack Parish Council Barnack Parish Council Barnack Parish Council Barnack Parish Council Barnack Parish Council Barnack Parish Council Clerk - Barnack Parish Council Barnack Ward Councillor Barnack Village Hall Bookings Barnack Youth Club Benefice Administrator Botolph’s Barn - Helpston British Legion Citizens Advice Deepings Practice (main line) (Appointments only) Delaine Bus Services Editor Tribune Friends of Chernobyl’s Children

Little Mae Rose Smith of Helpston was welcomed into the church family at St Botolph’s, recently. She is pictured with mum and dad, Joanna and Luke, together with her godmother, Sophie Cipriano. Mae’s other godparents were Ashley Benbow and Hannah Cranston

01733 252235 01780 740505 01780 740362 01780 740034 01780 740886 01780 740043 01780 749154 07719 134858 01780 765984 01780 749198 01780 749123 01780 740124 01780 740265 01780 740016 01780 740267 01780 740755 01780 740114 01780 756012 01780 740048 01780 740456 01780 740115 01780 740988 01780 740427 01780 740379 01780 740430 01780 740267 01780 740966 07944 054546 01733 755939 01780 740124 01780 740118 07425 144998 01733 253192 01780 765507 0870 1264024 01778 579000 01778 579001 01778 422866 07590 750128 07779 264591

Morag Sweeney Carol Jones David Packer Sarah Owen Joe Dobson Sydney Smith Rosemary Morton Kirsty Prouse Roz Sowinski

Margaret Brown Nick Drewett Caryn Thompson Pat Jackson June Dobson Rachel Simmons Richard Astle Mary Gowers

Karen Dunn Craig Kendall Maureen Meade John Holdich OBE

Lorraine Moore (PCSO)

Dave Maylor Al Good

Susan Jarman Keith Lievesley Marian Browne Frieda Gosling Peter Grist Catherine Franks

Glinton Surgery Helpston Brownies Helpston Church Treasurer Helpston Lawn Tennis Club Helpston Cub Scouts Helpston Parish Council (Chair) Helpston Parish Council (Clerk) Helpston Parish Council (Vice) Helpston Playhouse pre-school Helpston Playhouse Before and After School Club Helpston Rainbows Helpston Scouts Helpston Village Hall Bookings Helpston WI (President) Helpston WI (Secretary) John Clare Primary Head Langdyke Countryside Trust Lay Pastoral Minister, St. Mary’s Church, Bainton Little Lambs P’cum G’ Primary Head Peterborough Adult Learning Peterborough City Council Peterborough City Council Peterborough City Hospital Police - emergency calls Less urgent crimes Power Failure Priest in Charge Rotary Club Samaritans Train Services Ufford Art Society Ufford Parish Council Chairman Ufford Parish Council Ufford Parish Council Ufford Parish Council Ufford Parish Council Clerk

01733 252246 01733 252088 01733 252096 07766 600694 01733 897065 01733 252192 01733 252903 01733 252243 01733 253243 01733 253243 01733 685806 01778 348107 01733 252232 01733 252227 01733 252192 01733 252332 01733 252376 01780 740097 01780 749198 01733 252361 01733 761361 01733 253078 01733 747474 01733 678000 999 101 0800 7838838 01780 740234 01733 252064 08457 909090 0845 748 4950 01780 740104 01780 740679 01780 740062 01780 740343 01780 740973 01780 765984