Village Tribune 105

YOUR FAVOURITE VILLAGE PUBLICATION

issue

105

vil agetribune July / August 2017

JULY / AUGUST 2017

Peakirk unwrapped The PAST year’s work A Romano-British ‘Villa’?

JOHN CLARE COTTAGE FROM ASHTON TO UGANDA

festival weekend

HELPSTON GALA ESCAPE TO THE FENS HELPSTON HELCATS DREAMING OF BREAMING

tribune DIARY inside

PRIZE CROSSWORD RECIPE • SCHOOL REPORT • CHURCH SERVICES • HERITAGE • FARMING DIARY • VILLAGE VIEWS

Serving the North Peterborough villages of Ashton, Bainton, Barnack, Castor, Deeping Gate, Etton, Glinton, Helpston, Maxey, Northborough, Peakirk, Pilsgate, Southorpe and Ufford

GET IN TOUCH WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

tribuneadvertising Size 1/6 1/4 1/3 Half Page Full Page 2

vil agetribune

 Website: www.villagetribune.org.uk  Social media:  www.facebook.com/VillageTribuneGroup/

tribunedeadlines

Per issue 4 issues Issue Date

Deadline Distributed £39 £125 106 Sep/Oct 18/08/17 02/09/17 £65 £208 107 Nov/Dec 13/10/17 28/10/17 £80 £256 108 Jan/Feb/18 08/12/17 22/12/17 £99 £317 109 Mar/Apr 18 16/2/18 3/3/2018 £185 £592

tribunecontacts

vil agetribune

 Contributions & advertising: 07590 750128 or email: villagetribuneeditor@me.com

 Editor Tony Henthorn 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP T: 07590 750128 E: villagetribuneeditor@me.com  Barnack Editor Ian Burrows T: 01780 749554 E: ianberyl.burrows@btinternet.com  Schools Editor Kirsty Warn 22 High Street, Glinton T: 01733 252270 E: kirsty@warnfamily.plus.com  Priest in Charge Dave Maylor The Rectory, Millstone Lane, Barnack PE9 3ET T: 01780 740234 E: dmaylor@btinternet.com Rector in Charge Rev Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale The Rectory, 11 Lincoln Road, Glinton PE6 7JR T: 01733 252359 E: 9bridgesrector@gmail.com Distribution  ASHTON Hilary Smith Thatched Cottage, Ashton E: hilly.smith@virgin.net

vil agetribune105

July / August 2017

 HELPSTON Clive Marsh Clive Marsh, 34 Maxey Road, Helpston clive.marsh815@btinternet.com M: 07952 251680  PILSGATE New Pilsgate distributor required contact Tony Henthorn if you can help  SOUTHORPE Daphne Williams The Old Dairy Barn, Main St. T: 01780 740511  UFFORD Frieda Gosling 2 Hillside Close, Ufford PE9 3BW T: 01780 740343  ETTON Anne Curwen The Coach House, Rectory Lane, Etton T: 01733 253357 E: acurwen@hotmail.com  GLINTON Shirley Hodgkinson 30 Websters Close, Glinton T: 01733 252351 E: hodgkinsons@talktalk.net  MAXEY Peter Hiller (Cllr) E: Peter.Hiller@peterborough.gov.uk  NORTHBOROUGH Polly Beasley 15 Claypole Drive, Northborough T: 01778 380849 E: polly.beasley@btinternet.com  PEAKIRK Trish Roberts 9 St Pegas Road

2 Advertising Rates 3 Contacts 20-21 Environment 24 Online 26-33 Tribune Diary 35-39 Heritage 40-53 Village Views 55 Tight Lines 56-57 Farming Diary 58 Young Tribune 59-61 School Report 62-64 Femail 65-69 Taste Buds 71 In Memoriam 72-75 Church News 76-77 Church Services 78-81 Write Away 82 Prize Crossword 83 Financial 84-91 Council Corner 92-93 Planning Applications 94-95 Tribune Directory

Deadline for next issue: 18 August 2017

 BARNACK George Burage Opposite Millstone, Barnack

REGULARS

NEWS & FEATURES 4 4 6-7 9

11 12-13 14-19

New Mayor & Mayoress John Clare Beginners’ Day From Ashton to Uganda Dramatic turn at Peterborough Cathedral Not ready for retirement?

John Clare Cottage Festival Escape to the Fens issue

105

vil agetribune ICATION

GE PUBL

URITE VILLA

YOUR FAVO

2017

st July / Augu

ST 2017

JULY / AUGU

rapped Peakirk unw ’s work The PAST year itish ‘Villa’?

A Romano-Br

ARE JOHN CL E COTTAG

ekend festival we

NDA TON TO UGA FROM ASH GALA HELPSTON THE FENS ESCAPE TO S CAT HEL HELPSTON NG OF BREAMI DREAMING SSWORD PRIZE CRO

on the cover ...

John Clare Cottage Festival weekend (see page 12)

une trib DIARY inside

S GE VIEW DIARY • VILLA • FARMING • HERITAGE SERVICES of • CHURCH gh villages REPORT Helpston, Peterborou SCHOOL , Glinton, RECIPE • g the North d Gate, Etton

Servin and Uffor r, Deeping Southorpe ck, Casto on, Barna rk, Pilsgate, Ashton, Baint Northborough, Peaki Maxey,

4,500 copies of the Tribune are distributed free of charge in Ashton, Bainton, Barnack, Castor, Deeping Gate, Etton, Glinton, Helpston, Maxey, Northborough, Peakirk, Pilsgate, Southorpe and Ufford.

T: 01733 772095 E: hello@dimension6000.com www.dimension6000.com

The views expressed within this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor. All copy is believed correct at time of print but no responsibility can be taken for errors and/or ommissions. No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher.

Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.

The Village Tribune own all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing.

vil agetribune

3

NEWS & FEATURES

Our City’s new Mayor and Mayoress

I was privileged to attend the Annual Mayor Making council meeting on 22 May at Peterborough Town Hall, to propose my very good friend Cllr John Fox to be our City’s next Mayor.

My fellow ward councillor, council Leader John Holdich, seconded my proposal.

Werrington ward councillors John and his wife Judy, the new Madam Mayoress, are friends of many in Tribland and regular visitors from their home in Newborough.

John’s length of service as a member of the city council gives him the eligibility to be considered for the prestigious role as our First Citizen.

Although only just over a month into the job John and Judy have already been very busy in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire promoting our great City at civic events and official occasions and were enthusiastically welcomed at the annual Maxey Summer fayre in June, where they spoke about and congratulated the hard work of the organisers Maxey Community Association, and also judged competitions.

Cllr Peter Hiller

The City’s new Mayor, Cllr John Fox looks on as his wife Cllr Judy Fox receives her chain of office from former Mayor Cllr David Sanders.

John Clare Beginners’ Day - ‘A Portrait of John Clare’ Early in 2015 John Stafford put together an illustrated talk entitled “A Portrait of John Clare” and presented it, with Richard Ollier, at the Leicester Early Music Festival (LEMF) on 27 March.

Although the audience was mainly Early Music fans, Clare’s interest in folk music and its traditions provided a link, and this was borne out by a review in the LEMF newsletter. This said that the reviewer was “completely bowled over from the start of John Stafford’s talk and sat enraptured by it all….at the end…I felt as though I really knew John Clare. Not only that, I almost felt the sense of loss his friends must have felt on his death. (It was) well researched, well presented and thoroughly enjoyable….”

These are sentiments which were echoed and added to when John and Richard were invited by The John Clare Society to repeat the presentation in Helpston on Sunday May 28th 2017. In two parts, with a break for tea and cakes, the talk went through the main events in Clare’s life as told by John, with Richard emphasising many of the key points with excerpts of recorded music and as “the voice of John Clare”.

The audience of over 60 people in St. Botolph’s Church was clearly enthralled to hear

this fascinating tale, delivered with such genuine passion for the subject. The poetry, music and photographs all added to the atmosphere and everyone clapped enthusiastically at the end of a marvellous afternoon.

For anyone who missed the talk, John and Richard are interested in repeating it for any other organisations or societies and already have a provisional booking to take it to Ely. Ann Marshall, Publicity Officer, The John Clare Society

Please contact me if you are interested: E-mail: johnclaresociety@mybtinternet.com or phone 01400 282409/07815 640033 4

vil agetribune

vil agetribune

5

NEWS & FEATURES

Hand surgeon, Jonathan Jones from Ashton has just returned from his third trip to Uganda. Jonathan went to the Church of Uganda Hospital Kisiizi COUH Kisiizi with a team from Peterborough hospital. “NHS ‘in crisis’?” says Jonathan, “We’re not in crisis!”

From Ashton to Uganda

R

eferring to the recent tragic events in Manchester, he pointed out that we CAN cope with disasters and tend to forget how lucky we are to have so many skilled medical staff and so much up-to-date equipment.

Since Jonathan’s last trip to Uganda, his daughter Jessica has visited Kisiizi to collect data for her Edinburgh University…… during her time there she went on some trips in to the community and helped with weighing some newly born babies.

Jonathan’s own daughter, Jessica, accompanied the team in order to complete an Edinburgh university geography dissertation titled ‘Faith –based Healthcare’ as Jess begins training in midwifery at Cambridge in September!

6

vil agetribune

Kisiizi was built near a spectacular waterfall in order to access hydro power to run the electricity. Most of its patients live a day’s travel to get there.

It has expanded over the years since it opened in 1958. While at Kisiizi Jonathan and his team

of poverty, exploitation, HIV and despair. A statue newly installed statue is a statement of confirmation, but also one of hope: at the top, a girl is being pushed off the waterfall by her family.

This happened in times gone by when, if young women failed to

‘girls still have a hard time in Africa’, there sometimes being a cycle of poverty, exploitation, HIV and despair’. gave training in surgical safety, Management of Hand Trauma, as well as performing operations for Paediatric deformity and burns contractures of the upper limb as well as performing operations and delivering physiotherapy.

Jonathan explained that ‘girls still have a hard time in Africa’, there sometimes being a cycle

get pregnant, their families were made to do this. At the foot of the statue is a midwife holding a newly born baby as a sign of hope for the future. This is a grim reminder that Africa needs to put more value on their women.

“Out of the pointless slaughter in Manchester…., we have seen a great swell of compassion

NEWS & FEATURES

and hope. In 1958 the hospital was built, now it has one of best midwifery units in Uganda.”

Triplets were premature and survived as a result of the new Mothers-in-waiting Ward which allows mothers with high risk pregnancy to stay at the hospital to minimize the risks of not being able to reach the hospital in time, On the Peterborough team’s last night, they were sitting down to a special ‘farewell’ meal and a welcome, rare, break from working in the operating theatres when word came that a lorry carrying over 40 people returning from a funeral had crashed, resulting in many injuries. The group sprang up from the table, but when they arrived in the emergency department, they were politely told that everything was under control, But there was one man with a mutilating hand injury already in theatre who needed Jonathan’s attention “There were 45 casualties, two receiving rooms and not much kit,”

A new development is a centre for mental health opening soon. The connection between a positive, cheerful mind and healing is becoming evident. The Peterborough team included three newcomers who ‘wouldn’t be kept away.’ One packed enough cuddly toys for 35 operated children also taking videos where British children sent messages of encouragement like: ”Hope you’re not in too much pain after your operation.”

Francisco Raposo, a Portuguese theatre nurse from the Azores brought a projector and showed Disney films; the favourite being Lion King and Simba’s Pride and Tarzan. A person with a big heart, he bid a tearful goodbye to his pet gecko! Another member of the Jones family, Georgina, is currently training in medicine.

She too, was inspired by Kisiizi and of course by her own parents (mother is a GP). Watch this space, as Jess is due to start her

Peterborough Hospital surgeon, Jonathan Jones from Ashton, back from Uganda.

This little hospital has resourceful staff and though its technical resources are few, there is an amazing energy among the staff that helps them cope. he said. “Mattresses were put in the chapel. There is an energy, strength and focus comes as in WW2. It was amazing to see how this hospital responded to a crisis.

After a night’s work, everyone was still in the chapel for 8am next morning.”

This little hospital has resourceful staff and though its technical resources are few, there is an amazing energy among the staff that helps them cope.

Jonathan gave a talk with slides at a Helpston Church coffee morning in May. He pointed out that there are no targets to reach at Kisiizi and much less paper work, so staff are able to focus fully on getting through the workload.

midwifery training this autumn and there are more Joneses to come.

Let Jonathan have the last word about our Tribune community: “There is a lot of caring and compassion in this community,” he told us. “You don’t have to be medical to to help make a world of difference in peoples lives, and that can be in East Anglia or Southern Uganda!and age doesn’t matter. There are lots of ways to help.

Speaking in this week of prayer, in the midst of busyness take time to stop and pray. For my own journey – I need more time to pray for my family and I, and future plans for the third world

Jessica Jones, proud of her dissertation in Faith-based Healthcare, and looking forward to starting training as a midwife.

For more information visit www.kisiizihospital.org.ug

vil agetribune

7

DELFIELD MOTORS MOT Testing Station Courtesy car available Class IV (cars & light vans) Class V & Class VII (vans up to 3500kg) For all mechanical, MOT preparations, accident & insurance body repairs

ALL

K WOR ED TE

RAN GUA

01733 252 599

Peakirk, Peterborough PE6 7NT

Established since 1972

MOT TESTING FACILITY for vehicles in Class IV (up to 3000kg)

We test, but don’t repair, so your MOT will be conducted in your best interest

Mon to Friday: 0730 - 1730 Saturday: 0730 - 1230

T: 01733 810 288

E: nbsanders@btconnect.com N B SANDERS Werrington Bridge Road Newborough, Peterborough PE6 7PR

NEWS & FEATURES

From a 21st century mystery play to Shakespeare, to those quintessentially English favourites, Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad, there is something for all the family to enjoy.

Things are taking a

T

he drama begins on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July when award-winning Londonbased theatre company Antic Disposition perform their darkly comic production of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The play will be staged under the beautiful fan vaulted ceiling of the 16th century New Building in the Cathedral.

performance of a new mystery play, The Trials of Mary. This is the story of Mary and Joseph as you’ve never seen it before: a moving tale of one woman’s loyalty, a comedy of manners, and a thriller all in one. Five hundred years ago stonemasons and carpenters celebrated this drama on the streets of the city of Peterborough

You can look forward to some great, indoor and outdoor, theatrical entertainments this summer The company brought their sell-out production of Henry V to the same location in February to great acclaim and this performance promises to be just as gripping.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of Saturday 15 July, Eastern Angles will give a free outdoor

Find out more

and now their story has been updated to re-celebrate this extraordinary sequence of events, reviving the gripping stories in a fresh and new atmospheric way.

Performances are outside on the grass in front of the Cathedral and will be at 12.00 noon and

turn at

in July

2.30pm. The audience is invited to bring a picnic, or grab a delicious snack from Becket’s Tea Room, sit back and enjoy some free summer theatre.

Towards the end of the month, on Friday 28 July, The Wind in the Willows will be performed by Boxtree Productions at twilight, in the beautiful setting of the Cathedral Cloisters. This family show is packed with inventive staging, original songs and fantastic storytelling and will unfold in Boxtree Production’s unique and energetic way. Refreshments will be on sale, or you can bring a picnic.

You are welcome to bring a blanket to sit on or a low backed chair … and clothes to suit the conditions as the performance will go ahead whatever the weather!

For more details check the Cathedral website www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/events or see the ticket information and events listed in the Tribune Diary on page 19

vil agetribune

9

You can rely on a Worcester Boiler...

...and you can rely on us to install them Heating, Plumbing and Boiler Maintence Contractors

01733 312586

Unit 1, Woodston Business Centre, Shrewsbury Avenue, Woodston, Peterborough, PE2 7EF email: info@pbs-heating.co.uk www.pbs-heating.co.uk

SUMMER IN ETTON

Join us in our wonderful manor house bar and restaurant to sample our new summer menus and seasonal real ales

STOP PRESS! KIDS DINE FREE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS* Kids can enjoy our great playground and play fort •

Terms & conditions apply

AUGUST ENTERTAINMENT:

Saturday 12 August 3pm - Party In The Paddock!

Live music (The One Eyed Cats and other bands), BBQ and summer fun in our grounds and marquee (rain or shine event) August Bank Holiday 27 & 28 August Live music and menu specials Visit our website for other entertainment news.

Now taking bookings for wedding and celebration events in our permanent marquee – 2018 and 2019 CAMRA accredited GOOD BEER GUIDE 2017

T: 01733 252 387 www.thegoldenpheasantetton.co.uk

The Golden Pheasant, 1 Main Road, Etton PE6 7DA

NEWS & FEATURES

Not ready for

retirement?

By Christine Harris

E

ven though retirement ages have been increased recently many people find that when the time comes we don’t feel quite ready to down tools and head to the allotment or the golf course.

All the knowledge, skills and qualifications we’ve achieved over the years can’t just be switched off, and we might not feel ready to step out of working life entirely. So if the calendar says one thing but our heart and mind disagree, what should we do?

Don’t despair; there are in excess of 1.3 million pensioners still in work. We represent 11% of the total workforce, and are living proof that many companies recognise our experience.

Staged Retirement Talk to your boss or line manager in advance of your retirement. Ask if you can stage your retirement over a couple of years, maybe dropping to a three day week, then two days etc. Many companies are happy to accommodate loyal employees. Stress that it will make any transitions run more smoothly because you will be able to pass on your knowledge to your

replacement and allow them to gradually take over. If you regularly deal with clients it can be very reassuring for them to know that you are still around.

Benefits Find out what your entitlements are. Check out www.direct.gov.uk to find out about pensions, earnings and tax. If you prefer to talk to someone in person on the phone, ensure you have all relevant information to hand: P45, NI Number etc. Even if you’re only entitled to a few pennies at this stage, the important thing is that you are registered. Other benefits may come your way later.

Job-hunting (www. jobcentreguide. co.uk) This site provides an abundance of information on vacancies and also free CV advice, which is especially helpful if you are out of practice in the art of selling yourself to a prospective employer. You can register your CV on line with any number of agencies, such as www.reed.co.uk, which show jobs in your area, and assist with careers advice. If you prefer to register in person, pop into your local Job Centre or Recruitment Agency. These are all

positive moves which will help you feel more confident and in control.

There are many ways to research information about employment.

The library and your local college are good starting points. Libraries often have computer terminals available for public use, and some run courses if your PC skills need polishing.

When you get an interview:

Be positive Stress the good reputation of the firm plus other positive information.

Play to your strengths Explain how the skills you’ve acquired throughout your working life will benefit this company Play down the negatives of retirement Describe any voluntary work, hobbies studying and training you’ve completed.

As an older person Play on your experience and loyalty but…

Reassure the employer You are hard working, flexible and willing to learn.

Think of retirement as a fresh start.

It may be a chance to reinvent yourself and it’s never too late to land your dream job. Good luck.

vil agetribune

11

NEWS & FEATURES

JOHN CLARE COTT

12

vil agetribune

TAGE

NEWS & FEATURES NEWS & FEATURES

FESTIVAL WEEKEND We will be supporting the John Clare Society during their Festival Weekend, 15 - 17 July.

The Cottage will be open on all the days of the Festival. Times are on the website.

CRAFT DAY

ART EXHIBITION

On 1 July we have a new art exhibition with works by local artist Sally Hammerton. Sally works in a wide range of media and runs a number of art groups and day workshops.

She has works in Florilegium of the Chelsea Physic Garden and is an exhibiting member of the Welland Valley Art Society.

Sally exhibits at various venues through the year and has an “at home” exhibition of her paintings, prints and cards in November each year. To obtain an invitation to this years event e-mail sally.hammerton@gmail.com A selection of her popular greetings cards are currently on sale at John Clare Cottage.

Sally’s final workshop of the 2017 season at the Cottage is on Wednesday 2nd August, there are some places left, please contact the Cottage to reserve a place.

The Craft Day on Saturday 5 August is growing, there will be stalls round the courtyard, garden and inside the Cottage.

There will be weaving, pottery, preserves, embroidery, jewellery and glassware, all created by local crafts people. It will be open 11 am to 4 pm. Refreshments will be available in the Cottage Café.

ACOUSTIC CAFÉ

The Acoustic Café evenings are continuing to be very popular, and are held on the fourth Thursday of each month, starting at 7pm.

Thanks to our fhe volunteers who help the running of the Cottage, Café and the gardens.

We have seen some wonderful colour in the flower beds.

The Cottage and Café are very busy and if anyone has spare time and would like to join the successful team please come and see us at the Cottage your help would be much appreciated.

vil agetribune

13

NEWS & FEATURES

TOM’S MUSINGS

escape to I decided rather spontaneously on a Tuesday night that I’d visit Brexitville – otherwise known as East Cambridgeshire. I’ve never been before in my 18 years of residence in Peterborough so I thought I’d best go while I had a spare day lying around. My expectations, it must be said, were low.

I

decided rather spontaneously on a Tuesday night that I’d visit Brexitville – otherwise known as East Cambridgeshire. I’ve never been before in my 18 years of residence in Peterborough so I thought I’d best go while I had a spare day lying around.

My expectations, it must be said, were low. I mean, in fairness, the 60s-built Wisbech Library is listed 14

vil agetribune

as the number 8 thing to do by TripAdvisor! I suppose I held the stereotypical view that things would be – well – a bit odd. Turns out they weren’t, but more on that later! I’ve peppered this article with some pictures I and others took of the places to keep the thing visually interesting.

My first task was to get there. This involves bouncing

(yes, literally bouncing almost to the point of getting air) down a ridiculous road to the east of Peterborough. I’m too familiar with this heinous excuse of a roadway thanks to my frequent trips to the lovely Norfolk. After taking a second to realign my spine it was on to the pin-straight road to Guyhirn. Guyhirn is an interesting place. Interesting indeed. Has-a-

TOM’S MUSINGS

NEWS & FEATURES

North Brink photo by Jim Linwood

coffee-shop-in-a-former-adult-store kind of interesting. Apparently, though, the coffee is good so there we go. I first veered left towards the ‘Capital of the Fens’, Wisbech.

I found, much to my surprise, a free car park. Not the kind where you only get two hours and a grumpy, sleep-deprived and poorly paid parking attendant hovers nearby to give you a ticket when you go a nanosecond over; but a pleasant, capacious, councilrun affair rather close to the town centre. I walked past a pleasant little garden celebrating one of the town’s sons and proceeded

towards the Market Place. I was first taken, as I rounded the corner, with the beauty of the stretch of properties on the other side of the river (as can be seen in the picture above). This was not the rough-hewn, grim and dismal place I was expecting.

OK, the weather was good which helped – but still, good start. I continued towards the centre.

Good impressions continued when I surfaced in the Market Place, after passing a couple of old businesses purveying various interesting wares. There were a few floral blooms making things look bright and the few shoppers

who were in on Wednesday morning made their way slowly round. It wasn’t exactly Red Lion Square of Stamford but it wasn’t unpleasant. Admittedly, I did initially think the large Poundland doubled as a social venue with the number of people loitering by the door (but this appears to have been coincidence) and there was a tatty betting shop tucked in one corner, but opposite it was a very pleasant church with lush lawns around. I strolled down it’s passageway after seeing the sign for the Wisbech and Fenland Museum, something which I had been wanting to visit for a while. >>

vil agetribune

15

NEWS & FEATURES

TOM’S MUSINGS

photo by Tony Bennett

>>

I turned into the pleasant square it was located on and ascended the elegant steps into the frontage. I got a hit of the familiar museum smell and proceeded into the first room.

Arranged somewhat haphazardly into a plethora of different cabinets were trinkets and intricacies, ranging from a surprisingly rich collection of Delftware to the breakfast set of Napoleon I. There were a number of attractive vases, urns and other vessels along with many, many, MANY examples of those somewhat garish glazed figurines with bold pastel colours.

Other notable items included a pair of ceremonial ‘swords’ constructed from Chinese ‘cash’ (Coins. I know!) to ward away evil spirits. They weren’t particular fearsome but are probably worth a pretty penny. (Har! Har!) There was also some beautiful carved bonework from French prisoners of war from the nearby camp at Norman Cross built for the Napoleonic war. They were amazingly intricate and finely sculpted. Well worth seeing.

Aside from the notable objects aforementioned, most of the items in this first room were items held by the everyman in history.

Many of them did not have a label and the ones that did often had a yellowed ticket written on in browning cursive font clearly 16

vil agetribune

affixed many years ago giving details of the donor and year, usually sometime in the mid 1800s. People, understandably, put a high favour on unusual or unique items but I believe that the heritage of the public should also be celebrated and explored as well. This room did a fine job of that, showing – among others – a large collection of identical ‘greybeard’ vases with

in dusty wildlife scenes in the glazed cabinets. I can appreciate a good taxidermy, but my attention was quickly drawn away by one of the glass cases containing a variety of interesting medical implements.

Among the interesting exhibits were leech tubes (used for the application of a leech to a wound) and an 1890s scarifier. The scarifier was used for ‘blood letting’ and consisted of 8 blades, four on

Apparently, Opium usage in the mid 1800s was rife in the Fenland area. Children were fed ‘Poppy Seed Tea’ to quiet them during teething troubles. said yellowed labels proclaiming the various locations from where they were dug up by enterprising locals in the 1840s and 50s (they apparently stem from the 1600s).

It’s clear that this was a common design of pot yet one would not know if this collection did not exist.

Various curios like snuff boxes and toothpick cases were on display, allowing one to imagine the lifestyle of their former owners which is surely the purpose of such a museum.

I rounded the corner into the main hall; a large, galleried affair with old, dark wood cases lining the walls and the upper level containing similarly glazed cases along its perimeter. The centre was filled with those sloped glass cases often found in archaeological and anthropological museums. I first arrived at the rather intriguing collection of taxidermy. All manner of local wildlife had been stuffed after snuffing it, and artfully posed

each side, that presumably closed towards the middle when the included handle was turned. To think in less than 60 years the NHS was started! There was a portable battery device to apply electric shocks for the relief of rheumatism from the 30s, and a collection of dispensary slips for morphine from the local ‘Isolation Hospital’. Hmm. Perhaps most interesting of all in this exhibit were an isolated crop of assorted opium pipes. Slightly odd, you might think, but especially odd when accompanied by a particularly enlightening information slip.

Apparently, Opium usage in the mid 1800s was rife in the Fenland area. Children were fed ‘Poppy Seed Tea’ to quiet them during teething troubles. Children were dosed with ‘Godfrey’s Cordial’, a weak version of Opium, to hush them up while they were being cared for by childminders as their mothers worked in the

TOM’S MUSINGS

brewers and 48 inn-keepers. 170 sold tobacco! If this is all getting too much, at least there were 70 folk selling tea and coffee, and two so-called ‘temperance hotels’ which were the predecessor of the British coffee shop. Blimey. Who knew the humble Fens could be the source of so much intrigue!

Having thoroughly explored the contents of this cabinet, I moved on to the next. There were various relics of Anglo-Saxon origin and a surprisingly complete coin collection. Coins don’t really float my boat so I moved sharpish to the collection illustrating the life of Thomas Clarkson, a son of fields. Many were killed by Opium Wisbech and prominent slavery abolitionist. This was again overdoses. You could buy the really rather interesting as the pure stuff from general stores, cabinets contained a wide range market stalls and chemists. It of different African art and tools. would be used to delay labour, These exhibits were bought back and some older women took up

by Clarkson to show people that to 30 ‘grains’ a day, half an ounce it was better to trade in goods of solid Opium a week. In 1867, than people. During a voyage he the British Medical Association made to Africa he curated a box of (BMA) calculated that half the small exhibits to tour around and imported Opium was sold in the Fenland area. Half! Thirty thousand show people as a visual aid to his pounds worth in old money! It was lectures on the matter. This box contained, among other things, a a lucrative source of revenue for chemists. The infant mortality rate set of handcuffs and whips which were used to show the cruelty of in the late 19th century was 206 the trade along with seeds and per 1000, higher than Sheffield!

Finally, by World War I the use was textiles to show the benefit of almost 0. An article by the Lincoln more typical trade.

To add to the debauchery, 1,126,780 gallons of beer and 20,500 gallons of spirits were consumed anually – supporting 12 brewers and 48 inn-keepers.

Mercury in 1846 gushed that ‘It is common to see the man or woman of 20, 30 or 40 years with cadaverous countenance, tottering frame, and palsied step, daily going for his or her sixpenny-worth of poison…’ Apparently, there were 400 gallons of Laudenum, a liquid preparation of Opium, sold and imbued a week.

To add to the debauchery, 1,126,780 gallons of beer and 20,500 gallons of spirits were consumed anually – supporting 12

Other interesting exhibits included a shop display that was taken lock, stock and barrel from the old store and moved to the museum and a surprisingly complete set of Egyptian relics, including tiles and pottery fragments, from the Roman settlement in Westry village.

There was also a photography exhibit on by the local photographic society in the airy extension which had some nice snaps.

NEWS & FEATURES

Finally, after about an hour of searching around the museum, I chucked my £2 into the pot and emerged into the sunlight.

I decided to turn right out of the square as there were some nice looking Georgian buildings that I could take a look at. After walking along, this transpired to be part of The Crescent – a, well, crescent shaped road which when viewed with its neighbours Union Place and Ely Place forms an egg shaped circular road. On this road are propped numerous similar Edwardian-looking abodes. In the centre is a very pleasant garden area and the perhaps misleadinglytitled Wisbech Castle. Spoiler alert – it’s not a castle. I noted there was one incongruously-shaped building in the middle of The Crescent which has an orifice in the middle leading to a small passage.

I strolled down here and ended up back near the bridge, so I headed back to where I had come from.

At this point I was beginning to feel a little peckish. Here I suppose is where Wisbech does come a little unstuck. The variety of eateries is, well, a little disappointing. I should have known better when the tourist board lists Costa and the Beales Café as featured places to consume food.

Admittedly I didn’t spend long looking and there do appear to be some nicer places on the tourism board website as well.

I finally settled on a Burger King and paper bag in hand proceeded to find a bench in the Market Place.

Could they have done with some more benches? Yes. Aside from this niggle, eating lunch next to some lovely flower vessels was decidedly pleasant. To top it off a young man wearing those fabric tracksuit bottoms that unfortunately have become synonymous with those members of the population who might not be so considerate even took it upon himself to cross the street away from his mates and dispose of his takeaway box in a nearby bin. >>

vil agetribune

17 17

NEWS & FEATURES

TOM’S MUSINGS

March Town Hall

I’ll name this ‘junk, junk’

On this little trip I found a pleasant little zone (I want to call it a market place, but it blatantly isn’t!) and walked down by the waterfront properties that had so taken me when I first arrived. >>

After lunch I was feeling restless so took a wander around the local area. On this little trip I found a pleasant little zone (I want to call it a market place, but it blatantly isn’t!) and walked down by the waterfront properties that had so taken me when I first arrived.

This was also a pleasant side of Wisbech although things were a little less exciting here as all the action (or as much as could reasonably be mustered on a weekday afternoon) was going on in the centre.

I have been reliably informed by those in the know that things are a little different at night. There we go. To be honest, around 50% of Peterborough is impassable past-watershed so this is not a surprise but it’s something worth bearing in mind alongside my ardent praise of the place in this visit. It should also be noted it was sunny, something which helps any place massively.

I decided – seeing as I was in the area anyway – to visit March afterwards. It is something of a departure from Wisbech as it is more of a dormitory town 18

vil agetribune

really, catering principally for Peterborough and Cambridge bound commuters. Birmingham isn’t miles away either on the train. So what would I meet in March? Prior to this visit if you’d asked me to list the attractions of this slice of rural Cambridgeshire I’d have given you an apparently very good fossil shop, a former fountain, an admittedly rather lovely 1847 Great North Railway junction station and a surprisingly large Gregg’s (thanks to it being one of their former Baker’s Oven locations). Highly agreeable, I’m sure you’ll concur (especially the Gregg’s as, after being in Newcastle for 6 months, being more than 15 minutes from a font of pasty goodness gives me separation anxiety), but no Ely. I was, frankly, expecting a slightly dull, slightly boring place without much in the way of interest. Again, what met me was different.

After I’d graduated my Master’s in the intricacies of the City Road Car Park sign (seriously, it’s quite daunting when you first arrive.

Arrows point everywhere!) I parked

Sunny canalside up. Yep, you guessed it. Another free car park. Fenland District Council are really on the ball here!

I hopped out the car and ambled into the centre. I was saddened to see that March’s little museum was closed for refurbishment when I was there so no more museum escapades. My mood was quickly lifted when I fell upon a rather pleasant building, however.

Further internet research told me that this was in fact the Town Hall.

I reached the notional centre, Broad Street, and found the decorative memorial fountain (as aforementioned) that I’d seen on images of the town. It was every bit as impressive in person. OK, not exactly the Albert Memorial but nice nonetheless. It has sadly been de-fountainified since it’s construction and now acts as a spectacularly ornate planter. Oh well. I had a stroll down Broad Street and found it rather like many of the other shopping streets I have idly (and sometimes reluctantly – under the tow of family) meandered down.

I surfaced at the end, and – on a whim – decided to turn right.

I knew there wasn’t going to be much to see round here thanks to my Google Maps research but I was taken by something a little peculiar. The Christian Bookstore

TOM’S MUSINGS

NEWS & FEATURES

West End Park

March Memorial Fountain – Colin Smith has a café and gift section. That is better equipped than most Waterstone’s! By accounts received the fayre isn’t bad either. Pity it hasn’t usurped Ye Olde Costa for a place on FDCs website. On the first read of the sign, I thought it had a gift shop which would have really thrown me! A bookshop with a gift shop. Alas, it is more sensible

midday on a working-weekday.

After being suitably relaxed by this amble I turned around and decided to see what delights the riverside had to offer. After finding my way eventually to the bridge to the riverside path I was happy to find a rather pleasant park. Google clearly didn’t get the memo as it’s a bit of anonymous green on

Opposite was one of those Aladdin’s Cave type stores which have shampoo, low-grade automotive oil and brassieres on the same shelf ... Admittedly hardly coach holiday material. on second reading. Opposite was one of those Aladdin’s Cave type stores which have shampoo, low-grade automotive oil and brassieres on the same shelf. Adjacent was a Sainsbury’s Superstore. Admittedly hardly coach holiday material. I turned around and walked the other way.

After passing back through the urban area I found myself walking back along the road I had driven in on, the B1099 Dartford/ Wisbech Road. It was flanked on either side by various dwellings and in the spring sunshine was basked in a warm glow. It was subsuburbia distilled. People were out walking their dogs, tradesmen’s vans whizzed past and there was a peaceful air thanks to it being

their map but I’m reliably informed this is in fact the West End Park.

I had a stroll out onto the main road by the river, enjoying the picturesque view of the waterway before turning around in the ever-so-British-way by quickly checking my phone and making a U-turn past the rather shiny and futuristic library and less shiny and futuristic leisure centre to my car. Incidentally, I spotted on my way back a set of public toilets that were open! What a shock. I cannot attest to the state of them as I didn’t go in, but I’ve only ever seen public toilets that are open in tourist locations recently. Hmm. I decided, before finally wrapping my Fenland Excursion up, to swing by the Neale-Wade

Academy to see if it was really as shiny as they say it is. Sure enough, yep, an ounce of architectural effort has been expended to good effect. Time will tell if the looks will last longer than other, er, similar projects in Peterborough… *cough* Art-Deco-designrecreated-in-cheap-yellowy-bricksdoesn’t-really-cut-it *cough*.

And so ends my Fenland adventure. Was it enjoyable? Yes. Would I gladly live there? Yes. Did it dispel the myths and biases I’d acquired living in Peterborough?

Yes. It is certainly unbefitting of it’s reputation as a vile place full of racist and bigoted people.

Would I send a coach full of 52 expectant pensioners from Essex for a 3 night ‘Wonders of the East’ tour with half-board accommodation at a three-star hotel? No. No I wouldn’t. There’s simply not enough to do. It’s certainly a good layover if you’re passing coming back from Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Norwich or the like though. If nothing else but to waste an hour looking at a 19th century pensioner’s crockery. 

vil agetribune

19 19

ENVIRONMENT

The results are in!

Sustainable transport named as number one environmental concern for Peterborough residents The charity PECT recently asked people in Peterborough what they liked about the local area and what change they wanted to see happen. The results of the survey are now in, and sustainable transport has been named as the number one environmental concern for local residents.

Feedback was collected from more than 600 local residents through a range of different methods – including social media, events, press releases, focus groups and Open Gap poetry. The charity was pleased with the number of responses received and to hear from so many residents who are passionate about change happening in the city.

The purpose of PECT’s research was to find out what is valued in the city and what the main issues are, both environmentally and more generally. The results are now being used to steer the direction of the charity’s focus, to ensure its work best meets the needs of local residents, in order to make the biggest difference.

“This piece of work is an important part of building our understanding to make sure that what we do remains informed by people in and around the city,” explains PECT’s CEO Carly Leonard. “There are critical issues that need to be discussed, debated and action taken and Peterborough could be a place where this happens.

There is a need to raise awareness about environmental issues and involve local residents in making that change.”

Transport was ranked first in the list of people’s concerns; with public transport, cycle path provision and maintenance, and growing traffic congestion coming in for criticism from those surveyed.

Ranked second in the list of environmental concerns was Zero Waste. Topics raised under this included litter, fly tipping, excess packaging, and issues around educating people how to correctly dispose of waste.

Land Use and Wildlife ranked third in importance, with 20% of those responding in this section being concerned about the impact of housing development on wildlife.

“No one person or organisation has all of the answers to these issues, so we want to build on our relationships and create new ones so that our focus and action is informed by local needs and priorities and is more transformative as a result,” explains Carly. “We recognise that new thinking may be needed to challenge the causes of many of the environmental, social and economic issues we face.”

When asked about the challenges the city faces in general, people’s top concerns centred around the growth of the city in terms of population

and issues around availability and quality of housing.

In addition to the feedback on changes residents wanted to see happen, there were many things people said they valued about the city. The top three were: the natural environment, heritage, and leisure activities.

The most popular natural environment attraction by far was Ferry Meadows, with the Green Wheel and Central Park as second and third choices.

The Cathedral was named the number one heritage attraction, closely followed by the Museum, Flag Fen and Longthorpe Tower.

PECT is feeding the results of this work into current and future plans for creating more sustainable places, here in Peterborough and beyond. The charity is developing a strong reputation as an organisation that carries out engagement work with communities, schools and businesses, sometimes working in partnership with other charities, to ensure work is taking place in the city that really makes a difference to the lives of people who live here.

The organisation has already worked on numerous behaviour change and engagement projects in the last 12 months, such as encouraging the use of sustainable transport, getting more active, and finding out what people think about physical improvements in the city.

For more information about PECT’s work and to see the survey results, visit the website at www.pect.org.uk. For more information, call 01733 568408 or email info@pect.org.uk.

20

vil agetribune

ENVIRONMENT

“Once we understand people’s opinions and have an official condition report we can work with our partners to look to acquire further funding to improve the Green Wheel and to give it a 20th birthday party to remember!” Andrew Ellis

PECT wants to hear your views on the

H

ave you ever used the Green Wheel? Do you regularly walk or cycle along it? What do you think could be done to improve and enhance it? PECT, the city’s environmental charity, wants to hear your views!

The charity is working alongside Sustrans and Groundwork to look at revitalising the Green Wheel in time for its 20th anniversary, which will take place in 2020. The Green Wheel was officially launched

as a Millennium project and it encompasses over 45 miles of cycle ways around the city and surrounding villages.

The first step in this process will be to investigate the current physical condition, and to look at people’s usage and opinions of the Green Wheel.

“Thanks to the support of the Big Lottery Fund we are gathering feedback in order to understand what residents know about the Green Wheel and what they use

it for,” explains Project Officer Andrew Ellis. “Even if you’re not currently using it, we would love to hear your views – we are as interested in finding out why people don’t use it as much as why people do!”

The charity is encouraging people to take part in a survey over the next few weeks to give their views. PECT will also be attending events and running focus groups to get people’s views in person too.

To take part in the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GreenWheel.

For further information about the project, call 01733 568408,email info@pect.org.uk or visit www.pect.org.uk

vil agetribune

21

22

vil agetribune

vil agetribune

23

ONLINE

The internet of things

By Kate Duggan

The ‘internet of things’ refers to electronic devices connecting to each other using the internet. It’s a way to collect information and improve efficiency.

T

ake as an example, a Fitbit or other fitness-tracking device. These give you an indication of how many steps you’ve walked or ran in a day, your heart rate, calories burned and so on. You can also synch one to an app on your phone, or to an online account. Then you can check your progress over a week, how you compare to other people you’re sharing information with, how many calories you’ve burnt off and so on. If you also sync your account up with ‘smart’ scales, it’ll keep track of your weight and BMI, to give you a fuller picture of your health in one place.

Smart homes Smart home devices are becoming increasingly common.

They let you control your heating, hot water, lights and other technology while you’re out of the

24

vil agetribune

house. Let’s say you’re running late from work. You realise you’re going to miss your favourite TV programme, so you use your phone to set it to record. You also postpone the heating coming on, and turn a light on so it looks like someone is home. At least you know your security cameras will send an alert to your phone if they detect any movement.

On the way home, you nip to the supermarket, but can’t remember whether you need milk. A couple of clicks and your smart fridge has sent you a photo of its contents.

After buying the milk, you turn your heating on, and set your coffee machine to have a brew ready for when you get in.

Smart health The internet of things isn’t just about making our lives a bit easier. Trials are underway to see how it could help people with

pre-existing medical conditions.

Medical devices that patients use at home can collect data to give healthcare providers a better picture of a patient’s day-to-day health. Doctors can even be sent an alert if measurements go above or below a safe level.

Smart cities By using smart technology, and acting on data, cities could become more efficient. From bins that send an alert when they need emptying, to traffic lights that help reduce congestion, the internet of things is set to bring about a lot of changes. It may seem like sci-fi, but it might not be that long until you’re travelling in a driver-less vehicle, which knows exactly where there’s an available parking space, and any road closures to avoid on the way to your destination.

The future is looking smart!

TRIBUNE DIARY

tribune

DIARY JULY

Saturday 1 July FAIRIES AND ELVES OF FERRY MEADOWS 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Enter the magical world of the fairies and elves of Ferry Meadows. Come along to spot signs that they have been in the Park, make some magical woodland potions and build some amazing homes for them.Suitable for 3yrs+ Easy access. Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk

26

vil agetribune

Saturday 1 July BENEFICE PRAYER BREAKFAST in Botolph’s Barn (every 1st Saturday of the month).

Sunday 2 July PEAKIRK-CUM-GLINTON SUMMER FETE 1 - 4pm (see below) Sunday 2 July BAINTON & ASHTON FAMILY DAY 1pm Barbecue, stalls tombola, cakes, children’s games, Spitfire flypast and more. (see advert below left) Wednesday 5 July EXCITING FLORAL COLLAGES 7 – 9:30pm £10 Includes all materials and tutoring.

You will be experimenting with cutting and layering leaf and floral silhouettes onto an abstract, colourful background to create your own sumptuous composition.

(Age 18+) The Deepings Community Centre. Clare 07740316633 E: paisley-art@outlook.com

NEWS & FEATURES TRIBUNE DIARY

Saturday 8 July BRITISH DRAGONFLY SOCIETY 10am – 3pm The British Dragonfly Society will be visiting the Park with an information stand in the Discovery Den to educate visitors on these beautiful creatures, as well as a guided walk starting at 1pm.

Suitable for all ages. Discovery Den. Free www.neneparktrust.org.uk Sunday 9 July FAMILY VOLUNTEERING 10am – 12pm Make a difference by helping the Rangers. All tools and training provided. Free car parking. Suitable for 5yrs+ Discovery Den. Free suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk Wednesday 12 July WATERCOLOUR DOORS 7 – 9:30pm £10 Includes all materials and tutoring. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere.You will learn how to compose an image through applying watercolour techniques. All materials provided. (Age 18+) The Deepings Community Centre.

Clare - 07740316633

Wednesday 12 July CLASSIC CAR MEET Willow Brook Farm www.willowbrookfarmshop.co.uk 14-16 July THE JOHN CLARE SOCIETY FESTIVAL Having spent many months organising the speakers, dancers, stalls, exhibitions and the rest that make up the Festival we are very much looking forward to meeting the most important participants – you, the members of the public. The Festival is, of course, themed around the life and work of our local poet, John Clare, but we try to include a wide variety of activities which we hope will be just as much of interest to people who are not members of the John Clare Society as to those who are. Everyone is welcome and except for the Saturday evening concert the Festival is free.

For anyone who has been in the village for the Festival weekend you will know that it’s a joyful occasion, blessed generally with good weather and starting on the Friday with the children from the John Clare Primary school gathering in the church at 1.30 p.m. for the Midsummer Cushions’ ceremony and the poetry competition, followed in the evening by a folk evening in The Bluebell at 8.30 p.m. (free entry – call Mike Stevens 01775 766923 for details).

Saturday will be marked by dancers in the village, joined this year by the Beauvale Ensemble, a recorder group. There will be stalls and exhibitions in Botolph’s Barn, on West Street, near the Monument at the corner of Church Lane, in The Bluebell and St. Botolph’s Church, starting at 9 a.m. The Society’s AGM is at 10.15 a.m. in the church, followed by talks and many other activities in the afternoon, including an Open Studio and Garden. The concert is by “Decent Scrapers” and is at 6p.m. in the church.

On Sunday, the final day, there is a Clare-themed service in St. Botolph’s Church starting at 10.45 a.m. which Society members attend along with members of the usual congregation.

For the last few years over 60 people each year have supported the Festival by becoming a “Friend of the Festival” which, for £8 gives a Souvenir Programme and (this year) a Poetry Pack, both delivered by post from now onwards. “Friends” also have priority booking for the Saturday evening concert. For details please contact Sue Holgate 01353 668438 or e-mail sueholgate@hotmail.co.uk before July 1st. Tickets for the concert (£5) will be available from the Annakinn Gallery from July 1st. Programmes (£2) with articles and full details of all the activities are available now from Annakinn, The Bluebell and the John Clare Cottage, all in Helpston.

For Programmes by post or any other information please e-mail me: johnclaresociety@ mybtinternet.com or phone 01400 282409/07815 640033.

vil agetribune

27 27

TRIBUNE DIARY

14 July

28 July

Saturday 15 July JOHN CLARE PRIMARY SUMMER FAIR 12-3pm Commando course, inflatable slide, adopt a bear, raffle, gladiator duel, nail bar, lucky dip, cake stand, jewellery stall, barbecue & more (see advert on page 18) Friday 14 July & Saturday 15 July RICHARD III BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 7.30pm at Peterborough Cathedral Antic Disposition stage a thrilling new production of Shakespeare’s darkly comic drama.

Tickets from £15-£25 (unreserved) or £25-£35 (reserved).

Book online www.ticketsource.co.uk/ad1 or call 0333 666 3366 (booking fee applies to phone bookings).

Saturday 15 July THE TRIALS OF MARY A mystery play presented by Eastern Angles 12.00 noon and 2.30pm outside on the Cathedral Green. Following their 2015 Mystery Play ‘Mary and the Midwives’, Eastern Angles are back, this time with a freshly written, 21st century take on the story of Mary and Joseph. Tickets are free, but book via www.easternangles.co.uk or on 01473 211498 to get your free drink! Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Wednesday 19 July USING OIL PASTELS 7 – 9:30pm £10 Includes all materials and tutoring.

Relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

This workshop will focus on using oil pastels. You will learn how to blend and layer them in order to create a realistic form. (Age 18+) The Deepings Community Centre Contact: Clare - 07740316633 E: paisley-art@outlook.com 28

vil agetribune

Thursday 20 July – Sunday 3 September SUMMER TRAIL Collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre then hunt for clues as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre to claim your prize. Suitable for all ages. Easy access.

Meeting point: Visitor Centre. 50p per sheet www.neneparktrust.org.uk Friday 21 July GUIDED WALK WITH A RANGER 6pm – 9.15pm Join Ranger, Ian Lowe, for a guided walk around Ferry Meadows and surrounding area, pointing out areas of interest along the 6 mile route.

Bring water and suitable footwear. Dogs are welcome under close control. Suitable for 10yrs+ Phone for access details. Meeting point: Visitor Centre. Free - suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk Friday 28 July THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 7.00pm, outside in Peterborough Cathedral Cloisters. Enjoy the beloved tale of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad in the magical open-air setting of the Cloisters, performed by Boxtree Productions. Tickets £12 adults (on the day, £15), £9 children under 16 (on the day, £11), £33 family, 2 adults, 2 children (on the day, £40).

Book online at https://goo.gl/CmEY56 or at Peterborough Information Centre, Bridge Street, Peterborough (01733 452336).

Friday 28 July MINIBEAST SAFARI 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm There’ll be no lions or tigers on this safari, but you will be surprised at the variety of mini wild animals you find living in Ferry Meadows.

Suitable for 5yrs+. Easy access. Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free - suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk Friday 28 July KID’S TREE CLIMBING 10am – 3pm Children can come and have a go at tree climbing in a rope and harness.

Instructions will be given our Rangers throughout. Suitable for all ages. Meeting point: Discovery Den. Cost: £2 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk

NEWS & FEATURES TRIBUNE DIARY

Saturday 22 July ST BOTOLPH’S HELPSTON CHURCH COFFEE MORNING with a bric a brac stall including toys and gifts.

10am until 12 noon.

Everyone is invited to the regular monthly coffee mornings Sunday 23 July DEEPING HORSE AND PONY SHOW. Peakirk Road, Deeping Gate. Posters are on our Facebook page, in our noticeboards and at the Village Hall.

Their full schedule of events can be found on the Show’s own Facebook page.

FERRY MEADOWS ART WEEK 22-28 July

Saturday 22 July ARTISTS’ DAY 11am – 4pm Ferry Meadows is hosting a number of artists including our own Artist-in-Residence, Charron Pugsley-Hill, who will be creating art in their own individual style throughout the Park. This is a great opportunity to meet them and ask lots of questions about what they are doing and why.

Suitable for all ages. Easy access. Location: Around the Visitor Centre. Free www.neneparktrust.org.uk Sunday 23 July PERSEPHONE’S BED - SUMMER 11am – 4pm Artist in Residence, Charron Pugsley-Hill, will be presenting the last of four seasonally themed beds in the Park. Visitors are welcome to lie in the bed and enjoy the surroundings.

Suitable for: All ages Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Details from the Visitor Centre Cost: Free www.neneparktrust.org.uk Monday 24 July FELTED FISH WITH CHARRON PUGSLEY-HILL Workshops begin at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm Come and have a go at wet felting a beautiful fish with Charron and Artisan Felter, Eve Marshall, that you can take home with you.

Suitable for: 5yrs+Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £3 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Tuesday 25 July MAKING A MURAL WITH CHARRON PUGSLEY-HILL 11am – 3pm Come and help create a colourful, big nature inspired, painted wall mural on wooden boards with our Artist-in-Residence Charron Pugsley-Hill. Drop in and take part, no booking required.

Suitable for 5yrs+Easy access Meeting point: Next to the Discovery Den. Free Wednesday 26 July TREE CHANDELIERS 11am – 3pm Please bring any natural materials collected from where you live or your garden such as sticks, feathers, stones, flowers, etc. to participate in creating a nature themed installation for the Park.

Drop in and take part, no booking required. Suitable for 5yrs+ Meeting point: Details from the Visitor Centre Free Wednesday 26 July WILD WEDNESDAY 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to come and join in some seasonal and wild crafts. Please drop-in at any time, no booking required.

Suitable for: All ages. Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free - suggested donation £2 Thursday 27 July PAINTING WORKSHOPS WITH CHARRON PUGSLEY-HILL 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm These beginner workshops are for those wishing to have a go at expressive creative painting, inspired by nature with our Artist-in-Residence, Charron Pugsley-Hill. Suitable for 8yrs+ Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £5 per person including refreshments Friday 28 July LOG PAINTING WITH CHARRON PUGSLEY-HILL 11am – 3pm A drop in session where we will be painting large logs for an installation to place in the Park after the workshop. No booking required.

Suitable for 7yrs+ Meeting point: Details from the Visitor Centre. Free Sunday 30 July ANIMAL BLESSING The Green at St Benedict’s

vil agetribune

29 29

TRIBUNE DIARY

Thursday 3 August MEETING MAGICAL MAMMALS 10am – 11am Join Ranger Chris Rollason for a short walk discovering the small mammals that live in the park. We will hopefully get to see voles, mice and shrews as well as talk about their habitat, diet and identifying features. Suitable for 3yrs+ Phone for access details. Meeting point: Visitor Centre Free - suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk

3 August Monday 31 July BUSHCRAFT SKILLS 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Join us for a fun session developing skills in woodland tools use, making wood craft items to take home. i.e. gazoo, tent pegs, mallets etc. The event includes using sharp tools and knives.

Suitable for 10yrs+. Easy access. Meeting point: Lakeside car park Cost £3 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Friday 4 August POND DIPPING 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Come along and discover the animals that live in our lakes and ponds. Suitable for 5yrs+ Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free - suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk Saturday 5 August CAMPFIRE COOKING 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Have a go at cooking and eating some simple campfire recipes. Suitable for 7yrs+ Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £3 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk

AUGUST Tuesday 1 August MOMENTS WITH TREES ADOPT A TREE 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm Children can adopt a tree in the park. They will receive a certificate of adoption, take a leaf for pressing, create their own tree fact booklet, mark their tree with a special nametag and learn lots of interesting facts about their tree and its neighbours.

Early booking recommended – spaces are limited.

Please come dressed for the outdoors.

7-11yrs Meeting point: Visitor Centre Free – this event has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Sunday 6 August MOMENTS WITH TREES SCAVENGING STICKS AND LEAF POUNDING 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm Come on a woodland walk, find a special scavenging stick and decorate it with nature’s delights, while learning about trees and their produce. Finishing off with some leaf pounding, which is great for large motor skills and learning about why leaves are green. Dress for the outdoors.

Suitable for 5yrs + Meeting point: Visitor Centre Free – this event has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Wednesday 2 August WILD WEDNESDAY 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to come and join in some seasonal and wild crafts. This is a drop-in event no booking required.

Suitable for all ages. Meeting point: Discovery Den Free – donations are welcome www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Monday 7 August PAPER PLANES 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Test your origami skills to make a selection of paper planes then enter one of the flying competitions.

Suitable for 8yrs+ Easy access: Yes Meeting point: Discovery Den Free - suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk

30

vil agetribune

NEWS & FEATURES TRIBUNE DIARY

Tuesday 8 August WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Bring your own teddy bear and join us on a bear hunt. There will be a craft session, followed by story time and then a walk around Ferry Meadows to find Barney the Bear.

Suitable for 3yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Meeting point: Discovery Den £4 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk Wednesday 9 August CLASSIC CAR MEET Willow Brook Farm www.willowbrookfarmshop.co.uk Wednesday 9 August WILD WEDNESDAY 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to come and join in some seasonal and wild crafts. This is a drop-in event no booking required.

Suitable for all ages. Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free – donations are welcome www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Friday 11 August SHELTER BUILDING 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Come along to find out how to build your own wild shelter and have a go at creating your own one.

Suitable for: 7yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Meeting point: Discovery Den £3 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Friday 11 August GUIDED WALK WITH A RANGER 5.15pm – 8.30pm Join Ranger, Ian Lowe, for a guided walk around Ferry Meadows and surrounding area, pointing out areas of interest along the 6 mile route. Bring water and suitable footwear. Dogs are welcome under close control.

Suitable for 10yrs+ Meeting point: Visitor Centre.

Free - suggested donation £2 www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Wednesday 9 August BAT WALK 8pm – 10pm Join Park Rangers and members of the Cambs Bat Group for an informative presentation on bats.

Follow this with a walk in the Park to try and spot the bats that call Ferry Meadows home. Suitable for 5yrs+ Easy access: Phone for details Meeting point: Discovery Den £5 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk Thursday 10 August MOMENTS WITH TREES TREE TUBE 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm Do you see yourself as the next David Attenborough? Through exciting activities children will learn fascinating facts about the Park’s native trees to present to camera if they wish (and with parental consent). The clips will be used to create Moments with Trees films that will appear on our YouTube channel. Early booking recommended – spaces are limited. Dress for the outdoors and the camera! Suitable for 7-11yrs Meeting point: Visitor Centre. Free – this event has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund www.neneparktrust.org.uk

vil agetribune

31 31

TRIBUNE DIARY

Friday 18 August KIDS’ TREE CLIMBING 10am – 3pm Children can come and have a go at tree climbing in a rope and harness. Instructions will be given our Rangers throughout. Suitable for all ages Meeting point: Discovery Den £2 per person www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Great food, beers & amazing gins

& Eat, drink enjoy

Saturday 19 August NATURE DETECTIVES 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Find out all about what owls eat.

Suitable for 5yrs+ Meeting point: Discovery Den Free – donations welcome

SPECIAL AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND Look out for details

OPEN EVERY DAY

Open all day Saturday & Sunday (Food not served on Sunday evenings)

01733 252 394 bluebellhelpston.co.uk 10 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED

13 August MAXEY FAMILY RAMBLE & BBQ at the Bluebell.

Sunday 20 August MOMENTS WITH TREES: BIG TREE HUNT Mass participation walk followed by campfire coffee (or tea) and elderflower cordial 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm To promote an interesting, enjoyable and easy-access route to Ferry Meadows from the city centre, the Moment with Trees Project Officer, Hannah Keeley, will be meeting those interested at city centre location (TBC) at 10am to follow a picturesque route meeting impressive trees along the way. Once you arrive at the park, you can receive elderflower cordial made from the berries of FM’s elder trees and/or campfire coffee (or tea). Dress for the outdoors and comfortable shoes. Suitable for: Any age willing to walk 3.6 miles (and then the return journey) Meeting point: : TBC via social media and MwT newsletter.

Free – this event has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund Booking essential www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Monday 14 – Friday 18 August NATURE KIDS 9.30am – 3pm Fun nature inspired activities for children in the summer holidays. Learn how to build a shelter, light a fire and use natural materials in woodland crafts. Different activities every day.

Children can join for single days or the full week.

Suitable for 7yrs – 11yrs Easy access: Phone for details Meeting point: Lakeside. £15 a day www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Monday 21 – Friday 25 August NATURE KIDS 9.30am – 3pm Fun nature inspired activities for children in the summer holidays. Children can join for single days or the full week.

Suitable for 7-11yrs Meeting point: Lakeside £15 per day www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Wednesday 16 August WILD WEDNESDAY 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to come and join in some seasonal and wild crafts.

This is a drop-in event so no booking required.

Suitable for all ages Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free – donations welcome www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Wednesday 23 August WILD WEDNESDAY 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to come and join in some seasonal and wild crafts. This is a drop-in event so no booking required.

Suitable for all ages. Meeting point: Discovery Den Free – donations welcome www.neneparktrust.org.uk

32

vil agetribune

NEWS & FEATURES TRIBUNE DIARY

Thursday 24 August KIDS’ TREE CLIMBING 10am – 3pm Children can come and have a go at tree climbing in a rope and harness. Instructions will be given our Rangers throughout. Suitable for all ages Meeting point: Discovery Den Cost: £2 per person Friday 25 August HAPPILY EVER AFTER 10.30am – 12pm and 1.30pm – 3pm Join us for crafts, activities and stories based around the classic children’s tales of Winnie the Pooh.

Suitable for 3yrs+ Meeting point: Discovery Den £2.50 per child www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Saturday 26 August ST BOTOLPH’S HELPSTON CHURCH COFFEE MORNING 10am until 12 noon. Everyone is invited to the regular monthly coffee mornings Wednesday 30 August WILD WEDNESDAY 10am – 2pm Children and adults are welcome to come and join in some seasonal and wild crafts. This is a drop-in event so no booking required.Suitable for all ages Meeting point: Discovery Den. Free – donations welcome. www.neneparktrust.org.uk

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD ...

Sunday 24 September ST ANDREW’S HARVEST PRAISE AND ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR PARACHUTE JUMP 10.30 am

Northborough Community Association

Saturday 2 September OFFICIAL OPENING OF NEW EXTENSION 2pm. The committee invites all residents of Northborough and Deeping Gate to the official opening of the new extension by The Mayor of Peterborough Councillor John Fox and the Mayoress Mrs Judy Fox. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the hall. Please join us.

Sunday 10 September CAR BOOT SALE at Willow Brook Farm - see website Sunday 17 September PARTY IN THE PARK Northborough Playing Field Come and join in this fabulous celebration of our wonderful villages of Northborough and Deeping Gate. Fun afternoon for all, entertainment, rides for the children, hog roast, bouncy castles, archery, laser clay pigeon shooting, bungee run, bubble football, children’s entertainer plus lots more.

Fun starts from 12.30 onwards.

Any offers for helping to set-up on the day would be appreciated, Please contact 01778 345143, 347464 or 343126 23 September TYLERCYCLE RIDE Willow Brook Farm www.willowbrookfarmshop.co.uk

vil agetribune

33 33

34

vil agetribune

HERITAGE

‘Street in Peakirk’, 1880

The PAST year’s work

by Dr Avril Lumley Prior

As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the past. Perhaps, it is because I grew up in a seaside village that has retained its late Anglo-Saxon footprint of three streets arranged around a triangular green. At school, we were taught that, in times of invasion by ‘Vikings’ or cattle rustlers, livestock was driven onto the green and the roads were blocked. (The strategy cannot have worked because a charter of 935AD discloses that King Æthelstan had to liberate Reoffhopa from the Scots.)

A sense of the past As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the past.

Perhaps, it is because I grew up in a seaside village that has retained its late Anglo-Saxon footprint of three streets arranged around a triangular green. At school, we were taught that, in times of invasion by ‘Vikings’ or cattle rustlers, livestock was driven onto the green and the roads were blocked. (The strategy cannot have worked because a charter of 935AD discloses that King Æthelstan had to liberate

Reoffhopa from the Scots.) Three miles down the coast at Seaham is the seventh-century church of St Mary. Another three miles to the north at [Monk]wearmouth stood St Peter’s Monastery, where Bede (c.674-735) was taken as a seven-year-old oblate, thereby launching an illustrious career that culminated in his masterwork, The History of the English Church and People. As you may have realised, my interest in all things AngloSaxon is very deep-rooted.

In January 2013, Greg (my husband), Bob Randall, John

Clynch and I formed Peakirk Archaeological Survey Team (PAST) with the objective of researching, recording and promoting the settlement’s intriguing history both above and below ground. For whilst Bede was beavering away in the relative comfort of the prestigious Wearmouth-Jarrow Monastery, Pega, a Mercian noblewoman and sister to St Guthlac the hermit of Crowland, was leading a severelyabstemious life in the obscurity of the undrained Fens. In the early-eighth century, she pitched >>

vil agetribune

35

HERITAGE

Owen and Bowen Road Map, 1720

where a row of cottages once stood. There also have been several somewhat-serendipitous, ‘rainy-day’ revelations. After hours spent in libraries pouring over old manuscripts and maps, we have realised that what we were searching for was right under our very noses! In effect, we have accidently stumbled upon Peakirk’s ‘London Road’ and St Pega’s medieval church bells; and, over the course of our investigations, have begun to have serious doubts whether Pega was buried in Rome, where she purportedly died, in 719.

Peakirk’s ‘London Road’

>> her hermitage in the place which eventually became known as Peakirk [‘Pega’s church’]. Thus, PAST has 1300 years of her legacy to uncover. Plenty to keep us out of mischief for the foreseeable future!

PAST projects 2016-17 Undeniably, our last year has been exceptionally busy. We have recruited Gareth Williams, a hands-on Peakirk archaeologist with a good working-knowledge 36

vil agetribune

of ceramics. We also have two more potential members in David Hankins also of Peakirk and Gregg Duggan of Glinton, who have already proved their worth. Apart from the Car Dyke Visitors’ Interpretation Board, PAST has been embroiled in two riveting archaeological projects.

One is on the reputed site of a Romano-British villa in Bull Lane (which Greg is going to tell you about). The second is on the eastern edge of Chestnut Close,

Hanging on my sitting-room wall is a delightful little road map, published in 1720 by John Owen and Emanuel Bowen in their atlas, Britannia Depicta [Britain Portrayed]. It shows the Stilton to Donnington section of the old post-road between London and Lincoln via Boston used by horsemen [post-riders] to carry mail between the two major cities, similar to the Pony Express in the Wild West. The route followed the Great North Road [the present A1] as far as Stilton, where it turned onto the old Lincoln Road and continued through Yaxley, Peterborough and Werrington to Glinton.

Thence, it followed the course of the modern B1443 as far as Peakirk’s, Thorney Road, past the erstwhile Boat Inn and over the Folly River. From there, the post-road was carried along eastern embankment of the River Welland (Corporation Bank) as far as Spalding.

The Peakirk-Spalding section probably came into use in c.1650, when the river was straightened and embanked as a flood-defence during the massive seventeenth-century drainage of the Fens. The road certainly existed in 1670, when

HERITAGE

Chestnut Close Cottages, Peakirk Village Green, ‘Inclosure Map’, 1819 (Courtesy of Bob Randall)

Deeping Fen was surveyed by Vincent Grant. In 1792, it was up-graded to turnpike status to provide a safer passage for mail coaches and private carriages by a consortium of wealthy entrepreneurs who levied tolls to pay for its upkeep. Although the Turnpike Trust was dissolved 30 years later, tolls were still being charged at Peakirk on cars and cycles until 1929 and on horses and cattle until 1947.

The Peakirk to Glinton element of the road is considerably older for here, Greg and I did a spot of fieldwork, applying Dr Max Hooper’s Hedge-dating Rule. This highly-respected tenet dictates that every native species of tree along a 100-metre stretch represents 100 years of hedge-row. On average, we found seven or eight species along each measured section, indicating that the hedge and, probably the road, are 700800 years old (roughly 12001300AD).

Chestnut Close Cottages Had it not been for the ‘Inclosure Map’ of 1819, we would never have known about the cottages on the Village Green, sandwiched between Chestnut Close and the Car Dyke. The Ordnance Survey Map informs us that they were gone by 1885 and no evidence survives above ground. PAST’s quest was to determine the date of the earliest occupation of the site and when its last dwellings were destroyed. Our geophysical survey on the Green led by Bob Randall, in March 2016, showed an anomaly on the western bank of the Roman watercourse.

However, when Greg singlehandedly dug a test-pit there, he found only the spoils of a Victorian rubbish dump jumbled up with a few pieces of RomanoBritish and medieval pottery.

The anomaly turned out to be a geological feature! Undeterred, and with the consent of the Parish Council (who own the Green), in April, Greg and I conducted

another geophysical survey in the area that we perceived to have been occupied by the buildings.

Then in early May, PAST sank a second test pit closer to the road this time.

If we had expected to unearth any building-foundations we would have been sorely disappointed. Like many agricultural labourers’ homes, the cottages probably were timber-framed, wattle-and-daub structures set on a stone plinth and roofed with reeds, locallysourced materials that would have either decayed or been recycled.

Indeed, we exposed only minimal amounts of stone, brick and Collyweston tile but numerous pottery sherds from the thirteenthcentury onwards, indicating the continuous use of the plots.

Then, the eagle-eyed David’s spotted a jetton [trade token], which Gareth identified (on the Portable Antiquities’ website) as from Edward I’s reign (1272-1307).

Together with the pottery finds, it gave us a rough date for the earliest habitation of the site. This matched a nationwide period of intensive farming needed to feed a rapidly-increasing population, when even the marginal lands of the parish were cultivated and peasants’ crofts and tofts were squeezed into vacant spaces within the ‘village envelope’.

Therefore, we can deduce that by then the Car Dyke had silted up and the drier ground to the west levelled for this purpose.

Nevertheless, despite the excavation we were still none the wiser regarding the demolition date of the cottages. Then, as if by chance, whilst preparing PAST’s PowerPoint presentation for the May Annual Parish Meeting, I downloaded Greg’s London Illustrated News picture of a ‘Street in Peakirk’, which shows Thorney Road during the floods of 1880. In the background, you >>

vil agetribune

37

HERITAGE

David and the token

David, Gareth and Greg admire their work

>> can just make out a thatched roof that unambiguously belonged to one of the Chestnut Close dwellings. At last, we know that not only when they first were built in the late 1200s or early 1300s and but also that the last cottages were levelled between 1880 and 1885, possibly as result of flood damage. Our mission had been accomplished.

Ringing the changes Among the test-pit finds, was a minute slice from the rim of a small, fifteenth-/sixteenth-century, bronze bell. By astonishing coincidence, whilst researching an earlier Trib. article (101), I discovered an inventory ordered by the teenage Edward VI (154753), stating that in 1552 Peykirke church possessed three bells, two in the belfry and one ‘handebell’.

Presumably, the latter was rung during Mass as the sanctus to announce the consecration of the bread and wine, the moment when (it is believed) it is transformed into The Body and Blood of Christ. Interestingly, the Commissioners’ report adds that ‘The ‘Pancake-bell is rung on 38

vil agetribune

Shrove Tuesday. On Sunday, a bell is rung at 7am and again at the conclusion of Divine Service’.

Although Edward was intent on enforcing his own brand of fundamental Protestantism, he reluctantly suffered steeple bells to be tolled for purely functional reasons such as summoning parishioners to church and to state proclamations. In contrast, he denounced their ritual chiming during services as papist or Catholic customs. (I’m not so sure that he would have approved of pancake-racing either.) Consequently, Edward ordered hand-bells to be smashed in situ, lest they should be spirited away for use during clandestine Masses. Of course, it would take a tremendous leap of faith to purport that we had recovered a tiny fragment of Peakirk church’s lost hand-bell. Like St Pega’s final burial-place, its provenance must remain a mystery.

Romancing St Pega?

Perplexingly, the bulk of our knowledge of St Pega is gleaned from post-Conquest accounts written expressly to promote

Guthlac’s shrine at Crowland as a centre of pilgrimage. The monk, Felix, writing at Repton c.735, gives Pega only an almost

will-o’-the-wisp appearance in his life of St Guthlac. He

simply divulges that she was summoned from her hermitage to officiate at her brother’s funeral, deposit his undecayed cadaver in a sarcophagus a year later and to perform a miracle on his behalf. Afterwards, the lady vanishes and we must wait until c.1125 for the AngloNorman historian, Orderic Vitalis, to provide us with the next instalment. Basing his version of events on information supplied by the monks of Crowland (who gave him hospitality and paid his fee), Orderic relates that immediately after Guthlac’s second funeral Pega went on a pilgrimage to Rome, where she died on 8 January 719. Her disciples buried her in a church consecrated in her memory, which rapidly became a hot-spot for more miracles. ‘Ingulph’ who concocted his forged Crowland Chronicle in c.1416, allows Pega a brief sojourn at her hermitage

HERITAGE

‘four leagues to the west’ of Crowland (indubitably Peakirk) before dispatching her to Rome.

He adds that upon her arrival all the bells in the city rang out in recognition of her piety. According to tradition, the church where she was entombed collapsed through neglect during the seventeenth century with the loss of all her relics.

Here, we hit an enormous snag.

Nowhere in the meticulously-kept Vatican Archives is there a single reference to St Pega’s church in Rome. In fact, it is only Crowland sources that suggest that she ever went to the Eternal City in the first place. What then if Peakirk’s patron saint had ended her days in her cell ‘four leagues’ from Crowland, was buried in her own chapel (customary for hermits) and her shrine became a pilgrim attraction to rival St Guthlac’s? Were the brethren of Crowland deliberately attempting to suppress Pega’s Peakirk her cult by claiming that she was buried elsewhere?

Yet, if Pega were buried in Peakirk, what became of her relics? Again, we may have to lay the blame at Edward VI’s door. Contrary to his father, Henry VIII, who primarily Brexited from the Church of Rome to divorce Katharine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, Edward was hell-bent on eradicating all vestiges of the ‘Old Religion’. He regarded the veneration of ‘holy bones’ as superstitious and akin to witchcraft and pagan practices and demanded that they must be rooted out and eradicated. It seems likely that should Pega have been laid to rest in the settlement that was later was to bear her name, her shrine would have been destroyed and her remains scattered.

St Pega sets sail for Crowland (St Guthlac’s church, Market Deeping)

When the church was founded in 1014/15, it originally was consecrated in the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Holy Trinity and All Hallows [Saints].

By the thirteenth-century, its dedication had been whittled down to All Saints, which again would have been a tad too Catholic for Edward’s taste. Perhaps, as a concession he permitted the church to be rededicated in the honour of St Pega, an austere fenland anchoress who obviously had close connections with the village.

And so, despite the loss of her earthly remains, nostalgia for her earlier church was perpetuated.

PAST’s future projects Of course, it is highly-improbable that P.A.S.T. ever will unlock the secret of St Pega’s final resting-place. Instead, we must concentrate on reporting and publishing our findings, hopefully reveal more about the cropmarks in Bull Lane paddock and explore any avenues where our adventures into Peakirk’s historic environment lead us. We already have permission to excavate a third test-pit on the Village Green and if you see us busily trowelling away there, please, come and chat to us. Visitors are always welcome when we are on site ... and you never know what we might have dug up! 

Some aspects of this article were presented at the Peakirk Annual Parish Meeting on 8 May 2017. PAST is grateful to Professor Stephen Upex for his advice and expertise in identifying our finds.

vil agetribune

39

VILLAGE VIEWS

PEAKIRK

Duncan, ‘the archaeologist whisperer’

Past Times in Peakirk

A Romano-British ‘Villa’?

Peakirk must have looked considerably different back in 60AD, when the occupying Roman legions first made their mark on this backwater of Britannia by cutting the Car Dyke through what is now the heart of the village By Greg Prior he influx of foreigners would have come as a huge culture-shock to the indigenous population, who were still living in – and continued to live in – IronAge style round houses. In contrast, archaeological evidence indicates that by the third century, villas had been established along the margins of the Lincolnshire fens. They were occupied by RomanoBrits who were engaged in land reclamation and the production

T

40

vil agetribune

of salt, a commodity so vital for food preservation that it was used to pay part of a legionary soldier’s salary. So, were there any villas in Peakirk, then?

Well, when we held our archaeological Digs with Professor Carenza Lewis back in 2012, so much Romano-British pottery was unearthed that it was concluded that there must have been a strong RomanoBritish presence here from at least the third century onwards.

Moreover, the discovery of an

amphora and other pieces of high-status pottery in the grounds of the Old Rectory in 1913 and 1919 suggest that there probably was a significant farmstead or villa very close by. Imagine my consternation last May, when rumours began to circulate that buried beneath in the paddock next the Rimmers’ old place in Bull Lane was the remains of such a villa. Indeed, images from Google Earth showed a series of crop-marks so convincing that they had attracted unofficial metal

PEAKIRK

Three men in a hole

detectorists whilst the property stood empty.

Once the new owners, the Weatherbed Family, had settled in, I introduced myself and familiarised them with the work of P.A.S.T. [Peakirk Archaeology Survey Team]. They immediately granted us permission to conduct a resistivity survey on their land with the possibility of test-pitting

Evie and Tilly with some of the finds

farmstead lies beneath St Pega’s church. Nevertheless, towards the end of March 2017, we sank a metre-square test pit. This time, we were ably assisted by Gareth Williams, who has since joined our Team. Meanwhile, Avril recorded the finds, filled in the Access Cambridge Archaeology booklet and wrote a detailed report for posterity. Disappointingly, as soon

The discovery of an amphora and other pieces of high-status pottery in the grounds of the Old Rectory in 1913 and 1919 suggest that there probably was a significant farmstead or villa very close by. later. Fellow PAST member and geophysicist, Bob Randall, lent us his equipment and over the summer, Avril and I carried out an extensive resistivity survey, discovering that the section closest to the house yielded the greatest levels of resistance. As shown in the photograph, we caught the attention of Duncan the pony, who was fascinated by the elderly gent pacing up and down with a tape-measure and frame, just like on Time Team.

Both Bob and Avril were sceptical. Bob conjectured that the high resistance was no more than a pile of rubbish. Avril proposes that the archaeology of any Romano-British villa/

VILLAGE VIEWS

as we lifted the turf, we realised that Bob’s theory was correct. The area of high resistance shown on our readings – not to mention good ol’ Google Earth – was the hardcore of an early twentiethcentury crew-yard. Undeterred, we pressed on with David Hankins joining us at this point.

At a depth of 70cm, we hit a domestic tip complete with the remains of a galvanised bucket, the shattered lid of an early twentieth-century water-filter, several rusty beam-bolts, sherds

of ubiquitous blue-and-white Victorian crockery, bits of clay-pipe, Virol jars and various medicine and broken mineralwater bottles.

As a collector of old bottles, I recognised that one came from Smith of Bourne, who was in business between 1904 and 1917, conveniently narrowing down the date of the refuse dump. The crew-yard must have been laid shortly afterwards.

We carried on digging to a depth of one metre before reaching the ‘natural’ [undisturbed ground]. For me, the most interesting find was part of the rim of an early thirteenth-century pot, decorated with a finger-nail and a thorn-like object.

It also was our earliest dateable evidence. Regrettably, we found no signs of any Romano-British activity on the site. However, it must be remembered that our excavation represented only a snapshot view and further test-pitting is essential. Please, watch this space . . .

PAST would like to thank the owners of Bull Lane paddock, Scott and Vicky Weatherbed, for allowing us access to this strictlyprivate site and Professor Stephen Upex for identifying the finds. vil agetribune

41

VILLAGE VIEWS

GLINTON

Glinton Friendship club Pam Kounougakis

Now it’s high summer and I can report that we have actually had a meeting when we haven’t turned the heating on! Well it gets cool in the hall.... We have had some very interesting speakers and activities.

We particularly enjoyed the talk by the PCVS representative, Jan Cotrell, (see photo) telling us about offers of communal support and ideas for those of us needing extra help around the home as we get older.

Some of the helpers attended a barbecue afternoon given by the Age Uk to say thank you to its volunteers and really enjoyed it.

We have our first trip of the Summer to Nottingham. A trip and slap up meal on a riverboat, very nice too. Later in the year we are going to Wells on the Norfolk coast so we get our fix of sticky rock, sand in our shoes, seagulls pinching our chips and super sea breezes... Wow! Unfortunately several of our members have health issues

which keeps them away from our meetings. We wish them all well and a speedy recovery, especially our chairman Norma.

Coming up over the next few weeks is a fabulous day with “Mo-Jo”! A mobility aids company that bring along samples of their products AND offer entertainment and singing as well! Following that will be Musical Bingo which does what it says... Bingo with music and great prizes! We have a produce auction, a feelie bag quiz, a pastimes cd quiz and Book Sale.

Lots to keep everyone happy. We have our annual two week break at the end of August so wish all readers of the Tribune a very pleasant summer and see you again in Autumn!

For more information contact Barbara on 01733 253078

Members of the First World War commemoration working party. From left to right: Cllr Gerry Kirt; Cllr Bob Randall and Cllr Peter Skinner.

Commemoration bench

Cllr Peter Skinner

As a result of generous contributions

by Glinton residents, businesses and relatives of the fallen, some of the remaining funds from the refurbishment of the war memorial has been used to purchase a bench for all.

The special First World War commemoration bench has been installed next to the village pump which affords tremendous views of Glinton.

Glinton Horticultural Society Plant sale Frank Samet On 29 April, the Glinton Horticultural Society opened the Village Hall doors at 1000. Outside, the perennial queue of supporters was waiting, eager to buy plants for the coming season. Some have been queuing patiently for up to 30 minutes, some even longer.

They quickly entered the empty Hall which transformed itself into a bustling market place. Within minutes cardboard boxes had been filled as people carried them above their heads to join another queue for the checkout.

80% of all the plants had found new homes within the first 20 minutes!

42

vil agetribune

ETTON

Anne Curwen 07730301404 acurwen@hotmail.com

VILLAGE VIEWS

Baptism & Welcome Tea

Willow Brook Farm plans

Annual Church cleanup

On Sunday 7 May, Abi Robinson and her family returned to Etton church for her adult Baptism. It was a privilege to witness a young person publicly committing to being a Christian. This was the first service to be conducted by our new Rector Mark-Aaron Tisdale.

Afterwards a welcome afternoon tea for Mark-Aaron and his family was held, there was a tour of the church, followed by tea and cakes.

You will be aware that Rosemary Morton has applied for planning permission to transfer Willow Brook farm shop and restaurant to a new building in Etton. Whilst the Parish Council thought the addition of a farm shop and café could be advantageous, they could not support the extent of the plans presented and the possible likely long-term impact on the village.

We still await the outcome from Peterborough City Council.

Finally, The Etton annual church clean up and lunch will be held on Sunday 3 September, 10.30am to 12.30pm at the church, followed by lunch. At this event we tidy the churchyard, clear the paths and remove debris from the base of the church; clean the brass and silver; spring-clean the windows, pews and floors. Time permitting we clear out the Vestry.

You don’t need to be a churchgoer to join us; you might have an interest in keeping our old monument maintained. It’s a great way to meet others residents if you are new to the village. No special skills required and all help gratefully accepted.

YouTube film If you would like to view the church online there is a short film posted

by Johnathan Greatrex on You Tube. Just search for You Tube Etton church. The photo isn’t of Etton but the short film is!

Golden Pheasant serving food I’m delighted to be able to report that food is being served again, at the Golden Pheasant, after the recent absence of the chef.

Welcome back Sab!

M. GREGG LTD BUILDERS Patios, garden walls, extensions and general building work

Worked on Forge Cottage, The Green, Glinton Call Martin on 07711 888089

Fairdeal

Windows & Conservatories

A local business – based in Helpston No obligation quotes A-rated windows as standard Timber windows made-to-measure Fascias & Soffits complete replacement Window & Door repairs Sealed Unit replacement CERTASS registered company

IPWFI Insurance-backed Guarantee

01733 253145 or 07951 480762 vil agetribune

43

VILLAGE VIEWS

BARNACK

Ian Burrows T: 01780 749554 E: ianberyl.burrows@btinternet.com Gladman appeeal recognising that the discrepancy Probably the most significant recent existed or of its importance to the outcome. It also seems that the event for Barnack has been the outcome of the appeal by Gladman viability of the school in the Village, to overturn the unanimous decision its lack of a shop and Post Office, a useful bus service tor those at of the Peterborough Planning work and an inadequate country Committee not to allow a housing lane already over used as the sites development outside the Village access, carried no weight either.

Envelope and on green field Surely its about time our so called agricultural land, which quaintly planners considered what makes until now was used to grow crops. a community as being of some The Inspector rejected the PCC importance. An outpost of eighty Planning decision of non approval houses detached from and outside of the scheme and found in favour the Village envelope hardly does of Gladman Developments Ltd. that. All in Tribune Country, not Another chunk of agricultural just Barnack, are the losers for this Cambridgeshire goes under concrete and Barnack gets 80 perverse decision. Glebe land, also unwanted houses. outside the Village Envelope has The Inspectors decision seems to had beady eyes on it for a potential have turned on a technicality as set further development of two hudred out in his conclusion; houses (ie a complete new village “The Council cannot currently parked right beside poor old demonstrate a robust five year Barnack). We wait to see if this supply of housing land ---carbuncle gets adopted into the Development plan policies relating Autumn plan. to the supply of housing are not Spring seemed to bring a up to date. Little weight can be promise of great weather, but attached to the land supply policies the wet, windy and cold entry of in the EMERGING plan as it has yet summer has not lived up to that to go for examination. Accordingly promise. However, despite that planning permission should be it has to be said the trees and granted. hedgerows have been a riot of The Inspector acknowledges fabulous blossom together with a the intentions of policies in the wonderful show of orchids in the emerging plan but chooses to Hills and Holes. ignore them in favour of a plan Tribute soon to be defunct. This surely At this point we pay tribute to would make Mr. Bumble again our Tree Officer, Charles Clark repeat that “the law is a ass”. It is also incomprehensible that the PCC who has sadly and recently died. went into this appeal not apparently Charles, who lived in Pilsgate,

was indefectible in his work to both protect and plant trees in our village and along the highways, as well as being responsible for many of us re-introducing and planting Barnack Beauty apple trees in our gardens. Charles was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed.

Barnack and Pilsgate annual meeting The Barnack and Pilsgate annual village meeting took place in May at which many of the Village organisations reviewed their activities and presented their plans for the coming year. Ward Councillor David Over presented Margaret Palmer (Vice Chair of the P.C.) with a well-deserved civic award for her involvement in the Community.

Summer fete Finally, what would an English Village summer be without its fete.

True to form and tradition Barnack Church is again holding its annual Fete on the 24 June, in the Church and Church Yard, overlooked by its Saxon Tower. This year the organisers have set us a challenge to see how far we can surround the Church with our old style pound coins, which will be withdrawn in October. How wonderful it would be to see the Church surrounded by golden “jimmy o goblins” and to know that they will help to support the Church and its work in the Community. All are welcome, just bring your quids!

Barnack & District Branch, Royal British Legion

By Max Sawyer, Branch Secretary Sad news Our Chairman, Charles Clark, died peacefully at home on 22 May after a short illness.

His sons, Jonathan and Richard were by his bedside.

Charles was a true gentleman and will be much missed by all who knew him.

44

vil agetribune

HELPSTON

VILLAGE VIEWS

(Main photo) Emma Long and Stuart Williams with their lovable ‘Staffordshire Sausage’, Poppy who won 1st prize at Helpston Gala for The Dog with the Waggiest Tail.

The couple AND their dog were dressed in ‘Helcats’ coats. They are members of a team of willing villagers who have set up a new organisation to help people.

Helpston HelCats Who are these HelCats?

Some of you may have noticed the blue vested people helping out at the gala last month and assisting at the litter pick earlier in the year and wondered to yourself ‘who are these people?’.

Well they are the Helpston Community Activity Team, or HelCats, a new community group that have a passion for village life and want to help with village activities and events and fundraise for local causes.

Do you want to be a HelCat? Do you miss out on village events because you simply didn’t know they were happening? Do you want to be involved with village activities but are not affiliated to a group like the school, church, or WI. Do you fancy making a difference by

helping out for just an hour or so at events like the village gala or school fete but don’t have the time to join a committee or make too big a commitment? If so then the HelCats could be for you…

The HelCats can be called upon when that little bit of extra help is needed yet they can still enjoy the events the village has to offer.

If this sounds of interest to you and you feel you can donate an hour or two a year then please register your interest by emailing us (details below).

You will be sent information about village events and what help, if any, is needed.

You will not be sent spam emails, your contact details will not be shared and you can stop

the emails at any time if you decide it is no longer for you.

Do you need the help of the HelCats?

If you are a community organisation within Helpston and you need a little bit of extra help either before, during or after an event or activity you can ask the HelCats for help.

The HelCats have already made a difference to the village community this year by volunteering their services at the Parish Council Litter Pick and the Helpston Gala and they look forward to seeing you at more events throughout the year.

HelCats Fundraiser The HelCats are also looking to organise a Race Night Fundraiser later this year and hope to donate some funds to local causes.

GET IN TOUCH If you are interested in being involved by sponsoring the event, or a race or buying a horse or if you want to be a beneficiary of the event please get in touch at helpstoncommunityactivityteam@gmail.com.

Follow the HelCats Facebook and join the village chat by searching @HelpstonCommunity.

vil agetribune

45

VILLAGE VIEWS

HELPSTON

Exploring The Heritage of Helpston It is likely that early people were hunting mammoths and bison in Helpston and neighbouring parishes 40, 000 years ago but it was not until the Neolithic period, about 4000 BC, that they started farming and living in permanent settlements. By the start of the Roman occupation in AD43 there was a landscape of buildings, fields and trackways.

Frieda Gosling Fire Plaque from Tinderbox Cottage here is abundant local evidence of Roman occupation which lasted for 400 years, notably the road which we now call King Street, the villa just south of Helpston village, excavated in 1828. Small fragments of Roman pottery are often found, brought up to the surface of fields by ploughing.

Place name evidence dates Helpston and neighbouring villages to the Anglo- Saxon

T

period and elaborate stone carvings can be seen at many local churches, for example Barnack and Castor.

One of the aims of the Langdyke Trust History and Archaeology Group (HAG) is to trace the evolution of Helpston village from its origins to the present day and that was why we applied for Heritage Lottery funding in 2016. We envisaged a community project, all the research

being undertaken by volunteers, and funding for just one year was granted in May 2016. This has been extended until July 31st to allow us time to complete it.

We started by involving the children at John Clare Primary School and they pioneered the concept of the timeline “Five Thousand Years and Counting�.

The whole school walked round the village and identified and dated the old buildings.

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 46

vil agetribune

HELPSTON

VILLAGE VIEWS

End of Project Celebration and Book Launch Saturday 8 July at 2pm

House Detectives meeting The archaeologists have concentrated on digging test pits, 1 metre square holes, and recording pottery remains in 10 cm layers or contexts. They have concentrated on the centre of the village and almost all pits provide evidence of continuous settlement. Following the exciting discovery of Roman pottery behind the Exeter Arms last year they spent four days digging there in May 2017. At a depth of 30cm they found the top of a length of wall, 5 courses down and 60cm across. Could this be part of the Roman farmstead they were looking for?

The House Detectives Project launched in September 2016 has to be our highlight. It captured everyone`s imagination and has

been a huge success. It was a challenge for them to find out the previous occupants and a surprise discovery in nearly every case was that the owners were not the occupiers. There are also some amazing records of the restoration of old cottages.

It was decided in February that we would write a book as part of our legacy because it would be easily accessible for residents and visitors. It is beautifully illustrated with over 30 old photographs, kindly loaned by residents, and a similar number of recent photographs. It is hoped that readers will walk round the village and it is set out street by street for this reason. All the research will go on to the Langdyke website. (Langdyke.org.uk)

Everyone is invited to our End of Project Celebration and Book Launch which will be held at Helpston Village Hall.

There will be opportunities to see what we have achieved so far and what we might do next.

We shall have a huge resource on the website, notably census records starting from 1840 , house and family records and the nucleus of a team of local historians and archaeologists, keen to carry forward the Helpston Heritage Project.

We shall end the event with tea and cakes, for which there will be no charge.

Please come if you can.

We are charging £6 for a copy of the book,(to contribute to the cost of reprints!)

Carpet Bowls

game, Carpet Bowls is a scaled a very modest fee, have a go. down version of Lawn Bowls, Anyone can play, no matter your Some of you may not be aware that played on a 30ft long mat with age or physical ability. we have a carpet bowls team playing 4inch biased bowls.

If you would like a good in the first division of the North Cambs We meet on Wednesday evening out among friends with League. evenings at Helpston Village Hall to the element of competition Our club was founded in 1986 play either home league matches, please join us at 7.30- 9.30pm in and has been playing from the first or “club nights” when anyone is the village hall and then 9.30pm Wednesday in September to the last welcome to come along and, for until closing time in the Bluebell!

Wednesday in April ever since. For For more information, please call Les Cunnington on 01733 253832 those who are not familiar with the

vil agetribune

47 47

VILLAGE VIEWS

NORTHBOROUGH

Chernobyl Children’s Arrival Picnic

A lovely time was had be everyone! Thank you to Northborough for hosting us. As you will see, from the photos of the children with their host families, several of the Chernobyl Children are skin and bone and very pale. If anyone would like to contribute fruit or eggs to our breakfast scheme, that would be very generous. We have a breakfast club every weekday morning at Helpston Scout Hut, when we attempt to fatten them up a bit. The children would like to point out, that they love homemade cakes and biscuits too!!!! Please just drop in any morning between 8 and 9.30am.

Cecilia Hammond

Northborough Guides

By Charlotte and Harriett

Northborough Guides have been running for over forty years and meet weekly on Wednesday evenings,mostly in the village hall.

We take part in a whole range of activities and try to spend as much time outdoors whenever possible.

During the last 12 months we have enjoyed ropebridge making,fire lighting, cooking(especially toasting marsmallows) and team building activities.

We sometimes have outside speakers,including a recent talk on Dementia Friends and a visit from a blind lady and her guide dog.

Other activities we have enjoyed include crafts,quizzes,food,games,more food...Some of our activities lead to badges, and we are looking forward to a first aid course in the autumn.

Guides gives us numerous opportunities to make new friends, develop our confidence, become more self sufficient and even survive outdoors!!( At least for an hour or two.)

For further information about contact 01778 345101.

For general information visit girlguiding.org.uk 50

vil agetribune

Maxey Summer Fayre

MAXEY

VILLAGE VIEWS

The sun shone and the people came in great numbers to the Maxey Village Fayre Mark and Sarah Asplin

Jenny, Di and Jane sweet talked the Fete visitors to their charity cake stand!

The day was a huge success with young and old alike joining in with various main arena events such as egg and spoon race and sack race, along with new and more unusual games such as, catch the water bomb and chicken flinging! We were lucky enough to have the Mayor in attendance to present the prizes.

Alongside the main arena, there were many side stalls for people to have a go at, again some old favourites such as skittles and tombola along with a new high tech football shooting game (soon to be the half time attraction at Posh home matches) and to the amusement of all, the “poo in the loo” game!

It was nice that the new parish vicar was able to join us and was happy to help draw the raffle to conclude the Fayre.

The committee would like to extend their thanks to all those who helped with their time, either prior to the event or on the day, to the generosity of those who donated prizes and to all of those who attended the Fayre.

Maxey Village Hall hire Maxey Village Hall is available on New Year’s Eve, to hire. Two rooms, a kitchen, stage and ample parking for your Party! Very reasonable rates for our well kept facility.

Contact details at the back of the Tribune.

Time for a

smile

The Right Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of Peterborough, Cllrs John and Judy Fox officiated at the Maxey Village Summer Fayre on Saturday 17 June.

Pictured above with Community Association Chairman Mark Asplin, they both had a wonderful time judging, awarding prizes and having a good look around at the attractions and stalls.

The event itself was a resounding success, with lovely weather to compliment the superb organisation and several hundred village residents and visitors attended.

A pillar of the local church pleaded guilty in court to driving through several red lights. ”Have you anything to say?” asked the judge.

He replied, “I think the court should take into consideration the fact that I have often stopped at green lights when I didn’t have to.”

vil agetribune

51

VILLAGE VIEWS

HELPSTON

great time!’ at her first visit Hannah Breslin :‘Having a ther did not deter visitors wea y wer Helpston Gala. Sho ed. and around £3,800 was rais

Gala Helpston

Mary Nugent ha s her hands full wi th standard is Luna, who belon gs to Mary’s fathe r, Vincent, ( and on the right is Pearl, Mary’s ow n dog, which qualify for Crufts one day. It was he r first time Fun Dog Show at Helpston Gala an d despite a that threatened to dampen the Prize biscuits, a There were lots of entries and plenty of encoura the spectators. As every dog owner knows, the and all were well deserving of a pr ize

wall wat the church Sitting on their barg displaying Show and land (5), F p o C ebe stall: l-r: Pho in, Paige G (6) and cous

Helpston eir owner at red with th e lik st o looked m urse, pictu ugal, of co Which dog are new ? Well, Do w he couple o T Sh i. g id o e H , um Gala D e life. g M lla d lved in vi Gyani an to get invo Dad, Prem ing the en nn ke ru d y b an e g g lpin to the villa ful start, he iasm. e a wonder reat enthus g h it Prem mad w e am G l al B aRoll–

52

vil agetribune

Plenty of interest in the bric-a-brac stall at Helpston Gala.

d poodles. Left, (from Helpston) h she hopes will organising the sharp shower all went well. agement from eir dog is best e.

Dog tching the e toy th m o fr gains land p o C Florence ).

(8 nt ra G

HELPSTON

VILLAGE VIEWS

The British Red Cross support at home Macmillan service which supports people and their families living with cancer and other life limiting conditions has been described as 'fantastic' by one user. iting lots of riana Rigg enjoy vis Nick Holden and Ma Red Cross. the g vin ser es their rol different venues in la. They Ga ton help out at Helps They were happy to that our es em sch w ne e som out ht) were keen to talk ab rig see se ea (Pl are of. readers may be unaw

Timber, the Bernese Mountain dog meets Dawson, the Chihuaha, at Helps ton Gala Fun Dog Sho w on Saturday. Both dogs took prizes in their cla ss, Timber (2), gaining a First and Dawson a third prize.

Dawson has a specia l story. His owner is a veterinary nurse, Hannah Morga n, who works for Anima tes at Thurlby. He was born at the practice and str uggled to live. It was Hannah wh o brought him to life with lots of rubbing and encou ragement. She took the pup and has now ‘fallen in lov e’ with chihuahas. She has a longhaired version, Diego as a pal for her specia l boy.

Tony Mead and his wif e, Pam, from Barnack saw the Bernese breed at Cru fts. They now have two , the other dog, Brie is age d 8. Tony said: ‘They are happy to go for a long walk or jus t as happy to lie in front of the fire all day.’

He added: “it gave me the encouragement and confidence to face life on my own" Since 2013, the service has been providing companionship and social visits for up to 12 weeks although more support can be arranged for people receiving palliative care.

Fully trained staff & volunteers can carry out practical tasks such as shopping & the collection of prescriptions or assistance with forms and can offer a therapeutic hand, arm and shoulder massage during their visit. They can also signpost people to other organisations for additional advice and ongoing support.

In addition, the service offers support and respite for carers.

The service works very closely with St Barnabas and Macmillan and can support with hospital discharge.

The service is offered in the Bourne, Stamford, Deepings, Spalding, Crowland and surrounding areas.

As a volunteer for the service, you will have the rewarding experience of making a difference to the lives of people who need extra support while learning new skills.

To find out more about making a referral to the service or becoming a volunteer, please contact us on 0345 054 7171

vil agetribune

53 53

Dreaming of breaming

TIGHT LINES

by Mark Williams

Mark Williams reminisces about Maxey Lakes then pays it a visit with an old colleague

M

ore years ago than I care to remember, I was pretty much a regular at the lakes along Woodgate Lane in Maxey.

Back then, there were four lakes, all controlled by Deeping St James Angling Club. The small lake closest to the High Street, just off Quarry Lane, was a corker – riddled with inlets and deep holes, and home to some very large mirror carp which floated past in the clear water like mahogany submarines.

The lake next door was stuffed with great tench, and lakes three and four – much bigger and more recent gravel workings – were oddly muddied and held, chiefly, a huge stock of lean and rangy common carp and mirrors, tench, roach, bream, perch pike and some legendary catfish, which were caught very, very rarely.

Fast forward to today, and lakes three and four are now connected, and now run as a syndicate by Maxey Fisheries. I remember vaguely that the angling club, faced with low income and high expenditure, deliberated savings they could make and, I think very

unwisely, decided to give Maxey lakes the chop. I’m happy to be corrected on the history.

What I do know is that very soon afterwards, there was a boom in carp fishing. Had the club held on to Maxey lakes, I suspect they’d now be feeling quite smug.

They’re great fisheries, without a doubt. I chanced upon an old friend, Pete Thompson, catching bream on the fishery a few weeks ago, and popped over to say hello.

It was May, and the sun was out. But a cold, easterly wind was blowing as Pete cast a tiny swimfeeder 20 yards into the drink, very effectively as it turned out.

Pete’s old-school and, like me, a former angling journalist. Also like me, I noticed he still has a stock of the free fishing tackle given to him for review 25 years ago! The faded hook packets and bygone logos of tackle firms long gone don’t matter, of course. The stuff within the packets still works as well as it did then.

He’d been at the lake most of the morning, starting his campaign with a few balls of maggot-infused

groundbait, then fishing double maggot on a size 16 hook over the groundbait. No fancy rigs for Pete; just a simple paternoster-style leger rig.

No sooner had Pete cast than his quivertip pinged and he was into another bream.

This one was fairly modest compared the fish he’d put in the keepnet earlier, weighing perhaps 8lb. The bream showed the signs of spawning, bearing knobbly tubercles on their heads and backs, but they were pretty hungry.

As we reminisced, he caught more bream and a succession of tiny roach. As he said, it was simple fishing but hugely pleasurable. The price of a season here is £260 – a fiver a week – and I still hanker after hurling an unseemly bait on a robust hook into its murky water.

I might have my chance soon. Pete’s allowed to take a guest, so I’ll make sure he’s OK for a few beers before summer comes...

vil agetribune

55

FARMING DIARY

Rosemary's

FARMINGDIARY

The recent rains which started in the middle of May have come just in time to save the cereal crops which were beginning to show signs of drought, particularly on the thin mineral land in Maxey and Etton, other crops have benefitted from the rain as well of course, growth has been most noticeable with the sugar beet, potatoes, field beans and the grass.

T

he gardens too have seen rapid growth, particularly the vegetable gardens, although recently the gale force winds which have swept across the region have done a vast amount of damage – a magnificent pink horse chestnut tree which I guess was at least two hundred years old was blown down this week and has left a large void in the yard at Scotsman’s Lodge.

56

vil agetribune

The cereal crops, in particular, the winter barley is changing from dark green to a golden colour, the winter oats are also losing their rich dark appearance to pale green. This change gives a whole new contrast to our visual perspective of the countryside and of course this will continue until the crops are harvested, which if we have a scorching July as some are predicting will bring

harvest forward, starting with combining in July I would expect.

Silage making commenced the third week of May and has been on and off since with the weather so unsettled.

Jobs on the farm seem endless with some spraying the growing crops in an effort to keep them ‘clean’ from black fly and the other pests which are probably more evident following a mild

FARMING DIARY

‘...for the first time in five or six years the resident swan has hatched five signets from six eggs...’ winter. The ‘patchwork’ you can see as you drive past some fields is an attempt to ‘kill off’ the blackgrass and brome.

These have become the curse of cereal growers, once seeded they produce millions of seeds in the soil and become a massive challenge to crop production.

Several corrective methods have been tried and are still being tested, some with a certain amount of success, but there is still a long way to go.

As I finish these diary notes we find ourselves into the second week of June with a whole year’s work coming to fruition, which in itself is rewarding with all the challenges we have encountered through the year. In all I don’t think we shall see any record crops – I could be wrong, but we have, as always taken what is there, be it yield quality and of course price,

and at the end of the financial year see how things have panned out – some possibly pleasant surprises and some not up to expectations – a bit like a school report “try harder” or “could do better”. As I talk to people in whatever business they may be in the message comes back the same – we are in challenging times and have to find a way of dealing with the situation we find ourselves in. The election over, I think the general consensus is that the MPs will get down to what they should be doing (looking after our interests) instead of bickering and back stabbing and the country returns to some sort of stability once more.

On a lighter subject of the ‘songbirds’ - we have a blackbird which sings high in the tree tops from dawn to dusk, the small birds have produced their young

– we have a family of trotty wagtails in the garden and for the first time in five or six years the resident swan has hatched five signets from six eggs – what a pleasure to see them once again, hopefully safe from predators i.e. foxes and in recent years the otters, which like the fox take eggs, the young birds and kill for the sake of it – we all know it’s nature, but nature can be very cruel. If we can in some small way protect these birds it has to be good for everyone, last year we erected an otter fence to protect our fishing lake, the difference is noticeable in the bird population, ducks and the swans are safe to breed once again in peace – likewise the fish can be left alone and not terrorised by otters chasing them in the water, killing them and leaving them on the bank – not a nice sight to see.

vil agetribune

57

YOUNG TRIBUNE

Most young children will not mind which genre you choose.

What they’ll love is the idea of a leisurely picnic, a chance to run around outside and possibly sideshows like jugglers, magicians and face painters.

Summer Concerts

Just add children!

S

ummer concerts for families have never been more popular. Whether your tastes extend to the classics, jazz, pop or folk there will be an outdoor event to suit your family.

Most young children will not mind which genre you choose.

What they’ll love is the idea of a leisurely picnic, a chance to run around outside and possibly sideshows like jugglers, magicians and face painters.

If you’re a summer concert virgin and you’re not sure how your offspring will behave, try a free concert in a local park first

Tips

off. You will feel more relaxed and they can clap and sing along without you worrying that their antics might disturb other people.

But even larger, more formal concerts tend to be rather informal. It’s probably best that your kids are versed in basic etiquette like not running through other people’s picnic areas and not throwing food or scrapping with siblings, but with a dose of general good manners normal lively behaviour is well tolerated at such events.

Most concerts tend to take place in large fields anyway so

By Sarah Davey there’s plenty of room for running around and even outdoor games such as frisbees and football, providing they’re played well away from the main crowd.

Evening concerts are really exciting for children. Being allowed to stay up past normal bedtime is always a thrill and as night falls and people light candles and lanterns the scene becomes magical. Also many evening concerts have a firework finale. Then there’s the excitement of finding your car in the dark with your torch. What more could a child want?

for outdoor concerts

 Choose to sit further back from the stage than you would if you were alone. Dedicated concert goers and those without children tend to sit near the front and they might not take kindly to boisterous youngsters. Sitting further back gives you all more room to stretch out and wander around.  Take small amounts of lots of different foods. Variety will keep them interested.

Take folding chairs, sunscreen, hats, insect repellent or citronella candles and lots of rugs. Comfort is important, especially as the sun disappears.  A flask of hot chocolate is a winner when the evening air takes on a chill.

Some glowsticks or lanterns will make the event extra special.

58

vil agetribune

SCHOOL REPORT

John Clare School

By Sharifa, Mia and Francesca, Torpel Class

Children from John Clare School were very busy over the Easter holiday - doing the Yoga Frog Big Write! At the start of the Summer term an assembly showcased all the amazing homework everyone had done. There was a competition to write the best Yoga Frog story and the winners were: Lily (Torpel), Milly (Broadwheel), George (Woodgate) and Charlie (Buttercross).

On 12 May, we had a mystery package in assembly. Everyone was trying to work out what it was, it was a lot of reading books for Key Stage 1. The Friends of John Clare School kindly donated £2000 for the books. Staff have recently chosen group books for children in Key Stage 2, which we are looking forward to reading very soon.

On 16 May Jenny Mosely came to visit our school.

Jenny invented Circle and Golden Time, which we use in school. Broadwheel Class were chosen to work with Jenny. Broadwheel had a fun time working with her and learnt new clapping and singing games.

Film Club has been filming their amazing film, which is about children who act like robots. All of the school have had a lot of fun helping with the making of the film. We would like to say a big thank you to Mr Brownlow, for all his help in teaching us about filming.

Last Thursday (8th June) we had our Sports Day. In the morning, all the KS1 and KS2 children took part in clock-sports and in the afternoon all the children ran in lots of track races. All the house teams tried their hardest to get as many points as possible, in fourth place was Rossetti, third place Keats, second place Tennyson and in first place was Wordsworth. We all had lots of fun and Mr Weston and Mr Reed organised a great sports day! We thank them very much for spending the day with us

vil agetribune

59

SCHOOL REPORT

The Owls’ Ne st

Ready to take hatchlings

Thanks to funding from the Peterborough Diocese of Education and the dedication and hard work of governors past and present, Peakirk Cum Glinton C of E (VA) Primary School are delighted to announce that their New Wrap Around Care Facility will open its doors in September.

A

community competition to name the building was recently run and it is to be officially known as The Owls’ Nest as named by the PitneyBaxter family in a school based competition.

This fantastic new facility will operate a Breakfast Club, Pre School and after School Club from a brand new building which will offer an attractive and stimulating learning and social environment from 7.45am through to 6pm. The Owls’ Nest will be available to all children from the ages of 2 – 11 years old from within the local community and beyond (subject to spaces).

The school has been in the planning for this important community building for over three years and the journey has certainly brought them closer with the wider school community engaging

OPEN DAY

y interested An open day for anybod d is being chil ir the ring iste reg in on of rno afte the held on 0pm.

Tuesday 4 July 1 – 2.3 wish to you if w kno us let Please ails (right) det t tac con attend using the

assistance from The Parish Council, Planning Office as well as working closely with the Early Years Team at Peterborough City Council.

The Owls’ Nest Pre-school will be fully operated by the school and will take children from the ages of 2-4 years old between the hours of 7.45 and 6pm. The close proximity of the building to the reception class will enable the pre-school to work closely with the primary school Reception class as an early years unit, providing a seamless transition into primary school.

Although the pre-school will be owned by the school, please note that attendance at the pre-school does not, unfortunately secure a place at the very popular primary school when the children progress to Reception.

The school is pleased to employ the existing Glinton Pre-School staff ensuring the current ‘Good’ provision with its established reputation and strong ethos will be retained for the community.

The Owls’ Nest will provide a caring and stimulating learning environment tailored to each child’s needs and the experienced and motivated staff will continue to support children to gain confidence, develop their independence and eagerness to learn.

The Owls’ Nest has been carefully furnished with brand new equipment providing a fantastic environment for children and the community. This includes a fantastic playloft from Educational Play allowing some two storey acces to cater for the wide range of age groups.

New, flexible operating hours will also support working parents who wish to take advantage of the government’s 30 hours of free childcare.

The Owls’ Nest before and after school provision is open to existing school pupils aged 4 – 11 and for any child attending the pre-school.

Anyone interested in attending the open afternoon, wishing to book a place or requiring further information please contact Mrs Taylor at the school office 01733 252361 or visit the school and pre-school pages on the school website www.pcgprimaryschool.co.uk/

vil agetribune

61

FEMAIL

A routine blood test last year picked up the fact that I had very high cholesterol. I am 48, healthy, have a low body mass index, eat very little meat, no dairy, and I exercise several times per week, so it had never occurred to me to have my cholesterol levels checked. It turns out I have hypercholesterolaemia – my body makes too much cholesterol, and now I have to take medication to control it so I reduce my risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease in later life.

By Louise Addison.

This got me thinking, and reading.

What sort of medical checks should we be considering in our 40s and beyond?

all women should know about

HEALTH CHECKS

Midlife MOT

62

vil agetribune

The NHS Health Check Programme is a free screening open to anyone aged 40 to 74. It targets the top seven causes of preventable death: high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, cholesterol, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption – all the things that are more likely to cause us to become ill as we age and / or die prematurely.

You’ll be asked about your lifestyle and family medical history, and have some blood tests. It was this blood test which showed up my own high cholesterol levels.

most common cancer in the UK and affects one in eight women.

A mammogram is an x-ray of both breasts to look for any changes that might suggest cancer. Depending on where you live you will be called for your first mammogram between the ages of 47 and 53.

Regular self-checking is incredibly important too. Familiarise yourself with your family history if you can. If you notice any changes to your own breast tissue, such as irregular lumps, bumps, or skin dimpling, book an appointment to discuss it with your GP.

Cervical smear Cervical cancer is most common in women between the ages of 30-35 but a fifth of cervical cancer cases occurred in women over the age of 65 so it is vital to have regular smear tests. You should have one every three years between 25-49, and every five years after that.

A smear involves taking a small sample from the neck of the womb, called the cervix, to check for any abnormal cells that might lead to cervical cancer. Almost all cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus, which is initially contracted by sexual activity. It may lay dormant for years before it starts to cause cancerous cells on your cervix. If you have bleeding between periods or after sex you should see your GP.

Mammogram Breast awareness is very important at any age, because breast cancer is the

Eye examination Most healthy people should have an eye examination bi-annually. But if one of your parents has or had glaucoma, or macular degeneration, or you have certain underlying medical conditions such as thyroid dysfunction or diabetes, or you are aged 70+ attending annually is more sensible.

An eye examination can pick up early signs of eye disease, as well as discover whether you need spectacles. Glaucoma and wet macular degeneration in particular have a much better prognosis if picked up in the earliest stages.

FEMAIL

Bowel checks

Helpston WI

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK yet accounts for the second highest number of deaths, so it’s essential to have regular tests.

A test involves submitting a specimen of your stool for analysis through a postal self test kit. The test can detect tiny amounts of blood in the stool which may indicate cancer or precancerous polyps. Polyps can be removed before they go on to cause any harm. Everyone aged 60 to 74 is sent a free home test kit every two years from the NHS, but you can take the test if you are younger than this and it’s a good idea if you have a family history of bowel cancer.

You can buy a testing kit from good pharmacies.

Our May meeting was held at John Clare cottage, due to the mayoral election, and a lively group listened to local acupuncturist Marianne Killick explain how she treats a range of conditions from headaches and muscle pain to menopausal symptoms. Our secretary, June, acted as guineapig and didn’t flinch as needles were inserted. Members were surprised that the acupuncture needles were so fine when they were passed round for inspection.

Resolutions for this year’s WI campaigns to combat loneliness and to raise awareness of environmental pollution by microplastics were passed – watch this space for further information about both!

In June, Dr. Cathy Jones entertained the members with an autobiography, starting with a career on stage where she appeared as Annie in the musical and Sandy in ‘Grease’. She went on to the Cambridge Footlights where she became friends with Prince Edward and she gave a humorous account of her many adventures abroad, which included learning to fly as a medic in the Air force, before coming to work locally as a GP in Wansford and Peterborough.

She was an excellent speaker, accompanying each phase of her life with a song and describing how her strong faith developed from her early days at Cambridge. We had a thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational evening.

If you would like to become involved with our activities, including walking, line-dancing and ‘knit & natter’, as well as a range of outings and local and national campaigns, you will be made very welcome.

Bone density check The menopause can seriously affect bone health. Once we’re over 50 we are at risk of osteoporosis because a drop in oestrogen for a prolonged period can cause a loss in bone mass.

If you have a family history of osteoporosis, are a heavy drinker or smoker, have rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s Disease then it is important to have your bone density assessed.

Low radiation X-rays are used to take pictures of your spine and hips while you are lying down. You can also request a ‘bone turnover’ test.

This is a urine test which detects whether you’re losing bone mass.

If you are you may need calcium or vitamin D supplements.

Remember, prevention is better than cure. Most test results will simply give you peace of mind but if a problem is picked up, treatment is more effective the earlier an issue is identified. Take charge of your health in 2017.

Helpston WI Diary Wednesday morning walks – meet outside the village shop at 9:00am Thursday morning walks - meet outside the village shop at 9:00am contact June Dobson on 01733252192 for more details Knit & Natter at Botolph’s Barn, Helpston. Come and join our friendly, lively group from 2pm – 4pm. We meet fortnightly on Wednesdays (5 & 19July, 2, 16, & 30 August) Beginners’ Line Dancing Every Tuesday from 10:00 -11:00 in the Village Hall.

Contact June as above, or just come to the hall.

Thursday 6 July Please join us in the Village Hall at 7:30pm to hear Pat WallacePope, head kilt-maker of The House of Tartan, talk about the Kilt-makers of Peterborough.

Contact June Dobson on 01733252192 or come along on the night.

Thursday 3 August Matthew Kefford will be explaining the work of Medical Detection Dogs in checking for cancers and other diseases in Helpston Village Hall at 7:30pm, and we would be delighted if you joined us for this meeting.

Come to our friendly meetings in Helpston Village Hall at 7:30pm on on the first Thursday of each month. Jean Mead, our president on 01733 252025, or June Dobson, our secretary on 01733 252192 will be happy to answer any questions you have, or follow the links on helpston.net, to village organisations, to see this year’s programme.

vil agetribune

63

FEMAIL

Glinton WI “Gosh! “Really?” typified reactions to our two monthly meetings held in Glinton Village Hall since our last Tribune report.

In May Mike Flanaghan, an Inspector for Whitemoor Prison, gave us some fascinating insights into life inside one of Britain’s high security jails. He surprised and fascinated with a talk which ranged from observations he made whilst playing the organ in the prison chapel, to details of the medical arrangements for the 463 prisoners and the training for the guard dogs, to inmates requests for Calvin Klein underpants!

In June our scheduled speaker was unable to attend following a car accident but Pat kindly came along with a box of bygones numbered 1 to 20. Members tried to identify their uses. The glove stretcher and the tie press were not too challenging perhaps but what was the thing that

by Ann Pettitt looked like an old rounders bat but had a pump action? Answer: a pill dispenser for horses! The highest score obtained was 10 but that hardly mattered. We had such fun guessing.

The WI has rightly become known for campaigning on matters of national concern. In May we considered the two resolutions to go forward to this year’s National Meeting in Liverpool. They were: a) Loneliness:- currently a big problem among all ages. For ladies, membership of the WI can already do a lot to alleviate this problem all over the country but what other practical measures can we take? b) Micro-plastics:- Microplastic fibres are shed from our clothes via washing machines and are entering the oceans and impacting on aquatic life. The W. I. can draw attention to this little understood issue and

For further details contact Margaret, our President, on 01733 701268 or Jenny, our secretary, on 01733 254252

64

vil agetribune

encourage the Government and industry to make it a priority.

In June we sadly learned of the death of Jean Bryan a long–term member of Glinton W.I. Jean was a lovely lady who will be much missed by her many friends.

Looking forward: our speaker in July will be David White whose subject is gardens, including his connection with Buckingham Palace gardens. There will also be the opportunity one evening to go along to the Lakeland store in Queensgate for an informal, drop-in style evening of demonstrations and sampling.

So if you think our activities might appeal to you just come along and meet us on the second Tuesday in the month in Glinton Village Hall, from 7pm. We are a welcoming, friendly group and there is no pressure to join. Visitors are welcome for a small charge of £3.50, which includes your supper.

CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Supporting Local Foods

Take the

challenge

TASTE BUDS

30% 30 to get

hin of your food wit

miles

We are asking people across the country to try the 30:30 pledge and find out more about local food for themselves CPRE supports the diversity and importance local foods and local food producers and sellers have on the local economy and the importance local food has on the landscape.

• Local food offers a great opportunity to support vibrant town centres and countryside.

• Local food webs are essential to the character and attractiveness of towns and countryside across England.

• With around 50p in every £1 we spend in shops spent on food, it is a tremendous opportunity for businesses, from farms to retailers of all sizes, to engage shoppers in making a difference to the quality of their local area.

CPRE wants local food businesses to flourish and provide readily available produce at an affordable

price for consumers and a fair one for farmers.

CPRE aims to harness the enthusiasm of rural communities for local foods and demonstrate to both businesses and Government that there is a huge opportunity and an urgent need to take steps to develop and promote the local food industry.

Over the past couple of decades there has been increasing concern that we have become alienated from the sources of our food.

Today, supermarkets compete for our food custom by price; as a consequence, the amount farmers are paid for their produce is continually squeezed.

Supermarkets have 85% market share of food and disproportionate buyer power.

The threat is always that if farmers

don’t take the price offered, food is sourced from abroad, where production costs are lower.

The carbon cost from food miles then rises and the nutritional value of food can be lost in the time it takes to get from field to plate.

Over the longer term, locally distinct produce is at risk of being lost, and our rural economies damaged.

We want to encourage you buy from your local independent stores - butcher, greengrocer, bakery, soft fruit farm, farms shops and farmers’ market.

The food is fresh, tastes nicer than at supermarkets, and being in your locality is just as convenient or more so than travelling several miles to the nearest supermarket.

CPRE has recently produced a pocket guide - please contact our Branch office on 01480 396698 or e-mail office@cprecambs.org.uk for your free copy.

vil agetribune

65

66

vil agetribune

TASTE BUDS

Well a big summer ‘allo to you Tribune people in your villages. All the staff at Chez Pierre hope you are well and have some nice outside days. In this issue I have been asked to tell about barbeque food and what works well for your friends and family in your garden, after a session of croquet. We at CP often cook and entertain outside during the warm weather, using a gas Weber machine which is very reliable.

outside from the kithcn of

ˆ Pierre Chez

Poulet spatchcock

I

’ve been told your British menfolk normally take over from the women when the cooking goes outside, thinking they are the only ones to be able to do this thing here.

Fuelled with beers and a vague notion of how to create something edible I imagine they often inflict shuttle re-entry heat onto delicate pieces of chicken and Mr Tesco’s ‘everyday bangers and burgers’, promoting the vegetarians’ cause in the process, non? Well it certainly does not have to be like that; a good barbeque can be splendid but always starts with timely preparations.

Think about what you’re going to cook and for how many. Vary the meats and try salads with pasta and rice to be interesting and colourful and maybe adopt a theme like Mexican, Italian, Spanish or even better, French.

Consider to prepare different types of kebabs and spatchcock chicken. Home-make your burgers, marinate your pork

steaks the night before and always have some interesting breads and cheeses to compliment your table. I will give you here my easy Spatchcock Chicken recipe for you ladies to prepare for your man to cook:  1 Place a whole chicken breast side down and, using poultry shears, cut along both sides of the backbone, opening the chicken like a book. Discard the bone and turn bird breast side up - using the heel of your hand to press against the breast bone until she cracks. Tuck the wingtips under so they don’t burn. This is called a Spatchcock.

2 Using your pestle and mortar  create a bbq paste from the following: 3 finely chopped shallots, 3 crushed garlic cloves, chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 1 tbsp dried herbes de Provence, the chopped leaves from a stalk of rosemary, 1½ teaspoons sea salt, 1 tsp crushed black pepper, zest and juice from 1 lemon, 1 heaped tbsp Dijon mustard, ½ cup of olive oil.

 3 Rub the chicken well with this paste and leave for 1 hour in your fridge. Reserve some paste for later.

4 With a gas barbeque use an  indirect heat method by closing the lid over full gas burners for about 10 minutes; then turn one off and the other(s) to medium.

The area over the turned-off burner is the indirect heat.  5 Pop your chicken, skin side down on a roasting tin, over the direct heat (lid down) until the chicken is browned after about 8 minutes. Then turn the chicken over and move to indirect heat place (again lid down) for about 25/35 minutes, turning to cook evenly.  6 After cooking, let the bird rest a bit (not you Madame) then cut into quarters and let your man serve on white plates, with the remaining paste, so he can claim credit!

I will offer a lightly chilled Pinot Grigio or a Riesling with my chicken, to not overpower the preparation work we enjoy here.

Bon chance, Pierre x askchezpierre@gmail.com

vil agetribune

67

68

vil agetribune

TASTE BUDS

Max Gastro’s

Restaurant Review ASDA A t a rather posh dinner party a few weeks ago I observed to the titled hostess just how authentic her Katsu Japanese curry tasted and, whilst unconventionally matched, mentioned the accompanying Delhi Dal Makhani had added to the culinary experience markedly. ‘”Oh, all down to my little Asdah dahling” she murmured in Chipping Norton

Intrigued, a week later I ventured into the green-themed brightly-lit BOGOF world she’d recommended and found, to my delight, an amazing range of cultural foods, spices and sauces at bargain-basement prices, including said Japanese Katsu sauce (with a separate spice canister on top) at just £1.30. Bought that.

Ok, one’s fellow shoppers can sometimes be challenging but for I naturally thought she was value and variety, eclectic foods and referring to her Japanese chef own-brand choice I have to say it’s or nanny and went to look for actually pretty good. him/her in the kitchen, only to Whilst visiting I noticed an discover a collection of empty jars anonymous staircase to the left of of Asda’s own Katsu curry sauce the entrance, leading to the Asda Café. Intrigued, I was surprised on the worktop and quite a few by the size and cleanliness of the depleted packs of the popular near-empty first floor eatery and I Indian bean curry in the bin. bravely furthered the cause of my supermarket Full English Breakfast tones, “complete discovery dear, do try when able…”

They also serve great coffee, I naturally thought she was lunches, sides, cakes and much referring to her Japanese chef or more, with the opportunity to nanny and went to look for him/ sit by the panoramic window her in the kitchen, only to discover and gaze in wonder over the a collection of empty jars of Asda’s bargains amongst the fruit and own Katsu curry sauce on the worktop and quite a few depleted veg area below – it doesn’t get packs of the popular Indian bean much better folks.. curry in the bin. comparators, ordering the ’12But surely she was a discerning item’ plateful with toast for a quite Waitrose shopper, not a patron remarkable £5.50. of the er, somewhat proletariatWithin minutes my freshlypatronised supermarket at (in our cooked order arrived and armed case) the other end of Rivergate in with complimentary HP sauce I the City; what had she discovered?

West Rivergate Shopping Centre, Peterborough PE1 1ET set about it. It was actually very good. Although perhaps not to the Morrison’s award-winning standard reported upon in a previous issue, I thought it well cooked and tasty, flavoursome and very satisfying – pretty much what a FEB is all about.

To satisfy pedants: the 12 ‘items’ are 2x bacon, 3x sausages, tomatoes, 2x hash browns, mushrooms, 2x eggs and baked beans.

They also serve great coffee, lunches, sides, cakes and much more, with the opportunity to sit by the panoramic window and gaze in wonder over the bargains amongst the fruit and veg area below – it doesn’t get much better folks. Well, yes, alright I suppose it does, but next time you’re in town pop in and dip a toe into the aisles and a fork into the first-floor food, I guarantee you’ll be rewarded.

Max's STAR RATING

***

****

FOOD

VALUE

****

**

SERVICE (self)

ATMOSPHERE

vil agetribune

69

IN MEMORIAM

From October 1916 there had been no deaths of local servicemen for eight months. Then in July 1917 news of further fatalities arrived.

Sgt Fred Crowson Sergeant Fred Crowson 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment died of shell wounds at the Battle of Arras on July 7th, 1917 aged 22. He enlisted with his brother Arthur in August, 1914.

Before the war he had worked as a gardener on the Fitzwilliam estate at Milton. He was a son of George and Rachel Crowson of Ufford. Shortly before his death he had been offered a commission and would have been made a 2nd Lieutenant. He is buried in the Duisans British Cemetery at Etrun 9kms west of Arras.

Pte John Welby Private John Welby 25th Northumberland Fusiliers died on July 22nd, 1917 aged 29 and is buried in the Etaples military cemetery. He died in hospital of contusions and polyneuritis caused by shell explosions.

Three weeks before his death he had been buried in earth and stones after a shell exploded. Two others in his party were killed. John was born in Barnack.

Pte Charles Bryan Private Charles H. Bryan 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment was killed on August 14th, 1917 at Ypres aged 30. He joined the Suffolk Regiment in 1915 when they were stationed in Barnack but was later transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment. Before enlisting he worked for Lord Exeter at Burghley Gardens.

He lived at 2, Southorpe Terrace. He left a widow, Florence and three children. She was the sister of Fred Crowson who was killed on July 7th. Charles Bryan was the son of George and Maria Bryan. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial and along with his brother George, who had been killed at Gallipoli in 1915, on their father’s gravestone in Barnack cemetery.

Pte Ernest Tomblin Private Ernest Tomblin 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment was killed at the Battle of the Dunes on July 31st, 1917 aged 35. This battle was an attempt to deny the Germans the use of Belgian ports for their submarines.

At the same battle another Barnack man, Private George Latchford also of the 6th Northants, was badly wounded in both legs but survived. Ernest Tomblin is buried at Perth Cemetery near Ypres. He was the son of William and Susannah Tomblin of the Fox Inn.

vil agetribune

71

CHURCH NEWS

Greetings and salutations!

Before I became Rector of five parishes in an area known for its nine bridges, I was warned that the summer would be busy with fetes, fayres and fun days. This is certainly very true; as I write, Maxey is set for its Fayre, on the 17th of June. But, with this VT edition comes the news of more summer events with which our communities may join throughout July and August.

Please note them and try to go. In addition to the aforementioned events, I’m leading an Animal Blessing, right in the middle of summer (10:30am on 30July17 in Glinton), to which all are welcome, with your pets/animals, of course. It’s a blessing service with two objectives: 1) as we find ourselves stewards of God’s creatures, from time to time, Christians ought to ask God to bless themselves in that role, and the animals in their care & 2) it’s a great way to meet as pet/animal owners/lovers…

The recent tragedies in London gave evidence of the power of community; and while we all lead busy lives, our summers are blessed with myriad community activities. We are stronger together, where we at least know our neighbours by sight, if not by name.

When we are no longer strangers, we are more likely to come to each others’ side in their time of need; when we are no longer strangers, we are less likely to ignore each other.

Please do join us for our Animal Blessing, just outside St. Benedict’s at the end of July; please, also, keep high your community spirits in order to instil resilience in our community… come what may.

God bless you all! Pax! Rev’d. Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale Rector Benefice of Glinton, Etton, Maxey, Peakirk & Northborough

Time for a

smile

A shaggy fish story Two prawns were swimming around a reef - one called Justin and the other Christian. Prawns were constantly being threatened by sharks in the area. One day Justin said, “I’m fed up with being a prawn, I wish I were a shark, then I wouldn’t have any worries about being eaten.”

Then a large mysterious Cod appeared and said, “Your wish is granted” - and, Justin turned into a shark. Horrified, Christian immediately swam away, afraid of being eaten by his old sea mate. Time passed and Justin found life as a shark boring and lonely. All his old mates simply swam away whenever he came close.

Justin didn’t realize that his new menacing appearance was the cause of his sad plight.

While swimming alone one day he saw the mysterious Cod again and he begged to be changed back. And so it happened. He swam back to rejoice with his old friends over a cocktail. He then realized he couldn’t see his old pal. “Where’s Christian?” he asked.

Eager to put things right again, he set off to find Christian’s usual abode. As the coral gate opened, he shouted, “It’s me, Justin, your old friend, come and see me.”

Christian replied, “No way, you’ll just eat me.” Justin cried back “No, that was the old me; I found Cod and I’ve changed; I’m a prawn again, Christian.”

The tide is flowing (Report by Premier Christian Media) Christianity across Central and Eastern Europe continues to grow and flourish a quarter of a century after the fall of the Soviet Union and atheistic Communist regimes, a Pew Research Center survey has said. The survey found that, in spite of the deliberate suppression of religious worship and the promotion of atheism by Communist regimes, there were large majorities across much of the region that say they believe in God, and identify with a Christian tradition, whether it be Orthodox or Roman Catholic. The survey stated that “in many Central and Eastern European countries, 72

vil agetribune

religion and national identity are closely entwined. This is true in former Communist states, such as the Russian Federation and Poland, where majorities say that being Orthodox or Catholic is important to being ‘truly Russian’ or ‘truly Polish’.” It added that despite the high percentage of people identifying with Christianity across the region, not many are highly observant, however, with a median of only 10 percent of Orthodox Christians attending church on a weekly basis.

Nonetheless, the comeback of religion in a region once dominated

by atheist regimes is striking — particularly in some historically Orthodox countries, where levels of religious affiliation have risen substantially. As an example, the study showed that in 1991, 37 percent of Russians and 39 percent of Ukrainians identified as Orthodox, respectively. However, in 2015, that percentage almost doubled in both cases to 71 percent of Russians and 78 percent of Ukrainians.

Though Christianity has bloomed following the fall of the Soviet Union, nowadays it is Christians in Communist China who are heavily targeted by the atheistic regime.

CHURCH NEWS

Pause For Thought

by Michael Mills

M

y wife and I have just returned from a short trip to Kenya to see our son and his family there. We’re very familiar with that country, as Pam grew up in Kenya and we later lived there together for six years. Over the years, I also made many work visits to Kenya and elsewhere in East and Southern Africa.

But how things have changed in the region since I first lived in Africa. For six months in the early 1970s I was at a mission hospital in what is now the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Communications then were not easy to say the least! My journey there (by sea, train and bus) took me nearly a month, and it was several more weeks before any news came to me from the UK. Of course there was no email or internet 45 years ago, but you couldn’t even phone internationally from the hospital, and letters took almost a month to reach home.

So keeping in touch from there

with family was certainly quite a challenge.

And now what a contrast we have: actually getting to Nairobi for our recent visit simply involved a drive down to Heathrow and a day-flight of 8 hours; and when there, we were able to “Skype” back to the UK on a daily basis.

Having such easier contact with our children and grand-children is a real blessing, especially as we watch the little ones grow and develop.

But more than this, modern communications allow us to see much more about life and living conditions elsewhere in the world.

Our latest trip to Kenya reminded us both about the beauty of that country and its wonderful people, and also about some of hardships there: the continuing drought situation and lack of food, new challenges of army worm attacking the crops, the fear of insecurity across the border in Somalia, insidious corruption and inequality, pervasive poverty and lack of jobs.

Beyond our personal links with the Region, I am delighted that the churches in our benefice already have several existing and new partnerships with East Africa, including with the Diocese of Taita-Taveta in Kenya (where Revd Dave Maylor will go this summer), and with Kisiizi Hospital and the Chilli Children Project in Uganda.

So as we thoroughly enjoy contact with family abroad and the advantages of international communications, so too I challenge myself not to take our own privileges and advantages of living in the UK for granted. God calls us to live compassionate lives, concerned for justice and the welfare of others.

Modern communications technology helps to keep this challenge in front of our eyes, and I pray that we will all look for opportunities to “see” this and to respond generously to the needs of others.

vil agetribune

73

CHURCH NEWS

From a distance

by Colin Reeves, (ACE Executive Committee member)

St. Pega’s Church clean up What a wonderful response! Just over 30 people came along (including our Rector) to help make our ancient and beautiful 1000 year old church sparkle both inside and out.

The silver and brasses are now gleaming, woodwork polished, windows shining and floors cleaned; the notice board and children’s play bags are replenished. Outside in the churchyard numerous tasks were undertaken by an enthusiastic team who attacked weeds, ivy, cleaned the gates, paths and many other jobs with gusto.

St. Pega’s Church is a place for all to enjoy. If you wish to visit, why not come and spend a peaceful time in this ancient and beautiful (and clean!) church. It is open daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Most of us at some time every week see an old church from a distance. The tower, spire or pinnacles reach up as if to an unattainable heaven.

And it is easy to imagine that’s how God watches us – as the song says, ‘From a Distance.’ He seems far away and it’s comforting to know that he is there but not close enough to affect our life unless we whisper to him during tough times.

Yet when we come close to a church, we may see it warts and all – the patched stonework, the cracked paving, the marks of earlier structures. Then when we go inside we may discover it is warm and alive, with positive people inspired to worship and to do good things in the world. They, too, like all of us, often look good from a distance, yet close up we see their weaknesses and failings.

But hang on! In that visit you have just discovered the workings of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. First, there is ancient Almighty God, high and

lifted up, righteous and awefull, seemingly watching us from a distance. Then comes the Son, Jesus Christ, warm & alive, down at our human level but leaving it again at Easter to make, via his empty Cross, a bridge between repentant people and awesome Almighty God. And finally, the inspirational person of God the Holy Spirit, doing two things. First, whispering in the minds and consciences of those outside the faith to consider, to trust, to kneel & to turn. Then secondly, living in believers’ hearts, prompting them to find joy in worship and in service.

Next time you see a church from a distance, hum that song and listen for the whisper of the Spirit!

St. Paul wrote: God who made the world …does not live in temples built by hands…men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far off from each one of us. For in him we live and move & have our being.

Sing yourself well

FUNERALS Brenda Linford (05/06/2017) Wittering Church Elliot Brown (06/06/2017) Ufford Church Charles Clark (20/06/2017) Bainton Church Walter ‘Harry’ Randall - 20.4.17 Northborough Janet ‘Jan’ Konik - 31.5.17 Northborough BAPTISMS Bailey Palmer (28/05/2017) Barnack Church 74

vil agetribune

Singing is good for you! We picked up an interesting piece from an old copy of Reader’s Digest recently which said that singing in the shower or in the bath may be a great way to start the day, but those who sing in a group get the most benefit.

A survey carried out by a university professor reported that singing improved people’s mood and quality of life. He even pointed out that singing helped some participants’ mental and

physical health problems.

The physiological benefits of singing have been studied by a Dr Maria Sandgren of Stockholm university.

Results show that singing releases oxytocin, a hormone that indicates a sense of bonding and security. In an earlier study, Dr Sandgren found that amateur singers were happier after a singing lesson.

So, are you ready?

Altogether now..!

CHURCH NEWS

Acting Pope!

Plane prayers

Pope Francis can now add ‘actor’ to his CV. He has a cameo and plays himself in a new religious-themed feature film called Beyond The Sun. It’s about four young children from different cultures trying to follow the teachings of Christ. The project was launched at the Cannes Film Festival on the 17 May. The producers said this is the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church that a Pope has agreed to play a cameo role in a film. They also said Francis is nspired by the move. He reportedly asked producers to make a movie with the purpose of communicating the message of the Gospels to youth. The company which made the film, told The Telegraph: “Our excitement and gratitude toward His Holiness, Pope Francis, participating in this film is beyond words. This is not just a movie for us, it’s a message, and who better to have on your side to deliver an important societal and spiritual message than the Pope. We are honoured and inspired by the level of collaboration from the Vatican.” Profits from the film will be donated to two charities in Argentina that help disadvantaged children.

Do you ever feel nervous before getting on a plane?

Travellers at one German airport can now have some peace by entering a booth and listening to a prayer of their choice before boarding a plane. A terminal at Stuttgart Airport’s has a new prayer booth.

There are 300 prayers from various religions in 65 different languages available. An airport spokesman said, “Often,

passengers have a bit of time before their departure at the gate and the prayer booth is an offer by the airport’s chaplains to provide a moment of contemplation.”

The former photo booth includes the Christian Lord’s Prayer and American TV preachers on the touch-screen display. The booth is free of charge and will be available initially for three months at one of the boarding areas.

Time for a

Speaking to the children during the service, the preacher asked that all of those who wished to go to heaven should stand up.

They all rose, except one small boy. He then asked anyone to stand up who wanted to go to the other place. No-one moved.

Puzzled, the preacher stared at the boy and asked, “Where do you want to go?”. The boy replied, “Nowhere sir, I like it here.”

smile

vil agetribune

75

CHURCH SERVICES

CHURCH SERVICES July July

Sun 2 July

Sun 9 July

Sun 16 July

St John the Baptist Barnack

9am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

9am Parish Communion with Children’s Church 4pm Messy Church

9am 11am Parish All Age Praise Communion with Children’s Church

10am Benefice Communion Service Church Bells Quarter Peal attempt

St Mary’s Bainton

5pm Bainton Family Day Service

9am Parish Communion

6pm VCP Evensong

9am Parish Communion

NO SERVICE

St Botolph’s Helpston

10.45am All Age Praise

10.45am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

10.45am John Clare Weekend All Age Communion

10.45am Parish communion with Children’s Church 6pm Informal Service

NO SERVICE

All Saints Wittering

NO SERVICE

10.30am Second Sunday Fun

NO SERVICE

10.30am Morning Praise

NO SERVICE

St Stephen Etton

10am Family Service Mark Hotchkin

NO SERVICE

9am NO SERVICE BCP Communion Rev Mark-Aaron

NO SERVICE

St Peter Maxey

9am Eucharist Rev Alan Fiddyment

9am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

10am Family Service Village Hall Mark H & Freda S

9am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

9am Said Communion Rev Mark-Aaron

St Benedict Glinton

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

10.30am Morning Praise Mark Hotchkin

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

9.15am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

10.30am Animal Blessing service on the Green next to church Rev Mark-Aaron

St Andrew Northborough

9am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

10.30am All Age Praise Freda Skillman

9am Eucharist Rev Alan Fiddyment 6.00pm Evensong Derek Harris

10.30am NO SERVICE All Age Praise Rev Mark-Aaron & Freda Skillman

St Pega Peakirk

6pm BCP Evensong Rev Mark-Aaron

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

NO SERVICE

10.30am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

Sun 23 July

Sun 30 July

NO SERVICE

CHURCH ADDRESSES: St John the Baptist Church, Main Street, Barnack PE9 3DN St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Bainton PE9 3AF St Botolph’s Church, Church Street, Helpston PE6 7DT All Saints Church, Church Road, Wittering PE8 6AF St Andrew’s Church, Main Street, Ufford PE9 3BH St Stephen, Main Rd., Etton PE6 7DA | St Peter, Main St. Maxey PE6 9HF St Pega, Chestnut Close, Peakirk PE6 7NH | Glinton St Benedict, High St., Glinton PE6 7JN St Andrew Church St., Northborough PE6 9BN 76

vil agetribune

CHURCH SERVICES

August August

Sun 6 Aug

Sun 13 Aug

Sun 20 Aug

Sun 27 Aug

Sun 3 Sep

St John the Baptist Barnack

NO SERVICE

6pm Kenya Style Service

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

10am Benefice Communion Service

St Mary's Church Bainton

10am Benefice Communion Service

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

St Botolph’s Helpston

NO SERVICE

10am Benefice Communion Service

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

All Saints Wittering

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

10am Benefice Communion Service

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

St Andrew Ufford

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

NO SERVICE

10am Benefice Communion Service

NO SERVICE

St Stephen Etton

10am Family Service Mark Hotchkin

NO SERVICE

9am NO SERVICE BCP Communion Rev Mark-Aaron

10am Family Service Mark Hotchkin

St Peter Maxey

9am Eucharist Rev Alan Fiddyment

9am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

10am Family Service Village Hall Mark H & Freda

9am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

9am Eucharist Rev Alan Fiddyment

St Benedict Glinton

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

10.30am Morning Praise Mark Hotchkin

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

9.15am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

9am St Andrew Northborough Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

NO SERVICE

9am Eucharist Rev Alan Fiddyment 6pm Evensong Derek Harris

10.30am All Age Praise Rev Mark-Aaron & Freda Skillman

9am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

St Pega Peakirk

10.30am Eucharist Rev Mark-Aaron

NO SERVICE

10.30am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

6pm BCP Evensong Rev Mark-Aaron

6pm BCP Evensong Rev Mark-Aaron

CHURCH ADDRESSES: St John the Baptist Church, Main Street, Barnack PE9 3DN St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Bainton PE9 3AF St Botolph’s Church, Church Street, Helpston PE6 7DT All Saints Church, Church Road, Wittering PE8 6AF St Andrew’s Church, Main Street, Ufford PE9 3BH St Stephen, Main Rd., Etton PE6 7DA | St Peter, Main St. Maxey PE6 9HF St Pega, Chestnut Close, Peakirk PE6 7NH | Glinton St Benedict, High St., Glinton PE6 7JN St Andrew Church St., Northborough PE6 9BN

vil agetribune

77

WRITE AWAY

@

The news and views of Tribland residents as seen through the eagle eyes of social media alongside your letters to the Editor ...

Write Away.. @

Dear Editor

I attach several photos taken last night at nine bridges. They show fly tipping, rubbish dumped and worst of all graphic foul language graffiti on the newly erected bridge and damage to the hand rails on the two areas where steps take you down the bank.

I also noted but did not take photos of the second wooden bridge which has been damaged. This would appear to be the work of people who find joy or at least some sort of release in causing damage to an area where others find peace and tranquillity.

Why? Is all I can say. Why would you do such a thing?

To take out your frustration on public property which is there for the benefit of the local population is mindless and selfish. The fly tipping and rubbish dumped is also a very selfish act. If this area is continually abused in this way there is a real risk that the land owners will fence it off and not allow any public access.

For those of us who use the area responsible this would be a tragic loss.

The cost to put this wrong right again is likely to be a significant one that no doubt the tax payer will have to bear.

Perhaps it is time for the local Council and the Environment Agency to get together and put up some sort of preventative measures such as CCTV to at least provide the police with a chance of catching the culprits.

Samantha Woolley Northborough resident.

78

vil agetribune

WRITE AWAY

@

The Flying Scotsman attracted lots of attention when it recently took to the East Coast Line. It is pictured here passing Maxey level crossing.

Photo by Chris Wales.

@

@

Pingle Lane safety work

I have had a couple of our ward residents speak to me recently about the lack of junction markings between Pingle Lane and The Pingle, off Church Street in Northborough.

Both my fellow ward councillor John Holdich OBE and I are very conscious about the roads in our Glinton and Castor ward being as safe as possible and I contacted Peterborough Highway Services to request these be reinstated. This is a junction after all but I imagine, due to the very low traffic levels and cul-de-sac nature of the development, this had slipped off the Highways’ radar over the last couple of years since the road had been resurfaced and the original lines disappeared.

I hope residents are now pleased we’ve been able to get this done and improve the level of road safety here.

Cllr Peter Hiller Cecilia Hammond Dear all, thank you so much for all the support with clothing for the Chernobyl Children for this summer’s visit. We are now ‘closed’ to clothing donations until September, although we may put out requests for particular items eg clothes for teenage boys which we are short of, but in general we are now sorted. Thank you very much to everyone that has supported us in this way.

Glinton Brownies

I’m not sure whether The Tribune is already aware, but just in case no one has told you, I thought I should let you know that Sue Lane is ‘retiring’ as leader of Glinton Brownies after many years (someone told me it is nearly 20 years) of volunteering next Thursday, 22nd June. Sue has been fantastic and has done so much for the girls in the local villages over the years and she is very well-loved. The whole team of helpers are being replaced by the fantastic Jo Stott the new “Brown Owl” along with two other young leaders “Tawny Owl” and “Snowy Owl”. The Brownies are having a little leaving party for Sue next Thursday evening 22nd in the AMVC youth club building, where Brownies is held, from 6 until 7.30 and I believe there is a presentation at the end for Sue. Many thanks, Mrs Jo Gidney

Gilly Drinkwater As a foster carer, I have to transport children to schools all over the city & am usually trying to get back home at about 8.30am.

I am totally astounded by the amount of parents that insist on dropping their kids off as close to AMVC as humanly possible adding, unnecessarily, to the chaos that is Glinton in the rush hour.

Why do these parents have to get so close to the school. We used to walk a couple of miles to get to school, kids these days walk the equivalent in metres.

Some parents are even trying to do U-turns in the bus stops.

WHY???

It would be better for all if there was a drop off & turn around site at the end of the village near the entrance to Clare Lodge (but on the other side of the road). Surely this would mean far less traffic coming into the centre of the village.

Cathy Hannan I was at Nine Bridges last night taking photo’s of the sunset and I took these photo’s which clearly shows people are dumping rubbish into the water Makes me so Angry to see this.

Maxey Village How do we find out the grass cutting schedule in the village?

School Lane and both parks are in need of a good trim.

continued >>

vil agetribune

79

WRITE AWAY

Emma Watts

Tracey Robson What an eyesore Northborough park is becoming. The grass is far too long, the kids are struggling to play football and it looks such a mess. Someone has actually cut a strip themselves. Its great that the village hall is coming along so well but the park is a different story!

We had the same thing last year surely we can get the grass cut a bit more often during the summer months?

John Best Saw this in France, is this French for Tribland , have we twinned with St Omer ???

Just thought I would mention how fed up I am left feeling regarding my local green space! I cycled home last night along the Peakirk Rd to see graffiti all over the bridge yet again! I was travelling too fast thankfully to read it!

Then today I walked my two dogs along the Nine Bridges bank -there are full-sized rubbish bags on the Glinton side dumped at the top of the area I refer to as ‘The Beach’ - it is an eye sore! There’s also lots of rubbish food/drink wrappers along the Northborough side. I have to note the link between the expanding travelers site and the rubbish and I for one local resident am disgusted at the state of our little patch of green!

Andy Lowings Vivacity runs Peterborough Libraries: I checked that Werrington Library was open, just now, before leaving for the 10.2 mile trip to print out a flight boarding-card. I parked, and got through the high-security double gates of the school, but couldn’t enter as the digital access outside required me to “Register for Open Libraries” with codes and to swipe my Library card ( the chances of that working are nil).

But I snuck in, as someone was leaving, and found a librarian to help me operate the photocopier that always requires a PhD in ..well, copying to operate . But she told me that it “was not open access” today (whatever that means). I feel that the time has come with these places, that they don’t work any longer and might as well be shut down and the money saved.

Kimberley Bachl

Do you love cats?

We are looking for staff to work at Lakeview cattery in Market Deeping, 4-5 mid-week Shifts from 8am-12 midday.

Call Kim 07912 999985 80

vil agetribune

John Holdich Well, now we all know where the pot of gold is hidden..... who’d have thought it?

Barnack and Pilsgate Village Community.

A successful morning with 79 car boots/barrows/arms laden with items for the bulk waste collection in Barnack.

Thanks to Amey staff and the parish council for organising the event, and a big thank you to the kind resident who delivered cups of tea!

Tony Henthorn Fed up residents of Steeple Aston in Oxfordshire put over 100 rubber ducks in rain-filled potholes in an attempt to draw attention to them.

WRITE AWAY

David Hankins Overnight vandalism (again) to the footbridge in North Fen Rd Glinton. This must be costing thousands of pounds and seems to be beyond the ability of the authorities to stop.

Peter Kemp A fitting, dignified final farewell to Bert Allebone yesterday, reflecting his RAF service and teaching career as well as being a much loved family man. Bert was Head of Northborough School from 1966 to his retirement in 1982. I know from many comments received whilst I was in post just how highly respected he was. There are many in the community with fond memories of a ‘bit of a legend’! Fitting, also, given his love of, and promotion of sport, that he had such a long and distinguished ‘innings’.

Richard Astle Steve Zealand Great to see the Tractor Run thro' villages today

Peakirk Village Hall Lining up for the vintage cycle ‘race’ this morning.

A lovely if sharply cold morning walk along the Maxey Cut and around the Langdyke reserve. A cuckoo calling along the Cut with the low murmur of a turtle dove in the background. Four whimbrel overhead and then alighting on the slurry pit south of the Cut. On the reserve there were three lapwing on their nests, plus a greenshank and 2 ringed plover, along with lots of black headed gulls and 8 common terns. At least four garden warblers singing in the hedges along the Cut. There was also a grey wagtail feeding young by the bridge on the Helpston Road.

COOLHEATING Heating & plumbing

ACS & CITB Mains & LPG GAS Prompt, reliable service 24 hr emergency response 

NT SnCVillOagU I D e Tribune 1whe0n% tio en you m



T: 01733 254 849 M: 07966 209568 vil agetribune

81

PRIZE CROSSWORD

vil agetribune PRIZECROSSWORD

WIN £10

Here are your clues: CROSSWORD CLUES Across 1 Boast, swank around (4,3) 5 Label, trade name (5) 9 Divine, holy (6) 10 Visit, turn up (6) 11 Academy award (5) 12 Steer, pilot (7) 14 Trembling (9) 18 Fake, fabrication (7) 20 Pasture, turf (5) 22 Spear, puncture (6) 23 Voucher, token (6) 24 _____ Streep, film star. (5) 25 Retaliate, reciprocate (3,4)

Last issue’s crossword solution (left).

Down 2 Throaty, gravelly (6) 3 Angry, on the _______ (7) 4 Diminish, dissolve (4) 6 Spinning part of a machine (5) 7 6 x15 (6) 8 Area to leave your vehicle (3,4) 13 Style of throwing (7) 15 Nourish, care for (7) 16 Edible mollusc (6) 17 On land, not at sea (6) 19 Awkward, ungainly (5) 21 4840 square yards! (4)

WINNER

Congratulations to Mrs Anne Jones of Northborough who wins £10 for her correct entry.

Please send your completed crossword electronically to hello@dimension6000.com or by post to: 1 Church Street, Whittlesey PE7 1DB. Mark your entry ‘crossword competition’. Make sure that your name and contact details are clearly visiible with your entry. The winner will be the correctly completed crossword drawn from all entries submitted and will be published in the next issue. The decision of the editor is final.

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR: Marketing consultations • Publications • Printing Website design and development • Computer repairs T: 01733 772095 E: hello@dimension6000.com www.dimension6000.com 82

vil agetribune

FINANCIAL

Whether you’re saving for a holiday or a rainy day, there are lots of ways you can earn interest on your money, from peer-to-peer lending to fixed rate bonds.

Understanding

savings accounts The most popular options include: Cash ISAs Cash ISAs let you save up to £20,000 a year tax free. Fixed-rates ISAs tend to earn you more interest than easy-access ones, but you will have to pay a penalty if you withdraw money early. The new Lifetime ISA is for people under 40 who are saving for their pension, or for a first house. You can save up to £4,000 a year and the government will top it up by 25%.

Bank accounts Some bank accounts are currently offering higher rates of interest than savings accounts. At the time of writing this article, Nationwide was offering 5% interest on balances up to £2,500, for the first year, for people paying in at least £1,000 every month.

However, to use a bank account to save money in, you might want to open a separate account. That way your savings won’t disappear on paying the bills. Keep an eye open

for offers. Lots of banks will offer you a bonus for opening an account, but you might have to pay in a minimum amount each month.

Savings accounts Savings accounts aren’t paying huge levels of interest at the moment, but they are still worth a look. Regular savings accounts, where you put a fixed sum away each month, usually pay a little more. And ones where you lock your money away for a set time pay more again. The interest rate is still pretty low in most cases though, so you might want to consider other options first.

It’s not just about the AER AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate. It shows you the percentage of interest you’d earn if you left your money in an account for a year. While the AER is certainly an important deciding factor, it’s not the only thing you’ll want to consider. Other questions to ask yourself include:

By Kate Duggan

• Whether you want to be able to get to your money straight away if you need it.

• How long you’re planning to save for.

• Whether you want a guaranteed return or are prepared to take a risk in the hopes of making more money.

• Whether you want to save regular amounts each month, or lump sums.

• How you want your money to be invested.

• Whether the organisation aligns with your values (e.g. will it invest your money in animal testing, or green energy projects)?

• How good the customer service is.

A good website to visit to find out the latest ‘best-buys’ and information about customer satisfaction rates is www.moneysavingexpert.com

vil agetribune

83

COUNCILCORNER

BAINTON & ASHTON PARISH COUNCIL

Bainton & Ashton Council Meeting The council met on 2 May, starting with the annual public meeting for residents, which included lively discussion about issues in and around the parish.

At the council’s AGM, statutory business included the signing off of the council’s Annual Accounting and Governance statement for audit and re-appointment of councillors to the various responsibilities around the parish. There was still a casual vacancy for one councillor.

Plans for a hog roast Councillor Susie Lucas presented plans for a hog roast and apple event, and it was agreed by councillors to underwrite the event. Focussed on the pressing of apples to celebrate the Autumn harvest, it is hoped the event will become an annual fixture for the parish. It is planned for late October this year.

Planning consultation At the time of writing, consultation is underway over the planned building of three new properties in Ashton, outside the village envelope. The council will submit its comments to the planning authority after discussions at its July meeting.

Next meeting The next meeting of the council will be held from 7.30pm at Bainton Reading Room on Tuesday 4 July.

There is no meeting held in August, with the next date Tuesday 5 September, again at 7.30pm.

Minutes of each meeting and councillor details can be found on village notice boards and the village website www.baintonandashtonlocalcouncil.org.uk.

The Clerk welcomes all enquiries, at bainton.ashton. clerk@live.co.uk.

GET NOTICED

ADVERTISE HERE

Call 07590 750128

Creative Touch INTERIORS & DESIGN BESPOKE SOFT FURNISHINGS, MADE IN OUR WORKROOM

Beautiful Bespoke Curtains, Blinds & Accessories, Wallpaper, Paint, Carpets and Lighting...

Market Deeping

01778 345777

www.creativetouchinteriors.co.uk info@creativetouchinteriors.co.uk 84

vil agetribune

UFFORD PARISH COUNCIL

COUNCIL CORNER

Ufford Council Meeting The council met on 13 June. To read the full minutes, please visit www.uffordparishcouncil.org.uk, view them on the village noticeboards or contact the Clerk: uffordparishclerk@live.co.uk.

Traffic calming The Head of Peterborough Highways Services and the Senior Highways Inspector are meeting Ufford Parish Council shortly to discuss ideas for traffic calming to help reduce speeding through the Village. Â The Parish Council will also take the opportunity to flag up outstanding maintenance issues such as road-sweeping, drains and road signs.

Ufford Gala and Fun Dog Show This was held on 10 June and the Parish Council would like to say congratulations and thank you to all those who worked so hard to make the event a successful and fun afternoon.

Residents are invited to attend the next Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 11 July at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

No Heat?

No Hot Water?

Call the local Heating experts

Fast response -Same day / next day service.

Oil, Gas & LPG systems. All major brands.

Reliable, experienced Tradesmen.

Guaranteed workmanship.

Established 34 years.

Installations, repairs, servicing and spares.

No call-out charge.

Senior Citizen discount.

Credit & Debit cards accepted.

Heating, Plumbing and Boiler Maintence Contractors

01733 312586

Unit 1, Woodston Business Centre, Shrewsbury Avenue, Woodston, Peterborough, PE2 7EF email: info@pbs-heating.co.uk www.pbs-heating.co.uk

vil agetribune

85 85

COUNCILCORNER

BARNACK PARISH COUNCIL

Proposed residential development off Uffington Road, Barnack: the verdict Margaret Palmer, Vice-chair, Barnack Parish Council Gladman Developments Ltd. appealed against Peterborough City Council’s refusal of outline planning permission for this development. The appeal was heard at Peterborough Town Hall between 24th January and 2nd February, 2017. The main issues explored were the effect of the proposed development on the setting of Barnack’s Conservation Area and the surrounding landscape; whether the City Council could demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land; and whether any harm arising from the scheme would outweigh the benefits.

Barnack Parish Council supported Peterborough City Council’s grounds for refusal of permission and in addition submitted evidence that the development would increase recreational pressure on Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve, resulting in damage to this internationally important wildlife site.

The Inspector, David Richards, issued his decision on 27th March.

The appeal was allowed and outline planning permission was granted for up to 80 residential dwellings, including up to 30% affordable housing. His report (available at

86

vil agetribune

http://plandocs.peterborough.gov. uk/NorthgatePublicDocs/01112183. pdf) summed up as follows: “While I accept that the scheme would conflict with the [Peterborough] development plan when read as a whole, the provisions of the [National Planning Policy] Framework in respect of boosting housing land supply are engaged, and the proposal should be regarded as sustainable development.“ Among the conditions laid down are the provision of a young children’s playground and a sum of £27,750 to be used by Natural England for measures to ameliorate the impact of the development on the Hills and Holes.

The National Planning Policy Framework states that where a planning authority cannot demonstrate a supply of land sufficient to satisfy local housing need for at least five years, then its policies are considered out-of-date and the presumption is in favour of development. Moreover, if the authority has a history of underdelivery, an additional 20% ‘buffer’ is applied to the five-year land requirement.

Peterborough City Council admitted a backlog in housing provision, but calculated that even

if this were taken into account there is sufficient land available to satisfy demand for 5.1 years.

Gladman’s experts disputed this and claimed a land supply sufficient for only 3.8 years. The Inspector was unconvinced by the figures put forward by Peterborough and concluded that it was currently unable robustly to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land.

This meant that the City Council’s housing policies carried no weight and therefore its grounds for refusing permission for the proposed development in Barnack were swept away. Protective policies that had been cited by the City Council in its refusal of planning permission include a presumption against development in the countryside, outside village envelopes, and focussing growth on the City and larger rural settlements, rather than in smaller villages such as Barnack.

The Inspector’s decision is binding. When detailed plans are submitted for the new housing estate, Barnack Parish Council will work with Peterborough City Council to achieve as appropriate an outcome as possible. The silver lining is that Barnack Parish stands to benefit substantially from the Community Infrastructure Levy.

BARNACK PARISH COUNCIL

COUNCIL CORNER

Barnack and Pilsgate Annual Village Meeting The Barnack and Pilsgate Annual Village Meeting took place on Monday 8 May. 72 residents attended, including representatives of local organisations and six parish councillors.

During the meeting, Ward Councillor David Over presented Margaret Palmer with a Civic Award for community involvement as

she had been away for the official ceremony at the Town Hall.

The villages’ local organisations reported on their activities over the last year and their plans for the coming year. (For complete listings of all local organisations and contacts please view the Barnack & Pilsgate Directory via the website, or request a copy from the Clerk.)

Topics discussed during the

Public Forum were; Gladman, Traffic Calming and Speeding. Once the development land has been purchased, and the Parish Council are informed of plans, an Open Village meeting will be held. PCC Highways are currently working with the Parish Council to implement a traffic calming scheme and Vehicle Activated Signs are due to be purchased this year.

The full minutes can be found on the noticeboards or at www.barnackparishcouncil.org

Annual Parish Council Meeting Barnack Parish Council met on 12 June. BPC has been in touch with Peterborough City Council about the general state of the village footpaths.

The weeds are due to be sprayed next month, but Amey will tidy the edges with a strimmer in the meantime.

The Traffic Calming Working Group are liaising with Highways to implement a range of measures and are currently obtaining quotes for Vehicle Activated Signs.

The response to the recent Bulk Waste Collection was very positive, with requests for another one in the Autumn.

The next Parish Council A complaint has been logged with meeting will be held on Royal Mail as a date has still not been Monday 10 July at 7pm in Potholes on Uffington Road are due to confirmed for the installation of the the Village Hall. Residents be repaired within the next week. new Post Box. are invited to attend.

To read the full Minutes, please visit www.barnackparishcouncil.org, view them on the village noticeboards or request a copy via barnackparishcouncil@outlook.com.

Barnack & Pilsgate Residents – Your opinion counts!

Please join the Parish Council at the next meeting on Monday 10 July at 7pm in the Village Hall to find out more about:

• A Neighbourhood Plan - Philip Hylton from Peterborough City Council will be attending the meeting to discuss the pros and cons of having a Neighbourhood Plan.

• New Footpath/Right of Way - The Parish Council would like your views on the possibility of looking into a new footpath linking the two villages of Barnack and Pilsgate.

For more information please email the Clerk at barnackparishcouncil@outlook.com

vil agetribune

87

COUNCIL CORNER

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL

Your Councillors

Following the Annual Meeting in May we now have a new chair Lyn Steen and vice chair John Dadge. In addition there have been changes to the various working groups and NPC Liaisons; these can be found on the parish website www.northboroughpc. co.uk and in the 3 notice boars around the village.

Northborough neighbourhood survey – feedback In March this year, Northborough Parish Council undertook a further survey amongst the residents of the village to help inform the scope and development of the Northborough Neighbourhood Plan and to enable them to comment on the emerging Peterborough Local Plan. The questionnaire sought views and opinions on a range of topics including housing, local

services and amenities and the environment. In addition, villagers were asked to describe any pressing needs or issues that they were concerned about.

The survey was distributed with the Advertiser and generated a response rate of approximately 40%. The Parish Council consider this a robust sample size from which to base decisions about the future development of Northborough.

The survey found that Northborough provides a friendly and safe community atmosphere with immediate access to the countryside. The village offers a number of local facilities and amenities which are highly valued by residents including The Packhorse pub, the school, the village hall, the shop and the playing field. Housing development is not in significant demand with residents preferring to maintain the green spaces within the village boundary and its

surrounding area. On average, no more than ten new properties are preferred and should be delivered either via small developments or individual houses where space permits.

Interestingly the bypass was not considered intrusive in terms of noise but there was support for the introduction of some form of additional screening measure, possibly by way of trees or hedges. Residents would like to see more features at the portals or gateway features to the village entrances such as planters and would like to see the grass verges be protected to maintain the abundant wildlife that it encourages.

NPC will shortly be publishing more detailed findings on its website.

Village matters The survey responses also highlighted other matters that are common to many villages.

We offer local pickup.

Courtesy car available (pre-booking required).

NORTHBOROUGH

Service and repairs to most makes and models up to 7.5 tons.

We supply and fit tyres, batteries and exhausts.

Our fully qualified staff are trained in electronic diagnostics, air-conditioning servicing, clutches and many other vehicle repairs.

01733 252611

E: greensgarage@btinternet.com 24 Church Street, Northborough (opposite Northborough School)

FAMILY RUN BUSINESS, ESTABLISHED IN THE VILLAGE FOR OVER 45 YEARS. 88

vil agetribune

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL

Residents were strong in voicing their opinions about the biggest problems affecting life in the village. The lack of consideration by some dog owners is a frequent issue and needs urgent action - a study of how other Parish Councils address this issue is underway.

Speeding vehicles was a common concern whilst two thirds of respondents felt that electronic signs displaying a driver’s speed would be the most effective deterrent. The Parish Council will be discussing how this can be taken forward.

The other problematic area appears to be the parking of vehicles; either in areas of restriction or simply on paths

and verges which then cause obstruction to pedestrians or other road users. Some residents feel that some paths are not properly maintained on a regular basis and are hazardous in places. Not surprisingly, nearly all residents support investment in improving the paths network in and around the village. Whilst highways maintenance is a City Council responsibility and illegal parking a police issue again, the Parish Council will be considering how best to address these.

Village Hall As you will have all seen the Village Hall extension is nearing completion which, for the Parish

COUNCIL CORNER

Council, , from September, our monthly meetings, at 7pm on the second Wednesday of each month – except August – will now take place in the new, yet to be named, room.

Defibrillators Two defibrillators are to be installed over the next few weeks.

One at the One Stop shop and the other (a change of location) at the Village Hall. Discussions are ongoing re the positioning of a third to be installed on, or near, the school.

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

Lyn Steen – NPC - Chair

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL Information about the Parish Council, including meeting agendas and minutes can be found on the Parish Website:- www.northboroughparishpc.co.uk and on the parish notice boards.

Please direct general queries to the Acting Clerk at clerk@northboroughpc.co.uk Cllr Rob Chiva (Chair) Cllr Lyn Steen (Chair) Cllr John Dadge (Vice Chair) Cllr Catherine Cavanagh Cllr Margaret Sleet Cllr Malcolm E Spinks Cllr Brian Spriggs Cllr Callum Robertson Cllr Alex Pickering Acting Clerk – A Benfield

01733 252823 robert@chiva.fsnet.co.uk 01778 345662 07917 340900 mrslgs@btinternet.com 01733 254145 07802 702908 j.s.dadge@hotmail.co.uk 01778 348299 katehew@john-lewis.com 01778 347180 07768 743870 mesleet@btinternet.com 01778 343585 07870 343562 shinger@tiscali.co.uk 01778 342502 07984 629727 callumandrewrobertson@hotmail.co.uk 01733 252880 07710 419638 Alex_P27@hotmail.com 01733 223002 clerk@northboroughpc.co.uk

Open all year, inspections always welcome ● ● ● ●

Vaccinated cats only Cats on special diets and medications welcome Rabbits and guinea pigs also boarded Collections & delivery service available Spacious individually heated chalets to suit all ages from active youngsters to golden oldies

Tel: 01733 575300 1346 Lincoln Road, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6LP

www.homefromhomecattery.co.uk

vil agetribune

89

COUNCILCORNER

DEEPING GATE PARISH COUNCIL

New Clerk

Litter Pick

We were pleased to welcome our new Parish Clerk, Lynn George, to her first meeting on Tuesday, 13 June. Her contact details appear in the Tribune Directory.

Our Autumn Litter Pick will take place on Sunday, 10th September. If you would like to join in, please meet us at 10.00am on Riverside East at the foot of our old stone bridge. All equipment and safety tabards will be supplied.

New Councillor Also on Tuesday, 13 June, we welcomed Sandra Hudspeth to her first meeting as Councillor, a somewhat different role to her recent one as our Clerk, a post she held for more than eleven years.

Deeping Horse and Pony Show Sunday 23 July, Peakirk Road, Deeping Gate. Posters are on our Facebook page, in our noticeboards and at the Village Hall. Their full schedule of events can be found on the Show’s own Facebook page.

New venue for meetings We are delighted to confirm that, with effect from Tuesday, 10 October, we shall be holding our Parish Council Meetings in the new meeting room at the Northborough and Deeping Gate Village Hall. Until that time, our meetings for Tuesdays, 25 July and 12 September will continue to take place at the Community Centre, Douglas Road, Market Deeping.

Inconsiderate parking Unfortunately, inconsiderate parking continues to be a problem, not only at

the foot of the bridge but in other areas of our village. Our Parish Councillors receive complaints on a regular basis from residents and visitors. If people could show a little more consideration for pedestrians and other road users, the problem could be minimised.

Old stone bridge A diligent resident recently photographed an articulated lorry crossing the bridge, thus contravening the weight limit.

The registration number is clearly shown. The resident also supplied us with the operator’s name, address and telephone number. Thanks to him, we were able to pass the photograph and information to our Ward Councillors and this has been cascaded

Jane Hill

AIRPORT TRANSFER SERVICES Local, family taxi company Competitive prices Services include:  Airport or railway station collection or drop-off  Team Days  Appointments or meetings

Contact us for a quote on 07866 795 346

www.airporttransferservices.net All of our drivers are CRB checked

90

vil agetribune

GLINTON PARISH COUNCIL

Glinton Parish Report A special meeting of Glinton Parish Council was called in June, to discuss the city’s new development plan. Whilst in the first round Glinton was not affected, the developers/ landowners who missed out or those who do not want development in their patch seem to think it is ok in Glinton. We shall be ready for the next round of consultation in September.

The long awaited planning inspectors’ hearing into the travellers site at Nine Bridges took place on 6th June. It could be up to 3 months before we have a

Cllr John Holdich, OBE, Chairman verdict. You will remember there has been more than one planning application on this site, which were turned down by the City Council’s Planning Committee, supported by your Parish Council, which have been appealed against by the applicant.

88 year old Eric Spendelow was rewarded for his 50 years of service to our village on the Parish Council, with a trip to Buckingham Palace, for one of the Queen’s garden parties. There was a last minute hitch, which I am grateful to the Lord Lieutenant for sorting for us. The Parish Council

GLINTON PARISH COUNCIL Cllr JFW Holdich OBE - Chairman 253078 Cllr RW Johnson - Vice Chairman 252743 Cllr DJ Batty 252749 Cllr CB Bysshe (Mrs) 253164 Cllr DJ Lane 252593 Cllr Liz Bond 07824 665947

COUNCIL CORNER

For general enquiries please contact the Clerk.

Cllr RW Randall 253276 Cllr PD Skinner 252591 Cllr E Spendelow 252524 Cllr DC Wragg 253047 Mr J Haste - Clerk 252833 E: clerk@glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

More information including agenda and minutes of meetings can be found at www.glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

presented Eric with his train tickets for him and his guest; talking to Eric afterwards, they had a wonderful day.

A big thank you to all our villagers who donated to our memorial fund; the leftover money has provided a memorial bench, which has been sited by the village pump for your convenience.

Glinton’s Annual Parish Meeting was held in May. It was well attended by the public, and village groups such as the Friendship Club, Bowls Club, AMVC, the church, plus the village arts class. Main issues raised from the public and the groups were the school parking and parking on the pavement; also the travellers’ site at Nine Bridges.

The AGM of the Parish Council was held following the Annual Parish meeting. Cllr John Holdich OBE was re-elected chairman and Cllr Robert Johnson vice-chairman and also chairman of the planning sub-group.

Full details of the Chairman’s report can be found on the Parish Council’s website.

Est 1981

PAUL TEE DECORATING

High quality workmanship

Commercial  Domestic Interior  Exterior Insurance Work 01733 891772 07980 8634144 vil agetribune

91

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 BAINTON

Proposed increase in height of chimney stack, chimney lining and external vent to north elevation at Willowgate Cottage: Awaiting decision Single storey rear extension. Distance from original rear wall: 4.6m. Height: 3.3m (2.5m to eaves) at Old Stackyard Bainton Green Road: Awaiting decision Erection of two detached dwellings, two garages and new vehicular access at Land To The South Of High Field Road: Awaiting decision Remove existing door and window and replace with large sliding door to rear of property at Gamekeepers Cottage High Field Road: Awaiting decision

 BARNACK

New three bed detached house in garden at 34 Uffington Road: Permitted Caravan Ancillary on Land to the West of Uffington Road: Awaiting Decision Side and front extension at Everdon, Pudding Bag Lane: No objections Ground floor rear extension and alterations at The Bungalow, Stamford Road: Permitted Single storey rear extension at 24 Orchard Road: Permitted

4MOSTBLINDS

Foremost for style, service, quality & value

NEW SEASON FABRICS IN NOW

• Verticals • Rollers • Romans •Venetians Quality and luxury you can afford Our everyday prices usually beat 50% off deals of major companies Verticals from 3 for £175* Fitting & guarantee Child friendly systems available FREE QUOTE

01778 342659 or 07711812881 *

92

On selected fabrics/sizes. Offers may vary.

vil agetribune

Installation of vehicle crossing at 36 Uffington Road: Awaiting decision Single storey rear extension at Laburnum Wittering Road: Awaiting decision Construction of two storey extensions to the side and rear of the property and ground floor extension to the front of the property at 7 Allerton Close: Permitted

 CASTOR

Ground floor rear extension at 23 Peterborough Road: Permitted Construction of single storey rear extension at 9 Berrystead Castor: Permitted Proposed ground floor and first floor extension to rear at 2 Samworths Close: Permitted Demolition and erection of replacement of side extension at Castor House 2 Peterborough Road: Awaiting decision

 DEEPING

GATE

Construction of dwelling and repositioning of access at 49 Riverside: Permitted New garden room in the rear garden at 3 Deeping St James Road: Withdrawn Single storey rear extension at 2 Suttons Lane: Permitted

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Demolition of building and construction of dwelling at Silver Heron Developments Suttons Lane: Awaiting decision

 GLINTON

Substitution of dwelling as approved under ref.

15/00895/FUL (Conversion of existing barns from approved commercial use to 5 residential dwellings) at Scotts Farm Welmore Road: Permitted Triple detached garage to 6 Peakirk Road, including entrance wall and gate to 4 and 6 Peakirk Road at 4 And 6 Peakirk Road: Permitted Single storey rear extension at 11 Pembroke Grove: Permitted Single storey rear extension at 7 Pembroke Grove: Permitted Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of single storey rear extension at 6 Farthingstones: Awaiting decision Construction of extension to first floor over existing garage and single storey extension to the rear at 13 North Fen Road: Awaiting decision First floor extension to rear at 33 Helpston Road: Awaiting decision Construction of pergola, works to trees, erection of three shed structures, five square arches, timber posts with festoon lighting, addition of fixed seating, steps and disappearing path at The Blue Bell 10 High Street: Permitted

 HELPSTON

Erection of new garage and carport with side log store and associated vehicle access, alterations to gable end to form glazed doors and toplight, and partial demolition of walling at 6 Cromwell Mews: Permitted Erection of new garage for 4 vehicles associated with the residential use of the Grain Store (resubmission) at The Grainstore Glinton Road: Permitted Single storey side and rear extension at 44 Maxey Road: Permitted Demolition of existing buildings and erection of up to 7 dwellings (all matters reserved) at Helpston Garden Centre West Street: Awaiting decision Replacement of 5no. ground floor windows to front elevation at Barnside Cottage 15 Woodgate: Awaiting decision

 MAXEY

Replacement detached outbuilding to rear at 6 Barn Close: Permitted

 NORTHBOROUGH

Replace flat roof with pitched tiled roof to front elevation - retrospective at 50 Granville Avenue: Permitted

Childrens nursery building to consist of three classrooms, ancillary accommodation including kitchen, toilets, office, staff room and outdoor space at Northborough Primary School Church Street: Awaiting decision Single storey rear extension at 61 Granville Avenue: Conditionally approved Removal of garage and out-house and construction of two storey side extension at 44 Granville Avenue: Awaiting decision Loft conversion including two dormer windows and three velux windows to East elevation at 49 Church View: Awaiting decision

 PEAKIRK

Internal alterations and renovation to main house and creation of sauna and steam room to external stores, reinstatement of fireplace at Old Rectory Rectory Lane: Permitted Construction of grain store at Foxcovert Road: Awaiting decision Demolition of existing dwelling and constuction of new dwelling and associated works at 27 Foxcovert Road: Awaiting decision Proposed residential development of 14 dwellings at Land South Of Penwald Court: Permitted

 UFFORD

Skateboard ramp enforcement appeal, removal of pier between garage doors at Compass Barn: Awaiting Decision Demolition of existing bungalow with a new two storey dwelling at Sherwood, Marholm Road: Awaiting Decision First floor extension at The Drift, Walcot Road: Awaiting Decision Construction of garage at Highlands: Comments were approved for submission Two new ponds on front driveway and a new dog run to the side or property - part retrospective at Ufford Hall Main Street: Permitted Demolition of existing single storey flat roofed side extension and construction of replacement single storey side and rear extension with part pitched, part flat roof. Construction of balcony to rear.

Replace brickwork to the front elevation with stone.

Construction of garden room to rear with associated levelling groundworks at Robins Acre 7 Walcot Road: Awaiting decision Construction of an Agricultural storage barn at Land To The North Of Langley Bush Road: Permitted - prior approval Proposed rear and side ground floor extensions, replacement dormer window with Juliet balcony to the west elevation and new porch at 1 Meadow View Newport Way: Permitted

vil agetribune

93

DIRECTORY

 Bainton Church

 Cubs, Brownies, Scouts & Rainbows (cont.)

Richard Hardy, Churchwarden ............................. 01780 740505 John Wreford, Churchwarden............................... 01780 740362 Mary Gowers, Lay Pastoral Minister .................... 01780 740097 Dave Maylor, Priest in Charge ............................. 01780 740234

Helpston Rainbow Guides, Julia Mason.............. 07780 688542 Helpston Brownie Guides, Morag Sweeney..................................................... 07801 357701 Helpston Guides, Nicola Kerr............................... 07739 098113 Helpston Beaver Scouts, Alison Cook.................. 07437 909735 Glinton Brownies.................................................... 01778346668 Glinton Beavers/Cubs/Scouts, Sharon Pallister....................................................... 01733 735776.

Northborough Guides, Jane Knott, ................... 01778 345101

 Bainton & Ashton Parish Council Catherine Franks, Clerk......................................... 01780 765984 Graham Fletcher, Chairman Richard Harris, Vice Chairman Susie Lucas Cliff Stanton

 Barnack Bowls Club Phil Collins ............................................................. 01780 740124

 Barnack Church

Dave Maylor, Priest in Charge ............................. 01780 740234 John Ward, Churchwarden .................................. 01780 740016 David Laycock, Churchwarden ............................ 01780 740267

 Barnack Community Association

Roy Chowings ....................................................... 01780 740755

 Barnack Cricket Club

William Armitage, Chairman................................. 01780 740749

 Barnack Home from Home Club

Diane Wright, Manager......................................... 07847 956602

 Barnack Parish Council

Chairman, Harry Brassey ...................................... 01780 740115 Vice Chair, Margaret Palmer ................................ 01780 740988 Sophie Moore Phil Broughton ...................................................... 01780 740379 Ivor Crowson ......................................................... 01780 740430 David Laycock ....................................................... 01780 740267 Martin Bloom ........................................................ 01780 740966 Clerk, Susie Caney ................................................ 07595 377236

 Benefice Administrators/ Lay Readers

Rachel Wright ........................................................ 07425 144998 Dick Talbot ............................................................. 01778 342581 Licensed Readers, Derek Harris............................ 01733 574311 Freda Skillman ....................................................... 01778 380903 Mark Hotchkin........................................................ 01778 347 847

 Botolph’s Barn Kate Hinchliff ......................................................... 01733 253192

 British Legion

Max Sawyer ........................................................... 01780 765507

 Bus & Train Services

Delaine Bus Services ............................................ 01778 422866 Stagecoach ............................................................ 01733 207860 Train Services ......................................................... 0845 7484950

 Choirs

Benefice, Simon Richards Singers (Glinton) Choirmaster .............................. 01778 341686

 Cubs, Brownies, Scouts & Rainbows

Helpston Cub Scouts, Sarah Owen ..................... 01733 897065 Helpston Explorer Scouts, Nick Drewett ....................................................01778 348107 / 07900 585072 Helpston Scouts, Tom Boughton......................... 07966 614556 Helpston Cub Scouts, Paula Metharam............... 07896 163598 94

vil agetribune

 Deeping Gate Parish Council

Jane Hill, (Chair) .................................................... 01778 343066 Lynn George (Parish Clerk).................................... 01778 346402.

 Doctors and hospitals Peterborough City Hospital ................................. 01733 678000 Deeping Practice (Main line) ................................ 01778 579000 (Appointments only).............................................. 01778 579001 Glinton Surgery ..................................................... 01733 252246

 Etton Church (St Stephen’s)

Rector: Mark- Aaron Tisdale................................. 01733 252359 Anne Curwen, Churchwarden .............................. 01733 253357

 Etton Parish Council

Fred Morton, Chair ............................................... 01733 252912 Emma Tajar, Clerk ................................................. 01733 234542

 Friendship / Welcome Clubs Glinton Friendship Club, Pam Kounougakis........ 01733 252018 Maxey Welcome Club, Robert Ford, ................. 01778 346288

 Friends of Chernobyl Children (FOCC)

Cecilia Hammond ................................................. 07779 264591

 Glinton Church (St Benedict’s)

Rector, Rev Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale ...................... 01733 253638 Churchwarden, Veronica Smith, ......................... 01733 252019 PCC Secretary, Shirley Hodgkinson, ................... 01733 252351 PCC Treasurer, Simon Richards, .......................... 01778 341686 Bell Ringers ,Mike Goodall.................................... 01733 253469

 Citizens Advice Citizens Advice ...................................................... 0870 1264024

 Glinton Parish Council

Chair, John Holdich OBE, ................................... 01733 253078 Clerk, Mr John Haste, ........................................... 01733 252833

 Helpston Church (St Botolph’s)

Priest in Charge, Dave Maylor, ........................... 01780 740234 Church Warden, Clive Pearce, ............................ 01733 253494

 Helpston Lawn Tennis Club David Packer ......................................................... 07766 600694

 Helpston Parish Council

Joe Dobson (Chair) ............................................... 01733 252192 Sydney Smith Clerk .............................................. 01733 252903 Rosemary Morton Vice ......................................... 01733 252243

DIRECTORY

 Horticultural Societies

 Rotary Club

Frank Samet Glinton ............................................. 01733 253591 Debbie Martin Barnack Show............................... 01780 740048 Kirsty Scott Peakirk ............................................... 01733 253952

Al Good Rotary Club ............................................ 01733 252064

 Langdyke Countryside Trust

Mike Sandeman, AMVC Head ............................ 01733 252235 Rachel Simmons, John Clare Primary Head ........................................................ 01733 252332 Neil Fowkes, Barnack C of E Primary .................. 01780 740265 Craig Kendall, Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School Head ............................................ 01733 252361 Dave Simson, Chair of Governors Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School ................... 01733 252126 Mr S Mallott, Northborough Primary Head ........................................................ 01733 252204 Maureen Meade, Peterborough Adult Learning ...................................................... 01733 761361

Richard Astle ......................................................... 01733 252376

 Maxey Church (St Peter’s) Rector, Rev Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale ...................... 01733 253638 Mandy Loveder Bell Tower Captain .................... 01778 343100 Michael Loveder Churchwarden .......................... 01778 343100 Tina Lapinskis, Maxey Sunday School ................. 01778 347280

 Maxey Parish Council Lynne Yarham, Chair ............................................. 01778 343077 Dick Talbot, Clerk .................................................. 01778 342581

 Neighbourhood Watch Dick Wilkins, Maxey .............................................. 01778 348368

 Northborough Church (St Andrew’s)

Rector: Mark- Aaron Tisdale................................. 01733 252359 Polly Beasley, Churchwarden ............................... 01778 380849 Jane Knott, Churchwarden .................................. 01778 345101 Freda Skillman, Licensed Reader ......................... 01778 380903 Alison Butler, PCC Treasurer ................................ 01778 345499

 Northborough Parish Council

Robert Chiva, Chair .............................................. 01733 252823 Derek Lea, Clerk ................................................... 01733 572245

 Peakirk Church (St Pegas) Rector: Mark- Aaron Tisdale................................. 01733 252359 Trish Roberts, Churchwarden ............................... 01733 253111 Sheila Lever, Churchwarden ................................. 01733 252416 Christine Dearman, PCC Secretary ..................... 01733 252404 Pauline Cooke, PCC Treasurer & Social Events ..................................................... 01733 253116

 Peakirk Parish Council

Angela Hankins, Clerk .......................................... 01733 253397 Henry Clark,, Chair ................................................ 01733 253203

 Peterborough City Council

John Holdich OBE Peterborough ....................... 01733 253078 Peterborough City Council .................................. 01733 747474

 Police and Emergencies

Police - emergency calls ....................................... 999 Less urgent crimes ................................................ 101 Power Failure ......................................................... 0800 7838838 Samaritans ............................................................. 08457 909090

 Pre and After School Clubs Kirsty Prouse, Helpston Playhouse pre-school ........................................... 01733 253243 Roz Sowinski, Helpston Before and After School Club............................... 01733 253243 Nicola Litchfield, Glinton pre-school playgroup ........................................... 01733 252361 Rachael Canham, Northborough Pre School .................................... 01733 253685 Caroline Burton, Peakirk Tots Toddler Group ............................................... 01733 253677 Glinton Toddler Group, Linda Dean..................... 01733 574446 Julie Stanton, Little Lambs ................................... 01780 749123

 Schools and Education

 Ufford Art Society Susan Jarman ........................................................ 01780 740104

 Ufford Parish Council Keith Lievesley Ufford Chairman ......................... 01780 740679 Councillor Vacancy ................................................ 01780 740062 Frieda Gosling ....................................................... 01780 740343 Susie Caney Clerk ................................................. 07595 377236 Graham Bowes ..................................................... 01780 740578 David Chadwick .................................................... 01780 740893

 Village Halls Barnack Village Hall, Adrienne Collins, ............... 01780 740124 Glinton, Bowls, Roy Pettitt.................................... 01733 252049 Glinton Village Hall Bookings, Ken Doughty....... 01733 253156 Glinton, Whist, Joyce Heathcote.......................... 01733 253790 Glinton, Whist, Peter Lake ................................... 01778 346749 Helpston Village Hall, Caryn Thompson ............. 01733 252232 Les Cunnington carpet bowls, Helpston ............ 01733 253832 Maxey Village Hall, Jacqui Barnard, .................... 07710 150587 Northborough Village Hall, Karen Cooper, ........ 01778 347464 Peakirk Village Hall bookings ............................... 07938 386226 Ufford Village Hall bookings, Mr Peter Grist....... 07887 634300

 Village Tribune

Editor, Tony Henthorn .......................................... 07590 750128 Design Team, Dimension 6000............................. 01733 772095

 Ward Councillors Barnack David Over ............................................. 07920 160053 Glinton & Castor Peter Hiller & John Holdich ..................................................... 07920 160487

 Women’s Institute (WI) Jean Mead (Helpston WI) President..................... 01733 252025 June Dobson (Helpston WI) WI (Secretary) ........................................................ 01733 252192 Margaret Stafford (Glinton WI).............................. 01733 701268 Jenny Dunk (Glinton WI) ...................................... 01733 254252 Barnack Linda Huckerby (President)..................... 01780 740342

 Youth Clubs Kerrie Garner, Barnack Youth Club ...................... 01780 740118 Tina Lapinskis, Maxey Youth Club ....................... 01778 347280

vil agetribune

95