Village Tribune 114 by Dimension6000

issue

YOUR FAVOURITE, AWARD WINNING, VILLAGE PUBLICATION

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114

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019

Helpston Helcats The John Clare Cottage Froglife Langdyke Trust Glinton Rainbows Tribune Award

from the kitchen of Tom Yum Pork Belly

UE BUMPER ISS

Happy New Year

tribune DIARY inside

On the margins of society:

from hermits’ homes to garden gnomes RECIPE • NATURE WATCH • 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

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 Contributions: T: 07590 750128 E: villagetribuneeditor@me.com

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tribunedeadlines Issue

Date

Deadline

Distributed

115 116

Mar/Apr 19

15/02/19

02/03/19

May/June 19

19/04/19

04/05/19

117 July/Aug19

14/06/19 29/06/19

118

16/08/19

Sep/Oct

31/08/19

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 Editor - Tony Henthorn 35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP T: 07590 750128 E: villagetribuneeditor@me.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019

REGULARS

Advertising Sales - Kaitlyn and Lyndsey T: 01778 300079 E: Lyndsey@straightaheaduk.com

 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 Jenny Bowman St Pega`s, Newport Way, Ufford PE9 3BN jennybowman2000@yahoo.co.uk 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

Advertising / Deadlines

13-25 26-29

Village Views and Council Corner Nature Watch

Rosemary's Diary

3 Contacts

30-35

Young Tribune

38-45 Heritage 46-47

Taste Buds

52-54

Tribune Diary

49-51

Deadline for next issue: 15 FEBRUARY 2019

 Barnack Editor - Ian Burrows T: 01780 749554 E: ianberyl.burrows@btinternet.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 HELPSTON Clive Marsh  Clive Marsh, 34 Maxey Road, Helpston clive.marsh815@btinternet.com M: 07952 251680

In Memoriam

Musical Notes

56-63

Church News

64-65

Write Away

66-67

Top Tips

68-69 Planning 70-71

Tribune Directory

Diary like Pepys Beat the January Blues

The John Clare Cottage

NEWS & FEATURES

Tribune Award

10-11

Local News in Audio issue

PUBLICATION

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YOUR FAVOUR

WINNING, VILLAGE

114

JANUARY / FEBRUARY

2019

s Helpston Helcat Cottage The John Clare Froglife Langdyke Trust ws Glinton Rainbo Award e Tribun

from the kitchen

Belly Tom Yum Pork

ISSUE BUMPER

ar Happy New Ye

on the cover ... The Spirit of Christingle Please see page 63

ne tribu DIARY inside

ins of society: On the marg gnomes homes to garden ’ from hermits • HERITAGE

• FARMING DIARY

• VILLAGE VIEWS

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

WATCH RECIPE • NATURE

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

• CHURCH SERVICES

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.

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NEWS & FEATURES DIARY LIKE PEPYS

Lesley Wade

Diary like Pepys On 1 January 1660, Samuel Pepys was in the same position. That was the day he began his diary. He could have had no idea what an important document it would become. It is one of the most important documents for historians studying the English Restoration period, which coincidentally also began in 1660. Pepys’ diaries are special because for just under a decade he recorded the minutiae of his everyday life. It helped that he was quite well-connected. His cousin, Edward Montagu, was a highranking naval officer who found a

Even in a digital age diaries are surprisingly popular Christmas gifts. Perhaps you found yourself sitting penpoised on 1 January

position for Pepys at the Navy Office in the City of London. His hard work and talent saw Pepys promoted through the ranks very quickly. His cousin's position also meant that Pepys was present at many important events, all of which he recorded in his meticulous shorthand. For example, Pepys was aboard one of the ships which sailed to Holland to bring Charles II back to England. He attended King Charles II's coronation, and he was also President of the Royal Society for a while.

Beat the January Blues

It's hard not to feel a little deflated after all the festive fun. Here are five ways to beat the January blue Tom Hancock Exercise! I can hear your groans but one of the best ways to fight the blues and improve wellbeing is exercise. January is a great time to join a gym...motivation for change is high and there are lots of introductory deals and taster sessions on offer. But if the gym doesn't appeal then try walking. A brisk walk in the open air is guaranteed to get your endorphins racing

Eat well! I know we've all eaten rather too well over Christmas but now is the time to sort out your diet. In a postfestive slump, we are far more likely to continue the cycle of eating junk food for a quick high – only to spiral downwards into feelings of guilt and self-loathing as the sugar rush subsides. Stock up on fruit and veg, lean meat, nuts and grains, and watch your energy levels rise.

Wishing all our readers a very happy and prosperous New Year! 4

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Pepys recorded everything. He gave vivid accounts of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. It is from him that we are able to relive the theatre of the period, as well as fashion and popular food and drink. His diary has been of invaluable assistance to historians and has given much pleasure to its many readers. We are in turbulent times right now, and about to enter an extraordinary year for our country. Who knows…the historians of the future might be reading your entries on the aftermath of Brexit! Sleep more Most of us don't sleep enough over Christmas, and sleep-deprivation is known to contribute to feeling blue. Over the Christmas period our sleep patterns tend to be more irregular, due to late nights, sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings at relatives' houses, and the consumption of more than usual quantities of alcohol. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, and ensure you get at least eight-hours sleep for a couple of weeks. See how much your mood and performance increases.

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LOCAL NEWS IN AUDIO NEWS & FEATURES

Tribune picks up prestigious

AWARD

On 6 December, Village Tribune Editor, Tony Henthorn picked up the award for 'Community Contribution of the Year' at the annual Athene PR & Media Awards, held in the Knights Chamber within the precincts of Peterborough Cathedral. It was also a special evening for Athene MD Richard Astle who was celebrating the 15th anniversary of the launch of Athene Communications.

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LOCAL NEWS IN AUDIO NEWS & FEATURES

The John Clare Cottage We are now planning for 2019, this is a special year for the Cottage as it is 10 years since it was opened to the public, first day was in July 2009. The first art exhibition of 2019 is a tribute to Pete Hayward, the Helpston artist. A Life in Colour will feature key works spanning various stages of Pete Hayward's career. Often inspired by his visits to Spain and Norfolk, Pete had a trademark style of bold colourwork and semi-figurative imagery. These dynamic semiabstract works reflected his admiration for popular culture of the 1960s and often referenced images from his youth and personal life. Pete was an artist who lived as artists should, involved with their work every day; he had also

been a highly respected teacher, mentor and proponent of mixed media approaches in the creative arts that encompassed dance, installation based art and performance art. A Life in Colour is a tribute to the gentle, talented and visionary man who continued to build and develop a vibrant and passionate practice and consequently inspired many others throughout his life. The exhibition will run from 7th January 2019 to 30th March 2019 at John Clare Cottage, Helpston. Other works can be viewed by appointment only, during January to March at the

artist's studio in Helpston. Please contact Rowena Hayward at rowenahayward1@gmail.com Friday February 15th there will be John Clare in Winter with Pennyless. The local folk group will be playing traditional folk songs and songs dedicated to John Clare. The concert starts at 7:30 pm, tickets are ÂŁ8 and can be reserved by contacting the Cottage on 01733 253330. There will be a licensed bar. The Acoustic CafĂŠ sessions will continue throughout the year, the first being on 24 January. All the dates will be on the website.

Other events are in the process of being planned and when the details have been confirmed the information will be found on the Cottage website at www.clarecottage.org.

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NEWS & FEATURES LOCAL NEWS IN AUDIO

Peterborough and District Talking Newspaper Peterborough Talking Newspaper has been providing a service to its listeners since we were founded in 1980. We provide a weekly news and a monthly magazine in audio to about 200 visually impaired listeners. The weekly news is made up from articles from the Peterborough Telegraph and the magazine is a compilation of information and entertainment articles. This is a free service to our listeners which we are able to give due to the free postal service offered by the Royal Mail.

Local news in audio All our weekly news editions are in digital format offering a good quality recording for our listeners. The monthly magazine is also produced in a digital format by a visually impaired volunteer. The service is provided by a willing group of volunteers who take it in turn to edit, record and copy the news every

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week for distribution. We don’t have a studio but produce the recordings on a rota basis in volunteer’s homes. The duplicating is done in Bretton Library every week where volunteers receive last week’s edition in the post and prepare this week’s ready for posting out to our listeners. Many of

our fifty volunteers have been with us since the early days of the organisation. We are very proud of all our loyal helpers who regularly support us each week to produce the news and the magazine. Peterborough Talking Newspaper offers a visiting service for new members to help

LOCAL NEWS IN AUDIO NEWS & FEATURES

them to enjoy the service and to receive their digital player which we provide in exchange for a small voluntary donation. Using the service is very easy and you can listen to the local news in the comfort of your home when and where you want. We aim to keep our running costs as low as possible but modern recording and copying equipment is often expensive. On average our annual expenditure is ÂŁ1700/year. The biggest cost for us is replacing mp3 drives and players for our listeners. The support of local donors is therefore vital for our survival. We are very

grateful and fortunate that local individuals and fund raising groups continue to support us with their generosity. Peterborough Talking Newspaper has always had as its main aim to help local visually impaired people keep in touch with the local news. We know our listeners find this a great help in their lives, to remain engaged with the community and to ease the isolation which visual impairment can bring. If you have difficulty reading the local news for whatever reason whether it is a visual impairment or other type of disability please contact us ...

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HELPSTON VILLAGE VIEWS

New Year – new trees - for residents of Arborfield Close, Helpston are five new trees – three white hawthorns and two eating apples. Amey employees are pictured with one of them. Friendly and courteous, they explained that the hawthorns were to replace the previous ones which were planted when the Close was built in 1947 and are now nearing the end of their lives. We hope the eating apples will hurry up and produce some scrumptious fruit!

Bobby Scheme

can help victims of crime

Andy Cleathero, who works on behalf of The Bobby Scheme – a body representing Cambridgeshire which helps residents through links between the Police, Local Authority, Fire Service, Age UK and other Charities. Andy was in Helpston recently giving security advice following some break-ins.

Following some break-ins at Helpston in the autumn, some residents took advantage of Cambridgeshire’s 'Bobby Scheme'. This is a scheme where the Police, Local Authority, Fire Service, Age UK and other charities liaise to provide support to victims of crime. They deal with security issues as well as domestic violence. This scheme has been operating since 2001.

Andy Cleathero is Security Adviser for our region and fitted one resident with window alarms and, maybe surprisingly tested smoke alarms, found they were not working owing to age, and replaced them. You can ask for, a visit, victim of crime or not, if

Sue Young

you are over 65, victims over 60 who HAVE been victims get a free visit. Of course the organisation welcomes donations as the work done can be expensive. Based at Yaxley , contact information is Tel 01480 413311 or Mobile 07866 602100 or on facebook.

HELPSTON GALA 2019

Plans for Helpston Gala 2019 are well under way! Several planning meetings have already taken place and it seems that there is plenty to look forward to including all the usual stalls, traditional games, Tuk Tuk rides along with great burgers, Pimms and exhibitions in the church. The ever popular Dog Show which draws pets from all over the Peterborough/ Stamford area will be happening, there will be music and the sun will be shining! Well that’s what the Gala Committee say anyway! Don’t’ forget the date! It’s Saturday 18 May so all at Helpston Church hope you will put it in your diaries and come along to support the church, along with other charities.

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VILLAGE VIEWS HELPSTON

Helpston WI Diary Wednesday morning walks – all welcome! Meet outside the village shop at 9:00am Thursday morning walks - meet outside the village shop at 9:00am Knit & Natter At Botolph's Barn, Helpston. Bring your knitting or sewing to our friendly group. We meet fortnightly on Wednesdays from 2pm – 4pm (2nd, 16th & 30th Jan; 13th, 27th Feb)) Line Dancing Every Tuesday from 10 -11am in the Village Hall - come to the hall if you're interested Monthly meetings 7:30pm in Helpston Village Hall: Thurs 3 Jan At the start of the year we will be planning some changes! There will also be a talk by a representative of the Carers Trust and we would be delighted to see you. Contact Janel Pike, President, on 01733 253834 or Connie Yarwood, Secretary on 01733 260558 or just come to the hall. Thurs 7 Feb We are looking forward to hearing Nigel Jennings, leader of the popular classes in Helpston, talk about Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi. You would be very welcome to join us!

Helpston Women's Institute

Our AGM in November was an opportunity for outgoing officers to report on a very enjoyable year. Jean Mead thanked all the members for the continuing success of the WI and expressed her pride in the number of activities we run and the friendship and support shown to everyone. Nola Crowson thanked the committee for their hard work and made a special presentation to June Dobson who is stepping down after an impressive 17 years of service to the WI committee. We were delighted that a full cohort of 8 volunteered to serve on the new committee, including some of our newest members, and Janel Pike was selected as the new President to lead us into our 85th Anniversary year in 2019. Following the business meeting we enjoyed a lively social time, with refreshments served by our kind hostesses. For our December meeting we travelled to St. Nicholas House in Deeping St. Nicholas, a superb example of an 18th Century Georgian 'Calendar' House, with 365 window panes, 12 windows on each side, 12 rooms, and 7 chimneys and external doors. We enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner in a beautifully decorated private room and finished the evening with some fiercely-fought quizzing, won on a tie-break by Pat Jackson who impressed us all by knowing that the WI was founded in the UK at Lanfairpwll on Anglesey!

If you would like to come and make new friends, we would be delighted to see you at Helpston Village Hall (7:30pm on the first Thursday of each month). You can contact Janel Pike, our president, on 01733 253834, or Connie Yarwood, our secretary, on 01733 260558, who 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.

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HELPSTON VILLAGE VIEWS

Helpston Community Speedwatch

Sessions in the 20mph zone have shown 50% motorists speeding at primary school in/out times (maximum speeds of 39mph). A total of 60 sessions have been carried out this year - 16 with the new portable equipment purchased by Helpston Parish Council. The Speedwatch volunteers’ efforts showed that drivers from the local area and further afield within the county speed through Helpston. From when sessions started in January, the number of letters going to residents has reduced but there is still a need to educate visitors to the community that speeding isn’t acceptable. Assistance was given to Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Operation Astragal - more than 800 motoring enforcements were handed out during Cambs police’s biggest road safety event 2nd November. The 24-hour multi-agency operation included enforcement activity targeting the use of mobile phones while driving, speeding, failure to wear a seatbelt

and driving under the influence of drink or drugs. During the operation 534 were dealt with for speeding, 260 Lights instead of Tickets (LIT) were handed to cyclists, 25 drivers were reported for using a mobile phone, 25 people were dealt with for not wearing a seatbelt and 7 motorists were reported for going through a red light. Speed Watch volunteers caught 429 people speeding,

291 vehicle tyres were checked and 40 roadside eyesight tests were completed, with one driver failing the test, preventing them from driving until they pass an eyesight test. If you would like to help us run more sessions please do step forward and come along for training. The more volunteers we have, the more sessions we can run and the greater effect we will have on vehicles driving through our community.

For further details contact csw.helpston@yahoo.com

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VILLAGE VIEWS HELPSTON

Helpston Helc T

he HelCats kicked off the festivities this year with the village Christmas carol event on Sunday 9 December on the Village Green. With Christmas tunes playing, villagers were treated to mulled wine and mince pies (curtsey of the Helpston WI) before the carols begun. Following the singing, the Helpston Community Speedwatch volunteers, who marshalled the event, assisted villagers across the road, where they decorated the tree as a community. It was a fantastic evening, full of festive family fun, and Santa even popped along to hum along. Thank you to Helpston Parish

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Council for their grant of £200 towards the costs of the event and to Helpston Community Speed watch and the Helpston WI for their support too. And the biggest thank you of all goes to the people of Helpston who wrapped up warm, warmed up their vocal cords, and joined us. We were overwhelmed by how many people attended and hope to put the event on again next year. Santa enjoyed his trip to Helpston so much that he joined us again on Sunday 16 December, where he travelled around Helpston on his sleigh (kindly provided by CASPRA Castor and Ailsworth Sports and

Recreation Association). Were you lucky enough to see him? He, along with his little helpers, collected donations. At the time of writing this, it was planned that the funds raised from the Christmas Santa Sleigh collection, would hopefully be used to fund a Christmas dinner in the Bluebell for some of Helpston’s community. And if twice wasn’t another, he joined the HelCats once more, but this time he made a very special visit to the Helpston Playhouse, where he spent time with the youngsters from the village at their Christmas party, and delivered each child a little gift.

HELPSTON VILLAGE VIEWS

We need you! We’re always on the lookout for HelCats so if you fancy helping out with any of our activities (even if it is just one) please get in touch at helpstoncommunityactivityteam@ gmail.com or visit us on Facebook @ HelpstonCommunity.

Do you need us? 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. Simply email your request to helpstoncommunityactivityteam@ gmail.com and the HelCats will see who can help.

Facebook

cats

Don’t forget to follow the HelCats Facebook page and join the village chat in the Facebook group by searching @HelpstonCommunity.

What a fantastic December we’ve had! HelCat Emma continues to deliver hot chocolates at lunch time in the city centre.

Did you see Tommy? HelCats Stuart was busy in the lead up to Armistice Day, and has been ever since, making Tommies. It all started with him making one for Helping the homeless the village and The HelCats once again since then he arranged a collection of items has raised £400 for the homeless this year and for ABF The would like to thank the local Soldier’s Charity community for their contributions. from selling The items were distributed to them, so thank those who needed them via you very much to the Peterborough night shelter everybody who and Garden House Project and purchased one.

Your support means a lot to Stuart and the HelCats team.

Young Person of the Year and Young at Heart award By the time the Tribune lands on your doorstep we hope to have a winner for 2018’s Young Person of the Year award and our new Young at Heart award. Winners will be announced in February at our awards evening.

Community Race Night The end of the year saw the closing date for request for funding from the £962.37 raised at this year’s Community Race Night. Keep an eye on Facebook to see who has benefited from the funds this year.

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VILLAGE VIEWS ETTON

Etton news

Anne Curwen

Between 4 and 8 November 2018 Etton church suffered substantial metal theft from the aisle roofs, the chancel and porch and a section of the nave roof. Because we didn’t have a roof alarm our insurance only covers us for £7,500. This is devastating for our precious ancient building and Historic England have placed our church on the historic buildings at risk register. The process of recovery will be long and arduous and will involve extensive fundraising. Lets hope there is a generous grant giving body out there who agree that we are a worthy cause. Our fundraising efforts were kicked off by two generous individuals. The first, a ten year old from our village who on hearing the news insisted on donating his months pocket money to our fund. This was followed by a senior citizen, who had just been notified of his winter fuel payment, who felt he didn’t need it but that Etton and Peakirk (who also suffered metal theft from their church) would benefit from the donation. Our thanks to all those who have donated so far.

Our switching on of the Christmas tree lights had a new twist this year. We started in the church with hot-dogs and mulled wine, then Graham and his team led took a spectacular Christmas float through the village whilst collections were made around the village. We ended up in the Golden Pheasant where Johno and Kirstene welcomed us with mulled wine and refreshments. The event was well attended and £220 was raised for the roof fund. Thanks to all those who contributed to the event including Santa who took time out of his busy schedule to support us. On 18 November about 30 hardy souls started at St Stephen’s, Etton at 8.30am and ran between all five churches in

the Benefice. The steeplechase was supported by Werrington joggers. Fortunately, the weather was kind and we were rewarded with cake on our return to Etton! The Peterborough City Council lighting upgrade project continues and the council has now received a cost for installing heritage lighting on 9 of the lights in the centre of the village. The cost would be £15,980.40. This is clearly a large sum and discussions are taking place to see if this can be reduced. A new Parish Councillor, Martin Brooks, has been appointed as a result of the recent vacancy process. He will attend his first meeting early in the New Year. Congratulations Martin.

Season's Greetings - Anne Curwen 07730301404 18

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GLINTON VILLAGE VIEWS

GLINTON PARISH COUNCIL please contact the Clerk.

For general enquiries

COUNCIL CORNER

GLINTON

GLINTON PARISH REPORT Cllr John Holdich The City Council planners have turned down the Larkfleet planning application for houses south of Glinton. However, we are not out of the woods yet; we still have the public inquiry to defend. Fingers crossed, all the street lights are back working on Lincoln Road. Despite many requests, one of them was not even connected, and the lights on the roundabout have been updated, and the ones in the village are nearly complete. The replacement lampposts near the church have been replaced with black ones at the request of the Parish Council. A new residential home for adults with disabilities has opened

Cllr JFW Holdich OBE - Chairman Cllr RW Johnson - Vice Chairman Cllr DJ Batty Cllr CB Bysshe (Mrs) Cllr DJ Lane Cllr Gerry Kirt Cllr RW Randall

253078 252743 252749 253164 252593 252839 253276

Cllr PD Skinner 252591 Cllr E Spendelow 252524 Cllr. Jeff Bell 252395 Cllr. C J Wilde Mr J Haste - Clerk 252833 E: clerk@glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

More information including can be found at www.glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

in Rectory Lane, for six residents or less. It does not require planning permission, which is a strange anomaly in planning law. I am sure that Glinton folk will give the home every chance to succeed. Gates at the bottom of Helpston Road to replace those unsightly barriers, which were put there as a stop-gap to stop unwanted visitors, are on order and I am advised will be fitted in the new year. The Parish Council has finally completed the purchase of the Village Hall from the City Council, which guarantees the future of the hall for community

use. The hall will still be run and managed on a day to day basis by a management committee of local people. Please be warned that the new parking restrictions in Rectory Lane may well have been installed by the time the children go back to the Primary School in the new year. The council is just waiting for some drier weather to install the yellow lines. Initially, the restriction will only be on the left hand side of the road, but may well be extended to both sides. Your local Councillors wish you all a prosperous New Year.

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VILLAGE VIEWS GLINTON

Glinton Friendship Club All the members and helpers at Glinton Friendship club would like to wish our fans a very Happy New Year. Yes we have a fan club!!! All our past members and their relatives have 16 years of great memories of their time at GFC. Some of us have been there for all those years. We've seen many changes and lost good friends and welcomed new ones. We've had our ups and downs, our struggles and triumphs and somehow we keep going with a rare quality of closeness that enables us to work out the issues and find solutions.

Pam Kounougakis

Our Autumn programmes has included some dashed difficult quizzes and a wonderfully entertaining demonstration about bee-keeping by Sue Jakeman, in her beekeeping onesie!! That kept us buzzing and the honey was scrummy!! We've enjoyed our regular Festive entertainments starting with a return visit from Trudie Mason and her songs and jokes which cheered up a dark wet December morning nicely. Â Then our much looked forward to visit from the children of our local primary school to make us all

If you are interested in joining us come and visit to see if we are for you and make further enquiries from Barbara 01733 253078.

go Ahhhh with their enchanting singing, along with a super in house Xmas buffet and Prize Christmas Bingo, plus a very fiendish seasonal quiz by our Carole. Also the exchanging of cards and greetings and our annual collection towards our chosen Charity which this year is Deepings Mens Group. Our treat to ourselves was a full Christmas Meal at the Bluebell pub in the Village, where we are waited on instead of the other way round! And a huge festive Raffle too! After a two week break we return in 2019 for a new and exciting season of events and activities to keep us connected and enjoying our Mondays together.

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GLINTON VILLAGE VIEWS

GLINTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Christmas Extravaganza Frank Samet The annual Christmas extravaganza of the Glinton Horticultural Society took place on Friday 7 December. Those attending not only enjoyed a selection of quality hot food, but were also awed by a montage of unusually intelligent and funny Cracker Jokes. Revellers were also encouraged to give themselves cardio-vascular injuries

by attempting to blow up impossibly resistant party balloons whilst exploring the sensual but tactile depths of the "feely" bags. For those still not completely overwhelmed with the festive indulgence, there was another chance to prove how little they really knew about anything by participating in a short quiz.

A big thanks to those that came and to those who made the effort to give everyone such a good time.

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VILLAGE VIEWS NORTHBOROUGH

COUNCIL CORNER

NORTHBOROUGH If you are interested in becoming a member of the Parish Council and would like to to help support and shape our local community, please contact any Parish Councillor or enquire via the website.

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL Information about the Parish Council, including meeting agendas and minutes can be found on the Parish website:- www.northboroughpc.co.uk and on the parish notice boards. Please direct general queries to the Clerk at clerk@northboroughpc.co.uk Cllr John Dadge (Chair) 01733 254145 07802 702908 Cllr Malcolm Spinks (Vice Chair) 01778 343585 07870 343562 Cllr Rob Chiva 01733 252823 Cllr Brian Spriggs 01778 342502 Cllr Terry Palmer 01778 380413 07796 946298 Cllr Emma Watts 01778 347652 07546 539949 Robin Morrison (Clerk) 07944 054546

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BARNACK VILLAGE VIEWS

Wishing all the people of Tribune Land, and around the World, a Festive Yule and a peaceful, prosperous and healthy New Year!

Tribune Christmas 2018 I write at the beginning of Advent, and am starting to get the baubles out of their boxes, seemingly only just having packed them up from last year. Years, never mind days seem to be made out of cheap shoddy things these days, quickly wearing out!! Nevertheless Barnack will have a full programme of events for all to enjoy during this season of joy (Brexit, global warming, Yemen, Ukraine, trade wars etc. etc.) The first major event was the “Songs of Praise” in St Johns on 2 December. Which, as in previous years, was a great success? There are of course, as well as the usual services, many other events to be held in the church. These include Carols by Candlelight at 18.30 on 21 December, a crib service on 24 December at 16.00 followed by a Holy Communion service at 23.00,

then on 25 December, a Christmas Day Communion at 10.00. Whilst in ecclesiastical territory there is currently a debate in the Village on the issue of removing the pews from the Church and replacing them with chairs. Some people will see this as modern and pragmatic, making it easier to use the building in more flexible ways. Others will see the argument as iconoclastic, destroying a part of the fabric of the Church which has become part of its history, culture and ensconced usage. It is true that the Mediaeval Church would not have had pews, they are a fairly modern introduction (3- 400 years ago) into the life fabric and Worship in the Church. Our pews are things of beauty, made by craftsman with love and devotion. Do we really want to be likened to Cromwell, both Thomas

and Oliver who ripped out stained glass, rood screens and statuary from churches , as well as pulling down whole Abbies. These artefacts are now revered and valued as essential to our history, our culture our inheritance, the warp and weft of our long tradition of Church Worship in This Country. It must be remembered that once gone, these much loved objects cannot be replaced. Now to other, but just as seasonal matters, as in former years it is quite likely that Father Christmas will swoop in on his sleigh to add to the ceremony of lighting the Christmas Tree in the Square on 8 Dec. The Millstone will serve food on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as well as holding a Karaoke evening on Boxing day.

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VILLAGE VIEWS DEEPING GATE

The Deeping Summer Ball

The Deeping Summer Ball and feeling hot! hot! hot! While many of us are planning our Christmas and New Year parties, the Deeping Summer Ball team has its sights set firmly on the next Deeping dinner-dance and dress-up event of the year. Plans are well under way to bring you another summer ball to remember - bigger and even better than before - so we thought we'd give you a sneak preview of what we’ve been planning.

The Date and Venue! Take out your 2019 planner - and write Deeping Summer Ball under Saturday 29 June. The ball will be held in the Marquee at the Deeping Sports and Social Club on the Outgang Road.

The Band! The band is booked and we are so excited to announce that we'll be getting up, getting down and boogying the night away to the iconic Groove Cartel - famous throughout the land for their funky soul sounds.

Our chosen local charity! Raising money for a local charity is an important reason to come together on the night. Next year will be no exception. Our chosen charity for 2019 is Dementia South Lincs. Early bird prize draw to win two free VIP tickets to the ball! Book your tickets early for the chance to win two free VIP tickets.

Sharon Roberts The first 100 early bird tickets purchased will be entered into a free prize draw for two lucky guests to win two VIP tickets*. So book your tickets early to be in with a chance to win! We’ll be back in touch early in the new year - but to keep abreast of everything Summer Ball - just hop onto our Facebook page. In the meantime - enjoy the Christmas and New Year festivities *The lucky winners will receive a refund of the full price of the tickets purchased Tickets cost £55 and can be booked by emailing Sharon at sharon@simplyhathire.com

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DEEPING GATE VILLAGE VIEWS

COUNCIL CORNER

DEEPING GATE

Litter Pick, Sunday 18 November, 2018 On a gloriously sunny morning, fourteen volunteers, including Councillor Peter Hiller, two children and two dogs, pounded all Deeping Gate roads and footpaths on our last Pick of the year. We believed our regular Picks had resulted in a lesser amount of rubbish and we still believe this to be the case. However, I was recently able to thank, in person, a gentleman from â&#x20AC;&#x153;over the borderâ&#x20AC;? who, for some time, has unstintingly given up his free time to walk the highways and byways removing litter/ debris, not only from Deeping Gate but also Northborough and Maxey. I respect his wish for anonymity.

Jane Hill

I would also like to pass on thanks to those residents of our village whom I know find it impossible to pass discarded rubbish without removing it, a task they carry out without expecting thanks or recognition but still they join us on our organised litter picks. Deeping St. James Road extended 30 mph limit. All new signage is now in place and we can but hope it has some effect. Street lights. The conversion/ replacement of our street lights is almost complete and much appreciated. 2019. Deeping Gate Parish Councillors and Clerk wish all friends and neighbours a very happy and healthy 2019.

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NATURE WATCH

Froglife is a UK wildlife charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles - working with people, enhancing lives together for a healthier planet.

Froglife in your pond?

Froglife greatly appreciates your help in improving the wildlife of Peterborough.

It is estimated that there are over 400,000 ponds in the countryside across England, Wales and Scotland. Garden ponds are a haven for a wealth of wildlife including frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies and beetles. They provide valuable habitats and are important stepping stones between urban areas and conservation refuges. Wildlife conservation charity Froglife is undertaking a project to find out more about the ponds in the Peterborough area and the species that they support. They have undertaken research which has already identified an amazing 193 ponds within Peterborough. This will help give us a greater understanding of the value of ponds, especially in urban areas and how

Froglife can improve ponds in Peterborough to increase their value for wildlife. However, there are surely more to discover so Froglife would like to know if you have a pond in your garden and in particular, if any amphibians occur in your garden ponds such as frogs, toads or newts. Numbers of some amphibian species, such as common toads, have been declining in recent years. Records of amphibians are key to understanding these declines so that charities such as Froglife can help conserve these species.

Please contact Froglife with the following information if you have a garden pond: • • • • • • •

Please give a general indication of the size of your pond. Is it small (less than 1 x 1m), medium or large (more than 10 x 10 m)? Have you ever seen frogs, toads or newts in your pond? If so, let us know which species. Have you got fish in your pond? Do you have a problem with blanket weed or duck weed in your pond? Please let us know your approximate location (eg. district) within the Peterborough area. Have you ever needed to manage your pond (eg. remove excess vegetation or dead leaves)? Let us know if your pond needs improving.

Contact Froglife with all or some of the above information at: laurence.jarvis@froglife.org.uk 26

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NATURE WATCH

Langdyke Countryside Trust has unveiled its programme for the year ahead. 2019 is a big year for the organisation with a special event to celebrate the organisation’s 20th birthday.

Langdyke Countryside Trust

Celebrating 20 years by David Rowell

The programme includes a series of events designed to appeal to anyone who has an interest in the countryside around where they live. And many of the events are aimed directly at giving the whole family a chance to enjoy time to-gether in the countryside. Some observers have commented that Landgdyke is an organisation just for bird watchers. Not so. The reserves it maintains and events it promotes for members - and non-members - gives eve-ryone the chance to engage with nature in whatever form they want. Whether it’s a family walk in the countryside, a summer picnic with wildlife, a chance to explore the night skies or the opportunity to burn off some of those calories by joining a countryside working party - there is something on offer for everyone. Founded in 1999, Langdyke now manages six nature reserves - a total of 180 acres of land - has more than 300 household members and even its own flock of sheep. It is a purely voluntary organisation committed to making a difference to the countryside around Tribland. Trust chairman Richard Astle, who lives in Helpston, wrote in the recent annual

report: “We want to live in an area where nature is at the heart of our lives. Where swifts and swallows are a central feature of our summer evenings, where otters continue to enthral people as they play in the Max-ey Cut, where bees and other insects thrive, not decline, and where there are far more, not less, ponds, meadows, wild flowers, hedgerows and trees.” Although the organisation’s membership is thriving there is always room for more. Anyone inter-ested in joining can make contact through the Langdyke Facebook page. There is also the chance to get your hands dirty and make direct contact with nature by joining one of the working parties which meet weekly at Swaddywell and fortnightly at the Etton/Maxey reserves. They involve helping with a variety of tasks (the work isn’t back-breaking), making new friends and having a chat over a cuppa with like-minded people. You can usually find details of forthcoming working parties on the Langdyke Countryside Trust Facebook page. The highlight of the programme of events is a 20th anniversary weekend of events in June next year aimed at all the family. More details will be announced in the New Year.

Wassailing Event

Get out those old pots and pans – because Langdyke is hosting a wassailing event. Traditionally the event involves groups of wassailers drinking lots of alcohol and moving from orchard to orchard – singing, shouting, banging pots and pans and even firing shot-guns in an effort to make as much noise as possible to awaken any sleeping tree and frighten off evil demons. The Trust is not expecting its event to be quite so riotous – but it will be fun and is aimed at providing an afternoon out for the whole family. It is taking place at Etton High Meadow, which is on the Maxey road out of Etton, on Sat-urday, January 26. The site hosts a number of fruit trees and a recently planted community orchard with more than 70 fruit trees including local heritage varieties such as Lord Burghley and Peasgoods Nonsuch. One of the organisers, Keren Thompson, said: “We hope the wassail will awaken them to bear bountiful crops of fruit next year. So please bring some pots and pans to make a noise.” The fun starts at about 3pm and will go on until about 5.30pm. As well as the traditional wassail (in a more civilised form) there will be musical enter-tainment with Alan Wood singing traditional songs and various events for children includ-ing making bird feeders out of apples. Keren added: “It is expected to be cold so we will be using the barn (basic, but at least sheltered) and we will be having a bonfire to help you keep warm. We’re also hoping to turn this year’s crop of apples into some very drinkable juice.” There will also be refreshments Traditionally the custom of apple tree wassailing is celebrated across the country, on ei-ther the new or old Twelfth Night. An original house to house version before Christmas was designed to obtain gifts from the Lord of the Manor in exchange for a blessing. This has evolved into what we now know as carolling. You can get more details on the Langdyke website: langdyke.org.uk More Langdyke events in Tribune Diary

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NATURE WATCH

Garden View

Great gardening books If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas now is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a gardening book you’ve brought for yourself. We have a few to recommend. Rachael Leverton vegetables and fruit but feel RHS Great British Village Show completely clueless? We’re always by Matthew Biggs and Thane hearing that the best and cheapest Prince - The village show is a food is the food you grow in your quintessential British tradition, and own garden, but it all seems rather for many gardeners it represents complicated to a total novice. In the pinnacle of their sowing and One Magic Square, Lolo Hubein growing year. This charming and shows how you can start your own informative book takes you behind productive food garden in ten the scenes of this very British minutes a day on a single square institution, offering insights into the metre. She provides simple plot worlds of judges and contestants. designs starting with salads, and It’s beautifully illustrated with gradually expanding to include photographs, and offers wonderful beans, tomatoes, corn, roots and gems of insider information, much more. She also stresses the including how to stage your benefits of companion planting produce, and what the judges are and provides ideas. The bite-sized really looking for. There are even designs (pun totally intended!) recipes for prize-worthy jams and allow you to extend by one square preserves. If you’ve never attended metre each season, or to pick your a village show this book will make favourites. The magic of squareyou yearn for a summer of tents metre gardening is in allowing your and teas; you might even be project to grow in a manageable tempted to become a competitor. way, from simple to more complex. One Magic Square by Lolo Hubein There are even designs catering for – Following on from the previous different tastes and specific diets. book, have you ever wanted to RSPB Gardening for Wildlife by have a go at growing your own

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NATURE WATCH

Forest for the City

Cllr Peter Hiller Glinton and Castor Ward

After attending November’s Remembrance Sunday commemoration at our Cathedral, the Council’s Chief Executive Gillian Beasley OBE and I visited a team of PCC officers at land in Dogsthorpe to help with a few of the 1186 trees specifically planted to represent and in memory of Peterborough folk who died in the Great War. This was a very moving experience, knowing that what we did that afternoon will develop into, in our case, beautiful oak trees which will be remembered by relatives and generations of families in the future. This particular tree planting was an element of the Forest for Peterborough programme launched in 2010 by the City’s PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) organisation, which on track to plant over 180,000 trees in and around the city and surrounding countryside by 2030. The aim is to plant one tree for every person in the city, ultimately creating a network of wildlife corridors and green spaces threading through our built-up areas and changing our City landscape. They planted their

100,000th tree in 2017 and the programme has been successful in bringing together communities, schools and businesses for the volunteer planting days, and PECT is always on the lookout for more land available to enable further tree planting. Both my fellow Glinton and Castor Ward Cllr John Holdich OBE and I support the Forest for Peterborough scheme and also PECT’s recently launched Green Clean Litter Picking along with the Campaign to Protect Rural England. As I mentioned in the last issue’s piece I wrote on the City Council’s recently adopted Trees and Woodlands Strategy trees mean so much, not only for their beauty and the improved quality of the air we breathe but also for the ecosystems they

sustain, wildlife they support and the protection from the effects of flooding and extreme weather they afford. We are certainly very lucky to have an abundance in and around our Tribland villages, which are frequently defined by tree belts and forested land but, as you might imagine, our urban neighbours are often lacking in this respect and the PECT programme volunteers are certainly changing this. In addition, since the last Tribune issue I’ve introduced to Cabinet and full council the council’s Biodiversity Strategy, which promotes biodiversity in planning; shows our regard for biodiversity on public authority managed land & buildings and green Infrastructure and, as before, if anyone would like an e-mailed link to this I’d be happy to send it.

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1st Glinton Rainbows Lend a Hand

YOUNG TRIBUNE GLINTON RAINBOWS

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When a Rainbow takes her Promise, she 'promises to try my best...to be kind and helpful'. 1st Glinton Rainbows have certainly achieve this, this term. As part of their Lend a Hand challenge badge, the girls have undertaken a variety of community based activities which has involved putting others before themselves and being extremely kind and helpful.

The Rainbows had fun with festivals and made broomsticks for Halloween.

GLINTON RAINBOWS YOUNG TRIBUNE

One of the highlights of the term was the afternoon tea that we held for residents of Ashlynn Grange Care Home.

The Rainbbows made decorations for their tree in readiness for the Christmas Tree Festival.

he term started with the Rainbows painting their own ' Share the Love' rocks which were then hidden in St Benedict's Church for the Mums and Tots group to find the next morning. Lots of fun was had by everyone involved and one of our rocks has since been re-hidden in Legoland and found by another happy child. Two have recently been located as far away as Scotland! Following on from this, the Rainbows helped plant bulbs along the church footpath and have made decorations for their tree in readiness for the Christmas Tree Festival. One of the highlights of the term was the afternoon tea that we held for residents of Ashlynn Grange Care Home. Four lovely ladies and their support staff came over to enjoy tea and cake with the girls who then performed some songs and dances for

We would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to everyone who has come along and worked with the girls to make all of our activities possible. We look forward to being involved in more community projects in 2019. them, helped them complete a Christmas activity and gave them a Christmas present to take away. Every girl contributed positively and the ladies that attended had a wonderful time; they didn't want to leave. In addition to lending a hand; the Rainbows have also had fun with festivals. They made apple crumbles for Harvest Festival, broomsticks for Halloween, watched Coco (Day of the Dead theme) on a movie night and were in full voice singing carols at St Benedict's Church Christmas Tree light switch on. Oh yes, and they celebrated our fun-filled, action packed term's achievements with a Rainbow themed 'Bring a Friend' Party.

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YOUNG TRIBUNE GLINTON RAINBOWS

Mustard Seed Project is

celebrating! We are off to a brilliant start: imagine the overwhelming joy when we discovered that we had raised over £14,000 through the ‘Big Give’ Christmas Challenge; enough to be able to add one of the six classrooms needed and begin funding the next! So, we want to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who supported our fundraising appeal. Obviously, there is still a long way to go – another £46,000 – but we will be trying very hard to achieve our goal. MSP was conceived in 2009 when we experienced first-hand the very basic, rundown conditions

Happy New Year, everyone! As you may remember, 2019 is a special year for the charity as we are celebrating our tenth anniversary

under which the children of Mgongeni, Kenya, were being educated. We set about doing what we could to improve their situation and eventually, as numbers grew, arranged to rent a larger property to use as a school. As you will know, through the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to help make a difference to the lives of so many children and families from that local community and we are now in the process of constructing a new school building. The ground floor was finished last year and houses a kitchen, toilet block, clinic, offices, staffroom and

Rita and Geoff Fowler five classrooms but our aim is to complete part of the upper storey, with an additional six classrooms, this year. This will save us the £500 per month we pay in rent, water and additional salaries and allow us to use the money for other purposes. It will also mean that all the children will be in the same building and we shall be a long way along the road to sustainability. When we visited the region in November, it was lovely to see the now-familiar faces and find out what had been happening. Our family were once again able to join us: our two daughters,

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MUSTARD SEED PROJECT

plus granddaughter, worked with teachers and students in a creative session, using lots of scrap materials from the UK which the teachers will be able to make good use of. Our grandson worked with a group of children, using Lego to create houses, cars and boats, whilst his father showed others how to follow the instruction booklets. A very rewarding session for all! Rita invited six of the poorest older girls to attend a session with the headteacher and their mothers or carers to talk to them about washable sanitary towels, giving them four each to try out. We had so far been giving them disposable ones when they were in school but that is not a great solution because of the expense and disposal of the towels. The girls were impressed and, as we have separate toilets for the older girls, they can wash them in private. They will be reporting back after Christmas. There is always a good turnout at the parents’ meeting: a representative of almost every family turns up, eventually. There had been a rumour going around the community that the fees paid by the parents were going into the pockets of the teachers, so we shared the figures: KSh 5.5 million per year to run the school (about £40,000) and KSh 1.9 million for

the feeding programme, with KSh 1.5 Million coming from what the parents pay (about £30 per term). They were clearly shocked by the figures as these are immense sums to them. At the end of the meeting, one of the fathers came to shake my hand and told me that they really appreciate what we are doing for them. I've always said that we don't do this for praise or gratitude and we don't, but my heart soared when he said it. We held our annual ‘graduation ceremony’ at school– it was lovely to see the 6-year-olds (pictured) proudly presenting their poems and songs. Our older children received the results from their KCPE exams, in preparation for secondary school; a mean average of B- which is a very pleasing outcome, as we are not selective and take children of all abilities. Many will be able to go to the local secondary school but unfortunately those children who currently do not pay any contribution to their school fees will not be able to afford to. So, another lovely surprise was when a donor offered to pay the secondary school fees for one child. This might have been a difficult choice but there was an obvious candidate: Patience is a gifted girl who is unable to make any contribution to her school

YOUNG TRIBUNE

fees as her father was killed as a pedestrian six years ago, leaving four very bright children behind. We were already feeling very sad about the waste so were absolutely delighted at the news, as were Patience and her mother. We had taken out two cases full of shoes donated by Northborough Primary School pupils, all lovingly cleaned and polished by Geoff. I thought it would be a good idea to take some photographs and so set about trying to fit some children with shoes. It was quite a shock however, when they took off their shoes – the white socks I thought they were wearing turned out to be little more than a strip of white fabric (which may have been socks at some time). Our daughters added socks to their list of items to bring out! As you can see, the needs of this impoverished community are many and varied but we are still as determined as ever to help them ‘build a better future’. However, we are a very small charity and welcome support. If you like what we do and feel able to help us, maybe by organising a fundraiser yourself, we would love to hear from you. Thank you. www.mustardseedproject.co.uk

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YOUNG TRIBUNE JOHN CLARE PRIMARY

John Clare Primary

Wow! What a busy Autumn Term we have had Our children continue to work hard, have fun and set a fantastic example to others. The new Reception children have been welcomed and supported by their Year 6 buddies and they have embraced new experiences and opportunities. We have had many successes so far this year. We have: • achieved amazing Key Stage 2 results, ranking us in the top 2% of schools in the country for Reading, Writing and Maths combined and in the top 1% for Maths and Reading. • won the inter school hockey tournament • received the School of Excellence award from the Stamford construction event 2108

• been recognised as a best practise school by Partners in Primary Excellence • had an article on our Science provision published at a national conference • been awarded the Music Mark by the UK Association for Music Education in recognition of our commitment to providing high quality music education

Buttercross (Reception

and Year 1) This term, our new Reception starters have settled in very well with the help of our Year 1 children. We have been learning to follow routines and rules in the classroom. Learning new skills together in our ‘workshops’ is great fun!

JOHN CLARE PRIMARY YOUNG TRIBUNE

Woodgate (Year 1 and 2)

Woodgate enjoyed a lovely Autumn walk to Rice Wood in October. The sun shone brightly and it was a truly beautiful morning for a stroll through the trees! Along the way, the children thoroughly enjoyed collecting a wide variety of fallen leaves which they stored and performed a fantastic street dance. It was also a great chance to watch other schools perform.

in their leaf bags which they had made themselves. Upon our return to school, the children had the challenge of trying to identify the leaves they had collected and then made a colourful display from them. We are hoping to return to Rice Wood later this term, hopefully when there is snow on the ground, in order to see how the trees and habitat have changed. The children were also very excited about their visit to Tallington Farm, where they chose a Christmas tree to bring back to school to decorate!

Broadwheel (Year 3 and 4) In Broadwheel class we are continuing our topic on the Tudors and have been investigating the life

of Elizabeth I. In Science we have learning about the human body and have been carefully labelling skeletons and producing art work. The whole class participated in a dance and gym festival at AMVC

Torpel (Year 5 and 6) What a great first term Torpel have had! We began our Industrial Revolution topic with a visit to Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire; we had a fantastic day and gained a great insight into what life what like before and during this time.

We also gathered lots of ideas and inspiration for our Christmas Fayre; our stalls will sell products inspired by the Victorian shops we visited e.g. bakery, confectionery,

stalls will raise lots of money for The Railway Children charity and the Friends of John Clare School. We were inspired to help support The Railway Children after being shocked to discover that street children still exist in our world today. We believe that all children should have the right to shelter, safety, food and a home and believe in the valuable work that this charity does.

In addition to all of this learning we are getting very excited for the festive season and rehearsals for the whole school play are well under way. Our school Christmas tree has now been chosen and brought back to school by Woodgate class, our advent calendar is up and running and Torpel class have been busy preparing for the Christmas Fayre which is on this week. The school choir are in fine form and rehearsing hard for the end of term church carol service. John Clare Primary has always been a popular choice of school for local families. We have not always been able to accommodate the number of children living in the area. In order to rectify this problem the Local Governing Body at John Clare Pri-mary agreed to increase our admission number to 20 children. This means that from September 2019 we can take more children and are increasing our number of Key Stage 2 classes.

Christmas decorations etc and will be Victorian-themed. We are busy making the final preparations for our Christmas Fayre, which will If you'd like to know more or take place on 4 December 2018, would like to visit please contact and have been writing letters to us on 01733 252332 or local businesses to kindly request office@johnclareprimary.org donations. We are hoping that our The children and staff of John Clare Primary would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year xx

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FARM FOCUS

ROSEMARY'S DIARY

Rosemary’s

FARMING DIARY

The second week of October sowing continues at a reasonable pace although into very dry conditions, with dust blowing behind the equipment it’s not too difficult to see where they are working, most of the seed we are sowing is going into some moisture and is emerging after about ten days. The strong winds and high temperatures in the second week of October have been rather abnormal and we need colder temperatures with some rainfall to moisten ground conditions (I write this with tongue in cheek – we all know when it starts to rain it never knows when to stop)

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ROSEMARY'S DIARY FARM FOCUS

he oil seed rape crops are growing well now which is always a good thing (hopefully away from the pests and of course pigeon damage.) It has been a difficult autumn for some growers with (flea) beetle devastating some fields completely. The sugar beet harvesting is in full production, with the recent rains should make for better lifting conditions, sugar content is high which we hope will be maintained, helping the loss in yield with the drought growing season we have experienced this summer and autumn Autumn sowing has continued through October with winter wheat finishing with the winter beans, rain on the night of the 31st October stopping us sowing the last field of beans, this soon dried up enough for us to finish them. All in all, the seed has gone into good seed beds Into November saw the weather deteriorate, the month living up to its reputation of being dull, dank and depressing, as well

as a wet month – nothing new about that, but making any field operations more challenging. Luckily most field work having been carried out in good conditions, just leaving us with some potato and sugar beet land to sow. All autumn sown crops have emerged through the ground very quickly and are growing well. The sugar beet lifting is rather slow due to the factory intake – we should have had our second lift before now (26th November) and we are expecting our contractors this week. It would appear Whissington Sugar Beet Factory is not running (from a grower’s perspective) as well as Bury Factory. Growers and hauliers have had free loading in fact, earlier in the season were short of beet, I think we are contracted to the wrong factory! All the cattle are now in their winter housing with plenty of straw bedding to lie dry and warm on. The last cattle being brought in on Sunday 25th November, so that has helped the work load with being able to keep them out in the

It’s been at times a very trying, difficult year, but one that in the end turned out to be a fair year, probably better than we were expecting. I think it reassures us that as the scriptures have told us over the years there will always be a seed time and harvest.

grass fields for most of November. Once inside they have a balanced ration of grass (silage), minerals and vitamins, straw and fodder beet, which is all grown on the farm, apart from some minerals and protein. There are still plenty of jobs on the farm to do – in between feeding the cattle, improvement to ditches and roadways etc all need attention in the next two months, machinery to clean down and service, spraying and fertilizer to apply as well, with the shorter daylight hours can be a challenging time of year. There is no substitute for daylight with some jobs, although great strides have been made with artificial lighting in recent years The spectacular show of leaves this autumn I think has been the best I can remember, starting prematurely with what we believe could be die back with some of the oak trees, followed by a slow change of the most magnificent colouring on the different tree species in this area and at the end of November are still giving a lovely display. The garden shrubs too have been giving their wonderful show of colours this autumn, in spite it being a difficult year in the gardens as well as the fields. In summing up 2018 it’s been at times a very trying, difficult year, but one that in the end turned out to be a fair year, probably better than we were expecting. I think it reassures us that as the scriptures have told us over the years there will always be a seed time and harvest. This certainly is true this year. By the time the Tribune is delivered to you Christmas will be upon us with just a few remaining jobs to do, then a few days off from the hustle and bustle of the working day, not forgetting the animals still need feeding etc. Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year.

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HERITAGE ROF HSIW2018: UOYTHE TAHPAST W LUFYEAR’S ERAC EWORK B

Since PAST [Peakirk Archaeological Survey Team] was founded in 2013, we have been trying to reconstruct Peakirk through the ages using geophysical surveys, historical documents and

archaeological finds. ‘Inclosure Map, 1810’ (Bob Randall)

by Greg Prior

2018: The PAST Year’s Work Mapping Medieval Peakirk One of our most-useful sources is the ‘Inclosure Map of 1810’, which shows the parishes of Northborough, Helpston, Etton, Maxey, Glinton and Peakirk at the time when the vast, medieval open [common] fields were being divided up into smaller enclosures. For a while, Avril and I have been intrigued by a rectangular block of five house-plots between Rectory Lane and the southern boundary of the Ruddy Duck (shaded blue). To us, it looks as if it were carved out of Between Towns Field that stretched from Peakirk to Glinton. Hence, our 2018 project was to search for evidence that would tell us when these plots were created. As usual there were more questions than answers. Expanding the village envelope? The rain and snow earlier in the year completely put the kibosh on PAST’s activities, rendering the ground too water-logged to dig. Then, came the drought and blistering heat. When Greg Duggan, the Davids Dearman and Hankins, Avril and I finally tackled the first of four test pits in Bull Lane paddock, the earth was rock-hard, despite watering 38

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it the night before. Fortunately, help was at hand in the shape of Gregg Duggan’s trusty mattock (which David H promptly commandeered). We were in business. The Bull Lane test-pit finds were comparatively fewer than those extracted during 2017 excavations on the village green in the ancient heart of the village. There, we were delving directly into domestic rubbish pits or over cottage foundations, unearthing pottery fragments dating back to the Romano-British period (43410AD). In Bull Lane. we were digging in the ‘toft’ or back garden, at least 60m from the ‘croft’ or farmstead. Here, broken crockery first had been thrown onto the household midden (close to the dwelling) along with animal dung and the contents of the chamber pot. Then, the mix was seasonally spread upon the soil as a fertiliser. In the 1940s, a load of scrapmetal (including a saucepan full of ash for the outdoor privy), nineteenthcentury building materials and other household detritus were buried in the north-east section of the paddock and a concrete stack- yard (for hay-ricks) was laid on top. In contrast to the green,

we found no real evidence to suggest Romano-British activity in the paddock. The pottery finds mainly comprised sherds of massproduced, moulded, Victorian and early-to-mid twentiethcentury ware as well as numerous medieval, wheel-turned fragments. So, when was the first housing development on the site? Several pieces of Stamford-ware were found, but this type of pottery was manufactured between 875 and 1200, making it very difficult to pinpoint an exact date. Instead, we had to look beyond Peakirk to Bainton, Easton-on-the-Hill, Glinton, Maxey and Northborough for similar local models. In these places, the croft-plots probably were laid out in the late-eleventh by the Norman Abbot Turold of Peterborough, his knights or his agents as a means of consolidating and gaining a tighter control over the peasant work-force with view to increasing productivity - and, of course, their profit. At the same time as the Peakirk planned settlement, Bull Lane either was created or evolved as access to Between Towns Field. A plague upon their houses? Similar to our previous Bull-Lane excavations, we noticed a sharp

2018:BE THE PAST YEAR’S HERITAGE CAREFUL WHATWORK YOU WISH FOR

Horace helps out What next?

L-R: Greg Prior, David Hankins (wielding mattock) and Gregg Duggan fall in the use of pottery after the mid- fourteenth century. The same pattern was reflected on the village green and in most of the Peakirk test-pits excavated under the supervision of Dr Carenza Lewis in 2012, near the village centre. This suggests that the community could have suffered from the 1348/9 visitation of pestilence [The Black Death] and that many inhabitants either succumbed or moved away. Pottery-use began to recover in the late-eighteenth century and sky-rocketed after the midnineteenth. These trends roughly coincide with the medieval thoroughfare [the modern B1443

or St Pega’s Road] being upgraded as part of the London-to-Boston Turnpike, in 1792, and the arrival of the the Great Northern Railway, in 1846, which brought goods and railway employees to Peakirk. Therefore, we can conjecture that the medieval properties were abandoned in the mid-fourteenth century and allowed to decay. The site may even have remained vacant until the lateeighteenth century when the present buildings (including the Ruddy Duck) were erected. However, it must be remembered that each test pit represents only a metre-square peep-hole into Peakirk’s past.

For me, once the weather improved, 2018 vanished in the blink of an eye and we now are planning our 2019 season. The Parish Council has granted us permission for further excavations on the village green with the objective of determining when the defunct Roman watercourse, the Car Dyke, actually was filled in. So, if you see us in action, please, come over and say, “Hello”. Who knows? There may even be fledgling archaeologists among you, who will continue our ‘ground-breaking’ (and backbreaking) work in Peakirk when PAST’s present members are – well, er - past it. Acknowledgements We are grateful to Professor Stephen Upex for identifying our finds and Scott and Vikki Weatherbed for allowing PAST to sink test pits on their property. We also would like to thank Handsome Horace the Helpful Hound for diligently and doggedly assisting with the excavations, digging, washing the tea-mugs and hoovering up the crumbs from our jammie dodgers. We have made him an honorary member of PAST but, sadly, there is no space left for on our board for ‘Horace (Digger & Tea-boy)’. Hard luck, Hoss!

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MARGINS OF SOCIETY HERITAGE

St Pega of Peakirk

On the margins of society:

from hermits’ homes to garden gnomes On 8 January 2019, St Pega, Peakirk’s earliest named inhabitant and debatably England’s first ‘official’ female hermit, will have been dead for 1300 years. To mark this mile-stone ‘celestial birthday’, nearcontemporary ‘snippets’ from her life and a thirteenth-century anthem will be read during Evensong on Sunday 6 January, in the church that now is dedicated in her honour. by Dr Avril Lumley Prior The crowded wilderness There has been Christian worship in Peakirk since roughly 710, apart from brief periods of disruption caused by Scandinavian raids. This puts Pega’s church almost on a par with St Augustine’s, Canterbury (founded c.597), Cuthbert’s Lindisfarne [Holy Island]

(635), Kyneburgha’s, Castor (664) and Bede’s Wearmouth (674) and Jarrow (681), when it comes to saintly associations. Nevertheless, neither Pega (died 719) nor her more-illustrious brother, Guthlac of Crowland (died 714) invented hermits. This accolade must go to Paul of Thebes (died c.345), who

disappeared into desert in the midthird century to escape religious persecution and emulate Christ’s period of prayer and fasting in The Wilderness. Surprisingly, Paul drew a number of followers; whilst he lived under a palm tree, his disciples dwelt in caves or makeshift shelters with little interaction except for communal prayers. >>

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HERITAGE

MARGINS OF SOCIETY

In 270AD, St Anthony of Egypt sold his belongings and joined these so-called ‘Desert Fathers’. As part of his spiritual progression, he later withdrew to complete isolation with (legend dictates) his pet pig, to an abandoned fort where he grew vegetables and made mats to support himself. He gathered so many adherents that in 301, he built a monastery for them. Indeed, his biographer, Athenascius of Alexandria, remarked that the desert was so awash with hermits that ‘it had become a city’. Yet, the harsh lifestyle seemed to suit Paul and Anthony (died 356) for they both purportedly survived until well over a hundred. Even Simeon Stylites (390-459) reached sixty, despite his predilection for camping for nearly 40 years on pillars (ranging from six to sixty feet high), from which he preached to sightseers. Like Paul and Anthony, he attracted imitators called stylites. Eventually, this intense brand of religious fervour was denounced by disillusioned hermit, Benedict of Nursia, as exhibitionism and self-indulgence. He believed that monks and nuns could lead more worthwhile existences if they lived, worked and prayed together in regulated monasteries and nunneries, sharing dormitories, refectories and all acts-of-worship. In c.525, Benedict complied a Rule which promoted religious houses as self- sufficient centres of learning, medicine and hospitality providing the neighbourhood with practical help and pastoral care. The Benedictine Rule (as it became known) was endorsed at The Synod of Whitby of 664, where the Roman form of Christianity was declared the Northumbrian state religion instead of the Irish/Celtic version. The eremitic life was discouraged but continued to be practised by dyed-in-the-wool ascetics. For instance, Bishop Cuthbert (c.63487) of Lindisfarne first complied with the new diktats, but ultimately decamped to his bolt-hole on an uninhabited Farne Island and 42

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regularly immersed himself in the North Sea for hours on end as a penance for past failings!

Guardians of the Fens Since there were no deserts in Anglo-Saxon England, for Pega and Guthlac islands in the undrained Fens had to suffice. Even so, neither of them retired to complete seclusion. Guthlac arrived at Crowland accompanied by his servant, Beccelm, and boatman, Tatwine. In due course, he acquired Egbert, who brought his burial shroud, and Cissa, who regaled Guthlac’s biographer, Felix, with

"See, Guthlac! Crowland!" (British Library) his exploits. Each had his own cell and oratory (prayer- house) with a central chapel for collective worship on holy days. Pega, it seems, lived there too until she either left or was evicted. Felix lets her return for Guthlac’s funeral in 714, remain for a year to transfer his undecayed corpse to a sarcophagus and heal a blind man on his behalf. Afterwards, she vanishes only to re-emerge in the place- name ‘Pegecyrcan’ (‘Pega’s church’) in a charter of 1016. It also is implausible that Pega built her Peakirk retreat upon a whim or all by herself. Hermitages were controlled and supplied by monasteries; in Peakirk’s case, Peterborough, since Crowland Abbey was not created until c.971. Pega’s cell and oratory reputedly stood on a knoll now occupied by the present Hermitage Chapel. Like Paul of Thebes, Anthony and Guthlac, she must have had acolytes, who propagated her cult. Therefore, her settlement probably

reflected the plan of Guthlac’s Crowland complex with individual cells spread across a sacred concourse betwixt her chapel to the east of Car Dyke and the site of the eleventh-century church to the west. The Peterborough version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (compiled c.1121-54) tells us that there was a similar arrangement at Thorney. In 664, the abbot of Peterborough sent a detachment of abstemious monks to the Fens to live as hermits. There, they cleared the dense thorn-bushes, pitched their huts around a central ‘church’, dedicated in The Virgin Mary’s honour, and caused the place to be called ‘Ancarig’ (‘Anchorites’ Island). The colony appears to have flourished for, in 870, three solitary siblings, Tancred, Torhtred and Tona, were slaughtered by Danish invaders there. In c.973, their bones were enshrined in Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester’s beloved Thorney Abbey, allegedly on the site of Tancred’s chapel and also consecrated in St Mary’s honour. They were joined by the relics of Huna, St Etheldreda of Ely’s priest, who became a recluse after her death, and gave his name to Huneya (‘Huna’s Isle’, the postdrainage, Honeyhill), near Chatteris. Presumably, a hermit once lived next to the old course of the River Welland at Throckenholt (‘Throcken’s anchor-hold’). He was gone by the late twelfth-century, when Abbot Odo of Thorney upgraded his oratory to a chantry chapel with two or three monks chanting masses for his and his parents’ souls. Northey, near Whittlesey, served as an island hermitage for Abbot Wihtman of Ramsey after he was deposed by his monks, in 1015. Ramsey had a second hermitage at Bodsey (‘Boda’s Isle’). According to folklore, it became the hunting-lodge of King Cnut (1016-35) and his two sons, who drowned in Whittlesey Mere, were buried in its chapel. And

MARGINS OF SOCIETY HERITAGE

Peterborough had the ‘Hermitage of Singlesole’ (Eye), whose residents harried the abbot of Crowland’s tenants for centuries. Thus, The Fens were densely populated by with hermits, mirroring Athenascius of Alexandria’s desert cities. Perhaps, one of their additional duties was to act as sentinels, watching over the borderlands of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and East Anglia and the territory of the Fenland Abbeys of Peterborough, Ely, Crowland, Thorney and Ramsey. By the twelfth-century, they were being replaced by monastic granges and dairy farms run by monks or lay cowherds, who were detailed to reclaim and cultivate The Fens and zealously guard against encroachment (Tribs. 109,112).

Tales from the river-bank Of course, everyone has heard of St Christopher, the gigantic, thirdcentury ferryman and patron of voyagers, who traditionally carried the Christ-Child across a swollen stream. He became a favourite subject for medieval wall-paintings, where he morphed into a seaside hermit. At Wedmore (Somerset), he strides across a choppy ocean filled with stately galleons, shoals of fish and a brazen-looking mermaid. At Peakirk, another of King Neptune’s saucy daughters frolicked at his feet in the 1950s but she has since faded into the foam. English riverside recluses include the Anglo-Saxon St Cett, who lived next to the Nene Oundle, and St Tibba, kinswoman of St Kyneburgha of Castor, whose cell was close to the Gwash at Ryhall. Most famous of all, is Norfolk-born Godric (died 1170), an erstwhile pedlar, merchant and sea-captain-turned pirate, whose colourful past prompted Bishop Roger of Durham to decree that all hermits sign a pledge to mend their ways. Godric settled by the River Wear at Finchale, where he built a hut and oratory, again dedicated in the honour of the Virgin Mary, and composed a hymn to her glory.

Wedmore: Fish, ships and mermaid (As Jesus’ Mother, she was in a perfect position to plead on behalf of penitent sinners like Godric and Guthlac on Judgement Day.) Godric too was rewarded with longevity; despite his diet of roots and berries, almost drowning in a flood and being mauled by marauding Scots, he survived to be 101! Eadwin of Higney, a hermit from Sawtry Abbey, also was plagued by intruders, causing him to fortify his hermitage with two moats. In 1116, he helped Christina, a Huntingdonshire damsel-indistress to escape from a forced marriage and seek sanctuary with Ælfwena an anchoress of Flamstead (Hertfordshire) and thence to an elderly recluse called Roger, near the River Ver at Markyate ‘in a desert not far from Dunstable’. There she stayed, eventually founding a convent nearby.

Dead to the world: entombed hermits (anchorites) Christina of Markyate was exceptionally lucky to have been allowed to leave Ælfwena’s anchor-hold. Unlike, hermits (who had freedom of movement), once committed anchorites and anchoresses were walled up for forever under a severe form of housearrest, striving to attain a mystical, one-to-one relationship with God. Understandably, such incarceration took its physical and psychological toll. The incumbent

could expect muscle-wastage, rheumatism, arthritis, sightloss, vitamin-deficiency, homesickness, boredom, acute loneliness, depression, hallucinations and dementia, all to be borne with the utmost stoicism. Yet, volunteers were plentiful. Derived from the Greek word, ‘anachoretes’ (‘one who lives apart’), it was a vocation that mainly appealed to aging hermits, widows, single women and those fleeing ‘incontinent’ husbands. Besides, candidates did not have to be aristocratic or rich, so long as they were pious and supported by their fellowparishioners. They also were exempt from taking the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as they hardly could get up to mischief confined within (at its most-spacious) a four-metre square room. Undoubtedly, the system was open to abuse. Clandestine enclosures were an expedient way of disposing of wayward daughters, erring wives and inconvenient widows and heiresses. Moreover, the flights of the teenage Christine Carpenter of Shere (Surrey) (enclosed 1329) and Isolde de Heton (enclosed 1436), who went into hiding with her infant son, reveal that not every anchoress tripped happily off to her anchor-hold – or found spiritual peace there. >>

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HERITAGE

MARGINS OF SOCIETY

Compton, Surrey: Anchor-holdd

A bishop enclosing an anchoress. (Corpus Christi College Cambridge)

Peakirk: St Christopher >> As far as we can gather, the application process was minimal. The aspirant was examined by the bishop, and, if passed muster, was admitted without further ado. The enclosure ceremony involved lying prostrate before altar of the church in which he/she was to be ‘entombed’ while funeral rites were read, then ceremoniously led to his /her ‘house of eternity’ and immured. In effect, anchorites were dead to the world. However, there were some concessions. Anchorites could employ a servant of spotless character to bring victuals and remove waste, and maybe keep a cat. Enclosure was especially harsh for women, who to the medieval mind were the daughters of Eve and, thereby, prone to yielding to temptation. Their anchor-holds usually were on the north side of church, depriving them of sunlight and warmth. Anchoresses filled their daylight hours in prayer, contemplation, embroidering for church and clergy, making clothes for the poor, copying religious texts and in extreme cases, scraping away at their own grave, in which they slept. If they absconded and were caught, they were hauled back to their cell to face the prospect of eternal damnation. 44

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Astonishingly, anchoresses outnumbered anchorites 2:1, including the early- feminist Dame Julian of Norwich (13421412), renowned for her words of wisdom and ‘Revelations of Divine Love’. In contrast, men had more leeway and negotiating rights. Their dwelling-places often were on south of church as at Thurlby (Lincolnshire). In general, anchor-holds had three windows, one (a ‘squint’) looking onto the altar so that the anchorite could participate in church services; another through which to receive food and beer and the third, the shuttered low or ‘world-side’ window, through which to listen to peoples’ woes and prayer-petitions, counsel and encourage repentance by example. Worldly conversations and the exchange of idle gossip were strictly forbidden. As ‘living saints’, anchorites played a vital role in the community, which was perceived to be protected by their prayers. Upon death, he/she was buried within the anchor-hold and rapidly replaced before tragedy befell the parish; hence, the lax requirements for applicants. Once there was an anchorhold in the north aisle of Ryhall

church, said to have been on the site of St.Tibba’s cell. Closer to home, in 1757, the eccentric antiquarian and physician Reverend William Stukeley almost certainly discovered another in the south-west corner of Crowland Abbey church’, which he wrongly identified as Guthlac’s eighthcentury cell. At St Mary’s, Marholm, William de Thorpe seems to have requisitioned a redundant anchor-hold when he established a chantry chapel ‘in The Hermitage of St Guthlac’, c.1390. (Obviously, this was not the Crowland recluse’s cell but possibly that of a medieval admirer.) The curious appendage to St Peter’s chancel, Maxey, could easily be mistaken for a former anchor-hold. The dimensions fit and it would have commanded a clear view of the altar but, when Michael Loveder showed me the interior, I found no architectural features (ie blocked windows). It could simply have been a vestry or ‘strong-room’, as the guide-book suggests. Anchoritism was banned by Edward VI (1547-53), inmates were released, theoretically absorbed back into society and their cells dismantled or turned into vestries to prevent re-occupation. Disorientated and unable to

MARGINS OF SOCIETY HERITAGE

King’s Lynn: Anchor-hold cope, many anchorites headed to the edges of settlements, whilst continuing to serve the community through prayer and by dispensing advice and herbal remedies. No longer under the protection of the church, when disaster struck the hermit or wisewoman-in-the-wood or cave often became a convenient scapegoat and accusations of witchcraft ensued.

Maxey Praying Hermit (Gerrit Dou, 1870)

Stamford: Stukeley’s ‘Druid’s cell’ (William Stukeley)

though I can find no record of a tenant. Elsewhere, absenteeism, ‘Ornamental’ hermits drunkenness, immorality and During the Georgian period (1714- insolence (reminiscent of Guthlac’s 1830), ‘professional’ hermits were misspent youth) coupled with the hired to inhabit architect-designed Abolition of Slavery Act of 1833, shell-lined grottos, Gothic follies contributed to the demise of the and Arcadian ‘hermitages’ in ‘ornamental’ hermit. They were the grounds of aristocratic and replaced by less-troublesome, zeroupper middle-class houses. maintenance ‘imagined’ hermits, We catch a glimpse of the who needed neither pocket-money archetypal garden recluse from nor provisions. old paintings, depicted as either a From stately home hirsute monk with his trade-mark to garden gnome hour-glass and skull, praying and contemplating his immortality; By the Victorian era, the real or or as a melancholy, down-at‘imagined’ hermit had transmuted heel scholar, bespectacled into the middle-class must-have – and engrossed in classical the concrete garden gnome. literature, sitting at the entrance Mass-produced, colourful, of his abode, ready to engage gurning, plastic versions were passers-by in intellectual debate. introduced in the 1950s, rendering Reverend Stukeley constructed them affordable to devotees of a ‘Druid’s cell’ in his rectory all incomes. Now, gnomes too garden at Stamford, in 1735, have fallen from grace and have

In a Tribland garden: Endangered species? become almost extinct in Tribland. Still, they evoke such memories that sentimental souls (like me) are reluctant to banish them completely. So, they are hidden away in the tool-shed or consigned to the seclusion of the shrubbery, like the anchorites and hermits of yore... on the margins of society.

Need to know more? Mary Rotha Clay’s Hermits and Anchorites (1914), Ann Warren’s Anchorites and their Patrons (1985) and Gordon Campbell’s The Hermit in the Garden (2013) are fascinating reads. 

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TASTE BUDS TOM YUM PORK BELLY

This is a very interesting dish I serve only to order as it is a rare treat for me too. Dating back many, many years to when we occupied FrenchIndochina (what is now Vietnam) it has many slight variations to the same dish my forebears created for the Asian climate but invariably includes either chicken or pork, maybe prawns.

from the kitchen of Tom Yum Pork Belly

I had a suggestion recently from a cultured and well-to-do lady friend to write about vegetarian recipes and I must think there are some of you in your nice Triblander villages who are similarly minded, non? Well although it is really not what we are about here at Chez Pierre I will do indeed this for her and others, but next issue I think.

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The base ingredient you know is actually a preprepared paste called Tom Yum which can be bought in some supermarchĂŠ (Waitrose) here but most always in Asian foodstores, such as my personal favourite the marvellous Janson Hong in Bridge Street. Tom Yum paste is actually an intensely flavoured Thai base for soups but can be used also as a sauce ingredient or a marinade; and it really brings a dish to life, especially as you will

read here. An infusion of lemon grass, garlic, chilli, lime juice and tamarind ensure a punchy yet warm and fresh-tasting dish to liven any jaded palate and it is found in street food and family dishes all over Vietnam and Thailand. Rich and spiced pork and sweet peas work really well together and here I cook my pork with sugary mange touts and sweet sugar snap peas. If you can only get one kind of pea, substitute the other with frozen petits pois.

TOM YUM PORK BELLY TASTE BUDS

To serve 4 people, you’ll need:

800g rindless (not too fatty) pork belly, 200g mange tout peas, 200g sugar snap peas, 3 cloves finely sliced garlic, 10 spring onions, chopped, 1 sliced red chilli to taste, 1 sliced yellow bell pepper, 1 tablespoon soft brown sugar, 2 tablespoons tom yum paste, 100ml Chinese rice wine, 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, Juice of a lime, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to fry.

1 Firstly brown the pork under  a preheated high-heat grill for about 5 minutes either side then slice into bite-sized pieces and set aside. 2 Bring the oil up to a high  temperature in a large frying pan and throw in the chopped garlic, chillies, pepper and spring onion with the sugar. Stir fry for about 20 seconds, then add the pork with it’s juices to the pan with the tom yum paste, rice wine and soy sauce.

3 Continue to stir fry for a couple  of minutes, then add the peas.  4 Pop a lid on the pan and leave to steam in the sauce for a further couple of minutes until the peas are bright green and barely cooked. I will serve this immediately with a squeeze of lime juice over, in large (pre-warmed) white bowls with separate fine noodles or rice. A-Ma-Zing!

Bon Chance Pierre x askchezpierre@gmail.com

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1919 IN MEMORIAM

Glinton

en years of events to commemorate the men from Glinton who died in two world wars were concluded on the 13th November with the presentation of an updated Roll of Honour to Peakirk cum Glinton C of E primary School. The new roll will be on permanent display in the school and marks the last of the events which first started in 2008 with the installation of original versions in the parish church and village hall. Glinton Parish Councils WW1 Working Party began work in 2008 by researching the histories and circumstances surrounding Glinton fallen in both world wars. As a result photographs of the men, the conflicts they were involved in and a biography were collated together in the creation of two vibrant Roll of Honour’s displayed for the benefit of future generations. The working party next turned its attention to the restoration of Glinton’s war memorial which had eroded making many of the names unreadable and the associated gunmetal First World War plaque was very loose. The cost of carrying out the work was

prohibitive and so it was decided to ask Glinton’s residents for their support through public fund raising. The exercise was outstandingly successful with donations from residents, relatives of the fallen and local businesses reaching over £3000. This enabled cover stones containing names of the fallen to be added to the memorial and the gunmetal plaque to be restored, framed and hung in the Village Hall. The generosity was such that donations were made to the Royal British Legion and Help for Hero’s with sufficient money remaining to fund further commemoration activities. Perhaps the most prominent was the installation of the commemoration bench next to the village pump which is in sight of the war memorial and provides an outstanding view of the village. The working party always considered it essential to involve future generations in the commemoration. As the centenary of the first world war approached it was decided ask

the Peakirk cum Glinton C of E Primary School whether their Year 5 and Year 6 students could become involved. As a result during the four years marking the centenary of the deaths of Glinton’s First World War soldiers Peter Skinner regularly visited the school to share with them stories of the men and the 100th anniversary of their death two preselected students launched a rocket into the sky high above the village which detonated with impressive explosions. To commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War at 11 am on 11th November 2018 the WW1 Working Group launched a rocket either side of 2 minutes silence in the sky above Glinton. A massive thank you to all those who donated and made the programme of events possible.

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IN MEMORIAM JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1919

The Poppy Arch to the Remembrance Service at St Andrew's Northborough 50

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1919 IN MEMORIAM

Helpston Feb. 1919

Private Thomas Edward Dawson 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment died on 8th February, 1919. He is buried in the churchyard at Duston, Northampton in the same grave as his father. His parents were James and Hester Dawson of Barnack. His younger brother Henry had been killed in 1916. There are seven casualties from World War 1 buried in Duston churchyard. There was a military hospital at Duston, so it seems the men had died there of wounds or possibly influenza.Gunner Gerald Pretty RN, HMS King George V, died on 10th February, 1919 aged 36. He is buried in Barnack cemetery. The Stamford Mercury for Feb 21st, 1919 carried the following report:. On Saturday Gunner Warrant Officer Gerald H.A.Pretty was laid to rest in the cemetery. Deceased, who was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Pretty of Walcot Lodge, Southorpe and brotherin-law of Mr.C.B.Allerton, headmaster of Barnack school, died of pneumonia following influenza in the Naval Hospital at Granton, Edinburgh. Gerald Pretty may well have been present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 in which HMS King George V played a part. He was our last casualty of the war and brought the total number of men killed from our parishes to fifty five.

Northborough It was lovely to welcome so many people, both young and old, through the Poppy Arch to the Remembrance Service at St Andrew's Northborough on 11 November. The stories of the 3 Northborough men who died during WW1 were heard again, and the Roll of Honour of all those who served during WW1

will continue to be on display in the church. Special mention must be made of the Doves of Remembrance that the Northborough school children had made, and it was a fitting tribute to all those who have suffered as a result of war that so many people of all ages were at this important commemoration. Ada is four and helped her grandma Stella to remember the past. She is already following in Stella’s footsteps as Northborough’s ace flower arranger. Clever girl Ada,well done. Marion Purllant

A complete record of the In Memoriam notices for these men is contained in the book The Men Who Went to War by Brian Palmer. It is on sale at Walkers Bookshop price £5 with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion.

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TRIBUNE DIARY

Diary

tribune Saturday 19 January 2019 You, your family & friends are invited to AN EVENING OF DANCE & BIG BAND MUSIC At St Mary’s Church Bainton. 7pm for a 7.30pm start Come & Join The Party and hear recordings of the great music from the 1920s to the swing music of the 1960s and on to the present. Hear from Philip Richards about how the music developed and some of the stories of the great bands. Have some fun dancing in the aisles. Tickets are available in advance or on the night for a minimum donation of £5, which includes a complimentary drink on arrival & light refreshments during the interval. For tickets contact Phil Richards on 749073 Sat 18 May HELPSTON GALA Book this date now please to be sure of a lovely afternoon catching up with friends in a relaxed village atmosphere. Bargains and Fun to be had. Stalls, exhibitions, music, food etc. Starts 12 noon. On the Village Green. In support of St Botolph’s Church and other charities.

The Glinton Horticultural Society 18 Jan THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A GARDENING EDITOR A talk presented by Geoff Hodge - Starting at 7.30pm in the Glinton Village Hall. 10 Feb VISIT TO ANGLESEY ABBEY IN CAMBRIDGE FOR THE SNOW DROP TOUR. www.glintonhorticultural.org.uk 15 Feb JARS OF HONEY FROM BOXES OF BEES A talk presented by David Burton - Starting at 7.30pm in the Glinton Village Hall. 5252

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TRIBUNE DIARY

Nene Park 14 Jan NATURE TOTS A fun monthly outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session has a nature theme and will include a messy craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and songtime. There are two Nature Tots sessions each month, with the second session being a repeat of the first one, so you will only need to book yourself onto one session each month.Adults may bring up to two paying children. Accompanying siblings below the age of 2yrs may attend at no cost. 10 - 11.30am. £3.50 2yrs+ 26 Jan CAMPFIRE COOKING FOR KIDS Learn how to light a fire and how to cook some simple campfire recipes. Participants will be shown how to use basic bushcraft techniques to light a fire without using matches and will then have a go at cooking and eating some simple campfire recipes. 10:30am 12noon and 1.30 - 3pm £5.50. 7+ 27 Jan FRIENDS AND FAMILY VOLUNTEERING MOMENTS WITH TREES Make a difference by helping the Rangers out in the Park and supporting the Moments with Trees project. Children, couples, grandparents, friends - everybody welcome. All tools and training provided, just bring along lots of enthusiasm. Free car parking for all. 10am -12noon Free 5 yrs +. 27 Jan FRIENDS AND FAMILY VOLUNTEERING MOMENTS WITH TREES Make a difference by helping the Rangers out in the Park and supporting the Moments with Trees project Children, couples, grandparents, friends - everybody welcome. All tools and training provided, just bring along lots of enthusiasm. Free car parking for all 1pm - 3pm Free 5 yrs + Nene Park Trust, Ham Farm House, Ham Lane, Peterborough PE2 5UU T: 01733 234193 E: visitor. services@neneparktrust.org.uk All events take place at Ferry Meadows unless stated otherwise. www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Langdyke 13 Dec DARK SKIES EVENING at Castor Hanglands and views of the Geminid meteor shower, weather permitting! Meet at 7pm at the main entrance to the reserve, off the Helpston Road, off-road parking provided. E-ticket event, booking required. 1 Jan LANGDYKE NEW YEAR’S DAY WALK from Barnack Meet at 1pm at the Hills and Holes car park, Wittering Road. Finish by 4pm. 26 Jan GET STUCK INTO NATURE at Etton High Meadow, followed by wassailing in the community orchard 2-7pm at Etton High Meadow, with BBQ. Please book in advance for the BBQ. 9 Feb WINTER WALK around Bainton Heath and Pits, winter trees and ducks! 2pm meet at Torpel Manor Field. 16 Mar NATURAL FAMILY FUN at Castor Hanglands, hacking and burn-ing, suitable for all ages! 1.30pm at the main entrance to the reserve, off road parking provided - bring your own refreshments! 13 Apr BLUEBELL WALK at Old Sulehay Nature Reserve near Yarwell 2pm at Ring Haw Field Station, di-rections will be provided. 16 May BATS, NEWTS AND NIGHTINGALES at Castor Hanglands. 7.30pm at the main entrance to the reserve, off the Helpston Road, off-road parking provided. 29-30 Jun LANGDYKE’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND – celebrating 20 years of posi-tive local action for nature and heritage. Events throughout the weekend and across the reserves. 12 Jul SEARCHING FOR GLOW WORMS at Barnack Hills and Holes. 9pm meet at the entrance to the re-serve off the Wittering Road. 13 Sep LANGDYKE ANNUAL MEMBERS’ MEETING continued overleaf >>

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TRIBUNE DIARY

>> continued from previous page

Diary

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Arts Society Peterborough Lectures

10 Jan

14 Mar

This lecture covers the history of cartoonery in British public life, as a means of observing and commenting upon society and the politics of the day. Many artists have discovered that humour is the key to winning the hearts of the English. Caricature, satire and the cartoon have given pleasure, satisfaction, amusement and relief, whilst drawing down censure and puncturing pomposity across class divides since the Eighteenth Century. From the witty and genteel to the vicious and scurrilous, these pithy encapsulations of the recognisable, continue to have relevance today. They are miniature masterpieces, ephemeral, yet, enduring through time. From the Georgians, Gillray & Rowlandson, to Punch and Strand cartoonists, Tenniel, Sambourne, Leach and Dickie Doyle, and from Thelwell to Scarfe these visual drolleries have lost none of their appeal.

This lecture will take you on a tour of the religious art and architecture of China. You will see examples of work of the great faiths that dominated the history of that great civilisation. They will include the ancient, indigenous Confucian and Taoist traditions, the imagerich Mahayana version of Buddhism and the distinctive Chinese responses to Christianity and Islam.

Cartoonery: English Attitudes

14 Feb

Hogarth: Harlots, Rakes and Crashing China This lecture, by Lars Tharp, of Antiques Roadshow fame, looks at what William Hogarth brings onto his stage as bit-part players in his social dramas – pots, crocks and all types of chinaware – from the harlot’s dingy garret to milord’s swanky mantelpiece, ceramics teeter, tumble, or merely stand helplessly by, symbolic commentators on the goings-on around them. He delves into the stories, reveals and identifies particular ceramics and shows how Hogarth’s images became sources for the ceramic workshops of Europe and China. A unique and stimulating talk, colliding material culture and moral commentary. He promises that you will look at Hogarth and ceramics with new eyes. Time: 10.45am – 11.45am (coffee from 10.15am) Cost: Try it for free Location: The Fleet, Old Fletton, Peterborough, PE2 8DL E: publicity@pdfas.co.uk T: 01733 767539 www.pdfas.co.uk 5454

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Sacred Art of China

At the heart of this rich culture, lay a series of concerns of truly ancient origin: the maintenance of harmonious relations between men and Heaven; respect for one’s family, including the spirits of one’s ancestors; the role of the Emperor, as the fulcrum of life in the ‘central Kingdom’, a role as much spiritual, as secular. 11 Apr

Plants in Art and Culture This lecture will look at the concept of ‘plant blindness’, a phrase that has been coined, in recent years, to identify our tendency to overlook plants. Plants are the dominant aspect of the natural world around us but few residents and visitors to London notice the plane trees on their way to work or social engagements. However, we often talk of our own cultural identities in terms framed by plant language e.g. the ‘English’ oak is a symbol of national endurance and steadfastness. It will explain how the plants we place around us denote our emotional state of being – white lilies for mourning or laurel for celebrations of victory. We are plants. 9 May

Leonardo’s Women This lecture, is designed to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death. It will study his revolutionary rendering of the female figure and how he harnessed the interplay of light and shadow to produce images that combine the spiritual with the sensual, the mythical with the mysterious. His images of women, whether Madonnas, mistresses or wealthy members of society, are among the most renowned works of art of the Italian Renaissance. Please also see Church Diary on page 56-57 and WI Diary on page 14

MEN UNITED IN SONG

MUSICAL NOTES

SUPPORTING PROSTATE CANCER UK

MEN UNITED IN SONG 2019

New Year, new you? Looking for a fresh challenge, new skills and a great social scene to boot? Then look no further…

ollowing its phenomenal success over the last few years, Men United in Song is back for 2019, once again raising money for Prostate Cancer UK. Launching in March, the project will sign up 40 local men with a range of previous singing experience (including none) to rehearse over 10 weeks for a charity concert at the Cresset Theatre on Saturday 11th May. To date the project has engaged hundreds of local men, raising many thousands of pounds for the charity, as well as inspiring similar projects across the country – a fantastic result! John, from Moulton Chapel, says “I was looking for something new to do and Men United in Song seemed like a great way of meeting new people and supporting a good cause. I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was quite a steep learning curve! I didn’t realise before that not everyone in a choir sang all the same thing together, there are harmonies too, and when it all comes together it sounds absolutely amazing! The whole experience was fantastic and performing in the concert was the icing on the cake!” “Having seen Men United in Song advertised in previous

years and been tempted to get involved, I finally got the impetus to go for it when my father was diagnosed” says Martin from Bourne. “Although the idea initially filled me with some trepidation, the experience proved to be extremely enjoyable and fulfilling. It’s a very rewarding opportunity whilst raising vital awareness and funds for the continuing fight against prostate cancer.” “I wanted to improve my singing and Men United in Song seemed like a great opportunity!” says Adam from Thorney. “Turning up for the first rehearsal was daunting, but I immediately felt comfortable singing in such a relaxed environment. The highlight for me was knowing that we were creating something amazing for such a great cause. I've met all sorts of people, from farmers to accountants to new dads - without this project we would never have had the chance to meet and discover how we can really sing. I would highly recommend the experience!” Men United In Song is not all about the singing or even about the fundraising, there’s a fantastic social scene too! Ultimately, it’s about a group of men getting together in a shared enterprise, which of course is the idea behind Prostate Cancer UK’s Men United campaign, and why

the charity seemed such a good fit for the project. William Prideaux, director of Men United in Song, says “Year on year, we see men of all ages from all walks of life get stuck into this project, producing fantastic results over a relatively short period of time both in terms of the progress they make and the sound they produce in the final concert and in terms of raising money for this very important charity. It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to work with them.” Men United In Song kicks off with introduction sessions on 27 and 28 February and 2 March at the John Mansfield Campus in Peterborough. Absolutely no previous experience is required to join, just a willingness to get involved and give it your best shot! “We’re not looking for 100 percent in musicality, but 100 percent in enthusiasm” says William. “Why not give it a go, it just might be the best thing you’ve done in a very long time!” Rehearsals will be on Thursday evenings from 7.45 - 9.45pm at the John Mansfield Campus, Western Avenue, Peterborough PE1 4HX. The Men United In Song concert will be at Peterborough’s Cresset Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday 11 May.

"Why not give it a go, it just might be the best thing you’ve done in a very long time!" For further information contact Jo on 01733 425194 or email menunited@peterboroughsings.org.uk

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CHURCH NEWS SERVICES

JANUARY

Sun 6

Sun 13

Sun 20

Sat 27

St John the Baptist Barnack

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church 4pm Messy church at Barnack Village Hall

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church 6pm Informal Service

10.30am All Age Praise

St Mary’s Bainton

4.30pm Taize Service

9am Parish Communion

4.30pm BCP Evensong

9am Parish Communion

St Botolph’s Helpston

10.45am All Age Praise

10.45am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

10.45am All Age Communion

10.45am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

All Saints Wittering

10.30am Christingle Service

10.30am Morning Praise

10.30am Celtic Communion

St Stephen Etton

10am Parish Praise Mark Hotchkin

NO SERVICE

8am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

NO SERVICE

St Peter Maxey

9am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

9am All age Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10am Family Service Village Hall M Hotchkin & F Skillman

9am Holy Communion BCP Rev'd Mark-Aaron

St Benedict Glinton

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am Parish Praise Mark Hotchkin

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

11am United Parish Worship with St. Pega's in Glinton Village Hall Derek Harris

St Andrew Northborough

9am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am All Age Praise Freda Skillman

9am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am Family Communion Praise Rev'd Mark-Aaron and Freda Skillman

St Pega Peakirk

6pm Evensong Patronal Festival Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

United Parish Worship with St. Benedict's in Glinton Village Hall

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SERVICES CHURCH NEWS

FEBRUARY

Sun 3

Sun 10

Sun 17

Sun 24

Sun 3 Mar

St John the Baptist Barnack

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church 4pm Messy Church at Barnack Village Hall

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

10.30am All Age Praise

9.30am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

St Mary’s Bainton

4.30pm Taize Service

9am Parish Communion

4.30pm BCP Evensong

9am Parish Communion

4.30pm Taize Service

St Botolph’s Helpston

10.45am All Age Praise

10.45am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

10.45am All Age Communion 6pm Informal Service

10.45am Parish Communion with Children’s Church

10.45am All Age Praise

All Saints Wittering

10.30am Snowdrop Sunday Service

10.30am Morning Praise

10.30am Thinking Day Service

10.30am All Age Praise

St Stephen Etton

10am Parish Praise Mark Hotchkin

NO SERVICE

8am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

NO SERVICE

10am Parish Praise Mark Hotchkin

St Peter Maxey

9am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

9am All Age Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10am Family Service Village Hall M Hotchkin & F Skillman

9am Holy Communion BCP Rev'd MarkAaron

9am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

St Benedict Glinton

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am Parish Praise Mark Hotchkin

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

9.30am Parish Worship Derek Harris

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd MarkAaron 9am Holy Communion Rev'd MarkAaron

6pm Evensong Rev'd MarkAaron

St Andrew Northborough

9am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am All Age Praise Freda Skillman

9am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am Family Communion Praise Rev'd MarkAaron and Freda Skillman

St Pega Peakirk

6pm Evensong Rev'd Mark-Aaron

10.30am Holy Communion Rev'd Mark-Aaron

11am Morning Prayer Derek Harris

11am Parish Worship Derek Harris

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

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CHURCH NEWS

I arrived at the Stamford Food Bank one day last week, and found that there had been clients waiting to enter the building even before the doors opened. It was a freezing cold day at the start of December, and I wondered how they would be spending the rest of the month and especially Christmas.

Thought Pause for A

s you read this in January, perhaps we should all reflect whether their “festive season” was at all “festive” for them, and whether it was even a “season” at all, or rather just part of their continual way of life? And this is Stamford, not Southampton or even Salford. Looking back to 2011, I remember the early discussions about the possible establishment of a Food Bank in Stamford. The Christians Against Poverty centre in Stamford had just been started and a Food Bank had opened in Grantham, but the question was whether Stamford also needed a Food Bank. It was realized that many people in need do not necessarily have a financial debt problem, as they may not have even been able to access credit

before. But Stamford seemed a mostly prosperous place, and there were doubts about whether there was need for a Food Bank too. How wrong we were to doubt: it soon became clear that the problem was much bigger that we had thought or feared, and that it was not just a short-term issue during the Government’s ”temporary” austerity programme: last year over 650 3-day food supplies were given out for 1,500 people in Stamford alone. A recent survey by the Church Urban Fund found that 70% of Anglican churches run three or more organised activities, such as parent/carer and toddler groups, community cafes, lunch clubs for older people, holiday clubs and youth work, for the benefit of their local communities, and Stamford

Michael Mills

and the surrounding villages are no exception. In particular, Barnack Church regularly takes donations to the Stamford Food Bank while Helpston Church takes donations to one in Peterborough, and the other local churches in our benefice provide support directly and indirectly too. Thank you so much to all those who help in this way. But there is always more that we can do, whether through donations or through volunteering in the Food Banks or elsewhere. Let’s all do what we can, and not just through this cold time of year, as the needs persist throughout the year. It’s true that Jesus said that the poor and vulnerable will always be with us; but it’s also true that the Parable of the Good Samaritan was told us for a reason!

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CHURCH NEWS

After many decades protecting the fabric of our church from the weather, thieves have stolen at least 75% of the lead from the roof of St Pega’s church Peakirk leaving a 1000 year old building now topped with polythene and facing a massive bill for the repairs.

Is nothing sacred? We were attacked during the week following Remembrance Sunday and a week or two earlier our friends in Etton discovered their church had been similarly stripped of its lead. The theft of lead from churches is not a new crime but a quick search on the internet will show it is currently very prevalent in the eastern part of the country. Why you may well ask. Well rural churches are by definition isolated, often surrounded by trees or not overlooked by nearby houses with modest (if any) security measures. The price of lead has risen from about £1300 per metric ton in 2013 to about £1800 in 2018. A church near Bedford recently lost 20 tons to thieves which on a legitimate market could have made over £30000. Operating in the dead of night the risk of detection is low and the potential ‘reward’ high. The consequences in terms of the cost of repair for the church are

equally high. Insurance companies will only compensate a very small part of the cost unless highly expensive security measures have been installed. For many churches like ours most of the cost will either fall on church funds (if they have money saved) or a successful bid to a grant provider. We have nationally important wall paintings to protect from the weather and will be applying for a grant partly on the strength of the paintings. If the application is unsuccessful it will leave the Parochial Church Council and the congregation in a major dilemma. And for St Pega’s this crime could not have been committed at a worse time. We are in the middle of a major project looking at the internal layout of the church, welfare facilities, the lighting and of course safeguarding the 14th century wall paintings. Any money the church could have contributed to

this project may now have to be redirected towards the new roof. To say that we are disheartened is an understatement. Disheartened, upset, incredulous, even angry may be a few apt words to describe the feelings of those responsible for the upkeep of the church, those who worship at the church and residents with no strong spiritual ties but still a sense of loyalty to ‘our church’. On the positive it offers a rallying call for the village to come together and sort out the mess in the characteristic stoic fashion. It may require cake baking and selling on an industrial scale. Our famous St Pega’s cafe may have to consider competing with McDonalds. And as I lose grip on my imagination one thing is for sure, it will be hard work. Let it not be hard work for a few. Any help would be most welcome.

St Andrew's Northborough Christingle Chris and Freda Skillman St Andrew's Church, Northborough, was full at 4.00pm on 9 Dec for the Annual Christingle service. The children circled the church with their Christingles and joined movingly in singing 'Away in a Manger'. The collection goes to The Children's Society to help disadvantaged children.

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CHURCH NEWS

Chats in old churches Avril Lumley Prior As part of our St Pega’s Project, Peakirk had planned to host the first of the ‘Chats in Old Churches’ in January. Sadly, due to the theft of lead from our roof, protecting our nationally-important wall paintings from the elements has become our priority. There will be a lot of activity at St Pega’s over the coming month. Consequently, we have no other option but to postpone this event until spring. I promise to keep you informed . . .

St Pega of Peakirk:

Celebrating 1300 Years Avril Lumley Prior

You are warmly invited to celebrate St Pega’s Patronal Festival with us at 6pm on Sunday 6 January, almost exactly 1300 years to the day since her death in 719. A hymn, composed in Latin in Pega’s honour by a thirteenth-century monk of Crowland Abbey, will be performed - probably, for the very first time in Peakirk (thanks to our organist, David Scofield). Its English translation and short vignettes from her life will also be read. In medieval times, the Crowland brethren used to commemorate St Pega’s Day with a feast and extra beer-rations. Unfortunately, we cannot compete with this but we will be serving light refreshments afterwards instead. Everyone is welcome.

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CHURCH NEWS

St Benedict’s Social Committee

Sue Lowe-Lauri (secretary)

Great performance ends the year on a high note!

Our last event held in November was a very successful social and dance where the newly formed band, Forth West & Jones, featuring Malcolm Lowe-Lauri on drums, gave a magnificent performance, gratis, playing a range of covers from country and western to punk to more modern pop songs. Satiated with a ploughman’s supper the appreciative audience danced

the night away and helped raise over £500 for St Benedict’s. Other fund raising activities this year have included the photographic competition resulting in the first Glinton calendar, copies of which are still for sale, a fun ukulele concert, and the Burns’ supper earlier in the year. Due to enthusiasm and hard work of the committee and all

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the supporters of the events we are pleased to announce a total profit of around £2,500, a magnificent boost for the church funds. Thanks to everyone who has supported these events and look out for more in 2019. If you think you can give some time to support the committee please do get in touch.

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CHURCH NEWS

Cover Story The Spirit of Christingle

Rebecca and son Harry Lancaster holding a Christingle. Some of the congregation looking at the lights

On Sunday 2 December, St Pega’s church Peakirk celebrated the Christingle story followed by switching on the Christmas lights in the church yard. The Reverend Mark-Aaron captivated young and old as he explained the Christian story through the image of a decorated orange. Mulled wine and Christmas biscuits were served before the congregation made its way to the church yard to see the lights turned on accompanied by singing some of the classic Christmas carols. A collection was taken for the Children’s Society.

Announcements FUNERAL Reginald Grimmer (20/11/2018) Barnack Church BAPTISM Sonny Mapes (02/12/2018) Barnack Church

h iary ChurcD Sat 5 Jan and Sat 2 Feb 2019 Benefice Prayer Breakfast In Botolph’s Barn every 1st Saturday of the month.

Sat 26 Jan Sat 23 Feb 2019 Coffee Mornings St Botolph's - Helpston Church invites everyone to the regular monthly coffee mornings held in the Church from 10am until 12 noon.

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Peter Hiller

Nicky Tyler

Huge thanks to the members for inviting me yet again to the Glinton Friendship Club Christmas lunch today. Always such a pleasure to meet up and see Glinton and Northborough folk having a great

Tonight, just before 18.00 I was standing in the wind and rain at the Maxey Road Crossing heading home, which is literally just the other side of the crossing heading towards Maxey. After a short while I could hear hurried footsteps behind me saying 'excuse me'. I assumed this may have been someone looking for directions.

time together. Really warm and lovely atmosphere, excellent company and dedicated team who selflessly organise it! Thanks to all. PAOS.ORG.UK Pete Hayward Artist from Helpston Pete Hayward: A sad loss to the PAOS art community Peterborough Artists Open StudiosOn Thursday 1st November 2018, one of our members, Pete Hayward, sadly passed away

Instead, It was a very kind young lady who had jumped out of her white car, (sorry, I don't know the make), who was concerned about me being wet and cold. She even invited me to sit in her car to prevent me from getting more drenched.

xx Judy Dame

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Very productive meeting this morning in Peakirk to discuss speeding motorists issues through this lovely village in our ward, particularly over the bridge coming in from Deeping Gate. A number of potential initiatives examined, and PCC officers requested to evaluate costings and relative effectiveness. Thank you Sally Ann Jackson for organising.

I thanked her repeatately as it was such a kind gesture, something you don't see very often now. I am good at asking people's names but not remembering them. I believe her name was Christine? I may be wrong. She had farily dark longish hair, but difficult to see in the dark and wearing glasses I think? If anyone could shed any light who this lovely lady was I want her to know that she has totally restored my faith in humanity.

following a short illness. Watch out for for an exhibition of the late Pete Haywardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work at the John Clare Cottage.

Peter Hiller

Hi - I am interested in setting up a book club in Helpston - to meet perhaps monthly. Would anybody be interested?

Peterborough National Nature Reserves The sheep and ponies at Barnack Hills and Holes have now been moved into the compartment adjacent to the main car park. There are signs up around the reserve, please do not take dogs into this compartment.

WRITE AWAY

Jacqueline Stockman Not my usual scenic view so upset to see this as I take my usual route. Seems someone has dumped all this rubbish then it seems someone is sorting through it spreading it all over the roadside. Avril Lumley Prior Please, be alert! A prowler entered a back garden in Rectory Lane, Peakirk, at 19.50 hours, Thursday 6 December. Disturbed by security lights and householder and fled. Rachel Thrall Just a word of warning. Hermes delivered a John Lewis parcel yesterday and rather stupidly left it by the front door. It was stolen from the front porch within 30 minutes of it being left. Willows area Glinton.

Dear Editor, I wondered if the following piece and photos might be of interest for the next edition of the Village Tribune? ..................................................... On Sunday 18 November, despite the first frost of the winter being present on the ground, 21 runners and a support cyclist gathered at the entrance to St Stephens Church Etton as the early morning service came to an end, to take on the steeplechase challenge of then running via the other four parishes in the Benefice and arriving at St Benedicts, Glinton before the morning service commenced there at 10:30 Rev Mark-Aaron kindly joined the group for a quick photo before dashing off to take the next service at St Andrews whilst the runners, who were a mixture of members of Werrington Joggers, their families, friends and parishioners of the 5 villages set off first to Maxey

The two photos above show the runners prior to starting off and then enjoying cake after finishing and returning to Etton At the half way point in Northborough Rev MarkAaron invited the group into the Church, mid service to offer words of encouragement and then it was off to Peakirk and finally finishing at St Benedicts just as the congregation were arriving. The sight of so much bright lycra at the Parish door added a splash of colour to the frosty back drop The run was thorough enjoyed by everyone who took part, Werrington Joggers particularly appreciated the warm welcome they received. Perhaps an idea for a summer walk next year, with picnic stops at each Church maybe?!! Tim Cook, Chairman Werrington Joggers and Northborough resident

Dear Editor,

Tracy Thomas Stolen this morning between 10.3011.30 am from just outside Market Deeping, long wheel based white land rover defender E357 TEW Right wing is black, rear door racing green. 3 seats, the rest are dog cages. Police incident no 133.

I have one of the Rolls of Honour for the FirstÂ World War. If it is of interest Daniel Bean Corporal M.M.P. , is listed on Helpston Council School Roll Of Honour as R.I.P. There is no mention of any one named Warner. The Roll lists the names of 81 villagers,unfortunately 17 of them as R.I.P. As a boy I remember at least 19 of those listed, also am related to 6 of them. I would be pleased for the Roll of Honour to be displayedÂ in the Village, if you do not already have one. Dick Butterworth

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TOP TIPS CONSUMER ADVICE

We all love a bargain, and sales save us so much money, right? Yes...but you need to shop smart to take proper advantage of the discounts, and to avoid buying things you don’t need.

Make the most of the

January Sales By Sarah Davey

So here is our one-stop shopping guide to the January Sales.

Do your research Many retailers market their sales beforehand and some even let you fill your shopping cart before sales officially open. This means you can think and plan, and make sure that your purchases are relevant to your needs. Goodbye post-sales regrets!

Shop your wardrobe first Take stock of what you already own. This is important when you’re sales shopping. It's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of snapping up a great deal only to find that you already own three almost identical items to the bargain you just bought. If you go sales shopping armed with the knowledge that you DON'T need brown boots, or another leather jacket, you are more likely to make wise buying choices. Also, if you already know what you do own you can think about what each item you purchase will coordinate with, and just like that, you’re adding cool-headed calm to the sales-shopping mix! 66

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Don't forget postage costs If you’re shopping online, extra costs like postage, customs and shipping aren’t usually included in discounts. Factor this in and keep checking your cart before you hit the ‘Pay’ button.

Force yourself to try things on If it’s worth queueing for the changing room, and you still love it when it’s on, it’s probably a good find! If you can't be bothered to queue then put it back, you don't love it that much.

Set a budget If you don't start with a limit you’re almost guaranteed to blow your budget. Because...new clothes! Also treat your budget as a limit not a target!

Beware of returns policies Most retailers won’t let you return sale items just because you don't like them once you get them home but... Know your rights - If a sale item is faulty then your rights as a

consumer are exactly the same as if the item was full price.

Plan your route Planning will keep you focused and avoid you being lured into shops you’re better off avoiding.

Take a friend Make sure they are the rational, honest type of friend who will tell you if something doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit you. to keep you from blowing your budget on things you shouldn’t.

Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of You don't want to have to spend half an hour in the changing room taking off boots with fiddly catches and tops with twenty buttons multiple times. 'Nuff said!

Eat something first Food is cheaper and healthier at home. Plus, it's scientific fact that clothes shopping on an empty stomach causes us to make impulse buys to satisfy hunger cravings! The human brain is quirky like that.

Happy shopping.

CONSUMER ADVICE TOP TIPS

by Eileen Le Voi

DO thumbs-up Do keep purses and bags closed and secure at all times thumbs-up Do conceal your wallet in a buttoned or zipped pocket where it doesn’t bulge thumbs-up Do carry bags in front of you or diagonally across your chest thumbs-up Do return cards to your purse or wallet quickly and zip it up or button it thumbs-up Do use a money belt if you’re carrying a significant quantity of cash thumbs-up Do keep your valuables out of sight

Don't give them

Rich Pickings!

Don’t let the pick pockets ruin your New Year sales shopping and bargain hunting If like many people you choose to hit the High Street straight after Christmas for your seasonal spend up – then don’t let the pick pockets spoil your festive bargain hunting fun. While you may be armed with a post-Christmas shopping wish-list, you can guarantee that the pick pockets and purse dippers will be out in force to cause heartache and misery. According to last year’s police statistics across a number of UK cities, the 27th December is when shoppers are traditionally out in force after Boxing Day and is the most popular day for thieves to strike. In Birmingham alone, £20,000 worth of valuables were taken by pickpockets during the

festive season, while in Cardiff that figure was £27,000. As you would suspect, phones – in particular expensive ones – were top of the list, credit and debit cards were next, followed by purses, wallets, handbags and jewellery. It’s so easy when we are busy and in a rush not to zip up bags or put phones away properly, but it is so very important to be extra vigilant and careful at this time of year, especially in crowded shops and whilst in queues. Remember, pickpockets are very skilled at what they do. They know all the tricks and are extremely light-fingered with most of their thefts only taking a second or two.

thumbs-up Do keep a list, separate from your wallet and phone, of contact numbers of family in case your phone is stolen

DO NOT  Do not place your mobile phone or wallet in your back pocket  Do not hang your bag or any items on the back of a chair  Do not leave anything on the back of a pushchair  Do not place your belongings out of sight on the floor including shopping bags  Do not show your money - keep it safely in your pocket and when using the ATM, always ensure that your money has been secured in your purse or wallet before turning away

Wishing you a very Happy New Year and please keep your valuables safe with the above advice.

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PLANNING

APPLICATIONS

 BARNACK

Replace roof timber work to small outbuilding (w.c) after removing and storing roof tiles at Church Cottage Main Street: Permitted (L1, L2 and L3) Lime - Crown raise to 5m, remove dead wood, remove epicormic/adventitious growth from stem up to approx 5m, reduce lowest South facing limb on (L1) lime by 2-3m to give building clearance at 19 Bishops Walk: Permitted Convert barn to holiday-let accommodation, temporary siting of caravan to front of site (retrospective) and temporary siting of storage containers (retrospective) at Sandall House Stamford Road: Permitted Demolition of single storey extension and construction of single storey and two storey rear extensions and alterations to side and front windows at 4 Bainton Road: Permitted Single storey side extension and internal alterations at 2 Kingsley House Bishops Walk: Permitted Works to outbuilding to facilitate it's conversion for ancillary domestic use at 2 Kingsley House Bishops Walk: Permitted Norway Spruce - Fell Sycamore - Crown raise by approx. 2m to 3.5m at The Old Chapel Main Street: Permitted Reduce height by approx 3m of two Silver Birch trees at 11 Whitman Close: Awaiting decision

 BAINTON

Reduction of large Hawthorn to approx. half height (approx. 2.5m from centre). Pollard of 2x multistem Willows back to previous pollard unions (at approx. 6m), Removal of fallen stem from right side of Willow at Stonelea Tallington Road: Awaiting decision Part retrospective single storey rear extension with flue at Sandpipers Ufford Road: Permitted Replace the existing wooden-framed windows in the ground floor (south-facing) front elevation, replacement windows to match the existing in terms of material (wood), size and width of glazing bars, but be double glazed with a 4mm gap between 4mm panes of glass (12mm overall) at Willowgate Cottage Helpston Road: Permitted

 CASTOR

Ground floor side and front extensions and installation of two windows to first floor side elevation at 35A Peterborough Road: Awaiting decision Addition of three dormer windows to front elevation and one roof light to rear elevation - main house roof at 8 High Street: Awaiting decision 68

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Proposed single storey front and side extensions, and alterations at 25A Peterborough Road: Awaiting decision Erection of a three bedroom, self build, detached dwelling and garage at 35A Peterborough Road: Awaiting decision

 DEEPING

GATE

Construction of two semi-detached houses (1 no 3-bed and 1 no 2-bed) with associated car parking for 4 vehicles at 1 Riverside: Permitted Single storey rear extension distance from original rear wall: 6m, Height: 3.94m (2.7m to eaves) at 10 Suttons Lane: Not required

 ETTON

Retention of two marquees at Golden Pheasant 1 Main Road: Permitted New first floor dormer window to existing rear extension at 24 Main Road: Awaiting decision

 GLINTON

Erection of garden wall and gates at 9 Dovecote Way: Permitted Demolition of existing single storey outbuilding and erection of two storey side extension and one and a half storey outbuilding in rear garden at 47 Welmore Road: Withdrawn Single storey rear extension and conversion of garage into habitable room at 8 The Willows: Awaiting decision Demolition of existing single storey outbuilding and erection of two storey side extension and one and a half storey outbuilding in rear garden at 47 Welmore Road: Awaiting decision

APPLICATIONS

PLANNING

Front porch extension, a rear single storey extension,  NORTHBOROUGH first floor side extension and a driveway to the front at 3 x Apple trees (6654) (6657) and (6661)- routine 4 Holmes Road: Permitted maintenance and reduce crown on Apple 6654 to 3.4m Demolition of existing double garage and utility radius Hazel - Coppice at 2 Paradise Lane: Permitted room, erection of two storey extension to east Single storey rear extension Distance from original rear elevation, erection of double timber car port and store to front, extensions to barn to the rear of site at wall: 6m, Height: 2.9m (2.7m to eaves at 27A Claypole Drive: Not required Mouse Cottage 1 North Fen Road: Permitted Variation of conditions C1 (commencement), C2 (materials), C3 (windows and doors), C4 (parking and turning), C5 (access road), C6 (construction vehicles parking), C7 (wheel wash system), C8 (biodiversity), C9 (surface water drainage), C10 (foul water drainage), C11 (tree protection plan), C12 (lighting), C13 (approved plans) of planning permission 18/01413/WCPP at Scotts Farm Welmore Road: Awaiting decision

 HELPSTON

(L1) Conifer Hedgerow - Reduce back to a approx 6ft hedgerow, (S1) Silver Birch - Reduce by approx 2-3m, (L2) Lime - Remove significant deadwood at 2 Maxey Road: Permitted Single storey rear extension at 4 Willow Mews: Awaiting decision

Stone wall approx 12ft length (1.8m high) to replace unstable hedgerow at 37 Church Street: Awaiting decision Proposed first floor side extension above existing footprint, convert external porch to internal porch and, uPVC bay window to front at 38 Deeping St James Road: Awaiting decision Proposed childrens nursery building to consist of 3 classrooms, ancillary accommodation including office staffroom, wc's, kitchen and outdoor space, and proposed fence at Northborough Primary School Church Street: Awaiting decision Part retrospective application for the erection of a 3m x 4.3m conservatory to side of the house at 2 St Andrews Road: Permitted

 MAXEY

TPO 07/1979 within G1: 1 x Ash - Fell at 2 High Street Erection of single storey front and side extensions and 1 x Cherry Plum - Reduce tree to point of previous erection of reduction and shape 2 x Silver Birch - Reduce by up to 1.8m timber fence to the front at 40 Broad Wheel 1.5mtrs and shape at 1 Arthurs Court: Permitted Road: Permitted Erection of Timber shed at 65A High Street: Awaiting Pine tree - crown raise to 3.5 m, Reduce lower limbs on lower east facing limbs on boundary sycamore trees approx 2-3m at The Old Chantry West Street: Permitted

decision

Raise one Beam tree, reduce by 1/3 Cherry tree and 1 Acacia, fell 1 Chestnut tree, raise crown on 2 Conifers, 1 unknown tree, reduce 1 Laburnum by approx 1/3. reduce 1 Acacia and 1 Willow and raise off of roof at 24 High Street: Awaiting decision Reduce Cherry Plum tree to point of previous reduction and shape; reduce 2 off Silver Birch by up to 1.5mtrs and shape at 1 Arthurs Court: Awaiting decision

 PEAKIRK

1. Cherry - Cut back two branches overhanging house roof (approx diameter 8cm), 2. Holly - Minor pruning back of branches interfering with telephone lines, 3. Lilac - Remove overhanging lower branch (approx diameter 4.5cm) at 1 St Pegas Road: Permitted Cut back 2 branches of Cherry tree, cut back Holly and remove overhanging lower branch from mature Lilac tree at 1 St Pegas Road: Awaiting decision

 UFFORD

Two storey and single storey front extensions with first floor balcony at 2 Meadow View Newport Way: Awaiting decision

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