Village Tribune 122

YOUR FAVOURITE, AWARD WINNING, VILLAGE PUBLICATION

issue

122

vil agetribune May / June 2020

Peakirk withinLivingmemory

BUMPER LOCKDOWN EDITION

from the kitchen of

POULET CÉLIGNY GARDENING FROM SCRAPS THE TRAIN THAT ROCKED WALKING THE WALK ALFRESCO YOUTH LEAD THE WAY THE NET OF THE WEB

Glinton Rainbows

RECIPE • NATURE WATCH • CHURCH NEWS • 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

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Tribune readers, Despite half the globe being in lock-down and all our lives being turned upside-down, we decided that it was important to try and continue producing and delivering the Tribune to our 4,500 village homes. As a much-loved ‘regular’ in our 13 villages, the Trib’ has been delivering local news, views and opinions for the past 20 years, we hope you support our decision to carry on despite the restrictions placed on our lives.

The last six weeks has seen communities pull together in incredible ways, from supporting elderly neighbours and others in need of help, to the joyous shows of appreciation for our key workers. We no doubt have some way to go before we’re out of the woods - but let’s hope some of these acts of kindness and compassion stay with us once the (new) normal returns, I am very grateful to our army of distribution volunteers who have used their daily ration of exercise to deliver this copy to you and to some new faces in Glinton and Northborough who responded in numbers to our

Facebook appeal when we knew that some of our regulars were in prolonged total lockdown. We have provided our deliverers with gloves, alcohol wipes and advice to maintain social distancing as they undergo their deliveries.

As many of you will know, the Tribune relies on the revenue generated from our local advertisers to pay for the production and printing of each issue. Unlike other local magazines (who have currently chosen not to publish), we do not pack our pages with advertising or ’sponsored editorial content’ we aim to generate just enough money to cover the costs of each issue - leaving the rest for content provided by our wonderful contributors across the villages.

I would like to thank advertisers who are continuing to support our efforts and hope that as business returns to the new normality, that companies will chose to promote their products and services with us.

Of course, much of the content in this issue is associated with Covid19 - advice, staying healthy,

GET IN TOUCH  Social media:  www.facebook.com/VillageTribuneGroup/

2

Tony

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

 Website: www.villagetribune.org.uk

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things to do etc, but we have also included a few articles covering days out and hobbies for when we can all venture out into the broader world - hopefully sooner rather than later!.

If you’re not already a member of our Tribune Facebook Group - then please join us at www.facebook.com/groups/ villagetribune - it’s a great place to keep up to date with what’s going on in our villages and the broader Peterborough area. If local church services resume, more places open to the public etc - this is where you will hear all about it.

Please continue to stick to Government guidelines with regards Covid19. I hope we can all keep ourselves and others safe during these strangest of days and let’s try to look forward to better times ahead.

 Advertising: Alison Henthorn T 07702 640361 E: alisonhenthorn@btinternet.com

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Date

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 Barnack Editor - Ian Burrows T: 01780 749554 E: ianberyl.burrows@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: 07544804315

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 Advertising Sales - Alison Henthorn T 07702 640361 E: alisonhenthorn@btinternet.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 New Ufford distributor required contact Tony Henthorn if you can help  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  BARNACK Mike Mills 17 Bishops Walk, Barnack PE9 3EE T: 07523 312387 E: mills.mh@gmail.com

May / June 2020 REGULARS

2

Letter from the Editor

2

Advertising / Deadlines

3 Contacts

16-17 Tight Lines 18

Tribune Garden

19 Environment

20-32 Village Views 26&34 Write Away 33

Health & Beauty

38-45 Young Tribune

36-37 Rosemary's Diary 47-59 Heritage

Deadline for next issue: 19 February 2021

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

D WINNING,

60-65 Church News

66-67 Lockdown Classified

68-69 Planning Applications 70-71 Tribune Directory

NEWS & FEATURES 7

NHS Specialist

Saqib Farooq

9-11 Walking the Walk 14

Alfresco Youth

15

The Net of the Web

Lead the Way

ICATION

VILLAGE PUBL

issue

121

vil agetribune URITE, AWAR

YOUR FAVO

Peakirk

May / June 2020

BUMPER LOCKDOWN EDITION

ry withinLiving memo

from the kitchen

on the cover ...

Photo taken by Jackie Robinson

of

NY POULET CÉLIG GARDENING FROM SCRAPS

THE TRAIN THAT ROCKED WALKING THE WALK

H ALFRESCO YOUT LEAD THE WAY THE NET OF THE WEB

Glinton Rainbows

E VIEWS G DIARY • VILLAG GE • FARMIN g Gate, H NEWS • HERITA k, Castor, Deepin E WATCH • CHURC , Bainton, Barnac and Ufford RECIPE • NATUR villages of: Ashton Peakirk, Pilsgate, Southorpe , Peterborough Northborough Serving the North , Helpston, Maxey, Etton, Glinton

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 PUBLICATION LAYOUTS | IT SUPPORT without prior written permission of the Publisher.

WEB DEVELOPMENT | BRANDING is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.

01733 772095 | www.dimension6000.com Permission The Village Tribune own all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing.

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.

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SAFE LOCAL TRADES

LOCKDOWN DIY

Don’t let a good dee d turn into a disa ster!

LOCKDOWN DIY

From fixing the kitchen cupboards and re-tiling the bathroom to mending the broken fence and cleaning the guttering – the list of jobs most of us have been putting off for ages is endless And with many of us having more time on our hands at home, the temptation is perhaps to bite off a bit more than we can chew.

During these unprecedented times of self-isolation and social distancing, many people are using the lockdown to carry out their own DIY jobs around the home and garden. However, recent reports show that people doing ‘lockdown DIY’ are piling added pressure on the NHS as a rise in home improvements gone wrong is sending more to A&E. Shockingly, more than 6,000 people die in accidents in the home every year in the UK - and 2.7 million turn up at accident and emergency departments seeking treatment; according to RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). And 4

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with the NHS currently stretched to capacity – this is the last place you would want to end up!

RoSPA say the most common DIY accidents include traumatic injuries caused by sharp or power tools, falls from ladders, cuts from knives while cutting cable and carpets, slips with saws when cutting wood, paint dripping into eyes from ceilings and slabs falling onto hands and feet.

The NHS has warned that reducing avoidable accidents will take unnecessary pressure off the health service as medics continue battling to treat those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

With this in mind, we would advise that if you feel the work is out of your comfort zone, you don’t have the correct tools or protective equipment to carry it

out safely and it is non-essential – then try and leave it until after lockdown.

For those projects that you may have been future planning and, whilst many of our Safe Local Trades members are self-isolating; it is worth making contact with them now at www. safelocaltrades.com Sending an email in the first instance can then lead to a phone or video call to explain your garden or home improvement needs. It may be worth noting that tradesmen will not only be tackling a backlog of existing work but will be filling up their order books in the current climate so don’t leave it too late to get your planning underway for when the Government restrictions are lifted.

managers@gardenlodgecarehome.co.uk ď‚‚/Gardenlodgecarehomeglinton www.gardenlodgecarehome.co.uk

NHS SPECIALIST SAQIB FAROOQ NEWS & FEATURES

NHS Specialist Saqib Farooq writes from his Castor home

As I drove home one recent Thursday evening, following another challenging shift at the hospital, I was greeted with overwhelming cheering and support for the NHS throughout my local villages of Castor & Ailsworth.

This tremendous community spirit filled me with joy, giving me all the more reason to be proud of my colleagues and our NHS. These are unprecedented times we are facing as a nation, affecting each and every one of us. Despite the challenges we must not get complacent, and now more than ever we must continue to follow government guidelines and social distancing practises to ensure we all remain safe and can return to normal life as soon as possible.

As an NHS professional, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of social distancing. It simply saves lives, taking away pressure from our hospitals and care workers. As a Haematology specialist redeployed to help treat COVID-19 patients, I see first-hand the true effects of this outbreak on not only critically ill patients, but on my colleagues, who go out of their way to provide the best possible care for patients.

In hospitals across the country, we have more critical care beds available than currently required, meaning that your support in following social distancing measures is working. If we get complacent now, we risk this not being the case anymore, meaning we are unable to provide the best treatment for all patients. I understand how difficult it is to go a long period of time without seeing your loved ones, but for their benefit as well as your own, I plead you not to leave your home to do so. There are many heart-breaking stories of families being unable to say goodbye to their loved ones during these times, and as a senior medic in Spain said ‘this is like a natural disaster, but never ending’. We can avoid situations like this completely if we carry on adhering to social distancing measures, keeping in mind that even if you are not symptomatic you still have the ability to pass on the virus to others.

I’m sure we are all following the daily news updates from senior

government officials as well as Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty. Here we find out the number of confirmed cases within the last 24 hours, and unfortunately the number of people who have passed away from COVID-19. Currently, initial data is beginning to suggest a ‘flattening of the curve’ across the country, with a decline in the number of people being admitted to hospital with related symptoms in many regions across the UK. This means that we are finally able to see how well our social distancing measures have reduced the spread of the virus, and I thank each and every one of you for adhering to the government guidelines set. I urge you to continue to do so.

Below are the official government guidelines for what is expected from each and every one of us, reminding us to stay at home where we can, and only leaving the house when absolutely essential. More information can also be found on the official government website, www.gov.uk/ coronavirus.

You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:

• shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible

• one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household

• any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person • travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home

Specific advice for residents and businesses of Peterborough during the Coronavirus pandemic can be found at www.peterborough.gov.uk/ coronavirus. Here you will also find information on which council services have been affected, and how you can get involved with helping your community.

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THE AMBLERS: WALKING THE WALK

WALKING THE WALK NEWS & FEATURES

When Anne Lees posted a message on the Village Tribune’s Facebook page inviting locals to join her for a weekly stroll to help improve her stamina, she had no idea where it would lead, nor how much joy the walks would bring to others as well as herself…

in Tribland

In February 2019, I finally decided it was time to be proactive about my fitness level (a belated New Year’s resolution). My local countryside was just lying there, waiting to be explored, but I needed encouragement and thought I stood a better chance of achieving my goal if I had some company along the way. Friday mornings seemed like an ideal opportunity – ‘the start of the weekend’ in many peoples eyes – but who to ask? Friends and family either were not free or live too far away. I looked into Vivacity’s walking group activities but they would have required my driving across Peterborough – expensive, and not good for the planet.

Making friends later in life can be difficult. How to find some quickly? And then it came to me: Village Tribune’s Facebook page. So I posted a request for like-minded souls to help me achieve my goal. The response was astonishing and totally unexpected! I was excited to see a host of “Likes“ and a number of replies from villagers I had never met before. Several of them expressed support for the idea but were unable to join in, however a few people were interested and I fixed the date for the first walk as 1st March, starting from the memorial bench beside St Benedict’s Church, Glinton.

I arrived at the meeting point, unsure of who to expect, and was soon joined by a neighbour on her daily outing and two ladies from Northborough – Maggie (a former colleague) and her friend Mella and the following week it was just me and a young neighbour called Lauren. I think of these four as the founding members, continued overleaf >>

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NEWS & FEATURES WALKING THE WALK

If you are tempted to join us when life returns to normal, you will be welcomed. I realise that not everyone has access to Facebook so, if you would like to come along at some point in the future, please text The Amblers on 07714 021131.

We’ll look forward to hearing from you! >> continued from previous page since they have been my most regular companions from the early days but the numbers vary, according to who is free. I am thrilled to say that the group has grown steadily and, on our first anniversary this March, we had a record turnout when thirteen walkers met in celebration and enjoyed exploring Maxey.

I cannot believe how much I have come to enjoy our weekly walks and I love the fact that others feel the same. I am surrounded by a generous group of new friends who make the effort to come along when they can, take an interest in each other’s well-being (including via text, when we are unable to get together) and collectively revel in the wonders of the natural environment.

Remarks such as, “I do love our walks”, “Isn’t it great to be out in the open air?“ and “I really miss it when I can’t come,“ are frequently heard, along with, “Ooh, look at that!“ It makes me very happy.

Walking has become a widely recognised ‘holistic therapy’ in that it has numerous benefits for humans (hence our being encouraged to go out daily during the current crisis): not only does it provide physical exercise, it is also a mental 10

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stimulus that promotes our sense of emotional well-being and boosts our mindfulness, leading us to a stronger belief in our ability to cope with whatever life throws at us.

And it’s not just the walking group who are reaping the benefits: we have online followers too, via the VT Facebook page, who look forward each Friday to reading about our route and seeing the photos I share from that day’s stroll. Some are unable to come along due to other commitments, whilst others have health constraints, but they are all able to share in our experience.

It was never my intention to get bogged down with planning and organisation so I aim for a relaxed, informal approach which seems to suit everyone else too. The group’s name, The Amblers, (which came to me as I was writing this article and gives a nod to The Ramblers Association) gives you an idea of the pace of our walks. We pause frequently to admire the scenery, identify wildflowers, watch as a heron or egret takes flight, or a butterfly lands nearby.

I want to avoid using cars whenever possible but another

thing I hoped for was that we would be joined by people from several of the Tribune villages who might then be willing to share their local walks and introduce us to areas we have never explored before (thanks again, Tina from Maxey). This would also mean that anyone without transport could come along when we visited their home location.

Over the last year, we have enjoyed the company of neighbours from Deeping, Helpston, Glinton, Maxey, Northborough, Peakirk and Werrington, and found several routes we enjoy around each village

WALKING THE WALK NEWS & FEATURES

(some have also included coffee stops). We have taken routes beside rivers and lakes; through woodland and open countryside; (not so much up hill and down dale, although some of those riverbanks can be a bit steep…); in all seasons, come rain or shine (although, it has to be said, only one soaking and two cancellations due to severe weather); some long, some short; with wildlife and birdsong; sometimes with emotional burdens, but almost certainly feeling lighter by the end. We

view our walks as an opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ on our own doorsteps, to exercise in fresh air and truly appreciate what we may sometimes take for granted.

Observant readers will have noticed that most mentions and photographs included here refer only to women. I should stress that this is not intentional – you are welcome too, gents. One of our earlier regular companions was a young man from Deeping and on our last walk before ‘lockdown’ we were joined by

Helpston resident, Geoff. Like several others had before him, he said, “I’ve been meaning to join you for a while so when I saw you were coming to my village, I thought I’d come along.“ I should really end by saying a huge “thank you“ to everyone who has come and walked with me over the last year. Friday mornings have become a highlight of my week, thanks to you, and I can’t wait until we are able to enjoy ambling around ‘Trib’land’ together again.

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RUTLAND ROCKS NEWS & FEATURES

‘Rocks by Rail near Rutland Water’ (credit: Visit England) Combine a trip to Rocks by Rail with a visit to nearby Rutland Water

DAYS OUT

The train that rocked…

Trains and heavy machinery make the wheels go round for visitors to Rutland’s quirky heritage attraction, Rocks by Rail

Beyond railway crossing style gates is an extensive collection of quarrying hardware, including diggers, cranes and locomotives, all relating to Rutland’s quarrying heritage.

Rocks by Rail occupies part of the branch line that once serviced the village of Cottesmore’s ironstone quarry, as well as two neighbouring quarries, and the ore they produced was loaded into wagons bound for Scunthorpe’s steelworks in the north.

Sitting in 19 acres of reclaimed railway land, Rocks by Rail started life in 1979 as The Rutland Railway Museum, and is an accredited private museum with charitable status. It offers visitors the opportunity to experience an industrial landscape and get up close to industry-specific machinery.

You can discover the story of quarrying in a guided tour by acting curator Robin Bickers. Take a look at the model of the then-world’s biggest dragline crane which, when

its time at Exton Park quarry was up, ‘walked’ 14 miles to Corby in 1974. When you see one of the restored driver cabs outside you’ll get an idea of the scale of this giant mechanical monster.

At the Sundew Café, in an original ironstone workshop, you’ll see locomotives undergoing careful restoration, while across the railway tracks in the Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre are examples of steam and diesel locos preserved in varying states of repair.

Find out more at www.rocks-by-rail.org

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NEWS & FEATURES ALFRESCO YOUTH LEAD THE WAY

ALFRESCO YOUTH LEAD THE WAY FOR NATIONAL SUCCESS Tribland members of the Alfresco team, Will Jones and Eliot Johnson, have received national recognition for their hard work and commitment.

Local Landscaping firm Alfresco Landscaping have been adding to their numbers over the last 2 years with new young blood. Two of these team members have recently received national accolades.

Eliot Johnson

Will Jones

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Eliot Johnson, formerly of Barnack and now in Stamford, approached Alfresco in December 2018 at the age of 16 for work experience in his holidays from college. Having learned his course at Peterborough was cancelled, Eliot quickly found a place at Reaseheath college near Preston for his level 3 Diploma in Hortculture. Ali Peat, Director at Alfresco said “ when you hear of a 16 year old prepared to travel 4 hours to college on a Monday, stay up there the week and return on a Friday, you need to give this guy a chance. You don’t see that sort of commitment these days in someone so young and he has more than proved his worth”.

Eliot finished his first year at college receiving the BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) Student of the Year award for his college. During his studies he also competed in the UK World Skills competition, passing through the first heats in the top 5% in the country.

After sailing through the semi finals in Manchester with a 2 day assessment, he competed as one of the top 8 in the country at the finals at the NEC in November at the UK World Skills Championship.

After building a show garden over 3 days, Eliot came in in the top 4. A truly amazing achievement from the youngest person in the competition.

Eliot continues to join Alfresco in the holidays and hopes to become a full time member of the team when he finishes this summer. Eliot says “Working for Alfresco has helped me find my way… and there is never a day without a smile” Will Jones, formerly of Glinton and now in Helpston started with Alfresco in the summer of 2018 and has rapidly become a critical member of the team. He took up the opportunity in 2019 of one

of 6 places on the Association of Professional Landscapers Apprenticeship scheme. The 2 year course looks at every aspect of the industry to structure the development of those on it.

After working at Waterside Garden Centre for 5 years, Will wanted to get involved in garden builds and approached Alfresco to join the team. Will has very quickly become a valuable member with an incredible work ethic… this resulted in his success at the Bradstone National Awards in January of this year. He collected the National Apprentice/Young Employee of the Year Award beating off 14 other nominees.

Ali said “Will’s success at the awards was the icing on the cake for us… we nominated him because he makes a big difference to our team on a daily basis. It is great that he has been recognised on the national stage”.

Alfresco enjoyed further success at the Bradstone Awards by claiming the National Award for the Medium Patio Transformation for their project at The Maltings in Wothorpe. The night was then capped off claiming the overall prestigious Installer of the Year Award for the 3rd time in 5 years. Bradstone have over 240 companies across the UK on their Recommended Installer scheme.

Ali Peat Said “Our success is solely down to the support and commitment of our entire team.

We have been very lucky in finding some great young lads to join us.

They are our future. It’s fantastic to see them recognised on the national stage. We are always keen to talk to people who share our values with a view to joining the team.”

Alfresco Landscaping are based in Helpston and have just celebrated their 15th Anniversary of being in business.

THE NET OF THE WEB NEWS & FEATURES

The net of the web...

When I was a kid growing up in London’s East End I used to enjoy the street markets with their cacophonous bustle, amazing juggling china sellers, shouting fruit and veg men and myriad colourful traders but I especially loved the slick ‘find the lady’ sharp-suited card sharps, mobile with a box or small table.

Cllr Peter Hiller, Glinton and Castor Ward

Do not believe the written promises, the slick guile, professional bodies’ logos or the expert-looking scare tactics perpetrated by these characters.

We knew they were hoaxers but fascinating to watch and always entertaining. Somehow benign with their quick humorous patter they encouraged folk, for a bob or two, to indeed try to find the elusive face-down Queen of Hearts or ball under a cup; which skilled, muchpractised sleight of hand had made pretty-nigh impossible.

I remember it was more an enjoyable game of chance than outright fraud, however long the odds. Oh, how times change. Sadly but inevitably this Corona Virus period has inspired the low-life parasites who inhabit the remote underbelly of society to quickly create new ways to attempt to part us from our personal savings and property.

Unsurprisingly the internet has been the primary vehicle used.

Telephone attempts to defraud are still here certainly but I’m told becoming less popular generally amongst thieves, as the methods employed are quite labour-intensive and most folk will know that their bank or internet/mobile provider is very unlikely to phone them unsolicited.

The web is quick, faceless, cheap to instigate and able to make contact with long lists of people at the push of a button. According the Police’s Action Fraud experts Corona Virus-specific scams were up 400% in March, netting nearly £1m from victims.

The perfect ‘scatter gun’ approach to potential fraud on a significant scale, by preying on people’s health fears and genuine concerns about their financial wherewithal and future investments/ savings prospects. The Corona Virus presented a perfect storm for these anonymous vermin who created fake websites and sent prolific phishing emails selling virus testing, viral antidotes, Personal

Protection Equipment and socalled ‘vaccines’.

They were also swift to exploit people’s genuine financial concerns with fake wealth management advice, bogus ‘guaranteed income’ policies, counterfeit HMRC websites offering tax refunds (to gather personal details) and also mass-emailed details of so-called safe financial havens ‘to help protect’ our hard-earned savings and pensions.

All scams designed to part us from our money and delete the trail.

Reassuringly, Peterborough City Council has been on high alert for some while and works with the government to investigate and counter new incidents of fraud as they are reported and sharing regular updates to their agencies, community groups and stakeholders exposing and explaining the methodology employed.

Government’s straightforward advice is to ignore everything sent to you by email which is unsolicited or generic (without personal details – ie: not addressed to you by name). Do not believe the written promises, the slick guile, professional bodies’ logos or the expert-looking scare tactics perpetrated by these characters.

Think always: could this be a fraud? Don’t open any attachments to emails or links which you aren’t 100% sure who they are from and, if there’s any doubt whatsoever, to contact your bank or financial advisor or a trusted friend/family member separately to discuss the apparent opportunity/lifeline sent to you.

And try to remember: People don’t buy for logical reasons they buy for emotional reasons – so endeavour to think and act logically during these very difficult times

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DECEPTION

Deception

By Mark Williams

TIGHT LINES

TIGHT LINES

Deception The afternoon sun was deceptive. It bathed the lake in blue, the budding hawthorn reflected like pointillism in the rippled surface but a cold breeze kissed my face

In a month, when the sun begins to rise higher than the stand of ash trees behind me, the light will awaken the bulrush and Canadian pondweed. In just weeks, the water in front of me – a clear ten feet to the bottom – will be shallower as the lake's garden springs into life, reaching upwards to the sun.

Now, as I piece together my fishing rod, nature is holding its breath, the chiffchaffs and sedge warblers, the swallows and cuckoos, still crossing the Mediterranean. A blackbird, arch enemy of worms, is ahead of 16

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them, and sharing his fluted song to advertise that he's master of the hazel spinney while, on the lake, a pair of great crested grebes begin to head-wag, declaring their love.

I'm going to fish for pike using artificial baits. They are lined up in their boxes like guns in a gun rack, each specialised to perform a slightly different task. Once attached to the line and retrieved gently by rod and reel, some will dive deep into the black water, shimmering or wobbling to attract attention. Some glug and bubble on the surface, others swim just like fish a foot or two down where I can see them.

That's the type I choose; a little six-inch creation, its body in jointed sections each hinged to the next. The effect is mesmeric, the plastic transformed into a living fish, its weaving motion so life-like I feel sure it will look easy prey to a lurking predator.

The cast is in two motions, the first to flick the lure behind me then, at the moment it extends the line fully, to punch with the little rod, loading it like a bow to launch the lure towards the island.

Before it lands among the island's nettles, I use my thumb

DECEPTION

TIGHT LINES

I now fish with expectation instead of hope, willing it to be a red letter day when every pike in the lake has dodged lunch and feels hungry. on the reel's spool to slow its progress so it drops, just a foot from disaster, exactly where I want it.

A slight movement in the nettles catches my eye. For seconds I stare, unable to resolve it, until another faint movement betrays a mallard duck already nesting, though a week or two from laying. I am already slowly, gently, erratically turning the reel handle, the swimming lure now setting up a rhythmic trembling on the rod tip.

The moment takes me by surprise; it's rare to be so lucky on first cast. The rod arches and bucks to the panic of a pike.

I know it's a modest size, and bring it steadily to the net, where it thrashes angrily, then is still.

Without lifting it from the water, I use forceps to grip the hook and twist it free of its hold, then tilt the net so the pike can return to its lair.

I now fish with expectation instead of hope, willing it to be a

red letter day when every pike in the lake has dodged lunch and feels hungry. I'm concentrating during every cast, trying to get the lure to track deeper, shallower, slowly, quickly.

I change to another lure which runs deeper and sends a shudder right to my hand as it wobbles and weaves. But an hour passes, and I get no more offers.

I'd promised to do some mundane task at home, I remind myself. But nothing is more important than ending my time here on a high. So I remove the deep-diving lure, and re-affix that lifelike swimmer.

Several casts later, I'm trying to put that chore to the back of my mind but guilt is hanging over my shoulder. There's always one more cast. The lure lazily swims towards me until it's virtually under my feet, right next to the fishing staging I'm standing on. For the first time all afternoon, I slow the lure to a crawl, then use the rod to change its direction.

From the black, deep water a green shape lurches upwards and closes its jaws around the lure with a snap. It's a better fish, this one, and tears away from me, stripping line from the reel, the rod arched in a semi-circle, struggling to bring control. It's not long before I'm confident this pike is mine, and play it gently as, time after time, its powers away like a torpedo.

It tires, and I lift the rod to draw it to the net. It's perhaps seven pounds, but maybe more.

The lake produces thick, heavy pike which often tip the scales way above your guesswork. I'm tempted, as it nestles there, gills pumping, to lift it out and weigh it. Maybe it's ten pounds. But then, I reason, it's half the weight of pike I know are here.

I lie on the staging looking down, admiring its cream-spotted back and tiger-orange fins. Then I reach down and flick the hook out. It slashes its tail and is gone, splashing me with water as a farewell.

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TRIBUNE GARDEN

GARDENING FROM SCRAPS

Gardening from scraps!

Rachael Leverton

It’s a difficult time right now and lots of gardeners are taking solace in their plot. But we’re seeing a whole new group of people coming to gardening by an unusual route. With more people quarantined at home right now, trips out to garden centres falling under ‘unnecessary journeys’, and empty shelves at the supermarket, people are wondering if there’s anything they can grow easily at home with limited specialist supplies.

The answer is yes, and it’s possible with minimal equipment to set up some home-grown produce on a windowsill or balcony. It’s something fun to do with the kids too. You don’t need flowerpots; yogurt pots and ice-cream tubs will do. For something deeper chop the tops off 2 litre milk cartons. Be as creative as you like – just punch a couple of drainage holes in the bases.

Garlic – If you can spare a couple of cloves of garlic you can plant them and grow your own garlic bulbs! Put the pots of planted garlic in full sun.

They will sprout and send up a stalk. Chop this off and the bulb will then put all of its energy into growing large bulbs.

Potatoes - Cut about one-inch of a chunk from a potato that includes 1-2 eyes. Let it dry out for a day or two then plant with the eyes facing upwards.

Happy scrappy gardening!

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Pumpkins and squashes – these grow fairly easily from seeds found in the centre of the gourd.

Scallions / Spring onions - Cut off the last couple of centimetres of each onion leaving the bulb and roots.

Plant in a pot, leaving a portion of each stem sticking out above the soil. Water regularly, and the onions will start growing. Harvest the green portion of the plant, and it will continue to regrow more greens. You can do this 2-3 times before needing to plant more bulbs.

Carrots – Carrot tops can be placed in shallow water in a saucer and will sprout tasty greens. You can use these to make a carrot-top green pesto. You can also regrow the plant by cutting a couple of centimetres from the top of a carrot. Stick a toothpick into either side of the carrot stump and balance it on top of a small glass. Fill the glass with water so that the liquid barely touches the bottom edge of the stump. Set this glass on a windowsill out of direct sunlight. Add water as it evaporates, and roots will sprout from the carrot edge. Plant it out in a pot.

Romaine – This lettuce has narrow leaves that form a tall head. Cut off a couple of centimetres from the bottom of the romaine stalk, place it in water and after a week or so roots will form. When they are slightly longer than the leaves growing from the top you can plant it out. To harvest, pick the outer leaves leaving the inner leaves. It should keep producing for months.

ENVIRONMENT

Langdyke Countryside Trust

By David Rowell

Our quest to enjoy nature has had to take a dramatic turn since the outbreak of Coronavirus and the Government’s advice to stay at home

So instead of going out and about to explore what’s happening in the countryside our attention has turned to what we can see in our gardens.

And it’s not too late for you to join the big Langdyke garden debate.

Like other organisations, all Langdyke Countryside Trust events have been cancelled for the forseeable future - including our annual meeting which was due to have taken place on 23 April.

Langdyke chair Richard Astle said: "In light of the Government advice to stay at home, we can no longer encourage people to visit our reserves - that would seem irresponsible. We have suspended all work on our reserves. Our hides at Etton Maxey Pits are now locked.

"But we will be doing everything we can to keep people in touch with the nature you can find in your gardens over the coming days and weeks. We will also maintain strictly in line with Government guidance - our livestock checking programme to ensure our sheep remain healthy.”In fact in the last month lambs have been born on two of our reserves - a sure sign that spring is well on the way.

The Trust has been using its website and online tools like Facebook to encourage members and non-members to explore nature closer to home.

Online videos have invited people to look for certain

flowers or creatures in their gardens and report back what they have seen. One posting invited people to go into their garden to find and photograph a bee fly - not an easy task considering the size of the creature and the fact it is fast moving. But many people succeeded.

There has also been a weekly invitation to load pictures of garden developments so they can be shared with others.

One group member posted a photo of a recently built bug hotel (made of old wood to encourage little creatures to make a home); another showed how they were building a garden wildlife pond.

The Facebook site has also been a useful tool for people to find out what they have seen and to ask questions of experts.

And there have been plenty of them.

Richard said: “We will continue to use our Facebook page to keep each other in touch with what we see and what we hear; to ask questions about what to look out for and to ask for help with identification!

"We will be launching a spring migrant project through Facebook so we can see who really did hear the first cuckoo and see the first swallow.

"Stay in touch, stay safe and enjoy the natural world around your home.

He added: “Best wishes to you, your families and friends and to all our key workers.”

You can join the big Langdyke garden debate at  /groups/langdyketrust/ and our website at langdyke.org.uk

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VILLAGE VIEWS NORTHBOROUGH

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL Chair John Dadge

Vice-Chair Malcolm Spinks Councillor Rob Chiva

Councillor Terry Palmer

Councillor Brian Spriggs Councillor Emma Watts

T: 01733 254145 / 07802 702908 Responsible for: Planning

T: 01778 343585 / 07870 343562 E: malcolm.spinks@northboroughpc.co.uk Responsible for: Finance, Human Resources, Website T: 01733 252823

Responsible for: Planning

E: rob.chiva@northboroughpc.co.uk

T: 01778 380413 / 07796 946298 Responsible for: Police

E: terry.palmer@northboroughpc.co.uk

T: 01778 342502 Responsible for: Burial Grounds, Green Space, Human Resources T: 01778 347652 / 07546 539949 Responsible for: Speedwatch

Councillor T: 01778 701036 Elaine Mann Councillor David Aldwincle

E: john.dadge@northboroughpc.co.uk

E: emma.watts@northboroughpc.co.uk Elaine.Mann@Northboroughpc.co.uk

07872676852

David.Aldwinkle@Northboroughpc.co.uk

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.

All general and burial enquiries to the Clerk: Catherine Franks Village Hall, Cromwell Close, Northborough PE6 9DP T: 07748 637555 E: clerk@northboroughpc.co.uk

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NORTHBOROUGH VILLAGE VIEWS

COUNCIL CORNER

NORTHBOROUGH New Councillors

It was our great pleasure in March to welcome two muchneeded new councillors. These are Councillor Elaine Mann and Councillor David Aldwinkle.

We are so grateful to have a few more on-board our team!

Welcome aboard.

Wildlife We welcomed John Parsonage to our recent meeting who spoke of the owl boxes he makes from reclaimed wood.

He spoke of siting a possible three boxes to the south of the village close to the Maxey Cut. Along with a further box to be situated in Deeping Gate. One box per square kilometre is recommended to be situated in suitable habitat always away from

roads. It is hoped that these will attract fledglings from previous years to the east of our village.

Northern Footpath Forum We also welcomed another resident Brian McKie who was able to supply us with a very positive move forward for the Northern Footpath Forum. This exciting project is now ready to go out to tender after many years of work.

Planters New `Welcome to Northborough` signs have been attached to the planters on all entrances to the village. If you have one near to you and could occasionally water it we would love to hear from you!

If you can help with any of the above or you need help with any of the above please do not hesitate to contact Elaine on 0333 33 55 405.

Coronavirus We regret that in line with government advice we have had to close the play and gym equipment, which is situated on the playing field. All residents are reminded that children should not be mixing outside their own home however inviting the green space is. We would however say how very nice it is to see so many families enjoying walks and cycle rides around the villages! Children may view this time in a much more positive way than we adults do in years to come. Please remember the 2-meter rule when encountering others and take all your rubbish home.

Northborough Volunteer Network You have all hopefully now received a leaflet through your door. One of our newest Parish Councillor’s, Elaine Mann has organised a volunteer network for assistance if you are having difficulties. Please get in touch for help with shopping for essentials, collecting medication, help with garden maintenance, or help to alleviate loneliness by having a chat on the phone or even face time if you have it. All our volunteers are known to the Parish Council and will carry identification.

We have a few volunteers now and have already carried out our first lawn mow at the time of going to press.

We hope we may make things a little more bearable in a small way.

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VILLAGE VIEWS DEEPING GATE

COUNCIL CORNER

DEEPING GATE Recent difficult times It has, indeed, been a pleasure to witness how our villagers, old and new, have rallied round in past weeks with genuine offers of practical, and emotional, help and support to residents probably hitherto unknown to them.

Many thanks to you all.

Reduction in local traffic There has been a very noticeable reduction in village traffic, for all the wrong reasons, I regret to say. However, temporary though it be, this has resulted in an influx of walkers and cyclists, adults and children alike, from north of the Welland. Indeed a delight to behold. Our roads and riverside walks have, once again, become safe for enjoyable healthy outdoor exercise for all ages.

Immediate future It would seem unwise, in these uncertain times, for us to confirm dates of future activities but they will be displayed/advertised in the usual manner as appropriate.

I am sure I speak for all my Parish Council colleagues, when I wish our own Deeping Gate residents and those in neighbouring villages, continuing good health and safe living within the guidelines laid down before us.

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Lions, Lockdowns and Lunches March came in like a lion and seemingly went going out like lamb, and so as the extensions to our lockdown seem inevitable it does look as if we may be in for a good summer. Surely we deserve it, because blowing in the lions wind were the particles of a virus whose virulent power of contagion has probably only been equalled by the Spanish ‘Flu of 1918/19, and the black death of the middle ages.

The Villagers of Barnack and Pilsgate, expressed their profound gratitude to the Hero’s of the NHS by banging our pots, cheering, whistling and clapping with the rest of the Nation to show our deep appreciation of those keeping the wheels of society turning by facing on our behalf, the virus on a daily basis in the course of their duties.

The situation has meant that as elsewhere many of the activities in the Village have had to be temporarily shut down, ranging from Church Services to the four ale bar in The Millstone. So no

little lambs, Messy Church or any of the coffee hot spots that we have normally enjoyed. Sadly our Vicar, Dave Maylor is retiring, and the shut down of the Church has meant that Dave’s final Service and farewell have had to be postponed, as has of course the “Bash” at which we will express our thanks for his Work in the Villages.

That’s the sad news. But it is tempered by the good news that our Pub has been very enterprising by organising daily “Take Away” lunches and evening meals which can be collected from the Millstone, or they will be delivered to your door.

Living in a village environment does make it easy to get out and about without having to worry about social spacing, except of course on the very rare occasion that two or more people meet at a bottle neck on a footpath, eg. a stile. So far there have been no stories circulating of people wrestling each other to the ground

BARNACK VILLAGE VIEWS

contesting the passage, people politely stand to one side two metres away and allow passage without interruption or intrusion on the others space.

There is much happening in the countryside at the moment with flowers bursting and lambs appearing, and parents with children off school must find an interesting and vigorous walk a very useful way of filling in time, running off energy and an educational experience all rolled into one.

It should also be remembered that there is much on line to engage bored minds. For example every Thursday at 2pm the Royal Institution devise experiments that young people (with supervision!!!) can easily carry out at home, recently it was messing about with baking powder and vinegar eventually making a Ph meter and getting lots of fizz. Let us hope that the next issue of Tribune finds us not quite so locked down.

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THE JOHN CLARE COTTAGE

VILLAGE VIEWS JOHN CLARE COTTAGE

Whilst the Cottage is closed due to the current lockdown procedures there are things happening at the Cottage.

Music Due to our closure it has not been possible to hold our Open Mic nights, however thanks to the enthusiasm of Frank Samet and many others, an Open Mic regular, the Virtual Acoustic Café has been launched. The program is made up of many of the usual acts performing from their homes.

The first performance was broadcast on 16 April. If you would like to hear the music you can access it by using the link on the home page of the John Clare Cottage website. Future performances are scheduled for the third Thursday of each month, they will start at 8:15 to allow people to salute the NHS.

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For facebook users there is a group called Virtual Acoustic Café where people have been posting music, including a gentleman playing a harp live in a wood in Carmarthenshire.

Films Mike Hobson, a photographer from Sussex is passionate about John Clare, has created a film about a Ramble around Clare countryside from his perspective. The first one “John Clare Ramble – Castor Hanglands in Winter” can be access by a link on the home page of the John Clare Cottage website.

Gardens Whilst the Cottage is closed, the gardens are still flowering.

So that you can see some of

the spring colours, there is a virtual garden which can be accessed from the home page of the John Clare Cottage website. As the season progresses the pictures will be updated.

Stamps This year is the 250th anniversary of the birth of the poet William Wordsworth.

To celebrate this occasion the Royal Mail have issued a set of 10 stamps covering Romantic Poets. Included in this set is John Clare, the picture is above. The stamps are illustrated by Linda Farquharson and include poets such as Keats, Wordsworth, Byron, Blake, Coleridge and others. Sets can be ordered from the Royal Mail website.

BAINTON & ASHTON

VILLAGE VIEWS

COUNCIL CORNER

BAINTON & ASHTON Chairman - Susie Lucas 01780 740159 susie.hall34@gmail.com Responsible for: Parish Council Liaison Group, HR, New Projects Councillors: Anita Phillips 01780 749128 anita@ruizuk.co.uk Responsible for: HR, Planning, Way Warden / Good Neighbour Scheme Cliff Stanton 01780 749123 Cliffstanton@btinternet.com Responsible for: Police, Neighbourhood Watch, Speedwatch, Village Assets and Maintenance, Parish Council Liaison Group Pete Charlton 07850 657200 petecharlton@me.com Responsible for: Financial Overview, Data Protection Chris Womack 01780 740925 womackuk@gmail.com Responsible for: New Projects, Data Protection, Barnack Ward Group Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer - Jenny Rice bainton.ashton.clerk@live.co.uk

Please turn to pages 36 & 37 to read Rosemary's Diary

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VILLAGE VIEWS GLINTON

Glinton Friendship Club We are in unique times so my report will be brief. I seem to have lost my sense of humour.... of course, the Friendship Club has closed for the foreseeable future as have all the Age UK groups, but I'm sure we will bounce back after the storm clouds have passed.

Our last meeting was the 13th of March when Mandy from Age UK came to give us the news of the closures. We celebrated Maisies 80th birthday albeit early,

By Pamela Kounougakis closed our doors and promised to keep in touch and support all our members and helpers with calls and emails. Unfortunately one of our newer members was taken ill quite quickly and passed away from the virus after a few days. Our thoughts are with her family, and a friend from the club who helped them through the terrible time.

Meanwhile the network of help, support and contact that has been offered and accepted

y a w A

e t Wri

within the village has become an established lifeline for everyone.

Thank you all. I'm sure we all clap for you when the nation applauds each week.

Let's all hope that after this has passed we will be stronger, wiser and more positive towards getting our much needed and loved community clubs and groups up and running again with a full programme of events, activities, games, speakers and Bingo!

@

Dave Radcliffe Some images from my wanderings around my garden and the village with a macro lens and some great light.

Frank Samet Pink Supermoon over St.Benedicts Church spire in Glinton April 8th

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GLINTON VILLAGE VIEWS

Challenging times

COUNCIL CORNER

GLINTON

Cllr John F W Holdich OBE

GLINTON PARISH COUNCIL For general enquiries contact the Clerk.

E: clerk@glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

www.glintonparishcouncil.org.uk 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 Cllr PD Skinner Cllr E Spendelow Cllr. Jeff Bell Cllr. C J Wilde Mr J Haste - Clerk

253078 252743 252749 253164 252593 252839 253276 252591 252524 252395 252833

My, we are certainly in challenging times!

However, this is when our villages come into their own, to support each other, for which I thank you.

In Glinton, our very own Parish Councillor Chris Wilde, is coordinating the Parish Councils' sponsored Good Neighbours scheme. If you need a hand or help with shopping, a reassuring phone call or urgent supplies, ring 252726 or 07438 838555.

The Parish Council, because of the ban on gatherings, has

not been able to hold its’ meetings. The Government has now allowed the Parish Council and its big brothers to hold virtual meetings online, and the first of these will take place in May. Well done to AMVC for bringing out the British spirit and making visors for our fantastic health workers.

I am sure we have many front line health workers, and many others who are keeping this city going. A big thank you to you all. Well done and stay safe.

Should you have a problem, or a concern, we are still here; you can contact me on john.holdich@peterborough.gov.uk or peter.hiller@peterborough.gov.uk

Virtual meeting Regulations have been passed which permit parish councils to hold virtual meetings, and as with normal parish council meetings, the public are welcome to attend meetings of Glinton Parish Council, and address parish councillors on matters that are on the agenda.

Glinton parish council will use ZOOM as the means of holding those meetings. We will also publish the date and

time of any virtual meeting on the parish council website (www. glintonparishcouncil. org.uk) If any member of the publish wishes to attend any virtual meeting of the parish council they should contact the clerk by email (clerk@ glintonparishcouncil. org.uk ) well in advance of the meeting so that arrangements can be made to ensure that they can join the meeting.

John Haste, CPFA, CiLCA, Clerk & RFO, Glinton Parish Council Address for correspondence: 5 St Benedicts Close, Glinton, Peterborough. PE6 7LJ - 01733 252833

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VILLAGE VIEWS HELPSTON WI

Helpston Women's Institute It seems a long time since our March meeting, but our speaker, Deb Hughes, gave us a memorable evening with her 'Tales of a Midwife'.

She had not expected that her life as a midwife would become so political but her experience has led her to reject some of the changes in approach to the care of pregnant women and their babies since her training in the all-female Wandsworth Midwifery School in 1981. Her career started in the Tower Hamlets patch where 'Call The Midwife' is set, supporting refugee Bangladeshi families and Vietnamese boat people and the trauma of women giving birth following FGM. She gave a lively account of some of the families she worked with, where poverty was endemic and the police regularly visited looking for wanted partners.

She also spent time in the Negreb desert working with Bedouin women on a sabbatical with Oxfam, moving

north to set up the Calderdale Baby Cafe and then onto supporting a large team of midwives working in the multicultural city of Bradford, where she again dealt with many safeguarding issues, including people trafficking.

Deb is passionate about the need for community midwives to support new mothers in their journey into motherhood and an advocate of the Sure Start programme to tackle long-term issues of poverty. She is currently the research midwife at the University of Cambridge, campaigning to improve post natal care. There is a high suicide rate among young midwives and Deb is working to provide essential support for those working under pressure and with reduced resources. Despite the difficulties she illustrated, Deb's talk was lively and positive, leading to much discussion. She had asked for her fee to be donated to Birth Companions, a charity working with

pregnant women in prisons and collected baby items donated to the charity by members. We were interested to see how the midwives use the knitted breasts we produced to help demonstrate how babies latched on for breastfeeding!

While our monthly programme has been suspended due to the lock-down, members are keeping in touch via phone and social media.

We are busily sewing scrubs and masks to support the NHS and preparing interesting social events for when life returns to normal. We hope all our members and friends keep safe and look forward to meeting up again before too long.

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HELPSTON VILLAGE VIEWS

This teddy looks as if she’d rather be out playing!

Wallflowers growing right where they ought to be.

What a delight!

Photographs by Sue Young Blue ribbons have been appearing in Helpston. They are to show support for our NHS. A cluster in Broad Wheel Road revealed that the instigator was Monica Agnes, who had some blue ribbon left from flower arranging. Well done Monica!

Rupert Bear seems happy to be at home in his cottage in Woodgate, Helpston.

Blossom in Broad Wheel Road

Children’s images and giraffe to cheer us up.

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VILLAGE VIEWS HELPSTON

EASTER WALK

Dog owners enjoyed the spring weather and our local footpaths and Bridleways were well used. This couple are pictured along the Torpel Way walking towards Heath Road.

Riders have been taking advantage of our quiet roads.

This group are pictured across the oil seed rape field by Royce Wood.

Looking back at Easter, Good Friday 2011: This group of folk from Helpston Church marched in the Good Friday Walk of Witness to Cathedral Square, Peterborough, where there was a service. The procession was led at that time by the Salvation Army Band and a huge cross carried through the city amid the shoppers. They are: l-r: Mark Hotchkin (Reader, now attached to the Nine Bridges (Glinton) Benefice), Ruth Dunn, still very active in Helpston church and well known for her service providing Village Hall Teas at Helpston Gala and the John Clare Festival, Janet Hotchkin, and Sylvia Dolby. Sylvia is also well known in the village and at this time of year, she and her sister, Janet, would normally be raising lots of plants to be sold at the Gala.

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HELPSTON VILLAGE VIEWS

Claire Spooner On Behalf of Helpston Support Group 07780696884

Helpston comes together, whilst staying apart When lockdown first became inevitable and older members of the village were advised to self-isolate, a group of Helpston villagers joined forces in true Helpston style.

Within 24 hours 37 local villagers pledged their time and energy to support anyone needing help in these tricky times. In 48 hours willing volunteers had distributed leaflets to every house in the village.

These leaflets provided residents with two local names and telephone numbers offering a range of support in a time of need; offers of shopping, dog walking, prescription collection or simply a friendly call were offered to all.

These neighbourly tasks have been utilised by local people, and not just the older members of the community, of which it was established for, but also people who have caught COVID-19, and calls from family members outside of the village concerned about relatives within Helpston who they are unable to visit or care for.

The volunteers also supported each other in times of need and the support group’s WhatsApp regularly discusses new ways to support local people. The group has arranged weekly

tasks for young children within the village, helping parents keep little ones busy and the children realise they are also part of our lovely village. Locals have placed waving teddy bears in windows, Easter displays and created a pathway of hope which is placed around the John Clare memorial for all to see. One resident went above and beyond to place Easter messages and flowers on the doorsteps of his neighbours on his street to spread some Easter happiness, while reminding people they are not forgotten.

While the volunteers have not been inundated with requests, they have been kept busy which has allowed Helpston to come together, even in these times.

Anyone outside of the village with family in Helpston, if concerned or worried about family or friends that may need extra support or just a friendly neighbour is welcomed to call the number above. It is at times like this when you realise what a wonderful place Helpston is to live.

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VILLAGE VIEWS

PETERBOROUGH ANGLO FRENCH ASSOCIATION

PAFA 45th AGM

The twinning association held their 45th AGM at Netherton on 19 February 2020 and it was well attended with a new committee for 2020 being elected and cheese, wine and chat being enjoyed by all.

Jackie Robinson Treasurer PAFA The committee are currently busy preparing for the visit of 26 members of the FGB-Bourges to Peterborough on 2nd -7th July 2020. Venues being researched at the moment for the whole group are Althorp, Rockingham Castle (for a candlelit dinner), Gates Garden Centre for afternoon tea and Stoke Bruerne for lunch and a walk along the canal, as well places for our free day activities with hosts on the Sunday. We seem to be supporting our old county of Northamptonshire this

year but after 45 years of twinning it gets more difficult to find new places to go.

Our guests from Bourges are like old friends and we have a great time together both here and in Bourges.

Pictured to the right are a couple of photos from the FGB group celebrating Burns Night in Bourges they really go to town!

NB. June, July and August meeting are held outside of the normal meeting venue of St Andrew’s Hall Netherton, contact us for details.

Come along to one of our monthly meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, we usually have a speaker on something connected to France. If you would like further details please contact our Chairman Tony Elliott on buckuk@btinternet.com or me, Jackie Robinson (Helpston) on steiffyok@btinternet.com or check out our Facebook page by searching for Peterborough Anglo-French Association.

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SKIN DEEP HEALTH & BEAUTY

With the lockdown affecting every aspect of our lives, self care has never been more important, both physically and mentally. I truly believe the two are linked and taking a few minutes each day for yourself can have a huge impact on your mood ...

skin At home

A reduction in time spent outside and physical activity can leave you feeling sluggish and your complexion dull.

Here are my top 5 tips for looking after your skin during lockdown to leave you looking and feeling great.

 Skin brushing

It’s great for removing dead skin cells, boosting your circulation, reduces cellulite and aids lymphatic drainage. Use a natural bristle skin brush on dry skin before your morning shower Work your way up from your feet using long gentle strokes, always working towards your heart.

Afterwards massage a body oil such as Botanicals Revitalise Body Oil £25 into damp skin.

With Organic Mandarin and Lemongrass essential oils, it smells divine and will tone your skin; leaving you feeling invigorated and uplifted.

 Keep hydrated Keep skin plumped and flush out toxins with plenty of fluids.

with your

Try adding slices of lemon or lime to water to add more flavour.

 Let your skin breathe

Have a break from make up - no one is going to see! You may find that existing skin conditions improve by not being covered up with make up.

 Simplify your skincare routine Choose a multi tasking product such as Lisa Armitage MultiMiracle Balm £42. It’s a cleanser, exfoliater, intensive beauty mask, lip balm and an all-over body moisturiser. It’s also incredibly soothing and healing for inflammatory skin conditions great for sore hands! Formulated with antioxidant-rich superfoods to feed your skin for a radiant, healthy glow.

 Nourish skin with facial oil A facial oil will nourish your skin and facial massage will improve circulation leaving you with a glowing complexion.

by Sarah Frisby The Beauty Room, Helpston Massage 1-2 drops into clean, warm, damp skin before using a moisturiser. Or add a few drops to your usual moisturiser if you are stretched for time. Using small circular movements work over your décolletage, neck and face.

Lisa Armitage Omega Facial Oil £45 is perfect for dry, dull, dehydrated complexions and skin susceptible to irritation, inflammation or redness. It contains anti-inflammatory ingredients, which soothe stressed skin, protecting and nourishing itchy and inflamed skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and rosacea.

Or Lisa Armitage Antioxidant Facial Oil £39 improves your skin’s resilience to extreme weather conditions and environmental pollution; and repairs DNA damage. Containing 20+ superfoods and stem cell technology, it helps to preserve precious skin cells, boost skin health and strengthens the skin’s defences.

Please feel free to contact me for further advice. The full range of Botanicals and Lisa Armitage products are available to purchase from The Beauty Room Helpston. Free local delivery is available (following social distancing rules).

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WRITE AWAY

y a w A

e t i r W

@ Tracy Foreman

Village Tribune

Huge congratulations go to TracyForeman who recently completed a treble challenge to walk 300 miles in 30 days to raise £3,000 for Parkinson Disease Awareness

A huge 'thank you' to the wonderful people who have volunteered to deliver the Village Tribune in Glinton, whilst many of our regular deliverers are in 'lock down': Jo Maddison Sarah Clayton Linda Lindley Debby Gill Suzanne Ostler Al Good Becky Sidaway and Donna Das.

The Treble Challenge - Job Done Wow what a journey it was!

A lot did happen along the way Glad I got started ahead of time Covid-19 meant I simply couldn’t delay!

19th March became my Day One Trainers all cleaned, then snacks to pack New T-shirt & cap all ready Tissues & drink in my little rucksack Henry Clark It's finished and looks so much better than before. Thanks to Jamie Underwood for the stonework and Barrie Cooke for the sign.

Becky Jill Pebble pathway of hope (in Glinton) all ready for your painted pebbles

Dan Brown It’s swarm season! If you see a large cloud of bees congregating somewhere or a large cluster of them hanging on a branch, sign, fence post, etc, DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED! These bees are homeless wayward travellers and looking for a new place to set up a hive.

They not only have no home to defend, but they are also full and fat on honey so that they have enough resources to start fresh wherever they end up. This is the calmest you will ever see a honeybee. Contact me or another beekeeper and I am more than willing to come get them! #savethebees 34

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Off into Nene Park I set My favourite place to walk At first some friends could join me A fabulous space to share a walk & talk My Challenge has brought awareness back onto the group Agenda to raise more funds & make a plan Could Ping Pong help keep us younger?

The activities add strength and support the members of this group A time to share together All quite amazing, a real top troupe The miles began to build each day Day 11 was a tough one, both windy & cold The TV News seemed quite grim Time to toughen up, keep striding out, be bold!

The days & miles were ticked The donations began to flow Daunted yet more excited I became The target was in sight. Go girl Go! So it actually was 300 in less than 30 In fact just 24 days to be precise That photo snap at the end Pure elation. Cheers! Wow, that felt so nice!

The 3000 target has been smashed By supporters that care a lot They want to help, to share the love What great friends we really have all got THANK YOU EVERYONE xx

POULET CÉLIGNY TASTEBUDS

Hello all you good people in Tribland villages. I do most sincerely hope you are all well at this time of national problems and also worldwide and if indeed you are unwell to quickly return to normal, non? I hope with all this time at home some of you maybe have been practicing your culinary skills and hopefully you have to show me a thing or two about the way we should eat the good food from our own kitchens!

from the kitchen of

Poulet Céligny

The way for us to try this issue is a recipe which is created the world over but especially in France, where it originated from the town of Chambéry in the South West near the borders of Switzerland and Italy. A very simple but hugely rewarding dish using the most basic of ingredients, which has become a much-liked feature on the Chez Pierre menu card for friends and guests alike. I am aware that this dish was much liked by the famous actor Richard Burton for whom it was especially made every time he popped in to his local eatery, Buffet de la Gare,

just across the road from his house in Céligny Switzerland where he lived for nearly 30 years until he died in 1984. It is said he dined there many times, with a table reserved for him and his guests always, but would often eat here alone preferring just to relax after coming home to where he loved to be after busy filming in far flung and exotic places.

I normally use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs here for the fuller taste but have for this time used skin-on breasts, because I have them already, sliced upon plating to serve for appearance.

 Preheat oven to 350F and in a large oven-safe frying pan cook diced bacon until crispy over medium heat hob. Remove to a small bowl.

couple of tablespoons or so. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring regularly over medium-high heat until mushrooms have cooked off their moisture and are starting to brown.

 Remove all but a little of the bacon fat from the pan. Add butter and oil to the same pan and heat over medium heat.  Add the chicken to the pan skin side down and cook until deep golden. Flip over and brown the other side as well. Remove to a plate.  If there is a large amount of fat in the pan, remove all but a

 Add the diced onion and cook, stirring, until onions have softened, about 2 minutes more. Add the white wine and allow to cook for about 1 minute, stirring a bit to loosen any browned bits. Add the chicken stock. Return chicken to the pan and place in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and looking damn fine.

For four diners you will need: 3 slices bacon diced; 1 Tbsp butter; 1 Tbsp cooking oil; 8 good-sized chicken thighs bonein/skin-on (or as here 4 skin-on breasts but either must be well trimmed of excess skin); 8 oz button mushrooms quartered; ½ cup diced onion; 1 cup white wine; 1 ½ cups chicken stock; 6 Tbsp crème fraiche; 2 Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbsp water; 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard; 2 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon leaves or 1 ½ tsp dried tarragon  Remove from oven and lift chicken pieces to a warm plate.  Place frying pan onto the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the creme fraiche, cornstarch/ water mixture, Dijon mustard and tarragon and cook, stirring, until sauce is hot and thickened, 2-3 minutes tops. Stir in reserved bacon and then return chicken to the pan. Cook a further few minutes to re-warm chicken and bacon.

Serve with mashed potatoes (as a side) to enjoy the lovely gravy or as I often do, on a white plate with peas and asparagus too.

Bon Chance, Pierre x askchezpierre@gmail.com

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FARM FOCUS ROSEMARY'S ROSEMARY'SDIARY DIARY

Tim Scrivener Agricultural Photography

Rosemary’s FARMING Diary

After the wettest Autumn and winter in living memory who could have predicted that Covid-19 would add to everyone’s worst nightmare?

Not only to the farming community, but to everyone worldwide.

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The weather has much improved, which has enabled us to carry out our spring field work. A lot of which would have been completed last autumn had the weather been kinder to us, however, in about three weeks finishing on Good Friday we managed to get all sowing cleared up, which leaves fertilizer and spraying to do, plus a mountain of jobs to catch up on. Normally the cattle would have been turned out into the grass fields but the grass is not growing as well as it should be, so we have held off turning out.

The arable crops (wheat, barley and oats) have responded well to fertilizer application, the oil seed rape crop is another matter. We have already written off 160 acres and the area we have left is only half the crop it should be.

Land allocated to the potatoes has come down very well. The

potatoes were set in about three days and nights. Our contractor runs two shifts which means the machinery is kept going 24/7, enabling them to take advantage of ideal weather conditions. The sugar beet seed was also sown in the week before Easter - not quite the seed beds we usually have on some of the heavier land; on the lighter soils much better seed beds were made.

It will be interesting to see how well these crops yield having come through one of the most difficult sowing times in living memory. It’s obvious to see how wet conditions were with the bare patches in some fields now showing. There is also the question what will the commodity prices be for the new crop when selling day comes around, nothing much has been said about Brexit recently as other urgent matters have obviously taken priority.

ROSEMARY'S DIARY FARM FOCUS

Could this be a ‘wakeup call’? We are told through statistics the air pollution has improved considerably, due to less traffic movement, with people where possible working from home – perhaps this could be a starting point?

This season we have been selling every month when the price appeared to be right. Generally speaking, this has worked reasonably well.

The working and living conditions that we are all having to implement have had a huge impact on our lives, several people have commented that it’s like wartime, I just remember it – during the war you were allocated ration books for your weekly shop for very basic food etc, as I recall shops always had some food in, they were never blitzed by the public, but in wartime you could see the enemy – this virus is deadly; a silent enemy that you can’t see, it’s ruthless, how it makes it’s advances and what age group it claims as it’s victims are all unknown.

People were happy to be spared the bombing that was going on around them and their expectations of life were not so demanding as we have experienced since the Second World War finished. Most villages had a shop, Post Office, Public House, School and Church, which all were well used. You would meet people from the village, have a chat and so on. We seem to be living in a world where the pace of life has reached the point of overtaking what the human body can withstand, technology has overtaken our capacity to deal with in some cases, life, where over medication has been allowed to be given, doing untold damage to our very existence, and the way our body should function, I would hasten to add, given with the best of intentions.

I think if some good can come out of this pandemic (it’s hard to visualise at present), having spoken to quite a few people they agree. It is giving everyone time to take stock on how we conduct our everyday being and what we take for granted, what

is really essential, what we can manage without and so it goes on. Could this be a ‘wakeup call’?

We are told through statistics the air pollution has improved considerably, due to less traffic movement, with people where possible working from home – perhaps this could be a starting point? I am sure we shall all see big changes to the way we live after this pandemic is over.

Have you noticed how early all the bulbs came into flower, shrubs as well? Now with the heat, most of the bulbs have died down, the pear blossom only lasted a couple of days, as did the other blossoms. The birds are singing their heads off with the dawn chorus, and look forward to the food I put out in the morning, they do their best to make life as cheerful and interesting as possible in the these very uncertain times.

By the time the next Tribune comes out, lets hope life is beginning to turn to normal conditions.

As a business we have had to adapt new safety procedures in the Farm Shop to make shopping as safe as possible and have introduced other ways to shop for example the call and collect service and delivery service for surrounding villages. I am very passionate about keeping the business open and running so we can offer this vital service to our customers – old and new, which has been both challenging and rewarding.

Our staff have gone the extra mile to accommodate the new way of shopping and I am particularly proud of the younger team who have stepped up to the plate magnificently to manage the Call and Collect service. In all, I’m very proud of our team and want to congratulate their dedication and enthusiasm in these unprecedented times.

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YOUNG TRIBUNE

1ST GLINTON RAINBOWS

Feeling Good, Being Happy and an Easter At the end of December we said goodbye to a number of Rainbows who were transferring to Brownies but not before very important presentations were made.

Lillian and Beatrice were both presented with the prestigious Gold Award badge and certificate that they had worked so hard to achieve. In addition, a special award was presented to Esme who having not been with us long enough to achieve the

Gold Award, decided instead to completed all 12 Interest Badges from the new badge book. With great gusto, she pulled off this magnificent feat in just 12 weeks.

Through January and February, the unit completed the Feel Good Stage 1 Skills Builder badge alongside the Happy Laugh Challenge. The two worked well together and the whole term focussed on being positive and finding ways to help others (and themselves) to feel

happy. Who could have known how useful these skills were going to become?

Over the two months, the Rainbows completed various challenges; they played games, they made emoji cakes, re-wrote a traditional fairy story and made Promise bunting ready for the Promise ceremony of the newest members. We even completed a walk around the village identifying landmarks and considering how the village might be further

Eggstravaganza improved. Lots of laughter and smiling was involved and the badges were well earned.

Obviously, we have been unable to hold unit meetings since March but the Rainbows are still completing challenge badges, albeit virtually. Immediately after our sessions ended, the Rainbows were provided with the materials to make the planned Mother's Day cards and gifts and at the start of April the Easter Eggstravanganza Challenge Badge was launched.

The last few months have been busy ones for 1st Glinton Rainbows

The Rainbows were given a range of activities; Easter bonnet making, Egg Hunts, Egg Decorating and An Act of Kindness being just a few. The Rainbows have to complete 7 challenges to achieve their badge and so far 11 have already done that.

As their unit leader I am impressed and very proud of their continued commitment to Rainbows, even when based at home.

YOUNG TRIBUNE

Sally Nash (Vixen) Unit Leader.

The current situation has meant that sadly we have had to postpone a number of planned activities but it does mean that we have a Pot of Gold ceremony at Bounce, a sleepover and the Muddy Good Fun day at Wandering Willows to look forward to. Oh, and the Glitterball Challenge Badge that starts in May. Well done Rainbows! Keep up the good work and continue to be kind and helpful.

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YOUNG TRIBUNE

READING ROOM

YOUNG TRIBUNE

Reading Room Willow Coby

The Cat in The Hat/ Dr Seuss’ Sleep Book Dr Seuss You can never have too much nonsense in your life – especially not if you are under eight years old – and if you want nonsense, then Dr Seuss is the absolute master. These two classics are a must for every child’s bookshelf.

The Cat in the Hat is a cautionary tale of sorts – never let strange felines into your home. One wet and cold day, the narrator and his sister make the mistake of opening the door to the eponymous cat, only for him to wreak rhyming havoc on their home. Children delight in each new calamity, and the rollicking rhythm carries you along to the end.

Dr Seuss’s Sleep Book is a calmer tale, ideal for bedtimes, but still with the same humour and pizazz. Featuring an array of strange and sleepy creatures, from the Chippendale Mupp to the Hinkle Horn Honkers, the ‘Who’s Asleep Score ‘ gradually grows until the very last sleeper is needed – you!

Illustrated in the author’s bold and distinctive style, these books stand repeated reading. Which is just as well, as you’ll be asked for them again, and again, and again....

Hopscotch and Handbags Lucy Mangan Subtitled ‘The truth about being a girl’, this book is essential reading for grown up girls of all ages. In it, Lucy Mangan explores the subtleties of female life from school onwards – or, as the title has it, from Hopscotch to Handbags.

As the cover and the chapter headings suggest, the tone is always light-hearted. This is no self help book – instead it’s a mixture of reminiscences, cautionary tales and laugh out loud moments. Packed with lists, diary entries, jokes and quizzes that are pure 1970’s Jackie magazine, the beauty of the book is how quickly you can place yourself within it. What girl doesn’t remember the intricate rules of teenage friendship, or the range of helpful excuses to get out of the dreaded PE lesson twice a week? And while lists may be something you would expect in a boy’s book, here they serve as a checklist and a reminder - I guarantee that you will measure your teenage self against the ‘cool and uncool’ list, and the Top Ten Beloved Books will send you back to your old childhood favourites (Malory Towers, anyone?)

Mangan’s style is chatty, confidential and inclusive – you instinctively feel like you are part of a gossipy group – and her points hit home. Even when you do find yourself matching 90% of the criteria that make you a grown up, you’ll still be safe in the knowledge that it is still ‘so much better than being a boy’!

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YOUNG TRIBUNE

MUSTARD SEED PROJECT

The Mustard Seed Project Such a difficult report to write. I normally feel so upbeat having returned from Kenya with lots of successes, but it is hard not to think about the current situation out there.

Our families live in very crowded conditions and most live from hand to mouth. A bit like the virus! We feed the poorest during the long holidays which is normally 29 families. Last Monday I was told that we are now providing dried beans and maizemeal to 48 families but the number will have risen by now.

We are providing soap to all 214 families of our 275 children.

Our teachers are receiving full salary but we can only do that until the end of June before reducing it by half. Will that be long enough? The good news was, and hopefully still is, that the contractors have been able to get on with the work without 42

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worrying about the safety of the children. They have proceeded at some speed but materials are running low, the government will not allow them to be moved from one area to another, and of course the price is going up.

But in Kenya in March things went well. Following on from the fantastic KCPE results all our children got into secondary school. Seif who got 401 marks, putting him in the top 1% in the country got sponsored to go to a National school. It’s a bit like being in the top stream in a grammar school and he is doing very well. I visited a local secondary school which had an inspirational headteacher

MUSTARD SEED PROJECT YOUNG TRIBUNE

If you would like to help us support our families and staff during this dreadful time please visit our website www.mustardseedproject. co.uk or find us on Virgin Money Giving. Make sure that you search for Mustard Seed Project (Kenya) as another charity set us with the same name as us.

who had just started at the school and really wanted to make a difference. Unfortunately, the Kenyan government have done it again. They said that all children could go to secondary school whilst just paying for the feeding programme, BUT, there are no new schools and no new teachers and class sizes are 100+. Interestingly, when I went to the secondary school nearest to us a couple of years ago the headteacher almost jeered at me when I said we did not use corporal punishment. At this school there was no corporal punishment and very calm classes even though there were 100 children. A tough job though.

Who would want to mark 100 books?!

Geoff spent a very focused four weeks, mostly in Mombasa city, trying amongst other things, to sort out re-registering of the planning documents of the school we are building. Apparently it needs to be done every two years and we were unaware. He also found someone to redesign the roof. It will now cost much

less and means that as well as completing six classrooms we had enough funds to do the brickwork and the roof on another two classrooms which is great.

We were also very lucky that the date of our return to the UK was the date that the Kenyan President closed all the schools.

We had been able to do most of the things on our ‘to do’ list and came home with no problems. It was just such a shock when we returned to the UK. Kenya had just 3 cases when the President closed the schools.

We thought this was rather hasty but they still have only a handful of cases and six deaths.

Unfortunately, the people may end up starving to death instead as he closed everything. No tourists in Mombasa means no food for most of them.

One of our visitors to the school while we were there was Monia Antonioli, a photographer we first met in Kenya five years ago. This does at least mean that we have a huge selection of great photographs, some of which are pictured here.

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YOUNG TRIBUNE

INTRODUCE YOUR KIDS TO ELECTRONICS

There's a maker revolution going on at the moment.

You might not have noticed but there is.

More kids (and adults) are tinkering with electronics and computers. Not to play games, but rather to design and build their own devices and machines.

Introduce your kids to Electronics This resurgence in hobby engineering has been growing for a while but took off with the development of very low cost, single circuit board computers that anyone could program, and build into their projects. The Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards are two of the most popular, but there is now a vast range depending on your budget and requirements. You can even get full powered PCs as single board computers.

Where to Start?

Hobby engineering is great fun for people who like to learn by doing rather than reading. Yes, you'll need to do a bit of research and head-scratching to get projects to work, but that’s part of the challenge and fun of building your own machines.

The easiest place to start is with an electronics kit from a toy shop or online store. These remove the hassle out of getting something up and running. The parts connect 44

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easily, and each set has a number of circuits to build and test, usually with full explanations of how they work. They teach the basics of electronics in a fun and rewarding manner. Most sets can be expanded to build more complex designs, and many let you connect to a computer so you can program your machine.

Next Steps Once you've got the bug it's time to get your hands dirty with some larger projects. Here the internet is king. There are thousands of projects online for you to copy, modify and build. Whatever you're looking to make someone out there has built something similar, so you’ll know where to start.

You'll learn how to connect electronics to your SBC (single board computer), how to program it and how to get it to 'see' the real world through its sensors and control your devices through its drivers.

Build for Free Of course, buying electronic components can add up. If your budget is negligible there are still plenty of resources for you to use. Online circuit simulators like TinkerCad let you build circuits on your computer screen. All the components and test equipment are there at the click of a mouse.

You can wire them together and plug your circuit into a virtual Arduino computer board. Then upload your programs and run your machine right in your browser. All the components and circuit boards you use can be bought from any electronics store.

So you can test your designs, work out what you need and order them to turn the digital version into the real-life machine when finances allow.

Give your kids a head start in the modern digital world and get them making today!

By Bob Grant

HELPSTON PLAYHOUSE YOUNG TRIBUNE

Helpston Playhouse Our best wishes go out to all the children who attend the Preschool and Out Of School Club. We hope that you are having fun with your families and learning lots of new things. Take care and stay safe.

The Playhouse Committee

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TRIBUNE LOCKDOWN DIARY

tribune Diary LOCKDOWN

Peakirk VE Day Themed Fete Sunday 17 May 2020

It is a very sad moment (especially after all the efforts of the Fete Committee and supporters) to advise you that we have no other option but to cancel our VE Day Themed Village Fete due to the Coronavirus.

Quarantine without yoga… it can be done!

By Tracey Anderson

These suggestions are not mind-improving, but right now some of us are struggling just to stay sane, without being guilted into learning Latin, lace-making or limbo dancing.

Dig out a jigsaw - your most complicated one. The one bought for you by an aged aunt that is a view of the lakes comprising eleventy billion pieces, 90% of them blue or green. Leave it set up on a table or a board or a spare bit of floor and watch how people end up congregating round it for a chat. *Caveat – if you have toddlers completely ignore this one or you will be finding pieces of Windermere in odd cupboards, the dog’s bed, and down the loo when quarantine is a distant memory.

Start a journal or blog Begin that hilarious novel you always promised you’d write, or blog about your hobby collecting bottle tops, or just vent your spleen anonymously about your family and friends.

Have a movie day Binge watch every single Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or StarWars movie etc. Or watch all your favourite Tom Hanks films. Dress up and have themed snacks, or just stay in your PJs. Have a spa day Use face masks and moisturiser and dig out some nail polish. Don’t stop at the females.

Shop your wardrobe Have a total wardrobe clear out. Put together new outfit combinations.

Photograph them. Laugh at your mistakes.

Create a playlist for a friend Get them to do the same for you. Make a note of why you love the songs and what they mean to you.

Have a Pinterest challenge Have a family competition to recreate a ‘simple craft project’ you find on pinterest. Photograph the results and post them to FaceBook so your friends can judge the winner. Then rope the same friends into the challenge.

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Helpston Open Gardens 2020

As many of you know, this summer we had planned to once again hold Open Gardens in Helpston on Sat 20th June. Clearly with the current situation regarding Covid-19 this event is now in jeopardy.

However, we are all hoping that, as the event is two months away, we may still either be able to go ahead in June, or postpone it until later on in the summer. As we have all been in our homes clearing out cupboards and tidying our gardens, I am rather hoping that if the event does go ahead - either in June or later on - a few more "newbies" may be interested in taking part and showing off their hard work!

A decision will need to be made by mid-May as to whether the event is taking place or being postponed - so look out for up-dates via the Tribune or the Facebook page. Let's hope it does as It would be wonderful to be able to once again take part in something so very sociable.

In the meantime, if you need any other information please contact me.

Keep safe and enjoy your gardens.

Tammy Tushingham 07734 544578 tammy.tushingham@btinternet.com

A VOICE FROM THE PAST

HERITAGE

Test pitting, Peakirk village green

a Voice from the

Past

by Greg Prior

Since May 2016, it has been a tradition for PAST [Peakirk Archaeological Survey Team] to report on the previous year’s work at Peakirk Annual Parish Meeting. Due to the Coronavirus rearing its ugly head the event has been postponed indefinitely. So instead, we have compiled a brief résumé of our activities.

Delving into the Past The wet spring and early summer of 2019 meant that we had rather a late start to our programme. However, we managed to squeeze in some ‘rescue’ archaeology in a back garden in Chestnut Close before the installation of a shed, in addition to three more test-pits on the village green over the old route of the Car Dyke. Although a Roman watercourse excavated during the first century AD, a large proportion of the pottery sherds that we recovered dated from c.900-c.1100 with only a single sherd of imported Samianware to represent the Romano-British period (43-c.410AD). This led us to wonder if the dyke was deliberately filled around the time that St Pega’s church was constructed in 1014/15. Peakirk Parish Council has granted us permission for a further five test pits on the green.

Eager to make up for lost time but too wet for test pits, in early February Bob, Avril and continued overleaf >>

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HERITAGE

A VOICE FROM THE PAST

>> continued from previous page David Hankins conducted a geophysical survey over an unexplained earthwork on private land. The results so far suggest that it was a wall (of unknown date). We plan to extend our non-invasive investigations later in the year and, perhaps, add another piece to the jigsaw of Peakirk’s fascinating history.

Planting Trees for the Future

Tree planting, St Pega’s Rd

Gregg washing our finds

Above: St Pega’s Package

Left: Bob conducting a geophysical survey 48

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Over the last twelve months, PAST has become increasingly involved with environmental and outreach projects. Last autumn, Peakirk resident, Eric Hughes, PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) and members of the team donated field maples, hazels, hollies and yews, which we planted along the Rectory Lane footpath, whilst the Parish Council purchased limes, hollies and yews to line the eastern side of the road to Glinton. Crucially, we have taken on the responsibility of watering them and handweeding and spraying around their stems. This essential aftercare should help them to flourish, thereby enhancing the approaches to the village and providing shade and a splash of colour for future generations to enjoy.

Promoting Peakirk In May 2019, we launched ‘St Pega’s Package’ in partnership with the Parochial Church Council. Aimed at interest groups, each event comprises a short talk on

the history of the church and its fourteenth-century wall-paintings, a delicious tea (prepared by ladies of the parish), a tour of the building and a stroll round the heart of the village, concluding at an archaeological test pit (weather permitting). So far, thanks to the generosity of the visitors from Bourne U3A and Deepings and West Deeping Heritage Groups, over £400 has been raised towards the replacement roof.

Avril also has delivered lectures on St Pega for St Pega Masonic Lodge at Deeping St James (who donated £680 towards the roof fund) and on the archaeology of Peakirk, at Spalding Gentlemen’s Society Symposium, Werrington Local History Group and Fane Road Archaeology Group [FRAG].

And finally . . .

Behind the scenes, Avril is still beavering away on the effects of the Black Death on Peakirk and has been trying to establish whether there was an anchorite’s cell in St Pega’s church vestry. Of course, as with our excavations, her research and quest for comparative examples have been put on hold.

All in all, it has been a busy, exciting, fruitful and - at times - a frustrating year. Hopefully, something resembling ‘normal’ service will be resumed as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing you on the green in autumn where, perhaps, that elusive ‘Peakirk Hoard’ lies just waiting for PAST to discover it!

PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

HERITAGE

One Foot in the Past

Peakirk

withinLiving memory

by Dr Avril Lumley Prior

It will be 50 years this September since I first set foot in Peakirk, on a date at the Ruddy Duck. Chicken or scampi and chips ‘in-a-basket’ were on the menu and Prince, the landlord’s Pembroke corgi, waited at tables begging for attention and tapping diners’ knees for titbits ...

continued overleaf >>

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PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

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Ruddy Duck, c.1964

In its heyday, the station concourse was a hive of activity with a constant stream of carts and lorries laden with local produce and cattle for market, delivery trucks leaving Charles Neaverson’s adjacent coal-yard and Arthur Neaverson’s wood-yard, next to Peakirk Granary, and imbibers heading for the Railway Tavern after a hard day’s work.

Peakirk station from signal box (G Prior)

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While the Ruddy Duck and, indeed, the village at large have retained their old-world charm, Peakirk has been dragged for better or for worse into the twenty-first century. So, I’ve taken a sentimental journey discovering what has changed within living memory, using photographs, newspaper accounts, reminiscences and the beautifullyillustrated 1960s journal of a lady who simply signed herself as J.A.M. (alias children’s author, ex-schoolmistress and WI stalwart, Mrs Jean Marshall late of Big Tree House).

The ‘Industrial’ Face of Peakirk Had I arrived in Peakirk a decade earlier at the start of the ‘Swinging Sixties’, I would have encountered an entirely different scene. Until then, the village was a much busier and dirtier place to live.

Smoke and smut issued from coal-fires’ chimneys and from steam locomotives engaged in shunting wagons and hauling goods and passenger trains along the Great Northern loop line between Peterborough and Boston docks. In its heyday, the station concourse was a hive of activity with a constant stream of carts and lorries laden with local produce and cattle for market, delivery trucks leaving Charles Neaverson’s adjacent coal-yard

and Arthur Neaverson’s woodyard, next to Peakirk Granary, and imbibers heading for the Railway Tavern after a hard day’s work.

Coal shortages in the late 1940s, the loss of freight to road hauliers and an increase in car ownership led to the closure of the station to passengers in September 1961 and to goods in April 1964. At last, Peakirk was in a position (according to the prevailing diktat) to clean up its act. Commuters and shoppers either drove or took the thenfrequent bus to Peterborough and Stamford and central heating, smokeless fuel, and later, woodburners replaced coal-fires.

The grimy Italianate station was converted into a comfortable family home and the Mallards development (named after the record-breaking A4 Pacific-class locomotive) stands on the old sidings. Mill Close, VW2000 and Paul’s Vehicles occupy the coal-yard. Penwald Close (called after St Pega’s father, Penwalh) has recently been extended into Arthur Neaverson’s wood-yard, where kennels once were made by royal warrant for the Queen’s working dogs at Sandringham and Balmoral.

Since 1848, Folly Bank (Thorney Road) level-crossing was dominated by the four-storied Gatekeeper’s House. It acted both as an observatory from which to spot obstructions on the line (like stray cattle or stationary trains) and as accommodation for the crossing-keeper, who worked gruelling eight-hours on/ eight-hours off shifts. It was his responsibility to shut the gates manually to road traffic well before a train approached, though at night they were permanently closed allowing him some respite. It was commonplace for gatekeepers’ wives and children

PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

Hearth and Home

‘Coal-yard Corner’ and grainstore, 1965 (J.A.M.)

‘Coal-yard Corner’, 2020

Gatekeeper’s House (G Prior)

Firdale Farm and dovecote, 1965 (J.A.M.)

HERITAGE

to help out. (The Health and Safety brigade would have had a field-day now!)

Not all keepers chose to live next the railway line. One such gentleman preferred a cottage in the village, which proved most impractical. Wounded in the thigh during World War I, he sometimes failed to reach the gates in time, resulting in trains smashing through them! Other mishaps ensued, when sleep-deprived keepers nodded off on the job. There were even problems after the gates were controlled from the signal box south of the station, especially in fog. The last Folly-bridge gatekeeper, Raymond Simmonds, was commended by the British Transport Commission in 1962 for ‘bringing rail traffic to a standstill’ after a road accident on the crossing by sprinting up the track to lay detonators, thereby alerting the oncoming engine-driver. In 1964, Folly Bridge crossing was fully automated with a ‘Continentalstyle’ half barrier and the redundant Gatekeeper’s House was dismantled.

Other Thorney-Road landmarks were swept away in a flurry of brutal 1960s building-schemes.

The eighteenth-century Firdale Farm, home to James and Rose Green since 1933, was demolished in 1965 along with its dovecote of similar date, and the fir-tree in the front garden axed. Many Peakirk folk opposed the destruction of such fine old buildings and, moreover, the village’s expansion. A petition was organised by Dr Barling of the Old Rectory but the Rector of Peakirk, Reverend Keith Sears (1958-74), argued that the village would die without an injection of families with young children. Thus, the Rural District Council was swayed and the first of Firdale’s 22 chalet-style homes was completed in 1968 along with two retirement bungalows.

Welland House [formerly the Boat Inn] opposite was bulldozed, in 1967, when Thorney Road was widened to improve access to the housing estate. Its erstwhile owner, the aptly-named Mrs Barker, breeder of Willowbeach Cardigan Welsh corgis, moved into a new-build in the pub’s orchard.

Property developers were active in other parts of Peakirk too. An ancient barn, next to Peakirk House disappeared in 1971. Down Rectory Lane, three quaint cottages with dormer windows were condemned and dispatched to make way for two detached bungalows. Along St Pega’s Road, a terrace of singlestoried dwellings, hastily erected after World War I and continued overleaf >>

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HERITAGE

PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

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Old Village Hall (G Prior)

Inconveniently, the hall had neither loos nor cooking facilities, was heated by a single, centrally-positioned coke-burning stove, was draughty and renowned for its uncomfortable, wooden folding-chairs.

Old Village Hall interior (Miss F Neaverson)

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romantically called St Guthlac, St Pega and St Benedict, also were razed to the ground. Undoubtedly, all these abodes were damp and lacked indoor plumbing yet, nowadays, they would have been ‘sensitively’-renovated and the tumbledown barn converted into a des res. Besides, their replacements were not exactly ‘affordable homes’ and altered the character and dynamics of the village causing it to morph into a ‘dormitory’ for Peterborough and Stamford.

The Village Hall Conversely, few mourned the loss of the old Village Hall. It already had seen service as an army hut before it was purchased and re-assembled by villagers in time for the Christmas Whist Drive on 18 December 1919.

The hall proved to be a great asset for, hitherto, church bazaars, parties and Parish Council meetings were held at Peakirk Hermitage, then the Parish Room. Peakirk WI (founded in March 1958 by the Misses Marjorie and Vera Sprigg and Mrs Blanche Dunne) used the facility as their base and for fund-raising activities in aid of St Pega’s church, for a bench

in Chestnut Close (to celebrate the organisation’s fiftieth anniversary 1964) and a village sign (to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, in 1977).

Another memorable event there was the puppet pantomime, ‘A Spell of Trouble’, performed in January 1964 by 21 children with their homemade marionettes. The characters included St George and the dragon, Mother Goose, Little Red Riding Hood and a wicked witch. The show was directed by the multi-talented Mrs Marshall, who supervised the puppet-making and wrote the rhyming script as well.

New Year’s Eve dinner dances were always popular, with food served on plates embellished with the ‘St Pega’s cross’ motif (reflecting the detail on the top of the Monument’s obelisk). Inconveniently, the hall had neither loos nor cooking facilities, was heated by a single, centrallypositioned coke-burning stove, was draughty and renowned for its uncomfortable, wooden foldingchairs. On the plus side, it had a sprung floor and a bowling green to the rear. Its replacement, built by public subscription, was opened in August 1974 by Arthur Neaverson on behalf of his father, Tom. Until the scourge of Covid-19, the Village Hall was a venue for Parish Council, Peakirk Tots and Model Aircraft Club meetings, karate, yoga, Zumba and 1940s dancing classes, dog-training, concerts, pantomimes, private functions and for St Pega’s famous Brunches, celebrating a century of social activities on the site. It is also used as a Polling Station and, recently, as a place-of-worship.

Back in the 1960s, St Pega’s church loomed large in community life. Just as today, it depended upon the cooperation and generosity of the villagers for its upkeep and the payment of the controversial Parish Share. A bequest from organist and Sunday-school teacher, Miss Dora

PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

Village Sign (Mrs V Green)

In the 1970s, the Parochial Church Council persuaded the Cathedral Dean and Chapter to pay for the wax to be removed from some (though not all) of the scenes. Nearly a half a century later, the remainder are still waiting to be stabilised.

Prentice of Rectory Lane (18991965), bought a new north door and the late John Harris of Sissons Farm crafted seven wrought-iron chandeliers for the nave and chancel, c.1969. By then, the fourteenth-century wall-paintings, uncovered and coated with wax

by Edward Clive Rouse, in 1950/1, were beginning to show signs of deterioration. In the 1970s, the Parochial Church Council persuaded the Cathedral Dean and Chapter to pay for the wax to be removed from some (though not all) of the scenes. Nearly a half a century later, the remainder are still waiting to be stabilised. Unfortunately, due to the huge expenses incurred by the theft of St Pega’s roof, it is doubtful whether our aging congregation will see the work completed.

Across Deeping Road, Peakirk Hermitage was occupied by the

HERITAGE

Sisters of the Community of the Holy Family, a teaching order of Anglican nuns, whose motherhouse was at Holmhurst St Mary’s, Sussex. In 1980, the house and chapel were sold to the Sisters of the Society of the Precious Blood of Burnham Abbey, Berkshire, who invited worshippers to attend monthly services in the chapel and are remembered with affection.

The convent closed, in 2001 and the buildings passed into private ownership.

Agriculture and Amenities Back in the early 1900s, Peakirk supported six farmers and smallholders, an army of agricultural and railway workers and domestic servants, a wheelwright, blacksmith, continued overleaf >>

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Railway Shop, 1965 (J.A.M.) Stand-pipe, St Pega’s Road

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carpenter, saddler, cobbler, boot-dealer and draper, two dress-makers, a watch-maker, a fishmonger, grocer, baker, post office, three public houses, a midwife, undertaker and The Rector of Peakirk-cum-Glinton.

Seemingly, parishioners’ needs were catered for from the cradle to the grave!

By the mid-1960s, a single farm remained within the village envelope, though many residents still worked on the land. Of Peakirk’s tradesmen, only the carpenter, postmaster and general dealer survived along with the Black Bull (extensively refurbished and reopened as the Ruddy Duck, in 1964). However, the village now boasted a telephone kiosk, children’s playground, garage, ‘odd-job man’, Wiseacre [Follybridge] Boarding Kennels and resident policeman (based at 27 St Pega’s Road). It also enjoyed

daily milk-deliveries and frequent visits by a travelling grocer, baker, two butchers, a District Nurse and occasionally the knife-grinder. Furthermore, Dr Barling ran a surgery in his home at the Old Rectory on Tuesday afternoons to save his patients the trek to Glinton.

How times have changed!

Other enterprises came and went. Edgar Neaverson (1900-83), Head of the Peakirk Division of the Fire Brigade, kept an electric water-pump at his home, Elllesmore House, near the stand-pipe on St Pega’s Road. Basil and Dulcie Tebbit ran a Chippy at 3 Rectory Lane, from the 1940s until 1955. The Railway Inn (established in 1848 by William and Harriett Neaverson) finally called time in 1957 and was transformed into Taylor’s Railway Shop and Post Office (Railway Cottage).

Mr Taylor’s convenience

PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

HERITAGE

clothes”. In fact, this must have been the only option (other than dyke-water) for Grace Duffin, the old lady who lived in a railway carriage in the field next to Follybridge Pet Lodge, before decamping to Newborough, in the 1970s.

Peakirk Pastimes

Wild Fowl Gardens, c.1970

Mr Taylor’s convenience store sold almost everything the average Pegekirkan could desire – groceries, confectionary, coal, paraffin, paints, wallpaper, wellington-boots, patent medicines, knitting-yarn and patterns – and was a lifeline to the elderly, infirm and those without transport.

Nevertheless, the even wider range of merchandise offered in Peterborough and Stamford at more-competitive prices (especially at Brierley’s emporium) was too great a temptation.

store sold almost everything the average Pegekirkan could desire – groceries, confectionary, coal, paraffin, paints, wallpaper, wellington-boots, patent medicines, knitting-yarn and patterns – and was a lifeline to the elderly, infirm and those without transport.

Nevertheless, the even wider range of merchandise offered in Peterborough and Stamford at more-competitive prices (especially at Brierley’s emporium) was too great a temptation. With the increase in car ownership and fewer stay-up-home Mums, business declined prompting the last proprietors, Bill and Irene Beech, to retire in 1975, the year that Peakirk received its street-lights.

But old habits die hard.

Although Peakirk, had all been connected to the main water supply since 1938, not every householder enthusiastically embraced this amenity. As late as the 1960s, some still drew water from the parish pumps, because “it made a better cup of tea” and “town water was too hard for washing hair and

As we have seen, Peakirk residents have always been good at making their own entertainment. Once, there were a Cricket Club, Football Club and Girls’ Friendly Society but all were disbanded in 1939 as members either were called to arms or became pre-occupied with the War Effort. The Bowling Club (founded by milkman Ernie Brickles and Charles and Tom Neaverson, in 1948) held regular matches on the green behind the Village Hall, until 1961. In winter, Horse Field, which usually froze between Deeping Road and the railway line, became a magnet for skaters. There was a branch of the Mothers’ Union (formed in 1926 for church-going ladies only) and the WI was still thriving in 1984. Every other Thursday, the Over Sixties’ Club met at Arthur Mellows Village College, Glinton. What days!

TheWild Fowl Trust Undeniably, Peakirk’s ‘jewel-inthe-crown’ was the much-loved and sorely-missed Wild Fowl and Wetlands Trust Water Gardens. They were established east of the Goshams, in 1956, by naturalist Sir Peter Scott of Slimbridge fame and Billy continued overleaf >>

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HERITAGE

PEAKIRK WITHIN LIVING MEMORY

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Billy & Annie Williams’ gravestone, Peakirk churchyard

At its peak, roughly 45,000 people passed through the turnstiles annually to admire an international cast of over 700 birds from approximately 100 different species.

Williams, the last of seven generations of his family to manage Borough Fen Duck Decoy. After Billy’s death in 1958, his widow, [Lucretia] Annie, continued to live at the Goshams, welcoming visitors with tea and cakes. At its peak, roughly 45,000 people passed through the turnstiles annually to admire an international cast of over 700 birds from approximately 100 different species. They included Egyptian geese, European eiders, Australian black swans (called Sidney and Adelaide), pink Andean flamingos and North American ruddy ducks. It was here that I was introduced to nene geese. In my ignorance, I concluded that the breed was peculiar to the Nene Valley, until I learnt the word was pronounced ‘nay-nay’ and that they actually hailed from Hawaii!

In 1992, the management of the Wild Fowl Trust was transferred to the East of England Agricultural Society, who renamed it Peakirk Waterfowl Gardens. Sadly, although still popular and profitable, the gardens closed in December 2001 and the birds were relocated to Slimbridge. The future of the site is uncertain.

Thanks for the memories The demise of the Wild Fowl Gardens has had a lasting impact upon Peakirk. Yet, there have been other more-subtle changes thrust upon us; a house shoe-horned into a space, the removal of the telephone kiosk, post-boxes not emptied so frequently, reduced bus-services and increased rail traffic. Now, gas and oil central-heating, wood-burners and diesel and petrol cars all have fallen from favour and ‘clean’ electricity rules supreme. Around Peakirk, wind-turbines dominate the skyline and there are solar farms on fertile soils where crops once grew. Elsewhere, nuclear and fossil-fuel fired power stations generate enough of the commodity to warm our homes, heat our water, run our appliances and charge our cars, laptops, ‘phones and gadgets.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 has done more to reduce the world’s carbon-footprint and bring it to a standstill than Greta Thunberg and her Extinction Rebellion devotees could ever have dreamt of. And Peakirk’s air is far, far cleaner than it has been within living memory. Well, at least for the time being . . .

PS. This article marks the tenth anniversary of my regular Tribune features. God willing, dear Readers, I can resume writing for you after my pandemic-induced furlough has ended. I’m especially grateful to Freda Neaverson, Violet Green, Greg Prior – and, of course, the remarkable Mrs Marshall, who have helped me dip my toes into Peakirk’s recent history and given me an insight into what I have missed.

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THE BEAUTIES OF BARNACK

HERITAGE

Now, it seems a world away from the late-February morning when we met at Barnack for the third of our Chats in Old Churches.

Of course, St John the Baptist’s is renowned for its late tenth-century tower, appliquéd with stone carvings that were recycled from an even earlier building. Since it was once set in a circular churchyard, it may also occupy the site of Beornna ac (‘warriors’ oak’), an ancient tribal meetingplace which gave the settlement its name.

Chat S in Old ChurcheS Victorian mosaic

by Dr Avril Lumley Prior

The Beauties of Barnack continued overleaf >>

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THE BEAUTIES OF BARNACK

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St John the Baptist’s Church, Barnack

At the time of writing, we can only admire these national treasures from the serenity and solitude of their churchyards.

But, as Forces-sweetheart, Vera Lynn, reassured everyone during World War II, “I know we’ll meet again some sunny day”.

Chat in the Lady Chapel

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Recycled panels on tower

Our event was well-attended and we were treated to an excellent tour by Elizabeth Young, who has lived in the village for 50 years, with Reverend Dave Maylor’s guitar providing a musical interlude.

There is plenty to appeal to visitors here – the lofty building with its myriad of architectural styles, enigmatic Anglo-Saxon ‘throne’, earlyRomanesque carving of Christ-in-Majesty (still with traces of eleventh-century paint), assorted grave-markers made in Barnack workshops, glittering Victorian mosaics and stained glass galore!

My particular favourite is the panel containing three fifteenth-century roundels, normally hidden from view in the vestry.

THE BEAUTIES OF BARNACK

HERITAGE

Anglo-Saxon grave-markers

11th-century Christ-in-Majesty

15th-century stained glass

One lady suggested that the portraits could represent God, The Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and The Christ Child, which sounds feasible to me.

A splendid time was had by all and Etton and Crowland have volunteered to host Chats in their old churches. Obviously, this isn’t going to happen for a while and (at time of writing) we can only admire these national treasures from the serenity and solitude of their churchyards. But, as Forcessweetheart, Vera Lynn, reassured everyone during World War II, “I know we’ll meet again some sunny day”. In the meantime, stay safe and “keep smiling through . . . “

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CHURCH NEWS

St. Pega's Brunch

Sunday 1 March

The March Brunch had a record attendance and raised an amazing £500.55 towards our church funds.

A very big thank you to all those who attended, and our wonderful helpers both beforehand setting up and laying the tables and chairs, the cooks and washer-ups in the kitchen, as well as our superb waitresses and waiter, including Ruby who joined us for the very

first time. There were 84 eggs, 108 sausages and 12 lbs of bacon cooked that morning, as well tomatoes and baked beans.

If you haven’t joined us before, do come along to our next Brunch on Sunday 1 November from 9 - 11am.

If you would like to help, please email sheila.lever@btinternet.com.

Wilkinson/Smitheringdale Wedding No limos for this happy couple. Local farmer, Graham Smitheringale couldn’t quite give up work for the day when he wed Amy Wilkinson in March at St Botolph’s, Helpston. The decorated tractor was the pair’s chosen transport.

The wedding, held in March, is possibly one of the last really bright spots at this gloomy time. The congregation at the church look forward to more happy times and being able to resume public worship, which, at the time of writing, has been cancelled.

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 60

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CHURCH NEWS

In Memory

Dennis Spriggs

By Andy Lowings

Loving husband of Cheryll, Dad to Nicki, Jo and Jason I attended the funeral of Dennis Spriggs on Friday 6 March.

Approaching, I found that I could not actually drive into the crematorium.

It was full.

Completely full.

Parking outside on the verge, I made my way along with the silent crowd gathered outside in the sunshine.

It was not rushed and everyone got to hear.. if not to completely see, the dignified ceremony celebrating the life of Dennis Spriggs.

Not overly long or at all extravagant, it was done as he would have wished. Correctly and with the tradition befitting someone of old Peterborough.

Led by the gentle voice of Nicola Dela-Croix we all heard his life story and many parts that we never knew about before.

Trips abroad; and stories of meeting his future wife at the roller-skating rink; first-time demolitions; and connections made and retained for a life-time.

Finally a montage of photographs set against the perfect accompaniment of ‘I did it my way’ sung by Sinatra.

Later on at perhaps his favourite pub of all, the Pack Horse in Northborough, once again the crowd was spilling out onto the garden front. Sun-filled at first but continuing until long after darkness.

His chair had a reserved notice on the seat. A pint of Guinness awaited him.

People were eager to tell their own anecdotes of Den’.

“We would meet each other every morning at the Eye roundabout for decades!” one man told his story to our group.

Anglican Church Directory

Lay Pastoral Minister: Mary Gowers .......................... 01780 740097 Reader: Su Fletcher ....................................................... 01780 740034 Reader: Mike Mills ......................................................... 01780 740285 Bainton Churchwarden: John Wreford ...................... 01780 740362 Bainton Churchwarden: Michael Perkins ................... 07587 240607 Barnack Churchwarden: David Laycock .................... 01780 740267 Barnack Churchwarden: John Ward .......................... 01780 740016 Helpston Churchwarden: Clive Pearce ...................... 01733 253494 Ufford Church Enquiries: Peter and Sally Hudson .... 01780 740475 Church Organist Barnack/Bainton: Elizabeth Snowball ......................................................... 07821 460505 Barnack Messy Church: Julie Stanton ........................ 01780 749123 Rev Dave Maylor Barnack Coffee Stop: Carol Pickering ........................ 01780 740438 Barnack Little Lambs Group: Julie Stanton .............. 01780 749123 Barnack Men’s Breakfast: Mike Mills ......................... 01780 740285 David Laycock................................................................. 01780 740267

“He would see me and smile….

My van was bigger and faster than his… him gesturing, and swearing at me out the window as I overtook him….!”

Another cut in “You see boy, he... Den’ was important to us in Cardiff!” said the huge man holding a triple Southern Comfort and ice.

“All the scrap went down to us to be exported. To Turkey, then back again..even the same ship, coming back here with new reinforcement bars.

“An unrecognised environmentalist before it became fashionable?” I suggested.

“Yes! And fair. A straight up man. Solid ! You write that Taffy says this!!”

I wondered why all these many, many people had come to say goodbye to Dennis, and looked around.

There were all the people who Den’ had come into contact with in his life and who felt thereby still connected to him.

He had charm and made you feel you were one of those important and close to him.

In a throw-away world of short attention-spans, Dennis held his loved ones close and constant.

The many people there at his funeral felt inside, that they too, were a loved part of Dennis Spriggs’ family.

I realised suddenly, that we were all his family.

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CHURCH NEWS

WHY DOES GOD LET THIS HAPPEN?

Why does God let this happen?

Whenever there is a natural disaster of any kind – an earthquake, a flood, a wildfire – the question is always asked, “If there is a God, and if He is a loving God, then why does He allow this to happen?” The current Covid-19 pandemic has been no exception to this.

But one thing we have to always remember in situations like these is that God gave humankind the gift of freewill.

By Derek Harris

A pangolin

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The question is usually aimed at the church and those who serve it and it can make some church people feel very awkward indeed as they struggle to find an answer.

According to a newspaper article I read last week, even the cardinals at the Vatican feel uncomfortable being asked how God can allow a virus like this to rampage across our world leaving death and destruction in its wake.

But let us look at the facts behind the rise of the pandemic.

It is thought to have begun, as we all know, in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in China. It is believed to have started at a so-called “wet” market.

WHY DOES GOD LET THIS HAPPEN? CHURCH NEWS

These markets sell freshly slaughtered meat and fish, often killed at the time of sale.

They also sell living and dead wild animals and birds. The term “wet’ comes from the fact that the merchandise has water sloshed over it in an attempt to keep it fresh.

The virus is believed to have originated in bats and transferred, possibly via pangolins, into humans.

The fact that we now live in a global village with people flying to and from all parts of the world on a daily basis led to its spreading to pandemic proportions. So where is God in this? Did God lift the ban on wet markets selling wild animals

introduced by the Chinese Government after the Saars outbreak? Did God ignore Li Wenliang, the Chinese physician who warned back in December 2019 that there could be a pandemic? Is God responsible for people flying from country to country for business and pleasure?

The church has nothing to defend God for in the current situation and humankind’s need for God has, perhaps, been strengthened as a result of the crisis. The virus and its

no exception. We have and will continue to live stream our worship services on Facebook and YouTube.

The upside of this is that many more people are tuning into live streamed services than were ever found sitting in a pew at church.

God has given us the gift of freewill and it is up to us to use that gift wisely. Let us pray that when we come out of the other side of this crisis we will use our freewill to pick up the pieces and repair our broken world.

One thing is certain. No-one who has lived through this will ever view the world in the same way again. spread is humankind’s doing, not God’s. The church, like every other organisation in the world has suffered under the lockdown restrictions and has had to close its doors. In order to keep in touch with congregations isolated in their own homes people of the church have had to widen their technical abilities, acquiring skills previously way beyond their comfort zones. Our Benefice is

Let us consider more carefully the food we eat, how it is produced, the distance it travels to our plate. Let us assess more sensibly the journeys we need to make, the fuel we use, the pollution we cause.

Let us reflect on the way we engage with our neighbours, the friendships we have formed during our lockdown and the service we have been able to give to others.

One thing is certain. Noone who has lived through this will ever view the world in the same way again.

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CHURCH NEWS EASTER MORNING AT NORTHBOROUGH / VIRTUAL CHURCH

Easter Morning at Northborough

ip Although the Church was closed, and worsh h was taking place on-line, St. Andrew’s Churc gates had a glorious makeover to celebrate the Triumph of Easter Day. se Passers-by who were taking their daily exerci were greeted by Stella’s display wishing everyone a very Happy Easter

Virtual Church

Due to our churches being locked and our parishioners being locked out of them, we've had to modify our Modus Operandi... we are now operating virtually as a virtual church, until we can reopen our five churches and even then with these new services continuing.

Please will you note that within the Nine Bridges Benefice of Glinton, Etton, Maxey, Peakirk & Northborough, we are livestreaming daily prayer at 0900hrs on our Benefice Facebook page and livestreaming our Sunday Services, also at 0900hrs, filmed from The Rectory in Ginton. All the service books & hymn/music sheets can be downloaded from The Church of England's A Church Near You pages... In addition to publishing our regular notices, we are now publishing a weekly 'Virtual Pew Sheet' which can also be downloaded each week from the A Church Near You pages.

Yours in Faith, The Reverend Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale, Rector Glinton, Etton, Maxey, Northborough and Peakirk 64

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The church tried its best to hold on to some Easter traditions. Rev Dave Maylor produced a Newsletter for church members, who were encouraged to link up via Facebook. Some managed to find a hot cross bun. Others, who could find some yeast, made theirs.

BENEFICE BEATS LOCKDOWN

CHURCH NEWS

Pictured are the Hall family from Helpston enjoying an early morning walk.

Benefice beats the lockdown Community spirit, kindness and general cheerfulness has been the essence of the villages throughout the Benefice of Bainton. Barnack, Helpston & Wittering

By Sue Young Neighbours and friends have rallied to bring shopping to the vulnerable, people have made phone calls to folk they only speak to at Christmas, streets have clapped the NHS every Thursday night and communication has thrived in what has been acknowledged as a wartime spirit. Social media has played an important part in keeping families and loved ones in touch and the older generation have stepped up, if possible, to new methods of getting in touch, using Skype and FaceTime.

In defiance of gloomy news bulletins, our world has declared “Spring! Spring!” shouted from the tree tops by the song thrushes, echoed by the cherry blossom, tulips, daffodils and wallflowers.

Following the February rain, the land has dried out, the farming community has worked overtime to prepare the ground and sow.

Oil seed rape is in flower and the wheat is showing green in many fields.

Oblivious to a worried world, nature carries on. What does the chattering sparrow know of a Chinese virus that has decimated our people? A very short DH Lawrence poem goes some thing like this: “A small bird will fall, frozen, off a branch without every feeling sorry for itself”.

Soon the swallows and house martins will arrive enjoying the freedom of the skies.

Will the swifts return in July?

And will we be free by then?

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CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DURING LOCKDOWN

SERVICES OFFERED DURING LOCKDOWN Business as usual ... well, almost! Here is your community guide to businesses continuing to operate as normally as possible in these difficult times.

ENTERPRISE WINDOW CLEANING

Enterpriseservicesuk@gmail.com 07946977100

PLUMBING AND HEATING

Open as normal for new and existing customers through these difficult times. No-one knows when an emergency will strike. No job too small, all areas of plumbing and heating undertaken, full bathroom refurbishments to a simple tap washer. No call out charge. Please contact us today. #plumbingandheating E: kevinhall44@hotmail.co.uk 07747841506

SD PLUMBING, HEATING & GAS

We are still trading. Gas safe registered. for emergency call out 24/7 no call out fee.

Facebook-square/sdplumbingheating Contact Scott on 07731816674

MY THERAPIST ONLINE

Meet top UK Therapists from the comfort of your home Helpston Resident & mum of two.

Anxiety Disorders Specialist Lisa Johnston, BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist I am an Accredited CBT Therapist and run My Therapist Online. We are a family run service (my husband Keith and I run it from Helpston home) and have grown it over the past 4 years. We started with just myself and a few colleagues from my years in the NHS anxiety disorders services, to where we are today with over 40 therapists.

Our therapists include CBT therapists and Psychologists, who all offer online therapy which is all video-based.

Between the 40 therapists, we can offer support for all mental health needs.

With the relatively remote nature of many of the Tribune villages, I feel it is important to let people know that how the can access expert support through online therapy, something that during self-isolation could be a vital lifeline. www.mytherapistonline.co.uk

PLAY HOORAY

Helen Louise has some great ideas for entertaining your children https://playhooray.co.uk/pages/my-mission 66

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REMOTE BUSINESS & MARKETING SUPPORT

Logo and branding concepts Marketing materials designed and printed: Business cards, Complimentary slips Letter-headed paper stock, Flyers Leaflets, Banners, Posters, Pop-up banners Website development & hosting, including: Design Concepts, E-commerce stores Content management systems Fast & secure domain, e-mail, database and website hosting Technical Support, such as: Remote support for PC/laptops, Apple Mac and Apple MacBook, Low level data recovery Fault investigation and fixing www.dimension6000.com Call 01733 772 095

ROSE THORN ART

Wall art, with an original painting, turned into a high quality poster sized Giclée print, posted straight to your door.

Customised; add a name, or even a family member to your unique wall art.

Included in the price • high quality Giclée print • JPEG of the image (so you can get it printed onto mugs and t-shirts too!) £35 INCLUDING P&P (signed original included, - £60) www.rosethornartist.com

THE BEAUTY ROOM, HELPSTON

Gift/E-Vouchers still available - get an additional £5 for every £10 spent (T&Cs apply).

Stockist of Lisa Armitage Skincare Products Facebook-square Thebeautyroomhelpston/ 07751 205 217

WOOLLARD ELECTRICAL

Barnack Industrial Estate is operating an electrical emergency breakdown service please call us on 07734138799

REMOTE SUPPORT

For PC/laptops, Apple Mac and Apple MacBook.

Low level data recovery, fault investigation and fixing.

PUBLICATION LAYOUTS | DESIGN | WEB DEVELOPMENT | IT SUPPORT 01733 772095 | hello@dimension6000.com | www.dimension6000.com

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 BAINTON

Single storey rear extension at Westlands Ufford Road Bainton Stamford: Awaiting decision

 BARNACK

Single Storey Side Extension at Southcroft Main Street Barnack Stamford: Awaiting decision Proposed vehicular access and dropped kerb at 29 School Road Barnack Stamford PE9 3DZ: Awaiting decision First floor side extension and replacement front porch at 1 Owen Close Barnack Stamford PE9 3EH: Awaiting decision Birch (T1) - Fell & Malus (T2) - Fell & Small birch (T3) - Fell at 1 Owen Close Barnack Stamford PE9 3EH: Awaiting decision Monterrey cypress reduce by approx 3m-red. Silver birch remove. Orange Willow tree x2 remove. Green Apple tree remove. Yellow Acacia(dead) remove.

Purple Elder remove. Blue at The Hollows Millstone Lane Barnack Stamford: Awaiting decision Proposed first floor extension at 7 Bainton Road Barnack Stamford PE9 3DT: Withdrawn by applicant T.1 Crab Apple (Malus spp) - Pollard back to previous/ appropriate pruning cuts, max reduction 3m. T.2 Purple Leaved Plum - Fell. T.3. Cotoneaster - Reduce and reshape by approx 1m. at 5 Owen Close Barnack Stamford PE9 3EH: Permitted Extension to existing work place at 30 - 32 Station Road Barnack Stamford PE9 3DW: Permitted T.1 Cherry - Reduce and reshape crown. T.3 Horse Chestnut - Re-pollard at 1 Canon Drive Barnack Stamford PE9 3EG: Permitted

 CASTOR

Proposed single storey extension at 45 Peterborough Road Castor Peterborough PE5 7AX: Awaiting decision Re-construction of a ground floor rear extension to include a roof lantern feature, a front entrance canopy and an attached garage at 59 Peterborough Road Castor Peterborough PE5 7AL: Permitted Erection of 2 x 4 bedroom detached dwellings at Land To The Rear Of 45 Peterborough Road Castor Peterborough PE5 7AX: Permitted Replacement of three first floor front elevation windows at 23 Peterborough Road Castor Peterborough PE5 7AX: Permitted

 DEEPING

GATE

Erection of single storey rear extension at 103 Riverside Deeping Gate Peterborough PE6 9AR: Awaiting decision 68

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Holly - raise crown 600mm. Fell 3 dead trees at 4 Riverside Deeping Gate Peterborough PE6 9AJ: Awaiting decision Proposed kitchen and utility room extensions, Juliet balcony and repositioning of entrance door at 4 Riverside Deeping Gate Peterborough PE6 9AJ: Awaiting decision Part retrospective application for erection of single storey pool extension (amendment to scheme approved under reference 17/00074/HHFUL) at 2 Suttons Lane Deeping Gate Peterborough PE6 9AA: Permitted Removal of condition C4 (use of dwelling) of reserved matters application 02/00852/REM at Honeysuckle Lodge Suttons Lane Deeping Gate Peterborough: Permitted

 ETTON

Proposed single storey rear extension, alterations to existing car port and replacement of windows to grey framed windows at Fig Tree Cottage 1A Main Road Etton Peterborough: Awaiting decision Holly (T1) - Fell at 5 Main Road Etton Peterborough PE6 7DA: Awaiting decision

 GLINTON

Demolition of existing garage, replacement side extension on like for like footprint at 19 Elm Crescent Glinton Peterborough PE6 7LE: Awaiting decision Proposed demolition of existing single storey dwelling and erection of 2 chalets bungalows at 24 Peakirk Road Glinton Peterborough PE6 7LT: Awaiting decision Single storey rear extension at 11A Lincoln Road Glinton Peterborough PE6 7JR: Awaiting decision Prune 4 Ash trees at 5 The Willows Glinton Peterborough PE6 7NE: Awaiting decision T1 - Conifer - top by reducing height by approx 6 - 8ft; T2 - 3 Conifers - top by reducing height by approx 6 - 8 ft; T 3 - 4 Ash - prune by approx 6 - 8 feet at 4 Welmore Road Glinton Peterborough PE6 7LU: Awaiting decision Proposed single storey side extension at Pastures Farm House Waterworks Lane Glinton Peterborough: Permitted T.1 - T.4 Ash - Re-pollard at 5 The Willows Glinton Peterborough PE6 7NE: Permitted Installation of four internally illuminated digital freestanding signs and one internally illuminated digital booth screen at McDonalds Lincoln Road Glinton Peterborough: Permitted Single storey rear extension at 10 Elm Crescent Glinton Peterborough PE6 7LE: Permitted

APPLICATIONS

 HELPSTON

T1 - Large yew in back garden - Reduce crown all over by 2m to appropriate pruning points T2 - Lime i- reduction in height by approx 1.5m to appropriate pruning points, crown raise to 10ft (foliage not stem) and 0.5m lateral reduction T3 - Apple - Reduce in height by 1m and thin throughout crown. T4 - Twin stem plum - Fell and remove at 18 Woodgate Helpston Peterborough PE6 7ED: Awaiting decision Demolition of existing lean-to rear conservatory and replacement with pitched roof extension and demolition of existing frontage conservatory-style dormer over stair and replacement with tiled roof with roof lights at 119 West Street Helpston Peterborough PE6 7DU: Awaiting decision Proposed single storey rear extension at 24 Glinton Road Helpston Peterborough PE6 7DQ: Permitted T.1 Yew - Reduce the southern crown, overhanging the boundary of No.20 Woodgate, to approximately the boundary fence line and reshape to maintain the existing flowing lines, and reduce and reshape the remaining crown by approximately 1.5/2m to maintain the existing flowing lines over the thatched roof and the rear of the house and garden at 18 Woodgate Helpston Peterborough PE6 7ED: Permitted Re-roofing and modification to doors of outbuilding at Vine Cottage 14 Maxey Road Helpston Peterborough: Awaiting decision

 MAXEY

G1 1 x Lime - crown reduction at 21 West End Road Maxey Peterborough PE6 9EJ: Awaiting decision Removal of Ash tree (T1), removal of an off shoot of the same tree (T2), Prune Ash Tree (T3) at 19B Castle End Road Maxey Peterborough PE6 9EP: Awaiting decision Reduction of flowering cherry (Prunus) tree by 2m at 2 Ladds Lane Maxey Peterborough PE6 9HD: Awaiting decision Pollard Willow (Salix) at 16A High Street Maxey Peterborough PE6 9EE: Awaiting decision T.1 Flowering Cherry - Reduce crown by 2m to BS3998:2010 Tree work - Recommendations at 2 Ladds Lane Maxey Peterborough PE6 9HD: Permitted T.1 Willow (Salix) - Re-pollard to previous pruning points to BS3998:2010 Tree work - Recommendations at 16A High Street Maxey Peterborough PE6 9EE: Permitted Refurbishment of dwelling, new windows, repairs to roof, repairs to bay windows, re-pointing, re-rendering, removal of trees and other landscaping Internal Removal of wall between dining and kitchen, up grading of heating and plumbing, & electrics, refurbishment of existing Attic Bedroom at Woodgate House 43 High Street Maxey Peterborough: Permitted

PLANNING

 NORTHBOROUGH Single storey extension to rear elevation to replace existing conservatory (part retrospective) at 38 Clare Road Northborough Peterborough PE6 9DN: Awaiting decision Ground floor side extension and creation of first floor living accommodation and dormer windows at 34 Lincoln Road Northborough Peterborough PE6 9BH: Awaiting decision Proposed single storey rear extension and proposed alterations to existing garage (part-retrospective) at 76 Lincoln Road Northborough Peterborough PE6 9BH: Permitted T.1 Willow - Fell. T.2 Silver Birch - Fell at 52 Church Street Northborough Peterborough PE6 9BN: Permitted

 PILSGATE Erection of new garage and log store at Alderley Lattimers Paddock Pilsgate Stamford: Awaiting decision

 PEAKIRK Holly - Fell leaving a 30 cm coppiced stump at Peakirk Village Green Outside 17/19 Chestnut Close Peakirk: Awaiting decision T1 - Fell - Bad lean & T3 - Fell - Bad lean at 5 Mill Close Peakirk Peterborough PE6 7PA: Awaiting decision Tree 1 - Ash, intend to fell Tree 2 - Ash, Intend to remove branches and reduce height and leave trunk as a wild life habitat. Hedge 3 Remove hedge. If Tree 1 is removed / felled - suggest cherry tree to be planted in area at 3 Rectory Lane Peakirk Peterborough PE6 7NH: Awaiting decision TPO 01/1990 G.1 - Italian Alder T.2 - Fell at 5 Mill Close Peakirk Peterborough PE6 7PA: Permitted

 SOUTHORPE Construction of new garden room (with associated engineering works), construction of new single storey extension and construction of new carport at the rear at Two Hoots Main Street Southorpe Stamford: Permitted Construction of new garden room (with associated engineering works), construction of new single storey extension and construction of new carport at the rear at Two Hoots Main Street Southorpe Stamford: Permitted T.1 Pear - Fell. T.2 Plum - Thin crown by approximately 1/3 at The Old Dairy Barn Main Street Southorpe Stamford: Permitted

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TRIBUNE DIRECTORY

 Bainton Church

Richard Hardy, Churchwarden ............................. 01780 740505 John Wreford, Churchwarden............................... 01780 740362 Mary Gowers, Lay Pastoral Minister .................... 01780 740097 Dave Maylor, Priest in Charge ............................. 01780 740234 Elizabeth Snowball, Organist .............................. 07821 460505

 Bainton & Ashton Parish Council

Chairman: Susie Lucas .......................................... 01780 740159 Councillor: Anita Phillips ....................................... 01780 749128 Councillor: Cliff Stanton......................................... 01780 749123 Councillor: Pete Charlton ..................................... 07850 657200 Councillor: Chris Womack .................................... 01780 740925 Clerk Jenny Rice bainton.ashton.clerk@live.co.uk

 Barnack Bowls Club

Phil Collins ............................................................. 01780 740124

 Barnack Church

Dave Maylor, Priest in Charge ............................. 01780 740234 John Ward, Churchwarden .................................. 01780 740016 David Laycock, Churchwarden ............................ 01780 740267 Elizabeth Snowball, Organist .............................. 07821 460505

 Barnack Coffee Stop

Carol Pickering ...................................................... 01780 740438

 Barnack Community Association

Sally Hullock........................................................... 07795 565658

 Barnack Cricket Club

William Armitage, Chairman................................. 01780 740749

 Barnack Home from Home Club

Niamh Holman.........................................hfhbarnack@gmail.com

 Barnack Men’s Breakfast

 Cubs, Brownies, Scouts & Rainbows

Helpston Explorer Scouts, Nick Drewett...................................... ....................................................01778 348107 / 07900 585072 Helpston Scouts, Mark Crookes........................... 07808 633018 Helpston Cub Scouts, Paula Metharam............... 07896 163598 Helpston Rainbow Guides, Julia Mason.............. 07780 688542 Helpston Brownie Guides, Morag Sweeney....... 07801 357701 Helpston Guides, Nicola Kerr............................... 07739 098113 Helpston Beaver Scouts, Alison Cook.................. 07437 909735 Glinton Brownies.................................................... 01778 346668 1st Glinton Rainbow Leader, Sally Nash.............. 01733 254174 Northborough Guides, Jane Knott, ................... 01778 345101 Barnack Little Lambs Group, Julie Stanton.......... 01780 749123

 Deeping Gate Parish Council

Jane Hill, (Chair) .................................................... 01778 343066 Phil Thompson, Vice Chairman............................ 01778 346619 Geoff Purllant......................................................... 01778 344288 Janet Lill.................................................................. 01778 342647 Nicola Kerr.............................................................. 07739 098113 Sandra Hudspeth................................................... 01778 343735 Diane Templeton, Clerk: E: clerk@deepinggate-pc.gov.uk ................................................................................ 07879 043785

 Doctors and hospitals

Peterborough City Hospital ................................. 01733 678000 Deeping Practice (Main line) ................................ 01778 579000 (Appointments only).............................................. 01778 579001 Glinton Surgery ..................................................... 01733 252246

 Etton Church (St Stephen’s)

Rector: Mark-Aaron Tisdale................................... 01733 252359 Anne Curwen, Churchwarden .............................. 01733 253357

 Etton Parish Council

Mike Mills................................................................ 01780 740285 David Laycock ....................................................... 01780 740267

Fred Morton, Chair ............................................... 01733 252912 Emma Tajar, Clerk ................................................. 01733 234542

Rev Dave Maylor ................................................... 01780 740234 Julie Stanton ........................................................ 01780 749123

Glinton Friendship Club, Pam Kounougakis........ 01733 252018 Maxey Welcome Club, Robert Ford, ................. 01778 346288

 Barnack Messy Church

 Barnack Parish Council

Barnack Parish Council e-mail..............clerk@barnack-pc.gov.uk Chairman, Harry Brassey ...................................... 01780 740115 Vice Chair, Margaret Palmer ................................ 01780 740988 Phil Broughton ...................................................... 01780 740379 Ivor Crowson ......................................................... 01780 740430 David Laycock ....................................................... 01780 740267 Martin Bloom ........................................................ 01780 740966 Clerk, Susie Caney ................................................ 07595 377236

 Benefice Administrators/ Lay Readers

Dick Talbot ............................................................. 01778 342581 Licensed Readers, Derek Harris............................ 01733 574311 Freda Skillman ....................................................... 01778 380903 Mark Hotchkin........................................................ 01778 347847 Mike Mills................................................................ 01780 740285

 Botolph’s Barn

Kate Hinchliff ......................................................... 07745 116621

 British Legion

Max Sawyer ........................................................... 01780 765507

 Bus & Train Services

Delaine Bus Services ............................................ 01778 422866 Stagecoach ............................................................ 01733 207860 Train Services ......................................................... 0845 7484950 70

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 Friendship / Welcome Clubs

 Friends of Chernobyl Children (FOCC)

Cecilia Hammond ................................................. 07779 264591

 Glinton Church (St Benedict’s)

Rector, Rev Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale ...................... 01733 252359 Churchwarden, Veronica Smith, ......................... 01733 252019 PCC Treasurer, Simon Richards, .......................... 01778 341686 Bell Ringers, Mike Goodall.................................... 01733 253469

 Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice ...................................................... 0870 1264024

 Glinton Parish Council

Chair, John Holdich OBE, ................................... 01733 253078 Clerk, Mr John Haste, ........................................... 01733 252833

 Helpston Church (St Botolph’s)

Priest in Charge, Dave Maylor, ........................... 01780 740234 Church Warden, Clive Pearce, ............................ 01733 253494

 Helpston Helcats

E: Helpstoncommunityactivityteam@gmail.com Facebook: @Helpstoncommunity Phil Roberts............................................................ 07925 720195 Emma Long............................................................ 07827 297053

TRIBUNE DIRECTORY

 Helpston Lawn Tennis Club

David Packer ......................................................... 07766 600694

 Helpston Parish Council

Joe Dobson (Chair) ............................................... 01733 252192 Sydney Smith Clerk .............................................. 01733 252903 Rosemary Morton Vice ......................................... 01733 252243

 Horticultural Societies

John Best - Glinton................................................ 01778 342115 Debbie Martin - Barnack Show............................. 01780 740048 Kirsty Scott - Peakirk ............................................. 01733 253952

 Langdyke Countryside Trust

Richard Astle ......................................................... 01733 252376

 Maxey Church (St Peter’s)

Rector, Rev Mark-Aaron B. Tisdale ...................... 01733 252 359 Mandy Loveder Bell Tower Captain .................... 01778 343100 Michael Loveder Churchwarden .......................... 01778 343100 Tina Lapinskis, Maxey Sunday School ................. 01778 347280

 Maxey Parish Council

Lynne Yarham, Chair ............................................. 01778 343077 Dick Talbot, Clerk .................................................. 01778 342581

 Neighbourhood Watch

Dick Wilkins, Maxey .............................................. 01778 348368

 Northborough Church (St Andrew’s)

Rector: Mark- Aaron Tisdale................................. 01733 252359 Polly Beasley, Churchwarden ............................... 01778 380849 Jane Knott, Churchwarden .................................. 01778 345101 Freda Skillman, Licensed Reader ......................... 01778 380903 Carole Spinks, PCC Treasurer .................. ........... 01778 343585

 Northborough Parish Council

John Dadge, Chair ............................................... 01733 254145 Catherine Franks, Clerk .................clerk@northboroughpc.co.uk ................................................................................ 07748 637555

 Peakirk Church (St Pegas)

Rector: Mark- Aaron Tisdale................................. 01733 252359 Trish Roberts, Churchwarden ............................... 01733 253111 Sheila Lever, Churchwarden ................................. 01733 252416 Christine Dearman, PCC Secretary ..................... 01733 252404 Pauline Cooke, PCC Treasurer & Social Events ..................................................... 01733 253116

 Peakirk Parish Council

Angela Hankins, Clerk .......................................... 01733 253397 Henry Clark, Chair ................................................. 01733 253203

 Pre and After School Clubs (cont.)

Julie Stanton, Little Lambs ................................... 01780 749123 Kirsty Wislawski. Manager, Sunflower Seed Pre-School, Church Street, Northborough .............................. 01733 253685

 Rotary Club

Al Good Rotary Club ............................................ 01733 252064

 Schools and Education

Mike Sandeman, AMVC Head ............................ 01733 252235 Rachel Simmons, John Clare Primary Head ........................................................ 01733 252332 Neil Fowkes, Barnack C of E Primary .................. 01780 740265 Craig Kendall, Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School Head ............................................ 01733 252361 Mr S Mallott, Northborough Primary Head ........................................................ 01733 252204 Maureen Meade, Peterborough Adult Learning ...................................................... 01733 761361

 Ufford Church Enquiries Peter and Sally Hudson ........................................ 01780 740475

 Ufford Parish Council

Keith Lievesley (Chairman) ................................... 01780 740679 ......................................................keith.lievesley@btinternet.com David Chadwick..................................................... 01780 740893 ..............................................................david@chadsonline.co.uk Frieda Gosling........................................................ 01780 740343 ............................................................friedagosling@yahoo.co.uk Paul Wilde.............................................................. 07960 018148 ...................................................................paul@worldofskills.com Margaret Sargent .................................................. 01780 749482 ........................................................................m55arg@gmail.com Susie Caney (Clerk)................................................ 07595 377236 ...................................................................clerk@ufford-pc.gov.uk

 Village Halls

Barnack Village Hall Bookings, Sally Hullock...... 07795 565658 email: bookings.barnackca@gmail.com Glinton, Bowls, Roy Pettitt.................................... 01733 252049 Glinton Village Hall Bookings, Sue Lane.............. 07923 475966 Glinton, Whist, Joyce Heathcote.......................... 01733 253790 Glinton, Whist, Peter Lake ................................... 01778 346749 Helpston Village Hall, Caryn Thompson ............. 01733 252232 Les Cunnington carpet bowls, Helpston ............ 01733 253832 Maxey Village Hall, Jacqui Barnard, .................... 07710 150587 Northborough Village Hall, Karen Cooper, ........ 01778 347464 Peakirk Village Hall bookings ............................... 07938 386226 Ufford Village Hall bookings, Mr Peter Grist....... 07887 634300

 Village Tribune

 Peterborough City Council

Editor, Tony Henthorn .......................................... 07590 750128 Design Team, Dimension 6000............................. 01733 772095

 Police and Emergencies

Barnack David Over ............................................. 07920 160053 Glinton & Castor Peter Hiller & John Holdich ..................................................... 07920 160487

John Holdich OBE Peterborough ....................... 01733 253078 Peterborough City Council .................................. 01733 747474 Police - emergency calls ....................................... 999 Less urgent crimes ................................................ 101 Power Failure ......................................................... 0800 7838838 Samaritans .....................................................Freephone 116 123

 Pre and After School Clubs

Lucy Garwood, Helpston Playhouse pre-school ........................................... 01733 253243 Roz Sowinski, Helpston Before and After School Club............................... 01733 253243 Jennifer Rice, Peakirk Tots Toddler Group ............................................... 07515 364909

 Ward Councillors

 Women’s Institute (WI)

Janel Pike (Helpston WI) President....................... 01733 253834 Conney Varley (Helpston WI Secretary) .............. 01733 260558 Margaret Stafford (Glinton WI).............................. 01733 701268 Jenny Dunk (Glinton WI Secetary) ....................... 01775 630163 Sarah Thurlow (Glinton WI President).................. 01780 740342

 Youth Clubs

Kerrie Garner, Barnack Youth Club ...................... 01780 740118 Tina Lapinskis, Maxey Youth Club ....................... 01778 347280

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Are you dreaming of owning your own business?

Or, do you have a business and would like to diversify or grow by acquisition?

Then please come and talk to us. Here at Transworld Business Advisors we help people buy and sell businesses. Small or large businesses, offering a range of services. We do more than just connect seller and buyers, we make deals happen! We work creatively to ensure effective negotiations for good people. We may also be able to help you access finance and create payment plans suitable for you.

Here is a small selection of current opportunities in your area: FLORIST

CLOTHING & LIFESTYLE BOUTIQUE

A lovely flower and gift business in a great location and with healthy profits.

Asking price: £125,000

A gem of a business, ideal for first-time business owners or those who enjoy selling nice things to happy customers.

Asking price: £29,995 + stock value

FISH & CHIPS SHOP W/ OFF-LICENCE

HAIR SALON(S)

Local neighbourhood chippie with rare off-licence and outdoor seating permits.

Asking price: £65,000

Multiple hair salons in some great locations.

Asking prices range from £60,000 - £169,000

HISTORIC COACHING INN

JEWELLERY & COLLECTIBLES

Gorgeous premises in an enviable location. Solid business looking for a new owner.

Asking price: £99,995

A profitable jewellery (repair), gemstones and collectables retail business in a top location.

Asking price: £170,000

INN

DALLAS FRIED CHICKEN

REFRESH RENOVATIONS

This is a growing franchise looking for new enthusiasts to help bring an exciting new fast food restaurant to the area.

Enquire now for further details

This is an opportunity to start building a significant franchise in the domestic renovations market. A big opportunity for a serious home refurbishment enthusiast.

Enquire now for further details

For further information prospective buyers are encouraged to contact Eric Siecker at Transworld Business Advisors of Peterborough on t: 07464 092 273 | e: esiecker@tworlduk.com Transworld Business Advisors of Peterborough