Discovering Whittlesea issue 221, December 2022

Welcome to your December issue...

December is a time for both reflection on what’s gone and anticipation for what’s round the corner of the new year.

We can think about what we’ve achieved; those places we’ve visited and new people who may have come into our lives; others who we’ll see no more, but whose memory will remain strong. I prefer to look forward, though, and my new year resolutions are already in the planning stage!

In the meantime, my sincere thanks go out to everyone who has helped us in any way this year, especially the “Discovering” team, for their unstinting efforts to meet deadlines when the pressure mounts, and of course our advertisers and contributors, with their regular features, wonderful advice, and suggestions. All the very best to you all for Christmas and for 2023 – good luck, but most importantly, good health! Claire x

This year will not be remembered particularly fondly nationally due to the death of HM the Queen coupled with the growing financial hardships faced by families and fears over the war in Ukraine.

However, in Fenland there have been signs of a return to normality as we have all got more accustomed to living with COVID and many social events have thankfully returned to the local calendar. We hope you have enjoyed reading about them in the magazine over the past twelve months and we look forward to bringing you more local news next year.

As we approach the festive season, I would like to thank everyone who has helped produce the magazine each month; my fellow staff, advertisers, our great contributors and of course you the readers who have helped keep me informed with what is happening in our area.

I hope you all enjoy Christmas and I look forward to engaging with you again in 2023...

Discovering Magazines, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET

Publisher and Sales Claire Saberton: 01778 421427 | 07837 499061 | sales@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Sales Paula Kirtland: 07903 776211 | marketing.discoveringmagazines@gmail.com

Sales Sallyanne Davis: 07737 026594 | sal@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Editor Andy Hurst: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Ops Director Andy Armstrong: 07780 922214

Accounts Sarah Brooks: 07564 966452 | accounts@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Design Sarah Gumbley | Andy Beavis | Graham Copestake | Dan Handley

Sales: Sallyanne Davis 07737 026594 sal@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

With thanks to: Harvest Barn, Cllr David K M Mason, Eamonn Dorling, March Podiatry, Eileen Le Voi, Tania Cannon, Coleen Everitt and Robert Windle/ RWT Photography.

Deadline details: Copy deadline for the January 2023 issue is Monday, 5th December 2022.

Discovering Whittlesea is published by a local team and is not associated with any other business. Care is taken to ensure that the content and information is correct at the time of going to press; however, we cannot take any responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by any errors. Permission must be granted to reproduce, copy or scan anything from this publication. For a copy of our contributors’ guidelines please email info@discoveringmagazines.co.uk.

Getting Ready For Christmas

We’d like to start by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! I’m sure that you are all busy with Christmas shopping, decorating and tucking into those tins of Celebrations a little early (we won’t tell if you don’t).

From November 25th, we will be stocking our freshly cut Christmas trees, ranging from three feet to ten feet potted and cut are available. We sell out of these every year, so we expect it to be the same this year. As well as the freshest trees, we’ll also be selling real wreaths, courtesy of Paula of Pop Up Blooms and Zoe from Zoe’s Blooms. There’ll also be stands, decorations and more available from our Christmas Tree Cabin.

Paula from Pop Up Blooms will be with us once again on selected dates, to teach you how to make the perfect festive wreath. Each person will have a twelve-inch, moss-covered wreath, and you will be taught how to decorate with foliage and a variety of dry, natural pieces.

Santa is returning, with our sell-out Breakfast with Santa events! Running throughout December, enjoy a delicious hot breakfast buffet as well as a chance to meet Father Christmas and receive a special gift. These sell out super-fast, so don’t delay in booking!

Our shop is filled with a huge variety of food, gifts and hampers for you to browse through. You can pre-order your Christmas meat and vegetables with

us; simply grab a form in store and return by December 9th for a hassle-free Christmas dinner. Grasmere will be providing turkeys, gammon, cooked meats, pigs in blankets and more, plus you can pick your vegetable boxes up from us.

Our giftware range is filled to the brim, with a huge range of Wrendale, Wraptious, Gainsborough Giftware and Lilly Lane Candles, as well as a selection of gifts from our Local Seller of the Month, Paula of This Little Piggy! You can browse our selection of handmade hampers, full of all sorts of goodies. If you fancy something a little more personalised, you can make your own bespoke hamper, wrapped up and ready to go in the time it takes to have a cup of tea! Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones, cherishing those close to you and being grateful for the things in life you do have. For many, it may not be as easy as previous Christmases, you may not have the luxuries you once had, you may be alone, or you may simply feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life.

So, make that extra effort to see your next-door neighbour and check in, buy a hot drink for the carollers, donate stock or time to your local food bank, pay ahead of the person behind you if you can, or very simply, just be kind. An act of kindness may just make somebody’s Christmas.

Merry Christmas...

Tel: 07878 871295

Email: info@harvestbarn.co.uk

Open Monday: Saturday 09:00-17:30

Sunday: 10:00-16:00

Coffeeshop closes 17:00 Mon-Sat and 15:00 on Sundays

SANTA’S SLEIGH ROUTE 2022

Thurs 1st Guildenburgh Crescent, Whittlesey Green, Whittlesey Fields, Whittlesey Lakeside 5.30pm

Fri 2nd Hartley Grange, Yarwells Headland 5.30pm

Sat 3rd Coates Village 5pm

Sun 4th Birds Estate 5pm

Mon 5th Bellmans Road area 5.30pm

Tues 6th New Road from School to Inhams Road and back including all roads off 5.30pm

Wed 7th Station Road from Scaldgate to Marne Road back to Scaldgate and all roads off 5.30pm

Thurs 8th Eastfield Drive, Mill Road, Inhams Road, Eastrea Road area 5.30pm

Fri 9th Avenues Area 5.30pm

Sat 10th Extravaganza – no collection

Sun 11th Holly Blue Gardens, Stonald Road West, and all roads off to Pattens Close 5pm

Mon 12th Stonald Road East to Pattens Close and all roads off 5pm

Tues 13th Eastrea Village 5.30pm

Wed 14th Cemetery Road, Drybread Road and all roads off 5.30pm

Thurs 15th Turves Pub 5.30pm

Fri16th Snoots Road Area 5.30pm

Sat 17th Park Lane, Church Street, St. Mary’s Street, London Street, Braemar Gardens, Ashline Grove, Briggate West areas 5pm

We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at: Discovering March, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET

Email: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Councillor surgeries are held in Peel House at 8 Queen Street, Whittlesey at 9.30am10.30am on the first Saturday of every month throughout 2022. Attendance should be by prior appointment only.

On Saturday, December 3rd Councillors present will be Mrs Kay Mayor (District & Town Councillor) and Gary Munns (Town Councillor).

If you have any matters of concern and wish to discuss with a Councillor, then please make an appointment and come along and let us know.

To make an appointment call 01733 351296 or email clerk@whittleseytowncouncil.gov.uk by 1pm on Friday, December 2nd.

BRITISH LEGION STAGES A SPECIAL CONCERT

Whittlesey Royal British Legion held a special concert evening at the Ivy Leaf Club with music provided by the City of Peterborough concert band under conductor Henry Clydesdale. Retiring RBL chairman Mrs Pauline Edge was delighted with the evening which raised vital funds for the organisation. At the recent annual meeting, Mrs Kay Mayor was elected chairman.

Photo: members of the Royal British Legion (Whittlesey Branch) and the City of Peterborough Concert Band. Courtesy Robert Windle/RWT Photography

The Extravaganza takes place this year on Saturday 10th December from 3.30pm to 7pm.

All the usual stalls and attractions will be there in and around the Market Place and Market Street.

This year the simulator is back; this is very popular with the older children and adults. There will also be some new attractions aimed at older children together with rides for the younger ones.

Santa will be making his usual appearance allowing children to visit him with their Christmas Wishes.

Local charities are well represented with stalls raising money for their individual causes.

All this for just £5 – the cost of a wristband which can be bought from under the Buttercross from 3pm.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Last month I was privileged to attend the launch of the Whittlesey Heritage Walk, albeit in appalling weather. This project has been delivered by the Whittlesey Growing Fenland Group and provides by means of signage, route maps and accompanying modern technology a unique historical record of our town for all to enjoy in conjunction with prepared walks, long or short. Whilst congratulations are due to the Growing Fenland Group, I would also like to highlight the Whittlesey Museum and the Whittlesea Society who have contributed so much valuable information towards this project.

In last month’s magazine I reported that the Whittlesey Heritage Centre project had been suspended due to an ever-increasing funding gap and that the residue of funds amounting to £455,000 was being held by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. It was my intention and that of many in the community that these funds could be diverted into improving facilities at the Whittlesey Manor Leisure Centre and for a structured Youth Provision in the town. Unfortunately, the Whittlesey Growing Fenland Group has decided to request of the CPCA that £250,000 of the funds be used for a second stage application for a southern relief road, an unspecified sum for the levelling up of the Buttercross and the provision of solar panels for the Manor Leisure swimming pool. Under this request there is also an amount set aside for the refurbishment of the tennis courts and associated floodlighting at the Manor Leisure Centre.

We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at:

Discovering March, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET Email: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

This decision excludes the much-needed youth provision in the town which would have provided £125,000 to be match funded by Cambridgeshire County Council under their Youth Initiative Fund making total of £250,000. Assistance with other sports facilities including cricket, fishing and an all-weather football pitch has now also been ignored.

On a brighter note, I am delighted that an organisation to be known as The Friends of the Manor has now been officially launched with a full constitution and election of officers who I am sure will campaign for improvements at the Manor Leisure Centre and I wish them every success. As the local district councillor, I shall be giving them every support and encouragement.

Whittlesey Emergency Food Aid has now been relaunched at the Manor Leisure Centre and my thanks go to everyone who has made this possible but especially Fenland District Council and Freedom Leisure for the use of their premises and all the volunteers who continue to work so hard, not forgetting those that make regular donations to the food bank for the sake of others who are less fortunate. Should anyone need to contact the food bank for any reason, the number is 07375 143146.

Anticipating hardship for some of our citizens during the coming winter months at time of writing, I am liaising with Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council to seek suitable premises in the town to set up a Warm Hub which would provide a hot meal, warmth and friendship. Please watch this space for future developments.

May I wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2023.

Cllr David K M Mason Mayor & Leader, Whittlesey Town Council

Churches Together Christmas Services For 2022

Roman Catholic Church Christmas Eve 6.30pm Mass at Sacred Heart, Newtown Road, Ramsey 9.30pm Mass at St Jude’s, 3 Station Road, Whittlesey Christmas Day 10am Mass at Sacred Heart, Newtown Road, Ramsey www.sacredheartramsey.wordpress.com

Methodist

United Reformed Church

Monday December 12th

2pm Carols and Cake Sunday December 18th 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight Christmas Day 9.30am Family Service at Queen Street, Whittlesey www.whittleseyqueenstreetchurch.org

Church of England

Friday 9th-Sunday 11th December Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s, Station Road, Whittlesey

Sunday December 11th 6pm Carol Service at St Mary’s, Station Road, Whittlesey Saturday December 17th 4.30pm Carol Service at Holy Trinity, North Green, Coates Sunday December 18th 4.30pm Carol and Nativity Service at St Thomas, Oil Mills Road, Pondersbridge Christmas Eve 3pm Christingle and Nativity Service at Holy Trinity, North Green, Coates 5.30pm Children’s Nativity Service at St Mary’s, Station Road, Whittlesey 8pm Carols by Candlelight Service at St Andrew’s, Church Street, Whittlesey 9.30pm Candlelit Communion at St Thomas, Oil Mills Road, Pondersbridge 11.30pm Midnight Communion at St Mary’s, Station Road, Whittlesey Christmas Day 9.30am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, North Green, Coates 10.30am Christmas Celebration with Communion at St Andrew’s, Church Street, Whittlesey www.pathway-church.co.uk

A new dawn for TVS Interfleet

Since 2019, the TVS Group has collaborated and innovated with industry players, to deliver industrial and commercial vehicles to specialist manufacturing firms. We’ve acquired leading businesses including SB Components, Wilcox, McPhee and Priden to form the TVS Group that has grown at an unprecedented scale.

But with the challenges of Covid 19, and the industries pressure to deliver a cleaner and leaner supply network, our sector demands innovative thinkers so we can serve end clients better and add value, in the face of great change.

So we’re joining up the industry to keep vehicle bodies in motion under our new TVS Interfleet brand.

With our scale, capabilities, and innovation, we’re driving change in the body building industry, to ensure we have a specialist for every specification and a solution to every challenge.

We are committed to:

- Streamlining and optimising our business structure

- Investing in innovation and technology

- Investing in our people and culture

- Working towards a leading ESG strategy

- Expanding our product portfolio

As we look forward to these exciting new changes and challenges, we’ve said goodbye to former Wilcox Commercial Vehicles MD, Vito Ronzano, who retired earlier this year. We would like to thank him for his hard work and dedication to ensuring the smooth transition of our Market Deeping site into TVS Interfleet.

An exciting time to join

We’re proud of the culture and company we’ve built over 30 years. And we’ve grown a lot recently, bringing together leading body builders and giving our brand a bold new look. Today, we employ over 450 people in our technologically advanced facilities, but we’ve kept our friendly, agile spirit.

We take care of our people with a competitive employee package, including:

- 4 or 5 day working week (dependant on role)

- Quarterly performance bonus - 1 week paid maternity and paternity leave

- Service-related annual leave - Death in service insurance benefit for all employees

- Employee Assistance Programmes - Medicash and store discounts

Keep your career in motion

Build your career in an industry leading company. From welders to sprayers, engineers to marketeers, follow your interests and see where they take you.

And with our exciting new Welding Apprenticeship programme looking to launch in early 2023, we’re investing in our team more than ever. Together we can drive change and innovation across our industry. Together we can build with purpose.

For the latest vacancies and application for our apprenticeship scheme visit: tvsinterfleet.com/careers

Taster sessions organised and supported by Whittlesey Sports Association for fishing, boxing, girls’ football and air rifle shooting have been a great success with boys, girls and adults all having a great time.

The Whittlesey Amateur Boxing Club hosted a 24-hour marathon with lots attending and having a go for the first time. Further sports news can be obtained by visiting the Whittlesey Sports Association Facebook page.

Of course, nobody knows and there are few guarantees in this life, but initial feedback is that the change in Prime Minister from Truss to Sunak has been welcome. The strength of the pound has increased and popular indices that track the largest UK companies have been favourable.

Short-term gains can be irrelevant over the long term. Investment markets look for stability and a well explained plan. We may have to wait until after the date that I need to complete this piece before we know what will be included in Chancellor Hunt’s statement but I anticipate that there will be some pain in addition to the popular moves that are usually associated with a political party trying to position themselves for a general election, whenever that might be.

I think that the ‘broadest shoulders’ may be called on to bear some of the burden and that open-ended give-aways will be curtailed. I think that an attitude of “being in this together” will be better received than self-interest.

Delivering Simple Financial Advice - that really works

Meanwhile, I advise those with cash deposits earning very small interest to consider alternatives. There are still many tax advantages linked to investing in the right areas and I realise that many families will need to work very hard just to keep their heads above water.

If your mortgage is becoming a struggle, talk with your provider, avoid cutting back on insurances that protect your family and keep contributing for retirement.

Issued by Wealthline Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and any forecast is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The information contained in this editorial should not be construed as offering investment or tax advice.

Brooks Wealth is a trading style of Ampris Limited who are an appointed representative of Wealthline Limited, Registered in England 08761632 (Registered office: 8a Cowgate, Peterborough). Wealthline Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA number 684319.

WE

Ready For Dancing!

E

veryone knows how busy things can be this time of year. It is the time for Christmas shopping, festive parties and family get togethers. So if you are preparing for a marathon shopping session or getting ready to hit the dancefloor, we can help you.

Very often with great parties come great footwear, and with great footwear we usually get pretty sore and swollen feet. Our team of podiatrists can help you to survive the festive season with two, happy feet.Your feet deserve as much love and attention as the rest of your body so we can help you to keep a foot care routine going to help to reduce dry skin buildup and keep your nails looking lovely. Healthy feet will help make you feel confident and beautiful from your head to your toes, so you’re ready to party.

March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ Tel 01354 651200 www.marchpodiatry.co.uk Health

Opening hours: Mon 9am-7pm, Tues 9am-5pm, Weds 9am-7pm, Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-1pm

Christmas Novelty Hunt

“Christmas Treecycling” is Here Again!

By Eileen Le Voi at Safe Local Trades

Residents are being encouraged to recycle their real Christmas trees this festive season and help to raise vital funds for Sue Ryder, who will once again run a “Christmas Treecycling” service in January 2023, in partnership with Nene Valley Tree Services, Safe Local Trades and DHL.

The green initiative will allow people to sign up and have their Christmas tree collected from their homes between Saturday 7th and Tuesday 10th January 2023. It will cover those who live in the PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7 and PE8 postcodes. An online donation is welcomed in return, which will help Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough to continue to offer its care and support to people with life-limiting conditions and their loved ones. After the Christmas trees have been collected from people’s homes, the team at Nene Valley Tree Services will chip them down into mulch. This will then be donated to local deserving sites, such as the grounds of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, and to local farms, both reducing landfill and supporting local businesses too.

The team at Nene Valley Tree Services has been supporting Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice through Christmas Treecycling since 2018. Since then, the scheme has raised more than £14,000 for families needing care.

Andrew and Lucy from Nene Valley Tree Services said: “Last year, we managed to raise over £7,300 for the charity, thanks to all our wonderful customers, and some help from good friends and local business owners – including several of our fellow Safe Local Trades members. We are determined to help make Treecycling in January 2023 bigger and better than ever before!”

Sue Ryder are seeking more volunteers this year! If you have a van, trailer, or horsebox, and could help collect trees, please contact the fundraising team at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice on 01733 225999 or thorpe.fundraising@sueryder.org.

Safe Local Trades member, Steve Bedford of Drylining Systems lent his support to the scheme last year and has signed up again for 2023. Steve said: “After losing Deb, my second wife of 25 years to breast cancer, charities like Sue Ryder are close to my heart.” Spaces are limited so please register for the collection of your Christmas tree now at sueryder.org/peterboroughtrees

RGE Group is the home of injection moulding expertise, specialising in tooling, precision plastic injection mouldings and product development engineering.

Since 1965, innovation and high standards have been at the heart of the company’s culture allowing the family-owned business to gain knowledge and experience from all around the globe.

And now it is looking to take on new staff at its Whittlesey factory, seeking candidates for a variety of positions, including product handlers, setters and apprentices.

The company operates on a global scale with facilities across the UK, Lithuania and China, and has the flexibility to offer a tailor-made approach to the specific requirements of its customers, no matter whether the product design requirements

are high volume, highly aesthetic, or technically challenging. Products include a range of office furniture, including contract chairs, arm rests and pads, gas lifts, backs, seats and mechanisms, castors, chair bases and accessories. Plus, it also supplies a range of material handling goods including crates, pallets and large container systems.

With customers from a wide range of industries based all around the world, this is an exciting opportunity for local people to join the 150+ workforce.

With the exception of apprentices, the new roles will involve shift work including days, evenings and nights on a two-week rotation.

If you are interested in joining this market-leading company, then please email careers@rgegroup.com or call 01480 482506.

Hi, Tania here from Cannon & Co Sales & Lettings. As you are aware, being a Whittlesey-based agency, we pride ourselves on focusing on Whittlesey and the surrounding areas; after all, an agent out of town will never fully understand our community and the many positive things we have here. We recognise many of you will feel uncertain or have questions about the current property market, so we are offering free face-to-face, friendly support for anyone that would like it.

The foundation of our agency is based on the support and guidance we can offer you; after all, you don’t buy and sell properties every day, but we do! You may find yourself in situations that you never thought you would; it might be that you have inherited a property through the loss of a loved one which, brings added emotions. Let us help, let us take the stress out of this situation and release a bit of the burden. We are not your stereotypical estate agents, we are breaking the prejudice. Looking after your well-being whilst moving house is high on our priority list.

Added to this there is the news in the media about all the changes and a lot of people are unsure what to do; for example, what’s happening to the property market? Who do you listen to in times like

this when everyone has an opinion? It can become overwhelming and that’s where we come in!

We are people just like you; we are approachable and friendly and can give you advice on a topic we know about. Speaking to the right people and having the right information can relieve stress and anxiety. That is why we are introducing our drop-in cafes.

We will be at The Coffee Tavern, 2 Market Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 1BD on a Friday morning between 11.30am-1.30pm, so why not grab a drink and some free advice on anything property-related?

JOIN IN CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

A Christmas Bazaar will be held at St Thomas Church, Pondersbridge on Saturday, December 3rd from 1pm-3pm.

Father Christmas will be there to get you in the spirit of Christmas and there will be home baking, pickles, jams, crackers, homemade gifts, wreaths, tombola, raffle and much more.

Visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome whatever the weather, thanks to the church’s wood burning stoves, and refreshments will be available. Entry is free, but donations are welcome.

COST OF LIVING EVENT TO BE HELD IN TOWN

Residents will be able to find out about a range of support and advice to help with the rising cost-ofliving at a drop-in event being held in Whittlesey in December.

Fenland District Council is holding four cost-of-living support events to help people with challenges this winter – from information on financial support and help with energy bills and food costs, to managing budgets and where to turn if you’re in distress, with the Whittlesey meeting taking place on Tuesday, December 6th at Whittlesey Library at 10.30am12.30pm.

Leader of Fenland District Council Cllr Chris Boden said: “We know many people are being adversely impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and that could get worse over the winter months. There is a lot of support available to help people cope but some might be finding it difficult to access the right information.

“We are working extremely hard as a council, together with our partners, to ensure that residents can access the vital help available. These events are a great way to help us do that, as residents can go to one place to get advice, ask questions, share concerns, and find out about support they may not even be aware of.”

We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at: Discovering March, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET Email: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

COATES WI MEMBERS’ FISH SUPPER

A fish and chip supper at Coates WI’s annual meeting was enjoyed by members and visitors.

The next meeting will be card making with Pauline Rayner on December 7th. There will be no meeting in January and February’s meeting will be SERVSC Bloodrunners with Maria Cook.

Guests and new members are always welcome to join the group which meets on the first Wednesday of the month at Coates Village Hall at 7.30pm. For any information, please contact Fiona on (01733) 208516 or Jen on 0770 3385661.

WHITTLESEY WI OFFICERS ELECTED

Whittlesey WI has held its AGM when the following officers were elected: president Julie Windle; vice president Christine Tillott; secretary Sandra Mina and treasurer Pat Ash. Committee members are Liz Gear, Wendy Thornton and Viv Beck.

The next meeting is on Tuesday, December 6th at St Andrew's Hall, Parkinson’s Lane Whittlesey with a 7.30pm start. Special guests at this open meeting will be the Whittlesey Singers with partners and non-members welcome.

Contact Julie Windle for further details on (01733) 204445.

Photo: courtesy RWT Photography

Fire Rating in Downlights

Vital Safety Advice from Alto Electrical

BY COLEEN EVERITT, ALTO ELECTRICAL LIMITED

When downlights are installed in your ceiling, a circular hole is cut to be able to sink them flush to the ceiling; this hole compromises the fire rating of the ceiling. Modern fire rated fittings have backs on them to re-establish the fire rating of the ceiling and help stop the spread of fire to the next floor.

Older designs do not have a back to them, so there is nothing to help contain the fire, but it also means that the open back provides no protection to anything that happens to be nearby, such as insulation or wooden joists.

Older fittings may still have halogen lamps in them, which are notorious for getting hot. I have personally removed halogen downlights that have not only caused serious scorching to the wooden joists next to them, but also melted the cable feeding them!

An easy way to tell whether or not your downlights are fire rated is to look at the lamps. If the lamp inside has pins, this is an MR16 lamp. This fitting is very unlikely to be fire rated. If it has “nobbles”, this is a GU10 lamp. This could go either way and you would need to look behind the lap to see if you could see a metal “can”.

There are two ways of fire rating downlights; one is to put fire hoods above the fittings, and the other

is to replace the fittings for fire rated ones. The difference in cost between the two options isn’t actually that much, so it is often more economical to get shiny new fittings. If you wanted to treat yourself, you can get all-in-one fittings, which have additional functions to be able to change their appearance and the type of light they provide.

If you want to talk to us about downlights, please contact us on 01778 772595.

One

LOCAL CLUBS & GROUPS

Whittlesey Amateur Boxing Club

River Drove, Beggars Bridge, Coates PE7 2DH. Contact Gary Morris: 07512 394975 or email: airborneaerials@hotmail.co.uk

Whittlesey

Junior Football Club

For U7s to U16s. Visit www.facebook.com/whittleseyjuniorfc for more information or tel: 07762 538860

March & District Model Railway Club

The Rookswood Club, Rookswood, 27 West End, March, PE15 8DP 01733 204997. Mike Wyldbore (Secretary): secretary@mdmrc.co.uk www.mdmrc.co.uk

Whittlesey Table Tennis Club

Meets at Whittlesey Christian Church, 23 Broad Street, Whittlesey PE7 1HA. Mon 6-10pm, Weds 2-5pm. Chairman: Dr Peter Hau. Call 01733 808008 or 07554 624525 or email peter@hauforensics.com www.whittlesey-table-tennis.co.uk

Gentle

Keep Fit Class

Gentle keep-fit class at Coates Public Hall. Fridays 10am11am. £3.50 per session. All welcome. Contact Karen Mucklin for more info on 07516 461438.

Whittlesey

Meets Mondays (term time) 6.30-8.30pm depending on ability. At Whittlesey Swimming Pool. Free Trial – to book contact manordolphins@gmail.com

Rings End Nature Reserve

Family workshops for all to be involved in. Meets every second Sunday of the month in the car park for the nature reserve Rings End PE15 0BE. Conservation for all 9.30am-12 noon. There is a meeting at the Rookswood Club on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7pm to discuss the nature reserve management and events. All are welcome (please check Facebook for any last minute changes to venue) Our next work party will be October 9th, 9.30-11.30am. Please call Hayley on 07962 337988 for more information.

Whittlesey Ladysmith WI

Meets on the second Tuesday of the month, at 7.30pm, at St Andrew's Parish Hall. For more information, please contact Liz Phillips 0798 2854872 or find us on Facebook.

Well-Being Respite Activity Sessions

Meets on the second Thursday of the month at Peel House, Whittlesey PE71AY. Contact Alison Harrison 07930 477233 or email alison.goodcompany@gmail.com

Whittlesey

Manor Dolphins: Swim England Affiliated Club

REPAIR

Our

SERVICING

From

INSURANCE

ACCESSORIES

SPARES

Looking for a spare part? Why not get in touch? With our contacts in the industry, we may be able to order spares in for you.