Discovering Whittlesea issue 223, February 2023

Welcome to your February issue...

Two years ago, I wrote, “Keep safe and think of those sunny days to come – things will improve, and that begins when you have to stay indoors with your loved one to celebrate Valentine’s Day!”

During that awful lockdown, we were forced to change so many of our regular habits and routines. Now, things have improved and, although it can be wonderful being together, indoors, for Valentine’s Day, it’s still lovely to be taken out for a gorgeous candle-lit romantic meal (don’t you think, Chris?) It was a very sad start to 2023 for my sister Paula and I when we lost our Mum, Sue, on New Year’s Day. She had just turned eighty and had bravely lived with several challenging health issues for many years. A multitude of fabulous memories of our times together remain. And, finally, the French author, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, wrote, “Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction”.

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First of all, I hope you all managed to survive ‘Blue Monday’ – the name given to the third Monday of January when everyone is said to feel down in the dumps... and not the old New Order hit.

The day is said to be the most depressing one of the year, but actually it started off as a PR stunt designed by companies to promote their feel-good products and services. Certainly, at first glance there’s not much to celebrate at present with many people suffering from seasonal colds, flu or COVID, coupled with the wintry weather and harsh economic situation. However, I reckon it’s time to look forward to brighter times around the corner. Daylight hours are gradually growing and there are more and more events coming on-stream. I think the best thing to do is to keep warm, hunker down at home or meet up with friends and look forward to spring!

Andy

Discovering Magazines, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET

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

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

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Accounts Sarah Brooks: 07564 966452

Claire

WHITTLESEY CITIZENSHIP AWARD

The search is on to find the Whittlesey Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year.

Candidates need to be from Whittlesey, Coates, Eastrea, Turves or Pondersbridge and over eighteen years of age for the ‘Citizen’ award and under eighteen for the ‘Young Citizen’ award.

Nominations are open for people of all abilities for either or both categories. They may have helped in the community, undertaken charity work, fundraising, or achieved outstanding results in a discipline or anything else people feel is above and beyond the call of duty.

Should you wish to submit a nomination, please give details of the individual, name, address and reason for the nomination and either email clerk@whittleseytowncouncil.gov.uk or send to Sue Piergianni, Town Clerk, Whittlesey Town Council, Peel House, 8 Queen Street, Whittlesey PE7 1AY. Please mark the envelope ‘Citizen of the Year’ or ‘Young Citizen of the Year’. Closing date for nominations is Tuesday, February 28th, 2023.

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 TO HEAR ABOUT SERVSC BLOODRUNNERS

Coates WI members’ next full meeting will feature SERVSC Bloodrunners with Maria Cook on Wednesday, February 1st at Coates Village Hall at 7.30pm. Last month members had their Christmas meal at Whittlesey’s Falcon Hotel having enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies whilst making cards at their December meeting.

For any information, please contact Fiona on (01733) 208516 or Jen on 07703 385661.

LADYSMITH WI TO LEARN ABOUT FENLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING

Whittlesey Ladysmith WI members will learn about Fenland Neighbourhood Policing at their next meeting at 7.30pm, on Tuesday, February 14th, at St. Andrew’s Parish Hall. Guests are always welcome to come along and meet new friends. For information contact Liz on 07982 584872.

BOXING

CLUB FIGHTS

TO GET TO NEXT LEVEL

Whittlesey Amateur Boxing Club is striving to take themselves to the next level and head coach Gary Morris met England Boxing representative Alex Le Guevel to discuss future developments and opportunities.

Whittlesey ABC is a member of the Whittlesey Sports Association and hosts regular training sessions at its base at Beggars Bridge. Facebook Whittlesey Amateur Boxing Club for more club details.

Photo: courtesy of Robert Windle/RWT Photography

PICNIC BASKETS ON THE MENU AT WHITTLESEY WI

Whittlesey WI hosted a meal at the town’s Falcon Hotel to get the New Year off to a great start. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 7th where the guest speakers will be Trisha Day and Christine Tillott talking about what makes a great picnic basket. The monthly meetings are held at St. Andrew's Parish Hall on Parkinson's Lane with a 7.30pm start.

Photo: courtesy of Robert Windle/RWT Photography

ardens have become extensions of our homes in recent years and if you’re looking to transform yours to an oasis of relaxation and entertainment there’s no company better to help out than Style Home Improvements Limited.

The local company specialises in brickwork and garden landscaping; although it undertakes home extension and other work, it mainly focuses on exterior projects which now account for around seventy percent of its business.

Style Home Improvements Limited, which was formed in 2009 and is approved by leading specialists Bradstone and Brett, can cater for all your requirements from driveways and block paving through to patios and landscaping.

Owner Tony Bogusz said: “We specialise in providing a quality and professional service for our customers. We are a family business with family values and follow the professional guidelines set out by companies such as Bradstone and Brett.

“Gardens are now an extension of people’s homes and are places of entertainment. We can provide everything a customer needs to carry out a full garden makeover.”

Tony (41) is assisted in the Ramsey St Marys based business by his wife Samantha and a highly experienced three-strong team. He says now is the time to plan ahead for your spring and summer garden requirements.

“February is the time to think about what work you want carried out and get your orders in. Don’t wait until you are ready for the work to be carried out or it could be too late as bookings can be from two to six months ahead.”

Tony and his team mainly specialise in carrying out work in the Peterborough, Huntingdon and Fenland areas, including Whittlesey, although they can travel as far afield as Bourne and Cambridge.

Style Home Improvements is based at 4 Holme Road, Ramsey St Marys PE26 2SS Tel: (01733) 247137; Mobile: 07879 881315 Email: info@styleimprovements.com www.styleimprovements.com

Preparing beds before sowing begins in spring is one of the most important jobs this month. In doing so, you'll help to aerate, drain, and warm the soil.

When digging over, be sure to incorporate plenty of homemade compost or composted manure. Alternatively, give beds a dressing of organic matter, then cover in plastic for a few weeks to reduce weeds and warm the soil. If you have clay soil, spread a mix of organic matter and grit over the surface and dig it in to open the structure. Take care walking on compacted soil; lay wooden planks to walk on, or even consider creating raised beds. It is possible to sow crops such as broad beans along with early peas (under cloches), parsnips and garlic, but only do so if the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. A good idea for sowing peas is to use lengths of plastic guttering: half fill them with good quality seed compost and sow the seeds about 2inches apart, cover with compost, water, and keep in a light spot under cover. Once the seedlings have grown to about 3 inches, make a shallow drill and slide the contents of the guttering into the drill. Make sure they are firmly bedded and water in. Other crops that can be sown outdoors (watch the weather and make a judgement) are turnips, rhubarb crowns and grape vines. Make sure that you have got all your seed potatoes by the end of the month and that

they are spread out in a seed tray, or in egg boxes, in a light, cool room where they can “chit” (sprout shoots) before being planted out. If the “chits” look pale and spindly, the room is probably too warm or too dark. Other jobs for February include:

• Make sure winter cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli are netted against hungry pigeons.

• Prune autumn raspberry canes by cutting right down to the ground and then mulch.

• Feed and mulch fruit trees and bushes.

• Rake your compost heap with a fork to aerate it, add water if it seems dry and then re-cover it to keep it warm.

• As they are still dormant, bare-rooted fruit trees can still be planted.

• Force rhubarb – cover with a bucket when you see the crown start to shoot.

• Sow seeds indoors e.g., tomatoes, leeks, lettuce, Brussels, sprouting broccoli, spinach. The main problem at this time of year is a general lack of light, so a cheap solution to prevent leggy, drawn seedlings is to cover a piece of cardboard with aluminium foil and place it to the north side of the seed tray, thus reflecting extra light onto the seeds.

Here we are in the month of February; I keep saying it, but time really does fly. It’s nice that the mornings are getting lighter; there is nothing better than an early morning walk to set me up for the day.

Our drop-in sessions are proving useful to people every week. We are are at The Old Coffee Tavern in Whittlesey every Friday at 11.30am-1.30pm for you to ask us anything. It is nice to see so many familiar faces who regularly watch our property market updates which we try and publish weekly. Even when you are not looking to buy and sell it is always good to understand what is going on. There are many reasons people look to move, downsizing being one of them.

Sometimes the cost and maintenance of a larger property can seem unnecessary if the home is now too big. However, leaving a family home can feel daunting as a lot of memories were made there. We are aware that this can be very emotional

but we at Cannon & Co Sales & Lettings are here to make sure finding your next home is as stress-free as possible.

If you would like help finding your next home, call us on (01733) 641030 or email: office@cannonandco.uk. No matter what you are thinking, why not get in touch for a free no obligation market appraisal?

Fall for the Person, Not the Profile!

By Eileen Le Voi at Safe Local Trades

February is the season of love and romance – but it is also a key date for fraudsters aiming to steal your money, as well as your heart.

Romance scams involve people being duped into sending money to criminals who use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit their victims.

These requests can involve criminals claiming they need money for emergency medical care or for transport costs.

Signs your friend or family member may be involved in a romance scam:

1) They may be very secretive, or very sensitive, about their relationship or provide excuses for why their online partner has not video called or met them in person.

2) They may express very strong emotions and commitment to someone they have only just met.

3) They have sent, or are planning to send, money to someone they have not met face-to-face. They may take out loans or withdraw from their pension to send money.

How users can stay safe from romance scams:

• Be suspicious of any requests for money from someone you have never met in person, particularly if you have only recently met online.

• Speak to your family or friends to get advice.

• Profile photos may not be genuine, so do your research first. Performing a reverse image search on a search engine can find photos that have been taken from somewhere, or someone, else.

No matter how long you’ve been speaking to someone online and how much you think you trust them, if you have not met them in person, it’s important that you do not: 1) Send them any money, take out a loan for them or transfer money on their behalf.

Allow them access to your bank account.

Provide copies of your passport or driving licence.

Invest your own money on their behalf or on their advice.

Purchase and send the codes on gift cards from Amazon or iTunes.

Agree to receive and/or send parcels on their behalf (laptops, mobile phones etc.)

How to report it

If you think you have been a victim of a

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

BY COLEEN EVERITT, ALTO ELECTRICAL LIMITED

Following on from my reflections from 2022, published last month, I now want to update you on the progress of our new building in which we will be able to provide space for various trades.

This is in the form of a woodworking workshop space, a metalworking workshop space, preparation areas, shot blasting facilities, and painting booths. To support the “non-hands-on” side of working in a trade, there will also be office spaces, event spaces and a dedicated learning/ teaching installation area.

One of the key aspects of this community is to be able to provide not only the business support through a close-knit local network of businesses, but also, we have managed to partner up with multiple allies to support both the physical and mental health of the service users.

As you can see from the photos, the walls are now going in, and some of the boarding has already been installed. We have been supported with discounted pricing by both Resource Engineering and Travis Perkins in getting the tools and materials for this project, which is very much appreciated.

This project is going to be run as a CIC (community interest company); the registration

is underway, meaning that we can give both reassurance to stakeholders and utilise a growing network and voice within the social enterprise and “third sector”, (that which covers charity and voluntary work.)

If you would like to support us, you can offer this support in the following ways:

➞ Advertising.

➞ Helping to spread the word.

➞ Professional advice.

➞ Donate tools that are no longer used. ➞ Provide materials and labour at a favourable rate.

➞ Provide an exclusive package for services you may offer for our service users. ➞ Help us to combat the construction mental health crisis.

If you would like to sponsor our project and have your company details on display on our “wall of heroes”, you can do this in the following ways:

➞ Donation of time towards the project.

➞ Donation of materials.

➞ Purchasing time or materials needed to donate.

➞ Invest in our project, (we have a thorough business plan!)

At Alto Electrical, we will of course still be continuing the work that we do and love. Our passion and efforts will always go into the restoration and alteration of heritage properties to ensure that the work is done in a way that is sympathetic to the building.

If you would like to enquire about any of this, please call the office on 01778 772595 and one of the team would be happy to talk to you.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Safe, fuss free service on all carpets, no windows open or heating full on, we leave your carpets clean, dry, fresh ready for immediate use. “No soggy carpets or wet dog smell”. Amazing results every time.

Hard Floor Cleaning

Using the latest sonic technology and specialist products, we clean Ceramic, Porcelain, Granite, Terrazzo tiles including grout; luxury vinyls, including Karndean Amtico, Altro safety flooring.

Upholstery Cleaning

Super-fast drying of all fabrics including brocades, suede and lleather. All we leave is clean fresh fabric upholstery.

Wooden Floor Restoration

This fast turnaround method is a fantastic lowcost alternative to sanding, perfect for home or commercial environments that cannot afford to close for days while the floor is restored. Your local Dry Carpet, Upholstery and Hard Floor Cleaners, call now for a FREE quote on 0800 180 41 57 or send me an email alan.clarke@zerodrytime.com

Specialist Leather Cleaning and Recolouring

Your leather furniture will be cleaned like never before. This process will cover minor damage, scuffs and scratches, and make your leather furniture look like new.

COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Councillor surgeries are held in Peel House at 8 Queen Street, Whittlesey from 9.30am-10.30am on the first Saturday of every month throughout 2023. Attendance should be by prior appointment only.

On Saturday, February 4th, 2023, councillors present will be Chris Boden (district and town) and Haq Nawaz (town).

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, February 3rd.

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

THANKS GO TO WHITTLESEY LIGHTS’ SUPPORTERS

The Whittlesey Town Lights Committee would like to pass on its thanks for help and support during 2022. A big thank you goes to Whittlesey Town Council, Whittlesey Charities, McCains UK for the donation of a fabulous Christmas tree, Sean Riley from Saxon Works, East Midlands Waste Ltd, Johnson Aggregates, AW Jenkinson, JCH Groundwork’s and Storey’s Accident Repair Centre, plus all other businesses, offices and shops that support the group in so many different ways.

The committee also praised the general public for all the donations made throughout the year and to Wayne Gale from Fenland Electrical and the team of volunteers for the set up and takedown of the lights.

Do

you have a business?

Are you a sole trader? Self-employed? And are you based within Whittlesey and District?

If you are, we would like to invite you to meet the Whittlesey and District Business Community. We are a friendly, motivated group of local business owners who meet up to support and learn more about each other’s businesses and we would love you to join us. Not been to a meeting like this before? Why not come and say hello and see how it can benefit your business?

When: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023 6pm for 6:30pm Where: The Falcon Hotel, Whittlesey Speaker to be confirmed.

Contact: Kerry on 07879 452291 or Erica on 07572 383312 or just turn up! We look forward to seeing you there!

CONSULTATION ON COUNCIL TAX FREEZE

Fenland District Council has published a draft budget that for the fifth consecutive year will again see no rise in its element of Council Tax. In a typical year the council empties three million bins, cleans 210 square miles of town centres and open spaces, answers 78,000 telephone enquiries and determines 1300 planning applications. You can view the draft budget and business plan and take part in the consultation at: https://www. fenland.gov.uk/yourviews2023

Paper copies of the documents and consultation will also be available to study, without an appointment, at the council’s customer services centre at Fenland Hall, County Road, March. The consultation ends on Friday, February 3rd.

Photo: courtesy of Robert Windle/RWT Photography

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Newcomers to the town and Discovering Whittlesea may not be aware of the strong links that exist between our town and the township of Whittlesea in the state of Victoria, Australia.

The ties between our two communities stretch back more than two hundred years when a certain surveyor named Robert Mason, who was born in our town and had a great interest in the technology used in the draining of the swamp known locally as Whittlesey Mere, linked up with the Surveyor General of Victoria Australia, Sir Andrew Clarke, to lend their skills to the township just a few kilometres outside Melbourne later to be known as Whittlesea. The railway to Whittlesea was opened on December 23rd, 1889, as an extension to what is now the Mernda line and closed in December 1959. When the original railway was in operation Whittlesea had a large logging trade, taking the timber from the Kinglake, Whittlesea region toward greater Melbourne for milling. By coincidence our own railway station which is still operational bears the name Whittlesea with an ‘e’ rather than a ‘y’.

Links were therefore established between the two communities and in the dark days at the end of the Second World War residents of Whittlesea, Australia sent food parcels to weary Whittlesey soldiers returning from the battle lines. This provided a treat and nutrition for their families who were living with austerity and food rationing in Britain.

More than sixty years later in 2009 forest fires swept through Victoria destroying settlements in and around Whittlesea and a relief centre was set up at Kinglake. When news of this devastation reached these shores Cllr Ken Mayor of Whittlesey Town Council suggested that a sum of £1000 be donated to the relief fund which was readily agreed.

A general appeal was set up in the town and the generosity of local citizens resulted in a grand total of £10,000 being raised for the relief fund.

A former councillor, Mrs Gill Lawrence, and her partner Bob Allen, took an eight-week trip to

Australia to see the devastation for themselves and in recognition of the services of the community of Whittlesey UK a key with an accompanying certificate of thanks was presented by them by the then Mayor of Whittlesea, Cllr Mary Lalios, which is displayed in the chamber to this day. It is a symbolic gesture meaning that the people of Whittlesey UK are always welcome in Whittlesea, Australia.

Just prior to Christmas I was delighted to be able to hold a reception in the council chamber for the present Chief Executive Officer of the City of Whittlesea, Craig Lloyd, who was on a tour of Europe culminating in spending Christmas with relatives in Essex.

Invited guests included Mrs Gill Lawrence, Roger Brown, one of our Lay Ministers who makes regular visits to Whittlesea, Australia, town councillors and members of the Whittlesey Society. Gifts were exchanged between our council and Craig who took the opportunity with Roger Brown in recording an interview with Robert Windle of Fenland Youth Radio form where it emerged that Craig is indeed a talented Country Music songwriter and singer. Another notable event at the end of 2022 was the Whittlesey Christmas Extravaganza which proved to be one of the best yet with many comments of praise. However, the small committee that work so hard to put on this much-loved event are struggling with volunteers retiring and are on the lookout for new members to join their committee to ensure that the event continues.

If you feel you wish to be involved then in the first instance please contact the committee secretary, Mrs Rosemary Marson on rosemarymarson2004@ hotmail.com who will be delighted to tell you more. Anyone with social media skills would be especially welcome.

It is also not too late for anyone who wishes to be involved in planning local celebrations for the King’s Coronation in May to contact our town clerk Mrs Sue Piergianni on clerk@whittleseytowncouncil.gov.uk

Until next time...

Cllr David K M Mason

Mayor & Leader, Whittlesey Town Council

Whittlesey Neighbourhood Plan Referendum

Fenland District Council is holding a Whittlesey Neighbourhood Planning Referendum on Thursday 23rd February 2023 to ask electors in Whittlesey, Coates, Eastrea, Pondersbridge and Turves whether they want to adopt the Whittlesey Neighbourhood Plan.

The Neighbourhood Plan, which has been produced with community input by Whittlesey Town Council, sets out additional planning policies to those in the district-wide Fenland Local Plan which are more focused on local issues. These include a preferred location for a Country Park, designating Local Green Space areas and protecting the historic mud walls.

All registered voters in the neighbourhood plan area will be sent a ballot paper. Not registered to vote? Visit www.fenland.gov.uk/registration for more information.

TIME TO SHAKE OFF THE BLUES

By Steve Barclay MP

When the calendar flips into February it feels like the start of the year is complete. For many, January can be a challenging month: setting new goals, ambitions and resolutions feels a very positive start to the year but the month is often also associated with difficult days, sometimes referred to as ‘Blue Monday’, as the excesses of the festive season catch up with us. It is undeniable that current circumstances mean these feelings can be exacerbated, whether due to cost-of-living challenges at home or world events.

I do hope that, rather than feel blue, you joined the Samaritans in celebrating Brew Monday – a chance to check in with friends, family, neighbours, or colleagues to see how they’re doing and share a cup of tea – rejecting the thinking that the calendar decides how we feel. So, into February and 2023 is well underway and milestones like Valentine’s Day, school half term, and Shrove Tuesday are looked forward to. There’s also Black History Month, World Cancer Day, Random Acts of Kindness Day and National Love Your Pet Day among many more, including the less well-known National Pizza Day.

Speaking of things to look forward to, I’m due to enjoy a visit to the new Youth Club building in Littleport that has been completed and started to invite groups to do some taster sessions. It will be great to see the result of several years of hard work by Littleport Parish Council and speak to some of the young people who are benefiting.

It will also be good to see the progress on the Ferry Project’s nine new permanent emergency units for street homeless people, after work started last month. The units should be ready to occupy by the end of May. I was delighted to open some units for the project in Wisbech last year and it was amazing to see what this kind of intervention can do to help turn people’s lives around. Of course, I should also mention looking forward to the revamp of March town centre, a oncein-a-generation activity that will rejuvenate the town thanks to Future High Streets funding. The ongoing works will be challenging over the coming months as work continues around the Market Place with resurfacing and reconfiguring of the car park, widening of the northern footway, new and repaired benches and bollards, and new electric vehicle charging points. However, as the saying goes, ‘no pain, no gain’ and I’m sure the disruption will be worth it.

There is potential for more grant funding to support organisations and charities in the constituency with the recent Sport England Small Grants Programme, which has increased the awards it can make to £15,000 for community organisations, charities and not-for-profit companies. There’s also the £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund, which supports the modernisation and improvement of village halls, offering grants of between £7500 and £75,000. Find out more: https://www.sportengland. org/funds-and-campaigns/our-funds/small-grantsprogrammehttps://acre.org.uk/platinum-jubileevillage-halls-fund/

The East Anglian Game & Country Fair will take place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd April 2023 at the prestigious Euston Estate, just off the A11 at Elveden, home to The Duke and Duchess of Grafton.

We welcome world class events and attractions to the show each year. Main Arena displays confirmed for this year’s show include The Tigers Army Parachute Display Team with a spectacular display, The Squibb Freestyle Motorcross Show performing breath-taking jumps and stunts midair AND returning due to popular demand, the Horseboarding UK Championships where speed, agility and bravery are all required! Audience participation is encouraged to spur on the competitors and provides great entertainment for all the family.

We have a fantastic line up of more free events to watch in the main arena and across the show including the much-loved British Scurry and Trials Driving Championships, Lowestoft Dog Agility Display Team, Gun Dog displays, fishing demos with World Champion Fly Caster Hywel Morgan, the hilarious Sheep Show, traditional ferreting demonstrations with Simon Whitehead, live craft demonstrations and much more!

Join in and 'have a go' at a range of country activities from clay shooting with John Bidwell’s High Lodge instructors or enter the 40-bird re-entry shooting competition for men, women and juniors. Fly fishing and coarse fishing on the Black Bourn River, ferret racing, archery and axe throwing.

Try the air rifle range, enter your dog into the pet dog show, join in with your dog at the K9 Aqua Sports pool or watch the Landrovers take on the off-road 4x4 course.

There are over 350 shopping stands with a wide variety of products from fashion and footwear to gun makers and fishing products. Children’s activities, traditional fun fair, food and drink hall with Game Fair Country Kitchen, craft and gift marquees and much more. If you are interested in exhibiting with us, trade stand application forms can be downloaded from our website.

Please do take a look at our show highlights video; encapsulating what a fun family day out the show is, with something for everyone, including your dog! https://youtu.be/ejPoo3qy9dA

Advance discounted 2023 tickets are available to buy online at www.ukgamefair.co.uk or by calling the ticket hotline number 01263 735 828 Adult £19, Children (5-16 Yrs) £7.50 and Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) £50. (Discounted ticket offer valid until midday 17/04/23). After this time tickets are available to buy on the gate at the 2023 on-theday rates. (A small booking fee applies to phone orders). Under 5's are free and car parking is free for all.

VIP memberships and camping weekend tickets also available at discounted rates if booked in advance. Visit our website for more information.

FACEBOOK @EastAnglianGameFair instagram @eastangliangamefair Twitter-square @EAGandCFair

Buzzing for Valentine’s Day?

Oh, Valentine’s Day… Let’s all be honest, the 14th of February fills many of us with dread.

Perhaps it exacerbates our loneliness, or maybe society’s expectations weigh heavy on our shoulders. What am I going to get my partner? What are they going to get me? What if one of us forgets? What if I can’t afford it?...

What, actually, is Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is a Saint Day, celebrating the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine. When I looked him up, I was surprised to see that he is also the patron Saint of asthma and beekeepers. So why is Valentine’s Day celebrated by everyone, not just Christians? And why is it about romantic love, rather than asthma or beekeeping?

The simplest and least cynical of these answers, is that everyone loves love. What more wonderful thing is there to celebrate than those fuzzy warm feelings we humans have towards each other? For arguments’ sake, let’s forget about the historical reasoning, and look at Valentine’s Day as a celebration of love. Maybe then we can shed those feelings of dread.

Love does not have to be romantic. Love can be the affection you feel for a friend or family member. Love does not have to be shown

with jewellery, flowers, or Champagne. Love is kindness, compassion, and interest. And we can show those virtues all year round if we choose to.

Me? I love my dogs! On Valentine’s Day, I will take them for a nice long walk, and give them a treat, but that is something I do for them every day because I care about them. On Valentine’s Day I will also send messages of love and appreciation to my friends, but this is also something I do most days.

Love is consistency. The greatest gift you can give those you love is to listen to them, care for them, and be there for them all year round. But if you’re looking for something extra special, remember meaningful gestures don’t need to cost the earth. Why not go for a nice walk, write someone a letter or poem, or pick them flowers from the garden?

Perhaps this Valentine’s Day is particularly difficult for you. You may be reminded of someone loved and lost. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support from those who remain in your life, and of course, the wonderful Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123.

It’s only one day, and I will be thinking of you all.

[ by Lucy Briggs Follow me on @itslucybriggs ]

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odiatrists are health care professionals who have been trained to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. They also prevent and correct deformity, keep people mobile and active, relieve pain and treat infections. They can give you and your family advice on how to look after your feet and what type of shoes to wear. They can also treat and alleviate day-today foot problems. Our clinical team can provide advice and treatment if you have painful feet, thickened or discoloured toenails, cracks or cuts in the skin, growths such as warts, scaling or peeling on the soles, or any other foot-related problem. We can assess your feet and also prescribe orthoses, which are tailor-made insoles, to help to relieve arch, foot or heel pain. An orthotic device goes into your shoe to help to re-align your foot, take pressure off vulnerable areas of your foot, or simply to make your shoes more comfortable. Even if your feet are generally in good condition, you might consider having podiatry treatment to have the hard skin on your feet removed, toenails clipped, to find out if you’re wearing the right shoes or just to check that you’re looking after your feet properly.Podiatrists can also help with more complex foot problems including preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries related to sports and or exercise. Heel pain is a common occurrence and a debilitating condition we treat regularly. In most cases the pain is caused by some form of mechanical injury caused by small repetitive injuries that occur at a rate faster than the body can heal them. Heel pain can also be caused by lower back problems or inflammatory joint conditions. Your podiatrist can assess your feet, diagnose your problem and make recommendations for self-care at home, plus provide a clinic-based treatment plan to help solve your problem.

We have appointments available during the week, evenings and Saturday mornings for your convenience.

Contact us today on (01354) 651200 for information about how we can help your foot problem, and like us on Facebook for all the latest updates and information.

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

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

HALLAM TRAVEL STILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING SEATS AVAILABLE:

Abba Voyage (afternoon show)

Mamma Mia! The Party (afternoon show)

ONLY 10 LEFT Sun 5th February £103

ONLY 4 LEFT Sun 12th February £169

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical (afternoon show) ONLY 14 LEFT Thurs 16th February £60

Kew Gardens and the Orchid Festival Sun 19th February £46

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (both parts) Weds 22nd February £140

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby (afternoon show) ONLY 14 LEFT Sat 25th February £57

The Mountbatten Festival of Music (afternoon show)

ONLY 18 LEFT Sat 11th March £80

Wicked (afternoon show) Sun 12th March £79

Brick Lane Music Hall: St Patrick’s Day (includes afternoon tea) ONLY 11 LEFT Thurs 16th March £75

Sewing for Pleasure, Creative Crafts & Fashion and Embroidery Shows Sat 18th March Adult £33 Child £29

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (afternoon show)

ONLY 1 LEFT Sun 19th March £77

Thriplow Daffodil Event & Country Fair Sat 25th March Adult £30 Child £27

Tottenham Hotspur FC Stadium Tour Sun 26th March Adult £53 Senior £51 Child £45

The Lord’s Tour Sat 1st April £58

Silverstone Interactive Museum

Legoland

Sun 2nd April Adult £42 Child £35

Thurs 6th April Adult £59 Child £54

Windsor Leisure Day Thurs 6th April £31

Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners

Sat 8th April £52

York Shopping/Leisure Day Weds 12th April £27

Oxford Leisure Day Sat 15th April £28

Camden Markets

Sun 16th April £30

Bakewell Market & Judith Mary Canal Boat (includes 2 course meal) Mon 17th April £55

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens & Lode Mill Weds 19th April Adult £38 Child £31 NT Member £24

Bakewell & Matlock Bath

Wroxham Barns & Southern Comfort River Trip

Sat 22nd April £26

Sun 23rd April £32

Windsor Castle Thurs 4th May Adult £58 Young Person £49 Child £47

London for King Charles III Coronation Sat 6th May £39

Blickling Estate Sun 7th May Adult £39 Child £32 NT Member £24

Sister Act (afternoon show)

Weds 10th May £65

Chatham Historic Dockyard Sat 13th May Adult £46 Senior £45 Child £42

Southend-on-Sea

Titanic – The Musical (afternoon show)

Sun 14th May £30

Weds 17th May £60

RHS Garden, Wisley Sat 20th May Adult £43 RHS Member £30

Ain’t Too Proud (afternoon show)

Thurs 25th May £70

RHS Chelsea Flower Show ONLY 18 LEFT Sat 27th May £125

The Bodyguard (afternoon show)

Weds 31st May £68

Chelsea FC Stadium Tour & Museum Sat 3rd June Adult £59 Senior £51 Child £49

Bressingham Steam Museum & Gardens Sun 4th June Adult £34 Child £32

Matilda (afternoon show)

Weds 7th June £77

Agatha Christie’s Prosecution for the Witness (afternoon performance) at County Hall, London Thurs 8th June £74

Black Country Living Museum & Dudley Canal and Caverns Sat 10th June Adult £54 Senior £52 Child £45

42nd Street (4pm show)

Sun 11th June £86

Annie – The Musical (afternoon show) 14th June £62

English National Ballet Cinderella in the round at the Royal Albert Hall (afternoon performance) Sun 25th June £100

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth – 5 days

Sat 8th July £65

ONLY 11 LEFT Sun 9th July £448

Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial Sat 15th July Adult £37 Child £32

Whitby Leisure Day

Sun 16th July £31

Aspects of Love (afternoon show) Weds 19th July £86

We Will Rock You (afternoon show) Thurs 20th July £81

Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) Weds 26th July £58

Tower Hotel, London – 4 days ONLY 14 LEFT Fri 28th July £321

Scarborough Leisure Day Thurs 3rd August £27

The Telford Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort – 5 days ONLY 20 LEFT Sun 6th August £430

Liverpool FC Tour and Museum Sat 12th August Adult £51 Senior £47 Child £42

The Princess River Cruise Experience (includes 2 course lunch) Sun 13th August £48

Skipton & Canal Boat (includes 2 course meal) Weds 16th August £62

The Wizard of Oz (afternoon show) Thurs 17th August £87

Chatsworth House and Gardens Sat 19th August Adult £43 Child £39 RHS Garden, Harlow Carr Sun 20th August Adult £38 RHS Member £28 Hutton Le Hole (Ryedale Folk Museum) & Thornton Le Dale (Bangers & Cash)

Greenwich Leisure Day

Weds 23rd August £37

Sat 2nd September £31

Cirque: The Greatest Show (afternoon show) Sat 2nd September £60

Twickenham Stadium Tour and World Rugby Museum Sun 3rd September

Adult £54 Senior £49 Child £46

Phantom of the Opera (afternoon show) Weds 6th September £75

Grease the Musical (afternoon show) Thurs 7th September £69

Buckingham Palace Royal Mews & State Rooms

Cannon Hall Farm

National Memorial Arboretum

Thurs 14th September

Adult £73 Young Adult £59 Child £55

Sat 16th September £35

Sun 17th September £26

The Drifters Girl (afternoon show) Thurs 21st September £68

Ramsey Park Hotel, Isle of Man – 6 days Sat 23rd September £602

Everybody’s Talking about Jamie (afternoon show) Weds 27th September £55 Alfie Boe Fri 6th October £92

Battersea Power Station and Lift 109 Sun 8th October Adult £52 Child £47

Mrs Doubtfire (afternoon show) Thurs 12th October £75

Leyburn & Masons Gin Distillery Sat 14th October £56

Natural History, Science and Victoria & Albert Museums Sun 15th October £31

Crazy for You (afternoon show) Weds 18th October £76

The Deep Sat 21st October Adult £41 Senior £40 Child £37

The Play That Goes Wrong (afternoon show) Sun 22nd October £66

RAF Museum, London Sat 28th October £30

The Postal Museum & Mail Rail Sun 29th October Adult £44 Young Person £42 Child £40

Regent Street Motor Show/London Leisure Day Sat 4th November £31

Leeds Christmas Shopping/Leisure Day Sat 18th November £27

Bakewell Christmas Market Sun 19th November £25

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market/Shopping/Leisure Day Sat 25th November £27

Nottingham Winter Wonderland/Shopping/Leisure Day Sun 26th November £24

York’s St Nicholas Fair/Shopping/Leisure Day Thurs 30th November £27

Meadowhall Shopping Centre

Sun 3rd December £25

*Thursford Christmas Spectacular (Long Sutton departure) Mon 4th December £76

*Thursford Christmas Spectacular Thurs 7th December £76

Stratford Upon Avon Victorian Christmas Market/Shopping/Leisure Day Sat 9th December £26

Lincoln Christmas Market/Shopping/Leisure Day Sun 10th December £25

*Thursford Christmas Spectacular (Long Sutton departure) Sat 16th December £79

*Thursford Christmas Spectacular Sun 17th December £79

Carols at the Royal Albert Hall (afternoon concert) Sun 17th December £89

Hogwarts in the Snow Sat 30th December Adult £78 Child £66

Shrek the Musical (afternoon show) Sat 23rd March 2024 £76

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

FRIENDS MEET AT THE MANOR

The next Friends of the Manor meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14th with a 7pm start at Manor Conference Centre, Whittlesey. Any users of the Manor facilities or anybody with an interest to improve this amenity would be most welcome. Chairman is Robin Sutton who will welcome any contributions.

FREE COURSES FOR UKRAINIANS

Ukrainians living in the Whittlesey area can benefit from free courses from The Open University including some on the English language. All of the content, which includes articles on mental health and wellbeing, is free to use, and every course offers a free statement of participation on completion (which can be downloaded as a PDF) Visit https://www.open.edu/ openlearn/supporting-ukrainians

FROM WHITTLESEA TO WHITTLESEY...

Successful country singer and CEO of the City of Whittlesea in Australia Craig Lloyd was a special guest of Fenland Youth Radio and The Mayor of Whittlesey Cllr David Mason. Craig was on a family trip but came along to meet invited guests to exchange stories of the connections between the city, which is only forty miles north of Melbourne, and Whittlesey. An exchange of gifts was made before a buffet was served.

Photo: courtesy Robert Windle/ RWT Photography

Christmas Novelty Hunt WINNER

Sophia Burnham

Seven-year-old Sophia visits her grandparents in Whittlesey regularly and was extremely excited at winning. She is going to use her winnings by giving £20 to the Trussell Trust to help fight hunger in the UK, taking her grandparents out for tea and cake, buying cat and dog soft toys for Norah, her three-year-old sister, and spending the remainder on helping buy her own horse!

Congratulations to Sophia from the Discovering Whittlesea Team!

Photo: Sophia was in Whittlesey in the summer selling lavender bags to raise money for the children’s air ambulance charity funds

It is not unusual to discuss early retirement when the prospect of working or travelling in bad weather is compared to leisure time in the sun. However, my follow-up questions with clients about what is achievable, and when, sometimes highlights gaps between what is possible and what is probable.

Glorious vague objectives abound, but they should be specific (you will notice that this is the first letter in SMART). I want to retire before I am sixty is more specific than to ‘retire early’ but less specific than retiring on my fifty-ninth birthday.

Can you measure what success looks like? A brief sentence stating whether success is financial independence, reliance on savings and investments, and how many holidays per year would be a benchmark.

Is the goal achievable? It is all very well aiming to have an income matching your salary, but if your pensions are unlikely to generate more than fifty percent is your lifestyle achievable?

Is it realistic to expect investments to grow at ten percent per year above the rate of inflation?

Will you inherit anything, or will you need to rely on a lottery win? On the other hand, if your pension benefits and the drawdown on existing

Delivering Simple Financial Advice - that really works

investments are likely to be close to your current expenditure – it could indeed be achievable. When is all this going to happen? If there are two people involved, will everything happen together? Will you need to plough more into getting the financial security you desire for many more years? How often will you review progress? So, your objective needs to be time-related.

These principles are used in the world of business, they make complex situations easier to manage, and it focuses the mind on what is most important, if you can describe your objectives in SMART bite-sized pieces, success is just around the corner.

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.

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.

Brooks Wealth is a trading style of Ampris Limited who are an

appointed representative

SLIMMING WORLD

Egg & ChipTraybake

A great family and budget-friendly, one-tray brunch dish; guaranteed to put a smile on everyone̛s face (including the washer-uppers!)

Method

• Preheat your oven to 200˚C/Fan 180˚C/Gas 6. Tip the potatoes into a large, non-stick roasting tin and spray with low-calorie cooking spray.

• Sprinkle over the oregano, mix well and roast for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are starting to brown. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook for a further 15 minutes or until the potatoes are browned and tender.

• Make 4 wells in the vegetables and crack an egg into each of them. Add the tomatoes to the tray and return to the oven for 5 minutes or until the eggs are cooked to your liking.

Matters COMMUNITY

MEN UNITE FOR CHARITY

Local men have the chance to get involved in Men United in Song 2023 and support Prostate Cancer UK.

Launching in March, the popular singing project will give forty-plus local men the opportunity to take part. Working over nine weeks towards a fantastic live performance at Peterborough Cathedral in May, they’ll learn to sing, meet new people, challenge themselves, perform live on stage and raise money for a much-loved and very important charity. No previous experience is necessary, and Men United in Song kicks off with introduction sessions on Thursday, March 2nd (6.30pm-10pm) and Friday, March 3rd (6.30pm-10pm) at Peterborough’s John Mansfield Campus PE1 4HX. Volunteers can meet the team and other men taking part with those taking part being asked to register first for a timeslot. Men United in Song rehearsals will be at the John Mansfield Campus from 7.45pm on Thursday evenings, starting on Thursday, March 9th, with the charity event at Peterborough Cathedral at 7.30pm on Friday, May 5th.

For further information or to register for one of the introduction sessions visit peterboroughsings.org.uk, email menunited@peterboroughsings.org.uk or call (01733) 425194.

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

MEMORIES OF MORLEYS

Tom Mortlock and his father Andrew hosted a special tribute to Morleys, a long-standing bus company that for many years served the Whittlesey and district area.

The Black Bull was the venue with thousands of photos and memorabilia featured and former members of the Morleys company attending.

Photo: courtesy of Robert Windle/RWT Photography

TABLE TENNIS COMPETITION’S A SMASH HIT

Whittlesey Sports Association sponsored the first ever Whittlesey Primary Schools Table Tennis Competition held at the town’s Christian Church. The organiser was Peter Hau from the Whittlesey Table Tennis Club who was supported by some club members.

HOLIDAY CLUB HOSTS SPECIAL VISITOR

SALVATION ARMY AWARD

The Salvation Army has retained the Best Christmas Shop Window shield after winning it in 2021.

Kerry Ogden from the Whittlesey and District Community Business Group visited to present the shield. A recipient of a superb basket of goodies was Tom Clare whose wife’s name was randomly pulled out from all those who had voted.

Photo: courtesy of Robert Windle/RWT Photography

In the middle of a busy schedule, Santa paid a visit to the Manor Centre on Station Road, Whittlesey to say hello to the children and staff at the Holiday Club. The club is part of a national initiative and Whittlesey is one of the most successful with more than 150 benefitting in 2022. More sessions are due at Easter, in the summer and next December. Eligible families would have received a code to redeem from Cambridgeshire County Council. Local organiser is Mrs Janette Bowden who can usually be found during term time at New Road and Park Lane Schools.

LOCAL CLUBS & GROUPS

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

Rings

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

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

Manor

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

Gentle Keep Fit Class

Whittlesey Amateur Boxing Club

End Nature Reserve

Do Not Worry

Do Not Worry

Not worrying is one of the most di cult things to ‘do’ - even when we can’t control the thing that we’re worried about. Sometimes we fret about a possible cascade of bad things that might be about to happen, and stress ourselves into a frenzy of anxiety.

Not worrying is one of the most di cult things to ‘do’ - even when we can’t control the thing that we’re worried about. Sometimes we fret about a possible cascade of bad things that might be about to happen, and stress ourselves into a frenzy of anxiety.

The one thing that Jesus left with His disciples before he faced the cross was His peace. He often repeated that we should not worry about that which we cannot control; that sufficient for the day is its own worries.

The one thing that Jesus left with His disciples before he faced the cross was His peace. He often repeated that we should not worry about that which we cannot control; that sufficient for the day is its own worries.

Our lives can become more and more complicated, such that all we can see is the mess, and the mess getting messier. It is possible for us to overcome in even the most pressured situations, with no obvious way out. They can overwhelm us as human beings. But, as the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.

Our lives can become more and more complicated, such that all we can see is the mess, and the mess getting messier. It is possible for us to overcome in even the most pressured situations, with no obvious way out. They can overwhelm us as human beings. But, as the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.

There are some amazing and timeless truths in the bible which can help us to overcome and to become stronger.

There are some amazing and timeless truths in the bible which can help us to overcome and to become stronger.

First, that God is all powerful. He is able to help us, but wants us to become beautiful and functional, not damaged and dysfunctional. He wants us to thrive, not just survive. You cannot damage a diamond! Diamonds can be used to drill through stone, metal and even reinforced concrete. God sometimes allows di icult times because we need to change on the inside - and that requires pressure and time.

First, that God is all powerful. He is able to help us, but wants us to become beautiful and functional, not damaged and dysfunctional. He wants us to thrive, not just survive. You cannot damage a diamond! Diamonds can be used to drill through stone, metal and even reinforced concrete. God sometimes allows di icult times because we need to change on the inside - and that requires pressure and time.

Second, that God is all knowing. He knows every situation we face and is able to help - if we are willing on our part to put our trust in Him and ask Him to help. God knows everything about us, and our situations. He doesn’t look at the mess, He knows that one thing we need, which we don’t see the value of. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Second, that God is all knowing. He knows every situation we face and is able to help - if we are willing on our part to put our trust in Him and ask Him to help. God knows everything about us, and our situations. He doesn’t look at the mess, He knows that one thing we need, which we don’t see the value of. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!

The formation of natural diamonds requires very high temperatures and pressures. They can form about ninety miles or more below the surface, where temperatures are at least 1050 Celsius. Mount Everest is five-and-a-half miles high, so diamonds need to be under at least sixteen Everests before they even start to form. That’s a lot of pressure!

The formation of natural diamonds requires very high temperatures and pressures. They can form about ninety miles or more below the surface, where temperatures are at least 1050 Celsius. Mount Everest is five-and-a-half miles high, so diamonds need to be under at least sixteen Everests before they even start to form. That’s a lot of pressure!

In these conditions, the carbon slowly undergoes a transformation. Its appearance changes from a black and uninviting appearance to the most beautiful gemstone. The composition morphs from the hexagonal structure of graphite into a tetrahedral lattice, gradually becoming the hardest substance known to man - diamond.

In these conditions, the carbon slowly undergoes a transformation. Its appearance changes from a black and uninviting appearance to the most beautiful gemstone. The composition morphs from the hexagonal structure of graphite into a tetrahedral lattice, gradually becoming the hardest substance known to man - diamond.

Third, that God is all loving. God knows how to provide, and when to provide. He’s never too early and never too late. God knows what we’re able to handle, and He will provide the way forward when we’ve done what we can. When God gives, He gives abundantly - and what He gives stays fresh, as expressed in the 23rd Psalm:

Third, that God is all loving. God knows how to provide, and when to provide. He’s never too early and never too late. God knows what we’re able to handle, and He will provide the way forward when we’ve done what we can. When God gives, He gives abundantly - and what He gives stays fresh, as expressed in the 23rd Psalm:

‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever’.

‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever’.

You are always welcome to visit us on Sunday mornings at 10:45am in Broad Street.

We are a friendly and informal church, and hope that you will find new strength and comfort in the things of God!

You are always welcome to visit us on Sunday mornings at 10:45am in Broad Street. We are a friendly and informal church, and hope that you will find new strength and comfort in the things of God!

Whittlesey Christian Church

New Year, New Job?

By Lin Stanton, Centre Manager for Fenland CAP

Whether you’re unemployed and looking for work, or you want to take the next step in your career, finding the right job can sometimes feel like a job in itself. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) runs job clubs through local churches across the UK and we’ve used our experience to put together some top tips to help you on your search.

Be brave

Getting rejected is always disappointing when applying for jobs but try not to take it personally. There are lots of reasons why the company might have made this decision that are completely out of your control. Be brave and keep putting yourself out there. Hand out CVs at places you’d like to work, even if they’re not actively advertising vacancies. Remember, businesses need reliable, skilled and hard-working people like you, and often you just need to be in the right place at the right time!

Make the most of social media While you’re casually scrolling through Facebook or Twitter, you could also be on your way to finding a new job. The world is now more digital than ever, so why not make the most of it by following some regional accounts like your local Jobcentre Plus or local businesses?

Sign up to email alerts (from a job-based website)

If finding a new job feels endless and overwhelming, why not sign up to get email alerts from a job-hunting site like Indeed or Linkedin? You can choose to receive alerts about any specific

roles you have experience or interest in, and you can upload your CV and qualifications directly so potential employers know who you are and why you’re a great candidate for the job.

Identify your skills

Take some time to write down your top skills. If you’re not sure, talk to your friends and family. Do they think you’re particularly organised, creative or detailoriented? Do you work best with a team, or are you really good at focusing for long periods of time alone? Think about the experience you already have and what skills you used in past jobs.

Make your personal statement personal

Once you’ve written down a few key skills, have a go at coming up with some specific times you’ve demonstrated these skills. Have you gone above and beyond in your old job, led a project, or overcome a particular challenge? Think of some examples that are as unique to you as possible, then build these into your personal statement and CV.

Repeat yourself

When you’re finding a new job, you might feel like you’re repeating yourself on application after application. This isn’t a bad thing. Using the same

personal statement for cover letters, application forms and even during interviews shows you’re able to give concise and specific examples of your skills and strengths – and it saves time too.

Say it out loud

Knowing – and being able to tell people – what you’re good at builds confidence. Don’t let the first time you say your strengths out loud be in an interview.

Don't do it alone

Churches around the UK run job clubs, where you can be part of a supportive community of likeminded people, receive one-toone coaching, and gain the vital skills you need to find work. Visit capuk.org/help to see if there’s a CAP Job Club near you.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity working with more than 580 churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills groups and more. Visit capuk.org to find out more.

Alderman Jacobs Pre-School

now for 2023-2024 school year

• Highly Qualified Staff

• Places available from the age of 3 for 2023/24

• Early Years funding available - 15 and 30 hours

• Forest School - Hands on learning experiences in the natural environment

• PE sessions led by our Specialist Teacher

• Morning, afternoon or all day sessions available

To book a place at an open session, go to www.aldermanjacobs.cambs.sch.uk under the Pre-School tab. For more information, please call us on 01733 202403.

Apprenticeship Launch Easter 2023

We are looking forward to welcoming the next generation of Welder Fabricators into TVS Interfleet!

Working in partnership with the College of West Anglia, we are offering Engineering Operative Apprentice (Level 2) positions across our Market Deeping and Wisbech sites. The apprenticeships will commence in the Easter term 2023, with interviews commencing in February/March 2023.

Apprentices will attend one of our Wisbech or Market Deeping sites for their on-the-job

training, with day release to the College of West Anglia’s training site in Wisbech.

During the apprenticeship, you will learn how to interpret technical drawings, enabling you to use the welding and fabrication skills you will develop over your apprenticeship.

For more information and to apply for the apprenticeship, or our other vacancies, please visit, https://tvsinterfleet.com/careers/

REPAIR

INSURANCE

SERVICING

From

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.