Discovering Wisbech issue 035, March 2021

Issue 35 32 / March December 20212020

and the surrounding villages

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

WisbechCOUNCIL: Window CAMBS Wanderland RAPID COVID TESTING

Competition - Win NMG BROKERS: £100 for Christmas TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF SELLING YOUR CAR

Christmas Recipe STEPHENSON SMART: Eggnog START UP A NEW BUSINESS

Yo u r f a v o u r i t e c o m m u n i t y l i f e s t y l e m a g a z i n e – P R I C E L E S S

A FANTASTIC RANGE OF DESIGNS FROM CONTEMPORARY TO CLASSIC

A WO R L D O F C H OI C E AT R EED S UNBEATABLE PRICES FROM A FAMILY BUSINESS YOU CAN TRUST!

SOFAS | CHAIRS | FURNITURE | BEDS | MATTRESSES | FLOORING | CURTAINS | BLINDS

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REEDS Furniture, Bed Centre & Homestore, Bridge Street, Downham Market PE38 9DS T: 01366 382213 REEDS Furniture, Flooring & Bed Centre, Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely CB6 3NX T: 01353 669754

Welcome to your March issue...

T

here are three significant dates we can look forward to celebrating this month. March 14th is Mother’s Day, our annual opportunity to shower dear Mum with love and gifts, which this year, sadly, might have to be “Zoomrelated”. March 28th is when our clocks “spring forward” an hour – surely a sign that summer will soon be upon us. Thirdly, and this is a muchawaited date which has not yet been finalised – the start of the easing of our lockdown measures and a steady return to “normal times”, those days before anyone had ever heard of ‘social distancing’ or ‘the R number’!

Hoping you enjoy our issue this month, and it is with such joy and pride that we, at “Discovering Magazines”, can send out “Discovering Whittlesea” (the very first of our five titles) for issue number two hundred. Huge thanks go to everyone who has made this possible over the years.

Inside Highlights

Claire x

4 ................... Agentis Financial 6 ................... Gardening Tips for March 10 ............... Stephenson Smart 12 ................. Fenland History Society 16 ................. Steve Barclay 18 ................. Diamond Byte 20-21 ....... Noya Motor Group 24 ............... Mother’s Day Quiz 25 ................ The Avenues Therapy Centre 26................. March Podiatry 28 ............... Holiday With Us 30/31 ....... Community Matters 32 ................ Cambs. County Council 34 ............... Whiting & Partners 36 ................ Chat over a Cuppa 38 ............... Business Directory

I’ve never considered myself to be a particularly lucky man. Not unlucky, but not the sort of person that unexpected, good things happen to.

My daily dog walk invariably coincides with a downpour of biblical proportions with blue skies greeting me as soon as I return home and step back inside and if I were to discard an old ornament you can rest assured that the only other one of its kind would be featured on the next Antiques Roadshow and valued at tens of thousands of pounds.

However, over the past month there were signs that my luck was changing. For I have won on EuroMillions three times in a row when each time there has been a jackpot well in excess of one hundred million pounds However, before you start penning begging letters, please note that my winnings have been £3, £3.90 and £2.60, a grand total of £9.50, for a total investment of £15. Perhaps I am unlucky after all…

Andy

With thanks to:

The Holiday With Us Group, Stephenson Smart, Diamond Byte.

Deadline details:

Copy deadline for the April issue is Monday, 8th March 2021.

Publisher and Sales Claire Saberton | Ops Director Andy Armstrong Editor Andy Hurst: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk Sales Paula Peake: 07903 776211 | marketing.discoveringmagazines@gmail.com Accounts Sarah Brooks: 07564 966452 | accounts@discoveringmagazines.co.uk Design Sarah Gumbley | Andy Beavis | Graham Copestake | Rob Harradine

Cover image courtesy of James Cook from March. If anyone would like any photography services to contact him via email jc7211@hotmail.co.uk

Discovering Wisbech 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.

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Mortgage Advice

The effects of COVID-19 on the Mortgage Market

I

ADVICE FROM CAREN PALMER-WELCH, MORTGAGE AND PROTECTION BROKER

t is common knowledge that a wide range of industries have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the housing market is no exception. As lockdown was declared in March 2020, lenders practically closed their doors to new applications from homemovers because it was not safe for surveyors to attend property valuations. With many lenders reducing their product ranges and scaling back their service levels, homeowners looking to change their mortgage package were left with little choice but to stay with their current lender.

mortgage-holders greater market choice when the time comes for them to re-evaluate their mortgage requirements: at the end of their current deal; raising capital for home improvements; debt consolidation, and many others.

Fast-forward to March 2021 and, although we are still having to make compromises in our everyday lives, there is certainly a positive trend of normality resuming in the mortgage market. Lenders have started to offer higher loan-to-value products, opening up availability to buyers with as little as a 10% deposit.

As a “whole-of-market broker”, I will keep you up-to-date with the ever-changing mortgage market, its products, and their criteria, ensuring that you are fully aware of the best options for you.

Interest rates have also seen some positive downward movement, with the gap between a two-year and a five-year fixed product being the narrowest that it has ever been.

Re-mortgage products are also starting to be reintroduced by lenders, giving existing

Whether you are a first-time buyer needing advice on the products and schemes available to you, or a current homeowner looking to move property or just looking for a better deal, now is a great time to get in touch with an experienced mortgage broker, such as myself.

I have worked in the property industry for over eighteen years, navigating recessions and national financial crises, and as such I have the wealth of experience needed to help you make it through the economic instability brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please contact me and I would be more than happy to talk through your options with you.

M. 07925 556767 T. 01733 367800 (Opt 8) E. caren@agentisfinancial.co.uk 36 Thorpe Wood, Peterborough PE3 6SR

Effective advice…efficient service 4

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Tallington Lakes Tallington Lakes is set just a few miles from the pretty town of Stamford.

This beautiful park offers a mixture of lakeside tranquillity and an array of sports all year round. A place you can call home, where you can spend time relaxing with your family and friends, where the worries and routine of everyday life can be left far behind.

A luxury lodge has all the comfort and style of your home, but is set in a stunning location, surrounded by the English countryside at its best. On site there is a bar and restaurant which is open every day, offering meals and a variety of entertainment all-year-round.

Get involved in fitness classes, bingo, trips and weekend discos and parties.

Thorney Golf Club Situated on the outskirts of the cathedral city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. This well respected and long established 18 hole championship course also boasts a 9 hole par 3 course, covered driving range and practice green by the Clubhouse. Located in beautiful countryside you will feel you have escaped to a new world where the pace of life is

slower and you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of your surroundings. An ideal place for golf lovers or for people looking for a retreat that is a haven of tranquility.

A place where you can relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. Our fabulous bar and restaurant offers wonderful food in a converted clubhouse.

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Your Garden

L

March

GARDENING TIPS

onger days, the clocks “springing forward” at the end of the month and, hopefully, days becoming warmer means more work in the allotment. The first things to tackle are any weeds that have survived the winter or are starting to grow in the warmer weather; it is advisable to dig out weeds such as bindweed and couch grass.

Once that is done now is a good time to prepare your beds for later planting by raking the soil thoroughly, breaking down any lumps to achieve a fine tilth and applying fertilizer. I favour chicken manure pellets, liquid seaweed and blood fish and bone meal to keep it all organic. Once this is done you can cover the ground to keep it warm before you sow or plant.

If you have chitted your first early potatoes and the ground is not frozen, they can be planted out from mid-March or early April, but it is well worth covering them to protect them from the late frosts. Don’t forget to add a light sprinkling of fertiliser to the trench and plant earlies about 30cm (12 inches) apart, with 40-50cm (16-60 inches) between rows, with the shoots pointing upwards.

If you want to grow asparagus, now is the time to prepare your bed and plant the crowns by digging a trench 12 inches deep and adding some well-rotted manure. Make a four-inch ridge at the base and spread the roots of the crown over the ridge, replace the soil, leaving the tips just visible.

Water in and add mulch. Don’t forget to leave the asparagus for two years before actually harvesting – it’s well worth the wait!

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March Wisbech

March can be a busy month for sowing, particularly indoors – aubergines chillies and peppers – indoors or heated greenhouses – brassicas such as Brussels, sprouting broccoli cabbages (summer, autumn and red) can be given a head start by sowing the seeds under cover and planting on when all frost risk has passed. Although there are plenty of seeds to sow, it is worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast as we can still get some pretty cold weather in March and some heavy frosts.

Other jobs include: • Lettuces and other salad crops can be sown either indoors or outdoors under cloches or in cold frames. Tomato and cucumber seeds can be sown indoors but wait until the end of the month.

• Plant out onion and shallot sets.

• Early varieties of carrot, beetroot, spring onions, peas, chard, parsnips, spinach and broad beans can be sown into the open ground.

• Last chance for planting bare-rooted fruit trees and bushes.

• Feed and mulch fruit trees – fertilise the base, water in and then cover with well-rotted manure or compost to act as a mulch.

• Check cabbages for caterpillars and pick off.

• Remove dead leaves from cabbages and Brussels.

• Herbs such as rosemary and sage will benefit from a good trim, whilst chives and mint can be propagated by dividing them and re-planting.

Happy gardening!

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D I S C O V E R I N G

Wisbech

9

Finance

STARTING UP A NEW BUSINESS One positive thing to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increase in new business start-ups in the UK. Last year saw an extra 84,758 businesses setting up, compared with 2019. This is equivalent to a 12.3 percent increase year on year, which is the highest percentage growth since 2011 and the highest actual growth on record.

E

mbarking on a new business venture is both an exciting and a challenging task, which carries with it an element of risk. Key decisions need to be made, and there are many factors to consider.

What type of company is right for you?

Business plan

Taxes, legalities, and insurance

A business plan is an essential document that will guide you in establishing and growing your new venture; helping you focus your thoughts, providing you with targets and goals as well as giving you an indication of your cash requirements.

Finance Business financing can take two forms: debt or equity. Debt means borrowing money. Loans may come from family, friends, banks, other financial institutions, or professional investors. Equity relates to selling an ownership interest in your business. Such a sale can take many forms, such as the admitting of a partner or, if you are in a company, issuing of additional shares to investors.

Options are sole trader, limited company, company limited by guarantee and limited liability partnership (LLP). The type of company you choose will be dependent on the nature of the business you intend to carry out.

A significant task for a new business owner is ensuring that the business complies with the extensive tax, legislation and insurance requirements that are imposed by various authorities. To avoid problems, penalties and – in some cases – legal action, it is important to understand your obligations.

At Stephenson Smart we can guide you through these important decision-making processes. As specialist start-up business advisors, we can help you make the appropriate registrations, assist with cash flow forecasts, and offer regular updates to enable you to monitor the performance of your business.

Getting a grant is also an option. There are many different small business and start-up grants available depending on where your business is based, how large it is and what you do.

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12/08/2020 15:23

FENLAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

By Bridget Hunter It is so good to know many more people are now having their vaccinations. It is so sad to see so many not taking the spreading of the virus seriously. We do all need to work together to get through this difficult time. As a family historian I look back at how things worked in the past for our ancestors. They overcame the various difficulties they were faced with, as I am sure we will, and then we can look forward to seeing our families and friends and enjoying our social activities.

October 29th, 1755 - Bounder John HOTON of Outwell. Mother Jane SAUNDERS of Outwell, £40.

Church warden Edward GODFREY. Overseer William WILES & Thomas HORN.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED I have been looking at the many ways the churches are helping at this difficult time. Looking back in time the church was so important to the community they served. They were responsible for so much that the Government deals with now.

If you were not a member of a church, you had very little support or help of any kind. My thoughts this month turn to what in fact I dealt with as a magistrate in the family courts, the maintenance of children. It is such a subject that I would like to share with you. It comes from a document given to me. My husband and I are often given documents that might interest us. I would like to share it with you this month.

OUR HELP & RESEARCH SESSIONS & MEETINGS Our researchers are still available and willing to give advice and answer your queries. If you would like help researching your family just give me a call on 01945 587723. As soon as we are able, we will restart our monthly meetings with interesting speakers and our computer research sessions.

ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN AND THEIR SUPPORT The parish would help an unmarried mother, but the preference was to trace the father and get him to pay, the money probably went to the parish to help cover the cost of supporting illegitimate children. They held special meetings to decide on the father and how much he should pay. They were called ‘Bond of a Child’ meetings and a report would be given of their findings. I was amused to see the father was called the ‘bounder’. The church warden would lead the investigations and the overseers of the poor would make the judgement finding the man as the father and deciding on what he should pay.

September 20th, 1755 - Farmer Timothy BOOTH of Outwell was the bounder. The mother was Mary SNEATH of Upwell. The church warden Edward GODFREY. Bounder to pay £40. The overseer of the poor William WILES & Thomas HORN. 12

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March 17th, 1790 - Bounder Henry TROWER, farmer, of Upwell. Mother Ann CALVERT of Upwell, £100.

Church warden Thomas WRIGHT. Overseer Joseph MARSHALL. I have a list of eighteen, these are just a few of them. It would be interesting to know if any family members of those named are still living in the area.

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News

FROM FLOODS TO FUNDS FOR FENLAND… – By Steve Barclay MP

M

ore extreme weather instances are occurring more frequently across the country and what we can do to combat climate change is an issue we are grappling with in government, locally and at family and individual level.

Following the flooding in the constituency over the festive period, particularly in March, Coates, and Tydd St Giles, I brought together representatives of the local agencies involved in water management to discuss what happened and to find ways to make improvements.

I am grateful for the collaborative and constructive approach they all took, each agreeing to a number of actions to try to resolve issues and provide greater transparency to each other and residents about what’s being done.

It has been good to see local COVID-19 vaccination centres opening and I know local GPs are working hard to vaccinate as many people as possible as fast as possible.

It’s also pleasing that we have secured further funding for our area from the Government’s Community Champions scheme – awarding Fenland District Council £96,903 to support work among those within our community who are at higher risk during the pandemic, such as the disabled and older people.

It’s good to see continued progress on Wisbech High Street to address the issue of derelict buildings. Many of you will know this is a particular interest of mine and I have campaigned since becoming an MP for councils to work with landlords to take responsibility for the state of the buildings they own or use enforcement action.

The Environment Agency invited comments on the application for an environmental permit application to build a waste recycling plant at the Saxon Pit former brickworks in Whittlesey. It is simply not acceptable for residents that, after almost three years, there is still no outcome regarding the 122,000 tonnes of unlawful waste buried there, yet new permits are being considered. I am co-operating with local councillors to see what action can be taken to push this forward.

The A47 Guyhirn junction improvement scheme has started and, by the publication of this article, we are probably feeling the pain of a 30mph speed limit, two temporary roundabouts, narrow lanes, noise, and some road closures. It’s important to keep in mind the significant longer-term gains of this project which will reduce congestion, improve journey times and increase safety.

Progress of the £32 million Kings Dyke scheme in Whittlesey for a new road and bridge over the railway line is on track – both on time and on budget. This will be music to the ears of residents and businesses, for whom completion can’t come soon enough. It’s also great to hear the benefits of the scheme are reaching the local community with £750,000 invested in the regional economy by employing local staff and using local suppliers such as nearby PJ Thory and Gemmix.

Finally, Historic England’s grant funding of £616,000 for Wisbech and Fenland Museum is excellent news that will save a building of both national importance and immense local pride and significance. The museum is closed now due to lockdown, but I urge you to pay a visit at your earliest opportunity to see the Grade II* listed building and the treasures inside for yourself.

To find out more about my work in Parliament or local campaigns, visit my website or follow me on social media: www.stevebarclay.net  @SteveBarclay  @SteveBarclayOfficial  @SteveBarclayOfficial 16 58

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TOM’S BUSINESS VISION A SUCCESS Westbrook Window Repairs has enjoyed an excellent first year in business.

It offers a top-quality service for a wide range of jobs including new windows and doors; misted windows; dropped doors; replacement locks and hinges; and cat and dog flaps.

The company was formed in May 2019 by March man Tom Westbrook who has more than 26 years’ experience in manufacturing, fitting and repairing windows and has received a very positive response from satisfied local customers.

Tom (43) said: “The first year has gone even better than I had hoped. I’m proud to have had 836 ‘likes’ on my Facebook page with more than thirty five-star reviews.

“I pride myself on providing an honest, professional and personal service and I would like to thank all my customers who have supported me. I’ve had lots of recommendations and have also gained plenty of repeat business which I am extremely grateful for.”

The business has been so successful that Tom has had to take on another person on an ad hoc basis to help with larger jobs. The majority of his work comes from the March area and he has praised the leads he has obtained via Discovering March magazine.

He said: “We have had a very good response from entries in the magazine. We People follow like the magazine and consequently tend to keep hold of the copies Covid-19 Guidelines which means they are read by a lot of people over a long period of time.”

At Access4Lofts there’s

always space for safety!

Tom is assisted in the business by his partner Suzanne, who said: "Tom provides an honest service, to local customers. He prides himself on his ability to repair most windows and doors, which is more cost effective for the customer. He is always happy to provide honest advice to look for a fixable solution to any problematic windows or doors. When new windows and doors are needed, he takes great pride in his work to ensure a satisfied customer every time.”

01733 663207 You can contact Westbrook Window Repairs for a free no obligation quote by ringing 01354 653445 or 07949 457029 Email: westbrookwindowrepairs@gmail.com

TOM WESTBROOK Installation & Repairs Specialist TRUSTED IN THE TRADE FOR OVER 25 YEARS

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17 D DI SI SC CO OV VE ER RI N I NGAU GWisbech March GU ST 202013

The Technology Site

PHILIP AT DIAMOND BYTE

Keeping your PC

y h t l a e h & y p p a h

Many of our customers ask us how they should go about maintaining a happy and healthy PC. These are our top tips.

Strengthen your digital security First on the list is to take the time now to start changing your passwords FOR EVERYTHING. Make sure you have a different one for every account. Use a mixture of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create unique passwords. Two factor authentication will also add an extra layer of security. This is usually a combination of something you know and something you have. The thing you know is often a pin number. The thing you have might be a unique token generated each time you log in. This is used in addition to your username and password.

Make back-ups If your device gets lost, damaged, or stolen, you run the risk of never being able to retrieve the valuable documents stored on it. To save music, photos and documents, a disk, a memory stick or a removeable hard drive will suffice. Probably the safest option is to use some sort of cloud storage, although do remember if you want to make your back-ups

one hundred percent failsafe, it is important to have both physical and online copies saved.

Get rid of desktop clutter Keeping screenshots, images, and shortcuts to files on your desktop can make finding things almost impossible. To get the initial abundance of apps out the way, create a folder on your desktop named ‘old desktop’ and transfer all your clutter into it. Your desktop will immediately look cleaner and more manageable. From there, you can go through the folder in your own time and put all the files in their rightful place, perhaps even sort out other folders whilst you are at it.

Clean that keyboard To clean your keyboard, make sure your PC or laptop is shut down and that the keyboard is disconnected from the computer (if using a desktop PC). We recommend using a can of compressed air that will blast any dirt and debris out from between the keys.

Upgrade your PC If your PC still runs on coal, or even worse, Windows 7 or Vista, you really must upgrade to Windows 10. As we have mentioned time and time again, continuing to use Windows 7 or Vista on the public internet is putting you in a very dangerous situation indeed.

For this and all our other articles, go to www.diamondbyte.co.uk

DIAMOND BYTE PC & Laptop Repairs & Sales wisbech@diamondbyte.com • www.diamondbyte.com

01945 585201 Find us on Facebook at fb.me/thepcguy 18

D I S C O V E R I N G

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Taking the Stress out of Selling your Car Noya Motor Group (NMG) are an independent dealership, based in Peterborough. Robin Ewan (Brokerage Manager) and Georgia Purdy (Brokerage Consultant) are both enthusiasts with a real passion for cars.

N

ormally, the only options when it comes to selling your vehicle are part-exchange or selling privately. Part-exchange is fine if you are in the market for a new vehicle, but it can mean losing money. To obtain the best price possible for your vehicle, you would need to sell privately.

vehicle, so NMG offer finance on very favourable terms, alongside a warranty and benefits, like paint protection. ●

The car will receive a valet and health check on arrival.

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A professional photographer will take over fifty photographs for NMG’s multiplatform advertising facility.

●

Furthermore, 360-degree videos of the interior and exterior of your vehicle will be taken, so that potential customers can have a virtual viewing from the comfort of their own home.

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NMG will collect your car from your home.

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They handle all negotiations and finalise the sale to give you the best price possible for your vehicle.

●

NMG operate on a ‘sale or return’ basis and are confident that they can sell your car within ninety days of it arriving at the dealership; if not, they will return your car at no cost to you.

This, of course, may have its own issues, for example, it can take time, effort and a lot of stress to achieve a sale at the right price.

With their bespoke brokerage service, NMG take care of the sale from start to finish, dealing with the ‘time wasters’ and the ‘tyre kickers’, making the whole process easier and safer for you, especially during the ongoing pandemic.

NMG make your car appealing to as wide an audience as possible in a number of ways: ●

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Eighty-five percent of used car buyers use finance when buying their next

D I S C O V E R I N G

Wisbech

A stress-free process from start to finish, so simply sit back and wait for the money to hit your account!

Please get in touch today for a free quotation.

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www.noyamotorgroup.co.uk ARCH 2 021 5MLakeside Court, Kingston Park, Peterborough PE2 9FT D I S C O V E R I N G Wisbech

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Do you want to be an inspirational teacher?

Find out more at one of our online Information Events for the Fenland & East Cambridgeshire area.

Tuesday 2nd March or Wednesday 21st April 6pm - 7pm on Zoom The Information Events will help you decide which route into teacher training is best for you. We will: 



Explain the different routes you could take to gain Qualified Teacher Status Answer your questions

We also offer:  A bespoke 1:1 Guidance Service  A Teacher Experience Programme These will support you with all aspects of searching for, and applying to, a teacher training course.

Register your interest:

Contact Sarah McGill smcgill@tmet.org.uk or call 01223 200400 ext:3236 Or Eventbrite: March: 132407429185 or April: 141130987583

Make an extraordinary difference to CHILDREN IN CARE

Be the difference Become a foster parent We’ve been making a life-changing difference to children in care for over 30 years and are looking for even more passionate people to join our team.

FOSTER PARENTS & RESPITE CARERS NEEDED

As the UK's first therapeutic fostering agency, experience isn’t necessary as we provide ongoing specialist training and 24/7 ‘wrap-around’ support. You’ll also receive a generous weekly allowance to reward you for your professional work, plus other benefits too.

Start your fostering journey today: Visit: www.ispfostering.org.uk/wisbech Or call us on: 0800 0857 989

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Struggling with anxiety?

How hypnotherapy can help

Millions of people in the UK suffer with anxiety, and COVID-19 has made things much worse for a lot of people. Anxiety can affect us in different ways, and at different times, but is often triggered by stress, or a traumatic event or sometimes it’s hard to even know where it has come from.

Hypnotherapy is a natural and calming experience. It is safe and you remain totally in control. I simply guide you into the hypnotic trance, where you are relaxed but focused, and where we can access your subconscious thoughts. Here, I can help you to stop that unhelpful thinking, that comes from your subconscious mind, and that allows your anxiety to control you. You can then start to take back control of your thinking, your mind, and your life, breaking free from anxiety.

Maybe you are avoiding certain situations.

Maybe you’re noticing muscle tension. Maybe you are experiencing panic attacks. You might feel that your anxiety is getting out of control, that your worries are starting to take over.

Anxiety is our body’s natural reaction to a threat.

Our body automatically goes into ‘fight or flight’ mode, where our heart starts to beat faster, and our blood starts pumping extra oxygen to our muscles. Our body produces adrenaline, giving us the strength to either fight the threat, or get away from it. The problem is our brain doesn’t always know the difference between a real threat and a perceived one. So, sometimes, we go into ‘fight or flight’ when our bodies don’t need all that extra energy, as there is nothing to fight or to flee from. All that extra energy has nowhere to go and it can present itself as anxiety.

Please keep an eye out for my monthly article, where I will keep you up to date on various issues that hypnotherapy can help with.

Sessions are available online or in my COVID19-Safe Therapy Centre, based in Wisbech.

Hypnotherapy can also help with: • Fears and phobias • Weight loss • Self-esteem and confidence building • Hypnobirthing • Habit stopping Please see my website for further information.

Email: Jenna@theavenuestherapycentre.co.uk Website: www.theavenuestherapycentre.co.uk Tel: 07521 456989

I am a member of The National Hypnotherapy Society and AIM Accredited, Level 3 Certificate in Hypnotherapy and Counselling Skills.

Life coaching also now available.

M ARCH 2 021

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Health

DO YOU NEED TO SEE A PODIATRIST? Podiatry is simply the new name for chiropody. It is a branch of medicine devoted to the study and diagnosis, and medical treatment, of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. The name changed from chiropody to podiatry in 1993, so that the UK was in line with all other English speaking countries, in using the internationally recognised name for a foot specialist. A podiatrist will usually have attended a university for three years, to study full time for a degree in Podiatry.

with the pain of ingrown toenails, or corns and calluses. Many feel a trip to the beauty salon is all that’s needed. Covering up a fungal nail infection, with a splash of colourful polish, does not resolve the underlying problem.

Here are four reasons to see a podiatrist:

4) Need footwear advice? – Feet come in all shapes CY and sizes. Choosing suitable footwear, somewhat, determines your long-term foot health. A number CMY of people have developed problems with their feet K over time as a result of wearing poorly fitting shoes.

The right pair of shoes should effectively hug the foot and provide a high-level of comfort.

1) Give your feet an MOT – Even if your feet are in a generally good state, an appointment with a podiatrist, every so often, can help to keep your feet in tip-top condition. It’s easy to overlook problems with verrucas, cracked heels, and ingrown toenails; however, these issues can eventually result in painful conditions and infections. A podiatrist can treat a range of issues including corns, calluses, athlete’s foot, foot odour, flat feet and bunions.

2) Manage the pain in your feet – Putting up with foot pain is uncomfortable and unnecessary. A visit to your local podiatrist is all that’s needed to nurse your feet back to full health. Don’t suffer in silence

3) Do you suffer from foot odour? – It’s common to suffer from foot perspiration and odours from timeto-time. However, if the problem persists, seeking expert advice and treatment from a podiatrist can help resolve the issues quickly and effectively.

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March Podiatry is following all current health and safety guidelines, to ensure we are COVID secure in order to provide your treatment as safely as possible.

MarchPodiatry PodiatryPractice PracticeLtd Ltd March Podiatry March Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ 47-49 HighPE15 Street, 47-49 High Street, March 9JJMarch PE15 9JJ

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

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Orchard House Care Home Welcoming new residents into our home At Orchard House Care Home, we provide Nursing, Residential Dementia and End of Life Care. Together with effective healthcare methods, we promote a healthy wellbeing and lifestyle.

Our home includes light and airy, social lounges and dining rooms, a variety of communal spaces such as a quiet room and a hair salon, as well as spacious en-suite bedrooms. Our landscaped gardens are wheelchair accessible and designed to be a welcoming place to relax.

Our team are dedicated to providing a person centred, engaging and stimulating resident focused community; where family is at the heart of everything.

For more information about how we could help you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on the number below.

Feel free to call or email us at any time:

01945 223 874 | care.orchard@rchcarehomes.co.uk Orchard House Care Home, 107 Money Bank, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 2JF FEB RUA RY 2021

D I S C O V E R I N G Wisbech www.rchcarehomes.co.uk

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SPLASH INTO SUMMER

2022

We all need something to look forward to, and with Summer 2022 holidays now on sale you can plan ahead and book your summer break early.

We’ve got plenty of great summer deals for you to take advantage of. Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing beach stay in the Algarve, a culture-filled break in Greece or a bargain family getaway to the Balearics, we’ve got you covered. Here’s just a taster of what we have on offer…

Why book now for Summer 2022?

When you plan ahead and book one of our Summer 2022 holidays early, you’ll get the best choice of deals, rooms, flight times and dates. The most popular holidays always sell out first so to get the holiday you’ve been waiting for, it’s a good idea to secure it now! You can even book up to 2023 on selected holidays.

Gran Canaria is a firm family favourite, with its swathes of sandy beaches, water sports and adventure parks, there’s plenty to do. Enjoy seven nights at the Mirador Del Atlantico next June with return flights from London Stansted from just £376 per person* for a family of four.

Book with £0 deposits & flexible payment plans When you book selected holidays with us, you can secure your getaway without paying a penny, thanks to our £0 deposits*. So, if you’re keen to get a holiday in the calendar but don’t want to pay straight away, then our £0 deposit holidays are perfect for you! You can then spread the cost of your trip up to as little as 8 weeks before you depart*.

If you’re looking for a couples escape, why not try the beautiful Greek island of Kos? This island gives you a choice of lively party towns, laid-back seaside resorts and traditional fishing villages.

The Nikos II apartments complex is located on the edge of the resort and is ideal for a tranquil getaway, allowing you to enjoy peace and quiet while admiring the surrounding mountain views.

Stay here next June, self-catering with flights from London Stansted from £446 per person*.

Plus, we’re offering free amendments and cancellations* and a money back guarantee when cancelling due to COVID-19*. For more information, please visit holidaywithus.co.uk/ protectionpromise or give our friendly travel experts a call.

*Terms & Conditions apply. All offers are subject to availability and change

The Holiday With Us Group Phone: 0800 167 0232 Email: enquiries@holidaywithus.co.uk www.holidaywithus.co.uk 28

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Please contact the team below for further information: Mondays AM & PM: Contact Tina 07798 894639 Tuesday AM/PM, Thursday AM & Saturday AM: Contact Carrie 07876 636833 Wednesdays PM: Contact Katie 07928 395615 Thursday PM: Contact Rachel 07768 526360 Open 52 weeks of the year, no matter what the situation contact us for more details.

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29

Matters

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 with Claire:

sales@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

DON’T MISS OUT ON GRANTS Local businesses that have been impacted by local and national COVID-19 restrictions are being reminded to check if they’re eligible for grant support.

Fenland District Council is administering a range of government business grant schemes via its website at: www.fenland.gov.uk/businessgrants – and is urging businesses to apply before the closing dates.

Since the first lockdown last year, the council has distributed more than £24 million in funding and made more than 2500 payments to businesses, with more than £3 million being paid out to businesses since the December restrictions came into force.

Grants are currently available for businesses affected by the Tier 2 restrictions from December 2nd to December 25th, 2020, the Tier 4 restrictions from December 26th to January 4th and the current ongoing national lockdown.

The grant schemes open for applications in Fenland are: •

Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment – a one-off grant payment of either £4000, £6000 or £9000 depending on rateable value is available to businesses forced to close in line with the national restrictions which came into force on January 5th, 2021. This grant is

available in addition to the Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG) and businesses can claim this at the same time as applying for other grants which they are eligible for.

•

Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) – hospitality, accommodation and leisure businesses registered for business rates which suffered a reduction in trade due to Tier 2 restrictions are eligible to obtain the LRSG (Open) grant. This grant is currently available for the period from December 2nd to December 25th when Fenland was in Tier 2.

•

Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) – the LRSG (Closed) grant is available to businesses registered for business rates which were required by law to remain closed during the period when Fenland was in Tier 2. For example, pubs which were unable to re-open on December 2nd, 2020 due to the requirement to serve substantial meals alongside any alcohol purchased.

The closing date for the grants’ payment is March 31st, 2021.

Any businesses requiring help or advice regarding any of the grant schemes can contact the council on 01354 654321 or email: covid19.businessgrants@ fenland.gov.uk

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS TO HELP THOSE AT RISK Fenland District Council has secured almost £100,000 from the Government to expand its ongoing work to support those most at risk from COVID-19.

It has been awarded a £96,903 grant from the Government’s £25 million Community Champions scheme to help deliver a wide range of measures to protect those most at risk – building trust, communicating accurate health information, and ultimately helping to save lives.

The funding has been awarded to sixty councils and voluntary groups across England with plans 30

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to reach groups such as older people, disabled people, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, who according to the latest evidence are more likely to suffer long-term impacts and poor outcomes from COVID-19.

In Fenland, the funding will be used to recruit and train up to ten Community Champions to reflect the different community languages spoken in the area. They will work with the council and voluntary and community partners to enhance communications with these groups and deliver outreach support across the district.

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STAY SECURE WITH PRESTIGE Prestige Security Solutions specialise in the manufacture and installation of insulated roller garage doors, roller shutters and electric gates.

Based in Leicester, the company covers a wide area including Peterborough and Lincolnshire with its Midlands base being well placed to enable it to provide its service throughout the UK. The company has been and installing its OPPOSITION TOsupplying THE PROPOSED own high quality products for more than twenty INCINERATOR FOR WISBECH years and also supplies sectional garage doors and securityTown personnel doors.

Wisbech Council is continuing its fight

Its against clients include hospitals, doctor surgeries, plans by MVV Environment to build a clinics, shops, factories, offices, mega incinerator in the town.warehouses, schools, colleges, universities,alibraries, swimming The council has approved recommendation baths and many thousands of domestic households by its policy and resources committee that a throughout the UK. fund of £5,000 to meet the cost of publicity,

Roller Garage Doors – Industrial Shutters – Awnings Retractable/Fixed Grills – Glass Verandas

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Garage doors – materials, Prestige Security Solution’s etc, up and campaigning public meetings over of outstanding quality. be garage includeddoors in theare draft budget for 2021/22 anddoors that it–establishes a reserve of doors £30,000 Roller insulated roller garage give to besaving available to contribute towards the much space vertical operation which releases cost ofstorage obtaining anyinspecialist advice needed space the garage roofwhich area. may be required to ‘challenge’ any planning Electric gates - Prestige Security gate automation Secretary of State. kitsapplication are top of submitted the range to forthe quality and durability Fenland District owns land in and available withCouncil a number of some optional extras. the area of the planned incinerator location.

In theory, MVV Environment could try to purchase the land (directly or through a third party) to strengthen its case when it comes to its planning application to the Secretary of State.

Councillor Steve Tierney therefore put a motion to Fenland District Council that there be a suspension on sales of land within five hundred metres of the incinerator’s proposed site.

The Wisbech Town Council Anti-incinerator Working Party has met on a number of occasions with the next meeting scheduled for this month.

Chairman of the working party Councillor Peter Human said: “It is positive to see councillors, along with members of the public working together to look at schemes to recommend to the working party on ways forward.”

Banners are currently being displayed on Weasenham Lane, Norwich Road, Cromwell Road (at the traffic lights), Churchill Road, A47 near Cromwell Road junction and Lynn Road.

If anyone has a prominent position where a banner could be displayed, please contact the town council at info@wisbechtowncouncil. gov.uk

30 M D I S 2C021 O ARCH

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Rapid Result Testing For Key Workers in Wisbech

R

esidents who are key workers – or anyone leaving home regularly for work, volunteering or training – are being urged to have regular rapid result tests to help track cases of coronavirus and drive down transmission rates.

Sites have been set up across the county offering rapid result tests to people aged eighteen and over who have no symptoms of coronavirus, including Queen Mary Centre, Queen’s Road, Wisbech, Fenland PE13 2PE. People are being urged to take a test twice a week.

Up to one in three people who are infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms and could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Testing key workers showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, which helps break chains of transmission.

To book a test visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/rapidtesting Dr Liz Robin, director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire, said: “We not only need people to have these tests regularly if they are leaving home for work, we also need them to act responsibly when they get their result. If you test positive, please isolate at home with other members of your household and ask for help if you need it. There is lots we can do to help you to self-isolate, including offering grants to those who will struggle financially or help with accessing food shopping, fetching medicines and so on.

“The NHS Test and Trace Service will also get in touch with you to offer advice and ask about contacts. If you test negative, please continue

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to follow national guidance and limit all nonessential contact with others. While the rapid test identifies many people with the virus it doesn’t identify everyone – so following the lockdown rules and other COVID-safe behaviours is essential even if you have a negative test.”

Lateral flow tests are a new kind of technology that can be used to test people who have no symptoms of COVID. The tests do not require a laboratory.

The process of taking a test takes on average fifteen minutes from arrival to departure. Results are known within an hour.

Everyone who takes a test, even if it is returned negative, must continue to follow the rules which include leaving home only for essential reasons, limiting contact with people they do not live with and ensuring good practices where contact has to be made, such as social distancing, wearing a mask or PPE and hand washing.

People with symptoms will not be tested at the rapid testing sites.

Anyone with one or more of the following symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

MMAARRCH CH 22002211

Get your free rapid COVID-19 test Testing is for key workers – or anyone leaving home regularly for work, volunteering or training - who do not have any symptoms

Queen Mary Centre

Queen’s Road, Wisbech, Fenland, PE13 2PE PLEASE BOOK ONLINE, OTHER VENUES ACROSS CAMBRIDGESHIRE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/rapidtesting

Help us stop the spread of coronavirus.

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For further updates and information please check our website which will be regularly updated www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk D I S C O V E R I N G March

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Tax Enquiry enquiry

By Mark Burrows

Even before Even before the the pandemic pandemic impacted impacted on on our our lives livesand andlivelihoods, livelihoods, our world has our world was was becoming becoming ever ever more more digitalised. digitalised. Covid-19 COVID-19 has accelerated this growth massively massively with with the the word word‘virtual’ ‘virtual’among among the most used today applying applying to to many many routines routines --meetings, meetings,GP GP appointments, education, parties parties and and aa lot lot more. more.

HM Revenue Revenue & & Customs Customs,(HMRC), through through increased digitalisation, has access HM increased digitalisation, has to access to a vast and ever-increasing range sources information, a vast range of sources of information, whichofcan makeofany undeclared which any undeclared, incomecan or make gains easily identifiable.or under-declared, income or gains easily identifiable.

This can lead to a tax enquiry in which HMRC checks, in detail, that the information on a tax return is correct and complete. It does this by This can lead to a tax enquiry in which HMRC checks, in detail, that the asking questions about your meetings and reviewing information on a tax return is return, correctthrough and complete.

HMRC has the right your records. to open an enquiry into any return and, as a result, tax enquiries are not unusual, sothe it really to seek professional advice accounts HMRC has right pays to open an enquiry into any returnabout and, your as a result, and check over your tax returns before submission. tax enquiries are not uncommon. The most common trigger for an investigation is submitting noticeably incorrect figures on a tax return Tax can quite but professional we can help advice and support so itenquiries really pays tobe have an daunting, accountant’s about your throughout the process, ensuring not only that the position is resolved accounts and check over your tax returns before you send them. Other properly but also ensuring that the best possible outcome is reached. triggers include: ...frequently filing tax returns late.

Taxeasy enquiries can be head quite in daunting. can helpthat andHMRC support It’s to bury your the sandWe and hope may not spot throughout the process, ensuring only to that the position resolved errors or omissions but they have not powers potentially raiseis assessments dating back twenty years after the event!

So, it is important that your tax properly but also ensuring that the best possible outcome is reached. affairs are kept updated to the best of your knowledge.

It’s easy to bury your head in the sand and hope that HMRC may not spot omissions but it has powers to raise assessments dating back We have extensive experience with making disclosures and can guide 20-years after the event! helping So, it is important taxthe affairs are kept you through the process, to ensure that you your secure lowest updated to the best of your knowledge. possible penalties. We can liaise directly with HMRC on your behalf, relieving pressure on you. with making disclosures and can guide We have the extensive experience you through the process, helping to ensure you secure the lowest Ifpossible you know you have income or gains is inbehalf, your best penalties.

Weany canundisclosed liaise directly with HMRC on ityour interest to bring your tax affairs up-to-date before HMRC find out. relieving the pressure on you.

If you know you have any undisclosed income or gains it is in your best interest to bring your tax affairs up-to-date before HMRC finds out.

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If you’re looking for help with your business or personal financial affairs contact our Wisbech Office on 01954 584113 or browse our website whitingandpartners.co.uk for the latest information and advice.

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Local Councillor SAMANTHA HOY In celebration of International Women’s Day: March 8th 2021

Samantha Hoy is a local councillor for Wisbech and the leader of Wisbech Town Council, cabinet member for housing on Fenland District Council and a Cambridgeshire County councillor. For work she runs the Conservative office in March. Being a councillor takes up a great deal of her time, but she says she really enjoys it!

Samantha says she tries to get many improvements to Wisbech and is very excited about the new secondary school that is coming. When she does get spare time, she likes travelling and playing board games. Her parents live in Outwell and she has five brothers and sisters that live either at home or in other parts of Norfolk. Samantha currently lives on her own in Wisbech with her cat Stimpy.

Where were you born, and what is your favourite memory of your childhood?

I was born in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. I have 36

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a c pa up speeches she had given, despite my schoolmates not sharing the same enthusiasm. It was arguing with my sixth form politics teacher about her policies that got me really interested in politics.

Which two characters, alive or not, would you most enjoy sharing a meal with and why?

loads of great memories, but I think one that always sticks out is when my first brother was born. I was five at the time but I still remember that I gave a presentation to my class at school about him and then I went to the hospital to see him. I remember smelling his hair which just smelt like the best thing I had ever felt. I also remember hugging him tightly because I didn’t want to let him go and couldn’t believe he was real! I had such a nice feeling inside which I didn’t really understand at the time but now I know it was just such an immense feeling of love.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

Margaret Thatcher. I really think she was very excellent indeed and at school I would often read books about her and listen to

Wisbech

My mum and the Queen!

Because I have missed my mum over lockdown. Also, I would love to meet the Queen and I know my mum would too. Plus, I bet the dinners in Buckingham Palace are very tasty!

How would you describe yourself in only five words?

Loud, loyal, fun-loving, fiery, reliable.

If there was one thing which you could change about Wisbech, what would it be and why?

Attitudes. People can be very negative about the town and each other and we need to be more positive. We won’t attract investment here if we do the town down all the time.

What advice would you give to a ‘sixteen-year-old you?’

You are loved, you can do this.

Don’t give up!

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