No 44: November 2013
Published by Rothay House, Eastrea.
Eastre Eastrea a Village News
DOUBLE-DECKER AS TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF DRIVER RUSSELL STOKES Mr John Stokes leads the funeral cortège of his father Mr Russell Stokes from the Eastrea Centre where the wake was held. Russell, who lived in Victory Avenue, was born in 1922 and was well known to local residents as a Morley bus-driver. Later he was active with Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We wanted all the mourners to travel in a double-decker bus,” says John. “It seemed a fitting tribute to a much liked local driver.”
NEW COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS FOR THE EASTREA VILLAGE HALL TRUST Chairman and the Minutes Last month’s lively public Secretary; Noreen Smith, meeting appointed a new artist; James Hayes of Petercommittee. borough City Council and also With the Eastrea Centre Jonathan Groves, the Area already running successfully Manager of Cooperative Fuand with a long list of future neral Homes. bookings the Chairman of the The committee have now Trustees said it was time to elected Jonathan as the new hand over and other Trustees Chairman. In his daytime post — including Gareth Prentice and Tina Arnold — stood New Trust Chairman he is responsible for budgets down after years of service. Mr Jonathan Groves and staffing and has had experience of the voluntary sector The residents appointed are by serving on the committee of the Janus Nicola Brooks of Daisy Chain florists; Theatre in Peterborough handling both Brian and Jan Ford, the outgoing
marketing and publicity. The Trust elected James Hayes as Vice-chairman. James chaired the Scaldgate Club and works with disabled people for Peterborough City Council having gained much experience of local government. The new committee are asking Trustees Pete and Gill Sennett to remain in post for the present to ensure continuity, though both planned to stand down. New volunteers are Pete and Jenny Hale. Pete is working with former trustee Al Green on managing the hall, and Jenny is taking over the organisation of our bookings. Others who have agreed to advise are Eastrea-born Anthony Nottingham who will help with musical events while successful caterer Sue Parnell will help organise the kitchen. Sue has already arranged for the community service team to come and weed the front of the hall. Nicola has organised our Christmas Gift and Pamper Fayre for 24 November. “We have over thirty stalls booked,” she says, “and an exclusive studio for people to be pampered — from beauty treatments to holistic therapy.” There will also be live and recorded music and our cash bar will be open till late.
THE BIRTH of the Eastrea Village Hall Committee has recently re-emerged in the faded pages from this exercise book. On the evening of Wednesday 10 January 1945 the first committee was convened. Annie Tinkler (News No. 39) said she’d donate a plot of land for the building. World War II was still under way and singer Rod Stewart was born on the very same day ...
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TESCO BOW OUT SUPERMARKET giant Tesco finally pulled out of the race to build a new superstore at Whittlesey. They withdrew their appeal leaving Sainsbury’s as the only contender. Bruce Smith, who has campaigned on behalf of Sainsbury’s, says there are negotiations still to finalize with Fenland District Council, but planning permission should then be confirmed. If all goes according to plan, the construction work could start next year.
Christmas Craft Fayre
Craft and Gift Stalls all day long Beauty Treatments and Holistic Therapy Studio CASH BAR, LIVE AND RECORDED
SEASONAL MUSIC TILL LATE Sunday 24 November from 11 am
EASTREA CENTRE: CURRENT CLASSES MONDAY – 7.30-8.30 pm EXERCISE CLASS TUESDAY – 1.00–3.00 pm THE ART GROUP TUESDAY – 6.30– 8.00 pm YOGA CLASS TUESDAY – 8.30 – 9.30 pm DANZFUSION ZUMBA WEDNESDAY – 6.00 - 9.30 pm JUJITSU ACADEMY WEDNESDAY – 7.00-8.30 FLOWER ARRANGING THURSDAY – 10.00am – noon QUILTING CLASS THURSDAY–6.00 pm-7.15 pm COATES BROWNIES THURSDAY – 7.30 – 9.30 pm TAI CHI CLASS
Phone: 0845 607 8880 Email: mail@eastrea.net Contact by telephone 350888
Local councillors discuss the plans. In this Cambs Times picture are: (L-R) Alex Miscandlon, David Oliver, Florence Newell, David Connor and David Patrick.
Join in at the Centre EASTREA CENTRE wants to give people with catering and computing skills a chance to keep your hand in while being retired or raising a family. We seek people who can use computers, and a book-keeper or accountant. Our luxurious kitchen — which is often busy at weekends, and is open as a café from time to time during the week — can offer chances for volunteers to help build up the business. The Eastrea Centre is already profitable and could become a village employer for people who could run a café service more regularly. Currently we earn over £850 per month from our weekly classes and our other bookings already add up to an amazing £4,000. People who hire the facility say the hall is ‘wonderful’, ‘awe-inspiring’ and some even say it’s ‘sensational’. We have plenty of future plans for development. The
building is wired for digital facilities and television. In the future we can apply for funds to have wall-mounted screens fixed in every room.
We plan to have wireless internet too. Our stage lighting bars can take a fully professional range of lamps and we are now ordering our disco lighting. There is all the cabling ready to install a mixing desk in the control room upstairs and we have a hatch ready for a digital film projector in the future. The Eastrea Centre is now a major landmark and the new committee is full of ideas. SO COME AND JOIN US by calling 0845 607 8880.
COFFEE MORNING Join us for coffee and cakes
P L E A SE BRIN G N O N PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS for donation to the
FOOD BANK
10am to Midday Saturday 7 December 2013 E-mail: mail@eastrea.net