Issue 91 Autumn 2017 by Melbourn Magazine

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...editorial How very quickly the summer has flown! However there is still plenty to look forward to, from the Halloween Ghost Walk run by MADS, Fireworks at the Primary School, film nights, quizzes, literary lunches concerts and much more. The Parish Council now has three new members and is busy with the plans for 199 new homes and a care home. There are also discussions about more houses off the Cambridge Road and the Moor. We know that due to the growth in and around Cambridge more housing is needed. But can our infrastructure take this large number? Our churches are planning Harvest Festivals, the harvest seems much earlier this year, and also pre- Christmas bazaars. There are interesting features on Bee-Keeping (page 39), Melwood Nature Reserve (page 17) and the story of an evacuee by a local resident (page 24) amongst others and the Primary School has a successful gardening project up and running (page 23). We are very fortunate in Melbourn to have a thriving community, with shops, schools churches and clubs, making this a very pleasant place in which to live. Front cover: ‘Highland Cattle at Wandlebury Country Park. See page 15 for more information. Photograph by Peter Simmonett.

Contents Village news

Community matters

Nature

Melwood: Your Local Nature Reserve

Nature

River Mel

Retirement – Opening up a world of opportunities

Profile

Rod Yallop

Education

Memory lane

In the words of an evacuee – Andy’s story

feature Cambridge Woodland Academy

32 34

Village information

Diary

Village information

Nature

The apiarist

Melbourn Magazine is Independent of the Parish Council NO public money is used.

We would like to thank TTP for their continued sponsorship of the magazine. Melbourn Magazine is printed quarterly and delivered free to every household and business in the village. All work on the Melbourn Magazine, including layout and design is produced by volunteers. The cost of printing comes entirely from advertising and sponsorship.

Churches Together

Nature

Mediterranean plantings

Review

Laying The Ghost: The Fairfield Players

Sports & Clubs

What’s On

If you would like to advertise in the Melbourn Magazine see page 71 for details

email: melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Village news Village news Melbourn Open Gardens

Melbourn Village Fete

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

Do you shop at the Co-op, Melbourn?

Melbourn Women’s Institute – The After Eights

Melbourn Community Showcase

Melbourn Christmas Tree Lights event

Becoming a pedestrian again!

Melbourn Bloomsday Festival Outcomes

The magazine needs your help! The Melbourn Magazine has been in production now for an incredible 22 years, and we are proud to say it is run entirely by volunteers! There is our invaluable core of distributors who help deliver the magazine throughout the village all-year-round, but we are always in need of backup assistance with delivery – various sized rounds to suit all abilities! If you can help, please get in touch. Unfortunately, we are at a stage where the original members of the production team are beginning to feel the effects of time and we are now operating with a very reduced team. We are desperately in need of very enthusiastic people who are able to work with us to keep this award-winning publication alive.

Without help – the magazine will not be able to continue We are very much in need of volunteers to help keeping the advertising records up to date (no money handling involved), to assist with reminders and correspondence via email or telephone. If you can spare a few hours to help keep the magazine going, please get in touch... WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! Contact Ann Dekkers on 01763 261144 if you would to get involved.

Library – LAP (Local Access Point) Library opening times Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

2.30 to 4.30 pm 2.30 to 4.30 pm 2.30 to 4.30 pm 2.30 to 6.30 pm 2.30 to 4.30 pm 10.00 to 12.00 am

Melbourn Open Gardens Sunday 3 September 2017 – 11am to 4pm Gardens around the village will be open in all their late summer glory. Visit St George’s Allotments to see the Community Plot, buy produce and have private tours of plots. Other attractions: Refreshments+home-made cakes Plants for sale Gardening books for sale Buy your tickets on the day at The Cross and at participating gardens. Cost: £5 per adult. Children under 16 free. Proceeds to The British Red Cross melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Melbourn Village Fete Have you missed the fete this year? As you probably know we decided to take a break this summer and restart next year with a fresh look. It will just be a daytime fete with no associated evening music event. We are having our first planning meeting on Wednesday 6 September, at The Dolphin at 8 pm, so if you want to come along and offer some ideas or be a volunteer then please join us. Alternatively, drop me an e-mail with your thoughts and suggestions, I would love to hear from you. The date of the event and further details of the fete will be announced in the next magazine. Publicity@melbournfete.co.uk

Do you shop at the Co-op, Melbourn? If you do, then you can help support Home-Start The Co-op are running a scheme until the end of October, 2017 to raise funds for 3 local charities and Home-Start is one of these. If you already have membership with this store, all you need to do is choose Home-Start as the charity to support by signing into your co-op account, choosing us as your charity and with any purchases you make on Co-op own brand products, 1% comes to us. If you do not have membership and would like to support us, please ask in store, you will be issued with a cardboard card and you pay a £1. When your plastic card arrives in the post you will receive a £1 voucher to spend. Then you can sign up to support us on-line at: www. membership.coop.co.uk/sign-in Please help if you can – it is a great opportunity for Home-Start to raise extra funds to help us to continue to provide the vital service that we know our local families need.

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group We are a small friendly group and we meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month except in December, we vary our venue between All Saints Community Hall in Melbourn and Holy Trinity Church Meeting Room in Meldreth. We either have a guest speaker or in house

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entertainment followed by tea/coffee and biscuits. There is a fee of £1 on the evening and a chance to make a donation to our charity of the year. On 26th September we are meeting at Holy Trinity Church Meeting Rooms in Meldreth when the Revd. Lizzie Shipp will be speaking to us. On 24th October we will meet in All Saints Community Hall, Melbourn and will make decorations for our Christmas Tree for Meldreth’s Tree Festival. On November 29th Revd. Mary Price will lead us on an Advent Reflection to help us find space in what can be a hectic time. We will also be involved in planning and preparing the joint parishes Harvest Supper which will be in Meldreth Village Hall on the 29th September and will be helping at All Saints Bazaar on 18th November. If you would like to know more about the group please contact Pat Smith (262575) Sue Toule (260955) Anne Harrison (261775) or Angela Leach (262793)

Melbourn Women’s Institute – The After Eights Never let it be said that WI ladies do not indulge themselves! In MAY we had a demonstration of bespoke chocolate making by Cheryl Brighty – an artisan chocolatier from Newmarket. Needless to say some sampling of the end product had to take place! We learned that chocolate was more effective at fighting tooth decay than fluoride – note, though, that this only refers to the dark bitter chocolate nibs. Compounds in the cocoa bean husk have an anti-bacterial effect and also help to prevent plaque. As if that were not sufficiently decadent JUNE found us listening to a talk from the English Spirit Distillery – oh dear, more sampling. John Walters, a biochemist from Oxford, heard a food programme on Radio 4 which prompted him to investigate the possibilities of distilling spirits and he discovered that you could own a 4 litre still in the UK if you obtained a licence and the end product was for personal consumption. Eventually the hobby led to the foundation of the company which prides itself on using locally produced sugar beet from Bury St Edmunds and is one of only a handful of distilleries making their gin from scratch (most companies start the process with bought in vodka). They also make the only English produced rum. My favourite tipple was the Toffee Vodka! And so to JULY – when the Melbourn After Eights celebrated their first birthday. I cannot believe that a whole year has flown by, with interesting and exciting meetings each month from the hard working committee. We marked the occasion with a party where we all dressed up and wore our Ascot bonnets (well, a hat). It seems to be de rigeur for WI groups to have a distinguishing name nowadays and as a result of a ballot we chose to call ourselves the After Eights, as that is the time we meet. A lively group, do come and join us. Mavis Howard

Melbourn Community Showcase The Hub opened its doors to the community on Sunday 2nd July for a number of local charities and community groups to showcase their good causes and to raise public awareness of the work they do or the services they provide. A number of stalls selling produce, crafts and offering prizes for raffles and games were set up around the Hub. The gardens offered space in the glorious sunshine for the public to enjoy a barbecue, café refreshments and drinks from the bar set up for the day and run by MAD’s, (Melbourn’s Amateur Dramatics Society) who were in full pantomime costume! Featured were charities such as Beads of Courage who work tirelessly to raise awareness and help families with children suffering from cancer. They had a craft area so children could make beaded bracelets for a child suffering from this terrible illness right now. The Nicola Emmerson Trust sold crochet and knitted items to raise money for Papworth Hospital for research into cardiac death in the young. Other community groups featured, included Yap and Yarn, St George’s Allotments, Chain of

Becoming a pedestrian again!

Wild Flowers, W.I., Open Gardens, Mobile Warden Scheme, Melbourn Dynamos and The Fete with their new initiative for this year ‘Christmas Lights’. David Hone displayed his great selection of photography, and health and wellbeing at the Hub was promoted through natural beauty products and treatments by Lucy plus a yoga demonstration from Grace who has regular yoga classes at the Hub. Comments such as “this is what the Hub is all about” and “when is the next one?” confirmed that the event had been a roaring success. It was a great day with a big turnout from the community, some of whom came back later to enjoy the Retro night where people could dance to songs from past decades performed by Jayney and to enjoy drinks out in the garden on the balmy night. Our thanks go to those who supported the event by exhibiting, helping or simply attending. Our special thanks goes the Melbourn Fete and Melbourn Primary PTFA for their help with resources. For information on events and activities at the Hub please see www.melbournhub. co.uk or follow us on Facebook @thehubmelbourn. The Hub 01763 263303 or email centremanager@melbournhub.co.uk

Melbourn Christmas Tree Lights event We are starting to prepare a Christmas tree lights event to start the festive period on 2 December. Provisional details are that it will be based at The Hub and run from 4 to 6 pm. We hope to have some entertainment aimed at our young villagers and Father Christmas is planning to be there. There will be food and drink available at The Hub; local groups will perform Christmas songs and carols. There will be more details in the next magazine and further information will be available at The Hub along with raffle tickets. Publicity@melbournfete.co.uk Trevor Purnell

Some thoughts on becoming a pedestrian again (and on a stick!) Sadly a medical condition has compelled me to give up my driving licence and I have not gripped a steering wheel in anger since August 2015. It’s a steep learning curve but it’s surprising how quickly one can adapt to walking again. Now that I am no longer locked in a car the life of the village is a different place and I have noticed the following hazards and problems. Overhanging hedges and branches. When I was Clerk to the Parish Council I often was requested to write to home owners reminding them of their responsibilities in this matter. Many did but some were not so co-operative and needed yet another reminder. Sadly this no longer seems to happen and now that I am on foot I have to dodge branches and hedges blocking the pavement and causing me to duck and dive. Car parking. The old and perennial problem. Despite double yellow lines all over the village many car drivers park with impunity and very often with wheels on the pavement. When remonstrated with they gaze blankly at me, reply with a mouthful of abuse or simply say “he’s only going to be a minute”. The latter is the most common and one knows that “one minute” often means far longer. Parking on the pavement. Cars blocking part or the whole of the pavement are now so commonplace that one is near to not bothering. Again reminding the offenders politely only provokes the same reaction. Speeding cars. Despite the 30mph signs on all approach roads many cars fail to slow down and indeed it seems to provoke some drivers into pressing down on the accelerator pedal. If only the County or District Council could be persuaded to install a traffic warden it is certain that a rich harvest in finances could be gained. Pavements and potholes. Melbourn is an old village especially in the High Street area and many will have suffered the thin width and sloping pavements melbournmagazine@gmail.com

in the village. Very little can be done but it is a hazard. Finances. The County Council and District Council blame Central Government and say that cutbacks mean savings have to be made. At the bottom of the pile come you and I as usual. Colin Limming

Melbourn Bloomsday Festival Outcomes Melbourn’s Bloomsday Festival held over 13–17 June sought to build community in Melbourn. The Festival Committee brought together contributors from within Melbourn with others from surrounding villages, Royston, Cambridge and the University of East Anglia. They included writers, musicians, teachers, drama enthusiasts, designers of jewellery and furniture, a museum curator and artists in several media – all celebrating literature, drama, music & all creative arts. While community-based activists organised the Festival, it could not have been held without financial support from Melbourn Parish Council’s Community Grant Fund. The participation and support of long-standing village institutions, businesses and groups was also crucial. The many and varied Bloomsday outcomes include:

• Melbourn village now has a unique status

and reputation through its focus on the annual international phenomenon of Bloomsday: 16 June.

• Community

activists have: promoted reading; built good community relationships within and beyond Melbourn and raised publicity and funds for WaterAid – this year £1,300 and totalling £4,960 since Bloomsday 2015. Melbourn Short Story Reading Group and Melbourn Play-reading Group continue throughout the year. A permanent Art Gallery now exists in Melbourn’s Hub. Exhibitions are already booked in during September, October and December. Impressed by the History Group’s “Water & Melbourn” research (left), Cambridge WaterAid is seeking to engage with similar groups and villages around Cambridge. Melbourn Magazine has created a Review Section devoted to literature, drama, music & all creative arts. Some terrific MVC students have emerged as great ambassadors for youth and the College. A Melbourn resident is reading Ulysses in order to stimulate her creative drama writing. Proposals have been drawn up to create a monthly Ulysses Book Reading Group for interested U3A members. A Melbourn resident and long-time visitor to Trieste has offered to guide a group of interested readers on a long-weekend trip to Trieste, where Joyce lived and wrote Ulysses. To include recommended accommodation, return flights from Stansted and an optional day trip to Venice, just 30 minutes away by train! With hundreds of new homes and families scheduled, the nature of Melbourn is already undergoing massive changes. The Melbourn Bloomsday Festival is a warm and welcoming place for all residents keen to build a forward-looking, caring and outwardlooking community. Hugh Pollock, Bloomsday Co-ordinator

• • •

A Glimpse into “ Melbourn’s Past

He who drinks a tumbler of water has literally in his stomach more animated beings than there are Men, Women and Children on the face of the Globe.

The changing face of Melbourn

For most of us today, turning on the tap to get a drink, to wash, cook or fulﬁl all the family needs is taken for granted. Yet it wasn’t until 1935 that piped water reached Melbourn. Until that time, families made do with collecting it from the river, using polluted water from shallow wells or rain water collected in a water barrel in the back yard. Washing clothes and even bathing was not a common pastime for most people. Although the source of the river Mel came from the springs at the Bury, the water was not always clean. It was the main source of drinking water for the many farm animals that occupied the surrounding ﬁelds and it would have been contaminated with their faeces. Rubbish and waste of every kind was also thrown in the river – a good way to be rid of smells and problems that would arise if it was left outside the home.

Melbourn was not always crop farmers and fruit growers. Sheep and cattle were a large part of the farming industry.

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Cleric & wit Sydney Smith November, 1834

A water pump inside a barn at Wood’s Farm in the High Street. 1937.

The river smelt, and was dangerous to drink, making many sick. During the 19th century, two waves of cholera hit this area, along with many other parts of the country. In 1848, poor hygiene, sanitation and polluted water became an increasingly pressing problem for the country and a new Public Health Act, was to be ‘the ﬁrst step on the road to improved public health’, the Act stated that the most important steps to improve the health of the public were ‘providing clean drinking water, drainage and the provision of sewers’. At the time the only real source of fresh water was at Heath Farm (along the A505), which had a deep well. Using a windmill, water was pumped into a reservoir. Although the water was made available to residents in the village, few could aﬀord to install piping to their property.

The windmill pump at Heath Farm

A water pump in a garden in Meeting Lane 1937. Shared standpipes were eventually introduced throughout the village and remained in use until the 1940’s. Even when water was piped to a house, there was often only one tap into the kitchen or scullery, which was shared by all occupants of the building.

•

Below: Shared standpipe or water pump outside Melbourn Primary School.

• • • •

A Glimpse into Melbourn’s Past

The changing face of Melbourn

Sanitation Apart from the lack of clean water, the disposal of human waste became a major issue. The Great Stink. in the mid 1800’s brought about much needed change to the sewage systems throughout the country, but as with fresh water, Melbourn and many other towns and villages, lagged well behind and a sewage system did not appear in the village until the early 1900’s. In many areas, the streets were basically open sewers, ditches or gutters cut into the street and directed towards the river. Ironically when the Romans arrived in Britain, they brought with them the most sophisticated water systems and good sanitation to remove sewage and other waste. With the arrival of Christianity and the distrust of all things Roman much of what they brought to improve a way of life went from sophisticated to virtually primitive.

“

In the winter, we used potties rather than brave the outdoor loo. Many times, we had to defrost the contents before emptying them!

”

Outside toilets were often a simple pit dug at the bottom of the garden with a shed placed over the top. After each visit to the outside toilet, cinders from the ﬁre-place were put on top. In many areas, the removal of the waste from these toilets was the job of ‘night soil men’. These men collected the waste by hand from the houses and took it to the surrounding ﬁelds to spread as fertiliser. The job of the ‘night soil men’ remained until the 1950’s.

As the little thing dangled her tin cup as gently as possible into the stream, a bucket of night-soil was poured down from the next gallery.

”

Morning Chronicle, 24 September 1849

There are many people today who remember the privy at the bottom of the garden, the chamber pot or ‘potty’ that sat under the bed or the steel bathtub in front of the ﬁreplace in the kitchen – bath night, when the whole household shared the same water. For many, an inside toilet or a bathroom was a luxury item until the early 1970’s.

Outside toilets were often a simple pit dug at the bottom of the garden and covered with a shed.

Night-soil men removing waste from people’s homes. c.1910 For much of the 1900’s, many houses and tenements had access only to a shared bathroom or in some cases none at all. The introduction of the communal bath house (not a swimming pool!) became an important amenity in most towns and remained in use until the early 1980’s. The bath house in Gwydir Street, Cambridge, built in 1927, had nine baths for men and nine for women. Charging a shilling a person, you got a hot bath, towel and piece of soap, for an extra charge you could have scented bath cubes. It was used by 300 men and 100 women a week. The baths closed in 1977.

A Bath House on the corner of Mill Road and Gwydir Street in Cambridge. In use until 1977.

A typical chamber pot, potty or guzunder (Goes-under the bed)

”

Unfortunately, for Melbourn the provision of clean drinking water took almost 100 years to arrive. When piped water eventually arrived, it came at a price, which most residents were unwilling to pay – why should they, when they “could get free water in their back yard or the river”! However, those that could aﬀord it, began to install water pumps on their land.

Below: Night-soil men in the 1950s using their bare hands to remove waste from people’s homes.

Community matters LOST & FOUND Ladies glasses found on the strip from Wyevale Garden centre to Melbourn.

Two bikes also found within the village boundary. One female and one male bike. For more information on the above items, contact the Parish Office

Whats On See page 61

Melbourn Halloween Ghost Walk Sleeping Beauty HomeStart Quiz night Foxton Art Exhibition Wandlebury Adventurers Club Wonderful Wandlebury History and archaeology fun day Hinxton Watermill open day Basket weaving

Melbourn Parish Council The Parish Council is pleased to welcome three new Councillors, who were co-opted on 24 July 2017. They are Cllr Richenda Buxton, Cllr Graham Clark and Cllr Brian Madiyiko. The new Civic Year began in May and some changes have been agreed as to how the Council works. There is now only one Parish Council meeting – each month on the 4th Monday. The big tasks facing the Council this year are getting to grips with the Council’s finances and dealing with the planning applications in the village. The Planning Committee meets on the 2nd Monday of each month and again, on the 4th following the Parish Council meeting if necessary. Through the Melbourn Futures Working Party, it is discussing the plans for the 199 homes and care home with the developers. Although the village made its case against the development, it is going ahead and the Working Party is making sure that the concessions which were won through the Appeal are taken into account. At the time of writing this piece, County Highways has raised objections to the proposed development at The Moor and we are waiting to see whether the developer can overcome them. The outline planning application for 160 homes off Cambridge Road is going through the planning system. The Finance and Good Governance Committee meets on most 2nd Mondays of the Month. The Council spent a lot of time over the last 9 months on making sure it was working according to the rules (good governance) and we were pleased with the recent comments from our Internal Auditor at the improvements she has seen. Now the Council is turning its attention to close scrutiny of its budget. A new memorial stone is soon to be located at 83 High Street based on the Kohima Monument. At the time of writing, the Parish Council is finalising the date for the installation of this. Some of you may be aware; the memorial was going to be placed at The Cross. Unfortunately, a survey of the area showed that, due to underground cables, The Cross was not suitable. The decision was taken to locate the memorial within the garden at 83 High Street. Once agreed, the date for installation will be publicised on the Parish website and Facebook page. And finally, do you know what Claire Littlewood, Assistant to the Clerk does …? Claire joined the Parish Council at the end of August last year and is in the office Wednesday – Friday each week. As well as day to day admin to support the Clerk, Claire has taken on responsibility for allotments (there are a few free, so please give her a call if you’re interested in renting one). She is also studying for her Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). Claire, who has lived in Melbourn for 18 years says, “I’m really enjoying working for the Parish Council. It’s quite a new experience for me having worked mainly in the private sector. No two days are the same and there’s never a dull moment, but it’s really nice to be so involved with what’s going on in the village.”

Keeping Melbourn Looking Good Melbourn is a lovely place and keeping the public areas looking good is a very important function of the Parish Council. The Council receives many requests from members of the public to cut a hedge back or trim back trees. We will always do this if it is a question of safety but the Council’s budget does not stretch to keeping everything looking perfect. So sometimes hard choices will have to be made. …continued on page 13 melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Nature Melwood

Your Local Nature Reserve

Den building with Meldreth Primary School If you had gone down to Melwood on 14th June 2017, you would have been in for a big surprise. The meadow area was full of youngsters from Meldreth primary school enthusiastically building dens. This event was part of an ongoing co-operation between Melwood Conservation Group and the primary school which has resulted in weekly visits from students to the wood to experience all the varied elements of the flora and fauna of the wood. This more significant event began with a talk by Bruce Huett from the Conservation Group to Miss McGinty’s class of about 30 7-9 year olds. He introduced the background to conservation in the wood and was delighted to find that all the members of the class had visited the wood at some time. When asked to write down what they liked about the wood they highlighted the variety of animals, birds, insects and flowers. Interestingly many of the students were also very appreciative of the river and especially the fish population. Their dislikes included the death of animals and disturbance to the fish (although several mentioned the fun of playing “Pooh sticks” from the bridges). They also had some imaginative ideas for improvements to the wood. The more practical included having hides to watch the birds and an obstacle course for exercise. After this introduction, the students had fun sorting and identifying leaves and imagining what animals might have lived in the wood area in the past when there were different climates and vegetation. Some of these were dinosaurs and mammoths (an ichthyosaurus fossil and mammoth bones have been found at Barrington), wild boar and large lions. There was even speculation about the possibility of a Viking den in the wood (the Vikings were last term’s project) as the Vikings had captured Cambridge in 875. However, the real excitement came when the students left the school on the following Wednesday morning,

in beautiful sunshine, to go to the wood. There they were met by Tony Philips from Greenstages, part of the Cambridge charity Realife (realife.org.uk) who was to lead the den building. Despite the students’ suggestion when Bruce visited the school that materials from the computer game Minecraft were good for building dens, the students were very happy with using locally sourced poles (some from freshly cut bamboos) and sisal twine to start to construct the frameworks. It was very impressive how the groups worked in teams, suggesting different approaches and coming up with their own ideas. Although the basic frameworks looked solid when lying on the floor there was a lot of laughter as the initial attempts to stand them up fell down in a heap. However eventually each team had their own den, identified with their personally designed flags on their own flagpoles. Some inventive students made fishing rods and bows and arrows and even began to dig up worms for bait. Once all the dens were structurally robust the students moved in, relaxed and were entertained by Tony who told a story, with lots of audience participation, about the God Zeus and the whispering oak (the Greeks are the current term topic). After three hours of lively activity a rather tired, but extremely excited, group of students filed back to school and soon the dens had been demolished and the wood returned to its natural inhabitants: the bees, butterflies, birds and animals – large and small. The event would not have been possible without the enthusiastic support of the school, Miss McGinty – the teacher, the volunteers who collected poles and the parent, governor and other helpers who assisted with the den building on the day and of course the irrepressible energy and enthusiasm of the students. We hope that the positive interaction with the school will continue and other imaginative projects will take place in the future. Details of our regular work parties and more information on the group can be found at www.melwood.btck.co.uk or by phoning the secretary Bruce Huett on 01763 232 855. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Banish niggling aches and pains! We keep many local people supple and mobile with our range of osteopathy and complementary treatments including sports massage, chiropody and acupuncture. Please call us on 01462 490141 to book. The Melbourn clinic times have been extended so more appointments are now available.

A MBER H EALTH Serving the local community www.amberhealth.co.uk Appointments available in Ashwell, Melbourn and Baldock Easy parking at all 3 clinics

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Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme Can we help you? Can we help a relative? Can we help a neighbour? Who does the Scheme help? The scheme is open to the mobility impaired in Melbourn and Meldreth including those who live alone or with their families, but need the extra support offered by our services. Couples too are most welcome. It is also open to those in sheltered housing, as the scheme offers different, but complementary services. Note: The scheme also offers its services for short periods to cover the temporary absence of relatives who otherwise provide this support.

We offer help with:

• Friendship and support via twice • • • • • • • • • •

weekly visits and daily phone calls Ordering and collection of prescriptions Basic shopping Collection of pensions Setting up Lifeline service Bereavement support Advice on benefits Going to the Post Office to pay your bills Advice on getting repairs done in your home Arranging transport to the hospital or other appointments Just coming round for a chat

What will it cost? We do have to make a small weekly charge for the warden’s services. The fee is only £7 per week (a little more for couples). Jeannie Seers (Mobile Warden) 07808 735066 email jeanseers1@ntlworld.com Jane Cage (Deputy) 07592 821976 email jane.e.cage@btinternet.com Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity

However, there are ways in which you can play a role in keeping Melbourn looking good. Firstly, everyone can maintain their property boundaries. Some of the footpaths in Melbourn are very narrow and if you allow your hedge or trees to grow out over the path it becomes difficult for people get by safely. Please keep hedges trimmed back in line with your property boundary and make sure there is at least 6’ 6” height clearance of the footpath for trees. This is a legal requirement. Councillors will be regularly walking round the village in future and you may receive a polite letter asking you to carry out some maintenance if life is being made difficult for other people. Secondly, the Council will welcome anyone who wants to volunteer to do some tidying work around the village. We already have volunteers who plant and maintain the tubs and flowerbeds at The Cross, and a big thank you goes to them. We have also had a volunteer to trim the hedge at the allotments. People doing what they can means that the Parish Council can fund more of the jobs that need professional expertise. Following on from the ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events!’ article in the last Melbourn Magazine, the police took action to try and reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour in the car park. The Parish Council has since been informed about problems at night in Stockbridge Meadows. Incidents of vandalism continue to be reported and the Parish Council has recently had to spend money repairing the car park bus stop. The Parish Council wants to spend your money on making the village better, not repairing or replacing things that have been damaged by the thoughtless behaviour of a very small group of people. It seems therefore that vandalism and antisocial behaviour is a continuing problem in Melbourn. Please report all instances of anti-social behaviour to the police on 101. The police need evidence of a continuing problem before they can act. But you can make a difference! Volunteering for a few hours really can help. If you would like to find out how you can become involved in keeping Melbourn looking good, please contact the Parish Office on 01763 263303 #3 or parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk Parish Council Maintenance Working Party

County Councillor Susan van de Ven I’m honoured and delighted to have been re-elected as your County Council representative and look forward to working with everyone over the next few years. Melbourn is a decidedly wonderful village with so many people involved in keeping extra services and fulfilling activities open to all. Large unplanned planning applications continue to put pressure on public services that have not been designed to accommodate significant population growth. The lack of a Local Plan to coordinate planned growth is having a very significant impact across South Cambs. At Shire Hall, further severe budget cuts must be decided upon, following national and local political decisions. It’s hard to see what is left to cut, and it will be another difficult year for people who need much more support than they are getting. That includes the perennial matter of village roads and footways not being properly maintained, but also the availability of specialist services for people of all ages living with disabilities and special needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns and I’ll do my best to help. It’s also important that concerns are logged so that decision makers know if people are having trouble. Children’s Centre cuts: A long-anticipated announcement on children’s centre cuts has finally come. There is one reason for this, which is to save £1 million – sadly, this is an avoidable situation. In Melbourn the situation looks to be a change in premises and a combined service with children and family health, but we don’t yet know the details. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Many other children’s centres including Bassingbourn will be ‘re-designated’ – meaning closed, with no information on how people will get the help they need, particularly as transport between villages is non-existent. A consultation exercise is underway until 22 September. These consultations can be demoralising due to the feeling that decisions have already been made, but still I’d encourage everyone to take part and make your views known. There is only one consultation event: September 15, 1-3PM, at the Waterbeach Children’s Centre. There’s no phone number provided with the consultation but I’ve asked for one. The web link is here: www.cambridgeshire. gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/children-s-centres/ children-s-centres-consultation Again, any questions please contact me and I’ll do my very best to help.

Public transport Buses

Melbourn is the only village I represent that has an established commercial bus service. The timetable changeover on July 23 will have brought advantages and disadvantages, but I hope that overall, people will be pleased that we have an hourly service again. The ‘Cam Vale Bus Users Group’ launched in April and properly constituted in July is meant to make the case for people who want and need bus services to get around – including those who depend financially on their bus pass, or who due to impairment find the bus easier than the train. The future of the council-subsidized 128 bus is seriously in doubt beyond this year, due to council cuts, and commercial bus services are being pulled where patronage isn’t high enough. If you’d like to support the bus users’ group – even if you are not a bus user but want to help – you would be very welcome indeed. Our meetings rotate round the villages, and the next meeting is in Meldreth at the Elin Way Community Room on September 27th, 7:30PM. If you need a lift, please get in touch.

Trains The half-hourly peak train service helps to pick up the slack for people needing to get to work or college. In May 2018, the train service will extend to half-hourly all day. The London train will no longer terminate at King’s Cross, but rather stop at St Pancras Station (across the road from King’s Cross), and sharing the same Underground Station) and then continue straight on to other useful places including Gatwick Airport. There are some compromises on an extraordinarily complex timetable and a line with massive pressures, but overall I’d say we’re lucky. The Rail User Group will meet again on October 4th, 7 for 7:30, at the Meldreth Elin Way Community Room. We have a new station master at Meldreth and Melbourn Station, following in the great tradition set by David Piggott of being local to the area. Bernie lives in

Wandlebury Country Park

The resident herd of Highland cattle at Wandlebury Country Park are a great favourite with visitors but they also play a valuable role in the maintenance and ecology of the park. Highland cattle were selected as they are a hardy British breed which copes well with year-round extensive grazing on unimproved grassland. With modern intensive farming practices favouring imported or commercial breeds of cattle CambridgePPF (Cambridge Past Present Future) believe maintaining a herd of native Highland cattle also helps preserve an important part of our cultural heritage. The current members all have names: Ella, Flo, Hamish, Jaffa, Lily, Sammy and Pepper. The grazing of livestock has helped create the landscape we live in and many habitats such as grassland, heathland and wood pasture rely on grazing to survive. In fact, a large number of invertebrate species are dependent on grazing animals and the dung they produce. Studies have shown that over 250 insect species are associated with cattle dung which in turn provides a source of food for bats and birds who feed on the insects. Maintaining the correct levels of grazing is key to achieving the maximum potential for biodiversity in the Wandlebury meadows. To get the right level, you may see the cattle moved around between fields depending on the time of year. Some fields are left to grow ungrazed as part of a rotation until the summer when a hay cut is taken removing any excess nutrients. This has the added benefit of allowing the grass and flower species to set seed maintaining a diverse range of plant species and benefitting the bee and butterfly species that depend on the nectar they produce. The resulting hay is then used to feed the cattle during the winter. The cattle are free to roam the pastures they are in, with minimal human intervention which allows them to exhibit their natural behaviour with sometimes comical results.

For information on ‘What’s On’ at Wandlebury Country Park, see page 65.

…continued on page 16 melbournmagazine@gmail.com

FOR SALE In April 2016 we purchased a brand new Acorn Stairlift for our straight stairs. After negotiation it cost £1,800 (much more without negotiation). The first year warranty has just been completed in June 2017. No VAT was paid as my wife has health problems and thus qualified for Zero VAT on the purchase. Since we may be moving to a bungalow we no longer require it, and the people buying our house do not want it. If you are considering buying a stairlift we are willing to sell at a knock down price. Aubrey Butler (Mr) (01763) 260620 email Aubrey.butler@btinternet.com

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Royston, with a sister in Meldreth. We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Bernie. Many stations are losing staff, so it’s good to be bucking the trend at ours.

Station garden party Thanks to everyone who helps keep the station garden looking good. We’ve got a grant to replace the tubs with a weather-proof variety, and will be having a small party (why not?!) on 21 October. Duke of Edinburgh students are once again helping to keep the tubs watered and tended. Community Rail Partnership part-time job – Watch this space: All being well, sometime in September the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership will be advertising for a part-time (1.5 days per week) paid admin/ coordinating post. We don’t have the details at the time of writing, but if you’d like to be kept informed please let me know. Our campaign remit is growing and the idea is to work ever more closely with community groups, schools and local businesses to maximize opportunities for all. New walking/cycle path: It’s been fantastic to see the new path connecting Melbourn and Shepreth so well used and so enjoyed by people of all ages. There have been some snagging issues, and our cycle team officers have said how helpful everyone has been locally in working to sort things out. Particular thanks to the Cherry Park owner for helping to improve visibility at the junction. At last, signage has gone in along the route which is a big help.

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challenging – journey towards adulthood, and how this can impact on their relationship. Relate 4 Parents is open to any parent who just needs a bit of help, advice and support, regardless of whether they are living with their children, are a single parent, a step-parent, are separating, or are a separated parent. The only criteria is that they are able to focus on the needs of their child and collaborate to improve their relationship with them.

You’re not alone

Walk for Parkinson’s Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge

Saturday 30th September Join us for a 1.5 or 4.5 mile walk in the beautiful grounds of this historic country park to make a difference to those affected by Parkinson’s Register at www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/ walk-parkinsons-wandlebury-country-park

The A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign continues to push for grants for these paths and we are still working in earnest for the link to Royston. Please write to contacta10cycle@gmail. com if you’d like to be added to the mail list for updates, including notice of next meeting dates and venues (next meeting 11 October, 7 for 7:30PM). Oil Club Reminder: If you are new to Melbourn or didn’t know about it, please note that we have a bulk-buying household heating oil club, designed to help people get lowest available heating oil prices. We have a bulk buyer, and get a small rebate every year that we donate to a local community group – this year our donation went to Home-Start. There’s no joining fee and you can use the oil club service whenever you like. For more information, please contact our bulk buyer Jeremy Cole on Tel 01954 719 452 or jeremy@agricole.co.uk. Monthly drop-in advice surgery: Melbourn Hub, first Mondays of the month, 3-4PM (new time). Susan van de Ven, County Councillor Susanvandeven5@gmail.com, Tel 07905 325574

Relate Cambridge launches Relate 4 Parents Building stronger relationships with your children. At Relate Cambridge we appreciate how difficult it can be for parents to guide their children through the – often

This new and unique service has been launched in direct response to client demand, and is here for those who feel they need some help, so they feel that they are not alone. Relate 4 Parents, has been developed and delivered by our specialist children and young people counsellors. The sessions are focused on the child’s needs, and offer support, advice and information. They are designed to enhance parenting skills, extend knowledge of a child’s development and behaviour, as well as to gain insight into some of the issues parents may be struggling with. Relate is a charity and as we do not receive any government funding, we make a charge for the service of £50 per session.

Relate 4 Parents The sessions begin with a meeting with one of our specialist team to discuss specific areas of concern, before agreeing what kind of help and resources would be most appropriate. The kind of topics that might be covered are: Parenting styles Child development Stages of childhood and adolescence Talking to your child Common mental health issues Sibling relationships Sharing parental care Youth culture New parents – changing the relationship dynamic Bullying Setting boundaries Bereavement To find out more or make a booking please ring 01302 347712 Relate Cambridge offers information, advice and counselling for all stages of your relationships at our outpost in Melbourn. The sessions are held in the small meeting room at Melbourn Hub on Wednesday each week. Appointment times are:10:30; 11:45; 13:00 For more information or to book an appointment, contact Relate Cambridge on 01223 357424 Mon-Thur 8am-10pm, Fri 8 am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm (confidential answerphone at all other times) or visit www.relatecambridge.org.uk Relate Cambridge – supporting relationships at every stage of your life.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Find out more about the work we do at cambridgebs.co.uk/community THE CAMBRIDGE Building Society

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Nature River Mel

River flies, along with other aquatic invertebrates, are at the heart of any freshwater eco system and are a vital link in the aquatic food chain. River fly populations are affected by many factors, predominantly water quality, habitat diversity, water level, and flow rates. They live most of their lives as larvae in the beds of rivers and still waters, emerging in the spring and summer as short-lived adult flies. Routine monitoring of invertebrate populations is an effective way to check water quality and the general ‘health’ of the river. This enables action to be taken at the earliest opportunity should any change in numbers be detected. The River Mel Restoration Group regularly monitor several sites on the river, and this summer the group also hosted an invertebrate evening for the 1st Orwell Cubs, which was a great success. Sixteen cubs, two leaders and two parents joined us on the River Mel to watch Izzy Starkey and Ian Roberts take a kick-sample from the gravel that forms the bed of the river. The Cubs then helped to identify and count the contents of the sample. The ‘haul’ included freshwater shrimps, cased and uncased caddis, mayfly nymphs, olives, leeches, and, although not invertebrates, a number of bullhead fish.

At the end of the session, the Cubs walked upstream to observe the outflow from the Melbourn Sewage Treatment Works, which releases every three hours into the River Mel. They were surprised that such a large volume of treated effluent is discharged directly into the river and perhaps gained a better understanding of the reasons why we undertake these monitoring studies on a regular basis. Two weeks later, we were joined by a group of Guides from Melbourn, who wanted to undertake a task that benefited the environment as part of their Baden-Powell award. They joined us to provide the bank support team for one of our regular in-river litter-picks. Litter is not just unsightly, but also has a detrimental impact on wildlife. For example, studies have shown that even carelessly discarded drinks cans and bottles can be harmful to small mammals. Voles and mice crawl into them to drink and then cannot climb back up the slippery sides to get out, leading to their premature death.

Our thanks go to RiverCare, a Keep Britain Tidy initiative, who support our invertebrate studies and litter-picking activities by providing the equipment and training necessary to run these events. The River Mel Restoration Group continues to meet for regular working parties to maintain and enhance the River Mel and its environment. If you would like to know more, or would like to join our volunteers, please contact us by email: info@rivermel.com. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Retirement – Opening up a world of opportunities U3A Have you ever heard of the U3A? Does the University of the Third Age mean anything to you? If not, then let me enlighten you. It’s a network of groups offering learning and social opportunities for people who are retired or semi-retired. No, it’s not about Bingo or gossiping; it’s about keeping up to date, extending your horizons and stretching both mind and body. Started in 1973, there are now 1,000 U3As across the UK – low-cost learning cooperatives which draw upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups. The teachers learn and the learners teach. U3As can be as small as 12 and as large as 2000; Melbourn & District U3A has nearly 500 members with 30-odd groups devoted to current affairs debates, computing, yoga, walking, quizzes, poetry, bridge, badminton, science, croquet … the list goes on. Every month we have a speaker; recent ones have covered Police dog training, the aviatrix Amy Johnson, the responsibilities of a magistrate, the causes and treatments for stress, and walks around London. There are outings too; how does the Isle of Wight, Stratford on Avon, the gardens at RHS Wisley, Airbus Space Systems and the Mars lander sound? National events encompass lectures at the Royal Institution and the Royal Society, talks and concerts in Birmingham, London, Cambridge etc. And there are summer schools at a number of venues, in a wide range of topics to stretch the mind. U3A Membership only costs £13 a year, speaker meetings are free, and group get togethers only cost a couple of pounds plus something for coffee. We meet mostly at Melbourn Village College, All Saints Community Hall, The Hub or Foxton Village Hall, while some smaller groups meet in each other’s homes. We all recognise that retirement is often accompanied by challenges – reduced income, poorer health, less social interaction – and the U3A can really help by keeping our minds and bodies active. But the most striking effect is the learning, fun and laughter it brings into our lives – once again we are busy with lots of choices and a group of new friends. So if you’re finding yourself at a loose end since retiring, and if U3A sounds like something you might enjoy, come for a taster session and meet a few people at a speaker meeting at Melbourn Village College. Tea & coffee are served at 2.45 pm, and the talk is from 3 to 4pm; come alone or bring a friend. Or you can ring me, Maureen Moody on 01763 260938 or email me at maureenjmoody@ ntlworld.com. It would be really good to meet you.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Profile Rod Yallop

Everyone knows Rod Yallop! Dynamic head of sports at Melbourn Village College for more than 30 years and supporter of so many young sporting talents – he is part of the fabric of the village. Born in Great Yarmouth in 1944 he was an only child – his father was in the RAF and his mother worked in her father’s very successful Barber/Ladies Hairdresser business. When Mr. Yallop came out of the forces he resumed his career as a printer and interestingly, Rod’s parents went on to celebrate their Seventy Third wedding anniversary and his mother is still alive aged 97! Rod went to Great Yarmouth Grammar School where he was always sporty rather than academic and was constantly frustrated by the lack of direction in sports and athletics education. He won a place at King Alfred’s College, Winchester and did a three year degree course in Sports and Physical Training at the end of which he answered an advertisement for a post at Bassingbourn Village College. Arthur Behenna, Warden of MVC,had been asked to sit in on the interview and when the Bassingbourn post was awarded to another applicant, Behenna smartly drove Rod back to MVC where the then PE man had just resigned. It was fate. So there he was in 1965 knowing nothing about the Village College ethos but being thrown in at the deep end and aware that there were huge opportunities awaiting his enthusiastic approach. At first he continued to play football for Great Yarmouth on a Saturday but eventually gave that up to join Melbourn FC. A throwaway remark by an Old Boy led to the formation of the Old Melbournians which then had two very successful seasons in the Cambridge League, rising to top of Division 4A in 1967 and top of Division 3A in 1968. The OM’s caused a bit of consternation in the village as it was thought to be taking talent away from the village team but the OB’s were very dedicated especially when

they appeared in a colourful strip against Foxton Reserves, it quite stunned the opposition. In those days football was played in any odd shorts and socks and you were loaned a shirt for the season. Rod met his wife Jan Dawes (daughter of Mabel Dawes of Meldreth whom many will remember) in 1968 – a local girl with a shared love of the outdoor life. They were married in 1969 and had two children -Katie in 1973 and Tom in 1977. Jan had been teaching at Foxton Primary School but became a full time mum whilst the children were growing up, returning to her job in Foxton in the late 80’s. She later went on to spend about 10 years as a special needs teacher. The Yallops moved onto the College Campus in 1971 where they still live. Katie took a degree in biochemistry and now works on IVF in Trumpington whilst Tom is a graphic designer. Both live locally which enables Rod and Jan to enjoy their grandchildren. Rod and I had quite a nostalgic chat about Melbourn Village College ‘in the old days’ when it was the centre of all activity both by day and night. The multitude of evening classes, affordable and hugely successful, the Fencing Club, Jazz Club, Youth Club, Students’ Association – the list is long. It was at a MVC summer fete when Rod was as usual on the hot dog stall that Sue Cane said casually ‘what this place needs is a swimming pool’. From that remark grew the Swimming Pool Fund which caught the imagination of the entire village. At first Ron Peer totally rejected the idea, but was eventually won round and between Rod, Sue, Bob Tulloch, Dave Childerley and Val Tookey a fund raising group took off, about £120,000 thousand pounds was raised and in 1991 McSplash was opened and has been busy ever since. Rod has always been ambitious for his students and directed his considerable energy and expertise into promoting school athletics. One of his triumphs was when Bogus Kawalko won the English Schools Javelin title in 1969 – breaking records at the age of 16. In later English Schools events Louise Silva, Lois Chamberlain, Jackie Eden, Karen Sherwen, Tracey Cooper all living in Melbourn, achieved National recognition in their respective events – the College had a brilliant reputation for sporting excellence due in no small part to the drive and encouragement of Rod Yallop. Yet in none of the photographs I was shown does Rod appear. In the second half of the 70’s Melbourn Athletic Club was founded, the inspiration of Roy Whiffing, and this operated out of school hours but using MVC facilities. For several seasons their track, field and cross country teams dominated local schools’ competition – it was an exciting era for local children and anything seemed possible. Rod coordinated the Melbourn Javelin Squad which drew enthusiasts from all around the county and in the 1986 World Junior Championships in Athens Mark Robeson got a Silver Medal to the great satisfaction of all the members of the squad. We must not forget cricket and MVC put in some fine performances, as did the football teams. By this time Rod was overseeing all these activities plus badminton,

weightlifting, basketball volleyball and gymnastics as well as soccer, hockey, rugby and cross country running. Phew! Rod says he feels extremely privileged to have been a part of this explosion of excellence. He ‘retired’ twenty years ago but promptly was snapped up by SCDC as Sports Development Officer where one of his aims was to get more girls interested in sport. Then Cambridge City Football Club needed advice on recruitment and Rod spent five years as their Educational Welfare Officer. Bumping into a friend in Waitrose in 2007 he was talked into coaching a Heptathlete at the University who later went on to win bronze in the 2010 Commonwealth Games! At the age of 73 he is STILL coaching, all in a voluntary capacity but ever anxious to see true talent flourish. They are a sporty, outdoor loving family – their holidays invariably include cycling and camping and they have done the Sea to Sea route from Whitehaven to Newcastle and Inverness to Carlisle, all gruelling challenges for a youngster let alone people of mature years! Apart from Jan’s yoga class, they do most things together and are keen gardeners. In 2015 a tragic accident befell a family in Melbourn when Alex Jeffery, a young man in his early twenties, was involved in a hit and run incident in Cambridge and later died. Rod did not know the lad, but he lived in the village and played rugby for Shelford. One day a friend knocked on Rod’s door and asked advice on raising money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust as a memorial to Alex. This was an immediate challenge to Rod. Alex’s girlfriend had studied in Bournemouth and it was decided to do a charity cycle ride from Bournemouth to Melbourn. Alex’s brother Ollie, Rod and four friends plus a back up team did the ride and raised over £10,000. As Rod says, It is important when you live in a community to put in as much as you take out.

In memory of Alex Jeffery

This is a man in his seventies who will not slow down. There are hundreds of ex pupils now probably middle aged who remember his enthusiasm and encouragement with affection and gratitude. The country needs more inspirational teachers like Rod Yallop and Melbourn needs more altruistic, public spirited citizens like him! Mavis Howard melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Melbourn Primary School

FIREWORKS DISPLAY! Saturday 4th November 2017

Tickets available to buy Mid-October either online or from the school office.

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Open Mornings

We would like to invite prospective parents of

children starting primary school in September 2018 to join us at one of our open mornings taking place on: Monday 2nd October 2017 – 9.30am Monday 16th October 2017 – 9.30am Monday 6th November 2017 – 9.30am There will be a talk by the Headteacher, Mrs Wilcox, followed by a tour of the school. Please contact the school office on 01763 223457 or email office@melbourn.cambs.sch.uk to book a place. Ofsted March 2016 MELBOURN PRIMARY SCHOOL is a GOOD school in all areas. “We ensure that pupils flourish both socially and academically” and “Pupils make good progress because they are taught well across the school”.

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Melbourn Primary School During the summer term the children have taken part in many activities, including:

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Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox 223457 U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Chairman Tony Garrick 01223 510201 Village College Principal Simon Holmes 223400

On the first Thursday back after a sunny half term, the Foundation Stage classrooms were awash with vegetables, fruits and farmyard animals. We were amazed to see bananas, cows, pigs, dogs and tomatoes to name a few. The children participated in four activities in the morning. The children tried a range of fruit and vegetables including guava juice, peas, peppers and pomegranate. They printed with fruit to create a fruit bowl and participated in farmyard Olympics. They also planted radishes, lettuces and runner beans. During the afternoon, the children created their own fruity smoothies. It was a fruitastic day!

Year 1 & 2 Trip to the Green Britain Centre The year 1 and 2 trip to the Green Britain Centre was a huge success. The children had great fun learning about how wind makes electricity and even developed team work skills when creating and testing their own turbines. A leisurely walk around the eco-trail allowed the children to smell a variety of herbs and learn about the insects that live in the gardens. The children had great fun making their own bug hotels to encourage the tiny creatures into their own gardens and hopefully they are already hidden somewhere in their own outside space!

Year 6 Trip to Condover On May 15th, Year 6 travelled to Condover Hall in Shropshire. Condover is an activity centre which many schools visit. When we arrived, the instructors showed us to our rooms. Everyone shared a room with other people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some of us even had our own en-suite bathrooms! After that we went into our groups for a tour of the site. Throughout the week we had many amazing experiences including: abseiling (very melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Memory lane In the words of an evacuee – Andy’s story Born in Edmonton in 1932, I was the youngest son of John Horace and Alice and brother to Doris and John. At Chamberlain’s announcement of war my father joined the Royal Air Force. He survived bombings at Duxford then served in Aden and Karachi. My mother painted invasion barges at Lea Valley dock. At seven years old, I made her lunch and walked it to her, unless I forgot! With the threat of bombing imminent, parents were told to evacuate children over four. I was terrified as we waited for the coach; I told my father I didn’t like him. We arrived at North Walsham clock tower, finally, a lady chose me. I refused to go without my brother so she ended up with us both. This lady was nice enough but her husband was mean, force feeding brussel sprouts to a seven year old boy is torture. Sitting on the wall of the abattoir opposite our ‘home’ I was petrified by the sight of sheep! One particularly painful memory is my brother pouring boiling water into my wash bowl, missing the bowl and pouring it all over my hands. Nothing was done or said, I had blisters like barrage balloons. The anticipated bombings didn’t happen, we returned home and life carried on, it was short-lived. Air-raids began and anti-aircraft guns appeared. I remember a lorry pulling a gun firing impotently as it trundled through the streets, a ridiculous morale boosting exercise. At that time anyone over 16 could be a ‘fire-watcher’, usually a young boy on a bicycle ringing a bell, laughable in hindsight, we were so unprepared. Air-raid drills became part of school life, at the sound of the siren we dropped to the floor, tummies raised.

Air raids began; the kitchen table was preferable to cold, damp, uncomfortable shelters. We watched London burning from our garden, the sky was bright enough to read the paper. We trawled the streets searching for shrapnel. When we were 9 and 11 we were evacuated again taking only our gas masks and the clothes we stood in. Having experienced the separation once, I wasn’t happy. We were sent to Upton, Berkshire, ‘strangers in a foreign land’. My brother and I stuck together, staying with a Mrs Hickling. Our sister was a mile down the road in a village called Blewbury, we met up each Sunday. Food was in short supply but Mrs Hickling was kind, even buying us white shirts. She received around 7s and 6d a week for each of us, (around 75p). Mrs Hickling’s son David was a pilot, he flew over the village once in a double winged plane dropping toilet roll streamers. …continued on page 26

By kind permission of North Walsham Archive www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

scary!), kayaking (very wet!), tunnelling (very mysterious!) and a campfire (very funny!). We would definitely recommend it to others! Maddie & Esther As we are at the end of the academic Year 2016 – 2017, I was asked recently to share some ‘Glimpses of Brilliance’ of this year – there have been many: Year 6 SAT results. Our year 6 children have recently received their end of KS2 SAT results. The government raised the expectations for all children last year and external tests reflect this in difficulty and challenge. We are hugely proud of our year 6 children in the determined approach they have shown in facing these increased demands. We are delighted to share that their efforts have been rewarded with some fantastic results! Our children have met or exceeded national standards across all areas of the curriculum – huge congratulations to them! Our teachers have been working to improve standards for the last few years, adapting their teaching techniques to reflect changes to the curriculum and pedagogy. How pleased we are to see the fruition of this objective! A whole school theatre trip to London to see Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. This will remain one of the highlights of my career for many years to come. I am still in awe that as a community we all kept it a secret and that we were able to give 300 plus children a truly memorable and magical experience – thank you J We heard just this week that we have been awarded the Silver PE mark in recognition of our achievements in school sport. Thanks to Miss Cottle who leads PE and Mr Chapman for his enthusiasm and skills in teaching PE and the many extra curricular clubs we have: the Race for Life, winning of the cluster swimming gala and finishing in the top four teams within county in the netball plate competition, just a few glimpses of brilliance! We have been asked to be a local hub for Forest Schools, so that other schools can come and learn from our provision and all we have achieved with FS. What recognition of the excellent work Miss Jobson does and what we have achieved as a school. Maths has been an area of school improvement for the last four years. This year all year groups are showing increased results in Maths. Both our KS1 and KS2 results show that Maths is now our strongest area. We are looking forward to a new academic year, with some new staff, new children and most of all new opportunities for even more success and fun. Mrs Stephanie Wilcox – Headteacher

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Picking the strawberries and raspberries at the moment is always the first job on the list for the children and it’s lovely to see some trying things for the first time. I wonder what they will think of the gooseberries when they are ready! On hand, we have Hilary who is a volunteer and trained Horticulturist. Her advice and help is invaluable to our little group. We also have a growing tunnel so we can sow our seeds earlier and always have something to keep busy with. Catharine Staley, Family Support Worker

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Smelly Wellies Community Gardening Project Our school community gardening project is now coming to the end of its second year. The idea of the project is to give families the opportunity to learn how to successfully grow fruit and vegetables. All our produce, once grown, is divided up and shared amongst us. It’s lovely to see the children really getting stuck in and when we recently emptied our potato sacks it was like Christmas as they were amazed at how many had grown! melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Upton, Berkshire (Now in Oxfordshire)

Disaster struck! Mrs Hickling sprained her foot so we were sent to Mrs Broomfield’s. One day I played with a local girl, she pulled away as I grabbed her coat, every button flew off. That moment of fun earned me a beating, Mr Broomfield was home on leave, he shouted to stop her. I couldn’t sit down in church. Her old wooden billet hut had no flushing loo, my brother’s job was bucket emptying up the lane, I loitered behind, often seeing an owl. The field opposite the hut was packed with cowslips, to me, it looked amazing. My brother and I would strip off and muck around in the river near the railway line; highly amusing for a train full of soldiers. Food was scarce, I don’t remember eating much at all. I gave the meat to the dog and the dried bread to the village ducks. I remember paying a boy a ha’penny for an Oxo cube, I must have craved salt. I got up to all sorts, ‘lost’ ration books, black market deals… We ‘put a brave face on it’ when we walked mum and dad to the station after rare visits. I remember my brother taunting me, ‘you’re crying aren’t you!’ ‘No!’ I replied… It was a horrible time. At school, a classmate arrived after his house had been bombed, both of his parents were dead, and there he was. Giving shrapnel was a way to make friends but friendships came with conditions. Children played with us in school but not outside. Looking back, we were Londoners, we spoke differently. My brother was bullied so he quickly adopted the local accent, a survival tactic; I remained a Londoner. I think the trauma caused me to wet the bed we shared, I wonder now if that caused the bullying. After what felt like years, but was probably 18 months, we escaped. My brother had saved his half-crown a week from working in the maternity hospital until we had enough to pay our fare home. We couldn’t wait to go, Mrs Broomfield couldn’t wait to be rid of us. We made our way home across London from Victoria. We looked after ourselves, everyone was busy.

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Doodlebugs were a familiar sight and sound, one landed on the gasometer, imagine. Another dropped so near to my cousin’s house she was blown out of the window, landing outside. The rockets were worse, you never heard or saw them coming. During air raids, the choice was the shelters or the underground. We took bedding and secured our spot. Shabbily dressed children ran up and down static escalators. Often, we took our chances and slept at home. Bizarrely, we got used to it, often sleeping through it. I woke up one morning squashed by the bedroom window, a lucky escape. If I had been a parent in the war I would never, ever send my children away, we would stay together. I suppose you do it for their own safety, but it was without doubt, the unhappiest time of my life and the experience has stayed with me to this day. Nicola Dunklin Andrew Nisbet a Melbourn resident for many years.

Reference: www.evacuees.org.uk/ British Evacuees Association – to share stories www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/18/ a3085418.shtml www.uptonvillage.co.uk/1995/06/upton-jottings-1930-1974/ www.bing.com/images/

Melbourn Village College DofE practice

A group of Melbourn Village College students rose to the Duke of Edinburgh challenge as they embraced their bronze award practice expedition in the Chilterns. The 22 Year 10 students camped for two nights and spent the Saturday learning map-reading and compass skills on a long hike, walking in small groups with supervising adults, who included Melbourn staff and qualified assessors. The Sunday hike was much more challenging as students were monitored at a distance only. They also carried their full packs, as they will have to do on the Assessed Expedition at the end of September when the weather is likely to be more variable than the warm, dry days and cold windy nights they experienced this time. They practised their cooking skills on trangias, and in some cases learnt how to put up a tent and sleep in one, for the first time! Melbourn teachers James Richardson and Frank Fan said: “We are proud to say that the MVC students were all praised for good behaviour and a great attitude.”

Primary round-up Primary pupils’ achievements were celebrated at Melbourn Village College last week with the second annual Celebration Evening. Guest speaker and former world-ranked tennis player Jade Windley told youngsters, their families and teachers about her life as a professional on the circuit as well as congratulating them on their hard work and achievements. The Celebration Evening is part of Melbourn’s primary liaison programme and pupils from the catchment primaries of all ages collected awards from events ranging from the Year 4 and 5 science and humanities days, gifted and talented maths sessions as well as netball, football and swimming. It came in the middle of a busy few days for primary pupils. Below: Students on the Duke of Edinburgh challenge

Earlier in the day the Year 6 students who will be joining Melbourn Village College in September spent the day at the college, making new friends and experiencing secondary school life. Then at the end of the week Year 5 students from Harston & Newton, Hauxton, Foxton and Barrington spent the second of the college’s two Humanities Days undertaking geography, history and RE projects, including a river investigation, studying aspects of Aztec life as well as looking at some topical ethical and moral issues.

Rome Tour 2017 Year 10 students taking History, RE or Philosophy for GCSE at Melbourn Village College enjoyed an amazing walking tour of Rome to enhance their studies. The group of 34 wasted no time in getting started, heading straight from the airport to the Catacombs di St Sebastiano. Despite fears of getting lost within this labyrinth, the tour guide led the group through with no problem, introducing memorials both Christian and older – a pair of pagan mausoleums that were only found when the foundations were being worked upon for the church of St Sebastian above. A second walk took in the Spanish Steps and on to Piazza Navona and, after dinner, the Trevi Fountain, which was lit up and busy but stunning.

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Colosseum and the uses of the ruins. Being able to look into the tunnels below the arena where the animals and gladiators would have swarmed was amazing. After this we visited the Pantheon and explored the surrounding area The final day was dedicated to exploring some of the culture of Rome by visiting the Compo di Flores, a great example of Rome’s thriving market culture. Marta Gunner, Head of Humanities, said: “The students were exceptional and definitely made the experience a joy. It was certainly a high spot of this year.”

Spanish Immersion Trip – Comillas The Vatican was incredible – the grounds and the museum –and the Sistine chapel is an amazing endeavour of art and was greatly appreciated by the Melbourn students who took time to look and wonder at the sheer size and detail that was involved. Then it was on to St Peter’s Basilica, which rightfully holds the title of the foremost (and largest) basilica in the world. In comparing it to St Paul’s in London, students could see how Britain’s own feat of architecture could be seen as a pale reflection. One of the day’s highlights was visiting the body of the mummified pope! By the third day of walking 10 miles-plus the pace was steadier en route to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. The Hill itself gave a unique visage of the Forum, where the ruins themselves seemed unreal. Students learned much about social hierarchy at The

Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality education for the under fives and offers Flexible hourly booking - open 08.30 to 16.30 Term time bookings with optional holiday club

Ella Pankhurst and Hattie Walker On 18 May 30 Year 9 students from Melbourn Village College went on an amazing immersion trip to Comillas in Cantabria, Spain. It was a great trip, one of the best we have ever been on. Our flight left at 6.30 pm and it was a 2 hour flight. Once we landed and had some sandwiches at Bilbao Airport, we then made our way to Abba Golf Hotel and went straight to bed. Every day we woke up at 0800 and had breakfast – a good choice of cereal, toast and cake. It was great! We then headed out and walked to our Spanish lesson in a historic building. We learnt about all sorts of things from our native-speaker teachers. One of the lessons was a quiz, which we really enjoyed as it was fun, but quite difficult. The first day we went to El Soplao cave where we had a traditional local stew for lunch and then visited the cave where we saw the most beautiful mineral formations. After this we did a treasure hunt in the local town. We had to use our Spanish to find information from local people. Sadly we were defeated by another team, who won ice creams. The next day we visited Altamira, a cave where prehistoric people lived and painted amazing cave art. For lunch we had a traditional paella, which we all loved. The afternoon was spent at a shopping centre near Santander and then we swam in the hotel pool. It was a great day. The following day we visited the beautiful beach at Comillas and then went to see El Capricho, a beautiful house designed by Gaudí. The outside of the house was covered with sunflower tiles and we learnt about how it was designed to represent the movement of the sun and its owner’s love of music.

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Melbourn Buildings/Fencing Suppliers Phillimore Garden Centre, Melbourn Tel 01763 263336 Open Mon – Sat 9.30am–5pm Sun 10am–4pm Manufacturers of all types of garden buildings. Customised buildings our speciality. Landscaping and fencing supplied and installed. Sheds, Summerhouses, Gazebo’s, Aviaries, Catteries, Kennels/runs, Chalets, Log Cabins. Bases undertaken.

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We really enjoyed meeting students from a Spanish school the next morning. We were put into groups with them and had to ask and answer questions in Spanish and English. Then we split into two groups and either played a football tournament or learnt some Flamenco dancing with the Spanish students. After lunch we worked in teams to write and present information about Cantabria in two languages. Finally we went to the beach with them until it was time to say goodbye. In the evening we learnt how prehistoric people made fire and practised throwing spears. This was followed by some more time in the hotel pool. On the final day we went to Cabárceno National Park where we saw an amazing birds of prey show and a sea lion show, as well as going for a ride in a cable car over the whole park. We were very sad to have to go back to the airport and return home – this was the best trip ever and we would do it all over again if we could!

SSAT Recognition Melbourn Village College has been nationally recognised for its exceptional 2016 performance by the Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT). Educational Outcomes data analysis from SSAT has shown that the school is in the top 10% of schools nationally for progress. SSAT Educational Outcomes award will be presented at a regional celebration event later this month which is held to draw attention to the work of high-achieving, improving and innovating schools and teachers.

Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT, said: “It’s my great pleasure to commend Melbourn Village College on their excellent 2016 performance, and to have the opportunity to highlight and share their great work at an SSAT Educational Outcomes celebration event. “We know how hard teachers work to ensure the success of every child. “SSAT’s Educational Outcomes award recognises the professionalism, commitment and hard work of the leaders, teachers and students at Melbourn Village College. A big thank you and well done to the pupils, staff and governors.”

MVC Sports The PE Department definitely know how to keep busy and this term has been no exception. Aside from all the normal summer sporting fixtures such as rounders, tennis and athletics where great things have been achieved, our Sports Leaders have been working hard with Years 4, 5 and 6 from our Primary Schools. They have organised and overseen the Year 4 mini Olympics as well as the multi-skills festival when over 100 year 5/6 year olds turned up for fun in the sun. There has also been fun in the pool with the KS2 swimming gala. At the athletics meet held at St Bedes congratulations go to; Josh Biddlecombe 2nd in 800M, Matt Pinney 2nd in 1500M, Toby Jackson 1st in High Jump, Katie Foulger 1st in High Jump, Daisy Moxham 1st in Shot, Morgan Robson 3rd in 300M. There was also success at the Sawston meet and congratulations go to; Will Mallen 1st Javelin and 2nd in 100M, Hannah Smouton 1st in shot, Daisy Moxham 1st in the Year 8 girls 300M. Well done also to Dexter Todd, Gethan Rogers and Daisy Moxham for competing up a year. Outside of MVC Sporting achievements students have been busy competing in other events. Jake and Daisy Moxham have both worked hard to progress in swimming and Daisy has been selected for the East Region talent camp and Jake has been selected for the England East team to swim at the national school games in Loughborough in August. Well done to them both. Dominic Clemons is excelling in the golfing world and played in the England regionals, the U18s in Blackpool as well as competing in the England v Spain under 16 match in May. We always love to hear of our students’ successes outside of the classroom so feel free to sing their praises and let us know. You can contact Alison Friday on afriday@melbournvc.org.

Sports League Tournaments On Tuesday 22nd March, the year 7 boys went to the annual football tournament. The A team did very well coming 8th out of 30+ teams competing. On Wednesday 23rd, the school played Cambourne at netball and Football. Netball: year 8’s won, year 7’s lost. Football: year 7&8 A teams both won and the B teams both lost On Thursday 23rd, MVC Sport Leaders attended the Level melbournmagazine@gmail.com

feature

Cambridge Woodland Academy New Woodland Activity Sessions starting September 2017 After hearing raving reviews of the Forest School approach to learning by family members and friends that lived in various areas across the UK, founding leader of Cambridge Woodland Academy, Mark Taylor, began to look for a Forest School or woodland activity sessions for his young daughter. Unfortunately, his search was unsuccessful and further research revealed that there were no regular longterm Forest Schools or woodland activity sessions available to children in the City of Cambridge or the immediate surrounding areas.

… and so, Cambridge Woodland Academy was born! Cambridge Woodland Academy is the first of its kind in Cambridge. An all-weather, year-round centre for children and young adults, from the ages of 0 to 19, to attend woodland activity sessions which supplement their mainstream education and follow the core Forest School principles outlined by the Forest School Association. “As all parents know it is an ongoing struggle to find new and exciting ways to occupy young children. Cambridge Woodland Academy will not only serve as a means to get children and young adults out into the natural world but it will also afford them the opportunity to explore, take risks and make choices that they would not normally consider.” Mark Taylor Mark has been working and living in the Cambridge area for the past 10 years and having had an interest in the outdoors from an early age, Mark has spent thousands of hours roaming the woodlands and mountains of the UK. Before founding Cambridge Woodland Academy, Mark spent several years working with children and adults of varying ability, running a small sports coaching franchise with the aim of getting children and adults active whilst promoting healthy living. This also included local grass roots

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football coaching and Mark qualified as an FA level one coach. Mark has spent the last 9 years working for Cambridge Constabulary and with his background in both education and law enforcement, he has been lucky enough to experience working with an immense range of people with varying backgrounds, abilities and ages. This has enabled Mark with the confidence and experience to produce the Cambridge Woodland Academy programme which is built to appeal to all ages, abilities and interests. Cambridge Woodland Academy has been lucky enough to be able to team up with local charity Cambridge Past Present and Future, with after school and weekend sessions running at Wandlebury Country Park from this September onwards. More recently, permission for a second site at Great Shelford has been granted, where woodland activity holiday clubs will be held during school holidays and half terms. It is the hope that by basing themselves at woodland situated at the heart of local communities, Mark and his team will be able to offer a unique experience to children, young adults and parents alike, engaging them in their natural surroundings whilst promoting sustainability and positive environmental relationships. Local interest in Cambridge Woodland Academy has been palpable, with 70 children due to attend four taster sessions at the beginning of August. Here, children and parents will be introduced to exactly what Cambridge Woodland Academy has to offer. Sessions for September are also already beginning to fill with further children wanting to join in with the woodland activity experience. Although the sessions are principally run in a woodland setting, Cambridge Woodland Academy also offer their services to schools, nurseries and organised groups that may not have regular access to a woodland area, enabling them to either go for a visit at one of their sites or to have the woodland experience brought to them. The reception year at The Perse Pelican school in Cambridge welcomed Cambridge Woodland Academy to their garden recently and enjoyed an end of term treat that included building bug hotels, creating a class story using magic story stones and group games involving a gorilla that had a very snotty nose…. Cambridge Woodland Academy are now taking bookings for after school and weekend sessions for the first half of the Autumn term and for the woodland activity holiday club this October half term. For further details please visit them at www.cambridgewoodlandacademy.com, on Facebook or on Twitter. Mark is also contactable by telephone on 07850131610, or you can email him at mark@ cambridgewoodlandacademy.com.

We are a warm, friendly, family run home conveniently situated close to the station and town centre of Royston. If you would like to find out more about St George’s, please call us for a brochure or drop in for a chat. 42 Kneesworth Street, Royston, Herts. SG8 5AQ Telephone: 01763 242243 web site: www.stgeorgescare.com

3 School Games and were active helpers in the multi-adapted sports competition, the year 3/4 gymnastics competition and the year 5/6 tag rugby competition. They were also selected to referee the final of the small schools competition as they were considered the best there! Well done to everyone who took part. The next round of inter form competitions start today, 24th March for year 10 and continue into next week for the other years in netball, football, basketball and swimming. Good luck to all the houses!

Sawston Adult Education We are excited to offer you a completely new range of courses for the next academic year! Dichroic Glass Jewellery, Sew with Knit Fabrics, Watercolours for Beginners, Staying safe On-line, Diabetes & me, Fitness for Mature Movers is just a small sample of what we will be offering…. We have some taster sessions on Saturday 2 September 10.00 – 11.00 for which we charge £5 (this is refundable upon enrolment for the same course commencing September). Booking is essential to guarantee your place. The subjects currently available to try are French beginners, How to apply make up, Indian Cookery, Indian Dance, Introduction to Writing Fiction (9.30 – 10.30), Spanish beginners and Yoga. All our new and usual courses are on our website www. sawstonadulted.org, we are sure you will find something of interest. If you wish to make a booking you will find a booking form on our website for completion and return. Plus we have an enrolment morning on Saturday 2 September 09.00 – 12.00, so you could pop by then to book your place. The Adult Learning team will be available Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm from Thursday 24 August. Our contact details are 01223 712424 or email community@ sawstonvc.org Sue King & Amanda Hoskins – The Adult Education Department

Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) – Royston Enrolment for the Autumn course at Royston Town Hall will be on 12th September, 10am-11am or enroll on-line. www.wea.org. uk Italian Renaissance, Tutor: Robin McCartney 10 sessions of 1½ hours from 19th September melbournmagazine@gmail.com

For the Community by the Community Come and join us!

3 reasons to volunteer at the Hub…

Have you ever volunteered? Thinking of giving it a go? Then read on! With the busy lives we lead just the thought of volunteering might seem overwhelming, but in reality it can be very beneficial. It’s easy to think about the positive impact that volunteers have on others, but we don’t often consider how rewarding it can be for the volunteer. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Hub in Melbourn, working alongside our dedicated paid staff. We need extra help in a variety of ways from food preparation and serving and helping in the cafe, in library services or helping to set up meetings for the many organisations that use our facilities, or even events and marketing. If you have ever thought about volunteering then now is the time to give it a go!

1. Gain new skills or share existing ones Volunteering can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change. From this perspective, volunteering can be a way of: Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience or developing existing ones Enhancing your CV & improving employment prospects Gaining an accreditation: health and food hygiene certification, till and barista training

How has it made a difference to our volunteers? It has greatly enriched my involvement and enjoyment of the village. – Moira

I have met lots of new friends from the village among the volunteers. – Janet

Gives me time to focus on something different from the ‘day job’ and is very satisfying. – Sally-Ann

It has given me an understanding as to how a business functions behind the scenes. – Steve

I have met people I would not have met otherwise and enjoy their company. – Arthur

You can be any age but we prefer you to be 16+ for health and safety reasons. There is something for everyone – some activities are more involved than others, some require training, others do not. Free refreshments plus lunch – if working more than a 2 hour shift.

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We also have many people who volunteer their professional skills from Human Resources, to Marketing, IT and Tax and Financial Accounting. 2. Social interaction and meeting new people For others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include: Meeting new people and making new friends A chance to socialise Getting to know the local community, maybe you are new to the area?

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3. Improved health and wellbeing Many people who volunteer say that helping others gives them a good feeling inside. Research suggests this is something called a ‘helpers high’, or a distinct physical sensation associated with helping that makes us experience greater energy and strength, which can decrease negative feelings and increase feelings of self-worth. It also changes the routine environment and you know what they say… ‘a change is as good as a rest’!

Why our volunteers say you should give a go… We have fantastic paid staff at the Hub who do a wonderful job, but it needs its volunteers too. It’s fun, it’s local, it’s yours & it needs your support. – Viv

The satisfaction and pride you get from receiving great feedback from customers who enjoy their experience at the Hub and recognise your contribution is priceless. – Jean

Opening Hours

Come along and meet the friendly team. I think volunteers gain as much as they give. – Mandy

Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 4pm

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Email centremanager@melbournhub.co.uk or call 01763 263303 visit our website www.melbournhub.co.uk

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MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL 30 High Street Melbourn SG8 6DZ Telephone: 01763 263303 ext. 3 e-mail: parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk Parish Office opening hours: Monday: 10.00am-1.00pm | Wednesday: 1.00pm-3.00pm Friday: 10.00am-1.00pm (Alternatively, please call to arrange an appointment) www.melbournpc.co.uk

Parish Clerk Sarah Adam Telephone 263303

Assistant Parish Clerk Claire Littlewood Telephone 263303

Chairman Julie Norman 31 Station Road, SG8 6DX Telephone 263462

Vice Chairman Sashi Siva 33 Chalkhill Barrow, SG8 6EQ Telephone 07919 028795

Graham Clark 3 Cooks Garden, SG8 6FT Telephone 07899651561

Richenda Buxton The Long House, SG8 6EA Telephone 07884 071933

Nikki Cross 16 Dickasons, SG8 6EL Telephone 261788

Rosemary Gatward 94 High Street, SG8 6AL Telephone 261225

Jose Hales 23 Elm Way, SG8 6UH Telephone 221058

Sally Ann Hart 62 High Street, SG8 6AJ Telephone 222256

Steve Kilmurray Bramley Lodge, Back Lane, SG8 6DD Telephone 268674

Brian Madiyiko 14 Victoria Way, SG8 6FE Telephone 07788 251684

Clive Porter 25 John Impey Way SG8 6HZ

John Regan 10 Little Lane, SG8 6BU Telephone 264154

Mike Sherwen 3 Hale Close, SG8 6ET Telephone 260070

Christopher Stead 70 Russet Way Telephone 260743 pm only

District Councillors

Val Barrett, 2 Station Road, Telephone 261227 John Travis 16 Cambridge Road, SG8 6HA Telephone 232692

Jose Hales, 23 Elm Way, SG8 6UH, 221058 cllr.hales@josehales.me.uk

Village information IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Melbourn History Group Ann Dekkers 261144 Melbourn Mushroom Club John Holden Orchard Surgery email: frog.end@virgin.net Appointments & Dispensary 260220 Melbourn Pottery Club Maggie 01223 207307 For repeat prescriptions send Meldreth Local History Kathryn Betts 268428 email: prescriptions.orchardsurgery@nhs.net Mothers’ Union Pauline Hay 260649 National Trust Marian Bunting 246122 Hospitals bunting@uwclub.net Addenbrooke’s 01223 245151 New Melbourn Singers Adrian Jacobs 243224 Royston 01763 242134 Photographic Club Bruce Huett 232855 NHS111 – Urgent Care 111 Ramblers Dave Allard 242677 24hr helpline Royal British Legion Women Elizabeth Murphy 220841 Medical help when not a 999 emergency Royal National Lifeboat Institution Jean Emes 245958 Police Non Emergency number 101 Royston and District Local History Society Help when not a 999 emergency David Allard 242677 Royston Family History Society Pam Wright Fire & Rescue Service 01223 376201 frierley@ntlworld.com 0800 555111 Royston Lions Chris Cawdell Crimestoppers 448236 Neighbourhood Watch 260959 RSPB Fowlmere Doug Radford 208978 Maureen Townsend maureentownsend1@aol.com SOAS (Supporters of All Saints’) Colin Limming 260072 St George’s Allotments Assoc. Bruce Huett Telephone Preference Service www.tsponline.org.uk 0345 070 0707 brucehuett@compuserve.com Thursday Luncheon Club at Vicarage Close Jeannie Seers 07599 292327 EDUCATION Women’s Group Pat Smith 260103 Melbourn Playgroup Jane Crawford 07842 151512 Library LAP Jane Stevens johnjane.stevens@tiscali.co.uk PLACES OF WORSHIP Little Hands Nursery School 260964 All Saints’ Church Revd. Elizabeth Shipp 220626 01223 503972 Out of school times vicar.melbournmeldreth@gmail.com Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231 Churchwardens Roger Mellor 220463 Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox 223457 David Farr 221022 U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Community Hall booking Sandie Springall 223320 Chairman Tony Garrick 01223 510201 hallbookings@live.co.uk Hon Sec Hilary Docwra 222486 261650 Baptist Church Rev. Stuart Clarke Mem Sec Chris Davison 264189 Secretary 01223 872298 Guy Manners Village College Principal Simon Holmes 223400 United Reformed Church Minister Rev. Duncan Goldie 260747 HEALTH Secretary Rosaline Van de Weyer 01223 870869 Age UK Cambridgeshire 01223 221921 Hall booking Beryl and Barry Monk 246458 Blood Donors 0300 123 23 23 Chiropodist 263260 SPORT 262034 Dentist Badminton Steve Jackson 248774 District Nurses (Primary Care Trust) 01223 846122 Bowls Arthur Andrews 261990 Home-Start 262262 Croquet Janet Pope 248342 S. Cambs PCT 35 Orchard Road Jazzercise Maxine Rustem 07963 161246 Child & Family Nurses 262861 Car Scheme 245228 225004 Judo Derek Coult Osteopath Kath Harry 261716 Melbourn Dynamos FC Gordon Atalker 07770533249 Blake Carrington 07730488743 LOCAL CLUBS Melbourn Football Club Simon Gascoyne 261703 Air Cadets 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron 249156 Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313 Tony Kelly Mon & Wed evenings 7 – 9.30 p.m. 243376 Meldreth Tennis Club Tracy Aggett Bellringers Barbara Mitchell 261518 Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593 Bridge Club Howard Waller 261693 Squash Club Nick Sugden 261064 1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505 Brownies 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272 COMMUNITY SERVICES Brownies 2nd Melbourn 261400 Dial-A-Ride 01223 506335 Samantha Pascoe (Brown Owl) Home Start Tracy Aggett 262262 Gardening Helen Powell 245887 Mobile Warden Scheme Jeannie Seers 262651 Guides 1st Melbourn Hilary Marsh 261443 260564 Moorlands Denise Taylor Guides 2nd Melbourn Vicarage Close Warden Eileen Allan 263389 Stef Cooper 01763 220093/ 07922053801 Lead Sheltered Housing Officer – Monday to Friday 9–1.30 Steph Clifford 01763 220272 / 07888831140 Vicarage Close, John Impey Way & Elin Way Secondmelbournguides@hotmail.com Eileen Allan Mobile 07876 791419 / 245402 MADS (Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society) Donna Sleight 232622 Every other week. 9–5 Monday to Friday

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DIARY SEPTEMBER

Friday 1

Coffee URC 10.30am Children’s Holiday Club Baptist Church 10-12.30pm Saturday 2

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am The Bookshelf Sunday 3

Holy Communion All Saints 8am URC Service 11am Baptist Service 10.30am Communion Service Baptist Church 6pm Monday 4

Drop-in Surgery with Councillors at The Hub 3-4pm Melbourn Bridge Club every Monday URC Hall 7pm contact Howard Waller 261693 Tuesday 5

New term begins Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30am (TT) Melbourn Bridge Club every Tuesday URC Hall 2pm contact Howard Waller 261693 Melbourn & District Photographic Club Foxton Village Hall 7.30pm (runs weekly September to April) Melbourn Short Story Reading Group weekly The Hub 10-11am Wednesday 6

Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am Thursday 7

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm Friday 8

Coffee URC 10.30am Saturday 9

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am Sunday 10

Family Communion All Saints 9.45am Baptist Service 10.30am URC Communion Service 11am Tuesday 12

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30am (TT) Mothers’ Union contact Diane Blundell 221415 Melbourn & District Gardening Club ASCH 7.30pm Wednesday 13

Coffee Break Baptist church 10.30am Hub Club Lunch 12.30pm Thursday 14

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm Friday 15

Coffee URC 10.30am Saturday 16 Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 17

Monday 2

Holy Communion 8am Family Service All Saints 11am URC Service 11am Communion Service Baptist Church 10.30am Tuesday 19

Drop In Surgery with Councilors Hales & van de Ven The Hub 3-4pm Melbourn Bridge Club every Monday URC Hall contact Howard Waller 261693

Toddlers Plus 9.30-11.30am (TT)

Tuesday 3

Wednesday 20

Craft Club 9.30am (TT) followed by Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am Thursday 21

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm Friday 22

Coffee URC 10.30am Melbourn Cinema Night 7.45pm for 8pm showing The Viceroy’s House

Toddler Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30am (TT) Melbourn Bridge Club every Tuesday URC Hall 2pm contact Howard Waller 261693 Melbourn Short Story Reading Group 10-11am weekly The Hub Melbourn & District Photographic Club Foxton Village Hall 7.30pm (runs weekly September to April) Wednesday 4

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Craft Club Baptist Church 9.30am (TT) followed by Coffee Break 10.30am Rail User Group Elin Way Community Room Meldreth 7 for 7.30pm

Sunday 24

Thursday 5

Harvest Festival Thanksgiving All Saints 9.45am URC Harvest Festival 11am Baptist Service 10.30am

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft and Chat URC 2pm-4pm weekly Royston & District Local History Soc. Town Hall Royston 8pm

Saturday 23

Monday 25

MVC Open Evening Tuesday 26

Toddlers Plus 9.30 – 11.30am (TT) Women’s Group Talk by Rev Lizzie Shipp Meldreth 7.45pm Wednesday 27

Craft Club 9.30am followed by Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 2pm Melbourn WI ASCH 8pm Cam Vale Bus Users Group Elin Way Community Room Meldreth 7for 7.30pm Thursday 28

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm weekly Friday 29

Coffee URC 10.30am Harvest Supper Meldreth Village Hall Saturday 30

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

OCTOBER Sunday 1

Family Communion All Saints 8am Morning Service Baptist Church 10.30am URC Service URC 11am Baptist Communion 6pm

Friday 6

Coffee at URC 10.30am Saturday 7

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am The Bookshelf Sunday 8

Family Communion All Saints 9.45am Morning Service Baptist Church 10.30am Holy Communion URC 11am Tuesday 10

Toddler Plus 9.30-11.30am Baptist Church (TT) Mothers’ Union contact Diane Blundell 221415 Melbourn & District Gardening Club ASCH 7.30pm Wednesday 11

Craft Club Baptist Church 9.30am (TT) followed by Coffee Break 10.30am Hub Club Lunch 12.30pm A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign 7 for 7.30pm check website for venue Thursday 12

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm Friday 13

Coffee at URC 10.30am Saturday 14

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am Sunday 15

Holy Communion All Saints 8am Communion Service Baptist Church 10.30am

URC Service 11am Family Service All Saints 11am

8pm A V Roe and the AVRO Lancaster.

Sunday 19

Friday 3

Tuesday 17

Coffee URC 10.30am

Toddler Plus 9.30-11.30am (TT)

Saturday 4

Wednesday 18

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am The Bookshelf

Craft Club 9.30am Baptist Church (TT) followed by Coffee Break 10.30am

Sunday 5

Holy Communion 8.00am Family Service 11.00am All Saints URC Service 11.00am Baptist Communion Service 10.30am Foxton Art Exhibition

Thursday 19

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Coffee & Chat URC 2-4pm Friday 20

Coffee URC 10.30am Melbourn Cinema Night 7.45pm for 8pm showing Going in Style Saturday 21

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am Station Garden Party (see article) Sunday 22

Family Communion All Saints 9.45am Family Service Baptist Church 10.30am URC Service 11am Monday 23

Half term Tuesday 24

Women’s Group Making Decorations for Tree Festival 7.45pm Pat Smith 262575 Wednesday 25

Coffee Break 10.30am British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 2pm Melbourn WI ASCH 8pm Thursday 26

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm

Holy Communion Patronal Festival All Saints 9.45am Morning Service Baptist Church 10.30am URC Service 11am Communion Service Baptist Church 6pm All Souls Service of Remembrance All Saints 6.30pm Monday 6

Drop-in Surgery with Councillors at The Hub 3-4pm Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall weekly 7pm contact Howard Waller 261693 Tuesday 7

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30am (TT) Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall weekly 2pm contact Howard Waller 261693 Melbourn & District Photographic Club Foxton Village Hall 7.30pm (runs weekly September to April) Melbourn Short Story Reading Group every Tuesday 10-11am at the Hub Wednesday 8

NOVEMBER Craft Club 9.30 -11.30am(TT) Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am Thursday 2

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm weekly Royston & District Local History Soc. Town Hall Royston

Friday 24

Coffee at URC 10.30am Melbourn Cinema Night 7.45pm for 8pm showing Their Finest Saturday 25

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am Sunday 26

Family Communion All Saints 9.45am URC Service 11.00am Morning Service Baptist Church 10.30am

Baptist Craft Club 9.30-11.30am (TT) Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am Royal British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 2pm Melbourn WI ASCH 8pm

Friday 10

Coffee at URC 10.30am Saturday 11

Melbourn Service of Remembrance 10.30am War Memorial

Wednesday 1

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm weekly

Saturday 28

Toddler Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30am (TT) Light Party Baptist Church

Thursday 23

Wednesday 29

Sunday 12

Tuesday 31

Craft Club 9.30-11.30am (TT) Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am

Thursday 9

Coffee URC 10.30am

Holy Communion All Saints 8am Morning Service Baptist Church 10.30am URC Service 11am

Wednesday 22

Tuesday 28

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 29

Toddler Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30 (TT)

Craft Club 9.30-11.30am (TT) followed by Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am Hub Club Lunch 12.30pm

Friday 27

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Tuesday 21

Tuesday 14

Toddler Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30 (TT) Mother’s Union contact Diane Blundell 221415 Melbourn & District Gardening Club ASCH Wednesday 15

Craft Club 9.30-11.30am (TT) followed Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am Thursday 16

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm weekly Friday 17

Coffee URC 10.30am Foxton Art Exhibition (see article) Saturday 18

All Saints Christmas Bazaar 11-3pm Foxton Art Exhibition

We shall be pleased to receive contributions in any form, articles, poems, drawings, photographs, letters etc., pertaining to Melbourn. Please send any contributions to the Editor, at 110 High Street, Melbourn, marking them ‘MELBOURN MAGAZINE’ or you can email them to melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Toddler Plus Baptist Church 9.30-11.30 (TT) Women’s Group Advent Reflection Mary Price Meldreth

Thursday 30

Holy Communion All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2-4pm weekly

e date for th The closing is Friday next issue ill er which w 13th Octob er, b d in Decem r, e h s li b u p be be ts in Decem listing even d February. January an

We’re Searching for

Volunteers

Melbourn Magazine is delivered free to every household in the village by volunteers. If you would like to help please contact Ann Dekkers on 261144

Village information Orchard Surgery & Dispensary Melbourn Health Visiting Team Monday to Friday 8:30–1pm and 3pm–6pm Phone 01763 260220 www.orchardsurgerymelbourn.co.uk Please note repeat prescriptions have changed When ordering your repeats please use the following, by post, in person or by registering to use the online NHS service. Register for online NHS services at main reception, you will need to provide an identity document and proof of address. Perscripstion can still be collected from: Surgery

Co-op

Tesco in Royston

Prescription Home Delivery The surgery now offer a home delivery service for prescriptions, it will operate on a Tuesday & Thursday. For more information please look under website or contact the surgery.

BIN COLLECTION MELBOURN Bin collection day – TUESDAY

Drop in clinics for parents and babies are held as follows: Melbourn clinic every Wednesday between 9.30am and 11.00am at: 35 Orchard Road, Melbourn. Telephone 01763 262861

8a Romsey Terrace, Cambridge. CB1 3NH Office Mon-Fri 9.00am-12.30pm. Telephone 01223 416 141 answerphone out of these hours enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk

A drop in advisory session is held at Vicarage Close Community Room, the 4th Thursday every month from 2pm to 4pm

See the website for more information www.cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk Battery exchange and retubing. We do not do hearing tests

Bins must be out by 6am at the latest on collection day

30 August

Blue & Green

WEDNESDAY

5 September Black 12 September

Blue & Green

19 September Black 26 September

Blue & Green

3 October

Black

10 October

Blue & Green

17 October

Black

24 October

Blue & Green

31 October

Black

Blue & Green

7 November

14 November Black 21 November

Blue & Green

28 November Black

5 December

Blue & Green

12 December Black 19 December

Blue & Green

For an update on collections visit: www.scambs.gov.uk/binsearch For more information and collections of large household items Telephone 03450 450 063

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Cam Sight’s Rural Support Group meet in Melbourn to provide help, friendship and ongoing support to local people with sight loss. The group enjoys speakers, music, information, advice and a chance to try out low vision equipment. They meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month, 2 – 4pm at Vicarage Close. For further information please call 01223 420033 or info@camsight.org.uk

Nature The apiarist

I’ve had a bee in my bonnet lately. Absolutely buzzing, one might say. Been a positive hive of activity … (that’s enough of that. Get on with it! Ed) Sorry, but it’s difficult to avoid the similes and metaphors when talking about these fascinating insects. They are part of our history, our folklore and our language. To say nothing of the contribution they make to our survival. It’s unlikely you will get through the day without making some reference to them – maybe unknowingly. Take the word honeymoon, for instance. This stems from a tradition dating back to the 5th century when newlyweds were given honey for their first ‘moon’ together. Supposedly, it was an aphrodisiac and helped with conception. Which is why, according to Greek mythology, Eros dipped his arrows in honey before loosing them off. And did you know that if a solitary honeybee flies into your home you must expect a visitor within the day? Unless, of course, it is bringing you a message that someone is about to die. That’s the thing with bees. Contrary little blighters. My interest in them began when my wife Diane came back from a meeting of the Melbourn WI where she had heard a talk by Stephen Poyser, of the Cambridgeshire Beekeepers’ Association (CBKA). “You absolutely must go to hear him if you get the chance,” she said. Within a couple of weeks I had caught up with Stephen at a local event where he was giving a presentation called ‘Beekeeping and the Gardener.’ It’s impossible to give all the useful information to which we were treated, but here is something of the bee story. First, don’t imagine that you and your garden are having much of an impact on your nearest hive. In fact the contribution is very much the other way round; they are an essential part of the ecosystem of your entire area, pollinating food crops, flowers and fruit. A colony of honey bees (Apis melifera) can contain anything from 10,000 to 80,000 workers. In addition there will be up to 500 drones and, of course, the queen. Each of these three has a different role in the hive. Workers, being females, do all the tough jobs. They fly up to a one and a half miles radius of the hive, so your land represents only a tiny fraction of their foraging area. From Melbourn, for instance, they are buzzing off half way to Royston, wings flapping 11,400 times a minute, in the hunt for water, nectar and pollen. Going plundering is only part of their life’s work, however. They are also tasked with keeping the hive clean and warm, feeding the larvae, making wax and building the cone, carrying food, undertaker duties and acting as doorkeepers. Honey bees need about 400lb of nectar per year. That’s what it takes to produce about 200lb of honey – what the colony must have just to survive. A good colony will produce an additional 100lb of surplus

honey for the beekeeper to take, so that means another 200lb of nectar for the poor workers to collect. In its entire life – anything from six weeks to six months – a single worker will produce just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey. A couple more facts to ponder: it has been calculated that the workers need to visit 2,000,000 flowers to make just 1lb of honey; in a single trip one bee might visit 1,000 flowers.

…continued on page 40 melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Workers have a sophisticated guidance system to tell each other where the best flowers are to be found. When an insect gets back to the hive with some good news it will perform a ‘dance’ on the comb by running in a circle and bisecting it while wagging its behind. The angle of the bisection tells everyone the direction in which to fly, and the waggles indicate the distance. The more waggles, the further away the food source. The drones, being all males, spend the greatest part of their time loafing about in the back of the hive doing no housework and scrounging food from the females. They have only one purpose in life – mating high in the air with a virgin queen. Most of them don’t even manage that and the few that do drop dead immediately after the act, having had their genitals torn out in the process. And at the end of the season, when they are of no further use, the survivors are booted out of the hive by the workers. Who’d be a drone? The queen, despite her title, isn’t the boss of the hive. She, too, has only one purpose in her three years or so of life – procreation. She will lay about 2,000 eggs a day, which is more than her own body weight. The queen gives off a perfume which lets all the other bees in the hive know

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that she’s still around and that all is well. This chemical communication is quite sophisticated and if the keeper changes the old queen for a new one the personality of the hive can change, too (the bees might get a lot more bad tempered for, example). So, why keep bees? One reason, as we have been reading increasingly often recently, is that they are essential to our own survival – “We all want to do our bit to help nature,” Stephen says. Honeybees pollinate much of the world’s flowering crops. It is estimated that up to a quarter of our diet depends on their pollination. Fewer bees mean smaller harvests on farms around the world, which also means higher food prices. Here in Cambridgeshire more and more people are taking up the hobby each year. In our own village there are a number of beekeepers, including Wendy and Steve Kilmurray, who have several hives in their back garden on Back Lane. “I’ve always been fascinated by them,” she says, “and when I had the opportunity to take a course with the Cambridgeshire Beekeepers’ Association a year ago I grabbed it.” The CBKA runs courses for about 80 aspiring beekeepers each year at Chesterton Community College, at a cost of £45 per person. Courses start in January and include at least nine lectures and three practical sessions. Beginners can buy a hive from the association for £160. A beekeeping suit will be £130 (but still expect some stings. Stephen has about 30 a year) and calf or goatskin gauntlets are £25. The bees themselves are sometimes freely available from the CBKA or you can purchase from a breeder for about £170 per Nuc (nucleus colony). Wendy had her bees as a gift from the association and this year has already harvested about 70lb of Melbourn honey. What’s it like? “It is quite light and runny,” she says. In fact honey varies enormously according to the flowers from which the nectar has been foraged. Rape honey, for example, sets solid within a couple of weeks, that from conifers is as black as treacle, borage is light, clear and delicately flavoured. Some facts for nascent keepers: if you find a swarm in the garden, don’t bother ringing the council (they won’t want to know). Contact instead the British Beekeepers’ Association through their website www.bbka.org.uk and they will give you details of the nearest keeper who will take it away (in the case of Melbourn, probably Wendy or Steve Kilmurray). To find out more locally, Stephen Poyser can be found through the CBKA www.cbka.org.uk. And lastly, a little more folklore … Beekeepers still talk about Telling the Bees, a centuries old tradition which dictated that on the death of a keeper, the person who was to take over the colony made a beeline for the hive, tied a black ribbon round it and told them the bad news. That way they would be more likely to accept him and he wouldn’t suffer a stinging rebuke. Ouch. David Blundell

Photograph by John Salmon

Photograph by Nigel Cox

Churches Together Melbourn United Reformed Church Melbourn Bloomsday Festival Pre-Lunch Concert We were very pleased to host a Pre-Lunch Concert in our church on Friday 16th June. Around 30 people attended to listen to a wonderful programme of early music pieces performed by the very talented Boniface Consort, led by Adrian and Naomi Brind. This enjoyable event was part of the Melbourn Bloomsday Festival and all donations on the day went to the charity WaterAid.

Church Building Anniversary Our church building was first registered as a Meeting House for worship on 20th July 1717 and to celebrate the 300th anniversary we held a Barbecue Lunch on Sunday 23rd July after our church service. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all. We invited the local community groups who hire our hall to join in our celebrations. There was a power point presentation in the church showing some of the history of the building.

Harvest Our Harvest Festival Service is on Sunday 24th September at 11am and we extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to join in our celebrations. There will be tea/coffee served after the service followed by a bring and share lunch and sale of the produce.

All Saints Church The summer has seen lots of activity at All Saints’, with baptisms and weddings a-plenty. We also held our first pet service, which was well attended by dogs, cats, and their owners: look out for details of next year’s service in due course. On 16 July, parishioners from both Melbourn and Meldreth attended a Vicarage Garden Party with English teas, cakes, and refreshments.

New Noticeboard: L-R: The Revd Lizzie Shipp, Mr Mike Galley, Mr David Farr, and Mr Roger Mellor.

In June, our new church noticeboard at All Saints’ was installed (pictured), the money for which was raised entirely by parishioners’ donations. You will also have seen posters around the village for Messy Church, which is held in Holy Trinity, Meldreth, and is a fun opportunity to learn about Bible stories with games, crafts, and activities – the next session is on October 8th. We also said goodbye to Claire Cann, who has been on placement with us from Ridley Hall in Cambridge: Claire will be ordained at the end of September, and will move to a new parish in Steeple Bumpstead. The Autumn is shaping up to be another busy few months, with the Christmas Bazaar at All Saints on Saturday 18 November. Look out for details of our Christmas services, as well as our Advent Course. The Revd Lizzie Shipp MA Priest in Charge of Melbourn and Meldreth The Vicarage, Vicarage Close, Melbourn, SG8 6DY 01763 220 626 vicar.melbournmeldreth@ gmail.com … a member of the congregation at the Pet Blessing Service. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Nature Mediterranean plantings

Low rainfall and well-drained, shallow soils provide the ideal conditions for us here at Cambridge University Botanic Garden to grow plants from the Mediterranean. Our extensive Mediterranean collection can be seen in the centre of the Garden, and includes the familiar, such as the sub-shrubby, fragrant lavenders, to the less so, including Greek horehound (Ballota acetabulosa). Plants thriving in Mediterranean climes are diverse in habit, texture, and colour. When combined, these can deliver a diverse planting of contrasting shapes, textures, flowers and scent, while also minimising the need for supplementary irrigation. Shrubs such as the white-flowered Cistus monspeliensis can provide an evergreen backdrop for the steely-blue perennial Eryngium creticum. Annual interest is provided by the hare’s tail grass, Lagurus ovatus, and Galactites tomentosum, or milk thistle. Species from the Mediterranean show adaptations which enable them to survive hot and dry conditions. A look at the plants in our display will reveal small leaves with waxy surfaces to reduce water loss, along with leaves covered in small hairs which reflect intense sunlight. Many, including lavenders and cotton lavenders, also contain volatiles within their leaves which release a distinct scent on hot, sunny days. Given the vast array of Mediterranean species available, and their ease of cultivation in a warm, free draining site with low rainfall, it is easy to introduce floral colour and texture to your own garden. Failing this, why not come and enjoy the sights and smells of the Mediterranean landscape on your own doorstep here at the Botanic Garden. The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is open from 10am – 6pm, July – September, 7 days a week. The Glasshouses and Café close 30 minutes before the Garden and the Botanic Garden Shop at Brookside closes 15 minutes before the Garden. Please check the website at www.botanic.cam.ac.uk or telephone 01223 336265 for details about opening times, admission charges, tours, courses and special events.

Melbourn Baptist Church Melbourn Baptist Church enjoyed a summer ball with fun for all the family – and helped a good cause at the same time. Members came together for an evening of entertainment, which included a children’s disco, auction of promises, dinner, live 60s band, and late disco. Money raised went to help one of the church’s young people, who will spend a year working with Youth For Christ. Church members were among those from Royston and District Churches Together who travelled by coach on an ecumenical pilgrimage to St Peter-on-theWall at Bradwell-upon-Sea, one of the oldest buildings in the country, and a place of worship going back centuries. A recent church barbecue raised funds for the church’s weekend away expenses in October. The Baptist cluster preaching exchange Sunday saw Kate Gaze from Hardwick Evangelical Church speaking at Melbourn Baptist. The church was also making plans for its holiday ‘Landlubbers’ club, with a variety of fun and game and activities for children from five-11, with teaching based on the book of Philippians. This year the club was working on a pirate theme. Church members also took part in the Kairos Prison Ministry scheme, organised locally by Royston and District Churches Together, to provide homemade cookies for prisoners and staff. Melbourn provided 480 cookies for staff and inmates at HMP Whitemoor. Prayer cards were also provided for the prison chapel.

The Word of God O God, they who hate Thee have consulted to obliterate the nation of Israel. The Ishmaelites are confederate with many nations, having taken crafty counsel to ensure that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (from Psalm 83 vv4-12. Recorded about 3000 years ago but not until AD 70 was Israel eliminated. Israel is now restored for ever as foretold by our Creator.) from David Burbridge.

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Review

Laying The Ghost: The Fairfield Players In a world that has become uncertain, locally, nationally and internationally, it is important that the certainty of small localised village initiatives to promote fun and cultural matters continue. So it was I looked at my better half and booked two tickets to attend in late June an amateur drama production in the Memorial Hall of not-too-distant Stotfold. The Fairfield Players promised ‘Laying the Ghost’ a comedy by Simon Williams, a two act play to include a light supper served during the interval. Tickets were a very modest £10.00 each from the Box Office at: 01462 624369. It was one of my better decisions. Externally Stotfold’s Memorial Hall was well situated for the purpose. Internally it was well-appointed and provided all that was physically required for good drama: a curtained stage; covered tables laid out in cabaret-style format with individual seats to accommodate informal groups of 8-10 patrons; lighting and amplification visible and ready to go; front of house persons taking tickets, guiding patrons to the seats, and building the various groups to give a wellfilled auditorium for the performers. It was all very informal and relaxed – but professionally executed as all important sight lines were maintained. Patrons chatted. There was that wonderful buzz of anticipation. Then the ceiling lights dimmed, the stage curtains opened on a well-lit and very credible set with actors present, each on her mark. The major roles were female, itself uncommon. Simon Williams’ play was set in the communal area of Yew Tree House, a retirement home for theatrical people situated in its own grounds on England’s South Coast. It was both witty and funny – which is not an easy task to request of actors in general. Set in the present and over

a single day, the play bowled along, revolving around resident Margot Buchanan’s 70th birthday – which she would prefer to ignore – several unexpected visitors, and her fellow resident and friend Freda Deacon, a somewhat strange psychic. The entire performance was well-directed, with both Acts unforced and very comfortable to watch. Some strong language, which had been flagged in advance, was appropriate to the occasion, serving also to convey a contemporary feeling to the production. During the interval a simple but pleasant Ploughman’s Cheese Platter with a cold drink followed by strawberry gateaux was served to each patron. The service was quick, informal and efficient so that all table groupings were served almost simultaneously. There was time to eat, drink, chat and socialise. It was all very pleasant and enjoyable, complementing the on stage comedic drama we had all experienced. The play, with eight characters, was produced and directed by Penny Mitchel who also performed the box office function and led the front of house arrangements. She also performed (most unobtrusively) the all-important prompt function when Stella Barnes as Margot Buchanan had a senior moment. This may even have been scripted since Stella Barnes did it so well and all those on stage in character were in fact seniors! The acting, technical and administrative members of Fairfield Players brought all their individual and collective on-stage and off-stage talents together and delivered a relaxing evening of high quality amateur drama. They did that alongside delivering a very pleasant light supper in a convivial setting and all for the princely sum of £10. Established in 1968, The Fairfield Players aim to perform at least 2-3 productions per year. On the evidence I witnessed with ‘Laying The Ghost’ – and with my better half as a second opinion – they are indeed well worth a visit. Their next production is scheduled for November. Long may they flourish. Hugh Pollock The Fairfield Players on stage performing ‘Laying The Ghost’.

The Fairfield Players are based at the Memorial Hall in Stotfold. For more information contact Penny Mitchell on 01462 624369

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Sports & Clubs

Bowls Arthur Andrews 261990

Bridge Club Howard Waller 261693 1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505 Brownies – 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272 Brownies – 2nd Melbourn Samantha Pascoe 261400

Croquet Janet Pope 248342

Football Club Andrew Edwards 223109

Dynamos Football Club Les Morley 07739 593771

Gardening Club Helen Powell 245887

Guides – Ist Melbourn Hilary Marsh 261443

Judo Derek Coult 225004 Melbourn Karate Club Peter Khera 07866 374674

Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313 Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group Pat Smith 262575 Sue Toule 260955 Anne Harrison 261775

1st Melbourn Brownies We started the term by starting a badge. This was the Agility badge which involves throwing and catching a beanbag, learning to skip and many more activities. We practised these skills over several weeks. Cooking became a bit of a theme through the term. One week we baked plenty of chocolate chip cupcakes. We also had fun making peppermint creams and fruit kababs. In addition, we went on a penny-hike through the village so as we walked we flipped a coin to decide which direction we would turn at the next junction. We ended the term with a barbeque for which we were joined by the 2nd Melbourn Guides. Partway through we were visited by a hearing dog and its trainer. This allowed the Brownies to learn the role of these dogs which is part of their Disability Awareness badge. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. By Amy Selby (Little Owl) on behalf of all the Leaders at 1st Melbourn Brownies (Brown Owl, Nightingale, Squirrel and Fluffy Owl). If you (or your daughter) would be interested in joining in the fun, please contact Brown Owl on 07888831140.

1st Melbourn Guides We welcomed six new Guides to our unit after Easter, and have also gained three new adult helpers. The older girls in the unit have also started to help run activities for us; our summer term started with Isobel and Jess running a ‘Disability Awareness’ themed evening, during which we tried a blindfold obstacle course, a lip-reading challenge, and drawing a poster with our ‘wrong’ hand.

Photographic Club Bruce Huett 232855 Ramblers Dave Allard 242677 Royston and District Round Table Michael Seymour 221398 Squash Club Nick Sugden 261064

Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593

Tennis (Melbourn) Dave Liddiard 07508 995 781

Tennis (Meldreth) Tracy Aggett 243376

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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We were blessed with a warm sunny evening for our hike along the river to the Melwood, during which we practised mapreading and emergency first aid. The Agility badge gave another chance for outdoor activity as the girls demonstrated their throwing & catching skills, gymnastic and yoga moves, and stamina with a skipping rope. On another evening, we had a netball session at M-C sports, run by Jess and Emily and parent Tracey. Crafts are a traditional Guiding activity, and for Father’s Day we made origami shirt greetings cards, and sewed phone cases from felt. Nature awareness is an important aspect of Guiding, and one evening the girls learnt to identify garden birds from pictures, did a tree hunt around the churchyard, and sketched the flowers in the Community Hall garden. A District Hike and picnic gave us yet another outdoor experience; we hiked on footpaths from Melbourn to Whaddon via the Stret and Kneesworth, identifying crops in the fields, and using a map and compass along the way. An invitation from Barrington Guides to join their halfterm camp in Newmarket gave new girls the opportunity to experience a night under canvas, and provided the older girls with the chance to sleep in a bivouac in the woods. It was very dark, and the barking deer sounded scary, but it was the daddy-long-legs and earwigs which caused the most screaming! Our summer activity camp will be packed with adventurous opportunities such as climbing and canoeing, and mixing with many other Scouts and Guides. If you would like to know more about joining our waiting list or becoming a leader, or if you have any skills or hobbies which you would like to share with us, please contact me on: 01763 261443 or email: melbournguides@gmail.com Hilary Marsh

Melbourn Cub Scouts Eighteen of our cubs have just returned from our Spy-themed summer camp where we joined forces with cubs from Royston and the Mordens practising important spy skills like abseiling, climbing, codebreaking, bomb defusing and crawling through tunnels. So eager were these budding spies to defeat the baddies that they woke Akela from his hammock at 5am… A great time was had by all, the food was “better than Mum’s” (though to be fair Mum probably doesn’t do fried breakfasts

two days in a row) and everyone is eagerly awaiting our next camp in September. This term we’ve been on the water a lot, taking a trip to ESSA in Nazeing to do paddleboarding and canoeing, and travelling to Holt Island in St Ives for our Spring Camp over the May bank holiday weekend where we did bellboating, kayaking and an epic 2-hour game of capture the (pirate) flag. We also learned to build rafts, that amazingly held the weight of nine cubs without capsizing. In meetings this term we’ve learned about nature with the RMRG, run, thrown and jumped our way to our athletics badges, built catapults (in the rain) and raised some funds for Save the Children with a sponsored den building evening in the woods at Therfield Heath. We’ve finished the term with a hike along the Icknield way. This may have finished at McDonalds to give the cubs some incentive to finish the 4½ mile course… The cubs are now established at our new home of Melbourn Primary and meet every Friday 6:45-8:00pm. Any adults interested in volunteering to join our fun and adventure please contact me at cubs@1storwellscouts.org.uk. We are unfortunately full currently, until we get enough adult volunteers to open another pack. Young people can join our waiting list by contacting admissions@1storwellscouts.org.uk.

1st Orwell Scouts – now in Melbourn Scouting for boys aged 10½ to 14½ has been back in Melbourn since November 2016 after a few years of absence. We are grateful to Melbourn Baptist church for providing us with our new home and we’ve settled into the village well, growing from strength to strength. The troop was restarted in June 2016 with just 3 scouts, after having closed the term before. We are ecstatic that we now have 28 scouts aged from 10 – 13, regularly taking part in our Friday evening meetings, led by 3 enthusiastic leaders. Since reopening the unit, we have enjoyed camps, district cooking competitions, hikes and tied ourselves in knots over the traditional scouting skills. Most importantly though, we are joining in with the village community life having volunteered to paint fences at the Melbourn Baptist Church work day, planted wildflower seeds on the A10 cycle path and volunteered at the Melbourn Primary School fete. If there is a village project that melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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you feel our scout troop could help with, please get in contact with us as we’d love to do more of the traditional things that scouts are known for. Later this summer, we have some scouts taking part in the district week long activity camp to Lochearnhead in Scotland and a group camp with our Beaver and Cub sections. We’re excited at what next term may bring and seeing what new challenges and activities our Scouts can excel in.

The society is responsible for the opening of Royston Cave, Melbourn Street, Royston which is open on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until the end of September 2p.m. to 4.30 p.m.(last admission 4p.m.) There may be a special opening on one day during the winter period. It will re-open on a regular basis from 31st March 2018. For details go to: www.roystoncave.co.uk . Our evening meetings, which are held in the Heritage Hall (the main hall downstairs) Royston Town Hall on the first Thursday of the month (second Thursday in May) starting at 8pm., will resume on 5th October. Annual membership £5 (Sept-Aug) (Under 18s half price). »» 5th October – My childhood in wartime London John Kershaw »» 2nd November A V Roe & the Avro Lancaster David Taylor www.roystonlocalhistory.org.uk

Cambridgeshire Family History Society Now that the evenings are drawing in and those summer outings are a thing of the past you may be thinking how to fill in some spare time. How about either starting your family history, or if you have already delved into it take it a bit further Our monthly meetings are held in the Central Library, Lion Yard, Cambridge, between 10.30am and 3.30pm. Everyone is welcome and entry is free. The meetings follow a pattern of research being available all day plus talks at 12.30 and 2pm. We have some very interesting talks lined up for the three months covered by this issue and we look forward to seeing you there. »» 9 Sep – 12.30 ‘Red Herrings’ with Caroline Norton. A talk designed to raise awareness about just how easy it is to make a mistake in research – researchers always need to be on their guard against following the wrong person or family, and aim to confirm identity beyond doubt at every stage. At 2pm ‘The Not-so-good Old Days: a look at Cambridge in the 1930’s’. Helen Harwood will talk about the life of the town and how people went about their daily lives. Woolworths appeared and the Old Dorothy was a great place to go dancing.

»» 14 Oct – 12.30 ‘Census birth places’ can sometimes be

Get involved! Get in contact! – scouts@1storwellscouts.org.uk

Royston & District Local History Society Our website shows all the books we have for sale. Many of these result from the considerable work undertaken by our Publications sub-committee. The books may be ordered by post from David Allard 01763 242677. They may also be purchased at the Royston Museum & Arts Gallery in Kneesworth Street (open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.) and some are available at the Cave Bookshop in Melbourn Street.

misleading. Some ideas for moving forward. With Caroline Norton. At 2pm. ‘Courtship and Marriage’. Tom Doig lets us look at the way courtship and marriage have changed over the centuries, how young people met and arranged their betrothal and the part played by ‘hiring fairs’.

»» 11 Nov at 12.30 ‘Researching Names on War Memorials’. With

Caroline Norton. At 2pm ‘Men on the Make? Who invested in the Drainage of the Fen?’ Elizabeth Stazicker explores the motives of the Fen drainers and some other 17th century drainers. The information above is correct at time of publication should there be any change it will be advised on our website www.cfhs.org.uk either on the Home page or in the monthly Newsletter. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

For our class timetable visit our website www.rchc.co.uk

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Ramblers’ Association Royston and District Group Our walks programme continues right through the year. For details visit our website: www.ramblers.org.uk or contact David Allard (01763 242677). Email: david.allard@ntlworld.com or Lesley Abbiss (01763 273463).

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There is also a poster displaying walks for the current month in Royston library, Royston Museum & Art Gallery and Melbourn Hub. We have walks on Sundays, which are normally 5-7 miles in the morning and a similar or shorter walk in the afternoon. Occasionally Sunday walks are Figures of Eight making it possible to do only the morning or only the afternoon. Half-day walks are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Our evening walks (3–5 miles) will resume on the 30thApril 2018. Prospective new members are welcome and may come on three walks before deciding whether to join. www. ramblers.org.uk to join.

Melbourn Bridge Club Melbourn Bridge Club has continued, unabated by our summer heat wave. Open windows essential and even some occasional fans have been seen at our Orchard Road meeting place. Numbers have been pleasingly high with up to twelve tables on a Monday evening and up to ten on a Tuesday afternoon. This has certainly spurred the competitiveness and some pairs have clearly been trying hard ! It has been pleasing to see some of the pairs who started here as beginners, moved on to Tuesday Improvers and are now performing well on a Monday evening. On one evening Janet Backer and Mike Gilchrist topped the Monday table. Tuesday afternoon continues to have a very loyal following and happily accepts the new faces that are still arriving. We hope to run a new Absolute Beginners Course later in the year and any enquiries about that and any other issues can be made to Howard Waller on 01763 261693. Details of the club can be found on the Melbourn Bridge Club website and even more details, results and news on Melbourn Cambs Bridgewebs. melbournbridgeclub.co.uk / www.bridgewebs.com

Melbourn Bowls Club As a result of our leafleting campaign we had a very successful Open Day on 30th April, which was attended by eighteen potential new members and as a result we have now welcomed twelve new members to the club. Several of these new members, none of whom had previously played bowls, have already started playing both friendly and competitive league matches. We are delighted to welcome these new members and hope they find both the game and the company enjoyable. In addition to these new members we have also recruited and welcome two experienced bowlers from Bassingbourn following the sad demise of that club. We held a very successful Cheese and Wine evening on 8th July complete with live music from Dave and Arthur. This social evening gave our new members the chance to get to know existing members in an informal social manner and a good time was had by all. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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We hold Coffee Mornings every Thursday morning ably hosted by Muriel Cooper and Sue Gibson. These are not intended solely for members and we would invite anyone interested to attend. There will be no obligation to join the club, but you will have the chance to get to know the members in a social setting. These will continue until mid-September and we will hope to resume them from mid-April next year. Exact dates are not available at present, but will appear in a subsequent article. We will be starting our Whist Drives at the Clubhouse on Friday 6th October starting at 7.00pm. These are held every other week and we would welcome anyone who is interested to come along. You do not have to be a member of the Club, but it could be a good way of getting to know existing members. If you would like any further information regarding the Whist Drives, please contact Arthur Andrews on 01763 261990 or arthur.andrews123@btinternet.com. We are now, at the time of writing, just over half way through the season. Our Cambridge and District (C & D) team in division 3 are currently top of the league, while our C & D division 5 team are mid table. This latter team is giving some of our newcomers their first taste of competitive play and we fully expect that they will find this experience enjoyable and enable them to improve their game. In addition we run a Foxton League team which plays mostly on Wednesday afternoons. This league is designed for those who are free in the afternoons and is intended to cater for beginners as well as more experienced players. We are currently mid table, but this is secondary to giving newer players the chance to compete with players from other clubs in the area. Our Meldreth League team is presently in second place and consists of more experienced players. We will be trying to reach the final of this league. In addition our Business House team are near the top of the Mixed League first division. We expect to enter a second team in the lower division next season to give our newer members the chance to play more inter club games next year. Our internal Club Competitions have now progressed to the quarter final stages and the finals will take place on3rd September and 10th September. If you would like to watch the finals please come along to the green where you will be made most welcome and there will be members on hand to explain the intricacies of the game. We look forward to detailing the season’s results in the next issue of the magazine and our expectations for the next summer season. Authur Andrews 261990

Melbourn Karate Club

KSTSK Karate Tournament 2017 Medals and Trophies were won by KSTSK Melbourn Karate Club in a popular event at Wodson Park Sports Centre Ware. This was the 12th Annual tournament organized by Kamaete Schools of Traditional Shotokan Karate (KSTSK) Chief Instructors Instructor Sensei Peter Khera (6th Dan) and Sensei Rakesh Patel (6th Dan). Fifteen clubs in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire competed in the tournament. Families and

friends packed out the seating, cheering their respective clubs throughout the day. Events covered all ages from 5 years Kata (Formal exercise) through to teenager and adult categories to Black Belt Kumite (Fighting). Their marvellous display of Karate and Spirit in Kumite (Fighting) and Kata (Formal Exercise). Mebourn Instructor Sensei Peter Khera commented “There was a high standard of competition Karate, it was clear that the students put in extra effort and practice outside the regular training. He was very impressed with the juniors whose karate discipline and etiquette was excellent”. Gold Medals and trophies went to: Benjamin Edwards, George Bradley and Ben Cobley. Silver Medals and trophies went to : George Whybrow. Bronze Medals and trophies went to: Ian Boorman, Gregg Hills, Ben Holme and Henry Whybrow KSTSK are running Free Taster beginners classes. Please call 07866 374674 or visit www.kstsk.co.uk for details. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Melbourn Dynamos Football Club All welcome! www.melbourndynamos.co.uk Melbourn Dynamos FC is a friendly community youth football club that gives boys and girls the opportunity to play regular football regardless of their experience or ability at all ages from 3 through to 18. In addition, we hope to re-establish our Men’s team and Ladies’ team as natural homes for our players who graduate from youth football. We are a successful club defined by the strength of support from members and families, the praise and recognition of fellow clubs and FA Leagues, the work with our Community partners including Melbourn Village College and Melbourn Parish Council, and of course our players’ achievements on the pitch and their support for the community. We also have the support of Melbourn Community Sports Services (MCSS), which is enabling us to develop and broaden our work within the community and has generously donated the fantastic new kit for all players and coaches. With the support of this benefactor we are extending our work to make the club more inclusive by assisting players whose families are unable to afford the necessary fees. Melbourn Community Sports Services is a brand new Community Interest Company specifically set up with the aim: To ensure the continuing provision of sporting opportunities and services to the people of Melbourn and surrounding villages. Starting with our football club, MCSS is already expanding with basketball, cycling and potentially cricket teams. MCSS is also keen to explore further opportunities to support your sport. As a Community Interest Company, any assets and profits from the company can only be used for the stated aims – for the benefit of the community – any age, any sport, any gender. MCSS is keen to hear from you – contact: chair@melbourncss.com. We have had a successful 2016/17 season with new teams and players welcoming the opportunity to play for Melbourn Dynamos. The addition of Girls’ Teams at U9/10, U12 & U16 with more than 40 players, mean that we now have more than 250 players at the club. We are especially proud of our U11s, coached by Nichola Patel, who reached the 2016/17 season’s League Cup Final on 21st May. As I write this we are looking forward to building on our success by registering even more teams and players for our next season in 2017/18. Nationally, there has been much concern about historical failures to protect children in youth football. MDFC takes these concerns very seriously and wants to reassure our community that as a Charter Standard Club we have the required child protection measures in place, that we are annually audited by the FA and that we remain vigilant. All coaches and assistants are both qualified and DBS/CRB checked before they work with our players. We hosted an important U9s’ tournament for the Royston Crow Youth Football League on the 13th May welcoming many visitors to the village to enjoy the great facilities that we are fortunate to use in such a beautiful setting. With the support of our volunteers, we hosted another brilliant event and raised substantial funds to pay for our Presentation Day

celebrations, kindly hosted by MVC on Sunday 11th June. At our Presentation Day we were fortunate to have two strong nominees for the Tom Whitely Community Award who best demonstrate the club’s commitment to the Community. Amy Selby and Thomas Cockman are both inspirational young people who give so much back to the club and our community. Tom Whiteley was one of our players. Debs Whiteley, who established up Tom’s Trust (www.tomstrust.org. uk) in her son’s name to care for children with brain tumours. The attached picture shows her presenting the award to Amy Selby. We are proud to announce that with the help from our volunteers and generous donations on the day; more than £1,000 was raised for Tom’s Trust – our nominated charity. We are very pleased with the success of our youngest players, the Dynamites, who increasingly provide the core of our league teams from under 7 upwards. The Dynamites’ coaching team is led by Dipak Patel. Dee was Cambridge FA’s Community Coach of the year for 2013, gained his Level 2 coaching in June 2015 and is our Football Development Officer. This year in recognition of his tremendous work for the club and community, Dee has been nominated as Coach of the Year as part of the FA’s Community Awards. These players, aged 3-6, have fun and develop their skills before deciding whether to play league football as the club’s under 7s team. This fun, preparation and skill development through the Dynamites has undoubtedly brought more success to our current League Teams. These players train with level 2 and level 1 FA qualified coaches in a Saturday morning fun session for 3-6 year old boys and girls between 09.15 -10.15 am at Melbourn Sports Centre. Sessions feature lots of short activities aimed at improving individual skills, concentration and the ability to be part of a team. The first one hour session is free thereafter we charge £2. All are welcome to the Melbourn Dynamites so why not bring your kids along so they can check it out. All of our coaches are DBS/CRB checked and qualified to a minimum of FA Level1 standard. In addition, as a Partnership melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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Club of Cambridge United and through the support of the FA, our coaches are now receiving high level mentoring and support to develop our players and above all else provide them with enjoyment and exercise. We are also an FA Charter Standard Club which means that we have all the correct people and practices in place to operate in line with FA & government requirements. All are welcome and if you are interested in finding out more about MDFC and the opportunities to play football with us, please contact David Atkins on 01763 263462 or email – secretary.mdfc@gmail.com. The club’s success depends entirely on enthusiastic members and volunteers. Our continuing success and growth means that we need even more volunteers. If you feel that you would like to contribute to the club as an administrator, communications leader, fixtures secretary, coach, match day official or in some other volunteer capacity then we would be pleased to hear from you through secretary.mdfc@gmail.com or chairman.mdfc@gmail.com. More information about the club and individual teams is available from the club’s Website: www.melbourndynamos.co.uk.

Melbourn Sports Centre For those of you who don’t already know, we have: A state of the art fitness suite offering a variety of membership schemes A 20 metre swimming pool (kept ever so slightly warmer than most!) A comprehensive swimming lesson programme, catering for all ages and abilities Upgraded multisports courts for hire including tennis, football and squash courts Water sports courses and activities Traditional and modern exercise classes Access to Melbourn Village College sports hall and gymnasium for activities such as trampolining, badminton and basketball Supervised sports and pool parties

• • • •

Party time! Looking for the perfect venue to hold your children’s birthday or Halloween party? Then your search is over! We have all the facilities here for a fun-packed event with a variety of activities for your guests to enjoy, including trampolining (always a popular choice), football and traditional pool parties.

Swimming lessons We still have plenty of spaces on our pre-school lessons, so for more details or to book a place then please contact Toby or Graham on 01763 263313 Waterplay These pre-school swimming lessons are an ideal first step for your child learning to swim, with the aims to build confidence in water, learning basic skills like floatation and movement using buoyancy aids. »» Tuesdays: 13.30 – 15.00 (30 min lessons) / Thursdays: 13.30 – 15.00 (30 min lessons) »» Fridays: 10.30 – 11.30 (30 min lessons) Prices: £3.75 per lesson (paid termly) For further details on these or any other activities, please drop in, call 01763 263313 or go online at www.mc-sport.co.uk We look forward to seeing you soon.

Activities for teenagers and young adults Teen training An hour fitness session using our fitness suite machines Age range: 14 years upwards / Date: Monday – Fridays / 15.30 – 16.30 & Weekends / 14.00 – 15.00 / Price: £2.50 per session/10 sessions for £20.00 Melbourn Sports Centre, The Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6EF 01763 263313 / www.mc-sport.co.uk / info@mc-sport.co.uk

• • • •

We have loads on offer this season, with something for the whole community to get involved with…. So why not come along and find out more about your local sports centre!

Come in out of the cold! With autumn fully upon us and the nights closing in, why not come in out of the cold and have a go at such activities as table tennis, squash or badminton? Court hire from only £5.00 per hour. We have loads of classes to keep you fit and healthy, including Boot Camp, Aquafit and Body Sculpture. Or why not take advantage of one of our great membership schemes to our fitness suite, which houses the latest in gymnasium equipment, including C.V machines fitted with audio visual technology.

Half term activities Children’s half term is fast approaching, an ideal time to book your young ones onto one of our great activity courses. These include swimming crash course, soccer camps, trampoline taster sessions and our popular Ofsted PlayScheme.

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire are looking for Home Visiting Volunteers Can you give a family the most precious gift - your time? Our volunteers are all parents or grandparents who can give a few hours a week to help families who are finding it difficult to cope. All parents need emotional and practical help to get through the first few years, but not everyone has friends or family nearby.

This is when Home-Start volunteers can help!

For more details contact Sarah or Jackie at: Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Royston, Herts, SG8 6JP Tel: 01763 262262 or e-mail admin@hsrsc.org.uk www.hsrsc.org.uk Registered Charity No 1105385

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Head Office: Melbourn, Royston SG8 6DS Tel: 01763 661334 Showroom: Coton Orchard Garden Centre, Cambridge CB23 7PJ Tel: 01954 211662

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Army Cadet Force “Do you know a young person who would benefit from action and adventure, fun and friendship in a structured, disciplined environment?” The Army Cadets gives young people – from all walks of life – access to fun, friendship, action and adventure. We challenge young people to learn more, do more and try more. We inspire them to aim high and give them the skills, values and attitudes to go further in life, no matter what they aim to do. Adventurous Training • Camps • Competitions • Drill • Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award • Expeditions • Fieldcraft • First Aid • Music • Radio Communications • Recognised Qualifications • Shooting • Skill At Arms • Sport. Detachments usually meet on one or two evenings a week and there are also some weekend activities, such as sports competitions, short hiking expeditions or camps in the local area. Melbourn Detachment Cambs ACF ACF Hut, The Moor, Melbourn Care of: 2 Cromwell Coy Cambs ACF, ARC Centre, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge CB1 3AH. Telephone 01223 248001 More information on your local cadet units and your new Detachment in Melbourn can be found by typing Cambs ACF into an online search, or by going to Melbourn Army Cadets on Facebook. www.facebook.com/MelbournACF | @MelbournACF Find out more, visit: www.armycadets.Com

Grinnel Hill BMX Club Spring saw the completion of a major re-design and development of the advanced line at the lower, and a small adjustment to the beginner line at the top end of the site. Since then there’s been many club members returning from far and wide, including all the way from Australia! There are also plans for an End of Season Jam late summer as a fund-raising exercise for the club!

The club is open annually April to September Strictly for BMX use only, for ages 12 and older, members have the option of either becoming a seasonal member for £50 (April to September), or a day member (per session) for £10. Our aim for the club is to promote an activity for the young community of Melbourn and surrounding areas to participate in, with the guidance of our committee and experts, in a safe and friendly environment. Members will have access to BMX coaching and expertise on site during club open days. For more details and to download your membership form today please visit; www.grinnelhillbmx.co.uk Acknowledgements: Melbourn Parish Council for their ongoing support at all levels to keep the club sustainable and open. Frog End Pet Supplies Melbourn for their supply and delivery of wooden pallets to help keep our tarpaulins in place to protect the site over the winter months Wrights Mower Centre Melbourn for their help and generosity in supporting us to keep the site to a well maintained and safe standard for the foreseeable future.

We realise that parents and carers might have questions about the aims and objectives of the Army Cadet Force, and the kind of activities we teach, so we have created a section on our website just for you www.armycadets.com/parents-and-carers.

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Melbourn Community Hall

Established 23 years, The Letting Centre is a local, dedicated letting agency based in Melbourn. With long-standing clients some of whom have been with us for 20 years or more, we aim to provide a personal, tailored service covering Cambridge, Royston, Buntingford, Saffron Walden and surrounding villages. We offer discounted fees for multiple properties, as well as those located in any of the villages around Melbourn.

Melbourn Community Hall is in the centre of the village behind All Saints Church

Call us for a free market appraisal and comprehensive landlord pack.

If you would like to hire the hall contact Sandie Springall Telephone: 01763 223320 or email: hallbookings@live.co.uk

Rapidly Growing We are proud to recognise that Clarke Philips is continuing to enjoy steady growth in the Royston and surrounding areas. We believe it is the result of carefully nurturing our customers’ needs which include: • Offering competitive fees

• Providing honest advice

• Being available 8am-8pm 7 days a week

• Using modern marketing

• Having two week agreements

• Let only to full management available

• Strong sales and lettings experience

• Having no call centres

Be part of our success and ask us how we can help you sell or let your property today.

E royston@clarkephilips.co.uk T 01763 248682 W clarkephilips.co.uk

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

What’s On Literary Lunch

Join us for Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire’s first Literary Lunch with local entertainer and Home-Start’s ‘Poet in Residence’ Jude Simpson

Tuesday, 17 October Jude hosts a chat with Ophelia Redpath Local artist and author of ‘The Lemur’s Tale’ Find an inspiring gift at the Christmas Literary Lunch

Tuesday, 5 December Jude hosts a chat with Emma Bennett And other artists featured in ‘THE CAMBRIDGE ART BOOK’ At The Old Bull Inn High Street, Royston SG8 9AW Buffet lunch from 12.15pm Chat from 1.00 – 2.15pm – with time for questions

Melbourn Halloween Ghost walk This year instead of trick or treating why not dress up in your scary costumes and join the MADS team for a spooky evening of fun and win sweets along the way! Melbourn Halloween ghost walk. Look out for posters with more info . coming soon……

Tickets: £15 from Tracy Tel: 01763 262262 or e-mail: admin@hsrsc.co.uk or buy on-line at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hsrsc All proceeds in aid of Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire www.hsrsc.org.uk – Charity No. 1105385

The Hall For All & Melbourn Cinema Night All Saints Community Hall has a new string to its bow – a licence to show films! We already have the screen and by the time you read this our new,ceiling mounted projector will be in place and the system will be very easy to operate. Following the successful showing of JACKIE, LA LA LAND, and LION, on the 22nd September Melbourn’s very own pop-up cinema will be showing THE VICEROY’S HOUSE which features the last days of British Rule in India in 1947. It stars Hugh Bonneville as Lord Louis Mountbatten and Gillian Anderson as his wife Edwina. This will be followed on 20th October by GOING IN STYLE starring Michael Caine, and THEIR FINEST on 24th November. In December we may show a matinee but that is yet to be decided – look out for the posters. Tickets (260686 & 261154) cost £5 booked in advance and £6 on the door and include a soft drink and pot of popcorn. Ice creams will also be on sale from the newly installed small freezer in the kitchen. Other news from ASCH is that plans for installing WiFi are finally coming to fruition, new swivel taps have been fitted in the toilets which are easier to use. Our community hall is flourishing and next June we will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the opening! We are beginning to plan a suitable way to celebrate the fact. See you at the movies… Mavis Howard

Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society (MADS) CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME

Sleeping Beauty December 8th, 9th & 10th Rehearsals are underway for the Christmas pantomime 2017 “Sleeping Beauty”. The team are growing from strength to strength and are all very excited about this years pantomime in particular, because of some very successful funding applications over the last 12 months. Thanks to funding from Melbourn Parish Council, MADS have been fortunate enough to purchase 2 additional wireless microphones which will improve the sound quality of every production well into the future. In addition, funding was awarded from South Cambs District Council Community Chest, which has enabled the purchase of 2 high quality spot lights. These improvements will benefit not only the cast and crew but will greatly improve the overall experience of the huge number of ticket buyers who come from far and wide to see the shows, for many years to come. MADS are a not for profit organisation so rely on ticket sales to fund each production, but in order to continue to make improvements to technical equipment, costumes and scenery, rely very much on this additional funding support. Producer and founder Donna Sleight says “We are very grateful to our loyal ticket buyers over the last 5 years and for the funding and donations from local groups and organisations. This level of support has enabled us to grow and develop into the established group we have now melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Carpet Cleaning & Stone Floor, Upholstery, Rug’s A few points that make us stand out, Rothwell’s has been in business since 1993 We’re an honest local family firm. Our large truck mounted machines mean more cleaning & drying power for the best results possible. Members of both the NCCA and TACCA. We will move the furniture. 100% satisfaction or it’s FREE. Call Oliver and Max Campbell for expert help today.

01223 832 928 www.Rothwells.biz

FROG END PET SUPPLIES • • • • • •

Extensive Range of Animal Feed Accessories Bedding Large Wild Bird Dept Livestock Stockists of Calor Gas Cold Water Fish

Phillimore Garden Centre Cambridge Rd Melbourn Herts SG8 6EY

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY Opening Hours

Mon - Fri 9am to 6pm Sat -9am to 5.30pm Sun - 10am to 4.30pm 01763 263342 www.frogendpetsupplies.co.uk

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

PC Repairs Advice & Installation of Home Networks Help with Selecting a Computer Fault Finding Brian Girling 01223 208529 (Wimpole) E-mail bg@moncraft.co.uk We can also provide the following services: Design of brochures, posters, business cards A4/A3 laminating • A4 comb-binding Small print runs on A6 to A3 media

Chris Thomas

Cambridge Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

Carpet and upholstery cleaner based in Cambridge. Working in and around Cambridge, Royston, Saffron Walden, Newmarket and Huntingdon.

• Carpet cleaning using Dry Fusion™ system • Hot water extraction cleaning • Host® Dry Cleaning for natural floor coverings • Stain treatment • Upholstery cleaning using Crystal Fusion™ • Curtains cleaned in situ treatment • Infestation • Odour neutralisation using ozone generator Competitively priced Fully insured with public and product liability Environmentally-friendly products used

Mobile: 07830 227138 Landline: 01223 836002 email: christhomascleaning@gmail.com www.carpetcleaningcambridgeuk.com

become. By having this level of support we are securing MADS future and hope to continue to bring people together by providing affordable and fun entertainment to Melbourn, Meldreth and the surrounding villages for many years to come”. “Sleeping Beauty” has all the fun of the traditional panto, so why not come along, check out our technical improvements and have some Christmas fun. You can boo the “baddies”, cheer the “goodies”, sing along with the songs and join in with the banter. With the licensed bar for the grown ups and tuck shop for the kids – what’s not to like? Show dates are December 8th, 9th & 10th (2 evening and 2 matinee performances) all at Meldreth Village Hall. Tickets go on sale from Sunday 1st October and can be bought online via the MADS website at www.melbournamdram.co.uk We look forward to seeing you there! The MADS Team.

The Melbourn Singers The Melbourn Singers restart rehearsals after the summer break in late September. This year we will be taking on the challenge of Dvorak’s Mass in D major and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. Both are glorious works which are not often performed so it will be a real pleasure to learn them and then perform them. Exploring new (to us) works is always interesting and rewarding so if there are any singers who would like to join us in this challenge please contact Jane Stevens (R 261858). We rehearse on Tuesday evenings in Meldreth Primary School.

Freedom This year National Poetry Day is being held on Thursday September 28th the theme is Freedom. Gallery Writers are pleased to announce the publication of three new poetry pamphlets from three local poets. Yvonne Chamberlain, Pauline Radley, and Ursel North. they would also like to invite you to the Hub from 6.00 on that day until 9.00 to hear the poets read, also to be involved in an open microphone where you can read your own or an already published favourite poem old or new on the subject of Freedom … If you are a singer/song writer you are also welcome to perform at the mic. Nearer the time please look out for our poetry posters illustrated by some of the students at the wonderful Rowan Centre in Cambridge. We hope you can join us on September 28th for poetry, music, refreshments and to read out loud … and join with our new poets to celebrate Freedom as they let loose their poetry on the air!

HomeStart Quiz night Saturday 7th October – 7.00 for 7.30pm Quiz Night with Ploughman’s supper to be held at Meldreth Village Hall. This will be a fun quiz – teams of 6 are required but if you can’t get a full team, please do still join us and we can include you in another team. Tickets will be £12.50 each to include your supper and there will be a licensed bar and a raffle held at this event. admin@hsrsc.org.uk melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, sg8 6dx - 01763 261000 - www.ESSE.uk.com

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Foxton Art Exhibition The award-winning Foxton Art Exhibition is an exciting annual event organised by The Friends of Foxton Primary School with the purpose of introducing and promoting the work of local artists. With the funds raised The Friends are able to provide the children of Foxton Primary School with artistic materials, facilities and activities with an emphasis on encouraging and developing artistic abilities. The exhibition has been running as a great success for a many years; it received acclaim from artists and visitors alike. We aim to put on a professional and tasteful presentation of quality works of art from prominent local artists in a village setting, encompassing painting, prints, woodturning and ceramics amongst others. The event takes place over 3 days and all exhibits are available to purchase. In past years we have achieved a stylish event with a relaxed gallery atmosphere and have enjoyed good attendance numbers. We are particularly proud that the event won the Art Exhibition Award in the South Cambridgeshire District Council Arts Awards 2012. This year our exhibition takes place from Friday 17th November – Sunday 19th November 2017 and will be open during the following times:

»» Friday 17th November 19.30 - 21.30 Preview Evening (Adult »» »»

Admission Only) Saturday 18th November 10.30 - 16.00 Admission £2.00 (children free) Sunday 19th November 11.00 - 16.00 Admission £2.00 (children free)

Foxton’s exhibition team are looking forward to welcoming all visitors and artists to our 2017 event. “Hummingbird” was voted one of three most popular exhibits by visitors to Foxton Art Exhibition 2016 – image used courtesy of exhibiting artist Rosalind Ridley.

Stourbridge Medieval Fair at The Leper Chapel 2 September 12 noon to 4.30pm Not to be missed! Come and enjoy the re-enactment of this medieval fair held at the oldest complete building in Cambridge, The Leper Chapel. All manner of stalls and attractions will bring the medieval style fair to life.

Visit the oldest complete building in Cambridge, the Leper Chapel, for the re-enactment of this medieval fair. Stalls selling much of the fair produce typical of the time, as well as arts and crafts. This wonderful, popular event for all the family allows you to step back in time to a medieval age. Witness the original historic way of opening the fair at noon and the costumed dancers. As well as dancing, there will be singing, storytelling, musical entertainment and fascinating history talks. Pedlars and alchemists will wander among visitors with other medieval characters. Free event, donations appreciated.

Wandlebury Adventurers Club September 4, 11, 18, 25, October 2 6.00pm to 8.00pm Fun, adventure and learning in a safe, supervised environment at this popular weekly club on 5 consecutive Monday evenings, for 8 to 12 years olds. Either book and pay for the whole course, or join in on an individual session basis. Returning attendees and new comers all welcome. A selection of mixed activities enabling children to experience and learn new skills, make friends and develop teamwork, gain confidence to take responsibility for themselves, the group and the environment. Children to be brought to and collected from the stable rooms at Wandlebury. No need for adults to stay. Booking essential, early booking recommended as places are limited. £50 for whole course, £10 per session

Autumnal Wildflowers 10 September – 2.00pm to 3.30pm £4 per adult (members £3) Sociable guided stroll around Wandlebury Park with our knowledgeable staff, identifying and learning about our late flowering plants. Adults only, no prior knowledge necessary. £4, (members £3) Please book in advance.

‘Wonderful Wandlebury’ History and archaeology fun day 7 October – 12 noon to 5.00pm A popular, fun filled family history and archaeology day. Iron Age activities for children – including making rope and using natural stains with the Cambridge Young Archaeologists, simple weaving or basic basket making techniques, cooking over an open fire or making chainmail. There will also be chances to try your hand at archery, use a slingshot and make your own stick bow and arrow to take home. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Timber • Aggregates Fencing

CARPENTRY

• Paving • Bricks Blocks • Sheet Material Insulation & much more Phone: 01763 261740 Email: sales@norburys.com www.norburys.com 1 London Way Melbourn, SG8 6DJ (Just off Back Lane)

Jeremy Ashworth Electrician and Property Maintenance

21 Bramley Avenue, Melbourn, Royston, Herts. SG8 6HG

07815 093166 01763 230831 jeremy.ashworth@ntlworld.com 66

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

KITCHENS - DOORS FLOORING - DECKING TILING & HOME IMPROVEMENTS Mobile - 07702905915 Email - paulhutley1@gmail.com

Bury Lane Farm Shop - 01763 260418

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Delicatessen Café Butchery Fresh Flowers Gift Shop Garden Shop Plant Centre Free-range Eggs Christmas Shop P–Y–O Open 7 days a week all year round A10 Melbourn By-Pass, Melbourn, Royston, Herts SG8 6DF Tel: 01763 260418

www.burylanefarmshop.co.uk

Perhaps you’ll prefer to meet some of our local archaeologists and find out about their areas of expertise, go on a guided tour of our Iron Age hillfort, follow self-guided historic trails, listen to stories told by the Cambridge Storytellers or even check out beekeeping with the Cambridge Beekeepers. Events and activities will be held across the Paddock, Ring, Orchard and Stable Rooms. Entry is free to this popular event but there will be a small charge for selected activities. There will also be opportunities to buy some items. Free Event - donations appreciated

Basket weaving 15 October 10.00am to 4.00pm If you’ve never tried basket making before, here’s your opportunity to have a go and learn this ancient craft. You’ll be able to take your basket home with you – a satisfying end to the session. Improvers welcome as well as beginners. There’s always more to learn. £45 (members £40)

We can make life a little easier

Local Community Services delivered from Moorlands Court Homecare : our fully trained carers visit you in

your home.

Sitting service : a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers time for themselves.

Day Centre : based at Moorlands Court with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.

Meals service : nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you.

Housekeeping : we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping. To find out more, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email : denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk

Hinxton Watermill open day 3 September and 1 October 2.30pm to 5.30pm Come and look round this stunning working watermill, dating back to the Domesday Book. Owned by CambridgePPF and run by volunteer guides who will tell you the history of the mill. Set in picturesque surroundings on the River Cam, in the village of Hinxton. Children can take part in the popular Where’s Ratty contest! Adults £3.00, children £1.00. Members free. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

The original oven cleaning specialists

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• Friendly, local, professional and reliable • Complete eco friendly cleaning system • No fumes, no mess, no bother • Removes grease, fat and burnt on carbon Ovens • Filters • Hobs Grills • Extractors Call John on 07513 439604 www.ovenclean.com

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Melbourn Flooring M and Interiors Limited

FLOORING ■ Vast Range of Carpets from all leading manufacturers ■ ■ ■ ■

Real Wood, Laminates

Vinyl’s, Karndean, Amtico and Project Floors Safety Flooring

Free Estimates. Fitting by experienced staff.

HOME INTERIORS ■ Wallpaper sample books – orders next day delivery ■

Designer Fabrics – Sanderson Harlequin – Prestigious most with next day delivery

TILES New Tile showroom at 27 Royston Road, Foxton CB22 6SE covering all your tiling needs. 01223 870011

www.melbournflooring.co.uk VISIT OUR LARGE SHOWROOM 9 TO 5 MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 TO 4 SATURDAY OR CALL ON 01763 262413 (Melbourn) 01223 870011 (Foxton) AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY STAFF

Large showroom, ample free parking. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

We are grateful to The TTP Group for their continued sponsorship

Melbourn magazine is non-profit and all work on the magazine including layout is produced by volunteers. The Magazine is published four times a year in the first week of March, June, September and December. We print 2200 copies which are delivered free to every house in the village. Advertising revenue is used for printing costs only. Adverts should be supplied as finished artwork and must be at the sizes shown below. Please send artwork to melbournmagazine@gmail.com. The current rates for advertising in the Magazine are as follows:

Melbourn Magazine Committee Ann Dekkers

Width x Height

B/W

Colour

Editorial

1/4 inside page (79 × 128 mm) 1/2 inside page (163 × 128 mm) Full inside page (163 × 262 mm)

£105 £180 N/A

£155 £250 £480

Production\Editorial Peter Simmonett

Size per…

Advertising rates are per year (four issues)

For further information on advertising please telephone 220363. Remittance or cheques should be made to Melbourn Magazine.

261144 220363

Distribution

Eric Johnston

220197

Parish Profile

Mavis Howard

260686

Proof reading

Brenda Meliniotis 261154

Colin Limming

Village Diary

Brenda Meliniotis 261154

260072

Advertisers

Page number

Advertisers

Page number

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Amber Health - 01462 490141

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Just Like Wendy's / Interiors & Gifts - www.justlikewendys.co.uk 52 Kathleen Harry Osteopath - 01763 261716

Langford Windows - 01462 701828

Langham Press - 01223 870266

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS

The Melbourn magazine team would like to thank all our advertisers for their support and sponsorship

Kitchens Bathrooms KIT Carpets CHENS & Flooring Tiles • Extensive kitchen, bathroom & flooring showrooms displaying a variety of de signs to suit all budgets from contemporary to traditional. • Wide range of products including the new exclusive addition “EVERHOT” electric (Aga) ovens. • Free on-site visit quotation offering a 3D design making your room come alive. • The in-store and fitting team work closely with you from your first visit through to the design, installation and completion.

01763 245888

Opening Hours Mon – Fri: 8.00am – 5.00pm

To Huntingdon A1198

Orchard South Close

Jewsons

WE ARE HERE

Road

Unit 5 South Close, Royston, Herts, SG8 5UH

Old North

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(Ample FREE parking)

www.roystonhomestore.co.uk

Tesco

A505

Sat: 9.00am – 4.00pm Sunday: Closed

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A505

To Baldock

A10

ROYSTON TOWN CENTRE

“ A fully tailored stress free service from start to finish”

Baldock St

Mattresses Divans Bed Frames Headboards Furniture Childrens

Bedstore is an independent family run business with one aim: to offer a quality product and unique service to the local community in a personal non sales pressure environment.

01763 247490

This is reflected in the high level of Customers that come from recommendation. Why not visit the showroom and see for yourself, Kevin & Abby are on hand to help you get a better nights sleep Children’s bunk & cabin beds

Opening Hours Mon - Fri: 10.00am - 4.00pm Sat: 9.00am - 5.00pm Sunday: Closed

Pillows in stock

First Floor, Unit 5 South Close, Royston, Herts, SG8 5UH (Ample FREE parking) info@roystonbedstore.co.uk

Delivery & Collection Available

www.roystonbedstore.co.uk

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