Issue 105 Spring 2021 by Melbourn Magazine

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

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

...editorial Thank you to everyone who has sent in articles for this issue and we hope that you are all well and comfortable in these difficult times. At least Spring is now on the way. The beautiful front cover photograph of a Melbourn Sunrise was taken by a member of the Girl Guides Laura Sharman, aged 12. All the entries to their photographic competition can be seen on page 58. Congratulations to you all, obviously you all have a good eye and are very talented. Of course no village functions are happening, but people are staying as active as they can, and our schools are busy. Members of the Playgroup are adding pages from stories for children to find and read on their woodland walks see page 29. The Principle of the Village College stresses how they are maintaining contact with their students and helping them to continue learning. On page 42 there is an article about the founding of the original All Saints’ Playgroup by the late Rosemary Gatward. Many people will remember the happy times they or their children spent there. Our Churches are also remaining active and hold services on line. They are open for individuals to visit and the Minister of the Baptist church reminds us that the Bible says we were born in a garden see page 55. So, as the weather improves get outside, enjoy your garden and celebrate Easter. Read about Nature in and around the village, and continue the walk around the neighbourhood started in the last magazine. We can also travel further afield via the Travelogue. There are book reviews too, so despite lockdown there is plenty for us to do. We all hope that by now the older and more vulnerable amongst us has had a ‘jab’. We are fortunate to stay in such a lovely and helpful village. Many thanks to The Parish Council for delivering leaflets telling us where to find help when needed. A Very Happy Easter to everyone! Stay safe and well.

The magazine is available to read online at www.issuu.com/melbourn. It is also available to download to a computer, mobile or tablet at www.melbourncambridge.org.

Contents Village news 5 Nature – Melwood Local Nature Reserve 22 Melwood in Lockdown

Travelogue

Travelling The Chinese Stretch Of The Silk Road – Ancient Buddhist Kingdoms

Education Bin collection Nature – Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve feature – “Our Rosemary” – Playgroups Review

29 36 38 42 44

Almonds and Raisins Family Saga Famous Last Words: A Novel

Authors and their Books – Ashley Meggitt 47 Walks in & around Melbourn 48 A Walk on the Wild Side (Cont.*)

Churches Together Sports & Clubs

53 57

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.

If you would like to advertise in the Melbourn Magazine see inside back cover for details

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Moorlands Court

Local Community Services We will not be offering face-to-face advice for the foreseeable future; but we are still here to help. To contact Citizens Advice North Herts offices for advice, please call 01462 689801 You will be prompted to leave your details and we will return your call as soon as possible. To email us visit our website and complete the enquiry form: northhertscab.org.uk/contact-us/ If you need advice about Universal Credit please call us on: 0800 144 8 444 (freephone) Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm Or chat to us online: citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim For advice about anything else, please call us on: 03444 111 444 Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm or contact us by webchat at: citizensadvice.org.uk

*VOLUNTEERS NEEDED* SAFE – CLEAN – FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

ü Homecare – our fully trained carers visit you in your home. ü Sitting service – a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers time for themselves. ü Day Centre – based at Moorlands Court, with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch. ü Meals service – nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you. ü 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

Village news Village News Caring Together

Moorlands Court

Melbourn Springs Care Home

Healthwatch

Decorate an Easter Window

Melbourn Walking Market

Home-Start Co-Op Campaign

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Melbourn Women’s Institute

The Hall for all

U3a Melbourn & District

Letter To The Editor

Melbourn Eco Warriors

Home-Start Easy Fundraising

Royston & District Local History Society

Melbourn Parish Council

District and County Councillors

Coronavirus vaccine scams warning

Melbourn Magazine Needs Your help! We have been fortunate that through the lockdowns of 2020/2021 (with the exception of the Summer issue which was published online) we have continued to print and deliver the magazine to every household throughout the Parish. This is due in no small part to our volunteer deliverers who brave all seasons (and all types of letterboxes!). We also must thank our contributors and advertisers without whose support we could not exist and of course the very generous sponsorship from TTP. Now in our 27th year, the numbers of our production committee of volunteers has declined over the years – as the old adage goes, none of us are getting any younger and we find ourselves in need of volunteers to join the production side of the magazine. We need help with organising distribution, advertising and editorial.

An end of an era Unfortunately this is possibly our last year in production if we are unable to find support. It will be a sad day for those that produce and deliver the magazine and the many residents that find the magazine a lifeline especially during this pandemic. So please, if you are able to spare a few hours each quarter, and would like to help the community, keep in touch with village life, please get in touch. If you feel this is not for you, you can still help by telling others! We need people to survive. For more information contact Ann Dekkers on 261144 or email melbournmagazine @gmail.com

Caring Together Walk your walk to help carers to attend COVID-19 vaccinations Local charity Caring Together is providing free and tailored support for people looking after a family member or friend, so they and the person they care for can get to their appointment for the COVID-19 vaccination. They are inviting you to walk your walk for carers this March, to raise money so that they can continue to provide this and other support to carers during the coronavirus pandemic. Whether you choose to set yourself a challenge based on the number of steps you walk, the distance you want to cover or the amount of time you spend walking, you can raise money to help carers. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

People who are most vulnerable are being prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccination and, as the priority categories are worked through, people looking after a family member or friend will also then be invited for their own COVID-19 vaccination. But whether it is the appointment for the person they look after, or for themselves, carers face many challenges in getting to medical appointments. So, the free support from Caring Together can make the difference in whether they can go to their appointment or not. Caring Together head of fundraising and engagement, Hannah Crouch, said, “The pandemic has had a devastating effect on carers. For many the only light at the end of the tunnel is receiving their COVID-19 vaccination, to give them the confidence that they are able to keep their older, disabled and seriously ill loved ones safe. “We are relieved that carers have been included on the government’s priority lists to receive their vaccination. And with your help, we can help carers to get to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. “From providing homecare for the person they care for to supporting them with their travel and transport – anything that they need. “We are asking you to walk your walk for carers this March. Whether you are looking to increase your fitness, make the most of your daily exercise or simply want to give purpose to getting out and about: every step you take will help support carers in your local community during the coronavirus crisis.” Signing up to the challenge is completely free and there is no minimum sponsorship that we ask you to raise to take part. If you pledge to raise £50 you will be sent a Caring Together T-shirt and if you raise £100 they will send you a water bottle to say thank you. You can find out how to create your walk for carers challenge at caringtogether.org/walkyourwalk or email fundraising@caringtogether.org If you are looking after a family member or friend and want support getting to your coronavirus vaccination appointment, please contact Caring Together on 0345 241 0954 or email hello@caringtogether.org Caring Together support carers across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk. They provide information and advice, run services in our local communities and campaign so that carers have choices. Andy Barber Engagement manager E: andy.barber@caringtogether.org M: 07702 552364

very anxious for the safety of our tenants, we at least have hope this time around, in the form of the new vaccine. This is something we are holding onto to get us through this very tough period. I’m sure, like the thousands of other schemes similar to ours, we are all pinning everything on this to allow our tenants and staff to get their lives back. One thing we are grateful for, however, is the very limited freedom we were allowed earlier in the year and the fact we were allowed a brief, socially distanced Festive period. A few days before Christmas our tenants were treated to a sing-along and our amazing kitchen staff laid on some festive treats for everybody. The afternoon began with the draw of our annual Christmas Raffle, which this year far exceeded our expectations. We were inundated with donations from tenants, their families, staff and local businesses. Given the very difficult year everybody has had, the donations from local companies were very gratefully received indeed. It was heart-warming to know we could still rely on our loyal supporters to enable this Moorlands Court annual tradition to continue. Thank you! Once the raffle was finally completed the music started and the mulled wine, minced pies and sausage rolls, combined with some good old classic Christmas tunes, made a lovely and memorable afternoon. With the addition of a little impromptu dancing by the tenants and staff it turned out to be a perfect afternoon. Watching everybody having fun and reminiscing about Christmases past brought a tear to my eye. I blamed it on a little too much mulled wine, but that excuse didn’t fool anyone! With Christmas behind us, the tree and all the lovely Throughout the pandemic decorations packed away for another year, we face the our team have continued to New Year in lockdown 3 – but this time feels very different work tirelessly offering the to the previous two we’ve faced. Although we are all highest standard of care for

Moorlands Court

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

our tenants and we are immensely proud of everybody who makes up our team here at Moorlands Court. From the cleaners, kitchen staff, carers, admin and the managers, without the amazing teamwork we have we wouldn’t be able to offer the excellent service our tenants and clients expect and that we are so very proud to be able to achieve. Even in the most difficult year, we have still managed to succeed in this field and continually score 100% in our customer satisfaction surveys. We have had some new clients in the community during the last year and feel privileged to be able to offer them our first-class service. Not only do we provide care, we also offer a housekeeping service and our Meals on Wheels delivery, which has continued to be extremely popular. Delicious home-cooked meals, freshly prepared every day by our talented kitchen staff and delivered directly to our clients at lunch time. Not only is this vital for their health and wellbeing, it also allows our clients to maintain the ability to live independently in their homes and lessen the day-to-day stress on their families. Each quarter we distribute a Moorlands Court Newsletter, and with the restrictions the virus has presented to us we have had to find new and interesting things to write about to keep our tenants updated and entertained. In our January newsletter, I went to speak with one of our tenants about her life. We had a lovely chat (socially distanced of course) and she told me all about her early life. I have spoken with her again and she has kindly agreed to share it with the readers of the Melbourn Magazine. I hope you will all enjoy reading about her life as much as our tenants and staff have. As a child, Joy was an accomplished pianist and loved to play for her father, who took great enjoyment from listening to her play. He wanted her to train as a concert pianist, but Joy’s life took another path. She recalls happy times spent accompanying her uncle in musical

afternoons at home. He was a Bandmaster in the Army and always insisted on playing all the interesting notes on his clarinet while she was given the less challenging notes on the piano!! She laughs at his insistence to stick to the roles he had given, even when her mother asked him to allow her to play some of the more challenging notes. After her father passed away, she lost the love she once had for the piano and her time was taken up supporting her mother, who had struggled quite badly after the death of her husband. As her mother began to rebuild her life, she encouraged Joy to go out and mix with people her own age, and suggested a drama class. This was particularly important as the war had prevented many people from socialising in the way they had previously, and Joy found a passion for performing arts. In 1944, when she was just 18, Joy was offered a place at the Guildhall School for Music and Drama, which today is a leading international conservatoire with students from over seventy countries and has one of the most prestigious performing arts programmes in the world. She enjoyed her course and learnt a great deal during her time at the Guildhall, including not only acting, but stage management and production too. Her three-year course culminated in her graduation and a degree, LGSM – Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music. After her graduation, she became a touring actress, with the majority of her roles performed in the South West. She recalls the performances of modern classics with her fellow actors who, fully costumed, performed in pubs as part of the Taverners agency, which still exists today as far as Joy is aware. They quickly learnt how to project their voices above the rowdy crowds in the various drinking establishments they performed in, but she recalls it being a very enjoyable time in her life. One of the fellow cast members Joy performed with was Dick Clement, who later went on to write with Ian La Frenais; the pair became the creators of hit TV shows such as “The Likely Lads” with James Bolam and Rodney Bewes and “Porridge” with Ronnie Barker, to name just two of the many hit shows the pair wrote together. When life on the road stopped, Joy found employment in a Solicitors office, but her links with the arts didn’t stop. She began coaching drama and elocution lessons to children in the evenings and at weekends, and encouraged her pupils to take all the various exams their work had covered. As life continued, Joy went on to meet her husband and have a son. They settled into family life and when their son was around 14 and not so dependent on their time, they took up Sequence Ballroom dancing. Their dancing gave them the opportunity to travel the country participating in competitions and exams. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

s ur ge nth Yo tga o or m m or 6 f id

Welcome to Kingley Grove

Marketing Suite and Show Home Now Open Melbourn, Cambridgeshire SG8 6FE Hopkins Homes are delighted to welcome you to Kingley Grove, just a 10 minute walk from the centre of the quintessentially English village of Melbourn. This is a sublime collection of homes ranging from charming two bedroom cottages and stylish apartments up to lavish five bedroom family homes. With such a varied mix, Kingley Grove is the ideal place to call home whether you are a busy professional, have a growing young family or are looking to downsize.

Contact: 07951 110498

hopkinshomes.co.uk

Help to Buy, Part Exchange & MoveEasy available * Marketing Suite open Thursday - Monday, 10am - 5pm Call: 01394 446860 or email: sales@hopkinshomes.co.uk Computer generated images of Kingley Grove. *Subject to status, terms & conditions apply. **Mortgage offer subject to qualifying criteria and terms & conditions.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

They enjoyed the social scene their dancing life gave them and really enjoyed attending dance weekends arranged by their teachers. She said they were known to attend as many as 9 classes a week sometimes and were always a big part of the dancing scene in their town. They even danced at the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, but her lasting memory of that particular day was that it was “rather crowded.” It was lovely to sit and listen to Joy’s story and gain a little insight into her life. Where possible and dependent on availability, we welcome new tenants who require Extra Care to Moorlands Court and in the community, too. If you would like any further information about the services we offer, please contact us on 01763 260564 and have a chat with one of our Care and Support Managers, or alternatively visit our website: www.chsgroup.org.uk/ housing-and-care-services-for-older-people/moorlandscourt/ for more information. We also have a Facebook page where our tenants and their families are kept up to date on what’s been happening at Moorlands Court. Please look at some of the things we have been doing. https://m.facebook.com/MoorlandsCourt/ Denise Taylor, Extra Care Services Manager Moorlands Court

Melbourn Springs Care Home Staff and residents at Melbourn Springs Care Home were among the first to receive the vaccine. Staff and residents at Barchester’s Melbourn Springs care home, in Royston, were absolutely delighted to have the vaccination provided in the care home this week, which has lifted everyone’s spirits after what has been a very challenging year. General Manager, Karen Allen said: “Last year was like nothing we have seen before in care and now we can see the way out of this pandemic. My team have been brilliant in stepping forward to take the vaccination at the earliest opportunity.” Audrey, 93, resident at Melbourn Springs said: “It didn’t hurt. It was no different to the other vaccines I have had in the past. I was lucky enough to have the vaccine here at Melbourn Springs, everyone was so nice.”

We are welcoming new residents into our homes to ensure that we are there for those that need care and support, and have very clear protocols that must be met including a transition period into our home to help keep everyone safe. Please do give us a call on 01763 722786 if you are looking for care or need any further help. Melbourn Springs Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Melbourn Springs provides residential care, dementia care and respite care. For more information please contact Karen Allen, General Manager at Melbourn Springs on 01763 722786 or Karen.allen@barchester.com

Healthwatch Tell us about health and care around Melbourn Have you had your Covid vaccine yet? Visited the dentist or pharmacy recently? Had care at home or a hospital appointment? Then we’d like to hear how it went We’re Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and our job is to listen to what you have to say about NHS and care services. We pass on your feedback to the people running services so that they know if things are working well or need improving. One way to have your say is through our regular Greater Cambridge Health and Care Forum. It meets every two months to discuss different topics and invites local health and care decision makers to answer your questions. Our meetings are currently running via Zoom. Please join us on Wednesday 7 April, 2 June and 4 August, from 10am to 12 noon. Can’t meet online? We still want to hear about your health and care experiences. Get in touch Contact Healthwatch for details of how to join the forum sessions or to give us your feedback about the services you or a family member uses. Call: 0330 355 1285 Text: 0752 0635 176 Email: enquiries@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk continued on page 10 melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Decorate an Easter Window Following the success of their previous events, community stalwarts Laura Nelson and Jemma Glennon began organising ‘Decorate a Christmas Window’. Using the same Facebook event format they distributed numbers to everyone wishing to take part. The participant decorated their window and submitted a photo of the finished article in the hope of winning one of two fantastic hampers donated by The Melbourn Fete Committee and Tesco. The whole Facebook group then voted on their favourite design – the first prize was shared by two worthy winners. Laura’s next ventures are ‘Decorate an Easter Window’ – details can be found on Facebook – and another Melbourn walking market on Sunday 25th April. Details for the walking market can be found on Facebook or by emailing melbournwalkingmarket@yahoo.com

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, Meldreth and Shepreth 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:

Melbourn Walking Market Sunday 25th April For further details please see Facebook or email melbournwalkingmarket@yahoo.com

• 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 • Going to the Post Office to pay your bills • 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 £7.50 per week (a little more for couples).

Jeannie Seers (Mobile Warden)

Home-Start Co-Op Campaign

07808 735066 email: jeanseers13@gmail.com

Do you shop in a local Co-Op? The Co-Op is what is known as a co-operative, where the store is owned by its members (staff, customers and individuals) rather than by big investors. The company was originally founded in 1863 by a group of business pioneers who believed in ethical trading, and that company profits should be shared in a fair way amongst its members.

Jane Cage (Deputy)

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

07592 821976 email: janec55@virginmedia.com

Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity

We have two Co-Ops within the Home-Start area (High Street, Melbourn and Station Road, Buntingford) plus of course the many stores around Cambridge itself, and if you haven’t been in lately (or ever) now is a really good time to pay a visit and become a member. When you take out a Co-Op membership card (Register your Co op card – Co-Op membership – Co-op) not only do you get access to some pretty excellent deals (the £5 freezer meal deal is always a winner!) but you also get to support good causes in your local area. The Co-Op runs a campaign called Co-Op Local Causes, which allows its members to select a local good cause. Every time you shop at Co-Op, and buy Co-Op branded products, the Co-Op donate 2p out of every £1 to your chosen good cause. We are really pleased to be one of the local causes supported by the Co-Op Campaign, and we’re asking our friends, supporters and local residents to sign up for Co-Op membership (if you haven’t already done so) and to shop at your local Co-Op whenever you can, to help fund our work in the community. You can find out more about Co-Op’s local causes by visiting https://causes.coop.co.uk/, or if you’d like to know more about our work and how to support us, please get in touch: admin@hsrsc.org.uk. Thank you.

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group We are a small friendly group who meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month except in December. We usually start our meetings with a prayer and have a guest speaker or some sort of “in house” entertainment. Like most things, we have had to rethink how we operate due to Covid and at the time of writing we are hosting our meetings on Zoom. Whilst we appreciate not everyone can join us on this, it seems to be the way to reach most of our members. We are also phoning those members who live by themselves to keep in touch during this time of the pandemic. In February the Revd. Mary Price will have led us on an Advent reflection. On 23 March we have a quiz evening planned which has been organised by Angela Leach and we are looking forward to that. » 27 April we hope to hear reminiscences from members of the group. We expect them to be varied and think they will spark conversation and remembering amongst ourselves. » 25 May would usually be our annual summer supper for members and their guests, which would be organised by the committee members. We will have

What’s On @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone Welcome to our Child and Family Centres, our aim is to support you and your family as your children grow, especially through these challenging times. As an essential service offering support to parents, we continue to deliver sessions in line with the national guidance. We have had to make some small adjustments to what we deliver – please see our social media posts for further information about our programmes and how to get in touch with the team. We are following all COVID guidelines and you will be required to pre book in advance; you can do this by sending us an email or a message on Facebook (details below) Email: ChildAndFamilyCentre.South@ cambridgeshire.gov.uk Facebook: search for South Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres Whats On @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone Baby Group (for parents of pre-mobile babies) Meet other parents and access support and advice from the Child and Family Centre team. Booking essential, please email or message us on Facebook. Thursdays 10.00 to 11.00am Self-Weigh Self-weigh for babies and children up to the age of 5. By appointment only. Booking essential, please email or message us on Facebook. Thursdays 1.00 to 3.00pm Melbourn Child and Family Zone, Mortlock Street, Melbourn, SG8 6DB (adjacent to Melbourn Primary School)

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

to wait and see what restrictions are in place before we can confirm what arrangements we hope to make. If you would like to know more about the group please contact any of the committee members: Pat Smith (262575) Sue Toule (260955) Angela Leach (262793) Pat Ames (261130) Kimmi Crosby 07976228377 Mary Bailey (220171) Diane Blundell (221415)

Melbourn Women’s Institute – The After Eights These are difficult times for all Groups, Clubs and Societies who rely on sociable gatherings. It is particularly hard, I think, on WI Groups, where so often the actual getting together and talking to each other is a very important part of the meeting, as well as attending the lecture or demonstration in the programme. Melbourn After Eights have tried very hard to compensate for this lack – our President Gail McPhee has made a point of sending out a chatty newsletter every month and at Christmas she delivered to each member a re-usable Christmas bauble holding sweets and a quiz which was much appreciated. The Cambridge Federation WI have also come up trumps with regular Zoom meetings featuring lectures, demonstrations of crafts and cooking and so on for a very modest fee. The National Federation of WIs has also decreed that last year’s membership fee should be extended from December to April when the annual subscription will be due. Gail and Jacey, another member of After Eights, have been doing their bit for the vaccination programme by volunteering at the Health Centre in Royston – WI ladies get involved! The WI Resolutions, which is the opportunity for the WI Members to have a very powerful input into Government legislation, had to be done this year by reading all about the resolutions in the WI magazine and then sending in our postal vote. This year the WI were voting on a call to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer, a campaign to stop women from dying prematurely from coronary heart disease, putting an end to racism and discrimination, creating wild-life friendly communities, and preventing the destruction of peat bogs to protect the environment, all issues which are very important to the future wellbeing of the country. Sadly, Zoom meetings are our only way of seeing each other nowadays, which of course excludes any WI member who does not have access to a computer or who has a computer but it does not have a camera! Those of us fortunate enough to have the technology very much enjoy just seeing new faces, as so many of us are isolating. The After Eights committee have

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

been working hard to get an interesting Programme together starting with a demonstration of Armchair Yoga in January, and for March we look forward to a lecture on the history of underwear – we have been calling her the knicker lady! Other suggestions for the future are a talk on Trinity House lighthouses, Mindfulness, a demonstration of Furoshiki the Japanese art of wrapping, and a talk entitled ‘From Eggheads to Mastermind’. If you are interested in joining our group do contact our President Gail McPhee on melbournwi@gmail.com and she will be pleased to include you in the next Zoom meeting to meet us all. Under normal circumstances, we would meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the Community Hall at 8 pm but we have been starting our Zoom meetings at 7.30 p.m. Mavis Howard. Tel: 260686

The Hall for all All Saints Community Hall News Once again, there is nothing much to report from our Community Hall except to say that for a while we did think that Orchard Surgery might use it as a vaccination centre. Our Chairman Peter Hills (he replaced Rev. Lizzie Shipp last autumn when she resigned due to pressure of work) contacted the surgery and offered the Hall free of charge – the Practice Manager went with him to inspect the building and it would have been absolutely ideal if it only had to cater for Melbourn people. However, the powers that be apparently decreed that practices would operate in groups of five or six and a venue in Royston was chosen. What a shame, it would have been so convenient for everyone! Gay and her team go in regularly to give things a quick dust over, and for insurance purposes we have a daily roster for the Trustees to go into the building to check for running taps, leaks, broken windows etc. There is really nothing else to say, except that readers will remember the Rev Andrew O’Brien, who moved from Melbourn to Canford Cliffs some five years ago – he tells us that he has been accepted by the St John’s Ambulance Team and is being trained to administer the vaccine! This is entirely in character as when he was here he used to regularly go out on patrol with the Cambridgeshire Police and he was always keen to interact with the community. We wish him well – it was he, of course, who was the driving force behind the building of the Community Hall. Let us hope it will not be too long before we can resume all the wonderful activities, classes, Coffee Stop and Film Nights which used to take place in the Hall. Mavis Howard

U3a Melbourn & District Melbourn and District U3a was formed in 1994 and today has around 400 members from South Cambridgeshire and North Hertfordshire. Melbourn & District U3a is a registered charity. There are 30+ subject or activity groups including art, music, languages, history, philosophy and current affairs, together with excursions and leisure activities such as yoga and walking, to name just a few. These groups are informal, mutual and selfhelp in nature rather than the lecturer and student format. In some groups, the leader brings professional experience and in others group members might share the role to build skills and understanding. There are no exams but members may choose to go on with further studies and qualifications. A leader of one group is often a member of other groups. We are all learning. Newcomers are welcomed regardless of experience or knowledge. Meetings are held in the morning or afternoon, in people’s houses or in local halls and using online facilities. During the Covid pandemic arrangements have been made for members to meet online using Zoom, emails, Facebook and by telephone. Podcasts and YouTube broadcasts are increasingly being used for our activities and to keep members informed of their interests and activities. Melbourn & District u3a is affiliated to the Third Age Trust, a registered charity which provides benefits to each u3a by being a conduit for the exchange of ideas, resources and in many other ways. Our subscription includes an amount due to the Trust. Everyone who is no longer in full time employment is welcome to join. You may decide to join one or more of the groups or just attend the monthly meeting. Simply complete the application form online or post a hard copy to our Membership Secretary together with the subscription due. Details of how to pay are on the form. For the period to 31 July 2021 when groups are not able to physically meet due to Covid regulations, new members may join free of charge, however, you should complete and return the application form to register your membership. For further information including the list of groups see www.u3asites.org.uk/melbourn or contact our Membership Secretary email membership@melbu3a.org Phone 01763 264189.

Letter To The Editor I very much enjoyed the article by David Telford in the last edition of the magazine and would like to remind readers of local organisations working to preserve our chalk streams and sources of more information about the River Mel. The River Mel Restoration Group (www.rivermel.com) has worked for over ten years to transform our own Mel River from a sluggish ditch to the sparking chalk stream we have now, with its biodiverse population, including trout and endangered water voles, as well as an attractive selection of flora. Pre COVID regular work parties were carried out to maintain the quality of the river. A similar group, the Friends of the River Shep (https://forshep. wixsite.com/forshep), look after the River Shep, which runs from Fowlmere to the Rhee at Barrington. Another local chalk stream action group is the Cam Valley Forum, which has recently celebrated, in December 2020, 20 years of highlighting the problems faced by these wonderful, but threatened, natural resources. Recently the group published a manifesto analysing the problems and a report: ‘Let It Flow’ with potential solutions. These documents, more information and a membership form can be found on the group website: https://camvalleyforum.uk. Readers may also be aware of the Waterlight film that was made of the River Mel, including the history, environmental issues and interviews with local residents. DVDs or downloads of the film can now be purchased at: waterlightproject.org.uk. More information on the history of the Mel, including details of the mills, can be found in a series of pages on the Meldreth Local History Group website: www.meldrethhistory.org.uk/topics/the_river_mel. I hope that readers are enjoying, as one of the few benefits of the lockdown, some exercise along the river including popping into the Melwood Nature Reserve to admire the spring flowers emerging.

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Melbourn Eco Warriors My two children – Fletcher age 5 and Savannah age 3 – have always been shocked by the litter laying around when we have been on many local walks, especially since we have explored our local area more than ever in the three lockdowns. They are both keen on protecting the environment, and after introducing them to David Attenborough’s Planet Earth programme on TV, they have really wanted to help.

Recently on one of our walks we met Tim Stebbings who litter-picks around the village. We thanked him for doing a fantastic job clearing the litter and the children asked if they could help. Tim gave them a couple of black bags and we have been on several litter picks. Fletcher regularly talks to Tim whenever we see him and they give him a litter report. My two keen warriors take it in turns to use the litter picker and hold the bag (until it gets too heavy). Living at Chalkhill Barrow, we have tackled the farm track at the top of Water Lane that leads to Summerhouse Farm, and the local woods at the bottom of Back Lane that runs along Royston Road (where they enjoy exploring like many of their friends). On each trip, we have been able to fill a bag with rubbish to our amazement! We have found dog poo filled bags, plastic bottles, glass bottles, sweet wrappers, masks and many other bits and pieces of plastic. I am very proud of their efforts and they feel like they are making a difference. Although they don’t fully understand, I believe encouraging them from a young age and setting an example can only help the world they will grow up in.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

BE AWARE! Well done to these two young ‘Warriors’ and what a wonderful example they are setting to everyone in ‘Showing those grown-ups how to do it’! Parents encouraging children to look after their spaces, playgrounds and country walks is ideal – but if you are considering helping the environment in this way there are a few very important things to be aware of before you start, so as to keep safe and healthy – especially in these present times. • Choose a safe place to litter-pick, especially if you are with children. Stay away from roads: the traffic moves fast and some roads such as Back Lane have no paths. Even the most traffic-aware adults wearing hi-viz clothing have had near misses with vehicles. Children wouldn’t stand a chance. • Wear gloves and be very aware of the new health hazards from the pathogens lurking in discarded face masks, PPE gloves, discarded tissues and the new disgusting habit all around the village of canine AND even human defecation with copious loo paper and deposits. This is perhaps not the image of the ‘DesRes’ village most people have of Melbourn, but it is apparent that since the lockdowns it is occurring everywhere, along with the incredibly substantial rise in alcohol abuse and discarded nitrous oxide containers. We all should be doing our bit to help the environment, but please stay safe.

Home-Start Easy Fundraising Do you shop online? If you do, did you know you could be supporting Home-Start, and many other good causes, by using EasyFundraising? EasyFundraising is a free-to-use tool that collects charity donations. Every time you make a purchase through one of the EasyFundraising partners, a small donation is made to your chosen charity. There are 100s of retailers you can shop with, from John Lewis, Argos and ScrewFix to the Travelodge, TrainLine and Virgin Atlantic. You can use EasyFundraising for insurance and phone contracts; for computers and fridges; for books

and toys and clothes. You can even use it when purchasing desks, chairs and PPE, ready for when the office reopens! It really is easy to use, as well: you simply sign up for a free account, and then use the EasyFundraising website to search for the things you want to buy. If you’re feeling really high-tech, it comes with a little widget in your browser and your donations will be collected automatically. It’s almost like fundraising magic! And the best part is that it doesn’t cost you a penny: the donations come from the retailers to Home-Start, so you can shop with an easy conscience, knowing that you’re helping a good cause. If you’d like to know more about EasyFundraising, take a look at their website: easyfundraising.org.uk or get in touch with us a the Home-Start office: admin@hsrsc.org.uk Thank you so much for your support.

Melbourn Parish Council Clerk’s Report At last the days are a little longer and there are definite signs of spring in the air. Following the article in the autumn edition of the Melbourn Magazine, I am pleased to report that a number of people have taken up the invitation to plant trees in the Millennium Copse. In addition to the new trees, a resident requested permission to install a hardwood bench around his oak tree. The beautiful handmade seat is a most welcome addition to the Millennium Copse for all to enjoy and we extend our thanks to Mr Phipps for sharing this with the village.

Royston & District Local History Society www.roystonlocalhistory.org.uk 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. Some are also available at the Cave Bookshop in Melbourn Street. Our evening meetings are held on a Thursday evening at 8pm and in March and April will be on Zoom, but it is hoped that it will be possible to have the May meeting in the Heritage Hall (the main hall downstairs) at Royston Town Hall.

» 4th March “The New River”, illustrated

Richard Thomas » 1st April John Winter and Anglo-French Walks David Allard » 14th May AGM 7.30pm followed at 8pm by ‘The Spy who Loved’ Polish-born Countess Krystyna Skarbek, aka Christine Granville was Britain’s first and longest serving special agent in WW2, illustrated Clare Mulley Annual membership £10 (Sept-Aug) (Under 18s half price) Visitors £2 It is not yet known whether an annual coach outing will be possible this year. Ramblers’ Association Royston and District Group Go to www.ramblers.org.uk/royston Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) – Royston Courses on Zoom. Go to www.wea.org.uk

If you would like to plant a tree in the Millenium Copse, please contact the parish office. A lockdown litter pick by local residents along the A10 and A505 has resulted in an astonishing 129 bags of rubbish, including general litter, car parts, signs and fly tipping – our thanks to those involved. If you see fly tipping in the village, please report it to South Cambridgeshire District Council via their online reporting page www.scambs.gov.uk/environment/ envirocrime/fly-tipping/. Alternatively, please contact the parish office or District Cllr Jose Hales (cllr.hales@ scambs.gov.uk) with details. If you are looking for a waste contractor, please ensure that they are licensed and that your rubbish will be disposed of properly. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Highways related issues, including potholes, blocked drains, damaged footpaths, should be reported to Highways via their online reporting page –www.cambridgeshire. gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-andpathways/roadworks-and-faults. It is vital that faults are reported for the public record. And finally, please be mindful of the continuing restrictions. Up to date details of changes can be found on the Government website – www.gov.uk/coronavirus. Stay Safe Claire Littlewood, Parish Clerk

District and County Councillors Zoom Cuppa Surgeries: We can’t have face-to-face conversations these days, but if you’d like to meet with us by Zoom, to bring any concerns or ask any questions, we’re introducing a weekly Zoom Cuppa Surgery: Wednesdays 5-6pm. Please just contact us for a link, and if you’d like to join us but can’t make these times, let us know and we’ll make an arrangement to suit. Our contact details: Jose@josehales.me.uk, Tel 07703262649 Susanvandeven5@gmail.com, Tel 07905325574

Local to Melbourn Path to Meldreth Station – what’s happening? There’s work happening behind the scenes to bring to fruition an improved path connecting Melbourn to Meldreth Station, and also, a ramp for access to the London platform. The easy bit has been the generosity of a local business, Melbourn Science Park, in instigating a significant developer contribution to the project, in conjunction with its planning application to expand their site. Added to the developer contribution from the 199 homes development off New Road, the money needed for the project is there! Everything these days seems to take a very long time, due to the maze of rules and regulations and individual bureaucracies needed to come together – in this case Govia Thameslink, the Department for Transport and Network Rail, to agree the ramp specifications which must marry up with path specifications. The path can then be delivered by Cambs County Council, working with local landowners. Passenger Benefit Fund and Meldreth Station We’ll be seeing a few improvements to Meldreth Station shortly, as a result of the Passenger Benefit Fund – a kind of financial compensation to stations affected by the 2018 timetable meltdown. Again, the bureaucracies involved here are dazzling, and in the end, while rail user feedback was sought , it was the Dept. for Transport that decided how the funds could be allocated. In any case, at last we seem to have action (though not quite as much detail as we’d like!)

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Avenues for bringing back Melbourn Post Office Thank you for recent questions put to us about bringing a Post Office back to Melbourn. One suggestion was that Melbourn Parish Council could take on the running of a Post Office for Melbourn. We asked the question and got the following reply from Parish Councillor Sally Ann Hart: Many thanks for keeping this question on the agenda. In response to the question ‘could Melbourn Parish Council’ provide a Post Office?’ the answer at present is sadly ‘No’. In order for a Parish Council to do what any individual can do, it has to have ‘General Power of Competence’ and the criteria for a Parish Council to obtain this is for it to have a Qualified Clerk, which Melbourn Parish Council does have, and two thirds of the available seats on the Council must be elected. MPC has 15 seats available, which means ten have to be elected. Because a number of Councillors have been co-opted since the 2018 elections, Melbourn Parish Council currently falls short of this requirement and the next round of Melbourn Parish Council elections are not until 2022! However, anyone willing to put themselves forward

to run a Post Office could, in the first instance, bring this to the attention of the Parish Clerk. Anyone wishing to join Melbourn Parish Council should also contact the Parish Office. Meanwhile, we have had an offer from a resident in a neighbouring village with experience of setting up a successful community Post Office to offer his experience to anyone wishing to explore that option. Do please let us know if you’d like us to put you in touch. Drains and flooding Back in December we got the agreement of Highways to carry out systematic gulley emptying in a large number of key streets in Melbourn where drainage has been a problem. Shocking as it sounds, regular annual gulley emptying has not taken place for some years now, due to a stretched Highways budget. This is something of a perfect storm as the highways network is in a state of deterioration, or ‘managed decline’ – the official term. At the time of writing, we’re still waiting for that gulley-emptying to happen; no doubt the Christmas holiday and January flooding has set the team back, with a multitude of emergency spots requiring attention. Nevertheless we expect the work to happen before the end of the financial year. It’s really important to log any flooding concerns on the Highways reporting website: https://www. cambridgeshire.gov.uk/business/planning-anddevelopment/flood-and-water/report-a-flood And please can we encourage anyone concerned about foul sewerage issues on their own property to contact Anglian Water on 03457 145145. And please feel free to let us know you have done so, so that we can help chase up on your behalf, and to understand if and where problems are occurring. Ploughed-over footpaths: how to report them We’ve received a number of reports of ploughedover footpaths in our villages. These should always be reported on the Highways reporting site: https:// highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ Train service reductions Govia Thameslink Railway writes: With the impact of coronavirus and the new national lockdown measures, our passenger numbers have fallen to around 15% of pre-Covid weekday levels. Additionally, the impact of coronavirus on our own crew availability, as colleagues may need to self-isolate or shield, means we must adapt our timetable to ensure we continue to deliver a resilient and reliable service for our customers. For introduction from 22nd February onwards, we have developed a revised weekday plan which will better match anticipated demand. The plan focuses on maintaining services earlier in the morning, later in the evening and

at peak times, based on feedback from key workers and stakeholders. We have also aimed to maintain services for ‘school trains’ at suitable times in readiness for all students returning. Weekend services are not due to change, but engineering work continues which can of course amend the regular patterns. As you will know, the area is currently served by three GTR service groups: “fast” Cambridge flyer services to King’s Cross, semi-fast Thameslink services to St Pancras International that call at Royston, and slow all-station Thameslink services to King’s Cross. Of the three, the slow service to King’s Cross will reduce from half-hourly to hourly between Cambridge and Royston outside of peak and school times. Royston also receives calls from semi-fast Thameslink services. Connectivity between Cambridge/Royston and the three community stations of Foxton, Shepreth and Meldreth will reduce to an hourly service outside of the peaks and school times. We recognise this will mean that some customers will need to change their travel plans and will be doing everything we can to raise awareness of the timetable change. Individual journeys will be available to view in journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk. As ever, we would be very keen to hear from you on any aspect of this new timetable, and we will continue to review the service ourselves to ensure we best meet demand in the future.

Of wider interest to Melbourn residents? Climate and Environment Fortnight Depending on when you read this, you may be in time to catch the second half: From Monday 22 February, South Cambs District Council will be marking Climate and Environment Fortnight 2021 with a series of free online events to help people think about how to live more sustainably, reduce carbon emissions and in turn help tackle climate change. This is designed for a variety of audiences – all information is available on-line, link below. We appreciate that not everyone is on-line – so please do feel free to contact Jose by phone if you’d like to know more about South Cambs’ work on climate change action at community level. https://www.scambs.gov.uk/nature-and-climatechange/climate-and-environment-fortnight-2021events/ Foxton: Car park or travel hub? The challenge has been put to the Greater Cambridge Partnership to make investment plans near Foxton Station work as a true ‘travel hub’ with all the connectivity that the term implies. While the approved ‘Foxton Travel melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Hub’ scheme is for 900 car park spaces, the GCP has indicated a reduced scope of 500 spaces in the first iteration. Both the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign and the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership have actively participated in the ‘non-motorized user group’ discussions on the detail of pedestrian access between the car park and the station, in order to provide the knowledge and experience of local users. A public consultation on the Foxton Travel Hub detailed design is expected in March – please keep an eye out for this and do contact us if you’d like us to send you the link and any further information. Covid support from our councils In addition to the amazing Melbourn Coronavirus Community Response, the District and County Councils have been providing truly exemplary support to individuals, organisations and businesses, and continue to do so. While things are constantly changing and evolving, we wanted to highlight these two specific areas of help: ‘I need help’ – Covid-19 There is a great deal of information on the South Cambs District Council website on support for people affected by Covid-19, including those needing to self-isolate. The council will have recently sent letters out to every household to let them know more about this. Please check out www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus and you’ll find the pages easy to navigate. Covid grant support for South Cambs businesses: Businesses in South Cambridgeshire can now apply for the latest round of Government financial help for closures during the post-Christmas period and through the Spring. South Cambridgeshire District Council, which is administering the business grants, has opened applications for local businesses suffering from the most recent lockdown restrictions – Tier 4 restrictions from 26 December to 4 January, and the current ongoing National Lockdown. There are several different Government grants available for these periods. For the Tier 4 period in South Cambridgeshire, which ran for ten days immediately after Christmas, affected businesses (including nonessential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses) can now apply online for the LRSG (Closed) Tier 4 grant scheme. The eligibility criteria and payments are

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

We’re here foorke’s. Addenbro

Jan & Matt wanted to show thanks to their hospital, “Leaving a gift in a will is just something we can do so easily.”

email wills@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

structured in a similar way to previous grants given during earlier restrictions. For the current National Lockdown, which started on January 5, three new schemes are now available. Businesses which applied for the Tier 4 grant do not need to re-apply but will be contacted automatically by the Council. Those which haven’t applied for earlier grants should fill in an online application form. The new Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: 5 January onwards covers the current 42-day period for business closures up until 31 March 2021, with one-off payments ranging from £2,001 to £4,500 depending on the rateable value of a business, which must have been registered for business rates on 5 January 2021 and required by law to close.

Those receiving this grant will also be entitled to an additional one-off Closed Business Lockdown payment for the same 42-day qualifying restriction period which will range from £4,000 to £9,000 and will be paid automatically. The Council is also receiving additional funding to allocate at its discretion under the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme and will make initial use of these funds to provide top-ups to those most in-need businesses in the District which are eligible for the Closed Business Lockdown Payment. The application closure date for the new grant schemes is 31 March 2021 with final payments being made by 30 April 2021. In the meantime, businesses can also still apply for various earlier grants via the Council website covering the following: Local Restrictions from November 5 to December 2; Christmas support payments for wet-led pubs (final applications must be received by January 31, 2021); and Tier 2 Restrictions imposed in South Cambridgeshire from December 2 to 25. More information here: www.scambs.gov.uk/ coronavirus - and follow the link for ‘Business.’ ‘South West Cambridge’ – Proposal for a new town of 25K homes, half the size of Cambridge Following the sudden announcement on December 8th of a development proposal by Thakeham developers for a new town dubbed ‘South West Cambridge,’ consisting of 25,000 homes between and encompassing the villages of Meldreth, Melbourn, Foxton, Shepreth, Barrington, Orwell, Wimpole, Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth, and Whaddon, the ‘South West Cambridge Action Group’ was set up by district and county councillors representing these villages to see off what is clearly a speculative proposal that goes against the structures and principles of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan population growth structures and processes. The Action Group has been trying to learn as much as possible about the intentions of Thakeham, in particular their preferred route for achieving such an ambitious goal: while the District Council has insisted that Thakeham work through the same transparent Local Plan processes as any aspiring developer, government has the power to facilitate channels that override local planning authorities. In an early January meeting with Thakeham representatives, Thakeham confirmed that it is indeed pursuing those higher central government channels, which gives us great cause for concern. The Action Group is holding regular public information meetings via Zoom and has created a website and Facebook page where all information updates are posted.

Please do take a look www.swcag.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/ southwestcambridgeactiongroup If you’d like to receive information and meeting notices by email, please contact info@swcag.org.uk to join the mailing list. We’re always happy to chat by phone – do feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Cllrs Susan van de Ven (07905325574) and Jose Hales (07703 262649) South West Cambridge Action Group info@swcag.org.uk

angli-EAR Hearing New audiology clinic in Great Shelford Independent audiology experts, angli-EAR Hearing, have relocated to a bespoke new clinic in the heart of Great Shelford. Using industry-leading techniques and cuttingedge technology, angli-EAR Hearing provides hearing assessments, hearing aid devices, wax removal and tinnitus solutions to clients from across the region. Formerly at Mill Court in Great Shelford, angli-EAR Hearing has moved to larger premises, breathing new life into the former Barclays Bank building in Woollard’s Lane. The new clinic has benefitted from a £250,000 investment and boasts new state-of-the-art diagnostic audiology equipment to enable a full spectrum understanding of clients’ hearing abilities. The extra space gives clients a greater range of services with four sound-proofed audiology rooms, two ear treatment rooms and three clinical rooms for additional audiology services launching in 2021. Sarah Chapman, Director at angli-EAR Hearing said: “Repurposing an old building which has been closed and boarded up for a few years has been a long process, but it has definitely been worth it. We have increased our innovative testing equipment and taken on more audiology staff, which means we can provide a wider range of audiology and ear wax removal services for clients. “While we’ll have to put the grand opening on ice for now, angli-EAR Hearing will be open during lockdown as we are providing an essential healthcare service. Health and safety of our clients and staff remains top of the priorities. We are strictly following all Government guidance, on an appointment-only basis, while retaining the high quality of customer care we pride ourselves on.” For more information visit www.angliearhearing.co.uk or call 01223 661399

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

wE Are a RAre brEed One of only a handful of butchers in Britain to run our own abattoir, we are Master Butchers in the truest sense. From farming selection through to cutting and hanging, our craftsmen make sure you always know exactly where your meat is coming from: from pasture to pantry.

True Master butchers fulLy TraceAble produce liceNced deAlers iN gamE exTENSive DElicaTeSseN home mAdE mEAls ThE fiNest cutS 1&3 station rd, melbourn, herts, sg8 6dx tel:01763 260255 & now at burwash manor, new road, barton, cambridge cb23 7ey tel:01223 265555

www.leEchaNdSoNs.cOm

Leech&Sons163x128_MM.indd 1

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

28/1/11 6:04:41 pm

FROG END PET SUPPLIES • • • • • • • •

Extensive Range of Pet Feed Accessories Bedding Pet Toys Collars Leads Training Aids Large Wild Bird Dept Livestock Birds Rabbits Guinea Pigs Stockists of Flo Gas & Water Softener Salt Cold Water Fish Wide Range of Poultry Feed & Accessories

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

Visit our NEW showroom at Sage Blinds & Interiors Phillimore Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Melbourn, SG8 6EY Tel: 01763 263399 Mobile: 07875 488955 email: sageblinds@icloud.com www.sageblinds.co.uk Specialists in made to measureBlinds ~ Curtains ~ Shutters Wall Coverings ~ Awnings ~ Interiors

Coronavirus vaccine scams warning The vaccine is a crucial tool in fighting the coronavirus and keeping people safe. Thankfully, the number of reports of this type of scam are relatively low but we have seen an increase since December, particularly around scam text messages. Remember, the vaccine is only available on the NHS and is free of charge. The NHS will never ask you for details about your bank account or to pay for the vaccine. If you receive an email, text message or phone call purporting to be from the NHS and you are asked to provide financial details, this is a scam. There have been reports that members of the public have been sent text messages claiming to be from the NHS, offering them the opportunity to sign up for the vaccine. The texts ask the recipient to click on a link which takes them to an online form where they are prompted to input personal and financial details. In some cases the online form has looked very similar to the real NHS website. If you have already had your two vaccine ejections. which is all that is required, be aware these criminals may try to convince you that you now require a third injection by suggesting that this will protect you against a new varient of Covid. How to protect yourself The coronavirus vaccine is only available via the National Health Service. You will be contacted by the NHS, the GP surgery, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay. • The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details. • The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking password. • The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine. • The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips. If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, call 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk.

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Nature Melwood Local Nature Reserve Melwood in Lockdown Whilst many local clubs and societies are managing to conduct virtual meetings, the Melwood Conservation Group have not yet worked out how to get ZOOM to cut back brush or coppice bushes. It seems we still need the old manual method for this. There have been very few work parties since the first lockdown in March 2020 and all have had limited numbers and careful social distancing. Unfortunately, this means no refreshments and therefore No Chocolate Biscuits! We have also missed the communal enjoyment of the autumn bonfire to dispose of unwanted trimmings. The latest project in January 2021 was to plant some native bluebells. The pots were collected separately from a doorstep and planted individually into previously marked spaces by volunteers operating separately and not even meeting each other or the person who prepared the bulbs. It has been strange to see the wood become wilder and we have had to prioritise the annual jobs to only those that are essential. In June, the meadow area was raked after cutting to disseminate the seed from spring flowers such as Hedge Parsley and Garlic Mustard. With a year involving little maintenance the meadow is now getting seriously overrun by Stinging Nettles and White Dead-nettle to the detriment of the grasses and all the other smaller flowers. This will require serious attention once we can work normally in the reserve again. However, the stinging nettles will have been of use to the Red Admiral butterflies that regularly visit the wood in the summer.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

In order to ensure that they did not smother the new growth of young planted saplings, cleavers/goosegrass photo above (Galium ararine – the plant with the irritating sticky seeds) were raked or pulled out. This has ensured that these saplings have thrived well. The wood normally has a respite from work parties during the summer whilst volunteers go on holiday, and this year the trees again enjoyed this period of unimpeded growth. However, a dry late spring and August heatwave meant that supplementary watering, using river Mel water, was required for the young saplings, as in July 2019. The Met office is predicting that summers will get progressively warmer and by the end of the century the UK could potentially be seeing, on average, 40°C days every 3–4 years. September saw the start of our autumn round of brush cutting and this continued into October, ensuring that the spring flowers have room to emerge and grow. This has proved beneficial as shoots are starting to appear with a magnificent display of snowdrops already. We were unable to clean the nest boxes and we hope that the Bluetits and Great tits can learn a lesson from the Great Spotted Woodpeckers, that have used the same nesting hole for the past three years. We assume they have done any cleaning needed themselves, although no-one has actually witnessed it. The push north by some southern species of butterflies and moths continued apace this year and 5 new species of moths were recorded in a back garden in Meldreth. The Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) is a potential pest that has hit the news quite a bit in the London Area due

to the irritant hairs on its larvae (I remember getting a rash as a child). The Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar), which is a forestry pest in many parts of the world, was resident in the UK until the early 1900’s. Fortunately the specimens recorded were all male. The females are fairly sedentary, limiting the potential for spread, which is often by wandering or accidentally transported larvae. Important though these species may be, they were nowhere near as exciting as the massive Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), known to the Victorians as The Blue Underwing. It has a chequered history of temporary establishments and extinctions in the UK. With broad wings extending to almost 10cm it is really spectacular. Also huge, the Convolvulus Hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli) photo below is an uncommon but fairly regular migrant from North Africa, considered unlikely to be able to survive a UK winter. This also has a wingspan of 10cm or more but narrower in profile. We managed a little autumn planting to bulk up a hedge line to the east of the wood and a few woodland flowers were planted in areas of lighter shade. We are glad that one of the few benefits of the Covid

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. lock-downs has been more free time resulting in more people walking along the Mel footpath and visiting the reserve. This is evident in the wear and tear of the main paths and the proliferation of new paths through the wood. Unfortunately, however, the latter can result in damage to bulbs, and other flowers, as they start to appear above ground. It can also cause damage to young saplings as they emerge from their protective guards. It is therefore important that visitors keep to the main paths to ensure that the fragile ecosystem of the wood is projected for everyone to enjoy. Adapted from an article by Jim Reid in the December edition of Meldreth Matters. Mike Pennington Copyright Mike Pennington licensed under the Creative Commons.

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 melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Travelogue

Travelling The Chinese Stretch Of The Silk Road Ancient Buddhist Kingdoms We generally travelled on good modern road surfaces (apart from some deviations to archaeological sites), in contrast with the ancient travellers who would have encountered a range of different surfaces. The central stretch was boring desert but there were also difficult marshy patches and, in other areas, hard rock or shifting gravel. Although most individual traders travelled relatively light (a Persian trader in the seventh century had just two camels, four cattle and a donkey), it would not have been an easy journey. The central section is mainly flat but there are mountain ranges at each end. The weather can be capricious, with dust storms contrasting with torrential downpours (one of which I encountered) and snow on the mountains during the winter. The Taklamakan desert section is part of the hottest driest desert in China (average 39C) with sand dunes covering 85%. In contrast, it can be very cold at night, often falling below zero (minimum -20C). However, it is a dry cold which doesn’t feel as cold as the damp English winter. Plants are rare but do exist, watered by the snow melt run off from the Tien Shan and Khulan Shan mountains. The main rivers from the Khulan mountains are the Hotan and Karim, which support forests on the edge of the desert which help to stabilise the soil. As we have seen, there are oasis towns with local agriculture. Our next stop is another oasis town: Kuqa; the

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Above - The ruins of the oldest pagoda (stupa) in China

homeland of the ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Kucha. This was the largest of the thirty-six Kingdoms of the Western Regions in 111 CE, with a population of over 80,000. Xuanzang, a Chinese monk, visited in 630 CE. The 16th century novel ‘The Journey to the West’ comically describes a version of his journey, roughly along the silk routes (although the landscape is too fantastical to be recognisable), to find Buddhist scriptures in India. The Desert Plants

naughty Monkey King and Pig monk have a series of hilarious adventures battling evil demons, but there also some serious Buddhist themes. It is a fun, but very long, read (100 chapters – it took me two years!); easier to digest in the popular Chinese film/TV versions. Some argue that it is the most popular literary work in East Asia. In 982 CE Kuqa was described as being on the Chinese border. A later Arabic source mentions the town as having been built by Alexander the Great, but this is not considered possible. It became part of the Qing Chinese empire in 1758. We visited another two mural cave complexes: Kumtura grotto and Kizil. Unfortunately, the building of a dam in the 1970s threatened some of the lower paintings at Kumtura, although subsequent preservation work has prevented further damage and it is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Kizil is possibly the earliest major decorated cave complex in China, starting in the 3rd century. The early work has a strong Gandharan (present day Pakistan and Afghanistan) influence, indicating how early crosscultural transmission occurred along these routes. The next day we flew to one of the key silk route trading centres: Hotan (Khotan). This is on the South

Map including the path of the expeditions of Aurel Stein through the Taklamakan Desert past Rawak Stupa in the early 20th century. Copyright University of Texas Libraries licensed under the Creative Commons.

of the Taklamakan desert and just above the ancient Western Tibetan kingdom of Guge, mentioned in a previous article. The desert around Hotan is peppered with the remains of ancient cities and we visited Malikaawat, which was probably the capital of the Yutian state, an Indo-European civilisation which existed from 206 BCE to 907 CE. It was conquered by the Tibetans in 665 CE. However, paradoxically it was the Khotan culture that influenced the Tibetans rather than the other way round. Due to the importance at this time of translating Buddhist texts from Sanskrit, the Tibetans developed a writing style (cursive Gupta script) similar to the Khotanese and by the 9th century CE had adapted the Khotanese alphabet for their language. We are now entering into territory which shows the effect of cultural factors from the West with Chinese influences becoming less. Islam was introduced in the 10th century CE and it is now a firmly Islamic area with interesting mosques. continued on page 27 melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Well connected...

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Postcards

Brochures

Booklets

Handbooks

Posters

Stationery

01223 870266

sales@langhampress.co.uk www.langhampress.co.uk

Leaflets

Lithographic & Digital Production

Magazines

Managing print projects for a wide range of businesses, educational establishments, artistic, musical and charitable organisations.

Hotan was where I was able to interview the makers and obtain some samples of Chinese style traditional paper to complement my studies of the revival of traditional Himalayan paper-making as described in a previous article. It is also the main source of Chinese Jade. The next day we visited some more local historical sites. These were the only remains of what had been a flourishing Buddhist culture with over 100 monasteries accommodating over 5,000 monks. Firstly, we saw the ruins of the oldest pagoda (stupa) in China at the Rawak (Rawaq) temple site. It is in a local design, with the pagoda tower built on a cruciform base with four staircases. This was topped by three platforms and an egg like dome. This is dated to the fourth or fifth century CE and is also in the Gandhara style, the only one in China. There are some frescos and wall paintings still preserved at the site due to the dry desert conditions. At its height, the site also contained massive statues with Bactrian and Greco-Buddhist influences. We also visited the ancient Damko temple site which contains the smallest Buddhist temple in the world. Another delight as we strolled through the old parts of these oasis towns was the local Uighur musicians playing on street corners and in small squares. The music varies across the region due to the mix of peoples from different locations and cultures who shared their musical traditions with the locals. The most common instrument that we saw was a stringed instrument, a bit like a lute. But we also saw small drums, violins and dulcimers. So with these delightful sounds ringing in your ears I leave you until the next edition. Uighur musician

Timber • Aggregates Fencing • 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)

Bruce Huett melbournmagazine@gmail.com

We are here to help you and your loved one. Bespoke residential, dementia and respite care

Designated visiting room to keep relatives connected safely

All staff trained in infection control and dementia care

Choice of life-enriching activities, to keep the fun in every day

Choice in delicious and nutritious menus

Part of Barchester Healthcare, with 25 years’ experience

Call to book an appointment to find out how we can help: 01763 722 734 Melbourn Springs Care Home, Hyacinth Drive, Melbourn, Royston, SG8 6FY www.barchester.com

Barchester Healthcare is proud to be the only care provider to win the RoSPA Health and Safety Award in 2019 & 2020.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

MVC EDUCATION

Little Hands Karen

U3A

PLAY SCHOOL NOTRE ECOLE PLAYGROUP

Education SCHOOL LITTLE HANDS PRIMARY

VILLAGE COLLEGE

01763 260964

Melbourn Playgroup Claire Armstrong and Jennie Riggs 01763 223459 07842 151512 Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231 Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox

223457

U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Chairman Tony Garrick 01223 510201 Village College Principal Simon Holmes

223400

Melbourn Playgroup Trails in the wood I work at Melbourn Playgroup and have done for the past 10 years,. In July 2019 I took over as one of the managers. I am enjoying my new position, however no one could have predicted the challenges we would have due to Covid-19. I have always had a passion for working with children and now I am in the position to help playgroup continue to thrive and grow and continue to be an outstanding setting. We have an amazing team who all want to provide the best we can for all the children who attend. I put up the trails because I wanted to give the local families something special during this very difficult time. This is how it came about… At the beginning of the first lockdown I saw someone had put up some things in the wood by Back Lane and the woodland walk by the river in Meldreth. It gave me the idea to put up a story for the children to follow and read during lockdown walks. As a mum myself I knew that my children would have loved it, however they are now in their teens!! I decided to do The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I had great fun finding the pictures and then getting them ready to put up in the wood. My daughter helped me to put it up and make sure it was positioned well for all children to see as they walked round. I didn’t tell many people that it was me but I did see some good feedback via social media. After many months I took the story down as I didn’t want it to litter as it was starting to fall apart. When Christmas was coming I wanted to do another story for the children but it proved difficult to find the right pictures for the stories I wanted to do. After some thought I decided to get the children to find all things Christmas, there were 15 pictures to find.

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

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

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

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

When the Christmas season was over and we were in yet another lockdown I wanted the children to have something new to find, this time I chose numbers. I have now added a ladybird hunt and will be changing that at some point and do have plans for an Easter trail. I have loved doing this and was happy to be ‘the fairy’ who was putting the trails up. I really hope all the local families have enjoyed going round with their children and spotting the pictures. I hope by writing this article I will reach more parents who will be able to enjoy the trails with their children. Jennie Riggs

Lockdown Since our last article things have changed for all of us in the world. We have had to negotiate the ever-changing guidance from the government, which has been a challenge, but we feel we have done all we can to keep our families and staff as safe as we can. Sadly, the playgroup closed at the end of March for a short period and then re-opened with a small number of children and staff in June. Despite only having a few children in, we were able to do lots with the children including lots of puzzles, large train-track making and lots of crafts to name a few. We were very sad that the children who were leaving us to start school in September didn’t get their normal send off. So instead, we delivered a small goody bag for each pre‑schooler with a certificate from us and we hope they have all settled into their new school well. September came and we started the year going back to a ‘new normal’. We split the children into two completely separate groups according to age, to reduce mixing. This worked really well and is one of the changes we plan to continue exploring moving forward. We welcomed back children we hadn’t seen since March, as well as lots of new families. We were really pleased that all the children settled in well and felt that we were almost getting back to normal. This sadly only lasted for one term, when things changed again overnight after Boris made his announcement at the beginning of January. Even though we were expected to stay open ‘for all’, this was made difficult due to staffing issues that arose due to the lockdown. We had to make the difficult decision after a week that unfortunately this was not going to work for a number of reasons, and that we would only be able to stay open to children of critical workers, vulnerable children and children with special needs. Thank you to all our staff who have been able to keep working, we couldn’t have done this without you. We would also like to thank all our families who have been very supportive during this very difficult time. In January, we also took the decision to contact a local company ‘Touch Zone Clean’ who sprayed all the touch melbournmagazine@gmail.com

points in our setting with a long-lasting anti-virus barrier protection. Along with our usual enhanced cleaning we felt reassured that this gave us more protection, particularly when the pandemic was at its worst. The children who have been attending have had lots of learning opportunities and have spent lots of time outside in our puddle suits jumping in the water. Inside we have been very busy; these are a few of the things we have been up to. In the craft area, we created displays about the seasons, with painting, gluing and sticking. We have played with coloured spaghetti, rice and oats to explore texture, and into this we have added cars, dinosaurs and wild animals to give a different experience. The home corner was turned into a building site; the children have enjoyed ‘mending’ the furniture and using the protective equipment. For those at home, on our website, we continue to give weekly themed ideas of things to do at home, as well as posting some videos of our staff reading some favourite stories so that the children don’t forget us. Moos, our after-school club, closed in March and then reopened again in September. Nikki and Natalie have worked really hard to make sure they were ready to welcome back the children into the new bubble system. All the resources were re-organised so each bubble had access to a variety of activities, and we purchased clear screens to divide up the rooms as well. This has all worked really well and has actually encouraged the children to work and play together in a very calm way. The playgroup has already received enquiries for new starters in September but we still have spaces so please do contact us if you would like to put your child’s name on our waiting list. We look forward to welcoming old and new families back as soon as we are able. Jennie, Claire and all the team.

Melbourn Primary School I am writing this from a ‘closed’ school with approximately 30% of our children here today. Those in school are either the children of critical workers or vulnerable children. Fast forward to the publication date of the magazine and

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

I wonder if we will be open again to all of our children as you are reading this article. I do hope so. Hope…Martin Luther King Junior said, “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” Disappointment has been plentiful this term. We were excited to open our doors on the 4th January and welcome the children back into 2021 after the uncertainty during the Christmas break about whether it was safe for schools to open, only to be told at 8pm that very day that we were to close. This was hugely disappointing for staff, parents and especially the children who were expecting to return to school the next day. Nevertheless, we had prepared for this eventuality and had a remote learning plan ready to implement. The children are provided with a mixture of online remote learning, with both live and recorded elements to the day, and physical worksheets (which are available for collection if parents are unable to print). We are thrilled that our approach matches much of that held up as good practice by Ofsted. Connecting with the children online during assemblies and ‘hot chocolate with Mrs Wilcox’ (now over Zoom) – literally brings sunshine into my day. We are missing all of the children very much. Despite the disappointment, there has been much to celebrate and much to give us hope: • The resilience of our children whether in school or at home. Most, it seems, have adapted to their new circumstances and are submitting work to their teachers regularly. They never cease to amaze us in their ability to cope with change and to show us just what they can achieve. • Increased family time once again. With a less frenetic life style and time with parents, most children returned to us, after the first school closure, settled and happy. Time with those we love is affirming and we anticipate we will see the benefits of this once again when our children finally return to school. • The professionalism and creativity of the school team. I am truly appreciative of my staff who have quickly embraced and implemented a completely new way of working. They are brilliant! They have constantly reviewed our provision for those at home and improved it to make it the best it can possibly be for our children whilst continuing to teach children who are in school. • The consistent support of our parents who have once again juggled their own work responsibilities whilst supporting their children at home. I am in awe of all they have done and continue to do. • The fund-raising efforts of our PTFA and wider community. We are in the process of buying new technology ready for the summer term as a result of the £12,000 raised by our Melbourn to Melbourne

running challenge. A huge thank you to all who have donated. https://uk.gofundme.com/f/Melbourn-PrimarySchool-PTFA-Money-for-Miles Lockdown will in time pass and normality will return; there is much to be proud of and to take with us into the future. We must ensure that we, and especially our children, are shaped positively by the hopes of this experience. We look forward to being re-united. We hope it is very soon and we hope never to have to close our doors again (unless for a holiday of course). Stephanie Wilcox, Headteacher.

A Day in the life of bubble school It is Wednesday 6th January, Boris has thrown us into another national lockdown and bubble school is ready to officially start. As Melbourn Primary School staff approach the front door to the school, we all put on our face coverings. Inside the door is a dispenser of hand gel for us to use before signing in and making our way into the main school building. Once inside we immediately go to our designated bubble toilet to wash our hands. Whilst in the corridors all staff wear face coverings and we only remove them once we are in our bubble classroom. As the children arrive the staff once again don their face coverings to greet the children and their parents. The children are directed to the sink to wash their hands whilst being supervised by another member of staff. Lessons continue as normal with the added social distancing for safety. Classrooms look very different; along with the wide open windows and distancing between children there are limits on the amount of adults in each classroom, and whilst one teacher conducts bubble school lessons, the other year group teacher is in a different room busily preparing the home learning packs, including recording lessons, for the following week. Assemblies and circle times are still going ahead - thanks to the power of Zoom. Lunchtimes are all-change. The catering staff is just two workers multi-tasking in the kitchen and the meals are collected by a designated Midday Supervisor and taken to the classrooms for the children to eat. The children sit at their own table with a clear distance between each child and all children are facing the same direction. Once the children have finished, they all go outside to play so the classroom can undergo thorough cleaning of desks, chairs, sinks, toilets and regular touch points. Afternoons follow the same routine as the morning and at the end of the day the children wash their hands before leaving the classroom and making their way home. This is when the cleaning staff

appear and give the classroom another thorough clean. Seeing all the staff going over and above every day to make sure the children get the best opportunity towards their education during these unprecedented times has proved to me how lucky we are to have such a dedicated team at our local primary school.

Melbourn Village College Covid-19 testing and upgraded facilities at MVC It goes without saying that the events of the last year have been unprecedented. The pressures experienced by all parts of the community have been many and varied. We are conscious that pupils and families that are a part of MVC may have been affected by such issues, be it separation from family members, dealing with illness and death, losing incomes and/or jobs or simply trying to access and complete home learning. The pandemic continues to touch us all. One of the more hidden effects of the last year has been what some are calling a ‘mental health timebomb’ – with young people feeling isolated from their peers and from the outside world. There has always been a really strong sense of community at MVC and we have worked hard to try and continue that through this lockdown. Teachers are maintaining contact with their pupils through live online lessons and we have added weekly form time and assemblies. In fact, online technology allows us to speak to the whole school at once, despite the fact that they certainly wouldn’t fit in the school hall (even without social distancing!). Counselling and other wellbeing support is available through our in-school safeguarding team, counsellors and mentors. None of this would have been possible without the kind donations and support of the Meldreth Screenbank and other local volunteers who have helped provide IT equipment for our families. These donations, along with the hard work and support of our parents, have led to the very high levels of engagement we are currently seeing. At difficult times like these it is also possible to lose focus on longer term developments as we struggle to deal with the ‘day to day’. We have worked hard not to let this happen, and just recently finished work on upgrading a complete changing room facility with extended toilet block for pupils. Toilets are not glamorous, but we have put a lot of work into improving ours over the past few years and this has been much appreciated by the pupils. In addition, we are installing seven new water fountains, the result of a bid put in by our pupil environmental group and funded by the Zero Carbon Emissions Community Grant. Work on the new extended Astro-turf is about to begin and will be a huge benefit for the whole local community. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Have you heard? We’ve moved! Find us at our new address: Audiology House (Cambridge) 15 Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB22 5LZ Independent audiology experts you can trust Hearing Assessments

Ear Wax Removal

Hearing Aids

BOOK ONLINE

www.angliearhearing.co.uk

Tinnitus Solutions

01223 661399 info@angliearhearing.co.uk

Personal care and a�en�on 24 hours a day by local, qualified staff serving all faiths ~ repatria�ons horse drawn and green funerals lady and gentleman Funeral Directors modern air condi�oned funeral fleet Bespoke Service Sheets

Ki ng fi she r H ouse Fish Hill

Memorials renova�ons and memorials created by cra�smen in ﬁne stone

R OYS TON

Compe��ve Pricing

Te l : 0 1 7 6 3 2 4 2 3 7 5

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans from Golden Charter

Funeral Directors of Dis�nc�on

www.newlingsofroyston.co.uk

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Jeremy Ashworth Electrician and Property Maintenance

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

07815 093166 jeremy.ashworth@ntlworld.com As some of you will be aware, we were very pleased to welcome Look East to MVC earlier this term to discuss the issues surrounding testing and school reopening.

Testing has become one more element in our Coronavirus mitigations, and has been widely accepted by the approximately 50 pupils currently in school (like other schools, we haven’t ever been completely shut). Nonetheless, scaling it up for over 500 more will be a challenge, but one we look forward to. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back once again, and hopefully by the time you read this we will be doing just that. Much as snowdrops and daffodils herald the end of Winter and the start of Spring, opening our doors to the whole of our school community will be a sign that we are heading in the right direction and can look forwards to better times ahead. Simon Holmes, Principal Melbourn Village College melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Village information Orchard Surgery & Dispensary Melbourn Health Visiting Team Monday to Friday 8:30–1pm and 3pm–6pm Phone 01763 260220 Repeat prescriptions can be made either, in person or by registering to use the online NHS service. www.orchardsurgerymelbourn.co.uk Prescriptions can still be collected from: Surgery Co-op Tesco in Royston Prescription Home Delivery The surgery offers home delivery service for prescriptions, on a Tuesday & Thursday. For more information on any of the above, please see their website or contact the surgery.

BIN COLLECTION MELBOURN Bin collection day – TUESDAY Bins must be out by 6am at the latest on collection day

2 9 16 23 30 8 14 20 27 5 11 18 25 2 8 15 22 29

March March March March March April April April April May May May May June June June June June

Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green Black Blue & Green

Cambridgeshire Hearing Help is a charity for people with hearing loss. The drop-in Hearing Help session at Vicarage Close Community Room, Melbourn, has been cancelled until further notice. For help and information: Telephone: 01223 416141 Text: 07852 699196 enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk or visit www.cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk

(Thursday) (Wednesday)

(Wednesday)

Due to the uncertainty of the duration of the government’s CoVid-19 measures, SCDC guarantee to empty your green bin every four weeks, but put it out every fortnight and they’ll empty it if they can. Bin collection dates are taken from the South Cambridgeshire District Council website and are correct at the time of publishing. For an update on collections visit: www.scambs.gov.uk/bins/find-your-household-bincollection-day/

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

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. For further information please call 01223 420033 or info@camsight.org.uk

MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL 30 High Street Melbourn SG8 6DZ Telephone: 01763 263303 ext. 3 Parish Office opening hours Monday to Friday 10am – 3:30pm (closed 1–2pm) www.melbournpc.co.uk

Melbourn Parish Clerk Claire Littlewood parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk

Assistant to the Clerk Sophie Marriage assistantclerk@melbournpc.co.uk

Responsible Financial Officer Gabrielle van Poortvliet rfo@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk

Chair Graham Clark cllr.clark@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk

Vice Chair Ian Cowley cllr.cowley@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk

Councillors

Kieron Baker cllr.baker@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Rebecca Barnes cllr.barnes@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Richenda Buxton cllr.buxton@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Graham Clark cllr.clark@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Ian Cowley cllr.cowley@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Tina Davey cllr.davey@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Sally Ann Hart cllr.hart@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Claire Kent cllr.kent@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Steve Kilmurray cllr.kilmurray@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk John Travis cllr.travis@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Richard Wilson cllr.wilson@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk

Timebank Coordinator Catherine Sharman timebank@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Village Wardens Keith Rudge Dennis Bartle

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Melbourn Pottery Club Maggie

Orchard Surgery Appointments & Dispensary 260220 Hospitals

Addenbrooke’s Royston

01223 245151 01763 242134

NHS111 – Urgent Care 24hr helpline Medical help when not a 999 emergency

111

Police Non Emergency number Help when not a 999 emergency

101

Fire & Rescue Service

Meldreth Local History Kathryn Betts 268428 Mothers’ Union Pauline Hay 260649 Royston and Saffron Walden Nation Trust Association Avril Mellor

220463

avril.mellor@ntlworld.com Photographic Club

melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com

Ramblers Dave Allard 242677 Royal National Lifeboat Institution Jean Emes 245958 Royston and District Local History Society

01223 376201

Crimestoppers

01223 207307

0800 555111

David Allard

242677

Royston Family History Society Pam Wright

frierley@ntlworld.com

Neighbourhood Watch debbieclapham@icloud.com

Royston Lions Chris Cawdell

Telephone Preference Service www.tsponline.org.uk

Women’s Group Pat Smith 260103

0345 070 0707

448236

SOAS (Supporters of All Saints’) Colin Limming 260072

PLACES OF WORSHIP EDUCATION

All Saints’ Church Revd. Elizabeth Shipp

Melbourn Playgroup 223459 or 07842 151512 Library LAP Jane Stevens johnjane.stevens@tiscali.co.uk

Little Hands Nursery School

260964

220626

vicar.melbournmeldreth@gmail.com

Churchwardens Roger Mellor 220463 David Farr 221022

Out of school times 01223 503972

Baptist Church Rev. Stuart Clarke

Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231

Secretary Brian Orrell

Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox 223457

United Reformed Church

U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Chairman Tony Garrick

Hall booking Beryl and Barry Monk 246458

Secretary Rosaline Van de Weyer 01223 510201

261650 07568 376027 01223 870869

Hon Sec Hilary Docwra 222486 264189

Mem Sec Chris Davison

Village College Principal Simon Holmes 223400

HEALTH Age UK Cambridgeshire Blood Donors

01223 221921

0300 123 23 23

SPORT Badminton Steve Jackson 248774 Bowls Arthur Andrews

261990

Croquet Janet Pope

248239

Jazzercise Maxine Rustem

07963 161246

Judo Iain Reid (Chief Instructor) or Lesley Reid

241830

Chiropodist

263260

email melbournjudoclub@gmail.com

Dentist

262034

Melbourn Dynamos FC Gordon Atalker 07770533249

District Nurses (Primary Care Trust)

01223 846122

Home-Start

262262

S. Cambs PCT 35 Orchard Road Child & Family Nurses Car Scheme

262861 245228

Blake Carrington

07974 445710 07730488743

Melbourn Football Club Simon Gascoyne 261703 Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313

LOCAL CLUBS

Meldreth Tennis Club Tracy Aggett

243376

Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593

COMMUNITY SERVICES

After Eights

melbournwi@gmail.com

Air Cadets 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron

249156

Community Hall bookings@communityhallmelbourn.com 07821 656033

Tony Kelly Mon & Wed evenings 7 – 9.30 p.m.

Dial-A-Ride

Bellringers Barbara Mitchell 261518

County Councillor

Home Start Tracy Aggett 262262

Bridge Club Howard Waller 261693

Melbourn Community Hub

Susan van de Ven, 95 North End, Meldreth – 01763 261833 susanvandeven5@gmail.com

1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505

Melbourn Springs Care Home

01763 722734

Brownies 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272

Mobile Warden Scheme Jeannie Seers

07808 735066

Guides 1st Melbourn Hilary Marsh 261443

Moorlands Denise Taylor

260564

District Councillor

Luncheon Club at Melbourn Hub (Wednesdays) 263303 op1

Southwell Court Telephone

750006

MADS (Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society)

Vicarage Close Warden Eileen Allan

263389

Jose Hales, 23 Elm Way, SG8 6UH 01763 221058 jose@josehales.me.uk

South Cambs M.P. Anthony Browne – 01954 211444 anthony.browne.mp@parliament.uk

Donna Sleight

232622

01223 506335

Lead Sheltered Housing Officer – Monday to Friday 9–1.30

Melbourn History Group Ann Dekkers 261144

Vicarage Close, John Impey Way & Elin Way

Melbourn Mushroom Club John Holden

Eileen Allan

email: frog.end@virgin.net

263303

Mobile 07876 791419 / 245402

Every other week. 9–5 Monday to Friday

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Nature Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve November November began with a mix of weather: a blustery south west wind, rain but also some sunny spells thrown in – overall not good conditions for seeing birds. On my first visit I did find a male Brambling, perched calling at the top of an ash tree near the Cress hut, and at this time 50+ Siskins remained in the alders, with fewer Goldfinches. One Blackcap and one Chiffchaff had made it into the new month, and at least 3 male Cetti’s Warblers were also being quite vocal around the reserve, giving hope that there may be more than 2 pairs next spring! At the Reedbed hide 2 male Shovelers were still present and 2 Kingfishers were showing well, often perched on the fence by the gate just to the right of the hide. In the evenings, there were still 3000+ Starlings coming in to roost, providing some entertainment, and more than 20 Redwings were in evidence feeding on the plentiful berry supply. Kingfisher

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Starling flock over reedbed hide

On the 5th I was pleased to hear a Bearded Tit calling constantly for 10 minutes, deep in the reedbed at dusk. I could not see the bird as it was too far from the path, but it seemed to be somewhere near the Reedbed hide. It was still present a few days later, with a bird again heard calling at dusk on the 7th and three birds seen by a visitor on the 8th. This species was erupting from breeding areas at that time so I was hopeful that there would be more to come. These birds usually move on before winter but they were still in evidence at the middle of the month, 2 being seen briefly on the 14th and heard again at dusk on the 15th, and their being on site for over a week was a hopeful sign that they might remain; in fact, at least one

was still present on the reserve right through to the end of January. Over the next few weeks the Starling numbers increased to 4,500, still coming into roost and drawing little crowds of visitors to admire their flying display. Some evenings they were disappointing and roosted quickly with little flying around, but at other times they were very good fun to watch. At the end of the month a couple of Sparrowhawks made them look a bit lively, but earlier that week a couple of Peregrine Falcons came in: that really made them move! Three warbler species were still on the reserve, with 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff and the resident 4–5 Cetti’s Warblers. As the month progressed Siskin numbers in the alders reduced down to about 20 birds, and it was nice to have 2 Redpolls in amongst them. In the final week, at least 2 Bramblings were in evidence, heard calling and roosting on the reserve. I also heard 8 Water Rails calling; there were undoubtedly more than this wintering on the reserve, but I rarely recorded as many in a day. The previous few nights had been good for Redwing movement, so it was not surprising that numbers on site had increased to 100, seen feeding on the hawthorns. Fieldfares were also now present: only 20, a very low figure, but it was the most I had seen at Fowlmere this winter.

On the evening of the 13th I was surprised to see a Coot on the mere. This was a very early returning bird, the earliest I have known. Normally Coots don’t arrive back until February, but in recent years I have noted them back earlier and earlier. A friend who had visited the reserve earlier during the day had seen Ravens, Grey Wagtails, Blackcaps and a very good 800+ Redwings feeding around the site. The following week the reserve was still quiet: a total count recorded just 35 species, including flyovers, only 10 of those species reaching a double figure count. Woodpigeons had the highest total at 40, which was very low for such a common species. There were 25 Blackbirds, 17 Siskins in the alders (nice to see) and the single Coot was still on the mere. Over the Christmas period bird numbers on the reserve, especially song birds, remained low. Another Coot arrived to join the one on the mere, and a number of predator birds were seen flying over, including a female Merlin, a Red Kite, a Buzzard and two Sparrowhawks. Duck numbers were low, just 3 Teals being seen. Roosting Reed Buntings were counted with a total of 170 coming in, and a female Blackcap appeared to be wintering on the reserve, something that doesn’t happen often. Christmas Day, however, brought a special treat. Having heard a report of 2 Greylag Geese and a WhiteFronted Goose being seen Greylag over the reserve, a friend and I moved to a position beside the Shep from which we could view the sheep field by the entrance, hoping that the birds might land there. We were very lucky eventually to see all 3 birds. The White-Fronted Goose remained feeding on grass for the next half hour before taking off to fly northward, Gadwalls

December At the beginning of December, we heard of rare birds being seen elsewhere in the local area: 5 Tundra Bean Geese and 28 White-Fronted Geese at Haslingfield, Glossy Ibis over Great Shelford, Great-White Egret at Bassingbourn and the exceptional Kumlien’s Gull at Dernford Reservoir. Sadly, none came to Fowlmere and the reserve remained relatively quiet. Visitor numbers over the weekend were very high and disturbance was at a maximum, meaning that few birds were in evidence. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Grasshopper Warbler Snipe

leaving the 2 Greylags. This was the first record of WhiteFronted Goose at Fowlmere, so very exciting for us! At the end of the month a sharp increase in waterfowl was nice to see: 47 Teals, 40 Mallards and 2 Gadwalls had all come in. Ravens were seen daily, with up to 3 birds around the area. There appeared to be just 3 Snipe wintering on the reserve, although there were probably more hidden away. Siskins and Goldfinches were feeding in the alders and both Fieldfares and Redwings were feeding on the hawthorns.

Great White Egret on the mere. Goosanders on the water

Over the year the reserve species total was 127, slightly down from usual. I personally recorded 121 species. There were two firsts for the reserve: Whooper Swan and White-Fronted Goose. A particular highlight was seeing Great-Crested Grebes on the mere. The 31st July also stands out, with Great-White Egrets, Goosanders and Crossbills all being seen in the same evening. The breeding season was good: 4 reeling Grasshopper Warblers (2 at least paired) was a real comeback. Going the other way, however, was the Turtle Dove, lost as a breeding species and, very sadly, looking like there is no way back for the species.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

January 2021 At the beginning of the month some pleasant days showed that two more pairs of Gadwalls had come in, and there was much displaying from the Teals and Mallards. Siskins, Snipe, Redwings and Fieldfares were still present, and 5 Cetti’s Warblers were heard singing, which was excellent. A visitor reported that 3 Mute Swans had come in, but they were soon on their way. Mute Swans have been infrequent on the reserve in recent years. Over the next 10 days there was little change, the only notable arrival being a pair of Wigeons, which stayed on the mere over the weekend. On the 9th an unusual number of Gulls dropped in to bathe, including 100+ Black-Headed, 30 Common and 2 Lesser BlackBacked. Kingfishers, Cetti’s Warblers and Barn Owls were also seen. The weekend of the 16th/17th began cold and wet so few birds were seen, but later in the afternoon, when the rain had passed, 3 Barn Owls came out well before dark; they must have been hungry after a night of rain. The pair from the box were not keen on the third bird poaching their hunting area and the birds put on a good display with plenty of calling. On the 17th, a much calmer day, with sun all day, there were 4 Little Egrets on the Guilden brook and a Kingfisher came to perch in a bush overhanging the river Shep, just yards away from where I was sitting at the time. I dared not move to take a photograph, so I just enjoyed the moment. The 19th brought a welcome first for the reserve. The Kumlien’s Gull that had been wintering in the area passed over, coming from the direction of Heydon pig fields, and headed west in a small group of Gulls. This was the 2nd record of Iceland Gull, but the first of the sub species Kumlieni. To have both on the reserve list is truly quite remarkable considering where we are, inland, arable country! There were plenty of Thrushes also around at this time, with Redwings feeding in the Poplar wood and Fieldfares feeding in fields by the entrance. Also at the

Protecting the wildlife Wigeon

reserve entrance were 18 Corn Buntings; sadly, this was the largest flock I had seen all winter. Ravens were still regularly flying over, seemingly daily. Barn Owls were hunting the reedbed, on one occasion flushing up 5 Snipe – the highest number seen this winter but low for this reserve. Another Little Grebe returned that week, joining the two already present, while three Little Egrets were still along the Guilden brook. 210 Reed Buntings were counted coming into roost on the 22nd. A sharp frost on the 24th brought in some ducks: a flock of Teals, 2 Gadwalls and the first Shoveler of the year. I also finally caught a glimpse of the Bearded Tit which I had been hearing since early November; it was a beautiful male. The female bird that I had seen before Christmas seemed to have gone, as calls heard suggested just the one present. A weasel on the boardwalk on that day was notable; unlike stoats I don’t see many of them. At the end of the month the rain had pushed the reserve water levels up to a level not seen for quite a while. The paths around the loop in the southern section were partly flooded and extremely muddy, only sensibly passable with wellies. Several species were now gearing up for the breeding season. Song Thrushes were singing, as were the first Goldcrest and Greenfinch; a Great-Spotted Woodpecker was drumming and the Mistle Thrushes had paired. It was great to hear some vocals in the early morning. On the 31st, a female Marsh Harrier spent an hour over the reedbed: the first of the year. Could it be our nesting female sizing up the place? Finally, a Nuthatch was heard calling from the alders. This is rare for the reserve, but with breeding pairs now in nearby villages it may become more regular. The last site record was just over a year ago when 2 birds stayed for a couple of months.

With the continuing restrictions, due to Covid‑19, Fowlmere Nature Reserve is seeing very large numbers of visitors. Visitors are welcome, but it is important to remember that this is a Nature Reserve. Do leave cycles at the entrance, and Please try to walk quietly and calmly around the reserve. If the disturbance becomes too great, birds may cease to nest here and the wildlife may leave the reserve in search of a quieter habitat. To keep the disturbance to a minimum and so ensure that we keep the reserve for the future, it is vital that we all observe key rules for the protection of the wildlife.

• DO NOT take dogs into the reserve. • DO keep to the designated main paths. • DO follow the one-way system • DO take home all rubbish.

This article is a synopsis taken from the website produced by Ade Cooper and Caroline Scott about Fowlmere Bird Reserve. To see the full version and other interesting visits Ade and Caroline have undertaken in the UK and abroad, visit: www.cooperandscott.wordpress.com melbournmagazine@gmail.com

feature “Our Rosemary” – Playgroups

The Melbourn All Saints’ playgroup – carrying on the New Zealand Plunket system One morning Rosemary dropped round to see me, just after her move to Melbourn, explaining she would like to open a Playgroup in the village, possibly in All Saints’ Church Hall, and could I help her. I readily agreed to go with her to look at the hall to ‘suss’ it out.

by Sylvia Beamon

I have only lived in Melbourn since June last year, after a series of misfortunes. First a broken left foot metatarsal, then a stroke and then a broken hip. Major Surgery and admission to four local hospitals, including the two for rehabilitation, were necessary over ten months. My whole life was to dramatically change. Later I was to hear of the untimely death of a friend of mine, Rosemary Gatward in February of 2020. In September 1961, my family and I moved from Mill Hill in North London, seeking a home in Royston. Hilary Lovell, the Midwife who had delivered my two elder sons, suggested that when I moved I should start a Parent and Social group similar to the one she had introduced me to. At the time, I was training to become a National Childbirth Trust (London) antenatal teacher in the up-to-date Psycho-Physical method, as used in the Mill Hill Clinic) I founded the Royston Retreat Parent & Social Group with just a handful of invited young women meeting in the lounge of our new house. I was a very shy person, never having seriously started a group, nor run a committee. It was years before I could stand up in front of people and read the minutes without my knees knocking together. The only thing I understood was the value of minutes (my secretarial knowledge and skills came to the fore here). At one of the Mill Hill group’s meetings a New Zealand speaker had explained their Country’s Plunket system for Playgroups. Hilary Lovell offered to be one of our first speakers at a Royston meeting. Rosemary and her family lived just around the corner, in the next road from us. At different times, she joined the ‘Retreat’; as the new group became known, my antenatal classes took off and, finally, the Playgroups (three ‘Home ones’ plus four in Halls opened). It was amazing how quickly we expanded. Obviously there was a need in the locality for such activities. I grew to know Rosemary well and really liked her. I also recognised she was a shy, diffident person, but most of all was always reliable and keen in whatever she did for anyone.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Playgroups in the ‘sixties were a new venture for Britain. Private fee-paying nurseries were available; they employed a Nursery Nurse, to be in charge, and paid helpers to run them. Playgroups, however, existed on a “shoestring”, which necessitated that ALL the mothers took turns on a rota to help on a regular basis. Few tangible regulations existed then: no-one could join unless they were prepared to help. I had taken much useful information from the Plunket women before embarking on those new Royston examples. ‘Home’ ones opened first: eight mothers and eight children in each one or set, for two mornings a week, with two Mums in charge – the official ratio was one adult to six children but here we worked with one adult to four children. For Halls, it was 24 mothers and 24 children (3 sets), plus a Nursery Nurse or Infant Teacher. When Mrs. Burgess, an HCC Health Visitor and the first one to be assigned to work in Royston, arrived she

What a ‘sassy’ woman Rosemary was. She was very successfully running her playgroup for Melbourn and I was delighted because I knew what an effort it was initially for her. Of course, she gained much more confidence with support from her family, and the Melbourn community was to greatly benefit.

had never come across playgroups before and did not really approve of the Retreat activities, any more than did the Town Council. But Mrs. Burgess grew to accept them, particularly after we helped two town families who had real ongoing difficulties, as exampled below. One young mother had died leaving two under-five boisterous boys motherless. Granny took over their care whilst the husband worked. But what about Granny? Our ratio of adults (mother/helpers) to children was a minimum of one to four children. One to six, was the norm as mentioned before. Mrs. Burgess came on board and became very involved with our discussions at Committee level as to how both boys could be accommodated in a Hall playgroup. We agreed that Granny should be exempt from’ helping’ unless she wanted to, otherwise she could have some time for herself. The other mother had a young girl with a spina bifida problem meaning that she had to help with her toileting etc., yet she could join in as a helper if she chose. It proved to be a most successful experience for both mother and child – they just loved it. Nursery rhyme titles or those from children’s stories were chosen for each set by the Mums, such as – ‘Jack and Jill, Tom Thumb,’ ‘Cinderella’.

All Saints’ Playgroup opened in 1968 and ran for around 30 years in the then newly built Church Hall. It is now known as Melbourn Playgroup, after moving to the Primary School. In a 1986 Newsletter the playgroup is described for new parents as: “an independent group of hardworking, patient and dedicated helpers who, together with mothers (and fathers, grannies, grandads and aunties and uncles) all work together to create a happy place where children aged from nearly three to school age have a chance to learn, through play, and to develop the social skills they will need in their school life – the ability to sit and listen quietly, to be able to work in a group and so on. Also, and just as important, we try to offer parents and children the chance to meet together out of playgroup on occasions like our summer outing and sports day. Parents help by taking their turns on the rota for the daily sessions and with fund raising.”

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Review Almonds and Raisins by Maisie Mosco

The first book in this 5-book saga is Almonds and Raisins, and begins with the arrival of the Sandberg family to a new life in England, having fled the Russian pogroms. Their arduous journey from their hometown has been long, difficult and culminating in a nauseous sea journey with many families in a similar situation crammed into a crowded hold. Once in England they make their way to Manchester, uncertain of where they would stay, relying on the hospitality of others who have escaped the same threat and already settled. On their arrival, they are welcomed, but the accommodation is by no means spacious and certainly does not measure up to what they have left behind. As was the experience of all who had to make this journey, the belongings they have brought with them are minimal. The place they find themselves in is a far cry from Dvinsk where they had previously lived. On researching I found that Dvinsk (now Daugavpils, Latvia) was one of the leading Jewish cities of the Russian Empire and a centre of high Jewish culture and debate. The Sandburg’s comprise Sarah and Abraham and their children David, Sammy and Esther (Nathan would be born later). The first few chapters of this book cover Abraham’s eventually finding a job pressing garments in a Jewish sweat shop, and in due course the family being able to move into their own home. Their lives revolve around the close-knit Jewish community and the Orthodox Shul, which initially is a small room in the Rabbi’s house. David, the eldest boy, carries the burden with him that he was unable to protect Sammy from the Cossack horseman who had cruelly ridden over his leg crushing it and leaving him with a lifelong limp. The Sandberg’s lives become intertwined with their neighbours, the Moritz family, who have fled Austria. Sarah is the Matriarch of the family, striving for the best and making them take the decisions which would see them climbing the social ladder. This includes making the right choice of wife or husband, not based

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

on love but on financial or societal benefit. Sarah is determined that her children will not suffer the deprivation she has endured. These stringent rules cause some pain, jealousy and fragmentation in the first-generation family and continue to do so as successive generations Maisie Mosco are born. As the series of books continue there is a real spectrum of how Sarah’s descendants respond to their Jewish heritage. Some become very strict (even relocating to the emerging state of Israel); some ‘marry out’ having families with conflicting religious loyalties. Ultimately her descendants include a member of the aristocracy and a member of Parliament raised to the peerage. But there are also those who have struggled with their sexuality and many who have regretted that they had done what was expected rather than what they themselves desired. These books, especially the earlier ones, do use a lot of Yiddish words, but reading the Kindle version, gives the opportunity to highlight and look-up unfamiliar words. Having previously lived in an area with a significant Jewish population and having several Jewish friends I am interested in Jewish culture and recent history, so I found this family saga fascinating and very enjoyable to read. The other books in this series are Scattered Seed; Children’s Children; Out of the Ashes and New Beginnings. Tess Maddin

Famous Last Words: A Novel Timothy Findley

A longstanding family Christmas Day tradition – participating in the Queen’s Broadcast to her subjects at home and abroad, followed by an afternoon stroll to reflect on her words and marvel at the work stamina of this 94-year-old woman – led this old Republican (of the Irish Republican as opposed to the Trumpian Republican variety) to reread this fantastic novel.

It arose when, on Christmas afternoon, Covidmasked and reflecting on the Broadcast, I crossed paths with a similarly masked old sparring partner. After socially distanced seasonal greetings, and following the meander of our usual good-natured hard-fought friendly disputes – which are always about politics since that subject concerns matters of everyday importance to everyone – we moved on from comments related to Brexit and the potential consequences of the recent trade deal to discussing the values and influence of the Royal family, and their role and actions in the 1930s. Some days later, musing on these discussions – and as Covid restrictions worsened for Melbourn and everywhere else – I took down and read again this wonderful novel. First published in 1981 in Canada, the novel is beautifully written and very easy to read. The author, Timothy Findley, was a Canadian writer, who died in 2002 cloaked with national and international awards and honours for his creative output. The Observer described him as “Canada’s greatest living writer” If you have read and enjoyed Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel ‘The Remains of the Day’ (which appeared later in 1989 and won the Booker Prize), or have seen its highly regarded film adaptation, with its fabulous period setting, dialogue and tremendous performances from Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and a very young Hugh Grant, then this book is for you. Both these great writers, Ishiguro and Findley, were clearly at that time ploughing in the same fertile field. The central focus of Findley, however, is not Ishiguro’s loyal and lowly butler witnessing his master’s crucial role in Establishment scheming throughout the 1930s to advance Nazi ideology and assist Nazi supporters and sympathisers into power in Britain. Rather, Findley’s unrelenting focus is on the clandestine lives of the high society public elites in that unfolding drama, the persons and personalities at the pinnacle of politics and in the area of creative cultural endeavour, who throughout that time mixed and mingled freely across the principal European countries involved. The several central figures he wonderfully draws and presents are those who performed the main roles in that long drawn out drama: Wallis Simpson, Edward Windsor and their supporters in joint alliance with the Nazi cause; those directing the several secret intelligence agencies of Britain and Germany; and, as always, the cultural writers and opinion formers principally represented by the Europe-based American journalist, speaker and writer Hugh Selwyn Mauberley. The insights and quality of writing Findley brings to

Timothy Findley

bear on the issues and themes make it a memorable book. He locates the trauma and drama of 1930s Europe in the ill-fated settlement drawn up by the victors at the end of the 1914–18 World War. Across the pages, armies are mobilised and total war is waged. Havoc, death and destruction are wrought throughout the countries of Europe, borders shift, alliances are made and broken and all of these muddled, overlapping, confusing and contradictory events and impulses – including those of the greatly privileged principal individual actors – are set down and clearly delineated in prose that is a joy to read. You will stop to savour and absorb before immediately starting forth again. Forwards and backwards across the timeline Findley ranges, in full control of his material and of us his readers. From the opening sections, with Mauberley fleeing Italy as the Nazi war effort collapses before the Allied advance, to the finale, reached after many breathtaking twists and turns, with Edward, accompanied by Wallis, serving Britain – very reluctantly it should be emphasised – as Governor of the Bahamas. Throughout the novel Findley grants the reader access to this real-time world – usually inaccessible to all but its hugely privileged and fabulously wealthy members, with their mix of motivations, ambitions and actions – whose impact has endured to this day. The opening sections will draw you in: writer Mauberley escaping the fall of Italy with the handwritten notes, journals and diaries detailing what he had witnessed and recorded as a willing participant in support of the Nazi cause during those tumultuous years of European intrigue and conflict. Then his epiphany, as he determines to reveal to the emerging new world the historic truth of what happened, and the subsequent discovery of his written legacy by a group of American soldiers who realize its significance. On turning the final page, you will emerge deeply impressed and, perhaps, changed. Why else but for that possibility do we read novels? Hugh Pollock melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Brand new purpose built site

Personal care for your feet in the comfort of your own home • Nail Trimming • Hard Skin & Cracked Heels • Corns & Verrucae • Fungal Nails • Diabetic Foot Care Telephone on

01763 261250 or 0791 3913955 Nancy Foster MCFHP MAFHP

Registered Member of the British Association of Foot Health Professionals

email: nancy.fosterfeet@gmail.com

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

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Flexible options for home and business Monitored CCTV, gate entry by key fob Easy access for removal company lorries Entry from 06.00 to 22.00, 7 days a week Insulated, damp free containers owned from new and carefully maintained Over 10 years of experience Friendly and family run Visit our website: www.lawstorage.co.uk Call us: 01223 874629 Email us: paul@lawstorage.co.uk Please note, we have moved to: Butts Farm, Malton Road, Orwell, SG8 5QR Let us lighten your load

Authors and their Books Introduction

At the end of 2012 I applied for a place on an MA in Creative Writing and submitted, as part of the application process, what would prove to be the first chapter of my novel ‘The Dark Chorus’. After completing the MA in 2015, I finished writing the novel but set it aside while I started on a career change. However, serendipity worked its thing and the novel is now published. It’s as much a mystery to me as to anyone else as to why I wrote this particular story, but sometimes things just happen. Extract A bee bumbles against the glass of the window, its comically small wings buzz in annoyance – it wants out. I hum quietly to it to calm it down. I have always had an affinity with bees, in fact with all sorts of creatures, but bees in particular. It quietens and as I put my hand out it lands gently in my palm and turns its engine off. I take a moment to admire its beauty and then carefully place it by a broken windowpane. It senses freedom, fires up its engine again and launches itself into the fresh autumn morning. I’m waiting, so I spend the rest of the day walking the buildings letting serendipity guide me, amusing myself by checking through the scattered remnants of the inmates’ belongings. I find a few photographs, some medical notes, and sad, unintelligible letters never sent; snippets of lives never knowingly lived. Dusk comes, and I sit and watch from the comfort of a peeling wooden bench. It washes over the late afternoon sky and with each moment the granularity of the darkness becomes finer until night finally falls. I listen to what I call the Dark Chorus; the chatter of the lost souls, those that have died here but, for whatever reason, cannot pass on. The chatter is not beautiful like the dawn chorus, it’s chaotic, jumbled, laced with anxiety and fear. It doesn’t frighten me. I’ve heard it from birth. It’s sad, and I wish I could help them. It’s time Almost every day for the past six months I have gone about the business of collecting these souls. I do this because I am looking for one in particular. I know she is here, but I cannot pick her out from amongst the cacophony of incessant monologues. So, I collect these immortal remains one at a time in order to lessen the noise, to hear more clearly. I know my mother is dead because I felt her die. Her death pulled at my own soul, nearly tearing it from

my body. Our connection stretched and pulled and threatened to slip from my grip. I held on with grim determination to save her from passing on, but in my ignorance, I condemned her to a half-life in the Dark Chorus. From that moment on guilt has clouded my every thought, so I decided to leave Shelly Fields and return to my birthplace, to put things right. Biography My name is Ashley Meggitt and I’ve lived in Fowlmere for just over 20 years with my wife Jane and, until they left home, my children Ben and Lucie. I left school early to join a psychedelic rock band when I realised that sex, drugs, and rock and roll was a thing. Subsequently I went back to education and became head of IT for a Cambridge University College. In recent years I’ve retrained in psychology and am now an associate lecturer in sports psychology at ARU, where I’m also studying for a PhD. I’m a triathlete when the mood takes me, a rock musician, and a would be photographer with the Melbourn photography club.

Photograph Sam Buchanan

The Dark Chorus is available on Amazon as an ebook or a paperback. www.ashleymeggitt.com www.facebook.com/ashleymeggittbooks twitter.com/CallMeReg www.instagram.com/ashleymeggitt39/ Are you or a friend an author with a published book? Tell the readers of Melbourn Magazine about how and why you came to write your book, provide an abridged extract, and some biographical details. Contact Melbourn Magazine for full details email: melbournmagazine@ gmail.com Telephone: 261144. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Walks

in & around Melbourn A Walk on the Wild Side (Cont.*) (*Editor’s Note: This article was held over as the second half of ‘A Walk on the Wild Side’ which appeared in the Magazine’s Spring 2020 Issue. That article had terminated at The British Queen in Meldreth.) The journey home to Melbourn’s Orchard Road beckons. Warmed by the flames still dancing in a roaring fire, cheered by easy banter passed to and fro in cosy comfort, and now, fortified by strong flavoursome coffee, I pick up my small backpack, touch fingertips to eyebrow in a farewell salute to friendly staff, and depart once again the front door of Meldreth’s excellent hostelry ‘The British Queen’. The front door is curiously set into the side of this fine old building and causes the thought as I exit: ‘Now, I wonder why that is?’ A question, perhaps, for the esteemed grey heads of the Meldreth History Group. Like me, on exiting make an immediate left turn into the permissive path through the paved courtyard, with its empty but expectant tables and seats, cross the car park and, keeping strictly to the path, pass along the side of the large marquee. Tramp across the field, pass the several well-spaced tree sculptures, including: a perfectly proportioned perched attentive owl (below); an upright squirrel (top right) focussed on a clutched nut but still conveying alertness for any and all dangers; and the laughing face of a genial giant (right) who could, perhaps, have stepped from the pages of JRR Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The sculptures have been thoughtfully and skilfully crafted from the standing remains of some long dead trees, roots still in the ground and now, in this renewed life form, bringing pleasure and enjoyment to all lucky and fortunate enough to pass this way. Walk along in front of the sturdy wooden club-house, stopping only to read the brief legend fixed to its door. A heart-warming legend, which demonstrates that a generous action done in solidarity – in this case by the owners of ‘The British Queen’ – does, indeed, build a strong community. Look over your shoulder and, if your good luck continues

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

to hold sway, you may see scattered across a smooth, well-maintained, low-fenced croquet lawn a group of combatants seeking honour and glory – no quarter asked and none given – as they wield their large wooden mallets among the half hoops. Stand awhile, enjoy the fun and spectacle, applaud a good stroke and call out “Well done” – even if like me you have no idea of the finer details and intricacies of the game. Indeed, if you wait and admire you will surely be invited to join this local friendly congregation. Perhaps even invited on the spot! Then, with the efficiency and sociability for which this wholesome congregation has a reputation, likely be initiated and anointed into membership of an ancient pursuit. At its centre is a truth: Become a believer and practitioner of croquet and fun and camaraderie is forever yours. My called out “Well done” received the response “Come on and give it a try, why don’t you?” from a celebrating practitioner who extended her mallet in my direction. Shrinking violet that I am I still blush – but pleasantly so – at the memory of that morning. Walk along the side of the croquet lawn, cross the narrow foot bridge over the River Mel which runs in truth as a shallow chalk stream – be sure to re-fasten the bridge gate – then turn right and walk along the river

bank. The path twists and turns following the meanders of the river. Enjoy the work of the River Mel Restoration Group, whose voluntary efforts over several years – executed with the guidance and advice of many skilled professionals – has brought back life, and nature, and eco-systems of all kinds to this wonderful chalk stream. Astonishingly this local chalk stream – a hidden gem – is one of only several hundred known surviving chalk streams left in the entire world. As I reflected on this incredible fact while overtaking two walkers of similar vintage to myself, their pet dog waddling on a short lead, the woman said to me: “Go ahead and overtake us. This old dog is really slow – he’s getting on a bit in years.” As I smiled and said to her “I’ll do my best Madam – but I’m getting on a bit myself!” her companion turned around and quick as a shot said to her with a twinkle in his eye: “Just a minute my dear. I’m not really all that slow – and why am I being called an old dog?”. When walking in woods gentle good humour is always within easy reach. Continue along the woodchip covered path. Listen to the water of the chalk stream burbling and gurgling. Note how clear that water is thanks to local voluntary effort. See how it sparkles, seemingly in anticipation, as the sunlight falls and sprinkles through the canopy of trees whose branches overlap protectively overhead. Then look down and see the sunlight, having been broken and splintered by the canopy, finally bounce and splash its way across the water’s flowing tumbling surfaces.

These old trees – including willow, ash, sycamore – standing beside and stretching across the River Mel make up but one part of Melwood Local Nature Reserve, an area protected and cared for by the Melwood Conservation Group, yet another collection of publicspirited volunteers. Walk along. Look. Listen. Breathe deeply. Slowly relax letting perceived troubles and burdens fall away – not to disappear but to take on their true proportions. Walking through Melwood Local Nature Reserve, greeting the occasional local kindred spirit, looking, listening, smelling the air and simply breathing and tramping along among its trees and alongside a greatly valued restored chalk stream – a rare treasure in world terms no less – enables a taking of personal stock, and the counting of the many personal good things in life which are often overlooked. When the path divides, take the path on the right which continues alongside the river bank to reach another narrow footbridge. Cross the footbridge and on its far side reach for the bar of the old metal Kissing-gate, perhaps recalling fondly the stolen kisses (or worse, the missed opportunities!) of long gone and certainly more innocent times.

Pass through the gate and so enter Flambards Close. This is a very small development of attractive modern housing standing around a large open grassed area and leading to Meldreth High Street. Walking through and leaving Flambards Close, turn left and walk beside the mature mixed trees – some fairly ancient including ash and a very mature oak, and also many planted by early nearby residents – which in a run mask and stand parallel with the High Street. Together over decades these trees have formed a dense habitat, sheltering a range of ecosystems and a diverse collection of invertebrates and small animal life and bird life aplenty, depending on the season of the year. Stand awhile. Like Sherlock Holmes, metaphorically don your old-fashioned deer stalker hat and, with or without your trusty magnifying melbournmagazine@gmail.com

E L SA

40 KI %

SE LE CT ED

UP TO

OF RA F

TC HE N

NG ES

FREE BOSCH DISHWASHER SMV40C30GB Minimum spend of £7000 or FREE HOT TAP QUOOKER FUSION ROUND CHROME Minimum spend of £15000 With all kitchen supplied & installation. Before 31st March 2020 Our trademark is our exceptional ‘conception to completion’ quality of service. We can assist you in everything from inspiration & design management to project delivery & installation.

43 High Street, Royston SG8 9AW Call us on 01763 245000 / 01223 870440 Email: info@trademark-kitchens.co.uk www.trademark-kitchens.co.uk

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Little Hands Nursery School The Moor, Melbourn Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality preschool education for the under fives and offers

• High staff to child ratio • Individual child centred planning & learning • Flexible booking system during term time for the 08.30am – 4.30pm nursery day • Optional holiday clubs available • Dedicated baby room for children under two We accept nursery funding giving 30 hours per week of free funded nursery for all 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds For further information contact : Sharon Tutty : nursery manager 01763 260964 lh-melbourn@btconnect.com Little Hands is also at Bourn, Linton and Newton visit the website at www.littlehands.co.uk

JEREMY RULE FUNERAL SERVICE Jeremy Rule. MBIE. Dip. FD. Ben Rule. Dip. FD.

Independent Local Family Funeral Director Providing a caring and personal service 24 hours a day for all your funeral needs. Offering Help & Guidance through every step.

Office & Chapel of Rest :

12, Church Lane, Royston, Herts SG8 9LG Telephone:

01763 242560 www.jeremyrulefunerals.co.uk

glasses, look for evidence of recent life or death, whether among the branches or down in the dense ivy and privet undergrowth. Perhaps allow to echo in your mind the epitaph – words of the great poet’s own choosing – carved on the headstone of W B Yeats, who lies peacefully in far off Sligo almost within sight and sound and smell and taste of the wild Atlantic waves that have thundered all the way from New York – a place long regarded by the Irish as simply the next parish along from the counties Sligo and Donegal: “Cast a cold Eye On Life, on Death. Horseman, pass by!” At this point: Decision. Decision. Either: a sharp ninety degree left turn at a finger-post sign pointing to a footpath leading directly from the High Street to platform 2 of Meldreth train station, up the steps briskly, over the train tracks, down the steps to platform 1 and out of the station into the pleasing vista of a sky-domed perfectly level hard-surfaced footpath conveniently laid straight across ploughed fields and granting easy access to Melbourn. Or: alternatively, choose to continue along the High Street, past the entrance to the train station car park, then join the occasional car going up and over the narrow vehicle bridge and walk along the alternating pavements of the twisting up and down road to Melbourn. An imaginary coin tossed and with a decision about to be made, a familiar car drew up alongside and an old pal’s voice said: “Going home to Melbourn? Hop in and I’ll tell you the latest.” Settling myself contentedly into the front seat, I addressed my pal in imperial tones: “My good man – your attention if you please. Direct the horses towards the URC’s Orchard Road Cemetery – the dead centre of Melbourn”. The response was a quiet “Ah yes. The old jokes are always the best.” accompanied by a chuckle and the quick riposte: “Not so funny though when you realize that with your age and ailments you could be joining the ranks of all those ‘sadly departed and fondly missed’ stalwarts fairly soon! Anyway, cut to the chase here, have you heard the latest joke about you know who?” It was of course, a very funny story he told: perfectly believable; probably accurate; borderline legal; and most certainly libellous. As the car pulled away we agreed that it was probably put about by you-knowwho himself – the very same Melbournian that you and many others will have heard saying (and citing Oscar Wilde): “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about”. A fitting end, perhaps, to an enjoyable and thoughtful walk on the wild side: a smile; a joke; a good story well told by a good Samaritan offering to share comfortable easy companionship with another on the last stretch of a journey homeward bound. Hugh Pollock melbournmagazine@gmail.com

• Boiler servicing & repairs • Landlord certificates • Boiler replacements • Bathroom suites • Natural gas, oil & LPG • Heating system upgrades • General plumbing & repairs

Phone: 01763 260007 www.boilercareandrepair.co.uk

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

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Churches Together All Saints Church Melbourn & Holy Trinity Meldreth Life has been turned upside down with the Covid Pandemic, and at the time of writing we have taken the decision to suspend physical church services out of a love and concern for one another. The church remains open for private prayer and small scale funerals. We shall continue to be holding services either on our Facebook site or via Zoom. Please check on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/asmhtm for up to date details. We continue to try and support one another, and if you have any prayer concerns please contact vicar.melbournmeldreth@gmail.com or contact Revd. Mary Price on 01763 261569 or Pat Smith on 01763 262575. This month sees us as a church, as a group of people both individually and collectively using the time of Lent as a preparation for the joy of Easter Morning. Traditionally Lent is taken as a time to prepare and reflect on things as the darkness of Good Friday approaches. As a child and adult, I was always puzzled as to why the day that Jesus was crucified was called ‘Good’ Friday. I now know that without Christ enduring an agonising death on the cross to pay the price for our sins we would not have the joy of the Easter resurrection. Sometimes we endure times of darkness and pain and perhaps we all have, individually, locally, nationally and worldwide, over the past year. Hope has been brought to us all with the roll out of vaccines. As we give thanks for that, let us all remember and give thanks for all who have worked together for the common good as we are reminded of our responsibility for one another. The love, care and concern that has been shown

throughout this difficult time is a reflection of the love which God has for each and every one of us. I pray that as Easter draws near we may all be able to say ‘Happy Easter,’ knowing and trusting in God’s love for us through all our varied circumstances.

Melbourn Baptist Church I love it when the spring has sprung, a time of life, growth and the emergence of beautiful flowers in our gardens. I particularly love the bulbs that emerge all around our village at this time of year, with golden heads of daffodils bobbing in synchronised movements in the wind. I am the Baptist Minister in Melbourn. I have enjoyed being part of village life for over fourteen years. I trained in London in theology, but before that I had another career. It was in amenity horticulture, gardening for show, and we visited some of the great gardens of England – the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Rosemoor, Wisley, Stourhead, Kew, to name but a few. One of my favourite jobs was working in the Botanic Garden in Bristol. Many of you will know the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Garden and be aware that botanic gardens are ordered in specific ways. They require a botanical understanding of nomenclature, a knowledge of diverse plant species, and are involved in a global network of seed sharing. Botanic gardens play a role in maintaining species diversity, saving endangered plants, and melbournmagazine@gmail.com

01223 323130

rah.co.uk

Experts in property sales and lettings in Cambridge. It’s... #WhatWeDoBest Come and say hi! CAMBRIDGE OFFICE Dukes Court, 54-64 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8DZ 01223 323130 | rah@rah.co.uk

GREAT SHELFORD OFFICE 30 Woollards Lane, Great Shelford Cambridge CB22 5LZ 01223 800860 | shelford@rah.co.uk

Sales | Lettings | New Homes | Land | Commercial

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

seeking to promote the love of gardening. Some have found joy during lockdown in simply focusing on the house and garden. Many of us take pleasure in our gardens and enjoy visiting the local garden centres. I want to remind you, if you are out in the garden, that the Bible says we were created in a garden. Many say that they feel closer to God in a garden. My experience is that God can be found in those times of reflection in a garden; my own awareness of God came through being in a garden. I love the garden in spring, as buds explode into life and new growth emerges after the winter, bringing the hope of warmer weather to come. At the heart of the Christian message is the story of how God came to live among us in Jesus, to bring hope and new life to us. It is Jesus whose life, death and resurrection we celebrate at Easter. Jesus was buried in a garden tomb after he died upon a cruel Roman cross. When Mary, a friend of Jesus, goes to pay her respects, she meets a man who she assumes is the gardener, and asks him where they have put Jesus. There is then an amazing moment when she realises the gardener is Jesus, who is risen from the dead. John 20:16-18: Jesus said to her, ‘Mary’. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’). … Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her. Gardens are places where we can encounter God. I hope you have a great Easter, enjoy your garden and find God as you reflect on its intrinsic beauty. Look out for details of an open-air service at Easter (if restrictions allow) on our notice board or on our website. We currently have a weekly online service, that comes out for Sunday mornings and can be accessed through our website or Facebook page. Blessings, Reverend Stuart Clarke

United Reformed Church Worship Unfortunately, due to the further lockdowns we were unable to hold services during November. Services have again been suspended since 10th January until further notice. However, we did worship together during December and were able to light the Advent candles. The decorated Christmas tree in the church with the Christmas lights certainly lifted our spirits and we were able to worship together on Christmas morning. During the Christmas period, we had a Nativity scene outside the church created by Eirwen and Peter Karner. This drew appreciative comments from members and passers-by.

Big Christmas Card Despite not actually being able to sign the card this year, our Big Christmas Card in the church still enabled us to make ‘virtual’ good wishes to our friends in the congregation. Over £100 was raised in donations and sent to ‘Wintercomfort’, which is a Day Centre open 7 days a week supporting people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Cambridge.

Vacancy We have exciting news on our ministerial vacancy and are pleased to announce that the Reverend Sue Fender has accepted a call to become minister of our five churches in the pastorate. Little did we think that anything would happen during the pandemic but God moves in mysterious ways. Sue showed an interest in our pastorate and because of the pandemic all the meetings and interviews had to be on Zoom. The ‘preach with a view’ weekend at the end of January also had to be via Zoom. We look forward to welcoming Sue and her husband sometime in May and to meeting her in person.

World Day of Prayer The World Day of Prayer is on Friday 5th March. The service has been prepared by the Christian Women of Vanuatu, with the theme ‘Build on a Strong Foundation’. We are unable to hold an ecumenical service this year, which would have been hosted by the Baptist church, because of Covid restrictions. It is still a Day of Prayer and we can individually pray for the world, which is rather apt in the current situation we find ourselves.

Easter Who knows what the situation will be at Easter. Last year we were unable to worship in church. We can only hope and pray that on Easter Sunday this year we will be worshipping together on 4th April celebrating our risen Lord. A happy Easter to you all.

The Word of God from David Burbridge We ourselves were foolish, disobedient, deceived serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, but the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. According to His mercy He saved us. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto The Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, for He will abundantly pardon. (from Titus Chap. 3 and Isaiah 55 v 7) melbournmagazine@gmail.com

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Sports & Clubs Bowls Arthur Andrews 261990 Bridge Club Howard Waller 261693 1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505 Brownies – 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272 Croquet Janet Pope 248342 Football Club Andrew Edwards 223109 Dynamos Football Club Les Morley 07739 593771 Guides – Ist Melbourn Hilary Marsh 261443 Melbourn Judo Club Iain Reid 241830 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 Photographic Club Bruce Huett 232855 Ramblers Dave Allard 242677 Royston and District Round Table Michael Seymour 221398 Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593 Tennis (Melbourn) Dave Liddiard 07508 995 781 Tennis (Meldreth) Tracy Aggett 243376

1st Melbourn Guides You can lock us down, but you can’t knock us down! When our November plans for a socially distanced Remembrance ceremony were dashed by Covid restrictions, technology stepped in. Isla Cooper laid our wreath at the war memorial whilst her Mum Stef recorded it on her phone. We showed this video at our Zoom meeting, then six girls read out all the names of the fallen soldiers on the memorial, to the backdrop of photos from the two world wars. Aliya played Taps on her saxophone at the end of the ceremony, then we all made paper windmill poppies. Young leader Abi finished the meeting with a memory game using war and peace themed objects. The following week Eva’s Mum Anna, a dance teacher, led a yoga session at the start of our Healthy Living themed evening. We followed this with a themed quiz using the Kahoot app, then finished with a stepby-step demo of how to carve an owl from two apples. The Taskmaster TV show has inspired many Scout and Guide Zoom meeting themes. We ran our own competition, starting with the task of making a musical instrument from a piece of household equipment. Memorable offerings included a detergent bottle flute, a Tupperware and elastic band guitar, and a trombone of plastic tubing. There followed a range of drawing games, a spoon balancing competition, and a race to see how many socks you could fit on one foot in one minute. The joint winners were Isla W, Izzy, Daisy and Alexandra. The fun continued in our Christmas party evening, with a quiz, Mhairi’s drawing game, and Abi’s craft session to make a paper reindeer head. The Spring term has continued with themed Zoom sessions again; we started with an animal themed evening comprising modelling animals using salt dough, and drawing an imaginary creature to represent our own personalities. The following week was a Showtime theme, with microwave popcorn, a homemade puppet show and a hand-jiving session led by Naomi from ‘DanceMatters’. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Taking our cue from the Rotary club, we had a ‘Wild Nature’ themed evening and photography competition. The girls went outside to snap some amazing close-ups of wild flowers and fungi, interesting trees, and glorious sunrises. The winners were Laura with Melbourn Sunrise (see front cover) and Icy Hogweed (right), and Izzy with The Heart of Nature (below).

Icy Hogweed by Laura Sharman, aged 12

The heart of Nature’by Izzy Knobel-Forbes, aged 11

Red Sky by Isla Wilson, aged 12

Frosty flowers by Imogen Morris, aged 11 Snowy Melbourn by Emma Baker, aged 13

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Catkins by Aliya Lees, aged 12

Ruby in the woods by Olivia Parr, aged 13

Burns Night is usually a celebration of Haggis and Whisky. Our Guide-appropriate event featured a quiz of obscure Scottish slang, an indoor golf competition, and a live-action tutorial in Scotch pancakes. We are hoping to start a Ranger unit for our small group of older Guides later this year, and would welcome another leader or helper. If you would like to know more about helping with Guides or Rangers, please contact me on: 01763 261443 or email: melbournguides@gmail. com. You can also look on the girlguiding.org.uk website to find out more. Hilary Marsh

Melbourn Dynamos Football Club All welcome! https://melbourndynamosfc.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/ melbourndynamoscommunity/ Founded in 2003, Melbourn Dynamos FC is a thriving and friendly community football club that gives all the opportunity to play regular football, regardless of their experience or ability, at all ages from 3 through to and including Adults. Like many people and groups in this country we have had to face the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the club this began on 13th March last year, ahead of the lockdown, with our decision to cancel all fixtures and training to protect our players, parents and other members of the community. After 5 months of necessary but frustrating inactivity, our players were able to return

Snowdrop by Emma Parr, aged 11

to limited training from the beginning of August, subject to essential Covid protection measures in line with government and FA social distancing and good hygiene requirements, details at: https://melbourndynamosfc. wordpress.com/latest-news/ . Our new season suffered from a delayed start at the end of September, subject to social distancing and Covid security measures required by government and the FA (https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/sep/10/updatedcovid-19-guidance-for-grassroots-nls-wfp-100920 ). Thanks to our Covid Protection Officer, Nicky Patel, and our wonderful volunteer coaching teams, around 300 children in our community restarted regular healthy fun through structured exercise and team building after the long confinement of lockdown. Subsequent further lockdowns have impacted on us all, but with the reduction of COVID-19 cases and rapid rates of vaccination we hope that grass-roots youth football will soon be welcomed back once schools re-open this Spring. Before the start of the season, our club was recognised as an FA Community Hub Club, one of only eight in Cambridgeshire. What this means is that our growth and development has been recognised by Cambridgeshire FA for its important community contributions: • A football club at the heart of the community • Providing football opportunities For All • Developing young leaders and planning for a sustainable future This recognition by Cambridgeshire FA has resulted from the tireless work of our club volunteers to develop and grow MDFC at the heart of our village. The Club is melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Melbourn Flooring M and Interiors Limited

Phillimore Phillimore Garden Garden Centre, Centre, Cambridge Cambridge Road, Road, Melbourn, SG8 6EY 6EY Melbourn, SG8 FLOORING FLOORING ■ ■ Vast of Carpets Carpets from from Vast Range Range of all leading manufacturers all leading manufacturers ■ ■ Safety Safety Flooring Flooring ■ ■ Real Real Wood, Wood, Laminates Laminates

Vinyl’s, Vinyl’s, Karndean, Karndean, Amtico Amtico and Insert and Insert Moduleo Moduleo Floors Floors ■ ■ Free Free Estimates. Estimates. Fitting Fitting by by experienced staff. experienced staff. ■ ■

www.melbournflooring.co.uk www.melbournflooring.co.uk VISIT VISIT OUR OUR LARGE LARGE SHOWROOM SHOWROOM 99 TO TO 55 MONDAY MONDAY TO TO FRIDAY FRIDAY 9 TO 4 SATURDAY OR CALL ON 01763 262413 9 TO 4 SATURDAY OR CALL ON 01763 262413 AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY STAFF AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY STAFF Large showroom, ample free parking. Large showroom, ample free parking.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

currently FA Charter Standard and will soon be applying for Community Club status. This will ensure a continued thriving partnership with Cambridgeshire FA, who have been instrumental in the Club’s recent development. As an FA Hub Club we hope to attract further funding and support to secure and continue development at the heart of our community. We have established inclusive football teams to bring the beautiful game to a wider range of players at both youth and adult level. Thanks to the support of our wonderful club volunteers we now have the OWLS (Opportunities Without Limits), a team for adults who play in the Cambridgeshire FA Parability League. The Club was the first to receive the Pledge Project Certificate of Recognition from Cambridgeshire FA and we are very proud to have received the Project of the Year award from Cambridgeshire FA for our commitment to offer everyone with a disability the opportunity to get involved in football, either competitively or socially. We are also planning to host disability Saturday morning drop-in sessions – watch out for future announcements. For many years the club has been working hard with our community to establish Girls’ Football. Our latest initiative has been working with the FA to set up the Melbourn Wildcats, providing girls aged 5–11 years with the opportunity to have fun, make friends and play football. This fun, friendly environment will develop young girls’ physical and social skills by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and inspiring them to develop a lifelong love of the game. Please use the following link to book your place: http://faevents.thefa.com/ book?sessionid=138685 We are pleased to learn that the Managers and Coaches of our many teams are seen as important role models in our community for young players. All are trained to at least FA level 1, so have a clear understanding of child safeguarding as well as physical first aid issues. At the start of the season a number

stepped forward to request training in mental health first aid as well. This training is not compulsory for the club’s FA Charter Standard status, but we recognise the importance of mental health issues for young people in our community, are providing this training and have been very fortunate to receive financial support from our sponsors. If you would like more information you can follow this link to Mental Health First Aid England – https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/about/. 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. With the support of our fundraising and community partners, we are making the club more inclusive by assisting players whose families are unable to afford the necessary fees. Our club is committed to developing our players through respect of fair play and a love of the game. This approach wins the respect of other clubs as well as providing the skills and commitment to win leagues and cup finals. This season we have 22 teams and 320 players. There are opportunities for all as we welcome new players and volunteers. Our youngest players, the Dynamites, increasingly provide the core of our success, with 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 qualification in June 2015 and is our Football Development Officer. 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. The Dynamites train with level 2 and level 1 FA qualified coaches in Saturday morning fun sessions at Melbourn Sports Centre. These feature lots of short activities aimed melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Buntingford business celebrating

15 years anniversary.

Thank you to all our patients for their support over the years. Our mission

As your local independent practice, J. Oliver Radley Opticians strives to provide an excellent service that’s tailored to your individual optical needs. We welcome both private and NHS patients, whatever your visual requirements for fashion, sports, style, UV protection and budget may be.

Open Tuesday to Saturday: 8:00am to 6:30pm T: 01763 273300

James

J. Oliver Radley Opticians 36 High Street, Buntingford, SG9 9AQ

www.radleyopticians.com 62

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Edel

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? Many of you will have seen the great news in previous articles about the full-size all weather Astro pitch for Melbourn. This has now been confirmed; it is being built at MVC and will be ready this summer in plenty of time for the new 2021-22 season. Melbourn Dynamos is proud to have initiated this exciting project delivering a huge asset for the whole community. We have been providing our children with increasing opportunities for healthy-living and well-being for more than 18 years, and our club is now the largest sport provider in our community. The quality and safety of the village’s current Astro pitch has been an increasing concern and we have been exploring a new and better facility with our community partners for many years. This has been a long and sometimes frustrating process, but thanks to the resolute determination of the Dynamos’ leadership team and their actions to win the support of the Football Foundation and Cambridgeshire FA, we are pleased that the village will have this new full-size artificial pitch by this summer. The 100m x 64m floodlit pitch, based at MVC and costing more than £800,000, will be approximately four times the size of the current aging artificial surface it is replacing. In addition to school use, it will be available to local football clubs, for all ages and abilities, as well as the community out of school hours. The club’s success at providing accessible and inclusive sport and exercise for our local children means we need volunteers and financial support from our community. This enables the club to train our volunteers and continue to provide opportunities for all children irrespective of their financial circumstances. We are particularly grateful to Melbourn Parish Council for the Community Grant award that recognises the importance of our community work and need for financial support. Melbourn Dynamos’ continuing success and growth means that we also need your help. Please contact David Atkins at secretary.mdfc@gmail.com or Blake Carrington at chairman.mdfc@gmail.com for further information about the following opportunities: • Volunteers: If you would like to contribute to the club as a Facilities Manager, Administrator, Fundraiser, Fixtures secretary, Coach, Match day official or in some other volunteer capacity then we are very keen to hear from you. We know that there are many potential volunteers in our village who have skills and enthusiasm to support and develop our work in the community.

• Sponsorship Partners: Our success and development come at a cost as we need to pay for the £250 training and kit costs of our new volunteer coaches as well as ensuring that we have 2 trained coaches for each of our existing teams. In addition, our pitch fees are in excess of £9,000 per season plus maintenance costs. Therefore, as Melbourn’s major community sports provider, we would be pleased to hear from potential sponsorship partners who share an interest in our community work

More information about the club and individual teams is available from the club’s Website: https:// melbourndynamosfc.wordpress.com .

Melbourn Football Club Hopefully as I again write this report it will be the last time that I say that we are all still in the grip of the COVID 19 Virus. As new variants of the virus have led to a third Lockdown causing continued pressures to us all; however, this time we have light at the end of the tunnel with the news that vaccines have been produced and are being delivered across the country at an amazing rate so hopefully we will be in a position to restart our lives including sporting activities in the not too distant future. Along with numerous challenges for the economy, education and our health I would like to, on behalf of Melbourn Football Club, once again pass on our gratitude and best wishes to all of our Essential Workers who have been working so hard during these very troubled times to make our lives as functional as possible. I would also like to thank our scientists for the fantastic work they have and are doing in the development of the vaccines along with all of the people involved in getting the jabs into our arms, I for one cannot wait to have mine and feel it will be an emotional moment in our lives giving us hope that we can start getting back to some sort of normality. ‘The Season so far!’ With just under half of our season gone the First Team sit four points clear at the top of the Kershaw Junior League 2A and remain undefeated taking 21 points from 27, only dropping points to the teams currently in second and third place (Buckden and Guilden Morden) and Puddlebrook 68 FC who are a team from Haverhill with a reputation for being tough to take points from when they are at home. We are fully aware of the challenges we still face to secure promotion this season. First Team Manager, Chay Wilson, is certainly not being complacent and is continuing to work hard in ensuring the team are kept abreast of what is happening within the club ably assisted by Simon Gascoyne, our club secretary. Simon has been contacted by the melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Paying too much for your glasses? Save Money - Buy Direct! Visit our factory shop to see our fabulous range of Discount Prescription Eyewear • Hundreds of frames to

choose from, including designer frames from Ray-Ban, Polo Ralph Lauren, Oakley, PRADA, Ted Baker and Versace • Specialists in high and complex prescriptions

• Same-day or next-day * service available • Save up to 75% • Huge range of designer sunglasses • Full range of sports eyewear

Official stockists

subject to prescription and availability

We are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm Saturday Call us

Visit our website

01954 231545 www.all-eyes.co.uk 20 Norman Way Industrial Park, Over, Cambridge CB24 5QE

Podiatry Offering professional footcare in the comfort of your own home.

Claire Duguid MSc BSc (Hons) MChS HCPC registered podiatrist *Routine footcare, including nail cutting and removal of hard skin and corns. *Diabetic footcare, including assessment, treatment and advice. *Prescription of insoles to offer pain relief. *Footwear advice.

Call today to make an appointment

01763 661841 or 07810805433 claireduguid@hotmail.com

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Cambridgeshire FA several times keeping us informed of what is happening and the options on the way forward. Once we can restart playing again it is the intention to finish the season and there are plans to extend the season until the end of May with more midweek fixtures being played than would normally be the case. Other options have also been considered and the football clubs have been contacted asking for their opinions as to what should be considered so we will just have to wait and see what the final decision will be. As previously mentioned, the Reserves have had a more mixed start to the season as they sit in 8th place in their division; however, the team have played a number of the stronger teams in the league and with the efforts and enthusiasm of their manager Gaz Crouch the team entered Lockdown following a 2-0 win against a strong Thaxted Rangers team and hopefully will continue this winning form when we restart the season. Sponsors & Fund Raising As I have mentioned in my previous reports, we have been supported well by a number of local businesses from the village with generous donations allowing us to purchase new kits and training equipment and once again a number of these have come forward to offer further financial assistance despite the difficulties businesses face in these uncertain times. This support has meant that we are able to not only provide the teams with excellent kit and equipment but also to continue with our support of our chosen charity CPSL Mind the mental health charity. On behalf of the club I would once again like to thank: Shire Tree Surgery / T J Plastering / P J Deards Plumbing / MJF Construction / Conqueror Industries. In addition to these companies, I would also again like to reiterate the thanks of Melbourn Football Club to Steve and Kerry Harrington and their team at the Black Horse Public House for welcoming us into their establishment providing food to the team after matches and during our monthly committee meetings (obviously, these are on hold at the moment). Prior to this Lockdown the service that they have provided was first class and despite the extra constraints that COVID 19 had placed upon them they rose to the challenge providing table service to all their clientele and we look forward to the reopening of pub and the social interaction. However, in my last report I mentioned that due to the ongoing problems caused by COVID 19 we realised that sponsorship is much harder to find and that we would be continuing our fund raising activities to try and compensate for this. I can update our position regarding this with some good news, as we

have managed to run two fund raising events whilst Lockdown has been in place with another Last Man Standing competition and an Online Sports Quiz amongst old and new players, this quiz was excellently organised and conducted by Ash Cooper our technical wizard. It was also agreed that ALL monies raised from the quiz would go to our chosen charity (instead of the normal 25%, as we are aware that all charities are suffering from the loss of fund raising events due to the restrictions) and I am pleased to say that this event raised £205 for CPSL Mind. It was held within the club as we were unsure as to how good the technology would be but it worked really well; however, with the potential lifting of the restrictions we will run a ‘live’ quiz night as soon as it is safe to do so as you cannot beat the social interaction that these provide especially with a licensed bar! As always, I would like to ask that if you feel that you are able to offer sponsorship in some way then please contact Simon Gascoyne on the contact details below. The ‘Lock Up’ Renovation! A couple of years ago following a request by Melbourn Dynamos to the Parish Council for more storage space, we were asked if we could move from the main storage room, affectionately known to us as the ‘Lock Up’. We had been using this facility for many years even sharing it with the Village Wardens who had their tea making facilities in there along with a couple of comfy chairs! It was suggested that we could move into what was formerly the old gents’ toilets for the area and following a discussion by the committee and our belief in being a Community club we agreed to make the move as we felt that it would provide us a with a more secure storage area. However, we realised that the old concrete urinal and toilet cubicle were still in there (but obviously not in use) meaning that the room needed some work doing to bring it up to a more useable facility, as it looked like a rubbish tip due to a lack of racking and shelving and with people just dumping stuff in there. It was agreed that we should approach the Parish Council and apply for a grant from the Community Grant scheme requesting £600 to renovate the room and purchase racking, storage crates and paint. We were successful with our application and as we completed the work ourselves the cost of the project came in just over the £600 we received. The reason this was possible was down to the efforts of members of the committee giving their time along with Terry Muncey, who is a local resident and friend of the club, his hard work and technical knowledge was invaluable to us and meant that we could complete the job within four days and our thanks and gratitude go to him for his help. melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Our roots are in your community

Bush is one of Cambridge’s leading sales and letting agents and we offer expert advice and a full professional service to property owners in Melbourn. Discover the Bush difference and join us on our GREEN journey

01223 246262 bushsales.co.uk

01223 508085 bushlettings.co.uk

Established. Independent. Passionate.

CHEAPSTORAGELTD

STORAGE FOR HERTFORDSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND NORTH LONDON

AT CHEAP STORAGE WE AIM TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS • Long & Short Term Lets • 20ft x 8ft Container • 10ft x 8ft Container • Business & Domestic Use • Individual Items Catered for • Archive • Fully fenced & securely gated 20 x 8ft container long term (1 year or more) £78.00 per month – yearly in advance £85.00 per month – if paid monthly 20 x 8ft container short term (under 1 year) £95.00 per month I 0 x 8ft unit £60.00 per month – short term (under 1 year) £55.00 per month – long term (1 year or more) £50.00 per month – long term in advance

Additional Storage Facility Cherry Park Ind Est Cambridge Road, Melbourn Royston, SG8 6EY

All prices monthly and inclusive of VAT Terms: 100 refundable deposit One month's notice when vacating Padlocks supplied free of charge

Head Office: 1 London Way, Melbourn Royston, SG8 6DJ

Email: enquiries@cheapstorageltd.co.uk

www.cheapstorageltd.co.uk • 01763 262 344 / 07768 718 396 66

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

I have shown a couple of before and after pictures Contact Details If you are interested in joining Melbourn Football Club below. as a player, committee member or even as a supporter then please contact the First Team Manager, Chay Wilson on 07966 573008, Reserve Team Manager, Gareth Crouch on 07943 389562 or our Club Secretary, Simon Gascoyne on 07732 613555 or you can e-mail him on simon_gascoyne@hotmail.com You can also find us on social media and can follow us on Twitter @Melbourn_FC, Facebook www.facebook. com/MelbournFC , Instagram @melbourn_fc and our website www.melbournfc.com In the meantime please Stay Safe and Well and hopefully we can enjoy time at the Field Of Dreams at Melbourn Recreation Ground soon!

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 Do you have any old Photographs of the past teams or players? We are currently putting together a picture library on our website and would like to ask if anyone has any old photos of players or teams from the past or newspaper cuttings, we have already received some which are great to reminisce about as we talk about some of the great teams and individuals that have been part of the club over the years. What would be really great when sending them in is if you can provide any names, the year/s the picture was taken and any anecdotal comments that could be added as it is always lovely to hear these stories. If you are able to help then please forward these to the following: website@melbournfc.com www.facebook.com/MelbournFC Training Sessions We will restart training sessions as soon as we are able to do so and will advise via our normal communication channels including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Like most businesses, life has been very difficult for us this year. But when we have been able to operate and with the support of the local community, we were able to offer a variety of activities to keep everyone fit and active during these unprecedented times. Even with strict COVID-19 preventative measures, we’ve still been able to offer our usual activities such as swimming lessons, aqua fit, general swims and Fitness Suite, though this has been a challenge! We were also able to run our popular holiday activities over the summer holidays and October Half Term, as well as our Christmas activity days too, where children were treated to swimming, outdoor activities and creative crafts. We also teamed up with Football Fun Factory, who ran their Soccer Camps during both holidays too. All went down well! We welcomed Cambridge Swimming Club to the centre over the summer, as well as Royston Netball Club in autumn. We are continuing to work closely with Melbourn Dynamos, Comberton Gymnastics melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Club, Meridian Triathlon Club, Royston Archery and various martial art groups on site. Finally, we have seen a welcome increase in the booking of Jazzercise, who are now hiring the gymnasium for three sessions a week. April, May, June, July – Let’s hope Spring brings better times at MSC! Although under current Government guidelines we are currently closed (as going to press in February 2021), we are hoping this soon changes and that even with restrictions, we will still have loads on offer throughout the spring and early summer months, with something for the whole community to get involved with. Please note: we are still having to operate on a pre-booking system for swimming sessions until further notice. Spring into action & get fit with MSC We hope to have plenty to offer everyone this Spring, even with COVID-19 safety measures! So why not come along and get fit and healthy – both mentally and physically – at your local sports centre? There’s water aerobics and Swim Clinic to enjoy along with the usual swimming sessions. If ‘dry’ activities are more your thing, then we have our full Fitness Suite open for business with pocket-friendly payment options to suit all users. There’s also badminton courts available to hire, and with the warmer months now upon us, tennis courts too! Activities for children We hope to be able offer our Playsheme over Easter and May Half Term holidays, which we anticipate will be very popular, so please ensure you get your places booked as early as possible to avoid disappointment. You may like to bring the children along to our Family Fun sessions in the swimming pool (prebooking essential). We do have a few spaces available on our Pre-School swimming lesson programme; at the moment, we can take children from the age of two years old due to one parent going into the water as well (as per COVID-19 contact regulations). So please get in touch via info@mc-sport.co.uk for more information or to book your slot. The perfect present! With Easter and Father’s Day just round the corner and some people limited as to where they can shop, how about buying a loved one the gift of fun and fitness? We have some great offers on at present for the facility in general or just our competitively priced membership schemes for the MSC Fitness Suite, which houses the latest in gymnasium equipment, including C.V machines fitted with audio visual technology. This could solve your problems of what to buy a loved one this year, or you could just treat yourself! (We all deserve it!)

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Coming in 2021 – A brand new Astro turf facility! With the wonderful news that Melbourn Village College have secured funding for a brand new full-sized Astro Turf pitch, we are looking forward to helping this become operational in 2021, and arranging bookings for this brilliant facility. For more details or to book your slot, please contact the centre. For further details on memberships or any of our activities, please call 01763 263313 or go online at www.mc-sport.co.uk. You can also follow us on our Facebook page (melbournsports). We look forward to seeing you this year! Melbourn Sports Centre, The Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6EF 01763 263313

Melbourn Bowls Club While we were unable to play any league fixtures last year, the members were able to have regular “Covid safe” roll ups during most of the summer. We played three times a week, often with the maximum numbers playing. Unfortunately, we had to limit the number of participants to 18 for any given session to ensure social distancing, which meant that, on occasions, some members had to be disappointed. Every effort was made to ensure that the limit was applied fairly so that all members were able to play at least twice a week. We are hoping that, with vaccines being rolled out, the coming summer will see much more activity, with the possibility of league matches and internal events being played normally for at least part of the summer season. We are intending to hold an Open Day on the Early May Bank Holiday Sunday. It may be that this date will need to be changed depending on the situation with regard to the virus. Full details will be available on our Web Site: www.melbournbowlsclub.co.uk. The site gives full information on the activities of the club, including contact details of committee members who will be pleased to answer any queries you may have, and is open for all to view. The Open Day is designed to introduce prospective new members to the existing members. It is designed for newcomers to Bowls with tuition and equipment provided. We would, however, also particularly welcome any experienced Bowls players who might be interested in joining us. All you need to bring are flat soled shoes; trainers are fully acceptable. There is a saying about Bowls, that it takes half an hour to learn and a lifetime to master! This means you can have enjoyable games very quickly but challenges and improvements occur for many years. Bowls is a game for all ages and both men and

CLUB

25.00

ach, Barbel, arp

Tackle

Fishing

ETERNIT ANGLING CLUB 365 days fishing for £25.00

Consessions for

OAPs and Juniors Local lake stocked with Roach, Bream, Perch, Rudd, Chub, Barbel, Ide, Carp and Crucian Carp

Day tickets available at JKL Tackle Find us on Facebook @Eternit AC Fishing

JKL Tackle

Fishing tackle for all types of fishing Wide variety of baits

from maggots to boilies and pike bait

Open 6 days a week Agents for Eternit AC Season and Day tickets

women can compete on equal terms. You may have noticed that the BBC broadcast the World Indoor Bowls JKLin Tackle Championships January and, if so, you will have seen both men and women competing for the Open Singles and Open Pairs titles. You may also have noticed that the Ladies Singles Champion was an “A” Level student, so the concept that Bowls is for old people is clearly false. Fishing tackle forisall of fishing With Bowls there an types active social life. In normal times both teams sit together for a meal after the game so that you Wide ofteam baitsmembers and those from get to know bothvariety your own fromclubs maggots to boilies other we play against.and Wepike also bait have a Bar for those who wish to have a friendly drink. As a club we also hold weekly Coffee 6 Mornings Open daysonaThursdays weekduring the season (actual dates will be on the Club Web Site) and during the winter we holdfor fortnightly Drives. These occasions are Agents Eternit Whist AC Season open to non-members provide an opportunity to get and Day and tickets to know existing members and learn more about the club. activity has beenMeldreth, much curtailed due to the virus, UnitWhile 7, Whitecroft Road, SG8 6ND 268486of/ 07773488585 we have07966 a number things to look forward to. We are Find us Facebook @JKLTackle expecting to on have new changing rooms open for the start of the season. This is part of our continuing efforts to improve Angling club facilities JJG for the convenience of members and our Angling Tution visitors. We are also planning for our Centenary in 2022. We Please call James for a quote on Pensioners to have provisional agreement with the Chelsea host them for07773488585 a special match to celebrate the Centenary. We are also looking to arrange some additional celebrations. Currently we are canvassing for ideas and hope to make it a year to remember. You have an opportunity to take part as a member of the club. Another reason for joining us!

Barton Bowls Club Try a NEW SPORT, 3 sessions FREE LAWN BOWLS for 11-99 year olds (Bring the family) All coaching & equipment provided (please wear trainers) Barton Bowls Club, High St, Barton, CB23 7BG Open day: Sat May 1st 10am-4pm* Open evenings: Thurs May 6th & 13th 6pm.* *(all subject to Covid restrictions) To register your place: email philipjseymour@gmail.com website & Facebook link www.bartonbowls.co.uk

Unit 7, Whitecroft Road, Meldreth, SG8 6ND 07966 268486 / 07773488585 Find us on Facebook @JKLTackle

JJG Angling Angling Tution Please call James for a quote on 07773488585

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Melbourn magazine is non-profit and all work on the magazine including design and layout are produced by volunteers. The Magazine is published four times a year in the first week of March, June, September and December. We print 2250 copies which are delivered free to every house and business 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: Size per… 1/4 inside page 1/2 inside page

Width x Height (79 × 128 mm) (163 × 128 mm)

B/W £132 £225

Colour £205 £313

We are grateful to TTP for their continued sponsorship Ann Dekkers

Editorial

Editorial, production, Peter Simmonett design and layout

220363

Parish Proﬁle

Mavis Howard

260686

Proof reading

Ann Dekkers Christine Orchard Jane Stevens

261144 221033

Village Diary

Christine Orchard

221033

Printers

Langham Press 01223 870266

Advertising rates are per year (four issues) For further information on advertising please telephone 221965. Remittance or cheques should be made to Melbourn Magazine.

261144

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

Page

Advertisers

Page

Abode Town & Country / Estate Agent – 01763 259888

Melbourn Ironing Service – 01763 220996

All Eyes / Spectacle Makers – 01954 231545

Melbourn Springs – Care Home 01763 722734

Amber Health – 01462 490141

Moncraft / PC Repairs & Installation – 01223 208529

angliEAR / Hearing services – 01223 661399

Nancy Foster Footcare – 01763 261250

Bannold landscaping materials – 01954 231666

B.C.R / Plumbing & Heating – 01763 260007

Newlings of Royston / Funeral Services – 01763 242375

Bumpkins Day Nursery – 01223 208777

Norburys / Building & Landscape Supplies – 01763 261740

Bush Lettings / Sales & letting agent – 01223 508085

Paul Hutley / Carpenter – 07702905915

Cambridge MG – 01223 841616

Phillimore Garden Centre – 01763 260537

Chris Thomas / Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning – 01223 836002

PL Cooper / Flooring Specialists – 01763 260918

CHS / Local Community Services – 01763 260564

Prince Property / Property Improvements – 01763 269565

2 52 8

CP Podiatry / Podiatrist – 01763 661841

Redmayne Arnold & Harris Property Experts – 01223 247440

CSL Cheap Storage Ltd – 01763 262344

Richard Arnott – Garden Designer – 01763 263231

ESSE – 01763 261000

Rothwell’s Carpet Cleaning – 01223 832928

Eternit Angling Club / 365 Days Fishing – 07966 268486

Frog End pet Supplies – 01763 263342

Royston Complementry Health – 01763 247440

Sage / Blinds & Interiors – 01763 263399

Simon Robinson / Bespoke Picture Framers – 01223 873123

Southwell Court Residential Home – 01763 750006

Greenlow Kennels – 01763 260624 GYC Photography family photographer – 07786 707869 Hopkins Homes – 07951 110498

2 56 8

Jeremy Ashworth / Property Maintenance – 07815 093166

St Georges Nursing Home – 01763 242243

Jeremy Rule / Funeral Service – 01763 242560

Summit / Landscape Gardeners – 01223 929394

JKL Tackle / Fishing tackle shop – 07966 268486

Taylor & Co /Chartered Accountants – 01763 248545

J Oliver Radley / Opticians – 01763 273300

The Sheene Mill – 01763 261393

Langham Press – 01223 870266

The Spice Hut / Indian Takeaway – 01763 262425

Trademark Kitchens & Bathrooms – 01763 254000

TTP – 01763 262626

Unlimited Logos – 01763 262081

Lawn Partners / Bespoke lawncare – 01763 244955

Law Storage Ltd – 01223 874629

Leech & Sons / Master Butchers – 01763 260255

Little Hands Nursery School – 01763 260964

Melbourn Dental Practice – 01763 262034

Urban Plastics / Plumbing Suppliers – 01763 262337

Melbourn Flooring & Interiors – 01763 262413

Wheeler Antiques – Fine Art and furniture 01763 256722

Melbourn Garage – 01763 263344

Wrights Mower Centre / Garden Machinery – 01763 263393

melbournmagazine@gmail.com

treat yourself to a brand new mgzs from £12,495 OTR

8” colour touchscreen* apple carplaytm*, sat nav** dab audio*, 17” alloy wheels* Rear Parking Cameras**

Fuel economy and CO2^ results for the MG ZS. Mpg (l/100km) (combined): 38.6 (7.3) to 41.5 (6.8). ^CO2 emissions: 140–145 g/km. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. ^There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. Model shown: MG ZS Exclusive with Dynamic Red paint at £16,490 on the road (OTR). OTR prices include VAT where applicable, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and 12 months’ Vehicle Excise Duty. Prices are correct at time of being published and are subject to change without notice. Please see your local dealer or visit MG.CO.UK for details. *Exclusive and Excite models only. **Exclusive models only.

book your test drive CAMBRIDGE MG 158 SHELFORD ROAD TRUMPINGTON CAMBRIDGE CB2 9NE call 01223 841616 visit www.buckinghamstanley.co.uk

Printed by The Langham Press