Village news

The changing face of Melbourn magazine

The first issue in January 1995

Summer 1998, one of the last issues printed by Hales printers

Summer 2000 printed by the Burlington Press in two colours

Summer 2005, the first full colour magazine

Today the magazine is full colour throughout. The front cover of this issue shows many of the covers printed since 2015.

Celebrating 25 years and 100 Issues of the Melbourn Magazine!

Well, here we are, celebrating the centenary issue of the Melbourn Magazine! Who would have envisaged it still going strong after 25 years?

There are many residents who remember, and have indeed collected, all the issues from the very beginning, and have seen the vast changes in design and development over the years.

The humble beginnings date back to January 1995, when an 8 page A4 leaflet was first produced, filled with information on the work carried out by the Parish Council and printed on the PC’s copier. The following April, Issue 2 came out, with the inclusion of advertising and contributions from clubs and residents. It had also increased in size to 22 pages. About 500 copies were printed and placed in the library, Post Office and Co-op for people to pick up.

Issue 3 (now called Summer Issue) was printed by Hales Printers of Royston. With a print run of 1800 copies, it was printed in black & white with a blue paper cover and delivered to every household and business in the village. At the time, the magazine was sponsored by the Parish Council and TTP at the Science Park.

The magazine became financially independent of the Parish Council in 1998 and has remained so ever since, although it still carries Parish Council information when available. Production costs from this point became totally financed by advertising and the continued generous support of TTP.

Hales continued to print the magazine until autumn 2000, when The Burlington Press in Foxton (later known as Langham Press, see page 21) took over. Colour was introduced for the first time, although just the front and back cover were in blue and black.

In 2005, to help publicise the launch of the history book “A Glimpse into Melbourn’s Past”, full colour was used on the front cover and a few pages inside. The following year adverts appeared in colour, proving very popular. Today the magazine is full colour throughout, with a print run of 2350.

We have a great team of volunteers on the magazine, many of whom help to deliver the magazines throughout the village.

However, what has really made the magazine a great success are the interesting and varied contributions from residents and active local groups, and helpful advice and news from many important institutions throughout the county.

Without any of the above-mentioned volunteers, groups, clubs and individuals there would be no Melbourn Magazine. Thank you all for your support.

If you would like to help with the magazine, please email us using the address below or contact Ann Dekkers on 261144

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices

Could you Help at Home? East Anglian families need you! Here at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) we thrive on the generous support of our volunteers across all areas of the charity. This Autumn, we are recruiting enthusiastic volunteers for our Help at Home programme. The families who receive support from EACH would often also benefit from practical support at home. For them, spending time together and making the most of every moment is more important than getting the ironing done or painting the garden fence. And that’s where you come in. The families need volunteers ready to step into their homes and gardens and relieve some of the burden by taking on these household tasks!

The Help at Home programme at EACH is such a valuable part of the support service we offer. Charlotte Redmond, EACH Volunteer Coordinator, says: “I only started working at EACH a couple of months ago and already I’m seeing what an amazing effect the Help at Home programme can have on the lives of families. I’ve no doubt we should be expanding the programme to reach more families who need simple practical support to make their day-to-day lives that little bit easier.”

The only thing that you need to get involved is time to give! You can get more information by contacting Charlotte at charlotte.redmond@each.org.uk or on 07889 251385. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities at EACH. You can visit the website www.each.org.uk to find out how you can support us.

New Melbourn Singers

100 editions of the Melbourn Magazine and still going strong. Well done!

The choir is currently holding practices in conjunction with the Comberton Choir at the Village College in Comberton, a good arrangement which suits both choirs. We are working towards our next concert in April when the main works we will be singing are Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and the Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein. Further details will be in the Spring edition of the magazine. (For an account of the origin of the new Melbourn Singers see page 28). Jane Stevens

Melbourn Fete 20 June 2020

The Village Fete returns on Saturday 20 June 2020 and will run from 1 to 5 pm at the village playing fields near the pavilion.

This year will be ‘Farm at the Fete’, an agricultural theme.

The regular favourites will return. A bar selling both alcoholic and soft drinks, a tea-room with quality sandwiches and cakes. Top quality food outlets including a barbecue with vegetarian options and hog roast. Stalls from commercial and volunteers’ groups. Lawn mower racing will return and also some farm machinery will be on display to add to the theme. A small fairground with bouncy castle and other rides will also be on the field.

Activities in the arena include a demonstration of sheep dog skills herding ducks! Of course, we will be also hosting our ever-popular egg throwing competition and also for this year we will be having a ‘wellie wanging’ (wellington boot throwing) contest too.

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: • 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) 07808 735066 email: jeanseers13@gmail.com

Jane Cage (Deputy) 07592 821976 email: janec55@virginmedia.com

Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity

A sheep dog herding ducks at the Fete in 2012

The competition tent will also be back with lots of different categories and age groups available, details to be announced later.

The competitions tent will return

We will also have some live music during part of the afternoon from local groups.

As ever we will be making the day a high value, high quality, low cost event with entry fee and drink costs at very competitive prices. All profits will go to help charities and other groups within our village. We have been able to support local groups for the last 15 plus years with total donations of many thousands of pounds.

More details will be available in the next issues of the magazine and through social media and on line at www.melbournfete.co.uk

As ever if you feel like helping out on the day then visit our website, details above.

Celebrating 20 Years Of Special Days!

To mark Willow’s 20th birthday, we are launching our 20 for 20 campaign and invite you, our wonderful supporters, to celebrate with us.

You can make a big difference to seriously ill young adults It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we announce the impending closure of South Cambs Motors, on the Cross in Melbourn.

The garage has been operating from the site since the 1930’s, but has been in our family since the 1950’s when Bill Dash bought the business from Jack Wedd. The decision to close has not been an easy one as it will affect so many people. In recent years car technology has changed considerably with the digital age. We have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete with the main dealers, who have the latest digital software tools and updates that modern cars require.

We have been very lucky with such a loyal workforce, some who have stayed with us for years including the late Sid Hinkins and Fred Dye, Len Saunders, Bob Holcombe, and more recently Mick Diemer, Alistair MacDougall and Dave Day.

We are so very grateful to the Melbourn Community for the support, friendship and loyalty that you have shown to the garage over the years. There have been lots of good times and nice memories of the past. South Cambs Motors will cease trading on Friday 20th December 2019. Terry Dash (Owner)

by joining 20 for 20 and raising as much as you can for Willow. By supporting our 20 for 20 appeal you will be helping Willow to reach our aim of offering a Special Day for every seriously ill young adult in the UK.

We’re inviting you to fundraise, donate and spread the word to support Special Days throughout our 20th Anniversary year. 20 for 20 can be done in your own way, in your own time and at your own pace. Here are a few ideas to get you started: • Like, share and comment on 20 Willow posts to help shout about Special Days • Throw a Roaring 20’s themed party • Donate 20 preloved items to your local Willow charity shop • Volunteer 20 hours in our shop or office

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you let the fundraising team know so we can support you – call the office on 01707 259 777 or visit the Willow website at www.willowfoundation.org.uk/20for20.

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

We are a small friendly group and we meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month except in December; we vary our venue between All Saints Community Hall in Melbourn and Holy

Trinity Church Meeting Room in Meldreth. We either have a guest speaker or in-house entertainment, followed by tea/ coffee and biscuits. There is a fee of £1 on the evening and a chance to make a donation to our charity of the year, which will be chosen at our AGM on 28th January 2020. At the AGM we will receive reports, appoint committee members and choose a charity to support for the year. This formal business does not take long and then we have a bring and share supper. On 25th February Una Cleminson will speak to us about The Royal British Legion, this will be in All Saints Community Hall Melbourn. All our meetings begin at 7.45pm. Do come along if you’d like to, or if you want to know more please contact one of the committee who at the time of writing this article are: Pat Smith (262575); Sue Toule (260955); Anne Harrison (261775); Angela Leach (262793); Pat Ames 261130 and Kimmi Crosby.

Library

The volunteers at the library all congratulate Melbourn Magazine on its 100th issue – a wonderful achievement.

At the library we have had a busy Autumn during which we had our medal presentation for the many children who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge. It is good to know that the printed page can still hold its own against the e-book. We hope that the children of Melbourn and the surrounding villages will occupy part of their Christmas holiday, when not opening presents or eating mince pies, in reading more books. The library will close for Christmas after the morning session on 21st December and reopen on 2nd January so remember to stock up on library books in good time.

As our many readers will know the stock of library books is constantly being renewed. As a Community Library we have access to all the resources of the Cambridgeshire Library Services but they do not provide books to stock our shelves. Through grants from local Parish Councils we are able to buy new books and for their generosity we are most grateful. We also accept donations of books from the public, which need to be in good condition so that they can have a long shelf-life. We monitor our shelves and remove books that have not been borrowed for several years. These are either taken to Meldreth Station where there is a rack of books for travellers to borrow or given to one of the many charity shops in Royston. They are never thrown away.

With the long Winter evenings being the ideal time to curl up with a good book we look forward to seeing many of you at the library which is so well situated in the Melbourn Hub right beside the café – the perfect combination! Jane Stevens

Library – LAP (Local Access Point)

Library opening times

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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

When appointments and invitations start arriving for 2020, or it’s proving difficult to think of a present which can easily be posted; it’s time to get a 2020 Calendar. Your chance is here: the Melbourn Calendars 2020 will be available from the middle of October with the usual A4 and A5 format, but this year there will be another A4 option allowing for two months to be viewed together which, hopefully, will make planning simpler. The A4 size will be £9.50 and the A5, £6.50. The new A4 landscape will be £7.50. I hope that you will understand that the prices of all the component parts have increased over the last year, but I have kept them as low as possible with all the profit going to SOAS (Supporters of All Saints)

Calendars will be on sale at Coffee Stop on Saturday mornings, at the Vicarage Close event in October and at the Autumn Fayre, or by calling Marjorie Shaw on 01763 220076. (Please leave a message if there is no answer.)

Melbourn Women’s Institute

The After Eights We have an exciting new programme lined up for 2020 and do hope that you will at least come along and give us a try. At our inaugural meeting two years ago there were over 60 people interested in forming a new WI group in Melbourn, so where are you all? What went wrong? Is the timing bad – we are restricted somewhat by other groups using the Hall and we deliberately pitched the meetings to include women who are at work during the day. I should say that we finish promptly at 10 p.m. and there are always people who will offer a lift home if that is a problem.

We have also started having an informal get together between meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, mornings for coffee or evenings for a drink on alternate

months. This is purely social – it is just a friendly way of keeping in touch.

You will be warmly welcomed if you come along and join us, there is very little ‘business’ done and after the speaker or activity we have coffee, tea and cake and an opportunity to socialise. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the Community Hall at 8 p.m. Do come and join us. Mavis Howard Telephone 260686

Lunch Club Drivers Needed

Lunch Club is a regular social event that enables elderly residents to get out weekly to meet and chat with others over a cooked lunch. The club was started many years ago at Vicarage Close in Melbourn and has been enjoyed by so many during that time. Many volunteers over the years have taken turns to run the club for a period, supported by volunteer drivers who transport those unable to get there because of mobility problems.

Lunch Club is still thriving and since February has been held at Melbourn Hub, after various complications meant that those previously running it at Vicarage Close could no longer do so.

Melbourn Hub was approached to see if it was willing to take the club over to save it from closure, as it was ideally placed and The Hub agreed. It has been great to see the members embracing the new venue and enjoying the lively atmosphere and varied menu. We are also delighted that many previous volunteers have continued to support the club by driving mobility impaired people to the Hub who otherwise would be unable to come, or to help serve meals and chat to the members.

Membership has grown in the last few months and we dearly need more drivers to take and collect people to and from the club who need transport.

If you would be willing to give up a few minutes of your time at around 11.45am and again at around 1pm to drive one or two elderly residents on an occasional Wednesday or more regularly, your help would be much appreciated. Please contact the Centre Manager at Melbourn Hub on 01763 263303 option 1.

The Hall For All – And Melbourn Cinema Event

I am pleased to report that all is well at the Community Hall and we have had a busy season with both regular and new bookings. We are constantly trying to keep on top of small repairs and improvements and have recently installed automatic taps in the cloakrooms to make sure no taps are left running, as has happened on one or two occasions. We also purchased new tea towels for the kitchen – small things, I know, but all of them make for a better experience for those who hire the Hall. As Trustees, we all work together to keep the Hall spick and span, re-fixing curtain rails when they are pulled off the wall (how did that happen? someone swinging on them?), scraping glue off the tables after craft sessions, taking sellotape and blue tack off the walls! A Trustee’s life is quite a busy one!

It is hard to keep on top of the garden but we now have a very experienced gardener who comes and tidies up from time to time although this year the weather has been against all of us as far as gardening is concerned. Our funds received a boost again this summer when Jane and Mavis ran another successful Safari Supper in aid of the Hall.

Our Cinema Nights have developed a cosy club-like atmosphere as we have quite a strong following of regulars but it is always good to see new faces and everyone is made welcome. There are some excellent films coming up, in January we are showing Yesterday, and there is Downton Abbey to come and I understand a remake of Little Women is about to be released, to say nothing of the film about Judy Garland.

Coffee Stop goes from strength to strength on a Saturday morning, with especially large numbers on the first Saturday of the month when Jane and Alan Brett run The Book Shelf, selling excellent books for 50p and £1. We had a couple of visits from a ‘petting dog’ back in the summer – needless to say she had a great fuss made of her. Any charity may hire a table on a Saturday morning – just speak to me or call in and see us on a Saturday – we regularly host the British Legion, Women’s Institute, Link Muranga etc. There is no charge but commercial hirers would be asked to pay a nominal fee.

The Hall continues to be very well used, with the meeting room and main hall often being used at the same time. If you are thinking of hiring the Hall, Saturday morning Coffee Stop (10.30am – 12noon) is a good time to come and meet people, explore the facilities and get a good cup of coffee for a pound! (Tickets from Brenda 261154, Cyndy 264189 or Mavis 260686)

Dementia Friends Cafe at Melbourn Hub

Melbourn Hub mentioned in the last issue of the Melbourn Magazine that it was planning to build on the work it is doing with local people and professionals to provide much needed support for those living with dementia and their families by starting a ‘Dementia Friends Cafe’ at The Hub.

Working with local resident Davina Biswell, who is championing Dementia Support with Melbourn Hub, medical and care professionals, the first Dementia Friends Cafe was held in September and has been bringing local people living with dementia and their family carers together to socialise, enjoy specially designed activities over coffee and cake and to support one another in a friendly environment.

Held once a month on Saturday afternoons within the Hub’s ‘Bookmark Cafe’, the last Dementia Friends Cafe for 2019 will be held on Saturday December 14th at 2.30pm and feature Christmas themed activities, mince pies and carols! Dates for the first part of 2020 will be January 18th, February 15th, March 21st and April 18th. Details can also be found on Melbourn Hub’s website calendar www.melbournhub.co.uk. Any family carer and their loved one living with dementia is welcome.

Melbourn Hub hosts a number of other support services

for the community including Relate, Citizens Advice, Mind CPSL ‘Good Mood Cafes’ and ‘Open Door’ sessions, details of which can be found on the Hub’s website or contact Melbourn Hub on 01763 263303 option 1.

Artists line up to exhibit at Melbourn Hub Gallery

Since 2017, Melbourn Hub has allocated space within its Atrium for an art gallery which has proved to be so popular that it has been booked by artists continuously ever since!

Jeannie Seers Events Director at the Hub said “there is so much artistic talent in the area and the bright and airy space is ideal to showcase people’s work. So many people come to the Hub each day to use the cafe, meeting rooms or services at the Hub, that the artwork is seen by large audiences and the Hub is now recognised by artists as an established gallery”.

Artists can use several metres of wall space for one month free of charge to display their work and offer it for sale. The Hub asks for a donation of 20% of any sales made. The month of December features a joint exhibition by popular Melbourn artists George Meliniotis and Val Pettifer. Their exhibition starts on Saturday 30th November when the Hub presents its annual ‘Turn on to Christmas event’ and can be viewed by the general public Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

There are a variety of mediums and styles seen throughout the year including water colours, acrylics, lino print and photography and we have had artists in residence demonstrating their techniques to the public from time to time. The Hub was proud to have hosted an exhibition for ‘Rowan’, a charity in Cambridge designed to improve the lives of students with learning disabilities through art activities.

Artist Christina Pattison donated one of her original paintings for Melbourn Hub to raffle in October during her exhibition, to raise funds for The Hub in support the work the Hub does and one lucky winner is now enjoying Christina’s colourful work.

There are just a few spaces left to exhibit during 2020 and bookings are already being made for 2021. If you are an artist and would like to showcase your work at Melbourn Hub, please contact the Centre Manager on 01763 263303 option 1 or email centremanager@melbournhub.co.uk

Artist in residence Vivienne Machell

What’s On @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Melbourn Child and Family Zone provides groups, activities and support for families. Our friendly and experienced Child and Family Centre staff offer a wide range of services and knowledge to help you and your family from pregnancy onwards.

We are located on Mortlock Street, adjacent to Melbourn Primary School.

All of our sessions are a chance to meet new friends and also to access support from Child and Family Centre staff. Baby Group A welcoming environment to help parents relax and enjoy their baby. For families expecting or with a child up to a year old (£2 charge per family). Tuesdays 10.00 to 11.30pm @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone Fun for Ones A group specifically for crawlers and children up to 24 months (£2 charge per family). Wednesdays 10.00 to 11.30am @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone Stay and Play Enjoy time together with your child whilst accessing a range of toys, crafts and activities (£2 charge per family). Thursdays 10.00 to 11.30am @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone Fridays 10.00 to 11.30am @ Bassingbourn Pre School Melbourn Child and Family Zone Mortlock Street, Melbourn, SG8 6DB Bassingbourn Pre School Brook Road, Bassingbourn, SG8 5NP For further information: Email: ChildAndFamilyCentre.South@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Phone: 01954 284 672 Facebook: search for South Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres.

Water Levels – River Mel Following reports of low, and in some cases, nonexistent water levels in the River Mel, I had a meeting with the environment agency with a view to better understanding the situation and what, if anything, could be done about it.

Parishioners may well have noticed very low levels at various locations nearby. Particularly by Sheene Mill, the new recreation ground by the community pavilion, and at Stockbridge meadows where it had completely dried up.

The environment agency produces regular, and very comprehensive reports that set out the local positions with regard to rainfall and river levels in general. Interested readers can obtain them for free at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/watersituation-local-area-reports

The current situation in Melbourn is caused partially by a mild winter, followed by a scorching summer. If the weather patterns going forward follow a similar path, then the situation is likely to deteriorate.

Although average rainfall in September was higher than the long-term national average (131%), it did not wipe out the deficit. River flows are low across the region (It’s not just Melbourn), and both reservoir and groundwater levels continue to be low.

The environment agency has been operating pumps, In the Melbourn area and elsewhere in an effort to replenish levels. In most cases, the water has just sunk straight back into the ground again.

A wet winter, in the context of river levels, will be welcome.

Parish Council Vacancies The Parish Council welcomed a new Parish Councillor in September (Welcome Cllr Kent). There are still vacancies for further Councillors. If you would like to get involved in making local decisions, please contact me – parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk.

Development at New Road As I write, the first residents have moved into the Hopkins homes development at New Road, and I’m told that the care home are looking to welcome its first residents during December. On behalf of the Parish Council, I would like to welcome all new residents to Melbourn. Christmas Tree Recycling The Parish Council will once again be providing a Christmas Tree recycling point (in the village car-park). Look for the signs nearer the time.

Please do feel free do drop your tree off (real trees only please). They will be shredded and the resultant chippings used around the village. Simon Crocker Parish Council Clerk RDCT urgently needs more volunteer drivers in Melbourn. If you can help, please call 01763 245228 (24hr answer machine).”

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire are looking for Home Visiting Volunteers Can you give a family the most precious gift - your time? Our volunteers are all parents or grandparents who can give a few hours a week to help families who are finding it difficult to cope. All parents need emotional and practical help to get through the first few years, but not everyone has friends or family nearby. This is when Home-Start volunteers can help! For more details contact Sarah or Jackie at: Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Royston, Herts, SG8 6JP Tel: 01763 262262 or e-mail admin@hsrsc.org.uk www.hsrsc.org.uk

Registered Charity No 1105385

From your County and District Councillors

Here are some of the headlines from our recent work. Understandably, lots of concerns about highways issues, though traffic congestion and noise seem to have overtaken pot holes as the top concerns. Concerns about demands on local health services are another – please see the ‘NHS Big Conversation’ item below, and please do respond. Most positive has been working with MVC students on a variety of projects.

Zero Carbon Communities application: We’ve been very fortunate to have the chance to work with students from Melbourn Village College, via the Melbourn Practical Solutions Group: this a truly inspirational group comprised of Head Boy and Head Girl, and Head and Deputy Prefects, who have set forth with gusto on improving recycling and introducing public water fountains at MVC, the latter to include areas accessed by the public for sport and other activities. They’ve attended Parish Council meetings at Meldreth and Melbourn, as well as a meeting of the MVC Governing Body, and hit the ground running with a grant application to the South Cambs District Council Zero Carbon Communities fund.

A10 noise following resurfacing: Eighteen months ago, the A10 was given a surface dressing, for the purpose of extending the life of the road by about ten years. The grade of material used was deemed the most advantageous for an A-road, but this has resulted in higher noise levels for drivers and nearby residents. We’ve received complaints especially from people living near the Melbourn bypass, but also from parts of Shepreth. The same exercise has been replicated on about a dozen roads around the county, and two have resulted in noise complaints, including at Papworth.

We raised the matter with County Highways, who asked their contractor Skanska to carry out detailed noise monitoring – this took place in July. Because noise levels were not measured before the surface dressing was applied, it’s difficult to measure any change in noise levels so far. Nevertheless, County Highways accept that there is a problem, and have agreed to return in March to ascertain whether, with further bedding down, there has been any improvement. If noise disturbance remains problematic, the remedy would be a new ‘dressing’ with a different material (which would initially cause renewed noise disturbance before it beds down), or a more permanent type new surface layer. Any remedy would cost money, and would have to compete with the many demands on Highways’ limited budget. A noise barrier is not an option because County Highways cannot afford maintenance costs.

So, Highways accepts there’s a problem and will ask their contractor to monitor it; and they are willing to consider a remedy if required, but can’t guarantee funding.

NHS Services in Cambridgeshire: ‘The Big

Melbourn Springs Care Home

On 21th September Barchester Healthcare opened the marketing suite and show rooms at the company’s brand new luxury care home in Melbourn – Melbourn Springs. Royston Town Mayor, Councillor Robert Inwood and District Councillor Jose Hales cut the ribbon to the completed part of the home.

The marketing suite at Melbourn Springs provides the local community with an opportunity to see what the finished 75-bed care home will look like when the home is complete.

At the launch, the General Manager of the home, Karen Allen and Home Services Advisor, Dan Amis welcomed visitors to see the Marketing Suite for the first time. The suite features spacious en-suite bedrooms, a lounge, a lifestyle enrichment room – all designed with the comfort of residents in mind.

When it opens, the home will also feature activity cafés, cinema, spa bathrooms, large dining areas with life-skills kitchens, an in-house hair salon, luxury en-suite bedrooms and a choice of quiet relaxing lounges with garden access. A daily life enrichment programme with an array of tailored activities including a state of the art Magic Table, a concierge service, as well as delicious and nutritious seasonal meals will also be provided services at the home.

Pictures of old Melbourn, gifted to the home by Peter Simmonett and Ann Dekkers of Melbourn Magazine and History Group who attended the launch, will feature in the rooms of the first Melbourn Springs residents. The pair also donated a history of Melbourn presentation currently on display at the home.

As General Manager Karen Allen raised a glass to the guests she said, “We’re so pleased to meet so many lovely people for the first look around of the home. Our marketing suite is a wonderful way for people to come and see the high quality environment that we are creating, and meet the friendly team who will be caring for our residents. Personalised care really is at the heart of everything we do.”

Home Services Advisor Dan Amis added, “It was lovely for so many of our new friends from the community to join us for such a special occasion. The feedback has been amazing and all of our guests said that they were extremely impressed!”

Melbourn Springs Care Home will provide residential and dementia care for older people in and around the Melbourn community for short breaks to long term stays.

The marketing suite is open between 10am–5pm Tuesday to Sunday and from 12pm–8pm on Thursdays. The team are always on hand to answer any questions about the services at the home, and will be able to discuss the care options available when the home is ready to welcome residents in early 2020.

For more information about Melbourn Springs or for assistance with any care enquiries please contact Home Services Advisor Dan Amis on 07435 692 018 or email daniel. amis@barchester.com

Mistaken Identity

“I’m cold Timmy”, Sam whimpered “I told you, be quiet, they’ll hear us upstairs”, hissed her brother, “he’ll be here soon”.

A shaft of moonlight had pierced through the gap in the curtains, illuminating the fireplace on the opposite wall. Suddenly, they heard a shuffling noise. Both children peered out from their hiding place behind the sofa and stared across the room; their eyes widening as a pair of black boots slowly appeared.

“Bloomin’ ‘eck”, came a muffled voice from within the chimney, “I’m getting too old for this lark”. Sam and Timmy jumped up and watched unbelievingly as a stout figure scrambled out from the fireplace. The strange man’s clothes were black, as was his bushy beard and moustache. He groaned as he raised himself to his full height.

Sam hid behind her brother who couldn’t take his eyes off the visitor. “Wh, who, are y’ you” stammered Timmy, trying hard to act bravely in his role as Sam’s big brother. “Don’t you know who I am?” growled the big man, “I’m Father Christmas, isn’t it obvious?” He sounded a little hurt at not being instantly recognised.

“But you are supposed to have a red coat and white beard, not be all black”, replied Timmy, becoming bolder as the conversation progressed. “You’d be black if you had just climbed down a chimney, especially one that hadn’t been swept properly for years”, retorted a very grumpy Santa.

“So, where are they?” said Father Christmas looking back at the fireplace, “You’re meant to leave out mince pies and a glass of sherry”. “Well” replied Timmy sheepishly, “we waited so long we ate the mince pies and Daddy forgot to buy a new bottle of sherry – sorry”.

“Tell you what”, said Santa, “we’ll do a deal, I’ll still give you your presents if you show me where the front door is, I really don’t want to have to climb up your bloomin’ chimney to get out. Mrs Claus said I should lose some weight and I think she’s right, it gets harder every year to clamber up and down millions of chimneys.”

And so it was that Timmy and Sam received exactly the presents they had written and asked for and Father Christmas got arrested by the police who mistook him for a drunken burglar as he wandered down Acacia Avenue with his sack full of parcels. It was his own fault; he never should have stopped the patrol car and asked them for directions to the North Pole – especially after an evening drinking all that sherry. David Sansom

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 • • Infestation treatment 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

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

Conversation’: The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group has launched what it is calling ‘The Big Conversation’ – not a formal consultation, but a discussion on how to proceed in buying health services for our area, against the reality that it is currently spending considerably more than it can afford. You’ll recall a mention in our July parish council report about likely CCG cuts, especially to the voluntary sector; this was pulled back and the Big Conversation is a relaunch of the overall attempt to decide where ‘difficult decisions’ need to be taken.

There are some positive initiatives, too. You may have read in the local press about the initiative for the Royston Hospital site to be reconfigured to provide various specialist services, to help meet demands on GP services in our area (three Royston GP practices sit under the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG umbrella).

This exercise runs until December 20th – please do respond. Here’s the link (or just google Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG Big Conversation): www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg. nhs.uk/get-involved/the-big-conversation/

Beechwood Avenue Traffic: Thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to feed in to our call for thoughts and ideas on Beechwood Avenue traffic. By the time you read this, a public meeting will have taken place with residents of Beechwood Avenue, Elm Way, Maple Way, Ash Grove and Cedar Close. There are no easy solutions to problems currently faced, but the meeting will have considered possible options, with the help of County Highways. Meanwhile, Susan has spoken with one of her predecessors, Margaret Hunter – county councillor for Melbourn many years ago – who grappled with the same issue (as many of you will remember).

Melbourn Greenway and a bridge to Royston: A decision on the Melbourn Greenway scheme, which includes a walking/ cycling path along the A10 and bridge over the A505 connecting to Royston, was expected in December, but this has now been pushed back until March. The scheme scored very positively in the overall group of 12 proposed Greenway schemes, and has topped the charts in terms of consultation responses. Some of our most passionate and articulate campaigners continue to be young people from Melbourn Village College. Congratulations to Yunus and Sambor, who were featured in a video for the October Greater Cambridge Partnership Citizens Assembly – you can see them, together with Iris from Meldreth Primary School, here: https:// youtu.be/9lHe0_0LNuQ

Cambridge Ice Rink: It’s time to get your skates on as the new ice rink in Cambridge is now open. The company building this had quite a lot of money from the University, but SCDC was able to make them a large loan when they overran their budget due to finding lots of unexploded bombs on the site (which is on the old military airfield run by Marshalls in Cambridge). South Cambs District Council made the loan because we felt that this would be a significant attraction to the residents of South Cambs. Let us know what you think of it.

Any questions or concerns? Please get in touch any time – we’re always very happy to try and help. Jose Hales, District Councillor, jose@josehales.me.uk, Tel 01763 221058 | Philippa Hart District Councillor, Philippajoyhart@gmail. com, Tel 07811323571 | Susan van de Ven, County Councillor, susanvandeven5@gmail.com, Tel 07905325574

Community spirit of BMX club members

I’d like to share a random act of community spirit I saw today in Melbourn.

On an evening dog walk near to Grinnel Hill BMX club in the village, I saw the club members busily removing waste that had been fly-tipped on the farm track that joins London Way and the A1O adjacent to their club ground.

The rubbish had been illegally dumped there about two weeks ago. Alongside a mattress and an old TV, most of the rubbish seemed to be the result of a kitchen refurbishment.

What impressed me was that, even though the rubbish did not directly impact the club members’ use of their facility, they still took time to tidy up our village – no doubt costing them precious daylight hours which they could have spent pursuing their hobby.

Thank you to the Grinnel Hill BMX Club members for taking it upon themselves to tackle an issue they might have easily ignored. Russell Foulger – Royston Crow August 8th 2019

Relate Cambridge services in Melbourn

Relate is the UK’s largest provider of Relationship Counselling

Counselling services available at the Melbourn Community Hub, 30 High Street, Melbourn, SG8 6DZ

For enquiries or to book an appointment, please call 01302 347 866. Phone lines are open Monday – Friday (09:00 – 17:30).

Slimming World Christmas leftovers and squash Risotto

This brilliantly indulgent recipe is a great way to use up any Christmas leftovers while staying beautifully on-plan in between Christmas and New Year. It’s creamy, filling and free! And it’s one of those great standby recipes that’s so versatile that you’ll want to make it over and over again. INGREDIENTS • 1/2 butternut squash, deseeded and cut into small chunks • 1 onion, chopped • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped • 300g dried risotto rice • 1.3 litres boiling stock made using 2 stock cubes • 400g cooked lean turkey, ham, bacon … whatever

Christmas leftovers you’ve got! METHOD 1. Cook the squash in a saucepan of boiling water over a high heat for 10–15 minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside. 2. Meanwhile, place a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 10 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften and brown slightly, then add the rice and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add a little water if it begins to stick to the pan. 3. Reduce the heat to low and stir in a ladleful of the stock.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the stock has been absorbed by the rice. Add another ladleful of stock and keep cooking in the same way for about 20–25 minutes or until the stock is nearly all used up. 4. Stir in your leftovers, cooked squash and the remaining stock and continue cooking until the leftovers are hot and the rice is cooked to your liking, adding a splash of boiling water if the rice looks dry. Season to taste and serve hot.

Ready in 45 minutes, serves 4. You can watch the video for this and plenty of other Slimming World recipes on our YouTube channel at youtube. com/slimmingworld

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