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behind Meldreth Village Hall. The Club has free use of the courts, and Club sessions are as follows. Wednesdays 9.30–12 noon. Tuesday & Thursday 6.30–9.30pm Thursdays 10.00–12 noon from April 22nd Saturdays 2.00–4.30 pm

There are coaching courses for beginners to advanced players on Friday mornings with Matt Fellingham – tennis coach at Royston Tennis Club 07779 273655.

Members of the public can use the tennis courts for a small fee. Further details can be found on notices at the courts.

The club is keen to welcome new members, either working or living in Meldreth, Melbourn and the surrounding villages. We have teams playing in the Cambridge Business League, as well as popular club sessions/social events held all through the year.

Anyone interested in joining the Club can contact the Secretary, Sue Davies (01763 220174), or come along to one of our Club sessions.

Melbourn Photographic Club

The club meets at Foxton village Hall. The programme is as follows March 4th Inter-Club Print and Slide battle. Melbourn/S Walden/Letchworth. Judge Barrie Hatten March 11th Print of the Year (2007/2008) Judge Liz Hatten March 15th (Saturday). Melbourn Trophy Final at Foxton. Judge Barbie LinsayAFIAP, MPAGB, ABPA March 18th An evening with Andy who? Andy Hanson ARPS, MPAGB, APAGB April 1st AGM April 8th Slide of the Year (2007/2009) Judge Dr John Law MFIAP, ERISF, AISF

George Statter Press Officer 01763 261341 Club Web pages www.pbase.com/photonouveau/melbournpc

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Interview with Bessie Walker

On Sunday 9th December Bessie received 1st place in the Under 14’s Solo Intermediate Freestyle Competition at the ADFP Competition at East Finchley London, she therefore received her last mark required to become a Champion Freestyle Solo Dancer. She will now be able to compete with the UK and European elite band of champion dancers. Bessie is one of the first dancers in the area to receive this accolade, which is the highest she can receive.

Bessie was always dancing as a little girl and started tap dancing when she was 4 years old and at 5 moved on to freestyle (disco) dancing. She lived in Westmill at the time and travelled to Buntingford Community Centre for lessons. So began her dancing career, which involves training/dancing at least 5 days a week with competitions usually on Sundays. The regime requires lots of determination not only to put the hours in rigorous training but also in competitions where stamina may flag but rising above tiredness to carry on. She said that she knows all the competitors feel the same and that is what drives her on to perform.

But Bessie not only dances, she also takes gymnastic lessons and is waiting to start singing lessons too. She said in future she is striving to become more acrobatic in her routines as this is what the discipline demands. She also swims regularly. Bessie is doing what we are told we should all be doing, especially young people, to be interested and active to keep fit and enjoy life. Surprisingly, her dancing lessons incorporate learning about nutrition and fitness; on what to eat and how to use the food we eat to maintain a healthy body.

On February 10th, Bessie competed in the Swindon ADFP Dance Championships for solo freestyle dancing. This was a national competition of champions and only the second time she had competed in such a high class. Bessie came 5th with which she was very pleased.

So where does Bessie go from here? In her pair dancing with Lauren Morley for which they are champions, rock and roll is probably her favourite routine. In her solo career maybe we are seeing the beginnings of a West End star. She has the dedication of show business in her, if she doesn’t dance for a few days she itches to get back to the routines. Whatever happens in the future, Bessie is very aware that the experiences and opportunities she has had in her life so far may never happen for other people, which pays for all the hard work she puts in to dancing.

Bessie is 12, lives in Melbourn and attends Melbourn Village College Brenda Meliniotis

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