Melbourn Village Fete 2008

Sadly, three of last years’ sellers are unable to assist this year and I would very much appreciate volunteers to replace them to cover the Moor and Dolphin Lane areas. I would also like to take this opportunity to remember all those who have served The Legion in the past, especially Terry Rolt, and to thank all those involved, some of whom I have not had the opportunity of meeting yet. Although only a small branch with just 31 members, we are still holding our own, despite most of us being well past school leaving age. We hold our monthly meetings at Vicarage Close, the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm,.and it would be nice to see as many members as possible attending. I recently attended a seminar for Poppy Appeal organisers to see how the money collected from the general public each year is used. It was most interesting, and also very useful to see how other organisers work to prepare for the appeal. Below are some examples of where your money goes. £5 will ensure that a housebound or hospitalised person receives a friendship visit. – £20 could help towards providing skilled advice and an hour’s legal representation at a Disability Allowance or War Pension Tribunal. – £75 could help towards providing a fresh start for an ex-Service man or woman so that they can adjust to life outside the Services. – £250 could buy an emergency lifeline alarm for an elderly ex-service person or their spouse – £360 would give an ex-Service person or one of their dependants a much needed break at one of our Poppy Break centres. £500 could provide a severely disabled person and their carer with a much needed welfare break. – £2000 could purchase an Electricallv Powered Vehicle or scooter to give elderly or disabled veterans back mobility and an independent life. – £2500 could pay to install a stair lift in a home where it is needed. – £5000 could arrange a bathroom adaptation which would assist a disabled person to perform basic functions in their home such as having a shower or washing safely. Once again, thank you all for your continued support. Patrick Parkinson, Chairman/Secretary

RNLI

Most importantly your local group would like to thank all those generous contributors who gave money and many good wishes on our Tesco Collection days on 23rd and 24th May.

A tremendous £1400 was raised for RNLI.

An acknowledgement was published eventually in The Crow – after 2 weeks of losing the details – but unfortunately no mention of thanks was made. I’ve heard of poetic licence so I think that this was probably journalistic licence.

A big thank you anyway – and also to all the local Shoreline Members who volunteered to help and maintain a rota through Friday and Saturday.

We now have 2 new Committee members as a result, and will be able to increase our funding efforts. (I have received the details of Christmas cards for this year – where has the year gone?)

We hope that you have had a happy and sunny summer holiday and will continue to give us your support in the coming year. Jean Emes Secretary Royston Branch (245958)

Melbourn History Group

Members of the Group are sometimes asked ‘and what project are you working on now?’ and ‘when is the next book coming out?’ The answer to those questions is very simple. We are not working on a new book yet although some of our members were much involved in the Parish Church Guide as was reported in a recent issue.

But what we are working on is the transfer of the baptismal rolls to the village website so that anyone logging in can more easily trace their ancestors. As the records start about 1558 and continue to the mid 19th century, you will see that that we have quite a job on our hands. For my own part I have just entered number 749 on my spreadsheet and there are still several sheets to go.

It struck me as I typed away that children were either born or baptised on the same day as momentous events in our history. On 4th July 1776 James Cunnington son of James and Elizabeth Cunington and Ruth daughter of James and Susan Cole were baptised in the Parish Church. Were the families, or indeed any of the villagers, aware that in far-off America the Declaration of Independence was being signed? Or, that in July 1789 did the families of John Burditt, George Chapel, Kezia Cole or James Hinkins have any idea that the Bastille had been stormed and the French Revolution had begun? Had the news of the Battle of Trafalgar and death of Admiral Lord Nelson reached the families of Marian Worbey, Charlotte Everitt or Elizabeth Everitt when those three girls were brought into All Saints in October 1805?

We were all struck by the number of baptisms held at certain times of the year, especially in July. It seems that reaching targets is nothing new and once a year a representative of the Bishop came round and checked if the numbers baptised this year had been better than last year. In order to ‘fudge the figures’ the Vicar would often round up former families who had left the Church but had then decided that they wanted to come back, gipsy families on the move through the village and anyone who thought it might be a good idea for the baby ‘to be done’. Their reward was tea and buns on the Vicarage lawn and when the Bishop’s agent turned up the Vicar could produce figures that

Child and Family Nursing Team

Well Baby Clinics Drop in clinics for parents and babies are held as follows: Melbourn clinic every Wednesday between 9.30 and 12 noon at: 35 Orchard Road, Melbourn Telephone 01763 262861

Cambourne clinic every Monday between 9.30 and 12 noon at: Room 12 (upstairs), Sackville House, Cambourne Telephone 01954 282830

satisfied even that august personage. Gipsy families made a habit of “volunteering” and it is recorded that one family held the record of having their children baptised some 200 times! We are indebted to Tom Doig, a well-known local historian, for that information.

Nothing new under the sun is there?

As for other work the Group has compiled again this year an entry for the “Village of the Year” competition and also “Community Building of the Year” which shows the new Community Hall. It is too early to say if we have been successful but at least we have tried. Colin Limming Chairman.

Free Computing & Computer Training in Meldreth

Funded by South Cambs. D.C. and staffed by local volunteers, you can get free access to computers (and the internet) and/or free training in how to use them. Read what two recent trainees have written after using the Community Access Point (CAP) scheme:

‘Having been given my first computer, (which I wasn’t sure I even wanted)! I thought I ought to get some basic lessons. There were several expensive options available leading to qualifications but they were not what I really wanted.

My friend who had just bought a new computer said she could do with brushing up on her computer skills and that she had been given the number of Janet (01763 262305). I rang and was greeted by a very friendly lady who took a few details.

We were able to start our lessons within the next few weeks, no waiting for the beginning of term and no fees to pay as it is all done voluntarily! We were paired with someone of our own age, (guess from our comment below)! Our volunteer tutor was willing to give us an hour’s tuition per week going through anything we needed, from turning on the computer to uploading photos and answered any questions we raised.

We can’t image not having a computer; it has opened up a new world for us of sending emails, searching the net, and so much more.

All this in the year we both get FREE bus travel!!

So if you have a new computer and don’t know the first thing about it and need some tuition the Meldreth CAP team are there to help. Thanks to the CAP Team, Joan and Liz.’

We have volunteers who are skilled in very basic computer usage and also in more advanced aspects of Word, Spreadsheets, Power Point presentations, Photography, Ancestry and many other computing programs. If you would like to know more, or book access or training, please call Janet on 01763 262305 after 3.30pm.

Caring For Carers

“My partner and I never do anything together any more!” one of my clients told me the other day. He was trying to care for an elderly parent along with the other

demands of daily life – but that meant he had no time for his partner, let alone any time for himself. No wonder their relationship was suffering!

Many of us have to take on the role of carer at some point in our lives. There are some tough feelings to deal with here such as guilt, resentment, frustration, bitterness and anger to name but a few. Not only that, but sheer physical exhaustion can leave you feeling completely drained – as if you are running on empty with no resources left.

Here are some practical tips:

Don’t lose your identity. You may be a carer but you are also a person in your own right. Keep your own interests and hobbies going – it will help to keep things in perspective.

It is not selfish to be self indulgent. Give yourself plenty of small treats that will recharge your batteries – you will then be able to give more back to those who are relying on you.

Focus on activities that you can both enjoy – it may be something as simple as watching a TV programme together.

You will get a tremendous boost once you realise that you don’t have to struggle on alone. Network like mad. Talking to friends and family will help to share the load.

Look out for the professional help available for your situation and don’t be afraid to ask for it. There are local support groups around which have been specially set up to support carers such as those run by Crossroads (www.crossroads.org.uk). Relate is somewhere you can turn to for help and support - our counsellors are trained to deal with many different types of relationship problems. So don’t want until things get on top of you - if your relationship is under pressure, and you need someone to talk to, then call us at 01223 357424 to find out more about how we can help you. Elaine Taylor, Relate Cambridge Counsellor

The National Trust

With the present cost of petrol many families are having to think twice before setting out for long drives to the seaside or far-off destinations in the country. There is a ready- made answer to that problem.

Our local Trust property at Wimpole estate has much to offer. There is ample room for the children to run around or to play ball games; we have room for picnics and there are some lovely walks. If you want to splash out a little bit there are the extra attractions of the Hall and the Home Farm but if you just want to stretch your legs and enjoy a simple day out there is no compulsion to go to either place. Even in winter the walks are delightful and dogs, provided they are kept under control, are always welcome.

The local National Trust Association starts its winter programme again on Friday 3rd October with a talk by Jane Gosling on ‘Medieval Lavenham and its famous Guildhall’. This will be at Saffron Walden County High School sports centre but we meet on the last Friday in each month either there or in Royston Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. There is a full programme of talks and social events and you can find out more by contacting me at any time. Colin Limming 01763 260072

Cambridge Mencap

Cambridge Mencap is seeking volunteers to support a child or young person with a learning disability. You could support someone to play games, enjoy arts and crafts, play in the park, go swimming, or just watch a DVD in the young person’s home. Your support could help the young person develop their social skills, interests, independence and self confidence, whilst also providing valuable respite time to parents and carers.

If you could spare a few hours one evening of every month then you could be doing something new, or something you already do and enjoy, whilst making a BIG difference to a young person’s, and a family’s, life. Interested? Find out more by contacting Robert Wallace, Volunteers Support Coordinator, by Phone: 01223 883140 Text: 07835101621 Email: robert@cambridgemencap.co.uk