The Melbourn Village College Spring Fair

children in our care. We aim to have a positive impact on young children’s development to enable them to be ready for school and offer a relaxed home from home to older children after school and in the holidays.

Childminders who are suitably qualified can join a childminding network and are able to offer Nursery Education Funded places. Some families choose to use this entitlement over 3–5 days with a childminder or split the entitlement of five sessions between a nursery and a childminder especially when a child is very young or finds large groups a daunting experience.

We regularly access training to help enhance the way that we work with children and keep up with current educational thinking and any new legal requirements that come into force. Last year, local training included ‘supporting boys’ and ‘ICT with children in the home’. Soon we will be covering ‘managing children’s behaviour’ and more ‘reflective practice’

Some childminders also offer respite care for families who need this service and access specialised training to help them with this area of work.

Childminders aspire to work in partnership with parents at all times to ensure that children gain the most from their time with the childminder, therefore meeting their individual needs in an inclusive and non biased environment. I have found childminding is very rewarding watching the children grow and then move on happily to school. I feel privileged to be a part of their lives. Information about childminding vacancies can be obtained from www.opportunity-links.org.uk or phone 0845 04 05 014. Jenny Brett Childminder 01763 269674 Jane Astley Childminding Support and Development Officer National Childminding Association 01763 268469 jane.astley@ncma.org.uk The National Childminding Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales. Registered Charity no: 295981 Limited Company no: 2060964 Head office: Royal Court, 81 Tweedy Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1TG

Lifeboats

Writing this in January, after some of the coldest weather for many years, it is quite difficult to imagine the warm, sunny weather which we will hopefully be seeing when this magazine reaches you.

Local fundraising efforts for RNLI tend to slow down during the winter months, while we plan our events for the coming year, but regular activities go on, one of them being box-emptying. We have our collection of boxes all over the area, in shops, pubs and other places of work. This provides useful extra income for RNLI and of course ‘every little helps’. If you feel you could hold a collection box for us, do please contact me.

As the season gets under way we have our regular attendance at Duxford Flying Days – some of you may have seen our souvenir stall – and of course our street collection or ‘Flag Day’, and Tesco collection days.

RNLI rescue activities also vary with the weather and seasons, but the dedication of the voluntary crews never changes. Whether the job involves saving an injured sailor in high seas, rescuing fishermen stranded on rocks, or even, last ‘summer’ helping people driven from their homes by flooding, RNLI specialist skills are always needed – your help in supporting all this is invaluable and much appreciated.

In the RNLI Magazine I found a heart warming story from Cromer. Called to a little yellow rowing boat drifting offshore in a calm sea, with two people on board, Cromer inshore crew found themselves caught up in a cupid moment. Far from being in fear of their lives, the ‘casualties’ were lost in each other’s eyes, sipping champagne and feasting on strawberries and truffles. Moments earlier the dashing young man had handed his companion 30 red roses and a sparkling ring as he recited Shakespeare and asked ‘Will you marry me?’

Even as she said ‘Yes’, the love-struck duo had become the focus of concerned eyes on the shoreline as they drifted further out to sea – and someone called 999. The love boat ended its journey prematurely with an escort back to shore from the inshore lifeboat.

After giving the couple advice on what safety equipment should be taken to sea, the lifeboat crew and coastguards showed their softer side and passed on their congratulations. Here’s wishing everyone a safe summer - and don’t forget the life-jackets! Jean Emes Secretary Royston Branch (01763 245958)

National Trust

In common with all other National Trust properties, Wimpole Estate is revising its opening hours. From the start of the new visiting season the Hall will be open from 11.00 a.m. provided enough volunteers can be found to steward the various rooms and attractions. During the winter a concerted recruiting drive has been in action to obtain 100 new volunteers but if this is not successful then the morning sessions will only be guided tours by one or two staff or volunteers. At the time of writing this report there is no information available as to the success of the recruitment campaign but if you come along in the morning you can be guaranteed that you will be able to gain admission. The Hall will re-open on 28th February and remain open until 1st November but as last year it will close on Thursdays and Fridays except for school holidays.

The lambing season will cover the periods 21st-25th March, 28th March - 1st April and 4th April - 8th April when visitors will be able to see the newly born lambs at the Home Farm and in the fields.

During the year there is a huge range of events and attractions and leaflets are available from the ticket office or shop.

The local National Trust Association will end its programme of indoor events in April and then the summer outings to places of interest will start. All Trust members are welcome to join the Association and to take part in its lively and interesting programme and can find details from me at any time. Colin Limming 01763 260072

Royston Local history

Our meetings are held in the Heritage Hall, Royston Town Hall starting at 8pm. It costs only £5 for an annual subscription (SeptAugust) Visitors are welcome £2. The next three meetings are shown below: Mar 5th Footpaths – Hertfordshire Heritage, illustrated with slides from Hertfordshire Way Bert Richardson; Apr 2nd The Life & Music of John Newton, the slave ship captain who became a clergyman and abolitionist Colin Simpson May 14th AGM 7.30pm followed

at 8pm by The History of the Slave Trade John Kelly The evening concludes with a buffet and drinks. Jun 13th Coach Outing to Greenwich; includes boat trip on the river Thames. Details from David Allard 01763 242677 www.roystonlocalhistory.org.uk

The Royston Cave in Melbourn Street attributed to the Knights Templar is closed during the winter period. It will re-open on Easter Saturday, 11th April 2009 and will then be open on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 2.30pm – 5pm until the end of September, also Wednesday afternoons in August.

Our website has been considerably updated and, in particular, shows all the books we have for sale. Many of these result from the considerable work undertaken by our publications sub-committee. All these books may be bought at our monthly meetings. The books may also be purchased at the Royston & District Museum in Kneesworth Street, Royston.

Contacts: Doreen Wood 01763 242230 or David Allard 01763 242677.

SIA – Spinal Injuries Association

‘Hold a Fish and Chip Supper to help spinal cord injured people live full and independent lives.’

Great British Fish and Chip Supper Friday 15th May 2009

Want to do something different? Want to raise money where you live or work? Want to eat fish and chips, while raising money for charity? Hold a fish and chip supper on Friday 15th May 2009 raising awareness of spinal cord injury and supporting SIA’s information and support services.

You can hold a fish and chip supper in your own home, at work or hold a larger supper at your local community centre.

SIA will provide a fundraising pack containing hints and tips, recipes, invitations and donation envelopes. By inviting 7 friends and asking them to donate an additional £5.00 means you will raise at least £35.00 from your supper but we will also give you additional fundraising ideas to raise even more money for SIA.

In 2009 SIA will celebrate its 35th Anniversary and since Friday 15th May 2009 is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day, what better way to raise funds than eating fish and chips and raise money for SIA.

The money raised from the suppers will help the Spinal Injuries Association offer support to patients and their families when spinal injury results in paralysis by providing services by providing services and publications which enable and encourage paralysed people to lead independent lives.

Every year in the UK over 1,000 people experience a spinal cord injury and there are an estimated 40,000 spinal cord injured people in the UK alone.

Donor Development Officer, Elizabeth Wright, says, ‘The Fish and Chip Supper is a wonderful opportunity for a great evening with friends and family. We are also encouraging people who work to hold a fish and chip lunch in their work places or local community groups wanting to run a fun evening with your group.

This is the year that SIA are running the suppers but we already envisage this to be one of our top fundraising initiatives in the SIA calendar in the coming years. Be a part of something special and make a real difference to help spinal cord injured people gain access to the information and support they need to enable them to live full and independent lives.’

For more information or request a fundraising pack call Elizabeth Wright on 0845 6786633 ext 229 or email fishandchips@spinal.co.uk or visit www. spinal.co.uk

Melbourn History Group

It has been a quieter period for the group after our efforts in the Cambridgeshire ACRE Awards. We still get enquiries about ancestors and these have become so numerous we have now had to tell people that if we need to go out of the village to find out details e.g. a visit to Cambridgeshire Archives, then we will have to make a charge.

Many people ask us “what about another book?” but having produced four so far we have had to call a halt because the Group members do have other lives! We have worked closely with both Meldreth Village History Book and the Cambridgeshire Association for Local History and we are always available to help if you think we can be useful. Colin Limming Chairman 01763 261144