Village News

In the news Vicarage Close Moorlands Court Extra Care Scheme New Melbourn Singers Home-Start Women’s Group Self Help Group Lifeboats Melbourn History Group Royston & District Local History Society Royston & District Family History Society Royal British Legion Library News The National Trust Unwanted Children’s Books Melbourn Village Fete 2009 Cambridge Building Society - Melbourn Five Top Tips To Avoid A Christmas

Debt Hangover Wot’s4Supper.com

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 11.30am 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

Vicarage Close

We are all looking forward to our Christmas celebrations, starting with Christmas Lunch at the Motel. We are having a Christmas morning with a visit from Father Christmas, with mulled wine and mince pies, which should put everybody in the mood for our entertainment of karaoke! We also are joining up with Meldreth to attend an ‘Old Time Music Hall’ so Christmas will be a very busy time for us all.

We have been fortunate in having an expert in card craft visiting us regularly, and she has helped us produce lovely cards over the past weeks including some very unusual Christmas cards. We must thank Tina for her patience and help, and all the residents who attend the classes have really enjoyed themselves.

We also benefit from having a visiting hairdresser and chiropodist who come regularly to the centre; thanks to Sandra and Erica; plus we hold our regular activities of coffee morning, lunches, bingo and bowls.

We were all very saddened when one of our residents Meg Culy died. She was always willing to help and would always support any activities provided at Vicarage Close. She will be much missed by us all.

Thanks to all who contribute to our recycling, we unfortunately have had to stop collecting plastic bottle tops as it is apparently not viable anymore!!

We still collect jam jars, used stamps, tin foil, used printer cartridges and used greeting cards all of which raise money for charity or local groups.

On behalf of all at Vicarage Close can we thank our helpers, Olive, Sue and Freda for their help throughout the year and offer thanks to everybody who supports Vicarage in any way. Joy Hyde Lead Sheltered Housing Officer Mon to Fri 9am to 1.30pm. Telephone 01763 263389

‘Speaker’s Corner’ a new website for Melbourn, aims to provide Melbourn residents with the opportunity to express their views on issues affecting them and those around them. Whether relating to the council, policing issues, or the local environment, feel free to make your point. Continued on page 9 www.melbourn.org.uk/speakers-corner/

now AVAiLABLE

Pet Supplies, Handbags, Tasty Treats from Jayne’s Country Kitchen, Tools, Instant Mobility for all your Mobility Needs Don’t forget our Mini Farmers Market

3rd Saturday of Every Month and the General Farmers Market 1st Sunday of Every Month. Home produce at great prices.

DiD you know

We now have a ➧ Butcher, Baker, ➧ Greengrocer, ➧ Fishmonger ➧ ... and Grocery Stall every Wednesday and Saturday.

Other products available include:

➧ Linen ➧ Swimming Pool Supplies ➧ Jewellery ➧ Hardware ➧ Kitchenware ➧ Plastics ➧ Books ➧ Ladies and Gents Clothing ➧ Bric A Brac and Wooden Wildlife Supplies.

Come and visit the home of the: Royston Sausage – try before you buy.

Dates for your diary: General Farmers Market Sun 4th Oct, Sun 1st Nov, Sun 6th Dec.

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire are looking for more volunteers - could you give a Home-Start 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! Further details can be obtained by calling into our offices: Unit 6, Valley Farm, Meldreth, SG8 6JP, or contacting us on 01763 262262 and talking to Wendy or Tracy or e-mailing admin@hsrsc.co.uk

The Extra Care Scheme opened in April 2008, it contains 35 flats and offers the opportunity for retired people with some care needs, to live within an independent environment designed to meet their physical, social and personal needs.

The tenants at Moorlands Court celebrated the third annual ‘Older Persons Day’ with a get together on the 3rd October 2009.

The staff organized a raffle to raise funds to pay for an entertainer and we are very grateful to Histon FC who donated a signed football, brochure and family ticket to the raffle prizes and to Histon’s striker Craig Hammond who personally presented Moorlands Court with these gifts.

Our grateful thanks also go out to two members of staff Steve and Julia Howell who provided a lovely buffet tea and wine for all of the tenants.

We would also like to thank ‘Melbourn Village Fete 2009’ who purchased a fantastic outdoors games table for the tenants of Moorlands Court. The table has a snakes and ladders board and a chess/draughts board on it and has been specially adapted so that it has access for two wheelchair users.

Allan Webb a tenant of Moorlands Court wanted to express his gratitude to the fete, “I have never seen a games table like this before and it will be really nice to have an activity that can take place in our gardens, it is a wonderful gift”. Denise Taylor Extra Care Service Manager

Brian Collingbourne (fete Chair) and Jayne White (fete fundraiser) meeting Moorlands Court Scheme Manager Anita Hill and tenants Violet Bass, Joyce Howard, Allan Webb and Don Chinery.

Craig Hammond Histon’s FC striker presenting a signed football to Care Assistant Beryl Winter, for the Moorlands Court fundraiser raffle.

New Melbourn Singers

Rehearsals are in progress for the 50th Anniversary Concert to be held in King’s College Chapel on February 6th at 8 pm. Tickets will be on sale for the Concert in January 2010. A Workshop of Gospel Music, to be led by Ken Burton, who is often seen on Songs of Praise, is arranged for March 20th 2010. This will take place at Comberton Leisure Centre Performance Hall.

Home-Start

“Volunteer with Home-Start and give the most precious gift your time” Started over 25 years ago, Home-Start is a national voluntary organisation offering support, friendship and practical help to families with children under 5 years.

Over 340 schemes operate nationally and world-wide, with the key aim to provide support when a family needs it the most.

Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life to help them achieve their full potential.

However, many parents, desperate to do the right things to give their children the best possible start in life, find they are fighting against the odds. Circumstances beyond their control mean they are faced with isolation, sickness, disability or mental health illness. They might be very young parents, have given birth to twins or triplets, be living with domestic violence or are facing the challenges of