Sports Club

Bowls Jacqui Dodds 243667 1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505 Brownies 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272 Brownies 2nd Melbourn Samantha Pascoe 261400 Cricket Martin Winter 262733 Croquet Janet Pope 248342 Football Club Andrew Edwards 223109 Dynamos Football Club Les Morley 07739 593771 Judo Derek Coult 225004 McSplash Joanne Greene 263313 Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313 Ramblers Dave Allard 242677 Royston and District Round Table Michael Seymour 221398 Squash Club Nick Sugden 261064 Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593 Tennis (Melbourn) 01223 220174 Tennis (Meldreth) Sue Davies 220174

www.melbourn.org.uk/speakers-corner/

1st Melbourn Rainbows

The autumn began with a fantastic Centenary Launch 100 Event at Churchill College, Cambridge on Saturday 5th September. All of our Rainbows attended along with over 1700 other Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members for a giant picnic. Our girls stayed on-site to enjoy activities such as parachute games, face painting and a Centenary duck treasure hunt.

During the evening, nearly 2000 members and supporters had a BBQ, sing-a-long and a spectacular musical firework display to end the evening and begin our celebrations with a bang!

We were pleased to see five new Rainbows join this term and they are busy learning their promise ready for their promise party in October.

The Rainbows are currently working towards their Adventure 100 Badge. This is a Centenary Challenge with 10 Adventures to complete including ‘In the Dark’, ‘What a Performance’ and many more.

There are lots of fun activities planned for this term and we look forward to telling you all about them soon.

Although we do have quite a long waiting list, if your daughter wishes to become a Rainbow, please call Abigail Roberts, Unit Leader on 01763 261505.

1st Melbourn Guides

100 years and still going strong! Melbourn Guides joined 1500 others at an action-packed ‘Guideopoly’ launch

event in Cambridge on 5th September. Armed with a map and some treasurehunt questions, small teams of girls were dropped off at The Backs, and had two hours to find seven checkpoints around the city. Without leaders, and dodging Saturday afternoon shoppers, this was quite a challenge for the girls, but they all made it back to the bus stop and enjoyed a fantastic firework display in the evening.

Back in August, we enjoyed a traditional Guide camp near Bedford. The weather was kind to us, so we added sleeping under the stars, and a waterslide to the traditional camp activities of firelighting, singing and games. We also enjoyed kayaking on the river, high ropes, and swimming at the Oasis pool.

Guiding in Melbourn is so popular at the moment that we have groups running on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Thursday group programme incudes the special Adventure 100 badge for which we have made dreamcatchers and decorated glass candleholders, and have been on a night hike round Stockbridge Meadows. We are also trying Scottish country dancing, and having an evening of performance and drama. The smaller Wednesday group is also doing badges, plus baking and Christmas crafts.

If you would like to know more about becoming a Guide or a leader, or if you have any skills or hobbies which you would like to share with us, please contact me on: 01763 261443 or email: melbournguides@gmail.com Hilary Marsh

Army Cadets

The army cadets of Melbourn detachment are now nearing the end of another exciting and successful year, in which there have been promotions for a number of cadets that parade at Melbourn. Nathan Wilkins and Francine Burtenshaw were both promoted to the rank of Cadet L/Cpl earlier in the year and hopefully some more are soon to follow.

We also hosted our first ever detachment regimental meal back in June. It was organised by Cadet Cpl Rowena Wiseman and it involved a formal three course meal complete with speeches and presentations and was followed by a disco. A great time was had by all that attended and plans are already being made for next years event.

There have been a number of camps and training weekends throughout the year most notably the annual camp. During the school summer holidays 10 cadets from Melbourn, along with the rest of Cambridgeshire army cadet force, set off for their annual camp which this year was at Napier Barracks, Folkestone in Kent and also abroad at two locations in Europe.

Cadets took a break from traditional programmes with three distinct levels of activity to satisfy the needs of the 300 cadets aged 12 to 18 who took part. The British Army’s world renowned Cinq Ports shooting ranges provided the backdrop for nine days of challenge and adventure and no fewer than two European trips were also on offer – a tour of the WW1 battlefields of France and Belgium and an outward bound expedition to the rugged scenic landscapes of the Allgau in Southern Bavaria.

Once they had settled into the camp, junior and intermediate level cadets each undertook two day training programmes in military skills including first aid, signals, and the use of map and compass as part of the unique army proficiency certificate syllabus. The training prepared them for a two day exercise during which they put their newly acquired skills into practice living independently under the stars. The outdoor adventure was followed up with supervised .22 target rifle shooting and clay shooting. There was also a first opportunity to use the new cadet A2 5.56mm rifle introduced earlier in the year. To round off their experiences swimming competitions took place at nearby St John Moore Barracks.

Meanwhile, in addition to the UK activities, the more senior cadets had been gearing up for adventures further afield. Ninety three years ago in 1916, thirty two Cambridgeshire men gave their lives and 218 were wounded on the desolate battlefields of the Somme during ferocious hand to hand fighting taking the German stronghold known

Tennis has restarted in Melbourn! Over & In would like to offer you the opportunity to take part in brand new tennis coaching at Melbourn Village College. Our coaching is for all ages and abilities and run by professional tennis coaches.

We are initially offering a five week taster course, giving you the chance to have a trial run before committing long term. Coaching will take place on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings.

as the Schwaben Redoubt. The first battalion of the Regiment won a record 42 gallantry awards in just one day.

The group of 110 cadets together with their adult instructors crossed the channel by ferry and stayed for two nights at their base - the Chateau D’Ebblinghem, near St Omer in Northern France – where they toured the famous WW1 battlefields and memorials including Schwaben Redoubt, Vimy Ridge, Tyne Cot, Langemark, Hill 62 and Essex Farm Cemetery. Later the cadets paraded to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate where every evening since November 1918 the town of Ypres has stopped at 8pm to honour fallen heroes, many of whose names adorn the walls of the gate itself.

Elsewhere on the continent 47 cadets, 3 from Melbourn detachment, led by Captain Steve Swann were about to venture to the Allgau region of Bavaria between 1st and 9th August to take part in canoeing, climbing and mountaineering. Their expeditions included 2, 3 and 4 day excursions through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in the world. Relaxation time included swimming and a visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein - a 19th-century Bavarian palace near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria – which completed the whole mountain experience.

Should you have any interest about joining the Army Cadet Force as either a cadet or as an adult instructor please call 01223 248001.

Gardening Club

Are you interested in gardening? Why not join Melbourn and District Gardening Club on a regular or occasional basis. We listen to talks, go on local and coach outings, grow plants for sale at meetings and for our stall at the Melbourn Fete.

Membership £15.00 per year, visitors £2.50. We meet at 7.30 on the second Tuesday each month, at the Community Hall, behind All Saints’ Church (near traffic lights, path by red telephone box). New members and visitors very welcome. Blows and Jacqui Dobbs reached the finals of the Business House Ladies Pairs but unfortunately lost in the final. This was their 5th time in this final and they have won it three times in the past. Congratulations to all four players on such wonderful achievements.

Spring will soon creep around and push the bad weather, cold days and dark nights that winter brings into obscurity and once again, before we know it, bowls will be on the agenda. Until then, everyone have a safe and happy winter. Elaine Cooke

8 Dec 2009 Social Evening 12 January 2010 Houseplants -

Selection, Care & Propagation

West Anglia College – Mark Ekin 9 February 2010 Update on Guilden

Gate Smallholding, Bassingbourn –

Simon Saggers 9 March 2010 The Modern

Herbaceous Border Hopleys Plants –

Audrey Barker 13 April 2010 Gardening for Wildlife –

The Wildlife Man 15th May 2010 Coach Outing to

Wisley For more information ring Helen Telephone 01763 245887

Bowls Club

The season has drawn to a close with yet another enjoyable and successful year for the club. The club competitions were the highlight of the season with the finals taking place during the first two weeks in September. With glorious weather, excellent bowling and a good crowd cheering the finalist on, the eagerly anticipated finals were won by –Ladies Singles Winner – Sue Sell,

Runner up – Yvonne Blows Men’s Singles Winner – Jim Gillings,

Runner up – John Gibson Handicap Winner – Rod Sell, Runner up – Geoff Bridges Novices Winner – Arthur Andrews,

Runner up – Dick Raymen Drawn Pairs Winners – Rod Sell/Julie

Howell, Runner up – Geoff Bridges/

Yvonne Blows Mixed Pairs Winners – Jeff Maddin/

Diane Clark, Runner up – Geoff

Bridges/ Doreen Bridges MK Afternoon League Winner – Arthur

Andrews, Runner up Dick Raymen

Congratulations to all those that took part and we all look forward to next year’s competitions. Special congratulations must also go to Rod and Sue Sell who won the Cambridge and District Mixed Pairs final. This competition includes pairs all over the Cambridge area and it was a huge achievement to win such a prestigious competition. Also Yvonne

McSplash Swimming Club

The start of the autumn term was very busy, as we said goodbye to several of our older teenage swimmers, as they moved onto 6th form college, and welcomed many new young swimmers into our 6-6.30 session, whilst the intermediate swimmers moved up to more advanced classes. The first sessions of the term included improving strokes and stamina and practising starts and turns.

The highlight of this first half term will be our Sponsored Swim, on 16th October, which we are holding to raise funds for both the Club and a nominated Charity. This years’ charity is the Teenage Cancer Trust, which funds specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals and is hoping to open a unit at Addenbrookes Hospital. We chose this charity as many of our swimmers are teenagers and we felt it was important to support such a vital service. As well as swimming lengths to raise sponsorship, the swimmers will also qualify for a distance badge depending on how far they swim overall, whether it be 400 metres, or even a mile (84 lengths)!!

After half term, there will be an opportunity for the swimmers to play water polo during the session. This is a very popular activity with the youngsters and can also get quite competitive. However, whilst playing, the swimmers are using all the skills, techniques and stamina that they have acquired throughout the term.

Jenny Brackley, our club coach, has recently qualified under the Royal Lifesaving Society as a Rookie Lifeguard Trainer, so is able to train under-14’s in survival skills such as throwing and using tow ropes as a means of rescuing someone in difficulty. The club swimmers have regular survival skills sessions, so this extra training will greatly enhance their knowledge and confidence.

McSplash Swimming Club is not just about swimming lengths in the pool. It is about meeting and making new friends, and gaining confidence and independence, both socially and in the water. We run a varied and interesting programme, running in line with school terms and meeting on Friday evenings. The autumn term finishes on 4th December with a fun session, with inflatables and games to allow the swimmers to enjoy themselves and let off steam.

Anyone wishing to join, or make further enquiries should contact Coach Jenny Brackley on 01763 244593.

Melbourn Sports Centre

After the success of our summer activities, including the ever-popular Pentathlons and holiday courses, we were looking for new and exciting ways to continue our community’s interest in exercise.

The Free Swimming Initiative has been a massive success, with over 1000 users taking advantage of this government scheme and enjoying the centre’s pool facilities which now include a renovated wetside changing room suite, thanks to funding received through running the scheme. Congratulations to George Saggers, the winner of our Most Improved Swimmer award for the summer term.

We would like to thank Melbourn Squash Club and its members for generously donating £2000 toward the purchase of new swimming equipment, which we believe will be an asset to both young and old pupils on our popular swimming lesson plan.

The Fitness Suite monthly challenges go from strength to strength with the help of local businesses donating prizes for the winners of these competitions, which are as varied as ‘See How Many Vehicles You Can Lift In A Month’ to ‘How Far Can You Row In Ten Minutes?’ They are proving very popular with our members as are our ‘Friendly Friday’ sessions, where for one session only, members can bring along a friend for a free tryout.

New activities introduced this season include Family Fitness Session on a Sunday afternoon, Fitness Pilates classes on Wednesday evenings, football coaching for 4 – 6 year olds on Tuesdays and a Multi-Splash activity course, including snorkelling and syncro skills, every Tuesday afternoon.

A Winter Wonderland at MSC!

We’re not going to let those long winter nights stop us from enjoying our exercise! As well as our indoor facilities like the swimming pool, squash courts and sports hall, we have loads of classes to keep you fit and healthy, including Boxercise, Core Stability, Swim Clinic, AquaFit, Fitness Pilates and Legs, Tums & Bums. We also now offer table tennis alongside our normal indoor racket sports. And they’re all reasonably priced, so the one thing that will stay plump is your purse!

With our newly updated wetside changing room facility, it’s now even more fun to hold a pool party here at Melbourn Sports Centre. So why not book a birthday or Christmas party? We also have the adjacent Community Centre available for booking, with or without the pool facilities.

Or how about bouncing those cares away with a trampolining party? We also offer lessons in this Olympic sport, for children at full-time school.

For further details on these or any other activities, please drop in, call 01763 263313 or go online at www.melbournsports.com. We look forward to seeing you this season! Graham Johnson-Mack

Melbourn Photographic Club

This long standing club of local photographers from Melbourn and the surrounding area meets weekly from September to April at Foxton Village Hall. Meetings are from 7.30 to 9.30 on Tuesdays.

Come and visit us on our Open Day Sunday 28th March. Contact us for more details.

9 HOLE GOLF COURSE PAR 3 PITCH AND PUTT COURSE 36 BAY FLOODLIT PRACTICE RANGE 15 NEW POWER TEES LICENSED CAFE & BAR PROFESSIONAL TUITION AVAILABLE AMERICAN GOLF STORE

01763-262943

Fax 01763-263038

New members, of any skill level, will be warmly welcomed. For further information please ring the secretary Bruce Huett 01763 232 855 The programme December to March comprises: December 1 Club evening 8 Competition: Panel prints 15 Lecture: An organ builder and his camera January 5 Xmas meal 12 Lecture: Doing the Lambeth Walk 19 Lecture: Travel Photography Gear;

Some answers and scenes from

European cities 26 Competition: Prints February 2 Club evening 9 Competition: Projected Image 16 Lecture: A walk on the wild side 23 Competition: Prints March 2 Club evening 4 Inter club competition 9 Competition: Print of the year

Photographs by Bruce Huett

Melbourn Dynamos Football Club

www.melbourndynamos.co.uk

Established in 2003, we offer boys and girls aged from 6 years upwards the opportunity to play regular football. We encourage children to become part of MDFC regardless of experience or ability. We are based at Shepreth near Royston and as of the 2009/10 season have approximately 140 children aged 6 to 13 signed up to our club. We operate as a community based club playing competitive football in the Royston Crow Youth leagues.

All of our coaches are CRB checked and qualified to a minimum of the F.A. Level 1 standard. We have recently progressed to a Charter Status club with all the relevant people and practices in place to operate within the new government requirements from the 09/10 season and onwards.

If you are interested in finding out more about MDFC, please contact Les Morley on 07739 593771 or email us on: melbourndynamos@aol.com

New Girls Squad (ages 10 – 12)

We are establishing a new girls squad for the 2009/10 season, coached by fully qualified FA coaches. If you know of any girls aged 10 – 12 (school Years 6 and 7) who might be interested in playing football, please contact us on the number above.