Village News

In the news

Melbourn Play Parks Library News

R.N.L.I

Melbourn Business Association 5

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Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group 6 Melbourn Village Fete 7 Melbourn and Meldreth Branch 7 Royal British Legion Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help 9 Group Luncheon Club Melbourn Mobile Warden scheme 9

Royal British Legion 10

The Melbourn Village Plan 10

The Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton 14 Rail User Group

Melbourn Play Parks

The Melbourn Play Parks Project was formed by a group of volunteer residents from Melbourn who have come together with the objective of renovating the Clear Crescent Play Park. We are working in conjunction with the Parish Council and Wicksteed Leisure to raise funds.

Over the last 18 months there has been extensive consultation with parents and children to identify what is lacking in the park, and how it could be made a safer and more interesting place to play. The residents of Clear Crescent have also been fully involved. Based on the feedback received we have created a vision of how Clear Crescent could look in the future.

It is planned to carry out the renovation process in phases, probably beginning with the replacement of the zipwire and a new slide for the hill.

We are currently in the process of applying for a variety of grants. The Parish Council has generously pledged to match-fund any grants we are fortunate enough to receive. We are also trying to raise funds locally to start the first phase. With the help of the Village Fete Committee and fundraising events held so far we have already raised more that £1,500. A big thank you to all who have helped with this. A total of £15,000 is needed to complete the first phase.

There may be good opportunities for residents to become personally involved once this project really gets started. Should you have access to natural materials or landscaping interests we would also like to hear from you! If you would like to help or just want to know more please contact Samantha Wainwright at swainwright1@yahoo.co.uk

A vision of how Clear Crescent could look in the future

As many of you will know the Village College recently became an Academy and we are fortunate that they have agreed to continue the lease on the Library Building until 2013, when we hope we will be able to move into the new Hub in the centre of the village. The new Library will be in an ideal position in the centre of the village The building is being designed to cover a number of activities, but will be primarily a meeting point for the village. Alongside the library, will be the Parish Office, two meeting rooms and a café. It is expected that these facilities will complement each other. We hope it will become a meeting point and people will use the Library facilities during their visits.

The Library will gain a new appearance with new furniture and with the help of the Hub Committee our objective will be to obtain the best layout for the Library. There will be some changes to the stock and categories that the Library holds. We will keep users informed of any changes that are proposed. In the meantime we will check our stock with the objective of removing any items that have low usage. This will take a considerable amount of time as each item has to be individually considered and if we decide to withdraw stock there is significant work to change all the records.

In the meantime the Library continues to do well. We expect 2011 to be our best year so far. Please keep coming to us so we can maintain these figures during the transition. Library opening times are: • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

Friday 2.30 to 4.30 pm. • Thursday 5.00 to 7.00 pm • Saturday 10.00 to 12.00 noon • Story Time Thursdays 10–10.45am Mike Stapleton 269956

R.N.L.I

In the previous issue, I recorded the death of Nellie (Neff) Peacock, one of our longest-standing members, who had worked tirelessly for R.N.L.I. Local R.N.L.I. supporters who receive the Lifeboat magazine will no doubt have seen, in the Compass section, a tribute to Neff, and her work in saving The Jessie Lumb lifeboat, now at Duxford museum. A fitting tribute to a lovely lady.

Christmas and New Year will be well past when this is published, and Royston Branch will be preparing for a full fund-raising programme in 2012, starting with our Royston Morrisons collection in March. We hope to see you at the Kite Festival in August, and of course will be holding our annual Flag Day in July-just a few of our activities for the coming year. We hope your forthcoming holidays are safe ones – R.N.L.I. lifeguards will be patrolling beaches round the country, and of course we continue to visit schools to teach about river and beach safety. Meridian School is in fact hosting a week of activities for us, so we hope they raise lots of money, as well as having fun, and also learning about the fascinating history and work of R.N.L.I. If anyone is interested in joining our merry crew i.e. our Committee – or could spare us an hour or so to help with our fundraising, do please phone me – we would be very grateful. Jean Emes (Secretary) 01763 245958

Melbourn Business Association Takes Off

Following its inaugural meeting in October 2011, Melbourn Business Association held its first working meeting on 7th February, inline with one of the targets of the Melbourn Village Plan.

All types and sizes of business attended, including local shopkeepers and high tech consultancies. Up to thirty local businesses were represented.

The meeting took place at the Sheene Mill and commenced with an excellent breakfast. MC for the meeting, Bob Tulloch, introduced local hydrogeologist Tim Baker, the guest speaker. As well as providing a fascinating explanation of the opportunities and benefits of ground source heating systems, Tim was able to reassure the audience that the current dried-up condition of our local river Melde is temporary and that the river will return. Said Tim: “This is a normal phenomenon that does occur from time to time, the river will come back but it might not be for twelve months or more, depending on rainfall.”

Melbourn Business Association aims to set up its web site soon, enabling local companies to publish details and news of their businesses. Three good domain names have already been purchased for the website.

Future meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of very month and all local businesses are welcome to attend. Each meeting lasts from 7:30am until about 9:00am. Choose from a range of excellent value breakfast options: booked in advance. Each session will feature a presentation on a new and interesting topic. The aim is to enable members to learn something new and useful each time. A very nominal charge is made for membership of the association, to cover administrative costs.

Said Kimmi Crosby, who was instrumental in making this first meeting such a success: “It was great that so many people attended and all those I spoke to appeared quite buoyed up and already looking forward to the next one!”

For further details: contact Kimmi by e-mail on ‘kim@walnutmedical.info’ and enjoy a really worthwhile morning.

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

We met in The Community Hall behind All Saint’s Church for our Annual General Meeting and the formal business of the evening was quickly concluded with the election of the committee. We also selected our charity for the year and then the evening got down to the sharing of a meal to which all the members had contributed. We also handed out our programme for this year – if you have not had a copy please contact one of the committee members.

March 2nd will be Women’s World Day of Prayer and we usually attend this service, always stimulating as it shows life from the perspective of the women of Malaysia, the organising country.

March 27th we will be led by the Revd. Mary Price on a Lent Theme and this will take place in the Meeting Room attached to Holy Trinity Church Meldreth.

April 24th will see us back in Melbourn Community Hall for a talk about the experiences of a Registrar by Pat Ames one of our members.

May 22nd will be our annual Summer Supper which will be held at Meldreth Meeting Room. This will be a ploughman’s supper followed by desserts provided by the committee members. Members are able to bring guests but tickets must be purchased in advance to assist us with catering needs.

We are open to all women and there is no annual membership fee as we charge £1 on the night, there is also the option of putting a contribution in the pot for charity. Our meetings begin at 7.45p.m. and we vary our venues between the villages of Melbourn and Meldreth. The programme is given below but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or would like a copy which contains committee contact details. We are happy to try and organise lifts if you need transport. at Pat Smith Chairman 01763 260103 or Sue Toule 01763 260955

Melbourn Village Fete

Saturday 23rd June 2012 1pm till late This year’s planning is already well under way with the main entertainment for both the Fete during the day and the ‘Music on the Moor’ in the evening all booked. Daytime entertainment will include the fantastically funny sheep racing from last year. They are bringing along some of their friends to entertain everyone with their talents, so hopefully the ‘Dog & Duck’ show will give you all a laugh. Also coming back are the ever so popular and award winning, well balanced EXTREME mountain bike display team. The things these lads can do on a bike just defy the laws of physics – they are well worth a look. The tug-of-war and egg throwing will also be going ahead for those of you wishing to get more involved. Also look out for adverts about our Melbourn Fete Logo competition for the under 10’s and under 16’s, with lots of fun prizes to be won. So come on, encourage all those grandchildren, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews to create a masterpiece, you never know we may have a budding Van Gogh within the village! Closing date for entries is 1st May 2012.

We will have music around the field and in the marquee for your enjoyment, like the Barber Shop Quartet and Tony Buch. In the evening there will be Junkyard Preachers, a blues and rockabilly band and The Remnants a 1960s – present, middle-of the-road band and much more.

During the day we will have the usual funfair rides, bouncy castles, and NEW for this year an electric ‘little rovers’ car ride and a chairoplane ride for the little ones, with a large climbing wall for the older ones. Stall holders are already booking their places and will provide an assortment of fun and games for all ages. The lawnmower racing should attract a competitive field to challenge for the 4th Melbourn Cup.

The beer tent will have a good selection of lagers, real ales and cider for the adults and soft drinks for the kids. There will be tea and cakes in the pavilion and the barbecue will add something hot. After another very successful event, the committee have highlighted the need to try to encourage more people to volunteer to help. As the event gets busier, the committee find themselves stretched to the limit, so please read on and be inspired to contact us. Volunteers The aim of the Melbourn Village Fete & Music on the Moor is to bring the village together, to have fun, socialise and raise money for local groups. Each year the committee organises the day so that local clubs, societies and charities can set-up stalls and provide entertainment to help with their fundraising. All proceeds are put back into the community.

As the Fete grows in size each year, the committee has ever more to organise for the day. On the day itself, we rely heavily on volunteers to help us out. Without our volunteers, the day would not be possible!

We work out a rota to accommodate every precious hour that our volunteers can give, to cover a wide range of roles. To give you an idea of the jobs that need doing, our volunteers help us with the following: • Manning the gates • Helping bands to set-up • Selling raffle tickets • Helping with the barbecue • Erecting the Marquee on Friday • Clearing down on the Sunday • And much, much more … Every year we give the money raised to local groups. Perhaps your club will have a stall on the day but you could spare us an hour or two. Or perhaps you would like to raise the profile of your club and would like us to consider your group for some funding this year. Help us help you, by volunteering. So would you like to get involved? Send your contact details and availability to melbournfete@aol.com or give Paula a call on 07402 273527. Melbourn Village Fete Committee Brian Collingbourne (Chair)

Melbourn and Meldreth Branch Royal British Legion

Since the last issue the branch has gained two new members. Some of our members attended a County conference in November at which the branch won a silver rose bowl for the highest attendance at group meetings.

The diary for 2012 has been given to members with varied activities and guest speakers for meeting nights.

March will be a busy month for the branch. On March 10th we will be having a tombola stall at All Saints’ coffee morning and on the 14th March we will be hosting a group meeting, and later on our normal monthly meeting.

Several members are looking forward to attending the National conference at Llandudno in late April.

Anyone wishing to join us very welcome to attend any meeting. Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month except for January and December.

For more information contact, Mrs C Linsdell 262208 (Chairman) or Mrs E Murphy 220841 (Secretary)