Village News

In the news

Melbourn Warden Scheme and Care Network 5

Melbourn Play Parks

Royston Ladies Circle 5

7

Royal British Legion

Melbourn Village Fete 8

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Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group 10

Cambridge Re-Use Wins Community Award 10

RNLI 10

Melbourn History Group 11

Royston & District Local History Society 11

Merchant Navy WWII 11

Melbourn Warden Scheme and Care Network

We are giving you plenty of notice for a ‘don’t miss’ event! There will be an ‘All Age’ Community event held on Wednesday 27 February at 2.30 pm at Melbourn Village College This is for anyone of any age to enjoy a Big Bake Off style traditional High Tea in the company of residents of the villages in the area. All ages welcome, come and meet people you know, have not yet met and to find out what new hobbies and pastimes you could enjoy. We would also like to hear from you about what sort of Community Events you would like to see in the villages in the future. Keep an eye out for further publicity nearer the time. If you need help with transport to and from the High Tea this will be available to those who are not otherwise able to attend.

Melbourn Play Parks

It has been a busy and very successful few months for the Melbourn Play Parks project. Quiz Night

In September we held a quiz night at Melbourn Village College, which generated a huge amount of community support from local residents, businesses and the Parish Council. We raised a staggering £800 towards the project and we would like to thank all those who came, in particular, Irene Bloomfield and her team from the Village College for making it such a success.

We would also like to thank the following local businesses for the generous raffle prizes and snacks they donated Melbourn Sports Centre, Kingsway Golf, Costa Coffee, ESSE, drinkstuff, Palazzo, Royston Leisure Centre, Melbourn Fish and Chips, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Tesco.

£20,000 Grant

The Quiz night ended with a surprise for the Play Parks team. Parish Councillor Peter Simmonett announced that he had just been notified that a bid the team had submitted to AMEY CESPA (a landfill operator) for £20,000 had been won. This will enable the refurbishment of Clear Crescent park to begin. Thank you to all of the local community groups, The Health Centre, Melbourn Business Association, Melbourn Playgroup and Melbourn Primary School for your letters of support for the project.

Fields In Trust – Party In The Park

On Sunday 21st October we held a Picnic in the Park to raise funds and to celebrate that Clear Crescent park had gained protected ‘Fields in Trust’ status. Children received a free picnic lunch and took part in family activities including crown making and a penalty shootout. We were also lucky enough to have two Olympic torchbearers present at the park so the children (and adults) could have their photos taken for a small donation. We would like to thank Mandy Jinkerson and Anna Rehfisch for the time they gave to be there with their torches on the day.

The event was well attended by local residents; members of the Parish Council and of course the children. Several children commented it had been the best day they had ever had in the park. Another £250 was raised from this event for the refurbishment of Clear Crescent park.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by local children to signify that the park is a protected space that cannot be built on in the future.

Our thanks go to Mello, Royston for supplying the food, Cambridge Building Society for their kind donation of goody bags and an amazing cheque for £250 and to Tesco for their donation of tea, coffee and biscuits on the day. Thank you especially to Lynn Travis, Lucinda & Nick Cockman, Debbie Felts, Lucie Knight and Dawn Parker who helped organise the event and to Robin Parker, Jose Hales, Irene Bloomfield and John Travis for their help on the day. If you attended the day, thank you – please visit the website to view all the photos! Next Steps

We have now raised approximately £40,000, which is enough to begin the first Phase of the regeneration of Clear Crescent park. If you could like further details of what this will entail, please visit our website www.melbournplayparks.co.uk/nextsteps-phase-1.

At this stage it is anticipated that the work will be completed by Christmas. Wicksteed hope to minimise disruption to local residents but we hope you are able to appreciate there may be some additional noise in the park whilst the work is carried out. The contractors will be on site from 8am but have assured us there will be no ‘noisy work’ until later in the morning. The Park Will Be Closed During This Period And Will Not be Safe to Enter. If you do have any concerns, please contact the Parish Council on 01763 262494.

Our thanks to local businessmen Peter Norbury (Norbury’s Building Supplies), Julian Ireland (Conqueror Industries, Royston) and Richard Arnott (gardendesignsolutions) who are actively supporting the project.

We continue to fundraise locally and apply for grants so we can continue to renovate the park. Watch this space and check our website for upcoming events.

Finally, we would like to thank the Royston Round Table for their generous donation of £300 to the project, and the Melbourn Fete Committee for their continued support and further donation of £200. A huge thank you to the local

residents who have recently donated money through the website. We ensure we thank all our contributors at www.melbournplayparks.co.uk/would-you-like-to-help.

Personally I would like to thank the Play Parks team who work so hard and offer their time for free to make Clear Crescent park a great place for our children to play.

Lucinda Cockman, Lucie Knight, Debbie Felts, Jennie Riggs, Yasmin Croxford, Emma Cooper, Gilly Walker & Nicola Parr. Thank you. Samantha Wainwright, Chair

Royston Ladies Circle

Royston Ladies Circle has been running for over a year having rechartered in March 2011. The club originally folded in 1999 due to lack of numbers. It is currently going from strength to strength with 16 members enjoying meeting twice a month. Whilst numbers are strong, there is always room for more. Any lady aged between 18-45 years is invited to come along and get involved.

Ladies Circle has had a super year of fun, friendship and laughter, carrying out activities such as donutting, a theatre trip, an evening walk, a dance class, a recipe swap evening, a pamper evening, an evening of chocolate tasting and much more.

There is also the fundraising element. This year we have assisted the Round Table with the Santa sleigh, including running the Melbourn sleigh evening. Ladies Circle also ran a quiz night at Bassingbourn Community Centre, attracting over 90 people and raising over £900. There was also a fundraiser held at the Jubilee celebrations in Bassingbourn, running a bouncy castle, which raised £60 for local charities.

Requests have been made for funding which we have supported, including donating some money to the ‘Melbourn Play Park Association’ to help refurbish the park at Clear Crescent Melbourn.

A donation was also made to the ‘Friends of Chenobyl’ charity to help each child buy a pair of shoes whilst they were here. The ladies are also willing to get involved in local community events or events to support individuals if required.

Whilst the name is Royston Ladies Circle, the group has attracted members from many surrounding villages such as Bassingbourn, Melbourn, Arrington, Harston and Litlington.

If you would be interested in getting involved with Ladies Circle, or believe we might be able to help with a fund raising project that you are involved in, then please contact the current Chair, Laura Light on 07748847021or media officer Hannah Paradis on 01763 220967.

Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme

Can we help you? Can we help a relative? Can we help a neighbour? Who does the Scheme help?

The scheme is open to anyone who requests our help including those who live alone or with their families but need the extra support offered by our services. Couples too are most welcome. It is also open to those in sheltered housing, as the scheme offers different, but complementary services. Note: The scheme also offers its services for short periods to cover the temporary absence of relatives who otherwise provide this support. We offer help with:

•Friendship and support via twice weekly visits and daily phone calls • Ordering and collection of prescriptions • • • • • • Basic shopping Collection of pensions Setting up Lifeline service Bereavement support Advice on benefits Going to the Post Office to pay your bills • Advice on getting repairs done in your home • Arranging transport to the hospital or other appointments • Just coming round for a chat What will it cost?

We do have to make a small weekly charge for the warden’s services. The fee is only £5 per week (a little more for couples). Margo Wherrell (Mobile Warden) 01763 260966 Mobile: 07935 315497 Email: tigress270549@aol.com Jeannie Seers (Deputy Warden) 01763 262651 Mobile: 07808 735066 Email: jeanseers1@ntlworld.com Joy Hyde (Assistant Warden) 01763 220139 Mobile: 07952 090089. Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity.

Melbourn and Meldreth District Branch, Women’s Section

The Woman’s Section of the Melbourn and Meldreth and District Royal British Legion Branch held their 75th anniversary celebration at Vicarage Close Community Hall in Melbourn on Wednesday 24th October 2012. There were 13 members present and a guest speaker from the County who gave advice on welfare issues and provided some entertaining poems and stories. The President Molly Chamberlain, an ex WREN who has been a member since 1954, cut the cake and toasted the ongoing success of the organisation. Officers present were Christine Linsdel (Chair), Shirley Cunningham (Treasurer); Betty Murphy (Secretary) and Pauline Parkinson the Standard Bearer. Sheila Gouldthorp, a standard bearer for 25years, was also present. Chairman Mrs Christine Linsdel 01763 260208 Secretary Mrs Betty Murphy 01763 220841 Photograph by Keith Truman of the Melbourn and District Photographic Club.

Melbourn and Meldreth Self Help Group Luncheon Club

The photo below was taken at our Olympic Special lunch. We were privileged to have Mandy Jinkerson, Community Champion, Tesco Royston. Mandy ran with the Olympic torch through Hemel Hempstead during the Olympic relay. Our diners and visitors were able to have their photographs taken with the torch, which most seemed to find really enjoyable. We were also joined that day by two councillors, Peter Simmonett and Jose Hales, and their wives, one of whom, Jeannie, is a mobile warden. This gave our diners a chance to chat with her, if they wished, about how the Mobile Wardens could benefit them.

Christmas is already in the planning stages, and once again we will be celebrating in style.

Thank you again to all the kitchen helpers and drivers for all their time put in over the last year. These currently include: Freda Cutter, Ann Dekkers, Doreen Guest, Jo Montague-Fuller, Angela Leach, Daphne Woodcock, Lorna Reid, Pauline Parkinson,

Jenny Wills, Jacki Parmenter. Leigh English. Drivers: Neil Wilson, Jane Cash, Nicola Smith, Brenda Chamberlain, Susan Place, George Wills, Bruce Huett, Paul Ray, and emergency cover of Roger Pepper, Geoffrey Wells, Rosemary Gatward, Cliff Hardy and Mike Swan. Without all of the above lunch club would not happen. Jayne White

Melbourn Village Fete

Although the weather wasn’t so good this year as previously, the Melbourn Village Fete Committee are delighted to announce that they were still able to distribute a total of over £2000 amongst the following local groups: • Melbourn Playgroup • Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society (MADS) • River Mel Restoration Group • Melbourn Sports Centre • Melbourn Dynamos Football Club • Melbourn Play Parks

It was particularly special being able to support the newly formed MADS, who attracted their first few members at this year’s fete, and being able to return the supporting favour to the other groups who also helped to make this year’s fete a success. As always we owe a huge thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who make the day possible. As well as the local clubs, societies and charities that set up stalls or provided entertainment to fund raise. And thanks to all those who attended for helping us to provide support to these local groups, and generally making the day the success it was.

Our attention now turns to next year’s event and we’re getting the entertainment booked up already so that we can get the best of the best. We’ve asked the Dog and Duck man to return with his entertaining and educational show. And after this year’s response to The Remnants, a group of local musicians who played rock, pop and soul covers from the 50s to present day, we’ve asked them to headline for us next year. More attractions will be announced on our website soon. And don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook to hear first hand who else will be joining us. Next year’s date not to be missed is Saturday 29th June 2013 – put it in your diary!

The aim of the Village Fete and Music on the Moor is to bring the village together, to have fun, socialise and raise money for local causes. To enable us to put on this event, we rely on volunteers to help. So, whether you are a member of a local group looking for fundraising ideas, a local company looking to support the village, or someone wanting to meet new people in the village, why not contact us. Some ideas of how you can help out include: • Manning the gate for a couple of hours on the day • Helping set-up the field the morning before (or cleaning up afterwards!) • Being a steward on the day to help things run smoothly • Selling raffle tickets before and during the fete • The committee to take on a role such as organising the stalls • Sponsoring attractions or advertising on our website

We rely on volunteers to enable us to give more money to local groups so why not lend a hand? If you can spare as little as an hour, or more, on the day or before then please let us know and help us make next year’s event even more fun! See you on Saturday 29th June 2013!

Get in touch by emailing volunteers@ melbournfete.co.uk or visiting www. melbournfete.co.uk or www.facebook. com/MelbournFete Catriona McKay, Melbourn Village Fete Committee

A big thank you to everyone who visited our stalls at the Royston Kite Festival,Melbourn Fete and Steeple Morden Harvest Fair. All events were blessed with good weather,and in all nearly £400 was raised. We hope to see you when we collect at Bury Lane Farm Shop,Country Homes and Gardens and Steeple Morden Xmas Fair. All this is helping towards the replacement of our Mersey Class lifeboats with the next generation of all-weather lifeboat-the Shannon.

R.N.L.I. has been naming classes of lifeboats after rivers or stretches of water for 45 years. We’ve had the Clyde, Thames, Brede, Waveney, Solent, Rother, Arun, Mersey, Tyne, Severn, Trent and Tamar classes. At 240 miles, the river Shannon is the largest river in Ireland, and longer than any other in the U.K. so a worthy successor. On this major waterway we have 3 lifeboat stationsKilrush, Lough Derg and Lough Ree.

Technology has moved on since our Mersey class lifeboat-a big favourite with crews-first started going to sea, so R.N.L.I. are hoping to provide something even better for our crews. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters our target of £1.5 million to build the first Shannon class was reached in the Spring. Now we are hoping to raise another £5 million to build another Shannon and its special recovery system which will launch the boat from the stickiest mud or soggiest sand.

The new all-weather vessel is the first to be powered by jets of water rather than propellers, and it is hoped that this design will shape the future of lifesaving for the next half-century. With a top speed of 25 knots (about 30 m.p.h.) it is almost 50% quicker than the Mersey and Tyne classes, and its jets mean that it can manoeuvre much more swiftly-making it easier to get alongside damaged boats,or people struggling in the water. It can operate in shallow water, and can land on the beach, to be picked up by the specially designed mobile launch and recovery system-but also turned around within minutes if it needs to go back out.

Over the next 10 years R.N.L.I. Aims to build more than 50 Shannons, and estimates that during their 50 years of service the boats will rescue more than 56,000 people, and save the lives of more than 1,500.

Lifeboat crews are loyal to their craft, and there was some scepticism at first about the new vessel, but now all are impressed. Inside, the wheelhouse seems more like the cockpit of a plane than a boat, and each of the 5 crew members sits in front of a screen. At the touch of a button they can summon sea charts covering Europe, a radar screen, fuel guages and even C.C.T.V. images of what is happening outside the boat.

Many have joked, however, that the most important bit of kit is the water heater at the back of the boat, and the cup holders where the crew can keep their tea safe! The drill is-launch and put the kettle on. At the front of the boat however, is the survivors cabin-a vivid reminder of what this boat is all about-fitted with straps and bars to cling on to. Up to 70 people can cram inside and on the deck.

R.N.L.I. Lifeboats have to be able to withstand the sort of storms that hit Britain and Ireland once every 100 years. Tommy Cocking, whose family has been saving stricken sailors off the south coast for 150 years told the story of a rescue in the 1920’s involving his great-grandfather, Thomas, and the rest of the St. Ives lifeboat crew. It took them nearly 6 hours to reach a shipwreck just 6 miles up the coast, and rescue 2 men clinging to a mast. This new lifeboat would do it in about 20 minutes.

Rescue has changed dramatically over the years-this will take it to a new level.

A big Thank you to all of you who are helping us to get there. J Emes Sec Royston Branch 245958

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

‘Women’s Group is a comprehensive organisation open to all women who, sharing in the Church’s worship, wish to meet together for further opportunities of study, friendship and service’ – taken from our card for members.

We do not meet in December, our next meeting will be 22 January 2013 when we will meet in All Saint’s Community Hall to have our AGM. First we have the formal business of electing the committee and as 3 members will be standing down we hope that some new members will stand for election. We will also hear the reports of the Treasurer, Chairman and Secretary – normally concluded quite quickly. The charity for the year will also be chosen and we usually kick start the fund raising with a raffle for which we are happy to accept donations. Then we sit down to share in a meal to which all members have contributed. The new programme will also be issued at this meeting.

On February 26th we will meet in Meldreth Meeting Room at Holy Trinity Church for a Members Music Evening – please bring along a CD or a tape (pre set to the appropriate place) and we will share in what is usually a lovely evening with a wide variety of music.

Our meetings are on the 4th Tuesday of the month and usually begin at 7.45p.m. – we vary our location between Meldreth and Melbourn Villages. There is no membership fee with a charge of £1 on the night and an option of donating to our charity pot. If you want to come along and see what goes on please feel free to join us or if you have any questions ask Pat Smith or Sue Toule 01763 260955.

Cambridge Re-Use Wins Community Award

Cambridge Re-Use has won the Community Support category in the Cambridge News Community Awards for 2012. The award recognises nearly 25 years of service to the local community by the charity. The award was presented to Cambridge Re-Use volunteers by Cllr Sheila Stuart, Mayor of Cambridge in a ceremony at Downing College.

Cambridge Re-Use collects donations of unwanted furniture and electrical appliances from generous members of the public and sells them at affordable prices to local people on low incomes or benefits. Each week 35 volunteers give their time to help deliver the service.

Local people on low incomes of under £18,000 for an individual or under £23,000

for a couple are eligible to shop at Cambridge Re-Use. To become a customer, come to the store off Cherry Hinton Road and bring your wage slip or working tax credit if you are employed, or your benefit letters if you are on benefits.

Donations of good quality furniture and electrical goods in working order are always welcome. Donations can be collected by arrangement, or can be delivered to the store between 09.00am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday, or between 10.00am and 3.00pm on Saturdays.

The Cambridge Re-Use store is at Unit H, The Paddocks, 347 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge CB1 8DH. The team can be contacted on 01223 576535.

Melbourn History Group

Since I wrote in the last issue about the History Group being “mothballed” until such time as younger people joined us, I have had one or two enquiries but nothing definite. The situation remains the same with a need for people who hope and expect to be around in the year 2050 to come along and help us record the village events as they occur with a view to another Melbourn History Book being issued in 2050. It’s a tall order but we still hope that younger members of the community can be persuaded.

Although most activity has ceased several individual members of the group are now going through the Primary School records from the 1870s and recording significant events that have taking place since that time. At first sight the records seem rather mundane but occasionally we have already found some nuggets of information about such matters as outbreaks of scarlet fever and other illnesses, the closing of the school when the boiler burst in mid winter, truancy amongst families and a general absence when the harvest needed to be gathered in. Significant events will be recorded and brought together in one complete record.

I hope to hear from residents that they can keep alive the proud record of the History Group in years to come. Colin Limming Chairman 01763 260072 colin.limming@btinternet.com

Royston & District Local History Society

www.roystonlocalhistory.org.uk Our meetings are held in the Heritage Hall, Royston Town Hall on the first Thursday of the month (second Thursday in May) starting at 8pm. Annual subscription is £5 (under 18’s £2.50). Visitors £2 per meeting. » 2012 Dec 6 Saint George – Patron Saint, Knight and Martyr, illustrated.

Chloe Cockerill » 2013 Jan 3 Pirton – a village in Anguish, illustrated Derek Jarrett Copies of the speaker’s book will be on sale. » Feb 7 London Underground Stations – the first 120 years, illustrated Mark Pardoe

Our website shows all the books we have for sale. Many of these results from the considerable work undertaken by our Publications sub-committee. The books are available at our meetings or may be ordered by post from David Allard 01763 242677. They may also be purchased at the Royston Museum & Arts Gallery in Kneesworth Street and some are available at the Cave Bookshop in Melbourn Street.

Merchant Navy WWII

We are delighted to announce that Keystage Arts and Heritage, a Cambridge based company has recently won Heritage Lottery support to run an exciting year-long project that will help collect, record and preserve the stories of the brave men and women who served in the Merchant Navy between 1939-45.

We would like to invite you to participate in ‘Unsung Heroes – Sinking Without Trace’ by helping us to collect stories of WWII Merchant Seaman veterans whom you or your members may know or can discover. Your research will be used to help create a dedicated website, a touring exhibition and a large-scale commemorative event to be held in Peterborough next year. This is a fully funded project by the Heritage Lottery so there will be no cost to your organisation. All we ask of you is your time and enthusiasm.

If you would like to find out more then please respond to this email with a phone number and a member of staff from Keystage Arts and Heritage Company will make contact with you to offer you a free information pack and answer any questions you might have.

In the meantime you might like to have a look at the website link to the ‘Unsung Heroes’ project page for more information.

We hope that you will join us in ensuring that this valuable oral history is not lost forever as the Merchant Navy veterans of WWII sink without trace. Lesley Ford 07968 190 852 www.keystage-company.co.uk.

COFFEE STOP

Every Saturday 10.30am to 12noon

Rombouts coffee & biscuits for 80p at All Saints’ Community Hall