Sports & Clubs

Bowls Malcolm Davey 262704 Bridge Club Howard Waller 261693 1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505 Brownies – 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272 Brownies – 2nd Melbourn Samantha Pascoe 261400 Croquet Janet Pope 248342 Football Club Andrew Edwards 223109 Dynamos Football Club Les Morley 07739 593771 Gardening Club Helen Powell 245887 Guides – Ist Melbourn Hilary Marsh 261443 Judo Derek Coult 225004 Melbourn Karate Club Peter Khera 07866 374674 Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313

Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group

Pat Smith 262575 Sue Toule 260955 Anne Harrison 261775 Photographic Club Bruce Huett 232855 Ramblers Dave Allard 242677 Royston and District Round Table Michael Seymour 221398 Squash Club Nick Sugden 261064 Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593 Tennis (Melbourn) Dave Liddiard 07508 995 781 Tennis (Meldreth) Sue Davies 220174

1st Melbourn Guides

It might have been the wettest winter in history, but 1st Melbourn Guides’ spirits certainly weren’t dampened!

We started the Spring term with co-operative games, and later in the term had a crazy Winter Olympics tournament, complete with plastic skis and toboggans, stone-filled curling socks, and duster hockey.

Even serious subjects can be made fun; a refugee themed evening saw the girls trying to choose just three precious things they would take with them if they had to flee their homes, and playing a refugee-themed snakes and ladders game. The older girls tested a new Go For It resource called ‘Be The Change’; they learned about leadership and decision making, then they were challenged to devise and pitch a campaign on a local issue which concerned them. The winning campaign, to restore the school crossing patrol to Melbourn High Street, was pitched to Susan van de Ven when she visited us to present three BadenPowell Challenge awards.

For Mothers’ Day the girls made a selection of chocolates from crushed mints, dried fruits and marzipan, presented in a box they made from a sheet of decorated A4 card.

Just before Easter we made the most of the extra hour of daylight with some outdoor challenges. The girls did a treasure hunt in the local shop; some compass-point orienteering around the church, and made newspaper plant pots which they filled with herb plants and flower seeds.

We currently have a full unit and a waiting list, and would welcome another adult leader. 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

Royston & District Local History Society

www.roystonlocalhistory.org.uk

Coach outing to Wandlebury

Country Park and Kentwell Hall Saturday 28th June

For details and availability of places contact: david.allard@ntlworld.com 01763 242677 Our evening meetings will resume on 2nd October 2014.

Our website shows all the books we have for sale. Many of these result 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.

The society is responsible for the opening of Royston Cave, Melbourn Street, Royston which will be open on Wednesdays in August, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 2.30pm–5pm (last admission 4.30pm) until the end of September. www. roystoncave.co.uk

Cambridgeshire Family History Society

Would you like to learn more about your family history? Cambridgeshire Family History Society will be at the Central Library, Cambridge on the third Saturday of each month, from 11.00-3.00, to offer advice about how to get started.

Each month, there will be a talk, from 1.30–2.30pm, that will explain the types of records you can use to trace your ancestors. Talks coming up soon will look at Gravestones, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Wills, War Graves, Maps, Directories, Newspapers, Photos, Local History, Military Records, Workhouses, Emigration, Scottish & Irish Research and Occupations.

The Society will also be selling a wide range of CDs of transcribed parish records that will help you take your research back even further.

The talks are free to attend at the Cambridgeshire Collection Rooms, Third Floor, Central Library, Lion Yard, Grand Arcade, Cambridge, CB2 3QD.

The Society also holds regular meetings in Girton and March and offers research advice at March Library, Ely Library, Bar Hill Library, Cambourne Library and Cottenham Library. These events are free to attend, however donations are welcome. See www.cfhs. org.uk/pdfs/newsletter.pdf or www. facebook.com/CambridgeshireFHS for further details.

Melbourn and District Gardening Club

Are you interested in gardening? Why not join the Melbourn and District Gardening Club on a regular or occasional basis.

We meet at 7.30 p.m on the second Tuesday each month, at All Saints’ Community Hall, behind All Saints Church (near traffic lights, lane by telephone box)

Tuesday 24th June 2.30. Tea and garden visit at Lode

Anglesey abbey is a short distance away, so you could make a day out

We are meeting at Lode, to look at the garden, designed by the owner (retired head gardener at Anglesey Abbey) Planted with bold groups of herbaceous plants complementing a fine lawn and creating an element of mystery and delight.

Tea will be provided in the garden. Entrance to garden + tea - £7.00

Non members welcome, but booking essential.

For further details contact Roger Patman 01763 248975 » Tuesday 10 June Afternoon Tea and Flower Show – members and friends » Tuesday 8 July 7.30 Talk and slides by Philip Whaites Head Gardener » Update on Wimpole Gardens at

Wimpole Hall » Sun August day 3rd Tea in the

Garden - Members & Friends only

Previous Talks In March, Peter Jackson from Scotsdales gave a talk on Care and Maintenance of Roses. He explained how versatile the rose can be and the different varieties available. Gave advice on planting and caring for your roses, covering pest and diseases recognition, together with tips on treatment and prevention.

In April, Steven Poysner gave a very informative and entertaining talk on Bees and the Gardener. He explained that honey bees travel about a mile and a half every day to find the best source of nectar and pollen. It is the strength of sugar in the nectar that attracts them and a crop such as oil-seed rape has a much higher sugar content than apples. If you want to help all bees early in the year, plant grape hyacinths, snowdrops, aconites and pussy willow.

New members and visitors very welcome. For more information - ring Helen 01763 245887

Melbourn and District Photographic Club

The 2013/2014 season was one of the best yet with increased club membership, attendance and participation. Even a judge commented that we are one of the friendliest clubs that he has visited. The standard has improved significantly, with increased success in competitions with other clubs. However there is also a lot of sharing of skills at coffee time and club evenings which is raising quality across the board.

Club competitions provided a stimulating selection of images and the lectures during the year covered a broad range of topics. Workshop sessions were enjoyed with activities for beginners as well as presentations on more advanced topics.

The Melbourn Trophy final was held on Saturday 15th March 2014 and included the annual display of members’ prints. Ware won the trophy with Melbourn coming third. Homemade cakes were enjoyed by all.

Presentations of trophies were made at the AGM: • Points of View Paul Ivory • Panel Print Peter North • Rookie of the Year(shared) Karen

Butler-Clark & John Cameron • Print of the Year Karen Butler-Clark • Projected Image of the Year Kevin

Robinson • Chairman’s Trophy Keith Truman • Joe and Jack Cox trophy (Highest total score for prints) Keith Truman • Ken Clifford Trophy (shared) (Highest total score for DPI) Dave

Cole & Keith Truman

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 Sarah or Jackie or e-mailing admin@hsrsc.co.uk

Registered Charity No 1105385

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire are looking for Home Visiting Volunteers A home visiting volunteer would normally have parenting experience with an understanding of the problems and pleasures of family life. We link this well-supported and trained volunteer to the most suitable family referred, offering home visits, usually for 2–3 hours a week. Our volunteers support families in a huge variety of ways which can include: offering a non-judgemental listening ear, helping parents to manage their children’s behaviour, providing practical help around healthy eating, accessing other community services and supporting parents in keeping their children safe.

This is when Home-Start volunteers can help! www.hsrsc.co.uk

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.

The 2014/15 season will start on Tuesday 16th September 2014 at 7.30 at Foxton Village Hall. New members, of any skill level, will be warmly welcomed. For further information please contact Peter North (Secretary) by e mail at melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com.

The club website is at www.melbournphotographic-club.co.uk and has details of club activities, members’ images and other useful information. Details of any summer activities will be posted here.

Ramblers’ Association Royston and District Group

Our walks programme continues right through the year. For details visit our website: www.ramblers-herts-northmiddlesex. org.uk or contact David Allard (01763 242677). Email: david.allard@ntlworld.com or Lesley Abbiss (01763 273463). There is also a poster displaying walks for the current month in both Melbourn and Royston libraries.

We have walks on Sundays, which are normally 5-7 miles in the morning and a similar or shorter walk in the afternoon. Occasionally Sunday walks are Figures of Eight making it possible to do only the morning or only the afternoon. Half-day walks are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and there are evening walks on a different day each week until the end of August. Prospective new members are welcome and may come on three walks before deciding whether to join. www. ramblers.org.uk to join.

Melbourn Bowls Club

As I am writing this preparations for our Open Day are at an advanced stage and by the time you read this the Summer Season will be well underway.

You will have been victim to our leaflet dropping campaign advertising our Open Day. We hope this will not have annoyed too many and will have prompted a number of you to come and try the game of Bowls.

We will be holding Coffee Mornings at our Clubhouse on The Moor every Thursday from 10.30 until 12.00 noon under the capable management of Muriel Cooper. All are welcome whether interested in bowls or not. The main purpose is to provide an opportunity to meet and socialise with other Village residents and Bowls Club Members.

We hold a Roll Up every Monday afternoon and any newcomer to the village or resident who have lived here for some time and who interested in trying the game of Bowls would be most welcome at these event. Just turn up or if you would like further information please contact either Arthur Andrews tel. 261990 or Malcolm Davey tel. 262704.

Besides entering teams in local leagues we play friendly matches most Sundays in May, June and August. July is an internal Club month where the Ladies v Gents Challenge Match and Club Triples take place and also many members take part in a tour to Suffolk. During August we will be hosting the Cambridgeshire Vice Presidents Team and holding our Open Triples Competition with competitors from a wide variety of Clubs.

We pride ourselves on being a friendly club that welcomes anyone interested in Bowls and involves all those who wish in Social Activities, Coffee mornings during the Summer and Whist Drives and Quiz Nights during the Winter.

Finally, if you are walking down The Moor, across the Recreation Ground, or supervising children in the Play Area and see activity on the Green please feel free to watch and if you have the time to come into the club to chat to the other spectators.

Melbourn Karate Club

The Kamaete Schools of Traditional Shotokan Karate (KSTSK) recently held their Grading Examinations at Hertfordshire Sports Village, Hatfield.

Members of the Melbourn club took part in these grading examinations. Sensei Peter Khera, Instructor commented “all students did very well and showed good progress. For many students this was their first formal grading examination. Concentration, etiquette and discipline was maintained throughout the grading, which is not an easy task for the juniors”. Grading results as follow: First Name Grade Steve Huff Blue Belt Megan Huff Blue Belt Callum Keir Blue Belt Gavin Elliott-Turner Blue Belt Henry Whybrow Blue Belt Ewan Cameron Red Belt

The club meets every Sunday at 12 Midday at Melbourn Village College Sports Centre. New beginners are always welcome and no special clothing is needed, the first lesson is FREE.

For more information call 07866 374674 or www.kstsk.co.uk.

Meldreth Croquet Club

Why not try something different? Meldreth is fortunate to have a competition standard croquet lawn in the centre of the village. We invite you to come along and try your hand at this fascinating game without obligation to join the Club. Lack of experience is no problem as we are happy to give instruction and support.

Our lawn is behind the British Queen in Meldreth High Street, it is visible from the road and from the river Mel footpath, so people can watch the game being played. We play most Sunday mornings, weather permitting, and often Tuesday evenings during the summer. A group from the local U3A play on Thursday afternoons.

For further information please contact Janet Pope 01763 248342; meldrethcroquetclub@gmail.com

Melbourn Dynamos Football Club

For Boys and Girls aged 4 – 18 years old All welcome! www.melbourndynamos.co.uk Melbourn Dynamos F.C. is a friendly community youth football club that gives boys and girls the opportunity to play regular football regardless of their experience or ability at all ages from 4 through to 18. We have almost 200 players registered to the club to play league football. This is in addition to the many of our youngest players (age 4&5) who have fun and develop their skills through the Dynamites’ pay and play sessions on Saturday mornings at Melbourn Sports Centre - our home ground.

Although the waterlogged winter has

caused a number of cancelled matches our home pitches proved more resilient than most to the rain. It has been a really successful season for many of teams who have built strong and competitive squads. Amongst others, the Under 12s and U16s deserve a special mention as they are competing for top places in their Divisions.

In April, we were chosen by Cambridgeshire FA to host the important Next Generation Festival for under 7s players and in May the under 8s’ Festival for the Royston Crow Youth Football League. Both events were really successful at bringing together young players and their families from across South Cambridgeshire and North Hertfordshire to enjoy their football in a wonderful setting with great facilities. We are grateful to Melbourn Parish Council for enabling us to host these important events on their football pitches using the refurbished Pavilion as our hub and cafe. It also helps that we have such a beautiful place to play in the heart of the village, something which is easy to take for granted until reminded of it by our many visitors. The success of these events depends on the many volunteers from the club who generously give their time. This generosity of spirit coupled with the support of the Parish, MSC and MVC reflects well on the club and the village.

We are already planning for next season, navigating new rules on the sizes of teams, pitches and goals for each age group to ensure that we have everything in place by the start of the season. Of course we will not be forgetting to celebrate our players’ achievements this season through our Presentation Day on 8th June. We are very grateful to Melbourn Village College for hosting this important event in the club’s calendar.

We are very pleased with the success of our youngest players, the Dynamites, who will again be demonstrating their skills in the arena at this year’s Fete on 28th June. They are coached by a team led by Dee Patel who was Cambridge FA’s coach of the year for 2013. These players, aged 4-6, have fun and develop their skills before deciding whether to play league football as the club’s under 7s team. This fun preparation and skill development through the Dynamites has undoubtedly brought more success to our current under 7s and Under 8s teams and in time will benefit all of our age groups. The Dynamites train with level 1 FA qualified coaches in a Saturday morning fun session for 4 and 5 year old boys and girls. Our Details are: Saturdays 10.30-11.30am, Melbourn Sports Centre. All are welcome to the Melbourn Dynamites so why not bring your children along so they can check it out. Sessions feature lots of short activities aimed at improving individual skills, concentration and the ability to be part of a team. Children are welcome on a ‘pay as you play’ basis, the one hour session costs £2 (first session is free).

We are looking forward to England’s performance in Brazil inspiring many new young players to play football and join our club. All of our coaches are CRB checked and qualified to a minimum of F.A. Level1 standard. We are also recognised as a Charter Standard Club which means that we have all the correct people and practices in place to operate in line with government requirements. All are welcome and if you are interested in finding out more about MDFC and the opportunities to play football with us, please contact Nicky Patel on 07951 590139 or email her at nikki-dip@ntlworld.com.

Meldreth Lawn Tennis Club

Meldreth Tennis Club has been established for over 40 years and has a flourishing membership. Play is on two hard courts adjacent to the recreation ground behind Meldreth Village Hall, where there is free parking.

Under 7s at the Next Generation Festival