Nature

River Mel Restoration

Spring certainly arrived on the river with a bang this year. The kingcups were glorious and moorhens and mallard ducks were busy making nests. Our April working party was well attended; enabling us to do repairs to the riverbank, improve the channel under the A10 bridge and complete an in-river litter pick. The visit was very informative and we learnt that the plant operates within carefully controlled consent limits that are monitored by the Environment Agency. We saw first-hand the reactors that treat the sewage using a biological process that breaks down the micro-organisms in the sewage and produces sludge which is taken away for further treatment. We saw a sample of the final effluent, and learnt how the flow from the plant into the river is controlled to limit erosion to the river bank. One matter of concern to the group was the issue of un-flushable items, such as baby wipes and feminine hygiene products that have been removed from the river during working parties. These are screened out early in the treatment process, but sometimes pass through and end up in the river. It may say on the packet that these items are flushable, but in reality they are not – they readily combine with fat in the sewers and cause blockages, as recently witnessed on The Moor.

Kingcup in the rivermel and left a close up of Kingcup.

The group have also recently visited the Anglian Water Sewage Treatment Works in Melbourn. This is of interest to us as there is a discharge point from the sewage works into the river between Melbourn and Meldreth just before the railway line.

Above: Un-flushable items Left: Anglian Water Sewage Treatment Works in Melbourn

Anglian Water run marketing campaigns to educate the public, but we also want to bring this to the attention of the wider community. The solution to this problem is simple; these items should be placed in a bin rather than flushed down the toilet. Working parties meet monthly, either in Melbourn or Meldreth. For further details about volunteering or the dates of future working parties please telephone Maureen Brierley 01763 262752.

Melbourn and Meldreth Branch

In January we had an afternoon social meeting, where we caught up after Christmas over a cup of tea.

In February we heard the report of the conference in November, followed by a Bring and Buy sale which raised money for the British Legion. Also in February I carried the Barrington Standard at the funeral of Hazel Waldock - Chamberlain.

The March meeting had an Easter theme. We held an Easter Bonnet competition, which was won by Margaret Wherrell. I knitted Easter baskets and chicks to go along with the theme. Proceeds went to the British Legion fund.

In April Betty Murphy attended the National Conference which was held in Bournemouth. Also in April I carried the standard at the funeral of Mrs Challis of Stapleford. The Stapleford branch was formed 90 years ago. The speaker at our meeting was Mr. Bob Tulloch, who told us about his work as Parish Council Chairman.

In May we had a quiz night, which we all enjoyed.

We meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month at Vicarage Close Community Rooms at 7pm during the summer months.

All ladies are welcome – you do not have to be connected to the Armed Services. The Chairman opens the meetings with the Exhortation and we close with the National Anthem.

Pauline Parkinson Standard Bearer 262617, Chairman Ann Neaves 260110, Secretary Elizabeth Murphy 220841

Library

As most residents will know Melbourn Library is situated in the Hub, at one end of the café. The opening hours are » Monday 12.30 to 4.30 pm Tuesday 2.30 to 4.30 pm » Wednesday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Thursday 2.30 to 6.30 pm » Friday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Saturday 10.30 to 12.30 am Please note the extended times on Monday and Thursday.

As our regular visitors will know, we have a large number of new books on our shelves in both the adult’s and children’s sections. The adult fiction is added to regularly and, in response to the very high demand, 50 more Early Readers have been acquired for our many child borrowers.

Melbourn Library, although entirely run by volunteers, is part of the Cambridgeshire Libraries service and so the Cambridgeshire Libraries card is valid here too. This also means that any book in any of the Cambridgeshire Libraries can be reserved either in person at Melbourn or on line. Books are normally delivered to the Melbourn Library within about 10 days and the reader is alerted either by email or phone. In addition, readers can return a book borrowed from any other Cambridgeshire Library to Melbourn. Jane Stevens

Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society (MADS)

Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society was established back in 2012 following an evening out during the summer Jubilee celebrations. Since then the group have gone from strength to strength and now have a dedicated following of ticket buyers not only from Melbourn and Meldreth but also from many other local villages. The society put on their first performance in December 2012 with a cast of 8. The first performance was ‘The Lost Slipper’ an adaptation of the traditional ‘Cinderella’ fairytale. This was closely followed by the highly unique interactive murder mystery ‘Murder Down the Aisle’ in May 2013 which was held at the United Reformed church and hall. December 2013 saw the production of ‘Aladdin’ again the basic traditional pantomime storyline but with the usual MADS touch added. May 2014 saw glitz and glamour come to the stage with ‘Never Too Late’ a comedy set in a retirement home for failing celebrities. The show was written by our very own Wendy Braid who also directed the show.

How do you measure success? Well that’s a difficult one but when you consider MADS humble beginnings and compare with their latest productions, we now see a group only just over 2 years old with 23 cast and crew and a waiting list of more wanting to join. Each production is getting bigger and more ambitious, the cast and crew are going from strength to strength and with a loyal following of over 450 ticket buyers, yes I think it’s safe to say MADS are enjoying great success.

So what is it that sets MADS apart from other amateur dramatics groups? Well we are lucky enough to have the most amazing team of very talented, hardworking and dedicated local people with ages ranging from 14 to over 70, some of whom have been on the stage for many years and some who are treading the boards for the very first time.

Their December 2014 pantomime ‘Flintstones Save Christmas’ was a highly ambitious pantomime written by our own Paul Sleight who also directed the show. The show came complete with amazing super-sized props, fabulous costumes and a hilarious ‘messy’ baking scene. But the Flintstones isn’t a pantomime I hear you say – well it is now!

May 2015 saw ‘Who Killed The Holiday Rep?’ A murder mystery set in Benidorm with lots of audience participation, oh and of course a fish and chip supper and sangria at the bar – what’s not to like!

So what’s next? Watch this space … further details for Christmas 2015 coming soon. For more information why not visit the website at www.melbournamdram.co.uk Donna Sleight (MADS Producer & founder)

continued on page 17

Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration Celebration

Celebrate reading • Celebrate a great novel Ulysses • Celebrate the world famous writer James Joyce • • Celebrate the world famous writer James Joyce • Celebrate his wonderful creation the Everyman Hero Leopold Bloom. Stroll alongside the fictional character Leopold Bloom Leopold Bloom as he re-lives his 1904 day in Melbourn.

16 June 2015

Start Early – Finish Late

16 Free Events* Indoor & Outdoor Across Melbourn * Donation to WaterAid Welcomed See below for more details

Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration

‘Bloomsday’ celebrations are held annually on 16th June throughout the world as a commemoration and celebration of the life and works of the famous writer James Joyce, during which the events from his novel Ulysses set in Dublin on 16th June 1904 are relived. Some readers may recognise the structure of Homer’s Odyssey, which Joyce adopted as a framework for his great novel. The day involves a wide range of activities, principally readings and re-enactments of scenes well known from Ulysses and usually involving the main character, Leopold Bloom. To celebrate Bloomsday, participants often dress up in Edwardian costume and retrace Bloom’s city wide, day long journey. Melbourn Bloomsday in aid of WaterAid The Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration Group are delighted to bring what is a unique day of festivities to Melbourn and have organised a day-long celebration comprising 16 FREE events – indoor and outdoor – spread across the Village.

The day will include: readings; singing; musicians; re-enactments; an outdoor breakfast with Leopold and Molly Bloom; a coffee morning concert; a morning stroll through Melbourn with Leopold Bloom; a variety of entertainments; a special Bloomsday lunch; an afternoon stroll through Melbourn with Leopold Bloom; a ‘T’ for Tolerance afternoon tea break; attendance at an afternoon funeral; an evening public lecture by a distinguished lecturer; and a ‘Close of Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration Party’.

As part of the celebration we are supporting the national charity WaterAid, which does vital work for village communities throughout the world who do not have access to the resources which we in Melbourn take for granted every minute of every day, namely, safe water and sanitation. All donations at these free events go to WaterAid.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration. Choose one or more events to attend or simply decide to accompany Leopold Bloom as he walks around Melbourn. If you so wish – dress up for a party – even one item of clothing appropriate to the period! If you have no time, or are not inclined to dress up, then simply come as you are! Enjoy Bloomsday and help support WaterAid.

Did you know? Around 500,000 children die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation? That’s over 1,400 children a day. WaterAid 2015. A day in the life! James Joyce, novelist and poet, is considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His best-known novel Ulysses published in 1922 is ‘a day in the life of Leopold Bloom’ – but it is also so much more!

The book begins around 8.00am on the 16th June 1904 in Dublin and follows a series of incidents and encounters by the three principal characters, Stephen Dedalus a young schoolteacher, Leopold Bloom an advertising salesman and his concert singer wife, Molly. Their lives are intertwined with many others as Bloom makes his way around the City, visiting the butchers, the post office, the Church, the library, attends the funeral of a friend and even has lunch at the pub!

Want to know more about the story of Leopold Bloom? If you would like an explanation of Ulysses and how it has survived for almost a hundred years, come along to Melbourn Village College for a 7.15 p.m. start.

Dr Jeremy Noel-Tod, Lecturer in Literature & Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia will talk about James Joyce and Ulysses: the Great Modern Novel and Its Everyman Hero Leopold Bloom.

Then pop along to The Black Horse and join a ‘Close of Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration Party’. Live music and songs of the period; warm conversation; real ales. Say goodbye to Leopold Bloom.

Hugh Pollock, Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration Group 01763 260253 hugh.m.pollock@gmail.com Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration Group is pleased to acknowledge and thank: TTP Group, Melbourn Parish Council, Peter Simmonett, Melbourn Village College, Melbourn Magazine, Jeremy Rule Funeral Service, The Langham Press for other practical supports and all persons and institutions identified in our Programme of Events.

Relate Wins Big Lottery Funding

Relate Cambridge is delighted to announce that it has won Big Lottery funding. The Big Lottery Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006 and is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.

The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception has awarded close to £6bn.

The conditions of the funding state that this will take the form of free counselling for children aged 5 – 18 whose parents and/or guardians are having counselling with Relate Cambridge. Written parental consent will be gained and the child must agree to counselling. There will also be a funded session with the parents in the first instance. Sufficient funding has been granted for 182 sessions, so 18 children could access a block of 10 sessions (including parental ones as mentioned above).

Claire Nunes, Centre Director at Relate Cambridge said ‘the impact on children when parents are struggling to manage their relationships cannot be underestimated, and I am delighted to be able to offer this package to help the whole family’. Claire went on to say ‘we recently conducted a survey amongst our clients and 53% said they felt their children would benefit from support. For families who can’t afford to pay for counseling, it is great to be able to offer this service’.

Relate Cambridge offers information, advice and counselling for all stages of your relationships at our outpost in Melbourn. The sessions are held in the small meeting room at Melbourn hub on Wednesday each week. Appointment times are: 10:30; 11:45; 13:00

For more information or to book an appointment, contact Relate Cambridge on 01223 357424 Mon-Thur 8am-10pm, Fri 8 am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm (confidential answerphone at all other times) or visit www.relatecambridge.org.uk

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

The Group is for all women of any age. Meetings are held at 7.45 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday of each month, except in December and we vary our venues between Melbourn and Meldreth. We charge £1 on the night to cover expenses and there is an opportunity to make a donation to the chosen charity of the year, which is Royston and South Cambs. Home Start. We usually have a guest speaker or some in house entertainment followed by a chance to have a chat over tea/coffee and biscuits.

Our meeting on 23rd June will be at Meldreth Meeting Room behind Holy Trinity Church and will be a members Music Evening to which members bring a piece of music which we all listen to. The music is varied and we usually find something we like that we have never heard before. 28th July sees us meeting at All Saints Community Hall in Melbourn when Dr. Joseph Simon will speak to us about the work of The National Autistic Society, which was the charity we supported last year.

We plan to go for a meal or an outing on 25th August and details will be published nearer the time.

We are a small and friendly group, if you would like to find out more contact Pat Smith (262575) Sue Toule (260955) or Anne Harrison (261775). Or you can just turn up to an evening as long as it is not a pre booked event.

An Open Invitation

Nearly 20 years ago Melbourn WI closed. A sign of the times? Maybe – we all seem to get busier as the years go by, and there are a lot more leisure activities available for us to choose from these days. So maybe it’s understandable that what used to be an extremely popular community and friendship organisation for women should nationally now be in decline. But if you thought that – you’d be wrong. The WI is thriving, with 7,000 WIs across the country, and a total membership of 212,000 women. New groups are starting up all the time – last year 3 were started in Cambridgeshire alone. So what is it about WI that is so attractive and enduring? Quite a lot.

At most meetings there’s a talk given by some excellent speakers on a huge range of topics. In Meldreth we’ve recently had sessions on A Woman’s Life in the Army, Brewing Beer at Harston, The Wild Life in our Gardens, Ruth Ellis - the Last Woman to Hang, plus a millinery demonstration, and on Thursday 11 June we’ll be learning about A Vet’s Life. There’s always a raffle, and tea and coffee with homemade cakes. There are competitions to enter, outings to go on and workshops to join. And most of all there’s friendship and laughter. Women of all ages join, it’s completely classless, and contrary to popular opinion you don’t have to sing Jerusalem or be able to make jam!

I’ve just become the president of Meldreth WI and I would love to invite women from Melbourn, Meldreth and beyond to come and give us a try. We meet at Meldreth village hall on the second Thursday of the month, 7.30 to 9.30 pm. So put 11 June in your diaries and bring a friend or two to join us – we’d love to see you! Maureen Moody 01763 260938

Care in the community

Information and advice for adults and older people has changed In response to the Care Act and Transforming Lives, which is Cambridgeshire’s new approach to delivering adult social care, a new online resource providing information on care and support and wellbeing has been launched. It is designed to be the first point of call for everyone looking for information about adult care and support, and