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) Tracy Aggett 243376

Brownies

During the Autumn term, we worked on our Culture and Science Investigator badges. We have baked honey cupcakes, made balloon cars and grown salt crystal necklaces. In addition, we spent a meeting investigating sound. This included finding out how sound effects are made and which sounds are easiest to identify. Later in the term, we had a Halloween Party, which involved many spooky games and crafts, as well as a feast of creepy food. We spent a lot of the second half term preparing for Christmas with a number of crafts, which included 3D Christmas cards and a large festive ornament. To end the term, we went out to a local restaurant for a Christmas meal. This was a great success as all of the Brownies had a fabulous time. We have started this term with a trip to see Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas in Cambridge. The performance was superb and everyone enjoyed it, including the family members who had joined us. We have many more fun activities and trips planned for the rest of the term.

By Amy Selby (Little Owl) on behalf of all the leaders at 1st Melbourn Brownies (Brown Owl, Eagle Owl, Nightingale, Squirrel and Fluffy Owl). If you (or your daughter) wants come and join in the fun, please contact Brown Owl (Stephanie Clifford) on 07888 831140.

1st Melbourn Guides

Dolphin patrol’s fondant icing mermaid beside a beach of yellow TicTacs was certainly a Showstopper, but the Penguin’s tasty chocolate fairy cakes, plus their teamwork and high washingup standards scored them enough points to secure the title of Bake Off Champions 2015.

Back in October we welcomed four new girls into the unit, and reminded all the Guides of their promise and law with a home-made board game based on snakes and ladders, plus they made insect homes from bundles of bamboo canes, and learnt some sign language.

Fire featured twice in the autumn term; we toasted marshmallows over a small outdoor fire before singing campfire songs indoors, then on Bonfire Night we learnt how to light a candle safely, and thought about safe routes out of our houses in the event of a fire.

In November we had a games evening, then said congratulations and farewell to our four oldest Guides who had completed their Baden Powell Challenge, which is the highest award a Guide can achieve before her 16th birthday.

This Christmas the Guides teamed up with Meldreth Brownies to provide a decorated tree for the Meldreth church festival. They all used red and green card to make 6-faced hanging shapes, decorated with pictures of Guide badges and symbols, alongside Christmas images using silver stickers and rubber stamps. Each girl was also given a tiny potted Christmas tree which they decorated with quilled baubles, curled ribbon, and sparkly pipe cleaners.

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

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 the Community Hall, behind All Saints’ Church (near traffic lights, lane by red telephone box) Spring Programme » Tuesday 8 March 2016 Propagation – practical demonstration – Hilary

Marsh » Tuesday 12 April 2016 Life & Times of a Gardening Editor – Geoff Hodge » Tuesday 10 May 2016 Coping with a Dry Garden – Andrew Sankey

Annual coach outing to Kew Gardens Saturday 25th JUNE 2016 Cost £27.00 under 60 – £26.00 over 60

Coach (Kenzies) Pick up Melbourn and Royston. Generally – Kew Gardens began life in 1759 and now displays to visitors a vast diversity of Plants and over 14,000 trees. It quite rightly claims to be a world class attraction. Accessibility – Kew Gardens sit in 132 Hectares (2.471 acres to a Hectare). To make exploration easier visitors may wish to use the Explorer Land Train, which runs a scheduled service around the gardens all day, every day. The cost is £4.50 per adult, but it is probably worth investing in a ticket, as the land train provides a hop on/ hop off service to any of the stops around the gardens. Time tables are shown at the visitor gates and at Explorer stops. Mobility scooters are available, but these must be booked in advance and cannot be taken into any of the buildings, toilets or glasshouses. Glasshouses – Amongst other attractions Kew is famous for its glasshouses. These include: The Palm House – an enormous Victorian structure. The Water Lily House – the name says it all. Princess of Wales Conservatory – this is very modern and has many differing climate zones, one dedicated to Orchids. The Alpine House. The Temperate House is likely to be closed for renovation. Gardens – Formal Gardens include the Royal Garden adjacent to the Royal Palace, an Aquatic Garden and the Japanese Garden Buildings Kew Palace – now managed by Royal Palaces and is open to the public. The Palace was home to George lll and his many children. Cambridge Cottage – purchased by George lll and given to his son the Duke of Cambridge in 1840. It now houses botanic art by past and modern artists as well as other subjects ( currently London Transport posters). Marianne North Gallery – Marianne North (b.1830) travelled the world recording and painting pictures of plants. The gallery is home to hundreds of her pictures. The Pagoda – The Pagoda was built in 1762 and stands over 160 feet high. Unfortunately the Pagoda is undergoing renovation and restoration and is unlikely to be open to the public for our visit. Walkway – For those with a head for heights, there is a treetop walkway. Catering – There are four restaurants/ cafés offering refreshments, as well as being a place for a rest. Shops – There are several shops. For more details and booking form contact Roger 01763 248975, Roger. Pattman@Tesco.Net or Helen 01763

245887, Helen53@gmail.com New members and visitors very welcome. For more information – ring Helen 01763 245887

Ramblers’ Association Royston and District Group

Our walks programme continues right through the year. For details visit our website: www.ramblers.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 Royston library and Melbourn Hub.

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. Our evening walks (3–5 miles) will resume on 25th April on a different day each week. Prospective new members are welcome and may come on three walks before deciding whether to join. www. ramblers.org.uk to join.

Royston & District Local History Society

www.roystonlocalhistory.org.uk 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 re-open on 26th March and will be open from 2.30pm to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm) Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. www.roystoncave.co.uk . Our evening meetings are held in the Heritage Hall (the main hall downstairs) Royston Town Hall starting at 8pm. » March 3rd – Matthew Parker & his library, illustrated – Dr Andrew Lacey » April 7th – Restoration of Caldecote church, illustrated – Peter Robbins » May 12th – AGM 7.30pm followed by Laughter in the Village – Bob

Harding-Jones

We have a coach outing to Hatfield House on 4th June. (contact David Allard 01763 242677 for details and availability of places) Annual membership £5 (Sept–Aug) (Under 18s half price) Visitors £2.

Royston & District Family History Society

The Royston & District Family History Society has arranged lectures until May at their meetings at the All Saints Community Hall, Melbourn starting at 8 pm.

The March meeting will be on 21st when Robert Parker will speak about The Shire Men.

Gill Shapland will deal with the subject of ‘Is your ancestor a Bastard?’ on 18th April.

One of our committee members Sue Tune will be dealing with one of her ancestors Percy Godfrey at the 16th May meeting.

However, dropping membership and low attendances at the Society’s meeting looks as though it will then have to fold-up after thirty years of very successful and worthwhile period. Neville Chuck (Chairman).

Melbourn Dynamos Football Club

www.melbourndynamos.co.uk Melbourn Dynamos FC 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 3 through to 18. In addition, we now have a Men’s team and a Ladies’ team as natural homes for our players who graduate from youth football.

We are a successful club defined by the strength of support from members and families, the praise and recognition of fellow clubs and FA Leagues, the work with our Community partners including Melbourn Village College and Melbourn Parish Council, and of course our players’ achievements on the pitch and their support for the community. We also have the support of a generous benefactor who is enabling us to develop and broaden our work within the community. With the support of this benefactor we are extending our work to make the club more inclusive by assisting players whose families are unable to afford the necessary fees. We also will be working with our community partners to improve access to other sports and exercise in the Melbourn area.

This has been a successful season for the club with new teams and players who are welcoming the opportunity to play for Melbourn Dynamos. The addition of four Girls’ Teams at U9, U10, U11 & U16s with the new Ladies’ and Men’s Teams mean that we now have almost 250 players registered to the club. As you will know this winter has been gentle with very few matches postponed because of adverse weather.

We now have more than 32 girls who have registered to play in the Cambridgeshire FA’s S-Tech Girls League. This is in addition to the girls that choose to play mixed football in all age groups. In no small measure this has been due to our qualified volunteers who have been coaching players at Melbourn Primary School and providing free football training sessions for girls on Saturday mornings at Melbourn Village College. Coupled with the support of Cambridgeshire FA and a grant from the FA’s Grow the Game Initiative, we find ourselves in the happy position of having 4 teams (U9, U10, U11 & U16) for this the season. The core of new U16s’ Team has formed from some the girls who represented the Club at the Stotfold tournament last July (see photograph). For more information about Women’s and Girl’s football please go to our website or email: girlsteams.mdfc@ gmail.com.

The clearance and development work of work of the old recreation ground on the Moor by Melbourn Parish Council has enabled the club to make much better use of the land with a larger 11v11pitch inset with two mini-soccer pitches. In addition to this clearance work, we are very grateful to the Parish Council for agreeing to provide a new storage container for the club on the land behind the Army Cadet building. This improved playing area has been much appreciated by our members and our many visiting teams.

We are very pleased to have been asked by both Cambridgeshire FA and the Royston Crow Youth Football League to host two of their Football Festivals this spring. It is a real pleasure to welcome many visitors to the village to enjoy the great facilities that we are fortunate to use and the beautiful setting. We are also looking forward to the club’s Presentation Day on Sunday 5th June. Once again Melbourn Village College has kindly agreed to host our annual celebration.

We are very pleased with the success of our youngest players, the Dynamites, who increasingly provide the core of our league teams from under 7 upwards. The Dynamites’ coaching team is led by Dipak Patel. Dee was Cambridge FA’s Community Coach of the year for 2013, gained his Level 2 coaching in June 2015 and has been appointed to

The club’s success depends entirely on enthusiastic members and volunteers. If you feel that you would like to contribute to the club as a coach, match day official or in some other volunteer capacity then we would be pleased to hear from you through secretary.mdfc@gmail. com or chairman.mdfc@gmail.com . More information about the club and individual teams is available the club’s Website: www.melbourndynamos. co.uk. Currently we have vacancies for a Saturday Fixture Secretary and a coach/manager for the new Girls U16’s Team; for more details, please contact David Atkins or Blake Carrington at the above mdfc email addresses.

the key leadership role of our Football Development Officer. These players, aged 3-6, 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 League Teams. These players train with level 2 and level 1 FA qualified coaches in a Saturday morning fun session for 3-6 year old boys and girls between 09.15 -10.15 am at Melbourn Sports Centre. Sessions feature lots of short activities aimed at improving individual skills, concentration and the ability to be part of a team. The first one hour session is free thereafter we charge £2. All are welcome to the Melbourn Dynamites so why not bring your kids along so they can check it out.

All of our coaches are CRB checked and qualified to a minimum of FA Level1 standard. In addition, as a Partnership Club of Cambridge United and through the support of the FA, our coaches are now receiving to high level mentoring and support to develop our players and above all else provide them with enjoyment and exercise. We are also an FA Charter Standard Club which means that we have all the correct people and practices in place to operate in line with FA & 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 David Atkins on 01763 263462 or email: secretary.mdfc@gmail. com.

Grinnel Hill BMX Club

This winter will once again see major re-design and construction, this time of the lower half of the field, including the intermediate and advance lines, with completion scheduled for early Spring 2015. The club is open annually April to September. Strictly for BMX use only, for ages 12 and older, members have the option of either becoming a seasonal member for £50 (April to September), or a day member (per session) for £10.

Our aim for the club is to promote an activity for the young community of Melbourn and surrounding areas to participate in, with the guidance of our committee and experts, in a safe and friendly environment. Members will have access to BMX coaching and expertise on site during club open days.

For more details and to download your membership form today please visit; www.grinnelhillbmx.co.uk. Acknowledgements Melbourn Parish Council for their ongoing support at all levels to keep the club sustainable and open. Wrights Mower Centre Melbourn for their help and generosity in supporting us to keep the site to a well maintained and safe standard for the foreseeable future

Melbourn Bridge Club

Melbourn Bridge Club has started 2016 in very good health attracting thirty to forty players on a Monday evening and twenty to thirty on a Tuesday afternoon.

The introduction of the ‘improvers’ sessions on a Tuesday has proved successful and this was then complemented by the start of beginners classes ably led by Mike Thrower under the auspices of the U3A. This year’s beginner’s classes will start in March and there is already considerable interest.

Last year ended with the now traditional Christmas parties with random pairings playing with glasses of ‘fizz’, nibbles, Christmas cake and an exchange of gifts. The friendly Monday competition was won by Steve Goswell and Howard Waller who benefited from an additional prize.

The Tuesday party was an equal success but was surprised by the arrival of an impressive Santa in magnificent costume. The afternoon’s play was won by Anne Church and Annabel Bieco leaving no prizes for Santa (aka Derek Ailes)

For those interested in standard Duplicate Bridge on Monday evenings and Tuesday afternoons at Vicarage Close, Melbourn simply contact Howard Waller on 01763 261693 While there has been no activity on the Bowls Green during the winter, apart from its care and renovation, many of the members have been joining together socially with our Whist Drives every other Friday. In addition, about twenty of the current members meet at the Coombes Community Centre in Royston on Monday and Wednesday afternoons to enjoy a friendly game of Short Mat Bowls. Anyone who would like to try their hand would be welcome. It provides a good introduction to the game and enables you to meet many of the existing members of the Bowls Club. If you are interested, please contact either Arthur Andrews (01763 261990) or Malcolm Davey (01763 262704) who can give you further details. Please note, however, that these sessions will finish at Easter as we will be returning to our Outdoor Green shortly after Easter.

During the winter we are continuing with Whist Drives every other Friday at 7.00pm in the Clubhouse, which will continue until Easter. The dates are listed in the Diary Section. This is a friendly sociable event and prospective new members would be made very welcome at these evenings. For further details, contact Arthur Andrews (01763 261990).

We are developing a new website at www.melbournbowlsclub.co.uk which should be up and running by the time you read this. This will detail dates and times of the matches and other events and I would encourage you to take a look at it. It will also give contact information should you wish to talk to any of the committee members concerning membership of the club or simply trying out the game.

Open day this year will be on Sunday 1st May starting at 2.30pm and we would invite any experienced bowlers who might be interested in joining the club either to attend on that day or contact Arthur Andrews (01763 261990) before that date to discuss club membership. We would also particularly welcome anyone who might be interested in taking up the game of Bowls. Tuition and equipment will be provided for complete beginners (those who have never played before), and anyone who may have played before and would like to take up the game again, just bring flat shoes or trainers. If you are interested but cannot attend on 1st May and would like to arrange another time to try out the game, or would like more information, please contact Arthur Andrews on 01763 261990.

We would emphasise that Bowls is a game for all age groups from nine to ninety, and even beyond. Don’t be put off by any perception that bowls is a game solely for the retired; it can be enjoyed by all age groups equally and the younger you start the better the standard you are likely to achieve. It is a very sociable game and gives you a chance to meet a friendly group of people and take some gentle exercise. Parents or Grandparents, why not bring your children with you? Bowls is a game where different generations can take part on fairly equal terms. For example, at the World Indoor Bowls Championships the winner in 2012 was in his fifties while the winner in 2013 was in his twenties.

We will be holding our popular Coffee Mornings every Thursday Morning starting on 21st April from 10.30am to 12.00 noon in our Clubhouse and also outside if the weather is suitable. We especially welcome nonmembers who can be sure of good company and have the chance to get to know existing members, and also perhaps watch some of our internal competitions that often take place on the Green on Thursday mornings. You will see then that you do not have to be an expert to enjoy the game and be a member of the Club.

For existing members, we will be holding a match between our D2 and D5 teams on 17th April and a Roll Up on Monday 18th April as we have a match on Wednesday 20th April (Foxton League) against our close rival Meldreth. If any experienced bowlers are interested in joining our club and wish to take part in this match would you please contact me before17th April and I will endeavour to include you in this match.

During the summer season there will frequently be matches played in the evenings on our Green at The Moor starting at 6.30pm and also on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons usually starting around 2.30pm. The actual dates of our home matches can be found on our website. Spectators are always welcome; just turn up, watch and socialise with our members. There are always some of our members coming to watch and support the teams. They will make any newcomers welcome and will be happy to explain what is going on.

McSplash Swimming Club

McSplash Swimming Club was formed in 1992 and our head coach Jenny Brackley has been coaching the Swimmers of various abilities for over 10 years. The name MC-Splash uses the initial M=Melbourn, C=Community and Splash is more obvious as one does ‘splash‘ whilst swimming.

We are a friendly, non-competitive Club, although we do hold our own in-house Gala each year.

Apart from swimming lengths, our Swimmers also learn survival skills, snorkelling and other water based activities.

MC-Splash Swimming Club meets on a Friday evening (during term time) at Melbourn Sports Centre with the Mini-squad training from 6-6.45pm, Intermediate 6.45-7.45pm, Advanced 7.45-8.45pm and Masters 8.45-9.45pm.

Should you wish your child to be considered for entry into the Swimming Club, please contact Jenny Brackley on 01763 244593 for further information or to book a trial.

Melbourn Sports Centre

For those of you who don’t already know, we have: • A state of the art fitness suite offering a variety of membership schemes • A 20 metre swimming pool (kept ever so slightly warmer than most!) • A comprehensive swimming lesson

programme, catering for all ages and abilities • Upgraded multisports courts for hire including tennis, football and squash courts • Water sports courses and activities • Traditional and modern exercise classes • Access to Melbourn Village College sports hall and gymnasium for activities such as trampolining, badminton and basketball • Supervised sports and pool parties » March/April It’s a universally accepted fact - Mums are great! So this Mother’s Day how about treating her to her own gym membership or purchasing a gift voucher for our other activities here at Melbourn Sports? Make this Mother’s Day one she’ll never forget!

We’ve got a bumper bag of Easter activities this year, including our OFSTED registered Play Scheme, where children will be treated to trampolining, swimming and creative crafts. Other holiday activities include Swimming Crash Course and Trampolining Crash Course. We are also teamed up with Cambridge United Football Club to offer future football stars a chance to improve their skills with Weekly/Daily Soccer Camps.

March 2016 also sees the return of our charitable Swimathon, with all participants raising money for the Marie Curie CancerCare Trust. We’d love to have as many entrants as possible; teams of up to five are welcome as well as individual swimmers. The Swimathon takes place on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th March. For further information, please see reception or visit our website at www.mc-sport.co.uk. » May We welcome back the outdoor sports and tennis season. For all you budding Wimbledon stars, courts can be hired mid-week and at weekends. We are also pleased to announce that we have joined up with Melbourn and District Tennis Club based at Melbourn Sports Centre. Membership ranges from £10.00 (minis) – £120.00 (families). For further information, please contact Melbourn

COFFEE STOP

Every Saturday 10.30am to 12noon

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

Sports Centre reception 01763 263313 or Claire Norman 07545334805 or e-mail: claire@claireelizabethtennis. co.uk

Later this month, we will be running our children’s holiday activities once again, with Play Scheme and a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities available.

»June For something a bit different this Father’s Day, how about treating your Dad to his own gym membership or purchasing a gift voucher for our other activities here at Melbourn Sports? It’s a great way to help a loved one get fit!

Plus, why not start planning your summer sports early, with our holiday courses like the Children’s Pentathlon and Swimming Crash Course? Bookings taken from June onwards. Other activities on offer this spring and summer include: • Our usual popular swimming lessons, both group and private • A range of exercise classes including

Body workouts, Boot Camp, Pilates,

Swim-Clinic (pool training session) and Traditional Aerobics • Indoor and Outdoor Court Hire

For further details on these or any other activities, please drop in, call 01763 263313 or go online at www. mc-sport.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you this season! Graham Johnson-Mack, Melbourn Sports Centre Manager Melbourn Sports Centre, The Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Cambridgeshire, SG8 6EF 01763 263313 / www.mc-sport.co.uk / info@mc-sport.co.uk