feature

Tim Stebbing

Most of us are familiar with the sight of Tim on his bicycle, collecting up the rubbish which careless members of the community have dropped. Tim has been doing this since he retired about 8 years ago.

Tim was born in Bury St Edmunds above the family Baker’s shop, but when his grandfather died the business was sold and the proceeds split between his children.

After the closure of the shop, Tim’s family moved to Billericay where his father continued as a baker. They also lived in Weston Turville (near Aylesbury), Luton and subsequently Bournemouth, where Tim attended the Portchester School for boys. To earn pocket money Tim spent his Friday nights working at his father’s bakery – most of the time producing doughnuts.

After leaving school, he obtained a full engineering apprenticeship with the Ministry of Technology. As there was a three month wait before he could begin, he spent the time working at the bakery as a part-time pie and tart maker.

Once he completed his apprenticeship, he returned to the bakery as an engineer in the maintenance department for about 10 months. He then took a maintenance job in Bristol, in a large bakery, where he stayed for 9½ years. He then took on a job at Tesco, Cheshunt. However, selling the family home in Bristol proved difficult, so for 18 months he travelled weekly from Bristol to Bury St Edmunds spending Monday to Thursday nights with his uncle, then commuting daily to Cheshunt, until eventually the house was sold. The family then moved to Melbourn in 1981. Tim retired early, but was persuaded to continue working at Tesco on a part-time basis training potential maintenance engineers, which he did for 5½ years.

Tim’s first foray into litter picking came about whilst organising a family party. Conscious of the mess around the village, Tim began picking up litter whilst out walking his dog. He informed the Parish Council of what he was doing and they supplied him with the necessary black bin bags and suggested places the filled bags could be left and then collected by the District Council. After 3½ years of litter picking Tim was subcontracted by the Parish Council.

Tim has kept detailed records for the parish council of where and what rubbish he has collected. Unfortunately, his records show there has been an escalation in the amount of litter collected each year. In 2013 he collected 215 bags of rubbish, a year later there was an increase of 33 bags, but in 2015 the number had grown to 503.

Part of this trend is due to the increase in the number of fast food outlets in the area. Tim is finding more pizza boxes, McDonalds containers, Costa and Burger King debris, takeaway coffee containers along with cans and bottles and much of this litter is not biodegradable.

A large amount is found in tucked away ‘hotspots’ in the village usually where cars can be parked – the occupants eat, drink and then dump the rubbish. Fortunately, throughout the rest of the village attitudes have improved – simply by clearing up, people have become more aware of the problem.

He also carries out surveys, checks for damaged fences, gates etc., and keeps an eye on the play areas.

Evidence of drug use (a problem everywhere) can also be seen in Melbourn, again at various ‘hotspots’ around the village. The amount of ‘dopebags’ (plastic ziplock bags) found has increased from 266 to 294 in three years. Metal ‘sparklet’ containers filled with nitrous oxide, (popularly known as laughing gas) are a frequent find.

It’s not just litter Tim has removed from our village – he clears roadside drains and has also had the unenviable task of removing a number of dead animals.

Tim also reports on numerous issues that he comes across when travelling around Melbourn which include blocked gullies, broken fences and vandalism. Fly tipping is another problem; in London Way he once came across four car windows leaning against trees in a copse. The effort employed to get them there could easily have been used to transport them to the tip!

Perhaps his most noticeable success is the ‘Pink Poo Fairy’ campaign, where he sprays a pink biodegradable paint around offending dog poo, and adds a notice intended to encourage dog walkers to clear up after their dog, to warn of the dangers that dog mess can cause and not least – that it is an offence to leave it. Areas of particular concern are the walk to school routes. Tim’s campaign has certainly raised awareness, but it has also earned him some abuse.

Thankfully most people in the village do appreciate Tim’s work and many actually thank him in appreciation of his efforts.

In two years, Tim has travelled 1,340 miles repeatedly going around the whole of the village, often during the weekend. We would like to say… thank you very much Tim, from all of us.

The Great War 1914–1918

Melbourn History Group have pleasure in announcing that the publication 1914–18 The Great War has received a Commendation from the Cambridgeshire Association for Local History.

The Great War book was produced following a very successful exhibition held in June 2014. The exhibition and book were designed to show the tragic face of the war alongside interesting stories from home, it was sponsored by Melbourn History Group and Melbourn Magazine.

Copies are available at the Hub

A donation to The Royal British Legion is always welcomed

An exhibition by Melbourn History Group

to those who died, we remember; to those who survived, we hear you; to future generations, let us never forget.

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Your Local Charity Needs Your Help

FOCC Melbourn(Friends of Chernobyl’s Children) is a registered charity which devotes its energies to raising funds to bring children, who are at risk and living in underprivileged situations from Belarus to the United Kingdom for one month’s respite care for a three year programme. The charity targets children from disadvantaged homes, aged between seven and twelve. These children are in great need and come from social situations that make it difficult for them to get the care they require at home. The people of Belarus are in need of your help to give their children a vision of a brighter future.

Belarus, as a country is still suffering both socially and economically from the devastation caused by the explosion of the nuclear power reactor in 1986. Whilst most of us have knowledge of the ‘Chernobyl Disaster’, not many of us are aware of the on-going issues that this caused.

Our group was formed in 2005 and we have helped to literally change the lives of more than 28 children who lived in the saddest of circumstances in Belarus. Each year these children have returned to the UK and received immeasurable medical, dental & optical care, they have been well nourished and able to breathe our clean air. In addition to the love and support they receive whilst here, each child is sent back with a suitcase bursting with good quality, warm clothes, vitamin supplies for the year, toiletries, food and gifts. Much of this is donated by local businesses and individuals.

By helping these children, we have not only helped to change their lives but also to enrich our own. Speaking personally, as a ‘host Daddy’ to Natasha, one of the little girls from Belarus on our first programme, I can say that having Natasha in our lives has brought us so much happiness. My own child speaks of Natasha as her Belarussian sister and the bond they have is huge.

Our last group of children finished last summer as after the age of 12 they are not allowed out of Belarus on group charity visits. I know that many host families will keep contact with their ‘child’ and will invite them over to England on a ‘private’ visit.

Our aim now, is to create a new group to enrich the lives of future children, aged 7 years, who live in the poorest of circumstances. Unlike families who live in unfortunate situations in England – in Belarus, there is little welfare system and many families see no way out of the abject poverty that they live in.

To make this work possible we urgently require a Coordinator to help organise the group as with out this important role being filled we cannot continue. Please do not hesitate to contact me on ian.woodall2@btinternet. com if you would like further information or feel you can help in any way. Ian Woodall

All photos have been taken within the last twelve months and the calendars are individually created.

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire are looking for Home Visiting Volunteers Can you give a family the most precious gift - your time?

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. This is when Home-Start volunteers can help!

For more details contact Sarah or Jackie at: Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Royston, Herts, SG8 6JP Tel: 01763 262262 or e-mail admin@hsrsc.org.uk / www.hsrsc.org.uk

Registered Charity No 1105385

Melbourn Calendars 2017

Melbourn Calendars can now be ordered either by phoning Marjorie Shaw on 01763 220076 or from Coffee Stop on Saturday mornings from 10.30 to 12 noon. A4 size £8.50, (3 for £24) A5 size £5.50 (3 for £16). This year there are spaces for notes. All come with envelopes and all profit goes to SOAS (Supporters of All Saints).