Issue 99 Autumn 2019

Perhaps the most important topic in this issue is the imminent 60th Anniversary of our Village College! (page 7 and 21). And the second the award of an MBE to George Meliniotis (page 5). George is well known for introducing computers to schools in the area.

There are several articles on natural history Stockbridge Meadows (page 13 and 41), Melwood (page 21) and Fowlmere RSPB (page 47). There are great photographs  too!

We have many interesting places to eat and drink coffee and now we have a new very special one, and don’t have to go into Cambridge (page 14).

We have another profile, (page 24), another Travelogue (page 32), and book reviews, one of them written by a talented 14 year old, whom we are sure is a budding writer or journalist.

There are lots of things going on in the village this season. Plenty of Sports and Clubs etc.

Our three Churches have plenty to report, including a proposed walk coast to coast in aid of All Saints (page 52).

There is lots more, including the Waterlight Film premiere at The Plough in Meldreth, which was very well received.

There is much more information, see the Diary , Village news and What’s On.

Thank you to everyone who sends information and articles, we are very grateful. We hope that everyone had a happy summer and are looking forward to new challenges this autumn.

Contents

Village news

Celebrating 60 years

Stockbridge Meadows

Libelle visits Hot Numbers

Celebrating 60 years

Education from the cradle to the grave

Nature

Melwood’s hidden gems

Avril & Roger Mellor Education

Travelogue

Travelling the Himalayas Tibet - life on the ‘third pole’ Village information

Bin collection

Waterlight Film Premiere

Melbourn Magazine is Independent of the Parish Council

NO public money is used. We would like to thank TTP for their continued sponsorship of the magazine. Melbourn Magazine is printed quarterly and delivered free to every household and business in the village.

All work on the Melbourn Magazine, including layout and design is produced by volunteers. The cost of printing comes entirely from advertising and sponsorship.

If you would like to advertise in the Melbourn Magazine see inside back cover for details

Nature

Stockbridge Meadows Nature Reserve

Animal Farm ~ Precious Bane ~ I Wrote it Anyway: An Anthology of Essays

Nature

Summer at Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve

Together

& Clubs

What’s On

Well connected...

MelbournWI

After EightsAfter Eights

a variety of speakers and

in a number of fun activities

Connect with Care Network!

Enhance your health and well being by getting involved in YOUR community. Whether you’re looking to access practical support or activities in your area; have an idea for a community group; or would like to join our award winning volunteer programme, please get in touch!

more information on accessing services or volunteering with Care Network take a look at our website https://care network.org.uk/ or call

211 919.

Women’s Institute

a friendly group and would love to see you there!

on the 4th Wednesday

month at

Saints Community Hall

more information please email

find us on Facebook by searching

WI’

Village news

Village News

By George he’s got it!

Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme

Melbourn Library

Dementia Friends at Melbourn Hub

Melbourn Womens Institute

Melbourn Village College 60 anniversary

Melbourn Hub Community Showcase

What’s On @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group

The Hall For All – and Melbourn Cinema Event

Melbourn Timebank

From the District Councillors and County Councillor

By George he’s got it!

His pupils know him affectionately as “Mr Mel”, though we all know him best as simply George (or sometimes, just to be sure we’ve got the right one, ‘Brenda’s George’). But now our friend and fellow villager has a much grander title – Mr Georgios Meliniotis MBE, or more properly, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

George received his award in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to education and when he spoke to the Melde shortly after the announcement he was still awaiting news of when and where his investiture is to take place. This might well involve a summons to a royal residence, where a member of the Royal Family will bestow the honour – the Queen herself, perhaps, or Prince Charles, the Princess Royal or Prince William.

“I’m still in a state of mild shock,” he told me. “Absolutely delighted, of course, though I have to say I’m not alone in this. There are very many teachers out there who deserve recognition for their work.”

George, who was born in Cyprus, has been a physics teacher for almost 40 years after undertaking teacher training in London in the Seventies. Before that he was a research physicist in the gas industry. He came to our area to take up a position at the Meridian School, in Royston, where he focused on introducing computing – a subject which developed into a lifelong interest. “It was demanding work,” he recalls. “In those days people were very wary of computers!”

Library – LAP (Local Access Point)

Library opening times

Monday 2.30 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 10.00 to 12.00 am

Since then he has headed departments, been assistant head teacher and set up the first schools computer network in North Herts. He’s still teaching physics at A-level at Meridian and – despite his 72 years – has absolutely no plans to retire. “It’s very rewarding,” he says, “and a job I really love.”

Villagers in Melbourn and Meldreth know George well in his other roles, of course. If you haven’t been introduced, he is, among other things, that jolly chap who sets up the projector and sound system at the Community Hall on Film Night. His official title there is Technical Advisor, though he’s just

as likely to be seen hard at work putting out tables and chairs and clearing up at the end of the evening.

He and Brenda have lived on Rose Lane for more than 20 years and they both make a huge contribution to the life of the village. Brenda is a trustee of the Community Hall. George is a talented painter as well as a computer boffin and his work can regularly be seen at exhibitions at the Hub.

“We love the village,” he says. “After all its name is part of our name – look at the first three letters!”

David Blundell

Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme

With the closure of Melbourn Post Office due this September, there are many in Melbourn who will be affected and concerned, particularly those with limited mobility. Unless a suitable alternative is found, the nearest Post Office counter service will be the ‘One Stop’ shop in Meldreth.

The Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme provides a low-cost service to residents in Melbourn, Meldreth and Shepreth who are in need of assistance to enable them to retain their independence and remain in their homes.

Our trained wardens visit clients in their homes for a friendly chat and support many through periods of ill health and distress. The wardens will carry out errands such as essential shopping, ordering and collecting prescriptions, and posting letters or paying bills, including visiting the Meldreth ‘One Stop’ shop PO counter if required.

If you, or a relative on your behalf, would like further information, please contact Jeannie Seers – Head Warden on mobile 07808735066, or Jane Cage –Deputy Warden on mobile 07592821976. MMWS is a registered charity N°1059815

Melbourn Library

The librarians at the Hub know when the school holidays are approaching, as our younger readers sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge. This year it has been space based, very appropriate for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. As in previous years, we have been delighted that so many children took part in the challenge, which involves them reading 6 books and writing a brief report on each one.

Over the Spring and Summer terms, children from Melbourn Primary School have been to visit the library, where they were shown just what is involved in running it as well as having a story read to them. We have a good number of younger readers who regularly borrow books and this number is growing.

For adults, we continue to renew our stock of books, either by buying new ones or from donations of fiction books in good condition. We now have two shelves of new books, which are often the first place that borrowers look before heading to the general shelves. Although we do not have the space for nonfiction we do have quite a lot of biographies – a popular genre. We also have an expanding collection of classics. They may not appeal at first but once you start to read them you realise why they are ‘classics’ and have endured, sometimes for several hundred years, and are still a cracking good read.

Jane Stevens

Dementia Friends at Melbourn Hub

Dementia is something that sadly one in three of us will develop in our lifetime. In June, Melbourn Hub welcomed a Virtual Dementia Tour Bus, designed to give those who look after those living with the condition a unique sensory experience, medically and scientifically proven to replicate what it might feel like to have dementia.

A mix of family members and professionals signed up for the tour and

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 the mobility impaired in Melbourn, Meldreth and Shepreth 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

Going to the Post Office to pay your bills

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 £7.50 per week (a little more for couples).

Jeannie Seers (Mobile Warden)

735066

jeanseers13@gmail.com

Jane Cage (Deputy)

janec55@virginmedia.com

Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity

expressed how they found the experience both moving and insightful, with comments such as “it has totally changed my thought process on how to help my mum – I can’t tell you how much it has helped me”, “an amazing experience” and “I would recommend it to everyone”.

So popular was the tour that a waiting list was immediately formed and a second bus is planned for September. We are also arranging support sessions at Melbourn Hub for carers of family members living with dementia and their loved ones, to meet up and talk about their experiences and to access professional advice, practical support ideas and to socialise with others going through the same experience.

The visit by the Virtual Dementia Bus is as a result of villager Davina Biswell and her close friend Stephanie Trayhurn recommending the bus to The Hub’s Events team, having found it one of the most helpful things for them in gaining a better understanding of how to help when Davina’s own close family was affected by dementia. Jeannie Seers, Hub events director says “The Hub has signed up to the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme as a result of working with Davina and is proud to be hosting these initiatives in order to help us all become more aware of how we can change the way we think, act and talk about dementia in our community.”

If you are interested in the next Virtual Dementia tour and/ or coming to the support sessions, please contact Melbourn Hub on 01763 263303 option 1, or email centremanager@ melbournhub.co.uk.To become a dementia friend visit www. dementiafriends.org.uk/

*Davina Biswell second from left

Melbourn Womens Institute

The After Eights

Many of you will have seen the AFTER EIGHTS stand at the July Community Showcase at The Hub and I hope you took the time to stop by and find out a little bit more about this venerable organisation which is run by and for women.

Since January we have enjoyed a dance class, a talk on vintage fashion, a most informative and thought provoking presentation by the Anglia Air Ambulance and some charming monologues performed by Claire Hogan. We also had the pleasure of making a presentation to one of our members, Kara Luscombe, on the eve of her wedding. Our future

Melbourn Village College 60 anniversary

Melbourn Village College

Reunion Afternoon

MVC 60th Year Celebration

Friday 27th September 2–4pm

No ticket needed

If you’re a ‘local’, it’s very likely that you have had some connection with “The College”, over the years. Perhaps you were a pupil; or worked there in some capacity, or maybe, you attended evening classes, for recreation or work. Whatever your connection, MVC are holding a reunion on Friday 27th September from 2-4pm, to mark the Diamond Anniversary and we’d like you to join us.

Particularly, it would be nice to meet the ‘pioneer pupils’, who attended from the opening day in September 1959. Come and find yourself on a 2-metre enlargement of the first all-school photograph!

There will be refreshments, displays, music and the chance to share memories and catch up with friends. Please contact us below, if you are likely to attend, so we have an idea of numbers and can make your name badges. And please help spread the word.

See you on the Willow Lawn!

mvc60years@gmail.com

MVC 01763 223400.

Former pupils of Melbourn Village College - Do you recognise them? Contact mvc60years@gmail.com

programme includes a comedy evening, a craft evening and a seasonal event in November and the committee are already working on the programme for next year. There will again be a Christmas meal early in December – no formal meeting that month as we meet on fourth Wednesday which would pretty much put us around Christmas Day!

You will be warmly welcomed if you come along and join us, there is very little ‘business’ done and after the speaker or activity we have coffee, tea and cake and an opportunity to socialise. Do join us and see what we are like.

Mavis Howard Tel: 260686

Melbourn Hub Community Showcase

On Saturday 13th July, Melbourn Hub hosted community stalls, entertainment and delicious food and drink at our Community Showcase, giving a chance for the community to see the wonderful things that we have right on our doorstep and to show their support for the many good causes.

From midday, local community groups, charities and those selling produce and crafts had stalls dotted around the Hub’s Atrium and terrace. Visitors to the Showcase were also able to enjoy a BBQ, a marquee bar and food and beverages from The ‘Bookmark cafe’.

What’s On @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Melbourn Child and Family Zone provides groups, activities and support for families. Our friendly and experienced Child and Family Centre staff offer a wide range of services and knowledge to help you and your family from pregnancy onwards.

We are located on Mortlock Street, adjacent to Melbourn Primary School.

All our sessions are a chance to meet new friends and also to access support from Child and Family Centre staff.

Baby Group

A welcoming environment to help parents relax and enjoy their baby. For families expecting or with a child up to a year old (£2 charge per family). Tuesdays 10.00 to 11.30pm @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Fun for Ones

A group specifically for crawlers and children up to 24 months (£2 charge per family). Wednesdays 10.00 to 11.30am @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Groups such as the U3A, Dynamos, WI, Timebank, Dementia Friends and Melbourn Fete/Turn on to Christmas, were able to raise their profiles and show what activities or support they offer for the community. Melbourn Amateur Dramatics (MADS) promoted their forthcoming shows, including a ghost walk in October and the Christmas panto ‘Mother Goose’.

There was a chance to buy fresh produce from ‘St George’s Allotments’ and honey from ‘Melbourn Little Ladies’. The Nicola Emmerson Trust and Stapleford Silver offered handbags and unique silver jewellery respectively.

Guann – Yeu Chin showed his community photography project about what local people like most about Melbourn.

Stay and Play

Enjoy time together with your child whilst accessing a range of toys, crafts and activities (£2 charge per family)

Thursdays 10.00 to 11.30am @ Melbourn Child and Family Zone. Fridays 10.00 to 11.30am @ Bassingbourn Pre-School.

Melbourn Child and Family Zone

Mortlock Street, Melbourn, SG8 6DB Bassingbourn Pre School Brook Road, Bassingbourn, SG8 5NP

For further information:

Email: ChildAndFamilyCentre.South@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Phone: 01954 284 672

Facebook: search for South Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres.

The East of England Ambulance brought along two of their vehicles for the public to see and to demonstrate CPR techniques etc.

Homestart had a stall to promote and fundraise, but also benefited from the enchanting ‘Womensing’ choir who performed for donations to this good cause.

Local entertainment was a theme throughout the day and evening, starting with the lovely voice and acoustic guitar playing from Maddy De Brugha, a young local talent who performed during the afternoon. There were ‘Taiji‘ and ‘Qi Gong’ demonstrations with a chance for the public to take part! In the evening the dance floor saw people enjoying songs from Tom Froggatt performing ‘Tom Sings Swing’. Tom is another young person from Melbourn with a great voice who crooned the night away with a selection of ‘Rat Pack’ numbers.

Both of these young people are keen to perform for more local events and celebrations.

It was a fun day and the rain held off thankfully. How lucky we are to have such a number of good causes, talent and of course great people within our community!

For more information about the Hub’s services and activities contact centremanager@melbournhub.co.uk 01763 263303. www.melbournhub.co.uk

Turn on to Christmas Sunday 1 December

The hub 4 until 6 pm

Singing, craft-making, storytelling, tombola and raffle. Santa’s grotto, food and drink –most children’s activities free. More details at the hub and online in November.

Melbourn & Meldreth

Women’s Group

We are a small, friendly group and we meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month except in December. We vary our venue between All Saints Community Hall in Melbourn and Holy Trinity Church Meeting Room in Meldreth. We either have a guest speaker or in-house entertainment, followed by tea/ coffee and biscuits. There is a fee of £1 on the evening and a chance to make a donation to our charity of the year, which is Acorn House at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

On the 24 September, we will meet at All Saints Community Hall (ASCH) to hear more from Revd. Caroline Brownlie about her many different roles as a vicar. On 27 September, we will again be organising The Joint Parish Harvest Supper, which will be held in Meldreth Village Hall. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are non-refundable, to enable us to cater for the appropriate numbers. In October, we shall meet again at ASCH on the 22nd, when we will be preparing our decorations for the Christmas Tree Festival at Meldreth Holy Trinity Church. Then in November our meeting will be at Holy Trinity Church meeting rooms, when the Revd. Mary Price will lead us on an Advent reflection.

All our meetings begin at 7.45 pm and do come along if you’d like to, or if you want to know more please contact one of the committee members: Pat Smith (262575), Sue Toule (260955), Anne Harrison (261775), Angela Leach (262793), Pat Ames (261130) and Kimmi Crosby.

The Hall For All – and Melbourn Cinema Event

Anyone who used the meeting room during the hot weather will be pleased to know that we have now installed a fan – a bit late in the day when you read this but certainly it will be a welcome addition for future use. The new electric hob on the cooker has proved popular with people who use the kitchen, much easier to manage than the old gas one.

We have a bit of a problem with items left behind in the

kitchen or the cloakroom. Sadly, we just do not have enough space to store these water bottles, items of clothing, books etc. and after a couple of weeks sadly we just put them in the bin. Some of those bottles are quite fancy and we feel guilty disposing of them but it is not fair to other people using the kitchen if the work top is cluttered up with all that ‘stuff’. There was a very smart little anorak hanging in the ladies’ cloakroom for weeks, nobody claimed it so I am afraid it had to go to the charity shop. If something goes missing and you know that your children have attended an event in the Hall, it is worth checking as we hate to have to dispose of perfectly good items.

Our CINEMA nights go from strength to strength and if you have any requests do please speak to Mavis, Cyndy or Brenda and we will do what we can – we are anxious to cater for all tastes. As I write, we have just thoroughly enjoyed GREEN BOOK with some of the audience declaring it to be the best film they have ever seen! I wouldn’t go that far, but it was excellent and we are looking forward to a full and varied programme in the coming months, details of which can be seen in the Diary pages, on posters in the village and always on the notice board in the Hall. We are thinking of getting the New Year off to a flying start with a Gala Performance of YESTERDAY, a film loosely based on the Beatles story.

COFFEE STOP continues to attract a lot of people on a Saturday morning, with especially large numbers on the first Saturday of the month when Jane and Alan Brett run The Book Shelf, selling excellent books for 50p and £1. Any charity may hire a table on a Saturday morning – just speak to Mavis or call in and see us on a Saturday. We regularly host the British Legion, Women’s Institute, Link Muranga etc. Commercial hirers would be asked to pay a nominal charge.

The Hall continues to be very well used, with the Meeting Room and main hall often being used at the same time. If you are thinking of hiring the Hall, Saturday morning Coffee Stop (10.30 – 12) is a good time to come and meet people, explore the facilities and get a good cup of coffee for a pound! Mavis Howard (All tickets from Brenda 261154, Cyndy 264189 or Mavis 260686)

Melbourn Timebank

The Timebank is growing steadily; we now have members from Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton too. Thank you to everyone who visited the Timebank stall at the Community Showcase event at The Hub in July. The tombola and ‘guess the number of sweets in the jar’ were a huge success and drew adults and children alike. We had several enquiries about joining the Timebank and raised £155.75 for future Timebank ventures – thank you for your support! Furthermore, huge thanks go to our generous donors, Bury Lane Farm Shop, Melbourn CO-OP, ESSE Retail & Therapy, Fieldgate Nurseries, Hot Numbers Coffee, Kingsway Golf Centre, Leech & Sons, Obstacle Training Ground, Shepreth Wildlife Park, The Teapot, Phillimore Garden Centre, Tesco, The Plough Shepreth, Top Form Soft Tissue Therapist, TTP plc and Wrights Mower Centre Ltd.

By the time you read this, we will have held our first

Timebank Games Night at The Black Horse, Melbourn. Members were asked to bring a game they would like to play with the aim of finding someone to play it with. We aim to run the games night monthly so if this interests you, please get in touch and I can provide you with the latest information.

Additionally an Art and Craft club runs fortnightly in the pavilion on a Wednesday afternoon from 1.30 – 4.30 pm.

If you have missed previous articles about the Timebank, here is a quick summary:

Timebanking is a way for local people to come together and help each other by exchanging knowledge, help and skills. Everyone has something to offer a Timebank from making a cake, picking up a prescription, walking their dog, doing some gardening, visiting someone for a cup of tea, welcoming new residents to the village, whatever you do will make a difference to the person that needs your help.

You get an hour’s time credit which you can use to get something back. That may be help with your mobile/tablet, learning how to hem a skirt, someone picking up a loaf of bread, or gaining some new skills. Everyone’s time is equal, so one hour of my time is equal to one hour of your time, irrespective of whatever we choose to exchange.

However, it’s not just about giving and receiving. Timebanking is also about bringing people together to build a stronger, safer and happier community. The exchanges can go on and on, as do the new friendships, connections and networks that are made. Members feel less isolated and more supported in their own community.

For more information about any Timebank events, or to join us, please contact Cath on 01763 263303 Option 3 or via email timebank@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk

You can also visit our website https://tol2.timebanking.org/ melbourn/ or follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook. com/melbourntimebank/

From the District Councillors and County Councillor

Beechwood Avenue and short-cutting: Lately we’ve received an increase in contact from residents of Beechwood Avenue Melbourn, which is used as a short-cut to and from the Melbourn Industrial Site. There’s further concern about potential traffic patterns to and from the new housing developments off New Road, adding to pressure along what is a residential road, unfit to serve as a main throughway.

Please do let us know if you are experiencing problems, or if you have specific ideas for addressing the issue – and thank you to those who have already sent us suggestions. This is on the agenda of the Melbourn Futures Group and Susan brought an update to the July meeting of the parish council. Orchard Road/New Road/Mortlock Street Junction: Following concerns from parents, a road safety assessment has been requested and carried out by the County Road Safety team. The results will be reported back to the Primary School in September.

page 12

Melbourn Practical Solutions Group: Our once-per-term meeting at Melbourn Village College in July offered parish, district and county councillors the chance to meet MVC’s new Head Girl and Head Boy, and to hear their ideas and priorities for the college and community next school year. We look forward to their visit to Melbourn Parish Council to hear more, in particular their ideas for the natural environment.

Blue Plaque Scheme: South Cambs has just launched this scheme which has been running in Cambridge since 2001. The first plaque was unveiled yesterday at Girton College to honour its two principal founders, Barbara Bodichon and Emily Davies, who were pioneers in providing education at degree level for women in this country. South Cambridgeshire residents are now being encouraged to nominate a person or event for commemoration. See www.scambs.gov.uk/blueplaques for further details and the nomination criteria.

Bin: Footpath 9 through Burlton’s Farm. There’s a problem of litter emanating from the station exit onto Footpath 9 toward Melbourn. Meldreth Parish Council has been asked if a litter bin could be installed.

Meldreth Station tubs: Thanks to those who’ve stepped up to sponsor a garden tub at Meldreth Station. Any local businesses, families or individuals who would like to do the same please get in touch with the Community Rail Partnership via Susan.

And thanks too to our new Melbourn Village College Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, who are helping to keep the flower tubs watered over the summer. All offers of help gratefully received!

Station waiting room re-decorated: Thanks to gentle pressure exerted from Melbourn Science Park, and to GTR for prioritizing Meldreth to get the job done.

NHS cuts and ending or decommissioning of services: In addition to its own responsibility for commissioning Public Health services, the County Council has a statutory duty to scrutinize the consultation process that accompanies any significant NHS service change.

Unprecedented Cambridgeshire NHS savings targets are forcing what are called ‘difficult decisions’ that look set to see the end of financial support for a number of voluntary sector services, as well as some NHS services. Local NHS services are commissioned by the Cambs/Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The population area includes 950,000 people and is one of the largest CCGs in the country. But our CCG is the third lowest nationally in terms of funding. Its unique pressures include a rapidly growing population that is not calculated into its funding formula.

The CCG is required to ‘consult’ on its proposed service changes resulting from these funding pressures, so we’ll be hearing more about this in September.

The CCG will also be reviewing its 2017 decision to pause Specialist Fertility Services, or IVF, and the recommendation will be that it does not reinstate service provision (as opposed to continuing suspension and reconsidering when financial position improves). Meanwhile Government, which has not corrected the funding formula, is strongly condemning those local authorities forced to cease IVF services.

Parking and Pavement Parking: Given that there have been complaints coming my way about pavement parking, I hope the following is helpful. As of June, only 22 parking enforcement notices have been issued in South Cambridgeshire this year.

South Cambs has been under pressure from the Police and Crime Commissioner to agree a civil enforcement scheme for the district, but legislation makes this impossible, and responsibility for parking enforcement remains with the Police. This is because Council Tax cannot be used to fund such a scheme; rather, funds can only come from money earned from parking – car parks, fines, residents’ parking schemes. However, there are no car parks and no residents’ parking schemes in the South Cambs, so there’s no appropriate revenue stream for a civil parking scheme.

The Police have reiterated that if regular offenders are reported to them three times, they will take action. This can of course be put to the test. On the subject of pavement parking there has been some discussion at government level about legislating, but as things stand it is at the discretion of the Police whether they issue a penalty notice or not. The advice is that they will do so if the gap is not large enough for a wheelchair to pass through.

Reporting to the police: If you have access to the internet, you can report a crime on-line at www.cambs.police.uk/report/ Crime. Or ring the Police for non-emergencies on 101. For emergencies, ring 999. Planning department: The planning service at SCDC is merging with Cambridge City Council and is nearing the end of its transformation programme. The new shared planning is the first service area to receive the ICT hardware and telephony for the Council Anywhere Programme which will enable its staff to work between two offices but also out in the community. There is a national shortage of planners and areas of the planning department are running high vacancies: much is being done to recruit more planning officers but it has meant that some applications are failing to meet target deadlines and also that planning officers have not been as available to residents as they would like to be. Philippa is working hard with colleagues to improve the service.

Green to the Core – New initiatives at SCDC: Electric powered bin lorries? Some of you will have seen reports in the local media of the Waste Service (SCDC and City) investigating switching to electric powered bin lorries. The current fleet meets the highest environmental standards for diesel engines but the trucks only manage 4–6 miles to the gallon and the fleet of 50 bin lorries and 18 street sweeping vehicles costs around £46,000 every four weeks to fuel. The cost of their replacement by electric powered vehicles is high and the two councils are exploring how this might be best achieved.

Going paperless: All councillors are encouraged to view paperwork online, bringing paper usage to a minimum. Green energy initiatives: SCDC has pledged to generate 25% of its income from investments by the end of this administration. If we can do this and also tick our Green to the Core pledge, then all the better. Green energy, be it battery storage, solar,

Nature

Stockbridge Meadows group

In spring, we welcomed another group of volunteers from Johnson Matthey to Stockbridge Meadows. Their project was to repair the ‘lizard houses’ and to reinforce the river bank where heavy footfall was causing erosion.

Prior to the development of Stockbridge Meadows an assessment of the habitat identified colonies of common lizards and grass snakes.

Common lizards are also known as the ‘viviparous lizard’ and are 10–15cm long, vary in colour but are usually brownish-grey with rows of darker spots or stripes down their back and sides. They have a lifespan of 5–6 years and are found across the UK.

To protect these species and prevent the scattering of these colonies, a fence was built around the area to contain the common lizards and grass snakes and ensure their continued presence. The fence was removed prior to the opening of the nature reserve in 2009, and local volunteers built refuges for the lizards which they named ‘lizard houses’.

The ‘lizard houses’, which can be seen from the footpath nestling among the long grass, were made from piles of logs, covered with corrugated sheets which were then wired down. The houses provided shelter, and the lizards also liked to bask in the sun on the corrugated roofs to warm themselves. Over the last 10 years various repairs have been made by the local volunteer team, but last winter saw the houses fall into total disrepair.

The Johnson Matthey volunteers, under the guidance of one of the local volunteers, rebuilt the lizard houses using logs sourced from the nature reserve, and the lizards now have new roofs to bask on. Some of the volunteers were fortunate enough later in the day to catch sight of a lizard enjoying basking on one of the new houses.

In the afternoon, the volunteers turned their attention to reinforcing a badly eroded river bank where the River Mel passes at the end of a footpath. The river is always an attraction for people and dogs and since the closure of the boardwalk this is the only place that the river is visible in the nature reserve. To maintain this viewpoint, logs and deer fencing (no longer required, as the shrubs it protected are now full grown) were placed to provide protection for the river bank.

We were lucky with the weather and thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of our volunteers these areas of the reserve will continue to support the local wildlife and improve the experience of visitors.

We are really grateful that Johnson Matthey volunteers want to offer their services to Stockbridge Meadows and hope that this relationship will continue and grow.

Brierley

Volunteers from Johnson Matthey

EV charging points or others are all possible future investment opportunities for the Council. To this end, Philippa attended the Cleanpower and Smart Grids Conference in Cambridge earlier this week.

Any questions, comments, concerns or ideas, please get in touch with us any time:

We’ve decided to move our monthly ‘Advice Surgery’ at the Melbourn Hub to a ‘Chat Anytime at the Hub’ or wherever and whenever suits you best. So please get in touch if you’d like to speak with any of us: Jose Hales, District Councillor – jose@josehales.me.uk, 07703262649 | Philippa Hart, District Councillor – philippajoyhart@ gmail.com, Tel 07811323571 | Susan van de Ven, County Councillor – susanvandeven5@gmail.com, Tel 07905325574 www.susanvandeven.com

Nature Day of the Teasel

To the rear of the Community Hall, growing in the shingle, was a small plant or weed. Not being sure what the plant was, it was left to grow. The plant grew at such a rate over a few days, just like the triffid, when it was recognised as a teasel, Dipsacus fullonum. Now over 2m tall with a mass of purple flower heads it has been a feast for bees, ladybirds, hoverflies and birds. Goldfinches are particularly fond of the seeds.

The creatures consuming the nectar and seeds have created wonderful patterns over the flower heads, as you can see from the photograph below.

There are many uses for the flowers when they dry and turn brown. Flower arrangers are known to use them in their natural state or sprayed in various colours. The textile industry once used the flowers for ‘teasing’ cloth and still to this day teasels are used to tease some hats and the baize for snooker tables. The teasels were used in the past as hair brushes though I am sure that they would be uncomfortable to hold because the stems are so spiny. The leaves of the plant grow in fours together around the stem and rain water collects in the ‘basin’ where, in some parts of the world, the water is considered beneficial.

Teasels generally live for two years flowering in the second year so this summer is probably its last. Some common names for teasels are Donkey’s Thistle and Venus’ basin.

Libelle visits Hot Numbers feature

It’s more than the coffee Makes Hot Numbers appealing

And there’s also a motorbike

That hangs from the ceiling!

Well actually, not suspended from the ceiling but securely displayed on the landing of the mezzanine floor where the owner, Simon Fraser, has set up a training space for people to learn the art of preparing and enjoying superb coffee.

Take a walk along Melbourn Greenway and you will find Hot Numbers down the same turning as Wrights Mower Centre at Dunsbridge Turnpike, Shepreth. To the casual customer, Hot Numbers is a Coffee shop. Speciality coffees can be enjoyed here in relaxing surroundings that include a wooded garden outside as well as a bistro style Roastery Café inside. Tasty snacks and lunches are on offer using local ingredients as much as possible. From the Café you can see all the meals being prepared. Arrive for breakfast early enough and you might see the staff hand kneading the sourdough in their bakery for that day’s batch of bread, served in-house, of course, but you can also buy the loaves.

Simon originally set up the site in Shepreth as a roastery supplying his two Hot Numbers coffee shops in Cambridge: one on Gwydir Street (where there is live jazz music); and one on Trumpington Street. The Shepreth coffee shop was set up later and opened in April. The roastery purchases Speciality

Grade Coffea Araciba beans direct from the farmers or their cooperatives, cutting out the middleman. By careful control of their roasting process, Hot Numbers tries to respect the hard work put in by the farmers in producing these quality crops. In Simon’s words: “better coffee improves our experience as coffee lovers and helps to improve lives of Coffee Farmers and their communities!”. Simon wants his roastery to be a ‘window into the roasting process from bean to cup’.

You can book a variety of training sessions at their roastery, covering tasting and coffee preparation. Courses range from one-hour to a full day and will ‘suit the absolute beginner and professional alike’. And they will also teach you how to get the best out of your own coffee machine. Session Gift vouchers are available via the Hot Numbers website with their Head of Coffee: Sophie, (hotnumberscoffee.co.uk/ barista-training).

Oh, and that motorbike? It’s a Raleigh single-cylinder from the 1920’s and it’s in excellent running order.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 7am to 5pm Sunday: 8am to 4pm

Italian Chicken and Tomato Soup

Serves: 4 Ready in: Less than

• Freezer friendly SP Perfect for Extra Easy SP

This lovely soup makes a filling lunch that’s ready in less than

an hour.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped

2 carrots, peeled and grated

2 lean back bacon rashers, all visible fat removed, finely chopped

2 large skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

600g canned chopped tomatoes

400ml chicken stock

1 tbsp chopped rosemary

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish Method

1. Place the onion, carrots and bacon in a large non-stick saucepan and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes.

2. Add the chicken, tomatoes, stock, rosemary and lemon zest and juice. Bring to the boil, stir, then cover and simmer on a medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste and serve sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Celebrating 60 years

Education from the cradle to the grave

Melbourn Village College opened its doors to 320 pupils on Tuesday, 16th September 1959 with its first warden, Arthur Behenna, and thirteen teachers. It was the eighth village college to be built in Cambridgeshire and served thirteen villages.

The official opening, however, did not take place until the 11th December. It was a big occasion with the then Minister of Education, Sir David Eccles, opening the new building and the Bishop of Ely leading the opening ceremony.

The Village College was an ambitious concept and unique to Cambridgeshire. It was designed to cater for the education of 11 to 15-year-olds during the day, and to provide educational and leisure facilities to adults out of school hours.

Henry Morris and the Village College

At the time of the ‘great depression’ in the 1920s, Cambridgeshire was the second poorest county in England, despite the relative wealth of the university. Due to lack of funding, education outside of the city was in a poor state with no dedicated secondary schools. All children in the village between the ages of 4 and fourteen were educated in the school-house in Mortlock Street.

In 1924, Henry Morris, the Chief Education Officer for Cambridgeshire came up with a “radical approach to resolving the inequality of education in the rural areas”, when he produced a Memorandum* in which he said: “… the English education system was town based and operated to the detriment of the countryside. The scholarship system made it worse, and created a situation which made it urgent to recast the whole of rural education.”

Morris argued that a new institution, The Village College, would play a significant role in regeneration. He proposed to establish a Village College in each of the larger villages,

WHAT THE PAPERS SAID

“Cambridgeshire would get the place in the history of further education that it deserves,” said the Minister of Education when he opened the new Melbourn Village College. It is a community centre, housing a secondary school for 320 pupils in daytime and providing cultural, vocational and social opportunities in the evenings and weekends with 700 attending evening classes. It is the eighth village college to be built; all have a great reputation among the supporters of adult education.

Above: The Willow Lawn. When Melbourn Village College opened its doors on Tuesday, 16th September 1959, a walnut tree had been planted in a spot chosen by Henry Morris “to bring beauty to future generations”. The tree still bears fruit to this day. Below: Melbourn Village College in the early days

for pupils aged 11 to fifteen, and these would be linked to primary schools in both the larger and smaller villages, which catered for children aged 5 to eleven. He believed that his planned Village Colleges would attract better qualified teachers and would develop a system of education suited to the countryside. He wanted to see secondary schooling in the locality rather than the drift to the town.

The Village College would become a thriving community centre for the whole neighbourhood. His vision was to provide “education from the cradle to the grave”, making schools community hubs open to all. Morris saw the future of secondary and community education as accessible by all those living in the villages around Cambridgeshire, describing it as “raising the school leaving age to ninety”. His aim was to create a delicate balance between the legal responsibility of providing education for the all children and meeting community needs.

“There would be no ‘leaving school’! – the child would enter at three and leave the college only in extreme old age. It would have the virtue of being local so that it would enhance the quality of actual life as it is lived from day to day – the supreme object of education… It would not be divorced from the normal environment of those who would frequent it from day to day, or from that great educational institution, the family… The village college could lie athwart the daily lives of the community it served; and in it the conditions would be realised under which education would not be an escape from reality, but an enrichment and transformation of it.”

Henry

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WHAT THE PAPERS SAID

The village college, when first developed by Henry Morris, was planned as an institution which would help arrest the decay of villages and revive their dying life. In fact, the village college on the smaller village is the reverse of beneficial. They are little more than subsidised instruments

Rev. Raymond Pearson, vicar of Fen Drayton

Village College.

News,

governor of

Henry Morris’ vision was realised in 1930 with the opening of the first community education centre, in Sawston. Almost 90 years later there are 15 Village Colleges and 6 Community Colleges in Cambridgeshire and several Community Colleges in other parts of the country.

The design

Morris believed the design of the building was crucial to create a good environment and atmosphere for young and old. He was involved in the architecture of many of the schools, and in the case of Impington he worked closely with architects Walter Gropius and Maxwell Fry. Gropius, who was staying with Morris at the time, is regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modernist architecture and the founder of the Bauhaus School in Germany. Each Village College was to have a separate central hall, airy and inviting classrooms, a well-furnished adult area, a library for school and community use, a medical services room, broad, long corridors, playing fields with changing facilities for students and other community members, and housing for staff.

“Adult education is the major part of education. The centre of gravity in the public system of education should reside in that part which provides for youth and maturity. … It would take all the various vital but isolated activities in village life – the School, the Village Hall and Reading Room, the Evening Classes, the Agricultural Education Courses, the Women’s Institute, the British Legion, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the recreation ground, the branch of the County Rural Library, the Athletic and Recreation Clubs – and, bringing them together into relation, create a new institution for the English countryside.”

The construction of Melbourn Village Collage in 1959

Henry Morris 1925

Interestingly, evening classes in Melbourn had already been introduced in 1894, 36 years before Henry Morris’ vision was realised. Known as the Evening Continuation School, “where children who left school at a very early age (under the age of 14) may continue their education”. It was said to “enable young people, to improve themselves and their chances of enhancing their job prospects”. Subjects were to include: domestic economy (cookery classes, laundry work, household management, needlework, including making and mending), shorthand, book-keeping, instructions in wood-carving, fretwork, carpentry, painting, drawing, music, singing, musical drill, chemistry, design, modelling in clay, logic, callisthenic exercises (PE) and elementary science, with topics including the expansion of metals, the air thermometer, formation of rain, organ pipes and the ear trumpet.

A brief history of education in Melbourn

Melbourn’s first known school was in 1596, although there is no information on where it was or who was taught. By the late 1600s a school had been set up to teach poor children from Melbourn and Meldreth, however places were only available to children of Church of England worshippers; children of Nonconformists were excluded. They were taught to read English, write in a plain and legible hand and answer questions on the principles of the Christian religion. The first school room was in the Parvis room, above the porch at the entrance to All Saints church. In 1855 a charity school for children from all denominations had been set-up in Mortlock Street.

In areas with a strong agricultural history such as Melbourn, most children were destined for a lifetime of employment on the land. Many poorer families considered education an unnecessary luxury – there was little time or incentive to learn more than was absolutely necessary. Children worked long hours to supplement the family income by working in the fields from an early age. Boys and girls alike earned a pittance by clearing stones from the fields, picking root vegetables, or simply scaring birds from growing crops, but however small the contribution to the family, the income was important.

The school was often regimental and strict. Children were made to sit upright with their hands behind their backs

For those who attended school, it wasn’t uncommon to have 5-year-olds sitting alongside a 12-year-old! The school day often began at 8am and would finish at 6.00pm, with a break from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. In later years, strict rules were introduced and pupils were to ‘come with clean hands and face, hair combed and as decently dressed as budget would allow’.

The school was often regimental and strict. Children were made to sit upright with their hands behind their backs. Those who arrived late were often forced to wear a notice around their necks saying ‘naughty’. Children who were slower than the rest within lessons were made to wear the shameful dunce hats and sit in the corner. Children were punished for reasons ranging from truancy to laziness in the classroom, and those children could expect a beating by a wooden cane –boys on their backsides and girls on their legs or hands.

By 1880 education had become compulsory for all children, who were also charged 1 penny (30p in today’s money) to attend. Although the school leaving age was 10-years-old, they could remain until they were thirteen. The leaving age was raised to 12 twenty years later, and then to 15 in 1947.

It was not until 1972 that the leaving age was raised to 16, and by 2015 it had been raised to the age of 18, but it came with conditions. Today, students aged 16 have multiple choices of how to proceed. They can either stay in education full time for the next two years, or they can start a formal (and government-recognised) training/apprenticeship programme, or they can work/volunteer for 20 hours a week while pursuing a part-time education.

And so, considering our outlook on the importance of education today, perhaps Henry Morris’ vision of ‘raising the school leaving age to 90 – the child entering the college at three and leaving only in extreme old age’ is not so implausible in the distant future!

Reference

*Extracts from Henry Morris (1925) The Village College. Being a Memorandum on the Provision of Educations and Social Facilities for the Countryside, with Special Reference to Cambridgeshire A Glimpse into Melbourn’s Past (2004)

Henry Morris: The Cambridgeshire Village Colleges and Community Education. David Rooney

Luxury

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Nature

Melwood Your Local Nature Reserve an ongoing project

Melwood’s hidden gems

The steady work of the Melwood Conservation group is slowly but surely increasing the range of wild flowers now inhabiting Melwood but it is all too easy to miss them.

The small dark purple flowers of Dusky Cranesbill were scattered along path edges and visible through much of April, May and some into early June, but because they are small and the surrounding vegetation may be tall, you need to look to find them. This species has spread well from a few plants introduced about 8 years ago.

Ransoms, or Wild Garlic as it is also known, occurs in just 2 clumps at present but may have been present in the wood for many years. The biggest clump is in the base of elm scrub near to the seat and is overgrown for much of the year, but becomes more obvious once in flower, typically at the end of April. A second plant is further into the wood.

The conservation group made attempts to introduce Wood Anemone about 5 years ago. Very few plants appeared the following year and it was thought all had perished in soil that was insufficiently organic and too dry, but 2 years ago a few leaves were spotted in one of the planting sites and last year there were 2 blooms. Flowers were present again in April this year but far more surprising were the 2 blooms seen on the opposite side of the wood. I do not recall plants ever being introduced in that area.

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

The spread of the genuine English Bluebell is very slow, despite large numbers grown from seed, but we will continue with further plantings in the hope that one day we may have something that can fairly be referred to as a ‘bluebell wood’. Spanish bluebells may then have to be removed to keep the strain pure. In the meantime, the Spanish species provides some colour after the daffodils have finished.

Another far from obvious success is the Few-flowered Leek. From a few plants salvaged from a threatened Cambridgeshire roadside verge, little groups, with their strange white flowers, are appearing in many parts of the wood. This plant, like some other members of the onion family, produces small bulblets from the flower head as the flowers die and these can grow into new plants when they drop. The spread may be due to these tiny bulbs being carried around the wood by mice or voles. So far we do not appear to have lost many plants to dogs or foxes, which may eat garlic and onions when suffering from stomach troubles.

Few-flowered Leek (Allium paradoxum)

Away from the botanical interest, the year got off to a good start for butterflies. Peacock and Brimstone butterflies made an early appearance and Orange Tips were in good numbers. The Holly Blue was recorded but seems to be far

more at home in gardens. By mid-April the Speckled Wood was present in sunny areas and along the sunny side of the meadow, confirming its status as the wood’s most consistent resident, and a Red Admiral in mid-April was the first example of this migratory species I have seen this year. I suppose there is not much surprise in this, considering the periods of strong southerly air flow Britain has enjoyed from time to time during early 2019. The crunch time for butterflies may well be July and August, when we see the effects

of the hot dry summer of 2018, which scorched the grassland to a crisp at the time when many butterflies needed their caterpillars to be establishing on clumps of grass in which they may feed until the following spring.

The group held a very well attended bird walk in May, led by Mike Foley from the British Ornithological Trust and for many years a volunteer at Fowlmere. He has an amazing ear for the varied songs amongst the trees and provided detailed information on the status on the species spotted – their decline or increase, migration patterns and threats to our environment. The number of bird species spotted was 22 which makes a total of 49 spotted on all the bird walks since 2008.

Jim Reid

Melwood Conservation Group http://melwood.btck.co.uk

If you are interested in joining the conservation work, please contact: Jim Reid 01763 260231 or Bruce Huett 01763 232855

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Profile

Avril & Roger Mellor

Avril & Roger moved into Beechwood Avenue on April Fool’s Day 1986. With them came son Andrew, aged 11, Verity, who was 9, and their dog. They had moved down from their home town of Huddersfield where they were both born.

Roger had an older sister and Avril was the youngest of four girls. Avril’s father worked at Thomas Broadbent during the war – he was involved in the assembly of miniature submarines. Unfortunately he suffered a very severe accident to his leg and left the company in 1944, eventually working as a gardener. Roger’s parents were in business

On leaving school, Avril did a secretarial course and found a job as PA to the chief draughtsman at Broadbent’s, and it was there she met Roger, who had done an apprenticeship and become a qualified mechanical engineer. As he was working in production control he had many excuses to visit the drawing office! Avril’s father never fully recovered from his accident and died at the age of 61, to be followed ten years later by his wife. Avril and Roger had been planning to marry in 1973 but when Avril was left in the house on her own (her older sisters having married and left the nest) they decided to marry in 1972.

The couple were still both working for Broadbent’s, a company which had celebrated its centenary in 1964. A well-established family company they made industrial centrifuges and are still going to this day.

After Andrew was born in 1974, a friend of Roger’s sister offered Avril a job doing the wages for a big music shop, rather like our Millers of Cambridge. This was something she could do at home without leaving the children: Andrew had been joined by Verity in 1976. Eventually she was working for all three music shops in the chain.

Roger felt it was time for a change and went to a new job in Cleckheaton, where the company made wire combing machines for the textile industry. He became Assistant Works Manager but unfortunately after five years there was a takeover and he was made redundant. He got a fill in job bottling milk, thanks to a friend of Avril’s who was a farmer’s wife, but he soon joined a 20 week Government Training Opportunities Scheme in Systems Analysis and at one of their events he was offered a job in Leeds designing computer systems. He stayed there for 5 years

and was then headhunted by Rialto Homes who wanted him to move to Hertford.

This was quite a radical move for the family and Roger had to commute for 6 months whilst they sold their house, eventually moving into Beechwood Avenue. Both the children went to the local schools and Avril got a job at Cambridge University Press, once again doing the wages – only this time on a computer! After a while she got tired of the journey into Cambridge and took a job at Rumbolds the Plumber down The Moor. Here she did wages, secretarial work and the accounts. The local work fitted in better with family commitments.

This couple have always been ready to embrace change, and when a family friend offered Avril a job in London in a start-up company in Portman Square she thought this was a new challenge. She found herself commuting to London every day and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working in the metropolis. Sadly, as it was a start-up there was always a fear that it might not get up and running; the company folded and Avril gave up the big city, securing the position of Clerk to the Parish Council.

Meanwhile Roger was unfortunately made redundant a second time when Rialto was bought out by Fairview who had their own IT department, and in 2009 he was just looking for something to tide him over until retirement. His son Andrew, by now a fully fledged architect, introduced him to a solar panel manufacturer in Bassingbourn whose business was expanding, and Roger finished his working career with them.

Avril found the work as Parish Clerk by far the most exciting and stimulating work she had ever undertaken. She had to do extensive training to get a Diploma in Local Government but the rewards were great, meeting so many people, coping with different personalities on the council and dealing with bereaved people as they came to secure burial plots – such varied work.

They had been regular churchgoers since childhood, so it was natural that when they came to Melbourn they started attending All Saints Church where they quickly made friends. Avril joined the Young Wives, served on the Committee and then graduated to the Women’s Group, where she again got involved. Roger has served on the Parochial Church Council and has been Church Warden for over 6 years now, a post he takes very seriously. Roger was also involved in the Scouts, helping out at Scout Camps. They have both enjoyed their grandchildren – Andrew married Sarah and has Chloe and Joshua and they live in the village, whilst Verity married Alvie and lives in Cambourne with Imogen and Luca. They have done all the ‘grandparenty’ things: looking after the children, the dogs and even rabbits and hamsters.

This couple is so busy that I hardly liked to ask about hobbies. Avril does Yoga and Pilates whilst Roger plays badminton. They had an allotment, now relinquished, but both enjoy working in their delightful garden – they both belong to the Orwell Gardening Club, Avril being secretary for a number of years. She is treasurer of the U3A Excursions committee and helps to organise trips, the membership

secretary for the National Trust Local Association, and is organising a five day trip to Mid-Wales for the U3A.

As if all that isn’t enough, Avril does invigilating for Melbourn Village College and Hills Road Sixth Form College. She has not caught anyone cheating yet, but says on one occasion the students were filing in to take their places when the fire alarm went. Everyone had to evacuate the premises and to her amazement there were dogs everywhere!

It was Take Your Dog To School Day and the resultant chaos with fire engines and barking dogs etc made it a memorable morning.

They both love dogs and have had a number over the years, culminating in the adoption of first one and then a second retired greyhound. They are the most gentle, lovable creatures and contrary to common belief they need very little exercise. Since Echo died, Avril consoles herself with walking Poppy for a busy family in the village.

They have had some wonderful holidays. They both voted Chile as being the most interesting but also loved their 3 week cruise from Singapore to Abu Dhabi via ports of call in India. They had a disconcerting incident in the middle of the Indian Ocean when the ship’s engines stopped and they were becalmed for two hours. Rather scary, nothing in sight but sea! They went to Kenya with Link M’uranga, a working holiday where they spent time building a water tank. It may have been April Fool’s Day when they came to Melbourn, but Avril and Roger have made a huge contribution to the life of this village. Sociable, friendly, excellent hosts, willing to take part in village life, volunteering, not afraid to get stuck in. Huddersfield’s loss was our gain!

Mavis Howard

MVC VILLAGE PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAY SCHOOL LITTLE HANDS

U3A EDUCATION COLLEGE

Little Hands

Karen

Melbourn Playgroup

Jane Crawford

Notre Ecole

Janet Whitton

Primary School

Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox

U3A (Univ. of Third Age)

Chairman Tony Garrick

Village College

Principal Simon Holmes

Melbourn Village College

Reunion Afternoon

MVC 60th Year Celebration

Friday 27th September 2–4pm No ticket needed

Calling everyone with an MVC connection since 1959

Displays, tours, music, teas, memories …

RSVP for your name badge: Email: mvc60years@gmail.com

Telephone: 01763 223400 or just come along on the day www.melbournvc.org

Melbourn Village College

A wise former warden of Melbourn Village College would often say to students and staff that we are all ‘just passing through’ the college and that our aim should be to leave the institution in a better place than when we arrived. As someone who has now served at MVC for 20 years, I have seen many staff and students pass through and leave a legacy from which we have benefited. I have also seen the college go through some tough times and am delighted to see it emerging into a brighter future.

In the 2000s, the college began to shrink, reaching just under 450 students, with one year group of under 70. It has been fantastic to watch that situation reverse into one where we will now have 640 in September 2019. Indeed, we are now in a position of considering how we might best expand the college in the future to accommodate the growing number of children who want to enjoy the education that we are able to offer.

We have become a forward-thinking college, not afraid to lead the way. Becoming the first in Cambridgeshire to introduce Chinese Mandarin is probably the highest profile development of recent years but there have been many other across the whole college. We want to equip our young people with the skills and knowledge required to be successful in a global economy. As part of the Cam Academy Trust we have a fundamental commitment to high quality education for all our students and we have received national recognition for the work we have done on curriculum design and, more recently, on effective learning behaviours. The Governing body and Senior team are constantly looking ahead and planning how we move forwards proactively to become the college we want and that you want.

I hope to see many of you at the 60th anniversary reunion, giving me a chance to say ‘thank you’ for your contributions to the college and to share some memories of your time at MVC.

Simon Holmes – Principal Mandarin Excellence Programme

The first cohort of students at Melbourn Village College to study Mandarin have started their GCSE course.

Almost 30 students, who were among the pioneers when Melbourn became the first school in Cambridgeshire to offer the Chinese language as part of the curriculum, have opted to continue their studies beyond Year 9.

And Mandarin continues to go from strength to strength with the college expecting to have two GCSE classes next year including those on the Mandarin Excellence Programme.

Students on the intensive learning programme, which include four additional hours of study each week, this term enjoyed their activities weeks.

Those in Year 7 experienced the Chinese culture and language with visits to London’s Chinatown, the British Museum, Chinese Arts and Music festivals at an AngloEuropean School, as well as cultural activities in college including cooking and calligraphy.

The 26 in Year 8 spent two weeks on the trip-of-a-lifetime to Xi’an, where they soaked up the language and culture with students from other schools also on the MEP and visited the world-famous Terracotta Army.

The Year 9 intensive learning experience will involve a

week at university, attending lectures in Chinese and meeting up with fellow MEP students.

It is hope the funding for the next five years of the MEP will be secured soon, although such decisions are currently being pushed down the government priority list by the on-going focus on Brexit.

Melbourn is also looking forward to helping support other schools joining the MEP programme, having been recently designated as a hub school.

The MEP Trip to Xi’an was the second of the year to

China for Melbourn students. Earlier in the term, a group of 10 joined 19 from Comberton Village College for the first Cam Academy Trust visit to a new partner school in Beijing. Students joined lessons at the high school linked to the Beijing Institute of Technology, as well as doing plenty of sightseeing in and around the capital.

Melbourn has this term welcomed a record number of new Year 7 students to the college and we hope they are settling in well and enjoying the style and variety of subjects on offer.

Further up the school our Year 10 students are settling into their new GCSE courses, with a mix of new subjects and existing subjects with revised curriculums.

We are looking forward to another action-packed and exciting year at MVC, which starts with our 60th anniversary celebrations on September 27th.

Primary School Summer

Fayre

All the fun of the Fayre

It was a warm, summer evening on Friday 5th July when hundreds of people took time out to visit the Melbourn Primary School Summer Fayre. The stalls were varied and offered something for everyone – from a fun craft stall for the pre-schoolers to express their artistic flair to a coconut shy for the very competitive parents!

Completion of the building works meant the entire field was available to use and the PTFA did this in a very productive way. The Key Stage One children spent time filling

up clear recyclable pint glasses with goodies for the Pot Luck stall – from enticing bright yellow JoJo Bows to a selection of party bag treats; every prize had a fun element. Key Stage Two children put on the very popular ‘Beat the Goalie’ where children were given shots at the goal and the person to get the most goals won a trophy. Another popular stall was ‘Find the Fiver’, where a £5 note or a piece of paper the size

of a £5 note were placed inside a balloon. The player would choose a balloon and pop it to find out whether it was a winner! This was alongside all the fantastic Year 6 stalls – these ranged from guessing what was in the box from just touching the items to firing waterbombs at a target. The queue for the ‘squishies’ tombola was almost as long as for the BBQ, and there were quite a few happy faces walking away from the bottle tombola! The usual inflatable slides were there and this year the addition of ‘Toxic Wipe-out’, where the children stood on an inflatable base and had to jump over or duck under a rotating arm. The scouts provided a fun archery stall and many young children enjoyed a ride on the mini steam train.

Live music was provided by the ‘Social Choir’ and this offered a wonderful backdrop as people sat at the picnic benches tucking into their Hot Dogs and Burgers from the BBQ and beverages from the licensed bar – they even had fresh Watermelon for sale at just 50p a slice!

The PTFA worked extremely hard to put together the Summer Fayre this year, and every year. They use precious hours from their spare time to ensure fun-packed events are put on for the children and their families and then plough 100% of the profits back into the school to help pay for things that the school budget just cannot stretch to. As a parent, I am very grateful to the PTFA for holding these events and supporting the school when government funding for schools is reaching an all-time low.

The takings for this year’s Summer Fayre were up on last year but at the time of writing this the final profits hadn’t been calculated. All monies made from this event will go directly into the ring-fenced pot for the desperately needed improvements to the Key Stage Two block. Jacey Stewart

Intergenerational programme

Since January this year Little Hands Nursery and Moorlands Court have been enjoying the benefits of an intergenerational programme. Every Wednesday a group of pre-school children eagerly walk over to Moorlands Court for an afternoon of fun, interactive activities with the residents. The activities include – ‘funky fingers’ which is usually making mini beasts from air drying clay and pipe cleaners. This is beneficial to the children to work on their fine motor skills and helps the residents at Moorlands Court to stretch out their fingers as much as possible. Another fun activity is a simple ‘memory match’ game where the children and residents work together to find matching pairs hidden on a small board.

A firm favourite of the visit is Rhyme Time. The residents will sing along with the children to the traditional nursery rhymes – and usually help us with some of the verses that have been lost through the generations! Once the traditional nursery rhymes have been sung, the children delight in showing the residents their dancing to ‘hop little bunny’.

As the programme is conducted on a regular basis, the

children and residents of Moorlands Court have built up strong bonds and they all thrive on engaging and learning with each other.

The positive impact of this programme is huge. It goes a lot deeper than a group of 4 year olds visiting a group of residents at a local care home. It helps to combat any fear the children have of the older generation, brings a sparkle to the afternoon for the residents of Moorlands Court and most importantly it boosts the morale for everyone involved.

The initiative was set up for Little Hands Nursery by Melissa Lawrence, who has a close connection with Moorlands Court. Melissa has worked at Little Hands Nursery for two years and is currently studying for her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. Although the initial set-up of the programme took some time and quite a bit of paperwork, Melissa believes it has been worth every minute. The key to success is to be organised and prepare the activities in advance and remember to keep them simple.

Little Hands Nursery is proud of the work it has achieved with the Intergenerational Programme and would like to thank Moorlands Court for allowing us to visit. We look forward to many more fun-filled afternoons with the residents.

Sawston Adult Education

Our new Adult Education 2019-2020 brochure is out now. We have some exciting new courses starting in September, including Woodland Survival and Bushcraft, an Introduction to Sign Language and Cooking with Fish.

Our first round of Saturday Workshops on 28 September include, an Introduction to being a Teaching Assistant, Hand Made Chocolates and Willow Weaving.

All course details are available to view and book online at www.sawstonadulted.org

Alternatively you may contact us via email at community@ sawstonvc.org, or telephone 01223 712424 (9am – 1pm Monday to Thursday from 27 August).

Workers’ Educational Association (WEA)

The next course will commence on 17th September 2019 and end on 26th November. Music for the Cinema, C Green, 10 weeks (½ term 29th October) 10.30am – 12noon. £58.00. Venue: Heritage Hall, Royston Town Hall. www.enrolonline.wea.org.uk

Travelogue

Travelling the Himalayas

Tibet – life on the ‘third pole’

Old Tibetan saying: “In this landscape you feel lost until you realise the sky is your tent”

In my last article on Tibet I provided some background on the history and culture of the country. In this article, I am going to give you my impressions of life on the arid grasslands of the Tibetan plateau in the 21st century.

There has been some romanticising of the image of the noble nomadic Tibetan herding the iconic yak on the extensive grasslands of the plateau. This has partially been nostalgia from those who departed to Nepal in the 1950s with the arrival of the Chinese. In fact, life on the plateau is tough, and although conditions have improved significantly in the last few decades (e.g life expectancy, maternal deaths, infant mortality, access to education) my time in a yak skin tent in sub-zero temperatures is not high on my list of enjoyable experiences!

Although the image of the nomad is probably the one most identified with Tibet, there were in fact historically four main life styles: Drogpa the nomads, people living from pastoralism, Shingba the farmers, Samadrog the people living from farming and pastoralism and Tsongba the traders. The nomads lived in the traditional yak hair tents, moving with their herds to find the best grass. The tents are usually made from yak wool that has been hand spun into yarn, and it takes about a year to make a medium sized tent. The farmers and Samadrog lived in small villages, in houses with mud walls covered in yak dung pats drying for the fire.

Historically, many of these individuals would have worked for the estates of the aristocrats or monasteries. However, although several complex changes in land and property ownership have taken place since the Chinese arrived, the current situation still includes all these categories, together with new ones such as retail in the cities, tourism, construction, industry and mining.

There has been an attempt by the Chinese government to discourage pastoralism with an extensive programme

Photograph by Hildegard Diemberger

of house building and encouragement to sedentarism. It is argued that this is to protect the grassland, but it also provides more effective state control. The causes for grassland degradation are disputed but it is probably due to a combination of climate change, increase in burrowing rodents due to a planned loss of natural predators and some overgrazing, especially of cashmere goats. However, there is still a lot of nomadic pastoralism, which is becoming more profitable with better types of sheep and goats and the increasing price of yak meat due to increasing demand.

Agriculture has become more efficient with better irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides. When I first visited in 2004 ploughing was still carried out with a primitive share using yak teams, threshing and winnowing was still done by hand, and tractors were only available near to the capital. Now this has changed with more mechanisation. Attempts to introduce non-Tibetan crops has generally not been successful as the conditions are so harsh.

Life styles have changed with more use of trucks and motorcycles, and solar panels are often seen outside the tents to power mobile phones, TVs and computers (mobile phone coverage is better than in my cottage in Melbourn!).

Putting yak dung on house wall to dry. Photograph by Bruce Huett

In Mongolia, I have even heard of ‘nomads’ monitoring their camel herds from computers in town, remotely filling water tanks in the desert when needed. Despite this, the cooking is still on yak dung fires, sleeping is under yak wool blankets and Tibetan yak butter tea is always the welcoming drink when one arrives at a tent. This causes problems as the tea needs to be constantly sipped or it congeals, but this results in top ups which it is impolite to refuse and you can imagine the uncomfortable consequential trips to the very primitive hole in the ground latrines!

Tibet has a fairly uniform climate: freezing and dry in winter and mild to cool and dry in summer. There is strong solar radiation because of the high altitude, which causes a large variation between night and day temperatures. Much of the country to the West is semi desert.

Food is largely traditional and very nutritious to help with living in these extreme conditions. Tsampa (roasted barley flour) mixed with yak butter tea is the staple – breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is particularly delicious when moulded into a ball with molasses – very useful on all day trips in the desert with no habitation – the Tibetan equivalent of Kendal mint cake! Yak stews with Tibetan radish (mouli) are delicious and eggs are an occasional delicacy in a village or a monastery. Another tasty dish is the Tibetan dumpling: the momo. These contain meat and/or vegetables and are steamed or fried. When cooking isn’t feasible, air dried meat bitten off the bone is the alternative: good for exercising the jaw! Until the Chinese started to move into rural areas fresh green vegetables and fruit were virtually non-existent, but now Chinese restaurants are appearing on the newly constructed highways across the plateau and greenhouses are quite common. Strangely, although the lakes are well stocked with fish these are not eaten. There are many theories about why this might be, ranging from a king who got ill from eating shellfish, through local interpretation of Buddhist doctrines to a high mineral content in the flesh. There were also problems with the local salt, which did not contain iodine, so goitres were very common in certain areas.

The distinctive and wonderfully decorated traditional clothing is still worn a lot and treasured as a cultural heritage. Simple garments would have traditionally been made at home by knitting or using family looms, which I have seen still being used across the plateau. Chupas are heavy,

wraparound woollen or sheepskin robes or capes worn by both men and women. They are folded across the body and held in place with a sash or belt with a decorated shirt or blouse underneath. Sheepskin hats and highly decorated boots are common.

The women wear elaborate silver jewellery for special occasions, embellished with pearls, jade, amber, semiprecious stones and pieces of conch shell.

In contrast children, can wear a fascinating combination of Nike shoes and traditional Tibetan hats!

In Lhasa, the capital, there is now an interesting combination of traditional Tibetan clothing shops (some aimed at tourists), western fashion shops and some which fuse both styles.

Traditionally, marriage was carefully planned to maximise family wealth, although love could intrude, as it always does. Polyandry, one wife with several husbands, often brothers, is still practised and is legal in certain Tibetan areas of China. It is thought that the main reason for this appearing in societies is to consolidate family animal holdings or land and prevent them being split up between brothers (primogenitor – first son inheriting everything – is not the normal inheritance pattern). The one child policy was waived in Tibet where two children were allowed (the policy has now been abandoned).

Communities would have been co-ordinated by elected village ‘elders’, but this was replaced by Cadres under the Chinese system. They have the difficult role of balancing government directives with local cultural preferences, and in my experience do this fairly skilfully, although now the local Tibetans are being replaced by Han Chinese officials in some areas. Although the Tibetan cadres are nominally affiliated to government policies, I have visited houses of officials where Buddhist imagery, even altars, are present, but often with a picture of Mao on an adjacent wall!

So, the life style still maintains a hint of the mystery and enigma that attracted the Victorian explorers but, like the other places we have visited, it is changing and globalisation is having its effect. I wonder how many of the next generation, now much better educated and travelled, will want to continue the hard life of the nomad on the ‘roof of the world’.

Bruce Huett

Tent with solar panel. Photograph by Bruce Huett

Rural villagers in traditional clothing. Photograph by Bruce Huett

30 High Street Melbourn

Parish Office opening hours:

Please note, the

and may occasionally be

(Alternatively, please

To contact a

to

an

www.melbournpc.co.uk

Village information

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Orchard Surgery

Appointments & Dispensary 260220 For repeat prescriptions send email: prescriptions.orchardsurgery@nhs.net

Hospitals

Addenbrooke’s 01223 245151 Royston 01763 242134

NHS111 – Urgent Care 111

24hr helpline

Medical help when not a 999 emergency

Police Non Emergency number 101 Help when not a 999 emergency

Fire & Rescue Service 01223 376201

Crimestoppers 0800 555111

Neighbourhood Watch debbieclapham@icloud.com

Telephone Preference Service www.tsponline.org.uk 0345 070 0707

EDUCATION

Melbourn Playgroup Jane Crawford 07842 151512 Library LAP Jane Stevens johnjane.stevens@tiscali.co.uk

Little Hands Nursery School 260964 Out of school times 01223 503972 Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231

Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox 223457 U3A (Univ. of Third Age)

Chairman Tony Garrick 01223 510201 Hon Sec Hilary Docwra 222486 Mem Sec Chris Davison 264189 Village College Principal Simon Holmes 223400

HEALTH

Cambs M.P.

Mothers’ Union Pauline Hay 260649

National Trust Marian Bunting 246122 bunting@uwclub.net

New Melbourn Singers Adrian Jacobs 243224

Photographic Club melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com

Ramblers Dave Allard 242677

Royal British Legion Women Elizabeth Murphy 220841

Royal National Lifeboat Institution Jean Emes 245958

Royston and District Local History Society David Allard 242677

Royston Family History Society Pam Wright frierley@ntlworld.com

Royston Lions Chris Cawdell 448236

RSPB Fowlmere Doug Radford 208978

SOAS (Supporters of All Saints’) Colin Limming 260072

Women’s Group Pat Smith 260103

PLACES OF WORSHIP

All Saints’ Church Revd. Elizabeth Shipp 220626 vicar.melbournmeldreth@gmail.com

Churchwardens Roger Mellor 220463

David Farr 221022

Baptist Church Rev. Stuart Clarke 261650

Secretary Brian Orrell 07568 376027

United Reformed Church

Secretary Rosaline Van de Weyer 01223 870869

Hall booking Beryl and Barry Monk 246458

SPORT

Badminton Steve Jackson 248774

Bowls Arthur Andrews 261990

Croquet Janet Pope 248239

Jazzercise Maxine Rustem 07963 161246

Age UK Cambridgeshire

01223 221921 Blood Donors 0300 123 23 23

Chiropodist 263260

Dentist 262034

District Nurses (Primary Care Trust) 01223 846122 Home-Start 262262

S. Cambs PCT 35 Orchard Road

Child & Family Nurses 262861 Car Scheme 245228 Osteopath Kath Harry 261716

LOCAL CLUBS

Air Cadets 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron 249156

Tony Kelly Mon & Wed evenings 7 – 9.30 p.m.

Bellringers Barbara Mitchell 261518 Bridge Club Howard Waller 261693

1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505

Brownies 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272 Guides 1st Melbourn Hilary Marsh 261443 Luncheon Club at Melbourn Hub (Wednesdays) 263303 op1 MADS (Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society)

Donna Sleight 232622

Melbourn History Group Ann Dekkers 261144 Melbourn Mushroom Club John Holden email: frog.end@virgin.net Melbourn Pottery Club Maggie 01223 207307 Meldreth Local History Kathryn Betts 268428

Judo Iain Reid (Chief Instructor) or Lesley Reid 241830 email melbournjudoclub@gmail.com 07974 445710

Melbourn Dynamos FC Gordon Atalker 07770533249

Blake Carrington 07730488743

Melbourn Football Club Simon Gascoyne 261703

Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313

Meldreth Tennis Club Tracy Aggett 243376

Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Community Hall

bookings@communityhallmelbourn.com 07821 656033

Dial-A-Ride 01223 506335

Home Start Tracy Aggett 262262

Melbourn Community Hub 263303

Mobile Warden Scheme Jeannie Seers 07808 735066

Moorlands Denise Taylor 260564

Vicarage Close Warden Eileen Allan 263389

Lead Sheltered Housing Officer – Monday to Friday 9–1.30

Vicarage Close, John Impey Way & Elin Way Eileen Allan Mobile 07876 791419 / 245402

Every other week. 9–5 Monday to Friday

DIARY

SEPTEMBER

Sunday 1

All Saints Said Eucharist BCP 8.00am

Baptist Church Family Service 10.30am URC Communion Service 11am

Baptist Church Communion Service 6pm

Monday 2

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm contact Howard Waller 261693

Tuesday 3

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Melbourn Short Story Reading Group 10–11am The Hub

Wednesday 4

Coffee Break 10.30am Baptist Church New school term begins.

Thursday 5

All Saints Said Eucharist 10am Craft and Chat URC 2 – 4pm weekly

Friday 6

Coffee at URC 10.30am

Saturday 7

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 8

All Saints Sung Eucharist 9.45am Churches Together Songs of Praise, Holy Trinity Meldreth 4pm Baptist Church Morning Baptismal Service 10.30am URC Service 11am

Monday 9

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 10

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am (TT)

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Deanery Mothers’ Union contact Diane Blundell 221415

Royston Choral Society Open Rehearsal 7.45p.m.

Royston Methodist Church

Wednesday 11

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30 – 11.30am;

Coffee Break 10.30am –12noon

Hub Club Lunch 12.30pm

Thursday 12

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 13

Coffee at URC 10.30am

Saturday 14

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 15

All Saints Said Eucharist 8.00am; All Saints ‘Sundays @11’ Family Service 11.00am Baptist Church Communion Service 10.30am

URC Harvest Festival 11am

Monday 16

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 17

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am (TT)

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Wednesday 18

Baptist Church Craft Club 9.30 – 11.30am;

Baptist Church Coffee Break 10.30am –12noon

Thursday 19

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 20

Coffee at URC 10.30am

Melbourn Cinema Night, showing ‘Red Joan’

Saturday 21

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 22

All Saints Harvest Festival and sung Eucharist 9.45am Baptist Church Morning Service 10.30am URC Service 11am

Organ Recital for Harvest All Saints 4.00pm (TBC)

Monday 23

Staff training day Primary School. Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 24

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am (TT) Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm Women’s Group 7.45pm ASCH contact Pat Smith 262575

Wednesday 25

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am; Coffee Break 10.30–12

British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 2pm Melbourn WI ‘After Eights’ ASCH 8pm Comedy evening

Thursday 26

All Saints Said Eucharist 10am Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 27

Staff training day MVC.

Coffee URC 10.30am MVC 60th Anniversary celebrations

All Saints & Holy Trinity Joint Harvest Supper: Meldreth Village Hall 7.30pm

Saturday 28

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Music of Yusuf ‘Cat’ Stevens by Keith James. Melbourn Hub 7pm. Tickets £15

Sunday 29

All Saints Said Eucharist 8am Baptist Church Morning Service 10.30am URC Service 11am

Monday 30

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

OCTOBER

Tuesday 1

Toddlers Plus, Baptist Church 10.30am (TT)

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub Wednesday 2

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am;

Coffee Break 10.30–12

Thursday 3

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am

Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Royston & District Local History Society, Royston Town Hall 8pm

Friday 4

Coffee URC 10.30am

Saturday 5

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am inc. The Bookshelf Sunday 6

All Saints BCP Holy Communion 8.00am

URC Holy Communion Service 11.00am

Baptist Church Morning Service 10.30am

Monday 7

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 8

Toddlers Plus 9.30–11.30am Baptist Church (TT)

Deanery Mothers’ Union

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub

Melbourn Bridge Club 2pm URC Hall

Wednesday 9

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am;

Coffee Break 10.30–12

Hub Club Lunch 12.30pm

Thursday 10

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am

Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 11

Coffee URC 10.30am

Saturday 12

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 13

Sung Eucharist All Saints 9.45am

Baptist Church Morning Service 10.30am

URC Service 11am

Baptist Church Communion Service 6pm

Monday 14

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 15

Toddlers Plus 9.30–11.30am Baptist Church (TT)

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Wednesday 16

Craft Club Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am

Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am–12noon

Thursday 17

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am

Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 18

Coffee URC 10.30am

Cinema Night ASCH 7.30 for 8pm showing ‘Wild Rose’.

Saturday 19

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 20

All Saints Said Eucharist 8am

All Saints Sundays @ 11 Family Service 11am

URC Service 11am

Baptist Church Communion Service 10.30am

Monday 21

Half term week

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 22

Women’s Group 7.45pm ASCH

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Wednesday 23

Coffee Break Baptist Church 10.30am–12noon

Royal British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 2pm

Melbourn WI ‘After Eights’ ASCH 8pm Craft evening

Thursday 24

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am

Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm week

Friday 25

URC Coffee 10.30am

Saturday 26

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

MADS Ghost Walk & Hub Supper Melbourn Hub Tickets £10 (inc. supper)

SOAS Quiz Night

Sunday 27

Sung Eucharist All Saints 9.45am

URC Service 11am

Baptist Church Family Service 10.30am

Monday 28

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 29

Toddlers Plus 9.30–11.30am Baptist Church (TT)

Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Wednesday 30

Baptist Church Craft Club 9.30–11.30am, Coffee Break 10.30–12

Thursday 31

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Light Party, Baptist Church

NOVEMBER

Friday 1

Coffee URC 10.30am

Saturday 2

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am inc. The Bookshelf

Melbourn Primary School PTFA Fireworks

Sunday 3

All Saints Sung Patronal Eucharist 9.45am

Baptist Church Morning Service 10.30am URC Communion Service 11am

Baptist Church Communion Service 6pm

All Saints All Souls’ Service 6.30pm

Monday 4

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 5

Toddlers Plus, Baptist Church 10.30am (TT) Melbourn Short Story Reading Group 10–11am The Hub Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Wednesday 6

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am (TT); Coffee Break 10.30–12

Thursday 7

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am

Craft and Chat URC 2–4pm

Royston & District Local History Society, Royston Town Hall 8pm

Friday 8

Coffee at URC 10.30am Saturday 9

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am Sunday 10

Joint Churches: Act of Remembrance at The Cross War Memorial, followed by Remembrance Service in All Saints Church 10.50am

Monday 11

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 12

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am (TT) Melbourn Short Story Reading group 10–11am The Hub Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm Deanery Mothers’ Union

Wednesday 13

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am (TT); Coffee Break 10.30–12

Hub Club Lunch 12.30pm

Thursday 14

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 15

Coffee at URC 10.30am

Melbourn Cinema Night ASCH 7.30 for 8pm, showing ‘Sometimes, Always, Never’

Saturday 16

Fayre at All Saints 11am–4pm Baptist Church Big Quiz in aid of Tear Fund

Sunday 17

All Saints: Said Eucharist 8.00am; Sundays @11 Family Service 11.00am Baptist Church Communion Service 10.30am URC Service 11am

All Saints Organ Recital for Remembrance–tide 4.00pm

We shall be pleased to receive contributions in any form, articles, poems, drawings, photographs, letters etc., pertaining to Melbourn. Please send any contributions to the Editor, at 110 High Street, Melbourn, marking them ‘MELBOURN MAGAZINE’ or you can email them to melbournmagazine@gmail.com

Monday 18

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 19

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am (TT)

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm

Wednesday 20

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am (TT);

Coffee Break 10.30–12

Thursday 21

Said Eucharist All Saints 10am

Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 22

Coffee at URC 10.30am

Saturday 23

Coffee Stop ASCH 10.30am

Sunday 24

All Saints Sung Eucharist 9.45am

Baptist Church Morning Service 10.30am URC Service 11am

Monday 25

Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 7pm

Tuesday 26

Toddlers Plus Baptist Church 9.30–11.30am (TT) Melbourn Bridge Club URC Hall 2pm Women’s Group 7.45pm Meldreth

Wednesday 27

Baptist Church: Craft Club 9.30–11.30am (TT); Coffee Break 10.30–12

British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 2pm

Melbourn WI ‘After Eights’ ASCH 8pm

Thursday 28

All Saints Said Eucharist 10am

Craft & Chat URC 2–4pm

Friday 29

Saturday 30

Santa’s Grotto The Hub 11am–5pm (Ticketed)

‘Turn on to Christmas’ The Hub 4pm–6pm (Free entry)

Village

Orchard Surgery & Dispensary

Monday to Friday 8:30–1pm and 3pm–6pm

01763 260220

Repeat prescriptions can be made either, by post, in person or by registering to use the online NHS service.

can still be collected from: Surgery Co-op Tesco in Royston

Home Delivery

The surgery offers home delivery service for prescriptions, on a Tuesday & Thursday.

more information on any of the above, please see their website or contact the surgery.

BIN COLLECTION

Bin collection day – TUESDAY

Melbourn Health Visiting Team

Drop in clinics for parents and babies are held as follows: Melbourn clinic every Wednesday between 9.30am and 11.00am at:

Orchard Road, Melbourn.

01763 262861

Help is a

reduce

impact of hearing loss on daily lives.

hold a drop-in Hearing Help session in MELBOURN

the fourth Thursday of every month, from 2.00pm to 4.00pm,

maintenance of NHS hearing aids, including cleaning

re-tubing of hearing aids, supplying free replacement

and free advice on using a hearing aid.

appointment is necessary.

us at Vicarage Close Community Room, Melbourn, SG8 6DY

more information: www.cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk

416141 Text: 07852 699196 enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk

Rural Support Group

note bin dates

an update

Waterlight Film Premiere

Over 50 people crammed into the upper room at the Plough in Shepreth to watch the first showing of the Waterlight film of the river Mel. Expectations were high as many of those present had helped to fund the project. After the excited hum of attendees exchanging experiences of the river and their involvement in the film, all went silent as the lights dimmed and the opening sequence started with gentle sound and evocative images of the river. All was quiet for the 40 odd minutes of the film. When it ended, there was a spontaneous eruption of applause and the lights went up to reveal an audience enraptured by the film.

A brief discussion period elicited only praise for the production but stimulated some discussion on issues of water levels and problems of extraction and potential danger to wild life. The representatives from the River Mel Restoration Group were able to give the audience the benefit of their extensive understanding of the issues and the efforts they were taking to ensure the Environmental Agency was aware of the situation and were taking action.

We were lucky to have representatives from local conservation groups including the Melwood Conservation Group, Cam Valley Forum and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative.

The Melwood representative described the film as “really lovely- actually very moving at times! We thought that the balance between speech, poetry, music and visuals was just right- and the poetry was especially enjoyed”.

The chairman of Cam Valley Forum, an organisation supporting river conservation in the Cam Valley, posted on our website: “Your poetry and the Water Light film were greatly enjoyed by everyone. I thought the eclectic mix of genres in the film was so special and genuinely unique in my experience. It was a wonderful word and picture image of ‘place’ and human belonging, of local history, social history, natural history and much more. The weave of the stream’s images and sounds with your descriptive poetry was technically excellent and deeply memorable. I can’t wait to see it again.”

As similar response greeted the showing in the Community Hall on the 25th July. Despite the heat and thunderstorms about 60 people attended again and responded very positively to the film and the way it captured the character of our beautiful stream.

During the refreshments break people (a mixture of locals and river conservation activists from the surrounding area) mingled and exchanged their memories of the river triggered by the film. Anthony and Sylvia Hopkinson, previous owners of the Bury (the property at the source of

the stream) were present and said the film brought back many happy memories and Sylvia was genuinely touched by a photograph of her grandmother included in the film. Another attendee identified a girl in an old photograph (with a jam jar for fishing) as her mother (this picture is on the website).

We were very glad that many of those who had sponsored or helped to fund the film were present. They were unanimous in their appreciation that the money had been well used to provide a community asset. The representative

The Fordham family and servants pictured for the 1891 census continued on page 40

from TPP (a major science research company in Melbourn who was a significant sponsor) lived locally and said that the film would encourage him to spend more time with his family exploring the wonderful local environmental resource. He described the film as “very loving, a visual caress”. The company wrote: “it sounds like the perfect piece of history for the village to treasure!” – exactly what we were trying to achieve: a heritage resource as well as something to be enjoyed now.

Others described the content as “captivating”, “mesmerising”.

We were very appreciative of the support given by the owners of the Plough for the first showing. They were very welcoming and supportive and also helped out with ensuring the AV worked OK, etc. An excellent venue with a great range of beer and beverages!

We are delighted that the first step in the film distribution has been so successful and we are now planning exciting further distribution plans including Cambridge venues and film festivals. Watch this space!

Again, there was much discussion of the current problems facing the river, and similar ones in the area. One person mentioned three rivers he had visited recently: Little Willbraham, Cherry Hinton Brook and Potton Brook, all off which had dried up in stretches. He also mentioned a recent talk by a civil engineer on the problems caused to these steams by overextraction and inappropriate design of run offs from housing development.

Chris Thomas

Cambridge Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

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Stockbridge Meadows Nature Reserve

Stockbridge Meadows Nature reserve lies on the southwestern edge of Melbourn between Dolphin Lane and the River Mel. At approximately 5.5 hectares, the land comprises extensive areas of regenerating scrub and remnant orchard, together with rough grassland sloping down towards the river.

The northern edge of the site is marked by hedgerow and scrub, which connects to the River Mel to the west. The river meanders to form part of the southern boundary as well, whilst the east of the site is bounded by a combination of scrub and garden boundary vegetation from the adjoining properties.

Surrounded by dense undergrowth in the south of the Nature Reserve is the site of a former medieval manor house, now marked only by its moat. This is believed to be the location of the Trayles Manor House and chapel, which dates back to at least the 14th century when this land was owned by the de Trailly family.

The site is owned and maintained by Melbourn Parish Council following its hand-over by developers around 10 years ago. The nature reserve was originally created as part of the adjacent housing development. Design and survey work was conducted by landscape architects and ecologists and included identification of a number of key habitats for both flora and fauna.

A series of habitat and access improvements were undertaken in 2007 by the developers Manor Kingdom in 2007, in close association with South Cambs District Council. The works provided informal footpaths and a 60m long boardwalk, meadows, new tree and scrub planting, riverside access and new orchards.

A large badger sett is present in the south of the site, and if you search it’s easy to see signs of recent excavations. Muntjac deer are in plentiful supply, the areas of thicket/ scrub provide the dense cover generally favoured by this species.

Damp marsh and wetland areas provide ideal habitat for invertebrates and bird species such as the reed warbler. Buzzard and Red Kites can frequently been seen in the area.

The long grassland, log piles and scrub habitats present provide a range of habitats suitable for reptiles. The reptile protection area near the centre of the reserve provides basking areas and hibernation sites. Two legally protected reptile species occur. The Common Lizard and the Grass snake.

In July 2018 the Parish Council rebranded Stockbridge Meadows as a Nature reserve and resolved that policy decisions move in the direction of protecting wildlife and conservation interests. Our village wardens and contractors can regularly be seen there managing and maintaining this facility. Future

maintenance plans include replenishing the orchard areas, and repairing or replacing the boardwalk, which has reached the end of its shelf-life. I do urge residents and visitors alike to take the opportunity to explore this often overlooked area of Melbourn.

Lastly, this article would not be complete without mentioning the sterling work conducted by Maureen Brierley and the Stockbridge Meadows Volunteers, who work continuously to maintain this excellent facility. If you would like to get involved please do contact me at parishclerk@ melbournpc.co.uk

Simon Crocker, Melbourn Parish Council

Stockbridge Meadows Dolphin Lane, Melbourn

Personal care and a�en�on

Review

Animal Farm

by George Orwell

Imagine for a second that the inhabitants of our farms decided to take over, decided to rebel against us and take control of our society. George Orwell has captured this idea brilliantly in Animal Farm and of how power corrupts when an individual is in charge. The plot is based on the events of the Russian Revolution in 1917 and looks at the ideas of rebellion, freedom and power as one individual rises up and takes control, but in a rather interesting way.

George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903, adopted this pen name and used it more often as his life and views changed profoundly, becoming a political writer and sharing his views on society within his books. This idea is very clearly shown in Animal Farm. George Orwell is famous still in the literary world and his most famous novels, Nineteen EightyFour and Animal Farm, are still read, studied and discussed in schools and colleges and by millions around the world.

The story of Animal Farm begins one night in the cruel Farmer Jones’ Manor Farm when a spark of rebellion is born within the animal society when Old Major, the oldest boar on the farm, shares his dream of a society without human rule where animals could be free from tyranny. The animals react passionately to this idea and work together to kick Farmer Jones out of the farm and run it themselves.

The pigs begin to take charge, with the smartest two (Snowball and Napoleon) as the leaders, and they begin to lie and deceive the other animals to bend them to their will. Napoleon begins to turn on the animals as he demands more power and slowly becomes more and more like the humans that he used to despise.

He then turns the animals on the only thing that could challenge his superiority, Snowball, and casts all of the blame the animals feel due to his growing evil onto Snowball, who is harmless and kind. He uses words and excuses to trick the other animals into believing that life would have been worse under Farmer Jones’ rule as he slowly changes and manipulates the animals and their beliefs to his benefit. As the pigs become more human like, a sinister side starts to show itself in the farm and in its merciless dictator, as the rules that were once sacred to the animals slowly begin to be cast away and forgotten.

Animal Farm has a powerful but easy to understand plot that relays George Orwell’s views cleverly and clearly. It is a magnificent read that really gives an insight into the minds of rulers and it is written in such a way that it is fun to read and relevant still to this day and age.

George Orwell led a short and painful life. He served in the Indian Imperial Police, spent five years in Burma, only to

ruin his health, and his next five years was spent in Paris as a beggar, then a teacher. He then settled down in London as a teacher and journalist, got married, then left in 1937 for six years in Spain as a Republican volunteer in the civil war. Here he nearly died due to being shot in the throat and spending a year with a life-threatening lung haemorrhage. Animal Farm was written shortly before George Orwell’s wife, Eileen, died of heart failure. He spent the last decade of his life in poor health while writing his last novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and in 1950 died of advanced tuberculosis at the early age of only 46.

I highly recommend Animal Farm to readers of all ages as I personally really enjoyed the story and I found it intriguing as well as intelligent. An overall great book. George Stanway aged 14 years

Precious Bane

by Mary Webb Mary Webb was born in Shropshire in 1881. During her formative years she observed the surrounding landscape, spending hours in quiet meditation which later infused her poetry and prose. In her early 20s, she developed a throat goitre; the resulting disfiguration she wove into this novel through the character of Prue Sarn who has a harelip, her own ‘precious bane’. The empathy Mary feels with the suffering of others, and her deep awareness of the emotional isolation of women is mirrored strongly in Prue Sarn, forming the powerful basis for the novel.

Set in Shropshire at the turn of the 19th century, this is an intensely compelling work for many reasons. Prue loves two things deeply, namely, the remote countryside of her birth and – apparently hopelessly – Kester Woodseaves, the weaver: “He stood in the doorway, and I rose up from my seat in the shadows at the back of the room, as if he was my own bidden guest. … for here was my lover and my lord, and behold, I was hare-shotten!” The rural poverty of the time and the prejudice of a largely illiterate community are woven through each page. Yet, it is the independent and steadfast Prue who really holds a reader’s attention.

Prue learns to read and write and she looks constantly for inner beauty in what she finds there. She is industrious and, having the constant hard manual labour of the farm, she is not seen as a normal woman but as the “barn-door savage of Sarn”. No amount of learning can raise Prue beyond her life among the superstitions of her fellow villagers yet she carries on regardless because she wants “to read for myself, and savour it”. Still they see her as “a woman out of a show sure to goodness … a wench that turns into a hare by night … her’ll put the evil eye on you. You’ll dwine away.” Only Kester sees past her precious bane. He sees “A wench with a figure like an appleblow fairy who is as lovely as a lily on the mere”.

In the chapter ‘Dragonflies’, Mary, through Prue, allows the reader to acknowledge the years of observing the surrounding nature. We experience her yearning for acceptance by the

world of her physical disability and her emotional starvation; finally achieving her freedom like a dragonfly through the “wrestling and travailing to get free … Just afore the end, it stayed a long while still, as if it was wondering whether it durst get free in a world all new”. This is the heart of the book. Kester acknowledges that “once out they’re out for good. It costs a deal to get free. But once free, they never fold their wings”. He looks past Prue’s disability and discerns what is truly contained within. He does not see “that if there was anything wrong with a person’s outward seeming, there must be summat wrong with their headpiece as well”. Nor does he follow the prejudice of the rest of his society – which can still exist today.

Clearly Precious Bane is a work about people’s perceptions of others based on their visible disabilities. I have many times wondered how rich and gentle and powerful this legacy of intensive creativity and natural mysticism would have been, had Mary written about a person who we today perceive as normal – but who has a hidden disability such as dyslexia, and is determined to break the bonds of their confining world. Mary writes, “for all they could’na read what I’d written any more than two butterflies in the hedge can read the mile stone”; such people with proper support will eventually like Prue Sarn be able to “read to myself, and savour it”.

Precious Bane is republished in the Virago Modern Classic imprint created to recover neglected women writers. It is also available as a Audio Book where the richness of the Shropshire colloquialisms shine through the narration and make this slightly abridged version an absolute delight.

Catherine Pritchard

I Wrote it Anyway: An Anthology of Essays

Edited by Dal Kular & Caroline Donahue

This is a collection of 29 essays brought together and published for good purpose. The essayists, writers diverse in age, experience, and country of origin are predominantly women, including the Cambridge based past contributor to this Magazine, Kate Swindlehurst. The dedication reads “to everyone who has ever wanted to write”. The financial beneficiaries are two charities associated with the editors – Arts Emergency in the UK and 826LA in the USA – which support young people who otherwise might not have the resources to write.

The benefiting charities provide writing workshops and courses to disadvantaged young people, and link young people with professionals as mentors working in a field identified by the young person. Both work together over a year to achieve the goals they have jointly set. The overall objective is to build confidence, develop personal statements and CVs, and so enable career identification and development.

The 29 essayists set out and explore the issues and challenges which prevented them personally from writing and detail how they confronted and overcame their difficulties. All

of the barriers are of a general nature and are widely applicable to many individuals. Some as manifested, however, are deeply personal to these essayists. The editors’ hope is that struggling writers and young people will relate to and be encouraged by these personal accounts, and that all readers will also gain insight and benefit from the collection.

Although far from the first flush of youth myself, I read this volume and learned much. I was humbled by exposure to the sometimes great pain and travail of the creative writing process, particularly the whys and hows of writing as articulated by these 29 writers. The volume represents instructive content and beneficial lessons certainly for any struggling writer. More importantly, the volume for me makes an implicit ‘statement of claim’ as to why all such creative writers should be assisted to the greatest extent possible.

Also instructive for me was the differing approach of each of the 29 writers to the task allocated – the same task had been allocated to all. Some were autobiographical; some focussed on one overpowering event, experience, or relationship; some were deeply introspective; some open and outward looking; some detailing specific useful nuggets of advice; some were grounded and reassuring; some unsettling and perplexing. But all worth reading and absorbing.

One writer in particular, Valerie Griffen from Dorset, England reached out and found me. I had that day been watching the recent sombre and very poignant commemorations around D Day June 1945 and had listened to very elderly veterans recount their experience and plead ‘Never Again’. I heard them – to a man – imploring of us today that the sacrifice they and their like had made should not be in vain. And this, as before our very eyes war clouds swirl and threaten a hard won peace, and the international institutions we had collectively created to underpin that peace are attacked wantonly without regard to consequence. And all the while our own anti-European Brexit has strengthened rampant nationalism across Europe.

I read and took courage and hope from Valerie Griffen’s short but wonderful essay “Your Knockbacks Propelled Me Forwards”. It alone is worth the modest price of this small volume. She did two things only and did them both very well. She firstly outlined her own experience of writing stating the personal beliefs which underlie her approach and which helped her overcome the searing negativity she experienced. Then, as a coup de grace, she ended with a short story which had brought unforgivable negativity to her (from a tutor no less!) stating firmly: “The short story that triggered it all is below. See...I’m writing it anyway!” That story “Not A Good Year For Runner Beans” is set on an English farm and opens “At 6.08 am on 14 April 1942” and ends six months later with the arrival of a telegram and its consequences. As the D Day veterans who were present on those D Day beaches implored of each of us so eloquently: ‘Never Again’. Let each of us undertake and redouble personal efforts to disperse the war clouds on the horizon – and let ‘Runner Beans’ everywhere across Europe grow and thrive.

Hugh Pollock

Nature

Summer at Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve

Fowlmere RSPB nature reserve has seen a great deal of wildlife over the summer despite the hot and dry weather, when low water levels can affect what is present. Some can be seen by just casually strolling around the site however, the hides are a good place to see much of the wildlife that come to Fowlmere reserve each year. In this article, local birder Ade Cooper sets out his diary for the summer months of June and July. The start of June saw plenty of juveniles fledging. There was successful breeding of Cettis Warbler and a Little Grebe appeared with two youngsters. They can be very secretive – this was the first time the juveniles had been seen. There were several Moorhen broods around the reserve, Coot and Canada Goose had three each of their broods left. But the best newly fledged award went to the two Tawny Owlets, spotted near the Spring Hide.

At the Reedbed Hide a Turtle Dove was heard singing briefly and three Yellow Wagtail were seen on the mere edge – also the first Grey Wagtail of the year. A Spotted Flycatcher was present in the alders and the nesting Lapwing were doing a great job protecting their nest.

The hot sunshine brought out lots of Hairy Dragonflies and Four-Spot Chasers. Damselflies such as Blue-Tailed, Azure, Large Red and Banded Demoiselle were all in abundance. There was a great collection of butterflies including: The Common and Holly Blue, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Orange Tip and Small White. Mammals seen included three Fox cubs, a family of six Stoat, Water Vole, Pipistrelle Bat and Grass Snake.

A bit of rain brought a Dunlin onto the mere edge. The pair of nesting Lapwing did their best to make sure the Dunlin’s visit was brief, but it won in the end and stayed for the rest of the evening.

The Kingfisher returned after an absence of over a month – the juvenile fledglings were seen at the Spring Hide pool. Up to four Yellow Wagtail were feeding on the ever-expanding mud by the mere, which looks as though it could completely dry out again this summer.

During the second week flying at the back of the mere were three Turtle Doves – possibly a female being followed by two males. Great news, as it means there is at least a pair in the area. The following day a male Turtle Dove was heard purring away for at least two-and-a-half hours, flying back and forth from a willow on the Shep over to the Drewer Hide area. More fledglings were seen including Reed Bunting, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.

A Bee Orchid was out on the small meadow near the Drewer Hide and Water Vole still showing in front of Drewers.

Four days of almost constant rain and cooler temperatures were tough on any newly fledged birds.

Stoat watching me – watching it!

Banded Demoiselle

Bee Orchid

The good news was finding a pair of Tawny Owl young in the poplar wood and when disturbed they didn’t move off, but adopted a sleek, slender pose to look like a stump!

Now the bad news – the Lapwing nest was attacked by a Carrion Crow! Such a shame as the eggs were about two days from hatching. However, the following day there was a glimmer of hope, the female Lapwing was sitting on the nest. It seems the Crow didn’t get all the eggs.

In the third week, the Lapwing – sadly did lose the eggs and unfortunately abandoned the area. The three Turtle Doves were still seen together and the two males were heard singing at the same time with display flights. A Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling halfway along the boardwalk in the early morning and a Hobby was seen hunting over the mere. A reserve scarcity in the form of a Greenshank arrived on the mere edge, the first south bound wader.

By the fourth week of June a family of Little Grebes were seen on the mere, three adults, one first brood juvenile and a second brood fledgling, there were also two Little-Ringed Plovers, and the reserve’s first Black-Tailed Godwit of the year. One Little Egret came in for a brief visit. A Nuthatch also made an appearance in the poplar wood and its distinctive call was heard for a couple of minutes.

More rain and a lot of cloud but warming up with a Coal Tit and a male Marsh Harrier making an appearance. A pair of Tufted Ducks were on the mere alongside visiting Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtails. The Turtle Doves were heard singing every day. A pair was also seen flying together with the possibility they were going to nest!

A newly hatched Little Grebe was seen being fed by a parent and five Green Sandpipers dropped in to spend the next few days refuelling. Another young Tawny Owl was found calling in the centenary wood, which makes three successful pairs of Tawny Owl, fledging five young between them!

Little Egret

The hot weather meant that there were plenty of insects to see. Dozens of Meadow Brown, Large Skippers and Ringlets, a Marbled White and a couple of Painted Lady. The first Common Darter was seen on the reserve. An Otter was seen at the Spring Hide.

The start of July turned out to be uncomfortably hot, the Little-Ringed Plovers left the Reserve in the first few days of July. The Green Sandpipers also left. A Redshank was seen on

Lapwing and Redshank

Greenshank

Black-Tailed Godwit

Tawny Owl

Despite the heavy rainfall in July the mere is virtually dry as seen in this picture taken in early August. Grass is now growing as shown on the right of the mere. Some of the springs on the reserve have been blocked to prevent the water being pulled back into the aquifers, although water is pumped into the Shep 24 hours a day to keep it flowing.

the mere mud and a large flock of Lapwing had gathered on the mere edge. Yellow Wagtail and Corn Bunting continued to visit the mere. The male Turtle Dove was seen feeding on the mud. The young Tawny Owl from the poplar wood were

The fourth week of July saw some much-needed rain, after which the mere just about passed as a wader scrape. There was no sign of early autumn movement, but several nice sightings of an adult male Marsh Harrier, heavily in moult, made a number of visits to the reserve. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was also seen, so it looks like a Harrier pair did nest somewhere nearby. The Cettis Warbler had a second brood of four newly fledged juveniles and the Spotted Flycatcher was found feeding young. Adult and juvenile Water Rail and two Teals were seen from the Reedbed Hide while it was raining. Turtle Dove

Close shave for duckling

very mobile and had moved to the tall trees at the far end of the car park. There were also two fully fledged Barn Owls on the reserve. The regular visits by three Grey Herons nearly proved fatal for one newly hatched duckling on the mere and was only saved by the heroics of the female Mallard that actually flew into the Heron as it attacked the chick.

Mid July is the time of year that many species start their post breeding moult. The mere had almost dried up and could, within a week, be completely gone. When this happens the area will be unattractive for birds so virtually nothing will be seen. The Turtle Dove was regularly seen feeding on the reed line and watched singing from a willow along the Shep. The Lapwing were still gathering with the count at 53. Yellow Wagtail were often present including the first juveniles of the year. At this half-way stage of the year, 115 bird species had been recorded on the reserve.

By the third week the reserve was very quiet with nothing particularly note-worthy. Up to 78 Lapwing gathered on the mere mud and there were also 55 Greylag Geese. A female Marsh Harrier had been reported and the Spotted Flycatcher was still around the old cress hut, but elusive. Soaring temperatures didn’t help with birds hiding in the shade.

Spotted Flycatcher

This article is a synopsis of the summer months of June and July at Fowlmere Bird Reserve taken from the website produced by Ade Cooper and Caroline Scott. To see the full version and other interesting visits Ade and Caroline have undertaken in the UK and abroad, visit www.cooperandscott.wordpress.com

Buntingford business celebrating

years

Churches Together

All Saints’, Melbourn and Holy Trinity, Meldreth

We have enjoyed a sunny summer, at least up to the time of writing, with the joy of weddings at All Saints and a very enjoyable and well supported fete at Holy Trinity. August has given us a time to pause and catch our breath, whether at home or away, and we hope to be ready for everything that the next few months will bring.

We are planning and looking forward to special services and events in the parish churches and with our friends from the Baptist and United Reformed Churches. On Sunday, 8th September, there will be a Churches Together Songs of Praise at Holy Trinity, Meldreth, giving an opportunity to sing a wide variety of hymns.

Celebration and thanksgiving are one theme at this time of year, with Harvest Thanksgiving services at All Saints (22nd September) and Holy Trinity (29th September) and the joint parishes’ Harvest Supper (27th September). At All Saints, we celebrate our patronal festival on 3rd November – a chance to think about the church, both people and building, and what its past, present and future mean to us.

In the present and for the future, our care of the churches depends on the generous giving of time, skills and money. Fundraising events will include the Car Show (22nd September) and the Christmas Tree Festival at Meldreth, and the Autumn / Christmas event (16th November) at Melbourn.

Another theme at this time is remembering those who have died. We can mark our personal memories by lighting a candle at the All Souls’ service (Sunday 3rd November 6.30pm), and join in corporate acts of remembrance at the war memorials (Sunday 10th November).

September brings the start of the new school year and seems a good time to remind you that Sunday Schools meet in both churches during the 9.45am service as follows: » Melbourn 2nd Sunday of the month » Meldreth 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month

At Melbourn on third Sundays (15th September, 20th October, 17th November) there is Sunday@11, a shorter, less formal service for people of all ages, and at Meldreth on 13  October there is Messy Church. I look forward to celebrating and remembering with you. Mary Price, Associate priest Website: www.allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk Facebook @ASMHTM

United Reformed Church

Christian Aid

We held a Churches Together Christian Aid Service on Sunday 12th May, with all denominations taking part. We watched a short film about the plight of women giving birth in Sierra Leone, where women travel miles on foot to get to a health clinic. We saw what a difference it made with the arrival of a midwife in one community, as there have been no deaths after her arrival. Marie Lucchetta-Redmond from Christian Aid talked to us about the film and the work of Christian Aid. We enjoyed a ‘bring and share’ tea in the hall afterwards. We hosted a Churches Together soup lunch and barbecue after morning worship on Sunday 28th July and the money raised was given to Christian Aid.

Katherine Jenkins

A member of our congregation went to hear Katherine Jenkins sing live at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 15th May. Katherine was accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra, so having a live orchestra was an added bonus. She sang four sets of three songs with orchestral pieces in between. Katherine sang songs from her latest CD including ‘Jealous of the Angels’ and ‘Xander’s Song’, which she has sung on Songs of Praise. Her beautiful voice filled the auditorium and was very emotive. It was also interesting to hear her version of more popular songs sung in her powerful operatic voice. She finished with ‘Music of the Night’ and ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ and sang Queen’s ‘We are the Champions’ as an encore which brought the house down.

Harvest

We are celebrating harvest thanksgiving on Sunday 15th September. Our morning worship will be followed by a soup lunch and the produce will be sold afterwards with proceeds going to Jimmy’s Night Shelter in Cambridge. We invite you to come and join us in the celebration.

Richard Lewney Talk

Richard Lewney is the Eastern Synod representative in a group going on a guided educational visit exploring parts of Israel, the occupied West Bank, annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The aim is to learn about their peoples, religions, politics and cultures, with particular focus on meeting Palestinian Christians in order to appreciate the immense challenges faced by the indigenous churches and their members. The visit will explore some of the principal historical sites relating to the Abrahamic faiths. Richard is coming to our church on Friday 25th October at 7.30pm to share his experiences and learning from the visit. You are very welcome to join us for the evening.

Walking coast to coast in aid of All Saints Church Melbourn

In 2015, three chaps decided that they should give themselves an annual walking challenge. We had been friends through Scouting initially, for more than 50 years. One of our group, from Royston, is Trustee for a charity named UNCLE which supports 2 orphanages in Nepal. Some of you know him or at least know of him. That year and in the following 2 years we walked nearly 100 miles in 7days, on the Isle of Man, Isle of Wight and Jersey raising around £5000 for UNCLE.

In 2018, I was unable to join the team on their (almost) 500mile walk on the Compostella de Santiago Camino when between them they raised around £15000 for their 2 charities.

For 2019, from the 5th September until 17 September we will be back together again walking the (Wainwrights) Coast to Coast from St Bees in the west to Robin Hood Bay in the east. Around 200 miles.

Recently, the Royston community experienced a great shock when their beautiful Grade 1 Listed church suffered tremendous damage following a fire. My understanding is that the probable cause was related to electrical wiring. I think we all realise that the wiring in many old buildings is itself old and should have been replaced years ago. I am told that this applies to All Saints Melbourn. The matter has come to the fore in recent discussions about the Legacy from the estate of David Piggott.

It is proposed that the current lighting and heaters be replaced using these legacy funds which I feel sure will prove very popular with all members of, and visitors to, the church. The resultant survey shows that, in addition to the cost of the

units and associated installation, there is a need to effect an element of rewiring due to its non-suitability.

In addition, following a recent Fire Risk Survey it was established that replacement Fire Extinguishers are required. These will cost £200.

To this end I am proposing that my charity for 2019 will be All Saints Melbourn Church with all monies raised being used to contribute to the costs of these 2 requirements. Would you all consider sponsoring me in my endeavours?

There will be a sponsor sheet on the notice board in the church. There is also a site set up on www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ronald-sutcliffe in the name of All Saints Melbourn.

Many thanks to all who will assist in the preservation of our wonderful village church.

Ron Sutcliffe, ron@thesutcliffes.com, Tel 01763262530.

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

S.O.A.S

an interview with George Howard

When we talk about SOAS, we are not referring to the School of Oriental and Asian Studies, but to The Supporters Of All Saints Church, Melbourn.

SOAS was the brain child of George Howard, who set his ideas before the PCC as early as 1987, but the idea of seeking help to maintain the historic building which is All Saints Church outside the confines of the congregation was frowned upon. George’s idea was born out of the success of the ASMOF campaign (All Saints Melbourn Organ Fund) when he sought to raise money for the refurbishment of the organ. It was not until George discovered, in 1993, that Holy Trinity in Meldreth had formed the Friends of Holy Trinity without any apparent resistance that he decided to go ahead off his own bat.

Of course, the name ‘Friends of’ had already been taken by our sister church, so George’s idea was to settle for ‘Supporters’. The aim was to reach out to residents who might attend either of the other flourishing churches in the village, or might indeed be sceptics or agnostics. Either way, he was convinced that most people quite liked having a picturesque Norman building as a centrepiece of the village and would be prepared to support the FABRIC of the church rather than what went on inside it. How right he was.

A committee was quickly formed and Charity Commission status was achieved and with his ability to sell ice creams to Eskimos (Innuits doesn’t quite sound the same) SOAS was up and running.

Over the years SOAS has put on concerts both classical and choral, armchair chats with celebrities such as conductor Vilem Tausky and cellist Paul Marion, whist drives, Bingo evenings, games evenings, treasure hunts, many ‘Round the World’ themed suppers, Open Gardens (first done by SOAS) and more quizzes than you could shake a book of raffle tickets at. Taking part in Church Bazaars, whilst other members of the committee put on lavish craft stalls, George sits there

selling his fiendish Christmas Quiz which sells for a pound and gives competitors two months to complete. SOAS prizes are notoriously naff, but it is the glory of winning that matters!

SOAS have produced Church coffee mugs, SOAS pens with a deliberate spelling mistake and endless prizes donated by well-wishers and local firms. They haven’t yet produced a T-shirt!

‘The thing which thrills me most’ George told me, ‘is the fact that our supporters come from all denominations and religions and those of no faith at all. All the supporters are united in one thing – a desire to keep a historic building in a safe condition. Mavis and I are frequent visitors to Maastricht, where a regular port of call is a huge church in the city centre which has been turned most sympathetically into a book shop with a coffee bar. The atmosphere is delightful. I would like to think that if, for any reason, the Church of England had to abandon our church for worship purposes, it would still stand there as a fine example of Norman architecture and a reminder of how our ancestors lived, even though the building had been put to more secular use.”

SOAS have, over the years raised over £80,000 which has been spent on the Maintenance of All Saints building and its furniture in accordance with the Charity Commission license – a not inconsiderable achievement. £6,000 was given to the modernisation of the heating system, £3000 towards improving access to the roof for maintenance, £31,000 for restoration of the tower and nearly £8,000 for repairs to plasterwork – an ongoing struggle to keep the building safe. An aging and dwindling congregation can no longer cover these costs.

In 2008 George introduced the 100 Club which has proved very popular, and of course Mavis and Anne Ford started making recycled greetings cards which are still being made today (Jane Stevens is now involved). The cards are on display both in the church (where an honesty bag regularly produces a couple of pounds) and at Coffee Stop where they have a solid core of customers. The Saturday morning Coffee Stop, run by volunteers, is not officially a SOAS function but benefits from its proceeds which are boosted by Jane and Alan Brett’s Bookshelf and Marjorie Shaw’s calendar sales.

George would be the first to admit that he is not getting any younger – in fact at 86 he should be taking a back seat. But SOAS need more people to become involved – the village has grown so much over the past 20/30 years and surely all these newcomers must appreciate the historic centre of the village and champion its conservation? Membership of SOAS is only £5 a year, £7 for a family membership and there is always a discount for members on SOAS events. The 100 Club costs £1 a month for a share in the monthly draw.

If you are interested in joining SOAS, or wish to know a little more about their activities do please get in touch with George (on 260686) – he’s a jovial fellow. Remember, none of the money raised is used for religious purposes – it must all go towards the preservation of the building. SOAS would love to have new members, and new committee members with new ideas to take us forward into this 21st century.

Sports & Clubs

Bowls

Arthur Andrews 261990

Bridge Club

Howard Waller 261693

1st Melbourn Rainbows

Abigail Roberts 261505

Brownies – 1st Melbourn

Stephanie Clifford 220272

Croquet

Janet Pope 248342

Football Club

Andrew Edwards 223109

Dynamos Football Club

Les Morley 07739 593771

Guides – Ist Melbourn

Hilary Marsh 261443

Melbourn Judo Club

Iain Reid 241830

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

Swimming Club

Jenny Brackley 244593

Tennis (Melbourn)

Dave Liddiard 07508 995 781

Tennis (Meldreth)

Tracy Aggett 243376

1st Melbourn Guides

It’s official: all Guides must have adventures! We have therefore been doing the skills builder ‘Explore’ badge, starting with map-reading games and progressing to a tea-light representation of the Plough and the Pole star. The following week we explored the flora and fauna of Riverside Park, tasting hawthorn leaves, daring to touch deadnettle, spotting Muntjac deer, and searching for snakes in the grassland. No explorer should go hungry, so on another evening we made healthy flapjack snacks with the addition of nuts, seeds and dried fruit. A sleepover and hike at Cottered Guide centre featured very little sleep, and a five-mile hike during which we hunted for geocaches and had stickyweed wars.

The unofficial rule of Guides is that there must be regular cooking competitions. This term’s challenges were a Chinese stir-fry with a free choice of ingredients and flavourings, and decorated strawberry shortcakes.

Six new girls made their Promises this term, and the ceremony was preceded by a drama challenge to demonstrate the keeping of the Promise, whilst the Guide Law was explored through a customised version of Snakes & Ladders.

The highlight of the term was a trip to Clip & Climb in Cambridge; we hired the whole venue and so had full use of all the climbing walls and the slide. Even the leaders had a go!

We played Softball on the rec to celebrate 4th July, then finished the term with tent pitching practice prior to our summer camp at Thriftwood Scout Campsite.

If you would like to know more about joining our waiting list or becoming a leader, or if you have any skills, charities or interests which you would like to share with us, please contact me on: 01763 261443 or email: melbournguides@gmail.com

Hilary Marsh

Hike in trees and time to restClip & Climb slide

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.slade.allard@gmail. com or Lesley Abbiss (01763 273463). There is also a poster displaying walks for the current month in Royston library, Royston Museum & Art Gallery 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. Halfday walks (5–7 miles) are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Our evening walks (3–5 miles) on a different day each week will resume on 27th April 2020. Prospective new members 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 may be ordered by post from David Allard 01763 242677. They may also be purchased at the Royston Museum & Arts Gallery in Kneesworth Street (open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.) and some are available at the Cave Bookshop in Melbourn Street or at Royston Library.

Our evening meetings are held in the Heritage Hall (the main hall downstairs) Royston Town Hall on the first Thursday of the month starting at 8pm. They will resume on 3rd October 2019 and continue monthly thereafter until May 2020.

» 3rd October Archaeological Excavation at Wimpole, illustrated Paddy Lambert

» 7th November “The Seven Deadly Sins (and a few lively virtues) illustrated Dr Lynne Broughton Annual membership £5 (Sept-Aug) (Under 18s half price) Visitors £2

Our annual coach outing is on Saturday 6th June 2020 to Windsor.

Melbourn Bridge Club

It is the Club’s 10th anniversary in September and we shall have a couple of surprises, a couple of entertainments as well as some serious Bridge. It was also suggested that our members should write their own comments regarding the Club and they were given carte blanche to express their views, good or bad, writing for the Melbourn Magazine.

We asked Steve Baker and Keith Robbins to write for Monday and Carole Todd for Tuesday.

Monday

“Monday night Bridge at Melbourn offers a great chance for experienced players to test their wits against each other in an extremely friendly and fun environment. The evening is organised and run with a light touch, with everyone having a good time, which is central to the ethos of the Club.

“The Bridge itself is played with a good level of competitiveness but in a spirit of camaraderie always, with the idea that everyone is there to have a fun evening. For those wishing to advance their game there is the opportunity to examine the day after how well (or badly) they have played, thanks to the brilliant Bridge Webs website that is available for all to view. Results of the evening sporting combat are usually available to view by midday on the Tuesday.

“For many of us the Monday duplicate bridge session is a highlight of the week, enjoyed in a truly friendly but competitive atmosphere, refreshed by coffee, tea and biscuits provided by the hosts.

“For anyone tempted to try Bridge for the first time, or former players curious to see if they still have what it takes, they will be very warmly received on a Tuesday afternoon, when all are welcomed at what is the friendliest club in the region.”

Tuesday

“Judging by the numbers of us making our way to the United Reform Church every Tuesday afternoon, the Bridge Club is thriving! We regularly have ten or more tables with four players on each, where we try to improve on our score from the previous week. Some of those who attend also play on the Monday evening session, but there are many of us who simply enjoy spending the afternoon with like-minded friendly people. The skills and knowledge are passed on from the excellent players to those of us who haven’t been playing for very long, and all members are generous in their support for one another.

“The Tuesday afternoon is a social event too, and this year included Easter Eggs on each table. One of our members, Chris Norris, kindly organised the second annual Bridge Holiday for the club. Twenty-eight members went to a hotel near Grantham called the Belton Woods Hotel, which has beautiful grounds including a golf course and a swimming pool. All the facilities were enjoyed by those who went.

“There was a tutor for each morning session, who engaged the participants in various aspects of playing bridge, and then, after a free afternoon and a delicious evening meal, the evening was spent playing Bridge alongside others who were at the hotel.”

As always new players are welcome and should contact Howard Waller 01763 261693.

Rotary Club of Cambridge

Sawston – Community & Youth section

The major enterprise during the early part of the Autumn term is to contact all the secondary schools in and around Sawston and encourage them to enter a team in the Annual Rotary ‘Youth Speaks’ competition. This is for youngsters in

school years 10 and 11, and usually takes place towards the end of November each year. If you know of a school who would like to take part then please let us know.

In November 2018, we had two teams from Bassingbourn Village College, one from Bottisham Village College, one from Sawston Village College and one from The Perse Upper School in the competition we organised. This event took place on 28th November in the Henry Morris Hall of Sawston Village College.

The Bassingbourn Village College ‘A’ team of 3 female students won our event, and then took part in the Rotary District 1080 competition that was held in the Freemason’s hall in Cambridge on Saturday 9th March this year. The Bassingbourn VC team did not win that time; success on that occasion went to The Perse Upper School Senior team (not the same team who participated in the November competition).

Our second activity will be to organise our club members to help collect money for the BBC Children in Need fundraising event in November, when we will again be using our Pudsey Bear suit to help raise money at Tesco Super Store in Fulbourn, Cambridge on Friday 15th November, and outside the new Co-operative Store in Sawston on Saturday 16th November 2019. Last year we raised a total of £1,685 at the 2 venues, and Pudsey also visited The Bellbird and Icknield Schools to promote the fundraising. These are fun events that not only promote the Rotary Club in the Community but also raise money for such a great cause.

We are always looking for new members, the more we have the more we can do in the Community.

We’re a friendly, very active club of men and women from mainly South Cambridgeshire villages. You will know of us best as organizers of the Sawston Fun Run. Please look around our website to learn more about our wide range of activities.

www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1627

Our weekly meeting is held on a Tuesday evening at The George Inn, Babraham, where we enjoy fellowship, a good, reasonably priced meal and inspiring speakers.

We warmly welcome new members, so if you’re interested in helping your community at home or abroad, please contact: Vic Starkey: 01223 871568, or vicstarkey@btinternet.com Hugh Paton, Chair of the Community & Youth Committee.

Melbourn Dynamos

All welcome!

https://melbourndynamosfc.wordpress.com

Founded in 2003, Melbourn Dynamos FC is a thriving and 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 Adults.

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. With the support of our fundraising and community partners, we are

making the club more inclusive by assisting players whose families are unable to afford the necessary fees.

We regularly host tournaments on behalf of the Royston Crow Youth Football League and these raise funds for our Club and our nominated charity, Tom’s Trust www.tomstrust.org.uk . MDFC was awarded Charter Standard status in 2009 and all our coaches are DBS checked and are FA qualified to at least Level 1.

This season we have more than 200 players in 20 teams at the Club. We also have our youngest players – the Dynamites – who are 3–6 old and train in both mixed and girls-only sessions each Saturday morning. Our club is committed to developing our players through respect of fair play and a love of the game. This approach wins the respect of other clubs as well as providing the skills and commitment to win leagues and cup finals.

MDFC is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of the whole community. Many of you will have seen the great news announced on our Community facebook page about the full size all weather sports court for Melbourn www.facebook.com/melbourndynamoscommunity/.

Discussions with the Football Foundation are going well and we hope that with the support of our community partners we will soon have this fantastic new facility for the village. We have every confidence that with our fundraising and contributions from our community partners, substantial funding from the Football Foundation will be granted. This project is central to the continuing success and development of the club as well providing a much needed facility for the village. Thanks to the support of our members and the wider community, our fundraising last season has raised substantial amounts for this project and we hope and expect that it will now go forward and be ready in time for the start of the season in September 2020. For more information about the progress of this community project then please follow us on our Community facebook page.

Our youngest players – the Dynamites, 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 qualification in June 2015 and is 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 girls and boys train with level 2 and level 1 FA qualified coaches in a Saturday morning fun between 09.15 -10.15 a.m. 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. We have a separate session for Dynamites Girls to help them enjoy football and form the basis of our future girls’ league teams. This season we aim to build on the success of the Lionesses in the World Cup by

Banish niggling aches and pains!

A MBER H EALTH

attracting more girls to join the club and form Girls’ teams in addition to those who already play in mixed teams. We are offering free training for Girls aged from 4-8 at Melbourn Sports Centre from 9.15–10.15 on Saturday Mornings. For more information contact Dee on 07951 289565.

This season we are pleased to announce that we also have a Men’s Team who will play on Sundays. Please make contact (details below) if you are over 16 and would like to play for us.

We are grateful to Melbourn Village College for hosting the club’s Presentation Day on Sunday 2nd June. This was a successful and enjoyable day which celebrated the success of all of our players and raised money for the club and for our nominated charity Tom’s Trust – www.tomstrust.org. uk. As one of our players, he gave his name to the Tom Whitely Community Award. This is awarded each year to the player who best demonstrates the club’s commitment to our Community through volunteer work. This year Andrew Whiteley, Tom’s father, presented the award to Harley Demarais who provides a great example of this work for club and community.

The club’s success depends entirely on enthusiastic members and volunteers. Our continuing success and growth means that we need even more volunteers. If you feel that you would like to contribute to the club as an administrator, communications leader, fund-raiser, fixtures secretary, 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 from the club’s Website: https://melbourndynamosfc. wordpress.com. The Club are always keen to hear from new players, and new volunteers so please contact us via our Secretary, David Atkins on 01763 263462 or secretary.mdfc@ gmail.com, https://melbourndynamosfc.wordpress.com or find us on facebook, ‘Melbourn Dynamos Community’ www.facebook.com/melbourndynamoscommunity/

Melbourn Football Club

As we are currently preparing to start a new season in the Mead Plant and Grab Division 2A we can reflect on a successful season for the club which resulted in the team being promoted from Division 3A. This achievement has been down to the hard work put in by the management team of Ben Fox and his assistant Jamie Cockburn and other members of the Committee, along with the support of our sponsors and of course our players, who have at times, played with fantastic team spirit and camaraderie as well as a skilful blend of football.

As I have just mentioned we have been supported well by several businesses from the village with generous donations allowing us to purchase new kit and training equipment and on behalf of the club I would like to thank: Shire Tree Surgery; T J Plastering; P J Deards Plumbing; MJF Construction

All of these are small businesses from within our community and as well as thanking them I would ask that as a community we also support them.

Following the success of the 2018/19 season it was decided to hold a presentation evening for the players and their partners with our sponsors also being invited. This was held at The Old Bull Inn Hotel in Royston and it turned out to be a great success with all enjoying a pleasant meal with music and dancing afterwards. The presentations were made by Ben and Jamie with a guest video appearance, all the way from Majorca, from the Club Chairman Mick Walker, the awards for the evening went to the following:

Players Player – Carlin Pipe Managers Player – Jason Gray Golden Boot – Ollie Pemberton Clubman – Dan Gorman Keith Barrell Missed Penalty Award – Benny Wright

All of these were deserving winners (Sorry Benny) and will hold these trophies for the next year.

After such a positive season an idea of sharing our success was put forward by Ben and voted in unanimously by the committee. This idea was that we should share our success by donating 25% of any monies raised from fund raising events like our Quiz nights, Christmas Raffle, Dog Racing Evening and the Last Man Standing competition (this is a fun way of raising funds and is based on each participant predicting ten Premiership match results, having to nominate a winning team each week but only using them once during the competition). It was also agreed that the winner of the Players Player award would nominate his chosen charity on behalf of the club and we are proud to say that Carlin has nominated MIND the mental health charity. I would ask all readers of this magazine to look out for our fund-raising events and support them in anyway that you can by entering a team in the quiz or just buying a raffle ticket as we will donate 25% of the proceeds to this excellent and important charity. We hope to be able to do this each year and the Players Player for the forthcoming season will be able to nominate their preferred charity next year.

Moving forward into the new season the club are already

Harley Demarais presented with the Tom Whitely Community Award by Andrew Whiteley, Tom’s father.

Little Hands Nursery School The Moor, Melbourn

holding training sessions twice a week to run off the summer excesses and are arranging friendly fixtures against local teams to achieve match fitness. New players are welcome and if you are interested in joining Melbourn Football Club as a player, committee member or even as a supporter then please contact the Team Manager, Ben Fox on 07930 650036 or our Club Secretary, Simon Gascoyne on 07732 613555 or you can e-mail him on simon_gascoyne@hotmail.com

You can also find us on social media and can follow us on Twitter @Melbourn_FC, Facebook www.facebook.com/ MelbournFC and our website www.melbournfc.com

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

We have loads on offer this season, with something for the whole community to get involved with…. So why not come along and find out more about your local sports centre!

Come in out of the cold!

With Autumn, fully upon us and the nights closing in, why not come in out of the cold and have a go at such activities as table tennis, squash or badminton? Court hire from only £5.00 per hour. We have loads of classes to keep you fit and healthy, including Boot camp, Aquafit and Body Sculpture.

Or why not take advantage of one of our great membership schemes to our fitness suite, which houses the latest in gymnasium equipment, including C.V machines fitted with audio visual technology.

Half Term Activities

Children’s Half Term is fast approaching, an ideal time to book your young ones onto one of our great activity courses. These include swimming crash course, soccer camps, trampoline taster sessions and our popular Ofsted PlayScheme.

Party Time!

Looking for the perfect venue to hold your children’s birthday or Halloween party? Then your search is over! We have all the facilities here for a fun-packed event with a variety of activities for your guests to enjoy, including trampolining (always a popular choice), football and traditional pool parties.

Mini Triathlon / Duathlon Event

Finally, after last year’s success, we will also be running another Mini Triathlon or Duathlon event on Saturday 14th September. Younger children will have the chance to either Scoot or bike around a course and then do a short run, with the older children having a chance at competing in a swim, bike and run event. This year will also see adults compete in a swim and run event too. Full details will be released nearer the time.

Swimming Lessons

We still have plenty of spaces on our pre-school lessons, so for more details or to book a place then please contact Robbie or Graham on 01763 263313

Waterplay These pre-school swimming lessons are an ideal first step for your child learning to swim, with the aims to build confidence in water, learning basic skills like floatation and movement using buoyancy aids.

» Tuesdays: 13.30 – 15.00 (30 min lessons)

» Thursdays: 13.30 – 15.00 (30 min lessons)

» Fridays: 10.30 – 12.00 (30 min lessons)

» Prices: £4.00 per lesson (paid termly)

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 soon.

Activities for teenagers and young adults

Teen Training An hour fitness session using our fitness suite machines. Age range: 14 years upwards

» Date: Monday – Fridays / 15.00 – 16.30 & Weekends 14.00 – 15.00 | Price: £2.50 per session/10 sessions for £20.00

Melbourn Sports Centre, The Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6EF 01763 263313 / www.mc-sport.co.uk / info@mc-sport.co.uk

Grinnel Hill BMX Club

Spring saw further development of the upper part, and new additions to the lower half of the site. Since then there’s been many club members returning from far and wide, including all the way from Europe, America and New Zealand!

Also, a couple of years ago we installed owl and kestrel boxes around the site to remain sympathetic to the fact in the past the field used to be a conservation area. Well we’re happy to report we now have a resident tawny owl in one of our boxes!

Finally, there are again plans for our annual End of Season Jam over the August Bank Holiday as a fundraising exercise for the club!

The club is open annually April to September.

Brand new purpose built site

CP

12

becoming a seasonal member for £50 (April to

day member (per session) for £10.

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.

more details and to download your membership form today

visit; www.grinnelhillbmx.co.uk

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

ETERNIT ANGLING CLUB

ETERNIT ANGLING CLUB

Consessionsfor

JKL Tackle

Open 6 days a week

What’s On

Royston Choral Society

Open Rehearsal Tuesday 10th September 7.45p.m.

Royston Methodist Church

Open Rehearsal is an opportunity for aspiring new members to come along and sing with. New members are always welcome – particularly Tenors!!

High Sherriff of Hertfordshire’s Charity Concert

September 28th 7.30 pm Haileybury College

Royston Choral Society will be taking part in the massed choirs event helping to raise funds for Hertfordshire Community Foundation to help varied local charities in the county.

Elgar – Dream of Gerontius

Sunday 3rd November 7.30 pm Haileybury College

Additional performances include our Christmas and Summer concerts featuring a range of styles.

Contact our Chair, Huw Jenkins 07855 311192 or email chair@roystonchoral soc.org.uk

Full details on our website www.roystonchoralsoc.org.uk

Why Not Join Me And Celebrate

THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF Barry Palser’s SAVOY JAZZ MEN

11am till 11pm

21st & 22nd September 2019 at the Cambridge Motel, Shepreth, SG8 6RA

MUSICIANS INVITED TO ATTEND/PLAY

Peter Rudeforth, Lord Arsenal, Mike Cotton, Tim Huskisson, Tony Teale, John Petters, Tim Densham, Goff Dubber, Louis Lince, Gary Davison, John Stuart, Roger Myerscough, , Vic Bevan, John Cherry, Gerry Rose, Allan Wilcox, Alan Morgan, Andy Lawrence, John Tyson, Barry Tyler, Colin Bowden, Pete Gregory, Liz Underdown, Keith Donald, Brian Butler, Alan Gresty, Tony Pitt,

Sussex Jazz Kings ~ Riverside Jazz Band ~ Vintage Jazz ~ Gary Wood Swing Band ~ John Petters Walkin’ with the King Show and of course The Savoy Jazz Men & Savoy Super Six

One day ticket £30 Two day ticket £50

Bar and food available throughout the day ~ dancing area ~ large car park

Info. from Barry or Bridget 01480 413436 & 431239 e-mail: barry.palser@uwclub.net

Willow 10k!

Sunday 6th October

Join us for the 2019 Willow 10k at Hatfield house a day of it with the whole family?

Our junior 1k dash is perfect for our younger runners, with face painting and games. The Willow 10k is sure to once again be a fantastic day helping raise much needed funds to provide Special Days for seriously ill young adults.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up online at: www.willowfoundation.org.uk/willow10k

Local Community Services delivered from Moorlands Court

Homecare : our fully trained carers visit you in your home.

Sitting service : a visit from our experienced sta gives family carers time for themselves

Centre : based at Moorlands Court with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.

service : nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you.

Housekeeping : we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping.

To nd out more, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email : denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk

Melbourn Ghost walk & supper

Saturday 26th October

This very popular and fun event is now in its third year and is constantly evolving to bring you new and increased levels of entertainment by the MADS team. You will encounter all sorts of strange and creepy characters along the way so be prepared to be scared! Our spooks are dying to meet you so join us for some spooky fun at the Moor in Melbourn on the evening of Saturday 26th October. Walks will be staggered through the evening and start from 6.30pm. Book early to secure your place as every year has been a complete sell out!

Working in partnership with Melbourn Hub, the walk will be followed by a delicious filled jacket potato supper (at The Hub) where you can relax and catch your breath with a drink from the licensed bar.

Tickets (£10 each) can be bought via Melbourn Hub (01763 263303) or by calling the spooky MADS hotline on 07513 457845. Melbourn Ghost walk is not suitable for under 12s. Terms and conditions apply and will be provided at time of booking.

Melbourn Ghostwalk

Duxford Saturday Workshop

Do you enjoy music? Would you like to learn to play an instrument or to sing in a choir?

Duxford Saturday Workshop holds group tuition sessions where adults and children from ‘Year Five’ onwards can learn to play an instrument. There is also a ‘junior music group’ for children from Year 1 upwards, as well as classes for adult beginners and groups both for ‘improvers’ and for competent players.

A registered charity, Workshop is all about learning and performing together in an enjoyable and supportive environment.

Registration for the 2019/20 Workshop year is on Saturday 7th September, from 10–11.30am at Duxford School, St. John’s Street, Duxford, and term begins at 9.30am on Saturday 14th September.

For more information, please see the Workshop website at http://duxfordsaturdayworkshop.org.uk .

Peter Howarth, Duxford Workshop Management Team

Melbourn magazine is non-profit and all work on the magazine including design and layout are produced by volunteers. The Magazine is published four times a year in the first week of March, June, September and December. We print 2250 copies which are delivered free to every house and business in the village. Advertising revenue is used for printing costs only.

Adverts should be supplied as finished artwork and must be at the sizes shown below. Please send artwork to melbournmagazine@gmail.com. The current rates for advertising in the Magazine are as follows:

Size per… Width x Height B/W Colour

1/4 inside page (79 × 128 mm) £115 £170

1/2 inside page (163 × 128 mm) £195 £270

Advertising rates are per year (four issues)

For further information on advertising please telephone 221965. Remittance or cheques should be made to Melbourn Magazine.

We are grateful to TTP for their continued sponsorship

Editorial Ann Dekkers 261144

Editorial\Production Peter Simmonett 220363

Advertising Vernon Gamon 221965

Distribution Eric Johnston 220197

Parish Profile Mavis Howard 260686

Proof reading Ann Dekkers 261144

Christine Orchard 221033

Jane Stephens

Village Diary Christine Orchard 221033

The Melbourn magazine team would like to thank all our advertisers for their support and sponsorship

Abode Town & Country / Estate Agent - 01763 259888 56

All Eyes / Spectacle Makers - 01954 231545 44

Amber Health - 01462 490141 60

angliEAR / Hearing services - 01223 661399 26

Assist Law - Estate Planning - 07786 061457 65

Bannold landscaping materials - 01954 231666 26

B.C.R / Plumbing & Heating - 01763 260007 64

Bumpkins Day Nursery - 01223 208777 30

Bury Lane Farm Shop - 01763 260418

Bury Lane Fun Barn - 01763 260418 16

Bush Lettings / Sales & letting agent - 01223 508085 22

Cambridge MG - 01223 841616

CEROC Dance 07710 409167

Chris Thomas / Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning - 01223 836002 40

CHS / Local Community Services - 01763 260564 68

CP Podiatry / Podiatrist - 01763 661841

CSL Cheap Storage Ltd - 01763 262344

Drives of Yesteryear/ Wedding Car hire - 01763 261250 14

ESSE - 01763 261000 4

Eternit Angling Club / 365 Days Fishing - 07966 268486 66

Frog End pet Supplies - 01763 263342 60

Garden Design Solutions - 01763 263231 34

Greenlow Kennels - 01763 260624 2

GYC Photography family photographer - 07786 707869 58

Jazzercise / Body Workout - 07963 161246 16

Jeremy Ashworth / Property Maintenance - 07815 093166 68

Jeremy Rule / Funeral Service - 01763 242560 70

JKL Tackle / Fishing tackle shop - 07966 268486

J Oliver Radley / Opticians - 01763 273300

Langham Press - 01223 870266

Lawn Partners / Bespoke lawncare - 01763 244955

Law Storage Ltd - 01223 874629

Leech & Sons / Master Butchers - 01763 260255

Little Hands Nursery School - 01763 260964

Melbourn Dental Practice - 01763 262034 44

Melbourn Flooring & Interiors - 01763 262413 42

Melbourn Garage - 01763 263344 70

Melbourn Ironing Service - 01763 220996 2

Melbourn Springs - Care Home 01763 722734 20

Moncraft / PC Repairs & Installation - 01223 208529 46

Nancy Foster Footcare - 01763 261250 46

Newlings of Royston / Funeral Services - 01763 242375 42

Norburys / Building & Landscape Supplies - 01763 261740 64

Paul Hutley / Carpenter - 07702905915 22

Phillimore Garden Centre - 01763 260537 2

PL Cooper / Flooring Specialists - 01763 260918 24

Prince Property / Property Improvements - 01763 269565 24

Redmayne Arnold & Harris Property Experts - 01223 247440 54

Rothwell’s Carpet Cleaning - 01223 832928 18

Royston Complementry Health - 01763 247440 54

Simon Robinson / Bespoke Picture Framers - 01223 873123 70

Slimming World - 07798 767976 20

South Cambs Motors / Servicing & Repairs - 01763 260246 18

Southwell Court Residential Home - 01763 750006 8

St Georges Nursing Home - 01763 242243 40

Taylor & Co /Chartered Accountants - 01763 248545 64

The Letting Centre / Property Management - 01763 263039 14

The Sheene Mill - 01763 261393 4

The Spice Hut / Indian Takeaway - 01763 262425 69

Three Counties K9 Hydrotherapy - 01763 838536 66

TTP - 01763 262626 58

Unlimited Logos - 01763 262081 46

Urban Plastics / Plumbing Suppliers - 01763 262337 68

Wheeler Antiques - Fine Art and furniture 01763 256722 66

Wrights Mower Centre / Garden Machinery - 01763 263393 68