Alcon mar 18

VILLAGER The

Issue 72 - March 2018

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

In this issue Win tickets to see

Twelfth Day The Great British

Spring Clean Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

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Inside this issue...

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Ride for Life is Back The History of Alice..........................................................4 Ride for Life is Back..........................................................8 Win tickets to see Twelfth Day........................................10 Win Tickets to see The Blockheads..................................12 Dine in Style: Searcys St Pancras Restaurant..................15 The Great British Spring Clean........................................17 Local Charities Matter....................................................19 Your Clutter Free Life......................................................20 Make a Will and Help Transform Patient Care.................23 Meet the Team at St Ives................................................24 Get Well Soon.................................................................25

Fertiliser.........................................................................26 Local Tree Surgeons Gain National Award.......................29 Animal Know-How.........................................................31 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................32 Moving House with Children..........................................35 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 What’s On.......................................................................38 Fun Quiz.........................................................................41 Prize Crossword..............................................................42 National Apprenticeship Week.......................................45 Book Review..................................................................47

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Win Tickets to see The Blockheads

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £30.00 +VAT per month

Editorial - Catherine Rose, Trevor Langley, Suzanne Roynon, Julie Plumb, Tony Larkins, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Nick Coffer, Kate Duggan and Tracey Anderson Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 • nigel@villagermag.com Photography Aleksandr Prokopenko Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

By Catherine Rose

The History of Alice The Mad March Hare is a character from folklore that was forever immortalised by the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, also known as author Lewis Carroll, in his classic children’s novel Alice in Wonderland. It was written for Alice Liddell, a friend’s daughter who looked nothing like Sir John Tenniel’s famous illustrations. So, who was the real Alice?

Alice Pleasance Liddell, who later became Hargreaves when she married the Hampshire cricketer Reginald Hargreaves, was born on 4th May 1852 in Westminster, London. She was the fourth child of ten (two died in infancy) and close to her older and younger sisters Lorina (known as Ina) and Edith, who both went on to feature in Dodgson’s photographs and writing.

Soon after she was born, Alice’s father Henry

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Liddell became Dean of Christ Church College and the family moved to Oxford in 1856 - the same year that Alice met Dodgson, a keen photographer and college librarian.

Dodgson took many photos of Alice during their acquaintance, some of them hauntingly beautiful.

They show a pretty elfin girl with a dark bob and soulful eyes pictured in various poses, costumes and guises from Oriental girl to beggar maid.

By the time she was 20, Alice had become so wellknown that the famous Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron also took her portrait.

Remarkable for capturing the personality of her subjects, Cameron’s photograph shows Alice, by then an attractive young woman, staring defiantly into the lens.

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The original Alice’s Adventures Underground was conceived on a boat trip that the ten-year-old Alice and her sisters made with Dodgson and his friend Canon Duckworth. Entertaining them with one of his imaginative stories, the author invented a fabulous tale about Alice falling down a rabbit hole and meeting all sorts of curious characters on the way. After being begged by Alice to write it down, he presented it to her as a bound handwritten manuscript in November 1864.

Encouraged by his friends Henry Kingsley and author George MacDonald, Dodgson decided to commercially publish the story a year later. It was illustrated by the artist Sir John Tenniel and proved so popular that it was followed up in 1872 by Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, later to become simply Alice Through the Looking Glass.

However, around the same time that Lewis Carroll’s famous novel was being born, there was a huge falling out between Dodgson and the Liddells. It is still not known what caused the rift as Dodgson’s diary entries for this time were removed. As a result, there has been much speculation over the years as to what happened.

One theory is that Dodgson (aged 31) wanted to marry Alice (then 11) but the family were against it. Although times have changed and we would find this both shocking and unacceptable today, Victorian morality was very different and it wasn’t uncommon for an older man to choose a child bride. Up until 1885, when it was raised to 16, the age of consent for a girl was 12.

Other theories have suggested Henry Liddell was put out by Charles Dodgson’s criticisms of his deanery or that there was a scandal when, following visits to see the children while their parents were away, Dodgson was accused of having an affair with their governess. It has also been suggested that Alice’s mother believed Dodgson’s visits and photo sessions had become too intrusive. Whatever the reason, it was clearly a bad enough rift for her to take the step of burning all his previous letters to Alice.

Imaginative and creative, Dodgson loved the company of children and as a result, his sexuality has later been scrutinised. Alice herself never accused him of any wrongdoing and it was even suggested that her only surviving son Caryl (her other two sons died in the First World War) was named in honour of the author.

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Following the fall out with Dodgson, as a young woman it is said that Alice had an affair with Queen Victoria’s youngest son Prince Leopold after he came to study at Christ Church, but that the pair were forbidden to marry by the queen because Alice was a commoner.

Fast forward just over a century and the same scenario between a Prince and another ‘commoner’ who also met at university had a very different outcome!

Perhaps a clue to their feelings is that Prince Leopold named his daughter Alice, and in turn, Alice named one of her sons Leopold.

Because the illustrated Alice bears no resemblance to Alice Liddell and the original story was markedly changed for publication, some critics believe the fictional Alice isn’t based on the real Alice at all.

However, it can’t be denied that Dodgson made strong references to her throughout the text.

Perhaps the strongest is an acrostic poem epilogue to Alice Through the Looking Glass. A poignant and nostalgic verse about that original boat trip, it spells out her name and begins: A boat beneath a sunny sky, Lingering onward dreamily, In an evening of July….

There is a perhaps even sadder ending to this story as after Alice’s husband died, she sold her original manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Underground in 1928. It fetched the considerable sum of £15,400 at Sotheby’s and today is kept in the British Museum.

Alice died in 1934 and her ashes are interred at Lyndhurst.

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07/02/2018 09:35

Local News

Ride foris back!

Life

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is encouraging cyclists to get back in the saddle for an epic 200-plus mile ride across the region.

The charity’s Ride for Life returns on Friday, 20 July.

Cyclists will start and finish at the home of headline sponsor Johnston Logistics UK, in Snetterton, visiting EACH’s three hospices – The Treehouse in Ipswich, Milton just north of Cambridge and Quidenham in the Norfolk countryside – in between. The journey takes three days.

Greg Tucker, from Harston, was among cyclists who took part in last year’s challenge. He said: “It was a great three days of effort, excitement and enjoyment. We had a great time together doing some good for other people. It was certainly a highlight of my year!”

Tim Grimes, from Hethersett, also took part. “A very enjoyable weekend was had by all,” he said. “It was a very well organised event – the best I’ve been to so far.”

The three-day challenge costs £150 and each participant must raise a minimum £400 sponsorship.

That package includes dinners, beds and breakfasts at city locations and luggage transfers.

Cyclists unavailable for the entire event can choose to do just one leg of the route, covering around 65 to 70 miles. The cost is £50 and minimum sponsorship of £150 is required.

Everyone taking part will have access to first aid assistance if needed, a back-up vehicle, kit list and training information, mechanical help, fundraising support and more.

The route has been designed to weave through scenic countryside, visiting

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some of the most beautiful villages and towns in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Emma Benstead, EACH Events Fundraiser, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing back our Ride for Life. As Greg and Tim said, it’s a really fantastic way to meet people, explore the East Anglian countryside and enjoy yourself, all whilst raising money for a vital good cause.

“There’s no competitive aspect to this and people can enter individually or as groups. Spaces are limited, though, and we have some fantastic early bird offers, so please get in touch now to find out more and secure your place.”

The early bird prices are as follows: One-day registration £37.50 plus minimum sponsorship of £150 Three-day registration £125 plus minimum sponsorship of £400 Three-day registration for groups of four or more £100 per person plus minimum sponsorship of £400 per person EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia and supports their families. For both those accessing care and those who have been bereaved, EACH is a lifeline at an unimaginably difficult time. It costs the charity almost £6 million a year to deliver its service and all funds raised through Ride for Life will help.

To book your place and for more information visit www.each.org.uk/rideforlife or contact Emma on 01953 666770.

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COMPETITION Win 2 tickets to see

Twelfth Day At Junction 2 in Cambridge on 27th March

Scottish duo, Twelfth Day, to tour UK-wide with five star album Following the release of their long awaited new studio album Cracks In The Room in 2017, Twelfth Day embark on a UK-wide tour throughout March 2018. Catriona Price, (Orcadian fiddler), & Esther Swift, (Peebles harpist), are a ‘two person quartet’, who’s new album, produced by Chris Wood, and mixed by Oz Fritz (Tom Waits), has delighted fans and critics alike. With five and four star reviews from The Guardian and fRoots amongst others, and an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour which moved Jenni Murray to tears, music fans across the UK will have a chance to hear this critically acclaimed, innovative music live this spring, with shows spanning the UK, from Aberdeen to Cambridge, Orkney to London.

In the wordless communication that passes between Catriona Price and Esther Swift as they perform, the strength of their decade-long musical partnership, friendship and shared humour is evident. It’s this depth of connection, and tangible desire to have fun, that gives Twelfth Day its extra edge.

This is not so much a duo, but a two person quartet. Their two distinctly different voices, the fiddle, and the pedal harp, build layer upon layer of a complex and ever-evolving sound, rich with rhythm, harmony and texture.

Twelfth Day are happy to be hard to define. Classically trained, they bring outstanding technical ability as well as an adventurous mix of folk, jazz and classical influences to their compositions and arrangements blended with the folklore and inspirations of their respective Scottish Highland and Lowland upbringings.

TWELFTH DAY COMPETITION ENTRY Name:



Simply send your entry by 16th March 2018 to: Twelfth Day Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. The winner will be drawn ramdomly.

Address: Tel: 10

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COMPETITION Win 2 tickets

to see The Blockheads + The Reformers Sat 24th March 2018, doors at 8pm, Bedford Esquires We are very pleased to bring living legends The Blockheads back to our main stage for the first time in two years on Saturday 24th March, having been the first band to grace the venue since it changed hands in February 2016.

Formed in 1977 to promote Ian Dury’s album New Boots and Panties on the first Stiff Records tour of the UK, the Blockheads are now fronted by one of Ian’s best friends Derek ‘The Draw’, the band’s vocalist and wordsmith. Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher still remain from the original band and the current line-up is augmented by John Roberts on drums and a rolling line up of saxophonists including Gilad Atzmon, Terry Edwards or Dave Lewis.

These legendary Brit-Funkers will be playing all the old favourites and new material.

In 1978 Chaz composed ‘Hit me with your Rhythm Stick’ with Ian and in 1979 had a number one hit record. In 1982 Ian Dury & The Blockheads disbanded and were not to play together again until 1987 when they went out to Japan to play three shows, disbanding again until 1990 when the death of Charlie Charles in September of that year re-united them to play two Benefit gigs at The Forum, Camden Town in aid of Charlie’s family.

The last performance by Ian Dury & The Blockheads was Feb 6th 2000 at The London Palladium, Ian died at 9am on 27th March 2000.

At this point the band had to make a decision to either stop or continue. The choice was made and the band has continued making albums and touring the world.

Now after almost 15 years since Ian passed away, The Blockheads still perform to packed out venues around the world.

Support on the night comes from the very excellent The Reformers - These guys blew the crowd away supporting Dr Feelgood on the main stage in 2017 and guarantee to get the crowd going.

Tickets are £20 in advance on sale now from seetickets and locally from Esquires bar, Slide Record Shop and Mario’s Hair Design Kempston.

BLOCKHEADS/REFORMERS COMPETITION ENTRY Name:



Simply send your entry by 16th March 2018 to: Blockheads/Reformers Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. The winner will be drawn ramdomly.

Address: Tel: 12

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Food and Drink

Dine in Style:

Searcys St Pancras Restaurant St Pancras International is an iconic venue. ‘Meet me at the Champagne Bar at St Pancras’, certainly says, “I have arrived!” This is where Eurostar trains arrive and depart. The shopping is quality retail therapy. Searcys St Pancras Restaurant is very impressive and their adjacent Champagne Bar, with heated leather seating and ‘press for champagne’ buttons, has 98m of serving space and is reputed to be Europe’s longest. Elegance and splendour is all around.

Regular train services from the Midlands and elsewhere, including south east England, arrive here. London underground and Thameslink services are fast and frequent, too. The upper level at St Pancras International has a 9m high statue titled ‘The Meeting Place’, depicting a couple embracing-celebrating romance and travel. Also, a statue of Sir John Betjeman commemorates the poet’s successful campaign to save the station, from demolition, during the 1960’s.

The Searcys St Pancras Restaurant is very stylish, with pristine table settings and is located on the upper level at St Pancras International. Starters include Smoked Salmon, Scallops and Wild Venison Salami, amongst an array. Chicken Caesar and Gressingham Duck Salads are very popular. Shellfish choices include various, different Oyster selections, plus Crab and Lobster, for example. Mains of Lake District Beef Cheek and Loin of Lakeland Venison, along with Cornish Bream and Brixham Fish Pie, have regular ‘devotees’.

Succulent, tender Steaks are further options and Sirloin, Rib-Eye, plus the House-Aged, Lake District Beef, are very much enjoyed, by many. The complementing flavours of the dishes are, truly, a genuine credit to the talented team of chefs and kitchen personnel. Desserts include Norfolk Treacle Tart with Devonshire clotted cream, and Warm Chocolate Cake accompanied by whisky ice cream. A most impressive wines/drinks list has something for all palates. Tasting events include champagnes and happen regularly.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus pre-theatre dining, are all available here, and, if time is of the essence, ‘express’ is no problem. All dietary requirements can be catered for, also private dining, parties and occasions, accommodated. Gift vouchers are available – perhaps surprise someone special?

Searcys St Pancras Restaurant & Champagne Bar Upper Concourse, St Pancras International Station, 58 Euston Road, London N1C 4QL Tel: 020 7870 9900 Email: stpancrasreception@searcys.co.uk www.searcysstpancras.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Special

The

Great British Spring Clean The Great British Spring Clean campaign, which is taking place on 2 - 4th March, has a simple aim: to bring people across the country together to clear up the litter that blights our towns, villages, countryside and beaches.

The campaign is organised by Keep Britain Tidy, an independent charity working towards eliminating litter, ending waste by creating sustainable practices, and improving our beaches, parks and streets.

Places to be Proud of - The goal of the Great British Spring Clean is to inspire 500,000 people to get outdoors, get active and help clear up the rubbish around them, so that they can ‘live and work in places that they can be proud of and prosper in.’

The campaign works with individuals, businesses, organisations and public bodies, and has some big-name supporters including Coca-Cola Great Britain, Lidl, McDonalds, Wrigley, Costa, Iceland, KFC, Greggs, Stagecoach, the RSPCA, the RSPB and the Marine Conservation Society.

Get Involved - ‘Join our growing army of #LitterHeroes who have had enough of other people’s litter

and are willing to do something about it,’ urges the campaign’s statement. ‘Together we can make a difference and clean up the environment on our doorstep.’

You can do some litter-picking by yourself or with friends and family, although make sure you stay safe, particularly if you’re litter-picking near roads. If you prefer to join an organised event or group, the campaign page has a handy map of what’s on – and you can also enter your postcode to discover events taking place near you. Visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/getinvolved/support-our-campaigns/ great-british-spring-clean.

At Killingbeck in Leeds, for instance, the plan is to clean up the local nature reserve, making ‘the green space on their doorstep’ a nicer, safer place for both people and wildlife. There are also plans to do a litter pick-up in the areas covered by Leeds Health Walks.

Meanwhile, Belper claims to be planning its biggest litter-pick ever on the 3rd March, with several sites targeted for clean ups.

There are lots of events on the map already – just click on a virtual map pin to see a snippet appear, then click the snippet heading to find out exactly where and when

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the event is taking place.

Feeling Adventurous? The more adventurous of you may like to combine litter-picking with sightseeing, exercise or both.

Wayne Dixon, whose adventures can be tracked by following @ WayneKoda on Twitter, is walking and litter-picking his way around the 7,500 miles of Britain’s coastline accompanied by his dog, Koda. He is raising money for Mind and North Inuit Dogs while also supporting Keep Britain Tidy and their Great British Spring Clean campaign. It’s a cause dear to his heart and Koda’s, as Koda nearly lost a leg when he was injured by a discarded can. You may not have a few years to spare to follow in Wayne’s footsteps, but a shorter coastal excursion could be fun.

If you like to be on the water rather than walking beside it, you could join the Plastic Patrol, as featured on The Russell Howard Hour. The group paddleboard the waterways of Britain removing discarded plastic. ‘We’ll supply the litter pickers, refuse sacks and we’ll even dispose of everything you find – just come along, do your bit and have fun.’ Visit www.plasticpatrol. co.uk and click on ‘clean-up events’ to find one near you.

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Local News

Local Charities Matter!

Small Charities Forum Launch

Local charities are the lifeblood of the communities they serve, playing a vital role in supporting the daily lives of thousands of people, right here in Bedfordshire. But the reality is that small and local charities are struggling to get their voices heard. Which is why the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation have set up a Small Charities Forum to support them and they held their first very successful event on Local Charities Day. Over 30 small charities came together to talk about the challenges they face. Mandy Johnson, CEO of the national organisation, the Small Charities Coalition explained that it was critical for everyone to recognise the valuable work that local charities do, much of which is done by volunteers. Only by working together, sharing ideas and problems, could small charities begin to shout collectively about what an impact they make.

Fozia irfan, CEO of the Foundation stated ‘As a local funder, we are fortunate to work with many charities

and community groups in the county and we understand that they are facing challenging times. It is our responsibility as a funder to go beyond giving grants and providing extra support they need, otherwise these organisations could potentially be at risk. The Small Charities Forum, which we developed provides a valuable resource to help organisations thrive and sustain their excellent work in the community. ‘ If you would like to find out more about the Small Charities Forum or to make a donation to the Community Foundation please visit our website on www.blcf.org.uk All donations will help us to continue our work in the community.

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Time of Year

By Suzanne Roynon

Your Clutter Free Life It’s spring! Throw the windows open and invite clean air to access every part of your home to cleanse away the winter fustiness.

But what happens if your home is full of ‘stuff’ and the air is always stagnant? I’m not referring to the things you use, love and need. I’m talking about piles in the corners, junk rooms, crammed cupboards and the chair you use to dump things on.

Have you ever noticed that people with very minimal houses seem slimmer, healthier and more energetic than the occupants of cluttered houses?

When someone clears the clutter from their home, they often lose weight without trying. By offloading ‘stuff’, their body feels safe to ditch the safety layer of accumulated fat. One lady cleared her clutter in December then feasted all Christmas. She was astonished to weigh less at the beginning of January than she had for ten years.

If you need a greater incentive, do you pay a mortgage or rent your home? Calculate the amount of space your clutter takes, it’s not unusual to find it takes the equivalent of an entire room, then do a quick sum to see just how much your ‘stuff’ costs you each month.

So where to begin? Taking ten minutes to sort out a drawer is a good place to start. Break yourself in gently with an easy win!

As your confidence grows, move on to cupboards – if you stockpile plastic containers, endless mugs, the accessories for a long dead vacuum cleaner or random things which might come in handy (but

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never do), get ruthless! If you haven’t used an item in the last year and don’t love it or genuinely need it, it is clogging your space.

Wardrobes and cupboards can be daunting, but when you get the hang of keeping only the items you use and love, they are incredibly satisfying to reclaim. Next month The Villager offers hints to make your wardrobe user friendly, but if you can’t wait, visit www.yoursuccess.coach/inspirations Once you’ve decided to get rid of something, remove it from the house straight away. Always aim to recycle or use Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) wherever possible. One client donated a vanload of furniture, clothes and bric-a-brac to a charity which came to collect the lot. They were delighted and so was she!

The interesting thing about relieving the constipation of material stuff is people around you start doing it too. Without prompting kids clear their rooms, partners tackle the shed, I’ve even known neighbours spontaneously tidy an eyesore garden.

You never know where the process will take you......

When all the bags and boxes of clutter have gone, spring cleaning is a breeze. You will sleep better, feel more energetic and might even lose a few pounds!

Enjoy the space you have created and welcome new and exciting opportunities into your life.

If you want to know more, Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston is an easy read.

Suzanne Roynon is a personal performance life coach. www.yoursuccess.com

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C

COPLEYS Solicitors

Excellence through Experience www.copleys.net

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Make a Will

Time of Year

and help transform patient care

Making or updating your will can seem like a big challenge. However, it can be a lot more affordable and straightforward than you may think.

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s annual Make a Will Week takes place this year from 23rd to 27th April. A group of local solicitors and will-writers have kindly agreed to waive their usual fees and write or update a simple will, in return for you making a donation to change patients’ lives at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals.

To find out more, simply call Alice on 01223 254841, email hello@act4addenbrookes.org.uk or visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/makeawill

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Fertiliser This month the days get longer and the sun gets stronger...we hope!

However March is famously temperamental and if the soil where you are is still wet and cold then it’s wise to delay planting and sowing until the temperature rises.

Plant nutrient reserves are low at this time of year so, as the soil warms up, it’s time to think about fertiliser.

Many gardeners are a bit frightened of fertiliser. All those chemical symbols on the side of the packet are rather reminiscent of school chemistry lessons.

In fact the basics are quite simple.

NPK - This can be observed on the side of most fertiliser packages. The letters stand for: N - Nitrogen P - Phosphorous K - Potassium Together these are known as the macro-nutrients and each of them has its own use.

Nitrogen primarily feeds the leafy above-the-ground parts of the plants.

Phosphorous promotes strong roots.

Potassium makes grass hardier, promotes germination and improves vegetable and fruit yields.

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The proportions of each macro-nutrient will be printed on the packet. Equal amounts of each nutrient make for a good general purpose fertiliser.

A lawn will need a good balance of nitrogen and phosphorus to guarantee lush green grass with a healthy root system capable of withstanding dry spells. Fruiting plants need higher proportions of potassium.

There are other macro-nutrients: Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, which plants obtain freely from the air and water; and calcium, magnesium and sulphur, which should be present in any good general purpose fertiliser.

Plants also need micro-nutrients: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Boron and Molybdenum.

Plants take all these nutrients and build everything they need from scratch, including vitamins.

What plants cannot do is absorb vitamins directly from things such as pet food, milk or so-called fertilisers which contain vitamins, proteins and fats.

So don’t be intimidated by fertiliser.

Decide what your plants need then read the label. It’s easy as ABC..or rather NPK!

Happy Gardening

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III SHIRES PEST CONTROL Call Matthew 07836 754014 / 01480 811330 Control of Wasps, Ants, Bees, Fleas, Bedbugs, Moths, Carpet Beetles, Cockroaches, Rats, Mice, Squirrels and Birds Suppliers of UV Fly Killers CRB Checked and Fully Insured Prompt and Discreet Professional Service Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural

E: enquiries@3shirespestcontrol.co.uk W: 3shirespestcontrol.co.uk

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27

All Seasons

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Some Services We Provide

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Please call Nick

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www.gilksfencing.co.uk 28

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Local News

Local Tree Surgeons Gain National Award Eden Tree Specialists Ltd gain ARB Approved Contractor (ArbAC) status.

Eden Tree Specialists Ltd have recently attained the status of ARB Approved Contractor (ArbAC).

The ARB Approved Contractor Scheme is the only comprehensive accreditation scheme for tree surgery businesses in the United Kingdom and is operated by The Arboricultural Association.

The ARB Approved Contractor scheme is increasingly demanded by Local Authorities and other large commercial organisations. ARB Approved Contractor is also of considerable benefit in the domestic sector as a quality mark assuring the client of good quality tree care undertaken safely and efficiently.

The scheme requires the contractor to meet high standards covering four key areas and then exhaustively tests all aspects of a tree-care business’s operation and management: • Their understanding and practical application of current arboricultural practice • Their compliance with legislative requirements of arboricultural contracting

• Their compliance with health and safety requirements of arboricultural contracting (endorsed by the CHAS scheme) • Their high levels of service to clients through efficient business management.

On the day of the assessment, we were assessed on our office based documentation, systems and processes and following this, we visited one of our tree teams in action where the assessor had the opportunity to question our operatives. We then visited numerous previous sites, so the assessor could see examples of our completed works.

Samuel Dudley, Managing Director of Eden Tree Specialists Ltd said “Achieving this accreditation is of great importance to the business. This recognition gives our clients the assurance of our high standards of work. This means a huge amount to our whole team, as we work so hard to ensure that our working practices are at the very best level possible”.

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29

Business gone slow?

Let us help!

Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com

Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded.

Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs.

Inspection welcome. Boarding from ÂŁ7.30/day.

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Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year.

The cattery for caring owners.

Comfort and security for your pet.

30

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Animal Know-How Tackling the cat crisis

The cat population in the UK has reached crisis point. Despite subsidised neutering schemes from some rescue organisations, more and more cats are coming into our care and less families are re-homing cats. This puts on a huge financial strain on small local animal charities like us.

Many people support the idea of neutering.

However, there is a widely held mistaken belief that a cat should have a litter of kittens before she is spayed. So, spaying is often delayed until after a first litter. The ‘one litter’ myth is further reinforced by owners applying human emotions to their cats, e.g. “she’ll make a great mum/I don’t think it’s fair to deny her the right to motherhood”.

With the reality of having to look after, pay for the care of, and part with the kittens – not living up to what cat owners had imagined – having a litter does serve as a trigger for many people to consider neutering their pet. However, despite this, 21 percent of cats that had a first litter will have a second litter and seven percent have a third litter or more. The more litters a cat has, the greater the chances of her – and the kittens – ending up being abandoned.

The reason that the ‘one litter’ trigger is not always enough to prompt action is due to the considerable confusion that exists about when to neuter. Finding a window to neuter becomes increasingly difficult after a cat has had a litter of kittens because of the need to wait until the kittens have been weaned – by which time the cat may be pregnant again. The probability of an unneutered female cat getting pregnant is higher than 80 percent. This adds up to an awful lot of kittens, growing up into cats, that not enough people want to re-home.

So, what can you do?

To protect your female cat from getting pregnant, she will need to go the vet to have a simple operation called spaying (also known as ‘fixing’, ‘neutering’ or ‘being done’).

Pets

When your girl cat is about four-months-old, she will start to attract the attention of tomcats (even her brothers) who’ll want to have sex with her. This is why it’s important to have her spayed before she is four-months-old to protect her from getting pregnant while she’s still a kitten herself. Once she has been spayed your kitten will be able to do all the things cats enjoy doing, like going outdoors, climbing trees and playing.

Your boy cat will also need to have a simple operation, called ‘the snip’. This can stop him from spraying in your house to mark his territory, which can be very smelly, and getting nasty injuries from fights. He’ll also be less likely to wander off and get run over, as cats that are snipped tend to stay closer to home.

Having your cat snipped will protect him from a nasty disease called FIV – which is the same as HIV in people, but for cats. It’s spread through cat bites, often between males fighting over a female. It can’t be caught by people. To have this operation, your cat will need to be dropped off at the vets, and picked up again later that same day.

Unfortunately, there are far more cats in this country, than there are loving owners. As a result, unacceptably high numbers of cats end up in rescue organisations – like the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch. This can be detrimental to cats’ welfare and it also comes at a considerable cost to animal charities. Please do not add to this terrible problem.

If you love cats enough to have one, or more, as a pet – please also accept the responsibility that comes with being a pet owner and have them neutered.

ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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Three Counties Radio

Sugar-Free Chocolate cake with date and chocolate frosting “Free From” recipes are increasingly popular on the Weekend Kitchen. Dairy-free, gluten-free, fat-free… but can a cake, a proper tasty cake, be sugar-free? With no added sugar, sweeteners or honey? Well, it turns out it can. Cynthia Stroud, who runs a cake shop in Hertford, is a sugar free baker (www.sugarfreebaker.co.uk).

She started to make sugar free cakes to help her young daughter, who doesn’t do too well on sugar. And this chocolate cake is a firm favourite at home. As well as providing sweetness to cakes, sugar also acts to help make a sponge fluffy and aerated. So, without the sugar, this cake is a little heavier than usual, perhaps with a consistency more akin to a fruit cake. But it tastes wonderful, and with the only sweetness coming from the dates, is very suitable for anyone who has to carefully watch their sugar intake. If you prefer, you can simply replace the coconut oil with butter.

To make the cake: 250 g dates (stoned, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, drained and pureed) 150g coconut oil, melted 4 eggs 100g self-raising flour 50g ground almonds 50g corn flour 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence 1. Pre-heat your oven to 180°C/ Gas Mark 4 (160°C for fan-assisted ovens) and line 2 x 6 inch tins.

2. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together with a hand whisk, scrape down the sides, whisk again until smooth, and pour equally into the two tins.

3. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean, and leave to cool on a wire rack.

To make the frosting: 150g dates (stoned, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, drained and pureed) 100g softened (but not liquid) coconut oil 2 tablespoons evaporated milk 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1. Mix all of these ingredients with a hand mixer until they go light and fluffy.

2. Spread the frosting between the two fully cooled cake layers and then spread it on the top layer. Decorate with berries of your choice (and a little edible gold spray for added effect if you wish).

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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Can you spare 6-8 hours a week?

Hunts Forum is looking for a volunteer administrator to help with their Support Cambridgeshire Project.

The role is based at The Maple Centre in Huntingdon, and is offered at 6 – 8 hours per week on an ongoing basis.

If you are interested in working for a local charity in basic administration, or you are looking to volunteering as a way back into the world of work, then this role may be of interest.

Contact Russell Rolph on 01480 420603 in the first instance, or E-Mail Russell@huntsforum.org.uk for a role description

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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 15/01/2018 17:01

Moving House The thought of leaving friends and going to a new school, coupled with the anxiety of the unknown, can make moving house very unsettling for children.

Kate Duggan recently moved house with ten days’ notice. (She wouldn’t recommend it.) Here are some of her top tips for helping children to cope with a big move.

Involving your child If possible, take your child to see the new house before the move, and explore the area together.

Involve them in small decisions: “Where do you think this should go?” “What colour shall we paint your room?” You could also let your child choose some wall decals for their bedroom and a new duvet cover or rug. That being said, they will want familiar items around them. The day before you move, help them to pack a suitcase with everything they’ll need for the next couple of days, including a favourite teddy, a book, a game and so on.

Don’t stress about decluttering While you may be desperate to declutter ahead of the

Parenting

with Children

move, your child may not cope with the extra pressure of giving up toys and clothes, even those that have been languishing in a cupboard for months. Don’t force them into getting rid of things if they don’t want to. You could suggest packing items that they’re not sure about into a box for the loft, with the agreement that you’ll both open it and sort through everything a few months after the move.

Making family time When your to-do list is three feet long, it’s really difficult to carve out any quality time to spend with your family, but do try. Leaving the boxes for 20 minutes so you can play a board game can help to avoid a potential meltdown later on. All of you will benefit from getting away from the house for a couple of hours now and then, ideally for some fresh air and time to focus on each other.

Talk to your child Explain why you’re moving house,

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whether it’s due to needing to pay less rent or because you’ve found a better area to live in. Talk about how your child is feeling about the move. What are they worried about, and what can you do to alleviate those worries? So, for example, if they’re worried about a new school, could you ask their teacher to help you arrange a playdate before your child starts at the school? If they’re upset about leaving friends, can you arrange meet-ups or Skype calls?

Make time for yourself Moving is stressful. And when you’re stressed, it’s very easy to lose your temper with the kids when they’re being particularly whingy or difficult. So try to take some time out to recharge your own batteries. You might find relaxation techniques useful, or just kicking back with a glass of wine and a film now and then may help.

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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37

n O s ’ t Wha In March

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

6 February-6 March ‘St Neots Now and Then’ Photographic Exhibition Tues-Sat 11am-4pm St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots Local residents free, Adults £3, Seniors £2, Children £1. An exhibition showcasing photographs from our historic collection of local images and highlighting the changes that have taken place in the last 100 years. To tie-in with this exhibition we will be launching a new service providing 20 of the most attractive images of the area for sale, either enlarged onto canvas or available as A4 or A3 prints.

2 March St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School Talk by Philip Saunders on ‘The Huntingdonshire Manor and its Records’ 3 March Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola.

3 March St. Mary’s Church Charity Auction Viewing 10-11am, Buckden Village Hall Auction begins promptly at 11am All proceed to St. Mary’s Church Repair Fund.

Tel: Patsy Gray 01480 810041 for further details 3 March St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-1.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to celebrate St Neots Timebank’s 6th Birthday.

Web: http://stneotstimebank.org.uk 3 March The Great British Spring Clean 2-4pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Little Paxton Community Litter Pick. Litter Heroes assemble for the annual community litter pick.

Volunteers will be supplied with a high viz jackets, litter pickers, gloves & black bags and allocated areas to litter pick. The litter pick starts and finishes at the QEII Playing Field. If you would like to help keep Little Paxton spick & span, please come along and help. Little Paxton Parish Council event.

6, 13, 20 & 27 March Roxton Bridge Circle 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday evening. Tel: Phyllis 01480 374327 Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk 7 March Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual membership fee is £10. Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 7 March Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Visitors welcome £6 inc. refreshments Flower arranging demo by qualified demonstrator, raffle, sales table and tea or coffee.

Tel: Jan Dobie 01480531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com 7 March Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 7 March Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall Members £1, Guests £2 Speaker will be Kathy Brown from Stevington showing how to use ‘Bulbs for All Seasons’.

7, 14, 21 & 28 March Little Fishes 10am-11.20am Grafham Village Hall Stay and Play Tots Session during term-time. Babies welcome too. Sessions include free play and craft activities, bible story and sing along. Tel: Jean Clark 01480 890033 Email: robnjeanclark@tiscali.co.uk

7, 14, 21 & 28 March St Neots Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm Eynesbury C of E Primary School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury St Neots Choral Society is in its 46th season. New members are very welcome to join and there are no 5, 12, 19 & 26 March auditions to frighten you but an ability to read a little Comrades Chess Club 7.30pm music is helpful! There is an annual subscription Comrades Club, Godmanchester once you decide to join the Society. New members Keep your mind active and play chess. Over 18s only are welcome in all voices. Tel: 01480 212298 for as it’s a licensed premises. Every Monday except Bank membership. Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk Holidays. Seeking new members.

Ozzie: 01480 414623 Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com 10 March Simply Saturday 5, 12, 19 & 26 March 12-2pm St James Church, Little Paxton Scottish Country Dancing A new venture for adults of all ages at Little Paxton 8-10pm Judith’s Field, Godmanchester Church, with lunch and various activities available.

Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe on 01480 453774 Tel: Leisa Hunt 01480 471748 Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com

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10 March Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Concert 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets £14/£12, Student concession £7/£6 Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra present ‘Romance… Tragedy… Fate’.

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Bach’s Magnificat, Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte and Brahms’ Tragic Overture and Song of the Fates provide a programme of tension, drama and high emotions in this latest concert by Hunts Phil.

Conductor Bjorn Bantock. Tickets are available by telephone, online or on the door.

Tel: Box Office 01480 375678 Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk 11 March Family & Friends Volunteering 10am-12 noon Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough Free event – suggested donation £2 Make a difference by helping the Rangers out in the Park. Children, couples, grandparents and friends - everybody is welcome. All tools and training will be provided, you just need to bring along lots of enthusiasm! Free car parking for all participants.

Meet at Discovery Den. This event includes walking on uneven ground and/or crossing stiles and therefore may not be suitable for all abilities.

Booking essential. Tel: 01733 234193 12 March Perry WI 7.30pm The Baptist Church, Perry For all women aged 18+. Guests are very welcome, so come and “try before you buy”.

13 March Alconbury Over 60’s Club coach trip to Downtown Garden Centre £15. Tel: Sheila 01480 890396 or Val 01480 890166 13 March St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30-9pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Visitors £6. Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands-on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugarcraft. The group meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 14 March Cambridgeshire Rural M.E. Tea & Chat Second Wednesday of every month. Monthly meetup for adults with M.E. and partners/friends.

Web: www.crmetea.org 15 March St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Visitors £7. Burgess Hall, St Ives Demonstration by Ann Purt from Wisbech entitled “Spring Has Sprung”.

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n O s ’ t Wha In March

This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com

15 March Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 8-10pm St Neots Football Club The Love’s Farm Ladies is Love’s Farm’s new WI group, meeting on the third Thursday of the month. Come to make friends and do something new.

Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043 Email: lovesfarmladieswi@gmail.com 16 March The Big Short Doors open 7.30pm, film starts 8pm Corn Exchange, St Ives Tickets £5 + booking fee Screen St Ives. Directed by Adam McKay USA 2015 130mins. Cert 15. A scathingly funny indictment of what really caused the global 2008 crash - reckless gambling by bankers of the volatile US housing market; engrossing and timely.

Web: www.screenstives.org.uk 17 March Baby & Children’s Market Nearly New Sale 10.30am-12pm Cambourne Village College, CB23 6FR Admission £1, Children free Lots of stalls bursting with top quality like new and new baby and children’s items.

Web: www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk 17 March Let’s go Fly of Kite 10.30am-12 noon & 1.30-3pm Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough £3 per child Let’s go fly a kite, but first we have to make them.

Join us in making your very own kite from scratch.

Meet at Discovery Den. This event is on surfaced paths and suitable for all abilities including wheelchair users and buggies. Booking essential Tel: 01733 234193 for further details 17 March Sport Relief- Have a Field Day 2-4pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Free event Come along an enjoy taster sport activities on the QEII Playing Field and in the village hall.

Refreshments will be available in the village hall. Check the Parish Council’s Facebook page and lookout for the posters for the sport activities available. This is a great opportunity to take part in the Sport Relief Billion Steps Challenge.

Web: sportrelief.com/app 19 March St Neots Royal Naval Association 8pm The RAFA Club, 44 Huntingdon Street, St Neots St Neots & District Branch of the Royal Naval Association meet on the third Monday of every month. For further details contact the Secretary Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com

21 March Carers Coffee Club 2.30-4pm The Royal Oak, Hail Weston Are you caring for a loved one with a memory loss?

Come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee whilst chatting with others in a similar situation. Our informal group meets on every third Wednesday of the month. Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 Email: kimpigfarmer@tiscali.co.uk

24 March Children’s Spring Party 2-4pm Little Paxton Church Free event The special guest will be Spider-Man! Come dressed as favourite hero! Food, fun and crafts and the Easter story. Pre-school children to be accompanied.

Please email to book a place.

Email: Annette canonannettereed@gmail.com This is a free event.

22 March Toddler Time 10.30-11.30am St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots £3.50 per child. The museum mice will be helping us find out about some of the animal stories in the museum and we’ll be making mice to take home.

Suitable for children aged 2 to 5, babies welcome to come along too for free at this drop in event.

Tel: 01480 214163

24 March St Neots Choral Society 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Rossini - Petite Messe Solennelle.

Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

22 March St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 inc. refreshments & raffle ticket. ‘Compost making for the garden’ with

by David White.

22-24 March Sleeping Beauty Pantomime 8pm, Bar opens 7.30pm & Sat 2.30pm Catworth Village Hall, PE28 0PA Adults £6.50, Children £4 NODA nominated Catworth Amateur Theatrical Society (CATS) celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year and continues to go from strength to strength.

This year’s panto, Sleeping Beauty, is written by Phil Ward and promises to deliver all the ingredients of a successful CATS production guaranteed to have you rolling in the aisles – oh yes it will! Booking fee may apply. Tel: 01832 274734 Mon-Fri 10am-4pm Web: www.oundleboxoffice.com 24 March Jukebox Promotions present ‘The Final Show’ 8-10.45pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester Tickets £12. After decades of bringing original artists and international tributes to value for money events in the UK and Europe, Jukebox Promotions are retiring as a stage show organiser and, as they have so many people locally that love their productions, have chosen a local venue for this, the very last show! It will feature some of the themes of their shows over the years including Jukebox Legends, Elvis 2000, a great Buddy and Cliff feature with some magic country music memories by Red Strokes. Along with the fantastic voice of Fiona McLean-Day. 50s, 60s, 70s, Country and Rock & Roll all on one show! Book in advance – tickets will not be available on the door. Tickets available at The Comrades Club evenings and Saturday afternoons only or online.

Tel: 07506 719791 Web www.jukeboxlegends.com

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

27 March Hemingford Grey Flower Club 10am Entrance £4 inc. refreshments. Hemingford Grey Reading Rooms, High Street, Hemingford Grey Flower demonstration by Sandra Jaina. All welcome.

30 March Easter Egg Hunt 10.30am-12 noon & 1.30-3pm Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough £4 per child. Oh no, the Easter Bunny has misplaced all of his Easter eggs, can you and your family help him find them in time to for Easter! Begin with some seasonal spring craft, explore the park and hunt for eggs and collect your prize and the end. One prize per child booked. Meet at Discovery Den. This event is on surfaced paths and suitable for all abilities including wheelchair users and buggies. Booking essential. Tel: 01733 234193 for further details Rotary Youth Leadership Award 2018 Rotary Club of Huntingdon will be interviewing candidates for this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). Are you an ambitious person between the ages of 18 and 26 and looking to enhance your life as a future leader? You will benefit from an established leadership and personal development residential course to be held at Grafham Water from 21st-28th July. Run by Rotary District 1070, it is fully funded for one young person by the Rotary Club of Huntingdon. You will gain team building skills, have initiative tests and take part in outdoor physical activities such as sailing, canoeing, hiking and other exciting pursuits. Learning presentation skills is an important part of the business development section.

It is an intensive week, not for the faint-hearted.

After the one week course you will have made a circle of new friends with similar ambitions; you will have gained confidence in your own abilities, to think logically, to work within a team and you will have pride in your achievement. If you are keen to take part and can arrange to attend for that one week without fail, contact the Rotary Club of Huntingdon for an application form for RYLA 2018.

Tel: Geoff Burniston 01223 276416 for more information Email: jgandme@btinternet.com.

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February’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr Andrew Lever from Buckden Winner of the Phil Beer Competition Mr David Robinson from Biggleswade Easy

Hard

Fun Quiz - Trilogies

1. Who wrote the Tilly Trotter trilogy, consisting of novels called Tilly Trotter, Tilly Trotter Wed and Tilly Trotter Widowed?

2. What was the first film trilogy to have all three of its films nominated for a Best Picture Oscar?

3. Inspiring the name of the oldest daily newspaper in France, what is the name of the main character in a trilogy of 18th century plays by Pierre Beaumarchais?

4. In the 1980s, which British author wrote Berlin Game, Mexico Set and London Match, a trilogy of spy novels known as the Game, Set and Match trilogy?

5. In the 1970s, who collaborated with Brian Eno to record the albums Low, Heroes and Lodger, which became known collectively as the Berlin Trilogy?

6. Which trilogy of novels by Suzanne Collins is set in a nation called Panem?

7. Written by Eoin Colfer and published in 2009 on the thirtieth anniversary of the first book, And Another Thing is the sixth novel in which other author’s so-called “trilogy of five parts”?

8. Which 2013 film was advertised as “the epic conclusion to the trilogy of mayhem and bad decisions”?

9. Published in 2002, what was the title of the first in a trilogy of books by Jennifer Worth that was centred around her work in the East End of London in the 1950s?

10. Dad’s Army was the first of what is regarded as writer David Croft’s trilogy of TV sitcoms set

1. Catherine Cookson 2. The Godfather trilogy 3. Figaro (the French newspaper is called Le Figaro) 4. Len Deighton 5. David Bowie 6. The Hunger Games 7.

Douglas Adams’ (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy novels) 8. The Hangover Part III 9. Call The Midwife 10. It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and ‘Allo ‘Allo

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41

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 8 To be on a ship (6) 9 Not new (4) 10 Outside (8) 11 Angry (7) 13 Funeral fires (5) 15 Almost two pints (5) 17 Below (7) 20 Observing (8) 21 Story (4) 23 Educational establishment (6) 24 Required (6)

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before



16th March 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Down 1 Female sheep (4) 2 Recording room (6) 3 Burglars (7) 4 Belief (5) 5 Every sixty minutes (6) 6 Widest (8) 12 Inconvenience (8) 14 Combining (7) 16 Calculate (6) 18 Respect (6) 19 Foolish (5) 22 Vegetable (4)

Name: Tel: Address:

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5-year gu

ara ntee

Offer expires 31st March

3 blinds for the price of 2 Offer applies to blinds, curtains & shutters. To claim your offer please mention this advert when booking.

Ts & Cs apply.

01223 904023 www.cambridgesunblinds.co.uk

WE’RE HIRING!

Contact us for permanen or subcontract vacanciest

we’ve got your home improvements covered PLUMBING & HEATING

BUILDING SERVICES

fit a new boiler

bathroom & kitchen installation

upgrade your heating system

new build

annual service for your boiler

home renovation

call: 01954 782920 or visit: www.ijcbuildingservices.co.uk IJC is a family run Cambridgeshire business with over 30 years’ experience. We offer a comprehensive range of domestic and small commercial works across all forms of building, plumbing, heating and renewable services.

45 Viking Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8EL To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

43

G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry • Roofing Guttering • Drainage Plumbing

Call today 07877742420 or 01480 437511 Email: g.bbuilders@yahoo.co.uk

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Time of Year

National Apprenticeship Week March 5th-9th

Are you taking your GCSEs or A levels this year? Have you decided what to do afterwards? Many schools champion university or further education colleges but have you considered an apprenticeship?

The 11th National Apprenticeship Week runs from 5th to 9th March 2018.

During the week employers and apprentices from across England will come together to celebrate the success of apprenticeships whilst encouraging even more people to choose apprenticeships as a pathway to a great career.

An apprenticeship is a chance to earn and learn. It allows you to mix working full-time and learning on the job with gaining a qualification. Anyone over 16 can be an apprentice. Courses last at least a year, and are available in a huge range of industries – there are apprenticeships in everything from accountancy to social media. It’s not just small companies who offer them; many of the big players such as Google, IBM, Barclays and Nestle offer excellent apprenticeships with good longterm prospects.

In terms of learning styles, apprenticeships are best-suited to those people who want to get into the workplace straight away, or those who prefer a hands-on approach to learning. Some people (some teachers even) worry that an apprenticeship might limit a more able student’s options. This isn’t the case at all, if anything it opens them up. Thanks to the in-depth industry experience apprenticeships provide, many apprentices progress further and faster in their chosen fields. There are also higher-level apprenticeships and some people choose to move into further education at a later stage, either at a conventional university or through a body like the Open University.

Spending time in workplace as part of your apprenticeship means that you naturally develop important ‘soft skills’, such as communication and team work. These skills are transferrable whatever path your career ultimately takes.

One major benefit of an apprenticeship is that you won’t have a student loan to pay off, and on top of this you are earning a salary and building a network of contacts. About 70% of apprentices are offered a permanent position at the end of their apprenticeship, and 90% remain in employment.

To decide whether or not an apprenticeship is right in your case you need to do your research.

Think about what your career ambitions are and look at potential pathways. Talk to employers at careers fairs and ask what they are looking for, and talk to people who have done an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships are not right for everyone but they shouldn’t be viewed as a lesser option.

Modern apprenticeships are a dynamic, flexible way to launch a career and one might be perfect for you.

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

By Tracey Anderson 45

Let us help you get your business off to a flying start VILLAGER The

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Our award winning magazines offer a unique local advertising platform. Printed on high quality paper we are still able to offer incredible prices along with a second-to-none service, professional advert design and a team just waiting to help you.

With over 11000 copies being delivered door to door every month can your business wait any longer to be in The Villager?

Advertising in The Villager and Town Life could not be easier, for further information or to book your advertising space please call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com or visit our website www.villagermag.com

Why advertise anywhere else?

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan March Medley The Toymakers

by Robert Dinsdale

It’s 1917 and pregnant teenager Cathy Wray seeks sanctuary at a London toy store. She soon discovers that these toys are unlike any she’s ever seen before. There’s a clockwork dog that’s devoted to his master, paper trees that grow from seed, and toy soldiers that wage battles on their own. Cathy learns to call The Emporium home, and the people who own it her family. But then the First World War breaks out, and nothing will ever be quite as magical again. The Toymakers is a must for fans of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus.

White Chrysanthemum

by Mary Lynn Bracht

Approximately 200,000 young Korean women and girls were enslaved by the Japanese army in the Second World War. Thousands of these ‘comfort women’ died from the abuse they experienced.

White Chrysanthemum tells the fictional story of 15 year old Hana, who is kidnapped after stepping in to rescue her little sister, Emi. Several decades later, we meet Emi in her desperate last attempt to find out what happened to Hana all those years ago.

While White Chrysanthemum is, at times, painful to read, it’s impossible to put down and a mustread for lovers of historical fiction.

Electrician

Frank Plater Electrical Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections No job too small. Free estimates Established in 1996 Tel: 01480 432154 Mob: 07976 797111

Removals, Delivery & Storage For All Your Storage, Delivery and Removal Requirements Based in Alconbury Weston Freephone - 0800 689 0894

Use your local removal company

Tony Webb - 07850 293540 Lee Eastlake - 07906 072096 www.move-plus-safe.co.uk

GDC 1-4 Page Ad Mono:GDC Letterhead

GDC HEATING

Plumbing, Gas and Oil Heating Engineers

36 Rookery Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AX

Tel: 01480 215821 01582 867152 www.gdcheating.com Email: enquiries@gdcheating.com Boiler Repairs/Servicing/Installation Full Heating Installations Efficiency Upgrades Bathroom Design and Installation Specialist Powercleaning Service 30 Years in Business

Reg No. 112425

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