VILLAGER The
Issue 80 - November 2018
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
In this issue Win a Spa Day for two at
Champneys Henlow The History of the
Remembrance Day Poppy Win £25 in our Prize Crossword
Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month
ur Yo EE FRcopy
The Old White Horse • 1 High Street • Biggleswade • SG18 0JE Tel: 01767 314344 www.lolineinteriors.co.uk e: dave@lolineinteriors.co.uk 2
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Inside this issue...
Win Tickets to see The Overtones
10 The History of the Remembrance Day Poppy....................4 Cambridge Tea Party Groups Looking for Volunteers........8 Win Two Tickets to see The Overtones.............................10 Win a Spa Day for Two at Champneys Henlow................12 Flavours of the Levant....................................................14 SAD Times......................................................................17 Tips on how to wear your denim with style....................18 Local Tradesmen and Women Targetted by Thieves........21 Can you still get a mortgage as an older borrower?........23
Leaf Matter, Leaves Matter.............................................26 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..............................................29 How to deal with pothole damage to your car...............31 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is 40...................................32 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................34 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 What’s On.......................................................................38 Restoration Project Across Greensand Country...............40 Fun Quiz.........................................................................41 Prize Crossword..............................................................42 Book Review..................................................................45
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is 40
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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, Louise Addison, Jennie Billings, Dr. Ken German, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, James Baggott, Nick Coffer and Kate Duggan
Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Yuryy Bezrukov 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 the Remembrance Day Poppy With celebrations to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, the humble but striking poppy will once again be evident as a symbol of hope and remembrance. But what is its history? Over the four years that the Great War raged, the fields of Flanders in Belgium that saw much of the bloody trench warfare were decimated. Stumps were left in place of trees and the once lovely landscape turned into acres of bare earth, muddy craters and barbed wire. But like some miracle of life triumphing over death, out of this devastation grew hundreds of field poppies. Part of the papaver family (papaver rhoeas) and a wildflower that is as delicate as it is hardy, it is a plant that seeds best in fresh earth. The Flanders Poppy, as it came to be known, therefore thrived in the barrenness. Its poignancy was not lost on all those who saw it – its bright red colour echoed the bloodshed of all the lives lost and the fact it
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could grow in such devastation made it the perfect symbol of hope for the future. Canadian WW1 soldier and poet John McCrae wrote the now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ about their significance in 1915. (Incredibly, this poem was rejected by The Spectator when it was first submitted.) But it was an American University Professor from Georgia, Moina Michael, who first set out to make wearing the poppy a symbol of honouring the war’s dead. After reading a copy of McCrae’s poem, she was so moved that she promptly went out to Wannamaker’s – a department store in New York – and bought all the artificial poppies they had. She then went about selling them as souvenirs of remembrance under the banner ‘keep the faith’. By the end of 1918, Moina was working with a designer to produce a poppy design that could become a national emblem. The initial drawing
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was of a poppy made up of all the colours of the Allied flags which was intertwined with the Statue of Liberty. The original design was abandoned but, due to Moina’s efforts, the National American Legion adopted the poppy as their symbol, agreeing to wear it on Armistice Day, 11th November. At this point, a French lady named Anna Guérin who was a member of the French Young Women’s Christian Association, takes over the story. While attending an American Legion Convention in 1920, she was so taken with the idea of the poppy not only as a global symbol of remembrance but also as a way of raising funds, that she decided to start mass producing artificial poppies to sell as badges in France. The funds from the sale of these poppies would be used to help war widows and orphans. After they proved a success in France, Anna took them abroad, working with Moina Michael on distribution across the US. In England, she met Field Marshall Douglas Haig, who was also the first president of the (Royal) British Legion, founded in 1921. Haig was sympathetic to her idea, knowing that there were many veterans suffering financial hardship. The first British Legion Poppy Day Appeal took place in 1921 with nine million poppies being sold. It raised over £100,000. The other allied countries soon followed suit. In 1922, Major John Howson opened the first UK poppy factory in London. Howson had received the Military Cross during the First World War and had subsequently set up The Disabled Society to help provide employment for disabled veterans.
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His initial staff were five disabled ex-soldiers. Today there are two poppy manufacturers in the UK – The Poppy Factory in Richmond (the original poppy factory that relocated) and The Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. The Scottish poppy is slightly different to the English in that it has four petals instead of three and no leaf. Both are staffed by ex-servicemen and women and produce millions of poppies annually. The Poppy Factory also does free tours which are open to all and where you can purchase special poppy souvenirs, including china. Over the years, the paper poppy badge we all know so well has diversified and you can now buy silk and enamel versions as well as giant poppies to fix to your car. An initiative set up by the RBL also encourages communities to knit poppies for local fundraising and there is a knitting pattern on their website. Between July and November 2014, the moat at the Tower of London was filled with ceramic poppies in an art installation by Paul Cummins and Tom Piper entitled ‘Blood-swept Lands and Seas of Red’ to honour the centenary of the start of the Great War. They were a stunning sight and many thousands of visitors went to see them. Along with the crosses and wreaths that will be placed on war memorials across the country on Remembrance Sunday in this centenary year, armies of volunteers will sell millions of poppies in the run up to 11th November. The idea behind them remains the same – a non-religious, noncultural symbol of remembrance that helps to raise money for veterans and their families.
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Local News
Cambridge Tea Party Groups For Isolated Older People Looking for New Volunteers Come and join us for a cuppa and cake! Contact the Elderly is a national charity dedicated to tackling loneliness and isolation among older people. There are five Contact the Elderly ‘tea party’ groups in Cambridge, which meet one Sunday afternoon each month for tea, cake and companionship. In order for this to be possible, the charity is appealing for volunteers who could spare a few hours each month to drive one or two older guests to their tea, or help with the running of local tea parties – and enjoy a cuppa themselves! The charity aims to relieve loneliness amongst older people, aged 75 and above, who live alone. Each older guest is collected from their home by a volunteer driver and taken to a volunteer host’s home, where they meet with a small group for tea, chat and friendship. The group is warmly
welcomed by a different host each month, but the drivers remain the same which means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship. Contact the Elderly’s Support Officer, Georgina Sells, said: “Activities for people aged 75 and above are normally limited to weekdays, so Sunday can be a particularly long and difficult day. Our tea parties are sometimes the only social outing our guests have in a month, so they can make a real difference. However, there’s a shortage of volunteers in the area. Anyone who can spare a couple of hours one Sunday a month, has a driving licence, a car and a capacity for drinking tea, is eligible! We are also looking for coordinators to help with the running of the groups. It’s not a big commitment, and our volunteers genuinely get as much out of the experience as our older guests, so I’m calling for anyone who is interested in giving something back to their community to please get in touch with me as soon as possible.”
Residents in the Cambridge area, who are interested in volunteering for Contact the Elderly once a month as a driver, or as a group coordinator, or in hosting the group once or twice a year can contact Georgina Sells georgina.sells@contact-the-elderly.org.uk 0207 078 8998 or Freephone 0800 716543 8
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Christmas Make it special this
Gift Basket with a PERSONALISED MADE BY YOU!
Order online at
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Win 2 tickets to see The Overtones Wed 5th Dec 2018 at Cambridge Corn Exchange
The Overtones are back on the road with a 22 date UK tour starting on November 22nd at Watford Colosseum and ending with a special festive show at London’s Indigo at the O2 on December 20th 2018. Promising “a night to remember” the group will be joined on stage by their band to perform favourites from their previous Top 10 albums as well as songs from the new record. Tickets for the tour are available from gigsandtours.com with VIP packages from sjm-vip.com. The group – Lachie Chapman, Mike Crawshaw, Darren Everest and Mark Franks also announced their sixth studio album ‘The Overtones’ October 19th 2018. The first track to be shared, ‘You To Me Are Everything’, - with the group’s signature old-school cool, modern vintage vibe and trademark vocal harmonies - is a perfect teaser for the new album.
“a brilliant night out” Daily Record Since bursting onto the scene in 2010 with their debut ‘Good Ol’ Fashioned Love’, the group has sold over a million records. This self-titled album, however, will be the first release as a four piece following the passing of their bandmate and friend Timmy Matley in April. Teaming up, once again, with producer Julian Hinton and engineer Simon Bloor, the album – a collection of thoughtfully chosen covers and originals - is a tribute to Timmy, a celebration of everything that the group has achieved together, a thank you to their loyal and supportive fans and a statement of intent for the future.
Competition
THE OVERTONES COMPETITION ENTRY
Which Overtone appeared on British comedy drama series on Channel 4 ‘Crashing’? 1. Darren Everest 2. Mike Crawshaw 3. Lachie Chapman 4. Mark Franks
To enter, answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Overtones Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th November 2018.
Name: Tel: Email: Address:
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Win a Spa Day at Champneys Henlow for two Make time for some well-deserved rest and relaxation at Champneys Henlow. Set in 150 acres of beautiful Bedfordshire parkland, Henlow Grange serves as an idyllic countryside spa escape. Experience the delights of a full day of pampering with a delicious three course buffet lunch to enjoy half way through. Get comfortable in the cosy Champneys robe and flip-flops that you’ll be given for the day and try out the spa facilities, including swimming pool, steam room, sauna, and whirlpool. It really is the perfect way to unwind. Henlow in Bedfordshire, offers sumptuous accommodation in elegant surroundings, delicious cuisine, treatments and therapists focusing on both inner health and outer beauty, not to mention the latest fitness trends. Spend a day with us, and you’ll get a feel for how much we have to offer. A Day to Remember. For more information visit: champneys.com Terms and conditions apply. Valid Monday to Thursday only. Prize must be booked and taken within 6 months from the date of issue, subject to availability. Guests must be 16 years or over, non-refundable and non-transferable. Travel to the spa is not included. Prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Competition
To enter, answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Champneys Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th October 2018. The winner can choose which date they wish to attend.
Champneys Henlow Grange is set in or how many acres of parkland a) 200 b)150 c) 300
CHAMPNEYS HENLOW COMPETITION ENTRY
Name: Tel: Email: Address: Please tick this box if you wish to receive further information from Champneys 12
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Food and Drink
Favours of the Levant
The Levant, located in the eastern Mediterranean, has a very long and interesting history. The traditional, flavoursome cuisine of the Levant is enjoyed a lot and widely available in a number of countries in that area, including Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Cyprus, for example.
The Ceru restaurant opened during December 2016, in South Kensington, London and its popularity grew from the outset. The much-anticipated second Ceru restaurant opened in February 2018, within easy walking distance of Oxford Street and Regent Street, in London. Utilising authentic ingredients and cooking methods and cleverly blending spices, Patricia and Barry Hilton, plus their brigade of talented chefs and kitchen personnel have a lot of knowledge and experience of Levantine cuisine. All dishes are freshly prepared and Ceru is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day. The All-Day Menu is available daily, from 12 noon. An array of dips and salads has something for everyone, to start. Pancar (Roasted beetroot, yoghurt, garlic, crushed pistachio) and The Sultan (Ottoman-inspired salad of dried fruits, wholegrain rice, toasted almonds and olives) are popular selections, for many. Mains seafood dishes include Sea Bream, Cod and Prawns. Meat and poultry dishes have perfectly cooked slow-roasted Lamb Shoulder and Beef, plus Chicken variations and gain regular ‘devotees’. Often-selected side orders have Orez Ceru (Arabic scented fried rice, crispy onions, sultanas, parsley) and Spiced Polenta & Feta Fries, with coriander and chilli. If time is pressing, then ‘Express’ (served weekdays 12 noon – 3pm) is no problem. Desserts offer tempting Dark Chocolate Mousse and Flavours of Baklava – good choices – amongst a selection. The wines/drinks list has something for all and includes superb, high-quality wines, champagnes and craft-brewed beers. All dietary requirements can be catered for, plus parties, celebrations and occasions arranged and accommodated. The Ceru restaurants offer diners the opportunity to ‘explore’ and enjoy very impressive cuisine, with rich, vibrant flavours of the Levant. Booking is advisable, particularly at popular times. Ceru Soho 11 D’Arblay Street, London W1F 8DT Tel: 44(0)20 3195 3002 Email: soho@cerurestaurants.com www.cerurestaurants.com Ceru South Kensington 7-9 Bute Street, London SW7 3EY Tel: 44(0)20 3195 3001 Email: southken@cerurestaurants.com
As always, Enjoy!
ey Trevor Langl
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IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE... FES
TIV
E
Come and celebrate this festive season with us and enjoy all that we have to offer. We’ve got plenty of festive spirit to go around!
TMAS LUNCH
F AIR TF
Come and indulge in your very own Christmas Afternoon Tea. All served with tea or coffee for £19.95 or add a glass of Prosecco for £22.95.
FESTIVE LUNCH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS
WWW.JORDANSMILL.COM
Craft fair on Saturday 24th November, from 10am 4pm, come and find those unique gifts.
WHY NOT FOLLOW US ON: /JORDANSMILL @JORDANSMILL
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E OON TEA
RIS
CRA
Join us every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from the 1st – 24th December for our traditional Christmas roast. Available between 12pm - 3pm. Pre-book at welcome@jordansmill.com Please see our website for full Menu details.
AFT
RN
CH
Christmas
Offer runs from 24th November until 22nd December inclusive – must be booked 24 hours in advance. Pre-book at welcome@jordansmill.com
WWW.JORDANSMILL.COM Jordans Mill, Holme Mills, Langford Road Broom, Nr Biggleswade SG18 9JY Call: 01767 603940
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SAD Times
Time of Year
As many as one in six people suffer with a low mood in Winter and a small number of these will suffer with the more serious Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) SAD sufferers are less able to control their serotonin levels in the absence of sunlight and if serotonin levels drop too low, so will your mood. Here are five ways to raise your serotonin levels even in the coldest, darkest months. Lighten up - As lack of sunlight is the problem, more light could be a solution. Light boxes are available that provide levels of brightness which can elevate your brain’s serotonin levels. Exercise - There’s evidence that aerobic exercise not only boosts your brain’s levels of serotonin but also keeps those levels elevated for hours after your workout. Laugh - A study in Norway found that laughing with friends, watching a funny movie or doing something that briefly improves your mood may stoke your brain’s levels of serotonin. Step outside - Research shows that walking in nature — especially with other people — is an effective way to combat depression. Spending at least 30 minutes a day outdoors even during the cold winter months may offset the seasonal drops in serotonin. Physical contact - Massage has been proven to increase your brain and body’s levels of serotonin. The soothing experience significantly reduces the blues.
By Louise Addison
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House of Colour
Tips on how to work your denim with style Denim suits everyone, it is universal, genderless, ageless and adaptable, but we definitely don’t all suit the same colours, lengths, cut or styles. Add to that that sizes and styles differ hugely from brand to brand, so it is hard to stick to any hard and fast rules. Here are my top tips on how to choose the best denim to suit you. 1. Firstly, don’t expect finding the perfect jeans to be easy. Cropped, ankle grazers, wideleg, low-risers, mid-risers, high-waisted, slim, skinny, super-skinny, straight, boot-cut, relaxed, boyfriend, girlfriend jeans – it is literally a minefield out there. Be prepared to try lots of different jeans on. 2. Don’t just choose whatever seems to be in current vogue, always consider your body shape and flaunt your best assets. Straight, skinny or slim silhouettes will look better on straighter body shapes, whereas, straight, bootcut or wide leg jeans look better on curvy body shapes. Badly fitted jeans will ruin your entire look. 3. It is essential that you know which colour denim suits you. Spring and Autumns should stick to warmer colours e.g. Spring a brighter blue, and Autumns a warm navy. Summers can wear cooler denim blue such as a French navy or an airforce blue and Winters should opt for a deep cool navy. Go beyond blue and try coloured jeans from your palette. Be careful with white jeans; they will only look great if they are crisp, clean and well-fitting and for the right body shape and season. 4. You may have a pair of jeans in the right colour and style, but they just never seem quite right. Sound familiar? The stitching could be the missing link. Spring and Autumns suit warm stitching (yellow) and Winter and Summers suit cool coloured stitching (white or grey). If your jeans have faded into a colour you don’t like you can dye them but bear in mind the stitching will also be dyed and this may change their look. 5. Speaking of washing denim. Always turn denim inside out when popping it in the washing machine to help preserve the colour for as long as possible. 6. It is all in the detail. Ripped or deconstructed denim looks better on naturals whilst classic finishes suit those who like well-cut timeless styles. Dramatic personalities could try shiny or coated textures and gamines can have great fun with coloured jeans from their palette. Ingenues
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are those who love detail like pretty embellishments, and romantics will like fitted jeans to show off their curves. Even the pockets, stretch and fastening make a huge difference. Elastic waist, zipper or buttons all alter the overall look of the jeans. Generally smaller pockets make your bum look rounder and bigger pockets are more slimming. Choose high, mid or low waists carefully. Get it wrong and you could create a small muffin top but get it right and you could look in perfect proportion. Make sure you know your inside leg length when choosing a new pair of jeans. There is nothing worse than wearing jeans that are too short or too long for you. Think about what shoes you normally wear with your jeans and try them on together. I can’t stress it enough. The jeans and shoe or boot combination is key. Turn-up jeans add a different dimension to this. If skinny jeans are your thing - pair with knee high boots for style points. Think beyond the strides! Denim looks fantastic as a shirt, jacket, skirt, shorts, dress or jumpsuit, as long as the look is really YOU. Do you suit hard or soft denim? If soft denim is your thing, stand out from the crowd by sewing on some embellishments to make it more you. This might also be a great thing for younger children to enjoy doing. Buy some jewels and let them get creative with clothes glue. Harder denim is less versatile but more structured. If you are fashion forward thinking you might want to try head to toe, double-denim. Keep to the denim shades that suit you and blend denim together rather than two sharply contrasting colours or styles.
By Jennie Billings Style and Colour Consultant at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk
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Crime
By Dr Ken German
Local Tradesmen and Women Targeted by Thieves
Tradesmen and women are currently under attack from criminals who are destroying their vehicles to gain access and steal the tools necessary for them to carry on with their businesses. Our local services including builders, mechanics, engineers and many others who help with house improvements, car repairs, deliveries and emergencies have all been affected at some time many losing all their working tools and equipment and often being left with vehicles so badly damaged that they are subsequently ‘written off’ by their insurance companies. Every town and city across the country appears to have their own plague of ’tool thieves’ responsible for causing hardship and havoc to van owners with reports posted on social media almost every day of at least 6 tradesmen’s vehicles being damaged with contents stolen often culminating in the demise of sole operators and small businesses being forced into bankruptcy. Ironically the police who of course are initially blamed on various social media sites for not arresting those responsible or recovering this stolen equipment have rightly responded offering their own pictures depicting large quantities of identical stolen property they have collected from various searches and raids they have conducted all of which they cannot identify and desperately want to restore to their rightful owners. Indeed as one local officer suggested ‘a suspect who is often unemployed and found in possession of 93 electric drills, saws and hammers, 14 Jet washers, 17 MIG/spot welders, 19 compressors and thousands of tools all stacked in his living room offering no good account to his possession of the items might reasonably expect us to assume he had stolen them. ‘ This ‘Catch 22’ conundrum does appear to have a simple solution however. Owners must mark their tools and equipment with their own individual identification (Initials/post code) that would establish enough information to allow the police to search crime reports and national databases and identify and restore items to their rightful owners whilst at the same time giving them the opportunity to charge those responsible and obtain a conviction for theft. The sad irony is that should the police fail to find owners for any of their acquired stolen property they could be forced to return all of it back to the thieves who could boast that it was returned to them by the police having been through their identification process and they are therefore entitled to declare they are legitimate owners.
At Oakleigh Residential Home we take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of care for our residents. Our home is set out in large gardens with easy access, 24 bright and comfortable, single-occupancy rooms and in-house cooks who create appetising and varied menu’s.
01480 890248 stonnell.oakleigh@outlook.com 22 North Road, Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, PE28 4JR.
We provide 24 hour care and can accommodate clients who require dementia care.
www.oakleighresidentailhome.co.uk ESTABLISHED AND TRUSTED SINCE 1988 Oakleigh Residential half page.indd 1 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
05/12/2016 11:03 21
EBAY COLLECTIONS
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Local & Reliable
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Finance
By Ann Haldon
Can you still get a mortgage if you are an older borrower? Whether you are moving house or remortgaging an existing property, you may find it difficult to secure a mortgage as you get older. Some mortgage lenders are reluctant to take pension income into account, which means you could be refused if you have already retired, or want a mortgage term that continues past your retirement date. Is there an age limit for getting a mortgage? Officially there is no upper age limit for a mortgage, but providers use their own in-house criteria when assessing a mortgage application. They may apply an age limit for older people taking out new mortgages, and another for when the mortgage must be paid off. These limits are typically 65-70 years of age, and 70-85 years old respectively. This means that if you are aged 60, for example, and looking for a mortgage term of 25 years, your options may be limited. Is there anything you can do to increase your chances of securing a mortgage? • Reduce your outgoings By reducing your spending, and paying down debt over six months or so prior to your mortgage application, you stand a better chance of success and may be able to access a wider choice of products that offer better terms. • Use a mortgage broker Obtaining the services of a mortgage broker who understands this particular market is a good idea. If too many mortgage applications are rejected, it can adversely affect your credit status, which then has a knock-on effect to any future applications you make. Mortgage affordability checks New regulations introduced following the 2008 recession, known as the Mortgage Market Review rules, mean that lenders must make more stringent affordability checks prior to lending. As a result, all regular payments leaving your bank account will affect the affordability calculation, and reduce the amount you are able to borrow. Acknowledging longer life expectancies There has been a trend in recent years for longer life expectancies to be acknowledged, along with the fact that, for a variety of reasons, people need
to borrow money later in life. The higher cost of housing, helping children onto the property ladder, or late entry into the housing market, can all result in the need for a mortgage after you have reached 50 years of age. Mortgages for older people It is often smaller building societies that offer flexibility with regard to age, with high street banks remaining steadfast in their cautionary approach to mortgages in retirement. • The Family Building Society offers mortgage terms of up to 25 years for a 70 year old, and up to a five-year term for someone aged 90 years old.¹ • Aldermore Bank is a specialist mortgage lender that allows repayments to continue up to the age of 99.² According to the Building Societies Association (BSA), some building societies operate with no upper age limit at all for mortgages. These include, but are not limited to, Cumberland, Bath, Chorley, Cambridge, Ipswich, and Buckinghamshire Building Societies.³ ¹ familybuildingsociety.co.uk/Mortgages/Later_Life_ Lending.aspx ² www.aldermore.co.uk/mortgages/later-lifelending-mortgages ³ www.bsa.org.uk/information/consumer-factsheets/ mortgages/building-societies-lending-age-limits
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Jeffrey Mills Solicitors + Winters Legal = Beacon Wealth Legal October 1st saw the coming together of Jeffrey Mills Solicitors and Winters Legal, both well respected companies, and a subsequent change of name to Beacon Wealth Legal. Both companies are now owned by the Beacon Wealth Group which also owns Beacon Wealth Management Ltd and are the same company responsible for helping to save the Royal Oak in Hail Weston. Both solicitors’ practices have the same family values and desire to provide good affordable advice. Clients will see little or no difference – apart from the stationery, because all the staff will remain in both companies and the solicitors will keep their existing clients. The changes that will occur are mainly in-house as a sharing of best practice ideas will inevitably result in improved systems and client services. Just bringing together the collective brains of so many experienced solicitors is exciting and challenging. If you are an existing client of either company we hope you will be very pleased about the improved service you will receive. If you’re not a client but would like to be, please do not delay in contacting us.
St Neots (Head Office) 26 Market Square St Neots PE19 2PJ 01480 219699
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The only minor change is in St Ives where, due to size and location, it has been decided to combine all the staff in the much larger Winters office in the High Street near Barclays. All existing files new and old will be kept as before. Both management teams will also join forces to become one. Jeffrey Mills Practice Manager, Linda Eaton, said; “This will be a great fit and we welcome the partners of Winters to the management team.” “Winters Legal Partners both said they are really excited about joining the Beacon Group given their vibrant approach to business strategies.” “Personally, I am really pleased we have been able to pull this off; both teams include great individuals and being that much larger, new ideas will lead to improvements all round.” Further acquisitions will not be ruled out, but it would need to be a well-respected company with good current working practices and ethics, before they would even be considered. Family Values are paramount. A separate part of the Beacon Wealth Group has on the same day acquired two buildings on Market Square, St Neots, and Fishers Yard, St Neots after a developer threatened to acquire the buildings and close the shops in favour of development into housing. I have no intention of making changes, as St Neots needs all the shops it has and more.
BIG ENOUGH TO BE EXPERTS... SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE!
St Ives 3 The Sheep Market St Ives PE27 5AJ 01480 377377
Sawtry The Green Sawtry PE28 5ST 01480 832404
Kimbolton The Old Chapel Thrapston Road Kimbolton PE28 0HW 01480 869466
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We have expanded our family Jeffrey Mills Solicitors and Winters Legal are now called Beacon Wealth Legal. Part of the Beacon Wealth Group.
BIG ENOUGH TO BE EXPERTS.... SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE!
St Neots | St Ives | Sawtry | Kimbolton enquiries@beaconwealth.co.uk | www.beaconwealthlegal.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Garden View
By Rachael Leverton
Leaf Matter. Leaves Matter!
Oh, those autumn leaves. So pretty on the trees but they can be rather inconvenient in the garden. If they drift too deep on the lawn the grass underneath will die so there’s nothing to do but rake them up. However, these fallen leaves are a little autumn gift from nature and with them you can create leaf mould. Leaf mould is free garden nourishment, and it’s it’s like feeding your soil with the finest fillet steak. Leaf mould is what’s left when the dead, fallen leaves from deciduous trees and shrubs are heaped up and allowed to rot down. As they slowly decompose, only the toughest bits remain, eventually forming crumbly, dark brown crumbs, a bit like chocolate sprinkles. Leaf mould is easy to make, a delight to handle, and you can’t possibly overfeed your soil with it. Micro-organisms are the driving factor, performing an alchemy that gives the finished product an almost magical quality. Its fibrous nature retains moisture and enables free drainage, which means it also makes a great mulch for trilliums or wood anemones, whose natural habitat is woodland. I adhere to a policy of only collecting leaves where necessary. Where they have fallen and are not obscuring the grass I leave them for the
earthworms to pull into their burrows (I wrote last month about how I think of earthworms as my friends and so do nothing to discourage them). Simply sweeping leaves off paths and decking or patios will keep the garden looking cared for. I also remove any that have drifted around my herb garden because herbs like to be able to breathe. These tasks alone give me enough leaves to create plenty of lovely leaf mould. If you have enough room, create a separate leaf heap rather than simply adding leaves to compost. It’s quite simple to construct a leaf cage using chicken wire and posts. You can even bag your leaves in punctured black bin bags and put them in an out-of-the-way corner. The puncturing is necessary to allow air to circulate. A leaf heap made this autumn will be ready by next autumn. While you’re tidying up the leaves it can be tempting to cut down faded perennials. But if you leave them, in a month or so you will find they have turned into wonderful sculptural winter skeletons which look incredibly beautiful in the frosts. It’s all down to personal taste of course, but I often leave perennials standing until February or March simply to provide a bit of interest over the winter.
Happy Gardening
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Rehoming Appeal
Pets
Eric
Eric is an 10 year old Jack Russel Terrier but despite being an older dog, he is still very active and enjoys his walks and is house-trained. He is a sweet, gentle dog. A thorough vet check has shown that Eric has no physical problems and is very healthy for his age. He does, however, have some night-time issues caused by canine cognitive disfunction (often known as Sundowners Syndrome). This means that in the evenings he can begin to pace and become restless, sometimes barking. Because of this, he follows a night-time routine which involves him being crated with plenty of soft bedding which helps him to feel secure. With the aid of some herbal supplements he will relax and fall asleep. Eric just wants to be with someone all the time, so is looking perhaps for an older couple who are at home all day or can take him with them when going out. He loves nothing more than to sit on someone’s lap and be stroked. Eric is not a fan of cats and although he gets on well with other dogs, he prefers the attention he gets being an only dog. If you could offer this lovely boy a home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827. Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team. Website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity
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Motoring
By James Baggott
How to deal with pothole damage to your car Winter is the season of snow, woolly clothes and — at least on poorly-kept UK roads — potholes. All motorists will know the struggles of trying to avoid potholes, but sometimes they’re either impossible to get around or go unnoticed. This can result in a little discomfort at best, and plenty of damage to your car at worst. We look at how you can report a pothole and, should you pick up damage, how you can claim money to cover repair costs. Why do potholes form? Potholes are most commonly created when water creeps into the cracks in the roads and freezes. The expansion and contraction of water moves the asphalt around, weakening it as a result. The stress of vehicle movement over the road eventually causes the asphalt to give way, thus forming a hole. Although potholes can form at any time, colder winter temperatures make them much more likely. What can a pothole do to my car? The uneven, sudden drop of a pothole puts significant stress on a vehicle’s tyres and suspension. As tough as modern cars are, there’s a chance a pothole could damage a tyre to the point of puncture,
add excess wear to suspension components or break them entirely. Extreme holes could even damage alloy wheels and components underneath a vehicle. How can I report a pothole? To report a pothole on a local road, you should contact the relevant council and inform them of the location of the hole. As for A-roads and motorways, the Highways Agency must be notified by calling 0300 123 5000. How can I claim for damage costs? At the risk of sounding like an insurance advert, you could be entitled to compensation should your car be damaged due to going over a pothole. If the pothole has been previously reported, you’re more likely to receive some compensation that if it has not. Councils have a statutory defence that they cannot be held liable for defects they’re unaware of. There are some steps you can take before making a claim to increase your chances of a payout: • Make notes — write down key details, such as location, time of the incident, and the size and depth of the pothole if
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possible. You should also take a photograph as evidence. • Witnesses — if anyone else has seen the incident, get details from them. It could help your claim. • Get repair quotes — having accurate quotes for repair bills could help to ensure you get as much of the damage repairs covered as possible in a claim. • Research — before making a claim, you should check to see what your council is and isn’t liable for. To make a claim for pothole damage, contact the local council for local roads and the Highways Agency for A-roads and motorways Can I claim pothole damage on my insurance? Your insurer may provide cover for pothole damage, and this is more likely if you have a comprehensive policy. It’s worth checking your policy documents and contacting your insurer before making a claim.
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Local News
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is 40! (26-28 January 2019) Celebrating 40 Years of Counting Garden Birds in Bedfordshire • The RSPB is celebrating 40 years of its’ famous Big Garden Birdwatch. • Over 8 million hours have been spent watching garden birds since the Birdwatch began in 1979 with more than 130 million birds counted in the UK. • Taking part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey takes just one hour and provides the RSPB with an annual snapshot into how our wildlife is faring. • To mark the event, the RSPB is asking participants ‘How will you #BigGardenBirdWatch?’ and share their stories of how they take part. The RSPB is eagerly anticipating who will be top of the pecking order for a very special anniversary of its’ world famous Big Garden Birdwatch in January. Just one hour every year, for the last 40 years, has made the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project. During that time, hundreds of thousands of people have volunteered their time providing the RSPB with over 8 million hours of monitoring garden birds around the UK. To mark the event, the RSPB is encouraging participants to share their Big Garden Birdwatch stories. How will you #BigGardenBirdWatch? will showcase some of the best examples of how people take part from building their own birdwatching den, baking birdseed cakes and dressing up as Batman to see Robin. This year’s event takes place on 26, 27 and 28 January 2019. The public is asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden or local green space, then send their results to the RSPB. Close to half-a-million people join in the Birdwatch every year, around 5,000 of whom, are in Bedfordshire. Over the last 40 years, 130 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring. For four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers. The song thrush was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979, plummeting to 20th in the rankings. In Bedfordshire, the house sparrow was top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings in 2018, with starling and woodpigeon rounding off the top three. Mike Clarke, RSPB Chief Executive, said: “Everyone has a role to play in saving nature and protecting our wildlife. Big Garden Birdwatch participants have made
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Photo: Louise Greenhorn
a significant contribution to monitoring garden bird numbers over the past four decades. Those taking part work together as part of a community with thousands of other Big Garden Birdwatchers to help the RSPB’s work to protect birds, other wildlife and the places they live. Reaching 40 years is a huge achievement and shows just how passionate people across the UK are about their wildlife. The survey started as a winter activity for our youth members. It’s now the largest garden wildlife survey in the world and appeals to both children and adults because it’s an enjoyable, easy, inclusive activity that anyone can do and a great opportunity to connect with nature.” The survey has also shown the increases in collared dove and wood pigeon numbers and the alarming declines of the house sparrow and starling. While the overall decline in house sparrow numbers, reported by participants, since the Big Garden Birdwatch began is 57% (1979 – 2018), in the most recent decade (2009-2018) numbers appear to have increased by 17%. As well as counting birds, the RSPB is once again asking participants to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year. This year, people are being asked to look out for badger, fox, grey squirrel, red squirrel, muntjac deer, roe deer, frog and toad. To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2019, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell us the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour. The parallel event, RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring term (2 January – 22 February 2019). More than 60,000 schoolchildren spent an hour in nature counting birds in 2018. Further information can be found at www.rspb.org. uk/schoolswatch For your FREE 40th anniversary Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus RSPB shop voucher and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Registration for Big Garden Birdwatch 2019 opens 12 December 2018.
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Three Counties Radio
Guinea Fowl stuffed with curry leaf butter with corn and coconut puree and chilli popcorn One of the things I love most about my Weekend Kitchen show is the colorful character of my guests. To put it bluntly, you don’t get to be a top chef by being a shrinking violet. You need charisma, creativity, passion – and eyes wide open to the world around you. Cat Ashton fits this bill. She is originally from Australia and has travelled extensively honing her craft at Michelin starred restaurants. She is also a brilliant character and her vibrant and comforting food reflects her personality. She has just landed in St Albans as the head chef at the new Abbey Restaurant and this fancy looking – but easy to execute – dinner party dish is her creation. You will need (Serves 4) 4 large Guinea fowl or chicken supremes (skin on) Curry leaf butter 250g butter, softened 1 clove garlic, finely grated 1 tablespoon fried curry leaves ½ teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon sea salt 1. Place all the butter ingredients into a food processor. Whip until light and fluffy (note: this recipe makes much more than needed but can last in the fridge for a few weeks and be used for all sorts of dishes). 2. Stuffing the breast: Using your finger, create an air pocket between the skin of the fowl and the breast meat. Evenly pipe about 2 tablespoons worth of butter inside the cavity and place in it the fridge to set for 1 hour. 3. Season the supremes and heat a little oil in a pan. Cook them skin side down for 2-3 minutes, to get a golden skin. Flip them over and pop them in an oven at 180C/ Gas Mark 4 to finish them off for 6-8 minutes. You want them to feel moist and slightly bouncy, not rock hard.
Corn and coconut puree 1 shallot, diced 1 clove garlic, chopped 25ml olive oil 250g corn kernels (tinned or fresh) 200ml coconut milk 1. Heat the oil in a pan and sweat off the shallots for 2 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt and continue to cook for a further minute. 2. Add the corn and mix well. Fry for 2 minutes and add the coconut milk. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until softened. Puree in a blender until smooth. Serve warm Popcorn 50g corn kernels 10ml rapeseed oil Salt Garlic powder Chilli powder 1. Cook the popcorn as per the packet instructions. Then dust with salt, garlic powder and chilli powder to your desired spice level. To serve; Serve the puree on the plate, topped with the guinea fowl and finish off with the popcorn around the plate. This goes particularly well with spiralised raw yellow courgette, served just between the meat and the puree. Add a few final corn kernels on the plate for decoration
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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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. 36
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n O s ’ t Wha In November
Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com
1 November Toddler Time - Trains & Tracks 10.30-11.30am St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots £3.50 per child. Join us for fun, history activities, explore the museum and take home a messy art. Drop-in event. www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 November Healthy Walking 10am or 10.30am-11am Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Free event. Every Thursday. Meet at the Stable Rooms at 10am for a longer walk or 10.30am for a shorter stroll. No need to book. Please arrive 10 minutes early to register if it’s your first session.
2 November St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Guest Hall, Priory Centre, St Neots Tickets £5. “Doc Rowlett” by Liz Davies. Members of the St Neots Local History Society meet monthly for talks of local and historical interest. Tickets available from St Neots Museum. Tel: Tickets 01480 217492 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 November Friday Night Lights 7.30-8.30pm Longsands Academy Astro, Longsands Road, St Neots St Neots Hockey Club. Friday Night Lights aims to provide the local community of St Neots with the opportunity to experience hockey in a casual, relaxed and family orientated environment. Tel: Chris (Club Development Officer) 07792 044878 Email: cjbryden08@hotmail.co.uk 3 November Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission. Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola. 3 November Meditation Course in Huntingdon: 10.30am-1pm Huntingdon Library, Princes St, Huntingdon £15. Meditate, Relax and Reflect. Treat yourself to a morning away from it all with this light and inspiring course. Enjoy meditations, guided by our Resident Teacher and Buddhist nun Kelsang Rak-ma, designed to bring about an experience of peace and wellbeing from within. Everyone is warmly welcome and no experience of meditation is needed. This half-day course comprises two one-hour sessions with a coffee/tea break with a chance to ask questions and browse our book shop. Tel: 01733 755444 Web: www.drolmacentre.org.uk Email: info@drolmacentre.org.uk 3 November Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton For adults of all ages with lunch and various activities available. Tel: Leisa Hunt 01480 471748 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com
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3 November Cambourne Fireworks, Great Cambourne Sports Pitches, Back Lane. Fun fair opens 6pm, firework display c. 7.30pm (weather dependent). Free admission - donations welcome Free mulled wine whilst stock lasts - get down early! Licensed bar, hot food, drinks and sparklers area. No parking. Please park at Morrisons or the Hub car park.
6, 13, 20 & 27 November 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 November Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 3 November 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Paintbox Art Exhibition 10am-4pm Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual The Scout Hut, Mill Hill Road, Eaton Ford, St Neots membership fee is £10. Tel: Geoff 07515 881209 Free admission. Refreshments. 7 November 3 November St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots Ghost Stories at the Leper Chapel with in situ: 2pm St Mary’s Church Room, St Neots 8-10pm First Wednesday of the month. Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road, Cambridge Tel: May Parker 07724 043941 Tickets £12, Concessions £10. CambridgePPF event. Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com For one night only in the haunting Leper Chapel, Ghost Stories with in situ. Please note the chapel 7 November is not heated so wear suitable clothing. Tickets Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall available in advance. Web: www.insitutheatre.co.uk The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 3, 10, 17 & 24 November Huntingdon Music School 7 November 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm The music school operates lessons and ensemble Community Centre, High Street, Brampton groups on Saturday mornings during term-time. AGM followed by a presentation from Philip Waites, Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 the head gardener at the Wimpole Estate. Members’ Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk competition: Flower arrangement using an everyday Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk household object. Tel: Jan Dobie 01480 531822 Email: jandobie1946@googlemail.com 4 November Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com Cambridge Voices 4.30-6.30pm Holy Trinity Church, Great Paxton 9 November Tickets £10 inc. programme & interval refreshments, Wonder - Meal 6 for 6.30pm, Film 7 for 7.30pm Under 13s free. Holy Trinity Church, Great Paxton Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton presents Cambridge Voices under the direction of Kimbolton Community Cinema. Based on the 2012 Ian De Massini with music appropriate to 100 year novel of the same name, it tells the inspiring and commemoration of the Great War. Tickets available heart-warming story of August Pullman, a boy with from Great Paxton Community Shop or Diane James. facial differences. Meal is Chicken & Mushroom Tel: Diane James 07522 449535 Pie, Roast New Potatoes and Vegetables, Mixed Email: diane.james42@outlook.com Berry Pavlova. Tickets available from Oliver’s, Swan Pharmacy, Courtyard Kitchens, Bytes Café or by email. 5, 12, 19 & 26 November Email: jrstratford@hotmail.com West Hunts Friendship Club Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ 9.30am-3pm Great Staughton Village Hall themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema Meets every Monday except Bank Holidays. We are looking for new members who are retired to join our 10 November happy team. Members can participate in a range Hemingford Village Market of activities as well as enjoying a hot meal at lunch 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey time. Transport can be arranged for those who live Second Saturday of the month. An opportunity to within a six miles radius of Great Staughton. Tel: buy food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local Annabelle Blackham 07527741495 businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council hold a surgery at the market should you wish to meet 5, 12, 19 & 26 November councillors to discuss local issues. Refreshments Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm available all day in the Hemingford Garden Room. Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 10 November Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com Autumn Fayre 10am-2pm Berkley Street Methodist Church, Eynesbury Morning coffee, lunches from 12 noon. Cake stall, crafts, plants, bric-a brac, gifts, toys and puzzles.
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n O s ’ t Wha In November
This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com
10 November Xmas Fair 10am-3pm Abbots Ripton Village Hall Free admission. Many stalls and chance to sample some festive treats. Visit Father Christmas, ride on a “reindeer” and have fun doing Christmas crafts!
10 November Come and Sing Day Rehearsal 1-5pm, Performance 6pm St. Mary the Virgin Church, Titchmarsh Registration £10 with score, £12 score provided, Audience tickets £5. To celebrate 100 years since the end of WWI. Come and Sing Day - The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins. Conductor: Bjorn Bantock. With members of Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Email: titchmarsharmedman@gmail.com 10 & 11 November Hemingford Art Club Winter Exhibition 10am-4pm Hemingford Abbots Village Hall Original paintings framed and unframed also handmade cards. 11 November Little Paxton Remembers 3pm St. James Church Commemorating 100 years since the end of WW1. Little Paxton Parish Council invites all residents to a special Church Service to remember residents who fought in World War 1 and contributed to the war effort. “When you go Home, tell them of us and say, For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today” John Maxwell Edmunds 1916. Refreshments will be provided by the Parish Council after the service. 11 November The Mariner 7.30 pm Little Gransden Village Hall £12, Under 21s £10. Based on episodes from the extraordinary life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge in the context of his most famous poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. A gripping fusion of drama, song, puppetry and film! Tel: 01767 677906 Email: ssulledit@aol.com 12 November Godmanchester Trefoil Guild 7.30-9pm Godmanchester Football Ground Trefoil Guild is a branch of Girlguiding for Adults aged 18+. They meet on the second Monday of the month. Email: jeanmking@outlook.com 13 November Police Surgery 5-7pm Brampton Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Residents are invited to meet John Carter, Brampton Police Community Support Officer, to ask advice on home security, raise issues concerning their neighbourhood or simply meet their local officer. 13 November 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 November Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee Morning. Delicious homemade cakes, accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee. Lots craft stalls, Tombola and a Raffle. The coffee morning is on every second Wednesday of the month from March-November. 15 November St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Visitors £7 Burgess Hall, St Ives Demonstration by Alan Smith from Ipswich entitled “Christmas All Wrapped Up”
16 November Christmas Shopping Evening 7-9pm Alconbury Primary School Free admission. Enjoy festive nibbles, hot beverages and a glass of Prosecco. Browse our many stalls, packed full of lovely Christmas treats. Stalls include jewellery, wooden signs, candles, cards, decorations, henna, various handmade crafts, soaps and children’s clothes, skincare, personalised frames, homewares, etc.. 16 & 17 November Candlelit Tour of Island Hall 3pm Island Hall, Godmanchester £18.50 per person. Special Candlelit Tours are a magical opportunity to experience Island Hall’s lovingly restored Georgian rooms by glittering candlelight. Join award-winning interior designer, owner Christopher Vane Percy for an atmospheric afternoon tour. Listen to the intriguing stories of Island Hall’s history and tales of its residents past and present, then enjoy a delicious full homemade tea with fresh, finger sandwiches and a slice of rich, festive cake. Places are limited to just 18 for these tours. Web: www.islandhall.com 17 November Christmas Fayre 10am-2pm St. Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Fun for all ages. Stalls include crafts, books and puzzles, gifts and cards, homemade cakes and produce. Plus children’s games, letters to Santa and family photography sessions. Refreshments. 17 & 18 November Foxton Art Exhibition 11am-4pm Foxton Primary School Award winning art exhibition. An exciting event showcasing an array of work across a range of disciplines from local artists in order to raise money for artistic material, facilities and activities for the children of Foxton Primary School. The Exhibition has been running successfully for a number of years. 19 November Little Paxton W I 7.45pm St. James’ Church Meets every third Monday of the month, except December when it meets on the second Monday. Email: evans-margaret@sky.com
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19 November 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. Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com 21 November 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. No need to book, just turn up. Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 for further details Email: kimpigfarmer@tiscali.co.uk 24 November Christmas Fair 10am-5pm Ferry Meadows Country Park, Nene Park, Peterborough Free admission. Stalls and activities - everything Christmas related. Charge applies for some activities. 24 November Cambourne Christmas Market 11am-3pm The Hub Community Centre, High St, Cambourne Free admission. A variety of Christmas stalls such as craft, baking, confectionary, festive plants and wreaths and unique Christmas gifts. Mulled wine and mince pies available Email:christmas@cambourneparishcouncil.gov.uk 24 November Cambourne Christmas Lights Switch On 5-7pm Market Square, Broad Street, Cambourne Free event – donations welcome. Lights will be switched on between 6.15-6.30pm. Entertainment by JezO’s events, Santa’s grotto, face painting, food stalls, live music. Free mulled wine and mince pies. Email: lightupcambourne@hotmail.com 24 November Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestral Concert 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets: £14/£12, Student Concession £7/£6 Wagner: Tannhäuser Overture. Schumann: Cello Concerto (Julian Metzger, Cello). Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor. Conductor: Bjorn Bantock. Tickets are available online or on the door. Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk 24 & 25 November Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas Fayre 12 noon-4pm All Saints Church, Offord Cluny Free admission Free car parking. Tel: 01480 810764 Email: johnlstorey35@hotmail.com
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Local News
Restoration Project Regenerates Areas of Heathland across Greensand Country A project funded by the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is working with the RSPB, The Greensand Trust and The Wildlife Trust to create better habitats and improve the chances of colonisation on heathlands across the landscape. Greensand Country, an area of distinct, beautiful and loved countryside stretching from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay, has already seen some exciting results from the landscape partnership’s Living Heathlands project. Last month, The RSPB announced that, thanks to the restoration of heathland on the reserve, nightjars are breeding at The Lodge in Sandy for the first time in 45 years. In partnership with the Wildlife Trust, the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is restoring the largest surviving area of heathland in Bedfordshire, at Coopers Hill, by removing scrub, bracken and trees so that underlying heather can thrive. Meanwhile at Rushmere Country Park, The Greensand Trust is introducing grazing cattle to help manage the heath, as well as creating guided walks to help people explore the new heathland. In addition to the three sites identified for regeneration at the beginning of the project, the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership, has supported The Greensand Trust in acquiring an additional 17acre site, Shire Oak Heath, adjacent to Rushmere Country Park, which has almost reached its £50,000 fundraising target, in order for it to begin restoration work. Claire Poulton, Programme Manager at the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership explains: “We are thrilled with the huge successes that the Living Heathlands project has seen so far. The objective of this project is to create better habitats for wildlife, which provide sustainable homes for a number of species and improve the chances of retention across Greensand Country. “This outcome is important nationally as well as on a local level, as our landscape creates a stepping stone between habitats in the south and north of Great Britain.
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“As well as continuing to work with partner organisations, we are keen to engage farmers and landowners to create islands and corridors between habitats, in order to establish strong ecological networks that will ensure the long term growth and success of these sites.” The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership has grants of between £500 to £15,000 to help communities and landowners improve the natural and community heritage of the Greensand Country. We can cover up to 70% of a project’s total cost. Living Heaths & Working Woodlands Projects could include: • Small woodland/hedgerow planting • Creating wildflower meadows • Creating nature corridors • Restoring heathland or acid grassland • Managing woodlands • Introducing conservation grazing For further information and to apply for a grant email: team@greensandcountry.com with a brief description (no more than 200 words) of your project and location. To find out more about Greensand Country visit greensandcountry.com, and for regular updates follow @greensandsocial on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is led by the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Greensand Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is made possible by National Lottery players. Without them we couldn’t fund the project.
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October’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr Paul Hobbs from Godmanchester Easy
Hard
Fun Quiz - Shops 1. What type of shop is the Little Shop Of Horrors in a 1960 film of this name, the 1982 musical based on this, and the 1986 film based on this musical? 2. Situated on Regent Street in London, what is the name of the world’s largest toy shop? 3. In the Harry Potter novels, what does the shop called Ollivanders sell? 4. In which British city would you find Pulteney Bridge, one of only four bridges in the world to have shops built across the full span on both sides? 5. Which Greek city was Richard Tompkins, founder of the Green Shield Stamps company, on holiday in when came up with the idea for a new shop? 6. In what decade did the act of parliament known as the Sunday Trading Act allow shops in England and Wales to open on a Sunday? 7. In a game of bingo, what number is referred to as “top of the shop”? 8. Formed in 1982, which duo named themselves after the slogan of a furniture shop in Hull that boasted of selling almost anything newlyweds would need? 9. Together with her sister, which famous person opened a vintage clothing shop in London in 2010 called Lucy In Disguise? 10. Now with over 3,000 stores worldwide, which shop first opened in Brighton in 1976 and was soon threatened with court action by a nearby undertaker who objected to its name? 1. A florist 2. Hamleys 3. Magic wands 4. Bath 5. Argos 6. 1990s (1994) 7. 90 8. Everything But The Girl 9. Lily Allen 10. The Body Shop
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The Villager Prize Crossword
Prize
ÂŁ25
Across 7. Companies, corporations (13) 8. Thin layer, film (8) 9. Large stringed instrument (4) 10. Places of education (7) 12. Cinders (5) 14. Crustaceans (5) 16. Roads (7) 19. Chemical element, Zn (4) 20. Courteously (8) 22. Relaying of messages (13)
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before
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16th November 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd
Down 1. Vacant (4) 2. Strong Asian grass (6) 3. At last (7) 4. Enclosed (5) 5. Desires (6) 6. Most furious (8) 11. Passageway (8) 13. Slanted letters (7) 15. Turn into (6) 17. Manor (6) 18. Unlocks (5) 21. King of the beasts (4)
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Books
Book Review By Kate Duggan
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The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
A long-lost letter sets Edie on a quest to uncover more about her mother Meredith’s experiences as an evacuee. Meredith was taken in by the three Blythe sisters, including the enigmatic Juniper. As Edie soon discovers, her mother isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets. An enjoyable, atmospheric novel that treads the line between family saga, gothic mystery and historical fiction.
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