Alconbury September 2018

VILLAGER The

Issue 78 - September 2018

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win a family ticket to

Southlake Aqua Park Men, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

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...

The History of Suffrage

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The History of Suffrage.....................................................4 Flavours of the Punjab......................................................8 Win Two Tickets to Alice in Wonderland The Ballet.........10 Win a Family Ticket to Southlake Aqua Park...................12 How to Look a Million Dollars.........................................14 Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre 2018..................17 Light Up the Night for Cancer Research UK.....................18 Impact of Parental Disputes on Children........................20 To Infinity and Beyond...................................................21

How to Save Money and Make Money at University.......23 Men, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention..................24 A Host of Golden Daffodils..............................................26 Wonderful Window Boxes..............................................29 Animal Queries...............................................................31 Pondering Podcasts........................................................33 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................34 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 What’s On.......................................................................38 Fun Quiz.........................................................................41 Prize Crossword..............................................................42 New Term New Tech.......................................................45 Book Review..................................................................46

Wonderful Window Boxes

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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, Jennie Billings, Hannah Byatt, Tony Larkins, Ann Haldon, Alison Runham, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Sarah Davey, Nick Coffer and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Aleksandr Smaglov 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 Suffrage This year marks the centenary of the first Representation of the People Act. We all know something about Emmeline Pankhurst and her suffragettes who chained themselves to railings and endured force-feeding in prison, but how did a movement that changed the course of history begin?

In 1918, after years of battle by the suffragette movement in which women were routinely arrested, assaulted and even lost their lives, legislation was passed giving certain women the right to vote in public elections. The legislation allowed home-owning women aged over 30 to have a say at the ballot box. This meant that for the first time 8.4 million women could vote, but

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many working class women continued to be excluded.

It wasn’t until 1928, with the second Representation of the People Act, that this right was extended to all women over 21. Sadly, Emmeline Pankhurst, founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), did not live long enough to see this historic day but Emmeline wasn’t the first to argue for women’s right to vote.

In 1865, The Kensington Society was founded, which campaigned for the higher education of women who, at that time, were excluded from many academic institutions. The society also formed a committee to head a petition for the

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10/05/2018 15:39

enfranchisement of women, which MP John Stuart Mill agreed to present to Parliament.

Mill was a champion of women’s rights who campaigned in vain for an amendment to the 1867 Reform Act that would have given equal rights to women, and in 1869 presented an essay to Parliament entitled The Subjection of Women.

By 1866 there were nearly 1,500 signatures on the petition, including that of Florence Nightingale, but although presented to Parliament on three separate occasions, each time it was out-voted and the whole notion scorned and ridiculed, as many men believed women were physically and mentally inferior and did not possess the intelligence to vote.

In 1868, the first public meeting to discuss women’s suffrage took place in Manchester. Two of the speakers were Lydia Becker, who had been inspired by the Kensington Society petition, and Dr Richard Pankhurst. Among those in the audience was Emmeline Goulder who was then 15 years old. She went on to marry Dr Pankhurst and become the woman who would take suffrage to the next level.

By 1903, women had been campaigning peacefully but unsuccessfully for the right to vote in England for 50 years, while other countries such as New Zealand, South Australia and some states in the US had already enfranchised women over 21 before the end of the 19th century. It was in this year that political activist Emmeline Pankhurst founded the militant organisation WSPU. A breakaway group from the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, originally founded

by Milicent Fawcett to encourage peaceful protest, the WSPU’s motto was ‘Deeds not Words’, which reflected their decision to turn to direct confrontation, even if that broke the law, to get their message across.

Alongside noisy demonstrations, they threw stones, defaced property, committed arson and even set homemade bombs to make the authorities pay attention, although their focus was always on causing damage, not loss of life.

Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, the co-editor of the suffrage magazine Votes for Women, came up with the three colours that went on to define the movement: violet, green and white, with violet representing loyalty, white purity and green hope. These colours were used in the suffragettes’ Votes for Women flags and banners.

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It was a Votes for Women flag that was unrolled in one of the first confrontations between Christabel Pankhurst (Emmeline’s eldest daughter) and Annie Kenney with young Liberal politicians Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Grey. The women had interrupted a political meeting to ask the politicians if they thought women should have the vote, but when both men refused to answer the women began heckling them. They were arrested and, refusing to pay the fine, went to prison. And so began a regular cycle of arrests and imprisonment for the suffragettes.

Once in prison, the women would go on hunger strike and were violently force-fed. This caused a public outcry so the Government, led by Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, keen that they should not engage public sympathy but equally keen that they should not die in prison as martyrs, brought in what became known as the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’. Force-feeding was stopped, and the women became weaker – but at the point when it looked as though they might die in prison, they were released. This had the added ‘bonus’ that they were too ill to take part in campaigning and demonstrations. When they had regained their strength, they would be re-arrested.

Emmeline Pankhurst herself was a frequent victim of the act.

Emmeline encouraged her suffragettes to learn jiu jitsu in order to defend themselves in the inevitable skirmishes that occurred with the police and other members of the public.

The suffragettes had many supporters, including men. Henry Selfridge of the famous department store refused to press charges against a suffragette who broke his shop windows and flew the WSPU flag above his store. Other MPs such as Keir Hardy and George Lansbury also supported them.

In 1914, the year after suffragette Emily Davison was killed under the hooves of the King’s horse Anmer at the Epsom Derby, the First World War broke out. Emmeline decreed that there was to be no more militant activism while women helped with the war effort.

It is a little-known fact that working class men also benefitted from the 1918 Representation of the People Act as before this, men who did not own property were not allowed to vote either.

Thanks to the suffrage movement, 5.4 million working class men also obtained a voice.

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THE ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS AVAILABLE TO ORDER AT T.C.HARRISON FORD

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Please contact your local T.C.Harrison dealership for details. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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Food and Drink

Flavours of the Punjab Punjab is located in northern India. Having one of the oldest cultures in the world, the region has a lot of very interesting history. The cuisine is highly favoured, globally.

Southall is a district of west London. From the 1950’s the South Asian community began and grew in Southall. Many well-known personalities, from musicians, through authors, poets, plus television, films and more, have connections with Southall.

Multi award-winning Brilliant restaurant is one of Southall’s oldest restaurants. During the 1950’s celebrity chef and author Dipna Anand’s grandfather founded the Brilliant brand, operating a restaurant and hotel in Kenya, then, also, a catering business. Following a move to the UK, during 1973, the Brilliant restaurant was opened at Southall, to great acclaim, in 1975.

Starters include Tandoori Chicken with Punjabi spices steeped through garlic yoghurt, roasted in the clay oven, which is extremely popular. The Brilliant Tandoori Mixed Grill, plus Seafood are regular selections, for many, too. Main courses offer a range that includes Palak Lamb, Chicken Curry (Half or Full Bowl), Masala Fish in a spicy Kenyan Masala and Vegetable Keema, for example. Various rices and breads are available, to accompany dishes. Desserts have Eton Mess, Gulab Jamun, plus Kulfi ice-creams and more. World-class wines/drinks offer something for all palates and complement the cuisine, splendidly.

Onwards, the long-awaited and much-anticipated next venue opened in Chelsea, during February 2018. Chelsea is located in south-west London and has been home to numerous characters of note, past and present, over many years. Dip in Brilliant by Dipna Anand offers sensual Punjabi cuisine and immediately gained praise from food critics and customers, alike. The menu includes Sea Bass, Chicken and Lamb dishes, amongst impressive choices.

All dietary requirements can be catered for, plus parties and occasions accommodated, at Brilliant. Cookery courses, run by the restaurant, are very popular. Private banqueting and gift vouchers are available, too. Dipna Anand is an ambitious restaurateur, expanding a welltried formula from the long-established restaurant, based in Southall.

Brilliant Punjabi cuisine – Absolutely! www.dipna.com Brilliant Restaurant 72-76 Western Road, Southall, Greater London UB2 5DZ Tel: 44(0)20 8574 1928 www.brilliantrestaurant.com

Dip in Brilliant 448-450 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW6 1DL Tel: 44(0)20 3771 9443 www.dipinbrilliant.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Win Two Tickets to The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland The Ballet

Dive down the rabbit hole and follow Alice as she travels on a classical ballet adventure through the mysterious and captivating world of Wonderland. Join the Mad Hatter’s tea party and meet the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat, as we paint the roses red in a magical retelling of a classic tale that will captivate the imagination of audiences both young and old.

This is a bespoke ballet choreographed for the Cambridgeshire Youth Ballet Company by artistic director and Royal Ballet trained dancer, Saskia Lockey.

Sat 27th October 2018 Performance at 4pm Sun 28th October 2018 Performances at 1:30pm & 6pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon, PE29 3BN BOX OFFICE Tickets: £16 (£13.50 concessions) 01480 223331 www.thelittleboxoffice.co.uk/swevents

Cambridgeshire Youth Ballet Company

Now in its fourth year, The Cambridgeshire Youth Ballet Company offers exceptional training and performance opportunities to talented young dancers aged 8 to 18 years from across Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas. Cast members rehearse once a week in St Neots and use the experience to enhance their existing dance training. The Company will be auditioning for new members in Autumn 2018.

To find out more and to register your interest visit www.cybcompany.co.uk

Competition

CAMBRIDGE YOUTH BALLET COMPETITION ENTRY Name:

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To enter, complete the form below and send to: Cambridge Youth Ballet Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. The winner will be picked at random. Deadline: 16th September 2018 The winner can choose which date they wish to attend.

Tel: Email: Address: 10

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A GREAT DAY OUT STARTS WITH US...

TAKE A GUIDED MILL TOUR

Come and learn more about our historical Victorian Mill Museum, during an insightful guided tour.

NEW

They’re fun and interactive and let you in to the lives of the famous Jordans family.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

Tours are available from Tue – Sun at 11.30am and 2.30pm, Adults £5 (with Gift Aid £5.50), Children under 16 are free entry. Advance booking is required, please call 01767 603940 or visit www.jordansmill.com.

WHY NOT FOLLOW US ON:

/JORDANSMILL

Want to go it alone? Why not grab our new self-guided leaflet (£2.50 per person) and browse the Mill Museum at your own leisure. Available Tuesday to Sunday between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

@JORDANSMILL

Jordans Mill, Holme Mills, Langford Road, Broom, Nr Biggleswade SG18 9JY / Call: 01767 603940

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Win a Family Ticket to Southlake Aqua Park

A short trip down the A1 on the border of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire will lead you to a beautiful blue lake nestled amongst Cambridgeshire’s latest, greatest… and wettest attraction, Southlake Aqua Park.

The Park contains everything you can imagine, from giant slippery slides and bouncy balls to inflatable obstacles and climbing walls.

Amongst the obstacles you will find children and adults alike getting wrapped up in the Park’s fun challenges and hilarious mayhem.

Britain’s weather is, as everyone knows, hit and miss, however, full body wetsuits can be hired, keeping you comfortably warm in all weather scenarios.

If you fancy keeping dry while your little ones let off some steam, then you can enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee and other nibbles, while over-looking the lake.

The facilities are remarkably dry, very clean and easy to access.

Parents and guardians can rest assured that their loved ones will be in a safe environment as the Aqua Park hosts at least four, fully trained and professional life-guards at any one time. The safety briefings are concise and easy to understand, allowing everyone to have the maximum amount of fun throughout their session.

Southlake Aqua Park is open from 10am to 8pm, 7 days a week with free parking available on site. Our affordable admission costs make this wet and wild activity the perfect day out for all ages six and above. Booking in advance is strongly advised due to the Park’s popularity, to do so please call 07527 007568 or visit southlakeaquapark.com To enter simply answer the following question correctly and send your entry by 16th Sept 2018 to: Southlake Aqua Park Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

SOUTHLAKE AQUA PARK COMPETITION ENTRY For a chance to win a family ticket to Southlake Aqua Park simply answer the question above, complete your details below and post your response by 16th September 2018 to: Southlake Aqua Park Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Answer Name:



1. In which county is Southlake Aqua Park situated?

Address:

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House of Colour

How to Look a Million Dollars 1. Invest wisely in a wonderful coat, a bag with clearly defined lines and shape, good sunglasses and boots that will last years. Choose better quality over larger quantity every time.

2. Never dress sloppily even when you are dressing casually. Avoid creased clothes, missing buttons, faded colours, completely monochrome outfits, bobbles on wool and clothes that fit poorly!

Instead choose fabrics that scream quality and express your personality through cut, pattern, colour and the character of your clothes.

3. Wearing colours that don’t suit you will always look cheaper because they won’t suit the tones in your skin pigment. Learn which colours suit you and then make considered colour combinations. The same goes for style. For example, if an asymmetric hem doesn’t suit your body shape and style personality then it will always look wrong, no matter how gorgeous the dress or skirt.

4. Cheap looking jewellery should be avoided, but you don’t have to spend a fortune. If you find jewellery that suits your skin tone and is of good quality, it can add so much to your look.

Silver metal jewellery suits summer and winter seasons and gold tones suits autumns and springs. Semi-precious jewellery also adds an air of class to any dressy outfit.

5. People unintentionally associate detail with style and affluence and that detail could be anything from clean fingernails to the crease in your trousers. Even your watch and smartphone cover should be considered. Always wear polished and well-fitting shoes.

6. Every man should have at least one well-cut suit.

Visit designer outlets to get a fashion-forward, good investment. A cutting-edge suit says you look professional and have integrity and that

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you mean business. Hi-trend suiting should be avoided for business unless you are in a very creative environment or role.

At work look at what senior management wears and then redefine by adding your own subtle style. Add your perfect coloured tie or a chic scarf and bag to add kudos.

Having a great skincare routine is vital to providing the perfect base for your make up. It should go without saying to be well groomed.

No one looks a million dollars if their beard is unkept or their nail varnish is peeling off.

Elegance can be found in wearing the right neckline. Being stylish is wearing the right length trousers for men and the right length hemline for ladies and accessorising with a beautiful quality belt. Underwear that is not visible and fits properly can make an outfit look sculpted. Use velvet, lace and animal prints wisely. Many of us can wear animal prints only as an accessory, such as a silk scarf or as shoes.

Make the effort to keep your clothes and accessories in good condition for example keep hats in boxes, use wooden coat-hangers and always fold jumpers and cardigans.

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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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 15

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Local News

Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre 2018 Held in the magnificent grounds of Old Warden Park near Biggleswade, the Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre is one of the leading steam events in the country. Over 130 steam engines attend each year with over 600 other exhibits and much more to see. Organised by the Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society this event attracts over 20,000 visitors each year.

This year the Society hosts its 60th annual rally on the 14th – 16th September, one of the largest events in the local area each year. We aim to give an insight into the country life at the turn of the 20th Century when steam was in its heyday. Many working demonstrations are taking place wherever you may care to roam on the 400 acre site.

For the complete day out visit the beer garden, listen to the band and visit the trade stalls, food hall and craft marquee. Take a break and watch the arena acts including the Jez Avery Stunt Show, David Seamark and his Sheepdog display, Heavy Horse turnouts and the English School of Falconry. Stay into Saturday evening and end your day marvelling at the magnificent showman’s engines generating the fairground rides and attractions.

We look forward to seeing you during the special weekend. Come and see how it was done in grandfathers’ day! Under 16’s get free entry!

If you have any further questions contact the show office on 01462 887200 or email show@bseps.org.uk. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @bedfordsteam.

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Local News

Cambridge to Light Up the Night

for Cancer Research UK Men, women and children in Cambridge are being urged to walk all over cancer as Cancer Research UK launches an exciting new fundraising event in the city. Cambridge has been chosen to host Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walk for the first time, on September 15.

The 10k walking event will see people of all ages and abilities uniting through light to raise money for life-saving research. People are invited to sign up now and choose to raise money for the area of cancer research closest to their hearts.

Participants can choose to support one of 12 different areas of scientific research. These include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia. Or they can simply give their backing to Cancer Research UK’s overall work.

The Shine Night Walk starts at the Cambridge Institute at 7.15pm and participants will take to the city streets in a fun and inspirational parade of light.

Gill Burgess, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Event Manager, said: “We’re delighted to bring Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walk to Cambridge for the first time. We hope the whole community will unite behind this special, emotional event on September 15.

“The atmosphere on the evening promises to be unique as the community unites in the fight against the disease. It’s a special opportunity for people

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to come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived.

“The battle against cancer never stops. We need everyone to sign up and start fundraising as soon as possible, to fund research that will bring hope to people affected by the disease.”

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

By taking part in Shine Night Walk Cambridge, participants will be making a real difference to local men, women and children who face the disease.

Every day, around 90 people are told they have cancer in the East of England and around 33,600 people are diagnosed in the region each year.

Cancer Research UK is also calling on local men and women to help spread the word about Shine Night Walk before the big day to encourage as many people as possible to enter, as well as helping at the event. Volunteers will gain practical, hands-on experience in event marketing, working with people from all walks of life, while contributing to a seriously worthwhile cause.

To enter Shine Cambridge, visit shinewalk.org

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Finance

How to Save and Make

Money at University

One of the trickiest but most important parts of university life is managing your money. Budgeting for food, clothes, nights out, books and study materials can be overwhelming at first, but there are ways you can help yourself.

Here are a few tips to help you spend less, save more, and earn money at university, so you can stop worrying about finances and make the most of this precious time in your life.

Ways to save money at university Make use of technology All you need is your mobile phone to save money as a university student. There are apps to help you save on food, that show you how to budget, and that keep an eye on your data usage.

Keep your food costs down by making a list of your favourite ingredients, and an app will let you know the cheapest places to buy them locally. You can also track your expenses with a budgeting app.

Just type in how much you spend each day, and what you’ve bought – at the end of the month, a report gives you a round-up of where your money is going, so you can adjust your spending if necessary.

Learn how to cook Learning how to cook from scratch is a valuable skill for life, but as food is one of the highest student expenditures, it’s also a vital part of saving money.

Apart from the extra cash in your pocket, you can still be sociable without the expense of eating out,

By Ann Haldon

impressing your friends with a few gastronomic delights.

It’s a good idea to plan your meals ahead and only buy what you need each week, avoiding ready meals if possible, as although they’re convenient, they’re generally bad for your health. Also, stick to buying own-brand products that can usually be found on the lower shelves in supermarkets, where you might not normally look.

Ways to make money at university Get a part-time job Retail, catering, and hospitality are just three areas where you could pick up a part-time job with fixed hours that fits in with your studies. Although you may need to forsake some evenings and weekends, payday could make it worthwhile to miss out on a few social occasions.

Another idea for part-time work, and one that’s a little more flexible, is mystery shopping. You sign up with a mystery shopping agency, or directly with an independent company, and get paid for checking the level of service provided in their outlets.

Promotion work and flyers Handing out flyers around campus and promoting club nights or events on the streets of your university town can earn you some extra money, but be sure to find out whether you’re working on a commission or a ‘per hour’ basis.

If you’re sociable and good at marketing, you could even apply to become an on-campus ‘brand ambassador’ for a household brand name. You might be able to organise your own promotions and events for the brand, and make a name for yourself in marketing. www.blackbullion.com/studentblog/2018/05/08/5-tips-to-make-your-loan-lastlonger/ www.blackbullion.com/student-blog/2017/11/30/ how-to-make-money-while-at-university/ www.blackbullion.com/student-blog/2017/09/28/ how-technology-can-help-you-budget-and-save/ www.savethestudent.org/make-money/best-paidonline-survey-sites.html www.oncampuspromotions.co.uk/for-students/

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Health Alison Runham ww.alison.runham.co.uk

Men, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Suicide is on the rise worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, it’s the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds and nearly 800,000 people die due to suicide every year; that’s one suicide every 40 seconds.

There are also around 20 times as many failed attempts.

These worrying statistics make World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th more important than ever – but there are steps we can take to tackle the problem.

Suicide Risk Factors Men are at significantly higher risk than women and suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 50. Statistics from The British Psychological Society show that men aged 20-29 and 40-49 are most at risk.

The Movember Foundation, which works to raise awareness of men’s health issues, has concluded that men’s reluctance to openly

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discuss their health and feelings or take action when they’re unwell, coupled with the stigmas still surrounding mental health, are two of the chief reasons why men’s life expectancy remains significantly lower than women’s. The damaging stereotype of the physically and mentally ‘tough’ ‘real man’ is to blame for much of men’s reluctance to express their feelings and seek help, as they fear being labelled weak.

The biggest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt, but what drives people to attempt it?

The WHO points out that while there are clear links between suicide and mental disorders (including alcohol use disorders), many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis. A trauma, relationship break-up, financial problems or chronic pain and illness can cause high levels of stress that may suddenly overwhelm us and seem too much to cope with.

Experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse,

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or loss and a sense of isolation are also strongly associated with suicidal behaviour, and suicide rates are also high amongst groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees, migrants, indigenous peoples, prisoners and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

So, what can we do to prevent suicide on a personal level and as a society?

Suicide Prevention • We need to tackle discrimination and damaging stereotypes.

The boy who is brought up to believe he mustn’t cry or admit he’s stressed; the girl who hides her true sexual orientation because she’s grown up hearing gay people ridiculed; the migrant shunned by work colleagues – they’re all at higher risk of isolation and depression, and so at higher risk of suicide. It can be tough to tackle this kind of discrimination among family, friends and colleagues, but it’s important we do so.

• We need to tackle the stigmas surrounding mental health.

We can do this by challenging negative attitudes and ensuring that in our words and actions, we treat mental illness as just as valid and important as physical illness, acknowledging how closely they are related.

Maggie Warrell, founder of Global Courage, recently wrote for Forbes about losing her brother to suicide and the role we must all play

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in tackling it. “If people felt as comfortable talking about their PTSD, bipolar or anxiety as they did talking about their eczema or tennis elbow, it would markedly reduce the suffering of those with mental illness and the ability of those around them to support them.”

We need to encourage people, especially men, to express their feelings, seek help with mental health issues and be more aware of the dangers of alcohol and its misuse.

Depression and alcohol-related disorders need to be identified and treated as early as possible.

“The tragedy of suicide is preventable,” states The British Psychological Society. “Early identification and effective action can get people the care they need.”

We need to pay closer attention to those around us.

Many suicide victims were reportedly ‘fine’ just days or even hours before ending their lives, so we should look out for warning signs. If we fear someone we know may be contemplating suicide, we need to get help on their behalf – and take the horribly practical but essential measure of removing, as much as possible, any potential means for suicide, be that a stockpile of pills or a means to fatally injure themselves.

If you are struggling with a crisis or a mental health issue, do get help.

It may feel like your pain will never end, but things can get better, as bestselling author and depression sufferer Matt Haig reminds us in Reasons to Stay Alive.

“Smaller than you.

Always it is smaller than you, even when it feels vast. It operates within you; you do not operate within it. It may be a dark cloud passing across the sky, but… you are the sky.

You were there before it. And the cloud can’t exist without the sky, but the sky can exist without the cloud.”

Useful Info Samaritans: www.samaritans.org call 116 123, open 24/7 every day Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men www.thecalmzone.net 0800 58 58 58 open 5pm - midnight every day Matt Haig, Reasons to Stay Alive, Canongate Books. Many people who have suffered depression and/or contemplated suicide credit this book for helping them through crises.

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25

Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

A Host of Golden Daffodils Garden centres, nurseries and catalogues are full of daffodil bulbs now. I have to exercise supreme self-restraint every time I wander in!

I think I get asked more questions about daffodils than any other plant, apart from roses. I think it’s because they are ubiquitous in the spring and so we assume they are easy to grow. They are... and they aren’t, so I’ll answer the most common questions I get asked here.

I think the question I get most is ’How do I get my daffodils to flower more than one year?’

It’s a good question. It’s tempting to think that the only thing you have to remember about planting daffodil bulbs is to set them pointy side up, but it’s a bit more complicated than that if you want them to flower every year.

The trick is to set them deep enough. If you plant them just below the surface, as so many of people do, they dry out, which means they lack the food and moisture to get them through until the following year. The result is an uninteresting clump of leaves rather than a host of golden daffodils.

You can plant daffodils any time now, to the end of October. Sooner is better.

The next question I get asked a lot is, ‘What’s the difference between daffodils and narcissi?’

This is also a good question. All daffodils are

narcissi, but not all narcissi are daffodils! ‘Daffodils’ is the name we give to narcissi with large trumpets.

The third question I’m often asked is, ‘How far apart should I plant the bubs?

They should be planted about 3 inches / 8cm apart in holes about 10 inches / 25cm deep. It looks deep when you are dropping them in but it’s worth the effort for the repeat flowering. Choose the biggest firmest bulbs you can find for each variety.

The final question I get asked is, ‘When can I cut down the foliage after flowering?’ I would suggest waiting for 6 weeks.

If you have a very small garden and can’t bear to have untidy foliage lying around you might be better treating the bulbs as annuals (daffodil bulbs aren’t generally expensive.). Or you can plant them in an aquatic basket, and after flowering you can dig the basket up, water the bulbs regularly then replant in the autumn.

Alternatively, you can buy dwarf varieties of daffodil which have daintier flowers and foliage, so you can have pretty flowers without the resulting foliage posing a problem.

Whatever you decide, remember plant deeper than you think and…

Happy Gardening

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Garden

Wonderful Window Boxes As summer fades into early autumn, it can be sad to see beds, borders, pots and planters look a little worse for wear, so why not treat yourself to some late summer and early autumn colour in a pot, planter or, better still, a window box?

With styles ranging from woven willow to classic hardwood and urban chic aluminium, in all sizes and colours, there is plenty of choice – but make sure it will fit easily on to the window sill and won’t be too heavy!

Some of my favourites plants to use are hardy Gerberas (these do need a good warm, sunny spot), variegated ivies and the wacky, compact Crassula with fleshy foliage and dusky pink flowers. But take time deciding on the combination that makes YOUR heart sing.

Some window boxes have impermeable liners, in which case add an inch or so of horticultural grit or gravel to provide drainage, so if you do overwater (or it rains too much) the excess water will be less likely to sit around the roots and cause the plants to suffer or die. To keep weight to a minimum, use broken up polystyrene from bedding plants or the packaging around household appliances instead of the grit or gravel.

A good quality multi-purpose compost is perfect for a temporary planting like this, but if you intend to replace your plants with other hardy, seasonal stunners later in the year, then a 50:50 mixture of a loam-based compost and a multi-purpose one allows for better stability from the weight and texture of the loam, combined with better aeration and drainage from the multi-purpose

compost. Fill the window box about half full, gently firming it, but don’t compact it or the plants won’t get their roots down so well.

Next, get the plants into position. Trailing plants like variegated ivies should be placed to cascade over the edges of the window box – this looks fantastic and adds to the apparent size of the display without adding significantly to the weight of the container. A larger plant like the Crassula gives a good focal point and flanking gerberas (for example) will add colour. Gently move the plants until you’re happy with how they look, then fill in gaps between the root balls with more compost, firming gently with your fingers to ensure there’s no subsidence later on. Then water well using a watering can with the rose in place, so imitating rainfall.

A stunning window box can be created in under half an hour. Make sure it is secured properly on the window sill – and that you can open the window (or access the box from outside) to keep it adequately watered. The window box will benefit from occasional feeding with high-potash feed and of course will need to be regularly deadheaded!

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, green controls for leatherjackets, chafer grubs, ants and greenfly, plus garden plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk?

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Pets

Animal Queries

Dear RSPCA vet, My friend is a farmer and he’s scared me by talking about something called fly-strike that can be fatal in sheep. He says I should be careful with my pet rabbits – is this true?

Hassan, Kempston Dear Hassan, I’m afraid, your friend is correct. Fly-strike (also known as Myiasis) is when flies lay their eggs on a rabbit’s skin (usually around the bottom). The eggs quickly hatch and the maggots chew their way into the rabbit’s skin. This can happen within hours and can very quickly become fatal.

This is particularly common in the warmer summer months so it’s vital that owners always check their rabbit’s bottom twice daily, and every time you pick him up.

Any rabbit can get fly-strike but the risk is highest for rabbits with dirty bottoms, wet fur or wounds.

If your rabbit often has a dirty bottom you may have to change his diet.

To avoid this horrible problem, keep your rabbit’s

living quarters clean and dry: flies are attracted by damp, smelly conditions.

If any rabbit becomes quiet and listless, or appears restless and shows signs of discomfort, pick them up immediately and check for eggs or maggots.

If you do find maggots, don’t just try and clean him yourself – telephone your veterinary practice IMMEDIATELY. Fly-strike is a true emergency – day or night – and treatment cannot wait. As long as it doesn’t delay your trip to the vet, pick off any visible maggots with tweezers. Do not dunk the rabbit in water as fur in the affected area may need to be shaved and wet fur clogs the clippers. Flystrike is a very serious condition and is, sadly, often fatal. However, rabbits can make a full recovery if the condition if found and treated quickly. Flyblown rabbits are usually in pain and severe shock, and need skilled veterinary and nursing care.

ANIMAL QUERIES 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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Education

By Sarah Davey

Pondering Podcasts

Can podcasts help our GCSE students?

By the time you read this article the first lot of students who sat GCSEs under the new system (Grades 9-1) will have received their results. At the time of writing no-one knows how they will have fared.

The consensus from teachers seems to be that the new syllabus and grading system requires a lot more breadth and depth of knowledge, and in some subjects and classes students and teachers struggled to get through the syllabus in time to allow for revision and consolidation before the exams.

As parents we want to help our young people achieve their goals, but it can be hard to know where to begin, especially if your child is struggling in an area you know little about yourself.

Enter the era of podcast-learning. Most teens are familiar and comfortable with podcasts and online audio platforms such as Spotify. Well there are now podcasts on every subject from maths to Spanish and many of them are free or cost a fraction of what a private tutor might set you back.

The BBC are revamping their BBC Bitesize platform (bbc.com/education) to reflect the content of the new exams. The podcasts are short and offer a mix of text, audio and occasional video clips. Most importantly they are free to all students with access to a PC. (Some of the content does not work well on a smartphone.)

Mr Allsop History (mrallsophistory.com) is a free History revision website created by University of Cambridge History graduate and current teacher Scott Allsop. It’s comprehensive and he updates it regularly. There are useful sections on revision skills

and exam techniques.

There are also paid-for platforms like Audiopi (audiopi.co.uk) This is an educational resource created by teachers, examiners and academics.

It aims to inspire GCSE and A level students with their coursework and revision. They produce exam board –specific audio tutorials for English Literature, English Language, History, Biology, Religious Studies, and Science so far. You can purchase access to one subject or a whole range of subjects for around £5 per month. They even offer a free trial.

One of the most comprehensive platforms is GCSEPOD (gcsepod.com) These are engaging, well thought-out, easy-to-understand podcasts which even tailor their content to specific exam boards.

They get the balance between ‘understandable’ and ‘enough depth’ just right. The good news is that some schools subscribe to this on behalf of their students so check to see whether your child’s school offers this useful resource. Don’t panic if they don’t because you can subscribe as a parent. Access to the full range of subjects will set you back around £200 for the year, but contrast that with private tuition and it looks very reasonable indeed.

One of the most fun (and free resources) for science students is The Naked Scientists (thenakedscientists. com). Their primary aim is to strip science down to its essentials. While not specific to any curriculum it’s an addictive way to gain insight into any difficult-tounderstand parts of the syllabus.

As our teens move towards their GCSEs hopefully these podcasts will provide them with useful and empowering tools for learning.

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Three Counties Radio

Shrimp

Burger So let’s be clear, this is basically a delicious prawn cocktail, slathered onto a light and perfectly formed thick prawn fish cake, served in a brioche burger bun. What’s not to like? And my word it works! Layers and layers of flavour and texture make this a perfect alternative to a traditional burger.

And its creator, Tom Bainbridge, a regular guest on my Weekend Kitchen programme, is no traditional chef.

He taught himself how to cook when he took over the Tilbury in Datchworth and now holds two AA Rosettes there. He loves playing with the classics and usually cannot resist a sweet twist to his dishes.

Here he recommends using sweetened brioche buns to do exactly that…

This will make up to 6 burgers 500g raw king prawns (shelled) 100g diced raw cod 100g sweet brioche (failing that just use good quality white bread) 1 x jalapeno chili 50g fresh coriander Zest and juice of 1 lemon 2 large banana shallots 2 garlic cloves Salt, pepper and a squeeze of honey to season For the shrimp cocktail: 200g cooked small prawns 50g mayonnaise 25g ketchup Splash each of brandy, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco and Lemon, to taste To Serve: Brioche Buns, iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, crème fraiche

1. Dice up the brioche and toast it under the grill until lightly brown.

2. Roughly chop the shallot, garlic and chili then place all the burger ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. Take a small piece of the mixture and fry it to check for seasoning. Adjust the seasoning if it needs more.

3. Form the mixture into six individual patties and place them in the fridge to allow them to firm up.

4. Once firm, fry them in a little oil on a medium heat for 6 minutes, turning every minute.

5. Meanwhile make the shrimp cocktail sauce.

Squeeze any excess moisture from the shrimp, then place all the cocktail sauce ingredients, except the shrimp, in a bowl and mix well. Once mixed, add the shrimp back in.

6. To build the burger, first toast the brioche buns.

Once toasted, place some shredded iceberg lettuce at the bottom, then add the shrimp cocktail, followed by the burger and a thin slice of tomato on top. You can finish the burger with a spoon of lime zest crème fraiche, but this is optional.

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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Codeword 1

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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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EBAY COLLECTIONS

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Local & Reliable

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n O s ’ t Wha In September

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

1 September Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola.

3, 10, 17 & 24 September Oakington Singers 7.45-9.30pm Oakington Parish Church Oakington Singers invite new Tenors and Basses to join them on Mondays. Their accompanied and unaccompanied repertoire includes Rutter Anthems, Queen, Folk Songs, Spirituals, international songs and much more! Email: paul.tann@btinternet.com

1 September Stourbridge Medieval Fair 12-4.30pm The Leper Chapel, Newmarket Road, Cambridge Free entry. Browse stalls selling produce typical of the time, view historical re-enactments, and wander 3, 10, 17 & 24 September among pedlars and alchemists. Family event.

Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester 1 September Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 Annual Tempsford Show 2-5.30pm Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com Stuart Memorial Hall, Church Street, Tempsford Adults £1, Children free. Web: www.tempsford4, 11, 18 & 25 September stuart-memorial-village-hall.co.uk Roxton Bridge Circle 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall 1 September Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday Open-Air Movie - Raiders of the Lost Ark evening. Tel: Phyllis 01480 374327 8.30pm The Royal Oak, High Street, Hail Weston Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk Free entry. All-ages action adventure classic. Full bar available including coffees, soft drinks and lots and 5 September lots of popcorn! Web: www.royaloakhailweston.com Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 1 September 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall The Village Show at Keysoe Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual 2pm Keysoe Village Hall Free entry membership fee is £10.Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 Various stands/stalls from local and national organisations, teas served by W.I. and a children’s 5 September entertainer. All welcome. Tel: 01234 378878 St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots 2pm St Mary’s Church Room, St Neots 2 & 16 September First Wednesday of the month. Ladies of the SOE. Comberton Ramblers 10.15am WW2 Theme open event.

The Autumn 2018 Walk Programme starts with St Tel: May Parker 07724 043941 Ives on 2 September and Cavendish, Suffolk on 16 Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com September. Walks are 5-7 miles, usually ending near a public house. New walkers are welcome to join us 5 September with up to 2 free walks.

Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Tel: Stella (Secretary) 01954 210049 Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Email: stella.ramblers@hotmail.com Visitors £6. Crystal Dyball presenting “Up the Garden Web: www.combertonramblers.org.uk Path’. Flower arranging demonstration by qualified demonstrator, raffle, sales table and tea or coffee.

3 & 4 September Tel: Jan Dobie 01480531822 Holiday Bushcraft Club Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com 8.30am-4pm Wandlebury Country Park Designed for children ages 5-12. All basic bushcraft 5 September techniques suitable for this age range will be taught. Little Paxton Gardening Club Booking essential via the Wild Thyme & Embers 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall website. Web: www.wildthymeandembers.co.uk/ Members £1, Guests £2. Mike Day returns to talk holiday-bushcraft-club.html about the RHS Vegetable Trials.

3, 10, 17 & 24 September West Hunts Friendship Club 9.30am-3pm Great Staughton Village Hall Meets every Monday except Bank Holidays. We are looking for new members who are retired to join our happy team. Members can participate in a range of activities, such as music and singing exercises, quizzes, card and board games as well as enjoying a hot meal at lunch time. Transport can be arranged for those who live within a six miles radius of Great Staughton.

Tel: Annabelle Blackham 07527741495

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5, 12, 19 & 26 September Kimbolton Bridge Club 9.30am-12 noon Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Meets every Wednesday morning to play friendly, social bridge. No partner needed.

Tel: Vanessa 01480 453929 5, 12, 19 & 26 September Little Fishes 10-11.20am Grafham Village Hall Toddler and baby, Stay and Play Session, term-time only. All welcome. Just turn up.

5, 12, 19 & 26 September St Neots Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm Eynesbury C of E Primary School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury New members are very welcome to join and there are no auditions to frighten you but an ability to read a little music is helpful! There is an annual subscription once you decide to join the Society Tel: 01480 212298 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk 6-9 September ‘Art4Africa’ Art Exhibition 9am-6pm The Old Chapel House, Riseley Road, Keysoe, MK44 2HT An array of paintings, pottery, sculptures, photography, jewellery and gifts from renowned national and local artists will be showcased and available to buy, with 100% of the proceeds going to local charity, Rise Africa UK, which supports the education of vulnerable children in Tanzania.

Web: art4africa.co.uk 8 September Hemingford Village Market 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Second Saturday of the month. An opportunity to buy food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local businesses. Refreshments available all day.

8 September St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-2pm St Marys Church Hall, St Neots Pamper Day theme.

8 September Heritage Open Day: Transforming Tudors 11am-4pm St Neots Museum Free entry. Join experts from Suffolk’s Kentwell Hall, to discover what life was like for the Tudors in St Neots. Experience the food, medicine, music and costumes. Pop-up cafe open all day.

Web: www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 8 September Duos with a Difference 7pm for 7.30pm St Nicolas Church, Hail Weston Tickets £12.50 inc. glass of wine Violin & Electric Violin Concert. Steve Bingham: Violin, Electric Violin, Loops Brenda Stewart: Viola, Violin, Electric Violin. All proceeds towards the St Nicolas Church Restoration.

Tel: Tickets Anne-Marie Hamilton 01480 212772, Richard Winser 07885 931100 or Mary Deacon 01480 812363 10 September 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 for more info

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n O s ’ t Wha In September

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

11 September 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.

11 September 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. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616

12 September Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee Morning. All welcome to come along and try our delicious homemade cakes, accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee. The coffee morning is on every second Wednesday of the month from March-November.

12 September Bat Walk 6.45-8.30pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £5 per person. Join park rangers and members of the Cambridgeshire Bat Group for an informative presentation and a walk in the Park. Bring a torch and a bat detector, if you have one. For age 5+.

Meet at Discovery Den. Web: www.nenepark.org.uk 14 September Free English Lessons 9.30am Chesterton Community College Gilbert Road, Cambridge Contact Sarah Adams to book your free place!

Email: sadams@chesterton.cambs.sch.uk Web: www.esolcafe.co.uk 14 September Quiz Night 7.30pm St. James Church, High Street, Little Paxton Tickets £5. Bring your own food and drinks. 6 people per team. Closing date for tickets is 12 September.

Tel: Lee Duncan 07931 315648 Email: lm.duncan@ntlworld.com 15 September Ceilidh with Parsons Nose Doors open 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £12.50 inc. ploughman’s lunch Bar available. Tickets are limited and are available from Offord Village Stores, by telephone or online.

Tel: John 01480 810049 or Alan 01480 811126 Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk 16 September Bourn Watermill Open Day 2.30-5.30pm Off Caxton Road, Bourn A rare opportunity to see inside one of the oldest windmills in the UK. No need to book.

Web: www.cambridgeppf.org

17 September 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

18 September Alconbury Over 60s Club Coach trip to Trent River Cruise. Please call to book a seat or find out more about the club.

Tel: Sheila 01480 890396 or Val 01480 890166 18 September Kimbolton Flower Club 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Visitors welcome.

19 & 26 September WEA Classes - George Eliot 10.11.30am Reading Room, High Street, Hemingford Grey Course fee £50. George Eliot, the major novels of an eminent Victorian. 9 x 1.5 hour sessions from Wednesday 19 September. Tutor Candice Kent.

Tel Course Secretary Pat Douglas 01480 463825 Email: padouglas@btinternet.com 20 September Wildlife Trust Monthly Meander - Trumpington Meadows 9.30am-12 noon Trumpington Meadows, Grantchester Road, Trumpington, CB29LH £3 per person. In the company of the Wildlife Trust’s knowledgeable and entertaining rangers walk the meadows and learn all about the rich variety species found here. Tel: 01223 665742 Email: TrumpingtonMeadows@wildlifebcn.org 20 September St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Visitors £7 Burgess Hall, St Ives Demonstration by Lesley Beaton from Coates entitled “A Cup of Tea, Please”.

21 September The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (Cert 12) Meal 6 for 6.30pm, Film 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Tickets £4, Concessions £3, Meal & film ticket £12 Kimbolton Community Cinema. Based on the book, the wartime secrets from Guernsey’s wartime past unfold. Meal is Chicken & Chorizo Jambalaya Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Pineapple Salsa.

Tickets available from Oliver’s, Swan Pharmacy, Courtyard Kitchens, Bytes Café or by email.

Email: jrstratford@hotmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema

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21 September Prize Bingo 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Raffle. Refreshments provided.

21 September The Wages of Fear Doors open 7.30pm, film starts 8pm Corn Exchange, St Ives Tickets £5 + booking fee Screen St Ives. Four desperate men, penniless and stranded in South America, sign up for a dangerous mission to drive two truckloads of nitro-glycerine to a remote oilfield 300 miles down a hazardous road.

Real tension from the master of the French thriller.

Web: www.screenstives.org.uk 24 September WEA Classes - War Wings, 1914-18 2-4pm Reading Room, High Street, Hemingford Grey Course fee £52. 7 x 2 hour sessions from Monday 24 September. Tutor Ian McLachlan.

Tel: Course Secretary Sarah Power 01480 463825 Email: s.power111@btinternet.com 26 September Stay Calm & Learn CPR - Defibrillator Awareness 7pm The Hub, Little Paxton Do you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? They are not the same.

Would you know what to do? Would you panic?

Stay calm as this is a great opportunity to learn how to recognise sudden cardiac arrest, use the defibrillator and do CPR. It takes only 5 minutes to save a life. Little Paxton Parish Council is arranging a defibrillator awareness session to demonstrate how the defibrillators work and how to use them. The sessions will be run by the Community HeartBeat Trust in The Hub. The Council would like to invite residents to come along. Refreshments available.

27 September St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 inc. refreshments & raffle ticket. After the AGM ideas for events for 2019 will be discussed.

Web: www.stneotscardenclub.org.uk 29 September Beer Festival 6-11pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £15 inc. 5 drinks. Live music by Alison Lane.

Tickets available by telephone or online. Tel: 07855 068756 or 07725 553235 Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk 29 September Stand Up Comedy Night 7.30pm Advance Tickets £7 Upper Cambourne Cricket Pavilion, Back Lane, Cambourne Bringing you the best new and experienced comics on the comedy circuit right now!

Web: www.bigdealcomedy.co.uk

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August’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs Beryl Havers from St Neots Winner of the Herrings Green Farm Competition Helene Bradshaw from Clophill

Easy

Hard

Fun Quiz - Flying 1. What were the first names of the Wright brothers, who are generally regarded as having invented the world’s first successful aeroplane?

2. What three consecutive letters in the alphabet give the name of the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands?

3. What was the intended destination in the 1982 film Airplane 2: The Sequel?

4. On a plane he nicknamed Glamorous Glennis, who was the first pilot confirmed to have exceeded the speed of sound in level flight?

5. What is the air traffic control call sign held by any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the US Vice President, but not the US President?

6. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight on a plane called the Spirit of St. Louis. In which city did he take-off and in which city did he land?

7. Making its only flight on November 2nd 1947, what was the two-word rhyming nickname of the Hughes H-4 Hercules, which was the largest flying boat ever built and has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in history?

8. If you flew due east from Edinburgh airport, what would be the first country you would fly over after leaving Scotland?

9. Is the airline Cathay Pacific the flag carrier of… a) Hong Kong; b) Singapore; or c) Malaysia?

10. In which 1960s film does the title character fly to a fictional European region called Vulgaria?

1. Orville and Wilbur 2. KLM 3. The Moon 4. Chuck Yeagar 6. New York City and Paris 7. Spruce Goose 8. Denmark 9. Hong Kong

5. Air Force Two 10. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 7 Absorb (6) 8 Worn away (6) 9 Wooden shoe (4) 10 Sailing (8) 11 Stealing (7) 13 Evil spirit (5) 15 Take away (5) 16 Ask for (7) 18 UK minimum voting age (8) 19 Chilled (4) 21 Well known (6) 22 Decorated (6

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



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

Down 1 Herb (4) 2 Locale (13) 3 Remaining (7) 4 Compassion (5) 5 Donations (13) 6 Fragments (8) 12 Authentic (8) 14 Reconciliation (7) 17 Stop (5) 20 Consumes (4)

Name: Tel: Address:

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Your perfect loft access and storage solution Loft ladders supplied and fitted from as little as ÂŁ225.00 Supply and Installation of: From as 3 Section little as Aluminium Loft Ladder ÂŁ500 Standard 560 x 760mm Insulation Hatch 50 Sq. Feet of Boarding with Riser Timbers Battery Operated LED Light Our services include: Loft Ladders Insulation Loft Hatches Balustrades Loft Boarding LED Lighting Garage Lofts We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed.

01438 211302 info@eastanglianloftladders.co.uk www.eastanglianloftladders.co.uk

Call now for a free, no obligation quotation

Covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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• Wood Burning Stoves • Multi Fuel Stoves • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Installation and Supply • Fireplace Renovations • Stove Accessories • Trade sales welcome

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Monday & Wednesday to Saturday – 10am – 5pm Other Days/Out of hours by prior arrangement

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info@cromwellstoves.co.uk 01480 812281

www.cromwellstoves.co.uk

Cromwell stoves 1/4 page.indd 1

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09/03/2017 15:40

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New Term Tech

Technology

Get your child’s next computer for less

From clothes to computers, the cost of sending your offspring to school, college or university seems to increase every day. So how can you be sure you’re not spending more on technology than you need to?

The trick is to get the maximum bang for every buck – and sometimes that means avoiding false economies. A cheap laptop may save you a few pounds now, but it might not be able to cope with everything your child needs it to do; for example, a Chromebook laptop may be ultra-cheap but if your child’s going to be using it instead of a TV its small screen isn’t going to be a lot of fun.

The sweet spot for budget laptops is around the £300 mark, and if you go much below that you’ll be cutting corners.

It’s often a better idea to shop around for a second hand laptop on Gumtree or eBay (if you’re careful: stick to reputable sellers and make sure you follow the buyer protection policy so you’re protected against

any shenanigans) – a powerful laptop that’s been well looked after for a year or two may be a better buy than a brand new, super-cheap laptop.

That’s particularly true of Apple laptops. The cheapest Apple laptop, the MacBook Air, is currently £949 and isn’t particularly powerful. If you’re considering any Apple device, the first thing to do is to investigate whether your child qualifies for an education discount (www.apple.com/ uk-edu/shop/go/education).

If you or your child qualify, the discounts can be significant.

Another option is to consider a refurbished Mac. Refurbished computers are computers that have been sold and then returned. Sometimes that’s because of a fault that has since been corrected or because a customer simply changed their mind; sometimes it’s because the laptop was leased to a company and returned after the lease period is up. Whatever the reason, it can’t be sold as new.

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That can mean good discounts even on fairly new computers.

It’s important to understand the key differences between new and refurbished computers.

They ship without faults but may have damaged or missing packaging, and they may have light cosmetic damage on their case. The warranty is much shorter, and any AppleCare insurance you take out will run out on the anniversary of the date the Mac was first sold, not the date you acquired it – so for example you won’t be able to buy AppleCare for a refurbished Mac that’s three years old.

As you’d expect, the older the Mac the bigger the discount – and if you’re a confident eBay buyer you can save even more.

For example, at the time of writing a reputable eBay seller is offering a refurbished late 2014 MacBook Pro with 13” Retina display for £650. That’s a lot of money, of course. But the current 13” MacBook Pro starts at £1,249 and the refurbished one is good for several years yet.

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan The Salt Path

by Raynor Winn

Raynor and her husband Moth lost their farm just days after finding out that Moth was suffering from an incurable, life-limiting illness. With no money and nowhere to live, the couple made the decision to walk the South West Coast Path – 630 miles through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. The Salt Path is the true story of that walk – the challenges Raynor and Moth faced, the people they met and the things they learnt along the way.

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

Once

by Morris Gleitzman

Freephone - 0800 689 0894

Morris Gleitzman’s series follows a Jewish boy called Felix in Poland during the Second World War. Felix runs away from an orphanage in search of his parents, who disappeared several years before. Along the way, he befriends a girl called Zelda, and receives help from various people he meets. As you’d expect, the story is harrowing at times, but it’s also funny, uplifting and impossible to put down. This one will stay with you for a very long time.

Fantastically Great Women Who Made History

by Kate Pankhurst

Electrician

Use your local removal company

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

G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs

A follow-on from Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, this children’s book includes stories about a diverse range of women, from Boudicca to Harriet Tubman. The tales are engaging, fun to read and brought to life with colourful illustrations. Each story only takes a few minutes to read, so this is a perfect book to read with your child at bedtime.

You might just learn something new yourself.

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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