Cambridge June 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 122 - June 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win Tickets to

Folk by the Oak Midsummer Meanings Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, ur E o Y The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages REpy

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Inside this issue...

Win Tickets for the Hatfield House Battle Proms

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Edmund's Speaking Tube and Evaporating Vegetables.....................4 Midsummer Meanings.....................................................................6 Win a Family Pass to Folk by the Oak..................................... 10 Win Tickets for the Hatfield House Battle Proms.................... 12 Réunion Hotspot............................................................................14 The Impact of Stress and Ways to Manage it..................................18 Wine: Austria Sparkling Sensations................................................22 Re-align your Body after Cycling....................................................27 Waresley Cricket Club.....................................................................29 Swimwear and Holiday-wear Tips..................................................30 Protect your Property form the Cost of Care Home Fees.................33 Have Good Manners Gone for Good?..............................................34 Short-term or Long-term Mortgage...............................................39 Floored By Ian................................................................................40 Sitting Sustainably.........................................................................42

RSPB Volunteers.............................................................................45 Houseplant Heaven........................................................................46 Animal Stories................................................................................48 Children's Page..............................................................................51 So, you want to be a ..... VET...........................................................52 Driverless Cars Explained................................................................54 Great Outdoors...............................................................................56 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe.........................................................59 Puzzle Page....................................................................................60 What's On......................................................................................64 Riverside Miniature Railway...........................................................68 The Highwayman Car Scheme........................................................70 Prize Crossword.................................................................... 74 South Beds Country Show..............................................................77 Useful Numbers.............................................................................79

Floored By Ian

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £35.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Centre for Complementary Health, Jennie Billings, Leeds Day Solicitors, Kate McLelland, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, James Campbell, James Baggott and Nick Coffer

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Tammy Marlar 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

Edmund’s Speaking Tube & Evaporated Vegetables

By Peter Ibbett

History is selective about what it records about individuals. Edmund Ibbett was born in St. Neots in 1860 and has several interesting stories left to us from newspaper entries over his varied life of 75 years. In 1883 he took over a drapers business on the Market Square side of Barrett’s corner shop and named it ‘Perseverance House’. The St. Neots Advertiser featured Edmund’s regular advertisements on its front page. He also hired the New Street shop on the other side of the Barrett’s Corner store. This was used as a boot shop with communication between the two being by means of a speaking tube. There was a plug at each end of the tube in the form of a whistle. To get through one withdrew the plug and blew into the tube to sound the whistle at the other end! This novelty was vastly intriguing to the children of the time. Edmund left for Kimbolton in 1892. In 1918 the building, which had once been home to Edmund and his family, was used by Mr Barnes, Fruitier and Confectioner, and it suffered flooding as shown in the photograph. Edmund seems to have been a wanderer, having started working life as a draper’s assistant in London before returning to his birth place. He produced a family of seven with his St. Neots wife Kate Gale. The first born was in 1892 at St Neots, the 2nd in 1893 at Kimbolton the 3rd at nearby Stonley followed in 1898 by the fourth at Wisbech. The next was in 1900 at Felsted in Essex followed by the final two at Rayne in Essex in 1903 & 1906. Whilst at Wisbech he became involved in an ‘Important Prosecution’ reported by the Lincolnshire Free Press in September 1898. The report stated that ‘Mr Spencer of St, Neots defended Edmund Ibbett of Wisbech against a charge of stealing a number of samples of evaporated vegetables, which had been prepared by a secret process, from the factory of Hereford & Sons where he was an employee.’ The bench dismissed the case after over eight hours of court time over two days. Edmund continued his agricultural interests for he gave his occupation in the 1901 census as ‘Evaporation of Sweet Vegetables’ By 1911 Edmund was the Sub-Post Master at White Notley in Essex where his death is reported in the Essex Chronicle on Valentine’s Day 1936 where in the ‘intense cold the remarkably active 75 year old draper set off on his pedal cycle along the main London to Colchester road when he was seen to fall from his machine’. Dr Benjamin confirmed that death was from natural causes’. St. Neots Museum is always looking for volunteers to work through its archives and rediscover forgotten parts of the town’s heritage and the lives of those born here.

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Our bespoke Smart Conservatory roof insulation solutions are tailored for your conservatory and can be installed with minimal disruption, making your conservatory nice and cool in the summer and cosy and warm in the winter. Within just a few days, you will be sitting back, relaxing in your new comfortable all-year-round living area.

Having an insulated conservatory roof will not just add value to your property, but it will totally change the way you are using your downstairs living area. For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.

For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.

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History

Midsummer Meanings The month of Wimbledon and Father’s Day; synonymous with freshly mown grass, the first Pimms and a sudden abundance of flowers, we welcome June as the beginning of summer.

In Anglo-Saxon times, June was known as midsummer month or sera monath, meaning ‘dry month’. It also brought with it the big pagan celebration of the summer solstice – the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The longest day can occur on 20th, 21st or 22nd June, depending on when the sun is at its northernmost point in the Tropic of Cancer.

However, as is the case with this year, it most commonly falls on the 21st. Although they can happen, solstices on the other two dates are rare.

For example, the last summer solstice to occur on 22nd June was in 1975.

June’s summer solstice is also the time when the Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of daylight, known as the midnight sun. Meanwhile in the Southern Hemisphere, 1st June is the official start of winter and the Antarctic Circle experiences 24 hours of darkness.

Photograph Andrew Dunn www.andrewdunnphoto.com

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It was the Romans who were responsible for giving the sixth month in their Roman and our Gregorian calendar its current name. Jun(e) is believed to be a shortened version of Iunius or Junius (the capital ‘J’ only came into existence as a separate written letter from ‘I’ during the 14th century – before this they were written in the same way).

Junius is Latin for ‘sacred to Juno’. In Roman religion Juno was the wife of Jupiter and patron goddess of The Pantheon in Rome. She was also the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth.

The blessing she was said to bestow on couples who marry during this month has meant that June weddings remain popular to this day.

Juno was attended by her companion bird, a peacock, and her messenger Iris, the hem of whose colourful robe would sometimes be glimpsed in the sky as a rainbow.

In early Roman times, June had 29 days, but Emperor Julius Caesar added an extra day, making it 30 days long, but still a day shorter than most of the other months of the year.

People born in June are said to be ruled by the planet Mercury, which represents youth. They come under the zodiac signs of either vivacious, optimistic Gemini (the twins) or loyal, stabilityloving Cancer (the crab).

Summer solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere Scientific studies have claimed that June babies tend to be physically stronger and suffer less with mental illnesses than those born in any other month.

June has three birthstones: the pearl, said to stand for faith and purity of heart; moonstone for intuition, balance and new beginnings; and the more obscure alexandrite, which is supposed to bring health and longevity.

The birth flowers for this month are the sweetsmelling rose, which in the traditional language of flowers represents romance and love, and the honeysuckle, whose meaning is fidelity and devotion.

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There is a saying in folklore that in June, summer doesn’t begin until the elderflower is in blossom.

As well as the summer solstice, other festivals that take place in June include well-dressing, where natural springs are honoured with elaborate decorations that include intricate mosaic-like pictures made using flowers, grasses, moss, seeds, bark and berries. Well-dressing is particularly popular across Derbyshire.

The many significant historical events that have happened in the month of June include the signing of the Magna Carta on 15th June 1215, and the original Globe Theatre being destroyed by fire on 29th June 1613 after a cannon was let off to announce the arrival of the king’s entrance in Shakespeare’s Henry VIII. The infamous Battle of Waterloo took place on 18th June 1815 and just over a decade later, 10th June 1829 saw the inaugural Oxford versus Cambridge boat race (Oxford won).

In June 1946, the first BBC television licenses were issued, costing £2. The Queen’s coronation took place on 2nd June 1953. It is also the month of her official birthday and the well-known Trooping of the Colour ceremony. Coincidentally, Queen Victoria, up until recently Britain’s longest reigning monarch, was also crowned in June, on 28th in 1838.

D-Day, codenamed Operation Overlord, happened on 6th June 1944.

The month of June has long fascinated poets, artists and lyricists from Shakespeare to Rogers and Hammerstein. ‘Flaming June’ is a famous painting by Lord Frederick Leighton completed in 1895. Scottish poet Robert Burns also paid homage to the month in the first lines of his wellknown poem ‘A Red Red Rose’. And there is no end of romantic ballads out there rhyming ‘June’ with ‘moon’.

Believe it or not, June was a popular name for both boys and girls in the first part of the 20th century but over the last 40-50 years has declined in favour in the UK. However, June has enjoyed a resurgence as a favourite girls’ name in the USA during the past decade.

By Catherine Rose

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Win a Family Pass to Folk by the Oak

Hatfield House welcomes back family friendly Folk Festival by the Oak on Sunday 14th July, for another day of exceptional wall to wall music and festival fun! Music lovers and festival fans from far and wide will once again be flocking to this stunning Hertfordshire venue for a packed day of sublime music and activities for all ages.

Main stage Acts include Frank Turner, The Staves, Seth Lakeman and The Lost Words: Spell Songs (the musical companion piece to The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris). The Acorn Stage will be headlined

by Elephant Sessions and will also welcome Robert and Jackie to talk about The Lost Words, their ‘beautiful protest’ at the loss of common nature words from the language of children.

Being a smaller, one day festival makes Folk by the Oak a truly family friendly affair. There’s a dedicated family area that’s within sight and sound of the Main Stage so grown-ups don’t have to miss out on the music while entertaining the youngsters.

While there’s plenty of delicious street food from around the world on offer, Folk by the Oak actively invite you to bring your own food and drink into the arena, so keeping the whole family fed and watered doesn’t have to break the bank or involve repeated trips back to the car!

Activities on offer include natural craft activities, longbow archery, storytelling, brilliant bubble making, circus skills, face painting and much, much more!

For more information on this fabulous family friendly festival go to www.folkbytheoak.com

FOLK BY THE OAK COMPETITION ENTRY

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For a chance to win a family pass (admits 2 adults and 2 children) complete the form below and send to: Folk by the Oak Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th June 2019.

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 10

For full terms and conditions please go to www.villagermag.com

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Win Tickets for the Hatfield House Battle Proms

The Battle Proms, the UK’s premier picnic concert series returns to the historic Queen Elizabeth Oak Field in Hatfield House on Saturday 13 July, and we have 3 pairs of tickets to giveaway!

The Battle Proms is a summer celebration with a full programme of captivating classical music from the 60-piece New English Concert Orchestra, complemented by toe-tapping vintage vocals and a breathtaking Spitfire aerial display by The Grace Spitfire, which is accredited with shooting down the first enemy aircraft over the Normandy beachhead on D-Day, 75 Years ago.

There’s even a sensational freefall demonstration by The Red Devils parachute team, dramatic Napoleonic cavalry displays and groundshaking live fire from over 200 cannons!

These quintessentially British ‘party in the park’ concerts feature magnificent musical firework displays, culminating in a flag waving, sing-a-long spectacular including all the ‘last night of the proms’ finale favourites such as Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory!

Don’t want to leave it to chance?

Book online at www.battleproms.com

BATTLE PROMS COMPETITION ENTRY



For a chance to win tickets to this unforgettable night out complete the form below and send to: Battle Proms Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th June 2019.

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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For full terms and conditions please go to www.villagermag.com

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Travel

Réunion Hotspot Deep in the southern Indian Ocean, between Mauritius and Madagascar, Réunion island is an overseas French department and one of the most dramatic hotspots on earth.

Heading west from St Denis the capital, the coastal road follows the new highway, now in its final stages, built on pylons above the ocean to protect the traffic from rock falls and swelling seas. On this remote island blooming with tropical flowers and fruit, the residents take it all in their stride, over 800,000 of them but no native tribes. This was a desert island when the Europeans arrived.

Just 45 kilometres by 63 kilometres, it has much to offer along the shore with sheltered beaches and lagoons in the west, coral reefs, dolphins and whales out at sea, trade winds on the east coast and the awesome ‘Wild South’, strewn with lava rocks and battered by the waves crashing through eroded basalt cliffs. Ravines from the mountainous interior come right down to the water,

slicing the land with precipitous slopes, as ominous as the calderas and peaks spreading across the highlands.

The Réunion National Park covers roughly 75% of the island, from a sizeable buffer area to the large central zone protected by UNESCO. At the heart of it all are three calderas framed by rugged ridges and rocks but draped in luxuriant vegetation. With over 1,000 species of native plants, it’s a haven for butterflies and birds, such as the slender cuckoo shrike or the white-tailed tropic bird, and myriad lizards including the brightly-coloured diurnal gecko. Trekkers make their way along the trails – an amazing 900 kilometres on this tiny island – while others take the ‘road of 400 bends’ climbing through gorge and tunnels to the Cilaos caldera and its pretty little resort at 1,200 metres.

This is the ‘land of lentils and wine’ with fabulous views of the mountains, within reach of the Piton des Neiges, Réunion’s highest point at 3,070 metres.

By Solange Hando Hugging it to the north is the verdant Salazie caldera known for its thermal springs, waterfalls and record-breaking rain. It’s the green lung of the island, growing citrus fruit, bananas and peaches and the famous ‘chouchou’, a pear-shaped gourd eaten in many different ways.

But the adjoining Mafate caldera is only accessible by donkey or helicopter. That’s the way the people like it, 700 or so scattered in remote hamlets, among them a handful of artists seeking inspiration away from it all.

Idyllic, peaceful, this is Réunion in many ways but down in the south east the mighty Furnace Peak never rests. At 2,632 metres, it erupts several times a year, spouting its liquid lava for weeks or even months at a time. Fortunately there are no villages around and when it is safe, forestry road and microlights can take you right there, sending incredible shivers down your spine. Only the tip of the Furnace rises above the land and if the volcano collapses one day, the whole island will sink into the ocean.

The mighty Furnace Peak erupts several times a year

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John O’Gaunt Golf Club

Become a member, start playing today Memberships available for men, ladies and juniors Two magnificent championship courses

Impressive club house, bar and catering facilities

Well stocked shop and club fitting by Head Professional Lee Scarbrow

Excellent practice and coaching facilities

Please get in touch for more information...

John O’Gaunt Golf Club, Sutton Park, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2LY Tel: Main Club - 01767 260360 Pro Shop - 01767 260094 Email: villageradvert@johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk Why not visit our website for more information at www.johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Health

The Impact of Stress

and Ways to Manage it A UK-wide survey, carried out in 2018, found that almost three-quarters of adults (73%) had, at some point over the year before, felt so stressed that they were overwhelmed or unable to cope.

The study was commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation and is believed to be the largest and most comprehensive stress survey ever carried out across the UK with 4,619 people taking part.

Sometimes stress can be a positive force, motivating you to perform well at a given time, on a critical work task, for example. But more often than not stress is a negative force. When we feel stressed adrenaline kicks in immediately to help prepare you for a physical response – your heart pumps faster, your breathing rate picks up and more blood flows to your muscles. You are primed for action.

About ten minutes later, cortisol is released.

Cortisol helps to maintain those high energy levels by turning stored fat and carbohydrates into simple fats and sugars to use as fuel to deal with the ‘crisis’. It also sharpens our senses before assisting with the physiological ‘return to normal’ process. You are primed for action but then there is no action.

If your stress response doesn’t stop firing, and these stress levels stay elevated far longer than is necessary for survival, it can take a toll on your health.

Chronic stress can cause a variety of symptoms

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and can affect your overall well-being. Symptoms of chronic stress include: • Irritability • Anxiety • Depression • Headaches • Insomnia Women who are stressed are more likely than men who are stressed to experience depression and anxiety.

What can we do to help ourselves?

We can try and take more control by understanding the impact our lifestyle is having on our health. The following wellness changes can help: • Deep breathing exercises.

• Meditation or mindfulness.

• Take time for yourself.

• Get enough sleep.

• Eat the right foods – eat foods with B vitamins, such as bananas, fish, avocados, chicken, and dark green, leafy vegetables. Studies show that B vitamins can help relieve stress by regulating nerves and brain cells.

• Get moving, even just moving away form your desk and outside for a few minutes can help.

• Talk to friends or family.

• Get professional help.

For more tips and advice go to http://www.womenshealthhub.co.uk

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RICHARD SHUTTLEWORTH

MURDER MYSTERY EVENING FRIDAY 19 JULY 2019

Will you find out who the murderer was, the motive and how the killing was executed?

Includes a Three Course Meal - £50.00 Per Person www.shuttleworth.org/rosmurdermystery The House, Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, SG18 9EA

- ROSin Murder Mystery advert June 19.indd 1 To Villager advertise The Villager andFPTown Life please call 01767 261122

01767 627970

03/05/2019 12:34:10

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Food and Drink

Wine: Austria Sparkling Sensations The pretty alpine villages of Austria, plus the beautiful architecture of town and city buildings, are constantly admired by numerous visitors from worldwide origins. Lakes, mountains, glaciers and stunning landscapes attract many, too, as well as the history of Austria. The cuisine of Austria has become well known and appreciated, along with very impressive high quality wines the country has to offer, a great number of which are (multi) award-winning productions.

Austria grows 40 grape varieties (26 white, 14 red) that are officially approved for the production of their quality wines. International varieties include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet, amongst numerous others. Austrian grape varieties include the much acclaimed Grüner Veltliner, which is now being planted, increasingly, in other countries.

The ‘Quality Pyramid’ of Austria’s Sparkling wines has differing requirements, that are set out in a strict set of regulations, for each level, including varying maturation periods, ranging from 9 months to 30 months.

Klassik, Reserve and Grosse (Grande) Reserve all have sparkling productions that are very popular indeed, with the latter two quality levels being known for their impressiveness, structure, elegance, bouquet, mouthfeel and palate sensation, particularly. A lot of cuisine enjoyment is enhanced by pairing with sparkling wines. Seafood, fish dishes and white meats, including poultry, plus pasta and rice, all have a great accompaniment and partnership with the ‘sparklers’ and their wonderful perlages.

Schlumberger has a network of cellars that hold many barrels and bottles of sparkling wines. Robert Alwin Schlumberger had productions in 1842 and very soon after the wines were presented and served at the Imperial Court. Klassik Brut, Chardonnay Jahrgang Brut Reserve and Blanc De Noirs Brut Reserve will not disappoint. Refreshing, intense, fresh and fruity is how I would describe these productions. www.schlumberger.at Steininger has fabulous wines, too. Grüner Veltliner Steinhaus (Stone house) shows the character of this wine, which is derived from the soils. A superb example. www. weingut-steininger.at Weingut Moser and Weingut Müller both have impressive productions, also. Pure drinking pleasure is forthcoming from these companies’ wines. Respectively, www.moserwein.at and www.weingutmueller.at have a wealth of information. Tastings and tours, of all the wineries, are very popular.

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HOUSE SUNDAY 14 JULY & SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER Savour the quintessentially English past-time of taking afternoon tea, in the grand setting of The House, Shuttleworth. The House will be open from 09.30 with guests encouraged to explore the rooms and find out about the Shuttleworth Family and Old Warden Park.

For more information on our Festive Afternoon Teas, please view the below web page.

Pre-book via - www.shuttleworth.org/afternoontea The House at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Beds, SG18 9EA

To Villager advertise in TheteaVillager and19.indd Town 1Life please call 01767 261122 - Afternoon advert FP June

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03/05/2019 12:27:16

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Mondays The Comrades Club 9.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm Tuesdays Stukeley Meadows School 5.30pm and 7.30pm Thursdays The Medway Centre 9.30am Saturdays Saxongate Adult Learning Centre 8.30am and 10.30am

ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING

Judy obtained her Licentiate in Acupuncture, and B.A (Hons) degree in Traditional Acupuncture, from the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Warwickshire. Judy is a passionate believer in the positive benefits, on both physical and emotional levels, that may be obtained from receiving acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture originated in China and other far eastern cultures where it still features in mainstream healthcare, both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with conventional western medicine. Judy has been trained as a classical Five Element Acupuncturist; treatment is aimed at the root cause of your condition as well as your main symptoms. This approach helps with resolving your problem and enhancing your feelings of wellbeing. You may notice other niggling problems resolve as your main health complaint improves. Judy continues to pursue her belief in excellence of care for her patients in her role as a dedicated acupuncture practitioner, and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council.

Please contact Judy for a free 20 minute consultation to discuss how acupuncture treatment can help you.

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Complementary Health

Bike Week 8 to 16 June Re-align your body after cycling

Bike Week, delivered by Cycling UK, is an annual celebration to showcase cycling. Each year, Bike Week shines a light on lots of different, enjoyable experiences people have while cycling. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling.

Cycling is excellent exercise. It helps people meet recommended physical activity guidelines, improves their physical and mental health and their well-being, while reducing the risk of premature death and ill-health.

However, while cycling is far more likely to benefit an individual’s health than damage it, Roy Palmer, Alexander Technique Teacher, often see cyclists who suffer from lower back and shoulder pain after spending hours on a bike. If you find your muscles ache, this relaxation activity will help to re-align your body after a long bike ride. Roy recommends twenty minutes in the following position to get the full benefit.

1. Lie on your back on a comfortable surface but not too soft, head supported by a book with the knees up.

Use a thicker book if your head is tipped back or a thinner one if you feel your throat is constricted.

2. Be aware of the main weight-bearing points: the back of your head, shoulder blades, elbows, pelvis and feet.

3. Notice the space between your torso and the arms and allow your ribs to move into this area as you breathe.

4. Because the weight has been taken off your spine, the discs between the bones will thicken and your spine will begin to lengthen.

5. Relax into the parts of your body mentioned in point 2. By releasing the tension from your ‘cycling muscles’, gravity will re-align your body and put the bones back to where they should be.

6. Slowly lift one arm and move gently whilst remaining attentive to your shoulder blades resting on the floor. Try a slow rotation with your arm bent at the elbow and think of the ball moving in the shoulder socket. Repeat with the other arm.

7. Now let one leg slide across the floor and rest the weight of the leg on the heel, calf and back of the thigh. Be aware of the hip, knee and ankle joints and the three parts of the leg. Let the leg rest in this position for a few moments.

8. Return the leg to the starting position but do not tighten your stomach. Think of the knee going up and the heel coming back toward the base of your pelvis. Repeat with the other leg.

9. Now rest for another fifteen minutes and practice ‘being in the moment’ by being aware of the movement of your ribs and the parts of your body in contact with the floor. The focus and stillness you can develop in this position can be taken into more and more physical activities with practice.

10. When finished, roll onto your front and slowly come up into all-fours and then to standing.

These exercises can be done by any age or ability, for more information and tips on or to learn more about how the Alexander Technique can help you visit www.CentreForCompHealth.co.uk or call 01480 455221.

Website: www.CentreForCompHealth.com Email: info@CentreForCompHealth.com Phone: 01480 455221

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your secret haven of relaxation…

...let your senses wander and your mind unwind...

Call us on 01223 263469

Burwash Manor, New Road, Barton, Cambridge, CB23 7EY e. info@burwashdragonfly.com • www.burwashdragonfly.com

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Local News

Waresley Cricket Club vs MCC at Waresley Park Cricket Ground Sunday 23 June 2019 from 11.30am

In 1869, Octavius Duncombe, owner of Waresley Park gave permission to Edward Crawley, tenant of Wood Farm to form a Cricket team and a match against Gamlingay was arranged. Over the following 150 years, we have grown from a small village team to a large thriving club with three adult and eight junior sides (including two girls teams) playing in leagues throughout Hunts, Beds & Cambs. We also run All Stars sessions for 5 to 8 year olds to introduce very young children to the game. To commemorate the anniversary of our foundation, Waresley CC is pleased to announce that we have been honoured with a fixture against the most famous club in the world, the Marylebone Cricket Club! At this game, which gets underway at 11.30 am, we will be celebrating our long history and look forward to welcoming visitors for all or part of the day. We have a lovely ground in the middle of the countryside, a great place to spend a summer’s day, even if you have never been to a cricket match before – come up & have a look! Waresley is situated 2 miles north of Gamlingay on the B1040 – the ground will be signposted.

There is free entry & parking, the bar will be open and a barbecue and refreshments will be available throughout the day. For more details, look us up on Facebook & Twitter or email waresleycc@hotmail.co.uk.

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House of Colour

Swimwear and

Holiday-Wear Tips Holiday season is nearly amongst us which means it’s time to think about this year’s holiday outfits.

Everyone wants to feel fabulous on holiday but there are so many things to consider that sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. So, we’ve done the hard bit for you…

1. Cut – When choosing the right swimwear cut think beyond whether it should be a tankini, bikini, or one piece. For those of us who like to show off our shoulders opt for a bandeau style top; a high waisted bikini bottom with a classic ruched middle helps to cover any wobbly areas.

Take your time to find the right swimwear.

2. One piece - No longer the boring choice, one pieces now feature a host of cut-outs, zips, belts, knots and bang on trend patterns. One shouldered swimsuits, bows and retro patterns have all recently made a comeback. Just know what suits your style and wear what makes you feel fabulous on your poolside deckchair whilst sipping a spritzer!

3. Mixy matchy – Pairing patterns and block colours in bikini tops and bottoms can provide an interesting but not overstated look but bear in mind that a darker bikini bottom and more interesting bikini top usually gives better balance. If you are feeling daring mismatch two patterns to express a more rule breaking nature.

4. Pop Goes the Colour – Know your colours before you go holiday shopping because your skin tone is even more vital when you are revealing more of it on the beach! Autumns will suit gorgeous rust, corals and olives whilst Springs will wow in leafy greens, flamingo pink and turquoise.

Winters will look amazing in jewel colours like emerald, electric blue and magenta whilst Summers will suit beautiful muted rose, dusty pink and cornflower for example.

5. Sustainable – Sustainability is gaining incredible momentum and swimwear is no exception.

More swim labels are launching sustainable and ethical swim lines than ever before as more of us prioritise sustainability as a key shopping factor.

6. Sunnies – Don’t be tempted to do an online search to scrawl through the thousands of colours, styles and patterns (and variation on quality) on offer. Understanding your face

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architecture is crucial to knowing what really suits you and most of us need to try lots of pairs on to see what works. You will invariably end up sending them back if you buy online.

7. Rocking your Shoes – This is the perfect time of year to add a pop of colour to your outfit through your footwear. The shops are adorned with yellow, green, leopard print and reds at the moment.

8. Arm Candy – Avoid large leather or plastic bags in hotter climates. If you rock the boho vibe try a linen sling bag with some tassels or texture, or if you like something a bit more dramatic perhaps try a metallic look.

9. Sarongs & Hats – Be playful and colourful in your choices especially if you are wearing block colour swimwear. The options are endless. When choosing your holiday hat, remember that dark colours like black and dark blue actually absorb heat. Oversized hats were on many of the catwalks but wear a size and shape that is right for your own scale and express your personality through design and detail.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Jill Dighton BSc (Hons) MBACP (Accred)., UKCP Reg.

Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious?

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FREE

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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •

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Baystrait Ltd t/a Will & Estate Planning, Baystrait House, Station Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8AL

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Leeds Day Solicitors

Protect your property from the cost of care home fees With the cost of residential care currently being as much as £1,000 per week for any person with assets of more than £23,250,it is not surprising that people are keen to protect their property to pass on to their family.

When it becomes necessary for a person to move into residential care, a financial assessment is undertaken and any assets in that person’s sole name will normally be used to pay for their care.

A share of joint assets will also normally be taken into account. However, the value of a home will be disregarded while a spouse (or certain other relatives) continues to live in the property.

However, if one spouse dies and the surviving spouse requires residential care, the full value of the house will be available and will be taken into account in assessing the funding of residential care fees.

An effective way to protect a share of a jointly owned property is for a couple to make Wills which include Life Interest Trusts. Trusts of this type allow a share of a jointly owned property to be held for the surviving spouse to have full use of it during a specified period (often for the whole of the survivor’s lifetime).

In practice, this enables the surviving joint owner to benefit from the whole property during his or her lifetime, whilst preserving a share of the

Our offices: Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301

capital value to pass to other named beneficiaries (often the couple’s children) following the death of the surviving joint owner.

The trust protects the surviving joint owner, giving him or her the right to live in and make use of the property for as long as they wish to do so.

If the survivor wishes to downsize, he or she will usually be free to do so. Similarly, if the survivor is not able to continue living in the property, he or she may receive any income (after expenses) generated from the share of the property held in the trust.

The surviving joint owner does not own the share of the property held in the trust but has the right to occupy it or receive an income from it. As such, the share of the property held within the trust will be protected for the ultimate beneficiaries and will not be taken into account if the surviving joint owner requires residential care.

Changes are proposed to the amount people will have to pay for their care in the future. This will be capped but this will not apply to the costs of food and accommodation. The potential benefits of using a Life Interest Trust will therefore remain.

If you would be interested in discussing this with one of our members of staff, please contact us on 0844 567 2222 by email at wills@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website www.leedsday.co.uk

St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH T: 01480 464600

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St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661 33

Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Have good manners

gone for good?

Whenever the subject of bad manners crops up, the finger of blame is nearly always pointed at the younger generation, and it would certainly appear that complaints about lack of manners in the young are nothing new.

In the 4th century BC the Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle observed that young people “think they know everything, and are always quite sure about it,” while in the year 1624, British writer Thomas Barnes commented: “Youth were never more saucie, yea never more savagely saucie … the ancient are scorned, the honourable are contemned, the magistrate is not dreaded.”

Does that mean we should blame the youth of today for our lack of good manners? Take a closer look at the various examples appearing in the media, and you’ll find that many of the offenders are people of middle age, or even older.

Jane10, commenting on the forum Gransnet.com, says: “I was horrified at our extended family lunch when several people placed their mobile

phones on the table as if it was quite the done thing. This was a 40+ year old and her 60+ mother.”

Journalist Rachel Moore was moved to write about her experience of a restaurant meal with friends where “a table of people in their fifties and sixties were causing an almighty din.”

Writing in the Eastern Daily Press, she went on to describe how “a polite request” to keep the noise down turned into an ugly shouting match.

Etiquette errors According to a 2017 study commissioned by Mentos sweets, 85 per cent of people feel hurt by the lack of courtesy extended to them in everyday life. We may feel indifferent about offering courtesy to strangers, but when it comes to our friends, we ignore social etiquette at our peril.

Michael John, posting on the website silversurfers.com, was pleased to get a 60th birthday invitation from an old friend, but shocked to find that she had asked for cash as a birthday gift.

“I’ve always valued being given a present and take time choosing presents for others,” he says. “To ask for money instead leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth.”

KatyK, posting on Gransnet.com, describes a night out with her husband at a local pub, when an acquaintance came to sit at their table, uninvited. Having listened sympathetically to the woman’s account of “the terrible life she had had and all her troubles” for twenty minutes, Katy got very little in return when she started to recount her own experience: “She stood up and said ‘Yes, terrible isn’t it?’ picked up her drink and went back to her own table.”

So the next time you hear an older person complain about lack of manners in the younger generation, you might suggest they take a look in the mirror. The old saying “Manners maketh man” can also apply to a nation. Fortunately there’s still time to rebuild Britain’s reputation for courtesy and good manners, particularly if our older citizens lead by example.

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Finance

Short-term or long-term mortgage It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of mortgage products available, and the trend towards offering non-traditional mortgage terms doesn’t help when you’re trying to decide which loan is best.

Banks and building societies are increasingly offering longer-term mortgages lasting 30 or 40 years alongside the ‘standard’ 25-year term with which many of us are familiar. Shorter-term mortgages of 15 years or so are also available, so what are the pros and cons of short-term and long-term mortgages, and which might be better for you?

Why choose a short-term mortgage?

Short-term mortgages have higher monthly repayments, but you’ll pay considerably less interest overall. If you’re able to put down a large deposit, you don’t need to borrow as much money, which is just one instance where short-term mortgages might be a good idea.

An additional advantage is that, if you’ve been able to repay your mortgage sooner than later, the equity in your property will also grow faster.

The initial consideration if you’re thinking about a short-term mortgage, however, is whether you can keep up repayments over this period.

Can you afford a short-term mortgage?

Your monthly budget will dictate whether it’s possible to repay your mortgage over a shorter period of time than the standard term, but you need to be very careful not to overstretch yourself financially.

Also bear in mind the potential interest rate rises in the future, particularly considering the low rates we’ve enjoyed for more than a decade. In other words, the only direction interest rates are likely

to go is up, so it might be worthwhile considering mortgage payment protection insurance (MPPI) to cover your repayments if you fall ill or lose your job.

Why choose a long-term mortgage?

You might choose a long-term mortgage to benefit from lower monthly payments. Perhaps you’re more at ease knowing you can comfortably afford the repayments on your biggest asset, and feel it’s worthwhile despite the extra interest you’ll pay over the course of the loan term. It’s also beneficial if you need a high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage.

Another consideration with long-term mortgages is your age, as although long-term mortgages are becoming more mainstream, some lenders still don’t offer this type of mortgage term if it means it will take the borrower into their retirement years.

On the other hand, younger applicants looking for their first property might have no problem in obtaining a mortgage with a duration of upwards of 35 years. So what are the main benefits and drawbacks of lengthier mortgages?

Pros of a long-term mortgage • Monthly repayments are lower.

• Interest rate rises will have less impact.

• You may be able to secure a higher loan-to-value ratio.

Cons of a long-term mortgage • It takes longer to repay.

• You pay more interest overall.

• You may be refused on age grounds.

Affordability is the keyword when thinking about mortgages – hopefully between you and your lender, you’ll be able to find the right length of mortgage term and feel able to repay every month without too much difficulty.

By Ann Haldon

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Floored By Ian A striking shopfront on St Neots Market Square, bold in blue and yellow, Floored By Ian is a family run company with a solid mission.

In these days of out of town retail centres housing faceless national chain stores, a local business with the community at its heart is a refreshing change.

A business that understands and cares about its local community. A company that supports charity because it helps, not because it raises sales. A business that sees the job through using suppliers they have tried and tested and only using their own staff - never subcontracting. That gives you

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confidence that the company actually has your back. They are here to help you.

That’s what you get with Floored By Ian. Ian has been fitting flooring for 35 years. He’s been living in St Neots for a similar length of time. So he knows his customers and the local area.

Because the company understand the area, they have been able to do some fundraising that really matters. Last year Ian joined in a boxing match to help Jessica Gray raise money for a downstairs bedroom and wetroom. This year Floored By Ian

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are raising money to help Strong for Samson - and their recent Star Wars themed 2-year open day saw Ian dressed as Darth Maul battling Samson with a lightsaber!

Away from the fun of fundraising, they work hard.

Rachel, Ian’s daughter, runs the shop making sure everything runs smoothly, that the four fitters all have what they need when they need it. All of the fitters are fully qualified. Two of them, including Harry - Ian’s son, started as apprentices, gaining their NVQ’s in flooring before going on to gain further qualifications. Between them, they’re Advanced Karndean Fitters, Quickstep Master Installers and Members of The National Institute Of Carpet & Floorlayers. These guys know their stuff! They have to - they do work throughout the community. They will help with the tiny things like doormats, furniture cups and non-slip rug backing.

They sell and fit flooring for a single room. They will floor a whole house - multiple types of flooring to suit different spaces. They have provided and fitted flooring for local schools, care homes and for multiple properties through rental agencies!

They are as passionate about detail as they are about the community. They can use different colours or styles of luxury vinyl tiles laid in different patterns to show different areas in open plan rooms - using geometry that a maths teacher would be proud of to produce a floor that looks amazing.

In June, Floored By Ian are setting up a new display of Luxury Vinyl Flooring - Amtico, at the front of their showroom. Amtico provides a great product hardwearing, versatile and stunning to look - while fitting in with Floored By Ian’s local ethos. Their products are all made in the UK. To celebrate their new range of Amitco products, Floored By Ian will be having a Demonstration day on Wednesday 19th June where customers can see staff fitting the luxury Vinyl Tiling in the showroom.

From Ian’s humble start as a man with a van, the company has gone from strength to strength.

Opening the shop on the Market Square, and having a fleet of 3 vans and 4 trained fitters, while still remaining true to their ethos of community and honesty.

And the FBI company logo always gives a chuckle to visitors to the town!

Floored by Ian

Tel: 01480 475486 Web: www.flooredbyian.co.uk Email: Ian@flooredbyian.co.uk 28 Market Square, St Neots PE19 2AJ To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Garden View

Sitting Sustainably One of the great pleasures in life has to be sitting outside on a summer evening, glass of wine in hand, gazing in reverie at your precious plot.

But what are you sitting on? Is your furniture environmentally friendly? What about that lovely decking, or your garden shed?

As gardeners we have a responsibility which extends far beyond our boundary.

Trees are vital to the planet. They convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and act as environmental filters, offsetting the effects of pollution. They also provide a habitat for birds and animals.

Like many gardeners I take a keen interest in environmental matters so it came as a shock when I read recently that that every year our tiny island imports more unsustainably produced wood than anywhere else in the world!

A good proportion of this wood is used to make garden buildings, furniture, fencing and decking.

I was thrilled, therefore, to read about the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and their certification programme for sustainable produced and sourced wood?

The FSC was founded in 1993, in response to public concern about deforestation. The council devised a wood-labelling scheme which allows a product to be traced right back down the supply chain from the consumer to its source.

Any product bearing the FSC logo is guaranteed

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By Rachael Leverton

to be from forests which are carefully managed to conserve biodiversity and support local communities.

Unfortunately not all garden suppliers stock products which are FSC approved. So we need to demand that they do.

The world’s forests are in decline. Some tropical hardwoods are already on the verge of extinction, and temperate forests in the northern hemisphere are also suffering because of unregulated treefelling.

As a gardener and lover of our environment I feel more comfortable knowing that I’m not contributing to the destruction of our planet. If you’re replacing your garden furniture this year, ask to see the FSC certified label.

Happy Gardening Q. Is it possible to be environmentally friendly when buying PVC furniture?

A. Yes it is. Many companies are now producing furniture made from recycled PVCs. You’re no longer limited to the standard flimsy offerings either. It’s now possible to find sturdy benches and picnic tables. Of course, the advantage of PVC is that it’s completely weatherproof; maintenance-free, and won’t rot, corrode or splinter!

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ALL YOU NEED FOR YOUR GARDEN, THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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RSPB Volunteers

Do you love nature? Could you give some of your time to help us give nature a home at your local RSPB nature reserve?

The RSPB is holding a volunteer recruitment day at The Lodge nature reserve at Sandy on Saturday 1 June between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm.

The RSPB is the largest conservation charity in Europe. We have over 13,000 fantastic volunteers across the country, and they come from all walks of life. Between them, they contribute over a million hours each year.

As we plan our visitor programme at The Lodge for the coming year, we would like more volunteers to join us. If you are friendly, confident talking to the public and able to inspire our visitors about the work of the RSPB, then we want to hear from you.

We are looking for the following help with these volunteering roles; Visitor Welcome Assistants; Working in our visitor centre, where you will welcome our visitors and introduce them to the reserve, be able to enthuse people to support the RSPB as new members, and talk about the birds and wildlife found here at The Lodge and our other reserves. For this role we are especially looking for help on Monday afternoons,

Local News Tuesday afternoons, Thursday afternoons, Saturdays and extra help at weekends and busy periods, such as school holidays.

Car-park meet and greet weekend roles. We are looking for help to manage the flow of traffic to the car-parks at busy times and give a first welcome as visitors arrive.

Visitor Survey volunteers. A flexible role to come in at busy periods and ask our visitors to complete a Visitor Survey. Must be friendly and confident in talking to the public.

We also have opportunities for flexible part time work in our busy and friendly shop.

Full training will be given and a uniform supplied for all of these roles.

Pop in and meet us at the shop, near the reserve entrance, anytime between 11:30 and 1:00 and have a chat with us over a cuppa and biscuit to find out more. If you can’t make this date but are interested in volunteering for one of these roles at The Lodge, please contact Mark Brandon, Visitor Experience Manager, The Lodge nature reserve; mark.brandon@rspb.org.uk 01767 693253 RSPB The Lodge Nature Reserve and Gardens Potton Road, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL Tel: 01767 693333

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Garden

Houseplant Heaven

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com Now is the time to give houseplants some TLC as they could do with some pampering! Check them over thoroughly and remove and dispose of any that are heavily infested with pests or infected by diseases. Once done, continue as follows…

• Pick over remaining plants removing dead, damaged or discoloured leaves. Use sharp scissors, special ‘snips’ or miniature secateurs on tough leaf stems.

• Houseplants usually respond well if repotted in late spring or very early summer, so if yours are pot-bound do this now. Check by carefully removing the plant from its pot – if the root system is quite congested, it’s usually time to move house.

• When repotting, only move the plants up one pot size and use compost as similar as possible to their current compost. If in doubt, seek advice from your compost supplier. Ensure the compost is free-draining and that there are crocks at the base of the pot. Consider adding additional grit or perlite to improve drainage.

• Once repotted, place plants in a cool, relatively stress-free environment for a week or two, away from hot or direct bright sunlight. Keep them adequately watered and the roots will move into the new compost.

• Next, give them a bit of a bath, using wellmoistened kitchen roll or cotton wool to wipe the leaves clean. Many of the more glossy-leaved houseplants respond well to an application of leaf shine, but not all, so check before you start.

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• Feed houseplants regularly – good fertilisers are available in garden centres. Choose those formulated specifically for the plants where possible, or those suitable for foliageor flowering houseplants. Specialist fertilisers are also available for cacti and African violets.

• Plants that have just been potted on will not require feeding for a couple of months, but both recently replanted and more established houseplants need regular watering, particularly as they start to grow and if they are in a fairly warm or sunny position.

• Don’t place plants in too sunny a spot – they can get too hot or suffer from leaf scorching if placed too close to a south- or west-facing window.

Use an east- or north-facing windowsill where possible, or at least move them further back from the glass. Most houseplants benefit from being placed in dappled shade in the garden, and they should thrive provided you keep them fed and watered.

• If treating yourself to new houseplants, make sure that the plant is well-suited to the position that you have lined up for it – it’s tempting to buy those that do well in really sunny situations, but if you only have a fairly shady windowsill it will suffer immensely over the winter months.

Visit www.pippagreenwood.com for advice, natural pest controls, stylish cloches, pretty plant supports, gardening tools and more. Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your club.

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• Turf supplied and laid • All overgrown gardens rotivated • Cleared, levelled and laid with cultivated lawn turf • Grass seeding • Block paving and patio service All work carried out by experienced staff Recommendations and portfolios available Free Estimates

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Borderstyle & Landscaping We offer all aspects of soft or hard landscaping Driveways, Patios, Fencing Garden Design and Renovation Border and Garden Clearance Family Run Business Ten year warranty contract given.

We are fully insured.

Portfolios & references available.

Call Norm or Martin 01480477 040 / 07522661156 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Pets

Animal Stories The large majority of the animals that come into our care at RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch come from National RSPCA Inspectorate from within our area. These animals are always our main priority, however we will always try and help members of the public wherever and however we can.

Mocha and Biscuit came into our care back in April after the Branch was contacted by a member of the public asking for help. Their previous owners could no longer keep them due to a change in family circumstances, therefore had made the difficult decision to rehome the tabby duo.

Both approximately five years old, this beautiful pair were previously kept as indoor cats where they had the run of the home, however they are quite inquisitive, so we fell they could go to a new home where they are able to explore a secure garden. They are both very friendly and would suit almost any family.

Mocha, the male of the pair, will however need slightly more special treatment than Biscuit due to a urinary problem he had back in 2017. Although this causes him no issues and the problem has never reoccurred, he will need to stay on his special diet and supplements. He is a big boy weighing 6.7kg but is an absolute teddy bear!

For more information about Mocha and Biscuit, or to enquire about rehoming these lovely tabbies, contact the Branch by emailing adopt@ rspcabedsnorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 266965.

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RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch will always try and help members of the public with their pets in the best way that we can, but something that is always readily available is help for cat neutering.

It is so important for cats, male and female, to be spayed or castrated. For females, apart from the most obvious, preventing pregnancies, spaying can also avoid females coming into season and therefore attracting unwanted make attention. It also prevents the risk of uterus infections.

For males castration can significantly reduce urine marking and roaming, but can also prevent the risk of testicular cancer.

Despite these health benefits, neutering isn’t always the most affordable procedure, so Bedfordshire North Branch can help. We can offer neutering vouchers to use at participating local vets in the area, to be put towards the cost of a cat spay or castration. The vouchers are worth £30 and any remaining veterinary costs are to be covered by the applicant. Applicants must be in receipt of benefits or on a low income to qualify for neutering help.

To request help, or for further information including eligibility for the scheme, contact the Branch by emailing info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 226965.

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Greens up and thickens the lawn

Locally owned & operated business

Removes weeds & minimises moss

Regular personalised treatments

Completely safe for children & pets

No contract - Direct Debit available

www.greensleeves-uk.com • Email: hunts@greensleeves-uk.com

huntingdon_95_128.indd 1

09/03/2018 11:06

GILKS FENCING LTD

All Types of Fencing, Gates & Railings, SUPPLIED & INSTALLED

Call for a FREE Survey & Quotation Visit our Display Area at:

Gilks Fencing

Drove Road, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds SG19 2HX Tel:

01767 650 615

Email:

gilksfencing@hotmail.com

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Education

So, you want to be a‌ VET

Veterinary Medicine is a highly competitive field. Every year there are hundreds of applicants for each available place. It is probably one of the most over- subscribed courses in the country.

You will need excellent A-levels. Most people have chemistry, biology and either physics or maths at Grade A or B. Some universities will accept other subjects if they are impressed with the candidate. You will need to check with individual universities. Many Veterinary schools expect candidates to take a BMAT test (BMAT stands for biomedical admissions test) in order to get into vet school. This is an aptitude test. Go to www.bmat.org.uk for information and sample questions.

Be prepared not to get in at the first attempt. You can re-apply and make use of the year to gain experience.

Whether it is a first attempt or a retry you need to differentiate yourself for the competition. Try to gain experience working in a vet practice, on farms assisting with lambing or calving, in dog kennels or at local zoos and animal rescue centres. Mostly you will be cleaning out kennels, feeding animals, making tea etc.

It will almost certainly be unpaid. But ask lots of questions, and ask to observe interesting operations etc.

Write up interesting cases and experiences as case studies, explain what you learned and submit these along with your application. This will prove to the university that you are self-motivated and dedicated, which counts for a lot during the application process.

Remember that universities like to take on well-rounded students, so make sure develop hobbies and talents in other areas too.

By James Campbell

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Motoring

Driverless Cars Explained

Driverless cars are a hot motoring topic, with manufacturers, politicians and transport chiefs all talking about them. But what are they, and what do they mean for the future of motoring?

The Government predicts that driverless cars could be in full use on the UK’s roads by 2021.

Are they safe? The safety of autonomous vehicles was questioned after a woman was killed while crossing the road in front of a self-driving vehicle in Arizona. The issue is the cohabitation of road users and the driverless vehicles – until people are sure how to interact with them, accidents will still happen.

Which manufacturers currently offer some level of autonomous assistance? You’ll find some partial self-driving technology in cars from Audi, BMW, Citroen, DS, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Most cars do incorporate the technology, but it can include features such as adaptive cruise control.

Levels of autonomy - The various levels of autonomous assistance are categorised from one to five.

Here’s what they mean.

Level 1 - Introduced 1990s/00s This base level means that just one element of the driving process is taken over by the car – but the driver is still very much in charge.

This level of assistance is mature now and was pioneered by early cruise control systems.

Level 2 - Present day Level 2 autonomy represents pretty much where we are today.

Computers can deal with multiple functions, so the car can take control of steering, throttle and brake functions – but the driver must show they’re in charge of the car by putting a hand on the steering wheel.

Level 3 - Estimated 2020 At level 3 all of the safety-critical functions can be controlled by the car, but the driver must still be able to intervene if necessary – this isn’t completely ‘hands-off’ technology yet.

Level 4 - Mid 2020s Level 4 sees cars capable of being fully autonomous, albeit in selected areas – most likely inner-city ones.

Dedicated lane markings and infrastructure will be required to

ensure that the cars keep on the straight and narrow, too. Complex mapping systems will combine with advanced cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence to determine where the car should go.

The driver may have to intervene at certain points, but for the most part it’ll mean hands-free driving.

Level 5 - Late 2020s/early 2030s Level 5 will see the vehicles derestricted – they will be capable of driving anywhere, without the need for a driver. There won’t be a need for a steering wheel or traditional ‘controls’; these vehicles will be fully capable of operating themselves.

It’ll free up space inside the cars, so they’ll probably look more like lounges on wheels. That’s what we predict, anyway.

Timeline predictions This timeline is based on predictions by many different manufacturers, though most agree that the bulk of progress will happen between 2020 and 2030. It’s a real technology race at the moment – each company is attempting to develop their own systems quicker than the rest. It’s why these dates are estimations – some may get there sooner than others.

By James Baggott

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Technology

Great Outdoors

Technology for long summer nights

The combination of long nights and nice weather means it’s time to head outdoors – and technology can help make the outdoors even greater and the light nights even brighter.

Thanks to Bluetooth speakers, your music can go outside with you, but it’s wise to get a waterproof one just in case. We really like Denon’s DSB-250BT, which has really high-quality music streaming and great sound. It’s pricier than some rival devices at around £129, but it looks good indoors as well as out. For something a bit more portable to take to the beach or hotel pool, the UE Wonderboom goes for around £55 and includes something most Bluetooth speakers don’t: an inflatable ring so you can listen to it in the water.

Another great gadget for outdoor entertaining is the solar LED light. LEDs use tiny amounts of energy so it doesn’t take much sunlight to give them enough charge for hours of illumination.

We’d recommend looking for warm white LEDs, which have a more yellow cast than the traditional blue ones: the light is warmer-looking and closer to incandescent bulbs, whereas bright white ones look a bit like car headlights. Expect to pay around £2 for a single LED post, rising to around £20 for a nice string of lights and £30 for a solar lamppost.

If you’d rather have something brighter and more flexible, Philips has added garden lighting to its iPhone/Android-controlled Hue system, which also works with smart home devices such as Amazon Echo. The lights enable you to create ‘recipes’ for different effects as well as control each light individually, and while they’re still quite expensive – a coloured wall light is currently £100 on Amazon – they’re very well made and work brilliantly.

In the UK no matter how nice the day, the nights can get cold very quickly. If you’re considering garden heating, don’t go for a

gas heater: they’re incredibly wasteful because they heat the air around them whether there are people there or not.

It’s a much better idea to get an infra-red heater, which costs a lot less to run. Expect to pay around £70 for a wall-mounted model and around £120 for a tabletop model such as Charles Bentley’s 2000W electric outdoor patio heater.

If you’re heating food rather than people, technology can even help with the humble barbecue: clip-on LED lights enable you to cook in the dark, while Bluetooth thermometers enable you to check on the food temperature without opening the lid and letting heat escape. You can get a no-name version for around £20, but if brand names are important then Weber’s basic iGrill is currently £56. The all-singing, alldancing iGrill 3 has two probes instead of one, enabling you to check on two things at once, and retails at just under £100.

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Food & Drink

BBQ Buffalo Chicken Wings

with a Blue Cheese Dip It’s amazing how many careers in food come about as a result of a big career change. People leave the rat race and set up a café, a cake making business, a food truck or a restaurant, making quality of life their key criteria. Although most say they’ve never worked harder than they now do in their new food career, they’ll also say they’ve never had more fun. One such man is Harp Gill, who left a stressful career in recruitment in the City to set up a BBQ and smoking catering company in Milton Keynes called The Rub BBQ. He is passionate about smoking and cooking meats perfectly. These Buffalo wings are a true classic – tangy, sharp, spicy and devilishly moreish.

Ingredients: 1kg chicken wings (prepared how you like, in 3, 2 or 1 wing configuration).

For the dry rub 2 tbsp paprika powder 2 tbsp garlic powder 2 tbsp sea salt 2 tbsp ground pepper For the buffalo sauce 250ml apple cider vinegar 100ml distilled white vinegar 2 tbsp ground cayenne powder 3 tbsp cayenne pepper powder 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp salt 150g salted butter For the blue cheese dip 500g of your desired blue cheese crumbled as fine as possible 500g Greek yoghurt A dash of lemon juice 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp milk salt and pepper to taste

1. Place the chicken wings in a bowl and add the dry rub ingredients. Mix everything together well to ensure all the pieces are equally covered.

2. Cover with cling film and place in a fridge overnight (or for at least for 2 hours).

3. Place all of the sauce ingredients except the butter into a saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat.

4. Reduce to a simmer for between 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally.

5. Add the butter and simmer gently for a further 15 minutes. Place to the side once done.

6. To make the blue cheese dip, place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Pop it in the fridge until ready to serve.

7. Now it is time to grill the wings. Place them skin side down over a hot BBQ and cook until the skin starts bubbling (5-8 minutes) and then turn them over for a further 1-2 minutes or until done.

8. Pop the buffalo sauce in a bowl and roll the wings in it, giving it a good coating.

9. Return them to the grill for a further minute to crisp up the sauce and then give them one final coating of the sauce (without grilling them again). They are ready to serve now.

10. Serve with the blue cheese dip and a stick of celery. These give a real wow factor at any family BBQ and make a perfect starter or lunch snack.

NB: This recipe can also be done in the oven should you not have access to a BBQ. Cook the wings for an hour at 180C/ Gas Mark 4, covered with foil. The final glazing process can be done under a hot grill.

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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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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n O s ’ t Wha 1 June Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Quality handmade art and craft stalls. Tombola.

1 June Coton Countryside Walk 10am-3pm Meet Martin Car Park, Coton Reserve, Grantchester Road Free event. CambridgePPF. Coton ReserveMadingley Rise-American Cemetery. Join us for a sociable 7.5 mile long countryside walk around picturesque Coton village and its beautiful surroundings. Donations welcome.

1 June St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-1.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Please come along and join us for a cuppa and cake (only £1.50!) any maybe pick up some bedding plants and flowers to brighten your garden.

Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk

4 June Bingo 7.30 for 8pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Meet/bring friends, bar, cake, prizes, a fun night out.

4, 11, 18 & 25 June St Ives Photographic Club 7pm 4 June - RSPB Reserve and Needingworth; 11 June - Holywell Riverside Walk; 18 June - Holme Fen & Great Fen and 25 June - Raptor Foundation.

Email: events@stives-photoclub.org.uk Web: www.stives-photoclub.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 June Roxton Bridge Circle 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday evening. Tel: Mary 01480 212552 Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk 5 June Little Paxton Gardening Club Little Paxton Village Hall Tickets Members £4, Guests £6. Garden visit in Buckden. An evening visit to this one-acre garden with Japanese theme. A large selection of acers, pines and rare and unusual shrubs. Admission by ticket only. Tel: Jane 01480 218805 Email: lpgardeningclub@hotmail.com

1 June Bingo 7.30pm Buckworth Cricket Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon Come and join us for the clubs regular bingo evening.

Eyes down 8pm. Light refreshments and a raffle.

5 June Web: www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk Local Police Surgery 10am-12pm Little Paxton Village Hall Meeting Room 2 June The St Neots Community Policing Team will be St Neots & District Gardening Club holding a Police Surgery which is a great opportunity Visit to Little Bentley Hall Garden Show. for residents to meet the local Police team and to Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk raise any concerns they may have with officers.

Organised by Little Paxton Parish Council.

2 June Red Cross Open Garden 2-5pm 5 June The Old Vicarage, Great Staughton PE19 5BF St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots Adults £5. Lovely old garden with variety of areas to 2pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots see. Treasure Hunt for children. Wheelchair access.

First Wednesday of the month. Handmade Millinery & Jewellery. Tel: May Parker 07724 043941 2 June Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com Hinxton Watermill Open Day Facebook: www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Afternoon2.30-5.30pm Mill Lane, Hinxton CB10 1RD St-Neots-Womens-Institute-238190076940278/ CambridgePPF Members free, Non-members £3, Children £1. See the mill in action, riverside walk and 7 June ‘Where’s Ratty’ game for children. No need to book. Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group 6.30pm until late. Members £6, Non-members £8 3 June Open Garden Safari. Cost includes glass of Pimm’s Kimbolton WI Visit to Blenheim Palace and Prosecco. Tel: Rod Scuffle 07706 198807 9am. £28. A limited number of places are available Email: rodscuffle@yahoo.co.uk on Kimbolton WI’s outing to Blenheim Palace. The coach will leave Robinson’s Car Park at 9am and 7 June return between 5.30-6.00pm. Cost includes travel St Neots Local History Society and entry to the grounds and the house.

7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School Tel: Mavis Campion 01480 860477 ‘Great Northern Railway through St Neots’ with George Howe. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 3 & 10 June St Neots Timebank Members Evening 7-9 June 7-9pm Tesco Community Room St Neots 37th Folk Festival, The Priory Centre Two-part Life Support Awareness Course on Concerts and Day of Dance. Full details on website. consecutive weeks. Booking required.

Tickets from the Club, The Priory Centre or download Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk a form. Web: www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In June

7, 14, 21 & 28 June Friday Night Lights 7.30-8.30pm. Longsands Academy Astro, Longsands Road, St Neots St Neots Hockey Club 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 07792 044878 Email: cjbryden08@hotmail.co.uk 8 June 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. Hemingford Grey Parish Council hold a surgery at the market should you wish to meet councillors to discuss local issues.

8 June Buckden Open Gardens 11am-6pm Early bird Adults £4, Adults £5 16 glorious gardens will be open including The Knot Garden at Buckden Towers. Garden Passports for entry to all gardens are available from Nisa, Hunts End and Days of Buckden from 18-31 May at £4, thereafter £5. On the day, Passports will be available from all open gardens and St Mary’s Church.

8 June Family Fun Day 12.30-4.30pm St Mary’s Church Buckden Free admission. Traditional stalls, small and cuddly animal farm, classic cars, live music. Lots for children to do and enjoy. Refreshments from 10am including lunches, cream teas, BBQ and Licensed Bar. 8 June Music Quiz 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £5. Teams up to 6 can be made on the night.

Bring your own food and drink.

Tel: John 01480 810049 or Alan 01480 811126 8 June Together in Concert: Buckden Handbell Ringers and The Aragon Singers of Buckden 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Moore’s Walk, St. Neots Tickets £10, Concessions £8 concessions Tickets from United Reformed Church or Box Office.

Tel: Box Office 01480 812777 8 & 9 June Grafham Flower Festival Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4.30pm Free admission. This years’ theme is Hobbies. The church will be open both days with refreshments available after lunch. At 4.30pm on Sunday there will be a Songs of Praise service. All very welcome - yes that includes children (and dogs on leads)!

10 June 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

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n O s ’ t Wha In June

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

10 & 24 June Nature Tots 10-11.30am Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £3.50. A fun outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session has a nature theme and will include a messy craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and songtime. Age 2+. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 11 June St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info 12 June 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 and coffee.

14 June The Aragon Singers of Buckden Charity Concert 7.30pm All Saints Church Huntingdon Tickets £10 inc. glass of wine. In aid of Huntingdon Rotary. Tickets available by telephone and on the door. Tel: Deborah Napier-Reynolds 01480-390152 14 June Film Night 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £5. ‘Finding Your Feet’ (12) starring Imelda Staunton and Celia Imrie. Tel: John 01480 810049

15 June Adult Learning and Skills, St Ivo School, St Ives Saturday Workshops. A wide range of courses including; Watercolour Roses, Watercolour Boats, Buildings and Water, Car Maintenance, Danish Pastries, Macaroons, Indian Stuffed Breads, Dog First Aid, Dowsing, Families Screen Printing, Tropical Flower Arranging, Indian Dance and Sewing Machine Embroidery. Tel: 01480 495717 Web: www.aclearning.org.uk 15 June Paintbox Art Group Summer Exhibition 10.30am-4.30pm The Scout Hut, Mill Hill Road, Eaton Ford Free admission Refreshments.

15 June Red Cross Open Garden 2-5pm Mill River Nature Reserve, Shingay cum Wendy SG8 0HJ Adults £5. Rare opportunity to visit this newly created nature reserve. Wander or join a guided tour.

Treasure Hunt and “Things to look for” for children.

Teas, plant stall, dogs on leads.

15 & 16 June Abbots Ripton & Wennington Open Gardens 12-5pm Adults £7, Children free’

15 & 16 June Bolnhurst Vintage & Country Fayre Gates open 10am Adults £6, OAPs & 12-15 years £5, Under 12s free Vintage vehicles of all kinds, Auto jumble, market stalls, Art & Craft Tent, WI Tea Tent, Children’s Entertainer, Ring Events, Pacesetters Dog Display Team, Saturday Dog & Ducks display, Sunday Falconry Display and Horse & Carriage Turn out. Real Ale in Bar Tent, live music Friday & Saturday evening.

Tel: 01234 376577 Web: www.bolnhurstrally.co.uk

26 June Roxtonettes Monthly Music Evenings 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall, High Street, Roxton £2.50 inc. refreshments. Do you enjoy singing or playing a musical instrument? We meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month. 7.30pm onwards for Instrumentalists and 8pm onwards for Singers.

Under the guidance of Eamonn Nicholson-Clinch, we are an informal community singing group. You do not need to read music!

Tel: Eamonn 07780 954314 or Susie 01234 376098

16 June Little Staughton Open Gardens 1-5pm Admission £5 by programme, Under 12s free Starts at the Village Hall. Stalls, Raffle, teas and toilets. All proceeds to Little Staughton Village Hall.

27 June Huntingdonshire Guitar Ensemble Concert 7.30pm St Peter’s Church, Offord Darcy Tickets £9 inc. complimentary drink Mixed programme of music to suit all tastes, including flute. Free parking on adjacent archery field.Tel: Jenny Griffiths 01480 811126Email: ticketoffice.stpeters@gmail.com

17 June St Neots Royal Naval Association 7.30pm 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 20 June St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Visitors £7 Burgess Hall, St Ives Demonstration by Clarissa Harris ‘These are Some of my Favourite Things’.

22 June Eynesbury Church Strawberry Teas & Art Exhibition 2-5pm Enjoy Strawberry Teas in the grounds of the Church (weather permitting) and an Art Exhibition by local artists. Plus Summer Prize Draw.

22 June Blues in the Pews 7pm St James Church, Little Paxton Tickets £10 inc. glass of wine & canapes With Stella Hensley and Chris Newman. Tickets by telephone or email. Tel: 01480 877215 Email: admin@thepaxtonsbenefice.org 23 June Red Cross Open Garden 2-5pm Merton House, Grantchester CB3 9NQ Adults £5. Five-acre garden owned by same family for over 90 years. Wide variety of areas to see. Most wheelchair accessible. Teas and plant stall.

25 June Little Paxton Pictures Doors open 1.45pm, starts 2pm St James Church, Little Paxton Free admission Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid (PG). Hot drinks, ice cream, popcorn and refreshments available.

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27 June St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Brook Street, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 inc. refreshments & raffle ticket ‘Colour in the Garden’ by Andrew Sankey.

Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk 28 & 29 June Williams Antiques & Restoration Showroom Open Days & Tea Room 10am-4pm Tythe Farm, School Lane, Colmworth Free admission. Free parking.

Web: www.williamsantiques.co.uk 29 June Hail Weston Village Fete & Dog Show 1-5pm Hail Weston Playing Fields Free admission. A family friendly afternoon with stalls, refreshments, games, beer tent and a flying display from the Raptor Foundation. All welcome.

29 June St Neots Choral Society & St Neots Sinfonia Joint Concert 7.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots Adults £12, Concessions £10, Accompanied children free. ‘Last Night of the Proms’. Tickets available from choir members, on the door or by telephone.

Tel: 01480 392322 29 & 30 June Hemingford Abbots Flower Festival 12-6pm Day programme £8, Weekend programme £13, Accompanied under 16s free. Over 20 open gardens and displays in the church. In addition to the church and gardens, visitors can enjoy a display of historic cars, motorcycles and bicycles, Morris Dancers outside the thatched village pub, river trips and much, much more. Free car parking. www.hemingfordabbots.org.uk Facebook: /haflowerfestival Twitter: @haflowerfest

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Local News

Riverside Miniature Railway Founded by Ivan Hewlett in 2016, Riverside Miniature Railway Club (RMRC) is developing a 7 ¼” and 5” gauge ground level miniature railway in the beautiful surroundings of Riverside Park, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 7SD. RMRC is a community railway with a fast growing membership of volunteers of diverse ages and backgrounds, but with a common aim of creating an attractive miniature railway for the benefit of St Neots and surrounding areas. Despite only receiving formal planning permission to construct on the council owned land in November 2016, the volunteers have already completed a 310m circuit of dual gauge track, a passing loop and a period station/stores building. Since opening for public running last June, the railway has carried over 20,000 passengers. The eventual track plan will be a figure of 8 layout with triangular junctions to permit varied running routes over what will be a final line length of around 700 metres.

We work closely with other community groups and are extremely proud to have already been the recipients of two local community awards. Our core values are Community, Sustainability and Inclusivity.

The club plan to make donations to local charities each year and have already supported Switch Now, Barnardo’s, The Upside Down Swimming Club and a local infant school. Wherever possible we use reuseable or recycled building materials. Our station is a recycled shipping container and our fencing has been made from pallets. We welcome volunteers and passengers of all capabilities and have recently

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taken delivery of a carriage to allow wheelchair users and accompanying passengers to ride our trains.

Also new for the 2019 season, Lady in Red our club steam locomotive, a petrol-hydrostatic loco named David Gosling and three new guards trucks have joined our fleet of railway vehicles.

The railway operates 11.00 to 4.00 on Sundays, although if we have enough volunteers, we hope to extend our opening days to Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the school summer holiday.

RMRC are always looking for volunteers. If you would like to know more about our project, or come along for a look or even a run with your own engine, then please visit: Website: www.riversiderailway.co.uk Facebook: Riverside Miniature Railway E-mail: riversideminiaturerailway@gmail.com

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69

Local News

The Highwayman Car Scheme Do you know what it is?

It’s a scheme to help provide transport for people who are not able to make essential journeys by public transport or any other means.

A team of volunteer drivers take you to appointments at the Doctors, Hospital, Dentist etc alongside social drives such as visiting relatives or friends and even shopping.

The scheme is aimed at helping people get out and about.

Passengers pay the driver on the day of travel to contribute towards fuel expenses.

This is at a rate of 30p per mile with a minimum charge of £3.00 To arrange a journey or for more information please call

07786 520540

If the phone is not manned at the time of your call leave a message on the answerphone and the coordinator of the drivers will get back to you.

We are also always looking out for volunteer drivers so if you want to help your community give us a call. We would love to hear from you.

The scheme is supported and advised by Cambridgeshire County Council and Care Network, Cambridgeshire

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N O T YO U R AV E R A G E H O M E I M P R OV E M E N T C O M PA N Y

EPDM RUBBER ROOFING

• FIRESTONE RUBBER-BOND • 20 YEAR MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY • SUPERIOR DURABILITY • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY • QUICK INSTALLATION • MAINTENANCE FREE • FLEXIBLE • LICENSED FIRESTONE INSTALLER

0800 046 1080 UP TO 30% OFF IN JUNE hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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NK Scaffolding Ltd Professional and reliable

Covering

Brampton Huntingdon Cambridgeshire Contact

Nick Kent

nick.kent84@gmail.com M : 07703 577762 T : 01480 530729

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

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

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ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN DOMESTIC - COMMERCIAL - INDUSTRIAL INSPECTION AND TESTING CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION ALL WORK INSURED AND CERTIFIED

Contact ROBERT SNEDDON Tel: 07878 491467 or 01480 382962 Email: R2.ELECTRICAL@OUTLOOK.COM

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May’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr P Hughes from Hitchin Winner of the Ballet Competition Mrs P Stevens from Biggleswade

Easy

Hard

Your Perfect Loft Access and Storage Solution Our services include: Loft Ladders Loft Hatches Insulation Loft Boarding Loft Lighting Balustrades We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed.

Covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

01438 211302 info@eastanglianloftladders.co.uk eastanglianloftladders.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 73

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 7. Manage, rule over (6) 8. Outfitter (6) 9. Information (4) 10. Set sail (8) 11. Most simple (7) 13. Vacant (5) 15. Caper, amazing feat (5) 16. Protection (7) 18. Stress, accent (8) 19. Otherwise (4) 21. Foolish (6) 22. 5 cent coin (6)

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

16th June 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

Down 1. Settee (4) 2. Connections, alliances (13) 3. Examine, study in detail (7) 4. Plump, rotund (5) 5. Outside edge of circle (13) 6. Household (8) 12. Tries (8) 14. Taunting, goading (7) 17. Separate, detached (5) 20. Trunk of plant (4)

24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name: Tel:



Address:

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PREFERRED PLUMBING AND HEATING

 24 Hour Plumbing and Heating Call Out Service  Oil and Gas Boiler Installation, Repair and Servicing  Heating Controls Installation and Upgrades  Bathroom Installations  Underfloor Heating  Landlord Certificates  Plumbing and Heating Inspections

20% Off

Oil Boiler Servicing

Gas Safe & Oftec Registered

for new clients with this advert

We undertake all plumbing and heating work No job is too small

Contact: 07463 004120 Email: steve@preferredplumbingandheatingltd.co.uk Website: preferredplumbingandheatingltd.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Local News

South Beds Country Show Back for a 3rd year at New Manor Farm, Harlington, the South Beds Country Show just gets bigger and better. Come and see the actionpacked arena, busy throughout the day with sheepdog and falconry displays, heavy horse turnouts and parades of vintage vehicles, with headline act the Wye Valley Axemen. Visit the food and craft marquees and browse the market stalls for that unique birthday gift and stop for refreshment in the bar or eat from one of the

catering stalls within the show. Everywhere you look there is something to see from farm animals to steam engines, vintage tractors to working craft demonstrations! Bring the family along, and don’t forget under 16’s accompanied by paying adult get in free! Come and join us on the 29th & 30th June and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

• • • • • • •

family run business established since 1984

Conservatories UPVC and aluminium Windows and doors Bi folding doors New – warm roof replacement Extensions Orangeries

Pertenhall Road, Great Staughton, PE19 5BE

TEL: 01480 860000

Open Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm | Sat 10am – 4pm To advertise in The Villager1 and Town Life please call 01767 261122 GSN HP advert Apr18.indd

www.gsn.co.uk 77 09/04/2018 15:24

Classifieds Heating and Plumbing Services

Electrician

KING ELECTRICAL FULLY CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Over 20 years’ experience in all electrical installation work Extensions, rewires, Sockets, lighting, fuse board replacement. Part P registered.

Call for an estimate Please contact Chris on 01480 810133 or 07717 172100 Email: kingelectrical01@gmail.com

Pet Services

Electrician

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

Handy Man

From just ÂŁ35.00 per month plus VAT

Call Nigel on 01767 261122 for more information 78

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Addenbrooks Hospital............................... 01223 245151 Papworth Hospital..................................... 01480 830541 Benefits for people with Disabilities...........0800 882 200 Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue............... 01480 444500 Carers Line..................................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine...........................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice...........................................0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers..............................................0800 555 111

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area.

The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

Cruse Bereavement Care............................0333 252 9152 Floodline....................................................0845 988 1188 Frank—Drug Advisory................................0800 776 600 National Debt Line.....................................0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency............................................0800 111 999 NHS Direct.........................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries..............................03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line.........................................101 NSPCC.........................................................0808 800 5000 Relate..........................................................0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line....................................0300 1234 999 Samaritans............................................................116 123 Tax Credit Helpline.....................................0345 300 3900 Victim Support..........................................0845 30 30 900

For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on:

Tel: 01767 261122

Email: nigel@villagermag.com Web: www.villagermag.com

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