I'd Rather Be In Deeping February 2022

ISSUE 079 / FEBRUARY 2022

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FEATURE

Gas comes

to the Deepings

5 INSIDE

great local read dates

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Welcome

Before lockdown Joe Wray and Gail Demaine held a fundraising event at the Bull over the month of August 2019. As a result £950 was handed over to the Deepings Youth Group and an excursion was planned in the Spring of 2020. Well, Covid got in the way of that! So it was with great delight that the young people from the Youth Group were treated to a trip to the panto at the Key Theatre last December.

Oh yes they were! It was a fitting way also for Lead Youth Worker of three year’s standing, Cass Wales, to say her goodbyes as she embarks on a full-time career following the successful completion of her degree course. All’s well, as they say, that ends well!

Judy Stevens 3

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Inside Editor: Sub-Editor: Designer: Features Writers: Research:

Judy Stevens Susan Hibbins Gary Curtis at Zerosix Design Judy Stevens, Ray Pawlett, Will Bowell, Jessica Wall and Chris Carr Joy Baxter, Nancy Titman

09-15 News

31

Ray Pawlett

16

Gas comes to the Deepings

32

David in the snow: A trip down memory lane

22

Profile: Chris Carr

35

The Grange Spa

25

Found in Deeping for Valentine’s

37

Competition

26

Deeping Literary Festival 2022

38

Birds

40

28

Short Story Competition

Five great local read dates

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What’s on

Photography: Publisher: Printed by:

Ian Baxter, Stuart Render and Will Bowell Judy Stevens Warners Midland PLC

Cover: David Cotter PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111

Disclaimer. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of I’d Rather Be In Deeping. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, I’d rather be in Deeping assume no responsibility as to accuracy and shall not be liable for any omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance of information in this publication .Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of advertising material.

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NEWS Once again Santa and his Sleigh courtsey of the Deepings Lions Club, the Rotary Club of the Deepings with cameo appearances from Mickey Mouse via Round Table were given a resounding welcome this Christmas. So much so that a very handsome £9,700 was raised to use for good causes throughout the year!

Following an action packed auction at Stamford Auction Rooms, where auctioneer, Jessica Wall kindly waived her fees, the 2021 I’d rather be in Deeping Bargain Hunt made £157 for Mind and Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall. There were some star performers like the wooden doll’s cradle bought for £10 and sold for £25, the Poole Pottery bowl bought for £5 and sold for £20 while the Orrefors candle holder bought for £10 made a further £10. Emily and Janet from Creative Touch were the victors with Adrian and Janetha very creditable opponents!

New year - new pool! The Deepings Swimming Club have found a new home at the Stamford Endowed Schools Memorial and Junior Pools and are now returning to practice at pre Covid levels. Trials will be held in February for potential new members. Email deepings@ swimclubmanager.co.uk

Bringing the sun of Seville to two isolating Deeping St James residents in time for them to prepare forty jars of marmalade, enough for the rest of the year earnt the folk at Market Gate Deli great appreciation! “We knew we needed to get making as the season is very short but unable to get out we were very grateful for a delivery of oranges, lovely they were too perfect for marmalade but not to eat!”

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A trip to McDonalds by Langtoft resident Yvonne McCulloch and her grandchildren on New Year’s Eve resulted in a random act of kindness which took her breath away! When Yvonne came to pay for the meal at the drive thru restaurant the cashier refused to take her money as the driver in front of them had settled the bill.

So far no one has come forward to accept the heartfelt thanks of the family who plan to return the gesture by randomly helping someone else.

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NEWS

Deepings took a sizeable squad of 40 to the South Lincs Competitive Swimming Club Meet at Spalding. The medal haul, with some sparkling performances, was 19 gold, 34 silver and 27 bronze!

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I’d rather be in Deeping contributor, Magge Mckay has produced greetings cards from her watercolours of the Deepings and they are now on sale at Deeping News and Grasmere Deli for just £2.50 each.

I’d rather be in Deeping was proud to be a headline sponsor of the first Deeping’s Snow Ball which raised a magnificent sum of £ 5,600 for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. Pictured l-r Joley Garner Helen Kingston Paula Machin Emma Canham.

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NEWS Following a very successful bake sale and raffle in November, Tamaris Fisher, Sue Marsh and Debbie Howard of Tuesday Tots were able to present a cheque for £440 to Joely Garner from Sue Ryder.

The knitters from Deeping Cares met for a pre Christmas get together and to donate delightful items for Peterborough Hospital, the Baby Bank at Stamford Nursery School and for the Womens Refuge.

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For the first time in two years Carols in the Park was held at Jubilee Park with the Salvatiion Army in attendence and the Revd.

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NEWS Since January 2021 Willow Tree Fen has been closed due to the presence of common cranes, but it is now being redesigned by Lincs Wildlife Trust to allow people to visit again while still maintaining a safe haven for the cranes. The central track is being removed, allowing water to move across the site better, thus improving it for the cranes and other wildlife. The spoil from the track will be used to raise the car park to the level of the adjacent bridge, creating a raised area for the public that overlooks the whole reserve. Eventually, the car park and Counter Drain bank will provide a walk with viewpoints looking over the site, allowing people to safely enjoy the reserve and the birds, away from the Bittern road.

New scrapes and pools close to this new viewing area will be created, drawing in wildlife to enhance the spectacle for visitors.

Further good news has seen The Fens East Peat Partnership awarded £815,877 to explore the feasibility of restoring peatlands in the Fens. The government’s Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme ‘Discovery Grant’ will enable the partnership to investigate the state of peat on 20 sites and neighbouring areas, including Willow Tree Fen with the aim of developing restoration plans for those peatland sites.

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Gas comes to the Deepings

16 House, High Street, Market Deeping Caudle

FEATURE

Ever wondered why dusky hues were the colours of choice in Victorian living rooms? They covered up the soot that was emitted by oil lamps which lit the rooms, albeit dimly, in the late 18th century replacing the tallow candles by which the majority of homes had previously been lit. The tallow was animal fat, sheep or cow ideally, as that of ‘hogs gives an ill smell and a thick black smoke’. Nevertheless the candles were an unattractive brown colour, gave out a meaty smell and unless trimmed every few minutes would smoke. Only the wealthy could afford beeswax candles.

So it was no surprise that in 1845, when Mary Brown moved into Caudle House with her husband, well-to-do solicitor Francis, that she complained that there was no gas lighting in her home or in the streets, unlike in Peterborough where gas lighting had been introduced in the 1830s.

Francis set about rectifying this situation and in September 1853 a meeting was called at Market Deeping Town Hall by the Revd William Hildyard. An engineer, Mr Penny, explained the principles of gas lighting. He dwelt upon the necessity of the proposed works to the town and expressed his opinion that a very superior gas could be provided for a capital outlay of £2000 to lay the main and work the concern.

It was suggested that this capital could be raised by shares of £10 each and Mr Penny further promoted the cause by proffering £500 for shares in the proposed company. There was some hesitation in the room but it was proposed by John Perkins of Welby House and seconded by Surgeon James Kelly of Mill Lane, that the Market Deeping Gas & Coke Company be established and a committee of gentlemen and tradesmen be formed to carry out the intentions of the company. After a vote of thanks to Mr Penny, the meeting disbanded while the promoters assessed people for their eligibility to form the committee.

Local opinion was doubtful that the capital could be raised and many thought that the old shopkeepers would rather keep their penny candles than invest in the new technology.

Indeed it took 15 years before the Company was limited in

1868, the main shareholders with 20 shares being Distiller, William Holland, Brewer, Henry Stapleton, Chemist, George Linnell and plumber John Wyles.

Work had progressed after that first meeting though, and on 15th October 1853 the sum of £130 was raised from local ratepayers; 1854 was the first winter that the Market Place had lights. The Stamford Mercury reported on a dinner at the New Inn (The Stage) which was given by the principal inhabitants in honour of the completion of the Gas Works in 1855 for Francis Brown the proprietor. J.T. Marston presided and everyone expressed their gratification for the refined quality of the gas and the very great improvement it had made to the town.

William Bannister (b.1815) was appointed as Gas Manager and it was his job to keep the retort filled with coal to produce the gas which lit the High Street. In 1861 William Petty of the Queen’s Arms in the High Street was sued by Francis for his non payment of his gas bill of three pounds two shillings and was ordered to pay within a month at Bourne Sessions.

After the formation of the limited company, William Bannister left and a letter appeared in the Stamford Mercury, ‘As compared with that made previous to the formation of the company, the present gas is said to be much inferior in quality, far less brilliant, not so clean and pure, not so regular and plentiful in supply but the same price is charged. This is retrograding and as the long and dark nights are coming on and the pathways in the town are particularly irregular, better public lights are needed. It is hoped that the company take the matter into consideration and it finds better gas.’ A gas consumer and a ratepayer.

At this time 300 tons of coal a year were consumed in the production of the gas and it arrived from Newcastle by water and rail. A gas fitter from Beverley, Yorkshire, Robert Tomlinson, took over as manager, living in the house next to the works with his wife Harriet and four children. The house had two bedrooms, two sitting rooms and a central door; later it had a kitchen and bathroom added. The small garden ran down to the river but there was no gas supply! It continued >

17

FEATURE was built in the same dark industrial bricks as the retort house. When Robert left to go to a bigger gas works at Sculcoates, William Bland took over. He was a local man born in 1852 and had been an apprentice at the Gas Works. The promotion meant that he was able to marry his sweetheart Eleanor Towns and they went on to have eight children.

One, John, was seven years old when he was rescued from the river having slipped in while watching the swallows overhead. His father went to an opening in a neighbouring garden to pluck his son from the water which was rapidly taking him away.

The Company continued to prosper and in 1877, in a meeting of the shareholders and directors at the Town Hall chaired by Mr Linnell, the accounts laid before the meeting by the secretary, Samuel Sharpe, Solicitor, declared a dividend of 6%. Directors Mr Linnell and Mr Stapleton were both reelected and Mr Dean was re-appointed auditor. The price of gas had also been reduced during the year. In 1878 Messrs Richardson sold shares in the company at the Crown Hotel in Stamford for £10 each.

The extension of the gas pipes to serve Towngate became too small at half an inch thick, and resulted in a defective supply. So in January 1880 the Company employed 40 unemployed men to take up the old pipes, proving a godsend to the men who were paid two shillings and sixpence per day. In 1881 at the annual general meeting of shareholders the dividend was reduced to 4%.

In August 1886 tenders were invited for the construction of a brick gas-holder tank. Ten years later when an examination took place, all was found to be in good condition except the retort house: ‘the front had bulged by the bad backstays which were quite useless in resisting the expansion which takes place when the retorts are first fired’. This it was claimed was ‘highly dangerous’. As a result improvements were carried out; a new shallow generator on a concrete bed was placed in the retort house by the Leeds Clay Co. who owned the patent.

It was thought that the new generator would make more gas with less coal. In July 1899 tenders were invited for carting 100 tons of coal from Tallington Station to the Gas Works.

At this time William Bland resigned the position and was succeeded by Reece Jones, night foreman at the Peterborough Gas Works. He arrived with wife Caroline and four children; Daisy (b.1886), Reece David (b.1888), Jessie (b.1893) William (b.1897), all born in Peterborough. When war broke out the family returned to Peterborough. They were followed by Henry Worthington who had been gas works foreman at Sunning Hill, Berks.

In 1915 they learnt that their son Bertie, just 24, had been killed while serving on HMS Agamemnon in the Dardanelles; he was buried at sea.

In 1927 Henry retired aged 65 and moved with Martha to Horncastle.

In December 1899 an extraordinary meeting of the shareholders was called at the Town Hall to consider a request from Lady Exeter of the Manor House in Deeping St James to have gas laid on and to also reach the vicarage and church before the The fire engine was kept in the old retort house. winter. Mr Stapleton was in the Chair and it was unanimously agreed to lay the mains as far as the Cross. It was agreed that a sum of money be raised to meet the expenditure as the parish was badly lit by oil lamps. The decision was endorsed by Kesteven County Council who agreed that the mains could be laid in Bridge Street and Church Street so each house could have gas for heating and lighting. This meant that larger pipes had to be re-laid again in Market Deeping.

18

continued >

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FEATURE In March 1900 the Company issued a catalogue showing examples of Eureka gas cookers, made of enamelled steel and retailing between £4. 14s.

6d and £13.10s according to the size and number of burners. There were also gas stoves of the tortoise type which could be purchased for12s 6d.

Condensing stoves were also available for shops and halls where it wasn’t possible to have a flue. The forerunners of coal-effect gas fires were the incandescent gas fires starting at 18s. A small shop was built on the site to showcase the items.

In 1901 the increase in the cost of coal meant that there was no dividend for shareholders. In 1902 the Company erected an incandescent lamp in the Market Place of 300 candle power, and on seeing this Deeping St James Parish Council applied to the Company to put a lamp on the Cross.

At the annual shareholders’ meeting in 1917, after a loss of the past years, no dividend was paid and the price of gas was raised to 6s. per 1000 cubic feet. In 1922 a contract was made with Market Deeping Town Council to light the town for the winter months for £115. In January 1923 the Directors allowed a 5% discount on bills paid within the month.

In 1927, James Bourne from Navenby took up the post as Manager with his wife Mary, née Armstrong, and his three youngest children, Lillian (b.1904), Leslie (b.1908) and Leonard (b.1910). Just a year later, Mary was found in the river by army pensioner, William Spooncer who took her body to the Waterton Arms. At the inquest Dr Stanton testified that Mary had suffered from a nervous breakdown and the verdict given was suicide due to depression. Shortly after her mother’s death, Lillian emigrated to Freemantle, Australia. Leonard became a painter and decorator and in 1931 James married Clara Clay (née Clifford) widow of James Clay.

Leslie worked at the gas works as a stoker and married Hilary Measures, setting up home in Bridge Street. When his father retired in 1939 he took over and moved into the Manager’s house.

The Annual General Meeting of shareholders in 1932 was held in the Town

In 1934 Market Deeping Parish Council received estimates for lighting the streets from Market Deeping Gas Co. and Mid East Lincolnshire Electric Co. and it was decided to accept the former at £105.

After the Second World War the local company was unable to keep up with demand and so gas was supplied from Stamford which involved the marathon task of laying pipes between the two towns. In 1948 the defunct Deeping Gas Works and the Stamford Gas Works were subsumed by the East Midlands Gas Board with Charles Illingworth, previously of Sheerness, taking over as Manager.

In 1956 the works hit the headlines of the national papers when Alice Sandall, 79, and her cat were killed as a result of a gas leak outside her house at Bridgefoot. In an inquest at Stamford Hospital lasting five-and-a-half hours and hearing from ten witnesses including District Nurse Sheila Lambert from East End, Langtoft, who had found Alice unconscious, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, the coroner Mr M Stanton ruling out the possibility of criminal negligence. In evidence it was found that the gas pipe had been pulled up by Buchan & Co while laying sewerage pipes.

In 1965 East Midlands Gas sold the land and property to Geoff Ellis and the gas works were demolished, leaving only a large barn, the old retort house, which housed Market Deeping’s fire engine. Cars owned by Mr Ellis were stored around the barn awaiting servicing and were eventually sold at his car showroom in Church Street. The small purpose-built shop on the pavement became a florist. Eventually when Geoff Ellis sold the site to Peterborough Cost Sale Housing seventeen flats for the elderly were built at 51-57 Bridge Street, completed in 1987.

Research: Joy Baxter, Doug Ellis, Chris Notley.

Words: Judy Stevens

Carmel Court, Bridge St. Deeping St James

20

Hall with Dr Benson presiding. The balance on the year’s trading was £606 and a dividend of 6% was agreed, with £4 directors’ fees for Mr Medcalf and Dr Benson. Auditors were Messrs Stephenson and Smart. James Bourne received special recognition for the way in which he had conducted his work and there was a 5% reduction on gas bills.

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PROFILE FEATURE

Chris Carr and a medieval dish Langtoft-based historian Chris Carr was surprised to receive an email from the producers of The Great British Dig, C4’s community archaeology programme, asking her to appear as an expert in a forthcoming episode. Chris is more used to getting asked to speak to the WI, U3A and local history groups but after some discussion, it was agreed that indeed Chris was what the producers were looking for and so, one day in August, she and her husband Nick packed Erik the Van with medieval food, pots and a fire box and set out for Coventry.

tv YouTube channel and it was this that led the C4 team to her.

Asked how this rather unusual career came about, Chris explains, ‘As a small boy, my son, Will, was fascinated by history and aged 10 wanted to join a local Roman living history group, but because of his age he needed an adult to go with him. I’d just completed my Classical Studies degree with the OU and thought it might be a good way to use some of my newly acquired knowledge.’

Filming took place at the Weaver’s House, a 15thcentury timber-framed building in the heart of the city.

The shoot involved Chris and presenter Hugh Dennis preparing, cooking and eating a dish which would typically have been served in a medieval monastic grange (farm) while generally discussing medieval attitudes to food. The whole process took a couple of hours, including several retakes due to aircraft noise. ‘I was initially quite nervous but Hugh and the whole crew were friendly and professional which made the experience the most fun I’ve had in a long while.’

This wasn’t Chris’s first time in front of the camera. A few years ago, she was asked by fellow re-enactor, Jason Kingsley, to film a series of episodes for his ModernHistory.

Why food? ‘We all eat and so it works as a hook to engage the attention of folk who wouldn’t normally be interested in historical matters. I started with Roman army food and it’s grown since then. Later, Will and I joined the

22

Peterborough-based Medieval Sokemen with whom we spend many summer weekends at events up and down the country. Events range from small village affairs to major battle re-enactments such as Tewkesbury and Bosworth. Will has progressed from knitted mail to full plate armour and I now have a collection of medieval gowns, all of which I have made myself.’

After leaving her job as a civil servant in 2002, Chris volunteered at Flag Fen where she was encouraged by then Education Officer, Mike Webber, to deliver sessions in period costume.

‘Basically, I have Mike and Will to thank for my current job. Without them, and the support of my husband, I’m sure I wouldn’t be doing anything nearly as interesting.’

Chris offers talks and workshops on a range of historical topics spanning the Bronze Age to Women’s Suffrage. She can be contacted via her website brigaandfriends.co.uk or on 01778 341213. This episode of The Great British Dig will be shown on 23 February at 9pm on More 4. In the meantime you can watch Chris cooking and talking about medieval food on ModernHistory.tv.

PROFILE FEATURE

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24

Found in Deeping for Valentine’s

Fall in love with author Milly Johnson and see her at the Literary Festival!

Books available to borrow at The Deepings Library.

For the discerning beer lover in your life, why not give a pack of these locally brewed ales on Valentine’s day? Gift boxes of the beers can be purchased directly from the brewery at www. bowlers.beer. Individual bottles can also be purchased from the Market Gate Deli, Sam’s of Deeping & Bourne, Vine House Farm Shop and Nisa stores in Stamford and Corby Glen.

Cut glass decanter £28 and four champagne coupes circa 1900 £99 for 4 Market Deeping Antiques Centre

Gifts for your Valentine from £1.50 at Market Deeping Antiques Centre

FOUND IN DEEPING

Treat someone special to some beautiful seasonal flowers this Valentine’s Day. Jam jar posies to luxury hand tied bouquets available. www.the-wild-garden.co.uk Spring is in the air with these romantic light up bottles - a thoughtful Valentine’s gift! From £12 - collection Deeping st James PE6 8RH (01778 343915)

Loving these gifts from Ruffles of Market Deeping. Halfleet junction with Towngate East.

Celebrate with some bubbles!

Canti Proessco available at the competitive price of just £6.99 from Londis Post Office & Shop Godsey Lane

Valentine’s Gift Box from Deeping Fudge with Prosecco, Gin & Tonic, Strawberry & Cream and Rich Chocolate Fudges All for £12 delivered www.deepingfudge.co.uk

Love heart mugs made in Deeping from Hopscotch Pottery www.hopscotchpottery.com

Lovers Rum from The Cigar Box www.thecigarbox.uk 01778 343430 25

THE STARS ALIGN FOR THE THIRD DEEPINGS LITERARY FESTIVAL! APRIL 28TH - MAY 1ST 2022 CHRISTINA JAMES Friday April 29th 10.00 Oddfellows Hall, Church St., Market Deeping PE6 8AN Tickets £5.00

CLARA BARLEY

JOHN MARRS

Thursday 28th April 4.00pm Deepings Library, High St., Market Deeping PE6 8ED Tickets £5

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Friday 29th April 2.00pm The Iron Horse, High St., Market Deeping PE6 8EB Tickets £8.50 to include a latte

PAM RHODES Friday April 29th 4.30pm Priory Church, Church St., Deeping St James PE6 8NP Tickets £10.50 to include cordial and a shortbread biscuit.

To book visit www.stamfordartscentre.com

JANE E JAMES IN CONVERSATION WITH LYNDA STACEY Saturday 30th April 9.30am The Marquee, The Iron Horse, High St., Market Deeping PE6 9JD Tickets £8.50 to include coffee and a croissant

MILLY JOHNSON Friday 29th April 7.30pm The Granary at Molecey Mill, West Deeping PE6 9JD Tickets £25 (for all tickets purchased to the end of February) then £30

JACK LAND NOBLE Friday 29th April 7.30pm The Granary at Molecey Mill, West Deeping PE6 9JD Tickets £25 (for all tickets purchased to the end of February)then £30

NEIL SPRING

VASEEM KHAN Sunday May 1st 11.00 am Oddfellows Hall, Church St, Market Deeping PE6 8AN Tickets £5.00

April 30th 8.00pm The Granary at Molecey Mill, West Deeping PE6 9JD Tickets £8.50 to include a glass of wine

FRANCIS PRYOR WILLIAM SHAW Saturday 30th April 2.00pm The Marquee at The Iron Horse, High St. Market Deeping PE6 8EB Tickets £7.50 to include a latte

LOUISE CANDLISH Saturday 30th April 5.30pm The Granary at Molecey Mill, West Deeping PE6 9JD Tickets £15 (for all tickets purchased before the end of Feb 2022) then £20

Sun 1st May 2.30pm West Deeping Village Hall, King Street, West Deeping PE6 9HU Tickets £8.50 including a cuppa and a cake

To book visit www.stamfordartscentre.com

27

Coutesy of The Deepings Camera Club

What could be coming down the track?! Let your imagination run free in the latest short story competition from the Deepings Literary Festival!

Last year Judges were overwhelmed with the quality of all of the entries submitted. Says former Chris Evans 500-word short story Judge, Lynda Hall, ‘We loved the stories that we received last year and when the Signal Box Rebuild Group alighted on this photograph we thought it would inspire some great writing this year too!’

Three categories give even more budding writers the opportunity to participate!

The 500 word stories from 5-8 year age group will be judged by Deeping’s own book illustrator, Ellie Sandall of Art Stars. Ellie, who has donated a signed copy of her new book, Balancing Bernie as the first prize says, ‘I am always blown away by the creativity in the young people that I teach and it is fab to give a platform for budding authors of the future!’

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Award winning poet, storyteller and rapper, Mark Grist will judge stories from the 500 word stories 8-15 age category.

He says ‘As an exsecondary school teacher a lot of my work is designed for young adults so it is absolutely a pleasure to be asked to judge this category and support the Deepings Literary Festival.’ A signed copy of The Primrose Railway Children by Jacqueline Wilson is the prize for the 8-15 age group.

This year Deepings Literary Festival Patron Elly Griffiths will judge the newly introduced adult category. Elly says ‘I was delighted to support the Literary Festival event held by the Deepings online which attracted

readers from as far away as Ecuador but it is so nice to see the “real thing” happening this year!’

There will be a £50 book voucher for the winner of the adult category which can extend to 950 words.

Winning stories will feature in I’d rather be in Deeping magazine later in the year and there are book prizes for 2nd and 3rd places as well! Entries should be sent to: enquiries@deepingsliteraryfestival.co.uk by 31st March.

Winners will be informed by email and the judges’ decisions are final.

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30

RAY PAWLETT

New Year - New You? No Thanks!

Did you try a New Year Resolution? I didn’t bother! says Ray Pawlett If you did and you stuck to it for more than a few days – well done! They never work for me though.

This is very common with New Year’s resolutions. Why might this be?

If you have read any of my other articles, you will know that I am fascinated by ancient wisdom and how it connects to Nature. So let’s look here for a few clues.

If you look out for your window, what do you see? In late winter, there is not much going on as far as nature is concerned. The trees lost their leaves and are dormant, you haven’t needed to mow your lawn for a few weeks, the flowers are not up and no wise gardener is out there trying to break through the hard ground to plant seeds.

Nature is in the dormant state. It is resting and rejuvenating ready for the soon to come springtime. It is not a time of change – it is a time of reflection.

That is not to say that it’s impossible to make big changes to your life in the winter time but it’s going to be much easier if you wait until early spring. February sees the flowers starting to appear, buds appearing on trees and Nature starts to move.

Springtime is a time for change - especially detoxification. Many people start to ‘spring clean’ their lives as the season changes. This is in tune with the energies of nature rather than trying to fight it. Diet changes, new ways of exercising and new ways of thinking all become easier and more instinctive in the springtime.

But it’s not spring quite yet! Late winter has not said goodbye and springtime can sometimes be slow getting started. So what should we do?

If winter is a time of stillness and reflection – use it for that. Use it as a time to explore what you would like to change and carry forward. Think deeply about it, make the intention and thoughts the first part of the journey to a new you. Take notice of your dreams and aspirations - your potential energies.

Here’s something that you might try:• You will need peace and quiet for at least 30 minutes for this. An hour is better!

• You will also need some paper and a pen.

• Find a quiet place and just sit for the first half of the time you have allocated for yourself. Relax and rest. Be like the winter trees. Do nothing.

• Ask yourself what you would like to improve during the next year.

• There will probably be loads of things - a slimmer waistline, better cardio fitness, better on the piano or whatever. Write them all down.

• Aim your thoughts generally. Rather than ‘run a marathon’, think about what running the marathon will do for you and write that down.

• When you have finished, fold up your piece of paper and put it away.

• After a couple of nights’ sleep – take another look. Is there one that really draws your attention? Can you cross a few out that you don’t particularly need to achieve yet?

• Let this process go on until mid February. By that time you will have whittled your list down and now you have a very good idea of WHAT you want to achieve.

• Then you need to decide HOW to do it. Get active! Experiment and do it. Now is the time. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Enjoy the journey. Knowing what you are trying to achieve makes the doing of it so much easier and it’s real for you.

If you would like to explore this kind of work or any aspects of Tai Chi and healing more deeply please contact me via email ray@ki-ways.co.uk or give me a ring on 07413 620344 31

SHORT STORY

David in the snow: A trip down memory lane

By Daniel Mulgrew (aged 10) There is an old man called David, sitting next to the window, his frail body supported by the chair and his brow full of creases, each one for a year of his life. On this extremely rare occasion he is watching the snow fall outside, each unique snowflake floating down from the sky, glistening in the afternoon sun. His shining emerald green eyes are a gateway to the past. He is immediately transported back to his idyllic childhood. He is now a nine-yearold boy throwing on his jacket and pulling on his wellies before charging out of the house to play in the snow. As he is sprinting down the road, he calls for his mates, the soft, smooth snow crunching underfoot.

In those days it frequently snowed, and being snowed in, all you could do was play in the snow, making snowmen, and throwing snowballs. You could run and play around all day. Every time it snowed all the bad things in life seemed to go away. His favourite time was when the snow was so deep it was up to his waist; his great snowball fight with Phil resulted in both on the ground.

Suddenly, he heard his name being called, and he returned to present day. It was his wife offering him a cup of creamy, rich, dark coffee, covered in frothy goodness with a unique aroma, and he accepted. He drifted off to the past again, the heat leading him to one night when, after playing in the snow, he sits by the glowing, roaring coal fire, drinking a cup of delicious hot cocoa, warming up after being out in the snow all day.

The End

Image: John Parsonage

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THE GRANGE SPA

The Grange Spa Auctioneer Jessica Wall took time out of her busy schedule to relax at the Grange Spa with her Mum...

Finding a place to truly unwind is getting harder to find, but look no further than The Grange Spa, and you will find exactly what you are looking for – the perfect escape in the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside. On this occasion, I treated my Mum for the day, on a package which is for four hours, in our case 10am till 2pm.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with a welcome drink, introduced to the place by the very friendly and accommodating staff, provided with a lovely white dressing gown to lounge around in, and given a list of any treatments you have booked – in my case a back massage, my mum a facial and foot massage!

We headed straight for the pool area, finding a little spot on a couple of loungers (there were plenty to choose from!), the swimming pool was beautifully clean and inviting, and although I was worried my mum would feel cold getting in and out – it was very warm, which I find very important when you are trying to relax.

There are different steam and sauna rooms to try out, and a huge bowl of ice that is constantly renewing itself so you can (if you dare!) rejuvenate the body with it! My mother and I had more English ideas at this point and decided to venture into the tea room for some light refreshments, of which there were lots of lovely looking cakes – I recommend the blueberry Bakewell!

After a few more dips in the pool it was time for us both to have our treatments, so we ventured upstairs for our appointments. I have had a lot of massages in many

different spas all over the UK, but this absolutely knocked socks off them.

Emma, my therapist, was very warm and friendly, and explained everything very clearly (very good if you have not had anything like this done before), her technique and pressure (which I requested to be quite firm) was perfect, and then afterwards, she took the time to explain what she had done, including the muscle groups, and provided advice on how to help these problem areas. This extra time really made me feel like I was being cared for – I was super impressed!

My mother also enjoyed her facial, but was so ticklish she couldn’t have the full foot treatment! Instead the therapist suggested massaging her hands and arms instead, which she was very pleased with, again this was the personal touch which you really feel at The Grange Spa. If you decide to book a half-day package like we did, it is worth noting that you can pre-order a light lunch prior to your visit. There is also a really well equipped gym (which I had a look at!).

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37

BIRDS

Pick a favourite

Words and Pictures by William Bowell Whenever I meet someone new, if the subject of my hobbies and interest pops up, then there is one question that I can guarantee they will ask.

And before you say it, no it isn’t ‘You like birds, eh? The feathered sort?’.Thankfully, that sort of questioning doesn’t crop up so much these days.

I have to confess, dear reader, I have been known to raise a smile when this has been followed up with them adding (and more than once would you believe), ‘I like birds too. The sort with two legs….’

Anyway, I digress. The question I get asked most about my interest in wildlife is, ‘Oh, what it your favourite [insert bird, animal, insect]?’ And the truth is I never know how to answer this seemingly simple line of questioning. I could go for a generic like Waders or Warblers but this could lead to, ‘Oh which one in particular?’ and my answer would fall apart like a cheap suit.

Or perhaps I could reply with something well known such as a Kingfisher. I love a Kingfisher me, everyone loves Kingfishers. In fact, it is a pretty solid answer – the person asking me the question will know what I am talking about and will probably agree, Kingfishers are pretty funky. But all that glitters isn’t gold and as much as I love a Kingfisher, are they really my favourite?

Snowy Owl

My favourite bird is the Snowy Owl. I had longed for an encounter with a wild Snowy Owl for as long as I could remember and in February 2014 I was fortunate enough to visit Ontario in Canada. This trip was specially for the Snowy Owls. An incredible influx which had seen these Arctic dwelling Owls as far south as New York was a big enough draw for us to head Stateside and for a dream to be realised.

Some days we saw ten of these magnificent Owls and they were exactly where they belonged, in the snow. When you properly focus on one subject for photography for two weeks, you get to learn about individuals and different behaviours. One bird, Clementine (as she was named by the locals), was very happy in the company of humanoids and when not hunting for rodents would often sit in fields playing with dead sweetcorn heads. Another younger female nearby would hunt by speed and was less trusting, whilst a pure white male was the shyest and most elusive of them all.

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They really are my favourite bird and I had a tremendous two weeks photographing and enjoying them with a couple of pals. Since Canada, I have seen one in Britain and although not in a snowscape, it was still just as special. That bird was in Shetland, famously my favourite place in the world. So where better to see my favourite bird? Or indeed my favourite animal…

As a child I remember seeing documentaries of Orcas hunting seals in far off oceans and never could I imagine that I would witness such events. In the past ten years or so though, Orcas have become regular off Shetland and although the magical isles always seemed like an absolute horror to get to, a trip in autumn 2017 proved this isn’t the case.

The following year I travelled up to Shetland with my father to see Orcas. For context, dear reader, they are not seen every week. Before our visit in early June, they hadn’t been seen for three weeks so our chances seemed slim. Or it could be that with no sightings for three weeks, they were due a visit?

BIRDS

We watched them hunt seals, leap out the water, sky hop (where they somehow raise their heads above the water vertically). It exceeded all expectations. We were immensely honoured. My Dad always describes that special six hours as being almost emotional and I tend to agree. There is something very special about sharing space with giant oceanic mammals.

Just mind blowing.

Orca

Thankfully they were due a visit and we were incredibly privileged to spend six hours with Busta, the male of matriarch 64’s pod. I had seen so many photos of Busta prior this trip, so I recognised his massive dorsal fin straight away. We watched this group go back and forth Yell Sound, we even caught the ferry a couple of times to try and head them off, which was very successful and got us some wonderful close views.

So I guess it turn’s out I can answer the question! But since I appear to be unable to talk about them without going into song and verse, I think I should probably stick to answering with Kingfisher!

Will works at Grasmere Farm in Deeping St James (with a butcher’s and deli in Market Gate, Market Deeping) but in his spare time enjoys wildlife watching locally and across the country.

He is also a keen photographer. Many of his images can be found at http://justwildimages. blogspot.co.uk/ and photo cards can be found for sale at Market Gate Deli in Market Deeping.

39

John Nicholson Descended from the Nicholsons who farmed at Grimblethorpe Hall on the River Bain in North Lincolnshire in the nineteenth century, the author has lived for many years in the Fens where this tale is set.

A varied career included the Army, the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank in Paris, a First in Economics from LSE and a spell in the Diplomatic Service as a Second Secretary at the Foreign Office.

A switch to education led eventually to more than twenty years as Head of Bourne Grammar School in Lincolnshire. He and his wife, Angela (also a retired teacher), share a love of the culture and language of France. In retirement he has pursued a long-held interest in Russia, fired by an extended visit to schools in Leningrad, Moscow and Riga in the mid-sixties, followed more recently by a spell living and studying the language in St Petersburg

Debbie Daley Originally from London and currently living in Langtoft, Lincolnshire, I wrote my first book while living in Deeping St James in the early 2000s.

The book, The Harp of Elvyth, became the first in a series titled The Long Ears Legacy, a children’s fantasy aimed (originally) at children aged 9 to 12 years. I’m currently writing the fourth book in the series to be published this year (2022). The books have sold internationally in paperback and on Kindle.

An advocate for encouraging and improving children’s literacy, I have run children’s workshops in local libraries, both in Surrey and here in The Deepings.

After careers in HR and operations management for London Transport, then administration and management in Further Education colleges, I’m now semi-retired. I continue to write, as well as ‘proofing’ audible books.

Among my interests, apart from my two kids, are history and archaeology.

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Five

great local

read dates

The Deepings Community Library, High St., Market Deeping PE6 8ED

Thursday 28th April 10.00- 12.00 Unique to the Deepings Literary Festival read dating gives the audience three minutes each with a veritable cornucopia of writing talent.

Kate High After a career as a designer/maker in metals, Kate High became an author who writes Murder Mysteries set in the Lincolnshire Wolds. They centre around Clarice Beech, a ceramicist who cannot resist a mystery, especially if it involves a corpse!

Kate, who lives near Boston, has already published The Man Who Vanished and the Dog who waited and The Cat and the Corpse in the Old Barn. The Missing Wife and The Stone Fen Siamese is out in June, published by Constable/Little Brown.

Richard Pike

WINNER

Richard, a retired English teacher living in Morton, has published three books.

The Far Side of Years is a memoir of his school days in London.

2021/2022

Do Not Forget Me Quite, a war novel without fighting, movingly portraying life at home and medical work at the front in WW1. The novel introduces Ivor Gurney, real-life poet and composer, as a character.

Bright Tracks tells of a six-week trip to Greece in 1959 which involved three days of train travel across Europe before flying became customary.

All these will be available at a special price on the day. www.richardpikeauthor.com

Rex Sly Rex Sly’s family have lived and farmed in the Fens since the 16th c. He has written 3 books on the Fens covering it’s enclosures and drainage, its people and its agricultural history: From Punt to Plough, Fenland Families and Soil in their Souls.

Rex’s latest book, Exploring the Fen-Edge following the Roman Car Dyke from Peterborough to Lincoln visits villages, churches and places which interest him. He follows some of the past travel writers’ routes recording what they saw and recording what he sees today always keeping one foot in his birthplace, the Fens.

Open 10-3 Mon-Fri, 10-5 Saturday 83 High Street, Market Deeping, Peterborough, PE6 8ED www.riversidebeads.co.uk 01778 344550

LEAFLETS BROCHURES LETTERHEADS BUSINESS CARDS G R AYBOOKLETS T O N E S ART POSTCARDS PRINTS PHOTOCOPYING P R I N T E R S LAMINATING, WIRO BINDING CUTTING FOLDING POSTERS FOR ALL DUPLICATE SETSYOUR POSTERS DESIGN INVITATIONS PADS PRINTING NEEDS DISPLAY BOARDS BANNERS CHRISTMAS CARDS CREASING WEDDING STATIONERY WORKING WITHIN YOUR PERFORATING COMMUNITY SCANNING CREASING MAILING FOR OVER 30 YEARS ENVELOPE PRINTING Unit 17 King Street Ind. Est., Langtoft, Peterborough. PE6 9NF T: 01778 560261 E: mail@graytones-printers.co.uk 41

what’s on Family Fun Sat 5th Feb 10.00 - 12.30 Priory Church Hall, Deeping St James Building mega bug hotels for the churchyard and garden No unaccompanied children please Call Kate 07900585073 for details

Coffee & Cake Priory Church Hall Church St., Deeping St James Sat 26th Feb 10.00- noon and the last Saturday morning every month

Deepings Camera Club

Harry Potter Quiz Deepings Library, High St., Market Deeping Thursday 3rd Feb 7.00 - 8.30 pm £3.50 each teams of 4 max Bring your own refreshments Booking essential - call 346528 or email deepingscommunitylibrary@gmail.com

Harry Potter Fun Day Saturday 5th Feb 10.00- 3.00 pm Come dressed up as your favourite character! Crafts, Storytime, Sortinng Hat, Tombola, Bookmarks for sale, Wand and Broomstick lessons.

Weds 23rd Feb 7.30 pm Deepings Community Centre Visitors welcome £4 at the door Keith Snell, an experienced fine art photographer, will be sharing his images and talking about his journey through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in the USA.

Stamford Showstoppers present

STAMFOrd COrn ExChAngE ThEATrE Book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott Based on the Latent Image /Specific Films Motion Picture

10Th 11Th 12Th FEB 2022

an amateur performance with special arrangement from Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Tickets: stamfordcornexchange.co.uk Box Office: 01780 766455

We can accommodate most motorhomes for services & MOT OPENING TIMES: Mon- Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm and Sat 8.00am - 11.00 am 42

We are open during these difficult times and precautions are being taken

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