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Apart from printing, all work on the Melbourn Magazine, including layout and design is

produced by volunteers. The cost of production comes entirely from advertising and sponsorship.Melbourn Magazine is independent of the Parish

Council NO public money is used.

Village News 5Melbourn Village Market 5Tavern Gallery 11

Parish Council 13Safer Melbourn 18

Melbourn Mobile Police Station 18Neighbourhood panel meeting 18

Chernobyl Children 20Education 21Profile

Rev. Andrew O’brien 25Vilage information 27

Bin collection dates 27Important numbers 28Diary 29Melbourn Village Plan 33

Design a LOGO competition!

Nature 33feature 37

Ten Years on from the MIllennium

Church News 39Sports & Clubs 43feature 47

In Days Gone By…

What’s on 49New Public Art Project for Melbourn 49Cambridgeshire Choral Society 51House And Garden Fair In Aid Of Asthma Uk 51

If you would like to advertise a forthcoming local event in

‘What’s On’ on the Village websiteuse the simple form at

www.melbourn.org.uk/forthcoming-events/

...editorialWhat a relief that Spring has finally arrived – perhaps this one will be the Barbecue Summer?

I have just been looking at the photographic book ‘Millennium 2000’ again, and thinking about the changes that have happened during the last 10 years. Of course our population has grown, but how fortunate we are to have so many facilities in the village, unlike our smaller, neighbouring villages. (see p 37)

The Parish Plan is coming along nicely, and we shall soon all have an opportunity to have our say. It seems that we shall not after all have a 20 mph speed limit, maybe the suggested Speed Watch scheme will help to slow down the traffic, especially during the rush hours at the beginning and end of the working day. (see p 18)

Many of us have been enjoying Stockbridge Meadows over the past months, and Barbara Mitchell, a regular visitor, has kept a record the wild-life she has seen. Can anyone add to this? Would it be a good idea to keep a list somewhere (Parish Office?), which could be added to? Over the past few years I have not heard owls, or cuckoos, it would be very sad if they left the area. Terry Mitchell, Barbara’s husband, a keen gardener, thinks that he may have a new hybrid plant, (p 35) we eagerly await news about this !

Stockbridge Meadows will have an artistic addi-tion, which we can all help to choose/design (p 49). So there is a lot to look forward to this year, from the Village Fete (getting better and better), to Open Gardens and other events.

In this edition the Vicar of All Saints’ Rev. Andrew O’Brien is profiled. If there is anything (or anyone) you would like to see featured, or if you have some-thing to contribute, then please contact a member of the team.

Happily it seems that our sheltered housing com-munities will not now lose their dedicated wardens, which will be a huge relief to both residents and wardens.

Congratulations to Adam Kelly who has been appointed the Lord Lieutenants Cadet for Cambridgeshire for 2010 (p 45)

A very Happy Easter to everyone. A complete list of all the church services may be found in the Diary section.

Front cover picture Coal barn, Thornham by George Melinotis. See pages 11 and 49.

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17, Portway, Melbourn, Royston SG8 6EU

Phone 01945-428757 Mobile 07976-769398

Surveys of all gas & lpg appliances carried out.

Surveys of hot & cold water installations carried out.

Surveys of central heating systems carried out.

Gas & lpg boilers serviced or replaced.

Central heating systems replaced or upgraded.

Powerflushing service.

Servicing, faultfinding, repairs to all gas & lpg appliances.

Bathrooms fitted. Underfloor heating installations.

All general plumbing work undertaken.

Landlord & Gas Safety Certificates issued.

All works carried out by Gas Safe Registered engineers.

No call out charges. Free quotations. References given upon request.

196078 Registered

Plumber


Phone 01945-428757 Mobile 07976-769398













196078 Registered

Plumber


Phone 01945-428757 Mobile 07976-769398













196078 Registered

Plumber


Phone 01945-428757 Mobile 07976-769398













196078 Registered

Plumber

4 www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

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village newsMelbourn Village MarketCome and support Melbourn Village College PTFA, local businesses and charities, at Melbourn Village College Community Centre (next to McSplash Swimming). Starts10am to12.30pm on:

Saturday 27th March, Saturday 24th April and Saturday 22nd MayLocal businesses offering fresh produce, crafts, gifts.Cake, Bread, Cheese, Jam, Mayonnaise / Pickles, Vegetables, Meat, Plants, Toys, Fairtrade Bags, Blossoms and Bygones, Handmade cards, Handmade Soap and more …You can visit your regular stallholders each month and our seasonal monthly guests! Refreshments offered by local charities

Free entryFor further information please call: Jane 01223 565424 / Jane 01763 262040

Melbourn Village Fete & Music on the Moor 26th June 2010 1pm till late.Plans are well under way for this year’s ‘Fete Day’. Popular attractions are already booked and a fresh music line up for the evening is under construction. We aim to build on last year’s wonderful evening of Lipstick Torpedo with another great headline act. Announcements will be made nearer the time to complement the Air Cadets Big Band, a Barber Shop Quartet and a Jazz Band.

If you’ve experienced the Fete you’ll appreciate that such a large undertaking needs a small army of volunteers to make it the success that it is. We plan ahead and allocate shifts, so if you can spare an hour or so on the day to help out at one of the gates, the bar or BBQ it would be much appreciated. If the New Year has brought a resolve to put something back into your community this might just be the place to start.

Child and Family Nursing Team

Well Baby ClinicsDrop in clinics for parents and

babies are held as follows:Melbourn clinic every Wednesday between 9.30 and 11.30am at:

35 Orchard Road, MelbournTelephone 01763 262861

Cambourne clinic every Monday between 9.30 and 12 noon at:

Room 12 (upstairs), Sackville House, Cambourne

Telephone 01954 282830

MelbournVillage Market

Come and support Melbourn Village College PTFA, local businesses and charities.

See page 8 for more information

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In the news

Melbourn Village Market

Melbourn Village Fete & Music on the Moor

Library Report

Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group

Melbourn History Group

Royston & District Family History Society

Royston & Saffron Walden National Trust

Association

Coffee Stop

RNLI

Crossroads Care Cambridgeshire

Royal British Legion Update

Great British Fish and Chip Supper

Third Annual Safari Supper

would be delighted to hear from you via the website www.melbournfete.co.uk or email [email protected].

During the day at the Fete you will see the return of the Electralites Majorettes, always good entertainment, and as they are now 7 times UK Champions they are bound to put on a good show with their skilled, colourful pom pom and baton routines. Old favourites like the tug-o-war, fairground rides, Vintage cars, bikes and tractors are attractions alongside the many stalls and crafts we always have which are well worth the visit on their own. Some stalls are booked in already – if you would like a pitch email [email protected], or drop us a line. We also welcome the return of the Grafham Climbing Wall and the Kids Karts.

This year we hope to add some village competitions inside our giant marquee. Discussions are in progress but sections on flower arrangements, cakes, children’s garden in a wheelbar-row and photography competition are all on the list. If you can help with this, or have some suggestions please email us, or write to Melbourn Fete 2010, 1 Mortlock Close, Melbourn. We will make sure entry forms are made available in good time and both schools and all the pre-school groups receive information.

Other traditions in the making include a distance egg catching trophy (we provide eggs and wet wipes, you bring a spare t-shirt, a sense of humour and someone to throw your egg).

We are also considering a circus and

some animal attractions, which could be dog agility or having your picture taken hold-ing a snake or tarantula spider!

The Lawn Mower Grand Prix – the Melbourn Cup - will make a definite return. Always fun to watch, with folks really entering into the spirit of the event. There are a few rules to keep you and everyone safe but generally the idea is to entertain and have fun. So dust off your old Atco, Mountfield or Suffolk, tweak it a little and have a go. See our website www.mebournfete.co.uk for more details and a hilarious video on YOUTUBE.

For all those who like to make a day of it, you can be assured of even better refreshments with a selection of real ales and lager from the barrel available along with our ever popular PIMMS with fresh fruit – brilliant for a sunny afternoon. Our BBQ will have a selection of top quality burgers and hot dogs at very reasonable prices, while the pavilion will be home to delicious cream teas.Lots to look forwards to in one fun-filled summers day – Saturday 26th June 2010.Brian Collingbourne

Library ReportThe Library is doing well with a steadily increasing turnover. We expect to lend more than 6000 books in the current year. There is a steady increase in use of the young children’s books particularly picture/board books. We were amazed when on the first Wednesday in 2010 in spite of snow outside we had more customers than usual. We thank you for your support which makes it all worth while to us. We still need more good children’s books particularly board books as we have a very large turnover of these items.

We have done a lot of work aimed at making the library more attractive. We hope users will come to the Library not only to borrow books and use the Internet but also to use it as a social meeting point. We have purchased new settees for the child-rens area which will be particularly useful during the Children’s Reading Sessions on Thursdays. These take place at 10 am and are intended for all pre school children. The sessions will last for up to three quarters of an hour and should provide not only a great activity for the children but also a meeting place for mothers and carers. There will be simple stories and other activities aimed at young children. Please come and try out our offering. For further information please contact Eleanor on 01763 260924 or Sharon on 07720 429610

The various maintenance tasks have been completed and we hope this will enable us to continue using the building until other accommodation for the library can be found. The Parish Council and our County Councillor Susan Van de Ven have prom-ised us their support. It is likely to take some time in the current economic climate to obtain new premises.

We have three new Librarians which has greatly eased the load on the existing team. We have two more volunteers who are about to start training. We also have a great deal of support from Jocelyn Robson our Chair and Donald Mowat who keeps us in touch with the Parish Council. We are very optimistic for the future.Mike Stapleton

Melbourn History GroupThe distribution of the History Book and Pictorial Melbourn continues and it is pleasing to note that newcomers to Melbourn are still receiving their free copy of the History Book. I recently posted a copy of both books to an address in Queensland, Australia and I was delighted to receive a message to say that these had arrived in time for Christmas and the lady concerned was looking forward to reading these over the holiday. The book recorded the fact that one of the male members of her family had emigrated with his family in the 1850’s and I am sure that she would be busy tracing the family line from those days.

Visitors to the village intent on tracing their family history still leave their names in the visitors book in All Saints Church, and we make every effort to reply and give them as much detail as we can although the History Group doesn’t have


the same resources as one of the ancestry web sites, but we do our best. Stocks of both books are held at the Parish Council Office as well as with History Group members and a free copy of the History Book is available to all newcomers. If there are any difficulties please let us know.Colin Limming, Chairman.

Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s GroupIt seems a long time now since we were all battling with the snow and ice and look-ing forward to the arrival of spring. It is such a joy now to see the bulbs flowering, the buds bursting on the trees and the winter woollies being packed away for another year. The Women’s Group, however, remains the same with slight changes to the committee. Jane Stevens has reached the end of her term as chairman and Jane Brett has joined the team.

Our spring programme is varied – in March the Rev Mary Price will be telling us about her Path to the Ministry, in April we will be learning more about the Restoration of the Melde from Sandra Webb and in May Aubrey Butler will be giving another of his interesting talks, this time on stamps. As always, new members and visitors are welcome to come along to our meetings. We meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month alternating between Melbourn and Meldreth. For more details contact Pat Smith (01763 260103).

Royston & District Family History SocietyOur society had a good year in 2009. Our membership numbers remained steady, we had some very interesting and useful meetings and the projects which we had set ourselves for the year have gone very well. The Monumental Inscriptions of Steeple Morden Churchyard are finished and the Transcription of the Royston Marriages Register is at the checking stage and will be ready for publication soon. We also had a coach trip to Bletchley Park in September, it was a glorious late summer day which helped and a great time was had by all who went. We were very fortunate in our guide, an indefatigable lady called Jean Valentine, who was among the Wrens who worked on the code breaking during the War. She really made the past live again. Our programme until June is as follows and we are always delighted to welcome new faces so please come and see what we are all about.Mar 15th ‘In praise of old Chuches’ a talk by Roy TrickerApril 19th ‘Tracing the convicts who went to Botany Bay’ a talk by Ken GriffinMay 17th T.B.A.Jun 21st A.G.M. with cheese and wineAvril Emery Chair/Editor

Coffee StopMary Woodcock started Coffee Stop in November 2002, working hard to set it up and organise it. Thanks to Mary’s efforts it continues to run smoothly. I took over the running in June 2007 with Mary acting as my Deputy. She has now decided to step down.

May I thank you very much Mary on behalf of all at Coffee Stop and the local Community for all your hard work in a venture which proved successful from the start.Sue Toule

Dates for the futureMarch 6th Women’s British Legion StallMarch 27th The BookshelfApril 24th The BookshelfMay 8th BIDI (Christian Aid partner)

StallMay 22nd All Saints’ Spring Plant and

Book Sale

Royal British Legion UpdateOnce again it is time to make a con-tribution to the everpopular Melbourn Magazine and bring to light some of the events of 2009.

Reg Luff our long serving Parade Marshall had to give up taking The Armistice Parade due to age and infir-mity; however, our last remembrance service went off very well with a good turnout and a full church. It was to be Charlie Millar’s last time carrying the standard for our men’s branch, as he is

COFFEE STOPEvery Saturday

10.30am to 12noon

Rombouts coffee & biscuitsfor 70p at

All Saints’ Community Hall

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X`

JOIN THE WORLD’S LARGEST DANCE BASED FITNESS

PROGRAMME

Melbourn Village College

Wednesday: Jazzercise 7.15 pm

Greneway School, Garden Walk, Royston

Tuesday: Bodysculpt 6.15 pm

Jazzercise 7.00 pm

Thursday: Bodysculpt 6.40 pm

Jazzercise 7.30 pm

Seth Ward Community Centre, Buntingford

Thursday: Jazzercise 6.15 pm

For more information call

Linda on 01763 241527

www.jazzercise4fitness.co.uk

FIRST WEEK FREE WITH THIS AD (New students only)

Melbourn Village College Community Centre

(next to McSplash Swimming)

Saturday 27th MarchSaturday 24th AprilSaturday 22nd May

Starts10am to12.30pm

Local businesses offering fresh produce, crafts, gifts.

Cake, Bread, Cheese, Jam, Mayonnaise / Pickles, Vegetables, Meat, Plants, Toys, Fairtrade Bags,

Blossoms and Bygones, Handmade cards, Handmade Soap and more …

You can visit your regular stallholders each month and our seasonal monthly guests!

Refreshments offered by local charities

Free entryFor further information please call:

Jane 01223 565424 / Jane 01763 262040

MelbournVillage Market

Come and support Melbourn Village College PTFA, local businesses and charities.


transferring to the Barrington branch; our reserve Standard Bearer Mike Cooke will be taking his place, Mike formerly served in the army with The Queen’s Regiment. In short we now have two new standard bearers Mike for the men, and Pauline my wife for the women’s branch. Our new Poppy Appeal organizer Steve Fuller did a very good job of the 2009 appeal, but sadly will be moving away soon and will be unable to organize the 2010 appeal. Unfortunately 1 had to cancel our first branch meeting of the year due to the bad weather bearing in mind those who attend the meetings are elderly, and in the bad weather are much better off indoors. 1 feel 1 must mention that in the absence of a bugler, The Last Post and Reveille were played from a prerecorded disc that came over very well. Several elderly local people received a Christmas parcel from the local branch of The Royal British Legion.Patrick Parkinson, Chairman and Secretary. Melbourn, Meldreth District Royal British Legion.

RNLIOur New Year began with the happy news that the R.N.L.I. Council has awarded the Institutions Gold Badge to our Chairman, Tony Abrey, in recognition of his services over many years. Tony is retiring from our group in March, so the award is a fitting tribute to his work, as well as an honour for Royston Branch, which gives great sat-isfaction to our group.

Sadly, Tony’s well-earned retirement reduces our little group even further, and we are desperately in need of new committee members, or even someone who could spare us the odd hour now and again.

So, you Shoreline Members out there – please do consider helping us. We only meet as a committee once every 2-3 months – our activities are mostly fundraising.

This year we have two days collecting in May, Morrisons on 27th March, Flag Day in July, the Kite Festival in August, when we will man a souvenir stall, and a stall at Duxford Flying days. The money is all desperately needed to keep RNLI ‘afloat’. Without your help we cannot bring the money in, so we look forward to some of you – members or not – coming up trumps.Here’s to a safe 2010 for everyone, and a profitable one for RNLIPlease contact J. Eames (01763 245958) if you can help – even for an hour. Thank you.

Crossroads Care CambridgeshireCrossroads Care Cambridgeshire is a Charity that exists to relieve the stresses of unpaid carers of all ages who have a caring commitment to a relative, neighbour or friend needing support because of their sickness, age or disability.

Did you know? • One person in 8 is a carer

• The number of carers in the UK is likely to double over the next 10 years

• There are 50,000 carers in Cambridgeshire. Most are friends and family, some are elderly or unwell themselves and at least 1300 are children or young people

• Over a third of carers have not had a break in the last 2 years

• If every Carer stopped caring, it would cost the government an extra £87 billion per year.A carer’s life is often restricted by the need to be on call 24 hours a day because

the person they look after cannot be safely left alone for long periods. Carers are often under a great deal of physical and emotional strain through the demanding work of caring for someone heavily dependent upon them. They might be trying to hold down a paid job as well, and have other family commitments.

In 2008-09 Crossroads Care provided 69,000 hours of support across Cambridgeshire allowing over 1000 carers the opportunity to have breaks by

providing care in their own homes, activities, day groups, clubs for chil-dren with autistic spectrum condition, a young carers project and a Macmillan Crossroads Cancer and Palliative Care service.

If you care for someone and would like more information about the serv-ices available or if you are interested in joining our organisation as a Carer Support Worker please contact us for an informal chat.Tel: 0845 241 0954Email: info@crossroadscarecambridge-shire.org.ukwww.crossroadscarecambridgeshire.org.uk

“Hold a Fish and Chip Supper to help spinal cord injured people live full and

independent lives.”

Great British Fish and Chip SupperFriday 21st May 2010Want to do something different? Want to raise money where you live or work? Want to eat Fish and Chips, while raising money for charity? Hold a fish and chip supper on Friday 21st May 2010 whilst raising awareness of spinal cord injury and supporting SIA’s information and support services.

You can hold a fish and chip supper in your own home, at work or hold a larger supper at your local community centre.

SIA will provide a fundraising pack containing hints and tips, recipes, invita-

9melbournmagazine

DID YOU KNOWWe now have a

➧ Butcher, Baker,➧ Greengrocer,➧ Fishmonger➧ ... and Grocery Stall

every Wednesday and Saturday.

Other products available include:Linen ●Swimming Pool Supplies ●JewelleryHardware ●Kitchenware ●Plastics ●Books

Ladies and Gents Clothing ●Bric A Bracand Wooden Wildlife Supplies.

Come and visit the home of the: Royston Sausage – try before you buy.

Forthcoming eventsEVERY 1ST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Outdoor Farmers Market. 10am – 1pm. Come and sample the tastes of Gary Rhodes Local Hero Stuart

Blackman’s Vension Kofta’s, for the sweeter tooth try out National CupCake Champion Kevin Sibleys Cakes and Home

Made Fudge. Other stalls include; Fruit and Veg, various Meats, Arts and Crafts, Hand Made Jewellery, Pasties,

Pies and Rolls. See for yourself.

EVERY 3RD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Mini Outdoor Farmers Market. Incorporated into

the twice weekly Charter Market; 9am – 1pm a range of local products at reasonable prices.

SUNDAY 17TH APRIL Italian Market. Sample the delights of the Italian Market; Francesco brings his traders with lots to buy, see, smell and

taste. The market runs from 10am – 4pm.

MONDAY 3RD MAY May Fayre. Range of attractions including: Companion Dog Show, Low Wire Balancing Act, Punch & Judy, Fancy

Dress Competition (under 10 years old), Hog Roast, Beer Tent, Charity Stalls and Children’s Fun Fair.

Starts 12 noon. Free Entry.

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshireare looking for more volunteers - couldyou give a Home-Start family the most

precious gift - your time ?

Our volunteers are all parents or grandparents who can give a few hours a week to help families

who are finding it difficult to cope

All parents need emotional and practical help to get through the first few years, but not everyone

has friends or family nearby

This is when Home-Start volunteers can help!

Further details can be obtained by calling into our offices:

Unit 6, Valley Farm, Meldreth, SG8 6JP,

or contacting us on 01763 262262 and talking to Wendy or Tracy or e-mailing [email protected]


tions and donation envelopes. By inviting 7 friends and asking them to donate an additional £5.00 means you will raise at least £35.00 from your supper but we will also give you additional fundraising ideas to raise even more money for SIA.

Last year we had over 80 suppers taking part in England and Wales. In 2010 we want to double that figure and ensure we can provide more support to spinal cord injured people.

The money raised from the suppers will help the Spinal Injuries Association offer support to individuals who become paralysed and their families, from the moment a spinal injury occurs, and for the rest of their lives by providing services and pub-lications which enable and encourage paralysed people to lead independent lives.

Every year in the UK over 1,000 people experience a spinal cord injury and there are an estimated 40,000 spinal cord injured people in the UK alone.

Community Fundraising Officer, Elizabeth Wright, says, “The Fish and Chip Supper is a wonderful opportunity for a great evening with friends and family. We are also encouraging people who work to hold a Fish and Chip Lunch in their work places to raise even more funds. You may be even a local community group wanting to run a fun evening with your group.

Be a part of something special and make a real difference to help spinal cord injured people gain access to the information and support they need to enable them to live full and independent lives.”

For more information or request a fundraising pack call Elizabeth Wright on 0845 678 6633 xtn 229 or email [email protected] or visit www.spinal.co.uk

Royston & Saffron Walden National Trust AssociationMonthly meetings of the Association are still held on the last Friday of each month, either at Royston Town Hall or Saffron Walden County High SchoolSports Centre, and meetings start at 7.30 p.m. There is a full range of interesting speakers on a variety of subjects. National Trust members are welcome and membership forms are always available.

With the coming of spring a number of outings are being planned for when the days are brighter. Transport leaves Royston car park and members are taken ‘door to door’ to visit places of interest which can be a National Trust property, an English Heritage house, a town of special interest or even

London with its many attractions.Details of the programme or membership are readily available from myself.

Colin Limming 01763 260072

Third Annual Safari SupperIn Aid Of The All Saints Community Hall

Saturday 12th June, 2010I want to give you as much notice as possible to mark down in your diaries the evening of Saturday 12th June 2010. This will be the date of the third Melbourn Safari Supper to be held once again in aid of the Community Hall. It is getting towards the longest day so the evening should be nice and light for progressing around the village to the various venues. Once again we shall be looking for people willing to host and cook a meal – if you haven’t been a host before, start small by offering to do a starter or a dessert course. And, of course, the ‘guests’ are just as important as the hosts – so we need you as well.If you have never taken part in a Safari Supper before, do please ask either Jane Brett or me to explain what is involved. If you HAVE taken part before, but feel there is something we could do better, or differently, again – please speak to us! We really do want to get it right! If anyone marked down the date given in the February MELDE – please note that we had to change from the 19th because that is the date of the Meldreth Fete and as a number of Melbourn people are involved in that we did not want to clash. It really is

a fun evening and you get to make new friends and know old ones even better!Mavis Howard (260686) Jane Brett (260306)

Tavern GalleryYou may have seen the publicity in the local papers about the new Art gallery which opened in Meldreth just before Christmas. Local man David Chappell has turned the old Railway Tavern in the High Street into a small but charming gallery where he hopes to showcase affordable art by mainly local artists. The first artist to exhibit was Tam Joseph and the next two exhibitions both feature artists from Melbourn. In March George Meliniotis will be exhibiting his vibrant oil and acrylic canvases depicting local scenes and seascapes from the Essex and Suffolk coast line (front cover of the magazine). See page 49. This will be followed by an exhibition of textile art by MESCH. MESCH is a relatively newly formed group of experienced art-ists (Marian Murphy, Liz Evans, Margaret Starr, Vanda Campbell and myself) and their exhibition will run from 1st April to 2nd May. Those of you who are unfa-miliar with textile art will, I am sure, be in for a pleasant surprise!

I do hope that people will find the time to go down to look at both exhibi-tions – the gallery is open in March from Thursday through to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm and in April from Wednesday to Sunday. It is bright and friendly and on the ground floor! Children are not forgotten - David is putting together an entertaining portfolio of drawings done by children as their parents browse the gallery! The gallery is always closed for lunch between l to l.30 pm. It is situ-ated, as you might expect, close to the entrance to the station in Meldreth High Street, and there is parking at the side. Mavis Howard

www.melbourn.org.uk/speakers-corner/

11melbournmagazine

19 Station Road Melbourn Royston Hertfordshire SG8 6DX

Tel 01763 217510 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am-12pm

Customer Hotline Tel 0845 601 3344

Mon-Fri 9am-10pm Sat 9am-6pm Sun 11am-5pm

Expertise onExpertise onyour doorstepyour doorstep

Time to keep your money close to home

Head Office Administration CentrePO Box 232 51 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8FF

Tel 0845 601 3344 www.cambridgebs.co.uk

• FLAT ROOFING

• CONSERVATORIES

• REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

• LOFT CONVERSIONS

Ermine Street • AlconburyH untingdon

Cambs • PE28 4EW

01480 456789admiralhomespace.com


From the Parish Clerk – Avril Mellor

Chairman

Donald Mowatt 23, High Street SG8 6AL 268388

Vice-Chairman

Maureen Townsend 32 New Road SG8 6ER 260959

Clerk & Office

Avril Mellor, 28 Station Road, SG8 6DX 262494

E-mail [email protected]

Website www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

CouncillorsVal Barrett 2 Station Road, SG8 6DX 261227Frank Benfield 2-4 Little Lane, SG8 6DX, 261227Irene Bloomfield 78 Russet Way, SG8 6HF 222558Alan Brett 44 High Street, SG8 6DXBB 260306Rosemary Gatward 94 High Street, SG8 6AL 261225Jose Hales 23 Elm Way, SG8 6UH 262651Dean Hardingham 1 Portway, SG8 6EU 232757Michael Linnette 11 Chapel Lane, SG8 6BN 262534Donald Mowatt White Walls, 23 High Street 268388Clive Purbrook Glebe House, High St, SG8 6DZ 260899Jocelyn Robson 91 High Street 261633Mike Sherwen 3 Hale Close, SG8 6ET 260070Christopher Stead 70 Russet Way 260743 pm onlyMaureen Townsend 32 New Rd, SG8 6BY 260959Richard Wakerley 32 Chalkhill Barrow, SG8 6EQ 262247

EmployeesHandyman and Caretaker Peter Andrews 243312 Emergency mobile. 07778-682245

Village Ranger Keith Rudge, 4 Dolphin La, SG8 6AF 221212

Internal AuditorPeter Chilvers, 68A High Street, SG8 6AJ 260742

County CouncillorSusan van de Ven 95 North End, Meldreth [email protected].

District Councillors

Janice Guest, 1 Mortlock Street, SG8 6DB 260894

Val Barrett, 2 Station Road 261227

South Cambs M.P. Andrew Lansley 01954 212707

South Cambs M.E.P. Robert Sturdy 01954 211790

The Parish Office at 28 Station Road, is entered by the door at the front of the building directly opposite Sheene Mill. The Parish Office is now open on Mondays from 9 am to 1 pm, on Tuesdays from 2 pm from 4 pm, and on Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm. The office is not normally open on Wednesdays or Fridays. As the Clerk is sometimes out on Parish business it is better to ring 262494 to ensure that she is in the office.

Meetings of the Planning Committee are normally held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month commencing at 7.15 pm. Council Meetings are normally held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7.15 pm at All Saints’ Community Hall.

The PressRoyston & Buntingford Mercury Tom Ship, Media Centre 40 Ware Road, Hertford, SG13 7HU 01992 526639

Royston Crow Heath House, Princes Mews, Royston, SG8 6RT 245241 Fax 242231

Cambridge News David Williams, 3 Melbourn Street, Royston, SG8 7BP 249144 Fax 244502

BBC Radio Cambridge Reception 01223 259696 Newsroom 01223 358510

MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL28 Station Road Melbourn Cambs SG8 6DX

Telephone 262494 e-mail: [email protected]

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/council/

How nice to be greeting spring after such a long hard winter. I hope that most of you managed to stay on your feet during the very icy and slippery periods, which seemed to go on for weeks. I was one of those that succumbed to the pull of gravity but for-tunately I was only a little shaken up and had no broken bones.

In December Dr Frank Benfield was co-opted to the Council. I would like to welcome Cllr. Benfield and hope that he will find

his involvement with the Council rewarding. There are now 15 Councillors, which is the full quota for Melbourn.

This year is election year for the Council. Parish Council elections take place every four years and are usually held in the first week in May. If this coincides with the date chosen for the General Election, the Council’s election date will be postponed, by law, for three weeks. Anyone who wishes to be considered for election to the Parish Council should contact South Cambridgeshire District Council Monitoring Officer and request election papers. An election will only take place if more then 15 residents apply for nomination to the Council.

At time of writing the precept for 2010/11 is being worked on and at the beginning of February the final figure will be submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council for inclusion in the Council Tax calculations. This precept provides the money that the Council has to work with for the coming year.

The process of preparing a lease for the village car park is in the hands of the solicitors and as usual these things take time, due to the complexity of the content. In December some of the Councillors attended a meeting with the Council’s Solicitor to discuss various aspect of the proposed lease.

The police have now moved out of the centre of the village, a site which they have occupied for fifty years as a police station and homes for police officers. Planning per-mission has been granted enabling work to commence on an office in the grounds of Melbourn Village College. In the meantime the police will operate from a Mobile Office at the college.

The gates for New Road cemetery have been ordered and it is hoped to have them in place by summer. Some of the trees have died due to lack of rainfall in the summer months. These will be replaced and additional planting will take place as soon as the weather conditions allow. The trees and hedges are now beginning to mature and in another couple of years we shall have a very attractive rural cemetery rather than the corner of a field we had when the cemetery was opened.

The gates from All Saints’ churchyard were removed in January for restoration and have now been replaced. The removal of the gates was carried out by Sam Bowden Countryside Services, a difficult and lengthy task due to the depth that one of the iron gate posts was buried. The restoration work was undertaken by Matthew Lane Sanderson who is also making the gates for New Road Cemetery. Work in the church-yard has also included the reduction in height and reshaping of a yew tree and the removal of a diseased elm. Under section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Parish Council is responsible for the maintenance and repair of this churchyard, as it is a closed churchyard.

13melbournmagazine

Meldreth Pre-School Reg.Charity no.1034965

Village Hall Meldreth High Street

This friendly, non-profit making Pre-Schoolnow has spaces for September 2008.

We offer Morning, Lunch Club and Afternoon sessions to children between the ages of

2 and 5 years.

We offer a high staffing ratio, whilstmaintaining competitive rates.

£8.20 per session, £3.00 for Lunch Club

We accept Government Vouchers (which makes sessions for the over 3’s free)

For more information please Contact:Pre-School Leader, Jane Cable on

07952 295655 during Pre-School Hours(Mon/Tue 9-3, Wed/Thur/Fri 9-12.30)

or telephone The Admissions Secretary, Yasmin Croxford on 01763 220246

Baby & Toddler GroupLittle Foxes is a friendly, fun, good value, baby & toddler group. The baby & toddler group provides a great opportunity to meet other mums and for the children to play together. It is run by mums & child carers for babies and children up to 5 years old.

There are a baby area, dressing up clothes, trikes, trampolines, duplo, cars, dolls, etc. There are creative activities, song & story time and refreshments for the adults & children.

Foxton Village HallHardman RoadFoxtonTuesday (term time only)09.30 – 11.00

£1.50 per session

Little Foxes


Melbourn Village PlanA Great Response From The Like – Dislike Survey!The autumn issue of the Melbourn Magazine included leaflets for residents to return and “Have their Say”.

Huge numbers of completed leaflets were returned carrying a host of ideas and comments. The comments included both things that were good about living in Melbourn and some that were perhaps less good. All of this information is vital to the development of the Melbourn Village Plan. A big “Thank You” to all who contributed.

A completely independent and voluntary Steering Committee is undertaking the Plan. It is hoped to complete most of the preparation this year, after which the Plan will be published as a public document and used to underpin local planning and development generally. This process has the support of local and regional authori-ties.

During 2010 the whole village will be consulted house-by-house through a ques-tionnaire to fully understand the needs of everyone.

What is happening now?The recent survey also produced a wonderful range of good ideas and positive suggestions. It has become clear that many of the ideas will work best if seen as a partnership between residents and the local authorities. The Steering Committee has decided to implement some of the best suggestions as soon as possible. Our thanks to all those people who have already volunteered to help us. We are also urgently looking for more volunteers who want to get involved with this exciting project. So – if you would like to help make a difference as a vol-unteer please contact: Lynn Harris, Volunteers Co-ordinator, on 07519791256or register on the village website.

Please help us – Melbourn needs you!

From County Councillor Susan van de VenTelepone 01763 261833 www.susanvandeven.comThe past three months have been busy and challenging, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know new people through issues concerning Melbourn.

Working with the Anti-social Behaviour Problem Solving Group has been very worthwhile, due to the residents and officers who have worked together to come up with constructive ideas. A sense of perspective, and turning problems into oppor-tunities for better communication and better facilities for the village, have been fun-damental to our approach. We are still at the work-in-progress stage, but hopefully there will be results to report soon.

Back Lane highways issues: I had quite a few representations regarding highways issues associated with two planning applications in Whiting Way. Everyone who got in touch with me about the proposed ambulance station noted their support for accommodating the emergency services. Concern about the safety of pedestrians in nearby residential areas resulted in a helpful suggestion by one of the members of the South Cambs Planning Committee that a liaison group comprising residents and representatives from the Ambulance Station be formed. This idea is drawn from the Barrington Liaison Group which was set up to facilitate communication between the cement factory and local residents, and which was very successful in ensuring that industrial traffic adhered to safest and most sensible routes. I’ve been in touch with the officer who will help to set this up.

In addition to the memory of winter snow and ice is the image of crater-sized pot holes left in their wake. This has been something of a disaster across the county, and one can only wonder what the future holds in store for our very tired and

worn out roads. Something residents can always do is to report dangerous pot holes direct to the council – this is the quickest way of getting the problem sorted, and Highways have a statutory duty to fill in dangerous pot holes. You can either call 0345 045 5212 or email [email protected].

Little Lane, Meeting Lane and Except for Access Signs: a visit for a closer look made it obvious just where the missing signs once were, and why it is no longer clear to drivers that these lanes are not intended for through traffic. Highways are coming out for a closer look, and hopefully will agree to replace the miss-ing signs, back in their original locations.

Student rail fares: There is good news to report following on from the December meeting to which I invited our rail operator, First Capital Connect, and Cambridgeshire County Council. FCC agreed to pre-publish a student discount fare, in order to be able to work in tandem with CCC’s budget for student transport subsidies, and hopefully this will make for a clearer system. Meanwhile, CCC agreed that its student transport booklet is difficult to understand and this will be rewrit-ten. Unfortunately, the financial burden of transport to post-16 education is unlikely to be removed, but hopefully it will be eased a little.

At Meldreth Station, FCC came out for a visit and agreed to put in an appli-cation to ‘Access for All’ for a wheelchair ramp on the Melbourn side platform – though as ever this is a protracted proc-ess. It is important to keep the pressure on for projects people want.

I am sending out a monthly email newsletter with local information and updates to anyone who’d like to receive it – just drop me a line at [email protected]. Not everyone has email, and if you would like to talk directly about any issue or concern, please give me a ring.

Failure of Proposed 20 mph

Trial Speed LimitWhen parish councillors and I were asked by County Highways for our views on a 20 mph speed limit trial in Melbourn, as an experimental 12-month scheme to be paid for out of

15melbournmagazine

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pre-allocated County funds for five such schemes across Cambridgeshire, there was enthusiasm and eagerness to take the next step of public consulta-tion. 20 mph schemes pioneered in other parts of the country had signalled significant success in creating safer road conditions.

Reluctantly this scheme has had to be abandoned. Two anonymously authored flyers, containing some erroneous information, and objecting to the scheme were distributed around the village, and there were very heated dis-cussions on the new village website.

The majority of objections refer to the lack of police enforcement available to monitor vehicle speeds, and the fact that the restrictions would not apply in areas where the limit is mainly needed, i.e. between Melbourn Science Park and Cherry Park Industrial Estate. Many people doubted the validity of the scheme as the present 30 mph limit is not currently enforced.

I myself feel I can no longer support the scheme. I’m sure that other councillors representing other villages across

Cambridgeshire will concur that speeding traffic is among the main issues raised by residents and parish councils, but rarely are solutions available. Traffic calming measures cost money which the County Council has less and less of. Police enforcement of speed limits is extremely difficult at best, due to a thinly spread and understaffed police force throughout the county. Parish councils generally make regular requests for speed limit reductions, which Highways say it cannot grant, for a variety of reasons involving legal, policy and financial constraints.

To end on a positive note, I would like to express a huge thanks to the par-ish council and to residents for their willingness to consider and discuss this matter. Adopting a pioneering role is not easy and I hope that the steps we have taken collectively will contribute useful knowledge to the introduction of future speed limit reduction schemes elsewhere.

17melbournmagazine

Definitions of a few words clarified and made very clearCOMMITTEE: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together

DOCTOR: A person who kills your ills by pills, and may even kill you with his bills

CIGARETTE: A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other!

MARRIAGE: It’s an agreement wherein a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master

LECTURE: An art of transmitting Information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of students without passing through the minds of either

CONFERENCE: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present

COMPROMISE: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece

TEARS: The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine water-power!

DICTIONARY: A place where divorce comes before marriage

CONFERENCE ROOM: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on

CLASSIC: A book which people praise, but never read

SMILE: A curve that can set a lot of things straight!

OFFICE: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life

ETC: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do

EXPERIENCE: The name men give to their Mistakes

ATOM BOMB: An invention to bring an end to all inventions

PHILOSOPHER: A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead

OPPORTUNIST: A person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river

OPTIMIST: A person who while falling from the EIFFEL TOWER says midway “SEE I AM NOT INJURED YET!”

PESSIMIST: A person who says that O is the last letter in ZERO, Instead of the first letter in OPPORTUNITY

MISER: A person who lives poor so that he can die RICH!

FATHER: A banker provided by nature

CRIMINAL: A guy no different from the other, unless he gets caught

BOSS: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early

POLITICIAN: One who shakes your hand before elections and your confidence later

Melbourn Village Plan

We need a LOGO!Can you design one for us?

Then if you LIVE in MelbournEnter the MVP logo competition

Age categories: 4–10 years & 11–16years• First prize and then runner–up prizes in each

age category• Closing date 31st March 2010• Post your entries in the MVP boxes in your

school; the library or the post office.• One side of A4 paper with your name, age,

address and contact details on the back.

REMEMBER you MUST live in Melbourn to enter!

If you need further information please contact:MVP Community Co-ordinator on: 0774 953 0112

Email: [email protected]

c a m b r i d g e s h i r e

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/safermelbourn/

Melbourn Police StationPlans have been agreed by South Cambs District Council for a purpose-built police site to be constructed at Melbourn Village College.

The new site will consist of an office area for staff to work from and a meeting and interview room.

The land upon which the old police station was situated has been sold and the police station closed in January.

We hope the new police base will be very convenient for residents, being adjacent to other village services. By being in the heart of the community we hope people will find it easier to speak to us about issues.

It will also mean we are in close contact with our partner services for the area.

We will be holding regular police surgeries and drop-in ses-sions at times when people are likely to be using the other services in the area as well.

There will be a short period of time where the mobile police station will be used as a working base in Melbourn.

Mobile police station locationsPCSO John Coppard will be at Bassingbourn Village College every Friday from 3.p.m. till 5 p.m.

PCSO Lindsay Gardiner will be at Melbourn Village College every Friday from 3. p.m. till 5. p.m.

Foxton village hall on Friday 26th February from 6 – 7 p.m.

Whaddon village hall on Friday 19th March from 6 – 7p.m

Fowlmere village hall on Friday 23rd March from 6 – 7 p.m.

Neighbourhood policing prioritiesFollowing on from the panel meeting at Bassingbourn Village College on 19th January, the priorities set for our policing team are as follows:

1 Tackle anti-social behaviour affecting the Burtons, Meldreth.

2 Improve community contact with Guilden Morden, Abington Piggots and Bassingbourn parishes.

3 Tackle road safety issues to include speeding issues in Fowlmere Road, Heydon, Tadlow B1042, Ashwell Road, Guilden Morden, The Causeway and North End, Bassingbourn and in Steeple Morden. Parking obstructions outside the Fish and Chip Shop, High Street, Melbourn.

Incidents reported in these areas will receive a higher level police response.

The next Neighbourhood panel meeting is on Tuesday 20 April at Foxton Village Hall,

doors open at 19:00 for 19:30 start

What is Speedwatch?The Speedwatch scheme allows the public to get actively involved in monitoring the speed of vehicles travelling through their neighbourhood. It is used in areas where speeding has been identified as a priority at quarterly neighbourhood panel meetings.

The scheme is run by the force alongside the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership. It is about educat-ing motorists in the law in relation to speeding and monitoring any trends in speeding in neighbourhoods.

Volunteers are trained to use speed indicator devices which displays vehicle speed. The registered owner of any vehicle seen exceeding the speed limit is sent an advisory letter from their local neighbourhood policing team, explaining that speeding is unacceptable to the local community.

Vic Nickson, a member of Bassingbourn Speedwatch explains;

The primary objective of Speedwatch is to highlight more effectively any areas of excessively high traffic speeds across villages in Cambridgeshire. It will enable the Police and


www.cambs-police.co.uk/myneighbourhood/ecops/index.asp

County Highways department to determine effective remedial action to promote the required improvements in road safety requested by residents. Additionally it has been found to serve as a salutory educational reminder of how many of us routinely exceed the requisite maximum motoring speeds in our villages.

The Cambridgeshire Constabulary is training volunteers to monitor traffic on speed restricted roads in and around Villages which are known to suffer from excessive traffic speeds. The project has been set up in response to priorities and concerns expressed at numerous recent Neighbourhood Policing Panel meetings. The project equipment has been funded by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Melbourn volunteers will be equipped with a portable highly visible calibrated speed sensor which displays any traffic speeds detected in excess of 33mph. Data on traffic density and details of vehicle speeds in excess of the statutory speed restriction for the road will be logged and passed to the police for their discretionary action.

Speedwatch is aimed at reminding us that road traffic and pedestrians – particularly children, are an incompatible mix and that SPEEDING TRAFFIC IN VILLAGES IS A DANGER TO LIFE AND LIMB. Please support this worthwhile project and help to make your village a safer place for everyone.

At present Melbourn does not have a Speedwatch team, so anyone interested in setting up a team or wanting to be a member should contact Melbourn’s Neighbourhood Policing Team on 0345 4564564.

Police action report for MelbournObjective set at the October Panel MeetingReduce the problem of anti-social behaviour in the village and also reduce the fear of anti-social behaviour for local residents, particularly the elderly residents of Vicarage Close.

Action Taken• Foot patrols and vehicle patrols carried out.

• Engaged with Melbourn Village College to find out if they are experiencing any problems. Regular liaison with the caretaker there.

• Positive engagement with young people who have been out in the village. Explained the need to be considerate of elderly residents of Vicarage Close.

• House to house survey conducted in The Moor – feedback suggested the antisocial behaviour had reduced and was seasonal.

• Liaison with businesses on the High Street.

• Guardian Awareness letters completed for young people found with alcohol.

• Moved on young people causing a disturbance.

• Talks to students at Melbourn Village College in February.

• Discussed problems with South Cambs Detached Youth Worker.

• Met with Parish Council.

Emerging Issues• Total crime figures in Melbourn have remained stable com-

pared to the previous period (46 offences vs. 43 offences).

• There were 6 ‘dwelling burglary’ offences in this period compared to 3 offences in the previous period and 2 offences in the same period last year. Two offences occurred on the same evening in October, with offenders gaining access at the rear of both properties. A television and a games console were stolen in one offence.

• There were 8 ‘theft from’ vehicle offences in this period compared to no offences in the previous period and 6 offences in the same period last year. Two offences occurred over a three day period in which the rear doors of vans were forced and power tools were stolen.

• Anti-social behaviour incidents have decreased from 100 incidents in the previous period to 28 incidents in this peri-od. This is also a decrease compared to the same period last year when there were 40 incidents. Ten of the incidents occurred on the High Street on different dates throughout the period and appear to be unrelated.

Road Safety ActivitySpeedchecks and Parking Patrols conducted across the area including the hotspots identified at the last Neighbourhood Panel Meeting.4 speeding tickets given out. 4 parking tickets given out.22 people given words of advice.62 letters of advice sent out.Source; Neighbourhood policing profile for January’s panel meeting.

Melbourn Mobile Police StationPCSO Lindsay Gardiner will be at Melbourn Village

College every Friday from 3. p.m. till 5. p.m.

NON EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER0345 456 456 4 or

0845 456 456 4

If you suffer from Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in the village and would like to bring it to the attention of the Problem Solving Group, there is a contact form on the site. If you are not on the Internet you can either call the police non emergency number 0345 456 456 4 and ask to speak to Melbourn’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, or contact Melbourn’s Parish Clerk, both will pass on messages to the group.

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/problemsolving/

19melbournmagazine

Chernobyl ChildrenThis year is the 24th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, that occurred in Chernobyl. Although the explosion of the nuclear reactor killed only two people directly, the widespread distribution of the toxic radioactive fallout across many miles of surrounding countryside has left a devastating legacy that today affects thousands of people. The land is heavily contaminated with radioactive material and will not be considered safe for thousands of years. Nevertheless, the land is being used for farming crops and raising animals and the toxic chemicals have become incorporated into the human food chain. As a result, the population suffers from the effects of radiation poisoning with a massive increase in cancers and impaired immune systems and hence the people are less able to fight off disease. The radiation blew north from Chernobyl into Belarus and inevitably, it is the children who have been born since then who are suffering the most.

Friends of Chernobyl’s Children (www.focc.org.uk) is a registered charity which devotes its energies into raising funds to enable under privileged Belarusian children to visit the UK every year for a 5 year programme of care. The children stay with host families for one month and this month of love, care and good nutrition boosts their immune system and improves their health. The charity targets children aged between 6 and 13 years from orphanages and disadvantaged homes. These children are in great need and come from social situations that make it difficult for them to get the care that they require.

In 2006 a branch of FOCC was established in Melbourn and for the last four years we have been able to bring over a group of around 17 children from Belarus. One of our aims is that the children, who arrive in the UK with little or no pos-sessions, return home with as much clothing, medicine & essentials as possible. Closer to the date of their arrival we would very much appreciate donations of good unwanted clothing to suit children aged 8–13 yrs, especially warm coats,

boots, pyjamas and dressing gowns (the temperature is -40C in winter!)

The children’s next visit to Melbourn will be June 25th and we are currently busy organising many fundraising activities to help fund their flights and programme of activities whilst they are here. We are constantly looking for new activities and places to take the children while they are with us. We owe a massive thank you for the continued support of many local organisations including: Melbourn Baptist Church, The Black Horse, Herts County Travel, The Green Man, too many to mention but we thank you all.

If you would be interested in helping in some way, either by providing support by organising/helping with fundraising activities or helping to chaperone the children on one of their outings whilst they are in the UK, we would be very interested to hear from you.

Please ring 01763 220651 if you can help – all offers of support would be gratefully accepted. With many thanks,Nicola DunklinFOCC Co-ordinator, Melbourn Groupwww.focc.org.uk


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21melbournmagazine

Melbourn PlaygroupAt playgroup we had a very busy but very successful half term before Christmas. Firstly we were lucky enough to be invited to the primary school to watch their Christmas performance which was as wonderful as usual. After that we held our own very successful concert which was attended by many of the families and friends of our children. We would like to thank everyone who helped the children learn the songs, helped to organise the event and then turned up on the day to cheer us on!

In December we were also lucky enough to be invited to Moorlands Court to sing them our concert. They were very welcoming and one of the best audiences we have ever had! Hopefully this will become a yearly custom for us. Finally we had two Christmas parties which we enormous fun for all of us and finished with a visit from a very busy Santa who stopped off on his way back to the North Pole to bring presents for all the children.

Now we are looking forward to another wonderful year and playing in the snow as much as we can.

Primary SchoolThe school year continues apace and as I write this we have just said goodbye to the snow!! We have certainly been lucky not to see the worst of the conditions and apart from a one day closure at the end of the autumn term we have managed to stay open.

On the 1st December over 70 members of our Year 5 and 6 classes travelled to the O2 Arena and sang as members of a massed choir made up of 8130 children. Following an afternoon rehearsal and a second packed lunch of the day the children returned to their seats to wow a capacity crowd of parents. The singing was out of this world, as were the solo performances and dance routines. The parents who were able to attend have given us very positive feedback and it would be great to see this event as a bi-annual part of the curriculum.

The autumn term ended with our KS1 and KS2 Christmas productions which were warmly received by parents. The school traditionally adopts a charity to support each year and this academic year we will be raising money for the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children. At the end of each of the Christmas production we took a collection and raised over £450, which means we have donated enough money already to bring a child over from Chernobyl to stay with a local family. A fantastic response and one I hope to be able to build on throughout the year.

Also at the end of the autumn term the school gained National Healthy School Status, reflecting the school’s efforts to encourage our pupils to follow a healthy lifestyle. We also continue to look forward to the school building’s redevelopment which, by the time you read this should have started. The school will have a new hall, kitchen and office area at the front of the school site, which will aid with security, as well as lead to the removal of the “temporary” 1940’s dining hall and kitchen. Two new reception classrooms will be created in the Victorian building and a pre-school and Children’s Centre will also be included. The whole project should be completed by January 2011. Watch this space!Gary Casey

Community EducationVal Tookey 260566

Little HandsKaren on 01763 260964

Melbourn PlaygroupJane Crawford 07842 151512

Notre EcoleJanet Whitton 261231

Primary SchoolHeadteacher Gary Casey 223457

Toy LibraryYasmin Croxford 220246

U3A (Univ. of Third Age)Chairman Arthur Alderton 260399

Village CollegeWarden Elaine Stephenson 223400



Melbourn Village CollegeA Village College for the Whole CommunityWe have some exciting developments taking place this term at the College. In keep-ing with the Henry Morris philosophy of the Village College being central to the life of the community we are developing our facilities further.

Melbourn Sports Centre has a new programme of events and is always eager to hear what other activities local residents would like us to offer. We begin our student ‘Film Club’ on a Monday between 3.30pm and 5.30pm in the Main Hall and already welcome U3A members on the third Wednesday of every month.

We have extended the activities we offer students after school. We now have a homework club three nights a week, a journalism club, boxercise for girls and 40 students are undertaking the Arts Award.

The Community Education Programme for adults begins a new term with activi-ties ranging from accredited examination courses in ICT and languages to Indian cookery and ballroom dancing.

The car park is being refurbished and should be completed over the summer holidays which will improve access to the Sports Centre and increase the number of parking spaces available.

The Children’s Centre has moved into the Youth Centre on a temporary basis until the brand new facility can be built at Melbourn Primary School and I am delight-ed that the new Police Office will be built between the Youth Centre and the Sports Centre. This will provide a purpose built community facility and be an opportunity to promote positive relationships between the police and young people.

We are restarting our Sunday Morning Car Boot sales in March and are trying a new venture with our monthly Village Market in the Youth Centre being held on the last Saturday of each month from 10.00am – 12.30pm. Local farm produce and crafts will be on sale and I hope that you are able to support the market.

Our final project is to build a new Performing Arts Studio on site as an additional venue for our performances. We see this as a dual use facility and hope that we may be able to rekindle Melbourn Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) in the not too distant future!

It is an exciting time for the College and one that sees us moving into the top 18% of all schools nationally for our GCSE results. We are committed to creating the conditions for continuous improvement in all aspects of college life and aim to be a genuine community facility for people of all ages at the heart of the village.Elaine Stephenson Warden

MVC Community EducationHave you in 2010 decided you would like to try something new or make some changes in your lifestyle. Then look no further!! Your local centre has a wide variety of courses to suit all ages and wishes!!

So do you feel like relaxing with Yoga or Reiki, do you want to dust off your danc-ing shoes and try some ‘Strictly’? If you feel useless in the kitchen or would like to give your existing skills a new dimension then try our weekly Indian Cookery Class with Rama or Cooking Carousel with Jane on a Saturday.

Jewellery, art workshop, ceramics, flower arranging (day), Car maintenance, are all on offer for those for you who like to do practical things.

Other courses available are a variety of computing options including Sage accounting and Web Design, Paediatric First Aid, CIEH Food Safety (formally basic food hygiene), Photoshop & Personal Finance.For full details contact Julie, Louise or Val:Telephone: 01763 260566Email: [email protected] visit our Website: www.mvc.org.uk

Adult EducationMelbourn Village College offers a vibrant range of courses and are look-ing to expand their programmes for 2010/2011.

We would like to hear from experi-enced tutors with evening or daytime capacity and anyone who has a special-ism they would like to offer to others.For further details please contact: Community EducationMelbourn Village College 01763 [email protected]

University Of The Third Age (U3A)Melbourn & DistrictThe winter months have passed with all the learning and activity groups carry-ing out their programmes. The Walking groups have briskly covered their vari-ous routes with doubtless a welcome hot meal at one of the various hostelries where all the walks end! The Language groups have grappled with German and French conversation, the Church Visits Group ended their 2009 programme with a marvellous visit to St. Albans Abbey and are already busy planning six outings for this year. The Music Group has listened to a wide range from clas-sical to jazz with visits to the West End musicals and music from all round the world as added treats.

The payment of subscriptions have revealed that our numbers have remained steady at just over 400 indi-viduals, many of whom have enjoyed the regular monthly meetings on the third Wednesday afternoon of each month and who are now hopefully looking forward to hearing more of the booked speakers.

Still wondering at the number of repeats on afternoon TV or alternatively thinking where you can meet a wide range of people with similar interests or hobbies? Give us a try! Ring 01763 260399 for details and a possible membership form.Colin Limming.

continued on page 31

23melbournmagazine

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ProfileRev. Andrew O’brienI interviewed Andrew and his delightful wife Joanne in the study at the Vicarage, surrounded by the clutter, vestments and paperwork that goes with being a modern vicar. Two large armchairs must often have provided comfort for grieving relatives, newly engaged couples and confirmation candidates alike. Andrew O’Brien was born in the early sixties in Catford, London. He was the youngest in a family of four, with two older brothers and a sister. His father was a Chartered Surveyor – Director of Housing for the London Borough of Southwark and his mother a teacher. The young Andrew went to school in Bromley but didn’t particularly like school or shine at academic subjects. He was not a great sportsman either, but really enjoyed (as he still does) watching football and was an enthusiastic supporter of Charlton Athletic F.C. His parents were churchgoers and he sang in the choir with his two older brothers and right from being a young boy he felt that his future lay in the church. A true calling, in fact.

In the seventies the Church preferred young applicants not to go straight to university but to get some experience in life first, so young Andrew enrolled at the South East London College for a two and a half year Hotel and Catering course which gave him a real interest in the preparation and pres-entation of food. He even worked for a while in the kitchens at Simpsons in the Strand. He is a good cook and still does most of the cooking in the vicarage, planning the menus and shopping for the ingredients, whilst Joanne acts as sous-chef. I understand that he is a whizz at casseroles. When he left College, he went to Northern Israel for a year to work on a Kibbutz and spent most of his time milking cows. He trav-elled as part of a Christian Group some of whom were quite extreme but living and working with such a disparate set of people only served to solidify his own views and beliefs. He picked up enough Hebrew to enhance his Biblical readings but English was the common tongue. He had the opportu-nity to travel round the country and found the year extremely powerful and rewarding.

Back in England he went before a selection committee for the Church of England and then took a two year non-residen-tial course at the Aston Training Scheme. This was rather like the Open University with the occasional residential course – at the same time Andrew was working front of house at a hotel in Bromley. At about this time he also found himself for a spell in New York helping emotionally disturbed teenagers, an experience which has stood him in good stead and also left an affection for the States – although only as a holiday destination, he hastened to add.

At the end of this time he went to Lincoln Theological College for three years and whilst there he also did a degree at Nottingham University. It was while studying in Lincoln that he met Joanne, a local girl from a Lincolnshire village who was the Secretary and Academic Registrar at the College. Joanne had a degree from Trent University in History, English, Behaviour and Belief.

He was ordained in St Edmundsbury Cathedral in l987, a very moving occasion for him and his family and he and Joanne married the following year. Whilst at college students are pointed in the direction of various career opportunities and jobs are also listed in the Church Times. Andrew became the curate in the Stour Valley Group of churches, encompass-ing Clare, Cavendish, Stoke by Clare, Poslingford and Wixoe! Five parishes to keep him busy. The diocese bought them a house in Clare (it cost £89,000 !) and whilst Andrew got down to learning how the parishes worked, Joanne worked at a bookshop in Clare. They remained there from June 1988 to May 1991 when they moved to Belton.

Here Andrew became Vicar of his own parish with a twelfth century church and all the problems that go with a mediaeval building – plus ca change ! The choice of Belton (between Doncaster & Scunthorpe) was partly because Joanne’s moth-er was ill and it was closer to her home for visiting. I asked him if anything funny happened to him whilst he was at Belton and he answered well, the children were both born there! I don’t know that Joanne thought that was ‘funny’ but certainly Thomas was born in 1992 and Rebecca followed in 1994.

One night they awoke at about 1 a.m. to find something flying round the room. On putting on the light they were

alarmed to find the room was full of bats! They quickly moved out, closing the door behind them and settled

down in the spare bedroom – only to discover an hour later that there were bats in there as well! The next day they took advice from a conservation officer and were told to leave the windows open at twilight which they did, and the bats disappeared but net curtains seemed a good idea after that experience!

After 6 years in Belton, when Thomas had been at school for a year it seemed a good time to make a move and they started to look for a new living. They were on their way back from visiting a church down south when they decided to take a sneaky

25melbournmagazine

look at Melbourn, which was also on the list. They found Bruce Hicks at the vicarage (the office was being used for parish work during the interregnum) and he showed them round. Well, they obviously liked what they saw because the young family arrived here in 1997. Apparently he could stay here until retirement age as nobody can remove him from the living, not even the Bishop! (this was the trouble recently in the Trumpington case).

Joanne leads a busy life as a traditional vicar’s wife – always on call to the insistent ring of the telephone or doorbell. I asked if it was still the custom for travellers to come to the vicarage for food and it seems that it does still happen. Only a couple of weeks ago a Rastafarian type turned up at the door asking for a drink. Andrew was going to give him water, but the young man asked if he could have elderflower. We don’t have elderflower, said Andrew. Well then, I’d like apple juice. No, I don ‘t have that either, it will have to be orange! And as Andrew disappeared towards the kitchen, the caller yelled down the hall – I like it quite strong!

Another visitor asked for a sandwich, but specified that it must be brown bread – and he then asked if he could sleep in the church porch, or the hall. Our lovely new hall must have seemed quite a haven

And the new Community Hall, of course, is Andrew’s legacy to the village and the way in which he drove through the build-ing work will long be remembered. He has a most persuasive way of getting people to donate money or indeed other fixtures and fittings. The old, disreputable church hall which was really a run down prefab was demolished in September 2006 and work began on the Community Hall which now serves the whole of Melbourn. Now 18 months old, it is being used for a great variety of functions from funeral wakes to childrens’ parties, gold valuations to business seminars, with yoga and painting, Guides and Brownies, gardening and craft groups in between. Andrew wrought miracles in persuading people to part with their money, organising fundraisers such as a dinner/auction at the Pink Geranium. TTP and Daphne Black were at the forefront in donating to the hall and Dr. Gerald Avison and Daphne were given the honour of opening the hall in June 2008.

One day after church Joanne happened to see Rebecca Gatward showing someone how to do embossing, and she became hooked on crafting. She owns an impressive collection of scrapbooking and craft gear much of it bought on their holi-days in America. Throughout the year she hosts a craft work-shop which makes charming and attractive items for the All Saints Bazaar and for the Meldreth Holy Trinity Christmas Tree Festival. There are usually about 10 to 15 of us sitting round the table cutting and stamping and painting, with Joanne gently guiding the proceedings.

Andrew also works in Cambridge as a Police Chaplain – he goes out on a night shift once a week, his role being to sup-port the police rather than the villains! And of course there are home and hospital visits taking communion to the sick and housebound, dealing with young couples wishing to get married in church (he said he has never yet had a bride left at the altar) and children taking confirmation classes. A gregari-

ous man, he works well with the Baptist and UR churches in the village and all three members of the clergy take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony at The Cross.

There is little time for hobbies, Andrew enjoys his work so much and a vicar, it seems, is never considered to be ‘off duty’ although he does try to make Monday his day off, if a funeral or Lent Lunch doesn’t get in the way. And his cooking of course must take up some time. Gardening is a bit of a no-no, most vicarages have huge gardens which Andrew finds somewhat daunting but he still enjoys watching sport and the family as a whole have been much concerned this year in inspecting Universities for Thomas, who hopes to read Maths. Thomas is a server in All Saints and is fairly laid back about having a vicar for a father, but Rebecca is somewhat more reticent and keeps her father’s profession under wraps unless asked directly!

Another of Andrew’s duties is to prepare a weekly sermon, which is mostly related to the proscribed Bible reading for that day although he could preach on any subject he likes. Of course, he is fortunate to have Mary Price, Barbara McKellar, Alan Hay, Pat Smith and Marian Long to share the burden of preaching as well. Andrew does a school assembly along with the other two ministers and considers it very important to get the Christian message across to children. Sunday School is held once a month but although there are several young families who attend he realises that there are many demands on chil-dren and their parents at the weekends. Andrew, as a young father, is very good with children and it is lovely to see the way the small children react to him in church – they are always welcome and obviously feel at home there. A far cry from my young days in church!

Andrew’s brothers live in Edinburgh and Devon and his sis-ter lives in Ashford whilst Joanne’s two brothers live in Lincoln still – so it is quite difficult to keep up with the family, although his mother has come to live in Melbourn so they are able to see quite a bit of her. The latest addition to the family is an adorable wire haired miniature dachshund called Tilly and Andrew is quite obviously besotted with her. He brought her into church just before Christmas wrapped in a blanket to show her off when we were doing the flowers and now she is old enough to go out on a lead you will no doubt see one or other of the family exercising the dog. She is a great time-waster!

Of course, as a member of All Saints congregation I confess I am biased, but I think that the arrival of the O’Brien family in Melbourn was one of the best things that has happened in my 46 years in the village. He is so relaxed and unstuffy and yet brings a dignity and sincerity to his work in the church. He is a really modern vicar who understands how the world runs and although we commiserated over the state of the nation and the doom and gloom around us, he is basically optimistic. Like many of us, he thinks that the media do not help by concen-trating the scandals and bad things that happen but if we all were to concentrate on following Christian principles of good neighbourliness the world would be a better place for us all.

I hope they will stay with us for many more years to come.

Mavis Howard


Household Waste and Recycling CentresItems that are accepted

• Green waste

• Hardcore (bricks, rubble)

• Paper

• Glass

• Scrap metal

• Waste oil

• Fridges/freezers

• Car batteries

• Textiles

• Cardboard

• Plastic

• TVs and computers (incl. monitors)

Please Note: The sites will only accept waste from household sources.

MiltonButt Lane, Milton Tel: 01223 860674• 9am–8pm Monday to Friday• 9am–6pm Bank Holidays, Saturday

& Sunday• 9am–4pm Monday to Sunday

(1 October–31 March)

ThriplowGravel Pit Hill, Thriplow Tel: 01223 839001• 8am–5pm Monday to Friday• 8am–5pm Bank Holidays, Saturday

& Sunday (Summer)• 8am–4pm Monday to Sunday

(1 October–31 March)

Village information

Local Bus companiesStagecoach in Cambridge 01223 423578 – Huntingdon & District 01480 453159 – Alans Bus & Coach 01763 245073

Bin collectionreminder for Melbourn

05 March Black Bin

12 March Green Bin and Boxes

19 March Black Bin

26 March Green Bin and Boxes

3 April** Black Bin

10 April** Green Bin and Boxes

16 April Black Bin

23 April Green Bin and Boxes

30 April Black Bin

7 May Green Bin and Boxes

14 May Black Bin

21 May Green Bin and Boxes

28 May Black Bin

4 June Green Bin and Boxes

11 June Black Bin

18 June Green Bin and Boxes

25 June Black Bin

** Saturday Collection

Melbourn Bus TimetablesNote: These times have been taken from the companies website, but are subject to change, please telephone the company for updates, or check the village website, Parking & Transport.

Commercial service operated by Stagecoach in Cambridge

Cambridg ye - Foxton - Melbourn - Ro ston Service 26MONDAY TO SATURDAY From: 23 October, 05

Notes :Cambridge, Drummer Street, Bay 7 08:40 40 14:40 15:40 16:40 17:40 18:40Cambridge, Trumpington Road, Leys School 08:45 45 14:45 15:45 A 17:46 18:46Trumpington, Maris Lane 08:51 51 14:51 15:51 16:56 17:51 18:51Harston, Village Hall 08:59 Then 59 14:59 15:59 17:04 17:59 18:59Foxton, Memorial 09:05 at 05 15:05 16:05 17:10 18:05 19:05Shepreth, Tylers 09:07 these 07 15:07 16:07 17:12 18:07 19:07Melbourn, Car Park 09:11 mins 11 Until 15:11 16:11 17:16 18:11 19:11Royston, Bus Station 09:20 hour 20 15:20 16:30 17:35 18:20 19:20Royston, Tesco 09:26 26 15:26 16:21 17:26 | |Royston, Burns Road 09:28 28 15:28 16:23 17:28 18:26 19:26

NOTES

A Runs via Hills Road and Long Road

THE SERVICE DOES NOT OPERATE ON BANK HOLIDAYS

Commercial service operated by Stagecoach in Cambridge

Roy geston - Melbourn - Foxton - Cambrid Service 26MONDAY TO SATURDAY From: 29 August, 04

Notes :Royston, Tesco 06:46 07:16 -- 09:26 26 15:26 16:21 17:26Royston, Burns Road 06:52 07:22 09:02 09:32 32 15:32 16:23 17:28Royston, Bus Station 07:00 07:30 09:10 09:40 Then 40 15:40 16:40 17:40Melbourn, Car Park 07:08 07:38 09:18 09:48 at 48 15:48 16:48 17:48Shepreth, Tylers 07:12 07:42 09:22 09:52 these 52 15:52 16:52 17:52Foxton, Memorial 07:14 07:44 09:24 09:54 mins 54 Until 15:54 16:54 17:54Harston, Village Hall 07:20 07:50 09:30 10:00 past 00 16:00 17:00 18:00Trumpington, Maris Lane 07:28 07:58 09:38 10:08 each 08 16:08 17:08 18:08Cambridge, Trumpington Road, Leys School 07:34 08:04 09:44 10:14 hour 14 16:14 17:14 18:14Cambridge, Drummer Street, Bay 6 07:40 08:20B 09:50 10:20 20 16:20 17:20 18:20

NOTES

B On Saturdays and on Monday to Friday during school holidays, buses may arrive in Cambridge up to 10 minutes earlier.

THE SERVICE DOES NOT OPERATE ON BANK HOLIDAYS

For more information

and collections of large

household items telephone

03450 450 063

For an update on collections visit:

http://www.scambs.gov.uk/BinCollection/ default.htm?location=72

27melbournmagazine

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[email protected]

importantnumbersPolice (non emergency) 0345 456 564

Crimestoppers Freephone0800 555111

Melbourn Police Station opening Hours Mon to Thu 10am-12 noon/7pm-9pm*

This station is open to the public at times shown above, with trained Community Volunteers. Opening hours may vary, please see notices displayed at the station and around the village.

Neighbourhood WatchSteven Cambery [email protected]

CAB Royston 08456 889897Childline 0800 1111Samaritans 08457 909090HospitalsAddenbrooke’s 01223 245151Royston 01763 238020OUT OF HOURS EMERGENCIESCamdoc 01223 464242NHS Direct 0845 4647 (queries 24hrs)

ServicesAnglian Water 08457 145 145Gas emergency 0800 111 999Electricity 08007 838838South Cambs District Fire & Rescue Service 01223 376217TransportBritish Rail Enquiries 08457 484950Stagecoach Cambus 08706 082608

PLACES OF WORSHIP

All Saints Church Rev Andrew O’Brien Melbourn Vicarage 260295 Curate Mary Price 261569 Churchwardens Christine van Vliet 223063 Colin Wilson 261705 Community Hall booking Colin Limming 260072Baptist Church Rev. Stuart Clarke 261650 Secretary Georgie Wilson 261223United Reformed Church Minister Rev. Duncan Goldie 260747 Non-stripendary minister Rev. Carol Pearle Secretary Anne Field 220869

EDUCATION

Melbourn Playgroup Jane Crawford 07842 151512Childminding Group Sec. Vacancies Co-ordinator Heidi Hardwidge 221625Community Education (activities from toddlers to adults) Val Tookey 260566Library LAP Mike Stapleton 269956Little Hands Nursery School 260964 Out of school times 01223 503972Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231Primary School Headmaster Gary Casey 223457U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Chairman Arthur Alderton 260399 Hon Sec Hilary Docwra 222486 Mem Sec Arthur Alderton 260399Village College Warden Elaine Stephenson 223400

HEALTH

Age Concern 01223 506002Blood Donors Sue Cane 262320Chiropodist 263260Citizen’s Advice Bureau 238020Community Care Val Trueman 260191Dentist 262034District Nurses (Primary Care Trust) 01223 846122Home-Start Sarah Dixon 262262S Cambs PCT 35 Orchard Road Child & Family Nurses 262861Melbourn and Meldreth Self-Help Jayne White 220250Car Scheme 245228Orchard Surgery Appointments 260220 Dispensary 261246 For repeat prescriptions send email: [email protected] Kath Harry 261716St John Ambulance Robert Jakubiak 220507

WARDEN & SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEMES

Dial-A-Ride 01223 506335Mobile Warden Scheme 220402 24 hr Emergency No. Val Trueman 07403 251226Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Stephen Cambery 261520Safer Melbourn Initiative Val Trueman 220402

Vicarage Close Warden Joy Hyde Lead Sheltered Housing Officer Monday to Friday 9–1.30 263389John Impey Way Jeanette Holland 269596Southwell Court 262121Moorlands 260564

CLUBSAir Cadets 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron AJ Kelly Mon & Wed evenings 7 – 9.30 p.m. Army Cadets Ted Neathey 01223 248001 Tuesday evenings at The Moor 7.15 to 9.30pmBellringers John Gipson 262846Bridge Club Howard Waller 2616931st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505Brownies 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272Brownies 2nd Melbourn Samantha Pascoe (Brown Owl) 261400Cambells (Handbells) Eira Martin 261221Dramatic Society Kathy Wholley 223805

email [email protected] of Edinburgh’s Award Stuart Morris 208634Gardening Helen Powell 245887Guides Hilary Marsh 261443Mothers’ Union Anne Harding 260759Melbourn & District Mushroom Club Helene Davies 01954 789 947 or m.07903 456 628Melbourn History Group Colin Limming 260072Melbourn Pottery Club Maggie 01223 207307National Trust Colin Limming 260072New Melbourn Singers Adrian Jacobs 243224Photographic Club Bruce Huett 232855Ramblers Dave Allard 242677Royal British Legion Patrick Parkinson 262617Royal British Legion Women Elizabeth Murphy 220841Royal National Lifeboat Institution Jean Emes 245958Royston and District Local History Society David Allard 242677Royston and District Round Table 221398Royston Lions Janet Daniels 260009RSPB Doug Radford 208978SOAS (Supporters of All Saints’) Doreen Johnston 220197St George’s Allotments Assoc. Bruce Huett [email protected] Club Amanda Bernard 223407Women’s Group Jane Stevens 261858

SPORTBadminton Steve Jackson 248774Bowls Elaine Cooke 221571Croquet Janet Pope 248342Football Club Andrew Edwards 223109 XMVC Dolphin FC Simon Gascoyne 261703Jazzercise Linda Warner 241527Judo Derek Coult 225004Melbourn Community Sports 263313Meldreth Tennis Club Sue Davies 220174Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593Squash Club Nick Sugden 261064

We shall be pleased to receive contributions in any form, articles, poems, drawings, photographs, letters etc., pertaining to Melbourn. Please send any contributions to the Office of the Parish Clerk, Council Offices, 28 Station Rd, Melbourn SG8 6DX, marking them ‘MELBOURN MAGAZINE’ or you can email them to [email protected]

Apart from printing, all work on the Melbourn Magazine, including layout and design is produced by volunteers. The cost of production comes entirely from advertising and sponsorship. No public money is used.

Melbourn MagazineAnn Dekkers Editor 261144Mavis Howard Parish Profile 260686Eric Johnston Distribution 220197Peter Simmonett Production & Village website 220363Anne Lambert Information Collection 261480Brenda Meliniotis Village Diary & Proof reading 261154Roger Mellor Advertising 220463 or 220363

email: [email protected]

Adverts are to be supplied as finished artwork and must be at the sizes below. Please send artwork via post or email to [email protected] We print 2200 copies of the Melbourn Magazine which is delivered free to every house in the village four times a year. Note: colour advert space is limited, please contact us for further details. The current rates for advertising in the Magazine are as follows:

Size per… Width x Height Issue Annum Colour1/4 inside page (79 × 128 mm) £21 £76 £1131/2 inside page (163 × 128 mm) £38 £132 £188Full inside page (163 × 262 mm) £73 £261 £375

Adverts must be supplied as high resolution jpgs or 300dpi Tif or eps.

For further information on advertising please telephone 220363 or 220463. Remittance or cheques should be made to Melbourn Parish Council.

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MAYMARCH APRILTues 2 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)

Melbourn Photographic Club 7.30pm Foxton Club EveningWeds 3 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)

Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Royal British Legion 7.30pm at Vicarage Close

Thurs 4 Holy Communion 10am All SaintsStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10-10.45am Royston & District Local History Society Royston Town Hall 8pm ‘The Inns and Outs of Pub Names’ Mark PardoeMelbourn Photographic Inter-Club competition

Fri 5 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 6 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall

Women’s British Legion stallSun 7 Holy Communion 8am All Saints

MVC Car Boot Sale 10.00-1pm contact Irene Bloomfield 222558Baptist Church Communion 6pm

Tues 9 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)Mother’s Union contact 260759Melbourn & District Gardening Club 7.30pm All Saints Community Hall Modern herbaceous border Audrey BarkerMelbourn Photographic Club 7.30pm Foxton Competition Print of the Year

Weds 10 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)Coffee Break 10.30-12.00 Baptist Church HallReflective Service 7pm URC

Thurs 11 Holy Communion 10am All SaintsStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10-10.45am

Fri 12 Coffee at URC at 10.30Melbourn Photographic Inter-Club competition at Gamlingay

Sat 13 Coffee Stop All Saints Community HallRiver Mel Restoration Group 9.15am Flambards Close bridgeMVC Quiz Night 7.30pm start contact Sheelagh 261640Melbourn Photographic Trophy Foxton Village Hall 7.30pm

Sun 14 Family Communion 9.45am Evensong 6.30pm both All SaintsMon 15 Royston & District Family History Society All Saints Community

Hall 7.30pm ‘In Praise of Old Churches’ Roy TrickerTues 16 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)

Melbourn Photographic Club 7.30pm Foxton ‘Journey into Small Places’ lecture

Weds 17 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00U3A monthly meeting MVC 2.45pm ‘Quacks’ Peter Woodcock

Thurs 18 Holy Communion 10amStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10-10.45am

Fri 19 Coffee at URC at 10.30 Sat 20 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall

New Melbourn Singers Workshop of Gospel Music led by Ken Burton at Comberton Leisure Centre

Sun 21 Holy Communion 8am Family Service 11am at All SaintsTues 23 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)

Women’s Group ‘My Path to the Ministry’ Mary Price 7.45pm at ASCH MelbournMelbourn Photographic Club Foxton 7.30pm Competition ‘Projected Image of the Year’

Weds 24 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Royal British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 7pm

Thurs 25 Holy Communion 10am All SaintsStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10-10.45am

Fri 26 Coffee at URC at 10.30Royston & Saffron Walden National Trust Assoc. 7.30pmRoyston Town Hall

Sat 27 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall The BookshelfRiver Mel Restoration Group 9.15am Melbourn Pavilion Community Litter Pick

Sun 28 Family Communion 9.45am All Saints Tues 30 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)

Photographic Club Foxton 7.30pm ‘Pictures for Everyone’Weds 31 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 (term time only)

Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00

Thurs 1 Story Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10-10.45amHoly Communion All Saints 8pmRoyston & District Local History Soc Royston Town Hall 8pm‘Victorian Buildings’ Tony KirbyEnd of Term

Fri 2 Good Friday All Saints 12noon Good Friday Service URC 10am

Sat 3 Coffee Stop All Saints Community HallEaster Eve All Saints 8.00pm

Sun 4 Easter Day All Saints 8.00am and 11.00amEaster Day Service URC 11.00amBaptist Church Communion 6pmMVC Car Boot Sale 10.00-1pm contact Irene Bloomfield 222558

Tues 6 Melbourn Photographic Club Foxton 7.30pm AGMWeds 7 Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30am-12.Fri 9 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 10 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall

River Mel Restoration Group Melbourn Pavilion 9.15am Sun 11 Family Communion All Saints 9.45am Tues 13 Mother’s Union 260759

Melbourn & District Gardening Club All Saints Community Hall 7.30pm ‘Gardening for Wildlife’ – The Wildlife Man

Weds 14 Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Reflective Service URC 7pm

Thurs 15 Holy Communion All Saints 10amFri 16 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 17 Coffee Stop All Saints Community HallSun 18 Holy Communion 8.00am Family service 11.00am All Saints

Car Boot Sale Fowlmere Village Hall 10am-1pm Contact Mrs Thurley 262398

Mon 19 New school termRoyston & District Family History Society All Saints Community Hall 7.30pm ‘Tracing the Convicts Who Went to Botany Bay’ Ken Griffin

Tues 20 Toddler Plus 9.30 am Baptist Church Hall (term time only)Weds 21 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 am (term time only)

Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00U3A monthly meeting 2.45pm MVC ‘East Anglia’ Tessa West

Thurs 22 Holy Communion All Saints 10.00amStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10-10.45am

Fri 23 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 24 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall the Bookshelf

SOAS Thrift Sale 12.30-3.00pmRiver Mel Restoration Group Flambards Close bridge 9.15am

Sun 25 Family Communion All Saints 9.45am Tues 27 Toddler Plus 9.30 am Baptist Church Hall (term time only)

Women’s Group ‘The Melde Restoration’ Sandra Webb at Meldreth

Weds 28 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30 am (term time only)Coffee Break 10.30-12.00 Baptist Church HallRoyal British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 7pm

Thurs 29 Holy Communion All Saints 10.00amStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10.10.45am

Fri 30 Royston & Saffron Walden National Trust Association Saffron Walden County High Sports Centre 7.30pmAGM + Richard Todd, Head Gardener of Anglesey Abbey

The closing date for the next issue is Friday 16th April 2010 which will appear in June, listing events in June, July and August

Sat 1 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall Sun 2 Holy Communion All Saints 8am

MVC Car Boot Sale 10.00-1pm contact Irene Bloomfield 222558Baptist Church Communion 6pm

Mon 3 May DayTues 4 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30am (term time only)

Mother’s Union tel 260759Wed 5 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30am

Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Royal British Legion Vicarage Close 7.30pm

Thurs 6 Holy Communion All Saints 10amStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10.00-10.45am

Fri 7 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 8 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall

BIDI (Christian Aid partner) stallSun 9 Holy Communion All Saints 9.45amTues 11 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30am (term time onlyWed 12 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30am

Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Reflective Service URC 7pm

Thurs 13 Holy Communion All Saints 10amStory Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10.00-10.45amRoyston & District Local History Soc Royston Town Hall 7.30pm AGM followed by Voyage of Charles Darwin Travelling Theatre Presentation Geoff Hales followed by a buffet.

Fri 14 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 15 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall Girl Guiding

Centenary StorytellingMelbourn & District Gardening Club outing to WisleyRiver Mel Restoration Group Melbourn Pavilion 9.15am

Sun 16 Holy Communion 8.00amFamily Service 11.00am both at All Saints

Mon 17 Royston & District Family History Society All Saints Community Hall 7.30pm

Tues 18 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30am (term time onlyWeds 19 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30am

Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Thurs 20 Holy Communion 10am

Story Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10.00-10.45am Fri 21 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 22 Coffee Stop All Saints Community Hall Spring Plant & Book SaleSun 23 Holy Communion All Saints 9.45amTues 25 Toddler Plus Baptist Church Hall 9.30am (term time only)

Women’s Group all Saints Community Hall ‘Stamps’ Aubrey Butler

Weds 26 Craft Club Baptist Church Hall 9.30am Coffee Break Baptist Church Hall 10.30-12.00Royal British Legion Women’s Section Vicarage Close 7pm

Thurs 27 Holy Communion All Saints 10.00am Story Time U5’s Melbourn Library 10.00-10.45am

Fri 28 Coffee at URC at 10.30Sat 29 Coffee Stop All Saints Community HallSun 30 Holy Communion All Saints 8.00amMon 31 Halt term

If you would like to advertise a

forthcoming local event in

‘What’s On’ on the village website

use the simple form at

www.melbourn.org.uk/forthcoming-events/

Summer 2010All copy for the June,

July & August Issue should be in before 16th April

Melbourn LibraryOpen at the following times:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2.30 to 4.30 pm

Thursday 5.00 to 7.00 pm

Saturday 10.00 to 12.00 am

Village information continued

Prescriptions requested before 12pm

will be ready after 10am

Monday Wednesday

Tuesday Thursday

Wednesday Friday

Thursday Monday

Friday Tuesday

Prescriptions requested before 4pm

will be ready after 3pm

Monday Wednesday

Tuesday Thursday

Wednesday Friday

Thursday Monday

Friday Tuesday

Prescriptions requested after 4pm

will be ready after 10am

Monday Thursday

Tuesday Friday

Wednesday Monday

Thursday Tuesday

Friday Wednesday

Orchard Surgery – DispensaryMonday to Friday 8:30 – 1:30 and 2:00 – 6:00

Phone 01763 261246Telephone requests are not accepted

For repeat prescriptions you can:

Fax 01763 262968 or

email: [email protected]

• Allow at least 48 hours (two working days – excluding weekends and bank holidays) for repeat prescriptions to be ready.

• Do not leave your request to the last minute.

Prescription/medication depending on eligibility can be collected from the

Surgery Co-op Tesco in Royston

Please let the dispensary know where you wish your prescriptions to be sent. This will remain

your choice until we are informed otherwise.

CAMSIGHTSue Hempstead

8a Romsey Terrace, Cambridge. CB1 3NHTel 01223 416141

[email protected]

Office Mon-Fri 9.30am-12.30pm.

A drop in advisory session is held at

MOORLANDS, THE MOOR, MELBOURN NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY

from 2pm to 4pm,

See the following website for more information

www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/camtad/sessions.html

Battery exchange and retubing.We do not do hearing tests

25th March22nd April27th May24th June22nd July

26th August23rd September28th October25th November23rd December

Cam Sight’s visually impaired group meet on the

1st Wednesday of the month every month except in August,

at the Vicarage day centre, Melbourn from 2 until 4pm.

We offer a warm welcome with speakers, outings, up to date information and equipment

demonstrations.

Come and see what’s on offer, join us for a cuppa and a chat.

Call 01223 420033

for further information.


Notre EcoleIn the second half of the autumn term children in the Wednesday afternoon French club learnt the vocabulary for parts of the body. We started by working around a Halloween theme sticking a face onto a picture of a pumpkin and label-ling the picture. We sang songs, played games and talked about our imaginary mimed ailments. We have also tried out some of the many games that are available for children on the web to support the development of their French lan-guage. At the Thursday afternoon group children continued to work around the theme of places in town, but with more emphasis on giving and understanding directions. I don’t think any of our children will be getting lost next year when

they go to France on holiday as they have all become very proficient at this.In the lead up to Christmas children in both groups revised Christmas vocabulary and made a card for their family. The holidays flew by and before we knew it we were celebrating Epiphany with “Le galette des rois”. Unfortunately the Wednesday group had to wait an extra week for theirs as heavy snow kept most children at home for the first les-son of the term. For the spring term we have now started working around the theme of the family so that by half term children will be able to describe their own family and families in pictures and stories. In the adult group we have revised transport, telling the time and reading time tables. We have practised buying petrol at a petrol station and learnt how to talk about things we are going to do in the near future. Just before Christmas we had a games/puzzle evening with the more advanced group and we too celebrated Epiphany with a cake. Meanwhile the more advanced group have been putting the world to rights, all in French of course. Are you thinking about next summer’s holiday yet? Perhaps you need to brush up your French in preparation? We have some spaces in all groups but would be particularly keen to recruit some new member to our Wednesday after school group for children. This would be most suitable for children in school years 1 to 3, although we are able to accommodate children outside this age group. Please call Marine on 01763 222876 or Janet on 01763 261231 for further details. We are a French native speaker and a graduate of European Studies with French and we would love to see you at one of our classes.

Tel. Marine – 01763 222876 or Janet – 01763 261231(We have both been CRB checked)

Learn French in a friendly atmosphere*French for ChildrenGames, role-play, songs etc.Every Wednesday from 3.45pm to 4.30pmEvery Thursday from 4:15pm to 5:00pm

*French for AdultsAll levels, ConversationEvery Wednesday from 8.00pm to 9.00pm GCSE lessons available by arrangement.Individual lessons also available.

31melbournmagazine

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63 Orchard rd Melbourn 01763 226 046


CO

LOURFieldfare. Photo by Jim Reid. See page 35 River Mel Restoration Group

NatureStockbridge Meadows 2009

BirdsBlack-headed gullBlackbirdBluetitBuzzardChaffinch ChiffchaffCollared doveCrow

DunnockGoldcrest Great spotted woodpecker Great titGreen woodpecker GreenfinchJackdawJay

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/riversidepark/

Over the past year I have gained a great deal of enjoyment from walking round Stockbridge Meadows. I have taken a note of flowers, birds and a few mam-mals and insects – as well as the occasional wild life (e.g. spider) that doesn’t fit into any of these categories. I have also taken pho-tographs on a monthly basis throughout 2009.

I remember going into the Parish Office on a snowy day in February and saying “Stockbridge Meadows is our little bit of para-dise”. I still think so.

It may interest readers to know that I have positively iden-tified 29 species of birds, includ-ing kingfisher, goldcrest and buz-zard (4, circling overhead). My list includes birds I have heard but not seen and those flying overhead.

KingfisherLong-tailed titMagpieMallard Mistle thrushMoorhenPheasantRobinRookSong thrushSwiftWood pigeonWrenPossible sightings of Bullfinch

Plants AchilleaAlkanetBirdsfoot trefoilBittercressBlack meddickBlack nightshadeBlackberryBladder campionBryonyBurdock

ButterburButtercupCelandineCodlins and creamComfrey Common figwortCommon mallow Cowslip Creeping thistleDandelionDog daisyElder EyebrightField poppy Field scabiousForget-me-notFumitoryGermander speedwellGoosegrass Greater knapweed Ground ivyGroundselGuelder rose Hoary cress Hogweed Jack-go-to-bed-at-noonLadies bedstraw

33melbournmagazine

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Little Hands Nursery Schools are also

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I am a lot less sure of some of the plants, but even so, have an impressive total of 65 identified.

It will be noted from my lists that I am very much an inter-ested amateur and know that there is a lot that I will have missed. I would be interested to hear from anyone reading this who might be able to help me better identify plants and insects through 2010 and in particular, one plant that I cannot find in any of my wild flower guides? I have some photographs of it. I am also slightly puzzled by the white thistles. According to my books this plant is a rarity, but Stockbridge Meadows has them in abundance.Barbara Mitchell

River Mel Restoration GroupThe bad weather caused the cancellation of our first work-ing party of the year, but if you kept your eyes open during the snowy weather it did give an insight into the wildlife that inhabits the area in and around the River Mel. During the snowy period there were lots of wildlife sightings identified by their footprints. Otter, fox and badger footprints were identi-fied close to the Mel in both our villages. Birds too have been much in evidence with visiting fieldfares and redwings in areas where there were still berries on bushes. Rarer visitors seen this winter have been Woodcock as well as a little egret which was seen along the river over the Christmas period.

The River Mel Restoration Group keep a database to record sightings of wildlife associated with the river. This is not limited to fish but includes mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. The distribution and variety of the species along the river is important in the evaluation of habitat quality, so for this information to be meaningful we need to gather as many sightings as possible. For instance we do not know what effect the prolonged cold spell this winter will have had on the river and its wildlife. This is where you could help by notifying us of any wildlife you see when out walking along the river. At the moment only a few people report wildlife sightings to us, but we have a feedback form on our website www.rivermel.com which you can use for this purpose or please send an email to [email protected].

Update on Access PointAs you may be aware an access point was installed last sum-mer on the Recreation Field and the area was reseeded in the autumn. Once the new grass is well established and robust enough to withstand eager dogs and children we will remove the protective fencing. We anticipate this will be in the early summer, so the access point should be fully functional for the summer months.

Dates of Future Work Parties13th March at Meldreth27th March Community RiverCare Litter Pick Melbourn10th April at Melbourn24th April at Meldreth15th May at MelbournWe meet at 9.15am for a 9.30am start aiming to be fin-ished by lunchtime. In Melbourn we meet at the Pavilion on Melbourn Recreation ground. Meldreth working parties meet at the bridge in Flambards Close. New volunteers are always welcome. For further information contact Maureen Brierley 01763 262752,visit our website www.rivermel.com, or email [email protected].

A Plant for Melbourn T. G. MitchellFor several years I had a plant of Verbascum spinosum grow-ing in my front garden in Water Lane. It is a distinctive species, shrubby, slowgrowing and quite unlike the more frequently seen types of verbascum with their tapering spikes of flowers. When this plant showed severe signs of decline, I saved seeds with a view to growing a replacement. To my surprise and ini-tial disappointment, the resultant plants did not resemble the parent: the leaves were larger, the plants much more vigorous and produced branched flower spikes between 18 and 36 inches in height.

The new plants are clearly hybrids and it is almost certain that the pollen parent is Verbascum nigrum, as there were plants of this nearby. I understand that interspecies verbascum hybrids are usually sterile and this appears to be true for this plant.

Having now grown this plant for 3 years, it appears to have several qualities to commend it: it grows well on the thin, chalky soil of my garden, it is droughtproof once established and probably best grown in full sun, it is very floriferous from June onwards (yellow flowers). the thin wiry flowering stems are quite distinct from the very stiff spikes of most verbascums and it is not invasive either in growth or in seeding!

As far as I know, this hybrid has not been described before and I have tentatively called it Verbascum ‘Melbourn Hybrid’. I have sought another opinion of its use by giving some plants to Hopleys Plants of Much Hadham, but it will be a while before I expect to hear from them.

In the meantime, if anyone is interested in trying this plant in their garden, I expect to have some available at the All Saints Spring Plant and Book Sale on May 22nd at the All Saints’ Community Hall.

Lords and ladiesMeadowsweetMusk mallowPlantainPurple loosestrifeRagged robinRagwort RapeRed cloverRyegrass Scabious Scentless mayweed SedgeSelfhealSmall flowered cranesbillSow thistle

Spear thistleStinging nettleTufted vetchWater forget-me-notWatercressWeldWelted thistleWhite campionWhite cloverWhite dead-nettleYellow flag iris

And for good measure; Rabbits, Molehills, Tent spider and a big brown slug.

35melbournmagazine

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37melbournmagazine

Ten Years on from the MIllennium a smaller police presence; 10 years ago we shared an officer with Meldreth, now officers must cover many more villages and do not necessarily know many of us personally.

We feared that we would lose our Library, due to shortage of funds, but thanks to enthusiastic volunteers it is still going strong, and has even added more facilities.

Although several businesses have moved out of the village, mostly from the Back Lane site, it seems that an Ambulance Station is likely to replace them. While there is some concern about this, mostly with regard to speed-ing, we shall wait and see how this works out.

Very few people need a phone box now as everyone has a land line and many of us have mobile phones, but happily our listed box remains as a fea-ture in the centre of the village. There have been difficulties with Royal Mail, and private companies are used for many deliveries, but we do hope that the red mail boxes will remain for some time to come, despite the increasing use of e-mail and communication web sites.

Sadly the Over-Sixties Club is no more – but perhaps this is because 60 is the new 40!

So there have been changes to Melbourn, but happily the majority of them appear to be positive.AD

I have recently been looking at the book of photographs, ‘Melbourn 2000’ which the Magazine Production Team published to commemorate the mil-lennium. At the time we hoped that it would show how quickly things change, and how ‘history’ is made. Indeed there have been changes.

On the plus side we have a wonderful new facility in the shape of Stockbridge Meadows, open to us all, and soon to have other artistic additions. The River Mel is being restored thanks to an enthusiastic, prize-winning team, made up of people from both Melbourn and Meldreth. Our Millennium Copse is fast growing and maturing, and will provide interest for many years to come.

Our population has grown as we have many new houses. Chalkhill Barrow, on the site of the old Hagger Orchard and archeological site, featured in ‘Melbourn 2000’, and in Back Lane on an old industrial site; also on the redeveloped Moorlands site on the Moor, where there is also much improved shel-tered housing for older people. ‘Lantern Close’ is a development on the old Water Board site opposite the United Reformed Church on Orchard Road.

We are privileged that education, for nursery to retired ages, is available in the village. We still have shops, and a proper butcher, and many places in which to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

Although our central Post Office is closed we are lucky to have a very good, if smaller, replacement.

We still have three churches, with ministers, and one new church com-munity hall, very well used.

We have lost one public house, as the Star is closed at present, but still have two pubs, two restaurants and vari-ous fast food facilities.

There are also sporting facilities avail-able to us all, based at the Village College and the Moor.

We now have very sophisticated refuse collection, with emphasis on recycling, suitable material is taken away for composting and can then be returned to our gardens. An Allotment Society has been formed, and people are very keen to grow their own food both for health and economy reasons.

And we have garages for petrol and car repair. So we should be very pleased with our local environment.

Of course there are always changes which give cause for concern. We feared that we had lost our Police Station, as affordable housing is to be built on the site (which unfortunately is near to the car park, which seems to be the focus for the small amount of anti-social activity in the village). However, the police station is to be rebuilt on the College site and plans have already been drawn up. Certainly there is now

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MELBOURN’S CHURCHES TOGETHER

URC NewsBrownie Parade / Christingle ServiceSunday 6th December saw us welcome the Brownies to our Christingle Service. Christingles had been prepared before the service and Duncan took us through the meaning of each of the elements (helpfully described on the back of the Order of Service so that some of us could appear more knowledgeable than we might otherwise have done!) Every member of the congregation was presented with a Christingle to take home.

Watchnight & Christmas Morning ServicesOur Watchnight (11:30pm) and Christmas morning (8:30am) services were both led by Duncan. Both services were attended by approaching 20 worshippers with the Watchnight Service being lit by candles and giving those attending the first opportunity of singing all the verses of “O come, all ye faith-ful….” and lighting the central white candle of our Advent Ring.

Churches TogetherCarol Singing at The Black HorseOn the evening of Wednesday 9th December we (Melbourn & Meldreth Churches Together) gathered at The Black Horse to sing carols. The bar was packed and swelled by a good representation from all the three churches in the village. All three ministers were there and Duncan led us on his cornet. Everyone either joined in or at least seemed to enjoy the occa-sion and we collected £84.84 for Chernobyl’s Children – near-ly double what we collected at last year’s similar event. Renee and Bryan from the Black Horse commented that everyone had enjoyed it and had said that they’ll be back next year!

Carols at the CrossA somewhat cold but dry Saturday morning, 19th December, saw a small band with representatives from all the Churches singing carols at the Cross in Melbourn. Again, we were led by Duncan on his cornet. We started outside Leeches and then

moved across to outside the Co-op who were kind enough to supply us with some mince pies. However, we missed the sur-prising warmth (relatively speaking!) of the sunshine outside Leeches and returned there for a couple more carols before going to the “Coffee Stop” in the new Village Hall for yet more carols. We collected a further £60.40 for Chernobyl’s Children.

More Carol Singing!Sunday afternoon 20th December saw (and heard!) mem-bers of MMCT visit both Moorlands Court and Southwell Court to bring the Christmas message to their residents. The short service at Moorlands was led by our friends from the Baptist Church whilst Duncan led that at Southwell Court.

SOAS NoticesOn Saturday 24th April SOAS will hold a Thrift Sale of unworn/hardly worn/quality clothing in All Saints Community Hall. We invite you to bring along to All Saints’ Community Hall any unwanted articles of unworn/hardly worn good quality cloth-ing on Friday evening 23rd April between 7–6.30 pm or to Coffee Stop on the Saturday morning. The sale will take place in the hall between 12.30 and 3 pm.

Please ring a committee member, shown below, and tell them what items you will bring. They will give you a number for each, which you must write on a label, together with the price you require. The proceeds will be split 75% to you and 25% to SOAS.Doreen Johnston 2200197 Angela Leach 202793Anne Ford 260661 Ann Sherwen 260070

SOAS Melbourn Open Gardens this year will be on Sunday 13th June from 1.30 – 5.30 pm We will shortly contact all previous garden hosts but would always welcome suggestions of ‘new’ gardens.

SOAS 100 ClubThe November draw was made by Rev Andrew O’Brien on 2nd December. There were 66 members. First prize of £22

39melbournmagazine

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went to Ann Perry (62) at 9 Cross Lane and the second of £11 to Zena Hawkin (59) at 21 Greenbanks.

The December draw was made by Rev Andrew O’Brien on 31st December. There were 66 members. First prize of £22 went to Eric Johnston (11) of 92 High Street and the second of £11 to Helena Ellis (37) of 11 Mortlock Street.

The January draw was made by Mr Mike Rawlings on 30th January. There were 75 members. First prize of £25 went to Mary Purdy (74) at 4 Chapel Lane and the second of £12.50 to Shaun Coles (28) of 50a Orchard Road.

The SOAS Winter QuizThe 1st prize of £10 was won by Pat Saunders of 31a Orchard Road with a score of 74/75, and the 2nd prize of £5 was won by Barbara Harding of 39 Medcalfe Way.

All Saints’ Community HallPlease note that bookings for the Community Hall may now be made by contacting Colin Limming, 4 Chapmans Close, Melbourn, SG8 6AH. Tel 01763 260072 e-mail [email protected]

The Word of God from David BurbridgeThe Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By lying, and killing, and stealing and committing adultery they break out. Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwelleth therein shall languish. Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy chil-dren. Hosea4 verses 1 to 3 and 6

Getting the message a-cross!The texts below have been taken from posters seenoutside churches in the US.

Happy Easter to our Christian Friends Happy Passover to our Jewish Friends To our atheist Friends … Good Luck.

As you pass this little church, be sure to plan a visit, so when at last you’re carried in, God won’t ask “Who is it?”

Can’t sleep? Don’t Count Sheep Talk to the Shepherd!

God is perfect … Only man makes misteaks

Adam blamed Eve Eve blamed the snake And the snake didn’t have a leg to stand on.

There are some questions that can’t be answered by Google.

Down in the mouth? Come in for a faith lift.

We are the SOUL Agents in this area!

The Meek … shall inherit the earth If it’s alright with you!

41melbournmagazine

(Supporters of All Saints’ Melbourn)

SOASWhat is SOASSOAS is a nondenominational charity and aims to enlist the support of the Melbourn Community to preserve the vil-lage character and heritage. Funds raised by SOAS through membership contributions and cultural events are spent on the upkeep of All Saints’ Church building.Membership subscriptions are discretionary with a mini-mum of £3 per person or £5 per family per year. Application and/or Banker’s order forms can be obtained by telephon-ing Shaun Coles on 260327.

Bowls Jacqui Dodds 243667

1st Melbourn Rainbows Abigail Roberts 261505

Brownies 1st Melbourn Stephanie Clifford 220272

Brownies 2nd MelbournSamantha Pascoe 261400

Cricket Martin Winter 262733

Croquet Janet Pope 248342

Football Club Andrew Edwards 223109

Dynamos Football Club Les Morley 07739 593771

Judo Derek Coult 225004

McSplash Joanne Greene 263313

Melbourn Sports Centre Graham Johnson-Mack 263313

RamblersDave Allard 242677

Royston and District Round Table

Michael Seymour 221398

Squash ClubNick Sugden 261064

Swimming Club Jenny Brackley 244593

Tennis (Melbourn) 01223 220174

Tennis (Meldreth) Sue Davies 220174

1st Melbourn Rainbows From September through to the spring, we have had 12 new Rainbows join us, which is very exciting for us all. This is always tinged with a little sadness as we have had to say goodbye to some of our older Rainbows who have all now moved on to their new Brownie packs. As always, we wish them all well in their next guiding adventure. Over the last few months we have been working towards our Adventure 100 badge, whereby we have to complete challenges within 10 categories to gain 100 points. (This is all part of this year’s guiding centenary.) So far we have made kites, performed a puppet show to parents and friends, completed a torchlight search in the dark and had a sing song round the camp fire. All great fun, I can assure you!One great activity that we all enjoyed was deco-rating white t-shirts using fabric pens and crayons. Each Rainbow came up with wonderfully unique and creative designs, which not only surprised the leaders, but I’m sure parents as well.Christmas, of course, is always a won-derful time of year for the girls and we had many fun activities arranged, includ-ing making Christmas decorations, cards and hats, singing carols and ending with a fabulous Christmas party.January 2010 began with games and songs, a happy start to a promising and exciting new year. Many activities have been planned, but by far the most exciting for our Rainbows will be the Sleepover. We look forward to telling you all about it in our next report.Although we do have quite a long waiting list, if your daughter wishes to become a Rainbow, please call Abigail Roberts, Unit Leader on 01763 261505.

Calling all past Girl Guides! Join us at the Coffee Stop on Saturday 15th May 2010, for our Centenary Storytelling Project.

Coffee stop runs from 10.30am – 12 noon at the All Saints’ Community Hall.

Girls and leaders from the 1st Melbourn Guides, Brownies and Rainbows would like to meet you and record your stories from your time as a Brownie, Guide or leader, in Melbourn or elsewhere, whether it was 10, 50 or 100 years ago! It’s also a chance for you to meet up with old friends and leaders.

For more information contact [email protected], or phone Hilary on 01763 261443

1st Melbourn GuidesQuestion: What have 1st Melbourn Guides, 10,000 other Guides, and nine chart-topping British pop acts got in com-mon? Answer: we were all at Wembley Arena in October, for a fantastic Guides-only pop concert. As we continue to cel-ebrate the centenary, we are now work-ing on the special Adventure 100 badge for which the Thursday group have made dreamcatchers and decorated glass can-dleholders, and we have been on a night hike around Stockbridge Meadows. More energy was expended at an evening of Scottish country dancing, and on another drama-themed evening the girls created wacky advertisements for Guiding, and put on a play: Little Blue Riding Hood. As always, we have done our bit for the community by carrying flags at the Service of Remembrance in Melbourn, and our children’s tombola raised over £70 at the All Saints Christmas bazaar. We provided a Christmas tree for the Meldreth church tree festival, celebrating the Girlguiding centenary with hand-made multicoloured images of the trefoil and the number ‘100’. The autumn term ended with a Christmas crafts session,


43melbournmagazine

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and a party. The Thursday group has welcomed three new adult helpers, and the smaller Wednesday group is running smoothly in the capable hands of Fiona and Lorna. If you would like to know more about becoming a Guide or a leader, or if you have any skills or hob-bies which you would like to share with us, please contact me on: 01763 261443 or email: [email protected] Marsh

Melbourn Bridge ClubMeets every Monday evening at 7.30pm at the Vicarage Close Community Centre

The Club only opened in September 2009 and has made a promising start, quickly growing to host 4/6 tables each week, with the prospect of more players joining in the weeks to come.

The aim of the Club is to accommo-date all players from beginners, improv-ers to the more experienced, and in some cases helping players understand the etiquette and demands of duplicate bridge. It is a friendly and helpful group and “no fears no tears” could well be our motto.

The Club welcomes any new players, and the Club Secretary is very happy to answer any questions or to arrange lessons. Please phone Howard Waller on 01763 261693, or email melbourn-bridgeclub @yahoo.co.uk

Melbourn Village College Squash ClubPlay squash at the best maintained squash courts in the area and at the cheapest rates! If you are looking for a new club or are looking to take up squash, the Melbourn Squash Club is the place for you. We are located next to Melbourn Sports Centre (MSC) on the College Campus, with 2 recently refur-bished courts and changing facilities.

Our friendly club runs monthly box leagues for all standards of players, fortnightly club nights on Sundays and for the more serious player we cur-rently have 2 men’s teams in the Cambridgeshire leagues.

Adult membership is £55 per year and court fees are only £1 per 40 minute session – you won’t find cheap-

er squash than this anywhere. We cur-rently have all classes of membership available. Juniors pay only £10 to join and Family membership is £100.

Alternatively if you just want to see whether you like the game you can pay and play via the MSC reception where the session rates are £5.50 for MSC members and £6.50 for non-members. The only thing we ask is that you have a pair of squash shoes to play in to pro-tect our court floors!

Come on! Give this fantastic game a try. For the beginner we can help you with England Squash qualified coaches. For more information contact:Nick Sugden – 01763 261064 [email protected]

Adam Gets Royal ApprovalAn Air Cadet from 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron is celebrating after being appointed as Lord Lieutenants Cadet for Cambridgeshire for 2010. Flight Sergeant Adam Kelly will assist the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mr Hugh Duberly CBE, representing the Air Cadets along with a representative from the Sea Cadet Corps and the Army Cadet Force. He was selected following a series of inter-views in the Cadet of the year process in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing.

Flight Sergeant Kelly lives in Melbourn and plays an active part in all areas of the Squadron, in particular running the bronze section of the Duke of Edinburgh award. Adam has also gained his bronze and silver award and is currently working towards his gold.

He has completed a gliding scholar-ship, leadership courses and kayaking courses, alongside visiting Gibraltar and Cyprus. Later this year he will visit Canada as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE). Adam has gained a BTEC in Aviation Studies through the Air Cadet Organisation along with his First Aid at Work certificate and his drummer badge, Adam being a founder member of the Squadron band.

The office of Lord-Lieutenant is mili-tary in origin and dates from the reign of Henry VIII when the holder was made responsible for local defence. The major

duty of a Lord-Lieutenant is to represent the Crown in his county. This involves receiving members of the Royal Family on visits to the county, certain ceremo-nial duties connected with the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, presid-ing at various civic and social events and presenting some medals and awards on behalf of The Queen.

Flight Sergeant Adam Kelly said on his achievement “I am very honoured to receive this prestigious award and I look forward to representing the Air training corps in my duties as Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet”.

Adam follows in the footsteps of his parents, Squadron Leader Tony Kelly and Civilian Instructor Sue Kelly who were deputy Lord Lieutenants Cadets for Hackney and Tower Hamlets respec-tively. Squadron training officer Flight Sergeant (ATC) Chris Cox was also Lord Lieutenants Cadet for Cambridgeshire. He joins an elite group!

2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron is open to young men and women aged between 13 and 17 years old. We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays between 18:45 and 21:45 at Bassingbourn Barracks. For more information please contact 01763 249156 or visit our web-site www.2484aircadets.co.ukCivilian Instructor Gemma BrownMCO 2484 (Bassingbourn) Squadron

Flight Sergeant Kelly teaching a group of

cadets at the Squadron

45melbournmagazine

Lord Lieutenants

Cadet badge

Unit 5The Butts Business Centre

FowlmereRoyston

Herts SG8 [email protected]

Telephone 08000 728878

Suppliers ofPropane and

Butane bottled gas

® Foxton pre-school offers a relaxed and

nurturing environment for children aged 2 ½ - 5 years.

® The children are encouraged to learn and develop through play and activities.

® The children enjoy outdoor play and gardening in the security of the pre-school garden.

® A cooked meal is served at lunchtime Open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9.00 – 3.15, Friday 9.00 – 11.30 Children can attend for half or full days. For more information or to arrange a visit call Pip Deas on 01223 8728779 or 07546078012 Foxton Pre-school, Hardman Road, Foxton, CB22 6RN


It was not until1851 that the Police Service was created throughout the county. As Cambridgeshire did not have a county town negotiations were held with Royston to try to get them to fill the position. However, efforts failed and in 1896 Royston opted to remain in Hertfordshire.

Cambridgeshire had its fair share of large villages so police stations with a magistrate’s court were built. We had one at Melbourn and one at Arrington. Over the years they became known as section stations and a Sergeant was nor-mally in charge.

Suffice to note that Melbourn has had a police presence for over 150 years.

My first posting after returning from training school was Melbourn, in February 1951 where the late Sergeant Jimmy Adams was in charge of the area which bordered on Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Consequently the police operations for this area started

in Melbourn. It was a large and busy operational station and in addition to the sergeant’s car we also had two motor cycles for use by police officers based at Melbourn and Arrington. After 12 months I was posted to Harston as Beat Officer.

In the late 1950’s a purpose built modern station was erected on a site just off the High Street in Melbourn and Sergeant Adams was the first occupant of the sergeant’s house. On the 16th May 1962 I became the third sergeant to be posted to Melbourn and occupy the station house with my family. I remained a sergeant until Nov 1976 when I was promoted to Inspector.

My days as a Police Officer have been the subject of many articles published in the village magazine and have been an eye opener to the readers what is entailed in being a section officer. Many favourable comments have been made. Those were the days when police offic-

ers and the sergeant were seen on the streets at any given time either on foot, cycles, on motor cycles or in the ser-geant’s car and could be approached at any time should the need arise.

I have to admit I personally feel very sad to learn that the police site has been sold bringing to an end a permanent police presence in Melbourn.

One thing I can say is I am very proud of being the last of Melboum’s ‘old fash-ioned police sergeants’, available to help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for over 14 years.

One of the highlights of being a local officer is that people talk to you.

During one chat I learnt that a well known TV personality was soon to get married at a local church. On being given the name of the groom 1 knew there would be public interest so another officer and I attended the occasion and I must add that for safety reasons it was necessary, but the scene was enjoyed by all. Who was the groom? None other than ‘Private Pike’ from Dad’s Army, Ian Lavender.Ron Brooksbank

In Days Gone By…Tales of a Cambridgeshire Country Copper continued

feature

47melbournmagazine

M&M BOOKSCASH PAID

for Old and Modern Books

Also PurchasedCoins, Medals, Postcards,

China, Cigarette Cards,Jewellery, Furniture,

Old Toys & Cars, Stamps,Programmes, Glass,

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Phone 01763 849789

Mobile 07761 911730


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49melbournmagazine

what’s onThe Tavern Gallery Meldreth

An exciting new gallery, by Meldreth Station8 High Street, Meldreth, Cambs SG8 6JU

e-mail [email protected] 01763 261166

Opening Times )Winter)Thursday to Sunday 10am – 4pm

(closed for lunch 1–1.30)

During March George Melionotis will be exhibiting his water colours, including local views.

Where is the project going to happen?Stockbridge Meadows Riverside Park Nature Reserve. The parish council looked at possible options and sites for the project and Riverside Park seemed an ideal site. It’s a public area, where workshops, trails or some kind of art installation could fit in. The site also reflects a lot of Melbourn’s heritage with the River Mel, fruit orchards and archaeological remains.

When is the project going to happen?The project will be launched on the May Bank Holiday, 1st–3rd May, the same weekend as Discovering Places, a national 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme of events. It will run over the course of the year finishing on the 2011 May Bank Holiday.

Where is the money coming from?South Cambridgeshire District Council has a public art supplementary planning policy. This basically means that developers donate money specifically for public art as part of their planning agreement, for more information see http://www.scambs.gov.uk/documents/retrieve.htm?pk_doc-ument=907698.

In this case Camstead Homes opted for a public art dona-tion for their development at Rupert Neve Close.

What’s going to happen?The exciting thing is that we don’t know! The parish council wanted Melbourn residents to have a say so the artist’s brief is very open. What will happen is that a lead artist will create a central piece of work for example a sculpture, trail or piece of digital art. They will then bring in other artists in disciplines such as composing, choreography, writing, film etc to run workshops open to all residents, community groups and local schools around a theme, over the coming year.

The artist will also be required to ensure that what they create reflects the sense of place of Melbourn and is sym-pathetic to the nature reserve, using natural materials etc. As the biggest threat to our natural environment is climate change, artists are being asked to include some focus on issues around sustainability.

The Artist Selection Evening?Doors open at 6.30pm for you to collect a free glass wine, meet the artists informally and see stalls with examples of their work. From 7pm–8.30pm each artist will do a 7 minute presentation on their previous work and their response to visiting the site, which will you give you an idea of their per-sonality, style and how they work.

What you won’t hear is exactly what they’ll produce - this is how they earn their fees so we don’t get final designs for free! You will get a chance to ask questions at the end and will then be asked to write down your thoughts and feed-back on who you’d like to see as a lead artist for the project.

New Public Art Project for MelbournHave your SayYou are invited to an Artist Selection Evening6.30pm – 9pm Friday 19th MarchAll Saints Community Hall, Melbourn.Free wine and nibbles providedKirstin Bicknell, our local Arts Development Manager based at Melbourn Village College, tells us everything you need to know about this exciting new public art project for Melbourn and how to get involved.

We are a warm, friendly, family run home conveniently situated close to the station

and town centre of Royston.

If you would like to find out more about St George’s, please call us for a brochure

or drop in for a chat.

42 Kneesworth Street, Royston, Herts. SG8 5AQTelephone: 01763 242243

web site: www.stgeorgescare.com


51melbournmagazine

How can you get involved?Information about shortlisted artists will appear on the Melbourn website for your comments if you can’t make the evening or if you want a sneak preview! The main way to find out more will be to come to the Artist Selection Evening.

The lead artist will be doing community workshops and bringing in other artists so during the project there will be lots of ways of getting involved. If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the project or are a member of a group who would be interested in getting involved, contact Kirstin.

Any questions, comments, suggestions or even concerns?Contact Kirstin. She’ll be happy to talk to you about the

project and give you more information. Phone 07770 643165, email [email protected]

Join us for the UK’s largest free science festival, exploring subjects from astronomy to zoology, with demonstrations, hands on experiments, talks from leading scientists, and visits to University and partner facilities. Over 150 events will be on offer designed to give families, adults and children of all ages two weeks of hands on science and insight into the University’s cutting edge research. Many of the hands on activities, dem-onstrations and children’s lectures will take place on our family fun days on Saturday 13 and 20 March.

The theme for 2010 will be ‘Diverse science’ to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity and there’ll be many opportunities to delve into diversity at events for all ages during our family fun days and adult evening lecture series.

Highlights for adults include:Investigate the science of survival with Helen Keen (Channel 4 New Comedy Writing Award Winner) in The Arctic Survival show as she tells of the frozen world of early Arctic exploration and her own family history

Join specialist science guides on the Daring Diversity walking tour to explore Cambridge in a unique way and discover why Newton poked a needle in his eye and why Darwin’s nickname was ‘Gas’

Discover the science of humour as Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman describes his year-long search for the world’s funniest joke.

Highlights for families include:• Hands on activities in Colourful Creatures at the Museum of

Zoology• The opportunity to make your own ‘Jigglebot’ in Robots for

Beginners• Discover the world of waves, gases and chemistry with The

Naked Scientists as they detonate bombs, electrocute veg-etables, and turn air into a liquid!There are also opportunities for secondary schools and

sixth form colleges to get involved in the Science Festival with the Schools’ Zone on 20 March 2010. Teams of students are invited to bring a display of science, technology, engineering or maths projects to show to an audience of the general public and University outreach officers. If your school is interested in participating in the Schools’ Zone, please contact [email protected] for further details.

House And Garden Fair In Aid Of Asthma UkTuesday May 11th 10.00am–4.00pmChilford Hall, Linton – Entrance £3.5060 stalls selling everything you need to revitalize your home and garden plus jewellery, shoes,clothes, toys and food.Jo Fairey 01223 894866.

START-MelbournHave you visited The List Live yet www.thelistlive.org.uk, a free online directory bursting with information about artists, venues, festivals and feasts, professional and amateur groups in South Cambridgeshire and beyond.

In further celebration of its 50th year, the Choral Society is putting on a very special day workshop, led by Ken Burton, director of the award winning London Adventist Chorale and director and conductor of the Croydon SDA Gospel Choir. It promises to be a fun and rewarding day, focussed on singing in the gospel style, and is open to all. No experience or abil-ity to read music necessary, just energy and enthusiasm for singing!Where? Comberton Leisure Performance HallWhen? Saturday 13 March 2010, 10.00am – 5.00pmCost? £20.00 (£5 students) For further details and registration forms please contact Monica Gillings (262399).

Advance notice: ‘Summer Serenade’, our summer concert of light seasonal music will take place on Saturday 19 June at 7.00pm, also at Comberton. 10 rehearsals are planned, begin-ning towards the end of March, and new members are most welcome to join us.

Cambridge Science Festival8-21 March 2010Family fun days: 13 and 20 March 2010.The vast majority of events are free of charge. The full programme will be available from www.cambridgesci-ence.org from January 2010 or to request a hard copy of the programme, please call 01223 766766

Cambridgeshire Choral SocietyNew Melbourn SingersGospel Singing Workshop withThe Acclaimed Gospel Choir Director, Ken Burton.

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Melbourn Flooringand Interiors Limited

MF

53melbournmagazine

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Advertisers Type of business Tel. No. Advertisers Type of business Tel. No.

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Absolute Solutions Bathroom Design and Installation 01763 261777

Admiral Windows Conservatories 01480 456789

Admiral Flat Roof Roofing problems 01480 456789

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Bannold Landscaping Materials 01954 231666

Beatiful Memories Filmed Life Stories & Legacies 01223 575197

Berry Accounting Services 01763 852622

Black Horse Local Pub & Restaurant 01763 226046

Bretts Plumbing and Heating 01763 260007

Bury Lane Farm Shop Fresh produce, Coffee shop 01763 260418

Butlers Taxi and Car Service 01763 212223

Cambridge Building Society Building Society 01763 217510

Cambourne Self Storage Secure Storage 01954 717444

CAMTAD Deafness Advisory sessions 01223 416141

Carters Shoes Shoes – wide choice 01223 264930

CCS Chimney Sweep 01763 220373

Child Nursing Team Family Health Advice 01763 262861

Cooper, P.L. & Sons Ltd Flooring Specialists 01763 260918

DCL Services Propane & Butane sales 08000 728878

Feet2Feet Foot care at home 07791 736616

Fieldgate Nurseries Fruit, vegetables, flowers & plants 01763 260737

Fowlmere Village Hall Hall Facilities 08704 649200

Frog End Pet Supplies Pet Suppliers 01763 263342

Greenlow Kennel & Cattery 01763 260624

Harry, Kathleen. B.Sc.Hons. Osteopath 01763 261716

Home Start Family Support 01763 242919

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JBS Painting & Decorating 01223 894712J&M Carpet Care Carpet Cleaning 01954 780999

Jeremy Ashworth Electrician & Property Maintenance 01763 230831

Julie Newby Beauty Therapist 01763 208387

Kingsway Golf Centre Golf Course and Supplies 01763 262727

Kirkham, David H. Chauffeur Service 0845 6770011

Law Storage Secure storage 01223 874629

Leech, C.A Butchers 01763 260255

Little Hands Nursery School 01763 260964

Madingley Mulch Barks, Soils, Composts, Mulches etc. 01954 212144

Melbourn Community Sports Sports Centre 01763 263313

Melbourn Flooring Flooring, Tiling & Home Interiors 01763 262413

Melbourn Garage MOT and Servicing 01763 263344

M&M Books Second hand & rare books 01763 849789

Molly Maid Cleaning Services 01462 896123

NFU Mutural Home Insurance 01954 210007

PC Home Call PC Repair 01223 654460

Phillimore Garden Centre 01763 260537

Prince Property Improvements Property Repairs 01763 269565

Pinney, Moore and Co. Financial Advisers 01223 208400

Riding for the Disabled Association 01223 290807

Riverside Guest House Guest House 01763 226062

Rothwells Carpet Cleaning 01223 832928

Rule, Jeremy. Funeral Service 01763 242560

Ryecroft Data Design & Instant Digital Print 01763 208640

Sharp, G.M. Landscapes All Gardening 01763 262126

Simon Robinson Picture Frames 01223 873123

Soft Play for Babies & Toddlers Babbies & Todlers 01223 830791

South Cambs Motors Motor Car Servicing 01763 260246

Sprint Printers Printers and Copiers 01763 263339

St Georges Nursing Home 01763 242243

The Letting Centre Letting Agency 01763 263039

The Spice Hut Indian Takeaway 01763 262425

Thomas, Chris. Professional Cleaning 01223 836002

TruGreen Lawn Care 01763 244517

Urban Plastics Plumbing, electrical supplies 01763 262337

Walkers Partnership Solicitors 01763 241121

Warners Letting Agency Letting Services 01763 242528

Whitehall Flat Roofing Flat Roofing 01763 869035

Wrights Mower Centre Garden Machinery Supply & Maint. 01763 263393

Classified Ads (Trades & Professional)

Floral ArrangementsBette & Carol01763 246168

Window CleaningGary Custerson01763 246773

Carpentry & Building Repair

Simon Prince01763 269565

Simply Reliable Cleaning

Steven Rodham01763 261275

Liz StrangePainter & Decorator

01223 208905

Justin PearsonPainter & Decorator

01223 565310

Stone Lane Veternary Clinic

Caring for your pet01763 261457

Singing and Piano Lessons

Judith King01763 262767

Mamac, Kareioki and DiscoCRB checked for children

& elderly

mamac.21@btinternet .com

Brickwork Repair Services

Gordon Rogers01763 262773

Willow Tree Painter & Decorator

Dean HardinghamTel 01763 232757

Carpenter ServicesRichard Brewster

01763 262974

Heavenly Hatz01223 874080

5 Hardman Road, Foxton

www.heavenlyhatz.co.uk

N.T CarpentryFor all your carpentry

requirements.Call Neil 07748844711

SC PlasteringSimon Carse

Tel.01763 221055Mob.07840 836639

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Printed by The Burlington Press Cambridge Ltd

A few pictures for those who

may have missed the snow.

Photos Michael Sherwen

61 spring 2010

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