a bird’s eye view of elsworth in the snow...6.00 pm evening prayer easter 4 r windsor r french...

THE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FOR ELSWORTH400 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EVERY TWO MONTHSW APRIL 2010 ISSUE 10-02 W

Elsworth Times is an independent newsletter funded in part by donations from Elsworth Parish CouncilViews expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the contributors and do not refl ect the opinions of the

Editors, Elsworth Parish Council or the Advertisers. - For our Child Imaging Policy please contact us.

ELSWORTH TIMESELSWORTH TIMES

Photo Nick Taylor

Photo Julian Bane

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF ELSWORTH IN THE SNOW

WATER LANE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

Issue April 2010

USEFULUSEFULNUMBERSNUMBERSElsworth Times Editor

Sue Taylor - 01954 268042Gaynor Solon - 01954 268128

[email protected] Times Adverts

Peter Dobson - 01480 830808Police Community

Support Offi cer - 07921 938047Non Emergency0845 456 4564

Emergency999

Community FireSafety Offi cer01223 376217Emergency

999South Cambridgeshire

District Council08450 45050001954 713000Parish Clerk

Liz Sim - 01954 267664Fx 01954 267977

[email protected] Parish Council Web site address

www.elsworthvillage.com Doctors Surgery

Papworth - 01480 830375Bourn - 01954 719313

The Team RectorReverend Fiona Windsor

01954 267535Elsworth Primary School

01954 267272Badminton Papworth

Steve Hoath - 07816 079416Elsworth Show

Sue Chapman - 01954 267568Elsworth Sports Club

Bill Knibbs - 01954 267266Swavesey Village College

01954 230366Post Offi ce Opening Hours

In The PavilionTuesdays - 2 - 4.30pm

Thursday 12 noon - 2.30pm

STOP PRESSSTOP PRESSNew Village Web-site

www.elsworthvillage.com

CONTENTSCONTENTSClerks column Pages 2 & 3Editors letter Page 3Church Pages 4 & 5School Pages 6, 7, 8 & 9Advertising Pages 9 - 13Community notices and Freecycle Pages 14, 15 &16Poacher news Page 16 Elsworth Celebs Q & A Page 17Countryside and Gardening Pages 18 & 19Children’s Writing Competition Page 19

CLERK’S COLUMN LIZ SIM PARISH CLERK - REPORTS

Highways issuesWell, what a state this winter has left our roads and verges in. Which local motorist or cyclist hasn’t cursed inwardly as their bones are rattled as they fall into yet another pothole. Who can fail to have noticed the debris near our roads that was once called street furniture or warning signage. Chevrons dangling on one post and facing the wrong direction, smashed fences, oak bollards fl attened like toppled ninepins and metal posts which now have nothing attached to them leaning precariously in all directions near bends.

Add to this the extraordinary amount of litter on the verges going out of the village that has been exposed now hedges have been neatly trimmed or the fl y tipping that has come to light after work on Fardell’s Lane Reserve hedges, and it all starts to look a bit third-worldish. I recently met an offi cer of the County Highways Department and highlighted issues in the parish which need attention. He was very sympathetic, agreed that all the issues I had raised needed addressing but yet again told me there were no funds available until the start of the new fi nancial year. However the good news for next winter is that Brockley/Cambridge Road up to Cambourne will be gritted if the forecast temperatures and colour state indicate that for fi ve days temperatures will be below freezing overnight and ice is expected to form on the carriageway. The route will then be treated on the fi rst day once the precautionary salting run has been completed satisfactorily and will usually be done once resource is available during the morning period. The forecast will then be moni-tored and if the temperatures are expected to remain below zero, further runs may be instructed over the subsequent days.

Issue April 2010

Editors’ Letter

Thanks to all who emailed me and wrote asking for this road to be gritted. The Parish Council is going to request that the road to the school, Broad End, is included in the winter gritting schedule in the same way.

Other maintenance promised by theCounty Highways includes:

• Smith Street. Drainage works to alleviate fl ooding problems by the crossing places near the Poacher will be marked up shortly, the works undertaken by May/June time.• Boxworth Rd. This has already been marked up for patching to take place in April with surface dressing to follow around June/July.• The 90 degree bend at the top of Cambridge Rd (where it runs into the old A4128 road). An order has been placed for the chevrons and the wooden fence to be repaired.• Brockley Rd and Duncock Lane. These are on a list for potholes repair; some to be done temporarily but permanent repair to follow.• Fardell’s Lane. The hedge owned by the County has been cut and work to cut the hedge section owned by the County Council in Brockley Road is scheduled.• Warning signs and street furniture at the entrances to the village. The County Council’s Traffi c section is looking into the possible removal of some excess signage.• Street Lighting. Enquiries are being made with the County’s Lighting Department about the necessity for the quantity of street lighting and the possibility of turning some lights off. Since the District Council passed responsibility for several street lights in the village on to the Parish Council, the costs for maintenance and electricity have risen rapidly. Any reduc-tion would benefi t the parish as the precept could be reduced. Recently, at weekends, the village has suffered from huge amounts of traffi c rat-running through, trying to avoid bottle-necks on the A428 following diversions on the A14 and M11 because of road works in the area. This has also brought many HGVs through, which should not have been using our roads as we have a blanket 7.5 tonne weight limit. The Highways Agency was alerted to this and they have now altered their diversion routes. In addition the police have insisted that the Agency put up clearer signage alerting traffi c to our weight limit and are monitoring the traffi c coming through.

Burglaries in the villageWe have been very unfortunate recently in seeing a rise in the number of burglaries in the village, not just burglaries but theft of items from gardens, notably pot plant holders. PCSO MacInnes had agreed to attend a parish council meet-ing to speak to parishioners about what the police were doing to combat this but unfortunately was unable to attend owing to a change in her duties. She was able to send a written report and councillors were pleased to read that a prolifi c burglar had been caught in the area.

Play area renovationThe Parish Council Amenities Working Party has met to discuss the possibility of renovating the play area on the Grass Close. Many other villages have been able to provide upgraded and attractive play equipment with the help of grants available from several awarding bodies. The Working Party is hoping to be able to apply in the time scale that is required. The Parish Council has two working parties – Amenities and Environment - which non-councillors are able to sit on. If you are interested in joining either of these working parties please email me or give me a call.

Grant towards improvements to the kitchen in the PreSchool.

The Council unanimously approved a grant of £250.00 to the preschool towards the renovation of their kitchen. Grants from the Parish Council are available under legislation which is termed “section 137”. Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows a local authority to spend a limited amount on activities for which it has no specifi c power, but which the authority considers 'will bring direct benefi t to the area, or any part of it or all of some of its inhabitants'. The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 added the requirement that the benefi t obtained should be commensurate with the expenditure incurred.

Flood Relief Channel at the back of Elsworth SchoolThe Chairman has written to the solicitors representing land-owners, regarding convening a meeting to discuss matters relating to fl ooding and the proposed channel behind the school. At present he is awaiting a response.

Planning applicationsS/1753/09/F Elsworth Community Shop. Erection of Modular building for use as a village community shop on Land to the south west of cricket pavilion Broad End Elsworth. Parish Council Recommendation Approve. Comment “ The Community Shop is a vital amenity for Elsworth and we strongly support the application.S/1223/10/F Mr John Farnell, 1 Conington Road - Erection of detached open-fronted garage. Parish Council Recommendation Approve

Future Meeting Dates 201019th May 6pm19th May 7.30pm Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council Annual Parish meeting 21st July Parish Council15th September Parish Council 17th November Parish Council All meetings take place in Elsworth School Hall

Liz Sim Parish Clerk Tel 01954 267664 [email protected]

www.elsworthvillage.com

The April edition of the Elsworth Times shows the impact that the weather has had on the

village over the winter and early spring; snow, ice, fl ooding again, and fi nally watery sunshine

coming through in the last few days of March allowing our gardens to start to spring into life, and

encouraging the lambs out in the fi elds to skip about. Elsworth residents have been busy as usual, with plans for the village shop making progress, new tenants in the Poacher with plans to re-open the

pub in May and children at school enjoying visits and visitors to broaden their experiences.

Please note the Annual village meeting on May 19th (See Clerks Column) – this is your opportunity to hear what is being done by the Parish council and other organisations in and for the village. Please put the date in your diary – it is an important meeting, your voice and views can be heard.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Winner of the £10 Book Voucher this month is Anna Floto.Sue Taylor and Gaynor Clements – Co-Editors

[email protected]

Issue April 2010

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, ELSWORTHFIONAWINDSOR

Holy Trinity Church, ElsworthDate Time Service Title Sidesperson * Reader Tea/Coffee Flowers/ Brasses Cleaners

02/04/2009 11.00 am Family Service Good Friday J Howell * R Windsor # B Newson Yes (milk)

+ Hotcross buns # None

04/04/2010 10.30 am All-age Communion Easter Sunday B. Newson J Howell (Acts10 34-43) Yes (milk) Everybody

Everybody on 03/04 (contract cleaners due 30/03)

11/04/2010 Team Services 10:30 at Papworth, 6:00pm at Bourn

18/04/2010

10.30 pm All-age Communion Easter 3 R Summers A Farrow (Acts9 1-6)

Yes (milk) D & S Rea

25/04/2010

6.00 pm Evening Prayer Easter 4 R Windsor R French (Acts9 36-end)

S Stevens / L Whitely

02/05/2010

10.30 am Family Service Easter 5 L Stollery D Allgood (Acts11 1-18)

Yes (milk) R & C French

09/05/2010

6.00 pm Holy Communion Easter 6 A Taylor H Rhodes (Acts16 9-15)

L Stollery / J Lambert

16/05/2010

10.30 am All-age Communion Easter 7 B Newson K Rhodes (Acts16 16-34)

Yes (milk) R & L Summers

23/05/2010

10.30 am Team Service @ Elsworth

Pentecost R Windsor * J Howell K Rhodes

Yes (milk)

30/05/2010

6.00 pm Evening Prayer Trinity Sunday S. Jamieson J Howell (Rom5 1-5)

Refreshments

I Farrow / R Windsor

I Farrow / H Rhodes

* Sidesperson is responsible for bringing milk for the Tea and Coffee.

Easter NewsletterAs I write this looking out of my study window on a bright sunny day, snowdrops and crocuses are peeping out, brought into life by the warmer days of a late spring. A sign of hope, a sign

of new beginnings, a sign that something better is on the way. Sometimes all these things that I’ve just mentioned can seem or feel a long way off, reluctant to show themselves, like the daffodils in my garden. After Jesus had died, I guess the disciples were reluctant to show themselves; their hope for a new beginning had ended, there seemed nothing left to hope for, the adventure of faith was over and all their dreams went with it. What they had witnessed in the last few days spoke of death, tragedy, sorrow and disaster, and it appeared that evil had won. But one message changed to another, an astonishing transformation took place and suddenly everything turned round. This is what we celebrate at Easter: the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Three women went to the tomb and came back with news that Jesus was not there. Two men on the road to Emmaus said that Jesus had met with them on that journey and had broken bread with them. As the disciples huddled together in an upper room Jesus appeared amongst them, risen, victorious. It

seemed too good to be true, but it wasn’t; Jesus was alive!“I am the resurrection and the life,” that’s what Jesus told his followers and that’s what he tells us today. In the midst of life’s diffi culties, tragedies and sorrows, when hope seems and looks a long way off, Easter speaks to us of a hope that defi ed the ultimate challenge, death: a hope that transformed a seemingly hopeless situation, turning despair into joy. Through the centuries that hope has survived, although many have suggested to me that I can’t prove it. I always reply that you can fi nd the truth for yourselves. For Jesus is always waiting to meet with each one of us and transform our lives. We need simply to respond, to put our trust in him and give him space to work. Do that and you will fi nd a miracle, a life changed forever.Jesus appeared to many different people with many different needs, in different places at different times. The women in the garden, the men on the Emmaus road and the disciples in the upper room all had their own unique meetings with Jesus; only when they met Him face to face did the truth dawn.Only then did they dare believe that Jesus was alive. We can’t see Jesus quite as they did but we can meet with him and experience the reality of his living presence. Thine be the Glory risen conquering Son, Endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won,Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone awayKept the folded grave cloths where thy body lay.Thine be the Glory risen conquering Son Endless is the victory thou o’er death has won.

The Samuel Franklin FundThis local charity, set up to help the poor is able to make grants to help residents in the parish of Elsworth who are less well off and in need

of help because of illness, infi rmity or hospitalisation, or starting an

apprenticeship or similar. The current Trustees are:Sue Taylor, Annie Howell,

Ian Maddison, Jariohn Hicksand Fiona Windsor.

Mrs Helen Oborne is now the clerk to the Trustees, and should be contacted

in writing to apply for grants, or to suggest possible benefi ciaries.

Mrs H Oborne,Low Farm,

45 Brook St,Elsworth.

Issue April 2010

Visit to Meadow Farm to see the

LambsI went to see the lambs with the whole class and I remember the name of a sheep. It was named Gabriel. The lambs eat milk and the sheep eat grass and hay and the sheep and the lambs live in a poly tunnel. They live on a farm.

When the mother sheep are unhappy they stamp their feet. If you go too close they get unhappy. The hooves get dirty because the sheep go in the mud. The sheep and the lambs, ‘baa’. The sheep are white and black and not only are they white and black, they could be white too. And they could not only be white they could be black too.

Ms Bell showed the whole class around. Me and Julia did both fi nd some wool off the sheep. It was dirty and it was full of hay. You are not allowed to touch the lambs by yourself. We had a great time!’

By Elizabeth Kelman - Aged 5

Issue April 2010

BROAD END, ELSWORTH, CAMBRIDGE, CB23 4JD. TEL: 01954 267272

Issue April 2010


ESFA News:Quiz Night Thanks

Thank you to everyone who supported the School Quiz night. We raised £243! Well done to Iris' Giraffe (again!!)

Clothing collectionThe next collection is from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd April. It will be collected at about 10am so please leave your bags at any time during the school day on the above dates. If you would like them collected from your home, please ring the school 267272

We can take any of the following :clothes - shoes and belts - bags - soft toys - bedding and towels - rugs

Plant Sale and Cream TeasCome rain or shine, this will be held on Sunday 9th May 2 - 4pm We always have a lovely selection of plants and vegetables, so arrive early to buy those bargains.We also accept any plant donations too! Please bring them along on the day or leave at school the previous Friday.

Family Fun Trail followed by BBQSaturday 22nd May 3pm

Everyone is invited along to follow a choice of trails around the fi elds to fi nd and collect special stamps and then return to the school grounds for a delicious BBQ. £2 per card to collect the stamps. All ages catered for. See you there!

Science Week at Elsworth School15th –19th March 2010In March we had our Science Week, which was based on poor Farmer Giles and the problems he was encountering on set-ting up his new farm. The children became the experts and worked to help him overcome his diffi culties. Reception were asked about how to look after eggs and chicks. During Science Week they had the opportunity to watch eggs hatching in an incubator and look after the chicks in a brooder. Farmer Giles found some strange eggshells in a fi eld and did not know what to do with them. Year 1 did some research and discovered that they were snake eggs. They made special boxes so that Farmer Giles could move the eggs.Year 2 were told that there were some strange holes in Farmer Giles’s cabbages. They left cabbage leaves outside and looked on the internet to fi nd out what made the holes. They then thought about an eco-friendly way of removing cat-erpillars and designed and built fabulous bird boxes.Farmer Giles wanted to know which root crops to grow. Year 3 and 4 children researched and visited the local allotments to fi nd an answer. Did you know it takes 9 months for parsnips to grow?

One of Farmer Giles’s fi elds was in danger of being infested with weeds. Some of the Year 4 and 5 children researched seed dispersal and made information posters based on the types of weeds they were likely to be. They visited the nature reserve to help fi nd out about woodland plants.Lastly, some Year 5 and all of the Year 6 children explored methods by which Farmer Giles could clean and transport water to his farmhouse which was situated at the top of a hill. Ideas included using buckets on a pulley system and an Archimedes Screw.All in all the children demonstrated excellent thinking skills in coming up with their own solutions and much fun was had!

WWII DAY“They should come like this every day!” That was Mrs Haywood’s fi rst comment when she saw the key stage two children on the 24th February when they turned up dressed in WWII attire.In the morning we had a traditional 1940s schoolroom, with Peter Cornwell from History of the Page as the strict school-master. We learned about world war two manners and the British Empire.The schoolroom was breathtaking as well as the schoolmas-ter (sir, or Mr Cornwell to us). Years 4,5 and 6 used authentic ink pens and ink pots, but year 3 used slates and slate boards. Naughty children experienced pain at the expense of Mr B (cane on the bottom) or Mr H (cane on the hand)!In the afternoon we had a market where we had shopping lists and we looked through the different stalls to fi nd the items. There was a national café where we used our ration coupons to buy tea and sandwiches.It was a great day!

By Harry French And Jai Patel

On the 24th of January People in KS2 had a world war 2 day. People in yr 5 and 6 were evacuees and were new to the World War 2 schooling. Some people were naughty and had

to go outside to be caned, most people coughed or laughed. As soon as you walked in there there’s no going back the teacher was so strict. All of the KS2 had to write with proper WWII ink pens, and real WWII ink. In the afternoon everyone was a evacuee or a normal coun-tryside school child. The younger people were shopkeepers and all afternoon they would sell stuff with real WWII money and a they also learnt how to use the money in the proper way. Some people found it hard most people found it easy. We hope all of KS2 had a brilliant history off the page day.

By Jack Warner, Year 6

On the 24th of January People in KS2 had a world war 2 day. People in yr 5 and 6 were evacuees and were new to the World War 2 schooling. Some people were naughty and had to go outside to be caned, most people coughed or laughed. As soon as you walked in there there’s no going back the teacher was so strict. All of the KS2 had to write with proper WWII ink pens, and real WWII ink. In the afternoon everyone was a evacuee or a normal coun-tryside school child. The younger people were shopkeepers and all afternoon they would sell stuff with real WWII money and a they also learnt how to use the money in the proper way. Some people found it hard most people found it easy. We hope all of KS2 had a brilliant history off the page day.

By Leo Barlow, Year 6


Issue April 2010

Visit from Dr Shirley Hall31.3.10

Dr Shirley Hall came to visit 30 of our Key Stage 2 children and they spent the day fi nding out about the Stations of the Cross and representing them in the style of Aboriginal art.

Each colour and dot or stripe was symbolic e.g. use of red paint meant ‘pain’, dots illustrated something ‘Holy’ and stripes painted close together represented ‘sadness’.

The children created 16 pieces of art and wrote short commentaries about their use of colour and design. They also wrote short prayers linked to the subject of their paintings. A very enjoyable day!

ELSWORTH TIMES ADVERTISING

Issue April 2010

To advertise in the Cambourne Crier - News & Views - Elsworth Times - please call 01480 830808 or e-mail [email protected]

World War II Day

ELSWORTH TIMES ADVERTISING Issue April 2010


You will think it’s amazing when you see the difference your contribution has made!Here at CBM UK, we have a range of opportunities to suit your

interests and available time. You will find that volunteering with us is rewarding and challenging and knowing that you are helping to make

a difference to the lives of disabled people in the poorest parts of the world is - truly amazing.

In a busy and friendly fundraising office, we need people who are experienced in a wide range of office duties to support other members of our

fundraising and donor relations teams. You will need to be computer literate in both Microsoft Word and Excel, but we are happy to train you on our database.

CBM UK is based just outside of Cambridge in Oakington and provides essential rehabilitation services to disabled people and their families in the poorest parts of the world. This includes medical care, physiotherapy, nutrition support and orthopaedic aids. We work in 90 developing countries and we are recognised by the World Health Organisation for our work with disabled people.Why don’t you make contact and find out a little bit more about us – we are waiting for your call!

Contact: Vivienne Ayas on 01223 484700 or email her at [email protected] UK, Vision House, 7/8 Oakington Business Park,

Dry Drayton Road, Oakington, Cambridge, CB24 3DQ, UKwww.cbmuk.org.uk

Volunteering for CBM

ElsworthSecurity Systems

Complete CCTV System Installations

CCTV Upgrades - Maintenance & Repairs

Burglar Alarms & Entry Systems

[email protected]

Rik FisherBusiness: 01954 267753

Mobile: 07799 614564

ELSWORTH TIMES ADVERTISING Issue April 2010


ELSWORTH TIMES ADVERTISINGIssue April 2010


Healthcare Recruitment Company

near Cambourne seeks individual for flexible office based position.

Confident telephone manner, organisation and basic computer

skills essential.

Hours and salary to be negotiated

Enquiries to Anne Nash 01954 267603

ELSWORTH TIMES NOTICES Issue April 2010


Cambourne LibraryOpening Hours

Monday 3.30pm - 7.30pmTuesday 9.00am - 2.00pmWednesday ClosedThursday 3.30pm - 7.30pmFriday 9.00am - 2.00pmSaturday 9.00am - 1.00pm Sackville House, the building which houses the library, is open, Mon-Fri 9 - 5.30. Library self-service options (internet, and quick-pick) are available during these hours even when the library is closed

Mobile LibraryOpposite the Poacher between

2.35pm - 2.55pmAlternate Tuesdays

Next Visits

April 20thMay 4th & 18thJune 1st & 15th

THE NEW ELSWORTH VILLAGE SHOP NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The new Village Shop is to be staffed by volunteers and we are hoping to sell local fruit and vegetables, cakes and crafts - anything you may produce that you wish to sell! If you can spare some time and would like to be involved in the biggest community project the village has seen for some time, please do let the shop committee

know by calling Janet Bell, 267 919.

We aim to have each volunteer working a four hour shift, the shop will be open 8am - 6pm Mon-Fri and 8am - 12 noon at the weekend. We hope to have suffi cient volunteers to always have two people in at

once, especially at peak times (lunchtime and school pick-up). If you are unable to commit to a four hour slot each week, but would still like

to help out please do let us know - anything is better than nothing!

Suppliers - We need to know what you want to supply, an idea of your prices and when you can supply it! (We are hoping for locally produced arts & crafts, eggs, cakes, preserves, fruit & veg, fl owers etc etc...). Please call the number above if you can provide good

quality supplies.

Thank you very much in anticipation of your help.

For details about Neighbourhood Panels please see www.scambs.gov.uk/panels or contact the police on 0345 456 456 4.

Swavesey Neighbourhood Panel –Update for Parishes Covering: Bar Hill, Boxworth, Childerley, Connington, Dry Drayton, Elsworth, Fen Drayton, Girton, Graveley, Knapwell, Longstanton, Over, Papworth Everard, Papworth St Agnes, Swavesey and Willingham. What are they? Public meetings where you have the chance to have your say about issues that affect you. This could include safety issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour, road safety and traffic management, as well as other matters that affect the quality of life in your neighbourhood. At the last meeting attendees from parishes, the police, the district and county councils considered: 1. Action taken against the previous priorities: Reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour and anti-social driving in Over Village: The key objectives are to allow residents of Over to influence how Police deal with the above problems, to keep residents informed of the work we have already done to tackle these problems and update them on our future progress and lastly to use a ‘no surprises’ approach following consultation- in order tell the public how we anticipate solving this problem. Investigate and respond to issues of anti-social vehicle use in Gibraltar Lane, Swavesey. This includes excess speed, obstructive parking and inconsiderate and dangerous cycling: The school staff car park was moved to draw traffic away from Gibraltar lane; parents were contacted via parent-mail asking to be considerate when using Gibraltar Lane; PS Rogerson will discuss with the Parish Council opportunities to apply for traffic calming and parking restrictions; patrols have been carried out in partnership with the school and staff and PCSO Mason have moved on parents parking inconsiderately. Investigate and respond to issues of obstructive parking in Varrier Jones Drive, Papworth Everard: Obstructions of right of way will always be dealt with as a matter of urgency when encountered as reported. The Parish and County Highways have requested that all views in regards to this matter be presented in the correct fashion via the Parish Council. 2. Paul Heath, Criminal Justice Unit Manager for Cambridgeshire Police gave a presentation explaining Conditional Cautions. 3. New Priorities Agreed:

Deal robustly with all incidents of anti-social behaviour in Swavesey. Develop partnership working initiatives to reduce crime at Papworth Hospital. Reduce crime and disorder in Longstanton.

For more information about this meeting: https://www.cambspolice.co.uk/myneighbourhood/meetingSummary.asp?mid=135 Then click on ‘View Minutes’. Future Meetings:

ELSWORTH TIMES NOTICESIssue April 2010


The Over Day Centre

1 Drings Close, Over, Cambs CB24 5NZ

Registered Charity No: 800829

The Five Pub Challenge Sunday 9th May

Join our 11.6 mile sponsored walk via five local pubs and help us to raise much needed funds to keep the Day Centre in Over thriving.

Starting at 11am from The Over Day Centre, follow a route map through the beautiful Cambridgeshire fens to The Pike & Eel, The Ferry Boat, The Three Tuns and then The White Horse.

Finish with a complimentary bowl of soup and a home-baked cake at The Admiral Vernon in Over.

£6 entry fee in advance, or free entry if you collect just £20 in sponsorship. £8 entry on the day from 10.30am.

Registration and sponsorship forms can be obtained by downloading from www.overdaycentre.co.uk or

telephoning 01954 231807. Forms are also available at all five pubs.

Certificates for all finishers.

Under 18s are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The length of the route

may make it unsuitable for younger children!

www.ra

lphd

esign.co.uk

FREECYCLE AND ADS

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US IN THIS LUNCHTIME VENTURE The Cambridge Dining Club

Selected Mondays 12.00 noon – 2.30 p.m.

With the generous support of La Mimosa Restaurant, on Thompson’s Lane, Cambridge, we are launching the second year of the Cambridge Dining Club.

The Dining Club will meet five times a year at this beautiful riverside restaurant. Annual membership is £25 per person, and the cost for the two course lunch and coffee is just £15 per person. You will also be able to invite your guests to join you at the lunches. The invited speakers will talk on subjects as varied as ‘superstitions and folklore’, “the opium poppy’ and “changing lives through Dogs for the Disabled” and includes two best selling authors and The Queen’s Honorary Physician.

Funds raised will be used for NSPCC projects, to help children and teenagers at risk, help fund schools information and support programmes within the county, as well as

helping to fund operators at ChildLine.

2010: 7th June, 6th September, 8th November 2011: 7th February, 4th April

We hope you will support this wonderful venture and help raise much needed funds for the NSPCC in our area.

For more details and application forms please contact: Kate Armstrong on 01954 719745 email: [email protected]

Karen Gunner on 01462 742259 email: [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Membership Application I enclose a cheque for £ ________ made payable to NSPCC Charity as the first year’s subscription fee. Name(s): …………………………………………………………………………… Address: ……………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………….Post Code:……………. Tel:………………………………… Email: ………………………………………

Please return with payment to: Kate Armstrong, The Mill Cottage, Caxton Road, Bourn, Cambridge, CB23 2SU

Please send copies of the application form to my friend(s):

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Village show set to be bank holiday stunnerThe Elsworth show will be held on Saturday 28th August this year. After a fabulously well attended show in 2009 where there were over 750 entries, 2010 looks set to be an even better and bigger year.Everyone needs to have a go at entering as anyone could win a prize. In the next edition of the Times we’ll be giving some guidance on how to prepare your fruit and vegetables for the show. So get planting, we have classes to cover every eventuality but if you can think of any classes you would like to be added the please get in contact with Sarah Cook the secretary ([email protected], 01954 267432).The photography classes will be very competitive to give you a head start these will be Ice and Snow, Happiness, Pets and Action, so get snapping.The organising committee are always looking for additional members, we meet once a month starting in May to plan and then start preparing for the show on the Thursday and Friday, erecting the tents and preparing the tables. On the day we steward the judging, run the stalls and events. At the end we have to take everything down and return the school to normality. If you are interested then contact the secretary.

FOR SALEChilds slide. ELC bright green & purple plastic slide, 3 yellow steps up to top, complete with base piece to

avoid grass stains on bottoms.£100 originally, would take £10.

01954 267919

Elsworth Happy Faces LtdJulie Lewis and Sarah Thurbin are pleased to announce the green light has been given for us to set up and run Elsworth Happy Faces Ltd a brand new after school club opening its doors from October 2010.

We will run from the mobile on the grounds of Elsworth C.E (A) Primary school.

Elsworth Happy Faces will run Monday to Friday 3pm until 6pm term time only.

We are now taking new registrations.

Please contact us via; [email protected]

[email protected]

Do check out the developing Elsworth Happy Faces website at;

www.elsworthhappyfaces.co.uk

We very much look forward to welcoming you with very Happy Faces.

Julie Lewis and Sarah Thurbin

Issue April 2010

I’ve lived in Elsworth for the past 12 years. I’m currently at University and am spending this summer in Kenya with a charity called Kenya Education Partnerships. For 10 weeks, I will be living and working with a rural secondary school in the

My name is Kate Summers

Kisii region of Kenya to invest money I have raised whilst in England to make a sustainable difference.As a charity KEP aims to provide sustainable help to each school it works with over a period of at least 2 years and focuses on fairly small schools in impoverished rural communities where resources are scarce. As a project worker, I will be working with members of the local community to invest money in what is deemed the most effective way. Past initiatives have included things such as purchasing textbooks or science equipment, or installing a water tank or toilets, and have made a huge difference to the pupils of the respective schools.At the moment Secondary Education in Kenya is poor, especially in rural areas. Hopefully by improving the education a school can offer, its pupils will have more options open to them in their lives. Currently in the Kisii region the vast majority of its children will go on to join

their parents as subsistence farmers, which means their existence is precarious and reliant on a good harvest each year. As part of my fundraising effort I will be doing the Three Peaks Challenge in the middle of April. I aim to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon (the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales) within 24 hours! I’m training hard at the moment to get fi t for the climb, and feel well prepared, apart from the test of having to navigate down Ben Nevis in the dark because of how timings will work!If you would like to fi nd out more about the charity please visit www.kep.org.uk. If you would like to make a donation to my cause then please visitwww.justgiving.co.uk/Kate-Summers.

The PoacherNeil and Caroline Humphreys are the new tenants of the Poacher, and plan to re-open the pub in the third week of May. Neil sent me a few details about them: ‘Caroline and I got married in 1998 after meeting at work Marshalls Aerospace) since then Caroline has moved to Kirby property in Cambourne (as a Lettings Manager) and I have worked for Monarch Airlines at Luton (as an Aeronautical Engineer) for the last 10 years.Our plans are to return the pub to the focal point of the village where it should be, without compromising existing businesses. We have been to the pub numerous times in the last 20 years and it pains us to see how many tenants have been and gone and it is our view that it needs consistency and value to ensure its future.We plan to be open in mid to late May and look forward to meeting you all, any suggestions on what you would like to see or expect in your local pub would be most welcome.Village life is important to us and we hope to support the village and its infrastructure by supporting local producers where we can. We will be living at the pub so are on hand to help wherever or whenever required.’They are currently doing some decorating in the pub, and Neil said ‘I am more than happy for people to e-mail me with ideas, suggestions or just to get to know who we are and what we are about.My e-mail is [email protected].’

Issue April 2010

Archeologist and academic Sir Paul Mellars and his French wife Any have lived in Brook Street for the past thirty years. A Yorkshireman by birth and inclination, Sir Paul’s interest in archeology was ignited at the age of 13 by his father’s dis-covery of a Charles II ha’penny whilst digging his allotment. ‘It was,’ says Sir Paul, ‘the most exciting thing I had ever seen,’ and a life-long passion for history and digging things up was born. He is currently Professor of Prehistory and Human Evolution at Cambridge University, and Fellow and former President of Corpus Christi College. He received his Knighthood in this year’s New Year Honours List for services to scholarship.Where did you grow up?In the idyllically named ‘Swallow Nest’ just outside Sheffi eld. Despite its bucolic - sounding name it is in fact a very prosaic former mining town.In three words, how would you describe yourself?I am a focused, sociable, worrier.What was your career high?The most recent award is, of course, a wonderful honour, but just as meaningful for different reasons is the Grahame Clark medal for Prehistory and Archeology which I was awarded by the British Academy two years ago. It is named after my teen-age hero and former Professor. I started reading his books at the age of 13.What was your career low?Giving up a hard earned promotion - to Reader - at Sheffi eld University in 1980 in order to take up my post at Cambridge. I had to wait 10 years to get it back, so it was a retrograde step. It was worth it though.What or who are your greatest infl uences?My wife, my parents and my maternal grandfather. The latter took me train-spotting, taught me Victorian music-hall songs, and told me about the Battle of the Somme. He doted on me as his only grandson, and had illusions that I would one day play cricket for Yorkshire. He despaired of me ever learn-ing to play in the end ( I am keg-handed). I was brought up in a very stable, Plymouth Brethren family. My father was a coal-miner who later became top salesman in a commercial refrigerator company. He never went to university but he was ambitious. He started at the bottom but sheer drive got him to the top of his tree. My mother was a grammar school girl and a worrier. They never pushed me, but they did support me in everything I did.My wife Any has supported me throughout everything. She

has infl uenced me in many ways - not least my taste in art - and has always stood by my side.What is your greatest achievement?I was completely gobsmacked by my Knighthood, but I was just as honoured and even more touched by the discovery that some of my students set up a Facebook website about me - a kind of fan-club. It has 150 members. I am proud of that because it is my job to inspire students and gain their respect, and it is very gratifying to think that I have achieved that.What is your biggest regret?I have two. Never having owned a Ferrari, and never hav-ing tried my hand at Rugby. I have a rugby player’s build, but never having played, I will never know if I could have been another JPR Williams.When were you happiest?In my fi nal year as Head boy of Woodhouse Grammar School. I loved telling the youngsters what to do! Seriously though, I am at my happiest now. Even though I should have retired a couple of years ago I have never been so active or productive.What makes you laugh?Watching Morecambe and Wise repeats at Christmas. Currently, I am watching the re-runs of ‘Friends’ on E4. I know they are much reviled, but Anniston and crew make me laugh out loud. I love the psychoanalytical humour and the way they play on each other’s foibles and insecurities.What keeps you awake at night?Thinking about how to deal with troublesome French arche-ologists! Most of my work is based around the Stone Age fi nd-ings in the South West of France. During the last ice age, about 10,000 to 100,000 years ago, that part of the world was a Garden of Eden for hunters. It was open tundra and had a rich animal population, especially reindeer. Caves and fl int were in abundance. I have had ongoing battles with French archeologists about the interpretation of the fi ndings there. They don’t like the Brits putting them right!How do you relax?I love traveling abroad, and have travelled a lot in Europe and America. I love eating in good restaurants and drinking good French wine. I also enjoy visiting art exhibitions. I love most kinds of art except the Tracy Emin and Damien Hurst variety. My appreciation of art is something Annie taught me on order to get me away from archeology, which is my passion and my hobby as well as my career.What would you rescue from a fi re?My collection of old family photos inherited from my grand-father. My wife would have got out of the house before me clutching photos of our long-dead but beloved and devoted spaniels, Marmaduke and Bunty.What would be the theme tune to your life?Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand By Your Man”. I love the beat and the lyrics, but it also aptly describes my wife’s support for me over the last forty years. I love Country and Western music, and I can do a mean imitation of Johnny Cash - after adequate liquid lubrication.Bette Davis or Grace Kelly?If pushed, Grace Kelly, but I have always preferred Ursula Andress.What is your top tip?Never take yourself, or anyone else, too seriously. I feel very strongly about that as I get older. I have wasted a large part of my life doing both. It only leads to worry.Tell us a secretI once fl ew over the Atlantic on Concorde with Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, and during our two-hour conversation, he confi ded in me that he really wanted to be an archeologist!

ELSWORTH CELEBS Q & ASir Paul Mellars

Advice for April MayPoppy Plantalot writesIn my RHS book, April is listed as "The Exciting Month".So much is showing promise, so much sowing is going on, but the weather can still be treacherous!

So, here we go.Overhaul your mower before the fi rst mow. Buy it a new blade! Check the cable for any unseen nicks / get the petrol one serviced if need be.It's worth doing a little weeding, seed & feed treatment now if (like mine) the lawn looks a tad unkempt.Every year I try to discipline myself to only growing small amounts of lettuces – if you think about it you’re not going to eat thirty in a fortnight when they all come at once? So sow ten in a pot, each week, then transplant out the strongest. Result: a constant but not overwhelming supply of lettuce. It's not so bad with crops that "keep" in the ground – that is, one’s which can be harvested over a longer period, like salad onions, or beetroot, but I do try to repeat- sow certainly my peas, beans, lettuce & sweetcorn. Mother nature of course can wreck this grand theory, by making everything crop at once, but at least I try!

Issue April 2010

COUNTRYSIDE MATTERSCOUNTRYSIDE MATTERSBirdwatching in the gardenPaul Harding writesEvery year, for more than 30 years, the RSPB has organ-ised the national Big Garden Birdwatch. The general public is asked to count the birds they see in their own gardens during one hour in the last weekend of January. This year, the RSPB had records from over half a million gardens and the results are now available at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/results/ .The results from January 2010 are particularly interesting nationally because the effects of the cold winter were already beginning to be seen. Small birds such as Coal Tits and Goldcrests had declined, compared with previous years, and there were larger numbers of Blackbirds and Song and Mistle Thrushes – presumably migrants from the continent.In Cambridgeshire as a whole, and in our own garden in Elsworth, the results were not greatly different from previ-ous years. Starlings and House Sparrows were the com-monest species. In our garden these two species seem to have increased over the last fi ve years, although both are still declining nationally. Most of the rest of the commonest species in Cambridgeshire are all those that you could eas-ily see in a garden in Elsworth, or around the village some-where, and at any time of the year. Blackbird, Collared Dove, Chaffi nch, Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Woodpigeon, Goldfi nch, Robin, Dunnock, Greenfi nch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Song Thrush and Wren.IIn the summer, migrants such as Swallows and House Martins move in around our houses, and in the hedges and woods migrant warblers such as Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap can be heard.Our garden is on the edge of the village and we see species that are probably more common in the surrounding coun-tryside rather than in village gardens. These include Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove and occasionally

Little and Tawny Owls. But there are many other species out there in the countryside; particularly exciting are Buzzards, circling over the fi elds, and in summer spectacular Hobby hunting dragonfl ies.However small your garden, keep an eye open for the local birdlife. And look up into the sky - who knows what you may see: Swans, Geese, a Heron or even a Red Kite. A national bird expert living in Hemingford Grey has seen 140 bird spe-cies in or from his garden – but it has taken him 30 years! At the RSPB’s Hope Farm, most of which is in Elsworth parish, this year they had recorded over 40 species by the end of March and hope to reach 100 species during 2010.If you are interested in birdwatching locally, visit these websites:RSPB Hope Farm:www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hopefarm/Cambridge Bird Club: www.cambridgebirdclub.org.uk .

Reed Bunting Photo Nick Taylor

Don't forget a beer trap for slugs - a half full jar or beer sunk in the ground with the lip just above the surface will allow them to drown very happy - and also give you a good indicator of the scale of problem that you have.Scatter some fertilizer around now. Don't forget to water any young trees if we get a dry spell (if!) After planting, trees need watering once a day for a week, once a week for a month, & once a month for a year.Sow:--tomatoes for outdoors - Ferline is a very blight resistant vari-ety that gives really big tomatoes.-celery & celeriac for planting outdoors in June..-sweetcorn indoors ( plant out in a block for better pollination / fuller cobs ), courgettes, pumpkins & squashes toward the end of the month. lleeks in a pot & park it in the corner of a windowsill. If sowing carrots now, try to give them a fl eece cover to avoid attracting carrot fl y. Sow them thinly, so you don't have to thin later. It's the smell that attracts the fl y, so planting rows of onions or french marigolds round the outside of your rows of carrots is said to help. -all your winter brassicas, broccoli, cabbage, brussels, cau-lifl owers, in a little seed bed patch, to transplant later, when

Issue April 2010

they have made 2/3 true leaves. If you are sowing sweetcorn or french beans directly into the ground, push a lemonade bot-tle with the bottom cut of into the ground around it - it makes a mini greenhouse, prevents slug damage to the seedlings & looks quite surreal.(but not, sadly, that attractive!)Cover up any shoots of potatoes with fl eece ( or anything!) if frost is forecast.Feed fruit crops. Weed around your rasps, & mulch well with manure, compost or straw. Tuck straw under strawberries. A friend of mine uses squares of carpet tiles around each plant, but it's a haven for slugs underneath, & much more fi ddly to do. Fertiliser with high nitrogen content will boost green leafy production, that with high potash contact will boost crop yields ( especially greenhouse crops like peppers, toms & aubergines. The "Three Sisters" is a caribbean way of intercropping that I tried last year. Plant sweetcorn in a block, plant climbing french beans amongst them, & butternut squash amongst that. I got great squash & great beans ( which used the sweet-

corn plants as a climbing frame ) but the sweetcorn didn't crop quite so well as I'd hoped. But if you're short of space, it does get 3 crops from one patch of ground.Try one crop of something you've not grown before. I tried rainbow chard last year. a wonderful, long season cropper ( all through winter ) reds, oranges, yellows & purple stems. cook & eat like spinach. I will defi nitely plant it again.Make a nettle brew. Be warned, this stinks. Pick some young nettle shoots, put them in a big bucket or tub of water & leave. After a fortnight, the water is a stinking but highly potent fer-tiliser. Dilute it & put in a watering can, it's a fast acting fi x to boost growth. The other very old fashioned recommendation which you or may not choose to follow, is that gentlemen (or more agile ladies ) should pee on the compost heap. There is science behind this - urine is very high nitrogen and really hots things up in the composting process! The bacteria that drive the composting process like warm conditions.After that, it seems rather tame to end with "split and move clumps of snowdrops whilst they're still green."

Easter Card Entries and WinnerWinner - Elsworth Water Meadows by

Anna Floto

EASTER DAYBy Lydia Solon

Daffodils yellow bluebells blue roses red tulips too

Flowers coming into blossom showing you their green shoots.

The Easter bunny comes to your house to hide some eggs for you to fi nd when you wake up you say yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

And run out-side and look for clues.

Please e-mail contributions for the next newsletter to:[email protected] by 31st May 2010Send advertising to: [email protected] all other correspondence to: [email protected]

ELSWORTH SPORTELSWORTH SPORT

INTERESTED IN PLAYING TENNIS?Papworth Tennis Club is holding a play tennis fun day on Sunday 2nd May 2010. The day starts at 10.00 and will

focus on adults and children of all ages who may be new to the sport; from noon to 2.30pm the emphasis will be on people of all ages who may previously have played and

would like to return to the game.

Papworth Tennis courts can be found in Papworth Everard at the corner of Ermine Street North and Chequers Lane.

If the thought of playing tennis in pleasant surroundings, at a very friendly club, appeals to you then go along on the 2nd and join in. All necessary equipment will be provided and

members will be on hand to offer support in hitting that ball!

Any age or ability needed for Elsworth teams this season. If interested contact Bill Knibbs on

01954 267266.Nets practice has started

on Tuesday NightsAll welcome.

Matches on Saturdays.Picture Charlie Solon

Picture Ben Floto

Cricketers Needed

a bird’s eye view of elsworth in the snow...6.00 pm evening prayer easter 4 r windsor r french...

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