The Abingtons and

Hildersham News

www.theabingtons.org.uk September 2016

Photo by Tony Collett

Vicarage Garden Fête, Little Abington Saturday 13 August 2016

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Letter from the Editor Never mind the Olympics, and the huge successes for Team GB, just consider the achievements of the Abington Cricket Club this season! The teams are a credit to the villages and warm congratulations are due. See page 18 for the report on recent matches and details of future events including the Annual Dinner. August brought the last Garden Fête to be hosted by Julie Norris as Priest-in-Charge. And it too was a resounding success. The farewell church service at Balsham was very well attended, full of music, thanksgiving for times past, and good wishes to the Norris family for the future (pages 4-6, 9). Steps to be taken to find a new Priest-in-Charge are explained on pages 4, 5. As the extension to Great Abington church nears completion this issue records the funding bodies whose generous contributions to the project have made it possible and to whom we owe a debt of gratitude (page 13). September is the month for Harvest Festivals and services will be held at the United Reformed Church, Little Abington and Hildersham (pages 6, 20). Congratulations to Hildersham PCC for the award they will receive on 10 September for enhancing the facilities of the church (page 8). September also brings resumption of classes and club events as the diary pages (10-11) show. Film Nights start again, the AALGA has its autumn barbecue and there will be a Hoedown organised to raise funds for the Abington schools and the Beavers (page 12). Addenbrooke’s Hospital celebrated its 250th anniversary this year and will be the subject of the Hildersham Lecture on 30 September (page 8). Hildersham Focus highlights the value of the mobile library and, as the evenings draw in, this is a good time to start reading more and making good use of this excellent service (page 8). Looking further ahead there will be flower workshops in October and an important examination of the ways we might benefit from ‘green’ energy at the Parish Energy Event on 29 October (pages 12, 15). The Abington History Group will present an event to mark the Battle of the Somme in November, a date for your diaries (page 15). Plenty to do then.

Valerie Silvey Contents

From the Vicarage, Interregnum,

Vicarage Fête, Reburials at Great Abington, John Le Mottee

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Mobile Library, AALGA BBQ, Film Nights, Fundraising Hoedown JCOCP funding, New noticeboard

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News from the Pews, URC services Little Abington Parish Council,

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Great Abington Parish Council, Committee for Abington Housing, History Group & the Battle of the Somme, Parish Energy event

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Hildersham Focus, Hildersham Parish Council, Linton Village College

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Abington Lunch, WI, Scrabble Reading Group, FGMN, Walking Group, Gardening Club

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Diary Dates, Wheelie bins, Café, contacts

Abington Cricket Club, Music at Duxford, Fundraising for Breast cancer

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Articles for the October edition of The Abingtons and Hildersham News should be sent to the Editor by Thursday 15 September 2016 at news@theabingtons.org.uk Photos welcome.

Message from the Parish Nurse A few of my voicemail messages are not always

being received for some days. We are looking into the problem, but in the meantime please remember that you can contact me via your GP practice.

Thank you for your patience. Teresa Letimier 07498 994 205

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From the Vicarage from Revd Julie Norris for the last time as Priest in Charge of the seven churches. It was really moving to be part of last Sunday’s Service with so many of my colleagues taking part. Before the service began, at the back of the Church I listened to the bell ringers welcoming us to worship and then the Seven Churches Choir sang one of my favourite pieces of music, which has words by Lancelot Andrews set to music by Rutter. It has been such a privilege to work with Very Revd Keith Johnson, Revd Kathy Bishop, Mr Steven Wheeler, Mr Keith Day, Mrs Rosemary Mead and Parish Nurse, Mrs Teresa Letimier along with Mrs Cathy Myer and Mrs Gill Parry Brown who, with Andrew Westwood-Bate, have started training for leadership roles in the future. There are also new people who have recently joined the team. Revd Dr Carrie Pemberton Ford has begun to take services in the group and her ministry is already appreciated. As I leave, I know that you are in good hands with this delightful team who will not just keep things going, but continue to make their own mark.

I was also moved by the generosity of words, gifts and cards which were extended to me. What beautiful and lovely gifts. I take these away to trigger the many rich memories of conversations, activities, events and services that we have shared together. I feel that I have been very blessed to have been here with you at this time. Thank you.

All this came after a lovely Garden Party on Saturday. The weather was perfect, the numbers who came were more than ever, and it was all made possible by the remarkable effort of so many people who gave time and energy not just to setting up, running the stalls, but also to clearing up and finding new homes for the heaps of books and children’s toys which have accumulated each year in the vicarage garage. And more than £800 was raised. (Photo by Valerie Silvey)

Now, as we turn our energy into sorting, packing and moving, I will hold onto my memories of you and your encouragement, which will be a great help on any day when I feel that the book is hard to write.

Revd Dr Julie Norris

The interregnum – what happens next? Seven years ago, in the ‘Balsham Review’ and in ‘Challenge’, I wrote a letter explaining what happens when a Parish Priest leaves. Canon Woolley had left the Balsham Rectory and the four parishes he had been serving were left in an interregnum or vacancy. Until the Revd Dr. Julie Norris was appointed to succeed him, we had a period of waiting.

Seven years later it is all happening again! Julie has been encouraged by both of our Diocesan bishops to take an eighteen month sabbatical to write a book which our national church needs urgently. Julie’s doctorate was on the topic of the ethics linked to advances in medical research, and she is being asked to go to the next stage and write a book on the same subject. New medical procedures are being announced on a regular basis, and there is a need for careful study about their use. Will they be used in a way that is acceptable? There will be a whole range of similar questions that need much thought and careful answers.

Meanwhile we are beginning a new interregnum, and our churchwardens will be composing a profile of our seven churches group, outlining the needs which the new Priest-in-Charge will have to fulfil. They will do this with the guidance of the Archdeacon of Cambridge, and then the search will begin for Julie’s replacement. The ministry team that has been led by Julie includes the Revd Kathy Bishop, Mr Steven Wheeler, Mrs Rosemary Mead and Mr Keith Day and myself, with the assistance of the Revd Dr Carrie Pemberton

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Ford and Revd John Pinder. We also have the invaluable ministry of our Parish Nurse, Mrs Teresa Letimier, who joined our team in January.

Julie’s legacy includes spearheading the project to appoint a Parish Nurse, and the adoption of the policy of Ely Diocese to make every parish church open and equipped for the use of the surrounding community. Under Julie’s leadership three of our seven churches, Hildersham, West Wickham, and (to be completed in October) Great Abington have already been converted for use in this way, with toilets and kitchen facilities. The plans for Balsham include constructing a Parish Room at the West end with toilets, and the funding for this is also almost complete. Weston Colville church has had a new nave floor, opening the church up for community use and a new heating system for the Chancel. West Wratting suffered a theft of lead from its roof in April and the Church Council are doing everything they can to complete repairs before the winter weather.

As I wrote seven years ago, what we can all do is to support all those involved in taking our services in the coming vacancy with our prayers. It is vitally important that the right person is called to serve as our new Priest-in-charge, and so your prayers matter probably far more than you can ever realise.

Keith Johnson

Vicarage Garden Fête Although the day dawned cloudy it was a lovely afternoon as Reverend Julie Norris and her family welcomed villagers from all her parishes to the Vicarage garden for the last time (see cover photo). There were activities for children, games for all the family, a great raffle and stalls to entice people to part with their money and raise much-needed funds for our churches. As friends and families relaxed over a delicious cream tea, Julie thanked everyone for coming and spoke of her sadness at leaving Abington Vicarage after over 7 years. She said she would miss living among us and it had been a great privilege to be our Vicar. Our grateful thanks go to all who helped, donated and supported this event which raised over £800.

Marilyn Broadhurst on behalf of Abington PCC.

Reburials at Great Abington Parish Church During excavations for the extension to St Mary’s Church, Great Abington and the installation of water facilities, the bones and remains of those buried in the churchyard over 200 years ago were discovered by archaeologists. They were sensitively exhumed and have recently been reburied in a service that reflected the wishes of their families and the high probability that they lived in Great Abington. The arrangements for the reburial were very kindly organised by Rothgar Paintin of local funeral directors H. J. Paintin Ltd who have served the local community for over 100 years.

Report and photo from Tony Collett

Clarence John Le Mottee – a former resident of Great Abington, died in Bury St Edmunds Hospital on the night of 28/29 July 2016, aged 93 years. John Le Mottee lived at 54 North Road in 1963, working on the then LSA. He gave up farming his smallholding to follow his wife, Sylvia, into teaching. They moved away but later lived at 98A High Street until 2002. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, their four sons and three grandchildren; their daughter died in 2012. Mike Le Mottee

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News from the Pews It’s Harvest Thanksgiving time again; in Britain we have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times. Harvest Festivals were traditionally held on, or near, the Sunday of the Harvest Moon. This is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox (about 23 September). We hope that following a warm July our local harvest is all ‘safely gathered in’. If you have any surplus flowers, fruit or vegetables to decorate Little Abington Church for this occasion, please leave them in the church porch on the morning of 24 September – thank you. Services have been planned for the next four months; there will be some notable changes and some different style services too. We are most grateful to our dedicated Ministry Team for serving the 7 churches during the interregnum. See page 20 for details of services. Wednesday 14 September – Space to Be – Following the summer break, Space to Be will resume on at 7.30pm, 55 Church Lane. If you would like to join us for an oasis of quiet and relaxation with music and refreshment, please ring Rosemary on 891 716. Sunday 25 September – Harvest Festival Songs of Praise – Do come and join us at 10.45am at St Mary’s Church, Little Abington to celebrate the harvest. This will be a time of thankfulness for the bounties of harvest but also for all the other gifts we receive through the work of the voluntary organisations in our village. We have invited some of our wonderful village groups to select the songs of praise and the service will be followed by refreshment. If you require transport, please ring Tony Collett on 893 447. WELCOME TO A NEW VENTURE FOR THE ABINGTONS ‘Messy Church’ Fun and Worship for the whole family including grandparents and children of all ages. Our first ‘Messy Church’ is on Sunday 2 October from 3.30pm until 5pm in the Village Institute (until refurbishment in Great Abington Church is completed). There will be four seasonal Messy Churches throughout the year and we begin with a celebration of Harvest. ‘Open the Book’ from St Mark’s, Newnham will be telling the story of creation and we will be celebrating the season of harvest through crafts, song and story, with play for toddlers. There will be a Harvest Tea for all at 5pm. Do come and join us. For further details, contact Rosemary Mead or Sarah Creagh. Charity for the month; Blue Smile - ‘Every Child Deserves the Ability to Smile’ Smile Train’s vision is to ensure every child born with a cleft palate can lead a full and productive life. Millions of children in developing countries with untreated clefts live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. Smile Train is an international children’s charity that provides 100% free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children in more than 85 developing countries. We hope you are able to give to this charity ‘with a smile’.

Anne Hall

Little Abington United Reformed Church 4 September 10.15am Mr Peter Sammons 11 September 10.15am Mr Peter Sammons 18 September 2.30pm Revd Bruce Waldron (HC) Harvest Festival 25 September 10.15am Mr Bob Parkin Our Harvest Festival is at 2.30pm on Sunday 18 September when we would welcome anyone who would like to join us in thanking God for His provision for us. Gifts of produce can be bought afterwards and the money will go to help refugees, while gifts of tins and dry goods will go to help those struggling and needing to use Food banks in this country. This service includes Holy Communion but you do not need to participate; just come and join the thanksgiving. For more information, please contact Lynne on 893 295.

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Little Abington Parish Council A Quality Parish Council Village news: The Parish Energy day is now to be held on 29 October in the Institute, volunteers welcome (see page 15). This event needs to be well-supported to highlight this important topic. Residents are reminded also to keep hedges trimmed and pathways clear and also to park cars responsibly. Our thanks to the volunteers who helped clear the fallen tree by the Millennium Bridge. Noise pollution: The on-going building work at Granta Park is causing prolonged problems for residents, particularly in West Field. There has been building for 6 months. Both Parish Councils have already met with representatives from Granta Park and the matter continues to be investigated. Speedwatch: Evidence has been presented to suggest there is a problem with fast cars on Bourn Bridge Road so there is a proposal to change the designed speed limit at the junction of Bourn Bridge Road and Newmarket Road. It remains hazardous at busy periods. Please be vigilant. Volunteers always welcome to join the campaign. Planning applications: S/1617/16/FL: 33 Cambridge Road – recommended approval. Planning updates: S/1403/16/FL: Fourwentways Petrol Station Adblue tank installation – approved by SCDC. S/1559/15/FL: 49 Cambridge Road, discharge of conditions (Tree protection and tree fencing) was noted. Housing developments: It has been felt that due to the significance of the need for additional housing in both villages the recent public consultations held by the developers have presented the ‘only’ viable schemes. As a parish we have a duty of care to ensure that any and all housing proposals meet the needs of the village. Whilst commercial viability is important to both developer and landowner this is not the sole justification for adding houses to the village envelope.

The proposal for Bancroft Farm has seen the original scheme increase in both number of proposed dwellings and the land it would occupy. The current proposal is based on 9 houses each with 3, 4 or 5 bedrooms, fitting the profile of executive family homes. The needs of the village are for more social housing and, in Little Abington in particular, smaller ‘down-size’ homes. Both should be sympathetic to the areas available. The farm buildings that constitute the development area would accommodate the original smaller home proposal without the need to use any of the Protected Village Amenity Area or meadow behind the buildings as the larger, executive proposal at present does.

By presenting the larger proposal for suggested improvement, the developer has implied that we as a village have accepted that scheme. This is not the case. The protection of green spaces is vital and the encroachment on that space for development would set an ugly precedent and question the validity of assuring green space protection.

Little Abington Parish Council Meetings

Abington Institute, High Street

Next Meeting: Monday 12 September 2016 at 7.15pm

Public participation: Come and have your say – 15 minutes, early in meeting

Peter Brunning (Chairman) tel: 891 960 Email: pc@brunning.org.uk

Genevieve Dalton (Clerk) tel: 893 332 Email: clerk@littleabington.clara.co.uk

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Hildersham Focus

Village Lunch The next village lunch will be on Thursday 15 September at 1pm. Doors open at 12.30pm and tickets cost £4. To book your place, please contact Jill on 893 596 or edheale@btinternet.com. The raffle is always popular and we’d like to thank our customers for their generosity, which has enabled us to buy extra items for the village hall. Recent purchases include a big table, heated tray, tea urn and assorted crockery and utensils. Hildersham Jam Stall We are pleased to announce that the stall has raised £232 for EACH in the first seven months of this year. Grateful thanks are due to all our supporters. Donations of homemade preserves are always welcome and, if you feel inspired to make a large batch, we can provide jars and sugar. Please contact Jill on 893 596 or edheale@btinternet.com Mobile Library This excellent service is something of an unsung hero. The library visits Hildersham on the third Tuesday of each month and parks at Church Green, near the end of Blench Lane. It’s open to everyone, free to join and the staff are friendly and helpful. The library offers a wide range of books for all ages, audio books and DVDs. Books can be requested and returns made of items borrowed from any library. Donations of paperbacks in good condition are always welcome. If you love reading, why not give it a go? The next visit will be on 20 September. The mobile library is pink and white and very big – you really can’t miss it! (See page 12). It’s Teatime The next time we meet for tea will be on Thursday 8 September from 3pm in Hildersham Village Hall. We look forward to seeing you again after the summer break. Ride, Drive and Stride 2016 Saturday 10 September from 10am to 6pm This is an opportunity to visit as many churches in your local area as you can by bike, car or on foot. Money raised through sponsorship is shared between your local church and Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust. Sponsorship forms are available on the CHCT website: www.camhct.uk or at the back of the church. Hildersham church will be open all day and Andrew Westwood-Bate will be on hand to give tours of the beautiful stained glass windows and wall paintings.

Hildersham PCC is delighted to receive an Engage Award from the Right Reverend Dr. David Thompson, Bishop of Huntingdon, for its endeavours to make the church building more accessible and fit for many purposes in the community - in other words for the very fine accessible toilet and kitchenette facilities. Bishop David, who is chairman of Cambridge Historic Churches Trust, will be calling in at the church between 3pm and 3.30pm on 10 September to present the award. Hildersham Lecture Friday 30 September at 7.30pm in Hildersham Church - Happy Birthday Addenbrooke’s, 250 years old. Who better to celebrate the birthday of our great local hospital than Keith Day MBE, former Administrative Director and Chief Executive of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. He knows a thing or two! Many of us

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have cause to be grateful to Addenbrooke’s for its outstanding care. Come and join us in raising a glass. Revd Dr. Julie Norris The most significant change to our parishes is that Julie Norris, who has been our Priest-in-Charge for more than 7 years, has now moved on to develop her work in medical ethics. On Sunday 14 August a beautiful service of celebration and thanksgiving was held in the crowded Holy Trinity church at Balsham. The whole ministry team took part and Parish Nurse Teresa Letimier talked about the importance of showing the love of God through her caring ministry in the villages. Finally the parishes presented Julie with gifts including a photo montage of activities in the 7 churches, an exquisite wooden plate in plane turned by Glynn Hall, membership of the Fitzwilliam Museum and a cheque. We all lingered to enjoy the refreshments and hospitality provided by the Balsham team. We wish Julie, James, Rachel, Thomas and Miriam every blessing in the future.

Hildersham Parish Council

A Quality Parish Council

The next meeting of Hildersham Parish Council will be on Tuesday 13 September from 7.30pm at Hildersham Village Hall, High Street, Hildersham.

Linton Village College Having spent the end of the summer holidays celebrating the achievements of our outgoing Year 11 students, we start the new academic year by welcoming a new cohort of students into Year 7. What both groups will appreciate, from experiencing significant examination periods in the summer term, is that the process of being tested is also a test of character; it examines resolve, focus, discipline, resilience and work ethic.

Academic success doesn’t rely on genetic ability and very few students are able to excel in terminal assessments without the help of effective preparation through revision and, more importantly, the acquisition of understanding and positive learning habits.

We are proud of this summer’s GCSE results at LVC. However, we are even prouder of the people behind this success: the students who not only achieved excellent value-added in terms of their progress scores, but developed strong values and character.

While qualifications are important, colleges and employers do not simply appoint applicants on the basis of grades; candidates’ attitudes are just as important as their aptitudes. Communication, team work and initiative and flexibility feature highly in employability surveys. Furthermore, success, happiness and fulfilment in life depend on much more than test outcomes.

In consultation with students, parents and governors, the Junior Leadership Team at LVC are in the process of formally launching The Linton Learner: a new code of conduct for students that recognises the behaviours that we value, teach, endorse and reward. The following learning attributes are the key characteristics that we seek to promote to help students to develop into successful learners and well-rounded young people:

Caring Curious Reflective Responsible Ambitious Independent While it is crucial that students leave school with great academic outcomes

representing excellent achievement and progress, it is even more important that they develop character traits that will equip them with the ability to adapt, thrive and succeed in life.

Helena Marsh, Principal

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Dates for your Diary Date Venue Abington Institute unless stated Time Page

Thu 1 Abington Walking Group 10.00am 17

Sat 3 Scrapbooking Group 10.00am 11

Tue 6 Art Group Forget-Me-Not Club Keep Fit

9.30am 2.00pm 7.00pm

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Wed 7 Yoga – course and drop in Senior Keep Fit Yoga – course and drop in

9.30am 12 noon 7.00pm

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Thu 8 Hildersham Teatime – Village Hall 3.00pm 8

Fri 9 Baby & Toddler Group – Pre-school building 9.30am 11

Sat 10 AALGA annual BBQ – near Linton Road entrance 10.00am 12

Mon 12 Abington & Hildersham WI Little Abington Parish Council

7.30pm 7.15pm

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Tue 13 Art Group Reading Group – 31 West Field, Little Abington Keep Fit Hildersham Parish Council – Village Hall

9.30am 8.00pm 7.00pm 7.30pm

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Wed 14 Yoga – course and drop in FGMN Club visit to Morrison’s Senior Keep Fit Dynamic Dance Class Yoga – course and drop in Space to Be – 55 Church Lane, Little Abington

9.30am

12 noon 3.15pm 7.00pm 7.30pm

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11 11

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Thu 15 Hildersham Lunch – Village Hall, doors open 12.30pm 8

Fri 16 Baby & Toddler Group – Pre-school building Low Impact Aerobics Pilates Film Night – doors open

9.30am 9.30am

10.45am 6.45pm

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Sat 17 Abington Walking Group Abington Cricket Club dinner – Saffron Walden Golf Club

10.00am 7.30pm

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Mon 19 Great Abington Parish Council Abington Gardening Club

7.15pm 7.30pm

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Tue 20 Art Group Mobile Library Forget-Me-Not Club Keep Fit

9.30am am

2.00pm 7.00pm

12 17

Wed 21 Yoga – course and drop in Senior Keep Fit Dynamic Dance Class Yoga – course and drop in

9.30am 12 noon 3.15pm 7.00pm

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Thu 22 Abington Lunch 12.45pm 16

Fri 23 Baby & Toddler Group – Pre-school building Low Impact Aerobics Pilates

9.30am 9.30am

10.45am

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Sat 24 Rivercare litter pick-up – meet at road bridge/ford Family Yoga Morning

9.30am 10.00am

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Pre-School Fundraising Hoedown 8.00pm 12

Tue 27 Art Group Keep Fit Scrabble Club

9.30am 7.00pm 7.00pm

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Wed 28 Yoga – course and drop in Senior Keep Fit Dynamic Dance Class Yoga - course and drop in

9.30am 12 noon 3.15pm 7.00pm

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Fri 30 Baby & Toddler Group – Pre-school building Low Impact Aerobics Pilates

Hildersham Lecture – Hildersham Church

9.30am 9.30am

10.45am 7.30pm

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11 11

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For details of contacts please see inside back cover or articles where indicated. Institute bookings: phone 01223 790 711 or email institute@theabingtons.org.uk

Wheelie bin dates for September 2016

Mon 5 Mon 12 Mon 19 Mon 26 Black Green/Blue Black Green/Blue

Jeremiah’s Café in Abington Village Institute

Opening times in September 2016

Thursday lunchtimes 11.30am to 1.30pm (1, 8, 15, 29) Lunch 22nd

Friday mornings 8.45am to 11.00am every Friday

Saturday mornings 10am to 12 noon every Saturday

Contacts for Café – Gaynor Farrant 07817 517 871 or gaynorfarrant198@btinternet.com and Gill Smith (892 759) or richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk

Scrapbooking Group – We meet one Saturday of every month and welcome you to take a look any time and ask questions. Yoga – Wednesdays 9.30am and 7pm at Abington Institute Contact Joan 890 629 or email joangraham72@gmail.com Dynamic Dance Theatre School – Wednesdays from 3.15pm Ballet and modern dance lessons for children from 4 years old at Abington Institute. Contact Esme on 07719 816 548 or esmewatts@hotmail.com Low Impact Aerobics – Fridays 9.30-10.30am at Abington Institute Suitable for 50+ or those returning to exercise. Aerobics, toning and stretching. Exercises to raise your heart rate and tone your body; fun and friendly. Pilates – Fridays 10.45-11.45am at Abington Institute Pilates exercises will help to alleviate back pain, increase core strength, improve posture and flexibility. Please book for 5 weeks for Low Impact Aerobics and Pilates. Contact Disa Bennett on 07798 754 029 or www.zumbaandpilatescambridge.co.uk Abington Pre-school Baby and Toddler Group This group runs during term time from the Annexe building at the bottom of the school playground; open on Fridays from 9.30am to 11.30am, for all children aged 0–3 years old. Come along and play. Refreshments provided for children and adults. Contact Natasha 07725 175 917 or email petrovnatasha@yahoo.co.uk Baby Yoga – Sundays 10am at Abington Institute Fun and relaxing classes to support baby’s natural development combined with gentle exercises for mums and dads. Please contact Jeffi to register your interest 07931 790 591.

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Family Yoga Morning Saturday 24 September 10-11am at Abington Institute Come and start your day with some stretches, yoga games and fun! Aimed at children of all ages and their parents. This is a new monthly class. Please contact Jeffi for more information on 07931 790 591.

Mobile Library

Tuesday 20 September 2016, times as follows: Little Abington West Field 10.00–10.30am Great Abington North Road 10.40–11.10am Magna Close 11.20am–12.10pm The Shop 12.15–12.35pm Hildersham Church Green 12.45–1.00pm

AALGA Summer BBQ The Allotment Association’s annual site barbecue will be held on Saturday 10 September 2016 from 12 noon – 1.30pm, near the Linton Road entrance. Burgers and hotdogs (with veggie alternative) and drinks will be available for sale on the day. Allotment holders, villagers and friends are all welcome to attend. This is a good opportunity to walk around the site, to see what is being grown and how the Association members are using this valued community resource.

Film Nights at Abington Institute Film Night returns for its fifth season on Friday 16 September at 7.00pm. Doors open 6.45pm. Everyone welcome. Raffle and refreshments. See the poster in the Institute for full details. If you would like to receive details of the film by email approx. 2 weeks before a screening then subscribe to our mailing list using the link at http://www.theabingtons.org.uk or email an enquiry to films@theabingtons.org.uk

Dianne Dawson (893 101)

Abington Hoedown, Saturday 24 September 2016, 8.00pm – 12.00am Dust off your Stetson, put your cowboy boots on and head on down to the Institute for an Abington style hoedown! A bottle of Budweiser on arrival and Line Dancing by a professional caller. The Three Tuns will be providing the bar. Tickets £8.50 each, available now from the Village shop and from Charlotte Adams (892 443 / cmhadams@yahoo.co.uk). Any profit made will be donated to Great Abington Primary School, Abington Pre-School and Abington Beavers.

Flower workshops 2016 Autumn workshops Thursday 13 October 2016 10am - 12.30pm Thursday 3 November 2016 10am - 12.30pm These two different workshops will be held on the Terrace, Abington Institute, and will use seasonal flowers to create arrangements for you to enjoy. To register your interest or to find out more please get in touch. 01223 891 464 // fredasflowers@hotmail.co.uk Freda Orgee

‘We don't talk about this sort of thing’ A discussion with broadcaster Libby Purves, Revd Prof Alasdair Coles and the Bishop of Huntingdon on Monday 3 October, 7pm (talk starts at 7.30pm) at Meadow School, Balsham. Engaging in a conversation about the spiritual issues around end of life, care of the dying and support for the bereaved. This is a health awareness event, as part of our Parish Nurse project, and is free to attend.

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John Chaplin Open Church Project update The building project is well advanced; the external walls and roof of the extension are in place and the kitchenette units installed. With most of the rewiring completed the final stages of equipping the extension and kitchenette areas, fitting doors and windows, re-flooring and external lighting are all scheduled to be done by the end of September.

Whilst much funding has come from the community via concerts, individual and business donations, over £100,000 has come from grant funding bodies. The largest are the Amey Community Fund £26,881 and WREN £38,449. The former is part of the Landfill Communities Fund that awards grants to support community, environmental and heritage projects run by non-profit organisations based in Cambridgeshire, within 10 miles of a landfill site and is managed by the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation. WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. It is part funding a community area that will be used by the community when completed. Other grants have been received from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Beatrice Laing Trust, All Churches Trust and the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust.

New notice board donated for St Mary’s the Virgin, Great Abington

Derek Patten has very kindly donated and erected a smart new notice board in the Great Abington High Street. The parochial church council are very appreciative of this especially at a time when the facilities are being improved for everyone.

Village News on the website To see the News before the printed copy reaches you, and to see the pictures in colour, go to www.theabingtons.org.uk/news and follow the link to the pdf file for the month you want.

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Great Abington Parish Council An Active Council Please remember to be a good neighbour at this time of the year by ensuring that your hedges and trees don't cause a problem by obstructing footways or encroaching on next door. If you are having a BBQ or garden event, please have consideration for others in respect of noise and smoke. Also make sure that vehicles are parked so that they do not obstruct footways. If you have a dog, please remember to clear up after them to avoid other people's pleasant walk being spoilt by stepping in nasty stuff. Let’s all continue to work towards this being the perfect village to live in.

The Former LSA Neighbourhood Plan - the initial public consultation for the neighbourhood plan has closed. The Parish Council’s application is now with the SCDC portfolio holder for Planning to make the decision as to whether the application will be accepted.

Planning - S/1926/16/VC - Granta Park Variation of condition 2 (Approved plans) to planning permission S/1109/15/FL. No recommendation was made on the application but the Parish Council asked SCDC to consider its concern about the height of the building and the extra traffic. S/1799/16/DC - Granta Park, notification of discharge of conditions received for information only. S/1905/16/FL - Dr and Mrs Sainsbury, Land at the rear of 78 High Street, change of use from agricultural to residential garden land (retrospective). Recommended approval with comment that conditions which prohibit development in the future should be applied.

Coach Trip - This year the trip went to Felixstowe and took place on Friday 5 August. The coach was fully booked and included the young with their buckets and spades and adults of all ages. The great weather ensured that all who attended enjoyed a good day out.

Community Speedwatch - New volunteers are still required to be trained as part of the Speedwatch team. If you are interested please get in touch with Steve Garrett on abingtonspeedwatch1@yahoo.co.uk

Great Abington Parish Council Meetings Held in Abington Village Institute

Planning Committees: Usually Mondays, as required, 6.30pm. See notice board for dates or contact the parish clerk.

Next Parish Council meeting Monday 19 September 2016, 7.15pm. There will be an opportunity early in the meeting for members of the public to speak to the council about matters of concern.

Bernie Talbot (Chairman) tel.892 647 Agenda and minutes posted on notice board located at the entrance to Magna Close or available from the parish clerk. Jane Bowen (891 137), Paula Harper (Clerk): harper802@btinternet.com (892 000) Don’t forget you can keep up to date with us through social media.

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Committee for Abington Housing

At a meeting of the committee on 10 August, Hill Residential Limited gave an update of the situation regarding the three sites.

The Pampisford Road/High Street site had been redesigned following further discussions with the SCDC planners. It is hoped that a decision will finally be made at the SCDC October planning committee.

The Linton Road and Church Lane sites had been discussed with the SCDC planners at a pre-application meeting. Formal feedback from this meeting was long overdue but had been promised by the end of August. Hill tabled new schemes for both sites that had been amended following verbal feedback from the planners.

The meeting recommended some changes to the design of the Linton Road site particularly how it related to the Linton Road frontage and also the internal road which terminated with a gate to the field beyond the site.

The amended scheme for the Church Lane site had been reduced in area and some of the units had been reduced in size. The committee were generally positive about the changes made, however were still not happy about the site having 9 units instead of 6 and still being larger than the area originally proposed by the committee resulting in encroachment into the protected meadow behind.

Committee for Abington Housing meetings are always open to all villagers. The next meeting of the Committee will be arranged when there is further information available from the SCDC planners and/or from Hill.

Bernie Talbot, Chairman.

The Battle of the Somme ended on 18 November 1916

The Abington History Group will host an evening about the Battle of the Somme

In the Institute Friday 18 November 2016 at 7.30pm

The Battle of the Somme lasted 141 days from 1 July to 18 November 1916. It was the first battle where Kitchener’s New army and the Pals Brigades would take a leading role, but would result in over 420,000 British casualties including 19,240 killed on the first day. Two of our Abington parishioners were killed in the battle and several more were in regiments that fought in the battle. Two cameramen, Geoffrey Malins and John McDowell, were allowed to film the early days of the battle and they produced some of the most iconic images of the war which were seen in cinemas by an estimated 20 million people – nearly half the population of Britain at that time. 100 years on, please come and join the Abington History Group for an evening about the Battle of the Somme. Note the date, 18 November, in your diaries – more information in the next News and on the Institute noticeboard.

Barry Brooks

Parish Energy Efficiency Event – Institute – 29 October This event (“Abington Green”) will be held on 29 October in the Institute from 10am to

1pm. The café will operate as usual. We plan to have a good selection of suppliers of

solar panels, heating, insulation and similar products and also talks by experts and local residents with useful experience. We will show how a thermal camera can highlight heat loss from your house. We would be happy to hear from anyone who feels they could help with organisation, share their experience or suggest topics.

Peter Brunning – peter.brunning@cantab.net – 891 960

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Abington Lunch

Thursday 22 September 2016

Fruit Juice

Roast Pork with Apple Sauce Roast Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce and Ice cream

Tea or Coffee

Please book your meal on 07789 585 399. Leave your name and telephone number with your message before noon on Tuesday 20 August. Don’t forget to tell us if you need a

special diet. Doors open at 12.45pm. Note that the lunch is open to ALL Abington and

Hildersham residents, young and old. Only £5. Next lunch Thursday 27 October 2016

Abington & Hildersham Women's Institute Our August outing took us to the Raptor Foundation near St. Ives. This centre provides a rescue service and medical care for injured raptors and becomes a permanent, caring environment for raptors unable to return to the wild. The staff conduct research into environmental problems and conservation matters and also assist with "Breed & Release" programs to rebuild raptor populations across Europe.

There are displays nearly every day, when the birds are able to fly in the open and demonstrate their keen sight, hearing and beautiful flight, not to mention their sharp talons and beaks as they devour chick titbits. As well as owls from all over the world, hawks and eagles inhabit the aviaries and there are meercats and reptiles to see. The handlers clearly love their work and are eager to share their knowledge and experience. With a tea-room, shops, pond and play area the centre provides a great day out for young and old.

Taken when WI members visited the Raptor Foundation, Julie Garner is seen in the owl board, with feathered stars of Harry Potter films who reside at the Raptor Foundation and perform falconry tricks for visitors. (Photo by Annette Shortell) Next meeting: Monday 12 September at 7.30pm - Cookery Talk & Quiz with Sian Fox. All welcome.

Marilyn Broadhurst (893 214)

Scrabble Club The next meeting will be at 7pm on Tuesday 27 September in the Institute. If possible, please bring your own board and tiles. New members very welcome.

Sheena Fraser

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Reading Group

13 September The Lonely Londoners Samuel Sevlon

31 West Field Little Abington

11 October The Help Kathryn Stocket

6 Chalky Road Great Abington

Please confirm your acceptance for September to Liz on 893 572. Diana Wingfield

Forget-Me-Not Club

For our last meeting before the summer break, we met on a beautiful warm summer afternoon at Abington Woods by kind invitation of Deborah and Chris who manage the site. They were the perfect hosts and made us so welcome, providing a marquee, with bunting made by Deborah, music, and wild flowers for table decoration. TWI kindly supplied a beautifully decorated and delicious cake for us all to enjoy. Sincere thanks on behalf of the club members to Deborah and Chris and to TWI for contributing to a wonderful relaxing afternoon. We have some very interesting programmes booked from now until Christmas. We look forward to all our members joining us again and maybe some new ones too.

Dates for September

Tuesday 6 September – 2pm – Talk by Lisa Foo on CORAM, a charity set up by Thomas Coram in 1739 to help destitute mothers and their children. We look forward to welcoming Lisa, who lives in Great Abington. Wednesday 14 September – Trip to Morrison’s Supermarket Tuesday 20 September – 2pm – Talk by Geoff Evans – ‘My Scotland’ a welcome return visit by Geoff who will be entertaining us on a different subject this time.

Anne Hall (Chair) Tel; 892 275

Abington Walking Group

Our Tuesday walk was one of our Pub Walk Days which started at the White Hart in Wimbish, then through the glorious wooded area on our way to Debden and back to the pub on a wonderful sunny day, with seven of us enjoying a pub lunch. Saturday’s planned walk was abandoned due to adverse weather, with gale force winds and threatened rain, and we walked through Hildersham, Little Linton and passed Hildersham woods back to the village.

This month’s walks are on Thursday 1 and Saturday 17September. Why not join us and enjoy the fresh air and pleasant company.

For further information, please contact: Robin Harman on 891 730 robandkayharman@gmail.com or George Woodley on 891 169 georgewoodley@talktalk.net .

Abington Gardening Club

On Monday 19 September at 7.30pm in the Institute there will be a social evening, courtesy of the Committee, preceded by the AGM. All welcome

Kay Harman, Secretary (891 730) email: robandkayharman@gmail.com

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Abington Cricket Club - Silverware! We have a big shiny trophy on display in the Three Tuns thanks to our 3rd team’s amazing success in the CCA Lower Junior Cup. Having reached the finals day of the 20-over competition via a bye, a toss of a coin and a very narrow 4-run win in the first three rounds, why would the semi-final at Clare College ground be any different? Chasing Wilbraham 2nd XI’s 136-5 we were totally in control with half centuries from Guy Ennew and skipper Jamie Ketteridge and just 22 runs needed from five overs. However, four wickets fell and we needed 10 to win off the last over but managed nine! Scores level, who wins? Then it’s wickets lost - still level; then ‘countback’: 19 overs - still level, 18 overs - we win by 1 run!

The final was almost an anti-climax, defeating Barley by 49 runs thanks to man-of-the-match ‘guest player’ Bruce Wagstaff’s biffing and Barley’s ‘guest player’ failing (having scored 124* in the other semi-final).

We have another final at Clare to look forward to on Sunday 21 August as the 1st XI take on Cambridge St. Giles in the Invitation Cup with almost as nerve-jangling route taken as the 3rd XI - a 3 and a 1 wicket success in the previous rounds. The following Sunday is our club fun day with the annual Super 6s competition and the Village Egg throwing (and catching!) championship.

Saturday league cricket is very much looking up - we have continued to attract new players. The 1st XI have stayed in the top half of the Senior One table and the 2nd XI have found the winning habit with four straight successes. After a barren July, the 3rd XI have won two on the bounce as well as the cup success.

Like father like son, so the saying goes, but the Ennews do it differently. Groundsman dad Guy followed his son Luke’s (his assistant) example by recording his first century for the club - 104* v Elmdon on 30 July for the 2ndXI and then followed it up the following week with 93 for the 1st XI. Guy has now scored around 800 runs for the club this season despite missing many weeks recovering from a heart attack, weeks making sure the wicket was just how he liked it!

Finally our popular annual dinner is once again at Saffron Walden Golf Club on Saturday 17 September, all welcome. Please contact Russell Knight (07483 210 837) for further details and tickets.

David Pimblett

If You’d Like To Be A Blower, Twanger, Scraper, Singer Or Actor, Come And Start Your Journey On 17 September! Duxford Saturday Music Workshop offers junior and adult would-be musicians the chance to learn one of more than 20 different instruments at Duxford School on Saturday mornings during term-time. Registration for the 2016/17 Workshop year is on Saturday morning, 17 September, at Duxford Primary School, St. John’s Street, Duxford from 10.00 to 11.30am, and Workshop sessions begin at 9.30am on the following Saturday, 24 September. You don’t have to own an instrument. See you on 17 September!

Peter Howarth, Duxford Workshop Management Team

Breast Cancer Appeal Friday 21 October 2016 Can you host an afternoon tea party to help raise money for the Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal? Invite friends, family and colleagues on Friday 21 October (or a date convenient to you) for tea and fun ‘boobie’ cakes. How about bakewell tarts, chelsea buns or macaroons? It’s as easy as A, B, C! Your support will help raise £50,000 to screen one more patient at Addenbrooke’s every day. To find out more call Emily at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) on line at fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk or on www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/ABCappeal or phone 01223 349 885.

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Church Services for September 2016

DATE Gt. Abington

Lt. Abington

Hildersham

Readings

4 September

10.45am

Communion

6.00pm

Evensong

Philemon 1-21 Luke 14.25-33

11 September 8.00am Communion

9.15am

Communion

1Timothy 1.12-17 Luke 15. 1-12

18 September 9.15am Communion

4.00pm

Café Church

1Timothy 2. 1-7 Luke 16.1-13

25 September 10.45am

Harvest Songs of Praise

9.15am

Communion – Book of Common Prayer

1Timothy 6.6-19 Luke 16.19-31

Church Flower Rota

Great Abington Little Abington Hildersham

4 September Anne Hall and Judy Davies Jean Morton

11 September Patsy Randall Lesley Crisp and Andrew Westwood-Bate

18 September as and when necessary Rosemary Mead Andrew Westwood-Bate

25 September Amanda Marns Jenny Logan

Churchwardens

Hildersham Cathy Myer ‘Woodside’, Hildersham 892 848

Andrew Westwood-Bate 5 Sleford Close, Balsham 892 430

Great Abington Tony Collett 23 Meadow Walk, Great Abington 893 447

Little Abington Graham Ross 41 Church Lane, Little Abington 891 564

Assistant Church Wardens

Great Abington

Anne Hall 12 Magna Close, Great Abington 892 275

Patsy Randall 77 High Street, Great Abington 07765 345 714

Little Abington

Mary Miles 36 Church Lane, Little Abington 891 083

Marilyn Broadhurst 34 West Field, Little Abington 893 214

Parish Nurse

Teresa Letimier

Not 24 hrs, please leave a message if no reply -Teresa will respond when next on duty.

07498 994 205