Discovering March issue 120, September 2023

Welcome to your September issue...

No sooner do we get to feel some welcome sun on our faces, (once it has stopped raining!) than we find ourselves entering autumn this month. At this rate, it will be Christmas before you can say, “Don’t mention the ‘C’ word!”

I seem to recall that September “back-toschool time” often meant the sunshine accompanying the pupils and teachers as the new term began. I hope your summer break went to plan and you were all able to make the most of it. I trust our little people made it a summer to remember for all parents, and stress levels didn’t get too high! Now... breathe!!!

As ever, I send big thanks to all our contributors, advertisers, and our editorial team, who continue their unwavering support to ensure that, each month, your “favourite freebie” magazine brings you the very best.

When I was younger, I was pretty much obsessed with sport. That was playing it and also watching it. No sports were off my radar; I loved them all (except for badminton). However, as I got older the aches and pains caused by playing too much in the past meant an end to participation and I became a discerning spectator. Throughout it all my first love was football. Not international football, but club football. The summer may have been packed with great events, such as the Ashes, Wimbledon and the recent Ladies’ World Cup, but I have been eagerly awaiting the resumption of the English football season and in particular watching my favourites in action once again. I will not tell you the name of the team I support, but months of anticipation quickly turned into frustration as the players collectively looked like they had never seen a round ball before. Despite the missed tackles, chances and some seriously pedestrian play, my team won... oh the joy! It made me feel great to be alive... On a different note, I hope the weather stays fine for everyone connected with March Armed Forces Fair on Sunday, September 3rd. Good luck to the organisers, stall holders and of course visitors. Andy

Discovering Magazines, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET

Publisher and Sales Claire Saberton: 01778 421427 | 07837 499061 | sales@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Sales Paula Kirtland: 07903 776211 | marketing.discoveringmagazines@gmail.com

Sales Sallyanne Davis: 07737 026594 | sal@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Editor Andy Hurst: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Ops Director Andy Armstrong: 07780 922214

Accounts Sarah Brooks: 07564 966452 | accounts@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Design Sarah Gumbley | Andy Beavis | Graham Copestake | Dan Handley

Inside Highlights

With thanks to:

The

Deadline details:

Copy deadline for the October issue is Monday, 11th September 2023.

The Shed Shop, Peter Wright, Eileen Le Voi, Diamond Byte, Joan Munns, Vine Law, March Podiatry, Lin Stanton, Steve Barclay MP,

Light Cinema and Trevor Langley.

Nights are starting to draw in, growth is slowing down and hopefully you should be able to get on top of the weed growth. Now is a good time to take stock of what grew well and what was not as successful as this will help with next year’s planning. Also it is an ideal time if you are thinking of taking over an allotment plot or turning part of your garden over to vegetables, as you can prepare the soil by digging and adding fertiliser or manure and then cover it over until you are ready to plant out next year: this will help with weed control and you can roll back the covering as you re-dig and plant out. Raised beds could be built in readiness and you have plenty of time to plan which crops to grow.

There will be quite a bit of clearing to do as you harvest this year’s crops. Clear the soil of spent crops; leaving them to rot on the soil may spread disease, so put them on the compost heap, if they are not diseased. You could then rough dig or you could sow “green manures.” Field beans, annual rye grass or phacelia are just a few examples. These green manures provide compost material; they help prevent weed growth; and they soak up nutrients that would normally be washed away by winter rains.

September is a good time to plant several crops which are hardy enough to withstand the winter and they will provide a steady supply of fresh leaves through to next spring.

• winter lettuces (“Valdor” “Arctic King” or “Winter Density” are good varieties to choose)

• spring greens – seeds can be sown in modules for planting out in October.

• spinach

• lamb’s lettuce and oriental leaves

• onion sets and garlic.

• Planting broad beans in the autumn is an effective way to avoid blackfly as they crop earlier. Crop covers keep the temperature slightly higher than the ambient temperature and protect the plants from getting battered by harsher weather conditions.

A few jobs that need doing this month include:

• Lift onions and potatoes. Onions should be stored in the light in a cool, frost-free place. Potatoes should be stored in a dark, dry, frost-free place, such as a garage or shed. Only store undamaged and healthy tubers, dry them out well before storing them in hessian or paper sacks.

• Cut down asparagus to 2.5cms(1in) above the ground.

• Turn the compost heap and water if it is dry.

• Earth-up or stake Brussels and remove any yellowing lower leaves or those that have fallen off as these are ideal homes for pests to shelter. Tall growing varieties may need staking against autumn winds.

• Ripen pumpkins and squashes by removing leaves to allow sunlight in.

• Plant new strawberry plants and those propagated from runners.

• Complete the summer pruning of soft fruit bushes, apple, and pear trees. Continue with their training and tying in.

• Feed all late crops with a general fertiliser such as pelleted chicken manure.

SPONSORED BY THE SHED SHOP

BertramMills

PART TWO: THREE DAYS OF WONDER

By Peter Wright on behalf of March & District Museum

At the end of January 1938, the Conservative party chose Mr Bertram Mills as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Isle of Ely constituency at a well-attended and enthusiastic adoption meeting. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he died at his country home, Pollards Wood, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire on Saturday, April 16th, 1938, aged just sixty-four.

The appearance of the Bertram Mills Circus at March had been considered an opportunity to further enhance his popularity among the ordinary voters as the Cambs Times of April 29th, 1938, had an eye-catching illustration of four elephants as a promotional item for the circus.

In the early hours of Saturday, April 30th, the largest tent ever erected in Britain was put up in a field at the rear of Oak Tree House, 68 West End, March, home of Mr Harold Arthur Sharman, who was in the legal profession. All the living caravans for the circus artistes and staff and all the other tents and vans were grouped 'like a myriad of dots around its billowing sides'. Three special trains were needed to bring the circus from its previous appearance at Cambridge.

Two two-and-a-half hour performances were scheduled for Saturday and Monday at 3pm and 7pm. Seats were available at 1/3d, 2/6d and the best seats at 3/9d. The menagerie would be open for the public to view on Friday, Saturday and Monday.

Two hours before the first performance on Saturday afternoon, queues began to form. The Big Top had a capacity close to four thousand people, but many had to be turned away at every performance. Hundreds of people had flocked to March to swell the audience with more than one hundred cars and thirty-six buses being recorded.

The circus was opened by local veterinary surgeon and horse enthusiast Mr Herbert Henry Truman. He and his wife and two daughters rode from their home at The Maze in High Street in a coach drawn by four white horses. March Railway Silver Band and March Town Silver Band marched to the circus from the other side of the town.

Ringmaster Mr F Foster introduced Mr Truman, who said that it was a pleasant duty on behalf of March to offer a cordial welcome to Bertram Mills' circus and menagerie. His welcome was tinged with regret at the death of Bertram Mills and he expressed deepest sympathy with Mrs Mills and her family in what he described as a national loss. Before the opening, Mr Truman had inspected the circus animals and he paid tribute to the very fine condition of the horses and other animals. Good evidence of the kindness and attention given was evident and deserved the highest praise.

Pictured: below left: The Parade of Elephants leaving March Station on their way to the Big Top. Below right: Mr H. H. Truman and family preparing to leave the Maze, High Street, for the opening ceremony

MATTERS COMMUNITY

We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at:

Discovering March, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET

Email: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

ONE OF MARCH’S OLDEST BUILDINGS GETS A FACELIFT

One of March’s oldest Conservation Area buildings has been getting a new lease of life with support from Fenland District Council.

Work on the previously vacant and partially derelict 26 Market Place, opposite March Town Hall and close to the Grade II Listed Ye Olde Griffin Hotel, was expected to be completed by this month. The redevelopment has become a labour of love for the mother and son team who bought it at auction not knowing the extent of its disrepair. The building, which has parts that date back to the 16th or 17th centuries and had been empty for several years, was close to being condemned. ›

Photos: Rama Ragupathy and Kamala Alagappan outside the March Market Place property they've saved from dereliction with support from Fenland District Council. Top right: 26 Market Place, March

A new tenant has been lined up to move her beautician business into the ground floor and the rest of the building is being transformed into flats for rental.

Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for transport and lead member of the March Future High Streets steering group, said: “It’s wonderful to see this enhancement of a building that has long been a detraction from the charm of the town centre’s Conservation Area and may never have been redeveloped without council support.

“The building faces onto the Market Place which has just had a £440k investment and will now add to the overall appeal of the area.

“All these different aspects are coming together to support the overall £multi-million regeneration of March town centre to make it attractive and viable now and into the future.”

Kamala Alagappan has been in the construction industry for three decades and runs a firm offering quantity surveyor, project management and health and safety services, but had never completed her own renovation project. She took on 26 Market Place with son Rama Ragapathy, who joined the family business after university.

Fenland District Council awarded the project a £25,000 grant from the Vacant Unit Activation Scheme, which is available to property owners who are looking to bring empty shops back into use. The Vacant Unit Activation Scheme is part of the Council’s Future High Streets Fund project, which has been made possible thanks to £6.4 million from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) and £2million from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Vacant Unit Activation grants are available to eligible property owners in March until March 2024.

For more information about the grant see: www.fenland.gov.uk/article/16518/Vacant-UnitActivation-Scheme-grant-scheme or, if you think you might qualify to apply, contact: Project Officer Matt Wright on mwright@fenland.gov.uk

Oh Sew Caroline, Whittlesey’s fabric, wool and haberdashery shop is fairly new; only 17 months old, but they aim to stay around for as long as you will have them!

Dressmaking fabrics, a good selection of knitting/crochet yarns, patterns and all sorts of haberdashery items – you will be surprised what this little shop has! Plus, they offer all kinds of courses to help everyone to learn new skills or just expand your knowledge.

New stock arrives regularly and they're always ready to hear suggestions for stock or courses. They hold regular sessions such as 'Saturday Sewcials' and 'Happy Hookers' – why not book a place on one and find out what it's all about?

Oh Sew Caroline is open Tuesday to Friday, 9am2pm and 9am-4pm on a Saturday. Find them at High Causeway, Whittlesey PE7 1AE. For more information, email ohsewcaroline@hotmail.com or visit www.ohsewcaroline.co.uk or search Facebook and Instagram.

BUSINESS CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR IN MARCH

Husband and wife team Rick and Jan Wollen have just celebrated a successful first year in business in March after moving to the town from Harlow in Essex.

The couple have enjoyed a great start to life in the Fens with their company RW Home Improvements... helped by Discovering March magazine.

Rick (64) said: “The magazine has been a big help. New customers have contacted us after seeing our adverts in the magazine. Many people hang on to issues and then use them to look up companies when they want work doing.

“We have been very busy over the past year and have carried out a wide variety of work such as decorating, wallpapering, internal door fitting, power washing driveways and conservatories and shed repairs to name just a few jobs.

We have met many lovely new customers and we’ve also had repeat work. We are very happy to go that extra mile, for example by collecting materials if they are unable to, and we remove workrelated rubbish free of charge.

Rick added: “The only time we do not give an exact quote is for example when we clear woodchip from the walls of an old house and do not know until we start the work if the walls need to be skimmed or not.”

The couple mainly conduct their work in March.

Rick added: “We are in the fortunate position of pleasing ourselves where we want to work and so tend to concentrate on March itself. However, if a regular customer wanted work doing for a family member who lives outside of the town, then I would consider it.”

The company offers all quotes in writing, so there is no misunderstanding, and usually only gives quotes, not estimates so customers know exactly what they are expected to pay. In addition, there are no hidden charges and no VAT, with the cost of materials and labour clearly listed.

Outside of business, the couple have been carrying out extensive work on their home while Jan enjoys swimming, going to games and for a coffee and chat at March library, where the couple also take part in quizzes and bingo. Their availability is limited so get in touch to see how RW Home Improvements can help you.

RW Home Improvements is based at 27 Breton Avenue, March PE15 9EY. Tel: (01354) 629281 or 0781 7216067; Email: rwhomeimprovements@hotmail.co.uk; Facebook: RW Home Improvements

MATTERS COMMUNITY

We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at: Discovering March, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET Email: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

CALL FOR HELP TO FIND BREEDERS OF ABANDONED DOGS

Young dogs have been abandoned in Fenland in recent months, leading to fears puppies are being bred and dumped when owners fail to sell them. Most of the puppies were in good condition, but the coats of four spaniel/poodle cross puppies dumped in the area were badly matted and needed attention.

Photos: The mastiff cross puppies left with a vet in March

Fenland District Council’s appointed stray dog service cared for all the dumped animals and was able to place them with rehoming organisations. The council is urging anyone who finds themselves with animals they can’t rehome to get in touch to access help available rather than leaving animals at risk of harm.

Cllr Susan Wallwork, portfolio holder for environmental health, said: “It’s heartbreaking when animals are not properly looked after. There is support available so that an animal never needs to be callously dumped.

“We’d urge anyone who has information about who owned these puppies to let us know. It’s vital that we identify any irresponsible breeders in our area to prevent further harm and neglect of animals.

“Anyone who finds themselves with a litter they can’t home or animal they can’t keep should contact one of our local animal charities or us for help.”

In each of the recent cases the dogs have been picked up by the council’s appointed dog warden after being reported as stray.

The council’s stray dog service has covered the cost of vet bills, collection fees, food and welfare. Due to the animals having to be treated as lost, the dogs had to remain in kennels for seven days before being able to move onto rehoming partners. The total cost can reach up to £200 per dog. The dumped dogs included five mastiff cross puppies that were taken to a vet in March in July.

Anyone who breeds and sells puppies for profit or breeds and sells as a business must have a licence. Failure to have a licence can result in prosecution.

Fenland’s stray dog service always tries to reunite lost dogs with owners as quickly as possible, which can be achieved where microchips are present. By law, dogs must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old.

If you know anything about the abandoned dogs email: envhealth@fenland.gov.uk or call Laura Harwood on (01354) 654321.

If you find a lost, stray or abandoned dog, see: www.fenland.gov.uk/straydogs

For more information on licences to breed and sell dogs see: www.fenland.gov.uk/animallicensing

Check a breeder has a licence via the Licensing Public Register on www.fenland.gov.uk

If you have a dog, you can’t keep visit: www.ravenswoodpetrescue.co.uk

www.woodgreen.org.uk

www.rspca.org.uk/local/block-fen-animal-centre

MARCH ARMED FORCES FAIR RETURNS

March Armed Forces Fair will once again be held on West End Park, March, with this year’s event taking place on Sunday, September 3rd. Attractions include a Battle of Britain Memorial Flyover at 3pm, World War I and II and post-war displays and vehicles, classic cars and Land Rovers, Navy, Army and RAF recruitment teams, plus trade stalls, food and bars and bands and Act of Remembrance. The free event will be staged from 11am to 5.30pm.

BREAKFAST MEETING

A breakfast meeting is to be held at March Conservative Club on Tuesday, October 24th in support of the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust. Breakfast is £6 and hot drinks are an additional £1. Everybody is welcome and there is no need to book, payment at the door.

At 11am, the meeting will be addressed by Brian Watson, who is the secretary of The Great Eastern Railway Society, with his talk also open to all.

COUNCIL CONTINUES TO SET THE STANDARD

Fenland District Council has once again been reaccredited with the Cabinet Office’s prestigious Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Standard following an annual inspection.

The Customer Service Excellence Standard serves as a national quality mark, recognising organisations in both the public and private sectors that embody a genuine customer-centric culture and strive for continuous improvement.

Following an assessment in June, an independent CSE assessor said the council has continued to meet the gold standard for customer service delivery. Additionally, the assessor bestowed the council with CSE ‘Compliance Plus’ accreditation in six areas, recognising its adherence to best practices.

Council chairman Nick Meekins presented the CSE award to councillor Steve Tierney, portfolio holder for transformation and communications.

Councillor Tierney said: "We are delighted to be reaccredited with the Customer Service Excellence Standard. Fenland stands out as one of the few councils that consistently upholds this standard across all our services, whether they are customer-facing or internal. This reaffirms our unwavering commitment to prioritising the needs of local residents and businesses in everything we undertake.”

Don’t Let Cowboy Clearance Companies Mess up Waste Disposal Plans

By Eileen Le Voi at Safe Local Trades

From a September “spring clean” to a full-blown house (or even office) clearance, embarking on this for the first time can be a daunting, and sometimes emotional, experience. But before you enlist the clear-out services of a clearance company, wise up to their waste disposal offering to ensure they don’t mess up your good intentions. Taking the time to do a few checks can help make sure that your unwanted belongings won’t be fly tipped illegally. Be safe with these top tips:

• Ask the company if they have a waste carrier’s licence. These are issued by the environment agency and make it legal to carry your rubbish. Without it, they are breaking the law; so don’t hesitate to ask.

• Professional businesses will have measures in place to protect their employees, staff and of course you. Ask them if they have public liability insurance, as good house clearance companies will certainly have one.

• House clearance companies have overheads such as fuel, labour, tipping, and recycling fees. If a price sounds too cheap, then it might be that they intend to dump your stuff on the side of a road, down an alley or even in a field.

• Normally, a good online reputation will reflect in the ‘real world’; ensure that they have good reviews on reputable platforms, or get in touch with tried and tested traders at House Clearances in Peterborough | PE1 | Recommended by Safe Local Trades.

• Sustainability and caring for the environment may also be a concern when it comes to house clearance and waste disposal; leaving this to the professionals can help meet those expectations. If you are looking to declutter on a small scale:

• Start small. Maybe kick off with a drawer or cupboard and work your way methodically through the house – one room at a time.

• Have a system in place – label boxes for items you want to throw away, recycle or sell.

• Think about “clutter control” if you are selling your home. In preparation for viewings, pack away any items that may make your home look crowded, including toys.

However, there may be some larger projects that you just don’t have the time or capability to manage alone, and that’s when calling in the experts can help clear your mind as well as your surroundings.

THAT IS THE QUESTION...

Over the last few weeks, several of my customers have called me after receiving calls and emails from people claiming to be from BT. In some instances, the caller/ email informed them that unless they took immediate action to pay up, their broadband would be disconnected in 48 hours. The call handler then got them to provide their full bank details in order to make the payment. One of the victims subsequently discovered that more than £3000 was taken out of her bank account (very luckily her bank did get her money back).

Other victims were told that BT had detected slow broadband speeds in their area and that in order to fix the problem, they were asked to log into their computer and download ‘specialist software’ to help improve the speed. This software, however, was in

fact malware or keylogging software that recorded every single keystroke they made, thus enabling the hackers to access their login details, passwords and sensitive financial information.

In order to make the calls look more genuine the displayed telephone number appeared to be local, however this is a tactic known as ‘number spoofing’. Using sophisticated technology, fraudsters can alter the phone number from which they are calling so that it matches the official telephone number of the victim’s telecoms provider or bank.

BT states on its website that ‘Fraudsters are known to make calls claiming to work for BT, when it’s actually a scam. They may ask you for personal information, want access to your computer and in some cases, ask for your bank details. Don’t be fooled, this is fraud’.

BT will never call you out of the blue and tell you that your service has been hacked, try to remotely take control of your device, tell you they’ve found a problem with your computer or ask you for an urgent payment and threaten to disconnect your service. For full details, we strongly advise that you check out their website: https://www. bt.com/help/security/scams.

If you have been the victim of one of these scams, one of the best things you can do is spread the word. However, embarrassed you might feel about it (and please don’t be embarrassed, these fraudsters use incredibly convincing tactics), warning everyone you know about it will really help in the long term. You should also report the fraud to Action Fraud and to BT itself, both of whom take these cases very seriously.

FOR THIS AND ALL OUR OTHER ARTICLES, GO TO WWW.DIAMONDBYTE.CO.UK

PHILIP AT DIAMOND BYTE

WOOD PIGEON

Columba palumbus

By Joan Munns, of March Wildlife Group & March & District Woodland Group

These birds have become increasingly common, year on year, and they are now everywhere in town and country. Their familiar call Coo-COO-coocoo-coo, which can be interpreted as ‘Take TWO cows taffy’, is a large part of the dawn chorus and can be heard all day. Most trees in March seem to have roosting pigeons. They are the chunkiest birds that come to our bird table and we call them ‘Hercules’ after the heavy transport planes that dwarf all the fighters of the RAF. Their red legs are very short which exaggerates their chunkiness and make them waddle. As they walk, they jerk their heads backwards and forwards keeping their very pale, staring eyes as steady as possible.

If seen in sunlight they are very pretty with a lovely iridescent patch on their neck beside the white patch. This white patch is absent in young birds. The back is grey whilst the breast is pinkish, and prominent white wing bars are seen when they fly noisily away. When they take flight, they clap their wings below their body. If you walk into a wood and hear the sound of a pigeon flying away you know it is some time since another walker has passed that way. In spring, they display by flying steeply up, clap their wings and parachute back down. Collared doves perform a similar display.

To farmers they are serious pests because their diet includes grains and seeds. When a field has been freshly planted huge flocks of wood pigeons will descend on it. Rape and peas and beans will also be attacked as they grow and later in the year, they can do a lot of damage to brassicas, being very partial to Brussels sprouts and kale. There are very few crops that do not receive the attention of pigeons and they are just as likely to attack allotments and gardens. If you are out in an arable farming area in spring the bang of a bird-scarer will be heard at regular intervals. They are classed as pests and can be shot but it is illegal to disturb active nests.

They build a neat nest of twigs and produce two white eggs. The young are called squabs and are fed pigeon’s milk. This milk is produced in the pigeon’s stomach and regurgitated to feed the chicks. All pigeons and doves drink by putting their beaks in water and drawing water into their throats to swallow. All other birds drink by filling their beaks with water then tilting their heads up and allowing water to flow down the throat under gravity.

Next Gault Wood Work Party is Saturday, September 2nd at 10am.

If you'd like to support our work at the wood as a volunteer, please contact the Woodland Trust using this email: volunteering@woodlandtrust.org.uk Alternatively, you might like to support the Nature's Calendar project, which focuses on phenology, which is the study of plant and animal reaction to climate change. Nature's Calendar (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Don't just take our word for it...

Don’t just take our word for it……..

OMG. What can we say, we were looking for a tranquil location in the UK close to the children when we stumbled on Tallington Lakes.

OMG.Whatcanwesay,wewerelookingfora tranquillocationintheUKclosetothechildren whenwestumbledonTallingtonLakes.

All I can say is all of the staff are so welcoming and the lodges are simply beautiful and in a setting, you can only dream of.

AllIcansayisallofthestaffareso welcomingandthelodgesaresimplybeautiful andinasettingyoucanonlydreamof.

The buying process was quick and simple once the sale of our own home had gone through. We have now lived here for almost 6 months and are over the moon with our decision to buy here.

Thebuyingprocesswasquickandsimpleonce thesaleofourownhomehadgonethrough. Wehavenowlivedhere foralmost6months andareoverthemoonwithourdecisiontobuy here.

PS. You really must try the Sunday Lunch in the restaurant.

PS.YoureallymusttrytheSundayLunchin the restaurant.

Mr and Mrs C

Mrand MrsC

Come and see us in our new shop at 83 High Street, March, where a warm welcome awaits you.

As well as the above-listed items, we also offer workshops, home shopping, children's party bags, wedding favours, and much more.

If you are someone who handmakes items, we also rent shelf space. Call us or pop into the shop to find out more details about what we offer.

INHERITANCE TAX:

What is it and will your estate be liable?

Inheritance Tax has been in the news again recently as, it’s rumoured that the Government is considering abolishing it, if not immediately, at some point in the future. However, until a decision is made, it will be business as normal. The Nil Rate Band (NRB), the allowance that is applied to every estate before IHT becomes payable, was frozen in 2022 at £325,000 until at least 2028. In fact, the NRB hasn’t actually increased from £325,000 since 2009.

When the freeze was put in place it was estimated that only an additional 13,400 estates would become liable to pay IHT, because of the freeze. However, a freedom of information request earlier this year suggests that figure may be closer to 50,000 estates.

Once considered by most to be only a concern for the wealthy, IHT planning is now becoming necessary for more and more people.

With the average house price being around £286,000 in April 2023, it is easy to see why more estates are falling into the bracket where IHT is payable. Whilst property prices are currently falling, it is reported that there are still more buyers than properties available and it may be that prices won’t fall much further.

On your death, the executors of your estate have to work out the value of your estate so that they can see whether any IHT is payable. The simple calculation is the value of assets, less your liabilities equals the value of your estate.

Your assets will include the value of your home, your car, your personal belongings and any savings, investments or other cash assets that you might hold. The cost of your funeral, if you haven’t put

a pre-paid plan in place, and any debts that you may owe at your death form your liabilities.

If the value of your estate is over £325,000 then tax will be payable at 40% on the excess. So, if your estate is worth £500,000 then you could be looking at a IHT bill of £70,000.

If we take living in a home valued at £286,000 home, driving a car worth around the average of £17,756 and with average savings of around £17,365 they will currently be just under the IHT threshold. But with just a small increase in their savings or the value of their home, even the average person on the street would be looking at a possible IHT bill on their death.

There are a number of steps that you can take during your lifetime to minimise the chance of your estate having to pay IHT. Making lifetime gifts, if done at the right time and in the right amounts can reduce the potential liability as can ensuring that you have your funds invested in the most tax efficient manner.

If you’d like some advice about whether your estate might be liable to IHT and what you can do to minimise the risk, please contact Cath Collins on (01945) 898090 or cathcollins@vinelaw.co.uk

10% ColourOFFALL Services untilendofSeptember!

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Microwave energy is widely used in a number of medical fields to elevate tissue temperatures and create precise, localised cell destruction.

Infected tissue can exist several millimetres below the surface and can often be difficult to treat using traditional methods, resulting in either untreated tissue or significant damage.

Swift delivers a precise, highly controlled energy dose. As microwaves travel into the tissue, water molecules begin colliding and creating localised heat energy – quickly destroying all infected tissue within a predetermined depth.

In just seconds the treatment is complete, leaving the body to absorb and replace the treated tissue.

Issue 2

MRK25,

www.marchpodiatry.co.ukwww.marchpodiatry.co.uk

2

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• Rapid bath out walk-in shower conversions

• Back to a warm deep soak with a walk-in bath

• Making bathing safer with simple changes; Grab rails, shower seats, raised WCs & slip resistant safety flooring

• Council (DFG), SSAFA and charity grants quotes available

• Discounts for over 60s and ex-service personnel

Saturday

Rooms at The Gables are decorated to an exceptionally high standard and most feature ensuite facilities. There are large, communal living and dining areas and access to our beautiful, well-kept garden where we host events with families and our local community.

We provide high quality care including fresh, nutritious meals and a wide variety of activities are available. Prices start from £1,000 per week, depending on the room and level of care required.

Our home is rated as good with the Care Quality Commission and is one of the Top 20 care homes in East Anglia based on reviews from the highly respected carehome.co.uk website

To find out more, please give us a call or visi t us online. Tel: 01354 693858

every goodbye

Five benefits of BUDGETING

By Lin Stanton, Fenland Debt Centre Manager, Christians Against Poverty (CAP)

With many of us having experienced first-hand how the current cost of living crisis has driven down household living standards, lots of people have adopted the art of budgeting to help them through this time. Whether you’ve never budgeted before, or have felt prompted to return to wiser habits, here are five great benefits that budgeting can bring.

Achieve long term goals

When you start budgeting, you’re better placed to work out what financial goals are realistic and you can work towards. It may be saving up for a new car, taking a summer holiday or some day trips. Some goals may seem unachievable but once you start budgeting you may realise they are actually within reach.

Recognise your current spending habits

When you create a budget, you’ll immediately see what you’re spending your money on. You may love growing plants but are actually spending a lot on eating out. Creating a budget will involve you consciously allocating money towards something you want to spend it on, and actively reducing overspending in another area you may not have been aware of.

Prepare for emergencies

We’ve all been hit by an unexpected cost, like the boiler breaking, a problem with your

car or a hole suddenly appearing in your winter boots. Creating a budget will involve regularly setting aside some money for emergencies so that you’re ready to react and not thrown into financial disaster and soaring stress levels when they happen.

Reduce stress

Learning how to budget ultimately helps us gain more control over our finances, which in turn dials down our emotions, our stress levels, and their effect on our physical health and mental wellbeing. When we know where our money is going, how we are going to pay our bills and buy what we need, we feel more secure and are set free to enjoy life.

Improve family relationships

Setting a family budget can help improve communication and draw families together. Get your partner or kids involved and work towards choosing financial goals and how much you are going to allocate to them.

That way everyone has a say in the decisions and can take responsibility.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) offers free money coaching and budgeting courses. Find out if an online or in-person course is running near you by visiting capuk.org/ capmoney. If you or someone you know is struggling with finances, call CAP on 0800 328 0006 for free expert debt help. I do hope you found this advice helpful and that you might contact CAP if you’re struggling, please don’t feel ashamed if you are as we all find life hard at times, so don’t struggle on your own there is help at the end of a phone call. Tel: 0778 7204359 or contact linstanton@capuk.org

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity working with more than 800 affiliated churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills groups and more. Visit capuk.org to find out more.

March Armed Forces Fair

WEST END PARK, MARCH

Dad's Army & Static Spitfire

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Flyover at 1500hrs

WW1, WW2 & post-war displays and vehicles

Classic cars & all variants of Land Rover on display

Navy, Army & RAF recruitment teams

Trade stalls, food & bars

Bands & Act of Remembrance

Sunday 3rd September 2023

From 1100hrs to 1730hrs

TALENT SPOTTING IN FENLAND

By Steve Barclay MP

September is always the ‘back to school’ season and the month we turn from any family holidays and face into the autumn ahead.

With Parliament in recess, it has also been an opportunity for me to spend more time in the constituency with fascinating visits to local businesses. I often reflect on the local talent and advanced skills we have in our area and one example was on my visit to Cobra Engineering in Wisbech which specialises in the design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of stainless steel and carbon steel fabrications and pipework for engineering projects across a variety of industry sectors. It was great to hear about projects Cobra has been working on with other local firms such as Anglian Water and Lamb Weston. I am always proud of the number and quality of businesses we have in the constituency, many of which have been successfully operating for decades.

Throughout my time as a local MP, I have worked to address the issue of homelessness, so it was a pleasure to officially open the nine-bedroom Ferry Project accommodation at Octavia View called Destiny Haven with John Heathorn. An inspiration to all who need to use the facility, John was once on the streets of Wisbech but with the help of the Ferry Project and Keith Smith he turned his life round and is now night services and hub manager. His energy and commitment together with the new facilities will make a huge difference to helping people locally when they are most in need.

It was also good to see work has started on the former Cook’s butchers site in Wisbech High Street, which has been an eyesore for decades. Redevelopment into a ground-floor shop with flats above is due to take about eighteen months with above-ground works unlikely to be visible until the end of the year. This has been a long time coming but it will mark a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the High Street, which is essential if we are to make the most of the historic town centre to encourage a vibrant and economically successful high street for residents and visitors alike. It’s excellent news that the College of West Anglia will receive specialist support from The Open University to develop the number of higher

education courses it is able to offer. The support, funded by the Department of Education and the Office for Students, enables the Open University to work in partnership with the college to put on a wider range of advanced technical courses, linked to local employer requirements. Already there are 330 Open University students in the constituency and this provides an alternative choice, especially for those who may not have the traditional entry requirements, as well as supporting driving skills levels higher to grow the local economy.

I’m looking forward to seeing the creative talents of the local community when the winners of an art competition celebrating Fenland’s historic railway line go on display. The art competition is open to all, with categories for children aged five and up to professional artists, with winning work displayed online and at railway stations, venues and exhibitions along the Hereward line as part of its ten-year anniversary celebrations. Find out more at https://herewardcrp.org/art-competition Finally, I’m encouraged to see the great work that has been done through the Safer Streets Fund will continue with Cambridgeshire getting another £1.4 million across eighteen months in the fifth round of funding. This will focus on targeting neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour. Since its launch in 2020, Cambridgeshire has received more than £2 million from the Safer Streets Fund, funding projects within the constituency and other areas across the county. This additional investment in public safety is a welcome addition which will be put to good use here in Cambridgeshire.

To find out more about my work in Parliament or local campaigns, visit my website www.stevebarclay.net or follow me on social media:  @SteveBarclay  @SteveBarclayOfficial  @SteveBarclayOfficial

Officially opening 'Destiny Haven' with John Heatham –the new Ferry Project accommodation at Octavia View

March beats Wisbech

TAKE TWO

In the pre-railway era, Wisbech was a longestablished commercial seaport. March was a tiny hamlet along the banks of the River Nene (Old Course) and around the ancient St Wendreda's Church.

No entrepreneur of the early railway era would have given a second glance at March as somewhere that would give railway investors a return on their money. In the middle 1840s, the Eastern Counties Railway had extended its line from London to the cathedral city of Ely. On the other side of the Fens, the London and Birmingham Railway had reached the cathedral city of Peterborough via a cross country branch line from Northampton. It was only natural that a scheme be prepared to link these together. There were no natural obstacles in the fen that needed to be avoided and this line was virtually a straight line from Ely, skirting in an arc just south of the long-established community of Whittlesey and on to Peterborough. This scheme was presented to parliament and given approval. This line would have passed through Doddington a few miles south of March, then of far greater importance. However, on to the scene came George Hudson, known as the 'Railway King'. He secured the chairmanship of the Eastern Counties Railway. He already had a considerable railway empire in the North Midlands and Yorkshire. He planned to consolidate

his network by building a line to link them. He presented a new plan to parliament to join Ely and Peterborough, with a northern deviation and then build northward from that. Parliament agreed this alternative plan for Ely-Peterborough but in its wisdom declined to authorise the line to Yorkshire. Saddled with the alternative scheme, the Eastern Counties decided to build this more northerly line. At the same time, a locally promoted scheme was to build a line from the seaport of Wisbech to the market town of St Ives. This line was known as the Wisbech, St Ives and Cambridge Junction Railway. Before it opened, it was taken over by the Eastern Counties. These two lines crossed at March and therefore, although of no great geographical significance, by 1848, March was a four-way railway junction and the seeds were sown for it to become a railway town of national importance.

The Eastern Counties, later to become the Great Eastern Railway, knew a line to the north would be of great financial benefit. However, its great rival, the Great Northern, also knew that if the GER had its own independent line to the industrial north, their own financial position would be jeopardised,

Peter Wright, historian and leader, Cambs and Fens Group, The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust, responds to Chris Donald’s article featured in the July issue of Discovering March

and a prolonged parliamentary battle between them raged for years.

In the short term, both companies proposed lines between March and Spalding. The GER proposed to build through Thorney and Crowland whereas the GNR proposed a more direct route across the fen through Cowbit and Murrow. The GNR achieved parliamentary approval and his line was built giving the GNR a 'foot in the GER camp'. So initially the GNR had thwarted the GER's ambition and the campaign for an independent line continued. Eventually, parliament directed that this impasse must end and decreed that the GER's line from Huntingdon via St Ives to March and the GNR's lines from March through Spalding and Lincoln to Doncaster became under one administration. Thus in 1882, the Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Committee was formed to administer this through route. The GER immediately began running long distance passenger services between both Liverpool Street and Harwich to Doncaster. Attractive rates for the movement of goods from Yorkshire to London and East Anglia were offered by the GER to tempt industrial companies and mine owners to use this route. Having secured its ambitions for a route to the north, the GER needed a sorting yard at March and this was the conception of Whitemoor. Through

expansion and modernisation during the 1920/30s, Whitemoor became a world show piece railway installation.

Suggestions that there was any rivalry between March and Wisbech as to the site for the Whitemoor sidings are a myth. Had there been a competition, March beat Wisbech 100 – nil!

As to Chris Donald's assertion that Wisbech had two railway stations and March had only one, I rate that as three each. When the March to Wisbech line opened, its passenger terminal was on South Brink, later to become the goods yard. The line that came from King's Lynn had its own station. Later the line that ultimately became the Midland and Great Northern Joint had its station on the other side of the river. That is three! At March, the original station of only two platforms was built when the railway opened. When the GNR's line from Spalding opened it had its own independent station. The seven-platform station that was built to handle the massive expansion of train services resulting from the GER getting its own route to the north also makes three!

Please visit The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust website www.b17steamloco.com

Illustration: an old steam locomotive stylized as engraving

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SENSATIONAL SEPTEMBER

We see the return of Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3 on September 1st; also that day we will be heading to Paris for Passengers. Who doesn’t love a wedding? We see the return of the Portokalos family with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 on the 8th, as well as our first horror of the month with The Nun 2. Poirot is on the case with A Haunting in Venice on the 15th. We have a great cast including Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham for Expendables 4 on September 22nd and if you don’t want action, the second horror of the month is It Lives Inside on the same day. The final horror of the month is… would you like to play a game? We have Saw X on September 29th.

National Theatre returns with some big names for the season of 2023/24. This month we will get the chance to see for the final time, Fleabag (Rerelease) on the 7th and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake on September 13th while the Royal Opera brings us Das Rheingold on September 20th. Are you a fan of James Norton? He will be starring in A Little Life on September 28th.

We do baby-friendly showings every Wednesday, intended to give new parents a couple of hours to relax and watch a film with friends or loved ones; these screenings are designed to be kinder to babies as well. The sound is lowered, and the lights are only dimmed to makes baby's first cinema experience comfortable without distracting from the film for the parents.

MyLight Premiere: Love movies? Welcome to PREMIERE, The Light's scheme for frequent cinemagoers. For just £15.99 per month! After your first year with us you'll automatically be upgraded to our Premiere+ membership for free! This will get you: 15 percent off snacks and drinks, two free friends’ tickets and exclusive special offers.

Love Thursdays: In addition to our usual range of hotdogs, nachos, and popcorn combos, we offer fresh Italian stone-baked margherita or pepperoni pizzas - perfect to enjoy with your film. Check out our Love Thursday offer and treat yourself to an adult ticket and delicious nine” pizza for only £15 – T&C’s apply.

Cheers to the Cinema: Whether you’re on the hunt for your new favourite craft ale or the perfect wine to accompany your film, our bar has got you covered. We're proud to serve tea and coffee from speciality roasters Adams and Russell. With both caffeinated and caffeine-free options available, our fully trained baristas will make your drink just the way you like it. Don't forget all our food and drinks can be enjoyed in our screens too. More information can be found on our website www.wisbech.thelight.co.uk

A Haunting in Venice Expendables 4

The Equalizer 3 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

FREE SMALL POPCORN WITH

SATURDAY 2nd SEPT SCOOTED

‘n’ BOOTED

£10 Members, £12 Guests

Doors open 7.30pm

FRIDAY 8th SEPT

CHARITY BINGO NIGHT

With Tombola & Games

Doors open 5pm

footballandamazonprime livehere

MONDAY 11th SEPT

CHARITY BINGO NIGHT

Eyes down at 7pm

SUNDAY 10th SEPT

CHARITY QUIZ

Starts at 3pm

SATURDAY 16th SEPT

RSPCA OPEN DAY

10am-2pm, Entry £1 per person, children free

EVENING FAMILY DISCO

7.30pm start, Entry £3 per person, Under 14s free

THE FUNCTION HALL IS AVAILABLE TO HIRE FOR PARTIES & WEDDINGS ETC PLEASE CALL US TO ENQUIRE

March United Services Club 1 New Road, March PE15 9AN Telephone: 01354 657271 Email: uscmarch@yahoo.com Facebook: @marchunitedservices

SPICY BEEF AND WATERCRESS SALAD

Ingredients

For the salad (serves 2):

1 bunch watercress, torn into pieces

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1 tomato, deseeded and thinly sliced

300g beef sirloin, trimmed

Pinch of salt

1tsp black peppercorns, crushed

1 red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced

For the dressing:

2tbsp white wine vinegar

1tbsp vegetable oil

1tsp sugar

Method

1 To make the dressing, place all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and stir well, until the sugar is dissolved.

2 Put the watercress, onion, and tomato in a mixing bowl, add the dressing and toss the salad. Set aside.

3 Coat the steaks with the peppercorns and season with a little salt. Cook under a hot grill for 6-8mins, turning once until medium rare. Set aside for 2 mins to rest and cool slightly.

4 Thinly slice the beef and add to the salad bowl, mix it all together well.

5 Serve immediately and garnish with the sliced chilli.

This tasty salad is quick to prepare and the beef and watercress make a great combination.

What’s Coming Up

EVERY WEDNESDAY: LUNCHES

Served from 12 noon to 2pm

EVERY THURSDAY: PUB QUIZ NIGHT

7.30pm start, FREE entry, all welcome

FRIDAY 1st SEPTEMBER

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING

Starts at 10am – all welcome. Pop in for coffee, cake and a chat. Prizes for the Tombola & Raffle are welcome or you can make or supply a cake!

SATURDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER

CHARITY RACE NIGHT

IN AID OF PETERBOROUGH BREAST CARE UNIT

Free entry, open to all. Club opens at 7pm; first race at 8pm. Nine televised races with a tote, a dual forecast and a prize for the winning owner.

SUNDAY CARVERY 10th SEPTEMBER

With choice of desserts, tea and coffee £16pp – booking essential. 1pm start

SATURDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER

COUNTRY & WESTERN NIGHT

WITH SPREAD YOUR WINGS DUO

A mix of traditional country and modern country music. £8 members, £10 non-members (ticket price includes a Ploughmans)

SUNDAY 24th SEPTEMBER

WINTER QUIZ LEAGUE STARTS

7.30pm, open to all. Teams of 4 (max) The longest running quiz in town!

FRIDAY 29th SEPTEMBER RUM TASTING NIGHT WITH FEN SPIRITS

Members £20, non-members £22 (ticket price includes canapes after the tasting session)

For more information contact the Club on 01354 653150 or go to the Club Facebook page and just search for March Con Club. If you like the page you will get all the updates for what’s going on.

Why not come and see what the Club has to offer? Our live music events are second to none in the local area, with comfortable, spacious and well decorated rooms.

Did You Know...

Pool, Snooker, Dominoes and Crib are all played at the club? We also have a six-rink bowls green, FREE jukebox, plus lots of events for members. Why not come along and enjoy yourself?

By Trevor Langley

Mead is an alcoholic beverage that utilises honey in its production. This ancient drink has centuries of history and is believed to be the world’s oldest known alcoholic delectation. It is understood that Ancient Greeks regarded mead to be the ‘Nectar of the Gods’.

The ABV can vary from very low to over 20% in some productions. Mead is recognised for being a medium to sweet type of a wine having a presence of honey, with the sugars within the honey being fermented.

Multi-award-winning, Lyme Bay Winery produces English wines, fruit wines, plus mead, cider, liqueurs, and spirits. All are presented with excellence and very attractive gift boxes are available too. Commitment, dedication, experience, and love, all combine to create exceptional drinks. Firstly, I looked into Lyme Bay Winery’s mead productions – and there are a good number to choose from, with Lyme Bay Winery being recognised as the UK’s largest mead producer. Their mead range includes Traditional, Black Cherry, Rhubarb, Garden, plus Chilli Mead and more. Lyme Bay Winery’s TRADITIONAL MEAD (14.5% VOL) I found to be fullflavoured and to have a grand taste of honey – Splendid! Lyme Bay Winery’s

RHUBARB MEAD (11% vol) promotes the rhubarb inclusion just perfectly. Fruity and with the sweetness of honey, this production has become a great talking point, on many occasions, recently –superb!

Other favourites, from the Lyme Bay Winery, include several wines. I found BACCHUS (11.5% vol) to have a good, enticing bouquet, followed by freshness and zest for the mouthfeel and the palate’s delight. Overtones of the English countryside are in abundance for this wine (Grapes: 100% Bacchus). SHORELINE (11.5% vol) has plenty of devotees, who regularly appreciate and enjoy this delightful wine. Hints of citrusy fruits come to mind (Grapes: Bacchus, Reichensteiner, Seyval Blanc, Solaris, Ortega, Pinot Noir).

Lyme Bay Winery constantly seeks to expand productions across all ranges, from wines, through ciders, to spirits. Tours and tastings are very popular and often booked well in advance. For more details and further information, please contact and/or visit their excellent, very informative website. Highly recommended.

Lyme Bay Winery, Shute, Axminster, Devon EX13 7PW. Tel: 01297 551 355

Email: info@lbwdrinks.co.uk

www.lbwdrinks.co.uk

As always, enjoy!

members only club – please call in and see us to enquire about membership

regular Quiz & Bingo Nights, open mic nights

Discos, Karaoke and Music Entertainment Evenings

THE ROOKSWOOD CLUB

plenty of outside seating in a south facing garden to enjoy

function rooms available to hire for parties, weddings, anniversaries, christenings and wakes

opening hours: tues 7-10.30pm thurs 7-10.30pm fri 6.30-11pm sat 12-11pm sun 12-8pm

27 west end, march pe15 8dp 01354 652233

THE SEVEN STARS

join us for breakfast!

We now serve breakfast 9am-11.30pm Wednesday through to Sunday

WIDE RANGE OF BEERS & SPIRITS GREAT SELECTION OF REAL ALES

OPEN TUES: 12–11PM

WEDS–SAT: 9AM–11PM

SUNDAYS: 9AM–8PM

FOOD SERVED TUES: 12–2.30PM AND 5–8.30PM

WEDS–SATURDAY: 9AM–2.30PM AND 5–8.30PM ON SUNDAYS: 9AM–3.30PM

75 THE AVENUE, MARCH PE15 9PS T: 01354 655258

LOCAL CLUBS & GROUPS

Solo Club: For people who have lost partners through bereavement. Come along and join us every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month; midday at Hot Pots Cafe – The Cricket Club, Burrowmoor Road, March PE15 9RS. Membership £5/year. For more details contact 01354 656181 or 01354 654169.

Lunch & Film Club: Meets on the first Thursday of each month in March Town Hall. Lunch is served at midday followed by the film. £15 per person. Tickets are available from Paninis.

Friends of March Library: Coffee Morning. The Friends of March Library hold a coffee morning at March Library on the last Saturday of every month from 10 30am to 12 noon. Hot and cold drinks plus biscuits cost 50p and we also hold a raffle. All profits are spent on/by March Library. Do come and join us. For more details contact Maureen Malvern on 01354 658247.

Rings End Nature Reserve: Family workshops for all to be involved in. Meets every second Sunday of the month in the car park for the nature reserve Rings End PE15 0BE. Conservation for all 9.30am-12 noon.There is a meeting at the Rookswood Club on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7pm to discuss the nature reserve management and events. All are welcome (please check Facebook for any last minute changes to venue). Please call Hayley on 07962 337988 for more information.

March Yoga Club: Meets at March Community Centre on Tuesdays 4.30pm-5.45pm and 6.15pm-7.30pm and Wednesdays 10am-11.15am then Elm Primary School or Emneth Central Hall Wednesdays 7pm-8.15pm. For availability please contact Peter on 07905 601585 or email: pabamullins206@ntlworld.com

March Parkinson's Group: Meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 10.30am-12.30pm at the Braza Club, Elm Road, March. This is a friendly group and everyone is welcome. £1 per session so pop along for a free taster and check us out. Please contact Wendy Summerlin on 01354 661997 for more details.

The Other Art Group: Meets every Thursday afternoon 2-4pm at March Library. Membership fee is £30 for 12 weeks paid quarterly. For details contact March Library on 03450 455225 and your details will be forwarded to them.

March U3A: For people in their third age; retired or not in full time employment. Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Braza Club, Elm Road, March at 2pm. There is a range of activities available in groups run by U3A members. New members are very welcome. If you would like any more information please email march.u3a.enquires@gmail.com

Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Family History Society. Join us from 2-4pm on the first Wednesday of the month at March Library Meeting Room. We have speakers on both family and social history. For further details contact Wendy 01354 650932.

March Lions Club: Meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm in March Town Hall. New members always welcome. For more information visit marchlions.org.uk or call 0345 833 5101.

March Raceway: One of the oldest 1/12 radio control car oval clubs in the UK. Our members range from 8 to 75 years old so all are welcome! Race every Friday at Longhill Road Social Club, Longhill Road, March PE15 0PR (at the prison). Doors open 6.30pm. For fixtures and further information visit marchraceway.weebly.com or find us on Facebook.

March Jive Club: At The Braza Club, Elm Road, March PE15 8NZ. Meets every Wednesday night 7.30-10.30pm with 1:1 personal tuition available. Every 3rd Friday in the month dance with top line groups and DJs. For more info call Andrew and Donna on 01354 776229 or Terry 07979 442920.

Wisbech and District Flower Club: Meets every third Monday of the month at St Peter’s Hall, Wisbech from 7.30pm. Please call Yvonne on 01945 581360 for more information.

March Probus Club: Meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at March Conservative Club as a group of semi or fully retired gentlemen; 10am for a cuppa and a chat and then at 10.30am we have a guest speaker for approx 45 mins covering a wide range of topics. To find out more please contact Dr Allan J Whyte (Club Secretary) on 07979 887110 or pop in.

March Marlins Swimming Club: Meets each weekday at Manor Leisure Centre Whittlesey and George Campbell Leisure Centre March please come along and join us; all abilities welcome (must be able to swim at least one length). Please contact swimatmarlins@gmail.com

March Triathlon Club: Meets every Thursday 8-9pm for swim training at the George Campbell Leisure Centre. All abilities welcome. £4 per person. Please contact Martyn on 01354 460000.

March Town Cricket Club: Burrowmoor Road, March PE15 9RS. Cricket for adults, ladies and juniors including All Stars & Dynamos (From 5 to 15 years). Regular social events and bar open most evenings. Call 01354 652029 or visit www.marchtowncricket.com

Wimblington Village Choir: Meets Monday evenings, 7-9pm in Parish Hall, Addison Road, Wimblington. All voices welcome. Learn great arrangements of songs from the ‘50s onwards, and perform at local events. Taster night free, then £3 weekly. For more information contact Chris: 07831 835358, Maureen 07988 982200 or email: wimblingtonchoir@hennen.co.uk

March Brass 2000: Your local brass band - we rehearse at St Peter's Church in March every Monday evening, from 7pm. We are a family-orientated band and enjoy performing at a variety of venues. If you can play a brass instrument please come along and meet the band on a Monday night; you would be most welcome. For more information please contact Secretary Anita Mackie on marchbrass2000@gmail.com

Intrigue Circle of Light Clairvoyance Evenings: Every Monday; starts 7pm for 7.30pm at The Braza Club, Elm Road, March PE15 8NZ. £4/person. Please call 01354 655093 for information.

March Dog Training Club: Meets at Tower Hall, Maltmas Drove Fridaybridge PE14 OHW every Wednesday evening. Membership is £5 per year and classes are £3 per session. Puppy class commences at 6pm. For more information of other classes please contact Maggie on 01354 657185 or 07514 882509.

wtcmembership@hotmail.co.uk

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