The Five Alls Public House
Issue 12 December 2008/January 2009
FREE
The Benwick Bugle Local issues for local people
Benwick
Merry Christmas to all our readers! Inside this issue:
Eyes Down 7.30pm
Live Bands Solo Singers Karaoke
8.00pm start
All welcome 36
Benwick Dickensian Christmas Market
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Poppy Appeal
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Friends of Benwick Church
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‘Ritings from the Rectory
Benwick Residents’ Association
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Benwick Memories - Fred Tinkler
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Benwick Village Hall Committee
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lilyholtroad.co.uk Treasure Hunt
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Doddington PPG
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Benwick Healthy Village Project
Benwick LETScheme?
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Christmas Crafts
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Benwick Bygones
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Christmas Puzzles
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Friends of Benwick School
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Fenland Tigers Explorer Scout Unit
Twenty Questions - Janet Fountain
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Forget-Me-Not Club
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Benwick Dungeons & Dragons Club
lilyholtroad.co.uk Aerial Photo Appeal
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Contact Details
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Local Information
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Closer To Home Project
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Puzzle Answers
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Photo thanks to lilyholtroad.co.uk
Delivered free to homes in Benwick. Also available from the Five Alls Pub, Benwick School and1Benwick Village Hall
K & T Motor Repairs (est 1992) 30, Cambridge Row, Benwick, March, Cambs. PE15 OXF Tel : 01354 677239 or 07747 604618
Servicing and Repairs All Makes and Models, Petrol or Diesel Including New, Classic & Vintage Vehicles Repairs Engine , Gearbox , Alternators etc. Timing belts MOT's Welding Exhausts, Batteries, Tyres Brakes, Clutches, Suspension Engine Management Diagnostics Auto Electrics Service indicator resetting & Code Reading (most vehicles) Air conditioning Homestart Very competitive rates Cars, Light Commercial, Motorcycles, Lawnmowers, Rotovators, Generators, etc.
K. Howlett. AMIMI. AMIRTE. LCG. 24 yrs trade exp.
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PUZZLE ANSWERS
BENWICK DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET On Saturday 15th November, the Benwick Residents Association in conjunction with The Five Alls put on the first Benwick Dickensian Christmas Market, with great success. With over 20 stalls, from crafts, cards, sweets, bread, dolls and more the day was enjoyed by all who attended. The Residents Association would like to thank all the stall holders and the people who came and all the stall holders. And especially the Scouts whose help on the day was greatly appreciated. The day featured entertainment from the Salvation Army band, and also had a Santa’s Grotto, face painting, a number of games as well as a Hog Roast. The weather even stayed nice for us!
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The Benwick Residents Association plan to hold the next Dickensian Christmas Market on Saturday 28th November 2009, so mark it in your diaries now so you don’t forget!
To be held in the Village Hall on
Saturday 6th December 2pm till 4pm Many stalls Come along and enjoy yourselves. Something for everyone, even the person who has everything !
Father Christmas will be there 3
POPPY APPEAL IN BENWICK 2008 The British Legion Poppy Appeal collection in Benwick was again organised by the Benwick Scout Group. Teams of young people from both the Scout Troop and the Fen Tigers Explorer unit (supported by Kirk & Denise Devall, John Chelton, Kathy Greenwood, Nick Matthews, Ian Kennington, and Rod Glen) sold poppies at doorsteps throughout the village. They managed to collect £267.24 despite the weather being cold, wet and windy. With the kind consent of head teacher, Jackie North, a collection box was also placed in the school. The staff and pupils collected £27.00. The church congregation also collected £77.00, and donations in respect of wreaths for the Remembrance Service brought in a further £122. The total raised by the people of Benwick for 2008 from all sources is £496.27. We would like to thank everyone who donated money this year, and especially all those young people who gave so much of their time to support this cause. Become a Friend Of Benwick Church: If you would like to become a Fiend of Benwick church then please complete the form below and give it together with the membership of £2 to any of the regular Fund raising. The advantage of becoming a Friend is that you receive prior notification of functions. You also have the right to vote at the AGM on important matters concerning the development of the new church and the make up of the Charity ________________________________________________________ FRIENDS OF BENWICK CHURCH Application Form
Doctors’ Surgeries Doddington Doddington Medical Centre, Benwick Road, Doddington Tel: 01354 740311 Chatteris George Clare Surgery, Swan Drive New Road, Chatteris, PE16 6EX Tel: 01354 695888 Ramsey Rainbow Surgery , 1 Stocking Fen Road, Ramsey, PE26 1SA Tel: 01487 710980 Ramsey Health Centre, Mews Close, Ramsey, PE26 1BP Tel: 01487 812611 www.ramseyhealthcentre.co.uk
Doddington Community Hospital Benwick Road, Doddington, PE15 0UG Tel: 01354 644251 Minor Injuries Clinic open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. No appointment necessary. X-ray facilities on site.
NHS Dentists It’s always difficult to find an NHS dentist, but at the time of writing, the Fenland & East Cambs PCT reported that there were dentists accepting new adults and children as patients. To search for dentists and get up to date information, go to: www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/NearestSearch.aspx and enter your postcode. Alternatively, phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Leisure Centres George Campbell Leisure Centre, City Road, March, PE15 9LT, Tel: 01354 622399 Manor Leisure Centre, Station Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1UA , Tel: 01733 202298 Hudson Leisure Centre, Harecroft Road, Wisbech, PE13 1RL, Tel: 01945 584230 Anyone may purchase an Optimum Leisure Card and use it to obtain a discount at any of the three leisure centres run by Fenland District Council above. For more details, or to apply for a card, contact one of the leisure centres. Ramsey Leisure Centre, Ailwyn School, Abbey Road, Ramsey, PE261DG, Tel: 01487 710275. Run by Huntingdonshire District Council
Mobile Library
I wish to become/remain a Friend of Benwick Church for the year to 31 December 2009. I enclose herewith my annual subscription of £2 and agree to abide by the Constitution of the Friends of Benwick Church. Name: ...................................................................................................................... Address: ....................................................................................................……….. .........................................……......... Tel No: ...........................................…………
The Cambridgeshire Libraries Mobile Library Route M102/M114(N) visits Benwick every fortnight on a Tuesday, stopping at the following locations: 16a Doddington Road Chapel Gardens Village Hall
Arrive 10:35 Arrive 10:55 Arrive 11:15
Depart 10:50 Depart 11:10 Depart 11:25
These are the new times as confirmed on the County Council’s website. At time of going to print, stops were scheduled for the following dates: December 9th December 23rd
Signed: .....................................................................................................………… Please pass the form to any of the following
See www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/access/mobile or phone the library service via the County Council’s Contact Centre on 0845 045 5225 for more details. (All information correct at time of going to print)
Rosemary and John Hoffman - Chairman - Lilyholt Lodge, Benwick (677878) Albert & Sheila Sismey - 16a Doddington Road, Benwick, (677238) Rose Clarke - Doddington Road, Benwick. (677359) Margaret Bedford - 39a High Street, Benwick. (677386) Mike & Sue Jones 20 White Horse Gardens, March (653456)
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LOCAL INFORMATION, GROUPS AND CLUBS
D & L DISCO
Tel: 01354 741508 Benwick Athletic Football Club Contact Acting Club Secretary Ian Beevor on 01354 677, ibeevor@lolacomposites.com www.benwickathletic.co.uk
Benwick Butterflies Preschool Group Children’s Centre, High Street, Benwick. 677733 For enquiries contact Jenny Fell on 01354 677848 or email benwickbutterflies@hotmail.com. Holiday Club Available to 3 to 12 year olds. Contact Jenny Fell as above Parent & Toddler Group Contact Suzanne Scarborough on 01354 677518
Benwick Badgers Breakfast and After School Clubs For further information please contact the staff during opening times on 677733 or email benwickbadgers@hotmail.co.uk or in writing via the post box at the Children’s Centre
NIC EIC Approved Contractor
Professional Mobile DJs Del & Lorraine Avaliable for all Adult, Teenager and Children’s events
P.J.ELECTRICS Domestic + Commercial + Industrial + Agricultural Installation and Maintenance
www.dldisco.co.uk info@dldisco.co.uk
Benwick Warhammer & Dungeon ‘n’ Dragons Club Every other Saturday in the Village Hall from 12:00 until 3:00pm. Anyone over the age of 10 can attend, cost £3 per session. Contact Philip & Robert Taylor, 01354 677763 Web: www.warhammer-dungeon-dragons.zoomshare.com Email: warhammer-dungeon-dragons@zoomshare.com
1st Benwick Scout Group and Fenland Tigers Explorer Scouts www.1stbenwickscouts.co.uk Beavers (aged 6 to 8) Meet Tuesdays Cubs (aged 8 to 10 ½) Meet Wednesdays Scouts (aged 10 ½ to 14) Meet Thursdays Explorer Scouts (aged 14 to 18) Meet Mondays
Carl Knight 677589 Sammy Hoffman 07791 006930 Ian Kennington 677574 John Chelton 677847 or Kirk Devall 677772
PAT Testing
Alarm Systems
01354 680830 07769 661960 Public Liability Insurance All electrical equipment safety (PAT) tested
‘SUNNYSIDE’, CHILD’S LANE DODDINGTON, MARCH CAMBS. PE15 OTQ PETER OAKEY
We carry enhanced CRB disclosures
Friends of Benwick School Contact Chairperson Hannah Shaw, Tel: 677321. Forget-Me-Not Club For over 55’s, meeting once a month. Contact Anne Wall, 661327, Janet Fountain, 677228, or Olive Benfield, 677741
Friends of Benwick Church Local contact Mr Albert Sismey, 677238. Friends Fundraising, Chairman John Hoffman, Tel: 677878 The Ark Young Persons Group Contact Sarah on 677202.
Step aerobic class
Five Alls Public House Tel. 677520 Village Hall To hire the village hall, contact Gina in the Five Alls on 677520, or Patricia Tickner, 20 Chapel Gardens on 677279.
Benwick Primary School Tel. 677266. Term Dates
Friday 19th December 20th December - 4th January Monday 5th January Tuesday 6th January 16th - 20th February
Last Day for Pupils Christmas Holiday Teacher Training Day Spring Term begins Half Term
Update Us!! While we make every effort is to keep our information up to date and accurate, there will always be changes of which we are unaware. If your group changes its details, meeting times, etc., please let us know so we can update our pages.
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An invigorating and enjoyable step aerobic class! Classes held at the Methodist Hall, Doddington every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7.15pm. Please call Emma on 01354 742707 to book your place. (RSA and City & Guilds NVQ qualified )
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The Rectory Ingles Lane, Doddington PE15 0TE 01354 742715 revval@btinternet.com
‘Ritings from the Rectory
December 2008
Dear Friends
CONTACT DETAILS, SUBMISSIONS AND ADVERTISING Editor:
Jane Levicki, 2 River Close, Benwick, Cambs PE15 0XZ
Tel: 01354 677869
mail@benwickbugle.co.uk Submissions Benwick individuals or groups may submit items for publication, free of charge. We are happy to publish reports on group activities and events, publicity for forthcoming events, stories, poems …. and much more!!! Digital submissions are preferred, emailed to mail@benwickbugle.co.uk . Hard copies also acceptable, to the address above. We can also help with preparing submissions; please contact to discuss. Please note that submissions may be edited.
Perhaps like me you are wondering, yet again, where the past 12 months have gone – time seems to be on roller blades these days. For my husband, Peter, and myself there have been many changes and challenges this year and the old enemy ‘time’ or the lack of, has prevented me from doing many things I had hoped, including visiting more people than I have done so forgive me if you should be someone who thinks I should have visited you by now. Someone who had an unexpected visitor one day was Mary. I wonder how it must have felt to be busy around the house and then suddenly discover you’re not alone after all because an angel has suddenly appeared! The bible doesn’t go into great detail about Mary’s reaction but the most important thing for us is the fact that she was willing to be obedient and carry God’s son in her womb. Pregnancy in an unmarried woman was a stoneable offence and how many people were going to believe her story – even her fiancé, Joseph, had difficulty until an angel appeared to him in a dream! On Christmas Day when you’re enjoying all your celebrations please don’t ignore the birthday boy. It is because Jesus came into the world as a tiny baby, grew up and died on a cross so we can be forgiven for all our wrong doings, if we ask him and have the most priceless gift of all – eternal life that we celebrate Christmass. Enjoy your Christmas and every blessing for the New Year ahead.
All magazine adverts include a free listing on the Local Business pages of the website. Charities and non-profit making organisations are eligible for a 50% discount on advertising. Please indicate if this applies to you.
God Bless, Val
We can prepare your advert for you if required. Please contact us to discuss.
Rev’d Val Fernandez
Costs - Bimonthly Magazine ¼ A5 page (approx 6cm x 9cm) ½ A5 page (approx 9cm x 12.25cm) Full A5 page (approx 12.25cm x 19cm) Inside Cover full page Back Cover full page
£6.00 £11.00 £19.00 £24.00 £26.00
10% discount on multiple adverts taken out and paid for in bulk
To advertise, please send details and payment to the address above. Adverts must be paid for in advance. Adverts/payments that miss the copy deadline will be deferred until the next publication. Cheques should be made payable to Jane Levicki. We can also accept Paypal payments - please see the Advertising page on the website or contact us for details. Format Adverts are preferred in digital format but we can accept hard copy. They will be reproduced in grayscale. Hard copies should be sent with payment, digital copies should be sent to mail@benwickbugle.co.uk or supplied on disc. We can accept several formats, including pdf and jpeg. If in doubt, please contact us to check.
Deadlines for all magazine submissions and adverts are:
Church Services in Benwick Village Hall 7 December
Business Advertising
Sunday 9.30 4.00 14 December Sunday 9.30 21 December Sunday 9.30 5.30 Christmas Eve 4.00 11.30 Christmas Day 10.00 28 December Sunday 10.30
Holy Communion Christingle (Doddington) Morning Prayer Holy Communion Carol Service (Doddington) Crib Service Holy Communion (Doddington) Holy Communion (Doddington) Benefice Holy Communion at Wimblington
Issue date
Deadline for submissions November 20th January 20th March 20th May 20th July 20th September 20th
December/January February/March April/May June/July August/September October/November
If you’ve missed the deadline by a day or two, we may still be able to squeeze you in!! Please do contact us and we’ll do our best to help.
January every Sunday at 9.30 6
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BENWICK DUNGEONS ‘N’ DRAGONS CLUB Every other Saturday in the Village Hall from 12:00 until 3:00pm Anyone over the age of 10 can attend Only costs £3 each session! Warhammer is a table-top strategy war game with 3 different versions. You can battle with medieval weaponry; you can use futuristic armoury in Warhammer 40k or fight famous battles from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There is nothing more satisfying than battling with an army that you have collected, glued together and painted yourself, using tactics and strategies that you have created. But, painting and battling is not all you can do with Warhammer. Some people create dioramas which recreate historical events or show new models that people have made using “green stuff”. So, look forward to battling different people with different armies and tactics to test your own army and skills.
WWW.LILYHOLTROAD.CO.UK
As you will have read in the last edition of the Bugle, this years Lilyholt Road Christmas Treasure hunt, sponsored by Greenvale is raising money for the Benwick Forget-me-Nots. In the beginning of December, I will be coming around the village from door to door, offering you the chance to purchase a square or two on the grid, for your chance to win some great prizes. As with last year, the squares are £1 each, and the prizes will be wrapped and delivered Christmas Eve! So keep a few pound coins at the ready for when I call!
DO YOU KNOW THIS FAMILY? I am looking for details of a John Charles Johnson born 1806 in Cambridgeshire believed to be Benwick. He moved to Staffordshire at some point and married a Sarah Whitehouse. Any details or leads gratefully received. David Whitehouse, 68 Beauchamp Road, Solihull, B91 2BU silhillian@googlemail.com
Dungeons and Dragons (D & D) is a fantasy role-playing game split into two genres, the first being the Miniatures style while the other is the Pen and Paper style. Miniatures are more of a board game based adventure, and the one which is recommended for those just starting. Players choose from a selection of characters which then follow a route around a gameboard, exploring the dungeon in as much depth as they choose. The Pen and Paper style involves creating your own character by rolling dice and following the Player’s Handbook; this type of D&D is for a more advanced crowd, but can be easily picked up as you learn the basic rules. The club is run by Philip and Robert Taylor. For details of meeting dates email them at:
Are you at Work all Day? Going away? Or just too busy?
The National Pet Care Company
Dog holidays with Host families, Cat Care, Pet Feeding
warhammer-dungeon-dragons@zoomshare.com
The Complete Pet Service Pet Taxi/Ambulance
The Benwick Bugle is printed by March Stationery & Print, 5 Fenland Walk, March, Cambs., PE158 8TW. Tel: 01354 656614 sales@marchsp.co.uk
www.lincs.animalsathome.co.uk
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TREASURE HUNT
077 99 401 732
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BENWICK HEALTHY VILLAGE PROJECT Following on from our very successful ‘Healthy Village’ project in Manea, I have been inspired to transfer the principles to Benwick to see if we can be a ‘Healthy Village’ too. Fenland District Council have appointed myself as a ‘ Sport Coordinator’ for Benwick, which means that I will become the link between the village and FDC, in the quest to provide more sporting/healthy activities for Benwick and the surrounding area. The aim is to provide at least one activity per month starting from January 2009. Costs will be kept to the minimum as activities are provided by FDC, but we have to cover the cost of venues. If anyone has a yearning to access ANY activity during the next year please contact myself on 01354 677202 [leave message] and I will try to see if we can provide. We have plans to provide a climbing wall during February halfterm week – 16th -20th Feb 09 for children aged 8-18 years – if you are interested in attending please let me know asap. Other ideas in the pipeline are a Badmington weekend, archery, electronic dance mats, and fencing. So come on Benwick, any individual, family, local group or group of friends that fancy trying something new in the sporting line, or wish to reawaken an old interest – give me a call and we will see what we can do. Look forward to hearing from you Sarah Caton 01354 677202
BENWICK BYGONES! After the overwhelming success of the first run of books, which sold out in under a month, a fresh batch has now been printed and are available to purchase from either Adam or Janet. So if you’re looking for that little stocking filler or as a nice present for anyone who would be interested in the village, then contact one of us now, and we will sort you out with one. They are priced at £12.50, and filled with pictures and information that everyone will find interesting. 8
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11) What made you get involved with the Benwick Forget-Me-Nots? I have been involved with the club since my parents were members in the seventies. My friend and I would go on the outings to help fill the coaches a long time before we were sixty. Minimum age is now 55 – hence the change of name. 12) Where is the worst place you have lived? There isn’t one. I have only lived at Benwick and Ramsey Forty Foot and on the farm between the two villages. 13) If you had £500 to give to charity - who would you give it to and why? Great Ormond Street Hospital. Two of my grandchildren suffered ecoli food poisoning caught on holiday in Tunisia in 2001, and had to have treatment there. I was so pleased and relieved when they recovered. Even now they still have to go annually for checks on their kidneys. 14) What could you not live without and why? I appreciate good health – my lifestyle would change with out it. 15) Do you think Benwick has any major problems, if so what are they? It’s too late now, but I feel we should have fought to keep our Post Office. The nearest one is more than a mile away which I believe would have been grounds for keeping it. 16) Tea or Coffee? Enjoy both but drink more tea. 17) How happy are you to have got Benwick Bygones completed? I’m still on cloud nine. The book launch was a huge success and the feedback is excellent. It has been a very worthwhile project. When I started it five years ago it was just a dream. My grateful thanks to everyone, especially Adam. 18) What was the last thing you bought? A sparkly top to go dancing in. 19) What is your favourite Breakfast cereal? Frosties really, but Fruit and Fibre when I’m in a healthy eating mode. 20) What would you like to be remembered for? Having a good rapport with people, which I put down to the fact I grew up in a pub and worked in a bank – a really good mix from all walks of life. Also the two books I have been involved with, Ramsey Forty Foot and Benwick Bygones.
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Personal Poems for every occasion Premier Poetry specialises in bespoke personal poems for every occasion whether it be Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentines. In fact any occasion you can think of Premier Poetry can provide you with a unique poem for that special day. Request your special Christmas poem today for an ideal Christmas present. See us at www.premierpoetry.co.uk Email at andymonk@premierpoetry.co.uk Or ring us on: 07738 756685
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FRIENDS OF BENWICK SCHOOL Recent Events Clothes Collection on Weds Nov 5th – raised £46 Fancy Dress Disco on Friday Nov 14th – raised £75 Upcoming Events Village Xmas Bazaar on Sat Dec 6th in the Village Hall. FOBS will be running a stall, we look forward to seeing you there supporting all the village societies. Monthly Draw Results Sept 2008 1st Prize Angela Chelton £100 2nd Prize Hannah Shaw £43.25 Oct 2008 1st Prize Lesley Rushbrook £100 2nd Prize Olive Benfield £47 In addition to the prizes the monthly draw raises about £50 per month for the school. Anyone interested in joining the monthly draw (£1 per month) please contact Teresa Goulding on 677629.
Doddington Under 5's Parent & Toddler Group
NIGEL A. SILK
....provides healthy, imaginative play opportunities for children aged from birth to five. We have themed sessions such as music/singing & rhyme time, messy play (paint, play dough, water, sand, messy food etc), and fun & play (arts & crafts, home corner, rail & road, puzzles, small world toys etc).
WINDOW CLEANING SERVICES
Sessions run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00-11:30 and 13:30-14:30 on a Thursday.
(01354) 695732 MOB: 07932 446274
For more information please contact Emma Weatherill on 07824 337856
EMAIL : nigelsilk@btinternet.com
Easyfundraising (www.easyfundraising.org.uk/benwickprimary) Please support your local school at no additional cost to yourselves by passing through this website when placing orders on the internet. It is very simple and with lots of us about to place orders for Xmas this could be a great way to raise money for the school. Once you’ve registered, between 1% and 6% of your spend on most major retailers will go to the school. If you’re thinking of changing insurers or taking out a mobile phone contract, these can earn one-time fees of up to £50 (without costing you a penny extra!)
Benwick Parish Council Minutes Unfortunately there wasn’t room in this issue to print out the last ratified set of Parish Council minutes, those from the October meeting. If you would like to see them, they are available on the Benwick Bugle website, www.benwickbugle.co.uk and on www.lilyholtroad.co.uk. If you cannot access the internet and would like a copy, please feel free to call me on 677869 and I can arrange for you to have a printed version.
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TWENTY QUESTIONS: JANET FOUNTAIN 1) Why would people of Benwick know you? I was born in The Five Alls and grew up in Benwick. My parents Ethel and Cyril Chaplin ran the pub for 39 years from 1936 to 1975. I am now treasurer of the Benwick Forget-Me-Not Club (formerly called the Over Sixties) and I represent them on the Village Hall committee. 2) What is your earliest memory of Benwick? The Five Alls – it was just a beer house then. The only public room was half of the present front bar and called the Tap Room. Mum and Dad had to draw the beer from wooden barrels and carry it from the cellar to the Tap room. The men would always tell me Goodnight when Mum took me to bed as the stairs were just by the Tap room door. Women didn’t go in pubs until after the war. 3) Favourite Band / Singer? Daniel O’ Donnell, the Irish Country singer. I have been a fan for twenty years and have met him on several occasions, both in his home village of Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal and at concert venues in the U.K. 4) Marmite: Love it or Hate It? Hate it – ugh!! 5) What do you like to do in your spare time? Research local and family history. ‘Benwick Bygones’ has taken up most of my spare time recently. 6) What is the last book you read? ‘Life on the Fen Edge’ by Edward Howard. Ted, as he is known, lived and worked on a farm at Ramsey Mereside. He now lives in Ramsey but interestingly he married a Benwick girl – Mollie Smith, in 1955. 7) Favourite holiday destination? Madeira 8) What is your favourite hobby? I enjoy dancing, gardening, photography and just watching quiz programmes and a couple of the soaps on T.V.
Classics Restaurant 7, Station Road, Manea Tel 01354 680363 www.classicsrestaurant.co.uk
Best Wishes to all our customers for Christmas & the New Year Still planning festive celebrations ... we have tables available over the Christmas & holiday period
Festive December Menu £19.50 / £24.00 Christmas Day Lunch Menu £42.50 (both prepre-booked)
New Years Eve buffet £30.00 Please phone for further details of any menus, opening dates & availability over the Christmas period ~~~~~~~
ReFriday 9th January Re R-opening e
9) What is your favourite thing about Benwick? It’s home to me – My roots go deep.
New Evening menu available
10) What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? Make sure of the funding for my grandchildren’s education (there are five of them) to avoid student loans, then I would have a spend up on luxuries. (Cont’d on page 24)
Help us celebrate Burn’s night 3 course Buffet £21.00
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Tuesday 27th January We cater for party bookings and private hire Bed & Breakfast accommodation available 11
FEN TIGERS EXPLORER SCOUT UNIT On the 11th October the Fen Tigers embarked on Camp London Part 2, the whole weekend the sun shone probably one of the nicest weekends of the summer! We set off on the Saturday morning arriving at noon a quick unpack and then we were off to Carnaby Street and then onto Camden Market for some shopping back to base the luxurious five star scout hall for feeding and then to the main event. We attended the Ceremony of the keys at the Tower of London where every night for the past 750 years or so the same ceremony has been carried out; the Beefeater gave a brilliant talk on what all the various participants’ roles are and how the ceremony came into being. Sunday morning bright but not so early we had some breakfast of sausages just finishing as the weight watcher came in I am sure they appreciated the smell! We were off again playing a game of virtual Monopoly where they had to visit each station answer questions and take photographic evidence. We all met up at Marble Arch tired and very warm to make our way home.
Brighten up winter with
Tie-dye!! T-shirts, socks, and baby wear Ideal gifts and stocking fillers
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CHRISTMAS PUZZLES (answers on page 34) Spot the Difference There are 8 differences between these two pictures - can you spot them?
FORGET-ME-NOT CLUB Reminder for people that have booked for the Christmas Party on Thursday 4th December. Starts at 6pm not 6.30 as normal meetings and please bring a present for Santa’s sack. The club is having a Tombola stall at the Bazaar on Saturday 6th December – any donations will be gratefully accepted. There is no meeting in January – first meeting in the New Year will be on Thursday 5th February at 6.30pm in the Village Hall when we will be pleased to welcome old and new members aged 55 years and over. Annual membership fee £5. Come and join us for games, quiz, cheese and wine, and coffee evenings, speakers, birthday and Christmas parties and outings during the summer months.
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www.WordSearchMaker.com
24
ANGELS BETHLEHEM CAROLS CRACKERS DONKEY FAMILY FRANKINCENSE GIFTS GOLD HOLLY JOSEPH LAMB MARY MISTLETOE MYRRH NOEL STAR TURKEY WISE MEN
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WWW.LILYHOLTROAD.CO.UK
AERIAL PHOTO APPEAL
íí Take a paper plate and cut out the centre, leaving a ring shape. Paint or colour it with felt tips in an appropriate colour - gold, red, green, whatever colour you have. Cut holly leaf shapes out of coloured paper and stick around the ring. As an alternative you could make this a ‘Thankful Holly Wreath’ and have the children write something for which they are thankful on each leaf.
At the book launch of Benwick Bygones, Richard and Sue Law brought us an aerial photograph of Nene Parade, which was taken in 1964. As you can see from the picture, it is remarkable, and shows the church with its spire in full colour*, and a few of the cottages which were once down Nene Parade. This set me to thinking, how many other people have old aerial photographs of their house, or the village in general? In January, a new section of my website will be uploaded, “Aerial Benwick”, which will contain Aerial photos of all over Benwick, I already have a few of my house, and a couple of the village from the 80’s but I would like more. It doesn’t matter if it’s just of your house from last year, or your house as it was twenty years ago, or of the village from today. You can scan them in yourself, and e-mail them to me at adam@lilyholtroad.co.uk, or I can come and collect them from you and scan them myself. If they are too large to scan then I can take a photo of them with my camera, which produces excellent results. Just contact me on 01354 677494 or at 1 Lilyholt Road if you have one.
íí Take a paper doily or make a circle out of a sheet of white paper - drawing around a saucer on a page of cheap A4 will do fine! Fold the circle in half to make a semi circle. Fold the semi circle in thirds along the lines as shown in Diagram 1. You should now have a triangular shape as shown in Diagram 2. Take scissors and cut patterns in the paper - a hole at the point, shapes cut out of the edges etc. See Diagram 3 for example.
1.
2.
Make sure you leave part of both the straight edges intact or the snowflake will fall apart. When you’ve finished, unfold and admire! Experiment with using different sized circles and different designs, or using crinkle cut scissors. Or decorate with glitter or glitter glue.
3.
The snowflakes look very effective made into a mobile, or stuck over a window with white adhesive putty, especially combined with a little spray on snow. If you can laminate them first they will last well. * Unfortunately as we can only print in black and white you’ll have to use your imagination here! Do take a look at the photo on www.lilyholtroad.co.uk once Adam has uploaded his ‘Aerial Photos’ section (Editor) 14
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Christmas Craft Ideas Don’t know what to do with the kids in the run up to Christmas? Are they a little over excited? Perhaps a few Christmas crafts will keep them occupied for a while. These crafts are very simple, especially for harassed mothers with way too much to do already! Key:
í Very easy íí Not too hard, younger children might need some help ííí More challenging
CLOSER TO HOME! As you will have read in the Cambs Times, and here in the Bugle, local artist Anita Davies has now completed her summer project, ‘closer to home. Anita painted 27 houses in total, 9 from each of Benwick, Doddington and Wimblington, and you can get a copy of the brilliant little book which contains all the pictures for just £12.50.
í . Take three lolly sticks and glue them together in a triangle as shown. Add two wiggly eyes and a red pompom or felt circle for the nose. Simple but effective! ííí
There are several recipes available, all involve baking sheets of gingerbread which are then stuck together with icing or similar and decorated. We can’t replicate an exact recipe here due to copyright, but we have tried the one at www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4900/simple-gingerbread-house and found it to be much easier than expected. The website includes recipe, instructions and templet to print out. If you can’t get to the site, go to www.benwickbugle.co.uk to download the recipe and template. Alternatively email or phone us and we will be pleased to send you the information free of charge. These template make the house pictured, although we omitted the almonds at the baking stage and instead tiled the roof with chocolate buttons cemented with icing and used our imagination with the other decorations too! 22
In Benwick, Anita painted: Hope Cottage, Lilyholt Road Jayenkay, Lilyholt Road 6 Skeifs Row 4 Lilyholt Road Rose Cottage, Lilyholt Road
The Limes, High Street The Squirrels, Doddington Road 47 Doddington Road Peel House, Doddington Road
To get hold of your copy of the book, or to purchase the original painting, contact Anita on: 07790554201
Benwick Residents’ Association
CHRISTMAS TOMBOLA Friday December 12th Benwick Village Hall Eyes Down 7.30pm Any donations of prizes gratefully received! 15
BENWICK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR SKILLS TO WORK FOR YOU?
Hi All, The last two months have been extremely busy for those of us involved in the Benwick Residents Association. The BRA’s (Benwick Residents Association) have been busy with the first Benwick Dickensian Christmas Market which turned out to be a brilliant success with even the weather being kind to us and we hope to run this again next year possibly on the 28th November 2009. Photos of this event can be seen on our web site at www.benwickdickensianmarket.co.uk which was set up for us by Rob Taylor and who continues to keep it up to date for us. Many of the local groups helped us to make this a good day with the Scouts doing the teas and coffees and also the Hog Roast for the BRA’s, the Church was represented by Marie with her cake stall which was so popular that Marie soon sold out and the Football club with Lisa’s face painting and their stall of cards and wrapping paper each group keeping their own takings for there funds. I hope too many were not upset by the road being closed and the noise but it appears that those that attended had a very good day. BRA's were very grateful to Mr. Ivan Oliver for the use of his land on the corner of Lilyholt Road and the High Street and also for the help given to us by Kevin, Gina and Carrie of the Five Alls. Our Christmas Tombola will be on Friday 12th December in the village hall eyes down at 7.30pm and we have had some lovely prizes donated. Also there will be our two Christmas dinners one on the 1st December which is for those people who work but who would like to celebrate Christmas with their friends in the Five Alls dining at 20.00 the £10 cost including the main meal, Turkey with all the usual trimmings, a choice of dessert, a glass of wine or tropical juice with a cracker and a lot of fun and laughter, The other is on Tuesday 9th December dining at 13.00 with the same meal and treats all for £10. The bookings for both these meals are well advanced and if anyone still would like to come please phone me soon as places are limited.
I am looking into the idea of setting up a Local Exchange Trading Scheme (LETS) in the area. A LETS is a way of exchanging goods and services with others in the community without the need for money. It is a local trading network of individuals, community groups and businesses who trade goods and services with other members of the scheme through the exchange of LETS points. So, for example, Mr Smith mows the lawn of Mrs Jones, and is “paid” 5 LETS points. Mrs Jones sews as a hobby, so she repairs the curtains of Miss Evans, who pays her 10 LETS points. Miss Evans bakes cakes, which she sells at 2 LETS points each. And so on. LETS schemes have been running successfully in other parts of the country for many years. For examples of LETS current;y running have a look at www.fodlets.co.uk or www.letsf.co.uk Are you interested in one here? Have you been involved in one in the past? This is just an idea of a scheme at present; what we need now is a small group of enthusiastic people to see if it could be viable. Do you want to discuss it further? Do you have any thoughts or tips? Give me a call or drop me an email. Jane 01354 677869
janelevicki@gmail.com
The sewing club has been put on hold until the New year now and there will be a flyer sent round asking your opinion on this and the right time to hold it and which day is preferred.
The Five Alls Boxing Day Quiz
So all in all a good, although busy time coming up and we hope many of you will join us in the forthcoming events.
Friday 26th December
As this is the last Bugle before Christmas may the BRA’s take this opportunity of wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
8.00pm start
Regards to all, Pat Tickner, Chair
Everyone welcome! 16
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BENWICK VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE It was decided by the village hall committee that we would make every 1st Friday of the month a Tombola evening starting from February 6th BUT each group in the village will be taking over one month with the co-operation of all the other groups. The month of February will be with the Village hall committee, March will be F.O.B. Sports Club, April the BRA's (Residents Association), May the F.O.B.Church and June will be the F.O.B.School. The remaining months of the year are still free at the moment but other clubs will be contacted such as the Butterflies to see if they would like to join in with us. Although we hope there will be co-operation between the groups with a joint effort on supplying the prizes, the profit from each Tombola will go to the group running it and NOT shared between all. Please contact any of the committee if you would like further details and keep the First Friday of each month free in your diary. Also there is now a sub committee of Rose Hoffman, Gill Thomas, Angela Chelton and Lesley Rushbrook who are organising a Horticultural Show to be arranged for 14th September further details of this show will be forthcoming in the new year so that you know the different catagories that can be entered. There will also be plenty of catagories for the school children to enter. Finally, the Poppy Dance on Rememberance Saturday was such a success and so much fun that we have decided to arrange another one next year to be held on Saturday 14th November and we hope to see more of you there next year. Plenty of time to sort out your 1940's outfits but it is not a condition of attending that you dress up. The committee look forward to seeing you all at the different events that are running in the hall at the moment and if anyone has any other ideas please contact any of the committee who will be pleased to hear from you.
DODDINGTON PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP Doddington - Wimblington – Benwick – Stonea
The next “Open” Committee Meeting Will be held in the Doddington Surgery waiting area on Thursday 8th Jan 6.30pm – 8.00pm Registered Patients of the Practice are automatically members of the PPG and are welcome to attend the “open” committee meetings 20
17
BENWICK MEMORIES - FRED TINKLER Recently, I met with my second cousin, and she filled me in with some family history, and gave me a copy of the memories of my Great-Uncle, which detailed his early life in Benwick. Each edition of the Bugle over the next year will have part of his memories which give an insight into the early day Benwick. The memories are those of Frederick Kitchener Tinkler, who lived in the village in the early part of the Twentieth Century, recorded in 1999 after the death of his wife of 59 years, Phyllis Winifred Tinkler (nee Andrews). They were edited by Diane Clark, Fred and Phyllis’ only daughter. At the end of the year, they will be available in full, on www.lilyholtroad.co.uk. They are, and remain © Diane Clark 2008. Adam Keppel-Garner Part One I am 82 years old; I was born in a small village named Benwick on 5th June 1916. My father was James Tinkler & Mother was Florence (nee Skeels). I was named Frederick Kitchener, a name I did not like, as I had blue eyes & fair hair like Lord Kitchener who was presumed drowned when the ship he was on was wrecked sailing round the Outer Hebrides. Dr Stevens was really to blame for the name. Mother was ill after I was born & spent a long period in hospital. I suppose it did some good as Dad got over six months compassionate leave from the Army. It could easily have saved his life because he missed the Battle of the Somme which was the worst battle of the First World War. Thousands and thousands of blokes were killed there.
Fred Tinkler
Dad’s youngest sister Emma (later married Len Bradshaw and lived at Warboys), she was 14 years old, came to look after me because Dad had to work for a local farmer. I think she cried a lot as she thought I would die & I howled as I did not. Dad bought two goats & I was fed on goat’s milk. I think Aunt Em must have used pints of camphorated oil rubbing my chest to stop me catching cold. Dad used to bike to Cambridge every Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday. Aunt Emma also had to look after my sister Lilly Anne who was two years older than I so she had a pretty busy time. After Mother came out of Hospital, Dad was transferred to Aldershot Barracks, so late in 1917 we went to live there where we stayed for about a year Dad was drafted to Ireland & mother, Lily & I went back to Benwick to live. I always remember when Dad came home on leave he stood his rifle behind the door & I was told not to touch it. 18
One morning mum went to stake out the goats by the roadside. Something must have startled them for they twisted around and Mum was tripped over by the chains so she fell in the drain. Dad thought it was funny when I said mum fell in the drain & her bloomers got wet. A Drain is a deep channel cut along the roadside to take the water that is drained from the fields to the pumping stations to be pumped into the rivers. They were about 12ft wide at the top and 4ft at the bottom & about 12ft deep. They were generally half full. I started school in Benwick when I was three years old & received the cane the first morning as I cried to go home. Mother went to see the schoolmaster Mr Broadbent & told him if he felt like belting anyone he should be where Dad was. I never liked Bennie Broadbent as we always called him. Mr Broadbent had the first motor car in the village & as he drove along Mrs B would say run along beside us boys. At that time cars only travelled about 8 to 10 miles per hour. Coming home from school one afternoon with my sister Lily, I was chasing butterflies by the drain side & overbalanced & fell into the drain. Lil, who only six years old, ran over the road to a carpenter’s shop told Mr Oldfield who was working there what had happened & he ran across to the drain, jumped in & pulled me out. He told Dad afterwards if Lil had run home to tell mum instead of fetching him it would have been too late to have saved me Anyway all was well.
James, Florence, (my greatgrandparents) Lily and Fred Tinkler. My Nan was born later.
Mr Broadbent retired & another master came - Mr Seals. Mr Seals taught standards 5, 6, 7 & ex 7, Mrs Seals taught class 4, Miss Eva Stokes taught class 3, Miss Emma Richards taught class 2, Miss Elizabeth Foster taught class I & Miss Althea Moore took the infants. Miss Moore’s father was the baker in the village. He was farmer and had a dairy, his cows were mostly fed on the roadsides &. river banks. He would employ a boy who had to look after them. Miss Foster’s father was the superintendent of Wesleyan Chapel. She was also a Sunday School teacher. Her sister had a sweet shop next to their house. Miss Richard’s father also had a dairy and her sister also had small sweet shop Miss Richards had awful foul smelling breath we called her Bucky Richards. Miss Stoke’s father owned a bicycle shop which he later turned into a garage and installed a petrol pump. He then bought a bus - he called it the Venture & started a service from the village to March Wednesdays and Saturdays. 19