B Inspired Magazine - February - March 2020

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Issue 21 | February - March 2020

A MAGAZINE INSPIRED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Featuring NCT St Neots Volunteers Mothers Day Competition

Nominate 3 Mums to Win a Makeover!

What’s On

Our Areas Largest Guide

OUR EXPERTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

OUR EXPERTS

MARLENE SONNENBERG Legal Beacon Wealth Legal Ltd

TONY LARKINS Money Beacon Wealth Management Ltd

KATIE KITSON Marketing B Inspired Publications Ltd

Every issue Marlenne and her team will be providing insights into law.

Every issue Tony will be providing an insight into financial matters.

Every issue we will be providing you with an insight into marketing.

CONTRIBUTORS Front Cover

What’s On Guide

Front Cover Stars -

St Neots Little Dragons Taekwon-Do

St Neots NCT Mums

Stageworks

Steven Mulvey Photography Music Review Cory Blose Big Scenic Nowhere

Paxton Pits St Neots Festival Volunteer Centre Huntingdonshire Mothers Day Competition

Mothers Day Competition Kids Story Karen Larkins

If you would like to take part in a future issue, contact the B Inspired team - hello@binspiredmag.co.uk DISCLAIMER: B INSPIRED Publications Ltd cannot be held responsible for the content provided by the contributors and advertisers to the magazine, or service provided by the local businesses. Copyright belongs to B Inspired Publications Ltd.

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CONTENTS

Hello!

Welcome to B Inspired Magazine, a magazine designed and created, with and for, the local community.

Welcome to the first issue of 2020! What a year we had in 2019 - thank you everyone for your support!

You will find our areas largest What’s On Guide, thought provoking articles and fun in this issue - as always.

Excitement is currently rising as Mothers Day fast approaches, as we are very excited to announce that we will once again be launching our very own Mothers Day Competition!! You can nominate a Mum for a makeover and photoshoot, and they will appear with other Mum winners as our next front cover stars!

If you have or know of a deserving Mum, further details can be found on our back cover as well as our Facebook page @BInspiredMagazine.

Good Luck with your entries!

Katie Kitson Editor About B Inspired: Connecting with Wyboston, St Neots, Paxtons, Kimbolton, Grafham, Offords, Buckden, Godmanchester, Huntingdon and all areas in-between, to give YOU a voice.

This magazine is created WITH YOU. Your thoughts, pictures, reviews, events, businesses, clubs... If you have something to share we want to hear about it.

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CONTENTS 4 BUSINESS MONEY with Expert Beacon Wealth Management Ltd

6 INSPIRATIONAL COVER STARS

- HOME 24 LEGAL - with Expert Beacon Wealth Legal

- NCT St Neots Mums

10 WHAT’S ON GUIDE 11 GIG GUIDE - What’s On

12 MUSIC WITH CORY BLOSE - Big Scenic Nowhere

14 WHAT’S ON EVENTS GUIDE 16 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2019 18 WHAT’S ON EVENTS GUIDE

- FAMILY 26 KIDS CORNER STORIES - Tilly Trimble Investigates

28 KIDS CORNER GAMES

30 B SEEN 31 PAXTON PITS 32 MOTHERS DAY COMPETITION

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BUSINESS - MONEY

MONEY WITH BEACON WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD Do You Want More?

Our money expert Tony Larkins, Beacon Wealth Management Ltd’s, Managing Director, provides an insight into the financial world.

In this issue Tony talks about looking at your life and working out how you can live the life you want now and in retirement.

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ast year we had around 12 million people in the UK over 65, and that number is due to keep growing as we are living longer.

Many fear running out of 4

money, fear the shock of not working, fear the loss of a salary, fear stock markets and stay in cash.

But most will spend less as they age, most will start to finally enjoy life, some will do part time work they want to do, most will need investment growth for 20 years.

A Money Marketing report (Nov ’19) stated only 45% of women and 59% of men can save enough for retirement, and that this drops by a third to 29% of women and 44% of men if they are divorcees.

Women Slightly fewer females go to university, but they get better grades. Their funds suffer more from career breaks, and taking lower paid jobs. That’s fine if a female has maternal instincts. but they say behind every great man is a greater woman, and most guys know the secret to a long, happy marriage is respect for each other and doing as you’re told.

Income in Retirement Retirement income is not just about pensions, it can be made of other investments including ISA’s,

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EXPERT

Unit Trusts, Bonds and Property Income.

Tax reliefs and allowances exist for all and need to be used effectively and efficiently.

You can be retired for nearly as long as you have worked, and whilst we have big financial demands at certain times in our lives, we need to think about what kind of future we want.

Working Life Forging a career is not for everyone and neither is working long hours in a stressful environment.

Working life does not have to be hard and tiring, even if it often is; it can and should be the life you want.

Just remember though that unless you are to receive an inheritance or lottery win, your future is based on your present finances.

New Years Resolution As a New Years resolution why not commit to reviewing your

life, by asking yourself whether you are doing what you want with your life.

Are You Doing What You Want?

This can be a difficult question to answer, because if the answer is no then you need to decide what it is you do want, and how you are going to achieve it.

Helping people answer these questions is a great part of my job.

We can help you look at things differently and play with your numbers to see what they mean to you.

Money Money is an enabler and we can help make sure yours is setup correctly to maximise it is potential, whilst enabling you to live the life you want.

It costs nothing to talk to me and may save your future self a lot more if you do; call me on 01480 869466.

Further Details: Should you require financial assistance for pensions, savings, investments, mortgages, protection, long term care, employee benefits... contact the team at Beacon Wealth Management Ltd. Website: www.beaconwealth.co.uk Email: info@beaconwealth.co.uk.

Tel: 01480 869466 Facebook: /BeaconWealthGroup Twitter: /BeaconWealthIFA

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COVER STARS

ST NEOTS NCT MUMS Every issue our cover stars are a local individual or group with an inspirational story to share.

This Issue we have four fabulous mum volunteers from the St Neots NCT group, who are responsoble for the nearly new sales, support groups and more...

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n December we ran our very popular 12 days of Christmas competition, where we give away one prize every single day, for the first 12 days of the month.

Day 9 this year saw us looking for this months cover star. We had some fantastic nominations and St Neots NCT were pulled out as the winners!

About the NCT NCT stands for National Childbirth Trust and it is their mission to support parents through the first 1,000 days, to have the best possible experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

They do this by focusing on three primary areas: Sharing knowledge - informing parents’ decisions Creating networks - forging vital friendships Harnessing voices - changing public policy and attitudes for

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good.

Since 1956, the NCT has supported millions of women and parents through birth and early parenthood whilst also securing major advances in professional practice and public policy.

Their aim at the moment is to offer more to support parents after the birth of their child, so that they are there for all parents across the first 1,000 days.

St Neots NCT In order for the national charity to be able to support and offer more to new parents they have setup local branches who can tailor activities for their area, including the very popular ‘Nearly New Sales’.

Meeting the Team As you would expect, if you are one yourself, parents are forever busy, and as such sadly not everyone from their team could

make the photoshoot, but we are very honoured to introduce you to the lovely ladies who are Monique, Sian, Cheryl and Kimberley.

We grabbed them for a chat, before being snapped by the very talented Stephen Mulvey.

Monique Ozlati Noon Monique joined NCT after attending a nearly new sale in November 2018 as a volunteer, and was worried when she heard concerns over whether they would be able to continue holding the events anymore due to the lack of volunteers.

Not only a mum but a scaffolding business owner with her husband, NCT provides a

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nice escape. ‘I spend 2 days at home working, whilst my child is at nursery. As I work on my own it is nice to get out and meet my friends from the NCT.’

mums.’

Having children changed Sian’s life entirely, as she is now a student midwife and hoping to finish studying in August.

‘I always knew I wanted to Support for Roles go into something medical but Inspired after volunteering at the I had no idea what. I worked in nearly new sale, Monique attended hospitals and then when I had my the next team meeting, where she children it clicked. I had never joined and became the treasurer thought about it before.’

- something she had never done before!

There was no need to be daunted by this new role though as Monique told us about the great support available from Head Office, the rescources available on their website, as well as there Kimberley Pearson being a lot of support on dedicated Kimberley is the Membership facebook groups, so you can ask Co-ordinator for the St Neots others questions who do the same. group, has been a part of the team This type of support is available for about 3 years and loves it. for all the other roles, and could Joined by the gorgeous Elowyn, be a good learning experience for 3 months, I am surprised how jobs. well behaved she is, and then discoverd that at 6 weeks old they were both sat on the tills of a nearly new sale! It was no surprise from this comment to hear this was her second child.

I work with Helen who is our head, and she asked if I wanted Sian Simonis to join the group, and have never Sian was previously involved looked back. with her local NCT before moving Whilst currently on maternity to St Neots in 2014, when she was leave Kimberley is a bid writer heavily pregnant. Knowing how for the RSPB, writing applications great the charity is Sian became to the government. ‘I have been a volunteer early on and knew with them since 2014, and in my that when things settled down she current role about 2 years, but wanted to get further involved and during this time I have had two join the St Neots team, which she breaks for maternity.’ now has.

Before doing so though Sian ran a breastfeeding support group at the Children’s Centre. To do this Sian took a course off her own back (which she paid for herself) and studied in her own time.

‘I just wanted to be able to give Cheryl Cave something back and help local Cheryl attended the photo-

shoot with her two lovely and energetic children Olivia, 4 and Eric, 22 months. They were great fun, and as you can see from the pictures very photogenic.

Cheryl is a part of the committee as well as the Nearly New Sales Coordinator. A big responsibilty as it is what the majority of the public see in regards to the NCT, with them taking place twice every year, but also how they raise funds for future inititives.

NCT Nearly New Sales At the time of going to press the next date was almost confirmed to be Saturday 16th May. Taking place twice yearly, they are always looking for volunteers for the sales, so even if people don’t want to join the group - which is 1 night every month with tea and cake (maybe wine), and is very chilled - that is absolutly fine, and they would really appreciate your support.

‘Volunteers of the sales do get extra perks like accessing the sale before everyone else.’

A percentage of the money raised from these sales goes towards the main charity, but then the rest goes towards extra support locally.

‘We managed to make a lot more money at our last sale as we have reduced our costs by switching venue to Longsands School, which is great as it means we can put more money towards local support.

We have found that the sales are particularly popular because people now recognise that whilst

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it is good on the pocket to shop and sell here, it is also good for the environment.’

St Neots NCT Team NCT is designed for any and all parents, from expecting and new, right through to grandparents.

The ladies all appreciate how busy it is being a mum as many of them enjoyed the benefits long before joining the group, and they have friends who have never joined - ‘It is a complete individual preference, which is often dictated by time and childcare.’

We sell clothes up to the age of 7 at our Nearly New Sales, and often find that it is those with slightly older children - those who have started nursery/school - who often join the committee.

‘Joining the committee there is no commitment to sign up to anything though, and it is fun and relaxed.’

Currently there are about 8 permanent members, and volunteers range from new mums, dads and also a grandmother.

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‘It would be lovely to see more dads get involved.’

Ultimately they would love to offer more to the local area.

‘If people have ideas of what they would like to see locally they are welcome to attend the meetings and let us know as we are always open to ideas, whether they are on the committee or not.’ (Details of which can be found on their Facebook page.)

NCT Further Support and Services One of their hidden gems is that they offer 24hr infant feeding support, 365 days a year.

Along with their renowned Antenatal Classes, they also offer:

Twin and Multiples Workshops Pregnancy Yoga Antenatal Refresher course NCT Doula Waterbirth workshops Baby First Aid Baby Massage Introducing Solid Foods Private Breastfeeding support in your home...

‘People can get put off when they hear there is a cost involved, but there are discounted rates available.’

Bumps and Babes Bumps and babes is a free group that runs every Thursday at the Eaton Socon Childrens Unit.

Designed for pregnancy to the more mobile babes, this is a great place to go and meet other new parents, exchange stories, exchange tips and it is often run next door to the health clinic who might also be able to help if you have any questions. Most importantly you can gain support, and companionship from other parents, in what can otherwise be a

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INSPIRATIONAL COVER STARS

potentially, and often unexpectedly have no doubt these lovely ladies lonely time. Allowing many to and their friends will welcome you make great mum friends. warts and all to all NCT events.

Big Kids As experienced at many of our front cover photo-shoots, the ladies were slightly apprehensive of their photo being taken, before they spoke to Stephen Mulvey, but when we asked them to go and play on the equipment, they didn’t have to be asked twice, whether their kids were present or not.

There seems to be a slight stigma that NCT parents are in a little perfect mum bubble, but meeting these ladies it has proven that they are in fact just human beings. From worrying how kids will behave, turning up slightly late to being strapped to a sleeping baby, and asking friends to check they are indeed secured correctly at the fear of being judged as part of the NCT, they are if anything a group that shows that they have each others back, they support one another, and being a parent can be lonely, so don’t isolate yourself. I

Finding Out More If you would like to join the team or find out more about what is available, further details can be found on their Facebook page: NCT St Neots and District, on their website www.nct.org.uk/ branches/st-neots and are also contactable via email stneots@nct. org.uk Kimberley’s Tips On Achieving A Content Baby We couldn’t leave without asking Kimberley at the end, the key to keeping your baby so content, as minus a few cries (which any mum would have been annoyed didn’t happen - in order to make themselves feel better - me included) she was relatively chilled.

‘Ha-ha nothing, other than I just keep moving - ah yes, and then you have flashbacks bouncing sideways even when you didn’t have your baby in arms!

PHOTOGRAPHER Steve Mulvey - Steve Mulvey Photography Wedding Photographer How did you become a photographer?

Demand for my work grew so much I had to start charging in order to justify the investment for pro level equipment. I specialise in Weddings as they test all skills and disciplines e.g. macro photography for the wedding rings, product photography for the details, architecture for the venue, portrait for the couple and street photography for the candid moments. The constant challenge, tests me and its impossible not to love the atmosphere of love at a wedding day.

Contact Details Tel: 07971848348 hello@stevemulveyphotography.com www.stevemulveyphotography.com Facebook: stevemulveyphotog/ Instagram: stevemulveytog/

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

WHAT’S ON GUIDE Welcome to our Local What’s On Guide, where you will be able to see reviews from previous events, as well as our latest What’s On Gig and Event Guides.

If you have an event you would like to be featured for free in our main what’s on guides, or advertise for only £45 (quarter page) £75 (half page) / £150 (full page) please contact the team via email or Facebook. hello@binspiredmag.co.uk / BInspiredMagazine

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EXPERT

GIG GUIDE Gig Guide from Saturday 1st February - Tuesday 31st March 2020.

FEBRUARY Sunday 23rd Saturday 1st Jacen Unplugged The Kurmujun (Rock Covers, 4 piece) P+F 4pm - 7pm P+F 9pm - 1am Wednesday 26th Open Mic Night (Open Mic) The Soul Man (Soul Covers & Originals, Solo Artist) P+F 8pm - 11pm SNRC 8pm - 12am Friday 28th Sunday 2nd Music on a Sunday with Jayne (Covers) P+F 4pm - 7pm Friday 7th Machines (Rock Standards, 3 piece) P+F 9.40pm - 12.15am Atomic Peach (Punk / Indie) BVC 8.30pm - 11.30pm Saturday 8th Full Circle P+F 9pm - 1am Sunday 9th Ray Steele (Ska / Pop / Dance) P+F 5pm - 8pm Wednesday 12th Open Mic Night (Open Mic) P+F 8pm - 11pm Friday 14th Man Alive Band (Blues Rock, 3 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am Saturday 15th Fishing For Robots (Rock / Pop, 3 piece) HP 9pm - 12am Bad Rabbit (Rock, 4 piece) Pig N Falcon, St Neots 9pm - 1am Friday 21st Alison Lane Band (Alternative, 4 piece) P+F 9pm - 12am Saturday 22nd Endless Nameless P+F 9pm - 1am Eton Rivals (Mod / Ska Covers, 4 piece) G+D 9pm - 12am

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Dynamite Chicken (Rock Covers, 4 piece) G+D 9.30pm - 12am Sunday 15th Phil Crawford Playing Solo (Covers various) P+F 4pm - 7pm

The Soul Man (Soul Covers & Originals, Solo Artist) CH 9pm - 11.30pm

Friday 20th Mister-Meaner P+F 9pm - 1am

The Expletives (New Wave / Punk, 4 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am

Saturday 21th Midlife Crisis (Rock / Blues, 3 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am

Saturday 29th Beerbelly (Pop / Rock, 3 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am

Sunday 22nd Jacen Unplugged P+F 4pm - 7pm

The x-certs (60s, 70s and 80s Covers, 4 piece) MI 9.15pm - 11.30pm

Wednesday 25th Open Mic Night (Open Mic) P+F 8pm - 11pm

MARCH Sunday 1st Leech (Rock Covers) LP 3pm - 5.30pm Friday 6th Quixote’s Beard (Pop / Punk, 4 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am Saturday 7th Treble Damage P+F 9pm - 1am

Friday 27th Junkyard Preachers (Blues, 5 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am Saturday 28th The 142s Band (Rock / Pop, 4 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am

Gig Guide Venue Key:

SNRC - St. Neots Rugby Club, St Neots CH - The Coach House, St Neots MI - Market Inn, Huntingdon Absolute Bowie (David Bowie Tribute LP - The Lord Protector, Huntingdon Band, 5 piece) HPAC - Hinchingbrooke Performing HPAC Arts Centre, Huntingdon Sunday 8th TTH - The Three Horseshoes, Graveley Ray Steele (Ska / Pop / Dance) SNCC - St Neots Conservative Club P+F 5pm - 8pm Wednesday 11th Open Mic Night P+F 8pm - 11pm Friday 13th Zipwire (Rock, 4 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am Saturday 14th The Basic Cable Band (Pop / Rock / Jazz / Blues, 4 piece) P+F 9pm - 1am

P+F - Pig N Falcon, St Neots EMEL - Elsie May’s Electric Lounge, St Neots H+H - The Hare & Hound, St Neots RM - The River Mill, St Neots SNGC - St. Neots Golf Club, St Neots BH - The Bulls Head, St Neots G+D - The George & Dragon, Eaton Socon LP - The Lord Protector, Huntingdon BVC - Buckden Village Club, Buckden HP - Hyde Park, St Neots BB - The Black Bull, Brampton

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MUSIC REVIEW

BIG SCENIC NOWHERE Cory talks with Bob Balch from Fu Manchu about his latest super group project.

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n this interview Cory chatted with Bob Balch from Fu Manchu about his latest project.

Cory Blose, is a local resident and is becoming increasingly well known within the music industry.

Cory will be providing you with his latest and most relevant interviews from bands both near and far.

You can listen to some of Corys interviews on our website: www.binspiredmag.co.uk

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We are here to talk about Big Scenic Nowhere, this super group you’ve got going on.

Yeah it’s been pretty fun. We actually just did our third record like a couple of weekends ago. We just keep churning stuff out and see what happens.

We have heard the EP, there’s an additional album out in January, so is this an additional album?

Yeah we got together, Gary (Gary Arce - Yawning Man), myself and Tony (Tony Reed Mondo Generator), and Bill (Bill Stinson - Yawning Man).

We got together in the same studio for three days, and our previous album was more structured, this was just like a three

day jam session, where we just get up, get in there and rock out to see what happened. We are now going through 3 hours of music and trying to whittle it down to like 45 minutes by trying to organise it, and yeah it’s fun.

For those who have not quite caught up yet and don’t really know who Big Scenic Nowhere is, what I heard and understand is it this super group started via a tweet over Tacos with Gary. Is that right?

Yeah he posted a picture of his food from a chain we both enjoy - well I didn’t really know if he enjoyed but I gave him my order.

He’d just done an interview with my website that I run called playthisriff.com (shameless self promotion) and yeah that’s probably what put me back on his radar.

I’ve known Gary since 1997,

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MUSIC

when we used to practice in his house right when I joined the band, and we’d run into each other here and there, but I think the interview coupled with the post kinda sparked it.

He was like I want to do something real heavy. We got together and jammed and there was a lot of stuff that I went home and went through.

Like a total nerd I just went through every riff we did and organised them by like beat per minute. I was like this is 97 beats per minute in the key of C, that’s a 112 beats per minute in the key of D and then by doing that it went from like 50 riffs to like 8 songs.

Oh this one goes with that and this one over here, and kinda organised it that way. It’s like building a jigsaw puzzle and just putting it back together.

I was going to say it’s like a guitar jigsaw.

That’s totally what it was. I was listening to it like - cause we just went to the studio and jammed and that was cool but it’s not how I’ve ever made records with Fu’s so I was really nervous. I just wanted to create something that would really blow people away and then it dawned on me that I could organise this stuff and then kinda demo it to myself and bring people in and have them play with it, and that’s kinda what we did.

There’s jam sessions but for the most part it is pretty organised.

You have some great guests on there Nick (Nick Oliveri - Kyuss, Mondo Generator, Queens of the Stone Age), Tony, Bill, Boomer (Mario Lalli (Yawning Man, Fatso Jetson) the guys from The Well and Monolord... It sounds as though it has pretty much stayed in tact and they played what you wanted them to. Is that how it worked?

Kinda, Tony was only on the EP due to a scheduling thing, but Nick came in and played on a song, Boomer came in and played like 4 or 5 songs, Tony has a studio in his house, so we would just trade files back and forth, that he would add vocal to, the same thing with The Well, and Alain Johannes, he’s a monster musician and he has a studio at his house too.

So we like got together, recorded all these songs and then I just sent them out to the world to these people and were like here see what you guys come up with.

Within the next few weeks I just started to get stuff back.

I got Alains’ track back the day after we did The Roundhouse, so I was sitting in my hotel in London.

We’d just got back to the hotel, all high from the gig and was like that was rad, and then I checked emails and Alains stuff came in. I just sat there like this is just the greatest, it’s like Christmas you know.

This song that I am so familiar with and to see what someone else’s take on it is, and yeah that’s how it went down.

Any chance we might be able to see this Big Scenic Nowhere stuff live, or is that just too much to coordinate everybody?

I mean getting the entire lineup of the record would be pretty insane to do, but maybe like one night or something. We could take

a couple of the members to travel it I think. I know Tony, Bill, and Gary would be down, but yeah I think we probably should.

I’ve always wanted to do this thing where we put out a bunch of records, and then start touring, as then you have an interest in sitting in a van for 10 hours a day, as they’ll be people at the shows.

I’ve already done the thing when you try to break in a band by spending months and months on the road. In this day and age you don’t have to that I don’t think. You can put out records and then once we get enough interest then we get the road going.

The first album Proper is coming out in January, we’ve had the EP. When’s this third record going to come out?

Tony and I have been editing back and forth, he’s adding vocals and stuff, like Al. I would think earliest in summer 2020.

I want the Vision on the Horizon, to be for a long time before we dump another one on them. That one I think comes out 30th January on Heavy Sykes Sound. So yeah then people can soak that up for a while and then hopefully in summer 2020.

I always want to have something in the works. I would rather be writing, mixing, recording, I never want it to go dark, ever.

I’d sleep over, because I’d be sat up all night listening to it and try to figure out what to do with it. I don’t think I’d want to do it any other way.

With the two tracks we have had already I’m sure it will be an absolute killer.

It’s pretty gnarly yeah. There are lots of different styles going on everyone who contributed knocked it out of the park.

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

Photographer: Tara Leanne Barber St Neots Riverside Park

WHAT’S ON GUIDE CHILDREN CENTRE ACTIVITIES

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

MONDAYS Bargroves Centre, St Neots Bi-Weekly: Breastfeeding Mummies 9:45-11:15am Weekly: Physical Fun 12:45-2:15pm £2

Mondays 5:30pm - 6:15pm Little Dragons Taekwon-do Longsands Academy, St Neots 6:30pm - 7:15pm St Neots TKD Longsands Academy, St Neots

TUESDAYS Eynesbury Centre Weekly: Young Parents Drop-in 1pm-2:30pm Weekly: Puffins 9:30am-11:30am

Wednesdays 4:30pm - 5:15pm Little Dragons Taekwon-do The Church Rooms, St Neots

WEDNESDAYS Eynesbury Centre Last week of the Month: Clothes Swap 9:30am-11am Weekly: Young Parent Advice Drop-In 2pm-3pm

5:30pm - 6:15pm St Neots TKD The Church Rooms, St Neots 8:30pm - 10:30pm Quiz Nights at BVC Buckden Village Club, every 2 weeks

Eaton Socon Centre Weekly: Parent Craft 2pm - 4pm

Thursdays 8am - 3pm St Neots Market, St Neots Market Square

Huntingdon Centre 4th week of month: Adults Arts & Crafts 9:15am-11:15am Godmanchester Centre Weekly: Bumps & Babies 12:15pm-1:45pm

8pm - 11pm Quiz, Pig N Falcon Saturdays 8am - 1pm Farmers Market St Neots 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, St Neots Market Square 9am Pocket Parkrun 5k Run / Jog / Walk for everyone (no matter how fast or slow). Weekly. Register at parkrun.com and print out a barcode for free runs forever.

Pocket Park, St Neots 10:30am Big Walkies St Neots Meet by the car park and walk for around 1 hour.

No requirement to book.

Coneygear Car Park, St Neots

ST NEOTS MUSEUM ACTIVITIES RE-OPEN AFTER ANNUAL CLOSURE AND SPRING CLEAN - TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY Carve Her Name With Pride Friday 28th February Charity fund raising film afternoon at Cineworld Cinema, St Neots. £10 ticket in advance.

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THURSDAYS Eaton Socon Centre 2nd & 4th week: BRAS 9:30am-11:30am Weekly: Bumps and Babes 10am-11:30am 2nd & 4th week: Baby Clinic 9:30am-11:15am Little Paxton 2nd & 4th Weekly: Play-and-Weigh 9:30am-11am Huntingdon Centre Weekly: Young Parent Group 10:30am-12pm FRIDAYS Huntingdon Centre Weekly: Bumps & Babes 1:30pm - 3pm A14 Archaeological Update Thursday 19th March, 2pm Also organised with the Friends of the Museum is a talk

by Dr Steve Sherlock about the remarkable archaeological discoveries made during the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon road improvement scheme. One of the largest archaeoligical programmes ever undertaken in the UK and they have revealed amazing stories of thousands of years of human settlements in Cambridgeshire landscape.

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES MONDAYS St Neots Library *Weekly: Toddler Rhymetime 10:30am Huntingdon Library **2nd week: Monday Bookworms, Reading Group 2pm - 3pm Ongoing regular activity: Computer Buddying bookable TUESDAYS Huntingdon Library Weekly Scrabble Club 2:30pm - 4pm Regular Activity: Internet and Work Club 2pm WEDNESDAYS St Neots Library Weekly: Games Afternoon for Adults 2pm

FRIDAYS St Neots Library Weekly: Internet and Job Club 10am Weekly Baby Rhymetime 10:30am - 11am & 11:30am - 12pm **3rd week: St Neots Knitting Group 1pm - 4pm **4th, 5th: Engage in the Afternoon 2pm - 3:30pm Huntingdon Library Weekly: WORK CLUB 10am - 12pm Weekly: Baby Rhymetime 10am - 10:30am Weekly: Toddler Rhymetime 11am - 11:30am Weekly: RightStart 1 Chair Based Exercise 11:30am 12:30pm £3.50 SATURDAYS St Neots Library **4th week: Family Games Club 2pm

Huntingdon Library **4th week Sophie’s Choice Reading Group 6pm - 7pm Weekly: Storytime 10:30am - 11am

Huntingdon Library Regular Activity: Lego Club 10am - 11:30am. 50p Computer Buddying - St Neots Library Monday, Thursday, Friday. 10am - 12pm

THURSDAYS St Neots Library Bi-Weekly: Local Highways Officer Drop-in Session 10am - 12pm

Online Services Demonstrator - help/advice - St Neots Library Ongoing regular activity. Booking required.

Huntingdon Library **1st week: Engage in the Afternoon 1:30pm - 3pm **1st week: Thursday Readers, Reading Group 11:30am 12:30pm

Careers Advice and Guidance - Huntingdon Library Ongoing regular activity. Booking required.

Lego Club - St Neots Library Monthly club for 5 - 11 year olds. 50p

* Term time only

** week of the month

PAXTON PITS NATURE RESERVE

ST NEOTS LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Third Thursdays of Each Month 10:30am - 12:30pm Guided Nature Walks Explore Paxton Pits Reserve wth local guides. Starting at the visitor centre and the route differs depending on time of the year.

1st Fridays of every month (£3 for non-members)

A Fish and Chip Supper Wednesday 12th February, 7:30pm Members only event - £8 per person, Ticket in advance The Insects of Paxton Pits Wednesday 4th March, 2:30pm An illustrated talk by Keith Porter £2.50 per person, pay at the door The Friends AGM Friday 13th March, 7:30pm A short AGM followed by a presentation by Jim Stevenson

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7th February, 7:30pm Annual General Meeting, Followed by: St Neots Famous - for who and what?

Presented by Sue Jarrett (St Neots Community Archive Group) Go along and find out more about the town, its residents and products.

6th March, 7:30pm Love and Toil by Grace Richards (History Society Member) How did working-class families cope with living so close to each other in the new industrialised cities of the 19th and 20th centuries? How did mothers cook when most could not have ovens in their homes, or were victims of inconsistent water supplies?

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LOCAL EVENTS

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2019 What a year we had last year! There were so many fantastic events that we have to share with a small snapshot of them together.

A few of the events listed include: St Neots Dragon Boat Race, Little Paxton Autumn Show, Paxfest, St Neots Mayors Charity Golf Day, Beacon Wealth Groups Stand Up To Cancer Family Fun Day, Huntingdon Carnival, Kimbolton Live, WestFest, May Day, Butterfly Prom, St Neots Fire Engine Pull, VAMPS of St Neots Shows, Children In Need, Remembrance Day Parade, Armed Forces Weekend, Christmas Lights Switch On and many, many more...

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LOCAL EVENTS

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

FEBRUARY Sat 1st 8pm - 11pm Great Paxton School Association Quiz Night Featuring Kev’s Quiz. Max 8 per team. Lots of prizes. £1 for 2 tickets The Bell, Great Paxton

Thurs 6th 11am - 2pm Australia Day Fundraiser Coffee Morning with jumble sale and tombola. All donations will go to Australian Red Cross. Everyone Welcome.

The Hillings, Eaton Socon

8pm - 12am The Soul Man Back by popular demand.

FREE St Neots Rugby Club

6pm - 8pm Harry Potter Book Night Harry Potter fun, cake, lots of activities and games, before going through the secret passage to the great hall for a magical high tea. £8 tickets in advance. Dress Code: Harry Potter theme.

Waterstones, St Neots

Sun 2nd 10am St Neots and District Veterans Breakfast Club/Coffee Morning Unlimited tea/coffee refils, brunch/hot style breakfast, no alcohol before 12pm, families welcome. £6.50 George & Dragon, Eaton Socon Mon 3rd 8pm - 8:30pm Special Meeting - Little Paxton Community Pavilion To discuss and vote to change the legal status of the charity to a Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). All attendees can vote. 75% wins.

Little Paxton Community Pavillion

Sat 8th 3pm - 7pm Charity Jigsaw Competition Hosted by the Mayor of St Neots, with all proceeds going towards his chosen charities. Get a team together and complete your jigsaw the fastest to win! £30 team of 6, £20 team of 4 Loves Farm House, St Neots 4:30pm - 6:30pm England vs Scotland 6 Nations Brampton Park Golf Club

Tues 4th 10am - 11am Toddle Wander All about sticks, collecting, making, playing and warming! Finished hot chocolate. snacks and singing by fire. £3 Hinchingbroke Country Park 6:30pm - 8pm Parent Information Evening Mr Jones and members of the Senior Leadership Team will outline our key priorities for the school before opening the floor to any questions.

Richie Hall, Longsands School, St Neots Wed 5th 3:30pm - 5:30pm Youth Cafe Run every Wednesday afternoon during term time.

Hot drinks, milk shakes, cakes and toast will be on sale.

Loves Farm House, St Neots 7pm - 10pm Jam Night A chance to grab your instruments and take part in the evening.

Pig N Falcon, St Neots 8:30pm - 10:30pm Quiz Night!

With Maureen. £2 per person, 4 per team.

Buckden Village Club

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

6:30pm - 11:30pm Back to the 90’s VAMPS Social VAMPS of St Neots spring social and everyone’s welcome.

Chat, drink, nibble and dance to the best music of the 90’s. Fancy dress comp: best, worst, group and couple. £10pp The Hub, Little Paxton

7:30pm - 11:30pm Mayor of Huntingdon’s Grand Masquerade Ball Hosted to raise funds for the Mayors local charities. Incl.

3 course meal and live music. £39 pp (availble from the Town Hall Office) Coneygear Centre, Huntingdon

Sun 9th 10am - 4:30pm Track Play A fun day of playing with over 500 feet of Thomas track and over 100 engines to choose from. Free tea/coffee. £5 Child, Adults free Abbots Ripton Village Hall

Sun 16th 12pm - 4pm The George Wedding Open Day View their wedding facilities and meet some of their local wedding suppliers.

The George Buckden Hotel and Brasserie

Mon 10th 12pm - 3pm The Creative Lunch Take your creative project and enjoy an afternoon with others doing what you do best over lunch. Children welcome.

Art&Soul Cafe, St Neots Tues 11th 3:30pm - 5:30pm Valentines Disco Organised by Shining Stars Children’s Charity. Enjoy music, dancing, fun party games, raffle and refreshments.

Loves Farm House, St Neots 7:30pm - 10pm Fish and Chip Supper and Beetle Drive Members only event. Incl. Hot & cold drinks, cake, quiz, raffle and entertainment. £8 tickets available at Visitor Centre until 3rd Feb Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Little Paxton Thurs 13th 10am - 3pm Fostering Information Event Take the first step of making a difference to lives of children. Ask your questions and get more information.

Huntingdon Marriott Hotel Fri 14th Valentines Day Many local pubs and eateries are offering deals.

6pm Launch Night Get your glad rags on and enjoy an evening of entertainment from Bird and the Band, and free glass of bubbly on arrival. Over 25’s only.

Da Vincis, Huntingdon Sat 15th 7pm - 12am Macmillan Motown Gold Dance the night away to the best of Motown Gold, whilst raising awareness and money for Macmillan Cancer Care. £10pp (available from ticket source) St Neots Football Club

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FEBRUARY HALF TERM Regular Sessions 10am - 11am Half Term Craft & Cupcake Sessions Designed for 3 years plus.

Mon 17th - Crafting Tues 18th - Cupcake decorating Wed 19th - Crafting Thurs 20th - Cupcake £6 per child, per session Rainbow Arts and Crafts, St Neots 10am - 3pm Plant a Mini Wildflower Garden Create your own wildflower mini garden that will attract lots of butterflies and bees, and will be given a calendar to take home to track which creatures are visiting.

Mon 17th Wed 19th Fri 21st £5 per child, per session Booking Required Frosts Garden Centre, Brampton 9am - 4pm Pirate Week Create Pirate sand art picture, and your own bendy straw cup to take home, plus go on a Pirate Treasure Hunt.

Activities last 1 hour followed by lunch.

Tuesday 18th - Sunday 23rd £10 per child, per session Booking Required Kwellers Confectionery, Cafe, Crafts & Gifts, St Neots 7:30pm - 10pm Kipps The New Half a Sixpence Musical Presented by the Musical Theatre Company.

Accompanied by a live band, Kipps is the new stage version of Half a Sixpence, reinventing this ever famous musical for the modern age.

Wednesday 19th - Saturday 22nd £17 each. £60 Family (containing min 2 min cons) Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Company, Huntingdon

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

FEBRUARY 12pm - 10:30pm Beer, Cider & Gin Festival 2020 The 4th event organised by the 1st St Neots Scout Group. Money raised goes towards the group.

Thurs 20th - Sat 22nd 1st St Neots Scout Group, Bedford Street, St Neots Tues 18th 10am - 12pm Coffee Morning Monthly Coffee Mornings. Suitable for people of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Suggested donation £1 St Neots Library 1:45pm - 4:45pm Little Paxton Pictures - Trolls (U) Family fun. Little Paxton Pictures - a community cinema project. Hot drinks, popcorn, ice cream and assorted refreshments available. All donations welcome.

FREE St James Church, Little Paxton 2pm - 4pm Tea and Tablets Need help with your iPad or Android tablet? Join for a cup of tea and they’ll help you with your device.

FREE pop-in event St Neots Library Wed 19th 8:30 - 10:30pm Quiz Night With Maureen. Teams of 4. £2 per person Buckden Village Club

7pm - 9pm Acoustic Night with Chris Fox Refreshments and chat bewtween the two 45 minute sets.

FREE Niche Comics & Bookshop, Huntingdon Fri 21st 12pm - 2pm Family Roller Skating Fun for all the family. Take your own skates, or hire theirs. £4pp One Leisure, St Neots

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12pm - 2pm Family Roller Skating Fun for all the family. Take your own skates, or hire theirs. £4pp One Leisure, St Neots 3pm - 5pm England vs Ireland 6 Nations Kick off 3pm Brampton Park Golf Club Mon 24th 7:30pm - 9:30pm Parish Council Meeting Regular Parish Council meeting, with 10 minute slot at the beginning for members of the public to raise concerns /issues.

Buckworth Cricket Club Tues 25th 1:45pm - 4:45pm The English Patient (15) Little Paxton Pictures - a community cinema project. World War II Drama. Refreshments available. Donations welcomed.

FREE St James’ Church, Little Paxton Wed 26th 2pm - 6pm Free Pet Health & Wellbeing Check Attend with your dog, cat, rabbits or guinea pigs. no need to book. Check includes basic health check, nail clipping, weight/ diet/behaviour advice and pets get a free enrichment kit.

Wood Green, The Animals Charity, Godmanchester

Thurs 20th 3pm - 4:30pm Kids Circus Party & Workshop Circus workshop, music, dancing, dressing up, clowning around, face paint, drink and a snack. £4 per child St James’ Church, Little Paxton

Sat 22nd 8pm Soul Night Nothern Soul, Motown.

St Neots Town FC

Sun 23rd 8:30am - 2pm St Neots CC & Titan Motorsport Reliability Ride 100km or 60km routes available. Signing on from 8:30am.

First riders off at 9am. Close off time 2pm. All abilities. £5pp on the day Titan Motoresport, Paxton Hill, PE19 6TA

7pm - 7:30pm St Neots Couch to 5k On for the first 9 weeks of the year.

FREE One Leisure Astro, St Neots Thurs 27th 12pm - 2pm St Neots Peer Group Mentoring Whether new to business or an experienced business owner, these informal problem solving sessions are very popular. £10 Loves Farm House, St Neots Fri 28th 9pm An Evening with Holly Worman Singing songs from across the years.

Bulls Head, St Neots

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

MARCH Sun 1st 9am - 5:15pm LDA Open Day Explore and try different dance classes and theatre workshops. New, beginner and professionals can benefit.

FREE Eynesbury Rovers FC, St Neots 10am - 12pm Huntingdon Mums2Mum Nearly New Sale Stalls full of bargains for babies and kids 0-6 years. £2 buyers on the door (children free) 2 for 1 voucher available £16 Nearly New Stall £25 Business Stall One Leisure, Huntingdon Wed 4th 6pm - 8:30pm Priory Centre Wedding Fayre Free arrival drink. 15+ exhibitors.

FREE The Priory Centre, St Neots

Thurs 12th 6pm - 8pm Police Surgery The St Neots Community Policing Team will be holding a Police Surgery, and is a great chance to meet and raise any concerns with officers.

Little Paxton Village Hall Fri 13th 7:30pm - 12am Musicians Against Homelessness 1st gig raising awareness and money for the charity Crisis. Sponsored by Classic Rock Tours and Black Cat Radio. Representatives from St Neots Foodbank will be there to also collect any donations. £7 advanced, £10 on the door St Neots Town Football Club Sun 14th 7:30pm Rover Race Night 8 races, fish and chip supper and licensed bar. All proceeds go to Eynesbury Rovers FC. £7pp Eynesbury Rovers FC

7pm - 7:30pm St Neots Couch to 5k On for the first 9 weeks of the year.

FREE One Leisure Astro, St Neots

Tues 17th 10am - 12pm Cofee Morning Monthly Coffee Mornings. Suitable for people of all ages.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Suggested donation £1 St Neots Library

8:30pm - 10:30pm Quiz Night With Maureen. 4 per team. £2pp Buckden Village Club Fri 6th - Sun 8th 7:30pm / 11am / 3pm Cinderella - A Pantomime All your favourite characters will appear, but there may be a few twists and turns along the way. £11 Adults £8 Concessions Buckden Village Hall Sat 7th 7:30pm - 11:45pm Karaoke against Cancer hosted by Ady Bright Comrades Club, Godmanchester Sun 8th 4:15pm - 8:15pm Southside Wrestling present Battle of the Egos 10 First show in St Neots of 2020.

The Priory Centre, St Neots Mon 9th 10am - 11am Commonwealth Flag Raising The Town Mayor and community commemorate Commonwealth Day. The Priory Centre, St Neots

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

Tues 17th March 2pm - 4pm Tea and Tablets Need help with your iPad or Android tablet? Join for a cup of tea and they’ll help you with your device.

FREE pop-in event St Neots Library Wed 18th 8:30pm - 10:30pm Quiz Night With Maureen. Teams of 4. £2pp Buckden Village Club Thurs 19th 10:30am - 12:30pm Third Thursday Walk A leisurely stroll with experts to see what’s about. The river trail may be muddy so please wear boots or stout shoes.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Little Paxton 7pm - 9pm Acoustic Night with Elizabeth & Jameson Back performing songs from new and old albums.

Supporting Jools Holland and his Ochestra this year.

Niche Comics & Bookshop, Huntingdon 7:30pm - 10pm Open Mic Night Monthly mic night has arrived. Hosted by Nathan James, go along for an evening of great music and relaxed vibes.

Hare on the Green Friday 20th March - Monday 13th April 7am - 8pm Great British Spring Clean Join in supporting by joining an existing litter pick or organise your own. Equipment provided. Organisd by Huntingdonshire Recycles.

Huntingdonshire Fri 20th 6pm - 11am Quiz Night Quiz starts 7:30pm. Max 6 per team. All money goes back into prizes. £2pp Brampton Park Golf Club Sat 21st 2pm - 4pm Community Litter Pick Help spring clean Little Paxton. Litter picks, high viz jackets, black bags and gloves provided.

QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton 6pm London Welsh Male Voice Choir Hosted by the Mayor of St Neots.

The Priory Centre, St Neots Tues 24th 5pm - 7pm CRC Huntingdon Open Day A chance to talk to tutors, meet staff and students, and tour the facilities.

Cambridge Regional College, Huntingdon Campus

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7pm Property Tuesdays!

Free property networking, reserving tickets desired.

Wetherspoons Sandford House, Huntingdon 7th Jan - 31st 4:15pm - 5:30pm Everyone Loves A Healthy Lifestyle 12 week healthy family lifestyle programme for children 7 - 11 and their families.

FREE Huntingdon Youth Centre Wed 25th 7pm - 9pm Weekly Crafting Social Group Held upstairs in the shop, everyone is welcome with any ability and craft. Bring along your project and enjoy company of others. £3 per session Patches, Huntingdon Wednesday 25th - Saturday 28th 7:30pm / 2:30pm Chicago the Musical VAMPS of St Neots, present this American musical set in Jazz-age Chicago. £12 Consessions, £14 Adults, £44 family of 4 The Priory Centre, St Neots Sun 29th 10am - 1pm PaintRush in Support of Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice Organised by volunteers. 5k family friendly ‘full of colour’ fun run, supported by Cedarbond. £15 Adult, £10 Child Priory Park, St Neots

St Neots Office: South Street Community Building, 6a South Street, St Neots, PE19 2PH. 01480 476047 stneots@huntsvc.org.uk

Become One of Our Car Scheme Heroes!

Do you drive? Have a car? Have a few hours spare per week?

Would you like to make a real difference to the lives of others in your community?

Why not become a Volunteer Driver for St Neots Community Car Scheme?

The service is for anyone who needs to make essential journeys e.g. medical appointments, shopping and meeting friends, where no suitable public transport exists and for individuals with mobility difficulties. For more information please phone our St Neots Office on 01480 476047, Monday to Thursday 10am to 12pm.

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4 - 5 JULY 2020 PRIORY PARK A brand new, free festival is coming to St Neots this summer.

Four music stages, the Glade Theatre, ARTicipate Arena, Kids Zone, chill-out space, pop-up cafés and galleries, community stalls, delicious food and drink and much more besides.

WE NEED THE TOWN’S SUPPORT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. If you’d like to volunteer, or your business would like to sponsor the event, please get in touch at info@stneotsfestival.co.uk.

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FAMILY - LEGAL

Beacon Wealth Legal Bereavement In every issue a representative from Beacon Wealth Legal provides an insight into the legal world.

In this edition Marlene Sonnenberg, discusses Bereavement.

O

ne of the worst times in anyone’s life is at the loss of a loved one and can be devastating.

It takes time to grieve and individuals respond differently and grieve at their own pace.

There are various groups and institutions that can help with counselling and support and in some cases with financial assistance for those who are eligible; such as benefit payments, reduced council tax or paying the funeral account.

Support It is important to have someone to turn to and obtain support and advice, particularly as the bereavement processes are distressing and tiring, leaving many to feel unable to cope and confused after a while.

Many people do not have family to help them and not everyone belongs to supportive communities or groups, so press on alone.

Help You Need Solicitors see clients during different phases of bereavement and try to give them the help and support to get through the labyrinth of paperwork and documents to deal with the requirements for probate and

administer an Estate.

We try to be open and empathetic to clients to give them the peace of mind that we will be doing our best for them and particularly to sort out matters with the institutions as quickly as possible; such as with the banks or the Inland Revenue.

Being A Rock Individuals who have younger or dependent family members may have to support them through the grieving process; not having time for themselves, but going on with daily routines and are unable to fit in everything to complete probate matters.

This is where solicitors can particularly help by taking up some of the strain.

Handing the administration of the Estate over to professionals can give the bereaved the space and time to grieve, rather than be burdened with the requirements of the various protocols and procedures needed to comply with the expectations of the institutions involved in the affairs of the deceased.

Complications There can be emotional and financial stresses for the bereaved, creating

complications where they were unmarried couples or couples in their second or third marriage, with children from previous relationships or may have children together.

A Will It is important to have a Will that is clear and inclusive to reflect accurately the wishes of the Testator so there is less likelihood for misunderstanding or disappointment during the administration of an Estate.

There may be personal or financial issues considered by the Testator in the choices they make in a Will, to provide for loved ones left behind, (including people and pets), Inheritance Tax issues or to safeguard particular assets through a Trust provision.

A Will should include the needs of the unmarried partner, as they have no automatic right to inherit anything where there is no Will making provision for them.

Without it the bereaved partner may find themselves burdened with unnecessary and avoidable stresses and pressures of finding themselves without a home.

Where the bereaved is single, the deceased may have been a best friend, be it family or not,

24 and Regulated uthorised bymention the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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EXPERT

leaving a huge gap where they had previously relied on each other more over the years for support and companionship.

The bereaved may feel awkward about approaching others they do not know but are beneficiaries of the deceased; so may appreciate help and understanding from the beneficiaries.

Also, for those individuals with businesses, they should consider what is to happen on their death to the business, the assets and their staff.

Addressing Issues in Wills There are practical ways of dealing with these sensitive issues in your Will and full discussion with the solicitor who will be drafting your Will is advisable.

There may be inter-family disputes because of unrealistic expectations on Executors or Administrators, particularly for family members who feel overwhelmed at the pressures of having to deal with the administration of an Estate while grieving.

Instead, having a professional assisting with the administration can help relieve the pressure and may be a preferred choice to explain the processes to others who may be causing concern or not understanding why things are taking more time than they anticipated.

Financial Consequences Dealing with the administration of an Estate also has financial consequences with the variety of immediate and on-going expenses incurred by whomever is dealing with the administration of the Estate.

This is then another pressure on the bereaved that may not be affordable for them, create delay and have financial and emotional consequences for them.

The funds from your Estate will possibly reimburse them, but this could be several months on and is available only after the Grant of Probate has been issued by the Court.

We see finances are often a main concern for the bereaved, so appointing Executors who may not be able to cope with these issues may not be the suitable choice and it may be kinder not to place such an emotional pressure on them but instead appoint a solicitor.

Often people accept the position because they feel they have to act and not let the deceased down.

Executors Advice It is sensible at least for Executors to see a solicitor for advice first.

Even if you feel your chosen Executor will be capable to do things themselves, they may not.

Due to changing regulations, family concerns and Tax provisions they could need professional assistance on specific tasks or issues as they arise while they deal with all of the Administration themselves.

This may help reduce costs but not necessarily the time it takes to complete the administration of an Estate.

Powers Of Attorney Another aspect of bereavement is that the bereaved may feel so stressed that they are unable to cope with their own affairs for a time and it would be useful to have a Powers of Attorney in place so others can step in to help them deal with their own affairs

during the grieving process, or until they feel up to dealing with their own affairs again.

How To Help Those Grieving Those dealing with bereaved family or friends, wondering what they can do to help, patience and simple gestures such as a phone call can provide reassurance.

Good News One piece of good news for anyone about to deal with an Estate - the proposed huge increase in Court fees to obtain the Grant of Probate are not going ahead. You no longer have to find thousands to obtain the Grant before the Estate can be administered.

Further Details: Should you require legal assistance from a firm with family values and a fresh approach, contact Beacon Wealth Legal Ltd. Website: www.beaconwealthlegal.co.uk Email: enquiries@beaconwealth.co.uk.

Tel: 01480 219699 Facebook: /BeaconWealthGroup Twitter: /BeaconWealthLegal Head Office: 26 Market Square, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 2PJ (Also in St Ives, Sawtry & Kimbolton)

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25

FAMILY

YOUR STORIES TILLY TRIMBLE INVESTIGATES Local childrens author, Karen Larkins, previously shared her book, Cloudleapers.

We are now proud to share another one of her books Tilly Trimble Investigates!

Part One It was the holly wreath hanging on the front door that intrigued her. Holly wreaths are not that intriguing really, in fact almost every house in Hailford Town hangs a holly wreath on their front door at Christmastime, but Christmas was now a dim and distant memory. Even Easter had passed in a flurry of chocolate and Easter egg hunts, but a holly wreath was still hanging on the front door of number 64 Carters Way. It had obviously been up there for a long time as the only leaves left clinging onto the brown dried moss were wafer thin skeletons of the once healthy green fronds.

Tilly couldn’t help herself staring at the wreath.

She didn’t often walk along Carters Way, but whenever she did the holly wreath was always there. She wondered why the people who lived there hadn’t taken it down, but her Mum told her not to worry about trivial things.

“Maybe they’ve gone on a long holiday, or are just too busy to take it down.” Her Mum had told her, but Tilly found it hard to believe that anyone would want to

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leave a dying holly wreath on their door no matter how busy they were, and who went on holiday for that long anyway?

Usually Tilly just stared at the holly wreath as she walked passed it, but not today. Today her curiosity finally got the better of her and Tilly found herself walking down the garden path towards the front door.

Now she noticed that the garden was very overgrown. She glanced at neighbouring gardens, but they were all neater in comparison. Some had long grass and others had weeds choking flowers, but none were as badly neglected as this one.

She very slowly approached the front door and with every step she could hear her Mum’s voice inside her head telling her not to be nosey.

“Just mind your own business and let other people mind theirs.”

She was always saying, but Tilly ignored the voice and stared at the front door. To her left Tilly spotted a brass doorbell and she pushed it. ‘DING-DONG!’ The noise echoed inside the house. Tilly wondered why she’d done that. After all, what was she going to say when the people who

lived there opened the door? She couldn’t ask them why they still had their Christmas wreath on the door in May could she?

She thought perhaps she should run away, but she had never liked playing that game and her Mum got really cross when children did that on their own front door.

Tilly decided she would ask for Angela Cameron who was her best friend at school. Of course she knew Angela didn’t live here, she lived next door but one to Tilly, but the people who lived here wouldn’t know that would they?

With this plan in mind Tilly felt more confident and pressed the doorbell again. ‘DING-DONG!’ The noise once more echoed inside the house.

Tilly waited and waited but no one came to the door, so she crouched down, lifted the letter box flap and peered through.

There was a large letter blocking her view, at least she assumed it was a letter as it was a large white envelope. She pushed the end of it and it fell to the floor inside the house and the flap on the inside of the door snapped shut. Tilly sighed and tried to push it open, but it wouldn’t budge so she

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KIDS CORNER - STORY dropped the flap which knocked loudly, almost as loudly as the doorbell had rung. Tilly waited, but still no one came to the door.

Tilly’s curiosity was growing almost as fast as her impatience and she carefully stepped into the jungle of a garden to look through the front window, but only saw her own reflection staring back at her. She used her hands to shield the light from the glass, but couldn’t see much through the net curtains that hung at the window.

She was desperate to see who lived in this mysterious house and decided to follow the weed filled gravel path that disappeared round the side of the house. She was soon face to face with a large wooden gate with an inviting round metal latch. She lifted the latch and was relieved that it wasn’t locked and she pushed the gate open. She walked through and let it go behind her, but it was on a spring and slammed shut with a loud thud.

“Oi!” Came a voice from the next garden. “I’ve told you before, be careful with that gate or you’ll break me fence.” Tilly stared at the six foot high fence and wondered what the grumpy man next door looked like. It seemed today was full of wondering what people looked like, or why they did certain things, or where they were.

“Sorry.” Tilly said in a very

small voice but the grumpy man just tutted and muttered to himself.

Tilly surveyed the large back garden which looked much the same as the front garden, with overgrown grass and weeds choking the bushes and flowers.

She carefully walked to the nearest window and peeped in.

There was no net curtain here and Tilly was able to see straight into the neat and tidy kitchen, which was a complete contrast to the super untidy garden. There was no sign of people though, not even an empty cup on the draining board.

She glanced to her left and decided to look through the patio doors and stared straight into the sitting room. She could hardly believe her eyes as in the far corner of the room stood an artificial Christmas tree still with all its decorations on.

She surveyed the room and noticed more decorations hanging from the ceiling and cardboard Father Christmases stuck on the walls. There were also Christmas cards stuck on the back of the door. Tilly imagined that that door would lead to the hallway.

“This is all very strange.” She muttered to herself. “This will need further investigating.”

Another reflection in the glass startled Tilly who turned round to see a crow standing on a rickety bird table in the middle of the overgrown lawn. It cawed noisily whilst staring at Tilly. If it wasn’t so outrageous Tilly could have sworn the bird was talking to her.

“What are you trying to say to me?” She asked under her breath, but at that moment the crow launched itself off the bird table and flew straight at Tilly, divingbombing her head.

Tilly waved her arms above her

head, but still the bird swooped and nipped her head with its beak before twisting its body and scratching her head with its claws.

Tilly ran, but the bird was still attacking her and cawing at the top of its voice. She tugged the garden gate open and ran through letting it slam shut behind her.

“Oi!” She heard the same grumpy neighbour call out but this time she was far too occupied with the crow to answer.

She ran down the front path and out into Carters Way still wildly waving her hands above her head. Once or twice she caught the bird with an arm and knocked it sideways, but it just came back and nipped and scratched her head even more.

Tilly spotted a wheelie bin that had been left outside next to a wall and she squatted behind it.

She was protected on two sides and the gap between the wall and the bin was too narrow for the crow to reach her.

Tilly rubbed her head. There was a bit of blood and a lot of pain. She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and mopped her painful head while slowly standing up.

She looked around and couldn’t see the crow so she started walking towards her home.

“CAW, CAW!” She turned her head and spotted the crow perched on the roof of number 64.

If Tilly hadn’t known any better she could have sworn the bird was laughing at her.

To be continued …………..

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FAMILY

S CORNER ID K E L T IT L / IG B It doesn’t matter how old you are, we all like to have fun.

QUESTION TIME

‘Wreck-It Ralph’? g game called in the film 1. What is the kart-racin Rush’ gar ‘Su C) B) ‘Slam Rush’ A) ‘Rush’ you ‘spike’ and ‘block’?

2. In which sport might C) Golf B) Volleyball A) Fencing was Barack Obama?

3. Which U.S. President C) 64th h 54t B) A) 44th ws the fastest?

4. Which fingernail gro C) Little Finger mb Thu B) A) Middle Fingers Answers 1 - C, 2 - B, 3 - A, 4 - A

FUN FACTS Ancient Greeks ca me up with the idea of Cyclops They came up with this theory after they found a fossil of a mammoth, and had no idea wh at it was.

There is an island in the Bahamas that’s inhabited on ly by swimming pigs.

Big Major Cay is un inhabited and the pigs are not na tive to the island.

Some say they were left by a group of sailors, who plann ed to come back and cook them. Or that the pigs swam over from a shipwreck nearby.

Wherever they came from, there are now about 20 pig s and piglets on Pig Beach. With daily visits from Bahamians and tou rists, the pigs are living the easy life on Big Major Cay.

JOKES 1. What did one wall say to the other wall?

2. What did one toilet say to the other?

3. Why did the picture go to jail?

4. What did the paper say to the pencil?

Answers: 1. I’ll meet you at the corner.

2. You look a bit flushed 3. Because it was framed.

4. Write on!

RIDDLES

and down 1. What goes up ove? but does not m y pink 2. In a one-stor a pink as w house, there a pink t, ca nk pi a , person ter, a pu m fish, a pink co ble, ta nk pi a r, ai pink ch nk pi a e, a pink telephon was ng hi yt er ev – shower lour were the pink! What co stairs? nds but can’t 2. What has ha clap?

Answers: 1. Stairs it ren’t any stairs, we e 2. Ther e. us ho ry sto was a one3. A clock.

R

TONGUE TWISTE ter Any noise annoys an oys

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but a noisy noise annoys

an oyster more.

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B INSPIRED BY POLYGONS

What picture can you create in the polygons? Simply colour them in and find out.

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B SEEN If you are a local business who is looking for a low cost way to enhance your local presence contact the B Inspired team.

COUNCIL St Neots Town Council St Neots Town Council Location: St Neots enquiries@stneots-tc.gov.uk 01480 388911 www.stneots-tc.gov.uk FINANCE Beacon Wealth Management Ltd Chartered /Independent Financial Advisers Location: Kimbolton info@beaconwealth.co.uk 01480 869466 www.beaconwealth.co.uk FITNESS ST NEOTS LITTLE DRAGONS Taekwon-Do Location: St Neots Instructor Paul O’Brien 07599 763187 www.stneotskd.co.uk LEGAL Beacon Wealth Legal Ltd Solicitors Location: St Neots, Kimbolton, St Ives and Sawtry enquiries@beaconwealth.co.uk 01480 219699 / 475871 www.beaconwealthlegal.co.uk MARKETING GROW In Cambridge Location: Cambridge david@growincambridge.com 020 8068 6814 www.growincambridge.com/ ENTERTAINMENT Limelight Entertainment Princess Location: St Neots

amy@limelightentertainmentuk.com 07825 331453 www.limelightentertainmentuk.com

MEDIA GUIDE EXPERT - Double Page Spread - Section on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free

£150 - £200

SPONSOR £45 - £125 - Choose a double page ‘theme’ (sports/charity) for your target audience to feature for free - Section on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free WHAT’S ON GUIDE £45 /£75/£125 - Quarter, Half or Full Page Advert in magazine - Inclusion on website - Inclusion on weekly social media Guides - Inclusion on weekly newsletter Guides - Free Inclusion in Goodie Bags BACK PAGE ADVERTS - Full Page Advert - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free

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*NEW* BUSINESS ADVERT £45 / £75 / £125 - Quarter, Half or Full Page Advert in magazine - Help support a community page for your target audience - Included on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free FULL PAGE EDITORIAL - One page to feature an article about you - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags - Attend events for free

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B SEEN £120p.a - Contact Details prominently displayed - Included on our website - Free inclusion in Goodie Bags DISCOUNT ADVERT - Prominent location - Included on our website - Free Inclusion in Goodie Bags

£35

JOB ADVERT £75 - Prominent location in magazine - Inclusion on website - Inclusion on Newsletters *Goodie Bags handed out at large local events*

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve Monday 2nd March, Monday 30th March, Monday 4th May 2020 9.30am - 12.30pm ÂŁ12.50 for non-members, ÂŁ10:00 for Wildlife Trust BCN members.

Booking Essential Cultivate your curiosity and deepen your connection with the natural world at this guided event at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve with nature journal-keeper Sharon Williamson. https://www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2020-03-02-nature-journaling-paxton-pits https://www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2020-03-30-nature-journaling-paxton-pits https://www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2020-05-04-nature-journaling-paxton-pits

Book sessions individually on the links above.

For more information contact:

Debbie McKenzie on: 01480 473161| Debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcn.org Registered Office: The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6DH Registered in England 2534145. Registered charity No. 1000412 Nature journal photo Sharon Williamson

wildlifebcn

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Mothers Day Front Cover Star Competition!

Say Happy Mothers Day by nominating a Mum to be our April Coverstar!

Looking for 3 Mums.

Nominate here: www.binspiredmag.co.uk