May Edition

HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING

• Driveways And Patios

• Porcelain Patio Specialists

• Fencing

• Decking

• Pond Installation And Maintenance

• Carpentry - Pegodas, Orangeries, Raised Beds

• Property Maintenance

• Gardening

• Tree Surgery

• Lawns -Turfing, Scarifying

• Power Washing

• Interior/ Exterior Painting

• 3d Garden Design

• Registered Waste Removal Service FOR

SALE: Seasonal Plants

Hello everyone and welcome to our May edition of the Bystander. Remember to check the community section of the magazine. Every month you will find lots of information about events which are happening near you. One such event is Risely Community Theatre's production or secondary cause of death. Full details of the June performance can be found inside. Penny continues the story of Charles William with the first part of the conclusion to the saga. Hazel’s flash fiction offering is entitled ‘The First Step is the Hardest’ Georgia Rose outlines how literary reviews can be subjective even for books written by well-known authors. You can find out about Izzy’s involvement in Girlguiding UK’s project, GOLD and Inn Farm Nursery reveals the benefits of tummy time! You can hide behind the sofa while catching up with Eugene Smith’s run down of past horror films. As you can see, there’s lots to catch up on!

Enjoy the new season.

Julie

www.bystandermagazines.co.uk

julie@villagebystander.com

This Month’s Contributors:

Lee Munday, Paul Kinally, Penny Young, Tony Larkins, Joanne Cox, Georgia Rose, Anthony Withers, Hazel Wright, Eugene Smith, Jeff Garland

May Contents

Editor’s Letter p.4

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Wellbeing p.8-11

Inn Farm - Tummy Time p.14

Local Memories: Charles William –

The Conclusion – Part One p.16-17

Anthony Withers - Grave concerns p.18

Gardening & Outdoor Section p.22-23

Lee’s Gardening Corner p.22

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue p.24

May the force (of nature) be with you! p.30

The First Step is the Hardest p.32

Beacon Wealth Management - Will New Changes To Final Salary Pensions Affect You? p.33

A Day in the Life of Composer – Cheryl Frances-Hoad p.34-35

Eugene Smith - Nightmare on Nostalgia Street p.36

Georgia Rose p.44

Peter Lane and Partners - The Art of Negotiation p.48

Bystander Community p.56-66

The Staughtons with Hail Weston Church Services p.59

Riseley Community Theatre Presents:

Secondary Cause of Death p.64

What’s On for Children? p.68

Nurseries, Primary & Secondary Schools p.68-69

Useful and Emergency Numbers p.69

Clubs, Groups & Organisations p.70-71

Mobile Library Times p.71

Business Listings p.72

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By Penny Young

Charles William – The Conclusion – Part One

Back in October 2022 – at the Cornish archives in Redruth – I had discovered that Charles William Kendall (aged 39), had died of liver failure, in New Zealand in January 1867. A letter to my 3 x great grandfather, Nicholas Kendall, from a Patrick Coyle, landlord of this (see picture), the Aurora Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand, ‘requesting payment of the debts of your late son

Charles William Kendall’, had ended a 10 year mystery of why I could not find a death date for Charles William, my two-times great uncle, who had been born in Cornwall in July 1827. From the letter, it would appear that Charles William had dragged himself into this ‘hotel,’ dangerously ill and with scanty clothes, barely covering his dignity – I imagine like Robinson Crusoe when he was discovered. The landlord had procured medical help for Charles William, provided fresh clothes and food, then the sick man had died before his debts could be repaid.

What on earth had gone wrong with Charles William? What was he even doing in New Zealand? Perhaps I needed to start right back at the beginning.

Charles William Kendall was the third child of four children born to Nicholas and Mary Anne Kendall, but crucially the second son, and as we are more familiar today – ‘The Spare’! Along with other wealthy families, in those days, everything was showered upon the heir, another Nicholas, my 2 x great grandfather. The youngest boy, Francis, was destined for a life in the church, but there didn’t appear to be huge plans for Charles William. He and his younger brother, Francis were together at Westminster School in London, as recorded in the 1841 census. However, an ‘earthquake’ was set to go off in the family’s life, the following year. The children’s mother, Mary Anne, my 3 x great grandmother, had been having an affair with her nephew, Walter Kendall, a junior naval officer and 13 years her junior. The affair was discovered by her husband, and, as it happens, quite by accident. Mary Anne, whilst unbelievably beautiful, charming, and vivacious, had a drink problem. On numerous occasions she had promised her husband that she had given up drinking, but her erratic behaviour led him to believe that she was still indulging. One night, Nicholas demanded from Mary Anne’s lady’s maid, the keys to his wife’s bureau. As he was turning the lock, he could hear the rattling and clinking of bottles inside the drawers and as he opened the bureau, there laying on the top of all the empty bottles, were two letters. As Nicholas went to read the letters, Mary Anne cried out, “If you read those letters, we will be parted forever”. Nicholas did read the letters – one a love letter from Walter, referring to Mary Anne as 'Polly,’ (his pet name for her) and ‘my wife’ and the second, an unfinished reply from Mary Anne to Walter, similarly referring to him as ‘my husband’.

Well, to say that all hell broke loose, does not even come close. Nicholas was absolutely

The Aurora Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand 1860’s

devastated at the discovery and within three days had packed up the house, never to see Mary Anne, his wife, ever again and left for Paris with his daughter, also named Mary Anne. Nicholas stayed away for two years in total. He divorced Mary Anne, something which had to be done as an act of parliament in 1843, in the case, Kendall versus Kendall. What then of the children? In 1842 Mary Anne, the daughter, was 19. She was possibly the least affected, and a huge comfort to her father, at this time, I have no doubt. I actually believe that the book, ‘My Cousin Rachel’ is based on the relationship between Nicholas and his daughter, Mary Anne – but in the book, the daughter is called Louise and her father – Nick Kendall. Daphne du Maurier knew later generations of the family well and, I am certain, based her book on this story.

What of the boys? My 2 x great grandfather, Nicholas, went into the army. He undoubtedly was affected by the breakdown of his parents’ marriage. He lived a somewhat dissolute life, running up thousands of pounds of debt (probably six figures in today’s money). The two younger boys, Charles William and Francis were pretty much abandoned. They had no home to come back to. The house, Pelyn, (an ancient Elizabethan manor), had been mothballed. Even the herd of milking cattle was sold. The boys in all probability remained at school, which, if it was anything like ‘Dotheboys Hall’ in ‘Nicholas Nickleby’, would have been a pretty grim existence. Charles William, however, must have cobbled together some kind of education, because he was entered into Oxford University.

I am guessing that having been released from the confines of Westminster School and now living in digs in Oxford, Charles completely let rip. If we thought the extravagances of his brother, in the army were enormous, Charles William took living beyond his means to a whole new level, I would guess in today’s money, a figure approaching a quarter of a million pounds. He quickly left Oxford, barely even lasting one term, and leaving debts in his wake, went to London. Here he began really ‘living the life’ - running up bills for accommodation, clothes (the very best gentlemen’s outfitters), gold watches, drink, cigars and entertainment and it was the latter, where he was to have the fateful meeting with the young soprano opera singer, Lucy Kirkham.

An affair between the two started in the early months of 1847, Charles would have been 19 and Lucy Kirkham 22. Charles William, perhaps with his mother’s charm, was able to persuade Lucy that she had made herself a very good catch! They eloped together and it was only in September 1847 that Nicholas Kendall finally took a grip of the situation, as he was becoming overwhelmed by mountainous debt letters finding their way to him, with the address of Pelyn always being given as the source of all settlement of dues. Nicholas quickly sent Charles William to the continent, in the care of his brother, the Reverend Francis Kendall, whilst he began to sort out the mess. It is from the correspondence between the two brothers, that we begin to understand the personality of Charles William. Probably today, he would have a bi-polar diagnosis and this ‘mental illness’ was to have a devastating effect on Charles William’s peripatetic life.

More next time.

Grave concerns

Every year in our family we devise a challenge, usually involving a serious long-distance walk. Ten years ago the challenge was to climb the three Peaks, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. We succeeded but it did take us four years before we finally quaffed our triumphal pints at a congenial Fort William hostelry.

This year's challenge is the Thames Path, all 180 miles of it, but not of course all at once. Persistent rain and sodden terrain has put a temporary halt to our mission so we needed a temporary fill-in project. What could be more sedate, more historic, or more English than a tour of famous graves in wonderful English parish churches? In Oxfordshire as it happens.

Our pilgrimage began in the pleasant village of Sutton Courtenay. All Saints church has three interesting figures to whom we wished to pay our respects. It took little effort to locate the impressive tomb of Herbert Henry Asquith, the Prime Minister who introduced the old age pension in 1909. His story, and the tremendous public gratitude the pension generated, is told in the book I recommended last month (Little Englanders, by Alwyn Turner). A few yards away is the headstone of Eric Arthur Blair, appropriately topped by a pink plastic pig. A yard further back, David Astor, long-serving editor of the Observer, rests in peace. Another Courtenay is the next stage of the pilgrimage, Nuneham Courtenay, a few miles down the road. Here in the burial ground is the simple grave of Peter Benenson, founder both of Amnesty International and the Coeliac Society.

The church of St Mary the Virgin in Ewelme has historic connections with the Chaucer family but it is a more modern literary figure we have come to honour. There is no indication of the grave but after a quick tour of the churchyard we managed to locate the last resting place of Jerome Klapka Jerome (must re-read his book). The literary connection continued with the next memorial on our tour: Cholsey, and the church of St Mary, where we admired the memorial to Agatha Mallowan and her husband Max. She, of course, is slightly better known as Agatha Christie. St Mary's church in Aldworth was by general consent the prettiest church on our mission. It was also the only church with a guide (£5.00) giving the history of the place. (It's strange that so many parish churches, foundation stones of England’s history, should be so shy about telling their story.) We have come to visit the memorial to a man whose name hardly anyone knows but whose words are familiar to all. ‘Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we shall remember them.’ It is the grave of Laurence Binyon. Our final visit on our weekend graveyard tour was to Holy Trinity church at Headington Quarry for another literary figure: the author of ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe,’ Clive Staples Lewis. (Some wonderful middle names being uncovered on this tour!)

Our project has started well, and we now have the time for a sub-project: locating as many Edward VIII post-boxes as we can find. Apparently there are 161 of them scattered around the country so we may have a bit of travelling to do.

Anthony Withers

aw.staughton@gmail.com

La Cote d’Or Antiques is a small, boutique antiques shop. A genuine treasure trove, it is full of lots of interesting items. The Proprietor, Marie Helene has been in the business for many decades, so if she does not have it, there is a chance she can find it!

Situated on Kimbolton High Street, access is by appointment only, so please call to book ahead: 01480 861587

Holiday club for children

A wonderful charity run setting based in the beautiful village of Spaldwick and led by the fantastic team at Playtimes in Spaldwick, our holiday club is available for all children from the ages 2–11 years old (children don’t have to attend school/pre-school in Spaldwick).

Children have access to all our indoor and outdoor facilities during the holiday club and can play outside wherever possible. We also run a morning and an afternoon creative activity. We adapt and tailor activities to the season as well as run parties at some of the holiday clubs.

Activities can include:

�� Baking and decorating cakes, biscuits, shortbread, hot cross buns

�� Arty crafts, e.g. making seasonal decorations, painting mugs, leaf art, pom pom animals, bird feeders, making cards

�� Nature walks, trips to the park

�� Planting flowers

�� Bug hunts

�� Slime!

Please note that activities are always child-led and children will not be forced to do an activity if they do not wish to take part. There may also be changes to the activities due to the weather and depending on the numbers and ages of attendees.

£5 per hour (min 3 hours bookable) / £35 for the day (9am–5pm). This includes a morning and an afternoon snack.

A packed lunch and hot tea (served at 4.30pm) can be provided at £1.75 each.

We also ask for children to be provided with suitable clothing depending on the weather and season.

Please email playtimesoffice@gmail.com or call 01480 890077 to book a place.

The dates for the remainder of the 2023/24 term are as follows:

• 19–23 February

• 2–15 April

• 28–31 May

• 19 July–2 August

• 19 August–3 September

(Excluding bank holidays)

Whitchurch Wines

THIS MONTH’s TASTING - Tuscany!

This month we are joined by Ollala Lopez who will take us through the wines from Dievole in Chianti Classico and Tenuta Meraviglia in Bolgheri on Wednesday 8th May, starting at 7pm in the shop. For more information about Dievole, go to dievole.it

There are limited places available and tickets will be £30. To reserve yours, please email jeff@whitchurchwines.shop

WHAT’s on in MAY?

8th Tuscan Tasting (ticketed) 7pm.

11th - Saturday Summer Pop-up wine bar 5.30-7.30pm.

22nd Wine Bar Wednesday.

28th Cheese Tuesday 7.30pm (Spaces limited).

29th Producer Profile 8pm (Spaces limited). For enquiries, email jeff@whitchurchwines.shop

WHO ARE WE?

21 High St, Kimbolton.

Your local wine shop. We are a small, family-run business. My father-in-law, David, opens up on a Wednesday, then it is yours truly from Wednesday after 4.30pm until we close the door for the week on Saturday. My wife Heather also helps out and you my even find one of our offspring stacking a shelf or two occasionally!

New In:

The Chocolate Block Magnums and The Grange English sparkling wine.

It’s official—we are stocking chocolates! Selling them individually, you can buy a couple as a treat for yourself, or a box as a gift for someone special - in fact, what better way to bring a smile to someone’s face that with chocolates and wine!

We have a selection of truffles and, chocolates available. Pop-in and check them out.

WHEN ARE WE OPEN?

Wednesday 12-6pm Except WBW!

Thursday 10:30-5pm

Friday 10.30-7pm

Saturday 10.30-5pm

For more information pop-in and ask, or email jeff@whitchurchwines.co.uk

Lee’s Gardening Corner

May means we are very nearly at summer time, and hopefully some drier weather. There is so much happening in the garden now, it's a wonderful month for getting things done.

Watch out for late frosts this month, but generally all the tender summer bedding, exotic plants and vegetables can go outside, although it is probably best to leave it till the end of the month. Prepare the soil for the bedding plants, clearing away the old Spring flowering plants (these can all go on the compost heap unless you keep them for next year), keep on top of the weeding and tidying up, watch out for the arrival of pests (you can use biological controls and other organic methods to keep them at bay).

If you like a well tended lawn then now is the time to remove the weeds and feed the grass, if you are feeling energetic then scarifying to remove the moss is rewarding, then mow weekly to keep it in shape. The beginning of the month is the last chance to properly sow a new lawn (otherwise it will just need extra attention and watering). Tie in any new growth on climbing and wall shrubs. Make sure that any newly planted plants are watered if there has been a dry spell. Hedges of beech, hornbeam, box and leylandi can be clipped back late in the month (look out for any birds still nesting though).

In the veg garden water regularly, also feed fruit bushes, strawberries and salad plants. If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse and have already got vegetables started they can now be planted out to their summer places, tomatoes can be grown in large pots (but remember to keep them well watered and feed once a week). If necessary use netting to cover areas that might be eaten by birds or small mammals.

Plants that should be flowering now include rhododendrons, clematis, wisteria, berberis. Tulips will be at their best now, and other bulbs like camassias make a wonderful display.

Lee Munday

How what3words can help 999 #KnowExactlyWhere

what3words has helped to locate nearly 4,000 incidents since it first started being used by emergency services. It has given every 3m square in the world a unique identifier made of 3 words - making the location of any emergency very easy todescribe and share. For example ///tortoises.swarm.announce will take you to a precise location on Ben Nevis where, in February 2020, a group of hikers were rescued.

To locate, search or navigate to a what3words address, all you need is the free app. Make sure you have it downloaded on your device and know how to use it, to help save time, resource and lives.

Test your smoke alarm!

Did you know that you should test your smoke alarms at least once a month? Or that you should have smoke alarms on every floor of your home? Or that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service do free home visits to make sure your home is fire safe?

Visit this website for helpful tips and advice: https://firekills.campaign.gov.uk/

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Please mention

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Auction Sales & Valuations

Valuation, collection and auction of individual items, through to complete property and commercial clearances.

SALE ENTRIES INVITED

Friday, Saturday & Monday between 8.30am and 5pm

May the force (of nature) be with you!

History is often seen and told through the eyes and impact of individuals. The Napoleon’s of this world dominate many people’s interest and knowledge of the subject, but for the month of May, as the weather hopefully takes a turn for the better, the impact of the forces of nature on the past, present and even the future seemed a subject worth touching on. Of course, the aforementioned Napoleon’s grip on Europe was relinquished due to the impact of the Russian winter in 1812. His doomed invasion led to the destruction of the Grand Armée and, ultimately, his own abdication, if it can truly be called that with the Coalition forces occupying Paris. One Adolf Hitler was to repeat his mistake over a century later launching Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 with a similar outcome!

Russia was not the only country in Europe to benefit from the intervention of the weather. Whilst Elizabethan England was to see divine intervention as key in the destruction of Philip II’s Armada in 1588, “He blew and they were scattered”, it would appear that once again that nature intervened in the final result! All three of these events were to dramatically change the course of World and European history, two of them ending the dominance of their respective regimes in Europe and the other aiding the rise of Britain’s naval power which was to end up having a significant impact on the world as we know it. These are just three well-known examples. Delving deeper, many more can be unearthed from a thick fog allowing George Washington to avoid what might have proved a devastating defeat in 1776, to the earthquake/tsunami that sank the Persian fleet and saved Potidaea in 479BC.

Yet focusing on individual events ignores the wider impact the forces of nature has had, and indeed may still have. Bad harvests and the famines that follow have often been a fundamental reason behind discontent being voiced and a need for fertile land or resources has always been a major factor for expansion either within or across continents. Diseases from the Black Death to the “Spanish” Flu have also had a huge impact on the demographics of the world, albeit many centuries apart, and there is little doubt that the effects of the most recent pandemic will still be felt for decades to come. It seems impossible to ignore the fact that the forces of nature have shaped our world in more ways than we might care to admit. Scratching the surface of the subject definitely gives food for thought over how they will affect events moving forward. In a world where climate change and protecting the environment we live in is very much a hot topic, perhaps looking to the past may give us pause for thought as to just how much impact the forces of nature may yet have on the world we live in.

Jeff Garland

The First Step is the Hardest

Daisy sat in a chair by the window, looking out. She couldn’t begin to put into words how she was feeling. She was totally exhausted, as if for the last few weeks, she had worked really hard. In reality, she had done very little in the last few weeks except eat and sleep. Her thoughts were random, with no order, no structure.

The last year had been tough, but she had remained strong, organised and in control. Now there seemed to her no point in anything, no reason for carrying on. She knew there were things she needed to do, but she couldn’t do them. Just getting out of bed and getting dressed used up all her energy. Everything felt numb and hopeless. The world was going on around her, but she had nothing to contribute to it, nothing to offer anymore. Everyone around her seemed busy, happy, useful, while she felt like an empty shell.

Daisy had always loved reading and enjoyed escaping through books into another world, but now she didn’t even have the concentration to read. She would reach the bottom of a page and have no idea what she had just read.

She sighed heavily as her daughter’s car pulled up in front of her window. Today, her daughter Freya had promised to take her out to her favourite gardens, but she really didn’t want to go. She had tried hard to get out of it, but her daughter was having none of it. Sitting in the car, Daisy watched the countryside pass by. It was a dull, overcast morning. By the time they had reached the gardens and parked, a steady rain had set in. They headed for the café and ordered some coffee and toast. Freya chatted away, and Daisy did her best to join in with the conversation, but she really didn’t have the energy.

By the time they left the café, the rain had stopped but the sky was still dark. They started their walk around the gardens. The gardens were empty and quiet, and a sense of peace hung in the air. Spring was Daisy’s favourite season, and the sight of everything starting to come to life stirred something inside her. The blossom on the trees was beautiful, and as a gust of wind scattered some of the delicate petals it reminded Daisy of confetti at a wedding. A small robin hopped around her and followed her for a while, hoping, no doubt, for some crumbs to eat.

Then the clouds parted, and the sun came out, bathing everything in light, making all the colours in the garden brighter and sharper. Daisy and Freya sat down on a bench and lifted their faces to the sun. As Daisy sat in silence, it felt to her as if the sun was starting to melt a hard, cold block of ice inside her. Tears began to trickle slowly down her cheeks. Without speaking, Freya took her hand and held it tightly, as her mum’s tears turned from a trickle to a torrent, and Daisy doubled over as if she had been punched in the stomach.

After a while, Daisy turned to Freya and whispered, ‘Darling – I need help’. Freya gathered her mum in her arms and hugged her as hard as she could. ‘Well done, mum’, she whispered back. ‘That first step is always the hardest. Let’s go home now and look at how we sort the help you need. It’s going to be great to have you back.’

Hazel Wright: hazelwright1801@gmail.com

A Day in The Life of Composer

Cheryl Frances-Hoad

How my day starts depends on what I’ve been up to the night before! If it’s been an evening of admin and camomile tea, a morning jog (usually 5k, but I did work up to a half marathon last year) is the way I start my day. If, however, I managed to wangle myself an invite to some sort of college dinner in Oxford or Cambridge (with free wine, and maybe even free port too!) then, perhaps just a little (very) light yoga, or just a (very) large cup of coffee. It’s a good job I don't get to go to these sorts of meals too often, as I can’t imagine it would help my composing! Many people think composers (and artists in general) stay up all night writing, fueled by cigarettes and alcohol, waiting for inspiration to strike - this is of course true for some! But for me, the best way to be productive is to keep a regular, on-theface of it rather boring, routine. I have been a self-employed composer since I left university, so I’ve become rather practised at organising my own schedule and being very self-motivated, but it still takes a huge amount of effort sometimes. I spend the vast majority of my working day alone at the piano, at home, and sometimes I wish there was somebody else in the room to say something encouraging or motivating (like I imagine there might be in the ideal office environment) but most of the time I’m relieved not to have to deal with other people!

My job involves writing modern (but I hope accessible!) classical music for performance in concert halls, radio theatres, classrooms, village halls and outdoor venues. I write for top professional musicians, total beginners, and just about everybody in between. I love the variety of my job and, even though it’s been a huge amount of hard work for at times very little financial reward, I feel very lucky to be able to spend most of my life doing exactly what I want to do.

After breakfast (I’m currently going through a Greek yoghurt, uncooked oats and berries phase, influenced by my mother, who’s a big fan of Michael Moseley’s blood sugar diet) I try to get straight to work. I find modern life so distracting, with the quick fix of social media and emails being at the top of my procrastinating list. So I try, and often fail, not to check any of these things until after lunch, and instead just sit at the piano with my pen and pad of manuscript paper. I write almost exclusively at the piano, and I find that when you are making music, you never feel lonely.

I just finished writing a ‘Dance Suite’ for solo piano, to be premiered at the Presteigne Festival in Wales this August. This twelve minute piece took me about a month to write, and is in five contrasting movements. The piece is inspired by a book, The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith, and also by the music of Handel. So, in the early days of writing, I spent a lot of time reading and listening, and making copious notes about what my piece

was going to be ‘about’. I then move onto ‘proper’ composing, where I sit at the piano for hours on end, gradually working out and refining what I’m going to put down on paper. Towards the end of the process, when 90% of the music is written, I’ll spend a lot of time on my computer, typing up the music onto my notation software.

My perfect day is: jog, work 10 - 12.30, lunch, walk, work 2 - 4.30, do all my admin, phone my mum or a friend, have supper with my partner Steven, watch a bit of telly (or sometimes read), then go to bed. I do sometimes achieve this! But more often or not there is some distraction or other. Sustaining a life as a composer takes a lot of ‘busy work’ and I often find myself doing applications for funding, or emailing lots of people to try and put together my next project. Some of this correspondence can be really exciting: I’m very excited about the next piece I’m going to write, for performance at Shuttleworth airfield, for instance. This piece for saxophone and strings is going to be inspired by the life of Richard Shuttleworth, and will be premiered at their first ever Children’s Prom this September. This project will see me visit local schools in the next couple of weeks, to get ideas from the children about what to put in my piece, and the team at the airfield are even going to organise a flight in a vintage aircraft for me, so I can really feel what it’s like to fly!

You have to be extremely entrepreneurial to survive as an artist these days, and so I’m continually coming up with project plans, and organising on and off-line chats with artist friends and friends-to be to try and put them into action. I’d say about 50% of these plans come to fruition, but one has to speculate to accumulate! I also have regular meetings with my publisher, who helps me sort out my life and keep perspective (Kate, my manager is very good at making sure I don’t say yes to TOO many things, or sell myself too cheaply: always easy to do when one is enthusiastic about a commission). I also work out my schedule with her: when I need to deliver my music to my publisher so that they can proof-read, format and print my work, so that it gets delivered to the musicians in time for them to practise and rehearse it for the world premiere. I don’t think most people would imagine that an artist would have so much organising and timetabling to do! But these days I can estimate how long a piece will take me to write very accurately, and currently most weeks of my life (including holiday time) are organised up until next July. This can be rather overwhelming sometimes: what if the inspiration dries up? But mostly you just get on with it.

If Steven is busy in the evening, I often end up writing emails, updating my website, or, if a piece is nearly finished, writing until late at night. But the ideal evening is a simple supper that doesn’t involve much preparation, a glass of wine and a bit of telly (usually a good BBC drama or thriller: particular recent favourites are This Town and Sherwood. I wish I could say that I always do something cultural in the evening, like go to a concert or a play, but after a day of writing music I often don’t really have the mental capacity for that sort of thing! Then I try and get my eight hours, before repeating the above all again, six days a week. A relatively simple life, but I wouldn’t change a thing!

Nightmare on Nostalgia Street

Modern horror films are horrible, and not in a good way. Of course some people reading this won’t care, as they don’t like horror films. Fair enough. But for those of us who do, the industry is in a pretty poor state. This isn’t going to be a “everything new is rubbish” piece, I leave those to my science-fiction writing colleagues. Although it has to be said, nostalgia for the horror of one’s youth isn’t always misplaced. Sneaking into X-rated films, staying up late with the TV volume turned down, or watching fifth-generation VHS copy of a banned film all possessed a vivid thrill somehow absent from streaming on demand. And if you saw The Exorcist as a teenager, it will have made far more of an impact than if, like me, you saw it decades later and consider it to be The Omen’s duller cousin.

Changes in what’s considered societally acceptable can also dilute horror, many is the H-rated (the precursor to 18 and X ratings) film which is now deemed acceptable for all. The video nasty panic of the early 1980s did little but increase the audience for many films which were totally devoid of any merit. These days the BBFC has turned their attention to more pressing matters, as demonstrated by the recent Mary Poppins absurdity.

Present-day cinematic horror is dominated by films such as The Conjuring. If you haven’t seen any of the 87 instalments of this series you’re missing nothing but some cheap jump scares. Boo. Like that.

But the horror malaise isn’t a wholly modern phenomena, because the old ones weren’t always the best. The slew of imitations following in Halloween’s 1978 wake were mostly uninspired. Interestingly, although that masterpiece is hailed as the first slasher film, that accolade probably belongs to Black Christmas, an incredibly sweary 1974 curio. Cashing in is nothing new, as the swarms of 1950s big bug films demonstrate.

And of course in the 1990s, horror, along with everything else, became ironic. While Wes Craven’s Scream (1996) was tolerable, its numerous sequels offered nothing but aseptic, anodyne faux-horror. Prior to this, horror became respectable with The Silence of the Lambs’ numerous and underserved Oscar wins. Anthony Hopkins’ appalling ham and Jodie Foster’s inability to act scared found favour with an audience who didn’t actually like horror films. Incidentally, if you want to see it done properly, watch Manhunter (1986).

1999’s The Blair Witch Project provided similarly bland fare, with easily-delighted critics lauding its found-footage concept, unaware that this was nothing new, having been done most effectively in Cannibal Holocaust, an incredibly disturbing 1980 entry in the mercifully short-lived Italian cannibal genre.

It’s not all bad though. The past decade has given us It Follows, The Witch, The Dead and most recently Immaculate, demonstrating that it’s still possible to make proper, imaginative and scary horror.

Don’t have nightmares now…

Eugene Smith

https://eugenesmithwriting.com

Kimbolton Vets

Opening Spring 2024

A new independent vet practice in the heart of the Kimbolton community

Visit our website to register your pets and follow our instagram @kimbolton_vets to keep up to date with our progress

18 High Street, Kimbolton

www.kimboltonvets.co.uk

Budgens is all about food. Early morning deliveries, 6 days a week, ensure lots of fresh produce.

Everything is here to create delicious meals from scratch. We also have a great variety of prepared meals. A wide range of Wines, Beers, Ciders, and Spirits will complement your meal.

We have a Bakery plus Costa Coffee, Fresh Sandwiches & Frozen Foods. We’re just round the corner. Open long hours, 7 days a week, with car parking.

To book a free consultation in the comfort of your own home or at our Roxton showsite, contact Alex Watts today!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single book, no matter how well written, will not please every reader.

In the realm of literature, classic books often stand as bastions of cultural significance and literary brilliance. However, even the most revered works have faced their fair share of criticism. These critiques, although sometimes harsh, provide valuable insights into the complexities of literary reception and the evolving tastes of readers over time.

One classic example of a book that endured scathing reviews upon its release is Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Published in 1851, Melville's epic tale of obsession and the pursuit of an enigmatic white whale initially received mixed reviews, with many critics bewildered by its unconventional narrative style and lengthy digressions on whaling practices. Some reviewers dismissed it as a tedious and overly philosophical work, failing to recognize its profound exploration of themes such as fate, morality, and the human condition.

Similarly, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby faced lukewarm reception upon its publication in 1925. Critics of the time deemed it shallow and lacking in substance, failing to appreciate its poignant critique of the American Dream and its masterful portrayal of the Jazz Age. However, as time passed, The Great Gatsby garnered widespread acclaim and is now hailed as one of the greatest American novels ever written.

Even literary giants like William Shakespeare were not immune to criticism. Shakespeare's plays, now revered as timeless masterpieces, were often subject to harsh reviews during his lifetime. Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's most celebrated works, received mixed reviews from contemporary critics who found fault with its complex plot and ambiguous characters. Yet, Hamlet has since become one of the most performed and studied plays in the world, attesting to its enduring relevance and profound exploration of human psychology.

These examples underscore the subjective nature of literary criticism and the importance of revisiting works with fresh perspectives. What may be dismissed as a "bad" review in one era can evolve into a glowing appraisal in another. Moreover, critical reception should not overshadow a work's enduring significance or its ability to resonate with readers across generations.

Bad reviews for classic books serve as a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of literary appreciation. They highlight the complexities of artistic interpretation and the enduring power of timeless works to transcend initial scepticism and find their rightful place in the literary canon.

Georgia Rose is my pen name and the name I use for everything connected to my writing. You can find me at georgia@georgiarosebooks.com or www.georgiarosebooks.com.

Qualified dog groomers

New clients receive 10% off first treatment

Based in Little Staughton

We welcome any breed of dog big or small, young to elderly, nervous to happy

All treatments are one to one basis

Set in a stress free environment

We can deal with any needs that your dog may require

We can provide a local pick up and drop back service

We offer: Puppy Introductions

Bath & Dry

Full Grooms

Nail clipping Hand stripping

And much more

• Caring personal attention

• Chapels of rest

• 24 hour service to all areas

• Flowers and catering available

• Memorials

• Advice on Golden Charter pre-payment Schemes

Ring Katie on 07774519694 or Sally on 07768194367 CROWSONS A family owned business serving the community for over one hundred years

Please

The Art of Negotiation

The property deal is agreed but not finalised, there is a willing buyer and a willing seller. Both sides have argued their points, compromised a bit, decided on a price and appointed solicitors. The buyer has arranged finance, and a surveyor. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, quite a bit could go wrong actually. Quite apart from any financial, legal and structural problems, there can be disruptors who sow discontent, even though they sometimes mean well. These, for instance, might be the seller’s neighbours, friends and family who think the property should be sold for more. Or the buyer’s friends and family who think the property should be bought for less - or even not bought at all.

Only the protagonists on both sides can make the deal. Only they can decide what suits them most.

No one should really win outright in a deal, just as no one should really lose outright. Both sides in a property deal should get to an agreeable outcome where each achieves most of what they want.

So to get the best for you and your family, politely ignore the disruptors, listen to your heart - and hire a talented and experienced estate agency negotiator to help you. Your home is your most important asset or purchase. It matters. It is your own reasonable interests that are important, not unreasonable observations of disinterested parties.

If you are thinking of moving and would like to discuss any aspect of the process, Paul can be contacted at the Kimbolton Office on 01480 860400 or paul.kinally@peterlane.co.uk

Old Kimboltonians’ Freemasons Lodge Meeting at Kimbolton Castle

2024 Meeting dates

Friday 15 March

Friday 17 May

Friday 27 September

Friday 13 December Meetings start at 6.00p.m

All Freemasons welcome as well as enquiries from Alumni plus current and former staff

Contact Martin Wilson

Lodge Secretary

Email martinjwilson55@gmail.com

Please contact us for any quality property you are looking to rent or to rent out

Family business – please check our reviews on Facebook to see what clients say about our service

Mama� ’s AU CHOCOLAT

Mama Kee’s Au Chocolat - a multiverse of “clean chocolate”, is proud to present:

A very VEGAN CHOCOLATE & CHAI AFFAIR “FREE FROM GLUTEN & REFINED SUGAR”

“Full of Tasteful Delight - a symphony of delicate indulgence”!

Where: Yelden Village Hall MK44 1AT

When: Saturday 11th May

Time: 3pm to 5pm

Entry: £7 Adult Kids up to 16 Free

Your ticket includes:

 FREE sampling of chocolates on display

 FREE home ground spiced CHAI with Pakora

 FREE organic Henna by Bex

 Raw Vegan Truffles on sale

 Raw Vegan Chocolates with your choice of sweetness (Organic Dates, Organic Coconut Blossom, or Natural Sweetener Erythritol)

 FREE sampling of treats

 FREE parking

Take a break from living online to loving in person, savouring every conversation and connections anew.

Love and Cacao Hugs Keerat,

Owner

Mama Kee’s Au Chocolat Avenue Road NN10 0SH

FSA 5 Star

(For orders text on 07940957454)

Sweeping Tom Ltd Alconbury Weston

Book an end of season sweep –your chimney & liner will benefit from clean drying over the summer.

Full sweeping services availablelocal, reliable, fully qualified & insured Chimney Sweep.

Covering Peterborough—Cambridge and surrounding areas. Contact Thomas on 07990 561874 or email sweepingtomltd@gmail.com

Your local, bespoke estate agency

HAIL WESTON WILDLIFE AND GARDENING GROUP

Tuesday May 7th 7:30pm

Hail Weston Village hall

Colin Ward from Swines Nursery Farm at Market Deeping.

Colin will talk about unusual plants and will bring a selection to buy.

Raffle £1.00 per ticket prizes include a £20.00 garden voucher.

Cost £1 for members and £3 for non-members. (Yearly membership £7)

Tea/Coffee/glass of wine/biscuits will be available at the meeting for a voluntary donation.

Tickets for forthcoming trips can be reserved/obtained by contacting janevicky@yahoo.co.uk

June 7th (Garden Safari tickets £10), July 2nd (Lavender Fields, Bluntisham £5.00), August 6th (NGS Molesworth Garden at Brington £7:50 (includes refreshments)

My name is Izzy, and I am an ex-Ranger and current Leader in Training in the Kimbolton Ranger Unit. I am thrilled to have been selected as one of six members of Girlguiding UK to be a part of this year's GOLD (Girlguiding Overseas Linked with Development) Project in partnership with Madagascar Mpanazava in July and August. GOLD is a project which aims to empower young women (aged 18-30) to work in partnership with other Guide associations around the world to deliver long-term guiding-based development projects.

Girlguiding has been a significant part of my life since the age of 5. I started as a Rainbow and then became a Brownie in the UAE before moving to Kimbolton in 2016 and joining the Kimbolton Guide unit. Guiding has helped me to grow in confidence, to make friends with girls from all over the world as well as to develop my leadership skills. For the past five years, before heading to university I was a Young Leader with the Kimbolton Brownie unit, which opened the door for me to pursue other exciting opportunities such as GOLD.

This year my GOLD team will be focusing on delivering training which will help trainers and leaders in Madagascar to deliver Girlguiding programmes to members of Mpanazava, the local Girlguiding Association in Madagascar. We will also focus on providing and improving resources that build the confidence and self-esteem of young members of Mpanazava. It is hoped that as a result, membership will increase, creating accessible, girl-led, and leader-supported opportunities for new members from a wide variety of different backgrounds and it is hoped that, in turn, this will help improve the lives and communities of girls and young women across Madagascar.

To support this fantastic project, and to raise funds, in June of this year, I am planning to complete the National Three Peaks Challenge which involves climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales – Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Yr Wyddfa. All donations will go towards the project. I am so excited about the impact our team will make in Madagascar and back home in the UK. I am hoping that by sharing my experience it will inspire younger members of Girlguiding to apply for GOLD and other international experiences in the future.

If you would like to support me in this very worthwhile project, please follow the link to my JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving. com/page/izzy-brown-gold-2024

Thanks in advance for all your support!

Izzy

St. Mary's Church, Keysoe

Cream Tea

12th May 3-5pm.

There will be a Fair Trade stall *****

Guided Whit Walk around the village starting from

St. Mary's Church, Keysoe

25th May

1.45 for prompt 2.00pm start

£5 to include refreshments on return

Keysoe & Bolnhurst

Open Gardens Saturday

22nd June 2024 2-5pm

Spend a lovely afternoon in Keysoe and Bolnhurst visiting a variety of beautiful gardens throughout the parish with teas, plant sales and various stalls located in both villages tickets/maps available on the day

For more information contact Penny on 01234 378878 or penny.heming@btinternet.com SAVE

Services across the Benefice for May.

All 10.30am services can be accessed via Zoom: ID 418 4055 563 Passcode: 022067

Morning & Evening Prayer are held on Zoom at 8.30am & 5.30pm respectively on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Sun 12th @ 3.00pm: Rogationtide Service and walk at Harry’s Yard, Great Staughton, PE19 5DQ (by Petsercise) followed by refreshments

ALL SAINTS, LITTLE STAUGHTON

Sun 5th 9.00am Parish Communion

Sun 19th 9.00am Parish Communion

Sun 26th 6.00pm BCP Evensong

ST. ANDREW’S, GREAT STAUGHTON

Sun 5th 8.00am BCP Holy Communion

10.30am All Age Worship

Thu 9th 7.30pm Ascension Day Comm

Sun 12th 10.30am Parish Communion

Sun 19th 10.30am Pentecost Communion

Sun 26th 10.30am Parish Communion

ST. NICOLAS, HAIL WESTON

Sun 5th 10.30am Morning Praise

Sun 12th 9.00am Parish Communion

Sun 19th 3.00pm Creative Communion

Sun 26th 9.00am Parish Communion

Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th July 2024

If you are a child aged 6 and above join us at the Grafham Water Activity Centre in Perry.

From 9.30am to 4.30pm each day.

PLEASE NOTE. This camp is only open to families in the Staughtons, Perry, Hail Weston or who have a connection to one of our churches, St. Andrew’s,Gt Staughton, St Nicolas Hail Weston or All Saints Little Staughton.

website for on -line booking and payment www.swhw.co.uk

Closing date for entries 26th April

KIMBOLTON MEDICAL CENTRE ���� SPRING NEWSLETTER ����

Overall rating Good on 8th November 2023

Blood pressure readings for the over 45’s

Have you had your blood pressure checked over the last 5 years?

If the answer is no, please either:

1. Let us have a home BP reading

2. Pop into the Surgery (no appointment needed), and use the blood pressure machine in reception and give the results to one of our Reception team or

3. Book an appointment with one of our Healthcare Assistants

First Contact Physiotherapist

The role of an FCP is to access patients with soft tissue muscle and join pain and to decide the most appropriate management or pathway. FCP’s are physios with expertise in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions.

If you have any of the following conditions please contact Reception and ask for an appointment with our Physio.

* Soft tissue injuries, sprains, stains or sports injuries

* Arthritis - any joint

* Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone, eg tennis elbow

Pharmacy First

Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local Pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

Pharmacy First enables community Pharmacists to supply prescription only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate, to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP. The seven common conditions are:

*Sinusitis *Sore throat *Earache *Infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles & uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women

NHS Health Checks

The Practice offers free NHS health checks to patients 45-74 years of age.

The health check involves a blood test and will give you an assessment on heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

You will also be offered lifestyle advise. It really is a good way to stop and take stock of your health & fitness.

To see if you are eligible or to book an appointment, please contact the Surgery or go to Reception.

What is the Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of people who are patients of the Surgery and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, Doctors and staff. We meet at the Surgery roughly every 6 weeks. Why should I join?Your experience matters and you can bring different ideas to the Surgery to help us treat patients better or to improve what we do in some way. You will gain a better understanding of the NHS, and gather feedback from other patients.Will my views be heard. Your views are important and will be listened to. It may not be possible to act on every suggestion, but all feedback is very valuable. Working in a spirit of mutual respect, openness and trust, all patients views will be discussed and, where appropriate we will work together on solutions. If you would like to join our PPG please complete the patient group sign up form on our website.

Riseley Community Theatre Presents - Secondary Cause of Death

Show Dates Wednesday 5th June to Saturday 8th June 2024 at Riseley Village Hall.

Tickets £10, Box Office 01234 708412

Following a series of Murders in Bagshot House in 1936, reprised in the play ‘Murdered to Death’, the action moves forwards 3 years to 1939, just before the outbreak of war . . .

Colonel Charles Craddock has converted Bagshot House into a comfortable guest house for discerning gentlefolk. Cynthia Maple is hosting a murder mystery weekend at the property, and the murders and the mystery really do stack up. The participants include Charles Craddock and his double, the flamboyant thespian Cardew Longfellow, as well as a Polish Count, a Lady of Society, and an endearingly stupid ATS Army Captain who is having difficulty with her ‘R’s. As the weather closes in Inspector Pratt arrives with the news that Charles Craddock’s insane wife has performed an audacious escape from the asylum and is on her way there to kill him. Everyone is now stranded, and the bodies soon start to pile up under Inspector Pratt’s nose as he becomes increasingly entwined in the convoluted plots that are rapidly making a murder mystery weekend only too real for him, and only too deadly for everyone else.

Peter Gordon’s sequel to Murdered to Death is another comic masterpiece. His unflattering characterisations and hilarious script are comedy gold, and the RCT are rising to the challenge of keeping their audience in stitches throughout! This is another one-time production, staged for just four nights, that you really should not miss. It will not be recorded or repeated, so this will be your only opportunity to laugh with us as we seek to entertain you once more. Look out for the posters and banners, soon to appear!

We hope to see you there!

Mark Worth Director

Baby and Toddler Activities

Grafham Little Fishes, Stay and Play Session for 0 to 4year olds

All welcome on Wednesdays 10.00 to 11.20, term time only, in Grafham Village Hall. Just turn up for free play time, followed by a short bible story, action songs and simple craft. For more details, contact Jane Rowley 01480 890986 littlefishes@eastleightonstone.com

Family Fun Friday St Andrew's Church, Great Staughton, 9.00am - 10.30am term time only. Tea, coffee, playtime, story time, singing. Contact Sylvia - 01480 812022 for more details.

St Neots Toy Library - Mon to Thurs 8.45am - 4.30pm, Fridays 8.45am-1.00pm. At The Butterfly Children’s Centre, next to Winhills School and The Eatons Children’s Centre next to Bushmead School. Telephone Lyanne 01480 358350/Jaci 01480 358340. Rhyme time - rhymes and stories for babies and toddlers aged 0 - 2 years. St Neots library. 2 sessions 10am & 11.15am

term time only on alternate Fridays

Baby Gym classes

Promoting tummy time, sensory stimulation and adult two baby bonding bonding., Classes operate term time only, Friday mornings : 10.30am - 11.15am, Open sessions, no booking required., £5 per session, pay as you go (Cash only)., Operates at Huntingdon Gymnastic Club, Mayfield Road, Huntingdon, PE29 1UL, Run by Beccy Chapman Bsc WAHpc, Like Us on Facebook to keep updated, search: ‘baby gym 8-weeks to walking’ Riseley All Saints Church Junior Jivers - music and movement session followed by stay and play every Thursday at 930am term time only - Contact: Samantha Toseland Tel: 07880 700894

Young People’s and Children’s Organisations

Guides, Brownies and Rainbows

Kimbolton Guides, Brownies & Rainbows Esther Crook on 07713 165935 esthercrook1@gmail.com

Gt Staughton Guides Lindy Bornman, email fgsguides@gmail.com

Upper Dean Brownies & Rainbows, Karen Jones: email: div.nbeds@bedsguiding.org.uk

Little Staughton Guides, Little Staughton Brownies Scouts, Cubs, Beavers

1st Kimbolton Scout Group, Contact: Jenny Hassell - 07541 196834

1st Brington Scout Group, Contact: Tim Collins - 07881 821649

Dance/Performing Arts

Linda Allen School of Dance – Ballet, tap and modern jazz from 3+ years - Spaldwick and Kimbolton

Ladies ballet and tap in Kimbolton, 01480 861332, lindaallendance@btinternet.com www.lindaallendance.com

Stageworks Studios, St Neots. Dance, drama and singing classes for ages 3+. 01480 223331

Motion Dance Academy, Hinchinginbrooke Shcool, Huntingdon - 07887 932294, Miss Mollie www.motiondanceacademy.co.uk missmollie@motiondanceacademy.co.uk

Nurseries, Playgroups, Pre-Schools & Kids Clubs

Crosshall Nursery School 01480 475980

Crosshall Kids Club 01480 219518

Inn Farm Priv. Day Nursery 07802 826798

www.innfarmdaynursery.co.uk

Keysoe Playgroup – Keysoe Village Hall, MK44 2JE, Thursdays 9.30-11.30, £2 per family, healthy snacks, hot drinks, biscuits and craft activity included. Lovely friendly group with lots of toys for your little ones. Come and join us. Term time only.

Kymbrook Pre-School, Kimbolton Road, Keysoe 01234 376100

Playtimes Pre-School & Out of School Club, Spaldwick 01480 890077

Puddeducks Nursery & Pre-school, Colmworth 01234 378880

Puddleducks Pre-School, Kimbolton 01480 860743

www.kymbrookpreschool.co.uk

www.playtimesplaygroup.co.uk

www.puddleducksnurserypre school.co.uk

USEFUL & EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Clubs, Groups and Organisations

Great Staughton Village Hub

Kimbolton Senior Citizens lunch club

Catworth Women’s Group

Catworth Quilters Group

Ellington Neighbourhood Watch

Gt Staughton Horticultural Society

Grafham & Ellington Art Group

Whist Drives, Ellington

Gt Staughton Playing Field & Pavilion

Neighbourhood Watch Gt Staughton

Kimbolton Flower Club

Kimbolton Local History Society

Save the Children Fund

Hargrave Investment Club

Kimbolton Parish Council

Bell Ringing (Kimbolton Church)

Kimbolton Fire Station - recruitment

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

Little Staughton Parish Clerk

Pertenhall & Swineshead Parish Clark

Bolnhurst & Keysoe Parish Council Clerk

Stow Longa Village Community - social events

Tilbrook Village Newsletter

Tilbrook Amenites Committee

Tilbrook Parish Council Clerk

Kimbolton WI

Ellington WI

Gt Staughton WI

Pertenhall WI

Perry WI

Kimbolton & district Royal British Legion

Kimbolton Castle Rotary Club

Ellington Village Club

The Villages Gardening Club

North Beds Ramblers

The Stables Christian Centre

Village Halls

Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton, bookings

Village Hall, Catworth, bookings

Village Hall, Ellington

Village Hall, Gt Staughton, bookings

Village Hall, Hail Weston

Village Hall, Keysoe

Village Hall, Keyston, bookings

Village Hall, Little Staughton

Details on the Great Staughton and Perry Facebook page

01480 861540/860735 (Thurs, 12noon) Mandeville Hall

Barbara Cawdell 01832 710404

Pam Wardle 01832 710324

Rick Wilcox 01480 890902

Mike Keeble 01480 860855

Jackie Woods, 01480 890279

Steve Sherratt , 01480 891418

Bob Jewell 01480 861259

Frank Backhouse, 01480 861167

Carol Grundy 01832 710339

Nora Butler 01480 861007

Nora Butler 01480 861007

Rick 07905 211919 or Sue 07818 050034

Lionel Thatcher 01480 861877

Mary Foster 01480 861594

01480 444500

Mary Jordan 01234 376383 email lspcclerk1@gmail.com.

Diane Robins, 07786 656088 clerk@pertenhallandswineshead-pc.gov.uk

Samantha Langley 07977 828153

Christine Hayes 01480 860519

Christine.Hayes@StowLonga.org.uk

www.tilbrookvillage.life

Chairman, Stephen Birch, chairman tilbrookvillagelife@gmail.com

Lionel Thatcher, 01480860055

Anne Beszant 01480 860672

Jan Sherratt 01480 891418

Ruth Easom, rutheasom@gmail.com

Alison Gladstone 01933 563064

perrywigroup@gmail.com

David Henrick 01480 896556

Chris Davies 01234 376542

Sue Rice (Chairperson) 01480 896139

Jan Roche 01832 710561 janetroche0@gmail.comKimbolton

Margaret Sawyer northbedswalks@gmail.com, www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walk ing/ramblers-groups/north-bedfordshire-group

Sean Watkiss, 01234 376237 work-based training to small groups of vulnerable adults.

Stan Rhodes, 07367 783886

www.catworthvillagehall.co.uk

Anita Dowdall 01480 891821

Vicki Goldsmith 01480 860005

Liz Bacon / bookingshwvh@gmail.com.

Janet Browning 01234 376577

bookings@keysoevillagehall.co.uk

Chrissy Faulkner, 07714 080837

Kevin and Maria Foskett, 01234 376260

Village Hall, Melchbourne Bookings

Village Hall, Molesworth

Julia Koball, juliakoball@hotmail.co.uk

07941 245 639

07922 738818

Email:enquiries@molesworthvillagehall.co.uk

www.molesworthvillagehall.co.uk

Village Hall, Pertenhall, bookings

Village Hall, Tilbrook

Village Hall, Yelden

Grafham Nature Reserve & Watch Group

North Beds Young Farmers’

Grafham Water Sailing Club

Huntingdon Grafham Water Lions Club

Wildlife Trust Brampton Wood

Wildlife Trust Huntingdonshire Local Group

Grafham Wildlife & Conservation Group

Village Sports

Badminton Club (Kimbolton)

Catworth Playing Field

Cricket Club, Kimbolton

Cricket Club, Little Staughton

Carpet Bowls, Catworth

Carpet Bowls, Kimbolton

Carpet Bowls, Gt. Staughton

Carpet Bowls, Spaldwick

Carpet Bowls, Ellington

Table Tennis Club - Melchbourne

Tennis Club, Kimbolton

Tennis Club, Gt Staughton

Grafham Tang Sou Dao Club

Great Staughton Golf Society

Little Staughton keep fit

MVH Pilates - Melchbourne

MVH Tai Chi - Melchbourne

PE28 Kickboxing, Grafham Village Hall

Pilates - Riseley

Paul Sheard paulsheard@aol.com 01480 861457

Erica Jago, 07903 987445, bookings.tilbrookvillage@gmail.com

www.tilbrookvillage.life

07539 662544, yeldenvillagehall@gmail.com

The Wildlife Trust 01480 811075

northbedsyfcmembership@gmail.com

FB: North Beds Young Farmers

Instagram: @northbedsyfc Twitter: @northbedsyfc

01480 810478

Lion Bernard Dable 01480 810704, 07969 207227

George Cottam Volunteer Warden, 01480 450809;

Pat Doody Chair, 01480 392706. Eve talks Brampton Memorial Centre

7.30pm, 2nd Wednesday Sept - March. Guided walks in the summer.

Sam Malt 01480810844 day/01480811654 eve

Shirley Osborne 860198/Jill Strand 861508

Mary Matthews, 07717 246107

Mark Field, 07769 159496

Adrian Thrasher 07834 602086

Marge Baker, 01832 710145

Angela Fox, 01480 861264

Anthony Withers, 01480 861224.

Andrew Vickers, 01480 891201

Beryl North, 01480 471146

Peter Wilkinson

peteathillands@gmail.com, 07792 056 157

Roy Butler, 01480 861007

Nicole Yates, 01480 860616

Steven Treadaway 01480 812433, info@cambstangsoudao.co.uk

Derek Fitzgibbon, 01480 861234

Chris Clarke, 07739184942

Penny Hales penny@tightassets.co.uk

Rob Poyton simplyflow@outlook.com

Mark James, 01480 819478

Caroline Eames - 07535 296836

strengththroughmovement01@gmail.com

Yoga Classes, Little Staughton, Hail Weston, Linda Tongue 01480 350345, Brampton, Catworth & Godmanchester 07733343702, lindatongue@yahoo.co.uk

Mobile Library Service 0345 045 5225 for enquiries / renewals

2nd Wednesday of the Month (R. H10) - 8th May

Diddington : Manor Farm

Southoe : The Church

Spaldwick : High Street

Stow Longa : The Green

9.30am to 9.50am

10.05am to 10.25am

10.45am to 11.05am

11.15am to 11.45am

Catworth : Station Road Midday to 12.30pm

Covington : Cross Street

1.45pm to 2.15pm

Kimbolton : Stow Road (Newtown) 2.30pm to 3.45pm

Kimbolton : Castle Gardens 3.50pm to 4.30pm

4th Tuesday of the Month (R. H23) - 28th May

Bythorn : School Lane

Molesworth : Phone Box

Brington : Church Lane

Old Weston : Village Hall

Leighton Bromswold : The Avenue

to 10.20am

to 11.00am

to 11.35am

to 12.20pm

to 1.00pm

4th Wednesday of the Month (R. H24) - 22nd May

Ellington : Mermaid Pub 9.30 to 10.00am

Grafham : Breach Road 10.10am to 10.35am

Perry : Chichester Way 10.45am to 11.40am

Hail Weston : Orchard Close 12.00pm to 12.20pm

Great Staughton : The Causeway 1.30pm to 2.00pm

Kimbolton : Stow Road (Newtown) 2.15pm to 3.45pm

Kimbolton : Castle Gardens 3.50pm to 4.30pm

Cambridgeshire Libraries’ Doorstep Service is a free home library service delivered monthly by volunteers to readers with health or mobility difficulties. To find out more about becoming a local volunteer or service user:

email volunteers@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/library

Disclaimer: Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material in this publication, the publisher/editor can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors in either editorial or advertising content.

Please mention

Village Bystander when responding to adverts

Listings of Businesses in Our Area

Auctioneers/Valuers

W H Peacock, 01480 474 550, p.27

Architects/Planning/Drawings

PJP Architects, 07801 054648, p.31

Art, Framing, Artists, Crafts, Ceramics, Gallery, Hobbies

Croft Tools, 01480 810734, p.41

Engraved By Elle, www.engravedbyelle.co.uk, p.50

Grafham Coins, 01480 811227, p.41

La Cote D'or Antiques, 01480 861587, p.20

The Framery Ltd, 01480 860086, p.27

Building Services/Home Maintenance/Garage Doors

Castle View Construction, 07563 608344, p.6-7

GAP Home Improvements, 07935 002610, p.40

Garolla Roller Shutter Doors, 01480 630081, p.51

Harper and Day, 07854 765020. p.53

Lilystone, 01933 461374 p.73

R&D Maskey, 01234 825015, p.67

Saints Brickwork Ltd, 01480 479355, p.29

Taylor Stilton, 01480 860047, p.13

The Home Handyman, 01480 861898, p.37

Business Networking

Three Shires Networking, 07788 558964, p.46

Computer/IT Services/Marketing/Proofreading

Arlo Creative, 07747 185291, p.73

iEdit, 01480 860519 p.41

Newport Bookkeeping Services, 07519 352933, p.54

Oxygen IT, 01480 390395, p.43

Silver Websites, 07340 234555, p.24

Social Beans, 07808 020554, p.52

Domestic Services

Andrew Blair, Carpet Cleaning, 07867 499792, p.31

Home ‘n’ Dry, Carpet Cleaning, 01487 840310, p.11

Saints Chimney Sweeps, 07494 745723, p.67

Sweeping Tom Ltd, 07990 561874, p.54

Education/Tuition

Inn Farm Private Day Nursery, 07802 826798, p.15

One to One Tuition, 07803 504631, p.5

Playtimes Spaldwick, 01480 890077 p.20

Electrical Services

Aircon Tom, 07402 745802, p.12

DAC Services, 01234 709347, p.2

Selec Solar, 01480 400607, p.47

Spaldwick Electrical, 07446 965998, p.41

Estate Agents/Letting Agents/Property

Bletsoes, 01832 732188, p.43

Carr Estate Agents, 01832 778800, p.55

Peter Lane & Partners, 01480 860400, p.76

Top Hat Projects, 07814 709320, p.51

Financial Advisers & Financial Services

Beacon Wealth Management, 01480 869466, p.33

Funeral Directors

Crowsons, 01832 272269, p.45

Regency Funeral Directors, 01480 759408, p.42

Gardening/Landscaping/Tree Care/Logs/Flowers

Browns British Flowers, 07890 298110, p.23

Eden Tree Specialists, 01234 960796, p.23

Manor Farm, 07849 528684, p.23

Roots & Newts, 01234 871896, p.3

General Stores/Farm Shops/Shopping Events

Budgens, 01480 860582, p.38-39

Top End Stores, 01234 376426, p.25

Whitchurch Wines, jeff@whitchurchwines.co.uk p.21

Health/Treatments/Beauty/Wellbeing/Counselling/ Fitness

Becs Bradley Coaching, 07979 286472, p.11

Henry Davies personal Trainer, 07747 466459, p.9

Herriman Coaching, 07522 057036, p.11

J Aesthetics & Beauty, 07717 410261, p.11

Jill Dighton, 07925 852985, p.9

Kimbolton Swimming Pool, 01480 862276, p.9

Love yourself Beautiful, 07565 459602, p.10

Rosie’s Salon, 07733 482359, p.9

The Ashgrove Clinic, 01933 469043 p.8

The Nest at 53, 07778 024564, p.10

Kitchens

Kitchen Culture, 01480 861822, p.13

Music, Theatre, Singing, Entertainment

Carol John, 01234 708029, p.31

Pets/Petcare Services /Equine/Training

Houghton Horse Transport, 07825 269531, p.43

Kimbolton Vets, www.kimboltonvets.co.uk, p.37

Penhazy Parlour, 07774 519694, p.45

Top End Stores (Animal Feed), 01234 376426, p.25

Plumbers & Heating Engineer

Anglia Oil Tanks, 01638 662955, p.49

DAC Services, 01234 709347, p.2

Hill Heating, 01480 890929, p.31

Hydroflow, 07917 176375, p.31

Pubs/Restaurants/Cafes/Catering

Mama Kees Au Chocolat, 07940957454, p.53

Phaf Kimbolton, 07300 296926, p.52

The Pheasant Keyston, 01832 710303 p.28

The Wheatsheaf Perry, 01480 810253, p.74-75

Solicitors/Legal/Probate Services

Hunt & Coombs Solicitors, 01480 702207, p.45

Storage

Jonathan, 07753 638948, p.51

Vehicle Services/Vehicle Care/Vehicle Sales/Transport

Robinsons Garage, 01480 860581, p.19

Wedding Services

Styled by Lulabelles,tasha@styledbylulabelles.co.uk

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

WEEKLY DEALS

PIE TUESDAY

Choice of 3 weekly changing homemade pies served with mash or chips, seasonal veg & gravy + pint of Fosters, medium glass of house wine or soft drink £16.95

LUNCH OFFER

Let’s do Lunch!

2 courses £14.95

3 courses £17.95

Mon - Friday 12 pm - 5 pm

FISH FRY DAY

Fish & chips

Traditional chip shop platter Market boat fresh sh specials

Traditional sh & chips take-away £10.00

STEAK THURSDAY

Steak, fries, sides, sauce, salad

+ pint of Fosters, medium glass of house wine or soft drink

Ribeye £17.95 Fillet £18.95

Email: hello@wheatsheaf-perry.co.uk - Phone: 01480 810253

WHAT’S ON AT THE WHEATSHEAF

NEW MENU LAUNCH

Friday 1st March

Pop in to try our brand new dishes, freshly prepared on-site from fresh, ethically sourced, British ingredients!

New kitchen hours

Food served - 12 pm - 9.30 pm - 7 days a week

Breakfast now served from 9 am - 12 pm on Saturday & Sunday

Mother’s Day

Sunday 10th March

2 course menu £23.50 – 3 course menu £28.50

Free gift for all Mums with pre-booked tables!

Saturday 30th March

Join us for our spectacular tribute nights! Fantastic 3-course dinner included Dinner from 7 pm – Music starts at 8.30 pm – £35 per person

BOOK YOUR TABLE HERE!

OR VISIT: www.wheatsheaf-perry.co.uk

Stonely Guide Price £600,000

AT A GLANCE:

• Individual established detached fourbedroom home in sought-after location.

• Generous, mature plot in excess of 0.3 of an acre.

• Wonderful, uninterrupted views of open fields and countryside beyond.

• Around 1,750 square feet of versatile and adaptable accommodation with up to four bedrooms.

• Sitting room and kitchen/breakfast/dining room with pantry.

• Bedroom 3 and bedroom 4/study on the ground floor.

• Two first floor bedrooms, bathroom and extensive additional space providing potential for en suite, additional bedroom and storage.

• Entrance lobby with guest cloakroom/WC.

• Garage and ample off-road parking.

• Outstanding opportunity to extend, remodel and improve (subject to relevant permissions).

• Peacefully located yet convenient for schools and major road and rail links.

• Fitted solar panel system with feed-in tariff.