Cottenham Newsletter Issue 180 August/ September 2021

Cottenham

Newsletter

ISSUE NUMBER 180

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY WANTED The Cottenham Newsletter is delivered around the village by a group of loyal volunteers every two months. Currently we are in need of some more help.

You will be aware that Cottenham is growing, with infill properties and new estates. In the last eighteen months, approximately 100 new properties have been completed in the Oakington Road with another 50 or so due to be completed in the near future. Also in the pipeline are the houses being built in Rampton Road. In addition, we are losing some of our current deliverers as they move away from the village.

If you are able to help with a delivery round every two months (takes about an hour or so) please phone Trevor Lawrence on 01954 250011 for further information.

COTTENHAM WI As with everyone else we are looking forward to opening up again. Our first meeting will be a celebration of togetherness and after that we are hoping to have some comedy fun and then get creative. All covid precautions will be followed with hand sanitiser and air circulation. Masks can be worn. We will be meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:30pm at the new village hall. Look out for the posters around the village once it is confirmed restrictions have been lifted.

For further information ring Margaret 01954 488427

FEN EDGE FOOTPATH GROUP Since Covid restrictions have started to ease, the Footpath Group has managed three very enjoyable walks which have been well attended.

Our first was a very local walk starting in Histon which took in the villages of Girton and Westwick. Our second was a little further afield starting in the picturesque village of Granchester which was a mix of fields, River and the Mill in Cambridge.

On Saturday 19 June we set off from Landbeach Village Hall and walked around Landbeach Nature reserve which was lovely with a variety of woods and open fields complete with a small water jump at the end.

As you might imagine there was plenty of chatter because half the fun of walking with a group is meeting other people and getting out in the fresh air especially this year.

Anyone who is new to the village of all ages, you will be made very welcome. See our website address https:// sites.google.com/site/fenedgefg/home for upcoming walks.

The email address for non member enquiries fenedge. footpathgroup@gmail.com We do not make a charge for yearly membership.

Issue Number 180 • page 2

SUNDAY SOCIALS ARE STARTING AGAIN ON 19 SEPTEMBER Cottenham Connected ran monthly get-togethers on Sunday afternoons until lockdown put everything on hold.

We are hoping (subject to full lifting of COVID restrictions) that they will begin again on Sunday 19 September at the new village hall on the recreation ground, Lambs Lane (NB change of venue), running from 2pm – 4pm.

The Sunday Socials are monthly opportunities for Cottenham residents who might be at a loose end on Sunday afternoons to get out, meet new people and enjoy mixing with younger and older generations, playing games, exchanging stories and skills. Oh, and there’s cake.

After such a long break, we are keen to meet up again with old friends and new, so please put 2pm 19 September in your diaries. Also, and most importantly, we are looking for new volunteers to join the team running the events – it’s a really enjoyable and rewarding project to be part of.

If you would like to come along, discuss joining the team or need/can offer a lift please phone Andrea Cowley on 0789 990 4959 or email cottenhamconnected@ sustainablecottenham.org.uk

SUSTAINABLE COTTENHAM NATURE RECOVERY IN COTTENHAM Sustainable Cottenham has formed a new Nature Recovery group to address the climate emergency through reversing some of the ecological damage experienced by the village in recent years – our flora and fauna (wild plants and creatures) need our help to increase and flourish again.

Looking at our local environment, some initial priorities have been identified alongside more ideas for the longterm vision.

Aided by the Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust (through two of their staff volunteering as group members), site meetings are now being arranged to draw up proposals. These will sometimes be very simple changes of management (eg grass cutting), while others may involve teams of volunteers getting dirty and sweaty helping to improve woodlands. To achieve good results we will need support from villagers and the Parish Council.

As the plans progress, announcements and calls for help will appear on the Sustainable Cottenham website and Facebook as well as the Cottenham Newsletter. To offer support and be involved please contact us through the Sustainable Cottenham links below.

COTTENHAM ‘ECO EATS’ supported by COTTENHAM COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT and COTTENHAM WI VEGFEST! at Cottenham allotments & Pavilion on the Recreation Ground Sunday 5 September 2 to 5pm Drop by for all things veg & fruity – refreshments with WI home-baked veg-themed cakes (free tastings!); veg discovery trail; kids ‘have a grow’; composting know-how; quiz & games.

Access from Rampton Road (arriving on foot only) or from village hall car park. Wheelchairs or buggies can access the pavilion but not allotments. Sorry no dogs.

More info Sustainable Cottenham – see links below www.facebook.com/Cottenham-Community-Allotment EAT FOR THE EARTH Ever wondered if what you eat really has an effect on climate change? Yes it does!

The world’s food system is responsible for over one quarter of the planet-warming greenhouse gases that humans generate each year. That includes raising and harvesting all the plants, animals and animal products we eat, as well as processing, packaging and shipping that food all over the world. If you eat food, you’re part of this system!

Cambridge Sustainable Food and the Zero Carbon Communities Fund from South Cambridgeshire District Council are running a district-wide campaign to promote the reduction of CO2 emissions by adopting a Climate Diet.

What is a Climate Diet?

A Climate Diet will help transform the global food system.

A planet-friendly diet embraces plants as a source of protein, and recommends a reduction in our consumption of meat and dairy products by placing vegetables and pulses at the centre of the table. A diet rich in plant-based

foods and with fewer animal-source foods offers both improved health and environmental benefits.

Cottenham Eco Eats is supporting the Climate Diet campaign.

Go greener with a Climate Diet challenge! Join in at any time – the campaign runs to mid-August. Go to https://cambridgesustainablefood.org/ for the latest mini challenge together with meal plans, recipes and tips for advice and inspiration, as well as events such as live online cook-a-longs with local chefs.

Get a local slant from our Sustainable Cottenham Facebook page; and let us have your tips, ideas or challenge successes – send to chris@sustainablecottenham.org.uk LITTER PICK, 5 JUNE: BRAND AUDIT After the June litter pick we carried out a ‘Brand Audit’ on the stuff our 25 volunteers collected. The litter was sorted into brand-labelled items so the numbers of items from different makers could be counted, recorded and submitted to Surfers Against Sewage. All the figures from all over the country will be used for its campaign against non-recyclable containers and single-use plastics – aimed directly at the companies using the brand names.

Not surprisingly, the biggest ‘culprits’ were Red Bull, Lucozade and Coca Cola. The small blue Red Bull cans were everywhere – particularly in the verges on the edges of the village. Why drivers need to throw them out of their car windows – who knows!! Perhaps Red Bull ‘makes you fling’?

It was very difficult (and messy) to quantify the numbers of items of each brand of waste – for Red Bull and Coca Cola cans, perhaps 50+ (including the cardboard wrappers of multi-packs), a very large number of empty Lucozade ‘energy drink’ plastic bottles, dozens of empty crisp packets and small sweet wrappers (nearly all nonrecyclable), around 30 beer and other glass bottles (various brands, and even one beer bottle unopened!), and perhaps 50 empty beer cans of several different brands (no particular brand as culprit there though). We couldn’t identify the brands of the dozens of cigarette ends we picked up!

After removing the recyclable material (for recycling of course) the remainder had to go to landfill – we ended up with about 16 bags of ‘genuine’ rubbish – there were three very full sacks of recyclable plastic, aluminium cans and glass. There were far fewer face masks than we had expected.

We hope to hold our next litter pick in November and will publicise the date nearer the time. If we were to repeat the brand audit we would definitely need more volunteers!

Sustainable Cottenham: www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk www.facebook.com/suscottenham

Issue Number 180 • page 3

COTTENHAM CARE CAR All during the first lockdown we were unable to provide the service because most of our drivers were vulnerable: in any case, we simply had no requests!

However, in June last year we re-commenced with just six brave drivers (The Fabulous Few), under strict COVID-19 precautions and for medical appointments only.

During that period and up to the time of writing, (late June), we managed to fulfil every request – a record to be proud of!

Recently, with the partial easing, we are gradually getting more drivers available as they become vaccinated.

However we are still not getting many requests. It may be that, after 19 July, we can make a cautious start on some social appointments.

Then, hopefully, we may get back to somewhere near to where we were.

Please do not hesitate to call us if you need help with transport, even on the same day or if it’s for urgent matters. We may not have anyone available but it is always worth a try.

Contact the coordinator Gerry Brett on 01954 251929 or 07731 639799

Issue Number 180 • page 4

COTTENHAM BRITISH SCHOOL TRUST – CAN WE HELP YOU? The Cottenham British School Trust was set up by the Trustees of the old Margett Street School from money made when it was sold in the mid 1990s. The interest that accrues on this money is used to help the people of Cottenham and Rampton with their further educational fees and to support the various Community groups which exist. The Scheme is approved by the Charity Commission.

The first meeting of the Trust as we know it was in 1996.

Since then, over 419 individuals have received grants and financial aid totalling over £151,000. In addition, 84 grants have been made to youth organisations and educational establishments within our community, totalling over £34,000.

The nine Trustees meet twice yearly in Spring and Autumn to consider applications for funding.

If you or your organisation would benefit from financial support from the Trust, please contact: The Clerk to the Trustees Peter Sanderson, 9 Rooks Street, Cottenham CB24 8QZ. Telephone 01954 200862 or email to peterSanderson2016@outlook.com

A CENTURY OF CLOCK AND WATCHMAKING IN COTTENHAM You may have seen an old clock running in the Cottenham Community Centre coffee shop, hanging above the inside front door. It bears a fine signature in the name Jno (John) Murfitt, and is thought to date from the period 1840-60.

It was probably made by the third generation John Murfitt from the Murfitt family that worked in Cambridgeshire in the nineteenth Century.

Born in 1772, John Murfitt of Sutton, Cambridgeshire started his clockmaking business on Sutton High Street towards the turn of the eighteenth Century. He married Mary Cave in 1793, and the couple had six sons, three of whom became practicing clockmakers in their own right.

The eldest was John Earl Murfitt, born in 1797; he learned the clockmaking craft from his father as an apprentice.

Whilst his father John carried on his business in Sutton, John Earl set up in business in Cottenham. This would have been around 1818, the year he married a Cottenham girl named Mary Watts.

John Earl’s second brother was Robert Murfitt, born in 1806. When Robert was ready to run his own business circa 1830 he moved to Littleport and set up there whilst father John continued the business in Sutton. Robert worked as a clockmaker for thirty years or so; however from the 1850s he combined this with running the Cross Keys public house in Littleport!

A younger brother to John Earl and Robert, William, was born in 1812. William is recorded as working with his father John on Sutton High Street in 1841. Not long after that John died, and William took over the Sutton business.

Back to Cottenham – John Earl Murfitt carried on the business in Cottenham until the 1840s. John, the eldest son of John Earl and Mary Watts, was born in Cottenham in 1819. He had already established himself separately as a watchmaker on the High Street in Cottenham by 1846, before the death of John Earl in 1851. It is this younger John that is thought to have made the clock that hangs in the Community Centre coffee shop.

John’s youngest sibling Maurice was apprenticed to him in 1851, previously having been trained by his father John Earl. However there is no record of Maurice taking up the trade beyond this.

Cottenham High Street, close to Ivatt Street, after John died in 1880. Records show Rayment continuing the business in Cottenham until at least 1916; he died shortly after in 1920.

Clockmaking and watchmaking in England had its heyday from the later 17th Century until the mid-19th Century.

By the second half of the 19th Century the cost of the product, hand-made by craftsmen, became unsustainable as imported domestic clocks made by mass-manufacturing methods became available, mostly from Germany and the USA. So the work of hand-crafting new clocks declined, to be replaced by the retailing of imported products alongside the continuing work of clock and watch servicing and repair.

Rayment and Hannah had one son, John Benjamin, born in Cottenham in 1880. Perhaps not surprisingly he didn’t follow in his ancestors’ footsteps. He took up gardening, with an interlude serving in the Essex Regiment during the First World War. Nevertheless, from John Earl starting his business in Cottenham circa 1818, to grandson Rayment’s later years leading up to 1920, the Murfitt family clockmakers served Cottenham for around a century.

The information here is based on research using Ancestry. com and from clockmaker directories, and is thought to be correct.

There are records of other clock- and watch-makers working in Cottenham during the Murfitts’ time. One trade directory records two contemporaries to John Earl also working in Cottenham in 1839. A contemporary of Rayment was Frederick Stone, who worked in Cottenham around the end of the 19th Century. Born in Hastings in Sussex, he worked and lived on Cottenham High Street (reportedly no. 85) from the 1880s to at least 1916. A clock bearing his name hangs in Cottenham Baptist Church.

You can see the John Murfitt clock hanging in the Community Centre coffee shop. It is believed to have hung in the building for most of the time since it was opened as the Wesleyan Chapel in 1864.

John married Cottenham girl Rachel Rayment in 1845.

Their son Rayment was born in Cottenham in 1847. He was also known later on as Raymond, but official early records show his name as Rayment.

Incidentally, a family precedent for giving a child a Christian name matching the mother’s maiden surname had appeared earlier – in 1814 John Murfitt and Mary Cave of Sutton had a son they named Cave.

In 1874 Rayment married Cottenham girl Hannah Moore, and continued the clock- and watch-making business on Issue Number 180 • page 5

GARDENERS’ CLUB

COTTENHAM VILLAGE SOCIETY

As I write, there is still some uncertainty about the final date for ending the restrictions. However, the hope is that our September meeting will be able to go ahead on Friday 24th. The speaker, Geoff Hodge, a gardening writer and radio presenter, will talk about Winter Colour in the Garden. This was to have been last September’s talk, now moved forward by a year.

In 1977 Francis Garrett wrote a book entitled Cottenham: A Glimpse into the Past. It was part of the Cottenham Village Society's contribution to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Francis was already well known for his double act with Mervyn Haird; these two gentlemen entertained Cottenham with their slideshow and history presentations for many years. The Village Society, in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, published a new book Cottenham in Focus: A Pictorial History, (out of print at the moment) based upon these presentations.

Today the society still continues this tradition with presentations on Cottenham Past and Present.

Although our usual August evening drinks party has not been arranged, members will be informed if a garden social becomes possible, perhaps in early September.

The last meeting of the club was the AGM in February 2020, when some members renewed their subscription.

This will be carried forward, and the committee will discuss how to adjust subscriptions owed to cover the remaining meetings left for the year.

The club usually meets at Franklin Gardens Community Room on the last Friday of the month, with refreshments served from 7:30pm followed by a talk starting at 7:45. The evening closes with a raffle; prizes for this are welcomed from members and committee. We are hopeful that this format will be resumed, but members will be updated of any variation.

For further information please contact Sarah Dumont Tel: 01954 260482

Issue Number 180 • page 6

The Society is about to restart our programme of talks following the unavoidable delay recently!

We meet at the village hall, off Lambs Lane. Doors open at 7:15pm to start at 7:30pm.

On Friday 10 September we have our postponed AGM followed by an illustrated talk about Cottenham’s historic buildings. Subscriptions are due in September.

For the most up to date information (in case we have to cancel) please check our website.

Please will you book in advance with the secretary as we may have to restrict numbers.

Secretary telephone 01954 251544 Email cottvillsoc@gmail.com www.cottenhamvillagesociety.wordpress.com

Office available We have a central heated ground floor office (4.5m x 3.3m) quiet room in the heart of Cottenham, in the same building as the coffee shop), available on licence. Could be shared – maybe as a collaboration hub or hot-desking for a few people. Updated secondary double glazing, modern lighting with newly refurbished, shared kitchen facilities and toilets. Very good wi-fi. Do get in touch if you are interested. bookings@cottenhamcc.org or 07896 194291 Volunteers Volunteering at the coffee shop is a great opportunity to meet people, learn new skills, add to your CV and be part of a very worthwhile community facility. Please have a chat with Jane Tel 01954 202109 (when open) or manager@ cottenhamcc.org.

If you would like to run a class such as a baby group (e.g.

Little Humbugs) on behalf of the centre, please contact bookings@cottenhamcc.org or 07896 194291 Trustees Please consider becoming a trustee to assist with the smooth running of the Community Centre. The trustees are hands-on as well as making key decisions. Do let me know if you would like to know more. bookings@cottenhamcc.org The Coffee Shop is now open 10-2, six days per week Thank you for supporting the Community Centre. Just come along, or to reserve a table or to place a takeaway order you can call us on 01954 202109 during opening hours only.

There is some outside seating available Jane, Tricia, and the team look forward to welcoming you.

Come and enjoy a great coffee or tea or hot chocolate, delicious scones and cake or great light lunch from our menu.

Events Community Cinema on the first Sunday of the month. Films start at 7:30pm each time. See top class films at a fraction of the cost and without having to travel.

beverage after you have bought ten drinks. You will also get a 10% discount on one-off room hire. Please download a membership form here: https://www.cottenhamcc.org/ membership/ If you are shopping on-line, please consider using (it costs you no more) Easy Fundraising or Amazon Smile for Cottenham Community Centre (which will then receive a small percentage) https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/cottenhamcc/ https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/chpf/about We now have attractive gift vouchers – please consider buying as a gift for someone local. Contact treasurer@ cottenhamcc.org Covid restrictions have caused the income to fall substantially. If you can help with fundraising in any way, please do get in touch – ideas welcome.

Classes and room hire Many of our classes (e.g. Pilates, Yoga, Dance {separate for adults and children} children’s art) are running again or will be starting soon. Do check with the class leader or the community centre whether spaces are available.

Room Hire, including for children’s parties – subject to the Covid rules at the time. There are three rooms (main hall, studio, coffee shop) for hire (Full entertainment licence etc held).

Our wonderful new back kitchen facilities are great including a pop-up café.

We encourage classes, community activities and welcome organisations looking to try out new community projects.

For other enquiries see the website or email bookings@ cottenhamcc.org Please do not come to the Community Centre if you feel at all unwell, thank you. www.cottenhamcc.org

Funds and membership We welcome your support. Membership is just £15 for an individual (seniors £10) with a loyalty bonus of a free

Issue Number 180 • page 7

COTTENHAM PARISH COUNCIL Ask the horse's mouth!

Got a question about what’s going on in the village? Then ask the horse's mouth (aka the Parish Council!) We don’t have the time or resources to monitor other FB pages to respond or correct information from external sources. Our staff are happy to answer your queries: Jo (clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk or 07503 328401) – all general queries Beth (Asstclerk@cottenhampc.org.uk or 07490 459130) – all highways issues Debbie (rfo@cottenhampc.org.uk) – all finance matters Cottenham Nursery We’re pleased to announce that the new day nursery at the recreation ground will be run by Chestnut Nursery Schools, a successful company who also run a nearby nursery in Chesterton. At the time of writing, we hope that the nursery will be ready to open in September. To find out more please contact them direct via their Managing Director Karen Broughton: Karen@chestnut-nursery.co.uk Developments At the time of writing there’s no change regarding the permission from County Highways to permit to start works on the new Rampton Road roundabout. It now very much looks as though the works will be delayed a further year to summer 2022.

Furthermore Persimmon are also waiting final signoff by County Highways to allow them to progress their footpath along Oakington Road.

We are currently waiting to hear the result of the Kier (now Tilia) reserved matters application for the This Land site (land on Rampton Road behind the Rec and Rampthill Farm); it is anticipated that a decision will be forthcoming

by SCDC in July. In the meantime This Land have appealed their original refusal notice for the same site.

Highways CPC learnt earlier this year that we were successful in our bid for LHI funding from the County Council towards speed reduction measures on Oakington Road. These will include a 40-mph buffer zone combined with a chicane feature, and additional road markings to emphasise vehicles are entering a 30mph zone. We don’t yet know when this work will take place; likely to be in the autumn, or early 2022.

The Highways Committee have drafted a four-year strategy for Highways Projects, which can be viewed

Issue Number 180 • page 8

on our website: https://www.cottenhampc.org.uk/trafficcommittee/ Whilst still a work in progress, this document outlines potential Highways projects within Cottenham over the next four years. If you have any comments or questions regarding this, please send them to the Assistant Clerk: asstclerk@cottenhampc.org.uk We encourage residents to report any Highways related issues they see directly to the County Council, via their reporting site https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire. gov.uk/ For faults which pose an immediate risk of danger to the public please call Cambridgeshire Highways on 0345 045 5212 during office hours - 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays or for out of hours emergencies use the Police 101 service.

Overgrown hedges We have received an increasing number of complaints regarding hedges and vegetation overhanging pavements.

Please ensure that hedges etc. are cut back to your boundary to prevent inconvenience to pedestrians.

Village hall hire We have 3 rooms of varying sizes available for hire – be it parties, training courses, classes etc. If you’d like to hire our Hall facilities please contact – bookings@cottenhampc. org.uk or see our website for full details.

Defibrillator We are currently working with Cottenham Colts and Cottenham United FC to install an externally accessible defibrillator at the recreation ground. This equipment will be available 24/7 in an emergency and will be located outside the new Village Hall.

Goal Our thanks to Cottenham Colts for supplying and installing a new permanent goal on the recreation ground. We have added some ‘top bins’ targets for an extra challenge!

Skateboard lessons We are pleased to say that Shredder Skate School are now providing lessons at the Recreation Ground. Please contact shredderskateschool@gmail.com to book or see www.shredderskateschool.co.uk for more information.

What’s on?

From September we have a number of classes running in the village hall from Clubercise and pregnancy fitness through to baby ballet and ‘sing and sign’. Please see www.facebook.com/CottenhamVH or our website for more details and how to book.

Provided COVID restrictions ease sufficiently we are looking into running the ground floor bar on a temporary basis as a community run bar until a bar operator is appointed. The intention is for it to be family oriented as well as providing refreshment for rec users and sports players and spectators.

If this is feasible we will supply more information and ask for volunteers to join the team over the summer.

Office hours The Clerk is contactable via email and phone between 9am-3pm weekdays only (we aren’t available on weekends or bank holidays) and messages can be left outside of these hours. If you wish to meet in person please contact us in advance to arrange an appointment. Our office in the village hall is currently manned every Monday between 9am-12:30pm.

Jo Brook, Parish Clerk PSLCC Email: clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk Phone: 07503 328401 www.cottenhampc.org.uk www.facebook.com/cottenhamparishcouncil

OLD TELEPHONE CODES SOUGHT I am looking to source an old “telephone dialling codes booklet” for Cottenham, Cambridge or one of the surrounding telephone exchange areas. These were A5 sized booklets issued by British Telecom in the 1970s/1980s alongside regular telephone directories and contained lists of local and national dialling codes. If you have one and no longer need it please get in touch.

Thanks. Matt Jones noodley150@hotmail.com

COTTENHAM CHARITIES In 1871 a local newspaper expressed the opinion that “We are astonished to see how rich is the town of Cottenham in Charities, those monuments of the piety and philanthropy of our ancestors” One of those charities celebrates its 350th anniversary this year. John Moreton’s Almshouse Charity was created on 26th August 1671 when John Moreton conveyed to Dr John Pepys and others of Cottenham half the rental of houses in Holborn, London for poor relief and for apprenticing in the village. Today that charity is part of Cottenham Charities which owns the almshouses and the allotments in the village. The charity provides grants for essential household or disability items. Grants can be considered throughout the year.

More details and an application form are available on the website www.cottenhamcharities.co.uk.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are seeking volunteers to deliver the Newsletter.

Please contact Trevor Lawrence on 01954 250011 if you are able to help.

Issue Number 180 • page 9

DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILS An awful lot has changed over the past three years since we were first elected to the District Council in 2018.

Neil was delighted to have been elected as the County Councillor representing Cottenham, Rampton and Willingham in the May elections. Our thanks go to Tim Wotherspoon for his work on behalf of residents over many preceding years.

The Liberal Democrats gained five other new seats on the County Council and a new joint administration has been formed between the Liberal Democrats (20 seats), Labour (9 seats) and the Independent group (4 seats).

Lib Dem Councillor Lucy Nethsingha has been appointed as leader with Labour’s Elisa Meschini as deputy leader.

This has changed the balance in membership as the Conservatives lost overall control of the County Council.

We also now have a new Labour Mayor at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) with Dr. Nik Johnson winning against James Palmer. Neil has spoken to the new Mayor and discussed his agenda which is founded on establishing co-operative working relationships across the various tiers of local government. This will be most welcome.

We also learned that he lived in Cottenham many years ago – he was a resident of Beach Road.

This changes the political landscape considerably and we believe for the better. There is a lot to do and, as always, we are committed to helping residents get better services and improving the quality of life in Cottenham. From discussions with residents, we know that your key concerns are common: traffic (particularly HCVs and speed through the villages), poor public transportation, better community services and a focus on the environment. We will be working as a team with District, County and Parish Councillors working together on these issues.

As far as transport is concerned, both Eileen and Neil have roles on the Greater Cambridge Partnership. This gives us the opportunity to press for better transport options for all villages like Cottenham, Rampton and Willingham. One issue that we have been able to raise is the need for villages west of the A10 to have direct public transport links to stations at Waterbeach or

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

Issue Number 180 • page 10

Cambridge North, as part of the proposed Waterbeach to Cambridge segregated public transport route. At the last meeting of the Joint Assembly, we were also assured that the Cottenham to Oakington cycle path will be available by 2023.

We have, for a long time, been supportive of a 20mph speed limit through our villages and the information provided at a recent webinar led by the 20s Plenty Campaign reinforced the need to slow down traffic on mainly residential, village roads. They are campaigning for 20 mph to become the default speed with 30 mph or 40 mph speed limits being exemptions, where appropriate. Up to now, it has been necessary to show that the average speeds are 24mph or less before we can change the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph.

However, the way this condition was implemented

by Cambridgeshire County Council made it difficult to introduce the change.The new County Council administration agreement includes a pledge to make it easier for villages to introduce speed limits of 20 mph.

We have been watching the consultation on East-West rail very carefully. While it is not the preferred route, there is considerable pressure coming from residents in the southern part of the District to progress a northern approach that would cut through between Histon and Cottenham. It appears to us that there is no reason to assume that EWR’s analysis of the options is flawed. We submitted comments in the consultation that residents in our villages have not been given a fair opportunity to express their views on such a route. If it were to be reopened as an option, we feel it would be necessary to go back to square one on the consultation process.

This is a great place to live but there is more that needs to be done. Perhaps the one good thing that has come out of the Covid-19 pandemic is the recognition of the value of community. In particular, we think our villages have excelled in creating a sense of common purpose and interest. We will seek to build on that to continue to help those who have been negatively impacted by the disruption of lockdown. We are very focused on those within our community who have been bereaved, become unemployed, become isolated or lost out on education and social opportunities. Life may be getting

back to normal for many people but not for all, and we are determined to make sure there is provision to help those who need it, particularly our young people and the elderly.

We were very pleased to see the new County Council administration immediately proposing to continue to fund food vouchers over the school summer holiday to families struggling due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Each eligible child or young person will be issued with vouchers to cover weekday lunch costs during the school summer holiday. Vouchers will equate to £3 for each weekday of the holidays.

ROTARY CLUB OF CAMBRIDGE SOUTH – supporting local good causes We continue to meet weekly on Mondays using Zoom with fascinating speakers, often from overseas and sometimes from former international students that we have hosted (recently a fascinating talk from Liberia in West Africa about Covid there and another from UN Human Rights).

Hopefully by the time you read this we will be physically meeting again as well.

Finally, not now on our doorstep but of interest, Anglian Water have just launched the next stage of Consultation on the relocation of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant. The preferred option is a site along the A14 between Fen Ditton and Horningsea rather than two other sites they were considering near Landbeach.

This is all part of the plans to create a new, low-carbon city District in North East Cambridge, The consultation runs from 23 June until 18 August 2021. Find out more here: https://cwwtpr.com/have-your-say/

Hopefully, we will also be able to restart our direct activities (like Memory café at Girton) by this Autumn and the annual Christmas charity car parking in late November. We keep in touch with Rotary in Tanzania and the school for Masai that we have been supporting.

We are here for you and please do not hesitate to contact us via email (neilgoughcrw@gmail.com and eileenwilsoncrw@gmail.com or via phone (07919 990299 for Neil and 07825 770899 for Eileen). We will be restarting our informal drop-in sessions in the autumn and will communicate those via our Facebook page – CottenhamRampton – please do follow us on that to get regular updates on council matters impacting the village.

https://www.twam.uk/findcollector

One thing we have recently got involved with is Tools with a Mission to send unwanted tools to Africa.

Below is a link to the list of the tools wanted (and those not wanted). If you have some, please contact me as I am happy to take to Waterbeach where we have a barn for storage.

Rotary has 1.2 million members across 200 countries and at an International level, Rotary’s effort continues to progress the eradication of Polio worldwide. Working with the WHO and thousands of volunteers, Rotary are getting ever nearer worldwide eradication with the whole of Africa being declared Polio (wild virus) free last August. This just leaves Pakistan/Afghanistan where there have been fewer cases this year so far.

Immunisation must continue around the world until it is eradicated (like Smallpox which is the only one to date).

Rotary describes the activities as “polio plus” and it is giving, the infrastructure for many medical benefits including an infrastructure for Coronavirus Covid 19 immunisation in many countries.

If you just want to know more about Rotary or our club (which has members from Waterbeach, Cottenham, Cambridge and beyond) and its activities or to consider joining or volunteering to help with the car parking, do get in touch. – we are a welcoming club that has fun putting “service above self”.

Mike Smith, Rotary Club of smithmichaelstanley@hotmail.com

Cambridge

South

Issue Number 180 • page 11

LADYBIRD PRE-SCHOOL Ladybird Pre-school is a community-based, charity-run childcare provider that offers term-time childcare for children aged 2 to 5, in Cottenham and the surrounding villages. We are situated on the recreation ground, next to the Village Hall, and first opened in November 1994. Back then, we were an amalgamation of three smaller pre-schools and had no building to operate from. With thanks to our Deputy Manager Carolynn and her fundraising efforts, along with the Parish Council, the building was constructed and Ladybird Pre-school was born.

We offer part-day or full-day sessions between 9am and 3pm, working across three learning spaces (Green, Red and Blue). We work closely with Cottenham Primary School and offer School Readiness sessions to children who are in their pre-school year. The purpose of these sessions is to ease the transition into school, equipping the children with some of the key skills required when starting their school journey.

Thanks to a National Lottery grant and a whole lot of fundraising, we have a beautiful garden which includes; an allotment for growing our own fruits and vegetables, a fairy reading garden, large boat, mud kitchen and balance beam.

Our dynamic curriculum is centred around play, and facilitated by our experienced and passionate staff who are committed to ensuring that all children develop and progress. We use Tapestry online learning journals to document the children’s development and to engage

Issue Number 180 • page 12

with families through regular observations, photographs and conversations.

As an inclusive educational setting, we welcome all children and celebrate differences. We happily accommodate children with additional needs and work closely with families, and the local authority, to ensure that we offer appropriate levels of support.

Ladybird Pre-school is operated by a management team and supported by a parent committee and fundraising team. We are very proud to take part in many community events around the village; many of you may recall our popular Pimms stall or our decorated floats at the Fen Edge Festival.

We currently have spaces for September, so please do get in touch or see our website/Facebook page for more details.

Tel: 01954 250891 Office@ladybirdpreschool.org Manager@ladybirdpreschool.org

Poetry Corner: Life’s buttress I’m feeling age is catching me, my bones are going grey, The aches and pains accumulate, the youthful cost to pay.

The worries of the world are great, my own become pale, Virus, climate, intolerance, our future is on sale.

Let not the isolated few steer us to the trench, Stand up and have a voice even though it is a wrench.

You’re not alone in handling this for solo troubles and more, Having friends and family really counts, in the heart, at the core.

Tom Robinson 2021 .........

North to South (to be read with a Yorkshire accent) I have to admit I was born in the North, And we lived in a village called Ampleforth, In a Yorkshire cottage, two up,two down, A million miles from the nearest town.

Cottenham Paradiso Cottenham Paradiso As another truck goes by Uninterrupted bird song As another truck goes by The aroma of sweet jasmine As another truck goes by The laughter of small children As another truck goes by Cycling off to school As another truck goes by Old people waiting patiently As another truck goes by Will they make their planned appointments As another truck goes by The day is fair and sunny As another truck goes by Shall we lunch out in the garden As another truck goes by Shall we walk up to the deli As another truck goes by The ‘FOR SALE’ sign is erected As another truck goes by As another truck goes by Cottenham Purgatorio Wesley West

We had no cooker, or fridge or bath And the privy was right up the garden path.

I was a lad, my sister a lass And we drank from a cup or a mug or a glass.

We went to the local primary school With evacuees from Liverpool.

Everybody – old and young Spoke English with a Northern tongue.

And I suppose it’s because of that That my consonants are hard and my vowels flat.

So when I eventually came down South I hardly dared to open my mouth.

There was no “By gum!”, But “Oh, my gosh!”

Cos everyone seemed to be talking posh.

But old or young, strong or weak, It doesn’t matter how you speak, Cos all of us by God’s good grace Are paid-up members of the human race.

Jasper Kay .........

Readers are invited to send in either original poetry or short stories for inclusion in the Cottenham Newsletter. Short stories should be no longer than 600 words. The objective should be to entertain the general readership – go on, have a go!

Issue Number 180 • page 13

SUMMER ON THE WILD FEN EDGE David Bradley At the time of writing, summer seems to have finally arrived, it’s early June and the skies are filled with swifts.

Hopefully, some of them will be familiarising themselves with the newly installed swift boxes high up on The Pavilion and on the new Village Hall and thinking about moving in next season.

Other noisy visitors on the patch include another summer visitor, the reed warbler, which can be heard from almost every patch of reeds in and around the village, including the pond at Broad Lane. Yet another summer visitor, the turtle dove, has been seen and heard and I have been involved in a project to encourage that endangered species to feed and breed here, but they seem to have gone quiet since arriving back in April. Maybe the protracted cold and wet spell that finally seemed to end with the second May Bank Holiday put them off, although we are hoping they will start calling again soon. Given that so many people are trying to help this and many other bird species, it is always disheartening to learn that millions of migratory birds are shot for spot or food or netted on their migratory passage from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe each year.

Meanwhile, reader Mansel checked in with some earlymorning bat sightings and was happy to see that the erstwhile “Bird Report” which I adopted from Jasper Kay more than three years ago is “at last” featuring wildlife other than birds. The newsletter back issues are all online and readers can check back on “bird” reports where I discussed local mammals, Lepidoptera, and other topics as well as the traditional avian subjects of this column. The Cottenham Library can assist with accessing them online

Issue Number 180 • page 14

and presumably archives a print copy for those without internet access.

Incidentally, we usually see two or three pipistrelle bats circling our garden at dusk on balmy evenings in the summer. I was recently told that there are actually around seven different species of bat that have been “ticked” in Cottenham; I need to find out more before writing that column. It is incredible to think that an individual bat on a nightly hunt might dine on around 300 flying insects.

A lot of those insects will be moths, of course, many species (although not all) of which fly at night. That kind of number does make “mothing” as an increasingly popular hobby less of a guilt trip; moths definitely avoid predation if they are roosting in an egg carton in the bottom of a trap awaiting release back into the wild the next day.

Speaking of day-flying moths, I took a short walk from the Twenty Pence Road river bridge and back towards Cottenham along the Lode. Ostensibly, I was in search of kingfishers, of which I saw just one on this visit, nothing more than a darting blue flash across the surface of the Great Ouse. However, as compensation I did see lots of shiny copper dragonflies and bright blue damselflies, a couple of red admiral butterflies, and more than a dozen “latticed heath” moths feeding on the cow parsley. This tiny, chequered moth flies during the day (and at night), often closes its wings together when at rest, and is bright and breezy in colouration and pattern. Those are perhaps attributes often thought of as being associated more with butterflies than moths. But, as I may well have mentioned before, butterflies are simply another evolutionary group, alongside the geometers, the noctuids, and others,

within the vast moth family. Where they sit exactly in the Lepidoptera family tree is a point of contention among lepidopterists, but they are definitely part of the family.

As I write, half a dozen buzzards are squealing at each other way above my head, circling upwards on thermals in an almost cloudless blue sky.There was a sparrowhawk earlier doing its “flap-flap-glide” flight configuration and wondering about hawking sparrows. In previous years, I’ve twice seen a hobby (a migrant falcon, smaller than a peregrine) overhead taking a swirling swift on the wing rather than its usual diet of dragonflies and other flying invertebrates. Who needs Attenborough when we’ve got the Wild Fen Edge?

You can email your Cottenham nature sightings or requests to join the Wild Fen Edge Google Group to me on wildfenedge@sciencebase.com

Letters to the Editor: Dear Editor, Seems to be an increasing amount of dog sh1t liberally spread over the paved areas of the village. Highlighted to me again yesterday by an odorous ‘gift’ left on my drive by a less than socially responsible dog owner. My thoughts are that this may have more to do with education than any other cause.

I understand many people purchased or rehomed dogs at the height of the pandemic, to assist their Mentol Elf. It seems many people have kept well adjusted Mentol Elves for years however, the pandemic unbalanced them enough to require the presence of a canine to recover.

Unfortunately, many of these Mentol Elves have clearly not been trained in the social etiquette of picking up, bagging and binning after their dog has defecated on a path or pavement. Please, if you are a dog owner and your Mentol Elf hasn’t been trained, see to it immediately.

Others have expressed the view that many families delegate dog walking to the most indolent and socially maladjusted teenager in the family group. This individual is usually so immersed texting anatomical selfies to random internet strangers, that looking where the dog has pooped is most certainly the last thing on the agenda. Perhaps this group could try using a more socially responsible family member to walk their dog.

ARTICLES, DATES AND ADVERTISEMENTS E–mail, CD, memory stick and paper submissions are all welcome. Please contact the editor if you have any questions. Dates of events to be advertised in the next issue should span the months of October and November.

Deadline: FOR NEXT ISSUE 20TH AUGUST ADVERTISING

To discuss your advertising requirements Contact cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com Artwork, if required, is charged separately, (minimum £10.00) depending on the amount of work involved.

Quotations are available on request.

Still more have suggested that many dog owners are in fact elderly and/or infirmed, being physically unable to get down to the level necessary to pick up and bag the poop.

This group could perhaps consider a professional dog walker to undertake their social responsibilities in respect of foot path fouling.

Lastly, there are the ‘don’t give a sh1t’ dog owners, who conversely regularly do! These are the ones who are completely beyond redemption, their canine being merely a fashion accessory. This group might possibly be discouraged from letting their dog foul the path if, by doing so, they would be permanently excluded from social media or if dog fouling were made a hanging offence, but don’t hold your breath on that!

There are regular posts on the Cottenham Facebook page about how not to let dogs burn their paws on hot pavements whilst they defecate. How about more suggestions and thoughts on how to reduce the amount of dog sh1t on our pavements and calling out of the socially irresponsible dog owners that allow it to happen?

Just saying ….

Letters for publication may be sent to the Editor, and should include the name and address of the sender, although this may be omitted from publication if requested.

Please keep correspondence short and topical. Please note that the Editor may use his discretion regarding publication, and his decision is final. The views expressed by correspondents and other contributors are their own and are not necessarily shared by the Editor.

Issue Number 180 • page 15

Small ads: MATURE MALE M/CYCLE RIDER interests keeping fit, likes sports bikes, but respects all riders,wonders if there is a rider(s) in Cottenham area who might like to join up sometimes for companionship. Don’t tend to go far, depends, but mainly ride to avoid going rusty! Please text or call 07570 797476 if interested. .........

MARK BENSON Gardening and maintenance work undertaken. Local and reliable. Please call 07807 024173 or email marhpbenson84@gmail.com for a free no obligation quote. .........

FOR SALE 4 burner gas hob. Hardly used. £40. Electric preferred. A. Gawthrop 01954 250526. .........

HAYLEY JANE’S BEAUTY For all your beauty needs.

Waxing, facials, massage, manicures/pedicures, spray tan.

Call now to book an appointment 01954 251967. Located in the High Street at Cottenham Cutz & Beauty. .........

TUITION. ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL).

Teresa Haymer Cert Ed TEFL MA – General English, all levels, Business English, other ESPs & Homestay Immersion Courses. Email: Teresa.collins.haymer@hotmail.co.uk or text to: 07410 978290 .........

HANDYMAN SERVICES COTTENHAM Need help fitting a kitchen or bathroom? Leaking washing machine, sink or shower? Need a blind fitted or guttering repaired? Call Mike on 07768 931810. .........

MATHS TUITION up to and including GCSE. I can offer ongoing general support to help consolidate school and college teaching or specific areas of the curriculum can be addressed.

Lessons online or, if permitted, face to face in Landbeach.

Contact Frank Batten, maths.tutoring@gmail.com, for more information. .........

FRESH GRIMSBY FISH Fresh and smoked fish, shellfish in Cottenham every Thursday morning. Est. since 1989. Call John on 07584 578315 to arrange a call to your office or home. No order too small. .........

VIDEO TO DVD TRANSFER SERVICE Preserve your precious memories with Cottenham Video. We cater for all types of video tape.

Cottenham Video – We can transfer your old VHS and camcorder video tapes to DVD or digital file. Audio cassette and cine film also catered for. Tel: 01954 775004 or Mobile: 07795 630037, cottenhamvideo@gmail.com, www.cottenhamvideo. com .........

ANTIQUE, MODERN & BESPOKE UPHOLSTERY using traditional materials and techniques. Based in Cottenham, Victoria Morris Upholstery offers a professional (AMUSF Qualified) and reliable upholstery service for your most treasured antiques or favourite chair. For all enquires and/ or a free consultation, contact Victoria on 01954 270050 or 07547 496931 or by email: vmupholstery@hotmail.com or visit www.victoriamorrisupholstery.co.uk Issue Number 180 • page 16

C HILSDEN DECORATING SERVICES all aspects of painting and decorating, tiling and home maintenance carried out to the highest standard. Free estimates and excellent rates.

Carl Hilsden – Mobile: 07590 517882 Home telephone 01954 250446 www.hilsdendecorating.com .........

DOG DAY CARE IN COTTENHAM. Open Mon – Fri, 8am to 6pm. Great area for hour walks on our 150+ acre farm and 100% attention all day at home and in our enclosed garden all for £15.00 a day. Lingwood Farm, Cottenham, CB24 8PX Tel: Erica 07956 406643 or visit www.lingwooddogs.com .........

R J BENSON CARPENTRY Local fully qualified reliable carpenter. Please call 07961811454 or email robbenson15@ gmail.com for advice/free quotes. .........

TOAT – “TOM OF ALL TRADES” Tom Wykes Handyman.

No job is too big or too small – garden/house clearance, shelving, plumbing and so on – call Tom for a quote on 01954 250324, 07762 559259. .........

FENCING – P MARTIN FENCING, all types of fencing undertaken, over 30 years trading, please call 07802 440494 or 01954 250568 email pmartinfencing@gmail.com for a free no obligation quote and advice. .........

PEAT’S GARDEN SERVICES Lawn and hedge cutting, pruning, planting, rotovating, turfing, weekly and monthly visits, all garden work undertaken. All garden waste removed. For a free estimate call Pete Bullen 01954 250771 or 07749 863047. .........

HOUSE/PET SITTER, fully insured and CRB checked. Tailor made service having your pets looked after in their own home with anything from daily visits to living–in, assuring security.

This is a reliable/discreet/confidential business with visits in an unmarked vehicle. Excellent references. Email: ginnyr38@ gmail.com Tel: 01223 232972 or 07980 042601. .........

THE VILLAGE FOOT CLINIC Wilburton Clinic & mobile chiropody for: nail cutting/nail thickness reduction. Corns, callous and cracked heels. Diabetes etc. Assessment and treatment £32. Marisa Jolley MCFHP MAFHP. Tel: 07909 943171. .........

AGRIPEST If you’re looking for a friendly, reliable and competitive pest control service then please get in contact with AgriPest today! Rats, mice, wasps, moles and much more!

Please call Neil on 07889 018041 or email AgriPest@outlook. com. Thank you. https://www.facebook.com/AgriPestcambs/ www.agripestcontrol.co.uk .........

Why not advertise in the Newsletter! Items for sale, announcement of family events, local products and/or services...

10p per word, with some proceeds going to the MAGPAS charity. Send advertisements and payment to the Advertising Manager.

Cheques should Newsletter’.

be

made

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‘Cottenham

CONTACTS: Police General Switchboard Doctors

Newsagents Shaun’s News Council Offices 101

Dr. T Blumenfeld, 188 High Street 250079 Firs House Partnership, 42 Telegraph Street 251180 Urgent Care Cambridge (formerly Camdoc) 0 330 123 9131 District Nurse Team 01223 726469

Cottenham CareCar

Co–ordinator, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Gerry Brett

251929 Cottenham Community Centre 202109 Cottenham Charities 250387 Cottenham Day Centre 200873 Cottenham Gardeners Club 260482 Cottenham Tennis Club info@cottenhamtennis.co.uk Cottenham Toy Library Christina Koester 270334 Village Society Glynis Pilbeam cottvillsoc@gmail.com 251544 Cottenham WI Margaret Briggs 250870 or Margaret Squires 488427 Dentist Wiese and Associates, 40 Margett Street 251696 Chemist 222 High Street 250556

Child, Teen & Family Counselling

Julie McCrae www.juliemccraecounselling.com 07482 723265 Counsellor & Therapist Ruth Barnett, ruby61247@yahoo.co.uk 202556, 07961 644006 Samaritans Cambridge Centre 01223 364455 Veterinary Surgeon Village Vet Cottenham 252122 Schools Village College and Community Office 288944 County Primary, Lambs Lane 250227 Under–Ones Baptist Church 251066 Pre–School Ladybirds Pre-School, Rec. Ground 250891 Kids Only (Out of School Club) 250025 Ballet School tutusrus@ntlworld.com or 200533 Brownies 1st Cottenham Lisa Nicoll 201575 2nd Cottenham Julie Percival 200854 3rd Cottenham Chris Hurworth 203764 Guides Deanna 250388 Scouts 2ndcottenham@gmail.com Army Cadet Force 2Lt Mark Parker, Longstanton Detachment Commander 5035parke@armymail.mod.uk Parade night Wednesday 7:30-9:30pm ACF Cadet Centre, The Old NAAFI Shop, Magdalene Cl, Longstanton, CB24 3EG

250398

County Council Switchboard 0345 045 5222 SCDC Switchboard 0345 045 0500 Parish Council Jo Brook, Clerk 07503 328401 clerk@cottenhampc.org.uk

District Councillors

Neil Gough cllr.gough@scambs.gov.uk, 07919 990299 Eileen Wilson cllr.wilson@scambs.gov.uk, 07825 770899

County Councillor Neil Gough

cllr.gough@scambs.gov.uk, 07919 990299 01223 301426

British Red Cross Shop Citizens Advice Bureau

66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 3BL 0844 848 7979 Social Services Histon Team 01223 718011 Mobile Warden Scheme 200080 NSPCC Cottenham Area Team 01733 558245 RSPCA 24 hour cruelty & advice line 0300 1234 999

Railway Station Cambridge Passenger Enquiries

0845 7484950

Driving Instruction TOPS Driving School 252239 Taxi Panther Taxis 01223 715715/424424/523523 Library Margett Street 0345 0455225 Library at Home Service (formerly Doorstep)

0345 045 5225 your.library@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 583651 252298

Office hours: 9:30am-2:30pm Wednesday and Friday Baptist Church Church Office 252378 Catholic Church St Laurences Church 01223 704640 Methodist Church Histon 01223 700778 Salvation Army Paul Cooper, Captain 252419 Royal British Legion Ann Scott 251468 ann.scott23@ntlworld.com Cottenham Brass Band Diana Braverman (Sec.) dianabraverman@hotmail.com Bridge Farm Riding School 252284 Allotments Cottenham Charities 250575 Sustainable Cottenham Christine Ward 251813

Parish Church Revd. Lynda Davies Parish Administrator Matt Unwin-Riches

Cottenham Dissenters’ Cemetery

Kate Lees 252378, minister@cottenhambaptist.org.uk Sarah Berenger 07484 221369, s.berenger@btinternet.com

EDITOR & ENQUIRIES:

Adrian Ient, 2 The Wrens, Cottenham CB24 8XD. Tel: 01954 775004 e–mail: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGER:

Peter Robertson, 30 Lyles Road, Cottenham, Tel: 01954 200080

WEBSITE:

www.cottenhamnews.org.uk

Issue Number 180 • page 17

COTTENHAM TENNIS CLUB The members of Cottenham Tennis Club were delighted to be able to start playing again in April this year, when the lockdown was partially relaxed. Whilst life is still not back to normal, we seem to have had a real boost, and Cottenham tennis is now busier than ever, with our Wednesday social evening and our coaching sessions brimming with enthusiastic members, both beginners and more experienced players. On your walks you may have noticed our new sign outside the Village College, (below the football and behind the care home signs!) Thank you to the sports centre for giving us permission for this.

Our new Tennis Xpress adult beginner courses, funded by a generous grant from the Cooperative community fund have been fully booked. We have run two of these so far and have one more planned for September. The funding stretched to offering all participants reducedprice membership and further coaching. To cater for the increased demand for beginner classes we have opened up a new class specifically to follow on from these Tennis Xpress courses.

It's been great to see how the beginners from last year have progressed to become intermediate club players.

This is thanks to the excellent coaching we have from the team at Game Set Tennis, and to encouragement from established club members giving them the confidence to play more. We are hoping to recruit some of them to boost the club’s teams very soon!

The courts are busier than we have ever seen them and we have strong players coming to club night. We should now be able to field two men's teams in the winter league matches, which will be a first for Cottenham! We now have 100 people in tennis coaching around the patch, including the school breakfast clubs run by Game Set Tennis, which provide an introduction to youngsters at the Primary Schools (and maybe some early morning child care?)

Our membership has more than doubled since last year; we now have over 80 members and are still growing, with members from across the Fen Edge Patch; Cottenham, Rampton, Waterbeach, Willingham and Northstowe.

In other developments we have also initiated a day-time session for 3-4 year-olds at the grass courts on the Recreation Ground. This was fully booked for the 2nd half

of the summer term and lots of fun has been had by the tots learning rudimentary ball skills whilst socialising. It's a great opportunity to get the children outside in the fresh air, keeping them active and busy as well as a chance for parents and carers to link up. It would be brilliant to be able to offer this to the Fen Edge local community all year but, unfortunately, we don't have access to all-weather courts during the day time. Maybe one day...

Another first was our half-term tennis camp held at the CVC courts in June. This was well attended despite being the first opportunity many had to go on holiday, and feedback was universally positive. Hopefully we will be able to run many more holiday clubs.

The grass courts are looking good and being well used.

The bounce is interesting and keeps you on your toes but it's a lovely place to be now the weather is so good for grass tennis, and lovely to see the recreation ground being so well used. Thanks must go to Andrew the groundsman and to the parish council for supporting this.

The Tennis Club has had two lads volunteering for their Duke of Edinburgh award by helping with the youngest children's sessions, and other teenagers are also helping out with coaching. This provides an opportunity for those already in the coaching programme to earn some pocket money and put into practice the drills that they have learned in their lessons. If any other youngsters are interested in helping with coaching sessions they can enquire to Lou Cooke, the club secretary.

Competitively we have been participating in the local leagues, Ladies, Men’s and shortly the Mixed matches will start. As usual we have had mixed results. The Ladies have won one, drawn one and lost one match, and are currently 4th in their group having won 187 games and lost 137. We are happy with this as we would hate to be promoted and face teams who thrash us every time! Whatever the result we are enjoying meeting varied oppositions and visiting their clubs and facilities. Because of covid we are missing the post match pub suppers at the Chequers though! The men have similar results, lost 2, won 2 and drawn 1 match.

They stand 4th in their group, having won 174 games and lost 175. On a knife edge! They will be bolstered in the next few weeks by some returning uni students who lower the age profile and improve our standard considerably!

Thanks as always to Amber and Adam, the Sports Centre staff, Andrew King and the Parish Council for helping us along and to our excellent coaching team from Game Set Tennis with a special welcome to our new coach Alex Wilson.

For information about the club and membership visit www. cottenhamtennis.co.uk or email the club secretary on info@cottenhamtennis.co.uk For information about coaching contact Toby Jackson at Game Set Tennis on 07972 149874, or toby@gamesettennis.co.uk, www.gamesettennis.co.uk Cilla Hughes

Issue Number 180 • page 18

COTTENHAM CRICKET CLUB NEWS Writing this in mid-June, it’s wonderful to be able to say that the hopes we had earlier this year that we might be able to have a ‘normalish’ cricket season have been fully realised.

The weather has, for the most part, been pretty good and both our senior teams have got off to decent starts. It’s just been so great to get out there and play again. In addition, our u-15 side has been playing throughout the school term and has competed well against some very strong opposition.

We have been able to give some of this young team an introduction to men’s cricket in our 2nd XI (and one has actually played for our 1st XI) where they have performed really well and this is something we intend to continue and increase throughout the second half of the season.

Our young players are vitally important to the Club and we definitely need to develop an effective ‘conveyor belt’ of young cricketers who can move into our senior sides and keep the Club progressing. On this theme, we are absolutely committed to offering more coaching to local youngsters from the age of 5 up to 15 going forward. Let’s face it, they don’t get much opportunity to watch top class cricket on television these days and it’s therefore pretty much down to us to give them the chance to learn the game and discover the huge enjoyment that can be found in developing their skills in all aspects of this fantastic sport. However, to achieve this, we really do need more help and support. We are very much on the lookout for adults (ideally parents) from the village or nearby who

would be willing to join us to assist with the coaching and administration of our junior groups. So, if you have a child who has shown an interest in cricket and would like to improve their skills and have some fun – or even if you haven’t and would simply like to get involved – please do get in touch with any one of us (below) so that we can work together to get as many of our local youngsters as possible playing and enjoying our wonderful game.

Even though the season is now well underway, we are keen to welcome any cricketers in the neighbourhood who are not playing for us and might be interested in joining the Club. We have practice nets every week so please just contact any one of us (below) to find out more. Just come along – you’ll be guaranteed a warm welcome!

Club Contacts: Email: cottenhamcc@yahoo.co.uk Secretary: David Chaplin (01954 250075) Chairman: Ralph Lamble (01954 250313) Vice Chairman: Dave Partridge (01954 203210) Junior Teams Coordinators: Dave Partridge and Alan Raven (01954 250388) Website: www.cottenham.play-cricket.com Twitter: @CottenhamCrickt Dave Partridge

Issue Number 180 • page 19

ON THE EDGE RISING WATERS AND LOWERING WATER TABLES Following our December introduction (On the Edge) and June article (Risk of Flooding in Cottenham and Surrounding Areas), let’s address the apparent contradiction of being victims of increased flooding, whilst, at the same time, our water table is running dry.

You would think that even in our relatively dry area of England, all that rain water would replenish the water table. Not everyone realises that our household water comes from rainwater that accumulates underground.

The cycle of water in our area looks like this: • Rain water falls at greater rates in the winter and causes flooding (see our previous article) • This water runs off the ground into ditches and other waterways (see diagram below) • Water absorbed then returns to the water table, where it is stored and then re-distributed by water companies

How does this affect us locally? Did you know that the chalk streams to the south of Cambridge have reached worryingly low levels? These streams are rare and of special scientific interest. Their loss is having a catastrophic effect on wildlife and water levels in the Cam, which is having to be artificially topped-up. When you see the Cam running through Cambridge, you would never guess that this shortage is real!

So what can we do as villagers to make a difference? The Royal Horticultural Society advice on front gardens is to create surfaces that absorb rainwater: “Gardens can soak up rain, unlike paving, tarmac and concrete which are less porous and increase the amount of rainwater that runs off by as much as 50 percent.”

Some other actions we can take are: • Digging in organic matter • Planting highly absorbent plants • Water harvesting (water butts, etc.)

• Keeping ditches clear of debris We also need to ensure that our local councils and government are aware of our concerns and put pressure on them to tell the truth about the climate and ecological emergency and to commit to making this an integral part of all decisions made. The most crucial decision is to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2030.

We are your local XR group – we call ourselves ‘On the Edge’, because Cottenham is on the edge of the Fens.

We are also ‘on the edge’ of a climate catastrophe. Our aim is to create a wider awareness of the climate and ecological crisis, sharing ideas on how to act locally to protect our homes and communities, and also to make a positive impact on our planet.

Source: nysgolfbmp.cals.cornell.edu/hydrologic-cycle/ However, our human activities are disrupting this cycle in two ways: • Paved-over areas, whether industrial estates, housing developments, roads or cement driveways, significantly reduce the absorption in the ground and increases the run off • Industry, farming and housing developments draw off huge amounts of water. This reduces the amount of water available to replenish the water table.

CONTACT THE EDITOR:

We are proud to announce our new website! Please check it out for more information about our climate emergency, how it is affecting our local area, as well as events that you could get involved in: https://ontheedge270.wixsite. com/intro Or contact us at: ontheedge270@gmail.com

Adrian Ient, 2 The Wrens, Cottenham CB24 8XD. Tel: 01954 - 775004 e-mail: cottenhamnewsletter@gmail.com

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