December is a time for both reflection on what’s gone and anticipation for what’s round the corner of the new year.
We can think about what we’ve achieved; those places we’ve visited and new people who may have come into our lives; others who we’ll see no more, but whose memory will remain strong. I prefer to look forward, though, and my new year resolutions are already in the planning stage!
In the meantime, my sincere thanks go out to everyone who has helped us in any way this year, especially the “Discovering” team, for their unstinting efforts to meet deadlines when the pressure mounts, and of course our advertisers and contributors, with their regular features, wonderful advice, and suggestions. All the very best to you all for Christmas and for 2023 – good luck, but most importantly, good health!
Claire x
This year will not be remembered particularly fondly nationally due to the death of HM the Queen coupled with the growing financial hardships faced by families and fears over the war in Ukraine.
However, in Fenland there have been signs of a return to normality as we have all got more accustomed to living with COVID and many social events have thankfully returned to the local calendar. We hope you have enjoyed reading about them in the magazine over the past twelve months and we look forward to bringing you more local news next year. As we approach the festive season, I would like to thank everyone who has helped produce the magazine each month; my fellow staff, advertisers, our great contributors and of course you the readers who have helped keep me informed with what is happening in our area. I hope you all enjoy Christmas and I look forward to engaging with you again in 2023... Andy
Discovering Magazines, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET
Publisher and Sales Claire Saberton: 01778 421427 | 07837 499061 | sales@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Copy deadline for the January 2023 issue is Monday, 5th December 2022.
Discovering March is published by a local team and is not associated with any other business. Care is taken to ensure that the content and information is correct at the time of going to press; however, we cannot take any responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by any errors. Permission must be granted to reproduce, copy or scan anything from this publication. For a copy of our contributors’ guidelines please email info@discoveringmagazines.co.uk.
Since 2019, the TVS Group has collaborated and innovated with industry players, to deliver industrial and commercial vehicles to specialist manufacturing firms. We’ve acquired leading businesses including SB Components, Wilcox, McPhee and Priden to form the TVS Group that has grown at an unprecedented scale.
But with the challenges of Covid 19, and the industries pressure to deliver a cleaner and leaner supply network, our sector demands innovative thinkers so we can serve end clients better and add value, in the face of great change.
So we’re joining up the industry to keep vehicle bodies in motion under our new TVS Interfleet brand.
With our scale, capabilities, and innovation, we’re driving change in the body building industry, to ensure we have a specialist for every specification and a solution to every challenge.
We are committed to:
- Streamlining and optimising our business structure
- Investing in innovation and technology
- Investing in our people and culture
- Working towards a leading ESG strategy
- Expanding our product portfolio
As we look forward to these exciting new changes and challenges, we’ve said goodbye to former Wilcox Commercial Vehicles MD, Vito Ronzano, who retired earlier this year. We would like to thank him for his hard work and dedication to ensuring the smooth transition of our Market Deeping site into TVS Interfleet.
We’re proud of the culture and company we’ve built over 30 years. And we’ve grown a lot recently, bringing together leading body builders and giving our brand a bold new look. Today, we employ over 450 people in our technologically advanced facilities, but we’ve kept our friendly, agile spirit.
We take care of our people with a competitive employee package, including:
- 4 or 5 day working week (dependant on role)
- Quarterly performance bonus - 1 week paid maternity and paternity leave
- Service-related annual leave - Death in service insurance benefit for all employees
- Employee Assistance Programmes - Medicash and store discounts
Build your career in an industry leading company. From welders to sprayers, engineers to marketeers, follow your interests and see where they take you.
And with our exciting new Welding Apprenticeship programme looking to launch in early 2023, we’re investing in our team more than ever. Together we can drive change and innovation across our industry. Together we can build with purpose.
For the latest vacancies and application for our apprenticeship scheme visit: tvsinterfleet.com/careers
Everyone knows how busy things can be this time of year. It is the time for Christmas shopping, festive parties and family get togethers. So if you are preparing for a marathon shopping session or getting ready to hit the dancefloor, we can help you.
Very often with great parties come great footwear, and with great footwear we usually get pretty sore and swollen feet. Our team of podiatrists can help you to survive the festive season with two, happy feet.
Your feet deserve as much love and attention as the rest of your body so we can help you to keep a foot care routine going to help to reduce dry skin buildup and keep your nails looking lovely. Healthy feet will help make you feel confident and beautiful from your head to your toes, so you’re ready to party.
March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ Tel 01354 651200 www.marchpodiatry.co.uk
March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ Tel 01354 651200 www.marchpodiatry.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon 9am-7pm, Tues 9am-5pm, Weds 9am-7pm, Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-1pm
Budget Buffet
Sandwiches, Sausage rolls & Mini Cake Slices £4.95 per head
Bronze Buffet
Sandwiches, Sausage Rolls, Cocktail Sausages, Mini Cake Slices £5.50 per head
Silver Buffet Sandwiches, Sausage Rolls, Pork Pie Slices, Scotch Eggs, Cocktail Sausages, Cheese Straws, Mini Cake Slices £7.95 per head
Gold Buffet
Sandwiches, Sausage Rolls, Pork Pie Slices, Scotch Eggs, Mini Cheese Scones, Cocktail Sausages, Crisps, Mini Cake Slices £8.50 per head
Platinum Buffet
Sandwiches, Sausage Rolls, Pork Pie Slices, Scotch Eggs, Mini Cheese Topped Scones, Cocktail Sausages, Pizza, Crisps, Mini Cake Slices £9.95 per head
Sandwich Platters £15.00
Filled Vol a Vent 80p each
Topped Open Bridge Roll 95p Dessert Pots £1.65
Thousands of people are expected to attend a spectacular Christmas Market in March on Sunday, December 4th.
Many local traders will be offering a fantastic selection of fresh food and produce while shoppers can enjoy all manner of delights from artisan cheeses and handcrafted gins to speciality breads and pastries... there will be something for all tastes at the event from 10am to 3pm.
Finding a perfect gift is made easy, with more than 120 stalls selling a wide range of quality crafts, toys, jewellery and much more besides. There will also be two new indoor spaces this year at St Peter’s Church Hall, High Street, and March Library. Many of the local businesses are supporting the event too so be sure to pay them a visit!
Children’s rides on the Market Place will be free of charge all day courtesy of kind sponsors; and youngsters will also have the opportunity to meet Father Christmas in his grotto thanks to Fenland Farmers. Local musicians and choirs will be adding to the festive atmosphere with live performances throughout the day on the Market Place and Broad Street. As will Twenty20 Productions who are creating an enchanting winter wonderland upstairs in March Town Hall.
The free event, which is delivered by March Events Committee in partnership with Fenland District Council, has grown year on year. Around five thousand visitors are expected from the local area and from further afield.
Free parking is available in City Road and Dartford Road car parks, or if you prefer to walk off the mince pies or enjoy a little mulled wine, pedestrian access is open from 10am.
We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at: Discovering March, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET
Email: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
How about a calendar to surprise the railway enthusiast in your family this Christmas?
The calendars cost £10 each and all profits from sales will support the new B17 project.
They are available from Peter Wright of The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust. Contact Peter by email at jetbreeze@btinternet.com or telephone (01354) 660011. Free local delivery.
Volunteers are being urged to help make a huge difference to people’s lives by sharing their time and skills... and improve their own health and wellbeing too.
Care Network Cambridgeshire is a local charity, working for more than thirty-five years to empower people and communities to live happier, healthier, and independent lives. Its volunteer team delivers short-term support, including Help at Home and Wellbeing services that help build confidence and social connection.
With ever more people needing a little help, Care Network is looking for new volunteers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. There are various roles available to suit their interests and the amount of time they want to give. Full training is given, and volunteers will be reimbursed for any approved expenses such as travel to visit clients at home.
Whether you have a lot or only a little time to offer, Care Network Cambridgeshire can discuss flexible volunteering opportunities for anyone aged eighteen+.
For more information, you can call Tina (volunteering co-ordinator) on (01223) 869892 for a chat, email: volunteering@care-network.org.uk, or visit the website at www.care-network.org.uk
The Christmas countdown has begun and as we head into the festive season, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families the very best for the festive season.
One of the things to do ahead of Christmas is for those who are eligible to have your COVID booster and flu jab. I recently had both my jabs and now people aged fifty or older can get their booster jab, along with residents in care homes for older people, those aged five and over in a clinical risk group, and health and social care staff. There are pop-up vaccination sites operating across the area, check your nearest at www.thevaccinators.co.uk
We are now in the ‘pre-examination’ stage of the Planning Inspectorate process into whether to allow an inappropriate enormous incinerator to be built in Wisbech. Regular readers will recall I sent out a twelve-page note from an independent expert l commissioned on behalf of constituents, regarding the wide number of flaws with the proposal from the developer. The developer has written to me accepting the consultation was flawed and committed to ensuring the publication of some revised documentation to include missing annexes, but these omissions fall far short of the transparency needed. This is a good illustration of why the Planning Inspectorate should reject this bid. I will continue to ensure it is closely scrutinised as notwithstanding this admission of incompetence there are still further flaws which they have not addressed.
On a more positive note, we have a wide range of fantastic community groups locally and it was a pleasure to join one such group with almost thirty other men at the monthly Gorefield cooked breakfast club at the village community centre at Wolf Lane. Many thanks to organisers Alan and Barbara Holt and cooks and local councillors Sam Clark and Michael Humphrey. It was great to chat with those there and enjoy a breakfast, especially the sausages that came from local butchers Gagens.
I should also mention proposals for a new reservoir that Anglian Water, in partnership with
Cambridge Water, is hoping to build between Chatteris and Wimblington. The £2 billion plan, designed to supply 250,000 homes with water, would be created by excavating soil and material from the site and using it to create a surrounding embankment to contain the water. I am liaising closely with residents to scrutinise these early plans, which also include supporting infrastructure such as a water treatment plant, pumping equipment and pipelines, plus space for wildlife and environment areas, leisure and educational facilities.
As an MP of a rural constituency, an important annual event is the Back British Farming Day in November – my sprig of wheat stayed on my desk most of the month, sparking some interesting conversations with colleagues. The disruption to supply chains from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine reinforces why own domestic food security is so important.
A key event last month was Remembrance Sunday, which is always a special time to think about the sacrifice that was made by others. Wearing a poppy or laying a wreath is such a simple task but one that carries enormous meaning and elicits strong emotion. It is an honour to be involved in the services and parades both in government and here in the constituency, and thank you to the Royal British Legion, local cadets, and all who marked this important moment.
As an executor you may, depending on the value or type of assets in the estate, have to apply for a Grant of Probate in order to deal with the estate. The grant allows you to obtain funds from a bank account or to sell the deceased’s property, amongst other things.
In order to obtain a grant, you will need to tell the Probate Registry about the value of the estate and why you are the person entitled to deal with it. It can also mean reporting to HMRC about the value of the estate and whether any Inheritance Tax is payable.
The majority of applications for Grants of Probate are now made online. The application process can be confusing if you are not familiar with the system. Unfortunately, if any information is entered incorrectly this can lead to a delay in it being issued.
The Probate Registry currently states that straightforward applications are being dealt with in around seven weeks; however, from our experience, this is definitely a best-case scenario and we are aware of applications that have taken several months to complete.
At Vine Law we know how overwhelming it can be for someone with no experience to have to deal with the formalities surrounding the administration of an estate and the problems that can arise if it is not done correctly. We fully appreciate that a helping hand and someone to talk to can ease the pressure at such a difficult time.
Although we cannot control the delays at the Probate Registry, we can help you to submit your probate application quickly to ensure that the process begins as soon as possible.
By using our Accelerated Probate Application Service, we can minimise delays, guide you through the process and prepare the application, including the forms to submit the financial details.
Our probate team are happy to chat to you on a no obligation basis about how the process works and the information you would need to obtain to use the service.
We are able to deal with applications quickly because we have invested in technology and set up our systems so that procedures that might have previously taken days, can now take place in moments.
If the estate is complicated, it may not be possible to use the accelerated service, but we can still assist to ensure that your application runs smoothly. A final point to note
If the will is currently held by the solicitors who acted for the deceased, there is no requirement to instruct them to act for you. It is the executor’s decision who they instruct to make the application on their behalf or whether they wish to make a personal application themselves.
If you would like further information or assistance with an application, please call Cath Collins or Kieren Cross on (01945) 898090.
• Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers Of Attorney
• Property
• Employment Law and HR Services
• Civil Litigation – dispute avoidance and resolution
• Legal assistance for start-ups and SMEs
Christopher Henry Wells was born at Poole in Dorset in the early 1820s. Later he moved to March where he became a railwayman.
In 1871, he was a level crossing keeper and lived with his wife Mary Ann in White Lion Lane, which was named after the public house of the same name on the corner with High Street; this roadway is now known as St Peter's Road. He and his wife had at least ten children, the youngest being Fred, who was born on July 24th, 1869. By 1881, the family was living in Hurst Avenue, a former name of Upwell Road, and Christopher died in September 1887.
Fred followed his father into the railway industry and in 1891 was listed as a 'parcel deliverer' living with his widowed mother and sister Frances in The Avenue.
On Monday, March 27th, 1893, Fred was the victim of an accident at March station where he was now a porter. During a lifetime of reading about railway history, I have never read about a similar incident anywhere.
In the days before railway carriages were heated by steam or electricity, passengers could hire a foot warmer. These were elongated metal containers full of hot water, covered by a layer of carpet for First Class passengers. on which you could rest your feet.
At March, water for the foot warmers was held in an open top tank with parallel cross bars at the top. Traditional footwear for most men at the time would have been heavy, lace up, leather ankle boots. Just before 8am, Fred climbed onto the tank, presumably to warm his feet. However, he slipped and both of his feet plunged into the almost boiling water almost up to his knees. It was only with the assistance of his colleagues that he was able to be released. I can imagine his shouts, even screams, for help with his mates prising the
bars apart to help release him. He was severely scalded and had to be taken home by a Mr Northrop in his pony and trap.
I anticipated that in the following week's Cambs Times there would be an update on his condition but there seems to be no further report about his progress. However, it seems that Fred did recover from his ordeal as by 1901 he was living at Chigwell, Essex with a wife and young son. He was now a foreman porter and his career progressed to passenger guard but by the 1939 census, he had retired. He died, still in Essex, aged 79 in 1949. Many thanks to Dawn Denton for her assistance in researching Fred's life and career.
Photos: First class foot warmer showing carpet covering (below) and, pictured underneath, the filling cap. MMRH 2592
As autumn takes hold, we hear from customers who choose ColourFence because their old fences have blown down or rotted through, causing anxiety about pets escaping or even unwanted intruders. This, paired with the fact that there is no need for ongoing maintenance allows them to break the expensive, monotonous cycle of painting, repairs and replacement. ColourFence is guaranteed not to warp, crack, shrink, rot or peel for 25 years†. Making it one of the world’s best maintenancefree fences. And, unlike other fences, ColourFence can withstand gusts of wind up to 130mph. There’s a choice of colours to harmonise and enhance your garden’s design. You’ll find our prices surprisingly competitive too. Why wait until an urgent replacement is needed? To see the full product range, call us today and find out why it makes sense to choose ColourFence.
‘Tis the season to be jolly – but as we prepare for the season of goodwill, not everyone shares the Christmas spirit. Whether the threat comes from sophisticated seasonal online scammers or opportunist thieves making the most of a security oversight in the home, there are sadly plenty of people intent on making it a miserable, not merry, Christmas for many. Protect yourself from falling victim to online shopping or auction fraud:
• If you’re making a purchase from a website or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first. Read reviews or check the seller’s feedback before going ahead.
• Use a payment method that offers buyer protection, such as a credit card, as most major credit card providers will help you get your money back if the item is faulty or damaged, or if it never arrives.
• Make sure you have a strong password for your email. You should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA), where possible, which gives your online account additional protection by double checking that you really are the person you claim to be, when logging in.
At home, seasonal security is essential, even if you are continuing to work from home.
• For opportunist thieves, visible presents under the tree, open car boots full of shopping, while loads are being taken into the house, and even the possibility of an unlocked garage or parcels left behind bins, are rich pickings.
• Equally, flaws in home security are a beacon to thieves – so remember to check your alarm and never leave doors, windows or garages unlocked.
• Keep a light on indoors and outdoors if you are out visiting friends or family.
• It may be an idea to fit some motion detector security lighting.
• Try and arrange for parcels to be delivered to an alternative address instead of them being hidden by the bins.
• If buying bikes and/or electronic equipment for Christmas – mark them with your postcode.
For any home security improvements, we have locksmiths, alarm and CCTV installers, electricians and many other traders who can help, at www.safelocaltrades.com
With Christmas just around the corner, the usual Black Friday and pre-Christmas sales will soon be in full swing with a sparkly new version of Windows available. But please don’t be fooled by cheap prices – cheap really doesn’t always mean cheerful. Have a read through the following buying guide to help you choose the right laptop and to hopefully avoid disappointment.
This year I’d be making sure that I get one that’s compatible with Windows 11. It doesn’t necessarily have to have it now, but I’d make sure it’s compatible.
As the ‘brains’ of your computer, the processor does influence performance, although the choice will depend on what you need to do. If you’re looking for a standard laptop with the best combination of price and performance, buy a Core i3 or Ryzen
3. Intel Core i5 or i7 CPUs and Ryzen 5 or 7 will be better for multitasking, multimedia tasks, high-end gaming, but are more expensive.
This is where all your data is stored. Most people struggle to fill a 250GB Hard Drive with photos, programs and music since the average size of a photo or MP3 is about 4MB (you can store about 62,500 photos or MP3s on a small 250GB Hard
Drive). However, if you play around with video files 250GB will be hugely insufficient and you should look to 1000 GB (1TB) drives which can store about twenty-four hours of HD video. Warning: Be very wary of buying a laptop/netbook with LESS than 64Gb of storage space. Windows 10 and 11 have regular sizeable updates that you will have difficulty installing them. In fact, Windows 11 insists on a minimum 64Gb of storage. We advise getting a laptop with at least a 120GB Solid State Disk (SSD) –see our previous articles about SSDs.
RAM is fast, temporary storage that Windows uses to load both itself and whatever it is you are doing at the time. If you are surfing the internet, you are using some RAM for Windows, a little more for the web browser, a little more for your anti-virus program, etc. 4GB is the bare minimum amount of RAM you should have in a laptop, 8GB is ideal.
We, here at Diamond Byte sell both. Personally, I’m the kind of person who likes a bargain and would rather buy a faster older laptop that was refurbished than a new one, but I also understand the want for something new and sparkly. Just make sure you buy your refurbished ones from someone that gives them a twelve-month guarantee and has installed a fresh copy of Windows and ALL the drivers.
Welcome to the festive season full of family fun at the cinema. We have plenty of choice for all this December, so come in from the cold and warm up with us! Top Picks
Avatar-mania is finally here from December 16th, and we cannot wait for you to see the most anticipated sequel ever! James Cameron has topped his 2009 masterpiece with a sequel that is both thrilling and beautiful. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive and the tragedies they endure. Booking is advised for what is set to be the biggest blockbuster of our time!
The emotional, heart-breaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody steps onto our screens from December 26th. The high energy musical biopic tracks her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom in a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multi-faceted woman behind the voice that defined decades of music.
We've hand-picked a great selection of festive films that are sure to satisfy your Christmas cravings, including A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, Frozen Sing-A-Long, The Polar Express, It's a Wonderful Life, Die Hard, Elf, The Grinch, Love Actually, Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol Toddler Time
Our hugely popular toddler-centred screenings are designed exclusively for pre-school children and their parents or carers. With interactive fun, audience participation encouraged, and tickets priced from just £3 for children (parent/carer free) – what’s not to love? December’s offerings are The Highway Rat, The Snowman and The Snowman and The Snowdog and Stick Man. Event Cinema
Join us on December 8th for Peter Wright’s much-loved production for The Royal Ballet –The Nutcracker, which keeps true to the spirit of this festive ballet classic, combining the thrill of the fairy tale with spectacular classical dancing. To ring out the old year, we are delighted to announce our screening of Berliner Philharmoniker LIVE: New Year’s Eve Concert on December 31st. A thrilling Russian-Italian programme of opera and ballet and very special way to begin your evening's celebrations.
Book your tickets and find out more by heading over to: wisbech.thelight.co.uk
The Grinch
I Wanna Dance With Somebody Avatar: The Way Of Water The Nutracker
St Wendreda’s
The Avenue, March
Sunday December 18th 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight Wednesday December 21st 2pm “Blue Christmas”
A quiet reflective service Christmas Eve 4pm Christingle Service Christmas Day 11am Family Communion
St John’s Station Road, March
Wednesday December 7th 4.30pm Christmas Pet Service Sunday December 18th 4.30pm Carol Service Christmas Eve 2.30pm Outdoor Nativity Experience Christmas Eve 9pm Midnight (in Bethlehem) Communion Christmas Day
9.30am Christmas Communion with Carols
St Peter’s High Street, March
Friday 9th-Sunday 11th December
Christmas Tree Festival Sunday December 11th 3pm Christingle Service Sunday December 18th 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve 4pm Family Crib and Carol Service 11.30pm Midnight Communion Service Christmas Day 8am Holy Communion
11am Christmas Communion with Carols
St Mary’s Westry, March
Sunday December 18th 3pm Candlelit Carol Service Christmas Day 9.15am Christmas Communion with Carols
Our Lady of Good Counsel
St John’s Road, March Christmas Eve 6pm Mass at Chatteris Parish Church 10pm Sung Mass at Our Lady’s, March Christmas Day 10am Sung Mass at Our Lady’s, March
Trinity (Methodist United Reformed) High Street, March Saturday December 10th 3pm Concert of Christmas Music and Carols by the Chatteris and Manea Silver Band Christmas Day 10am Shared Christmas morning worship at Centenary Baptist Church Centenary Baptist High Street, March Sunday December 18th 6pm Carols by Candlelight Christmas Day 10am Christmas Celebration
Evangelical Fellowship Upwell Road, March
Sunday December 18th
6pm Carols Service Christmas Day 10.30am Christmas Thanksgiving Fenland Community Church Scout Hall Behind Sainsbury’s Sunday December 11th 10.30am Christmas Carol Service
N.B. The above service is specially designed for people with learning disabilities, their friends, relatives and carers
Why not come and join us this year as we celebrate the birth of Jesus our Saviour? You will receive a warm welcome. Visit March Christian Bookshop, near Sainsbury’s, for gifts, books, refreshments and more.
We are all familiar with robins on Christmas cards; their association with Christmas began in the 1860s when postmen wore red tunics and were and were named after them.
The robin lives in most parts of Europe where they are shy woodland birds but in Britain they are quite different. If someone is digging the garden, they will often appear hoping that a grub or earthworm will be exposed and many gardeners will encourage them making them bolder. It is not uncommon to almost step on a robin and they will pose very prettily on a garden fork handle. It is thought they used to follow wild pigs rooting in the ground and someone digging is quite similar as far as the robin is concerned.
They generally feed on the ground looking for insects but will also come to bird tables and feeders for seeds, especially sunflower hearts that are high in oil content, but their favourite is mealworms.
Males and females are very similar, the only difference is that the greyish feathers around the red breast are a little ‘bluer’ in the male. Unlike most species, both sexes sing and the song is to preserve a territory. It is a plaintive song, which is slightly more melancholy in autumn, usually sung from within a tree or bush and they can be very hard to see even when you can hear them clearly. They move their heads as they sing, making their position hard to identify. They are common birds and there will be another within a robin’s hearing distance also singing to protect its territory and that one may be easier to see. Also, unlike most species, they sing all year and, if you live in an area with streetlights they will even sing in the night.
These sweet little birds are, however, belligerent and will attack any other robin that enters their territory. Both males and females set up territories and the female does the courting. She will cautiously enter the territory of a male and, if she is not attacked, she will stay and they will become a breeding pair. If you see two robins together, they are a pair, unless they are fighting. They will use open-fronted nest boxes but use any nook or cranny. Young birds are brown and speckled and can have yellow around the beak when they first emerge from the nest. They are the same size and form as the adults and have the same way of moving and feeding.
A robin can live to be ten years old but a quarter of them never make it through their first year.
Next Gault Wood Work Party is Saturday, January 7th at 10am. If you'd like to support our work at the wood as a volunteer, please contact the Woodland Trust by emailing: volunteering@woodlandtrust.org.uk Alternatively, you might like to support the Nature's Calendar project, which focusses on phenology, which is the study of plant and animal reaction to climate change. Nature's Calendar (woodlandtrust.org.uk)
Owner Freddie Elliott said: “Some problems are caused by blockages because of moss and leaves but mostly it is because of issues with joints, unions and gaskets, and running outlets or occasionally drainage on a downpipe.
“The joints are usually plastic with a five to seven-year
lifespan and guttering can often be thirty to forty years old so consequently if they are not properly maintained problems will often occur when there is heavy rainfall. For some reason we also often find a tennis ball has become stuck and that has led to a blockage.”
If you want Elliott’s Maintenance to fix, service or replace your guttering telephone 07851 597623.
For people who have lost partners through bereavement. Come along and join us every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month; midday at Hot Pots Cafe – The Cricket Club, Burrowmoor Road, March PE15 9RS. Membership £5/year. For more details contact 01354 656181 or 01354 654169.
Meets on the first Thursday of each month in March Town Hall. Lunch is served at midday followed by the film. £15 per person. Tickets are available from Paninis.
Coffee Morning. The Friends of March Library hold a coffee morning at March Library on the last Saturday of every month from 10 30am to 12 noon. Hot and cold drinks plus biscuits cost 50p and we also hold a raffle. All profits are spent on/by March Library. Do come and join us. For more details contact Maureen Malvern on 01354 658247.
Rings End Nature Reserve
Family workshops for all to be involved in. Meets every second Sunday of the month in the car park for the nature reserve Rings End PE15 0BE. Conservation for all 9.30am-12 noon.
There is a meeting at the Rookswood Club on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7pm to discuss the nature reserve management and events. All are welcome (please check Facebook for any last minute changes to venue). Please call Hayley on 07962 337988 for more information.
Meets at March Community Centre on Tuesdays 4.30pm5.45pm and 6.15pm-7.30pm and Wednesdays 10am-11.15am then Elm Primary School or Emneth Central Hall Wednesdays 7pm-8.15pm. For availability please contact Peter on 07905 601585 or email: pabamullins206@ntlworld.com
Meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 10.30am12.30pm at the Braza Club, Elm Road, March. This is a friendly group and everyone is welcome. £1 per session so pop along for a free taster and check us out. Please contact Wendy Summerlin on 01354 661997 for more details.
Meets every Thursday afternoon 2-4pm at March Library. Membership fee is £25 for 12 weeks paid quarterly. For details contact March Library on 03450 455225 and your details will be forwarded to them.
Training is every Thursday at Neale Wade School. 6pm-7pm Juniors, 7pm-8pm Adults. All abilities welcome. Find us on Facebook – March Town Hockey Club or visit www.marchtownhockeyclub.co.uk for more details.
For people in their third age; retired or not in full time employment. Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Braza Club, Elm Road, March at 2pm. There are a range of activities available in groups run by U3A members. New members are very welcome. If you would like any more information please email march.u3a.enquires@gmail.com
Meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 2-4pm in March Library Meeting Room. A wide variety of speakers on both family and social history research. Everyone welcome. For more details contact Wendy on 01354 650932.
Meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm in March Town Hall. New members always welcome. For more information visit marchlions.org.uk or call 0345 833 5101.
At The Braza Club, Elm Road, March PE15 8NZ. Meets every Wednesday night 7.30-10.30pm with 1:1 personal tuition available. Every 3rd Friday in the month dance with top line groups and DJs. For more info call Andrew and Donna on 01354 776229 or Terry 07979 442920.
Meets every third Monday of the month at St Peters Hall
Wisbech from 7.30pm. Please call Yvonne on 01945 581360 for more information.
Meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at March Conservative Club. We meet as a group of semi or fully retired gentlemen at 10am for a cuppa and a chat and then at 10.30am we have a guest speaker for approx 45 mins covering a wide range of topics. To find out more please contact Dr Allan J Whyte (Club Secretary) on 07979 887110 or pop in and visit us.
Meets each weekday at Manor Leisure Centre Whittlesey and George Campbell Leisure Centre March please come along and join us all abilities welcome (must be able to swim at least one length). Please contact swimatmarlins@gmail.com
Meets every Tuesday night at 8.15pm for swim training at the George Campbell Leisure Centre. All abilities welcome. £4 per person. Please contact Martyn for more details 01354 460000.
Burrowmoor Road, March PE15 9RS. Cricket for adults, ladies and juniors including All Stars & Dynamos (From 5 to 15 years). Regular social events and bar open most evenings. Telephone 01354 652029 or visit www.marchtowncricket.com for more information.
www.wisbechtennisclub.org.uk 07549 263767 wtcmembership@hotmail.co.uk
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