Welcome to your January issue...
Another year upon us and let’s hope 2025 will not be as unfriendly, weather-wise, as these final few weeks of 2024. It’s been such a shame to have seen several pre-Christmas events cancelled due to stormy conditions. At this time of everyone making new year’s resolutions, here are ours from the Discovering Magazines team: We’ll strive to continue providing you with a lively, interesting, useful, and entertaining magazine every month. Please keep the feedback coming our way, and all the very best to you all for a happy, healthy, and successful 2025.
Let’s all try to remember that the goodwill which we all share at this time of the year, (when “our present is remembered and our past is forgiven”), is still around, with some to spare, as we enter the new year.
New year, new beginnings... goodbye 2024, welcome 2025!
After the excitement of the festive period, January can sometimes feel a bit flat: the return to work after a well-earned break, more dark mornings and evenings, the long haul to the summer months. There doesn’t always seem much to smile about.
However, the new year can also mean new opportunities. If you’ve had a depressing twelve months because of health or financial problems then hopefully 2025 will bring you some welcome relief.
Things tend to be cyclical, so if last year wasn’t the best for you then perhaps the next twelve months will see an upturn in your fortunes.
And as your journey continues through the coming months, we all at Discovering Magazines will be with you, helping you navigate your way through another year.
I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2025...
Discovering Magazines, PO Box 164, Bourne PE10 1ET
Publisher and Sales Claire Saberton: 01778 421427 | 07837 499061 | sales@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Sales Paula Kirtland: 07903 776211 | marketing.discoveringmagazines@gmail.com
Sales Sallyanne Davis: 07737 026594 | sal@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Editor Andy Hurst: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Ops Director Andy Armstrong: 07780 922214
Accounts Sarah Brooks: 07564 966452 | accounts@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Design Sarah Gumbley | Andy Beavis | Graham Copestake | Richard Hallam
With thanks to
Copy deadline for the February issue is Friday, 10th January 2025.
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
to reproduce, copy or scan anything from this publication. For a copy of our contributors’ guidelines please email info@discoveringmagazines.co.uk.
Eileen Le Voi, Steve Barclay MP, Jennifer Lawler, Lin Stanton, Trevor Langley, Diamond Byte, Vine Law, Joan Munns and Peter Wright.
REEDS | DOWNHAM
Furniture, Flooring, Bed Centre & Homestore
Bridge Street, Downham Market
PE38 9DS
T: 01366 382213
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Sunday: Closed Bank Holiday Mondays: Closed
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CRAZY DISCOUNTS ON SOFAS & RECLINERS DINING & BEDROOM HUGE SAVINGS ON FLOORING CURTAINS & BLINDS BEDS & MATTRESSES & MUCH MORE!
If you haven’t already pruned your freestanding apple or pear trees, a pleasant day in January might be the ideal time. Here are a few tips for pruning:
• Remove old, tired branches and those that are growing towards the middle, using a pruning saw.
• Cut at an angle so that the face slopes downwards and trim any torn or ragged edges.
• Make sure all your tools are clean and sharp – you can clean blades with wire wool to remove any old sap.
• Pause frequently and stand back to make sure you are maintaining the overall shape of the tree.
• If you prune too harshly the trees may not fruit as they will use all their energy into producing leaves.
At this time of year, rhubarb can be forced, using pots or an upturned bucket, or even a pile of straw, making sure any holes are covered to completely cut out the light. It’s a good time of year for a spot of cleaning and repairs. Seed trays and plant pots can be cleaned with a mild bleach solution to kill diseases that may have carried over to the new seedlings. Also gardening equipment can be cleaned.
Other jobs:
• Protect overwintering plants from cold and check stakes and ties.
• Draw the soil up around the stalks of cabbages and winter cauliflowers to just under the first set of leaves. Support Brussels sprouts and sprouting broccoli with a strong stake to prevent them from blowing over in high winds.
• Spread well-rotted manure or compost over empty beds.
• Warm up areas of seedbeds by covering them with sheets.
• Spray all fruit trees and bushes with a garlic winter wash on a fine day; do not spray in frosty conditions.
• Clean up the plot by disposing of all the damaged and rotten crops: most of the overwintering vegetables will suffer if the conditions are wet. Also remove any leaves as these are a perfect hide-out for slugs and snails.
• Start a bean trench by digging down about 60cm and then start filling it with your organic kitchen waste. Each time you add a batch of waste cover with a layer of soil: continue until the trench is full and leave it to rot down.
Plant:
• Onions and leeks – to give them the longest possible growing season sow seeds in modules and keep indoors at a temperature of at least 10˚C. Transplant outdoors in March or April.
• In non-freezing weather, shallots can be planted. Shallots take longer to grow than onions, but if planted now, should be ready earlier in the summer.
• Broad beans – if the ground is not frozen, sow broad beans, otherwise sow in pots and keep under cover until spring.
• Peas – for a very early crop, sow seeds in pots under glass and harden off to plant outdoors in March or April.
• If you have a greenhouse, cloches, or space in the house, then now is a suitable time to plant a few seeds ready for the planting out season. Tomato, chilli and aubergine seeds are a few that can be planted now to give them a good start.
Wishing you all a Happy and ‘Fruitful’ New Year!
MATTERS COMMUNITY
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
FENLAND CULTURE FUNDS NOW AVAILABLE
Local creatives and community arts organisations are being invited to apply for a share of £50,000 to help develop and enrich arts, culture and heritage opportunities across Fenland.
Round two of Fenland District Council’s Fenland Culture Fund is now open for applications, with grants of up to £2000 available.
The first funding round last year saw more than £34,000 awarded to nineteen individuals and organisations to deliver a range of cultural projects and activities to people across the district.
Not only has round two’s total funding pot been increased but applicants can also now apply for capital funding to invest in equipment and tools, or to adapt or improve new or existing cultural spaces, in addition to revenue funding for activities and projects.
Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder responsible for heritage and culture, said: “The Fenland Culture Fund supports
our ambitions of supporting the district’s creative sector and providing more opportunities for people to experience arts and culture in Fenland, so I’m delighted we’re able to launch this second round of funding.
“We saw just how impactful these small grants were following round one of the fund, with a huge variety of events and activities enabled and enjoyed in every corner of Fenland.
“With this latest round of funding, even more local creatives and arts organisations will be given support to put on more activities for the people of Fenland, and the tools they need to develop their talent and offering further.”
The deadline to apply for a Fenland Culture Fund grant is Monday, January 13th, 2025. To find out more and apply, visit: www.fenland.gov.uk/fenlandculturefund
Anyone who needs help to complete an application can email culturefund@fenland.gov.uk or phone 07563 375911 the support available weekdays from this month.
Embrace the New Year with a fresh start!
Consider volunteering to learn new skills, gain valuable experiences, make new friends, and contribute to your community.
Pop along to one of our Volunteer Cambs’ coffee mornings to find out about the many opportunities available across Fenland.
The meetings are 10am - 12pm
March: Third Wednesday of the month, 15th January at March Library
Wisbech: Third Thursday of the month, 16th January at Trinity Methodist Church Cafe
Whittlesey: Third Friday of the month, 17th January at Whittlesey Library
Chatteris: Third Monday of the month, 20th January at Chatteris Library
Are you a voluntary organisation looking for volunteers?
If so, we would love to hear from you. We are holding regular organisation meetings in all four Fenland market towns to help you with recruitment, and an opportunity for you to share your successes and challenges with other local organisations.
To complement the above, we are arranging Volunteer Fairs and would love to see you there!
March Volunteer Fair: Saturday 8th February, 10am to 2pm at St Peter's Church.
Chatteris Volunteer Fair: Saturday 8th March, 10am to 2pm at the King Edward Community Centre.
Do pop in to say hello!
We meet between 10:00am and 12:00pm at:
Chatteris Library
Every 3rd Monday of the month
March Library
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month
For further details please contact Rima Simkute: rima@cambridgecvs.org.uk 07709 741 962 or Sarah Hall: sarah@cambridgecvs.org.uk 07871 281 565
Wisbech - Trinity Methodist Church Cafe
Every 3rd Thursday of the month
Whittlesey Library
Every 3rd Friday of the month
Refreshments provided
For more information
Call: 07709 741962
Email: rima@cambridgecvs.org.uk
We look forward to welcoming you!
•New Roofs
•Flat Roofs
• Tile & Slate Roofs
•Leadwork
•Re-pointing Chimney Stacks •All Roof Repairs •Valleys Repaired •New PVC Fascias & Gutters
•External Painting •Moss Removal
Time to Plan Your 2025 Home Improvements
By Eileen Le Voi at Safe Local Trades
Why not include your home in your new year resolutions? Whatever the task, from a few tweaks to some major revamping, can bring your home right back up to scratch. So, whether it’s a fancy new kitchen, swish new bathroom, swanky garden makeover or just a spruce up here and there, planning your home improvements early is key to avoiding disappointment.
While Safe Local Trades has members across many disciplines (painting and decorating, plastering, electrician, kitchen/bathroom fitting, carpentry, handyman, carpet/upholstery cleaners, window/ conservatory fitting etc), many are already reporting bookings several months ahead. It is the case with many tried and tested traders that they will be busy, so don’t delay in getting in touch to secure a slot. Unfortunately, most professions may not be able to start work within a couple of weeks of your inquiry. Some projects, like a new kitchen for example, may be subject to a longer lead in time; there is the quote to agree, designs to finalise, products to order and then securing the availability of a great kitchen-fitter.
But what do you have planned for the New Year? Here are a few jobs to think about as we enter 2025:
• Flooring – most things get worn out or look tired eventually, and carpets and flooring are no exception. Replace them or give them a new lease of life with a deep clean.
• Painting and decorating – make 2025 the year you give your home a bright, fresh look.
• Home security – protect your property with CCTV or intruder surveillance/security alarm systems.
• Garden landscape and maintenance – think ahead to the summer months, give your garden a spring makeover and get your project booked in now to beat the rush.
• Extending your home – whether you desire a conservatory to relax in or a new home office or study.
• Bathroom or kitchen makeover – from just changing taps to a full renovation, upgrading these ‘key’ rooms in your home can make such a huge difference.
Safe Local Trades, exclusively for the PE postcode area, has someone to fit the bill. Our tried and tested tradespeople are just a click away at www.safelocaltrades.com
• New Roofs
• Flat Roofs
• Tile & Slate Roofs
• Leadwork
• Re-pointing Chimney Stacks
• All Roof Repairs
• Valleys Repaired
• New PVC Fascias & Gutters
• External Painting
• Moss Removal
Mayflower can change your life
By Ashlie Barnard
When I founded Mayflower Financial Planning it was important to me to offer cashflow modelling to all clients so that you can make life changing decisions without guessing what your financial situation may look like later on.
One of the most common questions I get as a Chartered Financial Advisor, is ‘when can I afford to retire?’
Cashflow modelling enables us to put your financial information into our system, project figures forward – taking account charges, inflation, performance and even market crashes and give you an exact date. Moreover, we are able to build in those scenarios that might also be causing indecision such as paying off your mortgage, downsizing
or moving home, contributing to a child’s wedding and even assess the impact of serious illness or an early death. All displayed in a helpful and easy to read graph.
Feedback we have from clients is that the service is life changing. Often seeing tears of relief and on the occasions when the outcome doesn’t look quite so good, enables us to build a plan with you on how to improve and change your spending habits or financial holdings to get you closer to your goal.
As part of the process, we write out to all your providers for you so you don’t have to, obtaining the details of your pensions, savings, mortgages, insurance policies, getting a really clear understanding of where you are in achieving your goal.
If you have a ‘when can I? or ‘how can I?’ question, then get in touch with our friendly team in complete confidence on (01354) 278088 or ashliebarnard@tpllp.com
The value of investments can go down as well as up. You could get back less than you put in.
A FANTASTIC FENLAND ACHIEVEMENT...
By Steve Barclay MP
As we start a new year, a feature of being a constituency MP is the opportunity to meet fantastic individuals locally who do so much to help Fenland.
A good example was my recent meeting with Rob Skoulding, who is well known to many locally, having served as Mayor of March. Rob suffered a heart attack in 2021 and his life was saved by a defibrillator. This was in stark contrast to his earlier experience in 2009, when Rob’s father, Peter Skoulding, tragically died of a heart attack.
Since the loss of his father, Rob has been on a mission to get as many defibrillators installed across the town of March, making this campaign the heart of his work when Mayor. Congratulations to Rob on achieving the installation of thirty-one defibrillators across the town – what an achievement!
Visiting local schools to talk about Parliament and answer their many and varied questions is also a feature throughout the year. It was a pleasure to return to Burrowmoor Primary School, March to meet the school ambassadors, who gave me an excellent tour of the school and asked a range of thoughtful questions. The visit was also an opportunity to admire the amazing artwork on the walls and see lessons first hand, including the computer coding work the school is undertaking. This helps identify the issues I can best raise on behalf of local schools when discussing with ministers at Westminster.
An important debate and vote In Westminster last month was on whether to permit the Assisted Dying Bill. The principle of giving people more control over an individual’s end of life is one I support. The current law is restrictive and creates problems for loving families. However, I also
believe no-one should be coerced by others to end their life prematurely or feel forced to do so due to a lack of care. In balancing these principles, I voted against the Assisted Dying Bill before the House of Commons but recognise from discussions with many people, there was a wide range of views and no settled local position. Specific concerns for me include evidence from other countries that have introduced similar legislation, the risk of elderly patients feeling pressured not to be a burden to others, and the likelihood of judicial activism weakening the safeguards currently in the Bill. There is also more that we can, and should, do through palliative care, which I hope this debate will encourage progress on.
Last year was particularly challenging for our farming community, and I welcomed a large group of Fenland farmers to Westminster to discuss the impact of the budget, and in particularly their concerns with changes to Inheritance Tax. I have raised their concerns regularly in Parliament and will continue to do so. We cannot afford to lose generations of knowledge held on family farms, or see land sold off and taken out of food production, which will weaken our food security.
A new role I have been appointed to by fellow MPs from different parties is to chair the House of Commons Finance Select Committee. This oversees important aspects of how Parliament is run, and also involves sitting on the Commons Commission, which is like the non-executive board for Parliament, chaired by the Speaker.
The start of the year is also a good time to make plans, and one such plan could be to visit Parliament. I am always keen to make Parliament more accessible. Information about visits is on my website www.stevebarclay.net so please do get in touch should this be of interest.
To find out more about my work in Parliament or
campaigns, visit my website www.stevebarclay.net or follow me on social media:
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Curtain
Local History
MARCH MARKET
By Jennifer Lawler
March is a market town. Its market has been in Market Place for 355 years since 1670.
The 1602 March Museum map shows the site of Market Place called Bridge Grene Common. Agricultural growth following the 1600s fen drainage brought prosperity to March. This encouraged the Justices to petition in 1669 for a March market as in Wisbech and Ely. In 1670 King Charles II granted to the Lord of the Manor of March a Royal Charter to hold a weekly market and two annual fairs.1 Sir Algernon Peyton allotted the piece of land in March centre where the market stands. Its name changed to Market Hill and later to Market Place.
The market has been the centre of activity in March. In 1720 horses taking part in races on the common met Thomas Enderby of the Griffin at the Market-cross.2 Market Hill was where the town celebrated national and local events. In the decorated market square were ox-roastings, tables set out to feed the townspeople, bands playing and dancing into the evening with illuminations as in 1789 and 1814 to celebrate Nelson’s victories and at many coronations.3 By 1840 March had grown and trade increased as the roads now had access throughout the year. Market Place had a recently built engine house with a public business room and a turret with a clock.4 In 1847 Rev William Howarth chaired a public meeting to extend March market at the centre of a productive corn and agricultural area, and having widespread railway and river links. It was a good market-place for trading corn, cattle and other agricultural supplies. Farmers promised to attend weekly with corn and supplies. March residents promised to help to extend the market.5 March market was changed in 1856 from Fridays to Wednesdays as Whittlesey’s and other markets were held on Fridays.
March Market Place has fine buildings, the oldest being the C16 Griffin and timber-framed 26 Market Place.
March Town Hall was constructed in 1900 by March Urban District Council as a Corn Exchange and offices. The town clock, subscribed for by March residents, commemorates Queen Victoria’s sixty years’ reign 1837-1897. It was opened by Mr Martin, chairman of the Isle of Ely County Council. Mr Joseph Collingwood, chairman of March Council, gave a toast to the market’s success and praised the council for taking ownership of the market. He spoke of the long history of the market. In 1902 Market Place and the Corn Exchange, decorated with bunting, hosted festivities celebrating the coronation of Edward VII. Ox-roasting provided meat for one thousand guests in the Corn Exchange.6 The Corn Exchange became a council chamber with offices and fire station in 1912.
Pictured: March market stalls and (inset) Market Place, March
1 March Market Charter, The Cambridgeshire Times, January 11th 1889
2 Stamford Mercury, September 15th 1720
3 Cambridgeshire Chronicle and Journal, October 13th 1798 p3; July 22 1814 p3
4 Pigot & Co’s Directory Cambridgeshire 1840
5 Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, January 16th 1847
6 Cambridge Independent Press, September 7th 1900 p8; August 15th 1902 p8
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• Free home visits and quotations
• Full design and installation service
• VAT free for those with a long-term illness or disability
• Reduced costs for over 60s & less abled clients
• From walk-in showers, easy clean wall panelling to toilet lifters & bidets
• DFG and SSAFA Grant work undertaken
• Helping people regain independence since 1999
People in Fenland Encouraged to Seek FREE Help Clearing Their Debts in
A local debt charity wants to help people in Fenland stick to their New Year's resolution of improving their financial situation this year. We support twenty-six clients in our area in becoming debt free.
Fenland CAP centre and debt help charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is offering free debt help to anyone who has made it their New Year’s resolution to get out of unmanageable debt.
Fenland CAP Debt centre manager Lin Stanton said: “January is a time when many of us enjoy setting ourselves new aims and targets for the year ahead, but we also know that life happens and it’s not always easy to stick to our New Year’s resolutions.
“For those in Fenland who have decided they want to get out of debt and improve their financial situation this year, we can help.
“We offer free, non-judgemental debt help at our local CAP debt centre based at March and Wisbech Baptist church. Our service is open to people of all faiths and none. We would ask anyone feeling under pressure to not delay and to make the call as soon as possible.
“We would love to help you stick to your New Year’s resolution and see you become debt free!”
How to seek help
If you’re struggling with your finances, you can find out more about the services CAP offers in your area by visiting capuk.org/help or calling 0800 328 0006. Contact linstanton@capuk.org
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MATTERS COMMUNITY
ENTER THE 2025 FENLAND POET LAUREATE AWARDS
The 2025 Fenland Poet Laureate Award and Young Fenland Poet Laureate Award are now open for entries.
The competition, which seeks to discover and crown the next Poet Laureates of Fenland, is recognised as one of the most prestigious literary accolades in Cambridgeshire.
Now in its seventh year, the annual contest welcomes work from poets at every stage of their writing careers. Unpublished newcomers, established names, and emerging talents have all been among the previous winners and runners-up.
The winning poets are awarded the honorary titles of Fenland Poet Laureate and Young Fenland Poet Laureate, gaining a platform to showcase their work and the opportunity to represent and promote Fenland poetry throughout their year in the role. They will succeed the current 2024 Fenland Poet Laureate, Hannah Teasdale (pictured bottom right), and 2024 Young Fenland Poet Laureate, Lacey Vinn, who were crowned at a special awards ceremony in March.
This year’s judges are Cllr Sennitt Clough (pictured top right), who serves as chair of the Fenland District Council’s culture, arts, and heritage committee, and the current Fenland Poet Laureate, Hannah Teasdale.
Cllr Elisabeth Sennitt Clough said: “The awards have been a huge success over the years, and it is growing even more, so I’m delighted to be launching our 2025 contest.
“Poetry possesses a remarkable power to express complex feelings and emotions so delicately and yet so strikingly at the same time. Hannah and I look forward to reading poems that explore a wide range of ideas and forms, and we wish everyone the best of luck.”
The competition is open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in the administrative district of Fenland, and is free to enter. Applicants must be aged eighteen and over for the Fenland Poet Laureate Award, and aged seventeen and under for the Young Fenland Poet Laureate Award.
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
Poetry submissions must be no longer than forty lines, the entrant’s own work and previously unpublished. Poems may be in free verse or stricter form, and reference Fenland in some way. There is only one entry allowed per poet. The deadline for entries is Friday, January 31st, 2025.
Full details including how to enter are online at: www.fenland.gov.uk/FenlandPoetLaureate
Happy New Year to all our customers!
ENJOY A CHEAPER NIGHT OUT...
SUNDAY TO THURSDAY Bring your own alcohol to enjoy with your meal
COMFORT FOOD
Sweet PotatoSoup
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
4cm fresh root ginger, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
½ tsp dried red chilli flakes
700g sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 pints vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cosy up with a big bowl of warm, winter comfort; this hearty soup can also be frozen for future meals.
Method
1 Heat the oil in a large, lidded saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook until softened. Stir in the ginger, garlic and chilli flakes and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until fragrant.
2 Stir in the sweet potatoes and stock. Turn up the heat and bring the pan to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender.
3 Remove the pan from the heat and blend the soup, using a stick blender, until smooth. Alternatively, tip it into a food processor and blend. Season to taste and serve. For garnishes, try drizzling a little coconut milk or cream into each bowl, or sprinkle over some freshly chopped coriander, or fry up a pinch of cumin seeds and chilli flakes in a little oil and swirl into the soup.
Paninis
Market Place March
on in for our
Winter Warmers Come
Handmade Pies:
• Steak and Ale
• Chicken and Leek
Homemade Mushroom Soup
• Cheese topped minced beef
Homemade apple and plum crumble served with custard
AVAILABLE FROM JANUARY6TH
Again! Make Mine a Gin...
For this quest I searched several gin producing companies, and, indeed, there are a good number of excellent producers of very fine gins. Multi-award-winning Ginagain Spirits received recognition from the outset and has grown to have many devotees of their gins.
Based in London, Ginagain Spirits has earned the appreciation of numerous gin connoisseurs.
Ginagain Spirits was founded by Rick Allen. Enjoying his childhood, around the Central Valley in California, USA, Rick was fascinated by the vast array of orange groves, and he became interested in the citrus and fruit farms in the area. His travels to England during the 1990s inspired Rick to further his love of gin with California citrus inclusions. Time progressed and with his wife Stephanie, they worked tirelessly on creating exceptional productions of fine, handcrafted, tiny batch, London Dry gins, utilising botanicals from global origins and California citrus, all to a great advantage.
Ginagain – Gin 01 (42% vol) has excellent overtones of California orange peel and cubeb pepper berries. Eleven ingredients are used to bring this gin to
As always, enjoy!
perfection, which has a hint of spice. I found this gin to be wellbalanced throughout, from the bouquet, through the flavour and mouthfeel and then on to the palate’s delight. Indulgent and welcoming.
Ginagain – Gin 02 (42% vol) has organic California grapefruit, fresh basil and ginger root as the ingredients for this delectation. Notes of grapefruit are forward for this production, then the basil inclusion is detected, adding a most pleasant herbal contribution. The ginger comes in, with its warmth and a spicy hint. I found this high-quality gin to be crisp and invigorating, with a very good balance. Delightful and exceptional.
No artificial ingredients, sweeteners or artificial flavourings are used in the productions of these London Dry gins. Their very informative website has some more interesting details, and online ordering is easy too, with orders being dispatched quickly and efficiently.
Ginagain Spirits Limited, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ. cheers@ginagain.com www.ginagain.com
By Trevor Langley
THE SEVEN STARS
FOOD SERVED
TUES, WEDS & THURS: 12–2.30PM & 5–8.30PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 9AM–2.30PM AND 5–8.30PM ON SUNDAYS: 9AM–3.30PM
WEDS: 5PM-8.30PM • THURS 5PM-8.30PM FRI: 5PM-8.30PM • SAT: 12PM-2.30PM & 5PM-8.30PM • SUN: 12PM-4PM
PHILIP AT DIAMOND BYTE
HHAPPY IN 2025
ello January, the time of year for New Years’ Resolutions! Many people resolve to improve their fitness and health by, for example, giving up smoking and increasing exercise (and I am full of admiration for those who have chosen to do so). But how about adding an extra little resolution to make sure your PC is also happy and healthy?
Strengthen your digital security
Firstly, change your passwords FOR EVERYTHING, making sure you have a different one for every account. Use a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create unique passwords. Two factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security. This is usually a combination of something only you know (such as a password or a pin) and something only you have (such as a hardware key that generates passcodes, or a mobile device that can be sent codes). Biometric Data, for example fingerprints and face ID, is also a good verification method.
Backup your data
If your device gets lost, damaged or stolen, you run the risk of never
being able to retrieve the valuable documents and photos stored on it. To keep these precious files safe, you can save them onto memory sticks and removeable hard drives, although it is definitely worth using some form of cloud storage. Do be aware that if you want to make your backups one hundred percent fail safe, we recommend having both physical and online copies saved.
Declutter those files
Keeping screenshots, images and shortcuts to files on your desktop can make finding things almost impossible. To get the initial mass of applications out of the way, create a folder on your desktop named ‘Old Desktop’ and transfer all your clutter into it. Your desktop will immediately look cleaner and more manageable. From there, you can go through the folder in your own time and put all the files in their rightful places.
Clean your bits
To clean your keyboard, make sure your PC or laptop is shut down and that the keyboard is disconnected from the computer (if using a desktop PC). We recommend using
a can of compressed air that will blast away any debris out from between the keys. Don’t forget to clean the bottom of the mouse as it can gather “goo” from the desk.
Replace that old operating system
If your PC still runs on coal, or even worse, Windows XP, Vista or 7, years ago was the time to upgrade! Continuing to use these operating systems on the public internet is akin to going out in public with a virus and coughing on people. And although Windows 10 is still supported by Microsoft, this support will end in October 2025. Windows 11 has been available since 2021, and we highly recommend upgrading to it as soon as possible. However, if your PC or laptop is more than seven years old, there is every possibility it may not accept the upgrade, meaning that by October 2025 you really should be looking at purchasing a new device with Windows 11 installed.
May we take this opportunity to wish all our customers a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support over the last year, especially since moving into our new premises at the Pondworld Retail Park, Wisbech.
Resin Bound Driveways
Lincolnshire Resin Drives Ltd is proud to offer top-tier resin bound driveways that combine functionality, durability, and aesthetic appeal.
They are engineered to endure heavy traffic and adverse weather conditions, ensuring a pristine appearance with minimal upkeep. Their resin bound driveways are an optimal choice for discerning homeowners, offering several significant benefits:
Exceptional Durability
Crafted from a mixture of high-quality stone aggregates and resilient resin, these driveways are designed to withstand substantial wear and tear.
Low Maintenance
These surfaces require minimal cleaning and maintenance, preserving their elegant look.
Customisation
Available in a diverse array of stone types and colours, allowing for bespoke designs tailored to your individual style.
Environmental Considerations
Resin bound driveways are environmentally friendly, offering excellent permeability to facilitate efficient drainage and mitigate the risk of flash flooding.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
❝ 100% fully endorsed and absolutely outstanding craftsmanship. So, they came and smashed all our expectations. Lincolnshire Resin Drives Ltd have done an amazing job. They are incredibly hard working, professional and friendly.” JC
❝ Excellent job, attention to detail was very impressive. The team of workers were very customer focused and courteous throughout.” N T-B
❝ Fantastic job guys! Anyone considering having their drive done, get a quote off these guys. I couldn’t be more pleased with the work and service. I would highly recommend them.” KR
MATTERS COMMUNITY
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
THOUSANDS ATTEND FESTIVE MARKET
March Christmas Market attracted thousands of people to the town with crowds enjoying attractions that included stalls, a craft market, music and activities, children’s rides, plus activities with 20Twenty Productions at March Library.
Photos: courtesy @AmyFoxPhotography
SLIMMING WORLD SUCCESS STORY
Name: Scott Smith | Age: 55
Weight loss to date: 8 stone
Start weight: 23.3 stone
The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I went on a flight and couldn’t fit in the seat very well and had to ask for a belt extension; the staff announced over the intercom, that they needed a belt extension for my seat – I was mortified! I felt so ashamed, I knew that I had to do something. Both my brother and dad have had strokes; my brother had a double heart bypass at the age of fifty and it scared me. He is six years older than me and I was scared that I would suffer the same and knew that losing weight would help me to reduce my risks of heart disease.
It took me three weeks to pluck up the courage to walk through the doors of my Slimming World group, but I was warmly welcomed and everyone was so friendly.
In my first week, I lost 10.5lbs! I was hooked and knew it was for me and I believed that I could succeed this time.
I love that I can adapt all of my favourite recipes and never go hungry and fill up and slim down at the same time. I mainly followed the Extra easy plan because it fits into my life perfectly.
My cholesterol levels have dramatically come down from more than eight to 3.4 now. Since losing the weight I've been on many flights and now have to pull the belt in to get it to fit. I can tie my shoelaces with ease now, something I couldn't do before, and I can run upstairs without having to stop as I used to be so out of breath before and I walk for long distances now and enjoy it. Since joining Slimming World I've now learned how to shop, cook, eat and plan better so I have a better relationship with foods.
I really can't thank Slimming World enough and the March groups with Jamie have been particularly amazing and have played a massive part in my journey.
Normal opening hours resume 8th January 2025
WEDNESDAYS 9am, 10.30am, 5.30pm & 7pm at 2nd March Scout Hut, Mill View (Nr Sainsbury’s), March, Cambs PE15 8SY Contact Jamie on 07415 175655
PLANNING AHEAD
In the October 2024 Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves made several changes to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) regulations, with a view to increasing the tax collected. With the announcement that the Government is continuing the freeze on the IHT Nil Rate Band at £325,000 and the Residential Nil Rate Band at £175,000 until April 5th, 2030 it became apparent that more estates could potentially become liable to pay IHT than ever before.
The change that seems to have had the most press coverage is the change to the Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs available for farming businesses, but another change was made that we believe could impact far more people. This is the change to the Inheritance Tax provisions around pension pots.
Currently pension pots are largely ignored for IHT purposes. It may therefore come as a surprise to anyone inheriting someone’s hard-earned savings, after April 6th, 2027, that they have a tax bill waiting for them because of the funds in the pension pot.
These changes won’t affect everyone. If the pension holder dies before the age of seventy-five, or their pension pot isn’t very large, most of their pension can still be inherited tax free. However, if they are over seventy-five then a significant tax bill might arise where a sizeable pension pot has been built up. This means that a significant shift needs to be made in financial planning strategies for many families where it was intended that the pension pot would
be used to pass on wealth down the generations free of IHT.
There are some simple steps that we would recommend checking your position:
1 We would recommend talking to your family about your pension pot and inheritance plans. You may you know what your family expects or believes will happen to your estate, but they may have very different ideas.
2 We suggest that you take financial and legal advice. It is vital that you understand what your current position is and what you can do to improve that.
A financial adviser can help you to understand your current position with any investments and pensions that you hold and the changes that you can make. A lawyer can look at the bigger picture with you, consider all of your assets and your family dynamics to try to ensure that you take any necessary steps during your lifetime and set up your will so that the administration of your estate runs smoothly after your death.
As an aside we would also recommend doing a full financial audit and making sure that either your family or your trusted advisers know the extent of your assets and investments. Getting all of your documentation up to date and in order can be one of the kindest things you can do for your family. If you would like to discuss your situation please contact Cath Collins on (01945) 898090 or contact her via email at cathcollins@vinelaw.co.uk
• 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
South Brink, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 1JA (01945) 898090 | hello@vinelaw.co.uk | www.vinelaw.co.uk
• Free hearing tests
• State of the art rechargeable hearing aids which are compatible with all mobile phones
• Effective painless wax removal
• Noise protection
You can visit us at one of our local clinics:
St Ives Practice
13 The Broadway St Ives PE27 5BX
Tel: (01480) 300955
Wisbech Practice 31 High Street
Wisbech PE13 1DE
Tel: (01945) 466386
For information on any of the ser vices we provide, or to discuss your specific requirements, please get in touch.
Email: info@clearerhearing.co.uk
“When someone in the family has a hearing loss, the entire family has a hearing problem.”
Award-winning care at The Gables care home in Chatteris
We provide short-term, respite care or longer-term support at our home in Chatteris.
Rooms at The Gables are decorated to an exceptionally high standard and most feature ensuite facilities. There are large, communal living and dining areas and access to our beautiful, well-kept garden where we host events with families and our local community.
We provide high quality care including fresh, nutritious meals and a wide variety of activities are available. Prices start from £1,000 per week, depending on the room and level of care required.
Our home is rated as good with the Care Quality Commission and for the last 7 years, has been rated as one of the Top 20 care homes in East Anglia based on reviews from the highly respected carehome.co.uk website.
To find out more, please give us a call or visit us online.
Tel: 01354 693858
Email: TheGables@blackswan.co.uk
www.blackswan.co.uk
Activities for older adults
Gentle Yoga
Wisbech
A low-impact yoga session. Mats are provided and you can join in on a chair if you prefer.
Forever Fit
Whittlesey & Wisbech
Circulate different sports activities at your own pace in a fun and friendly environment. Activities can include table tennis, badminton, kurling, boccia and more.
Love to Move
Chatteris, Doddington & March
A fun, age & dementia friendly seated movement programme to music. Physical, emotional & cognitive benefits designed to get you moving more and having fun.
Wellbeing Walks
Chatteris, March, Whittlesey & Wisbech
Free social, friendly group walks that are local, short and circular.
Pre-Fit
Chatteris, Doddington, March, Whittlesey & Wisbech
Standing fitness class to build your strength, balance, stamina and suppleness for increased confidence to become more active.
Strength & Balance
Chatteris, Doddington, Whittlesey & Wisbech
Build your strength and balance for increased confidence to become more active. Sessions include chair-based exercises with some supported standing exercises.
Tea Dances
Eastrea (31st Jan) & March (28th Feb)
Community events with music, plenty of dancing, as well as delicious tea and nibbles! Learn some steps with our lovely dance instructor, meet some new people, or dance the afternoon away with current friends.
To find out more about any of the above sessions, email us at activefenlandbookings@fenland.gov.uk or call us on 07521 393 773, 07874 893 316 or 07592 774 656 (please leave a message with your name & number)
Our full timetable and further info can be found online at www.fenland.gov.uk/activefenland
Loose
Customs & Traditions
Many of the customs of New Year fes�vals note the passing of �me. The Romans derived the name for the month of January from their god Janus, who had two faces, one looking backward and the other forward. The prac�ce of making resolu�ons to rid oneself of bad habits and to adopt be�er ones also dates from ancient �mes. Some believe the Babylonians began the custom more than 4,000 years ago. These early resolu�ons were likely made to curry favour with the gods. Nearer to home, the nostalgic Sco�sh ballad “Auld Lang Syne,” revised by the poet Robert Burns, is o�en sung on New Year’s Eve.
Symbolic foods are o�en part of the fes�vi�es. Many Europeans, for example, eat cabbage or other greens to ensure prosperity in the coming year, while people in the American South favour black-eyed peas for good luck. Throughout Asia, special foods such as dumplings, noodles, and rice cakes are eaten, and elaborate dishes feature ingredients whose names or appearance symbolize long life, happiness, wealth, and good fortune.
Because of the belief that what a person does on the first day of the year foretells what that person will do for the remainder of the year, gatherings of friends and rela�ves have long been significant. The first guest to cross the threshold, or “first foot,” is significant and may bring good luck if the person is of the right physical type, which varies with loca�on. First foot tradi�ons are observed, for example, in Scotland, Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.
Public gatherings, as in Trafalgar Square in London or in Times Square in New York City, draw huge crowds. Many people mark the new year with religious observances, as, for example, on Rosh Hashana. Buddhist monks are presented with gi�s on the day, and Hindus make obla�ons to the gods. In Japan, visits are some�mes made to Shintō shrines of tutelary dei�es or to Buddhist temples. Chinese make offerings to gods of the hearth and wealth and to ancestors.
MATTERS COMMUNITY
FREE EXPERT ADVICE FOR FENLAND LANDLORDS
Landlords from Fenland are being invited to a free information event to find out how to prepare for upcoming changes to Awaab’s Law and effectively tackle damp and mould in their rented properties.
Hosted by the Cambridgeshire Private Sector Housing Group, which represents councils across the county, the countywide ‘Dealing with Damp and Mould’ forum will take place from 1pm to 5pm on Monday, January 13th, 2025 at The Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely CB7 4BB. The event is open to both private and social landlords and will offer expert guidance to help landlords meet legal responsibilities while improving the safety and wellbeing of tenants. To register, email ProjectResidential@cambridge. gov.uk before 5pm on Thursday, January 9th, 2025.
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
The November issue of Discovering March featured a competition to win a Christmas balloon from Paper-chain, March. Our winner was Gemma Sommersby from March – congratulations Gemma!
FRIDAY 10th
THE ROOKSWOOD CLUB
Wild about March
Big Black Birds 3: Jackdaw
All part of the Corvid (Crow) family, there are others that are not black...
By Joan Munns, of March Wildlife Group & March & District Woodland Group
Jackdaws are not that big, and not entirely black, but seen from a distance they look just like a Carrion Crow or a Rook. Using binoculars the differences can be clearly seen. They are less than three-quarters the size of carrion crows and rooks and their main plumage is very dark grey, rather than black, with a paler grey head. Their eyes are very pale blue/grey in contrast to the black eyes of crows and rooks. Their flight is very buoyant and they seem to dance in the air when it is breezy and can perform noisy aerial displays in large groups when going to roost at dusk. This behaviour could have earned them the group name of ‘a clattering of jackdaws.’
The sexes are alike and jackdaws always look dapper when on the ground strutting around in an upright posture and they give the impression of being clever, full of fun and ready for anything.
The call can be interpreted as ‘Jack-Jack’ and it is pleasing, unlike the raucous ‘caw’ of rooks and crows. They can easily be tamed and be taught to imitate human speech; in the past they were popular cage birds because of this ability.
Like all of the Corvid family they are omnivores and frequently join rooks in farmland fields to feed on insects and worms. They will also take other birds’ eggs and young and feed on road kills. Their diet includes seeds and they will even come to bird tables if there is something they fancy on offer.
Being drawn to man, they live in towns and villages and will nest in any available cavity in a building and are known for nesting inside chimneys; a feature significantly missing from new build housing. They will also use nest boxes if they are big enough and will even utilise rabbit burrows. Jackdaws nest in our neighbour’s chimney every March and April and are very entertaining to watch.
Pairs stay together for life and will produce one brood of four to six pale bluish-green eggs, each
year laid in April, which will hatch in twenty days. Juveniles lack the grey head and pale eyes of the adults and their plumage has a tinge of brown.
The pair will stay together all year round and will perch side by side to ‘bill and coo’ amorously. Perhaps it is their ability to work co-operatively that let them usurp the rooks, which are much larger, from a rookery in trees in Station Road so they can use it for a roost.
Next Gault Wood Work Parties are Saturdays January 4th and February 1st at 10am.
If you'd like to support our work at the wood as a volunteer, please contact the Woodland Trust using this email: volunteering@woodlandtrust.org.uk Alternatively, you might like to support the Nature's Calendar project, which focuses on phenology, which is the study of plant and animal reaction to climate change. Nature's Calendar (woodlandtrust.org.uk)
Jackdaw strutting his stuff
Jackdaws nesting in a chimney
GER PRESENTS
Sports & Social Club
1) 7,600 2) Odysseus 3) France 4) “Oppenheimer” 5) Cillian Murphy 6) Baltimore 7) Taylor Swift 8) India 9) Rob Burrow 10) Julian Assange 11) Kamala Harris
12) Paris; 13) 14 14) Athens 15) Manchester City 16) Jimmy Carter 17) Line judges 18) Joe Root and Harry Brook 19) “Unleashed” 20) Geoff Capes.
What’s Coming Up
JOIN US FOR WEDNESDAY LUNCHES
Served from 12 noon to 2pm
EVERY THURSDAY: FREE PUB QUIZ NIGHT
7.30pm start, FREE entry, all welcome. No limit on team size
FRIDAY 17th JANUARY CASH BINGO NIGHT
Eyes down at 7.30pm, cash prizes and raffle. All welcome
For more information contact the Club on 01354 653150 or go to the Club Facebook page and just search for March Con Club. If you like the page you will get all the updates for what’s going on.
Why not come and see what the Club has to offer?
We have very limited availability for private bookings. For more information about this or any of our events, please contact the club.
SUNDAY 26th JANUARY
TRADITIONAL CARVERY
Two courses with tea/coffee, £16 per person. All welcome – booking essential as places are limited
CHESS CLUB
Meets every monday from 7.30pm. All abilities welcome
LUNCHTIME DOMINOES SESSION
On the first and third Monday of the month. 12 noon start.
Featuring snooker and two pool tables, a big screen TV and PLUS TWO DARTBOARDS! The games room can be accessed by members from 9am.
Why not come along and have a look?
THE GEORGE AND STAR
By Peter Wright on behalf of March & District Museum
The earliest record I have of the George and Star public house is in 1838 when William Fields was the landlord. He was later the landlord of The Anchor in Well End (Nene Parade). By the mid-1920s Elijah (Curly) Wilson was the landlord and in January 1931 rumours were circulating that the premises of Turner's, Gents’ tailor, had been bought by brewers Greene King to enable extensive alterations to the George and Star. These rumours were contradicted. When Elijah died the following year his widow Emily took over the licence to be followed by Arthur Edward Cowlan, who would be licensee for twenty-seven years. The earlier rumours about building a new pub were not without foundation as the Cambs Times for August 1939, reported on preparations to build the new George and Star public house. The building contractors, J Eggitt and Sons, found that at one time there had been an open ditch measuring 15 feet wide and 7ft 6in deep along the eastern side of Broad Street. Buried in the ditch, workmen discovered a large oak barrel, 5ft high and 3ft wide. It was assumed that the barrel had been positioned in the dyke, as a well, to collect drinking water. Naturally, the barrel was full of soil and when this was removed a stoneware jug was found in the bottom, seven feet below the level of the pavement. It was suggested that the jug had been dropped by accident when last used and had not been recovered. It was in an excellent state of preservation, measuring 11in high and 7in wide. Although it had no maker’s mark, it was considered to be of Dutch or German origin, from the 16th or 17th century. The pub reopened on May 4th, 1940, and proposals were made to display the jug within the new building. The George and Star finally closed on August 12th, 1986 to make way for Superdrug and Fenland Walk.
Shortly after the reopening, another old pot was retrieved. In 1941, Jack Feary, of Burrowmoor Road, March, while gleaving for eels, hauled an old pot from the River Nene. His local efforts to identify its origin were unsuccessful and he thought that it was of little value. In 1955, when Jack heard that a history of the Fens was being written, he retrieved the pot from his shed and J H Ward of 31, Henson Road, March took it to Norwich Museum. The pot was rough and probably made by a local tradesman. Marks on the inside indicated that it was made on a potter’s wheel and traces of green glaze still showed. The man who made it left three clear thumb prints at the base of the handle where he fixed it. Six mystery marks on the handle seemed to have been made by a pointed stick and were perhaps a rudimentary form of embellishment. Initially museum staff thought it was Roman, but the pot's rounded bottom was a most unusual feature and perhaps why the museum revised its identification to the 13th.century. Most dwellings at that time had uneven earthen floors and a concave bottomed pot would be easy to stand down. This pot would now be about eight hundred years old.
Does anyone know where either of these old pots are now?
March Museum located in High Street and is open Wednesdays and Saturdays 10.30am-3.30pm www.marchmuseum.co.uk
HALLAM TRAVEL STILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING SEATS AVAILABLE:
Phantom of the Opera (afternoon show)
Mrs Doubtfire (afternoon show)
ONLY 8 LEFT Weds 15th January £78
ONLY 1 LEFT Thurss 16th January £84
Moulin Rouge (afternoon show) Thurs 30th January £98
Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour
Wicked (afternoon show)
ONLY 20 LEFT Tues 4th February £106
ONLY 6 LEFT Weds 5th February £72
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (afternoon show) Thurs 13th February £78
Natural History, Science & Victoria & Albert Museums Weds 19th February £33
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake (afternoon show) Thurs 20th February £77
Sewing for Pleasure, Creative Craft, Fashion & Embroidery Shows Thurs 13th March £36
Tottenham Hotspur FC Stadium Tour Sun 16th March Adult £54 Child £45
Speakeasy: Karen Hauer & Gorka Marquez
Weds 19th March £87
Liverpool FC Stadium Tour & Museum Sun 23rd March Adult £54 Senior £50 Child £47
Calamity Jane (afternoon show)
ONLY 15 LEFT Weds 26th March £68
Murder on the Orient Express (afternoon show) Thurs 3rd April £56
& Juliet (afternoon show)
Wroxham Barns & Southern Comfort Boat Trip Sun 22nd June £36
Weds 16th April £73
Hampton Court Palace and Tulip Festival Thurs 17th April Adult £59 Senior £54 Child £47
York Shopping/Leisure Day Tues 29th April £30
War Horse (afternoon show) ONLY 5 LEFT Weds 30th April £87
Cannon Hall Farm Thurs 1st May £36
Oliver (afternoon show)
Oxford Shopping/Leisure Day
Whitby Leisure Day
ONLY 3 LEFT Weds 7th May £98
Thurs 8th May £30
Thurs 15th May £33
RHS Garden, Wisley Sat 17th May RHS Member £33 Non Member £49
Mamma Mia! The Party (afternoon show) ONLY 4 LEFT Sun 18th May Tier A £235
RHS Chelsea Flower Show Sat 24th May £140
London Leisure Day Sat 24th May £33
The Princess River Cruise Experience (includes 2 course lunch) Tues 27th May £53
Southend on Sea
Royal Greenwich Leisure Day
Thurs 29th May £31
Sat 31st May £32
Kew Gardens Sun 1st June Adult £54 Senior £52 Young person £43 Child £40
Black Country Living Museum & Dudley Canal and Caverns Tues 3rd June Adult £61 Senior £60 Child £50
Aljaz & Janette: A Night to Remember Weds 4th June £85
Bridlington Leisure Day Thurs 5th June £30
Book of Mormon (afternoon show) Fri 6th June £90
Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens Sat 7th June Adult £40 Child £35
Royal Air Force Museum London Sun 8th June £31
The View from the Shard Tues 10th June £59
London Leisure Day Tues 10th June £33
The Great Gatsby (afternoon show) Thurs 12th June £99
BBC Gardeners World Live & BBC Good Food Show Live Fri 13th June Adult £52 Senior £50
Hutton Le Hole (Ryedale Folk Museum) & Thornton Le Dale (Bangers & Cash)
Sat 14th June £41
Camden Markets Sun 15th June £32
Skipton & Canal Boat (includes 2 course meal)
Skipton Leisure Day
Weds 18th June £63
Weds 18th June £34
Royal Ascot – Ladies Day – Queen Anne Enclosure ONLY 14 LEFT Thurs 19th June £108
RHS Garden, Harlow Carr Sat 21st June RHS Member £30 Non RHS Member £43
Knaresborough & World of James Herriot Museum Tues 24th June £39
Tower of London Thurs 26th June Adult £67 Senior £61 Child £51
London Leisure Day Thurs 26th June £33
Scarborough Armed Forces Day Sat 28th June £33
Wroxham Broads & Bure Valley Railway Sun 29th June £55
Moreton in Marsh (Market Day) & Bourton on the Water Tues 1st July £33
Kinky Boots (afternoon show) Thurs 3rd July £77
Oulton Broad Lunch & Boat Trip Sat 5th July
London Leisure Day
St Albans Shopping/Leisure Day Sat 2nd August £30
Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) Sun 3rd August Adult £60 Child £49
Bletchley Park Tues 5th August Adult £48 Child £42
Chartwell House, Garden and Studio Fri 15th August Adult £53 Child £43 RHS Member £33
Abba Voyage (afternoon show) ONLY 1 LEFT Sun 17th August Dancefloor £89
JCB Factory Tour Mon 18th August £59
The Emma Bridgewater Experience Thurs 21st August £85
Windsor Castle Fri 22nd August Adult £63 Young Person £53 Child £49
Windsor Leisure Day Fri 22nd August £33
101 Dalmations (afternoon show) Weds 27th August £94
Elvis Evolution – The Immersive Experience Sun 31st August £94
Starlight Express (afternoon show) Thurs 4th September £91
Blood Brothers (afternoon Show) Weds 10th September £69
Cirque: The Greatest Show Reimagined Sat 13th September £64
Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront – 4 days Fri 26th September £392
Just for One Day – The Live Aid Musical (afternoon show) Weds 1st October £79
Mary Poppins (afternoon show) Weds 5th November £97
Here and Now – The Steps Musical (afternoon show) Thurs 13th November £77
Russell Watson – Evolution Tour Tues 18th November £75
Bakewell Christmas Market Sat 22nd November £28
Sinah Warren, Hayling Island – 5 days Mon 24th November £462
Norwich Christmas Shopping/Leisure Day Thurs 4th December £27
Stratford Upon Avon Christmas Market/Shopping/Leisure Day Sat 6th December £29
York’s St Nicholas Fair/Shopping/Leisure Day Thurs 11th December £29
Cinderella Sun 4th January 2026 £75
Fisherman’s Friends Sat 28th March 2026 £71
Fawlty Towers – The Play Thurs 4th June 2026 £75
LOCAL CLUBS & GROUPS
Fenland Music Centre: For musicians of all ages and abilities. Fridays (term-times) 6-9pm at St Peter's Church March. Orchestra, Concert Band, String, Wind, Brass & Recorder Ensembles. For more information see our website, find us on Facebook or email fenlandmusiccentreassociation@gmail.com
Solo Club: 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.
Friends of March Library: 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. For more details contact Maureen Malvern on 01354 658247.
Wisbech and District Flower Club: See beautiful flower arrangements being made by local and national demonstrators. Meets every 3rd Monday of the month at St Peters Hall, Wisbech. For more information, call 07949 443251.
March Parkinson's Group: Meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 10.30am-12.30pm 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.
March Lions Club: Meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm in the FACT Community Room at Martin Avenue. New members always welcome. For more information visit marchlions.org.uk or call 0345 833 5101.
March Raceway: One of the oldest 1/12 radio control car oval clubs in the UK. Our members range from 8 to 75 years old so all are welcome! Race every Friday at Longhill Road Social Club, Longhill Road, March PE15 0PR (at the prison). Doors open 6.30pm. For fixtures and further information visit marchraceway.weebly.com or find us on Facebook.
March Jive Club: 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.
March Triathlon Club: Meets every Thursday 8-9pm for swim training at the George Campbell Leisure Centre. All abilities welcome. For more information, please contact Mary-Anne Short via email at shortbyname@gmail.com
March Probus Club: Meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at March Conservative Club as a group of semi or fully retired gentlemen; 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.
March Bridge Club: At the Braza Club, Elm Road, March. Every Thursday 1.15 -4.30pm. Cost £3 per session. Please contact George Jupp on 01354 652586 or 07963 771179.
March U3A: 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 is 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
March Marlins Swimming Club: We swim every week night and can offer membership to swimmers of all ages and abilities from stage eight to masters. We are a friendly, competitive swimming club. Contact us for a free trial session at swimatmarlins@gmail.com
The Other Art Group: Meets every Thursday afternoon 2-4pm at March Library. Membership fee is £30 for 12 weeks paid quarterly. For details contact March Library on 03450 455225 and your details will be forwarded to them.
March Rifle Club: meets at the indoor range, Upwell Road, March, every Tuesday evening from 7pm-9pm to shoot 0.22LR target rifles. Also potential for air rifle shooting. Please contact us prior to first attendance. Email info@marchrifle.club
The March Society: March’s civic society, conserving the best of March’s built and natural environment. Events at March Library every 3rd Wednesday at 7pm with speakers on the past, present and future of March: geography, history, nature and architecture. January 15th Amazing January Fun Quiz! Entry £2 members, £3 visitors. Visit www.themarchsocietychessck.co.uk or email info@themarchsociety.org.uk
March Dog Training Club: Meets at Tower Hall, Maltmas Drove Fridaybridge PE14 OHW every Wednesday evening. Membership is £5 per year and classes are £3 per session. Puppy class commences at 6pm. For more information of other classes please contact Maggie on 01354 657185 or 07514 882509.
March Bears Rugby Club: Be part of a thriving, supportive, and fun-loving community that celebrates rugby in all its forms. Reach out on social media: @marchbearsrugby on Facebook and Instagram or email info@marchbearsrufcorg.uk to learn more.
Do You. Dance?: Every Wednesday evening from 7.15pm8.15pm at St Wendreda's Church Hall, 11 Church Street, March PE15 9PY. A small disco with a DJ, where you can come and dance your socks off for an hour to popular music from all decades. It's exercise you don't know you're doing! Adults only. Entrance fee is £3 each. Please contact Tricia on 07772 626233 for more information.
The Green Party: Meets on the second Tuesday of each month at The Rookswood Club, 27 West End, March at 7.15pm and on Zoom quarterly. For more details, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FenlandNECAMBSGreens
March Wildlife Group & March and District Woodland Group: Meets regularly at 10am on the 1st Saturday of each month at Gault Wood for work parties. For details contact marybarrington123@gmail.com
March Friendship Club: Meets on the second Thursday of every month at St Peter's Church Hall, High Street, March PE15 9JR from 2pm to 4pm. All people over 50 welcome, refreshments available. The Club is associated with the Cambridgeshire Older People's Enterprise (COPE), looking after the interests and well-being of Older People in Cambridgeshire. For more details contact Susan on 0754 7191315.
www.wisbechtennisclub.org.uk
wtcmembership@hotmail.co.uk
jbroofingcambsltd@yahoo.com www.jbroofingcambsltd.co.uk
Right up your street for over 200 years
Looking forward to the next 200!
For five generations we have been helping clients buy, sell, let and manage property and land in this area. Whether it be your home, farm, factory or development site, talk to the Agents with local knowledge and professional expertise, who are an established part of your community.
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