Discovering Whittlesea issue 154, May 2017

and the surrounding villages t Get Ou t u o b and A r u o with

On What’s Gui7d2-7e3

Issue 154 / May 2017

page

Inside this issue Fenland BusFest page 8

Your Health: What is a Habit? page 12

MAY 2017

D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesey Festival Celebrates 10 Years page 16

Whittlesea

Yo u r f a v o u r i t e c o m m u n i t y l i f e s t y l e m a g a z i n e – P R I C E L E S S

1

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MAY 2017

Introduction

Welcome to Your May Issue.

Inside Highlights

This month’s issue features a first look at what’s in store at this year’s Whittlesey Festival (now its tenth year), and a nostalgic visit back in time to some of Whittlesey’s fondly-remembered bus companies to get you in the mood for BusFest 2017, which takes place on May 21st.

4 ............... Coates Memorial

6 ............... Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus 8 ............... BusFest 2017 10 ............. Health – Holidays are Coming!

Another big event this month is the memorial at Coates church to those killed during Exercise Eagle in 1944. We’ve had a great reaction to last month’s article on the accident, so a huge thank you to everyone who got in touch with recollections and information.

As always, if you have something you’d like to say, the contact details are at the bottom of this page.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Jack

14 ............. Mayor's Charity Duck Race 16-17....... Community Matters 20............. Community Matters 22............. Eastrea's Young Slimmer of the Year 30............. Attic Story 32............. Thinking Inside the Box 38............. Club Matters 40............. Steve Barclay MP

As I write this introduction just before Easter, suitably relaxed after a weekend of glorious sunshine, I’m crossing my fingers that we’ve got more fine weather on the way. We can’t always bank on the sun shining, but don’t fear; this issue has plenty of interesting reads to brighten your day!

44-45..... Charity Matters 46............. Charity Fundraiser – Golf Day 56............. From Bicycles to Buses 58............. The Great War: Part 6 60............. Looking After Your Rabbit

There’s important news about the finds at Must Farm, and – I’m sure you’ll be glad to hear - the efforts of our local councillors to keep them in Whittlesey, while Alex Miscandlon gives us his final musings as Mayor. A big thank you to Alex for all the articles he’s written for us throughout his term, and for all the other muchappreciated work he’s done for the town.

64............. Education: Alderman Jacobs 66............. In the Hot Seat: David Combes

Claire x

70............. Spotlight on: East Elite Allstars 72-73..... What's On 74............. The Local Music Scene 76-78..... Directory

Copy deadline details:

The copy deadline for the June issue is Monday 8th May.

With thanks to:

Publisher - Claire Saberton: 01778 421427 | 07837 499061 | sales@discoveringmagazines.co.uk Editor – Jack Harris: editor.whittlesea@discoveringmagazines.co.uk Sales - Catherine Healy: 07879 478448 | enquiries.discoveringmagazines@gmail.com Sales - Charlotte Scott: 07590 217349 | info@discoveringmagazines.co.uk Ops Director – Andy Armstrong: 01733 200609 | 07780 922214 Design – Sarah Gumbley | Emma Gunner | Rob Harradine Accounts – Cheryl Jakes: 01733 686255 | accounts@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Alex Miscandlon, AA Whittlesey Computers, Brian Smithyman, City Staff, Connor Martin, Dave Bailey, D.B. Freeman & Daughters, Eamonn Dorling, Fraser Dawbarns, Ken Wade, Malcolm James, March Podiatry, Revd. Nigel Whitehouse, Steve Barclay, Susan Booth, Whittlesey Osteopaths, Whittlesey Vets and Yasmin Chopin.

Photography:

Cover photo by Cameron Silvester

“Discovering Whittlesea” 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. 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.

MAY 2017

D I S C O V E R I N G

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3

News

All Are Welcome at Coates Memorial Unveiling On Saturday May 13th, local residents and dignitaries will gather at Holy Trinity Church, Coates, for the unveiling of a new memorial dedicated to the lives of fourteen servicemen killed in the skies above Fenland over seventy years ago.

The fourteen men were members of the USAAF 316th Troop Carrier Group and were taking part in Exercise Eagle, a training exercise for D-Day, when tragedy struck over the fields near Benwick on May 12th 1944; on the homeward journey, one of the lead planes flew into the path of another, killing all on board both aircraft.

The project to commemorate their lives is the result of many months of hard work by Darren Bond, whose keen interest in the Second World War lead him to the accident. Darren spoke to numerous people connected with the crash – veterans, relatives of the victims and locals who were there at the time – and quickly realised that what information had been published about the accident was at best limited, and at times plain wrong. “During my research on the internet, I even found records of the accident having happened in Berwick, not Benwick!” Darren explains.

The thought of the accident, and more importantly, the victims, being forgotten in time spurred Darren into planning a tribute. He approached local councils and church officials with the idea of a memorial to the fourteen men killed, and set about fundraising for the project.

The unveiling of the memorial in Coates Church will take place almost seventy three years to the day of the crash, and all are welcome to attend and pay their respects. Local mayors and dignitaries will be present, and it is also hoped that a relative of one of the men killed will be attending from America.

Since our article last month, a few people have been in touch with information or recollections on the accident, and Darren is keen to hear from anyone else who might know something. He has set up a Facebook page which you can follow for further information and updates on progress, and you can also contact him via email (drwbond1984@hotmail.co.uk) or phone (07946 437852).

The memorial unveiling takes place at Holy Trinity Church, Coates, on Saturday May 13th at 1.00pm.

All are welcome to attend.

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MAY 2017

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D I S C O V E R I N G

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5

Eat the Season

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus A simple, tasty dish that makes the most of this locally grown produce.

Method 1 Wash asparagus and pat dry. Trim off the woody stem – usually the bottom 2 inches.

2 Toss the asparagus in olive oil.

3 Slice strips of bacon down the centre so you have two long, thin pieces.

4 Wrap the bacon around each asparagus stem and place on a foil lined baking sheet.

I n g redie nt s 1 bu nch as pa ra gu s (thick st alks are be st fo r this re ci pe) 1 ta bles poon of olive oil St reak y ba co n - ha lf as m an y w ho le st rip s of ba co as you ha ve as pa ra gu s. n

5 Season with salt and pepper.

6

Place in middle shelf of the oven, then turn it on to 200˚C or Gas 6. The bacon wrapped asparagus should be in the oven during the preheat phase.

7 Bake for a total time of 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp.

8 Serve immediately.

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MAY 2017

Be our Guest at our

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MAY 2017

D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

7

An Impressive Line-up at BusFest 2017 The Fenland BusFest returns to Whittlesey on Sunday May 21st, featuring a huge array of vintage, restored and modern vehicles from up and down the UK. Building on the success of last year, organisers hope to make 2017’s event the best yet. The buses will transport visitors around the scenic local countryside, taking in various towns and villages on route to the Fenland Classic Car Show, which this year takes place in Ramsey town centre.

The day will offer free buses to Thorney and Turves up to every thirty minutes; to Peterborough and Ramsey up to every twenty minutes; and to March and Chatteris up to every sixty minutes.

Experience the unique Fenland scenery in style and comfort, and take in the history and atmosphere of each destination as you enjoy local pubs, churches and other sights. Programmes will be available for £5 on the day, and will include a comprehensive

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list of timetables, vehicle entries and pubs on the route, allowing you to plan your day and maximise your enjoyment of the activities on offer.

The event programme will also feature a competition with a cash prize to be won – simply collect and hand in seventeen of the twenty four stamps from pubs on the route, and you could be in with a chance!

Over forty buses are taking part, and at the time of going to print, nine “local” buses – vehicles which were originally supplied to and worked by Fenland companies – are attending, offering locals a real sense of nostalgia.

BusFest promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience for enthusiasts and families alike.

Don’t miss it! For more information, visit www.easternbusgroup.co.uk, or like ‘Fenland BusFest 2017’ on Facebook.

MAY 2017

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Health

The hot weather usually means feet are out and on show – it is essential to look after them properly to prevent problems.

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Our highly skilled team of podiatrists can put you at ease and provide specialist treatment to your feet to help them look and feel wonderful again.

We have a clinic in the Hight Street, March and at the New Queens Street Surgery, Whittlesey.

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Whittlesea

MAY 2017

Local family dentist Dentures - acrylic and chrome Implant referrals accepted Guided implant surgery available - less pain, more smile O% finance available.

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07/12/2016 13:18 11 Whittlesea

Health

Interesting articles to help you understand your body better

What are Habits?

We all have habits, some good and some bad.

Some are simply actions, whilst others evoke emotions and feelings.

Take the two examples of brushing your teeth and smoking - brushing your teeth is simply an action, evoking little emotion, whilst smoking acts on your emotions directly. Changing any habit is achievable, but those habits which are emotional are harder. In this article, we explain why that is, and also describe what a habit looks like inside your body.

An action habit can be viewed as an action performed in response to a trigger. Brushing your teeth, for instance, is an action triggered by waking up and walking to the bathroom. An emotional habit is also performed in response to a trigger, but the result of that performed action is the release of chemicals in your brain which evoke an emotion.

In the case of smoking, the trigger may be stress; smoking is the action, and the smoking process causes the release of chemicals which make the smoker feel calmer. The figure below gives a pictorial representation of this process: The trigger can be anything from stress to visual or audible cues. The action performed exists in your body as a set of neurological connections (neural pathways) within your nervous system. When triggered, the nerves tell the various parts of the body to perform the action. Here’s the interesting part: the more the action is performed, the stronger the connections become, and the more refined the pathway becomes. In essence, we become better at that habit because we are practising it.

The opposite is also true, and if we perform the action less the connections will get weaker.

change, because the chemical itself is addictive.

The more we perform the habit, the greater the quantity of the chemical released, and so our nervous system gets used to that chemical quantity. When we try to change the habit, our nervous system craves that chemical and tries to alter our actions to get its fix! This explains, to some extent, why those who succeed in giving up smoking often put on weight in the process, as the nervous system’s chemical cravings are substituted by the food high.

So how do you break an emotional habit? One strategy could be: a) Try to avoid any triggers to the habit. b) Substitute the habit’s emotional response with a constructive emotional action, such as watching a film or spending more time with friends. Locking yourself away will only make things more difficult. c) Take comfort in the knowledge that it will get easier the longer you persist. Those neurological connections will weaken as you perform the habit less, and therefore the urge will also get weaker.

The chemical response leading to emotions explains why emotional habits are harder to

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Lucky Ducks Raise Money for Local Causes

On a sunny but chilly Bank Holiday Monday in April, over two hundred people from Whittlesey and the surrounding villages congregated on the banks of The Bower for the Easter Monday Mayor’s Charity Duck Race.

Returning after a year’s absence, the event aims to raise money for local causes chosen by the Mayor, which this year were No Gain No Pain UK, Whittlesey Warriors Netball Team and Whittlesey Dolphins Swimming Club.

With all the tickets sold, one thousand eager ducks started the race at 2pm, assisted by a helping blast from the fire brigade’s water pumps. They were coaxed downstream by race commentator Robert Windle and Whit the Duck, through a canal turn to the waiting judges in the finishing boat.

The winning owner was Ben Coxall, pictured bottom right with Whit the Duck, whose duck number 626 edged forward by a beak to win him the first prize of £50. His prize was collected by his twin brother Danny, who remarkably had a 1000-1 win himself at the event three years ago! In second place was Kira March with duck number 89, winning £25, and in a close third place for £10 was Gwen White, with duck number 211.

Mayor Alex Miscandlon was delighted with the event, and thanked the supporters, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue and St. John Ambulance for their attendance.

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Whittlesea

MAY 2017

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D I S C O V E R I N G

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15

Matters

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 Whittlesea, Benwick Road Ind. Est., Benwick Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 2HD

editor.whittlesea@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

Whittlesey Festival Celebrates 10 Golden Years The annual Whittlesey Festival takes place on Sunday September 10th 2017, and this year is going to be an extra special occasion, as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.

To mark this incredible achievement, organisers can confirm that headline acts The Romford Drum and Trumpet Band, who are celebrating their sixtieth year, and The Peterborough Highland Band, who are celebrating their seventieth year, have already been booked. New to the Festival this year will be The Pearly King and Queen and their Cockney band, from London.

Also appearing at the event will be various dance groups, including The Rug-Cutters LindyHop dancers, Farcet Dance and Twirl Majorettes, The Solas School of Irish Dance, and the Christian Church Dancers.

Other main attractions include over one hundred and twenty vintage vehicles, the Schools Art Exhibition, a craft fair in Childers, fairground rides and attractions (some of which are subsidised), puppets, face painting and an incredible selection of stalls.

With over sixty five stalls already booked, we advise you to book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment, as spaces are given on a first come first served basis. To obtain a booking form, go to the Fenland District Council website, select the ‘Community and Living’ tab on the left hand side, then select the ‘Markets and Events’ tab and download the document.

The Festival will also host a whole line-up of singers, choirs and musicians throughout the day in St. Mary’s Church and in the marquee on the churchyard green. We aim to provide something to suit all musical tastes.

The Festival Committee is organising a fundraising coffee morning on Saturday June 10th, at the Whittlesey Christian Church in Broad Street (10.00am-1.00pm). As well as enjoying tea, coffee and cake, there will be a magic show to entertain children and adults, plus a raffle with lots of amazing prizes up for grabs. Tickets will be available soon (via the Church Office on 01733 752093), with all proceeds going towards subsidising the children's rides rides at the Festival.

If you would like more information about the Festival or are interested in getting involved, please contact Brian Smithyman on 01733 752093 or Jenny Parker on 01733 351005.

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MAY 2017

The Must Farm site viewed from the A605 in 2016

Councillors Aim to Keep Artefacts Close to Home On Friday March 10th, Mayor of Whittlesey Cllr Alex Miscandlon, accompanied by Cllrs David Mason and Eamonn Dorling, attended a consortium meeting at Peterborough’s Key Theatre to discuss the future of Bronze Age artefacts recovered from Must Farm, Whittlesey.

The meeting was chaired by Gillian Beasley, Chief Executive of Peterborough City and Cambridgeshire County Councils, and amongst those present were representatives from Fenland District Council, Peterborough Vivacity, Peterborough Museum, Historic England, Cambridge Archaeological Society and the British Museum, together with the consultants engaged with appropriate funding for the project.

The aim of the meeting was to hear opinions from all parties, with a view to applying successfully for National Heritage funding by the end of 2017; the purpose of this funding would be to provide a purpose-built Heritage Centre to house not only artefacts already discovered, but to accommodate future finds of a similar nature.

The initial discussions spoke of enhancing the current Bronze Age site at Flag Fen. However, as the meeting progressed, the majority of those present recognised that due to the location and lack of suitable access, this was not an ideal situation.

The Whittlesey councillors promoted instead a possible site adjacent to the A605 road, and in close proximity to the site of the original findings. This suggestion was endorsed by the Fenland District Council representation, and the general consensus was that educational value was of key importance, involving a personal experience in a Fenland landscape.

Whittlesey Town Council is currently undertaking enquiries to secure a suitable site within the Whittlesey boundaries on which to build a Heritage Centre, which is recognised as not only being of regional importance, but of interest internationally and vital to the future prosperity of our town. Further news will be reported as this project is progressed.

Councillor surgeries will be held in Grosvenor House from 9.30am to 10.30am on the first Saturday of every month throughout 2017.

Councillors present on Saturday May 6th will be: Councillor Ralph Butcher (District and Town Councillor) Councillor Alan Bristow (Town Councillor) If you have any matters of concern that you wish to discuss with a Councillor, then please come along and let us know.

Our next meeting IS on WEDNESDAY MAY 24TH at the Falcon Hotel, London Street, Whittlesey, 6pm for 6.30pm start.

Our speaker this month will be Andy Wright from the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. This is an important meeting on an issue which affects all businesses.

Don't miss it!

Steve Hodson (01733 203064)

HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE SPECIALIST 26-28 Broad Street, Whittlesey PE7 1HA Tel: 01733 208787 sales@kellyvision-kcs.co.uk | www.kellyvision-kcs.co.uk MAY 2017

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Consumer Advice Consumer Advice

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Wise Words on Summer Security With the lighter nights, the warmer days and the gardening season about to blossom, now is the perfect time to think about summer security. With our house, most of us ensure the alarm is switched on, doors and windows are locked and a light is left on when the house is empty.

But what about garden security?

The brighter days and longer weekends present more time for mowing lawns, pottering in the garden, and spending time with friends and family al fresco – and increases temptation for opportunist green-fingered thieves.

Beware of cold callers, suggesting that your fascias or guttering need repairing, your driveway requires attention, or offering gardening services.

And when it comes to what you already have – expensive potted plants, ornaments and stylish furniture – think about the value and security of our outdoor possessions in the same way you view those inside the home.

Here are some simple precautions: • Consider things that may be appealing to a thief, such as an unlocked back gate or shed (particularly if the shed contains expensive garden tools / machinery or bikes).

• Get a reputable locksmith to secure gates and sheds.

• Lock away ladders or anything which could be used to gain entry to your home.

• CCTV surveillance will allow you to view your garden and any unwelcomed activity from your home.

• Install some sensory / outdoor lighting.

• Alarm the garage to provide additional security, or think about installing garage roller shutter doors.

• If your fencing is flimsy, broken panels could provide easy access to intruders, so consider investing in some new and improved fencing or panels.

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• If you are going away, even for the weekend – lock any back or side gates or other entrances to the garden to limit access.

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• Pack away, out of sight, any garden tools or equipment.

07

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• Secure expensive plants with wire pegs dug into the ground around the root ball.

• Use a security pen to mark valuable items, like garden furniture, ornaments or trampolines, with your postcode.

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19

Matters

Recognition for Whittlesey at Fenland Awards

On Wednesday March 22nd, the tenth annual Pride in Fenland Awards took place at the Wisbech St. Mary Community Centre, recognising volunteer organisations throughout Fenland. The event was hosted by Mike Cornwell, Fenland District Council Portfolio Holder for Communities, in conjunction with the Fenland Citizen newspaper.

The prestigious Judges’ Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Whittlesey Emergency Food Aid for its efforts in supporting families within the community during times of crisis. Further recognition in the same category went to Colin Martin as runner-up, for his many charitable achievements in Whittlesey.

Whittlesey enjoyed further success when Deborah Slator and her team were voted runners-up in the Organisation Benefitting the Community Award, in recognition of their tireless work in providing so many defibrillators amongst the local community.

Following on from last year’s Fenland Business Awards, which saw the town achieve three top awards, it is encouraging to see our community growing so positively, and – on behalf of Whittlesey Town Council - thanks go to all our citizens for their contributions towards putting Whittlesey on the map once more.

A Final word froM...

Outgoing Mayor Alex Miscandlon Alex Miscandlo n As I come to the end of my time as Mayor of Whittlesey, I have a few more presentations to make during the month of April and into the first few days of May. Due to editorial constraints this article is being written at the beginning of April – this is why the timeline appears a little odd!

The Citizen of the Year was presented on April 12th at a special ceremony at Grosvenor House.

The winner was Pastor Brian Smithyman, with Mick Cooke a very close runner-up. These two gentlemen are both well liked and well respected around the town, and carry out a lot of hard work for the public. The Young Citizen of the Year was another closely contested award, the winner being George Porter, with merit awards going to Yasmin Hills, Jack Cooke and the duo of Sidney and Miley Gleeson. The Young Citizens will receive their awards at their schools.

The Mayoress and I attended the Centenary Event organised by the East Anglian Lions, which was held at the Holiday Inn in Peterborough. It was an Irish themed evening with a fancy dress competition between all the attending groups. This competition was judged by the attending dignitaries, and I am delighted to say that Whittlesey came second overall. The winner’s theme was the Titanic. What a fantastic evening it was!

Three Whittlesey Town Councillors, including myself, attended the first steering group meeting in Peterborough for Must Farm; also attending were the Cabinet Member for Tourism and a senior officer. The five of us made a robust presentation regarding the future location of a Heritage Centre.

A statement on our appraisal of the meeting has been issued by WTC, and we will keep you informed as updates become available.

With this being my last issue for Discovering Whittlesea, I would like to thank the editorial staff for their patience and guidance in producing my articles. Also, a huge thank you to all who have supported the Mayor’s charities.

Regards, Councillor Alex Miscandlon, Mayor of Whittlesey

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21

Daniel is Eastrea’s Young Slimmer of the Year 2017!

Slimmer Daniel Hammersley, 16, is celebrating being named Eastrea’s Young Slimmer of the Year 2017, after losing 4st 11lb in eleven months.

Around 15% of young people in the UK are now classed as overweight or obese, and research shows that overweight teenagers are likely to continue to struggle with their weight into adulthood.

Just eleven months ago, Daniel, a pupil at Sir Harry Smith Community College, was unhappy with his size and had no self-confidence. In April 2016, aged fifteen, he joined his local Slimming World group with his dad Bill and began his transformation.

Daniel before

Bill explains: “A year ago Daniel had no energy and was really a couch potato. He was happiest being in the background, but now he is the exact opposite. He is so much happier and fitter now. He is out of "trackies" and into jeans. I am very proud of what he has achieved.”

Daniel began following Slimming World’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan, which encourages slimmers to fill up on healthy foods and make small changes to the way they shop. He says: “I had expected losing weight to mean not eating very much, or cutting out all of my favourite foods, but it wasn’t like that. I’ve learned a lot about food and can now cook quite a few recipes for myself, so I’m not reliant on microwave ready meals or junk food anymore.”

“I’ve got so much more energy now. I walk everywhere and like biking. I no longer feel self-conscious – I’m just like everyone else!”

Daniel is just 3Ib away from achieving his five stone target, and is confident that he will achieve that in the next couple of weeks.

Anna Foster, who runs the group at the Eastrea Centre, says: “Daniel is a huge inspiration. He now has the skills to make healthier choices and is much more confident too. I hope he'll inspire other local young people by showing them that there’s no better time to take control of their weight than right now.”

Everyone aged 11+ is welcome at the Eastrea Centre Slimming World group every Monday at 5.30pm & 7.30pm, or Thursday at 9.30am. People aged 11-15 can attend for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk, call Anna on 07539 229365, or just come along.

Daniel receiving his award

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Whittlesea

MAY 2017

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23

Homes

Landlords - if you’re looking to let your property, here are a few handy tips from us at Malcolm James.

If you decide to rent out your home, when looking at the preparation of the property in terms of decorating, it’s always best to keep it fresh and neutral.

A well-maintained, uncluttered and clean property will attract good tenants.

When it comes to the safety of your tenants it goes without saying that your rental property should be fitted with smoke alarms throughout.

It’s also very important to make sure you have a Gas Safety check every year, in addition to an annual Legionella Health and Safety Risk Assessment. At Malcolm James, we can arrange all of these for you.

You will need an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) for your property - this is the law. Again, we at Malcolm James can help you to organise this. You won't be able to market the property without one, so you will need to get it sorted as soon as possible. However, the good news is that once you have one, they're valid for ten years.

Remember, you also now need to carry out ‘right to rent checks’ on all new tenants, regardless of their nationality. Malcolm James do this for all tenancies at no cost to the landlord or the tenant!

It's a really good idea to get a professional inventory taken at the start of each tenancy.

We will be able to help and then manage this for you. It can help with any disputes that may arise when a tenant moves out, as it is completely independent. Some of our landlords have also found it a good idea to have the property professionally cleaned at the beginning of a tenancy, so when all tenancies end it is the tenant’s responsibility to professionally clean the property.

The best approach to finding tenants is to try to keep a relatively open mind and not to set unrealistic expectations, as this only reduces your

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D I S C O V E R I N G

target market. Try not to become too emotionally attached to the property either, as it is always hard to let go of a property you love. You need to try to distance yourself from the process.

When it comes to the rental price, a good agent will value the property for you, at a realistic figure that offers you value for money from your investment, and takes account of the various market forces; these include comparable properties and availability of similar properties, coupled with the popularity of the type of property you have, and how many tenants are looking for property. Our professional and qualified valuer can help guide you to maximise your investment!

When it comes to us working for you, you will need to decide what level of service you want us to provide you with, and how much involvement you want from us. Do you want us simply to help find you a tenant and conduct all the security checks, or would you like us to look after the ongoing rent-collection and property management, dealing with any issues the tenants of the property have. Of course, there is an ongoing management cost for our ongoing involvement, but it could save you a whole lot of time, money, energy and hassle in the long run.

Something else for you to consider is employing other staff to help look after your property, such as a cleaner and gardener. You can factor this into the rental price, but it simply means you can retain some level of control over your property's care and maintenance, particularly when tenants are looking at longer term lets.

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January 2017 | D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

25

Do I Have to Use the Property Lawyer My Estate Agent is Recommending?

By Michelle Rickard, PDR Property Lawyers

This is something I hear on a daily basis, and the quick answer is ‘no’.

When your estate agent recommends a conveyancing solicitor, licensed conveyancer or property lawyer, it is likely the firm they are recommending are paying them a “referral fee”.

This fee, which can be in the hundreds of pounds, is usually passed on to you, the client.

Read the small print before you sign any agreements! Every law firm should detail how much they receive from the estate agent for passing business to them. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) have a strict referral code.

Solicitors and licensed conveyancers are required to set out a full quotation which details their fees, the disbursement costs and associated expenses with your transaction. They are also required to reveal how much they paid for your referral, and I suggest you ask them for details of the referral fee they have paid for your (potential) custom.

In addition to checking the amount of money you, the client, are paying for your referred business,

I strongly recommend that you get at least three quotes for your conveyancing. Fees for leasehold and freeholds within different valuation brackets can vary widely. Also search for reviews of the firms you are interested in working with.

In summary, when buying or selling a property it is vital that you appoint a lawyer that you can trust to act in your best interests; one who will have the experience to complete the transaction properly and in a timely manner, and who will charge you a fair price.

Everyone has the right to choose their own lawyer.

Both the SRA and the CLC rigorously state that its members are meant to ensure that their client has chosen them to act without pressure being exerted upon them to do so.

If you are being pressurised into choosing a lawyer as outlined above, refuse firmly and advise that you will seek the advice of the SRA or CLC – this usually does the trick!

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Your Garden

May Gardening Tips April was a busy month in the garden – planting potatoes, preparing the bean trench and seed beds and planting out a few seeds; now it’s a battle against the weeds!

As soon as the weather warms up and seeds begin to germinate, the weeds seem to take over, so be vigilant and weed regularly; you don’t want the nutrients and moisture being taken away from your crops.

May is a difficult month to judge as the weather can vary. We sometimes get lulled into a false sense of security and think that summer has arrived but watch the weather in case of late frosts and protect any tender seedlings. Also take care to harden off plants that have been grown indoors or under cover before planting. A cheap way to protect tender young plants is to use ‘bottle cloches’. Cut down the 2 litre plastic drinks bottles, as they are useful for protecting young runner beans and peas.

This month sees more pests appearing and sampling your crops before you have chance to!

Here's a few of ideas for repelling the varmints: • Peppermint, spearmint and pennyroyal naturally deter aphids and ants, so plant (or put them in pots) throughout the vegetable plot.

• Plant flowers that attract the pest predators such as marigolds and nasturtiums.

• There are numerous vegetables that can be planted out this month but try not to plant everything at once. Try ‘succession sowing’, a small batch of seeds every two or three weeks and you should have a steady supply, rather 28

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Whittlesea

than a glut: it will also help to maximise your chances of successful germination. Remember to keep earthing up potatoes, cover carrot sowing with netting to prevent carrot fly and, if in any doubt about the weather, cover young plants with fleece.

• It is possible to grow two crops planted at the same time in the same row or bed, one fast and one slow growing, (intersowing) so that you get the most out of your plot.

Fast growing crops include Oriental salad leaves, lettuces, radishes, spring onions, spinach and spring-planted shallots. Slow growers are parsnips, sweetcorn, tomatoes, leeks, winter cabbage, cauliflower, sprouting broccoli and Brussels sprouts. You can also sow the fast growers when there is a gap between harvesting one crop and planting another.

• Seeds to sow out this month are too numerous to list but a few include: carrots, beetroot, French beans, lettuce, spring onions, salad leaves and peas. Any seeds that were sown earlier will need thinning out: doing this when they are quite small lessens the disturbance to the surrounding plants.

• Sow indoors: chillies, peppers, courgettes, pumpkins and winter squashes, runner beans and sprouting broccoli.

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Home Interiors

Attic Story - Interior Designer, Yasmin Chopin There’s a lot to consider if you fancy extending your home into the loft. At first glance, it might seem an impossible task - all those rafters and beams cluttering up the space.

Of course, your roof wasn’t designed for living in so your attic isn’t going to be light and airy, spacious and comfortable. Instead, it’s probably draughty, cramped, dark, and a tad creepy. But, if your family is expanding and you need another bedroom, or if you work from home and yearn for a calm and peaceful workspace, ‘going up’ is an excellent way to achieve it. Your investment could be more than repaid by increasing the value of your property.

“The Nationwide March 2016 House Price Index has revealed that adding a loft conversion, or an extension incorporating a double bedroom and a bathroom, could add more than 20% to the value of a three-bedroom, one bathroom house”.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist.

I was asked for my top tip on loft conversions by a specialist roofing company, in preparation for an article they were writing. There’s so much to consider that I took the time to think about my absolute best piece of advice. This is what I said: “No matter how large or small the space you’ve scrounged from your loft, you really must give consideration to the access. Make sure your loft staircase is wide and ensure it either completely contrasts in style and design with your house stairs, or that it matches perfectly. I’ve seen too many loft conversions where the stairs have been built, but no thought has been given to their design. They transport you to an exciting place…. let them tell the story.”

My top tip on loft conversions is to make sure your loft staircase is wide and ensure it either completely contrasts in style and design with your house stairs, or that it matches perfectly.

Period properties with several floors expressed status through the architecture and design of their staircases. To impress visitors, the most money would be spent on the ground floor and first floors while the bottom and the top, the cellar steps and attic staircase, would be made in a utilitarian fashion. After all, it was only the servants who would be using them! Times have changed - don’t let your loft staircase let you down!

Another piece of advice I would give is this: When drawing up the design with your architect or builder, make sure you consult an interior designer before you approve the plans. Your newly acquired space will be quirky and will require clever ideas to make the best use of it. Make sure it delivers what you are hoping for. Can you envisage how you will use it? What headroom will you have to move around? Will the windows deliver too much or too little light? What will it look like during the daytime - and at night? Where will you put the furniture?

Will it offer stylish storage solutions? How are you going to decorate it? A list that goes on and on... make sure you are clear on all of your questions before you go ahead for planning approval!

Image credits: Pink bedroom English Blinds. Spiral steps from Haddonstone. Home Office Elements cream roller blind for Velux windows.

Contact Yasmin Chopin on 07831 231 664, or email her ycid@yasminchopin.com.

See more on her website: yasminchopin.com.

Yasmin helps you create a new layout or decor scheme that reflects your personality and your lifestyle. She offers a two hour home visit which gives you a chance to ask all your questions and by chatting though your ideas you’ll come up with a plan.

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MAY 2017

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31

Local Business

Thinking Inside the Box Based in Peterborough, 3 Ways Transport Ltd is an independent business with over ten years’ experience in the transport industry.

What began simply as a ‘man with a van’ company back in 2007 now offers a whole range of delivery solutions, and the firm is currently celebrating the opening of its brand new box shop, which caters for all your transport and house removal needs.

The new shop, in Culley Court, Orton Southgate, offers a large selection of removal boxes, wrapping paper, TV boxes, parcel tape, bubble wrap and more – in short, anything you need to ensure your house move goes without a hitch!

online shop. What hasn’t changed, however, is the professional service we provide to each and every customer.”

“Whether you’re moving a sofa across the street or a pallet across the country, we know it’s our job to make sure nothing goes wrong. Right from the start we’ll use our experience to guide you, advise you and help to make the hard decisions easy.”

On a budget? Don’t fear – we have boxes to suit all budgets. Come in, discuss your requirements and let’s see what we can do for you. Visit us at 52 Culley Court, Peterborough, PE2 6WA, or go online to www.3waystransport.co.uk/shop.

The latest additions to this extensive range include by-the-metre Jiffy foam wrap, ideal for separating plates and other breakables, and black shrink wrap for wrapping furniture. At 3 Ways, the number one aim is to ensure that your treasured possessions are protected in transit.

Managing Director Adam Davis believes the firm’s success lies in its customer service, which has been perfected through years of experience.

“Over the last decade we’ve seen a huge change in our business, growing from a single van to a small fleet, then to a shop and now a fully operational

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MAY 2017

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33

Technology

What to do if Your PC is Running Slowly Is your PC running slowly, crashing or overheating? This month’s article, from Adam Stanley, discusses the possible causes of and solutions to such problems.

A likely cause of the issues mentioned above is that your PC hasn’t been cleaned for some time. Let’s say, for instance, that it hasn’t been cleaned in the past two years – the chances are that the fan is unable to do its job properly, due to dust blocking the air outlets. It is critical that these parts are kept clean to prevent laptops and towers from overheating.

When a PC gets too hot it will usually attempt to shut down or ‘blue screen’ in an attempt to prevent internal parts from becoming damaged, or even melting. Sadly, however, 60% of the overheated PCs we see are damaged beyond economic repair; this scenario is easily avoided by a simple ‘clean and paste’, which costs just £40 and can extend the life of your PC. Dirt inside your PC is not the only thing that may be causing it to run slowly, however. If you’re being bothered by numerous pop-ups, have issues with wireless and downloads speed, or are unable to see files and downloads, it may be that a virus, spyware or adware are the cause of your problems.

These issues can all be resolved and again, for £40 we can remove any threats and return your PC ‘clean’, with additional software installed to protect you in the future. If you want to go even further, for £60 we offer a ‘threat removal and tune-up’, and for £99 the ‘ultimate tune-up’, which involves a ‘clean and paste’, ‘threat removal’ and full ‘tune-up’, including the installation of a number of special software tools for your future use.

us, and we will remove the virus for you and make sure your computer is protected.

If you’re unhappy with your computer in general, we have a number of computers in stock at very reasonable prices. These run fast, have had complete software rebuilds and are ready to use straight away. Prices start as low as £150, and if you’re looking for something higher-range, we have ultra-fast models with top-of-the-range technology ranging in price from £500 to £950.

We pride ourselves on ensuring that every customer leaves our shop happy. We do whatever we can to fix your problems, whether it’s a broken screen, faulty hard drive or broken charging port; be it a phone, laptop or television; we can fix them all, and we offer a No Fix No Fee guarantee.

If it’s simply advice you’re looking for, we offer up to ten minutes free on any matter. If you need more time (perhaps you’d like to learn how to use a software package, or just need a hand finding your way around the latest version of Windows), we charge £20 an hour for advice and training, where you’ll learn exactly what you needed to know.

So if you need a computer repair, come on down to AA Whittlesey Computers, where one of our friendly staff members will help you solve whatever issue you have.

As far as pop-ups are concerned, it’s always worth seeking specialist advice if you’re unsure about their content. If you see a message telling you that your PC has been hacked or compromised, and advising you to call a number for assistance, do not call that number! It is most likely adware – a scam – which will charge you a ridiculous amount of money to ‘remove’ the software, when in fact nothing has been done. Instead, bring your PC to

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Whittlesea

35

Church Matters

The Sabbath Experience “Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. For six days you shall labour and do all your work.

But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work.”

(Deuteronomy, chapter 5, verses 12 to 14) Many people know of the Ten Commandments, The Law given to Moses by God. The observance of these laws will give people identity as the people of God. During Lent, members of the town’s Anglican, Methodist-United Reformed and Roman Catholic churches, and the Salvation Army, had the opportunity to meet together and consider the Commandment about keeping the Sabbath and its place in our modern lives.

The quotation above is from the Third Commandment; it emphasises a need for a Sabbath, a special day to make time for God in otherwise busy lives. The

Sabbath is the day on which God rested after the work of Creation. A Sabbath rest for us allows us to imitate God. He rested from His labours, and so can we. We might be able to make this one whole day a week, or we may have to take time out of different days depending on lifestyles, work, and family demands. We all benefit from taking rest.

Having a Sabbath approach to our life will bring us closer to God and those with whom we share our lives.

For some people, keeping the Sabbath holy (i.e. being faithful to, and aware of, the closeness of God in their lives) means going to church. For others, however, it is the weekly gathering of family for a meal or some other shared activity.

We would like to encourage you to rest in God and open your heart to Him. Finding time for the Sabbath experience will help you discover what is holy in your life.

Reverend Nigel (Tel: 01733 203676)

Whittlesey Christian Church

Where Are You Going?

Each New Year, I seek to inspire our church to reach for clear objectives during the coming year.

It’s always interesting to look back and see how many of those we managed to achieve.

if I achieved fame and fortune, everything would be okay. But I’m a human being like everyone else; I’m not exempt.” Sadly, his words proved to be prophetic.

If we fail to sow hope or positive ambitions, what we reap will be determined by others, or whatever life throws at us.

No amount of planning can let us know precisely what hand life will deal us, but as the famous saying goes, “if we fail to prepare, then we prepare to fail”. Having a vision of what we would like to achieve helps us to identify potential problems in time to do something constructive about them.

Comedian and actor Chris Farley, of Saturday Night Live fame, was found dead in his Chicago apartment in 1997. Farley’s drug problem was no secret, and his death at thirty-three from an opiate and cocaine overdose was no surprise to his friends.

In an interview just prior to his death, Farley said: “I used to think that you could reach a level of success where the laws of the universe didn’t apply. But they do. It’s still life on life’s terms, not on movie-star terms. I must still work at relationships, my weight, or my other demons. I wrongly thought that

It would be foolish to suggest that having clear objectives will protect us from challenges capable of threatening those goals. However, at the very least, our life will not be thrown into a downward spiral of confusion and hopelessness.

Whatever circumstances you are facing today, let’s help you move forward to better things. See you on Sunday at 10.45am!

Brian Smithyman (Pastor of Whittlesey Christian Church, Broad Street) your local Charismatic Church Further enquiries from the Church Office 01733 752093 Brian’s Mobile 07976 957793 | Email brians@whittlesey.cc | Church Website www.whittlesey.cc

36

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Club

Matters

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 Whittlesea, Benwick Road Ind. Est., Benwick Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 2HD

editor.whittlesea@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

News from Whittlesey Ladysmith W.I. Our April meeting had a very appropriate springtime theme. Our members heard all about bees and beekeeping from Sue Jakeman, and the competition was a honey recipe.

Another Successful Litter Pick by Street Pride I hope you have all enjoyed the daffodils in the Kings Delph layby during the last few weeks - it really has been a good show. However, it is a pity that some visitors do not seem to appreciate the lovely area.

We did a litter-pick there in March, and found the usual piles of rubbish. Along with twenty five bags of litter there was various other debris, including the litre bottles of liquid left for us to dispose of by truck drivers. It was a good turnout, with thirteen of our members attending on a cold and windy day.

If you would like to join us on one of our Saturday litter-picks, you will be more than welcome.

Contact Fred Mills on 01733 202874.

The outdoor theme continues in May, when we will learn about willow weaving from Renny Antonelli, co-founder of The Green Backyard, the thriving community garden in Peterborough. The competition this month is a basket.

New members and guests are very welcome to join us at the meeting on Tuesday May 9th, 7.30pm, at St. Andrew's Parish Hall, Parkinsons Lane. More information is available from Sue on 01733 205927 or Liz on 01733 689599.

Coates W.I: Next Meetings Guests and new members are always welcome at our meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of every month in Coates Public Hall, at 7.30pm.

May’s meeting, on Wednesday May 3rd, is members’ night, and we have sugar craft to look forward to at June’s meeting. For more information, please phone Jen on 01733 840376 or Fiona on 01733 208514.

New Music and New Members Following a busy period recently, Whittlesey Wind Ensemble is happy and excited to share our musical adventures and successes over the past two months.

We’ve been experimenting with new styles and are currently playing a range of film music, as well as folk songs and popular medleys, in preparation for a potential concert on May 19th, entitled ‘A Night at the Movies’. Times and venue are to be confirmed.

Two of our flautists had the exciting opportunity to play amongst the Grand Union Orchestra on March 18th. Held at SHSCC, this was a great chance to play music from around the world, and support the youngsters of Whittlesey with their musical talents.

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Whittlesea

We have welcomed many new members over the past few months, and we continue to encourage anyone to join our friendly and supportive group. We meet every Thursday at the Methodist/United Reform Church in Queen Street, 7.45pm – 9.15pm. For more info, visit our website or email us at whittleseywind@ gmail.com. We are open to any brass or woodwind instrument – come and give us a try!

You can also come and watch us perform at our upcoming events. On June 18th, we’re playing at the Wisbech Armed Forces Day, at 10.00am, then hopping over to play a selection of summer music on the Abbey Green, Ramsey, in the afternoon.

We look forward to seeing you there!

MAY 2017

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News

Devolution and an Update on the GCGP LEP - Steve Barclay M.P.

I

t was great to welcome the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, to Fenland, to sign the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution deal. In the past, major Government announcements tended to be signed in Cambridge, and I am keen to ensure the north of the county receives more attention.

In visiting Fenland to sign this major deal, the Secretary of State showed how devolution is an opportunity for Fenland (and the north of the county as a whole) to be more central to decision making. It also ensures Ministers gain a better understanding of our area and what we need by seeing it first hand, which I was able to discuss with him in the car, on the journey from, and back to, Peterborough station.

We now have a great opportunity to elect a Mayor who will help us take full advantage of the new funding that devolution will bring.

Regular readers of Discovering Whittlesea will know that since Christmas I have been raising concerns regarding Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). As I mentioned last month, I wrote in my capacity as the Member of Parliament for North East Cambridgeshire to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of the National Audit Office (NAO), Sir Amyas Morse, and the Government Minister responsible for LEPs, Andrew Percy MP, and to the Chairs of two of Parliament’s most powerful select committees, the Public Accounts Committee and Treasury Select Committees, asking for an investigation to be launched into

the governance of the LEP and the Cambridge City Deal.

In the last Parliament, I spent four years as a member of the Public Accounts Committee, reviewing the value for money of a wide range of Government spending. I regard the issues identified as serious and worrying. It is clear that the response from the LEP Board to date has been completely inadequate.

My letter to Sir Amyas and my paper, which is the third this year, on the LEP, can be found on my website, www.stevebarclay.net.

I have since received confirmation, in a letter from Sir Amyas Morse, that the NAO will now investigate the LEP, following the concerns I raised over its governance and value for money.

I have always made it clear that I will continue to speak up for constituents, regardless of whether this involves challenging influential figures in our area. The evidence shows Fenland has been let down by the LEP. It is time that the LEP Board is held to account.

To find out more about my work in Parliament and campaigns locally, or to let me know your views, please visit my website at www.stevebarclay.net.

Alternatively you can follow me on:

 @stevebarclaymp  /stevebarclaymp  @stevebarclaymp 40

D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

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That Ha ndyma n You know them small jobs that builders are not interested in doing because they don’t make a mint or those niggly little jobs that never get done because you may not have either the skills, tools or time.

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• Lawns cut • Small tree surgery • Landscaping • Fencing- repaired replaced or installed • Panelling, feather board and palisade • Gates repaired, replaced or installed • Decking Installed and maintained • Patios laid, cleaned and re-sanded • Sheds repaired and roofs re-felted • Rubbish, get that messy garden cleared of rubbish • Water Butts Installed • Gutters cleared.

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Charity

Matters Human Hound Challenge at Peterborough Greyhound Stadium Raise up to £500 for your club, school, or charity Are you a member of a charity, team, or club?

Is there a charity that your company sponsors?

Have you set yourself a goal of raising some money for a cause close to your heart? Then let Peterborough Greyhounds assist in your fundraising, by joining in with the Human Hound Challenge!

Peterborough Greyhounds holds three heats over the first three Fridays of the month, and we would

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 Whittlesea, Benwick Road Ind. Est., Benwick Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 2HD

editor.whittlesea@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

like you to have a Human Hound to run on behalf of your chosen charity or team, to raise some much-needed funds.

It’s free to enter, and you will get £50 for your chosen cause just for participating. If you get through to the final by coming first or second in your heat, then you could win a further prize of up to £500.

Your supporters will all get free entry to the Grandstand on the night of your heat, and the final if you get through. What are you waiting for? Make it a night out to celebrate your team or charity!

Contact Hannah on: hannah@peterboroughgreyhounds.com or 01733 296939 for an information and application pack.

Show Off Your Shrubs for Thorpe Hall Hospice

As a thank you, every organiser will be in with a chance of winning a barbecue meat pack worth £20, kindly donated by Van Hage Garden Centre.

With the weather warming up, gardeners across the area are being invited to show off their outdoor space while raising cash for charity.

It costs £2.8m to provide the hospice’s services each year, and £1.5m of that must be raised with the support of local people.

The team at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, Peterborough, is asking keen gardeners to organise a garden party to raise money for the hospice; or alternatively, team up with neighbours and friends to plan an open garden event.

Thorpe Hall’s Community Fundraiser Cheyenne Graves said: “Garden parties are a lovely way to show off all the hard work you’ve put into your garden. Charge people for entry, serve tea and cake (and perhaps hold a raffle too) and watch the money pour in.”

“We’re delighted to have the support of local garden centres, where we hope garden party organisers will be stocking up their beds and planters in preparation for their event!”

To find out more about organising a garden event in aid of Thorpe Hall Hospice, please call 01733 225999 or email thorpe.fundraising@sueryder.org.

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D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

MAY 2017

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Back for its fifth year, East of England’s foodie extravaganza ‘Walk with a Fork’ makes a return to Cambridgeshire on Sunday May 7th.

Hosted at Abbots Ripton Hall, near Huntingdon, walkers will embark on an eight mile amble around the picturesque estate, whilst indulging on fresh and tasty treats from local food and drink producers along the way.

Proceeds from ‘Walk with a Fork’ will be used to support Ormiston Families’ work providing services to support children and young people across East Anglia, helping to improve their life chances.

There are some great suppliers lined up for the event, including Aspall, The Village Deli, the Allotment café, The Abbot’s Elm, Johnsons of Oldhurst and many more.

Gavin Lamb, Relationship and Events Manager, said: “We always look forward to ‘Walk with a Fork’, enjoying the great local food and drink from East Anglia and the beautiful scenery of the countryside.”

“We are grateful to Lord and Lady De Ramsey for having us at Abbots Ripton Hall, and to our sponsor, Aspall. We would also like to thank Heidi from foodPark, Eat Cambridge, and the team from the Secret Garden Party for their assistance.”

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MAY 2017

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45

Charity Event

Make a Drive

for Charity with Golf Day Fundraiser Two local men who have both experienced first-hand the devastating impact of cancer have teamed up to help raise money for two causes very close to their hearts.

Terry Austin and Neil Rickett were both diagnosed with cancer around the same time, with Terry receiving his bowel cancer diagnosis on New Year’s Eve 2015 – a sombre start to the New Year. As both began their treatments, more horrible news followed when Neil’s teenage daughter Katie was also diagnosed with cancer in May last year.

All three were overwhelmed by the care and support they received throughout their illnesses, and as their treatment approached its end in late 2016, they knew they wanted to do something to show their gratitude.

Terry explains: “By about November time we were all beginning to feel ourselves again, and we decided to organise something to raise money for those who had helped us so much.

Both Neil and I are keen golfers, and so we quickly settled on the idea of a charity golf day.”

The Peterborough Area Golf Charity Day will take place at Ramey Golf Club on Friday June 9th, raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust and the Oncology Department at Peterborough City Hospital. Amongst those playing are two snooker stars, and the day will also feature an auction of items kindly donated by local and national businesses.

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D I S C O V E R I N G

“We can’t express our thanks enough to all those who have supported us so far. We’ve got some great auction items lined up, including a CCTV system installation, a full vehicle MOT and a snooker cue signed by none other than Ronnie O’Sullivan!”

Could you help?

Terry, Neil and Katie are extremely grateful for any support, and local people and business owners can help in several ways: Sponsor a hole for £50 Your name or company name will be displayed on a board on the tee, as well as on a leaflet given to each player.

Sponsor a prize (£35 to £100) Your name or company will feature on the players’ leaflets and will be read out at the prize giving presentation.

Donate a raffle prize This can be a service or any product or item of value.

Donate a cash sum Every single donation, be it £1 or £1000, goes a long way and will be gratefully received.

Contact Terry on 07723 037423, or find the event on Facebook by searching for ‘Peterborough Area Golf Charity Day’.

Whittlesea

MAY 2017

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SUNDAY SERVICES: 11.00am 6.30pm Please visit our website to find out more about us: www.whittleseybaptist.org.uk

MAY 2017

D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

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Lucy’s Flowers FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

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Valuation days

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D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

49

Legal

Increase in Probate Fees - by Holly Webb

Obtaining a Grant of Probate is the process by which someone is given the authority to deal with the property, money, and possessions of a person after they have died. This is usually undertaken by the executor of the will or the solicitor acting on their behalf. An application is made to the Probate Registry who issues the Grant of Probate and a fee is payable upon application.

Currently, the fee for obtaining the probate is £215.00 for an application submitted personally by the executor, or £155.00 for applications completed by a solicitor. However, this is all set to change with the government planning a rise in probate fees according to the value of the property left by an individual in their will, before the payment of any Inheritance Tax. The proposed probate application fees, which are due to take effect in May 2017, are as follows: • £300 for estates worth more than £50,000 and up to £300,000 • £1,000 for estates worth more than £300,000 and up to £500,000 • £4,000 for estates worth more than £500,000 and up to £1 million • £8,000 for estates worth more than £1m and up to £1.6 million • £12,000 for estates worth more than £1.6m and up to £2 million • £20,000 for estates worth more than £2 million Not all properties need to go through probate and the threshold below which no fee is payable will rise from £5,000 to £50,000, lifting some estates out of paying any fee.

Many estate administrations, however, involve applying for a grant, particularly where assets are held in the deceased’s sole name. Financial

institutions usually want to see a grant unless the value of the deceased’s holding is relatively modest. Also, the UK Land Registry will insist on sight of a grant if property is to be transferred from a deceased sole owner into the name of a beneficiary, or if the property is to be sold by the personal representatives.

Concerns have, unsurprisingly, been raised as to how payment of these fees is to be made, prior to the grant being obtained. Fortunately, this issue appears to have been resolved with many banks and building societies willing to release funds to pay the new probate fees, much as they do for funeral expenses, or the payment of Inheritance Tax, at the moment. However, the fee increase may still cause problems for some estates which are very high in value but have all of the wealth contained in non-cash assets, such as shares or property.

Should you require any assistance in the administration of an estate, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our Probate department at any one of our four offices.

Fraser Dawbarns LLP:

62 T: High01354 Street, March 602880 Cambridgeshire PE15 9LD E: info@ T: 01354 602880 fraserdawbarns.com E: info@fraserdawbarns.com 50

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MAY 2017

Finance

Changes in Social Care

by Eamonn Dorling

The government is looking at ways to address the funding problems with social care nationally.

How might that affect us in the Fens? The first part of this month’s article includes some important facts and statistics, and the second part provides some ideas that might help.

• Local authority spending has increased over the past thirty years, but the increase in spending has significantly slowed down, according to the IFS1.

• The NHS is sometimes topping up payments made by the local authority.

• If patients cannot get care in the community, they end up in hospital more frequently than in the past. The number of patients becoming stranded in hospital is increasing. This is not necessarily because there is a lack of social care; however, a lack of social care is the fastest-growing reason for this.

• Local authorities are looking after fewer elderly people because of pressures on their finances. The number of people receiving care from a local authority has reduced by 25% between 2008/9 and 2013/142.

• 21%3 of elderly receiving care are funded by the local authority; 12.5% pay for their own care; 37.5% are subsidised by family and friends; and 30% receive no or little help at all. Social care accounts for more than half the budget of a typical local authority1.

• We have an ageing population, and central and local government are making financial cut backs. Council tax bills will rise to help offset the increase in demand for adult social services.

The above are what I consider to be facts.

The following actions might help:

• Make sure all the benefits available are being claimed.

• Ensure you understand both the Care Assessment and the Financial Assessment, and where appropriate, take professional advice.

• Although time to make decisions might be limited, it is important that all aspects are fully considered before making decisions that have an impact on either care or finance.

• Consider the potential benefits of Lasting Power of Attorney being granted to those in a better position to act on behalf of the patient where appropriate.

• For financial advice, contact an Independent Financial adviser that’s a registered member of the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA).

Institute of Fiscal Studies Source: NHS Digital 3 Source: NHS Digital 1 2

■ Issued by Wealthline Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and any forecast is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The information contained in this editorial should not be construed as offering investment or tax advice.

Eamonn Dorling Dip PFS Senior Independent Financial Adviser, Brooks Wealth

Tel: 01733 314553 | Mob: 07767 795816 Email: eamonn@brookswealth.co.uk

Delivering Simple Financial Advice - that really works Brooks Wealth is a trading style of Ampris Limited who are an appointed representative of Wealthline Limited, Registered in England 08761632 (Registered office: 8a Cowgate, Peterborough). Wealthline Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA number 684319.

MAY 2017

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Local History

From Bicycles to Buses

- by Susan Booth, volunteer at Whittlesey Museum In 1922 John Robert Morley, a cycle maker in Whitmore Street, identified a need for public transport to take people to Peterborough on market day. With £12 of hard-earned cash, he bought a fourteen-seater bus. He developed his business by offering further transport to workers in the brickyards and in the farming and horticultural industries, and thus started a successful family business which continued for eighty-three years.

At first trading under the name of West End Garage Bus Service (W.B.S), the red and grey livery became a familiar sight in Whittlesey and the surrounding district.

His first regular service to Peterborough was via Stanground and Fletton.

The fleet of buses grew to sixteen, ranging from fifteen-seater minibuses to double-deckers.

Mr. Morley handed on the business to his son, also John Robert. After his death in 1986, the business passed on to his daughter Penny Wright, her husband William and her brother John Robert Morley. As well as their regular service, Morley’s also had contracts to transport pupils to and from schools and were available for private hire.

In 1996, the business carried 293,721 passengers on its regular service routes, the mixed fleet covering approximately 78,000 miles. The business was finally sold in November 2005.

Competition to Mr. John Robert Morley’s business was established

by Tom Canham, who also began trading in 1922 as a local carting and passenger transport service for Whittlesey

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residents. Tom’s company soon became mechanised with the purchase of its first motor vehicle, a fourteen seater Ford T – the first of a fleet which went on to include over one hundred and thirty vehicles over a period of more than six decades.

In the 1930s, afternoon outings by coach to Wicksteed Park were offered at a cost of five shillings and sixpence. A return ticket for a day trip to Hunstanton would cost eight shillings and sixpence.

Canhams also offered high class saloons for weddings from their offices at 1 Scaldgate.

The company ceased trading in 1983, ending Canhams’ sixty-one year history of public service work in the Cambridgeshire fens.

Whittlesea

Morley and Canham are not the only names associated with public transport in Whittlesey; Bluebell, Emblings, Cavalier, Alec Head and Stagecoach have also been familiar names to local bus passengers over the years, with their varied and colourful liveries becoming well recognised in Whittlesey and the surrounding towns and villages.

Whittlesey Museum will be staging an exhibition of ‘Bus Companies through Time’ on Sunday 21st May 2017 from 10.00am to 4.30pm. Come and visit the museum to view photographs, histories and memorabilia. We would love to record your personal memories of local bus travel in our Memory Books, and there will be fun activities for children of all ages.

Whittlesey Museum Opening hours: Friday 2.30-4.30pm Saturday 10am-12 noon Sunday 2.30-4.30pm £1 Adults/50p Children

MAY 2017

maintaining Acorn House amounts to approximately £80,000 a year.

Happy Christmas.

Revd Nigel and Revd Gill.

Ken Wade Fishing news byNEWS | FISHING

BY KEN WADE saw four more pike banked, Predator anglers from across the

The big fish onlocal the move topped by a 17lb specimen. out our picknow oftenare country For the remainder of the they venues as the drains atfenland several of our local waters.

Chris added only one as them g regardin fish, to want men may think nothing of match, Match fish but the title small more best, the best, if notnets some of the bagging 100lb-plus at Decoy was his with a 44lb-2oz total. and most accessible in England.

Lakes, andmuch I know of than pleasure Runner-up was Rob Ellis with milder Despite a a 31lb 8oz total. Rob, who catches that have been just as Pike usual November, the British was also on the Glassmore good, if ionship not better. fished on Whittlesey Champ

section, put three pike to the scales which included the best fish of the day at 23lb 4oz.

Rita Clarke from ● Free no obligation quotes Peterborough, made it a the ladies wins infamily run business ● No job too small hat-trick●ofLocal a solitary 5lb fish, taken early in the match category with ● Services inc: kitchen & bathroom installs from a difficult section on the Twenty Foot section. rain, conditions were poor n from If you’re after a really big and fish the then give Railway title went to fifteen year old Jack Newma ● Gardening/landscaping/grounds maintenance junior The soggy wet banks two fish total of 10lb 10oz also saw Jack’s pton.

Southam Lakes a try. It’s not far from the train station and places. in were difficult ● Decorating ● House clearance ● Fencing him take second in section, nudging dad, Jason, into third how just few has been in good form of Many late, were but with very unsure section. ● Tiling/flooring ● Plumbing/electrics same the on spot would the drains anglers fishing here, you could have theperform pick of was very well organised by event the always, As the r, howeve day; corner pegs on the but the pegs. The big lake is deep, Whittlesey AA, a credit to everyone involved. unpredictable Glassmore have been productive, while the smaller, in shallower I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Bank proved to be very lake has recorded some fine catches on red a special treat I would like to offer you a 10% discount as good form.

Christmas on rods, reels and luggage (19th to 24th for maggot, pellet and sweetcorn.

Winner Chris Wade got off December 2015) on production of the December issue of Offering start.Symak blisteringElliot to a owner Over at Northey Park Fishery, www.vestaestates.co.uk this magazine. he baits, dead has put in lots of time and small effortroach over the winter ey AA Chairman with Whittles Champs |winner Pike 205030 Image: 01733 07872920995 | info@vestaestates.co.uk tempted a ‘jack’ pike on his months. It’s a great fishery for afirst peaceful day’s Dave White cast. The next hour very

proof, if d the waters Float Fish Farm Fishery hasproduce seen a massive indeed any were needed, improvement in sport, particularly on the Two that top quality action can Island Pool. It’s deeper than your normal carp p. doorste our on found be fishery water and now is theThis time tosaw give a try, 220it anglers year unique in this as the big carp are on thecompet feed,ing with meat and a week of heavy After well. event. paste in the margins working really

ttlesea | December 2015 sport. it aO goV - you be Whi disappointed.

N G E RwillI not I S C D Give 28 We are lucky to have so many local specimen waters, including East Delph Lakes. These were once match lakes of the highest order, but following changes by the present owner (involving a couple of years of moving small fish out, and introducing a bigger stamp of fish), you’ll now find a big fish water that holds carp well past the 20Ib mark. It’s a great time of the year to target the big specimen carp before they wise up to anglers’ baits, so get out and enjoy the action.

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Local History

The Great War in Whittlesey - by Connor Martin

The Battle of Vimy Ridge

Part 6: William Barrett During this month one hundred years ago, it was fortunate – though rare – that nobody from Whittlesey or the surrounding area lost their life to the ever-raging war in Europe.

Therefore, in this article, I’d like to focus on a young man who was born in Turves and lived in Coates, and who died fighting one hundred years ago last month.

William Barrett was born on July 11th 1894 to George and Eliza Barrett, of Quaker’s Drove, Turves.

It is quite amazing how much information one can gather about William. This is largely due to his Canadian documentation, which was much more thoroughly detailed than most military records at the time.

From this documentation, we can learn that William was enlisted and passed for on the 27th of January 1916 at Weyburn, Saskatchwan, in Canada, having moved across the Atlantic from his home in the Fens. He was enlisted as a private into the 152nd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force when he was twenty one years and seven months old. The extraordinary detail of the Canadian records is highlighted by the fact that it gives us his height (5 feet 6.25 inches), his appearance (blue eyes and medium brown hair) and religion (Baptist). He was recorded as unmarried, and a farmer by trade.

The 1911 census records William, then aged sixteen, as living with his parents at the home address in Quaker’s Drove, and describes him as a farm

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labourer; this was hardly unusual at a time when the school leaving age was twelve. The fact that William was still in the UK in 1911 suggests that he only moved to Canada as a young adult, either during or just before the Great War. In late 1916, William was removed from the 152nd Battalion and instead introduced to the men of the 58th (Central Ontario) Battalion. This battalion fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge at Vimy, France, from the 9th to the 12th of April 1917.

William died on the 18th of April 1917, at the age of twenty two, in all likelihood from injuries sustained at Vimy. He is buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery in France.

His story serves as a stark reminder of the millions of young lives changed forever when they were dragged away from home to serve under the imperial dominions of the British Empire, such as Canada.

Would you like to find out more about the Great War? The Imperial War Museum’s website is a great place to start, or you can also visit my own site: greatwarlive.uk.

MAY 2017

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59

Pets’ Corner Whittlesey Veterinary Centre

Looking After Your Rabbit Though eating rabbits may well be a little distasteful to many, you might be intrigued to know that that was the very reason they were initially brought into Britain, probably by the Romans!

Nowadays, they are a popular pet and are also widely kept for breeding and showing. The domestication of rabbits is believed to have been started by monks, who began selectively breeding them for coat colour as well as for food. Later, middle-class Victorians with too much time and money on their hands bred them for showing and competition, breeding the fore-runners of many of the varieties we see today.

Rabbits are herbivores, with their food passing twice through their gut. When the food first goes through the digestive system it is primarily broken down. The rabbit eats the 'poo' from this digestion (known as caecotrophs), which then mixes with stomach acids next time through the gut, in order to be more efficiently digested. This system is necessary because it takes a lot of effort and energy to extract the vital components from a difficult substance like grass.

Rabbits need to be able to reach their bottoms in order to eat the caecotrophs, so it is vitally important not to let them get fat. Rabbits need lots of good quality hay, fresh greens, dandelions, other vegetables and/or a complete rabbit food. There 60

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are numerous brands of food available, but the ones with the “pretty” colours should be avoided.

Bunnies are just like us in that they will take the tastiest option available – usually the option that makes them fat – and once a rabbit is overweight it is very difficult to lose it.

Another important food-related condition is known as 'gut stasis', where the rabbit's gut slows down or stops, causing food to ferment in the gut and cause several problems. This is a life threatening condition and veterinary help should be sought immediately.

Rabbits should have an annual vaccination against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (two strains). Both diseases are uncompromising and almost certainly fatal.

Bunnies make lovely pets for both children and adults alike, but in order to keep them healthy they require a bit more looking after than many people think – they should not simply be put in an outside hutch to be looked at every now and then. If you’re considering getting one, please do research them properly.

MAY 2017

Whittlesey Veterinary Centre Your Pets, Our Passion

RABBIT MONTH FREE General Health Check 10% OFF Rabbit Vaccination 10% OFF Neutering *Terms and conditions apply (valid during May 2017)

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Telephone: 01733 685 514 27 Broad Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1HA MAY 2017

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61

School News

The Winning Goal!

As the children from Park Lane Primary & Nursery School came back from the holidays, they were delighted to see a new addition to their playground.

Thanks to the support of FOPLS (Friends of Park Lane School), two brand new goal and netball structures had been erected on the KS2 playground for all the children to enjoy. Not only will they be used during lessons, but they have also been a brilliant addition to the children's break and lunchtime routines.

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Peter Ingham, Head of Upper School, said, “We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated group of parents who spend many hours raising funds for the school. The addition of the new equipment to our playground means that our children will have a more enjoyable and focused time when they are outside. FOPLS continue to support the school in many ways, and we thank them for their commitment.”

MAY 2017

Mothering Sunday Bouquet Competition Winner Congratulations to the winner of our Win a Bouquet of Flowers for Mothering Sunday competition – MRS BURGESS of Stonald Road, Whittlesey, whose son Jacob submitted the following winning entry: 'My Mother is special because my Mum cares about me, loves me lots and lots, keeps me safe and trusts me. She's the best Mum and I love her.'

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Call 01733 350781 or visit our website www.alphabet-daynursery.co.uk MAY 2017

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Education

The Alderman Jacobs School (Academy Trust)

Alderman Jacobs School is one of the largest primary schools in Cambridgeshire.

Our aims are to provide children with “Energy for Learning, Life and the Environment”; supporting the children in our care and their families to achieve academically and pastorally both now and in the future.

Opportunities to invite our wider community into school are important: Grandparents’ day, ‘Mums in School’ day, ‘Dads in School’ day, as well as our ‘Café for All’ themed reading afternoons, are regular opportunities to share learning experiences with the children.

We work closely with local nurseries, pre-schools, and the secondary school, to ensure that we know each family well. We provide extensive transition arrangements for children entering and leaving our school, helping them make the next step on their life journey.

One of the many benefits of being such a large school is that we have sufficient funds to recruit and retain excellent class teachers, and employ specialist teachers for music, PE, and maths. As a school specialising in PE and music, we regularly compete in local and regional tournaments, as well as hosting sports tournaments and swimming galas in our heated outdoor pool. Our 'Blue Sky' outdoor gym equipment and trim trail are available daily to keep children fit and active. The whole school take

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pride in the quality of our singing, and our school choir performs at a number of events, including the Whittlesey Festival.

At Alderman Jacobs, we help each child to prepare and adapt to life outside and beyond school. Our curriculum is exciting, broad and balanced, providing opportunities for the children to take part in visits and immersion days linked to what they are learning. In addition, we also offer residential visits from Year 3 to Stibbington, PGL, Grafham Water, and York.

We are constantly enhancing opportunities and our curriculum. The 'Food for Life' programme develops children’s cooking skills and understanding of where food comes from and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Our local links with McCains and Forterra are helping us to grow and cook more of our own food… we have recently put our name down for an allotment!

Visits to our school are always welcome, and our website offers more information about us: www.aldermanjacobs.cambs.sch.uk MAY 2017

e l z z Pu Pa g e

The

A) The Alphabetical Quiz – The Letter N

The idea is that all the answers to the following questions begin with the letter N, and follow each other in alphabetical order, as shown in the first two answers given.

1.

What is the name of the local pub in the TV series “Only Fools and Horses”? Answer: (The) Nag’s Head.

2.

Which Geordie actor played the role of “Spender”? Answer: (Jimmy) Nail.

3.

Which famous French leader had a horse called Marengo?

4.

Which novel by Enid Bagnold is about a girl who races her horse in the Grand National?

5.

What is the sensation when you are just about to vomit?

6.

What does the “N” stand for in SONAR?

13. What would you be holding if “Le Figaro” was in your hand?

14. What was the official language of society called in George Orwell’s novel, “1984”?

15. Who is associated with Woolsthorpe, near Colsterworth, and an apple tree?

16. Besides London, where else could you see a Cleopatra’s Needle?

17. In which Dickens novel would you meet Mr and Mrs Squeers and Smike?

18. What type of clouds produce rain or snow?

7.

What name is given to the score 111 in cricket?

19. By which number of a hole is a golf club house/ bar sometimes known?

8.

In the novel “20,000 Leagues under the Sea” what was the “fishy” name of the captain of the submarine Nautilus?

20. What name is given to the ultimate state of spiritual tranquillity to a Buddhist or a Hindu?

9.

In which Asian country would you find Kathmandu and Mount Everest?

10. In what 1984 film did Sean Connery return as James Bond?

11. In which city is Northumbria University, St James’ Park and Eldon Square?

12. On which racecourse in England is the Rowley Mile?

B) Train That Brain!

21. What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

22. With which prize for literature was singer/ songwriter Bob Dylan awarded in 2016?

23. What insurance “bonus” is at risk after an accident?

24. What is the name of the football team Barcelona’s home stadium?

25. In which Tchaikovsky ballet would The Sugar Plum Fairy appear?

Take the first number and follow the instructions until you reach the answer.

Try it first without pen and paper, and don’t even think about a calculator!

1. 6

+3, x7, -39, + ½ of it, x2, divide by 9, +17, -20, x2

2. 27

+360, divide by 9, -8, +20% of it, x6, -27, x3, +445, 50% of it = ?

3. 471

= ?

+629, - ¼ of it, +17, - ½ of it, x7, +661, x25%, -217, x3 = ?

Section B : 1) 10, 2) 560, 3) 2055.

Section A : 3) Napoleon, 4) National Velvet, 5) Nausea, 6) (Sound), Navigation, (and Radar), 7) Nelson, 8) Nemo, 9) Nepal, 10) Never Say Never Again, 11) Newcastle upon Tyne, 12) Newmarket, 13) Newspaper, 14) Newspeak, 15) (Sir Isaac) Newton, 16) New York, 17) (The Life and Adventures of) Nicolas Nickleby, 18) Nimbus, 19) Nineteenth, 20) Nirvana, 21) Nitrogen, 22) Nobel, 23) No-claims, 24) (The) Nou Camp, 25) (The) Nutcracker.

D I S C O V E R I N G

Answers:

MAY 2017

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In the Hot Seat

IN THE HOT SEAT David Combes is a qualified lawyer, trading standards officer and Managing Director of the national motor trade company Lawgistics, which has its Head Office at Vinpenta House, High Causeway.

David was born in Great Yarmouth and moved to Whittlesey some nineteen years ago. He was the Consumer Protection Officer for Luton, a law lecturer, and ran a commercial fraud squad within the motor trade.

Since 1984 he has worked with the motor trade and the Office of Fair Trading to raise standards within the industry.

What is your fondest memory of your childhood?

Going with my grandfather to the laboratory in the factory where he worked as an industrial chemist.

David Combes

Who has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

The Career Master who told me, at the age of twelve, that I could not fulfil my dream to be a lawyer as my school did not teach Latin. From that time on I was determined to prove him wrong, which I did.

Which two characters, alive or dead, would you most enjoy sharing a meal with and why?

My family, who always make life varied and interesting, and Lord Denning, who was pragmatic, wise, very entertaining and a great character.

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How would you describe yourself in just five words?

Focused, a strategist, confident, logical and a realist.

What’s your favourite thing about Whittlesey?

The community spirit and the relaxed pace of life. ‌And if there was one thing you could change, what would it be, and why?

The whole Planning Department, whose decisions often appear to be random, arbitrary, and devoid of any rationale!

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

Decide what you want to be and do, and go for it - you are only limited by your own aspirations.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Enjoying life and my family to the full.

MAY 2017

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D I S C O V E R I N G

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D I S C O V E R I N G

Whittlesea

69

Spotlight On...

East Elite Allstars

The two teams at the Legacy competition in Birmingham

E

ast Elite was set up in 2013 by Whittlesey women Lisa French and Vicky Thurston, offering cheerleading for anyone, regardless of age or ability.

EEA currently have seven competitive teams involving male and female athletes, ranging in age from 6 to 27. They also have recreational teams for those who wish to take part in the sport, but not compete.

Many people associate cheerleading with American football or basketball games, but Allstar cheerleading is very different. Teams are judged on gymnastic tumbles, dance, stunts, pyramids, jumps and overall impression. It’s even being considered for the Olympic Games!

For Freya Seekins, 13, the club is like a second family: “We're all really close, not just in our own teams but across the whole squad. I suppose we have to be - when you're being thrown two metres into the air, you have to be sure that you’re going to be caught!”

Rio Edey, 17, has been competing with EEA since it was set up, and is now one of the coaches too.

“I can't tell you how much I enjoy being part of this team. I wanted to share my passion for cheerleading with others, and as both a competitor and coach, I get the best of both worlds.”

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The team is currently celebrating a string of recent additions to their trophy cabinet, which began at the ICC Eastern Championships in late February. They entered seven different categories, winning six and taking second place in the seventh.

The following weekend saw their two group stunt teams and soloist travel to Sheffield, where they added another win and two seconds to this year’s impressive trophy haul. Further success followed with two first and two second places at the Legacy competition in Birmingham in March, before a group of coaches, athletes and team mums took part in a 5k Inflatable Run, where they raised just over £2000 towards buying a sprung floor.

Vicky said of their success: “We are just so proud of everyone. The athletes train exceptionally hard to reach these levels of success.” Lisa added: “EEA has only been around for three years, and we now have over one hundred athletes training with us each week. The team has become so popular that we’re looking for new premises in the area, and we hope to be able to start next season in our own gym.”

EEA is currently looking for sponsorship from local businesses to help them move to their own premises.

Could you help? Visit www.easteliteallstars.com, and find the team on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MAY 2017

Club Guide Churches

St. Mary’s Church Station Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1AB www.wpcteam.org.uk St. Andrew’s Church Church Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1DD www.wpcteam.org.uk Holy Trinity Church Coates, North Green, Coates, PE7 2BQ www.wpcteam.org.uk St. Thomas’ Church, Pondersbridge Oilmills Road, Pondersbridge PE26 2TR www.wpcteam.org.uk St. Jude the Apostle Church 2 Station Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1SA 01733 203411 Whittlesey Christian Church 23 Broad Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1HA 01733 752093 www.whittlesey.cc Whittlesey Baptist Church Gracious Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1AR 01733 202236 Whittlesey Methodist & United Reformed Church Queen Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1AY 01733 751681 www.whittleseyqueenstreetchurch.org

Schools

Sir Harry Smith Community College Eastrea Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1XB 01733 703991 www.sirharrysmith.cambs.sch.uk Alderman Jacobs School Drybread Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1XJ 01733 202403 www.aldermanjacobs.cambs.sch.uk

Park Lane School Park Lane, Whittlesey, PE7 1JB 01733 203433 www.parklane.cambs.sch.uk Coates Primary School The Fold, Coates, PE7 2BP 01733 840527 www.coatesprimaryschool.info New Road Primary School New Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1SZ 01733 204422 www.newroadprimary.com

Whittlesey Cricket Club Sir Harry Smith Community College Eastrea Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1XB whittleseycricketclub@gmail.com www.whittlesey.play-cricket.com Whittlesey Indoor Bowls Club 194-8 Station Road Whittlesey, PE7 2HA. Tel: 01733 202209 www.whittleseyibc.co.uk Whittlesey Junior Football Club www.whittleseyjfc.co.uk

Doctors

Whittlesey Street Pride Fred Mills (Chairman): 01733 202874 pongofred1@sky.com Peter Davies (Secretary): PeterDaviesGB@aol.com Whittlesey Ladysmith WI 01733 205927 Whittlesey WI 01733 205148 Whittlesey Royal British Legion Branch meetings: Ivy Leaf Club Gracious Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1AP Hereward Harmony Orton Wistow Community Hall Napier Place, Orton Wistow, Peterborough www.herewardharmony.co.uk March & District Model Railway Club The Rookswood Club, Rookswood, 27 West End March, PE15 8DP 01733 204997 Mike Wyldbore (Secretary): secretary@mdmrc.co.uk www.mdmrc.co.uk Whittlesey Angling Association Andrew Wilding (Secretary): 01733 202071 www.whittleseyaa.org.uk

New Queen Street Surgery Syers Lane, Whittlesey, PE7 1AT 01733 204611 www.thenewqueenstreetsurgery.co.uk Jenner Health Centre Turner’s Lane, Whittlesey, PE7 1EJ 01733 206200 www.jennerhealthcentre.co.uk

Youth

Whittlesey Youth & Community Centre 15 Scaldgate, Whittlesey, PE7 1SD 01733 203624

Sports

Fenland Table Tennis Club Whittlesey Youth & Community Centre, 15 Scaldgate, Whittlesey, PE7 1SD. Contact Peter: 01733 689115 or 07554 624525 Fenland Archery Club Sir Harry Smith Community College Eastrea Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1XB www.fenland-archery.co.uk Whittlesey Amateur Boxing Club Unit 32, Aaron Road, Industrial Estate, Whittlesey, PE7 2EX

Clubs

Whittlesey Lions Club The Letter B, Church Street Whittlesey, PE7 1DE. Steve Palmer: 01733 351405 www.whittleseylions.org.uk whittlesey.lions@btinternet.com Whittlesea Motorcycle Club www.whittlesea-motorcycle-club.co.uk Silver Lining Club Meets Tuesday afternoons in Coates Public Hall, 1.30-3.45pm. Activities include monthly outings, holidays, whist and dominoes. (Membership 50-60). Contact Mr Derek Bedford or Mrs G Hemmaway (Secretary) 01733 202984 Whittlesey Folk Club Bi-monthly sessions are held in The Falcon Hotel, London Street, Whittlesey. Dates for 2017 are 10th February, 14th April, 9th June, 11th August, 13th October, and 8th December. All welcome. For further details contact Sandra and Martin Green 01733 206627 or sandragreenmartingreen@gmail.com Whittlesey Wind Ensemble Thursdays 7:45-9:15pm at Whittlesey Methodist & United Reformed Church, Queen Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1AY www.whittleseywindensemble.com

Museums

Whittlesey Museum The Old Town Hall, Market Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1BD Open Friday 2.30pm- 4.30pm Saturday 10.00am - 12.00 noon Sunday 2.30pm – 4.30pm whittleseymuseum@gmail.com www.whittleseymuseum.co.uk

LOOKING FOR A VENUE IN WHITTLESEY?

CALL RESE NOW T O RVE DAT YOUR E!

St Andrew’s Parish Hall is the perfect venue for Parties, Weddings, Children’s Birthdays & More

Playbus & Inflatable Fun Day TUESDAY 30TH MAY 12NOON-4PM £6pp in advance or £8pp on the day Adults and children under 1 go free Price includes: Unlimited play on the Playbus and inflatables Lucky Dip • Bag of sweets • Free Balloon 4 Free Tokens for the Whittlesey Lions game Visits from special guests - a Princess and a Superhero throughout the afternoon!

To purchase a wristband for our Fun Day, call Cheryl on 01733 359450 or visit our website www.standrewshall.net

ST ANDREW’S PARISH HALL, PARKINSONS LANE, PETERBOROUGH PE7 1BZ Tel: 01733 359450 | Email: enquiries@standrewshall.net | www.standrewshall.net MAY 2017

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What’s On

May 2017 3rd Ramble from River to Rail at Ferry Meadows: Enjoy a gentle stroll along the River Nene to Wansford, where there will be time to look around the NVR station before returning to Ferry Meadows by train. 9.30am-3pm. Entry is free but please bring £4 for the train fare. More info at www.neneparktrust.org.uk.

4th Coming to the Peterborough Arena is acclaimed physicist, TV presenter and author Professor Brian Cox, OBE. The show will take audiences on a dazzling journey through space and time, delving into ‘high science’ and providing a night of captivating entertainment for avid scientists and novices alike. www.peterborougharena.com/events/ event/professor-brian-cox-live.

5th Race Night at Sudbury Court Social Club, 7pm.

6th Palmer Close, New Road, is holding a jumble and nearly-new sale from 10.30am to 12.30pm. All are welcome to pop by and grab some bargains!

6th White Buffalo Music Club: Bob Morgan at Ramsey Forty Foot Village Hall, 8pm. £6.

6th St. Andrew’s Hall hosts a quiz night to raise money for local charity No Gain No Pain UK (NGNPUK), 7.30pm. There’ll be tea and cakes for sale at half time, as well as a raffle, and you’re welcome to bring your own food and drink. Max. 8 per team. £5 per person.

6th The Ivy Leaf Club hosts a Grand Charity Gala, featuring amongst others TV comedian Jimmy Cricket and 60s rock ‘n’ roll star Jess Conrad. All proceeds will be donated equally to St. Mary’s and St. Andrew’s churches.

Tickets are £15 and available from Parker’s Newsagents, Not Just Café, Ostler’s, Whittlesey Travel, Larry’s Heel Bar and Rar Rar’s Café.

7th Walk with a Fork makes a return to Cambridgeshire, raising money for East Anglian children’s charity Ormistion Families. Hosted at Abbots Ripton Hall, near Huntingdon, walkers will embark on an eight mile amble around the picturesque estate, whilst indulging on fresh and tasty treats from local food and drink producers along the way.

Tickets are £23 per person and under-5s go free. Book your ticket at www.ormiston-families.eventbrite.com.

8th Join the Whittlesea Society for their monthly meeting in the Town Hall, 7.30pm. This month’s guest is Dorothy Halfhide speaking on ‘Strangers in Thorney’.

8th Songwriters at The Boat Inn with Steve Gibbs, 8pm.

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11th Fashion and Fizz at Queensgate Shopping Centre is an informal fashion workshop, hosted by John Lewis, on the theme ‘Style for Summer’. The evening will include a prize draw with all proceeds going to Thorpe Hall. 6pm.

Tickets are £5 and available at Thorpe Hall reception. To reserve, call 01733 225940.

12th Half price Bingo at Sudbury Court, 7pm.

12-14th The Friends of St Mary’s Church, Whittlesey, present their annual Art & Crafts Exhibition, featuring many local artists and some works for sale. Entry is £2 per adult but as usual children are free. 10.00am-5.00pm.

13th White Buffalo Music Club: Darren Knight in the Conservative Club function room, 8pm. £6.

13th All are welcome to attend the unveiling of a memorial to the servicemen killed during Exercise Eagle on May 12th 1944, when two planes collided over the countryside near Benwick. The unveiling will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Coates, at 1pm. Final details for the day are still being refined – search The Eagle Project Memorial Unveiling on Facebook.

14th The Peterborough Theatre Organ Preservation Society are holding a dance at Peterborough Regional College, Park Crescent, Peterborough, featuring both the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ and the electronic organ, played by organist Nicholas Martin. 7pm-10pm. Admission on the door is £5, no need to book. Tea and coffee will be available and you are welcome to bring your own drink. If you don’t dance you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of a wonderful evening. Bring a friend!

16th The Boat Inn, Whittlesey: Open Mic (Powered) Session with The Boatmen, 8.45pm.

19th A charity music night at Childers is being hosted in aid of local charities Defibrillators for All and No Gain No Pain UK. Performing on the night will be Holly and the Boatmen, Dave Smith (from Austin Gold) and Anthony Shiels from The Candle Thieves with a Beatles melody.

There’ll also be Whittlesey Motown legend Terry Grant doing a 60s, 70s and Motown mix to finish the night off.

Included in the £10 ticket price is a raffle and light buffet.

19th Karaoke at Sudbury Court, including cheese and a glass of wine. £2.50 per person. 7pm.

20th Great Nights Entertainment presents another evening of Soul, Motown and Disco from the 60s, 70s & the 80s at the Ivy Leaf Club, with a new themed night ‘Back to School’. Fancy dress is optional, but prizes will be given for the best dressed adult Head Boy and Head Girl. The night will feature music by DJs Ian Gray, John Bradley and Andy Coulson, and food, Real Ale and cocktails will be available via the Ivy Leaf. Tickets are £6 in advance or £8

MAY 2017

What’s On

Regular Local Events on the door, and on sale from Larry’s Heel Bar, the Ivy Leaf (01733 202579) or from Andy on 07941 629660.

MONDAYS Coffee morning at Sudbury Court, 9.30am.

20th Come and support Aliwal Manor’s Fun Day and Car Boot, 1.30pm. Proceeds go directly to the residents’ Comfort Fund, which enables residents to enjoy trips, special events in the home and celebrations at birthdays and Christmas. If you’d like a stall or car boot space, call Michelle or Deborah on 01733 203347.

Visit Palmer Close, New Road, for morning coffee (10.30am) and dominoes (1.30pm). Call Julie on 03701 924126 for more details.

20th The City of Peterborough and Harlow Concert Bands will be performing at St. Andrew’s Church, Ledbury Road, Netherton, Peterborough, PE3 9RF, 7pm. Tickets for the concert are £8 each (free for accompanied under-16s) and available from Hilary Lewis (01733 265877) or by emailing petconcertband@gmail.com.

21st Fenland BusFest returns, providing a day of scenic Fenland tours aboard a fleet of vintage buses. The buses will pass through various local towns and villages en route to the Fenland Classic Car Show in Ramsey, taking in numerous pubs on the way. Event programmes (including timetables, vehicle entries and details of pubs) will be available for £5 on the day. Visit www.easternbusgroup.co.uk for more information, or search Fenland BusFest 2017 on Facebook.

21st Visit Whittlesey Museum during BusFest 2017, 10am to 4.30pm. Reminisce over special displays about various local bus companies, and bring the kids along to enjoy a range of activities in the museum. Look out for the ‘bus stop’ sign on Market Street!

26th Card Bingo at Sudbury Court, 7pm.

26th A night of Northern Soul at the Ivy Leaf Club, 7.30pm.

Admission £5. Call 07510 613379 for more information.

26th The Boat Inn, Whittlesey ‘The whisky Bar’ Acoustic Session with The Boatmen, 8.30pm.

27th White Buffalo Music Club: Darren Busby in the Conservative Club function room, 8pm. £6.

29th Doddington Sports Pavilion and Recreation Field hosts a May Bank Holiday Fundraiser in aid of Little Miracles Fenland. Enjoy local singers and dancers, afternoon tea, bouncy castles, a raffle and over thirty stalls. To book your stall or for more information, call 07957 610621.

31st-1st June Do your kids love history? The Key Theatre, Peterborough, presents Horrible Histories – The Best of Barmy Britain – history with the nasty bits left in! £16 per person. Visit www.vivacitypeterborough.com for more details.

MAY 2017

Quiz Night at the Nag’s Head, Eastrea, 8.30pm. £1 to play and max. 5 per team. Cash and raffle prizes to be won!

TUESDAYS Head down to Eastrea Village Hall for painting classes every Tuesday afternoon, 1pm to 4pm. Classes cost £18 for six weeks. For further information, contact Sue on 01733 205241.

Jim’s Bingo at the Conservative Club. No membership needed. Doors open at 7pm, eyes down at 7.30pm.

Bingo at Sudbury Court, 7pm.

Bingo at Palmer Close, 2pm.

WEDNESDAYS Ukulele Strum for Fun at The Ram, Whittlesey. Contact Chris on 07960 316724 for more info.

Bingo at Palmer Close, 6.30pm. Call Julie on 03701 924126 for more details.

Play Scrabble at Palmer Close on the second Wednesday of each month, 1.45pm.

THURSDAYS Join Hereward Harmony Barbershop Chorus for their weekly meeting at Orton Wistow Community Centre, Orton Wistow, PE2 6XN, every Thursday between 7.30pm and 10pm. Contact Brian McDonnell on 07740 987127, or Les Ashton on 07878 734841, for more information.

Jim’s Bingo at the Conservative Club. No membership needed. Doors open at 7pm, eyes down at 7.30pm.

Tai Chi sessions held at Eastrea Village Hall, 7.30pm-9pm.

Beginners most welcome. Part of the Eastern Counties Tai Chi Academy. Contact Jan on 07842 090506 or just turn up. All adults welcome.

Coffee morning at Sudbury Court, 9.30am.

Bingo at Sudbury Court, 2pm.

Visit Palmer Close for morning coffee (10.30am), dominoes (1.30pm) and a fortnightly quiz (6.30pm).

FRIDAYS Lunch at the Conservative Club: Hot food every Friday.

Knit and Natter at Palmer Close, 2pm.

SUNDAYS First Sunday of the month: Jim’s Bingo at the Conservative Club. Doors open at 7.00pm, eyes down at 7.30pm.

To list your event contact editor.whittlesea@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

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The Local Music Scene

On the Road at last...

- by Dave Bailey

Having last month discussed how to progress from your first performance, we now explore gigging, festivals and local radio.

Let’s imagine: you’ve had some success at open mics, and feel you are ready to fly without a safety net. But what comes first - the audience, the venue or the content?

Too many bands and artists rush headlong into arranging a venue, date and fee, with neither a following, nor any idea of what their audience is expecting.

on YouTube, SoundCloud, Facebook and your webpage if you have one. Start promoting the event well in advance with links to original music.

Link the event to the venue’s page, and produce a flyer or poster for them to promote at the venue.

Ensure you include a good promo shot of yourself or your band on the poster, and also on the Facebook event.

Over the last few years, venues have come to expect any band or artist to have a basic number of followers who will swell their regular customer numbers, but this may come at a material cost.

Bands who perform only original work need the audience to be exposed to their work before it can start to be appreciated by a group of loyal followers. Cover acts, on the other hand, usually meet the expectations of the regulars - who may never have heard of you prior to the event - by playing well-known songs.

Ensure also that the venue promotes the event in the local gig guide, or if not, send event details to local gig-listing publishers at least one month before to ensure inclusion. Local magazines may also have a “What’s On” guide.

Most venues will expect at least two 45-minute sets, and you will need to have at least a further three or four songs to perform (hopefully) for the encores at the end of the second set.

The next area to consider is what to put in a set list, and your interaction with the audience… but that will have to wait until next month! See you on the circuit!

So how can you build support for your act? One of the best things you can do is post original tracks

Open mic listings can be found at www.outa-stock.co.uk/OM.htm

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Contact local community radio stations that specialise in local artists, and see if you can get on their slot for new and emerging artists. It is also a good idea to approach any local festival organisers who have advertised for performers for their music stage.

MAY 2017

Local Event

Free Family Fun at St. Andrew’s Hall Organisers at St. Andrew’s Hall invite you to an afternoon of celebration on Sunday June 11th, featuring a range of refreshments and the live musical talents of several local artists.

The event is being hosted to celebrate the hall’s continued success over the past year, and as a thank you to all those who have supported the venue, both through hiring and attending. With free entry, a licensed outside bar and a variety of food available to purchase, why not bring the family down for what promises to be a fantastic afternoon?

Adding to the celebratory mood will be an impressive line-up of local talent, including Holly and the Boatmen, James Edmonds, Sophie Frear and Vicki Mason. Organiser Cheryl Jakes said: “Building on the success of what began as a

MAY 2017

one-off event last year, June 11th promises to offer a fun, friendly and inexpensive afternoon of entertainment for the whole family.”

“The event is really to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the hall and helped it grow from strength to strength. Such was the success of last year’s event that we decided to repeat it this year, and we hope to make it an annual occasion in the future.”

Don’t miss it! Head to St. Andrew’s Hall, Parkinson’s Lane, on June 11th, 2.00pm-5.00pm.

D I S C O V E R I N G

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Spring Business Directory

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LAUNDRETTE

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26-28 Broad Street, Whittlesey PE7 1HA sales@kellyvision-kcs.co.uk | www.kellyvision-kcs.co.uk DOpen: I S C OMonday V E R I Nto G Saturday Whittlesea9am-5pm Closed: Thursday & Sunday MAY 2017