Discovering Wisbech issues 055, November 2022

Welcome to your November issue...

It’s getting closer by the day, and I’m not talking about the ticklish thirty days ahead for us ladies, as some of our chaps let loose that moustache once more during “Movember”. No, I’m talking turkey, trees, tinsel and trimming-up, as the whole wonderful Christmas season gathers momentum once more. Whatever you are planning over the next few weeks and hopefully finding plenty of ideas in this issue to help you, make sure to book early for your special events.

I hope you all continue to find your “Discovering” magazine both entertaining and useful, as we approach the Christmas period, just around the corner. Finally, I’d like to wish our youngest son, Ed, a very happy 21st birthday this month – where have those years gone?!

Claire x

I recently went on a ‘Jolly Boys’ coach outing to the races with some friends and fellow punters.

It’s always a good day, regardless of whether I back a winner – a rare event – and this was no exception.

A few drinks, much mickey taking and one race win later we stopped off at a pub on the way home which was completely deserted save for staff dressed in lederhosen and a DJ banging out some Euro disco hits.

Now bearing in mind this place was not in a built-up area, it was a very strange scene. However, it was quickly established that they were having a German-themed Oktoberfest celebration later that evening and sure enough the place soon started filling up with customers.

We only stayed for a couple of drinks but were there just long enough to enjoy a young Oompah band entertain the audience with their versions of modern day, classic pop songs... a very surreal experience but one which in these days of unremitting gloomy news was an unexpected but welcome surprise...

Inside Highlights

Discovering Wisbech is published by a local team and is not associated with any other business. Care is taken to ensure that the content and information is correct at the time of going to press; however, we cannot take any responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by any errors. Permission must be granted to reproduce, copy or scan anything from this publication. For a copy of our contributors’ guidelines please email info@discoveringmagazines.co.uk.

thanks to: Diamond Byte, Whiting LLP, March Podiatry,

Donald, Bridget

Deadline details: Copy deadline for the December

is

The business officially opened in May 2019. Tom Westbrook, the man behind the company, had more than twenty-five years’ experience in the trade before embarking on this new challenge.

Tom explains: “I’ve always dreamed of running my own business and still to this day feel overwhelmed by the support received from local customers.”

Tom loves running his own business and especially enjoys meeting people and helping with any job big or small. From repairing draughty letter boxes, changing locks, hinges, and glass to replacing a house full of windows or fitting a stylish new door he is always happy to provide a free no obligation quote.

Tom has always been a big believer in repairing wherever possible. Often to the surprise of many customers, Tom can complete lots of different aspects of repair work, saving them the expense of buying new.

Tom and his wife Suzanne are very grateful to the customers that have supported their growing business over the last two-and-a-half years. They are looking to the future and excited about what the future holds for the developing business.

If

would like further information about how Westbrook Window Repairs can help please call them on 01354 653445 and follow them on Facebook.

Quality bathrooms and kitchens on tap in Whittlesey

Whittlesey Bathroom & Kitchen Studio Ltd has built up a loyal customer base since first opening more than twenty-five years ago.

The business was set up in 1996 to provide top quality bathrooms, adding kitchens to its portfolio around ten years ago.

Owner Mick Irvine said: “We are a family run business and have never looked back since we opened. A lot of our work comes from recommendations and we take personal pride in the service we provide. Around 95 percent is repeat business from customers within a twentyfive-mile radius of Whittlesey.

“Although we have added kitchens, bathrooms are still the main business activity. We are ‘old school’, we like to offer primarily British products combined with a professional and friendly service.” The directors, Mick and Deborah, are supported in the business by daughter Louise, and two sons Wayne and Jason. They have experienced fitting teams who have been with the company since leaving school and are frequently complimented on how friendly, efficient, and professional they are.

Whittlesey Bathroom & Kitchen Studio offers a full free consultation service upon request with no obligation to purchase. It offers the complete package when choosing your new bathroom, wet room or kitchen, to make the process as simple as possible, with so many products across the board on display to help create your luxurious bathroom, wet room or kitchen.

Bathroom Fitting

The company believes that everyone deserves to have a beautiful bathroom that they love, without breaking the bank. That’s why it offers competitive prices on all of its services. And because it only uses the highest quality materials, customers can be sure that their bathroom will last for years to come.

Kitchens

When people are choosing a kitchen, they often overlook the quality of the products, getting carried away with the colour, design or style but the company says the durability of the units is the key foundation of a new kitchen. Its Sheraton kitchens are built to last, with every kitchen cabinet coming with a fifteen-year guarantee.

Wet Rooms

Mick says more homeowners are now turning towards wet rooms and shower enclosures and the company can provide stylish, contemporary shower solutions to overcome bathing difficulties. Its wet rooms can be custom-built to suit all customers’ requirements giving them style and flexibility. The company undertakes all work from start to finish, from design to installation including:

• Removal of the existing kitchen or bathroom

• Fitting new units/worktops or bathroom products

Wall and floor tiling work

Plumbing work

General building work

Electrics

Plastering

Contact Whittlesey Bathroom & Kitchen Studio Ltd, 8-10 Syers Lane, Whittlesey, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE7 1AT. Opening hours: TuesdayFriday, 9am-5pm; Saturday 10am-4pm. Tel: (01733) 206733; Email: whittleseybaths@aol.com; www.whittleseybathroomsandkitchens.co.uk

Acole is the answer to all your plumbing needs

Acole Plumbing Services Ltd is a new business that has been set up to deal with Fenland homeowners‘ plumbing and heating requirements.

It has been launched by March-based Colin Ovenden who has more than thirty years’ experience in the business, primarily carried out in London.

Colin moved to the town from the capital five years ago and after being employed locally has now decided to venture out on his own.

He said: “I love living in March and felt the time was right to start my own business.

“I am looking to focus on all general domestic plumbing and heating work, predominantly repair and refurbishment, in the March, Wisbech and Whittlesey area.”

Contact Acole Plumbing Services Ltd on (01354) 650502; or 07759 768060; Email: acoleplumbing@btinternet.com

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TOP INTERNET TRICKS AND TIPS

Tabbed Browsing

When browsing a website and you spot a link that interests you, you can open this link in a new tab so as not to interrupt your reading. Hold down the Ctrl Key and left click on the link. Alternatively, if your mouse has a wheel, click the wheel on the link. To open a new blank tab, press Ctrl + T

http:// and www

When entering an internet address, you don’t need to type http:// or even www in the URL bar.

Move between the fields of a web page

If you are filling out an online form or other text field, press the Tab key to move to the next field and Shift + Tab to move back a field. This also applies to buttons: Press the Tab key to highlight a button, then press the space bar or enter to ‘push’ the button.

Know your Internet browser shortcuts (Internet Explorer & Firefox)

There are dozens of shortcut keys that can be used with Internet browsers, such as:

• Alt + D or Ctrl + L will move the cursor into the address bar.

• Hold down the Ctrl key and press the + or to increase or decrease the size of text. Ctrl + 0 will reset the text.

• Press the backspace key or press Alt + left arrow to go back a page.

• Press F5 to refresh or reload a web page.

• Press Ctrl + F to open the find box to search for text within the web page you are reading.

Use Internet search engines to their full potential

If you can’t find what you want, try putting the text in quotes. For example, searching for ‘computer help’ without quotes returns results with ‘computer’ and ‘help’ anywhere on the page. However, if you search for ‘computer help’ with the quotes, it only returns pages with ‘computer’ and ‘help next to each other.

Try alternative browsers

Most computer users use the default browser that comes included with the computer. However, there are other alternative browsers that are free to download and use and may have features your current browser does not include. Our favourites are Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Make sure your browser is up to date

Keeping your Internet browser up to date is important for both security and ensuring that web pages load properly. Most providers should automatically download updates and prompt you when they are ready to install.

PHILIP AT DIAMOND BYTE

FURTHER ARTICLES FROM DIAMOND BYTE CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE: DIAMONDBYTE.CO.UK/BLOG

customers, Tom can complete lots of different aspects of repair work, saving them the expense of buying new.

Tom and his wife Suzanne are very grateful to the customers that have supported their growing business over the last two-and-a-half years. They are looking to the future and excited about what the future holds for the developing business.

If you would like further information about how Westbrook Window Repairs can help please call them

follow them

Red Tape Reduction...

Keith Day

Six years ago, the government embarked on a £10b campaign to reduce ‘red tape’. Have you noticed major differences since 2016? Although there has been a drop in the number of complaints by our clients, it’s hardly been seismic.

A boost to accelerate reduction was launched a month ago so, by the time you read this, changes in the so-called ‘small company threshold’ should have filtered their way down the system.

However, a month is a very long time in politics so, in broad terms, the changes around red tape relating to the small company threshold are expected to remove 40,000 businesses from certain reporting regulations.

Since January 2016, when the acronym SME became commonly used for Small and Mid-Size Enterprises, companies qualified if they met two or more of the following criteria:

• Annual turnover: £10.2m

• Gross Assets: £5.1m

• Average number of employees: 50

To qualify as an SME, these terms had to be met for two consecutive financial years.

However, Brexit has now come into play creating greater flexibility so, from October 3 this year the average number of employees increased from 50 to 500. This could rise to 1000 employees once the impact of the recent change has been reviewed.

Should this happen, more SMEs will be able to qualify as ‘small’ and take advantage of various relaxations in administration. These could include:

• Exemption from statutory audits

• Preparation of simpler annual statutory accounts

• Filing reduced accounts at Companies House,

• Exemption from consolidating group accounts.

How are these changes likely to impact your business affairs? Talk to your usual Whitings LLP contact. First consultations for new clients are FREE.

Information

Bury St. Edmunds

Ely

King’s Lynn

March

Mildenhall

Peterborough

Ramsey

St. Neots

Wisbech

FENLAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

By Bridget Hunter

We offer support and help to those interested in family history no matter where the family originated. We record and transcribe records in the Fenland area, which covers three counties. We often get requests to look up a record or to photograph a grave for distant members. Not all records are online, so we may be able to provide the information members are looking for.

INTERESTING FACTS

I heard someone say ‘she is a friend with benefits’, thinking it was a new thing. But it has been going on for generations. I have recently been researching for a family who told me their surname had been changed from WHITE to BLACK but not sure why or when. I have called them BLACK & WHITE, but they are not their real names. As I worked back through the generations, I found a Mary BLACK who was housekeeper to a farmer named Robert WHITE. A closer look told me Robert WHITE was a married man and living apart from his wife... he had living with him an unmarried housekeeper named Mary BLACK, also showing on the census were six children with the surname BLACK. So, Mary was his ‘friend with benefits’ and it explained why the family said their name had been changed from WHITE.

We have a famous example of Mr Joseph MEDWORTH (1752-1827), of Wisbech Castle, who was a married man but his wife Sarah nee FISHER preferred to live in London. He had housekeepers with benefits. When housekeeper Mary ROWELL became a mother, he housed her and children in a house in The Crescent, and employed another

housekeeper with benefits, Sarah GIBSON aka MILLER. There appears to have been at least seven children by this union with benefits. Joseph Medworth built the present villa known as The Castle in 1816 using material from the previous castle. He also redesigned much of Wisbech including The Crescent. I am sure you can follow this up and learn the interesting story of the life of Joseph Medworth.

COMPUTER RESEARCH SESSIONS are held twice a month, but our team is willing to attend local events with a display linked to the theme of the event being held. If WiFi is available, we can offer family research to visitors. The first monthly research session is in Wisbech Library on the FIRST TUESDAY of each month from 10am-12 noon. Our other session is on the SECOND MONDAY of each month from 11am-2.30pm in the restaurant at Baytree Garden Centre in Hilgay near Downham Market.

MONTHLY MEETINGS are held in Wisbech Library from 7pm-9pm on the FOURTH Thursday. There is no meeting in December. If the month has FIVE Thursdays, remember it is NOT the last Thursday of the month. Our November 24th meeting will be an open one with lots of members’ participation, with an exchange of stories about family history researched, including a very interesting tale by our new committee member about her great grandmother. It will also include a quiz and buffet, plus a display of family trees created by our members. Everyone is welcome to attend. Members free, visitors a £2 donation.

For further information on any of the above, please call me on (01945) 587723.

FOR ANXIETY

Do you feel like you’re constantly under pressure?

Do you feel like you’re struggling to keep up with the demands of everyday life?

Do you feel like anxiety and stress are ruling your life?

Then hypnotherapy could be the answer for you!

According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly 40% of adults experience some form of anxiety.

It is relatively healthy to have some level of anxiety. But when it gets in the way of your everyday activities, it’s time to deal with it.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool that can help you overcome stress and anxiety quickly and effectively. It works by tackling the root cause of the problem on the subconscious level, so the changes are permanent and long-lasting.

During my hypnotherapy sessions, you will be awake and conscious and able to talk to me and remember everything that happened in the session. You will feel better immediately after your first session, learn how to deal with your emotions, and find it easier to manage challenges in your everyday life.

My Approach

I use a unique programme that resembles psychotherapy but on a profound level, working with emotions; while classic

hypnotherapy leads a client into a trance-like state and gives positive suggestions.

I mainly work with clients that experienced adverse situations in their lives and who want to eliminate the negative impact those situations had on them.

So if you’re ready to take control of your life and overcome stress and anxiety, Lera Hypnotherapy can help!

The Anxiety Elimination Programme

Consisting of six intense 1.5-hour sessions, we will, together, find the root cause of your anxiety and re-programme your mind. It will involve deep emotional work and requires a total commitment on your behalf.

My Anxiety Elimination Programme In November 2022, a special offer for my Anxiety Elimination Programme is £350* (for all six sessions). This programme is powered by a proven method 5-PATH, so you can be sure that the sessions are tailored to suit your needs to get the desired results.

So if every day feels like a battle to keep your head above water, contact me today and see how the Anxiety Elimination Programme can start your journey to a happier, healthier life in just days!

Email me at lerahypnotherapy@ gmail.com or send a message to 07919 924569 to get started. We’ll then arrange an informal discussion to see if the Anxiety Elimination Programme is right for you.

Feel free to explore my website lerahypnotherapy.com

Here to help you feel better, Valerie Robins, MH, AdvHyp, QGHR, 5-PATH IAHP

Certified Hypnotherapist

*£350 with mention of the Discovering Wisbech Magazine. Normal Price £600.

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Give The Gift Of Good Health

At this time of year it can be hard to find a suitable present for loved ones. We all know how important it is to stay fit and healthy and our team of clinicians can help you to stay active and doing the things you love.

We offer gift vouchers for any amount to spend on our treatments or products we sell, to help you to look after your feet. They make the perfect gift at any time of year, but especially Christmas, to help to support those new year resolutions to look after yourself more!

We can take orders over the phone and send them to you or they are available for collection from our reception. Call us on 01354 651200.

March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ Tel 01354 651200 www.marchpodiatry.co.uk

March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ

March Podiatry Practice Ltd 47-49 High Street, March PE15 9JJ Tel 01354 651200 www.marchpodiatry.co.uk

Opening hours: Mon 9am-7pm, Tues 9am-5pm, Weds 9am-7pm, Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-1pm

Are you ready for Eddie’s?

Eddie’s offers a huge variety of activities for adults with disabilities that aim to promote independence and encourage ongoing development.

Based in a spacious building on Norwood Road, March, members can attend and participate in activities from gardening, woodwork, music and movement, to mixed media and sew and stitch.

Senior Arts Co-ordinator, Lisa Jenns, said, “Our new location has enabled us to develop and begin growing produce for our ‘food to fork’ project. This has involved us planting, growing, maintaining and harvesting our own vegetables to make things such as ratatouille and soup.”

“Our woodwork members use skills to reuse old wood and create new items such as bird tables, planters, hanging baskets and much more for our enterprise project in our pop-up shop.”

Eddie’s is open to men and women with learning disabilities aged over eighteen. The day service runs Monday- Friday 9.30am-3.30pm. On Thursday evenings, Eddie’s opens for their Splat Theatre group, with sessions for both adults and children. Here members can join in with all things theatre from singing, dancing to performing on stages around the county

For more information, contact Eddie’s on 01354 655487; Email: info@eddies.org.uk; www.eddies.org.uk

Eddie’s has been providing support for people with learning difficulties in Cambridgeshire for more than seventy years and has top-class facilities in March.

November is generally the wettest month in this part of the country so try to make the most of dry, clear days.

If you spend time preparing the ground by clearing old vegetation, removing weeds, and thoroughly digging the plot, you will reap the benefits next year. Don’t dig if the ground is waterlogged and try to dig before the frosts take hold, as they will help to break down the soil. Also spread a good layer of well-rotted manure over the surface – no need to dig it in; it will be absorbed naturally and the worms will help it find its way into the soil. You can also cover the ground to keep weeds at bay, to prevent heavy rains from leaching the soil of nutrients and keep it warmer for earlier planting in the spring.

This is the time of year to prune fruit trees and bushes, except for cherries and plums, before the weather gets really cold. Also, bare-rooted fruit trees, bushes and canes should be planted now whilst they are dormant. Once planted, spread a mulch of well-rotted manure around the base. Other tasks for this month include:

• Propagate rhubarb crowns by lifting and dividing into smaller pieces, planting at the same depth in their new position. Spread well-rotted manure around the plant, but don’t cover the crown.

• Secure covers over compost heaps/bins. Although the material needs to be damp, winter rain and snow will saturate it and slow the rotting process down.

• Start to harvest winter cabbage, Brussels sprouts, leeks, and parsnips, (wait until after a frost for the parsnips as the frost encourages the sugars which give parsnips their sweetness). Pick sprouts from the bottom up as this allows the top ones a chance to swell.

• Plant garlic cloves, if you haven’t already, and if you have heavy soil that tends to hold water then put either gravel or sharp sand in the base of the hole before planting. If you have planted them, check that the birds have not dislodged them.

• Protect cauliflowers from frost by bending over a few leaves to cover the curds and tie them in place.

• Cover late crops with cloches and net brassicas to prevent the pigeons from enjoying them before you can.

• If you have acidic soil spread some lime over the surface and rake it in but not at the same time as adding manure.

• Take hardwood cuttings from fruit bushes.

Finally spare a thought for hedgehogs at this time of year as they are in serious decline. Check before lighting any bonfires, and why not put a hedgehog house in a quiet corner of your plot or leave a messy area over winter? They’re great allies in the fight against slugs and snails!

Lyncroft Care Home

Lyncroft Care Home provides the kind of care we’d want all of our loved ones to receive. Our newly refurbished home is beautifully furnished, whilst retaining a warm family atmosphere that makes Lyncroft feel extra special. If you’re concerned about how your relative is coping and would like them to have more support, Lyncroft provides family-led care in a luxurious and homely environment.

Interesting and Curious Facts of Yesteryear

THE FENS’ FLOOD

The story starts unusually with a ration book and it begins in December 1946, just one years after the terrible Second World War had finished.

People were trying to get over a war that had lasted six years with all the death and destruction that it brought. There were still shortages, mainly in towns and cities, but in the Fens, it wasn’t so bad. Many people had smallholdings, they were able to keep cows, pigs, chickens and of course fruit and vegetables. This meant that many people in the Fens had a better standard of living than their more wealthy neighbours living in towns and cities.

People were still being issued with ration books and basic food items such as sugar, meat, fats, bacon and cheese were rationed as was petrol. The last thing people wanted was a bad winter. Sadly, they were going to get it.

What the Fens and, for that matter, the country needed was a good harvest. But weather doesn’t always be kind to the farmer and six weeks of snow certainly didn’t help. There were massive disruptions of energy to homes and workplaces. Sadly, animal herds froze or starved to death.

And by February there were huge snow drifts, in some places twenty-feet high. Roads had snow piled up high on either side with just a narrow bit of road visible. By the end of the month everywhere was covered in snow, the earth was frozen solid and

large drifts of snow blocked roads and railways. They had problems getting the coal to the electricity power stations meaning that the stations had to shut down for some of the time. Electricity was on for nineteen hours a day and some companies weren’t allowed any.

Television was cancelled and the hours of radio broadcasts were cut. Even the people at Buckingham Palace worked by candlelight. As well, there were worries about food. Vegetables were frozen in the ground; they just couldn’t get them out. Temperatures got as low as minus 21 degrees! It was so cold that you could see ice flows off the East Anglian coast.

You would think people had suffered enough but worse was to come. In March it got warmer and this was going to lead to yet more problems. Being warmer, the snow melted but it couldn’t go anywhere because the ground was frozen solid. Then there was torrential rain, more than two inches (50mm) in thirty-six hours. After weeks and weeks of frost, the ground was hard and wouldn’t soak up the rain or the melted snow. The flooding started in Southern England and then as a large Atlantic depression crossed the country it spread northwards. Rivers burst their banks, railway embankments collapsed, roads were impassable and many places were flooded including Devon and Cornwall.

By the middle of the month, we experienced high winds with gusts of more than 100mph and more

Unusual, fascinating and sometimes amusing, by the author of ‘Wisbech’s Secret Princess’, Chris Donald

Then there was torrential rain, more than two inches (50mm) in thirty-six hours. After weeks and weeks of frost, the ground was hard and wouldn’t soak up the rain or the melted snow.

Open Saturdays 10am until 12pm and Wednesdays 2pm until 4pm.

you have a project you would like to work on or would just like to meet up with others for a chat and a coffee, come along and see the facilities that are on offer.

, 5 Martins Avenue, March, PE15 0AY

more information, please contact Dave Everett on 07766

or Ellie Buckton on 01354 707411.

rain than had been experienced for three hundred years. Many, many places in Britain were flooded and more than 100,000 homes were affected. Here in the Fens, we had strong south westerly winds that caused big waves to push the water over the dykes resulting in large areas of low-lying land being flooded.

For once the Fens with all its dykes and pumping stations couldn’t cope and the result was widespread flooding mostly to the southern Fens but North Cambridgeshire suffered too.

It was all hands on deck; the drainage workers were helped by farm hands and volunteers and even the German prisoners of war helped. Due to the hard work of so many people things gradually got back to normal and the farmers were able to sow the fields. We ended up having a good harvest. If you are aged eighty or more you will remember this flood. But we have had some floods since then. The 1978 floods were not good for Wisbech; one thousand people were evacuated and an eighty-year-old woman was drowned in her own bed.

Since then, in 2013 the River Nene came within inches of coming over the top of the flood walls, and in October 2019 we had flash floods after just twenty minutes of a very heavy downpour. Anywhere in the country places are at risk of flash floods but despite this, our town is classified as low risk for flooding. And there are many, many places in this country that are far more likely to get flooded, but it wasn’t always so………...

The Beginning

WEDNESDAY 23RD -

Tickets: Wed & Thurs: £7.50 adult, £6 child (U12), £20 family. Fri & Sat: £8 adult, £6.50 child (U12), £25 family. Booking fee applies. U3’s free.

Timed evening entry. This event will go ahead whatever the weather. Please dress accordingly.

now:

2022

David Rose

Cost of Living Support in Fenland

Across the country, people are struggling with the cost of living. Energy, food and fuel prices continue to rise, leaving people facing the biggest squeeze in household budgets for more than 50 years.

To help people manage their household budget, Fenland District Council have teamed up with energy partner PECT and Citizen's Advice Rural Cambs to ensure that everyone has access to the support and guidance available.

Gaming for Life Skills is a local scheme funded by the European Union Social Fund. It`s open to all adults living in the Wisbech area and is completely free of charge. The aim is to support the health and well-being of rural people, through virtual reality games and experiences. Sessions are designed to help individuals become more social, with activities to promote improved mental health and support the development of basic skills.

You can travel to distant worlds, battle with orcs and walk alongside dinosaurs or simply allow yourself to escape to a peaceful haven.

The programme is for adults of all ages, offering a unique experience to ignite your imagination and inspire the explorer in you.

The friendly team of instructors make the experiences easy and fun, they’ll introduce you to new people, and before you know it - you’ll find yourself having fun and enjoying the challenges within the virtual reality environments.

No need to book, you can drop in at anytime during the sessions- available at: Oasis Community Centre

Every Friday 11am-3pm

Queen Mary Community Centre Every Thursday 1pm-4pm

Check out this great opportunity to build your confidence, meet new people and learn some new skills!

Brought to you by the award winning

RATz Theatre Company

by Alex Jackson

Let your hair down and enjoy the latest adventure from the award-winning RATz Theatre Company, Fenland’s home for traditional family pantomime! This year promises to be packed with spectacular characters, toe tapping tunes and hair-larious jokes.

See our website for full list of dates and times

book your tickets todaywww.anglestheatre.co.uk

A new shop

in ‘everything Gothic’ has been given a civic seal of approval. Wisbech Mayor, Susan Wallwork has opened Dark Realms in the town’s Market Street, which is being run by Heavy Metal fan, Nigel Swan and his Goth partner, Andrena Bidgood.

Nigel (47) said: ”We stock everything Goth and also Heavy Metal and Punk clothing through to associated ornaments, candles and crystals. We decided to open the shop as we used to get stopped in the street and asked where we got our clothing from by people who have previously had to travel to places like Peterborough and Norwich to buy their clothing.

“Since the opening, the response has been terrific. It has been featured on Facebook and has attracted a lot of interest. We play the appropriate music in the shop so customers can enjoy a real niche experience.”

Dark Realms is located at 7 Market Street, Wisbech PE13 1EX; Tel: 01945 463053; Email:

Wisbech Yoga Club Meets

7pm-8.15pm.

Rings End Nature Reserve Family workshops for all to be involved in. Meets every second Sunday of the month in the car park for the nature reserve Rings End PE15 0BE. Conservation for all 9.30am-12noon. To Please call Hayley on 07962 337988 for more information

Wisbech and District Flower Club Meets every

Monday

Wisbech from

Please

Fenland Archaeological Society (FenArch)

Fenland Foragers Fenland Foragers runs The Little Acorns toddler group on Wednesday mornings, 9-11am in St Johns Church grounds on Station Road, March along with Nature Detectives a group for al ages 9.30-11.30am every other Friday. To book please call Hayley on 07962 337988 www.fenland-foragers-forestsch.class4kids.co.uk

Friends of Wisbech & Fenland Museum hold monthly talks at Wisbech Public Library. For further details, please see (Insert ‘Facebook’ or its

of those no longer in full-time employment. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month in St Peter’s Church Hall, Wisbech at 2-30pm. We have lots to offer you so please come along and find out for yourself. www.u3asites.org.uk/wisbech

ALL AGES AND LEVELS WELCOME

Top Movie Picks For November

Get set for another vibranium-fuelled adventure with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever released on November 11th. Black Panther was a cultural phenomenon that broke box-office records and stood out from the crowd as a celebration of African culture. The sequel looks to be no different, but also an epic and emotional love letter to the franchise’s late star Chadwick Boseman. Tickets are on sale now!

Family Favourites

From the director of Big Hero 6, Moana, and Raya and The Last Dragon comes a new breed of animated Disney adventure. Strange World blasts onto our screens on November 23rd, taking us to a place where nothing is as it first appears, from blue gloop creatures to pieces of environment that can get up and walk themselves off. Strange World delivers a colourful amount of wonder and mystery for the whole family to enjoy.

Film adaption of the smash-hit musical phenomenon based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book finally hits our screens on November 25th. Matilda The Musical follows Matilda Wormwood –a little girl with big curiosity and a vivid imagination – and the worst parents in the world, as she enters through the menacing school gates of Cruncham Hall. Expect hit songs from the stage show musical, as well as fresh takes on iconic scenes including Bruce Bogtrotter and his chocolate cake, a child being swung by her pigtails in the playground, and Matilda’s father having his hair dyed purple. That’s all before Emma Thompson is finally revealed, yet almost unrecognisable as the haughty and horrid headmistress Miss Trunchball.

Event Cinema

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) makes her West End debut in The Seagull – screening on November 3rd, 7th and 9th. This 21st century retelling of Anton Chekhov’s tale of love and loneliness filmed live in London’s West End, follows a young woman who is desperate for fame and a way out. A young man is pining after the woman of his dreams. A successful writer longs for a sense of achievement. An actress wanting to fight the changing of the times. In an isolated home in the countryside, dreams lie in tatters, hopes are dashed, and hearts broken. With nowhere left to turn, the only option is to turn on each other.

Don’t miss ROH: A Diamond Celebration showing for one night only on November 16th. The Royal Ballet’s dazzling principals lead an evening not to be missed, their sparkling talents a perfect fit for a diamond anniversary. Celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of The Friends of Covent Garden, this programme recognises the amazing support of all ROH Friends past and present.

Tickets for more events from Royal Opera House and National Theatre available to buy now!

Christmas Gifts

Starting your Christmas shopping early? Why not give the gift of film?

The Light gift cards are available to buy in cinema or online from £10 to £150, you can add one of our lovely gift tins, reminiscent of old film canisters with a film production sticker, and even personalise with your own message, printed on one of our stylish notecards. For more information head over to wisbech.thelight.co.uk

Matilda The Musical

Strange World

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The Seagull