LADIESLift your spirits and body with Charley
FDCTHE ELECTORAL COMMISSION - DO YOU HAVE PHOTO ID?
SPRING IS IN THE AIRClean up with Optimum Pressure Washing
A FANTASTIC RANGE OF DESIGNS FROM CONTEMPORARY TO CLASSIC
We have the biggest choice in the area with unbeatable prices and amazing service from a family business you can trust – why not pay us a visit!
SOFAS | CHAIRS | FURNITURE | BEDS | MATTRESSES
FLOORING | CURTAINS | BLINDS & MUCH, MUCH MORE
Furniture, Flooring & Bed Centre
Lancaster Way
Business Park, Ely
CB6 3NX
Furniture, Flooring Bed Centre & Homestore
Bridge Street
Downham Market
PE38 9DS
T: 01366 382213 reedshomestore.co.uk
T: 01353 669754
Mother’s Day already! “Life doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with a mother” – an old saying, but a true one! We all need help in finding our way through all the various ups and downs of life, and there, right from day one has been that wonderful (sometimes), smiling (often) and loving (always) lady we are so proud to call “Mum.”
Sadly, Paula and I lost our dear mother recently, and I’m sure that anyone having experienced such a loss will know about the feelings of grief and helplessness, but also the warmth which comes from the many memories we have been so lucky to have been left with. Part of her funeral service included the following lines, which I find so comforting:
“Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her Or you can be full of the love you shared.”
Finally, from all of us mums, thanks in advance for the flowers, chocolates, perfume and big hugs, as we try our hardest … without a manual!
I recently had cause to ring a government agency to answer an enquiry they had made about my business. It was regarding a letter they had sent me after they had failed to take notice of an email I had previously sent to them.
I was greeted by the usual ‘press one for this enquiry, two for another and three if you want to spend the rest of your life on the phone...’
After hanging on for what seemed days (fifty minutes) I was interrupted by a work phone call from someone I had been trying to track down for some time so stopped listening to the hideous muzak being played while I waited to engage with the new caller.
This all, of course, meant that I had to start the entire process again, which at the time of writing is still progressing.
Wouldn’t it be nice just for once to speak with a human being who can deal with your phone call? Modern technology, don’t you just love it...
Account Manager Paula Kirtland: 07903 776211marketing.discoveringmagazines@gmail.com
Publisher and Sales Claire Saberton
Sales Sally Anne Davis: 07737026594
Ops Director Andy Armstrong
Editor Andy Hurst: editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Accounts Sarah Brooks: 07564 966452 accounts@discoveringmagazines.co.uk
Design Andy Beavis | Sarah Gumbley | Graham Copestake | Dan Handley
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.
Hopefully spring is on its way and the longer daylight hours mean more time to spend at the allotment or on your vegetable patch. Although we may get some warm days it doesn’t necessarily mean that the soil will be warm enough for sowing, so be cautious.
If you have chitted your first early potatoes and the ground is not frozen they can be planted out from mid-March or early April, but it is well worth covering them to protect them from the late frosts. Don’t forget to add a light sprinkling of fertiliser to the trench.
Never planted an asparagus bed? Now is the time. Dig a trench 12 inches deep and add some well-rotted manure. Make a 4-inch ridge at the base and spread the roots of the crown over the ridge, replace the soil, leaving the tips just visible. Water in and add mulch. Don’t forget to leave the asparagus for two years before actually harvesting.
Now is the time to start a runner bean or celery trench, both of which need a rich fertile, moisture retaining soil. The trench should be 60-90cm (2-3ft) wide and 30cms (1ft) deep. Regularly fill them with vegetable peelings, tea bags etc. Each time you add a new layer, cover with soil. Other jobs to do – and there’s plenty of them!
• Lettuces and other salad crops can be sown indoors or outdoors under cloches or in cold frames. Tomato and cucumber seeds can be sown indoors but wait until the end of the month.
• Sow Brussels sprouts, cabbage, sprouting broccoli indoors and to take full advantage of the ripening season sow aubergines, chillies, and peppers indoors.
• Herbs such as rosemary and sage will benefit from a good trim, and chives and mint can be propagated by dividing them and re-planting.
• Plant out onion and shallot sets – last chance to plant garlic.
• Early varieties of carrot, beetroot, spring onions, peas, chard, parsnips, spinach and broad beans can be sown into the open ground but may need to be under cover.
• Last chance for planting bare-rooted fruit trees and bushes.
• Feed and mulch fruit trees – fertilise the base, water in and then cover with well-rotted manure or compost to act as a mulch.
• Remove dead leaves from cabbages and Brussels.
• Don’t forget to feed your over-wintered crops such as onions, kale, spring cabbage – use blood, fish and bone meal, chicken manure or seaweed–based organic fertiliser.
• If you’re into “no-dig” or have raised beds, March continues to be one of the best times of year to top up your beds. Using manure or compost allows for an increase in nutrients. It also increases soil depths where any soil has been lost due to the worms.
• Prepare seed beds by raking over to a fine tilth and add fertiliser.
Lawns do wonders for our wellbeing. That’s why we’ve devised three programmes of year-round treatments to keep your grass a cut above.
From controlling weeds to bringing out the green, we’ll help you to look after the lawn that looks after you.
There are so many reasons to shop online – you can buy anything from AA batteries to Z-beds, prices are competitive, shipping is fast and even returns are easy. For the most part, online shopping is safe. However, a bit of common sense and a fair amount of caution is required so as not to fall into the hands of online fraudsters. Here are some of our tips to help keep your fi nances safe.
• When signing up for a new account online, only fi ll out the fi elds which are required. There’s no need to enter your address, phone number or any other personal details (even your middle name) if the site doesn’t ask you to. No online shopping store needs your NI number or your birth date to do business. However, if crooks get them, combined with your credit card number for purchases,
they can do a lot of damage. The more they know, the easier it is to steal your identity.
• If you’re ordering products, you will of course have to provide a delivery address. But if you can, have items delivered to a work address.
• Instead of handing over your bank details, it’s worth setting up a PayPal account and using that wherever possible as the merchant is unable to see your bank account details or debit card number. If you don’t want to use PayPal, then try Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• If you can’t use those, why not set up a bank account specifi cally for online shopping and only keep a small amount of money in it? That way, if those details are ever compromised, any losses will be very limited.
• A lot of email accounts such as outlook.com or gmail.com are free, so it’s a good idea to set one up for online shopping. That way, you can limit the amount of unwanted email you receive, and it keeps your main email account much freer of spam. It also means you’re not forced to use the same email address for all your online accounts, which is a security risk.
• Don’t use a debit card. Your protection if things go wrong is much weaker than if you use a credit card. Once you’ve used a credit card on the Internet, check your card statements carefully.
FOR THIS AND ALL OUR OTHER ARTICLES, GO TO WWW.DIAMONDBYTE.CO.UK
Treat your driveway to an Optimum clean
A local company that supplies high-quality design, build, and installations for sheds, bespoke timber based products has changed its name.
Power washing:
• Can save your driveway from harmful growth - a dirty driveway not only affects your kerb appeal, it can actually be dangerous. If you don’t keep your driveway clean, it can grow algae, mould, moss, mildew all of which can result in the need for repairs.
• Is a fast and effective option - there is simply no faster way to get a deeper clean than with power washing. If you want your driveway as clean as possible as quickly as possible, and with as little elbow grease as possible, then let Optimum power wash your driveway. Its powerful equipment also does a much better job than domestic jet washers.
• Is an eco-friendly choice - the power of this type of cleaning is so strong that Optimum can get the job done without chemicals. Making it safe for people, animals, and the environment.
Wisbech St Mary-based Fenland Timber, which has been supplying domestic and commercial customers throughout Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire since 2016, has been rebranded with the company name being changed to Frankham’s & Sons Ltd and trading as Frankham’s Timber & Building Supplies. Owner Sam Frankham (36) said he has been thinking about rebranding the business for some time and wanted to get the new name in place for the beginning of the year. He said: “My customers often say they’re going to see Sam Frankham so I think it will future proof the business and give people something to talk about which is good advertising for us.
Sam, who is helped in the business by his wife Maryann and four permanent employees, said the business supplies a wide variety of services and timber products to choose from, much of which is sourced locally, with new lines added all the time. Check out Frankham’s Timber & Building Supplies at Units 1-3 Sandbank Barns, Sandbank, Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire PE13 4SE. Tel: 01945 410177; Email: sales@frankhams.co.uk; Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm; Friday, 7am-5pm; Saturday, 8am-3pm; Sunday, appointment only.
Highest quality timber supplies and products made to order
Units 1-3 Sandbank Barns Sandbank
Wisbech St Mary PE13 4SE Tel: 01945 410177
sales@frankhams.co.uk
Fully
DISCOVERING Wisbech MARCH 2023 7
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.
“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 you would like further information about how Westbrook Window Repairs can help please call them on 01354 653445 and follow them on Facebook.
Westbrook Window Repairs would like to thank their loyal customers for the amazing support shown to them during bleak times.
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.
Conservatory blinds
• INTU blinds (no screws used)
Vertical / Roller / Pleated / Roman blinds
Fly screens
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.”
Fly screens
• Awnings and Canopies
• Black-out blinds
• Venetian blinds, Wood and Aluminium
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.
• Motorisation and child safety devices availab le on all blinds
• Made to measure and Handm ade Curtains
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.
Come & visit our showroom at 15 Market Place, Whittlesey, PE7 1AB
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm and Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm
Telephone 0800 028 2942 or 01733 840258 •
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 on 01354 653445 and follow them on Facebook.
• DOMESTIC and COMMERCIAL
Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness
● Fully qualified and insured Veterinary Physiotherapist, associated with IAAT and AHPR
Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness
Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness
● Range of treatments, including laser therapy and massage
● Treating and maintaining conditions such as osteoarthritis, canine cruciate rupture, hip, elbow dysplasia and certain spinal conditions such as IVDD.
● Aiming to increase muscle and joint health, improve mobility, reduce pain and increase fitness
● Liaison with veterinarians ensuring the best care for your pet
Carlie Wood BSc(Hons) FdSc
Carlie Wood BSc(Hons) FdSc
07738 682 080
Animal Physiotherapist
Carlie@vieranimalphysiotherapy.co.uk
Animal Physiotherapist
07738 682 080
07738 682 080
Carlie@vieranimalphysiotherapy.co.uk
Carlie@vieranimalphysiotherapy.co.uk
vieranimalphysiotherapy.co.uk
vieranimalphysiotherapy.co.uk
Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness
Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness
Unusual, fascinating and sometimes amusing, by the author of ‘Wisbech’s Secret Princess’, Chris Donald
“I hear you say: “I don’t know any famous people from Leverington.”
But Leverington has a famous resident or should I say did have a famous resident as he died some time ago. To fi nd out about him and why he is so important to Wisbech we need to travel more than a hundred and fi fty miles from Wisbech and go back to the year 1800.
William Henry Fox Talbot, only we’ll call him William for short, was born in 1800, son of landed gentry. He inherited Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire and went to Cambridge University, excelling in mathematics and physics. This might seem to have nothing to with Leverington, but we will get there.
The story you are about to read changed the world for more than 150 years and revolutionised people’s lives but it also contributed to the history of Wisbech. William was good at many things but the thing he was not good at was drawing so he tried using a Camera Lucida. This was not a camera but a clever device that shone a picture of what you wanted to draw onto a piece of paper. All you had to do was to trace the lines that were on the paper. You would think that was easy but unfortunately William didn’t fi nd it so.
In 1833, he was on holiday on the shores of the lovely Lake Como in Italy and he was trying to draw the beautiful scenery using his camera lucida. Unfortunately, he failed miserably. ‘If only there was a way of capturing the picture on the paper without having to draw it,’ he said to himself.
When he got back to Lacock he set about the problem. The answer he came up with was to have paper that was sensitive to the light. Thankfully, William was good at chemistry and
realised that he had to use chemicals that reacted to light. He took paper and immersed it in a weak solution of salt water. After this he put it in a strong solution of silver nitrate.
To test his theory out he then put a leaf on the paper and put it out in the sun. After a time the paper that was exposed went dark but the paper covered with the leaf stayed white. This produced what we now know as a negative. William now put a piece of specially treated paper under the negative and all the white became black and all the black became white and he ended up with a black and white picture. This way of getting a picture was originally called calotype.
At the same time, across the Channel in France a man called Niepce was experimenting making impressions on a glass plate in collaboration with another Frenchman, Daguerre, and they called it Daguerreotype.
William decided to call his process photogenic drawing. But when he visited Herschel who had been doing experiments with calotype, Herschel suggested to William that they call it photography. The name stuck and has been used ever since. A fi rm in London, called Ackerman & Co, started selling a box with all the chemicals needed for calotype plus instructions on how to use them, but not a camera. Now anybody could have a go and in 1851, at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace both William’s calotype and Daguerre’s Daguerreotype where on display. The stage was set...one year later and the man from Leverington would become famous and would be remembered.
But, to fi nd that out you will have to wait until next month.
Drawing a picture with a camera lucida
On Thursday 4 May 2023, local elections are taking place across 230 councils in England.
At these elections, you will need to bring photo ID to be able to vote at a polling station. A wide range of photo ID will be accepted, including passports, driving licences and cards with a PASS Mark.
If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Visit fenland.gov.uk/voterID, call 01354 654321, or scan the QR code above to find out more, including:
• The full list of accepted forms of photo ID
• How to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (if you need one)
• What will happen at the polling station
Alternatively visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID
Have you moved home recently?
Have you registered to vote at your new address?
When you move you do not automatically get registered at your new address, even if you are paying Council Tax.
Registering to vote is easy:
1. Go to gov.uk/register-to-vote
2. Fill in your name, address, date of birth and a few other details. You will also need your national insurance number.
gov.uk/ register-to-vote
3. Look out for confirmation from local electoral registration staff to say you are registered.
If you don't have access to the internet, you can contact the Electoral Registration Team who will help you to register. Email elections@fenland.gov.uk or call 01354 654321.
You are required to register by law and need to register to be able to vote and have a say on who represents you. Also, Credit Reference Agencies use the register to confirm where someone lives when they apply for credit.
fenland.gov.uk/elections
I’ve always had a passion for health and fitness and started off by blogging my fitness journey and sharing recipes. Five years ago I took a leap of faith and left my job as a project manager in London and decided to pursue my passion to support, educate and encourage other women. Since qualifying as a personal trainer, I have worked in gyms and now work for myself running Chin Up Charles Fitness. I pride myself in continuing my education and further studies to provide the best service for my clients. I have since become a Holistic Core Restore® Coach specialising in women's health. My mission is to take a holistic approach to fi tness focusing on movement, alongside nutrition and lifestyle habits including selfcare and stress management. Working with women at all stages of life, providing education and supporting them but also to have fun and enjoy movement.
I’m a fi rm believer in fi nding what works for you to create lifelong sustainable habits that you enjoy and become part of your routine rather than a chore.
While
Our experienced team can help to make her feet feel wonderful. We can help with feet that she cannot reach anymore, thickened nails, troublesome corns and callus, plus a wide range of foot and joint pains.
With a treatment from us, your mum gets to enjoy some quality ‘me time’ and you get to help to keep her on her feet and more healthy.
With comfortable feet, your mum can enjoy life more and it is one less thing for her to worry about. We can provide gift vouchers for special occasions and help you to give a very special gift this Mother’s Day.
Call
www.marchpodiatry.co.uk
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.
• Fisherman’s Arms Pub
• Bistro Café
• Hair and pamper salon
• Tailored meaningful activities
• Daily Fine Dining
• Luxury en-suite bedrooms
For more information about life at Lyncroft Care Home contact Customer Relations Advisor Mel Cushen on 07563 022 290 or email mel.cushen@countrycourtcare.com
01945 475 229
81 Clarkson Avenue, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2EA
www.countrycourtcare.com
There’s no need for people to suffer in silence if they feel they have hearing problems. That’s the message from Clearer Hearing Ltd which says people should treat their hearing just as they do their eye-sight.
Jackie Mantle, manager of the company’s Wisbech and St Ives branches, said: “Most people have their eyes tested every year and they should treat their hearing the same.”
The company can help people deal with a host of hearing issues, including tinnitus and noise protection, but Jackie says the most common procedure they carry out is ear wax removal. She said: “Wax removal is definitely the most common problem we deal with. People tend to think that if their hearing worsens they may need a hearing aid, which due to technology today are small and unobtrusive, but invariably it’s because of a build-up of ear wax.
“People shouldn’t be afraid to come in and have their ears checked; they shouldn’t sit at home in silence. We are here to give advice and have many regular customers at our Wisbech clinic, many of whom have been with us for years with some coming from as far afield as north Norfolk.”
Established in 2002 and with a presence in Wisbech since 2008, Clearer Hearing is a family owned independent hearing healthcare company with team of qualified and registered hearing aid audiologists.
The company’s comprehensive website –www.clearerhearing.co.uk – boasts a quick and easy hearing checker which provides a snapshot of your hearing ability to give an easy assessment and the opportunity of a priority booking should you require a full consultation.
Contact Clearer Heating Ltd at 31 High Street, Wisbech PE13 1DE. Tel: (01945) 466386; Email: info@clearerhearing.co.uk Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm.
“When someone in the family has a hearing loss, the entire family has a hearing problem.”
The new tax year begins in a matter of days and with it, like all new years, it will be accompanied by resolutions. Among them, employers’ determination to reduce their administrative workloads and focus instead on running and developing their companies.
Many do not have the administrative capabilities or expertise to run a payroll function and for any organisation employing staff, attending to payroll concerns can demand a great deal of time and expertise.
Is it perhaps appropriate to look to the specialist help of a payroll bureau? Is it something you have considered? As we approach the new tax year in April, many business owners are so that they can concentrate on the real job in hand – overseeing and developing their businesses.
Attending to payroll concerns, for any organisation employing staff demands both time and expertise. Even single director-only payrolls need to be processed in an appropriate manner to comply with directives from HM Revenue & Customs.
For many companies, payroll is a concern for a limited time of the month. Outsourcing can cut costs by using the expertise of an external company. It can also reduce the chance of expensive errors.
Our experience shows that SMEs find compliance with constantly changing laws, rules and regulations is just too daunting a task. As an example, are you up-to-speed on the minefield that changes in holiday pay has created?
A modern-day payroll provider allows access to payroll information 24-hours per day. Cloud-based payroll reporting and individual employee log-ins, provide the employer with instant access to all payroll data at little or no extra cost.
It’s clear from the growing local demand that our Payroll Bureau is providing a specialist service that eases issues in many key business areas. To explore further please contact the Wisbech office.
Information on which this article is based is correct at the time of publishing. Any updates are available on our website: whitingsllp.co.uk
Punching its way on to our screens at the beginning of the month is Creed III. After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose. Superhero alter ego Shazam is back in Shazam: Fury of The Gods on March 17th! Billy Baston (portrayed by Asher Angel) and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes by saying ‘Shazam!’ are forced to get back into action and fight the daughters of Atlas. They must stop them from using a weapon that could destroy the world, but first they must travel to make peace with the Gods because of Billy taking their powers for granted.
An action-packed John Wick: Chapter Four hits our screens on March 24th. John Wick (Keanu Reeves) faces his most lethal adversaries yet as
he takes his fight against the High Table global and seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld.
Love a sing-along? Once a month we will be showing a variety of different musicals to suit all ages, this month’s musical is The Sound of Music
Event Cinema
ROH Live brings Puccini’s opera Turandot to our screens on Wednesday, March 22nd, featuring the beautiful aria Nessun Dorma (made famous by Pavarotti in the 1990 FIFA World Cup). Princess Turandot meets her match in a mysterious Prince who holds all the power – and a glorious secret. When life hangs in the balance, can love conquer all?
Puppetry, magic, and storytelling combine in a magical and unique multi-Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel Life of Pi, filmed live in London’s West End by NT Live and featuring state-of-the-art visuals. This breath-taking epic of endurance and hope is sure to entrance the whole family. From March 30th.
More blockbuster films coming your way including Scream VI, Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3 and The Little Mermaid
Book your tickets and find out more by heading over to wisbech.thelight.co.uk
We understand that when it comes to paying money in advance for something such as travel, it’s so important that your money is properly protected. That’s why we are proud to be members of Protected Trust Services (PTS) who provide some of the best financial protection in the UK, giving us and our customers the confidence that their holiday money is fully protected.
PTS is a company that provides financial protection through an independent trust account and bespoke technology to protect your monies. This means, every time you book a holiday with us, your money only goes towards the arrangement of your holiday. It will be used to pay the suppliers, book the tickets, and will never be used for anything irrelevant to your booking. You can also call us at any time, ask where your money is, and we can give you an exact answer.
Being part of PTS, we take great pride in being able to offer the best and most trustworthy protection in travel. We can guarantee that when you book with us, you’ll receive the financial protection you deserve. Contact us today for a quote, we aim to beat any online or high street price.
For peace of mind, and to book your holiday with confidence, choose Holiday With Us.
We protect your money with Protected Trust Services. This means that all your hard earned money goes into a separate trust account and is only used for your booking.
Now just sit back & look forward to your trip with peace of mind
Makes about 15 truffles
2 double chocolate chip muffins
2 tablespoons of chocolate hazelnut spread
1 handful of raisins or sultanas
A few drops of water
Coloured sugar sprinkles or your preferred choice of decoration
Show your mum how much you appreciate her this Mother̛s Day! With this easy recipe, you can make your own gorgeous chocolate truffles which you could then pop into a box or jar and tie with a ribbon for a lovely, homemade gift!
• Crumble the chocolate muffins (about 125g/4oz) into a large bowl, then stir in the chocolate hazelnut spread.
• Add the raisins or sultanas and a few drops of water to create a crumbly mixture.
• Squeeze teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls and then roll the balls in the coloured sugar sprinkles. These will keep for about five days in an airtight container, if kept at room temperature.
Weighing 19kg (42lbs), the eFOLDi is the world’s lightest 8mph folding scooter and comfortably travels up to 14 miles (22km) on one charge.
Scooter, chair, suitcase 3-in-1, the eFOLDi is the perfect travel scooter that can be easily put in car boots, taken on public transport, cruise ships and aeroplanes.
Merging the durability of a mobility vehicle and the cool appeal of an urban transporter, eFOLDi is the best travel companion representing freedom, friendship and fun!
The Planning Inspectorate process to decide whether to allow an enormous incinerator to be built in Wisbech has now started.
The Open Floor Hearings where interested parties can speak directly to the examining inspector were at the end of February and I wanted to reassure residents that I will continue to do all I can to oppose this scheme which I believe will have a hugely detrimental effect on the local community, environment, traffic and health of constituents, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of non-recyclable municipal and commercial and industrial waste that will be brought to Wisbech each year. The examining process will continue for six months while the inspector gathers and tests evidence and information about the application before deciding (on behalf of the Secretary of State) whether to grant permission to build it. It has been good to get out and about in the constituency in recent weeks including to meet with our local NFU and farmers to discuss their concerns about plans for a new reservoir between Chatteris and Wimblington. Anglian Water, in partnership with Cambridge Water, is behind the £2bn plan which is designed to supply 250,000 homes with water and secure supply to customers for generations to come. It is important that the valid concerns of those directly affected are addressed, and I have raised this directly with Anglian Water. A further round of consultation is likely next year with an application made in 2025. It was great to pop into the Black Bull in Whittlesey to see the near £200,000 excellent upgrade and speak to the landlord Daniel Lees and a few of the regulars. I was also delighted to host a round table with representatives from across the arts sector to talk about arts funding in Fenland and make the case for more investment in arts in our area. Colleagues from the Arts Council, 20Twenty
Productions, Gorilla Circus, Cambridgeshire Libraries, Fenland District Council, and CPP Marketplace were among those who attended. Over the next three years, both 20Twenty Productions and Gorilla Circus will receive £200,000 annually as part of the Government’s £43.5 million annual investment in Levelling up for Culture. Regular readers will know I’m a keen advocate on getting out in the countryside to boost both mental and physical health. Therefore, it’s great to see that a March Riverside Wellbeing Walk has been launched to join the Wisbech Wellbeing Walk that started last summer. The weekly walks are free and a great opportunity to meet new people and take some exercise.
I’m delighted that £1.9 million government funding has been allocated to our local mental health services to be spent on new crisis facilities for people with learning disabilities at Hollies ward at the Cavell Centre in Peterborough. The Government is investing £150 million in NHS mental health urgent and emergency case services up to April 2025. This investment will better support people experiencing mental health crises to receive care and support in settings outside of A&E that are more appropriate for their needs. Finally, I’d like to encourage community groups or not-for-profit organisations who need support with building repairs or development, or outdoor improvements to see if they are eligible to apply for an Asda Foundation Investing in Spaces and Places grant of £10,000-£25,000. The projects must aim to create or develop safe and inclusive community spaces for groups to meet and bring people together or support the delivery of longlasting projects focused on long-term community impact. I know there are many such worthy organisations in the constituency. Applications are open until 19th March (asdafoundation.org).
Wisbech u3a is an organisation which aims to meet the social, recreational and creative needs 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
Friends of Wisbech & Fenland Museum hold monthly talks at Wisbech Public Library. For further details, please see (Insert ‘Facebook’ or its logo) Friends of Wisbech and Fenland Museum, www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk or email: friendsofwisbechmuseum@outlook.com
Fenland Archaeological Society (FenArch)
Monthly talks and meetings at The Secret Garden, Mile Tree Lane, PE13 4TR
Facebook https://m.facebook.com/FenArch/ Website https://www.fenarch.org.uk
Wisbech Yoga Club
Meets at Trinity Methodist Church on Mondays 7pm-8.15pm and Wednesdays at Elm Primary School or Emneth Central Hall 7pm-8.15pm. For availability contact Peter on 07905 601585 or email: pabamullins206@ntlworld.com
Wisbech and District Flower Club
Meets every third Monday of the month at St Peters Hall Wisbech from 7.30pm
Please call Yvonne on 01954 581360 for more information
