Discovering Wisbech issue 064, August 2023

Welcome to your August issue...

Another summer holiday is here and, sure enough, the rain gods have met to discuss how best they can ruin everyone’s al fresco plans, be it the annual School Sports Day, the Village Fete, the ‘Family Fun Day’ or just that special barbecue. Oh well, it happens so often that I’m sure we just take it in our stride and think we’re lucky not to be having to endure those 40 degree-plus temperatures the Mediterranean areas are getting right now.

Make the most of the month to come as you won’t need me to tell you that, once those little ones have headed back to their new classrooms in September, it will only be a matter of weeks before shops start stocking “you know what” for “you know when” in December!

Have yourselves a fabulous holiday and stay safe!

Back in the day when I first started as a trainee journalist on an evening newspaper, I used to bash out my stories on an old manual typewriter. In the ensuing years, things got a bit more sophisticated; firstly, with electric typewriters, which I hated, and then primitive word processors.

Nowadays I sit in front of a PC that I not only use to write on but also to scan websites and social media for ‘real’ not ‘fake’ news. Like most other people, this news trawl is also supplemented by scanning for information on my smart phone.

These sources enable me to keep up to date with what’s happening locally and also across the globe. However, when it comes to my social life I still prefer to read from a daily newspaper or a magazine.

The printed word always seems to have more impact and for some reason seems more ‘real’. You can’t beat technology but hopefully my daily trip to the newsagent will continue for many years...

4 ....... The Avenue Therapy Centre

6 ....... March Podiatry

10 The Fenland History Society

10 Local Clubs and Groups

12 ...... The Potting Shed

13 ...... Rachael's Plant Outlet

16 ...... Whitings LLP

24 ..... Diamond Byte

26 Light Cinema

28 Steve Barclay

29 ..... Directory

30 ..... Thurlow Nunn

With thanks to:

Diamond Byte, Whiting LLP, March Podiatry, Bridget Hunter

Account Manager

Paula Kirtland: 07903 776211

marketing.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.

The Avenues Therapy Centre

By Jenna

The Avenues Therapy Centre has been established in Wisbech for a few years now and continues to grow.

Alongside hypnotherapy and life coaching, psychotherapeutic counselling is also now available. I work from a pluralistic approach which means that I use various different counselling techniques. There may be times where the person-centred approach is more appropriate, or CBT, or psychodynamic approaches. I will adapt my approach throughout your therapy, to best suit your needs, so that your therapy is most helpful for you.

My specialist areas are:

• Domestic Abuse

• Sexual Abuse (Adult or childhood)

• Trauma

• Victims of crime

I have extensive experience in working with and supporting those who have experienced abuse, trauma and crime. I have worked with various local charities supporting survivors of abuse, and in the

I can also help with:

Criminal Justice System for many years now, and it has been a pleasure to help those who have suffered such traumas to access the right help, and to see them be able to move forwards in their lives, reaching some kind of resolution. It is possible for you to do the same, with the right help. I am trained, qualified and experienced to do this work with you. I work from a trauma informed approach. This means that I understand that experiencing any trauma or abuse can lead to us developing coping mechanisms as a way to get through life. These are very normal and can help us as an initial response to trauma. However, later in life when we are no longer in danger, they are less helpful and can cause us more difficulties. Rather than looking at ‘what is wrong with you,’ we look at ‘what happened to you’ and how this still affects you today. For more information about Trauma Informed Approaches please see my website.

I run a small, private home practice, offering a safe and confidential space to access support.

PRICES

Prices start at £40 per session. Block booking discounts available. I am fully qualified and insured. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs and how I may be able to support you.

If you would like to receive my quarterly newsletter, please send me your contact details.

Phone/text/Whatsapp – 07521 456989

Email: Jenna@theavenuestherapycentre.co.uk | Website: www.theavenuestherapycentre.co.uk

Sessions from £40 with block bookingavailablediscounts

Welcome to The Avenues Therapy Centre. I am a therapy centre in Wisbech, Cambs, offering affordable, personalised counselling, hypnotherapy and life coaching sessions in the comfort of my private practice.

Please feel free to browse my website to find out more about the counselling, hypnotherapy and life coaching that I offer, and if they are right for you. You are welcome to get in touch if you have any questions or fancy a chat about how I may be able to help you.

PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING

I work from a pluralistic approach which means that I use various different counselling techniques.

Domestic Abuse

Sexual Abuse (Adult or childhood)

Trauma

Victims of Crime

Loss and Bereavement Relationships

Caring and Illness

Anxiety and Depression

LIST OF HYPNOTHERAPY SERVICES

Hypnotherapy can be incredibly helpful for numerous issues and conditions.

Anxiety Stress

Hypnobirthing

Fears & Phobias

Pain Management

Interview Nerves

Test Nerves

Simple Relaxation

Self Esteem

LIST OF LIFE COACHING SERVICES

Life Coaching is great for the following issues:

Work/Life Balance

Career Goals

Finding a Sense of Happiness

Relationships & Communications

Finding Your Purpose

jenna@theavenuestherapycentre.co.uk

Health & Fitness

Getting Motivated

Procrastination & Productivity

Increasing Your Confidence and more!…

Habit Stopping 07521

As the warm weather of summer beckons, it's time to slip into sandals and flip-flops. But before you expose your feet to the world, it's important to give them some extra TLC. Proper foot care during summer can help prevent discomfort, pain, and potential foot problems. Here are some podiatry tips to share for keeping your feet in top shape this season.

Hydration is key: Staying hydrated is not only vital for your overall health but also for your feet. Dehydration can lead to dry, cracked skin. Remember to drink plenty of water to maintain adequate moisture levels.

Nail care: Trim your toenails rounded at the end to prevent ingrown nails. Avoid cutting them too short as it may increase the risk of infection. Regularly inspect your nails for discoloration or thickening, which may indicate a fungal infection.

Sunscreen for feet: Apply sunscreen generously to your feet, especially the tops and sides. Don't forget to protect the delicate skin on your feet from harmful UV rays to prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Moisturise daily: Keep your feet moisturised to prevent dryness and cracking. Choose a goodquality foot cream and apply it after showering or before bedtime. Focus on areas prone to dryness, such as heels and soles.

Proper footwear: Choose open-toe shoes that provide adequate support and cushioning. Look for styles with arch support and avoid

flat, unsupportive flip-flops. Remember to wear

breathable socks with closed shoes to prevent excessive sweating and fungal infections. Preventing fungal infections: To minimise the risk of fungal infections or verrucae, avoid walking barefoot in public areas like pools, gyms, and communal showers. Wear flip-flops or water shoes in changing rooms to protect your feet from potential infections.

Foot hygiene: Wash your feet daily with warm water and mild soap. Pay special attention to the spaces between your toes, where moisture can accumulate, leading to bacterial or fungal infections. Remember to dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes.

Regular exercise: Keep your feet active and healthy through regular exercise. Walking, jogging, or performing simple foot stretches can strengthen muscles, improve circulation, and reduce the likelihood of foot pain and injuries.

Remember to seek professional care if you experience persistent foot pain, swelling, or any concerning symptoms, don't hesitate to consult a podiatrist. Our team of podiatrists can provide a proper diagnosis, recommend suitable treatment, and offer expert advice personalized to your needs. By following these summer foot care tips, you can enjoy the season to the fullest while keeping your feet healthy and happy. Embrace the warmth, stay active, and step out confidently with feet that are ready to take on any adventure!

Specialists offer the following repair services

Dentures fracture for a reason. They may have become damaged, perhaps by dropping; they may simply be old and worn; or perhaps the denture is no longer suitable for purpose.

Loose dentures may damage gums or the underlying bone structure and are also more prone to breakage. Re-lining your denture will re-stablish a good fit.

Your dentures should be inspected annually along with a checkup on your oral health, or more frequently if necessary. Icenidental@gmail.com 07932

Mrand MrsC

FENLAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

By Bridget Hunter

Watching TV’s Who Do You Think You Are? recently, I thought it interesting to see how family talents and traits run through families going back generations.

My sister and I are very alike, but she is blonde and blue eyed from my father’s family and I have dark eyes and hair like my mother. We are alike in that we are both strong natured and have leadership traits. Having researched our family, I know it comes from our Orcadian ancestors. I can see similarities in my paternal cousins, etc. Who needs DNA when you know your family history well? To find out more about your family why not join our local family history society.

Our MONTHLY MEETINGS. Held in Wisbech Library from 7-9pm on the FOURTH Thursday of the month except August and December. There is NO meeting in August as most of us will be out and about visiting and researching our family histories. Our September meeting on the 28th will be our AGM which we aim to keep short to enable us to hear a talk about the history of Wisbech pubs. So many interesting stores hidden behind the pub doors. Everyone welcome. Members’ free, visitors’ a £2 donation.

COMPUTER RESEARCH SESSIONS. Continue every month. We hold two a month. Our first monthly research session is in Wisbech Library on the FIRST TUESDAY of each month from 10am-12noon. Our eight researchers help visitors getting started with their research or help them continue if struck with what we call a ‘brick-wall’. Plus a show all the wonderful research resources available in the library.

Our second 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. We offer help with family research to visitors to the garden centre. Our team is also willing to attend local events as an added attraction. If WiFi is available, we can offer family research to visitors. EVENTS Our team attended the Bell Ringers event in St Peter Church with a display showing the history of bell ringing. We attend many functions and events. We strive to provide a display stand to match the theme of the event. This gives an added attraction to any event. If you would like us to attend one of your events, please call us.

OUR SPEAKERS are available to attend groups and clubs to give talks in the local area. They have recently attended the meeting of Walpole St Peter Good Companions Club and they will be attending the Pinchbeck U3A meeting in Surfleet and the Wisbech Stroke Club.

TALKS include: ‘The Fun of Family History’, about a long journey by land, air, and sea to find her roots; ‘My Naughty Great Aunt Eliza’, unravelling a story of lies and deceit; ’The Ups & Downs of Being a Magistrate’, a real-life experience; and ‘The Sad Tale of The Blacksmiths Family’, the story of a great, great grandfather; and ‘The Angels of St Clements Church’, a tour and talk about the angels in the Outwell Church; ‘My great grandmother, Jane Davyes: a much married lady’; ‘My grandfather Fred Balmer, Borough Surveyor and Inspector of nuisances of Appleby in Westmorland for 45 Years’; and ‘Wisbech Pageants 1929, 1949 and 1994.’

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

LOCAL CLUBS AND GROUPS

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

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

Friends of Wisbech & Fenland Museum hold monthly talks at Wisbech Public Library. For further details, please see Facebook Friends of Wisbech and Fenland Museum, www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk or email: friendsofwisbechmuseum@outlook.com

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 Peter's Hall Wisbech from 7.30pm

Please call Yvonne on 01954 581360 for more information

Lyncroft Care Home

Our family, caring for yours

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

This year, National Allotments Week runs from August 7th – 13th, with the theme of ‘soil health’. Good soil health improves yields when growing edibles but also contributes positively to biodiversity and the environment. A major environmental benefit of adding homemade compost or sowing green manures over exposed ground is that it helps the soil to retain carbon.

Firstly, digging and forking through the soil allows you to loosen any compaction, and remove weeds and debris. Then improve the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost, which helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones. No matter what soil type you have, digging in bulky organic matter such as well-rotted manure, compost, leaf mould, mushroom compost, or composted bark will greatly improve the soil health.

In light soils, it acts in retaining moisture and nutrients and in clay soils helps break up the soil, provides better drainage and makes the soil easier to work. The best time for soil preparation is in autumn for clay soils and spring for light, sandy soils. Autumn digging lets the soil be further broken down by frosts and rain.

Jobs for August include:

• Keep weeds at bay; regular hoeing should be sufficient.

• Water regularly. To retain precious moisture, add mulch around your crops to prevent excess evaporation, preferably immediately after it has rained.

• Prune gooseberry and currant bushes.

• Strawberry runners that have been potted can be transplanted into a sunny, fertile spot where you have not grown them for at least 3 years. Planting them through plastic will help conserve moisture and provide warmth during the winter.

• Harvest courgettes regularly before they grow too large.

• Cut to the ground all summer-fruiting raspberry canes that have borne fruit this year and tie in the new green canes that will produce next year’s fruit. Take care not to damage the new bright green stems.

• Tomatoes, pumpkins, and squash need feeding with a tomato fertiliser.

• Outdoor tomatoes should have their growth stopped by the middle of the month – nip out the leading growing shoot just above the highest truss. Continue pinching out and do not forget to provide support for the plants as they become more heavily laden – also for cucumbers, peppers and even fruit trees.

• Keep earthing up potatoes to prevent the tubers being exposed.

• Dig over any spaces that have been left from harvesting crops, where you could grow green manure such as clover or vetch, which will provide nitrogen for the soil, or alfalfa, cress or mustard which will help break up the soil.

• Pinch out the tops of climbing beans when they reach the top of the canes as this will encourage growth lower down and harvest regularly before they become tough and stringy: you can let some grow on to produce bean seeds for next year.

Enjoy the fruits of your labour!

We are ideal for garden designers, landscapers, gardeners, nurseries and retail traders and the general public are also more than welcome too. We offer a wide range of stock and have the facility of offering stock grown on site from our environmentally friendly nursery.

We have recently moved premises from School Road, West Walton and are delighted with our new premises at West Drove South, Walpole Highway.

We have a wonderful viewing area, which consists of an indoor tunnel, outside viewing area and tree lines. All stock is priced, together with a description, and our stock is displayed in a location of ideal growing conditions.

Our stock consists of shrubs, climbers, herbaceous and perennials, larger specimen stock from 10L pots upwards, hedging, a large range of trees from half standards to semi mature, together with pleached trees, Mediterranean plants, topiary and so much more... deliveries are available on request.

We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and our friendly trained staff are available to offer advice. Our team is made up of the most enthusiastic and dedicated individuals. We are all passionate about what we do and enjoy our working relationship with customers.

Take advantage of our RPO ‘Young at Heart’ Loyalty Card – every Thursday Senior Citizens receive a ten percent discount from plants purchased.

So, if you are looking to add plants to your existing garden or maybe you have a completely new build with a blank canvas then look no further, pay us a visit.

We very much hope to see you soon. Our team looks forward to welcoming you to our plant outlet. Everyone welcome!

Left to right: Ryan, Sarah, Jack, Rachael and Marie

Peace of Mind over Tax!

Tips and Gratuities – Who Benefits

Mark Burrows

Scott Bishop

As taxpayers we are all responsible for calculating our own tax liabilities. HM Revenue & Customs then ‘police’ the system and investigate to check the accuracy of our tax.

So, you’ve enjoyed your visit to a restaurant; you’ve had good service at your local garage; your hair-do has been perfect; you want to acknowledge your treatment with a tip. What happens to it?

Among the longest running debates, especially in the catering and hospitality sectors, is the way tips and gratuities are handled by employers. Historically, tips paid in cash have been allocated to staff but the same cannot be said of rewards paid via cheque - remember those - or through debit and credit cards.

The number of individuals and businesses being investigated by HMRC grows annually. For many, it’s a disruptive, intrusive, stressful and ultimately expensive process.

No specific reason is required to trigger an investigation as every taxpayer who submits a tax return is at risk of being targeted. Even if they have done nothing wrong because many tax enquiries are conducted at random.

Two years ago, research showed that 80% of all tipping now takes place by card rather than in cash. Under pressure from the hospitality sector, the government acknowledged the need for definitive legislation and had been promising action since 2015 on the way tips and gratuities are handled in that sector.

Why? There are several reasons ranging from something unexpected on a recent tax return submission, tax payment or pattern of refunds. HMRC sometimes target a particular sector, such as cash traders or property letting. Or, it could just be part of an arbitrary or rotational check.

After numerous delays, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 was passed in May this year. It should hit the Statutes Book and be come law in 2024.

HMRC spent £100m on a sophisticated computer programme which scans data from a variety of sources and uses AI, yes that currently much-publicised term – Artificial Intelligence – to identify possible ‘underdeclarations’.

Under this legislation, any monies paid on tips, gratuities and service charges will have to be passed on to workers without any deductions, other than those prescribed by law, such as tax, being made by employers. This will have to be done no later than the end of the following month.

That list naturally includes banks, credit cards and the more obvious transactional sources. However, Google Street view, Airbnb and flight sales are among the more obscure.

Any employer currently paying tips through the payroll will not be able to deduct costs, like Employer National Insurance, from the tip fund prior to allocation.

Data trawled from that list prompts ‘nudge letters’ to taxpayers who HMRC feels are not fully declaring all taxable income sources.

Agency workers are also covered by the new legislation. If they feel their allocation of tips is unfair or these gratuities are not paid on time, they can resort to law and employers, if found to have breached the rules, face fines of up to £5,000.

We have our own Tax Enquiry & Investigation Service for both business and personal tax returns. Why not join and relax with peace-of-mind, knowing that you are protected. It’s a form of insurance that not only meets our professional fees in the event of a check on your tax affairs, it enables us to provide expert advice and guidance to you every step of the way.

The Act also requires employers to produce a written code of practice covering tips and gratuities which should be made available to all workers. This legislation applies only to employers who allocate tips. Those who do not have influence over how tips are passed to workers fall outside the 2023 act.

For fuller details and more information contact our local office in The Crescent, Wisbech.

Information on which this article is based is correct at the time of publishing. Any updates are available on our website: whitingsllp.co.uk

Information on which this article is based is correct at the time of publishing. Any updates are available on our website: whitingsllp.co.uk

Sound Advice From Clearer Hearing

Acole Plumbing Services Ltd

Service List

Colin

Ovenden

• All general plumbing repairs undertakenbig or small.

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.

“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.”

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.”

• All domestic heating repairs undertaken.

• All domestic boiler fault finding undertakenboth gas and oil.

• Landlord Gas Safety certificates

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.

• House purchase inspections of plumbing and heating

• Boiler replacements.

• Central heating power flushing.

97 Nene Parade | March | Cambridgeshire 07759 768060 | 01354 650502 acoleplumbing@btinternet.com

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.

•

Email: info@clearerhearing.co.uk

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

MAKE SURE YOU PASS THE UNI TEST

Going off to university or college without a decent laptop is akin to refusing to take pads and pens. However, don’t just buy whatever is on sale; you need the right laptop for your specific needs. As there’s a wide variety of sizes, features and prices, choosing the right laptop can be a challenge. Make sure it’s either running Windows 11 or if it’s refurbished it can run Windows 11 as Windows 10 has just over two years left to live.

Processor – CPU

As the ‘brains’ of your computer, the processor does influence performance, although the choice will depend on what you need to do. If you’re looking for a standard laptop with the best combination of price and performance, buy an Intel Core i3 or an AMD Ryzen 3. Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPUs or above will be better for multitasking, multimedia tasks, high-end gaming (when coupled with a dedicated graphics card), but are more expensive.

Storage – Hard Drive or SSD

This is the part of the laptop on which all your data is stored. Make sure it has a Solid State Disk. Most people struggle to fill a 250GB Drive with photos, apps and music since the average size of a photo or MP3 is about 4MB. In other words, this means you can store about 62,500 photos or MP3s on a small 250GB Hard Drive. If you play around with video files however, 250GB will be hugely insufficient and you should look to one thousand GB drives which can store about twenty-four hours of HD video. Warning: be very wary of buying a laptop/netbook with LESS than 120Gb of storage space.

Memory – RAM

RAM is fast, temporary storage that Windows uses to load both itself and whatever it is you are doing at the time. So, if you are surfing the internet, you are using some RAM for Windows, a little more for the web browser, a little more for your anti-virus program, etc. 4GB is the bare minimum

amount of RAM you should have in a laptop, 8GB is ideal.

Battery

You’ll undoubtedly be spending a lot of time in locations where plugging in a laptop is difficult, therefore you’ll need at least six hours of battery life, with eight+hours being ideal. But be realistic, sitting in the library watching cat videos on You Tube with the brightness turned up to eleven or playing a video game will eat battery life in no time.

Get the right OS & Software

Check with the university about software requirements as they may need you to have a specific type of software or operating system. Windows 11 is the most popular and versatile operating system. Also check with the college or university before you buy Microsoft Office as you may be able to get it SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper through them.

FOR THIS AND ALL OUR OTHER ARTICLES, GO TO WWW.DIAMONDBYTE.CO.UK

PHILIP AT DIAMOND BYTE

AUGUST ARRIVALS

By Tiff Mears

Cowabunga dudes, we have the famous brothers causing mischief on August 4th with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – a pizza would be great treat to watch this film with! This is followed by a hunt deep in the ocean in the search for The Meg 2: The Trench!

Did you miss seeing Oklahoma, starring Hugh Jackman, last month? Not to worry we have another showing on August 10th.

I do like surprises; I hope you do to... if not you’re in for a tense time on August 11th with Haunted Mansion

Based on a true story, we see the transformation of gamer to racer; see how racing is really done with Gran Turismo.

This summer we have a new superhero, Blue Beetle on August 18th. After taking a takeaway box from a stranger, how will their new life unfold?

Are you a Metallica fan? At The Light, on August 19th, Metallica M72 World Tour Live from TX #1 will bursts onto the big screen not once but twice! Metallica M72 World Tour Live from TX #2 will be showing on August 21st.

The King of the Waltz invites you to his all-new cinema concert from his beautiful hometown of Maastricht, on August 26th; André Rieu's 2023 Maastricht Concert: Love Is All will be back on our screens.

Did you know we also do Family Specials? These are select showings of family films on a Saturday and Sunday; you can enjoy a family favourite for

£3.75, or a selected new release for just £5.75 a ticket! We also run our Family Specials Monday to Friday during school holidays and on bank holidays too.

Toddler Time will be available everyday over the school holidays. We will be seeing Sarah & Duck: Musical Showcase, Bebefinn – Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs, Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots, Zog and the Flying Doctors and Pinkfong Sing-Along Movie

2: Wonderstar Concert

100 years of Disney

How amazing is that one hundred years! We are going celebrate by screening ten family favourites across the next few months. Just to name a few, we have Toy Story, The Princess and the Frog, 101 Dalmatians and Frozen 10th Anniversary; these can be found under 'family specials' on our website.

MyLight Premiere

Love movies? Welcome to PREMIERE, The Light's scheme for frequent cinema-goers. For just £15.99 per month, you can cram your days full of movies as well as treating yourself to ten percent off all your favourite cinema snacks all day, every day! It’s easy to sign up to by visiting our website and click join! (T&C’s apply.)

More information can be found on our website www.wisbech.thelight.co.uk

Gran Turismo Blue Beetle

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Haunted Mansion

THE FIGHT GOES ON...

By Steve Barclay MP

My campaign against plans to build an enormous incinerator in Wisbech have featured in this column many times in the last few years. Many in the constituency will know that the Planning Inspectorate is currently examining proposals to decide whether to give the go-ahead to bring in hundreds of thousands of tonnes of non-recyclable municipal and commercial and industrial waste to the town. The firm behind the incinerator plans has also put in an application for an environmental permit to the Environment Agency, which launched its own public consultation. The Environment Agency is looking at whether the application meets all the necessary environmental regulations and provides a high level of protection to the environment and human health. Part of the assessment process is to get the views of the local community and I hope many of you have contributed or will do so before it closes in early August. The impact a facility like this will have on our area would be terrible and I will continue to do all I can to oppose it.

It’s heartening to see the culmination of years of work to safeguard Wisbech and Fenland Museum following a £878,000 overhaul. Historic England contributed grant funding of more than £600,000 to save a building of both national importance and immense local pride and significance. Many congratulations and thanks go to those who have made it possible, with their hard work, financial support and continued efforts including the Friends, volunteers and other local and national organisations who have played a role. The Grade II* listed museum, which was one of the first purpose-built museums in England and houses the original manuscript of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations among other treasures, was in sore need of repair with major roof and drainage problems damaging the historic interior. Now it has a new accessible entrance and courtyard garden, and the original Victorian building will continue to inspire generations to come and provide a window into the history of Wisbech.

I’m pleased to see NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) continue public engagement about Priors Field

Surgery with public meetings to hear about the work to secure a long-term solution and give your views on what the community needs – now and in the future. It was excellent news that an interim new provider was found for the Sutton surgery but a permanent solution which meets the needs of local residents is essential. Primary care services are about more than just your local GP and include services such as specialist nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social prescribers, paramedics and midwives. You can also send your suggestions to cpicb.sutton@nhs.net or see updates at https://www.cpics.org.uk/sutton/ It’s good to hear that £203,014 has recently been awarded to farmers in North East Cambridgeshire as part of the Government’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. These grants are aimed at helping boost farm productivity, reduce waste and cut input costs, as well as increase environmental sustainability and improve slurry management. Nationally more than three thousand farmers will benefit from the £31million scheme.

Finally, I’m delighted that this year’s Read to Succeed campaign not only raised enough money to buy a new reading book for every Year 4 child in the constituency, which they took home for the school summer holiday but that we’ve also collected enough to give each school £200 to spend on books for their libraries. Some 37 primary schools in North East Cambridgeshire will receive the funding to support literacy and encourage a love of reading. My Read to Succeed campaign is aimed at an age when children start to read independently and we hope will allow them to find a genre that will encourage further exploration of books – whether adventure stories, factual histories, comics or manuals. Reading is a joy. My heartfelt thanks go to those organisations, businesses and individuals who have supported the campaign with their generous donations this year. Every penny is going to a good place.

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Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/ km). Vauxhall range: Urban: 12.7 (22.3) – 74.3 (3.8), Extra-urban: 23.9 (11.8) – 91.1 (3.1), Combined: 18.0 (15.7) – 85.6(3.3). CO2 emissions: 373 – 88g/km). Thurlow Nunn Ltd is a credit broker and not a lender. *Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.