Paxton Post 35, March - April 23

Issue 35

Paxton Post

March - April 2023

THE MAGAZINE FOR GREAT PAXTON

16

1

Issue 35

Paxton Post

March - April 2023

THE MAGAZINE FOR GREAT PAXTON

16

1

2

47

2

47

Editorial by Julie Stock As you will already know if you’re on the Great Paxton Community group on Facebook, I have volunteered as Editor of the Paxton Post from this edition. This means that in future, you can send your articles for inclusion to me at woodbeez48@gmail.com.

As this is a village magazine, it relies on your contributions, and I would like to thank everyone who has sent something in for this issue. I hope you enjoy reading all the interesting articles we have this time. You can also read the magazine online via the Community tab on the Parish Council website at https://greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk/.

If you’d like to contribute to the next issue, please note the deadline dates below. We now have a new advertising policy for local businesses as well. Please contact me if you’re interested in this.

Deadline Dates for Upcoming Issues The Paxton Post is published 6 times a year. Cut off dates are now the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please see the table below for these dates. It is the responsibility of contributors to ensure articles are submitted to the Editor by these dates. Thank you.

Edition May – June July – August September – October November – December January – February March-April

Copy deadline 15 April 15 June 15 August 15 October 15 December 15 February

Paxton Post is published by Easiprint Ltd in association with Great Paxton Parish Council and is funded by the Council. Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, neither the editor, the printer or the Parish Council can be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, the publisher or the Parish Council.

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Editorial by Julie Stock As you will already know if you’re on the Great Paxton Community group on Facebook, I have volunteered as Editor of the Paxton Post from this edition. This means that in future, you can send your articles for inclusion to me at woodbeez48@gmail.com.

As this is a village magazine, it relies on your contributions, and I would like to thank everyone who has sent something in for this issue. I hope you enjoy reading all the interesting articles we have this time. You can also read the magazine online via the Community tab on the Parish Council website at https://greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk/.

If you’d like to contribute to the next issue, please note the deadline dates below. We now have a new advertising policy for local businesses as well. Please contact me if you’re interested in this.

Deadline Dates for Upcoming Issues The Paxton Post is published 6 times a year. Cut off dates are now the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please see the table below for these dates. It is the responsibility of contributors to ensure articles are submitted to the Editor by these dates. Thank you.

Edition May – June July – August September – October November – December January – February March-April

Copy deadline 15 April 15 June 15 August 15 October 15 December 15 February

Paxton Post is published by Easiprint Ltd in association with Great Paxton Parish Council and is funded by the Council. Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, neither the editor, the printer or the Parish Council can be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, the publisher or the Parish Council.

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The Bell – Your family, dog-friendly, village local Happy New Year to all our customers, old and new. Silly season has now finished, although it feels as if it is continuing! We are super busy with events and just in general. Our marquee has taken a few bookings over the year as well as the pub. We are also putting a number of our own events on and themed nights.

There are two events this year that will be TICKET ONLY and will be firstly advertised to regulars and then will be advertised outside of this should there remain availability for these events. This will be advertised in due course via Facebook and our website.

The pub is so well supported and remains the main hub of the village! We have 3 petanque teams, a crib team, two darts teams on a Thursday, a ladies’ team on Tuesday, and two football teams on a Saturday. These guys really keep us going in the week and are essential to pub life.

MISSION: Your mission, should you choose to accept it... … is to take on this brand new, fun-filled obstacle dash in Abbots Ripton!

Get your family, friends and colleagues together and tackle our unique course to splash, crash and climb your way to the finish line!

y 7th M2a 20 3

Crib is coming to an end but is always looking for new players. So please contact me if you wish to play.

Our B Darts team on a Thursday is newly formed and I am sure would welcome some players as not everyone can commit every week.

Petanque, to resume in April on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are also on the lookout for new players.

: receive now to Sign up

rse u o c m 5k es l c a t s b 8o

ood vent sn e E E R AF dal ers’ me ing toolkit h s i n i f A is l fundra A digita support ed Dedicat magpas.org.uk/dash

s 4+ for age Suitable

Great ways to meet people and get out and about! Just contact me if you’re interested.

Registered Charity Number 1119279

We’re also now offering coffee and a sausage roll to eat in or takeaway for £5.00.

4

The Bell – Your family, dog-friendly, village local Happy New Year to all our customers, old and new. Silly season has now finished, although it feels as if it is continuing! We are super busy with events and just in general. Our marquee has taken a few bookings over the year as well as the pub. We are also putting a number of our own events on and themed nights.

There are two events this year that will be TICKET ONLY and will be firstly advertised to regulars and then will be advertised outside of this should there remain availability for these events. This will be advertised in due course via Facebook and our website.

The pub is so well supported and remains the main hub of the village! We have 3 petanque teams, a crib team, two darts teams on a Thursday, a ladies’ team on Tuesday, and two football teams on a Saturday. These guys really keep us going in the week and are essential to pub life.

45

MISSION: Your mission, should you choose to accept it... … is to take on this brand new, fun-filled obstacle dash in Abbots Ripton!

Get your family, friends and colleagues together and tackle our unique course to splash, crash and climb your way to the finish line!

y 7th M2a 20 3

Crib is coming to an end but is always looking for new players. So please contact me if you wish to play.

Our B Darts team on a Thursday is newly formed and I am sure would welcome some players as not everyone can commit every week.

Petanque, to resume in April on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are also on the lookout for new players.

Scantobuyyour tickets nowbeforepricesgoup!

: receive now to Sign up

rse u o c m 5k es l c a t s b 8o

d nt snoo e v e E E A FR dal ers’ me ing toolkit h s i n i f A is l fundra A digita support ed Dedicat magpas.org.uk/dash

s 4+ for age Suitable

Great ways to meet people and get out and about! Just contact me if you’re interested.

We’re also now offering coffee and a sausage roll to eat in or takeaway for £5.00.

4

Registered Charity Number 1119279

45

Scantobuyyour tickets nowbeforepricesgoup!

In terms of booking, here at The Bell it goes without saying that booking in advance remains advisable as we do get so busy and also I don’t like turning people away but have done so in the past! Please just call through to make sure we have space and are doing food (often other events means we change our serving times).

St Neots Riverside Runners Beginners Course

Follow my Facebook page or my website for regular updates or just give me a call! I’m always happy to chat!

The support as we come into our 5 years of being at The Bell has been incredible and remains so.

Who are we?

St Neots Riverside Runners was established in 1987 and are proud to be an inclusive club, welcoming runners of all ages and abilities.

Whether you are a competitive runner looking to improve or looking for a friendly social group to run with, St Neots Riverside Runners has it all.

Beginners course – what and how much?

If you are 18+ and new to running or returning after a break or injury our tried and trusted 10-week course lead by qualified and experience coaches will get you running up to 5K (3 miles) non-stop. Upon completion you will receive an amazing Riverside medal.

The course costs just £10 and if you then wish to join the club this will be discounted from your membership.

Facebook: The Bell, Great Paxton Website: http://www.mybellpub.com/ Tel: 01480 700107 or 07701038433 Raqi

When?

Monday evenings at 6:30pm, starting on 24th April.

After the buzz of the London Marathon prove that you can do it too!

What’s next?

In celebration of your accomplishment we will encourage you to take part in Pocket parkrun on Saturday 1st July. On this day Riverside Runners will do a parkrun takeover where our members will support you if you choose to run. You can run it alone, with other members or follow a pacer to achieve a set time or pace.

You will also be invited to join Riverside Runners, but are under no obligation to do so.

What can I expect as a member?

Club training nights are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with competitive club races and many other fun member organised events throughout the year.

How do I sign up on the course?

For more information or to book your place please contact Ann Ellmers by email, secretary@riverside-runners.com or message Ann Ellmers via Facebook Messenger. www.riverside-runners.com

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5

In terms of booking, here at The Bell it goes without saying that booking in advance remains advisable as we do get so busy and also I don’t like turning people away but have done so in the past! Please just call through to make sure we have space and are doing food (often other events means we change our serving times).

St Neots Riverside Runners Beginners Course

Follow my Facebook page or my website for regular updates or just give me a call! I’m always happy to chat!

The support as we come into our 5 years of being at The Bell has been incredible and remains so.

Who are we?

St Neots Riverside Runners was established in 1987 and are proud to be an inclusive club, welcoming runners of all ages and abilities.

Whether you are a competitive runner looking to improve or looking for a friendly social group to run with, St Neots Riverside Runners has it all.

Beginners course – what and how much?

If you are 18+ and new to running or returning after a break or injury our tried and trusted 10-week course lead by qualified and experience coaches will get you running up to 5K (3 miles) non-stop. Upon completion you will receive an amazing Riverside medal.

The course costs just £10 and if you then wish to join the club this will be discounted from your membership.

Facebook: The Bell, Great Paxton Website: http://www.mybellpub.com/ Tel: 01480 700107 or 07701038433 Raqi

When?

Monday evenings at 6:30pm, starting on 24th April.

After the buzz of the London Marathon prove that you can do it too!

What’s next?

In celebration of your accomplishment we will encourage you to take part in Pocket parkrun on Saturday 1st July. On this day Riverside Runners will do a parkrun takeover where our members will support you if you choose to run. You can run it alone, with other members or follow a pacer to achieve a set time or pace.

You will also be invited to join Riverside Runners, but are under no obligation to do so.

What can I expect as a member?

Club training nights are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with competitive club races and many other fun member organised events throughout the year.

How do I sign up on the course?

For more information or to book your place please contact Ann Ellmers by email, secretary@riverside-runners.com or message Ann Ellmers via Facebook Messenger. www.riverside-runners.com

44

5

Booze and Brushes We meet once a month in The Bell for some step-by-step painting over a glass of wine. It’s a lovely atmosphere and everyone leaves with their very own work of art. So far, we’ve painted a winter scene and a waterfall.

Great Paxton Under 10s

We paint in acrylics and experiment with different applications, direction and texture. No artistic skills are required to create these pieces, just a willingness to come along and have a go.

Sessions are £10 which includes all materials and your canvas to take home. If you would like to join us, please message me on 07903 571774 or email sarahpeters266@gmail.com.

Great Paxton Under 10s continue to go from strength to strength, remaining unbeaten in the top flight since May 2022!

Recent victories have seen them beat rivals Alconbury 3-2, and achieve victories over Somersham (7-2), Hemingford (7-1), and Buckden (4-0).

They march on into the semi-finals of the Hunts FA Youth Cup and play all home games on the Recreation Ground at 10am mostly on Saturday mornings.

Please come out and cheer them along.

6

Booze and Brushes We meet once a month in The Bell for some step-by-step painting over a glass of wine. It’s a lovely atmosphere and everyone leaves with their very own work of art. So far, we’ve painted a winter scene and a waterfall.

43

Great Paxton Under 10s

We paint in acrylics and experiment with different applications, direction and texture. No artistic skills are required to create these pieces, just a willingness to come along and have a go.

Sessions are £10 which includes all materials and your canvas to take home. If you would like to join us, please message me on 07903 571774 or email sarahpeters266@gmail.com.

Great Paxton Under 10s continue to go from strength to strength, remaining unbeaten in the top flight since May 2022!

Recent victories have seen them beat rivals Alconbury 3-2, and achieve victories over Somersham (7-2), Hemingford (7-1), and Buckden (4-0).

They march on into the semi-finals of the Hunts FA Youth Cup and play all home games on the Recreation Ground at 10am mostly on Saturday mornings.

Please come out and cheer them along.

6

43

What is Ataxia?

Anyone of any age can get ataxia.

Letters to the Editor Please send letters about village matters to the Editor. Publication will be at the Editor’s discretion, together with the villager’s name.

Dear Editor, Please can I ask those who park their vehicles on the road to think a bit more about where they leave them? On Towgood Way for example, there are cars that regularly park just off a bend causing drivers to go on to the wrong side of the road and into a blind corner.

I was nearly hit (again) last week due to a car doing this heading towards London Lane. It’s a problem everywhere of course, so please just do as much as you can to park away from bends and junctions for the safety of others, even if this means not parking directly outside your house.

Name and address supplied. *

Little Paxton Gardening Club Where gardening and friendships blossom Join us in our 45th Sapphire Anniversary year.

Regular club meetings continue in Little Paxton Village Hall at 8pm.

A welcome return for Mike who has worked as a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials Panel and the RHS Trials Advisory Committee.

Mike Day 1st March

“Oriental vegetables” Jim Paine

5th April

“The secret life of plants ”

It is a very rare condition.

Estimates from recent

My husband Phil & I have lived in Great Paxton for 8 years and we love it here. Unfortunately, Phil was diagnosed with ATAXIA in 2018, which is a degenerative neurological condition.

It affects mobility, speech & fine motor control. It is a challenging condition that has reshaped our family, and how we now live, in many ways.

This condition is very rare and not generally understood or even known about, so to help raise awareness, our two daughters are running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon on Sunday 2nd April 2023.

They have set up a ‘just giving’ page and are raising money for the Ataxia UK charity.

If you wish to know more about Ataxia go to www.ataxia.org.uk.

The work that Ataxia UK do is instrumental in raising awareness, offering support and funding research to find a cure.

We are keen to raise awareness of this cruel debilitating condition and raise as much money as we can to help with funding valuable research towards one day finding a cure.

What can you do to help?

Please support our girls if you can.

Thank you – Jackie & Phil

Jim will unearth some fascinating secrets about the life of the plants.

Visitors are very welcome - £2 per meeting payable at the door.

You do not need to be an expert but enthusiasm helps!

studies say that there are around 10,000 adults and around 500 children in the UK with ataxia.

Ataxia Half-Marathon SCAN ME

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/felicity-beth

For more information, please contact: JANE HILL, Tel. 01480 218805

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7

What is Ataxia?

Anyone of any age can get ataxia.

Letters to the Editor Please send letters about village matters to the Editor. Publication will be at the Editor’s discretion, together with the villager’s name.

Dear Editor, Please can I ask those who park their vehicles on the road to think a bit more about where they leave them? On Towgood Way for example, there are cars that regularly park just off a bend causing drivers to go on to the wrong side of the road and into a blind corner.

I was nearly hit (again) last week due to a car doing this heading towards London Lane. It’s a problem everywhere of course, so please just do as much as you can to park away from bends and junctions for the safety of others, even if this means not parking directly outside your house.

Name and address supplied. *

Little Paxton Gardening Club Where gardening and friendships blossom Join us in our 45th Sapphire Anniversary year.

Regular club meetings continue in Little Paxton Village Hall at 8pm.

A welcome return for Mike who has worked as a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials Panel and the RHS Trials Advisory Committee.

Mike Day 1st March

“Oriental vegetables” Jim Paine

5th April

“The secret life of plants ”

It is a very rare condition.

Estimates from recent

My husband Phil & I have lived in Great Paxton for 8 years and we love it here. Unfortunately, Phil was diagnosed with ATAXIA in 2018, which is a degenerative neurological condition.

It affects mobility, speech & fine motor control. It is a challenging condition that has reshaped our family, and how we now live, in many ways.

This condition is very rare and not generally understood or even known about, so to help raise awareness, our two daughters are running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon on Sunday 2nd April 2023.

They have set up a ‘just giving’ page and are raising money for the Ataxia UK charity.

If you wish to know more about Ataxia go to www.ataxia.org.uk.

The work that Ataxia UK do is instrumental in raising awareness, offering support and funding research to find a cure.

We are keen to raise awareness of this cruel debilitating condition and raise as much money as we can to help with funding valuable research towards one day finding a cure.

What can you do to help?

Please support our girls if you can.

Thank you – Jackie & Phil

Jim will unearth some fascinating secrets about the life of the plants.

Visitors are very welcome - £2 per meeting payable at the door.

You do not need to be an expert but enthusiasm helps!

Ataxia Half-Marathon SCAN ME

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/felicity-beth

For more information, please contact: JANE HILL, Tel. 01480 218805

42

studies say that there are around 10,000 adults and around 500 children in the UK with ataxia.

7

CONCERNS AROUND THE AMOUNT OF DOG FOULING Dog fouling in the village, around the track, down the rec ground, on people’s gardens, on pavements, is becoming disgusting!! Children are falling in it, people are treading in it, dogs are eating it and rolling in it.

There are plenty of complaints on the village Facebook page about this, and this is to reiterate again to those not online who are potentially part of this or who choose to ignore the complaints, that there are consequences to your behaviour. If people are witnessed doing this they will be named and shamed and reported. Villagers are urged to check their CCTV and name and shame if it’s seen on the streets or gardens.

There is the possibility that the Recreation Ground Committee will ban dog walking there (why should the colts and FC teams have to clean it up?) We will risk losing the right to walk the track that the Lentons have so kindly allowed us to use. This is essentially their land. Why should they allow it to be used by people that cannot respect the rules and regulations around fouling?

Do you pick it up at home?

Would you allow your dog to foul in your house and just leave it?

Do you like the thought of your dog rolling around and eating it?

Do you clean up after yourself when you go to the toilet?

The people of Great Paxton are generally good people… so why are there so many dog owners not taking responsibility for their dogs and their mess? Why not just do the right and decent thing and pick it up?

If you can’t, why have you got a dog?? Come on, let’s make these areas nice again and safe for children to play and adults to walk. Your dog, your responsibility.

Save the date…

The return of Great Paxton School’s PTA Summer Fete Friday 30th June 2023 More information to come….

We are looking for stall holders, donations for various stalls, and volunteers. If you would like to be a part of this brilliant summer event that raises vital funds for our wonderful school, please email the PTA at greatppta@outlook.com

Raqi Martin 8

41

CONCERNS AROUND THE AMOUNT OF DOG FOULING Dog fouling in the village, around the track, down the rec ground, on people’s gardens, on pavements, is becoming disgusting!! Children are falling in it, people are treading in it, dogs are eating it and rolling in it.

There are plenty of complaints on the village Facebook page about this, and this is to reiterate again to those not online who are potentially part of this or who choose to ignore the complaints, that there are consequences to your behaviour. If people are witnessed doing this they will be named and shamed and reported. Villagers are urged to check their CCTV and name and shame if it’s seen on the streets or gardens.

There is the possibility that the Recreation Ground Committee will ban dog walking there (why should the colts and FC teams have to clean it up?) We will risk losing the right to walk the track that the Lentons have so kindly allowed us to use. This is essentially their land. Why should they allow it to be used by people that cannot respect the rules and regulations around fouling?

Do you pick it up at home?

Would you allow your dog to foul in your house and just leave it?

Do you like the thought of your dog rolling around and eating it?

Do you clean up after yourself when you go to the toilet?

The people of Great Paxton are generally good people… so why are there so many dog owners not taking responsibility for their dogs and their mess? Why not just do the right and decent thing and pick it up?

If you can’t, why have you got a dog?? Come on, let’s make these areas nice again and safe for children to play and adults to walk. Your dog, your responsibility.

Save the date…

The return of Great Paxton School’s PTA Summer Fete Friday 30th June 2023 More information to come….

We are looking for stall holders, donations for various stalls, and volunteers. If you would like to be a part of this brilliant summer event that raises vital funds for our wonderful school, please email the PTA at greatppta@outlook.com

Raqi Martin 8

41

Millenium Festival 2022 On behalf of Great Paxton FC and Gt Paxton Recreation Ground we want to thank all those involved in the Millennium Festival for their hard work in raising money and being able to donate to groups/clubs of the village.

Both the Rec and the FC received £200 each and this will be put towards their respective projects and will go a long way to helping them both.

All those involved in the Millenniumfest worked tirelessly to bring a festival to the village that has never been seen before. It was hard going after Covid, but that didn’t stop them.

All at the FC and the Rec Ground are extremely grateful for this money.

Michael Fairs and Alex Beadle can both be seen in the photos on the previous page collecting the cheques from some of those from the festival committee – Diane James, Graham James, Jacqueline Wieczorek and Andrew Wieczorek.

We’re interested in talking to you! Have you ever fancied running a kids’ football team?

Great Paxton Colts are looking to add another team to the 3 we have, all currently playing in the Hunts Youth League. We can help you attain your CRC check, child welfare and first aid training, along with your level 1 coaching badge.

If you fancy setting up a kids’ team, any age, mixed or female, come and have a chat or message me.

We’re also short of players for our U15 side and have a couple of spaces spare to the end of the season (school year 10).

40

colin.bower@ntlworld.com 07786 625397 9

Millenium Festival 2022 On behalf of Great Paxton FC and Gt Paxton Recreation Ground we want to thank all those involved in the Millennium Festival for their hard work in raising money and being able to donate to groups/clubs of the village.

Both the Rec and the FC received £200 each and this will be put towards their respective projects and will go a long way to helping them both.

All those involved in the Millenniumfest worked tirelessly to bring a festival to the village that has never been seen before. It was hard going after Covid, but that didn’t stop them.

All at the FC and the Rec Ground are extremely grateful for this money.

Michael Fairs and Alex Beadle can both be seen in the photos on the previous page collecting the cheques from some of those from the festival committee – Diane James, Graham James, Jacqueline Wieczorek and Andrew Wieczorek.

We’re interested in talking to you! Have you ever fancied running a kids’ football team?

Great Paxton Colts are looking to add another team to the 3 we have, all currently playing in the Hunts Youth League. We can help you attain your CRC check, child welfare and first aid training, along with your level 1 coaching badge.

If you fancy setting up a kids’ team, any age, mixed or female, come and have a chat or message me.

We’re also short of players for our U15 side and have a couple of spaces spare to the end of the season (school year 10).

40

colin.bower@ntlworld.com 07786 625397 9

Great Paxton Allotments and Sensory Garden 2019 was the year we started the allotments. (We’re behind the Recreation Ground Pavilion, for those who are not aware). During these past years, particularly during the pandemic time, it's been proven to have kept all our plotters active, enable us to grow our own organic produce and enjoy social time together.

The changing weather has always been a challenge. However, as years go by and we become more experienced, we’re able to overcome some obstacles. The moles, voles and shrews, cute as they are, seem to have moved in on a large scale. The rabbits, however, are happy to stay on the football pitch. Thankfully, we have rabbit proof fencing, but it’s quite disappointing when we go to collect our produce and find it chewed down to ground level. The most affected plotters have taken to using humane traps and removing them to a new home in Paxton Pits. I have to admit, it doesn't seem to have made much difference, I'm sure they keep finding their way back.

If you’re a vegetable gardener, I’m sure you’ll agree, there’s nothing better in the summer season, than picking your own pesticide free produce early in the morning and particularly towards the evening as the sun begins to set, as it does over the recreation ground.

At the moment our plots are fully occupied, we do have a waiting list and things do change, therefore, if anyone would like to join it please contact Gillian our secretary (see contact list).

Following on from the development of the allotments, with volunteers, we created a village sensory garden. This garden is constantly evolving. It struggled during the very hot summer last year, however, with the help of grants, we will be able to replace some of the shrubs and flowers that have been lost.

10

We hope in time that all of these groups will share with us some information and photographs as to how this share has benefitted their groups and the community. We will store these with all other Millenniumfest items in the village archives.

Diane James – Millenniumfest Project Manager 39

Great Paxton Allotments and Sensory Garden 2019 was the year we started the allotments. (We’re behind the Recreation Ground Pavilion, for those who are not aware). During these past years, particularly during the pandemic time, it's been proven to have kept all our plotters active, enable us to grow our own organic produce and enjoy social time together.

The changing weather has always been a challenge. However, as years go by and we become more experienced, we’re able to overcome some obstacles. The moles, voles and shrews, cute as they are, seem to have moved in on a large scale. The rabbits, however, are happy to stay on the football pitch. Thankfully, we have rabbit proof fencing, but it’s quite disappointing when we go to collect our produce and find it chewed down to ground level. The most affected plotters have taken to using humane traps and removing them to a new home in Paxton Pits. I have to admit, it doesn't seem to have made much difference, I'm sure they keep finding their way back.

If you’re a vegetable gardener, I’m sure you’ll agree, there’s nothing better in the summer season, than picking your own pesticide free produce early in the morning and particularly towards the evening as the sun begins to set, as it does over the recreation ground.

At the moment our plots are fully occupied, we do have a waiting list and things do change, therefore, if anyone would like to join it please contact Gillian our secretary (see contact list).

Following on from the development of the allotments, with volunteers, we created a village sensory garden. This garden is constantly evolving. It struggled during the very hot summer last year, however, with the help of grants, we will be able to replace some of the shrubs and flowers that have been lost.

10

We hope in time that all of these groups will share with us some information and photographs as to how this share has benefitted their groups and the community. We will store these with all other Millenniumfest items in the village archives.

Diane James – Millenniumfest Project Manager 39

Last year the Brownies planted over 100 bluebells, which will be a treat to see this spring.

We are always looking for help from people who love weeding! and any donations of plants or shrubs, particularly smelly ones, would be gratefully received. Again, please contact Gillian.

Representatives of the Millenniumfest Project group have been pleased to distribute amounts of money to different non-profit making charities, village groups and societies in Great Paxton following extremely successful fundraising. Most of this was done safely during the two lockdown years by making and selling around c.1400 jars of preserves and also the sales of amazing picnics for people to enjoy whilst restricted. So, the photographs opposite are: • • • • • • •

picture 1 - cheque for £500 being presented to the allotments group for new systems picture 2 - cheque for £200 to Great Paxton football team for help with kits picture 3 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Village Community Shop for new fridge and other fittings picture 4 - cheque for £200 to Recreation Ground to decorate the pavilion for the team and clubs to use. picture 5 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Guides group picture 6 - cheque for £740 to Holy Trinity Minster picture 7 - cheque for £250 to Great Paxton History Society

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And finally, we’d like to say a HUGE thank you, to the organisers of The Millenniumfest Project, who, last summer, gave our village and visitors a wonderful festival to enjoy and be a part of. With their dedication and commitment, they were able to raise an incredible amount of funds and have generously shared some of this with us.

We’re truly grateful for their generosity; they should be proud of what they achieved and we as a village should be more than proud to know that we are living amongst such kind and caring people. Thank you again from Great Paxton Allotments & Community Garden.

Here's to another fruitful season this year. Keep on growing.

Gaynor Christie, Chairperson

11

Last year the Brownies planted over 100 bluebells, which will be a treat to see this spring.

We are always looking for help from people who love weeding! and any donations of plants or shrubs, particularly smelly ones, would be gratefully received. Again, please contact Gillian.

Representatives of the Millenniumfest Project group have been pleased to distribute amounts of money to different non-profit making charities, village groups and societies in Great Paxton following extremely successful fundraising. Most of this was done safely during the two lockdown years by making and selling around c.1400 jars of preserves and also the sales of amazing picnics for people to enjoy whilst restricted. So, the photographs opposite are: • • • • • • •

picture 1 - cheque for £500 being presented to the allotments group for new systems picture 2 - cheque for £200 to Great Paxton football team for help with kits picture 3 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Village Community Shop for new fridge and other fittings picture 4 - cheque for £200 to Recreation Ground to decorate the pavilion for the team and clubs to use. picture 5 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Guides group picture 6 - cheque for £740 to Holy Trinity Minster picture 7 - cheque for £250 to Great Paxton History Society

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And finally, we’d like to say a HUGE thank you, to the organisers of The Millenniumfest Project, who, last summer, gave our village and visitors a wonderful festival to enjoy and be a part of. With their dedication and commitment, they were able to raise an incredible amount of funds and have generously shared some of this with us.

We’re truly grateful for their generosity; they should be proud of what they achieved and we as a village should be more than proud to know that we are living amongst such kind and caring people. Thank you again from Great Paxton Allotments & Community Garden.

Here's to another fruitful season this year. Keep on growing.

Gaynor Christie, Chairperson

11

Petanque Games involving throwing stones or balls to hit or land close to a smaller ball or target have been played competitively for thousands of years, including in Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman times. Petanque can probably therefore lay claim to being one of our oldest sports.

The modern version was invented in France around 1910 when a Frenchman was finding it difficult, because of apparently advanced rheumatism, to play the existing game involving heavy balls over a long distance. He therefore proposed an alternative version using smaller, lighter balls over a shorter pitch, or piste. He also stipulated that the balls should be thrown from a standing position from within a small circle – previously players had released the balls after a few steps of a short run up. Hence the name Petanque which is a contraction of two French words – pieds tanques – meaning that the balls are thrown with the feet close together and on the ground.

Petanque is played in many parts of the world and is the second most popular game in France. It is also a popular pub game in this country, and we are fortunate that here in Great Paxton we have 2 local leagues in which we can participate. The Huntingdonshire League organises matches between participating pub teams with matches played Tuesday evenings during the season – from about the end of April to late August or September. The St Neots League arranges matches for Wednesday evenings.

The Bell Petanque club has two teams playing on Tuesdays, and one on Wednesday evenings. Matches are played against teams from local pubs and The Bell has generally done quite well in the leagues as well as in the other tournaments and competitions which the leagues organise. The club also has a small social programme with an annual BBQ and dinner, both held at The Bell.

Some quick soundbites – • An application for funding towards an additional MVAS (mph) post, reflective hazard markers and footpath repairs on the High Street has been submitted to the County Council. The Parish Council expect an outcome in June. On the same theme, you might have noticed all the work undertaken to widen, clean up and improve the condition of the footpath beyond Church Lane towards The Offords. Thank you to Councillor Chris Hall for his part in organising this project and to those residents who volunteered to help him.

• Street lighting on the High Street remains a problem. Councillors have identified seven units which should be prioritised for replacement and will decide at the March meeting whether this project should go ahead.

• Two new trees! To replace one storm damaged last year on Mount Pleasant and the other planted on Saxon Green to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.

• Potholes! County Councillor Ferguson acknowledged that this is the worst time of year for potholes and told us that the County Council is working hard to get round to those that have been identified. Please continue to report any that you consider to be a problem, whatever their size or depth using the following link Cambridgeshire County Council - ReportIt (https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/) or by contacting a Parish Councillor or the clerk@greatpaxtonpc.gov.uk who will report it on your behalf.

Lastly – next meeting: Monday 20th March 2023 at the new earlier time of 7.30pm. Please join us.

12

37

Petanque Games involving throwing stones or balls to hit or land close to a smaller ball or target have been played competitively for thousands of years, including in Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman times. Petanque can probably therefore lay claim to being one of our oldest sports.

Some quick soundbites – • An application for funding towards an additional MVAS (mph) post, reflective hazard markers and footpath repairs on the High Street has been submitted to the County Council. The Parish Council expect an outcome in June. On the same theme, you might have noticed all the work undertaken to widen, clean up and improve the condition of the footpath beyond Church Lane towards The Offords. Thank you to Councillor Chris Hall for his part in organising this project and to those residents who volunteered to help him.

• Street lighting on the High Street remains a problem. Councillors have identified seven units which should be prioritised for replacement and will decide at the March meeting whether this project should go ahead.

• Two new trees! To replace one storm damaged last year on Mount Pleasant and the other planted on Saxon Green to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.

• Potholes! County Councillor Ferguson acknowledged that this is the worst time of year for potholes and told us that the County Council is working hard to get round to those that have been identified. Please continue to report any that you consider to be a problem, whatever their size or depth using the following link Cambridgeshire County Council - ReportIt (https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/) or by contacting a Parish Councillor or the clerk@greatpaxtonpc.gov.uk who will report it on your behalf.

The modern version was invented in France around 1910 when a Frenchman was finding it difficult, because of apparently advanced rheumatism, to play the existing game involving heavy balls over a long distance. He therefore proposed an alternative version using smaller, lighter balls over a shorter pitch, or piste. He also stipulated that the balls should be thrown from a standing position from within a small circle – previously players had released the balls after a few steps of a short run up. Hence the name Petanque which is a contraction of two French words – pieds tanques – meaning that the balls are thrown with the feet close together and on the ground.

Petanque is played in many parts of the world and is the second most popular game in France. It is also a popular pub game in this country, and we are fortunate that here in Great Paxton we have 2 local leagues in which we can participate. The Huntingdonshire League organises matches between participating pub teams with matches played Tuesday evenings during the season – from about the end of April to late August or September. The St Neots League arranges matches for Wednesday evenings.

The Bell Petanque club has two teams playing on Tuesdays, and one on Wednesday evenings. Matches are played against teams from local pubs and The Bell has generally done quite well in the leagues as well as in the other tournaments and competitions which the leagues organise. The club also has a small social programme with an annual BBQ and dinner, both held at The Bell.

12

Lastly – next meeting: Monday 20th March 2023 at the new earlier time of 7.30pm. Please join us.

37

REPORT FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The Parish Council was pleased to welcome back to its meetings District Councillor Richard West who had been unable to attend for a while for health reasons. Richard was able to tell us all about the District Council’s decision to review its Local Development Plan and the implications this might have for Great Paxton. As this review is about to start, Richard encouraged the Parish Council, who will be consulted, to consider what its approach might be towards future development.

Still on planning, the Parish Council has formally objected to three new planning applications for various developments at 51 London Lane, 9 Church Lane and 25 Brookside. They await the outcome.

Disappointed at the thin content of the December edition of the ‘Paxton Post’, the Parish Council has also welcomed the subsequent appointment of a new Editor, Julie Stock. As a Great Paxton resident, Julie will have her ear to the ground for articles and content and will be pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to contribute. Contact details are contained elsewhere in the ‘Post’.

Please make a note in your diary – MONDAY 15th MAY at 7PM for the Annual Parish Meeting! For some time now, Councillors have talked about the benefits to Great Paxton of a Community Led or Village Plan. This would enable the Parish Council to be proactive and structured with its decisions and budget rather than reactive or sporadic when problems or opportunities occur. To inform future decisions and forward planning, Councillors agreed to use the Annual Parish Meeting to discuss ideas with residents and to form an Action Plan for the future. All are welcome. The Parish Council look forward to hearing your thoughts??

So, if this has sparked your interest, why not come along to The Bell on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening during the summer – the pub can confirm if there is a home match – and see if you would like to have a go? Alternatively get in touch with the contact listed for Petanque elsewhere in this magazine.

* Great Paxton Reading Group Great Paxton Reading Group is a small group who meet up once a month; we are part of the St Neots Library Reading Groups.

Our last book was ‘Dark Tides’ by Philippa Gregory. This is the second book in a trilogy. I do not, as a rule, pick up historical novels but the previous book – ‘Tidelands’ I chose as it sounded different. Well, that book and this one I could not put down. ‘Dark Tides’ is set in the 1600s and the plot moves between London, Venice and New England – and keeps the reader interested with historical references, characters and a plot that you would want to read more about. I will have to see whether we can pick the next book – ‘Dawnlands’ from the Library.

If you are interested in joining, please get in contact.

Amanda Niven 07733261374

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13

REPORT FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The Parish Council was pleased to welcome back to its meetings District Councillor Richard West who had been unable to attend for a while for health reasons. Richard was able to tell us all about the District Council’s decision to review its Local Development Plan and the implications this might have for Great Paxton. As this review is about to start, Richard encouraged the Parish Council, who will be consulted, to consider what its approach might be towards future development.

So, if this has sparked your interest, why not come along to The Bell on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening during the summer – the pub can confirm if there is a home match – and see if you would like to have a go? Alternatively get in touch with the contact listed for Petanque elsewhere in this magazine.

Still on planning, the Parish Council has formally objected to three new planning applications for various developments at 51 London Lane, 9 Church Lane and 25 Brookside. They await the outcome.

Disappointed at the thin content of the December edition of the ‘Paxton Post’, the Parish Council has also welcomed the subsequent appointment of a new Editor, Julie Stock. As a Great Paxton resident, Julie will have her ear to the ground for articles and content and will be pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to contribute. Contact details are contained elsewhere in the ‘Post’.

Please make a note in your diary – MONDAY 15th MAY at 7PM for the Annual Parish Meeting! For some time now, Councillors have talked about the benefits to Great Paxton of a Community Led or Village Plan. This would enable the Parish Council to be proactive and structured with its decisions and budget rather than reactive or sporadic when problems or opportunities occur. To inform future decisions and forward planning, Councillors agreed to use the Annual Parish Meeting to discuss ideas with residents and to form an Action Plan for the future. All are welcome. The Parish Council look forward to hearing your thoughts??

36

* Great Paxton Reading Group Great Paxton Reading Group is a small group who meet up once a month; we are part of the St Neots Library Reading Groups.

Our last book was ‘Dark Tides’ by Philippa Gregory. This is the second book in a trilogy. I do not, as a rule, pick up historical novels but the previous book – ‘Tidelands’ I chose as it sounded different. Well, that book and this one I could not put down. ‘Dark Tides’ is set in the 1600s and the plot moves between London, Venice and New England – and keeps the reader interested with historical references, characters and a plot that you would want to read more about. I will have to see whether we can pick the next book – ‘Dawnlands’ from the Library.

If you are interested in joining, please get in contact.

Amanda Niven 07733261374

13

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides Update Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have made a great start to 2023. We welcomed new girls to all three units and are looking forward to celebrating 'World Thinking Day' on Saturday 25th February with all the Girlguiding units from across St Neots. World Thinking Day has been celebrated since 1926 and is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries. The theme for World Thinking Day 2023 is 'Our World, Our Peaceful Future'. I’m sure you’ll agree this is a very important theme for what the world is facing today, particularly in places like Ukraine.

Rainbows: The Rainbows have started a challenge badge all about being 'Superheroes' in the community as well as within ourselves.

Activities from finding out about other Rainbow units around the world, helping the environment and the community around us. We have played bingo, lots of fun games and created our own superhero masks.

Cost for the day will be £75 which covers everything, including all the above plus Prizes and Engraving.

When confirming your attendance, please also confirm your meal choices from the list above.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Scott Boswell via email at scott@tikitour.net or on 07900 216300 or me via the details below.

We will be sending out all this information, together with payment details very shortly via personal emails. Any questions or comments, please contact me or Scott and we will get back to you.

Finally, for now, Scott and I have organised the Woodsooners Days for the past two years and the Spring Meeting on 5th May will be our last, so if anyone is interested in taking over from us, please let me know via the contact details below.

Trevor Smith Trevorsmith1009@outlook.com 07473 213556

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Rainbows, Brownies and Guides Update Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have made a great start to 2023. We welcomed new girls to all three units and are looking forward to celebrating 'World Thinking Day' on Saturday 25th February with all the Girlguiding units from across St Neots. World Thinking Day has been celebrated since 1926 and is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries. The theme for World Thinking Day 2023 is 'Our World, Our Peaceful Future'. I’m sure you’ll agree this is a very important theme for what the world is facing today, particularly in places like Ukraine.

Cost for the day will be £75 which covers everything, including all the above plus Prizes and Engraving.

Rainbows: The Rainbows have started a challenge badge all about being 'Superheroes' in the community as well as within ourselves.

Activities from finding out about other Rainbow units around the world, helping the environment and the community around us. We have played bingo, lots of fun games and created our own superhero masks.

When confirming your attendance, please also confirm your meal choices from the list above.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Scott Boswell via email at scott@tikitour.net or on 07900 216300 or me via the details below.

We will be sending out all this information, together with payment details very shortly via personal emails. Any questions or comments, please contact me or Scott and we will get back to you.

Finally, for now, Scott and I have organised the Woodsooners Days for the past two years and the Spring Meeting on 5th May will be our last, so if anyone is interested in taking over from us, please let me know via the contact details below.

Trevor Smith Trevorsmith1009@outlook.com 07473 213556

14

35

Woodsooners Golf Society For those who don’t know, Woodsooners is the name given to the Great Paxton Golf Society, which is open to anyone, regardless of where you live. We are a very friendly society, and we meet twice a year, Spring & Autumn; you will be made to feel most welcome.

Brownies: This term Brownies have started working on their 'skills for my future' badge which is all about using practical skills. So far we have opened our own 'supermarkets' working out how much each item that we want to sell costs and how to safely use a hammer and screwdriver by creating potato heads out of nails and screws.

The next Woodsooners Meeting will be held at Elton Furze Golf Club, Peterborough on Friday 5th May 2023. The format will be as follows:

We celebrated 'Burns Night,' welcoming an honorary Scottish Grandma Owl to the unit for the evening. The girls had lots of fun creating their own Scottish banners and poems.

• • • • • •

08:15 – Bacon Roll & Coffee on arrival 08:30 – Briefing on the day’s events 09:15 – First T-off – 9-holes Pairs Comp 11:30-12:30 – Rolling Lunch of Bacon, Egg & Chips 12:45 – First T-off – 18-holes Singles Comp (Stableford) Back to The Bell in Great Paxton for Dinner, Prize Giving and much banter – Dinner will commence at 20:00 – please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements and we will try and accommodate them.

Dinner will be a choice of: Starters: Soup of the day with Rustic Roll & Butter or Crispy Chilli Beef Salad with Mixed Leaves or Prawn Cocktail Main: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Steamed Rice or Sausage, Mash, Veg & Gravy Sweet: Cheese & Biscuits & Chutney or Caramelised Apple Cheesecake, Toffee Sauce and Ice Cream or Cream 34

15

Woodsooners Golf Society For those who don’t know, Woodsooners is the name given to the Great Paxton Golf Society, which is open to anyone, regardless of where you live. We are a very friendly society, and we meet twice a year, Spring & Autumn; you will be made to feel most welcome.

Brownies: This term Brownies have started working on their 'skills for my future' badge which is all about using practical skills. So far we have opened our own 'supermarkets' working out how much each item that we want to sell costs and how to safely use a hammer and screwdriver by creating potato heads out of nails and screws.

The next Woodsooners Meeting will be held at Elton Furze Golf Club, Peterborough on Friday 5th May 2023. The format will be as follows:

We celebrated 'Burns Night,' welcoming an honorary Scottish Grandma Owl to the unit for the evening. The girls had lots of fun creating their own Scottish banners and poems.

• • • • • •

08:15 – Bacon Roll & Coffee on arrival 08:30 – Briefing on the day’s events 09:15 – First T-off – 9-holes Pairs Comp 11:30-12:30 – Rolling Lunch of Bacon, Egg & Chips 12:45 – First T-off – 18-holes Singles Comp (Stableford) Back to The Bell in Great Paxton for Dinner, Prize Giving and much banter – Dinner will commence at 20:00 – please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements and we will try and accommodate them.

Dinner will be a choice of: Starters: Soup of the day with Rustic Roll & Butter or Crispy Chilli Beef Salad with Mixed Leaves or Prawn Cocktail Main: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Steamed Rice or Sausage, Mash, Veg & Gravy Sweet: Cheese & Biscuits & Chutney or Caramelised Apple Cheesecake, Toffee Sauce and Ice Cream or Cream 34

15

Guides: Guides have also been working on their 'skills for my future' badge so far this term. One activity saw them creating a menu with a budget of just £5 per person with a few complications thrown in for good measure and a very funny game to test their 'gut instinct.' It was a take on 'what's the time Mr Wolf' but in the dark, with various obstacles to hide behind. The girls found their inner spy and took this very seriously. Lots of fun and laughter was had.

The guides were set with a more serious task at the start of term; to choose a charity to support and raise money for throughout this year. We tasked the girls to go away and think about the charity they would like to put forward. They blew the leaders away with the amount of time and effort they took deciding on a charity. We spent a good proportion of one of our meetings having very grown-up discussions and debating until we finally narrowed the choice down to support two very worthy charities: • Bliss - Bliss is a UK-based charity for infants. Bliss supports the families of babies in neonatal care and works with health professionals to provide training and improve care for babies.

• Brain Tumour Research - Brain Tumour Research is a UK-based medical research charity dedicated to funding research and raising awareness of brain tumours. The charity's vision is to find a cure for brain tumours of all kinds.

Both charities are close to our girls' hearts, and I am sure you will join us in wishing them all the very best in raising money for these welldeserved charities. Watch this space for fundraising efforts.

Christmas tree boxes, fabric no-sew acorns, crochet, small flower arrangements, ribbon embroidery, string art and much more.

Village bunting project We also ran a project to make bunting for all the village to enjoy and borrow for their own events. I currently am the custodian of that so please contact me if you wish to book it out. Here is some info about it and you can still add to it if you if you wish.

Just produce at least one personally decorated pennant per household before being added by craft group onto the tape.

Different fabrics can be used such as: fabric (plain and/or patterned), felted, etc.

What you need for bunting making: • your own needles and cotton • two triangles of fabric for the pendants of bunting • any embellishments you wish to use on your personal/family pennant such as felt shapes, sequins etc.

Please contact me for a suitable template.

Diane James, The Crafty Belles, diane.james42@outlook.com

If you would like your daughter to join Rainbows, Brownies or Guides please use the link below to register your daughter. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/registeryour-daughter/ 16

Guides: Guides have also been working on their 'skills for my future' badge so far this term. One activity saw them creating a menu with a budget of just £5 per person with a few complications thrown in for good measure and a very funny game to test their 'gut instinct.' It was a take on 'what's the time Mr Wolf' but in the dark, with various obstacles to hide behind. The girls found their inner spy and took this very seriously. Lots of fun and laughter was had.

The guides were set with a more serious task at the start of term; to choose a charity to support and raise money for throughout this year. We tasked the girls to go away and think about the charity they would like to put forward. They blew the leaders away with the amount of time and effort they took deciding on a charity. We spent a good proportion of one of our meetings having very grown-up discussions and debating until we finally narrowed the choice down to support two very worthy charities: • Bliss - Bliss is a UK-based charity for infants. Bliss supports the families of babies in neonatal care and works with health professionals to provide training and improve care for babies.

• Brain Tumour Research - Brain Tumour Research is a UK-based medical research charity dedicated to funding research and raising awareness of brain tumours. The charity's vision is to find a cure for brain tumours of all kinds.

Both charities are close to our girls' hearts, and I am sure you will join us in wishing them all the very best in raising money for these welldeserved charities. Watch this space for fundraising efforts.

33

Christmas tree boxes, fabric no-sew acorns, crochet, small flower arrangements, ribbon embroidery, string art and much more.

Village bunting project We also ran a project to make bunting for all the village to enjoy and borrow for their own events. I currently am the custodian of that so please contact me if you wish to book it out. Here is some info about it and you can still add to it if you if you wish.

Just produce at least one personally decorated pennant per household before being added by craft group onto the tape.

Different fabrics can be used such as: fabric (plain and/or patterned), felted, etc.

What you need for bunting making: • your own needles and cotton • two triangles of fabric for the pendants of bunting • any embellishments you wish to use on your personal/family pennant such as felt shapes, sequins etc.

Please contact me for a suitable template.

Diane James, The Crafty Belles, diane.james42@outlook.com

If you would like your daughter to join Rainbows, Brownies or Guides please use the link below to register your daughter. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/registeryour-daughter/ 16

33

The Crafty Belles For anyone new to the village or established villagers, our group meets on the 4th Monday of each month at The Bell on the High Street at 7.30pm for a couple of hours. You’re all welcome to come and join us for a mixture of crafts and enjoyable chat.

Ongoing projects update: We have been responsible for stitching the 26 beautiful pew cushions that you will now find in Church if you are in there for a service, family celebration or just a few quiet comfortable moments to reflect. As part of this project, we plan to have a total of 40 such cushions but given Covid restrictions, unavailability of stock and illness of a key player, we are on hold at the moment whilst our main designer is in treatment. She shares that she is looking forward to having the health and strength to resume design as soon as she can. We are happy to give her this time.

Great Paxton School’s PTA Easter Chocolate

Friday 31st March – doors open 6pm, eyes down at 6.30pm £2.50 per person for 4 games prizes will be chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

Monthly challenge at the meeting: each month we try to think of new simple tasks we can do or at least start in our 2 hours. Mostly, a member who has experience will take the lead and share knowledge so that we can all learn new skills. Some of you may not wish to lead, but at least we have a go! So far this includes, wax art, lace making,

You can purchase your tickets from the PTA every day after school in the playground from Monday 13th March or email greatppta@outlook.com for online tickets

32

17

The Crafty Belles For anyone new to the village or established villagers, our group meets on the 4th Monday of each month at The Bell on the High Street at 7.30pm for a couple of hours. You’re all welcome to come and join us for a mixture of crafts and enjoyable chat.

Ongoing projects update: We have been responsible for stitching the 26 beautiful pew cushions that you will now find in Church if you are in there for a service, family celebration or just a few quiet comfortable moments to reflect. As part of this project, we plan to have a total of 40 such cushions but given Covid restrictions, unavailability of stock and illness of a key player, we are on hold at the moment whilst our main designer is in treatment. She shares that she is looking forward to having the health and strength to resume design as soon as she can. We are happy to give her this time.

Great Paxton School’s PTA Easter Chocolate

Friday 31st March – doors open 6pm, eyes down at 6.30pm £2.50 per person for 4 games prizes will be chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

Monthly challenge at the meeting: each month we try to think of new simple tasks we can do or at least start in our 2 hours. Mostly, a member who has experience will take the lead and share knowledge so that we can all learn new skills. Some of you may not wish to lead, but at least we have a go! So far this includes, wax art, lace making,

You can purchase your tickets from the PTA every day after school in the playground from Monday 13th March or email greatppta@outlook.com for online tickets

32

17

Your Community Shop Needs You! We would like to ensure that people in the village are aware of the precarious position that the shop is in. There are a lot of people who really value the shop and one thing our shop can offer that supermarkets can't is genuine personal service to our customers.

Here are some quotes from some of our regular volunteers: ‘Just two years ago I and my husband (both long retired) moved to Great Paxton. My daughter had arranged for us to pick up a daily paper from the shop, so we quickly began to meet the shop staff.

Everyone made us feel so welcome to the village and within a month I had become a volunteer to help at the shop. The best thing I could have done. I quickly felt part of village life and have made many friends. Full training was given, and I can work whatever hours suit me. No obligation whatsoever. May I suggest that if you are new to the village or feeling a little lonely just have a walk to the shop and have a talk. Who knows what the outcome might be?’

Janice Harby

Mrs Andrea Goodyer 7a Church Lane, Great Paxton andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconnected.com Tower Captain: Mrs Mary Parnham 01480 394727 maryP2707@hotmail.com Church Treasurer: Mrs Jacqueline Jackson jnmunro@btinternet.com Please do contact Annette with any enquiries about weddings, baptisms, and funerals. We can be very flexible with days and times for these special services.

Regular services at Great Paxton Church 1st Sunday in the month: 9.00am Prayer Book Communion 2nd Sunday in the month: 11.00 All Age Worship.

3rd Sunday of the month: 11.00am Holy Communion

‘I was weeding the garden a few weeks after moving to the village in May 2021 when I got chatting to Sarah, who mentioned the shop was looking for volunteers and helping was a great way to get to know people and support the community at the same time. I signed up and have been enjoying my little Saturday shift ever since! I’ve met lots of local people and I also have a weekly treat… a Bakewell slice from the yummy cake and pastry selection which I highly recommend!!!! I work full time and I didn’t think it was worth volunteering for such a limited amount of time, but of course every little helps!!’

Rosemary Macey

For news from all of our four churches in the Paxtons benefice, please go to our website: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org or Benefice Facebook page @ThePaxtonsBenefice

18

31

Your Community Shop Needs You! We would like to ensure that people in the village are aware of the precarious position that the shop is in. There are a lot of people who really value the shop and one thing our shop can offer that supermarkets can't is genuine personal service to our customers.

Mrs Andrea Goodyer 7a Church Lane, Great Paxton andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconnected.com

Here are some quotes from some of our regular volunteers: ‘Just two years ago I and my husband (both long retired) moved to Great Paxton. My daughter had arranged for us to pick up a daily paper from the shop, so we quickly began to meet the shop staff.

Everyone made us feel so welcome to the village and within a month I had become a volunteer to help at the shop. The best thing I could have done. I quickly felt part of village life and have made many friends. Full training was given, and I can work whatever hours suit me. No obligation whatsoever. May I suggest that if you are new to the village or feeling a little lonely just have a walk to the shop and have a talk. Who knows what the outcome might be?’

Janice Harby

4th Sunday of the month: 11.00am Morning Prayer.

Tower Captain: Mrs Mary Parnham 01480 394727 maryP2707@hotmail.com Church Treasurer: Mrs Jacqueline Jackson jnmunro@btinternet.com Please do contact Annette with any enquiries about weddings, baptisms, and funerals. We can be very flexible with days and times for these special services.

Regular services at Great Paxton Church 1st Sunday in the month: 9.00am Prayer Book Communion 2nd Sunday in the month: 11.00 All Age Worship.

3rd Sunday of the month: 11.00am Holy Communion

‘I was weeding the garden a few weeks after moving to the village in May 2021 when I got chatting to Sarah, who mentioned the shop was looking for volunteers and helping was a great way to get to know people and support the community at the same time. I signed up and have been enjoying my little Saturday shift ever since! I’ve met lots of local people and I also have a weekly treat… a Bakewell slice from the yummy cake and pastry selection which I highly recommend!!!! I work full time and I didn’t think it was worth volunteering for such a limited amount of time, but of course every little helps!!’

Rosemary Macey

For news from all of our four churches in the Paxtons benefice, please go to our website: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org or Benefice Facebook page @ThePaxtonsBenefice

18

31

4th Sunday of the month: 11.00am Morning Prayer.

we are very grateful for the donation from the Milleniumfest Committee.

We are still short of funds to carry out all of the redecoration of the church following plaster repairs in 2021 and any further donations will be most appreciated. Our new QR code is very easy to use if you have a phone and bank card!

‘We didn’t know anyone when we moved here in March 2021, and we were still in a kind of lockdown then. So as soon as the shop opened back up, I decided to volunteer. I got to know Michelle and Sarah straight away and soon came to know others, some of whom are also my neighbours, or members of other local groups I’ve joined.

It’s been a great way of meeting new people and making friends.’

Julie Stock

There may be times when the church is storing quite a lot of builders’ materials, but we don’t anticipate any problems still using the church. Works should be finished by July 2023. Our contractors will be brothers Martin and Steve Strickland who have carried out many projects for us over the years.

‘In the years that I have been volunteering it has been great to get to know many people in the village. Seeing the regulars, speaking to them about their days, health, the weather, or whatever, is a privilege and often very entertaining. Whilst we cannot compete with supermarkets on price or range, we can certainly offer a much higher standard of service to our customers, and I know that this is something that people really appreciate. A smile, warm welcome and friendly face is so important to many of our customers. For some people the person working in the shop is the only one they speak to in a day, so I am passionate about a visit to the shop bringing a little bit of sunshine and warmth to all of our customers.’

Carol Wylde

* Contact details: Vicar: Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 canonannettereed@gmail.com Churchwardens: Mr Bob Hacking 1 Mint Lane, Great Paxton 01480 219846 30

we are very grateful for the donation from the Milleniumfest Committee.

19

We are still short of funds to carry out all of the redecoration of the church following plaster repairs in 2021 and any further donations will be most appreciated. Our new QR code is very easy to use if you have a phone and bank card!

‘We didn’t know anyone when we moved here in March 2021, and we were still in a kind of lockdown then. So as soon as the shop opened back up, I decided to volunteer. I got to know Michelle and Sarah straight away and soon came to know others, some of whom are also my neighbours, or members of other local groups I’ve joined.

It’s been a great way of meeting new people and making friends.’

Julie Stock

There may be times when the church is storing quite a lot of builders’ materials, but we don’t anticipate any problems still using the church. Works should be finished by July 2023. Our contractors will be brothers Martin and Steve Strickland who have carried out many projects for us over the years.

‘In the years that I have been volunteering it has been great to get to know many people in the village. Seeing the regulars, speaking to them about their days, health, the weather, or whatever, is a privilege and often very entertaining. Whilst we cannot compete with supermarkets on price or range, we can certainly offer a much higher standard of service to our customers, and I know that this is something that people really appreciate. A smile, warm welcome and friendly face is so important to many of our customers. For some people the person working in the shop is the only one they speak to in a day, so I am passionate about a visit to the shop bringing a little bit of sunshine and warmth to all of our customers.’

Carol Wylde

* Contact details: Vicar: Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 canonannettereed@gmail.com Churchwardens: Mr Bob Hacking 1 Mint Lane, Great Paxton 01480 219846 30

19

Great Paxton History Society Website: https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/ Please do visit our website. Have a look at what has been collected. If anyone has some more pictures of people and places in Great Paxton we would be pleased to see them. In particular the mid to late 20th century (1940s to 1999). School photos, sports events, all is of interest, especially if there’s names of people.

THE VICAR’S CURIOUS QUIZ NIGHT Number 15 Friday April 21st, 2023, at 7.30pm in the School Hall Just £3.00 per head and bring your own food and drink. Come as a group or come and make up a team. If you could email Graham to say you are coming that would be very helpful. This year’s special theme in the mystery round: seaside towns.

In aid of Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton grahambevan@gmail.com

Email us: greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com * Facebook: Great Paxton Remembers Also visit Great Paxton 1000: https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk An associated website which contains lots more resources.

The Results of the January Great Paxton Church 100 Club draw. £100 Number 99 Matt Austen £50 Number 56 Caroline Thompson £25 Number 141 Veronica Lee

From 2018, when we started thinking about the centenary of the end of the First World War, to the construction and dedication of the Lancaster Memorial, the instalment of the Philip Cardell Blue Plaque at Manor Farm, and finally the successful delivery of the delayed Millenniumfest in July 2022, the History Society has been busy.

Thanks to everyone who supports the Great Paxton Church 100 Club and to Graham Bevan who organises this essential fundraising scheme for our 1,000 year-old church. *

After all the excitement of the last four years it’s time to think about how we want our history society to evolve. At the moment since the pandemic, we have social meetings once a month in The Bell, and whilst these are good evenings full of conversation, it has been suggested that we return to having some more formal meetings with a set topic, open as always to anyone to join with us. What are your thoughts - please let me know.

Some of the topics suggested so far are: • a speaker from Paxton Pits, covering perhaps the history as well as the wildlife.

Holy Trinity Church PCC can announce Good News!

The refurbishment of the South Aisle is about to commence along with other repairs. It has taken a long time to reach the position where the funds and permissions are in place to refurbish the south aisle with a new stone floor and relocate the organ to the north aisle.

Four old pews will be remodelled into two pews which will run along one of the walls. The damp toilet wall plaster will be removed, and the walls left to dry out whilst a new French drain is introduced at the west end of the building. The vestry downpipes and gutters are being replaced. These works are partly funded by Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust (£3,000) and The National Churches Trust (£2142) and

20

29

Great Paxton History Society Website: https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/ Please do visit our website. Have a look at what has been collected. If anyone has some more pictures of people and places in Great Paxton we would be pleased to see them. In particular the mid to late 20th century (1940s to 1999). School photos, sports events, all is of interest, especially if there’s names of people.

THE VICAR’S CURIOUS QUIZ NIGHT Number 15 Friday April 21st, 2023, at 7.30pm in the School Hall Just £3.00 per head and bring your own food and drink. Come as a group or come and make up a team. If you could email Graham to say you are coming that would be very helpful. This year’s special theme in the mystery round: seaside towns.

In aid of Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton grahambevan@gmail.com

Email us: greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com * Facebook: Great Paxton Remembers Also visit Great Paxton 1000: https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk An associated website which contains lots more resources.

The Results of the January Great Paxton Church 100 Club draw. £100 Number 99 Matt Austen £50 Number 56 Caroline Thompson £25 Number 141 Veronica Lee

From 2018, when we started thinking about the centenary of the end of the First World War, to the construction and dedication of the Lancaster Memorial, the instalment of the Philip Cardell Blue Plaque at Manor Farm, and finally the successful delivery of the delayed Millenniumfest in July 2022, the History Society has been busy.

Thanks to everyone who supports the Great Paxton Church 100 Club and to Graham Bevan who organises this essential fundraising scheme for our 1,000 year-old church. *

After all the excitement of the last four years it’s time to think about how we want our history society to evolve. At the moment since the pandemic, we have social meetings once a month in The Bell, and whilst these are good evenings full of conversation, it has been suggested that we return to having some more formal meetings with a set topic, open as always to anyone to join with us. What are your thoughts - please let me know.

Some of the topics suggested so far are: • a speaker from Paxton Pits, covering perhaps the history as well as the wildlife.

20

Holy Trinity Church PCC can announce Good News!

The refurbishment of the South Aisle is about to commence along with other repairs. It has taken a long time to reach the position where the funds and permissions are in place to refurbish the south aisle with a new stone floor and relocate the organ to the north aisle.

Four old pews will be remodelled into two pews which will run along one of the walls. The damp toilet wall plaster will be removed, and the walls left to dry out whilst a new French drain is introduced at the west end of the building. The vestry downpipes and gutters are being replaced. These works are partly funded by Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust (£3,000) and The National Churches Trust (£2142) and 29

Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton

• • • • •

The Annual Meeting of the Parochial Church Council Sunday 12th March at 12.00 noon following the 11.00am service A short meeting to review the past year and receive the end of year accounts. It’s a good opportunity to thank the PCC for all their hard work over the year looking after the church building and churchyard, offering regular worship and a special space for occasional offices such as weddings, funerals and baptisms. * Sunday March 19th 11.00am A Service for Mothering Sunday We’d love to welcome villagers and friends of all ages to enjoy this special day. With a floral gift for all the ladies!

•

•

a big open meeting on our ‘Great Paxton Witch’, Annie Izzard for which we would need to make a small charge as it is hoped we can hire The Bell marquee. perhaps someone from the Cromwell Museum would tell us about what life might have been like in the village during the Civil War, with Oliver Cromwell being (nearly) a local. update on research into the Towgood family. the curator or a volunteer from St Neots Museum, or the Norris Museum, on some interesting local topic. maybe an archaeological speaker from the excavations happening around us - Must Farm, the A428 works, or the Wintringham extension to St Neots, maybe the East-West Rail if it gets going. do you have any ideas for topics? Something you would like to know more about? Or some knowledge that you could share with us? Whilst it need not be confined to Great Paxton History, it could be something that we could relate to (as above with the Civil War). we are in talks with another local history society who wish to visit our historic Saxon church in the summer - are there places we could visit? Where would you like to go? Bushmead Priory, Longthorpe Tower, Denny Abbey?

We try to meet once a month at The Bell, on the second Monday at 7.30pm. Our next meeting will be at The Bell on Monday, March 13th.

The April meeting will be Monday 17th as it is Easter Monday Bank Holiday on the 10th.

28

Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton

21

• • • • •

The Annual Meeting of the Parochial Church Council Sunday 12th March at 12.00 noon following the 11.00am service A short meeting to review the past year and receive the end of year accounts. It’s a good opportunity to thank the PCC for all their hard work over the year looking after the church building and churchyard, offering regular worship and a special space for occasional offices such as weddings, funerals and baptisms. * Sunday March 19th 11.00am A Service for Mothering Sunday We’d love to welcome villagers and friends of all ages to enjoy this special day. With a floral gift for all the ladies!

•

•

a big open meeting on our ‘Great Paxton Witch’, Annie Izzard for which we would need to make a small charge as it is hoped we can hire The Bell marquee. perhaps someone from the Cromwell Museum would tell us about what life might have been like in the village during the Civil War, with Oliver Cromwell being (nearly) a local. update on research into the Towgood family. the curator or a volunteer from St Neots Museum, or the Norris Museum, on some interesting local topic. maybe an archaeological speaker from the excavations happening around us - Must Farm, the A428 works, or the Wintringham extension to St Neots, maybe the East-West Rail if it gets going. do you have any ideas for topics? Something you would like to know more about? Or some knowledge that you could share with us? Whilst it need not be confined to Great Paxton History, it could be something that we could relate to (as above with the Civil War). we are in talks with another local history society who wish to visit our historic Saxon church in the summer - are there places we could visit? Where would you like to go? Bushmead Priory, Longthorpe Tower, Denny Abbey?

We try to meet once a month at The Bell, on the second Monday at 7.30pm. Our next meeting will be at The Bell on Monday, March 13th.

The April meeting will be Monday 17th as it is Easter Monday Bank Holiday on the 10th.

28

21

Walking in Cambridgeshire Time to get walking again!

With Spring on its way, we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

Walking in Cambridgeshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/cambridge has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web, but it is difficult to find. Walking in Cambridgeshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So, home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

John Harris www.walkinginengland.co.uk john@walkinginengland.co.uk

22

27

Walking in Cambridgeshire Time to get walking again!

With Spring on its way, we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

Walking in Cambridgeshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/cambridge has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web, but it is difficult to find. Walking in Cambridgeshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So, home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

John Harris www.walkinginengland.co.uk john@walkinginengland.co.uk

22

27

Community defribrillator

nicolahurden@live.co.uk

Nicola Cooper

Community defribrillator

Regular annual EventsVillage fete at Paxton Place School PTA Summer fete Scarecrow Festival Remembrance Sunday service School Christmas fayre in November Christmas lights switch-on/craft stalls Carols around the tree outside the Bell

Canon Annette Reed Michelle Oakley Joanna Hartley-Clark - to be confirmed Canon Annette Reed Julie Marks Rachael Martin Canon Annette Reed

Other Facebook groups –

GP Community group GP Community Selling group Save our village- against a new housing scheme Sow and Grow - gardening advice 01480 211048 greatppta@outlook.com Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival | Facebook 01480 211048 01480 472132 01480 700107 01480 211048

Other Facebook groups – GP Community group GP Community Selling group Save our village- against a new housing scheme Sow and Grow - gardening advice

Great Paxton Community Group Great Paxton Community Selling Group Great Paxton - Save Our Village Great Paxton Sow & Grow

Other information

Bus times at Adams Lane/High Street Bin collection details Huntingdon District Council (HDC) Cambridgeshire County Council Hospitals GP Practices Libraries Ibbetts - from tractors to nails Garages; repairs - 2 in village Post boxes Cinemas WI (Women's Institute) Volunteering opportunities Maps of walks in the College Farm area School bus to Longsands– details of stops and time Police – general non-emergency number U3A – St Neots Places of Worship Nature Reserve – Paxton Pits, Little Paxton Railway station, St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots Member of Parliament

Regular annual Events-

Other information Bus times at Adams Lane/High Street Bin collection details Huntingdon District Council (HDC) Cambridgeshire County Council Hospitals GP Practices Libraries Ibbetts - from tractors to nails Garages; repairs - 2 in village Post boxes Cinemas WI (Women's Institute) Volunteering opportunities Maps of walks in the College Farm area School bus to Longsands– details of stops and time Police – general non-emergency number U3A – St Neots Places of Worship Nature Reserve – Paxton Pits, Little Paxton Railway station, St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots Member of Parliament

https://dews-coaches.com/userfiles/Service65July20191.pdf https://www.stneots-tc.gov.uk/2021/10/tingwww.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk Highways, roads, potholes, line marking, etc Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon 01480 416416 Addenbrookes, Cambridge 01223 245151 Lakeside Surgeries, St Neots 01480 406722 Buckden and Little Paxton surgeries 01480 810216 St Neots Library 0345 045 5225 Huntingdon Library and Local Archives 0345 045 5225 Ibbetts, River Lane, Great Paxton 01480 473452 Paxton Hill Garage Ltd 01480 217806 CMS, River Lane 01480 476901 Outside the community shop - 9.00 a.m.

Mount Pleasant - opposite the school - 4.45 p.m.

Cineworld - St Neots and Huntingdon 0330 3334444 Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge Nearest are in St. Neots, Offord or Yelling branches Village Shop, Church led events, Guides, speedwatch Great Paxton Walking Routes_December 2020.pdf Transport – Longsands Academy 0345 0455208 101 University of the Third Age (U3A) Holy Trinity Minster Church - Great Paxton 01480 877215 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve 01480 406795 03450 264700 (central number) www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 01480 214163 Jonathan Djangoly jonathan.djanogly.mp@parliament.uk

Gas - leak issues Electricity - supply issues Water - supply and mains issues

Village fete at Paxton Place School PTA Summer fete Scarecrow Festival Remembrance Sunday service School Christmas fayre in November Christmas lights switch-on/craft stalls Carols around the tree outside the Bell

Emergency numbers for Gas - leak issues Electricity - supply issues Water - supply and mains issues

0800 111999 0800 316 3105 0800 771881

Emergency numbers for

213556

Rainbows/Brownies/Guides Allotments and community garden Cub Scouts - no longer active Church Bell ringers Church - Holy Trinity Minster Churchwardens Community Room - at school Community shop Crafty Belles Craft Group Darts Crib Team Exercise group Football Club - adults Friendship Club History Society Football - colts Mobile Library - every 3rd Monday - 3:10 -3:45 Mobile Post Office Van - every Tuesday 2-4 OBAS (fishing) Parish Council Petanque PTA Recreation Ground Great Paxton Primary School Pre-school Speedwatch Bell Painting group

Organisations, Clubs and activities

Contact method

Nicola Cooper

Canon Annette Reed Michelle Oakley Joanna Hartley-Clark - to be confirmed Canon Annette Reed Julie Marks Rachael Martin Canon Annette Reed

Great Paxton Community Group Great Paxton Community Selling Group Great Paxton - Save Our Village Great Paxton Sow & Grow

nicolahurden@live.co.uk

01480 211048 greatppta@outlook.com Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival | Facebook 01480 211048 01480 472132 01480 700107 01480 211048

https://dews-coaches.com/userfiles/Service65July20191.pdf https://www.stneots-tc.gov.uk/2021/10/tingwww.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk Highways, roads, potholes, line marking, etc Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon 01480 416416 Addenbrookes, Cambridge 01223 245151 Lakeside Surgeries, St Neots 01480 406722 Buckden and Little Paxton surgeries 01480 810216 St Neots Library 0345 045 5225 Huntingdon Library and Local Archives 0345 045 5225 Ibbetts, River Lane, Great Paxton 01480 473452 Paxton Hill Garage Ltd 01480 217806 CMS, River Lane 01480 476901 Outside the community shop - 9.00 a.m.

Mount Pleasant - opposite the school - 4.45 p.m.

Cineworld - St Neots and Huntingdon 0330 3334444 Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge Nearest are in St. Neots, Offord or Yelling branches Village Shop, Church led events, Guides, speedwatch Great Paxton Walking Routes_December 2020.pdf Transport – Longsands Academy 0345 0455208 101 University of the Third Age (U3A) Holy Trinity Minster Church - Great Paxton 01480 877215 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve 01480 406795 03450 264700 (central number) www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 01480 214163 Jonathan Djangoly jonathan.djanogly.mp@parliament.uk

0800 111999 0800 316 3105 0800 771881

Michelle Oakley girlguidinggreatpaxton@gmail.com Gillian Smith gilliansmith462@btinternet.com Andy Ottley 07704 857636 Mary Parnham 01480 394727 Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 Bob Hacking / Andrea Goodyer 01480 219846 / Andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconected.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 chair@greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk Andy Wylde Diane James diane.james42@outlook.com Graham Holton - Mens/Sally Ritson - Ladies Contact - Rachael Martin - 700107 Chris Horne 07790 857729 Mitch Wilson 07715 460818 Danny Love-Fulton 07540 491068 Angie Best 07719 545429 Jacqueline Wieczorek Jacqueline.wieczorek@gmail.com Jamie Stenton football@greatpaxtonfc.co.uk Cambridgeshire CC - Towgood Way mobilelibraries@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Post Office - in The Bell car park www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder/7322305/great-paxton Tony Elliott 07928 461032 Christine Brandon(Clerk) clerk@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk Simon Black 07561 320538 Michelle Oakley greatppta@outlook.com Michael Fairs Michael.fairs@gmail.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 Not currently open Chris Hall greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk The Rachael Martin 01480 700107 Sarah Peters sarahpeters266@gmail.comPaxton Post - village magazine Editor - Julie Stock woodbeez48@gmail.comWoodsooners Golf Society Trevor Smith 07473

Contact

A more detailed version is available online at www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk - March 2023

213556

Contact method

Contact

Michelle Oakley girlguidinggreatpaxton@gmail.com Gillian Smith gilliansmith462@btinternet.com Andy Ottley 07704 857636 Mary Parnham 01480 394727 Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 Bob Hacking / Andrea Goodyer 01480 219846 / Andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconected.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 chair@greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk Andy Wylde Diane James diane.james42@outlook.com Graham Holton - Mens/Sally Ritson - Ladies Contact - Rachael Martin - 700107 Chris Horne 07790 857729 Mitch Wilson 07715 460818 Danny Love-Fulton 07540 491068 Angie Best 07719 545429 Jacqueline Wieczorek Jacqueline.wieczorek@gmail.com Jamie Stenton football@greatpaxtonfc.co.uk Cambridgeshire CC - Towgood Way mobilelibraries@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Post Office - in The Bell car park www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder/7322305/great-paxton Tony Elliott 07928 461032 Christine Brandon(Clerk) clerk@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk Simon Black 07561 320538 Michelle Oakley greatppta@outlook.com Michael Fairs Michael.fairs@gmail.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 Not currently open Chris Hall greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk The Rachael Martin 01480 700107 Sarah Peters sarahpeters266@gmail.comPaxton Post - village magazine Editor - Julie Stock woodbeez48@gmail.comWoodsooners Golf Society Trevor Smith 07473

Organisations, Clubs and activities

Rainbows/Brownies/Guides Allotments and community garden Cub Scouts - no longer active Church Bell ringers Church - Holy Trinity Minster Churchwardens Community Room - at school Community shop Crafty Belles Craft Group Darts Crib Team Exercise group Football Club - adults Friendship Club History Society Football - colts Mobile Library - every 3rd Monday - 3:10 -3:45 Mobile Post Office Van - every Tuesday 2-4 OBAS (fishing) Parish Council Petanque PTA Recreation Ground Great Paxton Primary School Pre-school Speedwatch Bell Painting group

A more detailed version is available online at www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk - March 2023

Community defribrillator

nicolahurden@live.co.uk

Nicola Cooper

Community defribrillator

Regular annual EventsVillage fete at Paxton Place School PTA Summer fete Scarecrow Festival Remembrance Sunday service School Christmas fayre in November Christmas lights switch-on/craft stalls Carols around the tree outside the Bell

Canon Annette Reed Michelle Oakley Joanna Hartley-Clark - to be confirmed Canon Annette Reed Julie Marks Rachael Martin Canon Annette Reed

Other Facebook groups –

GP Community group GP Community Selling group Save our village- against a new housing scheme Sow and Grow - gardening advice 01480 211048 greatppta@outlook.com Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival | Facebook 01480 211048 01480 472132 01480 700107 01480 211048

Other Facebook groups – GP Community group GP Community Selling group Save our village- against a new housing scheme Sow and Grow - gardening advice

Great Paxton Community Group Great Paxton Community Selling Group Great Paxton - Save Our Village Great Paxton Sow & Grow

Other information

Bus times at Adams Lane/High Street Bin collection details Huntingdon District Council (HDC) Cambridgeshire County Council Hospitals GP Practices Libraries Ibbetts - from tractors to nails Garages; repairs - 2 in village Post boxes Cinemas WI (Women's Institute) Volunteering opportunities Maps of walks in the College Farm area School bus to Longsands– details of stops and time Police – general non-emergency number U3A – St Neots Places of Worship Nature Reserve – Paxton Pits, Little Paxton Railway station, St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots Member of Parliament

Regular annual Events-

Other information Bus times at Adams Lane/High Street Bin collection details Huntingdon District Council (HDC) Cambridgeshire County Council Hospitals GP Practices Libraries Ibbetts - from tractors to nails Garages; repairs - 2 in village Post boxes Cinemas WI (Women's Institute) Volunteering opportunities Maps of walks in the College Farm area School bus to Longsands– details of stops and time Police – general non-emergency number U3A – St Neots Places of Worship Nature Reserve – Paxton Pits, Little Paxton Railway station, St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots Member of Parliament

https://dews-coaches.com/userfiles/Service65July20191.pdf https://www.stneots-tc.gov.uk/2021/10/tingwww.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk Highways, roads, potholes, line marking, etc Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon 01480 416416 Addenbrookes, Cambridge 01223 245151 Lakeside Surgeries, St Neots 01480 406722 Buckden and Little Paxton surgeries 01480 810216 St Neots Library 0345 045 5225 Huntingdon Library and Local Archives 0345 045 5225 Ibbetts, River Lane, Great Paxton 01480 473452 Paxton Hill Garage Ltd 01480 217806 CMS, River Lane 01480 476901 Outside the community shop - 9.00 a.m.

Mount Pleasant - opposite the school - 4.45 p.m.

Cineworld - St Neots and Huntingdon 0330 3334444 Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge Nearest are in St. Neots, Offord or Yelling branches Village Shop, Church led events, Guides, speedwatch Great Paxton Walking Routes_December 2020.pdf Transport – Longsands Academy 0345 0455208 101 University of the Third Age (U3A) Holy Trinity Minster Church - Great Paxton 01480 877215 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve 01480 406795 03450 264700 (central number) www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 01480 214163 Jonathan Djangoly jonathan.djanogly.mp@parliament.uk

Gas - leak issues Electricity - supply issues Water - supply and mains issues

Village fete at Paxton Place School PTA Summer fete Scarecrow Festival Remembrance Sunday service School Christmas fayre in November Christmas lights switch-on/craft stalls Carols around the tree outside the Bell

Emergency numbers for Gas - leak issues Electricity - supply issues Water - supply and mains issues

0800 111999 0800 316 3105 0800 771881

Emergency numbers for

213556

Rainbows/Brownies/Guides Allotments and community garden Cub Scouts - no longer active Church Bell ringers Church - Holy Trinity Minster Churchwardens Community Room - at school Community shop Crafty Belles Craft Group Darts Crib Team Exercise group Football Club - adults Friendship Club History Society Football - colts Mobile Library - every 3rd Monday - 3:10 -3:45 Mobile Post Office Van - every Tuesday 2-4 OBAS (fishing) Parish Council Petanque PTA Recreation Ground Great Paxton Primary School Pre-school Speedwatch Bell Painting group

Organisations, Clubs and activities

Contact method

Nicola Cooper

Canon Annette Reed Michelle Oakley Joanna Hartley-Clark - to be confirmed Canon Annette Reed Julie Marks Rachael Martin Canon Annette Reed

Great Paxton Community Group Great Paxton Community Selling Group Great Paxton - Save Our Village Great Paxton Sow & Grow

nicolahurden@live.co.uk

01480 211048 greatppta@outlook.com Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival | Facebook 01480 211048 01480 472132 01480 700107 01480 211048

https://dews-coaches.com/userfiles/Service65July20191.pdf https://www.stneots-tc.gov.uk/2021/10/tingwww.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk Highways, roads, potholes, line marking, etc Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon 01480 416416 Addenbrookes, Cambridge 01223 245151 Lakeside Surgeries, St Neots 01480 406722 Buckden and Little Paxton surgeries 01480 810216 St Neots Library 0345 045 5225 Huntingdon Library and Local Archives 0345 045 5225 Ibbetts, River Lane, Great Paxton 01480 473452 Paxton Hill Garage Ltd 01480 217806 CMS, River Lane 01480 476901 Outside the community shop - 9.00 a.m.

Mount Pleasant - opposite the school - 4.45 p.m.

Cineworld - St Neots and Huntingdon 0330 3334444 Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge Nearest are in St. Neots, Offord or Yelling branches Village Shop, Church led events, Guides, speedwatch Great Paxton Walking Routes_December 2020.pdf Transport – Longsands Academy 0345 0455208 101 University of the Third Age (U3A) Holy Trinity Minster Church - Great Paxton 01480 877215 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve 01480 406795 03450 264700 (central number) www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 01480 214163 Jonathan Djangoly jonathan.djanogly.mp@parliament.uk

0800 111999 0800 316 3105 0800 771881

Michelle Oakley girlguidinggreatpaxton@gmail.com Gillian Smith gilliansmith462@btinternet.com Andy Ottley 07704 857636 Mary Parnham 01480 394727 Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 Bob Hacking / Andrea Goodyer 01480 219846 / Andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconected.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 chair@greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk Andy Wylde Diane James diane.james42@outlook.com Graham Holton - Mens/Sally Ritson - Ladies Contact - Rachael Martin - 700107 Chris Horne 07790 857729 Mitch Wilson 07715 460818 Danny Love-Fulton 07540 491068 Angie Best 07719 545429 Jacqueline Wieczorek Jacqueline.wieczorek@gmail.com Jamie Stenton football@greatpaxtonfc.co.uk Cambridgeshire CC - Towgood Way mobilelibraries@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Post Office - in The Bell car park www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder/7322305/great-paxton Tony Elliott 07928 461032 Christine Brandon(Clerk) clerk@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk Simon Black 07561 320538 Michelle Oakley greatppta@outlook.com Michael Fairs Michael.fairs@gmail.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 Not currently open Chris Hall greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk The Rachael Martin 01480 700107 Sarah Peters sarahpeters266@gmail.comPaxton Post - village magazine Editor - Julie Stock woodbeez48@gmail.comWoodsooners Golf Society Trevor Smith 07473

Contact

A more detailed version is available online at www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk - March 2023

213556

Contact method

Contact

Michelle Oakley girlguidinggreatpaxton@gmail.com Gillian Smith gilliansmith462@btinternet.com Andy Ottley 07704 857636 Mary Parnham 01480 394727 Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 Bob Hacking / Andrea Goodyer 01480 219846 / Andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconected.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 chair@greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk Andy Wylde Diane James diane.james42@outlook.com Graham Holton - Mens/Sally Ritson - Ladies Contact - Rachael Martin - 700107 Chris Horne 07790 857729 Mitch Wilson 07715 460818 Danny Love-Fulton 07540 491068 Angie Best 07719 545429 Jacqueline Wieczorek Jacqueline.wieczorek@gmail.com Jamie Stenton football@greatpaxtonfc.co.uk Cambridgeshire CC - Towgood Way mobilelibraries@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Post Office - in The Bell car park www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder/7322305/great-paxton Tony Elliott 07928 461032 Christine Brandon(Clerk) clerk@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk Simon Black 07561 320538 Michelle Oakley greatppta@outlook.com Michael Fairs Michael.fairs@gmail.com Julie Edwards 01480 472132 Not currently open Chris Hall greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk The Rachael Martin 01480 700107 Sarah Peters sarahpeters266@gmail.comPaxton Post - village magazine Editor - Julie Stock woodbeez48@gmail.comWoodsooners Golf Society Trevor Smith 07473

Organisations, Clubs and activities

Rainbows/Brownies/Guides Allotments and community garden Cub Scouts - no longer active Church Bell ringers Church - Holy Trinity Minster Churchwardens Community Room - at school Community shop Crafty Belles Craft Group Darts Crib Team Exercise group Football Club - adults Friendship Club History Society Football - colts Mobile Library - every 3rd Monday - 3:10 -3:45 Mobile Post Office Van - every Tuesday 2-4 OBAS (fishing) Parish Council Petanque PTA Recreation Ground Great Paxton Primary School Pre-school Speedwatch Bell Painting group

A more detailed version is available online at www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk - March 2023

Walking in Cambridgeshire Time to get walking again!

With Spring on its way, we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

Walking in Cambridgeshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/cambridge has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web, but it is difficult to find. Walking in Cambridgeshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So, home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

John Harris www.walkinginengland.co.uk john@walkinginengland.co.uk

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Walking in Cambridgeshire Time to get walking again!

With Spring on its way, we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

Walking in Cambridgeshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/cambridge has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web, but it is difficult to find. Walking in Cambridgeshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So, home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

John Harris www.walkinginengland.co.uk john@walkinginengland.co.uk

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Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton

• • • • •

The Annual Meeting of the Parochial Church Council Sunday 12th March at 12.00 noon following the 11.00am service A short meeting to review the past year and receive the end of year accounts. It’s a good opportunity to thank the PCC for all their hard work over the year looking after the church building and churchyard, offering regular worship and a special space for occasional offices such as weddings, funerals and baptisms. * Sunday March 19th 11.00am A Service for Mothering Sunday We’d love to welcome villagers and friends of all ages to enjoy this special day. With a floral gift for all the ladies!

•

•

a big open meeting on our ‘Great Paxton Witch’, Annie Izzard for which we would need to make a small charge as it is hoped we can hire The Bell marquee. perhaps someone from the Cromwell Museum would tell us about what life might have been like in the village during the Civil War, with Oliver Cromwell being (nearly) a local. update on research into the Towgood family. the curator or a volunteer from St Neots Museum, or the Norris Museum, on some interesting local topic. maybe an archaeological speaker from the excavations happening around us - Must Farm, the A428 works, or the Wintringham extension to St Neots, maybe the East-West Rail if it gets going. do you have any ideas for topics? Something you would like to know more about? Or some knowledge that you could share with us? Whilst it need not be confined to Great Paxton History, it could be something that we could relate to (as above with the Civil War). we are in talks with another local history society who wish to visit our historic Saxon church in the summer - are there places we could visit? Where would you like to go? Bushmead Priory, Longthorpe Tower, Denny Abbey?

We try to meet once a month at The Bell, on the second Monday at 7.30pm. Our next meeting will be at The Bell on Monday, March 13th.

The April meeting will be Monday 17th as it is Easter Monday Bank Holiday on the 10th.

28

Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton

21

• • • • •

The Annual Meeting of the Parochial Church Council Sunday 12th March at 12.00 noon following the 11.00am service A short meeting to review the past year and receive the end of year accounts. It’s a good opportunity to thank the PCC for all their hard work over the year looking after the church building and churchyard, offering regular worship and a special space for occasional offices such as weddings, funerals and baptisms. * Sunday March 19th 11.00am A Service for Mothering Sunday We’d love to welcome villagers and friends of all ages to enjoy this special day. With a floral gift for all the ladies!

•

•

a big open meeting on our ‘Great Paxton Witch’, Annie Izzard for which we would need to make a small charge as it is hoped we can hire The Bell marquee. perhaps someone from the Cromwell Museum would tell us about what life might have been like in the village during the Civil War, with Oliver Cromwell being (nearly) a local. update on research into the Towgood family. the curator or a volunteer from St Neots Museum, or the Norris Museum, on some interesting local topic. maybe an archaeological speaker from the excavations happening around us - Must Farm, the A428 works, or the Wintringham extension to St Neots, maybe the East-West Rail if it gets going. do you have any ideas for topics? Something you would like to know more about? Or some knowledge that you could share with us? Whilst it need not be confined to Great Paxton History, it could be something that we could relate to (as above with the Civil War). we are in talks with another local history society who wish to visit our historic Saxon church in the summer - are there places we could visit? Where would you like to go? Bushmead Priory, Longthorpe Tower, Denny Abbey?

We try to meet once a month at The Bell, on the second Monday at 7.30pm. Our next meeting will be at The Bell on Monday, March 13th.

The April meeting will be Monday 17th as it is Easter Monday Bank Holiday on the 10th.

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21

Great Paxton History Society Website: https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/ Please do visit our website. Have a look at what has been collected. If anyone has some more pictures of people and places in Great Paxton we would be pleased to see them. In particular the mid to late 20th century (1940s to 1999). School photos, sports events, all is of interest, especially if there’s names of people.

THE VICAR’S CURIOUS QUIZ NIGHT Number 15 Friday April 21st, 2023, at 7.30pm in the School Hall Just £3.00 per head and bring your own food and drink. Come as a group or come and make up a team. If you could email Graham to say you are coming that would be very helpful. This year’s special theme in the mystery round: seaside towns.

In aid of Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton grahambevan@gmail.com

Email us: greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com * Facebook: Great Paxton Remembers Also visit Great Paxton 1000: https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk An associated website which contains lots more resources.

The Results of the January Great Paxton Church 100 Club draw. £100 Number 99 Matt Austen £50 Number 56 Caroline Thompson £25 Number 141 Veronica Lee

From 2018, when we started thinking about the centenary of the end of the First World War, to the construction and dedication of the Lancaster Memorial, the instalment of the Philip Cardell Blue Plaque at Manor Farm, and finally the successful delivery of the delayed Millenniumfest in July 2022, the History Society has been busy.

Thanks to everyone who supports the Great Paxton Church 100 Club and to Graham Bevan who organises this essential fundraising scheme for our 1,000 year-old church. *

After all the excitement of the last four years it’s time to think about how we want our history society to evolve. At the moment since the pandemic, we have social meetings once a month in The Bell, and whilst these are good evenings full of conversation, it has been suggested that we return to having some more formal meetings with a set topic, open as always to anyone to join with us. What are your thoughts - please let me know.

Some of the topics suggested so far are: • a speaker from Paxton Pits, covering perhaps the history as well as the wildlife.

Holy Trinity Church PCC can announce Good News!

The refurbishment of the South Aisle is about to commence along with other repairs. It has taken a long time to reach the position where the funds and permissions are in place to refurbish the south aisle with a new stone floor and relocate the organ to the north aisle.

Four old pews will be remodelled into two pews which will run along one of the walls. The damp toilet wall plaster will be removed, and the walls left to dry out whilst a new French drain is introduced at the west end of the building. The vestry downpipes and gutters are being replaced. These works are partly funded by Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust (£3,000) and The National Churches Trust (£2142) and

20

29

Great Paxton History Society Website: https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/ Please do visit our website. Have a look at what has been collected. If anyone has some more pictures of people and places in Great Paxton we would be pleased to see them. In particular the mid to late 20th century (1940s to 1999). School photos, sports events, all is of interest, especially if there’s names of people.

THE VICAR’S CURIOUS QUIZ NIGHT Number 15 Friday April 21st, 2023, at 7.30pm in the School Hall Just £3.00 per head and bring your own food and drink. Come as a group or come and make up a team. If you could email Graham to say you are coming that would be very helpful. This year’s special theme in the mystery round: seaside towns.

In aid of Holy Trinity Church Great Paxton grahambevan@gmail.com

Email us: greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com * Facebook: Great Paxton Remembers Also visit Great Paxton 1000: https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk An associated website which contains lots more resources.

The Results of the January Great Paxton Church 100 Club draw. £100 Number 99 Matt Austen £50 Number 56 Caroline Thompson £25 Number 141 Veronica Lee

From 2018, when we started thinking about the centenary of the end of the First World War, to the construction and dedication of the Lancaster Memorial, the instalment of the Philip Cardell Blue Plaque at Manor Farm, and finally the successful delivery of the delayed Millenniumfest in July 2022, the History Society has been busy.

Thanks to everyone who supports the Great Paxton Church 100 Club and to Graham Bevan who organises this essential fundraising scheme for our 1,000 year-old church. *

After all the excitement of the last four years it’s time to think about how we want our history society to evolve. At the moment since the pandemic, we have social meetings once a month in The Bell, and whilst these are good evenings full of conversation, it has been suggested that we return to having some more formal meetings with a set topic, open as always to anyone to join with us. What are your thoughts - please let me know.

Some of the topics suggested so far are: • a speaker from Paxton Pits, covering perhaps the history as well as the wildlife.

20

Holy Trinity Church PCC can announce Good News!

The refurbishment of the South Aisle is about to commence along with other repairs. It has taken a long time to reach the position where the funds and permissions are in place to refurbish the south aisle with a new stone floor and relocate the organ to the north aisle.

Four old pews will be remodelled into two pews which will run along one of the walls. The damp toilet wall plaster will be removed, and the walls left to dry out whilst a new French drain is introduced at the west end of the building. The vestry downpipes and gutters are being replaced. These works are partly funded by Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust (£3,000) and The National Churches Trust (£2142) and 29

we are very grateful for the donation from the Milleniumfest Committee.

We are still short of funds to carry out all of the redecoration of the church following plaster repairs in 2021 and any further donations will be most appreciated. Our new QR code is very easy to use if you have a phone and bank card!

‘We didn’t know anyone when we moved here in March 2021, and we were still in a kind of lockdown then. So as soon as the shop opened back up, I decided to volunteer. I got to know Michelle and Sarah straight away and soon came to know others, some of whom are also my neighbours, or members of other local groups I’ve joined.

It’s been a great way of meeting new people and making friends.’

Julie Stock

There may be times when the church is storing quite a lot of builders’ materials, but we don’t anticipate any problems still using the church. Works should be finished by July 2023. Our contractors will be brothers Martin and Steve Strickland who have carried out many projects for us over the years.

‘In the years that I have been volunteering it has been great to get to know many people in the village. Seeing the regulars, speaking to them about their days, health, the weather, or whatever, is a privilege and often very entertaining. Whilst we cannot compete with supermarkets on price or range, we can certainly offer a much higher standard of service to our customers, and I know that this is something that people really appreciate. A smile, warm welcome and friendly face is so important to many of our customers. For some people the person working in the shop is the only one they speak to in a day, so I am passionate about a visit to the shop bringing a little bit of sunshine and warmth to all of our customers.’

Carol Wylde

* Contact details: Vicar: Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 canonannettereed@gmail.com Churchwardens: Mr Bob Hacking 1 Mint Lane, Great Paxton 01480 219846 30

we are very grateful for the donation from the Milleniumfest Committee.

19

We are still short of funds to carry out all of the redecoration of the church following plaster repairs in 2021 and any further donations will be most appreciated. Our new QR code is very easy to use if you have a phone and bank card!

‘We didn’t know anyone when we moved here in March 2021, and we were still in a kind of lockdown then. So as soon as the shop opened back up, I decided to volunteer. I got to know Michelle and Sarah straight away and soon came to know others, some of whom are also my neighbours, or members of other local groups I’ve joined.

It’s been a great way of meeting new people and making friends.’

Julie Stock

There may be times when the church is storing quite a lot of builders’ materials, but we don’t anticipate any problems still using the church. Works should be finished by July 2023. Our contractors will be brothers Martin and Steve Strickland who have carried out many projects for us over the years.

‘In the years that I have been volunteering it has been great to get to know many people in the village. Seeing the regulars, speaking to them about their days, health, the weather, or whatever, is a privilege and often very entertaining. Whilst we cannot compete with supermarkets on price or range, we can certainly offer a much higher standard of service to our customers, and I know that this is something that people really appreciate. A smile, warm welcome and friendly face is so important to many of our customers. For some people the person working in the shop is the only one they speak to in a day, so I am passionate about a visit to the shop bringing a little bit of sunshine and warmth to all of our customers.’

Carol Wylde

* Contact details: Vicar: Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 canonannettereed@gmail.com Churchwardens: Mr Bob Hacking 1 Mint Lane, Great Paxton 01480 219846 30

19

Your Community Shop Needs You! We would like to ensure that people in the village are aware of the precarious position that the shop is in. There are a lot of people who really value the shop and one thing our shop can offer that supermarkets can't is genuine personal service to our customers.

Here are some quotes from some of our regular volunteers: ‘Just two years ago I and my husband (both long retired) moved to Great Paxton. My daughter had arranged for us to pick up a daily paper from the shop, so we quickly began to meet the shop staff.

Everyone made us feel so welcome to the village and within a month I had become a volunteer to help at the shop. The best thing I could have done. I quickly felt part of village life and have made many friends. Full training was given, and I can work whatever hours suit me. No obligation whatsoever. May I suggest that if you are new to the village or feeling a little lonely just have a walk to the shop and have a talk. Who knows what the outcome might be?’

Janice Harby

Mrs Andrea Goodyer 7a Church Lane, Great Paxton andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconnected.com Tower Captain: Mrs Mary Parnham 01480 394727 maryP2707@hotmail.com Church Treasurer: Mrs Jacqueline Jackson jnmunro@btinternet.com Please do contact Annette with any enquiries about weddings, baptisms, and funerals. We can be very flexible with days and times for these special services.

Regular services at Great Paxton Church 1st Sunday in the month: 9.00am Prayer Book Communion 2nd Sunday in the month: 11.00 All Age Worship.

3rd Sunday of the month: 11.00am Holy Communion

‘I was weeding the garden a few weeks after moving to the village in May 2021 when I got chatting to Sarah, who mentioned the shop was looking for volunteers and helping was a great way to get to know people and support the community at the same time. I signed up and have been enjoying my little Saturday shift ever since! I’ve met lots of local people and I also have a weekly treat… a Bakewell slice from the yummy cake and pastry selection which I highly recommend!!!! I work full time and I didn’t think it was worth volunteering for such a limited amount of time, but of course every little helps!!’

Rosemary Macey

For news from all of our four churches in the Paxtons benefice, please go to our website: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org or Benefice Facebook page @ThePaxtonsBenefice

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31

Your Community Shop Needs You! We would like to ensure that people in the village are aware of the precarious position that the shop is in. There are a lot of people who really value the shop and one thing our shop can offer that supermarkets can't is genuine personal service to our customers.

Mrs Andrea Goodyer 7a Church Lane, Great Paxton andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconnected.com

Here are some quotes from some of our regular volunteers: ‘Just two years ago I and my husband (both long retired) moved to Great Paxton. My daughter had arranged for us to pick up a daily paper from the shop, so we quickly began to meet the shop staff.

Everyone made us feel so welcome to the village and within a month I had become a volunteer to help at the shop. The best thing I could have done. I quickly felt part of village life and have made many friends. Full training was given, and I can work whatever hours suit me. No obligation whatsoever. May I suggest that if you are new to the village or feeling a little lonely just have a walk to the shop and have a talk. Who knows what the outcome might be?’

Janice Harby

4th Sunday of the month: 11.00am Morning Prayer.

Tower Captain: Mrs Mary Parnham 01480 394727 maryP2707@hotmail.com Church Treasurer: Mrs Jacqueline Jackson jnmunro@btinternet.com Please do contact Annette with any enquiries about weddings, baptisms, and funerals. We can be very flexible with days and times for these special services.

Regular services at Great Paxton Church 1st Sunday in the month: 9.00am Prayer Book Communion 2nd Sunday in the month: 11.00 All Age Worship.

3rd Sunday of the month: 11.00am Holy Communion

‘I was weeding the garden a few weeks after moving to the village in May 2021 when I got chatting to Sarah, who mentioned the shop was looking for volunteers and helping was a great way to get to know people and support the community at the same time. I signed up and have been enjoying my little Saturday shift ever since! I’ve met lots of local people and I also have a weekly treat… a Bakewell slice from the yummy cake and pastry selection which I highly recommend!!!! I work full time and I didn’t think it was worth volunteering for such a limited amount of time, but of course every little helps!!’

Rosemary Macey

For news from all of our four churches in the Paxtons benefice, please go to our website: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org or Benefice Facebook page @ThePaxtonsBenefice

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31

4th Sunday of the month: 11.00am Morning Prayer.

The Crafty Belles For anyone new to the village or established villagers, our group meets on the 4th Monday of each month at The Bell on the High Street at 7.30pm for a couple of hours. You’re all welcome to come and join us for a mixture of crafts and enjoyable chat.

Ongoing projects update: We have been responsible for stitching the 26 beautiful pew cushions that you will now find in Church if you are in there for a service, family celebration or just a few quiet comfortable moments to reflect. As part of this project, we plan to have a total of 40 such cushions but given Covid restrictions, unavailability of stock and illness of a key player, we are on hold at the moment whilst our main designer is in treatment. She shares that she is looking forward to having the health and strength to resume design as soon as she can. We are happy to give her this time.

Great Paxton School’s PTA Easter Chocolate

Friday 31st March – doors open 6pm, eyes down at 6.30pm £2.50 per person for 4 games prizes will be chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

Monthly challenge at the meeting: each month we try to think of new simple tasks we can do or at least start in our 2 hours. Mostly, a member who has experience will take the lead and share knowledge so that we can all learn new skills. Some of you may not wish to lead, but at least we have a go! So far this includes, wax art, lace making,

You can purchase your tickets from the PTA every day after school in the playground from Monday 13th March or email greatppta@outlook.com for online tickets

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17

The Crafty Belles For anyone new to the village or established villagers, our group meets on the 4th Monday of each month at The Bell on the High Street at 7.30pm for a couple of hours. You’re all welcome to come and join us for a mixture of crafts and enjoyable chat.

Ongoing projects update: We have been responsible for stitching the 26 beautiful pew cushions that you will now find in Church if you are in there for a service, family celebration or just a few quiet comfortable moments to reflect. As part of this project, we plan to have a total of 40 such cushions but given Covid restrictions, unavailability of stock and illness of a key player, we are on hold at the moment whilst our main designer is in treatment. She shares that she is looking forward to having the health and strength to resume design as soon as she can. We are happy to give her this time.

Great Paxton School’s PTA Easter Chocolate

Friday 31st March – doors open 6pm, eyes down at 6.30pm £2.50 per person for 4 games prizes will be chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

Monthly challenge at the meeting: each month we try to think of new simple tasks we can do or at least start in our 2 hours. Mostly, a member who has experience will take the lead and share knowledge so that we can all learn new skills. Some of you may not wish to lead, but at least we have a go! So far this includes, wax art, lace making,

You can purchase your tickets from the PTA every day after school in the playground from Monday 13th March or email greatppta@outlook.com for online tickets

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17

Guides: Guides have also been working on their 'skills for my future' badge so far this term. One activity saw them creating a menu with a budget of just £5 per person with a few complications thrown in for good measure and a very funny game to test their 'gut instinct.' It was a take on 'what's the time Mr Wolf' but in the dark, with various obstacles to hide behind. The girls found their inner spy and took this very seriously. Lots of fun and laughter was had.

The guides were set with a more serious task at the start of term; to choose a charity to support and raise money for throughout this year. We tasked the girls to go away and think about the charity they would like to put forward. They blew the leaders away with the amount of time and effort they took deciding on a charity. We spent a good proportion of one of our meetings having very grown-up discussions and debating until we finally narrowed the choice down to support two very worthy charities: • Bliss - Bliss is a UK-based charity for infants. Bliss supports the families of babies in neonatal care and works with health professionals to provide training and improve care for babies.

• Brain Tumour Research - Brain Tumour Research is a UK-based medical research charity dedicated to funding research and raising awareness of brain tumours. The charity's vision is to find a cure for brain tumours of all kinds.

Both charities are close to our girls' hearts, and I am sure you will join us in wishing them all the very best in raising money for these welldeserved charities. Watch this space for fundraising efforts.

Christmas tree boxes, fabric no-sew acorns, crochet, small flower arrangements, ribbon embroidery, string art and much more.

Village bunting project We also ran a project to make bunting for all the village to enjoy and borrow for their own events. I currently am the custodian of that so please contact me if you wish to book it out. Here is some info about it and you can still add to it if you if you wish.

Just produce at least one personally decorated pennant per household before being added by craft group onto the tape.

Different fabrics can be used such as: fabric (plain and/or patterned), felted, etc.

What you need for bunting making: • your own needles and cotton • two triangles of fabric for the pendants of bunting • any embellishments you wish to use on your personal/family pennant such as felt shapes, sequins etc.

Please contact me for a suitable template.

Diane James, The Crafty Belles, diane.james42@outlook.com

If you would like your daughter to join Rainbows, Brownies or Guides please use the link below to register your daughter. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/registeryour-daughter/ 16

Guides: Guides have also been working on their 'skills for my future' badge so far this term. One activity saw them creating a menu with a budget of just £5 per person with a few complications thrown in for good measure and a very funny game to test their 'gut instinct.' It was a take on 'what's the time Mr Wolf' but in the dark, with various obstacles to hide behind. The girls found their inner spy and took this very seriously. Lots of fun and laughter was had.

The guides were set with a more serious task at the start of term; to choose a charity to support and raise money for throughout this year. We tasked the girls to go away and think about the charity they would like to put forward. They blew the leaders away with the amount of time and effort they took deciding on a charity. We spent a good proportion of one of our meetings having very grown-up discussions and debating until we finally narrowed the choice down to support two very worthy charities: • Bliss - Bliss is a UK-based charity for infants. Bliss supports the families of babies in neonatal care and works with health professionals to provide training and improve care for babies.

• Brain Tumour Research - Brain Tumour Research is a UK-based medical research charity dedicated to funding research and raising awareness of brain tumours. The charity's vision is to find a cure for brain tumours of all kinds.

Both charities are close to our girls' hearts, and I am sure you will join us in wishing them all the very best in raising money for these welldeserved charities. Watch this space for fundraising efforts.

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Christmas tree boxes, fabric no-sew acorns, crochet, small flower arrangements, ribbon embroidery, string art and much more.

Village bunting project We also ran a project to make bunting for all the village to enjoy and borrow for their own events. I currently am the custodian of that so please contact me if you wish to book it out. Here is some info about it and you can still add to it if you if you wish.

Just produce at least one personally decorated pennant per household before being added by craft group onto the tape.

Different fabrics can be used such as: fabric (plain and/or patterned), felted, etc.

What you need for bunting making: • your own needles and cotton • two triangles of fabric for the pendants of bunting • any embellishments you wish to use on your personal/family pennant such as felt shapes, sequins etc.

Please contact me for a suitable template.

Diane James, The Crafty Belles, diane.james42@outlook.com

If you would like your daughter to join Rainbows, Brownies or Guides please use the link below to register your daughter. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/registeryour-daughter/ 16

33

Woodsooners Golf Society For those who don’t know, Woodsooners is the name given to the Great Paxton Golf Society, which is open to anyone, regardless of where you live. We are a very friendly society, and we meet twice a year, Spring & Autumn; you will be made to feel most welcome.

Brownies: This term Brownies have started working on their 'skills for my future' badge which is all about using practical skills. So far we have opened our own 'supermarkets' working out how much each item that we want to sell costs and how to safely use a hammer and screwdriver by creating potato heads out of nails and screws.

The next Woodsooners Meeting will be held at Elton Furze Golf Club, Peterborough on Friday 5th May 2023. The format will be as follows:

We celebrated 'Burns Night,' welcoming an honorary Scottish Grandma Owl to the unit for the evening. The girls had lots of fun creating their own Scottish banners and poems.

• • • • • •

08:15 – Bacon Roll & Coffee on arrival 08:30 – Briefing on the day’s events 09:15 – First T-off – 9-holes Pairs Comp 11:30-12:30 – Rolling Lunch of Bacon, Egg & Chips 12:45 – First T-off – 18-holes Singles Comp (Stableford) Back to The Bell in Great Paxton for Dinner, Prize Giving and much banter – Dinner will commence at 20:00 – please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements and we will try and accommodate them.

Dinner will be a choice of: Starters: Soup of the day with Rustic Roll & Butter or Crispy Chilli Beef Salad with Mixed Leaves or Prawn Cocktail Main: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Steamed Rice or Sausage, Mash, Veg & Gravy Sweet: Cheese & Biscuits & Chutney or Caramelised Apple Cheesecake, Toffee Sauce and Ice Cream or Cream 34

15

Woodsooners Golf Society For those who don’t know, Woodsooners is the name given to the Great Paxton Golf Society, which is open to anyone, regardless of where you live. We are a very friendly society, and we meet twice a year, Spring & Autumn; you will be made to feel most welcome.

Brownies: This term Brownies have started working on their 'skills for my future' badge which is all about using practical skills. So far we have opened our own 'supermarkets' working out how much each item that we want to sell costs and how to safely use a hammer and screwdriver by creating potato heads out of nails and screws.

The next Woodsooners Meeting will be held at Elton Furze Golf Club, Peterborough on Friday 5th May 2023. The format will be as follows:

We celebrated 'Burns Night,' welcoming an honorary Scottish Grandma Owl to the unit for the evening. The girls had lots of fun creating their own Scottish banners and poems.

• • • • • •

08:15 – Bacon Roll & Coffee on arrival 08:30 – Briefing on the day’s events 09:15 – First T-off – 9-holes Pairs Comp 11:30-12:30 – Rolling Lunch of Bacon, Egg & Chips 12:45 – First T-off – 18-holes Singles Comp (Stableford) Back to The Bell in Great Paxton for Dinner, Prize Giving and much banter – Dinner will commence at 20:00 – please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements and we will try and accommodate them.

Dinner will be a choice of: Starters: Soup of the day with Rustic Roll & Butter or Crispy Chilli Beef Salad with Mixed Leaves or Prawn Cocktail Main: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Steamed Rice or Sausage, Mash, Veg & Gravy Sweet: Cheese & Biscuits & Chutney or Caramelised Apple Cheesecake, Toffee Sauce and Ice Cream or Cream 34

15

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides Update Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have made a great start to 2023. We welcomed new girls to all three units and are looking forward to celebrating 'World Thinking Day' on Saturday 25th February with all the Girlguiding units from across St Neots. World Thinking Day has been celebrated since 1926 and is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries. The theme for World Thinking Day 2023 is 'Our World, Our Peaceful Future'. I’m sure you’ll agree this is a very important theme for what the world is facing today, particularly in places like Ukraine.

Rainbows: The Rainbows have started a challenge badge all about being 'Superheroes' in the community as well as within ourselves.

Activities from finding out about other Rainbow units around the world, helping the environment and the community around us. We have played bingo, lots of fun games and created our own superhero masks.

Cost for the day will be £75 which covers everything, including all the above plus Prizes and Engraving.

When confirming your attendance, please also confirm your meal choices from the list above.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Scott Boswell via email at scott@tikitour.net or on 07900 216300 or me via the details below.

We will be sending out all this information, together with payment details very shortly via personal emails. Any questions or comments, please contact me or Scott and we will get back to you.

Finally, for now, Scott and I have organised the Woodsooners Days for the past two years and the Spring Meeting on 5th May will be our last, so if anyone is interested in taking over from us, please let me know via the contact details below.

Trevor Smith Trevorsmith1009@outlook.com 07473 213556

14

35

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides Update Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have made a great start to 2023. We welcomed new girls to all three units and are looking forward to celebrating 'World Thinking Day' on Saturday 25th February with all the Girlguiding units from across St Neots. World Thinking Day has been celebrated since 1926 and is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries. The theme for World Thinking Day 2023 is 'Our World, Our Peaceful Future'. I’m sure you’ll agree this is a very important theme for what the world is facing today, particularly in places like Ukraine.

Cost for the day will be £75 which covers everything, including all the above plus Prizes and Engraving.

Rainbows: The Rainbows have started a challenge badge all about being 'Superheroes' in the community as well as within ourselves.

Activities from finding out about other Rainbow units around the world, helping the environment and the community around us. We have played bingo, lots of fun games and created our own superhero masks.

When confirming your attendance, please also confirm your meal choices from the list above.

To confirm your attendance, please contact Scott Boswell via email at scott@tikitour.net or on 07900 216300 or me via the details below.

We will be sending out all this information, together with payment details very shortly via personal emails. Any questions or comments, please contact me or Scott and we will get back to you.

Finally, for now, Scott and I have organised the Woodsooners Days for the past two years and the Spring Meeting on 5th May will be our last, so if anyone is interested in taking over from us, please let me know via the contact details below.

Trevor Smith Trevorsmith1009@outlook.com 07473 213556

14

35

REPORT FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The Parish Council was pleased to welcome back to its meetings District Councillor Richard West who had been unable to attend for a while for health reasons. Richard was able to tell us all about the District Council’s decision to review its Local Development Plan and the implications this might have for Great Paxton. As this review is about to start, Richard encouraged the Parish Council, who will be consulted, to consider what its approach might be towards future development.

Still on planning, the Parish Council has formally objected to three new planning applications for various developments at 51 London Lane, 9 Church Lane and 25 Brookside. They await the outcome.

Disappointed at the thin content of the December edition of the ‘Paxton Post’, the Parish Council has also welcomed the subsequent appointment of a new Editor, Julie Stock. As a Great Paxton resident, Julie will have her ear to the ground for articles and content and will be pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to contribute. Contact details are contained elsewhere in the ‘Post’.

Please make a note in your diary – MONDAY 15th MAY at 7PM for the Annual Parish Meeting! For some time now, Councillors have talked about the benefits to Great Paxton of a Community Led or Village Plan. This would enable the Parish Council to be proactive and structured with its decisions and budget rather than reactive or sporadic when problems or opportunities occur. To inform future decisions and forward planning, Councillors agreed to use the Annual Parish Meeting to discuss ideas with residents and to form an Action Plan for the future. All are welcome. The Parish Council look forward to hearing your thoughts??

So, if this has sparked your interest, why not come along to The Bell on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening during the summer – the pub can confirm if there is a home match – and see if you would like to have a go? Alternatively get in touch with the contact listed for Petanque elsewhere in this magazine.

* Great Paxton Reading Group Great Paxton Reading Group is a small group who meet up once a month; we are part of the St Neots Library Reading Groups.

Our last book was ‘Dark Tides’ by Philippa Gregory. This is the second book in a trilogy. I do not, as a rule, pick up historical novels but the previous book – ‘Tidelands’ I chose as it sounded different. Well, that book and this one I could not put down. ‘Dark Tides’ is set in the 1600s and the plot moves between London, Venice and New England – and keeps the reader interested with historical references, characters and a plot that you would want to read more about. I will have to see whether we can pick the next book – ‘Dawnlands’ from the Library.

If you are interested in joining, please get in contact.

Amanda Niven 07733261374

36

13

REPORT FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The Parish Council was pleased to welcome back to its meetings District Councillor Richard West who had been unable to attend for a while for health reasons. Richard was able to tell us all about the District Council’s decision to review its Local Development Plan and the implications this might have for Great Paxton. As this review is about to start, Richard encouraged the Parish Council, who will be consulted, to consider what its approach might be towards future development.

So, if this has sparked your interest, why not come along to The Bell on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening during the summer – the pub can confirm if there is a home match – and see if you would like to have a go? Alternatively get in touch with the contact listed for Petanque elsewhere in this magazine.

Still on planning, the Parish Council has formally objected to three new planning applications for various developments at 51 London Lane, 9 Church Lane and 25 Brookside. They await the outcome.

Disappointed at the thin content of the December edition of the ‘Paxton Post’, the Parish Council has also welcomed the subsequent appointment of a new Editor, Julie Stock. As a Great Paxton resident, Julie will have her ear to the ground for articles and content and will be pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to contribute. Contact details are contained elsewhere in the ‘Post’.

Please make a note in your diary – MONDAY 15th MAY at 7PM for the Annual Parish Meeting! For some time now, Councillors have talked about the benefits to Great Paxton of a Community Led or Village Plan. This would enable the Parish Council to be proactive and structured with its decisions and budget rather than reactive or sporadic when problems or opportunities occur. To inform future decisions and forward planning, Councillors agreed to use the Annual Parish Meeting to discuss ideas with residents and to form an Action Plan for the future. All are welcome. The Parish Council look forward to hearing your thoughts??

36

* Great Paxton Reading Group Great Paxton Reading Group is a small group who meet up once a month; we are part of the St Neots Library Reading Groups.

Our last book was ‘Dark Tides’ by Philippa Gregory. This is the second book in a trilogy. I do not, as a rule, pick up historical novels but the previous book – ‘Tidelands’ I chose as it sounded different. Well, that book and this one I could not put down. ‘Dark Tides’ is set in the 1600s and the plot moves between London, Venice and New England – and keeps the reader interested with historical references, characters and a plot that you would want to read more about. I will have to see whether we can pick the next book – ‘Dawnlands’ from the Library.

If you are interested in joining, please get in contact.

Amanda Niven 07733261374

13

Petanque Games involving throwing stones or balls to hit or land close to a smaller ball or target have been played competitively for thousands of years, including in Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman times. Petanque can probably therefore lay claim to being one of our oldest sports.

The modern version was invented in France around 1910 when a Frenchman was finding it difficult, because of apparently advanced rheumatism, to play the existing game involving heavy balls over a long distance. He therefore proposed an alternative version using smaller, lighter balls over a shorter pitch, or piste. He also stipulated that the balls should be thrown from a standing position from within a small circle – previously players had released the balls after a few steps of a short run up. Hence the name Petanque which is a contraction of two French words – pieds tanques – meaning that the balls are thrown with the feet close together and on the ground.

Petanque is played in many parts of the world and is the second most popular game in France. It is also a popular pub game in this country, and we are fortunate that here in Great Paxton we have 2 local leagues in which we can participate. The Huntingdonshire League organises matches between participating pub teams with matches played Tuesday evenings during the season – from about the end of April to late August or September. The St Neots League arranges matches for Wednesday evenings.

The Bell Petanque club has two teams playing on Tuesdays, and one on Wednesday evenings. Matches are played against teams from local pubs and The Bell has generally done quite well in the leagues as well as in the other tournaments and competitions which the leagues organise. The club also has a small social programme with an annual BBQ and dinner, both held at The Bell.

Some quick soundbites – • An application for funding towards an additional MVAS (mph) post, reflective hazard markers and footpath repairs on the High Street has been submitted to the County Council. The Parish Council expect an outcome in June. On the same theme, you might have noticed all the work undertaken to widen, clean up and improve the condition of the footpath beyond Church Lane towards The Offords. Thank you to Councillor Chris Hall for his part in organising this project and to those residents who volunteered to help him.

• Street lighting on the High Street remains a problem. Councillors have identified seven units which should be prioritised for replacement and will decide at the March meeting whether this project should go ahead.

• Two new trees! To replace one storm damaged last year on Mount Pleasant and the other planted on Saxon Green to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.

• Potholes! County Councillor Ferguson acknowledged that this is the worst time of year for potholes and told us that the County Council is working hard to get round to those that have been identified. Please continue to report any that you consider to be a problem, whatever their size or depth using the following link Cambridgeshire County Council - ReportIt (https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/) or by contacting a Parish Councillor or the clerk@greatpaxtonpc.gov.uk who will report it on your behalf.

Lastly – next meeting: Monday 20th March 2023 at the new earlier time of 7.30pm. Please join us.

12

37

Petanque Games involving throwing stones or balls to hit or land close to a smaller ball or target have been played competitively for thousands of years, including in Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman times. Petanque can probably therefore lay claim to being one of our oldest sports.

Some quick soundbites – • An application for funding towards an additional MVAS (mph) post, reflective hazard markers and footpath repairs on the High Street has been submitted to the County Council. The Parish Council expect an outcome in June. On the same theme, you might have noticed all the work undertaken to widen, clean up and improve the condition of the footpath beyond Church Lane towards The Offords. Thank you to Councillor Chris Hall for his part in organising this project and to those residents who volunteered to help him.

• Street lighting on the High Street remains a problem. Councillors have identified seven units which should be prioritised for replacement and will decide at the March meeting whether this project should go ahead.

• Two new trees! To replace one storm damaged last year on Mount Pleasant and the other planted on Saxon Green to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.

• Potholes! County Councillor Ferguson acknowledged that this is the worst time of year for potholes and told us that the County Council is working hard to get round to those that have been identified. Please continue to report any that you consider to be a problem, whatever their size or depth using the following link Cambridgeshire County Council - ReportIt (https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/) or by contacting a Parish Councillor or the clerk@greatpaxtonpc.gov.uk who will report it on your behalf.

The modern version was invented in France around 1910 when a Frenchman was finding it difficult, because of apparently advanced rheumatism, to play the existing game involving heavy balls over a long distance. He therefore proposed an alternative version using smaller, lighter balls over a shorter pitch, or piste. He also stipulated that the balls should be thrown from a standing position from within a small circle – previously players had released the balls after a few steps of a short run up. Hence the name Petanque which is a contraction of two French words – pieds tanques – meaning that the balls are thrown with the feet close together and on the ground.

Petanque is played in many parts of the world and is the second most popular game in France. It is also a popular pub game in this country, and we are fortunate that here in Great Paxton we have 2 local leagues in which we can participate. The Huntingdonshire League organises matches between participating pub teams with matches played Tuesday evenings during the season – from about the end of April to late August or September. The St Neots League arranges matches for Wednesday evenings.

The Bell Petanque club has two teams playing on Tuesdays, and one on Wednesday evenings. Matches are played against teams from local pubs and The Bell has generally done quite well in the leagues as well as in the other tournaments and competitions which the leagues organise. The club also has a small social programme with an annual BBQ and dinner, both held at The Bell.

12

Lastly – next meeting: Monday 20th March 2023 at the new earlier time of 7.30pm. Please join us.

37

Last year the Brownies planted over 100 bluebells, which will be a treat to see this spring.

We are always looking for help from people who love weeding! and any donations of plants or shrubs, particularly smelly ones, would be gratefully received. Again, please contact Gillian.

Representatives of the Millenniumfest Project group have been pleased to distribute amounts of money to different non-profit making charities, village groups and societies in Great Paxton following extremely successful fundraising. Most of this was done safely during the two lockdown years by making and selling around c.1400 jars of preserves and also the sales of amazing picnics for people to enjoy whilst restricted. So, the photographs opposite are: • • • • • • •

picture 1 - cheque for £500 being presented to the allotments group for new systems picture 2 - cheque for £200 to Great Paxton football team for help with kits picture 3 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Village Community Shop for new fridge and other fittings picture 4 - cheque for £200 to Recreation Ground to decorate the pavilion for the team and clubs to use. picture 5 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Guides group picture 6 - cheque for £740 to Holy Trinity Minster picture 7 - cheque for £250 to Great Paxton History Society

38

And finally, we’d like to say a HUGE thank you, to the organisers of The Millenniumfest Project, who, last summer, gave our village and visitors a wonderful festival to enjoy and be a part of. With their dedication and commitment, they were able to raise an incredible amount of funds and have generously shared some of this with us.

We’re truly grateful for their generosity; they should be proud of what they achieved and we as a village should be more than proud to know that we are living amongst such kind and caring people. Thank you again from Great Paxton Allotments & Community Garden.

Here's to another fruitful season this year. Keep on growing.

Gaynor Christie, Chairperson

11

Last year the Brownies planted over 100 bluebells, which will be a treat to see this spring.

We are always looking for help from people who love weeding! and any donations of plants or shrubs, particularly smelly ones, would be gratefully received. Again, please contact Gillian.

Representatives of the Millenniumfest Project group have been pleased to distribute amounts of money to different non-profit making charities, village groups and societies in Great Paxton following extremely successful fundraising. Most of this was done safely during the two lockdown years by making and selling around c.1400 jars of preserves and also the sales of amazing picnics for people to enjoy whilst restricted. So, the photographs opposite are: • • • • • • •

picture 1 - cheque for £500 being presented to the allotments group for new systems picture 2 - cheque for £200 to Great Paxton football team for help with kits picture 3 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Village Community Shop for new fridge and other fittings picture 4 - cheque for £200 to Recreation Ground to decorate the pavilion for the team and clubs to use. picture 5 - cheque for £500 to Great Paxton Guides group picture 6 - cheque for £740 to Holy Trinity Minster picture 7 - cheque for £250 to Great Paxton History Society

38

And finally, we’d like to say a HUGE thank you, to the organisers of The Millenniumfest Project, who, last summer, gave our village and visitors a wonderful festival to enjoy and be a part of. With their dedication and commitment, they were able to raise an incredible amount of funds and have generously shared some of this with us.

We’re truly grateful for their generosity; they should be proud of what they achieved and we as a village should be more than proud to know that we are living amongst such kind and caring people. Thank you again from Great Paxton Allotments & Community Garden.

Here's to another fruitful season this year. Keep on growing.

Gaynor Christie, Chairperson

11

Great Paxton Allotments and Sensory Garden 2019 was the year we started the allotments. (We’re behind the Recreation Ground Pavilion, for those who are not aware). During these past years, particularly during the pandemic time, it's been proven to have kept all our plotters active, enable us to grow our own organic produce and enjoy social time together.

The changing weather has always been a challenge. However, as years go by and we become more experienced, we’re able to overcome some obstacles. The moles, voles and shrews, cute as they are, seem to have moved in on a large scale. The rabbits, however, are happy to stay on the football pitch. Thankfully, we have rabbit proof fencing, but it’s quite disappointing when we go to collect our produce and find it chewed down to ground level. The most affected plotters have taken to using humane traps and removing them to a new home in Paxton Pits. I have to admit, it doesn't seem to have made much difference, I'm sure they keep finding their way back.

If you’re a vegetable gardener, I’m sure you’ll agree, there’s nothing better in the summer season, than picking your own pesticide free produce early in the morning and particularly towards the evening as the sun begins to set, as it does over the recreation ground.

At the moment our plots are fully occupied, we do have a waiting list and things do change, therefore, if anyone would like to join it please contact Gillian our secretary (see contact list).

Following on from the development of the allotments, with volunteers, we created a village sensory garden. This garden is constantly evolving. It struggled during the very hot summer last year, however, with the help of grants, we will be able to replace some of the shrubs and flowers that have been lost.

10

We hope in time that all of these groups will share with us some information and photographs as to how this share has benefitted their groups and the community. We will store these with all other Millenniumfest items in the village archives.

Diane James – Millenniumfest Project Manager 39

Great Paxton Allotments and Sensory Garden 2019 was the year we started the allotments. (We’re behind the Recreation Ground Pavilion, for those who are not aware). During these past years, particularly during the pandemic time, it's been proven to have kept all our plotters active, enable us to grow our own organic produce and enjoy social time together.

The changing weather has always been a challenge. However, as years go by and we become more experienced, we’re able to overcome some obstacles. The moles, voles and shrews, cute as they are, seem to have moved in on a large scale. The rabbits, however, are happy to stay on the football pitch. Thankfully, we have rabbit proof fencing, but it’s quite disappointing when we go to collect our produce and find it chewed down to ground level. The most affected plotters have taken to using humane traps and removing them to a new home in Paxton Pits. I have to admit, it doesn't seem to have made much difference, I'm sure they keep finding their way back.

If you’re a vegetable gardener, I’m sure you’ll agree, there’s nothing better in the summer season, than picking your own pesticide free produce early in the morning and particularly towards the evening as the sun begins to set, as it does over the recreation ground.

At the moment our plots are fully occupied, we do have a waiting list and things do change, therefore, if anyone would like to join it please contact Gillian our secretary (see contact list).

Following on from the development of the allotments, with volunteers, we created a village sensory garden. This garden is constantly evolving. It struggled during the very hot summer last year, however, with the help of grants, we will be able to replace some of the shrubs and flowers that have been lost.

10

We hope in time that all of these groups will share with us some information and photographs as to how this share has benefitted their groups and the community. We will store these with all other Millenniumfest items in the village archives.

Diane James – Millenniumfest Project Manager 39

Millenium Festival 2022 On behalf of Great Paxton FC and Gt Paxton Recreation Ground we want to thank all those involved in the Millennium Festival for their hard work in raising money and being able to donate to groups/clubs of the village.

Both the Rec and the FC received £200 each and this will be put towards their respective projects and will go a long way to helping them both.

All those involved in the Millenniumfest worked tirelessly to bring a festival to the village that has never been seen before. It was hard going after Covid, but that didn’t stop them.

All at the FC and the Rec Ground are extremely grateful for this money.

Michael Fairs and Alex Beadle can both be seen in the photos on the previous page collecting the cheques from some of those from the festival committee – Diane James, Graham James, Jacqueline Wieczorek and Andrew Wieczorek.

We’re interested in talking to you! Have you ever fancied running a kids’ football team?

Great Paxton Colts are looking to add another team to the 3 we have, all currently playing in the Hunts Youth League. We can help you attain your CRC check, child welfare and first aid training, along with your level 1 coaching badge.

If you fancy setting up a kids’ team, any age, mixed or female, come and have a chat or message me.

We’re also short of players for our U15 side and have a couple of spaces spare to the end of the season (school year 10).

40

colin.bower@ntlworld.com 07786 625397 9

Millenium Festival 2022 On behalf of Great Paxton FC and Gt Paxton Recreation Ground we want to thank all those involved in the Millennium Festival for their hard work in raising money and being able to donate to groups/clubs of the village.

Both the Rec and the FC received £200 each and this will be put towards their respective projects and will go a long way to helping them both.

All those involved in the Millenniumfest worked tirelessly to bring a festival to the village that has never been seen before. It was hard going after Covid, but that didn’t stop them.

All at the FC and the Rec Ground are extremely grateful for this money.

Michael Fairs and Alex Beadle can both be seen in the photos on the previous page collecting the cheques from some of those from the festival committee – Diane James, Graham James, Jacqueline Wieczorek and Andrew Wieczorek.

We’re interested in talking to you! Have you ever fancied running a kids’ football team?

Great Paxton Colts are looking to add another team to the 3 we have, all currently playing in the Hunts Youth League. We can help you attain your CRC check, child welfare and first aid training, along with your level 1 coaching badge.

If you fancy setting up a kids’ team, any age, mixed or female, come and have a chat or message me.

We’re also short of players for our U15 side and have a couple of spaces spare to the end of the season (school year 10).

40

colin.bower@ntlworld.com 07786 625397 9

CONCERNS AROUND THE AMOUNT OF DOG FOULING Dog fouling in the village, around the track, down the rec ground, on people’s gardens, on pavements, is becoming disgusting!! Children are falling in it, people are treading in it, dogs are eating it and rolling in it.

There are plenty of complaints on the village Facebook page about this, and this is to reiterate again to those not online who are potentially part of this or who choose to ignore the complaints, that there are consequences to your behaviour. If people are witnessed doing this they will be named and shamed and reported. Villagers are urged to check their CCTV and name and shame if it’s seen on the streets or gardens.

There is the possibility that the Recreation Ground Committee will ban dog walking there (why should the colts and FC teams have to clean it up?) We will risk losing the right to walk the track that the Lentons have so kindly allowed us to use. This is essentially their land. Why should they allow it to be used by people that cannot respect the rules and regulations around fouling?

Do you pick it up at home?

Would you allow your dog to foul in your house and just leave it?

Do you like the thought of your dog rolling around and eating it?

Do you clean up after yourself when you go to the toilet?

The people of Great Paxton are generally good people… so why are there so many dog owners not taking responsibility for their dogs and their mess? Why not just do the right and decent thing and pick it up?

If you can’t, why have you got a dog?? Come on, let’s make these areas nice again and safe for children to play and adults to walk. Your dog, your responsibility.

Save the date…

The return of Great Paxton School’s PTA Summer Fete Friday 30th June 2023 More information to come….

We are looking for stall holders, donations for various stalls, and volunteers. If you would like to be a part of this brilliant summer event that raises vital funds for our wonderful school, please email the PTA at greatppta@outlook.com

Raqi Martin 8

41

CONCERNS AROUND THE AMOUNT OF DOG FOULING Dog fouling in the village, around the track, down the rec ground, on people’s gardens, on pavements, is becoming disgusting!! Children are falling in it, people are treading in it, dogs are eating it and rolling in it.

There are plenty of complaints on the village Facebook page about this, and this is to reiterate again to those not online who are potentially part of this or who choose to ignore the complaints, that there are consequences to your behaviour. If people are witnessed doing this they will be named and shamed and reported. Villagers are urged to check their CCTV and name and shame if it’s seen on the streets or gardens.

There is the possibility that the Recreation Ground Committee will ban dog walking there (why should the colts and FC teams have to clean it up?) We will risk losing the right to walk the track that the Lentons have so kindly allowed us to use. This is essentially their land. Why should they allow it to be used by people that cannot respect the rules and regulations around fouling?

Do you pick it up at home?

Would you allow your dog to foul in your house and just leave it?

Do you like the thought of your dog rolling around and eating it?

Do you clean up after yourself when you go to the toilet?

The people of Great Paxton are generally good people… so why are there so many dog owners not taking responsibility for their dogs and their mess? Why not just do the right and decent thing and pick it up?

If you can’t, why have you got a dog?? Come on, let’s make these areas nice again and safe for children to play and adults to walk. Your dog, your responsibility.

Save the date…

The return of Great Paxton School’s PTA Summer Fete Friday 30th June 2023 More information to come….

We are looking for stall holders, donations for various stalls, and volunteers. If you would like to be a part of this brilliant summer event that raises vital funds for our wonderful school, please email the PTA at greatppta@outlook.com

Raqi Martin 8

41

What is Ataxia?

Anyone of any age can get ataxia.

Letters to the Editor Please send letters about village matters to the Editor. Publication will be at the Editor’s discretion, together with the villager’s name.

Dear Editor, Please can I ask those who park their vehicles on the road to think a bit more about where they leave them? On Towgood Way for example, there are cars that regularly park just off a bend causing drivers to go on to the wrong side of the road and into a blind corner.

I was nearly hit (again) last week due to a car doing this heading towards London Lane. It’s a problem everywhere of course, so please just do as much as you can to park away from bends and junctions for the safety of others, even if this means not parking directly outside your house.

Name and address supplied. *

Little Paxton Gardening Club Where gardening and friendships blossom Join us in our 45th Sapphire Anniversary year.

Regular club meetings continue in Little Paxton Village Hall at 8pm.

A welcome return for Mike who has worked as a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials Panel and the RHS Trials Advisory Committee.

Mike Day 1st March

“Oriental vegetables” Jim Paine

5th April

“The secret life of plants ”

It is a very rare condition.

Estimates from recent

My husband Phil & I have lived in Great Paxton for 8 years and we love it here. Unfortunately, Phil was diagnosed with ATAXIA in 2018, which is a degenerative neurological condition.

It affects mobility, speech & fine motor control. It is a challenging condition that has reshaped our family, and how we now live, in many ways.

This condition is very rare and not generally understood or even known about, so to help raise awareness, our two daughters are running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon on Sunday 2nd April 2023.

They have set up a ‘just giving’ page and are raising money for the Ataxia UK charity.

If you wish to know more about Ataxia go to www.ataxia.org.uk.

The work that Ataxia UK do is instrumental in raising awareness, offering support and funding research to find a cure.

We are keen to raise awareness of this cruel debilitating condition and raise as much money as we can to help with funding valuable research towards one day finding a cure.

What can you do to help?

Please support our girls if you can.

Thank you – Jackie & Phil

Jim will unearth some fascinating secrets about the life of the plants.

Visitors are very welcome - £2 per meeting payable at the door.

You do not need to be an expert but enthusiasm helps!

studies say that there are around 10,000 adults and around 500 children in the UK with ataxia.

Ataxia Half-Marathon SCAN ME

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/felicity-beth

For more information, please contact: JANE HILL, Tel. 01480 218805

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What is Ataxia?

Anyone of any age can get ataxia.

Letters to the Editor Please send letters about village matters to the Editor. Publication will be at the Editor’s discretion, together with the villager’s name.

Dear Editor, Please can I ask those who park their vehicles on the road to think a bit more about where they leave them? On Towgood Way for example, there are cars that regularly park just off a bend causing drivers to go on to the wrong side of the road and into a blind corner.

I was nearly hit (again) last week due to a car doing this heading towards London Lane. It’s a problem everywhere of course, so please just do as much as you can to park away from bends and junctions for the safety of others, even if this means not parking directly outside your house.

Name and address supplied. *

Little Paxton Gardening Club Where gardening and friendships blossom Join us in our 45th Sapphire Anniversary year.

Regular club meetings continue in Little Paxton Village Hall at 8pm.

A welcome return for Mike who has worked as a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials Panel and the RHS Trials Advisory Committee.

Mike Day 1st March

“Oriental vegetables” Jim Paine

5th April

“The secret life of plants ”

It is a very rare condition.

Estimates from recent

My husband Phil & I have lived in Great Paxton for 8 years and we love it here. Unfortunately, Phil was diagnosed with ATAXIA in 2018, which is a degenerative neurological condition.

It affects mobility, speech & fine motor control. It is a challenging condition that has reshaped our family, and how we now live, in many ways.

This condition is very rare and not generally understood or even known about, so to help raise awareness, our two daughters are running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon on Sunday 2nd April 2023.

They have set up a ‘just giving’ page and are raising money for the Ataxia UK charity.

If you wish to know more about Ataxia go to www.ataxia.org.uk.

The work that Ataxia UK do is instrumental in raising awareness, offering support and funding research to find a cure.

We are keen to raise awareness of this cruel debilitating condition and raise as much money as we can to help with funding valuable research towards one day finding a cure.

What can you do to help?

Please support our girls if you can.

Thank you – Jackie & Phil

Jim will unearth some fascinating secrets about the life of the plants.

Visitors are very welcome - £2 per meeting payable at the door.

You do not need to be an expert but enthusiasm helps!

Ataxia Half-Marathon SCAN ME

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/felicity-beth

For more information, please contact: JANE HILL, Tel. 01480 218805

42

studies say that there are around 10,000 adults and around 500 children in the UK with ataxia.

7

Booze and Brushes We meet once a month in The Bell for some step-by-step painting over a glass of wine. It’s a lovely atmosphere and everyone leaves with their very own work of art. So far, we’ve painted a winter scene and a waterfall.

Great Paxton Under 10s

We paint in acrylics and experiment with different applications, direction and texture. No artistic skills are required to create these pieces, just a willingness to come along and have a go.

Sessions are £10 which includes all materials and your canvas to take home. If you would like to join us, please message me on 07903 571774 or email sarahpeters266@gmail.com.

Great Paxton Under 10s continue to go from strength to strength, remaining unbeaten in the top flight since May 2022!

Recent victories have seen them beat rivals Alconbury 3-2, and achieve victories over Somersham (7-2), Hemingford (7-1), and Buckden (4-0).

They march on into the semi-finals of the Hunts FA Youth Cup and play all home games on the Recreation Ground at 10am mostly on Saturday mornings.

Please come out and cheer them along.

6

Booze and Brushes We meet once a month in The Bell for some step-by-step painting over a glass of wine. It’s a lovely atmosphere and everyone leaves with their very own work of art. So far, we’ve painted a winter scene and a waterfall.

43

Great Paxton Under 10s

We paint in acrylics and experiment with different applications, direction and texture. No artistic skills are required to create these pieces, just a willingness to come along and have a go.

Sessions are £10 which includes all materials and your canvas to take home. If you would like to join us, please message me on 07903 571774 or email sarahpeters266@gmail.com.

Great Paxton Under 10s continue to go from strength to strength, remaining unbeaten in the top flight since May 2022!

Recent victories have seen them beat rivals Alconbury 3-2, and achieve victories over Somersham (7-2), Hemingford (7-1), and Buckden (4-0).

They march on into the semi-finals of the Hunts FA Youth Cup and play all home games on the Recreation Ground at 10am mostly on Saturday mornings.

Please come out and cheer them along.

6

43

In terms of booking, here at The Bell it goes without saying that booking in advance remains advisable as we do get so busy and also I don’t like turning people away but have done so in the past! Please just call through to make sure we have space and are doing food (often other events means we change our serving times).

St Neots Riverside Runners Beginners Course

Follow my Facebook page or my website for regular updates or just give me a call! I’m always happy to chat!

The support as we come into our 5 years of being at The Bell has been incredible and remains so.

Who are we?

St Neots Riverside Runners was established in 1987 and are proud to be an inclusive club, welcoming runners of all ages and abilities.

Whether you are a competitive runner looking to improve or looking for a friendly social group to run with, St Neots Riverside Runners has it all.

Beginners course – what and how much?

If you are 18+ and new to running or returning after a break or injury our tried and trusted 10-week course lead by qualified and experience coaches will get you running up to 5K (3 miles) non-stop. Upon completion you will receive an amazing Riverside medal.

The course costs just £10 and if you then wish to join the club this will be discounted from your membership.

Facebook: The Bell, Great Paxton Website: http://www.mybellpub.com/ Tel: 01480 700107 or 07701038433 Raqi

When?

Monday evenings at 6:30pm, starting on 24th April.

After the buzz of the London Marathon prove that you can do it too!

What’s next?

In celebration of your accomplishment we will encourage you to take part in Pocket parkrun on Saturday 1st July. On this day Riverside Runners will do a parkrun takeover where our members will support you if you choose to run. You can run it alone, with other members or follow a pacer to achieve a set time or pace.

You will also be invited to join Riverside Runners, but are under no obligation to do so.

What can I expect as a member?

Club training nights are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with competitive club races and many other fun member organised events throughout the year.

How do I sign up on the course?

For more information or to book your place please contact Ann Ellmers by email, secretary@riverside-runners.com or message Ann Ellmers via Facebook Messenger. www.riverside-runners.com

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5

In terms of booking, here at The Bell it goes without saying that booking in advance remains advisable as we do get so busy and also I don’t like turning people away but have done so in the past! Please just call through to make sure we have space and are doing food (often other events means we change our serving times).

St Neots Riverside Runners Beginners Course

Follow my Facebook page or my website for regular updates or just give me a call! I’m always happy to chat!

The support as we come into our 5 years of being at The Bell has been incredible and remains so.

Who are we?

St Neots Riverside Runners was established in 1987 and are proud to be an inclusive club, welcoming runners of all ages and abilities.

Whether you are a competitive runner looking to improve or looking for a friendly social group to run with, St Neots Riverside Runners has it all.

Beginners course – what and how much?

If you are 18+ and new to running or returning after a break or injury our tried and trusted 10-week course lead by qualified and experience coaches will get you running up to 5K (3 miles) non-stop. Upon completion you will receive an amazing Riverside medal.

The course costs just £10 and if you then wish to join the club this will be discounted from your membership.

Facebook: The Bell, Great Paxton Website: http://www.mybellpub.com/ Tel: 01480 700107 or 07701038433 Raqi

When?

Monday evenings at 6:30pm, starting on 24th April.

After the buzz of the London Marathon prove that you can do it too!

What’s next?

In celebration of your accomplishment we will encourage you to take part in Pocket parkrun on Saturday 1st July. On this day Riverside Runners will do a parkrun takeover where our members will support you if you choose to run. You can run it alone, with other members or follow a pacer to achieve a set time or pace.

You will also be invited to join Riverside Runners, but are under no obligation to do so.

What can I expect as a member?

Club training nights are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with competitive club races and many other fun member organised events throughout the year.

How do I sign up on the course?

For more information or to book your place please contact Ann Ellmers by email, secretary@riverside-runners.com or message Ann Ellmers via Facebook Messenger. www.riverside-runners.com

44

5

The Bell – Your family, dog-friendly, village local Happy New Year to all our customers, old and new. Silly season has now finished, although it feels as if it is continuing! We are super busy with events and just in general. Our marquee has taken a few bookings over the year as well as the pub. We are also putting a number of our own events on and themed nights.

There are two events this year that will be TICKET ONLY and will be firstly advertised to regulars and then will be advertised outside of this should there remain availability for these events. This will be advertised in due course via Facebook and our website.

The pub is so well supported and remains the main hub of the village! We have 3 petanque teams, a crib team, two darts teams on a Thursday, a ladies’ team on Tuesday, and two football teams on a Saturday. These guys really keep us going in the week and are essential to pub life.

MISSION: Your mission, should you choose to accept it... … is to take on this brand new, fun-filled obstacle dash in Abbots Ripton!

Get your family, friends and colleagues together and tackle our unique course to splash, crash and climb your way to the finish line!

y 7th M2a 20 3

Crib is coming to an end but is always looking for new players. So please contact me if you wish to play.

Our B Darts team on a Thursday is newly formed and I am sure would welcome some players as not everyone can commit every week.

Petanque, to resume in April on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are also on the lookout for new players.

: receive now to Sign up

rse u o c m 5k es l c a t s b 8o

ood vent sn e E E R AF dal ers’ me ing toolkit h s i n i f A is l fundra A digita support ed Dedicat magpas.org.uk/dash

s 4+ for age Suitable

Great ways to meet people and get out and about! Just contact me if you’re interested.

Registered Charity Number 1119279

We’re also now offering coffee and a sausage roll to eat in or takeaway for £5.00.

4

The Bell – Your family, dog-friendly, village local Happy New Year to all our customers, old and new. Silly season has now finished, although it feels as if it is continuing! We are super busy with events and just in general. Our marquee has taken a few bookings over the year as well as the pub. We are also putting a number of our own events on and themed nights.

There are two events this year that will be TICKET ONLY and will be firstly advertised to regulars and then will be advertised outside of this should there remain availability for these events. This will be advertised in due course via Facebook and our website.

The pub is so well supported and remains the main hub of the village! We have 3 petanque teams, a crib team, two darts teams on a Thursday, a ladies’ team on Tuesday, and two football teams on a Saturday. These guys really keep us going in the week and are essential to pub life.

45

MISSION: Your mission, should you choose to accept it... … is to take on this brand new, fun-filled obstacle dash in Abbots Ripton!

Get your family, friends and colleagues together and tackle our unique course to splash, crash and climb your way to the finish line!

y 7th M2a 20 3

Crib is coming to an end but is always looking for new players. So please contact me if you wish to play.

Our B Darts team on a Thursday is newly formed and I am sure would welcome some players as not everyone can commit every week.

Petanque, to resume in April on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are also on the lookout for new players.

Scantobuyyour tickets nowbeforepricesgoup!

: receive now to Sign up

rse u o c m 5k es l c a t s b 8o

d nt snoo e v e E E A FR dal ers’ me ing toolkit h s i n i f A is l fundra A digita support ed Dedicat magpas.org.uk/dash

s 4+ for age Suitable

Great ways to meet people and get out and about! Just contact me if you’re interested.

We’re also now offering coffee and a sausage roll to eat in or takeaway for £5.00.

4

Registered Charity Number 1119279

45

Scantobuyyour tickets nowbeforepricesgoup!

Editorial by Julie Stock As you will already know if you’re on the Great Paxton Community group on Facebook, I have volunteered as Editor of the Paxton Post from this edition. This means that in future, you can send your articles for inclusion to me at woodbeez48@gmail.com.

As this is a village magazine, it relies on your contributions, and I would like to thank everyone who has sent something in for this issue. I hope you enjoy reading all the interesting articles we have this time. You can also read the magazine online via the Community tab on the Parish Council website at https://greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk/.

If you’d like to contribute to the next issue, please note the deadline dates below. We now have a new advertising policy for local businesses as well. Please contact me if you’re interested in this.

Deadline Dates for Upcoming Issues The Paxton Post is published 6 times a year. Cut off dates are now the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please see the table below for these dates. It is the responsibility of contributors to ensure articles are submitted to the Editor by these dates. Thank you.

Edition May – June July – August September – October November – December January – February March-April

Copy deadline 15 April 15 June 15 August 15 October 15 December 15 February

Paxton Post is published by Easiprint Ltd in association with Great Paxton Parish Council and is funded by the Council. Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, neither the editor, the printer or the Parish Council can be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, the publisher or the Parish Council.

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Editorial by Julie Stock As you will already know if you’re on the Great Paxton Community group on Facebook, I have volunteered as Editor of the Paxton Post from this edition. This means that in future, you can send your articles for inclusion to me at woodbeez48@gmail.com.

As this is a village magazine, it relies on your contributions, and I would like to thank everyone who has sent something in for this issue. I hope you enjoy reading all the interesting articles we have this time. You can also read the magazine online via the Community tab on the Parish Council website at https://greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk/.

If you’d like to contribute to the next issue, please note the deadline dates below. We now have a new advertising policy for local businesses as well. Please contact me if you’re interested in this.

Deadline Dates for Upcoming Issues The Paxton Post is published 6 times a year. Cut off dates are now the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please see the table below for these dates. It is the responsibility of contributors to ensure articles are submitted to the Editor by these dates. Thank you.

Edition May – June July – August September – October November – December January – February March-April

Copy deadline 15 April 15 June 15 August 15 October 15 December 15 February

Paxton Post is published by Easiprint Ltd in association with Great Paxton Parish Council and is funded by the Council. Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, neither the editor, the printer or the Parish Council can be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, the publisher or the Parish Council.

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2

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Issue 35

Paxton Post

March - April 2023

THE MAGAZINE FOR GREAT PAXTON

16

1

Issue 35

Paxton Post

March - April 2023

THE MAGAZINE FOR GREAT PAXTON

16

1