Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival
Etchells, on the left, with her class of 1902. didn’t stop boys misbehaving though. At harvest time they would a trick on the teachers by coming to school with a pocketful of These would be released, and the children would see Miss Etchells scream and clamber onto her desk.
IT’S BACK!
Saturday 16th to Sunday 24th September
Sponsored by:
had a subject called Sloyd carpentry. This was a type of teaching originating in Sweden which looked at education in a non-vocational manner. It was designed to help children develop skills together with showing the need for accuracy and quality. In Sweden it would have carving wood but here it was cutting cardboard, presumably sharp knives. It was regarded as a modern approach away from traditional three Rs, which seems quite surprising for a small, simple village.
I am delighted to report the Scarecrow Festival will be back for a third year!! As many of you know, I felt I was unable to carry on with the Scarecrow Festival single handedly, but thanks to some amazing people in the village there is now a Scarecrow “committee”!
means the event will hopefully be bigger and better than ever before! So put the date in your diary and get those scarecrow thinking on!
committee have decided there will not be a theme again, as we not want to deter people from entering. Anything goes! It is still completely free to enter, and this year we have changed the prize categories. You will be in with a chance of winning one of the following:
Best Named Scarecrow - £50 cash from Hire or Buy Group
Funniest Scarecrow - £50 voucher for The Bell
Most original Scarecrow - £50 cash from Peter Anderson Cars
another boy who had ruined one of Dick’s paintings. For this, Dick that he was punished by being hit with a cricket bat. Cricket umps were also sometimes used as well as a hairbrush, though this usually on the girls.
had 59 official entries in our first year, 71 last year – let’s try and over 100 this year! Without your fantastic creations there will not festival, so please do join in if you can.
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is the plan for the festival week:
in the distance cycling towards her, she would hide. Her discipline was in full sight as her cane hung on the wall behind her Once, whilst trying to cane a boy on the hand, he whisked it so that she missed. He then did it again leading to her dragging over her desk and caning his backside.
SCARECROWS
Ashton, who was at the school at about the same time, describes more methods of punishment. He was in a fight with
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before, scarecrows will need to be on display from 10am on Saturday 16th until end of day on Sunday 24th September (so consider wonderful British weather when making your scarecrow!) As mentioned, there is no theme, and it is free to enter. A completed form (included within the next edition of The Paxton Post) is required in order to be eligible to win the prizes, and this form must returned by 10th September. You will then be given an official entry number that needs to be displayed near your scarecrow for the week, that people can vote for your creation. You do not need to use straw, but if you would like to then I am hoping the lovely residents of College Farm may be able to donate some again.
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SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER – THE BELL PUB CAR PARK
FOOD, CRAFTS, AND GAME STALLS – FROM 12 NOON vendors, craft stalls, game stalls and hopefully face painting will available in The Bell car park on the first Saturday of the festival week.
FANCY DRESS COMPETITION – 3PM
Children are invited to attend The Bell garden at 3pm on 16th for a dress competition – no theme, and free to enter! (Age 11 and under). Prizes to be won!
VOTING / WINNERS
Voting by the public will take place all week using the voting slips available on the map/scarecrow entry list. People will be asked to vote their favourites according to the three categories. These votes will counted on the afternoon of Sunday 24th September by the
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committee and the winners announced at The Bell pub and via a only win one category). set to be a wonderful event for all the family, So come on Great
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8 Chef’s Corner 53
However, when we looked at the mosque’s website to check something and read that they were unable to take any more bags of clothing, we were left in a bit of a quandary. In the meantime, the continued to arrive with one person alone bringing 10 sacks. As had virtually lost the use of our dining room and half of the hall, were getting rather keen to find an alternative charity to take the of not just clothes but also footwear, tents and sanitary wear.
Have you ever thought of joining?
WI was formed in 1915 to give women a voice and to be a force good. As Great Paxton doesn’t have its own WI, perhaps I can tell about The Offords branch and extend an invitation for you to group has been in existence for over 100 years! We do have members who live in Great Paxton and would be happy to welcome more, of any age. Our older members give us the backbone, we need younger members to secure our future!
many phone calls and internet searches, we discovered that charities were only wanting financial donations. We were therefore relieved when I happened to see that someone in Little Paxton helping some local Ukrainian families. We quickly made contact him, and he put us in touch with a charity based in Lincolnshire had been set up to send aid in the way of clothes and other to families in Ukraine, and even to troops on the front line. https://m.facebook.com/Boxes-of-Hope108281751797753/?ref=page_internal
currently have about 25 members, but would welcome new faces bring fresh ideas, skills and enthusiasm. The WI, first and foremost, gives you the chance to meet other people in a friendly setting, and to be inspired to try new things – or to share your skills others. It can be whatever you want it to be. You would have opportunity to contribute by helping with the running of the group, but it’s certainly not essential.
phone call to Mandy, the founder of the charity, at last sounded promising and, having checked that no donors had any objection, we arranged for her to come and collect the bags and sacks. Firstly though, we thought that it was best to check with her whether she would be able to take all the sacks, which had now grown to a grand of 60.
meet on the second Tuesday of every month in The Offords
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Village Hall in Offord Cluny at 7.30. There is a programme of events these monthly meets; often we have a speaker, or someone to demonstrate a skill, perhaps an author or historian or a food tasting.
month we had a demonstration of making cold porcelain flowers. There is a short meeting during the course of the evening to conduct business and make announcements, but the rest of the time social with a raffle, refreshments and a competition. We try new ourselves and are just starting a small Knit, Natter and Books group.
arrange several outings each year, the last one being Ten Pin Bowling with lunch. One of our members has written a poem
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FROM GREAT PAXTON TO UKRAINE – Graham James news broke of the dreadful devastation caused by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, villager Diane James felt that something should be done to help the survivors. After a search for organisations that were sending out aid, we arranged to deliver whatever we collected to a mosque in Cambridge.
appeal went out and Great Paxton answered in style. After just
days we realised that it was going to be more than a car full.
these lovely occasional offices.
Thank you to the Great Paxton School Community for coming into church for a wonderful end of spring term service just before Easter. The singing and words chosen were very uplifting. We wish the children, staff and school families a happy and productive summer term 2023!
recording the fun we had. The August meeting is a Tea Afternoon, usually in a garden. In January we have a New Year Dinner. It’s all friendly and a wonderful way to meet people and make new friends.
Offords WI is a part of the Huntingdon & Peterborough Federation of WIs. So not only would you have access to the events run in The Offords, but also the events and outings arranged by Headquarters in Huntingdon. These activities are open to all the small branches across the district and include, so far this year, things as Group Walks, an outing to Bletchley Park, theatre trips various courses in crafts and skills – a recent one being a crochet workshop. Members receive a local monthly newsletter and also a larger nationally focused magazine.
anything mentioned appeals to you, please do come along to one our meetings. You can come as a visitor (£4.50) before deciding whether to join, and we will be happy to see you and explain more out what we do.
next meetings are as follows:
Tuesday 11 April
Speaker: Alison Williamson
Subject: Whyte Wytch Artisan Cows Cheese
Tuesday 9 May
Speaker: Sally Clay
Subject: Jewellery Making
we see you then? We hope so!
Marion Warden
Please contact Jenny Murby (President) on 01480 811474 with any questions.
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THE OFFORDS WI OUTING
Results of the April Great Paxton Church 100 Club draw. Number 48 Paul Clarke
Number 115 Paul Richards
Number 196 Peter Dunn
Thanks to everyone who supports the Great Paxton Church 100 Club to Graham Bevan who organises this essential fundraising scheme for our 1,000 year old church.
We all went Ten Pin Bowling in the alley out at Pidley, Lunch and drinks to follow – better not get tiddly! We all tried hard to make a strike: we chose the smoothest ball, We tripped and danced along the mat and no-one had a fall! But oh, the balls were heavy and wonky was the lane, Our legs and backs complained a lot, our shoulders felt the pain. But on we ploughed: it’s so much fun, or so we all declared, And yes, we cheated just a bit – but no-one really cared. For we knew who was winning, though we sometimes broke the rules,
brings a Local History Exhibition to church. will find details of the June local history display elsewhere in the Paxton Post, but it is great that the group are so active and willing able to share their findings.
Its having fun that matters – the WI aren’t fools! We couldn’t read the final score: it didn’t really matter, We’d had a lovely morning, some dinner and a natter. So, join your local WI: we really are quite nice, If life seems just a little drab – well we can add some spice. We’re not all jam and knitting and some of us can’t bake, we are part of something good and friends you’ll surely make!
Vicar and PCC are very grateful to Paul Ward who has crafted the amazing timeline of the monarchs who have ruled over the area where Great Paxton lies from the 500s to the present day. series of posts and carved wooden plaques run alongside the churchyard path and the outcome is a remarkable creative endeavour for the village.
Marion Warden
Churches Trust (£3000) and The National Churches Trust (£2142) as as a donation from the MilleniumFest Committee. Any further donations towards redecoration will be most appreciated.
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new QR code is
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very easy to use if you have a phone and bank
well covered for a few weeks whilst the south aisle is renovated to prevent any dust getting into the instrument.
the organ is in its new position, the rotten flooring of the south can be taken up and a new surface prepared to receive an Ancaster Stone floor. This work is being undertaken by the Strickland brothers, Martin and Steve who replastered the interior walls in These works are partly funded by Cambridgeshire Historic
Meetings are on 4th Monday of the month at The Bell Pub, Great Paxton 7.30-9.30pm
Crafty Belles gather in The Bell courtesy of our lovely Rachael. normally have a monthly craft that we try to do within the evening. We tend to show each other crafts we know and share knowledge. Some are more exciting than others it has to be said. So, have an interest in joining us please do. We are a friendly bunch, and you will be welcomed. Contact Diane James for more information at diane.james42@outlook.com
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re about to embark upon a new challenge that will run until its completion. It’s an embroidered panel to commemorate King Charles forthcoming coronation. It will not be finished in time to hang on May though! We do hope to hang it before the year is out and ael has given her blessing to hang it in the room of The Bell where the Crafty Belles have been meeting for the last 5 years!
Here is a sneaky view of what it might look like. I’m sorry you won’t see it in technicolour here, but you will be able to pop into the pub and see it for real at some point. I will keep you posted.
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Here is a prayer for our new King
Everlasting God, we pray for our new King. Bless his reign and the life of our nation. Help us to work together so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness flourish among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
When we held the above event in July last year, we invited villagers to put suggestions in as to what would be interesting for the community to read in 2100 when the capsule will be opened. We those into consideration and added other items and information the last few months. Now, we’re doing a final project to ask if like to leave a short note in an envelope to a grandchild who might still live here or perhaps to whoever is living in your house in to tell them about your time in the house and your experience Great Paxton during 2020/2. Chris Hall has advertised this on the village Facebook pages and he’s left some envelopes in the Community Shop. Please do take that opportunity if you’d like to but be needing you to complete by 16th June as per Chris’s notice.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on Sunday March in church after the morning service. report of the activities of Holy Trinity Church year ending 2022 given to all who attended along with the audited accounts. 2022 be remembered for holding the Millennium Fest in July in and around the church, following previous unsuccessful attempts due to Covid.
Grateful thanks were expressed to everyone who had made the festival possible and such a success. The new Lancaster Memorial also dedicated in the churchyard in May, the fruits of diligent planning and gaining of permissions.
As you’ll see in the History Society pages, we’re holding an exhibition in the Church over the weekend of 1st and 2nd July 2023 and we’re planning tea, coffee, cake, escorted tower trips to see the old graffiti and bells. We’re also planning to officially ‘bury’ the TIME CAPSULE within Holy Trinity Minster on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd July (time to be confirmed). To this end, we’ve just purchased some lovely reclaimed oak which Alan Smith, one of the bell ringing will fashion into a cradle to hold the capsule. We’d love you and especially the children to come and be part of this bit of village history. This final ceremony sees the last part of the Millenniumfest completed. It has been an honour to deliver this with the team. Diane James, Millenniumfest
were hoping to have a short service on May 7th in the afternoon Great Paxton Church to mark the Coronation. But due to the likelihood of the repair works having just begun and the organ being pieces as it is relocated from the south aisle to the north aisle, it is not to plan anything too ambitious!
Project Manager
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However, there will be a Benefice Celebration of the Coronation weekend on Sunday May 7th at 10.45am at Little Paxton Church to
which anyone, of course, is invited from our four churches and
beyond.
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GreatPaxtonCommunity VillageShop
a few years of not being able to undertake residential trips for children, we were delighted that these commenced again last year. Children participated in two extremely successful residential trips, in the summer of 2022 to Hilltop (Norfolk) for Y5 and Y6 and another for Y4 and Y5 to Rock UK (Northampton) in the autumn of Residentials trips are an amazing experience for the children, for some it is the first time they are away from their parents. Children get to learn so many new skills and participate in a variety of amazing activities. Memories are created for children for such a long The children will not let me forget that I set off the fire alarm accidently at 5am on the last one! Currently, we are planning for 2 residential trips in 2024 – watch this space!
Springtimeupdate
GreatPaxtonCommunityVillage ShopLimited: HighStreet, GreatPaxton,StNeots, Cambridgeshire, PE196RF web: www.greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk
Registeredunder theCommunity BenefitSocietyby theFinancial Conduct Authority number 7299
Theshophasreceivedtwopiecesofgreatnewsinrecentweeks:
Wehaveanewmanager - Val Paulrecentlymovedintothevillagefromoutsidethe area andstartedworkingwithuson3rd April. Ifyouhaven’talreadymetVal,please callinandsayhello
Wereceived agrant fromtheCotonWindFarmFund thatcoversourlossesforthe 2021/22financial year and enablesustocontinuetrading
fireworks extravaganza remains as popular as ever and we had children attending last year. The music is played live, and the fireworks are timed with a laser show to create an amazing experience for the children. Thanks to Mr Galvin and his family, this continues to thrive. Check out the last display below: https://youtu.be/18SLCElCmvU
westarted2023wewerewonderinghowwe mightkeeptheshopgoing. Thisnews throwsus a vitallifeline for whichweareverygrateful.
Val started workingattheshop,wesaidgoodbyeandthankyoutoLotty whohelpedus InterimManager for thelastsixmonthsandisnowofftotraveltheworld. GoodluckLotty!
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you’re aregular customer, please continue to supportthe shop. If you haven’t usedusfor a while please come and give us atry.
passionate enthusiast of sport, the school continues to provide children with opportunities to compete in a variety of events. The school still participates in the yearly Priory Park run and the children always amaze us and do themselves proud.
school football team has been extremely successful. Last year, team made it as far as London to compete in the ESFA SE England Regional Finals as we qualified as the Eastern region champions. We played against the champions from Essex, Sussex and Kent. What an experience for the team! Most recently, we made it through to the of the Small Schools competition where we faced an excellent Alconbury team. That was a tough match and Alconbury were victorious.
after-school football club remains popular, and we are hoping to extend this to children in Y1-3 next September. We are also hopeful girls’ football team starting in the summer.
PTA are hoping to be able to hold our summer fete this year –first time in a while. The plan is for it to take place on Friday 30th 4pm-7pm. More details to follow but add the date to your diary would be amazing to see as many people there as possible.
Church school, we always enjoy the special services each term held in church, even though Cannon Annette makes the staff perform to children at the end of each one! It was also a privilege watching of our children perform at the 1000-year celebration last year. Easter Service filled the church, and it was fantastic having so members of the community attend.
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record of the monarchs who have ruled over the area where Great Paxton lies from the 500s to the present day. So, monarchs of Mercia, then England and then the United Kingdom arranged in a line the gate to the door of our church.
Community Room
behalf of the Parish Council, Church and School, we continue to manage the bookings for the Community Room. If you would like to out the room, or the school for an event, activity, meeting, party please get in touch with Mrs Edwards in the school office –office@greatpaxton.cambs.sch.uk
the process I've learned more about the history of our kings and queens than I ever knew before! Game of Thrones fans will recognise of the story lines; fact can be even more extreme than fiction. Amongst others there's Harthacnut who was so incensed at his halfbrother Harold I (Harefoot), taking the throne of England while he off in Norway dealing with that bit of the empire, that on his return, even though Harold was dead by then, he had him dug up, beheaded and thrown in a marsh by the Thames. Harold's supporters however gathered the bits up and re-buried him in a London church. a thought also for the unpopular William II (Rufus) who, after killed by a "stray" arrow while hunting was left where he lay the nobles went to secure the treasury and decide who was the king. His body was found by a passing arrow maker.
last few years have been exceptionally hard on us all. It remains unprecedented time for families with challenges and hard times ahead. But one element stays constant, and that is how proud are of our children and our community. It continues to be an honour being the headteacher at our wonderful school and I am grateful for such amazing staff who support our constant drive for improvement. Their relentless effort enables us to make this a school proud of, a school where children are safe and a school where children can be happy and achieve their best. Thank you to all our pupils, families and members of the community for putting the ‘Great’ into ‘Paxton.’
was the most beautiful morning in the church yard assembling it in sunshine with blue skies and birdsong. While the weather can't guaranteed it's a very relaxed way to learn about our history and how the coronation of King Charles III fits into our story. time-line will be in place probably until the end of September,
Time-Line of Monarchs to Mark the Coronation of King Charles III
Great Paxton Churchyard - from now to the end of September previous time-line to mark Great Paxton's 1,000th year went up the anniversary in 2020 and then again in 2022. Someone mentioned to our vicar Annette Reed that it would be nice for it to go again for the coronation.
had already had two outings and needed essentially re-doing
to the ravages of I decided on a different theme
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Wishes Lee Frost Headteacher 42
able to see the (hopefully nearly completed) re-design of the church interior to create a flexible space for gatherings in the south aisle, which has required the organ to be moved.
CELEBRATING 5 YEARS AT THE BELL
Jacqueline Wieczorek
the time this gets to you we will have celebrated being at The Bell years. Andy and Carol as owners and me, Raqi as your nutty landlady! What a 5 years it has been at the helm. It has certainly my proudest 5 years working to serve the customers and villagers. It’s been amazing despite so many setbacks including Covid cost of living crisis! The support has been overwhelming at times, but unconditional as well. I feel very lucky to be landlady/manager here.
have managed the day to day running, Andy and Carol have been other things in the background and The Bell has seen huge developments in our 5 years.
have a new marquee and the first ever outside bar; we are putting in a new play park, completely digging up the garden and renovating it making it better for events and for people to enjoy in summer; we have completely renovated the kitchen and brought the highly rated Rationale Ovens. We have seen a huge increase in events and people hiring us to celebrate their special occasion! It has an incredible 5 years.
have had celebrity chefs here including Jamie and Amee Queen Papa Cucina, Johnny Pope from Flaming Nora’s and even the Trainee Chef (Nathan) for steak nights!! It’s been great working alongside these people to create memorable events! Okay, maybe celebrities, but good friends!!
also hit number 1 on Trip Advisor in St Neots (out of 80); we were in the top 15-20 out of hundreds of places to eat in Cambridgeshire! This is something for a small village pub on the outskirts of St Neots.
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small select group were at The Bell on Monday 13th March for our meeting, but that didn’t stop conversation. We are hoping to get a couple of outside speakers to visit, and one has been booked for September – further details in a later edition.
have had 6 chefs in my 5 years and finally got lucky with Sarah has been here nearly 2 years! terms of pub teams we are excelling at this also!
A Crib Team (although season has closed and will return in Sept) New players welcome.
Three (but maybe 4 pétanque) teams - Starting in April/May
Ladies Darts Team
Two Thursday Darts Teams
Two Football Teams
of work has been done to discover more about the previous of the Parish with a view to expanding the existing list hanging the church. The cost of the final calligraphic masterpiece was discussed, and it was decided to wait before applying for any grants, which would be needed. A lengthy discussion was had about how we produce a suitable interim piece in the meantime, which also allows more time for extra research from Ely, Lincoln and Holyrood archives. If anyone knows how the original list was compiled, and what sources, please let me know. Memories were shared of vicars from some of our members. It seems some (and their were quite scary to small children. More welcome – please tell your memories.
these are heavily linked with the pub and are our bread and butter in terms of keeping us alive and busy in the week when potentially we could be quiet.
were given a list of village farms and the names of the farmers to added to the village archives, and research done to find out more. village would have looked completely different 50 years ago, very few buildings on the east side of the High Street, and none the fields behind them.
also have other groups who utilise us like The History Group and Crafty Belles, as well as all the committee meetings that we host including The Scarecrow Festival Committee, The Shop Committee, Rec Committee, The PTA, and even St Neots Town FC for Colts here!!! Being a villager and having been heavily involved in so over the years, it’s always a pleasure to have these people associated with the pub and using it. It is also imperative as a business we support these as best we can.
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follow my Facebook page for daily updates, my website for menus what else is going on. All details are below!
have the King’s Coronation and Afternoon Tea from 1-5pm on Saturday 6th May (Booking only) and then a singer in the evening!
Great Paxton History Society
Website https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/
have Ouse Valley Singles Club (not a singles group but a singing group) Ticket Only £5 on Friday 12th May 8pm onwards. We have Man Sunday 28th May ticket only £5 pp.
Please do visit the website and see what has been uploaded. If anyone has some more memories and pictures of people and places Great Paxton, we would be pleased to have them.
greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com visit https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk for more village history information.
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Booking for food always remains recommended as we get so busy do turn people away and with events times can change as well.
plan future budget and spending priorities. At the same time and that the District Council is reviewing its Local Plan, Councillors believe it is essential that residents discuss its attitude towards potential new development and possible sites that might be considered suitable in the Parish so that when consulted under the Plan Review the Parish Council can properly and accurately reflect your views.
Website is: www.mybellpub.com
Please join us on MONDAY 15th May starting at 7pm.
Facebook: The Bell, Gt Paxton 01480 700107 or 07701038433
Email: thebellgreatpaxton@yahoo.com
know where we are! Keep supporting and doing what you do … drinking, eating, laughing and enjoying us because we are certainly enjoying this journey.
tanque and Teams update had our Pétanque AGM last night and it’s brilliant to finally announce that we have 4 teams playing. We have two on a Tuesday and two teams on a Wednesday! That’s great for us and will us busy on a Wednesday night!
want to take this time to thank Brian who has been our Club Chairman for a number of years (before I took over at The Bell). He done a sterling job looking after the club. He has organised the functions and kept the club going. Thank you Brian! We welcome Grice as Chairman to the club, and I look forward to working you to organise club events and functions.
Welcome to our captains
Tuesday: Bell A: John Bowskill
Bell B: John Holden
Wednesday: Bell A: John Bowskill
Bell Ringers: Steve Milligan
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Raqi and The Bell Team
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neighbours) was the application to demolish 4 existing garages north London Lane and to replace these with one dwelling. This was a ppointing outcome.
have some new faces joining us and some of the old ones staying. hope for a great season!!
their meeting in March, the Parish Council heard about the current position of the Community Shop and the Recreation Ground. Grants ways to assist and support the activities of both these important facilities in the Village will be considered at the May meeting.
that’s: crib team
ladies’ darts team pétanque teams
quick sound bites:
Thursday Darts team football teams!!
bad for a little village pub!! Now to get some points and some prizes!!!
The Parish Council awarded its Grounds Maintenance Contract for the next three years to Buchans Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance. There may well be some teething problems whilst the new team settles in but if there are any issues with their work or ‘missed bits’ please let the Clerk know by email clerk@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk
Balfour Beatty has been asked to replace seven streetlight units on the High Street. Hopefully, this work costing almost £8000 will be programmed in shortly.
Great Paxton Reading Group
The Parish Council will apply for funding towards a 20mph zone on the High Street and Estate Roads in Great Paxton under a new annual programme being run by the County Council.
Our last book to read was ‘The Other Passenger’ by Louise Candlish – a book about a year in the life of a character and his interaction with his partner and friends, mainly on his journeys to and from work in London. I always enjoy reading about London as I worked there for a number of years. A very easy book to read but it seemed to have no depth although ‘Richard & Judy’ raved over it!
another note, I had a knock on my door after the last Paxton Post door dropped to everyone – a Villager who had read my last and they gave me the third book in the series – ‘Dawnlands’ by Philippa Gregory to read – thank you again! It was good (not as good the other two) as it seemed to end abruptly – maybe there is another book in the series unwritten!
REPORT FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL
residents will be aware, the Parish Council always actively considers and responds to proposed planning applications for the Village. There are several ongoing applications at the moment, some which have been outstanding for some time. District Councillor Richard West has concurred with the views of the Parish in expressing his disappointment at the failure of the District Council’s Planning Service to meet its targets. One approved recently,
Amanda Niven
(and contrary to the views of the Parish Council and
however,
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Growing Potatoes in a Pot
certainly been challenging times on the Allotment these past few weeks. We have had our fair share of rain, much more than we need really. Planting potatoes - being one of the first crops to plant - had delayed due to the soil being so wet. That being said, I know gardeners who grow them in all sorts of containers, especially are short of space. Old dustbins, buckets, plastic pots, old sinks large plastic bags all work well, potatoes are not too fussy about soil. I have been known to grow them on my compost heap but admit, initially, they grew themselves from old peelings! are interested in growing your own, here's how.
chose Organic Charlotte potatoes, but you can use any variety, even your potatoes from the supermarket. An ideal depth for your container is about 60-90cm, approximately 10-15 gallon capacity, just sure that you have drainage holes at the bottom.
Place your container in a sunny, frost-free spot, before you add compost,.
Add 10cm of compost to the bottom and place 3-5 potatoes on the surface, approximately a fist hand apart. (If they have been chitted, meaning they have sprouted, all the better, as they will grow more quickly) and cover with another layer of compost. ater the container allowing the water to drain through. When the shoots appear and have grown to 15-20cm, cover them another layer of compost, continue with this method until the container is full. Remember to water, especially when compost is dry. The potatoes should be ready just after they have flowered. the potatoes out, they each will probably be the size of a large and enjoy!
your own organic compost is always best if you have any but as before potatoes aren't too fussy where they grow.
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Potatoes aren't the only vegetables to grow in pots, courgettes are perfect as you will only need 1 plant. Here's a list of others happy in pots.
French dwarf beans
Radishes
Lettuce
Spinach
Chilies
Brownies:
activities by learning some super skills like listening, thinking about others and thinking for ourselves and not following the crowd. Learning lots about each other and as a unit. We also learnt and played some new games as well as lots of crafts from key rings to super hero sock puppets. We are looking forward to the summer term when we can get out and about with other units.
Tomatoes
Happy growing from Gaynor Christie
Chairperson
term Brownies have continued working on their 'skills for my future' badge. We have explored the type of equipment some job professions may use, making fajitas from scratch as well as creating for our neighbours as a random act of kindness. We finished term off with an Easter egg hunt and some funny egg and spoon
Guides:
term Guides have also continued with their 'skills for my future; badge, learning some life hacks, making their own board games from scratch and becoming the governments treasury for an evening,
Rainbows / Brownies / Guides Update
been a busy half term for the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Rainbows have continued being Super Rainbows, while Brownies and Guides have continued with their 'Skills for my future badge'. We all welcome a restful Easter break now before the summer term starts.
Rainbows:
This term we have carried on our
super hero / super rainbow 25
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Paxton Allotments and Sensory Garden
races.
honey stores prior to departure so often I can just gently scoop them into a box and go (please don’t try this yourselves!!!) If you’re enough to receive a swarm please call me on 07798 746073 or message via Facebook/Instagram (Ouse Valley honeybees). I’ll do all I to assist but please remember that this is a devotion of love to sweet pollinators.
Speedwatch Update – Chris Hall
are some statistics relating to traffic and speeding in Great Paxton. All information was gathered by the MVAS speed sign you have seen in different positions around the village.
latest position we have been able to obtain for the unit is at the Offord end of the village pointing north. This should offer some protection for an area badly affected by speeding.
have any questions about the way the Parish Council attempts combat speeding or maybe you would like to volunteer to help some of the speed calming measures, including Speedwatch, please contact me at chris.hall@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk
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Local charity, PECT, in partnership with Cambridgeshire ACRE is to continue free energy advice service to households in Cambridgeshire (Fenland, Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridge City).
competition online to win a hive, training course and suit. Being a naturally unlucky person, I had no expectations to win and was suddenly thrown into reality with a ‘congratulations you’ve won!!’ phone call. With the idea of a beehive living in my garden politely yet forcefully declined by my long-suffering wife, my brain went into overload, finally finding a local landowner to assist with locating my first apiary. Fast forward 5 years and I’m now the keeper of approximately 16 hives in our local area each housing up to 50000 bees. It’s been a steep learning , but I’ve enjoyed educating and assisting others when needed.
the cold weather we have experienced over the last few weeks, the rise in energy costs, we are all feeling the pinch when it comes to our energy bills. Residents can benefit from an advice call home visit with an experienced energy advisor. They will be able share tips on how you can save money on your energy bills, access financial support, improve your home efficiency and reduce any energy debts. They are also delivering training to front-line workers help them support residents with basic energy advice and where direct help.
as we’re well into spring and the long hazy days of summer fast approaching it’s the busy time for me to be down at the hives inspecting and ensuring that my colonies are not being a nuisance to surrounding area by swarming. This is done by carefully managing the colony size, carrying out a split if required and inspecting for a Queen cell being produced. All this is easily done on a domestic colony, but we can’t guarantee it won’t happen as ‘bees be bees’ or check on wild local colonies.
Nikki Dekker, Energy Lead at PECT commented, “At the moment support like this is much needed. We hope we can continue to help households save money, be comfortable and warm in their homes, and also reduce energy use or make sustainable changes that have a positive impact on the environment. Cambridgeshire ACRE and the support of local frontline workers, this service will make a difference to many households in community.”
as a
beekeeper by Pete Gorton, Ouse Valley Honeybees
are so pleased to be able to continue our collaborative work PECT to support households across the county through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Working together we will provide the information and resources that households need to stay warm and
Growing up in a busy household of 5 children I would never have expected to become a beekeeper. Having been drawn into a career diggers and plant machinery on building sites, little did I know with an unusual twist of fate and luck I would soon become the guardian of a few thousand yellow stripy ladies who, dependent on weather, may or may not be pleased to see me when I visit!
Without knowing anything about beekeeping I found myself entered 27
34
healthy, whilst helping them to reduce their bills and deal with any outstanding energy bills,” said Kirsten Bennett, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE. “This kind of support is needed now, more ever before and we are grateful to the Energy Redress scheme entrusting us with further funding to help those most in need.”
project, named CHESS (Cambridgeshire Home Energy Support Service), has already been running for around 2 years and the current funding will ensure it can continue until December 2024.
refer yourself or someone else for support, fill out the form on our website*: www.pect.org.uk/energy-advice.
*Residents outside of the area eligible for support will be referred to services that are applicable in their region.
are a frontline worker, send us an email at energyadvice@pect.org.uk to find out more about the service and you can get involved.
About PECT (www.pect.org.uk) is an independent charity creating more sustainable places. We are working to protect and enhance the environment to leave a legacy for future generations.
About Cambridgeshire ACRE
Cambridgeshire ACRE (www.cambsacre.org.uk) works alongside the communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, helping take action to make positive changes to their local neighbourhoods.
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Danny Love-Fulton Friendship Club
Enquire at The Bell History Society
Jacqueline Wieczorek Footballcolts
Jamie Stenton Mobile Libraryevery 3rd Monday3:10 -3:45
Cambridgeshire CCTowgood Way Mobile Post Office Vanevery Tuesday 2-4
Post Officein The Bell car park
Christine Brandon(Clerk)
Tony Elliott Parish Council
Simon Black
Michelle Oakley
Michael Fairs
Julie Stock
Smith
OBAS (fishing)
Petanque
Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon 01480 416416 GP Practices
St Neots Library 0345 045 5225
Lakeside Surgeries, St Neots 01480 406722 Libraries
Ibbetts, River Lane, Great Paxton Garages; repairs2 in village
Ibbettsfrom tractors to nails
Paxton Hill Garage Ltd 01480 217806 Post boxes
Outside the community shop9.00 a.m. Cinemas
CineworldSt Neots and Huntingdon 0330 3334444 WI (Women's Institute)
Nearest are in St. Neots, Offord or Yelling branches
Village Shop, Church led events, Guides, speedwatch
Great Paxton Walking
Volunteering opportunities Maps of walks in the College Farm area
Routes_December 2020.pdf School bus to Longsands–details of stops and time
Transport –Longsands Academy 0345 0455208
University of the Third Age (U3A)
101 U3A –St Neots
Police –general non-emergency number
Places of Worship
Holy Trinity Minster ChurchGreat Paxton Nature Reserve –Paxton Pits, Little Paxton
03450 264700 (central number)
Nature Reserve Railway station, St Neots
Paxton Pits
www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk
Jonathan
Museum, New Street, St Neots
of Parliament
Exercise group Football Clubadults
PTA
Recreation
Ground
Great
Pre-school
Speedwatch
The
Paxton
Woodsooners
Emergency numbers for Gasleak issues 0800 111999 Electricitysupply issues 0800 316 3105 Watersupply and mains issues 0800
Bus times
Lane/High
https://dews-coaches.com/userfiles/Service65July20191.pdf
collection
www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk
www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Paxton Primary School Julie Edwards
Not currently open
Chris Hall
Bell Rachael Martin Painting group Sarah Peters
Postvillage magazine Editor -
Golf Society Trevor
771881 Other information
at Adams
Street
Bin
details
Huntingdon District Council (HDC)
Cambridgeshire County Council
Hospitals
Member
Djangoly
A more detailed version is available online at www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk
Michelle Oakley
Contact Rainbows/Brownies/Guides
Gillian Smith
Andy Ottley
Mary Parnham
Canon Annette Reed
Organisations, Clubs and activities
Allotments and community garden
no longer active
Bob Hacking / Andrea Goodyer
Julie Edwards
Andy Wylde
Diane James
Graham HoltonMens/Sally RitsonLadies
Chris Horne
Mitch Wilson
Cub Scouts
Church Bell ringers
ChurchHoly Trinity Minster
Churchwardens
Community Roomat school
Community shop
Craft Group
Crafty Belles
Darts
Crib Team
Exercise group
refer yourself or someone else for support, fill out the form on our website*: www.pect.org.uk/energy-advice.
*Residents outside of the area eligible for support will be referred to services that are applicable in their region. are a frontline worker, send us an email at energyadvice@pect.org.uk to find out more about the service and you can get involved.
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. We experimented with an abstract piece using palette knives for our last piece. No artistic skills are required, just a willingness to come along and have a go.
About PECT (www.pect.org.uk) is an independent charity creating more sustainable places. We are working to protect and enhance the environment to leave a legacy for future generations.
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.
About Cambridgeshire ACRE
Cambridgeshire ACRE (www.cambsacre.org.uk) works alongside the communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, helping take action to make positive changes to their local neighbourhoods.
next dates are 2nd and 9th May at 7.30pm, booking is essential. project – an abstract
healthy, whilst helping them to reduce their bills and deal with any outstanding energy bills,” said Kirsten Bennett, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE. “This kind of support is needed now, more ever before and we are grateful to the Energy Redress scheme entrusting us with further funding to help those most in need.”
project, named CHESS (Cambridgeshire Home Energy Support Service), has already been running for around 2 years and the current
funding will ensure 33
Booze and Brushes
28
Cambridgeshire ACRE and the support of local frontline workers, this service will make a difference to many households in community.”
as a beekeeper by Pete Gorton, Ouse Valley Honeybees
are so pleased to be able to continue our collaborative work PECT to support households across the county through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Working together we will provide the information and resources that households need to stay warm and
Growing up in a busy household of 5 children I would never have expected to become a beekeeper. Having been drawn into a career diggers and plant machinery on building sites, little did I know with an unusual twist of fate and luck I would soon become the guardian of a few thousand yellow stripy ladies who, dependent on weather, may or may not be pleased to see me when I visit!
Without knowing anything about beekeeping I found myself entered competition online to win a hive, training course and suit. Being a naturally unlucky person, I had no expectations to win and was suddenly thrown into reality with a ‘congratulations you’ve won!!’ phone call. With the idea of a beehive living in my garden politely yet forcefully declined by my long-suffering wife, my brain went into overload, finally finding a local landowner to assist with locating my first apiary. Fast forward 5 years and I’m now the keeper of approximately 16 hives in our local area each housing up to 50000 bees. It’s been a steep learning , but I’ve enjoyed educating and assisting others when needed.
as we’re well into spring and the long hazy days of summer fast approaching it’s the busy time for me to be down at the hives inspecting and ensuring that my colonies are not being a nuisance to surrounding area by swarming. This is done by carefully managing the colony size, carrying out a split if required and inspecting for a Queen cell being produced. All this is easily done on a domestic colony, but we can’t guarantee it won’t happen as ‘bees be bees’ or check on wild local colonies.
34
27
have any questions about the way the Parish Council attempts combat speeding or maybe you would like to volunteer to help some of the speed calming measures, including Speedwatch, please contact me at chris.hall@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk
The warm days and long sunny
grown in size and then split to allow a new Queen to remain regrow the colony leaving the cluster of bees to search for a new location to set up home. Although many people say to leave them be they’ll find their own location or they’ve been known to move property and need professional removal, unfortunately as as 80% of swarms don’t survive on their own without assistance. Whilst in a swarm the bees are docile as they gorge on honey stores prior to departure so often I can just gently scoop them into a box and go (please don’t try this yourselves!!!) If you’re enough to receive a swarm please call me on 07798 746073 or message via Facebook/Instagram (Ouse Valley honeybees). I’ll do all I to assist but please remember that this is a devotion of love to sweet pollinators.
Speedwatch Update – Chris Hall
are some statistics relating to traffic and speeding in Great Paxton. All information was gathered by the MVAS speed sign you have seen in different positions around the village.
35
latest position we have been able to obtain for the unit is at the Offord end of the village pointing north. This should offer some protection for an area badly affected by speeding.
26
Rainbows / Brownies / Guides Update
been a busy half term for the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Rainbows have continued being Super Rainbows, while Brownies and Guides have continued with their 'Skills for my future badge'. We all welcome a restful Easter break now before the summer term starts.
Rainbows:
This term we have carried on our super hero / super rainbow activities by learning some super skills like listening, thinking about others and thinking for ourselves and not following the crowd. Learning lots about each other and as a unit. We also learnt and played some new games as well as lots of crafts from key rings to super hero sock puppets. We are looking forward to the summer term when we can get out and about with other units.
Brownies:
term Brownies have continued working on their 'skills for my future' badge. We have explored the type of equipment some job professions may use, making fajitas from scratch as well as creating for our neighbours as a random act of kindness. We finished term off with an Easter egg hunt and some funny egg and spoon races.
Guides:
term Guides have also continued with their 'skills for my future; badge, learning some life hacks, making their own board games from scratch and becoming the governments treasury for an evening,
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25
admit, initially, they grew themselves from old peelings! are interested in growing your own, here's how.
chose Organic Charlotte potatoes, but you can use any variety, even your potatoes from the supermarket. An ideal depth for your container is about 60-90cm, approximately 10-15 gallon capacity, just sure that you have drainage holes at the bottom.
making all kinds of important financial decisions (more time off school was a popular choice). The guides also held a charity quiz evening for their parents and friends. They raised £105.00 in total £52.50 going to the charity Bliss and £52.50 going to brain umour research. They did incredibly well and came up with some tough questions. Well done Guides! We waved goodbye to four of older guides at the end of this term. We were all sad to see them but wish them every success in their futures.
Place your container in a sunny, frost-free spot, before you add compost,.
Add 10cm of compost to the bottom and place 3-5 potatoes on the surface, approximately a fist hand apart. (If they have been chitted, meaning they have sprouted, all the better, as they will grow more quickly) and cover with another layer of compost. ater the container allowing the water to drain through. When the shoots appear and have grown to 15-20cm, cover them another layer of compost, continue with this method until the container is full. Remember to water, especially when compost is dry. The potatoes should be ready just after they have flowered. the potatoes out, they each will probably be the size of a large and enjoy!
would like to register your daughter to join Rainbows / Brownies or Guides please follow the below link: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/register-a-
your own organic compost is always best if you have any but as before potatoes aren't too fussy where they grow.
Growing Potatoes in a Pot
certainly been challenging times on the Allotment these past few weeks. We have had our fair share of rain, much more than we need really. Planting potatoes - being one of the first crops to plant - had delayed due to the soil being so wet. That being said, I know gardeners who grow them in all sorts of containers, especially are short of space. Old dustbins, buckets, plastic pots, old sinks large plastic bags all work well, potatoes are not too fussy about
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REPORT FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL
another note, I had a knock on my door after the last Paxton Post door dropped to everyone – a Villager who had read my last and they gave me the third book in the series – ‘Dawnlands’ by Philippa Gregory to read – thank you again! It was good (not as good the other two) as it seemed to end abruptly – maybe there is another book in the series unwritten!
Amanda Niven
residents will be aware, the Parish Council always actively considers and responds to proposed planning applications for the Village. There are several ongoing applications at the moment, some which have been outstanding for some time. District Councillor Richard West has concurred with the views of the Parish in expressing his disappointment at the failure of the District Council’s Planning Service to meet its targets. One approved recently, however, (and contrary to the views of the Parish Council and neighbours) was the application to demolish 4 existing garages north London Lane and to replace these with one dwelling. This was a ppointing outcome.
their meeting in March, the Parish Council heard about the current position of the Community Shop and the Recreation Ground. Grants ways to assist and support the activities of both these important facilities in the Village will be considered at the May meeting.
quick sound bites:
The Parish Council awarded its Grounds Maintenance Contract for the next three years to Buchans Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance. There may well be some teething problems whilst the new team settles in but if there are any issues with their work or ‘missed bits’ please let the Clerk know by email clerk@greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk
Balfour Beatty has been asked to replace seven streetlight units on the High Street. Hopefully, this work costing almost £8000 will be programmed in shortly.
The Parish Council will apply for funding towards a 20mph zone on the High Street and Estate Roads in Great Paxton under a new annual programme being run by the County Council.
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… drinking,
eating, laughing and enjoying us because we are certainly enjoying this journey.
Raqi and The Bell Team
tanque and Teams update had our Pétanque AGM last night and it’s brilliant to finally announce that we have 4 teams playing. We have two on a Tuesday and two teams on a Wednesday! That’s great for us and will us busy on a Wednesday night!
After a great deal of thought, Councillors have concluded that the everyday running of the Community Room was best left in the hands of the Primary School although, it is hoped that information on the availability of the room for hire will feature elsewhere in this edition of the ‘Post’. The Parish Council has offered to contribute to some cosmetic improvements to the Room to make it more attractive to hire.
want to take this time to thank Brian who has been our Club Chairman for a number of years (before I took over at The Bell). He done a sterling job looking after the club. He has organised the functions and kept the club going. Thank you Brian! We welcome Grice as Chairman to the club, and I look forward to working you to organise club events and functions.
Councillors agreed to continue to support the activities of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Great Ouse Valley Trust in 2023/24 and to look again at the potential for printing full colour copies of this magazine at its budget meeting in the Autumn.
Welcome to our captains
Tuesday: Bell A: John Bowskill
An interesting account of a recent Huntingdon Community Policing Meeting was presented to the Council meeting. Notes are available to read in full on the Parish Council website www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk
Bell B: John Holden
Wednesday: Bell A: John Bowskill
MOST IMPORTANTLY
Bell Ringers: Steve Milligan
Booking for food always remains recommended as we get so busy do turn people away and with events times can change as well.
– The Annual Parish Meeting takes place at on Monday 15th May in the Main Hall at the Primary School. Parish Council would like as many residents as possible to attend. Councillors want to listen to your views to enable a forward or action for the village to be produced which will identify problems, up with ideas and act as a foundation for funding opportunities. This approach will also help the Parish Council to set plan future budget and spending priorities. At the same time and that the District Council is reviewing its Local Plan, Councillors believe it is essential that residents discuss its attitude towards potential new development and possible sites that might be considered suitable in the Parish so that when consulted under the Plan Review the Parish Council can properly and accurately reflect your views.
Website is: www.mybellpub.com
Please join us on MONDAY 15th May starting at 7pm.
Facebook: The Bell, Gt Paxton 01480 700107 or 07701038433 Email:
39
thebellgreatpaxton@yahoo.com
22
*
have the King’s Coronation and Afternoon Tea from 1-5pm on Saturday 6th May (Booking only) and then a singer in the evening! have Ouse Valley Singles Club (not a singles group but a singing group) Ticket Only £5 on Friday 12th May 8pm onwards. We have Man Sunday 28th May ticket only £5 pp.
Great Paxton History Society
Website https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/ Please do visit the website and see what has been uploaded. If anyone has some more memories and pictures of people and places Great Paxton, we would be pleased to have them.
greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com visit https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk for more village history information.
small select group were at The Bell on Monday 13th March for our meeting, but that didn’t stop conversation. We are hoping to get a couple of outside speakers to visit, and one has been booked for September – further details in a later edition.
of work has been done to discover more about the previous of the Parish with a view to expanding the existing list hanging the church. The cost of the final calligraphic masterpiece was discussed, and it was decided to wait before applying for any grants, which would be needed. A lengthy discussion was had about how we produce a suitable interim piece in the meantime, which also allows more time for extra research from Ely, Lincoln and Holyrood archives. If anyone knows how the original list was compiled, and what sources, please let me know. Memories were shared of vicars from some of our members. It seems some (and their were quite scary to small children. More welcome – please tell your memories.
were given a list of village farms and the names of the farmers to added to the village archives, and research done to find out more. village would have looked completely different 50 years ago, very few buildings on the east side of the High Street, and none the fields behind them.
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21 follow my Facebook page for daily updates, my website for menus
what else is going on. All details are below!
have managed the day to day running, Andy and Carol have been other things in the background and The Bell has seen huge developments in our 5 years.
were told that a former garage owner on the High Street sold petrol in the 1960s, but also had a small shop selling electrical equipment such as televisions. Has anyone any memories to add to please?
have a new marquee and the first ever outside bar; we are putting in a new play park, completely digging up the garden and renovating it making it better for events and for people to enjoy in summer; we have completely renovated the kitchen and brought the highly rated Rationale Ovens. We have seen a huge increase in events and people hiring us to celebrate their special occasion! It has an incredible 5 years.
‘Show and tell’ items were a carbide lamp for a bicycle, a flying shuttle and thread for weaving, and a full bottle of cod liver oils from 1946-54 Ministry of Food. Two pictures were shown one of Green Farm, also known as Adams Lane Farm, and one of London
have had celebrity chefs here including Jamie and Amee Queen Papa Cucina, Johnny Pope from Flaming Nora’s and even the Trainee Chef (Nathan) for steak nights!! It’s been great working alongside these people to create memorable events! Okay, maybe celebrities, but good friends!!
welcome anyone with an interest in our village or history in general, once a month, usually the second Monday at 7.30pm in The pub, which opens especially for us. The May meeting is cancelled it clashes with the Coronation, and the following week is the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council, which all should attend. Therefore, the next Great Paxton History Society meeting will be 12th , 7.30 pm, at The Bell.
also hit number 1 on Trip Advisor in St Neots (out of 80); we were in the top 15-20 out of hundreds of places to eat in Cambridgeshire! This is something for a small village pub on the outskirts of St Neots.
STOP PRESS – there will be a small history exhibition in the church on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July. There will be light refreshments for sale by the History Society. The TV screen will showing the bells in action, as well as the graffiti and we hope there will be the opportunity for some to climb to the graffiti chamber in the tower on Sunday afternoon. You will be able to see the (hopefully nearly completed) re-design of the church interior to create a flexible space for gatherings in the south aisle, which has required the organ to be moved.
CELEBRATING 5 YEARS AT THE BELL
the time this gets to you we will have celebrated being at The Bell years. Andy and Carol as owners and me, Raqi as your nutty landlady! What a 5 years it has been at the helm. It has certainly my proudest 5 years working to serve the customers and villagers. It’s been amazing despite so many setbacks including Covid cost of living crisis! The support has been overwhelming at times, but unconditional as well. I feel very lucky to be
Jacqueline Wieczorek
landlady/manager here. 41
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Time-Line of Monarchs to Mark the Coronation of King Charles III
Great Paxton Churchyard - from now to the end of September previous time-line to mark Great Paxton's 1,000th year went up the anniversary in 2020 and then again in 2022. Someone mentioned to our vicar Annette Reed that it would be nice for it to go again for the coronation.
had already had two outings and needed essentially re-doing to the ravages of the weather, I decided on a different theme: a record of the monarchs who have ruled over the area where Great Paxton lies from the 500s to the present day. So, monarchs of Mercia, then England and then the United Kingdom arranged in a line the gate to the door of our church.
the process I've learned more about the history of our kings and queens than I ever knew before! Game of Thrones fans will recognise of the story lines; fact can be even more extreme than fiction. Amongst others there's Harthacnut who was so incensed at his halfbrother Harold I (Harefoot), taking the throne of England while he off in Norway dealing with that bit of the empire, that on his return, even though Harold was dead by then, he had him dug up, beheaded and thrown in a marsh by the Thames. Harold's supporters however gathered the bits up and re-buried him in a London church. a thought also for the unpopular William II (Rufus) who, after killed by a "stray" arrow while hunting was left where he lay the nobles went to secure the treasury and decide who was the king. His body was found by a passing arrow maker.
was the most beautiful morning in the church yard assembling it in sunshine with blue skies and birdsong. While the weather can't guaranteed it's a very relaxed way to learn about our history and how the coronation of King Charles III fits into our story. time-line will be in place probably until the end of September,
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played against the champions from Essex, Sussex and Kent. What an experience for the team! Most recently, we made it through to the of the Small Schools competition where we faced an excellent Alconbury team. That was a tough match and Alconbury were victorious.
maybe longer, it depends on the weather, it starts to deteriorate in prolonged wet and cold in the autumn and winter.
after-school football club remains popular, and we are hoping to extend this to children in Y1-3 next September. We are also hopeful girls’ football team starting in the summer.
thanks to Chris Hall for discussions when I was planning and for helping me to assemble it, also to Jacqueline Wieczorek for tireless reading, pointing out daft mistakes and for very helpful suggestions. If you wish to show your appreciation there are QR codes to scan and make a contribution to the upkeep of the church the first and last posts.
PTA are hoping to be able to hold our summer fete this year –first time in a while. The plan is for it to take place on Friday 30th 4pm-7pm. More details to follow but add the date to your diary would be amazing to see as many people there as possible.
Church
school, we always enjoy the special services each term held in church, even though Cannon Annette makes the staff perform to children at the end of each one! It was also a privilege watching of our children perform at the 1000-year celebration last year. Easter Service filled the church, and it was fantastic having so members of the community attend.
passionate enthusiast of sport, the school continues to provide children with opportunities to compete in a variety of events. The school still participates in the yearly Priory Park run and the children always amaze us and do themselves proud.
school football team has been extremely successful. Last year, team made it as far as London to compete in the ESFA SE England
we qualified as the Eastern region champions. We 43
18
Ward
JointheManagement Committee – Doyouhaverelevant experiencethatcouldhelp us? Canyouseewherewecouldimprove? Couldyousparesome timetobenefit yourlocal community? Yourinputcouldmake thedifference. youhave anycommentsorsuggestionsabouthowwe canimprovepleasedo contact usviaemail at:chair@greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk
children attending last year. The music is played live, and the fireworks are timed with a laser show to create an amazing experience for the children. Thanks to Mr Galvin and his family, this continues to thrive. Check out the last display below: https://youtu.be/18SLCElCmvU
Springtimeupdate
GreatPaxtonCommunityVillage ShopLimited: HighStreet, GreatPaxton,StNeots, Cambridgeshire, PE196RF web: www.greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk
Registeredunder theCommunity BenefitSocietyby theFinancial Conduct Authority number 7299
Theshophasreceivedtwopiecesofgreatnewsinrecentweeks:
17
Wehaveanewmanager - Val Paulrecentlymovedintothevillagefromoutsidethe area andstartedworkingwithuson3rd April. Ifyouhaven’talreadymetVal,please callinandsayhello
Wereceived agrant fromtheCotonWindFarmFund thatcoversourlossesforthe 2021/22financial year and enablesustocontinuetrading
westarted2023wewerewonderinghowwe mightkeeptheshopgoing. Thisnews throwsus a vitallifeline for whichweareverygrateful.
Val started workingattheshop,wesaidgoodbyeandthankyoutoLotty whohelpedus InterimManager for thelastsixmonthsandisnowofftotraveltheworld. GoodluckLotty!
you’re aregular customer, please continue to supportthe shop. If you haven’t usedusfor a while please come and give us atry.
Thereare several waysthatyoucouldsupporttheshopandhelpusto provideavalued servicetoGreatPaxton:
Shop withusonaregularbasis–Weknowthatour pricescan’talwayscompete withthebigsupermarketsbutour conveniencemakesupfor that. We regularly review our pricesacrossallproductstoofferthebestvaluethatwecan.
Givealittletimeto volunteer - Justanhouror twoeachweek makesabig differencetotheshopandenablesustoprovideaconsistentservicetothevillage. Thehealthandwellbeingbenefitsofvolunteeringarewell documentedandwe know you’ll enjoyyour time withusifyouchoose tohelp. Full trainingisgiventoall volunteersandgettingstartediseasy. Callinandhaveachatifyou’reinterested.
JointheManagement Committee – Doyouhaverelevant experiencethatcouldhelp us? Canyouseewherewecouldimprove? Couldyousparesome timetobenefit yourlocal community? Yourinputcouldmake thedifference.
youhave anycommentsorsuggestionsabouthowwe canimprovepleasedo contact usviaemail at:chair@greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk
GreatPaxtonCommunityVillage ShopLimited: HighStreet, GreatPaxton,StNeots, Cambridgeshire, PE196RF web: www.greatpaxtoncommunityshop.co.uk
Registeredunder theCommunity BenefitSocietyby theFinancial Conduct Authority number 7299
Headteacher: Mr L Frost
Deputy Headteacher: Miss A Miller
Great Paxton Church of England Primary School
seems to have been a long while since we featured in the village newsletter, so hopefully this will become a regular update feature for the school.
much has happened over the last few years – having worked through the pandemic and then continuing the recovery process to enable children to overcome many challenges, fill gaps in education helping them to achieve the best that they can.
small school, our numbers on roll have increased significantly we now welcome 110 children daily, meaning we are close to our maximum capacity of 119. Many new families have joined our community and we continue to provide the best support and care we can.
OFSTED
Recently, the school was inspected by OFSTED and the report can be und here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
Great Paxton
Cambs PE19 6YJ
Telephone: 01480 472132
Fax: 01480 471735
E Mail: office@greatpaxton.cambs.sch.uk
16 www.greatpaxton.cambs.sch.uk
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Holy Trinity Minster Church
Great Paxton
Contact details:
Vicar: Canon Annette Reed
Tel: 01480 211048
canonannettereed@gmail.com
Churchwardens:
Mr Bob Hacking
1 Mint Lane
Great Paxton 01480 219846
Mrs Andrea Goodyer
7a Church Lane
Great Paxton
andrea.goodyer@clinicallyconnected.com
Church Treasurer:
Mrs Jacqueline Jackson
jnmunro@btinternet.com
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15 23 March Peer Challenge Corporate Governance Committee on internal audit
other applications are in progress: 23/00156/HHFUL 47 Rectory
target date 23 March 2023 and 23/00190/HHFUL 22 London 18 April 2023.
Tower Captain: Mrs Mary Parnham
Application 22/02302/FUL 51, London Lane 30 Jan 2023 has been approved.
01480 394727
maryP2707@hotmail.com
Huntingdon Community Engagement Meeting following items were discussed:
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.
POLICING STRUCTURE
Inspector Sergeant, 7 Constables, 3 PCSOs at Huntingdon
Regular services at Great Paxton Church
1st Sunday in the month: 9.00am Prayer Book Communion
Sergeant, 2 Constables, 2 PCSOs at St Ives and Ramsey
Sergeant, 4 Constables, 1 PCSO at St Neots
2nd Sunday in the month: 11.00 All Age Worship
3rd Sunday of the month: 11.00am Holy Communion
Supported by 24/7 Reactive team, CID Specialist team operational support.
4th Sunday of the month: 11.00am Morning Prayer
CRIME UPDATE
Drugs 146 down to 92
We may hold some of our services in the chancel during May due to the building works taking place.
Dwelling Burglary including building site 42 up to 55
Robbery 15 down to 11
Weapons 35 down to 20
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For news from all of our four churches in the Paxtons benefice, please go to our website: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org or benefice Facebook page @The Paxtons Benefice
The Coronation Weekend
March 2023 Report from District Councillor, Richard West
Planning Matters
lanning officers are in discussion with the applicant and agent reference applications 22/01426/FUL58, High Street, and 22/01359/FUL Land West of the Bungalow River Lane.
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following application is ongoing and has missed the target date:
22/02484/FUL 25 Brookside 30 Jan 2023.
be confirmed). To this end, we’ve just purchased some lovely reclaimed oak which Alan Smith, one of the bell ringing will fashion into a cradle to hold the capsule. We’d love you and especially the children to come and be part of this bit of village history. This final ceremony sees the last part of the Millenniumfest completed. It has been an honour to deliver this with the team.
were hoping to have a short service on May 7th in the afternoon Great Paxton Church to mark the Coronation. But due to the likelihood of the repair works having just begun and the organ being pieces as it is relocated from the south aisle to the north aisle, it is not to plan anything too ambitious!
Diane James, Millenniumfest Project Manager
However, there will be a Benefice Celebration of the Coronation weekend on Sunday May 7th at 10.45am at Little Paxton Church to which anyone, of course, is invited from our four churches and beyond.
Here is a prayer for our new King
Everlasting God, we pray for our new King. Bless his reign and the life of our nation. Help us to work together so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness flourish among us;
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on Sunday March in church after the morning service. report of the activities of Holy Trinity Church year ending 2022 given to all who attended along with the audited accounts. 2022 be remembered for holding the Millennium Fest in July in and around the church, following previous unsuccessful attempts due to Covid.
Grateful thanks were expressed to everyone who had made the festival possible and such a success. The new Lancaster Memorial also dedicated in the churchyard in May, the fruits of diligent planning and gaining of permissions.
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through
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have an interest in joining us please do. We are a friendly bunch, and you will be welcomed. Contact Diane James for more information at diane.james42@outlook.com
re about to embark upon a new challenge that will run until its completion. It’s an embroidered panel to commemorate King Charles forthcoming coronation. It will not be finished in time to hang on May though! We do hope to hang it before the year is out and ael has given her blessing to hang it in the room of The Bell where the Crafty Belles have been meeting for the last 5 years!
full annual report is available by emailing Annette: canonannettereed@gmail.com
Hacking and Andrea Goodyer were elected as church wardens further year and Andrea also continues as PCC Secretary. Jacqueline Jackson was elected as our ongoing treasurer. Graham Bevan and Andrea will be our Deanery Synod representatives for the coming year and Graham is our deputy warden. As well as those named above, five others were elected to serve on the PCC.
Nicholson stood down after over 25 years’ service on the PCC was presented with some flowers as a token of thanks. We are grateful to everyone who gives their time and resources to supporting the Great Paxton Church community in any way.
South Aisle Project begins
commence during the last to relocate the 19th entury mechanical organ from the south aisle into the north aisle.
Here is a sneaky view of what it might look like. I’m sorry you won’t see it in technicolour here, but you will be able to pop into the pub and see it for real at some point. I will keep you posted.
work is being undertaken by Norman Hall and Sons who refurbished the organ in 2020. They will be making a new box for the electrical organ blower which currently is lodged in a stone structure the exterior south wall. The blower will be inside the church henceforth in its new box in the north aisle. It may be that the organ well covered for a few weeks whilst the south aisle is renovated to prevent any dust getting into the instrument.
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the organ is in its new position, the rotten flooring of the south can be taken up and a new surface prepared to receive an Ancaster Stone floor. This work is being undertaken by the Strickland brothers, Martin and Steve who replastered the interior walls in These works are partly funded by Cambridgeshire Historic
Meetings are on 4th Monday of the month at The Bell Pub, Great Paxton 7.30-9.30pm
Crafty Belles gather in The Bell courtesy of our lovely Rachael. normally have a monthly craft that we try to do within the evening. We tend to show each other crafts we know and share
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knowledge. Some are more exciting than others it has to be said. So,
Churches Trust (£3000) and The National Churches Trust (£2142) as as a donation from the MilleniumFest Committee. Any further donations towards redecoration will be most appreciated.
new QR code is very easy to use if you have a phone and bank
Results of the April Great Paxton Church 100 Club draw.
Number 48 Paul Clarke
Number 115 Paul Richards
Number 196 Peter Dunn
Thanks to everyone who supports the Great Paxton Church 100 Club to Graham Bevan who organises this essential fundraising scheme for our 1,000 year old church.
brings a Local History Exhibition to church. will find details of the June local history display elsewhere in the Paxton Post, but it is great that the group are so active and willing able to share their findings.
Vicar and PCC are very grateful to Paul Ward who has crafted the amazing timeline of the monarchs who have ruled over the area where Great Paxton lies from the 500s to the present day. series of posts and carved wooden plaques run alongside the churchyard path and the outcome is a remarkable creative endeavour for the village.
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small branches across the district and include, so far this year, things as Group Walks, an outing to Bletchley Park, theatre trips various courses in crafts and skills – a recent one being a crochet workshop. Members receive a local monthly newsletter and also a larger nationally focused magazine.
Thank you to Paul who was assisted by Chris Hall and Jacqueline Wieczorek in the production of the project.
anything mentioned appeals to you, please do come along to one our meetings. You can come as a visitor (£4.50) before deciding whether to join, and we will be happy to see you and explain more out what we do.
Please do visit and enjoy this unique walk through history to the present day.
next meetings are as follows:
Tuesday 11 April Speaker: Alison Williamson
Subject: Whyte Wytch Artisan Cows Cheese
Tuesday 9 May Speaker: Sally Clay
Subject: Jewellery Making
we see you then? We hope so!
Marion Warden
Please contact Jenny Murby (President) on 01480 811474 with any questions.
We look forward to several baptism and wedding services in the summer into autumn in Great Paxton Church. Please do contact Annette if you would like to discuss holding one of these lovely occasional offices.
Thank you to the Great Paxton School Community for coming into church for a wonderful end of spring term service just before Easter. The singing and words chosen were very uplifting. We wish the children, staff and school families a happy and productive summer term 2023!
recording the fun we had. The August meeting is a Tea Afternoon, usually in a garden. In January we have a New Year Dinner. It’s all friendly and a wonderful way to meet people and make new friends.
Offords WI is a part of the Huntingdon & Peterborough Federation of WIs. So not only would you have access to the events run in The Offords, but also the events and outings arranged by
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flowers. There is a short meeting during the course of the evening to conduct business and make announcements, but the rest of the time social with a raffle, refreshments and a competition. We try new ourselves and are just starting a small Knit, Natter and Books group. arrange several outings each year, the last one being Ten Pin Bowling with lunch. One of our members has written a poem
FROM GREAT PAXTON TO UKRAINE – Graham James news broke of the dreadful devastation caused by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, villager Diane James felt that something should be done to help the survivors. After a search for organisations that were sending out aid, we arranged to deliver whatever we collected to a mosque in Cambridge.
appeal went out and Great Paxton answered in style. After just days we realised that it was going to be more than a car full. However, when we looked at the mosque’s website to check something and read that they were unable to take any more bags of clothing, we were left in a bit of a quandary. In the meantime, the continued to arrive with one person alone bringing 10 sacks. As had virtually lost the use of our dining room and half of the hall, were getting rather keen to find an alternative charity to take the of not just clothes but also footwear, tents and sanitary wear.
many phone calls and internet searches, we discovered that charities were only wanting financial donations. We were therefore relieved when I happened to see that someone in Little Paxton helping some local Ukrainian families. We quickly made contact him, and he put us in touch with a charity based in Lincolnshire had been set up to send aid in the way of clothes and other to families in Ukraine, and even to troops on the front line.
https://m.facebook.com/Boxes-of-Hope108281751797753/?ref=page_internal
phone call to Mandy, the founder of the charity, at last sounded promising and, having checked that no donors had any objection, we arranged for her to come and collect the bags and sacks. Firstly though, we thought that it was best to check with her whether she would be able to take all the sacks, which had now grown to a grand of 60.
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wanted to pass on her sincere thanks to everyone who kindly donated.
Chef’s Corner 53
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returned by 10
th September. You will then be given an official entry number that needs to be displayed near your scarecrow for the week, that people can vote for your creation. You do not need to use straw, but if you would like to then I am hoping the lovely residents of College Farm may be able to donate some again.
GREAT PAXTON HISTORY SOCIETY - Graham James edition’s dip into the archives provides an insight into the story formidable villager who helped shape the lives of hundreds of Paxton children.
SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER – THE BELL PUB CAR PARK
FOOD, CRAFTS, AND GAME STALLS – FROM 12 NOON vendors, craft stalls, game stalls and hopefully face painting will available in The Bell car park on the first Saturday of the festival week.
FANCY DRESS COMPETITION
– 3PM
Maude Sarah Etchells was born in 1859 in Warwickshire. We know when she moved here but in 1881, aged 21, she was as a lodger with a family on the Main Road, as the High Street then known. She later moved into the schoolhouse which adjoined the school at the top of Church Lane. She shared the house her nephew who was a musical student.
Children are invited to attend The Bell garden at 3pm on 16th for a dress competition – no theme, and free to enter! (Age 11 and under). Prizes to be won!
are lucky that some villagers wrote their memories of life here during Miss Etchells’ long tenure, so we have Rowena Bryan, Dick Ashton, Fred Luddington and Bert Goodwin to thank for these stories.
VOTING / WINNERS
Voting by the public will take place all week using the voting slips available on the map/scarecrow entry list. People will be asked to vote their favourites according to the three categories. These votes will counted on the afternoon of Sunday 24th September by the
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is the plan for the festival week:
Rowena was at the school from about 1902 to 1910. Children spent whole schooling here until they were 13, if they were needed to in working on the land, or 14 if they showed a potential promise further education. This was very rare in Great Paxton. She described Miss Etchells as very strict, not allowing children to have contact with other children in the classroom, either verbal or visual. She would watch over them, peering over her goldrimmed spectacles. Rowena was actually scared of her and if she saw in the distance cycling towards her, she would hide. Her discipline was in full sight as her cane hung on the wall behind her Once, whilst trying to cane a boy on the hand, he whisked it so that she missed. He then did it again leading to her dragging over her desk and caning his backside.
SCARECROWS
Ashton, who was at the school at about the same time, describes more methods of punishment. He was in a fight with
before, scarecrows will need to be on display from 10am on Saturday 16th until end of day on Sunday 24th September (so consider wonderful British weather when making your scarecrow!) As mentioned, there is no theme, and it is free to enter. A completed form (included within the next edition of The Paxton Post) is
required in order to be eligible to win the prizes, and this form must 55
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following:
Best Named Scarecrow - £50 cash from Hire or Buy Group
Funniest Scarecrow - £50 voucher for The Bell
Most original Scarecrow - £50 cash from Peter Anderson Cars
another boy who had ruined one of Dick’s paintings. For this, Dick that he was punished by being hit with a cricket bat. Cricket umps were also sometimes used as well as a hairbrush, though this usually on the girls.
had 59 official entries in our first year, 71 last year – let’s try and over 100 this year! Without your fantastic creations there will not festival, so please do join in if you can.
Etchells, on the left, with her class of 1902.
didn’t stop boys misbehaving though. At harvest time they would a trick on the teachers by coming to school with a pocketful of These would be released, and the children would see Miss Etchells scream and clamber onto her desk.
had a subject called Sloyd carpentry. This was a type of teaching originating in Sweden which looked at education in a non-vocational manner. It was designed to help children develop skills together with showing the need for accuracy and quality. In Sweden it would have carving wood but here it was cutting cardboard, presumably sharp knives. It was regarded as a modern approach away from traditional three Rs, which seems quite surprising for a small, simple village.
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5 categories. You will be in with a chance of winning one of the
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Rowley family. They owned a huge house and land in St Neots where Priory Park is now and they contributed much of the money to fund new cinema. They also owned a Manor House and most of the houses in the village of Morcott in Rutland. They were moving back despite her age, wanted Miss Etchells to run the school there. was difficult to replace after such a long time in charge here. Her replacement was a Miss Coles who was described as being more interested in nature walks than discipline. Some school inspectors on visit found out that for many years the school had not even been the correct curriculum. I wonder if it partly explains the poor academic record of the school.
There is a coincidental link between the two villages in which she most of her life. Morcott is close to the former RAF base of
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Luffenham and during World War 2 it was used as a training for warplanes. In January 1945 a training mission went wrong like here, a Lancaster bomber crashed in the village soon after off, killing 7 crew members. Miss Etchells would not have seen however as she died in 1939 whilst living in Stamford. She was 80 of age, having spent about 47 of them teaching at our school. Maybe we could suggest a road to be named after her in the future.
Post is published by Easiprint Ltd in association with Great Paxton Parish Council and is funded Council. Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, neither editor, the printer or the Parish Council can be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, the publisher or the Parish Council.
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* 3 January – February 15 December March-April 15 February – June 15 April
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