Paxton Post Issue 18

Issue 18

Paxton Post

May - June 2020

THE MAGAZINE FOR GREAT PAXTON

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This is your magazine, and it needs your contributions.

All contributions to the next issue of the magazine are gratefully received. We particularly welcome: • News of village events • Photographs from the village • Private for sale adverts • Recipe ideas • Letters to the Editor • Reviews and Opinions • Anything you feel the village would be interested in.

Contributions should be sent to Simon using the details below: Email: simon@easiprintandcopy.co.uk Telephone: 01733 602302 Post: Easiprint Ltd, 39 Benedict Square, Werrington Industry, Peterborough, PE4 6GD

The Paxton Post is delivered to every home in Great Paxton, and advertising is available at competitive rates. Advertising is not only great local exposure for local businesses, but it also helps support this village magazine, which is a real asset to Great Paxton.

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Paxton Post is published by Easiprint Ltd in association with Great Paxton Parish Council. It is funded by the Parish Council, with help from advertisements. Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, neither the Editor nor the Parish Council can be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the Parish Council.

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Vicar: Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 canonannettereed @gmail.com

Churchwardens: Mr Bob Hacking 1 Mint Lane, Great Paxton 01480 219846

Tower Captain: Mrs Mary Parnham 01480 394727 MaryP2707@hotmail.com Anyone is most welcome to contact Annette with an enquiry about a wedding baptism or funeral. If you would like her to visit you, please do get in touch.

Mrs Sarah Gray, 12 Church Lane, Great Paxton 01480 214015

Canon Annette Reed, vicar of Great Paxton Church, writes:

The uniformed groups were looking forward to new activities, other regular groups were meeting, families were out and about visiting each other and friends, holidays were in the pipeline and people were working hard to earn a living.

Greetings to you all from the vicarage at Little Paxton. I am very much hoping you are all well and managing as best you can with the challenges that the Covid-19 outbreak has presented us all with.

Them as if in a dream, we moved into social distancing followed quickly by what has been called the lockdown announced on March 23rd 2020.

As I write, I am looking at the March to April edition of Paxton Post. It was full of news of events that were planned for the spring and summer – not least the 1,000-year celebrations of church and village on 6th and 7th June.

This period of enforced complete selfisolation for some and for others a very restricted way of living looks set to continue for some weeks to come, and it is unlikely that there will be a quick return to any kind of normal. In the meantime, our hearts go out to those who are losing loved ones across the world to this indiscriminate virus and those who are recovering from being very ill. We think of those whose livelihoods have been severely affected, who worry about where

Since then, in so many ways, village life has been curtailed and it all seemed to happen very quickly. One minute school and pre-school were still open, services were still taking place in church, the shop had its extensive opening hours and the Bell and its manager Rachael were firing on all cylinders.

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funds will come from to buy basic essentials and those whose businesses, carefully nurtured over years, look fragile.

In the midst of all of this uncertainly and anxiety, we can feel helpless to do anything but sit it all out and stay at home.

But let’s give a shout out for some very special people.

Locally, all of you who have pulled together to provide many essential services to those who are particularly vulnerable. You know who you all are – and the response from the village of Great Paxton has been fantastic. The creativity of many residents, along with a good dose of goofy humour, has kept many people cheerful and well fed.

Both locally and nationally, our National Health Service workers are being held in the highest esteem as they put their lives on the line to nurse those affected by the virus.

The Thursday night clapping has been heart felt and long may it continue as NHS staff and all carers whether in the public or private sector continue to offer all that they have in the very best spirit of compassion and high-quality care.

Each of us, by playing our part in basically staying at home, have been an essential role in curbing the virus in our tracks.

We have, of course, been allowed to go out for a walk once a day. But one

90-year-old gentleman, called Captain Tom Moore from Bedfordshire, has achieved world renown and huge respect from making use of his walking quota. He decided to walk 100 times around his care home to raise money for the NHS. I believe he hoped to raise £1,000 – but as I write, he has raised the amazing amount of over £20M. An elderly man, not long recovering from a hip operation, raising over 20M – and I bet he will raise more than that by the time he finishes.

If ever we might feel tempted to feel there is nothing we can do and feel helpless to make a difference, maybe we could think of army veteran Tom. His simple idea mixed with determination is going to make a lot of difference to the NHS crew on the ground.

I’m not suggesting we can all be as effective as Captain Tom, but we can all make a difference in simple ways.

Whether it is putting a rainbow in the window, posting a recipe on Facebook, offering to pick up medicines, or ringing someone up for chat – every gesture makes a difference in these days of lockdown and uncertainty.

Each step Tom that Tom took has mattered. Every act of kindness we can make matters too.

Keep safe and keep well.

Annette.

Holy Trinity Minster Church.

Whilst we love our church and look forward to being able to use it again, church is very much about people – and the human spirit can never be supressed or locked down!

As you will all know at the moment all our parish churches are locked and we can’t use them for any purpose. It must have been a very long time since there were no services for Easter in Holy Trinity.

The Vicar’s favourite social isolation cartoon!

We have had to suspend our usual pattern of worship Sunday by Sunday and bellringing had to cease as well.

Our plans to celebrate 1,000 years of village and church have been moved to 2021 (bigger and even better!) and special times like May Day and Open Gardens at Paxton Place will have to wait till next year.

We hope that by the time the next edition of Paxton Post comes around, we may have better news, but please do stay in touch with engaging with our busy online church presence.

Facebook: the benefice Facebook page@ thePaxtonsBenefice.

The benefice website: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org We are also producing a weekly newsletter “ keeping in touch” and if you would like to receive it by email, please do contact Anita Bailey on: ajlbailey@aol.com .

Holy Trinity Church 100 Club winners April 2020

Anita is the PCC secretary for Little Paxton Church and is kindly holding a data base of people who would like to be kept in touch across the benefice, receiving the newsletter every week and the link to the You Tube weekly service which Annette is producing.

Thank you all for your continued support

£100 £ 50 £ 25

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Number 226 Number 93 Number 193

Vicky Gois Tony Smith Robyne Milson

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Reports of groups/activities Lancaster memorial still for landowner’s formal written permission. More funding is coming in.

Churchyard Grave survey and recording –getting a list of the more modern graves, and will need to record the inscriptions.

1000 year commemorations of Holy Trinity 2020, Because of the Coronavirus pandemic this has been postponed to 12th and 13th June 2021. Save these dates. Gives the newly sown grass in the churchyard a chance to be stronger for next year. More details at https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk/ Paul Ward is the editor of Great Paxton 1000 website and asks: Dear Great Paxton Villagers, I am proposing to accumulate a village archive of these times that are really nothing like anything in our history. What has become our new normal is really far from normal and when it is all over, we will adapt again and this will recede into the past. So I'm asking you to send me pictures, videos and your writings of these days so they can be preserved online and in print for the future. I will initially put them on the Great Paxton 1000 website and then later collate them into some kind of order. More details here: https://greatpaxton1000.co.uk/events/lockdown-archive.php here’s an opportunity to contribute memories for the future historians of Great Paxton.

History walks – pandemic restrictions allowing two have been planned, May and June, see Great Paxton 1000 for more details.

Map of Great Paxton Chris Hall showed us his wonderful map - the cumulative history of Great Paxton -

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March Topic

Tutankhamun – Diane James

Diane showed us some of the wonderful treasures on display at an exhibition in London, also the new Egyptian Museum at Giza which will hold most of the artificers in the future. * Forthcoming Topics • The Reverend Austin Lee – vicar of Great Paxton and author – Annette Because of the pandemic, and all the social isolation and closures this meeting is cancelled at the Bell. However it is hoped we will have a presentation to send to everyone by email.

Dates of meetings– 2nd Monday of each month. 7.30 to 9.30pm at the Bell • 11th May 2020 - Probably cancelled so if anyone can suggest or provide a topic that can be sent as email, please let Jacqueline know • 8th June 2020 1000 years of Holy Trinity Church (Trinity Sunday 7th June) Milleniumfest cancelled but there maybe something done in the church if we are lucky, or by YouTube if not. Topic required please • 13th July, 10th August, 14th September Has anyone done or got any research about the Towgood family they can share with us. any pictures.

https://greatpaxtonhistory.weebly.com/ Contact details - Website and email greatpaxtonhs@yahoo.com Diane James, for Great Paxton 1000 - 01480 406938 Graham James, for Lancaster memorial - 01480 406938 Paul Ward, for history walk and lockdown-archive - 01480 216240 Jacqueline Wieczorek, general Society information – 01480 477035 jacqueline.wieczorek@gmail.com

Stay safe, keep well, keep busy and ask for support should you need it.

Jacqueline 9

Whilst we are living in a much more simpler, quieter times it seems appropriate to look back to life in the village around 1905. These are extracts of some stories written by Rowena when she lived on the High Street. Look out for more in future editions.

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Little Paxton Gardening Club “Where gardening and friendships blossom” We are an established, friendly village club for people who share an interest in all types of gardening. We hold regular meetings with talks from visiting speakers on a wide range of subjects, organise visits to local nurseries, garden centres , beautiful gardens, demonstrations, social events and plant sales. We have a new and exciting programme for 2020 . On 4th March our speaker will be Michael Brown, a well known historian, researcher and lecturer The talk is entitled “ A History of Gardening in 100 Objects” On 1st April we welcome Carol Saunders who will talk to us about “How to grow Paeonies” Carol is from a RHS Gold winning nursery, specialising in Paeonies.

We have something of interest every month throughout the year.

All meetings will be held at Little Paxton Village Hall, PE19 6EY at 8.00pm Members £1.00 non members £2.00 Everyone is welcome to come along to the meetings, refreshment included in the entrance fee.

For further information please contact: Jane Hill, Chair person Tel 01480 218805 Or Margaret Rowland Secretary 01480 383989 Club email: ipgardeningclub@hotmail.com

Hi All, The adults team haven't played since Mid March & the season has been suspended indefinitely. We will resume next season.

We are hoping for 2 teams next season, so are actively looking for new

players (young & old).

Anyone who is interested in playing again or wants to start playing adults football should contact me on 07540 491068 Danny

We hope all members and non-members and their families are safe and well. As soon as the ‘lockdown’ and the Virus are over, we will arrange our meetings to restart at The Bell. It has seemed very strange not seeing you all every couple of weeks for a chat & catch-up, whilst enjoying a nice cup of coffee and cake.

Also missed are Denis’s quizzes, we hope you are still compiling them for us as they get the ‘little grey cells’ working.

Keep well and hope to see you all soon, Angie, Marion & Sue

ST GEORGE’S DAY St George’s Day in England remembers St George, England patron saint. The anniversary of his death, which is on 23 April, is seen as England’s national day.

According to legend he was a soldier in the Roman army who killed a dragon and saved a princess.

St George wasn’t English he was born more than 2,0000 miles away. He is thought to have been born in Cappodocia (modern day Turkey) to have died in Lydia (modern day Israel) in the Roman province of Palestine in AD 303.

He was chosen as England’s patron Saint in 1350 by King Edward 111 St George was admired for his bravery in the face of terrible suffering, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith.

St George was canonised in AD 494 by Pope Gelasius who claimed he was one of those ‘’ whose names are justly revered among men but whose acts are known only to god’’ A feast day of St George has been celebrated in England for hundreds of years on 23 April which was possibly the date of his martyrdom following the battle of Agincourt in 1415.

RICHARD WEST DISTRICT COUNCILLOR GREAT PAXTON WARD EMAIL richard.west@buckdencambs.co.uk or richard.west@huntingdonshire.gov.uk TELEPHONE 01480 811467 or 0784 1866630

Local. Fresh. Delicious.

HOMECOOKED MEALS prepared by local professional PRIVATE CHEF delivered to your door. All you have to do is stick them in the oven! Or freeze for later.

Phone Alex on 07946772474 for a friendly chat to find out more. Eat well and stay healthy in these difficult times!

Thank you. Alex 20

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This is a very difficult article to write as we are currently in the lock down period and therefore the pub is closed.

the lock down. It was a hard week for myself, the owners and customers as we could not celebrate how we should have.

We are however able to serve take away food and drink which I am currently doing Wed to Sat 1pm to 8pm and Sunday Roasts 12-3. I am also doing Bell Breakfasts on Saturday 10am to 2pm.

The support and encouragement we are getting from the village and outside is amazing and we are very grateful for that.

Who knows how long this will last, but for now we keep doing what we are and hope that it ends soon and normality can be resumed.

You can order via our facebook page, The Bell, Gt Paxton or by calling myself on 700107 or 07701038433.

We have just had our 2nd year anniversary and were able to do a small firework display for the village despite

Rach Manager The Bell

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Fortunately, your Parish Council was able to meet briefly before the Shutdown.

This enabled Councillors to discuss with residents how the community could respond to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Other than post and update information on its website and meet the cost of some community posters, the Parish Council is limited in what it is legally able to do but Councillors wish to thank the Community Shop, The Bell Public House and volunteers for all their magnificent effort over recent weeks to find a way to offer help through this crisis. Please also keep an eye on the website for updates on services available from the County & Peterborough City Councils www.greatpaxton.pc-gov.uk On the same theme and after advice received from the District Council, the Parish Council has regrettably had to close the Play Space at Saxon Green.

This will reopen as soon as we are given the all clear.

The Parish Council has also been assured that despite a couple of hiccups, due to staffing and coronavirus issues, the Post Office will continue to try to offer mobile services to the Great Paxton community during this period.

Now for some good news – the County Council has approved our application for ‘Priority Narrowing’ measures on the High Street under this year’s Local Highways Improvements Process. At the moment, it is not clear when this scheme will get underway but thank you again to all those who signed the petition and wrote letters of support as these efforts

may have tipped the balance in favour of the application this time.

Although it was disappointing to hear that the celebrations to mark 1000 years of the Holy Trinity Minster have been deferred to 2021, Councillors have agreed that, notwithstanding, the Parish Council’s grant of £500 towards the event should be awarded in May to allow preparations to continue ahead of the activities next year.

After a competitive tendering exercise, the Council has awarded its Grounds Maintenance Contract to the CGM Group and you might already have seen their team working in the parish. They are new to Great Paxton but have lots of experience working for other Councils locally.

Lastly, it is still too early to decide whether the next Parish Council meeting can go ahead as planned on 18th May. The Government has issued Regulations which offer Councils the opportunity to defer some formalities that are usually required at this time of year so Councillors may take the decision not to meet until it is safe and clear to do so.

Until next time, take care and stay well.

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In response to the Corona virus Covid 19 outbreak, Cambridgeshire County Council have 13,000 shielded people registered out of the 20,000 or so who are on their list as at April 15th 2020.

The county council are contacting GPs to identify other shielded people which could include a further 10,000 people this week. CCC have sent letters to all those who haven't registered encouraging them to do so and have included information in other languages in this letter so residents can make contact with someone who can explain the letter to them. CCC have now 150 call staff who will be making 10,000 calls a week to this group to make sure they are okay and to ensure they are getting what they need. This is a massive operation but necessary as CCC know needs change in this group and the council want to ensure all residents know that the council is there to help them. This may create a spike in demand but the hub is staffed to pick this up.

CCC are putting together a welfare offering to the shielded group as they have to isolate for 12 weeks and the council are concerned about their welfare. This includes digital learning, books and games and other activities.

Following the closure of household recycling centres, Huntingdonshire district council continue to offer kerb side collection of bulky waste and clothing can be recycled at the recycling banks in ST Neots and Tescos.

MOT’s - Your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date will be extended by 6 months if it’s due on or after 30 March 2020 - but you must keep your vehicle safe to drive.

Julie Wisson County Councillor St Neots East and Great Gransden division 07725 791459 01767 677837 julie.wisson@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Whilst all of our usual unit meetings have been suspended since mid-March to follow government guidance on social distancing, we managed to have lots of fun in the weeks before. There's been World Thinking Day, games, challenges and science for World Book Day, star gazing and constellation making, Guides making the front page of the Hunts Post, taking part in Influence and Network Skills Builders Challenges and cake!

1st Great Paxton Brownies

Faith On Saturday April 3rd, Great Paxton Brownies were meant to go on a Brownie sleepover but unfortunately it was cancelled because of the Coronavirus.

We've also made sure that guiding Instead we did a doesn't stop completely as we've been virtual campfire resourceful and found new ways to get games over Zoom together and have new adventures. We with Snowy Owl and Little Owl. We were were due to go on a sleepover with the set a challenge before of making a den to Brownies and a day trip to London with sleep in that night. Some people made the Guides over the Easter holidays so we them under their tables, me and Libby had some virtual get togethers instead. made one in our living room made out of The summer terms kicks off with virtual blankets and bed sheets. It started at meetings and it has been great seeing all 6pm and the first game we played was to the girls in their uniform taking part via spell Brownies with objects from around video. the house. Our B was a book and R was a ruler. Once we had played that game we We've asked some of the girls to share sang campfire songs. It was quite difficult what we've been up to over the Spring but still fun. My favourite part was term/ Easter Holidays.... sleeping in my den that night. I miss all my brownie friends and leaders so it was 1st Great Paxton Rainbows great to see them all over the computer. I hope everyone is ok and stays well.

Maya Hello, my name is Maya. My favourite bit Libby about Rainbows was getting my badge Now I am 10 it is my turn to leave especially my Future Girl badge as I think Brownies and join the Guides. In the recycling is very important. I enjoy the middle of February I went to two taster games we play at Rainbows and the session at Guides. At the first session we leaders are very kind. I loved World made pancakes from scratch. We made Thinking Day as we got to meet other girl the mixture and then we cooked the Guides and Rainbows. pancakes and flipped them. The best part was eating them. I managed to flip my pancake but with help from the leaders.

At the second taster session Little Paxton Guides joined us at Great Paxton to play a game called Beetle Drive. We had to roll the dice and try and draw a beetle. I didn't win but it was great fun. I cant wait to join Guides when we go back. I hope you all stay well.

Felicity Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from St.Neots met up on the 22 nd of February at Jubilee Hall in Eaton Socon to celebrate World Thinking Day . The theme was diversity, equality and inclusion.

Everyone made friendship bracelets out of three pieces of coloured thread. We also did fingerprint portraits of our family. Another activity we did was making Danish hearts from paper. There were a range of games from around the world.

My favourite activity was when we created a gratitude tree to show all the things we are grateful for and that we appreciate in our lives.

teddy on the end of a piece of string and then had to roll it up between our legs.

Whoever rolled it up the quickest, won a prize. At the end we all got in a circle and sang taps. The taps at the end were special because the Little Paxton guides did the taps fast and we did them slow. It was cool.

We also did world thinking day that was all about our family and friends. It was awesome x. One of my favourite tasks was stamping out family with our fingers.

There has not been anything so far that I have not liked about guides. The leaders are so amazing and I love their names as well. Their names are Topaz, Opal, Emerald and Amethyst. The great thing about 1st Geat Paxton Guides is the patrols. They were so fairly picked. I am in a patrol with people I have known since I was 4 or 5. The other patrol I have also known since I was 4 or 5.

Tracey Murray 1st Great Paxton Guides Emma My experience at 1st Great Paxton Guides so far has been incredible. One of my favourite things we have done was the meeting with the little Paxton guides, we got to learn so much about one another. There were 2 people from 1st Great Paxton Brownies there because they are coming up to guides soon, so we let them be involved with things too. We really got to know the other guides so well. First we played beetle, and then we served the other guides cake and juice.

We then played a game where we put a 26

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1st Great Paxton Rainbows: 1st Great Paxton Brownies: 1st Great Paxton Guides: Church Bell Ringers Holy Trinity Church

1stgreatpaxtonrainbows@gmail.com 1stgreatpaxtonbrownies@gmail.com greatpaxtonguides@gmail.com Mary Parnham 01480 394727 Canon Annette Reed 01480 211048 canonannettereed@gmail.com Churchwardens Bob Hacking 01480 219846 Sarah Gray 01480 214015 Community Room Julie Edwards 01480 472132 Crafty Belles Craft Group Diane James Diane.james42@outlook.com 07522 449535 Crib Team Simon Black 01480 700107 Football Club Tom 07576 600523 Friendship Club Marion Reeves marionreeves@btinternet.com Gt. Paxton Community Shop 01480 218 624 Gt. Paxton Cubs Andy Ottley 07704 857636 Great Paxton Allotments and Community Garden Gillian Smith 01480 477847 gilliansmith462@btinternet.com Ladies Group Melanie Dingemans melanie.dingemans1@gmail.com OBAS Howard Fieldhouse 07824 569111 Parish Clerk Christine Brandon gppc1@outlook.com Petanque Brian Wright 01480 473697 Recreation Ground Michael Fairs Michael.fairs@gmail.com School Headteacher Lee Frost 01480 472132 Great Paxton Preschool Julie Edwards 01480 472132 St. Neots Police 101 Village Website www.greatpaxton-pc.gov.uk Woodsooners Golf Society Martin Bazley 01480 21927 Walkers Group Linda Richardson 01480 213768 Any corrections please notify the editor or email jillatgp@gmail.com

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