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February - March 2022 1

Welcome Welcome to this edition of Out and About (O&A), the Offord Village Magazine. It aims to promote the community by sharing village news and useful contacts. In addition to the printed edition delivered to every home in the Offords, an on-line full colour edition can be accessed via the village websites. We encourage new contributors with a story to tell. Articles are accepted from organizations and individuals so long as they are not political or offensive. We welcome photographs, news stories and poems from villagers. We may need to defer entries if we receive too many at once. Contributions are included free of charge. You can contact the editorial team via offordOandA@gmail.com Most of the cost of production is covered by the revenue from advertising and we are grateful to our loyal advertisers. Production costs are also supplemented by an annually reviewed grant from the Parish Council. Out and About is delivered free of charge because a willing team of volunteers brave the elements come rain or shine to bring it to your door. We hope you find something to interest you in this edition.

b lu C ls w o B t a M Offord Short The club held its Annual Christmas Party in the Village Hall on Wednesday, 8th December, and despite Covid we had a really good turnout. The Target competition was, as usual, organised and mats prepared by Ted Wood. At the break everyone enjoyed a range of excellent snacks and wine provided by all members. Entertainment was provided by Uke 2 (Bob and Terri ) who played a range of popular carols on their Ukuleles, with all present joining in. A fine raffle raised £20 for club funds. The competition was eventually won by Peter Mailer winning the trophy presented by chairman John Storey. A most enjoyable evening.

l o o h c S y r a m i r Offord P

O ff

n o i t a i c o s s A s ord Gardener

February - March

As mentioned in the last edition, our November meeting would be reported in this edition. As you know, this was an AGM meeting, and for some reason members seem reluctant to attend, despite it being an opportunity to raise any issues members may have. The officers and committee were all re-elected for another year, but we do need a secretary if any member is able to help with this role. Our first meeting is usually January but this was cancelled as members did not want to return to the hall with face coverings made mandatory. We look forward to February, our Speaker is Bridget Flanagan, subject is ‘The Manor Hemingford Grey, Its Artists and Gardeners’. Our March Speaker is Michael Brown, subject is ‘A Rose by any other name’ . We are hoping to hold our Annual Spring Show on April 2nd. We are working on the schedules at the moment. All meetings are on the third Thursday of the month in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. New members welcome. Enjoy Your Gardening John 811148

OFFORD VILLAGE HALL HIRE Offord Village Hall is available for hire for all types of functions: Wedding Receptions, Christenings, Private parties etc. The Hall has disabled access and facilities and comprises of: a large main hall with a stage, refurbished kitchen, bar, separate committee room and a car park. The hall is licensed for music. Daytime rates are priced per hour (minimum 2 hours) with reduced rates for regular users. Weekend evening rates available on request. For further details please contact

Helen Bosworth on 01480 811892 Email: droffo144@gmail.com 11

OFFORD VILLAGE HALL 300+ CLUB (OFFORD RECREATION HUT) Registered charity no. 302653 The 300+ club provides funds for the maintenance of YOUR Village Hall as well as cash prizes for lucky winners! The club needs between 200 and 400 members (over the age of 16) to run efficiently. Each member has a unique share number(s) at a subscription of 50p per month, payable as £6 per year. Approximately half the membership subscription is allocated to monthly prize draws. This year we had fifty two lucky winners and have given over £1000 out as prizes and the same amount has benefited the Village Hall. Draws usually take place at village clubs or events each calendar month, beginning March 2022, and winners will be notified.

NOVEMBER £20 341 £15 292 £10 346 £ 5 026

Cynthia Wood Janine Skyrme Lola Taylor Megan Walton

WINNERS DECEMBER £125 016 £ 60 217 £ 30 122 £ 20 110 £ 15 074 £ 10 324

Linda Herod Connie Hayhurst Sandra Attewell John Gatward Mark Ellis Hilary Moorby

To join please fill in the application form and see: Or

Mrs Helen Bosworth, 127 High Street, Offord Cluny. Tel: 811892 Mrs Jenny Murby, 2 The Haycroft, Offord Darcy Tel:811474

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM: 300+ CLUB Name:……………………….………………..……Tel No:………………..….……… E mail address…………………………………….Mob No.…………………………. Address:………………………………………………………...……………………… ………….………............................….………..………… No shares:……..……… I enclose the sum of £6 per share

TOTAL £……………….

Payment preferred by bank transfer to: Offord Recreation Hut sort code: 207481 Account No: 10676160 (Barclays Bank) Or by cheque payable to Offord Village Hall or by cash Please sign to give the organisers permission to hold your details on record. These details will only be used for the administration of this club.

…………………………………………………………………………… 12

b u l C s n e z i t i C r o i n e S d r o f f O We decided to hold a Bring and Share supper for our November meeting. Everyone participated and we had a lovely evening. Afterwards we played a few games of Bingo which, whilst competitive, was a lot of fun.

On 8th December we held our Christmas Party. Members sat down to a full Christmas dinner cooked and served by the committee, followed by games, including the obligatory ‘Roll the Lemon’. It was a lovely fun evening ending with a marvellous raffle. Our meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month in the Village Hall, Offord Cluny, at 6.30pm. If you would like to come along you would be made very welcome. At the time of writing we have a coffee morning planned for Saturday, 12th February at 10.30-12.00 in the Village Hall. It would be lovely to see some new faces. For further information please call Marlene Alderman on 01480 810609 or Sue Barimore on 01480 810763. 13

l l a H e g a l l i V Offord The sun is shining as I am writing and we have passed the shortest day of the year which means, hopefully, that spring is just around the corner. Over the winter months the village hall has continued to run its various exercise classes and clubs in the main. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the Big Band Evening we had planned for Christmas due to low ticket sales. However, we are hoping that as people become more confident about getting out, they will gradually return to doing some of the things they enjoy. The introduction of Government restrictions for Plan B does mean that at the time of writing masks must be worn inside the building. We continue to provide hand sanitiser at many points in the hall and the building and all touch points are regularly cleaned. We are lucky that we have good opportunities to ventilate the building by opening windows and doors. There are, of course, some mask wearing exemptions for parties, exercise and dance classes. The full details for these conditions of hire can be found on our website www.offordvillagehall.org.uk. We will continue to update this information based on any changes to Government guidance. Due to our caretaker Fred’s retirement, we have engaged a professional cleaning firm to take on the cleaning. This is to the relief of those committee members who were doing this task each week. We are also pleased to announce that Alan Newman is now providing caretaking services. You may know him as he has lived in the village for many years and is putting to good use his handyman and DIY skills maintaining the hall. Optimistically we have planned a full programme of fundraising and social events for the next year. One of these is a Jubilee Tea Party on Sunday, June 5th, to celebrate 70 years on the throne for our Queen Elizabeth II. This will be an event for members of the village and their families. Afternoon tea and entertainment will be provided, with music, 14

a children’s entertainer and as much patriotic enthusiasm as we can muster to mark this Platinum Jubilee. As part of these unique celebrations the Parish Council organised the planting of trees to contribute towards the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy.’ Representatives from the local organisations including the village hall went along one wet, cold and windy Sunday morning to help with their planting on the Millennium Green. Many thanks go to John Gatward for organising the co-ordination of this project. The saplings are there for generations to watch grow into larger trees and are part of a hope for a better future for the planet. As part of our fundraising towards the upkeep and maintenance of the Village Hall we run a 300 Club. Subscriptions are just £6 a year. Prizes total £50 a month and twice a year total £250. To join just go to our website which has an application form with all the rules and details of payment. New members are welcome. For more information contact Helen Bosworth 300club@offordvillagehall.org.uk The village hall offers an opportunity to meet safely and join in with the numerous activities and events that are on offer. We look forward to seeing you there. Helen Ellis Secretary Offord Village Hall

Calendar of events for the next twelve months: A TABLETOP SALE Sunday, February 13th 12 noon until 3pm. Tables £6. Refreshments will be available to purchase. This is an opportunity to recycle some of your unwanted or outgrown items or to sell something handmade. Crafters welcome. For enquiries or to reserve a table email: kathymillward@hotmail.com QUIZ NIGHT Saturday, March 19th, 7:30pm for a prompt 7:45pm start. Bring your own food and drink. Tickets £5. Teams of up to six people (can be made up on the night). Quizmaster Simon. FAMILY DISCO Friday, April 15th, (Good Friday). A chance for all the family to get together. Further details to follow. A MURDER MYSTERY Saturday, May 7th. 7:30pm – 10:30pm. Join the Strictly Murder team who will help you uncover the murder scene. Throughout the evening, clues will be revealed so that you can play 15 along as detectives to find out who-

dunnit! Supper will be included in the ticket price of £15. A licenced bar will also be provided. PRIZE BINGO Friday, May 13th. Eyes down 7:30pm. Free entry and refreshments. THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE TEA PARTY Sunday, June 5th, 2pm – 6pm. An afternoon of celebrations for members of the village and their families. Includes afternoon tea, dancing to the Melody Beats, with a children’s entertainer, and face painting. Come and join us for this unique celebration of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. MIDSUMMER BALL Saturday, June 18th. Live entertainment and dancing. An opportunity to get your posh frocks out! A licenced bar will be provided. Further details to follow. DECADES DISCO Saturday, July 9th. Celebrate the decades 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and more. Show off your dance moves! Which is your favourite decade? A licenced bar will be provided. Further details to follow. BEER FESTIVAL Saturday, September 24th. This popular event will include some Ciders and Gins. Live entertainment. Food will be available to purchase. Further details to follow. QUIZ NIGHT Saturday, October 15th, 7:30pm for a prompt 7:45pm start. Bring your own food and drink. Tickets £5 Teams of up to six people (can be made up on the night). HALLOWEEN HOOTENANY Saturday, October 29th, 7:30pm – 11pm A barn dance with music and instruction from Hannibal’s Heroes. A Ploughman’s supper is included in the ticket price. A licenced bar will also be provided. PRIZE BINGO Friday, November 18th. Eyes down 7:30pm. Free entry and refreshments. A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Saturday, December 17th, 7:30pm – 11pm. Dancing to the popular Melody Beats. Put on your dancing shoes to start the Christmas season. Or simply sit back and enjoy the music. Refreshments and a licenced bar will be provided. Further details to follow. QUIZ NIGHT Saturday, January 21st, 2023. 7:30pm for a prompt 7:45pm start. Bring your own food and drink. Tickets £5. Teams of up to six people (can be made up on the night). All events are subject to change. You can find more details of all the above events with ticket prices and how to get them by visiting our website www.offordvillagehall.org.uk.

Platinum Tours have 16 to 53 seat coaches available for private hire.

Happy New Year! We have some great days out planned for this year and hope that you will be able to join us on board again. During the colder months, we are offering a small selection of trips, but will be fully back up to speed come the Easter break. If you are not on our mailing list but would like to receive a copy of our brochure, please call or email us (details below) and we will be happy to add you to the growing list of passengers who enjoy a day out with us. Saturday 5th February – day trip to Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock. Enjoy a day where you can shop, eat, and shop some more! £15 Tuesday 15th February – Winter Warmer river cruise on board the Nottingham Princess. Enjoy a 2-hour cruise with a two-course roast dinner for just £33. Saturday 5th March – Afternoon tea at Carriages, Fen Drayton. Sit back and relax with a full afternoon tea served in the splendour of a reconditioned 1920’s railway carriage. £37.50 Saturday 19th March – day trip to Downtown superstore and Boundary Mills Outlet, Grantham. There are plenty of departments to peruse at this large shopping superstore – and we have the boot space to bring home all of your bargains! £15 Saturday 30th April – Melton Mowbray Cheese Fair. The Artisan Cheese Fair is the UK’s largest cheese fair with around 40 cheesemakers this year from across the UK and around 200 cheeses to try and buy. Other food & drink on sale; wine, cakes, beer, pies, hot street food, etc is complemented by a range of other stands. £22 Wednesday 27th July – Sandringham Flower Show. After two years enforced cancellation, the Flower Show is back this year! £34 All trips will have pick up points in St Neots, Offord, Godmanchester and Huntingdon. We reserve the right to cancel any excursion with less than 20 passengers. We will refund all money paid for any cancelled excursion. We now have a wheelchair accessible coach if you need to travel in a wheelchair please call us to discuss your requirements.

To request a brochure please call 01480 810560 or email your name and address details to platinumtourslimited@gmail.com. To book online, or enquire about hiring one of our vehicles please visit www.platinumluxurytours.com 17

Pilates with K Fit in Offord! With a focus on stretch, strength, mobility and control, Pilates exercises can help you ease back ache, improve posture and strengthen the core muscles in a gentle and calm environment. K Fit has been established in St Neots since 2011 and is very excited to reach the Offord community. Class Details: Wednesday mornings at Offord Village Hall 11am-12pm These classes will be held as 6 week courses through term times, Course price: £45 These classes will be held with a maximum of 12 participants to ensure there is enough floor space and good quality teaching. Prior booking is essential; please get in contact to reserve your space. Katrina Hyland Head of K Fit 07967100603 Kdanceandfitness@gmail.com www.kdanceandfitness.co.uk

June Lee Chiropodist / Podiatrist Bsc(Hons) HCPC Registered, MChS Nail Cutting, Corn/Callus Removal, Ingrowing Toe Nails, Verrucae, Biochemical Complaints, Generalised Foot Pains, Diabetic Foot Care Home Visiting Service Only

Over 14 Years NHS Experience Friendly & Professional

Tel: 01480 214392 / 07947 371107

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Out & About THE OFFORDS GAZETTE

Please note our advertising charges. This magazine is issued every two months and the cost per issue is:

Full page - £15.00 Half page - £ 8.00 For further information or to place orders for advertising please phone Sue Dorrington on 07724 553101 Or email sue _dorrington@hotmail.co.uk 24

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Offord Tots Hey, We hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New year! We celebrated Christmas in style at Offord Tots with a festive Christmas party, snacks and a very special visit from Father Christmas! The children were all excited and it was so long overdue. Our last Christmas party was in 2019! We also spent December making special Christmas crafts too! Now onto 2022. We have so much planned. From Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and the start of our spring craft. There's lots of fun to be had at Offord Tots! From April onwards, we are having to increase our price to £3 per family as the Village Hall are increasing our hire costs. But it’s still very good value for money as that includes free play, craft activities, snacks for the children and plenty of hot drinks for the carers. Hope to see you all there soon. Remember it's Fridays in term time from 9.15am. We are having a break for half term on the 18th February so we are not open that day. Ps. If anyone ha See you all soon! s any toy pushch airs, w e are desperat Thanks ely in need of so me to be dona ted! Nikki

e t u t i t s n I s n e m Offord Wo What a long year 2021 was! So, we welcome 2022 with optimism and the hope that The Offords WI can run normally this year. We look forward to monthly meetings, outings and all the village events we become involved with. Happy New Year to everyone and we hope to see more of you this year! Our January meeting is, by tradition, a belated ‘Christmas Dinner’. Most of us gathered at The Wheatsheaf in Perry for a festive lunch. The food was excellent and delivered efficiently, in spite of everyone ordering something different!! Thanks to all the staff of The Wheatsheaf. We exchanged gifts through a Secret Santa and had a wonderful reunion with friends old and new. It was a happy occasion and reminded us of the value of our WI, and how we have missed it. The next meeting is on 8th February at 7.30 In the Village Hall. We have a speaker who is the author of several books, Roger Leivers from Godmanchester. Roger’s talk is The Godmanchester Spy Story. Sounds intriguing and rather unlikely. But Godmanchester was in fact an important piece in the jigsaw of the last war. Do come and hear the story, and, as always, visitors are welcome. For Members, a reminder that the competition is a magnifying glass. For further information call Carol Temple on 01480 812879 Or email caroltemple51@gmail.com

All Saints Church You may see David walking from Buckden to Offord, especially when his car is in the garage here for repairs! Do stop and talk with him. He’s always up for a chat. Hello to all of you in the Offords As I sit to write something acceptable for both Out & About and the church (hoping more of you will come), I find myself a little distracted. The squirrels in the garden are all over the bird feeders. I have been inspired recently by a wonderful book, The Little Flowers of St Francis, which describes (several times in the great saint's life) animals witnessing and reciprocating his love for them. Despite this, I am struggling to view the squirrels without annoyance (and despair and language not suitable for print). How quickly I can fail! All this feels in complete contrast to watching the lovely blue tits and robins seen on the squirrel feeders in the last five minutes. My dog incidentally, and as I have described before, sits quivering with silent rage before uselessly chasing after these well-fed bushy-tailed and thoroughly-pleased-with-themselves acrobats. One of the stories in the book about Saint Francis has a ferocious wolf coming to the saint (he had gone out to find the wolf and sort out the problem of people being afraid to leave their homes due to the wolf's habit of eating them). The wolf was told "Come here, Brother Wolf, in the name of Jesus Christ I command you not to attack me or anyone else". When told to trust in the saint and come with him, in the name of Jesus Christ, the wolf was straightaway a reformed character. I have tried to address these squirrels in the vicarage garden as Brother Squirrels...my dog just looks at me as if I'm mad, and a little embarrassing, and puts a paw over both eyes. The book about Saint Francis really has been a joy to read though. The saint's holiness is beautifully described in legendary accounts about his life along with his companions. However the stories were accumulated and represented, they have so much in them to make me consider how to live. There is much that has made me smile, much to make me think about a need for more patience, ready forgiveness, sacrifice, and time devoted to prayer. As we look forward to springtime I pray that you are kept safe, provided for, sheltered, and protected by God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that you know His particular love for you, and all who you love. With love, Fr David Sheppard Priest in Charge of Buckden with the Offords http://www.stmarysbuckden.org.uk/ https://allsaintsoffordcluny.wordpress.com/ 07792128503 (day off: Friday) 29

We pray to be generous and visible people of Jesus Christ https://www.elydiocese.org/about/ strategy/vision/

We have planned fund raising and social events through to the end of 2022. Having come so far and being mindful of infection rates in Huntingdonshire, we are still being cautious. This means that some events may have to be cancelled or postponed at short notice and for this we apologise. We were deeply disappointed when it became clear that the Christingle Services should not be held because they could become ‘spreader events’. Events calendar 2022 All events in the Village Hall unless noted otherwise February 5th Bacon Butties 10am - 12 March 5th Bacon Butties 10am - 12 18th Prosecco and Puddings (Tickets in advance)7pm - 10pm April 16th Bacon Butties & Hot Cross Buns 10am - 12 May 7th Plant Sale 10am - 2pm (unless sold out earlier) 21st Bacon Butties 10am - 12 June 11th Bacon Butties 10am - 12 Church and Village Fete - Date, Time & Venue to be confirmed July 16th Bacon Butties 10am - 12 August 13th Bacon Butties 10am - 12 Sept 4th BBQ 17 Elm Drive (Tickets in advance) 12 noon Oct 2nd Harvest Lunch 12 noon - 2pm 15th Bacon Butties 10am - 12 Nov 5th Bacon Butties & Hot Dogs 10am - 12 26th & 27th Christmas Tree Festival 12 noon - 4pm Dec 2nd Band Concert in the Church 8pm (Tickets in advance) All are welcome at All Saints Inside the church, being cautious and responsible, we still wear masks as we sit, move around the church and sing. So expect to hear muffled rejoicing if you walk past with your dog. Always feel welcome to come in and join us. If you love to sing you might like our Songs of Praise evenings when we choose and sing lots of favourite hymns – old and modern. February Services 6th February Family Service at 9.30 am 13th February Holy Communion 9.30 am 20th February Songs of Praise 6pm - followed by refreshments 27th February Holy Communion 9.30 am March Services 2nd March 6th March 13th March 20th March 27th March

Ash Wednesday Holy Communion at 6.30 pm Family Service at 9.30 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Songs of Praise 6pm - followed by refreshments Mothering Sunday – Holy Communion at 9.30 am A celebration of all mothers and children (whatever their age) 30

Please help us to keep our village church alive. Throughout the pandemic we have been more reliant than ever on donations and thank all those who would normally give to the collection at services but who have set up electronic payments or saved in their collection boxes. If your collection box is full of coins, please contact Bob Bargh 810237 or John Storey 810763 and someone will collect the box from you. We do not receive financial help from the Diocese, the Church of England or any other body. As we struggle to raise funds to replace the roof we also have to raise money to heat and maintain the building and pay our share of running costs. We are not too proud to beg and were greatly encouraged by donations from the village when Father Christmas visited us all in December. Some of you gave using the website ‘Give a little’. You can find a link to this on our website and on the All Saints Offord pages on ‘A church near you’. If you are reading the online version of Out & About you can use this link http://www.shorturl.at/nwzY7 We even have a QR code you can scan if you prefer to read the paper version. Lots of us do.

The site offers you a choice of donation amounts £1 / £3 / £5 or an option to name your amount. If you feel you can ‘give a little’ to All Saints it will bring us a step nearer to a new roof and will help keep the church running for worship and for when you or your family and friends need it. Church is for everyone: it’s not a private members club. Thank you.

All Saints Church – Contact details

Priest in Charge: Fr. David Sheppard fr.davidowainsheppard@gmail.com Mobile: 07792 128503 Church Warden John Simpkin 01480 819664 warden.offord@yahoo.com Mobile: 07904 617973 Church Warden & Webmaster Sue Dorrington offordallsaints@gmail.com Mobile: 07724 553101

Fundraising & social events: John Storey johnlstorey35@gmail.com Stephen Eayrs stepheneayrs@btinternet.com Bob Bargh barghrobert921@gmail.com Helen Northrop helen.northrop1@btinternet.com Mandy Eayrs mandyeayrs@btinternet.com Elizabeth Simpkin lizsimpkin@msn.com Church Website:

allsaintsoffordcluny.wordpress.com

Facebook Page: All Saints Offord 32

Thursday Club Hello Everyone, The members have been enjoying meeting in the Village Hall since September. With current infection rates being high in our area we decided to defer opening until February. Our Christmas lunch at the beginning of December was a joyous occasion, just being together again and enjoying delicious food. Thursday Club also planted a few trees Rowan, Crab Apple and Hazel on the Millennium Green. This was part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project for her Platinum Jubilee. We were most grateful for John Gatward’s organisation that all the trees were carefully numbered and the holes already dug. Especially as it was a bitterly cold and wet morning! We look forward to returning to the village hall for our weekly meetings. Please stay safe. Doreen Rowbury 811025 Sheila Reece812238

Time to get walking again! At this time of year we start to think about the mud drying up and getting out to walk in the beautiful English Countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks? Walking in Cambridgeshire http://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/cambridge has hundreds of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place. John Harris (the custodian of the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Cambridgeshire (part of the Walking in England website – one for each county in England) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’. With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy. So home or away, check out the websites and get walking! John Harris www.walkinginengland.co.uk john@walkinginengland.co.uk

h c r u h C s r te e P t S f o The Friends We were delighted to welcome a supportive congregation to the Carols by Candlelight Service held on the first Sunday in December and despite the cold weather the church felt warm with the numbers attending. We were grateful for the volunteer choir who braved the cold for both a rehearsal and the service, accompanying us as we all sang the traditional popular carols in the church for the first time in two years. The necessary Covid precautions didn’t deter us. As ever, the building looked beautifully atmospheric with decorative greenery and over 100 tea lights. Now that we are well into 2022 we are hopeful that all our events planned below will be able to take place and with full support from the Offords and those who live further afield. Friday 3 June Saturday 4 June 2pm to 5pm on both days

Thursday 9 June Sunday 26 June

Sunday 4 September

Sunday 23 October Sunday 4 December

‘A Look at the Fifties’ Exhibition to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee St Peter’s Church is a wonderful venue for exhibitions and over the years we have organised many successful ones which have been well supported. We are hopeful that once again Offord residents will be encouraged to visit the church for this special and notable event. Details can be found in the separate advert in this edition of Out & About. Friends of St Peter’s AGM. Festal Evensong sung by Tapestry. To belatedly commemorate the 100th anniversary (2020) of the installation of the stained-glass War Memorial window. Guitar Concert by Claude Bourbon. Claude is a welcome return to St Peter’s Church. Please look at his website and you will see that a photograph of one of his previous concerts in St Peter’s is featured on the home page. Autumn Craft Fair. Carols by Candlelight Service. 39

Visiting the church Although we repeat the following wording in every edition of Out & About, we highlight that for security reasons the church is kept locked. However, a key to St Peter’s can be obtained from Deborah Gillbanks of The Limes, who is the CCT’s official keyholder, and therefore the interior of the church can always be accessed. Please remember to sign the visitor book whenever you visit as visitor numbers are important. As a reminder, the driveway to the church is privately owned, with limited vehicular access. Visitors to the church should leave their cars at the road end of the drive. There is space for two Blue Badge Holders close to the church gates. Jenny Griffiths Friends of St Peter’s Church 01480 811126

h c r u h C d e m r o f e R St Neots United The Church is now open again for worship, at the usual time of 11am. Some restrictions will remain in place for now. Face coverings will be optional but we understand some will prefer to continue wearing them for now. Hand sanitising will be encouraged and there will be good ventilation. We are now able to stream our services to YouTube every Sunday. Please contact us via our website for ID and Password. All are welcome. Come and visit the United Reformed Church which is on the High Street in St Neots. There is access without steps at the rear of the building near to Argos. Parking is available in Tebbutts Road car park, behind the Church. For all Church matters please contact the Church Secretary, Jenny Gibbs, via our website for further information. www.stneotsurc.co.uk

h c r u h C t s i d o th e Buckden M Minister: Stewards:

Rev. Sue Baker-Maher. Tel 473444. Angie Barnes (810102) Bob Baxter (810092) Carol Swepstone (810053)

t r o p e R l i c n u o C Parish Happy New Year to all! As we enter 2022 and especially when the sun is shining (as it is as I’m writing this) there’s an air of optimism about the resumption of some sort of normality for us all and many things to look forward to. This time last year Council was dealing with the aftermath of the awful flooding experienced by many residents in Offord Cluny. Some only returned to their homes just before Christmas. During the year, Councillors worked with other agencies to try to ensure this is never repeated. Cambridgeshire County Council, the local Flood Authority, was greatly involved at every step and they published their flooding report on The Offords at the end of the year. You can read this on the County Council website using the following link: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/Offords-Winter2020-21-Flood-Investigation-inc.-Clarification.pdf Alternatively, I am happy to provide hard copies on request. In May, the current Council term comes to an end. All Councillors step down and candidates can put themselves forward to become Members. If more nominations are received than available places, then an election will be held. If you require any information on becoming a Councillor, please get in touch. Council is developing an Environmental Policy for The Offords with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of the parish. This is not an easy task and not something Council has done before so if anyone has any suggestions/expertise please get in touch. Part of this policy is to possibly reduce the speed limit to 20mph throughout the parish. Again, if you have any comments on this please let me know. 42

The re-wilding of parts of the Millennium Green has commenced. The Jubilee Wildlife Trust pack of native trees arrived, and all have been planted. In addition, Council has joined in a major bee conservation initiative called B-lines and has ordered 40 silver birch trees for the green. The new website is coming along but lacking in information on some of its pages, in particular the community ones. If anyone has any photographs they’d like to share or information on events, etc, please let me know. Work has started on the improvements to the younger children’s play area on the Millennium Green. The new fencing and gates are in place and the new equipment and safety surface should be installed in the next couple of months. The delay is due to a shortage of steel. The Table Tennis Table continues to be well used but it’s a great shame that the box provided for the bats and balls was vandalised and had to be removed and many of the balls damaged. The last of the previously purchased equipment has now been put out but nothing will be replaced if it is wilfully damaged. Litter has been an issue on the recreation ground. Two new bins are now in place. Please put any waste in the correct bin. This year’s budget and precept request have been agreed. The parish precept for Offords’ residents will not be increased. Update on Ultrafast Broadband Unfortunately, it appears that we’re not eligible for an early progress into any of the schemes and must now wait for the general rollout over the next few years. Councillors worked hard on this project and are very disappointed with Openreach’s stance on this. As always, if there’s anything I can help with please get in touch. Jackie Stanbridge

Parish Councillors 2018 – 2022 Ian Weitzel(Chairman) Ronaldsway, Littleworth End Offord Darcy 01480 811697 Ian.weitzel@btconnect.com

Stephen Eayrs Top Farm Offord Cluny 01480 811816 stepheneayrs@btinternet.com

John Gatward (Vice Chairman) 5 Elm Drive Offord Cluny 01480 811148 rgatward@btinternet.com

Simon Young (Chair of Planning) 6 Pippin Close Offord Darcy 01480 812877 simonjyoung@outlook.com

Tina Dawson (Chair of Finance) 15 Park Way Offord Cluny 01480 539098 Tinac_13@hotmail.com

Caroline Savage The Grove, 71 High Street Offord Darcy 07966 144956 caolsysa24@icloud.com

Liam Beckett 5 Dunstall Close Offord Cluny 07395 249 004 LiamBecket.OPC@gmail.com

David Gillbanks The Limes, High Street Offord Darcy 01480 812183 gillbanks@gillbanks.com

Glenn Espie 237 High Street Offord Cluny 07810882897 Glenn@j316.co.uk

Hilary Moorbey 125 High Street Offord Cluny 07762133858 hilary.moorbey@btinternet.com

Jackie Stanbridge Clerk to the Council Clerk@offords-pc.gov.uk 07597 988763

Finding the best trainer for you and your dog It’s no secret that we are a nation of dog lovers and when we are fortunate to have a dog in our lives, want the very best for them, in all aspects, from nutrition to training and behavioural guidance. Part of bringing up a dog is to ensure that they understand what their humans are requesting of them, the rules of the home and allowing them to feel safe, confident and secure within their environment. This is why in many cases where a dog might not be understanding so well, what their guardian requires of them and when a guardian may not be understanding their dog so well, a certified, accredited trainer can be a God Send. The truth is, that a good dog trainer isn’t really there to train your dog, but to coach you to be the guide, parent and mentor that your dog needs, in order to navigate this human-led world and to live safely, happily and without fear or anxiety. The old techniques surrounding dog training (pack leadership / alpha leader, etc) have been shown not to be as effective as the most recent, scientifically-proven, reward-based techniques and as the dog training world is unregulated, it can be really confusing to know who to enlist to help you educate and teach your dog the skills they need for their journey through life. Many TV shows can be harmful, especially when they depict a trainer coming in to a home and hey presto, in a couple of tugs on a lead, the dog is ‘fixed’. This is very rarely the case with training a dog ethically and effectively. It’s no wonder that so many dogs are being sent to rescues. Expectations are too high to get things sorted within a week and people feel deflated if they aren’t getting results fast. Instead, we need to understand that the relationship between a dog, their guardian and a good trainer can last many months to years. In fact I know many trainers who have been on hand throughout a dog’s life, to help when there are changes in behaviour and throughout the ups and downs that life can bring. If you are thinking of enlisting the help of a dog trainer, here are some useful tips of what to look out for….. •

Make sure that you are recruiting a dog trainer who uses kind, rewardbased training methods and ask them about their ethos and whether they use positive reinforcement methods. If they use tools such as an electrical shock collar, prong collar or believe you should be ‘leader of the pack’ by being an ‘alpha’, these are very old fashioned methods, which could lead to fear, distrust and anxiety in your dog. Allowing your dog to make the choices to succeed is what it’s all about. 45

•

Ask your trainer who they studied with and the courses they are currently taking – this should give you an idea of their ethos and all good trainers are constantly updating their knowledge. If they study with schools that use positive, kindness-based, scientifically-proven modern methods, you’re on the right track.

•

Check their web content and social media posts. You will most likely get a good idea of the type of trainer they are, just by looking at their Instagram, website and Facebook.

•

Get recommendations! – if a friend had a really great experience with a dog trainer, ask them for their details, but then do your own due-diligence and speak with them personally in an initial call. You need to know that you will feel comfortable inviting this person in to your home and coaching you to train your dog.

•

Consider how much a dog trainer has had to spend on their training, when looking at the price. Remember, a good trainer has spent countless hours and thousands of pounds to train in their craft with accredited organisations, so go for quality. If you are on a budget, be realistic about what you will get for that budget but also, discuss this with the trainer. It may be that they can offer a remote learning session for a reduced rate. Every trainer works differently and some are happy to negotiate (within reason).

•

Before you have a chat with a trainer, jot down all the behavioural concerns you have about your dog and what you would like to gain from a training session. Maybe your dog just needs help with loose lead walking, or maybe there is a whole list of concerns you would like to address. This will help the trainer decide on the best route to take for your needs. They should also ask you lots of questions, or ask you to complete a questionnaire, so that they can build a picture of where to start and how many sessions you might need. Most good trainers will ask you to have your dog vet checked before you embark on a training plan, if there are sudden changes in your dog’s behaviour, such as barking or fear aggression. 46

A good dog trainer will be someone who has empathy and understanding, but they may also be someone who isn’t shy of telling you when things aren’t as they should be. It’s important to know that your trainer might not always tell you what you want to hear, but should always have the wellbeing of you and your dog at the forefront of their methods and teachings. Kindness is King when it comes to getting the best out of your dog, and that’s scientifically proven!

t a e B e h t o t Feet

The Offords Line Dance Group

The classes started back in January and as ever it takes a little while for the brains and feet to get back into gear after a few weeks’ break. Izzy is always patient with us and allows an easy week for the first session but after that we start learning new dances. Fortunately, when learning new dances we listen to the music first so we get an idea of the rhythm and speed so that we can anticipate how the steps might fit in. After that, Izzy breaks down the dance into sections so that we aren’t swamped with the whole dance all at once and then we keep repeating each section so that eventually we are able to join the sections together and get through the whole dance. We always feel very pleased with ourselves once we have managed to achieve a new dance all the way through. Izzy also demonstrates on the stage so that we always have a focal point to follow. It may take several sessions until a new dance is totally in our heads but we persevere and after several weeks it comes as second nature, and time to learn another new one! We are a very welcoming and friendly group so maybe there are some people who have always wanted to try line dancing but feel daunted by coming into an established class. Don’t worry, you will probably know many of us anyway. And it’s not just for ladies – we have two regular male line dancers. Classes are held in Offord Village Hall every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm, with a refreshment break. Please contact Izzy if you would like more information.

Jenny Griffiths On behalf of Izzy Brogan Tel: 07709 344144

MASKING UP

I’ve tried the simple blue ones; I’ve tried them in the black, I’ve tried the sort with ties attached you fix around the back. I’ve tried the sort you make yourself, I’ve tried the ones you buy, But none of them can help, it seems, to clear my misty eye. I’ve tried the snoods and headscarves, I’ve tried the fancy visor, Too much room around the sides says my Covid adviser! I’ve tried the ones with filters and ones with charcoal pad, The ones with little breathing holes – but all of them are bad! With all the fine advances our scientists have made, No-one’s solved the mask design to come to our aid. I’ve used de-mister wipes and sprays to stop my glasses misting, But all of the above have failed – it’s hardly worth the listing! Oh, please can someone help me – it’s not a lot I ask, Design and make a breathable, but fully see-through mask!

Marion Warden

Fitness Classes at

Offord Village Hall Every Monday Fit4Life exercise class for active seniors at 10am Pilates at 7.30pm For more information contact me, Janine RSA/YMCA qualified Fitness Instructor 01480 810370 / 07790 655637 janineskyrme@btinternet.com 52

Tel: 01480 273927

t s Ju

n u f

Help George through the maze to deliver his Valentine,s Day flowers to Mildred!

George

Mildred

Village Groups & Organisations Applepips Out of School Club Archery Bowls Club Brownies Church Events

Carey Kelly Marc Bax Carolyn Bargh Ann Weitzel John Storey Bob Bargh

Community Police

c/o St Neots Police Stn Andy Ottley

Cubs/Beavers District Councillor District Councillor District Councillor Friends of St Peter’s Guides Neighbourhood Watch Offord Cluny & Offord Darcy Parish Council Parish Clerk Offord Gardeners’ Assn Offord Sch, Headteacher Chair of Governors Offord PTA Offord Day Nursery Offord Tots PCSO Rainbows Senior Citizens The Offord PlayerS Thursday Club Village Hall hire Village Hall 300+ Club Women’s Institute

01480 811977 381172 810237 811697 810763 810237

456111 0345 456 4564 07704 857636 info@paxtonscouts.org.uk Sarah Conboy 414900 Mike Grice 383213 Sarah Wilson 412747 Liz Howes 812899 Ann Weitzel 811697 juliehillsjohnson@gmail.com 01480 812549 Peter Riley 811839 Ian Weitzel Jackie Stanbridge Janet Bedingfield Kate Ruddock Liz Simpkin Claire Faux Carey Kelly Nikki Mitchell Richard Braddick Ann Weitzel Marlene Alderman John Kirby Doreen Rowbury Helen Bosworth Helen Bosworth Carol Temple

811697 07597 988763 810091 810308 07976 792463 810308 01480 811977 07872 986326 07921 094801 811697 810609 810049 811025 811892 811892 812879

Whilst every effort is made to ensure information in this publication is accurate, we cannot be held responsible for any errors. The views expressed in this publication may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor. 56

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A1 CHIMNEY SWEEP & MAINTENANCE 07508 051920 ABSOLUTE PLUMBING 01480 812549 APPLEPIPS OUT OF SCHOOL CLUB 01480 811977 BUCKDEN DAY NURSERY 01480 810816 BUDGENS 01480 819602 CM DECORATING 01480 810594 DK TILL COAL MERCHANTS 01223 232947 FLAIR UNISEX SALON 01480 810417 GRAVELEY GARAGE & MOTORCYCLES 01480 830462 & 831058 GREENSLEEVES 01767 651639 HILTON DAY NURSERY 01480 830351 HUNT & COOMBS SOLICITORS 01733 882870 HOME-N-DRY 01487 840310 & 07766 576381 JANINE’S PILATES 01480 810370 JEZ ASHCROFT LTD 07708 031493 & 01480 812461 JODI FINCH & SON ELECTRICAL 07771 613848 & 01480 731599 JOHN SINCLAIR ELECTRICIAN 01480 273927 & 07815 903467 JUNE LEE PODIATRIST 01480 214392 & 07947 371107 K-FIT PILATES 07967 100603 KINGFISHER FUNERAL DIRECTORS 01480 471001 MORE SPACE 01480 830130 OFFORD DAY NURSERY 01480 811977 OFFORD TOTS nikkirenning@hotmail.com OFFORD VILLAGE HALL 01480 811892 PAXTON HILL GARAGE 01480 217806 PLATINUM TOURS 01480 810560 THE EATONS HOME & GARDENS 01480 406130 THE HORSESHOE INN, OFFORD DARCY 01480 810293 W&H PEACOCK AUCTIONEERS 01480 474550 WALDEN-HARRIS K9 (CANINE COACH) 07730 393757