The opinions expressed in the letters and articles in this magazine are those of the writers, who are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within them.
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Copy should be submitted by email where possible, to meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. Alternatively, it may be delivered to the Editor, Kathryn Betts at 36 North End, Meldreth, SG8 6NT.
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Editorial
Welcome to the May issue of Meldreth Matters.
We have a varied issue for you this month, with plenty of news of village events and activities.
We are trialling a new format for the centre pages. Instead of the calendar format, we have grouped activities into categories. We hope that this will make it easier for you to find an activity or class and it should also make it easier for the editorial team to keep the information accurate and up to date!
Unfortunately, we have lost more advertisers and advertising revenue is no longer meeting our printing costs. If you know of a business that would benefit from advertising in the magazine or a company that might sponsor Meldreth Matters, please email us on meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. We have just two spaces remaining on our special offer (see below). Should you wish to make a donation towards the magazine’s production costs, our bank details are on page 44.
Kathryn
Meldreth Matters Advertising Offer
STOP PRESS: Just TWO 1/4 page spaces le on this offer!
Reach 900 houses and businesses in Meldreth every month by advertising in Meldreth Matters. Pay £118 for a quarter page advertisement for one year and receive an additional three months free of charge. This offer is open to companies or individuals who do not currently advertise with us. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com.
The Meldreth Matters Team
Meldreth Food Bank
Once again a huge thank you to all who contribute cash or donations regularly. In March, donations of Easter eggs were very welcome and every family received enough eggs for their children. These little treats make a big difference to the families who use the Food Bank. We expect to be busier than ever as prices rise because of the war in the Middle East so please continue to give! Just one item donated each week helps us to bring a little extra cheer to families who have little. Donation points are in One Stop and at 17 High Street.
Hilary Crawforth
Jill Price (22nd October 1938 to 23rd February 2026)
Jill grew up in Ruislip in west Middlesex with her mother Eileen, her father Radley Caswell and her younger sister Jackie. Her mother was a kind and gentle person and her father was a very active man.
We met aged twelve at Bishopshalt Grammar School in Hillingdon in1950 and we got to know each other through the first year Christmas party and remained friends until I went into the sixth form and Jill left. We lost contact for four years and in later years we were able to remember our days at Bishopshalt.
In 1959 I was on my bike waiting at traffic lights in Uxbridge when a 1931 J2 MG drew up alongside. I looked at the car first, then realised it was Jill driving it. Fortunately, Jill recognised me and stopped down the road and after a brief chat invited me to Beaconsfield where her parents then lived. I went there many times after that with a friend, who was later our best man, and Jill’s parents did not know which one she was interested in for quite a while! Our friendship blossomed and we got engaged in 1960. After we were married in Beaconsfield two years later, we lived on the top floor of the dental practice where Jill was a dental nurse. In 1963 Jonathan, our first son, was born and we moved to Church Crookham near Farnborough where I had been posted. Howard and Tim, our twin sons were born 21 months later, a very busy time!
From there we moved to Bottisham for my work. We only had one car and Jill had a friend who took her King Charles Spaniel, six boys, our Irish Setter and Jill to Newmarket Heath in her Renault 4 without seat belts!!
By the time of our penultimate move I was working in Welwyn Garden City. Jill was on her way to view a house in Melbourn when she saw a sign to Meldreth and decided to have a look. She saw a for sale sign on the gate of 64 High Street, a semi derelict house in need of restoration next to the Primary School. With the help of a cautious building society, we bought it and moved in 1971. It was like an unfinished building site and Jill remarked the furniture van could have dumped our belongings outside. Initially we all slept in the “lounge” with Katie, our red Setter. This was a major project with Jill, who had her father’s energy, and I working on it, restoring it and extending it over the next five years.
Once it was finished, Jill took a caring role at Roger Ascham School for handicapped children in Cambridge. Later, she worked at Meldreth Manor
School, where she drove the school minibus. Apart from these roles, Jill worked for the CAB in Royston and finally as a receptionist at a GP surgery, both of which needed Jill’s patient and tactful ability.
Approaching my retirement, we wanted to do a complete self-build and an opportunity came up in 2004 at 110 High Street, owned by the late Dennis Marshall. We bought it with its wooden bungalow, which was demolished in stages and a new barn-like house for ‘old people’ was built over a period four years.
I mustn’t forget Jill’s love of dogs. She had Scotty at home and after we were married she had two Irish Setters, three Gordon Setters, and finally three Cocker Spaniels. She would walk them in Topcliffe meadow as well as on Therfield Heath.
Jill played a big role in the church, being a founder member of the Christmas Tree Festival and was a Churchwarden for six years, often encouraging friends to get involved. She was called on to organise a number of supper events.
We have three sons, seven grandsons, one granddaughter and last year a great grandson was born. Jill adored them and it was mutual. For her last five years or so her failing eyesight limited her in many ways; she could not drive, go shopping or read. RNIB talking books were a boon and I found her many relating to gardening. Jill could watch TV close to, for Gardeners World, Antiques Roadshow, Fake or Fortune and Digging for Britain and we had set of ballet DVDs which she enjoyed watching.
After a long spell in Addenbrookes in 2024, Jill had a new greenhouse installed from which she derived much enjoyment. Even with her bad eyesight she created many colourful displays in pots and window boxes.
Jill will be sorely missed by us all for her lovely smile, twinkle in her eye and warm heart.
There will be a celebration of Jill’s life at Holy Trinity Church on 6th June at 11.30am. Refreshments will be served afterwards at 110 High Street. All are welcome.
Thank you all for your support of Jill.
Caroline Fallon
John Price
David and I would like to thank everybody who sent cards and messages after Caroline died and those who came to the funeral.
Joan Fallon
Reverend John Newton (1725-1807)
Last year I met the archivist, Marylynn Rousse, researcher into this fascinating 18th/19th century priest, when she came to take some photographs of Meldreth and Melbourn churches. John Newton (pictured) was a well-known evangelical Anglican cleric and slavery abolitionist and a friend of William Wilberforce. He was a formidable preacher, and letter and diary writer. He was also the writer of three wellknown hymns, Amazing grace, Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken and How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds. He preached in both Meldreth and Melbourn churches on a number of occasions.
John Newton was born in London and went to sea with his sailor father at the age of eleven. Nearing the end of the triangular slave trade route in March 1748, Newton's ship was caught in a severe storm in the North Atlantic. Newton later marked this as his moment of religious awakening. Between 1750 and 1754 Newton made three further voyages as a master of slave trading ships.
In 1754, he suffered a convulsive fit and was forced to give up his seafaring life, although at this stage he had not repudiated his support for the slave trade. Newton then got a job in Liverpool's customs service and became involved in the evangelical Christian movement and was ordained in 1764.
Throughout his clerical life he kept a diary of his sermons many of which have been published as “365 Days With Newton”. He took a deeply biblical approach. Each page is ‘self contained’ but follows through the subjects from each sermon to the next, following them with a meditation.
On 21st June 1791 John Newton left London with his adopted niece Betsy and her maid, ending the day with this note in his diary: “arrived at Miss Palmer’s at Meldreth before 2 in the afternoon in safety”. Their journey cost £2 15s 7d. Molly Palmer ran her late father’s butchery from Black’s (now Temple House), on Meldreth High Street. (There is more information about Temple House at www.meldrethhistory.org.uk.)
“Here I am most at home of all”, Newton confided to a London friend. “Here, besides a hospitable and kind entertainment, I have that perfect retirement which I am naturally fond of.” He loved “the fields the lanes, the trees, the bushes, the birds and the lambs”, which all caused him to exclaim, “Oh, how calm, how beautiful is everything around me!”
Temple House, Meldreth High Street
In 1794 Newton was back in Meldreth for a few days at Miss Palmer’s. His prayer that night was “Oh be my light and life, my comfort and strength while abroad. Fit me for every service before me, and let me not appear as a cloud without water among the people!”
One of Newton’s young protégés, Claudius Buchanan, travelled out especially from Cambridge to spend time with him. Although Newton was glad to see him, the eager student “came about 10 and stayed all day, so that I could not quite finish a letter to Mr Wilberforce”. However, Newton managed to finish his letter the following day, describing his surroundings to the MP: “How different is this retired spot from my usual residence! Yet here the sun shines equally bright, and the verdure is as fresh and beautiful, as in the garden of a King. I think in some respects the Cottagers have the advantage. Here, wherever I turn my eyes I see the works of God, unstained by the wickedness, unencumbered by the mimicry of man.” He found among the simple labourers “some who are truly wise, wise unto salvation. They know themselves, they know the Lord. They know the Summum Bonum, the true happiness of man; wherein it consists, and how it is to be obtained. They have learnt to taste the goodness of the Lord in their brown bread, to be content and satisfied with a low estate – to cast all their cares upon God, and to be assured that He careth for them.”
Their minds and judgments, he reckoned, were guided by the Word and Spirt of God. “The doctrine of the Cross, enables them to make a right estimate of life and all its concerns, fills them with love, and furnishes them with power to do or to bear, whatever belongs to their appointed lot.”
On Thursday evening 19th June 1794, Newton preached at Holy Trinity Meldreth from Ephesians 6:4, urging fathers to bring up their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”. He then spent a few days in Cambridge visiting friends and preaching for Charles Simeon, who by then had installed a new barrel and finger organ similar to the one now in Meldreth. He was soon back “at Miss Palmer’s to dinner”. Many followed him out from Cambridge. He “preached in the evening at Melbourn from 1 Thessalonians 4 to a large congregation, collected from the country many miles round – and though I seemed to myself almost exhausted before I began, Thou didst strengthen me, and enable me to preach with freedom and to speak sufficiently loud. I hope it was a good opportunity; may thy blessing make it so!”
Newton was a deeply holy man, always questioning his beliefs. On 17th November 1755 he wrote, “O for a new heart, a new sight, that my mind might be active. Leave me not to my own foolishness but lead me, guide me and restore me to the joy of thy countenance for thy name’s sake. Amen”.
Julie Draper
You can read about Newton’s travels and local friends in his newly published little booklet, John Newton’s Cambridgeshire diaries: 1791 & 1794, available from www.johnnewton.org/shop for £2.50 plus P&P.
Summer Fête, Saturday 27th June 2026
In June we shall be collecting bottles (any kind - from wine to shampoo, whisky to ketchup) for our ever-popular bottle stall at the fête. Please save a bottle for us. Details of collection points will follow in the June issue of Meldreth Matters.
We hope you will come along to the fête and enjoy some of the games, refreshments and stalls. There will be something for all ages.
If you would like to join the team organising the event, you would be very welcome. Contact Hilary Crawforth on 07740 465868.
Meldreth Fete Team
Meldreth Local History Group www.meldrethhistory.org.uk
We held our first evening meeting on Tuesday 17th March and our AGM on Monday 13th April.
We would love to welcome new members who are interested in helping us research and record the history of our village. Our next meetings will be on Tuesday 19th May from 7.00-9.00pm and Monday 1st June from 10.00am to midday. All meetings take place in the community room in Elin Way. Please see our website for more dates or email us at info@meldrethhistory.org.uk for more information.
Kathryn Betts MLHG Webmaster
Meldreth Parish Charities (Charity No 233979) comprising bequests from Robert Halfhead (1658) ~ Lettice Martin (1562) ~ James Addlestone (1723)
The charity was set up ‘to provide financial assistance to residents of Meldreth who do not have the resources to provide themselves with the normal things of life which most people take for granted.’ The bequests listed above still generate a small amount of interest each year and if you wish to apply for assistance, please ask for a form to complete and then return it to hilaryjcrawforth@btopenworld.com (01763 262848)
The trustees will consider all applications carefully. We are here to help!
Hilary Crawforth, Clerk to the Trustees
Letters to the Editor
Thank You
As I prepare to leave the benefice and take up my new role in Peterborough working for Bishop Debbie, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the many letters, emails and conversations I have received since announcing my departure back in January, but especially over the last few weeks. Your kindness has been overwhelming. It has been truly humbling to hear how my ministry among you has touched your lives and the lives of your families. Serving as your priest has been one of the most rewarding and privileged periods of my life. Thank you!
I am also deeply grateful for the wonderful and very generous gifts given to me at my final services. The Kindle will be in daily use in my new role and the vouchers will certainly be put to good use once we are settled into our new home. Even “Sammy the Seagull” will have a place of pride somewhere — how could he not?
There are so many people I would like to thank for their support throughout my time here, but I must offer particular thanks to Kimmi, Toni and Peter for their hard work and encouragement and for bringing together the farewell gatherings after my last services in each church.
I was especially moved by the beautiful piece of music created and dedicated to me by Toni and Claire Cann, set to my favourite prayer. So let me end by leaving you with the words of the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester. With my thanks, my prayers, and my very best wishes,
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits you have given me,
For all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, May I know You more clearly, Love You more dearly,
And follow You more nearly, day by day. Amen.
Andrew
Thank You
We parked outside One Stop on 17th April and as David got to the pavement, he fell. In a panic I rushed into the shop where I met Linda Winter. She and a muscular young man she knew and the shop manager came out, picked David up and helped him back into the car. I would like to thank everyone so much for their help.
Sally Wright
Holy Trinity Church
www.melbournmeldrethcofe.com
Reverend Andrew Birks has now taken up his new role as Chaplain to the Bishop of Peterborough. We were sad to see him leave after the Easter services but we wish him every success in the future. We are grateful for all his leadership and encouragement in the time that he has been with us.
We were delighted to host a Good Friday service at Holy Trinity Church, Meldreth when we did a simple re-enactment of the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Following this we had refreshments and various crafts and ended with an Easter egg hunt. Much fun was had by all and our thanks go to all who helped and to those who came on the day.
31st May is Trinity Sunday and this is the patronal festival of Meldreth Church as it is Holy Trinity Church so the service will be at Meldreth.
In due course, once the necessary formalities have been completed, we will be advertising for another vicar for our parishes of Meldreth and Melbourn. However, in the meantime our Sunday services will be led by visiting priests and will continue as advertised. The other activities of both Holy Trinity Church and All Saints’ Church will carry on.
The contact details for Holy Trinity Church are below. Churchwardens:
Toni Leigh - toni_cw@icloud.com, or 07584 195956 (before 4.00pm weekdays). Peter Clayton - aclaytonuk@yahoo.co.uk Websites: www.melbournmeldrethcofe.com or www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13862 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ASMHTM
Patricia Smith Reader/Licensed Lay Minister
paulswi
Friends of Holy Trinity
The “This is My Theatre” company gave an inspired performance of Jane Eyre to an enthusiastic and near capacity audience on Friday 10th April.
The same company will be returning to Holy Trinity later this year with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at 7.00pm on Saturday 5th September. Join Alice as she tumbles down the rabbit hole and encounters a whirlwind of curious characters - the grinning Cheshire Cat, the frantic White Rabbit, the eccentric Mad Hatter and the fearsome Queen of Hearts. This timeless tale of imagination, riddles and wonder comes to life on stage in a dazzling production full of humour, music and a touch of madness. Perfect for dreamers of all ages, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland invites you to lose yourself in the magic of one of literature’s most beloved journeys!
Tickets are now on sale at https://www.thisismytheatre.com/alice-in-wonderland. There will be a licensed bar available before the performance starts and during the interval. We ask you to order your interval drinks beforehand if possible, to avoid a scrum at half time!
You might also like to see the This is My Theatre productions at All Saints Melbourn of The Great Gatsby on 14th July and A Christmas Carol on 16th December. Tickets are available at www.thisismytheatre.com.
The Annual General Meeting of the Friends will be held at 7.00pm on Thursday 11th June in the church meeting room. All members of the Friends are invited to attend the meeting.
The 21st Anniversary Classic Car Show will be on Sunday 13th September to coincide with the Duxford Air Show, in the hope of getting a flypast by some historic aircraft.
Thank you all for your continued support for the Friends through attending our events and through your regular donations and subscriptions. We are always keen to receive ideas for further events so please get in touch if you have any ideas or would like to get involved in running some of them. More hands are always welcome!
Ian Mitchell, Vice Chair FOHT ianmmeldreth@gmail.com 07726 936635
Festival du Piano - 19th June
Following the great success of the festival in 2024 and 2025, Festival du Piano returns on Friday 19th June at 7.00pm at Holy Trinity Meldreth. You are promised a dynamic display of pianism. The programme will feature music by Chopin, Copland, Grieg, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff including Grieg’s “Puck”, Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in E flat, and Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude, the beautiful Nocturne in D flat major and the Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise. The pianists range from age 9 to 18 and all have won awards for their pianism.
The final item in the concert, Rapsodie Espagnole, will be played by the Cann Twins (aka Toni and her sister Claire). Wine and soft drinks are kindly being served by the Friends of Holy Trinity. All proceeds will go to Holy Trinity Meldreth.
Tickets for this concert are £15 adults, £8 students available from www.canntwins.com (click on the “performance” tab which will take you to tickettailor.) Tickets also available from Toni on 07584 195956.
The second concert of Festival du Piano on 25th September will be by the Cann Twins. Please save the date.
Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group
We are a small friendly group who meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month except December, at All Saints Community Hall, Melbourn or in the meeting room of Holy Trinity Meldreth. Meetings commence at 7.45pm and last about one and a half hours. We either have a speaker or some in house entertainment. A charge of £2 is made to cover expenses and we also have the opportunity to donate to the charity pot. This year we voted to support Maggies. We then have the chance to chat while enjoying some refreshments.
At our March meeting we had a representative from the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust which is the charity we supported in 2025. At our meeting in Meldreth on 28th April, Will Parsons will be giving us a talk on his work as a cruise ship host and on 26th May, we will have our Summer Supper in All Saints Community Hall, Melbourn.
If you require any information about the group, dates or times or a lift, do telephone one of the committee members. They are Diane Blundell (01763) 221415, Sue Toule (01763) 260955, Angela Leach (01763) 262793, Janet Backer (01763) 211492, Lyn Damant 07568 643598, and Pat Ames (01763) 261130.
We hope to see you.
Angela Leach
Toni Cann
Meldreth Bowls Club
www.meldrethbowlsclub.co.uk
Meldreth Bowls Club has been on its present site, opposite Holy Trinity Church, since 1932 and 94 years later the season is about to start again. The Club plays in three regional leagues and competes in about 50 matches during the season - but not all our members are competitive and many wish to just play for fun.
Each week we have informal ‘roll up’ sessions where members simply turn up, play for fun, practice, relax and enjoy good company - and a cup of coffee!
So if you play already and wish to join the Club or have never played before and fancy giving it a try then call in at one of our roll ups - every Tuesday from 10.00am to 12 noon or Saturday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. All ages are welcome and you don’t need to pay to see how you like it. There’s no need to bring anything with you because we can lend you what you need, but please wear flat soled shoes or trainers.
If you want to know more about the Club, then please look at our website at www.meldrethbowlsclub.co.uk or email us at secretary@meldrethbowlsclub.co.uk.
Chris Adams
A10 Corridor Cycling
14th June Annual A10 Awareness Ride - Save the Date!
We’re delighted to announce that the Annual A10 Awareness Ride will take place on Sunday 14th June , departing from Trumpington Park and Ride at 10.00am.
This is a family-friendly ride, encompassing all age ranges from toddlers to greatgrandparents. We’ll be following the usual route – over Trumpington Meadows, down the A10 path, over the A10 at Shepreth and onto the Melbourn Greenway path into Phillimore Garden Centre Melbourn for refreshments on the front lawn. The ride will be supported by marshals at all crossing points. Please note that you’ll need to get to the ride start and then home from the finish independently without the support of marshals. A walking contingent will set off from the Melbourn Hub at 9.30am.
The ride is held in partnership with CTC Cambridge - the local member group of Cycling UK – who have very kindly organised insurance cover for us, and also with the Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership, which encourages active and sustainable transport for local journeys.
This year’s ride will highlight the importance of our path network for all active travel users, including less confident walkers and wheelers – whether bikes, mobility scooters, or wheelchairs. We will also have a tandem team from the
RNIB to highlight the multiple ways of supporting others to be on a bike and enjoy a ride.
If you’d like to volunteer as a marshal, or if you can bring a cake or biscuits, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle!
Hope to see you there.
Susan van de Ven, Adam Bostanci and the team A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign
Meldreth Tennis Club
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/meldrethtennisclub
Meldreth Tennis Club welcomes new members. If you used to play tennis and are considering taking it up again or are a keen tennis player who has recently moved to the area, please consider joining our friendly and welcoming club.
The Club is holding an Open Day on Sunday 17th May from 10.00am to noon. Come along and meet some of the members, try some tennis related activities, hit some tennis balls and learn about the regular social tennis sessions we hold and the coaching that is available. If you want to hit some balls please wear suitable sports shoes. Racquets will be available.
We have two full-size hard courts in great condition located next to Meldreth Village Hall. Membership allows online private booking of courts as well as participation in club social sessions with tennis balls provided. We also offer social tournaments and competitive team play against other local clubs if you are so inclined and coaching can be arranged with our fully qualified coach. Members can also join LTA Advantage for free and enter the LTA Advantage ballot for Wimbledon tickets - this greatly increases your chances of securing Wimbledon tickets compared with just entering the public ballot.
The new membership year commenced on 1st April 2026 and remains a bargain at £50 for adults. Junior and Family memberships are also available. If you would like to "try before you buy" you can attend up to three club social sessions before deciding whether or not to join. We have adult social sessions on Mondays from 10.00am to noon, Tuesdays from 6.00pm to 8.00pm (when daylight allows), Wednesdays from 9.30am to noon, Thursdays from 10.00am to noon and Saturdays from 10.00am to noon. If you come to one of these you will be made very welcome. For more detailed information and to join our club, please visit our website.
Ralph Betts Meldreth Tennis Club
Meldreth Village Hall
www.meldrethvillagehall.co.uk
Our Village Hall, the Mighty 100 Club & the RC Truckers Funday Takeover
Anyone who has spent even a short while in Meldreth knows that our Village Hall is much more than bricks, mortar and a surprisingly powerful boiler. It is the social heartbeat of the community: home to parties, Pilates, toddler groups, craft fairs, quiz nights, wedding receptions and those legendary committee meetings where someone always brings biscuits “for morale”. The Hall is where friendships form, ideas begin, tea flows and memories are made.
Inside you’ll find everything you could possibly need for an event: a spacious main hall, a cosy meeting room, plenty of tables and chairs, a fully equipped kitchen, accessibility features, heating (which behaves most of the time), good lighting and an outdoor area ideal for fresh-air breaks or summer gatherings. If you’re planning an event - big or small - you can book the hall quickly and easily through our website, www.meldrethvillagehall.co.uk. If you can navigate online shopping, you can book the hall; it’s that simple.
Supporting this much-loved venue is the brilliantly straightforward 100 Club, a fundraising draw with a fun twist. Here’s how to join: Either
1. Visit the Village Hall website, www.meldrethvillagehall.co.uk
2. Click on ‘about’
3. Click on ‘support us’
4. Download or complete the membership form.
5. Return the form to the Chair (email or post)
6. Set up your standing order
7. That’s it!
Or scan this QR code!
Once you’re signed up, you’ll be assigned a number. Each month, a draw takes place and if your number is chosen, you win a cash prize. It’s a delightful little flutter with excellent odds - and best of all, every membership helps cover essential maintenance, improvements, repairs and upgrades for the Hall. Even if your number never comes up, you can take pride in supporting one of Meldreth’s most important community spaces.
But as exciting as monthly draws are, something big (and yet also very small in scale) is rolling into the Hall soon: the South Holland RC Truckers’ Funday. If you’ve never watched remote-control trucks navigating a miniature world with extraordinary precision, prepare to become thoroughly hooked. These aren’t simple toy trucks; they are detailed, surprisingly powerful miniature machines driven by skilled operators who can reverse an articulated lorry with more grace than most of us manage with a supermarket trolley.
The Hall will be transformed into a wonderful model trucking world filled with lorries, diggers, construction vehicles, and a layout that’ll have you peering over the barricade like a giant overlooking a tiny civilisation. Watch, enjoy, and marvel, making it a perfect outing for families, hobbyists, or anyone who appreciates small vehicles doing big things.
Entry is free, with donations warmly welcomed to support the Village Hall’s continued improvements. So whether you want to support the Hall, join the 100 Club, book the perfect venue, or simply enjoy a fantastic day watching miniature trucks in action, Meldreth has something special waiting for you.
Andrew Young Chair@meldrethvillagehall.co.uk
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A Meldreth Garden
Frost risk has faded, the soil is warming and the earth practically hums with energy. Welcome to the most exhilarating and demanding month in the gardening calendar. Borders erupt, lawns thicken and the to-do list grows almost as fast as the weeds.
Hardening Off
A most important task this month is hardening off tender plants. Anything raised under glass, tomatoes, courgettes, dahlias, half-hardy annuals, needs a gradual introduction to outdoor life. Move plants into a cold frame or sheltered spot, leaving them outside for increasing periods over two weeks before planting out. Rush this process and a late cold snap can undo weeks of careful nurturing.
Sowing and Planting
Direct sowing comes into its own now. Courgettes, French beans, beetroot, chard, salad leaves, etc., can all go straight into prepared beds. Successional sowing, a short row every two to three weeks, keeps harvests continuous rather than arriving all at once. If you haven't already planted out potatoes, early May is your last comfortable window before the season shortens. My first earlies, 'Duke of York', are breaking ground.
I'll be sowing half-hardy and hardy annuals and biennials for summer colour: sunflowers, nigella, nicotiana, cosmos, tagetes and ipomoea, alongside Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus, ornamental onion Allium cristophii, honeywort Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' and Angelica archangelica, etc. In a couple of months some will be in flower.
The Chelsea Chop
In the second half of May I'll Chelsea Chop selected perennials, cutting back new stems by a third, carried out on Sedum Hylotelephium, Phlox paniculata, coneflower Echinacea, sneezeweed Helenium, asters and yarrow Achillea. This seemingly brutal technique delays flowering by two to three weeks and produces sturdier, bushier plants, reduces sprawling and plants won't flop come August.
Lawn and Water
Lawns grow fastest now, often needing a cut twice a week, with blades gradually lowered. The bare patches I re-seeded in April have germinated; I'll keep them moist and off-limits to foot traffic for another few weeks.
May often delivers an early dry spell that can stress newly planted specimens before their roots establish. Water deeply and infrequently rather than little and often, and mulch bare soil generously to lock in moisture and suppress weeds.
Foliage and Self-Sowers
I generally avoid variegated and golden-leaved forms, which often look chlorotic, but one exception is Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold', its luminous foliage earns its place in a shady border.
White flowered honesty, Lunaria annua var. albiflora, is currently in flower. A biennial with a statuesque, loosely spiralling habit, it self-sows freely, keeping me guessing where it will appear next year.
Wildflowers
A range of wildflowers holds an important place here including, herb Robert Geranium robertianum, cowslip Primula veris, bladder campion Silene vulgaris, English bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, white dead-nettle Lamium album, common bird's-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica, red campion Silene dioica, field poppy Papaver rhoeas, and Jacob's ladder Polemonium caeruleum.
By the end of the month the garden will look abundant and almost effortless, which is, of course, the point.
Good Gardening.
Iain McPhee mcpheia1@gmail.com
Meldreth Station Garden
Meldreth Station is a bit of a mixture. Parcel lockers, waste bins and cycle racks. But also flowering tubs on the platforms, a traditional ticket office, and a garden.
Five years ago Meldreth Veg Club started planting a small garden to the left of the parcel lockers. Since then members have been adding to the planting, and weeding and maintaining the flowering shrubs and roses. We’re happy to say the garden has not been vandalised and has flourished.
This Spring, tulips and daffodils are popping up between the shrubs.
If you’re not rushing for a train, take a look as you pass through the station.
Margaret Lynch
Melbourn Hub
www.melbournhub.co.uk
We had a lovely start to spring at Melbourn Hub, firstly with our ‘eggxellent’ Easter event, closely followed by our cafe refresh. We hope you like our new layout and seating; if you haven’t seen it yet, pop in to see us!
Regular Services and Events
Cambridge Building Society – Mondays (12 noon-3.00pm), Tuesdays (9.00am-12 noon) and Thursdays (9.00am-12 noon)
Every Tuesday - Lunch Club - a weekly social gathering for older people to meet and enjoy the company of others over a two course, subsidised, meal. We have spaces available now so please contact Melbourn Hub on (01763) 263303 or email hubadmin@mebournhub.co.uk if you are interested in coming along!
Every Wednesday - Citizens Advice – 9.30am-11.30am - this is a drop-in session, so no need to book. Citizens Advice also offer pre-booked appointments in the afternoon. Please contact Citizens Advice direct on 07469 517912.
Every Wednesday and Friday – Podiatrist – Lewis Slater provides podiatry services out of the Hub on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please contact Lewis to find out more and to book – (01763) 263260.
Every Thursday – Osteopath – Tim Moynihan provides osteopathy out of the Hub on Thursdays. Check out our website for more details and contact Tim to book on tim@boneclinic.co.uk.
Every Thursday - Natural Reflections Therapy - Supporting people with a wide range of emotional and mental health difficulties, including grief, trauma, emotional overwhelm and neurodivergence. Contact Caroline to book at caroline@naturalreflectionstherapy.co.uk or call 07345 535925 to book.
Every Friday – Children's Storytime for under 5s – 10.00am-10.30am - Come along for stories and singing. No need to book.
Monday 11th May– Tea & Sign – 10am-12pm - Practise your sign language skills with a cuppa. For more information, contact Sally at bainessally@hotmail.com.
For more details on all our events and services check out our website on www.melbournhub.co.uk.
Other ParishCouncil 1stThursday 7.30pm ElinWay Page32
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For info on Village Hall classes & events visit www.meldrethvillagehall.co.uk
Refuse Collections
Black bins: 5th & 19th May. Blue and green bins: 12th & 26th May. Food bins: Every Tues from 12th May Get reminders on your mobile: download the Bin Collections app
www.facebook.com/meldrethnhw
You may have seen on the news recently the story of a vulnerable woman from Cambridge who was conned into believing that she was in a romantic relationship with a real-life American actor, Jay Harrington. She was so convinced the relationship was genuine that she was preparing to sell her house to move to the US to marry him. She even had a wedding dress ready. Fortunately, her estate agent realised the truth of the matter and contacted the police on her behalf. Fraud officers subsequently discovered that the woman had already parted with £150,000 to addresses in the UK and US over a number of years and would have lost her entire livelihood if her property sale had gone through. Needless to say, the real Jay Harrington had absolutely nothing to do with the scam.
This is a prime example of what is known as romance fraud, a crime that is unfortunately on the rise. It is estimated that over £109 million was lost to this kind of scam in the UK in 2025 alone.
It is tempting to dismiss victims such as the woman described above as naïve and to feel confident that we would never let ourselves be duped by a romance fraudster. However, it should be borne in mind that these criminals are sophisticated manipulators who prey on the emotions of people who may be lonely or vulnerable for all sorts of reasons, for example after a failed relationship or the death of a loved one. While most romance fraudsters do not pretend to be celebrities, they do all operate under a fake persona. They carefully research their potential victims, familiarising themselves with their history, interests and vulnerabilities before befriending them, usually online. They then proceed to build up the victim’s trust over a period of time, using charm and flattery and once the victim is convinced that the relationship is genuine and mutual, they pounce with requests for financial ‘assistance’. These may start small, for example with the purchase of gift cards, and then increase to something much larger. Once the fraudsters have got all they think they can from the victim, they simply vanish, although it is not unknown for them to reappear in a fresh guise, with offers to ‘help’ the victim recover the money they just stole!
The results are devastating for the victim: they face potential financial ruin, not to mention the emotional damage done by the lost ‘relationship’ and the embarrassment of realising they were conned. However, it is important to remember that any kind of fraud is never the victim’s fault; it is a serious crime in which the only shame lies with the perpetrator and not the victim.
If you, or someone you know, has struck up a new relationship online, be alert to the signs of a potential romance fraud. A fraudster may:
claim to be overseas or have some other excuse for not being able to meet in person or even over a video call;
have a profile picture that seems too perfect (because it does not actually belong to them) – try doing a reverse image search on Google or TinEye;
tell you to keep the relationship secret and not discuss it with friends and family;
ask for financial help in a so-called emergency, in a way that pulls at the heartstrings (for example to fund a medical procedure for themselves, a relative or pet);
become defensive and/or use emotional blackmail if you attempt to resist their requests for money.
Suspected romance fraud should be reported as soon as possible to the police, to CrimeStoppers or to Report Fraud (https://www.reportfraud.police.uk).
Please keep an eye on any friends, neighbours and relatives who may be susceptible to this or any other scams.
Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme is a registered charity
Things for Children and Families to do in May
Monday 4th May 10.00am - 4.00pm
Family Fun Day, Jarman Centre, 119 Duchess Dr, Newmarket CB8 9HB
Learn bushcraft skills, try archery (£3), trampolining, circus skills, games, trails and scavenger hunts, Also crafts, tombola and refreshments. Children £4, accompanying adults free. www.jarmancentre.
Monday 4th May, 12.00pm - 4.30pm
Royston May Fayre, Priory Memorial Gardens, Royston SG8 9DX
Free activities including face painting, Mr Crump, circus skills and Punch and Judy. The Town Band will play and there will be fairground rides, bouncy castles, miniature train rides, a dog show, historical vehicle show, escape rooms and charity stalls. A variety of refreshments available.
Sunday 10th May - Sunday 28th June, 9.30 - 10.30am or 11.00 - 11.45am
Cricket training, The Grange, Therfield SG8 9QG Dynamos for 8 - 11s (9.30), All Stars for 5 - 8 year olds (11.00). Build confidence and ability while having fun. £50 for the 8 sessions. including T shirts (plus backpacks, bat and ball for All Stars). Register on www.royston.play-cricket.com.
Saturday 16th May, 11.00am - 12.30pm (doors open 10.00am)
Become a Codebreaker, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
Solve codes and ciphers in an interactive workshop and learn the basics of cryptology. Watch a demonstration of an Enigma machine. £16 adults, £13 for 14 to 17 year olds (accompanied). See www.bletchleypark.org.uk.
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 31st May, 10.00am - 5.00pm
Mystery Mission, Audley End, London Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4JF
A secret message is missing. Follow the trail, track down the clues and crack the codes to find it. Watch out for the secret agent who might be able to help you. £25.40 adults, £12.70 children, also family rates. www.english-heritage.
Thursday 28th May, 9.30 or 10.45am, 1.00 or 2.15pm
Making Monsters, Stapleford Granary, Bury Road, Stapleford CB22 5BP
Inspired by the exhibition of Helen Craig’s mythical sculptures, use recycled materials to make a magnificent monster. For ages 3+ (accompanied). £4 per child. All materials provided. Book at www.staplefordgranary.org.uk.
Thursday 28th May, 10.00 - 11.00am
Old Oak and the Wild Flowers
The Old Schoolhouse, 4, Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL
Storytelling and craft session with local children’s author Elena Mannion. For ages 4 - 8. Parent plus one child £3, plus 2 £5. Book on (01763) 793279.
Compiled by Hilary Crawforth
Things to do in May
Here are some things happening in the local area this month. If you want to let us know about future events or activities please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com.
Saturday 2nd May, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Archaeology Open Day Wandlebury Country Park
Wandlebury, Gog Magog Hills, Cambridge CB22 3AE
Once an important Iron Age fort with a roundhouse village, Wandlebury is currently being excavated by Cambridge University Department of Archaeology and Cambridge Archaeological Unit. They are keen to share their work with you. Free event with suggested donation £3. Hands-on activities and fun for all the family. No need to book . See below for another event on 9th May.
Sunday 3rd May, 9.00am to 3.00pm
Orwell Antiques and Vintage Fair
Village Hall, High Street, Orwell, Cambridge SG8 5QN
Friendly event has around 20 stalls brimming with excellent assortment of antiques, collectables and vintage items. Admission £1 at the door, children under 16 free. Plenty of free parking. Refreshments available.
Friday May 8th (NB) 6.00am to 7.30am
Early Morning Bird Walk, Grantchester Meadows
Meet at Red Lion, 33 High Street, Grantchester CB3 9NF
Enjoy a gentle guided walk with our wardens to listen to the wonderful spring dawn chorus, learn some of the bird songs and look for wildlife. Free event with suggested £3 donation.
Friday 8th May, 7.00pm to 8.30pm
The Cann Twins on Two Pianos
All Saints’ Church, Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire CB23 1JF
Claire and Antoinette, who come from Meldreth, have delighted audiences around the world with their piano duet and two piano performances. Their programme here includes pieces by Bizet, Rachmaninov, Ravel and Rimsky Korsakov. Tickets £15, students £8, children under 13 £1 are available from www.canntwins.com (under ‘performance’ tab) or www.tickettailor.
Short talk by Oscar Aldred who will present the results of the recent excavations, with a first showing of the finds alongside material from previous digs. Q&A to follow. Free with same suggested donations as above.
Saturday 9th May, 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Bourn Windmill Open Day - National Mills Weekend
Caxton Road, Bourn, Cambridgeshire CB23 2SU
Built in the reign of King Henry VIII, Bourn has the oldest surviving windmill in the country. Guides will show you round and tell you the history of this amazing building. Tea and cakes available to buy. Members of Cambridge PPF free, nonmembers £4 adult, £1 per child. Last tour 4pm.
Saturday 9th May, 7.30pm
Exploring the Influence of Irish Folk Music
Clare Hall Dining Hall, University of Cambridge
Herschel Road, Cambridge CB3 9AL
This concert explores Ireland’s influence on a surprising range of composers, from Beethoven to Britten. Admission £20 with concessions for students and young people. Available from www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Sunday 10th May, 11.00am to 5.00pm
Ashwell at Home - Featuring Farm to Fork Festival
Various locations in Ashwell SG7 5NY
Food trucks with locally-sourced products, street market, vintage car rally, farm animals, crafts, music, open gardens, farmers’ question time and more. Entry to all activities is by wristband: £10 per adult on the day (or £8 in advance online via www.ashwellathome.org.uk); under 18s free with paying adult.
Friday 15th May, 7.00pm to 10.30pm
Home-Start Quiz Night
Royston Town Hall, Royston SG8 7DAL
Teams of six. Prize for winning team and raffle. Tickets £15 per person to include traditional ploughman’s supper. All proceeds to Home-Start Royston, Buntingford and South Cambridgeshire. Book via www.hsrsc.org/events or telephone (01763) 262262.
Monday 18th May, 5pm to Saturday 23rd May, 10.30pm
Annual Cambridge Beer Festival
Jesus Green, Cambridge CB5 8BL
The UK’s longest running CAMRA beer festival and one of the largest. Features wide range of local and national beers of all styles, as well as cider, perry, mead and wine. Plus cheese counter, locally produced bread, pork pies, scotch eggs and other savouries. See www.cambridgebeerfestival.com for detailed session times and tickets prices (from £5) and to book.
From Saturday 30th May to Sunday 7th June 2026, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Chippenham Park Gardens - Summer Opening
Chippenham Park, near Newmarket, Cambridgeshire CB7 5PT
Beautiful parkland and lakeside setting with the Rose Garden at its very best at this time of year. Refreshments in Potting Shed Café. Admission: adults £10, children 5-16 £3. NB Cash only at gate and in café. RHS member discounts. Last entry at 3.00pm.
Compiled by John Crawforth
Unit 1, Whitecroft Rd, Meldreth, Royston, SG8 8NE
Meldreth Parish Council
www.meldreth-pc.org.uk
The Parish Council meeting was held on Thursday 2nd April in the Community Room in Elin Way. The main points are set out below in the usual summary format. The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website noted above and on the Parish Council notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Council meeting.
Discussions and Decisions
Mettle Hill
The Council is awaiting a response from SCDC planners with regard to a meeting with them to discuss the planning options for this site. The site offers possibilities for limited housing, recreational facilities, allotments, burial ground capacity, off road parking and other community facilities. As previously noted, these are important issues for the community and the Council will keep the village informed throughout.
Village Maintenance
The programme for repairing village infrastructure is underway. This will include necessary repairs to signs and notice boards and the repainting of the telephone box in North End which houses a defibrillator.
Defibrillator
More information is being sought on the possibility of installing a solar powered defibrillator in the vicinity of the Fenny Lane crossroads.
General Volunteer Issues
This subject will be noted on the agenda for our open Village Meeting at the Village Hall on 21st May 2026. There are several areas of village life that would be improved by increased volunteering
Recreation Ground
We have received very encouraging feedback from local residents about the new multi-use games area at the recreation ground. We are awaiting a discussion with the contractors about some outstanding issues before final sign-off can be agreed. The full-size football pitch remains in place and we will ensure that any further additions to the recreation facilities will not impede its use. Essential repairs and maintenance to the play equipment already installed have now largely been carried out. Future inspections will be carried out by the Council on a more frequent basis to ensure that any issues are identified as soon as possible.
Tree Work
At the Recreation Ground this includes the removal of the Poplar tree in the children’s play area, which has caused damage to the nearby hard path. The memorial Cherry tree has been planted with the advice of our Tree Warden.
Access to the Station and Underpass
Motor vehicles need to be restricted from being driven along this path and bollards are being considered for this. This is an important safety issue and is under discussion with our County Councillor and with Melbourn Parish Council. A resident has noted that some of the lights in the underpass appear to be turned off and this is also under investigation.
Burial Ground
As it is clear that our Fenny Lane graveyard has limited remaining capacity, the Council is researching the possibilities for additional graveyard facilities in the village. We are starting this exercise by conducting a more detailed view of existing capacity possibilities in our existing graveyard in Fenny Lane and we will be investigating what additional capacity might be secured elsewhere in the village.
Parish Council Email Arrangements
The Council is moving to a system in which dedicated formal/official addresses (gov.uk) will be assigned to each member and to our officers. This is an essential regulatory measure to separate council business from the other email services which might be used by Councillors for their non-council business. The new email addresses are shown on the next page.
Upcoming Parish Council Meetings
Thursday 14th May
Parish Council Meeting
This will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council and the first meeting of the newly elected Council. It will take place at 7.30 pm in the Elin Way Community Room.
Thursday
21st May
Annual Village Meeting
This will be held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. This is an opportunity for the community to come together in a discussion about village issues. It is hosted by the Parish Council but takes the form of an open public meeting and we do hope that it will be well attended as there is a lot going on at the moment.
Meldreth Parish Council
Have You Got Our Number?
This is the number for a confidential drink and drug drive 24/7 hotline, which allows you to anonymously report anyone you suspect of drink or drug driving. One call could save a life. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Cambridgeshire Police
Meldreth Parish Council - Contact Details http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk ParishOffice,MeldrethShelteredScheme,ElinWay,RoystonSG86LT Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12.30-2.30pm By appointment at other times Telephone: (01763) 269928
Meldreth Parish Council kindly ask all dog walkers to refrain from exercising their dogs within the children’s play area on the recreation ground. This space is intended to provide a safe, clean and enjoyable environment for children and their families. To help maintain these standards and ensure everyone’s comfort and wellbeing, we respectfully request that dogs are kept outside this designated area.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us keep this space safe and welcoming for all members of the community.
Parish Council
Meldreth
Planning Matters
Meldreth Parish Council
The information below has been taken from the minutes of the planning meeting on 19th March and 2nd April. The minutes of the meeting on 5th March were still not available at the time of going to press. Minutes, when available, can be found on the Parish Council website: www.meldreth-pc.org.uk.
114 High Street, 26/00677/HFUL
Removal of existing carport and roof to existing garage, extension of garage and addition of new pitched roof, new carport. Recommended support.
Certificate of lawfulness under S192 for the installation of a MUGA and a new zip wire. Information Only.
25 Elin Way, 26/00986/HFUL
Single storey front and rear extension, two storey side extension. Recommended support.
Planning Authority
24 Chiswick End, SG8 6LZ, 25/05005/FUL
Permission granted for the demolition of existing bungalow and garage, erection of a single self/custom build two storey dwelling with detached garage and new widened access along with associated works.
Land to west of 7 Brewery Lane, 26/00586/OUT
Permission refused for outline application for one self-build dwelling with all matters reserved apart from access.
Land to the rear of 30 Chiswick End, 20/03400/CONDB
Application withdrawn: submission of details required by conditions 4 (Hard and Soft Landscaping), 5 (Boundary Treatment) and 6 (Flood plan) of reserved matters application 20/03400/REM
Details of applications for tree work have not been included because of space restraints. Please see the Parish Council website or the link below for details of these.
Details of all applications and Planning Authority decisions can be viewed online: https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications. The Meldreth Matters Team
District and County Councillor Report
Your local councils are working throughout the year to support, empower and improve life in local communities like Meldreth. This month, we are drawing attention to some of the programmes run by your County and District Councils that could be of interest to local residents.
Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC)
A Vision for a Healthy, Fair and Sustainable Cambridgeshire Healthy, fair and sustainable – at the beginning of April, Cambridgeshire County Council launched a new vision and strategic framework, committing to deliver outcomes that enhance daily life for people across our county. Approved by Full Council in February, this new direction is informed by resident feedback gathered through the Council’s annual Quality of Life survey.
Three overarching and interconnected ambitions will guide our priorities:
enable full, healthy lives for all
ensure fairness and opportunity wherever we can
support a green and sustainable county. More details are available at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/launching-an-ambitious-vision-for-ahealthy-fair-and-sustainable-cambridgeshire.
Buses
The Cam Vale Bus User group has become an effective way of providing feedback about the performance of local services and building a relationship with those responsible for services at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. A full report from our last meeting is now available at the website below, or you just find it with an internet search. Please let us know if you want to be added to the mailing list.
The County Council’s Community Flood Action programme aims to:
increase the county’s resilience and ability to adapt to flooding through improving access to flood risk management information
improve flood risk data quality
provide guidance on asset management and, crucially
support local groups in establishing community flood plans.
In addition, to the seasonal newsletters, a series of webinar and in-person workshops are held throughout the year. A recording of the most recent webinar 'Understanding Flood Risk and Different Types of Flooding' is available online, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKpz1-v2_GA&feature=youtu.be. If you are interested in setting up a local flood group, please get in touch with one of your
councillors. More details are available at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/business/ planning-and-development/flood-and-water/residents-and-householders/ community-flood-action-programme.
Nature Recovery from the Ground Up
Cambridgeshire County Council is inviting residents across the county to play an active role in restoring local nature as part of the ‘Nature Recovery - From the Ground Up’ project (NR-FGU) a new initiative supporting parishes and community groups to design their own Community Nature Recovery Plans.
A Community Nature Recovery Plan is a locally created blueprint that sets out priorities for improving nature and wildlife at a parish level. These plans help communities to shape a vision for nature locally and identify steps to bring about the changes. The plans will support the wider goals of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
Key actions include:
restoring habitats
creating nature corridors and stepping-stones for wildlife
increasing areas managed for wildlife.
These improvements benefit both nature and communities, helping reduce flood risk, support climate resilience and enabling more people to enjoy time outdoors.
Please contact us if you want to know more or get involved. More details are available at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/cambridgeshire-residents-invited-to -help-shape-new-community-nature-recovery-plans.
Cambridge South Station
The Cam Vale Community Rail Partnership will be holding an online information session ahead of the station opening. Details to come. Please watch this space.
Highway Condition and Potholes
Surface treatment works on Station Road are scheduled to take place in May. Please keep an eye on Facebook for confirmation of any road closure dates.
As the weather improves, the potholes that opened up due to the cold and wet are being filled more quickly. While the County Council continues to invest in our highways, as recently recognised by the Government, significant long-term funding is required to deal with the estimated £800m repair bill across the county. Please continue to report highways issues ata www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/roadworks-and-faults.
South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC)
SCDC Wins Funding for AI ‘Proof of Concept’
Projects
SCDC has successfully secured funding for collaborative work with the University of Cambridge to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can support councils to improve services and make more effective use of data. The 12-month project is to deliver a proof of concept in five areas:
predictive risk intelligence for social housing maintenance (PRISM)
human orientated AI – a design framework for reaching vulnerable tenants (housing)
map automation for planning and local efficiency (MAPLE)
AI Enabled surveys (planning)
automatic fly-tipping detection using refuse collection vehicle cameras.
Zero Carbon Communities (ZCC) Scheme
SCDC has committed another £152,000 to the popular ZCC grant scheme. The amount that applicants can apply for has risen from £15,000 per project to £19,500. Since the scheme was launched in 2019, it has supported 82 different projects, awarding over £855,000 to initiatives across the district including energy generation and efficiency, conservation measures at community buildings, community cycling events, cycle shelters, food waste reduction initiatives, community allotment and gardening projects.
The application window will open on Monday 25th May and close on Friday 24th July 2026. Projects on school sites and by parent/teacher associations will be able to apply – if there is a benefit to the wider community. Those interested in applying for a Zero Carbon Communities grant can join a workshop to find out more. Two sessions are to be held on Wednesday 20th May - one running from 12.30pm to 1.30pm and a second one from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Potential applicants are encouraged to register for either session.
Cancellation of Non-Responding Postal Votes
SCDC officers and councillors have, for several months, been campaigning to warn residents of the expiry of postal votes, which is a legal requirement and happens every three years. The deadline to apply for an extension has now passed and the postal votes of 4,266 residents (of the original 15,392 that required renewal) have had to be cancelled, which represents a 72.28% positive response rate. All affected voters will have received a letter to inform them of this change and given details on how they might make a new application to vote by post if they wish. By the time this issue of Meldreth Matters is delivered, it will be too late to apply to vote in the local elections on 7th May. If you have any questions, please email elections@scambs.gov.uk.
Local Authority Pre-Election Period
The pre-election period for local authority elections started on Monday 30th March and will run until the close of polls on Thursday 7th May.
County Councillor Adam Bostanci, adam.bostanci.mmbw@gmail.com, 07400 236329
District Councillor Sally Ann Hart, sallyannhart@riskingonpurpose.com, 07791 233303
District Councillor Jose Hales, Josehales@gmail.com, 07703 262649
Cambridgeshire Dementia Support Service
If you need dementia support, we’re here for you. Our Dementia Advisers work with people with dementia, their families and carers to provide a highly responsive and individualised information, support and signposting service. This service is free and confidential.
As trusted experts in dementia, our advisers offer advice and support with all aspects of dementia, including:
understanding the diagnosis and providing emotional support
practical tips on living with and caring for a loved one with dementia
understanding symptoms and changes in behaviour
advice on hospital stays and discharge
planning for the future - legal and finance.
Get in touch today. Email cambridgeshiredementia@alzheimers.org.uk or telephone (01223) 620962. The National Dementia Support Line is 0333 150 3456 (Monday to Wednesday 9.00am-8.00pm, Thursday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm and Saturday to Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm).
Robert Colbert, Community Development Coordinator
Concessionary Bus Passes
Eligible residents can travel for free on most bus services in England. To apply, you will need to provide an email address and your National Insurance Number. You will need to upload a photograph (see requirements online) and may be required to upload proof of age, address and eligibility. For more information or to apply online, visit www.thebuspass.com or scan the QR code.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
Village Directory
Litter Picker
Neighbourhood Watch
Mick Taylor—(01763) 261118
Laura Elvin—(01763) 261084 meldrethnhw@gmail.com
One Stop (01763) 262158, open 7am-10pm, 7 days
Village Hall Bookings Book online: www.meldrethvillagehall.co.uk
Village Hall Chairman
Cycling Group
Andrew Young—07572 553647
John Rogger—(01763) 260809
Local History Group www.meldrethhistory.org.uk; info@meldrethhistory.org.uk
Lunch Club
Nikki & Julie—07599 292327
Melwood Cons. Group (01763) 232855; www.melwood.org.uk
Photographic Group www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk
Revelation Miriam Skuce—(01763) 262440
U3A
Bowls Club
Croquet Club
Table Tennis
Nicole Searle—(01763) 269561
David Rich—(01763) 262116
Janet Pope—(01763) 248239
John Richards—07938 907609
Tennis Club (01763) 243376; http://cspark.at/Meldr2
Chairman: Lesley Farbridge 261578; Editor & Layout: Kathryn Betts 268428; Advertising Layout: Richard Burns 263121; Editorial Assistant: Robin Farbridge; Treasurer, Secretary & Trade Advertising: Beverley Cottrell 07773 592838; Proof-reading: Ken McLean 261243; Distribution: Sharon Dunford 07415 171295 Founder: Ann Barnes
Meldreth Matters is available in colour online at https://issuu.com/meldrethmatters
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Spring has sprung at The Royal Oak, and we're thrilled to share all the exci ng events we have lined up for our wonderful community. Come and join the fun! The Old Tuck Shop Reopening! Officially open on Friday, May 1st!
Order online for takeaway (collec on only) or enjoy a fresh pizza right here at the pub with weekly special. Follow us for more details! Thursdays 5.30-8pm / Fridays & Saturdays 4-8pm Car Club! Friday, 1st May | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Our popular Car Club is back! Cruise on down for a fantas c evening of classic cars &great company. The Old Tuck Shop for fresh pizzas and Pimp My Fish as well. It's the perfect start to the weekend!
We’re hoping for beau ful sunshine so you can enjoy a lovely meal & a drink in the garden. A&ernoon Tea is Served. Star)ng Thursday, May 7th |From 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Our A7ernoon Tea has been a huge hit! With a menu that changes every eight weeks, there's always something new to try. It's the perfect treat to share with friends and family. Prices range from £22 to £27. Private par es are also available upon request!
Eyes Down for Bingo Night! Monday, 11th May| 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Entry £5
Get ready for our brand-new Bingo Night! Happening every second Monday of the month with our professional caller, Stella. It's guaranteed to be a lively evening. All proceeds Arthur Rank Charity
Quiz Night for a Cause Sunday, 31st May | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Entry £2
Think you have what it takes to be crowned trivia champion? Gather your team and join our quiz master, Ben, for a fun-filled night of brain-teasing ques ons. All proceeds 'Forget-Me-Not' charity.
Greek Night Thursday, May 28th | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Experience a taste of the Mediterranean at our special Greek Night! Join us for a delicious tapas evening with a Greek twist. Perfect for sharing with friends and family.
