Meldreth Matters, July 2020

July 2020

MELDRETH WEDNESDAY 5.30pm & 7.30pm Meldreth Village Hall High Street, Tel: Alison 07812 825 389 slimmingworld.co.uk

RML

IT CONSULTANTS LTD

RML IT Consultants Ltd Newton Hall, Town Street, Newton, Cambridge CB22 7ZE Tel: +44 (0) 1223 873747, Mobile 07946 216268 Email: info@rmlconsultants.co.uk

INCORPORATING WANT YOUR P.C. REPAIRED AT REASONABLE RATES?

whatever the size of your company we can help‌ Internet connection and security Firewall/VPN solutions provider Installations and upgrades Network and computer support Wireless networking and security

GIVE ME A CALL ON:07946 216268

All our solutions are individually specified for your company ensuring the best and most cost-effective result:

Implementation of messaging systems Web design and content management Email compliance (archiving and retrieval) Hardware and software expertise and sourcing

Contents

Children & Education 1st Melbourn Rainbows 20-21 Activity Page 19 Meldreth Manor 26-27 Primary School 22-25 Rail Partnership Competitions 21 Shepreth Spitfires 28-29

COVID-19 Advice and information 31-34 Community Screenbank 56-57 People Norman Clark 5 Events Cambridge Open Windows 46 Local Events 44-45 Scarecrow Festival 14-16 Village Trail Challenge 18

Gardens & Nature Gardening 42-43 Spotted Flycatchers 11 Local/National Government Local Councillors 52-55 Parish Council 48-50

Village Groups Friends of Holy Trinity 40 Zumba 43

Advice/Information Advertisers’ Index 64 Healthwatch 60 Home-Start 59 Mobile Warden Scheme 57 Neighbourhood Watch 35 Refuse Collections 50 Village Directory 62-63

Village Crafts Lock ‘n’ Load 38-39 Meldreth Cottage Industry 37 Miscellaneous COVID Quilt Art Project 13 Holy Trinity Church 41 Letter from Turkmenistan 6-9 Letter to the Editor 10 Waterlight Film Project 10

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.

The last date for copy is the 12th of each month.

Copy should be submitted by email where possible, to meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or delivered to the Editor, Kathryn Betts at 36 North End, Meldreth, SG8 6NT Tel. (01763) 268428 The Editor reserves the right to withhold from publication or to shorten if necessary, any article or letter sent to her.

1

Huw Shortle Pure Water Window Cleaning

07915 378397 info@huwclean.co.uk Richard Burns ELECTRICIAN For installation, repair or advice please call

Tel: Mob:

01763 263 121 07958 028 729

sockets@richardburnselectrician.co.uk Part P approved Certified installer

Compliant to BS7671 Based in Meldreth

New Yoga Class for Meldreth Meldreth Village Hall Mondays 9.00 – 10.30 am th

Starts 14 January 2019 and runs weekly during term time Friendly, supportive classes in a non-competitive environment helping you to develop strength, flexibility and well-being. Suitable for all abilities. £10 drop-in or £90 for a 10 class pass.

More details at www.yoga2.co.uk or email Chris and Shelagh: yoga2@btinternet.com 2

Editorial As the lockdown restrictions are being relaxed, it is lovely to be able to report that there are two outdoor events taking place in the village this month.

Throughout July and August, there is a Meldreth Village Trail Challenge being run in aid of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. Please see page 18 for further details. Plus, on the weekend of 11th and 12th July, Meldreth will have its first Scarecrow Festival with an associated colouring competition. Please see the back cover and pages 14-16 for full details.

Further afield, we have some information on places that have opened or will shortly be opening see pages 44-45. Please check details before travelling as information is changing all the time. In addition, there is Open Windows, replacing the usual Cambridge Open Studios event.

See page 46.

Many people in the village have been busy during the pandemic: collecting prescriptions, organising food banks, giving lifts, donating or setting up computers, making scrubs, making face masks etc. You will find further information on these activities throughout the magazine. Well done to everyone who has been involved.

Finally, if you would like to express what this unique period has meant to you, Lesley Pemberton is producing a lasting reminder of the last few months by creating a Meldreth COVID “quilt�. Everyone is invited to submit images of their own creations for inclusion. Please see page 13 for further information.

Kathryn

Front Cover: Footpath 6 along the River Mel has been a popular walk for many over the last few months. Photograph by Kathryn Betts.

July Village Diary Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th July: Scarecrow Festival See pages 14-16 Throughout July and August: Meldreth Village Trail Challenge See page 18 3

Reflections Hair Studio

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

Specialist in all aspects of Unisex Hairdressing.

FOR

Cutting * Colouring Techniques * Hair Extensions

PLANNING & BUILDING REGULATION APPLICATIONS

We have a wide range of home hair care retail.

FOR

EXTENSIONS ALTERATIONS LOFT CONVERSIONS

Gift vouchers and hair accessories available.

01763 260431

CONTACT US now to arrange a FREE on-site meeting at your convenience to discuss your project

45 Whitecroft Road , Meldreth Tuesday & Thursday 9am - Late Monday &Wednesday closed Friday 9am - 6pm Sat 9am - 3pm

01353 649649 mail@elydesigngroup.co.uk www.elydesigngroup.co.uk

ROYSTON FENCING Nigel Wigg

TEL 01763 261150

Home Improvement Specialist

FENCING, GATES INCLUDING ELECTRIC MADE TO ORDER

• Exterior and interior home decorating • Tiling • Carpentry • Refurbishment • Timber carport and veranda design and construction • General home repairs • Pruning / hedge and tree trimming • Professional service

ALL TYPES OF FENCING AND GATES SHEDS AND GARDEN FURNITURE DECKING, PATIOS & PERGOLAS SLEEPERS, PAVING & NATURAL STONE

nigelwigg@gmail.com T 01480 700266 M 07801 057514

WWW.ROYSTONFENCING.CO.UK KNEESWORTH RD. MELDRETH ROYSTON

4

Norman Clark (1933 – 2020)

Norman lived in Meldreth for many years with his late wife, Doreen.

He worked for the Atlas Stone Company until he retired in the early 90’s.

You could then often see him attending to various gardens around the village. He was also known in the village for cutting the bowls green, which he did for over 25 years.

His hobby in later life, as well as producing an amazing vegetable plot, was stationary engines. He spent many hours renovating and running them in his large garden.

After losing Doreen in 2011, Norman enjoyed a pint in the British Queen each evening, where you could always find him in the corner of the bar.

For the last three years of his life he was residing at a care home in Cambridge.

Norman will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Serena Gibson

5

Letter from Turkmenistan It is a long way from Meldreth to Ashkhabad: approximately 3,000 miles as the crow flies and more like 4,000 if you were crazy enough to try to make the journey by road. In fact, I’ll bet that many of you have no idea where it is, The view from my office window in Ashgabat or how to find it on a map. So, take down that old atlas, turn to the double page “The Near and Middle East”, find Iran, locate Tehran, then move north west into the Caspian Sea, then head east, into Turkmenistan, find the Koppeh Dagh and there you are in the capital, Ashkhabad, where I help run an EU-funded project designed to help the Turkmen government achieve goals in sustainable agriculture. It is 43 degrees Celsius outside and we’re four hours ahead of UK time, and sitting here in airconditioned comfort, a cold beer at hand, it strikes me that it has been a long journey for me to get here, too: all of 26 years, in fact, from the first time I went to work abroad in 1994.

Growing up as a farmer’s son in Meldreth in the 1960s, at the Turkmen tomatoes bottom end of Brewery Lane, there (which are very good) was never any doubt that I was going to follow in my father’s footsteps, those of his father before him and several generations of Peppers who had tilled the land at Brewery Farm, and become a farmer myself. So I took what seemed the obvious route, studied Agriculture at Reading University and went into the industry both in research and farm management. But, even by the early 1990s, it was becoming increasingly obvious that there was no longer big money to be made in agriculture in the UK, so, with a young family to feed and clothe, in 6

1994 I found myself answering an advertisement for experienced staff to man a European Union-funded project restructuring the agriculture sector in Bishkek, in Kyrgyzstan. Back then, I didn’t have the faintest idea where Kyrgyzstan was, so I did what you probably did just now and got down the World Atlas to find out what I was letting myself in for. The only way in from Europe was with Lufthansa, who flew from Frankfurt to Almaty in Kazakhstan once a week then it was a five-hour drive across the mountains to Bishkek. On my first flight in, I had 40,000 USD strapped round my waist to fund the project. There were no cash machines back then and everything had to be paid for in hard currency, which in those days meant US dollars, until the Euro made life easier for all of us.

In 1995 I started working on projects in Russia and mostly drove myself around in a Russian Lada Niva 4WD. In Krasdnodar, in southern Russia, I was often stopped for speeding as the EU stickers on the vehicle were a magnet for road police, especially in order to make money on a Friday for the weekend. Myself and a colleague were invited to a Russian wedding party which began at lunchtime and was still going strong in the early hours of the following morning. Worried about driving back to my flat, I expressed concern to my host in my rudimentary Russian. He said “no problem” and handed me his card.

It turned out he was head of the Krasnodar traffic police, so needless to say, I never paid another speeding fine throughout the life of the project. If stopped, I used to produce the card and say in Russian “my good friend” and usually got told by the traffic cop to clear off. I used to take an AA International Driving Licence with me before we got photo licences and made sure the AA man put lots of stamps all over it - Russians love stamps. Once, I was stopped in Stavropol by a traffic cop. He looked at the licence and said “so you can drive anything?”

He wasn’t amused when I said “and tanks”.

Flying in and out of Krasnodar could sometimes be a bit of a hairraising experience, as the route to and from Frankfurt was run by an outfit called Kuban Air (who it was reputed flew the planes Aeroflot had rejected) using ancient Yak 42s. Despite the constant sense of flying by the seat of your pants, it wasn’t without its amusing moments, though. Like the occasion a colleague and I found ourselves aboard a plane on which the whole of the back half was taken up by day-old chicks, who kept up a steady “cheep, cheep” throughout the flight.

Which explained why the German border guards were grinning when we got on the plane.

7

My next port of call was altogether more civilised. I landed in St Petersburg in 1999 and stayed for the next couple of years. The city is one of the most beautiful I have ever lived in and one I could easily settle back in again. Designed by Tsar Peter the Great and built around a network of waterways, it has gained a reputation as the “Venice of the North” and with its fine Imperial architecture (think the Hermitage museum in the old Winter Palace) and wide Soviet-era boulevards, it is somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lives. Despite its often tragic history, being where Lenin launched the Russian Revolution and the devastating Siege of Leningrad (as it was then called) by the Nazis in the Second World War, the people retain a typically Russian sense of irony and optimism.

I found myself thrust 60 high merit in-calf Friesian Heifers into the front line on a imported from Holland with our help project to promote milk and meat quality – and realised early on what we were up against in trying to persuade the locals to adopt proper hygiene standards on the farm; not least, by abandoning their traditional practice of using the same barn as a milking parlour and an abattoir.

One thing we tried to instil in them was the need to adopt the humane stunning of animals before slaughter, using captive bolt stun guns, which then didn’t exist in Russia.

Visiting an abattoir, I innocently asked the guy in charge how they stunned the A Finnish international expert animals. I was horrified helping cheese makers 8

when he produced a huge cudgel, which wouldn’t have been out of place in the Flintsones. Next morning I was on the telephone to the UK stun gun manufacturers Accles and Shelvoke in Birmingham, through their agents in Helsinki, and ordered two stun guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Unfortunately, when the order arrived at Pulkova airport aboard a DHL plane, it was promptly impounded. Eventually, after weeks of wrangling, we managed to negotiate its release in the time-honoured Russian fashion – by putting a crate of vodka upfront.

Since then I have worked on projects in Beirut (which lasted only until I was evacuated to Cyprus by the Royal Navy when the so-called Cedar Revolution erupted after the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri by Syria), Kosovo, Lipetsk, Moscow (twice), Nizhny Novgorod, Pushkin, Tabuk (Saudi Arabia) and now, for the second time, Ashkhabad, having been here first in 2001-2003. Things have changed a lot since the first time I was here. A whole new white marble city has been built, new hotels, new sports facilities and new government ministries have all gone up. Now we can fly safely to other Turkmen cities in new Boeings instead of the ancient clapped-out Russian Ilyushins and Tupolevs. Last time I was here, we used to drive the 620 km to Turkmenabad by road across the Karakum desert, leaving at five in the morning just as it was getting light and before it got too hot.

The journey took about six-and-half hours in a BMW 730. Once, we came across a car in the middle of nowhere with the roof completely flattened level with the bonnet and boot. In the road were five dead camels. It seems they tend to sit in the road at night as the tarmac is still hot from the day’s sun and get up when they hear a car coming.

These poor beasts, though, had their legs cut from under them and fell on the roof. There were no survivors in the car, either.

Turkmenistan survives on selling oil and gas to Russia or China, but with the sustained drop in prices exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy is suffering. Agriculture, which employs more than half the population, is the next largest contributor to GDP, at 17%, so our project has been quite important in improving food production and promoting the export of high value agricultural products to help offset the drop in oil and gas revenue.

The project finishes at the end of this year when I think it might be about the right moment to retire – maybe …

David Pepper Ashkhabad, June 2020 9

Letter to the Editor Thank You One Stop I just want to say a special, personal thank you to the front-line staff at the shop in Meldreth Post Office. I am a retired teacher/pensioner and since the lockdown, particularly appreciate very much the social contact there, on my daily walk to the shop for food and post.

I do not have living family here and contact my family, including grandson aged four and parents, via the web, like a lot of people. But I feel lucky to have the old shop there and it enables me to do my walking or cycling exercise and to get out - obeying the social distancing rules, of course.

So thank you, staff. It’s the short but sweet human contact that makes so much difference, having a laugh and helping with any problems I have with my card etc. They are friendly, efficient and most of all human.

Special thanks to Sophie and Jane. Cheers!

Eleanor Palmer-FitzGerald, High Street, Meldreth

Waterlight The team that made the film “Waterlight - Portrait of a Chalk Stream” is pleased to announce that from 25th June the film will be available on DVD. We were so sorry that we had to cancel the event on 19th March, so we hope this will give you a chance to see the film. We have made it easy to place an order by putting an easy-to-pay point on our website, https://waterlightproject.org.uk.

The cost is £7.00 which includes postage as well as the DVD itself. You can also download a high definition version of the film to your computer. The cost of the downloaded version is £4.00.

We hope you will enjoy the film.

Clare Crossman, Bruce Huett, Nigel Kinnings and James Murray White for Waterlight 10

Spotted Flycatchers in Meldreth You may recall that Michael Holdsworth of the British Trust for Ornithology has been monitoring Spotted Flycatchers in Meldreth.

These small birds winter in Africa, returning to the UK to breed.

Over the past few years they have been regular visitors to the churchyard, using both gravestones and trees as launchpads for their acrobatic aerial displays. They usually arrive during the second or third week of May. However, this year, the birds arrived a week early. A local resident heard their calls on 5th May and this was confirmed by sightings two days later. The warm southerly winds probably assisted their early return.

Over the following week the birds were discreetly monitored. On occasion, two were seen feeding at the same time, sharing a perch; clearly a pair. In fact, one was seen fluttering its wings, behaviour that Michael suggested was probably the female soliciting for a mate! Two weeks after they were first sighted, one of the birds was seen sitting on the nest that was used last year. The question arose as to whether these were last year’s pair. Careful observation indicated that neither bird was ringed. Last year the male bird was a ringed individual, so it’s possible that the female returned with a different beau!

At the end of May it was obvious that both birds were taking food to the nest, suggesting that their chicks had hatched. This was confirmed on 5th June, when Michael noted five chicks in the nest. Two days later the adults were briefly captured and ringed, before being weighed and measured and then released. They were soon back feeding their young.

We now await the chicks to fledge. This could be over a period of ten days but may depend upon the weather. As the first brood has hatched early, we hope that the adults will, like last year, raise a second brood before returning to Africa for the winter.

Once again, we wish to thank the owners of the property where the nest is located, for allowing access. And a quick hello to the Fedex driver, who stopped to enquire what was going on and left promising to looking up Spotted Flycatchers on his PC! Jan Butchers Stop Press: The fledglings left the nest on 13th June. There is no sign yet of the female laying another clutch of eggs.

11

PC Repairs

MELDRETH

Advice & Installation of Home Networks Help with Selecting a computer

LANDSCAPES

Fault Finding Brian Girling 01223 208529 (Wimpole)

Design & Layout Plans

E-mail bg@moncraft.co.uk We can also provide the following services: Design of brochures, posters, business cards, etc.

A4/A3 laminating • A4 comb-Binding Small print runs on A6 to A3 media

Hard Landscaping & Lighting Planting & Water Features

The Most Thorough Clean or it’s Free!

Pergolas, Decking, etc

Tel: 01763 261463

Carpet, Upholstery, Leather, Rug & Stone/Tile Cleaning

www.meldrethlandscapes.co.uk

Call today on 01223 863 632 Please quote “Meldreth Mag”

Kneesworth Rd., Meldreth, Royston, Herts

Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

G I L H O O LY

Unit 1, Whitecroft Rd, Meldreth, Royston, SG8 8NE

MOTS Cars and vans Service and repairs to all COMMERCIALS HORSE BOXES MINI BUSES

VANS

Flexible working hours to suit you Monday — Saturday

Phone Mick on: 01763 263248 12

Meldreth COVID Quilt Art Project I have been deeply moved by the way the creative arts are helping people cope with their mental health during lock down. The beautiful music sung from the Italian balconies and the popularity of Grayson Perry’s Art Club and Kirsty Allsopp’s Keep Calm and Carry on Crafting on Channel 4 are all examples of how the arts can help uplift, distract and absorb us in times of crisis.

As a practising Art Therapist I can see how making art helps people with their mental health and wellbeing.

I wanted to be able to set up an arts based project for the people of Meldreth and I would like to invite anyone living here to submit a 20cm square picture with the theme of the pandemic. It can be drawn, painted, sewn or photographed and show anything that relates to this unprecedented time. Rainbows, empty streets, views from a lock down window or even stockpiled loo rolls, or pictures of models made with toilet roll tubes could be included. I will collate and collect the images digitally and make a village collage as a memory for us to look back on when things do finally change. It is not a competition and all images will be included. It is the process of making and sharing collectively with the community that is most important; you don’t need to be an artist to participate anybody can have a go, young and old.

If you could take a picture of your art work and send it to me via email by the end of July 2020 with your name and perhaps some information about your picture if you want to. I will ‘sew’ it together digitally to share with you all and when lock down is over I will aim to put the real images together for a lasting memorial for the village. We could possibly hold an exhibition in the Village Hall.

My email address is: l.pemberton2@btinternet.com.

I hope you enjoy the process of making your image and I am really looking forward to seeing what ideas you comes up with.

Lesley Pemberton 13

Meldreth Scarecrow Festival: 11th-12th July Plans cancelled?

Diary a bit empty?

Join us for the first Meldreth Scarecrow Festival on the weekend of 11th to 12th of July Craft, build and decorate your scarecrow on the theme of Children’s Entertainment Prizes to be won for the best scarecrow

You are invited to join us for Meldreth’s first Scarecrow Festival. It is intended to be a fun, family-friendly event that can both inspire the crafters, makers and decorators out there and also provide an entertaining weekend of walks through the village to spot the creations.

The event will be held on the weekend of 11th and 12th of July with the theme of Children’s Entertainment.

To accompany the festival, we have two mascots, Paddington the Scarecrow (see back cover) and Martha the Scarecrow (above) who will be on signs and event details.

Please see the following page for further information. Full details are being finalised but the event can be followed on the Spotted in Meldreth Facebook page. If you don’t have access to Facebook and would like further information, then please email me using the address below.

Colouring Competition Martha has lost her colour and needs help getting it back, so there will be a children’s colouring competition too. You can use the image on page 16 of this issue or can download a PDF to colour in here: https:// www.tammyfaires.com/free-stuff. Entries can be photographed and sent by email or put in an entry box in One Stop.

There will be three age groups for the colouring competition: 4-6 years, 7-10 years and 11-14 years. Meldreth Matters is kindly providing a £10 voucher for the winner in each category.

Roger Faires roger.faires@googlemail.com 14

Meldreth Scarecrow Festival: 11th-12th July When does it start and finish?

Please get your scarecrows up by 10.00am on the Saturday and away by Sunday Evening.

What are the prizes and how will they be judged?

There will be a top prize of a £50 Shepreth Wildlife Park voucher, kindly sponsored by TTP. Additional prizes will be awarded for “most accurate”, “most inventive” and “most entertaining” scarecrow and will be sponsored by local businesses. Judging is expected to be via a people’s choice vote, which will be held on Facebook.

Have you thought about an influx of visitors to the village?

This is a community activity to bring us together, keep the kids happy and give us something else to look at on our walks. It isn’t going to be advertised further afield.

What if I do not want or can’t make a scarecrow but am keen to get involved?

Spot the scarecrows and give your neighbours some support. There will also be a colouring competition for children.

Is the ambition for this to become an annual event?

Currently this is a one-off, but we shall see how things go. We are aware other villages run similar festivals.

Will there be a map guide to the scarecrows across the village?

The ambition is that one will be created but the core goal is participation.

Where can I safely put my scarecrow?

Please be mindful of where people will need to stand to view the scarecrow. Please don’t let the scarecrow cover the highway or footway in anyway.

Are you taking any COVID-19 measures?

As a community outdoor event, people should be stay alert to maintain social distancing and keep safe in line with the current government guidance.

Roger Faires

15

Colouring Competition: Colour in Martha. Please see page 14 for more information.

16

Dust Free Wood Floor Sanding & Restoration

Is your Wooden Floor in need of Sanding?

Call today on 01223 863 632 Please quote “Meldreth Mag” Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

iPLASTER

SKIMMING / PATCHING CEILING REPAIR WATER DAMAGE REPAIR ARTEX COVERED

01763 260 526 07837 645173

Email - iplaster@outlook.com CONTACT FOR FREE QUOTE IAN NORTH END MELDRETH

P.D. Property Services

We can make life a little easier

1 Abbots Close Litlington Nr Royston, Herts SG8 0QQ

Local Community Services at Moorlands Court

Day Centre

25274

25274

PLUMBING, HEATING & GAS

Our friendly day centre is open from 10 am to 3 pm, Tuesdays to Fridays.

FULL BATHROOM DESIGN & INSTALL

Interesting activities, sociable atmosphere, home cooked lunch.

OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Transport available for older people living in Melbourn and nearby villages.

TEL

01763 853 778 MOB 07768 332380

From £8.40 per hour.

To find out more, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email: denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk

ASK FOR PAUL

17

Meldreth Village Trail Challenge! 

Do you love a challenge and enjoy a quiz?



Do you like being outside in the fresh air?



Fancy a wander around this lovely South Cambridgeshire village?



Are you happy to donate a minimum of £5 to The Arthur Rank Hospice?



Would you like to win a bottle of champagne and chocolates?

Suitable for all ages You can take part any time between 1st July and 31st August 2020, For more information and a copy of the quiz please contact Helen: hmeridew@btinternet.com www.justgiving.com/fundraising/meridewfamily

In memory of David

18

Children’s Activity Page: Fun Things to do with Fruit, Vegetables and Eggs Ladybirds Take a few washed strawberries, remove the leaves and cut them in half. Place the cut side down on a board or plate. Put a blueberry at the leaf end. Use a little melted chocolate to ‘glue’ the berries together then dip a cocktail stick in chocolate to draw the spots, antennae and wing division.

Turtles Peel a kiwi and wash a few green grapes. Carefully cut the kiwi into thick slices. Place them on a plate. Use a grape for the head and half grapes for the 4 legs. Make 2 small holes for eyes in the head and put a kiwi seed in each.

White mice Hard boil an egg. Cut it in half and make a slit near the end for the ears. Cut a small radish into thin slices and press 2 of them gently into the slit. Use a cocktail stick to make 2 holes for the eyes then use the same stick to push 2 small pieces of raisin into the holes.

Insects Use your imagination - tomatoes, grapes, blueberries, peas make good bodies and thinly sliced cucumber makes excellent wings. Stick everything together with a little cream cheese filling the groove in a length of celery.

Hilary Crawforth Editor’s Note: please send photographs of your creations to meldrethmatters@hotmail.com and we will feature some of them in a future issue.

19

1st Melbourn Rainbows The spring term started as any other: tales of Christmas, the presents, the food, the visits to family. We always start back with a get-to-knowyou session and some games to introduce the new Rainbows to the meeting. This term we had nine new girls over the two different groups.

One of the first activities of the term was the very exciting trip to the Panto! We went to see Jack and the Beanstalk at King James Academy in Royston. The performance was fantastic and the girls thoroughly enjoyed the day.

This term we were working on our ‘For my future’ and ‘Take Action’ badges and this involved a lot of DIY skills! The Rainbows identified different tools and their uses, learned how to use cable ties, how to attach a new drawer handle, used a paint roller and practised using screwdrivers and Allen keys. Who knew it could be so much fun!

The Rainbows learned how to count coins and their values, and then used twenty pence each to buy some delicious fruit to make a fruit kebab. Every girls’ kebab was different as they all bought different things. Some stacked theirs in a pattern, some in order. They all ate them very fast though!

The girls had a go at decision making by choosing four songs and four games and then voting on which ones to do in the session.

Tough decisions were made that night.

We decided to decorate plant pots for Mother’s Day this year and fill each of them with a flowering bulb.

The girls used decoupage paper and glue to decorate the outside of their pots.

20

Unfortunately we were unable to meet as a unit after that week so Buttercup and her daughters potted them up at home and delivered them to the Rainbows’ doorsteps in time for the big day.

The end of this term has been different to say the least! We had no end of term session for our older Rainbows going up to Brownies (although we will try to include something once we return) and our last couple of sessions, to complete badge work, could not be held.

Instead, we have set up ‘Virtual Rainbows’. We are keeping in contact with a weekly newsletter and if the girls complete any badge work at home, we organise a video call so they can show us what they have done. It is working really well and the girls seem to be enjoying it. We will continue with our virtual Rainbows until we return to normal and can get back to our weekly meetings.

Rainbows is a Girl-guiding section for ages 5-7 years. Run by volunteers, we try to cover a range of topics and activities each term, and we try to make it as fun and interesting as possible. For enquiries, please visit the Girl-guiding website: www.girlguiding.org.uk.

Stef Cooper

Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership Competitions The entry deadline for the competitions featured in last month’s issue of Meldreth Matters has been extended until 21st July.

For details of the competitions, see last month’s Meldreth Matters, which can also be viewed online at https://issuu.com/meldrethmatters/docs/ mm_may_2020_issuu/26 or follow the link on the Rail Partnership’s home page: http:// meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk.

Susan van de Ven and Sarah Grove Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership 21

Meldreth Primary School www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk Since the school closed on 20th March, we have continued to open our doors every day throughout lockdown for a very small number of children, predominantly those with parents who are emergency workers. We have staffed this on rotation, with all those available pitching in to help. However, the numbers have sometimes been so small that there have been occasions when the staff have outnumbered the children!

In May, the government announced that schools in England would reopen to three (out of seven) age groups in primary schools on 1st June. So began a fairly intense period of preparation for the day when we could welcome back a significant proportion of our children.

Extensive risk assessments were drafted and redrafted, amended and circulated, reviewed and rewritten as government policy and advice gradually unfurled.

We had to survey our parents to discover firstly how parents felt about their children returning to school and secondly, whether or not they were committing to the plan so we could prepare numbers.

Regular online Zoom meetings with staff enabled us to form a plan for reopening our doors. To ensure that social distancing could be maintained, numbers were limited to twelve per classroom, so all our classrooms were quickly designated for use. Tables were spaced at approved distances from one another and all unused furniture stacked up and removed to storage until whatever date in the future we ‘get back to normal’! Ha!!

In the meantime, to bolster ‘locked down’ spirits, I wrote a lockdown rap: the staff submitted videos of themselves performing sections of it and Miss McGinty deftly stitched it together into a whole and posted it 22

on the school website. Back in school, preparations for 1st June continued apace. We created seven ‘Learning Bubbles’. These were the groups of eight to ten children who, with their assigned adults would be consigned to their given learning space. To avoid possible crosscontamination, each group was designated its own toilet adjacent to or contained within the bubble.

Our ground staff came and painted lines on the school field so that each ‘bubble’ group would have sole use of a small section of the school field or playground.

Packs of classroom equipment were made up – pencils, pens, scissors, crayons and so on for each individual child who was returning, so nothing would be passed around. Cases of hand gel and antiviral sprays were circulated throughout the school as the anti-COVID battle plan progressed.

Parents of those children returning were notified of our new routines and procedures. A staggered timetable was devised, so no two bubbles of children would mix outside the school gates and two metre distancing was indicated along the pathway running up to the entrance.

The military style preparations understandably led to some staff anxieties and uncertainties; a thousand ‘What-ifs’ and plenty of restless nights as 1st June approached … and then it arrived, and so too did the children, dutifully arriving on the Tuesday for our first day back.

Apprehensive at first, they ‘gathered’ in two-metre spaced lines and filed into their bubbles. Of course, the majority of the school population were still at home – it was only our youngest two year groups and our oldest, Year 6, who had returned, so as well as managing groups in school we are continuing to plan and mark the work of those children who are still ‘enjoying’ Home Learning, and we feel tremendously for those children and their families who we know are longing to be reunited with their friends and school!

23

Life at school has certainly undergone the most dramatic changes that I’ve known in my career and there are many additional aspects to our return that have been hugely affected – lunch routines – bringing a reading book from home – PE - first aid – are just a few that spring to mind. However, from this point, I shall hand over to the children for their comments about how they see the return to school from their perspective.

Andrew Jones Deputy Headteacher

Our younger children in Year 1 made fairly modest observations: I have liked seeing and playing with my friends. Caia Z I have really enjoyed playing with my friends. Declan P I have loved seeing Oscar and making my writing smaller.

Sebastian P I have enjoyed learning about The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Oscar D The older children in year 6 were a little more expansive!

Coming back to school feels very strange because I hadn't seen my classmates in AGES! We're not allowed to leave our bubble (which is only our classroom and the bathroom next door). We have a different teacher (Mr Jones) instead of our proper teacher because she has more restricted rules. Even though she isn't teaching us, she is still setting work for us! In conclusion, I'm enjoying being back at school, seeing my friends, socialising and having fun! Joseph Y6 Coming back to school was one of the best things that could have happened. We have so much fun while staying 2 metres apart. We rarely see the other class since we are stuck in our bubbles that no one can come in or out. I enjoy being back at school because I get to have a little more time with my friends that I’m not going to see at Melbourn next year. Chris 2 metres, 2 metres, 2 metres. That's what it's all about. When we are waiting to sanitise, 2 metres. At our tables, 2 metres. Washing our hands for lunch, 2 metres. It's all two metres.

Actually, it's a lot of 'box' too. Our classroom is basically a box. We 24

have a box on the playground and our box on the field. Those boxes are the only places we go.

We eat lunch in our classroom. Also, everything is named. All of my pencils, my glue stick, my ruler, my rubber, everything! Eva Back at school, I actually find it quite exciting, because we sometimes can eat outside, get our own chromebooks and we even get our own trays with organized pencils and pens.

It is a bit strange that we have to keep two meters apart from each other and talk over barriers, but I am getting a bit used to it. Break times are also fun, because sometimes Harry, Oliver, Owen and I play with paper airplanes in our area on the basketball pitch. Matthew.

School during COVID-19 is very different from normal school and since we have had 9 weeks of doing work at home it is very strange to be back. In class we are divided into groups of eight and we learn in different classrooms. It is very different as we have lunch in class instead of the hall and we have only a fraction of the field to play in.

People only get given one Chromebook, one pen, one pencil and other stationary to decrease the risk of spreading germs. Overall school in COVID is strange but is slowly getting back to normal. Max Back at school it was way different, way more separated where we sit.

It's hard at break and lunch. We have to stay in boxes on the field or the playground every time we come in we need to wash our hands.

When we play football it's annoying because there’s no goalie and we can't even tackle each other. Oscar It has been strangely great being back because at the start I thought that we wouldn't come back. It is so hard not seeing everyone for ages and then having to social distance from them. Also it is good that we can eat lunch in the classroom and we don't have to queue for lunch. The annoying thing is that we can't tackle when we play football! But overall it is amazing! Annabel 25

Meldreth Manor School As spring becomes summer we have new hope and are beginning to work towards creating a bright new future. As with any challenge we face at Meldreth Manor, we have approached these past difficult months as an opportunity.

Within lockdown we have had to be creative and initiative and rethink how we work, and to make the most of what we have within ourselves and our grounds.

Until these past few weeks, external contractors were not able to come on site so all works and development projects ceased. They include all our improvement projects we undertook as a team, with what we already had because our suppliers were not operating. A derelict run down outhouse has become a special quiet space for reflection, with an outdoor classroom attached.

Several derelict flower beds have been brought back to life. We have added lots of sensory stations around the grounds for our children and young people to engage with and enjoy. This summer our grounds will possibly look the best they have looked for a long time. Thank you to anyone and everyone that has made donations and contributions to these projects.

As lockdown gradually began to lift, we were delighted by the arrival of our outdoor musical instruments after such a long wait. We are looking to have these installed and in place in the ‘Musical garden’ by the end of June.

As some external contractors are returning to work and able to come on site, work on the refurbishment of our hydro pool has recommenced. As you take your daily exercise past our buildings, you will see that they are now a beautiful shade of blue. Many of our 26

children and young people struggled with the sensory overload of the bright harsh reflections from the previously white walls on a sunny day.

Our new blue is a much easier colour to live with, and will hopefully support the comfort and well-being of our children and young people.

Teaching and learning continue in our reconfigured format. Over this summer term, each class is learning around the theme of a different country each week.

This has created an opportunity for many of our staff to celebrate and share their family cultural heritage.

The children have experienced the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of each country and they have learnt about each diverse culture through food, sensory stories, music and crafts. Raven class have created some amazing papier mâchÊ bowls based on the theme of Ghana and tasted authentic Ghanaian food prepared by a member of the Care team who is of Ghanaian heritage.

Some families have been able to meet their son/daughter following the strict guidelines of meeting in a park and observing social distancing etc. Even after all these months of not seeing your child, strictly no cuddles are allowed. Although these have been very emotional events, everyone involved has stringently followed the guidance in order to continue to keep us all safe.

Many staff are continuing to take on extra hours, extra work and extra responsibilities in order to maintain our high standards and full provision. We are so grateful to and proud of everyone who making such an extraordinary effort, showing commitment, professionalism and selflessness in such challenging times.

Keep happy, healthy and safe.

Nadine McFadden Head of Education Meldreth Manor School nadine.mcfadden@the-aurora-group.com 27

Shepreth Spitfires Football Club www.sheprethspitfires.co.uk It is lovely to see more of the Spitfires out and about in Meldreth as things get a little easier for lots of us.

We still have some of our children shielding at home with their parents and we wish them and all of the readers well and we look forward to seeing you all when things are safer, which we really hope won’t be too long now.

These past two weeks have been very exciting as all age groups except tots have returned to training at the Eternit Sports and Social Club, Meldreth and Shepreth Recreation Ground. The children who have been able to come have absolutely loved getting back to training and lots of the parents have said that training is now the highlight of their children’s week, which is great feedback. The children train while socially distanced and in groups of four so we would like to say a huge thank you to all of the Shepreth Spitfires coaches because without them all being on hand, it would not be possible to get the children back to their beloved footy.

The Spitfires have also been finishing off their ten and twenty mile running medal challenges and it has been great to deliver and send medals to all of the Spitfires and their siblings who took part. Two of the younger siblings in particular have said that theirs are the first medals that they have ever won. Lots of 28

the children have told us that people in their villages have said, “well done” and “keep going” to them as they run round the village, so a big thank you for supporting them; it really gives them a great sense of achievement.

As the children finish their running, their next medal challenge is to do three pieces of craft; they can do Lego, junk modelling, writing, drawing, painting, anything really relating to the topic which is Shepreth Spitfires FC. By far the most popular thing so far, however, is to bake. Lots of the children have made cup cakes and one lad made a full-size cake of the Spitfires badge (pictured right) which was fantastic.

The children are also extremely excited about the presentation day which has now been confirmed and will be held at the Eternit Sports and Social Club, Meldreth. We owe a great deal of thanks to the whole team there who have come up with a social distancing plan that allows us to present to one team at a time while also being able to use the Club facilities and the bar, which is fantastic. So a big ‘Thank You’ to you all, from 60 totally thrilled children!

So it is very exciting at the Football Club at the moment and if your child would like to join Shepreth Spitfires FC, please feel free to call Sean on 07510 175370 or Lucy at lucy_smith_9@yahoo.co.uk or use our web page at www.sheprethspitfires.co.uk.

Lucy Smith

Meldreth Matters is Online To view this or past issues, follow us on: issuu.com/meldrethmatters 29

Whaddon Road, Meldreth, SG8 5RL

Club Facili es

Entertainments

Licensed bar Hall available for private hire for any occasion (compe ve rates) Fully equipped gymnasium (annual subscrip on) Snooker room, Pool table Large children's outdoor ac vity area Bowls green, Petanque pistes Football pitches, changing rooms

1st Friday of the month Melbourn Rock Club One Saturday a month Melbourn Rock Club Rock and Roll Night Every Thursday night Eternit bingo—starts 7.30pm Local gig venue

Big charity events during the year Motorcycle Rally - Air Ambulance - Mini Chill weekend - Camping - Local Chari es Club Charity - LUPUS

Specialists in made to measure window coverings: Beautifully made and locally produced Curtains and Roman Blinds Roller, Vertical, Pleated, Wood, PVC and Aluminium Venetian Blinds Plantation shutters and Awnings Experts in home automated motorised solutions FREE- NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS. FIND US AT Phillimore Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Melbourn. SG8 6EY Tel: 01763 263399 www.sageblinds.co.uk Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-4pm

30

COVID-19 Government Advice Stay Alert We can all help control the virus if we stay alert. This means you must:  stay at home as much as possible

   

work from home if you can limit contact with other people keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible) wash your hands regularly

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

For the most up-to-date advice see h ps://www.gov.uk/coronavirus and www.nhs.uk/condi ons/coronavirus-covid-19

Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support Zone Leaders If you need help, just call: Kneesworth Road, West Way, Burtons & Fenny Lane: Anna Holness, 07793 312137 Elin Way and Howard Road Zone: Andrea Cook, 07931 230012 Whitecro Road, Chiswick End, Oakrits, Melrose: John Crawforth, 07595 627684 High Street, Flambards, The Grange, Woolpack, Sta on Yard and Road: Helen Munday, 07712 555598 Bell Close and Gables Close: Cathy Walston, 07757 086380 North End, Brewery Lane, Malton Lane, Cam Farm: Bev Co rell, 07773 592838 and Ian Mitchell, 07726 936635

Food Bank

Screenbank We are appealing for unwanted computer equipment.

For details of how we are pu ng this equipment to good use, please see pages 56-57.

If you are experiencing food or essen al items shortages, we encourage you in all confidence to contact the Meldreth Food Bank: simply telephone Ann Bobeckyj any me on 07592 355279, or just drop in at 69 High St, The Gables, opposite The Bri sh Queen, Tuesdays 10.00am to midday or Thursdays from 2.00-4.00pm.

If preferred and with complete discre on, a delivery can be arranged.

31

Meldreth Coronavirus Co Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support Update Keeping Safe Public Health advice on the importance of con nued vigilance against COVID-19 infec on and contagion, especially for those who are shielding and at a moment when the ‘R’ ra ng is s ll at a concerning level, means that con nued support for people in our communi es remains firmly in place. Please contact your Zone Leaders (see page 35) who can help arrange help with food and essen al supplies shopping, prescrip on collec ons, or a friendly call.

We’re mindful that a return to more restric ve lockdown measures is a possibility, and that economic, health and other impacts of the pandemic will be long-las ng.

Test and Trace Responsibility Delegated to Local Authori es We are all being asked to support a new NHS Test and Trace programme which will aim to track every case of COVID-19 in our communi es. Cambridgeshire County Council, as local public health authority, has been delegated responsibility for managing tes ng and tracing in schools, care homes and work places. The Council’s brief is to develop that system by the end of June, at which point more informa on will be available. For now, we are being asked to follow this three-step plan: Step 1: If you have one or more of the symptoms of COVID-19 – a fever, a new con nuous cough or a loss of taste or smell – you and the people you live with need to immediately self-isolate.

Step 2: You should then book a test on the NHS coronavirus website. If you don’t have internet access dial 119. Do not leave home for any other reason.

Step 3: If you do test posi ve, you will be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service within 24 hours. NHS Test and Trace will help you establish who you have been in contact with and might have infected. You will also be given clinical advice and support for dealing with the virus. NHS Test and Trace will then contact those contacts anonymously.

If you are one of those contacts, you will be advised to isolate for fourteen days, even if you don’t have symptoms or feel perfectly well. If you developed symptoms, you would be required to get a test.

Informa on is constantly being updated, so do please check the NHS website for the latest: www.nhs.uk/condi ons/coronavirus-covid-19.

COVID Cases in the Community We’ve been asked why we don’t disseminate informa on rela ng to COVID-19 cases in our community. Put simply, this informa on is not ours to share. South Cambridgeshire has

Thank you to all our volunteers, and for all Any ques ons? Please call Philippa Hart on 07811 323571 or Susa 32

mmunity Support (MCCS) fared rela vely well compared to the rest of Cambridgeshire, and Cambridgeshire overall has fared well compared to the rest of the country.

Community Meals A nutri ous meal service con nues to be provided for a number of households in Meldreth, courtesy of Melbourn Coronavirus Community Response.

Face Coverings Face coverings are now mandatory on all public transport and advisable in enclosed spaces.

Hilary Crawforth has been leading the way making beau ful face masks in adult and child sizes. Please find the masks and leave whatever you can afford to pay for them, in the box outside The Gables, 69 High Street. All proceeds will be used for MCCS services. Dona ons of fabric and new sewing volunteers are very welcome.

Mental Health Support We’re working with the Melbourn Hub and Relate to set up a free counselling service. More details in next month!

We’d like to thank everyone who’s been in touch to offer their help. Any ques ons, please feel free to contact us.

Susan van de Ven, Philippa Hart and the MCCS Team meldrethccs@gmail.com susanvandeven5@gmail.com Philippajoyhart@gmail.com

Prescrip ons If you are in any way vulnerable and it would assist you to have help collec ng your prescrip on, please consider using our collec ons service.

Contact Nick Garner 07968 568599 or Bella Garner 07904 280976.

A big thank you to Bella’s sister Ka e, who is moving to Edinburgh but has been doing an enormous amount of the local collec on and delivery on her bike!

Ka e and Bella are pictured right

l friendship and support in the community. an van de Ven on 07905 325574 or email meldrethccs@gmail.com.

33

Royston & District Community Transport www.roytrans.co.uk We would like to reassure residents that we are s ll open and able to provide transport.

We con nue to provide essen al travel, e.g. to doctor and hospital appointments. As we come out of lockdown, we are star ng to cover addi onal visits and shopping trips, but only where there is no alterna ve.

We will also help with prescrip on deliveries and food deliveries where possible, including collec on of ‘Click and Collect’ orders.

Please ring (01763) 245228 giving as much no ce as possible. Lines are open from 9.00am-3.00pm Monday to Friday.

We can take folding wheelchairs etc for folk who can transfer, and have a fully wheelchair accessible vehicle if needed.

For the safety of clients and drivers, please follow these guidelines:

   

Please do not travel if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, Please wash your hands before travelling Unless absolutely necessary, you should travel unaccompanied You should sit in the back behind the passenger seat and wear a mask. We can provide one if necessary.

 Our drivers will also wear a mask  Car surfaces will be cleaned between journeys  Drivers will offer physical help only if necessary, and will try to maintain social distance whenever possible.

My thanks go to all the drivers who are volunteering to help clients and as a consequence are pu ng themselves on the front line and in harm’s way.

For further informa on, please see our website: www.roytrans.co.uk.

Pru Burton RDCT

34

Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch Fake TV Licensing Emails and Coronavirus Fake TV Licensing emails have been reported in Neighbourhood Watch articles in the past, but there is a new variation, linked to Coronavirus.

The emails purport to be from TV Licensing and claim that the victim's direct debit has failed and that they need to pay to avoid prosecution. Victims are told that they are eligible for a ‘COVID-19 Personalised Offer’ of six months free. The messages contain links to genuine-looking websites that are designed to steal personal and financial information.

Scammers will try to panic victims into acting quickly by using threats of imminent action (e.g. prosecution or loss of service) or tempt victims into acting quickly by using offers that seem too good to be true and that expire soon (e.g. six months free). In this case, both techniques are used to encourage victims to respond quickly.

Do not let the scammers rush or panic you into making a decision that you later come to regret, and be suspicious of any ‘too good to be true’ offers or prices. Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information in case it's a scam. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.

Every report matters so always report scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www.actionfraud.police.uk.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched a Suspicious Email Reporting Service; simply forward suspect emails to report@phishing.gov.uk If they are found to link to malicious content, the site will be taken down or blocked, helping prevent future victims of crime. If you're not sure whether a telephone call, email or text is a scam, you can talk to one of the trusted contacts in Meldreth: Graham (01763) 260358

Linda

(01763) 261405

Peter

Tim

(01763) 262801

(01763) 260323

You can contact Neighbourhood Watch by phoning Graham on the above number, or by emailing nhw.meldreth@btinternet.com.

Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch 35

since 2009 Winner: British Renewable Energy Installer of the Year, 2018

Call us anytime on 01223 863 885.

cambridge-solar.co.uk

MELBOURN FLOORING AND INTERIORS LIMITED Phillimore Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Melbourn, SG8 6EY Tel: 01763 262413 Vast Range of:

 Carpets and Vinyls  Real/Engineered Wood– Woodpecker, Xylo and many more  Balterio & Quickstep Laminates  Karndean, Amtico, Moduleo and Project Floors– Luxury Vinyl Tiles  Safety Flooring  Brand leading manufacturer samples available to take away Free survey and Estimates - Fitting by experienced staff VISIT OUR LARGE SHOWROOMS 9 TO 5 MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 TO 4 SATURDAY OR CALL ON 01763 262413 AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY STAFF. AMPLE FREE PARKING.

www.melbournflooring.co.uk

@melbournflooring

36

Meldreth Cottage Industry Since our last report many members of our group have been stitching fast! And we also have two new members, both living in Whitecroft Road.

It is not always been easy to know which organisations have the greatest need, but one of us who has a friend working in Addenbrookes says that he took in some bags for dirty scrubs for people to bring them home to go straight into the washing machine and reported that they had been snapped up like hot cakes from the table where he had left them! Some of us got to work and made around twenty that weekend from old sheets and duvet covers. It’s quickest to make them from pillow cases, but these have now all been exhausted!

I rang Aurora Manor School the day before this copy was due in to the editor, and although they had had two staff who had unfortunately contracted COVID, luckily neither were seriously ill. To date there have been no cases among the students which speaks volumes for their hygiene and strict measures taken to avoid the virus. Likewise Maycroft has done exceptionally well with no cases. Lynne the manager said she had had a phone call from a liaison officer from the CQC. (No actual inspections can take place at the moment). She was congratulated on having no cases of COVID amongst the residents and was asked what Lynne’s secret was. Lynne told her about the community making bags for the staff uniforms after use, to the astonishment of the officer! We have also made more caps for the carers working at Maycroft. These are fun to make and we have seen some really lovely renditions. Both homes say that they now have a good supply of PPE from us and don’t need any more making for the moment.

One of our members has done sterling work in making masks and has made more than 50 of them. Up till now these have been free at the food bank. We are now trying to sell them for funds for Meldreth and Melbourn Support Groups, so if you are short, go to the food bank on Tuesday mornings 10.00am-12.00 noon, or Thursdays 2.00pm-4.00pm and collect one for a small donation.

Good stitching everyone! Keep in touch, keep safe and go well!

Julie Draper juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk 37

Lock ‘n’ Load or “will I ever get to read that book?”

With the start of the lockdown in March there was no Tennis Club or Table Tennis Club to run; both having been shut down until further notice. Will I be bored? No, I thought - now is the time for me to start all those jobs that have been waiting to get done, then I can relax and read a few books while sitting in the immaculate garden.

The campaign began, all the seeds sown in the greenhouse were potted up, borders were tidied and shrubs pruned within an inch of their lives.

I stood back and admired the results, then the unseasonal heatwave hit.

I spent loads of time everyday watering to save the plants from dying from thirst; why did I sow and pot up so many? My burnt shoulders from the blazing sun dictated I do something indoors for a while so I oiled up my sewing machine and overlocker and made eight cushions for our new garden chairs.

Right, now to get that book and try them out …

No – before I could open the first page, Phillimore garden centre opened up so I rushed down to get my tomato growbags and get the tomato plants in and settled. Where did that two months go?

Right, where’s that book ...

No – as soon as I had fished it out the call came out from Papworth Hospital: Help! all you sewers, we need scrubs, our supplies are dangerously low. A whole group of us from Meldreth and Royston Tennis Clubs set ourselves up to respond to the call. One of us who didn’t have a sewing machine, elected to be the collector and deliverer of the outfits and off we went: we “locked ’n’ loaded” our sewing machines and started cutting, overlocking, sewing, hemming, swearing when the cotton broke or the two front trouser legs were sewn together … The real cottage industry spirit hit us all.

The material started coming through from neighbours, friends and the charity office at Papworth. There were pink polka dots, outrageous flowery prints, Thomas the Tank Engine and Mr Men duvets and orange, yellow and red spotted prints. Surely no one wanted to wear those, but no, the brighter the better to cheer up patients isolated in hospital wards. The Papworth scrubs fashion catwalk had begun.

The Great British Sewing B came back on the telly during all this and

38

there we were, all expert critics by now, shouting: “we would have done better than that!” “call that a good seam?” “I wouldn’t have chosen that material” and “garment of the week is the scrubs outfit made by Mary as modelled by Surgeon Mr Davies on his rounds this week wearing blue stripes on a purple and lime green background”.

The production line is still running and to date the group have made over 90 tops and trousers and the material keeps coming in. We have added washing bags to our repertoires. We had plenty of offcuts for these so 50 or so bags were made and sent on.

Papworth sent out a thank you to us all and included some pictures of the nurses and doctors in their colourful outfits. We were all excited to see some of our outfits being “modelled”. Oh yes and just in case our machines were slacking we made some masks too.

Well done all you sewers. It was great to be able to do something for the heroes on the front line.

Now where is that book …

Too late. The Tennis Club has reopened so it’s back to sorting out memberships, court keys, court notices, booking diary etc.

Christine Knight

New to the village?

www.meldrethhistory.org.uk See the Meldreth Today section for information on

footpaths * village facilities * over 25 local clubs & groups 39

Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk Unfortunately, our planned activities continue to be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

AGM Our AGM has been postponed until further notice. It is planned to circulate the Vice Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports to the Friends. At the rearranged AGM, the appointment of three new committee members will be considered while one will be standing down.

Jane Eyre by ‘This is My Theatre’ Group This was due to have been held in the church in May. Due to the pandemic, This is My Theatre have postponed this tour until 2021.

Open Gardens and the Car Show These will be run if restrictions are reduced at a suitable time of year.

John Price

40

Holy Trinity Church Following Government and Diocesan guidance, we are now able to open churches for private prayer, as well as small-scale funerals once more from Monday 15th June. There is no guidance yet as to when even small scale baptisms, weddings, or indeed “normal” Sunday or weekday public worship can resume.

Holy Trinity will be open for private prayer from as follows: Monday to Friday 10.00am – 3.00pm Saturday 12 noon – 3.00pm Sunday 11.00am – 3.00pm Alternative hours by arrangement – please contact Lesley Hollamby on (01763) 261082.

In order for us to do this safely, and in line with the guidance, please be aware that all those who enter church buildings must abide by certain rules. We have also had to make certain changes to access within the church buildings as well and we ask for your understanding.  If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, or if you are self-isolating, you must not enter the church building;  In Holy Trinity, the South door (porch door) is the point of access.  Everyone must use antibacterial hand-gel upon entering and leaving the church. In case you do not have your own, this is provided (please follow the signage);  Everyone must keep two metres apart from other people at all times (this does not apply to any other members of your household you may be in church with);  Candles have been removed from the candle-stand;  The prayer request books have been removed, as have the hymn books and any other loose books/leaflets/materials. If you have any prayer requests, please contact Lizzie, Mary or Pat;  Some areas of the church have been blocked or taped off to restrict access: please do not enter these areas;  Hassocks/kneelers have been removed from the church.

Lesley Hollamby 41

Notes From a Small Garden I can hardly bear to say goodbye to June.

Although the beginning was cold, it gave the roses a rest so that they didn’t all go over in two weeks and as I’m writing this, they are all looking magnificent. When we started to make this garden, old fashioned French roses were all the rage and I read Graham Stuart’s three books avidly. I dearly loved the roses we planted, but they had a number of disadvantages, not least that they were all three-week wonders. They often weren’t very robust and prone to green fly and black spot.

Now as I go round the garden, it’s interesting to note which roses have survived 40 years. The first is the apothecary’s rose, Rosa gallica v officianalis, the Red Lancastrian rose, a very strong magenta semidouble rose. It spreads underground which is fine for where I planted it, as it tolerates shade. It responds well to quite hard pruning in the early spring. To my joy this year, the white rose of York (Rosa alba L.) emerged from the undergrowth in the big mixed bed; I thought we had lost it. It was used by herbalists in the sixteenth century and usually appeared as the first among all the roses in their herbals; “… most ancient knowne rose … king of all others”.

The old moss rose Chapeau de Napoléon, so called because the calyx and the bud resemble Napoleon’s hat, is doing well. This semiclimbing pink rose came from a cutting off one at Shepreth church!

Other favourites still surviving well include the Scots roses, white and pink, (Rosa spinosissima), which also spread below ground and are easy to dig up to give a piece away. Alas, I have lost all the Bourbon roses; Madame Pierre Oger, La Reine Victoria and Louise Odier. They all have exquisite flowers, with incurved petals. I miss them greatly, but if I want to see them again, nowhere is better than Lucy Boston’s house at Hemingford Grey, where there is a wonderful collection of old roses.

The garden (but not the house) is now open again to visitors from 10.00am-6.00pm daily. See https://www.greenknowe.co.uk for further details and admission prices.

I don’t know when I first came across David Austin’s roses. They have the advantage of being repeat flowering, have beautiful shapes and 42

good fragrance and they grow well in this part of the village. My favourite is The Pilgrim, a beautiful quartered yellow shrub rose. I never pass it without the thought of where I am in life and where I’m going.

I’ll write again about how these repeat flowers are doing in September.

That is the time to judge whether a rose is worth a place in your garden!

There will be more next time about the veg patch. By July you might even be self -sufficient in veg! I have put tomatoes outside for the first time and I’m hoping they don’t get blight.

Some jobs for July:  Watering: pots need watering every other day in warm weather

and if it is really hot, every day. Use washing water when you can.  Feeding: “feed on Fridays” is a good mantra.  Keep the weeds down in the borders and the veg patch.  Plant seeds of biennuals, eg sweet Williams. The plants which Jim

gave me in February look like jewels in our potager.

Good gardening, keep safe and go well from Jim and me.

Julie Draper Juliedraper@dumbflea.co.u

Online Zumba Class Meldreth Zumba class is running on Zoom from 10.00am to 10.30am every Sunday morning while restrictions last. The class costs just £2.

Please email me on theaharrison@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to attend. The more the merrier!

Thea Peacock 43

What’s Happening Locally (or is about to!)

As Government Coronavirus restrictions are gradually eased some places have re-opened to the public or are planning to do so by the time you read this. Please check carefully before you visit - the situation is a changing one and more facilities may be opened as the weeks go by.

NB the latest government guidelines with regard to social distancing and hygiene apply in all cases.

Shepreth Wildlife Park The Park will hopefully be opening before July. Visitors will need to purchase a pre-paid ticket. For up to date information please visit https://sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk/your-visit.

National Trust properties such as Wimpole Hall, Anglesey Abbey and Ickworth have re-opened their parkland and Wimpole now has a very good multi-use trail for walkers and cyclists. You need to pre-book your visit - members included - or you will be turned away. Tickets are released each Friday for the following week and sell out quickly. Toilet facilities are available but cafĂŠs and shops remain closed, as do the historic buildings themselves. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk for directions, further details and booking arrangements.

Audley End House and Gardens, Saffron Walden CB 11 4JF will be open again from 4th July. As with the National Trust, you need to book in advance (including members) and the house will re-open as well as the grounds. There will be a limit on the numbers allowed to visit. See www.english-heritage.org.uk for further details. Other English Heritage properties are opening in early July; all remaining ones from 1st August.

Wandlebury Country Park, Gog Magog, Cambridge CB22 3AE remains open to visitors, with car parking facilities (cashless payment options available). All events and volunteer work parties have been cancelled until further notice but before you go why not take a guided online tree and wild flower walk so you can see what to look out for?

Visit www.cambridgeppf.org for further details.

Gog Magog Down. Just across the A1307 road from Wandlebury - a rare Cambridgeshire hill with great views, fine walking paths and the sound of skylarks! See www.magogtrust.org.uk.

44

Coton Reserve, Grantchester Road, Cambridge CB23 7PZ has lovely flowers in summer and is a a very pleasant place to stroll around. For directions visit www.cambridgeppf.org or try Trumpington Meadows Reserve, Grantchester Road, Cambridge CB2 9LH - details on the same website. Children love the wooden animal sculptures! It’s a short walk from here to Byron’s Pool too.

Ely Cathedral, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4DL is open again for private prayer and you can still explore 1000 years of history from the comfort of your home with a video tour and selection of striking photos. Just go online at www.elycathedral.org.

Cambridgeshire Libraries may re-open on a limited basis from 4th July as part of Phase 3 of the national recovery plan. This will not be a full re-opening and is likely to mean restricted hours, a click and collect book service and time-limited access to IT facilities. In the meantime, you can read more than 7000 eBooks online, plus audio books, eMagazines and eNewspapers. See www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk for details and further announcements.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden, 1 Brookside , Cambridge CB2 1JE opened again to the general public on 16th June with pre-booked tickets to control visitor numbers. These are released each Thursday at 10.00am. The café will operate a takeaway service and indoor areas such as the glasshouses will remain closed. Picnics are allowed. See www.botanic.cam.ac.uk for more details.

And if you’ve missed going out for a little something ...

La Pergola, Cambridge Road, Harlton CB23 1HA is closed for bookings but offers a takeaway collection or delivery service from Wednesday - Sunday 5.30pm to 8.30pm and on Saturdays and Sundays 12.00pm to 2.00pm. See www.lapergolacambridge.co.uk for their menu and call (01223) 26005 to book.

The Chequers, 22 Town Green Road, Orwell SG8 5QL also runs a takeaway service on Wednesday to Saturday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. For their menu and booking arrangements visit www.chequersoforwell.co.uk or call (01223) 207840 or 07889 548239 before 4.00pm - the chef will be busy cooking after that!

Hot Numbers Roastery, Dunsbridge Turnpike, Shepreth SG8 6RB has takeaway hot drinks, pastries and sourdough loaves daily from 8.00am4.00pm and pizza on Fridays and Saturdays, 11.00am-9.00pm.

45

John Crawforth

Cambridge Open Windows camopenstudios.co.uk/open-windows Although the dreaded COVID-19 virus has seen an end to this year's annual art extravaganza we've grown to love, all is not lost. A group of budding members have stepped up to the mark and are organising a treasure trail of art for the public to enjoy whilst out on their daily walks. #Openwindows2020 is a national campaign that is celebrating art in its many forms, displayed in as the name would suggest, a window or perhaps front garden. For all four weekends of July, artists will display their artwork for local residents to enjoy.

Treasure trail maps have been created with spots to indicate the location of participating artists. The maps are available to download from the Cambridge Open Studios website: camopenstudios.co.uk/open -windows.

Each participating artist will display their name and the Cambridge Open Studios website address alongside their art in their window and each artist has their own page on our website, so people can find out more about each artist they have visited.

If the lockdown is still in place, we will encourage people to adhere to social distancing rules and remind them to only travel locally as part of their daily exercise.

There is actually a handful of artist members who have already been doing this independently, to various degrees, since the lockdown began.

We now have 100+ artists signed up to take part in this initiative during the month of July.

We look forward to bringing you #COSart2020 this July.

More information can be found at: camopenstudios.co.uk/openwindows.

Jo Riches 46

Friendly, Professional, Expert

Visit our lovely private clinic on Melbourn Science Park for all your dental needs including general maintenance, fillings and restorations, braces, implants, tooth-whitening and much more. New patients are most welcome.

Call us on 01763261129 or email reception@specialistdentalpartners.co.uk 9 Beech House, Melbourn Science Park, Melbourn, SG8 6HB Free parking outside world-class dentistry, on your doorstep

Tudor Access Scaffolding

Now treating paddocks & large areas

Small friendly scaffolding firm established in 2010 offering services in the Cambs, Herts, Beds & Essex regions.

Can undertake all aspects of scaffold contracts including domes c & commercial, ranging from small access towers, temporary roofing, handrails, ne ng, monoflexing & all forms of scaffold protec on, from new build to refurbishments.

BESPOKE LAWNCARE SERVICES SINCE 2005 Independent and family run, we put the care into lawncare

01763 244955 lawnpartners.co.uk

47

Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk A meeting was held on Thursday 4th June 2020 through a video/audio link, in accordance with revised procedures provided by the Coronavirus Act 2020. The main points of this Meeting are set out below in the usual summary format. The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website at www.meldreth-pc.org.uk and on the Parish Council notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Parish Council meeting.

Discussions and Decisions  District and County Councillors’ Report: Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) manages a fund entitled ‘Innovate & Cultivate Fund’, the purpose of which is to support initiatives that strengthen our communities whilst relieving pressure on CCC resources.

Applications can be made to this fund by voluntary and public sector organisations in Cambridgeshire.

It was agreed that more information was needed about these arrangements and whether they might be available to support initiatives in the village.  HGV Report: the issue of heavy goods vehicle traffic in the County is

under review. This review has been extended to August and provides an opportunity for villages to consider and propose recommended changes to the routings in place. These routes are on major highways but there are obvious implications for villages that can be affected by traffic taking short cuts along minor roads. It was agreed that our Village Traffic Group should consider the position and provide input to this HGV review.  COVID-19: the organisers were thanked for the major contribution

that Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support programme is making, through its volunteer network, to respond to the effects of the virus on the community. It was agreed that government advice was not always very clear and this is making life difficult for those locked down or otherwise directly affected by the pandemic.

Although shops and businesses are reopening and some goods previously unavailable can now more easily be procured, it is felt that the effects of the virus will affect daily life for some time still to come. MCCS remains ready to assist across a broad range of activities, it being noted that social isolation, and its effect on vulnerable older residents, is likely to assert itself as a consequence.

48

 Planning: on 4th of June 2020, the Planning Committee considered

three issues relating to the development of the former scrapyard on Chiswick End. Outline consent for six houses had been granted and our Planning Committee considered the issues of reserved matters relating to appearance and materials; the changes made to the original designs were considered satisfactory. On the same site, the arboricultural proposals were thought to be satisfactory and it was noted that the archeological condition had not been lifted as the applicant needed to carry out the required survey.  Mettle Hill Site Trespassers: it was noted that there had been

incursions by local trespassers onto our site at Mettle Hill that included the use of a ‘quad bike’. A local intervention had brought this to a conclusion but those that are using our site for these purposes are putting themselves in harms way and the Council will investigate the issue further.  Greater Cambridge Local Plan: a study is to be carried out to

consider all aspects of the water environment in the context of growth envisaged under the Local Plan. This will look at all aspects of water infrastructure and the steps required to manage and protect the water environment. It was agreed that the Council is interested in this subject and wishes to be kept informed of progress and findings as the study proceeds. This will be notified to SCDC.  Reporting Anti-social Behaviour to the Police: at the suggestion of

the police, local residents will be encouraged to report directly to them, rather than through the Parish Council office, any incidents of anti-social behaviour. This will facilitate a direct response and a better flow of information. Contact details will be provided in the next issue of Meldreth Matters.  Other Issues: the survey of drains recently carried out has resulted in

a drain clearance project that will be undertaken by Highways on Monday 15th June and for the following two days. It will be necessary to ensure that cars are not parked over the drains during this period.

Next Meeting: this is likely be held online from 7.00pm on Thursday 2nd July 2020. Please see our website www. meldreth-pc.org.uk for further information.

Meldreth Parish Council 49

Meldreth Parish Council - Contact Details http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Royston SG8 6LT

Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12.30-2.30pm By appointment at other times Parish Clerk: Mrs J Damant (01763) 269928 parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk Mr R Goddin (Chairman) (01763) 260061

goddin@btinternet.com

Mr R A Searles (Vice Ch)

(01763) 260435

robert.searles@btinternet.com

Mrs C J Fallon

(01763) 262822

joan.fallonpc@gmail.com

Mr N Garner

(01763) 268328

nickphgarner@gmail.com

Mrs P Gilmore

(01763) 263138

patgilmore.mpc@gmail.com

Dr R James

(01763) 261085

roger+pc@rogerjames.net

Mr C A Land

(01763) 261004

conradland@btinternet.com

Mr Nigel Pellatt

(01763) 262444

nppellatt@btconnect.com

Mr A Young

(01763) 263484

andrewmpc@gmail.com

Planning Links Meldreth Council Planning meetings are usually held bi-monthly on Thursdays providing there is business to discuss. The unapproved minutes are available for download as soon as possible afterwards and will be available on a rolling twelve-month basis.

See https:// www.meldreth-pc.org.uk/planning1.html for further details.

Full details of all planning applications may be viewed on the SCDC website: http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wchvarylogin.display.

Refuse Collections in July Black bins: 7th, 21st Blue bins: 14th, 28th Green bins: 28th* * SCDC guarantee to empty green bins every four weeks but you may put out your green bin every fortnight and they will empty it if they can. For full details see https://www.scambs.gov.uk/greater-cambridge-phased-return-togreen-bin-collections-from-4-may 50

Cambourne Self Storage Outdoor Storage 24 Hour Access 7 Days a Week 365 Days a Year 24 Hour Remotely Monitored CCTV Sensor Flood Lighting Keypad Entry and High Security Locks, Vehicle Access Directly to Unit Doors

01767 676189 www.CambourneSelfStorage.co.uk Little Hands Nursery School The Moor, Melbourn

EVE CONSTRUCTION LTD

Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality education for the under fives and offers:

Experienced professional local builder

Flexible hourly booking - open 08.30 to 16.30 Term time bookings with optional holiday club Bumble Bee room for children 12 – 24 months Ladybird room for 2 year olds Butterfly room for children 3-5 years With optional “ready for school sessions” All sessions have a high staff to child ratio and are available for eligible funded 2 year olds and all funded 3/4 year olds with no extra charges Categorised as “Outstanding” by Ofsted

For further information contact Anne McCrossen: 01763 260964 lh-melbourn@btconnect.com Little Hands is also at Bourn, Linton and Newton visit the website at www.littlehands.co.uk

Village Garden Services

Extensions, alterations, structural work, carpentry, block drives, landscaping and all types of general building work

Contact : Campbell Weir Mobile : 07798 924022 Home : 01223 207583 Email : campbell.weir@outlook.com

Contact Mark 07889 669138 | 01223 264909 enquiries@eveconstruction.co.uk www.eveconstruction.co.uk

Reliable and friendly service for all your general garden maintenance needs and much more ...… !

51

District and County Councillors’ Reports Aside from reporting to the Parish Council’s June Zoom meeting on COVID-19 issues, here are some old-fashioned local authority news items. Some things, like recycling arrangements, are still in flux, so feel free to check with us on anything you’re concerned about.

New National Government Policy on Local Authority Planning Enforcement Policy details, including extending hours on building construction sites, is set out below; sorry about the long link! https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questionsanswers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-05-13/ HCWS234 HGV Traffic Policy Review Thank you to the Parish Council for feedback on Susan’s appeal for views on a prospective County Council review of current HGV traffic policy and advisory map; both are now many years old. The challenge is that with lack of police resources, the advisory and even legal limits are not realistically enforceable, yet they comprise something of a last line of defence for villages that endure HGV traffic cut throughs. Please take a look at the link below if you’d like to read the policy and see the map, and feed any comments back to us: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/ roads-and-pathways/heavy-or-abnormal-loads-on-the-highway Greater Cambridge Partnership: Foxton Travel Hub and ‘Melbourn Greenway’ The Foxton Travel Hub and Melbourn Greenway schemes go for decision to the Greater Cambridge Partnership Exec Board on Thursday 25th June. The Southern Option has been recommended for the Foxton Travel Hub, for which there is much local opposition due to the enormity of the proposed car park, its siting along the very problematic A10 and the difficulty of crossing the A10 to get to the station.

The Melbourn Greenway report proposes funding of the Melbourn to Royston pedestrian cycle path and a detailed design stage for the proposed bridge over the A505 at the A10 roundabout, the construction of which would be contingent on agreement with Hertfordshire. While the bureaucratic processes seem endless, this does nevertheless represent significant progress, if indeed the report is approved on 25th June.

52

Community Rail Partnership (CRP) The CRP has published a ‘Local Stations Improvement Plan’ which contains an audit of our three stations and encouragement for strategic improvements; this has been sent to the Greater Cambridge Partnership, local councils, our MP and so on. The report can be found on the Meldreth Shepreth Foxton Rail website (just Google those words). The CRP has now received formal accreditation status by the Department for Transport, making it eligible for a new range of funding.

Rail Services Adapted rail services in the COVID-19 outbreak have moved from a Sunday schedule to a Saturday schedule, remaining hourly for the timebeing. Please always check before you travel. The Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton Rail website gives links to live services and also to government advice and guidance on essential travel.

Bus Services You’re advised always to check with the operator before planning a trip by bus as many services remain curtailed. The 128 service continues to operate on a normal schedule in Melbourn, Meldreth, Whaddon and Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth. However, new practice due to COVID protections includes: hand sanitiser provided for use by passengers when boarding; exact change only accepted for fare-paying passengers; only 9-10 passengers per vehicle permitted. A number of seats must be marked off for no occupancy.

For up-to-date timetable information on the Stagecoach Busway A service, connecting Royston to Melbourn, Shepreth, Foxton, points in Cambridge and north to St Ives, please see this link: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/help-and-contact/national/covidtimetables-and-services Bins South Cambridgeshire District Council has promised to collect our green bins at least monthly in the phased return to normal service. If possible they will collect every other week, so we are asked to put our green bins out fortnightly and they’ll do their best. Please check the SCDC live updates on next bin collections at www.scambs.gov.uk/bins.

Recycling Centres Here’s what the County Council sent to us: “When the sites re-opened on Monday 11th May, the decision was taken to delay access to permit holders due to concerns over the time it would take them to unload their larger capacity vehicles, affecting levels of traffic and the ability to 53

adhere to strict COVID-19 social distancing measures on each site.

Following the weekly review of the service we are satisfied that, while the sites have been busy, there is enough capacity to gradually extend their use to permit holders. Access will initially be allowed only for permit holders that pre-book visits via an online booking system that went live on Monday 1st June. The link to online booking system and instructions: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/waste-and-recycling/ booking-system-for-e-permit-holders The online booking system for permit holders is a temporary measure and will allow us to stagger access for these vehicles at each site throughout the day, helping to limit queues and ensuring continued access to everyone who needs to make an essential visit to their local Household Recycling Centre (HRC). We have contacted all residents that hold permits by direct mail to inform them of these arrangements so they can book a slot at an HRC to use one of their twelve permitted visits.

See the link for e-permit scheme information and online application forms: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/waste-and-recycling/ household-recycling-centre-e-permit-scheme We will continue to review the service on a weekly basis and make amendments where necessary.”

Local Plan News The Issues and Options Consultation report was published on 22nd May and advises that the consultation ‘reached more residents than ever’. The report marks the start of a lengthy process to develop the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, the first joint Local Plan between Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Once finalised, the Local Plan will set out where in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire development is allowed to happen, where homes, business space, community facilities, shops and leisure facilities can be built and where green spaces can be protected or created.

From the circa 7,000 comments received, which the councils are still in the process of analysing, the initial feedback from the consultation identified the following key areas to be explored during the development of the Local Plan:  On where to build, it appears there is support for densification of existing urban areas, along with development along public transport corridors. Views on development around villages were polarised 54

and, on green belt development, it appears there is some support for locations which are sustainable in transport terms, to reduce car travel from locations further away.  Most people agree that the right seven themes have been identified for the Plan, but there was a range of views about which themes should take priority.  Infrastructure, which can refer to road and cycle networks, education and health provision and more, was the theme that attracted the most interest, by a substantial margin. Transport was the most commented-on topic.  The second most popular theme was, homes followed by climate change, which prompted a wide range of views; from those who felt it was a high priority, to those who felt that other issues should take precedence.  Many responses said that continued economic growth was important, although many also raised questions around whether growth was desirable. Some stated that wellbeing was a priority over growth, while others expressed the view that economic growth was the means to raise quality of life.

The report also sets out a proposed timeline for the next stages of the Local Plan process. “Preferred Options” for where development might take place, will not be published until the summer next year.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns or ideas, at any time.

Susan van de Ven, County Councillor Jose Hales and Philippa Hart, District Councillors Editor’s Note: For COVID-19 related news from our Councillors, please see pages 31-33.

MELDRETH PLANT HIRE TEL: 01763 262738 DIGGERS, DUMPERS, BREAKERS, WHACKERS, ROTAVATORS. AVAILABLE FOR DAILY OR WEEKLY HIRE. WWW.MELDRETHPLANT.CO.UK

55

Community Screenbank This remarkable project, initiated by Meldreth resident Andy Thomas, is now supported by a veritable team of IT and electrical engineering experts. The purpose has been to refurbish unwanted, second-hand computers for Melbourn Village College students lacking the necessary home IT equipment needed for home study.

The call out has seen a stream of donations in from far and wide: Meldreth, Melbourn, Shepreth, Foxton, Bassingbourn, Whaddon, Haslingfield, Histon, Cambridge, Barrington, Royston, London, Buntingford, Sandon – and even one from elsewhere in the UK, posted in by someone by the name of Leo! So far, 65 Melbourn Village College students have been provided with the means to carry on with their studies at home and we have some 40 more systems in the pipeline.

Our ‘team of experts’ stretches from one end of Meldreth to the other, with sixth former Oliver Sharp working through monitors, keyboards and mice. The team moves sideways out to Burford, yes that’s Burford in the Costwolds, where Andy’s mentor Martin, who is self-isolating, rebuilds laptops that Andy drives over to him. Andy deals with the desktops and maintains an increasingly complex spreadsheet detailing all work in progress, while David Coton continues to PAT test everything to be deployed.

Oliver Sharp and Andy Thomas with the air compressor

Funds that have been raised are being used to purchase some of the bits and pieces needed to complete a piece of work. Part of the fun is finding ways of making do and that allows what has been raised to stretch far. For example, instead of buying aerosol cans of compressed air at £5.99 apiece, Andy has got hold of a repurposed fire extinguisher that provides compressed air (fashioned by his father) and brought to life by a donated car battery. Free air!

Attention is now being turned to providing internet access to people who are isolated and lack home computers, but would like to venture into the on-line world: maybe to stay in contact with far-flung loved ones; do grocery shopping on-line; or attend a virtual language lesson, 56

church service or exercise class. All these things should be possible and we’re creating a pool of loan computers for all of these purposes.

We’re delighted to receive donations of the following: PCs and laptops running Windows 7 or later as these can generally be updated to the latest version of Windows 10, Apple laptops and desktop computers, iPads and Android tablets. We can also use many accessories such as screens, keyboards and mice.

We’re looking to deploy volunteers who can be the contact point for a device to loan out. The first such volunteer has designated herself a ‘Screenbank Runner’. So do get in touch, whether to make a donation or sign up as a Screenbank Runner or user. We especially want to hear from people who would like to try out a computer but are hesitant!

Thank you to all.

Susan van de Ven and Philippa Hart Susanvandeven5@gmail.com, 07905325574 philippajoyhart@gmail.com, 07811 323571 Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme Supporting people in Melbourn, Meldreth & Shepreth Can we help you? Your relative? Your neighbour?

What is the service?

We offer twice weekly visits and daily phone calls to support elderly or mobility impaired residents in their own homes by building a friendship and helping prevent social isolation. We can carry out errands such as local shopping, collecting prescriptions, paying bills or going to the Post Office so people can remain supported and independent at home. We can also help couples or those living with their family. We are also trained to support people living with dementia.

Who provides the services?

Mobile wardens, who have all been carefully selected for their caring nature and are DBS checked.

What will it cost?

We do make a small charge for the services, which is from as little as £7.50 per week.

How can I join?

For more information please contact Jeannie on 07808 735066 or Jane on 07592 821976.

Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme is a registered charity 57

The Moor Melbourn SG8 6EF 07163 223400 office@melbournvc.org www.melbournvc.org

EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY

A highly-rated community secondary school committed to ensuring every student achieves his or her very best through a rich and varied curriculum.

OFSTED (Sept 2017) confirmed: ‘An innovative curriculum that truly meets the needs of pupils’ ‘The first school in Cambridgeshire to introduce Mandarin at Key Stage 3’ ‘The school’s vision of Everybody is Somebody is evident in the support you provide for all pupils’ ‘Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school’ Senior Leaders will be delighted to show around prospective students and their parents. For more information or to book your tour, please contact Karin Doyle – office@melbournvc.org

58

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire www.hsrsc.org.uk Those of you who have been in touch with HomeStart via email might have noticed the little paragraph at the bottom of our emails, offering you the chance to win £25,000. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? We are pleased to be one of the good causes supported by the East Herts Lottery. The Lottery was set up in 2019 by East Herts Council, aimed at raising vital funds for local good causes. It is run by local councils, but governed by the Gambling Commission, who are also responsible for the National Lottery, the Health Lottery and all the other lotteries that run in the UK. During the COVID-19 outbreak, financial support from the East Herts Lottery has made a big difference to keeping Home-Start operating during these unprecedented times. Proceeds from the East Herts Lottery go towards funding our services helping families in crisis in the area. £10 pays for one of our volunteers to provide over-the-phone support to a family for an hour. £20 pays for a virtual family group: a great chance for parents and children to socialise online, giving everyone some much-needed human contact during lockdown.

Playing the East Herts Lottery is simple. If you’re online, you can go to the East Herts Lottery website, sign up for an account, choose your good cause to benefit from your tickets, and start playing. Every time a £1 ticket is purchased, the Lottery gives 50p to your chosen cause, 10p shared equally to the other causes in the area, 20p towards the prizes, and the final 20p pays for administration of the Lottery. If you’re not online, don’t worry – you can call the dedicated Lottery number, register your details and purchase your tickets over the phone.

If you’re already a Home-Start supporter, buying East Herts Lottery tickets: thank you! If you haven’t joined yet, why not give it a try?

After all, who doesn’t want to be in with a chance of winning £25,000?

East Herts Lottery: https://www.easthertslottery.co.uk or telephone (01279) 912777.

Cathy Coulthard Community and Events Development Manager Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire

Incorporated as Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire (01763) 262262, admin@hsrsc.org.uk 59

Healthwatch Coronavirus Survey Health and social care services are working hard to care for us all in these difficult times.

And the way most services are provided is changing to help keep people safe from COVID-19. Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Healthwatch Peterborough, the local champions for people who use health and social care services, want to know how these changes have affected you and those you care about? They are also finding out what toll the crisis has had on mental health and well- being.

Healthwatch has launched a new survey to gather people’s health, care and community support experiences during the coronavirus pandemic.

The survey is online, takes ten minutes to complete and is anonymous so you can share your or your family’s experiences in confidence, good and bad. What you say goes back to the people running the health and social care system, so they understand what is working well or what needs to change and why.

Please take part and help our local NHS and social care system make sure everyone gets high quality and safe support. The findings will be published fortnightly and will go back to our local NHS and care services and to Healthwatch England, to help inform the national response to the pandemic.

We want to hear from everyone as we’ve all been affected by the changes in our lives due to coronavirus. But we are particularly keen to hear from those most affected by changes to health or care services, or whose mental health has been affected. This includes people who are shielding, older people, and people with long-term health conditions.

Take the survey at: www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/coronavirus-yourviews If you need a paper questionnaire, please contact Healthwatch on 0330 355 1285 or text 0752 0635 176.

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

60

The Letting Centre Established 23 years, The Letting Centre is a local, dedicated letting agency based in Melbourn. With longstanding clients some of whom have been with us for 20 years or more, we aim to provide a personal, tailored service covering Cambridge, Royston, Buntingford, Saffron Walden and surrounding villages.

We offer discounted fees for multiple properties, as well as those located in Melbourn and surrounding area.

Call us for a free market appraisal and comprehensive landlord pack.

The Letting Centre, 107 High St, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire SG8 6AP Tel. 01763 263039 email enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk

61

Mick Taylor—(01763) 261118 Graham Borgonon—(01763) 260358 (01763) 262158, open 7am-10pm, 7 days Sherida Richards—(01763) 262512 Paul Ray—(01763) 260304

Cycling Group Local History Group Lunch Club Melwood Cons. Group

John Rogger—(01763) 260809 (01763) 260129; www.meldrethhistory.org.uk Nikki & Julie—07599 292327 (01763) 232855; www.melwood.btck.co.uk

Photographic Group

www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk

Revelation U3A WI

Miriam Skuce—(01763) 262440 Chris Davison—(01763) 264189 Jane Bates—(01763) 261638

Sport

Bowls Club Croquet Club Meldreth United FC Table Tennis Tennis Club

Vivien Constable—(01223) 207557 Janet Pope—(01763) 248239 07930 650036 Christine Knight—(01763) 261676 (01763) 243376; http://cspark.at/Meldr2

Church

Rev. Lizzie Shipp Rev. Mary Price Bells John Price (Friends)

(01763) 220626; https://allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk (01763) 261569 Peter Hinton—(01763) 262045 (01763) 260048; www.foht.org.uk

Baby & Toddler Group Hartbeeps Pre-School Primary School

Thea Peacock—07930 893201 Kelly@hartbeeps.com 07518 173653; www.meldrethPreschool.com (01763) 260432; www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk

Parish Council District Councillors

Please see details at end of Parish Council report Philippa Hart—07811 323571 Jose Hales—07703 262649 03450 450500; www.scambs.gov.uk/ Susan van de Ven—07905 325574 susanvandeven.mycouncillor.org.uk/ 0345 045 5200; www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ Anthony Browne; www.anthonybrowne.org/

Councils & Govt.

Clubs & Societies

Facilities

Litter Picker Neighbourhood Watch One Stop Village Hall Bookings Village Hall Chairman

Childn.

Village Directory

District Council Offices County Councillor County Council Offices MP

62

Transport Health Support Services Emergencies NonEmerg.

Misc.

Station Ticket Office

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 7-11.15am, Sat 8.45am - 1.25pm

Rail User Group

07905 325574; www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk

Govia/Great Northern

www.thameslinkrailway.com

The Trainline Stagecoach Potholes, Highways problems, etc.

Streetlights (faulty)

www.thetrainline.com www.stagecoachbus.com/Cambridge 0345 045 5212; http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ HighwaysReports/Highways/ReportProblem1.aspx 08007838 247 - give location, fault & SC or CCC no.

Melbourn Surgery Addenbrooke’s NHS

(01763) 260220; Dispensary—(01763) 261246 (01223) 245151 111 (24 hour non-emergency number)

Childline

Community Transport Home-Start Melbourn Time Bank Mind (mental health) Samaritans

0800 1111 (24 hours) Cambridge: 0344 848 7979 Royston: 03444 111 444 www.citizensadvice.org.uk (01763) 245228; www.roytrans.co.uk (01763) 262262; www.hsrsc.org.uk (01763) 263303; https://tol2.timebanking.org/melbourn 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm M-F); www.mind.org.uk 116 123 (24 hours); www.samaritans.org

General Emergency Gas Electricity Anglian Water Cambridge Water

999 or 112 0800 111 999 0800 783 8838 03457 145145; www.anglianwater.co.uk (01223) 706050; www.cambridge-water.co.uk

Crimestoppers

S Cambs Fire & Rescue

0800 555 111; crimestoppers-uk.org 101; www.cambs.police.uk Report issues: www.contactcambspolice.uk (01480) 444500; www.cambsfire.gov.uk

Melbourn Hub

(01763) 263303; www.melbournhub.com

Royston Museum

(01763) 242587; www.roystonmuseum.org.uk

Taxi (Butler Meltax)

(01763) 244444; 212223

Citizens Advice Bureau

Police

Details of village groups and facilities can be found in the Meldreth Today section at www.meldrethhistory.org.uk.

Meldreth Matters Team: Chairman: Lesley Farbridge 261578; Editor & Layout: Kathryn Betts 268428; Proof-reading: Ken McLean 261243; Treasurer, Secretary & Trade Advertising: Beverley Cottrell 262176; Advertising Layout: Richard Burns 263121; Editorial Assistant: Robin Farbridge; Distribution: Bill Peters 260983; Founder: Ann Barnes Meldreth Matters is available online at issuu.com (search for Meldreth)

63

Advertising Rates Size per issue Half page £27.25 Quarter page £16.50 Eighth page £8.75 Business listing per line

6 months £134.00 £74.00 £43.00 £11.00

12 months £216.00 £118.00 £65.00 £16.00

Occasional full page advertising features are also available on request.

For all advertising enquiries, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or telephone Beverley Cottrell on (01763) 262176.

Index to Advertisers Meldreth Matters depends entirely on advertising revenue to cover its production costs. Please mention Meldreth Matters when contacting our advertisers.

AngliEAR Hearing ..........................40 Art of Clean ....................................12 Art of Clean Wood ..........................17 Aurora Meldreth Manor (Job)..........61 Cambourne Self Storage ..................51 Cambridge Solar .............................36 CHS Day Centre .............................17 CHS Group ...............................Cover The Country Store ...........................51 Ely Design Group .............................4 Eternit Sports and Social Club .........30 Eve Construction .............................51 Gilhooly ..........................................12 Huw Shortle Window Cleaning ........2 iPlaster ............................................17 Lawn Partners .................................47 The Letting Centre ..........................61 Little Hands Nursery School ...........51 Melbourn Flooring ..........................36 Melbourn Village College .................58 Meldreth Landscapes ......................12

Meldreth Plant Hire .........................55 Moncraft Computers .......................12 Nancy Foster Footcare .......................2 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service30 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement .......4 P D Property Services .......................17 Penn Farm Physiotherapy ................51 Reflections Hair Studio .....................4 Richard Burns Electrician ..................2 Rod’s PC Support ......................Cover Royston Fencing ...............................4 Sage Blinds and Interiors .................30 Slimming World ........................Cover Specialist Dental Partners ................47 Summit Landscapes ..........................17 Trademark Kitchens .........................58 Tudor Access Scaffolding..................47 Village Garden Services ...................51 Yoga2 Classes ...................................2 Z Web Hosting ..........................Cover

64

We can make life a little easier Local Community Services delivered from Moorlands Court Homecare: our fully trained carers visit you in your home.

Sitting service: a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers time for themselves.

Day Centre: based at Moorlands Court with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.

Meals service: nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you.

Housekeeping: we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping.

To find out more, call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564 or email: denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk

Meldreth Scarecrow Festival

Plans cancelled? Diary a bit empty?

Join us for the first Meldreth Scarecrow Festival on the weekend of 11th to 12th July Craft, build and decorate your scarecrow on the theme of Children’s Entertainment Prizes to be won for the best scarecrow See pages 14-15 of this issue for further information Meldreth Matters is printed by Plumridge Printers 41 High St Linton 01223 891407