Meldreth Matters, March 2019

March 2019

In this issue … Question Time for East West Rail Vaughan Williams in Meldreth Events include … Bowls Club Quiz Night FOHT Talk Messy Church

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Contents What’s On in March Concert & Poetry Reading 5 FOHT Talk 7 Football Club Fixtures 3 Local Events 42-43 Summary of Meldreth Events 3

Transport Issues Cycling Campaign 40 East West Rail 26-27 Rail User Group 39 Gardens & Nature Gardening 36-37

Village Groups Friends of Holy Trinity 7 Futures Group 10 Lift Off Choir 6 Photographic Club 8 WI 13 Women’s Group 14

Forthcoming Events Home Start Aquathon 52 Meldreth Church Fete 25 Royston Choral Society 45 Local/National Government Local Councillors 48-51 Parish Council 31-33 Planning 33-34

Children & Education Events for Children 19 Easter Egg Hunt 18 Holy Trinity Sunday School 17 Messy Church 20 Preschool 16 Primary School 21-23

Advice/Information Advertisers’ Index 56 Healthwatch 53 Mental Health 11 Mobile Warden Scheme 11 Neighbourhood Watch 47 Refuse Collections 28 Village Directory 54-55 Volunteering Opportunity 14

Miscellaneous Bell Close Cycle Racks 40 Litter Pick 25 Royston Choral Society 44-45 Vaughan Williams in Meldreth 4-5 Venue for Hire 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.

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Editorial Welcome to the March issue of Meldreth Matters. As most readers will know by now, East West Rail have recently released details of five alternative routes for a new railway between Bedford and Cambridge as part of the East West Rail development linking Oxford and Cambridge. Three of the published routes would have a huge impact on our village and the surrounding area. The consultation is now open and will run until Monday 11th March. For more information, see pages 26-27 and 48-49 in this issue. If you missed one of the public meetings in February, there will be two in early March: Friday 1st March, 3.30-7.30pm, Sandy Village Hall, Medusa Way, Sandy SG19 1BN Saturday 2nd March, 10.00am-2.00pm, Cambridge Belfry, Back Lane, Cambourne, CB23 6BW Alternatively, visit www.eastwestrail.co.uk/haveyoursay. Kathryn

This Month’s Cover Picture This month’s cover picture is a photograph I took of Topcliffe Meadow. The meadow is crossed by Footpath 6, which runs from North End (opposite the Church) to Melbourn via Melwood. For details of this and the other footpaths in the village, see www.meldrethhistory.org.uk/footpaths. Kathryn Betts Editor

meldrethhistory.org.uk Over 600 pages on Meldreth past and present Meldreth Today section includes:

Historic information includes:

 28 local clubs and groups

 Building Materials

 Meldreth’s footpaths

 Commerce

 Village facilities

 Education

 Picture quizzes

 Manorial History  The River Mel 2

March Events in Meldreth

Friday 1st 8.30 - 11.00pm Live rock music with Wolf Pack Eternit Sports and Social Club All welcome, Free entry, licensed bar with real ale

Friday 8th 7.00pm for 7.30pm Meldreth Bowls Club Quiz Night including Ploughman’s Supper - £10 Everyone welcome! See back page

Sunday 10th 3.30-5.00pm

Thursday 21st 7.30pm

Messy Church

FOHT Talk

‘TEU World Tour’ Holy Trinity Church Holy Trinity Church See page 7

See page 20

Football Club Fixtures Sunday 10th March, 10.30am Saturday 23rd March, 2.00pm

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Vaughan Williams in Meldreth On Friday 8th March at 7.30pm a concert will be held at The Hub in Melbourn as an open event and thank you to all the people of Meldreth and Melbourn who have supported the River Mel Waterlight film project in many different ways. The first screening of the film will take place later in the year. The evening will consist of an introductory talk from Bruce Huett about the Waterlight project on the River Mel and readings about the river from guest writers; the novelists and poets Kate Swindlehurst and Jackie Watts. The main part of the evening will be spent with award-winning and well respected musicians Penni Mclaren Walker and Bryan Causton who will perform versions of the original songs and tunes which were collected by Vaughan Williams when he lived in Meldreth as a young man and began recording and finding original English folksongs.. The second half of the evening will include some poems from Fensong, A Ballad of the Fen, a collaboration with poet Clare Crossman and songs from the folk tradition with Penni McLaren Walker and Bryan Causton. Vaughan Williams was concerned with the fact that the music of the country people would be lost forever once recording and gramophones were invented and so he wanted to write the melodies down before they disappeared. In 1906 and 1907 he and his wife Adeline came to Meldreth and leased the large house called The Warren (pictured) at the north end of the village. It stood on its own surrounded by fields. Williams cycled a great deal. Meldreth Station made it easy to make day trips through the surrounding areas. He collected songs in Orwell, Bassingbourn, Fowlmere, Little Shelford and Royston, riding out to pubs where the singers traditionally performed. In Meldreth it was Ginger Clayton, in Fowlmere it was Hoppy Flack. In Bassingbourn, Mr Harmon and in Orwell, Billy Waggs. He may have many songs that could have been collected by chance encounters. Most of the singers were farm workers or in the labouring trades. 4

The following songs were found in this area: May Song and Lord Ellenwater, The Lakes of Cold Fen, The Green Bushes, The Trees They Do Grow High. Most of these people would have been illiterate so they sang their literature. Much of Williams’ annotation is held in the Rare books and Manuscripts Room of the British Library. Many of the songs were known to him in other variants and the words were available as published broadsides but they were sung in this area and known by those who sang them and heard by those who listened. The authorship of many British folk songs is largely unknown: the words invented, added to a tune and passed on and resung. Entry is by programme on the door. £6.00 per adult and £12.00 for a family ticket (4 people). We advise you to reserve a seat by visiting our Eventbrite page which can be found at the Events section of our website waterlightproject.com. Please telephone me on (01763) 261300 if you do not use the internet if you wish to reserve or are having difficulty. I am greatly indebted to Cambridgeshire folk singer Mary Humphreys whose careful research in manuscripts at the British Library and the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library has made the task of finding these songs very easy. Her book “Folk Songs Collected in Cambridgeshire” compiled by Mary Humphreys and published by Hedingham Fair is available directly from her at mary@maryhumphreys.co.uk. Clare Crossman

Waterlight Film Project: A Journey Down the Mel Concert and Poetry Reading Featuring: Penni Mclaren Walker and Bryan Causton playing Vaughan Williams and new songs in the folk tradition FRIDAY 8th MARCH 2019 MELBOURN HUB, HIGH STREET, MELBOURN DOORS OPEN 7.00pm CONCERT 7.30 to 9.30pm £6 payable on the door; £12 families. To register use: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-watertight-concert-tickets-55754809135 For more details of the musicians see: penniandbryan.co.uk 5

Lift Off Choir We have lift off! Meldreth's new Community Choir is now up and running, with several sessions having taken place since mid January. The response has been outstanding and a large group of singers have been coming together on Wednesday afternoons to make music. We have sung a mixture of material from familiar pop classics, to Polynesian and African songs. Whilst we have had lots of fun singing our hearts out, we have also had time to socialise with a break for tea and coffee at half time. Why don't you join us? We are always keen to welcome new members, and are open to singers of all abilities. Come along and experience the pleasure of singing in a group at Meldreth Village Hall, every Wednesday during term time from 1.30-2.45pm. ÂŁ5 per session on a pay as you go basis. For more information please contact me on 07548 247755. Clare Silver

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LANDSCAPES

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Hard Landscaping & Lighting Planting & Water Features

To advertise in this space, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or telephone Beverley Cottrell on (01763) 262176.

Tel: 01763 261463

See page 56 for our rates.

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Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk This Month’s Event: Thursday 21st March, 7.30pm ‘TEU World Tour’ by Peter Hesketh A circumnavigation of the world by container ship - positively not a cruise! An insight into life at sea nowadays and the impact that containerisation has on world trade. Starting at Southampton, heading South in the Atlantic through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal, across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic back to Felixstowe. Tickets cost £7.50, or £7.00 for Friends, and are available from: Mary Gregory - (01763) 260120 John Price - (01763) 260048 Peter Chilvers - (01763) 260742

Forthcoming Events: Friday 10th May - AGM Sunday 2nd June - Open Gardens If you would like to open your garden please call (01763) 260448 Sunday 22nd September - 15th Churchyard Car Show In Memory Sandra Searles made a bequest to the Friends for the purchase of something lasting. In consultation with Rob and the PCC the Friends funded a 5m Liquidambar Styraciflua Worplesdon which was planted by Rob and friends near the swing gate on 8th February, where a tree was recently removed. This is a fitting memorial to Sandra who served on The Friends committee and was membership secretary for fourteen years. John Price 7

Melbourn and District Photographic Club melbournphotoclub.com

With just two months of the season to go, we have a full and varied programme including seven competitions, a lecture and the annual AGM. March’s events are as follows: Tuesday 5th: Pairs Trophy Competition. Judge: Ron Tear Friday 8th: Inter-Club battle with Gamlingay at Gamlingay. Judge: tba Tuesday 12th: Inter-Club battle with Royston at Foxton. Judge: Colin Westgate Saturday 16th: Melbourn Trophy Final at Foxton. Judge: tba Tuesday 19th: 3rd Open Print Competition. Judge: David Steel Tuesday 26th: India – North & South. Lecture by Dave & Lynne Cole Meetings are held weekly from 7.30 - 9.30pm on Tuesdays at Foxton Village Hall from September to April. The Club has a diverse membership, a friendly and supportive atmosphere and welcomes new members, whatever their ability. Anyone wishing to know more details or to see some of our work should visit our website at melbournphotoclub.com or email me, the club Secretary, at melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com. Peter North Club Secretary Waiting for a Friend by Pam Aynsley 8

Richard Burns ELECTRICIAN For installation, repair or advice please call

Tel: Mob:

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New Yoga Class for Meldreth Meldreth Village Hall Mondays 9.00 – 10.30 am Starts 14th 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

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Venue for Hire Looking for a venue for regular group daytime activity? Meldreth Village Hall hosted the Preschool for many years. They have moved across the road to the Primary School so we now have daytime bookings available on all weekdays (except for Wednesdays which are quite full) in both the Main Hall and the Green (meeting) Room. We offer a stage with lighting and sound, projector and large screen, huge dance floor/play/exercise area, meeting room for twelve comfortably, kitchen and enclosed garden. There is easy disabled access and facilities, and lots of off-road parking. Current regular users are groups for Aerobics, Children, Community Choir, Education, Keep Fit, Old Time Dancing, Parish Council Meetings, Pilates, Slimming World, Tang Soo Do, Table Tennis, Toddlers, WI meetings and presentations, Yoga and Zumba. It is a wonderful, flexible facility with very competitive daytime hire rates of ÂŁ7/hour for the Main Hall and ÂŁ5/hour for the Green Room. Interested? Contact Sherida Richards on (01763) 262512 or email sherida@sheridarichards.co.uk. Paul Ray Meldreth Village Hall Trust

Meldreth Futures Group There is money available from solar funds for projects that will be beneficial to our community. Visit www.meldrethfutures.org.uk for details of how to apply. For further information, email admin@meldrethfutures.org.uk or contact the Parish Clerk, Judy Damant, on (01763) 269928 or email parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk. 10

Mental Health Mental Health: support in my community and how to find it All welcome at the Melbourn Hub on Wednesday 13th March, 7.30-9.00pm. The goal of this meeting will be to increase awareness of existing mental health support networks in our community, whether to help you or someone you know and to become generally better acquainted with what’s going on locally. We’ll hear from Mind and the Citizens Advice Bureau, which both run free services at the Hub, as well as the Allyance school counselling service - supported by Meldreth Primary School and Melbourn Village College, together with a host of other schools in our area. Any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Susan van de Ven County Councillor Susanvandeven5@gmail.com 07905 325574 Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme

Now operating in Meldreth Can we help you? Your relative? Your neighbour? What are our Services? The wardens make regular visits and telephone calls to provide social contact and friendship. They help people to keep safe and healthy in their homes and carry out errands around the villages for their clients, including shopping, collecting prescriptions and paying bills. Wardens assist clients to access other support they may need such as domestic help, home maintenance , meals or benefits etc. What will it cost? We do have to make a small weekly charge for the services. The fee is only £6 per week (a little more for couples). How can I join? For more information please contact Jeannie on 07808 735066 or Jane on 07592 821976. Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity 11

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Meldreth WI It was a cold evening, so it was good to see so many members at our February meeting. Mrs Bates welcomed us all and discussed past and future events. Many members have joined the singing group here in the Village Hall and the Monday walks are still enjoyed, if it is good weather and it is not too hectic a walk. If the weather is poor, then it’s in for a cup of tea somewhere. At this time of the year it is nice to see so many gardens coming to life with snowdrops etc now in flower. Unfortunately, due to family commitments, the speaker we had booked for our meeting was unable to attend but one of our members aptly filled in the gap. On moving to a small town in Hampshire, Leslie Daws joined her local WI and became friendly with one of the members who was a local JP. Leslie found the subject very interesting and decided to apply to become a Justice of the Peace. After some training she took her place on the bench one of three who sit to give judgment; the middle one being the senior JP. She told us of some of her cases some funny and some very harrowing and emotional. Facing her on her first case was a young tearaway who was a habitual ‘visitor’ to the court for minor wrong doings and it was rather peculiar as on Leslie’s final day as a JP he was up in court again. She said, “I am retiring why can’t you?” but he didn’t. Living in a rural area, huntsmen v saboteurs was often a case, also family disputes and one case went on all day because a lady said the loaf of bread she had bought was smaller than some of the other ones, this being before weights and measures was so prominent. She won her case, the baker was given a hefty fine and had to close his business with many losing their jobs. It was a very entertaining evening. Next month is our AGM to be followed by Cheese and Wine with a Twist. No ladies, we don’t expect you to get up and dance to Bill Haley and the Comets just come along and join us! Kathleen Thompson

MELDRETH PLANT HIRE TEL: 01763 262738 DIGGERS, DUMPERS, BREAKERS, WHACKERS, ROTAVATORS. AVAILABLE FOR DAILY OR WEEKLY HIRE. WWW.MELDRETHPLANT.CO.UK 13

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group Our AGM was held on 22nd January in All Saints Community Hall Melbourn when our President, the Revd. Lizzie Shipp, welcomed us all and conducted the formal business of the AGM. Apologies were received and noted. Last year’s minutes were signed and accepted. Reports were given by The Chair and Treasurer and the committee members were proposed and nominated en bloc with no changes. After a vote we chose as our charity for 2019, Acorn House which is part of The Sick Children’s Trust based at Addenbrookes. The proceeds from the raffle will be sent to them. After the formal business Lizzie said Grace and then we had a bring and share supper which was much enjoyed by all. Thanks to all who contributed and helped with the setting up and clearing away. Our new programme has now been issued and we look forward to an interesting year. Our next meeting will be on 26th March 2019 in All Saints Community Hall, Melbourn, when Revd. Lizzie Shipp will lead us on a reflection for Lent. We are a small friendly group and we meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month except in December. We vary our venue between All Saints Community Hall in Melbourn and Holy Trinity Church Meeting Room in Meldreth. We either have a guest speaker or in house entertainment followed by tea/coffee and biscuits. There is a fee of £1 on the evening and a chance to make a donation to our charity of the year. If you would like to know more about the group or require a lift to a meeting please contact one of the committee members: Pat Smith (01763) 262575, Sue Toule (01763) 260955, Anne Harrison (01763) 261775, Angela Leach (01763) 262793, Pat Ames (01763) 261130 or Kimmi Crosby. Pat Smith

Volunteering Opportunity Arthur Rank Hospice is running its first student volunteer programme for 16 and 17 years old. The students are currently shadowing volunteers on main reception, the inpatient unit reception, the bistro and the inpatient unit. For more details, call the Voluntary Services Team on (01223) 675872. 14

Personal care and a en on 24 hours a day by local caring, qualified staff Memorials Pre-Paid Funeral Plans Free Professional Bereavement Counselling available to all our clients

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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, 24b Orchard Road, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire SG8 6HH Tel. 01763 263039 email enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk

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Meldreth Preschool Hot on the heels of our New Year, the children have taken the opportunity for another celebration as they have been learning about Chinese New Year as well. As the Year of the Pig gets underway, they have been learning about Chinese traditions and Chinese food as well as making their own decorations. The children and staff have welcomed Lianne back after her maternity leave and she has wasted no time getting to know the children who started while she was off, as well as catching up with the familiar faces. As the weather improves, the children are spending more and more time outside, exploring the new garden and enjoying the race track that the new garden layout gives them! After a few weeks in our new home, the preschool has found its rhythm and located most of the items that were moved over from the Village Hall. The children are settling in and have got used to the space really quickly and enjoy seeing their friends in reception through the fence when they play in the garden. However, as with any move, the costs of relocating have mounted up, so we are always looking for donations! We are currently in need of drawing paper – the children are incredibly creative and we like to offer them a variety of materials to draw, paint and write on. If you have any spare paper that you can donate, we would be incredibly grateful. We also have a project that we need some help with – the garden of the new room has a large trough in it, which as yet remains empty. We are hoping to create a sensory garden for the children so that they can learn about how plants grow and experience the thrill of watching something they have planted get bigger and bigger and enjoy the end result. To do this, we are in need of some hardcore or rubble to provide some drainage, and some topsoil for planting in. If anyone has any spare that they could donate to the preschool, we would be thrilled to make a start on making our garden space into another learning opportunity. If you can help us out with any donations, or want to speak to us about places, please contact the preschool on 07518 173653 or via email to manager@meldrethpreschool.com. Meldreth Preschool 16

Holy Trinity Meldreth Sunday School Have you tried Messy Church or know someone who has? Have you been to the Good Friday Craft Workshop? Sunday School is similar but different! Why not come and see? Sunday School is not a party, although sometimes it is, but we have fun whilst we are learning. We read, we sing, we do crafts, cooking, colouring, acting, talking and more (but not all on the same day).

We introduce the Bible, connecting God’s Story with our own lives. We explore how God loves us all more than we can ever imagine and is with us always.

We welcome open discussion and questions from children and adults.

When: 9.45 – 11.00 am on the first and third Sundays of the month when there is a service at Church. Pancakes on 3rd March. Contact Ruth on (01763) 260183 or David on (01763) 260085 for more information. Ruth Hopper

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What’s On for Children and Families in March Saturday 2nd March, 10.00am - 1.00pm Chocology, Cambridge Botanic Gardens CB2 1JE It’s Fairtrade fortnight. See a cocoa tree, find out how chocolate is made. Taste different kinds of chocolate. Free, drop-in event. Adults pay usual admission charge. See: www.botanic.cam.ac for details. Monday 11th - Sunday 24th March Cambridge Science Festival. Various events, times and venues Saturday 16th, 10.00am-5.00pm and Sunday 17th, 12.00-4.00pm Forensic Science, The Guildhall, Market Square CB2 3QJ Study footprints and fingerprints. Free. Drop-in. Saturday 16th March, 10.30am - 3.30pm, Discover polar science Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road CB2 1ER Try crafts and experiments, have a go at making whale sounds, meet polar scientists. Drop-in. Programme: www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk Wednesday 20th March, 4.30pm - 7.30pm and 7.30pm - 9.00pm Creative Careers Industry Evening, Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way CB1 7GX (01223) 511511 An insight into job opportunities in the arts and a chance to take part in sound engineering and directing workshops. A daredevil, illusionist and a juggling-computer-musical genius perform at 7.30pm. Ages 11 - 25. Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th March, 11.00am - 5.00pm Thriplow Daffodil Festival, Thriplow SG8 7HZ Street food, live music, stalls, fun for children, tractor rides and more. Over 100 varieties of daffodils, including fifteen new ones. Friday 29th March, 10.00am - 10.45am or 11.00am - 11.45am Early Years Studio, Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street CB3 0AQ Artist-led play and activities encouraging creativity and communication for children under 4. £5 per child. First come, first served. Sunday 31st March, 12.30pm - 4.00pm Musical tour to three museums with Britten Sinfonia Academy 12.30pm, Museum of Zoology; 2.00pm, Museum of Archaeology and anthropology; 3.30pm, Fitzwilliam Museum Stories and music from around the world with time to enjoy the collections after the performance. Free. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk. 19

Compiled by Hilary Crawforth

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Meldreth Primary School www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk On Wednesday 13th February the school held a special assembly to celebrate two of our longest serving and enormously well-loved members of staff, who will be very fondly remembered by many readers as they leave to embark upon new adventures in their lives! Dawn Harvey, known to many erstwhile pupils as Mrs Guerrier, like many of our Teaching Assistants (TAs), began her time in school as a parent, before becoming a helping parent and then making the step of joining our ranks of TAs. She has proved to be a highly capable, hands-on member of the staff team with exceptional pastoral skills from which many pupils past and present have benefitted. For many years, she has led our Hi-Fives netball squad to many successes, expanding the group to include both boys and girls and leading many an active training session in all-weathers! Dawn has also fronted up our Change4Life (C4L) groups in school. Change4Life is a nationwide initiative which aims at addressing fitness, diet, physical, social and mental well-being in young people through a range of fun activities. I know that many schools have really struggled to get C4L off the ground, but here at Meldreth with Dawn’s leadership, it has been an absolute triumph and everyone who takes part has loved it. Our model of the scheme has been held up countywide as one for others to aspire to, and really this has all been down to Dawn. In addition, she has been a regular leading adult on the Year 6 residential trips to Scarborough in recent years: you could not wish for a more capable pair of hands. After sixteen years at Meldreth, Dawn is taking up a new TA challenge in a Cambridge school, closer to her home. She will be missed enormously by all of us, though I know she will keep in close touch. Mrs Robinson needs no introduction. For the past eighteen years, every prospective parent, child, visitor job applicant ‌ EVERYONE who has passed through our front entrance has been greeted by Chris, whose signature warmth and welcoming demeanour has become a hallmark of Meldreth Primary School. Loved by children and adults alike, she has always had time for everyone: scheduled fifteen minute tours of the 21

school for new parents have often stretched beyond an hour, as Chris has proudly shared every achievement, anecdote and aphorism she can think of, to show the school at its best. Her office window has served as an unofficial counselling booth for two decades and the legions of sickly children who have sat outside her door awaiting collection, invariably feel quite revived, through Mrs Robinson’s warm words of sympathy which tend them as they wait! Chris has rolled her sleeves up consistently over the years to immerse herself in absolutely every aspect of school life. She has been the ‘go to’ beautician at all our PTA fairs – busy with face paints and pencils to turn children into tigers, fairies, Power Rangers, or whatever their heart’s desire is. She also led a gloriously eccentric knitting club whose members regularly turned out bizarre and wonderful knitted creations of all shapes and sizes. Without Chris’ early morning summer pilgrimages to the school’s swimming pool to check the chemical levels and temperature and slowly run the underwater hoover across the bottom, to collect assorted wasps, beetles and sycamore keys, there would be no summer term swimming lessons for the younger children! All this in addition to the vast and varied demands of running the school office, it is fair to say that Chris has been priceless! And I haven’t even mentioned her legendary cakes!! As she retires, I know that Chris will leave behind a great trail of affectionate admirers. She has made many lifelong friends here and I suspect – and very much hope – that she maintains very close links with us, not least through her many friends … and her simply peerless cakes … but also through being a beloved friend and neighbour of the school. In the words of the children:  Ms Harvey did some great exercises in Change4Life, and she gave us lots of good food!  Ms Harvey gave me lots of ideas to help me when we were designing cars to take us to the middle of the earth.  She makes me very happy all the time. 22

 Mrs Robinson was the first member of the school I met and she took me into Chaffinch class – she was really friendly (Alfie)  Mrs Robinson made me into a tiger … it was great! (Lukas)  She can actually speak a little bit of Japanese I think… (Oliver)  We made a film last year when everyone was away at Grafham. In the film a monster took a boy from my school and we got Mrs Robinson to tell me (I was playing the boy) where my castle was. We kept on having to film it again and again because we kept getting it wrong, but she was very patient. (Annabel and Chris)  I remember how she always used to link her costumes with Mrs Plumb on World Book day as if they were sisters. (Eva)  She is just always so kind. Andrew Jones Deputy Headteacher

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Carpet, Upholstery, Leather, Rug & Stone/Tile Cleaning Call today on 01223 863 632 Please quote “Meldreth Mag” Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

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Meldreth Community Litter Pick 2019 Volunteers wanted Sunday 7th April 2019 As in previous years, Meldreth organised a successful Litter Pick in the extremities of the village not covered by our Parish Council's Litter Picker. About sixteen brave souls cleared nearly 3km of verge-strewn rubbish. This year, 2019, we would like to repeat the process. Our throw-away society continues to ensure that there is a need to clear the same areas as last year! Yellow jackets, pickers and gloves are all available … we just need boots on the ground! As before, for maximum publicity, we are coordinating with the National Campaign which this year runs from 24th March to 23rd April. So, our Pick will be on Sunday 7th April 2019. If you would like to participate, please email gvborgo@borgognon.net as soon as you can, to sign up and get further details. Graham Borgonon

Meldreth Church Fete 2019 The date for this year’s Meldreth Church Fete has been set as Saturday 15th June 2019. The Church’s annual summer fundraising event will again host a collection of attractions including games, stalls and refreshments. We are keen to involve as many people from the village as possible. Therefore, if you represent a local group or society and would like to run a stall or you are someone that wants to help with the organisation or contribute to the fete, please get in touch. For more information please contact me by sending an email to churchfete2019@gmail.com or telephone (01763) 260183. Duncan Hopper 25

Question Time for East West Rail The East West Rail consultation happening now suggests serious intent to proceed with some version of the final Bedford-Cambridge rail connection. Without a doubt this stands to be the biggest infrastructure project to impact South Cambridgeshire for a generation, and it’s important to question and challenge at this point in order to work out best options. So please heed the ‘Have Your Say’ message before the consultation deadline on 11th March. East West Rail: https:// eastwestrail.co.uk/haveyoursay. More detailed maps of the route options, and an alternative northern route (‘which could still be argued for’ say East West Rail) are available at www.CamBedRailRoad.org.uk. Route A through Bassingbourn coming up toward Shepreth Junction is listed as the cheapest of the five official options. Ultimately, it’s for the Treasury to write the cheque, so one can surmise that cheapest stands a good chance. Here are some of the questions I’m asking, and a few bits of feedback from East West Rail. Will the new railway line separate communities? If Network Rail policy is to eliminate all level crossings and introduce no new ones, would the new railway line act as a barrier across much of South Cambridgeshire? No answer. If any access points and rights of way along the new rail line are to be protected, what type of mitigations, and on what scale, should be expected? Do these ‘mitigations’ figure in the Options estimates? Don’t know. A new Bassingbourn Station? Is the cost of a Bassingbourn Station worked into options A, C and D? No. A station is a possible feature of Options A, C and D but not definite. What minimum level of new population would trigger a new station? Not clear. A figure of 30,000 homes (equal to five Roystons) near a new Bassingbourn Station has been mooted. Connections to Foxton, Shepreth, Meldreth and Royston Stations? Would the Bassingbourn route options connect to these existing stations? No – the new service would run east-west, to Cambridge and Bedford. 26

Is Bassingbourn Barracks closure required for the Bassingbourn Route Options? Not worked out, but there’s no other obvious publicly owned land of the scale required. No confirmation from the MOD that closure of the Barracks is planned. What principles underpin calculations for leveraging finance from new unplanned development to fund the Bassingbourn Route Options? No information. Multi-modal transport corridors If East West Rail follows National Infrastructure Commission guidance on the creation of multi-modal corridors, how would the Bassingbourn Options routes become multi-modal, and where would the funding come from? ‘A good question’. Susan van de Ven County Councillor susanvandeven5@gmail.com 07905325574

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27

Meldreth Village D Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thurs

The copy d the April Meldreth M Tues 12th M

Refuse Collections Black bins: 5th, 19th Blue/Green bins: 12th, 26th

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates

8.00-10.00pm Old Time Dancing

9.30-11.30am B&T Grp 1.30-2.45pm Lift Off Choir 5.30pm Slimming World 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm Slimming World 7.45-9.00pm Bell Ringing

9.00-10.30am Yoga

9.15am Cycling Group

9.30-11.30am B&T Grp

7.30-8.30pm Zumba

10.00am-12.00 Handbells

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates

5.00-6.00pm Martial Arts

1.30-2.45pm Lift Off Choir

7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics

5.30pm Slimming World

7.00-10.00pm Crafters

6.00-7.00pm Brownies

9.00-10.30am Yoga

10.00am-12.00 Handbells

9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group

5.00-6.00pm Martial Arts

7.30-8.30pm Zumba

7.00-10.00pm Crafters

7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics

7.00 - 9.00pm Tennis

7.30pm Parish

7.30pm WI

7.30pm Slimming World 9.00-10.30am Yoga

10.00am-12.00 Handbells

9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group

10.40-11.30 Mob. Library

7.30-8.30pm Zumba

7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics

5.00-6.00pm Martial Arts 7.00-10.00pm Crafters 8.00-10.00pm OT Dancing

9.00-10.30am Yoga

9.15am Cycling Group

7.30-8.30pm Zumba

10.00am-12.00 Handbells 5.00-6.00pm Martial Arts 7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics 7.00-10.00pm Crafters

9.30-11.30am B&T Grp 1.30-2.45pm Lift Off Choir 5.30pm Slimming World 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm Slimming World 7.45-9.00pm Bell Ringing

12.00-2.00pm British Queen

9.30-11.30am B&T Grp 1.30-2.45pm Lift Off Choir 5.30pm Slimming World 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm Slimming World 7.45-9.00pm Bell Ringing

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates

7.00 - 9.00pm Tennis

7.30pm FOHT

7.00 - 9.00pm Tennis

Church Services and Bell Ringing are held at Holy Trinity Church. Cam Valley Crafters and Meldreth L Brownies, Messy Church & Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group meet in the Holy Trinity meeting Holy Trinity Church. All other events are held in the Village Hall unless otherwise indicated. 28

iary - March 2019

sday

eadline for issue of Matters is sday March Fitness Table

Friday

Saturday

8.30 - 11.00pm Live rock music with Wolf Pack Eternit Sports and Social Club

9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Children’s Club

7.00pm for 7.30pm Bowls Club Quiz Night, Meldreth Bowls Club (see back page)

8.00am Holy Communion

5.00pm Meat Raffle, British Queen

3.30-5.00pm Messy Church, Holy Trinity Church 5.00pm Meat Raffle, British Queen

h Council

Fitness

Sunday

10.00am-3.00pm Yoga Workshop

9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Children’s Club followed by Holy Trinity’s APCM 5.00pm Meat Raffle, British Queen

Pub Club,

8.00am Holy Communion

Fitness

5.00pm Meat Raffle, British Queen

Table

T Talk (p 7) Fitness

8.00am Holy Communion (Mothering Sunday)

Table

5.00pm Meat Raffle, British Queen

ocal History Group meetings are held in the Sheltered Housing Community Centre, Elin Way. room. The Mobile Library Service visits Bell Close. The Cycling Group meets in the lay-by opposite 29

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30

Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Meeting held on Thursday 7th February 2019. The main points of this meeting are set out below in the new 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 noticeboard; these will be presented for approval at the next Parish Council meeting. Decisions taken:  To increase the Precept from £60,000 to £62,000 for the financial year 2019/2020. It was noted that the precept had not been increased for several years although background costs were continuing to increase. This is equivalent to an increase of £1.93 for a band D property, 2.46 per cent.  To pay the most recent invoice from Melbourn Area Youth

Development (MAYD) for £2,148 in respect of the year 2018/19.  To discuss with MAYD the outlook for future fee levels, with

concern being noted about rising costs and the lack of contributions from communities whose young people attend the arrangements but who are not part of the formal scheme. Until the necessary clarification is agreed, the Council will defer signing the MAYD agreement.  To purchase and install at the Stocks, as a replacement for the

memorial bench destroyed by a car, an “Avenue Bench – metal” at a cost of £640, from the solar grants account.  To establish a rota of Councillors and Traffic Working Group

members to review on a regular basis specific streets from the viewpoints of road and footway maintenance and suitable control of vegetation.  To arrange a public meeting in the Village Hall in the near

future to discuss the various railway options under the EastWest route and to co-operate with other neighbouring villages which could be affected by the proposals.  To follow the recommendation of the Futures Group not to

approve the two requests for financial support from Meldreth 31

Bowls Club totalling £8,453, on the basis of amount, proportionality and the likelihood of annual recurrence. It was agreed to look favourably on a suitably lower level of Council support if the Bowls Club can present a sustainable funding plan.  To purchase from Barchams, three trees for the Recreation

Ground, funded by the donation from Anglian Water: one Aspen, one Acer and one Whitebeam, together with three metal tree guards. Discussion Points  Melbourn Development S106 requirement for two cycle racks. Councillors met with an executive from the developers who appeared to agree that the proposed location on the verge opposite Tavern Yard was not suitable. We showed him two alternatives, either of which the Council would support. The first is at the end of Footpath 9 near the London-bound platform of the station. The other location is at the Village Hall, a resource used by residents of both villages. We will await the response in due course.  The “planter” bicycle racks have been received and will be

placed near the noticeboard opposite the shop in the near future [see page 40].  The Primary School is happy for the Council to install a litter-

bin near the recently installed WW1 Memorial bench. Next Meeting: Thursday 7th March, 7.30pm, Village Hall. Meldreth Parish Council

Did You Know? Police lost and found Cambridgeshire Police have joined forces nationwide by ceasing to take reports of lost property and accepting only certain types of found item. If you have lost or found an item, visit the force website for guidance on what to do: https://www.cambs.police.uk/information-and-services/Property-andanimals/Lost-and-found 32

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 Mr R Goddin (Chairman) (01763) 260061

parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk 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 Matters Parish Council Reference and Address Fenny Lane Farm, S/3418/18/PA

Detail Application for prior approval for the conversion of a timber barn into two dwellings, the conversion of a brick chitting shed into one dwelling, the conversion of a timber cart shed into one dwelling and the demolition of one redundant barn and some lean-to structures to provide private amenity and car parking space

104 High Street Discharge of condition 3 (details of S/0014/18/DC joinery); 4 (materials) 5 (Details of mortars, plaster and render); 6 (rooflights) and 7 (precise details) of planning permission S/2948/14/LB Land at Station Retention of eight flats, bin store and associated parking. Yard, S/4458/18/FL

Parish Council Recommend Meldreth Planning Committee recommend ‘Support’ with no comments

Meldreth Planning Committee recommend ‘No recommendation’ with no comments Application was noted but no new comments were made Continued ...

33

Planning Matters continued SCDC Decisions Reference and Address

Decision

S/2268/18/FL The Coppice 25 North End

Permission has been granted for remodel existing first floor and roof and retain ground floor. Extend first floor, change roof, alter front elevation, internal alterations and rear and side ground floor extension and new orangery.

S/2939/16/FL Land between Burtons & West Way, off Whaddon Road

Permission has been granted for residential development to provide affordable housing comprising four 2-bedroom flats and one 2-bed detached bungalow, access road, residents and visitors parking and open space.

S/4143/18/OL Greengage Cottage, Bury Lane

Permission has been refused for outline planning permission with all matters reserved for the erection for a 3 or 4 bedroom detached house.

S/4436/18/FL Bury Lane Fruit Farm

Permission has been granted for extension to existing soft play barn.

Other Items: S/0971/18/OL – land to the south of Whitecroft Road for outline planning permission for residential development will be going to appeal APP/W0530/ W/18/3214057 S/3418/18/PA Fenny Lane Farm, was considered by the Planning Committee at SCDC on 16th January 2019 – update. This has now been approved with conditions. Notification has not yet been officially received by the Clerk. Meldreth Parish Council

Please Note: The full minutes of Meldreth Parish Council planning meetings are available on the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk. Full details of all planning applications may be viewed at this website: http:// plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display

34

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35

Notes From a Small Garden We had a delightful Veg Plus meeting on the Saturday morning before this went to press. Hot coffee and cheese scones prolonged breakfast beautifully, there was lots of chat and a new member from Shepreth was warmly welcomed. An encouraging round of questions, ‘know how’ and information was happily shared and sometimes argued over to the extent that we agreed that we definitely needed to look that answer up! So here is the question - not new, but many more people had had infestations of their leeks, much to their disappointment. To see the sight of fully grown leeks suddenly collapsing, and on carefully dissecting the plants to find small brown beetles nestled in the leaves is truly upsetting. How do we keep our leeks safe? One of the infestations is initiated by the adult leaf fly. The greyish brown flies are 3mm long. Before laying eggs, the female flies feed by making punctures in the leaves and sucking up the exuding sap. This causes distinctive lines of white dots on the foliage. Next seen is damage from the maggots. These maggots (or larvae) are white, headless and without legs. They make tunnels in the foliage, stems and bulbs of their host plants. Note: Similar damage is caused by caterpillars (or larvae) of the leek moth but that pest has creamy white larvae with brown heads and small legs. Perhaps the most obvious signs of a problem appear when rotting sets in. Plants affected by allium leaf miner or leek moth tend to rot due to secondary infections from fungi and bacteria that develop in the damaged tissues. On closer inspection, cylindrical brown pupae are likely to be found embedded in the stems and bulbs. The Allium leaf miner has two generations a year. The first generation female flies lay eggs on the stems or base of leaves during March to April. The second generation repeats the process into November; this generation is usually the most damaging. The Leek Moth, the other main infestation of leeks, is now spreading from the south of the UK to the north. The adult leek moth is an inconspicuous very small (5-6mm) brown moth. Its larvae (caterpillars) 36

feed on leeks and similar crops. The caterpillars bore into the foliage, stems or bulbs of their host plants and, after a couple of weeks, are fully fed and ready to turn into brown pupae. Pupation takes place mainly within the stems and bulbs during summer and winter but some pupae may end up in the soil, especially where plants have rotted off. Damage from leek moth caterpillars appears as white patches developing on the foliage where the caterpillars have eaten the internal tissues and tunnels in the stems of leeks and bulbs of onions, shallots and garlic. Affected plants often develop secondary rots and young leek plants may be killed. Crop rotation should be practised to prevent potential build-up of moth populations. Look for the white, net-like silk cocoons on the foliage and squash them. Plants can be protected from both these infestations by covering them with horticultural fleece, or an insect-proof mesh such as Ultra-Fine Enviromesh, at times when the adult flies are active and laying eggs (March to April and October to November). Crop rotation must be used, as adult flies might emerge from pupae underneath the covering if susceptible plants are grown in the same piece of ground in successive years. I have rather gone to town on the control of pests for leeks in the hope that we all have a good crop next year and avoid the distressing view of them all suddenly collapsing. Jobs for March  Prune roses and tie in climbers  Continue pruning fruit trees, if you haven’t already  Start to plant veg seeds. Note: we need courgette plants both for the Open Gardens day on Sunday 2nd June and for the Church fete on Saturday 15th June  Cut back Cornus (dogwoods) for good colour next year  Top dress pot plants; plant out shallots, onions sets and early potatoes. And an important message from Jim: ‘as the days get longer, the frosts get stronger!’ Good gardening from us both. Julie Draper juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk 37

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38

Meldreth, Shepreth & Foxton Rail User Group AGM It’s been a tumultuous year for rail services. Now that the dust is settling, we can see clearly what we’ve gained and what we’ve lost: the new half-hourly off-peak service is the result of our Rail User Group’s persistence with Govia Thameslink Railway – GTR were not obliged by the Department for Transport to introduce this expansion of services. At the same time, the villages have lost their semi-fast commuter links to and from London – for various reasons bound up with the introduction of a new fleet of eight and twelve carriage trains that can’t be split at Royston as before and an increasingly complex timetable. The reinstatement of a semi-fast service should be possible though and is very much the focal point of our Group’s campaigning efforts. A host of other issues – Shepreth parking and level crossing dysfunction, accessibility at Meldreth, lack of ticket buying facilities on Cambridge-bound platforms, and the rapidly evolving world of rail infrastructure with Cambridge South Station and East West Rail on the horizon, mean there is every reason for a vibrant rail user group to fight the corner of local users. Our next meeting and AGM will be held on Tuesday 26th March from 7.30-9.00pm in Foxton Village Hall – all welcome. It’s clear that we need London and Cambridge commuters to be involved in Rail User Group efforts, in order to deploy first-hand knowledge in our campaigning for improved services – so if you think you might be able to give even a smidgeon of time, please get in touch. There’s no set way of doing things and all contributions are very welcome. Equally, if you are interested just in station gardening and would like to adopt a station tub or help out on tub replanting days, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Thank you. Susan van de Ven and Sarah Grove Meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk

Did You Know? Meldreth Matters is also available online. To view issues of Meldreth Matters online, follow us on Issuu: https://issuu.com/meldrethmatters. 39

Bell Close Cycle Racks Meldreth Futures Group is pleased to inform the village that there are now two sets of plant lock secure cycle parking planters, with provision for four bikes, on the grass at the corner of Bell Close, opposite Meldreth Post Office and Shop. They are in the form of flower planters which have cycle racks attached. Please use them just for short term use only. The idea was given by one of our group and sent to the Parish Council for approval. Meldreth Parish Council approved the request and the funds came out of the Meldreth Community Benefit Fund (Solar and some S106 funds). Two members of our group placed the planters there and planted them out in early February. We felt that this was good use of the Community Benefit Fund. If you have any other ideas which may benefit the community then please let the Parish Council know. Joan Gane on behalf of Meldreth Futures Group

A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign AGM All welcome at the next meeting of the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign – our AGM – on Wednesday 6th March, 7.30-9.00pm in Royston Town Hall. If you’d like to get involved in the campaign and would like to know more, please let us know. This meeting will kick off with a brief presentation on ‘Melbourn Greenways’ – the project to enhance pedestrian, cycle and scooter mobility around the A10 corridor, including spurs to villages east and west, improvements north of Harston, and the long-awaited link to Royston. An agenda for the meeting will be posted at www.a10corridorcycle.com Susan van de Ven and Mike Prior-Jones contacta10cycle@gmail.com 40

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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

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Local Events in March To have your event listed, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. Saturday 2nd March, 7.30pm (doors open at 7.00pm) Home-Start Concert with Linda Bance - ‘Celebrating Voices’ Meridian School, Garden Walk, Royston SG8 7JH Compered by Jude Simpson and with a poem read by Sarah Harrison, enjoy the talent of a range of local choirs. Tickets £10; under 13 £5. Available from Home-Start office (01763) 262262, by email: admin@hsrsc.org.uk or online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hsrsc. Friday 8th March, 7.30pm to 9.30pm (doors open 7.00pm) A Journey Down the Mel - Concert and Poetry Reading Melbourn Hub, 30 High Street, Melbourn SG8 6DZ Part of the Waterlight Film Project. See page 5 for more details. Sunday 10th March, Coffee from 11.00am, Concert 12.00pm Coffee Concert: Ruth Applin and the Josh Kemp Jazz Quartet Stapleford Granary, Bury Road, Stapleford, Cambs CB22 5BP Singer/pianist Ruth Applin with saxophonist Josh Kemp and quartet present a vibrant programme of jazz, blues and bossa nova. Tickets £12. www.staplefordgranary.org.uk or phone (01223) 849004. Monday 11th to Sunday 24th March, at various times 25th Cambridge Science Festival ‘Discoveries’ Venues across Cambridge Over 350 events: talks by eminent speakers, interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, films and debates. Events for all ages and most are free. For detailed programme visit: www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk. Thursday 14th, 10.00am-midday Whistler Watercolour Workshop Cambourne Library, Sackville House, Cambourne CB23 6HL Adult workshop, organised by the Fitzwilliam Museum, exploring Whistler’s watercolour techniques. Cost £5, concessions £2.50. Booking essential at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/arts or phone (01223) 357851. Saturday 16th March, 8.30am, Men’s Breakfast Meeting Foxton Village Hall, Foxton, Cambridgeshire CB22 6RN Speaker is Lt. Colonel Bobby Bryan, recently returned from Kosovo. Contact Tony Garrick (01763) 221658; garrick.tony@gmail.com or Mark Howard (01223) 503377; mark-howard@uwclub.net to reserve your place. £7 donation requested. Both men and women welcome. 42

Saturday 16th March, 7.00pm to midnight Liberty Ball - an evening of live music, dance and cabaret Fulbourn Lodge, Babraham Road, Fulbourn CB21 5HR Tickets: helenkingsley1@gmail.com. Supporting Arthur Rank Hospice. Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th March, 10.00am to 5.30pm Cambridge Drawing Society Exhibition The Pitt Building, Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RP An exhibition of paintings, collages, prints and sculpture by Drawing Society members. Venue opposite Fitzbillies - NB closes at 4.00pm on 30th March. Free admission. See: www.cambridgedrawingsociety.org. Sunday 24th March, time of your choosing Curious About Cambridge Starts at Hobson’s Conduit, Trumpington Road, CB2 1EL Join a self-guided walk with a treasure hunt theme - directions, maps, clues and interesting snippets about Cambridge history all provided. Tickets £5.99 - £7.99. Visit www.fantasticforfamilies.com. Sunday 24th March, 11.00am to 3.30pm Wandlebury Wildlife Wandlebury Ring, Gog Magog Hills, Cambridge CB22 3AE Interactive displays, conservation talks and chance to meet the team who protect and safeguard this special place. Free drop-in event as part of Cambridge Science Festival: wwwcambridgeppf.org. Friday 29th March, 7.00pm to midnight Home-Start Fundraising Black Tie Ball Fowlmere Village Hall, Chrishall Road, Fowlmere SG87RY Champagne reception, three course meal, licensed bar, dancing to ‘Essence’, auctions and raffle. Tables of 10. Tickets £80. See HomeStart event above, 2nd March, for booking arrangements. Sunday 31st March, 12.00pm to 3.30pm Peckover House, North Brink, Wisbech , Cambridgeshire PE13 1JR Special afternoon tea, Reed Barn Tea Room for Mother’s Day. Sunday 31st March, 4.00pm Saffron Hall, Audley End Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4UH Celebrate Mother’s Day with stars from the West End performing favourite tunes from classic musicals. Tickets £14 - £30. NB Likely to be popular - don’t delay! For further details and to book visit: www.saffronhall.com or phone box office on 0845 548 7650. 43

Compiled by John Crawforth

What’s Happened to Royston Choral Society since the Church Fire? As many local people know, Royston Choral Society has been based in the Parish Church since it first started over 40 years ago. Most concerts were performed there and nearly all rehearsals took place there too. Back in December 2018, members marvelled at the huge Christmas tree being decorated next to the pulpit while we practised Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols to be performed there on 22nd December. Little did singers imagine what was to come with the dreadful fire two weeks before our concert. The Old Bull and Methodist Church helped out with Tuesday night rehearsal venues and our successful concert was relocated to Meridian School with much appreciated co-operation from staff, especially on the night of the concert. Chairman and committee breathed a sigh of relief but then had little time to arrange rehearsal premises for the coming months and an alternative venue for our next concert scheduled for Saturday 6th April 2019 which was to have been held in Royston Parish Church. This concert, J.S. Bach’s great St John Passion, is a huge and exciting undertaking for the choir. Rehearsals are continuing in Royston Methodist Church where we were pleased to welcome several new members this term, and the concert is booked for 6th April in the beautiful Ashwell Parish Church. Our summer concert will be in Barkway Parish Church as planned.

RCS Christmas Concert hosted by Meridian School

Meanwhile we wish our Royston Parish Church hosts well and plan a fundraising event to support them. Caroline Franks www.roystonchoralsoc.org.uk

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Royston Choral Society J.S. Bach – St John Passion

Saturday 6th April 7.30 pm Ashwell Parish Church

Evangelist – Daniel Joy Soprano – Nina Bennet, Mezzo - Kate Symonds-Joy, Bass Lukas Kargl Musical Director – Andrew O’Brien Haileybury Choral Society - East Herts Sinfonia Tickets £15 (concessions £12, school students £1) See website http://www.roystonchoralsoc.org.uk, telephone Caroline Franks (01920) 822723 or ask a choir member

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Neighbourhood Watch Banking Protocol helps to prevent banking fraud The Banking Protocol trains bank staff to spot when someone is about to fall victim to a scam and try to prevent them from withdrawing cash to give to a fraudster, after which they can request an immediate police response to the branch. A total of 231 arrests and 4,240 emergency calls were made through the industry-wide initiative in 2018, with an average of ÂŁ8,960 being prevented per call. ÂŁ4.5 million of fraud was prevented through the initiative in November 2018 alone, the highest monthly total to date, as adoption of the scheme continues to grow. The average age of a customer helped by the Banking Protocol during 2018 was 71, showing how fraudsters are often targeting more elderly victims with these types of scams. Fifty-two payment service providers, including all the main high street banks and the Post Office, are now fully signed up to the Banking Protocol and have trained up their front-line branch staff in the steps that need to be taken when a customer is at risk. Since March 2018, the scheme has been implemented by all 45 police forces across the UK. The initiative, which was developed in partnership with National Trading Standards, trains bank branch staff to spot the signs of a scam and what steps need to be taken when a customer is deemed at risk. If a staff member suspects a customer is being tricked by a fraudster, for example if someone is making an unusually large cash withdrawal, they will take them aside to ask additional questions. If their suspicions are confirmed, the staff member can then invoke the Banking Protocol and contact the local police, who will send a priority response to the branch and investigate the suspected fraud. As well as stopping attempted fraud, the scheme ensures that extra support is provided to those customers affected to help prevent them falling victim to similar scams in the future. This can include referrals to social services, expert fraud prevention advice and additional checks on future transactions. If you're not sure whether something is a scam, you can talk to one of the trusted contacts in Meldreth: Graham (01763) 260358, Linda (01763) 261405, Peter (01763) 260323, Tim (01763) 262801. For more information on Neighbourhood Watch, please contact Graham Borgonon on 01763 260358. Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch 47

District and County Councillors’ Reports County Council Tax and Council Income Government Revenue Support Grant has now reached zero. Government has now confirmed that the Council will not be subject to ‘negative Revenue Support Grant’ so will not have to pay £7.1m to the Government. However, the Council was not included in the forthcoming business rates retention pilot, from which the Council had hoped for £7.67m in additional income. Many councils have a huge overspend in Special Educational Needs funding for children. In Cambridgeshire this is expected to be £8.4m in 2019/20. The overspend is a result of rapidly rising numbers of children with special needs. In Cambridgeshire, the number of children attending special schools rose 20% between 2017 and 2018, with a 13% increase in children with an Education Health and Care Plan. The administration has agreed a 5% council tax rise including 2% adult social care. The savings target for 2019-20 is £26.5m, with more than £69m over the next five years. ‘Extra Money’ The Chancellor’s one-off £420m for potholes nationwide means £6m for Cambridgeshire. As reported previously, the cost of bringing Cambridgeshire’s highway network up to standard was estimated several years ago at £350m. There is just one scheme for Meldreth: pavement repair between Oakrits and Howard Road. South Cambridgeshire District Council Business Plan Consultation engagement has gone well and the proposed budget will be published shortly, aligning with affordable housing, business and environmental priorities. East West Rail Consultation Options were published recently on the line of the Bedford-Cambridge segment of the East West Rail project. There are five options, of which Options A, C and D connect from Bassingbourn and fully include Meldreth and Shepreth in their possible development area. They may also impinge on the National Trust estate at Wimpole Hall. Options B and E run via Cambourne and cross the A10 between Foxton and Harston. All options are left open to move far enough east to connect into the Liverpool Street line. The precise scale of any new town in Bassingbourn has not been published in the consultation document. The 48

consultation closes on 11th March. The official East West Rail website is here: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/haveyoursay. More detailed maps of the route options are provided on the CamBedRailRoad website: http://www.cambedrailroad.org/ CBRR_guidance. [See also pages 26-27 in this issue.] ‘Mysouthcambs’ South Cambridgeshire District Council has launched a new way of accessing information, processing claims and applications, and generally engaging with the Council: ‘mysouthcambs’ is a customer portal on the home page on the Council’s website: www.scambs.gov.uk. Registration only takes a few minutes. Once in, you will be able to create a personal account with the Council which shows and tracks all your online transactions with Council services. We have put all our existing forms on the portal, and integrated the revenue and benefits functions, making it much easier for residents to provide information and complete forms. In due course other services will come online, including the planning service scheduled for summer 2019. Brexit Local Authority Planning South Cambridgeshire has been working with the Federation of Small Business and the Chamber of Commerce to provide information to small and medium-sized business owners, but there’s concern that most don’t have the resource to plan for anticipated impacts. Cambridgeshire County Council Longer term there is concern around loss of EU Regional funding; workforce issues especially in social care where we were told that 20% of workers are from the EU; and the negative impact on the economy that will exacerbate poverty and inequalities. Our councils sit on a regional contingency planning group that is tracking fuel, food and medicine shortages. Its immediate responsibilities include providing information for non-British EU residents on Settled Status applications, and ensuring that the Council’s workforce, including care workers and schools staff, can get to work. In the event of civil unrest in larger population areas, Cambridgeshire Police may be deployed out of county. Police Meeting Cambridgeshire Police attended a public information meeting at the Melbourn Hub in February, with about 30 people in attendance. It was an excellent opportunity to understand the changing nature of 49

community policing, toward increasingly unseen crime – cybercrime, child sexual exploitation, modern day slavery and County Lines drug running. Police are pooled into one locality when an incident, like a missing person or civil unrest, takes place. There is no discernible return to previous visible community policing, though the drop-in surgery allows face to face meetings. Mental Health Support in my Community and How to Find It Meeting: 13th March 7.30-9.00pm. [See page 11]. The goal of this meeting will be to increase awareness of existing mental health support networks in our community, whether to help you or someone you know, and to become generally better acquainted with what’s going on locally. We’ll hear from Mind, Allyance school counselling and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Thanks to Meldreth PC for offering to cover room hire costs. In the end, it was decided to use the Melbourn Hub, partly because that is where the Mind and CAB services are based - no room charge. Footpath 9 Improvements from Melbourn S106 There are two Melbourn S106s to upgrade Footpath 9; the first between the A10 underpass and the station, and the second between the underpass and Station Road. The trigger point for the first is approaching and so the County Council project team now commences its work. We will liaise with Melbourn and Meldreth Parish Councils. Public Meeting: Cambridge Line Rail User Groups, 8th February, All the Rail User Groups on our line will convene with GTR and Oliver Heald MP; Susan will represent Meldreth. For us, the key issues will be restoration of a semi-fast London service, weekend services, and disabled access at Meldreth. New shelter at Meldreth Station is Under Construction This was on the wish list at the Rail User Group’s first meeting in January 2010, put forward by Jim Eggleton. Buses The Cam Vale Bus Users met at the end of January. The Mayor’s Bus Review was published on the same day and takes detailed note of the plight of rural subsidised services though does not yet lead on a new framework – this is not expected now for another couple of years. Once again, a last minute stay of execution on bus subsidies through a combination of adjustments in this year’s budget means that the 127 lives to see another day - and again the same uncertainty will be faced 50

next year. A positive reminder from one of our users was the excellence of the Busway A commercial service to Addenbrooke’s – quicker than driving. It’s a service that will only be retained if it’s adequately used. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there’s anything we can help with, any time – or please drop in at our councillors’ advice surgery, first Monday of every month, 3.00-4.00pm, at the Melbourn Hub. Susan van de Ven, County Councillor susanvandeven5@gmail.com, 07905325574 Jose Hales, District Councillor jose@josehales.me.uk, 07703 262649 Philippa Hart, District Councillor philippajoyhart@gmail.com 07811 323571

Editor’s Note: Heidi Allen’s newsletter had not been received at the time of going to press but should be available online. See https://www.heidisouthcambs.co.uk/newsletters. Heidi’s next surgery will be on Friday 1st March from 3.00-5.00pm at Melbourn Hub. Appointments are essential: call (01223) 830037.

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Home-Start: Aquathon Calling all Swimmers for the HSRSC Aquathon This year Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire is trying to make their annual Aquathon the biggest one yet and are calling on local clubs and organisations to help them make an ever bigger splash this year. The annual event, which has traditionally been held in partnership with local schools, is now being opened up to other local organisations keen to kick start their fundraising. This joint fundraiser is the perfect opportunity for local organisations to raise funds, and all without the hassle as Home-Start Royston and South Cambridge do all the heavy lifting. The event, which will be held on the evening of Sunday 19th May at the Royston Leisure Centre is organised entirely by local family support charity Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire. Participants are invited to contribute teams of six for a fun 55 minute relay swim, and the great news is that participants can walk away with 50% of the sponsorship they raise, while the remaining 50% goes to support HomeStart’s vital work with local families in crisis. It’s a win-win for local people wanting to raise funds for a club or charity close to their hearts – with the added bonus of supporting local families in need. With everyone from little nippers to grandparents welcome to take part, it has the potential to be a golden fundraising opportunity for a wide range of organisations – schools, Scouts, Guides, local sports clubs just to name a few. Places at the Aquathon are limited, so if you would like to get involved and raise money for your club, whilst also supporting local families, contact Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire for an application form. Tracy Aggett Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire (01763) 262262 admin@hsrsc.org.uk 52

Empowering People at the End of Life Wednesday 27th March 2019, 10.00am to 4.00pm The Burgess Hall, Westwood Road, St Ives, PE27 6WU Find out about end of life planning and understand your rights. When family, friends and medical staff know what is important to you, this can help you have a good death. Doctor Philip Hartropp, a retired Cambridgeshire GP, will talk about being in charge of how you die. There will be workshops on issues like setting up power of attorney, mental capacity and supporting someone at the end of their life. Lunch is free and refreshments are included. The event will be accessible, with British Sign Language Interpreters and speech to text reporting. Entrance is free but you must book your place in advance. For more information or to book your place visit our website at www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/endoflife-2019 or email debbie.drew@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk or telephone the office on 0330 355 1285 or text 0752 0635176. Angie Ridley Healthwatch Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

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 53

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 Good Companions Local History Group Lunch Club Melwood Cons. Group

John Rogger—(01763) 260809 Marian Oakman—(01763) 261481 (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 Pre-School Primary School

Thea Peacock—07930 893201 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/ Heidi Allen—(01954) 212707; www.heidisouthcambs.co.uk/

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

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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 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 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

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; Distribution & Proof-reading: Ken McLean 261243; Treasurer, Secretary & Trade Advertising: Beverley Cottrell 262176; Advertising Layout: Richard Burns 263121; Editorial Assistant: Robin Farbridge; Founder Member: Ann Barnes Meldreth Matters is available online at issuu.com (search for Meldreth)

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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. Abode Town & Country…………24 ADDS…………………………………12 Affordable Plumbing .......................30 AngliEAR Hearing ....................Cover Art of Clean ....................................24 Art of Clean Wood ..........................41 Aurora Meldreth Manor (Job)..........12 B2B Automotive ..............................46 Cambourne Self Storage ..................46 Cambridge Solar .............................41 Cambridge Sunblinds ......................51 CHS Day Centre .............................30 CHS Group .....................................53 Coton Electrical ..............................41 The Country Store .............................9 Dog Walker/Animal Sitter ...............24 Ely Design Group ............................30 Eternit Sports and Social Club .........35 Gilhooly ....................................Cover The Green Lounge ...........................46 iPlaster ............................................38 Lawn Partners .................................12 The Letting Centre ..........................15

Little Hands Nursery School ............41 Melbourn Flooring ..........................27 Melbourn Village College (1) ............24 Melbourn Village College (2) .......Cover Meldreth Landscapes .........................6 Meldreth Plant Hire .........................13 Moncraft Computers .........................6 Nancy Foster Footcare .....................35 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service.15 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement ......38 Penn Farm Physiotherapy………....…15 Polished Nails & Beauty ..................23 Reflections Hair Studio ....................35 Richard Burns Electrician ...................9 Rod’s PC Support ............................45 Royston Fencing ..............................30 Sage Blinds and Interiors .................23 Shelford Energy ...............................46 Slimming World ..............................38 Summit Landscapes ............................9 Village Garden Services ...................38 Walkers Partnership Solicitors ....Cover Yoga2 Classes…………………….……9 56

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