Meldreth Matters, March 2021

March 2021

In this issue … Gerald Burns (1933-2021) Meridian Maycroft Arts Centre Save the Primary School Swimming Pool

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Contents Village Issues Meldreth Market 9 Meridian Maycroft Arts Centre 6-8 Rail News 38-39 South West Cambridge 46

What’s On in March Diary 3 Things to Do From Home 32-33 People Gerald Burns (1933-2021) 4-5

Children & Education 1st Melbourn Guides 18 Activities for Families 14 Good Friday Craft Workshop 15 Primary School 12-13 Save the School Pool 10-11 Shepreth Spitfires 16-17

Coronavirus Information Community Transport 27 Coronavirus Rules 27 MCCS Advice & Information 28-30 Church News Holy Trinity Meetings 36 Lent Lunches & the Food Bank 36 Messages of Hope 37

Local/National Government Local Councillors 49-51 Parish Council 42-43 Planning 44-45

Gardens & Nature Bird Sightings in Meldreth 22-23 Gardening 20-21 Melwood Conservation Group 21

Advice/Information Advertisers’ Index 56 Home-Start 52 Mobile Warden Scheme 5 Neighbourhood Watch 41 Refuse Collections 3 Village Directory 54-55 Walk Your Walk for Carers 53

Village Groups Friends of Holy Trinity 35 Photographic Club 25 Women’s Group 24 Miscellaneous Letter to the Editor 23

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. Alternatively, it may be 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. It was a pleasure to judge the 1st Melbourn Guides photography competition recently and to join in their Zoom meeting to announce the winners. The high quality of the entries made my job as judge a very difficult one! Congratulations to all the girls, but particularly Laura Sharman (aged 12) who took first and third places and to Izzy Knobel-Forbes (aged 11) who came second. Laura’s photographs can be seen on our back cover this month. The next review of the current lockdown is due on 22nd February, just as we go to press. However, the present restrictions are expected to remain in place for at least some of March. The reasons for which you are permitted to leave home are given on page 27. Additional information on the support available locally can be found on pages 28-30. For the support for businesses being offered by South Cambridgeshire District Council, please see pages 50-51. Kathryn

Cover Photographs Front cover: Flooding off Whitecroft Road. Photograph by Mary Holland. Back cover: Photographs by Laura Sharman, who won first and third places in the 1st Melbourn Guides photography competition. See page 18.

Refuse Collections Black bins: 2nd, 16th, 30th Blue & green bins: 9th, 23rd

March Diary Wednesdays Thursday 4th Friday 12th

Zoom Cuppa Surgeries from 5.00-6.00pm with Susan van de Ven and Jose Hales. See page 51. 7.30pm Parish Council (online meeting) Copy deadline for the April issue 3

Gerald Burns 11th October 1933–24th January 2021 Gerald died at home on 24th January 2021 with his family around him. He leaves behind his wife, Shirley; three children, Karen, Mark and Celia; and seven grandchildren. Gerald was born and grew up on the Wirral. He passed the eleven-plus scholarship to go to St Anselm’s College in Birkenhead, where he represented the school in rugby and athletics. He gained a scholarship from Cheshire County to go to Liverpool University in 1953, where he studied Physics and Chemistry and graduated with a BSc. It was while he was at University that he met Shirley at a Youth Club dance. In 1956, Gerald joined the Royal Air Force and completed his National Service, doing basic training and radar training during the first year and spending the second year at Waterbeach, servicing air radar equipment. In October 1958, he took up a Graduate Chemist appointment in Manchester, living in digs until his marriage to Shirley the following year. In 1964, missing the community feeling they had known on the Wirral, Gerald and Shirley moved back there. Then, in 1970, when Gerald got a job at Ciba Geigy in Duxford, the family (now with three young children) moved to Flambards Close, then a new housing estate and home to several other Ciba Geigy employees. In 1982, Gerald was made redundant and turned to teaching Physics and Chemistry. He continued teaching until 1995, when he and Shirley both retired and shared their interests in spending time with their grandchildren, sequence dancing, and travelling. Gerald had a long-time interest in aviation, which included volunteering at the Imperial War Museum, and model aircraft; his largest model being the 1/3 scale Fokker aircraft, which he made for one of the village fancy dress events. He was also an enthusiastic player of bowls and enjoyed making wine, reading and doing daily crosswords. He enjoyed very good health until the autumn of 2019, when he underwent triple by-pass heart surgery. He had been 4

recovering well from the surgery when he developed breathing problems the following autumn, resulting in a diagnosis of lung cancer. Gerald lived in the village for 51 years and was an active participant of village life for much of that time, particularly when his children were young. He was a member of the Meldreth Primary School Parents Association and the Flambards Residents Association. He was also a swimming coach, was involved in fund-raising for village and school amenities and contributed to and participated in various village events, including the annual Meldreth Manor School fete and Guy Fawkes fireworks displays. Later on, his involvement in village matters continued, including as Village Hall Treasurer, Bowls Club Treasurer, and a loyal and valued member of the bowls team. He also delivered Meldreth Matters until 2019, at the age of 85. Gerald will be dearly missed by his family and friends, particularly his wife, children and grandchildren. Celia Burns

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

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Meridian Maycroft Arts Centre I have included my poem, ”Peter’s Dilemma” with my monthly report because it expresses my feelings upon Lynn’s offer of the challenging post to help her establish the Meridian Maycroft Arts Centre. It was to emphasise my acceptance of deciding for a sensible reason and to ensure that my studio collection of artworks and valuable reference books can continue to be useful after I have gone. The offer was so ridiculously challenging I had to accept. I have watched Room One develop and change from its These pages and page 8: beginning to acquire an interesting Peter in Room One atmosphere which pleased me and Photographs by Lynn Ward, hopefully which will please my Manager of Maycroft Care Home fellow residents when I try to help them there. We began on Tuesday 16th February, although Lynn and l had been planning a selection of paintings and other essentials for several weeks. Every session will involve some aspect of practical work. I hope to have a few surprises for those with me and will enjoy wandering along a beach in my imagination and selecting a few pebbles to make a rock arrangement. 6

Peter’s Dilemma Peter still wrestled with his dilemma, When solution came by chance and surprise Too good to turn down, so he accepted, Head ruled heart and the result was a prize. Room One to be the Maycroft Art Centre Helped by some items from his studio, He would explain the origin of each, Looking back to their birth through a window. The task would be an enjoyable one, Recalling impressions made in the past, Perhaps momentarily made on the move, Or longer lasting when time was held fast. Sometimes one can estimate a future Scene, moments before and even behind, With shift .of shade or narrow band to nurture, Transformation, by simply unwind. For the moment he would relive his past, Activating an impression again. Perhaps a harbour scene on arrival, Or departure, saddened by dusk or rain, Closeups would be within a two-foot square. Distant views demanded six-foot wide spreads, Simplification enhanced the image Compressing colours by bands in pressed beds. To help dementia residents through art, Means working in their own fields of vision, For when inspired, what they love they see. Happiness comes through their recognition, They know what they want to do and achieve. And the feeling, if, or when, they arrive, So I aim to help them on their journey, Giving incentives, to learn to drive.

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I have had a look at the other half of the Art Centre, Room Two, in the old, listed building, which although partially obscured by furniture and odds and ends, displays its original design with traditional windows and friendly atmosphere and corners which will be preserved. The bulk of my collection of paintings and library of art reference books will be housed here. I believe my collection will challenge anyone, however young or old, who is curious about the world around us. It is hoped that many non-residents who are interested will come to this centre for their own needs or to stimulate other forms of art which may surprise them. It is intended that a real art information resource centre should be open to all on any Wednesday afternoons by making a request to join regulars; numerous local artists, sculptors and craft followers will give talks about how and why they find their way to be interesting and satisfying for them. Peter Stone Maycroft Care Home

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Meldreth Market, 2021 Thank you to those who have shown an interest in our proposed walking market. To make it a worthwhile event, however, we do need more people who would like to participate. Anyone can join in! If you missed the original article providing information, please read on. Two ladies from Melbourn organised a walking market in Melbourn and Meldreth in November. It was, despite the cold, very enjoyable and we met some lovely people so I thought it could be repeated in Meldreth providing an opportunity for anyone to sell items they have made or no longer want. Many craft fairs have been cancelled, so we have lost the opportunity to sell our goods and the walking market provided a great way to do this. Weeks of lockdown have perhaps given you a chance to make or grow things, or sort out things you no longer want. If you grow plants and cannot use them all, you can sell the surplus. If you have de-cluttered perhaps you have clothes, CDs/DVDs, books, games, china etc. to dispose of and which someone else might benefit from. If you bake cakes, make jams or pickles there are always people that love to buy something home-made. Anything, in fact, as long as it is legal! The idea is, in part, to raise money for the church, a charity close to your heart, or local good cause. The choice would be yours but proceeds of at least a part of what you sell should be given to support the cause of your choosing. In doing so it will give you a space on the map that will be made available so everyone knows where you are, what you will be selling and which good cause you are supporting. Your stall, depending on the weather and any rules at the time, can be in your garage, a gazebo in your garden or drive, a summerhouse, shed or, with any required permissions, communal areas. As things stand(!), I am proposing that this takes place on the last Sunday in June. Please register your interest or contact me for more information. It commits you to nothing but it will give me an indication of how many people wish to take part enabling it to go ahead. lesleyfarbridge@hotmail.com or telephone (01763) 261578. Lesley Farbridge 9

Can You Help Save Meldreth Primary School’s Swimming Pool? First installed in 1965, Meldreth Primary School’s on-site pool has helped many generations of children learn how to swim. Some readers might themselves remember shivering in the British summer weather and splashing with their friends. The demand for this precious resource is as great as ever. Learning to swim is not only important for water safety, but can help promote a lifelong love of sports and activity and build a child's confidence.

The opening of the school pool in 1965 Photograph supplied by Meldreth WI

Children learning to swim in Meldreth Primary School's pool 10

Meldreth Primary School’s pool is funded entirely by charitable donations raised by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Thanks to the hard work of volunteers who led a previous fundraising campaign, the pool was refurbished back in 2014. It has continued to be well loved and had lots of use since then but has unfortunately deteriorated. The PTA has found a second -hand pool to replace it, and hopes to raise a total of £20,000 to have it installed.

This month, the PTA has launched a new campaign to Save our School Pool. During the winter lockdown, pupils, staff, parents and grandparents have been walking, cycling, bouncing and dancing to help us get to 2,021 active hours as a school community and raise funds for the pool. We are also planning more events, including a sponsored Zumbathon!

The much loved pool has had lots of use but has deteriorated. The PTA is fundraising to save this precious learning resource.

We know times are difficult for many people and we welcome any support you can manage. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savemeldrethschoolpool. Funds raised will help ensure future generations of children benefit from this unique and wonderful learning resource. Thank you! For updates on the progress of the campaign, you can follow Meldreth PTA on Facebook. Do you remember the joy of swimming with your friends in the school pool? We’d love to hear your stories. Please share them by posting a comment at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savemeldrethschoolpool or by commenting on a post on the Meldreth PTA Facebook page. Laura Hollis Meldreth Primary School PTA

Editor’s Note For more photographs and information on the swimming pool see: https://www.meldrethhistory.org.uk/topics/education/a-history-ofmeldreth-school-1960-1969/the-school-swimming-pool https://www.meldrethhistory.org.uk/topics/education/a-history-ofmeldreth-school-2010-onwards/save-our-pool 11

Meldreth Primary School www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk We’ve never known a spring term like it! After the Christmas break, the school gates opened on Monday 4th January to all children, to allow them to knuckle down to an exciting term of learning and laughter. The latter objective was swiftly quashed when Boris Johnson announced at 6.00pm that all schools were to close until further notice, to stem the accelerating infection rate of our nemesis Covid-19. The timing of the announcement meant that we had no opportunity to provide children with paper, pens, workbooks, reading books and so forth, which we had been able to manage prior to the March closure. A hearty sigh of exasperation was exhaled by all, but we stoically set to the renewed task of setting up Home Learning once more. There were significant changes this time round, however. A much greater number of children continued to attend school daily than had done so in March; largely the children of key workers in our community. We have created five learning bubbles this time around: one for our pre-school children, one for our Reception (or Foundation as we now call it) children and a mixed age bubble each for children in Years 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6. Perhaps the greater challenge in January, especially at the start of the new lockdown, was the move towards increased direct online teaching, so that children could continue to receive daily live lessons. At Meldreth, we have been fortunate to have invested in Google Chromebooks over recent years. This meant that all children in Key Stage 2 are used to accessing their virtual Classroom, where lessons and support materials are posted and children’s work assessed directly throughout the day. For the younger children, we use Tapestry, an online learning platform which effectively does the same job. Families that have struggled to provide their children with a tablet or computer have been loaned devices from school by way of government support. From the second week of the lockdown, following a rather steep learning curve by staff, all children had access to daily live lessons from their teachers, with optional drop-in live sessions. These sessions are attended by almost all our children every day and have provided a hugely valuable live link between school and home. The children in school attend the live sessions too so we are able to effectively meet up 12

daily. All technical glitches and problems have been capably managed and solved by the whirlwind in the office that is Mrs Willoughby and teachers have stepped up to another of this pandemic’s challenges. Mrs Howard hosts a virtual whole–school assembly every Friday which is attended by almost all of our children; this is a beaming mosaic of multiple screens filled with children’s faces beaming cheerfully from home while we celebrate children’s work and achievements of the previous seven days. At the time of writing, the number of actual Covid-19 cases remains negligible in our school community. Since the last week of January, all staff have been provided with home testing kits, which we submit results from after collectively swabbing our throats and noses on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. The business of teaching in this climate has indeed been challenging. Providing a curriculum that children can manage on different devices at home, which they may only have access to for part of the day, has been difficult; some families have printers while others do not, differentiation of tasks is often difficult and it is unrealistic to make informed judgements of children’s academic progress. We all stand in awe and applause to salute our besieged parents who we know are juggling the demands of different lessons for their children of different ages alongside keeping up with their own jobs, not to mention housework and providing meals, squeezing in some physical activity and keeping everyone happy for day after grinding day! Shortly before writing this piece, the government indicated that it was hoping to allow schools to reopen on Monday 8th March. By the time you read this piece, we shall know if indeed this is the case and we all hope upon hope that we can begin to return to ‘normal’ or at least return to the old ‘new normal’ that was the ‘un-normal’ experience of the period in school between lockdowns, between summer and Christmas. We know that we function best when we are all together. The children sorely need once more the social dynamic that pervades their lives in school when learning can really flourish alongside laughter and play. Andrew Jones Deputy Headteacher Meldreth Primary School 13

Things for Children and Families To Do Outdoor Activities Fowlmere RSPB Reserve Walks of different lengths round the reserve. Try to spot deer tracks in the mud, a kingfisher along the stream or a barn owl in the nesting box. Melwood Walk through the wood and spot the flowers - are any snowdrops left? Are the daffodils out? Google ‘how to draw snowdrops’ on YouTube or ‘how to draw a daffodil’ on www.artprojectsforkids.org. Sow Some Seeds Sow salad leaves in yogurt pots on the window sill, Avola peas in a sheltered place in a pot outdoors or Swiss chard outdoors in the soil. Treasure Trails Visit www.treasuretrails.co.uk and download maps and trails in Royston and near Cambridge £9.99. Use a series of clues to solve a mystery, walking about 2 miles or try www.treasuremaptrails.com for a trail through Cambridge for 5 - 12 year olds (£5.99). Online Activities Art - See the Home Learning section at www.ashmolean.org. Visit www.royalacademy.org.uk for ‘Firstsite’ activity packs for ages 5+ or try ‘Family how to’ activities for older children. Wednesday 3rd March, 6.00pm Watercolour wildlife workshop on Zoom for ages 10 -16. £10 www.fantasticforfamilies.com. Space - Passport to Space has facts, photos, games. www.kids.nationalgeographic.com. Writing and performing - Saturdays 13th and 20th March Live digital workshops using the spoken word, drama, song and dance. For ages 11 to 25. £5. www.birminghamhippodrome.com. Music - Mondays 8th, 15th, 22nd March, 10.00am Hey Diddle Diddle Sing-along, dance and play sessions for pre-school children. Free but book early on www.fantasticforfamilies.com. Compiled by Hilary Crawforth 14

Good Friday Craft Workshop and Easter Egg Hunt

This will be a little different this year!! If you would like a bag of crafts (and instructions) to collect from the church during your walk please email ruthhopper@btinternet.com. You will need to provide your own paint and glue. Please email me by Sunday 21st March with the name of the child/ children. Bags will be available for collection from 28th March. Ruth Hopper

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sheprethspitfires.co.uk Although it has been a tough time for the children in terms of not getting to train and play footie, some of the children have still managed to chat. This especially applies to Shepreth Spitfires under-7 19 Squadron who have been able to talk to each other on Zoom, thanks to the efforts of their lovely parents. All of the children are managing to see one another’s photographs as they post achievements when they complete some football skills tasks, fitness tasks and creative tasks too. Lots of the children earned medals for these challenges in lockdown one and two. In lockdown three we have decided to change the medals which is keeping everyone motivated. If you see the children out in the villages in their kits doing their 10 – 15 mile running challenges please cheer them on; they really love it. Added to this, lots of the children have been sharing pictures of their baby brothers and sisters in their Shepreth Spitfires baby grows (a little gift that the club gets for new baby brother and sisters of players). These pictures are so adorable and big brothers and sisters are so proud. Also, there have been some lovely pics of the Spitfires out in the snow in their new Club beanie hats; and some pics. of grandads, aunties and uncles in their winter hats too. We really look forward to seeing all of the children’s wonderful supporters back on the sidelines as soon as possible. 16

It is lovely to have a great little community around Shepreth Spitfires Football Club. I know that parents have been helping each other out and friends have been leaving gifts on doorsteps on their local exercise walks. It makes a huge difference and has kept spirits up while we all wait to get back to socialising and football as soon as possible. If any children would like to join Shepreth Spitfires Football Club please contact Lucy or Sean on 07510 175370. The club is especially recruiting children in school years 3 and 4 at the moment but there are some spaces in other age groups. Lucy Smith

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1st Melbourn Guides Taking our cue from the Rotary club, our Guide unit held a ‘Wild Nature’ photography competition. The girls went outside to snap close-ups of wild flowers and fungi, plus trees, woodland animals and beautiful landscapes. We had a total of 40 extremely impressive entries from sixteen girls; Kath Betts, Editor of Meldreth Matters kindly judged it and joined our Zoom meeting to give positive feedback and her top three choices. The winners were Laura with ‘Melbourn Sunrise’ and ‘Icy Hogweed’ (which are shown on the back cover of this month’s Meldreth Matters) and Izzy with ‘The Heart of Nature’. We kept the nature theme going for the rest of the evening, with a quiz and scavenger hunt and the girls made a wild bird feeder from a scooped out orange threaded with string (see example pictured). Burns Night is usually a celebration of Haggis and Whisky. Our Guide-appropriate event featured a quiz of obscure Scottish slang, an indoor golf competition and a live-action tutorial in the cooking of Scotch pancakes. The following week we explored communication old and new, starting with a quiz on the meaning of a range of emojis, then trying semaphore signalling. We finished with a lockdown-relevant Guide resource called ‘The Power of Positivity’: the girls chose a motivational message and created a poster to display at home or around the village. We finished this half term with a ‘Home Alone’ theme, covering various tasks which the girls should be able to do in the house. The girls learnt about different lightbulb fittings and how to change a lightbulb safely; they located their mains water stopcock and useful DIY tools and created a simple meal from store cupboard tinned food. We are hoping to start a Ranger unit for our small group of older Guides later this year, and would welcome another leader or helper. If you would like to know more about helping with Guides or Rangers, please contact me on (01763) 261443 or email melbournguides@gmail.com. You can also look on the girlguiding.org.uk website to find out more. Hilary Marsh 18

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Note from a Small Garden Snowdrops have happily been in my mind a lot lately, so I am focusing on them in this edition of garden notes. This year they are a few weeks late and because of the very cold weather we are having as I write, they are lasting longer. The snowdrops in our garden mostly come from my parents’ garden in Nottinghamshire. If you dig up a small clump whilst they are still flowering and put them in a pot for the kitchen table, they last longer than cut flowers. Each year once flowering has finished, I have usually found the time to dig them up, divide them and spread them around or give a clump away. I waited for the day when there were enough snowdrops in the garden so that I could pick a big bunch for our family or friends! Different varieties of snowdrops have become ‘collectors’ items, as many are very beautiful and exchange for large sums! A number of years ago, one winter when we were in Richmond, we saw an old house behind enormous yew hedges saying open to visitors except Christmas Day. We opened the gate and, not finding anybody about, we explored the garden and came across an old apple orchard with carpets of the large snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii. What a wonderful sight; even though we had no camera with us, the memory is still absolutely clear in my mind. Eventually we found the owner, a lovely old lady who turned out to be the widow of Bobby James, the well-know gardener after whom the yellow climbing rose is named. Galanthis elwesii doesn’t naturalise as fast as the common Galanthius nivalis and its double variety, but it has larger leaves, just right for surrounding a posy of these much-loved winter flowers. There are carpets of snowdrops in the gardens of many of the older houses of this village. The churchyard has some, but there aren’t many on the grass verges, or under the horse chestnut tree by the stocks. I’m wondering if people with lots of snowdrops might donate some to say, the Veg Plus Club whose members could store them until such a time next autumn when anyone who is interested could help plant them around the village. Maybe we will safely be out of lockdown then and 20

could have a village celebration of some kind. The recreation ground is being landscaped shortly and I’m sure the people involved with this would be only too glad of a gift of bulbs and some help in planting them. I’d like to initiate this planting project in memory of my mother, a great gardener who over many years planted, divided and replanted snowdrops in the churchyard of a small village near the house we grew up in in Nottinghamshire. My niece sent me a picture of it in the local newspaper showing the carpet of flowers which has become a regular place to visit in February. Anyone interested, please email me. Jobs for March  Protect new shoots from slugs although hopefully we will not have too many of them as we’ve had some good frosts  Thin and cut back dogwoods for good winter stems next year  Plant out onions, shallots and early potatoes Good gardening from Jim and me!

Julie Draper Juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk

Melwood Conservation Group: 2021 AGM Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to hold the AGM in person in February (the normal date). We therefore plan to hold it later in the year if the restrictions are lifted. If this doesn’t happen, we will try and arrange a virtual Zoom AGM. In the meantime, if anyone has any important issues they want to raise about the condition of the reserve, please contact Bruce Huett at brucehuett@compuserve.com or telephone (01763) 232855 (takes messages). We wish you all well and hope to be able to meet in the wood again in the not too distant future. As soon as it is feasible we will restart regular work parties. Melwood Conservation Group 21

2021 Starts with Unexpected Bird Sightings in Meldreth For a couple of days before the RSPB ‘Big Garden Bird Count’ we were blessed by a bit of warm sunny weather and for the first time since November, we were able to sit in the conservatory for lunch and a cup of tea later in the afternoon. In anticipation of the bird count, I had binoculars within reach and whilst sitting having lunch, I noticed a large bird in one of the beech trees between our garden and Melwood. A quick glance seemed to confirm that it was a buzzard and I took little more notice until it lifted off and flew towards Melwood. A broad white band at the base of the tail was immediately obvious showing that it was actually a rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), a far rarer bird. It also appeared to have longer wings than a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) but possible identification features of the underside could not be seen. This was only the third specimen I had ever seen. Roughlegged buzzards spend summer in more northern regions, such as the arctic and sub-arctic parts of Scandinavia but they migrate south in winter, with a few individuals remaining in the UK, generally in eastern counties. I have not seen any signs of this specimen since. Later in the day, as the sun started to sink, I came in from the garden and sat in the conservatory for a coffee, watching the blue tits, great tits and long-tailed tits on our feeders. Numbers of these three species have been very consistent with three individuals of each coming and going between the feeders and adjacent bushes for quite a few weeks. As I watched I noticed two other small slim birds in next door’s crab apple tree. Both were very active and I certainly needed the binoculars to get a useful view of them. To my surprise, I found that they were either chiff-chaff (Phylloscopus collybita) or willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus). These two are very difficult to separate if you don’t have the benefit of hearing their call but slightly greyer colour and a faint eye stripe suggested these were chiff-chaff. The willow warbler is usually a bit greener and the eye stripe is a little stronger. Both are summer visitors but the chiff-chaff is known to occasionally overwinter in the UK, whereas this does not happen more than very rarely for the willow warbler. The two birds seen seemed to be eating the frost-damaged crab apples but they are primarily insectivores and may have been benefitting from small flies attracted to the softened and blackbird22

damaged fruit. Blackcaps are occasional visitors to the feeders in winter but these were the first over-wintering chiff-chaffs that I have seen. As a foot-note – I saw my first butterfly of the year on 5th February, as the warm sunshine coaxed a male brimstone out of the ivy behind Leech’s car park in Melbourn. I imagine it returned to the shelter of the ivy foliage before dusk and will remain there until the next warm spell. Jim Reid Melwood Conservation Group

Letter to the Editor North End Horses I have lived in Meldreth most of my life; over the last 50 years in North End. My home backs onto the meadow which used to house two lovely horses - Corus the white horse and Hal the brown one. I know like me they were both old and somewhat lame but does anyone know where they have gone? It was always a pleasure to get up in the morning and see them from my French window. Pam Winter

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Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group We held our AGM on 26th January using Zoom and had sixteen members join us for it. I think it will go down as the quickest AGM on record as the reports had all gone out earlier and this enabled us to proceed at a rapid pace. The minutes from last year were approved and passed as were the chairman’s report and the accounts. Then the committee members were re elected en-bloc. It was decided to keep The Helen Rollason Cancer Trust as our charity as there had been little opportunity to support it last year. Our thanks to Reverend Mary Price for chairing our meeting which began this with our Women’s Group prayer: O God, our Heavenly Father, we pray for your blessing upon us. Help us to extend the hand of friendship, to study your word and to serve you and mankind with love and dedication, so fulfilling the aims of our group. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Our new programmes were handed out and it is our intention to keep meeting on Zoom for the time being. Our thanks go to Kimmi for hosting these meetings. In February we will have had a reflection for Lent and our March meeting is on Tuesday 23rd when we will be doing a quiz prepared by Angela. If you would like an invitation to the Zoom meeting, please contact me or one of the following committee members: Sue Toule (01763) 260955, Angela Leach (01763) 262793, Pat Ames (01763) 261130, Kimmi Crosby 07976 228377, Mary Bailey (01763) 220171 or Diane Blundell (01763)221415. Pat Smith (01763) 262575

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Melbourn and District Photographic Club melbournphotoclub.com With the season entering its last two months, we have a full and varied programme including two competitions, three lectures and two club evenings. March dates are as follows: 9th Third open print competition-Judge: Alison Jenkins 16th

Club Evening

23rd

Top of the World-lecture by David Steel

30th

PDI of the Year-Judge: Nigel Plant

Meetings are usually held weekly from 7.30 - 9.30pm on Tuesdays at the Foxton Village Hall from September to April. However, because of the Covid-19 situation, all meetings for the 2020-21 season are being held virtually via a Zoom broadcast until further notice. The Club has a diverse membership, with a friendly and supportive atmosphere, and always welcomes new members, whatever their ability and despite the Covid-19 restrictions.

Flying Through the Valley by Peter North

For details about the Club, and to see some of our work, visit our website at melbournphotoclub.com. If you are interested in joining, we are happy for you to join up to two of our Zoom meetings free of charge before deciding. To do this, just email me at melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com. Peter North Secretary Melbourn & District Photographic Club 25

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Coronavirus: Stay Home Remember: do not leave your home unless necessary. You may leave your home for the following reasons:  To shop for basic necessities for yourself or a vulnerable person  To go to work if you cannot work from home  To exercise with your household or with one other person, if you

are on your own  To meet your support bubble if you are legally permitted to form one  To seek medical attention  To attend childcare or education if eligible

For more information, see https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Royston & District Community Transport www.roytrans.co.uk Thanks to more people coming forward as volunteer drivers, RDCT can confirm we have not had to refuse a request for medical transport. Indeed, by the end of January we had completed 130 trips to Covid vaccination centres with a further 60 already in the diary. We are available seven days a week to match the roll-out in our area, and can transport people to all venues offering vaccinations as well as to all other medical appointments. As has been the case since the first lock-down, our drivers maintain high safety standards. Sanitising seating between passengers is an essential part of this, as is keeping car windows partly open to maintain good ventilation; something that is considered essential by government advisors. A recent piece of good news is that financial assistance may be available for eligible people; please enquire about this when booking a journey. As usual, to book please ring our office on (01763) 245228 between 9.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday, giving us as much notice as possible. Stay safe! The Royston & District Community Transport Team 27

Meldreth Coronavirus Co Please STAY HOME We hope you are staying safe and well during this continuing lockdown. A reminder of the reasons for which you are permitted to leave your home is shown on page 27. The Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire has noted that the rate of Covid is still about ten times what it was at the end of last summer, and that ‘there is lots of Covid in the community.’ We’d like to thank Meldreth residents for contributing to the community effort to help curtail the spread of Covid-19. We would like to remind all Meldreth residents of the support services available to the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable in our community: Register for Support If you are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable you (or someone else on your behalf) can register online using this link: https://www.gov.uk/ coronavirus-shielding-support. Pharmacy Deliveries If you are unable to travel to a pharmacy, medication can be delivered directly to you by a number of methods. Please ask your local pharmacist - WELL Melbourn on (01763) 260221 or Bassingbourn Pharmacy on (01763) 250660 - about the services offered. Our coordinator for pharmacy assistance is Nick Garner on 07968 568599. Local Shops, including telephone orders and deliveries Businesses located in Meldreth and Melbourn include One Stop, Fieldgate, Davey's Butchers, Bury Lane, Co-op, Leech & Sons, and Premier. Home delivery is available from Fieldgate (01763) 260737 and Bury Lane (01763) 260418. For Leech & Sons ring (01763) 260255 to collect outside in the car park at the back of the shop. Assistance from MCCS If you are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, shielding or have been instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace and your usual support is unavailable, please contact Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support using the contact details on page 30 and we will do our best to assist. 28

mmunity Support (MCCS) Please STAY HOME Meldreth Food Bank Meldreth Food Bank continues to support local families and has been greatly helped by generous donations from local residents. Please feel free to drop any food donations in the box outside The Gables, 69 High Street (opposite the British Queen). If you’d like to make a cash donation, please contact our treasurer Roger James on 07808 235873. You can visit the Food Bank on Tuesdays between 10.00am and midday or Thursdays from 2.00-4.00pm, or just contact Anne Bobeckyj, Food Bank coordinator, on 07592 355279. Meldreth Talking Friends Please remember that our team is always on hand for a friendly chat by phone, and we hope you will pick up the telephone at any time. Our Zone leaders’ phone numbers are shown on the following page. Meldreth Walking Friends and Meldreth Footpaths We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Meldreth Parish Paths Partnership who maintain the extensive network of paths around our village for their fantastic work to benefit all, especially now when local outdoor local exercise is so important. Meldreth Walking Friends is adapting to the times, running for now with socially distanced walks of a total of two people. Please contact Paul Inman on 07976 256121. Mental Health and Wellbeing Support We are supported by the very useful resources available to all at CPSL Mind – including their common-sense helpful reminders and also telephone numbers and links if you’re worried or anxious and need to talk to someone who can help. See www.cpslmind.org.uk/top-tips-selfhelp-resources or call 0300 303 4363 (9.30am – 5.30pm). Transport to Vaccination Appointments Help is available via the County Council for anyone who is stuck without transport to their vaccination appointment – please ring the Countywide Hub on 0345 045 5219. Royston and District Community Transport (see page 27) is also offering lifts to vaccination appointments. 29

Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support Volunteers from Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support are available to help if your usual support is unavailable and you are clinically extremely vulnerable, shielding or have been instructed to selfisolate by NHS Test & Trace. Please contact your Zone Leader using the telephone number below we will do our best to assist. Neighbourhood Zone Leaders  Kneesworth Road, West Way, Burtons & Fenny Lane: Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838  Elin Way and Howard Road Zone:

David Hollamby, 07732 106828  Whitecroft Road, Chiswick End, Oakrits, Melrose:

John Crawforth, 07595 627684  High Street, Flambards, The Grange, Woolpack Way, Station

Yard & Road: Helen Munday, 07712 555598  Bell Close and Gables Close:

Cathy Walston, 07757 086380  North End, Brewery Lane, Malton Lane, Cam Farm:

Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838 & Ian Mitchell, 07726 936635 If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. County and District Councillors, Susan van de Ven and Jose Hales and all at the MCCS team

Covid Support from South Cambridgeshire District Council For details of the Covid support for businesses available from South Cambridgeshire District Council, please see the report from our local councillors on pages 50-51.

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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

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

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Things to Do in March - From Home In the absence of so many of the usual events and activities, here are some things you might like to do in March without leaving home. If you want to let us know about any future event or activity please email: meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. Until Monday 29th March Sibberton Lodge Virtual Open Garden Take a virtual tour on YouTube of this lovely Cambridgeshire garden, owned and designed by Bunny Guinness, a Chelsea Flower Show judge with six gold medal-winning gardens to her credit. Visit ngs.org.uk for this and many other open gardens in the National Garden Scheme. Until Wednesday 31st March Edward Bawden at Home The Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden, Essex Excellent local gallery exhibiting paintings, prints, books and ceramics by artists living around Great Bradfield and Saffron Walden - now closed due to current government restrictions but visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lSYQBqHaYg for a video about artist Edward Bawden whose work the gallery features. Wednesday 10th March, 7.00pm to 8.45pm 2,000 Years of Cambridge History Museum of Cambridge online event Join well-known local historian Honor Ridout as she traces the fascinating story of the university City’s history, beginning with the Roman invaders two thousand years ago. Free but donations invited in aid of the museum’s fund-raising appeal. For further details and to book visit www.museumofcambridge.org.uk. Wednesday 10th March, 7.30pm to 9.00pm Oliver Cromwell: Hero or Villain Dr David Smith, Selwyn College Cambridge Run by the south east branch of the Historical Association, this Zoombased event will explore the life of one of the best known and most controversial figures in English history, Huntingdon-born Oliver Cromwell. For further details and to book visit https:// www.history.org.uk/events/calendar/6834/oliver-cromwell-hero-orvillain. Website also has details of many other online lectures in their programme, open to all members of the public. 32

Tuesday 16th March, 7.30pm to 8.45pm Climate Change - The View from Space With Helen Sharman and Tim Peake How has human spaceflight helped us appreciate our planet? Speakers including astronauts Helen Sharman and Tim Peake will discuss this question in a live YouTube event. Free but booking essential. For further details, booking arrangements and other online events visit www.railwaymuseum.org.uk. Friday 19th March, 7.00pm to 8.30pm Climate, Landscape and the Future of the Great Fen And closer to home…an on-line event run by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust. Wildlife and conservation experts discuss how climate change is likely to affect the species and habitats of the Great Fen. Tickets £5 (£3 for members) can be booked online through Eventbrite. For further details visit www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2021-03-19-climate-landscape-future-great -fen-response-changing-climate. Tuesday 23rd March, 7.00pm (available till 30th March) Cambridge Literary Festival - a Year on the NHS Frontline Marking one year since the UK first went into lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke and GP Gavin Francis share their experiences of tragedy, frustration, courage and kindness in this online event. £6 single event ticket. Book at www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com. Cambridge Literary Festival Player Also available is a £10 pass to give you year-round access to over 90 recorded audio and video events featuring leading authors, writers, poets from past Literary Festivals. Visit website as above. Friday 26th March to Sunday 4th April ‘New’ Cambridge Festival The Festival brings together for the first time the hugely popular Cambridge Science Festival and Festival of Ideas. It will feature hundreds of prominent figures from the worlds of science, art and current affairs focusing on the themes of health, environment, society and exploration. Huge range of free, online events over ten days. For the full programme visit www.festival.cam.uk. Compiled by John Crawforth 33

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 34

Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk Here are some more pictures of our past fundraising events and projects. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, we have been unable to hold any events during the past year. John Price 2019 Hedgehog Rescue A talk by Liz Dams April 2011 Spring Gardens Open

2002 Church Chairs Purchased July 2009 Summer Garden Concert West Gallery Quire

2014 Guy Fawkes & The Gunpowder Plot Talk by Richard Thomas

2015 The Future of the Past. Why Protect Heritage? Talk by Peter Draper

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Lent Lunches and the Food Bank During Lent, Holy Trinity Church usually lay on lunches for anybody in the village; a choice of delicious home made soups and a roll with coffee afterwards. Sadly this has not been possible this year. Instead, we approached the Food Bank and asked them what our best contribution for the children could be at this time. The quick answer was "Gingerbread men please. They were so appreciated by the children at Christmas-tide.” So a group of four will be making gingerbread men for the four weeks of Lent. And at Easter there will be treats - so watch this space. Julie Draper

Holy Trinity Meldreth Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meetings The Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meetings (APCM) are scheduled to be held on Sunday 21st March at 10.30am; it is planned that these will be held virtually via Zoom. Everyone geographically in the parish, or on the electoral roll, has a right to attend and vote at the Vestry Meeting for the Election of Church Wardens. Only those on the Electoral Roll have a right to attend and vote at the APCM. Please contact the PCC Secretary via ruthhopper@btinternet.com if you would like to receive an invitation to these meetings. The reports will be circulated electronically prior to the meetings; these will be sent to everyone who is invited to the meeting. Please contact the PCC Secretary if you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to receive the reports. Nomination Forms: Due to the legal requirement to observe Covid-19 protocol, electronic nomination forms for Church Warden/PCC election will be available. These are available from the PCC Secretary and should be completed using MS Word etc. The proposers and seconders should email the PCC Secretary direct. Completed nomination forms should be received by Sunday 14th March. Ruth Hopper 36

Messages of Hope In December Lizzie, Mary and I delivered Christmas cards with an attached label on which to write messages of hope and return to either All Saints Melbourn or Holy Trinity Meldreth Church. Blank labels were also left in both churches for people to write messages of hope if they wanted to. These messages were then hung upon trees in the two churches and we thought it would be good to share some of these messages of hope with you: 

I pray for courage, peace and hope for all those bereaved as a result of Covid-19 and other illness this Christmas and hope for 2021.



“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness” Desmond Tutu.



Can we hope that this year has shown us how much we need each other and our faith in God.



Hope that we can adapt to the changes that Covid-19 has wrought and move forward, a stronger nation, with or without a deal with the EU.



“Hope is the sail of your boat that powers you across the sea of life. Faith is the rigging that ties the sail of hope to the boat.” James Aitken Wright.



It is my hope that the world will be a kinder, less frenetic place in the future when we can all enjoy one another’s company again.



That all peoples will work together to share the world’s resources and take care of the natural bounty of it.



Be joyful in HOPE, patient in afflictions, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality (Romans chapter 12 verses 12 & 13). Pat Smith (01763) 262575 37

Rail News from the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership http://meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk/ Rail User Group Meeting Our next Rail User Group takes place on Tuesday 6th April at 7.30pm. Please contact us if you’d like the link to join this meeting on your computer. Path to Meldreth Station There’s work happening behind the scenes to bring to fruition an improved path connecting Melbourn to Meldreth Station, and also a ramp for access to the London platform. The easy bit has been the generosity of Melbourn Science Park in instigating a significant developer contribution to the project, in conjunction with its planning application to expand their Melbourn site. Added to the developer contribution from the 199 homes development off New Road Melbourn, the money needed for the project is there. More challenging is the maze of rules and regulations and individual bureaucracies needed to come together – firstly, Govia Thameslink, the Department for Transport and Network Rail, to agree the ramp specifications which must marry up with path specifications. The path can then be delivered by Cambridgeshire County Council. Passenger Benefit Fund and Meldreth Station We’ll be seeing a few improvements to Meldreth Station shortly, as a result of the Passenger Benefit Fund – a sort of financial compensation to stations affected by the 2018 timetable meltdown. Again, the bureaucracies involved here are dazzling and in the end, while rail user feedback was gratefully received, it was the Department for Transport that decided how the funds could be allocated. We understand that toilets will be refurbished and that we’ll see improvements in platform seating and waiting shelters – though no detail as yet. In any case, at last we seem to have action coming up. Timetables are Changing on 22nd February According to GTR, train services are being reduced to better match anticipated demand in the months ahead, and to ensure 38

services are as reliable as possible at a time when colleagues may need to self-isolate or shield. The plan focuses on maintaining services earlier in the morning, later in the evening and at peak times, based on feedback from key workers and stakeholders. Train services will change across the network, so as always, it is important that customers check journeys at www.nationalrail.co.uk before travelling. King’s Cross to Cambridge – Stopping Service The half-hourly Thameslink stopping service between King’s Cross and Cambridge will be reduced to hourly in the section between Royston and Cambridge outside of peak and school times. This will mean an hourly service at Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton outside of busy times. Foxton Travel Hub Car Park Continuing local concerns that the Foxton Travel Hub, approved as a Greater Cambridge Partnership scheme last summer, could emerge as not much more than a gigantic car park were put to the Greater Cambridge Partnership in a recent local meeting. The challenge was put to make this very significant investment work as a true ‘travel hub’, with all the connectivity the term implies. While the approved scheme is for 900 car park spaces, the GCP has indicated a reduced scope of 500 spaces in the first iteration. Both the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign and the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership have actively participated in the ‘non-motorised user group’ discussions on the detail of pedestrian access between the car park and the station, in order to provide the knowledge and experience of local users. Final design proposals are awaited. A public consultation on the Foxton Travel Hub ahead of Planning consideration is expected in March. We’ll be sharing detail on this at our next Rail User Group. Please contact us if you’d like to join our mailing list: railusergroup@gmail.com. Susan van de Ven and Sarah Grove, Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership

39

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The Letting Centre is a dedicated letting agency established for 29 years, operating from High Street premises in Melbourn. We offer an expert, tailored service to suit each clients’ individual needs. Covering Cambridge, Royston, Melbourn and surrounding villages. Friendly, no obligation advice on how to achieve the best possible return on your rental investment with clear and simple guidance on your legal obligations. The Letting Centre (Cambridge) Ltd, 107 High Street, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, SG8 6AP. Tel: 01763 263039. Email: enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk. www.letting-centre.co.uk

Registered Office: The Letting Centre Ltd, 24b Orchard Road, Melbourn, Nr. Royston, Herts. SG8 6HH Tel: 01763 263039 Registered in England No. 4472384 VAT No. 700035112 Director Mrs Angie Rixon E-mail: enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk

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DPD Delivery Scam Fraudsters are sending fake email or text messages claiming to be from DPD (but it could be any delivery company). The messages state that the recipient has missed two attempted deliveries of a parcel and provide instructions on how to arrange another delivery. The links in the messages lead to fraudulent websites that request a payment (£2 or £3) to rearrange the delivery. If the victim makes this payment, they’ll receive a telephone call within a few days from someone purporting to be from their bank to inform them about suspicious transactions on their account. They may also receive text messages, purporting to be from their bank, confirming these transactions. The victim is informed that their bank account may be compromised and is instructed to transfer their money to what they believe is an alternative secure account in order to prevent further losses. In other cases, fraudsters have gained enough personal details and security information during the telephone call with the victim to enable them to take out a loan in the victim’s name; the fraudsters then transfer the loan to an account under their control. Fraudsters are able to use a tactic called ‘spoofing’ to make the call or text appear genuine by cloning the telephone number, or sender ID, used by the bank. 

Never give out any personal or financial details in response to any unsolicited communication (telephone call, email, text, letter or personal visit).



Never call the number or use the email address given in an unsolicited communication. Instead, use the official details from the organisation's website or from the back of your bank cards.

Always report scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk. 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

You can contact Neighbourhood Watch by telephoning Graham on the above number, or by emailing nhw.meldreth@btinternet.com. Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch 41

Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Meeting held on Thursday 4th February 2021 This meeting was held 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 Public Participation There were two members of the public present. Councillor Sally Ann Hart observed the meeting as the prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for the vacant position on SCDC. The occupants of Sheene Manor gave their views against the proposed extension of the Melbourn Conservation area into Meldreth to include Sheene Manor and its curtilage. District and County Councillor’s Reports (see pages 49-51) The Fenny Lane footpath has been resurfaced and it is expected that the High Street footpath will be completed before the end of the financial year. Pumping out of the gullies is still awaited following the recent flooding. Residents are reminded of the need to advise Anglian Water of any problems with raw sewage. A freedom of information request regarding Cambridge Development Corporation and Thakeham Homes has been denied by government and an appeal made (see page 46). 25,000 New Houses for Southwest Cambridgeshire Councillors Young and James were proposed to represent Meldreth on the South West Cambridge Action Group. Melbourn Conservation Area Meldreth Parish Council will respond to this consultation having considered the proposal. We believe that the case has not been made to include part of Meldreth, namely Sheene Manor and its curtilage, as there are no significant views of Sheene Mill from the Manor. Sufficient protection should be provided by the grade II listings of the manor house, the barns adjacent to Station Road and the historic bridge over the River Mel. 42

Recreation Ground Offers of help with the purchase of trees have been received from the public; work can now proceed with the purchase and planting of trees and shrubs. The Parish Paths group will be asked to help get a safety barrier on the bridge over the running ditch on Footpath Eight. Tennis Club The Parish Council will facilitate a discussion between the club and the local LTA to encourage greater public use of the courts. Trees The WI have been given permission to plant a commemorative tree on land behind the parish noticeboards at the corner of Bell Close. Cemetery Anti-rabbit fencing is now being installed. Next Meeting: Thursday 4th March at 7.30pm Meldreth Parish Council

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

43

Planning Matters Parish Council The information below has been taken from the unapproved meetings of the Parish Council planning meetings on 3rd and 17th December 2020, 21st January 2021 and 4th February 2021. For further information and to view the minutes, please check the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk. Ref. & Address

Detail

Parish Council Recommend

Land to Rear of 30 Chiswick End 20/03400/ REM Revised drawings on S/4058/12/OL

The change in design from 2 x 4 bedroom houses to 2 x 4 bedroom bungalows and revision to place the buildings side-by-side (rather than one behind the other)

This was felt to be out of keeping with other nearby houses and considered overdevelopment of the site. In line with a previous submission to oppose this development, the PC agreed to object.

Part two storey side and 9 The Grange 20/04088/HFUL single storey side extension.

No recommendation with no comments

Proposed two storey and 54 Whitecroft Road 20/05267/ single storey rear and side extensions and alterations HFUL with the addition of front dormer. S73 application to vary 51 Whitecroft Road 20/04413/ condition 2 (approved drawings) of permission S73 S/1392/19/FL to alter dormer size, roof, first floor rear fenestration and installation of flue.

No recommendation with no comments

Former Scrapyard Chiswick End 20/05059/FUL

Erection of detached dwelling house to plot 6 (revised design)

44

No recommendation with no comments

No recommendation with comments: The Parish Council Planning Committee are very encouraged by the Traffic Management Plan that has been submitted and that SCDC will monitor the performance against the plan.

Reference and Address 94 High Street

Detail

Parish Council Recommend

Fell sycamore and PC support this application replace with oak tree.

14 Bell Close Lean-to single story 20/04667/HFUL front extension

PC recommend “support” with no comments

Other Items Councillor Gilmore raised concern with regards to the footway adjacent to 70 Whitecroft Road. There are red barriers on site which are forcing pedestrians onto the road. It appears that no work is currently being carried out and there is nobody on site. The footway is not yet finished. The Clerk will enquire about the delay. Station Yard, Former Stable Yard S/3696/19/FL Change of use and external alterations to form dwelling. An appeal has been made to the Secretary of State against the decision of SCDC to refuse the application. Appeal No. APP/W0530/W/20/3261884.

SCDC Decisions The following decisions have been made recently. Ref. and Address

Decision

Permission has been granted for new site access and 20/04861/FUL alterations to boundary wall 69 High Street Meldreth SG8 6LB 20/03400/REM Land rear of 30 Chiswick End

Approval of matters reserved for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission S/4058/17/OL for the erection of two dwellings with demolition of lean-to of existing building and alterations to existing highway access has been granted permission.

Full details of all planning applications may be viewed on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website: https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications. The Meldreth Matters Team 45

South West Cambridge Action Group This group exists to prevent the advancement of a speculative proposal for a new town of 25,000 homes by Thakeham developers on land in and around Meldreth, Shepreth, Whaddon, Melbourn, Foxton, Barrington, Orwell, Wimpole and Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth. You can read about SWCAG’s work at www.swcag.org.uk. Its steering group is comprised of District and County Councillors representing these villages, with representation from all nine Parish Councils. Freedom of Information Update A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been denied, on the basis that information revealed would be a ‘distraction’ and that ‘it is not in the public interest to disclose this information at this time’. The request was for information relating to a Cambridge ‘Development Corporation’ – a central government vehicle for creating new towns that bypasses normal planning processes. SWCAG is seeking to confirm whether or not the Development Corporation is tied to the proposal by Thakeham developers. Note that in last year’s budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the setting up of a Cambridge Development Corporation, but did not reveal any details, including where exactly the new town would be situated. There has been no engagement, nor any timeline published. The FOI response has been shared with Anthony Browne MP and is published for public information at www.swcag.org.uk. The decision is being appealed. Public Meetings and Information If you’d like to join the South West Cambridge Action Group for general updates, including dates of upcoming public meetings, please contact info@swcag.org.uk. Councillors Susan van de Ven and Jose Hales

www.meldrethhistory.org.uk Over 600 pages on Meldreth, past and present 46

Home Tutor Does your child need a bit of help catching up? Keeping up? Developing enjoyment of a subject?

I am an experienced Primary School teacher providing 1:1 tuition for primary school children (KS2) in a calm, caring environment, based in Shepreth. Focussing on Literacy and Numeracy. Please contact me for more information: Carol Dutton BSc (Hons) PGCE cassakd@icloud.com / 07986 978 358

For all your domestic electrical needs.

Village Garden Services

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PC Repairs Advice & Installation of Home Networks Help with Selecting a computer Fault Finding Brian Girling 01223 208529 (Wimpole) E-mail bg@moncraft.co.uk

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

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Club Facili es

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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 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

48

District and County Councillors’ Report Foul Water Drainage During the January flooding we were alerted to a number of neighbourhood hot spots, including residential properties affected by an Anglian Water foul sewerage system clearly at or beyond capacity. It’s absolutely vital that any problems at a particular property are reported to Anglian Water, either by telephone or online – and please if possible, do let us know that you have done so, as we are in regular contact with Anglian Water and can be more effective with a clear picture of where problems are occurring. Anglian Water have promised us an on-site meeting to identify and understand any infrastructure problems that affect both the immediate and wider area, and next steps. To report to Anglian Water telephone 03457 145145 or use the online contact form: https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/contact-us-form. And thank you very much to those who have spent a lot of time and effort on making sure the reporting is done. Gulley Emptying There is no date yet for gulley emptying. We're waiting and chasing, following the assurance that Station Road, High Street, Fenny Lane, Whitecroft Road and Elin Way gulleys will be systematically emptied, so that we can start afresh and then locate and understand what needs further action and investigation. The County Highways team is, as we have reported previously, coping with lack of funds as well as key staff vacancies, so we have minimal resources to deal with repairs on a deteriorating network of roads, paths and drains. Once again, we’d like to thank everyone for continuing to log issues on the online reporting site, vital to establishing the public record and the best means of communicating jobs that require attention. Fenny Lane Pavement Resurfaced Local walkers will have noticed that Fenny Lane has at last seen its footway resurfaced. The rest of the west side of the High Street should be resurfaced before end of financial year! We would love to be able to promise more work to more footways – though we can promise we will do our best to make the case. 49

Ploughed Over Footpaths We’ve received reports of some ploughed-over footpaths. These should always be reported on the Highways on-line reporting site: https:// highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Climate and Environment Fortnight From Monday 22nd February, South Cambridgeshire District Council will be marking Climate and Environment Fortnight with a series of free online events to help people think about how to live more sustainably, reduce carbon emissions and in turn help tackle climate change. There are free online events, designed for a variety of audiences, from 25th February to 4th March. All information is here: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/nature-and-climate-change/climate-andenvironment-fortnight-2021-events. County Council New Budget for 2021-22 Susan has posted on her website details of the new budget set by the Council’s administration on 9th February. Covid Support From the District Council There is a great deal of information on the South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) website about support for people affected by Covid-19, including those needing to self-isolate. The Council will have recently sent letters out to every household to let them know more about this. For detailed information see www.scambs.gov.uk/ coronavirus. You will find the pages easy to navigate. South Cambridgeshire Businesses - Covid Support Businesses in South Cambridgeshire can now apply for the latest round of Government financial help for closures during the post-Christmas period and through the spring. SCDC, which is administering the business grants, has opened applications for local businesses suffering from the Tier 4 restrictions from 26th December to 4th January, and the current ongoing national lockdown. There are several different Government grants available for these periods. For the Tier 4 period in South Cambridgeshire, which ran for ten days immediately after Christmas, affected businesses (including nonessential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses) can now apply online for the LRSG (Closed) Tier 4 grant scheme. The eligibility criteria and payments are structured in a similar way to previous grants given during earlier restrictions. 50

For the current National Lockdown, which started on 5th January, three new schemes are now available. Businesses which applied for the Tier 4 grant do not need to re-apply but will be contacted automatically by the Council. Those which haven’t applied for earlier grants should fill in an online application form. The new Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: 5th January onwards covers the current 42-day period for business closures up until 31st March 2021, with one-off payments ranging from £2,001 to £4,500 depending on the rateable value of a business which must have been registered for business rates on 5th January 2021 and required by law to close. Those receiving this grant will also be entitled to an additional one-off Closed Business Lockdown payment for the same 42-day qualifying restriction period which will range from £4,000 to £9,000 and will be paid automatically. The Council is also receiving additional funding to allocate at its discretion under the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme and will make initial use of these funds to provide top-ups to those most in-need businesses in the District which are eligible for the Closed Business Lockdown Payment. The application closure date for the new grant schemes is 31st March 2021 with final payments being made by 30th April 2021. In the meantime, businesses can also still apply for various earlier grants via the Council website covering the following: Local Restrictions from 5th November to 2nd December; Christmas support payments for wet-led pubs (final applications had to be received by 31st January 2021); and Tier 2 Restrictions imposed in South Cambridgeshire from 2nd to 25th December. Zoom Cuppa Surgeries: Join us on Wednesdays From 5.00-6.00pm We can’t have face-to-face conversations these days but if you’d like to meet with your councillors by Zoom, to bring any concerns or ask any questions, we’re introducing a weekly Zoom Cuppa Surgery every Wednesday from 5.00-6.00pm. Please contact us for the link – and if you’d like to join us but can’t make these times, please just let us know and we’ll make an arrangement to suit. Susan van de Ven, County Councillor Jose Hales, District Councillor 51

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire www.hsrsc.org.uk Easy Fundraising Do you shop online? If you do, did you know you could be supporting Home-Start, and many other good causes, by using EasyFundraising? EasyFundraising is a free-to-use tool that collects charity donations. Every time you make a purchase through one of the EasyFundraising partners, a small donation is made to your chosen charity. There are 100s of retailers you can shop with, from John Lewis, Argos and ScrewFix to the Travelodge, TrainLine and Virgin Atlantic. You can use EasyFundraising for insurance and phone contracts; for computers and fridges; for books and toys and clothes. You can even use it when purchasing desks, chairs and PPE, ready for when the office reopens! It really is easy to use, as well: you simply sign up for a free account, and then use the EasyFundraising website to search for the things you want to buy. If you’re feeling really high-tech, it comes with a little widget in your browser and your donations will be collected automatically. It’s almost like fundraising magic! And the best part is that it doesn’t cost you a penny: the donations come from the retailers to Home-Start, so you can shop with an easy conscience, knowing that you’re helping a good cause. If you’d like to know more about EasyFundraising, take a look at their website: www.easyfundraising.org.uk or get in touch with us at the Home-Start office: admin@hsrsc.org.uk Thank you so much for your support. Cathy Coulthard Community and Events Development Manager Home Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire 52

Walk Your Walk for Carers Local charity Caring Together is providing free and tailored support for people looking after a family member or friend, so they and the person they care for can get to their appointment for the Covid-19 vaccination. They are inviting you to walk your walk for carers this March to raise money so that they can continue to provide this and other support to carers during the pandemic. Whether you are looking to increase your fitness, make the most of your daily exercise or simply want to give purpose to getting out and about, we have the thing for you: walk your walk for carers. Carers face many challenges in getting themselves and the people they care for to medical appointments. So, the free support from Caring Together can make the difference in whether they can get to those appointments or not. Signing up to the challenge is completely free and there is no minimum sponsorship that we ask you to raise to take part. If you pledge to raise £50 you will be sent a Caring Together T-shirt and if you raise £100 they will send you a water bottle to say thank you. For more information and to learn how you can create your Walk for Carers challenge visit caringtogether.org/walkyourwalk or email fundraising@caringtogether.org. If you are looking after a family member or friend and want support getting to your coronavirus vaccination appointment please contact Caring Together on 0345 241 0954 or email hello@caringtogether.org. Caring Together Dust Free Wood Floor Sanding & Restoration

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Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

53

One Stop Village Hall Bookings Village Hall Chairman

(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

Christine Piper Hatch—(01223) 263266 Janet Pope—(01763) 248239 07930 650036 Christine Knight—(01763) 261676 (01763) 243376; http://cspark.at/Meldr2

Church

Litter Picker

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 Brownies (1st Meldreth) Hartbeeps Pre-School Primary School

Thea Peacock—07930 893201 Email: 1stmeldrethbrownies@gmail.com Kelly@hartbeeps.com 07518 173653; www.meldrethPreschool.com (01763) 260432; www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk

Parish Council District Councillor District Council Offices

Please see details at end of Parish Council report 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

Neighbourhood Watch

Mick Taylor—(01763) 261118 Graham Borgonon—(01763) 260358

Children

Village Directory

County Councillor County Council Offices MP

54

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

Rail User Group

07905 325574; www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk

Transport

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.

Health

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

Misc.

NonEmerg.

Emergencies

Support Services

Station Ticket Office

Citizens Advice Bureau

Police

Taxi (Butler Meltax) (01763) 244444; 212223 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: Lesley Pemberton 07798586875 and David & Maggie Smith 260378; Founder: Ann Barnes Meldreth Matters is available online at issuu.com (search for Meldreth)

55

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 ...........................34 Art of Clean .....................................48 Art of Clean Wood ...........................53 Aurora Meldreth Manor (Job) ............2 Cambourne Self Storage ...................53 CHS Day Centre ..............................48 CHS Group ................................Cover Coach House Health Care ................19 The Country Store ............................15 Ely Design Group .............................26 Eternit Sports and Social Club ..........48 Eve Construction ................................2 Home Tutor .....................................47 Huw Shortle Window Cleaning ........23 J N Garden Services .........................19 Lawn Partners ....................................8 The Letting Centre ...........................40 Little Hands Nursery School ............24 Melbourn Flooring .....................Cover Melbourn Village College..................31

Meldreth Landscapes .......................15 Meldreth Motor Company ...............47 Meldreth Plant Hire .........................17 Moncraft Computers ........................48 N J Chapman, gardening ..................24 Nancy Foster Footcare .....................26 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service31 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement .......40 P D Property Services .........................8 Penn Farm Physiotherapy .................40 Reflections Hair Studio ....................26 Richard Burns Electrician ..................15 Rod’s PC Support ......................Cover Sage Blinds and Interiors ..................31 Slimming World ...............................19 Sparky’s ...........................................47 Specialist Dental Partners .................34 Trademark Kitchens ....................Cover Tudor Access Scaffolding ..................26 Village Garden Services ....................47 56

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Moorlands Court

@melbournflooring

Local Community Services

 Homecare – our fully trained carers visit you in your home.  Si ng service – a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers me for themselves.  Day Centre – based at Moorlands Court, with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.  Meals service – nutri ous, hot lunch me 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, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email : denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk

Above: Melbourn Sunrise Below: Icy Hogweed by Laura Sharman - 1st & 3rd places in the Guides’ photography competition (see p. 18)

Meldreth Matters is printed by Plumridge Printers 41 High St Linton 01223 891407