Meldreth Matters, March 2022

March 2022

In this issue … Parish Council Election The Queen’s Coronation River Pollution

Events … Messy Church Rat Show

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Contents Gardens & Nature Gardening 18-19 Meldreth Station Gardening 20 Melwood 14-15

What’s On in March Messy Church back cover Rat Show 4 Things to Do in March 22-23 Village Diary 28-29

Cookery In Praise of … 37-39

Village Groups Bowls Club 8 Friends of Holy Trinity 6 History Group 11 Lift Off Choir 5 Photographic Club 7 Women’s Group 6

Miscellaneous Letters to the Editor 12 Local/National Government Local Councillors 45-49 Parish Council 40-43 Parish Council Election 26-27 Planning 49 SW Cambridge Update 50-51

Village News & Issues A10 Cycling Campaign 21 Easter Market 4, 13 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 5 River Pollution 16-17 VH Piano Needs a New Home 10 Village Defibrillators 51

Advice/Information Advertisers’ Index 56 Coronavirus Support 52-53 Mobile Warden Scheme 3 Neighbourhood Watch 25 Refuse Collections 29 Village Directory 54-55

Children & Education 1st Meldreth Rainbows 30 1st Melbourn Guides 31 Activities for Families 35 Shepreth Spitfires FC 32

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. We have a varied issue for you this month with news of local groups, events and issues that affect the village. We hope you enjoy reading it. Disappointingly, we had no response at all to our appeal for advertisers that appeared in the February issue. If we are to continue to produce and print Meldreth Matters, we need to attract more advertisers. Our advertising rates have remained constant for nearly 20 years, in spite of increased printing costs and the rising numbers of homes and businesses in the village. If you know of a business that would like to advertise locally, please recommend us to them. Our rates are shown on page 56 of this issue. Kathryn

Cover Photograph North End, Meldreth. Photograph by Kathryn Betts.

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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National Fancy Rat Society Show: 26th March After a few years’ break, the National Fancy Rat Society is returning to the Village Hall to hold their Meldreth Show on Saturday 26th March. The show is open to the public, so if you'd like to find out more about these sociable pets, please drop in between 11.30am and 4.30pm. If you have rats and might want to enter them in the show, please contact me before Monday 21st March and I can explain what is involved - my email address is cyber_ratty@yahoo.co.uk. Refreshments will be available and Rat Rations will be selling pet food and supplies We request that attendees are free of Covid symptoms and have had a negative lateral flow test result in the previous 24 hours. Mary Giles

Easter Market: 3rd April Please don’t forget the Easter Market at the Village Hall on Sunday 3rd April from 10.00am – 3.00pm. Come and help to raise some much-needed funds for Meldreth Matters, while supporting HomeStart who are providing refreshments throughout the day and Meldreth PTA who are organising Easter Crafts for children. Kathryn Betts, our Editor will be there along with other members of the MM Team, so it will be a great opportunity to ask questions about, and make suggestions for, your magazine! There are currently a limited number of spaces available for anyone who wishes to have a stall. Please contact me if you would like one; the cost is £25 which, once the cost of the hire of the hall has been deducted, will go to help finance the continued production of Meldreth Matters. Lesley Farbridge lesleyfarbridge@hotmail.com 07917 065465 4

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Street Party, Sunday 5th June 2022 A few people have been asking whether there will be any events in Meldreth to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Plans for a party in the High Street on Sunday 5th June are in the early stages. Meldreth Parish Council is willing to support this event. It would be a good idea for anyone who would like to help organise the street party to meet up in early March. I am liaising with the British Queen and Meldreth Parish Council and once we get a few organisers together I will be contacting other groups, schools, etc. during March. Some areas of the village may want to organise their own parties. However, it would be nice for the village as a whole to meet up together on 5th. If you are interested in helping, then please contact me to at least start the ball rolling towards making this a lovely Meldreth event. I look forward to hearing from you. Joan Gane (01763) 260129 jgane33@gmail.com

Lift Off Choir Are you looking for a new pastime/ interest? Lift Off Choir runs every Wednesday during term time from 1.30-2.30pm in Meldreth Village Hall. We are a friendly bunch who enjoy singing uplifting popular songs and the sound we make together. There is no ongoing commitment, as it is pay as you go and currently only £5 a session. We have all ages (adults) and abilities who attend, and you do not need to read music. The hall has free flowing ventilation during sessions and we all space out. Why not come and give it a try? Clare Silver www.claresilver.co.uk 5

Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk Following the article in January issue seeking new committee members, we have had a useful response although more offers of help would be welcome. The constraints of Covid will influence what we can do this year. Currently we are considering a music event within the church, but with reduced capacity. The AGM will go ahead in the wellventilated meeting room in May, to consider the reports for the last three years. The Car Show is planned for 11th September. Open Gardens is always popular, but a suitable group of gardens will need to be established. Talks in the meeting room will depend on guidance from the Diocese. John Price

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group We are a small friendly group and meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except December. We normally begin our physical meetings at 7.45pm in either All Saint’s Community Hall, Melbourn or Holy Trinity Church Meeting Room in Meldreth. There is a fee of £1 on the evening to cover refreshments and an option to donate and support our charity of the year, ‘Stand-by-me Children’s Bereavement Support’. In February we had a Lent reflection led by Pat Smith and we are looking forward to hearing about the work of Marie Curie on 22nd March; this will start at 7.45pm in All Saint’s Community Hall. The World Day of Prayer is on 4th March and will be held at the URC in Melbourn beginning at 2.30pm. If you would like a copy of the programme or a lift to the meeting please contact one of the committee members. If you would like to know more about the group, need a lift to meetings or would like a copy of our programme please contact any of the following committee members: Pat Smith (01763) 262575, Sue Toule (01763) 260955, Angela Leach (01763) 262793, Pat Ames (01763) 261130, Kimmi Crosby (07976228377), Mary Bailey (01763) 220171 and Diane Blundell (01763) 221415. Pat Smith 6

Melbourn and District Photographic Club melbournphotoclub.com Our season is now entering its last two months. March meetings are as follows: 1st Wildlife Around the UK. Lecture by Alison Jenkins 8th

Panel Print Competition. Judge: Chrissie Hart. Pairs Trophy

15th

Review of Studio Sessions. Colour Toning Techniques. Lecture by Ian Tulloch

22nd

3rd Open PDI Competition. Judge: Alison Jenkins

29th

Print of the Year. Judge: Vic Hainsworth

Meetings are held weekly from 7.30-9.30pm on Tuesdays in Foxton Village Hall from September to April. Some sessions are held virtually, via Zoom, if Covid precautions dictate or if the speaker/judge is unable to attend in person. The Club has a diverse membership, with a friendly and supportive atmosphere, and always welcomes new members, whatever their ability. 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 meetings free of charge before deciding. To do this, just email me at melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com Peter North Secretary Melbourn & District Photographic Club

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Meldreth Bowls Club www.meldrethbowlsclub.co.uk The nights are drawing out, the days are getting warmer, and spring seems to be in full flight. It must be time to blow off the cobwebs and get back onto the bowling green! But, before we can do that there is essential work to do to prepare the green for bowling. Our first match is on the 27th April and there is much to do before we get there. Our Tuesday morning roll-ups (10.00am to noon) are very popular and a chance for new bowlers to try our sport. The first of these will be on Tuesday 3rd May. You do not need to be a member to participate but we would naturally hope that if you did enjoy the game then you would join as a social member thereafter. Such is the popularity of Tuesday mornings that this season we are starting a Saturday roll-up too. These will allow those that are unable to come on Tuesdays the opportunity to try bowls. Further details of the Saturday roll-up to follow. We will also be having an Open Day in mid-summer so there will be plenty of opportunities to experience bowling. We encourage supporters to come and watch our matches and to this end we publicise our home games on the noticeboard at the entrance to the Club. This year represents the 90th Anniversary of the formation of our Club and we intend to celebrate reaching this milestone in style – further details in due course. We are also staging the inaugural Meldreth Bowls Club Open Pairs competition on Saturday 9th July. There will be attractive cash prizes so we are hoping to attract top flight bowlers from across the county. We hope that we might see some of you at our Club over the summer months. Jim Hatch Chairman Meldreth Bowls Club

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Our Piano Needs a New Home! Meldreth Village Hall has recently taken delivery of an electronic piano to replace the traditional piano which has been a fixture of the hall for many years. As a result, the old piano is now surplus to requirements and we would like to offer it, free of charge, to anyone who can give it a home. The old piano is an upright Monington and Weston. These were considered to be good domestic pianos during their time of manufacture and this particular piano dates from 1942. The Trustees believe it to be in working order but are aware that, as it is not in its first flush of youth, it is in need of some tender loving care and probably a visit from a piano tuner would not go amiss! We would love to give it to someone in the village or with links to the village who may benefit from a piano. A developing musical maestro perhaps? A new keen-to-learn pianist? Or a household who just like to play the piano? The Village Hall Trustees would love to hear from you and hopefully find a suitable home for our old faithful piano. Now the conditions!! The piano is a ‘sold as seen’ item! Whoever chooses to have the piano must be able to transport it! Help can be given in muscle power and it is possible that a van and driver could be found but any potential costs will need to be met by the new owner. Viewing of the piano is possible by prior arrangement only with the Trustees of the Village Hall. The cost of the piano – well ... it’s free! A donation towards the running costs of the Hall would be great but there is no obligation. So there it is, a free upright piano desperate to find a new home! If you want further information or can offer it a home, please contact either Julia on 07403 462198 or email Andrew on villagehallmeldreth@gmail.com. Meldreth Village Hall Trustees 10

The Queen’s Coronation, 1953 Some members of Meldreth Local History Group have been researching the celebrations that were held in the village to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The photographs on the right were supplied by Joan Fallon who explained that the children of the village all dressed up in fancy dress. Some are pictured here on the back of lorries which went along the High Street. Those pictured include Joan Rayner, Roger Winter, Janice Thurley, Brian Pepper and Roger Pepper. The top photograph was taken outside the British Queen and the other on the Primary School playing field. If you can name any of the children please contact us at info@meldrethhistory.org.uk. We would also like to hear from you if you have any more photographs or memories to share of the coronation celebrations. Meldreth Local History Group www.meldrethhistory.org.uk info@meldrethhistory.org.uk 11

Letters to the Editor Fred Askew Hello, my name is Clare Foulkes, née Askew. My great-uncle, Fred Askew (pictured right) spent a huge part of his life in Meldreth. I have spent years researching my family tree, but I realised I hadn't spent much time looking into the more recent past. I am intrigued by Fred's life, mainly because I remember him from my childhood and because he moved away from east London, which is unusual in my family’s history. Fred was my grandad Arthur's brother. Fred was born in 1924 in Hackney, London and was one of eleven siblings. I believe he moved to Meldreth in the 1950's and from what I have already learned, he was an active member of the community. I'm not sure what caused this, but I know he had only one leg and this prompted him to build his own bungalow to suit his health needs. Apparently he lived in a caravan on site with his wife and children whilst the project was ongoing! Fred and his wife had six children in total: Stephen, Kim, Portia, Michael and twins Jane and Elizabeth. I believe some of them stayed in the Cambridgeshire area. I have clear memories of Kim's wedding reception, held in the garden of the bungalow, complete with marquee. Fred died in 2004. If any readers remember Fred and his family, and would like to share their memories and/or photographs with me, I would be very grateful. If any relatives are readers - even better! Clare Foulkes asquif@hotmail.com 07967 502137

Davey’s Butchers Congratulations to Davey’s the butchers on their 10th anniversary in January and a big thank you for the lovely sausage baps which were distributed in celebration. Sally Wright 12

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Melwood Welcomes 2022 www.melwood.org.uk As usual, the first two clumps of snowdrops put in an appearance on about New Year’s Day. The mass of plants were about on schedule and looking good by the start of February. Although we don’t have an exact map of where every clump is, it seems this year that there are rather more small groups scattered widely around the wood. The main areas have produced a really good show and been appreciated by large numbers of visitors to the wood. There are four species of Snowdrop on sale in most garden centres and hundreds of Galanthus plicata varieties derived from the three commonest species, all three of which occur in Melwood. The most distinctive species is Galanthus plicata, which has larger and broader leaves than the other two and frequently, larger blooms. In Melwood we have a single clump of a distinctive and unusual variety of G. plicata with unusually long petals. Its origin remains a mystery. Winter Aconites were once restricted to just one area, which still persists, although now rather overgrown; a job for the brush-cutter when the aconite growth has fully died down. Elsewhere, a few individual plants have shown up remote from the original clump and this year there seems to be even more scattered individuals. Two groups that were present last year have expanded and the prospect for further expansion seems good. The cultivated daffodils that have been in the wood since before it was a nature reserve are coming through strongly but the true wild bulbs that we have planted over the last couple of years are currently less obvious. Perhaps this is a lack of the hybrid vigour present in the cultivated varieties. Time will tell and they should be obvious when they flower. It is perhaps a bit early to assess whether the native English Bluebells have settled in, but with 100 planted in 2020 and another 100 in 2021, 14

I hope we will see some evidence later in the spring. The Spanish species grow strongly but are generally a much more robust species and may need to be segregated or removed if the English ones look likely to establish and spread; the aim is a true English bluebell wood. The sighting of a water shrew on one recent visit was certainly a bonus. It is many years since I last saw this tiny animal on the banks of the Mel and it took more than a casual glance to spot it. I first noticed a few abnormal ripples from beneath some overhanging vegetation on the river bank, so I stopped to take a longer look. It took a few minutes before the shrew eventually came out and scuttled along the water’s edge to the next patch of vegetation. There it dived under water to get fully beneath the leaf cover where there may be more insects to feed on. They need to eat two or three times their own body weight each day to maintain their very rapid metabolic rate. A further unexpected sighting was of a group of four or five willow warblers. It is unusual to see even one in winter, as they should have migrated south to warmer climates, where their diet of insects is easier to find. This little group were hunting for insects around the smaller trees and bushes and may have been a family group that left it too late to migrate. So far the winter has been relatively kind to them, so there is a good chance they will make through to the spring. The one working party so far in 2022 has concentrated on the paths and hedges. ‘Leisure parties’ at the bonfire site usually disappear over winter but this year, perhaps because of milder and generally dry weather, there have been a number and it is very pleasing to note that the site has been left clean and tidy each time. Well done to those that have cleaned up after themselves. Jim Reid Melwood Conservation Group Visit your local history website

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River Pollution Early spring is when the river Mel is arguably at its most attractive, with early flowering marginal plants along its banks and the trees coming back into leaf. It is also a time when river levels are high, and we await the exciting first sighting of trout hatchlings. Yes, the river is looking good, but it is increasingly under threat from various factions. One thing that has been of concern for some time is the quality of effluent released into our river by Anglian Water’s Waste-Water Treatment Plant, otherwise known to most of us as the Sewage Treatment Works (STW). Increasingly we have been concerned about the normal, everyday, discharges into the Mel, as we now see a change in the colour of the water in the river when the sewage treatment works are discharging into the Mel. Moreover, in times of high rainfall, raw or part treated sewage is also frequently discharged directly into the river. Published data show that in 2020 this occurred 62 times. These worries are not excusive to the Mel. The Environment Agency has been quoted in the local press as saying that downstream of us in Cambridge, the Cambridge (Milton) Water Treatment plant has been releasing more treated sewage effluent into the river Cam than its permit allows since 2015. Even the national press has taken up the call to arms, reporting on widespread pollution of rivers and other chalk streams across the country. With this background in mind, we were very interested to hear that the Cam Valley Forum (CVF), a Cambridge based environmental group that campaigns to protect the River Cam and its environs, had last summer carried out a pilot study to monitor the water quality on the River Cam, as well as at points further upstream in the Rhee. Preliminary samples were taken to test for E coli and other faecal pollutants in the river and at the sewage works at Milton and Haslingfield. Unexpectedly, the results showed that the River Rhee was much more contaminated than the Cam, and that this seemed just as bad further upstream towards the Meldreth-Orwell Road bridge in

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Malton Lane. This suggested that there must be a major discharge of pollutants, usually associated with sewage (though agriculture can contribute), occurring somewhere upstream of Malton Lane. While there are several sewage treatment works that ultimately discharge into the Rhee, could this, at least in part, be from the Melbourn STW via the river Mel? So, when the Cam Valley Forum approached the River Mel Restoration Group (RMRG) with their proposals to carry out a more extensive study we were delighted to get involved. The first round of sampling took place in mid-January at multiple points along the Rhee, the Cam and its tributaries. Our task was to collect samples from different points along the Mel at a time when the treated effluent was being discharged. Samples were collected at four points: a sample of the effluent from the Melbourn STW as it was discharging into the Mel, plus a sample of the river water from upstream to act as a direct comparison. Samples were then collected from two further points downstream of the discharge point, in an attempt to understand any dilution effect as the effluent mixes with the natural river flow. Once collected, the samples were immediately taken to a central collection point in Cambridge so that they could be sent by courier to the analytical laboratories for testing. As we write, we are still awaiting the results … Since collecting our samples, we have heard that the CVF has secured funding from The Technology Partnership (TTP) that will allow two further rounds of comparative testing in late winter and early summer. This should provide a much more robust set of data. Of course, we realise that these studies are relatively crude and could be affected by many variables, such as the level and flow rate of the river at time of sampling. However, they will be highly indicative. We hope that this study is just the beginning of our understanding of how STWs affect our local rivers and that it will lead to improved water quality in not only the Mel, but in all our local rivers for the benefit of wildlife, its habitat, and for recreational users (children, swimmers and dogs). Sandra Webb River Mel Restoration Group info@rivermel.com

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Notes from a Small Garden As I write these notes the sun is shimmering through the grey morning mist, and as I look through the window into the garden, I am thankful to my family and friends for the gifts of early bulbs over the forty years and more that we have lived here. The aconites which fill a big border to the left, were given to me by Marjorie Hilton who lived in the Gables in the High Street. I loved going to see her with our three young children when I was a young mum. The snowdrops which are making such a splendid show come from many sources, including my parents’ garden in Nottinghamshire as well as kind friends in the village. I am thrilled to see that the large snowdrop, ‘Sam Arnott’ only planted last year and a gift from a Veg Club friend, is doing really well. However, by the time you read this the snowdrops will be almost over. March is the perfect time to lift and divide them green and then replant them where you want them to flower next year. I used to plant them in clumps, being in too much of a hurry to get them in the ground but now I am content to replant two or three at a time. This allows them to spread more naturally in swathes. One of my main tasks in the garden in March is to prune the roses. When we first moved here, I wanted to plant romantic old-fashioned roses with those beautiful shapes, colours and scents reminding me of the rose gardens we had visited all over the UK. And indeed, they were beautiful and many did very well for us but after a time, they succumbed to mildew and rust and began to get very spindly, despite me trying to prune them as the great rose specialist, Graham Thomas advised. Over the last twenty years I have been replacing them with David Austin’s English roses. See www.davidaustinroses.co.uk where there is a plethora of advice about successful rose growing. In this garden, the English roses have done really well and our soil seems to suit them. Some plants are more robust than others, but their great advantage is having a second or even a third flowering, and some flower continuously throughout the summer. Most are heavily scented. I love their colours and shapes and the way they remind me of the old Dutch Masters’ still life paintings. And their names! The Pilgrim, the Angel of Lichfield, the Shepherdess to name only a few. 18

But how to prune these continuous flowering roses? First, decide the structure and height you want. Take out dead, diseased and old and weak stems and prune the strong stems by a third to encourage new growth and repeat flowering. An established bush can be pruned to the shape and size that looks best where it is in the border. Robust plants can take more pruning back, but a first year rose needs a bit more care until it gets really established. Last year the roses here were particularly spectacular, due I think to a good amount of winter rain and good horse manure kindly given to me by a neighbour. Other Jobs for March:  Weed and dress pots with fresh compost  Plant shallots, onions and early seed potatoes  Weed seed beds in the vegetable patch and keep weeds under control generally (easier if you keep doing it!)  Manure the vegetable beds  Towards the end of the month start direct sowing into the soil hardy annuals like Californian poppies, nigella and cornflowers March is often such a beautiful month with sunny and windy days, when you can spend the whole day in the garden if you are lucky. How I look forward to March, on a cold February day. Good gardening, as always. Julie Juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk

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Meldreth Station Gardening All Volunteers Welcome, Including DofE Award Students If you enjoy community gardening or are looking for a way to fulfil your Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award volunteering requirement, please read on! The Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership is always looking for volunteers to join our gardening team – just helping out with watering the platform tubs makes a huge difference to keeping the station environment in good shape. If you’d like to get involved in any way, or to find out more, please get in touch – we’d be delighted to hear from you. Sarah Grove and Susan van de Ven Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership Sarahgrove.msfcrp@gmail.com, susanvandeven5@gmail.com

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A10 Cycling Campaign and Spring Cycling www.a10corridorcycle.com If you are new to the area and enjoy cycling, please consider joining the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign, which has helped to deliver the existing cycle route from Melbourn to Cambridge and is now focusing on efforts for an off-road path and bridge over the A505 at the Royston junction, in order to provide a safe walking, cycling and scooter link between Melbourn and Royston. The ‘Melbourn Greenway’ project is anticipated to support these aims – and also, to improve the existing route to Cambridge, particularly around Harston and Hauxton. Things have been a bit slow in the past eighteen months, but we expect to see things get moving again soon. We meet two or three times per year, and host an annual ‘A10 Awareness Ride’ to familiarise people with the route. We get involved in cutting back brambles along the route and this includes a TTP staff group on their lunchtime break who go out with their secateurs. The campaign has become a generator of many new friendships across the villages and Royston. The next meeting will be held on 21st March (see page 45). There is more at www.a10corridorcycle.com, which has links to join our mailing list and Facebook page. Susan van de Ven Contacta10cycle@gmail.com susanvandeven5@gmail.com 07905 325574

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Things to Do in March Here are some things happening in March in the local area. Coronavirus restrictions and conditions may still apply - please check before you book. If you want to let us know about any future event or activity please email: meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. Mother’s Day Raffle, to be drawn Wednesday 23rd March In aid of HomeStart Royston, Buntingford and South Cambs Be in with a chance to win a wonderful hamper of goodies for the mum in your life. Second and third prizes also available. Tickets £2 each from www.tickettailor.com. Friday 4th March, 8.00pm Foyer Jazz: Homecoming Quintet Saffron Hall, Audley End Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4UH Latest in the popular series of informal jazz concerts, the band pays tribute to two of jazz’s most influential figures - Dexter Gordon and Woody Shaw. Mediterranean-inspired street food by Boho Kitchen. Tickets from £13.50 from www.saffronhall.com. Saturday 5th March, 10.00am to 4.00pm Ely Record Fair The Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely CB7 4BB Whether you’re a collector or browser, music for every taste in all formats from a hall full of dealers selling vinyl, CDs, DVDs, memorabilia and books. Free entry. Visit www.spottedinely.com. Sunday 6th March, 9.00am to 4.00pm Great Chishill Antiques and Vintage Fair Village Hall, Hall Lane, Great Chishill, Cambridgeshire SG8 8SH Around 20 stalls packed with antiques, collectables and vintage items. From pottery to glass and jewellery with something to cater for all tastes in picturesque village setting. Tea room with home-made refreshments. Wednesday 9th to Monday 28th March, Cathedral opening hours A Special Place - Textile Art Exhibition Ely Cathedral, Chapter House, The College, Ely CB7 4DL Five textile artists explore the locations which inspire them, from local gardens to far away places. Beautiful collection of work from handmade felt to gold work to quilting. Many exhibits available to buy. See www.elycathedral.org for further details and to book tickets. 22

Wednesday 23rd March, 7.15pm A Cosmic Treasure Hunt Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge. Join this online event and help search for the first jewels in the night sky! Using the James Webb space telescope and presented by James Trussler, one in the series of fascinating public open evenings run by the Institute of Astronomy’s expert team. Visit www.public.ast.cam.ac.uk for details. Saturday 26th March, 11.00am to 3.00pm Book Sale at St Mary’s Church, Whittlesford, Cambs CB22 4NX ‘From the rare to the racy’ - books of every description for sale in fine village church. Refreshments and ploughman’s lunches. Free entry. Saturday 26th March, 7.30pm Mozart - Requiem; Anthems by Brahms, Mendelssohn & Mozart St. Mary’s Church, Ashwell, Hertfordshire SG7 5LY Returning to the lovely Ashwell church after nearly two years, Royston Choral Society will perform this mysterious and stirring masterpiece. Rarely heard live and not to be missed. Tickets £15, under 18 £1, from www.roystonchoralsoc.org.uk, choir members or call (01920) 822723. Sunday 27th March, 11.00am to 4.00pm Mother’s Day Opening Benington Lordship Gardens, Benington, Herts SG2 7BS Looking for somewhere special to celebrate the day? This private family home with spectacular gardens, only open on selected dates, will have a marvellous display of spring bulbs. Adults £7, Children £3, under 3s free. Refreshments available in tea room in parish hall next to the garden. Visit www.beningtonlordship.co.uk. for details and to book tickets. Cambridge Festival Thursday 31st March to Sunday 10th April University of Cambridge, various locations and online Over 350 in-person and online events with a programme tackling some of the our most pressing issues - ranging from crises in politics and health to climate change, global economics and human rights. Featuring experts from the worlds of current affairs, science, arts and culture. All events free and booking now open. See: www.festival.cam.ac.uk. Compiled by John Crawforth 23

MELDRETH WEDNESDAY 6.30 PM Alison 07812 825 389 FRIDAY 9.30 AM Angela 07708 444 991 Meldreth Village Hall High Street

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Fake Telephone Calls Someone in our region has reported the following scam, which was unsuccessful thanks to a clever ploy on the part of the victim. The victim received a telephone call in which the caller ID displayed 0800 111 6768. If you look this up on the internet, it is the genuine telephone number for the Financial Conduct Authority. The caller quoted the victim's name and address, said that they were calling from the FCA and that they were calling because someone using the victim's name and address had taken out a loan in Brighton and that it could affect their credit rating. The victim told the caller that they had not taken out a loan and asked the caller to put the details in writing and send via the post. The victim was asked to hold the line, but the call was eventually disconnected by the caller. The victim contacted the FCA who said that they do not telephone private individuals and confirmed that the call was a scam. Please note:  Just because someone knows your name and address or telephone number or email does not make them genuine.  Just because a genuine number appears on a call it does not make the call genuine. Criminals can spoof telephone numbers that appear in calls and will use the number of a genuine organisation. If in doubt, do what the victim did and invite the caller to write to you. Fraudsters are probably not that keen to put anything in writing and take the effort to post it to you! 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

Peter

Tim

(01763) 260323

(01763) 261405 (01763) 262801

You can contact Neighbourhood Watch by telephoning Graham on the above number, or by emailing nhw.meldreth@btinternet.com. Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch 25

Meldreth Parish Council Election If any residents are thinking about joining the Parish Council, this is the time to do it. On 5th May 2022 all Parish Council seats will be up for election. Please see the following instructions from SCDC on how you can apply. Please remember that there is a deadline to do this and nominations have to be handed in by hand. Guidance for Candidates The Electoral Commission publish significant guidance notes for anyone who is considering standing as a parish or town council candidate. You can find the guidance documents here: https:// www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parishcouncil-elections-england. Please note that this guidance is still being updated for 2022, so keep an eye out for any changes. It is recommended that all candidates read this guidance, especially the parts relating to qualification and conduct. Nomination Forms Nomination papers can be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website through the link provided above. The Returning Officer is able to provide printed copies, but in the interests of sustainability, these will only be supplied on request. Nomination papers must be completed in hard copy (not digitally). Nomination Period Nominations must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer (RO) at SCDC, Cambourne Business Park, CB23 6EA. They may be delivered at any time between 8.30am and 5.30pm on any working day between 28th March and 5th April. In accordance with the statutory timetable, the RO will stop taking nominations at 4.00pm on 5th April. Nomination papers must not be posted – they will be returned if they are. However, they may be delivered by a “trusted person”. Where appropriate, this could mean that a Parish Clerk can bring in nominations for a number of candidates in one go. It would help us for nomination papers to be delivered in bulk in this way to minimise the number of people attending the offices at one time. You may email us using the address above to make an appointment. However, even if you have an appointment, it may sometimes be the case that you have to wait a short while to see someone. All nomination papers will be informally checked before you submit them, allowing opportunity for 26

errors to be rectified. For this reason we recommend you do not leave it to the last minute to submit your papers. If you need support with how to complete a nomination paper, please refer to EC guidance or send us an email. Prospective Councillor Zoom Session Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Association of Local Councils (CAPALC) will be hosting two sessions via Zoom for prospective councillors. All prospective councillors from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are welcome to attend. The sessions will explain everything you need to know: what local councils and councillors do, how you can become a councillor, details of the role and what to expect. The sessions will take place on: Saturday 5th March, 9.30am to midday Wednesday 16th March, 6.30pm to 9.00pm Book your free place at www.bookwhen.com/capalc If you are interested in joining Meldreth Parish Council, you can also contact me for further information. Judy Damant, Parish Clerk, Meldreth Parish Council parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk (01763) 269928 PC Repairs

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Meldreth Village D Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

The copy deadline for the April issue of Meldreth Matters is Saturday 12th March

9.15-10.15am Yoga2rise Time tba Meldreth Marvels Cycling Group 1.30-2.30pm 50+ Aerobics 4.45-5.45pm Tang Soo Do 5.00-6.00 Rainbows 7.00-8.00pm Fitness Pilates

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group

9.30am Meldreth Local History Group 11.00-12.00 Trigger Point Pilates 4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children (multiple classes) 8.00-9.00pm Zumba

9.15-10.15am Yoga2rise Time tba Meldreth Marvels Cycling Group 1.30-2.30pm 50+ Aerobics 4.45-5.45pm Tang Soo Do 5.00-6.00 Rainbows 7.00-8.00pm Fitness Pilates

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group

11.00-12.00 Trigger Point Pilates

1.30-2.30pm Lift Off Choir 6.30pm Slimming World 8.00-9.00pm Bell Ringing

Thur

10.00am-1.15 Hartbeeps (m classes) 4.00-5.00pm 6.00-6.45pm 7.00-9.00pm 7.30pm Meld Council (venu

1.30-2.30pm Lift Off Choir

10.00am-1.15 Hartbeeps (m classes) 4.00-5.00pm

6.30pm Slimming World

6.00-6.45pm

8.00-9.00pm Bell Ringing

7.00-9.00pm

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group

4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children (multiple classes) 8.00-9.00pm Zumba

9.15-10.15am Yoga2rise Time tba Meldreth Marvels Cycling Group 10.40-11.30 Mobile Library 1.30-2.30pm 50+ Aerobics 4.45-5.45pm Tang Soo Do 5.00-6.00 Rainbows 7.00-8.00pm Fitness Pilates

1.30-2.30pm Lift Off Choir

10.00am-1.15 Hartbeeps (m classes) 4.00-5.00pm

6.30pm Slimming World

6.00-6.45pm

8.00-9.00pm Bell Ringing

7.00-9.00pm

11.00-12.00 TP Pilates 4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children (multiple classes) 7.30pm A10 Cycle Campaign Zoom Meeting (see page 45) 8.00-9.00pm Zumba

9.15-10.15am Yoga2rise Time tba Meldreth Marvels Cycling Group 1.30-2.30pm 50+ Aerobics 4.45-5.45pm Tang Soo Do 5.00-6.00 Rainbows 7.00-8.00pm Fitness Pilates

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group 1.30-2.30pm Lift Off Choir

10.00am-1.15 Hartbeeps (m classes) 4.00-5.00pm

6.30pm Slimming World

6.00-6.45pm

8.00-9.00pm Bell Ringing

7.00-9.00pm

11.00-12.00 Trigger Point Pilates

9.15-10.15am Yoga2rise Time tba Meldreth Marvels Cycling Group 1.30-2.30pm 50+ Aerobics 4.45-5.45pm Tang Soo Do 5.00-6.00 Rainbows 7.00-8.00pm Fitness Pilates

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group 1.30-2.30pm Lift Off Choir

10.00am-1.15 Hartbeeps (m classes) 4.00-5.00pm

6.30pm Slimming World

6.00-6.45pm

8.00-9.00pm Bell Ringing

7.00-9.00pm

4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children (multiple classes) 8.00-9.00pm Zumba

Church services are held in Holy Trinity Church. The Mobile Library Service visits Bell MLHG meet in the Community Room in Elin Way. All othe

28

Diary - March 2022

sday

5pm multiple

Friday

Saturday

Sunday 9.45am Said Eucharist with hymns

9.30am Slimming World

Acro Pilates Table Tennis dreth Parish ue tbc)

5pm ultiple

9.30am Slimming World

Station Garden Tidy Up (see page 46)

Acro

3.30pm Messy Church (see back cover)

MM copy deadline for the March issue

Pilates Table Tennis

5pm ultiple

8.00am Said Eucharist

9.30am Slimming World

9.45am Said Eucharist with hymns

Acro Pilates Table Tennis

5pm ultiple

9.30am Slimming World

11.30am-4.30pm National Fancy Rat Society Rat Show

Acro Pilates Table Tennis

5pm multiple Acro Pilates Table Tennis

Refuse Collections Black bins: 1st, 15th, 29th Blue & green bins: 8th & 22nd

Close. Meldreth Marvels Cycling Group meet in the lay-by opposite Holy Trinity Church. er events are held in the Village Hall unless otherwise indicated.

29

1st Meldreth Rainbows www.girlguiding.org.uk Our recent unit meetings have been busy and fun-filled. The new Rainbows have settled into the group very well, and all have chosen to make their Rainbows Promise this term. We are currently focusing on developing skills to make changes, to understand the importance of change and to identify changes the girls would like to see. Some of our fun activities included painting pebbles of joy, thinking about who can help us in our local area, re-creating stories and charity challenges. Set the Story Straight As a group we discussed traditional tales and how there is often a bad character with a negative outcome. Together, we re-created the story of Goldilocks, but in our version, she walked into The Three Panda’s house where Goldilocks ate the pandas’ pancakes, sat in their bean bags and slept in their hammocks. Instead of being chased out of the house, Goldilocks was invited to join the Pandas for a tea party, and they became friends. Charity Challenges The girls discussed what a charity is and how they have helped support charities. We held a ‘backwards bake sale’ where the girls donated money to purchase icing and decorations to decorate cupcakes. This activity was thoroughly enjoyed and the cake to decoration ratio certainly leaned in favour of the decorations. The girls all agreed the money donated should be put towards the new Rainbows Unit. We have lots planned for the second half of the term and look forward to sharing more soon. Marigold, Snowdrop, Buttercup & Primrose Rainbows Leaders

Be Seen, Be Safe! Cyclists and pedestrians:  Please wear bright, light or reflec ve clothing  Pedestrians, please carry a torch  Cyclists, use front and rear lights

30

1st Melbourn Guides Learning practical skills is the best bit about being a Guide and we covered lots of that in the autumn term. To experience what Guides did during the war, the girls used the phonetic alphabet, learned bandaging, and competed to build a tower from bamboo skewers and blu-tak. Then came the Bake-Off competition: for the technical challenge they whisked up a mousse, crème pâtissière and baked pastry cases or shortbread. The girls also showed great creativity with biscuits and coloured fondant icing to produce Showstopper themes of Beauty and the Beast, and a nativity scene on a pre-baked sponge base. With flowers kindly donated by Bury Lane Farm Shop, we finished the term making Christmas table decorations with a candle, oasis foam and lots of foliage. We started the new year with the girls’ choice of games, then did a First Aid skills badge. The hall trustees kindly showed us a video and their new defibrillator and we then practiced CPR using a dummy and a fake defibrillator machine. We also learnt how to treat sprains, ways to use a bandage and a sling, and how to make an emergency call. To think about accident prevention, the girls played hide and seek using a torch and hi-vis jacket and drew a picture showing hazards around the home. At the All Saints Coffee Stop, the older Guides served hot drinks, whilst our cake stall raised £56 for the PDSA and Macmillan Cancer care. If you would like to know more about our Guide unit, 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 31

Shepreth Spitfires Football Club www.sheprethspitfires.co.uk The start of the second half of the season has been really fantastic. There have been lots of new boots on show and all of the boys and girls were eager to get back out into league matches after a couple of weeks back at our lovely training pitch at the Eternit Sports and Social Club. The under 10s hit the ground running with two very competitive matches which resulted in a 3-1 win and a 1-0 win against some of the big City clubs. Both games saw goalkeepers as well as goal scorers being cuddled by their team mates, which is what it is all about. Shepreth's keepers train with their teams as well as with a Level 2 goalie coach on a separate evening so they are becoming a tight knit bunch. They also enjoyed a half term goalie camp. The under 12s continue to do fantastically well and finished third in the top division in the Cambridgeshire league for the first half of the season. Lots of the children look at the league table on the soccer web page and it is great for them to see themselves right up near the top of the table. This is the same team that came second in our home summer tournament and already we have heard them chatting about going one better this summer. Before that, these children and some older siblings, a few of whom are currently on their referee courses for Shepreth, have a darts and pool evening to look forward to at the Eternit Sports and Social Club in Meldreth. Royston Rovers Men’s Football Club, which also plays at Eternit, also have events booked at the club house and of course it is open to all of Meldreth villagers and the wider community for events. The children at Shepreth Spitfires love being a part of the Shepreth and Meldreth village community and love both of their home grounds. If anyone would like to join the Shepreth Spitfires Football Club please use our web page http://www.Sheprethspitfires.co.uk or call Sean on 07510 175370. Lucy Smith Shepreth Spitfires 32

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Things for Children and Families To Do Friday 4th March, 10.30am - 12.00pm Mucky Pups, Wicken Fen, Lode Lane, Wicken CB7 5XP Activities, crafts and stories for 2 - 5 year olds who like the outdoors. Booking essential. £6.50 per child. Call 0344 249 1895 Also on 1st April. Saturday 5th March, 10.00am - 1.00pm Insect Art, Cambridge Botanic Garden, Brookside CB2 1JE Find out about insect body parts and make insect artworks in the Schools Garden. Free, drop in event. Adults pay admission charge. Wednesday 9th March, 7.30pm - 9.30pm The Big Science Quiz, Cambridge Science Centre 44, Clifton Road, Cambridge CB1 7ED Get a team of four together and prepare for an evening of science facts and fun. £20 per team. Book on www.cambridgesciencecentre.org. Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March, 10.00am -5.00pm Thriplow Daffodil Weekend Fun activities and over 100 stalls. Watch blacksmiths and Morris dancers, try street food, drinks and home made cakes. Live music. Tickets £10 adults, £5 children. Under 5s free. Parking £1. www.thriplowdaffodils.org.uk. Online Events Wednesday 16th March, 10.30am - 11.00am Music and Movement for under 5s Musical skills such as singing and clapping in time with puppets and a ukulele. Every Wednesday. £6 per session. Book online and then watch at any time. www.fantasticforfamilies.com. Sunday 20th March Lakes, a Puppet Science Fiction Film From Little Angel Theatre. Join Rover the discovery bot and look for extraterrestrial life on Saturn’s moon, Titan. The film is a mix of beautiful visuals, scientific imagination and curiosity. www.fantasticforfamilies.com. Compiled by Hilary Crawforth 35

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In Praise Of … … Leeks This month we showcase leeks. A member of the onion family, the leek is a versatile spring vegetable that, chopped and combined with carrot, celery and onion, makes a great base for soups or stews. Its mild, sweet flavour also partners well with butter and cream in sauces, soufflés and gratins. It can be made into a smooth, creamy leek soup that's full of flavour, mixed with cheese and bacon in a tart or made into a light pasta dish with smoked salmon and pepper. Here are three recipes to celebrate leeks in all their glory. Enjoy. Leek, courgette and potato soup Prep time 15 min, cooking time 30 min, serves 6 Ingredients 1 tbsp oil 1 large courgette grated 2 leeks finely sliced 30g fresh parsley chopped 2 large potatoes peeled and chopped Good pinch of salt and pepper 1.5 litres Vegetable or chicken stock 50ml double cream Method Heat the oil in a large pan and add the courgette, potatoes and leeks. Cook for 3-4 minutes until starting to soften. Add the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Season well and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Add the chopped parsley and whizz with a hand blender or in a blender until smooth. Reheat in a clean pan, stir in the cream, heat through and serve. Leek, Bacon and Mozzarella Tart Prep time 15 min, cook time 25 min, serves 6 Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 2 leeks, thinly sliced 37

4 rashers back bacon, snipped 375g pack ready-rolled puff pastry 150g mozzarella cut into cubes 1 egg & 75 ml double cream mixed together with ½ tsp mixed Italian herbs and salt and pepper 100g grated parmesan Method Heat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then gently fry the leeks until soft, about 5 min, leave to cool then fry the bacon until cooked. Unroll the pastry onto a baking sheet. Mix together the egg, cream and herbs and season with salt and pepper over the pastry to within 3cm of the edges. Scatter over the leeks, bacon and grated parmesan. Flip the edges of the pastry over the filling. Bake for 25 mins until golden. Leek, Smoked Salmon, Red Pepper Linguine Prep 10 mins, cook 20 mins, serves 4 Ingredients 15g butter 4 tbsp olive oil 2 small leeks sliced into 0.5cm rounds 225g linguine 2 red peppers sliced ½ tsp dried chili flakes 60ml white wine 150g smoked salmon coarsely chopped Zest of one lemon 50g chopped flat leaf parsley Method Melt 15g butter and 4 tablespoons of olive oil together in a medium sized saucepan over a gentle heat. Add 2 small sliced leeks and fry for around 5 minutes until softened. While the leeks are frying, cook dried pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Add 2 sliced peppers to the saucepan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes and 60ml white wine and allow the sauce 38

to bubble for another 2-3 minutes. Add 150g smoked salmon to the saucepan and stir gently. Add the zest of 1 lemon and most of the 2 tablespoons of parsley, reserving a bit for garnish at the end. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add it to the sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta then taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Turn off the heat and transfer to deep bowls. Garnish with the remaining parsley and top each bowl with a lemon wedge.

Meldreth Matters is produced and delivered entirely by volunteers We rely solely on advertising revenue to pay for our printing costs To advertise in this space, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or telephone Beverley Cottrell on (01763) 262176 Our rates are shown on page 56 of this issue

Jane O’Hagan

Whaddon Road, Meldreth, SG8 5RL

Club Facili es

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

39

Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Meetings of the Parish Council held on Thursdays 20th January and 3rd February 2022 These meetings were held in the Community Room in Elin Way, following the postponement of the meeting planned for 6th January. The combined main points of both meetings are set out below in the usual summary format. The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website noted above and on the Parish Council notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Council meeting. Discussions and Decisions Parish Council Vacancy The Council thanked Mr Andrew Young and Mrs Pat Gilmore for the valuable contributions they have each made during their service on the Council and was pleased to note that both will continue to participate in village projects on a case by case basis. The four-year election cycle means that a new Council will fall to be appointed in May 2022, with an election by popular vote if there are more than nine candidates or by co-option otherwise. All members of our community are urged to consider if they would like to contribute to our local village Council by expressing an interest in this [see pages 26-27]. In the meantime, the two vacancies recently created have been filled by co-option following the Council asking for members of the community to volunteer for this. Three strong candidates came forward and in a narrow vote Martin McGarry and Adam Bostanci were co-opted to fill the vacancies. We sincerely thank all candidates for coming forward. Council Meetings It is confirmed that for the time being all Council and Council Planning Committee meetings will not be held in the Green Room of the Village Hall as, in the current Covid circumstances, this is too small to safely accommodate Councillors and members of the public wishing to be present. The venues of future meetings will continue to be published at the due time with the agenda, and can be viewed on the Council’s notice board opposite the One Stop shop and on the 40

website. The Council will observe any further government directions or recommendations arising from the latest virus developments and will also take whatever additional measures it regards as sensible and precautionary in the current uncertain circumstances. Budget 2022-2023 and Precept The Council’s financial year runs from 1st April to 31st March annually. The annual precept for the year ending 31st March 2022 was £66,000; this takes the form of a request to South Cambridgeshire District Council for the sum to be added in its Council Tax collection. A review of income and expenditure shows a relatively small operational deficit between normal income and day-to -day expenses but one that can be safely sheltered within the Council’s normal reserves. Major projects could, as previously foreshadowed, require a significant increase in public funding; the Council has decided, however, that in the current economic, financial, public health and social circumstances, including the expected effects of major increases in energy prices, it would not be right for the Parish Council to impose a Council Tax increase on our community and this may mean deferring the start of local projects for which there is no immediate urgency. The Council feels sure that everyone in the village will recognise the appropriate priorities and would support giving as much help as possible to our community, some of whom will struggle to meet their household commitments. There will therefore be no increase in our Parish Council precept (council tax) this year. The precept of £66,000 will give a Band D equivalent for 2022/23 of £81.98. This is a decrease of £2.29 or 2.72% to the Band D equivalent charge in 2021/22. The Council obviously looks seriously at all its expenses and intends to conduct an even more rigorous review this year. Strategic Planning Issues Representatives of the Council recently attended a virtual meeting with the Chief Planning Officer, organised to ensure that up to date information can be provided to local representatives. Issues discussed included the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, the Oxford Cambridge Arc proposals and the statements made by Thakeham with regard to a major ‘new town’ development. With regard to the latter, no proposals have been produced and there has been no further news; the same appears to be the case with regard to the ‘Arc’. The Local Plan was the subject of a consultation in the autumn and the next 41

steps are awaited. There continue to be concerns related to water supplies and drainage. None of the Local Plan proposals are in the village of Meldreth. Covid-19 Update Our local MCCS arrangements remain fully in place for those in need of assistance. Although the government has relaxed the Plan B restrictions there is a very high level of infection in our area and all residents are recommended to continue to exercise prudence and caution. District and County Councillors’ Report Following the Government’s introduction of a more relaxed safety regime, it is unlikely that there will be any imminent return to virtual Council meetings. Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Discussions are taking place in the village about the celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Council will be interested to hear from those organisations or groups wishing to organise events during the extended weekend of 2nd–5th June. Editor’s Note: see page 5 for further information. Recreation Ground Our playground and adult equipment continues to be generally in good order and the few minor outstanding issues will be addressed in the usual way. The Council carried out an on-site review with the suppliers of the recently installed basket swing, intended for the use of disabled and other children. It was concluded that in normal use there would be no significant safety risks. Village Infrastructure The District Council has replaced the dislocated street signs at the Fenny Lane crossroads. A bollard at the stocks has been damaged and will be replaced. Churchyard In connection with its legal obligations under the Closed Churchyards provisions, the Council has recently received the report of a professional safety survey and will be sharing this with the churchwardens. 42

Local Highways Initiative (LHI) The Council has recently presented a strong case, supported by traffic speed data, for traffic calming/speed reduction measures in Whitecroft Road under the LHI programme. This is a competitive process and the Council now awaits the outcome. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Thursday 3rd March 2022 at 7.30pm. Venue to be advised Meldreth Parish Council The Most Thorough Clean or it’s Free!

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

Carpet, Upholstery, Leather, Rug & Stone/Tile Cleaning Call today on 01223 863 632

Our rates are shown on page 56 of this issue

Please quote “Meldreth Mag” Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

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

Mr A Bostanci

(01763) 262488

adambostanci@gmail.com

Mrs C J Fallon

(01763) 262822

joan.fallonpc@gmail.com

Mr N Garner

(01763) 268328

nickphgarner@gmail.com

Dr R James

(01763) 261085

roger+pc@rogerjames.net

Mr C A Land

(01763) 261004

conradland@btinternet.com

Martin McGarry

07736 434915

martinmcgarry@btinternet.com

Mr Nigel Pellatt

(01763) 260909

nppellatt@btconnect.com

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District and County Councillors’ Report There’s lots to report on this month. Here’s a snippet of practical items which we hope will be of interest. If you’d like to receive our longer monthly email newsletter, including things like detail on the District and County Council budgets for next year, progress on the Local Plan, and schemes underway in our neighbouring villages which offer ideas and food for thought for Meldreth residents, please just let us know. A10 Underpass As we reported earlier, the Melbourn Science Park contractor SDC has offered to clear vegetation around the A10 underpass footpath as a start to improving the environment there. This should be happening soon. We are also working with the South Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership on ideas to improve the environment inside the underpass itself. We made a site visit with the Melbourn Village College Assistant Principal and Head Girl to come up with ideas and will have more to report this spring. Upgrading and Lighting the Path between Meldreth Station and Melbourn This well-used path is a core link between Meldreth and Melbourn, including Meldreth students who attend Melbourn Village College and people working in Melbourn, plus of course people accessing Meldreth Station other than by car. The station is obviously very limited in terms of accessibility and particularly between the London platform and the adjoining path; this gets tricky or impossible for those with limited mobility. The path is due to be upgraded, including with some form of lighting and a ramp between the platform and path, and funding from two large developments in Melbourn has been directed to the project. Things have been quiet over the past year for various reasons but we are seeing signs of life and progress. A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign – Next Meeting 21st March A broad update on the ‘Melbourn Greenway’ – improving cycle, walking and scooter links between Cambridge and Royston - will be provided at the next meeting of the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign on 21st March from 7.30-8.30pm via Zoom. The link is available from the campaign – email contacta10cycle@gmail.com. 45

Station Garden Tidy Up A gardening day led by the Veg Club and other volunteers has been organised for Meldreth Station on 12th March, with a skip provided free of charge by Amey, the County’s contractor – many thanks to all. This will also include this year’s Duke of Edinburgh volunteers. As always, please contact the Community Rail Partnership if you’d like to get involved in station gardening, or if you know of a DoE volunteer who might be looking for a sponsor. 20mph Speed Limits Progress on introducing new 20mph speed limits to improve transport safety in Cambridgeshire is underway, with the Highways and Transport Committee looking to establish a new process for the implementation of 20mph schemes. This would allow third parties – for example Parish Councils - to make an application for a 20mph limit in their chosen area, with a number of schemes then progressing following a period of assessment and prioritisation. There are two types of 20mph schemes which can be introduced by the council – 20mph limits and 20mph zones. A 20mph limit typically covers individual or small numbers of streets and requires signs only, while 20mph zones typically cover larger areas and require both signs and markings. The former are more cost effective, but the latter have been found to have a greater impact in reducing speed limits, especially when accompanied by traffic calming measures. It is anticipated that details outlining how applications for 20mph schemes will be prioritised, once submitted, will be brought to a committee meeting later this year. Civil Parking Enforcement SCDC has now written to the County Council to ask them to submit an application to the Department of Transport asking them to approve Civil Parking Enforcement for all of South Cambridgeshire. The Police will no longer be responsible for enforcing illegal parking but instead Enforcement Officers employed by the County Council will be. The plan is to have two officers active full time moving between the villages and issuing parking fines to people who park where they should not. The agreement of the Greater Cambridge Partnership to underwrite the first five years costs has made it possible, which is extremely good news. The less good news is that the wheels of government move slowly so we don’t expect it to be implemented until 2023. 46

Mobile Library A reminder that the County Council’s Mobile Libraries are free to join and use. Each Mobile Library vehicle carries up to 3,000 items of stock including fiction, non-fiction, large print, books on CD and cassette and books for children of all ages. You can request books online to collect from the Mobile Library on your next visit. Any books borrowed from the Mobile Library can be returned to any other Cambridgeshire Library and you can return books from other libraries to the Mobile Library, so there is no need to worry about missing your due date. You can renew and order books online and all vehicles have a lift for wheelchair users or those who find stairs difficult. You can also find free hearing aid batteries, stamps and reading glasses. The Meldreth stop is at Bell Close, every third Tuesday from 10.40-11.30am. Meanwhile, the same free access is available at the Melbourn Hub Library, open Monday-Friday 2.30-4.30pm and Saturday 10.00ammidday – or pick up and drop off anytime during Hub opening hours (9.00am-5.00pm) by arrangement, accessing the same Cambridgeshire Libraries-wide stock as the Mobile Library. The Hub also offers public access computers and hearing aid batteries. Community Chest Grants for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee SCDC would like to support communities in marking ‘The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee’. For this reason, the criteria for the Community Chest Grant scheme has been flexed on a temporary and one-off basis until 12th April to allow Parish Councils and community groups to make Jubilee-related applications of up to £700. Applications will then be assessed at the Grants Advisory Committee meetings in March and April to help parishes plan. Maybe you’d like to purchase a Commemoration bench? Or plant a tree or a rose in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? These are just a few ideas! We welcome your application, and if you know of any community groups wishing to undertake a Jubilee-related project, we would ask you to make them aware of this fund. Applications should be in the spirit of the rest of the Community Chest grant criteria. For further details and how to apply, please visit the Council’s Community Chest Grant page, www.scambs.gov.uk/ community-safety-and-health/grants/community-chest-grants. 47

May Elections SCDC will be holding elections for the whole district and most parish councils on 5th May. Information including how to stand in an election yourself and how to request a postal or proxy vote is available on the council’s website. https://www.scambs.gov.uk/your-council-anddemocracy/elections/elections-2022. Editor’s Note: See also pages 26-27. Workforce Shortages in Many Sectors While news on Covid infection rates is improving, at the time of writing we’re aware of sectors still badly hit by Covid-related absences, including the care sector, schools and public transport providers. South Cambridgeshire’s refuse service was badly affected at the beginning of February as staff shortages prevented all green bins from being collected on 8th February. Be Kind We continue to spread the message for the ‘#BeKind’ campaign on behalf of all those people working very hard in public services that are struggling to keep up amidst a variety of pressures related to the pandemic. This includes all GP surgeries, where receptionists are doing their best to field more calls than they may be able to handle; waiting lists are extensive as health problems have built up. Whatever the setting, these are people with the same pressures faced by all – and perhaps have young children or elderly parents to look after, too. Please spread the words – ‘#BeKind!’ Thank you! Health and Social Care Reforms Juggling Act: Zoom Chat 9th March A reminder following the longer notice in last month’s Meldreth Matters, that a major reorganisation of health and social care is happening now, with legislation in the process of passing through Parliament and lots of questions for us at ground level: what does all this mean for my community and me? Susan chairs the Cambridgeshire Health and Wellbeing Board which has a role to play alongside the NHS. If you’d like to know a little bit more, or if you can teach us a thing or two through your own experience and expertise, please join us for a Zoom coffee and chat on 9th March from 6.00-7.00pm. Just let us know your contact details and we’ll send you the link.

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Zoom Cuppa Surgeries, Wednesdays 5.00-6.00pm If you’d like to meet with us via Zoom, to bring any concerns or ask any questions, please come along to our weekly Wednesday Zoom Cuppa Surgery, from 5.00-6.00pm. Please contact Sally Ann for a link: Sallyannhart@riskingonpurpose.com. Or feel free to contact us anytime by any other means! District Councillor Sally Ann Hart, sallyannhart@riskingonpurpose.com, 07791 233303 District Councillor Jose Hales, Josehales@gmail.com, 07703 262649 County Councillor Susan van de Ven, susanvandeven5@gmail.com, 07905 325574

Planning Matters Parish Council The information below has been taken from the unapproved minutes of the PC Planning meeting on 3rd February . Meeting minutes may be viewed on the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk. Ref. and Address Details 21 Whitecroft Road Single storey rear extension and second storey extension over the existing 22/00160/HFUL garage

PC Decision Recommend ‘Support’ with no comments

SCDC Decisions Recent decisions are listed below. Ref. and Address Communications Station 94692 Sewage Disposal Works Melbourn Bypass Meldreth 22/00033/TELNOT 87 High Street 21/1650/TTCA

Decision No objection to the removal and replacement of three antennae with an updated design together with associated ancillary works No objection to: T.1 Silver Birch - reduce tree by 2m to allow more light to rear garden

Full details may be viewed on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website: https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications. The Meldreth Matters Team 49

Thakeham – South West Cambridge Update On 3rd February, we invited parish council representatives for villages within Thakeham's 'South West Cambridge' new town area – including Wimpole, Barrington, Orwell, Shepreth, Foxton, Melbourn, Meldreth, Whaddon and Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth – to meet with Stephen Kelly, Director of Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, for an update on the OxCam Arc, the Greater Cambridge Local Plan and Thakeham’s new town proposal. It seems that following an extremely busy period and much investment around strategic planning over a period of several years, OxCam Arc activity has slowed down considerably. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government under Robert Jenrick MP is now The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under Michael Gove MP. The Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals were published for consultation last November. They are based on a comprehensive base of evidence and underpinned by principles of sustainable development. First Proposal sites do not include any development land for Thakeham’s new town. Thakeham has to date submitted nothing to the Greater Cambridge Local Planning process. Mr Kelly indicated that parish councils would be invited to an informal meeting with Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, for an update and discussion on planning issues generally. The Electoral Commission website lists no further donations from Thakeham to the Conservative Party since April 2021 – that donation of £100k was listed on the Electoral Commission website in October (total standing at around £636,000). Thakeham continues to have options on a number of parcels of land within its area of new town ambition. Information is in the public domain and available via the Land Registry. Thakeham’s website continues to display its South West Cambridge new town vision in some detail, naming the villages encompassed within it. See https://www.southwestcambridgeshire.com. 50

Thakeham’s contact telephone number for further information about South West Cambridge takes the caller to a recorded message: ‘The number you are calling is not in service at this time. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.’ We are mindful that Thakeham has made a considerable financial investment towards its South West Cambridge ambition and will therefore keep a watching brief. Cllrs Susan van de Ven, Peter McDonald, Sebastian Kindersley, Jose Hales and Aidan Van de Weyer for the South West Cambridge Action Group www.swcag.org.uk

Village Defibrillators In case you are new to the village, this is to inform you that Meldreth has two defibrillators. One is on the side of the Village Hall which abuts Elin Way, the other is in the red telephone box on North End. The defibrillators are locked but magnets with the number were distributed to every household. If you need a magnet or would like a replacement magnet, please contact me by email or telephone or leave a note in the Parish Council post box and I will get one to you. I will only deliver to households within the village. Judy Damant Parish Clerk parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk (01763) 269928

www.easthertslo ery.co.uk

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Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support Once again we’d like thank Meldreth residents for contributing to the community effort to help curtail the spread of Covid-19. We continue to try and support those adversely affected by the pandemic where possible, provide basic information, and bring friendship and social contact too, knowing that many people have experienced minimal contact for a long time. At the time of writing, we anticipate changes in government rules and guidelines, and equally, any unique recommendations and measures for Cambridgeshire via our Director of Public Health. Assistance from MCCS If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, shielding or have been instructed to self-isolate and your usual support is unavailable, please contact Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support using the contact details below and we will do our best to assist. Vaccinations Thank you to people who’ve contacted us with questions about vaccinations; we can help point you in the right direction. Where to Get Your Covid Jabs The Vaccinators website gives www.thevaccinators.co.uk.

lots

of

information:

https://

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 can also give lifts to vaccination appointments; telephone (01763) 245228. 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 about the services they offer. Contact WELL Melbourn on

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(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 Taking Telephone Orders and Making Deliveries Home deliveries are available from Fieldgate (01763) 260737 and Bury Lane (01763) 260418. For Leech & Sons butchers ring (01763) 260255 to collect outside in the car park at the rear of the shop. Mental Health and Wellbeing Support We are supported by the very useful resources available to all at CPSL Mind – that’s Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Suffolk and Lincolnshire Mind - including 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: https://www.cpslmind.org.uk/top-tips-self-helpresources. Or, for general queries please call 0300 303 4363 between 9.30am and 5.30pm. Our Neighbourhood Zone Leaders Please remember that our team is always on hand for a friendly chat by phone – our zone leaders’ telephone numbers are below. Kneesworth Road, West Way, Burtons & Fenny Lane: Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838 Elin Way and Howard Road: 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 County and District Councillors Susan van de Ven, Jose Hales, Sally Ann Hart and all at the MCCS team

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Village Directory

Village Hall Chairman

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.org.uk

Photographic Group

www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk

Revelation U3A

Miriam Skuce—(01763) 262440 Chris Davison—(01763) 264189

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

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

(01763) 220626; https://allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk (01763) 261569 Sandra Webb—(01763) 261451 (01763) 260048; www.foht.org.uk

Baby & Toddler Group Brownies (1st Meldreth) Hartbeeps Meldreth Rainbows Pre– and Primary School

Bridget Rinaldi—07799 671902 Email: 1stmeldrethbrownies@gmail.com Kelly@hartbeeps.com 1stmeldrethrainbows@gmail.com (01763) 260432; www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk

Parish Council

Please see details at end of Parish Council report

District Councillor

Jose Hales—07703 262649 Sally Ann Hart—07791 233303

District Council Offices

03450 450500; www.scambs.gov.uk/

County Councillor

Susan van de Ven—07905 325574 www.susanvandeven.com/

County Council Offices MP

0345 045 5200; www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ Anthony Browne; www.anthonybrowne.org/

Councils & Govt.

Clubs & Societies

Village Hall Bookings

(01763) 262158, open 7am-10pm, 7 days Julia Moore—meldrethvillagehall@gmail.com or 07403 462198

Church

Neighbourhood Watch One Stop

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

Children

Facilities

Litter Picker

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Transport Health Support Services Emergencies NonMisc.

Station Ticket Office

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.

www.thetrainline.com www.stagecoachbus.com/Cambridge http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/HighwaysReports/ Highways/ReportProblem1.aspx or in an emergency tel 0345 045 5212

Streetlights (faulty)

Report on SCDC website. For urgent faults use (01954) 713000 - Mon-Fri, 8am-5.30pm. Out of office hours: (01354) 65432. Give location, fault & SC or CCC no.

Melbourn Surgery Addenbrooke’s NHS

(01763) 260220 (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

Taxi (Butler Meltax)

(01763) 244444; 212223

Citizens Advice Bureau

Police

For details of village groups & facilities see the Meldreth Today section 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 Maggie Smith 260378; Founder: Ann Barnes Meldreth Matters is available online at issuu.com (search for Meldreth)

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Advertising Rates Size Half page Quarter page Eighth page/banner Business listing per line

per issue £27.25 £16.50 £8.75

6 months £134.00 £74.00 £43.00 £11.00

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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. AngliEAR Hearing ...........................34 Art of Clean .....................................43 Art of Clean Wood ...........................21 Aurora Meldreth Manor (Job) ....Cover CHS Day Centre ..............................34 CHS Group ......................................20 The Country Store ............................21 Ely Design Group .............................33 Eternit Sports and Social Club ..........39 Eve Construction ..............................36 Huw Shortle Window Cleaning ........19 iPlaster .............................................44 Jackson Cox Opticians .....................33 Lawn Partners ...................................9 The Letting Centre ...................Cover Little Hands Nursery School .............7 Melbourn Flooring ...........................9 Melbourn Village College..................36

Meldreth Landscapes ........................2 Meldreth Motor Company ...............44 Meldreth Plant Hire .................Cover Moncraft Computers ........................27 N J Chapman, gardening ..................27 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service24 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement .......34 P D Property Services .......................44 Penn Farm Physiotherapy ..................2 Pet Sitter ..........................................19 Queen Bee ........................................33 Richard Burns Electrician ...................7 Rod’s PC Support ......................Cover Sage Blinds and Interiors ...................9 Slimming World ...............................24 Sparky’s ...........................................24 Specialist Dental Partners ..................2 Village Garden Services ....................44

MM is Available in Colour Online To view this or past issues online, follow us on: issuu.com/meldrethmatters 56

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