Meldreth Matters, May 2015

May 2015

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Meldreth Matters, May 2015 Contents include …

April Events in Meldreth Holy Trinity Church Bells Ingrid and Herbert Woitschik Spring 2015 in Melwood Notes From a Small Garden Village Fetes Friends of Holy Trinity Church News Meldreth WI Good Companions Women’s Group Letters to the Editor Local History From the Archives General Election Volunteering Opportunities Parish Council Pre-School Primary School 1st Melbourn Guides Speeding in Meldreth Councillors’ Reports Local Events in May Planning Matters Melbourn Oil Club Sport Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Local Links Index to Advertisers Local Telephone Numbers

Page 2-3 4-5 7 8-9 10-11 12-13 13 15 17 18 18-19 19-20 22-23 24 26 28 33 39 40-41 42-43 43 44-47 50-51 52 53 54-55 57 58 59 60

Welcome to the May issue of Meldreth Matters. Once again, we have a varied selection of entertaining articles and news of village events.

As you will read on pages 4-5, a small crowd assembled outside Holy Trinity Church on Friday 10th April to see the eight bells removed from the Church and loaded onto a lorry for their journey to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, where they will be restored. It was quite a sight to see them all lined up outside and particularly fitting that John Gipson was able to be there. John was a passionate bell ringer for over 70 years and has rung over 3,000 peals, of which 1,669 have been rung at Meldreth; a world record.

The refurbished bells will be returned to the Church in the summer.

Kathryn

Cover: Melwood in January 2005. Photograph by Tim Gane.

The opinions expressed in the letters and articles in this magazine are those of the writers, who are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within them.

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

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

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May Events in Meldreth To see your event listed, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com Saturday 2nd May 10.30am-12 noon Coffee Break Sheltered Housing Community Room, Elin Way There will be a ‘Bring and Buy’ cake stall and home-made cakes or biscuits are always welcome. Please join us for coffee, tea and biscuits at very reasonable prices and do let me know if you would like to come onto the coffee rota.

Marion Long (01763) 261365 Friday 8th & Saturday 9th May, 7.30pm Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society (MADS) present A Night of Interactive Murder and Mystery Meldreth Village Hall Work in teams of 6 to solve the crime.

Tickets £12 including a fish and chip supper. Over 18s only.

Licensed bar, quiz and raffle prizes.

Box Office: 07513 457845 Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May, 2.00 to 5.00pm Topcliffe Mill, North End Open as part of National Mills Weekend There will be an exhibition on the ground floor.

Entry will be £3.50 for adults with accompanied children free. No unaccompanied children will be admitted. All monies raised will go to Meldreth Local History Group.

See back page for further details 2

Sunday 10th & Sunday 24th May, 2.00-5.00pm Plant Sales Meldreth Manor - follow signs from the stables car park Monday 11th May, 10.00am Meldreth Local History Group AGM Sheltered Housing Community Room, Elin Way Following a short business meeting, Joan Gane will give a talk on how our website is used for family history research and how the techniques we have used can help with your own family history research. Free refreshments will be available. All welcome.

Tuesday 12th May, 7.30pm River Mel Restoration Group AGM Green Room, Meldreth Village Hall After a short business meeting the Group’s work will be discussed.

Friday 15th May, 8.00pm Friends of Holy Trinity AGM Holy Trinity Church See page 13 for details Saturday 16th May, 11.00am to 4.00pm The National Fancy Rat Society Annual Meldreth Rat Show Meldreth Village Hall Please drop in to meet some friendly rats and see a huge array of different varieties. There will be refreshments available, as well as stalls selling accessories and food for small pets.

Thursday 21st May, 7.30pm Annual Parish Meeting Meldreth Village Hall Mettle Hill will be the main topic for discussion (see page 44).

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Holy Trinity Church Bells "Look to, treble's going, she's gone ..."

This is the traditional command to start off a piece of ringing. But in this case all the bells have gone, quite literally. The project to refurbish and rehang the eight bells at Holy Trinity Church, Meldreth, is now underway. On Tuesday 7th April, the bell-hangers from Whitechapel Bell Foundry came to take out the bells and the frame in which they hung.

By Friday morning, the bells were lined up on the pavement outside the church (left), ready to be loaded onto a lorry to be taken to London.

A small crowd was there to bid the bells farewell, including John Gipson, who did the last major work on the bells himself. That was almost 50 years ago, in 1968, when he hung the two smallest bells, to complete the octave.

The inscriptions on the bells were clear to read in the spring sunshine; "1617" on the tenor, the oldest and largest bell, "Honour the fallen in two wars" on the war memorial bell and the name of John Gipson (as churchwarden in 1968) on the treble, the smallest bell.

It had been quite a logistical challenge to get the bells out of the tower, with limited space up in the bell chamber, 60 feet above the ground.

First, some of the bells had to be moved out of the way and part of the frame removed, to clear space to access the trap door. Lifting beams had to be brought up and installed; a tricky task in itself, which took most of a day. Only then could the bells be lowered to the base of the tower, on a hand-operated chain hoist. Finally there was still the massive oak frame to dismantle and lower. It was getting dark by the time the final pieces were out.

Thanks are due to Peter and Ian, the bell-hangers, for their professional and careful work and to all the ringers who came to help; Jim, Bruce, Mike, Derek and Jane.

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As we were able to examine the bells and frame closely, it was clear just how worn the bells and their fittings were after all those years of ringing, showing the importance of this project. The aim is to restore the bells to a first-class condition, ready to continue ringing out over the village for the rest of the 21st century.

The next stage in the project is to prepare the tower for the installation of the new steel bell frame, in which the bells will now all be on the same level. Meanwhile, at Whitechapel, the bells will be cleaned and tuned, new fittings will be prepared and the new frame built and tested.

We expect to have the bells back in the summer.

There are plenty more photographs of the work so far on the church website: http://www.meldrethchurch.org.uk/bells/appeal.htm.

Peter Hinton Photographs by Peter Hinton

Editor’s Note: this month’s From the Archives features the Jubilee bell (see page 24).

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Ingrid and Herbert Woitschik In around 1980 Ingrid started gardening at the church and also locking and unlocking daily. Lately, when Ingrid was not able to continue these activities, her husband Herbert took over the locking and unlocking the church and after 35 years they have decided it is time to retire.

All at the church are most grateful for their efforts over the years and the Vicar, on behalf of the PCC, presented Ingrid and Herbert with a Scotsdale’s gift voucher which they were pleased to receive.

To spread the task in Ingrid Woitschik, being presented with the voucher future we have been by Rev. Andrew O’Brien. Photograph by John Price. fortunate enough to get together a rota of six people who live near the church and some members of the congregation who each will undertake locking and unlocking a week at a time.

If anyone would like to join the rota that would be greatly appreciated and they should contact Ian Mitchell on (01763) 260319 who is co-ordinating this.

John Price 7

Spring 2015 in Melwood The early part of the year was fairly uneventful in the wood.

Snowdrops arrived on schedule and put in their usual show but aconites, which were never very abundant, were totally absent this year.

Little changed during February but the arrival of some warmer days in March and especially in early April has seen a particularly good show of flowers on the floor of the wood.

Lesser celandine is abundant in some areas and violets are scattered around in various shades, but principally purple or white. A few primroses opened early but by Easter there were good numbers and they were accompanied Wood anemones, photograph by Jim Reid by oxlips and false oxlips (hybrids between oxlip and primrose). I hate to tempt fate, but so far the rabbits have left rather more of the bloom on the plants than in previous years.

The foliage on the bluebells has not fared so well but the buds are not yet up, and so have missed the damage so far. Neither rabbits nor muntjac will touch daffodils, so it is no surprise that they have made a particularly good show this year. There is a steady increase in numbers of species of plants now established in the dappled shade created by earlier thinning in the centre of the wood. With the introduction of seed and established seedlings, we hope to see native British bluebells increasing rather than the Spanish species introduced before the Nature Reserve was created. So far, wood anemones (pictured) seem to be struggling but we will do what we can to encourage them as, like the bluebell, they are a beautiful feature of traditional English woodland.

The ever widening of the main paths around the wood remains a problem and plants that seed themselves close to the paths rarely do well, as the soil becomes so compacted. It would help greatly if groups visiting the wood could stick to the centre of the paths rather than 8

spreading right across them. The path edges might then have the chance to produce flowers to brighten their visit.

Butterflies are making good use of the sunny areas and peacock, small tortoiseshell and brimstone, emerging from hibernation, are all making use of the nectar provided by the primroses. The first spring birds have arrived and the chiffchaff can now be heard on almost every visit.

Activity is also evident around many of the nest boxes and the drumming of woodpeckers can be heard from a considerable distance.

Those walking through the meadow or along the river path may have noticed the large ash tree brought down by the gales a couple of weeks ago. Close inspection shows that there was no rot in the trunk – it was just structural weakness as three trunks rose from a stump that had been coppiced many decades ago. There is a clear warning in this, that woods are best avoided in very strong winds, as you never know when a lump may come down. Ash is notoriously brittle and there is a lot of ash in Melwood Jim Reid Melwood Conservation Group

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Notes From a Small Garden As usual at this time of year the greenhouse is full to bursting point.

The melons and cucumbers have been potted up and the cucumbers will be planted in the greenhouse border. Two of the melon plants will be potted into large pots and will stay in the greenhouse. The other melons will be planted in the cold frame at the end of May or beginning of June depending on the weather. The perpetual flowering carnations that we bought in April have been planted in the ground in the greenhouse.

These were bought from a nursery which only grows scented varieties.

Many of the new varieties have had the scent bred out of them. The sweet peas have been planted in a shadier place than usual, as they have been scorched in previous years when planted in full sun.

The broad beans are growing and the onion sets and potatoes have been planted. We are growing carrots in the green recycling boxes to keep them out of the range of carrot fly. Runner beans and courgettes are growing happily in the cold frame and will be planted out in May. One of the peach trees which has been growing against a trellis for fifteen years has very few flowers so we have taken it out. We will revitalise the ground and replant in the Autumn with a newer variety (Pride of Avalon) which is partly immune from leaf curl. The Plucot (apricot/plum cross) planted last year has flowered profusely. Our strawberries that were grown from seed are showing flowers, so we are looking forward to these two new additions to the garden. Slugs can attack the new potato crop – the Old Boys’ way of reducing them was to cut a carrot into small pieces and attach to a small stick and bury the carrot 4 inches in the ground below the potatoes. Leave them for ten days and then inspect them and exterminate any slugs before replacing with fresh bait.

Things to do The keen gardener always thinks six to twelve months ahead. This means it is time to sow seeds for plants for next spring and early summer including all kinds of primulas, wallflowers, delphiniums, lupins, verbascums, hollyhocks and foxgloves. Take cuttings of pinks.

Julie read the above with not a little admiration! Her seeds and vegetables are miles behind Jim's, but the flowerbeds and pots were 10

looking good in time for April’s Spring Open Gardens day. Some of the later daffodils were at their best then and Julie planted some tulips in pots just to brighten up parts of the garden. The muntjac always eat the fritillaries so those are in pots too, looking lovely on one of the tables outside. At the time of writing, Julie’s clematis Montana var.

Elizabeth, which has a surprisingly beautiful scent, was about to flower as was the dainty blue variety of clematis macropetela. Julie planted a daphne odorata the year before last and this year has put in two daphne odorata marginata, so she has high hopes of them doing well.

However, the most successful replant to date is a large specimen of "hot chocolate", a variety of floribundas rose given to her recently, with a quite extraordinary colour which has sent out nice shoots since planting.

Good gardening, now that the happy month of May is nearly with us.

Jim and Julie juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk, (01763) 260323 jane_eggleton@yahoo.co.uk, (01763) 261824

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Meldreth Manor and Orchard Manor Summer Fete Saturday 6th June 12.00 – 5.00pm Entry for all adults 50p, children free Grand opening at 1.00pm by England’s very own light welter weight champion, Tommy Martin!

You are all invited to join Meldreth Manor and Orchard Manor in celebrating another wonderfully successful year.

This year we have the pleasure of several performing arts groups including the wonderful Melbourn College Big Band, Melbourn Tang Soo Do martial arts, Aspire Trampoline Display Team and the amazing Harlow Steel Band, who have performed for us before.

As well as some beautiful plants and flowers for sale, we will have plenty of stalls for you to come and browse, including our raffle, tombola, craft, bric a brac stalls and a DVD, CD and book stall. All donations to these stalls will be greatly welcomed and appreciated.

We will also have a selection of inflatables, some for the younger children and some for the young at heart, as well as a beautiful ride on a miniature steam train and we will be offering driving lessons in the main car park for some of our older teenagers visitors!

Refreshments will be available alongside our beer tent in the form of a BBQ and hog roast. Soft drinks and snacks will also be available as well as the ever popular cake stall.

Please come along and support our young people and this amazing cause as we say goodbye to one academic year and welcome another!

We look forward to seeing you all there.

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Plant Sales We will be holding pre fete plant sales on Sunday 10th and Sunday 24th May from 2.00 to 5.00pm, when we will be selling a wide range of bedding plants. Follow the signs from the stables car park.

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Meldreth Church Fete The annual church fete will take place on Saturday 13th June. As usual, entries are invited for our flower and produce competitions. Full details and an application form will be in the June issue of Meldreth Matters.

Last year’s Meldreth Scarecrow Competition attracted 25 entries, and the competition will be held again this year. See page 41 for details.

Chris Mannix

Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk Forthcoming Events: Friday 15th May, AGM at 8.00pm in the Church Meeting Room This will be an opportunity to elect some of the committee members, review fundraising and projects in 2014/15 and look forward to the next financial year.

Saturday 18th July: Summer Garden Concert with the Cottenham Brass Band Sunday 6th September: 11th Car Show Friday 23rd October: Talk on China A talk by Hans van de Ven based on his passion for Chinese history Friday 13th November: Quiz

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Holy Trinity Church Services Sunday 3rd May 9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School Sunday 10th May 8.00am Holy Communion Sunday 17th May 9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School Sunday 24th May 8.00am Holy Communion Sunday 31st May 9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School

Joint Parish Prayer Group The Prayer Group will be meeting again on Tuesday 19th May at 8.00pm at 85 North End Meldreth. Please contact me if you would like more details.

Marion Long (01763) 261365

Holy Trinity Church Projects Church Heating By the end of April the project will be up and running – just in time for the summer!

Bell Restoration The bells have now been taken to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry for restoration. See the full report on pages 4-5.

John Price 15

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Meldreth WI What a busy time the WI are going to have this year. It is our centenary year (ahem! no I was not a founder member!!). The WI was originally founded in Ontario Canada in 1897 by Adelaide Hoodless who wished to educate women in family life and infant care. The first meeting in Britain was in Llanfairpwll on Anglesey Island on 16th September 1915 and from there it has grown and now there are 212,000 members in 6,600 institutes throughout England and Wales.

This being a special year, there will be extra items on the agenda. This year’s AGM will be held in the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 4th June and will be shown live via satellite around the country. Our members will be able to watch it in the Hub at Melbourn between 10.15am and 5.00pm.

Later in the year there will be a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. One of our members is already planning what she will wear.

Locally there are lots of events which our new President, Mrs Maureen Moody, announced at our latest meeting. At the Cambridge AGM we have Michael Portillo coming to speak to us. There are also many outings in the pipeline including a visit to Bruge. The London Welsh Rugby Club Choir will be serenading us in July and also on the Welsh theme there will be an extended weekend visit to North Wales. As you can see there is wide choice to select from and something to please all tastes. So why not join us ?

Here in Meldreth a group of our ladies went to see the Sawston Youth Theatre performing Guys and Dolls, which was most entertaining. We still meet weekly on Mondays for a pleasant walk (weather permitting).

If anyone would like to join us they would be most welcome. The sewing circle and keep fit still meet regularly too. Our speaker for April’s meeting was Mr Colin Kirkland who had some beautiful slides of 'Life in the Garden'. I think everyone has noticed there are not so many birds now as there once were, perhaps pesticides are to blame or the introduction of what was once wildlife into our environment.

Next month our speaker is Abigail Crampton who will talk and demonstrate the art of millinery so maybe our member who is going to Buckingham palace will get some tips.

Kathleen Thompson

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Good Companions We held our AGM on Thursday 2nd April. Subscriptions were paid, a treasurer’s report delivered and the new programme given out to members.

After the AGM, Mary took our Easter Service when everyone was in great voice again. Mary then kindly judged our decorated egg competition, which this year was won by Pat Tobin. We were pleased to welcome Ann on her first visit to us, we hope she will come again.

Jim and Jane Eggleton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the end of March and kindly brought some of their beautiful celebration cake to share with us all; needless to say it was delicious.

We would like to say a word of thanks to Ron Comben for all the help he has given to Marion, our Chairperson, to put our yearly programme together and for his donation to funds, both greatly appreciated.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 7th May at the Sheltered Housing Community Room in Elin Way from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

L. G. Pocknell, Secretary (01763) 261432

Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group Fourteen members met in Meldreth Meeting room and Barbara MacKellar led us in our Lent Reflections. We began with a reading by Mavis Howard from St Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 4. This was entitled "The temptation of Jesus" and deals with the 40 days and nights he fasted. The tempter said, “If you are the son of God turn these stones into bread”. The devil tempted twice more but Jesus told him to be gone. The Devil tries the same with us because he knows our weaknesses. Does God speak to us? Yes he does, through our conscience and other people. We then said hymn 293, “Lead us Heavenly Father Lead Us” as a prayer. Barbara then talked about the devil in the temple when he suggested ways to make himself popular.

He wanted Jesus to perform miracles but Jesus only does miracles out of love. We sang Hymn 490, “The Lord is my Shepherd” and said the Lord’s Prayer. So the devil lost the battle; God wants to renew the 18

world through us. He offers us new life. We had a short discussion, Mary read a prayer and we finished with hymn 500.

Our next meeting will be on 26th May which is our Summer Supper and will be in the Meeting Room of Holy Trinity Church Meldreth at 7.45pm. We will be holding a raffle in aid of HomeStart, our charity for this year, and we would be grateful for any donations of gifts for it.

If you would like more information please contact Pat Smith on (01763) 262575, Sue Toule on (01763) 260955 or Anne Harrison on (01763) 262775.

Anne Harrison

Letters to the Editor Public Thank You to Rev Andrew O’Brien On Saturday 21st March, Sue’s parents celebrated 40 years of married life and we wanted to make this special. They had both spoken about renewing their vows but didn’t quite know how or where to do this, so this is where I took over! I contacted Andrew who kindly agreed to conduct a “surprise blessing” at my home in Meldreth with 26 close friends and family members present. Mum and Dad were absolutely delighted when Andrew appeared from his hiding place and carried out a very emotional and beautiful service. This was definitely beyond the call of duty and something for which we are all very grateful. Thank you so much Andrew.

Sue & Jack Lester Public Thank You to All Staff at The British Queen Following my parents’ blessing, celebrations continued with Sunday lunch at The British Queen. The staff were fantastic and the meal was out of this world. When the puddings came, both my Mum and Dad had a red candle in theirs and the girls sang “Happy Anniversary to you…..” This was such a lovely personal touch which, pardon the pun, was the icing on the cake! Thank you to all and if anyone wants a lovely meal out then I would totally recommend the British Queen!!

Sue Lester 19

Letter to the Editor “BT is committed to delivering a first class service”

The above was stated in a letter from BT’s Executive Level Complaints team following a letter to the Chief Executive BT Retail in January. It is hard to believe that ours is the only household in Meldreth to have suffered from BT’s incompetence over the last few months. A recent fault was a dead telephone while broadband was generally OK, although it sometimes had spells of going off and on every few minutes.

The standard response is that faults will be resolved within four working days, although there are instances where this has been exceeded. For instance, a fault just before Easter meant resolution would be seven days; someone else has been quoted fourteen days in a similar situation! BT relies on Openreach and they do not seem able to pin them down to achieve results rather than fire fighting. After a series of problems in January BT advised that they could continue for a month – that was two months ago. Recently BT has said that it could take up to five weeks to get a response from Openreach.

BT have to be pressed hard to divert calls to a mobile and refunds of additional communicating expenses are not offered. However, they recently mentioned two little publicised priority services – “Total Care” at £4.00 per month where they aim to fix faults within 24 hours or “Prompt Care" at £1.40 per month where they aim to fix faults by the end of the next working day. With current experience that would probably be a waste of money.

If any other readers feel similarly aggrieved do write to the Chief Executive of BT, or contact me as it would be useful to know how others have faired with BT when faults have occurred. I doubt if BT have an overall appreciation of their problems in Meldreth.

Maybe users of other broadband providers who deliver their service via Openreach have had similar problems.

John Price – (01763) 260048 (at the time of writing on divert) john.price@anamec.co.uk 20

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21

Meldreth Local History Group www.meldrethhistory.org.uk The Group’s coffee morning on Monday 23rd March was attended by over 50 people, who crowded into the Sheltered Housing Community Room in Elin Way to hear a talk by Chris Duguid and Terry Dash on Meldreth Railway Station.

Many of those who attended contributed their own stories and memories and these will be added to our website, where we already have over 20 pages on the railway, station and goods yard.

Photograph of the now demolished transhipment warehouse, taken by Tim Gane in 2010.

The importance of recording the village’s history was highlighted by the recent demolition of the transhipment warehouse (pictured). For more information on this building, please see www.meldrethhistory.org.uk.

If you would like to be involved with the History Group, please telephone Joan Gane on (01763) 260129, Kathryn Betts on (01763) 268428 or email info@meldrethhistory.org.uk.

Kathryn Betts Secretary

Meldreth Millennium Trails These trails were created to celebrate the life and environment of the community of Meldreth and to be a permanent marker of the second millennium.

The booklets include five trails around the village and include maps and illustrations.

They cost £3.50 and are available from Joan and Tim Gane, by telephoning (01763) 260129.

Proceeds to Meldreth Local History Group.

22

Law and Order in Meldreth Meldreth “bad boy” gets hard labour and sent to Reformatory School for stealing apples (1879) Appearing before Melbourn Petty Sessions, John Jude of Meldreth, aged 12, was charged with stealing a dozen apples on 27th August 1879 to the value of 1 shilling, the property of Mr Charles Ellis, also of Meldreth. Under the heading “A Bad Boy”, the Royston Crow of 28th November reported that John Jude was seen to go into Mr Ellis’s orchard and pick up the apples from under a tree. He did not shake the tree or use a stick. When apprehended and taken to Mr Ellis he said nothing, “only that he had not had his breakfast.”

Pleading guilty, he was told by the Chairman of the Bench: “John Jude, you are a very bad boy. This is not the first time you have been caught.

In August 1876 you were found guilty of stealing a number of articles and you were then sent to prison and afterwards you were to have been sent to a reformatory but you were too young. The same punishment will be put upon you now. The sentence upon you is that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour, such labour as you are able to perform, for ten days. At the end of that time you will be sent to a reformatory for four years, and I hope you will come out and get your living as an honest man.” He added that the boy’s father would be expected to contribute to his maintenance whilst he was there.

Hard labour could take a variety of forms. Treadmills were installed in most gaols but, in 1843, the Prison Inspector declared that they were an improper punishment for children under 14. John Jude, like many juvenile prisoners, may have been made to ‘pick oakum’ for up to five hours a day. This involved separating out the tarry strands of old ropes so they could be made into new rope and sold to raise funds for the prison (hence the expression ‘money for old rope’). Reformatories, forerunners of the later Approved Schools, were used to house convicted juvenile offenders under 16 for lengthy periods, usually two to five years. Regimes were very strict and children enjoyed few, if any, freedoms. They were provided with schooling, religious instruction and taught a trade which might be useful to them in later life, such as farming.

We do not know whether, in John Jude’s case, the intended effect was achieved.

John Crawforth 23

From the Archives This month’s contribution dates from 1887 and is particularly appropriate, given the recent removal of all of the church bells, including the Jubilee bell mentioned below (see page 4).

The Jubilee was duly celebrated on Tuesday last in this village by entertaining nearly 700 inhabitants of Meldreth at a feast which was highly appreciated by all. This was given in a spacious barn, kindly lent for the occasion by Messrs.

Clear and Wilkerson, and was admirably arranged by a committee appointed for that purpose. It was a pleasing sight to see the numerous happy The Jubilee bell, following its removal from the faces as old and young Church on 10th April. sat down to a hearty Photograph by Kathryn Betts meal which was brought to a close by a telling and loyal address, delivered by the Vicar, the Rev. E.W. Cory and which was responded to by ringing and hearty cheers for the Queen’s long life and prosperity. The remainder of the day was spent by the villagers in the grounds of J.G. Mortlock, Esq., where various sports were carried on to a late hour, the prizes being distributed to the successful competitors by Mrs. Cory and Mrs. Mortlock. Great praise is due to the Sports Committee and Umpires for the way in which this part of the day’s programme was carried out.

The ladies as well as the gentlemen in the parish exerted themselves to the utmost to make the day a happy one and their labours were crowned with the greatest success. Meldreth Jubilee Festival will be long remembered by all who took part therein. The service held at the Parish Church at 7 o’clock was well attended. Merry peals rang at intervals from the Church tower during the day when the parishioners had the pleasure of hearing the sound of their new bell.

24

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General Election - Thursday 7th May Candidates from all five major political parties are standing in the South Cambridgeshire constituency and a profile of each candidate has already been published in Meldreth Matters. Back issues are available online by visiting free.yudu.com (search for Meldreth, then sort by date). The relevant issue is given below the name of each candidate.

Kathryn Betts Editor

Heidi Allen Conservative 07718 287999 January issue

Dan Greef Labour 07432 024833 April issue

Simon Saggers Green (01763) 243960 February issue

Marion Mason UKIP 07970 969471 April issue 26

Sebastian Kindersley Liberal Democrat 07710 467258 March issue

The polling station in Meldreth Village Hall will be open from 7.00am to 10.00pm on Thursday 7th May.

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27

Volunteering Opportunities The following organisations are looking for volunteers. If you need volunteers for your group or organisation, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com.

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire is looking for Home Visiting Volunteers. Our volunteers are all parents or grandparents who can give a few hours a week to help families who are finding it difficult to cope.

All parents need emotional and practical help to get through the first few years, but not everyone has friends or family nearby.

This is when Home-Start volunteers can help.

A 10 session training course for new volunteers is being held during June and July. Dates are to be confirmed but the course will run from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

For more details, contact Sarah or Jackie at Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth.

Telephone (01763) 262262 or email admin@hsrsc.org.uk. www.hsrsc.org.uk. Registered charity no. 1105385.

Speedwatch, Meldreth More volunteers are needed to join Meldreth’s Speedwatch team. If you are concerned about speeding traffic in the village, please consider joining the Speedwatch volunteers so that more checks can be made.

For more information see the article on page 43 or email meldrethspeedwatch@meldreth-pc.org.uk.

Melbourn Guides Melbourn Guides currently have a full unit and a waiting list, and would welcome another adult leader. If you would like more information, see the article on pages 42-43, contact Hilary Marsh on (01763) 261443 or email melbournguides@gmail.com.

28

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Meldreth Village D Monday

Tuesday

Half Term is week beginning Monday 25th May

Wednesday

Thurs

Meldreth Matters is availab online at free.yudu.com.

The copy deadline for the June issue of Meldreth Matters is Tuesday 12th May 10.00am-12.00pm Handbell Ringing

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group

7.00am-10.00 Election

4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts Classes for Children

5.30pm Slimming World

2.00-4.00pm Companions

7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics

7.30pm Slimming World

7.30pm Parish (Annual Meet

10.00-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group AGM 3.30-4.30pm District Councillor’s Surgery 7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing

10.00am-12.00pm Handbell Ringing

9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.30 pm WI

9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group

10.00am-12.00pm Handbell Ringing

7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing

4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts Classes for Children

7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing

4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts 5.30pm Slimming World Classes for Children 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm RMRG AGM 7.30pm Slimming World 7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics 9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group 5.30pm Slimming World 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm Slimming World

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.30pm Annu Meeting (Villa

10.00am-12.00 Handbells 5.30pm Slimming World 10.45 - 11.30am Mobile 7.30pm Slimming World Library 4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts Classes for Children 7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics 7.45pm Women’s Group

6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.00 - 9.00 pm Tennis

7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics 8.00pm Prayer Group 7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing

6.00-7.00pm Brownies

Church Services and Bell Ringing are held at Holy Trinity Church. The Prayer Group meets at 85 N Councillors’ Surgeries, Meldreth Local History Group and the ‘Coffee Break’ mornings are held in Women’s Group meet in the Holy Trinity meeting room. The Mobile Library Service visits Bell Clo 30

Diary - May 2015

sday

Friday

ble

pm General 7.30pm MADS Murder Mystery Evening, see page 2 Good

h Council ing)

m Fitness

7.00 - 9.00 pm Table Tennis

Saturday 10.30am - 12 noon Coffee Break

9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School

2.00-5.00pm Topcliffe Mill Open Day

8.00am Holy Communion

7.30pm MADS Murder Mystery Evening, see page 2

11.00am-4.00pm National Fancy Rat Society Show

8.00pm FOHT AGM (Holy Trinity Church) See page 13

Fitness

Sunday

2.00-5.00pm Topcliffe Mill Open Day 2.00-5.00pm Plant Sale, Meldreth Manor

9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School

8.00am Holy Communion

7.00 - 9.00 pm Table Tennis

2.00-5.00pm Plant Sale, Meldreth Manor

al Parish age Hall)

Fitness

9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School

m Table

North End. Good Companions, A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign Meetings, District & County the Sheltered Housing Community Centre, Elin Way. Brownies & Melbourn and Meldreth ose. All other events are held in the Village Hall unless otherwise indicated.

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32

Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk These are the unapproved minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 2nd April 2015 at 7.30pm in the Green Room of Meldreth Village Hall.

Present: Mr S Hawkins - Chairman, Mr R A Searles, Mrs C J Fallon, Mr J Fenner, Mr C A Land, Mr D Lee, Mr N Pellatt and Mr D Stewart.

In attendance: J Damant (Clerk), Councillor P Hart (SCDC) and Councillor S van de Ven (CCC).

Public Participation: (for up to 15 minutes members of the public may contribute their views and comments to the Parish Council - with a limit of 3 minutes per item).

There was one member of the public in attendance.

The matter of the Eden Farms site at the Railway Station was discussed.

The landowner was surprised that the sub contractor had left. The subject of what to do with the site was briefly discussed and whether the land would be sublet to another distribution company, as there are still eleven years outstanding on the original contract.

Report from District Councillor Please see pages 44-45.

Report from County Councillor Please see pages 46-47.

High Street Sign Councillor van de Ven and the Clerk have reported that the High Street sign needs re-erecting.

Fenny Lane Cross Roads Speedwatch has been operating in this area and along Whitecroft Road.

[Editor’s Note: more volunteers are needed—see page 28.]

Mettle Hill See District Councillor’s report on page 44.

33

Playground Play equipment appears to be in good working order. Equipment still needs to be painted.

There appears to be some fungus growing on the tree planted within the play area. Mr Searles will inspect it to see if it is honey fungus. In the autumn Mr Searles will also inspect the area where the trees were removed to see if there are any signs of disease. The question of replanting along the footpath was raised. Mr Searles suggested waiting until the autumn so see if there are any concerns, such as disease, before a decision is made.

Mrs Fallon and Mr Land have looked at some brochures on roundabouts. The Clerk will contact Whaddon to enquire about their roundabout.

The next step is to look at the cost of refurbishing or replacing the roundabout. ROSPA is due to carry out an inspection in May. Mr Land also reported that it may be appropriate to install another piece of equipment in the space where the hedge has now been removed. The Recreation Group has been looking at zip wires; this would be for older children.

MAYD Mr Stewart circulated his report. It appears that the number of children attending the youth club is increasing and children from other villages, outside the original group, are now attending. With the growing support for the Youth Club and the limitation of numbers within the constraints of building size, Groundwork have been requested to provide costings for a second 'back to back' session. Lisa Steeples will be taking over from Martin Goddard from Groundwork who will now work with Ben Jones. The cost of employing Melbourn's Parish Clerk’s services will be met from within the MAYD budget.

Groundwork has been asked to provide figures for an annual contact running over a three year period. It is felt that commitment for three years will provide the expansion and depth of communication that will benefit the young people as they leave their primary environment. The plan is for all participating councils to pay their usual contribution at the start of every fiscal year, with the proviso that all sign the Service Level Agreement.

Meldreth's contribution is ÂŁ650 per year over the next three years. was agreed to sign up to this arrangement.

34

It

Correspondence and Clerk's Report: Two signs for the Village Hall car park warning people to take extra care during icy or wet weather, along with one 'No Overnight Parking' sign have been ordered.

A sign at the station exit to schools and Holy Trinity Church has been installed.

A new electricity meter will be placed in the pavilion.

The Clerk has contacted Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) to request a list of which lights they are proposing to turn off from midnight to 6.00am. CCC have advised that as this is still in the infancy stage, there has been no decision as to when or if this will take place.

The Clerk has ordered a 5-aside goal post from Wickstead.

Mr Land is presently looking at the Standing Orders.

The Clerk has written to Mr Peter Chilvers of the Almshouses, acknowledging that Mr Robert Long and Dr Sandra Webb are two of the Trustees.

The Clerk has written to Shepreth Parish Council regarding a 40mph speed limit along North End/Meldreth Road.

Highway Items White gates: Mr Searles has looked at the white gates at Bassingbourn and the new chicane at Whaddon. It was suggested that Mike Cooper of the CCC Highways Department be asked for his advice on what would be the best solution for Meldreth. Gates could be placed on Kneesworth Road, before the showmen sites and another on Whaddon Road, as you enter the village. This may help alert drivers that there is a crossroads and cause them to slow down, thus helping to reduce the accidents in this area.

Other Speeding Issues: Speedwatch is now running but there is a need for more volunteers. [See page 43.]

Parking Situation at Meldreth Station Correspondence has been received from Melbourn Parish Council.

There is a proposal for 199 new homes in Melbourn and they would like to know if the railway station car park would be able to accommodate extra vehicles. Melbourn PC would like to hear from Meldreth PC’s views on this. Councillor van de Ven stated that a car 35

park survey was carried out regularly by the Rail Users Group and she would pass on details to the Clerk. There were fewer than four spaces available when Mr Searles checked this week.

Councillors' Reports Mr Lee/Mr Hawkins attended a Parish Liaison Meeting held at SCDC on 11th March. Mr Hawkins reported that one of the key topics was the introduction of designated officers who will liaise with Parish Councils. However, it was also noted that there will be only three officers to cover all the parishes within the South Cambridgeshire area.

Mr Searles/Mr Stewart attended a Parish Planning Meeting held at Melbourn Village College on 12th March.

Heritage trees and enforcement issues were the main topics discussed.

Mrs Fallon reported that Tessa Humphreys has resigned from the Village Charities after 30 years of service.

Mr Hawkins reported that a letter had been received from residents on Station Road with various concerns; this was circulated to all councillors. Although the letter was received after the agenda had been posted the Chairman thought that it needed to be noted at this meeting.

The Clerk will respond to the residents; some of the concerns were already being dealt with and some are not within the Parish Council's jurisdiction. However, the Parish Council will try and alleviate all those concerns noted.

Finance Group Financial Risk Assessment. The Clerk and Mr Pellatt have looked through the new Financial Regulations from NALC, which are to be looked over by all councillors and adopted at the next meeting. These will now be looked at by the Financial Working Group as figures and some amendments may need to be implemented.

Annual Parish Meeting The Village Hall has been booked for 21st May 2015 at 7.30pm. The meeting will be chaired by Mr Hawkins. It was agreed that a presentation from the Mettle Hill Working Group will be given (see page 44). Other reports will also be available but the main topic for discussion will be Mettle Hill.

The next meeting will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council at 7.30pm on 7th May 2015 in Meldreth Village Hall.

Meldreth Parish Council 36

Meldreth Parish Council contact details: Web: www.meldreth-pc.org.uk; Email: parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk Telephone: (01763) 269928. For contact details of Parish Councillors, see page 60.

Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Meldreth SG8 6LT Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10.00 am to 12 noon.

By appointment at other times.

The official Minutes of Meldreth Parish Council are those signed in Public Meetings by the Chairman. They are available for public inspection from the Clerk and can also be accessed on the Parish Council website at www.meldreth-pc.org.uk or on the Parish Council notice board opposite the One Stop shop.

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Meldreth Pre-School www.meldrethpreschool.com

The summer term is now underway. A new management committee is in place, and our staff team has welcomed a new member as well.

The children are enjoying exploring the woods and using the garden more often. Fundraising for refurbishing the outdoor area is going well and local company Johnson Matthey have made a generous donation towards the project.

The Easter messy play was successful, with the pink spaghetti proving very popular with all ages!

More fundraising activities will be held over the summer, so please keep an eye out for further details and do come along and support us. Please email preschool@meldrethpreschool.com for more details or check out our website: www.meldrethpreschool.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

We are a friendly Pre-School offering a quality term time service at competitive rates in line with NEF funding. We take children from the age of two and are happy to welcome children in nappies. We are filling our places fast, so anyone looking for new or increased hours needs to contact the Pre-School as soon as possible.

Either telephone the Pre-School on 07518 173653 or email us at preschool@meldrethpreschool.com. If you are keen to join us in September please come along for a visit and get your name down to guarantee a place.

Staff vacancy We are looking for qualified bank staff to join our expanding team.

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Meldreth Pre-School 39

Meldreth Primary School www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk

Chaffinch Class recently visited the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Below are reports on the trip from two of the children.

We arrived at Leicester space centre at 10am, but before we got off the bus a lady was explaining what the safety points were. She said the tower which has the rockets in it is called the bubble tower, and there were about 244 steps to get to the top, but the good news was that there were two lifts.

Finally when we got off the bus we put our lunches away in the box.

When we finally got into the planetarium, our first activity was going into the cinema and that was all about how to become an astronaut.

Some bits where quite funny though, like when the experiments came up.

After that we all had about half an hour until lunch. When we came out the first thing l did was look around at some alien masks, and go on a few games. We had quite an early lunch at about 11.30.

When we had our lunch we all went up to the bubble tower. I was amazingly shocked going so high up, because l am afraid of heights, l just hate them.

Megan pulled me over to have a look at the old Sindy doll. There was also a picture of a girl on the floor, a wolf that had bitten her arm off, and it looked like the mum was saying thank you to it!

There was also a voice changing thing, which was fun to experiment with. We also went into the tiny planetarium, it is like a mini cinema and we watched the stars and the planets. This was my favourite part of the day. Overall I would definitely recommend the Space Centre to a friend.

By Evie Le May

40

Yesterday at Meldreth Primary School all of Key Stage 2 went on an outstandingly exciting trip to Leicester Space Centre where we had loads of fun. When we arrived the first thing that we did was go to the loo (but that’s not very interesting so we’ll skip that bit) and then we went into the planetarium where you stare at a domed ceiling and experience an epic video about space.

After exiting the planetarium I couldn’t wait to continue my adventure into this unknown world of space facts, so after Mrs Pemberton said we could go and explore the place in our groups, first we went to the Leicester Space Centre weather forecaster and then we went to tranquillity base.

Later (after lunch) it was time to go to the rocket area and it was awesome!!! It had everything! Including a space race machine and a mini planetarium and I can’t tell you how much fun I had!

And that was the last thing I did on my tremendous trip to the National Space Centre. It wasn’t just epic, it was a blast!

Harry H

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1st Melbourn Guides Being a Guide is all about learning new things whilst having fun. In November our wartime Guide skills evening included knitting, making model cars and aircraft, cooking eggless pancakes, and learning the phonetic alphabet. As a rare treat the girls had the opportunity to do the Chocolate badge; we enjoyed creating plays about the history of chocolate, did a Fair Trade role play exercise, some chocolate tasting, and of course made chocolate sweets. For Christmas we made fresh flowers and candle arrangements, with materials kindly donated by Bury Lane.

We started the spring term with disability awareness activities. These comprised trying to eat sweetcorn whilst blindfolded, communicating words silently, and painting with a brush held in the mouth . For our winter outing we travelled by train to see the pantomime Aladdin at Stevenage, filling an already crowded commuter train with over 50 excited local girls.

All Guides should have some first aid knowledge, and the skills of CPR (kiss of life) and the recovery position were learnt in a fun practical evening run by a qualified local teacher. Guides are also kind to animals: later in the term a lady from Wood Green brought along some guinea pigs and taught the girls to make toys to stimulate and amuse their pets. As a thank you we raised ÂŁ32 at our Coffee Stop cake stall for their charity.

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International issues can be made fun too; for the World Issues badge we played mosquito net tag, then made water filters using sand, tissue paper and cotton wool, competing to see which patrol’s filter was the best. The following week the girls made a hanging mobile using peace symbols, then played a co-operative game.

We currently have a full unit and a waiting list, and would welcome another adult leader. If you would like to know more about becoming a Guide or a leader, or if you have any skills or hobbies which you would like to share with us, please contact me on (01763) 261443 or email melbournguides@gmail.com.

Hilary Marsh

Speeding in Meldreth With the winter behind us, observant residents up early may recently have noticed that the village Speedwatch Team has again started to monitor traffic exceeding our 30 mph limits. Signs posted at entrances to the 30 mph limits clearly display that Speedwatch monitoring is active, so drivers ignoring the limits can expect to be monitored.

Recent checks indicate that around 30% of traffic ignores the speed limit and we know that speeding in the village is a concern for very many people, especially pedestrians, cyclists and families with school children using our roads. But our small team cannot regularly monitor every hotspot in the village at key times. There are simply not enough of us.

If speeding in Meldreth concerns you, please come and make a difference by joining the team. More Speedwatchers on the ground means more drivers begin to realise that the village will not tolerate vehicles exceeding the limit on our busy roads.

We really need more volunteers to join.

For further information, please email and leave your contact details at meldrethspeedwatch@meldreth-pc.org.uk.

Graham Borgonon Meldreth Speedwatch Team 43

District Councillor’s Report Mettle Hill Working Group: Time to Make a Decision!

The group met again in April when it was decided that there will be a presentation of our proposals at the Annual Village Meeting on Thursday 21st May in the Village Hall. This will be an opportunity to give your views on our suggestions for the use of the former travellers’ site. There will be a presentation and displays of material. The site belongs to the whole village, so a popular mandate is necessary to take any one or combination of proposed uses forward; the working group cannot decide this on the village's behalf. For those unable to attend the meeting, there will be a synopsis of the presentation in a future issue of Meldreth Matters and a deadline by which to respond.

Minutes of all of the Group’s meetings can be found on the Parish Council website. Our next meeting will be on Monday May 11th.

Article 4 Consultation A district wide consultation has now been completed to consider whether there is support for South Cambridgeshire District Council to adopt a direction (Article 4 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2013) which would have the effect of restricting the development rights of pubs with respect to demolition and change of use.

There was a good response to this consultation, with 256 responses in total being received.

There was overwhelming support for the application of Article 4 directions. Although there seems no current danger of our pub closing, either through change of use or demolition, the British Queen was nevertheless cited by 12 respondents as being eligible in theory for Article 4 protection, being a vital village amenity.

It is noteworthy that only eleven out of the 132 pubs mentioned are also listed as Assets of Community Value. This status, were the British Queen given it for example, further strengthens the hand of the local community in ensuring against the closure of their pub, and like the Article 4 directions, can be applied, by the Parish Council for example, irrespective of whether the pub in question is the only remaining pub in the village.

Fillcup Field Planning Application, Meldreth Road, Shepreth I reported last month that there were material deficiencies in this planning application for a high tech greenhouse with its own means of power generation in the form of an anaerobic digester. A lot has 44

been mis-reported about this scheme: the most helpful piece of information for me in gaining an idea of the purpose and scale of the operation proposed was to learn that whereas the purpose of the AD digester near Baldock cost ÂŁ12 million to construct and is to process food waste, the total investment in the greenhousing and infrastructure at the Meldreth Road scheme is proposed to be ÂŁ5 million, of which the AD digester, taking only farmyard manure and green waste, is but a small element. So I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions as to whether it can properly be described as a "power plant".

Be that as it may, there are still problems with the application. The Planning Department awaits a properly considered traffic and highways report and also expects new plans reconfiguring the layout of the site.

The proposal to site a log cabin for a manager's residence has been dropped. The time for considering the application has been extended and it is now anticipated that it will come before the Planning Committee in May.

District Councillor Surgery My next surgery will be on Monday 11th May from 3.30-4.30pm in the Sheltered Housing Community Room, Elin Way. All welcome.

Philippa Hart District Councillor, Meldreth and Shepreth philippajhart@btinternet.com 07811 323571 or (01763) 261255

Refuse Collections Collections in May will be on the following dates: Black bins: 1st, 15th and 30th* May Blue and Green bins: 9th* and 22nd May * day late due to public holidays 45

County Councillor’s Report White lines at One Stop The white line in front of the shop was put down in error and has now been removed. It was very frustrating to see funds wasted.

Yellow Lines at the Station Entrance I have logged again on the County Fault reporting system that these have been badly damaged through roadworks.

Traffic Regulation Order Legal costs As Parish Councils will know, the excessive cost of small traffic measures like changes in speed limits or restrictive line painting is partly due to the legal requirement to publish Traffic Regulation Orders in newspapers. Several years ago, the Secretary of State undertook a review of this system, but heavy lobbying by the print media to keep the status quo won the day. Local Highway Authorities have continued to lobby government and Cambridgeshire is now participating in a national pilot scheme to test out new ways of consulting the public on Traffic Regulation Orders, in collaboration with the print media. At a time of such severe pressure on local authority budgets, it is hard to see the justification of any demand on tax payers’ money through advertising these orders in the print media, given that there are easy and cheap ways of advertising via the internet.

Cambridge Central Library Budget pressures are forcing new ideas for libraries to attract income.

At Cambridge Central Library there is the prospect of a new Enterprise Centre in collaboration with a company called Kora Enterprises, requiring a £300K investment by both parties to refurbish and reconfigure the third floor. This ties in with the principle of seeking to support small business and adult skills development. However, there is concern about the significant loss of public space and a closure period of the whole library for a period of up to three weeks that could coincide with summer exams when the library is needed for student study space. More concerning is the decision-making process, as negotiations between officers and Kora took place for about 18 months and the proposal was brought to a very high level of specification, before being brought to councillors’ attention. The project carries significant unknowns and risks. Councillors were asked to approve the proposal but Kora was not invited to present or answer questions. On that basis I moved an amendment that the decision be postponed, but this was lost. The decision has now been ‘called-in’ for review on 46

account of lack of due process and lack of sufficient information for sound decision-making.

Meldreth Station Ramp and DDA Compliant Path The developer applying for permission to build 199 houses in Melbourn has included a proposal to address the need for a ramp connecting Footpath 9 to Station Platform 2 and upgrading Footpath 9 to Disability Discrimination Act compliance. Little detail has been provided and the mention is no more than a few bullet points in a very long document. We will watch this space.

A10 Cycle/Pedestrian Path The A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign has been working very hard on other avenues to necessary funding. A successful bid to the DfT Cycling Ambition fund will enable a safe path from Harston south to join up with the Shepreth path put in last year. The Melbourn to Royston path is on a waiting list to take up unspent funds from other schemes. The City Deal was presented with a letter from local businesses containing over 100 signatures and a letter also from all health partners at Cambridge Biomedical Campus, but dismissed these. City Deal decision-making, whether or not one supports the cycle path, is a continuing concern: only three voting members (leaders of three councils) and decisions are clearly finalised before the public meeting.

County Councillor’s Surgery My next surgery will be held on Tuesday 5th May, from 2.30 to 3.30pm at the Melbourn Hub. The Melbourn Hub is in Melbourn High Street, opposite the High Street public car park.

Chat and Chips: Pedals and Potatoes at the Plough There is lots happening in the world of local transport, mostly associated with population growth and congestion. If you would like to ask questions, raise ideas or are just curious, please come along to the Plough, Shepreth, for “chat and chips” on Tuesday 5th May at 8.00pm. We will be at the Spitfire Table.

Susan van de Ven County Councillor susanvandeven@yahoo.co.uk (01763) 261833 47

Local Events in May Below is a selection of events happening nearby this month.

To see your event listed, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com.

To 9th August Rothschild Bronzes Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge These magnificent metre-high bronze male nudes astride two ferocious panthers are on display in the 16th to 18th century Italian Gallery of the Fitzwilliam Museum. A team of international experts has gathered compelling evidence that argues that these masterpieces, which have spent over a century in relative obscurity, are early works by Michelangelo, made just after he completed the marble David and as he was about to embark on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. If the attribution is correct, they are currently the only surviving Michelangelo bronzes in the world by his hand.

Friday 1st May, 5.30am to 6.15am May Day Morris Dancing and breakfast at Wandlebury Watch the Devil’s Dyke Morris Men carry on the tradition of dancing to greet the sun as it shines. For more information, email bookings@cambridgeppf.org, telephone (01223) 243830 ext 207 or visit www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on.

Saturday 2nd May, 12.00 – 4.00pm Free Family Fun and Activity Day The Melbourn Pavilion Lots of free activities including football, basketball, tennis, bowls, kwik cricket, arts and crafts and much more! Also, for a small charge, there will be Shetland pony rides, bouncy castle, ice cream, tea and coffee, BBQ Monday 4th May, 10.30am to 4.30pm May Day Art and Craft Fair Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum Visit the fair for interesting stalls, children’s activities and Littleport Riot Morris. For more information visit www.farmlandmusuem.org.uk.

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Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May National Mills Weekend In addition to Topcliffe Mill in the village (see back page), there are lots of water and windmills open in the area. For full details, see www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk.

Saturday 16th May, 7.00pm start Star Shine Stroll Memory Walk Cambridge’s 10 or 6.5 mile night walk For more information and to register, visit starshinestroll.co.uk or telephone (01223) 723115.

In aid of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

Men’s Breakfast Meeting Saturday 16th May, 8.30am Foxton Village Hall Guest speaker will be Claire Fowler and the title of her talk will be “What Did You Say?” Claire lost her hearing at a young age and is profoundly deaf. She went on against all the odds to complete her education with a university degree and now leads a “normal” life with a family and full time job.

She is at the forefront of a movement to show people with normal hearing how better to understand those with hearing impediments and reduce the prejudice and misconceptions that still exist. She can show us how deaf people can communicate clearly and effectively by using better teaching methods, improved hearing aids, sign language and modern medical techniques. Her future is sound.

We normally look for a donation of £7 to cover costs and make a donation to the charity of the speaker’s choice. If you are planning to attend could you contact Mark Howard on (01223) 503377 or 07785 703413, email Mark-Howard@UWclub.net or contact Tony Garrick on (01223) 510201 or garrick.tony@gmail.com and let us know if you would like a full English or Continual Breakfast so we know how many to cater for.

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Reflections Hair Studio Specialist in all Aspects of Unisex Hairdressing.

Cutting * Colouring Techniques * Hair Extensions We use only the best quality products by Matrix and have a wide range of home hair care retail.

Gift vouchers and hair accessories available.

Please call for any enquiries.

01763 260431 Reflections Hair Studio 45 Whitecroft Road Meldreth SG8 6LS

The Letting Centre Setting Standards in Property Management •

Established 20 years and based in Melbourn, we manage around 100 properties in Cambridge and the surrounding area • We offer discounted management fees for multiple properties and free, no obligation visit to value for the purpose of rental • We have no ‘hidden’ fees and do not take commission on maintenance charges Call us for a Landlord Pack and Letting Centre leaflets providing information about fire, furniture, gas, electrical regulations or tax

The Letting Centre, 24b Orchard Road, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire SG8 6HH Tel. 01763 263039

Fax 01763 263458 email enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk

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Planning Matters Parish Council Reference and Address

Detail

Parish Council Recommend

6 Gables Close Lawful Development Certificate S/0429/15/LD for a single storey side extension 3 Howard Road Existing property assumed built S/0640/15/LD under approvals and guidelines in place at that time

(Information only) Duly noted

12 Fenny Lane Beech tree - reduce extraneous C/11/17/071/02 limb on east side by approximately 5-6 metres to reduce end weight

The Parish Council's Tree Officer agrees with the recommended works. No Comment from the Parish Council.

(Information only) Duly noted

The full minutes of Meldreth Parish Council planning meetings are available on the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk.

SCDC Decisions Reference and Address

Decision

104-106 High Street Has been granted permission for extension to dwellings S/2946/14/FL and cartlodge.

104 High Street S/2948/14/LB

Has been granted permission for demolition, extension and alterations.

13 Chiswick End S/2154/14/FL

Has been granted permission for demolition of existing single storey dwelling – erection of two detached one and a half storey dwellings and creation of new access from Chiswick End to serve Plot 2.

Editor’s note: Full details of all planning applications may be viewed at this website: http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display

Meldreth Parish Council 52

Melbourn Oil Club £140 donation to Mind in Cambridgeshire for mental health support work The Melbourn Division Oil Club has been a wonderful way of enabling local residents who depend on oil for household heating to get lowest prices, through community bulk-buying. Our buyer is a local company, Agricole Oil. There is no joining fee for the Oil Club, and no required commitment for repeat purchases. It’s been great to hear from people that the Oil Club has made a significant difference to their annual heating oil bills.

An added bonus is the annual rebate provided by Agricole Oil and the privilege of directing this to a local community group. This year our donation of £140 is going to the mental health charity, Mind in Cambridgeshire.

For some months now, Mind has been exploring ways of starting up mental health support in rural areas. Our modest donation will help make a start for Mind in Melbourn and surrounding villages. Melbourn resident Phil Alsop has been helping to facilitate this work.

It is encouraging to witness the growing recognition that mental health must be approached on an equal basis to physical health, and we hope that even a small venture like this can contribute to raising awareness of this need for parity.

To join the Melbourn Division Oil Club, please ring Jeremy Cole, Agricole Oil, on (01954) 719 452, 07860 904 045 or email jeremy@agricole.co.uk.

Susan van de Ven County Councillor susanvandeven@yahoo.co.uk (01763) 261833

Meldreth’s Community Access Point Free tuition in computer use Whether you are a complete beginner or want to learn more about getting the best out of your computer, our volunteer tutors can help you.

Interested? Call Ron on (01763) 262199 53

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Melbourn Sports Centre www.melbournsports.com We have lots on offer this month, with something for the whole community to get involved with … so why not come along and find out more about your local sports centre!

With half term only weeks away, it’s not too late to start planning your children’s holiday fun. We have a variety of activities to choose from, including our Ofsted Registered Playscheme (The Kidz Factor), trampoline tasters, and swimming crash course. With the lead up to the French Open and Wimbledon, the outdoor sports and tennis season is now well underway. For all you budding Wimbledon stars, courts can be hired mid-week and at weekends. We are also pleased to announce that we are continuing to work with Claire Norman to promote the Melbourn and District Tennis Club based at Melbourn Sports Centre.

So why not dust down your racket and join up! For more information please contact us on (01763) 263313.

See page 48 for details of a free Family Fun and Activity Day which is being held at Melbourn Pavilion on Saturday 2nd May. For further details on parties, memberships or any of our activities, please drop in, call (01763) 263313 or go online at www.melbournsports.com.

Graham Johnson-Mack Melbourn Sports Centre

Big Bike Ride - Sunday 5th July Come and cycle 50 miles or 100 miles across four counties. The ride starts and finishes at Netherhall School, Cambridge.

All of your £20 entry fee goes to charity.

Sign up now at www.arhc.org.uk/ bigbikeride.

Raising money for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and the Press Relief Charity.

Cambridge News 55

HOME FOOTCARE Jane Cavanna (MCFHP MAFHP)

For all your chiropody needs in the comfort of your own home.

Call today to book:

01777 816696 or 07769 347903 Dust Free Wood Floor Sanding & Restoration

College Farm Bed and Breakfast

Is your Wooden Floor in need of Sanding?

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

Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

Personal Trainer Michael Easton

Friendly, family run B&B, in 17th century farmhouse.

Training in Your Own Home or at Melbourn Gym Individual, personalised programmes http://backtothefitness.co.uk

Tel 01223 208955 www.collegefarmbandb.co.uk Church St, Whaddon, Royston. SG8 5RU

01763 249254

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Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Spring is here and lots of householders are clearing out, sprucing up the garden and carrying out DIY. The majority of Cambridgeshire’s residents take extra rubbish, old furniture and garden waste to their local waste and recycling centre. However, our crews are still getting called to households and businesses that have chosen to have a bonfire instead.

We’re urging you to avoid burning waste and instead dispose of it responsibly. If you do decide to have a bonfire, please make sure you follow these essential tips to avoid a visit from the fire service: check the weather – never light bonfires in windy conditions don't leave bonfires unattended build bonfires well clear of buildings, fences and hedges never use flammable liquids to start fires and never burn dangerous rubbish such as aerosols, paint, foam furniture, rubber tyres, and batteries before you light bonfires, check that children and animals are not hiding inside and are a safe distance away.

Make sure fire safety still stays at the forefront of your mind in May – and don’t forget to test your smoke alarm and the smoke alarms of the vulnerable and elderly in your neighbourhood.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or log to www.cambsfire.gov.uk for the latest fire safety news and tips.

on

Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service

Reporting Faults and Problems Please report faulty streetlights by using freephone number 0800 7838 247, giving the SC or CCC identification number, street name, village and fault description.

Problems on the roads, including potholes and poor pavement surfaces should be reported on the Cambridgeshire County Council website: http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/HighwaysReports/Highways/ ReportProblem1.aspx.

Meldreth Parish Council 57

Local Links Cambridgeshire County Council County Councillor: Susan van de Ven Fix My Street

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk susanvandeven.mycouncillor.org.uk Email: susanvandeven@yahoo.co.uk www.fixmystreet.com (Report, view, or discuss local problems)

Govia/Great Northern

http://www.thameslinkrailway.com

Holy Trinity Church

Main website: www.meldrethchurch.org.uk Friends’ website: www.foht.org.uk

Melbourn & District Photographic Group

www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk

Melbourn Hub

www.melbournhub.com

Melbourn Sports Centre

www.melbournsports.com

Meldreth History & Meldreth Today Meldreth Manor School Meldreth Matters

www.meldrethhistory.org.uk atschool.eduweb.co.uk/Meldreth/textandinfo/index.html free.yudu.com [search for Meldreth]

Melwood Conservation Group MP: Andrew Lansley Parish Council

www.andrewlansley.co.uk Email: lansleya@parliament.uk www.meldreth-pc.org.uk

www.melwood.btck.co.uk

Pre School

www.meldrethpreschool.com

Primary School

www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk

Rail User Group

www.melbourn.org.uk/railusergroup/

Royston CAB

www.adviceguide.org.uk

Royston & District Community Transport Shape Your Place South Cambs DC Stagecoach Train times/tickets

http://www.roytrans.co.uk/ http://southcambridgeshire.shapeyourplace.org/ www.scambs.gov.uk www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge/ www.qjump.co.uk/index.html 58

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.

A10 Timber .................................... 38 Abrey Agricultural .......................... 32 Art of Clean .................................... 21 Art of Clean Wood ......................... 56 Berry Accounts and Business ........... 32 Boiler Juice ....................................... 9 Bracey’s Accountants ............... Cover Cambourne Self Storage ................. 16 Cambridge Roofers ........................ 25 CHS Day Centre ............................ 29 CHS Group ...................................... 6 College Farm B & B ....................... 56 Coton Electrical ............................. 25 The Country Store ......................... 37 Ely Design Group............................ 32 Eternit Sports and Social Club ........ 21 Fen Feeds Limited .......................... 21 Gilhooly ................................... Cover Granta Montessori Shepreth .......... 11 Home Footcare .............................. 56 iPlaster ........................................... 16 James, Handyman ........................... 14 JPK Plumbing and Heating ............. 29 Keyholes Driving School ................. 16 The Letting Centre ......................... 51 Little Hands Nursery School ........... 16 Looks Good Hairdressing ............... 27

Lynn Driscoll Footcare ..................... 29 Maycroft Care Home ....................... 38 MCT Construction .......................... 14 MDA Plumbing & Heating .............. 21 Melbourn Flooring .......................... 14 Melbourn Village College ................. 27 Meldreth Landscapes .......................... 6 Meldreth Plant Hire .......................... 37 Meridian Lawncare .......................... 25 Michael Easton Personal Trainer ..... 56 Moncraft Computers ....................... 16 NCB Electrical ................................. 27 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service 11 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement ...... 38 On the Leash .................................... 14 Penn Farm Physiotherapy.................. 56 The Picture Framers .......................... 25 Pippa’s Guardians .............................. 6 Reflections Hair Studio .................... 51 Richard Burns Electrician.................. 37 Rod’s PC Support ....................... Cover Royston Fencing ............................... 21 Shelford Energy ................................ 37 Slimming World ......................... Cover Spice Hut Indian Takeaway .............. 29 Summit Landscapes........................... 27 59

Local Telephone Numbers Tennis Club: Tracy Aggett 243376 WI: Jane Bates 261638 Meldreth United FC 07930 650036 Holy Trinity Church: Rev. Andrew O’Brien 260295 Adult Choir: Pauline Penfold 260163 Bells: Peter Hinton 262045 Friends: John Price 260048 Sunday School: Karen Lillie 261885 Melbourn: Doctors Surgery: appointments 260220 Dispensary 261246 Baby Clinic 262861 Library 269956 Village College 223400 Melbourn & District U3A 260399 District Council 03450 450500 Housing Services 03450 450051 Waste, Recycling and Environmental Health 03450 450063 Councillor Philippa Hart 261255

Meldreth: Community Access Point 262199 Litter Picker: Mick Taylor 261118 Neighbourhood Watch: Police Co-ordinator Graham Borgonon 260358 Pre-School 07518 173653 Primary School 260432 Lunch Club - Nikki & Julie 07599 292327 Village Association (MVA) 07961 128323 Village Hall: Chairman: Paul Ray 260304 Hiring: Sherida Richards 262512 Meldreth Clubs and Societies: Babies & Toddlers Club: Lynda Heard 260545 Bowls Club: S. Lambert (01223) 207888 Croquet Club: Janet Pope 248342 Local History Group: Joan Gane 260129 Melbourn Mushroom Club 260258 Melwood Cons. Group: B Huett 232855 Revelation: Miriam Skuce 262440 Table Tennis: Christine Knight 261676

MELDRETH PARISH COUNCIL - CONTACT DETAILS http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Royston SG8 6LT Parish Clerk: Mrs J Damant Mr D Lee Mrs C J Fallon Mr J Fenner Mr S Hawkins (Chairman) Mr A Keena Mr C A Land Mr Nigel Pellatt Mr R A Searles Mr D Stewart

parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk david@oakrits.plus.com joan.fallon@btinternet.com julian.fenner@tomblackwell.co.uk s.hawkins@dsl.pipex.com alankeena@aol.com c.land963@btinternet.com nppellatt@btconnect.com rob.searles@orcharddene.demon.co.uk derekstewart67@hotmail.com

269928 261571 262822 268523 261451 260267 261004 262444 260435 261562

OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS Emergencies Crimestoppers Police (non emergency) S Cambs Fire & Rescue Cambridge CAB Royston CAB Childline Samaritans NHS Direct (24-hr service) Addenbrooke’s Hospital Report potholes (Highways) Royston Health Centre

Miscarriage Support Community Transport Anglian Water Cambridge Water Co. Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency National Rail Enquiries Stagecoach Cambus Cambs County Council Councillor: S. van de Ven S Cambs MP: A Lansley Home-Start R. & S. Cambs

999 or 112 0800 555 111 101 01223 376283 08448 487979 08444 111 444 0800 1111 08457 909090 0845 4647 01223 245151 0345 045 5212 242981

Village shop opens 7 am - 10 pm 7 days Tel. 01763 262158

07906 559756 245228 08457 145145 01223 706050 0800 111 999 08007 838838 08457 484950 01223 433275 0345 045 5200 261833 01954 212707 262262

Station tkt office opens Mon - Fri 7-11.15am, Sat 8.45am - 1.25pm Tel. 01223 453702

Meldreth Matters Team: Chairman: Lesley Farbridge 261578; Editor & Layout: Kathryn Betts 268428; Distribution & Proof-reading: Ken McLean 261243; Treasurer, Secretary & Trade Advertising: Beverley Cottrell 262176; Cover & Advertising Layout: Richard Burns 263121; Founder Member: Ann Barnes

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MELDRETH WEDNESDAY 5.30pm & 7.30pm Meldreth Village Hall Hig h Street, Meldreth Tel: Karen 01763 243604

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