Meldreth Matters, November 2020

November 2020

In this issue ‌ Holy Trinity Appeal for Donations Letters to the Editor

Events ‌ Churchyard Clean Up Melbourn & Meldreth Walking Market

RML

IT CONSULTANTS LTD

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

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

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

GIVE ME A CALL ON:07946 216268

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

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

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

Contents Miscellaneous

What’s On in November

Emilie Agnes Elin Almshouses 25 Letters to the Editor 4-6 Mapping 14 Rail Partnership News 11

Local Events 8-9 Walking Market cover Village Groups Friends of Holy Trinity 16 Photographic Club 36 WI 35

Local/National Government Local Councillors 23-25 Parish Council 39-43 Planning 44

Children & Education Events for Families 30 Primary School 28-29

Advice/Information Advertisers’ Index 52 Community Transport 13 Coronavirus Support 12-13 Fire & Rescue 31 Home-Start 48-49 Mobile Warden Scheme 43 Neighbourhood Watch 47 Refuse Collections 26 Village Directory 50-51

Gardens & Nature Gardening 32-33 Church News Appeal for Funds 18-19 Remembrance Sunday 17 Ride and Stride 20-21 Sale of Jams 16

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.

1

EVE CONSTRUCTION LTD Experienced professional local builder

Specialists in made to measure window coverings: Beautifully made and locally produced Curtains and Roman Blinds Roller, Vertical, Pleated, Wood, PVC and Aluminium Venetian Blinds Plantation shutters and Awnings Experts in home automated motorised solutions

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

FREE- NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS. FIND US AT Phillimore Garden Centre, Cambridge Road, Melbourn. SG8 6EY Tel: 01763 263399

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

www.sageblinds.co.uk

www.eveconstruction.co.uk

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-4pm

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

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

www.melbournflooring.co.uk

@melbournflooring

2

Editorial Welcome to the November issue of Meldreth Matters.

This month’s cover features the Remembrance Day service at Meldreth War Memorial in 1923. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s Service will not be open to the public. Please see page 17 for further details.

Despite the current restrictions, there are two events taking place this month which you may like to support. The first is a Walking Market on 1st November, with over 50 stalls in both Melbourn and Meldreth.

The second is a clear up morning in Holy Trinity churchyard on 7th November. See our back cover for details of both of these events.

Also in this issue is an appeal for donations in aid of Holy Trinity Church, information.

Kathryn

Cover Photograph Meldreth War Memorial in 1923. Photograph supplied by Joan Gane of Meldreth Local History Group. The war memorial was inaugurated on 11th November 1923 with Shepreth Brass Band in attendance.

3

Letters to the Editor Thank You, Andrew Jones I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Andrew Jones, Deputy Headteacher at Meldreth Primary School, for his regular contributions to Meldreth Matters.

My two lads went to Meldreth Primary School and my youngest, David, was in his class when Andrew was fairly new to the school.

For a good few years, I worked as a Dinner Lady, later upgraded to “Lunchtime Supervisor”. I also had the roll of Governor, Minor Authority, thrust upon me during my time on the Parish Council! I used to submit pupils’ articles to Meldreth Matters then and I know they were proud to see their drawings, sports reports, etc. in print. This was back when Joan and Jackie Gelling were Editors of this magazine, so we’re talking about a few years ago! [Joe & Jackie retired as Editors in November 2004—Ed.] Reading about Meldreth Primary School and its pupils still gives me, and I’m sure a great many others, immense pleasure. The time and effort put in by Mr Jones, in addition to his “normal” workload, does not go unappreciated. So on behalf of all the ex’s - ex parents, pupils, office staff, teachers, governors, support staff, cleaners … and dinner ladies - Andrew, thank you.

Daphne Jones-Barrie

Elin Way/Howard Road I am disappointed that South Cambridgeshire District Council's commitment to the environment seems to have been forgotten in my neck of our beautiful village. For some months now, residents of Elin Way and Howard Road have been expected to turn a blind eye to a ramshackle arrangement of metal screens, a skip, a metal container and random large items such as baths and cookers, dumped on the grass verge in Elin Way. This has also made it difficult to maintain the verge at this spot.

This mess is a contracting company's base and its vehicles are frequently parked alongside. As I live adjacent to the site, I can vouch 4

that the site has been in constant use, although I believe the local work for which the site was established was halted during lockdown.

I cannot imagine that this situation would be tolerated elsewhere. It irks me that this corner of the village is expected to put up with this right under the nose of the Parish Council! It doesn't help that there are other issues with Howard Road, such as the aged concrete road panels and dilapidated garages at the Whitecroft Road end of the street.

Residents of Howard Road have done much to improve their properties - we are doing our bit.

Please can South Cambridgeshire District Council show its commitment to our village environment and address these matters?

Marian Mair

Meldreth Does Matter Earlier this year we came together very successfully as a village to help and support those in need through the first wave of COVID-19. Could we now build upon this sense of community to look to the future of the village and to work together to improve the environment in which we live and to play our part, however small, in facing the challenges of climate change?

We are all aware that we need to reduce waste and to reduce our carbon footprint, but where do we find information as to how best to do this at a local level? South Cambridgeshire District Council has developed a broad strategic plan and has set out many practical measures that can be taken, with examples where these are being applied successfully. See https://www.scambs.gov.uk/climate-change/ zero-carbon-communities. Our County Councillor, Susan van de Ven, and District Councillor, Jose Hales, are fully supportive, as is our Parish Council. Meldreth Primary School and Melbourn Village College have been actively raising awareness of these issues among their students and have already started planting more trees and reducing waste.

Now that the dark winter evenings are closing in, would this not be a good time for us all to think about what we can do as individuals, and as a village community, to reduce our carbon footprint? Which, in 5

your view, would be the most effective, practical actions that we could take? If you would like to share your ideas and to encourage local initiatives, send your suggestions to: Peter Draper by emailing peter.draper@mac.com or telephoning (01763) 260323 or Julie Draper at juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk or telephone 07976 879350.

Julie & Peter Draper

Charity Jam A big ‘Thank You’ to all the dear people who bought some gages and/or jam from The Cottage, 19 North End. By 20th September we had raised £165 for charity and the money has been sent as follows: £50 Care International (Beirut disaster in July); £60 to WaterAid; £30 to Sight Savers and £25 to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). There is some damson jam left and any further money will be sent to MSF. A free jar of damson jam is yours if you return five or so small empty jars.

Graham and Pierrette Borgonon

Meldreth and Orchard Manor Firework Display We would like to inform residents that we will be holding a private fireworks display at Meldreth Manor on Thursday 5th November.

Rachel Smith Skills Tutor, The Aurora Group Orchard Manor PC Repairs

Dust Free Wood Floor Sanding & Restoration

Advice & Installation of Home Networks Help with Selecting a computer

Is your Wooden Floor in need of Sanding?

Fault Finding Brian Girling 01223 208529 (Wimpole) E-mail bg@moncraft.co.uk

Call today on 01223 863 632

We can also provide the following services: Design of brochures, posters, business cards, etc.

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

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

6

Village Garden Services

Nigel Wigg Home Improvement Specialist

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

• Exterior and interior home decorating

• Tiling • Carpentry • Refurbishment • Timber carport and veranda

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

Richard Burns

design and construction • General home repairs • Pruning / hedge and tree trimming • Professional service

ELECTRICIAN For installation, repair or advice please call

Tel: Mob:

01763 263 121 07958 028 729

sockets@richardburnselectrician.co.uk

nigelwigg@gmail.com T 01480 700266 M 07801 057514

Part P approved Certified installer

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS FOR

PLANNING & BUILDING REGULATION APPLICATIONS FOR

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

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

7

Compliant to BS7671 Based in Meldreth

Things to Do in November Here is a selection of events and activities happening nearby. To have your event listed, please email: meldrethmatters@hotmail.com.

NB Events are subject to change, so please check before travelling.

Autumn at Wimpole Wimpole Hall, Arrington, Cambridgeshire SG8 0BW Early November is often the best time to see wonderful autumn colours in Wimpole’s ancient parkland and woods. Download a ‘Wimpole Walks’ leaflet and follow one of five walks around the estate or learn more about the tree collection with their ‘Tree Trail Map’. Book ahead and by 3.00pm latest on the day before you visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Autumn in Cambridge Beechwoods, Wort’s Causeway, Cambridge CB22 3FB For somewhere new perhaps, a small but impressive wood of majestic beeches with walking trails (dogs on leads welcome). Look out for green and great-spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches and bramblings feeding on the beech mast. Park opposite in lay-by on Wort’s Causeway. See: www.wildlifebcn.org for details and information on other reserves.

Until Sunday 8th November Virtual Cam Valley Arts Trail 2020 Over 30 local artists showcasing and selling their work, plus artist chats, workshops and demonstrations - all from the comfort of your front room! See: www.camvalleyartstrail.co.uk.

The Library.Live Book Club In partnership with Bonnier Books UK, Cambridgeshire Libraries brings you four new books each month, plus a range of podcasts, author interviews and more for you to explore.

See: www.library.live/book-club.

Sadler’s Wells Take Part - Company of Elders Bringing dance to the wider community through a series of workshops and activities for people to dance along to in their own homes. The Company of Elders workshop is specially created for over 60s. See the Sadler’s Wells YouTube channel. See also: www.sadlerswells.com.

8

University of Cambridge Museums Reopening Three more Cambridge museums have re-opened: The Museum of Zoology, Sedgwick Museum and the Museum of Classical Archaeology. See www.museums.cam.ac.uk for timings and further details - tickets are free and must be booked in advance. The Botanic Garden, Fitzwilliam Museum and Kettle’s Yard are already open.

Saturday 21st November, 2.00pm to 4.00pm Wellcome Genome Campus Virtual Open Saturday A variety of activities, topical conversations and virtual tour of the 125 acre site, including the beautiful 18th century Hinxton Hall. Free but please register in advance at: www.wgc.org.uk/engage/events.

Sunday 22nd November, 10.30am or at any time during the day Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s Festive 5k Run Run or walk a 5k route of your choice, preferably starting at 10.30am so you know you’re not doing this alone! Fancy dress encouraged and all entrants registered before 18th November receive a free Santa hat and finisher’s medal. Raising much-needed funds for hospice care in Cambridgeshire. For more details and to sign up: www.arhc.org.uk.

Sunday 22nd November, Ely Riverside Walk, 11.30am to 1.00pm Sunday 29th November, Ely Eel Walk, 11.30am to 1.00pm starting from Oliver Cromwell’s House, Ely CB7 4HF Two guided walks to learn about Ely’s lovely riverside, the draining of the Fens and the lives of people who live there; also the fascinating history of the eel trade and how it shaped the City’s history. Places limited and advance booking needed.

Visit: www.olivercromwellshouse.co.uk.

Thursday 26th November, 7.30pm to 8.30pm At Home with Home-Start Online Cocktail Evening A virtual cocktail evening - learn more about making cocktails and try your hand at shaking that mix! Proceeds in support of Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire. Further details available nearer the time. To book tickets visit: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hsrsc/at-home-with-home-start-cocktail -evening/e-vbdldl.

Compiled by John Crawforth 9

10

Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership News Please Wear Your Mask or Face Covering on Trains That’s all! Please remember that passengers on public transport must wear face coverings. There are some exemptions of course.

Rail User Group: First Virtual Meeting The Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Rail User Group will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday 18th November, from 7.30-8.30pm. This will be an opportunity to catch up on what’s happening behind the scenes during COVID times, and for residents to put forward any questions or concerns.

If you’d like to attend, please email railusergroup@gmail.com for the link and joining instructions.

Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership: Station Audits and Strategic Thinking The Community Rail Partnership has been busy during this unique time. A ‘Local Rail Improvement Plan’ for Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Stations has been published at meldrethsheprethfoxton.org.uk, and looks carefully at each station to consider small, medium and large improvements needed for future accessibility improvements. Please take a look and let us have your feedback – we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Station Platform Tubs In spite of the pandemic, local volunteers have been working behind the scenes to ensure our station gardens remain cheerful and well-tended, for which many thanks. The tubs now need turning around for winter, so please get in touch if you’d like to help out in any way – all according to COVID protocols of course.

Susan van de Ven and Sarah Grove Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership railusergroup@gmail.com; 07905 325574

Have Your Say: Cambridge South Railway Station A new station is being planned in the vicinity of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The consultation is now open and runs until 29th November 2020.

For details visit www.networkrail.co.uk/cambridge-south-station.

11

Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support www.facebook.com/groups/MeldrethCoronavirusCommunitySupport While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we’re lucky here in Meldreth to have continuing community support.

Meldreth Food Bank The Food Bank continues to support local families and has been greatly helped by generous donations from local residents. Please feel free to drop any food donations in the box outside The Gables, 69 High Street (opposite the British Queen). If you’d like to make a cash donation, please contact our treasurer Roger James on 07808 235873. You can visit the Food Bank on Tuesdays from 10.00am to midday or Thursdays from 2.00-4.00pm, or just contact Anne Bobeckyj, Food Bank coordinator, on 07592 355279.

Meldreth Community Screenbank The Screenbank had met its initial target supplying Melbourn Village College with refurbished second-hand computers for students lacking the necessary IT set-up for home study, but with the start of the new school year and the Year 7 intake, there is a renewed need to be met.

Thanks to the unending work of our IT engineer Andy Thomas, supported by the Meldreth Screenbank team, we are in a position to strive to meet this additional need. We are now looking for donations of laptops running on Windows 7 and above, as well as iPads. Please contact ian@themitchells.eu if you have something to donate.

Meldreth Friends Thank you so much to everyone who has responded with offers to volunteer for Meldreth Friends, in which we hope to provide friendship in all the ways possible during this extraordinary time with its various and continually changing restrictions.

Meldreth Walking Friends Walks around the local area will start from Meldreth Village Hall, led by one of our Meldreth Friends walking leaders. Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays and the second and fourth Tuesdays, at 10.45am. To book a place, please call Paul Inman on 07976 256121 for Saturday walks and Joan Gane on 07711 803861 for Tuesday walks.

12

Meldreth Calling Friends For a friendly chat by phone, please contact John Crawforth on 07595 627684 or johndcrawforth@btopenworld.com.

Mental Health Support Training for Volunteers Thanks to a grant from Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, we have been able to work with Mind CPSL on a programme of mental health support training for volunteers. At the time of writing, details are being finalised and we will shortly be writing to everyone on our volunteer list asking if they’d like to sign up. Do please feel free to get in touch with Susan on 07905 325574 or susanvandeven5@gmail.com if you have any queries or would like to know more.

Susan van de Ven and all at MCCS

Royston & District Community Transport www.roytrans.co.uk Some readers who use RDCT to take them where they need to go, have been worried that we may run into financial difficulties, especially as many organisations already have.

Well, worries are over for the immediate future as we have been awarded a National Lottery Grant of ÂŁ10,000! This was awarded to support the costs of the office to enable us to continue providing transport to our local community. It will safeguard our immediate future!

We continue to offer all journeys to medical appointments, and where possible for shopping, hairdressers and other social needs. Should you need our service, please continue to ring our normal enquiry line (01763) 245228.

Ron Comben Royston & District Community Transport Registered in England & Wales, No. 6744379 and limited by guarantee Registered charity No. 1127052

13

Mapping One billion people live without maps. They are also likely to live in the most deprived areas of the world where charities and NGOs are working to alleviate poverty, disease or man-made and natural disasters.

For those humanitarian and NGO workers on the ground operating in remote areas, a big difficulty is often simply finding their way because of poor, old, or non-existent maps; they urgently need up-to-date maps of areas they need to reach.

Fortunately, there are thousands of volunteers of all ages across the world providing data for those maps on their own computers in their own homes. But such is the great and urgent need for good map data, the more folk who can take part in the mapping tasks, the quicker workers on the ground can be helping those in need.

We can all help just by using our computers at home, with good eyesight, patience and a bit of spare time any hour, day or night.

Everyone starts as a beginner and there is plenty of help along the way.

If you wish to read all about volunteer mapping or watch the explanatory videos, go to: https://tasks.hotosm.org/learn.

As well as working at home you can also join the regular ‘Mapathons’ which are held in Cambridge as well as in many other parts of the world. This site gives details: https://www.missingmaps.org. During COVID-19 these are more likely to be held on Zoom.

If you want to ask questions or just talk to someone about the project, call me on (01763) 260358.

Graham Borgonon

MM is now Available in Colour Online To view this or past issues online, follow us on: issuu.com/meldrethmatters 14

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

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

15

Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk Inevitably the current restrictions limit the ability of the committee to meet or organise fundraising events.

The Friends committee have agreed in principle the co-opting of three additional members and in the near future it will meet virtually to discuss the content of an AGM, including officer’s roles and the 2019-2020 accounts.

In the absence of current events, in the new year we will revisit events and projects that have been supported since The Friends were formed.

John Price

Sale of Jams in Aid of the Church As many of you will know, each year we make a selection of jams that are sold at local events such as the village fete and the Christmas Tree Festival in aid of Church funds.

These events have been curtailed during the COVID shutdown.

This year we have decided to offer these jams for direct sale and we will pay the proceeds to the Friends of Holy Trinity Church.

The following will be available in the usual half-pound pots:  Blackcurrant Jam  Blackberry Jam  Raspberry Jam We will be charging the usual price - £1.75 per pot or £5 for three pots.

If you would like to buy some and thereby support the local Church please telephone on (01763) 260061 and we can make arrangements for you to collect them from 68 North End. We will ask for exact cash please and the jars will be externally sanitised before collection.

Richard and Margaret Goddin 16

Remembrance Sunday Arrangements Sunday 8th November is Remembrance Sunday, and it will come as no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic means that things will look different this year. Following consultation with representatives of the Royal British Legion and the Army Cadets, and with the utmost concern for the health and safety of the communities we live in, members of the public are asked not to gather at the War Memorial, or in the area surrounding it, whilst the Act of Remembrance takes place.

The Act of Remembrance will still be carried out on behalf of the village community by the Parish Priest, as well as representatives of Service Veterans, the Army Cadets and the Parish Council. There will be no service in All Saints' Church immediately after the morning Act of Remembrance in Melbourn. Services will still take place at 8.00am in Holy Trinity, Meldreth (Said Eucharist), and at 5.30pm in All Saints', Melbourn (Requiem Eucharist for Remembrance Sunday).

Members of the public are of course still very welcome to place wreaths and poppy crosses at Meldreth War Memorial, but are asked not to do so between 09.15am and 10.00am on 8th November. Should you wish to place a wreath or a poppy cross, please be aware that you will still need to keep social distance, and not to gather in groups of more than six. Similar arrangements are in place for Melbourn.

This has been a very difficult decision to make, and I hope very much that you will understand the reasons behind it and our concern for people’s health and safety at this very worrying time. It goes without saying that I very much hope that 2021 will see us marking Remembrance Sunday in a more familiar fashion.

With my every good wish.

The Reverend Lizzie Shipp Parish Priest of Melbourn and Meldreth

17

Holy Trinity Church, COVID-19 and the Building The good news is that our Sunday services have resumed and the Church is open on weekdays for visits and private prayer. Life event services are also allowed and anyone wishing to arrange a baptism, wedding or funeral should contact the Vicar; these events are subject to limited attendance numbers and coronavirus hygiene regulations. For those families with young children, we very much hope that we can resume ‘Messy Church’ as soon as possible. For those who are shielding, self-isolating or otherwise unable to attend church in person, the main service each Sunday is broadcast live on Facebook.

Holy Trinity Meldreth is the only Grade I listed building in the village.

In recent years we have become concerned about the stonework and plasterwork of the building and in particular the dampness in the walls.

This is now becoming serious; work carried out in recent years has not helped and the problem appears to be getting worse. We received a generous gift from a resident of Meldreth which enabled us to instruct an architect’s practice in Cambridge specialising in the investigation, monitoring and control of environmental deterioration in historic buildings. We received their initial professional survey, findings and report in June 2020. This revealed just how wet the walls are and that parts of the decorative stonework, both inside and out, are suffering badly and will need extensive repairs. The report recommends further surveys of drains and soakaways, groundwater and stonework. We bear in mind in particular that if the piers and pillars surrounding the internal tower arch, which are one of the most important architectural features of the church, deteriorate much further, we risk losing our Grade I listing. This could mean that we will find it more difficult to attract funding and grants for repairs.

Meanwhile, the normal maintenance of the church building has to continue. In the past the costs of maintenance of the Church have been met from the annual fundraising events that we and the Friends of Holy Trinity (FOHT) have organised. We mention just the three largest events that have raised the most revenue: the summer fete, the car show in September and the Christmas tree festival. Of course, due to the regulations and restrictions surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, it has not been possible to hold these events. Only small scale fundraising is possible at the moment. We are grateful to Julie 18

Draper, Sherida Richards and those who so generously supported their recent ‘Open Gardens’; they raised approximately £1000 for the fabric fund.

We would like to ask you to consider making a donation to Holy Trinity to help with the costs of the necessary repair of the walls and stonework. As the costs of general maintenance would have been met from the fundraising events that have been cancelled or are currently not possible, we would like to ask you to consider giving a sum that you might have spent at the church had you attended the fete, car show, Christmas tree festival or any other event. To preserve the church building for future use we will also have to raise extra funds, especially when we know how much the repairs will cost.

Donations can be made through online banking direct to the church account, by Facebook or by cheque or cash to the Treasurer, David Hollamby. There are also ways to give regularly if you are willing and able! If you mark your donation (bank reference, or on the envelope) as ‘Fabric’, it will be kept in a separate fund and only used for building repairs. The best bit is that if you are a taxpayer, the government will add a quarter to what you give; this requires you to fill in a simple Gift Aid form available from David.

Thank you for your support.

Church Account Name: ‘Meldreth PCC’; Number: 20633119; Sort Code: 20-73-26.

Please use reference ‘Fabric’ or ‘General’.

Facebook: @ASMHTM (Check you get the link to the right church and fund!)

Treasurer: David Hollamby; Tel: (02763) 261082; Email: meldrethpcctreasurer@btinternet.com Vicar and Churchwardens of Holy Trinity, Meldreth

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

19

Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust “Ride and Stride” 12 September 2020 It is always a little bit daunting when you put your name down to take part in the annual “Ride and Stride” and there is no turning back when your daughter says “Me and Samuel will ride with you, won’t we Samuel!”

To the ride itself, which took place on 12th September, in reasonably good weather! The three of us set off soon after 10.00am to start at Holy Trinity, Meldreth.

My daughter Paula had been “elected” PA for the day, taking photographs outside each church or chapel, recording mileage, recording times and names of churches on the CHCT paperwork.

We then headed off to Shepreth and on to Barrington; where we all felt a lot warmer and long-sleeved tops were removed. Samuel and I then sported our Cambridge United tops for the remainder of the journey. We went across the A10 to Foxton, Fowlmere, Thriplow, Newton, Whittlesford, Sawston, Stapleford, Great Shelford and chose to start heading back to Meldreth so that we were back home in Elin Way in time for Cambridge United’s first league game of the season against Carlisle United.

Little Shelford was next, then on to Harston, Melbourn, with thumbs up at All Saints’ from all three of us and finishing back in Meldreth. All in all, we cycled thirty miles and “visited” 23 churches and chapels along the way.

The Ride and Stride is an annual sponsored event organised by the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and is their major source of fund raising. Fifty percent of all monies raised comes back to the church of the rider’s/walker’s choice; in our case back to Holy Trinity, 20

Meldreth. The great news is that we raised a fantastic £500 in sponsorship and, as I mentioned, our church will receive £250, which will help towards running costs.

Thank you so much to all who sponsored us.

As well as riding through all the villages, we had a game of “spot the mini” (no not that one from the 60’s famously worn by Twiggy but mini cars on the roads or drive-ways).

Paula’s family play it a lot when they are travelling and this time “yours truly” won Saturday’s competition.

David Hollamby PCC Treasurer Holy Trinity Meldreth

P.D. Property Services 1 Abbots Close Litlington Nr Royston, Herts SG8 0QQ 25274

Now treating paddocks & large areas

25274

PLUMBING, HEATING & GAS

BESPOKE LAWNCARE SERVICES SINCE 2005

FULL BATHROOM DESIGN & INSTALL OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Independent and family run, we put the care into lawncare

01763 853 778 MOB 07768 332380

TEL

01763 244955 lawnpartners.co.uk

ASK FOR PAUL

21

Little Hands Nursery School The Moor, Melbourn

Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality education for the under fives and offers: Flexible hourly booking - open 08.30 to 16.30 Term time bookings with optional holiday club Bumble Bee room for children 12 – 24 months Ladybird room for 2 year olds Butterfly room for children 3-5 years With optional “ready for school sessions” All sessions have a high staff to child ratio and are available for eligible funded 2 year olds and all funded 3/4 year olds with no extra charges

For all your domestic electrical needs.

Categorised as “Outstanding” by Ofsted

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

Visit

sparkys.online Mobile

07974 375 377 Email

info@sparkys.online

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

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

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

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

22

District and County Councillors’ Report Melbourn and Bassingbourn Oil Club: household oil at best prices If your household relies on heating oil, please note that our longstanding Melbourn and Bassingbourn Division Oil Club, working with local oil supplier Agricole Oil, exists to help householders access the best available prices. There is no joining fee and no obligation to make more than one order. Please simply contact Jeremy Cole at Agricole Oil if you'd like to know more about how things work or how to make an order: Jeremy@agricole.co.uk, telephone (01954) 719452.

Every year, Agricole Oil gives us a rebate which is based on the volume of orders made and the Oil Club in turn donates this to a community group. Last year the rebate went to Royston and District Community Transport.

Susan coordinates the Oil Club. Please feel free get in touch if you have any questions.

Drainage Tour of Meldreth Together with Parish Councillor, Pat Gilmore, and our Local Highways Officer, we will be touring the Meldreth drainage network on 3rd November, to identify and troubleshoot hotspots. That said, we know many of the hotspots, and many have been in a long queue for troubleshooting, in spite of many reports and representations! Do please contact us if you’re concerned about any particular area.

Difficulties with Water Bills?

Are you or do you know someone struggling to pay their water bills because of COVID-19? If so, please contact Cambridge Water via their website, Facebook or Twitter or call 0800 587 7701.

More information can be found online at https://www.cambridgewater.co.uk/covid-help. They can offer tailored support including the Assure social tariff (for customers whose household income is less than £16,380 a year); the Assure COVID-19 tariff, which is available for a twelve-week period for customers whose household income has been impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak and is temporarily less than £16,380 a year; as well as a number of other plans.

Self-Isolation Payments All the information you need to apply for a government grant, should you officially be required to self-isolate and as a consequence 23

experience a loss of income, is on the South Cambridgeshire District Council website. There are a number of eligibility checks, including what benefits you are in receipt of, but once you have made your application the process should be quick and you should receive your payment within three days. More than one person per household may apply and you can apply again if you are required to self-isolate again. https://www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus/self-isolation-payment.

Planning South Cambridgeshire is maintaining a five-year housing land supply when about a third of District Councils cannot. Obviously COVID is not helping the situation but building is continuing here and at the time of writing the land supply stands at 5.4 years. Regrettably a Planning Inspectorate (PINS) Planning Inspector recently made a mistake when reviewing a planning appeal and wrote that we did not have a five-year supply. Thanks to very quick action by council officers this was withdrawn within a matter of hours.

You may recall a few years ago, over 4,000 homes were given permission in villages where they had not been planned because housing delivery was not meeting the government set targets. We do not want that to happen again.

COVID-19 Increase in South Cambridgeshire Incidences of COVID-19 are increasing in South Cambridgeshire. We know that people are finding it difficult to get tests and that tests are taking a long time to come back, so we are cautious about the figures we have as they are likely to be an underestimate. Can we please encourage you to download the Government COVID-19 App https:// covid19.nhs.uk? It can be used to log in into an increasing number of venues using the QR codes that are being displayed at front doors. No personal information is gathered. Annoyingly, a great number of older mobile phone models cannot use it but it is nonetheless an important tool.

South Cambridgeshire is one of the safer places at the moment and keeping it that way is absolutely in our gift: please wear a mask or face covering, wash your hands, and keep your distance.

South Cambridgeshire Hall Having just re-opened the South Cambridgeshire District Council offices at Cambourne, it has now been closed again as part of efforts to do all we can to minimise the spread of Coronavirus locally. We feel 24

this is the right and responsible thing to do following the latest Government announcements. Residents and businesses have been able to carry out the vast majority of transactions without visiting and for the small number of tasks that have required people to visit in-person, such as pension verification, we have made arrangements to continue delivering them in a safe way. Please get in touch if you need help making contact with SCDC. Please feel free to get in touch any time with questions or concerns, and we’ll do our best to help you.

Susan van de Ven, County Councillor Jose Hales, District Councillor

The Emilie Agnes Elin Almshouses This is to announce the retirement of Peter Chilvers as Chairman of The Emilie Agnes Elin Almshouse Trust in Meldreth. Peter has been a trustee for over 40 years and latterly chairman. He has always shown strong commitment to the maintenance of the Almshouses and the welfare of the residents.

His dedication, camaraderie, professionalism and leadership will be missed.

We thank him for his hard work over the years.

The socially-distanced trustees presenting outgoing Chairman, Peter Chilvers, with his favourite whisky.

As a result of Peter’s retirement there is a vacancy for a Trustee.

Should you wish to apply or to know more about trustee activities then please contact Richard Remnant on 0770 2632 051.

Iain McPhee 25

Meldreth Village Dia Monday All events/mee ngs are subject to change or cancella on: if in any doubt, please check before a ending

11.00am-12.00 noon Trigger Point Pilates

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thur

Refuse Collections Black bins: 10th, 24th Blue/Green bins: 3rd, 17th

1.30-2.30pm Aerobics

5.30pm Slimming World

10.00am Hart

7.00-8.00pm Aerobics

7.30pm Slimming World

4.00-5.00pm A

4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children

6.00-6.45pm F Pilates

8.00-9.00pm Zumba

7.30pm Parish (online meetin

11.00am-12.00 noon Trigger Point Pilates

10.45am MCCS Group Walk (see page 12)

4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children

1.30-2.30pm Aerobics

5.30pm Slimming World

10.00am Hart

7.30pm Slimming World

4.00-5.00pm A

6.00-6.45pm F Pilates

7.00-8.00pm Aerobics

8.00-9.00pm Zumba

Copy dea Decemb

Copy deadline for the November issue 11.00am-12.00 noon Trigger Point Pilates

10.40-11.30am Mobile Library, Bell Close

4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children

1.30-2.30pm Aerobics

5.30pm Slimming World

10.00am Hart

7.30pm Slimming World

4.00-5.00pm A

6.00-6.45pm F Pilates

7.00-8.00pm Aerobics

8.00-9.00pm Zumba

11.00am-12.00 noon Trigger Point Pilates

10.45am MCCS Group Walk (see page 12)

4.00-6.30pm Street Dance for Children

1.30-2.30pm Aerobics

23 30

7.00-8.00pm Aerobics

5.30pm Slimming World

10.00am Hart

7.30pm Slimming World

4.00-5.00pm A

6.00-6.45pm F Pilates

8.00-9.00pm Zumba

Church Services are held in Holy Trinity Church. Football matches take place on the rec

26

ary - November 2020

sday

tbeeps

Friday

Sunday 8.00am Said Eucharist

The copy deadline for the December issue of Meldreth Matters is Wednesday 12th November 9.30am Slimming World

ACRO

Fitness

10.00am-3.00pm Walking Market (see back cover) 10.30am Football Match

9.00am to midday Churchyard Clear Up, Holy Trinity Churchyard See back cover

8.00am Said Eucharist (Remembrance Sunday)

10.45am MCCS Group Walk (see page 12)

h Council ng)

tbeeps

Saturday

9.45am Sung Eucharist

9.30am Slimming World

10.30am Football Match

ACRO

Fitness

adline for ber issue

tbeeps

9.30am Slimming World

ACRO

10.45am MCCS Group Walk (see page 12)

8.00am Said Eucharist

Fitness

tbeeps

Advent Sunday: 9:45am Sung Eucharist 5.30pm Service of Music & Readings for Advent

9.30am Slimming World

ACRO

Fitness

creation ground. All other events are held in the Village Hall unless otherwise indicated.

27

Meldreth Primary School Harvest Time!

At this time each year Meldreth Primary School would usually be getting ready to come together and celebrate the harvest. Drawing inspiration from a variety of poems, books and songs, as well as religions and cultures all over the world, the children of Meldreth Primary would – in a normal year - be delighting their Zulu Bracelets families by showing off their wonderful artwork, acting skills and beautiful singing voices. Despite this not being possible this year, due to the current climate, the staff and pupils at Meldreth have not let this stop them from enjoying the harvest season.

To go along with their Africa topic in Osprey Class, the children in Year 3 have been learning all about harvest in Africa. They have talked about the importance of the harvest all over the world, and discussed how the harvest can be particularly important for people in different parts of Africa.

In some parts of Africa, they have ‘The Festival of Yams’, usually in August, when they share yams and dance. Yams are a vegetable, like a sweet potato. In other parts of Africa, people celebrate the Homowo Festival, a celebration of a traditional harvest festival from the Ga people of Ghana, West Africa. For the Ga people, the word Homowo means "hooting at hunger". The Homowo Festival commences with a traditional Ghanaian procession in which people assume the roles of kings, queens and followers of the royal family of each of Ghana's ethnic groups.

To help us celebrate all the wonderful foods harvested in Africa, the children took part in some drama activities, where they re-enacted the story of 'Handa's Surprise'.

They also discussed the importance of rain for the harvest to be 28

successful, especially in the hottest countries in Africa. The children listened to, and discussed, a variety of African texts about rain, including: 'Lila and the Secret of Rain', a story set in a Kenyan village; and 'Marriage of the Rain Goddess', a story based on the beliefs of the Zulu people. Osprey Class then had a go at making their own Zulu bracelets, each bead containing a different meaning.

Having discussed the African Harvest, the Year 3 children then wrote some super acrostic poems entitled 'Harvest in Africa'. A few examples of these are given below.

Harvest in Africa is different to us.

Are you ready so let’s get started.

Roaring lions, hungry hippos and stomping elephants.

Very poor, some are rich.

Every day it’s hot and humid even when it rains.

Some have one meal, some have two if their lucky there.

Tinned food, pasta and water can be given to them.

Happy harvest for Africa Arranging harvest carefully Ripened red mangoes Vitamins and goodies Elephants, lions and hippos Sun every day in Africa Time is changing every day

By Esmee

Africa is so hot Food is so yummy Rains is what the crops need It is very hot Can the crops grow And a happy harvest in Africa

In Malawi it’s boiling hot Now it’s up to harvest

By Samuel

A doctor healing people Far in Africa they are praying Reasoning with each other I know they’re hoping for water Calling for a good day A pumpkin and an orange.

by Millie

It has been wonderful to see the children engaging in learning about other cultures and beliefs, while being able to see the parallels in how we celebrate our Harvest Festival at school, and have some fun too!

Happy Harvest from Osprey Class!

29

Miss McGinty

Things for Children and Families To Do Connect with Nature Anglesey Abbey’s Autumn Bucket List Download the Autumn Bucket List and tick off your experiences - go on a treasure hunt for colour, dance like a falling leaf, go on a sensory scavenger hunt, hunt for fungi, discover crazy cones. No need to go to the Abbey - complete your list in Melwood! www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Wimpole Home Farm video diaries Watch short videos about farm life from piglets to flour production. www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Nature-based activities and wildlife videos Available at www.wildlifebcn.org.

Music at Home Family concerts Butterfly Brain, a concert for ages 7 -11. The Chimpanzees of Happytown for ages 3 - 7. Participation encouraged and musical activities suggested. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk (Music at Home section).

Barefoot Books Sing along with catchy tunes - some familiar, some new. Fun animations to accompany each song. Try ‘A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea’, ‘Dinosaur Rap’, Port Side Pirates’ or ‘Over in the Meadow’. Ages 1 - 6. www.youtube.com.

Orchestra of the Swan A series of short videos for students who play instruments from tuba to cello. Musicians talk about their instrument and play classical pieces. www.youtube.com.

Home Activities Open City activities based on design and architecture Originally for children living in London but many of the tasks are suitable for children anywhere and of any age up to 18. Build a bridge and test its strength, make a pasta empire, design a music venue or a car, listen to audio tours of the Barbican, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Museum of London. www.learning.open-city.org.uk.

Compiled by Hilary Crawforth 30

Show Respect this Bonfire Night Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is joining forces with local authority partners and emergency services to help keep people safe this bonfire and fireworks season. With many organised events cancelled across the county, emergency services are preparing for a busier night than usual. There is an emerging concern that more people will plan displays and bonfires to celebrate in their own gardens, which could pose significant risk for those who choose to use them.

Head of Community Fire Safety, Group Commander Per Middleton, said, “While most people enjoy fireworks responsibly, they can quickly become a disaster and, in the wrong hands, they can cause injury and damage to property. We would encourage residents across the county to think twice before having their own displays and lighting bonfires in their gardens this year. Not only do these present risks for residents and our crews, but with the pandemic still with us we all have a responsibility to ensure we don't put unnecessary strain on emergency services. Please show respect this Bonfire Night and think twice about having your own display. It’s also really important that residents remember the government's rule of six to help control the spread of COVID-19.”

If you intend on buying fireworks for a home display, please follow the firework safety code:  Only buy fireworks marked with a CE mark.  Don't drink alcohol if you're setting off fireworks.  Keep fireworks in a closed box and always follow the instructions carefully when using them.  Light them at arms length using a taper and stand well back Never go back to them once they are lit. Even if a firework hasn't gone off, it could still explode.  Never throw fireworks, and never put them in your pocket.  Respect your neighbours – don’t let off fireworks late at night and remember there are laws in place you must follow.  Take care with sparklers – never give them to children under five.

Put sparklers in a bucket of water after use.  Fireworks can also cause a great deal of distress to animals. Keep your pets indoors throughout the evening.

Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service 31

Note from a Small Garden I must start by talking about the beautiful cerulean blue annual climber Ipomoea Heavenly Blue. This lovely plant is quite tender and becoming more fickle by the year. Sow and grow on in the greenhouse or indoors. I have found over the years that is safer to plant it out at the end of June. It used to grow up a fence, wall or up a wooden tripod and first flowers would be out by mid-August. But Jim and I have been comparing notes and found that this climber has recently not flowered until September. Last year his Ipomoea Morning Glory flowered first on 16th September and mine on 17th, but this year, despite good growth up the side of Jim’s front door, and growing half way up the thatch here at home, we were already in autumn, with Jim’s plant first flowering on 21st September (the equinox) and mine on 22nd. What is the cause of this? Climate change? It’s difficult to say, but we have had very hot prolonged spells this summer, and interestingly my Ipomoea didn’t prosper until the temperature fell. But as I write this on a beautiful cold morning, my plant is flowering bravely with its beautiful clear blue flowers, even though the temperature last night was 3°C! Which leads me on the topic of the garden in November. This was the month when my mother tackled her herbaceous borders, dividing up phloxes, golden rod, delphiniums and other perennial border plants.

To cover the brown earth between the plants to retain soil moisture, mulching with leaf mould was a must. Compost was spread in February so that the nutrients wouldn’t leach out of the soil with heavy winter rain. I have to confess we don’t make separate leaf mould from compost in our garden, so I use compost when ‘putting the garden to bed’ for the winter and again if there’s enough and more importantly, in the spring!

I like to make a mental note of how I would like the garden to be next spring and summer. But I should commit it to paper, particularly for the vegetable patch so that I can rotate bean, potato and brassica plants. This winter we will sadly be removing the pink spindle bush which is turning now to beautiful reds and purples. Unfortunately, it is too big and blocks out the view of the gnarled old apple Worcester Tydeman with its lovely red apples which ripen in August and 32

September. As the spindle makes suckers, I shall keep one of these side shoots and pot the others on to sell at next summer’s garden plant sales.

Getting out catalogues and using the iPad by the fire on winter evenings is a joy. This year I have ordered all my bulbs in good time and earlier I treated myself to a proper bulb planter. It’s really important to plant bulbs deeply, often easier said than done! If you want to plant say ten bulbs in a pot, try layering the planting which should result in the bulbs flowering over a longer period.

Think about ‘wilding up’ your garden; leave some of the lawn to grow into a meadow. There will be more next time about how to do this successfully.

Think about your garden and climate change too and how to lessen your carbon footprint. Less mowing is a must! There is a move to start a group in the village, who will take forward ways to combat climate change, to restore biodiversity and reduce our carbon footprint. There can’t be a better time to pull all the existing local talent and knowledge together on this issue. See the letter in this month’s Meldreth Matters (pages 5-6) about how we can achieve this.

Good gardening from Jim and me.

Julie Draper Juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk

33

Friendly, Professional, Expert

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

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

Reflections Hair Studio

The Most Thorough Clean or it’s Free!

Specialist in all aspects of Unisex Hairdressing.

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

Cutting * Colouring Techniques * Hair Extensions

Call today on 01223 863 632

We have a wide range of home hair care retail.

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

Gift vouchers and hair accessories available.

Huw Shortle

01763 260431

Pure Water Window Cleaning

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

07915 378397 info@huwclean.co.uk 34

Meldreth WI One hundred years ago some of the ladies in the village decided to meet up for a social gathering in the Congregational Chapel (right) and as one of the ladies had heard of the WI, she made enquiries. And so Meldreth WI was started and gradually the membership grew until at one time there were over 60 members.

The Congregational Chapel in

What a change in the village some of the High Street, 1965 the original members would now see!

Back then, there were plenty of fruit trees in Meldreth and during the war, the ladies put all the gathered fruit into jam to be given to the needy. Could this be why the WI is sometimes referred to as ‘Jam and Jerusalem’? Throughout the years the cry has gone up ‘we will ask the WI’ and the call was invariably answered.

Other changes have also been made. Diesel took over from steam engines, the by-pass was built to ease some of the heavy traffic going through the village, or has it? And shops opened and sadly closed.

The WI organisation on a whole, has also seen many changes. For many years we have held an AGM at places including the Albert Hall or Birmingham Arena where members from all over the country meet to discuss a resolution that is thought to be of national and international importance. Among the many resolutions that we have put to parliament are equal pay for women, the end of plastic soup, violence against women, more midwives, organ donation, save the honey bee and a very important one where a lot of ladies are present, more ladies’ toilets (did that happen?).

We should have been celebrating our 100th birthday this month, but thanks to COVID-19, we will now have to hold it over until March 2021. In view of a declining membership, we have decided to make this our final meeting, after which we will close down completely.

However, perhaps some of the younger ladies in the village would like to start up a new group; this would be very nice so watch this space.

Kathleen Thompson 35

Melbourn and District Photographic Club melbournphotoclub.com

With the year drawing to a close, we have a full and varied programme for the winter months including one lecture, five competitions and one club evening.

November’s programme is as follows: 3rd: Composition. Lecture by Peter North 10th: 2nd Open Projected Image Competition. Judge: Kirsty Ralfs 17th: Melbourn Trophy 1st Round vs Biggleswade (hosted by Melbourn) Judge: Andy Wilson 24th: Inter-Club Print Battle vs Ely vs Bottisham & Burwell (hosted by Melbourn) Judge: Alison Jenkins Meetings are usually held weekly from 7.30 - 9.30pm on Tuesdays in Foxton Village Hall from September to April. However, because of the COVID-19 situation, all meetings for the 2020-21 season will need be held virtually via Zoom until further notice.

The Unsuspecting Exhibit The Club has a diverse

by Richard Shaw membership, with a friendly and supportive atmosphere and always welcomes new members, whatever their ability and despite the COVID-19 restrictions.

For details about the Club, and to see some of our work, visit our website at melbournphotoclub.com. If you are interested in joining, we are happy for you to join up to two of our Zoom meetings free of charge before deciding.

To do this, just email me at melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com.

Peter North Secretary Melbourn & District Photographic Club 36

Moorlands Court

Local Community Services

 Homecare – our fully trained carers visit you in your home.  Si ng service – a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers me for themselves.  Day Centre – based at Moorlands Court, with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.  Meals service – nutri ous, hot lunch me meal delivered to you.  Housekeeping – we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping.

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

ROYSTON FENCING TEL 01763 261150 FENCING, GATES INCLUDING ELECTRIC MADE TO ORDER ALL TYPES OF FENCING AND GATES SHEDS AND GARDEN FURNITURE DECKING, PATIOS & PERGOLAS SLEEPERS, PAVING & NATURAL STONE WWW.ROYSTONFENCING.CO.UK KNEESWORTH RD. MELDRETH ROYSTON

37

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

EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY

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

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

iPLASTER

SKIMMING / PATCHING CEILING REPAIR WATER DAMAGE REPAIR ARTEX COVERED

01763 260 526 07837 645173

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

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

01767 676189 www.CambourneSelfStorage.co.uk

38

Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Meeting held on Thursday 1st October 2020 This meeting was held through a video/audio link, in accordance with revised procedures provided by the Coronavirus Act 2020. The main points of this meeting are set out below in the usual summary format.

The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website at www.meldreth-pc.org.uk and on the Parish Council notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Parish Council meeting.

Discussions and Decisions Village Tree Planting A resident attending the meeting suggested that the Council should collaborate with local residents to encourage a programme of tree and shrub planting, together with ecological measures to deal with waste.

It was noted that the Council has a tree warden but that there is no group within the Council with responsibility for trees. It was agreed that in today’s circumstances this subject should be handled by a group of Councillors working with local residents. This issue would be discussed between now and the next meeting and proposals would be brought forward.

District and County Councillors’ Report Attention was drawn to the launch of a top-up grant by Cambridgeshire County Council for the benefit of residents with the slowest internet speeds. This would augment the government funded top-up broadband vouchers for rural areas. Residents who would like to be considered for the scheme should contact the Cambridgeshire County Council Connecting Cambridgeshire team. The internet link is shown in the Councillors’ Report on pages 23-25 of this magazine.

It was stressed that the recent exercise for the submissions of Sites did not include any for which planning consent had been granted. The planners will review each of the numerous schemes submitted; this will take considerable time.

COVID-19 MCCS is standing by to assist in any resurgence of the COVID virus.

There are regular reports about the current activities of this important local support service.

39

The pavilion is now compliant with the necessary QR signs. The users of the pavilion – our local football clubs – are compliant with the requirements for using the toilet facilities there but the changing rooms and showers continue to be closed.

Pavilion Anti-Social Behaviour The Council now has the warning notices and these and the antivandal paint will now be applied to deter those wishing to climb up onto the roof of the pavilion.

Village Infrastructure Repairs to the bus shelters were agreed by the Council. Some further work needs to be carried out on some directional signposts and this will be taken forward.

It has been agreed that the commemorative VE day bench will be installed outside the Village Hall, facing the other commemorative bench on the other side of the road. An existing bench on the site will be repositioned on the Elin Way side of the Village Hall and the necessary permissions for doing this have now been obtained.

Recreation Ground Kickwall: this will be re-established at the recreation ground to replace the wall that had to be removed on safety grounds. The Council agreed that the new wall would combine a kickwall and climbing wall. A quotation has been obtained for this and the work will be undertaken as soon as possible.

Other equipment: it was noted that the witch’s hat will shortly be repaired. The old basketball post stumps will be removed as they represent a safety issue. The replacement of the slide matting is still to be resolved. A concrete block in the play area with a board games top is under active consideration.

Goal posts storage: the Football Club will continue to investigate possible locations for their storage. It was agreed that in the meantime, the nuisance caused by balls being kicked over residents’ fences needs to be addressed. The Council voted to require the football goals to be stored adjacent to the children’s play area fence on the other side of the pitch where they would cause no aggravation to residents. It was noted that in their present position there was no effective CCTV coverage.

40

Five a side: it was agreed to consider the placement of a single goal for youth activities somewhere on the ground as part of a plan for the recreation ground as a whole. In the meantime, the five a side goal nearer to the pavilion will be removed, leaving the far goal for use in the meantime. This will hopefully reduce the nuisance to local residents in Elin Way. Recreation Ground Plan A drawing has been produced to facilitate the planning of facilities for the recreation ground. A revised plan drawn to scale will be produced and this will help the Council to plan the location of additional recreation ground facilities. It was noted that the limited free space currently available would have an obvious impact on how funds granted under s106 could actually be invested in recreation ground facilities.

Traffic Working Group The remaining 30mph speed limit signs have been delivered and will be installed by village volunteers. Work continues, in liaison with the Police, with a proposal for a 20 mph speed limit in the High Street and notices restricting HGV transits through the High Street. The issue of overhanging footway foliage was discussed and all Councillors were asked to report cases of this to the Parish Clerk.

Drainage Some progress has been made on getting our drains cleared but there is still much to do and pressure on the local authority will be maintained. There are examples in the village of some drains never being cleared; everyone is to be encouraged to report such instances on the Highways website dealing with faults.

Archiving of Council Records This remains under review in order to maximise the use of digital storage and archiving in local centres.

Street Name for New Development to the Rear of 79 High Street The Local History Group has been invited to consider this and all Parish Councillors will also give this question their consideration before the next Council meeting..

Cemetery The Council now has an acceptable quotation for repairing the very uneven state of the hard surface inside the gate and this will be put in 41

hand. A further report on the fencing issues is awaited. The Council will consult with SCDC officers for advice about the management of graves and memorials.

Rates Relief Grant A grant of £10,000 has been received. There are no limits on how this money can be used and it will therefore form part of the general funding base of the Council. The Finance Working Group will give the Council its report on this issue.

Remembrance Sunday The Church has indicated that the usual remembrance commemorations are unlikely to take place because of COVID. [This has now been confirmed. See page 17.—Ed] The Council agreed to make its usual donation to the Royal British Legion for the purchase of a wreath that could be laid at the War Memorial when conditions permit.

Women’s Institute To commemorate 100 years of Meldreth WI, the present WI will donate a tree in commemoration. It was agreed that such a tree should be planted in a village location commensurate with that commemoration and the Council will consider this before the next meeting.

Next meeting: Thursday 5 November 2020.

Meldreth Parish Council

Hug in a Mug for HomeStart Give a “Hug in a Mug” for the price of a cuppa!

Text HOMESTARTHUG to 70085 to donate £3 Text HOMESTARTHUGS to 70085 to donate £3 per month

42

Meldreth Parish Council - Contact Details http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Royston SG8 6LT Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12.30-2.30pm By appointment at other times Parish Clerk: Mrs J Damant (01763) 269928 parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk Mr R Goddin (Chairman) (01763) 260061

goddin@btinternet.com

Mr R A Searles (Vice Ch)

(01763) 260435

robert.searles@btinternet.com

Mrs C J Fallon

(01763) 262822

joan.fallonpc@gmail.com

Mr N Garner

(01763) 268328

nickphgarner@gmail.com

Mrs P Gilmore

(01763) 263138

patgilmore.mpc@gmail.com

Dr R James

(01763) 261085

roger+pc@rogerjames.net

Mr C A Land

(01763) 261004

conradland@btinternet.com

Mr Nigel Pellatt

(01763) 262444

nppellatt@btconnect.com

Mr A Young

(01763) 263484

andrewmpc@gmail.com

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 ÂŁ7.50 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

43

Planning Matters Parish Council A Parish Council Planning meeting was held on 1st October but the minutes had not been made available at the time of going to press.

For further information, please check the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk, where the minutes will be published.

SCDC Decisions The following decisions have been made recently.

Reference and Address

Decision

20/01974/REM Former scrapyard, Chiswick End

Granted permission for: approval of matters reserved for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission S/3529/16/OL for the erection of 6 dwellings with associated access and car parking.

20/02313/REM Land south west of 31 Whitecroft Rd

Permission refused for: Approval of matters reserved for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission S/0971/18/OL for residential development (nine dwellings).

S/0256/20/VC Land Between Burtons And West Way

Granted permission for: Variation of conditions 2 (Approved Plans) 3 (Boundary Treatment) 4 (External Surfaces) 5 (Parking turning space) 6 (Cycle Parking) 7 (Surface water drainage) 10 (Hard and Soft Landscaping) 11 (Ecological Enhancement) 12 (Habitat Survey Report) 14 (Storage of refuse) and 17 (Traffic management plan) of planning permission S/2939/16/FL

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

The Meldreth Matters Team

44

Whaddon Road, Meldreth, SG8 5RL

Club Facili es

Entertainments

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

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

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

45

MELDRETH

Moorlands Court

LANDSCAPES

Over 60? Feeling a bit lonely?

Why not try our Day Centre?

Design & Layout Plans

 Meet up for a chat and lunch?  Our Day Centre is comfortable, friendly and easily accessed.  Open Tuesday to Friday every week.  Transport can be arranged.

Why not give us a call?

Hard Landscaping & Lighting Planting & Water Features Pergolas, Decking, etc

Tel: 01763 261463 www.meldrethlandscapes.co.uk

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

Kneesworth Rd., Meldreth, Royston, Herts

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

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

More details at www.yoga2.co.uk or email Chris and Shelagh: yoga2@btinternet.com 46

Car Key Burglary Warning Cambridgeshire Police have highlighted a recent series of car key burglaries, and are asking people to be alert to suspicious activity at addresses with high value vehicles such as BMWs, Audis, Volkswagens and Mercedes. Burglaries are being committed to obtain vehicle keys as improved security means that these vehicles are more difficult to steal without a key.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant during the day and look out for any unusual people or vehicles paying attention to the driveway of a house where a desirable car is usually parked, even if it is not there at the time, and similarly late at night when coming or going. Owners of high value, desirable cars are advised to take extra precautions:  Never leave vehicle keys in open view of your letterbox or ground

  

   

floor window where an offender could easily fish them out; consider installing a cage or security device to keep the letterbox secure.

Always lock windows and doors.

Fit a steering wheel lock or after market security device.

If the thief is persistent enough to break in, it’s best they take the keys and leave; the safety and protection of people should always come first.

If a secure garage to park the car in overnight is available, use it.

Set burglar alarms and any other security devices and consider a driveway alarm to give early warning of someone approaching.

Consider fitting a tracking device; if the car is stolen there is a greater chance of it being traced.

Be alert to who is around and where the car keys are.

Report suspicious activity or interest in these types of vehicles to police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Without putting yourself at risk, try to obtain a description of anyone you saw, and registration numbers of vehicles, which can be passed on to police to aid investigation.

You can contact Neighbourhood Watch by telephoning Graham on (01763) 260 358, or by emailing nhw.meldreth@btinternet.com.

Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch 47

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire www.hsrsc.org.uk Back in 2017, Nicola Hardy, an IT support manager from Sheffield, handed in her notice, sold her house, and set off with a backpack to explore the world. Calling herself Adventurer Nic (https://adventurernic.com/), she has climbed the 282 Munro mountains in Scotland, completed the Wainright Challenge (climbing all 24 of the peaks in the Peak District) and trekked up Killimanjaro. This year, she challenged herself to “walk home” from her birthplace in Sheffield to her house in Cockermouth, Cumbria. The 200 mile trip, which took place during the first two weeks of October, replaced her plans to hike the length of New Zealand.

Setting A Challenging Pace While we’re not suggesting should quit your job and go hiking for a year, maybe Adventurer Nic’s story might inspire to you to take on a challenge of your own.

Perhaps you’ve always fancied hiking the Pennine Way (270 miles from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland)? Maybe you’d like to take part in a fun run (we’re pretty sure that’s an oxymoron, but apparently some people enjoy them). Or would you consider a “30 Day challenge,” where you take on a particular activity every day for a month? Or you could give something up, like a favourite food or drink.

Taking on a personal challenge is a great way to get fit or learn a new skill or discipline, and it’s also a great way to raise money for good causes. In recent years, we’ve had seven supporters take on personal challenges for us, raising a fabulous £8490 in donations.

Take our Family Group volunteer, Angus, who recently challenged himself to take part in the Duxford Dash (a 5km run around the Imperial War Museum) to raise money for Home-Start. Angus tells us that, when he emailed all his friends about this, one of them emailed back to ask if his account had been hacked, as taking up running seemed very unlike Angus! We’re pleased to say that Angus completed his run and raised £1200 for us.

48

Where Do I Even Begin?

Working out what personal challenge you fancy doing can be a challenge in itself. Luckily there are also several great websites that give you ideas including Time Outdoors, www.timeoutdoors.com/ challenges/UK, which has a huge list of challenges to look at and consider, with everything from a 25K bike ride to skydiving.

The Easy Fundraising site, https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ challenges, has a whole range of activities that could be turned into fundraising challenges.

And shopping for your activity via EasyFundraising raises money for your good cause too. Now that’s what we call a win-win.

If you’d like to discuss taking on a personal challenge in aid of HomeStart, please get in touch via our website, www.hsrsc.org.uk or email admin@hsrsc.org.uk.

Cathy Coulthard Community and Events Development Manager Home-Start Royston, Buntinford & South Cambridgeshire Incorporated as Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire

49

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

Cycling Group Local History Group Lunch Club Melwood Cons. Group

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

Photographic Group

www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk

Revelation U3A WI

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

Sport

Bowls Club Croquet Club Meldreth United FC Table Tennis Tennis Club

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

Church

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

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

Baby & Toddler Group Hartbeeps Pre-School Primary School

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

Parish Council District Councillor District Council Offices

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

Councils & Govt.

Clubs & Societies

Facilities

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

Childn.

Village Directory

County Councillor County Council Offices MP

50

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

Rail User Group

07905 325574; www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk

Transport

Govia/Great Northern

www.thameslinkrailway.com

The Trainline Stagecoach Potholes, Highways problems, etc.

Streetlights (faulty)

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

Health

Melbourn Surgery Addenbrooke’s NHS

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

Childline

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

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

General Emergency Gas Electricity Anglian Water Cambridge Water

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

Crimestoppers

S Cambs Fire & Rescue

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

Melbourn Hub

(01763) 263303; www.melbournhub.com

Royston Museum

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

Taxi (Butler Meltax)

(01763) 244444; 212223

Misc.

NonEmerg.

Emergencies

Support Services

Station Ticket Office

Citizens Advice Bureau

Police

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

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

51

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.

Meldreth Motor Company .........Cover Meldreth Plant Hire .....................19 Moncraft Computers .......................6 Nancy Foster Footcare .....................38 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service37 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement .......7 P D Property Services .......................21 Penn Farm Physiotherapy .................10 Reflections Hair Studio ....................34 Richard Burns Electrician....................7 Rod’s PC Support ......................Cover Royston Fencing ..............................37 Sage Blinds and Interiors ....................2 Slimming World .........................Cover Sparky’s ...........................................22 Specialist Dental Partners .................34 Trademark Kitchens ....................Cover Tudor Access Scaffolding ..................10 Village Garden Services ......................7 Yoga2 Classes ...................................46 Z Web Hosting ................................10

AngliEAR Hearing ...........................45 Art of Clean .....................................34 Art of Clean Wood ...........................6 Aurora Meldreth Manor (Job) ..........10 Black Barn Turkeys .........................10 Cam Valley Orchards ........................7 Cambourne Self Storage ..................38 CHS Day Centre ..............................46 CHS Group .....................................37 The Country Store ...........................22 Ely Design Group ..............................7 Eternit Sports and Social Club .........45 Eve Construction ..............................2 Huw Shortle Window Cleaning .......34 iPlaster .............................................38 Lawn Partners .................................21 The Letting Centre ...........................22 Little Hands Nursery School ............22 Melbourn Flooring ...........................2 Melbourn Village College .................38 Meldreth Landscapes .......................46 52

Did you know Trademark also do….

Bedrooms - Boot Rooms - Boilers - Water Softeners - Hot Taps Worktop Changes - Plumbing - Appliance Plumbing Replacement of Vented and Non-Vented Heating Systems Landlord Gas Safety Certificates Cylinder Changes Our trademark is our exceptional ‘conception to completion’ quality of service. We can assist you in everything from inspiration & design management to project delivery & installation.

43 High Street, Royston SG8 9AW Call us on 01763 245000 / 01223 870440 Email: info@trademark-kitchens.co.uk www.trademark-kitchens.co.uk

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

Melbourn and Meldreth Walking Market Over fifty stalls in both villages selling a variety of products from home produce to bric-a-brac See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/375251896833357 or email lauranelson82@yahoo.com

Sunday 1st November 10.00am—3.00pm

Holy Trinity Church, Meldreth Churchyard Clear Up Saturday 7th November

TASKS

9 am - 12 noon or time to suit

Clear dead foliage and other garden waste

Meldreth PCC welcomes you to help - please come along with your garden tools.

Clear patio gullies

Please bring your own refreshments.

Churchwarden

General weeding Weed paths and patio areas Sweep and clear meeting room and nave roof gutters Cut down weeds around gravestones

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