VT152 Stitched PDF File-Turning Pages

Local Plan 2025

How might it effect you?

End of an Era

Shaw’s Coaches sold

Helpston & Etton Hall

A great opportunity ahead

Social Media

From the Editor

As the warmth of spring settles in, we’re reminded of the beauty and growth happening all around us. May brings with it a sense of renewal, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the stories that make our community so special. Let us focus on the vibrant energy that fills our villages as we head into the summer months.

From local festivals to fresh outdoor activities, May offers a perfect opportunity to get out, enjoy the sunshine, and explore all the wonderful things our area has to offer. We also have many local gardeners and green thumbs who are turning their backyards into lush oases — perfect inspiration for your own spring planting!

The month of May is important symbolically to many people around the world as a month of renewal, fertility and new growth and this is why many British communities have celebrated May Day for thousands of years and still celebrate it to this day. May 1st was the day when the Goddess Maia was worshipped

by the Greeks and Romans, and many think that it is from her that we get the name May. May Day celebrations include well known traditions such as dancing around the maypole, Morris dancing, gathering flowers and making garlands to wear. Parades featuring May Queens still take place in towns and villages in England each year at the

beginning of May.

So with the two bank holiday weekends this month and the summer months ahead enjoy your time in the great outdoors in our beautiful area.

Tony Henthorn

Many thanks to Frank Samet for his wonderful duck photograph on the front page.

Editor - Tony Henthorn

35 Maxey Road, Helpston PE6 7DP T:07842 805561 E: villagetribuneeditor@me.com

Advertising Sales - Harley T 07572141603 E: harley.villagetribune@gmail.com

Rector Gary Alderson, Rector of Barnack with Ufford, Bainton, Helpston and Wittering t: 07503 975 588 e: gary.aldersonwrites@gmail.com

Reverend Keir Dow, The Nine Bridges Benefice The Rectory, 11 Lincoln Road, Glinton PE6 7JR t: 01733 669 810 m: 07980 412 345 e: vicar@9bridges.church

Distribution

ASHTON Hilary Smith

Thatched Cottage, Ashton E: hilly.smith@virgin.net

BARNACK Sally Hullock

3 Hillside Close, Ufford sally@sallyhullocktraining.co.uk T: 07795 565658

ETTON Anne Curwen

The Coach House, Rectory Lane, Etton T: 01733 253357 E: acurwen@hotmail.com

GLINTON Simon & Sarah Clayton 15 Pembroke Grove, Glinton PE6 7LG T: 07939 586787 E: s.clayton@me.com

HELPSTON Clive Marsh

Clive Marsh, 34 Maxey Road, Helpston clive.marsh815@btinternet.com M: 07511 011662

MAXEY Cllr Peter Hiller E: Peter.Hiller@peterborough.gov.uk

NEWBOROUGH Cllr John Hill

Speechley Drove, Newborough

NORTHBOROUGH Polly Beasley 15 Claypole Drive, Northborough T: 01778 380849 E: polly.beasley@btinternet.com

PEAKIRK Trish Roberts 9 St Pegas Road

PILSGATE Sally Hullock

3 Hillside Close, Ufford sally@sallyhullocktraining.co.uk T: 07795 565658

SOUTHORPE Daphne Williams

The Old Dairy Barn, Main St. T: 01780 740511

UFFORD Sally Hullock

3 Hillside Close, Ufford sally@sallyhullocktraining.co.uk T: 07795 565658

The Advertiser warrants: (a) that the advertisement is legal, decent, honest and truthful and that it complies with the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion, with any relevant codes of practice and with all requirements of current legislation; (b) that nothing in the advertisement is defamatory or constitutes a malicious falsehood; (c) that the publication of the advertisement will not infringe copyright or any other rights vested in a third party; and (d) that the Advertiser has secured all necessary authorities and consents in respect of the use in the advertisement of any pictorial representations or other representations of (or purporting to be of) living persons and of references to any words attributed to living persons. (ii) The Advertiser will indemnify the The Village Tribune Ltd in respect of all costs, damages or other charges arising as a result of the publication of their advertisement or incurred in connection with any actions or claims brought against the Company arising from a breach by the Advertiser of the warranties in this paragraph 1 or otherwise from the publication of the advertisement.

The views expressed within this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor. All copy is believed correct at time of print but no responsibility can be taken for errors and/or omissions. No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. The Village Tribune own all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing.

Advertisers Warranty and Indemnity

A New Direction for Shaws

The recent news of our retirement not only prompted an outpour of well wishes from the local community but also sparked a lot of interest in investors wishing to see our legacy continue. Following a whirlwind of discussions and negotiations, we are delighted to announce that a take-over deal has been agreed with fellow industry operator, Reg’s Coaches, securing a strong future for Shaws Coaches with the backing of an established coach company.

Reg’s Coaches, based in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, was founded in 1962 and retains the supportive family feel that has been key to our own success. Joanna Bonnett, who has been in the travel trade for a number of years, took over Reg’s Coaches in 2023 and has since taken it from strength to strength with

fleet upgrades, a new booking system and the acquisition of significant local contracts. Joanna commented “I am delighted that the move has been strongly backed by current staff who have agreed to join us on this exciting new journey. For us, this presents the perfect opportunity to branch out into the holiday and day trip market whilst expanding on our already strong coach hire offering, alongside a team that have a wealth of experience and well-established connections. Shaws’ has a wonderful reputation locally and this is something that we plan to build upon.”.

Shaws Coaches will continue under the ownership of Reg’s Coaches Limited and our retirement will be celebrated on the 2 May as planned, but until then we will be working

closely with Joanna to achieve a smooth transition. Shaws will remain based in Maxey and continue to offer day trips and holidays departing from Peterborough, Bourne, Stamford, The Deepings and many villages between and beyond, and we will continue to support the local community with coach hire and school transport.

“Transferring our trading activities to an established and forward-thinking operator has achieved our primary objective of securing jobs for our loyal, hardworking team and continuity of service to our customers, many of whom have been travelling with us for several years. We believe that the new owners will be the same responsible and caring employers that we have always strived to be and that their approach to customer care will be just as much of a priority as it has always been to us.” Jane Duffelen, current owner.

We are confident that customers will receive the same high standards of service for which we are so well renowned, and that staff will continue to enjoy a secure and rewarding working environment. We wish Joanna all the very best as she embarks on this exciting road ahead, taking Shaws to the next generation of travellers whilst keeping our current client base close at heart.

PS. We’re already working hard on an exciting line up of summer Great Days Out and Door2Door Holidays which will be released very soon, keep an eye on our website and join our eNews to make sure you’re the first to hear about them.

Come we to the summer, to the summer we will come,

For the woods are full of bluebells and the hedges full of bloom….

(From Summer by John Clare)

Bluebells bring the promise of summer. How wonderful to be able to see them carpeting the woodland floor so close to home!

The Amblers spent a couple of hours on Good Friday wandering around the Helpston countryside, following in John Clare’s footsteps, on a bluebell hunt in Rice Wood on the south side of the village. The temperature was perfect for walking, and we paused frequently as we spotted

other delights.

A little like when approaching the coast we are alert to our first view of the sea, we were eagerly awaiting the cry, ‘I can see them!’

Scanning the woodland floor as we entered from Broadwheel Road we found the first spread on our left, contrasting with dandelions and bright yellow celandines with their cheerful faces open to the sun. They were a delightful sight and we

paused to admire them, noting just how widespread they were. Then someone saw some large, arrow-shaped, variegated leaves which were identified as Italian Arum, and around a tree base we found small white stitchwort with their split petals and yellow centre, accompanied by pale blue Ground Ivy flowers. Next, a clump of white comfrey with bright red buds caught our attention. Further along the track, more yellow celandine mixed in with the larger white wood anemones and dog mercury. Hoof prints in the mud showed evidence of deer passing through, and we noticed a small patch of purple violets nearby.

Emerging onto Heath Road, we turned right and walked beside

the road for a while. The bristly yellow blooms on the goat willow were beginning to seed and the pale green leaves were appearing. More dog mercury grew in the roadside verges alongside pale lemon primroses and more stitchwort. Eventually we arrived at the edge of another piece of woodland (possibly part of Oxey Wood) and further excitement ensued as we came across a glorious scene bathed in sunshine – bluebells glowed on the ground, and their delicate scent wafted on the breeze. Similar to a fresh laundry smell delicately tinged with fabric softener, it seemed to enhance the freshness of the spring air that day.

Having taken lots of photos, we carried on along the roadside,

watching butterflies fluttering above the verges – orange-tip, small whites and a peacock – until we reached a fingerpost, where we turned right and paused to admire a spruce fir tree laden with dangling cones. This track follows a hedgerow (to your left) and accesses broad, sweeping views to the north across arable fields. Suddenly a Red Kite appeared, closely followed by a second, and we watched as they circled overhead. A little further along we spotted a mass of shiny green leaves beside the track, with a bunch of tiny white flowers sprouting from the centre of each leaf. Identified as Miner’s Lettuce, or winter purslane, it was new to us. But we discovered that they are indeed edible and taste,

perhaps unsurprisingly, just like fresh lettuce! (It got its name because it was a source of vitamin C for miners in the California Gold Rush, who ate it to prevent scurvy.)

Passing a pond on our left followed by open fields, we reached King Street and turned right, walking around 100 yards until we came to a track on our right (which followed a hedge to our right) and headed back towards Rice Wood, visible in the distance. A left turn when we reached the wood took us back to Broadwheel Road, then right towards Heath Road, and left again to the beautiful, wisteriadraped Blue Bell pub for a cool, refreshing drink before heading home. We do love Spring!

MOT TESTING NB SANDERS

MOT TESTING NB SANDERS

*We

*We test all Class IV and Class VII vehicles

• Conservatory Blinds • INTU Blinds (no screws used) • Vision Blinds

• Vertical/Roller/Pleated/Roman Blinds • Venetian Blinds, Wood and Aluminium

• Black-out Blinds • Fly Screens, Domestic & Commercial • Awnings & Canopies

• Made to measure and Handmade Curtains • Curtain Tracks and Poles supplied and fitted

• Child Safety Devices available on all blinds

New Local Plan Event

Periodically, Peterborough City Council (PCC) review their Local Plan, the last version of which was adopted in July 2019. A new draft has been published, which is open for public consultation and comments until 29 May. This plan supports a ‘New Settlement’ of 1055 new houses next to Market Deeping bridge. There is an event for the public in Northborough Village Hall on 10 May at 11:00 where members of the Deeping Gate and Northborough Parish Council, and a member of PCC, will be there to answer questions.

Litter Picking

We are holding another event

Contributor: Deeping Gate Parish Council

on 27 April. We will be meeting at 13:30 by the pedestrian bridge where our team will equip you with bags, a grabber and the all important ‘high viz’ vest. Whilst PCC have ultimate responsibility for keeping the area litter free, they cannot be everywhere all the time. If nothing else, it’s an excuse to mooch about the hedgerows and get to slow down and explore the beautiful place where we live.

Fly Tipping Incidents

There have been two fly tipping incidents in the parish this year, both in a ditch in Suttons Lane. Councillor Richard Milligan has taped off the rubbish with special ‘Council Aware’ tape

VILLAGE VIEWS

and informed PCC who arrange clearance and any potential investigation. Please report any instances to us at the Parish Council, and we’ll ensure they’re dealt with correctly.

Tree Planting

420 new tree ‘whips’ of hazel, dogwood, silver birch, rowan, hawthorn and wild cherry have been planted around the parish, donated by Woodland Trust, to bring year round colour once matured. This not only improves our surroundings, but encourages insects and helps feed our birds.

Meet Your Council

Jane Hill has served on the Parish Council for 40 years, 20 of these as Chairman. Born Jane Eyre (!) she moved as a toddler to the Deepings where her father had an outfitters shop. Professionally, Jane was Practice Manager at both the health centre in Douglas Road, and later at the Practice at Godsey Lane. Jane treasures our rural environment and is keen to preserve our independent identity. In her spare time, Jane enjoys eating out and her beloved car collection. Jane loves people, and feels she has been rewarded as much as she has contributed over the years.

Keep In Touch

You can keep up to date with news items by signing up to our newsletter on our website at https://deepinggatepc.org/. We welcome parish members at our meetings, the details of which are published on the website and our noticeboards. Please communicate with us in any way!

Eum a voluptur sanis expel mint venis quia

Etton gears up for summer

On 12th March two volunteers from the East Anglian Air Ambulance provided some excellent CPR training to a willing group of residents.

Hosted by the Golden Pheasant in their Marquee we were able to get hands on experience of performing chest compressions and using a Defibrillator. We learned that the code to access the defib which is located on the side of the bus stop is issued by the emergency response operator when you call 999 or 112. Thanks to Elinor our Parish Clerk for organising this event.

You may have noticed that the new planters have been installed on the village green along with some bird boxes here and in the churchyard. The plants are ordered but we are waiting until after the frosts to get them installed!

Preparations are well underway for Etton’s Summer Season! The first event is the 80th Anniversary VE Day party on 5th May at 3pm

at the Golden Pheasant (in the paddock or marquee if wet). A WWll/Dad’s Army theme, with Ike and other wartime gear on display. A quiz, Community singing, Raffle, and Moment of Remembrance. The pub is serving wartime themed food and there will be Victory cake for all! All welcome.

The second event is the Etton church 800th anniversary celebrations 28th/29th June. On the 28th, a village BBQ, with a Medieval theme -tickets £10 to include some food, ale/mead/ wine! On Sunday 29th there will be a special celebratory birthday service at St Stephen’s at 10.30am. We are also seeking ideas and contributions from the village of items we might bury in a time-capsule to be opened in another 100 years.

A commemorative window is being considered for the church. Further details to follow.

On 9th August there is a Pheasant Fest Summer Fete at the Golden Pheasant. A charity Country Music themed fete with children’s games, food, music and local craft stalls.

Finally, the Nine Bridges Charity Beer Festival returns to the Golden Pheasant for the weekend of 26th, 27th, 28th September. If you are interested in sponsoring this event the cost this year is £75, if interested, please contact Kevin or Jackie Fordham, Martin Brooks or me. Proceeds to Little Miracles and Etton church. Save the date!

Please note that with effect from 1st May, our regular 10.30am Sunday service moves from the third Sunday to the second Sunday. Next service at the church after Easter Sunday is 11th May 2025. Happy Easter to all!

Anne Curwen 07730301404

Architectural Design Services

FOR ALL YOUR HOME DESIGN SOLUTIONS

CPRE Cambridgeshire and Peterborough recognises that our rural communities are facing a disproportionate impact from the wider economic crisis.

The Government has announced that future Winter Fuel Payments would only be made to those in England and Wales on low incomes who receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits,

• Small & Large Extensions

• Garage & Loft Conversions

• Planning & Building Regulation

Submissions including Listed Buildings

• New Builds

meaning millions of pensioners will no longer receive the payment designed to help with the cost of adequate heating.

Rural consumers often have to afford the high cost of oil,

• Internal Alterations

• Change of Use Applications

We’ve updated the Cost of Living support page on our website for those affected by the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment www.cprecambs.org.uk/cost-of-living-support.html This page details resources to help with the cost of living, such as financial support, energy saving advice and warm hubs.

Contact Jason Thomas: 01733 252 850 / 07841 521 271 or e-mail JasonADServices@yahoo.co.uk for your free consultation.

Winter Fuel Payment, the cost of living and rural communities

CPRE has joined the ‘Warm This Winter’ coalition calling for urgent action from the government. To add your voice, go to www.warmthiswinter.org.uk

we tend to use beef shin or braising (chuck)

The Annual John Clare Festival

July 11th & 12th 2025

Roll up, roll up, not for the fair but for something just as much fun because of the variety of events on offer, all in one place, Helpston, over two Summer days.

The celebrations start on Friday 11th July at St. Botolph’s Church when the children of the John Clare Primary School gather to bring their Midsummer Cushions and to receive prizes in the annual Poetry Competition. The whole school attends, together with parents, friends, grandparents, carers, neighbours – everyone is very welcome.

Timings will be publicised nearer to the event.

This is followed by Choral Evensong, again in the Church, organised by the Rector, Gary Alderson. This is from 6-7pm and is free to attend. Immediately afterwards there will be a Folk Evening, hosted by the John Clare Cottage. Musicians, singers and spectators - come to enjoy the live music, and there will be a bar and a raffle with lots of great prizes. If you can’t make the whole evening why not pop in for an hour?

Please come along to these

events; they are for local people as well as visitors.

On Saturday 12th July the Church will be open from 8.30 am for refreshments. The John Clare Society AGM is from 10-11am and after that there will be a whole day of activities, including walks and talks. Lunches and teas (no booking required but don’t leave it too late) will be available in the Village Hall 12 – 1.30 and 2.30 – 5pm. In the afternoon Richard Astle of the Langdyke Trust will give a talk in the Church, there will be 3 Open Gardens to visit, and stalls in Botolph’s Barn (ground floor) will have new and secondhand books for sale.

In the evening we are delighted to welcome Cut-a-Caper, a band from the Northampton area, who are going to entertain us in St. Botolph’s Church with songs and poetry, with words by and about John Clare. Starting at 6.30 and finishing at 8pm, tickets are £10 (or two for £18).

For an official Programme, to book tickets or for more information please call Ann Marshall 07815 640033 or Sue Holgate 01353 668438. Programmes (£2) will be available locally in June and July.

As the days grow longer and the sky bluer, we look forward to a season of coming together to both celebrate and support each other through challenging proposed development.

Peterborough Draft Local Plan

The consultation phase of the new Draft Local Plan is now open until the 29th May 2025. It details the increase in housing throughout Peterborough, but also specifically that which is to be imposed on rural areas. Helpston has been identified for 207 additional houses between now and 2044 (a 40% increase in the village size). In reality, these could be bult in the next 4 to 6 years with the associated impact on the village with Schools places, road congestion, level crossing, highways, sewerage and more.

Your parish council is working hard to understand the full picture and establish arguments around this level of development. A public meeting will have been held by the time this publication hits you – However there will be information being added to the Parish Council website and emailed updates if you sign up to the email list with the QR code below.

The Parish Council recognise that change is inevitable over the next 20 years, however, it needs to be strategically shaped by the wishes of the village – so please get involved!!

Parish Council to full capacity

We welcome Laura Currie and Gavin Radford as new Parish Councillors in the recent cooption election. We look forward to their valuable input going forwards. We also look forward to working with our soon to be elected Ward Councillor who we hope will robustly support our position on many fronts.

Upgrading our Communication.

The new Community Engagement Policy has kickstarted the upgrade of online communication in the village. All Councilors will have a new .gov. uk email address to ensure that Council business is kept formal and separate. The next step is to develop a new website that seeks to impart information quicker and more efficiently to the community. For this to reach as many villagers as possible, please subscribe to the email list by either emailing ‘Yes Please’ clerk@helpston-pc.gov.uk or filling in the simple form from this QR code.

VE Day Celebrations

The Parish Council are honored

to be facilitating the celebrations this year with some incredible volunteers, led by Laura one of our new Councillors. We encourage as many people as possible to take part in the picnic and celebrations on Monday 5th May at John Clare Cottage and the procession on the 8th. Look out for further details.

Community Action PlanActions

The village litter pick in March was a significant success with over 80 bags of litter collected and disposed of for free courtesy of Bourne Skip Hire. This has prompted requests to get the road signage cleaned in the village for which we have permission from City Highways to complete. We will be seeking to develop further initiatives over the coming weeks and months with respect to speeding in the village, fly tipping too along with another litter pick in September. If you wish to assist with any of these, please get in touch with our Chair or Clerk.

Your Parish Council works hard behind the scenes to represent the community as has been seen with the above actions and initiatives. Monthly meetings are open to all village residents and we welcome input so we can continue to keep Helpston the community we all wish to live in.

Litter Legends in Action

Huge thanks to this amazing group of people who came out to Litter Pick in Helpston village at the end of March

Over 80 bin bags of waste, the odd road sign, some timber and a Christmas tree were collected.

Hoping the team enjoyed their well-deserved pint at the pub afterwards – courtesy of Helpston Parish Council. Also thanks to Bourne Skiphire & Recycling for providing the skip free of charge.

Glinton Social Events

Warmer weather has returned and Glinton’s very own event team has lined up two spectacular events to make your summer really ZING!

GLINTONFAYRE 25 with WW2 Victory Commemoration, a free daytime extravaganza kicks things off on Saturday 28th June at the primary school.  Fun for all the family will include a range of live entertainment, stalls, games, displays,  bouncy castle, World War II military vehicles, fire

The Warm Welcome,

hosted in Glinton Village Hall, has been running since March 2023 and we are part of the Good Neighbours Rural Peterborough (GNRP) charity, who provide funding assistance for us to utilise the Village Hall and serve refreshments every week. The group is run by a team of volunteers, who give up their time to create a friendly welcoming environment, where people can meet on a weekly basis.

Originally intended to provide support during the cost of living crisis, it has evolved into a gathering where people can

engine, refreshments, classic cars and bikes, and the BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT.

GLINTONFEST 25, a fully ticketed music festival extravaganza, starts at 3pm on Saturday 6th September, and concludes at 11pm. Many superb music acts have been lined up along with stalls, licensed bar and children’s bouncy castle.  All previous events have been incredibly popular and sold out well in advance.  More information will be released closer to the time.

Village Hall

With a Viridor grant and contribution from Glinton Community Association under our belt work has begun on the multi stage upgrade project. We are hopeful that by the autumn all work will be complete and the hall can remain the go-to venue

meet for friendship, a chat and mutual support. We meet every Thursday, 10:00 - 12:00 and provide complimentary refreshments and great conversation. Last year we introduced a free book exchange, which has been popular, they are mainly fiction but include cooking books and other non-fiction, and don’t worry if you don’t have a book to exchange, we’ve plenty you can just take away and enjoy! Whilst we are open for two hours, you are welcome to come and go as you please, there’s no obligation to come for the whole time or even every week.  We have regular and occasional attendees, mums who drop in with children, grandparents who

for many more years. The project team are really sorry to all those whose normal bookings have been disrupted but it will be well worth it once complete.

Ashburn Community Play Park

It is finally open and what a superb area for the children of the village! A big thank you to Cllr Helen Aylesbury for never losing heart in her passion to reestablish a play park at Ashburn, especially as the project delivery has taken almost three years. Our chosen contractor, Kompan, deserves considerable praise for clearing the site and installing the play equipment without causing any disruption. The whole project was only made possible due to funding supplied by the Lotto Community Fund and the Parish Council. In the future there are plans to top coat the remaining

bring their grandchildren and a wide range of ages. There are 1015 regular attendees who enjoy the friendly atmosphere and we look forward to welcoming more attendees in the future, so come along see what we are all about…..

The volunteers who organise and run the Warm Welcome are part of GNRP, a communitybased charity that harnesses

Cllr Gerry Kirt - Glinton Parish Council

VILLAGE VIEWS

At long last glorious weather has arrived and as a result much is happening in Glinton.

tarmac and install additional fencing to improve safety.

Glinton Community Orchard

Our trees are beginning to sprout into life and primary school children have been helping with

the skills and goodwill of local volunteers to help vulnerable people (18 and over) in 15 rural parishes across Peterborough, where friends and family are unable to do so. The main services offered are Befriending, where volunteers visit clients in their own home to provide companionship and and a chat when needed; Transport –

spreading the bark chippings, adding labels and searching for wildlife. We are organising regular watering until the trees are fully established, and sorting out grass cutting within the orchard enclosure.

volunteers use their own cars to transport clients in and around Peterborough. These journeys involve taking clients to hospital or doctors’ appointments (where this service is not already available from their local GP practice), family visits, shopping expeditions, community centres, dentists, opticians, clinics etc.; Regular Shopping – volunteers provide help with shopping, relieve carers and collect prescriptions usually for those clients who are housebound; Practical Help – volunteers handle small jobs around the home and complete one-off gardening tasks; and Filling in forms and applications.

GNRP is funded, in part,

Glinton Village Sign

You may have noticed activity on the village green. A 2.2 tonne block of concrete has been cast to support the new village sign which should be in place by early May. If all goes according to plan we intend to officially unveil the sign on the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2 - 8th May prior to lighting the beacon.

Glinton Fun Run

Unfortunately, we have had to postpone the event until 2026. The amount of effort and time required to stage the fun run proved to be overwhelming and once this became apparent it was quickly realised there were insufficient resources to deliver a professional event. However, the team now know exactly what is required for next year and are fully prepared!

by the Parish Council, who contribute on a per head of population basis. New volunteers are always welcome, no matter how much or how little time you can contribute, it all helps those who need assistance. For more information about GNRP, the services they offer, how to bring a concern about a friend or neighbour to their attention or to become a volunteer, please contact Michele on 07765 552073 or help@goodneighboursrp.org

Finally, keep an eye out for our regular reminder and news of closures for the Village Hall refurbishment and elections, in the Village Tribune Facebook Group!

Simon Clayton

Henry Clark, Chairman

The Good News

Ellie Misson’s “duck” sign at the Glinton end of the village had deteriorated badly over the years, so the parish council decided to replace it. As it was beyond rescuing, we asked a local artist to create a new interpretation of the sign. This is now being printed and will be installed soon.

The Bad (?) News

The latest draft of the Local Plan has been published by Peterborough City Council.

The draft includes a 255 house development at the junction of Foxcovert Road and Peakirk Road, adjacent to Glinton. This was the subject of a planning application 24/00483/OUT by Gladman Developments over 12 months ago, which unusually, has been neither been withdrawn, permitted nor refused. The inclusion in the plan seems to say that this site has been approved for development. There is no evidence given or justification for its inclusion. The map in the draft is highly misleading as it fails to

show the existing Glinton village envelope (red) or the Peakirk/ Glinton parish boundary (green dots). Even worse, it misleadingly shows a village envelope extension (blue dashes) that includes the site, half of which is in Peakirk parish.

This could mean up to 125 new houses in our parish, an increase of about 70% over the existing number of dwellings. This is completely out of proportion to anything we have seen before.

Gemma Wildman from PCC says that the Glinton village envelope would be amended to include the new development. How would this work? Would we have to give part of our parish to Glinton? Who would get the community infrastructure levy and the council tax precept?

The proposed cite is against policies in the Peakirk and Glinton neighbourhood plans.

When Glinton is gridlocked at school times, potentially

hundreds of cars would come through Peakirk to avoid the congestion.

Neither Peakirk nor Glinton have the infrastructure to support the extra population. Peakirk cum Glinton and Arthur Mellows schools have no spare capacity. The surgery is already struggling. Public consultation is now underway until 29 May. Please make your views known to PCC, online at https://survey123.arcgis. com/share/ef38a53d642347eba 6dc0eeee1bfd 2b5 or on paper or email to https://cccandpcc.share point.com/:b:/s/PCCPlanning PolicyPublicData/EZcQpeuY57BL qrGzDAfBR5YBI78l4uFK8EPgjUW jfly8 Mg?e=EQ1Njd.

There is an opportunity for residents to hear more and make comments at the annual parish meeting at 7:30 PM on 12 May in the village hall.

The parish council has not yet considered the pros and cons of this development and will reach a decision at the meeting on 19 May.

Alexis Bennett – Deeping Gate Parish Council

YOUR views count!

There’s one key certainty in life, and

that is change.

ones most affecting ‘Tribland’:

There’s one key certainty in life, and that is change. Our beautiful rural area north of Peterborough has changed immensely over the last 100 years, and it will continue to change. We live close to the one of the fastest growing cities in England, and with this brings more jobs, more people, and the need for more housing.

Local Authorities and City Councils write ‘Local Plans’, which in the Government’s words, “provide a positive vision for the future of each area and a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities”. PCC last adopted a ‘Local Plan’ in July 2019. This plan ran to 2036 and stated a need for 19,440 additional houses during that timeframe. A new draft has been issued, which creates a vision for the city and its surrounding area until 2044. The new housing

target has been set at 22,130 – an average increase of around 1,107 per year.

This draft is now publicly available and is open for public consultation, meaning anyone resident or working in the area or affected by it in any way can comment back to PCC. This consultation is open until midnight Thursday 29 May 2025.

There are several developments which have raised eyebrows and will probably be controversial. To highlight the

Deeping Gate (LP53.7 on the map): ‘New Settlement’ of 1055 houses and associated mixed use development. It fills the agricultural land between the A15 and the B1524, up to the boundary with Market Deeping at the stone bridge in the town centre, and borders directly onto the parish boundary with Maxey, destroying the natural break between the parishes. This is outside the village envelope and would be a 500% increase on the existing 209 properties in the village. It is classified as a ‘New Settlement’ (like Hampton in south Peterborough for instance) which PCC claim means it is outside the policies which normally restrict rural development of this scale. It includes a proposed Primary School, but no provision for Secondary School places, Doctors or Leisure Facilities. Concerns are varied, but include changing the visual entrance to Market Deeping which is protected in their Neighbourhood Plan, stresses on local education and health services, and increased traffic to local roads, particularly the B1524, A15, Deeping St James Road, and routes through Glinton, given that the main employment space for residents will probably be Peterborough. The ‘New Settlement’ will be built on a flood plain, with concerns over flooding, the loss of existing agricultural land, and the damage of rare habitats supporting endangered species

of wildlife. Public meeting: Northborough & Deeping Gate Village Hall Saturday 10 May 11:00

Glinton (LP57.5 & LP57.6 on the map): 350 new properties proposed by Larkfleet and Gladman, which represents a 50% growth on the existing 700 dwellings. Glinton already suffers from seriously compromised infrastructure and services and major traffic congestion during peak times. Glinton’s own ‘Neighbourhood Plan’ supports an additional 42 dwellings, befitting a medium growth rural village, however the 24-home site recommended within this plan strangely has not been supported in the PCC ‘Local Plan’.

Helpston (LP57.7, LP57.8 & LP57.9 on the map): 207 new houses which is an additional 40% growth to the village, with a risk that they are all built in the next 5 years. This is on top of 40% growth over the past 25 years. Concerns are the overloading of schools, doctors, drainage and sewerage with no planned mitigation investment. The rail crossing opens for 12 minutes per hour during peak times, already causing traffic to queue back into the village centre. Additional housing in Helpston and the Deeping Gate settlement will worsen this dramatically.

Rosemary Morton of Willowbrook Farm commented; “I was dismayed to see that yet again, the City Council and Homes England are back again with new plans that will seriously

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ONLY INFLUENCE CHANGE IF YOU GET INVOLVED AND COMMENT. OTHERWISE, WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED WILL HAPPEN.

disrupt this countryside. Despite a decision in 2019, under pressure from the local campaign group Protect Rural Peterborough to remove Castor & Ailsworth Parish land from their plans, 5 years later and they’re proposing 3,000 homes on the fields south of our beloved Castor Hanglands. It’ll take hundreds of acres of agricultural land out of production and decimate wildlife including the ground nesting Skylarks that thrive there. With that many houses comes a whole new population of cats that will have a huge impact on the woodland wildlife, not to mention how a whole new infrastructure that will be needed to support that many houses would affect all the surrounding villages. All of this in the heart of the John Clare Countryside

Nature Recovery project that is just gathering pace. The readers of Tribland are a huge rural community and we should all look to protect our local countryside together. There is an online consultation form where you can have your say.

We encourage readers to familiarise themselves with the new ‘Local Plan’ draft. Your local Parish Councils are working hard to interpret and summarise what this means for your area, and how it may affect you. The important thing is to understand the proposals, and have the opportunity to support or challenge them.

Please feel free to direct questions to your local Parish Council, or Market Deeping Town Council, depending on where you live and work.

Spring village update

With the spring weather has come the promised expansion of the wildflower areas.

New sites on the recreation field have been stripped in preparation for planting of harvested seeds from the existing areas. The stripped sod is a natural resource so will be repurposed as bee and insect habitat until it eventually biodegrades over the next three to four years.

Residents may have noticed additional ‘Slow, hedgehogs’ signs appearing in the village as part of the save our hedgehog initiative. Villagers are also encouraged to register their hedgehog sightings at www. hedgehogstreet.org to help correlate a national survey into the animals’ current numbers and locations. The site also contains a library of information about hedgehog awareness. Information sheets are also displayed on the Parish Council notice boards explaining how to assist our prickly residents. An information workshop is planned for a future

date and will be advertised locally.

PECT offered a workshop to residents on Net Zero Barriers and Opportunities in March at the Village Hall, it was well attended, and information was provided on a range of energy saving ideas including details of the incentives currently available for the installation of heat pumps, presentations and interactive stations.

The major sewer failure in Church Street continues to keep the road closed with an updated completion date of 30th April 2025.

Northborough Parish Council will hold the Annual Parish Meeting on Saturday 10th May from 10am at Northborough & Deeping Gate Village Hall. The meeting will hear news and events from groups in the village together with ongoing issues affecting the community, including information and discussion about the upcoming local plan.

The Annual Parish Meeting will be followed by a meeting at 11.00am to discuss the proposals

in the Peterborough’s Draft Local Plan 2024-2044 that impact on Deeping Gate and Northborough.  Please come along and let your views be known.

NPC would like to welcome Calum Sloan who was co-opted onto the parish council at our April meeting. He has lived in the village all of his life and wanted to get more involved in his community. Callum is looking forward to helping to make the parish a better place to live for all residents and listening to residents’ concerns and ideas on how to improve Northborough. Council meetings are held in person at the Village Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend at 7.00pm on the second Wednesday of the month (excluding August). We also have one vacancy available for a potential parish councillor wishing to join our proactive team and make a real difference. We also welcome any volunteers to help with ongoing projects and activities. The Parish Council website or village notice board will advise the date of our next meetings.

Cllr Tracy Thomas - Northborough PC

Glinton Horticultural Society

Your friendly gardening Club

As I write this the sun continues to shine and the trees in the garden are in blossom, the daffodils have gone over and we do need some rain after an extremely dry March and April so far.

On the 11th April an interesting talk on Garden Wildlife was given by Jeremy Eyeons with some excellent photographs of birds, butterflies and even a garden snail. This was the last talk until October and details of the talks to come will be published on the GHS and the tribune websites later in the year.

The next event is the PLANT SALE in the VILLAGE HALL on Sat. 3rd MAY 10am to 12 noon. Come early to avoid disappointment – Cash payments please. Hopefully the weather will be fine and dry so those queuing outside will not get wet. Donations of plants to sell are always gratefully received as is help both setting up on the Friday afternoon and selling on the day. If you are able to help please contact our secretary

Penelope on 01780 767309 or just turn up on the day. You will be warmly welcomed.

All the profits from the talks and the plant sale go towards the cost of staging the Annual Show in Arthur Mellows Village College. This year the Show will be our 80th held on Saturday 20th Sept. The show schedules have been sent out to all those on our mailing list. If you have not received one it can be viewed on our web site, or if you would like a copy please contact Lynne Best – 01778 342115 lynne.best89@ yahoo.co.uk We are hoping to make this another great show so why not get yourself a schedule and look to enter something in September. There are classes for showing vegetables, fruit, flowers floral art, preserves, baking, photography, handicraft and various ones for children, so there is still plenty of time to plant, take a picture or prepare an entry for the show.

The trip this year is on the 2nd August to RHS Wisley. There are still a few tickets left so if you are

Rod’s Retirement

After over 50 years on the Peakirk Village Hall committee, most of those as treasurer, Rod Gaul has decided to file his quill and Quink under ‘no longer required’. Over the years, since the hall was opened in 1974, he has seen it benefit from new windows, a new roof, refurbished kitchen and toilets and latterly some new chairs, which is on top of applying his double entry bookkeeping magic to the day-to-day financial affairs of the hall. And when it came to lending some muscle for activities like the village fete and bonfire night, Rod has always been at the front. Peakirk residents and all those others that have used the hall will appreciated Rod’s exemplary voluntary commitment. As a token of our thanks, we held a small party in the Ruddy Duck and made a presentation to Rod and his wife Penny, on the left of the photo.

interested in going please contact Sue Theobalds on 07808177977.

Details of the society’s activities are on the web site –www.glintonhorticulturalsociety. org.uk

Written by: Cllr Lynne Yarham

Prepared, Protected, and Informed

On 18th March Maxey Parish Council hosted a second, very successful CPR and Defibrillator training session led by East Anglia Air Ambulance. Over 20 people attended from the village and from a neighbouring village. This was a highly informative session and left people feeling that they would know how they would need to deal with a cardiac arrest if they should ever have to. Our grateful thanks to EAAA for running the session.

If anyone else in the village would like to do this training in the future then please notify

the clerk. Even if you feel that you, personally, would not be able to deliver necessary actions, attending the course would enable you to direct someone else at the scene.

Maxey has, for many years, had a defibrillator on the wall of the village hall and this month MPC has purchased and installed a new cabinet for the defibrillator to replace the previous one which developed a faulty lock. The new cabinet is illuminated at night to make use easier.

Two new waste bins have been purchased and installed on the

Summer Tea

Upcoming events:

n 5th May - Make Maxey Marvellous. Come and help us clean up the village, plant flower boxes and clean up the playground starting at 9.30am. n 5th May - VE day coffee morning 10.30am – 12.00pm. Tea, coffee and homemade cakes.

n 4th June - Summer

Afternoon Tea 2.30pm.

village field. These are for both general waste and dog waste bags.

The hedge laying on the field has now been completed and already looks very attractive. As the summer progresses it will look even better and encourage more wildlife to make their home in it.

In general, Maxey is a very low crime village and so MPC, together with other villagers, were very shocked to hear about a serious house burglary where access was gained via the village field. MPC has installed gates and posts to try to prevent such forced entry, but this event shows that it is difficult to prevent the most serious offenders. We encourage all villagers to be extra vigilant about their homes and possessions. Soon we will publish some basic advice on security but, please, as a basic measure, ensure that all property and cars are securely locked and that valuable possessions are not visible through open windows etc. Installing camera doorbells and security lights might be worth considering also. Let’s make it as difficult as possible for these criminals to operate.

Being a Parish Councillor.…..

By Cllr Richard Cawley

As you can see from the title, this short article is about being a parish councillor. I joined the parish council a few years ago and can say it was a steep learning curve…. I am still learning but do like a new challenge! It keeps the mind sharp, and you can also see the other side of the coin when healthy debates take place!

Following on from the effectiveness of the Parish Council’s previous Chairman (Bryan Cole), current Chairman Mark Ormston and our Clerk Irene Healiss with hands on the tiller, we have become an affective body of people on the Parish Council.

There are often grumblings around the village about the

Parish Council - some may be justified but a lot are not. 75% of Newborough and Borough Fen’s councillors have full time jobs, and we have a good range of skill sets on offer.

There is a public participation forum at the start of the monthly meetings - if residents wish to raise issues or have questions for the Parish or City Councillors please come along and air your concerns... All are welcome!

One of my responsibilities with Vicki Colman is looking after the Fernie Close play area to ensure it is in good order, but saying that if you see any issues yourself then please contact myself, Vicki Colman or the clerk. We have installed signage at the play area

about no dogs being allowed in the park, this was due to complaint about dog fouling. Grass cutting, this has been an ongoing issue, but our clerk with other members of the parish councillors have worked hard to sort out this issue having onsite meeting with our current contractors.

We are considering allocating sites as part of the Neighbourhood Plan. These could be significant developments.

are asking the community to attend this meeting to seek your views on this.

Newborough Fire Brigade History

Part 2 by Paul Cooper

Following last edition’s article on the Newborough Fire Brigade, this piece looks at some of the major fires the brigade responded to. Many thanks to John Rowell and John Wright for information about the old fire engine, which was purchased by Arthur Law and stored in a barn at Matt and Fred Adams’ farm (formerly the Royal Oak pub). Sadly, the engine eventually deteriorated and was broken up. John Rowell still owns one of the brigade’s original fire buckets and shared a photo of it.

The first known use of the parish fire pump appears in the Peterborough Standard of August 1837:

“On Saturday last (July 27th), a fire broke out in the farmyard of Mr John Seargeant at Newborough… caused by chimney sparks landing on a thatched roof. A stable, harness, wood and hay were destroyed. The excellent parish engine by Tilley & Co, Blackfriars Road,

London, aided efforts by local residents who acted with great spirit.”

15 September 1914: Perhaps the most devastating fire the brigade faced occurred at Bungalow Farm, Milking Nook. The farm, owned by Mr F. Grocock and tenanted by Mr J. W. Whitfield, had nine ricks of wheat, oats, barley and peas ready for threshing. A fire broke out near the engine at 9:45am and quickly engulfed the entire yard. High winds spread the blaze rapidly.

Mr Barnett, whose threshing equipment was on site, managed to save his engine but lost his drum and elevator. Despite the quick arrival of the Newborough Fire Brigade, a barn and several pigsties were destroyed.

In December 1939, the same paper reported a call by the Rural District Council under the Fire Brigades Act 1938 for local volunteers aged 25–50 to join new village brigades, including Newborough’s.

Notable fires attended include: 10 October 1907: A large haystack caught fire at Mr Arthur Vergette’s property in Borough Fen. The Newborough Fire Brigade, led by Mr Robert Jesson, responded swiftly. With good water access, the fire was brought under control after several hours (Peterborough Express, 16 Oct 1907).

1 November 1924: A straw stack owned by James Whitsed of Werrington Bridge Road was deliberately set alight by Edward Burks of Borough Fen.

Heroic efforts saved many pigs, but at least one calf, 30 pigs and 80 poultry were lost.

The Glinton Fire Brigade joined with their 1817 pump, followed by a volunteer brigade with two motorised pumps. Despite thousands of gallons of water, only part of the barn was saved.

Those who served that day included Captain W. R. Jesson, Engineer W. A. Saywell, and pump crew: John Lane, R. Hopkins, A. Harris, G. Lilley, John Wilson, F. Godfrey, and others. Local labourers who assisted included E. Harris, J. Barlow, A. Fisher, H. Perrin, and W. Pinion.

More accounts of fires in Newborough Parish will appear in the next edition.

•

•

•

•

THE

Quality Seasoned 5-7

Year Old Barn Stored Hardwood.

Ash, Oak, Elm Sycamore, Chestnut, Lime, Cedar, Yew and an assortment of fruit woods. Mobile:

Cheers to Beer @ The Priory

6th to 8th June 2025

Preparations are in full swing for this summer’s Beer @ The Priory festival – and this year’s plans are bigger and better than ever!

Set in the beautiful grounds of The Priory in Deeping St James, the 2025 event will take place from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June and promises a fantastic mix of ale, cider, good food, music and family fun.

This year’s headline stats are impressive: 30 real ales, over 20 traditional ciders courtesy of the Thirsty Giraffe’s Infamous Cider Wall, plus a tempting selection of wines, Pimms, fizz, gins, and soft drinks (perhaps even tea and coffee!).

Food will be available

throughout the weekend, and while entertainment is still being finalised, there will be performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

As always, the festival is notfor-profit and supports local causes. This year, proceeds will be shared between Dementia UK, Priory Church, and Deep in Kindness.

Organisers are particularly keen to make Sunday a true family day, with activities for children.

Sponsorship and support remain vital to the festival’s success. Last year saw a wave of generosity from local businesses, individuals, and even a couple of helpful cats! If you or your organisation

Festival Opening Times:

Friday 6th June: Sponsors & guests from 2pm Public from 6pm–10pm

Saturday 7th June: 12pm–10pm

Sunday 8th June:  12pm–6pm (or until the beer runs out!)

would like to sponsor, go to www.priorybeerfest.site

So, save the dates and get ready to raise a glass (or two) at one of the friendliest festivals around.

Whether you’re an ale aficionado, cider seeker, gin lover or just want to enjoy great company in beautiful surroundings, Beer @ The Priory 2025 promises something for everyone.

FARMING Rosemary’s DIARY

Spring 2025

It’s hard to believe it’s five years since I was writing about Covid in this diary. Back then, the country was emerging from its first lockdown, the countryside was full of visitors seeking fresh air and nature, and our farm shop was a hive of activity while many were still confined to their homes. Our brilliant team worked tirelessly to keep the shop stocked and to deliver essentials to the isolated. Thankfully, Covid is now much more manageable, and life has moved on—but one thing that hasn’t changed is Mother Nature, who continues to keep us on our toes.

This morning, I heard the first cuckoo call of the year—always a joyful sign that spring has truly arrived. Sugar beet sowing began on 26th March and was completed by 4th April. After one of the driest springs I can remember, I’m relieved that some much-needed rain has finally arrived. Combined with recent warm weather, the rain should give our newly sown crops a great start. We’ll soon begin applying protective sprays and fertilisers to keep them healthy, disease-free, and well-fed.

Potato planting is underway and our grass management programme began a few weeks ago. We’re harrowing and aerating the ground to ensure good grazing for the cattle and to secure the best possible silage crop for winter. Once the fields are rested and settled,

we hope to turn the cattle out in the coming weeks—weather permitting, of course.

The garden is alive with spring colour—tulips and bulbs in bloom, birds hatching their young, and songbirds filling the mornings with music.

I haven’t yet spotted our resident cock pheasant, but I’m sure he’ll be back soon.

In the wider countryside, the rapeseed is starting to blaze yellow across the fields and bluebells are carpeting the roadsides and woodlands in vibrant colour. It’s a reminder of how lucky we are to live here—though sadly, this beauty is under threat once again.

Despite a 2019 decision to remove Castor & Ailsworth Parish from development plans, Homes England has returned with proposals for 3,000 houses on farmland south of Castor Hanglands. This would mean losing hundreds of acres of productive farmland and damaging vital wildlife habitats, including those of the ground-nesting skylarks.

As part of the John Clare Countryside Nature Recovery project area, we must protect what we can. Please complete the online consultation and speak to your Parish Council. And in the meantime—enjoy the spring sunshine!

Spring Sunshine and Friendship in Full Bloom at Glinton Club

As the sunshine finally arrives just in time for Easter, the Glinton Friendship Club is bursting into life—just like the flowers and blossom around us!

We’re delighted to say our regular membership continues to grow, and we’ve also welcomed some new helpers (though there’s always room for more!). Our club is thriving thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of all involved.

A special congratulations goes to our wonderful catering team, who have been awarded the highest possible hygiene rating—5 stars—by the Food Standards Agency. Their hard work and commitment ensure that our refreshments are always served to the highest standards.

Amidst the joy, we also share some sad news. In February, we lost Hilda, a much-loved and longstanding member of our club. She will be deeply missed by us all.

Our programme over recent weeks has been full of variety and fun. We’ve enjoyed quizzes themed around Wales and Scotland, got creative by decorating hearts for Valentine’s Day, and held a fantastic auction that raised over £100 for club funds.

One particularly memorable event was a fascinating talk by SERV—the volunteer bikers who deliver emergency blood and medical supplies across the country. We even got to see one of their impressive super-

Helpston Speedwatch Team: Raising Awareness, One Session at a Time

Since launching in January 2018, Helpston’s Community Speedwatch team has carried out an impressive 218 sessions, placing us well above the average for teams in our area. During that time, we’ve recorded 1,759 vehicles exceeding the speed limit, with many clocked at 46–51mph in our 30mph zone.

To help remind motorists of the village speed limits, Helpston Parish Council and Helcats have funded new awareness materials, including:

n A speed warning sign on a pole in the village

n Bin stickers placed at intervals along main roads, providing regular visual cues to passing drivers

A Friendly Team Making a Real Difference

We’re always looking for new volunteers to join our friendly Speedwatch team. We have our own portable equipment, and sessions can be as short as half an hour. Whether you’re keen to raise awareness, enjoy a bit of sunshine, spot a few birds, or catch up on the latest village gossip — you’ll be in good

bikes up close!

Looking ahead, we’re excited for our upcoming Easter Bonnet competition, and even more thrilled about improvements underway at the Village Hall, which will benefit all who use it.

If you’re interested in joining us—whether as a member or a volunteer—you’ll find us at the Village Hall on Mondays. Come and say hello!

– Pam

company. If you’re interested in joining the team, please get in touch to discuss the full application and training process by emailing: csw.helpston@yahoo.com

Why It Matters

Speeding continues to be one of the most common causes of injuries and fatalities on UK roads. In Helpston, our legal speed limits are 20mph and 30mph. Please remember — the limit is not a target.

n If a vehicle hits a child at 40mph, there’s an 80% chance the child will die

n At 30mph, there’s an 80% chance the child will survive

We urge all residents and visitors to slow down and keep our village safe.

A Landmark Opportunity: Helpston and Etton Set to Create New Village Hub

The Helpston and Etton Village Hall Trust CIO is thrilled to announce that we have been offered the option to purchase 4.85 acres of land on Heath Road, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both villages.

This transformative project aims to enrich the lives of residents by creating a new village hall, a vibrant community garden, and an enhanced space for nature. This initiative is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a communal space that

will benefit generations to come. Huge thanks to the Wordsworth/ Quincey family for enabling this opportunity.

What Happens Next?

The Helpston and Etton Village Hall Trust will now move ahead to complete all of the required due diligence normally associated with such a transaction and are committed to making this vision a reality, but we cannot do it alone. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be holding

public meetings, planning sessions, and fundraising events to gather input and build momentum for the project. We invite all residents to take part in shaping the future of our community. Your support, whether big or small, will make a tremendous difference. Together, we can create a space that enhances village life, promotes well-being, and ensures a legacy for future generations.

Silent Auction 2025

To help raise funds for the new village hall, we have launched our third Silent Auction as part of the Helpstonbury celebrations. There are dozens of fantastic lots to bid for – just head across to the village hall website for more details

If you would like to get involved or learn more about the background to this village hall project and the journey so far, please visit our website: https:// helpstonvillagehall.co.uk  or contact us via email at helpstonvillagehall@gmail.com Let’s work together to build something truly special for Helpston and Etton!

Arthur Mellows Village College

As another busy term draws to a close we look back at the numerous achievements and experiences that have enriched life at Arthur Mellows.

Our extensive enrichment programme of curricular and extra-curricular events received the royal seal of approval as Mr Gilligan and Mrs Ward, along with some of our students, had the honour of lunching with the Duke of Edinburgh in recognition of the long relationship the College has with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The Duke has been invited to pop in for a cup of tea next time he is passing!

Other students have enjoyed trips to Wales for A Level Geography fieldwork, a Film Studies trip to Pinewood Studios and a trip to Wembley to watch England play Latvia. The ongoing Combined Cadet Force camps have pushed our students to new heights of personal development and teamwork.

Our sporting calendar has been full of various fixtures showcasing the talent of our students. Several students have also achieved success individually and in teams in their own pursuits outside of school, something which we are also incredibly proud of. We have also had

lots of engagement with local Primary schools, many within ‘Tribland’ through our Soke Sports events which are always enjoyed by the visiting students.

Our production of ‘Blood Brothers’ was a roaring success, playing to large audiences over three nights in February. We have received a huge amount of positive feedback from attendees praising the level of talent of our performers and standards of production.

Raising money for Charity is

always a focus within College and this term we managed to raise over £800 for Comic Relief by participating in ‘Walk Britain’. Mr Gilligan continues to fundraise for Sue Ryder as he prepares to run the London Marathon. At the time of writing he has raised over £7400. (If you would like to donate please use the QR code below)

This is all alongside our usual business of preparing for GCSEs, A Levels and vocational qualifications; we have had a half-term full of mock exams and extra revision sessions throughout the week and at weekends and during the holidays all in preparation for the ‘real exams’ which will start in May. We thank and reward our students for making a positive difference both inside and outside College by awarding Head’s Commendations to them every Friday. These are publicised on our social media accounts and are testament to their hard work and dedication. Should you know of any special achievements or good deeds please let us know so we can celebrate that too!

As we close for Easter, I want to express my gratitude to our entire school communitystudents, parents, and staff - for your continued support and engagement. Working together we help our young people thrive.

John Gilligan Head of

College

Our passion lies in crafting delightful canapés, elegant dinners and sumptuous buffets, alongside planning and coordinating stunning weddings, business events and intimate celebrations. We take pride in selecting premium ingredients, focusing on seasonal produce and supporting local suppliers whenever possible.

Jeeves brings a bespoke approach to every event, from company launches to weddings, birthday parties, christenings, cocktail soirées, barbecues, classic afternoon teas or picnics. Browse our complete menu selection on our website.

What the Normans Did for Us

The Norman Conquest of 1066 conjures up images of mighty fortresses, lofty cathedrals, ruthless lords of the manor and chain mail clad soldiers enforcing law and order.

by Dr Avril Lumley Prior

Of course, much of this is true. When the cudgel-wielding military monk, Abbot Turold de Fécamp, marched into Peterborough to take over its monastery in 1069, he brought with him a retinue of 64 knights. All were given estates in the Peterborough area or Lincolnshire in exchange for military service.

Fortress England

Abbot Turold immediately erected a motte-and-bailey castle within the abbey precincts as a watch tower and rallying point for his troops to show local freedom fighter, Hereward, and

his Danish allies that he meant business. There were probably similar structures on Torpel Manor Field and on the sites of Maxey and Northborough Castles. But these were only temporary, prefabricated timber arrangements, which were soon replaced by manor houses, occupied by Turold’s knights and their families.

Whilst Abbot Turold (106998) was preoccupied with quelling any hints of rebellion, retrieving lost relics from Ramsey Abbey (where they had been taken for safe keeping) and hiving off profits from monastic lands, some of his successors concentrated upon worthier projects. Ernulf (110714) provided his monks with a new dormitory, refectory, chapter house and all-important ‘necessaria’ [loos]. John de Séez (1114-25) was obliged to replace the pre-Conquest abbey church after the suspicious ‘Nine Days Fire’ of 1116, whilst Martin de Bec (1133-55) realigned the town with a market at the abbey gates (now Cathedral Square).

The Great Norman Rebuilding?

Out in the countryside, the socalled ‘Great Norman Rebuilding’ of Anglo-Saxon churches was soon underway. Or was it?

St Kyneburgha’s, Castor (from the Castor Tapestry, 2024)

We are led to believe that, like our cathedrals, most of the pre-Conquest churches were demolished and reconstructed from scratch in the ‘Romanesque’ style (a revival of the classical Roman architecture). This may well have been the case in areas where timber and wattle-anddaub churches were the norm. However, in Tribland, with its proximity to Barnack quarries, churches had already been built in stone long before the Normans arrived on our shores.

St John the Baptist’s late tenth-century tower, at Barnack, has carvings from an even earlier edifice embedded in its walls. Whilst the old stone nave and chancel were demolished and replaced with slenderer walls, the original footprint was maintained. St Pega’s at Peakirk has a charter and several early-eleventhcentury architectural features to testify that it existed before 1016. And when St Botolph’s AngloSaxon tower at Helpston was rebuilt in 1865, contemporary foundations with long-and-short quoins were revealed. In Tribland and elsewhere, stone churches

were often given a make-over rather than a complete rebuild.

To see genuine early-twelfthcentury Norman church architecture, you must look at the blind arcading on the towers at Maxey and Castor. And at Peakirk, you will find an intricately carved south doorway with a tripartite tympanum (representing the Holy Trinity, in whose honour the church was once dedicated), originally inserted into the AngloSaxon nave. Peakirk’s former chapel-of-ease at Glinton, has a perfectly matching font, which undoubtedly was the work of the same stone carver.

Although Glinton is cited in Domesday Book, in 1086, as an administrative centre, there is no reference to a place of worship until Eugenius III’s papal bull of 1146, which confirms Peakirk church and its dependent chapels to Peterborough. Yet, St Benedict’s appears to be a high-status building with lofty proportions and slender walls, suggesting that, although much altered over the centuries, it actually was part of the ‘Great Norman Rebuilding’.

Conversely, it seems to have been a widespread practice for Norman sponsors (often using indigenous stone masons) to construct aisles, then pierce the sturdy Anglo-Saxon nave walls with arcades of semicircular arches. Usually, as at Bainton and Peakirk, they extended northwards first, encroaching on the unconsecrated side of the graveyard where heretics, felons and, sometimes, paupers were buried. At Peakirk, the elaborate doorway was deemed too good to waste, so it was clumsily transplanted when the south aisle was built c.1250. At Castor, the south aisle came first and was consecrated (according to the date stone above the priests’ door in the chancel) on 17 April 1124, though I suspect that work began during Abbot Ernulf’s rule.

Of course, arches spring from capitals and, again, this presented another opportunity for sculptors to demonstrate their skills. Below Castor’s tower, there is some interesting Scandinavian-style beaded interlace, intertwined with flora and fauna, mythical beasts, masks and two men fighting over a woman (Kyneburgha?), who is retreating

from the fray. (Remember the Normans or ‘Northmen’ had Scandinavian roots!). At St Michael and All Angels, Sutton, a chapel-of-ease to Castor, there are similar designs and, at the base of the pillars, what are known as ‘elephant’s feet’ carvings. And there are more at Maxey, indicating that the abbot of Peterborough and/ or his lords of the manor were commissioning the same craftsmen.

Finally, three Norman sculptures survive, all crafted from Barnack-type freestone. Part of a weather-beaten twelfthcentury grave marker, carved on both faces, sits in a recess made by the blocked priests’ door in the chancel at Helpston. The

Glinton font

St Peter’s, Maxey

Peakirk doorway with tripartite tympanum

St. Kyneburgha’s, Castor

others, at Castor and Barnack, represent the same theme, ‘Christ-in-Majesty’, with his right hand raised in the act of blessing. The Castor example is thought to be one of the earliest in Britain, carved shortly after the Conquest and edged with knotwork reminiscent of the Anglo-Saxon tradition. The Barnack version is only slightly later and still bears traces of medieval paint.

So, what did the Normans actually do for us artistically and architecturally? Well, their castles and cathedrals certainly had a massive impact on a landscape where the vast majority of

dwellings were built from timber, wattle and daub. Still, to demolish and completely rebuild a stone parish church was a futile exercise unless it was in an advanced state of decay. It was a far cheaper to extend and embellish an existing building. Remember, Norman overlords intended to exploit rather than invest. The Victorians ruined far more of our ancient churches than William the Conqueror’s henchmen ever did!

Above all, we should not underrate our ‘indigenous’ architecture. According to Bede, the Anglo-Saxons had been creating churches in ‘the Roman

‘Christ-in-Majesty’,

Below: ‘Christ-inMajesty’, Barnack

style’ since Benedict Biscop and St Wilfrid imported stone masons from Gaul to erect their state-of-the-art monastic churches at Wearmouth and Jarrow, Hexham and Ripon, from 674 onwards. Besides, St Lawrence’s church at Bradfordon-Avon, Wiltshire (built 1001), displays blind arcading reminiscent of that on Maxey’s Norman tower. In short, Romanesque architecture was brought to England by the Romans and reinstated almost four centuries before 1066. The Normans did not introduce Romanesque designs to England; they just reproduced and enhanced them on a grander scale. When it comes to fashion, there is nothing new under the sun!

Castor capitals

‘Elephant’s feet’ design, Castor

Fragment of grave-marker, Helpston

Re-sited

Castor

Sutton capitals

St Lawrence’s church, Bradford-on-Avon

• All aspects of tree work undertaken. • Specialist in sectionally felling trees in restricted areas.

• Site clearance and stump grinding service available. • Full Liability Insurance.

Helpston Local History Group

About 1960, pupils at Helpston’s old school welcome a speaker from Malaysia.

Schooldays in Helpston Display – 17th May

Our latest community research project, Schooldays in Helpston, will be displayed in the hall of John Clare Primary School on Saturday, 17th May (1pm-4pm). Please join us for this special event. Entrance is free!

The event is the culmination of months of hard work and will reflect schooling in Helpston over the centuries, culminating in the opening of John Clare Primary School 60 years ago this year. Many past pupils of the village’s schools have kindly shared their memories and photographs with us. We offer our sincere thanks to them for their support with this project!

One particularly exciting find, from the school’s own archives, is the original admittance book dating back to the 1800s, when the old school opened on Glinton Road. Some group members

were delighted to find their ancestors’ names in the book too!

RECENT EVENTS

VE Day Celebration

We hosted a Vintage Musical Memories event on Saturday, 3rd May to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second War in Europe. Clair Wordsworth, in association with HLHG, put together a glorious selection of wartime songs interspersed with personal reminiscences of village residents.

Half way through the proceedings, everything naturally stopped for tea and cake! Two exceedingly good things that were strictly under ration in the 1940s. Thankfully, as we live in different times, there was no rationing or powdered egg in sight at this event.

200 YEARS OF THE RAILWAYS

To coincide with 200th anniversary of passenger railways, Chris Hunt (of Stamford Local History Society) gave a fabulous talk in March about the railways in and around Helpston. Chris has a particular fondness for steam power and his talk emphasised the days of steam.

Chris has a truly wonderful collection of photographs and slides. Plus, he told the assembled crowd inside the Village Hall about the building of the railways at Helpston and some of the famous trains that have passed by the village, including The Flying Scotsman.

Those attending had their own stories to tell too. Original station and signal box signs were brought in for display, along with photographs from people’s personal collections.

From the Kitchen of Chez Pierre

Bouchées d’œufs

Bonjour to all the residents of your fine villages and we at CP hope you are all well, healthy and eating good home cooked food, non? Years ago we were asked to cater for an informal large family gathering after a beautiful wedding which took place in Maisse, just south of Paris. The family wanted a buffet type arrangement, which we were very pleased to do of course – with our many varied dishes reflecting the local produce, wines and cuisine of the time. The afternoon was memorable, with several showbusiness folk also attending and enjoying the time with their friends, away from the hoi palloi. One such was the very entertaining Simon Dee, who was a one-time radio and TV star, and

full of anecdotes and amusing gossip about famous people he’d worked with.

It occurred to me that as we approach the summer months here in Tribland residents will be entertaining in their gardens and looking perhaps for slightly different dishes to accompany their barbeques and salads. One notable success at that time in Maisse was our plates of bouchées d’œufs, or ‘Egg Bites’ as you might say here. So very easy to make they prove to be popular and easy to eat without fuss or mess so I’d advise to make a fair few because they will keep for a few days in the fridge or indeed one is able to freeze them too.

For 12 pieces use: 4 slices of cooked bacon, diced; 6 large

eggs; 1¼ cups cottage cheese; 1¼ cups shredded Gruyère (or a blend of Gruyère and Cheddar); 2 tablespoons cornstarch; good pinch of salt and pepper; ½ teaspoon (or more if your guests are adults only) hot sauce, such as Tabasco.

Preheat the oven to 300°F and place a half-filled dish of boiling water on a lower rack to create steam as the eggs cook. Lightly coat a tin/steel fairy cake baking tray with oil. In a blender, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, Gruyère, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Blend until completely smooth, about 20 seconds. Pour the egg mixture evenly into the prepared cake tin, filling each about threequarters full. Divide the bacon evenly over the egg mix, pushing some in deeper. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes on the middle rack, until the eggs are set. You’ll know they are done when the eggs start pulling slightly away from the edges. Some of them may puff up and look a bit lopsided, but they will settle and deflate as they cool.

Remove them from the oven and rest for about 5 minutes.

Use a small spoon to loosen the egg bites from the edges of the pan and carefully lift them out onto a plate. Serve warm.

Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Once cool, the egg bites can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at 50% power for 60 to 90 seconds. The egg bites can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat briefly in a microwave.

Bonne Chance – Pierre x

Langdyke’s Swaddywell Pit Nature Reserve receives another accolade

The Langdyke Countryside Trust reserve’s status as a County Wildlife Site (CWS) has been further enhanced.

The status is important recognition of the value of the site to nature.

Not content with qualifying on four criteria, the site now exceeds nine separate criteria for designation as a CWS. The news follows further recent surveys by the Wildlife Trust,

These new criteria include:

n Supporting locally frequent numbers of six or more strong calcareous grassland indicator species - The Wildlife Trust surveys in 2024 identified 14 calcareous indicator species, of which 8 are ‘strong’ indicators and of these 6 are at least locally

frequent in abundance. The best areas within the site for these are the Top Field, the large car park and a scree slope on the northern side of the quarry.

n Supporting more than 50 grassland species – a total of 87 grassland plants were recorded during the Wildlife Trust surveys in 2024. Of these, 69 were recorded in Top Field and 58 in the quarry, meaning that both parts of the site would qualify on their own. It is likely with other records taken into account that these totals would rise further.

n Supporting populations of Critically Endangered or Vulnerable species of butterfly - Swaddywell has well-known populations of both Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae and Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus which have both been red-listed as Vulnerable since 2022. Grizzled Skipper has been recorded on site every year since 2015, with the exception of 2019, and Small Heath has been known on site since at least 2008 and recorded in most years. The habitat to support both of these species is present and well-developed, with plenty of early nectaring sources and caterpillar food plants.

n Having an invertebrate index exceeding 500 - It’s worth noting that Swaddywell’s invertebrate index doesn’t just exceed 500 – it smashes it, with an index of over 5000.

Wildlife Trust surveyors say they think Swaddywell is the only site in Cambridgeshire

that has qualified on so many different criteria.

Meanwhile Langdyke volunteers report that there has been a great deal of progress in improving the until recently neglected M’Lady’s Pond near Castor and Ailsworth.

Reserve warden Mike Horne reports that. he has found another three Bee Orchid rosettes where the rank grassland was cut down at the beginning of September, which makes around 17.

Also spotted have been threeLesser Celandine plants, nearby. The 1,000 bluebell bulbs planted in mid-September are all now making an appearance, and in the summer months seeding will take place to make for an even better display in 2026.

The dozen or so mature Ox-Eye Daisy plug plants put in last year are also doing well.

Hundreds of new aquatic plants are thriving throughout the pond, including lots of Stonewort and Water Crowfoot. There also clumps of frogspawn and Smooth newts.

Mike said: “Overall, I’m really pleased how well the area has responded in just a few short months, and I’m hopeful that it will continue to develop into an attractive - and very useful, nature reserve over the coming months and years.”

You can find out more about Langdyke - a registered charity which is run entirely by volunteers - at www. langdyke.org.uk

Anniversary of Etton Church

Next year will be the 800th anniversary of Etton church, that means that the current building was consecrated during the reign of Henry III and in the same year the Magna Carta was confirmed! We would like to mark the occasion with a weekend of celebrations.

Next year will be the 800th anniversary of Etton church, that means that the current building was consecrated during the reign of Henry III and in the same year the Magna Carta was confirmed! We would like to mark the occasion with a weekend of celebrations.

Christmas Card and Wreath Making Workshop

Details are still to be agreed but the chosen weekend to note in your diaries is you would like to be involved in organising the event, please do let me know- I’d love some help!

Details are still to be agreed but the chosen weekend to note in your diaries is 27 to 29 June 2025. If you would like to be involved in organising the event, please do let me know- I’d love some help!

After the great success of these events last year, 18 November, be holding a Christmas card making workshop at the Coach House from 2.30pm to 5pm or 5.30pm to 8pm. The cost is £15, and places can be booked by messaging Andrew on 07836213406. On

After the great success of these events last year, on 18 November, we will be holding a Christmas card making workshop at the Coach House from 2.30pm to 5pm or 5.30pm to 8pm. The cost is £15, and places can be booked by messaging Andrew on 07836213406. On Monday

2 December there will be wreath making workshops in the church. Cost £30, same booking arrangements as above.

Christmas Tree Lights Swith-on & Nativity

Our usual switching on of the Christmas tree lights will take place on the village green at 5pm on Sunday 1 December and the Nativity service will be held on the Village green on Christmas eve at 5pm.

Everything you might need for your pets and large animals

Feed for: Cats / Dogs / Wild or Caged Birds Poultry / Horses / Small Animals Steam Farm, Peterborough Rd, Crowland

At 11am on Monday, 14th April, a huge crowd of mourners assembled at Peterborough Crematorium for the funeral of Eric West (1936-2025). In recent years, Eric lived in Stamford, but had previously been a long-term resident of Helpston, where he was still a frequent and very welcome visitor. Notably, he enjoyed regular Quiz Nights at the Blue Bell and carol services at St Botolph’s Church. He also coveted his long-term role as a car parking attendant for the John Clare Festival.

During the thoughtful funeral service, a reading from the bible (Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 25-34) encouraged those assembled not to worry, “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

This photo of Eric was taken at Helpston Gala (forerunner to Helpstonbury) after his beloved dog had just won a prize in the dog show.

Cllr Peter Hiller – Glinton and Castor ward

Government knows best...?

The Government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill proposes localised planning fees and making it easier for councils to buy vacant land for housing. Ok. It also includes plans for councillors who sit on planning committees to undergo mandatory training and certification, and a national delegation scheme will set out which planning decisions they will consider, and which will be decided by officers. I’m all for the training and certification element (which we already have in place at PCC) but I’m very concerned about removing the ability for ward and parish councillors to refer potentially contentious, publicly objected-to and/or inappropriate housing schemes for public scrutiny at a planning committee. I also have serious doubts around how this bill will ensure that councillors and local residents – who know their areas and what’s needed best –

will remain at the heart of the planning process.

Planning committees make decisions on only a small percentage of applications each year – and those typically involve larger or more locally controversial schemes that require greater scrutiny by those who represent their communities and the residents affected. A top-down national scheme with no reference to local authorities is an unwanted recipe for huge unrest and discontent.

Peterborough has consistently exceeded historic new housing targets and is punching well above its weight for new numbers recently imposed by central government. Councils currently approve 9 out of 10 planning applications that come before them and the democratic role of councillors in decision making is the backbone of the English planning system. This should not be diminished in

a politically driven mantra for building more and more housing at the expense of existing communities, especially in and around our rural villages.

It’s a fact staring both the previous Conservative (for years) and now Labour governments in the face that more than 1.4 million homes with planning permission have been left unbuilt by developers since 2007. Pretty-much the housing target set by Angela Rayner – already consented! Reportedly, the most common reasons are profitdriven developers wanting the land value to increase before selling it on and also land banking to slow building rates and maintain higher future house prices. I’ve called upon successive government ministers to tackle this perversity and allow planning authorities like Peterborough actionable and effective powers to ensure prompt build out of sites once consented.

diary

Northborough

Vintage Musical Memories

03/05/2025 @ 03:00 PM4:30 PM

Helpston Village Hall-

Milton Hall Open Gardens

04/05/2025

Milton Hall, Peterborough

Helpston Remembers

VE Day 80th anniversary celebration

05/05/2025

John Clare Cottage

Etton village VE Day 80th anniversary celebration

05/05/2025 @ 03:00 PM

The Golden Pheasant paddock, Etton

VE Day Commemoration

08/05/2025 Lighting of the Beacon 9.30pm Glinton, Peterborough

Castor, Ailsworth and District Gardeners Society

08/05/2025 Question Time Cedar centre Castor

VE Day 80 at the Granary

08/05/2025 @ 02:00 PM - 04:00

Granary Tea Rooom

Local Plan Public Meeting

10/05/2025 @ 11:00 AM Northborough & Deeping Gate Village Hall

Charity Quiz

10/05/2025 @ 07:00 PM

Deepings Community Centre

Deepings Practice Wellbeing Day

17/05/2025 @ 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Deeping Practice

Schooldays in Helpston

17/05/2025 @ 01:00 PM - 04:00

PM

John Clare School Hall

God in the Garden – Living Water – with the Bishop of Peterborough

18/05/2025 @ 04:30 PM

St Mary’s Church Bainton near Stamford

Helpston Church Coffee Morning

24/05/2025 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00

PM

Botolph’s Barn Church Lane Helpston

Visit a Replica of the Turin Shroud

24/05/2025 @ 10:30 AM25/05/2025

St John’s Church, Barnack, Stamford, PE9 3DN

Folk song and music

25/05/2025 @ 02:00 PM - 04:00

PM

The Pack Horse, Northborough

Half Term School Holidays

26/05/2025 - 30/05/2025

Spring is in the Air again

31/05/2025 @ 07:30 PM - 09:30

PM

St Pegas Church, Peakirk

Benefice Communion with the Bishop of Brixworth

01/06/2025 @ 09:30 AM - 10:30

AM

St John’s Church, Barnack, Stamford, PE9 3DN

National Garden Scheme

Open Day at Sissons Barn

28/06/2025 @ 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM  Sissons Barn

Etton 800 Anniversary Event

28/06/2025 - 29/06/2025

Various events in Etton

Glintonfayre 2025

28/06/2025

Glinton Peterborough

UPCOMING SERVICES May/June 2025

Day Date Services

Friday 25/04/2025

Sunday 27/04/2025

Saturday 03/05/2025

Sunday 04/05/2025

Tuesday 06/05/2025

Sunday 11/05/2025

Tuesday 13/05/2025

Sunday 18/05/2025

Tuesday 20/05/2025

Friday 23/04/2025

Sunday 25/05/2025

Sunday 01/06/2025

Friday 25/05/2025

Sunday 27/05/2025

Sunday 01/06/2025

14:30-16:30 Glinton – Crumbs of Faith

20:00 Benefice in the Boozer

9:00 Northborough Holy Communion

10:30 Glinton All-Age Communion

18:00 Maxey Taizé Evening Prayerw

9:30 Street Prayers Meet at Glinton Church

9:00 Glinton Morning Worship

10:30 Peakirk Sung Communion with Choir 15:00 Messy Church Peakirk VH

18:00 Northborough Celtic Evening Prayer

10:00 Maxey, Midweek (Book of Common Prayer) (Also welcoming Deanery Chapter)

9:00 Peakirk Morning Worship

10:30 Etton Benefice Communion

18:00 Glinton Joyful Journey

10:00 T@10 Peakirk Village Hall, Community Café

9:00 Maxey Holy Communion

10:30 Northborough Family Praise

18:00 Peakirk Book of Common Prayer Evensong

10:00 Tiny Disciples, Glinton Church

14:30-16:30 Glinton – Crumbs of Faith 20:00 Benefice in the Boozer

9:00 Northborough Holy Communion

10:30 Glinton All-Age Communion

18:00 Maxey Taizé Evening Prayer

9:00 Glinton morning Worship

10:30 Peakirk Sung Communion

15:00 Messy Church Peakirk Village Hall

18:00 Northborough Celtic Evening Prayer

14:30-16:30 Glinton – Crumbs of Faith

20:00 Benefice in the Boozer

9:00 Northborough Holy Communion

10:30 Glinton All-Age Communion

18:00 Maxey Taizé Evening Prayer

9:00 Glinton Morning Worship

10:30 Peakirk Sung Communion with Choir

15:00 Messy Church Peakirk VH

18:00 Northborough Celtic Evening Prayer

Tuesday 03/06/2025 10:00 Maxey, Midweek (Book of Common Prayer)

Saturday 07/06/2025

Sunday 08/06/2025

Tuesday 09/06/2025

Sunday 15/06/2025

Tuesday 17/06/2025

Sunday 22/06/2025

Friday 27/06/2025

Sunday 29/06/2025

9:30 Street Prayers Meet at Glinton Church

9:00 Peakirk Morning Worship

10:30 Etton Benefice Communion

18:00 Glinton Joyful Journey

10:00 T@10 Peakirk Village Hall, Community Café

9:00 Maxey Holy Communion

10:30 Northborough Family Praise

18:00 Peakirk Book of Common Prayer Evensong

10:00 Tiny Disciples, Glinton Church

9:00 Northborough Holy Communion

10:30 Glinton All-Age Communion

18:00 Maxey Taizé Evening Prayer

14:30-16:30 Glinton – Crumbs of Faith 20:00 Benefice in the Boozer

10:30 Etton 800 years Benefice Service

All are welcome to all the services, but services highlighted in Orange are especially aimed at families and children

Living as Resurrection People in the Joy of Easter

Easter may have come and gone in the calendar, but the joy of resurrection is something we carry forward every day. We are, after all, resurrection people—those who live in the light and hope of Christ’s victory over death. The empty tomb isn’t just a symbol of something that happened long ago; it’s the foundation of how we live today—with joy, with courage, and with hearts open to new beginnings.

In the days after Easter, it’s easy to feel a bit of a dip. The flowers fade, the chocolate eggs are eaten, and the big services are behind us. But in truth, Easter is just the beginning. The season of Easter lasts for 50 days until Pentecost, and its message—that love has conquered death and that Christ is alive—continues to shape our lives and our communities every day.

At the heart of being resurrection people is this: we are called to bring new life wherever we go. In our families, our friendships, our work, and our worship, we are invited to be people of hope and healing. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead so we could go back to life as usual— He rose so we could live differently. That might mean stepping out in faith, forgiving where we once held back, or simply showing kindness where it’s needed most. In all things, we are Easter people, living in the light of the Risen Christ.

Here in the 9 Bridges Benefice, we’re embracing this spirit of new life by reshaping our worship so that it can speak to more people, wherever they are on their journey of faith. As part of our ongoing mission to be a welcoming and growing church family, we’ve reshuffled our service patterns across the Benefice. These changes aim to offer more variety and flexibility—with services that are more accessible, informal, and welcoming, especially to those who may be new to church or returning after some time away.

You’ll now find a broader mix of worship styles across our churches—shorter and more relaxed services, allage gatherings, and times for reflection and prayer in simpler, quieter settings. Whether you feel most at home in a traditional communion service, or you’re looking for something with less formality and more space to explore faith, there’s something for you.

We’re committed to making church

Rev. Keir

The 9 Bridges Benefice www.9brideges.church

a place where everyone can find belonging and encounter the joy of the resurrection in ways that feel meaningful and real.

You can find the full details of the new service pattern, along with updates and upcoming events, on our website: www.9bridges.church. We warmly invite you to take a look and come along—whether it’s to try something new or to reconnect with something familiar.

As we continue to walk in this season of Easter, may we all find ways to live out the resurrection each day: with love in our actions, hope in our hearts, and joy in knowing that Jesus is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Chasing after the wind?

Last year, being an ageing synth pop fan, I went along to watch that ageing synth pop band, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. A band whose name I still need a spell checker for, 40 years after I first saw them in concert.

They’re specialists in making quite bleak songs to rather catchy tunes. The backing track to “Enola Gay” is very popular on adverts, despite the song being about a nuclear bomber.

And one of the songs I heard at the concert, “History of Modern Part 1” has a particularly catchy tune and backing. You could whistle it for hours. I do. But a selection of the lyrics might give you second thoughts:

Every precious child and every mother’s kiss all that went before, all who follow this every moment shared - hour of the day no record will remain - all will fade away

Every dream you had and every battle won all the hopes and fears; bombs and guns theories and lies planted in the sun all is erased - another has begun There will be no song when the final voice is gone.

(OMD 2021 © Blue Noise)

Told you it was cheery. Lead singer Andy McCluskey introduced it along the lines of it being a happy song about the end of the universe. It’s very danceable. If you like dancing.

Andy McCluskey is an atheist, and in that light the song is even bleaker. It’s like a “momento mori” carved on a church wall, but with just the skulls and no angels.

Oddly enough, the Bible has a fairly similar sentiment. The book of Ecclesiastes is often read at funerals: the bit that goes “There’s a time to live and a time to die”. But the bit we don’t tend to read is all the rest of the book, which in the old Bibles used to say “Vanity – all is vanity”. And today tends to

be translated “Meaningless –everything is meaningless”. The author of Ecclesiastes tells us he’s a descendant of great King David. He’s rich, and powerful. He can have anything he wants. And yet, in the context of our coming death, none of it is worth anything. “It’s all chasing after the wind”.

What can we do when a book of the Bible and one of the the biggest-selling synthpop atheists are in agreement? Despair is always one answer, I suppose. Reflect that the nights start drawing in on June 22nd, so at least it will soon be Christmas, maybe.

Or realise the context that this puts on things. There’s only so much you can eat, so much money you can have: why waste your life chasing after more? Be kind, love one another, look after this amazing world, and do the best you can in this seeminglymeaningless world. There’s no point stacking stuff up for yourself because “shrouds have no pockets”.

On the other hand, if you believe this isn’t all there is and there is a life beyond death – and I do, after all - then what should we do? Oddly enough, it’s be kind, love one another, look after this amazing world, and do the best you can in this maybe-notso-meaningless world. This isn’t a new philosophy. It’s as old as humanity, and will last as long as we do. And you can believe in that, regardless of what you think comes next.

Revd Gary Alderson

Church services

Barnack, Ufford, Bainton, Helpston, And Wittering

CHURCH SERVICES

© Shutterstock/Brian A Jackson

04 May 2025 Easter 3

09:30 St John, Barnack Communion

10:30 All Saints, Wittering All Age Service

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston Communion

15:00 All Saints, Wittering Messy Church

15:30 St Botolph, Helpston Messy Church

16:30 St Mary, Bainton Taizé

08 May 2025

15:00 All Saints, Wittering VE Day Commemoration at the War Memorial, All Saints’ Churchyard

21:30 All Saints, Wittering Lighting Remembrance Candles for the fallen of World War 2 – All Saints’ Churchyard

11 May 2025 Easter 4

09:00 St Mary, Bainton Communion

09:30 St John, Barnack Communion

10:30 All Saints, Wittering Communion

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston Communion

15:30 St John, Barnack Messy Church

18 May 2025 Easter 5

09:30 St John, Barnack Communion

10:30 All Saints, Wittering Communion

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston Communion

16:30 St Mary, Bainton God in the Garden (preacher the Bishop of Peterborough) – “Living Water”

25 May 2025 Easter 6

09:00 St Mary, Bainton Communion

09:30 St John, Barnack All Age Service

10:30 All Saints, Wittering Communion

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston All Age Service

29 May 2025 Ascension Day 11:00 St John, Barnack Communion

01 June 2025 Easter 7

09:30 St John, Barnack BENEFICE COMMUNION with the Bishop of Brixworth - giving thanks for the new roof on the Lady Chapel. No morning services at Bainton, Helpston, or Wittering.

15:00 All Saints, Wittering Messy Church

15:30 St Botolph, Helpston Messy Church

16:30 St Mary, Bainton Taizé – “A Man is enthroned in Heaven”

08 June 2025 Pentecost

09:00 St Mary, Bainton Communion

09:30 St John, Barnack Communion

10:30 All Saints, Wittering Communion

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston All Age Service

15:30 St John, Barnack Messy Church

15 June 2025 Trinity Sunday

09:30 St John, Barnack All Age Service

10:30 All Saints, Wittering Communion

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston Communion

16:30 St Mary, Bainton God in the Garden – “The Water of Life – Baptism”

22 June 2025 1st after Trinity

09:00 St Mary, Bainton Communion

09:30 St John, Barnack Communion

10:30 All Saints, Wittering All Age Service

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston Communion

29 June 2025 St Peter and St Paul

09:30 St John, Barnack Communion

10:30 All Saints, Wittering All Age Service

10:45 St Botolph, Helpston Communion

16:30 St Mary, Bainton Pet Service

St Pega’s

Peakirk

The church is for all the local community and is open seven days a week between 10.00am and 4.00pm

Everyone is welcome to ‘drop in’ for a moment of peace, to offer a prayer or just to admire the wonderful architecture and wall paintings

Lent Lunch

Forty people enjoyed the Lent Lunch which was held in Peakirk Village Hall. Homemade soup, bread and cheese was followed by coffee and cakes.

A big thank you to all who have supported our winter events. We look forward to seeing you in the Spring and Summer starting with

Spring is in the Air –again!

Following on from their successful concert last May,

The Six return with another evening of popular songs and the occasional more high-brow number.

Who are The Six? – They are a talented group of six singers and musicians, all from the Nine Bridges Benefice. It’s an evening not to be missed.

Tickets are available £15 (which includes wine and canapes in the interval) from Sheila Lever tel. 01733 252416 or email: sheila.lever@btinternet.com

Nine Bridges Benefice Messy Church

Of course, we built an Ark when we found out about the story of Noah and had great fun painting a rainbow and building rafts.

In April, we found out more about Holy Week and Easter and how God showed his love for us when Jesus died and rose again at Easter.

Messy Church Dates. All families are welcome: Sunday May 4th meet at St Pega’s Church from 3.00pm to 4.30pm

The Treasure Seeekers – a Treasure Hunt with a difference for all the family. There will be refreshments and a stall selling all kinds of goodies.

Sunday June 1st in Peakirk Village Hall from 3.00pm to 4.30pm Pentecost - Set the world alight!

Happy Easter!

I hope you had a wonderful time and are enjoying the spring sunshine and flowers all around us.

Easter is a time when we celebrate Jesus’s victory over death – and celebrating new life feels very appropriate for me, as I’ve just begun a new stage of my own life. It was a real joy for me to be licensed as the vicar of Eye, Newborough and Thorney in a service at St Matthew’s, Eye, on 17th March.

My husband Stephen and I are settling in to the vicarage at Eye and have received a very warm welcome from everyone we’ve met across the three parishes – both in church and further afield. My previous parishes were in Essex, near Southend, and so it’s exciting to be exploring and getting to know a new area.

Before being ordained, I worked for the Civil Service in London for many years, so I’ve got plenty of experience outside the church as well as within it.

Stephen and I enjoy getting out and about on our tandem, so now the weather is improving you may spot us in and around Newborough and further afield. We are always happy to stop for a chat, so do give us a wave if you see us.

I’m also planning to drop into local social events and businesses just to introduce myself, as I’ve been licensed as vicar for the whole of the community, not just those who are church regulars. I am really looking forward to

St Bartholomew’s Newborough service/social event details:

Sunday 4th May: 9.30 am Holy Communion

Saturday 10th May: 10.30 am Coffee shop

Sunday 11th May: 9.30 am Morning Worship

Wednesday 14th May, 10 am: Holy Communion (said service)

Sunday 18th May: 9.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 25th May: 3 pm Family crafts and refreshments; 4 pm All-age worship

Wednesday 28th May: 10 am Holy Communion (said service)

Sunday 1st June: 9.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 8th June: 9.30 am Morning Worship

Wednesday 10th June: Holy Communion (said service)

Saturday 14th June: 10.30 am Coffee shop

Sunday 15th June: 9.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 22nd June: 3 pm Family crafts and refreshments; 4 pm All-age worship

Wednesday 25th June: 10 am Holy Communion (said service)

Sunday 29th June: Joint benefice service – time and venue tbc

getting to know you all better. Of course, we also love to welcome you at St Bartholomew’s Church, Newborough – see elsewhere for details of our regular services and monthly “coffee shop” social event. Do come and say hello – as I’ve discovered, our village church really is friendly and welcoming and we’d love to see you. With many blessings, Hayley

St Bartholomew’s Church, Newborough

By Richard Cawley

As many of you may know, along with my wife Shirley I am also a church warden at St Bartholomew’s church. We have been in a vacancy for the last two years after the retirement of Revd Colin Hurst how was with us for 16 years. We have been very well supported by retired clergy and lay readers over this past two years, keeping services going for the people of Newborough. We are pleased to say that after interviews late last year, we selected a new incumbent for the benefice of Newborough, Eye and Thorney. The new incumbent is Revd Hayley Hobbs, and she will be living in the Eye Vicarage. For further information please look on the church notice board on Guntons Road, Newborough.

Digital Childhood:

Helping Children Stay Safe in a Social Media World

As children grow up surrounded by technology, many parents and grandparents worry about when – and how – to let them engage with mobile phones and social media. With peer pressure mounting earlier than ever, how can families protect children from the pitfalls of the online world while helping them stay connected?

The Growing Challenge of the Digital Playground

For many families, tablets, streaming platforms and interactive games have become a normal part of childhood. But the conversation quickly shifts when children – often before their 10th birthday – begin asking for mobile phones or social media accounts. Many of these requests are driven by peer pressure, a desire to fit in, or a fear of missing out.

Social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube can be creative, fun, and even educational. But they also carry risks—exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, unrealistic body image ideals, and harmful messaging.

For those of us who remember growing up without smartphones, this can feel like uncharted territory. But there are positive, proactive steps we can all take to help children develop healthy digital habits from the outset.

Start Early: Build Digital Awareness at Home

Children are naturally curious, and that curiosity extends to how the adults around them use technology. Begin talking to children early about what the internet is, how it works, and what’s appropriate to watch or do online. Make these conversations part of everyday life, just like teaching them road safety or good manners.

Practical Tips:

n Model responsible use of phones and devices – children notice when adults are glued to their screens.

n Talk openly about what they see online – even on streaming

platforms, they may encounter adverts, influencers or pop-ups.

n Encourage screen-free family time, especially at meals and bedtime.

n Delay Social Media Use – But Don’t Ignore It

Most social media platforms have a minimum age requirement of 13 – not that it stops many younger users from creating accounts. While delaying access is sensible, pretending social media doesn’t exist won’t help children understand it.

Instead:

n Explain age limits and why they exist – to protect children from adult content, commercial manipulation and contact from strangers.

n Use this time to build digital resilience, not fear. Talk about the difference between public and private information, and what to do if they see something upsetting online.

n Keep them busy with offline activities – hobbies, sports, clubs and time outdoors help balance their digital exposure.

Consider a Staged Introduction to Technology

If your child or grandchild is starting to ask for a mobile

phone, consider a gradual approach. For example:

n Start with a basic phone that allows calls and texts, but no internet access.

n Use child-safe devices or apps that restrict content and monitor usage.

n Set clear rules together – such as when and where the phone can be used, and who they can contact.

Remember, it’s not about banning devices altogether, but introducing them thoughtfully, with boundaries in place.

Build a Family Agreement for Tech Use

Creating a shared agreement n written or verbal – can help set expectations and reduce future conflict. This could include:

n Agreed screen time limits.

n Rules around bedtime device use.

n When and how to report anything worrying or upsetting. Involving children in this agreement helps them take responsibility and understand the reasons behind the rules.

Know the Risks – And the Tools That Can Help

Inappropriate content can include violence, adult themes, unrealistic beauty standards, or toxic messaging.

Cyberbullying may happen through messaging apps, gaming platforms, or social media.

Protective tools include:

n Parental controls on devices and broadband routers.

n Kid-friendly browsers and search engines.

n Monitoring apps (used with transparency) to review what children are seeing and who they’re talking to.

n Privacy settings on social media accounts – when they eventually get there.

Stay Involved – Without Hovering

As children grow, so does their digital independence. It’s important to stay interested, not intrusive. Ask questions about what they’re doing online, just as you’d ask about their day at school. Celebrate their creativity and help them spot online misinformation or manipulative content.

Above all, make sure they know they can come to you if something goes wrong – without fear of punishment or judgment.

Grandparents Can Play a Key Role

Grandparents may not be digital natives, but they are often trusted companions. Talking about their own experiences, listening to children’s concerns, and offering calm, nonjudgemental support can go a long way in helping younger generations navigate today’s digital challenges.

Final Thought

The digital world is here to stay – but with the right guidance, children can grow up using it safely and positively. As with every other aspect of parenting and grandparenting, it’s about balance, communication and trust.

By starting conversations early, setting boundaries, and staying informed, we can help the next generation thrive both online and off.

John Clare Cottage

Extended Opening Hours

We’re delighted to share that from 7th May, the museum, gardens, and community café at John Clare Cottage will be open Wednesday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

This extended opening has been made possible by the strong response and commitment of those who answered our recent call for volunteers – thank you! Your support is helping us trial a new model that aims to maximise access for visitors while keeping costs manageable, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

We look forward to welcoming you soon! For more details, visit www.clarecottage.org.

Support John Clare Cottage

John Clare Cottage is operated by the John Clare Trust, a registered charity. As a small independent charity, we are entirely reliant on the generous support of donors, volunteers, and individuals

who share our belief in the importance of Clare’s legacy and our shared, timeless right to nature. Your support helps us care for this unique.

You can support the charity in many ways.

Visiting us Often

Every visit helps. Relax in our community led café, enjoy the beautiful gardens or perhaps purchase something special from our heritage gift shop. There is no admission charge to enjoy the site, admission is only charged to visitors who wish to enjoy the museum.

Volunteering

Whether helping in the garden, serving in our cafe, or welcoming visitors, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Visit clarecottage.org to find out more and register your interest or email info@clarecottage.org

Supporting us Financially

Every donation helps us continue our mission. We are currently raising funds to repair and rethatch the historic cottage building.

To donate, please visit www. justgiving.com and search for ‘rethatch Clare Cottage’.

Following and Sharing our Story

Join us on Facebook and Instagram. Like, share, and comment to help us grow our community and reach new audiences.

GARDENING FEATURE

Ponds, potatoes and planting out May gardening jobs

May is a busy month in the garden with longer days and warmer weather helping gardeners spring clean and plant and tend their plots.

As gardeners we are constantly reminded by Mother Nature that we should be grateful for all the help we can get, whether it be loved ones or birds or the wonderful variety of creatures that live in and amongst our gardens.

Pond spring clean

A pond is an excellent example of how tiny insects, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles can not only live in harmony with us but offer us a welcome hand! You only have to visit a garden pond in spring or summer to see that it is truly a wildlife magnet. Ponds can provide vital homes and places to breed for all manner of creatures, who feed on unwanted pests, which in turn feed other animals and birds.

Spring cleaning jobs include removing surface duckweed, by dragging it to the side for a day, and then removing to the compost heap to allow small creatures to climb back in the water. Thin out and divide

waterlilies and other pond plants, discarding some if you are overrun. Plant bog loving plants like some iris for spring colour but plant them in containers to keep them from spreading.

Potatoes

By May your early potatoes should be well established and hopefully in a month or so you should be able to harvest delicious potatoes that are good enough to eat on their own.

To ensure you can enjoy a plentiful ongoing crop you need to be planting out your main crop for harvesting in late summer and autumn. You cannot go wrong with established varieties such as King Edward or Maris Piper, which are brilliant all-rounders.

Planting out

Hopefully the worst of the cold weather has passed by May, but vigilance is never a bad thing in the UK. But, in May gardeners can plant out directly in the soil.

There are so many vegetables that you can sow directly into the soil including peas and runner beans but ensure you plant with enough space to insert canes, or pea sticks as they grow tall. Broccoli and cauliflower can also be planted out.

Jerusalem Artichokes

A lady my village always grows Jerusalem Artichokes which seem to crop magnificently. Jerusalem artichokes are a relative of the sunflower and such have beautiful yellow daisy-like blooms. They grow from tubers which should be planted about 15cm deep and about 30cm apart.

Cosmos

A wonderful flower to plant out in May is Cosmos. My garden suffers terribly from slugs, but Cosmos seems immune to them. They require full sun and in freedraining, average garden soil and come in shorter (30cm) and taller varieties (one metre) and almost everything in between. Cosmos has beautiful foliage and can have single and double flowers, and they are brilliantly bee friendly. With continuous dead heading flowering should commence in June and go through to the first frosts.

Rob Bullock https:// robbullockauthor.blogspot.com

Helping Our Ukrainian Friends

As I write this on 13 April, over 30 people have died this morning in a missile attack on a bus and civilian building in Sumy – evidence indeed of Russia’s continued brutality and total lack of interest in a ceasefire. We cannot stand by.

Throughout May, Helping Our Ukrainian Friends will be again collecting donations for the people and communities of Ukraine. These will be delivered by a team of volunteer drivers, including Dale Asplin and Matthew Pudney from local company, Princebuild, who have raised over £50,000 for the cause already this year. We are hoping to drive five vans to Poland full of donated aid. Three of the vans are being generously loaned for the journey by Princebuild.

The convoy will drive across Europe for two days, heading for central Poland where the drivers will team up with another group of HOUF volunteers, helping out at a Summer Respite Camp for Ukrainian widows and their children. This is the fourth such camp HOUF have supported, using financial donations from local people and companies to fund this important work and offer a glimmer of light into otherwise darkened lives. From there the donations will be freighted on to Rivne and Kyiv in Ukraine and taken to the front line, where they will be distributed to families and medical units, as well as serving

soldiers. These will be HOUF’s 23rd and 24th delivery of aid (18 volunteer deliveries and Summer Camps and four commercial deliveries so far). So far, the team has raised over £400,000, including £150,000 in the last twelve months alone.

The most recent trip was to Kyiv in March. Four members of the HOUF team, including HOUF chairman, Richard Astle, and Maxey residents Mark Asplin and Dave Ribakovs flew out to Bucharest where the team had purchased two 4x4 vehicles. The money for one of these was raised at a very successful Race Night held at Burghley Golf Club in January and organised by Ukrainian refugees now living in Stamford.

Having picked up the cars and met up with our partners at Sustain Ukraine charity, the team then drove them to Kyiv, managing to overcome the weather (driving rain and some snow) and a break down which required a new clutch. In total this is a two day drive – the first day is a long drive through an awful three lane road (that’s three lanes in total, not in both directions!) through Romania.

The team then handed the vehicles over to medical units serving with the military, they are already in use in the Donbas.

We also had the chance to meet our Ukrainian partners at Cross Charity and Person to Person and to hear about their work with front line communities and with displaced families and children.

They remain determined to carry on their work and absolutely sure that there can be no lasting peace with Putin in power. There is no doubt that our continued support is very important to them – not only as it enables them to continue their work, but also because of the demonstration of support, that means so much. We did take the opportunity to make additional financial grants to them, the day after the awful Zelensky/Trump meeting in the White House –that had gone down very well on what was otherwise a very dark day.

HOUF will continue to support the people of Ukraine. Once again, their suffering has dropped from the news, but we can all be fully aware now of the horrors that the Russian invasion has brought to these brave people, and the threat that Putin brings to our own way of live and democratic values. Every day we get reports of missile attacks, the deaths of civilians and children. And let us never forget the 20,000 Ukrainian children that have been forcibly taken from their homes and sent to be brought up in Russia. At HOUF we firmly believe that the Ukrainian cause is our cause. We have no choice but to carry on helping. We hope you will too.

Richard Astle Chair, Helping Our Ukrainian Friends

In June 2025, the local volunteer group Helping Our Ukrainian Friends will make its 24th delivery of aid to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine.

FOOD

MEDICINES

PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS

EQUIPMENT FOR HOBBIES

ELECTRONICS

Non-perishables like rice, flour, pasta, tinned food (soups, fish, meats), tea, coffee and sugar.

Paracetamol, multivitamins, antiseptic wipes, expectorants

Soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, female sanitary products, nappies, deodorant sticks

Sports equipment, art supplies and musical instruments for displaced children and orphanages.

Torches, power banks, LED lights, batteries, and phones / tablets / computers (factory reset and in good working order)

Tribland Remembers:

A United Tribute for VE Day’s 80th Anniversary

Villages across our community will come together this May to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe Day, with nostalgic celebrations, poignant moments of remembrance, and a shared commitment to honouring the past.

Eighty years on from the momentous day when World War II ended in Europe, the villages in Tribland will pause to remember and celebrate.

With a programme of heartfelt community events—from beacon lightings and bell ringing to themed tea parties and 1940s

picnics—residents of all ages are invited to reflect on the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of a generation that secured peace. Whether waving flags, sharing Victory cake, or lighting a lantern at dusk, our villages will once again stand united in remembrance and hope.

The Granary Nostalgic celebration for the 80th anniversary of VE Day at the Granary Tea Room. Thursday 8th May 2.00pm to 4.00pm celebrating a community-themed afternoon tea party including music of the day, quiz and games. Wave your flags (provided) and enjoy a pleasant afternoon with good company, great food and music. Tickets £16 – first come, first served.

Etton

Village VE Day Anniversary

Event- 5th May 2025, 3pm at the Golden Pheasant WWll/Dad’s Army theme, with Ike and other wartime gear. A quiz, Community singing, Raffle and Moment of Remembrance. Event to be held in the Golden Pheasant paddock (Marquee if wet). The Pub will be serving wartime themed food and there will be Victory cake for all! Proceeds to Little Miracles and Etton church.

Glinton

Lighting the Beacon of Peace

The whole village has come together every time the Glinton beacon has been lit. We hope for another tremendous turnout when flames around the nation ignite on Thursday 8th May at 9:30pm to commemorate the end of WW2 in Europe. To make the event truly memorable, Glinton’s bell ringers will be in action along with the Benefice Choir who will sing a variety of patriotic songs. See you all at the village pump a few minutes before 9:30pm.

Helpston

Join us on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May from 12-4pm for a delightful Victory Picnic at John Clare Cottege gardens, hosted by Helpston Parish Council and John Clare Cottage. Embrace the spirit of the 1940’s by bringing along your own themed picnic along with a blanket and chairs – this is a no-alcohol event. Don your best 1940’s attire for a chance to win a prize for being best dressed!

On Thursday 8th May – at 6pm the iconic WW2 DUKW vehicle will tour the village –

residents are encouraged to wave flags and sing wartime songs. At 6.30pm, St Botolph church bells will ring (subject to renovation access) and at 9.30pm participants are invited to light a candle or lantern in their window for reflection on sacrifices made and hopes for peace.

Maxey

5th May VE day coffee morning 10.30am – 12.00pm. Tea, coffee and homemade cakes. Maxey Village Hall

As we mark this historic anniversary, these village events offer more than just a glimpse into the past—they remind us of the power of community, resilience, and shared memory. Whether it’s the ring of church bells, the flicker of candlelight, or the joy of singing together, each gesture echoes the spirit of VE Day and the hope it brought to millions. Let’s honour that legacy by turning out in numbers, young and old alike, to remember, to celebrate, and to give thanks.

Beerfest Breaks Records

Another year, another Helpston Beerfest – and what an event it was, if we may say so ourselves!

The 2025 edition marked the sixth Beerfest, and just like previous years, it continues to grow a little bigger (and hopefully better) each time.

This year introduced a brandnew feature: the inaugural Beerfest Quiz on Friday night, giving more people the chance to enjoy the event in a different format and setting. It was a sell-out, and judging by the feedback, thoroughly enjoyed by many. The quiz wasn’t your typical pub quiz—it did include general knowledge questions, but also featured a beer/boozethemed music round, a “guess the pub sign” challenge, and even a round to identify the pub based on a quirky pub sign. The standout moments were arguably the blind crisp tasting and the “Does-It-FloatOr-Sink?” round. For the crisp tasting, teams sampled weird and wonderful flavours, earning points for correctly identifying them—bolognaise, tzatziki, gyros, and even aniseed made

appearances! The grand finale saw ten random items dropped into a transparent tank filled with water, and teams had to predict whether each one would float or sink. Who’d have guessed a can of Cherry Coke floats, but Tesco Lemonade sinks?

The winning quiz team received a beautiful hamper kindly donated by Grasmere Farm—which they graciously offered up again. Combined with an additional raffle prize donated by Tarmac, this contributed to a very successful Saturday raffle!

Saturday kicked off at noon, with a steady stream of early visitors enjoying the 14 beers on offer from eight different breweries. The afternoon was family-friendly, and it was lovely to see local children enjoying soft drinks, food, and the ever-popular games “sjoelen” and ball-rolling. Food inside the hall included hot dogs and popcorn, while outside, visitors were treated to delicious pizza and doughnuts

from the catering vans.

This year, the team reworked the cask setup to accommodate more beer—allowing for two full days of pours and reducing the need to swap out casks mid-event (which is hard work and can disturb the beer). We’ve identified a few areas for improvement next year to smooth out the flow and beer service, and we’re also aiming to standardize the glasses, as the variety of shapes and sizes presented some logistical challenges.

Saturday evening featured live music by The Zephyrs, and despite the compact space, the band and crowd created a brilliant party atmosphere—complete with plenty of singing and some delightfully questionable dancing! All the hard work paid off—not only did villagers and visitors have a fantastic time, but we also raised a record-breaking amount for our chosen charities. After all expenses, we made a profit of £7,000, which was donated to Little Miracles, Adele’s Princess Wish, and Friends of John Clare School to support their incredible work.

We’re already planning the 2026 event, and we warmly welcome any constructive feedback—please feel free to share your thoughts with any of the team members or via our Facebook page or website: www.helpstonbeerfestival.com.

And finally, a heartfelt thank you from the organisers to everyone who made this event possible. Without the support of volunteers, spouses, sponsors, caterers, and attendees, this simply wouldn’t happen. Here’s to Beerfest 2026!

Maxey Car Show

Hits Full Throttle

August 16th, 2025

Willowbrook Farm, Scotsmans Lodge, on the Marholm to Ufford Road PE6 7EL

Get ready to rev up in August

Maxey’s Classic Car and Bike Show is being held on Saturday August 16 at its popular venueWillowbrook Farm.

One of the most well attended regional shows, the longestablished event is sure to attract a large entry of gleaming two- and four-wheelers. It’s also a great day out - with live music from the popular DB5, a real-ale bar, pizzas and BBQ. Admission is just £5 with free entry for exhibitors and children under 14.

The show opens at 11am, with judging taking place between

12.30 pm and 3.00pm.

Our experienced judges, who are also national motoring journalists, have the difficult job of picking the winners.

The show, organised by the Maxey Charity Club and raises money for local and regional good causes is now in its 24th year! So far, we have donated just over £93,000. We would love to make the total £100,000 following this year’s event.

Last year attracted over 450 vehicles. These included a wide range of classics, exotics like modern Ferraris, kit cars and a 4x4 category. We also have a class for classic motorcycles and this

category proves more popular each year.

Our motto is: ‘If you drive it or ride it and you love it – come along and show it.’

There is no need to book your vehicle in, just turn up on the day. We just ask you to arrive between 8.30 and 10.30 and follow the marshalls instructions before the gates open to the public.

Contact Gilly Chown on 07900 823844 or visit maxeycarshow. wordpress.com for more information.

pitchperfect

YOUR AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

By featuring your lineage adverts for 12 months, spanning six issues, we will get your details in front of over 12,000 village residents But wait, there's more! As a bonus, advertisers in our Classified Section will also gain access to our vibrant online community. With over 4,600 active members on our Facebook group, you'll have the opportunity to share promotional messages with a wider audience on the last Friday of every month for an entire year. 12 months coverage for just £99 per year (no VAT to pay)

ACCOUNTING

JB Accounting Services T: 07432 550002

E: jb_as@outlook.com JB Accounting Services jb-accountingservices.co.uk

ARCHITECTURAL

Architectural Design Services

T: 07841 521271 01733 252850

E: JasonADServices@yahoo.co.uk.om / Architectural Design Services

BUILDERS & LANDSCAPING

Owen Builders and Landscaping

T: 07850994577

E: owenbuilderslandscaping@gmail.com

Owen Builders and Landscaping

CARPENTRY

CG Carpentry and Building

T: 07830 364989

E: cgcarpentryandbuilding@gmail.com www.c-g-carpentry-and-building.business.site

BC Carpentry

T: 07710 328848 E: Info@bc-carpentry.co.uk www.bc-carpentry.co.uk

MJW Carpentry

T: 07720 530335 E: Mitchelljw31@gmail.com MJW Carpentry

COMPUTER REPAIRS & UPGRADES

The Wizard’s Tech Lab

We are dedicated to providing computer repairs, upgrades, advice and services to our customers

T: 07544 277 544 E: russell@wizardstechlab.co.uk www.wizardstechlab.co.uk

MacLogics

Specialising in Apple Mac repairs and services since 2002. Most tasks carried out in client’s home

T: 078941 44588 E: info@maclogics.co.uk www.maclogics.co.uk

DOG WALKING AND PET SITTING

Marathon Mutts

Dog walking and pet sitting services

T: 07484683268 E: mymarathonmutts@gmail.com www.marathonmutts.co.uk

FARMING & PET SUPPLIES

TL Hall Farming Supplies

T: 07940297788

E: les.farmsupplies@yahoo.com

TL Hall Farm Supplies

FENCING

Webwood Fencing Services & Supplies

Fencing Supplies & Installations. Superior workmanship. Quality Materials. Excellent customer service.Open to the public. T: 01733 639111 E enquiries@webwooduk.com www.webwooduk.com

GARDENING

Adcock Propery & Garden Maintenance Services

T: 07787 556817 E: adcockspgs@gmail.com

Adcocks Property & Garden Interior Decorating, Garden Maintenance & General Handyman work offering a reliable service at competitive rates.

Lifestyle Property Maintenance (Gardens) Regular, weekly or fortnightly garden maintenance visits to keep your outdoor spaces looking tip top T: 07714 266307 E: sharon.lifestylepm@gmail.com www.lifestylepropertymaintenance.com

HEALTH

& BEAUTY

The Cove Aesthetics T: 07872893326 @thecoveaesthetics_ @Thecoveaesthetics

E: thecoveaesthetics@icloud.com www.thecoveaesthetics.com

Heel The Sole Foot Healthcare

T: 07889 798370

E: Suewillcox01@gmail.com www.heelthesole.uk

Meta Physiotherapy T: 07946 067439

E: daniela@metaphysiotherapy.net www.metaphysiotherapy.net

Truly Confident Aesthetics

1c West Street T: 07951 484752

E: trulyconfidentaesthetocs@gmail.com www.trulyconfidentaesthetics.net

HOME SERVICES

Campbells Home Improvements

Architectural Design Services

FOR ALL YOUR HOME DESIGN SOLUTIONS

• Small & Large Extensions

• Garage & Loft Conversions

Providing home and garden repairs and improvements to local home owners, tenants and landlords. From small odd jobs to conversions and extensions.

M: 07494 734226

E: Kieran@campbellshomeimprovements.com www.campbellshomeimprovements.com

MORTGAGE ADVICE

Path Mortgages

T: 01778 428158

E: hello@pathmortgages.co.uk www.pathmortgages.co.uk

PHARMACY

Newborough Pharmacy

T: 01733 811917

www.newboroughpharmacy.co.uk

PLASTERING

King Plastering

T: 07817 737277

E: kingplasteringltd@icloud.com

PLUMBING & HEATING

Fenland Heating & Plumbing

T: 07930 865642

E: Fenlandplumbingandheating@hotmail.com /Fenlandplumbingandheating

PUBS, RESTAURANTS & MOBILE FOOD

Amo La Pizza

T: 07514 771388 E: info@amolapizza.uk woodfiredpizzauk

Ruddy Duck at Peakirk

T: 01733 252426 E: nigelcook502@gmail.com www.ruddyduckpeakirk.co.uk

• Planning & Building Regulation

Submissions including Listed Buildings

• New Builds • Internal Alterations

• Change of Use Applications

Contact Jason Thomas: 01733 252 850 / 07841 521 271 or e-mail JasonADServices@yahoo.co.uk for your free consultation.

This the Chez the food, beef gently in a

HEALTH & BEAUTY CONT. Bœuf

After becomes a deeply to make, Cheaper vegetables families good we tend steak grain, in a important and rather Go of time longer restaurants Bourgignon developed cuisine when over the great; with am’ well-known always thought at our much him

tribune DIRECTORY

n Bainton Church

Reverend Gary Alderson 07503 975588

n Barnack Church (St John the Baptist)

Gary Alderson, Rector 07503 975588

n Barnack Community Association

Sally Hullock 07795 565658

n Barnack Cricket Club

William Armitage, Chairman 01780 740749

n Barnack Home from Home Club

Niamh Holman hfhbarnack@gmail.com

n Barnack Messy Church

Julie Stanton 01780 749123

n Bowls Clubs

John Broadbelt 01780 740133

Glinton Bowls: Jeff Bell 01733 252395

n Botolph’s Barn

Kate Hinchliff 07745 116621

n British Legion

Max Sawyer 01780 765507

n Castor, Ailsworth and District Gardeners’ Society

Chair - Ann Huckle 01733 3780745

ann.huckle@cobnut-cottage.co.uk

Secretary - Richard Pearce - cadgsociety@gmail.com

n Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Scouts & Rainbows

General Guiding Queries

Helpston Brownies, Morag Sweeney ........07801 357701

Helpston Guides, Anna Batty 07780 115792

Helpston Rainbows, Charlotte Moles 07549 152192

General Scouting Queries

Martin Hall 07778 707952

Helpston Beavers, Alison Cook 07437 909735

Helpston Cubs, Susan Hodge 07399 252033

Helpston Scouts, Mark Crookes 07808 633018

n Doctors

Deeping Practice (Main line) 01778 579000

Deeping Practice (Appnts.) 01778 579001

Glinton Surgery 01733 252246

n Etton Church (St Stephen’s)

Churchwarden: Anne Curwen 01733 253357

n Fenland Clarion Cycling Club

www.fenlandclarion.co.uk

n Glinton Friendship Club

Pam Kounougakis 01733 252018

n Glinton Church (St Benedict’s)

Churchwarden: Veronica Smith 01733 252019

n Helpston Church (St Botolph’s)

Rector: Gary Alderson 07503 975588

n Helpston Helcats

Phil Roberts 07925 720195

n Horticultural Societies

John Best - Glinton ................................................. 01778 342115

Debbie Martin - Barnack Show 01780 740048

Kirsty Scott - Peakirk 01733 253952

n Langdyke Countryside Trust

Richard Astle 01733 252376

n Maxey Church (St Peter’s)

Churchwarden: Mandy Loveder 01778 343100

n Newborough Good NeighboursCate 07735 810139

n Newborough Pre-school Playgroup

Debbie 07423 519890

n Newborough Indoor Carpet Bowls –Brenda Vessey 07941 308148

n Northborough Church (St Andrew’s)

Jane Knott, Church warden 01778 345101

Polly Beasley, Church warden 01778 380849

n Peakirk Church (St Pegas)

Churchwarden: Sheila Lever 01733 252416

Churchwarden: Pauline Cooke 01733 253116

n Pre-School & After-School Clubs

Helpston Playhouse pre-school, Breakfast & After

School Club: Lucy Garwood 01733 253243

Peakirk Tots: Emma Thornton 07876 822173

Little Lambs Toddler Group, Barnack

Julie Stanton 01780 749123

Sunflower Seed Pre-School, Northborough

Kirsty Wislawski 01733 253685

The Owls’ Nest, Amy Quarizzo 01733 252361

n Schools & Education

Arthur Mellows Village College 01733 252235

John Clare Primary 01733 252332

Barnack C of E Primary ...................................... 01780 740265

Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School 01733 252361

Northborough Primary 01733 252204

Peterborough Adult Learning 01733 761361

n Tennis Clubs

Helpston Tennis Club 07714 780573

n Ufford Church Enquiries

Peter and Sally Hudson ......................................

01780 740475

n Village Halls

Barnack Village Hall Bookings

Sally Hullock 07795 565658

Glinton Village Hall Bookings

Sue Lane 07923 475966

Glinton Whist, Joyce Heathcote 01733 253790

Helpston Village Hall, Caryn Thompson 07801 260240

Maxey Village Hall, Andy Bagworth maxeyvillagehall@yahoo.com

Northborough Village Hall: www.northboroughvillagehall.co.uk

Peakirk Village Hall (Bookings) 07938 386226

Ufford Village Hall

Emma Thorp 07769 587742

n Village Tribune

Editor, Tony Henthorn 07842 805561

n Ward Councillors

Barnack Cllr Irene Walsh 07753 203 844

Glinton & Castor Cllr Peter Hiller 07920 160487

Glinton & Castor Cllr Neil Boyce 07483 958795

Eye, Thorney & Newborough Cllr Mark Ormston 07483 373084

n Women’s Institute (WI)

Northborough WI

Tracy Thomas (Secretary) 07720 327145

n Youth Clubs

Barnack Youth Club, Colin Morgan 07850 366528

Parish Council Contact Details

n Ailsworth Parish Council

Anne Perkins, Chairman 01733 380541

Jenny Rice, Clerk 07889 669550

n Bainton & Ashton Parish Council Councillor Susie Lucas (Chairman) 01780 740159

Susie.lucas@baintonandashton-pc.gov.uk

Clerk; Jenny Rice email; clerk@baintonandashton-pc. gov.uk 07889 669550

n Barnack Parish Council

Chair: Jonathan O’Shea –  jonno.barnackpc@gmail.com

Michelle Dickens: 07595 377236 clerk@barnack-pc.gov.uk

n Deeping Gate Parish Council

Cllr Philip Thompson (Chair) philip.thompson@deepinggate-pc.gov.uk

Clerk – Elinor Beesle 07713 194173 clerk@deepinggate-pc.gov.uk

n Etton Parish Council

Cllr Fred Morton (Chair)  fred.morton@etton-pc.gov.uk

Clerk – Elinor Beesley 07713 194173 clerk@etton-pc.gov.uk

n Glinton Parish Council

Cllr Gerry Kirt – Chairman 01733 252839

Mr J Haste – Clerk 07591 834163 clerk@glinton-pc.gov.uk

n Helpston Parish Council

Parish Council Clerk – Tony Henthorn –  helpstonpc@hotmail.co.uk

Chairman, Cllr Ali Peat  07399 532266

alastair@alfrescolandscaping.co.uk

n Maxey Parish Council

Cllr Lynne Yarham – (Chair) lynne.yarham@maxey-pc.gov.uk

Clerk – Elinor Beesley 07713 194173 clerk@maxey-pc.gov.uk

n Newborough Parish Council

Cllr Mark Ormston Mark.ormston@ newboroughandboroughfenpc.org.uk

Clerk Irene Healiss clerk@newboroughandboroughfen-pc.gov.uk

n Northborough Council

Cllr John Dadge (Chair) –  john.dadge@northborough-pc.gov.uk

Elinor Beesley 07713 194173

Clerk to Northborough Parish Council clerk@northborough-pc.gov.uk

n Southorpe Parish Council:

Clerk Alison Hurford 07898 217307

Peakirk Parish Council

Chairman: Cllr Henry Clark 01733 253203

Clerk: Angela Hankins 01733 253397

Email: clerk@peakirk-pc.gov.uk

n Ufford Parish Council

Chair – Cllr Paul Wilde ............................. 07960 018148 paul.wilde1@aru.ac.uk

Clerk Amie Fenech – clerk@ufford-pc.gov.uk

Full details of all Parish Council Councillors and contacts for local churches, village halls, schools, community associations, sports clubs, guides, brownies, scouts (etc) can be found in the Directory section of the Village Tribune website: www. villagetribune.org.uk/contact-directory/