1 Issue 25 • February 2008 [email protected] • 01638 780839 • www.islehaminformer.org.uk HELP TO PREVENT ‘DISTRACTION BURGLARIES’ p5 • COMMUNITY CENTRE UPDATE p6 Isleham Informer A very important questionnaire O ne of several grants being sought for Isleham’s new Community Centre is from Sport England. There is a questionnaire relating to this on the back page of this edition. Please complete and return it (one per household) as the more that are returned, the greater our chance of getting the grant. Phil Aspland O nce again, the Festival of Light was a great success, with the church full of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. We also enjoyed a wonderful Carol concert led by the pupils of Isleham School, and finished with a Taize service that helped us to think about Christmas and what it really means. Continued on page 4. Festival of Light success
HELP TO PREVENT ‘DISTRACTION BURGLARIES’ p5 • COMMUNITY CENTRE UPDATE p6
Isleham Informer
A very important questionnaire
O ne of several grants being sought for Isleham’s new Community Centre is from Sport England. There is a questionnaire relating to this on the back page of this edition. Please complete and
return it (one per household) as the more that are returned, the greater our chance of getting the grant. Phil Aspland
Once again, the Festival of Light was a great success, with the church full of
beautifully decorated Christmas trees. We also enjoyed a wonderful Carol concert led by the pupils of Isleham School, and fi nished with a Taize service that helped us to think about Christmas and what it really means.
Continued on page 4.
Festival of Light success
2
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From the Editor
February. What is it good for? The shortest month, but somehow it always feels the longest. The excitement of Christmas and New
Year has long since passed and Spring has yet to start making its presence felt. (Although it looks like buds are already beginning to appear on trees outside this window – will we get a Winter this year?) Not much to do other than eat lots of pancakes and moan. Don’t hate February – it’s a thirteenth of your life! This year, why not fill in those long evenings by completing the ICCA questionnaire and let your feelings be known. (OK, it won’t take THAT long, but you KNOW it makes sense to do it...)
The Isleham Informer would like to welcome Kelvin Morgan to our little group of overworked, underpaid and underappreciated staff. Kelvin has the unenviable task of taking over from the late great Ian Humphreys as the Informer’s advertising manager. So if you have any advertising queries, please address them to Kelvin (contact details below).
Once again, space in the Informer is limited, so we must pass on our apologies to Robert Myson for the non-inclusion of his update on the Tsunami appeal and his work in Sri Lanka. We promise that it WILL be in the April issue. ■
AdvertisingContact Kelvin Morgan on 01638 781384 or at [email protected] for details of the ludicrously reasonable rates for advertising in the Informer.
Next issueThe next issue will be published 1st April 2008. The copy deadline for all editorial and advertising is 9th March 2008.
DisclaimerThe Informer would like to point out that we have neither tried nor tested all of the products and services advertised in these pages and therefore cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of any claims made.
Contents 1 Festival of Light; ICCA questionnaire 2 From the Editor; Contacts; Advertising; Next issue 3 Village Notes; Announcements 4 Festival of Light continued; Michael Palin visit 5 PCSO report on distraction burglaries 6 ICCA Update 7 Ian Humphreys tribute 8 PTA news 9 Under 5’s appeal 10 Parish Council News 12 WI report 13 The Isleham Society 14 Joyce’s Corner 15 Reader’s letter 16 Churches’ News 18 IndependentAge; Transport research 19 Buss pass scheme 20 ICCA questionnaire
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Annual Parish Meeting The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Monday 17th March at the Village Hall in the Small Room at 7.30 pm. All welcome.
Child Health ClinicThere will be no Child Health Clinic at the Village Hall on Thursday 13th March. Clinic will resume on Thursday 27th March thereafter every fortnight.
WI Jumble SaleThe WI are having a Jumble Sale at the Village Hall on Saturday 23rd February at 2.30pm. Admission is 20p, children get in free.
Spring Fair Toy Appeal Have you sorted out your children’s toys and games after Christmas? Have you got books they have grown out of? The WI will be holding a Spring Fair to raise funds for the new Community Centre. If you have anything you would like to donate, please phone Glenda Preece on 01638 780734 and she will collect it.
Easter PageantHigh St Church will be producing an Easter Pageant on Good Friday. There will be a procession from the chapel to the Priory where the Easter story will be enacted. Posters giving more details will be displayed nearer the time.
Isleham Gala CommitteeThe Committee needs new members to help with this year’s Gala. If you are interested please attend the next meeting at the Comrade’s Club, Monday 18th February, 8 pm or contact Fred Preece on 01638 780734.
Comrades’ Club Quiz NightsThere are quizzes in The Comrades’ Club on 8th February and 7th March, starting at 8.30 pm. Join us for a fine Friday night out with challenging questions and excellent beer; only £1 per person, with a free round of drinks to the winners of the first round and BIG cash prizes! ■
ANNOUNCEMENTSCONGRATULATIONS
Mrs Mary Wells 104 years old on 8th February. Mary was born on the Fen in 1904, moved to the Pits until 1970, then lived in Limestone Close until 2005, when she was 101. She now lives at Fairhaven in Soham. Her son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Pat Wells of West Street, say Mary is very well and looking forward to her birthday.
DEATHSPAMMENTER Margaret, formerly of Church Street, Isleham passed away 28th November at Erskine House, Edinburgh.WIGHTMAN Robert Herbert Willing (Bob), passed away 7th January at Fairview Care Hospital in Albany, New Zealand, aged 91. Beloved husband of the late May, father to Robert and Leslie (of Sun Street), grand-father to four and great-grandfather to eight. Bob and May ran Wightman’s shop on Church Street from 1963 to 1984.
If you would like a birth, marriage, anniversary or death announcement included please contact any of the Informer staff members (see Contacts on page 2). We are happy to print information about Isleham residents or people with Isleham connections.
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The Rising SunSun Street, Isleham Tel: 01638 780471
ENTERTAINMENTFEBRUARY
Friday 22nd – Karaoke with ChasMARCH
Friday 14th – Race Night to raise funds for Isleham Under 5s
Friday 21st – karaoke with CliveFriday 28th – Live Music with Phil
FOOD SERVEDFriday and Saturday 12 noon to 2 pm
and 7 pm to 9 pm Sunday Lunchtime Roast (advisable to book)
OPENING TIMESMonday: 7 pm to 11 pm
Tuesday to Thursday: 12 noon to 3 pm & 7 pm to 11 pmFriday and Saturday: 12 noon to 12 midnight
I t seems Isleham was visited by television and film star Michael Palin on
New Year’s Eve; he viewed St Andrew’s Church, commenting in the Visitor’s Book: ‘One of the loveliest churches, full of character’.
St Andrew’s is remarkable for it’s hand-carved wooden angels, Jacobean altar rail and Peyton family monuments and brasses, and is mentioned in England’s Thousand Best Churches (Simon Jenkins, Penguin). ■
Festival of Light continued
I would like to say a big thank you to all who contributed to the Festival by taking the time to prepare a tree, coming to visit or helping out over the weekend. We are delighted to announce that a total of £1900 was raised. We shall be having the Festival again this year so I look forward to seeing you all again. Janice Pope
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Following a series of distraction burglaries in our area I would like to draw your attention to the following information; please also pass it on to anyone who
you think may be vulnerable to this type of crime.I am sure you have heard the warnings before but this
type of crime keeps happening so please be aware of any person or vehicle that you see in your area that looks suspicious; report it to us on 0845 456 4564. Burglars often scout out the area and plan their crimes in advance, so this could be a chance to get one step ahead of them. In the last spate of burglaries our enquiries revealed that many people recalled seeing a certain vehicle parked nearby and a group of young males, but did not report it and could offer no further descriptions. I cannot stress how important it is to get as much information as you can; the more we know the more chance we have of catching these criminals.
Crime against older people is rare, but when it happens it can be deeply shocking. Most people who call at your home will be genuine, but sometimes callers turn up unannounced, with the intention of tricking their way into your home. These are ‘distraction burglars’ and ‘bogus callers’. They may work alone, in pairs and could be either male or female. Children have also been known to try this. However, every member of the community can help reduce the incidence of these burglaries by following the simple LOCK, STOP, CHAIN, CHECK message: then we can all be sure that the people who enter our homes are who they claim to be.• Keep all exterior doors locked, and before you
answer the door stop and think whether you are expecting anyone.
• Put the door bar or chain on. Look through the spyhole or window to see who it is. Keep the bar or chain on while talking to the person on the doorstep.
• Ask for and carefully check their ID card (all genuine callers will carry one), even if they have a prearranged appointment. If you are not expecting them and they do not carry an ID card, DO NOT LET THEM IN.
• To check a caller is genuine look up their number in the phone book and check it against the card the caller has given you. Do not just ring the number on the card, it may be fake. If they claim they are from a utility company, look at a recent bill to check the phone number.
• If you have any doubts at all ask them to leave and come back at a time that is convenient to you and when you have had a chance to ask someone to be with you.
• REMEMBER, IF IN DOUBT: KEEP THEM OUT!I am also looking to revamp the local Neighbourhood
Watch Schemes and set up new ones. I think that in rural locations these schemes are an asset to all and the police fully support them. If you or anyone you know is interested in setting up a scheme or has one already, please let me know, and I will do what I can to help. Contact me on: 07736 086870 or email [email protected] PCSO Barb Neill, South Neighbourhood Policing Team
Remember: if in doubt, keep them out!
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Community Centre UpdateThe main news is that our bid for the Big Lottery (BL)
funding just, unfortunately, fell at the final hurdle. They divide their assessment criteria into eight key
areas: we rated excellent in one area, good in four, and satisfactory in three, including demonstration of need. Looking back, time constraints to meet the deadline for its submission meant that our application could, and would have been, even stronger – oh for another month, and we would have probably succeeded!
We are obviously disappointed, but by no means downbeat. We will search for compensatory finances, but we are also, at the same time, working on Plan B for a £1.5m Centre, as opposed to the £2m Plan A Centre we would have sought if our Lottery bid had been successful. Putting the situation in perspective, much of what we are planning is based on a highly successful Centre in Over. Their Centre is 940 square metres – £1.5m equates to approximately 1000 square metres, so we remain optimistic of achieving a Centre of which the village can be proud.
We learned much from the BL experience; it is just unfortunate that due to time constraints the largest sum to be applied for had to be in our first application. One of the important lessons learned is that we cannot succeed with any grant application without your help. The BL reason for not awarding the grant was that we didn’t sufficiently demonstrate the need for the Centre. In the short time available to us pre-application we were only
able to circulate 500 questionnaires; 169 were returned to us within the tight deadline. Quoting from the BL letter… “However, the response of 169 does not show a strong need… and limited detail was provided…” I quote this not to apportion criticism (if I was then we could have distributed more and chased harder for replies), but simply to emphasise that all grant providers need and expect community involvement. One of our potential providers is another Lottery off-shoot called Sport England, to whom we want to apply for probably £100,000. At the back of this Informer is a questionnaire relating to this application. To demonstrate community involvement, and hopefully need, please complete and return – even if you and/or your family are not sport-oriented.
More questionnaires may follow, relating to other, non-sport grant providers. Please help us with these as well.
On the theme of community involvement, by the time you read this, a Public Meeting will have been held on 14th January. I hope you knew about it, and if so, attended it, as your views are as important as ours, and we need to hear them.
We do remain very much upbeat. To conclude in this manner, we are pressing ahead with planning and grant-seeking (and shortly fund-raising) and would still love to have an impressive Centre up and running, with our completion date remaining to be the end of 2009.
Philip Aspland (Planning Committee Chairman)
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1930 – 2007This is an edited version of the wonderful tribute paid by Chris Hall at Ian’s memorial service at St Andrew’s Church on 9th November 2007.
Ian was born in Leicester in 1930. He left school to start work at only 14, and his thirst for adventure soon led
him to run away to London where he lived on his wits for three months until found and returned.
National Service saved the day: as a clerk in the RAF to an officer in the Mediterranean, he crewed one of the RAF’s ex-lifeboats – and his lifelong love of sailing began. Following demob Ian returned to work in Leicester. in 1953 he and a friend hitched to Dover, and arrived in Calais with only the clothes they were wearing and just £25 each in their pockets. Their travels lasted a whole year, walking and hitching around Europe, living off the land and earning a bob or two when they could. In Switzerland they climbed the Matterhorn, and in Greece, after walking through Yugoslavia, they climbed Mount Olympus.
On return to Leicester Ian worked in a hosiery mill, and 18 months later moved to London as a buyer. He spent eight years in the capital, where he met his Austrian wife Inge, and where his two daughters Karen and Sophie were born.
Ian’s love for the sea eventually led him to Hexanora, a 31ft yacht. He sailed her extensively in the southern North Sea, most of the Dutch Canaries and the whole of the Dutch coastline. (It is said that Hexanora’s progress around Holland could be plotted by listening for the strains of Ian’s squeeze box and renditions of raunchy rugby songs.)
I met Ian on several occasions, but it was only when he came to live in the village that he became a great friend. He integrated into Isleham community life with great speed and tenacity, and took on responsibility for advertising in the Informer. He also wrote several pieces, and was never afraid to write what others thought but were afraid to say!
Many of you will remember Ian tearing around the rec in 2007’s Gala Buggy Race, finishing half a lap ahead of his competitors. There was much pride and joy when he received the winner’s plaque!
He had been in Isleham just a few months when I called on him for help; I had been asked to be a Best Man, and was struggling with the speech. I called in and he immediately stood up (no mean feat for Ian) and began: “Well, the groom’s had a few girlfriends... when he went out at night to sow his wild oats, for weeks after he’d be praying for crop failure… do you remember the one who was so cross-eyed that when she cried the tears ran down her back – her doctor told her it was ‘back tearia’… and what about his first courtship when he got beaten up fighting for the girl’s honour? She wanted to keep it!”
Whatever Ian did, he did with pride and passion. He was an extraordinary and multi-faceted person, a joy to meet, especially with a gin and tonic placed in front of him. He was always ready to approach any subject with a fresh and open mind. He made such a positive contribution to the world in his own unique way. Ian, you are gone too soon and are sorely missed. Chris Hall
The annual PTA Quiz Night returns on Friday 29th February. Last year’s was a great success with more teams than ever taking part. This year we have to
limit the number of teams to 20. It is a great night out and great value at £20 for each team of four, which includes supper, so bring a bottle and enjoy the evening. If anyone would like to come along who does not have a ready-made team of four please let us know and we can organise team mates for you. Tickets are available now from the school office or contact 01353 688577.
It’s panto time again! Oh no it isn’t...
Oh yes it is, and it’s on from 12th to 15th March. Isleham Panto is celebrating its 25th year and the PTA are delighted to present an unmissable
production of ‘Cinderella’. A specially written script by long-standing members of Isleham Panto includes several references to many well known faces and places in the village and, judging by the laughter coming from the cast and crew during rehearsals, it promises to be a great evening’s entertainment. Many people have been involved in the Panto over the years and it is because of them, and the unfailing support of the village and surrounding community, that the Panto is celebrating its 25th year. In addition to the amazing actors and actresses, Isleham has produced people with a wide range of talents who magically make costumes, paint scenery, build props and generally keep the show running. The aim of the Panto this year is to make it the most successful show to date and a way of thanks to those pioneers of Panto who, 25 years ago, put on the first ever pantomime performance in Isleham of, what else... Cinderella!
Performances are at Isleham Village Hall: Wednesday 12th March at 7 pm, Thursday 13th March at 7 pm, Friday 14th March at 7 pm, and Saturday 15th March at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for children/OAPs. Special prices are available for group bookings. Tickets go on sale on Sunday 17th February from 3.30 pm in the School Hall and will also be available from school the week commencing 18th February.
All proceeds from the Panto go directly to the school, which enables them to buy items not included in their educational budget such as staging and lighting, music, instruments, interactive white boards and other technical equipment to enhance learning and offer new experiences for the children of Isleham and Chippenham. There is already a great deal of excitement surrounding this special anniversary pantomime so book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. For further information please contact PTA Chair, Lesley Ann Thompson on 01353 688577 or email: [email protected]
Help needed
I f anyone has any spare time and would like to be involved in this year’s Panto please contact Doreen Speirs on 01638 780783.
T he 150 Club is a great way to support the school and the PTA. Members pay £15 a year and are entered into a monthly cash prize draw. Half
the money goes to the PTA and the other half goes to the winning draw numbers. This year we would like to change the format so the 150 Club runs in line with the academic year from September to September. In order to achieve this we are running the 150 Club from January to July and asking members to pay a half yearly subscription of £7.50. In September the 150 Club will revert to it’s usual format and you will be invited to join for a year for a £15 membership fee. Please support the 150 Club – the more members we have the more money we raise for the PTA and the greater the monthly prize draw. Anyone over 18 can join so please contact the school office or phone 01353 688577. ■
Isleham Pre-School: can you help?
In 1972 Isleham Pre-School was born when a brave mum set up a playgroup in her own front room, to meet the childcare needs of the village. Once
established, it was in such demand that it moved to the Village Hall and then on to the Limestone Close Community Room in 1976. With grant funding and community goodwill in 1986 the parents’ committee raised £10,000 for the installation of the existing second-hand refurbished Portakabin on the Primary School site.
The Isleham Under Fives’ Association needs to raise around £150,000 to replace the Portakabin with a modular timber building. This would not only improve facilities for our children but also secure the Pre-School’s future by allowing us to increase session numbers from 18 to 24 and once again meet the childcare needs of our growing village.
The committee has applied for lottery funding three times and each time been rejected. Community fundraising has raised £30,000, but this is far short of our target and we are running out of time; the existing building will soon be unsuitable for purpose. This is why we are asking parents for continued support.
We are looking for local businesses and community groups to donate to our cause. Please let us know if you are able to help in any way, or if you can put forward any organisations or groups you think we could approach with a view to supporting or sponsoring us.
For further information contact me on 01353 688261 or email [email protected] Emma Jones, Vice Chairman IUFA
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Parish Council NewsThe following are the abbreviated and incomplete versions of the IPC minutes for the November and December 2007 meetings. Any parishioner may request a copy of the full minutes from the IPC.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 5TH NOVEMBER 2007Present Cllrs. Beckett, Carter, Mrs Wilkes, Mrs H Thompson, Puckey, Mrs Malkin, Mrs R Thompson, Neale, Bishop, Garbett, Mrs Hobbs, three parishioners. CC Broadway arrived at 8.30 pm. Apologies County Cllr Powley.
POLICE MATTERS• Police Report – There was no police report• Crime Report – There was no crime report• Neighbourhood Panel – The last meeting of the panel was
held on 3rd October at Chippenham Village Hall. Speeding still seems to be the main issue. The Panel are looking for village representatives to carry out speed monitoring; the CC will train people in the use of the equipment, and then they will be supervised by the police. The councillors were reminded that the Panel is not just about policing, but about other village issues including waste recycling and dog fouling.
VILLAGE HALL REPORT• Village Hall Roof – It was agreed that a price be obtained
for razor wire to go around the top of the flat roof of the hall.RECREATION GROUND REPORT
• New Recreation Ground finance: 95% of the grant from the Football Foundation has been paid; in order to receive the remaining monies the council need to provide an audited statement, a certificate of completion and a site visit will take place.
• The Recreation Ground is being used by Newmarket FC on Sundays. They will be invoiced for this use, thus contributing to the upkeep of the ground.
• Date for the opening of the new Recreation Ground has yet to be arranged.
• Extra parking at Recreation Ground – There have been complaints about parking at the Recreation Ground during games and especially on Saturdays; however, the Council do not wish cars to park on the grass and it is not practical at this time to build a further car-park behind the AWSA.
• Play Area – An opening ceremony was held on Monday 29th October with ECDC, children from the primary school and the local press.
• It was agreed that the Council go ahead with the work required to clean up the AWSA and ask the Recreation Ground committee to put a strip of plastic netting across from the pavilion to the AWSA to prevent so much mud being carried onto the pitch.
COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT• Fenland Flier (Cllr Neal declared an interest) – Not County
Council responsibility perhaps the Parish Council could write to the sixth form colleges concerned?
• Neighbourhood Panel is making good progress and is to be extended throughout the District.
• Bid to the government for £500m for transport in Cambridge leading to congestion charges is out for consultation.
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT• The grant to ADEC was cut by £70,000.• It was agreed that the council will not be able to support a
colour edition of the Isleham Informer as the budget has been exceeded for this year.
CEMETERY & CHURCHYARD MATTERS• Clerk has met with the tree officer; other works to cemetery
not yet organised.• The Cemetery Keeper will lay slabs around the water tap in
the New Cemetery.ALLOTMENT MATTERS
• Following a meeting with the allotment holders it was decided: Water would not be put on at the Dunstall Allotment. Any available money could be better used for the upkeep of the road and keeping the vacant plots cut and weed free. The tenants would like to set up an allotment association. They would also like to meet regularly with the working party. All the plots will be re-marked out and re-numbered and new maps drawn.
• It was agreed that the clerk approach individuals within the
village to see if they would be willing to keep the allotments cut and to provide the council with a quotation.
• The question was raised as to whether the allotment plots are available only to Isleham residents or could they be advertised outside the village; Three Tree Allotment could be; not sure about Dunstall.
• It was agreed that the allotments be advertised in the Informer and the clerk will check whether the Dunstall Allotment can be rented to people from outside the village.
HIGHWAYS & FOOTPATH MATTERS• There are a number of places in the village where there are
trees and hedges protruding onto the footpath including Hall Barn Rd, The Causeway and Mill St. The clerk will contact the Highways Dept and home owners to arrange for these to be cut back. The road from Fen Bank to the Marina has been re-surfaced and the white lines have been covered. The clerk will contact the Highways Dept about this and a give way sign at this junction.
• The grass is very worn at the top of Robins Close; it is hoped that it will grow back over the winter; if not it could be re-seeded in the spring.
PARISH COUNCIL FEESIt was agreed that the petrol pump site rent and angling fees remain the same for the coming year.
CHARITY TRUSTEESLady Peyton’s Charity: Several senior members retiring from the Lady Peyton’s charity. Cllr Bishop and Cllr Mrs R Thompson agreed to be nominated as members of the committee.
SALE OF LAND AT LUGGER BANKIt was agreed that the PC sell the small part of the Lugger Bank to Mr Chaplin and that the Lugger Bank rent remain the same while negotiations take place.
PLANNING MEETING 5TH NOVEMBER 2007PLANNING APPLICATIONS
• Rebuild and repair end of existing outbuilding and provide tie beam support to existing boundary wall at 3 West Street, Isleham for Mr J Howlett – no objection.
• Modification of existing barn to residential annexe at 7 Mill Street, Isleham for Mr & Mrs J Bryson-Hill.
• Construction of single storey dwelling at The Laurels, Waterside, Isleham for Mr J and Mrs L Beaney – objection: the proposed dwelling is outside the development boundary for Isleham and close to the sewage works.
• Single storey rear extension at The Old Maltings, Malting Lane, for Mr J French & Miss A Marsh – no objection.
PLANNING APPROVALS• Proposal to vary planning condition number 2 at Isleham
High Street Baptist Church. • Conversion of barn into a four bedroom house and
construction of double garage at barn adjoining 12 West Street, Isleham for Crestsign Ltd.
• Application for certificate of lawfulness of existing use for the keeping of horses and ponies at Elderberry Farm, Prickwillow Road, Isleham for Mrs W Davies.
• Replacement conservatory and new covered walkway at 69 East Fen Road For Mr Steven Neale.
• Proposed new vehicular access, internal alteration to house and annexe, new window at first floor and double garage at 12 West Street, Isleham for Mr B Corke.
PLANNING REFUSALS • Convert existing barn adjoining 12 West Street, Isleham for
Crestsign Ltd.• New vehicular access and construction of a double
garage at 12 West Street Isleham for Mr B Corke. • Outline permission for one dwelling at 92 The Causeway
Isleham for Mr & Mrs Wells.
PLANNING MEETING 19TH NOVEMBER 2007 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
• Single storey rear extension at 45 Sun Street, Isleham for Mr & Mrs Radcliffe – no objection.
• Residential development consisting of 2 two bedroom semi-detached dwellings for T & E Developments – objection.
• Construction of six additional stables and feed room at Elderberry Farm, Prickwillow Road, Isleham for Mrs W Davies – no objection.
11
• Windows to front and rear at 24 Hall Barn Road, Isleham for Benchmark Contracts Ltd – no objection to the windows but concerned about the lack of landscaping that has taken place around the units generally.
• Two storey and single storey side and rear extension at 4 Dockings Lane Isleham for Mr & Mrs G Kemp – no objection.
PLANNING MEETING 10TH DECEMBER 2007Present Cllrs Neal, Carter, Beckett, Mrs Wilkes, Garbett, Puckey, Mrs H. Thompson, Mrs Malkin
PLANNING APPLICATIONS• Construction of single storey dwelling at The Laurels,
Waterside, Isleham, Mr and Mrs Beaney – no objection.• Detached garage to include a roof window and provision
of timber gates as constructed – retrospective at 11 West Street Isleham for Mr M. Capp – no objection.
• Replacement dwelling for detached two bedroom bungalow at Trelander 18 Prickwillow Road, Isleham for Mr and Mrs Mitchell – no objection.
• New Signs: two fascia signs, one projecting sign, one non-illuminated car park sign and one non-illuminated menu-board for Co-op Retail Services Ltd, 2 West Street, Isleham – no objection.
PLANNING APPROVALS • Single storey rear extension at The Old Maltings, Malting
Lane, Isleham for Mr J. French and Miss A. Marsh.• Single storey rear extension at 18 Little London, Isleham for
Mr T. Drayton.• Conservatory to rear of property at 3 Station Road, Isleham
for Mr T. Jacklin.• Rebuild and repair end of existing outbuilding and provide
tie beam support to existing boundary wall at 3 West Street, Isleham, for Mr J Howlett.
• Rebuild and repair original outbuilding for general storage use in connection with residential use of the site at 3 West Street, Isleham for Mr J Howlett.
PLANNING REFUSALS • Two fascia signs, one projecting sign, one car park sign and
one menu board at 2 West Street Isleham, for CWS. • Change of use from annexe to independent dwelling at
The Annexe, 10 Sun Street Isleham, for Mr G. Thomas.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 10TH DECEMBER 2007Present Cllrs Neal, Carter, Puckey, Beckett, Garbett, Mrs Malkin, Mrs Wilkes, Mrs H. Thompson, two parishioners.Apologies C.C Powley, CC Broadway, Cllrs Bishop, Mrs R. Thompson, Mrs Hobbs.
VILLAGE HALL MATTERS• New hand dryer in disabled toilet• There is a rat going down the drain outside the back door. It
was agreed that the clerk contact Soham Pest Control.CEMETERY AND CHURCHYARD MATTERS
It was agreed that the council accept the quotation from Greenwood Tree Surgery for the works to be carried out to the trees in the old cemetery.
ALLOTMENT MATTERSIt was proposed by Cllr Garbett and seconded by Cllr Puckey that the council accept the quotation from Mr M. Winters to plough and cultivate and keep allotments clean for one year.
HIGHWAYS AND FOOTPATH MATTERS• A letter has been received from Mrs Woodroffe about the poor
condition of the Little London roadway. The clerk will write to Highways to see if they are able to address this problem.
• There is a large number of leaves on Malting Lane, Mill Street and Beck Road; the clerk will contact Veolia to see if they can address this as soon as possible.
• The name plate for Little London Drove has come off and this will also be reported to the Highways Department.
• There is still a major problem with vehicles parked on Sun Street particularly on Saturdays and Sundays; a Stagecoach bus was held up on Saturday, and a Neals coach was held up on Sunday last weekend. The clerk will write to High Street Church, St Andrew’s Church, The Rising Sun and the Post Office to notify them that we are informing the police of the difficulties with parking. ■
Jeannette Malkin 17 Little London, Isleham CB7 5SE
Tel: 01638 780283
Lionel Neal 104 Beck Road, Isleham CB7 5QP
Tel: 01638 781066
Geoff Garbett 16 Croft Road, Isleham CB7 5QR
Tel: 01638 780863
Ian Bishop 17 Sun Street, Isleham CB7 5RT
Tel: 01638 780256
Elaine Hobbs 49 Hall Barn Road, Isleham,
CB7 5QZ Tel: 01638 781681
Hazel Thompson 9 Limestone Close, Isleham
CB7 5RP Tel: 01638 780633
Roseanna Thompson 1 Fen Bank, Isleham CB7 5SL
Tel: 01638 780994
Pauline Wilkes 6 Limestone Close, Isleham CB7 5RP
Tel: 01638 780640
Diane Bayliss 37 Croft Road, Isleham CB7 5QR
(Parish Clerk) Tel: 01638 781687
Ely Citizens Advice BureauBenefits Drop-in Session in SohamWednesdays 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, Care & Repair, 11b Churchgate Street, Soham.
Do you need help with or require any of the following?
• Pension Credit• Income Support• Disability Living Allowance• Attendance Allowance• Carer’s Allowance• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit• General Benefits advice • Help with completing forms• Benefit checks
This is a drop in session, so no appointment is needed. We are accessible to the disabled and we can also arrange to visit you in your home if required.
Voicemail: 0844 8487981 – please leave a message and we will return your call.
12
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Women’s Institute Winter 2007/8 report
We finished 2007 with a Christmas party; members and friends enjoyed
a wonderful buffet, supplied by the W.I. members, and finished the evening with carol singing.
At our January meeting we welcomed Mr. Vernon Place. He talked about his early life in the fens, and about people and places that influenced him during his early years. Our members who were born and bred here remembered with him, and we were all enthralled and greatly entertained. (At Vernon’s request we donated his fee to the Addenbrooke’s Liver Transplant Association, a charity he has supported for many years.) The competition was for a ‘winter scene’ photograph, and this was won by Gill Aspland.
Our Annual General Meeting is on Thursday 14th February at 7.30 for 7.45 pm. We are having a Jumble sale on Saturday 23rd February at 2.30 pm, admission 20p, children free. For further details contact Glenda Preece on 01638 780734. ■
Mobile LibraryStops alternate Thursdays. Next visits 7th and 21st February, 6th and 20th March. For further information phone 08450 455225.Stop Arrive DepartChurch Street 10:15 11:55 Beck Road (near Malting Lane) 12:00 13:00Mill Street (corner of Limestone Close) 14:15 15:45
ServicesAny Electrical Installation or Repair Job Undertaken, Domestic or Commercial
■ Rewiring■ Security lighting■ Telephone and TV outlets ■ Testing and inspecting■ Fuse box upgrades■ Under floor heating■ Home buyer’s survey■ Extra power points■ Electrical showers■ Lighting – design and installation■ New builds, extensions and conservatories
A coach party visited Welney Wildfowl and Wetland Trust with its 1,000 acres of wetland in November. We toured the new award-
winning £3.5m visitor centre; this is heated by an underground heat source. It also has reed bed filtration, a rainwater harvester and solar powered energy sources, and includes a café, gift shop, educational centre and exhibitions about the Fens and its wildlife.
After refreshments we visited the heated viewing area to see the floodlit feeding of the swans, geese and other wildfowl. During the winter months, the number of Whooper swans peaks at around 3000, with the Bewick’s swans reaching as many as 4500.
There was no meeting in December, but on January 17th it was planned to have a slide show entitled ‘Old Isleham’. The slides are just some of the many pictures that our President, Arthur Houghton, has collected during his long lifetime, and illustrate the village and the activities of the villagers. Arthur has kindly given the Isleham Society his whole collection of slides to keep on behalf of our village; these slides are known as the ‘Arthur Houghton Collection’.
Forthcoming meetings:February 21st Andy Malcolm will give an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Fisherman’s Mission’. The Mission provides financial, emotional and pastoral support to UK fishermen and their families. His visit last year had to be postponed because of a power cut due to high wind and storms!March 20th Robin Page, the well known author and TV and radio presenter, will give a talk; we don’t know what his subject is yet, but it is sure to be thought-provoking and interesting!April 21st The AGM, at which only members are eligible to vote; however, any interested persons are welcome to attend. We normally have items from our collection on display.
Vernon Place, Chairman of the Isleham Society
Cambs and Suffolk Championship Cup in 1925 (Arthur Houghton Collection)
14
JOYCE’S CORNERLooking Forward
The children love a fall of snowIt makes their hands cold, cheeks aglow.If it lays quite deep, and frosts are hard
We like it best on a Christmas card.
When Winter leaves us one more timeWe’ll get a bit more of warm sunshine.
Goodbye to snow and awful sleet!Get rid of chilblains from our feet.
The snowdrops flower on a Winter’s day To tell us Spring is on the way.
Buds and blossom in a country laneMake the world feel young again.
Birds sing again to their hearts’ content.For ants, bees and insects it’s heaven sent.
A warm Spring shower of gentle rainBrings the primrose open again.
Some friends are sad this bright new year.Loved ones have gone, we’ve shed a tear.
As flowers and veg grow in a bedWe’ve lost three or four from ‘Arthur’s shed’.
We’ll remember them all when things are in flower, How they rushed to the shed from an April shower.
They all worked hard without much rest,If the Lord wanted workers he’s got the best.
Joyce Drayton.
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F or a free copy of the Community Transport Guide for 2008 which includes details of your local Dial-a-Ride service, telephone
Gavin Moulton on 01233 717755, write to him at Cambridgeshire County Council, ET 1015, Castle Court, Shire Hall, Cambridge CB3 0AP or email: [email protected]
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RE: THE PROPOSED NEW COMMUNITY CENTREDear Editor, I was at the meeting on Monday 14th January to discuss the proposal and was surprised at the relatively small number that thought it worthwhile to attend. However, from previous experience it seems inevitable that only a very small number of activists get seriously involved in any new development.
The reason I am writing is to get you to do your utmost to promote an item of very great importance that became clear at the meeting. This is that most of the cash grants (upon which the project is totally reliant), will not be given unless it can be shown that A MINIMUM OF 50 PERCENT of local residents actively support the proposal. This lack of this level of support was apparently the reason we were refused a Lottery Grant, and unless the low level of response shown to previous surveys increases dramatically many of the other possible grants will go the same way.
It is therefore essential that the vast majority of residents should come to understand that failure to reply to surveys is JUST AS DAMNING TO THE PROJECT as registering a NO vote. This was certainly news to me last Monday, and I think it will be to most people.
Please give the item as much publicity as possible.Yours sincerely, Bryan Wynne, 43 Mill Street, Isleham.
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St Andrew’s Parish ChurchA Happy New Year to you all! Although we are all just recovering from the Christmas Festivities the year moves on at an alarming rate! This year Lent begins on 6th February and this is a time for reflection and making our relationship with God a priority in our lives. As The Three Rivers Group of Parishes we will be marking the beginning of Lent with a Service on Ash Wednesday at Chippenham Church on 6th February at 7 pm – all are welcome! We are also running a series of Lent courses, entitled ‘How to Pray?’. All are welcome to attend this course and it will run for five weeks during Lent, following a book of the same name by Rt Revd John Pritchard. If you are interested in joining us for discussion, prayer and fellowship do contact Kate (723960) or Mike (721616). There will definitely be an evening course run every Wednesday in Chippenham at 8 pm, and we hope to also run the same course in tandem in Isleham and Fordham – although time and venue to be arranged. Do think about joining us and maybe make it a New Year Resolution! The course will be very informal and is open to anyone. So as I write this on 2nd January have a very Happy and Blessed New Year and a Happy and Meaningful Lent! Rev. Kate PeacockCoffee Morning Each Tuesday, a coffee morning is held at St Andrew’s church Social Centre, where people meet to have a chat and catch up with friends. A thriving trade is carried out in home-made jams, marmalade, piccalilli, chutney and such like. Over the course of 2007, the ladies running the coffee morning raised nearly £2700 for church funds, so a big thank you to all those who organise and attend the sessions.Carol Singing Members of the choir and church of St Andrews were joined by friends in a carol singing evening on Wednesday 19th December. The group toured the village singing well-known carols, and even managed to take a few sensible requests! A good time was had by all, and £80 was raised for the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely. Thanks go to all those who came to sing that evening; to the management at the Co-op, The Rising Sun, The Griffin and The Comrades Club for allowing us to descend on them, and to Pauline Wilkes, Gill Pedersen and Jenny and Peter Flatt for their contributions to making the evening a success. It is hoped to make this an annual event and anyone who wishes to join us for singing will be very welcome. Watch out for news of this year’s event.Mark Liversidge, ChoirmasterSundays 10 am: Junior Church in Social Centre (in church 3rd Sunday). The Junior Church needs teachers/helpers; please contact us if you can offer your services.Weekly activitiesTuesdays 9 am to 12 noon: Coffee Morning in Social Centre. Everyone welcome!A short (15 to 30 minutes) Evening Prayer service will be held every Tuesday at 4.30 pm in the Limestone Close community room.Wednesdays 7.30 pm: Bible reading and discussion group at the home of Georgina and Bob Freestone, 103 Lakeside, The Marina.Fridays 6.30 pm: Choir practice – all welcome. Contact Mark Liversidge Tel: 01638 781696.7.30 pm Bell ringing practice – beginners welcomed! Contact Ruth Ogden, the Tower Captain, for more information: email [email protected] The Rev’d Mike Banyard Mike is the Rector of the Three Rivers Group of Parishes; he lives in Chippenham with his wife, Helen, who is a Lay Minister. Mike is available to all in the village for a listening ear, and for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Tel: 01638 721616, email: [email protected] Rev’d Kate Peacock Kate is the Associate Priest in the Three Rivers Group of Parishes; she lives in Fordham with her husband, Daniel, and their two young daughters. Tel: 01638 723960, email: [email protected] and Kate are assisted by the Rev’d Dr Peter Debenham, the Rev’d Nigel Cooper (Chaplain of Anglia Ruskin University), Canon Tim Elbourne (Diocesan Director of Education) and
High Street ChurchHappy New Year! We wish you all a peaceful and blessed 2008. We are excited that plans for our new church building are moving forward and we will keep you informed as and when we have anything new to tell you.The Marriage Course How to build a strong and healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime. We will be running this course again this term. The course, while based on Christian principles, is very helpful for couples with or without a Christian faith or church background. The cost is £25 for an eight week course, although if you would like to come, but the cost is a problem, please contact us. We will also be holding two Bible studies this term: The Gospel of Matthew and The Book of Psalms. We welcome anybody who would like to attend the above activities – please contact the Church Office for details of dates and times.Sunday Services: All are welcome to our Sunday services throughout the year. 10.30 am morning worship: All ages are very welcome from the very young to the very old. The children have their own activities. 6.30 pm evening fellowship: A less formal service usually with opportunity for individual sharing. Come and hear about God’s goodness! Tea, coffee and good conversation are available after both the morning and evening services!On Sunday mornings the following children’s facilities are available: Crèche is available for babes and tots up to 3 years old: the crèche workers are very experienced and provide a safe, fun playtime for the little ones. Junior Church for those who are aged 3 to 7 is a fun-filled session with singing, crafts, drama and stories. At the Village Hall the older Junior Church meets – children who are 7 to 11 years old. (That’s the noise you’ve heard from the hall on a Sunday morning!) Their morning starts from 10 am with a craft followed by a wide range of activities encouraging the children to discover the Christian faith for themselves. We would love to see some new faces and visitors would be made very welcome! Nikao is the name for the 11 to 14 year olds and on a Sunday morning they receive teaching that is relevant to pre-teens/teenagers. On a Friday night this group meets socially and has a lot of laughs!Weekly ActivitiesOur Rendezvous group – for the more mature amongst us – meets every Tuesday afternoon at 3 pm. Between 60 and 70 of us enjoy this time together each week but new faces are always welcome.Luncheon Club is for those of retirement age and happens once a month on the second Wednesday from 12–2 pm. An excellent meal for just £1.20 not to mention the great company! Numbers are limited for this but please contact us if you are interested. For anybody who would like to come along to either of these groups there is free transport available where necessary.Perhaps you’d like to be kept informed of any outings we arrange, or you need help to complete some paperwork such as benefit forms, or perhaps you don’t know who to ask for help with transport for hospital visiting. Please don’t hesitate to ring – we’d love to help if we can. Contact Kathryn 01638 780652 or the church office.Little Lambs caters for the other end of the age range. This mums’ and toddlers’ group takes place on Friday mornings during school terms. (9.15–11.15 am). All are welcome and it’s free! Mums/carers come and chat over a coffee while the children play. New mums/dads/grandparents/carers are always welcome – come along and join in the fun. If you’d like to know more contact Sharon on 01353 720399.There are also lots of other midweek activities taking place, so whether it be on a Sunday or midweek we would love to see you. Why not come along or give us a call to find out more.For more information about any of the events at High Street Church or general advice call Steve in the church office on 01638 780985 or Paul Hedger (Church leader) on 01638 721291. Julie Porter
Churches’ News
17
the Rev’d Christopher Goodwins (formerly priest-in-charge at Isleham, author of The Bible in Limerick Verse).Church wardens Rob Savage Tel: 01638-780218, email:robertsavage@ isleham church.org.uk; Nick Carver Tel: 01638 781116, email: [email protected] captain Ruth Ogden Tel: 01638 780646, email: [email protected] Mark Liversidge Tel: 01638 781696, email: [email protected] Andrew Stephens Tel: 01638 781468/780229, email: [email protected] sheet editor Rob Savage Tel: 01638 780218, email: [email protected] more information on St Andrew’s Church please visit our website at www.islehamchurch.org.uk
Pound Lane Free ChurchPastor Mr. Dave Hall Tel: 01638 781343 or 780636, email [email protected]) Elder Mr. David Brown (01638 780410)Every Sunday Sunday worship: 11.00 am and 6.30 pmCelebration of the Lord’s Supper: 1st Sunday following evening service , 3rd Sunday following morning service.A crèche is available for babies to Yr3 during the morning service. Refreshments are served after the evening services, except the first Sunday of the month. Fellowship Lunches are served after the morning service on the third Sunday of the month.Kingdom Kids 3 yrs – Yr3: 10 am – 11.15 am (Mr. Karl Yellop 01638 780637) All Stars Yr4 – Yr6: 10 am – 11.15 am (Mr. John Martin 01638 781747)Covies Yr7 – 19 yrs: 9.30 am – 10.30 am (Mr. Steve Neale 01638 780717)There is a hearing loop installed and signing for the deaf is available as well as Braille songbooks. We have a comprehensive Child Protection Policy and a CRB check has been carried out on all children’s and young people’s workers.Weekly ActivitiesMondays Music Mayhem for pre-school children: 9.45 am – 10.45 am (Mrs A. Martin 01638 781747)All Stars Fun Night 6.45 pm – 8.15 pm Tuesdays Fellowship: 7.30 pm – 8.45 pmWednesdays Church Night: 7.40 pm – 9 pmThursdays Covies Club Night: 7 pm – 9 pmFridays (fortnightly in members’ homes): Women’s Meeting 2.15 pm – 3.30 pm Christianity Explored courses are run regularly – please ask for dates of next course.For further information on any of the above or if you would like to speak to Pastor Dave : phone 01638 781343 (Church Office) or 01638 780636 (Pastor’s home) email [email protected] or [email protected] Web site: www.plfc.org.uk Music Mayhem This is our pre-school group that meets every Monday during term time from 9.45 am to 10.45 am. We begin with our ‘Hello’ song, sing various songs with musical instruments and actions, and as one of our children is hearing impaired we are learning to sign songs too. The children really look forward to a visit from Sockeroo each week and they each receive their own Sockeroo on their birthdays. At the end of each session the children play and mums and carers chat over a cup of coffee or tea. All are very welcome and it’s free!At the other end of the age range is our Fellowship Group, (7 pm – 9 pm on Tuesdays). This caters for the more mature who are retirement age or over. They enjoy meeting together for a Bible talk, spiritual songs and prayer. Sandra also organises various fun evenings and meals during the year. Refreshments are served at the end and it’s a good time to catch up with friends and all their news. New members are always welcome.For more information about either meeting please call the church number. ■
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Isleham Holistic TherapiRemedial Deep Tissue Treatment
and Mobilisationfor sports injuries, back and neck pain,
chronic joint and muscle problems
Aromatherapy Treatments and Massage
for headaches, insomnia, sinuses and relaxation
Stress Management/Relaxation Counselling
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For more information without obligation, please phone 01638 780023.
Calling all Bridge players to help ‘Bridge the Gap’
I ndependentAge is the national charity that helps people live with independence and dignity in later years by providing them with ongoing financial
support, and the friendship of a local volunteer visitor.As part of their Action Week (3rd – 9th March 2008)
IndependentAge is organising ‘The Big Bridge’ where bridge players will either host their own bridge game with friends, or support one taking place in their region.
IndependentAge’s Action Week will focus on the need to bridge the gap between actual and required levels of service and care for older people in the UK. Providing practical and emotional help, where it is needed most, is the heart of IndependentAge’s work, and Nick Hammer, National Event Manager, believes that The Big Bridge encapsulates the charity’s ethos.
‘Each event will play an important part in our national effort to foster community relations with older people, and support a society where people can live in their own homes for as long as they wish,’ he explains. ‘Regular contact with friends and family can significantly improve the quality of life for older people, and we hope that as many people as possible will support The Big Bridge and help to make it a huge success. Funds raised will also enable us to help more of the UK’s 2.2 million pensioners living below the poverty line. It’s often the smallest things – such as help with the cost of travel to hospital – that can make the biggest difference.’
Information packs for people wanting to organise their own event, entry forms, bridge fact sheets and posters are available to download at www.bigbridge.org.uk or by calling Nick Hammer on 0207 605 4288. Players will be invited to donate £2.50 per person (£10 a game) to IndependentAge. ■
Transport and Access Research in Isleham and Fordham
C ambridgeshire charity Care Network is undertaking independent research on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council and is
looking at transport and access to services in Isleham, Fordham, Chippenham, Snailwell and Kennett as this area has been identified as relatively inaccessible. Questionnaires are being used to find out the needs and aspirations of residents of all ages so that Care Network can then recommend improvements that could make a difference. Even if you have a car your response would still be helpful.
If you have not received a questionnaire and would like to respond and to make your views known please contact Sue Beel on 01354 661926, email [email protected] or Helen Randall on 01353 772169. A questionnaire will be sent with a stamped addressed envelope. ■
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The Government’s 2006 Budget announced a new national Concessionary Bus Travel scheme to be introduced in April 2008. The scheme will allow
eligible residents (over 60s and people with certain disabilities) to use their bus pass after 9.30 am until the last bus Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and bank holidays in any part of England for the first time.
Travel by local bus anywhere in England for FREE be it to Ely Cathedral or to Durham Cathedral.
Everyone will need to reapply for a new bus pass.To receive your new bus pass on time, complete an application form today!
Contact your District Council for more information by phone on 01223 718 779 or go to the website www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/concessionaryfares ■
20
P lans for the new Community Centre include vastly improved sports changing facilities, a multi-functional hall to accommodate some indoor
sporting activities, and also possibly a gym. We need to know whether such sporting facilities would attract you, and/or others in your household, to increase participation in sport/exercise. Please help us by tearing out and completing this questionnaire, one per household, and returning it as soon as possible to the Post Office, the Paper Shop or any Committee Member.
1: OUTDOOR SPORTS including the all-weather surface1a. If four changing rooms were provided, each with
its own showers and toilets, and there was also a café and bar in the Centre for use before and after sporting activities, would anyone in your household be likely to become more involved in outside sports on the recreation ground? Yes/No
(Please delete as appropriate)
IF NO, please go to question 2.
1b. IF YES: please indicate after the sports listed below the current age (adult will suffice if over 18) and sex of those likely to take part.
2: INDOOR SPORTS/EXERCISE2a. Assuming adequate changing, showering etc.
facilities and access to a café and bar if desired, would anyone in your household participate in indoor sports or exercise? Yes/No
(Please delete as appropriate)
IF NO, you have completed the survey, thank you. Please sign below and return as instructed.
2b. IF YES, which activities would members of your household take part in? As for question 1, we also need to establish whether such participation would increase your involvement in sport or whether you currently play that sport elsewhere. Please complete as appropriate below, including a tick under either ‘increase participation’ or ‘play elsewhere’.
• Please complete and return this questionnaire to the Post Office, the Paper Shop or through the letter box at 6 West Street or 94 The Causeway.
• If you have anything else you would like to add please attach a separate sheet of paper. Additional copies of this questionnaire are available from the Post Office and Paper Shop, but please, only one completed form per household.
