enjoy the jubilee! - Cottenham Newsletter

ISSUE NUMBER 129



JUNE/JULY 2012

Enjoy the Jubilee! As I write this the rain remains pretty constant. Thank goodness there’s a drought, otherwise we would all be up to our waists. I sincerely hope that by the time you read this the weather will have improved. If not improved already, then hopefully the Jubilee Weekend will see lots of sunshine and that the festivities planned for the Sunday will be a huge success. Congratulations to Mike Smith and all the people who have worked so hard to get the street party up and running. It promises to be a great event. The programme is contained in the middle pages of this Newsletter, so have a look and see what grabs your fancy. Do come along and join the fun. *** Many of you may not be aware that Cottenham has a rugby union club based in the village. The Renegades play at the Village College and adjourn to the Cottenham Club for post-match refreshments when they play home games. The Club has steadily improved over the years and this year had a fantastic run in the Green King Premier League – on March 31 they beat Shelford 4 to clinch the top spot in the league for 2011/12. This league was made more exotic by the presence of Poblenou Enginyers from Barcelona – the only Spanish Club to play in a British rugby league. The Enginyers were one of only two teams that beat the Renegades this year (the other was Newmarket).

On April 25, the Renegades played for the Green King Premier Plate against St Ives 2. The weather was awful but the performance was excellent with a final score of 58-0 to the Renegades. The victory was all the sweeter because the renegades originated from a split in St Ives Rugby club ten years ago. *** Finally, I must note the loss of a long standing friend of the village and of this Newsletter. In early May, Michael Taylor of Telegraph Street passed away unexpectedly. He was born and raised in Cottenham and in his youth he was an enthusiastic football player – a passion he retained as a life-long Arsenal fan. Michael contributed regularly to the pages of this Newsletter, most notably with his Schoolboy Memories of WWII. He wrote on many other subjects also not least football and his other passion – gardening. Michael and his wife Audrey delivered this Newsletter to the people of Telegraph Street for many years. I would like to pass my condolences on to Audrey and to their children Tony, Louise and Anne Eddie Murphy

Dates:

June 2nd Salvation Army, Jumble Sale, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 3rd Diamond Jubilee Street Party, High Street (Telegraph Street to the Chequers) 7th Toy Library, Play session, Salvation Army Barn 2:00pm to 4:00pm 7th Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:15pm 12th Parish Council, Council Meeting, Village Hall (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:30pm 14th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 18th Royal British Legion, Bingo evening, Legion Hall, 7:00pm 21st Toy Library, Play session, Salvation Army Barn 2:00pm to 4:00pm 21st Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:15pm 28th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 29th Gardeners Club, Village College, 7:45pm July 2nd Royal British Legion, Bingo evening, Legion Hall, 7:00pm 3rd Parish Council, Council Meeting, Village Hall (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:30pm 5th Toy Library, Play session, Salvation Army Barn 2:00pm to 4:00pm 5th Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:15pm 7th Salvation Army, Jumble Sale, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 12th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 16th Royal British Legion, Bingo evening, Legion Hall, 7:00pm 19th Toy Library, Play session, Salvation Army Barn 2:00pm to 4:00pm 19th Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:15pm 26th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am

Small ads: MILLIONHAIRS mobile hairdressing. For an appointment in your own home call MICHELLE on 01954 201136 or 07788480239. 10% discount will be given to senior citizens on Monday and Tuesday. 10% discount will be given to all children eight years old and under. No travelling, no parking, no waiting. All in the comfort of your own home. ......... Experienced Professional Music Teacher/ Examiner has a limited number of places available. Specialising in: Piano, Guitar, Drums and Theory of Music, but available for most instruments. All ages, beginner to professional. Examinations if required. Contact John Branton. Mobile: 07786 131782 Email: john@ johnbranton.com Web: Johnbranton.co.uk ......... Fresh Grimsby Fish Fresh and smoked fish, shellfish in Cottenham every Thursday morning. Est. since 1989. Call Ray on 07702 830308 to arrange a call to your office or home. No order too small. ......... Peat’s Garden Services lawn and hedge cutting, pruning, planting, rotovating, turfing, weekly and monthly visits, all garden work undertaken. All garden waste removed. For a free estimate call Pete Bullen 01954 250771 or 07749 863047 ......... Phil the Van, a local, independent, reliable and competitive Man & Van service. Call Phil on 07722 096706 ......... TOAT – “Tom of all Trades” Tom Wykes Handyman. No job is too big or too small – garden/house clearance, shelving, plumbing and so on – call Tom for a quote on 01954 250324, 07762 559259 ......... Help needed delivering and collecting catalogues Earn £50 to £500 per week. Call Stephen on 01223 858370 Issue Number 129 • page 2

Experienced Electrician Part P registered, local, reliable, over 20 years experience. Design, installation, inspection & testing work carried out, no job too small. 10% discount for senior citizens. Call Peter for a free, no obligation quote on 01954 775003 / 07796 260735 ......... J.R.S. Roofing Services All flat roofing undertaken. Felt, single ply, liquid plastics, decking and leadwork, fascia, soffits and guttering. Insurance work carried out. Free advice and quotations. Friendly efficient service, from your village roofing company. Call 01954 201088 or 07785 030547. ......... VICTORY CARS COTTENHAM local – long distance taxi company in Cottenham: train stations, airports, seaports, theatre trips. Any destination. 01954 252967 www. victoryairporttransfers.co.uk, [email protected] Credit/debit cards accepted. Account customers welcome. ......... Holistic Massage Therapy with JoElla. Ranging from relaxation to full bodywork treatments. www.holistictherapy.biz ......... SPANISH TUITION by an experienced native speaker for business, holidays, GCSE, AS and A levels. Also essays proofreading and translations. References available. Contact Maria Gabriela (Mona) Pembrey 01954 250879 or [email protected] or visit http:// www.cambridgespanishtutor.co.uk/ ......... Cottenham Locks and Keys – Mobile locksmith. Domestic, commercial and retail lock fitting, lock opening, key cutting and wireless alarm installation. 24x7 emergency lockout service. Free quotations and surveys, highly competitive prices. Vetted member of UK Locksmith Association. Tel: 07952 747279. Email tonyquirke@ lycos.com or visit www.cottenhamlocksandkeys.co.uk .........

ZUMBA – Mondays, Cottenham Community Centre. ZUMBA “Ditch the workout – Join the Party!” 7–8pm. ZUMBATOMIC 4–7yrs. 3:30–4pm. Contact Jo: 07915 043205, [email protected] www.jjkdancin.com ......... P&R Laundry Ironing and laundry service, duvet washing and more. Free collect and return. Tel: 01954 250658 Mob/Txt: 07708 215701. Email pr.laundry@ hotmail.com ......... JC oven cleaning Local, reliable, professional family business. Competitive prices. Please contact me for appointments and prices. Call Jason 07786 821739 or visit www.jcovencleaning.co.uk ......... P&R Laundry Too busy to call? No problem at all. Just text and we collect. Ironing service. Free pick up/drop off at home/office. Text: 07708 215701, Email pr.laundry@ hotmail.com ......... Gourmandises offers a wide range of freshly made traditional French patisserie for all occasions, (birthdays, weddings, parties, corporate events or just for yourself and family). You can now buy and sample the cakes at Impington Farmer’s Market, or just call Corinne for an order, on 01954 201724 or 07724 005523. www. gourmandises.co.uk, [email protected]. Free delivery for Cottenham and Rampton ......... Julie’s Hand Knitting and HObby Supplies. I will be stocking wool, needles, patterns, threads, felt etc. Orders for hand knitted items also undertaken. Can deliver within Cottenham free of charge or you can pop round and have a look. Please call first on 07534 977357 ......... PRIVATE TUTOR FOR GCSE/A-LEVEL MATHS, PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY. I have a MEng in Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University. Call 07714 201555 ......... KARATE LESSONS in Impington Sports Centre, Sundays 6-7pm. Adults and children. www.justkarate. co.uk, [email protected] ......... ADMINISTRATIVE HELP WANTED for a regular few hours a week. Reliable and experienced individual required. [email protected] ......... Bob Bon Books – over 6000 users, new and out of print books, plus a selection of CDs and DVDs. Wide range of Categories with a good choice of fiction, cookery books and childrens’ titles. Delivery to Cottenham only £0.50 per item or free for orders over £5.00. Visit my website www.bobbonbooks.co.uk for a full list. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01954 201742 or 07764 195860 ......... Blinds – made to measure, all types supplied and fitted, affordable quality blinds. 15 years industry experience, free quotations. www.capriblinds.co.uk Tel: 01223 894020 .........

Why not advertise in the Newsletter! Items for sale, announcement of family events, local products and/or services... 5p per word, with all proceeds going to charity. Send advertisements and payment to the editor. Cheques should be made out to ‘Cottenham Newsletter’.

Bus Subsidies Around 80 per cent of public transport in Cambridgeshire is run commercially with the remaining 20 per cent being subsidised by the County Council, at a cost of around £2.7 million per year. Work is already underway with operators to see if changes to routes and timetables could make some marginal subsidised journeys commercially viable and therefore reduce this financial commitment. The Council has also reviewed the way subsidies are currently paid and has started a phased three year change programme. Over the next three years the Council will be transforming how these subsidised services are delivered, resulting in an annual investment of £1.5 million. Before any subsidy is removed it is planned to carry out consultation to find out peoples’ transport needs. Everyone will be invited to contribute and work together to find the best and most cost effective way of meeting that need. The results will vary across the County and one size will not fit all. Solutions may include local operators, smaller vehicles, links to commercial hubs, such as the Busway or Park and Ride as well as direct routes to certain destinations and flexible dial a ride type services. If there is enough demand it could lead to more travel opportunities, not less. If the best solution to deliver an essential service is to retain the current form of subsidy, then that will still be an option. The new initiatives will be rolled out under the banner of Cambridgeshire Future Transport starting from April 2012. Subsidised services have been grouped into 13 geographical areas which have transport links within them and these areas will be reviewed in three tranches over the next three years. This is so that the services can be looked at as a whole and alternatives explored. More information will be released and public engagement will be carried out as each phase of reducing the subsidy starts. For more information contact Cambridgeshire County Council Passenger Transport Service. Dan Clarke on 01223 729079 or Paul Nelson on 01223 715608. Cambridgeshire County Council

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Envoys Wave Goodbye We have been the Salvation Army Officers (Ministers) here in Cottenham for four very enjoyable years but have now received a new appointment to Wisbech to run the corps and programme there. We will be sorry to leave this lovely community where we have made many new friends and enjoyed taking part in village life. We wish to thank all of those people who have welcomed, supported and worked with us during our time here. Special thanks must go to the other ministers in Cottenham with whom it has been a pleasure and joy to work alongside. We will be leaving the corps and village in the very capable hands of Majors Debbie and Phil Nield who are currently the officers at Histon corps and who will also become the officers for Cottenham corps. We are sure they will also be very happy and blessed at Cottenham. Our final Sunday here will be the 8th July, with our farewell service at 10:30am and we would love to see you to say goodbye. The Major’s welcome meeting will be on Sunday 29th July at 10:30am and we are sure they will receive as warm a reception as we did. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Our season at Cottenham is drawing to an end, but our time here will always bring us many happy memories. Territorial Envoys Russell and Alison Day

Hearing dogs It is now 30 years since Hearing Dogs was launched as a charity and it is 29 years since the first hearing dog was placed with a deaf recipient. Today we support over 750 working partnerships around the UK and as more and more people suffer with various degrees of hearing impairment, the work of the charity has become more and more important. In our 30th anniversary year, one of my ambitions for your local Cambridge & District Branch is to try and increase the number of our local volunteers. Ideally I would love to have 30 volunteers to match our 30th anniversary. Volunteering does not have to take up a huge amount of time, if you can spare a couple of hours a month or would be happy to attend some events and help sell merchandise, or run raffles I would love to hear from you. I would also dearly love to have a database of people who could help out occasionally but who do not want to commit to regular meetings etc. New committee members would of course be very welcome but I do appreciate that committee work does not appeal to everyone. Perhaps you would like to train as a speaker and go out into the community letting people know about our work? Would you have time to socialise a puppy before it goes on to its specialist sound work training? There are so many ways in which volunteers help the charity and all of their work is vital to us. We literally could not function without our helpers. Later on this year there will be a 30th anniversary “Strictly Come Walkies” sponsored walk in the grounds of Wimpole Hall. In conjunction with Milton Country Park we will again be having a fun dog show and many other dog activities and games – more details of both events will be published later in the year but please mark 16 September in your diary as a day out for you and your dog. If you would like to know more about the work of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People or would like to offer to help please give me a call or drop me an email – all offers of help will be warmly welcomed. Jenny Parker – Speaker & Branch Organiser 01223 833562 (evenings only please) [email protected]

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SOUTH CAMBS DISTRICT COUNCIL Youth Council Nominations have opened for young people interested in becoming councillors and sitting on South Cambridgeshire’s all new youth council.  There are 20 places available for young people aged 13 to 18 years old who want to have a say about the things that matter to them in their local area, and across the district as a whole. The role of a youth councillor is to represent the views and opinions of all young people in South Cambridgeshire, and to become involved in, and contribute to, the well-being of local young people and the wider community. There are a lot of things that youth councillors may want to work with South Cambridgeshire District Council on, including new housing developments, sports and arts activities, jobs and businesses, climate change and energy, and communication with residents. Youth councillors will develop leadership skills, gain confidence, get involved in decision-making and help organise youth and community events. Officers from South Cambridgeshire District Council will be visiting the district’s nine village colleges, and the Connections Youth Bus which tours the area, throughout April to talk to young people about what is involved in

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becoming a youth councillor, answer any questions, and help them sign up and stand for election. Tracy Mann, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Development Officer, said: “Young people really care about all sorts of things that affect them, and the youth council will help them get involved in democracy at an early age. If you live in South Cambridgeshire and believe you should have a say in the decisions that are made on your behalf, then please volunteer to become a youth councillor and really help us to help you make a difference.” Young people can nominate themselves until the closing date on 1 August 2012. If there are enough candidates who want to stand on the new youth council an election will be held in September. For further information, or if you, or someone you know, would like to become a youth councillor, please contact Tracy Mann on (01954) 713342 or email tracy.mann@ scambs.gov.uk. Residents of all ages can also follow the youth council by ‘liking’ its Facebook page. Log in to Facebook and search for South Cambridgeshire Youth Council.

Bird Report The trouble with writing the Bird Report is that by the time you read it, some of my observations are already out of date. I am writing this on April 22nd and I have not yet heard a cuckoo this year, but I presume that they are on their way and that by the time this Newsletter drops through your letter box, I hope they have already announced their arrival. Things happen fast in the bird world, particularly at this time of year. Straight after Valentine’s Day many birds suddenly burst into song. I use the word “song” in a loose way, because many birds call, squawk, shout or squeak rather than sing. Whatever the sound they make, at this time of year it is to attract a mate or to establish territory. Robins have been singing all winter, and rooks, crows, jackdaws, collared doves, wood pigeons and even skylarks have been making themselves heard since the beginning of the year. Now they have been joined by tits, finches, thrushes, dunnocks and wrens.

Friends have told me of the noisy sound of a great spotted woodpecker on the Green, but no-one seems to have found a nest yet. A kingfisher was seen on the Great Ouse near Aldreth Causeway, and there have been more sightings of short-eared owls by the river. These birds are quite easy to recognise because, unlike most owls, they often hunt by day. You won't be able to see their ears, but these owls are darker than barn owls and are often seen in small groups. The usual oystercatchers have also appeared by the river, but are they the same ones which appeared in previous years? Birds may be nesting late, but I have already found the remains of eggs belonging to wood pigeons, pheasants and song thrushes. So for some Spring has surely arrived. Jasper Kay 

With the warm weather in March, I assumed that summer birds would arrive early this year, but the cold weather in April put a stop to that. I heard the first chiffchaff on March 18th and they have been very common ever since. I have seen a few swallows and house martins, and heard willow warblers and a sedge warbler and a whitethroat, but in general the birds are arriving late this year. I am much looking forward to seeing terns on the river, flycatchers by the green and hearing the wonderful cry of swifts around the Baptist Church. And of course Spring won't be Spring without the call of the cuckoo.

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British Legion

Toy Library

The British Legion will shortly be thinking about ordering wreaths, poppies etc.

Now the weather is improving, there is no better way for your children to burn off excess energy than by playing outdoors. We have some excellent outdoor toys available for hire including a slide, trampoline, coupe cars, trikes and diggers. Outdoor toys can be hired for a two week period at a charge of £1 per item. If you are hosting a garden party or birthday party it is possible to hire out the entire range of outdoor toys for £5.

At the Remembrance Day Service in November there is an opportunity for individuals or representatives of village organisations to lay a wreath at the War Memorial. If you or your group would like to participate in this, please contact Ann Scott. The normal contribution for a wreath is about £13.00 for a small wreath and £17.00 for a larger one. Poppy covered crosses are also available – about the same size as a wreath. *** The British Legion Hall is available for lettings. There are kitchen and toilet facilities, tables and chairs. The kitchen is equipped with a cooker, crockery, cutlery, glasses and tea making equipment. There is a small car park at the back of the hall and usually plenty of space for parking on the High Street. The hall is quite small – so ideal for meetings and small gatherings. We are asking for donations of £10 an hour, but individual occasions can be negotiated. If you would like to view the hall or discuss hiring it, please contact Ann Scott (details on back of the Newsletter).

In addition to our regular Thursday afternoon sessions we will be organising a number of fundraising events over the summer months. We will be doing face painting at the jubilee celebrations on the Green. In July and August we will be holding our annual teddy bears’ picnic and organising some messy play sessions. The dates of these events will follow shortly. Cottenham toy library always welcomes new helpers. If you can spare an hour or so on a Thursday afternoon, about once every six weeks please get in touch. Finally calling all grandparents. Are your grandchildren coming to stay over the summer holidays? Are you worried that they won't have many toys to play with whilst they are visiting? Why not borrow some toys from the toy library to keep them amused during their stay. For more details about the toy library visit www.cottenhamtoylibrary.co.uk Beth Bowstead Cottenham Toy Library Secretary

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CCC Street Party Service The Cottenham Community Centre Coffee Shop will be open from 12.30pm on Sunday 3rd June to help celebrate the Diamond Jubilee Street Party. We will be offering the following reduced menu on the day: • • • •

Jubilee Tree An English oak tree (quercus robur) has been donated to the village by Cottenham Village Society in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It was planted on the green on Monday 16th April. The picture shows some members of the society who helped plant the oak.

Cream Tea (scone, butter, jam and clotted cream) with either a tea or a filter coffee £3.00 Selection of homemade cakes from £1.30 Sausage Rolls £1.00 Cheese Scones £1.20

The following sandwiches all at £2.00 and baguettes all at £2.30 • • • • • •

Coronation Chicken Cheese Ham Cheese & Pickle Tuna Mayo and Cucumber Egg & Tomato

We are happy to accept orders beforehand to guarantee your favourite scone or sandwich, otherwise please do come in on the day. All food will be packaged for take-away.

Volunteer Drivers Cottenham Carecar is a charity that brings together residents with their own car to help those in the village who need lifts here and there but have difficulty using public transport. We are looking for volunteer drivers to add to our list of lift-givers. All expenses incurred are reimbursed. We are keen to hear from you even if you cannot make a regular commitment – whenever you can help it will be greatly appreciated. If you can help please contact Gerry Brett on 01954 251929.

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Parish Council The following matters are brought to your attention: Appointment of New Clerk – Pleased to advise that Mrs Jo Brook has been appointed Clerk to Cottenham Parish Council. We look forward to working with her and wish her all the best in her new role. Move to the Community Centre – We moved in at the end of March as predicted. Very quickly it was a workable office and, at the time of penning these notes, a number of matters are being attended to including installation of a phone and broadband, provision of a letter box and agreeing the Clerk’s availability times. Litter Picking – Following the item in the last edition of the Newsletter we have had a response from one resident. We have requested the District Council to clean up the approach roads to the village and in anticipation of a positive response we will defer taking this matter any further at this stage. We will return to this subject as we are determined to improve the look of our village by removing litter on a regular basis. Your help is needed so please consider and make contact. Changing Rooms – Discussions have been held with the Football Association and significant funding has been offered to enable the provision of new changing rooms which will replace the existing situated at the rear of the Village Hall. As has been commented on in the past the existing facilities are inadequate and extremely poor in quality. They are not conducive to providing sensibly and safely for a mix of requirements such as youngsters, adults, male, female, officials and disabled. Footballers and www.cambridgebs.co.uk

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cricketers alike will be able to use the new facilities and hopefully opposing teams will see the vast improvement compared with what we have at the moment. Architects recommended by the Football Association have been employed and a Business Plan is being drawn up to enable additional funding to be secured. Joint meetings are being held involving Councillors and users. Connections Bus – The bus is a unique drop-in facility designed specifically for young people in Year 7 and above and is run by youth leaders. It has been in the village in the past, and will be with us again on the recreation ground one day a week from 23rd July to 31st August. The cost is £110 per session (which is paid by the Parish Council) and hopefully our youngsters (who can use the bus for free) will enjoy using the facilities. Local Minor Highways Improvements – Attention was given to the poor quality of white lining around the village and in particular the High Street. Two Councillors surveyed the areas that needed work being carried out and reported their findings to Highways. A lot of the work has been carried out and recently a reminder has been sent requesting that the rest of the remedial work be completed. As we are into a new fiscal year we hope that we will be reporting success in a future edition of the Newsletter. Jubilee Event – The Parish Council thanks the organisers of this event for all their hard work in planning the celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, and are looking forward to Sunday June 3rd. Cottenham Parish Council

Speedwatch The first Cottenham volunteer was trained in Milton in Spring 2009. Nine volunteers were trained in Cottenham on 8th September 2010. Our first Cottenham Speedwatch event was on 15th September 2010. And we started our own Speedwatch Training earlier this year. As Cottenham Speedwatch volunteers, we are Cottenham residents simply ‘doing’ something about road safety. The Neighbourhood Histon Police Panel stated last year that it would do more towards helping communities that ‘do’ rather than those that shout the loudest. We like that sentiment. In fact, we like that sentiment so much that we wrote to the police representative that verbally stated that comment, to confirm that his view is still the case. So, for those that want to know what we ‘do’, here is some volunteer feedback: The positives: We wrote to the local police to confirm their support in light of changes announced at the Neighbourhood Police Panel. We received a prompt, and positive response from local police, including Sgt. Paul Rogerson who was one of our first Cottenham Speedwatch contacts back in 2010. The ‘challenges’: We need more volunteers. If we had 15 active volunteers, and we aimed to do 1-2 events per month on average over a year, then each volunteer would only need to give up a few hours of their time over the entire year. Additional

volunteers at each event makes it easier, and more enjoyable. It is not a big commitment: An event is generally “just one hour” with 15min (ish) either side for setup/close down so doesn’t require giving up a whole day. Although, as co-ordinator, there are some additional responsibilities, including: • Kit transport, (the kit weighs 50kg and is bulky). • Pre-logging the event with the police. • Typing up the results in a format for the police to use, from the written and audio files. • Sharing a summary update of the vehicle count, speed statistics. Areas where speeding is identified as an issue will be considered for enforcement work by (police) officers. Volunteers are provided with high visibility jackets and conduct speed checks using speed indicator devices. The vehicle’s speed is then displayed on the monitor. Motorists are not prosecuted, Speedwatch is not an enforcement tool but about educating motorists and raising awareness of the dangers of speeding. To find out more about becoming a Speedwatch Volunteer contact Kate at 01954 252664 or (preferred) via email at [email protected]. More information about speedwatch can be obtained from: www.cambs.police.uk/roadsafety/speedwatch/ Kate Heydon, Cottenham Speedwatch Co-ordinator

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Ladybirds Along with the whole of Cottenham, we're looking forward to the Diamond Jubilee street party on Sunday 3rd June. Following the great success at last year's Fen Edge Festival, we shall be running our Pimms tent serving glasses and jugs of traditional Pimms as well as neat lemonade for those of you wanting to keep a perfectly clear head! The whole celebration looks set to be a great party for the whole community and a fitting way to mark the Diamond Jubilee, so please come along and celebrate in style with us.

children starting in Reception, regardless of whether they currently attend Ladybirds or not. And finally, thank you to everyone who came along to our charity curry night at the Curry Palace at the beginning of the year. Thanks to your support and the generosity of the Curry Palace management and staff, we raised £650 for Ladybirds! (That's a lot of curry that must have been eaten!). Staff, parents and children were very excited to be invited along for the official cheque presentation at the end of April.

Looking ahead to the forthcoming summer months, we have plenty of things planned for all children and families in the village. On the evening of Saturday 14th July, Ladybirds will be hosting a Family Disco at CVC. This is for all families in the village to come along to and enjoy. We'll be providing a BBQ and bar along with the music, there will be something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Over the summer holiday months, the staff will be running the usual play days for children who attend Ladybirds and the fundraising team will run Summer Fun sessions for anyone who wants to come along! For more information about both, please contact the office at Ladybirds. If you have a child starting at Cottenham Primary School this September and are wondering how you will arrange childcare while they spend the first part of the Autumn term settling in on half days, Ladybirds may have the solution for you. We shall be offering the same service that we have done in past years, of collecting your child from the school and looking after them at Ladybirds until the end of the school day. If you are interested in this, please contact the office for more information – this offer applies to all

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The manager of the Curry Palace hands over the cheque to Rebecca Cole, Chairperson and Sara Starr, Principal of the Ladybird Pre-school. Rebecca Cole Trustee Chairperson

Improve your home for free Sustainable Cottenham* is anxious to bring to the attention of all Cottenham residents the fact that installing adequate loft insulation or cavity wall insulation in your house has never been cheaper..... in fact at the time of writing it is FREE. We urge everyone to check the adequacy of their loft insulation and to establish whether or not they have cavity wall insulation. Many people living in houses less than 20 years old believe that they have cavity wall insulation but that is not always the case. Similarly, most people have some loft insulation but often it is not sufficient to provide maximum efficiency in keeping the heat inside your house where you need it. Previously, offers for the free installation of these measures have only been available to people over a certain age or in receipt of certain benefits. But, at the moment it is FREE for EVERYONE who needs it. The funds that the utilities companies have set aside for this will not last for ever and the more people who apply the quicker the money will run out. So please take advantage of this offer now so that you can feel the benefit next winter. You can find out which contractors are able to offer free assessment of your property by ringing the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512012. Once the assessment is done, if your property needs topup loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, the contractor will supply and install for FREE. We are all so used to hearing: ‘If it seems too good to be true then it is’ but in this case it isn’t. Please do find out now if your house can be improved in this way. The group would also like to thank all of you who came to our ‘Cosy Cottenham’ event at the Cottenham Community Centre in January. It was very well attended and we had some very interesting speakers. Our next event will be held on Saturday 26 May also at the Cottenham Community Centre. Again we shall have a variety of information stands, talks and activities. We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible. Doors open at 10.00am - same time as the coffee shop!! *Sustainable Cottenham is small but not so perfectly formed that we wouldn’t benefit from some additional members. If you are interested in sustainability do let us have your ideas and input. We are a very friendly group

and would welcome anyone who wants to join us. Please do visit our website: www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk for full information about the group.

Running anyone? Are fed up of running on your own? Do you look enviously at the Histon Hobblers, as you sprint past? Don’t you have the time to join a formal athletics club? Well my answer is yes to all of the above (although maybe not the sprinting past bit), so I am interested in setting up a Sunday morning running group, in Cottenham, for those long slow runs. The idea would be to start off at 8:00amish, on a Sunday morning from a convenient location like the Cottenham sign, outside the Cottenham Club and run somewhere between 8 and 14 miles. But, really distance and pace, are dependent on what people might be training for. My current pace is 8:30 to 9 min/miles and I generally complete half-marathons somewhere around 1hr 55mins, although I dream of 1hr 45m. I am not looking to create anything too formal, more just a friendly, social gathering of people who like going for a long jog. If you are interested send me an email: peter@ thehewittsonline.com or give me a ring on 07840 802366

Free Printer Cartridge Due to a mixed-up Internet order, I have Canon CL-38 tricolour printer cartridge which doesn't fit my printer and the supplier doesn't want returned.  If this could be of use to you, please let me know.  It is completely free although you may wish to make an appropriate donation to a village charity.   Edward Kramer 01954 251441

Issue Number 129 • page 17

Issue Number 129 • page 18

Letters to the Editor: Dear Editor, On behalf of my family I would like to say a sincere thank you to all who sent kind letters and cards expressing their sympathy and offers of support, in our time of grief. It was most reassuring to know that there are so many kind and considerate people in Cottenham, very willing to give their support if needed. My thanks also to those who were able to attend the service at the crematorium and for supporting us afterwards at All Saints’ Church Hall. A very special thank you to our good neighbours who arranged the refreshments at the Church Hall; they being Debbie Robinson, Andrea Cramp, Val and Doug Robson, and Roz Holmes. Many may not be aware that Pam worked for 22 years in Cottenham Post Office and would have met very many people in that time. My thanks to Kim and Mac for closing the office for the afternoon, as a mark of respect, and to allow them, and present staff to attend the service. Our grateful thanks to all who sent flowers or made donations to Macmillan Cancer Support. Thank you all so much

There are a few places where you still need to take care. At the other end at the traffic lights in Histon, you will need to join the on-road cycle lane. Further afield, the roundabout at the A14 requires care to cross the slip roads. Cottenham’s 30mph boundary is where the cycleway ends on the way home, and if riding legally you will need to cross to join the road here – although many don’t have the confidence and continue on the footpath. Looking to the future, what we really need is to have a safe cycleway all the way from the edge of the village to the college. We challenge the Parish Council and County Council to find a way to make that happen. Safer cycleways will increase cycling which in turn improve health, and the mobility of people who can’t drive.  Cycling out of the village is now safer than ever before and a fabulous way to keep fit and enjoy the wind in your hair. Come and join us – some already have – including recreational cyclists, commuters, plus runners and walkers. It’s a fabulous way to save money too. If you are inspired and would like a 10 mile local loop to try: take the cycleway from Cottenham to Rampton green, then Cuckoo Lane to the Guided Bus track, then to Histon, returning to Cottenham. Most of the route uses off-road cycleways. There is a short section of gravel track on Reynolds Drove, Rampton which can be walked in 5 minutes. Robin Heydon, Philip Shore (regular users of the cycleway)

Tony, Tim, Matthew and Jo Nicholas ......... Dear Editor, The cycleway from the edge of Cottenham to Histon is now open. This is great news for people who want to cycle to Histon or beyond as the path is now much wider, smoother and much safer than before. From the edge of Cottenham all the way to the traffic lights in Histon, you can now cycle off road, with only three side road crossings. The section of path between the villages used to be the most dangerous of all. In the dark it was tricky to see where the path went and as a result many cyclists preferred to cycle on the road. Now friendly solar lights safely guide you home even with bright oncoming car headlights. In Histon, you cross Garden Walk – a very quiet cul-desac – then Orchard Road and Ambrose Way have raised crossings with road markings to encourage cars to give way to cyclists crossing. The design inspired by Dutch cycleways means you do not have to concede priority every time which makes cycling there more enjoyable, faster and far less effort. 

ARTICLES, DATES AND ADVERTISEMENTS E–mail, PC floppy disk and paper submissions are all welcome. Please contact the Editor if you have any questions. Dates of events to be advertised in the next issue (No. 130) should span the months of August and September. Letters for publication may be sent to the Editor, and should include the name and address of the sender, although this may be omitted from publication if requested. Please keep correspondence short and topical. Please note that the Editor may use his discretion regarding publication, and his decision is final. The views expressed by correspondents and other contributors are their own and are not necessarily shared by the Editor.

Deadline:

FOR NEXT ISSUE 25th JUNE Issue Number 129 • page 19

Contacts:

District Councillors

Police

Simon Edwards

[email protected],



01223 233682 / 07711 079089

Lynda Harford

General Switchboard 0345 456 4101 Community Beat Office 01223 358966

Doctors

Dr. T Blumenfeld & Dr. A Macnair, 188 High Street Dr. M. Grande, 42 Telegraph Street

Urgent Care Cambridge (formerly Camdoc)

250079 251180

0330 123 9131 251071

District Nurse Team Cottenham CareCar

Co–ordinator, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Gerry Brett

251929 Cottenham Community Centre 202109 Cottenham Charities 250387 Cottenham Day Centre 250636 Cottenham Toy Library Christina Koester 270334 Cottenham WI Mrs Rita Williams 251454 Dentist Wiese and Associates, 40 Margett Street 251696 Chemist 222 High Street 250556

Chiropractor

www.inspiredchiropractic.com

01223 864444

Counsellor & Therapist Ruth Barnett, [email protected]

Osteopath

202556, 07961 644006

Physic, [email protected] 01223 237459 Physiotherapist Tiffany de la Cour, 07879 642697 Veterinary Surgeon Village Vet Cottenham, 252122

Schools

Cottenham Village College and Community Office County Primary, Lambs Lane Cottentots Baptist Church

Pre–School

Ladybirds Pre–School, Recreation Ground Out of School Club

Brownies & Rainbows Chris Hurworth

288944 250227 251632

250891 01223 568397 203764

1st Cottenham Guides Alison Morris 202873 Scouts [email protected] Newsagents Shaun’s News 250398 Council Offices

County Council Switchboard 0345 045 5222 SCDC Switchboard 0345 045 0500 Parish Council Jo Brook, Clerk [email protected]

[email protected], 251775

Tim Wotherspoon

[email protected],252108

County Councillors David Jenkins

[email protected]



01223 236232 / 07739 758859

Sue Gymer

[email protected]



01954 252902 / 07919 036246

British Red Cross Shop Citizens Advice Bureau

01223 301426

66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 3BL 0844 848 7979

Social Services Histon Team 01223 718011 Mobile Warden Scheme 200080 NSPCC Cottenham Area Team, 01733 558245 RSPCA 24 hour cruelty & advice line, 0300 1234 999 Samaritans Cambridge Centre, 01223 364455 Railway Station Cambridge

Passenger Enquiries 0845 7484950

Driving Instruction TOPS Driving School 252239 Insurance Saffron Insurance 01954 203204 Library Margett Street, 0345 0455225 Library Doorstep Service Hilary Firth, 01223 718358 Parish Church The Rectory, 6 High Street, 250454 Baptist Church Church Office, 252378 Catholic Church St Laurences Church, 01223 704640 Methodist Church [email protected]

07554 202929

Salvation Army Envoys Russell & Alison Day 252419 Royal British Legion Ann Scott, 251468 [email protected]

Cottenham Brass Band Colin Watson, 250813 Bridge Farm Riding School 252284 Allotments Cottenham United Charities 200080 Sustainable Cottenham Christine Ward 251813