Hardwick Happenings November

Brownies: Lucy Gardner [email protected] 01954 211107

Cambridgeshire County Council: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk 01223 717111

Community Association: Anne Jones [email protected] 01954 211417

Community Car Scheme: Marian Gibbens 01954 211709 Hazel Swindells [email protected] 01954 212998 Lizzie Coe 01954 211838 Gill Stott 01954 210952

Community Primary School: Headteacher: Ruth French [email protected] 01954 210070 Caretaker: Alison Berkeley [email protected] 01954 211591

County Councillor : Stephen Frost [email protected] 01954 211444

Cricket Club : Chris Fuller [email protected] 01954 211226

Doctors’ Surgeries: Surgery/Dispensary 58 Green End, Comberton 01223 262500/262399 Bourn Surgery 25 Alms Hill, Bourn 01954 719313 Surgery/Dispensary 58 Green End, 01223 262500/262399 Child & Family Nurses: 01954 282830

District Councillor : Grenville Chamberlain [email protected] 01954 210040

Dragon Fencing Club : Alan West [email protected] 01954 712764

Evangelical Church: [email protected] Co-Ministers: Steve & Kate Gaze 01954 211900/212556 Secretary: Enid Instone-Brewer 01954 210009

Football Club: Steve Chamberlain [email protected] 07834 525856

General: Community Education Office: 01223 264721 Ashcroft veterinary surgery: 169 St Neots Rd 01954 210250 Cambridge Water Co (supply): 01223 403000 Anglian water (sewerage): 08457 145145 Eastern electricity: 0800 7 838 838 Gas Emergency: 0800 111 999

Guides: Janet Hayman [email protected]

Hardwick Happenings: Ed Peter Cornwell Howard Baker [email protected]

Hardwick Facebook admin Nicola Ellender [email protected] 01954 211 421

Member of Parliament: Heidi Allen [email protected] 01954 211044

Mother and Toddler: Rebecca Pentney [email protected] 07775508217

Mums and Tums [email protected]

Netball Club: Alison Beresford [email protected]

Parish Council: [email protected] Chair: Steve Rose [email protected] 01954 211257 Vice Chairman: Jim Stewart [email protected] 01854 212141 Tejinder Bhachu [email protected] 01954 212313 Jim Coe [email protected] 01954 211838 Chris Cracknel [email protected] 01954 211055 Jane Humphries [email protected] 01954 211822 Roger Worland [email protected] 01954 211218 Parish Clerk: Gail Stoehr [email protected] 01954 210241

Pre School: Sharon Griffiths [email protected] 01954 212823

PTA Lizzie Bennett [email protected] 01954 211949

Rainbows: Emily Li Alice Tinkler [email protected] 01954 488624

St. Mary’s Parish Church: Priest in charge: Revd Alison Myers [email protected] 01954 212815 Churchwardens : Thelma Westbury [email protected] 01954 210321 and Chris Ford [email protected] 01954 211841 Treasurer: Clare Bigg [email protected] 01954 211673 PCC Secretary: Michaela McNeill [email protected]

Scouts: Jane Humphries [email protected] 01954 211822

South Cambridgeshire District Council: wwwscambs.gov.uk Road repair: 03450 455212 Street light failure: 0 800 253529

Sports and Social Club: www.hardwicksportsandsocialclub.co.uk Secretary: Fred Rason [email protected] 01954 210110 Pavilion Bookings Contact Fred for hire forms and terms Manager/Steward Jerry Burford

Three fifteen club: Sharon Turner [email protected] 07787910490

Webmaster Robert Cassey [email protected]

WI : Anne Jones [email protected] 01954 211417

Hardwick Happenings

NOVEMBER 2015

Printed by Victoire Press for the Parish Council and the people of Hardwick.

The Hardwick Happenings Team

Editors: Peter Cornwell and Howard Baker Distribution: Marian Gibbens Village content: Yvonne Sawyer Village calendar: Anne Jones Cover design by Ben Ince Technical adviser: Robert Cassey Proof reader: Sue Cornwell

[email protected]

Editorial Great news! Grenville Chamberlain has launched a campaign to rid us of the eyesore at the top of the village. Details are on P.9. Please support him by writing an email to the planning enforcement team, not just to have the building made safe, but to have it tidied or even removed. Ask the enforcement team whether such a disgrace would be allowed if it were opposite one of the Colleges, say on Kings Parade or in the main shopping area. Thanks to Thelma Westbury P.8 for the answer to the trivia question, as she says, there really was a HH in 1976! The first in our series on village people on P.54 reveals a truly remarkable record from George and Margaret Grass who have fostered a staggering one hundred and fifty children over the years! This edition launches a competition on P.39 for teenagers to contribute to the debate over the future of the village and a chance to win some cash . For the first time ever, we have a letter to the editor from a ninety eight year old! It’s from Nan Hobbs whom Anne Jones recently went to see. Anne’s article about Nan is on P 52. Annette Bond tells us that there is a complete collection of HH at the Cambridge archives, but who sends the copy to them? Ruth French thought that there was a complete set at the school, but no one can find the cupboard where they were put. Does anyone in the village have a complete set please? The results of the village survey are on pages 20 to 25 . Still haven’t had any letters on the possible developments in the village. Does this mean that no one cares? Probably not. Just as there doesn’t appear to be anything happening in the village to support the migrants in need………... Yet lots care deeply, perhaps we should get together? Peter

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Contents

An appeal from Jo Lans 11 Article from Robbie Thomson 56 Brambling Howard Baker 16 Competition for teenagers Martin Cassey 43 Cricket club Chris Fuller 49/50 Crossword by Plato 30/31 Get energised Cambridge PPF 64 Hardwick History Group 35 History trivia Howard Baker 59 Interview with George Grass 58/59 Interview with Nan Hobbs 52 Letter about the magazine Thelma Westbury 8 Letter re EYESORE Grenville Chamberlain 9 Letter re Christmas appaeal Jo Lans 11 Letter from Nan Hobbs 12 News from the WI Anne Jones 15 News from St Mary’s Revd Alison Myers 17/ 18/19 November in your garden Carole Oakes 14 Parish Council monthly report Jane Humphries Recipe for Pecan tart Carole Oakes 67 Results of the village survey Steve Rose 20/25 Support you local brook Howard Baker 48 Thank you letter Sharon Griffiths 10 Tribute to Ken Basham Garden Club 23 Village diary 34/35 Village plan 8/39

Re History Trivia in the October edition Dear Editor,

There really was a HH in 1976, in fact l have a photocopy of the first issue that was published in November 1975.consisting of 6 pages on A4. This was passed on to me by Grace Atkinson, who was involved with the distribution and print- ing of the HH at that time. l understand that it was printed on an old type dupli- cating machine owned by the school, and that the editor was Mrs Annette Bond. There were articles from the Rector David Pine. A report on the progress of the fund raising for the adventure playground, situated at the old pond site, between the church and the Old School. The intention was to open the playground by Easter 1976. The Parish Council report states that road problems were discussed and that a 30mph through the village was needed. Also that work should be carried out at Cahill's corner, and at the junction of the A45 with Cambridge Road, in the interest of road safety. There was also pressure to to start building the new primary school on the new estate due to the influx of children into the village, making this a real necessity They also moved to press for some movement towards the provision of a new village hall. Reports from the WI, Mothers and under 5's club, and a page giving the names and addresses of the various committees and their members, village shop news, and details advertising bonfire night. Also it was noted that the second issue of the HH would come out in 6 months time. There is also a copy of a letter printed in the June 1980 HH wishing the Com- munity Association success on taking over the magazine. It gives a partial history of the magazine from its beginning with 250 copies of 4 pages and reaching 550 copies in 1979 and many more pages and articles.

The new Hardwick Happenings team are carrying on with a well established tradition, and let us hope that they get the support and encouragement that they deserve.

Thelma Westbury. PS if any one would like a copy of the 1 st edition HH please let me know (50p to cover costs)

From Grenville Chamberlain District Councillor

Dear Editor, There really was a HH in 1976, in fact l have a photocopy of the first issue that was published in November 1975.consisting of 6 pages on A4. This was passed I am very keen that we should now ramp up the need to rid ourselves on to me by Grace Atkinson, who was involved with the distribution and print- of the eyesore that has remained at the heart of our Village for almost ing of the HH at that time. l understand that it was printed on an old type dupli- 10 years, the now derelict building at the junction of Cambridge Road and St Neots Road. With the aid and support of colleagues on the Dis- Bond. There were articles from the Rector David Pine. A report on the progress trict Council I hope that we can encourage officers to place an order which requires the owner, or his successors, to make the building safe which may, with luck, lead to its demolition which must ultimately be its destiny. If we are to achieve that we need as many residents as possible to 30mph through the village was needed. Also that work should be carried out at write to the Planning Enforcement Team at South Cambridgeshire District Council. I have drafted a note which I have also placed on the Hardwick Facebook page and which I hope will generate as much sup- There was also pressure to to start building the new primary school on the new port as possible and, hopefully, encourage Council Officers to recog- estate due to the influx of children into the village, making this a real necessity nise the views of so many residents. They also moved to press for some movement towards the provision of a new I have attached a copy below: Fire Damaged Building - St Neots Road Reports from the WI, Mothers and under 5's club, and a page giving the names Many efforts have been made over the past few years to have this dan- and addresses of the various committees and their members, village shop news, gerous eyesore made safe or removed but so far all have failed. As many people enter our Village the first impression they get is from this Also it was noted that the second issue of the HH would come out in 6 months eyesore which has been used as a drinking den and perhaps worse. There is now a possibility that we may be able to encourage South Cambridgeshire District Council to enforce action to remove this blot on our landscape. It gives a partial history of the magazine from its beginning with 250 copies of I have asked the Parish Council to write to the Planning Enforcement Team at South Cambridgeshire Hall but am now asking residents to write with your views too. You may e-mail the Planning Team directly or e-mail me at: [email protected] and I will forward your e- tradition, and let us hope that they get the support and encouragement that they mails. The more complaints we can compile the higher the chance of getting this derelict building dealt with so if you know neighbours who may not see this notice please ask them to help and support this initiative by writing too. Letters addressed to the Planning Enforce- edition HH please let me know (50p ment Team may be dropped off at my home and I will hand deliver them. My address is 95 Limes Road, Hardwick. Thank you for your help and support.

From Sharon Griffiths , Manager Hardwick Pre-school

Dear Hardwick Residents,

Hardwick Pre-School have received a donation of £500 from Hardwick Sports and Social Club.

We would like to thank Hardwick Sports and Social Club for their kind donation which is going to be spent on our outdoor area. We are going to purchase a ‘mud kitchen’, some outdoor posters and resources to promote letter and number recognition and we will be able to replace some of our broken outdoor toys.

Hardwick Pre-School relies heavily on fundraising and donations to enable us to provide additional resources for the children and to replace broken equipment so we are very grateful to Hardwick Sports and Social Club.

Sharon Griffiths

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Comberton Huntingdon Road

Cambridge CB23 7DY Cambridge CB3 0RN

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

Some of you may know that I work for Children’s Services at Cam- bridgeshire County Council. I work with children and their families in the city and it has recently been reported that 21.7% of the children in Cambridge live in poverty.

Last year Sandra Jordan, who also works at the council, and I set up an appeal for gifts for children for Christmas, and with the help of families in Hardwick and the surrounding villages we were able to ensure that 100 children had a brighter Christmas. People were very generous and said they would have liked more notice and that they would like to do the same thing again.

If you feel that you would like to support us in our appeal by donating new gifts and clothes, or some seasonal goodies, we would be most grateful. Jerry Burford has kindly said he would be happy for the So- cial Club to be a drop off point, or we are happy to collect them, and of course you could bring them to either Sandra at 119 Limes Road, or me at 39 Ashmead Drive. We work with children from 0 to 19 years - last year we were a little short of teenage gifts, but we are most grateful for anything we receive. We would like to ask the workers to come and collect the gifts to take to their families on Tuesday 15 th and Wednesday 16 th December, so would like them all in by Monday 14 th .

Thank you, With Kindest Regards, Jo Lans

Don’t forget to send your email to support Grenville’s campaign about THE EYESORE Page 9

Hello there,

I am Nan Hobbs and used to live in Hardwick, St Neots Rd. I still have a lot of friends in Hardwick and maybe there are a few who still remember Nan and Dick Hobbs. I had such a lovely surprise yesterday when Anne Jones and her lovely daughter, Helen, brought the new baby boy Rhys to see me. He is eight months old and was such a good boy, never a whimper and all smiles. They brought the Hardwick Happenings which she still sends me. It keeps me in touch. I found it very big and interesting and wish to congratulate the new editors on an excellent job. Church magazine!!! Rubbish. I always say to these people, why don't you write something? I have known Peter a long time. His Mother Norah was the editor of the Happenings and encouraged me to write articles on growing up, holidays and school days . They were wonderful years and helped to make our thirty two years retirement in Hardwick so wonderful. The magazine keeps me informed on what is going on and some- times people's names crop up which remind me of things we used to do so many years ago. What a happy village .....so many people who put so much of their time , money and energy into making it such a pleasant village for young and old alike. I wish all the new people who are taking on different things the utmost success in all they are doing. I am sure that the Hardwick Happenings will go from strength to strength. I feel very sad that I have had to leave it all and am missing everything. I live in a very comfortable care home in Huntingdon looking out onto a field with plenty of bird life. What more do I want? Being looked after with lots of happy memories of Hardwick.

Good luck and best wishes from Nan Hobbs 98 years old.

[Written by her own hand and transcribed verbatim Ed] [Article from Anne Jones on P52]

November in your garden Collated by Carole Oakes

When you have cleared your beds of this year’s vegetables, not forgetting to collect and save some seeds for next years’ sowing, dig over thoroughly and spread some well rotted manure or com- post on the empty beds.

Any empty pots can be planted up with hardy plants for the winter or bulbs to provide a display of colour in the spring. These can then be removed after flowering to make way for next years’ summer bedding plants. Now is also a good time to plant winter flowering shrubs, Viburnum being particularly versatile with some va- rieties giving a beautiful fragrance and charming flowers too.

To prevent pots getting waterlogged place bricks or blocks of wood underneath to raise them off the ground and assist drain- age.

If your hedges and trees are overhanging pavements or your neighbours’ garden, prune or cut them back, always seeking your neighbours consent before going on to their property to cut back any plants that extend over fences and walls. Any unwanted suckers can also be cut from the base of trees.

Be aware that some decking and stone slabs can become slip- pery in winter. Regular cleaning two or three times a year will help keep the area safe.

Hardwick WI is an active and friendly W.I. whose members enjoy a variety of activities alongside our monthly meetings. 2015/2016 Programme: 18 th November Rajasthan, India – Colin Kirtland 16 th December Christmas Carols/Festive Fare 20 th January Social 17 th February ‘What colour & style should I wear?’ – Luanne Hill 16 th March Annual General Meeting & Elections Our other activities over the next few months include dining out club, darts team, a trip to the panto. If the above interests you, please come along and give us a try. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7.45pm in the community room at Hardwick School or contact Anne on 01954 211417HARDWICK W.I. - SEPTEMBER 2015 Our W.I. meeting in September fell on the special W.I. Day to celebrate 100 years exactly since its inception on September 16 th 1915. Two of our members had spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the CFWI Centenary Afternoon Tea at Landbeach Village Hall with the guest speaker Ruth Bond. In the evening the celebrations continued… our speaker was Hon- or Ridout who, being a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide, has a wealth of knowledge of Cambridge. Her illustrated talk was entitled ‘Glimpses of Old Cambridge’ which was very interesting. She pointed out various areas of interest, some of which were familiar and others not so familiar. This was fallowed with special refreshments of cheese & wine and the usual chat, laughter and friendliness of Hardwick W.I. Jerusalem was sung and glasses were raised to ‘the W.I.’!!

BRAMBLING I came late to the blackberry-picking scene this year. Too busy sorting out the adverts for H.H. and taking a late summer holiday. So we started close to home, ignoring the rich picking areas that I have discovered in other parts of the village. Brambles grow early in this part of the world so we were mopping up the ones that had not been already picked or eaten by birds or had simply withered and died. I was surprised to find two local boys aged about ten picking beside us. One of them said, ‘I’ve picked too many’ and threw some away, while the other replied with, ‘Look how many I’ve picked. One, two, three, four….’ Pleased as I was to see them keeping up the ancient art of brambling I felt that some tuition was needed. No doubt some university will soon be of- fering degrees in brambling, a course which will include the sociology, psy- chology and philosophy of brambling as well as the history of picking meth- ods. I must have been the same age as my fellow-pickers in Hardwick when I first went brambling. The war had just ended (Second World War in case you’re wondering) and I was invited to go brambling by my friend Joan Bryan’s big sister, Audrey. Usually the big lasses refused to associate with us, so it was a great honour to be invited to join her brambling expedition. She led us into a field where the hedges were loaded with succulent black fruit. My first question was ‘Are they on points?’ On points meant ‘rationed’. Throughout the war and even now that it was over our lives were governed by ration books which controlled our consumption of food, clothes and even sweets. ‘You can pick as many as you like,’ was Audrey’s reply. My next question was, ‘ Howmuch are they?’ and the answer was, ‘They’re free. You don’t have to pay.’ The joy of learning that blackberries were not rationed and were free has remained with me for the rest of my life. I have picked them in Staffordshire, Newcastle, London, Yorkshire and Hardwick where over the years I have discovered a number of good brambling sites. Even as I write these words I have in front of me a bowl of this year’s crop cooked with apple and sugar and served with ice cream. If ever I am interviewed for that column in ‘The Guard- ian’ which asks, ‘What is your favourite smell?’ my answer will certainly be bramble and apple slowly cooking in a pan. Hardwick is the only place I’ve lived where brambling is considered a normal activity and where people don’t seem to think that I go brambling because I’m too mean to buy them in the supermarket. So get out there and start picking though there may not be many left. Let me tell you how many I’ve picked this year……one, two, three, four…….. Howard Baker.

St Mary’s Church, Hardwick St Mary’s, Hardwick, is part of the Lordsbridge Team of Churches, and the diocese of Ely www.stmaryshardwick.org.uk Revd Alison Myers is a Team Vicar in the Lordsbridge Team, and is Lead Minister for the communities of Hardwick and Dry Drayton and Lead Minister in mission Tel: 01954 212815; Email: [email protected] The Rectory, 50, Main Street, Hardwick, Cambridge CB23 7QS Services in November (at St Mary’s Hardwick unless otherwise noted) 1 November 9.30 am Holy Communion with Sunday Club 4 pm All Souls Service

8 November 9.30 am Holy Communion for Remembrance Sunday with Sunday Club 7.30 pm Sacred Space, based in Dry Drayton

15 November 9.30 am Holy Communion with Sunday Club

22 Nov 8.30 am Lordsbridge Team Holy Communion at Toft 10.30 am Annual Area wide Celebration Service at Comberton Leisure

29 November 9.30 am Holy Communion with Sunday Club

All Souls Remembrance Sunday 1 November, 4 to 4.45pm 8 November, 9.30am This is an annual reflective service of Holy Communion, including a short readings and prayers to remember silence those for whom we grieve or still miss and prayers for peace. followed by refreshments Sunday Club for younger children .

Thank you – For the Harvest gifts

Sacred Space, 8 November, A big thank you to all those 7.30-8.30pm (followed by refreshments) who brought gis to the Har‐ Gathering…Worshipping…Praying… vest Thanksgiving service - for Exploring Milton Children’s Hospice, Cam- Exploring the spirituality of the element bridge Foodbank and Christian ‘Wind’ Aid Refugee Fund. At St Peter & St Paul’s, Dry Drayton,

Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes packed for children will be collected at church at the 9.30am service on 15 ovember (Sunday Club will be in the portacabin as usual). Pick up a leaflet in church with details of what to pack or find instructions and down- loadable labels at samaritans-purse.org.uk/occ

“How do we Engage with Post Christian Britain?”

Annual united area-wide celebration 22 November, 10.30am – 11.45am, At Comberton Leisure With guest speaker Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, now Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Come and join us for a morning of music, prayer and a talk from Dr Rowan Williams followed by refreshments.

Children of all ages are welcome. There will be a crèche and a session for primary school aged children by GenR8. Both will have an audio and video relay of the main service.

Service supported by: Local Baptist Churches, Cambourne Church, Hardwick Evangeli- cal Church, Lordsbridge Team Ministry, Papworth Team Ministry, WCCYM Small ‘crèche’ area with quiet toys at the back of church in Sunday services. Children are always welcome.

Weekly church email. To receive our weekly update of services, events and activities in Hardwick, other local villages and beyond, then please email your details to Alison [email protected] and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

Hardwick’s community café is opeon 7 November and 6 Decem- ber 10am to midday, in the community room at the school. Coffee, cakes and company. Perhaps we’ll see you there.

Ken Basham A tribute from former members of The Hardwick Gardening Club. Ken was a valued member of The Hardwick Gardening Club for many years having held the post of Chairman. He was very knowledgeable and enjoyed his vegetable and flower garden. At the Hardwick Annual Village show he was a prolific winner having won the shield for the highest number of points for numerous years. He will be fondly remembered for his very large prize winning marrows A full obituary for Ken will appear in the December/January issue. Ed

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Caldecote Village Hall Coffee Morning Dates

Held in Caldecote Village Hall from 9.15am – 11.30am on the dates listed below.

Have a cup of tea or coffee with some homemade cake and make a donation to the following charities. Fri 6 November 2015 Help for Heroes Fri 4 December 2015 East Anglian Children's Hospice Fri 8 January 2016 Jimmy’s Night Shelter Fri 5 February 2016 Little Bundles (local baby charity) Fri 4 March 2016 Guide Dogs for the Blind Fri 1 April 2016 Caldecote Cubs and Scouts Fri 6 May 2016 Friends of Caldecote Church Fri 3 June 2016 Lisa Kent Memorial Trust (African Educational charity) Fri 1 July 2016 Caldecote & Hardwick Community Car Scheme

Across

3. What Autumn is known as in North America (4)

5. Chemical that makes leaves change colour (10)

8. A kind of squash (7)

9. The celebration before All Saints' Day (9)

10. A process of cultivating crops (7) 11. In Greek myth, autumn begins when this person returns to the underworld (10)

14. German festival that began in 1810 (11)

Down

1. What autumn is known as by NASA (6,6)

2. Traditional bonfire snack (6,5)

4. Traditionally celebrated on 5th November (3,6,5)

6. Latin name for Autumn (8)

7. Author of The Wild Swans at Coole (1,1,5)

12. Occurred on 23rd September this year (7)

13. Often used for fighting (7)

Regular weekly events in Hardwick

Day Venue Activity Time Mon St Mary’s Portacab- Crafty Bs 7.15pm – 9pm in Community Room Brownies 6.15pm – 7.30pm Tues Scout & Guide Hut Rainbows 5.00_ 5 30 pm Guides TBC Wed St Mary’s Portacab- New Mums & Tums 11am – 12.30pm in HSSC Friendship Club 2pm – 5pm Fri Community Room Toddler Group 1.45pm – 3pm Community Room Youth Club Alternate week 8pm – 9.45pm Sun Hardwick Communi- Evangelical Church 10.30am - mid- ty Primary School day St Mary’s Church Service of 9.30am Communion & Sunday 2nd Sunday of Club month, All Age Wor- ship

HSSC – Hardwick Sports & Social Club - overlooking recreation ground St Mary’s Portacabin – behind St Mary’s Church Scout & Guide Hut - overlooking recreation ground Community Room – in Hardwick Community Primary School Please let me know if there are any errors in this or if you want your activity included. Many thanks Anne Jones ([email protected])

11am –11am 3pm 7pm –7pm 9.30pm 10am - 10am - midday 10am - midday 7.30pm 7.30pm 8pm 9.15am 9.15am – 11.30am 10am – 3pm 9.15am 9.15am – 11.30am 6pm,atopen Gates 7.30pm atfireworks 6.45pm – 8.30pm 7.30pm 7pm 7pm 7.45pm

7.45pm

Hardwick School Sports Social& Club Blue Lion Blue Hardwick School Hardwick School Outside Hardwick School Sports Social& Club

Sports Social& Club Blue Lion Blue Caldecote Village Hall Caldecote Village Hall Hardwick School

Sports Social& Club Hardwick School Hardwick School Hardwick School Hardwick School

spice

Village diary

Fireworks Display Quiz Night Coffee morning in ofaid forHelp Heroes ‘Pippin’s’ Coffee Company & ‘Pippin’s’ Coffee Company & Christmas Fair Quiz Night (£2 entry for children adults, free) in morningaid ofCoffee East Children’s HoAnglian Parish Parish Council Meeting Auction of Promises Bingo

Community Room User meeting Group Guides Disco Christmas Bazaar Quiz Night W.I. – ‘Rajahstan India’ – Colin Kirtland Building the nativity scene

th th th th th th th th th th th th th rd th th th 12 17 Nov 6 12 7 4 18 14 7 Dec 5 5 24 5 30 13 3 27

10am - 10am - midday 7.45pm 7.45pm 6.30pm 10.30am - midday 7.45pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 5pm 8pm

9.15am 9.15am – 11.30am 9.15am 9.15am – 11.30am 10am – 3pm 6.45pm – 8.30pm 6.45pm – 8.30pm 7.45pm 7.30pm 7.30pm

Hardwick School Hardwick School Hardwick School St Mary’s Church St Mary’s Church Outside Hardwick School Hardwick School

Nativity scene Hard- at School wick Sports Social& Club Sports Social& Club Blue Lion Blue Caldecote Village Hall Caldecote Village Hall Hardwick School Hardwick School Hardwick School Sports Social& Club Sports Social& Club

ty)

‘Pippin’s’ ‘Pippin’s’ Coffee Company & Quiz Night Coffee morning in ofaid Jimmy’s Night Shelter Guides Disco Quiz Night Guides Disco Coffee morning aidin of Little Bundles (baby chari Carol singing Bingo W.I. – January Social – members only Bingo Parish Council meeting Fun morning at St Mary’s Christmas carols around the fire Building the nativity scene Parish Council meeting W.I. – Members’ Evening – Christmas theme Quiz Night

th th th th th th th th st st th nd th th th th th th 25 Feb 24 16 21 12 7 8 5 28 20 19 4 15 21 8 Jan 26 5 2

Hardwick History Group

The last meeting of the Group was on the same day that we held the service to remember and celebrate the life of Ken Basham, one of our keen- est founder members. He had so much knowledge of the farming history of the area, and a great interest in family history. Both he and the group will be very much missed.

Our final meeting was an illustrated talk by Michael Coles (Cambridge Archaeology Field Group) on the missing village of Wimpole.

Sited to close to the great Roman Road, Ermine street, Wimpole was listed in the Domesday book of 1086. At that time there was a moated manor house set in a small 81 hectares(200acres)deer park.

The Tithe map of 1851 show an almost empty landscape, that has change little until the present day, apart from New Wimple, built between 1840 and 1850. The Hall and its buildings dominate the area. Studies have shown how the prehistoric, Roman and medieval network of tracks and roads shaped the parish and influenced the settlement loca- tions.

New evidence has been produced showing dispersed Iron Age and Roman settlement and a significant Anglo Saxon presence as well. Field walking and test pit diggings provide some clues to the timing and location of those settlements.

Much more research is required to complete the history of Wimpole as a parish with an ancient past Information about the past, which might otherwise have been lost through the intense farming or house building seen elsewhere, still remains to be uncovered in a landscape in which the old roads, lanes and cottages have largely disappeared, and all that remains are the hollow tracks and house platforms still visible in the grass of Wimpole Park.

(Information from the website/leaflet of the Cambridge Archaeology |Field Group-silent voices & deserted Homes Cambridge)

HARDWICK VILLAGE PLAN - UPDATE www.hardwickplan.uk What has happened in the last month? At the end of September, The Parish Council agreed to provide seed corn funding to the Village Plan Working Group. Volunteers have also spoken about the Village Plan at The Community Association and Pippins. Approximately sixty Hardwick residents attended a meeting held in the School Hall on Tuesday 13 th October. There was generally a good cross-section of the broader Hard- wick Community present apart from there being few young people in attendance. Martin Cassey, the Acting Chair of the Working Group, opened the meeting. There were also talks from Steve Rose, representing the Parish Council, Gemma Barron from South Cambridgeshire District Council and Ian Bavin, the Chair of the Cambourne Par- ish Planning Group. Ian explained that Cambourne had embarked upon their plan development at the beginning of 2015 and are currently finalising their village survey, which they hope to publish by the end of the year. Ian’s talk concluded with an interesting Q&A session that covered a variety of topics. In addition to the formal talks, there was also an interactive session where residents enjoyed some refreshments and viewed displays of Hardwick past and present and two Case Studies relating to plans developed by other villages in South Cambs. Attendees also recorded on flip charts their opinions about: Hardwick Positives, Hardwick Issues, Hardwick Opportunities, Suggestions for Hardwick Plan Topics There was a real buzz of energy and conversation throughout the room as people talked about their ideas and opinions. By the end of the session, six pages of opinions had been collected. These will give the Working Group a good start towards identifying the matters that are of particular concern to Hardwick Residents. A Steering Committee was elected by a show of hands. The meeting closed at 8:30 pm, following a brief summary and thanks to all those that had helped to make the event such a success. What happens next? The newly elected Committee will formalise its Constitution and Terms of Reference and then begin the process of planning the next steps. The Working Group will also seek ways to reach and engage with the young people in the village. How can I contact the Working group? Email [email protected] , Post on the Hardwick Facebook group Write to Hardwick Village Plan, 4 Sadlers Close, Hardwick

THE VILLAGE PLAN

More than a hundred people attended a meeting at Hardwick Primary School on October

13 th to discuss the Village Plan. Those attending had the chance to study wall displays

about similar plans at Gamlingay and Whaddon and to contribute their ideas to two

charts on Hardwick Positives and Hardwick Issues. I was pleased to note that our village

magazine was listed among the Positives, and I fully agree about the state of street light-

ing and the need for improved medical facilities in the village

The meeting began with a short talk by Ian Bevan, Chair of Cambourne Village

Plan Group who talked about how they had begun their work by drawing up a question-

naire and delivering it to every house in the village and seems like a good starting point.

We were then introduced to the Steering Committee of the Hardwick Village

Plan Group, consisting of Martin Cassey (Chairman),Betty Grimes (Secretary, Malcolm

Farmer (Treasurer) Jane Muncey (Events) Avril Monmont (Transport & Highways

Lead) and Tim Reynolds (in the Village Sustainability Lead) The posts of Publicity and

Youth Representative need to be filled urgently and the chairman appealed for volun-

teers.

The meeting ended with some comments by the chairman, and we look forward to the

group beginning its work. The idea of the Plan is to enable residents to have some say on

the future development of the village and comes at a crucial time as we stand on the brink of big changes.

Howard Baker

Would you welcome the opportunity of meeting new people over lunch ?

Have you felt the need to get out a bit more, and do you prefer spending time in small- er groups rather than larger social events?

Then Home Lunch Club-Hardwick is the place for you!

Home Lunch Club-Hardwick is based in a family home in the village. It is a small friendly and welcoming group currently catering for up to 8 lunch guests at a time, held twice a month on Thursdays between 12:30 to 2:30 . It includes a two course home cooked lunch followed by tea or coffee and lots of chat- ter. Guests are asked to make a donation of £4.50 each to cover the cost of food and insurance.

Next lunch dates 5 and 19 November 2015 3 and 17 December 2015

For more information or to book a place or transport please contact Jane Johannessen, Care Network, Phone: 01954 211919 Jane would be pleased to hear from anyone who may be interested in starting up their own Home Lunch Club.

HARDWICK FRIENDSHIP CLUB

EVERY WEDNESDAY

2pm - 5pm

ENTRY £1.00 INCLUDING REFRESHMENTS

A RAFFLE HELD ONCE A MONTH

WE HAVE OUTINGS AND GUEST SPEAKERS

NEW MEMBERS MADE WELCOME

MEETINGS HELD AT

THE SOCIAL CLUB PAVILION

Help Hardwick Thrive in 2025

To the youth of Hardwick between the ages of 12 and 16 Win yourself an early Christmas present… The Hardwick Village Plan Working Group would like your views on how you would like Hardwick to be in 2025. Be as creave as you like. Your wring could describe: the village in general; a parcular aspect of our village community such as young people, Senior Cizens, Housing, Schools, working, etc.; a parcular interest, e.g. technology, sport, religion, transport etc.

Your entry should be no more than 500 words and can be in the form of an imaginary magazine or news arcle or similar and must include your name, age and address. Entries should be emailed to: compe[email protected] or posted to: Hardwick Plan Compeon, 4, Sadlers Close, Hardwick Entries must be received by 12 November The winner must be a resident of Hardwick and will receive a £20 itunes or similar voucher. The winning entry will be published in the December/January edion of the Hardwick Hap- penings and on the Village Plan website. Further details about the compeon are available on the website: www.hardwickplan.uk/compeons

1st Hardwick Rainbows Now running with new leaders

Rainbows have fun! Be- ing a Rainbow is all about making friends, trying new things and having lots of fun. They get their hands dirty with arts and crafts, cooking and playing games so if you're aged 5-7 years and like those things come and join us. We meet during term time on Tuesday after- noons in the scout hut from 5-6pm. For more information please contact Alice and Emily at [email protected]

Village voices Readers are invited to submit articles, poems, LETTERS, photos, stories and opinion.

CUT OFF DATE FOR THE NEXT EDITION :12th NOVEMBER [email protected]

We are a friendly group of parents who meet on Fridays in school term me; 1.45pm–3.00pm on a drop-in basis. Your ﬁrst visit is free, then the session cost is £2 to cover room rental and insurance.

The aim of the group is to give children aged 0–4 years and their parents or carers an opportunity to play, chat and meet local people in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

A typical session is: 1.45 Arrive and sign in Record drink and ck to say you’ve paid Free play, somemes including: • Baby area • Cra table • Building blocks • Bouncy Castle • Larger ‘Lile Tikes’ toys: vehicles, slide, kitchen • Train set, cars, acon playsets 2.30 Snack me ‘Everyone who can’ helps to clear the tables and prepare drinks of water or squash for the children, tea or coﬀee for the adults and biscuits for everyone! 2.50 Tidy-up me We appreciate any help with dying up the toys and refreshments you can give, dependent obviously on the needs of your lile one(s)! 3.00 Home me

If you have any quesons please email [email protected]

Yoga for all in Toft Peoples Hall

With Jean Stewart (certified yoga instructor with camyoga)

Saturdays from 8.30am till 10am Mats and equipment provided.

Price £10 per session. For more info. Contact [email protected] Mobile: 07747533306

Support Your Local Brook

Did you know that there is a stream by the name of Bin Brook which rises in our village and flows through Coton and Newnham to join the Cam at St John’s College? Neither did we until we received a press re- lease about the friends of Bin Brook. Most of the villages through which the brook passes have a friends’ group, all linked to the Cam Valley Forum whose aims are to study the history and ecology of the brook and to protect it from modern-day developments. Other aims are to improve the habitat by protecting it from invasive species, to improve the water quality and to educate local children in issues of biodi- versity relating to the brook. It is also hoped that university students might be encouraged to undertake research projects relating to the ecology of the brook. If you are interested in becoming involved in any of these activities you should contact either Terry Spencer on 01954 210037 or Maria Murphy on 01954 211104

Hardwick & Caldecote Cricket Club

In 2014 both adult teams were relegated to lower divisions. The club was determined that this should not happen in 2015. We recruited new players from both villages and were pleased that a number of previous players reregistered having played for other clubs last year. As a result both teams did not get relegated and ended up in 4th and 3rd position in their respective divisions (Senior 2 and 6S). Captain Steve Smith carried out a sterling job considering he had to motivate the first team that had been relegated twice in two seasons and get them back to winning most of their games. There were 45 games played between the two grounds this year, with the County utilising Caldecote on Sundays. The club has had the support from both parish councils throughout the season with cutting the outfield and treatments on both recreation grounds.

We have had a busy year raising funds for the repair of the cricket roller with a quiz and a very successful T20 competition between NCI, Cambourne, Buccaneers and ourselves. The Buccaneers won the competition. It will be staged again next year.

The club had success in cup competitions coming runners up in the semi-final of the CCA Walker cup and finalists in the Pye Busi- ness House cup.

The junior section of the club has also had success and recruited 30 extra players from both villages, mainly through the free training sessions that the club gave to the Hardwick School. It was also excellent to see a number of girls wanting to play this year. Lets hope that continues. The under 14s won their division in the CYCA competition. The under 10s played 11 games this year compared to 5 the previous year. We would like to offer free cricket coaching to Caldecote school as well so that we may be able to recruit more players.

[continued on next page]

[Continued] Financially the club is in a better situation than it was two years ago, but it still has loans to repay and replacement equipment to buy in order to maintain the two grounds. It was supported this year by the Hardwick Sports and Social Club who generously sponsored all our cricket balls for the games this year. The club had the opportunity to purchase roll on covers at the Caldecote ground thanks to a large grant from the ECB.

We have just top dressed, seeded and fertilised both grounds at a cost of more than £1000 to ensure that the surfaces play well for the next season.

At our recent AGM, James Buss is taking on the mantle of 1st team captain. Steve Smith will be the Club Captain.the 2nd Team Captain is still to be decided. Pete Laughlin - Chair, Mark Clilverd - Treasurer and Chris Fuller - Secretary.

Over the next few years the club aims to improve the Hardwick cricket square back to the standard it should be and assist in getting the outfield better than it currently is. We also need new netting on the net area, to clean up the artificial practice surface and replace at least one of the older mowers. At Caldecote the aim is to replace the broken boards on the sight screens with stronger ones and replace one of the older mowers with a new one.

There will be indoor winter nets for adult players and the older juniors from January next year. Outdoor training for adults will be on Thursdays from April and the juniors will continue on Friday evenings as before starting in mid April at Hardwick.

As always the club would like new players to join the club. So if you have read this and would like to join, just look at our website or call me on 01954 211226

Chris Fuller

HARDWICK NEW MUMS & TUMS GROUP

A group especially for parents-to-be and parents /carers of babies up to the age of begin mobile..

We meet every Wednesday 11 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.

Venue : In the port-a-cabin behind St Mary's Church, Main Street, Hardwick, Cambs. CB22 7QT. Come and have a chat with other parents & share experiences

A chance to catch up with friends and make new ones

Baby play mats, seats & toys provided

Changing facilities

Drinks & biscuits - donations welcome For further information please do not hesitate to us contact us. Leaders Stella ;Tel: 01954 210049 / Mob. 07903229296 Email: [email protected] Jo ; Tel 01954 213167 / Mob 07752870320 Email [email protected]

My visit to Nan Hobbs Those of you who have lived in Hardwick for some time will remember Nan and Dick Hobbs who lived for years

in a bungalow on St Neot’s Road near where the Enterprise café used to be. I think they were founder members of the Gardening Club which has sadly since disbanded. They loved their garden, Nan was a very good cook and Dick was a very good craftsman and they both won many prizes in the Gardening Club An- nual Show. Dick died some years ago but Nan kept going and you would see her in her car and latterly on her scooter, around the village. Last year, due to failing health, she decided that the time had come for her to sell her bungalow and move into a residential home. She chose a home in Broughton, near Huntingdon where she has settled very well, but still has very fond memories of Hardwick. I send her a copy of the Hard- wick Happenings regularly which I know she reads from cover to cover and I try to enclose a little note with It too. Nan knew my children and saw them grow up, so when my daughter, Helen, had a baby in February I wrote to tell her the news. Eventually, we man- aged to visit her recently and she was delighted to see us. We had a cup of coffee with her while she reminisced about Hardwick and wants to be remembered to all who knew her. She is in the process of writing her life story and has got as far as 1979! She is an amazing woman and at 98 years of age is an inspiration to us all. I attach a photo of her sitting with me and my grandson, Rhys. She is such a proud lady and insisted on brushing her hair before being photo- graphed! If anyone would like to contact or visit her, please get in touch with me and I can give you her details. She would love to see you and you would 52 have a very warm welcome .Anne Jones

Marquees for hire

Traditional and frame marquees

We can pitch, strike and deliver the marquees to you if needed. Pitching; £40 per marquee per event. Private hire £80 Delivery from £35 depending on dis- Good causes £40 tance To book marquees, for more information, and other enquires about please contact; bchtmar- [email protected] or phone 01954 210570 All booking subject to availability of marquees and volunteer teams for delivery,

By hiring these marquees you will be supporting local Rain- bow, Brownie, Guide and senior Section GirlGuiding units.

Girlguiding in Hardwick In Hardwick there are opportunities to belong to any section of GirlGuiding. If you want any more information about any aspect of Girl- Guiding, please contact : Jane Muncey tel 01954 210570, email hardwick- [email protected] or contact our County office at; [email protected]

Rainbows are aged 5 – 7

Brownies are aged 7 - 10

Guides are aged 10 – 14

Senior Section are aged 14 – 26

For any aspect of GirlGuiding see Adult leaders www.girlguiding.org.uk are women aged www.cambseastguides.org.uk 18 – 65

"We forgive them for what they have done. We know it's what we need to do because we don't want to hang onto anger and bit- terness." These are the words of Fred and Fran Gill towards the killers of their son Robert Gill who was robbed, beaten and drowned in December 2007.

Fran and Fred joined us on Sunday 11 th October at Café Church, a termly event held at Hardwick Primary School to share their story and give an insight into what it took to forgive in the hardest of circumstances. As they spoke of their son who was just 17 when he died, it was clear to hear and see the warmth, pride and deep love they had and continue to have for Robert. Pictures of Robert and the family accompanied the talk as we were all taken on the journey of experiencing the untimely and sudden loss of a loved one and how to come to terms with that. We heard Fred and Fran speak very assuredly about how they both came to faith and what an important part both church and the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) played in their lives with Robert and also in the years since he died.

And as they both spoke and shared their stories, in the centre of the room stood a bright white and chrome motorcycle Fred had made in Robert’s memory. Adorned with brilliantly detailed illustrations, it followed the story of John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”. At the end of the story the Pilgrim passes through the river and reaches the Celestial City on the other side. Upon closer inspection of the bike we see that the pilgrim passing through the river is Robert, looking back over his shoulder with his shining future in front of him.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah 43:2 Robert is no longer with us but in Fred and Fran he has parents who, by attending biker rallies up and down the country and through sharing their story, keep not only his memory alive but keep in our consciousness the belief that for those who love God, something far greater than this life is waiting for us on the other side of the river.

Robbie Thomson – Trustee at Hardwick Evangelical Church

Parish Council Report for September 22 nd 2015

The meeting was attended by 5 of the 7 Parish Councillors. District Councillor Chamberlain was out of Parish on business. Since the last meeting Councillor Betty Grimes has stepped down from post which creates a vacancy that can only be filled with a by election. The other vacancy created by Ian Storr’s resignation in May can now be filled by co- opting applicants as no one came forward in the Summer and 4 months have passed. It is a complicated system that we must adhere to so please don’t be put off if you are thinking of joining the council and contact the clerk. Two villagers have applied for the co-opted post and these will be voted upon at an extra meeting before next month when both people can attend to briefly address the council as neither was at the meeting. Matters that were dealt with this month included the agreed sharing of Speed Watch equipment with Caldecote and Toft once volunteers have been trained and the football clubs being asked to check the pitches at the end of the fixtures to clear up all the tape, gloves and litter from the touchlines. There was a long discussions following a resident’s request for the Council to pay for a dropped kerb outside their house when the double yellow lines are introduced; but it was decided that the Council would not pay although they were sympathetic with the situation. Another long discussion followed the request of the Hardwick Sports and Social Club to erect two lockable bollards in the Parish car park disabled parking bays outside the Pavilion. It was decided that first the HSSC should make every attempt to approach those using the bays without a Blue Badge, as they know who they are, reminding them not to. The new village litter picker has started and we thank Joan Harding for the summer months during which she did the role voluntarily. The Council will arrange for the brambles around the skate park to be cut back and extra litter checks by council members should improve the appearance of this area of the rec. Coton Ladies Netball club will be using the all-weather courts this winter and if any other clubs would like to please contact the clerk. The driveway leading to the church will be widened at the road end to facilitate their planning application for a community hall behind St Mary's. Our new street lights are nearly all working but with the perfect growing conditions this Summer lots of trees have flourished and if your street light is obscured please let me know ( [email protected] ) I am trying to check on all our village lights to ensure good visibility at night. We are also doing a check on the condition of the village notice boards and I will clear them of out of date notices as soon as I can. The next meeting is on 20 th October in the Community Room at 7.45pm. If you are thinking of joining the Parish Council it is a good idea to come along to a few meetings to familiarise yourself with the day to day duties of the post.

VILLAGE PEOPLE In the first of a new series of articles featuring Hardwick people with interesting and unusual lives, Howard Baker inter- views George Grass, boxing coach and much more.

George Grass is a Londoner by birth, but has lived a lot of his life in East Anglia. As a young man he became a jockey and discovered that there is a strong link between the sport of kings and the noble art. Young jockeys were made to undergo boxing training as a means of toughening them up. He had a number of other jobs before starting work with the railway, first as a guard, then as a driver and he worked throughout East Ang lia and down to London. In all he spent twenty-one years as a railway man. During this time he got married and he and his wife had three children. It was when one of his sons had a troubled adolescence that George thought of boxing training as a means of controlling his son’s aggression. Subsequently he qualified as a coach and was able to rent premises above Pet Paks to set up a gym. The gym is now open seven days a week for boxing training and general fitness training. He points out that contrary to general perception, his clients are of all ages and from all walks of life: doctors, law- yers and airline pilots, as well as young people of both sexes. Though many of his members use the gym for recreational or therapeutic purposes there are those who take part in competitions in different parts of the country. George also organises boxing matches in aid of charity. George’s wife,Margaret, was brought up by foster parents and when their own children had grown up they took the brave decision to become foster parents themselves. Over the years they have fostered more than a hundred and fifty children, some for only a few days, many others for longer.

Over twenty years ago they were asked to foster a blind, quadriplegic little girl who also had cerebral palsy and was not expected to live long. Kirsten is now twenty-one years old and they have adopted her. George and his wife have had to take medical training in order to cater for her various needs. They needed a house that could be adapted to cater for her and when they found a house in Hardwick that was already partially adapted they bought it. ‘Helping to bring up this girl,’ George says, ‘has taught me a lot about myself.’ It would seem that George’s life is already full but he still manages to find time for his allotment, for reading, cooking and for appreciating nature, with a special interest in birds. He talks modestly about the many challenges he has to cope with and clearly enjoys life surrounded by his extended family. We welcome suggestions from readers for other people we can interview for this feature.

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History Trivia

Christmas is coming and one of the people we may find ourselves singing about is Good King Wenceslas, who, you may remember, went trudging through the snow to take meat, wine and pine logs to one of his impoverished peasants. But on a recent visit to Prague I discovered that there is more to this story than first appears and that Good King Wenceslas, was not particularly good and wasn’t a king, (he was Duke of Bohemia, one of the regions of the modern day Czech Republic) and wasn’t actually called Wenceslas, which is the English transla- tion of his Czech name, Vaclav. The ‘Good King Wenceslas’ hymn was written by an English clergyman, John Mason Neale and he was either mistaken or wildly exaggerating in the story which forms the basis of his hymn. Historical characters often have become the focus of mytht and legends after their death and it is probable that the Rev. Neale based his hymn on one such story. Vaclav (aka Wenceslas) came to a bad end, being murdered by his brother and is now the patron saint of the Czech lands. He is also credited with bringing Christianity to the region, so he would probably not have had time to go trudging through the snow taking gifts to peasants. But we still sing about him, so let’s hear it for Not Particularly Good Duke Vaclav who probably stayed at home on the feast of Stephen and enjoyed his own meat and wine while his serv- ants piled pine logs on the fire.

Howard Baker.

Get energised this November with Cambridge Past, Present and Future (CambridgePPF) Things might be cooling down outdoors but CambridgePPF has the ideal andote to the seasonal blues this November – this is your invitaon to revitalise yourself with an event that’s sure to quicken the pulse and provide a perfect pep-up as the nights draw in. Lead the way on an orienteering taster for the whole family at the Coton Countryside Reserve, or put your best foot forward on one of the regular healthy walks around Wandlebury Park. Adults will enjoy weaving their way through a tradional basket-making course, and you can learn to keep fit, Scandi- navian style, with a Nordic Walk designed to enhance wellbeing as well as fitness levels. Winter’s on the way, so don’t be le shivering – sr yourself this month for some acvity with CambridgePPF! Nordic Walking Wednesdays throughout November: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm start Get into the rhythm and enhance your wellbeing and fitness levels with this very friendly Nordic Walking group at Wandlebury Park, led by Wellbeing Coach/Nordic Walking instructor Oliver Glynn. Nordic Walkers use more of their enre body than regular strollers, so while taking in the beauful scenery of the park and chang with the group you’ll get a great workout without even nocing it. Don’t worry if you’ve never tried it before – instrucon will be given. There are three levels of walk: 1pm start for those with restricted mobility, 2pm for a healthy lifestyle speed, 3pm total beginners. NB: Poles can be borrowed free of charge if required. Instrucon fee £5, car park free for CambridgePPF members, non members £3. Direcons: Wandlebury Country Park is on the A1307, 2.5km south of the Ad- denbrooke’s roundabout. CB22 3AE. For more informaon and booking: contact Oliver on 07947 835522 or email: in- [email protected] Healthy Walking Thursdays throughout November: 10am or 10.30am to 11am Keep fit and greet the changing of the season by joining us each Thursday morning this November for one of our Walking for Health accredited sociable walks around the park. Meet at the Stable Rooms at 10am for a longer walk or 10.30am for a shorter stroll. The walks end at around 11am with tea and coffee in the Stable Rooms. All are welcome, suitable for all different abilies. NB: Free of charge and no need to book, but please arrive 10 minutes early to register if it’s your first me. Donaons towards the upkeep of the park are always welcome. For more informaon: email [email protected], call 01223 243830 extension 207 or visit www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

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For All Your Electrical Requirements Please Contact Martin On: Mob: 07702291698/Tel: 01954 210011 Email: [email protected] 26 Ashmead Drive, Hardwick, Cambridge CB23 7XT

Village Calendar As mentioned on Page 4 of the October issue of the Hardwick Happenings, I am responsible for collating the village calendar. If you are planning a village event, try to avoid a clash with an already organised event and let me know details as soon as possible so that I can include it in the village calendar jef- [email protected] which you will see in the middle pages of the Hardwick Happenings. An advertisement for the event needs to be sent to the editor at hardwickhappen- [email protected] The village calendar is then sent monthly to Robert Cassey (webmaster) to be included on the Hardwick Website and Ni- cola Ellender (administrator) to be included on the Hardwick Facebook. In so doing, we hope to get the information to as many people in the village as we can. Anne Jones

Pecan Tart Recipe tried and tested by Carole Oakes

Ingredients (makes a 23cm/9in tart) For the pastry 25g/1oz self-raising flour 140g/5oz plain flour 85g/3oz butter, cut into pieces

For the filling 85g/3oz butter, at room temperature 140g/5oz light muscovado sugar 2 eggs, beaten 100g/4oz golden syrup 2 tbsp double cream 100g/4oz pecan nuts, roughly chopped Pouring cream to serve

Method Preheat the oven to 190c/gas 5/fan oven 170c from cold. Rub the flour and butter into fine crumbs. Add two to three tablespoons of cold water, stir together using a palette knife and then bring the dough together into a rough ball using your hand. Roll out the pastry and line a shallow loose- bottomed 23cm/9in fluted flan tin. Bake blind for 17 minutes (not forgetting your paper and baking beans to prevent the pastry from rising and overcooking), remove from the oven and also remove the paper and baking beans. To make the filling: cream together the butter and sugar, then gradually beat in the eggs, syrup and cream. Mix in the pecans. Transfer to the pastry case and bake for 30-35 minutes (the filling will set further whilst cooling). Cool in the tin and serve with the cream. November 2015

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