Folksworth Art Club Continue to Brighten up Our Days by Sharing Their Latest Paintings

Issue 430 Mar 2021 Now reaching 3500 people every month Sharing the Joy of Art

Folksworth Art Club continue to brighten up our days by sharing their latest paintings. Thanks to Terry Francis for this painting of Washingley Junction.

CAN NO-ONE SAVE IT? A BEDTIME STORY P4 FOR LOCKDOWN P10

P3 ARE YOU READY P12 TO BE COUNTED? THE FINAL CHAPTER

INCORPORATING FOLKLORE, FOR READERS IN FOLKSWORTH AND THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES SCAN 430 Mar 2021

SCAN is published by The Stilton Community Association. All articles, original artwork and the SCAN name and logo are copyright. All trade marks recognised. Views of contributors are not necessarily endorsed by The Stilton Community Association.

Advertising: Production : Distribution: Christine Kime 243336 Kelvin Davis 244140 Tony Edwards 241232 Advertising Rates: Monthly Annual Full page: £45 £495 19 x 12.7 cm Half page: £30 £330 9 x 12.7 cm landscape - 19 x 6 cm portrait 1/3 page: £20 £220 6 x 12.7 cm landscape - 12.5 x 6 cm portrait 1/6 page: £10 £110 6 x 6 cm All advertising copy or instructions to the Advertising Manager by 10th of month prior to publication. Payment in advance to Stilton Community Association - NO PAY, NO DISPLAY! Advertisement orders MUST be accompanied by the advertiser’s name, address and telephone number. We recommend you use the order form on www.stilton.org/village-life/scan/advertising-in-scan/ All other copy to the Production Manager, 15 Walnut Way, Stilton by 14th of month prior to publication. Digital material in a neutral PC format please. email: [email protected] Printed by clanpress www.clanpress.co.uk

Index to Advertisers Grey Bin Days: Category Service Page Mon 8th, 22nd March; Retail Furnishings 27 5th April Pharmacy 22 Health & Exercise 28 Garden Bin Days: Fitness Foot care 30, 31 Fri 5th, 19th March; Pet care 31 2nd April Financial Accountancy / Payroll 31 Personal Hair & Beauty 31 Recycling Bins: Counselling 26 Mon 1st, 15th, 29th March; Trades Building services 25, 29, 30, 12th April 31 Conservatories 27 www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins Heating / Plumbing 25, 28, 30 Electrical / TV 25 To book a slot at Alconbury Garden services 29 recycling depot, go to Removals 26 www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk Recycling 25 or call 0345 045 5207 Vehicle services 32 Professional Architect / Civils 25 Funeral services 29 2 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 The Parish Pump Local News Good News, Bad News AND TIME TO BE COUNTED

We’ve always felt that a newsletter like SCAN should emphasise the positive aspects of community life. So it comes as a wrench to March 21st is Census Day, so look out for have to report on the sad demise of Stilton information dropping on your doormat soon. Playgroup - see page 4. Let’s hope this encourages a few readers to rise to the Run by the Office for National Statistics opportunity. (ONS), census data helps government and business planners provide the services we Similarly, we were pained to report last need. month on the ill-feeling engendered in the village by the Parish Council’s actions Census 2021 is a digital-first census, so you regarding the planned Children’s Play Park. will be able to complete it using your mobile We print on page 5 the PC’s response to it phone, laptop or tablet. You’ll get an access and leave it to the reader to judge whether code in the post. or not this answers the concerns expressed. SCAN has no skin in this particular game. You must complete the census by law. If you don’t, or if you supply false information, But it’s not all bad news this month. Perhaps you could be fined up to £1,000. most significant is the rolling out of the Covid jab. Not only a national success story, For more about Census 2021, visit but a local one as well. The operation at https://census.gov.uk/ Stanground surgery - ably supported by volunteers including a few from Stilton - has been as slick as a greased weasel. It’s amazing how a community can respond to a challenge. Well done everybody! Contributors ! We want your material! And just when you thought there was nothing more to be said about the A14 For SCAN, email [email protected] project, we learn that its archaeology or call Kelvin on (01733) 244140 continues to reveal fascinating insights into our region’s history. See page 13. For Folklore, email to Sarah Abbott at [email protected] or call her on (01733) 247275

Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. 3 SCAN 430 Mar 2021 Stilton Culture Is This The End? WILL NOBODY SAVE PLAYGROUP?

Stilton Playgroup has for many years been without the in-depth support that such work one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the requires she was fighting the long defeat. village. No doubt many younger readers will have fond personal memories of it and many So is Playgroup now utterly extinct? It casts mums will have cause to be grateful for the Stilton in a poor light that a community of start it gave their youngsters. this size - and growing - cannot muster enough support to sustain an important So it came as a shock to learn that, despite village asset with such a long history of strenuous efforts by dedicated volunteers, excellence. Children are now having to go Playgroup has had to close its doors. The to Folksworth Playgroup, which is certainly toys are sold, the buildings revert to the a very successful facility but is less school and the final accounts are being convenient for Stilton parents and submitted to the Charities Commission. presumably will run out of capacity at some point. It also doesn’t enjoy the close physical Many pressures created a ‘perfect storm’ of proximity to Stilton School which has difficulties. Perhaps the worst - and most fostered our children’s smooth transition surprising - has been the inability to recruit into formal education. a Manager, despite advertising extensively. Playgroups rely heavily on volunteers, but If as a community we don’t rise to this, a professional Manager is essential to their Playgroup may never be resurrected. It’s a maintaining OFSTED approval. tragedy that decades of dedicated effort by people like Leslie Kirk and generations of Volunteering also involves sustained young mums should come to such a sad end. commitment - it’s not just running the What’s worse, we’re letting down the next annual Santa sleigh - and here too it proved generation of Stilton children. impossible to attract enough enthusiastic and willing hands. Playgroup needs five So come on Stilton! The Covid experience active trustees in order to operate and for has shown just how well residents can come various personal reasons many of the current together to overcome challenges, so surely team were stepping down. Lucy Andrews - we can raise enough steam to keep a who has two young children of her own to Playgroup alive and thriving? keep her busy - stepped up to take on the Chairman role and has been diligent in dealing with many important issues, but

4 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 Parish Council News ABOUT BEING ON THE PARISH COUNCIL Council felt it would be good to share some The Play Park must be completed by the facts about being ‘on the Council’, writes end of September 2021 or the £37,500 grant Olive Leonard. must be returned to the grant providers (a condition of the grant award). The original Parish Councillors are elected by a formal completion date was 31st March 2021 but, statutory process, either by Local Elections because of Covid-19, Council managed to (some were elected in 2018) or by Co- get an extension until 30th September 2021. Option. Both are deemed to be elected positions. Co-option candidates must meet At the 5th January Meeting it was apparent certain criteria, and are bound in law to abide that we would be highly unlikely to meet by prescribed rules. You can’t simply turn the deadline to put the Play Park on Gala up, or apply, to become a councillor. Close. The Parish Council did not own the site and despite our efforts to do so we were All Stilton Parish Councillors live within not confident that the purchase, planning the prescribed area, which includes areas permission and installation could be done outside the village. The implication, in a in time. The clock was ticking. Time was February SCAN article, that councillors living running out. outside the village were not entitled to be councillors, was wrong. The only suitable land to enable the Play Park to be built in time is the Pavilion (where Council meetings have to be called, it was originally planned to be when the advertised and have a published agenda. Pavilion was built). It has since been agreed There are regular Full Council Meetings (in to put the Play Park there. The Parish Stilton this is usually once a month). Council will not commit to spending any Councillors are summoned to meetings and money until they are certain the completion it is their duty to attend. If an urgent matter date can be met. Council is governed by its cannot wait until the next meeting the Financial Regulations and is subject to audit. Chairman calls an Extraordinary Meeting. By law this must also be called, advertised The Parish Council website is the source and have an agenda published, just like the where residents should obtain information meeting on 5th January 2021. relating to Parish Council activities, THE PLAY PARK PROJECT accounts, meetings and decisions. Social media should not be relied upon. The Extraordinary Meeting of 5th January was NOT in any way ‘spontaneously Councillors are pulling out all the stops to decided’. We made very difficult, well try to get the Play Park built in time. To thought-out, hard decisions on what was follow its progress, look at the Play Park best with respect to spending residents' Plan on www.stiltonparishcouncil.org money (the Precept, or rates).

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Working from home at least enables many of us to enjoy the beauty of snowy weather, Yaxley Foodbank knowing that we don’t have to drive to work in it! Another masterpiece from Folksworth and Stilton Church Art Club, courtesy of Viv Downes. Yaxley Foodbank appreciates your support in donating food for those Hopefully, as the Covid vaccination who are in need. programme advances, the Club will soon be able to meet as a group. If you’ve been At the moment we are short of: dabbling with a brush during lockdown, they ● Tinned vegetables will certainly make you welcome! ● Coffee ● Long-life milk ● Tinned meat ● Fruit juice £5 each If St Mary Magdalene Church is closed, the collection point is 10 St Mary's Wide choice available Road, Stilton. If you require any items Only made once by a very careful owner to be collected, please phone Pearl Call Joy 241938 or Anne 242882 Reed on (01733) 241114. 6 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021

Flourishing Through School News Friendship Home Learning ADAPTING TO NEW WAYS OF WORKING AND LEARNING

It has been a strange and quiet half term at SAFER INTERNET DAY Stilton CE Primary Academy, writes Helen In the UK, Safer Internet Day is organised Smallman. Expecting all the children to by the UK Safer Internet Centre return as normal on January 5th, then hearing (www.saferinternetday.org.uk). This year's that we were in Lockdown again, didn't give theme is 'An internet we trust: exploring staff much time to change their plans to reliability in the online world', exploring remote learning. reliability online. The internet provides an amazing range of information and As usual, they have worked extremely hard opportunities, but how do we separate fact to ensure those children at home and those from fiction? Internet safety is even more few in school (we are open to vulnerable important in the current climate. children and children of critical workers) get the best possible learning experiences. Our school has participated alongside Parents and Carers have been amazing too hundreds of other schools across the UK - it's not easy suddenly having to switch to and worldwide using the slogan: Together home learning and we thank them for all for a Better Internet. They listened to they have done. assemblies, read books and created posters exploring the theme.

On Instagram, photos Images and videos get 8,500 400 million snaps 300 million photos are showing faces are 38% likes and 1,000 comments are sent on Snapchat uploaded to Facebook more likely to get ‘likes’ per second on Instagram each day every day than photos without faces

DID YOU KNOW?

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News & Info for Folksworth, Folklore Morborne & Washingley Folk

‘I know it's only been a few weeks but we Thank You! have been made to feel so welcome. I love All contributions to Folklore are gratefully that there's different toys out on a daily basis received, especially during Lockdown. But and the "themed corners". D is always as there is less news to publicise, we've been excited when he tells me he is going to little able to use the space to share the work of school.’ the Art Group and include articles on local history. In this issue, we feature a story ‘As a new parent I'd just like to say how called ‘The Wonky Carrot’ written by wonderful the preschool is. I think one of Folksworth resident Gregory Earle. the things that make you special is the communication you have between the staff, Folksworth parents and children, and the relationship you have built. L looks forward to his school Preschool days. It's so reassuring to know he's happy TOO COOL FOR LITTLE SCHOOL.... and settles after only a short period of time.’

It's been a busy term so far but we are very Our approach to an enabling learning excited to share some news with you. There environment means we effectively have has been an amazing amount of work done another member of staff who's invisible. The by our committee and Folksworth Parish children have new things to explore and Council members in order to support our interact with daily. This could be the china Preschool's development plan, and now we dishes in the home area or the fresh flowers have a wonderful new learning environment. used to make petal perfume. This ever- We have a whole new look within Preschool changing presentation gives the children the with new mobile shelving units and low- chance for new stimulation, challenging level tables. This is to give the children more them to appreciate what's different and why. independent choice but also to help create This approach also gives the staff a chance cosy learning areas within the hall. to meet every children's individual needs by tapping into what fascinates them in order Not only do we have new equipment to help to motivate and establish independent stimulate their early years learning, we now enquires. have an increased number of children attending. This means new faces, a chance So a huge thank you to everyone who has to showcase what we do and why we do it supported us. Our next project is the ‘outside with the wider community, and for the learning environment’ - aka the garden! children to have a wider group of friends. To put this into context, the following quotes are from our new families:

FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE 8 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 Around the Parish FOLKSWORTH & WASHINGLEY PARISH COUNCIL REPORT

There may be snow on the ground, but Maintenance work continues at the Elm Spring is on its way. The Parish Council is Road pocket park by the pond. The planting bulbs in the green, so if any snowdrops are out, along with other native residents are splitting any or have any to bulbs, so take a detour from your daily spare and would like to add to the village exercise to enjoy this developing area. display please let me know. Council encourages everyone to plant a tree Councillors would like to thank all residents in their garden if they have room. Free native who have been undertaking their own litter trees are available from The Woodland picks which is improving the environment Trust. Councillors are looking into the for everyone. As you may be aware, we are possibility of planting a small area of not able to organise village picks currently. woodland on the playing field. Obviously, ongoing maintenance is a factor. Parish Council meetings continue to be held CONTACTS remotely via the Zoom platform. If you have any issues to raise but are unable to sit in Facebook pages: on a meeting please let me know in advance www.facebook.com/Groups/Folksworthc and I will ensure they are discussed. The 19/ District and County Council are usually www.facebook.com/Groups/Folksworth represented at these meetings too. www.facebook.com/FolksworthandWashin We are working with the County Council gleyPC and the Parish Council website, and the landowners on re-marking some of www.folksworthwashingley-pc.org.uk can the public footpaths. One path has recently provide details of all support available in been completed so many thanks to the the parish. Castles for their help with this. If you prefer to receive regular updates via The next quarterly maintenance walk will a notice through your door, please let us be in the next month or so; if there are any know your name and address by either: particular areas you would like inspected please get in touch. In between the quarterly Phone your Parish Council helpline, walks if there is anything you see that needs 07724 171158. or to be looked at, such as potholes, raised Email: clerk@folksworthwashingley- drain covers, overgrown hedges etc please pc.org.uk let me know. The bird nesting period begins in March so if there is any work needed on Stay safe and well everyone! overhanging hedges and branches, please do this in the next couple of weeks. Jackie Stanbridge 07724 171158

FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. 9 SCAN 430 Mar 2021 A Lucky Escape THE TALE OF TRODDON, THE WONKY CARROT

The carrot harvester was fast approaching. ‘How are we going to get out of here?’, The sound of its engine grew louder. The asked the same little voice. ‘Come out and earth was now shaking and one by one the show yourself’, the big carrot demanded. carrots were lifted from the earth by the The little carrot had no choice but to show machine and dropped gently onto the himself. They all stared as he clambered conveyor belt. out because he wasn't the same as other carrots. He was a WONKY CARROT! The carrots were now giggling. ‘Ooh that tickles!’ said one carrot, as they The laughter went on rolled end over end, rising higher and on. Even the and higher, until…. thump, clump smallest of the carrots and bump. ‘Eey up, yo get thar foot stood tall and straight, out o’ my ear’ said another carrot, and here he was… (it was a northern variety). well, a wonky one. His spindly legs seemed to Laughter broke out and a little voice hang from his body. His was heard saying, ‘Where are we?’ green hair was… well it wasn't green ‘I'm not sure’, replied another but an awful browny sort of colour! carrot. ‘I think we are all in a great big box. Look, I can see a little ‘How did you manage to get into this box?’ bit of daylight. Come have a look.’ demanded the big carrot. ‘We're all perfect carrots in here’, he shouted, ‘Tell me your They all scrambled towards the name!’ The little wonky carrot was now crack allowing the tiny bit of light quivering. ‘I'm called Troddon.’ (Actually to enter. Small pairs of eyes his real name was Jasper.) ‘Troddon? peeped eagerly through. Troddon?’ said the big carrot in a mocking voice. ‘How on earth did you get that name?’ ‘Let me pass. Somebody needs to take charge here and ‘When I was a very young carrot, the farmer as I am the biggest, it might as well and his foreman came to inspect the patch be me’, said one of the largest carrots. I was growing in along with my family’ He certainly was the biggest carrot in the explained Troddon. ‘As thar seen this lot box, as he was very tall with a long flowing ere?’ said the foreman. The farmer looked mane of green hair and muscular root-like at the patch, shook his head and said, legs. The girl carrots in the box looked at ‘They're no good. They'll have to be used him adoringly. to feed the pigs. The supermarket won't have these.’

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‘Just as he spoke, he stepped back and stood The other carrots still rumbled down the right on top of me with his great big, black conveyor almost saying as they went ‘Look muddy boots. I got pushed right down into at us, we're perfect!’ The big carrot was the the earth’, said Troddon. ‘The next day the first to see great big metal teeth, gnashing tractor came and everyone in our patch was and sawing. ‘Oh no, we're done for’, he taken!’ ‘How come you didn't get taken?’ shouted to the others. Too late! He and all asked the big carrot. Troddon replied with the carrots who had been laughing at a tear in his eye: ‘Because I had been pushed Troddon, dropped one by one into the so deep into the ground the tractor missed snarling cutters. me. I carried on growing but could never ever grow to be a straight carrot!’ A voice was heard to say ‘Finished loading. That's all we need for the soup factory.’ The other carrots were still laughing and calling him names. Troddon sat back into Within a few minutes, all went quiet. You the corner of the box, tears filled his eyes, could hear a pin drop. And then suddenly an outcast, misshapen… well, just a wonky it was dark as all the lights were turned off. carrot. Troddon knew he was alone but safe.

Suddenly, they heard another engine and He called out to say goodbye and good luck the box they were in was lifted high in the to the other carrots in the tub, flicked back sky. They were all moving along another his brown hair and stood as straight as he conveyor. could on his long spindly legs, making his way out of the very dark carrot factory. ‘Grab that one. It's no good and might clog up the cutter’, said the foreman. A big hand Walking down the lane, he thought back to reached out to the conveyor. A dark shadow when he was still growing in the ground. appeared over Troddon. He could feel the One of the older carrots had told stories of rough cloth of an industrial glove against a magical land called ‘the backback’ where his skin and suddenly he was flying, landing everybody lived together in peace, and with a thump in a large round plastic tub. everyone was welcome. This is where I shall Catching his breath, he looked around. go, he thought to himself, but where is it, ‘Strange. Where is everybody and where am and will I ever find it? Could I ever find it? I?’ He might. He might not. ‘But that's another In fact, he had dropped into a tub where all story.’ the wonky carrots were thrown. As time went on he occasionally heard a thud as Copyright of the Backback ‘but that's another wonky carrot landed inside the tub. another story’ production company.

FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. 11 SCAN 430 Mar 2021 A Wartime Childhood BY YASMIN BRADLEY (ROGERS)

In this final instalment of a series of articles inn, the Norman Cross Hotel. It was the based on the childhood memories of the late ‘biggest and best hotel in the area’ and was Myrtle Clark, we learn about the class where the ‘flourishing Australian cricket divide, local hotels, and memories of Denton teams’ stayed when they were in town. church and Red Hall farm. All Saints Church, Denton, now in ruins and Myrtle remembers the Garden House Hotel used today as a glamorous backdrop for that stood on the Folksworth side of fashion photoshoots by the likes of Vogue, Northern Cross with its elegant, formally- was recorded in the Domesday Book. laid out gardens. The owner, Mrs Ada Selby Further building took place in the 12th and Lowndes had a car and employed a 13th century and it was restored in the 16th chauffeur who enjoyed the benefits of free century by descendants of Robert the Bruce housing. The staff were all decked out in residing at Conington. During the War it uniform dresses and aprons, provided and was still in use with services led by the laundered free. Stilton Rector, Revd Fisher, accompanied by a ‘horrible harmonium that squeaked’. The splendidly named Ada Isabella Gordon and Sylvia Caldwell of Lutton were Charlotte Selby Lowndes was born in Paris the last couple to celebrate their wedding and was the daughter of the Hon. William there in 1953. Alternate weekly services at Frederick Barton Massey Mainwaring, MP, the time were held at Caldecote and Denton. granddaughter of Major General Nathaniel The church is still consecrated, and Massey, 2nd Baron Clarina in Ireland. Myrtle occasional outdoor services are held, remembers her as a ‘tartar of the first order’. although a planning application - now Class distinction ruled supreme. withdrawn - had been submitted to convert the ruins into a dwelling. After the War, at Nottingham University Myrtle became acquainted with a young Opposite the ruins of Denton Church are the man she knew as Mrs Selby Lowndes' farm and outbuildings of Red Hill Farm. In grandson. On a visit back home, Myrtle was 1939, Myrtle's paternal grandmother, the roundly told off just for chatting to him. The curiously named Whybree, lived at the farm, mystery is, who was this young man? The owned and run by Frederick Farrington. divorced Mrs Selby Lowndes only had one Myrtle remembers the soil as actually daughter, Rosamund, who had sadly died in appearing ‘slightly red’. A widower at the 1915 aged just 10. time, Frederick had married Myrtle's Aunt Ivy, who had died 10 years earlier. Myrtle's On the other side of the Great North Road Uncle David lived there too, employed as (A1) stood the high-class public house and an agricultural labourer.

FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE - FOLKLORE 12 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 Along the Yellow Brick Road MORE FASCINATING DISCOVERIES ON THE A14 PROJECT

The massive A14 project has unearthed The project's Archaeology Lead, Steve enough amazing discoveries and material to Sherlock, explained: ‘In the Roman world, keep archaeologists busy for years. the phallus was seen as an important image of strength and virility, it being common Recent work has pieced together a rare and practice for legionaries to wear a phallus interesting Roman artefact - a curiously amulet to bring them good luck in battle. carved stone quern or millstone. More than There were known associations between 300 querns and millstones were recovered flour milling and images of the phallus, such from the site; they were an everyday item as those found above the bakeries of in Roman times. Usually, they are pretty Pompeii.’ Gives a whole new meaning to well worn and not very interesting, but this ‘the staff of life’! particular quern features two crosses inscribed on its circumference, and a carving Recent years have seen new light shone on of, er, male ‘wedding tackle’ on its upper the archaeology of the fens, which were face. The millstone had evidently been hitherto often regarded almost as cultural broken during use and recycled by being wastelands. The A14 excavations and the reversed, preserving the carvings which exciting finds at Flag Fen and the Must Farm would otherwise have been worn away. Bronze Age encampment show that there must be a wealth of history out there, just Nationwide, only four such decorated waiting to be discovered. Roman millstones have been discovered out of a total of around 20,000.

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News from Stilton From the Pulpit Group of Churches New Life THE SEASON OF REBIRTH

Wordsworth’s encounter with a long strip what was a 'normal' life or are we searching of daffodils inspired one of his most famous for 'new life?' A life that offers real hope. poems: My faith tells me that hope has a name and its name is Jesus. May I encourage you I wandered lonely as a cloud during this time to pause and reflect on what That floats on high o'er vales and hills, that means to you. Perhaps open a bible and When all at once I saw a crowd, read through Mark's gospel? It won't take A host, of golden daffodils; long to read and is a wonderful story of hope Beside the lake, beneath the trees, to encourage you. Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. CHURCH NEWS There is a sense of expectancy when I check To keep everyone safe, we are continuing the daffodils in front of our house. From the to meet only for online services until Palm outside it looks as if nothing is happening Sunday (28th March). Hopefully, we will but, unseen, wonderful things are happening see such a decrease in the infection rate that inside the buds. I know that soon they will we will feel it's safe to open for services in open to reveal their full glory. church after then.

It’s now the season of Lent, a time when You are very welcome to join us for our we try to give things up, but also a time to online services on our YouTube channel - stop and think about God's love for us. We Stilton Churches. look forward to the joy of Easter, when we celebrate Jesus conquering death and rising Some of our churches are remaining open again. God sent his only Son to live a perfect for private prayer: life and die a perfect death, so that all who Elton - Sundays and Wednesdays (10-4) trust him as Lord and Saviour will be born Folksworth - Saturdays (10-4) again to new life in this world and the next. Haddon - Every day (dawn until dusk) Our daffodils are waiting to be ‘born again’ as they rise to life in all its fullness. Grace and Peace to you all, Mark Pybus In a sense, lockdown is also a time of [email protected] waiting. We are all trying to wait patiently for vaccines to be rolled out so we can return (Revd Richard is currently on a month's to 'normal' life. But do we want to return to study leave.)

14 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 From The Cabbage Patch Time to Sow Seeds WATCH THE MAGIC HAPPEN!

Now is the time to start sowing seeds, Many common trees, ash, sycamore writes Pat Maltman. Tomatoes, and oak for example, produce their aubergines, peppers and chillies need flowers long before leaves appear. a long growing season, so should be Their flowers are not showy or scented started off early under glass. Broad beans, as there are very few insects around to Swiss chard and beetroot can be started off attract. Instead, they produce pollen which outside if the ground is not frozen. Don't is carried by the wind. They flower before be tempted to start off courgettes or runner leaves appear as the last thing they want is beans this early - all you'll end up with are for the pollen to get stuck to wet leaves. weak, straggly plants. Hardy annuals, They do, however have to produce loads such as cornflowers, marigolds (not of pollen for this method to be effective French or African!), poppies or - just tap a catkin or, later in the month, larkspur can be planted outside where gently shake a branch on the yew tree they are to flower. Half-hardy annuals - in the churchyard and you'll be amazed at zinnia, cosmos, cleome, gazania and how much pollen is being produced. antirrhinums can be started off under glass. A SPECIAL FLOWER Sweet peas can, in theory, be sown any time between October and May but March is a Last month, I explained how special good time to get them going. They do best snowdrops were often named after the place in pots with a long root run; here's where they were found or a special person. 'Sophie loo roll middles come into their own! North' is one of my favourites, each leaf having a bold silver stripe down the centre Driving out of the village, I noticed how advanced the hazel catkins were. Hazels, Sophie North lived in Dunblane, an only like silver birch and alder, are dioecious; child whose mother had died of cancer in they produce male and female flowers on 1994. She was just 5 when she was killed the same tree. The yellow catkins are the with 15 of her classmates and their teacher male flowers and produce pollen. You could in Dunblane Primary School in 1996. A easily miss the female flowers which appear local enthusiast found this snowdrop as tiny red filaments coming out of slightly growing in a Dunblane garden and decided larger buds than the leaf buds. These red to call it 'Sophie North'. Money from its filaments are the sticky styles and stigmas sales went to the foundation set up by to which pollen blown by the wind will stick Sophie's father, Dr Mike North, which funds and produce nuts in Autumn. children's and cancer charities.

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M T W T F S S WHAT WHEN WHERE WHO CALL

O < Toddlers' Dance 9:15am Stilton Church Meeting Room Michelle Pratt 07906 114942 O O O O AM < Playgroup (Stilton) 8:45 - 11:45 | 11:45 - 12:30 | 12:30 - 3:30pm Playgroup Leslie Kirk 247682 O < Stay & Play 9 - 10:15am Stilton Pavilion Rebecca Mills 07498 528393 O O O O < Pre-School (Folksworth) 9:00am - 3:00pm Folksworth Village Hall Nikki 07542 172075

< To join Stilton or Folksworth Rainbows, Brownies or Guides, please visit: www.girlguiding.org and click on 'Get Involved.' YOUNGSTERS O < Stilton United Colts KO 10am As per fixtures Glen Woolner 07771 784643

O < Parish Council (Stilton) 7:30pm 2nd Tuesday in month Stilton Pavilion or Parish Meeting Room Julianne Lawrence (Clerk) [email protected] O < Parish Council (Folksworth) 7:30 - 9:30pm 3rd Tuesday in month Folksworth Village Hall Jackie Stanbridge 07724 171158 O < Sewing Group 2:30 - 5pm Stilton Church Meeting Room Pat Maltman 242229

O < Friday Social Group 2 - 4pm Stilton Church Meeting Room Diane Glenn 07400 693351 ADULTS O < Holy Communion 1st & 3rd Sun 11:15am St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < Holy Communion (BCP) 2nd & 4th Sun 8:00am St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < LinCup (Café style worship) 2nd & 4th Sun 11:15am St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < Stilton Group Service 5th Sunday in month See notice boards or Stilton Group of Churches' Facebook for details O < Linking Hands (mums) 9am Church services are suspended until furtherStilton Churchnotice. Meeting Room Irene Goldsmith 244229 O < Crossover (Y6) 6 - 7pm in term time Stilton Church Meeting Room Pat Maltman 242229 O < Men's Prayer BreakfastPlease check the8am Stilton 2nd Saturday Group in month of Churches website - www.stiltonchurches.comStilton Church Meeting - for Room up to date details.Nigel Rosbrook 246396 CHURCH O < Holy Communion (soup lunch) 1st Wednesday 12:30-1:30 St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < Prayer Focus 8am St Mary Magdalene Stuart Reed 241114 O < Christian Congregation in UK 6 - 8pm Folksworth Village Hall

O < Zumba 7:15 - 8:15 Friday. All fitness levels; children welcome. Stilton Pavilion Russell Leigh 07805 350389 O < Pilates (Stilton) - over-50s 11:30am-12:30 Stilton Pavilion Vicky Leschallas 07919 053140 O < Pilates (Stilton) 10:00 - 11:00am Stilton Pavilion Frances Ellis 07714 773528 O < Pilates (Folksworth) 7:30 - 8:30pm Folksworth Village Hall O < Clubbercise 7.15 - 8.15pm Stilton Pavilion Louise Knox 07957 983950 O O < Stilton Table Tennis Club Mon (adults) 2-4pm; Tue 7:00-9:30pm Stilton Pavilion Steve Ambler 242156 O O < Stilton Carpet Bowls Club 2pm Mon, 7:30pm Thu Stilton Pavilion Scott Sherrington 242409 O < Folksworth Carpet Bowls Club 7 - 9pm Folksworth Village Hall O < Peterborough Opera Group 7:30 - 9:30pm Friday Folksworth Village Hall O < Band 8 - 9:35pm Stilton Pavilion Brian Bowen 241310 O < Yoga 5.30 - 7pm Stilton Pavilion Brian Appleyard 244642 O O O O < Pilates Mon 6pm; Tue 8pm; Wed 11am; Sun 8pm Email [email protected] for Zoom link Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O O O < FUNFITNESS - low-impact for over 60's 2pm Email [email protected] for Zoom link Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O < Legs, Bums & Tums 6pm Email [email protected] for Zoom link Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O < Chairobics Tue 2-3pm St B's Hall, Yaxley Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 SPORT & LEISURE & SPORT O < Stilton United FC 3:00pm kick-off As per fixtures Terry Baker 07756 778154 O < Taoist Tai Chi 7:30pm Austin Hall, Main Street, Yaxley Varies 07597 613392 O < Folksworth Art Club 12:30-4:30pm Folksworth Village Hall Cherry Hadley 244258 O < Folksworth Ladies' Circle 7:30-9:30pm 4th Tuesday in month Folksworth Village Hall Karen Mason 07980 262253 O < Yaxley Flower Club 3rd Thursday, 7:30pm Yaxley British Legion Yvonne Wagstaff 243370 O < Stilton Stumblers (walking group) Alternate Sundays 10:00am See info in this issue Meet at the Pump Shirley Gregory 246209

O O < Sawtry Vintage Club 10am - 2:30pm CARESCO Centre Vicki 01487 832105 OTHER O O < Sawtry Friendship Club 10:30am - 1:30pm CARESCO Centre Pat 01487 832105 M T W T F S S Are we up to date? Tell SCAN about your activities! To book: Stilton Pavilion - 07 484 746894 | Folksworth Village Hall - (01733) 241938 | Stilton Church Meeting Room - (01733) 241709 | Leave a LANDLINE number! 16 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 What to do, where to do it and who to do it with

M T W T F S S WHAT WHEN WHERE WHO CALL

< To join Stilton or Folksworth Rainbows, Brownies or Guides, please visit: www.girlguiding.org and click on 'Get Involved.' O < Stilton United Colts KO 10am As per fixtures Glen Woolner 07771 784643

O < Holy Communion 1st & 3rd Sun 11:15am St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < Holy Communion (BCP) 2nd & 4th Sun 8:00am St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < LinCup (Café style worship) 2nd & 4th Sun 11:15am St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < Stilton Group Service 5th Sunday in month See notice boards or Stilton Group of Churches' Facebook for details O < Linking Hands (mums) 9am Church services are suspended until furtherStilton Churchnotice. Meeting Room Irene Goldsmith 244229 O < Crossover (Y6) 6 - 7pm in term time Stilton Church Meeting Room Pat Maltman 242229 O < Men's Prayer BreakfastPlease check the8am Stilton 2nd Saturday Group in month of Churches website - www.stiltonchurches.comStilton Church Meeting - for Room up to date details.Nigel Rosbrook 246396 O < Holy Communion (soup lunch) 1st Wednesday 12:30-1:30 St Mary Magdalene Revd Richard Gibbs 248701 O < Prayer Focus 8am St Mary Magdalene Stuart Reed 241114 O < Christian Congregation in UK 6 - 8pm Folksworth Village Hall

O < Zumba 7:15 - 8:15 Friday. All fitness levels; children welcome. Stilton Pavilion Russell Leigh 07805 350389 O < Pilates (Stilton) - over-50s 11:30am-12:30 Stilton Pavilion Vicky Leschallas 07919 053140 O < Pilates (Stilton) 10:00 - 11:00am Stilton Pavilion Frances Ellis 07714 773528 O < Pilates (Folksworth) 7:30 - 8:30pm Folksworth Village Hall O < Clubbercise 7.15 - 8.15pm Stilton Pavilion Louise Knox 07957 983950 O O < Stilton Table Tennis Club Mon (adults) 2-4pm; Tue 7:00-9:30pm Stilton Pavilion Steve Ambler 242156 O O < Stilton Carpet Bowls Club 2pm Mon, 7:30pm Thu Stilton Pavilion Scott Sherrington 242409 O < Folksworth Carpet Bowls Club 7 - 9pm Folksworth Village Hall O < Peterborough Opera Group 7:30 - 9:30pm Friday Folksworth Village Hall O < Band 8 - 9:35pm Stilton Pavilion Brian Bowen 241310 O < Yoga 5.30 - 7pm Stilton Pavilion Brian Appleyard 244642 O O O O < Pilates Mon 6pm; Tue 8pm; Wed 11am; Sun 8pm Email [email protected] for Zoom link Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O O O < FUNFITNESS - low-impact for over 60's 2pm Email [email protected] for Zoom link Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O < Legs, Bums & Tums 6pm Email [email protected] for Zoom link Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O < Chairobics Tue 2-3pm St B's Hall, Yaxley Sue Gibbs 07709 938122 O < Stilton United FC 3:00pm kick-off As per fixtures Terry Baker 07756 778154 O < Taoist Tai Chi 7:30pm Austin Hall, Main Street, Yaxley Varies 07597 613392 O < Folksworth Art Club 12:30-4:30pm Folksworth Village Hall Cherry Hadley 244258 O < Folksworth Ladies' Circle 7:30-9:30pm 4th Tuesday in month Folksworth Village Hall Karen Mason 07980 262253 O < Yaxley Flower Club 3rd Thursday, 7:30pm Yaxley British Legion Yvonne Wagstaff 243370 O < Stilton Stumblers (walking group) Alternate Sundays 10:00am See info in this issue Meet at the Pump Shirley Gregory 246209

O < Mobile Library (Stilton and Folksworth) 4th Wednesday in month See advert in this issue O < Age Well Club 9:30 - 11:45am Austin Hall, Main Street, Yaxley O < 'Chatterbox' Carers' Support Group 2nd & 4th Mondays, 2-4pm CARESCO Centre Miranda 07751 798287 O < Music & Spoken Word Social Group 2nd & 4th Fridays, 1:30-3pm CARESCO Centre CARESCO Office 01487 832105 O O < Sawtry Vintage Club 10am - 2:30pm CARESCO Centre Vicki 01487 832105 O O < Sawtry Friendship Club 10:30am - 1:30pm CARESCO Centre Pat 01487 832105 M T W T F S S Are we up to date? Tell SCAN about your activities! To book: Stilton Pavilion - 07 484 746894 | Folksworth Village Hall - (01733) 241938 | Stilton Church Meeting Room - (01733) 241709 | Leave a LANDLINE number! Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. 17 SCAN 430 Mar 2021 Library News Buy a Book Online SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS AND YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY INTRODUCING FACEBOOK PAGE CAMBRIDGESHIRE FOR FAMILIES LIBRARIES BOOKSHOP UK We're developing a new Facebook page - Bookshop.org is an online bookshop with a the Cambridgeshire Libraries Families Page. mission to financially support local, We have so much information on our main independent bookshops. 10% of sales go to page and we want to make it much easier the library service and 10% goes to support for families to find all of our events. independent bookshops. Have a look, and follow us from the start! We believe that bookshops are essential to www.facebook.com/CambslibFamilies a healthy culture. They're where authors can EngAge ONLINE! connect with readers, where we discover new writers, and where children get hooked These digital and interactive sessions on the thrill of reading that can last a temporarily replace EngAge events in lifetime. They're also anchors for our high libraries. streets and communities. Tuesday 9th March 2-3pm As more and more people buy their books Fen Skating online, we wanted to create an easy, Speaker Guy Hussey, The Norris Museum convenient way for you to get your books and support bookshops at the same time. Tuesday 23rd March 2-3pm Have a look! Just visit: The Battle of Britain: Myths and Realities https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/cambslib Speaker Mark Bunting

For further information on upcoming sessions please visit : Yaxley Library www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libra REVISED OPENING TIMES ries-leisure-culture/libraries/library-online

Tue 10:00 - 14:00 If you are interested in being in the audience Thu 14:00 - 18:00 for any of these events and would like more Renewals & enquiries: information please email : (0345) 045 5225 [email protected] www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/library

18 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021 READ A LITTLE ALOUD LIBRARY BUSINESS ONLINE! & IP CENTRE Join in and listen at home Reset and Restart your business

Join us in listening to our volunteers reading Open to all business owners, especially a variety of poems, stories and literature those in the first few years of trading, Reset from the comfort of your own home. Restart is a FREE online programme of business support aimed at giving you Tuesday 2nd March 2-3pm practical, jargon-free training and advice to Theme: Shakespeare's Women help your business through this challenging time. Tuesday 16th March, 2-3pm Theme: Mothers Alongside the national Reset Restart programme run by the British Library Want to join a Read a Little Aloud Online Business & IP Centre, BIPC event? If you are interested in being in the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are audience for any of the above events or offering a series of local support workshops finding out more then please contact the delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin Read a Little Aloud team at: University. [email protected] Upcoming Reset Restart sessions:

Our popular Business & IP 1:1's returned online in November. For more information check our social media - Twitter @BIPC and Facebook @CambridgeshireLibraries for updates.

JOINING THE LIBRARY Route M24 - 4th Wednesday Join the library online at: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libr Wed 24th March aries-leisure-culture/libraries Folksworth 10:30 - 10:50am Elm Road Stilton 3:10 - 4pm Outside The Talbot

[email protected]

Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. 19 SCAN 430 Mar 2021

LAKESIDE HEALTHCARE (01733) 240478 www.yaxleygp.nhs.uk

The new medical advice is the second dose COVID-19 of the vaccine remains effective when given NATIONAL up to 12 weeks after the first dose, and VACCINATION PROGRAMME should be given towards the end of this 12 week period. Two doses of the vaccine are This is the biggest vaccination programme still needed to get the best protection from that the NHS has ever undertaken. the virus, but significant protection is still provided 22 days after the first dose. The NHS is well used to delivering millions of vaccines a year, and is moving quickly We will contact you to arrange your first to roll out this vaccine to those who need and or second vaccination if eligible. Please it, but it's important that we remember this continue to wear face coverings where will be a marathon, not a sprint. required and adhere to social distancing guidelines even after you have received your The large increase in cases that hospitals are vaccine. This is very important. seeing and the emergence of a new variant of the virus shows that we cannot let our Visit our website for the most up to date guard down now. information www.yaxleygp.nhs.uk/ NHS staff are doing an incredible job to Marie Curie deliver what it is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time Daffodil Appeal as continuing to be there for everyone who 1st - 31st MARCH 2021 needs care. This appeal has been raising awareness and The public have an important part to play funds since 1986. Every March, millions of to help them do this: people across the UK show their support for our work, simply by giving a donation to ● Please don't contact the NHS to seek a wear a daffodil pin. vaccine; we will contact you; Without this generosity, thousands of ● When we do contact you, please attend families across the UK wouldn't be able to your booked appointments; make the most of the precious time they have left together. ● And please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save Visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil for lives. more information.

20 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021

For more information, visit: No Smoking Day www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/10- MARCH 10th self-help-tips-to-stop-smoking/ National No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day in the United Kingdom, intended to help smokers who Monthly Closure want to quit smoking. The first was on Ash Wednesday in 1984; it now takes place on The Practice will be closed on Wednesday the second Wednesday in March. March 17th between 12:30pm and 4:00pm for staff training.

Emergency Telephone (01733) 240478.

Have you got any puzzles or brain games surplus to requirements? Keeping our brains active is a great way to keep cheerful during lockdowns when we can’t socialise as much as we’d like. If you have any jigsaws, kits, brain games etc that you no longer use, we’ll advertise them here for FREE during 2021. Just contact [email protected] with your details.

Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. 21 SCAN 430 Mar 2021 Walk the Walk KEEP FIT AND SUPPORT CARERS

Local charity Caring Together supports Signing up to the challenge is completely carers across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough free and there is no minimum sponsorship. and Norfolk. They provide information and If you pledge to raise £50 you will be sent advice, run services in our local a Caring Together T-shirt and if you raise communities and campaign so that carers £100 they will send you a water bottle to have choices. say thank you.

Caring Together is providing free and You can find out how to create your ‘walk tailored support for carers so that they and your walk for carers’ challenge at the person they care for can get to their caringtogether.org/walkyourwalk or email appointment for the COVID-19 vaccination. to [email protected]

And they are inviting you to walk your walk If you are looking after a family member or for carers this March to raise money so that friend and want support getting to your they can continue to provide this and other coronavirus vaccination appointment please support to carers during the coronavirus contact Caring Together on 0345 241 0954 pandemic. or email [email protected]

22 Shop local! And be sure to tell our advertisers you found them in SCAN. SCAN 430 Mar 2021

Spring Food A DELICIOUS SEASONAL RISOTTO

Sorry men; put the toolbox away, there Heat the remaining oil in a large non-stick aren’t actually any springs in this! frying pan and fry the bacon/other choice YOU NEED until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a plate covered with kitchen paper and set aside. 750ml warm vegetable or chicken stock Put half the butter, the thyme leaves, leek 100g spinach and garlic in the frying pan and season. small bunch parsley Scrape up any crispy bits left over from the 3 tbsp olive oil bacon and fry gently for a few minutes over 4 strips of bacon, parma ham or chorizo a medium heat until the leek is softened and 10g butter aromatic but not browning. Add the rice, 1 thyme sprig, leaves picked stirring to coat in the garlic mix, and cook 1 leek, finely chopped for 2 mins until turning translucent, then 1 garlic clove, finely chopped pour in the wine and cook for another 2 150g risotto rice mins until evaporated. Add one ladleful of 75ml dry white wine or vermouth the warm stock and cook until absorbed, 20g grated parmesan, plus extra to serve stirring continuously. ½ lemon, zested and juiced 2 tbsp double cream (optional) Continue this process, one ladleful at a time, Nutmeg, for grating for 20-30 minutes, stirring constantly, until SIMPLES the rice is creamy but still retaining a little bite and without a chalky core. Remove the Pour the stock into a saucepan and bring to pan from the heat and stir through the the boil. Blanch the spinach and parsley in remaining butter, the parmesan, most of the the stock for 30 seconds until wilted and lemon zest, the lemon juice and cream (if bright green, then remove with a slotted using). Stir through the spinach purée, then spoon and leave to cool for a moment. Turn season well with a little freshly grated the stock down to a low heat. nutmeg.

Squeeze out any excess water from the Divide between two plates, top with the spinach and parsley, then tip into a food crispy bacon and sprinkle over a little more processor or mini chopper. Add 2 tbsp of parmesan and lemon zest. the olive oil and 1 tbsp water, then blitz to a fine purée and set aside.

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