Living Villages
May 2015 Water Newton, Stibbington, Sutton, Wansford & Thornhaugh
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2 EDITORIAL CONTENTS Our front cover for May illustrates just one of the peculiarities of last month in Living Villages country. Contacts . . . . . 4 Thanks to the creative skills of a mystery resident, Worship lists . . . 5 Wansford’s beautiful Easter post box must be a rarity. Reflections . . . . 7
Another peculiarity was Martin Lewis’ April foolery on News reports: the discovery of a Roman villa. For details of the huge volume of correspondence it generated, see p27/29. Friends of churches: Wansford & Other oddities in our April magazine included the Thornhaugh . . . 9 switching of some colour with black and white pages, Stibbington . , 11 and the fact that the front cover claimed that it was Water Newton . 13 the March magazine, not April’s. I should like to Lottery ...... 9 pretend that this was another April Fool trick. Communicare . . 13 However, I am afraid it was simply an error for which I Horticultural . . . . 15 must apologise. My colleagues on the editorial team WI ...... 16 have assured me that it is not a sackable offence. RBL ...... 19 Cricket Club . . . . 31 At our recent meeting we discussed membership of the editorial team, and came to the conclusion that we Parish Councils: would like to recruit another volunteer to join us. At Wansford . . . 22,23 present Carole Whincup fulfils the roles of both Sutton ...... 25 Treasurer and Advertising Manager — a considerable commitment for one person. So we would be very Special features: pleased to hear from anyone who would like to take on the role of advertising manager, liaising with our Local history . 20, 21 many advertisers and joining us for a monthly April foolery . 27, 29 Younger readers . 31 meeting. A good level of IT skills is needed to deal City Centre events32 with ads that arrive in a wide variety of formats. Nature Notes . . . 35 There is of course no financial reward attached to the Letters to the Editor role; just the knowledge that you will be contributing 36, 37 to what we hope is a valued community service! We would be delighted to hear from anyone who may be Diary Dates . . 38 interested — contact details on p4. Rosie McDonnell
Editorial team For contact details see p 4 Regular features writers:
Editor: Rosie McDonnell Reflections: Canon William Burke Advertising manager:Carole Whincup Rev Michael Matthews Distribution manager: Rod Sortwell Local History: David Stuart-Mogg Reporter: Martin Lewis Nature Notes: Graham Blagden Photographer: Charles Brown Health & Fitness: Dan Whiter Printing and collation: PPS/ Print Younger Readers: Karina Chappell
Read your magazine on-line at www.livingvillagesmagazine.co.uk 3 DIRECTORY OF CONTACTS @ Living Villages Editorial Team
Editor Rosie McDonnell 01780 783639 [email protected] Advertising Manager Carole Whincup 01780 783055 [email protected] Distribution Manager Rod Sortwell 01780 783403 [email protected] Reporter Martin Lewis 01780 783668 [email protected] Website: www.livingvillagesmagazine.co.uk
Parish Councils
Sutton Peter Lee (Vice Chair) 01780 782703 Wansford Wendy Grey (Clerk) 01778 441312 Sibson-cum-Stibbington Wendy Grey (Clerk) 01778 441312 Thornhaugh Deirdre McCumiskey (Clerk) 01780 782668 Water Newton (Parish Meeting) Tony Capon (Chairman) 01733 237500
Churches
Ministers: Thornhaugh & Wansford Rev Michael Matthews 01780 782271 [email protected] Stibbington & Water Newton Parish Office 01733 380900 [email protected] Churchwardens: St Andrew’s Thornhaugh: Stuart Foreman 01780 783220 Liz Kemp 01780 782333 St Mary’s Wansford: Alan Jones 01780 783205 St John the Baptist, Stibbington Richard Winfrey 01780 782431 Carol Lindsay Friends: St Mary’s & St Andrew’s Dora Baker 01780 782519 St John the Baptist Helen Facer 01780 782932 St Remigius Water Newton Tony Capon 01733 237500
Other useful contacts
Neighbourhood Policing 101 Horticultural Society 01780 782446 Wansford Surgery 01780 782342 Royal British Legion 01780 782200 (Out of hours 01733 293838) Stibbington & Wansford WI . . 782510 Wansford Pharmacy 01780 781616 Cricket Club 01780 782109 Communicare 01780 470437 H’don District Council 01480 388388 P’boro City Council 01733 747474
4
St Andrew’s, Thornhaugh WORSHIP St Mary’s, Wansford
MAY 2015
Date Time Location Service 3 May 9.30 am St. Andrew’s, Holy Communion Thornhaugh
10.15 am St. Kyneburgha, Holy Communion Castor
4.00 pm St Mary’s, Family Service Wansford
10 May 9.00 am St John the Baptist, Morning Worship Stibbington
9.30 am St Mary’s, Holy Communion with choir Wansford
17 May 9.30 am St. Andrew’s, Holy Communion Thornhaugh
10.15 am St. Kyneburgha, Holy Communion Castor
24 May 9.00 am St. John the Baptist, Holy Communion, Stibbington Day of Pentecost (Whit Sunday)
9.30 am St. Mary’s, Holy Communion Wansford
31 May 9.30 am Woodnewton Benefice Service
Wansford:
Mondays 3.00 pm Prayer Group
Wednesdays St John the Baptist, 10.00 am St Remigius, Stibbington Morning Prayer Water Newton 5 GRIFFIN WANSFORD COMMUNITY HALL Solid Fuel Merchant Peterborough Road, Wansford Supplier of Pre Packs This hall accommodates parties of up to Coal Bunkers Charcoal Compost 36 people seated. Ideal for Meetings, Flo Gas Logs & Sticks Salt Workshops, Aerobics etc
Coal Yard Office GREAT VALUE AT ONLY £4 per hour Station Road 12 Church Hill FOR BOOKINGS TELEPHONE Nassington Castor John Stannage 07879 485330 01780 782540 01733 380470 CHOOSE YOGA Yoga class for all ages & abilities. Christie Hall, Wansford
Tuesdays 7pm and Thursdays 10am Kings Cliffe Monday 7.45pm
£7 drop in or £6.50 per 4 session pass British Wheel of Yoga Teacher
Contact Penny 07960 267986
6 REFLECTIONS APPEARANCES
By Rev Michael Matthews MAY BE DECEPTIVE
Late on Easter Sunday afternoon, I went upstairs to change out of my clerical garb and found, in the far corner of the wardrobe, a red fleecy thing with a zip that looked warm enough for the afternoon that was just turning cold. I went into the kitchen, where my son was visiting for an Easter dinner. He looked up in disbelief and cried out “That’s A Hoody!” For that, it seemed, is what I had found; not that I have worn it with the hood drawn tight around me, or that I was about to 'mug' anyone . . . so I tend to forget that is what it is and all the associations it may conjure. Appearances though can be deceptive, for clad as I was, the vicar was still inside.
A neighbour had warned me about her dog, saying that he “was not very friendly” and on my previous visit he had been kept away either in her car or in another room, but on this occasion he was off for a walk with one of the family so I determined to have a look at him. I saw a mid-sized spaniel with a glossy black rather charmingly curly coat with bright eyes and a wagging tail. I approached with a smile but was soon jumping back faced with some bared teeth and unmistakeable snarling. Appearances can be deceptive.
It is the same of course with people (and probable about all the new people I have met over Easter), that we never really know the other and cannot be sure at all what joys or struggles are part of our neighbours’ lives. It is easy for us to hit the wrong note in our relationships, which is why the presence of God who knows us perfectly is at once worrying and reassuring: Psalm 139 puts it this way:
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.
Worrying, because God knows all those things we think or dream but would not wish others to be aware of and reassuring because whatever our trouble or innermost thoughts, God knows them already so we need not fear or hold back. To God, appearances are not deceptive.
Grasping this essential idea is only one of the many qualities that makes having a conversation with God so especially fruitful, wherever we are in our lives and whatever the circumstances. Whether our eyes are bright and our tails are up or if we have withdrawn into a private hoody, God can reach us and sustain us for there is no pretence, image or appearance that might disguise or mislead God’s perfect understanding.
7 Tickets £29.95
8 FRIENDS OF ST. MARY’S AND ST. ANDREW’S
We feel that our Lent Lunches have been especially blessed this year. We managed to raise over one thousand pounds with the help of all you, who have supported our efforts so generously. We were able to send a cheque for £1.043.05 to Christian Aid – the most ever – to support a project in Sierra Leone caring for orphans following the Ebola crisis and people who have recovered but who are shunned by their families and not welcome in the villages where they used to live. These Lent Lunches became much more than just a project as those who gathered took to heart the plight of those in Sierra Leone and felt compassion to help in their small way. The warm welcome and happy atmosphere in the hall contributed to great enjoyment. For some people these lunches became a highlight of the week, and they looked forward to them from week to week.
The Friends also did some “Spring Cleaning” at St. Mary’s Church and helped with the decorating of both our churches for Easter.
On 3rd June we are looking forward to a trip on” Rutland Belle” with tea at the Harbour.
Date of the next Meeting: Wednesday, 6th May at 10.30 in the Community Hall after Morning Prayer at St. Mary’s at 10 a.m. The second Meeting in May will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, the 20th at 10.30. Dora Baker. Secretary
THE CHRISTIE HALL COMMUNITY LOTTERY
The winners of the £60 Rick Broughton April 2015 draw are listed here. £50 G Stevens Many thanks to Dr Sue Arnold £40 Ken Queenborough at InStep Foot Clinic £30 P O’Sullivan Elton Road £20 Bill Forman Wansford for drawing the tickets. £10 Jane Kaye
Mat Free, Administrator [email protected] Tel 07881834054
9
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P E T E R R I D D I N G T O N L A N D S C A P I N G
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10 FRIENDS OF STIBBINGTON CHURCH
Stiibbington Fete and Feast
Posters are going up around the villages for the biennial Stibbington fete and feast on Saturday 27th June to be held at Stibbington Hall at 2.30pm.
Come and enjoy the fun with your friends and family, only £1.50 for adults and 50p kids. Dogs welcome for the dog show too! Then from 5.30pm it's feast time with hog roast, puddings and a bar & music. Feast tickets must be purchased beforehand by phoning Helen 01780 782932 or Marge 07921 062350 or from Wansford Post Office. They are £10 adults and £5 for children. Helen Facer
101 club winners
Due to holidays I have the April and May winners to announce for the 101 Draw; The April Winner is Krys Yarnell The May Winner is Mrs Mary Marleau Well done to you both and your cheques are on the way.
Churchyard clear-up
I would like to thank everyone who came along to the Spring churchyard "clear up" on the 12th of April, it was really nice to catch up with everyone again and it was amazing how much we achieved.
So thank you all for giving up your time. Thanks again to Mike and Charlotte Bradshaw for the loan of their trailer; what would we do without it? Suzy Story
11 M * R * H Gardening Services
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12 FRIENDS OF ST REMIGIUS CHURCH
Details of this year’s Water Newton Music Fest are now available, see right.
The event is a week earlier than usual due to the Bank Holiday falling on the following weekend, so do make it a date for your diary and be sure to reserve your tickets soon. Tony Capon
COMMUNICARE (Wansford & Kings Cliffe Surgery Patient Group)
It has been decided to hold future meetings on a quarterly basis instead of bi-monthly - the next meeting will therefore be on Thursday 4th June 2015 at Wansford Surgery - 6.30 pm Guest Speaker to be arranged – details will be published in June
SOCIAL GROUP SUMMER DAY TRIPS
The programme of coach day trips commenced in April with a visit to Sheringham and more are planned for June, August and October. If you would like to join the planned visit to Wroxham with a boat trip on the Norfolk Broads on Wednesday 10th June 2015, please contact Clare on 01780 470437 / email: [email protected] for further details and to secure your booking. Wendy Spencer
13
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For bookings at £10 per hour or £8 per hour residents of Wansford, Stibbington and Thornhaugh contact the bookings clerk on Tel: 01780 782446 Gill Fisher
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BARKLEYS GARDEN SERVICES
Grass cutting, weeding, hedge trimming
Lady gardener available
Bev & Peter Ailsworth (01733) 380480 or 07593721144
14 WANSFORD HORTICULTURAL & CRAFTS SOCIETY
Our programme of Spring talks concluded on 9 April when Adam Pasco spoke to a big audience on “Easy Ways to Better Gardening.” There were certainly plenty of helpful ideas and planting suggestions, all clearly illustrated and expertly presented, which sent many of us scurrying off to buy seed compost and investigate ordering Tulip “Antoinette”!
In May of course we move into the Summer phase of our programme, with the popular Plant Sale taking place on Saturday 9th May – 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Stone & Willow, 59, Elton Road – where you will find many bargains suitable for your gardens. If you have visited any garden centres or nurseries recently, you will have seen the price of many plants nowadays, but you can be guaranteed to find 3 or 4 plants at our sale for the price of just one at the retail outlet. If you have been splitting or removing unwanted plants in the garden recently or have grown a surplus of plants from seed, we would be delighted to take them off your hands, so please get in touch! The same applies to any unwanted garden items or equipment.
Thereafter we have our coach trips, on 14th June and 18th July, both of which are now fully booked. In addition there is the summer party for members on Saturday, 27th June and a private evening visit to the Milton Estate on Wednesday, 29th July when we will be shown around by the head gardener, Tony Wellington. All in all we look forward to an active and enjoyable summer culminating in the Annual Flower Show, which takes place on Saturday, 29th August in the Haycock Park.
The schedule with details of all entries can now be viewed online at our website: www.wansfordhorticulturalsociety.org.uk and we are hoping that more people than ever will enter some of the categories and classes this year. There are so many talented residents in our villages producing amazing craft and artwork, cookery, photography and floral art as well as growing delicious fruit and vegetables that we are anticipating a splendid display in the marquee. Please take a look and consider entering if you do not already do so (Entry is not restricted to members of the Horticultural Society). In particular we are hoping for more entries from children this year and, to make it easier to see their options, we have grouped all the children’s classes together after the adult classes. (Keep watching the left hand shop window at Wansford Post Office and you will see some ideas for entries displayed by our committee member Elin!) Gill Fisher [email protected] 782446
15 STIBBINGTON & WANSFORD WI Our April meeting, attended by 15 members and one guest, was held at the Elton Walled Garden Centre where we were welcomed by owners, Nick and Christine, and thoroughly enjoyed a traditional cream tea whilst we attended to the business side of things.
Nick then gave a very interesting talk about the history of walled gardens over the last two centuries with a power point presentation – he went on to explain how he and Christine are planning to expand their operation and their policies for running a successful business within the local community. Their assistant, Kate, then created two lovely displays – a hanging basket and a patio tub – using different plants and colour schemes. These were kindly donated as the raffle prizes and won by Diane and Rita. To round off the evening everyone indulged in a little ‘retail therapy’ from the extensive range of plants and other gardening provisions.
The Little Yellow Duck campaign generated a number of contributions from members, and these were taken to the Federation Day later last month ready for distribution around the chosen sites. This month several members are attending the Spring Group Meeting being held at Orton Waterville and in early June, the lucky winner of a ballot, Sue Joyner, will be attending the special WI Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. As our president, Jean, has recently undergone surgery for a replacement hip, she is being represented by Kate Brumfield at the National Centenary Annual Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall on 4th June.
Our next cake stall is scheduled for Saturday 23rd May – outside Wansford church – 10am—Noon – everyone welcome to come along and stock up on your favourite ‘fancies’ or savouries. We would like to thank all those who supported the last cake sale in March which raised well over two hundred pounds.
The May meeting on Tuesday 12th at the Community Hall will be our Resolution Supper and all members attending are requested to bring along a plate of food to share. Wendy Spencer
16 17
31 London Road, Wans-
18 STIBBINGTON & DISTRICT BRANCH OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
ST GEORGE’S DAY CONCERT Thank you to everyone who helped to stage this Concert which raised over £1,000 for The Poppy Appeal. Over 100 people crowded in to St Kyneburgha’s Church Castor to hear Yarwell & Nassington Band play many well known tunes before launching into their famous and ever popular Last Night of the Proms Finale. The fun was enhanced by lots of union flag waving and singing of Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia and Jerusalem. The money raised will be sent to The Poppy Appeal where it will used to help ex-and current servicemen and their families in times of need. Thank you again to everyone.
COACH TRIP TO BLETCHLEY PARK There are about 6 seats left for the coach trip for Saturday 6th June to take us on a visit to Bletchley Park. The cost is approximately £30 per adult, £23 per child aged 12-16 and £15 per child under 12. Price includes an annual pass to return as many times as you please within a year, multi- media guide, optional 1 hour walking tour guide, access to all open facilities and on-site catering facilities. Please book now with Sue Arnold on 01780 782200. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY NEEDED We are currently looking for a new Membership Secretary to keep the records for all 120 Branch members. It is not onerous or time con- suming but you do need to be computer literate. For further details contact Sue Arnold on 01780 782200.
WE HAVE A WEBSITE. WHY NOT VISIT IT?
branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/Stibbington
19 LOCAL HISTOY By David Stuart-Mogg THE HAYCOCK & STIBBINGTON IN DAYS OF YORE
A recent request seeking information flat race champion jockey of the only its regarding a former Stibbington family led Victorian era] both started their racing practising vertical integration before that me to refer to a list of local businesses in careers in the Haycock stable yard, term came into common business the London Road / Elton Road area that under the cobbles of which a former parlance. had been collated and passed to me by [unnamed] ‘National’ winner was buried. the late Doug Stafford, who was ever a In 1899 the Haycock became the private Under the general heading SPORTS, the cheery, unfailing and invaluable source residence of Lord Chesham who kept it virtues of the Haycock as a centre to of local knowledge and history. A day or as a hunting box until 1906 after which enjoy hunting, fishing and wildfowling so later, by complete chance, keen local Mr Lionel Digby ran the Haycock as a are boldly extolled. Under hunting it is history buffs John and Ro Judge kindly racing stable with over 100 horses in shared that brought to my attention a rare, early training and with his own private gallops cannot get at least three or four nearby post-war brochure of The Haycock which extending along the south bank of the meets. The I had not seen before and which offered Nene. The Haycock famously then Fox hunters and will always give any perspectives and insights into a local way passed into the hands of Sir Bache help of life which, in many respects, had Cunard, a skilled silversmith who, during boast changed little for many decades prior to the First World War, created a small benefit of its visitors its publication. It was a village structure munitions factory in the old cock fighting both coarse and fly fishermen with which was still faintly perceptible when I loft above the right hand flight of stone roach, perch, pike, bleak, dace, tench arrived in this area in 1978. Today, as a steps in the courtyard. The Haycock did and fine chubb all, apparently, available de facto suburb and dormitory of not become a hotel again until 1928, in season. For wildfowlers up early to Peterborough, this essentially rural when what is now the southbound catch the morning flight on Holbeach essence has all but vanished. The happy carriageway of the A1 was nearing Marsh, Pink Foot and Brent Geese with conjunction of these two sources completion over the river Nene, Widgeon, Teal and Sheld Duck were determined the direction of this month’s terminating use of both the riverside possibilities when, after later addressing Local History offering. gallops and the Haycock’s own airstrip. the evening flight, guests could return to If one looks carefully at the roof of the the Haycock The Haycock brochure states that it was former grain store and cart hovel behind and bed compiled with the help of Mr Urwick the Haycock that many villagers will Passing on from the delightful time Smith, M.A., Curator of Peterborough remember as Belton’s Stores, it is just Museum, which was a promising start in of the Haycock brochure, it is interesting possible to make out part of the word to note some of the adjacent local respect of the likely ratio of fact to be WANSFORD on the roof from the airstrip encountered versus the inevitable trades that flourished in London Road days. and Elton Road during the latter part of hyperbole and purple prose of any similar publication. Perhaps! The brochure also accurately confirms the 19 that foxes were once tethered to the It is a matter of record that up until the Henry Strickson, a harness maker and familiar stone kennels still to be seen saddler, worked from 1, Elton Road advent and expansion of motor trans- under the courtyard steps. A delightfully port, the Haycock stabled up to 150 while at number 19 Elton Road pastoral statement advises that ‘behind (Wedgwood Cottage) there was a horses at any given time. The brochure the cockpit stables is the Haycock Farm, lays claim that the famous jockeys bakery, the oven for which is still extant. now again belonging to the hotel and A building in the adjoining yard was George Parfrement [who in 1909 won housing a flourishing herd of pedigree the Grand National at his first attempt on used as a Fire Station during the Second Guernseys who [sic] supply milk to the World War and housed a bull Lutteur III at the staggering odds of 100 hotel’. It seems the Haycock was ahead -9] and Fred Archer [the most successful Morris van, supplied by the Gilbert of its time in terms of advertising not family, which pulled a Coventry Climax 20 NGTON IN DAYS OF YORE
only its ‘green credentials’ but also in practising vertical integration before that term came into common business parlance. winner was buried. In 1899 the Haycock became the private Under the general heading SPORTS, the virtues of the Haycock as a centre to enjoy hunting, fishing and wildfowling are boldly extolled. Under hunting it is shared that ‘it is a bad week if one training and with his own private gallops cannot get at least three or four nearby meets. The [Haycock] owners are keen Fox hunters and will always give any help’. Under fishing the Haycock could Cunard, a skilled silversmith who, during boast ‘about a mile of fishing for the benefit of its visitors’ providing sport for munitions factory in the old cock fighting both coarse and fly fishermen with roach, perch, pike, bleak, dace, tench fire pump trailer. Next door, the Cross steps in the courtyard. The Haycock did and fine chubb all, apparently, available Keys Inn, once combined a butcher’s in season. For wildfowlers up early to shop in tandem with being a pub. An catch the morning flight on Holbeach interesting combination to say the least Marsh, Pink Foot and Brent Geese with and unthinkable in today’s ‘health and Widgeon, Teal and Sheld Duck were safety’ indoctrinated society. Number possibilities when, after later addressing 31 Elton Road has, in its time, also been the evening flight, guests could return to a butcher’s shop as well, at another the Haycock ‘for a warm meal, a yarn period, a clock-making and repair former grain store and cart hovel behind and bed’. How different today! business. I know of a good long-case
Passing on from the delightful time-warp clock with ‘Wansford’ painted on its dial of the Haycock brochure, it is interesting quite possibly supplied from these to note some of the adjacent local premises. Further along, just before WANSFORD on the roof from the airstrip trades that flourished in London Road reaching Chapel Court, the corner house and Elton Road during the latter part of was once a tailor’s shop. th the 19 century and onwards. Lack of remaining space means that this
Henry Strickson, a harness maker and particular subject will have to be saddler, worked from 1, Elton Road continued on a future occasion but, as an under the courtyard steps. A delightfully while at number 19 Elton Road intriguing if macabre conclusion, behind (Wedgwood Cottage) there was a the Paper Mills was a building, since bakery, the oven for which is still extant. demolished, that for many years served A building in the adjoining yard was as a temporary mortuary for anyone used as a Fire Station during the Second killed in the area. Presumably, World War and housed a bull-nosed principally for road deaths occurring on It seems the Haycock was ahead Morris van, supplied by the Gilbert the Great North Road. family, which pulled a Coventry Climax [email protected] 21
Wansford Parish Council continued KEITH PIKE ATT, ACIB The A1 / A47 to Sutton Personal Taxation Adviser The new traffic lights on the eastern ------roundabout of the A1/A47 junction are Are you worried about…. in the process of being commissioned. completing your Annual Tax Return We will see how these work out but and Self Assessment calculation? WPC is seeking a review of the se- claiming all of your allowances / quencing and control system a few reliefs ? months into operation. WPC are also calculating the capital gain or loss on trying to find out the timetable for the the sale of shares or property dualling of this stretch of the A47. It is paying too much tax? certainly at the beginning of the over- …. if so, help is at hand all programme and it is claimed that it
------will be in operation before 2021. For a personal confidential service, The next WPC meeting will be at contact Keith Pike, a former Technical th Director with 30 years’ experience in 7.30 pm on the 11 May. In addition Personal Taxation on to the normal council meeting, this will
incorporate the AGM and the Annual 01832 281086 Parish Meeting. These additional meet-
or email: [email protected] ings include a review of the past year 19 River Lane, Elton PE8 6RG and the appointment of councillors to the various roles. Richard Clarke, Wansford PC
Nene Valley Railway
For details visit
www.nvr.org.uk
Nene Valley Railway, Wansford Station, Stibbington, Peterborough PE8 6LR Tel 01780 784444 www.nvr.org.uk Registered charity no 263617
22 WANSFORD PARISH COUNCIL
Over the last month, Wansford Parish Council has been busy with the following:-
Cleaning of the A47 Underpass Those who use it will no doubt have noticed that the pedestrian underpass at the A47 has been pressure washed, completing the renovation that has been going on since the autumn. The graffiti has not been removed as this would have meant repainting the whole underpass. The ivy has also been cut back and the walking surface is swept regularly. This work was paid for out of the City Councillors’ Community Leadership Fund. Cllr Diane Lamb and Cllr John Holdich kindly made a grant from the limited resources available in this fund.
Quarrying Developments Following objections from WPC, the planning application to extract limestone from the land known as Thornhaugh IIb went to the PCC Planning Committee. This area, which is immediately to the east of the existing Thornhaugh quarry, was covered by a consent that had lapsed. Bullimores applied to reinstate the consent in line with the PCC long term quarrying plan. After a lengthy discuss- ion in the committee, consent was granted on a split decision, subject to quite stringent conditions on noise and dust. It is expected that quarrying will start in 2021. Meanwhile Mick George have realised that most of the area of Cooks Hole farm will not yield commercially viable limestone and so the quarrying there will be curtailed. The remedial work on the area that has been quarried will be built into a revised and extended sequence of working at the Thornhaugh I landfill site. Representatives of WPC are meeting with Augean, the owners of both Cooks Hole and Thornhaugh I to discuss the full implications of these changes.
The Aidan Patrick Fogarty Will Trust WPC, along with most of the parishes in the Peterborough area, has been offered a gift of just over two thousand pounds from this trust. The money has to be spent on specific projects for the benefit of the community. Suggestions at present include improving the approaches to the village on Old Leicester Road, permanently removing the ivy from the wall on the north side of the green and installing an additional seat on Old Leicester Road near the village boundary. Other suggestions are welcome.
Wansford Parish Council Precept The precept is the mechanism by which the Parish Council receives its funding. The money is levied by PCC as part of the council tax. WPC had not asked for an increase in the precept this year and we were surprised to find in the council tax statements that it had been increased by 9.8%. This seems to have happened because PCC are reducing the grants in other areas and they had assumed that we wanted the full funding to remain the same. This was not the intention and an adjustment will be made next year. Continued on page 22
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24 SUTTON PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Council meeting 26th March Cllrs Dan Rose (chair), Peter Lee, Craig Kidd, Keith Yerbury and Clerk Patricia Stuart-Mogg were present, together with City Councillor Diane Lamb, Mr Andrew Nash (Peterborough Cycle West Project), Mr Duncan Jackson (Buckles Solicitors) and 7 residents.
Aidan Fogarty Deceased Will Trust Mr Jackson reported that Mr Fogarty had left a sum in trust for the advancement of community development in the Peterborough area. The trustees were awarding Sutton Parish Council the sum of £2250 to be used in a manner similar to the Community Leadership Fund of the City Council. Mr Jackson was thanked for this generous and unexpected grant.
Sutton Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan A number of individuals had commented on this plan. The Parish Council agreed its comments, in summary: Congratulating the City Council on the useful plan; suggesting a small modification to the CA boundary at Manor Farm (to align with the Village envelope or at least include the whole of the Manor Farm curtilage); requesting that the Reading Room should not be ‘considered for additional recognition’ in view of its poor state; and looking forward to working with the City Council to realise the plan’s proposals.
Development to East of Manor Farm The Parish Council agreed that representations should be made on its behalf at the City Council Planning Committee on 7th April where this 5-house application was due for determina- tion. (Following statements by Cllr John Holdich, planning consultants for Manor Farm and Peter Lee at that meeting, the application was refused.)
Peterborough Cycle West Initiative Andrew Nash gave an update on progress. Following the survey of village opinion in 2010, and comparative costings of the 3 options, the preferred route westwards was being pursued. This runs from the southern end of Lovers Lane along the route of the former railway track to Wansford Station (Nene Valley Railway). A clutch of reports had had to be prepared to accompany a planning application (flood risk assessments, ecological studies etc) and funds had been raised to pay for these. However more pre-application expenses may arise and major funding bids made for the capital cost in due course. Parish Council agreed to pledge a maximum of £500 towards these costs, to be held as a contingency fund.
Street Lighting Following repeated reports to the City Council that several street lamps were not functioning, the problem had yet to be address- ed. Cllr Lamb agreed to pursue the matter on behalf of the Parish Council.
Parish Council Vacancy The Chairman, Dan Rose, informed the Council that he will be standing down and resigning from the Parish Council at the end of April. The Chairman or Parish Clerk would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in being elected or co-opted onto the Parish Council.
Next meeting: Thursday 21st May in Sutton Church. Annual Parish Council meeting 7pm followed by Annual Parish Meeting 7.30pm. Peter Lee Tel: 01780 782703 25
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26 ROMAN VILLA ON A47 BRIDGE – UPDATE
Last month, in the April edition, I wrote about the discovery of the remains of a Roman Villa on the central reservation of the A47 bridge over the A1.
To clear the matter up, for those of you who have not yet figured it out, I’m afraid to tell you that this was an April Fool story. Sadly, there was no such discovery. There will be no archeological dig.
When I originally wrote the story I thought it would be a bit of a lark, but my main concern was that most people would just see straight through the concept of Roman foundations being discovered on a 20th century steel and concrete bridge. I tried to make it more far fetched by suggesting the dig might approach the foundations from the underside of the bridge. I even threw in a couple of give-away names in the story, Avril Fule and J. Oke.
But I was besieged by phone calls and emails from people who wanted to take part in the dig, and started to feel very bad indeed when I had to break the sad news to so many excited people. I even received a call from one lady who ranted at me for several minutes. I’m still unsure if she’d had a sense of humour failure or if it was someone who had rumbled the ruse and was playing a joke back on me!
So I can’t decide if my April Fool story was a success or not. In one sense it was – it fooled quite a few people, but in another it has not, as I thought most folks would spot the joke and just have a chuckle.
I have certainly learned a great deal from the experience. First, I think most people are very busy and don’t necessarily read the fine detail of an article, but skim it for the main points. The nub of the joke here lay in the detail. Second, perhaps having a story applicable to just one day, April 1st, is not best placed in a monthly magazine.
Is the whole April Fool thing an outdated concept in our information rich, 24/7 society? Or maybe we should get over ourselves, embrace a bit of lighthearted tomfoolery and keep our traditions alive? I wonder what you think? Martin Lewis
As Martin mentions above, the volume of correspondence generated by his article last month was considerable, and came in the form of phone calls and emails as well as personal conversations. In the interests of sharing feed- back with readers, I have compiled overleaf a resume of the correspondence received, including comments from those who spotted the trickery AND those who fell for it. Contrary to our usual policy, on this occasion, we have allowed contributors the right to anonymity! Rosie McDonnell
27 28 Very good - never gave the date a thought at first - I was bemused though how the remains had survived the construction of the bridge - figured they'd been transported there by the Highways Agency! Thanks for the fun!!
I was wondering if you have an email I would love to address for Mr John be able to help Oke of Cambridge WANSFORD’S with the dig in University. We were some way - going to email to find ROMAN VILLA??? please let me out what is involved have details as in volunteering for the dig? per "Living Villages".
Surely local people and organisations in I went for the area should coffee with have been neighbours notified yesterday personally and they before the story were For the full story, planning was published? see page 27. to come along to the dig.
Ha ha! Maybe you should arrange a real Roman dig as there’s so We think the land much interest in it?! the Roman villa is on may be ours. Why has no-one been in touch with us? How did Roman remains get onto a 20th century bridge? I was very excited and had visions of Time Team coming along. Every time I drive over the bridge now I am reminded of your trickery.
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30 Wansford in England Cricket Club Net Practice Tuesday Evenings from 6pm
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Beginners Welcome. For more information speak to: Jim Boulton (Chairman) 07894517173 Darren Sweary (Captain) 0785074400
YOUNGER READER’S BLOG WANSFORD By Karina Chappell, 11 DOG RE-HOMING
Me and my dad had an idea over the holidays, that we should get a dog. The problem is my mum is not that keen on them, so she recommended I go and volunteer at Wansford dog re-homing centre to get some experience. They take in dogs of every breed, size and shape and try to find them a good home with owners that will look after them properly.
I have been doing all sorts of things to help them out such as walking, cleaning out dog cages and grooming. I have really enjoyed spending time with the dogs. The dogs are mostly from pounds where they run out of room and there is the threat of having to put them down. But some get dropped off by their owners when they cannot keep them.
There was one dog whose name was Sandy, he came in as a shy dog but over the past few weeks he has come out of his shell and is now a friendly and energetic dog. There was even one week where the vet came to see an un- named dog that they thought might be pregnant and they asked if I would like to name her. She was a little Chihuahua crossbreed. I've called her Tia. If you think you can give a dog a loving home then check out their website: www.homes4dogs.co.uk They are always looking for volunteers to help with the dogs and donations to assist with the running of the centre. I have thoroughly enjoyed going there at the weekends. Their contact details are: Wansford Dog Re-homing, Toll Cottage, Old Leicester Road, Wansford, Peterborough PE8 6NR Tel 01780 783331 31
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NATURE NOTES By Graham Blagden FASCINATING PHEASANTS
I have been away for a few days but did be grateful for the sight of the resultant not feel homesick. Although some 200 escapees but our broad landscape miles from home, I was regularly woken would not be the same without them. in the morning by the raucous 'gock As our forests were gradually cleared to gock' call of a pheasant. I often hear provide fields for crops and cattle, the call in the morning in the village and stands of woodland were retained and know that it will be strutting round the new game coverts planted to provide fields and hedgerows proclaiming its homes for the targets of this new presence. And what a delightful sight country sport. Old woodland was not it is - the male anyway. The pheasant being properly managed and would is a large game bird with a long tail. It have died away without the positive has coppery flanks with beautifully management for game birds. Game- patterned, brown feathers surmounted keepers would keep down the numbers by a deep green head flanked with of foxes and crows which are predators crimson wattles. The female is a dull of all ground nesting birds, not just the brown; she needs to merge into her pheasants. surroundings, particularly when raising However one must also bear in mind young. that some overzealous gamekeepers Nearly everyone will recognise the would kill anything that could possibly, pheasant as a common bird of the or even impossibly, compete with their countryside. Yet it is not strictly a precious pheasant chicks. Our social native. Its home is to the east of the history is also full of tales of their Black Sea in Asia but the Romans continual battle with poachers, brought some with them. Whether the sometimes resulting in the offending, birds survived the Dark Ages is not often hungry, family man being hanged known but they are recorded as or transported to Australia for his resident in William the Conqueror's time temerity in taking a much needed meal. attending a banquet - unfortunately You may notice that some of our they were the banquet. Their numbers pheasants have a prominent white increased during the Middle Ages but collar between the green of the head they did not become a relatively freely and its browner body. The original available table bird until the seven- Asian stock do not have this feature. teenth century when organised shoots, Collared birds stem from nineteenth and gamekeepers, became common. century imports from China known as Many naturalists do not accept the Ring-necked Pheasants. However there pheasant as a true British Bird. It is an has been much interbreeding over the anomaly, as up to 20 million of the years. I have seen many of both types species are nurtured each year with but it would be interesting to know perhaps two thirds of this number being which variety is most common in our shot out of the sky during the shooting local fields and woods There's an season lasting from 1st October to 1st interesting challenge for you and your February. However not only must we children during your next country walk!
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The text below is taken from a letter to Wansford Dear Rosie, Parish Council, copied to local magazines, from If you could include Mr and Mrs C J Feather of Yarwell Road, Wansford. the upcoming event It relates to a proposal to move Wansford’s below in Living Yarwell Road boundary towards Yarwell to take in Villages, that would the Surgery and other properties in the vicinity. be great. We are writing to make clear our opposition to the Enjoy a night proposal to change the Parish boundary.
with the Lazoons The proposal catalogued various difficulties, all of which, it th Friday 15 May was suggested, would be remedied by changing the 7.30pm—Midnight boundary. Without commenting specifically on these Castor Village Hall difficulties, nor on the evident drawbacks in the details of
Help raise money the proposal, we should like to point out that it is for Castor CE extremely rare in any area of life for a single catch-all Primary school and solution to successfully deal with a varied collection of Castor and Ailsworth problems. Further, in the present case none of the Preschool and enjoy households affected (and perhaps seriously disadvant- a night of music and aged) by the proposal is in any way to blame for any of dancing with local the difficulties under discussion. covers band The No member of Wansford Parish Council has made an Lazoons who play attempt to discuss this matter with us. The approach such classics as Otis adopted by Wansford Parish Council seems to us not to Reading/The reflect the best way to go about creating and maintaining Stones/The Jam all good relations between parishes. The evident lack of the way up to belief that matters can be resolved by reasonable modern greats such discussion and cooperation is depressing, even alarming. as Editors and Coldplay.
Tickets cost £10 each and include a pulled pork roll supper (or veggie alternative) For tickets email faithfulcomms@ gmail.com or call 07843244426
Thank you, Sharron Tonkin, Wansford
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The two letters, below and right, My brother in law, Alan Curtis played were inspired by the photo in our football for Wansford 1947/1949 and March issue of Wansford football they used a field entered by a gate at team in times past. the end of the bridge just before Wansford church. The field was After publication of Don Tebbutt’s useless for most of the season as it feature on Wansford Football Club in tended to get flooded! He says Fred times past, my colleagues, locals and Costain drove my father's lorry with I can now provide the following details. the team on board to matches and he Best information is that the game remembers one match at Maxey when featured in the photograph was played they won the league and Watkins took during the 1949 / 1950 seasons, exact loads of photos but when it came to date not traced. The game was played developing them he realized he had no behind farmer Tom Blytons farm stack film in the camera! yard, off Ailsworth Road, Helpston. I remember Fred and Mona Costain The mascot is local Wansford lad, Peter well - mainly because sadly they lost White, son of George White, then living their little son and there was quite a in Old North Road and now living in todo about their choice of gravestone Langtoft. The two players, not fully in Stibbington identified, were not locals but resident churchyard - a Dear Rosie, and working in the area at the time. lovely white I thought you might angel, which I be interested: we've We trust that the above will be of thought was just had a parakeet further interest unless anyone knows wonderful. Is it in the garden, more! still there? several times over Best Wishes, Kind regards, a half hour period - David Brown. Nan Alden photo attached. It likes our peanuts! A local group called Hally Hardie, Steampunk Stamford Owl Corner, Home is inviting anyone interested in a fun day out to join Farm, Thornhaugh them in Victorian parlour games, taste Victorian themed food and ride on a steam train at the Nene Valley Railway in Wansford on the 24 and 25th May.
For just the cost of a platform ticket for a couple of pounds, visitors can enjoy a range of presentations, games, be amazed by the roaming magicians, enter a raffle for a chance to win some great prizes and hear poetry, stories and a’ hurdy gurdy’.
More info @steampunkstamford; steampunkstamford.co.uk
37 DIARY DATES – MAY 2015 Date Event Time Venue Contact Phone p Tue 5, Haycock Park, 0789451 Cricket Club Nets practice 6.00pm Jim Boulton 31 12 19 26 Wansford 7173 Thornhaugh Parish St Andrew’s church, Tue 5 7.00pm Council meeting & AGM Thornhaugh Sibon cum Stibbington Environment Tue 5 7.00pm Parish Council & AGM Centre, Stibbington Friends of St Mary’s & Wansford Wed 6 10.30am Dora Baker 782519 9 St Andrew’s meeting Community Hall Wed 6 St Mary’s Wansford 19A Old Leicester Eddie 7.30pm 783639 13 20 27 church choir practice Road Wansford McDonnell Horticultural Society:: 10am— Sat 9 59 Elton Road Gill Fisher 782446 15 Plant sale 2.00pm. Wansford Parish Council Wansford John Mon 11 7.30pm 23 meeting and AGM Community Hall Stannage WI meeting: Wansford Jean Tue 12 7.15pm 782510 16 Resolution Supper Community Hall Yerbury The Lazoons evening of Sharron 07843 Fri 15 7.30pm Castor Village Hall 36 music and dncing Tonkin 244426 Nassington School From Sat 16 Nassington School 36 May Fayre 11.30am Friends of St Mary’s & Wansford Wed 20 10.30am Dora Baker 782519 9 St Andrew’s meeting Community Hall Sutton Parish Council St Michael’s Thur 21 7.00pm Eter Lee 782703 23 meeting and AGM church, Sutton 10am— Outside Jean Sat 23 WI Cake stall 782510 16 noon Wansford chuch Yerbury Peterborough Green Cathedral Square, 01733 Sat 23 32 Festival opens Peterborough 452336 Sun 24, Victorian Steampunk Nene Valley 37 Mon 25 event Railway Friends of St Mary’s & Rutland Belle boat Wed 3 Dora Baker 782519 9 St Andrew’s trip and tea RBL visit to Sat 6 Bletchley Park Sue Arnold 782200 19 Bletchley Park
Copy deadline next month: Friday 22 May
This magazine is available online at www.livingvillagesmagazine.co.uk
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