VILLAGER and Town Life LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

The Issue 96 - April 2017 VILLAGER and Town Life LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

In this issue Win Tickets to see The Saw Doctors Walk with a Fork Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People 20,000 copies delivered to Buckden, Brampton, Cambourne, Godmanchester, The Hemingfords, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester and all surrounding villages every month Your To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 1 Contents FREEcopy Arrington Garden Centre Undergoes Refurbishment...... 52 Paxton Pits Nature Reserve...... 54 The Ironing Shop & Kleen-Eco Fuchsia Perfect...... 57 R.A.T.S...... 58 Animal Stories...... 61 22 Children’s Page...... 63 Children’s Parties...... 64 What is the Internet of Things?...... 67 New Audi Q5...... 68 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...... 70 St George’s Day...... 72 The Hermit’s Life in Eaton Ford...... 4 What’s On...... 74 Time for Tea...... 6 Amateur Photographers...... 76 Phone Companies are Waging War on Nuisance Callers...... 10 John Bunyan Boat...... 78 Win Tickets to see The Saw Doctors Live...... 12 Puzzle Page...... 80 Unusual Easter Traditions...... 15 There’s a Beer for that...... 83 Lake Atitlan - Guatemala...... 18 Prize Crossword...... 86 The Grand National...... 20 Calling Action to Local Filmmakers...... 89 The Ironing Shop and Kleen-Eco...... 22 Refresh your home for spring...... 90 Wine: If it sparkles...... 35 Book Review...... 94 Walk with a Fork...... 27 Savings Accounts Explained...... 28 Alexander Technique for Golfers...... 31 Tips for Looking Good in Spring...... 32 Are you a parent with children below the age of 18?...... 34 Don’t be an April Fool...... 37 Shakespeare Day...... 38 Uke can do it too!...... 40 The New Residence Nil-Rate Band...... 42 Pub/Funding...... 43 Don’t Leave Your Care to the Kids...... 45 Employment Matters...... 46 Arrington Garden Centre 52 Flower Power...... 51 20,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Hinchingbrooke, Hinchingbrooke Park, Brampton, Buckden, Offord Cluny, Offord D’arcy, Godmanchester, Hemingford Abbots and Hemingford Grey, Cambourne, Chawston, Croxton, Duloe, Graveley, Great Paxton, Hail Weston, Honeydon, Little Barford, Little Paxton, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester, Roxton, Southoe, Staploe, Tempsford, Toseland, Upper Staploe, Wintringham, Wyboston, Yelling. (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Huntingdon, St Neots, Eaton Ford, Eaton Socon and Eynesbury)

Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Catherine Rose, Eileen Le Voi, Publishers Susan Brookes-Morris, Solange Hando, Sarah Davey, RSPCA, Villager Publications Ltd Trevor Langley, Kate Duggan, Centre for Complementary Health, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Jennie Billings, Leeds Day Solicitors, Susan Brookes-Morris, Tel: 01767 261122 Jamie McLaven, Sally Power, Tony Larkins, Kate McLelland, [email protected] Carol H Scott, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, James Baggott, www.villagermag.com Nick Coffer andThere’s A Beer For That Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, Advertising Sales/Local Editorial however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the Scott - 01767 261122 [email protected] content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any Photography - Ingrid Balabanova & Darren Harbar Photography statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460 reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher. To advertiseAdvert in Booking The Villager Deadline and Town Friday Life 7th please April call 2017 01767 261122 Artwork Deadline Friday 7th April 2017 3 History A Hermit’s Life in Eaton Ford does not always run smooth! Has the relentless modern life ever prompted you to try to get away from it all by becoming a hermit? Stuck in a rush hour queue on the A1 on the section from the St. Neots turn to Little Paxton over the Hail Weston Brook bridge might provoke thoughts of renouncing the daily grind for a life of spiritual contemplation. and there came John son of Richard Herbert This is hardly an area for a potential modern of Gamlingay, and Eloise of Abbotsley John’s hermit to contemplate peace and quiet yet a concubine, and William son of Nicholas Precher Deed from around 1220 refers to a Hermitage of Huntingdon clerk, and Edith sister of the said on the land of the Manor of Sudbury at Eaton William; and they assaulted the said Margery, Ford. A conjectural map of this area c1220 was Margaret and John son of Thomas and tried published in the newsletter of the St. Neots to rob them. At length the hue was raised and History Society (06 /1984) by Rosa Young. It pursued to the town of Sudbury. The said felons shows the Hermitage and a Leper Hospital to the then fled to the bridge. William the shepherd of left of the northbound A1. Back in 1265 the local Sir William de Sudbury came there in answer to hermit’s peace was disturbed by a dastardly deed the hue, and on that bridge the said John, Richard on his doorstep. The medieval scribes record Herbert’s son, struck William the shepherd with a that:- “Margery, wife of Thomas of Beachamstead, sword on the right side of his head and cut away Margaret her sister, and John, son of the aforesaid a part of his head with the brains and the right Thomas were on their way from the market at ear, so that he died forthwith on the said bridge. St Neots to the Lepers’ Hospital at Sudbury; The township of Sudbury came with the hue and arrested John the felon, Eloise, and Edith William Preacher’s sister; and William, Nicholas Preacher’s son, fled to Diddington church in the county of Huntingdon.” You can find comparative peace in the Sudbury Meadows community garden tucked away opposite the friendly Barley Mow pub. A check on their site will update you on their 2017 programme of work. You can always volunteer as an antidote to modern life! St. Neots Museum has the former police cells as part of its display. You might like to practice being a hermit enclosed in their small cell! By Peter Ibbett 4 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Reg Charity No 307534 2017 AIRSHOWS The Collection is home to historic aircraft, vintage vehicles and motorcycles, with an adjacent period Swiss Garden

07 SEASON 15 EVENING MAY PREMIERE JUL AIRSHOW 20 EVENING 06 EDWARDIAN MAY AIRSHOW AUG PAGEANT FLYING 04 FLY NAVY 19 JUN AUG PROMS 17 EVENING 03 SHUTTLEWORTH JUN AIRSHOW SEP HERITAGE MILITARY 02 01 RACE DAY JUL PAGEANT OCT

TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BOOK AT WWW.SHUTTLEWORTH.ORG Shuttleworth, Old Warden Nr Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 5 History By Catherine Rose

Time for Tea

Tea has been enjoyed all over the world for more frequent them, could enjoy it at home. It soon than a millennium but the English only adopted became popular for wives to host tea parties with it as their own around four hundred years ago. their friends where tea was brewed and drunk Believed to have originated in Southern China, black, often with sugar or honey added. tea drinking dates back to around 3000 BC. Tea was very much the privilege of the wealthy. It However, it didn’t become popular in England was expensive to import and seen as a valuable until the 17th century, when it was made commodity. It would be kept locked inside ornate fashionable by King Charles II and his Portuguese caddies. Matching teapots, cups and saucers wife Catherine de Braganza, who brought it over were prized possessions to be flaunted and to the Royal court from her native country. cherished and there were many different designs Coffee houses had recently been established in manufactured in bone china during this time. London and were popular haunts of middle class The London Tea Auction was a hub of gentlemen who went there to relax or conduct international tea trade. It was set up in 1706 and business. The custom of tea drinking was quickly continued until as late as 1998 (with a break introduced. Samuel Pepys referred to it in his during the Second World War). diary of 1660: ‘…I did send for a cup of tee (a Because tea was so expensive, the tea smuggling China drink) of which I never had drank before’. trade flourished and it wasn’t uncommon for Tea would be brewed in the coffee houses tea leaves to be adulterated with all sorts of early in the morning and kept in barrels. Cups unpleasant (and even poisonous) substances. The of it would then be re-heated and served over addition of milk therefore became increasingly the course of the day. The coffee houses also popular as it would help to improve the taste of a sold loose leaf tea so that women, who did not poor-quality tea. 6 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Easter 2017 Villager advert_ppl.pdf 1 15/03/2017 16:02

the Coach Treats & Tunes over Easter weekend

C M Y Easter Sunday CM Lunch 12-4pm

CY Treats for the kids CMY K Live music 7-10.30pm Easter Monday Breakfast 9-11am Lunch/dinner 12-7pm

achhousepoo www.co n.co.uk 01767 260221

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 7 In 1785, following pressure from tea merchants cake would do the job nicely. Soon friends were who were suffering due to the high incidence joining her for ‘afternoon tea’ at her home in of tea smuggling, the government, led by Prime Woburn Abbey and, thanks to her frequent Minister William Pitt the Younger, slashed the trips to London, the custom grew to become high import tax on tea, making it much more a fashionable social event amongst the upper affordable to the masses. Thus, tea drinking grew classes, with the addition of pastries and scones in popularity amongst all classes, and it became making it quite a substantial meal. common for servants to be allocated a tea During the Victorian era, a wider selection of tea allowance. began to be imported from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Not everyone was happy about tea-drinking no and India. Tea rooms serving afternoon tea grew longer being confined to the middle and upper in popularity, especially among women, as they classes. Following a long debate about whether were one of the few places where a woman tea was bad for the health of the working classes, could go without a chaperone. By the early 20th causing ‘idleness’ and ‘melancholy’ amongst century, many establishments had expanded on other things, it was eventually championed the custom of having a musician playing in the by philanthropists as part of the temperance background and were holding tea dances in the movement, as alcohol was viewed as the far afternoons. greater evil and working class people were then Today, tea has become an integral part of our encouraged to become ‘teetotal’. daily routine and could be described as Britain’s The concept of afternoon tea is a peculiarly national drink. Although invented in America in English tradition that conjures up images of bone the early 20th century, the tea bag didn’t become china cake stands, cucumber sandwiches with popular in England until the 1970s, when it the crusts cut off, and warm scones with jam revolutionised our tea drinking habits and put and cream, but tea served with food was only fortune tellers who read tea leaves at the bottom introduced in the mid-19th century. of a cup into decline! It is said to have been first conceived in Still considered a rather genteel English custom, approximately 1840 by Anna Russell, the seventh sumptuous afternoon teas are served by many Duchess of Bedford, in order to bridge the gap top hotels, including London’s Claridges, the between lunch and dinner, which in those days Dorchester, the Ritz and the Savoy, as well was traditionally served quite late in the evening. as Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. With a The sandwich had been invented by John bewildering number of different tea blends on Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, around a offer along with a ‘tea sommelier’ to help you century earlier and the Duchess decided that choose, they are often booked up months ahead tea served with a tray of sandwiches and some - a testament to tea’s enduring popularity. 8 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 9 Consumer Advice

Phone companies are waging war on nuisance callers YOU’RE just about to sit down to your favourite soap It’s safe to say that all our time is precious, and we or are in the middle of cooking dinner / bathing the don’t want to be disturbed or harassed in our own kids, the phone rings - and it’s one of THOSE calls. homes by these calls. It is estimated that around 30 million nuisance calls Did you know that there is a way to curb these calls? are made each week. The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free Did you know that the average Brit receives four service which enables you to join the official register nuisance calls a week. More often than not, they are to opt out of unsolicited sales and marketing calls. direct sales calls or automated ‘offers’. Remember, it is a legal requirement for telemarketers It is little wonder then that according to research by NOT to call a TPS subscribed number after 28 days, BT, 60 per cent of people find receiving these kinds but you should start noticing a gradual decline once of nuisance and cold calls stressful. registered. To find out more visit www.tpsonline.org. BT is one of the companies fighting back, with a new uk or telephone 0345 070 0707 breakthrough service to help manage the situation, You can protect your privacy even further by not by developing a system called BT Call Protect to giving out your telephone contact details to a third help customers avoid nuisance calls on their landline party during online surveys, quizzes or competitions. - by diverting a whopping 30 million calls a week to And if you continue to be plagued by people telling junk voicemail. you that you have won a Other service providers are also putting customers dream holiday, offering first, with Sky and Virgin offering their own system to to help you after your deal with nuisance calls. Check with your provider to ‘car accident’ or claim see what they offer. to have a PPI reward for It may be worth mentioning that at Safe Local you – you can report Trades, none of our professional and recommended them online at https:// tradesmen operate a ‘cold calling’ approach. Our complaints.tpsonline. user friendly website www.safelocaltrades.co.uk org.uk/consumer/ offers customers looking for a particular trade the complaint opportunity to contact the professionals through an online enquiry form or by telephoning 0800 014 Eileen Le Voi 1832. Safe Local Trades 10 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts ® PET PORTRAITS safelocaltrades.com By local artist, Frances Brittain Recommended & Appro ed Not sure who to trust? Need a recommendation? ...see our recommended list, with local feedback

CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD The award-winning www.safelocaltrades.com is your trusted local website, Highly commended Safe Local Trades www.pawprintblog.wordpress.com providing you with a register Telephone me on 07534139082 of highly recommended tried and or e-mail tested tradesmen in your area. All members are interviewed, [email protected] criminal record checked, vetted and Prices from £115 approved, have agreed to abide by a Service Charter and are monitored on an on-going basis, giving you complete peace of mind. Watermill Bears Our aim is to protect YOU from cowboy and rogue traders. Official stockist of: CHARLIE BEARS in association with … STEIFF, KEEL & TY Collectable bears & soft toys

We stock the Charlie Bear Baby Boutique, Bearhouse, Plush & Mohair Ranges with around 80 different C/B plush on display at any one time Peterborough Neighbourhood for you to choose from. and Home Watch If you are a regular C/B collector you Looking out for the community would be encouraged to take advantage of our loyalty card discount scheme. Just go to … We are open 7 days a week www.safelocaltrades.com at or phone 0800 014 1832 16 The Wynd, Letchworth SG6 3EN Tel: 01462 675297 Mobile: 07845873474 The safest way to source a local tradesman

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 11 COMPETITION

Win a pair of tickets to see The Saw Doctors live at The Junction in Cambridge on Sunday 11th December 2017

Having taken a break from the road following their extensive 2012 tour, prominent Irish folk-rockers The Saw Doctors have announced their return to the UK with a full nationwide tour. Starting out playing in local pubs, The Saw Doctors were invited out on tour with Mike Scott of The Waterboys, spending 6 weeks touring the UK in 1989. After this, The Saw Doctors went from strength to strength when single ‘I Useta Lover’ spent nine weeks at number one and became Ireland’s best-selling single of all time. They followed up with the No 2 hit, N17, and a chart-topping album, If This Is Rock And Roll, I Want My Old Job Back. A steady run of chart entries continued with the recent Irish number ones for their cover of Sugababes’ ‘About You Now’. Over the years, The Saw Doctors have built up a reputation as an unmissable live band with countless sold out tours and an abundance of festival appearances, including Glastonbury and T in the Park. Famed for their unrelenting energy, a Saw Doctors live show is performed with as much passion and fervour as their small-town pub gigs 28 years ago.

Villager Magazine gives you the chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Saw Doctors live at the Junction in Cambridge on Sunday 11th December 2017. It promises to be a great night, and for the chance to win a place on the guest list (plus one), simply complete the following Saw Doctors song title: All the way from …… A. Dublin B. Galway C. Tuam D. Carrick-On-Shannon

To enter, simply answer the question and complete the form below. Send your entry to: Saw Doctors Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP The winner will be randomly selected from all correct entries. Deadline: 16th April 2017

THE SAW DOCTORS COMPETITION ENTRY To win tickets, answer the following question: Complete the Saw Doctors song title: All the way from.....  A. Dublin  B. Galway  C. Tuam  D. Carrick-On-Shannon  Name: Address:

Tel:

12 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts COMPETITION 

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 13 14 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Time of Year By Susan Brookes-Morris

Unusual Easter Traditions

How will you celebrate Easter? If you need ideas The Pace Eggs were sometimes rolled but the check out these unusual traditions;- practice of egg rolling has become a tradition all Pace Egg Plays were once a widespread way of on its own both in the UK and abroad. Usually hard celebrating across rural England. Performed on boiled eggs are decorated and rolled down a grassy Good Friday the drama involves a form of a combat hill with an ensuing competition to see whose egg between a villain named Old Tosspot and the hero can roll fastest and remain unharmed. St George. Historically the actors were working The exact symbolism of egg rolling isn’t clear, but as class men and women who toured the villages eggs have links to the Easter and Spring themes of performing in pubs and on the street as a way of rebirth, renewal and fertility this seems to provide earning extra money. some reasoning for it. In the plays someone is always killed, this may be St If you are looking for a different type of activity on George or a Turkish Knight known as Bold Slasher. Easter Monday, then you might like to consider the The poor fellow is however revived by a comic traditions of Whipping Monday linked to countries doctor, linking to the Easter themes of death and such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic. rebirth In Slovakia women are doused by men with water The use of the word Pace is linked to the Latin and whipped with braided willow branches. This word Pacha which translates to Easter. The egging is said to symbolise youth and strength and make part comes from the fact that performers were women healthy for the Spring. The men then get given eggs which were wrapped in onion skins a reward from the lady in question which is a dyed and carefully boiled. They’d receive other gifts too, egg, a ribbon tied around their whip and for adults including money as an incentive to perform by the an invite in for some food and vodka. Some men crowd. Some believe the phrase ‘to egg someone also receive coins. In the Czech version there is no on’ originates from when rival groups of performers water. Just the whipping and here the implement is found themselves in the same village and traded called the pomlazka and the tradition ends at noon. insults, had wooden sword fights or even try to steal I think I’ll stick with egg-rolling! each others Pace Eggs. Whatever you end up doing, have a Happy Easter! To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 15 16 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts QUALITY The simple way to KITCHEN FACELIFTS a new kitchen

Est. 1999

Before

why replace when you can reface? • Door swaps to full kitchens - tailored to your needs Call For a Free Estimate • Huge choice of doors, 01480 877 197 worktops, appliances, sinks pesouth@dreamdoors. & taps www.dreamdoors.co.uk • Made to measure custom- 3 The Causeway, Godmanchester, built doors and units PE29 2HA

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 17 Travel Lake Atitlan In the central highlands of Guatemala, ‘the most beautiful lake in the world’ shimmers at the foot of Guatemala mighty volcanoes, its crystal-clear waters constantly while below, the church beckons at the top of 18 changing from emerald and blue to turquoise or steps, each one symbolising a month in the Maya aquamarine. It’s the deepest lake in Central America, calendar. With its cobbled streets and red tiled roofs, created some 85,000 years ago by a massive volcanic ‘Chichi’ has a touch of magic and, twice a week, the eruption. market spills down the lanes in a head-spinning Today, new volcanoes mingle their reflections along kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and scents. Clad the south shore: San Pedro, seemingly extinct, in vibrant Maya dress, the locals wait for custom Toliman, a sleeping giant, and at 3,535 metres while the tourists shuffle around, bewildered by the Volcan Atitlan, the highest, which last erupted in stunning hand-woven textiles, the ritual masks, the 1853. At dawn, when the first fishermen cast their tiny crib figures, the roses, the lilies, the dried fish nets in the reeds and barely a ripple disturbs the from the lake and the fruit of the land. All around, water, it’s almost surreal, but by late morning the the slopes are laced with avocado orchards, small Pacific breeze whips up the waves to clear the air coffee plantations and generous patches of maize, and ‘carry away sin.’ the Maya’s staple diet and, they say, a life-giving gift It’s a blessing for the devout Maya who live in from the gods. colourful villages scattered along the shore, Meanwhile, at just over 1,560 metres, the lake worshipping both Christian and indigenous gods. glistens in the cusp of the hills. Boats set sail now Most fearsome is Maximon whose shrine is set up and then, gliding around an island, heading to a in a different house every year in Santiago Atitlan, village or ferrying a handful of visitors within arm’s just steps away from the church and the alleyways reach of the volcanoes. Most stay in the pretty brimming with embroidered clothes. At festival resort of Panajachel on the north-east bank, where time, the village bursts into a colourful frenzy, but red tuk-tuks rattle down a ‘high street’ lined with for much of the year the shore is quiet, dotted with outdoor eateries and stalls full of bags, hammocks hidden gems like San Pedro La Laguna and its hot and shawls in dazzling colours. There’s a small baths, or Santa Cruz set among verdant peaks and promenade draped in palms and bougainvillaea, ravines and challenging trails climbing into the thatched restaurants perched on stilts at the water’s hinterland. Here and there a mountain road comes edge, and a handful of boats bobbing at anchor down to the water but none circle the lake. along rickety pontoons. There’s no better place to In the Sierra Madre rising above Lake Atitlan, watch the sunset as the sky turns deep pink and the road leads to Chichicastenango, a bustling gold and the dark silhouettes of the volcanoes loom town where the Maya speak K’iche, one of 23 eerily above the water. In these mystical highlands, ethnic languages in Guatemala. Their traditional at the heart of Guatemala, legends come to life and shrine nestles among the pines up on the crest you can almost see the lost city lying deep down at the bottom of Atitlan. By Solange Hando

18 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Bespoke Blinds & Curtains Handmade by Josephine

High quality made to measure soft furnishings Complete service in your own home Advice available with colours & design if required Fabrics, curtain poles & fitting service available Roman blinds Lined & interlined curtains Cushions & bedspreads Free no obligation quotation given

Contact Josephine for more information or to book a measure & survey for quotation on: 01487 479179 or 07825 994397 Please view my web site to see my work & some of the projects I have completed www.bespokeblindsandcurtains.com email: [email protected]

Bespoke B&C quarter page.indd 1 14/03/2017 16:22

A FREEMAN Jewellers A Freeman Jewellers are having a CLOSING DOWN SALE after 97 years everything must go. Sale starts Tuesday 4th April 2017

42 High Street, St Neots, Cambs. PE19 1JG

To advertiseA Freeman Jewellersin The Villager half page.indd and Town 1 Life please call 01767 261122 14/03/2017 13:1719 Time of Year

The GrandWill you have Nationala flutter on April 8th? The Grand National is one of those institutions, like the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, or the final of Strictly Come Dancing, where even those who never set foot in a betting shop open their wallet and enter the office sweepstake. But did you know that in April 3rd 1993, the world- famous horse race was reduced to a shambles? A disastrous sequence of events began just before the race was due to start when protestors ran onto the track near the first fence. They were removed and the race officials asked and seven riders never realised anything was wrong. horses and riders to line up again. They completed the gruelling course and raced to Then there were two false starts caused by horses the finish line. becoming tangled with the starting tape. On the Esha Ness, a 50-1 outsider trained by Jenny Pitman second false start, although the red recall flag was and ridden by John White, crossed the line first but waved it didn’t unfurl, and 30 of the 39 riders raced the race was declared void, depriving the horse’s away. owner, Patrick Bancroft, of the £76000 prize money. Members of the crowd and officials all tried to However she went on to win again two years later, recall the jockeys but without success. 11 riders with Royal Athlete. completed the first circuit before they pulled up, By Sarah Davey

20 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 21 By Catherine Rose Photography by Darren Harbar Photography www.darrenharbar.co.uk

The Ironing Shop & Kleen-Eco Just one call takes care of it all! Quality garment/home furnishings care, provided by delivery service. It has become so successful that last two local companies. year the company won ‘Business of the Year’ for their A new collaboration between two local companies category in the ‘Best of St Neots’ awards following 5* aims to save you time and money on your laundry customer reviews. and garment cleaning/ironing with top quality results “We know our customers and we know the local area” – collected from and delivered to your doorstep. says Alex. “Unlike a lot of ironing companies, we’re not a one-man band which means we are able to The Ironing Shop specialise and provide a regular, guaranteed service. The Ironing Shop is a well-known family business We tend to find that once people use us the first time, in St Neots which has operated for over 35 years. they never want to leave. We have hugely satisfied Originally started by Wendy Stokes in 1982 to help customers that have been with us for 10 or more out her friends with their ironing, the service proved years.” so popular that her daughter Alison Brown took To expand on the services they offer, The Ironing over in 2002. Today Alison runs a sister company in Shop has teamed up with a local garment cleaning commercial and domestic cleaning and last year, The company. Ironing Shop was taken over by her son Alex Hughes and his fiancée Christine Griffey. Kleen-Eco With custom vans and a regular 48-hour turnaround, Kleen-Eco, a member of the Guild of Cleaners and The Ironing Shop saves you hours on this time- Launderers, is based in Biggleswade and St Neots. As consuming chore through its free collection and a combined service with The Ironing Shop, it is able to provide top quality cleaning, drying and ironing direct to your home or workplace. The Green Alternative to Dry Cleaning Pete Johnson, Director of Kleen-Eco explains: “We offer an alternative to dry cleaning – a ‘green’ process that uses safe biodegradable detergents developed by Miele. With professional Wet Cleaning you get a better finish, softer fabric and no harsh chemical smell. It cares for clothes and sensitive skin, is environmentally friendly and is far superior to solvent-based dry cleaning.” 22 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts This advanced technology has been popular in Europe for around 20 years. In some places in the US, conventional dry cleaning has now been banned due to the harmful omissions into the environment. Wet cleaning has only recently reached the UK and Kleen- Eco is an approved supplier. “You no longer have to expect mediocre results. Previously with only traditional dry cleaning methods available, you didn’t have a choice, now you do” says Pete. Kleen-Eco also offers a collect and drop service and therefore in collaboration with The Ironing Shop, the two companies can now collect and deliver fully- serviced laundry all around the Biggleswade and St “Many customers use the popular UGG cleaning Neots areas. service which can restore your boots like new, as well “You don’t need to give up your lunch break or drive as cleaning and re-waxing Barbour jackets. Both of into town with your garments for cleaning” says Pete, these are really popular services” states Pete. “because we can collect all your cleaning, as well as Wedding dresses are another speciality undertaken your ironing, for free.” by Kleen-Eco, all carried out on-site at their premises. “There are lots of people such as the elderly and Pete and his wife Lucy will attend wedding fairs, disabled who can’t easily get out”, adds Alex. “With telling brides about the specialist cleaning/boxing more launderettes closing down, we also offer service offered by Kleen-Eco. general day-to-day laundry, including all bedding.” All from your Doorstep A More Personal Touch As Alex points out: “You get so much delivered these “Many well-known dry-cleaning companies don’t days – takeaways, furniture, groceries – then why not clean on site” says Pete. “Your belongings are sent off your laundry? Especially when delivery is free! somewhere else and you lose that personal touch. “We offer a really professional and reliable quality With Kleen-Eco, you know exactly who has cleaned service for busy workers, mums and anyone else who your dress or suit. We have a consultation with the needs us. We also do a discount rate for the armed customer before cleaning and ensure they are happy services. In today’s stressful world, we’re here to take afterwards. It’s a much more personalised service all the hassle away from you.” round – something that can get lost in today’s world.” Example of Items Cleaned and Ironed by The Ironing The companies will also service commercial premises. Shop & Kleen-Eco: “We can do specialist high temperature cleaning such • All suits, dresses, coats etc. - woollen/silks and as items required in the pharmaceutical industry”, says delicate fabrics; Pete, “along with uniforms and high visibility clothing. • Leathers & suedes; In fact, we can clean anything that you would • Wedding dresses/ballgowns; normally dry clean as well as those items that are not • Uniforms; suitable for dry cleaning.” • Bedding including duvets, pillows & bedspreads; Specialist Items • Home furnishings including curtains, upholstery Anything means everything and Pete is your man covers, cushions. when it comes to caring for your investment pieces Kleen-Eco also provides a carpet and hard floor such as designer articles and expensive fabrics like cleaning service. suede and leather, including biker wear, bags, even shoes. The Ironing Shop & Kleen-Eco would like to encourage readers to take the Wet Care Challenge They are so confident in the superb results of the process that if you are not entirely satisfied that the results are better than in a traditional dry cleaners, they will give you a 50% refund.

The Ironing Shop, St Neots Tel: 01480 877161 Email: [email protected] www.ironingshop.co.uk

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 23 24 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Food and Drink Wine: If it sparkles... Sparkling wines add a certain ‘something’ to a dining occasion and, indeed, are extremely popular for celebrations, parties, functions and events, etc. I searched various supermarkets and located numerous, splendid, sparkling wines, including champagnes, which are chosen regularly. Waitrose supermarkets are the food retail division of the John Lewis partnership. There are many outlets, which now include some small convenience stores, too. The start was founded, during 1904, by Wallace Waite, Arthur Rose and David Taylor. Following David Taylor’s departure from the business the surnames of the remaining founders were combined to create the Waitrose name.

Waitrose Prosecco (NV) Italy is a very popular, easy drinking, smooth production. This classic Italian sparkling wine is fresh and fruity for the mouthfeel and palate sensation. Chosen a lot as a great apéritif, prosecco is also loved as a spritz with soda water and mixed with various liqueurs, etc. Waitrose Cava Brut, Castillo Perelada (NV) Spain is another regular selection, for many. I find this fruity cava to have excellent quality and elegance. It is produced in partnership with Castillo Perelada, a renowned and much-respected family-owned winery in Spain that has a history dating back to the 14th century. Waitrose Rosé Champagne (NV) has an elegance and complements many dining tables, on numerous occasions. For a fruity rosé fizz, I find this wine perfect. Produced by the House of Alexandre Bonnet, this splendid pinot noir production has a beautiful colour and is an ideal apéritif, as well as often being enjoyed with a meal. Fantastic to add colour and sparkle to al fresco dining. Waitrose Brut Special Réserve Vintage Champagne I find very much suited to the ‘top table’. This multi award winner is both full and rich, being greatly appreciated on the mouthfeel, followed by a superb and impressive palate. The long finish adds to the pleasures of this production. Waitrose, which possesses a royal warrant to supply groceries, is a retailer offering food and beverages of outstanding quality. These sparkling selections, with their fine and persistent perlages, are just some of the many available, that appeal to me. Take time and pleasure to locate your favourites. www.waitrose.com

As always, Enjoy! Trevor Langley To advertise please call 01767 261122 25 26 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Local News

Cambridgeshire welcomes back

BackWalk for its fifth year, with a Fork East of England’s foodie extravaganza ‘Walk with a Fork’ foodie extravaganza makes a return to Cambridgeshire on Sunday 7th May. Hosted at Abbots Ripton Hall, just outside Huntingdon, walkers will embark on an eight mile amble around the picturesque estate, whilst indulging on fresh and tasty treats from local food and drink producers at stops along the way. ‘Walk with a Fork’ is the flagship event for Ormiston Families, the East of England’s leading family charity. Lady De Ramsey, vice president of Ormiston Families, and Lord De Ramsey have opened their home and chosen one of their personal favourite Secret Garden Party for their assistance.” walks around their private estate. Proceeds from ‘Walk with a Fork’ will be used to There are some great suppliers lined up for this support Ormiston Families’ work providing services year’s event, including: Aspall, The Village Deli, to support children and young people across the Allotment café, The Abbot’s Elm, Johnsons of East Anglia, helping to improve their life chances. Oldhurst and many more. Identifying and responding to the needs of children, Gavin Lamb, relationship and events manager at whatever challenges they face, the charity’s vision Ormiston Families said: “We are delighted with the is of a world in which every child will be loved, success ‘Walk with a Fork’ has had over the years and nurtured and valued. are especially pleased to be bringing the event back Tickets are £23 per person and children under 5’s go to Cambridgeshire this year. free. Dogs are welcome. To book tickets please visit: “We always look forward to ‘Walk with a Fork’ and www.ormiston-families.eventbrite.com enjoying the great local food and drink from East ‘Walk with a Fork’ is also being held at Kimberley Anglia and the beautiful scenery of the countryside, Hall, Norfolk on Sunday 14th May and Helmingham all while raising vital funds which allow us to Hall, Suffolk on Sunday 3rd September. continue our work with children, young people and There are still places available for local food and families throughout the region. drinks producers to supply the ‘Walk with a Fork’ “We are grateful to Lord and Lady De Ramsey for events. having us at Abbots Ripton Hall and to our sponsor, If you would like to be involved please contact Aspall. We would also like to thank Heidi from Gavin on: [email protected] foodPark, Eat Cambridge and the team from the or 01473 705034. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 27 Finance

By Kate Duggan

Savings Accounts Explained

Whether you’re saving for a holiday or a rainy month, usually pay a little more. And ones day, there are lots of ways you can earn interest where you lock your money away for a set time on your money, from peer-to-peer lending to pay more again. The interest rate is still pretty fixed rate bonds. The most popular options low in most cases though, so you might want to include: consider other options first. Cash ISAs - Cash ISAs let you save up to £20,000 It’s not just about the AER a year tax free. Fixed-rates ISAs tend to earn AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate. It shows you more interest than easy-access ones, but you the percentage of interest you’d earn if you you will have to pay a penalty if you withdraw left your money in an account for a year. While money early. The new Lifetime ISA is for people the AER is certainly an important deciding under 40 who are saving for their pension, or for factor, it’s not the only thing you’ll want to a first house. You can save up to £4,000 a year consider. Other questions to ask yourself and the government will top it up by 25%. include: Bank accounts - Some bank accounts are • Whether you want to be able to get to your currently offering higher rates of interest than money straight away if you need it. savings accounts. At the time of writing this • How long you’re planning to save for. article, Nationwide was offering 5% interest • Whether you want a guaranteed return or are on balances up to £2,500, for the first year, for prepared to take a risk in the hopes of making people paying in at least £1,000 every month. more money. However, to use a bank account to save money • Whether you want to save regular amounts in, you might want to open a separate account. each month, or lump sums. That way your savings won’t disappear on • How you want your money to be invested. paying the bills. Keep an eye open for offers. • Whether the organisation aligns with your Lots of banks will offer you a bonus for opening values (e.g. will it invest your money in animal an account, but you might have to pay in a testing, or green energy projects)? minimum amount each month. • How good the customer service is. Savings accounts - Savings accounts aren’t www.moneysavingexpert.com is a good paying huge levels of interest at the moment, place to visit to find out the latest ‘best-buys’. but they are still worth a look. Regular savings It also gives information about customer accounts, where you put a fixed sum away each satisfaction rates. 28 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Make a Will, while making a difference for local patients Making or updating your Will can seem like a big challenge. However, it can be a lot more affordable and straightforward than you may think. Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s annual Make a Will Week takes place this year from 24th to 28th April. A group of local solicitors and Will-writers have kindly agreed to waive their usual fees and write or update a simple Will, in return for you making a donation to change patients’ lives at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals. To find out more simply call Katharine on 01223 217757, email hello@act4addenbrookes. org.uk or visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/makeawill A6 advert_Layout 1 22/02/2017 09:55 Page 2

Yoga is an extremely effective and beneficial form of exercise, helping our bodies become healthier, stronger and more supple. Body & Sole with Verity offers Yoga, BODY & SOLE Pregnancy Yoga and Postnatal Yoga classes during the daytime and evening. WITH VERITY yoga reflexology

Verity on 07710 608723 Body & Sole with Verity offers targeted [email protected] clinical reflexology treatments which www.bodyandsole.me focus on the following areas:- l Anxiety l Insomnia Clinical Reflexology Practitioner l Maternity care l Stress Qualified to Level 5 l Hand reflexology and much more Yoga Practitioner with over Monday - Thursday by appointment only 10 years experience

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 29 30 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Complementary Health Five Reasons Why Golfers Should Learn the Alexander Technique You may not have heard of the Alexander facilitate rotation and develop power. This is like Technique however, this innovative system of trying to drive your car with the brake on, that is, movement re-education could work wonders for it does nothing for efficiency and increases the your golfing game. Roy Palmer from the Centre wear and tear on the mechanics. The golfers I see of Complementary Health explains the top 5 five are amazed at just how much further they can hit reasons why a golfer should consider learning this the ball once they learn how to use less effort to technique. generate more power. 1. Reduce the risk of injury - there’s nothing quite 3. Get a better posture - The most obvious as frustrating as an injury that stops you playing benefit of learning the Alexander Technique is the game you love; with the exception of a an improvement in posture. This is really a side- recurring injury! Most golfing injuries are due to effect of better coordination and movement as overuse of certain muscles due to poor technique your muscles will release and stop pulling your and movement. Lessons in the Alexander body out of shape. After a while you’ll find you’re Technique show you how to move with much carrying far less strain in your body away from less effort dramatically reducing the stresses and the course as well as on it – you will feel lighter, strains you unknowingly place on your muscles taller and more confident and your new body and joints. shape will get comments from your friends and 2. Improve your technique - as you learn how to colleagues. eliminate inappropriate muscle actions with the 4. Learn how to focus and get into “The Zone” - I technique, your coordination and timing will believe the main benefit for sports people is improve. Many golfers fail to reach their potential the unique way the technique encourages you because of poor body control e.g. unknowingly to think and focus. This will help you develop a using excessive effort to swing with the effect of vital skill for your golf, the ability to get into the contracting muscles that should be letting go to moment. This, I believe, opens the gateway to “The Zone”, the subliminal state where everything seems to be both easy and a joy. Golfers who have experienced being in “The Zone” say that’s when they’ve played their best golf. 5. Simplify your golf - When something becomes too complicated it suddenly becomes much less enjoyable. Learning how to focus and apply yourself using the easy-to-follow techniques of Alexander will help you to bring it all into a single focused thought. Your golf will become more enjoyable as you free yourself of the frustrating parts and take your game to the next level. Roy Palmer is the author of ‘Golf Sense: Practical Tips on How to get into The Zone’ and a teacher of the Alexander Technique at the Centre. If you would like to talk to Roy or for further information see www. CentreForCompHealth.com or call 01480 455221.

Web: www.CentreForCompHealth.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 01480 455221

To advertise please call 01767 261122 31 House of Colour Tips for Looking Good in Spring! Transitional spring weather can be one of the most awkward times of the year to dress for, especially in this country! Perhaps it’s just a bit too warm to wear your winter coat, but a tad too chilly to slip your sandals on. Here are our tips on how to be stylish this spring: 1. Spring is all about colour as fresh, vibrant shades explode onto the high street. Experiment with colour in unexpected, striking combinations and contrasts. Try pairing different neutrals for a sophisticated look, or team neutrals with a 5. Darker bags can look too heavy for spring and colour for impact. summer time outfits so now is the time to 2. A patterned shirt or skirt in your style is perfect have a good look for a bag that complements for spring - try something sophisticated but your March to September wardrobe! Equally striking for dramatics, or a pattern that is funky investing in a stylish pair of colourful shoes in and neat for gamines! Patterns are a great way one of your wow colours makes you stand out to combine different colour combinations from the crowd of black and brown boots. together in one outfit. Try and find a pattern 6. Carry a stylish umbrella this spring. You might which incorporates your wow colours. have to google to find one that is really you. 3. Sunglasses - look around for a style that really Look for quirky or traditional styles in your suits you. Unless you are a winter palette avoid favourite colours to start conversations whilst black rims if you can. Warm coloured sun specs blocking torrential spring showers! for springs and autumns and cooler toned 7. Try a different make-up look using eye shadow shades are advisable for winters and summers. palettes and lipsticks in colours that really suit Make sure the style is flattering - these days the you will change up a winter outfit completely, shapes and styles on offer are endless. so if you think it’s still a bit cold to change your 4. Invest in a transitional trench coat which you wardrobe then this is how to start the transition! can wear year after year choose a great neutral 8. A spring jacket or cardigan in one of your colour from your seasonal palette so you can wow colours is a sure way to keep the cooler wear it with everything. Alternatively, boyfriend evenings at bay. Make sure though you don’t blazers, denim and bomber jackets for casual just buy the right colour but the right length, tailoring continue to be on-trend with new size, cut and shape. The current trend for added details such as ruffles, embroidery and oversized outerwear pieces and soft-volume embellishments. tailored separates styled with crisp shirts and blouses and tactile knits make for a versatile By Jennie Billings look. 9. Swap your jeans for a skirt when it is finally warm enough to get some sun to those legs! Different skirt lengths suit different bodies and personalities so wearing the right length can make or break an outfit. Are you a mini, midi or a maxi?! 10. Volume sleeves, ruffle trims and tie-knot details, structured silhouettes and asymmetric hemlines are all on-trend but stay true to what makes you feel comfortable and fabulous – we don’t all suit ruffles! 32 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING Judy obtained her Licentiate in Acupuncture, and B.A (Hons) degree in Traditional Acupuncture, from the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Warwickshire. Judy is a passionate believer in the positive benefits, on both physical and emotional levels, that may be obtained from receiving acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture originated in China and other far eastern cultures where it still features in mainstream healthcare, both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with conventional western medicine. Judy has been trained as a classical Five Element Acupuncturist; treatment is aimed at the root cause of your condition as well as your main symptoms. This approach helps with resolving your problem and enhancing your feelings of wellbeing. You may notice other niggling problems resolve as your main health complaint improves. Judy continues to pursue her belief in excellence of care for her patients in her role as a dedicated acupuncture practitioner, and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. Please contact Judy for a free 20 minute consultation to discuss how acupuncture treatment can help you.

your secret haven of relaxation…

...let your senses wander and your mind unwind... Call us on 01223 263469 Burwash Manor, New Road, Barton, Cambridge, CB23 7EY e. [email protected] • www.burwashdragonfly.com

To advertiseDragonfly Beauty in The Spa Villager Advert AUGUST14 and Town 131x94mm.indd Life please call 1 01767 261122 07/02/2017 15:5433 Leeds Day Solicitors Are you a parent with children below the age of 18? Why parents need to appoint guardians for their children

We all hope that we will be able to take care only the mother will automatically have parental of our children throughout their childhoods responsibility but a father can acquire parental but what if the worst happens? Although most responsibility. For example, for births after people appreciate that it is important to make December 2003, a father named on the birth a Will in order to deal with financial matters, for certificate will also have parental responsibility. the parents of young children it is perhaps even Parental responsibility can also be acquired more important to make a Will as this provides an in other ways such as by entering into a legal opportunity to appoint guardians for them. agreement or by Order of a Court. In the event of the death of the parents of a child, Where a parent has parental responsibility, it will usually be family members who will step appointing a guardian is quite straightforward in to take responsibility. But what if for some in that a clause can be included in your Will. You reason those family members are unsuitable or can also consider the appointment of substitute unwilling to help. Grandparents may feel unable guardians in the event that your first choice of to assume responsibility full time and other close guardians is unable to act. relatives may live many miles away. This may In any event, it is of course important to make a mean children being uprooted and moving to properly drawn up Will to ensure that whatever another part of the country at an already very money or assets you leave are available to distressing time. Family members may also have provide for your children as they grow up. responsibilities of their own which would make it Normally money and assets will be held for the difficult for them to step into the role of guardian. benefit of your children by the executors and The choice as to who should take responsibility trustees of your Will. for your children, like any other important Your children are very precious and with a decision regarding their welfare, should be made little careful planning you can make sure that by you as their parent. if the worst happens you have made suitable So, who can appoint a guardian? If you have arrangements for their care. “parental responsibility” for a child, you can If you have not made a Will before and wish appoint a guardian for them to act in the to do so or if you wish to update your existing event of your death. Where a child is born to Will please contact us at Leeds Day on 0844 married parents, both parents will have parental 567 2222 or by email at [email protected] responsibility. Where parents are unmarried, or visit our website www.leedsday.co.uk

Our offices: Huntingdon St. Ives St. Neots Godwin House, 11 Station Road, 1A South Street, George Street, Huntingdon, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3BD PE27 5BH PE19 2BW T: 01480 454301 T: 01480 464600 T: 01480 474661 34 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Support Workers £8.85 per hour

The Marbrook Centre is a purpose built neurological rehabilitation centre for people who have experienced life changing incidents or are living with long term conditions such as dementia We pride ourselves on being different to other care homes. We value natural ability as well as related work experience. We need people who care, demonstrate empathy and passion, with good communication skills and have the talent to really make a difference to our resident’s lives.

START YOUR CAREER TODAY Visit www.marbrook.co.uk/recruitment or call 01480 273 273 The Marbrook Centre | Phoenix Park, Eaton Socon, St Neots PE19 8EP @TheMarbrookCentre | @MarbrookRehab

Burglar Alarms | CCTV | Gate & Garage Door Automation | Entry Phone & Access Control Systems

YOUR LOCAL HOME AND BUSINESS SECURITY SYSTEM INSTALLER Specialising in smartphone app connectivity. Security notiﬁ cation, control and monitoring remotely from your smartphone.

m: 07803 346460 | t: 01480 384574 | e: [email protected] www.protecsmartsecurity.co.uk

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 35 CARE WORKER JOBS AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA A rewarding career with Westminster Homecare Westminster Homecare provides many levels of care and support for adults, elderly and disabled people, usually in their own homes. Do you want: • To make a diff erence? • To work fl exible hours? • To work for an employer who values you? • To have good career prospects? • To have a good rate of pay? Then call Westminster Homecare on: Cambridgeshire Branch 01954 263076

www.whc.uk.com We are an equal opportunities employer.

36 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Technology Don’t be an April Fool

Keep your stuff safe with PC long it takes to get through. scan links in your emails to let protection. These companies don’t have you know whether that email Connecting an unprotected the resources to make proactive from the bank or Apple is fake PC to the internet is rather support calls, let alone monitor (the answer, 99 times out of a like stripping naked, covering your computer for any problems. hundred, is yes). yourself in honey and throwing Apps can help. A powerful but These apps matter because yourself into a nest of angry simple password manager such in addition to fake emails and wasps: the question isn’t whether as the excellent 1Password malicious software, there’s a you’re going to get stung, it’s solves a big problem with the new villain in town: ransomware. how bad the results are going internet - you need different, Ransomware is a program that to be. The internet is full of strong passwords that can’t be sneaks onto your computer and unpleasantness, and some of it is guessed for each individual site locks you out of it completely, trying to make you an April fool. or service, but you also need meaning you can’t access your Trying to con people on the to remember them. 1Password email, your photo library or internet is very cheap and creates and remembers them for anything else of value on your safe: the likelihood of getting you, automatically filling them in PC. The only way to unlock it caught is incredibly small, and when you need them. This means appears to be to call the supplied the cost of contacting even that if, say, your favourite photo telephone number and pay the millions of people is incredibly site is hacked, your login details ransom, which is usually a few small too. So entire call centres can’t be used to get into your hundred pounds. That’s a really make fake technical support Amazon account, eBay account or bad idea, because the details you calls to unsuspecting people, PayPal account. use to pay the ransom are then trying to convince them that Macs don’t generally suffer used again and again until you their PC is broken and they from malicious software, but have no money left. need to download software to Windows PCs do: there are more Security software such as the fix it. That software then nabs Windows users in the world, so apps mentioned above can their personal information, or they’re a more tempting target. protect you from ransomware their online banking details, That means security software is in two ways. They can prevent it and that information is used essential. BitDefender Anti-Virus from getting onto your PC in the to compromise their various Free Edition, AVAST anti-virus and first place, and remove it if your accounts and steal their money. AVG Free anti-virus can protect PC is already infected. When you It’s important to stress this: if your PC from malicious files and consider the cost of the software you’ve ever tried to call the apps, and they’re constantly is zero and the likelihood of an support lines of Microsoft, updated with details of the latest unsecured PC getting something Apple, Amazon, BT or any other threats. In the case of apps such nasty is 100%, security software big firm, you’ll appreciate how as BitDefender, they can also is a must-have for anybody with a PC. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 37 Time of Year by Susan Brookes-Morris Shakespeare Day Shakespeare Day will be celebrated on 23rd April. The date is linked to the date he died; as no one knows when Shakespeare was born because there is no record. It is known however that he was baptized on 26 April 1564 and died on 23 April 1616. Those celebrating may choose to attend the festivities held in Stratford Upon Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace. This is where Shakespeare, who was one of eight children, spent much of his early life and where he married Anne Hathaway who bore him three children. He is also thought to have retired to Stratford in 1613. The bells of Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare attended as a child will be rung and the Mayor will lead a procession which includes bands, other civic leaders, school children and actors. This will culminate with the Mayor putting flowers on Shakespeare’s grave. There will be activities for the whole weekend 22-23 April in celebration. The Globe theatre in London is associated with the time Shakespeare spent in the Capital as a playwright, actor and poet and houses an exhibition in honour of him. In Warwickshire’s Stratford, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre brings to life his work which includes 38 dramas and 154 sonnets. Here you can also visit buildings, houses and museums associated with the ‘Bard.’ It’s a great destination for Spring break.

38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts First class legal services

Hunt & Coombs Solicitors have opened their new office in St Neots specialising in Wills, trusts and probate, residential conveyancing and family matters. With us you will receive a friendly and approachable service coupled with expertise and experience ensuring high quality outcomes for your legal needs.

HUNTINGDON OUNDLE PETERBOROUGH ST NEOTS 01480 702207 01480 411224 01832 273506 01733 882800

The way legal services should be www.hcsolicitors.co.uk

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 39 Hobbies By Jamie McLaven

I began to learn the ukulele properly about can a year sound do a bit ropey atit the start of yourtoo! musical journey, ago. I acquired a cheap instrument for Christmas one though the ukulele much less so than a recorder I Ukeyear, learned a few chords from You Tube, strummed have to say! To play any instrument well takes time a few songs, lost interest and carried on with my life and practice, but the pay-off is worth the effort. consigning my ‘toy’ to a shelf. Many schools are teaching ukulele now, which is Then one day while surfing the web I came across both wonderful, and alarming. In my experience a video of a guy named Jake Shimabukuro. Google schools tend to be very bad at imparting a life long him playing Bohemian Rhapsody and prepare to love of anything. I’m sure if I’d been forced to play be amazed. I was completely taken aback by his ukulele at school that I might not have picked it up musicianship. My ‘toy’ was not a toy after all…it was as an adult. After all, if schools inculcated a life long a proper musical instrument, capable of making an love of a musical instrument, surely everyone in the awesome sound. I took it off the shelf and looked at UK would play the recorder! it with new respect. Suddenly I wanted to learn to People assume I am learning the ukulele as a play like Jake! stepping stone to learning the guitar. This is not I began a search for a ukulele teacher and found the case. No-one thinks a violin is not a training a classical guitar teacher who also taught ukulele. instrument for the cello! It might look like a small I was hooked from my first lesson. At first people guitar but it is a separate instrument with its own would laugh when they visited us and saw my characteristics, sound, and ukulele. They made references to George Formby musical repertoire. and Tiny Tim. So I would play them a little bit of What sounds Spanish Flamenco (known as Flamencolele when great on a violin played on a uke) or an Etude, and their mockery may not work turned to surprise and delight. on a cello, and My children learn violin and piano and were studying the same goes for their grade five exams. I wondered if I could do for ukulele something similar on the ukulele. I took my Grade and guitar. A three exam at the beginning of this year and passed ukulele is not with a distinction. I’ve moved on from my first a guitar with cheap ukulele and bought a beautiful training wheels! Tanglewood concert uke on the advice Though if playing one of my teacher. I’m still a long way inspires you to learn off playing like Jake Shimabukoro the other I say go but I’m improving every week for it! and having so much fun on the journey. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way: It’s easy to play the ukulele…badly! The ukulele is certainly a simple instrument to pick up and get going on but like the recorder it suffers from being bought as a cheap toy for children. Also, all instruments will

40 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 41 42 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 43 ADVERTORIAL Disability – when do employers and service providers have to make reasonable adjustments? Earlier in the year the case if this did not work to stop the of First Group Plc v Paulley bus with a view to pressuring the hit the headlines when the non-wheelchair user to vacate Supreme Court ruled that a bus the space. The Supreme Court felt operating company had not that it was reasonable in this case made reasonable adjustments to to apply moral pressure to try to prevent wheelchair users from enforce the policy. being disadvantaged. As the bus operator’s policy The case centred on the actions and the action of its bus driver a bus driver should have taken had not gone this far it was to enforce the policy of non- held to have failed to make the disabled bus users being asked reasonable adjustments to avoid to give up disabled spaces. The the disadvantage to the disabled adjustments which might be bus company in this case had passenger. However, Mr Paulley reasonable. These include signage confirming the policy was not awarded any damages as widening doorways, providing and the bus driver had asked the Supreme Court held this was ramps and moving furniture the non-disabled passenger (a not justified in this case. for wheelchair users, altering mother with a sleeping child in Service providers therefore working hours, relocating the a pushchair) to move from the need to be aware of their worker to a different workplace, disabled space however when obligations to make reasonable allowing absence for treatment or she refused no further steps were adjustments to avoid substantial rehabilitation, acquiring modified taken and Mr Paulley was unable disadvantage to disabled users equipment, a transfer to another to board the bus. and to review their policies to vacancy and modifying tests, The Supreme Court decided ensure compliance with any assessment and procedures. that the bus driver should have obligation to make adjustments. Whether an adjustment is gone further by rephrasing his Equally important will be to make reasonable will depend on request for the non-disabled their employees aware of and to whether it would overcome the passenger as a requirement and provide proper training on the substantial disadvantage, the policies. extent to which it is practical to Employers equally have take the steps, the financial and obligations to their own staff to other costs including the size ensure that disabled workers and resources of the employer are not placed at a substantial and the availability of external disadvantage by any provision, funding. criterion or practice, any physical The duty for employers to feature of the employer’s make reasonable adjustments premises or a failure to provide is primarily concerned with an auxiliary aid. If such a ensuring disabled workers can disadvantage arises then the return or remain in work and play employer is required to make a full role in the world of work. reasonable adjustments to avoid If you have any questions the disadvantage. regarding reasonable What is reasonable will depend adjustments please do not on the circumstances of the case hesitate to contact Louise Piper. but the Equality and Human Please contact Louise Piper Rights Commission Statutory on 01480 456191 or Code identifies a number of e-mail [email protected]

44 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Life Begins... Don’t leave your care to the kids A debate about how we will fund social care - are getting longer, too. It’s likely that you will start to now and in the future - is currently raging, with need care just as your children are working through politicians blaming each other for the looming crisis. their final years before retirement. Even after These days the media is full of stories about retirement it’s entirely possible that – exhausted vulnerable older people let down by fifteen-minute by years of work and parental responsibility – your home care visits. Added to this, the Guardian children may be reluctant to swap full-time work for recently reported that the country has lost almost the job of full-time carer. 1,500 residential care homes in the past six years. Thinking ahead - If you are intending to downsize, All this may leave you wondering what quality of then consider moving to a property that can be care we can expect in the coming years. If you have modified as your needs change, with a toilet - and children, it may be tempting to ignore the negative ideally a shower room - on the ground floor, and a headlines, in the hope that your offspring will look reception room that can be adapted into a bedroom after you when the time comes. But given the way if you become unable to climb the stairs. If the lifestyles are changing and new working patterns property is close to shops and good transport links, are emerging, this could be a risky strategy: you so much the better. would be wise to put an alternative plan in place. As you grow older, you should continue to discuss Blame the economy - Nowadays, economic your situation with your children. It may be that you pressures are forcing families to live further apart. all agree to move into a property with a ‘granny flat’, Research carried out by the WRVS found that a or compromise by moving separately to an area reduction in job security, coupled with changes in where there is a good residential care home nearby, the labour market, has driven many families to live so you can still maintain close contact with your elsewhere. 82 per cent of adults who moved away loved ones if your health deteriorates. from their parents did so for work reasons, with the Finally, keep an eye on options for funding your result that 10 per cent of older people now live more long-term care. There are some excellent sources of than an hour’s drive away from their nearest child. advice available, including the Money Advice Service We’re all living longer - Thanks to improvements (www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk). in health care, older people are now living longer. None of us can predict what will happen in the Parents are also waiting longer before having their future. In the best-case scenario you could remain fit first child – statistics gathered last year showed that and healthy throughout your old age, but if that isn’t first-time mums in their thirties and forties now the case, considering your options now may make outnumber those giving birth at age 20 and under. life a little easier for yourself, and your family, as you With the state pension age due to rise again from grow older. 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, our working lives

By Kate McLelland

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 45 Employment Employment Matters Immigration Act 2016 Big Brother is watching; don’t fall foul by employing an illegal worker.

Whether you employ one or 100 people, you want Interviewers must: to be known as an employer of choice, enjoying 1. See all the applicant’s original documents. a professional reputation and are a company that 2. Check the documents are valid, genuine, original people want to come and work for. and unchanged and belong to the person who There is a duty upon every employer that they must has produced them, in the applicant’s presence: check that every job applicant is allowed to work in I. the dates for the applicant’s right to work in the UK before employing them. the UK haven’t expired The Immigration Act 2016 (‘the Act’) contains II. photos are the same across all documents and new powers to deal with those who do not have look like the applicant permission to be in the UK and makes it even harder III. dates of birth are the same across all for illegal workers to work, rent property and /or documents receive financial support in the UK. IV. the applicant has permission to do the type/ There are further sanctions against employers, illegal number of hours of work being offered workers and those individuals who are responsible V. for students to see evidence of their study and for the recruitment of illegal workers, as follows: vacation time 1. The previous threshold that the Home Office VI. if 2 documents give different names, ensure had to show to bring a criminal prosecution the applicant has supporting documents against an individual who was responsible for showing why they’re different, eg a marriage the recruitment of an illegal worker was that they or a divorce “knowingly” employed an illegal worker. Interviewers must check for authenticity, make and The Act amends the threshold to whether or not keep copies of the documents, record the date of the individual “knows” or “has reasonable cause the check, and place with application pack. to believe” that a worker is illegal. This change The Home Office is also naming and shaming means that the culpability threshold has been employers and a bar was visited on 21st February reduced, with the aim of increasing prosecutions and found to be illegally employing an Indian and these are most likely to be against individuals woman who had overstayed her visa. A warning responsible for recruitment. The maximum notice was issued and a fine of up to £20,000 will be criminal penalty has also increased to 5 years imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that from 2, plus an unlimited fine. appropriate right to work checks were carried out 2. Certain employers can claim an employment on staff. allowance for Class 1 NI Contributions equating Carol H Scott up to £2,000 a year off their NICs bill. This HR and Business Consulting Ltd allowance will be revoked where an employer is found to have employed an illegal worker. 3. An illegal worker, who is convicted for working illegally, could be personally liable for a fine and/or imprisonment. Any earnings received by the illegal worker from their employer can be recovered and the employer will have to co- operate with the Home Office. Every applicant without exception attending an interview should be advised in advance that they must bring to the first interview proof in the form of original documents of their eligibility to work in the UK at that time.

46 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Are you in the process of buying a new build property? Make sure your dream home doesn’t turn into a nightmare!

NHBC recommend that your home is inspected Inspecting your home before moving in day carefully before you move in to highlight any defects will make it easier for the builder to put right and deficiencies, paying particular attention to: any faults or poor quality finishes found. Later on, it might be impossible to prove • SANITARY WARE • KITCHEN FITTINGS who caused them. (BATHS, BASINS, WC’S) & APPLIANCES Don’t waste time and energy seeking • GLASS (WINDOWS, • WALL TILING rectification via NHBC’s complaints MIRRORS, SHOWER • CARPETS, FLOOR procedure when you should be enjoying SCREENS) TILING AND LAMINATED your new home. Avoid disappointment and • FIRE SURROUNDS FLOORING book an independent survey with Steve.

For peace of mind, CALL STEVE ON 07977 921497 to carry out an impartial snag inspection and home buyers survey before signing any forms provided by your builder. He has over 20 years’ experience in the industry We would not hesitate to use Steve again and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a reliable and trustworthy surveyor

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 47 48 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 49 RHS GOLD MEDAL WINNER Helping any outdoor space reach its full potential For a free consultation contact tel: 07540 567 707 [email protected] www.robertbarkerdesign.com

50 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Garden Flower

By Pippa GreenwoodPower www.pippagreenwood.com

You can inexpensively and easily grow a huge range holes using a dibber (or a pencil if you don’t have of flowers from seed at home. Just about every one). RootTrainers are ideal for larger seeds such as perennial flower is available to grow from seed, sunflowers. Don’t sow too densely or the seedlings and once they have reached flowering size they’ll will need more thinning out and will be more likely just keep on performing! There are lots to choose to become drawn, leggy and weak. Once in place, from, including lupins, silene, Echinaceae, geranium, just cover the seed with compost. perennial poppies, delphiniums, gaillardia, If you are sowing larger seed into cells, just pop hollyhocks, rudbeckia and salvia. Pay a visit to your the seeds in to the prepared holes and cover to the local garden centre or use a seed catalogue and start required depth. planning; you could save a fortune, and all from a Next, use a watering can with the rose attached and packet or two of seed. water thoroughly. If the seed sown was quite small, To start, you need containers to sow the seed into it is best to stand the tray in a shallow tray or bowl of – I like to use half-sized seed trays, RootTrainers or water, so the compost absorbs water from below – smaller individual cells – and some good quality this way the seeds are less likely to be displaced. compost and your chosen seeds. It helps if you Finally, label your seed trays clearly, ideally with have something to tamp down the compost too, a permanent marker. Many perennials need heat plus labels, a permanent marker, a dibber and some for the seed to germinate reliably. Put the trays, vermiculite (for covering seeds that need some light pots or cells into a propagator, standing each on to germinate well). moist capillary matting. Once the seedlings appear, Sieve compost through a compost sieve to remove gradually lower the temperature and then prick the larger lumps, leaving fine compost perfect for each one out into its own pot. Keep them fed and seed sowing. If you sieve it straight into the pots, watered as they grow and in just a few weeks or cells or trays, make sure you collect up any that falls months you will have some great plants ready for on the surface below. the garden. Once the compost is in the tray or pot, firm it down Visit Pippa’s website so that there are no large gaps beneath the surface, www.pippagreenwood.com and level it off to make it easier to sow the seeds to buy gorgeous UK grown vegetable plants evenly and at the same depth. You can make your accompanied by weekly advice emails from Pippa, own tamper using a piece of wood with a small or to peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s block of wood nailed to it to make a ‘handle’. favourite gardening items including SpeedHoes, It is easier to look after seedlings if the seed has SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and other been sown in straight rows; make the rows using nematode controls for leather jackets, vine weevils a plastic plant label. Check the packets for the and other pests, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books correct depths for the seeds, and if you are sowing and lots more besides. seeds in small cells then it is easier to make the To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 51 Arrington Garden Centre undergoes major refurbishment Commencing in early November, the owners of Arrington Garden Centre are now delighted to announce that the work has been completed to expand the greenhouses and add a café. The café serves homecooked meals, delicious salads & sandwiches, hot and cold drinks and mouth-watering cakes. In an area, which can seat about 100 visitors, a relaxed environment offers both standard seating and comfortable sofa areas. Anna and her team are looking forward to welcoming you for a relaxing meal, snack or drink. In the Garden Centre, the greenhouse has doubled in size allowing for more stock and additional our range of homegrown plants. The expansion product ranges. allows us to service the local community and With an extensive range of trees, shrubs, outlying areas with all that is needed in the garden herbaceous plants, bedding plants plus bulbs, with the added benefit of a high-quality café for seeds and vegetable plants – there is plenty to refreshments. We are looking forward to receiving satisfy every type of gardener. With pots, hanging existing and new customers and providing baskets and a range of garden accessories and excellent products and service” tools, everything is under one roof! The Manager of Arrington Garden Centre, Nick, A spokesperson for and his team are ready with a friendly face and Arrington Garden advice to help you with all your gardening needs. Centre said “We are Arrington Garden Centre is located on the A1198 extremely pleased north of Royston and just south of Arrington. and excited to extend the facilities here. The Ermine Way, Arrington, Royston SG8 0AG additional space in the Telephone: 01223 208194 glasshouses will allow to www.facebook.com/ArringtonNurseries us significantly increase Open 7 days a week

52 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 53 Local News Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and grey herons repairing last A great place to visit year’s nests, and on the water The Reserve is owned by HDC with the financial mallard, teal and gadwall are and practical support of The Friends of Paxton displaying – a sure sign that Pits Nature Reserve, a registered charity totally Spring is on the way! dedicated to supporting the Reserve of some 200 Kingfishers have been acres comprising flooded pits, meadows, scrub and demonstrating the need to woodland. establish breeding areas, and For a small reserve we boast an outstanding have been seen each day selection of wildlife, from birds and mammals recently. Both fox and Muntjac to rare flowers, insects and butterflies. Our deer are regularly seen, but breeding birds – some 60 species – include herons, the otter is always much more elusive. It is always cormorants and the iconic kingfisher, the logo bird an encouraging sign when the first coltsfoot flower of The Friends. is seen – sometimes in mid-February, then we know April will see the arrival of the almost legendary that the longer days are just around the corner! bird, the nightingale, direct from its wintering The reserve is located at Little Paxton.. Car parking grounds in West Africa. These birds can be found and admission to the Reserve are free. Our Visitor from all-weather footpaths around the Reserve and Centre is open most days where you can warm from the wildlife watching hides in no less than up with great tea and coffee, catch up with all the three locations, enabling you to view without being latest news from the Reserve but, most of all, you seen. With late Winter turning into early Spring, it’s will receive a warm welcome from our friendly all action on the Reserve with cormorants, rooks volunteers and HDC.

We’re Bartlett Tree Experts, a 100+ year old tree and shrub care company with global reach and local roots. We provide expert, attentive service, a safety-ﬁ rst record and a range of services that includes: FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR TREES. • Tree & Shrub Pruning • Fertilisation & Soil Care • Cabling & Bracing • Insect & Disease Management

Please Call 01234 354673 or visit BARTLETT.COM

54 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts SURECLEAN Paxton Pits Nature Reserve TUR DRIVEWAY AND PATIO SB F CLEANING SPECIALISTS ROOF MOSS REMOVAL • Turf supplied and laid AND GUTTER CLEANING • All overgrown gardens rotivated We use a revolutionary industrial pressure rotary cleaning system to restore • Cleared, levelled and laid exterior hard surfaces to as new condition. with cultivated lawn turf Block Paving, Pathways, Patios • Grass seeding Garden Wall and Stone Ornaments Ponds and Pools • Block paving and patio service Also Re-sanding and Sealing All work carried out by experienced staff Local Company Recommendations and portfolios available 01480 468965/07870 338074 www.surecleancarpetcleaning.co.uk Free Estimates Tel: 01487 822993 Mob: 07966 523239

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 55 All Seasons Garden & Property Maintenance

Some Services We Provide Grass/Hedge-cutting, Turfing, Patios, Fencing Ground Preparation, Sheds/Conservatory Bases Repair Work - Internal/External Painting - Internal/External Clearances, Cleaning/pressure cleaning No job too small Certified Waste Carriers Fully Insured. Free estimates

Please call Nick Mob: 07896668976 / Home: 01480 383605 Email: [email protected] Find us on Facebook Located:St Neots GILKS FENCING LTD All Types of Fencing, Gates & Railings, SUPPLIED & INSTALLED

Call for a FREE Survey & Quotation Visit our Display Area at: Gilks Fencing Drove Road, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds SG19 2HX Tel: 01767 650 615 Email: [email protected] www.gilksfencing.co.uk 56 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Garden View By Rachael Leverton

Fuchsia Perfect I love hardy fuchsias. They are some of the most Once they are mature you can more or less leave rewarding plants to grow. They are easy to them to it. Simply sprinkle a handful or two of propagate, flower well and are not the least bit fertiliser around them in the spring and again in temperamental. the summer. They are named after a 16th Century German There are lots of lovely varieties. “Mrs. Popple” is herbalist and physician called Leonard Fuchs. Lots tall with red and purple flowers. “Mrs. W. P. Wood” of gardeners struggle to spell fuchsia but if you is paler with pearly flowers. I have a soft spot for think of his name and stick and ‘ia’ on the end you “Whiteknight’s Pearl” which is beautiful pale pink. have it! If you have a smaller plot try “Tom Thumb” or “Alice In mild areas or at the seaside they can grow into Hoffman”. huge shrubs. Elsewhere hard frosts see off most of It’s a little known fact that the berries and inner the top growth in winter, then new shoots burst petals of fuchsias are edible (though it’s worth up from the soil in the spring, maturing into small noting that ‘edible’ doesn’t mean they necessarily shrubs about 2-3 feet / 60-100cm tall. taste good!). However there is now a variety At this time of year rooted cuttings are cheap. bred especially for eating. It’s called “Berry” and Grow them on for a few weeks under cover, produces fruit with a flavour something like a changing the pot to a slightly larger one as they sweet fig. The fuchsia berries are rich in vitamin grow, then plant them out in May. Choose a sunny C and antioxidants. They don’t have a long shelf spot in well-drained soil. life so pick them when they are soft and squishy Make sure you pinch out the shoot tips frequently. and eat them fresh, or freeze small quantities as It delays the flowers a little but they will become you collect them, until you have enough to make bushy little plants which produce more flowers in fuchsia jam or add to muffins, much as you might the long-run. add blueberries. Happy Gardening. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 57 Local News Rehoming Appeal Dolly This is Dolly, a lovely friendly Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She is about a year old. Dolly is just great with people and most other dogs. Everyone at the rescue has fallen for Dolly as she is such a nice girl. If you can offer Dolly a new home, please telephone Julie on 01763 289827. Alternatively please email Philippa at info.rats@ gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team.

View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity Home checks are carried out on potential homes.

Fun Quiz - Awards and Prizes

1. Originally receiving the most votes, which dog was removed as a candidate for the first ever Best Actor Oscar after the Academy wanted to have a human actor win the award so they would appear more serious? 2. Which London art museum hosts the annual Turner Prize exhibition? 3. The Man of Steel award is given annually to the player voted best in which sport? 4. Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize? 5. Which annual award has a name containing three nouns that, according to an analysis of the Oxford English Corpus of over one billion words, are the first, second and third most commonly used nouns in the English language? 6. On which game show were a chequebook and pen awarded as a booby prize? 7. Winning in 1966, who was the first footballer to win the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award? 8. After winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016, Bob Dylan became only the second person to have won both an Oscar and a Nobel Prize. Born in Dublin in 1856, who was the first? 9. What is the maximum individual prize in a monthly premium bonds draw? 10. Sometimes referred to as the animals’ Victoria Cross, the Dickin Medal was established in 1943 and was awarded 54 times to honour actions during World War Two. What type of animals were honoured more than any other,

with 32 awards in total?

9. One million pounds 10. Pigeons 10. pounds million One 9.

8. George Bernard Shaw (winning the Nobel Prize for Literature and an Oscar for Adapted Screenplay for Pygmalion) for Screenplay Adapted for Oscar an and Literature for Prize Nobel the (winning Shaw Bernard George 8. 1. Rin Tin Tin 2. Tate Britain 3. Rugby League 4. Marie Curie 5. Time Person of the Year 6. Blankety Blank 7. Eusebio 7. Blank Blankety 6. Year the of Person Time 5. Curie Marie 4. League Rugby 3. Britain Tate 2. Tin Tin Rin 1.

58 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

Personal customer service, collection and delivery available. Assessment of individual requirements. Full after sales backup and parts service. NEW Oregon, the world's only unique battery operated, self-sharpening chain saw.s In stock. Ride-on and pedestrian mowers, chainsaws, strimmers, hedge trimmers, cultivators, estate and equestrian equipment. Trailers - sales, hire, service. Accessories, oils, Aspen fuel, batteries, spares, security locks for garden/ horticulturalhorticultu machinery and trailers. Main dealer for Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler, Kawasaki & Mountfield Appointed dealers for: engines.

Honeydon Road, Colmworth, Bedfordshire MK44 2LY 01234 376513 www.bri-ag.co.uk Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 59 For further information or to book your advertising space call Nigel on 01767 261122 e-mail: [email protected] or visit our website www.villagermag.com

The VILLAGER and Town Life

Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded. Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs. Inspection welcome. Boarding from £7.30/day.

Rabbits/guinea pigs also boarded. 64 Meadow Road, Great Gransden Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year. The cattery for caring owners. Comfort and security for your pet.

60 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Pets

Animal Stories Urgent appeal…

We would like you to meet two gorgeous little kittens ¬– ¬Timon and Pumbaa ¬– who have recently come into the care of the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch. Pumbaa is a typically boisterous and healthy kitten, but his poor little brother has some serious health problems. Timon was born with under developed eyes and although he has some vision, it is very limited. Our keep an eye on our website for updates of their Vet has advised that one of his eyes will have to be progress. removed. Although, this sounds horrible, it is the Although, in this article we’re appealing specifically best way of ensuring that Timon can develop into a to help Timon – there are always animals in our happy, and healthy cat. care needing help. We are a small local charity that PLEASE CAN YOU HELP US, HELP TIMON... by is entirely responsible for raising its own funds and sponsoring his veterinary treatment and aftercare? supporting itself. We are currently experiencing Please donate whatever you can by any of the a crisis as the number of animals abandoned has following ways: increased by 65% over the last 5 years. It costs us • bank transfer using the following details: Sort 60- every day, £5 to look after one healthy cat and £8 for 02-13. Acc 51842483, quoting ‘TIMON CARE’ as a one healthy dog. This means that every month we reference. need to find at least £1,300 to house all the animals • dropping your donation in at our Thurlow Street in our care and £2,000 for vet bills. shop in Bedford. Animals like Timon cost us a huge amount more – so • posting your donation to our shop. The address really stretch our (already stretched) finances to the is: 6 Thurlow Street, Bedford, MK40 1LR Tel: 01234 limit. 930304 The number of animals being abandoned in • emailing: [email protected] Bedfordshire is, unfortunately, still on the increase. Please let us know if you have donated, so we can You can help by donating money, unwanted goods thank you and keep you up to date with Timon’s to our shop so we can sell it and raise funds, or by progress (but only if you would like to be updated). volunteering. Please consider if you could help Once Timon has been successfully treated and Timon, or any other animal in our care…thank you! has made a full recovery, he and his brother will be looking for their forever home – together. They ANIMAL STORIES is one of a series of articles brought to will need an inside home together, or one with a you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch completely secure garden/enclosure. If you think www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk you can offer these two lovely brothers that home, To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 61 Fiddle Daemons Violins Violas Cellos Bass Contact: Jackie@ ddledaemons.com 01767682693 or 07814970635

Professional repairs, restorations and set ups

Quality instruments for sale and hire to suit all ages and experience

Part exchanges possible and instruments purchased

Free valuations

THE PAULINE QUIRKE ACADEMY ISJOIN COMING US FOR PQASOON BARNET’S TO PETERBOROUGH! PQA is a UK wide network of performing arts Academies, offering classes in Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & Television to students aged 4 - 18. RED CARPET Professionals required to teach:

- Musical Theatre - Film & Television - ComedyFILM and Drama - Poppets FESTIVAL (4 & 5 year olds)

For more information please contact Maureen emailON [email protected] SUNDAY 20TH MARCH 2016. www.pqacademy.com

62 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 63 Parenting

Children’s Keep the funParties levels up and your • Raid the recycling box to make a party bag, which can actually stress levels down with our top robots, spaceships or monsters. work out around the same price as party tips. Make sure you tell parents that the you’d pay to buy it all yourself. Outdoor parties children will need old clothes or Alternatively, you could let your Most kids love a treasure hunt, painting aprons. And bear in mind child choose two or three friends and it ties in well with a pirate, that paint may not have dried to take out for the day. Head to knights or princess party. You by the time the party finishes, so the zoo, trampoline park, cinema, could leave a series of clues you’ll have to deliver the artwork theme park, or just out for a picnic. leading to one big stash of small at a later date. Top tips for a successful party: prizes to split (chocolate coins Parties for pre-teens • Don’t invite too many people. tend to go down well). Or you Pre-teens may prefer to head A good rule of thumb is to only could hide sweets, trinkets and out somewhere with a couple of invite one or two more than other mini prizes around the friends. If they do want a party the age of your child. So if your garden. Just make sure you keep though, you could: son is turning five, you might a few extras to hand, to avoid any • Host a sleepover, complete with want to invite six or seven tears. movie, popcorn and a chocolate children. However, it is a very Once they’ve found the treasure, fountain. rough guide, as all children are you could: • Hold a fashion show. Just raid different. • Have a water pistol fight. some charity shops and let kids • Consider how many children • Challenge the kids to an loose on the clothes with fabric there are in the class or obstacle course. pens, glitter and badges. friendship group. Inviting 12 of • Hold a mini-Olympics, complete • Have a disco party, with glow the 14 girls in your daughter’s with ‘real’ medals. sticks, a glitter ball and a dance- class could cause a lot of upset. • Set up a tin can alley, or a game off. • Don’t overwhelm your child. of skittles. Parties that let you take it easy Younger children may struggle Parties for craft-loving children If this all sounds like a bit too with lots of excited guests, loud If your child loves nothing more much work, you could turn to music and bright lights. Try to than creating a new work of art, the professionals. From hiring a create a safe, quiet space where why not dedicate the party to children’s entertainer to heading they can retreat if they need to. ‘making stuff’? Depending on the to a soft-play centre, there are • Don’t feel you have to spend age of the children, you could: plenty of options to choose from. a fortune. Often the simpler, • Make masks out of paper plates, And they’re often not as expensive cheaper parties are the ones feathers, stickers and glitter. as you might think. Some that children love the best. • Paint pots or trinket boxes. companies offer a full package • Rope in as many helpers as you • Decorate plates or mugs with including entertainment, food and can! porcelain pens. 64 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts WOULD YOU LIKE TO EARN ADDITIONAL INCOME?

If you are a qualified teacher, or graduate with a TEFL qualification, or willing to work towards a TEFL qualification, we Earn from would love to hear from you. £415 to £615 per week. Could you provide a comfortable spare room, 3 meals per day, and teach English to foreign students from 12 years old to adults, A flexible, enjoyable way to earn a from the comfort of your own home, in the Cambridgeshire area? supplementary income, from once a Equally important is a warm, friendly personality and a year to once a month, or more. comfortable home. For more information email Demand is high in Cambridgeshire in the summer, and the school your Local Organiser at holidays, though demand is steady throughout the year. [email protected] All types of households are very welcome. Families with children or teens are always in demand.

To advertiseHLI 1/2 page in 12-16.indd The Villager 1 and Town Life please call 01767 261122 05/12/2016 16:4365 ANGLIAN SERVICE St Neots Require full and part time Drivers Experience preferred but not essential All ages welcome (Must be over 25 for insurance purposes)

Telephone 01480 475222

Anglian Taxi half page.indd 1 09/03/2017 09:18

66 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Technology What is the Internet of Things? The ‘internet of things’ refers to electronic devices On the way home, you nip to the supermarket, connecting to each other using the internet. It’s a but can’t remember whether you need milk. A way to collect information and improve efficiency. couple of clicks and your smart fridge has sent you Take as an example, a Fitbit or other fitness- a photo of its contents. After buying the milk, you tracking device. These give you an indication of turn your heating on, and set your coffee machine how many steps you’ve walked or ran in a day, to have a brew ready for when you get in. your heart rate, calories burned and so on. You Smart health - The internet of things isn’t just can also synch one to an app on your phone, or about making our lives a bit easier. Trials are to an online account. Then you can check your underway to see how it could help people with progress over a week, how you compare to other pre-existing medical conditions. Medical devices people you’re sharing information with, how many that patients use at home can collect data to give calories you’ve burnt off and so on. If you also sync healthcare providers a better picture of a patient’s your account up with ‘smart’ scales, it’ll keep track day-to-day health. Doctors can even be sent an of your weight and BMI, to give you a fuller picture alert if measurements go above or below a safe of your health in one place. level. Smart homes - Smart home devices are becoming Smart cities - By using smart technology, increasingly common. They let you control your and acting on data, cities could become more heating, hot water, lights and other technology efficient. From bins that send an alert when they while you’re out of the house. Let’s say you’re need emptying, to traffic lights that help reduce running late from work. You realise you’re going congestion, the internet of things is set to bring to miss your favourite TV programme, so you use about a lot of changes. It may seem like sci-fi, but your phone to set it to record. You also postpone it might not be that long until you’re travelling in the heating coming on, and turn a light on so it a driver-less vehicle, which knows exactly where looks like someone is home. At least you know there’s an available parking space, and any road your security cameras will send an alert to your closures to avoid on the way to your destination. phone if they detect any movement. The future is looking smart!

By Kate Duggan

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 67 Motoring

New Audi Q5 By James Baggott Replacing ultra-successful cars Space and practicality A 2.0-litre TFSI petrol option is never easy for a manufacturer, The new Q5 is bigger and wider with 250bhp is also available. It’s but that’s the challenge Audi has than its predecessor – but still capable of returning 40.9mpg and faced with the Q5, the brand’s 90kg lighter. Inside there’s more emits 157g/km. A feisty 3.0-litre best-selling SUV. Built at the headroom and rear knee-room, V6 TDi completes the line-up, manufacturer’s most advanced while boot space is up 10 litres. producing 284bhp and a stonking ‘smart factory’ in Mexico, the Two adults will sit comfortably in 620Nm of torque. refreshed off-roader is packed the back, but a large transmission Behind the wheel with clever technology, features tunnel seriously eats into rear The new Q5 is quite simply revised engines and a fresh look legroom in the middle seat. brilliant to drive. We tested the that the maker hopes will continue Safety systems are plentiful and car on a variety of terrain, from to win over buyers. But has it done buyers can opt for active lane motorways to cities and beaches enough? assist, pre-sense assistance which to dirt tracks; it took them all in Looks and image helps detect if a crash is imminent its stride. On the road it’s quiet, The new Q5 may be a little less and can apply the brakes for you, refined and accomplished, while flashy than its Jaguar F-Pace rival, and cross-traffic assistance at the in the grit it was surefooted and but that smart new octagonal rear that will help when pulling secure. nose, dramatic headlights and out of parking spaces. In slow The revised 2.0-litre diesel engine sharp body creases give it fantastic moving traffic it’s even partly is punchy and works brilliantly presence on the road. That’s autonomous, slowing down and when combined with the 7-speed helped by a wonderfully squat speeding up in jams while keeping S-tronic gearbox - overall it’s by stance and perfect proportions. you in your lane. far and away the best choice of Inside the quality is clear. Solid, What’s under the bonnet? transmission. good quality materials are There are three engine options Verdict everywhere and the leather seats to pick from – but the best seller, Audi has moved the game on are comfortable and perfectly and our pick of the bunch, is with its new Q5 but not ruined adjustable. There is plenty of space the 187bhp, 400Nm, 2.0-litre a recipe that has won it so many around the driver and logically TDI, which will account for 60 admirers. Stylish, comfortable and placed controls for the multimedia per cent of sales in the UK. This great to drive, it’s now packed system. comes as standard with a clever with even more clever technology There’s also a three-zone climate new Quattro Ultra all-wheel drive and features. With best in class control system, an optional Bang system that can switch seamlessly performance and economy, and & Olufsen sound system, and the between two and four-wheel some highly tempting optional optional virtual cockpit, which drive automatically. Fuel economy extras, we’d be very surprised if replaces the dials with a 12.3-inch is 56.5mpg with emissions of any of its rivals managed to usurp high resolution display. 132g/km, and it hits 60mph in it at the top of the sales charts any 7.7 seconds and goes on to a top time soon. speed of 135mph.

68 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts ‘Consider This’ 10 GREAT REASONS TO CHOOSE T.C.Harrison Ford in St. Neots

1. A trusted family run and owned business 2. 80 years as a Ford main dealer 3. Premier Motability Partner for vehicle supply and servicing 4. A One Stop Shop – Sales, Service and Parts 5. Browse at your leisure online or in our purpose built dealership 6. Full main dealer finance facilities 7. Over 500 Used cars in Group Stock 8. Nationwide delivery available 9. A comprehensive warranty you can trust 10. 75 point safety check on all used cars

For more information visit www.tch.co.uk or quote TCHST17 when visiting the dealership

01480 270674 26 Cambridge Street, St Neots, PE19 1JL www.tch.co.uk

Consider this SERVICE Let T.C.Harrison breathe new life • 30-point visual health check • We’ll check and adjust into your Ford this spring. FOR JUST your tyres’ pressures £ * • Free wash and vac 149

MOT

• Make sure your car meets the mandatory road safety and environmental standards • Reduced price of RRP £30 when booked with a FOR JUST Ford Motorcraft service £ * (RRP £35 without a service) 30

For more information please visit www.tch.co.uk or quote TCHST17 when visiting the dealership 01480 270674 26 Cambridge Street, St Neots, PE19 1JL www.tch.co.uk *Ford Motorcraft servicing, MOT, tyres and repairs are available at participating T.C.Harrison dealers for Ford passenger cars and commercial vehicles aged 4 years or older (from date of registration) with up to and including 2.5L engines and are applicable to retail customers only. All published prices are recommended retail prices and include parts, labour and VAT. RS models and LPG derivatives are excluded. Reduced price MOT test only valid when booking a Ford Motorcraft Minor or Major Service. For full breakdown of service plans please visit www.ford.co.uk/Ownerservices/Motorcraft/Servicing or contact your local T.C.Harrison branch. This offer supersedes any other offer and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative offered. Offers valid until 30th April 2017.

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 69 Three Counties Radio

Gluten-free Brownies Some of the most popular recipes on my Weekend Kitchen programme are those which are gluten-free. Making great food - cakes and bakes in particular - without the need for gluten needn’t be difficult. Take these wonderful brownies for example. They are muddy, fudgey, soft and moreish. Cakes made with gluten-free flour can be a little dry but in such a ‘wet’ mix as this, the finished brownies are as moist as can be. The recipe comes from a real baking expert, and a lovely regular on my show. Paul Barker runs the Cinnamon Square Bakery in Rickmansworth, and he shares this recipe and others in his baking bible, ‘Cinnamon Square - A Measured Approach’.

Ingredients 3. Finally, add the gluten-free flour and stir until 210g unsalted butter thoroughly combined. 4. Pour the mixture into a 23cm square baking pan, 210g dark Belgian chocolate lined with greaseproof baking paper. 285g caster sugar 5. If the batter is still warm, it will make its own level. 170g beaten egg at room temperature (that However, if the batter has thickened, you will need to spread it level across the baking pan. should be about 4 eggs) 6. Place the pan into your oven and bake at 170°C / Gas 125g gluten-free plain flour Mark4 for 25-30 minutes. It is better to slightly under bake these brownies as they will continue to cook once out of the oven. You actually want the centre to 1. Place the butter and chocolate in a plastic bowl still be slightly soft when baked. and gently melt them in the microwave or over 7. Once the brownies have cooled, you can dust with a hot water bath. You want the mix to get quite a little icing sugar, top with some store-bought warm. This will help keep the batter fluid when chocolate fudge, or a simple chocolate ganache adding the eggs. (made by melting together equal weight of dark 2. In a separate bowl combine the sugar and eggs chocolate and cream). This recipe makes nine large together, and then pour (whilst stirring) into the square brownies or 18 smaller rectangles. butter/chocolate mixture. Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

70 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 71 Time of Year St George’s Day Did you know that St George never actually set foot in Britain? It’s believed he was born in Lydda in Palestine, or in Cappadocia (now in central Turkey), and brought up in Palestine. His father was a Roman soldier, and when his parents died, George decided he would travel to Nicomedia (Turkey) to join the Roman army. He served for several years, progressing up the ranks to become sacrifice their children to appease the dragon. One an imperial guard of the Emperor. day George was riding past the village and met a George was a devout Christian, and was tortured young princess, whose turn it was to be sacrificed. and executed for refusing to give up his Christian George rescued the girl and offered to slay the faith. It’s believed that he was killed on 23rd April dragon for the villagers, if they would convert to 300AD, which is why St George’s Day is celebrated Christianity. They agreed, so he killed the dragon. on April 23rd each year. Today the Feast of St George is celebrated in So where does the dragon come into it? The countries across the world, including Palestine, legend of George and the dragon dates back Syria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. If you’re hundreds of years, to the 11th century, if not taking part, perhaps you could adopt the old earlier. According to the legend, a dragon was English custom of wearing a red rose in your lapel terrorising a small village. The villagers would on St George’s Day. By Susan Brookes-Morris

to the world of GSN Conservatories... www.gsn.co.uk home of probably the largest outdoor display area you will ever see! With over 20 styles of PRICES START FROM ONLY conservatories on display at our head o ce and ,999 10 models on show at WelcomeFULLY INSTALLED INCLUDING THE Wilstead we think you BASE AND VAT will be spoilt for choice! £4The conservatory of your choice individually designed The family rm by GSN to suit your home! with NO commission paid reps and NO All our conservatories are made-to-measure from modern, low sub-contractors maintenance materials so you can be sure that which ever conservatory you choose, it will continue to look as good as new in years to come. GSNCONSERVATORIES Your home deserves the best...You deserve the best that money can buy! Pertenhall Road (1 mile from Gt Staughton) Gt Staughton, Nr St Neots Cambs PE19 5BE Telephone 01480 860000 Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm Also at: Season’s Garden Centre Wilstead Established since 1984 (main Road - A6) Bedford Beds MK45 3HU Telephone 01234 740011 Open Mon - Sat 10am to 4pm Sun 11am to 4pm

72 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts This is a proof of your advertisement which will appear in the ROYSTON TOWN COUNCIL OFFICIAL GUIDE

Please check carefully, and advise us of any errors by returning the amended proof otherwise it will be presumed correct.

LAP (Local Authority Publishing Co. Ltd.) will not be liable for any errors or omissions in your advertisement and it will be printed as the proof shown below, without liability to LAP.

International House, Northfield Business Park, Lower Dicker, East Sussex BN27 4BZ Tel: 01323 849962 Email: [email protected]

OUR REFERENCE: 4180A / 49935 (Please quote at all times) FLOORED St George’s Day By Ian

Your local supplier of fitted floors in carpet, Head Office: vinyl, laminate or Karndean Melbourn, Royston SG8 6DS Tel: 01763 661334 Free visits to estimate or advise. Showroom: Coton Orchard Garden Centre, Cambridge CB23 7PJ Best prices and quality with a friendly service. Tel: 01954 211662 Enquiries to 01480 475486 or (Mobile) 07876 238308 GDC 1-4 Page Ad Mono:GDC Letterhead 15/2/13 11:49 Page 1

GDC HEATING Plumbing, Gas and Oil Heating Engineers

36 Rookery Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AX Tel: 01480 215821 01582 867152 www.gdcheating.com Email: [email protected]

Boiler Repairs/Servicing/Installation Full Heating Installations Efficiency Upgrades Bathroom Design and Installation Specialist Powercleaning Service 30 Years in Business

Reg No. 112425

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 73 Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to [email protected] What’s OnIn April 1 April them all. Wander through the Gardens to see if you 3, 10 & 24 April Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm can sniff out the carrots to spell the secret word and Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission collect your delicious Cadbury chocolate treat. Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola. Mondays from September to May. 1 April-30 September Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 1 April British Red Cross Open Gardens Email: [email protected] Hardwick Spring Craft Fair 1.30-5pm by appointment only 10am-12 noon Free entry Hardwick Community 23a Perry Road, Buckden 4, 11, 18 & 25 April Primary School, Limes Rd, Hardwick Adults £4, Children under 12 free Roxton Bridge Circle Raising funds for Hardwick Scout, Guide and This extraordinary plantsman’s garden ncludes a 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall Community Building. Japanese garden and follies, linked by gravel paths. Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday There are gardens inside gardens, with acers, pines evening. Tel: Phyllis 01480 374327 1 April and grasses, along with rare and unusual shrubs. Email: [email protected] Table Top Sale 10am-2pm Groups of up to 20 are welcome. Parking available United Reformed Church, High Street, St Neots at rear. By kind permission of David and Valerie 5 April To book a table contact Paul Botha. Bunnage. Tel: 01480 810553 Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Tel: 07754 478918 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall 1 April 3-7 April Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Easter Holiday Fun Daily 10amn-2pm membership fee is £10. Hardy Plant Society Paxton Pits Environmental Education Centre, Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, High Street, Little Paxton £3.30 per child Biggleswade Wildlife Trust Pollinators Party: celebrating brilliant 5 April-13 May Nursery owner Kevin Hughes talks about ‘The Early bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects. Drop Icknield Potters Exhibition Spring Flora of Andalucia’. Plants for sale. in family fun to discover more about pollinators Tues-Sat 11am-4pm Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk in the natural world. Park at the main car park at St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and walk down to the A group of regional potters exhibit their work for 1 April Environmental Education Centre. the first time at St Neots Museum. From vases St Neots Choral Society Concert Tel: Debbie McKenzie 01480 473161 and bowls to hand built sculptures don’t miss this 7.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots Email: [email protected] exhibition. Tel: 01480 214163 Tickets £10, Concessions £8, Accompanied school Web: www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk age children free. Dvorak Stabat Mater. Tickets 3, 5, 10, 12, 19, 24 & 26 April available in advance or on the door. St Neots Badminton Club 6 April Tel: 01480 392322 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk 8-10pm One Leisure, St Neots Huntingdonshire Local History Society Play badminton to a good standard and interested in 7.30pm 1 April joining a club? St Neots badminton club play at One Methodist Church, High Street, Huntingdon New Cambridge Singers Renaissance Reimagined Leisure Mondays and Wednesdays. ‘The Anglo Saxons in Huntingdonshire’ by Dr 8pm Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, CB2 1TQ Email: [email protected] Stephen Upex. Dr Upex is probably best known for Pre-concert talk with Giles Swayne at 7pm. The Web: www.stneotsbadminton.org his expertise on the Romans in the Nene Valley, but New Cambridge Singers (NCS) chamber choir his expertise is much wider. He will examine the “Renaissance Reimagined” Spring programme with 3, 10 & 24 April effects on Huntingdonshire of those who supplanted a performance of Giles Swayne’s Everybloom. Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club the Romans. Non-members very welcome, Tel: 01223 357851 Email: 1.30pm Afternoon Bingo although there is no formal charge a donation of £3 audiencechoruscambridge@newcambridgesingers. 6.30pm Whist Drive is appreciated. org.uk for audience rehearsals Godmanchester Town Hall Web: www.huntslhs.org.uk Web: www.newcambridgesingers.org.uk £1 for Whist drive inc. tea & biscuits or www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk If you are feeling lonely and over 55 years of age, 6 & 7 April then you will find a warm welcome waiting for Curly Wurly Pots 1-17 April you in the Senior Citizens Club. The club has a 11am-4pm Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt lively atmosphere and a wide range of activities. St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots 10.30am-4.15pm Wimpole Estate Friday afternoons is an opportunity to play Whist. £3.50 per child Normal admission charges apply plus £2.50 per trail Members also meet on a Saturday morning for Take inspiration from our temporary exhibition by booklet. Someone keeps leaving the gates open games, chat, tea and biscuits for 50p.. the Icknield Potters and make your own coil pot to at Wimpole and the bunnies are getting into the Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209 for further take home. garden – they’re eating the gardeners’ prize carrots! information Tel: 01480 214163 We’ve hidden the carrots to stop the bunnies eating Web: www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 74 Please mentionPlease mentionPlease The mentionVillager The Villager The and Villager andTown Town and Life Town Life when Life when when responding responding responding to to to adverts adverts adverts This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com What’s On In April 6 & 20 April 11 April 21-23 April Grafham Water Volunteer Group St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30-9pm Comberton Twinning Association Annual Visit 9.30am-3pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey The Association arranges annual visits to and from Newly established group giving nature a helping Visitors £6 their twin village in France - Le Vaudreuil, near hand and the public a safe environment. The Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands-on, Rouen, as well as social events locally. The next visit Rangers really need our help to create areas for various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar is on 21 to 23 April with subsidised travel by coach wildlife in the woodlands and an aesthetical craft. The group meets on the second Tuesday of the and Eurotunnel. You stay with local host families, environment, for yourselves and visitors, in and month. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 and experience the French way of life. Book soon to around the centres. get a place. Annual subscription of CTA is only £10, Email: Dominic [email protected] 12 & 13 April under 16s free. Tel: Paul Hardy 01223 263232 Web: www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/water-parks/ Dinosaur Eggs 11am-4pm Email: [email protected] grafham St Neots Museum, New Street, St Neots Web: www.CombertonTwinning.org.uk £3.50 per child 7 April Drop in and make your very own decorated fantasy 22 April Kids Tree Climbing 10am-3pm Dinosaur Egg! Tel: 01480 214163 Basic Blacksmith Course Ferry Meadows Country Park £2 Web: www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 10am-4pm Wimpole Estate Children can come and have a go at tree climbing in £120 per person inc. tea, coffee & light lunch a rope and harness. Instruction given by Rangers. 16 April The course content includes how to manage the Booking essential. Tel: Nene Park Trust 01733 Easter Egg Hunt charcoal fire; the correct use of Blacksmith tools 234193 for more information/booking 11am-3pm Milk Fields, New Street, St Neots especially the hammer and anvil; make a ram’s head Email: [email protected] Free entry for attendees, car booters & craft stalls hanging hook; make a traditional rose head nail for Web: www.neneparktrust.org.uk St Neots Community Car Boot Fayre presents a Free fixing the hook. Tel: 0344 249 1895 Easter Egg Hunt with fun activities for all to enjoy. Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole 7-26 April Egg Hunt starts at midday. Refreshments available. Easter Trail 10am-2pm Children must be accompanied by an adult for the 22 April Ferry Meadows Country Park 50p per sheet egg hunt. Limited free parking on site. Vintage & Homemade Gift Fair 11am-4pm Collect a trail sheet on the theme of rabbits from the Tempsford Village Hall, Church Street, Tempsford Visitor Centre and then hunt for clues as you walk 18 April-7 May Tea and cake. Stallholders wanted – 6ft inside around Ferry Meadows. Return to the Visitor Centre Lambing Time 10.30am-5pm Wimpole Farm tables and 9ft x 9ft outside £10. Call or email for to claim your prize. Normal admission charges apply details and booking form. Fundraising event for Life Tel: Nene Park Trust 01733 234193 Head to Home Farm to meet our ewes and lambs Amid Debt; a small local debt advice charity based in Email: [email protected] and if you’re lucky you may see a live birth. Ramsey and St Neots. Tel: 07717 471974 Email: [email protected] 9 April 19 April Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 22 April 10am-4pm Gransden Lodge Airfield 8.30-10.30pm Weston Music Society Concert 7.30pm Free admission A new WI group, meeting on the third Wednesday of Clare College, Cambridge Tickets £15 Trial flights with our qualified instructors available the month. Tel: Phyllis Brooks 01480 380240 An octet of the choral alumni from the choir of Clare on a first-come, first-fly basis, at discounted rates. Email: [email protected] for more details College, Cambridge. Tel: 01462 790573 Free talks about gliding and the airfield’s wartime Email: [email protected] history. Airfield entrance is on the B1046 between 21 April Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk Little Gransden and Longstowe, opposite Gransden Food & Film: The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Lodge Farm (enter SG19 3EB into your satnav). Touring Years 29 April Tel: 01767 677077 Web: www.camgliding.uk Food 6.15 for 6.30pm, Film only 7 for 7.30pm Annual Plant Sale 10am-12 noon Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Keysoe Village Hall Free admission 9 April Food & Film £12, Film only £4, Overs 60s £3 In addition to plants there will be books, bric-a-brac, Craft & Gift Fair Kimbolton Community Cinema. Menu is Moroccan cakes, a raffle, and teas and coffee. All donations Comrades Club, Godmanchester Vegetable Tagine with Pomegranate Couscous and gratefully received. Tel: 01234 378878 Free admission - donation to Save the Children Cucumber Salad, Poached Pear with Vanilla Ice appreciated Cream. Bar. Free popcorn. Tickets available from 29 April Browse a wide selection of unique handmade crafts Olivers, The Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café, and on the Village Market 10am-1pm and gifts not found in the High Street. door if available. Offord Village Hall Admission £1 Tel: 01536 675000 for stallholder enquiries Tel: 01480 860297 Lots of stalls to shop for bargains. Refreshments Email: [email protected] Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ available. themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema

To advertiseadvertise in in The The Villager Villager and and Town Townlife Life please please call 01767call 01767 261122 261122 7575 Hobbies By Kate McLelland

The sky’s no limit for amateur photographers Ever since the BBC launched its ‘Weather Watchers’ on the kind of photography that really interests feature in November 2015, the work of the UK’s you. Wildlife shots? Portraits of people? Urban and amateur photographers has enjoyed unparalleled rural landscapes? Macro images? public exposure, with images contributed by keen Once you’ve decided, you’ll be able to focus on volunteers appearing on our TV screens morning, the specific items of equipment you need – for noon and night. example, would a tripod be useful for shooting in According to the BBC’s Head of Weather, Liz Howell, low light without flash? Will you need a telephoto the goal of Weather Watchers – launched as part lens for long distance shots? How about a wide- of the BBC’s flagship Make it Digital initiative - was angle lens, for photographing a high building or an to create a new, crowdsourced weather club that expansive landscape? would “enable people across the UK to help tell Final finish You may also want to think about how the story of the great British weather”. While it has your images will be used. Will you print them as definitely achieved that aim, it has also showcased hard copies and create a portfolio of your work, or the talent of Britain’s amateur photographers in an maybe share them online, using an image hosting unexpected way. So what do you need to become website such as Flikr? an amateur photographer? If you decide to go digital rather than use film, Which camera? When you start to shop for you will probably need to download some photo cameras, you may be confused by terms such as editing software. This can be expensive, but don’t ‘SLR’ or ‘DSLR’ and ‘mirrorless cameras’. worry if you can’t afford products at the top end of ‘SLR’ stands for ‘single lens reflex’. ‘DSLR’ is, of the market. You can download free software such course, used for a digital single lens reflex camera. as GIMP, Paint.NET or Photoscape that perform Both types use a mirror between the lens and the most of the functions you’ll need, without adding film (or digital image sensor), which means the to your budget. image you see through the viewfinder or display How do I learn? There are many ways to develop screen is the same as the one that will appear on the skills you need. You could take an adult the final image. The lighter, less bulky ‘mirrorless education course, join a local camera club, buy a camera’ (also known as a compact system camera) ‘how to’ book or simply look online for sites that is becoming more popular. offer advice to beginners. There are many, many websites available to Of course, it may be some time before you feel guide you towards the best purchase. If you are confident enough to share your work with a wider still finding it hard to make a decision after your audience. Then it will be up to you whether you research, you could drop into your local camera become a BBC Weather Watcher, an entrant for shop for some face-to-face advice. ‘Amateur Photographer of the Year’ or someone What subjects excite me? Before you stock up on who simply loves to share their work with family expensive equipment, it may be helpful to decide and friends. 76 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK

All general building repairs and odd jobs

Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry for amateur photographers • Rooﬁ ng Guttering • Drainage Plumbing Call today 07877742420 or 01480 437511 Email: [email protected]

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 77 Local News

John Bunyan2017 SeasonBoat Launch The John Bunyan is Bedford’s Community Boat run The boat which carries 50 passengers also has by volunteers, and provides cruises both public and monthly Lunch Cruises to The Anchor in Great private hire on Bedford’s River Great Ouse. Last year Barford and Afternoon Tea Cruises to The Barns it carried over 7,000 passengers and in total has Hotel, plus a monthly Jazz Cruise featuring top carried over 22,000 passengers since it was launched national and regional jazz trios. in July 2013. The boat is fully licensed for drinks, has a 5 Star Food This year’s public cruises launch on Easter Saturday Certificate, and is available for private functions and with an evening Fish and Chip Supper Cruise, parties of all descriptions including wedding cruises. followed on Sunday afternoon by an Afternoon Tea Cruise, Bank Holiday Monday also has a special Due to being run by volunteers prices are very Afternoon Cruise. Thereafter there are public cruises reasonable and cruises can be booked online at every Thursday and Sunday with Fish & Chip Supper www.johnbunyanboat.org, Cruises on various Friday and Saturday evenings. or by phoning 01908 690301

78 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Electrician www.rooneyelectrical.co.uk

Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job? John Bunyan Boat Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Rewires P.A.T testing Landlord inspections Qualified electrician Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed Call Nigel on: 01480 582482 / 07941295883 www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

LESTER O’DRISCOLL TELEVISION MOBILE SERVICE CARPENTRY ST NEOTS, ST IVES, HUNTINGDON AREA

REPAIR TV, VCR, DVD, Door Hanging, FREEVIEW DIGITAL BOXES

Skirting, Flooring, TUNING & DEMONSTRATION OF Fitted Kitchens, EQUIPMENT Fencing, Decking, DIGITAL LOFT AERIALS General Carpentry, SUPPLIED & FITTED Extensions EXTENSION AERIAL POINTS DAY OR EVENING CALL OUTS 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE 07842 195152 PHONE JOHN FABISZ FOR ESTIMATE 01480 811629 01480 495408 OR 07887887319

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 79 Codeword 1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

13 14

15 16

17 18

19 20

21 22

23 24

25 26

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Easy Suduko Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

80 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 81 New Decorations

Interior and Exterior Painting Wallpapering

Mark Newman Painting & Decorating [email protected]

01954212342 07969650344

164 Limes Road, Hardwick Cambridge CB23 7XX

82 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Food and Drink Spring is coming There’s A Beer For That The darkness of winter has been replaced with the revitalising freshness of spring which also brings with it a gentle change in the food we eat. We’re now surrounded by a vibrancy of colour that you’ll see in your glass and on your plate - we’re talking fresh foods such as salmon with asparagus. But it’s also a great time to change what you drink with your food. Spring is a great time to enjoy fragrant ales with floral, grassy, blossom, lemon, citrus and tropical fruit notes abounding. Sound springtime ale with its fruity flavour pairing well with asparagus. enough for you? If you’re more a meat lover there’s an abundance Easter weekend can be a particular gastronomic of spring foods and beer matches to delve into. delight with friends and family coming together and Chicken with sugar snap peas and spring herbs just eating simple, delicious fare. So, at this years’ Easter shouts ‘spring’, and pairing it with a zesty golden feast which beers should you include on the dining ale will complement the dish. And is there a more table? springy food than lamb? Here beers got your back Let’s take salmon with roast asparagus. Here the too with pale ales offering the oomph to stand up beer needs to complement the crisp, clean flavours to the meat and the deftness to complement the of the dish without overwhelming them, so a wheat natural sweetness in the dish. Traditional English beer or saison fits the bill. Their citrus and spicy Bitters will also work very well here. notes will marry well with the dish. and there’s a There’s plenty of spring vegetarian dishes to get bittersweet fruitiness that couples particularly well your teeth into, too. Fabulous salads abound with with the asparagus. Keeping it fishy, both wheat additions such as asparagus, peas, spring onions beers and saisons (a type of pale ale) will work and spinach creating a gorgeous plate of spring well with fish such as grilled mackerel or sea bass. greenery. Lightness is needed with the beer too. Look to lagers too, which offer gentle citrus notes, Wheat beers, light lagers, subtle pale ales and crisp sweetness from the malt and also carbonation that’ll blonde ales have the gentle touch so look to those cleanse the palate. There’s even room for a Belgian for a suitably spritzy beer accompaniment. We’ll end with dessert of course, because there’s spring in our step there too with seasonal spring delights such as rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries offering a huge array of pudding possibilities. From crumbles to cobblers there’s a beer match for them all. Spring is rhubarbs moment in the sun so throw some in a crumble and pair it with a porter. For some raspberries sing spring and pavlova is a wonderfully indulgent dessert - pair yours with a raspberry fruit beer for a perfect match. So spring is here and it’s a good time to eat delicious fresh produce and pair your dishes with a diverse and versatile range of beers. What will be in your glass? There’s A Beer For That

For more details and to find your perfect match, visit www.beerforthat.com

To advertise please call 01767 261122 83 ROOFLINE

FASCIAS, SOFFITS AND GUTTERING PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE FROM AS LITTLE AS £25 PER METRE FITTED

Tim For more information ring Tim on 01480 216677 info@eastanglianrooﬂ ine.co.uk www.eastanglian-group.com

84 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

EARL advert 4-16.indd 1 14/04/2016 19:13 March’s Puzzle Solutions and Winner Last Month’s Crossword Winner ROOFLINE Mr P Berridge from Little Paxton

Easy

Hard

FASCIAS, SOFFITS AND GUTTERING PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE FROM AS LITTLE AS £25 PER METRE FITTED we’ve got your home improvements covered PLUMBING & HEATING BUILDING SERVICES fit a new boiler bathroom & kitchen installation upgrade your heating system new build Tim annual service for your boiler home renovation For more information ring Tim on call: 01954 782920 01480 216677 or visit: www.ijcbuildingservices.co.uk IJC is a family run Cambridgeshire business with over 30 years’ info@eastanglianrooﬂ ine.co.uk experience. We offer a comprehensive range of domestic and small commercial works across all forms of building, plumbing, www.eastanglian-group.com heating and renewable services.

45 Viking Way Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8EL

To IJCadvertise 152x102 color in Thead.indd Villager 1 and Town Life please call 01767 261122 12/09/2016 11:1785

EARL advert 4-16.indd 1 14/04/2016 19:13 The Villager Prize Crossword Prize £25

Across 7 Type of hat (6) 8 Assault (6) 9 Not pretty (4) 10 Exciting (8) 11 Style of writing (7) 13 Cold (5) 15 Freshwater fish (5) 17 Loosening (7) 20 Fruit trees are grown here (8) 21 Legend (4) 22 Mixes together (6) 23 Writer (6)

Down  1 Zero (6) 2 Remain (4) 3 Foretell (7) 4 Boring (5) Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, 5 Evenly (8) 6 Economise (6) cut out this page and send to the address below before 12 Chuckling (8) 14 Uncommon (7) 16th April 2017 16 Seldom (6) 18 Idea (6) Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 19 Squash (5) 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP 21 Dumb (4)

Name:

Tel:

Address:

86 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 87 • Wood Burning Stoves • Multi Fuel Stoves • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Installation and Supply • Fireplace Renovations • Stove Accessories • Trade sales welcome

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday – 10am – 5pm Other Days/Out of hours by prior arrangement

Unit 2 Home Farm Court, The Street, Diddington, St Neots, PE19 5XT [email protected] 01480 812281 | 07786 854946 www.cromwellstoves.co.uk

Cromwell stoves 1/4 page.indd 1 30/07/2015 17:31

88 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Local News Calling ‘Action’ to Local Filmmakers Following the success creatively whether of the first St Neots that be watching, Film Festival in 2016, critiquing or organisers are calling making. Further for submissions of opportunities for short films for the 2017 sponsorship are event. available. The festival will take Last year around 200 cinema goers enjoyed 40 short place at Cineworld, St films which showcased the work of filmmakers from Neots on 8th and 9th the Cambridgeshire area. The 2016 winners were: November 2017. Films Best film by an adult – The Birch by Ben Franklin and of up to twenty minutes can be submitted to the Anthony Melton festival. Submission is free and makers of shortlisted Best film by a child – Italy by Amber Moore films will receive free entry to the festival. Prizes Best film by a teenager – The Door by Olivia Jordan will be awarded to filmmakers from the following Best documentary – The Great Fen Spitfire by Martyn categories: best documentary, best film by children, Moore best film by teenagers, best film by adults and the Huntingdon based Ben Franklin, co-director of The Mayor’s choice. Submissions should be emailed to Birch said, ‘If you enjoy filmmaking there are so many [email protected] by midday on 8th opportunities for you to be able to get out and shoot October 2017. your short film now, even if it’s simply just by using The event has attracted sponsorship from Into your camera-phone.’ Film, an organisation which gives children and For more information please visit young people the opportunity to experience film www.stneotsfilmfestival.co.uk

L.C.A Plumbing & Heating are a trusted, professional company with over 10 years’ experience in the trade. OAP discounts Boiler installations with up Boiler installations to ten year warranties Landlord checks Very competitive and Leaks knowledgeable Taps replaced Fully insured Fully qualified staff Contact us today to discuss your requirements or for free friendly, helpful and professional advice. We look forward to hearing from you.

01234 266220

To advertiseLCA half page.indd in The Villager1 and Town Life please call 01767 261122 15/03/2017 16:0389 Home Refresh your home for spring As our gardens start to grow and blossom fills the (especially if they have a tribal feel) are still current, trees, it’s time to think about refreshing and re- as well as tropicals, textures (think chunky knits or energising our homes ready for a stylish spring. grassy weaves), graphic botanicals such as ferns and Clear the clutter leaves and the natural patterns of marble and stone. There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned tidy up! Up your game with accessories Heavy winter duvets, furry throws and cable-knit Replace old accessories with on-trend items such hot water bottles can all be stored out of the way, as cushions and throws, duvet covers, vases, prints, while at the same time this is a good opportunity small storage containers, mirrors, clocks, table lamps to go through shelves and cupboards and get rid of and plants. You don’t have to spend a fortune to anything you no longer need. If it’s broken, mend it overhaul your look dramatically. or throw it away; don’t let worn out, unusable and Add some scent unnecessary items take up space. Instead of artificial air fresheners, use natural wax Clean house scented candles. Alternatively, try reed diffusers After clearing space, you will probably notice that with essential oils, or simply arrange locally sourced, some of your house could do with a deep clean. scented flowers (those from abroad don’t tend How good will you feel when you have washed to smell so good). And, try to dry laundry in the down the front door, wiped shelves and light sunshine outdoors – you can’t beat that beautiful fittings, shampooed rugs, washed loose covers and fresh smell. curtains and taken duvets to the launderette? To Bring the outdoors in say nothing of cleaning mirrors and windows – and Now the warmer weather is here, open the windows scrunched-up newspaper and white vinegar will and get some air circulating around your home. It give them a wonderful sparkle. might even be warm enough to sit outside, so think Have a brush with paint about pressure washing your patio, scrubbing up Has your paintwork seen better days? Perhaps your barbecue and cleaning down your outdoor windows need sanding and repainting, or door furniture. After all, it’s not that long until summer… frames need touch-ups where they’ve had knocks and bashes? Or maybe a whole room could do with a makeover? Painting is a relatively quick and inexpensive DIY job that creates an overall impression going above and beyond the effort involved. Introduce colour Now’s the time to ditch dark winter shades and get fresh with spring-like colour. Yellow, blue and green are all associated with spring – and Pantone’s colour of the year is gorgeous ‘Greenery’, described as ‘a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew’. Use with plenty of bright white for a really clean, fresh look. Include a dash of pattern Your backdrop of pale spring colours is perfect for adding pops of pattern to make an impact. Chevrons, triangles and geometrics in general 90 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 91 92 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts phe proactive heating & environmental services

POPE’S SHOE REPAIRS Mick and Denise would like to thank all their loyal customers over the years

7 Cross Keys ews arket Suare St eots PE1 2A Tel: 01480 4780 Did you no of shoes can be repaired Quality Shoe Repairs, Quality Key Cutters, Quality Engraving Service, Quality Batteries, Watch Straps and Alterations, Quality Leather Belts, Quality Leather Goods, For the Gents Taylors of London Shaving Products

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 93 Books

ByBook Kate Duggan Review

Our books this month are all about change, from shifting viewpoints to rewriting history. Take Courage, Anne Brontë and the Art of Life by Samantha Ellis Anne is often seen as the ‘other Brontë’. Most of us would struggle to remember the names of either of her books. In part this is because of the way she’s usually portrayed – quiet, reserved and, well, less interesting than her siblings. Ellis goes to great lengths to show that this was far from the case. Anne’s novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, was, in many ways, more subversive and ahead of its time than those of her sisters. As Ellis talks us through her research, a very different Anne Brontë starts to emerge. Take Courage is far from a dry clinical biography; Ellis is clearly indignant at Anne’s treatment and the book is a real pleasure to read. Sureclean The Art of Contribution DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL by Ann Skinner CARPET & UPHOLSTERY The Art of Contribution aims CLEANING to help people live a more meaningful life. Life coach • Spot stain and odour removal Ann Skinner shares her • Anti-stain protection advice for making a positive impact on the world. The • Leather suites cleaned and book is broken up into short, reconditioned easily digestible chapters. • Tile and grout cleaning They focus on lessons • The very latest equipment used that Skinner has learnt herself, from embracing • All work guaranteed imperfections to contributing not ‘from a place of • Fully insured feeling that some things in the world need fixing, • Local company but from a place of wanting to add joy to it’. 01480 468965 or 07870 338074

94 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts urelean leaning ept ams.indd Classifieds Carpentry Oven Cleaning

We clean your oven…. M ARENR SNS ....so you don’t have to. DESIGN & BUILD Call today to have your ENS ARRES EN oven, hob, extractor RS A NS or Aga professionally AMNAE S RN cleaned.

WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Rob Radford contact details FREE ADVICE & ESTIMATE Tel: 01767 640594 Mobile: 07960 467805 CALL 07412 828688 www.ovenwizards.com Electrician Pet Services J.M. CarpentryFrank classified.indd Plater 1 Electrical10/03/2017 15:45 Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections No job too small. Free estimates Established 13 years Tel: 01480 432154 Mob: 07976 797111

Heating and Plumbing Services

From just £5.00 per month plus VAT Call Nigel on 016 261122 for more information

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 95