Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 1 Issue 161
Grafham Gossip Issue 162 Deadline: Midnight Thursday 16th August
Contents Church Services and View from the Pew……......…..
Parish News/Parish Cllrs details………...………...…..
County Cllr/District Cllr details………..………………..
View from the Pew…………………………...……………….
Notices/ Village Hall Activities………………….…..………….
Talking Shop………………….………..……..…………..
Notices/ Has the bin man bin, Mam?.....................................
Time for Growth - Mike……….……...…………………….....
Some items from East Leightonstone newsletter…...........
Notices/ Make a will month……...…………………………...
Times Gone By - Dave Anthony and A14 Update…..……..
Adverts/Notices/Useful Phone Nos…………...…...…...…
Beer Festival thanks and photos…………………………..
Calling all Flower Arrangers………………………………….
Adverts...……………………….…….. …………….……..…
Three little tales- David Cudby / Team Irwin’s 100km run….
Annual Art Exhibition………………………………………….
Action Points from Traffic Safety Meeting……………...……
Local Activities………………………………………....……..
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3
4
5
6
7
7
8
9
10
11
11
12
13
14
15
16
Editors’ note… Will the hot, sunny weather
last for the school summer
holidays, which are almost
with us? According to the
online long term forecast, yes it will! So, all school
age students, get your cameras and phones at the
ready to take part in the Summer Photography Com-
petition as described on page 2.
Choosing ‘Must reads’ this month is more difficult
than usual, there’s at least one on every double
page! You’ll just have to start at page one and read
carefully through to the end.
We’d welcome more contributions from our readers, so
if you see a great film or read a good book that you
could review, know a fool proof recipe or have a story or
anything else to share, please send it to us and we’ll
print it in the Grafham Gossip.
Send your news, views and gossip in good time for the
next deadline, midnight on Thursday 16th August. It’s
always difficult delivering the paper copies over holiday
periods so please be aware that the September issue
may be delivered after the first of the month. The online
version should be on the village website and the link
sent out to the mailing list by the end of August.
Have fun!
Editors, [email protected]
Increase in traffic through Grafham On 3rd July a meeting, held in Grafham Village Hall,
was attended by villagers from Grafham and
Ellington in order to discuss the speed and increase
in traffic, including HGVs, travelling through both
villages as a result of the diverted A14 works.
Read the Action Points arising from the
meeting on page 15.
Pop Up Pub with a full bar and a quiz Friday 3rd August
Grafham Village Hall 7pm-11pm
Find out about the
Summer Photography Competition for School Age Students
on page 2
Grafham and Ellington Art Group
Annual Art Exhibition 2018
Saturday 11th August 10am to 5pm
and
Sunday 12th August 10am to 5pm
More details on page 14
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 2 Issue 161
All Sunday morning services in the three churches of Grafham, Ellington and Brampton
begin at 10.30.
On Fourth Sundays, an ‘All Together’ Holy Communion Service rotates between
the three churches throughout the year.
For more information on church services and other events, visit www.eastleightonstone.com and click on Calendar
Grafham All Saints Services
Every Wednesday morning 08.45 - 09.15 Morning Prayer– a short service open to all ------------------------------------------------------------
5th August (1st Sunday) 10.30 Family Service - Lay led
----------------------------------------------------------- 2nd September (1st Sunday) 10.30 Family Service - Lay led
23rd September (4th Sunday) 10.30 All Together Service with Holy Communion
Contacting the Clergy Revd Jason Taylor (Rector) Rectory, 15 Church Road, Brampton PE28 4PF [email protected] 01480 453341 or 07807 118070
Mike Bigg [email protected] 07380 809377
Grafham’s County Councillor Grafham’s District Councillor
Peter Downes
07765 833486
peter.downes@ cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Darren Tysoe 01480 388310 [email protected]
Grove Cottage, Malting Lane, Ellington, PE28 0AA Follow me on Twitter@darrentysoe and twitter.com/darrentysoe Receive my updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/cllrdmtysoe
PARISH NEWS
The Parish Council meeting scheduled for 10th July has been postponed.
The meeting will now be held on 24th July at 7.30 in Grafham Village Hall.
Margaret Life Parish Clerk
07780 119311 [email protected]
(The July Parish News will be available to read on the village website www.grafham.org.uk and we hope to get the link to it included in the email to the mailing list at the end of July. Ed)
Contact Details for our Grafham Parish Councillors
You may contact your parish councillors through the
parish clerk or directly by using the details below.
Philip Allingham Chairman 01480 811516 [email protected]
Ian Gardener Vice Chair 01480 812821 [email protected]
David Russell [email protected]
Alastair Watson [email protected]
Jo Dunn [email protected]
Claire Hodder [email protected]
Roy Harold [email protected]
Young People’s Photo Competition! A photo competition for school age students during the Summer holiday
‘Summer in Grafham’ Prizes and best photos to be printed in the Gossip
Pick up entry details from the Shop
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 3 Issue 161
View from the Pew
On 30th June many of us from our three churches at-
tended Ely Cathedral to support Mike at his ordination. It
was an inspiring service. Readers may remember that
Mike was ordained as deacon this time last year. The
role of deacon is to serve the community, sharing God's
love. Now ordained as a priest, this role is much more
church focussed, to bless the people and announce
God's forgiveness. For us it also means we have Mike to
administer Holy Communion and to marry people. Mike
tells us that, "Ordination is part of God's way of helping
me become the person he's made me to be, in order to
be a blessing to others." On 1st July Mike presided at
his first Holy Communion at
Brampton. We all wish him well
for the future in his Ministry.
In response to requests, Mike is
planning to hold monthly mid-
week Holy Communion services
at Grafham, probably on a Thursday morning. We
would welcome anyone to these services which we hope to make an
informal and social occasion.
Look out for further details in the September Grafham Gossip.
The last "All Together" service at Grafham
was well attended by members of the three
churches.
Unfortunately we will have no musicians at
our first Sunday service on 5th August, un-
less a willing soul comes forward to play for
us. However, we are sure that a few well
known hymns will not be beyond us to sing
unaccompanied.
It was delightful to see Jessica and Sam
married on 14th July. The couple looked
the picture of happiness and Jessica and
her bridesmaids were radiant in their lovely
dresses. The sun certainly shone on the
whole proceedings. It was wonderful to see
the church full to overflowing on this special
happy day and the flower club had worked
their magic on the flowers Jessica had cho-
sen. We wish Jessica and Sam God's
blessings on a long and happy marriage.
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 4 Issue 161
Grafham Village Hall
Activities & Classes 2018
Mondays Yoga 6.15pm
Line Dancing 7.30pm
Tuesdays Pilates 9.45am
Art Club 1.30pm
Wednesdays Little Fishes (pre-school children)
10.00am
Karate 7.30pm
Thursdays Kick Boxing 7.00pm
Saturdays Chinese Martial Arts 10.30am
For enquiries about classes and about booking the hall, please telephone 07711 769911
Read more about village hall activities on page 16
August Deadline
Please send us all your
adverts, notices, news,
views and gossip
ASAP and
definitely by
midnight on
Thurs 16th August Thanks, Ed [email protected]
Grafham
Community
Shop
OPENING TIMES
Mon- Friday 8.00 - 6.30
Sat 8.00 - 5.00 Sun 9.00 - 2.00
Tel: 01480 810119 www.grafhamvillageshop.co.uk
Playtimes Pre-school Ferriman Road, Spaldwick PE28 0TQ
Tel: 01480 890077 www.playtimesplaygroup.co.uk
We have spaces available for 15 and 30 hours free government funding!
We offer: Breakfast club 8 - 9am Preschool 9am- 3pm Out of school club 3.30 - 6pm
The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife
Trust has a break for August, but starts again
with our autumn programme on Wednesday 12th
September at 7.30 in Brampton Memorial Hall.
Our first talk is Otters in Cambridgeshire and
our second is A Tale of Trees, the Battle to
Save Britain’s Ancient Woodland.
Look out for more details in the September issue
of the Grafham Gossip ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Registered Charity No: 1000412
Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
Northamptonshire
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 5 Issue 161
Talking Shop What a fantastic summer we’re having so far. Fingers crossed it continues right through the school summer holidays. We’ve seen lots of activity in the shop recent-ly with the influx of visitors to the caravan park and also walkers and cyclists who flock to Grafham Water. We really appreciate the support visitors to the village bring to the shop and this sets us up for the winter months which are a challenge.
With school holidays fast approaching, don’t forget we have a range of children’s activities in the shop, includ-ing colouring books, chalks and bubbles. We also have a selection of stationery for when thoughts turn to the new school year.
Have you tried our Grasmere products yet? We have recently added this range to our stock and it is proving to be very popular. We have smoked and unsmoked bacon, sausages, meat pies, cold meats including ham and haslet and a range of snack food including sau-sage rolls, pork pies, scotch eggs and salami.
We also have some new cheeses from Blunham Dairy which include Double Gloucester, Red Leicester and Caerphilly.
Our freezer contains a new selection of ready meals for those days when you’re just too busy and need something quick. Along with our usual items we now have Pasta Alfredo, Chicken Curry and Traditional Chicken Dinner. These are also perfect if you’re cook-ing for one.
As you can imagine, our cold drinks have been flying out of the shop in this recent hot weather. Do you know we stock fruit flavoured water alongside all the usual canned drinks? We’re now stocking Fruity Pots Jelly Squeeze in two flavours which are made with real fruit juice and contain no artificial colours or preserva-tives. Find them in our fridge.
Over the past 18 months, thanks to the kindness of people shopping in the community shop, we've man-aged to donate over 20 bags of groceries to the local food bank. That's a great effort and we'd encourage you all to keep on adding an item to the donation box whenever you feel able. We will deliver to the food bank when the box is full and we really don't mind making multiple journeys, if you're feeling very gener-ous. Thanks again for your help to date.
We were recently invited by Magpas to a champagne reception in recognition of our fundraising efforts. To date we have raised over £860 through your generosi-ty in sponsoring us to walk around Grafham Water and dropping your spare change into our charity box on the counter. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. As well as the fun side to the evening we also learned of the brilliant work the air ambulance crew do and heard from some people whose lives had been saved by them. It is a truly worthwhile cause.
OPENING TIMES
Mon-Fri 8.00 - 6.30
Sat 8.00 - 5.00
Sun 9.00 - 2.00
01480 810119
Email [email protected] Website www.grafhamvillageshop.co.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/grafhamcommunityshop
Lynn and Paul
If you’d like to write a ‘one-off’ article
or a regular feature for the
Grafham Gossip,
send it by email to
Send your news, views,
photos and gossip to
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 6 Issue 161
Has the bin man bin Mam?” Wednesdays Blue bin (recycling) and Black bin (refuse) - alternate weeks
Every other Thursday - Green bin (garden waste)
If you require any further advice or information about waste and recycling services, call 01480 388640 be-tween 8.45am and 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am and 4.30pm on Fridays or visit www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins
Can you spare an hour every few months? We’re very short of helpers
to clean the church. If you
could take a turn just two
or three times a year,
please get in touch. A few more
volunteers would make it easier for us
to keep the church looking bright and
welcoming for all.
Please contact:
The Labour Party in Huntingdon
Our next monthly meeting is Monday 20th August at 7.30pm
at The Medway Centre More details on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HuntingdonLabourParty/
or via the website: http://www.huntingdonlabourparty.org.uk
Come along and get involved in helping your
neighbours and the community!
Send your news, views,
photos and gossip to:
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 7 Issue 161
Just like the natural world, Christian life goes in sea-sons. As I write the sun continues to shine as it has done for weeks. Things are growing in the garden (although the grass is struggling). There are a few things that are a bit too enthusiastic in their growth and need cutting back. Right now, everything seems very much alive.
But I know that in a few months the leaves will be start-ing to fall from the trees. The plants that are so vigorous now will be preparing for winter. By January much will look like it is dead. Seeds will have fallen to the ground and won’t seem to be doing much. And yet the spring will come, and life will emerge again from the lifeless ground.
The church has seasons too. As autumn gives way to winter we have the season of Advent; a time of waiting, preparing and reflecting on our own mortality. At Christ-mas we celebrate God planting the seed of Jesus in the cold ground of our lives. At Easter we celebrate in the springtime good news that life has broken through death and the summer is coming.
And now we have what we call “ordinary time”. It’s a time of growth. It’s a time of getting on with living our lives. A time to live the message of Good News that, irrespective of our failings God loves us and seeks to bring about righteousness and justice in the world.
It’s a long stretch that lasts all the way to All Saints Day (1st November), and I’m glad that we can spend a good section of the year remembering that much of life is
about “just getting on with it”. However, I’m always a little relieved when All Saints rolls round again and there’s something else to focus on. Just as the plants have seasons for growth and seasons for dying back (ready for new growth), so human beings need a rhythm of life to keep us moving without racing ahead into burnout.
I wonder what your “rhythm of life” is like. I wonder how you know when to move forward, full steam ahead, and when to take stock and reflect. Is there anything that will force you to stop and think before you get into something ill advised? Is there something to help you prune yourself back as well as to help you move for-ward?
The word “religion” comes from the Latin “religio”, which means something like: “I bind back together” (think re[ as in “again”] and ligio [as in ligament]). Christians have spent the last 2,000 years practising a religion that provides patterns and rhythms for life that help us to work with God in binding our broken lives back togeth-er. I find it a great help!
Mike(Contact details for Mike can be found on page 2. Ed)
A time for growth
The Parish of East Leightonstone Brampton, Ellington and Grafham
Church Quiet Day: Saturday 1st September. An opportunity to get away from the busy-
ness of life for the day in order to reflect, pray and spend some time in fellowship. The day
will run from around 9:30am to 4pm and will include times of teaching, quiet prayer, lunch
and a short service of Holy Communion. We have booked Ferrar House a beautiful, restful
venue in Little Gidding, which is well-known as being a favourite place of TS Eliot. The day
will cost between £20-£25 per person which includes tea/coffee/biscuits as well as a light
lunch. It is open to anybody from our three villages, but we don't have the ability to cater for
children during the day. Please don't let transport be an issue - we hope to be able to share
lifts to Little Gidding.
Email or phone Dee Wormald if you'd like to put your name down: [email protected] or 01480 386242
and let us know by the end of July, at the latest if you'd like to come.
Please ask Mike: [email protected] if you have any questions.
The Foodbank at Godmanchester has asked for donations of toiletries, especially toothbrushes, toothpaste, sham-
poo and single bars of soap. Perhaps you could pick something extra up the next time you are shopping and help
local families that are struggling to buy essentials.
Working with children and young people: We are busy making plans for both Youth Club and Junior Church for
September. Both of these forms of ministry have been growing successfully throughout this year and so we're always
looking for new volunteers to expand what we can do. It's great fun and a great opportunity to nurture young people.
You don't need to be specially trained in any way, but do need to have a heart for young people, If you're interested
in helping with Junior Church then please contact Katy: [email protected] and if you're interested in helping with
Youth Club please contact Natasha: [email protected] Please note that any positions of responsibility
involving children will require a DBS check and other safeguarding checks.
To join the mailing list and receive the regular newsletter visit http://www.eastleightonstone.com and click News
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 8 Issue 161
Your advert could be here!
To advertise, email:
Community notices are free
Business adverts are priced
according to size,
payable in advance.
They start at £3.50
for a small box.
The money pays for the
printing of the newsletter and
any profit is donated to
All Saints, Grafham
and its Restoration Fund.
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 9 Issue 161
Times gone by! On my return to Norway in 1963, after six weeks on
sick leave, (‘Times Gone By’ July 2018 Grafham Gos-
sip,) I found that I had been promoted in my ab-
sence. OC (Officer Commanding,) now Major Sellars,
decided to have a leg pull and had me marched into
his office for being improperly dressed, (no rank
badge on my No.2 uniform,) which I knew nothing
about. I went to the tailor’s shop post haste and then
made a quick run to NCO's (Non Commissioned Of-
ficer’s) mess to buy the first round of drinks before it
got too crowded (and so more expensive). My first
duty was Battery Duty NCO. That was baptism by
fire! Drink fuelled an argument in Rammer Bar! I
needed to call the Night Guard to quell the trouble. As
I remember, the Guard Room had eight cells but
needed to fit in twelve troublemakers. A quick call to
the Scot's Guards at nearby Iserlohn settled the prob-
lem. It was quite entertaining watching their faces
when they realised they were in a Guard's nick which
was a lot more regimental than the Artillery! One or
two were sent to Colchester for 56 days "Holiday." It
was a learning curve for me when I escorted them
into confinement. I swore to myself I would never put
myself into that sort of trouble! I forgot to mention the
promotion came on Friday 13th!
Shortly after these events we went on a two week
exercise in the American Zone at Grafenwhor, which
is not far from Frankfurt. I had a great time working
with the American and German artillery units. There
was quite a lot of inter - unit fun and games in the
various BX (Base Exchange), NAAFI (Navy, Army
and Airforce Institutes) and German bars. We made a
great effort, as they all did to outdrink each other.
How we managed to complete the exercises is still a
mystery to me. Although there was nearly a nasty
incident when the German Artillery unit fired their 8"
Howitzers the next day. Somehow they misread their
co-ordinates and Fire Orders. Instead of firing at the
true target they fired on our positions and we had to
take cover - quickly I think! I remember diving under
the Command Post (Saracen ACP) and thinking, "
Wonder how thick is the Armour?" Fortunately no-
one was hurt except the German Colonel's pride,
which was soon settled!
Whilst in Grafenwhor, I was told my second promo-
tion had come through. That meant another long night
in the various unit bars! When we returned to
Menden, I was told I was on Attachment to 69th USA
Missile Detachment. They were responsible for ser-
vicing our nuclear capability, and we were tasked to
provide the transport, manpower, and armament sup-
port. I had a fantastic time with this unit and made
some really good friends, unfortunately some of them
lost their lives in Vietnam at later date. Whilst with
them we were requested to give extra cover by es-
corting them to various locations in Luxemburg, Bonn,
Rome and Naples. There was the usual forest of
hands raised when requests were made for volunteer
drivers! I had headaches sorting out who last jour-
neyed where.
Sometimes I was lucky. I made a really good friend in
Bob Weaver and managed to get into some "scrapes"
with him. I had some good laughs with Bob when we
met up in 2011 in Pittsburgh where he lives. That was
the first time we had met since 1965! A long time
passing but true friendships never fade. We have
been in constant contact since he managed to trace
my whereabouts through the British Embassy in
Washington DC in 1970. Previous to that the last time
I saw Bob was wen I took him to Frankfurt for his de-
mob.
The very next day, again Friday the 13th, I was pro-
moted again! I kept a very low profile that night as
the Barracks were crowded. The 69th Detachment
were based in a Canadian Barracks and that night the
Canadian Unit taking over was (PPCLI) Princess Pa-
tricia's Canadian Light Infantry, although as we called
them, Please Protect Canada's Little Indians (which
was not acceptable!) The American's taught us that
rhyme!
More next month … Dave Anthony
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme
As the Grafham Gossip is published once a month, we are not able to keep you updated with the planned road closures and diversions.
You can find them on the village web site www.grafham.org.uk and also the Grafham Village Friends facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/Grafhamvillagefriends/
Also for more information visit www.highways.gov.uk/A14C2H or stay updated by following https://twitter.com/a14c2h and https://en-gb.facebook.com/A14C2H
There is also a dedicated A14 Public Helpline 0800 270 0114 Ed
August 2018 10 Issue 161
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
Useful Phone Numbers All emergencies 999
Non-emergencies 101
Cambridge Constabulary HQ 01480 456111
Minicom for hard of hearing 01480 422493
Action Fraud 0300 123 2040
Crimestoppers 0800 555111 (anonymous)
To report anti-social behaviour in Grafham 01480 388379 or 387097 or email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Telephone Preference Service 08450 700707
Mailing Preference Service 08457 034599
Power cut 105 or 0800 31 63 105 or text POWER and your postcode to 80876
Thank you for your continued support!
The book stall is a fantastic fund-raiser for our village church, but we‘ve found that we can sell only good quality, clean paperbacks and find it difficult to lift, carry and dispose of other items.
Good quality paperback books in clean condition We love to receive your paperback books to stock our church bookstall. Please leave them in the church porch.
Paperback
books in good condition
x No
Hardbacks x
Manuals x
Magazines x
Encyclopaedias x
Other items x
Yes
Power cut? Contact us 24 hours a day
Text POWER and your postcode to
80876
ukpowernetworks.co.uk/liveupdates
Call us free on105 or
0800 31 63 105
To find out more about 105, visit http://www.powercut105.com/
Grafham
Oil Syndicate
The syndicate
continues
to grow,
keeping more money in the
village.
It’s FREE to join and we
must keep a bulk order at-
tractive enough to receive a
discount, so simply email
Simon
or call 07887 628528
Your advert could be here!
To advertise, email:
August 2018 11 Issue 161
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
Grafham Beer Festival
Thank you to everyone who came to the Beer Festival
and also to everyone involved in organising and funding the event.
We hope you all had a good time!
Calling all experienced and ‘would be’ flower arrangers
Would you like to help or learn how
to arrange flowers for events and
festivals? Hazel and Jill would be
delighted to hear from experienced
flower arrangers or beginners and
are very willing to show
anyone interested how to
go about it. Enthusiasm
and a love of flowers is all
that‘s necessary. It’s easi-
er than you might think!
Call Hazel 810326 or
Jill 810157 to talk about it.
August 2018 12 Issue 161
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
Paul's Private Hire and Chauffeur Service Van Diemens Way, Grafham,
Huntingdon, Cambs. PE28 0GB
Tel. 01480 811594 Mobile 07795 296281 Email [email protected]
Travel in style via Mercedes cars to your destinations
GRAFHAM WATER (NEXT TO THE VISITOR CENTRE)
WIDE RANGE AT LOW PRICES
OPEN WEDNESDAY- SUNDAY 09.00-17.30 TEL:01480 819730
FREE PARKING & FREE DELIVERY
PET & WILD BIRD FOOD
www.petfoodsdirect2u.co.uk
Free back door, when ordered with 5 or more windows
For a free, no obligation quotation please contact your local representative Jon Goodchild on 07825 238240 or email
WINDOWS DOORS ROOFLINE
CONSERVATORIES
GARDEN ROOMS FLAT ROOFS
www.gaphomeimprovements.co.uk
JEZ ASHCROFT LTD All your decorating needs including:
Coving, Internal Decorating
Drylining & Plastering
FREE ESTIMATES
Please Call
Tel: 01480 812461 Mobile: 07708031493
Kevin Hutchinson • Reliable Local Carpenter and Joiner
• All carpentry work undertaken
• Fitted kitchens, new doors, wood flooring and much more
• No job too small
Tel: 01480 811863/07889 414274
BSM BSM Driving Instructor DSA Approved, Pass Plus Registered Living locally in Grafham
Call John Sisseman for details
Tel. 07806 941675
Grafham Plumbing and Heating Ltd
Oftec registered technician
High efficiency condensing boilers fitted
Oil tanks fitted complete with bases
All boilers serviced
All plumbing undertaken
Vaporising appliances fitted and serviced
Service and maintenance plans available Professional, friendly and reliable
01480 812590
07799 640476
Cinnamon Bar and Indian Restaurant Open 7 days a week 5pm to 10.30pm Also lunch time if pre-booked for 5 or more people
Call 01480 812211/811316 Thursday Night is 'Banquet Night'
1 starter, 1 main, 1 side.
Any rice or any nan £13.50 King prawn or duck £1.50 extra
http://cinnamonhuntingdon.co.uk/
August 2018 13 Issue 161
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
Three little tales Each summer I get some little wildlife surprises just
because it is hot (it has been and still is hot this sum-
mer) and we open doors and windows whose purpose
is to keep out the winter wet and cold. A few days ago
we opened our kitchen double doors and went about
our business. Then my wife called me to say that there
was a bird sitting on our kitchen floor. We regularly
feed the birds so there are usually several around.
Most are common species but entertaining for all that.
This little visitor was about as common as our garden
offers - only a blue tit, but pristine. I wonder if it was
dazed because it
let me pick it up
without any appar-
ent concern. It
was probably
newly fledged as
its feathers were
perfect. I was sur-
prised by how it
felt in my hand. It
felt firm and tight
like a tiny body
builder. Maybe it
was tense through
fear I don’t know,
but I took it out-
side and released
it, off it went none
the worse. It was
a privilege.
A day or two later I was lazing in my chair on another
hot and energy sapping day, windows wide open. My
attention was drawn to something buzzing and bum-
bling about at the window beside an open window.
Something had wondered in and was doing the usual
insect thing of trying to escape through the glass. It
was large and black like a very big fly. It even swished
up and down and side to side rapidly in the manner of
a large fly. I left my chair and went to investigate. It
didn’t give me long to observe it, certainly no time to
fetch a camera. It was larger than any fly I was used
to. It was plain black but its body was segmented. I
only had a few seconds to take a brain picture. Its ap-
pearance and its darting movements and the tone of
its buzzing sent me for my Field Studies Council,
Guide to Bees of Britain. My conclusion was that it had
been a Hairy-footed flower bee, (Anthophora plumipes)
a female. I didn’t examine the feet so I don’t have a
mental reference for the level of hairiness of a Hairy-
footed flower bee. They aren’t rare but a new one to
me. Thanks for visiting.
Yesterday, my wife and I made an early start to drive
and collect some new honeybee colonies to replace
those that I lost during the winter. They are called nu-
cleus colonies in a nuc box on just five frames (a colo-
ny normally exists on a larger box with eleven frames).
The idea is to bring them home and transfer them into
full sized brood boxes of hives and hopefully they will
expand to become full colonies. My bee buddy, (the
mentor I had when I first took up beekeeping,) produc-
es nucs. He has 30 – 40 colonies of his own and had
just returned from looking at some hives that he had
transferred to pollinate a borage crop. It makes good
honey. Borage is grown commercially for its seed, the
oil being extracted for use in cosmetics and herbal
medicines. My bee buddy was sad to report that an
adjacent farmer had sprayed his fields and the honey
bees had foraged beyond the borage and brought poi-
son from the spray back to the hives and killed his
bees. Yes it still happens.
David Cudby
Photo: Robin Williams: Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording
Society Anthophora plumipes. http://www.bwars.com/
content/beginners-bees-and-wasps-anthophora-plumipes Accessed 16th July 2018
Team Irwin take on 100 km! Make-A-Wish UK grants magical wishes to enrich
the lives of children and young people fighting life-
threatening conditions. Granting their wish provides
seriously ill children with hope for the future,
strength to cope and resilience to fight their condi-
tion. They’re given quality time away from the daily
realities of living with their condition and given the
chance to make magical memories they can treas-
ure forever – whatever their future may hold. We
want to transform the lives of children this year by
granting their One True Wish!
On the 8th September we will
be taking on the 100km
Thames Path Challenge run
and we could really do with
any support you could give us
to support this amazing charity.
Continued on page 15
August 2018 14 Issue 161
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
August 2018 15 Issue 161
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]
ACTION POINTS arising from a village meeting on 3rd July 2018
Villagers from Grafham and Ellington concerned about both the increase in the traffic as a result of the
diverted A14 works and a general perception of excessive speeding through Grafham and Ellington,
attended a meeting in Grafham Village Hall. Here are the Action Points following the meeting.
We are now a ‘rat-run.’ Our campaign is an attempt to remove, as much as possible, the attractive-
ness of our village(s) and road as a short-cut, to reduce average speeds and to increase safety in the
village by:
Contacting PCSO Hodgson and Police to ask for speed van to be positioned in village.
AIM: prosecute speeding drivers and have this publicised.
Approaching A14 team to get money and re-surfacing (A14 Heritage Fund) work AIM: have them
fund the damage and problems caused by their works and provide “Your speed is...” cameras. Also
gates etc in consultation with Highways.
Approaching CCC Highways AIM: to ask what’s possible and legal, incuding moving speed signs
further out of village, painted lines on the road and similar ‘nudges.’
Investigating cost of village gates AIM: to reduce speeds and indicate that drivers are approaching
a rural village.
Contacting Anglian Water AIM: to see if they’re able to help in the campaign; their visitors are both
part of the problem and also are at risk.
Co-ordinating Speedwatch AIM: increase number of village volunteers, get training in place and
work with Ellington to run campaigns.
Speaking to local press (and national press) AIM: to publicise and become “the squeaky hinge” to
get campaign noticed by organisations we want to influence.
Upping our social media presence. AIM: draw attention of operators to problems caused.
Engaging support from elected representatives at all levels (Parish, District, County and Parliamen-
tary) AIM: to apply pressure from ‘on high’ as well as grass roots level.
Asking Highways and A14 about current diversion signage AIM: improve inadequate and confusing
signs as well as reduce HGV traffic through village.
Speaking to Highways regarding current weight limits AIM: to have them reduced and managed i.e.
prosecute offenders.
Speaking again to Renhold PC. AIM: more detail on works needed and costs to get speed camera
linked to police.
Looking at additional road paint and mirrors on the corner of Brampton/Breach Rd AIM: improve
safety and visibility of traffic for all.
Letter writing campaign to stakeholder organisations AIM: again, become the “village with a prob-
lem to be solved” to shut us up.
‘Civil disobedience’ i.e. making Breach Rd impassable to HGV traffic at certain times. This is The
Last Resort as this will be hugely unpopular with Police, Highways and possibly even locals.
For more information contact [email protected]
Team Irwin take on 100 km! Continued from page 13
There's no doubt this is going to be a ridiculously hard challenge, but knowing we are
helping to give children magical experiences will help us to keep going.
Thanks for all your support!
Alice, David, George and Alastair
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamirwin
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Opinions expressed in the Grafham Gossip, including past issues, are those of the writer and not the editors.
August 2018 16 Issue 161
Printed by Easiprint 01733 602302
Across the Churches Bible Study We are a small group meeting twice a month (Tuesdays 7.30pm) for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. We come from different churches and are always happy to welcome new members.
For more information, please contact Rob or Jean Clark 01480 890033.
Babysitters Bryony 22 yrs 812354 experienced with newborn to 14yrs
Mya 14 yrs 819326 Nicci 17 yrs 811279
GRAFHAM VILLAGE HALL has a Public Entertainments Licence for music, dancing, performing arts and can accommodate 92 guests seated in rows or 150 at a dance/disco - an ideal venue for children's and family parties. There is a playing field for sports activities and the hall has small changing rooms with shower facilities.
For details or to book, tel: 07711 769911
Grafham and Ellington Art GroupGrafham and Ellington Art GroupGrafham and Ellington Art Group http://grafhamandellingtonart.weebly.com/ Grafham Village Hall, Every Tuesday 1.30-4pm Calling all who want to meet and paint with like minded people on a regular basis.
Beginners and those with more skills are all very welcome.
Cost: About £2 to cover hall hire/refreshments. Come along with your paints and equipment!
Please ring me for more details.
Jackie Woods 01480 890279
Grafham Church Flower Club We are available to decorate the church for weddings and other church occasions.
Floral arrangements for: pedestal,
altar, font, windowsills, pew ends, pillars.
Please contact Hazel Powell on
01480 810326 for details and quotes.
If anyone in the village has foliage in their garden that they would be willing to donate for church decoration for festivals, please let us know, we would be very grateful.
The Mobile Library Route H24 visits Breach Road, Grafham on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 10.40 to 11.00. Next visits - 22nd August.
For renewals/ enquiries call 0345 045 5225 or click here
YOUR COUNTRYSIDE NEEDS YOU
www.gwcg.btck.co.uk/
Regional winners of the British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers Green Award 2006 & 2007
Join Grafham Wildlife and Conservation Group
Call Sam Malt on
01480 811654 or 07849 082870
.Come and join the
GRAFHAM LINE DANCERS Beginners are welcome
Monday evenings in the Village Hall
7.30 – 9.00pm
For more information ring Julia 01480 811613 or Text Penny 07986 509481
East Leightonstone Parish - Brampton, Ellington, Grafham
Little Fishes Stay + Play Tots Session
Grafham Village Hall
Wednesdays 10.00 to 11.20
Term time only
Just turn up on the day
Sessions include free-play, craft activities, a Bible story and sing-along. Babies welcome too
Contact Jean Clark 01480 890033 [email protected]
Coffee Morning Grafham Social Committee invites you to Coffee Mornings at 10.30am on the third Wednesday of the month:
15th August - Karen Stewart, 2 Home Close
This is an informal social occasion for residents of the village. Please come along for a cup of coffee and a chat.
Ellington and Grafham WI
meets on the first Tuesday of the month in Ellington
village hall. Membership is £41 per annum but you are
most welcome to come as a visitor. The programme
for 2018 is varied and interesting with speakers or
events every month.
August A local event is to be arranged September the Man from the Pru - Adventures of an Insurance Rep.
If you would like any more information please contact:
Sue 01480 896139 [email protected] or Ann 01480 891192 [email protected]