T
oft Village Calendar
Produced and Distributed by St. Andrew’s Parish Church September 2017
EDITORIAL
I hadn't, until now, numbered the Royal Horticultural Society amongst my close friends, but that was before their latest report, published in the must-read Biodiversity and Conservation Journal. Because it answers one of life's intractable questions which - in case, by some unbelievable act of negligence, you do not have your copy to hand - I will adumbrate right now: As you rise, swinking and sweating, slowly into a standing position, one hand clutching your back and as you survey, with a sinking heart, all that is still left to be done in your garden, you may have asked yourself 'Is this really worth it? Is the day Thou gavest, Lord, really to be spent plucking innumerable tiny weeds from my top-soil, in the sure and certain knowledge that they will be back - in triplicate - by this time next week'? The RHS, bless them, has the answer and it is 'No - it isn't'. And you needn't take my word for it. An actual scientist, Dr Andrew Salisbury, says that: “The presence of a wide range of invertebrates, such as ladybirds, springtails, spiders and even caterpillars are indicators of a diverse garden eco-system, and so should be encouraged." And the best way to do that is to forget the weeding, strimming, mowing, hoeing and raking for a while. Natural, native plant species (I think he means 'weeds') are a kind of seventh heaven for these little beasts, whereas the expensive imports you struggle home with from the garden centre and nurture lovingly through the frosts and blizzards induce the same reaction from them as a Barnsley chop does from a vegan.
'Hang on' you may say. 'Caterpillars might well be a symptom of a well-functioning eco-system, but they eat my plants.' Dr Salisbury has seen you coming: "While some of these animals are traditionally regarded as pests by gardeners, they are vital to support healthy populations of natural predators which in turn help keep pests under control. And they provide food for birds and mammals. In short, an abundance of bugs equates to healthy garden ecology" he blarneys, persuasively, if, it has to be said, somewhat illogically. You could just as easily argue that you wouldn't need a healthy population of predators if you hadn't let your precious patch get swamped with pests, but since that argument doesn't suit our purpose we will ignore it. In any case, the doc has a clincher in the form of this: “In order to help create a positive environment for these valuable invertebrates to thrive gardeners should plant plenty of UK plants and relax; refrain from spraying plants at the first sign of pest attack, reduce trimming and allow some plant debris to accumulate.” Now - that's my kind of scientist! None of that don't-eat-this, don't drink-that stuff - just a simple, straightforward instruction any gardener can follow: Be lazy.
So, as you relax in your deckchair amidst the billowing drifts of rotting vegetation and the impenetrable nettle beds, as swarms of voracious 'natural predators' attack every pore in your body and as the neighbours tut disapprovingly over the fence at you, console yourself with this thought: I am not an idle layabout - I’m an ecologist!
MONTHLY COFFEE MORNING will be on Wednes-day 27th Septem-ber 10.30am-12.00noon at the home of Arpi and Peter Johnson, 73 School Lane. This will be in aid of Mac-millan Cancer Support. Everyone Welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
TOFT FRIENDSHIP CLUB
[Over 50s Club]. Friend-ship Club
Our next meeting will be the CRUISE on the CAM on Wednesday 13th Sep-tember, leaving Toft about 1.30 by car to arrive Fen Ditton for 2.00 pm cruise. If the numbers are high there will be two cruises (45 minutes long) and there will be the chance for refreshments in the grounds of the Plough be-fore or after. Cost £10 per head, this includes petrol for drivers. Please let Ann Mitchell (262516) or Arpi Johnson know if you would like to take part in this – transport will be organised.
~~~~~~~~~~~ The Parish Council - meets on Monday 4th Sep-tember.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Simple Sewing, Knit and Natter meets again on 6th
September in the Chapel at 10.45am
DIARY DATES
All Change!
T h e
c o u n t y
council has
re-ceived copies of
a number of bus
service
deregis-trations,
which
will take effect
from 3 September. The one that
particularly affects us is the
with-drawal of the Whippet No 2
ser-vice, which currently serves
Cambridge - Hardwick - Toft -
Caldecote – Boxworth.
Officers are currently considering
options for providing alternative
services and further information
will be provided once details are
available.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's get this party started to help
breast cancer patients!
The annual Addenbrooke's
Breast Cancer Appeal, organised
by Addenbrooke's Charitable
Trust (ACT), asks people to host
a party for family, friends, work
colleagues or fellow students this
October to help raise money to
transform care for patients. Party
suggestions include getting
to-gether for tea and cake, a
prosecco party, office party or
even a summer 'BooBieQ'.
To get involved and find out
more,visit
www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/
ABCappeal, or email
[email protected] or
MINISTRY TEAM
THE CHURCH IN TOFT
St. Andrew’s Parish Church
Lay Minister: Barbara Preece Tel: 263466
Churchwardens:
Ann Mitchell 262516
John Quenby 263949
Methodist Church
Minister: Rev Alison Walker
01223 872862
[email protected]
Stewards:
Diana Tebbit 01223 263557
Stephen Acklam 264055
Douglas Harris 01954 211647
Mrs Pat Morton 264010
Everyone is welcome to come and share
in any of our services
SERVICES OF WORSHIP
3
rdSeptember 8.00am Holy Communion,
St. Mary’s Comberton
11.00 am HARVEST FESTIVAL (see also
p.3 – Methodist church - Rev Alison
Walker
10
thSeptember 8.30 am Holy
Commun-ion, St. Andrew’s – Revd. Prof. Michael
Reiss
11.00 am Holy Communion, St. Andrew’s
– Revd Robert Dolman
17
thSeptember 8.00 am Holy Communion
– St. Mary’s Comberton
11.00 am Morning Service, Methodist
church – John Boocock
24
thSeptember 8.30 am Holy
Commun-ion, St. Andrew’s – Revd. Prof. Michael
Reiss
11.00 am Holy Communion, St. Andrew’s
– Revd Susan Wyatt
(Shorter Morning Prayer every
Wednes-day, 9.15am at St. Andrew’s. Service lasts
about 30 minutes – everyone very
wel-come. )
D
ear Friends,
Back to school, back to uni, back to the routine of
work, back to the rotas of voluntary activity! It only
seems like 5 minutes ago that the schools were
breaking up. The adverts for new school uniforms
appeared forebodingly at the beginning of August and
already with this cooler weather, we are drawn back to
long-sleeves and waterproofs.
To be able to enjoy the moment is a life-skill. We
cannot change the future by worrying about it nor the
past by brooding over it. We can savour the days, the
places and the company that we enjoy now. We can
give thanks for all that we enjoy, counting our
blessings, and at the same time our sense of being
blessed carries us to pray for those who do not have
all that we enjoy, and praying then carries us to
working for others. The festival of Harvest is one of
those moments of reflection – it acknowledges the
precarity of human living and effort required before we
can sing “all is safely gathered in, ere the winter
storms begin”.
It is, I think, impossible to be aware of our wealth and
blinkered to those in need, those who are blinkered do
not have the gift of true understanding in the first
place.
The start of the new school year and the taking up of
myriad activities after a summer break is a strange
accompaniment to Harvest, with its sense of
completion and forthcoming winter rest.
Perhaps though there is a balance to be learnt here –
how to enjoy life in its fullness, even those moments
too much busyness, and also take time to rest and to
give thanks. After all, that is the routine that the Bible
recommends – 6 days to work and 1 day to rest and
play.
Could you give up all forms of work and busyness just
once a week and in exchange gain a day just for
re-creation, however that seems best to you?
With best wishes,
Alison
Simple Sewing, Knit and Natter at the Chapel meets
again on the 6th September at 10.45am. Lots of ideas
being prepared for our Christmas charity sale on the
18th November, plus discussions about different ideas
for a Christmas Tree! All welcome whether to sew, knit
As part of the Beer Festival week-end the Church in Toft will celebrate Harvest with a service of singing and praise on Sunday, 3rd September at 11.00 am at
Toft Methodist church. We have the delight to watch the cycle of crops change as they encircle our village, so come and enjoy a good sing. Then off to the Festival for lunch to continue to celebrate.
WEDDING On Friday 22nd September, Harriet Cox and Connor Jipps are to be married at St. Andrew’s. We wish them a joyful day and much happiness in the future.
20th August 2017 – the Bishop is pleased to announce that the Revd David Newton has been appointed as Team Vicar in the Lordsbridge Team with particular responsibility for Caldecote, Comberton and Toft. He will be instituted to the post on December 5th by the Bishop of Huntingdon.
David studied Theology at Cambridge before training to be a teacher. He taught Religion and Philosophy at a school in Surrey where he met his wife Sally. He trained for ordination in Durham and took up the position of
Assistant Curate in the Ely Team in July Z015, where he has been lead minister for one of the churches in the Team as well as heading up some particular Team-wide projects. He and Sally have an 11 month old called Toby, and share their home with their beautiful black Labrador, Oreo. David enjoys good books, good food and long walks.
We look forward to welcoming the family in December. LOOKING AHEAD
OCTOBER 22ND THANKFUL SUNDAY As we come towards the end of our 800 celebrations we have much to be thankful for in our village and a number of folk have written pieces of music and poems to celebrate Toft, its church and the community we all enjoy. We would like to invite you to share in this event by bringing to church anything which makes you, or you as a family, want to say thank you – it could be photographs, a christening dress, a painting or photo of the church itself, a wedding dress, a piece of music, a pair of shoes, a service sheet from a funeral or a baptism or a wedding … You get the message?
We would like you to bring your item(s) to St. Andrew’s on Saturday 21st between 10.00 – 12 noon so we can set them all out around the church – we’ll even have coffee and biscuits for you. Then on the 22nd 10.15 for 11.00 - coffee and cake and a chance to look at the treasures.
11.00 a Service of Thanksgiving at which all the pieces of music and poems will be performed and some time-honoured hymns sung. Please do put the 22nd in your diary
FOR YOUR DIARY November 17th Fireside
November 18th Simple sewing knit and natter sale November 25th Church Christmas Sale
AND
December 3rd The finale of our 800, in the presence of Bishop Stephen, a service of
thanksgiving for Toft and in the afternoon our annual Christmas Tree, Christingle and Gift Service.
TOFT SOCIAL CLUB NEWS
ANNUAL BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL. 1
ST- 3
RDSEP-TEMBER
It’s our thirteenth!
It’s free entry as usual and only £2.40/pint! We’ll have fourteen real ales, mostly from brewers in a 25 mile radius, and three ‘real’ local ciders. Glu-ten-free beers will be available.
A selection of snacks - pasties, toasties & burgers - will be available throughout the weekend. Curry & rice (£5) will be available between 7 and 9pm on Saturday.
A traditional Sunday lunch (£6) will be served in two sittings - 12.30pm and 1.15pm. Tickets can be purchased
at the Social Club from Thursday, to guarantee a preferred time. All of the options include vegetarian and
gluten-free choices.
There’ll be live music outside on Saturday evening, weather permitting. Opening times are: Friday 1st September: 6.00 - 11.00 pm
Saturday 2nd September: Midday - 11.00 pm Sunday 3rd September: Midday -10.30 pm
SATURDAY 16th SEPTEMBER: FILM CLUB: ‘HIDDEN FIGURES’ (PG)
‘Hidden Figures’ is a 2016 American film telling the story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, a team of brilliant female African American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. They work feverishly on the calculations for the launch and re-entry of John Glenn’s 1962 mission to orbit the earth.Film Club members free. Non-members pay a £2.50 nightly membership fee at the door.
23
rdSEPTEMBER: INFORMAL LIVE MUSIC NIGHT
These events are relaxed and entertaining! We invite along a crowd of musicians – there are now more than 20 local performers on our list. What they produce is amazingly good and it’s always great fun. The music is always different, with a wide range of styles. Sit at the front and listen, or chat at the back! Free entry. Bring your friends!
FORTNIGHTLY QUIZ / FOOD ON FRIDAY
Please note there will be no Sunday quiz on 3rd September as it’s the last night of the Beer Festival. Also, there will be no ‘Food on Friday’ this month – the next one of these popular events will be on October 13th.
OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
(Doors open at 8.00 pm, 7.30 pm on Sundays)
www.toftsocialclub.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/ToftSocial
Your Committee is: Richard Fletcher (Chairman), Martin Sebborn (Vice Chairman),
Gill Collett (Treasurer), Paul Hercus (Secretary), Nick Nicholson, Koran Collett,
Ron Gouldstone, Brian Roberts, Angela Unsworth, Katrina Holmes, Sonia Cox.
Sunday quiz 17th September
Toft Parish Council
Clerk: Mrs Gail Stoehr 30 West Drive Highfields Caldecote
Cambridge, CB23 7NY Tel: 01954 210241
The Council is your locally elected Council at the first tier of local government. Meetings are open to the public and are usually held on the first Monday of each month (excepting August) at the Toft People’s Hall in School Lane starting at 7.00pm.
Notices of meetings and agendas are published on the Parish Council Noticeboard near the bus shelter together with minutes, which can also be viewed at www.toft.org.uk. Among other things, the Council considers local planning applications for the planning authority, the South Cambridgeshire District Council; provides the local recreation area, the People’s Hall, litter bins, dog waste bins and the bus shelter; arranges for local verge cutting on behalf of the Cambridgeshire County Council and works with that authority to ensure the maintenance of local footpaths.
The Council did not meet in August. The next meeting of the Council is Monday 4th
September* All Welcome.
Councillors Phone E-mail
Chairman:
Martin Yeadon 263663 [email protected] Gill Pugh 262151 [email protected] Jeanne
McCarten
262523 [email protected] Elaine Miles 262255 [email protected]
Calling all dog-owners -
Don’t give a dog a bad name!!
Dog-owners, as well as people who don’t own a dog, are beginning to complain that
local footpaths are being spoilt by dog waste, bags of dog waste in hedges and dogs not under proper
control so, please, let’s be responsible dog-owners and ensure we
bag it - dog waste is offensive to everybody but particularly to people who are out for a
pleasant stroll and it is potentially a health hazard for children;
bin it – leaving a plastic bag anywhere is unsightly, can be dangerous to wildlife and plastic
takes decades to decompose. Dog waste bags can be put in ordinary public litter bins
(double-bagged if possible) as well as designated dog waste bins (see below for where
bins are situated)
prevent our dogs running up to and/or jumping up onto other people – some people are
nervous of dogs irrespective of the size, breed or age of the dog.
Remember all dogs are legally required to wear a collar with a disc showing the name,
ad-dress and telephone number of the owner and it is illegal to let a dog roam the streets or
countryside unsupervised.
It is worth knowing that all of the above carry fixed penalty notices and in the case of dogs jumping up at
people, Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act makes very unpleasant reading!
There are bins in the following places, some more obvious than others!
♦ the entrance to Toft Wood;
♦ near the bus shelter
♦ opposite the bus shelter on the corner of the passage to St. Andrew’s cottages (half-covered by ivy)
♦ opposite the church at the entrance to the meadow
♦ by the bench on Church Road opposite the gate looking towards the Eversdens
♦ by the bench near the steps into the meadow on Brookside ♦ another on the same side(rather hidden
in a hedge) on Brookside
♦ under the trees on the High Street opposite the farm
♦ outside the recreation ground on the High Street
♦ in Stoney Lane close to the High Street.
(We are currently waiting for another dog bin to be situated on the corner of School Lane and Pinfold
Well Lane.)
SHIRLEY MAY PARNELL
Resident of School Lane for some years, died on 27
thJuly. She will be remembered by those who
knew her for he keen love of gardens and flowers, her visits to the Social Club and her recent
Comberton Library
Opening Hours: Monday: 10am – 1pm;
Wednesday: 10am – 1pm, 2pm -5pm; Friday: 2pm – 5pm; Saturday: 10am – 1pm
More details can be found on the Library Service website at: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/library Our children’s Summer Reading Challenge, Animal Agents, has been very popular and we have been de-lighted to see the children and their families coming to the library to tell us about the books they have been reading, and collecting stickers for their Animal Agents’ folder. We hope that many of you have also solved the mystery, or collected your week 6 sticker, which gave the answer! If you still need to finish the chal-lenge, we have a final drop-in session on Saturday 9th September from 10.30 am – 12 noon, when a
vol-unteer, or member of staff will be available, to make sure that you have your final stickers and activity sheets.
Just a reminder for all the fantastic children, who have completed the Summer Reading Challenge, and their parents/carers, we will be holding our certificate and medal ceremony at the library on Saturday 23rd September at 11.00 am. It will be lovely to see you then to celebrate your achievement and to thank our wonderful teenage volunteers for all their help. If, however, you are not available then, do come along to the library during any open session after 23rd September to collect your certificate and medal.
Comberton Library, currently, is hosting an Explore Science collection of books. There are general interest Science topic books together with GCSE and A Level texts. Do have a look for the purple shelving unit near the public computers when you are next visiting the library.
Upcoming Rhymetime sessions: 11th and 25th September and 9th and 30th October (10.30 -11.00 am). Please note that although these sessions are aimed at very young children we welcome older siblings and pre-schoolers who enjoy singing too!
SEPTEMBER BULLETIN FROM CAMBRIDGESHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
The school summer holidays are coming to a close and we hope you have enjoyed the time with family, going on holiday or even creating your own adventures at home.
Before the children head off back to school, take the opportunity to teach your children about fire safety and de-sign your very own fire escape plan for them to share with teachers and other students back in the classroom.
We recommend every household has a fire escape plan and regularly runs through it with the family – especially when guests are coming to stay.
Here are a few things to consider when writing yours:
Everyone should know where the window and door keys are.
Your normal way out of the house is your best escape route so always keep it clear of clutter - think of the difficul-ties you'll have using this route in pitch darkness or smoke.
Walk your escape route with the rest of your family or housemates and make sure everyone can open windows and doors easily.
If you, your neighbour or family member might be vulnerable or have trouble escaping from their house in a fire, get in touch with us to see if we can help by calling 0800 917 9994.
The Great Fire of Toft
From a newspaper report of February 25
th, 1865, reprinted
in the Cambridge Evening News February 19
th, 1965.
On the morning of Monday last, about half past ten o'clock, a fire of an unusually disastrous
and destructive character broke out in Toft and so rapidly did it spread, in consequence of a
wind of hurricane force, that, with the appliances at hand it was quite impossible to retard its
progress until the buildings attached to five farms, in fact all those in the parish, had been, four
completely and one partially, consumed.
The fire commenced at a building on the premises occupied by Mr. John Tibbitt, junr., and
be-longing to the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy, and destroyed the dwelling house, nearly
all the furniture, barn, stables, cowhouse, cart sheds and a quantity of farm implements. The
property is insured. From Mr. Tibbitt's, the fire communicated with the adjoining premises,
oc-cupied Mr. John Pentelow, and owned by Valentine Beldam, Esq., of Royston. There were
burnt four barns, two stables, cart lodge, three sheds, cow house, granary and piggeries.
These premises were insured.
The next to ignite were premises in the occupation of Mr. John Matthews, whose house and
furniture and a small bam were burnt. This property too was insured. Five adjoining-cottages
next caught fire and were totally destroyed, the poor occupants losing all their furniture, as the
first burnt so rapidly, and the alarm was so great that their briskness was considerably
ob-structed by fright. These cottages were the property of Mr. Wm. Foscal, who resides at
Haslingfield, but holds a farm here on the opposite side of the road which next took fire, and
the house, occupied the bailiff, all his furniture, three barns, stable, granary and cart lodge,
chaff house, sheds, piggeries, a quantity of beans, peas and oats, three wheat, one hay and
one stover* stack were destroyed.
Sunday / Monday Club in Toft
Calling all 4 - 10 year olds in Toft
and surrounding villages !
Come and join in the fun every
Monday in term time
at the Methodist Church in the
High Street, Toft.
From 3.30pm. until 5.00p.m.
Juice and biscuits provided.
play games
cook
do art and crafts
find out about God and Jesus through DVDs and stories
do interesting things
Come and make some new friends - or bring a friend with you. You don't even have to live in
Toft.
We would love to see you there !
For information, please contact Pat on (01223) 264010 or just pop in.
- Plenty of car parking at the side of the church and use the rear entrance for dropping off
and picking up -
(that's for the grown-ups, of course ;-).
Shed Security
Many people underestimate the value of the items they store in their sheds. Unfortunately criminals are fully aware of the value of the goods that some people do store in vulnerable places. The following advice can help to keep your property secure and reduce the chance of you becoming a victim of crime.
Whilst a shed is not designed to withstand any form of determined attack, there are some sim-ple measures you can take to make them more secure. Position your garden shed as near to your house as possible so that it is clearly visible from your home.
Consider painting your house number and postcode onto your valuable gardening equipment (e.g. lawnmower, strimmer and tools). This makes them much less attractive to potential thieves as it makes them more difficult to sell on, and also increases the chances of the property being recovered and returned to its rightful owner if it is stolen.
Avoid storing valuable items such as power tools, fishing tackle or golf clubs in a shed. These items should be stored inside your home or a secure garage.
If you have been working in your garden ensure that you lock away tools such as spades or forks when you’re finished. Tools left out overnight could be used by an intruder to gain access to your property.
If you don’t intend to use the windows in your shed you can make them secure by screwing them shut or fitting window locks. Hanging old curtain or netting up against the window will prevent any prying eyes from seeing what is stored in your shed.
Locks and Bolts
The most effective way to secure shed doors is to fit a strong hasp and staple (also called a ‘padbar’). Secure this with coach bolts (long bolts with a smooth head that cannot be undone with a screwdriver or spanner) and lock the hasp over the staple with a closed shackled padlock.
You can further protect your shed with items such as ‘shed bars’ and larger items such as cycles can be secured to shed shackles. These and other approved products can be found at www.soldsecurecom or
www.securedbydesign.com.
Secure the shed door hinges with ‘clutch head’ or ‘coffin’ screws. These are a special type of screw that once fit-ted can only be unscrewed with a special tool. They can be purchased from DIY outlets and on the internet
A group of around 40 toddlers, parents, childminders embarked on a ‘Toddle for De-mentia’ in Toft this week (first week in August), along with residents from Home
Meadow residential home. The walk was to raise awareness of dementia, and in doing so the group also raised £190 for the Alzheimer’s Society charity.
The group of ‘Little Owls’ toddlers visit Home Meadow every Monday and spend the day with residents, many of whom live with dementia. Childminders, Natalie and Amanda are embarking on a Memory Walk for charity in September in Peterborough, but decided to host a smaller version in Toft so the children could also get involved.
Become a Friend of Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire (HSRSC)
There is no charge to becoming a Friend of HSRSC and as a Friend you will receive regular updates of all our future events and activities.
As and when you are available, we would also encourage you to get involved and support our fundraising team in a variety of different ways e.g. from volunteering your time at events, to helping to promote our work, to baking cakes or collecting donations on our be-half.
If you would like more information on how to support our charity and how to get more involved, please send us an email with your contact details to: [email protected]
Your County Councillor would like to introduce herself…
LINA JOSEPH - Cambridgeshire County Council Conservative candidate for Hardwick division.
I am 30 years old. I am Colombian. And I am a committed vegan. Some might say I am not a traditional Conservative, but I
consider myself a Tory with a twist!
Since I started campaigning around a year ago, I met hundreds of residents and it’s been fantastic to know their stories. Now is my turn, here is a brief story of my life.
The youngest of three, I was born into a middle class family in Bogota, Colombia, in 1986. My grandparents were farmers, so I was lucky to have the best of both worlds – the city and the countryside. This has given me a deep rooted passion and concern for our environment. I recognise the importance of balancing the relationship between us, other species, and the planet.
Since childhood, I have travelled all over the world, spending significant chunks of my life in the United States, Spain and
England. I completed my first degree in Barcelona (Political Science). I came to Cambridge in 2010 where I obtained a Masters in Organisational Culture & Leadership. I then went to work for the County Council, first in a Children Centre and thereafter for Trading Standards.
I have now settled in the UK, living in Haslingfield with my English husband, Guy, and our two little boys. I love the peace, the pace, and the people. I volunteer with local charities and organisations, relishing in sharing knowledge and spreading the word of a project or cause. Community spirit is hugely important to me and I find the villages in South Cambridgeshire have this in abundance.
Over a year ago I started a business specialising in freshly baked vegan cakes and treats. I cater for businesses and events, but also to individuals all over Cambridge and beyond. Being a “mumpreneur” is amazing, with lots of challenges and rewards. Multitasking is a key feature of my job description. I try to work around the children, so I can spend more quality time with them. As a business owner, I know the importance of listening to my clients and their requirements. I am proactive, forward thinking, respectful, all attributes I believe will help in my role as a Conservative County Councillor. I believe in Freedom, Responsibility and Respect. These are the core values of the conservatives. I believe in taking responsibility for your own life, for your own decisions, for your own mistakes. The time I spent in Colombia has very much shaped who I am. Watching people struggle in a country with no welfare state has made me much more appreciative of what we have here and how lucky we are. This has helped me to take a broad view of life and the challenges of balancing the needs of society with the needs of the individual.
I have a strong belief that everyone is born with a talent. It is our society’s task to help and support each individual to reach their maximum potential. This will create a win-win situation for all of us. Our society will increase its productivity and each individual will feel accomplished.
We live in uncertain times. Change is around every corner. With Brexit now a reality, my aim is to help my constituents - no matter who they are or what they do - with the transition. I am always respectful of other people’s views. I am a good listener. I am empathetic. I am dedicated in helping others in any way I can. I believe I am a fresh new face for the Conservative party.
So you might want to know why I decided to stand for County Council. I decided to get involved in local politics because of my passion for my community and helping others. I have always been involved in charities. I decided that if I wanted to see change I had to get involved and try and offer solutions to the problems I was seeing. I consider myself a doer, can’t sit around and wait for others to get things done.
Subjects that are on the top of my list: Education, Mental Health and Environment. I strongly believe that a society without education has no future. We must invest in our children and their development. Furthermore, we have a huge improvement in mental health, how we perceive, how it is dealt with it, but there is so much more to do. Mental health doesn’t
discriminate and it can have terrible consequences if not dealt with it. I personally would like to see more done in the area of parents to be and new families. Finally, our species existence depends on how well we look after our environment, so this area of work is essential.
It has been just over three months since I was elected and I am enjoying my role very much. There are many challenges and I look forward to working closely with peers to overcome them.
Things you might not know about me: I am currently studying Japanese; I am a terrible singer and I have a cat called Dusty.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous: 0845 769 7555 Anglian Water (for sewage): 08457 145 145 Ashcroft Veterinary Surgery: 01954 210250 Bourn GPs’ Surgery: 01954 719313 Cambridge AIDS help-line: (01223) 508805 Cambs County Council: 0345 045 5200 Cambridge Dial a Ride 01223 506335 Cambridge Water: 01223 706050
Care Network Cambridgeshire 01954 211919. Citizens Advice Bureau: 0844 848 7979 Comberton GPs’ Surgery: 01223 262500 Comberton Village College: 01223 262503 County Councillor: 01954 211444
District Councillor: 01954 210840
Eastern Electricity (Emergencies): 0800 7838838 CVC Community Education: 01223 264721 Household Waste/Pest Control: 0345 045 0063
Lifespan Health Care, Family and Child Team: 01223 264460 Member of Parliament: Phone 01954 212707
Meridian Primary School: 01223 262423 Police: 101 (Emergencies: 999)
(Local Beat Officer is PCSO Sam Kennedy) Road/Pothole Reporting: 0345 045 5212 Street Lighting: 0800 7838 247
Street Cleaning: 03450 450 063
South Cambs District Council: 03450 450 500 South Cambs Fire and Rescue: 01480 444 500 Toft Car Scheme: 262814. If no reply 262708 Trading Standards: 0345 0455206
And, finally…
Please remember that contributions for the next issue of the
Calendar must reach the Editor, Michael Walker, by 20th
Sep-tember. Many thanks to all who contributed to this edition. Email: [email protected]
Post: 33 Egremont Road, Hardwick, Cambridge CB23 7XR Telephone: 01954 211346
Advertisements are published quarterly. Copy for inclusion in the
next available edition of the Calendar must reach us by 17th Octo-ber 2017 at the very latest. Advertisements will NOT be published unless full payment has been received in advance. Please note: We
are currently unable to accept PDF file types. Quarter-page adverts
MUST be Portrait-style, half-page adverts MUST be Landscape- style. In the first instance, advertisers should contact Pat
Gould-stone at: [email protected] to discuss their requirements.
Notice to Advertisers
Wheelie Bin Collections For September (N.B. These dates may be subject to change)
Black Bin: Weds 6th Sept Weds 20th Sept Blue/Green Bin: Weds 13th Sept Weds 27th Sept
T
he Calendar is always pleased to receive contribu-tions from readers, advertisers and fund raisers. We reserve the right to edit, amend, abridge or otherwise butcher any submissions to accord with technical or edi-torial requirements, or sometimes just on a whim. Con-tributors are asked to note that all formatting is removed from items on receipt. Consider plain text files as your first choice where possible. Please avoid proprietaryfile types (e.g. PDF, JPG, PUB, DOCX, XLS etc) unless you feel it essential. Many thanks.
