Latest Fenland neighbourhood news
Elm
St Mary’s Church
200 Club
Winners are: D Smithee and L Sands. Both have won £6.
Friday Bridge
WI
The Christmas meeting was held in Tower Hall on December 14 when president Ann welcomed 15 members.
After a short business meeting, when the new committee was announced, a birthday gift was given to Varina and Hazel gave details of outings.
Ann presented a gift to Joyce as thanks for all the years that she has provided flowers for the officers’ table and table arrangements for special events.
Ann announced the winner of the cup for the monthly competitions – Joan Arnold, who had achieved 41 points over the year.
A buffet of seasonal food, provided by members, followed.
Ann Purt then helped members to create Christmas table arrangements. Ann provided the greenery, dried fruit and baubles needed and led members through each stage.
Every member took a lovely arrangement home and Ann was thanked by president Ann.
Janet distributed the Secret Santa gifts, while Delia and Ann handed out Christmas cards.
The results of of the monthly competition were announced – 5 points going to Brenda, Connie and Joan A.
After the raffle, Ann wished everyone a happy Christmas and reminded members the next meeting will be on Monday, January 11, at Mendi’s.
March
Royal Naval Association
An Admiralty Service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church at Trafalgar Square on November 30 and a number of members from the March branch attended.
In attendance were two Government Ministers, the 2nd Sea Lord and the Chaplain of the Fleet gave the address.
This annual service dates back to at least 1672 when all Government officials were required, under the provision of the Test Act, to take communion to demonstrate their membership of the Church of England.
The Admiralty were not excluded from this and due to the location of the church, all Admiralty officials would have done this at St Martin’s.
March Stone Cross WI
The annual meeting was held on Thursday, December 10, at Trinity Church Hall, March. Nad Stoker was again elected president.
After the business members enjoyed a ‘bring and share’ supper, a pantomime, quizzes and all sang the ‘12 Days of Christmas’.
The next meeting is the birthday dinner and in February the meeting is on February 11 at 7pm at Trinity Church Hall when the speaker is Guy Pidsley.
Visitors and new members always welcome. Refreshments available.
March Morning WI
Members and visitors were welcomed by president Judy Ellingham.
The speaker was Mr John Parish, who gave a talk and slideshow on conservation and his vineyard.
After his talk John invited members to sample his wines and liqueurs if they wished. A vote of thanks was given by Pauline Stevens.
Social time was a Christmas anagrams quiz. Refreshments were served by Linda and Gwyneth.
Raffle winners were Betty Smith, Margaret, Ann, Edie and Sally, with Betty winning the Christmas hamper.
Competition results for a hedgerow find – Judy 15pts, Ann 14pts, Marion, Sally and Betty Stone 13pts.
Following the meeting members and visitors enjoyed their Christmas meal. Judy thanked everyone for attending.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, January 14, 9.30am-11.45am at March Community Centre, Station Road, March. Visitors and new members welcome.
March Family History Society
The December meeting was members’ evening.
Members provided interesting presentations of their own research relating to their families, which demonstrated the depth of information that can be traced through perseverance, painstaking recording and piecing the relevant bits together. Margery and Wendy gave very different accounts of ancestors in the workhouse in the late 19th century. Other members provided table-top presentations of interesting aspects of their own family history.
Ann showed an account of two brothers from Leicestershire who lived in the 19th century and led very different lives.
Trevor showed his family tree, Ken old photographs of March and Daisy her collection of family history and old family photographs of her March family.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, January 5, featuring Stephen Manning with ‘What grandma didn’t want me to know’, at 7pm at March Library. All welcome.
Tydd St Mary
Friendship Club
The club met on December 17 for their Christmas lunch, the final meeting of the year.
Local schoolchildren gave a Christmas concert of non-traditional carols. Later a raffle was held, tickets being sold by Arthur and Mollie Leonard. Overall a lovely party to complete a busy year.
Members were reminded that they meet again on January 14, which will also be the AGM.
Anyone interested in joining the club is invited to contact David on 01945 420654 or speak with a club member.
Upwell
Green Fingers Gardening Club
Val opened the evening by welcoming members and friends and then introduced a representative from Tapping House, who had come to be presented with a £550 cheque.
The club had raised the money through plant sales. Members were thanked.
Val then introduced David Palmer, an auctioneer and valuer, who has appeared on many television programmes, including Flog It, Bargain Hunt and others.
David went around the hall, picking up items brought by members. He discussed their history before giving valuations.
After refreshments had been served by the committee, Val announced the winner of the flower of the year competition.
The winner was Jackie who was presented with a trophy.
The next meeting is on January 19 with speaker Dr C H Nelson on the subject of heathers. The meeting will be held at Upwell Methodist Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm.
For more information contact Val on 01945 772247. Visitors will pay £3 and membership is £16 for a single member and £24 for a couple.
Walsoken
All Saints’ Church
Vestry Hour is on Wednesday at 6.30pm in the church to arrange weddings, baptisms and banns, etc.
Services this week: Christmas Eve Crib Service 4pm; Midnight Communion 11.30pm; Christmas Day service 10am; Sunday 10.30am Morning Worship. All welcome. Please note there will be no 8am Holy Communion Service this Sunday.
The next coffee morning is on Friday, January 8, at 10am in the community room in the church. Everyone welcome.
Beavers meet in the village hall at 6pm on Thursday, term-time only. Cubs meet at St Peter’s Junior school on Wednesdays at 6.30pm, term-time only.
Wisbech Business and professional men’s Club
A total of 34 members and guests were introduced by chairman Rick Wilson at the December Christmas meeting held at Mendi’s, Wisbech.
Members enjoyed a three-course Christmas dinner followed by a cabaret act – Drew Cameron, who featured in the quarter-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent. Drew is a first class impressionist and was thanked by vice-chairman Michael Bates.
The first meeting of 2016 will be on Wednesday, January 13, at Mendis when the annual meeting will be held. Outgoing chairman Rick Wilson will induct Michael Bates as the new chairman and Martin Eggett as the new vice-chairman.
Wisbech
Model Railway Club.
Club member Alan Earle continued to model the station car park. He modelled the station fencing and detailed the area with vegetation such as weeds.
Richard Stowe has be repainting one of his Hymek Diesel locomotives from BR blue to green. He has been detailing this locomotive into particular Great Western locomotive featuring brass horns. He has just to add transfers to this model.
The next meeting will be on January 4.
Wisbech St Mary
Women’s Institute
The newly-elected committee started their term of office with a Christmas party.
The prize for highest number of competition points over the year was awarded to Juliet Sandall. This also rounded off a year of Centenary celebrations of the Women’s Institutes in the UK.
Earlier in the month a visit was made to the Caithness Crystal Visitor Centre in King’s Lynn for an evening of shopping and supper with other Institute groups.
Jan Wildman was re-elected as president for a further year and the new secretary, Judy Bass, and treasurer, Alison Crosse, are now established in their new posts.
January 18 will see the New Year start with a talk and demonstration on acupuncture by Marian Killick. A varied and stimulating programme is planned for 2016, with talks, demonstrations and outings.
The group looks forward to welcoming new members. They meet in The Sidings at Wisbech St Mary Community Centre on the third Monday of each month at 7.30pm.
Enquiries to president Jan on 01945 410174 or secretary Judy on 01945 450284.
