Latest Fenland neighbourhood news
Chatteris
Connect
The March meeting was held in Emmanuel Church Hall and was well attended. Guest speaker was Julie Smith, who showed newly-acquired photographs of Chatteris on behalf of the Chatteris Community Archives.
The next meeting is on Monday, April 4, starting at 2pm in Emmanuel Church Hall. Guest speaker will be Sue Harris from Wiltshire Farm Foods who will talk about the variety of meals which are available, including those for people who need special diets. There will also be a tasting session.
All adults welcome. Admission £2 includes refreshments.
Fenland
Fenland Family History Society
The March meeting of the Society will be tomorrow (Thursday) at St Peter’s Church Hall, Wisbech. Doors open at 7pm.
The speaker will be Audrey Reed, who will be explaining the various ways of presenting your family tree. Please bring along examples of your family trees or family histories, for members to see.
The usual book stall and library will be available. Refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting. Visitors are welcome, £2. Free parking available.
For further information please ring 01945 587723.
Friday Bridge
WI
President Ann welcomed 14 members and five visitors – Becky, Jackie, Eileen, Shona and Abi – to the monthly meeting in Tower Hall on March 14.
Secretary Joan read the minutes of the last meeting. Ann gave details of the visit to the VanDal shoe factory and factory shop. There will be free time in the afternoon for shopping in Norwich.
Transport was arranged for the Group meeting to be hosted by Welle WI. Hazel gave details of all other events and invitations.
Treasurer Janet gave the financial details of the quiz held on March 4. The evening was very successful with 20 teams taking part and a good profit made for WI funds.
Janet presented Joan Arnold with a birthday gift and then received a gift herself for gaining 40 points in the monthly competition.
Speaker for the evening was Leisa Nichols-Drew who talked about her work as a forensic scientist. Connie gave the vote of thanks.
Refreshments were provided by Brenda and Joy. Social time was a picture quiz organised by Delia, with Joy achieving full marks.
Results of the monthly competition were announced with 5 + 1 points going to Brenda, Joan Denehy, Margaret and Ann.
The next meeting will be on April 11 when Alison Sloan will speak on ‘The history of chocolate’. If you would be interested in coming along please phone 01945-860753 for further details.
Manea
MUFC
Winners of the 10 week draw are: week three – Martin Rolfe, Cynthia Cundell and L Joyce; week four – C Bradford, Dudley Hankins, A Stankouch.
MARCH
March Society
The rich variety of birdlife in the Fens was outlined in a very interesting talk by Gemma Wells, RSPB Ouse Washes community engagement officer.
The Fens are currently home to some of the rarest wildlife and are regarded as internationally important for some 13 globally rare species. Farmland birds have been in decline due to less mixed farming, bigger field sizes and use of chemicals on the land.
However with the agreement of more and more farmers, ‘nature friendly’ farming is beginning to protect some of the land. Winter food, safe nesting habitats and allowing some grass to grow are improving the habits for wildlife.
Ouse washes, Ouse Fen, Fen Drayton Lakes and other wetland restoration areas have seen huge increases in bird populations partly encouraged by the planting of reeds. A major RSPB-Hanson wetland project next to Fen Drayton Lakes is restoring a gravel quarry into a nature reserve with the largest reed bed in the UK.
Information is available on the RSPB and Fensforthefuture websites. Gemma encouraged everyone to ‘give nature a home in your garden’, to stay aware and to spread the word.
The next March Society event is on Wednesday, April 13, at 7pm in March Library. Mike Petty, Cambridgeshire historian, will talk about ‘The Ouse Washes people and places’: an exploration of the people and communities who live alongside the Old and New Bedford Rivers. Everyone is welcome and there will be tea, coffee and biscuits. More details on the website www.themarch society.org.uk and on Facebook and Twitter.
March Morning WI
Members were welcomed by president Judy Ellingham. The minutes were read by Phyl Davies, secretary. Correspondence was read by Judy Ellingham.
Birthday cards were received by Gwyneth, Carole, Millie and Mary.
Speaker was Ms Fran Saltmarsh who delivered an enjoyable talk on ‘Corsets and Camisoles’ with a PowerPoint presentation and samples of undergarments. A vote of thanks was given by Lindsay Haydon.
The competition was something ‘yellow’. Points awarded: Chris & Edie 15, Sally 14, Carole & Carol 13, Marion, Vi, Betty Stone, Judy, Mary, Judy, Linda, Joan Mayes and Phyl 12.
Raffle winners were Millie, Sally, Florence, Mary, Angela, Jenny, Monica and Sandra. The Easter bonnet competition was won by Edie.
Judy thanked Angela and Millie for serving the refreshments and everyone for attending.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 14, 9.30am-11.45am, at March Community Centre, Station Road. Visitors and new members welcome.
March Stone Cross WI
March Stone Cross WI held their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 10, at 7pm at Trinity Church Hall.
The president welcomed a new member, Barbara Southwell.
Speaker was Christine Brown, a former school nurse, who went on to run a knitting shop. She told her story ‘From nits to knitting’.
Competition results: Doris Beckwith, Nad Stoker and Julie Coulthurst 10, Joan Perring, Shirley Stacey, Audrey Goodyear and Ann Wall 9, Eileen Bradbury and Val Stacey 8 and Linda Wilson and Wendy Hill 7.
Raffle winners were Marjorie, Nad, Shirley S, Joan, Ann W, Gwyneth and Mary.
Next month’s meeting is on Thursday, April 14, at 7pm at Trinity Church Hall with a flower arranging demonstration by Pam.
Visitors and new members always welcome. Refreshments available.
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 are Maundy Thursday service at 7pm; Good Friday service ‘At The Foot of the Cross’ at 2pm; 8am Holy Communion and 10.30am Easter Morning communion service. All welcome.
The next coffee morning is on Friday, April 1, 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
Wisbech and District Camera Club
The evening was very special with a visit from David Kipling from West Norfolk, a well-known book writer and bird and nature photographer.
About 50 members and guests attended.
David spoke of his experiences in the Falklands and the islands of South Georgia where he photographed King Emperor Penguins in their natural habitat, albatross with their giant wingspan of up to 12 feet, plus other birds.
He also spoke of another trip in an icecutter-type ship which had to be diverted because of an exceptional storm to a quieter bay, where he got some of the best bird pictures that you could get.
Seals and Norfolk hares were also featured in David’s images, as were a few Norfolk landscapes. David was thanked by club member Mike Burns ARPS, who said it was one of the most incredible picture evenings that he had seen.
