Latest news in Fenland
CHATTERIS
U3A
The January meeting took place at the King Edward Centre on January 15.
After the chairman welcomed the members, there was an update on the trips and activities planned in the near future.
The chairman also proposed thanks to committee member, Jan Fieldhouse, for organising a successful New Year’s lunch at the Dolphin Hotel in St Ives. After coffee, members enjoyed a very interesting and entertaining talk by Neil Callan on silver hallmarks.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, February 19, at the King Edward Centre at 10am. Why not come along?
Women’s Institute
Chatteris WI’s first meeting of 2015 was held on January 8 at the King Edward Centre.
President, Brenda Church, welcomed members. The evening’s speaker was Margaret Sparrow, who brought along a memory box and its contents.
She explained the reasons for putting each object in the box and members talked about their memories and what they would put in their own memory boxes and why. It was a fun talk sparking lots of conversation and laughter.
Members were reminded of forthcoming events being organised by the Isle of Ely Federation and names were taken for a coffee morning, darts, dominoes and Scrabble evening and 10-pin bowling day in March. Members were asked if they wished to enter a team in Friday Bridge WI’s quiz night next month.
The Craft Group meets in the Bricstan Room in Chatteris at 7pm on the second Monday of each month and the Book Group meets at the King Edward Centre on the fourth Thursday.
The next meeting is on Thursday, February 12, in the King Edward Centre. The speaker will be Neil Callan who will talk about the History of English Silver Spoons.
Visitors and new members are welcome. For details contact the secretary, Dorothy Davies, on 01354 695664.
Royal British Legion Women’s Section
The section welcomed Ely and Littleport Riot to their January meeting. The Women’s Border Morris group demonstrated dances, inviting members to join in, following an informative talk by Maggie Kent on types of Morris dance and history.
The dancers were supported by members of other Morris groups playing violin, drum and squeezebox who discussed the instruments. A most enjoyable and entertaining evening was had by all. Janet Chapman won the competition for a decorated handkerchief.
The next meeting is on Monday, February 2, at Chatteris Working Men’s Club from 7pm. Members will enjoy a ‘bangers and mash’ supper followed by a talk by community transport group, F.A.C.T. The competition will be a decorated potato.
New members are welcome. Please call Jan Baynes 01354 693144.
DODDINGTON
100th Club
Treasurer, Beatie Kingham, welcomed 31 members to the January meeting in the Church Rooms.
Apologies were received from eight members unable to attend. They included chairman, Les Payne. Members wished him a speedy recovery.
Members discussed outings for the coming year, also entertainment. Secretary, Angela Cutteridge, made a cake for the treasurer’s 80th birthday and this was cut to members singing Happy Birthday.
The tea ladies distributed the cake and also tea and coffee. Everyone thanked Angela.
The draw was taken by Jenny Nash and the auction of goods brought by members was conducted by the treasurer, Josie Smyth.
The next meeting is on February 19 at 2pm in the Church Room, Doddington, when David Edwards will give a talk and film show on Doddington.
FENLAND
Fenland Stamp Club
The next meeting of the club will take place tomorrow (Thursday, January 29) at 1.45pm in the Upper Parlour of Trinity Methodist Church, Church Terrace, Wisbech.
There will be a display of ‘Postal Mechanisation’. Anyone interested in stamps will be made very welcome.
Fenland Family History Society
The group’s next computer family research session for family historians will be on Tuesday, February 3, in Wisbech Library from 10am–noon.
At the January session the small team enjoyed helping several beginners to explore their family history. It was quite a diverse session.
One regular attendee was delighted to find proof that the family story was true of an ancestor going to Australia.
They use not only computer research but also one visitor was helped to look up old newspaper reports, another used old maps to find the location of an ancestor’s home.
Sessions are open to all and held on the first Tuesday of each month from 10am–noon in Wisbech Library.
Your family does not have to come from this area for the group to be able to help you.
They show you how to get started, how to use all the library resources and how to research for free at home. If you have a laptop bring it with you, or the group will use its own to help you.
Everyone welcome, phone 01945 587723 for further information.
LEVERINGTON
Leverington Ladies
Mary Watt, chairperson, opened the meeting and welcomed members and guest speaker Dr Paul Richards, who gave an interesting and entertaining talk on Old King’s Lynn. As a result, the ladies are hoping to arrange a visit to look at the town.
Dawn Waterfield served the refreshments, Joan Janz and Beryl Bradbrook sold raffle tickets. Raffle winners were Jo Parkinson, Margaret Rowe, Mary Watt, Julia Hatcher, Beryl Porter, Joan Janz, Roz Coniaty and Elizabeth Dunham.
Birthdays celebrated were by Vera Beeston, Lesley Thorpe, Marilyn Pryke.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, February 10, featuring Dollie Duo with Sue Lilley, 40s, 50s,60s music and song, 7.30pm in the hall. New members are welcome.
Leverington Friendship Club
Chairman Marilyn Pryke opened the meeting and welcomed members.
Birthdays were celebrated for Marilyn Pryke and Nell Swain. A list of future events planned for the club was read out for members to put in their diaries.
The auctioneer of donated items was Kath Wersching. The football winner was Doreen Wheeler. Raffle winners were: Norma Bailey, Marilyn Pryke and Carol Leet.
The bingo caller was Maggie Poole and the winners were: Lily Burke, Sylvia Neill, Kath Wersching and Marilyn Pryke.
Tea was served by Vera Jackson, Carol Leet and Janet Luff.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 4, at 2pm.
New members always welcome, you don’t have to live in Leverington to join the club. For more information call Marilyn on 01945 466915.
MARCH
Rotary Club of March
At the first meeting of the year members and guests were welcomed by President Godfrey Smith, who thanked everyone for their contributions in fundraising the previous year and set out his plans for the year ahead.
Robert Freeman introduced the speaker, Martin Wells. The assistant musical director for Upwell Gilbert and Sullivan Society entertained members.
With the aid of a keyboard, Martin gave a potted but entertaining resume on the lives of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.
With selections from some of the popular comic songs, members became the ‘chorus’ for Modern Major Generals and Articled Clerks in Solicitor Firms, to mention but a few.
Martin concluded an hour’s informative fun with details on this year’s production, Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse, being performed on April 23, 24 and 25 at Outwell.
Admission is £7. See http://upwellgands.weebly.com/ for details. A vote of thanks was delivered by George White.
March Family History Society
At the January meeting Edna Stacey gave an information packed talk, illustrated with slides, on ‘A forgotten history of March’. She explored the early history of March, telling members about early inhabitants of the area and the importance of St Wendreda’s Church.
The area around March was inhabited from Roman times, evidence of their occupation can be found in many areas of the town. There is further evidence of a Bronze Age burial site near Manea and the Iron Age fort at Stonea.
St Wendreda, an Anglo Saxon princess, came to March in about 654AD, following the death of her father King Anna.
St Wendreda was the sister of St Ethelreda who founded the monastery at Ely. St Wendreda established a Benedictine nunnery in March where she treated the sick with medicinal herbs. After she died her body was enshrined at Canterbury Cathedral.
The church in March is the only one in the world dedicated to St Wendreda. The tower was put on the church as deliverance from the plague and also served as a watch tower.
Edna explained the features and what is represented on the Hansard Brasses that date from the late 13th century and the probability of how and why the double hammer beam angel roof was built. She showed pictures of the emblems on the Stone Cross taken 100 years ago and clearer than they are today.
Whilst Richard II travelled through England, he ordered hostelries to be built. The first was reputed to be in March, his emblem is in the White Hart building. He declined the title of Earl of March which he gave to his cousin, Edmund son of John of Gaunt.
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 3, 7pm, March Library – Stuart Orme ‘Women of Peterborough’. All welcome.
March Cruising Club
On January 9 delegates attended the bi-monthly meeting of the Association of Nene River Clubs, where waterway matters were discussed. Not the least of which was a serious threat to the ANRC, an association which has existed for almost 60 years.
The third annual meeting of MCC was held on January 10 at March Royal British Legion Club. Both the president’s and retiring commodore’s addresses were warmly received and the treasurer reported a very successful financial year. Commodore, P Gravett was given a deserved vote of thanks for the effort he had put into the club.
Officers and committee are: president, J Skinner; vice-president, J Hodges; commodore, M Salter; vice-commodore, K Rayner; secretary, K Larham; treasurer, M Lyons; harbour master, R Slade; assistant harbour master, L Potkins; social secretary, J Gravett; committee: E Shropshall, C Shropshall, V Crain, D Slack, G Horry, J Gowing (website manager).
The meeting was followed by a buffet during which the retiring commodore presented Kay Larham with a bouquet.
UPWELL
Green Fingers Gardening Club
Attendance at the latest meeting was very good, including several new members.
Unfortunately, the speaker did not turn up and a representative from MAGPAS failed to appear to receive a cheque from the club.
Details were given of an outing for members to the RHS garden at Hyde Hall in June. Names and money will be taken at the next meeting.
In the absence of the speaker Gussie gave an impromptu talk on her time spent at the Agricultural College in Wisbech.
The January competition featured many different flowers brought in by members. Gussie was the winner with 26 points and Sally runner-up with 22.
Refreshments were served by David and Yvonne and the raffle overseen by Val and Ronnie.
The next meeting is on February 17 with speaker Jackie Bennett on ‘Writers and their gardens’. It will be at Upwell Methodist Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm.
All welcome, call Gussie on 01945 772586 for further details.
WALPOLE
Flower Club
Walpole Flower Club is holding an open meeting on April 4 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. Demonstrator will be Nick Grounds.
Everyone is welcome. Costs to visitors is £4. For more information contact Beryl on 01406 351657.
WALSOKEN
All Saints’ Church
Vestry Hour is on Wednesday at 6.30pm in the church to arrange weddings, baptisms and banns.
Services this week are 8am Holy Communion and 10.30am Holy Communion.
The next coffee morning is on Friday, January 30, at 10am in the community room in the church. Everyone welcome.
Cubs meet at St Peter’s Junior School on Wednesdays at 6.30pm term time only, Beavers meet at the village hall on Thursdays at 6pm term time only.
WIMBLINGTON
Wimblington Photo Group
Enjoy taking selfie’s? Enjoy taking photographs? Do you want to learn more of what to do with them once taken?
The group moves into its fourth season – why not go along and enjoy a photographic evening?
They embrace all aspects of photography and every stage, from beginners to the more experienced, exploring: how to get your old film-based pictures and slides into the computer; repairing and restoring family heritage prints; filing the digital results; finding pictures once in the computer; cropping and improving; adding and removing things to improve the composition of the picture; and how to present your pictures so that they can be enjoyed with the family, friends and acquaintances.
For more information, contact Peter James on 01354 741872. The group meets fortnightly at 7pm, the next meeting on Monday, February 2, in St Peter’s Church, Wimblington. Cost is £2 per session, no annual fee, just pay as and when you can come along.
Refreshments are supplied. All money raised supports St Peter’s Church.
