April  2001 Edition of the Linton News    Previous        Next

Articles -Sight Restored,   Animal Rights,   Recycling to Start,   Music Society,   Lunch ,   Parish Council Report,   Animal Rights,   Cricket,   Village History,   Football Guests,   Nippy Weather,   Advertise it Pays,   Mobile Warden,   Young Musicians,   Paris Marathon,   WI Poetry,   Bowls,   K-Club,   K-Club Winners,   Historical Society,  Save the Children,   Bush Telegraph,   Gardening Club,   Country Diary,   Art Gallery,   Mothers Union
Readers Write: Blitz,   Thanks,  Animal Rights,   Immoral,   Cruelty,  Does no Good,   Misery,   We Just Care 

It's a miracle I can see again    Top

(Under picture) ‘All my life things have happened like that. I am not surprised’ Gladys Adamson (above)
THE story of a Linton resident whose sight was miraculously restored to her following a sneezing fit has made headlines across the world. Gladys Adamson, aged 97, has received calls from newspapers in America and Australia and has been photographed countless times for British regional and national newspapers.
Members of St Mary’s Guild heard Mrs Adamson’s story first hand on 8th March when she told them how she had been blind for more than five years, only able to see the difference between dark and light.
During February she seemed to have a bad cold with painful attacks of sneezing that caused water to pour down her face. The sneezing was so bad that she did not like to go to social events in case she interrupted proceedings.
One morning at the beginning of March she awoke and sat up in bed and was amazed to see her own face in the mirror opposite her bed.
She said: “My first thought was: ‘I haven’t got white hair!’ I thought I was dreaming so I put my head down and tried to go back to sleep but I quickly realised it was really happening.”
Mrs Adamson got up and walked around her house: “I saw things I’d never seen –things I’d bought and felt but never seen.”
After going to her GP and astonishing him by telling him what he was wearing, Mrs Adamson sent a simple message to her Camsight group: “Gladys says sorry, she can’t come – she’s got her sight back.”
People were initially incredulous but are now astonished by her calm acceptance of her experience.
“It is a miracle, it has happened for a purpose,” says Mrs Adamson. “But all my life things have happened like that. I’m not surprised.”
As villagers continue to help Mrs Adamson across the road she is having a lot of fun smiling her thanks and adding comments like: “You’re not quite as handsome as I thought you were.”
When she realised she really could see she was absolutely delighted, most astonished by colour and especially seeing the colours in the crochet work she had been doing by touch.
Mrs Adamson said that all the attention has been “so exciting, I haven’t had time to feel tired”.
However, she still has one big moment to come. “I have held my twin great-grandchildren and I could tell which was which by the shape of their heads. So I have felt them but now I am going to be able to see them.”
Kate France and LNT

animal passions

LAST month’s Sue Hughes article, in which she condemned violence at Huntingdon Life Sciences but explained why she would rather go to jail than stop protesting against animal experiments, has drawn strong responses both for and against.
An employee of HLS wanted to write a response but said police had advised against any exposure – a very reasonable fear of attracting the attention of the violent criminals that Mrs Hughes had condemned – despite my absolute guarantee to protect his or her identity.
A letter published on page 2 claims the Linton News Team endorsed Mrs Hughes’ views. This is not so: the article gave a respected member of our community the chance to rebut allegations of terrorism. Help with writing for publication is a service we offer occasionally. And everyone gets equal access to the paper. Sally Simmons (Editor)

Home recycling to begin in Linton

A COUNCIL recycling scheme for your refuse is to begin in this area during June or July after a successful trial in other parts of the county.
Every household will receive a green plastic kerbside recycling box (made from 100% recycled plastic) for storing materials between fortnightly collections from the same place – but not necessarily on the same day – as your black refuse sacks.
An information sheet about collection days and what materials can be recycled will be circulated on a regular basis. The first of these leaflets will be delivered with the box.
Materials to be collected will include: newspapers, magazines, junk mail, telephone directories, textiles, steel food tins, steel drinks cans, aluminium drinks cans and glass bottles/jars.
The Parish Council will be paid £5.71 for every tonne collected – giving it more money for community groups.
The scheme aims at recycling 33% of household waste (in line with national targets set by the Government) – saving valuable resources and protecting the environment.
If people were also to home compost they could be recycling up to 60% of their household waste. There are still some free compost bins available – the offer is limited to one per household. Contact the contractor, Original Organics at: %01884 841515; email: sales@originalorganics.co.uk.
Plastics are not being collected in the county, mainly because no company locally is able to sort or reprocess them. The nearest companies are in Peterborough and Milton Keynes, too far away for economical transport. Don Hames

Hurry ... lunch is waiting    Top

CHRISTIAN Aid lunches, being held until 11th April to help the hungry world, have raised about £550 and the total may reach £1,000 – with your help.
Please come along any time between 12 noon and 2pm on Wednesdays to the addresses shown on the board at the back of St Mary’s Church (or telephone me). It’s great fun, a chance to meet new people and enjoy a frugal meal in return for a donation (£2 or more) towards Christian Aid. Alan Clarkson

solo delights echo antiques roadshow    Top

AFTER the recent highly successful visit by Justin & Nicki Woodward, which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, the Music Society has another treat in store.
Crispian Steele-Perkins is a very popular friend of the society. He is known all over the world as possibly the finest baroque trumpet player, although English audiences may know him best as the player of the signature tune of the “Antiques Roadshow”.
Anne Page also has an international reputation, but on this occasion each of our soloists has extra delights to offer.
They will be appearing on Saturday 21st April at Linton Parish Church.
In the afternoon Crispian Steele-Perkins will hold a Masterclass for young trumpet players, when all abilities are welcome.
Meanwhile pianists of any age and ability will have the chance to try out an organ and see how the instrument works. Try the pedals, for instance, and then watch Anne Page demonstrate. You will be astonished.
For information about the afternoon, please telephone and Jenny Purves will supply booking forms and all details. Places will be limited at both sessions so do book as soon as you can.
The evening concert will begin at 8pm when Crispian Steele-Perkins includes works by Haydn, Mozart, John Stanley and Purcell, accompanied by Anne who will also play JS Bach’s Fantasia in G major on the organ.
As usual members and non-members alike are welcome and tickets are available at the door.
You may like to note that our artists will also be playing together in the Cambridge Summer Music Festival, the annual event which is organised by our chairman Juliet Abrahamson.
Margaret Hearn

The PARISH COUNCIL   Top

Reported by GRAHAM POTTER
Parish Council's March meetings

SPECIFICATIONS for the enhancement plans for the ford in Horn Lane have been received and work has started on phase one. An extension to the hedge on the A1307 has been planted and £100 for more trees has been agreed. On the question of the foot and mouth outbreak and the use of footpaths, it was reported that any necessary local action would have to be implemented immediately and time scale would not allow discussion.
The Council held a meeting with the Co-operative area manager with a view to alleviating congestion around the store during busy periods abound the school day. This will be discussed by the traffic working party before being debated at full council. The council agreed to pay for erecting a notice board at the church, a grit bin at the Grip, dog bins at Market Lane, Coles Lane, Horseheath Road where they join the High Street, and a waste bin at Coles Lane/ Back Road. More will be programmed for in future budgets.
Members of the public were interested in the council's comments on the proposed building of six flats opposite Rivey Close. The Parish Council has forwarded its concerns but no information has been received from South Cambs. yet. The police reported 13 crimes in the village.
The County Councillor reported that speed limit signs, Health Centre car park markings, a safe crossing at the Co-op, and funding would be discussed and referred to the traffic working party. The Cambridgeshire's draft bus strategy was discussed.
A letter from the Village College about possible sponsorship for a visiting pupil from Boepathutse School in South Africa has been received. The College will make a short presentation to the Council which if possible will take place at the Annual Parish Meeting in May.

Anyone for cricket?   Top

LINTON Village Cricket Club will be running a first and second 11 on Saturdays and an under-15 eleven during the 2001 season. The first 11 will be competing in the Cambs. Cricket Association senior league, division 2, and the second 11 in the junior league, division 3 south B.
The under-15 team will play mostly on Monday evenings. If any youngster is interested in playing, contact Olley, You must be under 15 on 1st September 2000.
The club is always looking for new players so if you are interested and need further information, please contact either Paul Gleeson (1st 11 captain) 832033, Hans Pickard (2nd 11 captain) John Richardson, club secretary.
The last two indoor nets will be at the Hills Road sports and tennis centre, Purbeck Road, from 8pm to 10pm on Friday 20th and 27th April.

We must continue using animals  Top

Dear Editor
I was surprised and very disappointed by the article in last month's Linton News, in which the Linton News Team appeared to endorse unquestioningly Sue Hughes' views on animal experimentation and the activities of the protestors against Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Mrs Hughes is perfectly entitled to her views, but I don't think the Linton News, which is delivered unrequested through every letter box in the village by willing volunteers, should act essentially as a mouthpiece for the animal rights protestors on this sensitive and important issue by ignoring the other side of the debate.
I spent a good part of my working life as a research scientist trying to develop new vaccines against important diseases of both humans and animals, and have seen some of these vaccines taken forward into human clinical trials. I can say with absolute certainty that these trials could not have happened without testing in animals to ensure as far as possible that the vaccines were safe enough to justify being used in people. These tests are governed by strict regulations to minimise suffering. This is not only a legal necessity, but it is also plainly sensible.
I wouldn't dream of allowing my children to take part in a trial of a new vaccine or treatment that hadn't been extensively tested for safety beforehand, and I imagine that the vast majority of parents would feel the same. Ironically, in her article Mrs Hughes actually highlighted an unfortunate situation where her niece reacted adversely to a drug treatment. How much more often would this occur without proper safety testing of new drugs?
The stark fact is that without animal experimentation we would have no new medicines because there are currently no adequate alternatives for ensuring safety. Some extremists might argue that we should therefore stop looking for new treatments for diseases. This is at least a consistent position, but in my opinion it is crazy. My eldest son would certainly have died before his fourteenth birthday without modern medicine, and I am sure that many News readers (and animal rights protestors) have had similar experiences. There are great opportunities for improving medical treatments for life-threatening disease in the future and we shouldn't turn our back on them.
Animal rights protestors in this area have resorted to burning cars, threatening families and even attacking an individual with baseball bats in recent months to get their point across. The Linton News owes its readers the chance to hear the other side of the story.

Editor's note: The Linton News is published to give local people a chance to have their say  Mr Inglis no less than Mrs Hughes. And vice versa.

did you look after me during the blitz? Top

Dear Editor
On Friday 9th March, I made a visit to your interesting village of Linton, which to me had hardly changed its centre over the last 60 years.
I was trying to retrace my steps since those last 60 years because my sister and I were two of your little evacuees from London during the early part of the 1940s, aged nine and seven.
Returning this week brought back many memories. I was trying to trace the lady who was kind enough to take us in to her home, to see her and to say thank you with a bunch of flowers. I managed to speak to a nice young lady at a Little Chef (about three miles from Linton) who thought she knew of her and she was certain that her mother would do, but she thought the lady was now in a Nursing Home, Symonds House, Symonds Lane, Linton.
I went along to meet the nursing home administrator, who was very helpful, but after a lot of explanation to her and other ladies, we could not trace her. All that I can tell you about the lady is that her name was Mrs Toffs of 4 Horn Lane, Linton.
On further inquiries I was told that her husband had died, she had married again and eventually had several children (four?) and was living somewhere else in the village.
I am 70 now, and I suppose that she could be in her nineties. I hope she is alive and well. Can anyone of your villagers help?
Tom (Bill) Casey
c/o the Editor

Thanks  Top

Dear Editor
Susan Coppen and family would like to thank friends and neighbours of the late William Coppen for their kindness and support, also for the cards and donations sent. A cheque has now been sent to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

Dear Editor
I would like to express my grateful thanks to all those responsible for making my recent birthday celebration such a success. Special thanks must go to Mrs Jacquie Wilson, our Warden and Mrs Sheila Patterson, the deputy warden and all their helpers who worked very hard on the day. I think that every one present enjoyed themselves ñ I hope that they did as I did! It was very good to see such a friendly gathering and one that I will always remember.
Alice Bean
Flaxfields

Dear Editor
A red nose tea party was held at the Community Room at Flaxfields on Friday 16th March and raised £30 for Comic Relief, thanks to the residents and friends. Many thanks also to all. May I also express my thanks to Wendy Boardman and her little band of helpers for their sterling efforts at the jumble sale held at the Social Centre on Saturday 10th March. A remarkable sum of £266.16 was raised for our residents.
Warden, Flaxfields

What we do to other species is immoral Top

Dear Editor
What a breath of fresh air to read your article in the last edition of the Linton News regarding the animal rights protestor Sue Hughes.
Like me, do you switch off the television or refuse a leaflet in the street showing the horrors of the vivisection laboratory, the factory farm or the hunting field because you don't want to be haunted by the images?
When you were a child did your parents fail to tell you where meat came from? When you go to the doctors does he/she tell you how many beagles or other animals were poisoned to put yet another drug on the market? Are you taken in by the bloodsports enthusiasts who want us to believe that foxes are vermin, but keep very quiet about the foxes they breed and feed to hunt?
We are indoctrinated at an early age to believe that animals were put on this earth for our benefit, but hopefully more people like Sue are questioning this and realising that what we are doing to other species is wrong and immoral.
I would like to congratulate the Linton News for publishing this article which I am sure speaks for many of us in the village who deplore the way we treat animals.
When I have more time I intend to join the band of these committed protesters.

peaceful protest at sadness of cruelty   Top

Animal protests do no good  Top
Dear Editor
Sue Hughes is to be admired for her dedication ('They call us terrorists'), but if she and her friends could use their common sense and take the trouble to get at the facts they would see that they are not doing any good. If they succeeded in closing down HLS the work would move to somewhere where the regulations governing the use of animals for research are much less stringent.
If we are not to be decimated by cancers, malaria, plague, etc. or overrun by fleas, rats, etc. remedies must be found and tested on living creatures
As to getting the facts ñ when Ron was at University College, London in the 30s he was a founder member, along with 'Fougasse', of ULAWS (University of London Animal Welfare Society, now UFAW). They assembled all available facts on the gin trap problem, tackled their MPs and after more than 10 years the use of the traps was made illegal.
You need factual details, not pictures or stories from the media, and cases of cruelty must be reported to the authorities, who have the duty to inspect for themselves - without prior warning - and to take immediate action.
Ron was appointed to an ethical committee which assessed whether any proposed procedure would cause a test animal to suffer. It was made clear that he should only approve a test which would also be used on him. That was 20 years ago and he is still alive and healthy. The chemicals tested were for veterinary as well as human use.
As for unnecessary testing ñ such as cosmetics ñ just don't buy them.

HLS is wrong target and causes misery  Top

we ARe not terrorists or nutters. We just care  Top

Dear Editor
Firstly, I would like to thank you for daring to look beneath the claims of Huntingdon Life Sciences and their apologists and interview Sue Hughes, a dedicated advocate of a cruelty free lifestyle.
Well, let's face it, if one has strong views about anything that is not motivated by self-interest and greed, one is either a ìnutterî or a terrorist. What better way to attempt to silence a group of people whose only ìcrimeî is to show compassion for millions of defenceless victims of oppression, than to label them terrorists ñ thus seeking to alienate them in the eyes of the public.
However, history has shown that many people who were ìterroristsî yesterday, are venerated today, and I am confident that history will judge us right.
At HLS animals are slowly poisoned to test anything from pesticides and weedkillers to drugs and oven cleaners. Many animals die every day. And we are the terrorists?
But we are not opposed to research. We want it as much as anyone else, but without the shameful exploitation of other living creatures in order to boost the profits of the big pharmaceutical industry.
At Addenbrookes Hospital we have the Cambridge Brain Bank, funded by the Humane Research Trust, which is working on cures relating to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neurone diseases. The Dr Hadwen Trust and the Lord Dowding Fund are also supporting research into many other diseases including cancer, arthritis and heart disease, without the use of animals.
All that is lacking is more commitment from the scientific community and more financial backing from the government.
We protested outside the gate of Huntingdon Life Sciences (then Huntingdon Research Centre) 20 years ago. We hope we will not be there for another 20 years.

LABOUR OF LOVE HOMES IN ON VILLAGE'S PAST  Top

LINTON resident Iris Jeffery is the author of Housing in Linton, Cambridgeshire, in the 19th and 20th Centuries, just published by Linton and District Historical Society and sponsored by both South Cambridgeshire District Council and Linton Parish Council. Mrs Jeffery has written the book using material researched by her late husband Frank. After his death in 1990, Mrs Jeffery committed herself to completing the work he had started. The result is a fascinating and scholarly book which provides a broad picture of housing over two centuries. It focuses on Local Authority work in sixty years from the formation of Rural District and Parish Councils in 1894. Privately owned sub-standard properties were subject to improvement orders. Some had to be demolished. In the 1930s bye-laws were drawn up to regulate building standards but shortages in the immediate post-1945 period necessitated severe curtailment of size and work generally. Of supreme importance from the early 1900s was the building of council houses and Linton was among the first in a rural area, nationwide, to have such houses. The book gives details of contractors, costs and land purchases, and insights into social conditions. More than 40 photographs, together with street maps, add to the interest. The book, price £5, is available in Linton from the Post Office, Hale and Jacobs Newsagents, Sweet Talk News and Salon One. IJ/LNT

LOCAL DEVELOPERS PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT  Top  

A TEAM of under-11 footballers went as guests to watch a Cambridge United home game last month. Sponsorship was arranged by Hundred Houses Society and Cambridge United FC for a Linton Colts team to be at the game against Oldham.
John Barrett, Director of Hundred Houses Society said: 'It is part of our commitment to be involved with the communities where we develop houses. Hundred Houses Society was able to raise funds to support the cost of a children's play area in Linton when we organised an event earlier in the year and we are pleased to now continue our involvement with the youngsters, and hope they enjoyed their afternoon at the Abbey'.
Graham Eales, the Cambridge United PR Manager welcomed the young players and invited them to take part in a target competition on the pitch at half time.

NIPPY WEATHER IN LINTON    Top

NOW that spring is just around the corner, I am looking forward to putting away my hot water bottle and bed socks. But I will never again complain about our cold weather, having read about the snow that descends on Linton, North Dakota, without fail, every year.
Allan Burke, the editor of the Emmons County Record, recently remarked that he would rather be in Linton with its 50° below wind chill factor than in Seattle where his mother-in-law had just experienced an earthquake.
The paper also announced that they held an Enduro Snowmobile race on a farm at the end of February. Over 200 spectators attended the event, which featured 92 snowmobiles racing in 14 different classes, and it was such a success that Roughriders Snowmobile Club of Bismarck, who sponsored the event, have said there is a strong possibility of making it an annual event.
Perhaps we here in Linton ought to invent our own event Enduro Microscooters? 

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE   Top

LINTON News advertising manager Ron Argent was presented with a cheque for £200 by estate agents Kevin Henry last month when they renewed their regular advertisement in the paper. Keeping to their promise in the small print of the ad, they donated £25 for every property they had sold in Linton over the previous twelve months. The money has been donated to the parochial church council. LNT

MOBILE WARDEN PLAN TO HELP ELDERLY LIVING ALONE   Top

JUST imagine…you are alone at home, hands not quite what they were and the soup you need is in one of those pesky ring pull cans that are so awkward. You need a prescription or your pension, but it is such a long way to go, especially in bad weather. Perhaps you are ill and need someone to make you comfortable and help with medication. Your neighbour is away, the family are all at work, who can help? A mobile warden could, and in so many ways. Mostly, you would just like an occasional friendly visit, to keep you in touch with what is happening in the village and help you join in various events.
Village care schemes offer support to older members of the community. Much support is provided informally by neighbours, friends and family but this help may not be appropriate or always available. A mobile warden scheme provides contact with help that enables older members of the community to live independently in their own home, but with access to the help that would otherwise only come in sheltered accommodation. Visits could be daily or just when you need them, and you could move between levels of help according to what you need at the time.
Similar schemes have worked well in other villages, and a survey by District Councillor Joan Smith has established that about 30 Linton residents would like to join the scheme. Now we are moving forward with the help of the Parish Council.
The scheme would be funded by annual grants from local authorities, organisations such as Age Concern, occasional fund raising events, donations and small charges made to clients. The Parish Council has set aside £2,000 to help fund the initial stages of the scheme. The service would be run by a professional warden. With additional help from volunteers, other back-up and social events could be provided.
Currently we are assessing just what is needed in Linton, so if you are interested in having visits from the warden, we need your ideas and opinions on what you would like. We would also like to establish partnerships with other groups so that we maximise participation in other village activities.
We would like to gather a group of volunteers to help with the extra activities, perhaps informal gatherings for coffee at the Social Centre or to help those with some particular need. If you can help or would like a warden to help you, please contact Clerk on   891001, ... especially if you can think of a name for the scheme!

YOUNG MUSICIANS COME TO BLOWS    Top

ON Saturday 10th March Linton Music Society played host to Nicki and Justin Woodward, a brother and sister duo who play flutes and marimba respectively.
During the afternoon , Nicki and Justin ran a workshop for fourteen children aged 7 ñ 11. An extremely action-packed two hours was enjoyed by all, as the children learnt to count in time, listen to each other, and to prepare a piece which was later performed in the concert. Some of the children had brought along wind instruments of their own, but the others were able to join in on various percussion instruments from around the world including goat-skin drums, South American maracas and an intriguing instrument made of goats' trotters!
In case you were wondering, a marimba looks like a large xylophone and everyone was encouraged to have a play ñ truly a hands-on experience for all! Margaret Hearn

ALLEZ, GEOFF!    Top 

LINTON resident Geoffrey Harrison is to run in the Paris Marathon for the charity "Get Kids Going" on Sunday 8th April. The charity, whose president is Sebastian Coe, gives physically handicapped children and young people up to the age of 26 the wonderful opportunity to participate in sport.
Geoffrey Harrison is a member of Haverhill Runners, and has been training for four months. If anyone would like to sponsor him, he can be contacted by email geofh@ribotargets.com. LNT

POETRY AND POSIES FOR THE WI    Top 

FIVE visitors were welcomed to the March meeting of the WI. Posies were made and presented to the visitors and those with birthdays in March by Miriam Rixon. Members were reminded of the Spring Council meeting on 30th April. The piano in the Social Centre is to be tuned and will be used at the Christmas party.
Members reported on visits and courses they have attended recently, including a course on Dutch painting and symbolism held at the Womenís Institute College of Adult Education - Denman College. Details of future events organised by the Cambridge Federation of Womenís Institutes were given, including visits to Eltham Palace and to Oxford and an Open Day at Denman College.
The eveningís speaker, Janet Whiteside, spoke of her interest in the history of flower arranging and after reciting Wordsworthís poem ìDaffodilsî, she demonstrated her skills by creating several contrasting arrangements. Some of these used spring flowers and others were decorated with candles. One even incorporated an Easter egg. Janet told members about the shrubs that are indispensable in flower arranging and the importance of choosing a container for the arrangements. While she was demonstrating, Janet gave tips on achieving the best results.
The next meeting is the AGM at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 3rd April at the Social Centre. This meeting will include a fish and chip supper. All are welcome. Anne Parry-Smith

MEMBERSHIP DOWN BUT BOWLERS BUOYANT    Top 

THE AGM of the Bowls Club was held on 19th March. The President, Derek Dimmock, complimented the club on maintaining its viability in spite of the problem of falling membership. Free trials will be offered to anyone interested from 6-9pm on Thursday evenings, for five weeks from 7th June.
The treasurer, John Norris, reported a satisfactory state in spite of diminished resources. In his capacity as Club Captain, Derek reported a satisfactory season in 2000. Derek is stepping down after having been captain for six years. Bryan Beavis was nominated to succeed him and elected nem con.
Frank Bunn, green keeper, reported in writing that maintenance of the carpet has had to be deferred because of the abnormally wet weather. Albert Morley, who has been assistant green keeper since the clubís inception, has resigned and Brian Winfield was elected in his place.
The match secretary and Friendlies captain, Colin Robson, reported that out of 20 matches arranged in 2000, we won 10, lost 7 and 3 were cancelled (inability of visiting clubs to raise a team). Eighteen matches have been arranged for 2001, two of them in April.
The President thanked the ladies (headed by June Bunn) for their efforts in the catering field. We are renowned for having the best refreshments in the league. June is taking a year out and is replaced by Betty Meeks.

Other officers remain as before.

THE K-CLUB: IT COULD BE YOU    Top 

AS we are now at the halfway stage of the K-Club's third year I thought all you K-Club members may be interested to learn which have been the most frequently drawn numbers over the last two and a half years. First of all, though, some explanation as to how the draw is made might be helpful.
Each of the current 367 members for the current K-Club year (October 2000 to September 2001) has a three digit number. These run from 000 to 422 with a few gaps in between representing unallocated numbers - mostly lapsed memberships from previous years. Rather than have a drum of 367 individual members' numbers from which to draw prize winners, ten numbered balls are used numbered from 0 to 9. The prize winners are drawn in reverse order. For each draw the units are drawn first, then the tens and last of all the hundreds. Needless to say as each number is drawn it is replaced for the next number to be drawn, and so on.
As currently the highest membership number is only 422, if the first digit drawn (the hundreds) exceeds 4 another number is drawn until the resultant number falls within the range 000 to 422. Similarly, if the resultant number is not a current valid number, it is drawn again until a valid number is drawn.
In this way every individual member has an equal chance of winning in a totally random draw.
Each September an annual prize draw is made in addition to the monthly draw - this year the total to be given away will be £1,400 with a first prize of no less than £800!
So far we have had 88 different prize winners from 96 draws. One lucky member has won no less than three times with no. 099, and six others have won twice. The most frequently drawn number in the units' has been 8, with 4 and 5 coming up least. In the tens' 9 has been drawn most frequently -7 least so. In the hundreds, limited as it is to the 0-4 range, number 1 has been the star performer.
In money terms we have given away £5,000 in prizes since the K-Club started in 1998, and £5,500 has been donated to Linton Action for Youth over the same period. On behalf of LA4Y I would like to thank all our K-Clubbers, past and present, for their generosity in keeping the draw going. And if you are a current member, good luck in all the prize draws to come!

K-CLUB WINNERS     Top 

THE result of the March K-Club monthly draw: 1st (£50)  (No. 040); 2nd (£25) J (No. 198); 3rd (£10)  (No. 346).

ONCE MORE, UNTO THE BREACH... MR COLLARD    Top 

AT the March meeting of the Linton Historical Society the scheduled speaker was, at the very last moment, unable to attend so Mr Garth Collard, Chairman of the Society, stepped into the breach and gave us a guided tour of old Linton accompanied by many slides depicting old buildings and areas. He gave a comprehensive history of each slide but pointed out that some of the very old buildings had long disappeared due to delapidation and demolition.
He read an account from a newspaper of 1914 which gave concerns about the ëdangers of traffic moving at high speeds (20 miles per hour) through the villageí. It appears nothing changes!
Mr Collard told us about a new book just published, written by Mrs Iris Jeffery from her husbandís notes and research into housing in Linton in the 19th and 20th centuries. Copies were available for members to purchase, which Mrs Jeffery signed for them.
Mr Collard was warmly thanked for coming to the rescue at such short notice.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 17th April, when Mr Mike Petty will tell us of Mr Pickwickís travels through Cambridge. Joan Pearman

SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND EVENTS    Top 

THANK you to everyone who supported the Quiz Night in aid of Save the Children on 2nd March. The victorious team was The Anons and £195 was raised.
There will be a house to house collection for Save the Children from April 29th to May 5th in order to raise money for the one in four children around the world who live in absolute poverty. That means millions of children going without food, living in fear of violence and conflict and failing to receive a basic education. The odds are heavily stacked against them. Please give what you can to change these odds. £1 could buy a spade to help a child grow food in a school vegetable garden. £5 could provide shelter and security for a street child for one week. Judith White

The Bush Telegraph  Top

THERE is a quarterly newspaper called Positive News which is kindly sent to the college by a Linton resident. International stories about good things are given coverage in depth and the result is a little disarming at first. We are just not used to being up-beat and positive about our world and our country - understandable perhaps in the midst of the foot and mouth crisis. Our daily and Sunday newspapers feed us a diet of 'exposés', errors, failures and individual ruination and most of the time we lap it up because that is what we have come to expect. The fact that Positive News only comes out four times a year and therefore can scarcely maintain news currency is a reflection of this because not enough people want to hear about the positive aspects of life. This obsession with the negative can colour other aspects of our lives too and feed our prejudices. If we are not careful we can find ourselves believing, for example, that all schools are struggling and that young people are always 'difficult' if not downright anti-social. It is good to dispel these negative views of the world and I feel at LVC we have done so in a pretty spectacular manner recently. Our fundraising for our South African partner school has meant they have now made a start on their technology room. We have also had a great response to the appeal for the scholarships we have set up for four students from Boepathutse to spend next term attending the college and staying with local families. The air fares are paid for and the accommodation arranged. A momentous link between north and south, third and first world is about to happen. Beneath this achievement though, is a a set of deeper qualities which have shown themselves in countless other ways. The production of Carousel at the college had some amazing moments and it was the most pupil dependant production we have ever done. They really did have to work together in a committed and focused way drawing on their own reserves of motivation. The same creative energy has been there in the music concerts which have been of a remarkably high standard. Recently we have seen a community-wide flowering of talent in the music of Linton Jazz which performed to a packed house at the college in the middle of last month; children, young people, their parents and even the odd grandparent making music together of a very high standard indeed. And on Red Nose Day we also did our bit raising over £1000 for comic relief in the course of a school day where lessons continued as normal even if the uniform (for some at least) went by the board. Someone said to me during the course of the day, 'LVC is so good at so many things, now it's become good at raising money for good causes - it's just another thing we do really well' It's enough to make you feel positive about the world! Principal

PLANT DONATIONS WELCOME    Top

THE March meeting of the Garden Club featured Sam Agnew, head gardener at Homerton College, showing how he constructed new garden areas against old college buildings. His varied career had taken him to Japan which awakened his interest in dry gardens. This influenced his design at Homerton of a large paved and gravel area with contrasting foliage plants which was not only student-proof but provided a beautiful area for them to relax. Unfortunately the garden had to be dug up when a drainage system was laid across it. Undaunted, he recreated a similar area which manages to look better than the original. Lucky Garden Club members can see this, and the rest of the grounds, when we make a visit there in the summer.
If our Plant Sale on 12th May is to be a success as usual, we really are in need of additional donations. Sadly, several of our major contributors are unable to produce plants this year so we would be grateful for any 'spares' which can be offered.
This month the talk will be Garden Ponds for Wildlife by Geoff Peck. We were pleased to have several visitors last month and hope that they will come again.

ART GALLERY TO OPEN IN VILLAGE    Top

LOCAL artist Darryl Nantais, who was featured in the July 2000 edition of the Linton News, is planning to open a gallery in Linton High Street this spring.
The Darryl Nantais Gallery will show his own work and the work of other artists. It will also feature picture restoration and framing. Darryl was the founder of the Whittlesford Gallery and ran it for many years.
'I hope the residents of Linton will consider the gallery an asset,' said Darryl. 'It's all very exciting and as things stand we should be open some time in May , starting with a new exhibition of my own work.'

LINTON COUNTRY DIARY by Olwen Williams    Top

Sunday, 18th March 2001   Illustrated by Maureen Williams

SPRING is slow in coming, as the last month has been cold and everlastingly wet. Country walks are curtailed by the foot and mouth epidemic, to which there seems no end. The spring chorus is in full fig, blackbirds and song thrushes competing for both volume and complexity, while wren and dunnock make more noise that seems possible for such small birds. An early bumble bee and a queen wasp have visited my garden and frogs and toads are active.
As the hedges wear the first green of hawthorn leaves and the white of the blackthorn blossom, many farmers' livelihoods are being destroyed by foot and mouth disease. As with BSE, it seems that intensive factory farming is a contributory cause. On all sides, our attitudes to the countryside and to farming are being challenged. Do we want cheap food above all else? How much do we care about the welfare of farm animals? After all, in the end, they are bred to be killed for our benefit. Do we mind how they are fed, provided they put on weight quickly and are wholesome when they reach our table? How much more would we be prepared to pay for food reared with maximum animal welfare and similarly, for food free of pesticide residues, unnatural hormones and antibiotics? Should beleaguered farmers be responsible for maintaining the countryside, for preserving and enhancing natural habitat and improving biodiversity? If so, are we prepared to pay for it, either directly through taxation or again through higher food prices?
Do we care if wild animals are hunted to death for sport, or shot to reduce their nuisance to farmers or gamekeepers? A reader's letter draws attention to a trio of dead crows, strung on a fence near the bypass. I would suggest that this is more probably an old game-keeping tradition, rather than to deter other birds: I have seen moles displayed in this way in the Scottish highlands. We have a huge range of attitudes to this practice, from the gamekeeper's belief that all wild animals and birds are 'vermin' to be killed whenever possible, through indifference, perhaps curiosity, to the vehement disgust expressed in the letter.
Where do we stand on this one? Are our attitudes changing; indeed, are society's fundamental values changing, so that we now question things we would once have accepted?

MOTHER'S UNION NEARLY NEW SUMMER CLOTHES SALE    Top

THE Mother's Union is a world-wide Christian organisation with its headquarters in London. Specific projects are undertaken in this country and abroad focusing on women and families. For some time the Linton branch has contributed to the work of the MU by sending the proceeds from the three successful nearly new sales each year.
The next nearly new children's clothes and baby equipment sale will be held in the Social Centre on Saturday 28th April. Please note the earlier starting time of 11.30 for the sale. Clothes tend to be mostly for children aged 0 to 11 with a small selection for teenagers. There is always a range of school uniform. Notices are given out to primary school age children and via the two playgroups in Linton. There are always masses of lovely quality clothing for babies and very young children because things are outgrown before they have chance to wear out. Prices are from 10p upwards and represent real bargains. If you have not been to a sale before, do come and see what is available.
The person selling gets 75% of the sale price. If you want to sell children's clothes or equipment please call the number below for details of how to price and label items. The money is sorted out in the week after the sale and the remaining 25% is sent to help the MU charitable work.
The April sale is for children's summer clothes. Future dates are Saturday 6th October for winter clothes and baby equipment and Saturday 10th November for toys, books and games.
Finally the sales could not happen without a group of around 16 helpers at various times. New volunteers are most welcome, particularly for setting out and arranging the clothes and later sorting out the unsold items after the sale closes. 

 Top

       Next