Articles The Future, Dorothy’s Lane, Sign On, Youngest Editor, Ready for Flooding, Gardening Club’s 60th, WI, College Leavers, Going for Bronze, Wives in the Frame, Jubilee Trees, New Route, Rise and Shine, Rivey Lane Slipping Standards, Record GCSE, Fun for Elderly, Digital Age, Wacky Races, K-Club Heads for Pub, K-Club Winners, Bush Telegraph, Pool Project, Prison, Country Diary, Toddle waddle
Letters:- , Hugs, Laughs and Thanks, Job to Keep Young Safe, Touch from USA, Friends Helped, Thanks for Care,
The issues,
What does the village need? How should we organise it during the next
decade? What are the problems? What are the issues to solve, the hopes to
meet?
If you have any views on this, send them to the Linton News, Gill Barker at
the Parish Council or Judy Rossiter who is coordinating work on the village
survey.
Don’t miss your chance of influencing the future. Write or email now !Judy
Rossiter: Springfield House, Horn Lane. Gill Barker: Parish Office, Coles
Lane, 891001, email
lintonpc@btconnect.comk, Linton News: Editor, 9 Maple Close, email
LNeditor@linton.info – or
leave suggestions in the Linton News box in the Post Office.
Residents in Linton parish are about to get the biggest chance of shaping the
area’s future – and many run a big risk of being left out of the discussions.
Some people have already come forward to help identify the issues that will be
tested in a survey of the whole community and will eventually find their way
into a Village Plan for the foreseeable future.
But other residents are not yet represented in this vital job of identifying
the issues and working out what to cover in the survey. And if your concerns
are not in there, you could be left out in the cold.
Among those not yet represented are groups always shy of coming forward to
claim their rights as citizens — young people are not putting forward their
views, low income families do not have a voice, people with special needs have
not yet volunteered, and there are not many people in their 20s.
In addition, others with special interests, like leisure facilities and dog
walking, should be demanding their right to help plan the village’s future.
"We need people from every section of the community to give their views," said
Judy Rossiter, the coordinator for the village survey project.
"People can just tell us what they think the issues are, but it would be even
better for them to join one of our working groups to identify the alternatives
to be put to the community as a whole."
When the survey questions are worked out, they will be circulated to everyone
and the responses will be professionally and independently analysed. From
that, the Parish Council will know what the community wants and will draw up a
plan for the district council.
The District Council has a statutory duty to produce its own community plan
and has to take into account properly organised parish consultations and
plans.
The parish’s village plan will also have a big influence on any grant money
for the village – as well as being vital if the Parish Council is to win
quality status and increase its powers and funding to put more control of our
future in our own hands.
"We will be forming groups with special interests to identify the issues and
the alternatives," said Dr Rossiter.
At this stage, the number of groups and the issues are not fixed but
preliminary work suggests they will include: traffic, planning, facilities
(including leisure, sports and churches), services (including health, police,
clubs and societies, recycling), employment, education, nursery provision, and
environment aspects like wildlife, the river and footpaths.
Other specialist groups may include those considering facilities for people
with disabilities, the needs of low income families, what the young adults of
our community need to improve their position in the village and what needs to
be done for elderly people.
If you want to have a say in this, telephone Judy Rossiter or Gill
Barker (891001), call in at the parish office, email via the Linton community
website at survey@linton.info – or just turn up at the Cathodeon Centre at 8pm
on 25th September. You can be sure of a warm welcome and an eager interest in
your ideas and views!
Linton News Team
WITHER Dorothy’s Lane? At the Parish Council meeting on 9th February 1906
there was an item listed concerning the "Dorothy’s Lane Posts".
Mr Brinkmann proposed that the posts at the end nearest to the church should
be removed altogether, those next to the street, to be put on hinges.
Mr Burgess seconded, and the proposal was carried unanimously by the council.
Can any venerable, longstanding member of the Parish identify the location of
Dorothy’s Lane ?
It would seem from the description that it may well be the lane leading from
the High Street, beside the Infants’ School, to the Church Gate.
On the 1885 Ordnance Survey map of Linton, Church Lane is clearly marked and
also Dodges Lane which we now know as Horn Lane.
But Dorothy’s Lane is not marked.
Replies please to Dr Brian Cox (email:
bdc10@cus.cam.ac.uk) or the Linton News.
Brian Cox
HAVE you noticed how many homemade signs are placed by our roads over the
year, especially in the summer? These give us invaluable information about the
events that are happening in our community. However, some of these signs are
too small to read safely or the hand painted writing is difficult to see.
I would like to offer – as a community service – to match up groups who want
new metal road signs advertising their events, with local businesses that
would like to sponsor such signs.
As an example, six 2ft square signs would cost approximately £250 to sponsor.
The sponsor’s name or logo would be on the sign, and the sign would probably
last 10 years.
I would be pleased to hear from the representative of any group who would like
to replace their current signs, and from any local businesses that would be
interested in sponsoring them.
Please contact me by email (preferred)
david.seacombe@perceptron.co.uk.
David Seacombe
THE Linton News has appointed its youngest editor – 27-year-old
biochemistry graduate Hazel Olway (above).
Hazel, who took over the reins within the Linton News Team for this issue,
applied for the job to become more involved in the village and its
organisations.
Sally Simmons, who steps down after two years of editing the paper, becomes
assistant editor – and assistant editor John Keeble, also a former editor,
will concentrate on the website (www. linton.info) and
LNT
Profile, page 3
Now is the time to act, writes Darryl Nantais
NOW what we could all do with is a good old fashioned prophet, plus a few
people with water divining skills. Unfortunately I don’t really qualify for
either position but many people have asked me "will the floods return this
October?" and "why are our cellars now becoming damp or flooded having
remained dry during the floods?"
Some speak of the Linton Flood as if it were some mythical creature that
returns every few years, so what we also need is a gladiator to slay it.
It is true, having observed and painted with a lifelong passion our local
rivers, some insight may have unwittingly developed and last October the
invisible crow on my shoulder screeched "I told you so".
I had already suggested a rather radical change to the Pocket Park and
surrounding area to create a lake, high banked flood plain and automatic
sluice gate. This would not only become a superb wildlife sanctuary making
properties here even more desirable, but would greatly reduce the risk of
flooding by holding and controlling the water and flow safely.
People in Bartlow have now ensured their rain water is carried away more
efficiently, but this means a faster river rise making it increasingly
difficult for the mill owners of Linton to control the water level through our
village.
If the current weather pattern does not change soon we are in for a tough
time. The Parish Council has worked hard to get drains cleared and have sand
bags at the ready. Councillor John Batchelor informs me that funding is now
approved for what I understand is to be a flood risk management pre-survey to
begin, possibly by the environmental agency.
In advance of this I would like to hear from anyone regarding their concerns
about the river and water levels. Also about any environmental issues, springs
, drains and wells.
Please write to 59 High Street, Linton or e-mail: Darryl_Nantais@
grantaart.freeserve.co.uk
2.30pm,
14th September help with Linton News special projects like coverage of the
village survey.
WI President, Wendy Foster, welcomed members and one visitor to the August
meeting at the Social Centre and birthday posies were made and distributed by
Marjorie Blackman.
Members were invited to attend the official opening on 29th September of the
Cambridgeshire Federation’s new offices at Haslingfield and Jean Goodwin gave
a very favourable report on her recent visit there.
New members in all WIs are now being asked to fill in a questionnaire about
why they have chosen to become members.
A talk on rowing and the famous boat race will be given at the autumn council
meeting on 28th October by the Lord Lieutenant of the county.
There will be a WI cake stall at the Social Centre Jumble Sale on 28th
September.
Volunteers were requested for the Quiz Night on 1st November at Cottenham and
it is hoped Linton can muster three teams.
On 27th September at June Bunn’s house, there will be a "knit-in" and meeting
for members interested in craftwork.
Jean Curl was welcomed as the speaker for the evening on ‘Henry VIII, victim
or villain?’. She was a very lively speaker and painted a vivid picture of the
upbringing Henry would have had, setting this in the context of his family
background and life in Tudor times.
The next meeting takes place at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 3rd September at the Social
Centre, Coles Lane. This will be the annual Harvest Supper, followed by an
auction to be run by Clare Neville. Members are asked to bring an item for the
auction. Visitors are welcome.
Anne Parry-Smith
Riding into the future ... Linton Village College leavers arriving for their
ball at Chilford Hall Photograph by kind permission of Julian’s Photography
(ball pictures available
pictures@linton.info)
AMONG members at the Linton Action for Youth’s drop-in centre there is a
group of young people working towards Bronze Youth Achievement Award
certificates.
The summer term has been very busy and a new group has formed and started a
challenge which they have called a "Community Challenge" – this has involved
watering the Golden Jubilee trees on the recreation ground near the drop- in.
The group water the trees once a week and all but one of the trees are doing
really well.
A small group was also involved in the Flower Festival. The theme they chose
was the flood, showing the river under flood and then another piece after the
flood showing how everyone in the village had pulled together. This was all
done with a great deal of help from Judy Rossiter once again, who guides not
only the young people but the youth workers too and our thanks go to her.
In July a small group, as part of one of the challenges, went to Ely to sit on
an interview panel to choose a young people’s advocate. They were all praised
for their input and will hopefully be asked to sit on the panel again as
no-one was appointed that time. Another group of four girls took part in the
Race for Life on Jesus Green on 9th June to raise money for Cancer Research –
they all did very well and are busy at the moment collecting in their
sponsorship money.
The whole group attended a presentation evening at Huntingdon on 27th June to
collect their awards. A total of 11 awards were presented to our young people.
One of them, Kari Marlow, had completed four challenges and received her
Bronze Award.
Bev Reynolds
Youth Worker
CAMERA Club members visited Anglesey Abbey for a photographic and social
afternoon on Sunday 11th August . It was the club’s first event where partners
were invited – and two of the wives, Linda Dixon with her camcorder and June
Keeble with her much-used camera, put up some stiff competition for members.
The house and grounds presented a varied range of photographic opportunities –
and the dahlia garden was perfect.
The event culminated with an excellent meal at the Crown and Punchbowl,
Horningsea. Everybody agreed it was a lovely day out, for photographers and
non-photographers alike.
The 13 participants included new member Mike Clay, recently elected a parish
councillor, and his wife Christine.
The Camera Club’s next meeting – always the second Sunday of the month – will
be an awayday on 8th September. New members very welcome: phone cc@linton.info
for details.
Peter Dixon
THE Parish Council’s planting of 20 ‘Golden Jubilee’ trees on the
recreation ground and erection of a very large stone "notice" describing them
have won a district council award for being the most long-lasting memorial to
the jubilee in South Cambridgeshire.
The trees were carefully selected to suit the proximity to the river and the
occasion. It is hoped they will provide an overall golden look throughout most
of the year.
A large, beautiful piece of blue/cream Clipsham limestone was erected in the
middle of the group. It was engraved to show it was a Golden Jubilee project
by the council and to name the sponsors.
Members of Linton Action for Youth help with the watering of the trees. Val
Urwin
Dear Editor
Linda and John would like to thank everyone who sent cards, letters and
flowers after the sad loss of their much-loved son Olli.
I cannot put into words how we as a family feel at the moment but the support
we have had from our friends has been such a comfort.
A special thank you from me, his mum, goes to all of Olli’s mates who have
given me so many hugs, and have made me laugh over things Olli has shared with
them.
Olli loved life and for the short time he was here lived it to the full and we
are so very proud of him.
I would also like to thank my dear friend Denise Coombe who at any time of the
day or night has been there for me.
Linda and John Reynolds
30 Woodlands
Dear Editor
My brother Olli would have been well chuffed to hear all the wonderful stories
of him being a hit with the ladies, and the reason for so many hugs and kisses
shared between friends and family last month – what lad wouldn’t?
I would just like to take a moment to say a massive thank you for all the
support and kind words that we have received. I know that they have helped
those closest to me immensely through this heartbreaking time, although it is
not just the family that feel hurt and at a loss but friends too – Olli had
many it seems.
Right now the emotion comes in waves, you get through one day and feel OK and
then come crashing down again. You don’t know when the next one will hit.
I don’t think we will ever get over it, but hopefully in time will learn to
cope and accept that there is a little bit of sadness in our lives and life
will never quite be the same.
It has been like losing part of myself, in losing Olli, but I know at the
worst times when I am missing him most or when one of the emotional waves
crashes, I shall call round and see one his many wonderful mates and be around
him again.
Hannah Reynolds
Dear Editor
As outgoing Crossing Patroller for Linton Infants’ School, I would like to
appeal to anyone in the village to consider taking up the post henceforth.
My time in the job has been rewarding and I like to feel that I’ve made a
little difference to the community.
A newcomer to Linton myself, I have found this an excellent opportunity to get
to know the community. The efforts I’ve made have always been warmly
appreciated and the bright, smiley faces on the children make it all worth
while.
Would anyone in the village like to make such a difference? If so, they can
inquire with the County Council.
Children’s safety is paramount and I’m sure they and their families would
appreciate continued assistance in coming to and from school.
Victor Mazumdar
18 Market Lane
Dear Editor,
As a former resident of Linton I must say how I enjoy reading your local
newspaper – it brings back a lot of memories of my younger days and also it
reminds me of the little things I miss. We have been living in USA now for 34
years and we do get back from time to time. Keep up the good work and I will
be in Linton in September.
Chris Moore
Dear Editor
I am very grateful to all my friends in Linton who gave me so much help while
my husband was ill.
He died peacefully at home on 25th July. I was overwhelmed by the number of
people who managed to attend the service at St. Mary’s Church, Linton.
I would like to thank you for the lovely cards and letters I have received and
for the donations to the Marie Curie Cancer Nursing Fund. Special thanks are
due to the nursing staff at Linton Health Centre.
Ann Simpkin
27 Chalklands
Dear Editor
I would like to say thank you to everyone for their help and support during
my father Bill Banks’ illness and subsequent death.
Also thanks to those who attended his funeral and joined us at Flaxfields
Community Centre afterwards. I know he was very happy living at Flaxfields for
the last two years of his life.
Hazel Lunan
7 Rivey Close
HAZEL Olway has been living and working in Linton for just over a year –
one of many people coming to the village who are eager to join in community
activities.
"I knew Linton fairly well as I have friends here and used to come and visit
regularly," she said.
"I heard about a job that I wanted to apply for and it happened to be in the
village. It was a logical step to live here too. I’m not a morning person so
the very short journey to work is a bonus!"
Then the Linton News announced that its Editor, Sally Simmons, was looking for
a replacement after a very successful term leading a team of about 50 village
people producing and delivering the paper.
Hazel saw the advertisement for the new Editor and was tempted to sign up for
a key role at the centre of village activities.
"My job involves a lot of scientific writing, which I enjoy but I was
interested in doing something that wasn’t science based," she said.
"When I saw that the Linton News was looking for a new Editor I realised that
it would be a good way to branch out from scientific writing and also become a
lot more involved within the village."
Hazel was born in Barnet, in north London, but has moved around quite a lot.
She was bought up in Surrey and then went to Warwick University in the
Midlands to study biochemistry.
After university she lived in London and Canterbury before moving to Linton in
April last year.
She is a very keen traveller and in the last year has visited both Australia
and China.
Closer to home Hazel has recently started learning to ride horses ... "though
I’m not sure how long that will last – I fell off for the first time last
week!"
But with the Linton News she has a whole team to help her stay in the saddle
...
Linton News Team
THE Linton Out of School Club is pleased to announce that places in the
school holidays will now be available from 8.30am (previously 9am).
Toast, preserves and juice will be on offer!
Due to a reorganisation of our staff structure, we now have a vacancy for a
play-worker from September. The hours will be from 3pm to 4.30pm Monday to
Friday and will include collecting children from school. Previous experience
is preferred and a willingness to undertake training desirable. Jobshare would
be considered.
Gail Thacker
RIVEY Lane, the foot- path that runs from Back Road by the cemetery up to
the top of Rivey Hill, is unusable in winter and much of summer.
Last autumn, winter and spring it was so bad that children and their mothers
could not cross it on their safe route to school away from the busy Back Road.
Elderly people and anyone with anything but heavy footwear were kept off even
the surfaced area because of mud and the danger of slipping. They had to walk
the long way round the Chalklands estate to get to the Post Office – and
struggle up the inclines in Coles Lane and the High Street to get to the Coop
and back.
Even last month, during one of the hottest periods of the year, the centre
section – between the surfaced section leading to Back Road and the top
section that climbs to the top of Rivey Hill – was cut by a stretch thick with
mud.
Within a month or two, depending on rainfall, the centre section is expected
by local residents to turn into a swamp again as the surfaced area becomes
slippery and muddy and the top section starts running with the stream of
spring water that rises at the top and flows down – on a course partly
controlled because a Chalklands resident took the trouble to dig a channel for
it down the hill.
The path, technically a bridleway, is a source of annoyance for local
residents who want to use it.
One resident commented: "It is disgusting. It never used to be like this years
ago – you could use it in shiny shoes."
John Franklin, of Chalklands Residents’ Association, said: "I have been
battling for improvements."
His earlier gains, when land drains were laid along the path and it remained
dry, were lost when the new housing was built on the edge of the Chalklands
estate.
That, he said, led to the path being flooded all the time – and has put at
flood risk many houses on the estate as well – because water does not flow
away as it did before.
The Parish Council has been pressing the County Council to sort out the
problem of flowing water.
The County Council hired surveyors who examined the path during the summer of
last year.
Plans to start work on a solution failed to turn into action and the problem
is now awaiting attention.
LNT
PUPILS at Linton Village College achieved yet another record set of GCSE
results with 76% achieving five or more higher grades.
All subjects have done extremely well but the leading subject is technology
with an outstanding 97% higher grades.
In this male dominated year group boys have done extremely well, once again
bucking the national trend very convincingly.
This year’s highest achieving pupils were one girl with all starred A grades
and two boys with nine starred As and one A respectively.
Overall the percentage of starred A and A grades increased by 3% to an amazing
30%.
With the national average looking like hitting the mid fifties, all pupils and
staff at LVC deserve tremendous congratulations – well done to everyone.
C R Bush
Principal
A Linton resident discovering a more leisurely way to board a coach
A TRIO of Lintonians, Linda Read, Hazel Lunan and Margaret Cox have been
awarded a grant for one year to help elderly people have a better social life.
The scheme is being funded by Help the Aged through a Community Action
Millennium Award. Margaret, Linda and Hazel are all members of the Mobile
Warden Committee in Linton, so they are cooperating with the Mobile Warden to
arrange a programme that her clients and other, particularly older people who
have difficulty getting out and about as much as they would like, will enjoy.
Two days after the grant was in the bank the first event took place, with 26
participants and volunteer helpers, most of them members of the Mobile Warden
Committee, going to Scotsdale’s Garden Centre for the afternoon on Wednesday,
3rd July.
Local taxis and volunteers in cars took people to the Social Centre where a
coach, specially adapted to take wheelchairs, arrived to collect the party.
The driver, who entertained everyone with a fund of jokes, was very skilled at
operating the lift which ensured that those in wheelchairs were boarded
smoothly and easily.
The Mobile Warden joined the party at Scotsdale’s where she and volunteers
pushed the wheelchairs and escorted those with visual or other difficulties
around the Garden Centre. Fortunately, by this time it had stopped raining, so
everyone was able to enjoy the large array of garden plants as well as the
magnificent display of conservatory and house plants, pots, gardening
equipment and furniture and the pets, including, of course, the very noisy
resident parrots.
A sumptuous cream tea was provided in the restaurant, during which time the
participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about what sort of events
they would like organised.
The trio are very anxious that there should be events that everyone can enjoy,
whatever their disabilities. Participants made it clear they were all enjoying
themselves so much that they wanted to do everything suggested and to return
to Scotsdale’s for the Christmas display.
The next event will be at the Social Centre – or Village Hall as it is soon to
be called – on Tuesday, 3rd September at 2.30pm when Mr Garth Collard will
give a talk about the changing face of Linton. Tea will be provided. In
October, also at the Social Centre, there will be a lunch (fish and chips or
something similar) possibly with a group singing sea shanties.
If you would like further information or would like to attend any of the
events, contact Margaret Cox on, Linda Read or Enid Bald on 891001.
Remember, disability is no bar to joining in as lifts can be provided and one
of the objects of the scheme is that there are plenty of willing volunteers to
help in any way.
Margaret Cox
ARE computers a mystery to you? Would you like to learn how to use them or
take part in a whole range of other activities during the daytime and free of
charge? Well, you can – if you take an isolated person with you.
There are many isolated and depressed people who would like to go to such
activities but do not have the confidence to do so.
Their GPs refer them to a local community project called Health for Life,
which encourages them to get out and go to community education classes and
village clubs.
Here they make new friends, learn new skills and interests and start to feel
better. But, the project needs volunteers to drive them to the activities. In
return for their help volunteers can stay and enjoy the activities free of
charge. We will also help with fuel costs.
We are looking for more volunteers starting in September. Are you interested?
Please phone Sue. Sue Mudge
Two cheques for over £1,100 each were presented to the Chestnut Playgroup
and the Linton Fire Service.
This considerable amount of money was raised by the Wacky Races event staged
over the Golden Jubilee by the Crown Inn.
"We were truly amazed at the support and generosity of the community," said
Joel Palmer, landlord of the Crown.
People came out onto the streets in droves to cheer on the field of over 80
competitors in this modern day version of a pram race around the streets of
the village. The Crown has promised that it will become an annual event for
Linton-based charities.
The overwhelming level of community spirit was a tonic for the whole village
and saw over 1,000 people lining the route of the race.
For further details contact Louise or Joel
Joel Palmer
SEPTEMBER is "big money" month for the K-Club and this year there is £1,300
available to be won by three lucky people. The draw takes place on Monday 16th
September at the Dog and Duck, so if you are a member, come and see fair play
for "the big one" – you never know, it could be you!
If you have not yet signed up, come along anyway and if you want to join for
next year bring £12 as the deadline for getting into the 2002/03 K-Club is
September 30th.
The K-Club is the main local fund-raising arm of Linton Action for Youth. To
date it has raised over £7,000 and has opened the door to many more
contributions from the Community Fund and other providers – funding that would
just not be available without the demonstration of a strong commitment from
the local community.
Six prize-winning numbers will be drawn – September’s monthly prizes, worth
£50, £25 and £10, and then the annual prizes of £800, £350 and £150.
Peter Dixon
1st prize (£50) Mrs E Manfredi (358); 2nd prize (£25) Mrs J Argent (142); 3rd prize (£10) Tony Crouch (31)
WHEN you have been in this kind of job for a long time, and I suppose I
must now admit that I have, you tend to relate the events in the world around
you to the realities of the job. So it is with the tragedy that unfolded in
Soham last month. As a parent, I ache for Jessica and Holly’s parents whose
sense of loss must be close to unendurable, but as headteacher I also feel for
the pupils and staff who now have the task of establishing a degree of
normality in their town and its schools; a task that will be slow and painful
over the coming months.
My travels this summer took me back to South Africa on a double mission.
Firstly I wanted to see how things were developing at Boepathutse, our partner
school in Soshanguve, near Pretoria and secondly, Cambridgeshire County
Council had asked me to explore the possibility of forging links between the
LEA here and its equivalent in South Africa. I asked LVC’s head of technology,
Tom Minnock, to accompany me because the next project in Boepathutse is to
develop a Technology Centre there that can be used to teach adults as well as
children. Tom spent a week in Soshanguve Township and attacked the issues
facing the schools there with his usual enthusiasm and commitment. The result
of his work is a series of proposals for our pupils to get their teeth into
over the next few months and which will make an enormous difference to the
lives of their fellow pupils in Soshanguve. I, on the other hand travelled on
to the Eastern Cape, officially the poorest region in South Africa, where I
met teachers who were embarking on five week placements in some of the most
isolated and poorly equipped schools on the planet. I visited several of these
schools and while the people I met were, without exception, friendly and
positive, my Western European preconceptions were severely challenged by
classrooms that looked like chicken sheds, with dirt floors, no electricity or
water and no books or materials. I met children and adults however, who saw
these problems as mere challenges and who, in one notable case, decided to
take direct action by making their own bricks and building a new school. They
did it too! This part of Eastern Cape also wants to link with Cambridgeshire
and I now have the interesting task of coming up with some proposals that will
benefit all the parties involved. I’ll keep you posted.
Clive Bush, Principal
DESPITE raising over £3,000, and a further £5,000 promised, Linton Area
Pool Project (LAPP) now faces the challenge of recruiting people that really
want to see a pool in Linton.
Awarded charity status & a Cambridge Evening News Community Award last year,
LAPP urgently needs a new secretary and 12 committee members in order to
continue with its fundraising efforts. There are approximately six meetings a
year, plus fundraising activities. "LAPP is an extremely worthy project that
needs new members to continue," said Councillor Joan Smith.
Those interested in helping to raise funds for a pool should attend the next
meeting to be held in the bar at Linton Community Sports Centre at 7pm on
Thursday 5th September.
Mark Wilson
YEAR 8 Linton Village College student Luke McKenna successfully completed
an eight hour sponsored lock-up in a cell at Haverhill Police Station on 16th
August. Luke came up with the bizarre idea some months ago and had to get
special permission from the Suffolk Constabulary’s Chief Inspector before
being allowed to fulfil his ambition.
Luke raised £450 for LVC’s Link School, Boepathutse, in Soshanguve, South
Africa, to help improve their educational facilities and equipment. Luke would
like to thank friends and neighbours who gave their support. Paul McKenna
Illustrated by Maureen Williams
GREAT Gods and little breath. Sparky the cat yawned, looked disapprovingly
out of the window then curled himself into a tight ball. The weather affects
us all, so if you too have felt lethargic or short of breath lately the
reasons are probably in the air. That old Norse god Thor moved into the flat
above Linton last month with some pretty heavy furniture. Warm and cold air,
ice crystals and water droplets collided to create opposing electrical
charges. This activity equals lightning between clouds or to earth which in
turn produces heat, rapidly expanding the air causing shockwaves called
thunder. No need to tap the barometer, just watch the rise and fall of gangs
of gnats to note extreme bouts of low pressure. It’s the weather of the wheeze
as asthma sufferers and our local doctors will know well. You see, the high
humidity is perfect for the growth of moulds which in turn produce mould
spores. Add these to some pollen with a dash of pollution. Sprinkle on a
little harvest dust and cook under low pressure for a few days to create an
atmospheric bowl of soup with first prize going to Linton. Phew! deep breath.
Despite the storms it has been an exciting and wealthy month of sightings such
as Corncockles, Kingfishers, Lampreys and Fly Catchers. The twenty- fourth of
July though was a day when so many wonderful young woodpeckers of Linton,
screeching like monkeys, claimed their independence. It was the same for the
Great and the Green and by darkfall I had spotted over twenty.
During the no-go period of Foot & Mouth many footpaths and fields recovered
from crushing feet or machine leaving wild flowers to grow as I remember them
as a boy. Despite the lack of a ‘Flaming June’ the roadside array along Back
Road was a painters paradise. During July I spent many hours travelling the
landscape of a buddleia bloom under my microscope. This fantastic journey
ended with sore eyes, images stuck on my retina and no plausible explanation
for its extraordinary appeal to insects, other than its stunning colour. The
buddleia known as the ‘butterfly bush’ and observed at night reveals its equal
appeal to moths. It was a distinct lack of butterflies this year other than
our faithful Cabbage White that sparked my interest although my special
discovery this month was a pair of water crickets Velia caprai at the mill
ford. Warning! There’s a hole in the church cemetery wall guarded by a couple
of the tenant wasps. It’s not for us to judge their persuasion but may I
suggest to be attack free we respect their stay as no doubt they are one of
natures essential cogs.
By the way, thanks to all who helped me nurse Fagin the young asthmatic magpie
back to health. He gave me one final and excruciatingly painful peck and
returned to the wild. Now, whilst Sparky and Thor are both sleeping, I bid you
farewell and easy breathing.
OUR mother and toddler group has been a great success, with children coming
from not only Hadstock but surrounding areas. Initial funding was obtained
from the Parish Council which allowed us to get the group up and running, and
further funding was obtained from The Community & Voluntary Forum’s Community
Champions’ fund enabling us to buy some outside play equipment amongst other
things.
After the summer break we will be meeting again every Thursday from 19th
September, with a new time of 2 - 4pm.
All are welcome to join us for a coffee and a chat in the village hall –
toddlers not compulsory!
A date to remember is Thursday 26th September, as we are holding a Toddle
Waddle in aid of meningitis, so if you would like to support the little ones
as they tackle a small obstacle course to raise funds for this important
research, please come along.
Enjoy the rest of the summer. All enquires to Kay Elston
Kay Elston