Paul Richardson will trek in aid of the Leprosy Mission
This month an intrepid Linton resident is preparing for something a little more
adventurous than the average Sunday afternoon stroll.
Paul Richardson gears up for the trek of his life
IN February, Paul will be undertaking a sponsored trek through the Himalayas to
raise money for leprosy sufferers.
While leprosy is often thought of as a disease confined to biblical times, it is
still prevalent today and affects millions of people. It is a disease that
damages the nerves and is thought to be spread through droplet infection, e.g.
by sneezing or coughing. Leprosy is confined to parts of the world where
malnutrition and poor living conditions weaken the body’s immune system. Hence
80% of known cases are in the Indian sub-continent. A cure for leprosy was only
introduced about 15 years ago, and consists of a 12-month course of a cocktail
of drugs. Pharmaceutical companies provide the drugs free of charge, so the cost
of administering treatment for each patient is only £15.
As well as the social stigma that accompanies leprosy, failure to receive
treatment can lead to disability and blindness caused by nerve damage. This
damage results in the inability to feel any injury to the hands, face and feet
and also causes paralysis. It is injuries sustained through the loss of feeling
that lead to the stereotypical stump-like hands and feet that are associated
with leprosy.
The money Paul raises will be given to the Leprosy Mission hospital at Anandaban
in Nepal. This hospital alone treats over 1000 leprosy sufferers a year,
administering the multi-drug therapy and carrying out reconstructive surgery.
All the costs of the trek have been covered, so all of the money raised through
sponsorship will go to the hospital.
The trek will last for seven days, and will cover 50 miles over challenging
terrain, with steep and lengthy ascents all carried out at altitudes of between
3,000 and 8,500 ft. Not having undertaken such a challenge before, Paul is
currently in training, and you will probably see him running the highways and
byways of Linton to help ensure that he is able to complete the trek!
Paul’s sponsorship target is £1,500, of which around £800 has already been
raised and he will be relying on contributions from individuals and companies to
reach his target.
If you would like to contribute or to know more then please contact Paul on %
892074, or e-mail p_b_Richardson@yahoo.co.uk Remember, just £15 will cure
someone of leprosy, and radically transform their life for the better. I can’t
think of any other way that you could use £15 that could have the same impact!
Paul Richardson
ACCORDING to health statistics approximately half as many people again have
poor hearing as those with poor eyesight, yet no one notices. People with
hearing problems don’t carry sticks, nor show or wear anything immediately
obvious so the problem often goes unnoticed, and hearing impairment tends to be
relegated to the end of the line for social and medical care and resources.
Twenty five years ago a senior lip reading teacher from Addenbrooke’s Hospital
took it into her head to try to change the scene (around Cambridge at least) and
together with colleagues, and the active help of Cambridge Evening News, formed
CAMTAD (Cambridge Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness) to assist those with
hearing disabilities to become aware of the various environmental aids that were
available to help them. Things such as doorbells, smoke alarms, television and
telephones and many other assets that are taken for granted by those with normal
hearing virtually do not exist if you can’t hear them, but there are various
devices available (at a price) to help make up the deficiency
CAMTAD was started as an information service in 1978, and developed to include a
cleaning and maintenance service of NHS hearing aids and advice and
demonstration of typical samples of some of the various ‘environmental’ devices
that were on the market at the time.
Ten years ago in March 1993, with the active encouragement of Dr Anderson and
his colleagues in Linton, CAMTAD started the first experimental regular monthly
sessions based in the Health Centre using local trained volunteers. (All our
active workers are selected, trained volunteers and all our services are given
free.)
During our first year in Linton we averaged about twelve visitors each monthly
session, cleaning and servicing NHS hearing aids, demonstrating the various
items of equipment to the curious, offering advice to anyone troubled with their
hearing and in 1993 that seemed to be enough to give us a busy morning. Word has
since spread and it is an unfortunate fact of modern life that more and more
people are developing damaged hearing. Today the numbers of visitors to our
clinics are often more than double what they were ten years ago.
The success of the Linton example led to demand from other local areas, and over
the years CAMTAD has expanded to set up seventeen other regular monthly sessions
around South Cambs, from Littleport in the north to Gamlingay in the west. The
most recent is at Cambourne. (A separate Fenland CAMTAD serves North Cambs.)
The Cambridge model has since been copied in other parts of the UK and now there
are many, many other CAMTAD’s or CAMTAD type groups doing something very
similar.
In Linton we enjoy a very co-operative, friendly relationship with the staff at
the Health Centre. We have over 130 local people on our register many of whom
come regularly every month or so. Our volunteers can also make home visits by
arrangement for those unable to get out.
We are part funded by Cambridgeshire Social Services, and the Local Health
Trust, but we depend, and are grateful for generous donation support to make up
the rest, mostly spent on expanding and updating our stock of equipment.
Having enjoyed a satisfyingly fruitful ten years in Linton what the next ten
years will bring remains to be seen. From present trends a reduction in people
needing help with their hearing troubles seems very unlikely.
We are at Linton Health Centre 9am to 12noon the third Wednesday of every month.
Just drop in, no appointments, no charges (dates are in the Village Diary in the
Linton News). Sandy Burgess, Mary Wrigley and John Cammann (Linton) and Eddie
Greatorex (Royston)
YOU may not be aware that each month the members of the Linton News editorial
committee scan the previous month’s edition for the most interesting, fun and
informative articles for inclusion in the "Article of the Year" competition, the
voting for which is held each December, usually at our Christmas Committee
Meeting in the pub!
This years winner is Jules Dann for her entertaining article, ‘Six Wheels and a
Flapjack’ published in the October edition of the Linton News. In the article
Jules recounts the trials and tribulations of her first London to Cambridge bike
ride on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of 2002.
The article was in fact the first thing that Jules had ever written for
publication and was actually the result of a last minute plea from the editor
for extra copy during a month that (quite uncharacteristically) was a little
light on copy. Jules’ first venture into journalism proved to be to her taste
and she has since written more articles for local publications. Congratulations
also go to the runners-up; Anne Parry-Smith,’ More than Jam and Jerusalem’
February, Darryl Nantais ‘Country Diary’ May edition and Joan Smith ‘What do you
do all day?’ August. LNT
OR perhaps more correctly a web editor. Linton’s website, www.linton.info,
needs a new editor to maintain and expand the site which draws together
electronic versions of the Linton News, the Linton News archive, an extensive
and useful Village Diary, special reports, the first of the sections of a Linton
Guide and useful links.
Work is already in hand to add the biggest list to the guide section -
organisations and contacts. The present editor, John Keeble, is handing over
because of other commitments but will be available for help and guidance as the
new editor works into the project. Some skills are necessary: the ability to
design pages, write and edit, and prepare and upload text and photographs. The
Webmaster, Graham Potter, handles technical matters. Software is available to
run on the new editor’s own computer. If you are interested, please contact John
Keeble at jkeeble@clara.net (however, please be patient as I will be unable to
reply until the end of February!)
John Keeble
THE Self Build Solar Team project, which is jointly funded by South Cambs.
District Council, Cambridge City Council and the National Energy Foundation, is
designed to help local residents (including local trades people) in both the
city and South Cambridgeshire to build and install their own solar hot water
systems at a cost saving of approx. 50% - a typical system costs £2,500. Various
workshops are planned for later in 2003. Please contact Cameron Adams, Strategic
Development Officer for South Cambridgeshire on % 443135 (or email:
cameron.adams@ scambs.gov.uk) for the latest information available about the
scheme. The costs for the self build are: £1400 if you wish to attend as either
a builder or buyer (this includes the cost of materials and training) - in both
cases you get a solar hot water system comprising 3 solar panels together with a
hot water tank plus extras. £50 if you wish to attend as a trainee - although
this does not include the solar hot water system, you do receive training plus a
comprehensive DIY manual which would enable you to build your system at a later
date.
A solar hot water system saves an average household £150 per annum on their
electricity bill. It typically provides 80% of hot water needs in the summer and
20% in the winter. Hence you do need a conventional system as a back-up. The
solar hot water system is most cost effective and suitable for those systems
which include a hot water tank. The system can be used with a Combi boiler but
in this case it does require some modification, which is costly.
Cameron Adams
LINTON Camera club met on Sunday 12th January for an away day to Wicken Fen
for landscape photographs on a frosty morning. Eight members, including new
member Ralph Atkinson, met at Coles Lane at 8am when the temperature was a
chilly - 4ºC but the forecast was for early sunshine.
When we arrived conditions were perfect - very cold but the sun was shining and
the frost on the trees and marsh plants gave us excellent material.
Unfortunately cloud soon appeared but we photographed the windmills on the site
and visited the bird reserve lookout tower. Later some of the group travelled to
Ely and its waterfront before setting off home for lunch.
The next meeting will be at 11am on Sunday 9th February on the first floor of
the Social Centre, when the subject will be "Photography over the winter months
- successes and failures". New members are very welcome.
Contact Mike Crofts for further information.
Mike Crofts
WE are always busy this time of year at the Sports Centre, and so far there
have been a lot of people coming through our doors, trying to shed that over-
indulgent Christmas feeling. We are always promoting new activities at the
Sports Centre and we have a lot to offer. There are aerobics classes and
badminton clubs as well as keep fit, trampolining, basketball, and tennis, all
indoor activities, so no excuses in bad weather!
The Basketball Club on Fridays has become very popular. Many children attend the
session for 8-12 yr olds at 5-6pm. The adult session that starts at 6pm could
always do with the support of some more members. All abilities are welcome; we
encourage new starters as well. The only criterion is that you are above 14 yrs
of age. We must also take this opportunity to thank Paul Bowden for volunteering
his services to coach the Basketball Club free of charge. The growing number of
members is directly attributable to him and his enthusiasm for the game. Lucy
Howe
ON the 21st January Garth Collard welcomed between 90 and 100 members of the
history society and visitors, to his continuation of talks on Linton shops and
businesses over the years. Aided by a slide show, we travelled from Bartlow Road
to Church Lane, with detailed descriptions of all the historic buildings, their
uses over the years, the changes from one type of shop to another and from one
public house to another. Changes of names of public houses occurred and as can
be seen today, most of them and the shops have disappeared altogether, having
been converted into houses, although they can still be recognised by their
external facades. Many photographs showed the owners standing outside their
premises and businesses were handed down through the family for many years.
There were so many buildings to discuss and space does not allow a detailed
description here but anyone interested can look forward to Garth’s exhibition of
photographs in due course. He would also be glad to hear from anyone who has any
recollections of families, businesses etc. in the village to complete his
research.
It was so interesting to see Linton High Street in bygone years, with muddy
surfaces, horses, bicycles and lots of pedestrians – a quiet and peaceful road!
Clare Neville gave a warm vote of thanks and we look forward to our next meeting
on Tuesday 18th February when Linda Ketteridge will tell us about the ‘Hidden
Town of Saffron Walden’. All are welcome. Joan Pearman
THE speaker for the first meeting of the WI this year was Clive Bush,
Principal of Linton Village College, who gave a very thought provoking
illustrated talk about the College’s link with a junior and secondary school in
Boepathutse in South Africa. He gave us background information about conditions
in the large township and explained why he felt the link between the two schools
was so important for both of them. This has been made possible through a
charity, Link Africa, which is based in Cambridge. Clive spoke of the great
optimism he had encountered at Boepathutse and the importance with which
education is regarded there. He then described what had been achieved over the
past four years with help from pupils, teachers and parents at LVC, which
included the building of a science lab. In the future it is planned to build two
rooms for arts and technology, which it is hoped may be available for adults as
well as children. He spoke with great enthusiasm about the link and answered
questions after his talk.
The February meeting takes place at the Social Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 4th
February. There will be community singing and the results of the quiz on sayings
and proverbs. All are welcome.
Anne Parry-Smith
Dear Editor,
We welcome the request to respond to the article by Kim Simmons of Linton Zoo
regarding fireworks, and we totally support her concern for her animals during
these demonstrations. Fireworks are terrifying for all animals but when the
animals are confined, unable to escape, as they are in zoos, they must be
absolutely panic stricken.
Unfortunately it is not only the zoo animals who are affected but also the
surrounding wildlife and domestic animals, for example rabbits and guinea-pigs
in outside hutches and horses in nearby fields.
The RSPCA carried out a survey of vets in England and Wales last year and found
that 4825 animals, both wild and domestic, were treated for firework related
injuries or had to be prescribed sedatives because they were so traumatised.
Barry Gardiner MP tabled a Ten Minute Rule bill in Parliament last year calling
for tighter legislation on fireworks but unfortunately it failed at its second
reading. However, this Bill was supported by many MPs and, most importantly, the
DTI had a change of attitude. As from 2003, air bombs and some of the larger
maroon-type fireworks will no longer be available for sale to the public.
Maybe we could go one step further and simply have beautiful displays without
the explosions.
Pat Griffin and Sue Hughes
RSPCA Auxiliary
Secretaries
Dear Editor,
I am contacting you regarding the article in the latest Linton News regarding
fireworks by Kim Simmons. The 2002 Linton Fireworks sounded like the village was
under attack. At least we humans knew what the noise was: all the animals in or
out of the village did not. I know of various campaigns trying to get the sale
of fireworks banned to private individuals because of misuse. If fireworks were
just sold for organised displays and not sold to private individuals it would
mean that at least we animal owners would not have to worry about when to walk
dogs, when to get the cat in or worry if other animals can hear the fireworks. I
have read of cats, dogs, horses escaping from gardens/fields and running onto
roads and being injured or killed .I have also read of a firework being thrown
at a guide dog. Needless to say the dog had to be put down.
Simon Hill
Dear Editor,
Following the letter from Val Urwin, Chairman of Linton Parish Council, in the
Linton News January 2003, I am writing to request immediate action over the
danger that the users of Linton High Street are being exposed to. Cambridgeshire
County Council and Linton Parish Council have so far failed to take any action
whatsoever over the speed or volume of traffic in the High Street and are now
jointly responsible for:
o far more vehicles using the narrow, congested High Street than it can safely
accommodate;
o frustrated drivers exploiting the lack of traffic control to speed between
gaps in the congestion;
o vehicles regularly driving on the pavement.
As a result pedestrians and minority road users are regularly exposed to extreme
hazards in the High Street.
Prior to Christmas I saw a young boy on his bicycle pedalling as hard as he
could with a lorry following close behind him and a bus approaching him – with a
queue of frustrated drivers behind it. All the drivers failed to wait until the
cyclist had safely left a space they could fill and in an uncontrolled and
competitive burst of speed they lurched forward. The cyclist – fortunately, but
only just – stayed on his bike for long enough to escape a serious accident.
I have regularly seen pedestrians flattened against the walls of buildings which
front the High Street to avoid vehicles that are driving on the pavement to get
past each other. As you should be aware, a number of people and their belongings
(including pushchairs) have been hit by the wing mirrors of the vehicles as they
negotiate each other. (I thought driving on the pavement was illegal and I can
only assume that Cambridgeshire County Council and Linton Parish Council, by
their continued inaction, condone this use of the pavement. Is that correct?)
In my opinion a Hazard Analysis of Linton High Street using the same Health and
Safety criteria that are applied to places of work would show that there is
imminent risk of serious personal injury to a High Street user. This means – if
the High Street were a workplace – a prohibition notice would be issued and it
would be shut down immediately until made safe. Doing nothing is not an option
for employers.
Waiting for responses from the County Council ‘confirming that items are being
considered or are on a list’ or ‘receiving updates from the traffic working
party’ (items 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and additional points of Val Urwin’s letter)
is like waiting to see if a gas leak causes an explosion. Likewise not providing
these responses as a matter of extreme urgency is only increasing the size of
the explosion.
I am not going to make suggestions about what should be done – there are others
better placed than me to evaluate the solutions – I just want to know if
something is going to be done and when.
Dr A C Elphinstone
This is a version of a letter sent to Cambridgeshire County Council and Linton
Parish Council
Dear Editor,
One aspect of the scheme [to erect security fencing at Linton Infants’ school]
has not to my knowledge been publicised at all, and therefore it may not be
common knowledge that the much used route from Church Lane to Camping Close is
about to be closed by a fence with double gates that are only opened for special
occasions.
This will block a very important pedestrian route through the village, and force
people either onto the High Street or through the Churchyard, either of which
would be highly undesirable. This restriction will be sorely felt by many
people, and would be a bad development which the village should try at all costs
to avoid. Far from blocking this route, I believe the Parish Council should be
considering its improvement.
Camping Close is a wonderful amenity for the community and an essential part of
an excellent system of footpaths and alleys leading to and from all parts of the
village. Whilst the Churchyard forms an optional part of this, it is totally
inappropriate as the only route from the High Street to Camping Close. Every
other person will cut the corner through the gravestones, and then be frustrated
that the kissing gate admits neither bicycles nor prams, and I am sure these are
problems that the Parochial Church Council could well do without. The existing
variety of linked footpaths allows free and safe routes in all directions, and
safe routes to school are just as important as security within the school. Well
frequented paths near the school are more likely to be respected than tall
fences keeping innocent people away.
This is not the first time the school has blocked an access to Camping Close. It
should be remembered that the last major extension of the school blocked an
access that was definitely a public right of way. People did not object at that
time because there was an equally good access over the playground, which has
been in continuous use by the public since the 1960s. Any proposal to close that
route also will block access to Camping Close from the High Street altogether,
and becomes a serious violation of peoples’ rights.
From conversations I have already had with local people, blocking the route
would not be popular, though they do understand the need for greater security at
the school. No details of this particular fence have ever been published, and
possibly this would explain the lack of objection.
I therefore write this letter as a formal request to the school to make this
very simple change. I’m only sorry that this point has not been considered
before. It is not a detail. It is fundamental.
Henry Bennett
Dear Editor,
Pauline Hill and family would like to thank all who attended Bryan’s funeral and
for all the cards of sympathy sent.
Also thanks to the rector Mark Mills-Powell and the church choir.
Mrs P Hill
Dear Editor,
Well done Tower View and thank you to those who donated money on the death of Mr
Stan Richardson, who lived at 22 Tower View.
I collected £110, and it will be sent to the British Heart Foundation.
Julia Hilliard
Remember the sun? Last year’s walkers enjoyed picture perfect weather
LAST year’s Oxfam Walk was a great success, and plans are already well under way
for the 36th event. Walkers can choose to be sponsored to tackle a route of
seven, 14 or 21 miles starting from Wimpole Hall, covering an attractive route
through the Eversdens, Longstowe, Hatley and Croyden areas. There will be many
attractions for all participants in and around the marquee at Wimpole Hall.
There’s also a very specific purpose to the walk. Oxfam helps millions of people
in poverty all over the world, such as coffee growers who are facing economic
ruin because of falling coffee prices. Oxfam believes that people should have
regular and dependable sources of food and income and that helping people
improve their livelihoods is crucial to reducing poverty all over the world.
Oxfam aims to help people to work themselves out of poverty.
By supporting the 36th Cambridge Oxfam Walk, you can show support for coffee
growers and raise vital funds for all of Oxfam’s work in over 80 countries. So
please do note the date – Sunday 18th May 2003 – in your diary.
From March onwards, sponsorship forms will be available from a number of
sources, including the Oxfam website. For advance information, please contact
Clare Wilson or Stephen Green by phone on %563388 or by e-mail at
stephenclare@ntlworld.com
Marshals and stewards are crucial for the success of the walk. If you think you
will be able to offer your help for two or three hours on the day, please
contact Jerry Carr-Brion by phone on % 414954 or by e-mail at
jcarrbrion@yahoo.co.uk
Clare Wilson
LINTON has been without a tennis club at the Village College now for a while.
Last summer I noticed an increase in the use of the tennis courts, not just by
children, but also by adults.
This year I would like to offer a specific daytime slot, a weekend slot and an
evening slot when all those interested can turn up and play each other. At these
times there will also be coaching available.
There will be Play Tennis days happening on Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th May
(free tennis at the Sports Centre on those dates) and I will start the sessions
after those dates. I would be grateful if anyone interested in helping with the
development of this club, or in joining, would call the Sports Centre (890248)
so we can start the database of names as soon as possible and get you all
playing! Lucy Howe
THE Linton group of the Co-workers of Mother Theresa, founded by women of the
three village churches in 1980, has met regularly ever since to knit items of
clothing and blankets for charities caring for the deprived and homeless in this
country and abroad. In addition, enthusiastic knitters living outside Linton and
unable to attend meetings have contributed to our efforts in no small way over
the years. Unfortunately our membership has declined recently and delivering our
gifts to various different locations has proved a problem. It has therefore been
agreed, regretfully, that the Linton group of co-workers should be disbanded.
Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity in London have been informed and were
sent a donation of £25 for Christmas. Jimmy’s Night Shelter, The Salvation Army
and Winter Comfort in Cambridge each received about 20 men’s knitted hats,
scarves and gloves etc. for which they have all expressed their warmest
gratitude.
Some members of the group prefer to knit squares for blankets which are donated
to Mr Fred Binks’ Humanitarian aid for the Ukraine. It is the wish of our group
to continue knitting and it has been agreed that this will now be the main
outlet for our gifts.
With the closure of the QD store in Cambridge where we bought most of our wool,
it is increasingly difficult to find wool at a reasonable price and we would
gratefully accept any donations of unwanted wool. We should also be very happy
to welcome new knitters!
Joy Button
A FIENDISH quiz, with questions "Pertaining to the Body" has raised more than
£60 for Linton Granta Playgroup & Toddlers – and would have raised even more if
the organiser could have had a pound for every time someone said "This quiz is
driving me mad!"
Congratulations to the winner, Enid Bald of Linton. She in fact tied with Ray
Daniels of Girton, both scoring 55 out of a possible 59 points, but Enid’s own
clever cryptic clue supplied as a tie-breaker tipped the balance: "It may be
redundant, but it’s handy at the end". Answers to this and the other quiz
questions are available from Anna McMahon (% 892977).
The Linton Granta Playgroup & Toddlers Committee would like to thank all who
participated in the quiz, especially Enid who generously donated back her prize
money. All the money raised will go towards improving the playgroup garden.
Look out for details of more Linton Granta Playgroup & Toddlers quiz events this
year: a pub quiz at the Dog & Duck on March 3rd, and another quiz sheet to wrack
your brains over in the summer.
Anna McMahon
THE Sports Centre has been successful in obtaining a grant from the New
Opportunities fund to start up an Out of School Club aimed at 11-14 year olds.
(younger siblings can be accepted also.) The club will open for the Easter
holidays from 7.45am to 6pm, and term time 7.45-9am and 3.45-6pm. The club will
offer a variety of activities such as football, tennis, badminton, crafts, board
games, computer games and a quiet area for study. Please call %890248 for more
details and prices. We are also looking for staff! There are number of
opportunities available with flexible working hours.
Call the sports centre on the above number for more details or for an
application form.
Lucy Howe
LINTON Area Dyslexia Group warmly welcomes parents and carers to their first
meeting of 2003 at 34 The Woodlands, Linton from 7.45 to 9.30pm on Thursday 20th
February. Do come and join us for an informal evening.
Contact Mrs M E Clark on 892657 or just turn up. We look forward to seeing you.
Mrs M E Clark
LINTON Infants School is pleased to confirm that the planned fencing of the
school play area will take place during the half term in the week commencing
Monday 17th February 2003. This will greatly enhance all aspects of security and
we would like to thank the Governors for all their help in bringing this project
to a successful conclusion.
Heather Greenhalgh
(See letters on p3)
Jean Whitby, Fred Binks and friends beside the van that took them to the
Ukraine
RESIDENTS and friends recently gathered at Chalklands community centre to hear
accounts from Jean Whitby, Fred Binks and William Gladman of Great Chesterford
of their visit by road to Chernigov in the Ukraine in September.
While there they delivered blankets knitted by the co-workers of Mother Theresa
to an orphanage which, since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, has been
home for around 400 children.
Working conditions there are atrocious and equipment is minimal. Our gifts,
together with toys, clothing and medicines were greatly appreciated by the
doctors, nurses and staff who warmly welcomed their visitors.
Before leaving, Jean had organised a mileage sponsorship, which raised £255
(total mileage 3324 miles). A further £65 was raised on the afternoon of the
Chalklands talk by a raffle and sale of Chernobyl booklets written by Violet
Slade, who is a big fund raiser for this cause. Copies of the booklets are
available from Jean Whitby (requests sent to the Linton News website will be
redirected to Jean by the Linton News).
Our sincere thanks to everyone who supported our trip and those who contributed
during the Chalklands afternoon. Jean Whitby %893645
FAIR-TRADE is about fair terms of trade, local sustainability, better prices
and decent working conditions, enabling producers to improve their lot and have
more control over their lives. By requiring companies to pay above market
prices, Fair-trade addresses the injustice of world trade, which traditionally
discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. Fair-trade is not about
charity. It is about a better deal for third world producers, because when they
are paid a fair price they don’t need charity.
There are various ways of purchasing fairly-traded goods. In many shops,
including one local shop, there are products bearing the Fair-trade Mark – tea,
coffee, cake, chocolate, bananas, etc. If a product carries the Fair-trade Mark,
it guarantees a better deal for workers and producers from poor countries. The
Fair-trade Mark is internationally recognised and independently monitored.
The largest independent fair trade organisation in the UK is Traidcraft.
Traidcraft goods are largely sold through volunteer Fair Traders or mail order.
From 1.30–3pm on Wednesday 5th February, Traidcraft goods will be on sale for
the first time at the Family Resource Centre in the Social Centre. Why not drop
in, sample a cup of fairly-traded coffee, learn more about Fairtrade, see what
is available and, maybe, make a purchase? On sale will be various food items and
stationery. Fancy goods and clothes can be ordered from the catalogue. If it
proves popular, this could become a monthly event.
For some time, Traidcraft goods have been on sale in St Mary’s Church after the
8.45am Mass and 10am service, on the second Sunday of each month. This will
continue.
Buying fairly traded goods is one way in which we can all help to alleviate
world poverty. Let us show that the folks of Linton care about the developing
world.
Jean Wheeler
THANKS to a grant from Community Champions, even more books on family life
are available at the Family Resource Centre. Care For The Family produce a range
of books and videos on parenting, marriage and life in general which complement
the Parentalk Guides that we already stock.
All of these books are available for lending from the centre on Wednesdays. We
are now also able to order books and music from Wesley Owen in Cambridge, so if
you are thinking of making an order please do it through us as the commission
raised will be re-invested in our lending library. Pick up a catalogue from us
at the centre or contact Sarah on % 891952.
Requests to stock particular books on family life will be considered.
Please telephone Tracey Russell on % 894656 for further details.
Tracey Russell
LINTON Village College has been selected to provide the site for a new school
in the county. This will be a school for special children most of whom will have
severe physical and mental learning difficulties. It will be self-contained but
there will be opportunities for those children to share the resources of the
College when and where appropriate as well as opportunities for our students to
spend some time working and learning with them.
In financial terms, there are considerable gains for the College and these will
be used to improve our roadways, car parking and access. The new school will
also have some facilities from which the community will benefit and we hope that
one of these will be a swimming pool. These are very early days and there is a
great deal of detailed design and planning work to be done, but it is the
intention of the Local Education Authority that the new school will open in
September 2005.
Clive Bush
THE Linton News still urgently requires an advertising manager to join our
team. Sadly our previous appeal proved unsuccessful - so we are trying again!
The role is straightforward and involves being the advertising contact for the
Linton News and collecting advertising fees. The advertising manager would be
required to be mobile and, though not essential, if you can use a computer this
would simplify administration matters.
This is a very important role as the Linton News depends on advertising for
income. We receive no other finding and no form of financial donation.
Currently, committee members are combining the advertising management with their
own role but such an important part of Linton News work really needs someone to
take full responsibility.
If you would be interested in this very important role within the team or would
like to find out about other roles within the Linton News, please contact Gloria
Fidler Hazel Olway.
THIS year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer service has been prepared by the
women of Lebanon, with the theme, "Holy Spirit, Fill Us".
This international, interdenominational act of worship will take place at 10.30
am on Friday 7th March at the United Reformed Church, Horn Lane and will be led
by Lesley Gore of St Mary’s Parish Church.
Our speaker will be Mrs Jan Green of Bury St Edmunds. Coffee will be served
after the service. Although this annual World Day of prayer is organised and led
by women, men are most welcome to join us.
Joy Button
THE coming year is starting to look very interesting for Linton Village
College. The government has just announced sweeping changes in secondary
education. Schools will no longer be required to teach the full national
curriculum from age 14 onwards, indeed the only compulsory subjects will be
English, mathematics and ‘applied’ science.
For some children this provides welcome and overdue opportunities to pursue a
less academic programme. For others though, especially in a school like Linton
Village College, the full academic range will continue to be needed. We
therefore have to look very carefully over the next few months at the
opportunities and pitfalls this latest edict presents to us so that all our
young people can obtain what they need from their time with us.
Interestingly our own work towards becoming a specialist school in Business and
Enterprise will help a great deal in the development of the new approach to 14
to 19 education. Only last week we welcomed 12 senior representatives from our
business sponsors to a meeting to discuss how we can work more closely with them
to meet their needs and those of our young people.
As I said last month, the funding arrangements for 2003/4 in Cambridgeshire are
much better than expected but still fall a long way short of any growth.
Unfortunately, even a ‘standstill’ budget for schools can only be achieved by a
council tax rise of 12%. This is a hard one for people to swallow when you
consider the media coverage highlighting the fact that Cambridgeshire has gained
the second highest increase in the country. It all depends on where you start
from, of course, and our county was the poorest funded shire in the country and
has been for many years. We have a lot of catching up to do and a backlog of
problems.
However the College stands to gain from other investment from the county to
replace our temporary buildings and increase the number of science laboratories.
This will be part of a wide-ranging look at the College as a whole, which will
lead to a number of other improvements. So all in all things are looking very
positive for 2003 and 2004. As always, I’ll keep you posted.
Clive Bush, Principal
WE had heard rumours that Eric Silk’s 3D Show was something special, but his
large audience was spellbound at the magnificent images of East Anglian gardens,
and those in the front row were prohibited from picking the flowers which jumped
out of the pictures so close to them!
Mr Silk is a local man with an international reputation who specialises in the
sphere of stereoscopic images. As he told everyone to put on their special
glasses those of the right vintage were reminded of the brief period in their
youth when cowboys or indians rushed at you from the screen. There was more to
amaze when he followed the garden shots with close-up photos inside a bird’s
nests of the eggs, the hatching chicks, the feeding of the babies and the
fledglings as they ventured out.
That display will be a hard act to follow but this month the well-known Peter
Beales will be speaking on Classic Roses.
I must apologise for an error in last month’s report of the list of categories
for the July Show’s photo competition. It was agreed at the AGM that the subject
"My Garden" should replace the earlier suggestion of "Stained Glass Church
Windows". I hope this mistake has not caused any inconvenience.
Gloria Fidler
Illustrated by Maureen Williams
SAT alone at the kitchen table, crunching nuts. Seam against seam in one
clenched fist I cracked open the last few delicious Christmas walnuts. One
drizzly afternoon forty years ago I sat with friends using a half and a quarter
of a walnut shell, bail-twine, scissors and glue to create little model rats,
looping their tails together in the centre of the table. This was learned from
the local farmhands who claimed knowledge of ritual rat suicide by tying their
tails together. I have since understood these to be known as ‘Rat Kings’. Can
anyone shed any light on this phenomenon?
I then noticed an old familiar grey squirrel, beech nuts in hand, leaping on
frosty boughs in the cemetery. Clever characters, I thought.
Squirrels belong to the Sciuridae family of which there are over three hundred
variations ranging from our red or grey tree dwellers to the larger prairie
dogs. They also belong to that most successful order of mammals called Rodentia,
or rodents. Rodents’ incisor teeth grow continuously and are kept short by
gnawing. A rather callous joke by nature, for if there is nothing available for
rodents to gnaw on their teeth become so long it inhibits feeding, thus causing
the creatures to starve to death.
Where are we most likely to see squirrels in Linton? Well, almost anywhere, as
this uninhibited mammal seems quite at ease helping itself to the food on your
bird table. Turn your back in the churchyard, down by the mill, or the Pocket
Park on a summer’s picnic and you could lose your hard boiled egg. Squirrels
mainly feed on nuts and berries although they also eat eggs, insects and
vegetable matter. Young squirrels awkwardly gnaw holes in shells to extract the
nut, but they soon learn to find the weak seams and split the nut in one. I
believe they grow to about twenty inches long, ten of which consist of that
famous bushy tail. Their colours vary. Some have more red dispersed about their
mainly grey and white head and body than others, but all seem to have fluffy
white bellies, making them look adorable. I have not seen a single red squirrel
in Linton but I am told some are doing well in Scotland. Truth is, until they
can be protected against parapoxvirus we are unlikely to see one here. Still,
you never know. Their territory remains unconquered until the last nut is
cracked.
MY name is Owy, and I am a Community Information/Advice Worker, employed by
(the adult part of) Connexions, formerly Cambridgeshire Careers Guidance. I am
currently developing and delivering outreach work in South Cambs. providing
information and advice on all aspects of learning and work, to any adult in the
community who may be in need of such a service.
The services I can provide range from careers advice, (for example on CV
construction or interview techniques), to information on and referral to more
specialist advice on learning and work.
I carry information with me, along with a laptop complete with careers guidance
software. If I do not have the specific information required, then I post items
on later. I am able to offer both group work, and individual consultations. At
present, I am running ‘drop-in’ sessions in Linton as follows:
Wednesday 29th January Linton Library 3-5pm Wednesday 5th February Linton Rock
Café, Social Centre, 1.30-3pm. Wednesday 26th February Linton Rock Café, Social
Centre, 1.30-3pm.
I look forward to seeing you!
Owy Thomas
Office 712800
Mobile 07747 038283
I HAVE now taken over the management of the Brownies waiting list from Mrs
Collard, who has been doing it for many years, and we would like to thank her
very much. We have two Brownie Units in Linton, meeting on Monday and Wednesday
evenings. So if you would like to add your daughter’s name on to the list,
please ring me.
Daphne Brazier
THE winners of January’s K-Club monthly draw:
1st (£50) Mrs B M Biggs (No. 049);
2nd (£25) Mr J Wintle (No. 326);
3rd prize (£10) Mrs L Dixon (No. 002).