In the Offords - Wishing you well this Easter More on
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
April 2021-
May 2021
in the Offords
More on Page 9
you well this Ea s ter
Wishing
1
All Saints Churchyard Wildlife Project
This is part of the churchyard we plan to transform into a haven for wildlife.
Shown here is a similar
Project which has already
transformed an area on the
Graveley Road Allotment
site very successfully.
2
Some of you reading this may have noticed recently some groundworks being
carried out by a small but willing band of volunteers in and around the
churchyard of All Saints Church in Offord Cluny.
The churchyard over the years has been taken over by ivy and nettles. The
hedgerows and trees are slowly being strangled by this growth and many of the
graves were fully covered.
Good progress has been made with the clearance of the area, and rather than
let the ivy and weeds take over again, we now plan to transform a part of the
churchyard behind the church building into a haven for wildlife.
We plan to include pockets of woodland planting with spring bulbs, bluebells
and foxgloves along with wildflowers and poppies in the sunnier aspects.
We would like to add some bird boxes, hedgehog houses and a bug hotel.
Woodpiles and a stumpery will attract insects and invertebrates. A rustic seat or
bench will be positioned in a quiet shady corner allowing people to sit and enjoy
the tranquil space.
In order for this to happen, we are appealing to the Offord community for offers
of materials and plants on our wish list.
Do you have any of the following which you would like to donate?
• Timber/wood for Bird Boxes, Hedgehog Houses and Bug Hotel
• Roof tiles/Bricks and Pine Cones for Bug Hotel
• Bench (stone or wooden) or wooden sleepers to make one
• Tree stumps or large logs for stumpery
• Old tin bath or unused preformed pond or pond liner
• Shade Loving perennials (can you divide any clumps in your garden?)
• Wildflower seeds
• Spring Bulbs in the green (spent bulbs from your spring tubs and baskets)
• English Bluebells in the green (can you divide any clumps in your garden?)
If you would like any more information or are able to donate any items, please
contact :
Fiona Fitzhugh 07972163887 or Alan Griffiths 01480 811126 or 07760157373
3
Welcome
Welcome to the April / May edition
Spring is Sprung!
It's great that O&A is being printed and delivered to your doors again
and we are very grateful to the delivery team who make this possible.
There will also be an online edition available via the village and church
websites and Facebook; you'll find that the online edition has many
more coloured pages.
In this edition we welcome contributions from our village organisations
including our precious school and from a range of individuals all
connected with the Offords. You may notice a bit of a wildlife theme
running through some of the contributions!
We are aiming to make the magazine truly representative of our village
and if you have a story to tell please contact us via
offordO&A@gmail.com
4
07447 496376
June Lee
Chiropodist / Podiatrist
Bsc(Hons) HCPC Registered, MChS
Nail Cutting, Corn/Callus Removal, Ingrowing Toe Nails,
Verrucae, Biochemical Complaints, Generalised Foot Pains,
Diabetic Foot Care
Home Visiting Service Only
Over 14 Years NHS Experience
Friendly & Professional
Tel: 01480 214392 / 07947 371107
5
er s As s ocia tion
O f f or d G a r d en April & May
I am sure you are all eagerly waiting for the weather to be warmer so we can
all get outside and prepare for another successful growing year in our
gardens. We have all had enough of being indoors. Let’s hope lockdown will
be eased soon and we can get back to something resembling normality.
At present the OGA is not able to resume its regular meetings, but we have
booked the hall for a garden show in September. What form it will take we
do not know yet, but it is something to look forward to later in the year,
Covid 19 restrictions permitting.
Jobs for April
Protect fruit blossom from late frosts
Sow hardy annuals herbs seeds outdoors
Increase water given to house plants
Feed hungry Shrubs and Roses
Sow new lawns or repair bare patches
Prune Fig Trees
Divide Bamboo and Water Lilies
Jobs for May
Earth up Potatoes and promptly plant any remaining seed
Plant out Summer Bedding at the end of the month
Regularly hoe off weeds
Mow Lawns weekly
Open Greenhouse doors and vents on warm days
Water early or late in day to make best use of your water
Lift and divide Spring Flowering Bulbs in over crowded clumps
As usual we are here to offer advice remotely.
Enjoy Your Gardening
John 811148
6
7
Many thanks for supporting us over the last year - what a year it has been! We are happy to say that we
have now put some dates in the diary for day trips this summer! All trips will have pick up points in St
Neots, Offord, Godmanchester and Huntingdon. Please take a look below and if anything takes your
fancy, please call us on 01480 810560 and we can book your seats!
Saturday 3rd July - Mystery Tour! Let us take you out for the day. There will be a stop for lunch and you
will be home in time for tea! £15 for one or £27.50 for two (travel only).
Sunday 11th July - Riverboat cruise plus roast dinner. Enjoy a 3-hour cruise on the River Trent on board
the Nottingham Princess, with a 2-course roast dinner along the way. £38.00
Thursday 15th July - Enjoy the morning in Ely on market day, followed by a stop at the Five Miles From
Anywhere Inn for lunch* by the river Cam. £15 (travel only) * a pre-order will be taken for lunch a week
before the trip
Wednesday 21st July - A day out in Great Yarmouth £15 adult £10 child (travel only)
Monday 26th July - Highclere Castle - home of Downton Abbey. Explore the Castle and grounds of the
setting of one of TVs most popular period dramas. £37.50 (includes travel and entry) - Bookings must be
made by 20th June.
Friday 13th August - A day out in Sheringham £15 adult £10 child
Tuesday 31st August - Warehouse Antiques Centre and Tap Room. Spend the day at Norfolks largest
antiques centre, which is adjacent to the largest beer shop in the UK! Enjoy a cream tea as part of your
day. £27.50 (includes travel and cream tea)
Monday 6th September - A day out in Hunstanton £15 adult £10 child
We reserve the right to cancel any excursion with less than 20 passengers. We will refund all money
paid for any cancelled excursion.
We now have a wheelchair accessible coach - if you need to travel in a wheelchair please call us to
discuss your requirements.
"
8
n g in O f f or d
Lambi
Hello everyone! We are Farmers Ed & Verity.
You may have seen us out and about, checking our ewes and lambs in the village
field.
We have thoroughly enjoyed speaking to everyone we have seen out and about,
who has had questions about the ewes and lambs. We are local village people
(live at the end of Offord D’arcy) and between us have been keeping farm animals
all of our lives.
We have been very busy lambing throughout February and have brought just
under 300 healthy lambs into the world. Although it is very hard work, long days
(and nights!), and has been cold at times, we would not change our lifestyle in any
way for the world.
You may have noticed the ewes and lambs have now moved out of the field – but
worry not, they can be found grazing the local fields throughout Diddington. Here
they will enjoy their summer time – so if you are out for a walk, you may find
them. Hopefully, there may be the next new arrivals in the village field soon –
keep your eyes open to find out what they will be.
As we have been unable to visit Offord Primary school with the pet lambs this
year, we held a competition to guess how many lambs were out in the field, with
the winner naming a lamb! The answer was 110 lambs, and the pet lamb has been
named Jeff – hopefully, Jeff will get to visit the children at some point later this
year. We feel it is vitally important that all of the children have the opportunity to
learn about farming and how the animals are cared for – and who doesn’t like a
lamb cuddle!
Feel free to stop for a chat if you see us out in the field. Take care.
Farmers Ed & Verity
9
March marks the month I announced Offord Tots would close its doors temporar-
ily. Never did I anticipate, that a year on, our doors would still be closed.
And gosh, what a year. In some ways it's flown by. But in others, it's been a
relentless and overwhelming year.
In that year, the children who attended Tots have grown up. The older children
have just over a term left in their first year of school. The babies who were cooing
and immobile in our baby section are now loud and boisterous toddlers.
It saddens me how much we missed them growing up. How much our families
have missed them growing up. That next generation of Offord children who will
start their lives together have barely met each other.
Tots has always welcomed everyone. It's not just a Mums and Tots group. We
welcomed fathers, aunties and before closing had such an incredible grandparent
contingent who attended. It was the place to come for children to play in a safe
space, and for the adults to chat and relax. The adults didn't need to worry that
their child was going to get stuck 30 foot up on a soft play slide; Tots was always a
safe space where they could keep one eye on them and one eye on their much
deserved hot cup of tea.
We were the safe place you could chat about your sleepless nights, disaster poo's
or even your annoyance why Nanny Plum and Mr Elf don't just admit they truly
love each other.
Offord Tots will always be here. The Second World War never stopped Tots, so a
pandemic will definitely not. I'm not sure when we will see you again, but I truly
hope it won't be long. Not only for the children to have that much needed and long
overdue social play, but for us parents to meet, chat and forget about the last few
months.
I'm hoping to open around May so please check the Offord Tots Facebook group
for more information. You don't need a Facebook account, just search for us on
Google.
10OFFORD VILLAGE HALL HIRE
Offord Village Hall is available for hire for all types of
functions:
Wedding Receptions, Christenings, Private parties etc.
The Hall has disabled access and facilities and comprises of:
a large main hall with a stage, refurbished kitchen, bar,
separate committee room and a car park.
The hall is licensed for music.
Daytime rates are priced per hour (minimum 2 hours)
with reduced rates for regular users.
Weekend evening rates available on request.
For further details please contact
Helen Bosworth on 01480 811892
Email: droffo144@gmail.com
11the F a r mer
Ask With Local Farmer Jon
Farming for wildlife.
Hi Everyone, Farmer Jon here again!
Finally, some better weather! With tem-
peratures slowly rising and the weather
turning drier, Farmer Stephen & I have
been able to get onto the fields to give our crops a feed and to protect
them against disease.
We’ve also been able to plant our spring Barley which hopefully, once
harvested, will go off to make beer!
This year our farm is entering into the Countryside Stewardship
Scheme. The scheme is designed to go hand in hand with our normal
crops, by providing areas for lots of different wildlife, from insects to
birds.
We will create these areas around the edges of our fields, or by areas
of trees. Some areas will be pollen and nectar rich flowers, which are
great for bumblebees and other insects, whereas other areas will have
crops like millet and linseed which are great for birds like pheasants
and partridges to feed on through the winter months.
We’re really looking forward to seeing even more wildlife on the farm
as well as lots of different colours and smells.
These areas are left undisturbed for the wildlife, so we ask you politely
to keep to the bridle/ footpaths and to keep dogs under control.
We will be putting some information boards up to provide the public
with information on what’s being grown and why, so keep an eye out
for those too.
Hope everyone is staying safe and hopefully see you all soon!
Farmer Jon
12OFFORD VILLAGE HALL 300+ CLUB
(OFFORD RECREATION HUT)
Registered charity no. 302653
The 300+ Club has been part of the village for many years (I have been
organising it for over 20 years) and it raises funds for the maintenance of Offord
Village Hall. Approximately half the money collected goes to provide cash prizes
and the remainder is used for the running of the hall.
Although the hall has been closed for almost a year due to Covid 19 restrictions,
it has had a makeover and will be ready to be used once again by a variety of
groups and individuals. The draws have been taking place by video link and as
soon as possible will take place once again at village clubs and events.
The new year for the 300+ Club draws begins in March and so far, most people
have re-joined so we will continue with 4 prizes a month for ten months and a
top prize of £125 twice a year.
Thank you to all the members who support this draw and to those who help to
collect and recruit. Good luck to everyone.
We can always add new shares so if you have not joined and wish to do so.
Please contact Helen Bosworth on 811892 or Jenny Murby on 811474 for
further details.
WINNERS
JANUARY FEBRUARY
£ 20 No. 177 Lynne Harris £ 20 No. 028 Kevin Walton
£ 15 No. 349 Margaret Knibbs £ 15 No. 197 Janet Manning
£ 10 No. 267 Keith Seekings £ 10 No. 199 Clare Pook
£ 5 No. 240 Gill Stratton £ 5 No. 120 Jane Dennis
13V illa ge Ha ll
Offord
During the last period of temporary closure, we took the opportunity to redecorate
the main hall. It is looking fresh and smart, ready for people to come and admire
and use it once again. We are also continuing to look at priorities for other
improvements. Unfortunately, the first of these is the storeroom roof which after
22 years needs some repairs. It is not letting the rain in yet but is not in a good state.
A professional cleaning company will be coming in to do a deep clean before the
hall is open to users again. Keeping the hall maintained is important and makes
everyone confident that it is well looked after and in good working order.
We are counting down the days and very much look forward to safely welcoming
everyone back to share our wonderful community facility. It may take a little time
to open fully but hopefully with the success of the vaccine programme and the
easing of restrictions, there is now light at the end of the tunnel.
Following Step 2 of the Government's roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions,
organised activities for children were the first to be allowed back to the Village Hall.
Then from May 17th as part of Step 3, the next groups, exercise classes and clubs
could start again.
Until June 21st we will not be accepting bookings for private hire. After that date
we hope to be very much back to business and raring to go!
We have been busy planning some celebrations for when we can get together. The
first of these will be a free ‘Getting Out Again’ party for everyone in the village. The
date for this is July 17th, with details to follow. It is hoped that as many people,
families, and children will come as possible. You just have to walk, skip, run, wheel,
dance to the Village Hall, and we will provide the food, drink, and entertainment!
Here are some exciting fundraising events which I am sure everyone will be ready
for.
Calendar of events for the next twelve months:
‘Getting Out Again’ Saturday July 17th, 2021. A free celebration for all villagers
with food, drink and entertainment included.
Beer Festival Saturday September 25th, 2021. An opportunity to try locally brewed
beers and ciders. Tickets will include 5 drinks. Food and other refreshments will be
available to purchase. Local artists will provide the music during the evening.
Quiz Night Saturday October 9th, 2021 Simon is our quizmaster. Teams of up to 6
people can pit their wits against each other for a small prize, with the ultimate
accolade of being the top team. Bring your own food and drink.
Ceilidh Saturday October 16th, 2021 Put on your comfy shoes and enjoy an evening
of fun dancing to ‘Hannibal’s Heroes’. The caller will have you dancing like a
14professional, with absolutely no experience needed. A ‘Ploughman’s supper’ will
be provided in the ticket price and a licenced bar will be available.
Christmas Big Band Dance Saturday December 11th, 2021 Kick off the Christmas
season with an opportunity to dance and be entertained by this big band sound.
Ticket price will include a supper. A licenced bar will be available.
A Murder Mystery Saturday February 26th, 2022. An interactive murder mystery
group will uncover the murder scene. Throughout the evening, clues will be
revealed so that you can play along as detectives to find out whodunnit! Supper
and a licenced bar will be included in the ticket price.
All events are subject to change with more details of each event and ticket prices
to follow.
The opportunity to socialise, dance, drink and generally make merry come at the
end of spending so much time isolated and indoors. So, put these dates on your
empty calendars and come and join us. It is time to meet old friends and hopefully
make some new ones.
Helen Ellis - Secretary, Offord Village Hall
Thursday Club
Hello Everyone,
The last lockdown has been long and hard. Just before that we lost member Avril
Stanford to cancer. Throughout her ill health she refused to let it dampen her zest
for life and her cheerful character. We were also saddened to hear of the death of
Frances Kass. Frances attended the Thursday club for many years before moving
from the village.
Let’s hope with the combination of vaccines and lower infections we will soon be
able to meet up again. Then we can go on our popular trips to garden centres, boat
trips, gardens or whatever takes our fancy.
Once it is safe to resume our weekly meetings in the village hall we will be
delighted to return. There will obviously be a celebratory lunch, which we are
known for!
If you would like to join us, then come and see what we do. Our Chairman, Doreen
Rowbury 811025, is always happy to chat and give information about the club.
Thursday Club is open to any age and any gender.
We meet in the Village Hall every Thursday from 12 until 2pm.
1516
9.
17Pilates with K Fit in Offord!
With a focus on stretch, strength, mobility and
control, Pilates exercises can help you ease back
ache, improve posture and strengthen the core
muscles in a gentle and calm environment. K Fit has
been established in St Neots since 2011 and is very
excited to reach the Offord community.
Class Details:
Wednesday mornings at Offord Village Hall
11am-12pm
These classes will be held as 6 week courses through
term times, Course price: £45
These classes will be held with a maximum of 12
participants to ensure there is enough floor space
and good quality teaching. Prior booking is
essential; please get in contact to reserve your
space.
Katrina Hyland
Head of K Fit
07967100603
Kdanceandfitness@gmail.com
www.kdanceandfitness.co.uk
1819
Laughter Lines
We would welcome contributions from anyone who has a story, joke or anecdote
they would be willing to share. Please send entries to OffordOandA@gmail.com
Working with young children is wonderful! They say such delightful and funny
things.
My class of 7 year olds were to perform a play for the school and I spent several
lunchbreaks creating and painting scenery. One cold day as I was painting a cut
out cardboard donkey, one little girl kept creeping into the classroom. She started
with the excuse that she had forgotten her hat. Next time it was her gloves. Each
time I sent her back outside.
The third time she tried a different approach saying “What a lovely painting. Can I
stay in and watch you?” I said no, she must go out and get some fresh air.
“Well, can you just tell me what it is then? Is it a horse or a cow?” I was losing pa-
tience by now and told her sharply that it was neither.
“Oh goody” she said “well please let me stay as I’ve never even seen a neither!”
She stayed!
20JEZ ASHCROFT LTD
All your decorating needs including:
Coving,
Decorating (Internal),
Drylining & Plastering,
FREE ESTIMATES
Please Call
Tel: 01480 812461
Mobile: 07708031493
21d School N ews
Offor
d
22To
23, 24
, 25
26
27
men s I n s titute
Offord Wo
After all the months of lockdown, we can at last bring you more hopeful news
of our WI Group! If all the plans set out by Government continue, we hope to
hold our first Post-Covid meeting in July 2021. The date will be the second
Tuesday, 13th July, so please make a note in your WI diary.
Tuesday 13th July 2021
This first meeting will be held outdoors and in the afternoon. It will be open
to Members of course, but also to any other ladies who might be interested
in seeing what we do, who might be considering joining, or who just want an
excuse to get out and meet people again. You will all be welcomed and it
could be a new beginning for our group.
There will be tea and cake of course and it will be wonderful to see everyone.
So do please come – we are a friendly bunch and we will have a relaxed and
informal afternoon.
In next months magazine, we will be able to go into more detail, so please
watch out for our announcement in Out and About. Let’s hope that we can
finally get back to a more normal life and to doing the things we love – meet-
ing others, chatting, sharing, days out, making friends, learning. All these are
available with your local WI, so please join in!
We look forward to seeing YOU and wish you all a very Happy Easter.
2829
hood W a tch Neighbour The Offords - Spring Flood Plan Flooding has been a very emotive topic in the village this winter and there have been many discussions and meetings dealing with the aftermath. I know that the Parish Council are putting together a local flood plan. However, it is worth having a flood plan in place specific to your own property. Flood Plan templates, together with oth- er useful informative documents, are available on the Environment Agency website below or by calling 0345 9881188 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-flood-plan The plan includes: How to prepare for flooding and what to do if you experience flooding Contact details of emergency and other relevant organisations Check list of actions to take both inside and outside the home Items to have to hand in case of flooding or you need to evacuate There are many products available to help protect your home against flooding. Exam- ples of these can be seen at the following website or by calling 01299 403055 for more details www.bluepages.org.uk Fire Plan While you are compiling your flood plan, it would make sense to prepare a fire plan as many actions will be the same. Samples of plans and much more useful information can be found on the Cambridgeshire Fire Service or general Fire Service websites at or call Cambridgeshire Fire Service on 01480 444500 https://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/home-safety/your-home-escape-plan/ https://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/ Again, many fire safety products are available, most important of which are smoke alarms. Other products to consider are fire blankets, extinguishers and even escape ladders. To report an emergency or ongoing incident, call 999. To report suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, call 101 To report information anonymously, call crime-stoppers on 0800-555111. To report incidents via email, send to huntscops@cambs.pnn.police.uk To pass information regarding rural burglaries email: burglarycrackdown@cambs.pnn.police.uk Something to think about, being an active member or being on a road within a Neigh- bourhood Watch area can save you money on your home insurance. We still need someone to cover Andrews Close. If any residents on the new development are inter- ested in helping, please get in touch. Our meetings are currently on hold but if you need to contact me, email offordswatch@gmail.com or call 811839. Stay safe, Peter Riley 30
eet to the Beat
F The Offords Line Dance Group
Better days are ahead of us and everyone has been encouraged by the
roadmap announced by the Prime Minister on 22nd February giving key
dates for the relaxation of lockdown. Line Dance classes fall into Step 3
when from Monday 17th May indoor sports activities can take place.
Izzy intends to start her classes at Offord Village Hall on Tuesday 1st
June, following all previous restrictions, but this is a date that we can
look forward to and hope that in the meantime no adverse conditions
change the plans. So that we all feel safe, we will be adhering to the
earlier measures brought in to conform to the latest Covid-19
regulations, of being socially distanced and with red dots front and sides
of the hall to ensure we are correctly spaced.
So, we will fire up our line dance brains again and dust off our dance
shoes ready to enjoy the varied and popular dances that Izzy will have
ready for us, and most of all we look forward to meeting up with old
friends.
Jenny Griffiths - on behalf of Izzy Brogan Tel: 07709 344144
31D.K.TILL & Son in Law
COAL AND SOLID FUEL MERCHANTS
Family run business for 40 years
Coal, Logs, Charcoal, Gas, Compost
TEL: 01223 232947 David Till
07523 044521 Kevin Crisp
Email: dktill@hotmail.co.uk
32All Saints Church A final message from Jes Salt - All Saints Church to all the village Dear Friends, Spring finally seems to be here and it is particularly welcome this year. Perhaps because of Covid and the relatively severe weather, this winter has seemed very long. But at last we are in spring. This is one of my favourite times of the year. We are able to enjoy longer days and some slightly warmer weather; nature is waking up and the promise of summer stretches before us. There is a sense of new growth, new possibilities, which this year feels particularly important. There is some way before life can begin to look normal, whatever that may mean, but with the good news that most if not all adults in the UK will have received their first vaccine before July there is a welcome sense of possibility for the months ahead. At All Saints we have sadly been closed since Christmas, so there is the hope and expectation that we will shortly be open again for public worship. We would love to see you. This time of year is also when we hold our Annual Church Meeting when we reflect and celebrate the previous year and look forward to the year ahead. This edition of O&A includes as usual the church’s Annual Report which will be presented at that meeting. However, for obvious reasons this is all rather limited this year. For Jane and me personally this is a particularly poignant time, because at the end of April we will be leaving Buckden and Offord and moving to Rutland Water. This is therefore the last time I will be writing for Out & About. We leave with a sense of sadness that Covid has meant that a number of things we would have liked to achieve will have to be left undone, but also a strong sense of thankfulness to the church and the community in Offord for making us so welcome. We have thor- oughly enjoyed the last 5 ½ years with you. Finally can I, on your behalf, once again thank the team who edit and contribute to Out & About and who make it such a great magazine. I hope this edition will enthuse us all to enjoy and make the most of whatever this year has to offer. Best wishes Jes Rev Jes Salt, Priest in Charge, Buckden and the Offords 01480 819377 jes.salt@btinternet.com 33
Andrew Shefford writes in appreciation of All Saints and Jes
The best part of lockdown for me has been getting along to All Saints from September
to November. In normal times, as a family, we attend Godmanchester Baptist Church
and that's where you'd find us on a Sunday morning. Whilst GBC services have
continued on YouTube, Zoom coffee after the service has become a thing and it’s
given me a chance to get along to the parish church here in the village on Sunday
mornings.
Three good reasons why I’m really looking forward to returning to All Saints when
conditions allow:
1. I love being in the physical place; it’s so full of history and meaning and has been
for generations of worshipers. (Does anyone know what the ‘M’ symbol on some of
the chandeliers means?)
2. Think about the practices that have been recommended to us to help us with
our mental health through lockdown: mindfulness, awe, gratitude, positive attitude,
meditation, maintaining community. All available from 9:30 on Sunday morning from
All Saints, all welcome, no matter what.
3. Only a few short weeks left of Jes Salt’s ministry with us! His service to the
community has been a real blessing and we will all miss him.
Nobody knows how coming months will work out. But when it reopens can I encour-
age you to venture in to All Saints on a Sunday morning just before 9:30am and be
blessed?
So what’s going on at All Saints Church now?
We are all very sad that the time has come to say “Goodbye” to Jes and Jane. They
have enriched our community and we will miss them. Jes has made exceptional
efforts to get to know the Offord villagers and has visited village organisations and got
to know the school and young people. The sight of Jes and his puppy has brought
smiles to many faces during the past year. Keeping socially distanced, he has been
present in our village every week and has been alert to the needs of the parish. It’s
now time for him to move to a new position in Rutland and we wish him well. Our loss
is their gain!
Before Jes leaves we hope that the church will re-open and there is a rota of visiting
clergy organised to keep worship at All Saints alive until the vacancy is filled. Once the
church can reopen the regular pattern of services each month will be:
Ist Sunday Holy Communion Service at 9.30 am
2nd Sunday Songs of Praise at 6pm followed by refreshments when allowed
3rd Sunday Holy Communion Service at 9.30 am
4th Sunday Family / All age Service at 9.30am
34All Saints Offord D’Arcy and Offord Cluny – Annual Report
Objective: The primary object of All Saints Offord D’Arcy and Offord Cluny is the
promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and
practices of the Church of England.
Management: The parish church of All Saints is run by the Parochial Church
Council (PCC) along with the Priest in Charge (PinC), Rev Jes Salt. In addition to
the Priest in Charge, the members of the PCC for 2020 were as follows; John
Simpkin and Sue Dorrington (Churchwardens), Liz Simpkin (Secretary), Mandy
Eayrs (Treasurer), Stephen Eayrs, Helen Manning, Jenny Murby, Helen Northrop,
Cynthia Rowbury, and John Storey.
2020 at All Saints: This year (2020) was dominated by the Covid19 pandemic. This
meant that our normal live worship was suspended for most of the year, and also
that almost all our normal activities and community events were cancelled. Conse-
quently, this is a somewhat shorter Annual Report than normal. 2020 started with
our 9.30 service continuing to attract around 12-15 for Communion and Morning
Prayer and between 15-25 for All Age with a similar number also attending our
monthly evening Songs of Praise. The last service in All Saints before lockdown 1
was 15th March.
We re-opened for live worship on 6th September, with social distancing and other
Covid 19 precautions reducing our capacity to around 35. Our attendance over this
period was around 14 for each service which was pleasing given that some people
were understandably reluctant to gather in a group and also with Sunday worship
being available online.
All Saints closed again for lockdown 2 on 5th November. Among other things, this
meant that we were unable to hold our normal Remembrance Service, although
thankfully we were able to record a service to broadcast online. Sadly, we were also
unable to hold our usual Christmas celebrations, but we were able to arrange an
online Christingle service and as part of Buckden and District Churches Together
we took part in their online carol service. We held services on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day, but understandably attendance at both services was small, after
which the church once again closed.
Online services: Like many other churches we have, with our sister church St
Mary’s Buckden, offered an online service every week since the start of the
pandemic including ‘special’ services at Easter, VJ Day and Ascension. That has
entailed a steep learning curve for all involved! Initially services were streamed live
on Facebook, but evolved into a pre-recorded service streamed to a dedicated You
Tube channel. Huge thanks are due to Jane for mastering the technical skills and
producing such attractive services.
Viewing figures have been reasonably positive. During the various lockdowns there
have been generally between 60-75 views each week across the benefice and
beyond. We continued to stream services when the church reopened for folk who
were reluctant to attend a live service and there have been 40-55 views each week.
All Saints online Remembrance service attracted 94 views and the Churches
35Together Christmas Carol service 92 views. It is clear that online services are here
to stay and it is pleasing that the PCC have grasped the importance of developing
this aspect of ministry.
Grateful thanks to all who support our services and in particular to those who
programme and operate our music box, which provides us with such good quality
musical backing to support our worship. I am, as ever, grateful to the ministry team
of Miles, our Associate Priest, and Ann our Licensed Lay Minister, for all their
support and help during this difficult year.
We have endeavoured to maintain our links with Offord School during the year
although personal contact has understandably been difficult. Sadly, the uniformed
organisations have been closed since March, although we remain in contact with
the adult leaders.
Unfortunately, the social events which form an important part of our church and
community life, as well as raising essential funds, were victims of the pandemic.
St Peters, our sister church run by the Churches Conservation Trust, has remained
closed during the pandemic and no All Saints events took place there during 2020.
Social Action: All Saints members have continued to support the village’s weekly
donations of food to Godmanchester Foodbank. This has proved invaluable to the
many people who have struggled during the pandemic. All Saints also supported
the village neighbourhood which was set up during lockdown1 to provide practical
support to members of the village.
Occasional Services: Despite the Covid restrictions limiting the size and content
of services we had the joy of hosting one wedding during 2020, but no baptisms.
Sadly, we lost some good friends during the year with 8 funerals or thanksgiving
services taking place during 2020. We were also able to hold our annual All Souls
service in church.
Fabric Report: There has been no change to the contents of the church during the
past year.
With regard to the replacement of the roof, the specification referred to in last year’s
report has been received and a “faculty” (the church equivalent to planning permis-
sion) has now been obtained. The next step is to obtain at least three tenders for
the work so that we can begin the process of applying for grants to cover the cost.
We shall also need to commission an ecological survey (given the presence of bats
in the church) and apply for planning consent from Huntingdonshire District Council.
In the meantime, the temporary roof covering which was put in place after the theft
of lead has been renewed in order to protect the structure.
The PCC would still like to make the other alterations and repairs referred to last
year (provision of toilet and kitchen facilities, etc) but repairing the roof is our priority
and given the current financial position, they cannot be carried out in the immediate
future.
Out & About: A new team took over Out & About at the start of 2020 building on
the healthy legacy left by Bob and Carolyn Bargh. It is a joy to report that the
36magazine has gone from strength to strength during 2020. Although it has only
been available online due to Covid restrictions for much of the year, it has attracted
praise for the broad content of articles and items of interest designed to engage with
an even wider readership in and around the village. A big thankyou to the editorial
team and the many people who have contributed to the success of O&A during 2020.
Financial Report: This has inevitably been a difficult year financially for All Saints.
Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £13,105.97 of which £763.10 was unre-
stricted fundraising (a 91.8% decrease), £6471 in regular giving, of which £4,505
was from Gift Aid itself and £1,329.47 from Tax Recovered. The amount in fees
received (£3,348) has remained more or less the same this year but the amount
received in interest from the Eayrs Trust (£1,008) has increased a little. All receipts
and payments are detailed in the Financial Statements; these can be made availa-
ble on request. The planned giving through envelopes and banker’s orders has
increased by 4% this year with the majority of the regular congregation kindly
changing to give a regular weekly or monthly donation to the Church throughout the
lockdown period. However, without services in Church the amount of collections
has decreased by 77%. £14,322 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the
Christian ministry from All Saints Church. We unfortunately had to reduce our
contribution to the diocesan parish share which largely provides the stipends and
housing for the clergy. The major expenses were the continuing running costs of the
Church and the Church Rooms which although they were closed for a number of
months the utility charges were still having to be met.
We also incurred costs from the Restricted fund of £5,951 for the ongoing attempts
to secure the relevant permissions etc. to replace the Church Roof and unfortunate-
ly had to replace parts of the temporary roof due to the storms which we had during
the year. The net result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of
£1,216 on unrestricted funds and £5,951 on restricted funds. Adding bank and
deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balances carried
forward at 31st December on unrestricted funds totalled £20,114, restricted funds
totalled £29682.17 and £5,299 has been set aside to meet the costs of maintaining
the Church, maintaining the Organ and a contribution to the heating fund. This is
carried forward as designated funds.
PCC action: The PCC has taken the following action to manage the financial
shortfall:
• The amount of parish share which is paid to the diocese to support ministry
in the parish has been reduced from a monthly payment over 10 months of
£1,100 to a nominal £100 per month. It is anticipated this will continue
through much of 2021, at least until services are able to resume and we are
able to hold revenue generating social events.
• Active steps were taken during 2020 to seek to investigate ways of reducing
the financial impact of the Church Rooms which have been running at a net
loss of at least £1,000 per annum for several years. It is anticipated that
during this financial year the PCC will be able to divest itself of the financial
responsibility for this building.
37• We recognise that the PCC faces a formidable challenge to fund the
replacement of the temporary roof structure with a permanent solution as
well as then to fund the completion of the other planned works mentioned
in the Fabric report above and at a time when the PCC also needs to secure
a new Priest in Charge.
• Active steps were taken during the year to review and, if possible, to reduce
some of our utility costs and this has been partially successful. Other than
trivial items, expenditure is reviewed by the PCC.
The financial model which has developed at All Saints over recent years, namely
congregational giving supplemented by an expanded number of well supported
fundraising events with careful management of expenditure, is sound. Accordingly,
the PCC is reasonably confident that the financial position can be restored once
services and fund raising activities can resume.
Reserves policy: It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds
which equates to at least six months unrestricted payments. This is equivalent to
approximately £11,000 based on a normal year’s expenditure. It is held to smooth
out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. The cash balance held on
unrestricted (including designated) funds at the year end, together with the amounts
payable to and by the PCC, is within this target. The balance of £29,682 in the
restricted fund is retained towards meeting the cost of Restoration and Upkeep of
the Church.
Conclusion
At the end of last year’s report, I wrote that ‘at All Saints, we are blessed with a keen
and committed congregation’. Although we have been unable to meet in person for
collective worship for much of last year, it is still the case and I am hopeful that as
Covid restrictions ease during 2021 the church will regroup in worship and in
contributing in service to the community here in Offord.
It is with a bitter sweet feeling that I write this conclusion to my last All Saints Annual
Report. It is sweet because it is has been a tremendous privilege and joy to serve
All Saints and the community of Offord over the past 5 ½ years and to worship,
work, laugh and cry with such an enthusiastic and committed congregation. It is
‘bitter’ because in many ways I am sad to be leaving particularly at a time when
Covid has denied us the chance to grow and develop together as we would have
liked. However, I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the parish priest for
Offord and am confident that the God who has sustained us through 2020 will
continue to do so through us ‘immeasurably more than we could ever hope or
imagine’ in 2021 and beyond.
Many blessings and best wishes for the future
Jes
Jes Salt, Priest in Charge
38Worship in Offord is alive and well. Jes has recorded weekly online services which
are easy to access and enable you to listen and join in at whatever time you
choose. This innovation has actually increased attendance dramatically – albeit a
virtual experience! The Sunday service can be found each week on YouTube and
Facebook and the order of service can be obtained from
(warden.offord@yahoo.com) on request. When Jes has gone there will be no-one
able to pre-record a service. Instead, the intention is to Live stream services from
St Mary’s Buckden and to try to do the same from All Saints. This is tricky because
the internet connectivity is poor in our church. Watch this space! A small but
dedicated team are onto it but if you know of anyone in the village with Tech skills
that could help, us please contact one of the church wardens, Sue Dorrington or
John Simpkin.
Please see the notice board in the High Street for confirmation of the current /
changing arrangements.
FundRaising and Social Events remain cancelled. Provisional dates have been
booked so that when the Village Hall is fully open again we will return with our
very popular Bacon Butty Saturday mornings and a programme of social and
fundraising events.
In the absence of fund raising events, we are more reliant than ever on
donations and thank all those who would normally give to the collection at
services but who have set up electronic payments or saved in their collection
boxes. Thank you to all of you who have an All Saints Collection Box at home. If
yours is now full of coins please contact Bob Bargh 810237 or John Storey 810763
and someone will collect the box from you as soon as it is safe to do so.
Before Jes leaves he will hold the Annual meetings to elect officers for All Saints.
These will be on 11th April at 7pm in church if possible or otherwise via Zoom. The
exact arrangements will be confirmed at the start of April on the website and
village notice boards. It falls to Jes to present the annual report which is included
in this edition of Out & About.
39All Saints Church Offord Cluny - Contact Details
4041
of St Peter s Chur ch
The Friends
We have all welcomed the roadmap announced by the Prime Minister in Febru-
ary with the four steps allowing the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions. From
21st June onwards the Churches Conservation Trust have advised that all their
churches can reopen fully to visitors and events can take place. As previously
mentioned, the exterior and interior of the building are checked regularly to en-
sure there is no damage but we will have to clean inside before we can allow visi-
tors to view the beautiful building.
We are planning several low-key events for 2021 but regrettably the Claude
Bourbon guitar concert, due to take place on Saturday 17th July, has had to be
cancelled. Our planned events are as follows and we will, of course, abide by all
government and CCT regulations in force at the time.
Thursday 24 June 7pm Friends of St Peter’s AGM
Saturday 11 September National Heritage
Sunday 12 September Open Days
Sunday 24 October Autumn Craft Fair
Still very provisional.
Thursday 11 November Armistice Wreath Laying at the Offord
Darcy War Memorial in St Peter’s
Church
Although we had hoped for a busier calendar in 2021 to make up for all the can-
celled events and services of 2020, it is still early days as the country emerges
from this national lockdown and so precaution prevails.
In the meantime, the audio guide to St Peter’s is always available. To access the
guide please go to the CCT website, as follows:
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-peter-offord-darcy.html
Jenny Griffiths
Friends of St Peter’s Church
01480 811126
42Friends of St Peter’s Church, Offord Darcy
This is the sight that greeted those of us who make sure that the
church and its immediate surround is kept tidy and in good order.
Not a pleasant scene to discover a bag of dog waste dumped by the
wall on the west side of the building and left by a dog owner for
someone else to clear up.
Irresponsible dumping of dog waste bags seems to be a very common
problem in the Offords and has been reported many times by the
Parish Council in Out & Abut, so please, dog owners, take responsibil-
ity for properly disposing of your dog’s waste.
43Ref or med Chur ch
St Neots United
As with all churches we are currently closed. After lockdown, if the church is
permitted to open for short services they will be at the usual time of 11 am but with
reduced capacity for social distancing and no singing, please contact the Church
Secretary to check booking details and dates as well as up to date availability.
Currently there will be no refreshments available after the service. Face masks must
be worn.
There is a brief weekly service on our website below and services are on Zoom every
Sunday please contact the Church Secretary for ID and Password, all are welcome.
During the lockdown, churches together in St Neots are providing services on Black
Cat Radio from 9.30 to 10 am each Sunday. So far our Minister, Dr Rick Mearkle, has
conducted the service along with the other St Neots church leaders taking turns to
conduct the service.
Come and visit the United Reformed Church which is on the High Street in St Neots.
The only access without steps is at the rear of the building near to Argos . Parking
is available in Tebbutts Road behind the Church.
For all Church matters please contact the Church Secretary, Jenny Gibbs , for further
information on 01480 214503.
Web Site www.stneotsurc.co.uk
M ethod is t Chur ch
Buckden
Minister: Rev. Sue Baker-Maher. Tel 473444.
Stewards: Angie Barnes (810102)
Bob Baxter (810092)
Carol Swepstone (810053)
44h Coun cil Rep or t
Paris March 2021
For the last couple of months Council’s activities have almost solely been con-
centrated on the flooding that affected so many people at the start of the year.
It has been quite a task, not least because the Parish Council has no power at all
to force agencies to act or to act itself to put things right.
An example of this was the supposed road closure at the north end of High
Street, Offord Cluny. The only people that can request an emergency road
closure are the emergency services and the police requested that this section of
road be closed due to the flooding and the subsequent breaking up of the road
surface. Regardless of the signs, vehicles continued to drive through, many at
speed, sending flood water and pieces of road surface into the front gardens and
sometimes windows of the properties. It was obviously a very miserable time for
those residents. Councillors tried to help, one tried to pump the water away
from the properties and others replaced the closure signs which were laid down
by motorists countless times throughout the day. Some motorists were ex-
tremely aggressive and there was an incident which required the police to
attend and make an arrest. It didn’t help that directional signs from Godman-
chester were confusing and none of the navigation systems were given the
information. There were definite lessons to be learned for all concerned and if
anything ever happens like that again at least we will know where to start. The
road has now been resurfaced and once the water level recedes the collapsed
drain will be repaired, and white lines painted.
Council is still working through the myriad issues that presented themselves at
the time and since. A multi-agency approach is required, and we are engaging
with Network Rail, The Environment Agency and Anglian Water and others
through the Senior Flood Risk Officer at Cambridgeshire County Council who is
the lead for this. In time a report will be published but at the moment, because
of the forthcoming elections, this will not happen.
The Parish Council is developing its own Emergency Plan which it is hoped will
help should any similar events occur in the future and a supply of sand and
sandbags will be kept in the parish.
Now that Spring seems to be just around the corner and there is a light at the
end of the tunnel with regard to the possible lifting of restrictions, Council is
keen to get on with the other projects which were overshadowed by other
events. We have planned for new noticeboards and the refurbishment of
existing ones, additional Little Libraries, which have proved to be such a success
45and new play equipment and surfacing in the small children’s area on the
Millennium Green. Other possibilities are the provision of outdoor exercise
equipment and an outdoor table tennis table on the Recreation Ground. This
past year has seen so many more people taking exercise outside that Councillors
feel it would be good to capitalise on this. Residents’ views on these projects
are welcomed.
A downside of more people using these recreational spaces has been an in-
crease in litter and dog waste not being disposed of. Additional bins have and
are being provided so please do use these or take your litter home rather than
spoil these special places for all.
The community Facebook page is an important tool in keeping people talking
and sharing information and updates are posted regularly on the website as well
as all the usual Council bits and pieces. You can sign up to the newsletter via the
site and be notified as soon as something changes.
We are very much open for business as usual so if you have any concerns or
worries about anything please get in touch. Councillors and I are happy to help
if we can and there are volunteers within the parish willing to be of assistance.
Parish Council meetings continue to be held remotely via the Zoom platform.
The Agendas go onto the notice-
boards and website in the usual way
and there is a link on the Agenda to
allow you to sit in or take part in a
meeting. The Annual Parish Meeting
and the Annual General Meeting of
the Parish Council will both be held
remotely on May 6th. The first will
start at 7pm with the second meet-
ing following on. Face to face Coun-
cil meetings following government’s
guidance are set to resume in June,
unless things change.
If I can help in any way please con-
tact me.
Jackie Stanbridge
46Parish Councillors
2018-2022
Ian Weitzel(Chairman) Stephen Eayrs
Ronaldsway, Littleworth End Top Farm
Offord Darcy Offord Cluny
01480 811697 01480 811816
Ian.weitzel@btconnect.com stepheneayrs@btinternet.com
John Gatward (Vice Chairman) Simon Young (Chair of Planning)
5 Elm Drive 6 Pippin Close
Offord Cluny Offord Darcy
01480 811148 01480 812877
rgatward@btinternet.com simonjyoung@outlook.com
Tina Dawson (Chair of Finance) Caroline Savage
15 Park Way The Grove, 71 High Street
Offord Cluny Offord Darcy
01480 819471 07966 144956
Tinac_13@hotmail.com caolsysa24@icloud.com
Peter Riley David Gillbanks
33 Park Way The Limes, High Street
Offord Cluny Offord Darcy
01480 811839 01480 812183
Pete.riley@outlook.com gillbanks@gillbanks.com
Jackie Stanbridge
Clerk to the Council
Clerk@offords-pc.gov.uk
07597 988763
4748
49
Fitness Classes
at
Offord Village Hall
Every Monday
Fit4Life exercise class for
active seniors at 10am
Pilates at 7.30pm
For more information contact me, Janine
RSA/YMCA qualified Fitness Instructor
01480 810370 / 07790 655637
janineskyrme@btinternet.com
50r Citiz en s Club
O f f or d Sen io
Although we are still unable to meet up, I hope everyone remains well
and positive. The Village Hall may be able to open in May but because
of the restrictions that would apply and the measures that we would
have to take as a club to be Covid secure in order to have a meeting,
unfortunately it means that it just would not work for us as a club.
However, at the end of June, if all goes well, the government could po-
tentially ease down restrictions which means that we could think
about getting together again. By then, we should all have received our
second vaccination, which will also boost confidence. We shall see,
fingers crossed!!
In ‘normal’ times, of course, we would have been looking forward to
our annual Day’s Outing in June
- we will have a lot of catching
up to do and maybe we can all
give a thought as to how you
would like to celebrate when
we are able.
In the meantime, continue to
stay well. The Huntingdonshire Society for
Sue Barimore the Blind can recycle your used
postage stamps, and has a
Secretary representative living in
Offord Cluny.
Please drop them in at 127 High
Street or phone 811892 for
collection.
Just cut or tear off envelope
leaving some paper around the
stamp.
51Biodiversity and B-Lines Did you know that …………. The Offords sit within a B-Line that follows the A1 and there are things we can all do to help? asks Gareth Rondel an ecologist who lives in Offord Darcy. Recently in Out and About we have had several articles covering bats, rewilding and conservation on farmland. All these articles refer to the need to provide rich and diverse habitats that will have a direct benefit for biodiversity – the wealth of wildlife we have around us - from big and obvious things like trees or birds, through to the small things that go unseen but are vital in making the planet around us work. In fact, it is the small things that really matter…life on Earth started small and functioned quite happily for billions of years. The Earth is about 4.5 billion years old and vertebrates - creatures with backbones – first appeared about 500 million years ago. Humans are vertebrates, but along with all other vertebrates we make up just 5% of all animal species. The rest are invertebrates. Sir David Attenborough observes that: ‘If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.’ Most of the invertebrates around us go unseen – but one we are all familiar with and that is starting to appear again at this time of year is the bumblebee. During March and April, we will begin to see queens of two species - Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum - looking for nesting sites. Bees have become the focus of a major conservation initiative across the UK. This initiative is called B-Lines and aims to reconnect the tiny fragments of good habitat that have been broken up through the continued growth and expansion of towns, cities and roads. This initiative is run by Buglife (www.buglife.org.uk) – a conservation charity that is devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates – including bumblebees. The Offords sit within a B-Line that follows the A1 and there are things we can all do to help. Filling our gardens with plants that are good sources of nectar, and that also look attractive is the simplest step. More advice on the types of trees and flowers to plant can be found via the following sources: • the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA.org.uk). • the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (Bumblebeeconservation.org). So as Spring arrives and many of us start working on our gardens, perhaps just take a moment to think about what you are planting or what you might be taking away and take positive action for the Bees and other invertebrates. For more information on B-Lines and invertebrate conservation visit the Buglife website – www.Buglife.org.uk 52
53
Coun cillor Rep or t
County By Peter Downes
The County Council has continued to maintain most of its meeting schedule via
Zoom so the routine work has been maintained in spite of the lockdown. By the
time you read this magazine, hopefully in its printed version again, the County
Council will have held (on March 16th) its last meeting of the current four-year
cycle. The Council will be debating motions on
• the possibility of creating a ‘Biosphere’ in the Fens,
• the council’s investment policy in a company called This Land,
• local government funding
• ‘Real Living Wage’ Calling for an improvement in the remuneration
of our lowest-paid employees
• Thanks to departing councillors, of whom there are many.
The County set its 21-22 budget at its February meeting and I gave details of that
in the Focus you have already received so I don’t need to repeat it all here.
Suffice it to say that setting a realistic budget in these unprecedented times
would never have been easy, whatever the political colour of the party in control.
The last few months have been the strangest and, in some ways, the most
demanding of my twenty years as a county councillor. The over-riding concern
has been, as far as possible, to protect the population from the effects of the
worst pandemic this country has experienced for a century. Alongside that,
there has been an expectation of ‘business as usual’. On top of all that the last
few weeks have seen some of the worst flooding incidents for many years, as
some Offords readers are only too aware..
The public, locked down from their normal work and pursuits, have been able to
go out for a walk and this has given them the opportunity to identify many of the
shortcomings along the roads and pavements. ‘They’ have been to blame,
whether one of the councils or central government. So I have received more
complaints than ever before about pot-holes, cracked pavements, blocked
gullies, dirty or incorrect signage, etc. All this at a time when getting the man-
power to make good these shortcomings has been limited.
As the medical situation eases, every effort will be made to rectify the shortcom-
ings of recent months, insofar as funds allow.
54You can also read
