JIGSAW March/April 2023 Incorporating For a digital copy scan this QR code Credit: Jacob King/PA Wire/PA Images Free Community Magazine Carnival Edition Includes the Soham Branch Newsletter. Cover photo: Neal Arnold
2 Magazine The next issue will be published at the end of April to cover events in May and June . Please send any news, events and adverts to the Editor by 10th April. Printed copies are available at Jak Hibs, The Pavilion, the Co-op (on the newspaper stand), Soham Library, and The Handy Plaice (among others). Each edition is also published on our website and Facebook. Search Soham Community Association on Facebook. www.sohamca.wordpress.com SCA Membership Launched in April 2019 the Soham Community Association aims to bring the people of Soham together to promote a greater sense of community. Anyone aged 16 or over who lives, works, or volunteers in the Parish of Soham is (automatically) a member. Contact us If you want to add a contribution to the magazine or you would like to sponsor us. We are a free community magazine, funded by advertisers and run by volunteers. We try to keep the information in this magazine as accurate and up-to-date as possible. If you spot an error, please let us know. SCA Contacts Chair: Ben Ford [email protected] Editor: Jenny Fletcher [email protected] Distribution Manager: James Wood [email protected] Treasurer: Georgia Griffiths [email protected] Contents Page Our Information & Editorial 2 - 3 SCA News/Touchpoint 4 - 5 Royal British Legion (RBL) 6 - 7 Soham Staploe Rotary Club 8 Repair Cafe 9 Food Bank, Lloyds Bank 11 Focus on our Schools 12 - 13 East Cambs District Council 14 - 15 Heath Matters 16 - 17 Greater Anglia Station Adopter Scheme 18 What’s On? 20 - 44 S.T.R .Car & Bike Show 20 Coronation celebrations 21 National Garden Scheme 22 - 23 Theatre /Cinema 25 Soham Pumpkin Fair 26 Clubs to join 26 - 38 Library services 32 - 34 Our Churches 34 - 39 Directory 40 - 42 Soham Carnival Back Pages
3 Welcome to this March/April Edition of Jigsaw, the twenty third issue of our Community Magazine. Well, it looks like we have plenty to celebrate in the coming months! Firstly, I would like to congratulate Timothy Clark on his wonderful achievement of opening his garden to the public for thirty years for the National Garden Scheme. In that time, he has raised thousands of pounds for numerous charities, but also saved several heritage varieties of various plants. If you haven’t been, a trip to Netherhall Manor is well worth the visit! (Photo of the gardens on the front cover, was taken by his gardener, Neal Arnold). Next, I must mention our marvellous Carnival and Heavy Horse Show. The Soham Benevolent Committee can at last celebrate their 70th anniversary - delayed because of the Covid pandemic. All in all, it promises to be a fantastic day out. The first ever Soham Carnival was held on Soham Recreation Ground to celebrate the Queen's Coronation in 1953. And that brings us round to our next big celebration - another coronation! This time of course, of His Majesty King Charles III. A Coronation Planning Group was formed at the last Soham Community Association Public Meeting and as I write this, has had their first meeting to decide how to help Soham celebrate this momentous event during these challenging times we find ourselves in. Let me know if you have any thoughts on any of the above or indeed anything else you read in this edition. Best wishes, Jenny You may remember Hannah has been doing a wonderful job as our Secretary for several months. However, she has fulfilled her duties, on February 26th had her official leaving do for church and is now heading off on maternity leave, ready for a well earned break and to expect a ‘bundle of joy’ sometime in March! We are still searching for somebody to fill the role. What is expected of the role of the SCA Secretary? • Schedules meetings • Helps to prepare and distribute agendas • Produces and distributes minutes of meetings • Keeps members informed of what correspondence has been sent out and received So if you would like to join us or if you have somebody in mind, let us know. See our contact details on p2
4 SCA News You may remember we held a SCA Public meeting in January (thank you to Zoe for letting us hold it at The Fountain after we had to postpone the previous week at The Library); and also the Community Lunch in February. Various topics were discussed at both meetings including: Soham - A Dementia Friendly Community (p5 & 6) Repair Café (p7) Greater Anglia Station Adopter Scheme for Soham Station (p18) Coronation celebrations (p21) Funding for Jigsaw We are very grateful to both Soham Town Council and Soham Staploe Rotary Club for providing SCA with considerable donations for Jigsaw - printing costs, along with everything else, have increased phenomenally over the last year. We have therefore made the difficult decision to increase advertising charges by 10% and decrease the number of paper copies from 1500 to 1000. However, as it states below, we try to encourage more people to receive a digital copy. A Small Contribution We now print 1000 copies of ‘Jigsaw’, not enough for every household in Soham, but we try to target those least likely to access the internet. The paper copy is also available in local hubs such as the Pavilion, Soham Town Rangers, Co-op and Soham Library. A digital copy is available on our website, Facebook page and is sent out by email to many people including local groups and businesses. If you currently receive a paper copy, but would like to be emailed a digital copy, please get in touch with James, our Distribution Manager at: [email protected] If you are willing to make a small financial contribution to help boost funds eg £5 or £6 a year, it would make a real difference to help us continue to fund this magazine. If you’re able to give, please make a cheque payable to Soham Community Association (mark on the back ‘Jigsaw’) and send it to: SCA/Jigsaw, c/o Soham Library, 7 Clay Street, CB7 5HJ or make a bank transfer using these bank details: Account name: Soham Community Association, (ref. ‘Jigsaw’) Sort code: 20-16-12 (Barclays Bank), Account no: 13212521 Thank you!
5 A new Dementia Clinic is being provided via Staploe Medical Centre, by the Alzheimer’s Society. Telephone appointments are being offered to patients with memory problems/ dementia or for Carers. Patients will be able to speak to a Dementia Adviser for advice, guidance, support with any questions or concerns. Appointments are 45 minutes. NEXT CLINIC: Monday 17th April a.m. and 2 monthly thereafter APPOINTMENTS NEED TO BE BOOKED. For further information or to book an appointment, please contact: Val Antell (Social Prescribing Link Worker) at Staploe Medical Centre on 01353 624121. Help Soham to become a Dementia-friendly Community You will see a report on the following page about the ‘Dementia Awareness Event’ hosted by Soham RBL at Touch point (together Soham Community Association and Think Communities Team). Advice for carers of those with Dementia and other conditions is available at Touchpoint every week or the Dementia telephone clinic (see below). However, we want to move forward with making Soham a Dementia-friendly Community. Who can help make their community dementia-friendly? Everyone. From governments and local shops, to book clubs and churches, we all have a part to play in creating communities where people with dementia feel active, engaged and valued. People affected by dementia have the most important role in any dementia-friendly community. By sharing their experiences and connecting with others, they ensure that communities keep the needs of people affected by dementia at the heart of everything they do. (from the Alzheimer’s UK website). SCA would like to set up a focus group. Most of us know somebody living with dementia and how much it impacts the lives of families and friends - well now we can all do something to help. If you weren’t able to make it to the Dementia Awareness Event, but you are interested in being involved, you can email me, Jenny at [email protected] and I can give you some more information.
6 Touchpoint welcomed Alan Barratt, who set up Brampton Dementia Friendly Community about 4 years ago. He spoke about the different support groups they have set up in Brampton – see below: Soham Branch RBL News and Events ...and what steps local groups (including SCA & RBL) could make to help Soham become a Dementia Friendly Community. Help and advice will now be available at Touchpoint every Tuesday and Thursday. (see poster on P5).
7 The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading Armed Forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations. Membership is open to everyone. Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk for details of our national initiatives . Soham Branch meetings are at 7.30pm in Soham Pavilion. Please contact the Chairman for details. Branch Chairman Mike Donoghue Tel: 07522 450289 Email: [email protected] Branch Secretary John Aitchison Tel: 07749 654439 Branch Treasurer Colin Elsden Tel: 07522 450290 The BBC’s ‘We were there’ project is collecting Veteran’s memories of WW2 ahead of the 80th Anniversary of the end of the conflict in 2025. Radio Cambridgeshire’s reporter Kate Palmer came to Touchpoint in January to interview veterans Mrs. Maudie Manning, who was in The Women's Royal Naval Service, WRNS (popularly and officially known as the Wrens), and Mr. Eric Jenkins, who was a Signalman In the Royal Navy. Mike Donoghue Chairman
8 Local organisations benefit from Ely Firework Display. Back in November 2022, Soham Rotary Club joined forces once again with three other organisations to host the annual Ely Firework Display at Cherry Hill in Ely. This year, the event had excellent support from the local communities who both sponsored and attended the fantastic firework display. The income from all parties not only covered the costs of putting on the event, but allowed each of the organising groups to distribute some of the profits to organisations within their local community. Soham Rotary Club is conscious that any support we can offer local organisations is very well received and we are always impressed with how much is achieved through this support. This year, Soham Rotary Club have managed to help a number of local community organisations. These included, Soham Community Association with distribution of their informative Jigsaw publication, The Monday Club and their proposed trips out for the elderly with immobility challenges, 1st Fordham Rainbows and their efforts to give youngsters of 4-7 years some unforgettable experiences and life skills, the parents of Year 3 children at the Shade Primary School with their efforts to finance and provide swimming lessons and finally the local Foodbank organisation in sourcing essential supplies for their ever increasing number of recipients. As a community-orientated Club, Soham Rotary Club is constantly striving to channel any funds raised back into local organisations as well as the global initiatives of the Rotary family. If you are part of such an organisation and are looking for some potential support, please contact us through our website as listed in this publication’s directory. Equally, if you have some free time and want to help us as a volunteer or as potential member, we would very much like to hear from you. We have a forthcoming Race Night on Saturday 18th March as advertised on the right. If you and some friends want to join us, your support would be much appreciated. Iain Sutherland Soham Rotary Club
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11 Ely Foodbank @ Soham Our foodbank works using a voucher referral system We know that anyone can find themselves at crisis point for a number of different reasons - if you are in a position that you cannot afford food due to your circumstances and would like help then please ring 01353 468626 where someone will get back to you within 24 hours to chat through your situation and offer help where possible. We continue to operate a voucher system but in these times we know there are many people facing challenges for the first time who are not in contact with an agency. To assist with this we are able to issue a voucher for you if you make contact with us and explain your circumstances. You will be able to access our food for a maximum of 3 visits and we will signpost you to a professional agency who will give advice and vouchers if required. Lots of our agencies can issue an e-voucher which you can take note of and bring this to the Centre for 4-5 days worth of food. If you are struggling to afford food and would like some help, then the following may be useful: Citizens Advice Bureau 0808 2082 138 or visit their website. P3 Floating Support 0115 850 8190 ECDC – Community Support Network email [email protected] or 01353 665555 There are also Social Prescribers in most Doctors Surgeries to assist with a range of social difficulties. www.ely.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/volunteer/ www.ely.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/ [email protected] 01353 468626 Mobile Branch Recreation Ground (Alternate Fridays 10.30am - 12.30pm) Please be aware there may be times when routes are not fully operational, therefore we recommend calling our mobile branch hotline on 0345 601 6943 before you travel. 10 March 24 Mar 7 April 21 April
football teams in the town, catering for youth and adult inclusive football, Soham desperately needs investment into sports facilities. We are working with Cambridgeshire Football Association and the Football Foundation to secure partnership funding towards this project. However, we will also need help from the community to bring this project to life. This facility is for all to use and will be a huge asset to the town for years to come and we are aiming to raise £125,000 towards this project. Ross Knappett, Facilities Manager at Staploe Education Trust said “this is an exciting project for the School, partner clubs and the community. This will create extra opportunities for students at Soham Village College to participate in sports during the school day and provide local clubs from Soham and the surrounding areas first class training facilities all year round.” For further information about this exciting project please visit: Soham Village College - 3G Pitch (sohamvc.org) In the picture left to right are: Ross Knappett (Facilities Manager for Staploe Education Trust), Michael Firek (Soham Town Youth Girls Under-15s Manager), Katie Critchley (Cambridgeshire F.A.), Duncan Jenkinson (Football Foundation), Jon Hampson (Headteacher at S.V.C.), Hannah Firek (S.T.R. Community Liaison Manager), Dao Cooper
13 Soham Village College Production of Beauty and the Beast Well done to all of the students, staff and volunteers who took part in the school production of Beauty and the Beast. The Performing Arts Centre was packed all three nights and the audiences were all blown away by the amazing performances. As well as energetic singing and dancing there were some beautiful poignant moments.
14 Soham High Street Renewal: Capital Fund Scheme East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) has allocated £20,000 from its Market Towns Programme funding towards a grant scheme that supports projects in Soham Town Centre. This scheme is specifically designed to enable bids to be made for capital funding to enable improvements to the frontage of buildings or the general appearance of Soham's Town Centre. Landlords, property owners, businesses and community groups will need to submit a formal application from between Monday 6 February and Friday 10 March for bids between £500 and £20,000. Examples of projects that will be considered include minor structural or aesthetic repairs to frontages, new or improved signage (not illuminated), street furniture, glazing, painting, planting, improved awnings and improved access into and out of premises. Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Carrying out small improvements such as fixing broken signs, planting up shop fronts or replacing street furniture make a huge difference in enhancing our market towns and this will encourage residents, shoppers and visitors to spend more time here, which in turn will benefit the local economy. We realise with the cost of living crisis many businesses and organisations do not have the extra funds to carry out improvement works. It really is a case of small changes being able to make a big difference.” News from East Cambridgeshire is to get three Changing Places toilets following a successful bid for Government funds. They will be located at Fountain Lane Soham, The Lighthouse Centre Ely, and Littleport Youth and Community Centre. The disabled toilets are special because they contain a hoist and a changing bench enabling people who need personal assistance to use the toilets or get changed without having to lay on the floor of a public toilet. This can include people with profound and multiple physical and learning disabilities, spinal injuries and people living with stroke. East Cambridgeshire District Council applied to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for the £93000 grant and was notified of the funding on February 4. The three new locations are in addition to the existing Changing Places toilets located at The Hive Leisure Centre, at Ely Leisure Village and at Ely Railway Station. The new funding will help open up East Cambridgeshire to disabled people and their carers, enabling them to spend more time in local communities. It is estimated over 17 per cent of people living in these areas have serious physical disabilities and 16 per cent have moderate physical disabilities. The Council will now work with the providers to begin the process of organising the installation of their Changing Places facilities in readiness for the funding which will come in the new financial year.
15 Come and talk to us INSIDE the library Are you struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis? East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Community Bus staff can offer residents advice on housing, welfare benefits, debt and money, energy, consumer rights, work, family and health. As well as helping to make sure you are receiving benefits, grants and government payments you are entitled to, friendly staff from the Council’s housing and community advice team can also signpost you to groups offering help and support in your local community, and offer tips and advice on how to keep well and stay warm this winter. East Cambs residents need photo ID to vote at elections in May For the first time, residents in East Cambridgeshire will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year’s local elections. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote on 4 May by checking they have an accepted form of ID. Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form. The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID. You can read more about Voter ID on our website. John Hill, Returning Officer at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “With elections taking place in East Cambridgeshire on 4 May 2023, it is important that those who want to vote make sure they have an accepted form of ID. Residents who do not have one can apply for free ID either online or by completing a paper application form and sending this to E.C.D.C.’s electoral services team. If you need any help contact the team on 01353 665555. Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance, said: “Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters wishing to apply to their council for free ID should first make sure they are registered to vote.” The requirement to show photo ID at the polling station, is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May.
16 Helping older people ‘Feel Brighter’ again with NHS Talking Therapies Are you 65 or older and feel like life is less colourful than it used to be? If you haven’t been feeling yourself, don’t suffer in silence. ‘Feel Brighter’ is a new NHS campaign that aims to reach out to older people aged 65 and over, who may be struggling with their mental health but don’t know where to turn for advice, support and to find out what services are available locally. The new campaign aims to encourage older people who have symptoms such as anxiety, loneliness, or low mood to reach out and access free NHS Talking Therapies and other support to help them feel brighter again. NHS Talking Therapies are effective treatments that involve speaking with an experienced mental health professional to understand feelings and learn ways to manage them. Sessions are totally confidential and can be one-to-one, in a group, online, or over the phone. To find out more, simply visit the Feel Brighter webpage at www.cpics.org.uk/feel-brighter for more information about NHS Talking Therapies, other support available, and how to refer yourself. Alternatively you can call this number to make an initial referral: Tel 0300 300 0055. Phone lines are available 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday (closed on Bank Holidays). Soham Comrades Club now has an external defibrillator installed outside the front of their premises on Market Street. After realising that although there were several of these life saving machines in the town but none on the High Street, a fundraising campaign was launched in November. By the 30th December they had hit their target of £1000 by holding a raffle, a coffee morning and setting up a ‘Just Giving’ page online. On the 18th February, Sonia Collin posted the following on Facebook: “Thank you everyone who donated and helped raise the money for this. The new defibrillator is now available. Located outside the front entrance. “
17 Please help us to help you - the easiest and fastest way to ask for help from a GP is with askmyGP. If you are not on Ely Minor Injury Unit (MIU) Ely Tel: 01353 656675 Princess of Wales Hospital, Lynn Road, Ely, CB6 1DN Opening hours: 8.30am to 6pm, seven days a week X-ray services available Mon to Fri from 9am - 5pm and from 1pm - 5pm on Sat & Sun. Statement from Staploe Medical Centre Website: Do you support the delivery of a new purpose-built health centre at Staploe with increased patient capacity? Please let us know your thoughts by completing this short survey - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/StaploeNewBuild REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS The demand for repeat prescriptions is high. This is putting immense pressure on our dispensary and pharmacy. Please don’t order your repeats early or stock-pile medication. Request them (through SystmOnline, or by phone) no more than 10 days before you are due to run out. Please also note that we can only issue 1 month’s worth of medication, under guidance from Department of Health, Cambridgeshire ICB and GMC. Staploe Pharmacy 01353 727695 Opening hours: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8.30 - 7pm SATURDAY 8.30am - 1pm [email protected] Healthy You Clinic at on Mon 27th March 9 - 4pm & Mon 24th April 9 - 4pm
18 Station Adopter Scheme The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme enables individuals or groups to adopt their local railway station and contribute to its use and welfare. The voluntary scheme, which started in 2003, was originally created to improve lines of communication between the train operator and station users. However, over the years it has grown to become much more, with station adopters now playing an active role in keeping stations looking good through inventive gardening projects, creative community art projects, taking part in station ‘health checks’ or being the eyes and ears of their station. Adopters have been an integral part of raising money for projects such as improved waiting facilities or planting beautiful station gardens. Volunteers come from all walks of life and come either as a group or as individuals, but one thing they’ve all got in common is the idea that their station is fundamental to their community. The work they put into making the station look wonderful and the care they give is for the benefit for all who use the stations. Alan Neville (Community and Customer Engagement Manager at Greater Anglia) said: ‘Out of 135 stations, 125 have now been adopted. The Station adoption has been a feature of the railway network in East Anglia for many years. To many who participate, it’s about local and personal pride and wanting to see your station take its rightful place as an important part of the community. From our perspective, the relationships with our station adopter volunteers are a vital element of our links to the communities that we serve. Given that many of our rural stations are largely unstaffed, station adopters perform a hugely valuable role in monitoring the quality of presentation, but their value doesn’t just stop there. Across the network, adopters are busy tending to station gardens and flower tubs, leading railway walks, promoting their local lines, tidying up litter on platforms and contributing in a major way to the strength and vitality of Community Rail Partnerships. Whatever your commitment, good adopters need sound support and advice from the Train Operator. For that reason, we have produced Station Adoption Information Pack. Anyone interested should contact the editor at: [email protected] for more information or visit: www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/stationadopter-scheme Photos: Chris Scurrah
19 Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm Saturdays 10am - 3pm Closed on Sundays Find us on Facebook @jakhibssoham
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community groups and individuals as volunteers. Keep an eye out on social media, local press and posters around town for more details nearer the time (venue to be confirmed).
22 The National Gardens Scheme The National Gardens Scheme was founded in 1927 to fund District Nurses. It was an immediate success and rapidly expanded to its present number of over three thousand gardens open for charity in the country. They are organised by counties, some are more successful than others, some having a waiting list or only permitted to open every other year. I was asked to help Lady Nourse (who was the Cambridgeshire organiser ) by Tony Venison Gardens Editor of Country Life at that time, shortly after my book on Margery Fish was first published. My wife died in 1993, and Alec Summers, who was then my helper, had a similar loss. We decided by opening the garden we could contribute to cancer charities. My great-grandmother had doctored the people of Wicken with a Culpeper’s Herbal when there was no doctor available. I collected locally garden plants, some were very rare. Many have now appeared on Gardeners World three times - this just shows how old I am! Opening the garden proved very popular and for the first ten years we would frequently get between 150 and 200 visitors. Janice Harrison from Fordham saw the numbers arriving and came and asked if she and Jenny Bowen could raise more money by serving tea and cake. Over the years we have fund-raised for various charities up to a value of about £100,000. We open in early April for the Tudor primroses and daffodils and Victorian hyacinths. In early May it is the only bed of old English tulips - which have been on Gardeners World three times, usually this still has Crown Imperials. The last time is the first two weeks of August, where there is once again the only collection of Victorian tricoloured leaved pelargoniums on display in the country. At the end of the Second World War they were thought to be all extinct. Derek Clifford found a greenhouse in Chichester which had not taken the frost, and since no one wanted them and I needed colour in the garden during harvest they filled the gap. We always keep the entrance to a nominal £3 because that means no serious gardener is priced out, and we always consider we offer the best cake in the county! TIMOTHY CLARK Painting by Bill MacCormick
23 Netherhall Manor Tanners Lane Soham CB7 5AB Pre-book your tickets in advance, or just turn up and pay on the day. https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/12343/netherhall-manor National Garden Scheme Open Days Sunday 2nd April, 7th May, 6th & 13th August 2023 In March, The National Garden Scheme presented Timothy with this plaque for his generous support over the last thirty years. You may remember, back in the Autumn and towards Christmas, Timothy sold walnuts in aid of the Ukrainian Crisis. He would like to announce that he raised a total of £600 and to thank everyone who supported him by buying some.
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tea and biscuits) Mrs. Ada Harris, a widowed cleaning lady, becomes obsessed with one client’s haute couture Dior dress; it inspires an ambition to buy her own Dior dress…
26 The fair has been running since 1975 and is held annually on the last Saturday in September. Every year we raise money for local charities, while providing the community with an enjoyable day out. This year the Pumpkin Fair falls on Saturday 30th September and our chosen beneficiaries for 2023 are: Let’s Join a Club! It will soon be time for sowing seed, and we would like you to get in touch if you would like some free pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Please contact [email protected] or search Soham Pumpkin Fair on Facebook page or Instagram www.sohampumpkinfair.co.uk We have chosen our theme to match our beneficiaries: ‘Let’s Join a Club’ - this year we would like to involve as many Soham clubs at the fair as possible. So please get in touch if your club would like a stall, like to perform in the arena or if you would just like the opportunity to come along and promote what you do! 1st Soham Brownies & Soham Brigade 4th Soham Brownies Soham Roller Hockey Club
27 Monday Club We meet at the Causeway Community Room every Monday from 10am - 2.30pm. There is always a friendly atmosphere with tea, coffee & cake. Lunch is also provided for a nominal charge. Free transport can be provided on request. Other activities include bus trips, bingo, raffles, dominoes and quizzes. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Carol. (This is a very popular group, so there is the possibility that you may have to go on a waiting list!). Tel. Carol on 01353 727861 or email: [email protected] April 3rd Band Of Ukeleles 10th NO MEETING ( Easter Monday) 17th To be Arranged 24th To be Arranged Dates may be subject to change March 6th Billy G (singer) 13th CAMSAR (Cambs lowland Search and Rescue) 20th Sale Morning 27th Easter Craft On Monday 13th February , a morning of fun and frivolity was provided by John & Sue Dimmock and Peter & Claire White. We were treated to and exhibition of various dances including the Charleston, The Swing Jive and the American Smooth. There were also some others we could join in with, such as The St. Bernard’s Waltz and The Barn dance. Here you can see Ann and Rosie waltzing to ‘ Mr Bojangles’ - Bet Hitchings is receiving expert tuition from Peter White and Jean Carter from John Dimmock. We finished the morning with a singa-long.
members but is always looking for new ones who may be interested in playing the game. The outdoor bowls season starts at the end of April and lasts until the beginning of September. The Club has teams in the Ely and District Bowls Evening League and Afternoon League, both of which are dual gender, as well as members taking part in County competitions and National ones. The EDB Evening League plays its matches on Tuesday and Thursday evenings while the Afternoon League matches are on Mondays and Fridays. Members also have opportunities to play in competitions within the Club and to arrange games amongst themselves. If you see games are on, you are welcome to pop in and watch. Apart from the bowls green, the Club’s facilities include changing rooms and a clubhouse, which has a bar. If you would like further details about the Club, or if you are interested in joining, please contact me on: [email protected] or on 01353 721316. Geoff Fisher - Secretary, Soham Bowls Club The Men’s Shed. The first Men’s Shed was started in Australia in 1978 and is now a worldwide organisation. The main purpose of the Shed is social interaction for people who would otherwise be missing it. In Soham we are inclusive and welcome anybody above the age of eighteen. We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00 to early afternoon and can extend the times subject to demand (and weather). The location is at South Angle Farm and we can give lifts to people without transport. We charge a nominal two pounds to cover tea, biscuits and sausage rolls, and members are free to get involved with a variety of projects or if they wish or bring ideas or things of their own (or just drink tea and eat biscuits!). We have a well equipped workshop and make, fix or sometimes sell a variety things such as old furniture, planters and benches, we also renovate old tools and either use or sell them. Donations of any unwanted tools, wood or other useful” things are always welcome. We will either use them, sell them, send them to Africa as part of “Tools with a Mission” or scrap them. Nothing is wasted! (go through your old sheds and garages!) Look forward to seeing you. Howard Laver [email protected]
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32 We also have our Happy Baby Hour on a Tuesday between 10 - 11am, a chance to play with some toys and chat to other parents in a relaxed environment. Welcome to the new look Soham library - pop in and have a look round, and grab a hot drink whilst you are there ! Pathology for Kids talk Thurs 13th April 10-12 Find out what it’s like working in a laboratory. Easter Craft Sat 1st April 10-12
33 Monthly talks on the first Tues of the month 2 - 3.30pm. Come along to hear an interesting speaker, have a cuppa and meet new friends. Tuesday March 7th & Tuesday April 4th (a suggested donation of £2 per person for refreshments and future speakers). Hire our meeting room for £6.25 an hour for community groups. Call 0345 045 5225 or email: [email protected] 6th March 3rd April P3 Information for Older People Drop-in Thurs 16th March 10-12 Thurs 20th April 10-12 Soham Trefoil Guild We meet the last Tuesday of each month Time: 10.30 a.m-.12.30 p.m. Venue: Soham Library, 7, Clay Street, Soham, Cambs. CB7 5HJ Please come and join us for a morning of chat, games, and quizzes, craft, guest speakers and new challenges. Make new friends and learn new skills and help us celebrate 80 years of Trefoil Guild this year. Just come along, you will be made most welcome. Or Contact: Olive Wilson 01353 722561 Maureen Doggett 01353 699949
34 Bus Pass due to expire soon? Help with your bus pass application is now available from Cambridgeshire Libraries. We can assist you at Soham library up to 6 weeks before your bus pass expires. Please call in to book an appointment. Tel: 0345 045 5225 The mobile library is visiting Soham on the 4th Wednesday every month. Our route in Soham is as follows: The Crescent 1.45 - 2pm Honeysuckle Close 2.50 - 3.10pm We have a great selection of books for all ages, free NHS hearing aid batteries and walking stick ferrules. We also sell stamps and have lots of jigsaw puzzles you can have. Chattering Classes Reading Group meets at the library on the 1st Thursday every month at 2.30pm. and are looking for new members. Please pop along to one of the sessions if you are interested in joining the group.
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36 Unbelievable! I bumped into one of our bell-ringers the other day. We’d not seen each other for a while. She beamed at me and said: ‘I hear congratulations are in order’. A moment’s confusion on my part (Did she mean the dog?), then it came to me: ‘Ah. That’s not me – that’s Hannah. But thanks anyway. I’ll pass them on’. Shame it wasn’t Christmas: I might’ve got a sermon out of that! Which brings me to Easter… I’ve been invited to speak to the Y2s at The Shade Primary School in a few weeks’ time, and I’m really looking forward to going in. They’ve asked me to talk about what Christians believe about the resurrection. Good question! Many years ago now, the then Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd David Jenkins got it in the neck for saying whatever happened on the first Easter Sunday was ‘more than a conjuring trick with bones’. I thought – and still think – David Jenkins was great, but many of his colleagues, along with the National Press, disagreed. Maybe you remember the furore. Rather than argue about what did or didn’t happen in a garden in Palestine over 2000 years ago, what David Jenkins tried to do, it seems to me, was point to what the Easter story might mean for us today. What ‘more’ is the resurrection about than the facts (or lack of facts, depending on your point of view) of what took place? According to John, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb ‘Early, on the first day of the week, when it was still dark’; in Matthew’s version, she goes with ‘the other Mary’ (possibly Mary Poppins, according to a pupil at St Andrew’s School), ‘when the first day of the week was dawning’. Darkness and light; night-time and day are universal themes. Whichever story you read, Christ rises with the sun: light literally dawns; and this ‘first day’ is a new beginning. The message, surely, is one of hope; hope that springs from the most unpromising of places: new life bursts forth from a tomb. The power of hope, I hope (boom, boom), is something most of us believe in; something we’ve experienced ourselves. May hope fill us this Easter, and beyond. Eleanor The Revd Eleanor Whalley, Vicar of Soham 01353 725948 [email protected] www.standrews-soham.org.uk
37 St. Andrew’s Church Funerals: 4 Jan – Steve Murtagh 17 Jan – Douglas Challis 18 Jan – Patrick Clark 19 Jan – Doreen Palmer 24 Jan – Brian Fordham 27 Jan – Christopher Morris 30 Jan – Bob Backhouse 9 Feb – Edwin Sparrow Interment of Ashes: 17 Feb – Spike & Beryl Badcock Wedding: 4 Feb – Randall Hockey and Jade Sauvey
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39 Directory of Local Organisations 1st Soham Brownies Valerie Watts Tel 01353 688436 Age UK Dee Potter, Volunteer Organiser 01354 691898 [email protected] www.ageuk.org.uk/ cambridgeshireandpeterborough www.facebook.com/AgeUKCAP Alzheimer’s Society 01954 250322 [email protected] www.alzheimers.org.uk www.facebook.com/AlzheimersSocietyEastAnglia Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity. We provide information and support, improve care, fund research, and create lasting change for people affected by dementia. Breatheasy Secretary: Fiona 01353 649633 We meet monthly on the 3rd Tuesday, 2-4pm at Ely Beet Club, Lynn Road, Ely CB6 1DD A get together for anyone with breathing problems with a Carer/Friend. Cam Sight -Soham Support Group Maria Langford 01223 420033. [email protected] 2nd Thurs of month, 10am-12 noon The Causeway Community Room, CB7 5BD
50p for raffle ticket. Members may bring a small prize to go in the raffle. Soham Community Archive www.soham.ccan.co.uk Administrators: Ann Roberts and Mary Burnside Soham Community Archive is member of the Cambs Community Archives Network (CCAN). It is a searchable online digital archive of photographs and documents relating to Soham people, places and events over the years. Contributions, comments and queries can be submitted following the instructions on our home page.
41 Soham Gardening Club Kay Flack, Secretary 01353 723155 [email protected] 1st Tuesday of the month from Mar to Dec in the Fountain Conservatory 7.30pm. Soham Heritage and Tourism Charles Warner, Chairman [email protected] www.sohamhtg.co.uk We have a range of projects to preserve and celebrate the rich history of Soham. Members help us at our numerous events, educational aspects, displays and research of all types. Soham Knit and Knatter Carol Weyman 01353 360289 [email protected] We meet every Thursday afternoon 1.30 -4pm at Soham Town Rangers Football Club. We always have a variety of projects on the go or you can bring your own knitting or crocheting, sometimes we Knatter more than we knit! £2.50 for the afternoon plus £1 for tea or coffee and biscuits. Soham Library Debbie Price, East Cambridgeshire Area Library Manager. 7 Clay St, Soham CB7 5HJ [email protected] www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/libraries www.facebook.com/SohamLibrary Soham Men's Shed 07900 128923 [email protected] www.facebook.com/soham.mensshed.7 robertchippett Open on Tuesday as well as Thursday from 10.00am until mid afternoon. The Soham Shed is a member of the UK Men's Shed Assn (UKMSA) Soham Methodist Church Rev Catherine Dixon 01353 662426 [email protected] Soham Museum [email protected] www.sohammuseum.co.uk Mailing address only c/o 14 Churchgate Street Soham, Ely, CB7 5DS Soham Museum is a living history museum currently working towards premises. It has a busy outreach programme and a collection of over 4,000 items of local and social interest, held in trust for the people of Soham. We run an active research programme, publish books, organise displays, events and talks of local historical interest and hold coffee mornings at Soham Library 1st Sat of the month. Soham Pumpkin Fair (Fair held on the last Saturday in September) Jenny Fletcher, Secretary 01353 688367 [email protected] www.sohampumpkinfair.co.uk Soham On-Line Chris Scurrah www.soham.org (Established 1999). The official website for the town of Soham Soham Over 60s Club Diane Wheeling, Secretary 01353 722775 [email protected] Meet every Friday (except bank holidays) at The Pavilion, 2.00-3.45pm Bingo, quizzes, speakers, outings and musical entertainment. Yearly subscription £5, weekly charge £2 for raffle & refreshments Soham Staploe Rotary Club Iain Sutherland - Secretary. A global organisation of like-minded individuals who volunteer their services to support both local and international challenges. This support can be either generating funds to support local charities and organisations or facilitating community events. We also try and help global Rotary initiatives, for example, Polio eradication worldwide. Guests would be most welcome to come along and join our evening meetings held regularly in The Cherry Tree in Soham. We would also be interested in any organisation to come along and tell us about themselves - maybe your local Rotary Club could help your organisation. For contact details and information on our forthcoming activities, please visit our website www.sohamstaploerotaryorg.uk Soham Town Council Clerk Marilyn Strand Office Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 9am – 1pm 01353 723472 PO Box 21, The Walter Gidney Pavilion, Fountain Lane, CB7 5PL [email protected] www.soham-tc.gov.uk Soham Town Forum www.facebook.com/Soham Town Forum Owns and ‘runs’ the seven town signs placed throughout Soham from Townsend to Downfields.
42 Soham Village College Sand Street, Soham, CB7 5AA 01353 724104 www.sohamvc.org.uk www.facebook.com/SohamVC Tea, Toast and Chat Tuesday 9-10.30 (term-time only) St Andrew’s Church, Soham Michelle Grogan 07706 045603 Community Equality Practitioner & Volunteer Coordinator. www.cambridgeacornproject.org.uk michelle.grogan@cambridgeacornproject. org.uk This is a free community group which offers an inclusive and informal safe space to talk, connect with others and take time for yourself - there is also a children’s play area and children are welcome. We also offer wellbeing support and signposting if needed. Come after the school run or for a positive start to your day. The Library Presents Nathan Jones, Co-ordinator 01223 706720 [email protected] www.facebook.com/thelibrarypresents Thrift Community Land Trust for Soham www.thriftsoham.org.uk www.facebook.com/SohamThriftCLT The Thrift Community Land Trust for Soham aims to support local communities to develop affordable housing and other community assets which will help sustain those communities now and into the future. It acts as a steward for any assets developed which means that any income from schemes will be reinvested directly back into the community ensuring that the homes and facilities are provided for the long term. Contact: [email protected] or tel. Rosemary on 01353 720177 VIVA! Bev Cruxon-Lewis, Charity Operations and Theatre Co-ordinator 01353 722228 [email protected] www.viva-group.org.uk Viva is a place for creativity, inclusivity, ambition, excellence, fun and great entertainment! Voluntary and Community Action for East Cambridgeshire (VCAEC) www.vcaec.org.uk follow us on Twitter or Facebook using @vcaec VCAEC are the Volunteer Centre for East Cambs. Contact us to advertise your volunteering roles or we can help you find the ideal volunteering opportunity on 01353 666556 or email: [email protected] VCAEC also run the East Cambs Social Car Scheme, providing travel for those unable to use conventional transport. Contact us on 01353 666553 VCAEC are the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) for East Cambs and can assist agencies with funding, information and guidance. Contact us on 01353 666166 or email: [email protected] VCAEC run the Helping Hands Gardening scheme. Providing basic gardening assistance to those unable to tend to their gardens. Contact us on 01353 666556 or email: [email protected]. Women’s Institute www.thewi.org.uk The WI provides women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. Twilight Tuesday WI - Soham: www.facebook.com/twilighttuesdaywi Meet on 2nd Tuesday of the month at Soham Town Rangers Football Club, Julius Martin Lane, We are welcoming new members and speakers, so please get in touch. Organisation name: Lead contact name: Lead contact job/role title: Phone: Email: Address (if appropriate): Facebook/Twitter/other: Brief Description of the organisation (10-25 words): Volunteering opportunities (“We’re looking for…”): Soham Community Association Directory Form
43 RAISING MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES, ORGANISATIONS AND GROUPS BASED IN SOHAM AND SURROUNDING AREAS The Soham Benevolent Association, organisers of Soham Carnival are looking forward to bringing you their 70th great family fun day on SUNDAY 30th APRIL 2022 at the Recreation Ground in Soham. From 9am until 1pm in the main arena is the renowned Heavy Horse Show. The parade of floats commences from 1.00pm from Holmes Lane in Soham, travelling through the town then onto the Recreation Ground for Judging. Confirmed as the main event from 3.00pm is Dangerous Steve. It's non-stop, thrill-a-minute with Dangerous Steve's hilarious and dynamic act full of sensational stunts. Performing on the music stage are The Offbeats, The Anecdotes, Freefall Band, Stevie, Tzarina, The RBL band competition winner & DJ Greedy G. On the small arena both Vogue Athletic and Kuk Sool Won will be demonstrating their skills. KD theatre school will be offering free workshops through out the afternoon - teaching singing and performance skills. Other attractions include: Skateboard & Scooter Demos; Townsperson of the year; King & Queen Consort and Prince & Princess winners; Soham Comrades Band; a licensed bar; stalls ; a funfair; Raptor foundation, inflatables, bygones, Food and trade stalls; local organisations; BBQ ; ACF Marching Band plus much, much more. ALL STALLS are now sold out but there is still time to ENTER A PARADE FLOAT. Whether you are a School, Pub, Club, Band or an Organisation, get involved and enter a float at this year’s carnival. There is prize money to be won! VOTE FOR YOUR TOWNSPERSON OF THE YEAR: please look out for the boxes that will be displayed in local shops and fill out the form to vote. You can also send us a message on Facebook or email, with the person you think should win and what they do for the community of Soham. Our main beneficiary for 2023 is The Soham And Ely Food Bank. NO DOGS are allowed on the recreation ground except assistance dogs and there will be disabled parking only. Admission: Adults £3.50, Concessions £2.50, Children £0.50p sohamcarnival.org or facebook.com/sohamcarnival Email: [email protected]
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