SAVE GIDDING POST OFFICE – ACTION GROUP UPDATE

Monday August 18th.

Only EIGHT days to go before the Post Office consultation closes - have you posted your letter objecting to their proposal to close Great Gidding Post Office yet?

It has to be with Post Office Limited BY August 26th. Every letter counts - the more they get, the more seriously they take our opposition. Please write if you have not already done so: send it to Laura Tarling, Network Consultation Team, Post Office, Freepost.

What has the Action Group done?

With only five weeks to put together and complete a campaign to fight the proposal to close Great Gidding Post Office, the Action Group decided to concentrate their efforts in three main areas:

1. Persuade as many villagers as possible to write a letter to Post Office Limited objecting to the closure, so that we could demonstrate the importance to our community.

2. Put together a clear and logical argument to keep Gidding Open and present it personally to the Post Office representatives.

3. Mount a press campaign to support the fight.The Group was formed on July 16th, and since then we have:

- Prepared a 27 page briefing document, providing detailed information on why Great Gidding should not close - it looks at all the arguments, and gives solid information (see the headlines “Why Gidding should stay open” next to this article.) A copy is in Gidding Post Office - look for the red cover. Download the 'Great Gidding Post Office - Arguments against the proposed closure' PDF (572k)

- Met for two hours on August 14th with Laura Tarling, the Post Office Manager in charge of the closure programme, and with Caroline Glithero, the PostWatch representative. Deni Underwood chaired the meeting, and Julie Byard, Howard Anderson and Mary Read made formal presentations of our arguments. Other Action Group members led the question and answer session . Laura took away our briefing document.

- Provided the briefing document to two Government Ministers - Pat McFadden MP, responsible for the Post Office, and Jonathon Shaw MP, responsible for Rural Affairs, and urged them to review the Post Office proposals.

- Sent it to Cambs County Council and Hunts District Council officers and members, urging them to protest the closure. We have also briefed our own District and County Council representatives.

- Appealed to the Cambs Chief Constable to join us in our protest that Sawtry is an unsuitable alternative because of parking issues. We have also urged Sawtry Parish Council to object to the closure of Giddings.

-Briefed our MP Shailesh Vara - he has vigorously opposed the closure.

-Organised volunteers to monitor customer visits to Giddings PO for a full week at the end of July - and so gained vital information to fight the closure.

-Put up a giant painted heart outside the Post Office protesting the closure proposal.

- Produced and delivered over 250 posters and got them to all houses in the Giddings, Winwick and Hamerton.

- Produced and delivered leaflets to all houses in the villages urging them to write to the Post Office. Held letter-writing surgeries to help get letters written and sent.

-Organised a press campaign and got articles and photos in the Hunts Post , Peterborough Evening Telegraph, Town Crier and Weekly News. Efforts to get radio and television coverage continue. Because of the holiday season, and so many people being away, it was decided not to organise a single major public protest media event, but focus on getting continual coverage.

What happens next?

The consultation period ends on August 26th and there is nothing further the Action Group can do after that. Post Office Limited then takes three weeks to review the case of each of the 71 post offices they plan to close in Cambs, Beds and Lincs. They will review all the information we have presented to them, and examine the letters you have all written.

Sometime after September 16th, they will announce the Gidding verdict. They will either confirm closure; announce a further review, or announce we will stay open.

Why Gidding should stay open- the key arguments from the Briefing Document

Wrong information about customer visits, local facilities, and local population used by Post Office Limited to reach their proposal to close Gidding PO.

Breaches Government and PO criteria for closure - creates Post Office desert in NWCambs.

Outreach service of little use and no adequate substitute. No permission given for use of village hall car park.

Village and area growing – new primary school; over 60 businesses ; new housing.

Sawtry PO cannot cope – major road safety issues; no public transport, disabled access, and open less hours.

Major impact on villagers and businesses.

Potential closure of only shop for miles, with loss of prescription delivery, gas, essential supplies.

Save Gidding Post Office Action Group – August 08 Top

Save Great Gidding Post Office BLOG launched

Save Gidding Post Office now has an official blog – a dedicated site set up by Peter Comeau where you will be able to keep up with the latest developments as well as leaving your own comments.

http://www.savegiddingpostoffice.org/

Save Gidding Post Office Action Group – August 08 Top

West Huntingdonshire villages obtain bus pass exemption

News Release from Huntingdonshire District Council

Following agreement with Northamptonshire County Council, villagers in Winwick and Great Gidding will now be able to use their bus passes before 09.30 on the 209 Thursday service to Oundle.

Parish Council – August 08 Top

The fight is on to save Great Gidding Post Office.

In July 2008, Post Office Limited announced they propose to close the Post Office in Great Gidding, and have allowed only six weeks, until August 26th for consultations. Instead of our own post office, they propose we use the next nearest branch, nearly 6 miles away at Sawtry, together what they describe as an "Outreach" service - a mobile van parked in the village for a couple of hours each day, Monday to Friday.

Protest from Great Gidding and surrounding villages has been immediate, and a "Save Great Gidding Action Group" has been formed, including people from the village and other parishes affected, including Winwick, Hamerton and Steeple Gidding. Glatton and Thurning/Luddington/Hemington are taking action as well.

Letter writing surgery
By the end of July the Action Group had circulated leaflets to every house in the affected villages, held meetings in a number of the villages, and had urged every individual to write to Post Office Limited, PostWatch (the official body representing the consumers) and our MP, Shailesh Vara, objecting to the closure and demanding the Post Office stay open. A letter writing surgery at the Village Hall for people who would like help in drafting or typing their letter was also arranged for Saturday August 2.

A giant red heart has been erected outside Great Gidding Shop and Post Office urging "Save our Post Office. At the heart of the community". Posters repeating the message are being circulated to houses and businesses, in the hope they will be displayed prominently until at least the end of August, so that visiting Post Office officals can see the support to keep the post office open. Download poster

A full week of monitoring the number of people using the Post Office, and the kind of transactions they undertook, was organised for the last week in July, giving us evidence to challenge Post Office Limiteds’ view of activity at Great Gidding.

The case against closure is being prepared by the Action Group which is drafting a briefing document that can be presented to Post Office Limited, MPs, County and District Councillors, PostWatch and other people we will be lobbying. We are also starting a press and publicity campaign . All this has to be done by August 26th.

A lot is happening in a very short time. We only have until the third week in August to make our voice heard.

So what can you do to help?
Write a letter to Post Office Limited objecting to the proposal to close Great Gidding Post Office. Tell them why it is important to you, and ask them to keep it open. Ask the Post Office to acknowledge receipt of your letter.

Copy your letter to POSTWATCH, the official public representative to the Post Office; and to our MP. The addresses you need are shown below. Send your letters to arrive by August 20th 2008. At the end of this article we reproduce some the reasons you might want to think about in drafting your letter - these are only a guide, and make sure you use your own words and your own reasons.

YOUR LETTER IS IMPORTANT. The more letters they receive from individuals, the more they understand how important it is to us.

Save Gidding Post Office Action Group - members

Julie Byard – Action Group Chair 01832 293576

Maggi Stewart – Coordinator and Winwick 01832 293759

Tony Scott – Financial Coordinator and Great Gidding 01832 293385

Howard Anderson – Hamerton 01832 293394

Barbara Kujawa – Great Gidding 01832 293769

Brian Dutton – Hamerton 01832 293669

Andrew Power – Steeple Gidding/Little Gidding 01832 293389

Denise Johnson – 01832 293704

Deni Underwood – Great Gidding 01832 293240

Mary Read – Great Gidding 01832 293657


The addresses you need for your letter:

POST OFFICE - NO STAMP NEEDED
Laura Tarling, Regional Development Manager, Freepost Consultation Team. Freepost.

POSTWATCH - NO STAMP NEEDED

Great Giddings Closure Proposal. POSTWATCH. Freepost.

SHAILESH VARA MP - Stamp needed.

Mr Shailesh Vara MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA


SOME THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU DRAFT YOUR LETTER.

The Post Office know that this closure, and the 25 other ones planned for Cambridgeshire, will create a lot of local emotion. By all means tell them politely how upset you are.

BUT IT WILL HAVE MUCH MORE IMPACT IF YOU INCLUDE SOME FACTS.

The letter does not need to be long. Tell them you object to the closure of Great Gidding Post Office, and the reasons why it will affect you personally – 1 or 2 paragraphs will do.

1. Distance to next Post Office. The closure of Great Gidding Post Office means that Great Gidding will be nearly 6 miles to the planned alternative branch at Sawtry. Winwick will be 7.

2. The alternative branch of Sawtry is not suitable. Parking is totally inadequate and already a danger to safety, there is no public transport to it from Gt Gidding, and it is questionable if they are able to cope at peak periods.

3. You will be personally affected. Refer to any loss of service that is relevant to you - if you are individual, will the closure of Great Gidding affect you posting or receiving parcels (e.g. eBay trade); getting money, pensions, allowances or paying your bills; if you are a business, indicate if the closure will increase your business costs and effectiveness (e.g. travelling distance for daily posting etc). Strengthen it by quoting your personal example.

4. The Great Gidding shop may close because it does not have the Post Office. It is probable that the withdrawal of Post Office services at Great Gidding will lead to the total closure of the shop. This means there will be no such facility for about 6 miles. There will be nowhere local to collect prescriptions, have newspapers delivered etc. The shop is of important social value in a rural area, and this must be taken into account.

5. The Post Office has not taken into account the growth in the local area. The County Council have shown their faith in the development of Great Gidding and the communities it serves by announcing the building of a new primary school. There are also several building developments planned in the area, and the population is going to grow. Satellite villages are now on mains sewerage and expansion is likely. More rural businesses are being set up. It is wrong to reduce Post Office facilities at a time of growth. Did the Post Office take this into account in their decision making?

6. The proposed replacement mobile Outreach service of eight hours a week at Great Gidding will be hopeless and inadequate. Such limited times will not meet the needs of a very differing population; security is questionable; the proposed siting is not safe for pedestrians and, in view of experience with the computerised mobile library, mobile transmission links essential for transactions will not be sufficiently reliable.

WRITE AS SOON AS YOU CAN, AND BY AUGUST 20TH AT THE LATEST.

Maggi Stewart, Coordinator and Winwick, Save Gidding Post Office Action Group – July 08 Top

RACE AGAINST TME TO SAVE NEARLY 40 CATS

Many may remember the story earlier this year regarding the elderly gentleman with over 60 cats who called in St Neots & District Cats Protection to assist him as he was no longer able to cope. Whilst the work has been ongoing and over 20 of the cats have been re-located or re-homed, the situation has taken a dramatic turn with the unexpected death of the owner. The branch has now been given only 2 months to remove the remaining 40 cats from the property before the estate is settled and the buildings demolished.

Dawn Cooke for St Neots & District Cats Protection commented - Our branch works tirelessly to re-home approximately 120 cats per year. To be given a deadline of only 2 months to find owners for nearly of third of our annual figure leaves us in an almost impossible position particularly in the holiday season. Unless homes are found for these animals, the property owners may have no choice but to have the cats put to sleep. Our pens are full with cats already on a waiting list to come in. We desparately need homes for adult cats and in some cases homes for more than one cat. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are able to offer a safe and loving home for any of these cats.

There are many garden/farm/working cats at the property which will need re-locating, so if you have large grounds, a small holding, farm, nursery or factory where we can place these animals, we will provide an outdoor shelter and regular food - subject to availability of donated supplies. These animals provide a beautiful and natural pest control service so if you can help please contact us urgently.

The numbers to call are - 01480 476696, 07900 257061 or 07966 282005. Please leave a message if there is no reply - we will call you back.

Visit the St Neots & District Cats Protection website: http://stneots.cats.org.uk/

Dawn Cooke, Publicity/Welfare Officer, St Neots & District Cats Protection – June 08 Top

Delivery of PETERBOROUGH YELLOW PAGES warning from E-Cops

Notice from e-cops - the innovative e-mail newsletter scheme from Cambridgeshire Constabulary

As part of our continuing policy to minimise the risk of burglaries being caused by Yellow Pages/Telephone directories being left on doorsteps, we write to give you details of our forthcoming distribution.

Delivery week commencing 4th July 2008. Distribution is between two to three weeks to postcodes in our area. The delivery agents have been requested not to leave the directories on view. However it is unavoidable that some books will be left outside we hope to enlist the support of neighbours where ever possible.
Postcodes as follows: PE2, PE5, PE7, PE8, PE19, PE26, PE27, PE28, PE29 PE18.

Go to e-cops website

PCSO Anna Holder – June 08 Top

GREAT & LITTLE GIDDING PARISH COUNCIL VacancY

Notice of Vacancy in Office of Parish Councillor
The Parish Council warmly invites all parishioners who would like to serve on the Parish Council to write to the Council expressing their interest.
The Council will co-opt to fill the vacancy at its next meeting on Tuesday 22nd July 2008 in the Parish Room, Village Hall.
For more information on the work of the Council please contact the Parish Council.

Sally Dalley – June 08 Top

Join the campaign to protect our post office

Your Post Office Needs You! Go to Great Gidding Post Office and sign the petition. Also...

(from Hunts Post)
That is the message The Hunts Post reiterates today as we announce an Action Week designed to reinforce the message that our post offices are the fabric of our communities.

Royal Mail wants to close 2,500 post office branches across the country and will announce on July 8 which offices in Cambridgeshire are earmarked for closure.

Backed by the district's members of Parliament, The Hunts Post is encouraging all its readers to make use of their local post office during the Action Week beginning April 21.

Readers will be encouraged to ignore the internet and use the services available at their post office - a full list is featured inside.

Stickers will be also available at post office counters throughout the week for people to show their support and petitions are in branches across the district awaiting signatures.

The week is the latest step in our Protect Your Post Office campaign, which since November has seen more than 5,000 people pledge their support to their post office by signing the petitions at their local branch and supporting the online by visiting www.huntspost24.co.uk.

April 08 Top

An old friend

An old friend of the village roaming the savannah near Barnwell Wold.

Michael Trolove – April 08 Top

The Great Gidding Jitty clean up

A joint venture between members of the Parish council and the L & A committee saw the Jitty given a spruce up, for 1 hours effort the path was cleared and swept and bushes trimmed back.

The crew retired to Mary & Brian's for restorative cups of tea and cake. Thanks also to the younger members of the community who pitched in with some litter picking and thanks also to Ian Stapleton for the chain saw work he did on a previous day. We hope this momentum and enthusiasm can be carried forward to a spruce up.

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Michael Trolove – April 08 Top

A few more photos from the Great Gidding Panto 2008 Goldilocks and the Four Bears

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Deni Underwood March 08 Top

Great Gidding Panto 2008 Goldilocks and the Four Bears

The Gidding Players have done it again. And what a professional bunch they are. Whatever happened to missed cues and fluffed lines? None of those in this production! Just a riotous romp through Sadie Circus land encompassing hilarity and pathos, a lion tamer, snake charmer, tightrope walker, the smallest strongman in the world, sword swallower, some very shy and retiring front of house clowns – not to mention those five from the title – this show had got the lot!

Stunning performances as always from the usual suspects that we have come to know and love, along with some cracking performances from new comers to the spotlight (if she pays a visit to Trinny & Susannah that Sadie Spangle will go far....). Once again, my mascara was in need of a thorough wiping down when the four bears bounced into the arena – huggable or what?

It was a fantastic show – the tempo was upbeat and the overwhelming feeling was that the entire cast and crew were thoroughly enjoying themselves too! I think the biggest compliment I can pay is to say that the time flew by – well done everyone and well done Deni on your directing debut.

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View previous Great Gidding Panto photos:

Humpty Dumpty - March 2006
Alladin Goes West - February 2005
Peter Pan - March 2004
Wizard of Oz Panto - March 2003
Cinderella - March 2002

Paul & Krystyna March 08 Top

Woodland news and Parish Trees

Lots of things happening in the wood, replacement trees have been planted. The hedge between the allotments and the wood has had a light pruning. A tidy up of unused tree tubes, mats and two very unsafe picnic tables have been disposed of. Tree stakes that are surplus to requirements are left at the entrance to the wood. Feel free to take them for your own requirements. Some of the natural growing hawthorn has been dug up to supply other parish councils with hedge stock.

As the wood starts to look like a natural feature rather than a field of tubes so the bird life has become more noticeable. To make your visit or walk around the wood more interesting a notebook and pen has been provided to record your bird and wildlife sightings (Tony’s hens don’t count). We hope you will note the everyday as well as any exotic or rare species. The notebook can be found behind the Millennium wood sign.

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Parish trees

Every year the parish council receives trees from the county council to be planted around the Parish in areas that the public can easily view . Here we see some of this years allocation being planted.

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Michael Trolove March 08 Top

Six arrests made in connection with metal thefts

POLICE investigating metal thefts descended on Great Gidding during an early morning raid and arrested a man today. It was barely light and a blanket of fog had still to lift from the village, when a man, believed to be in his mid-50s, was escorted from his neat semi-detached bungalow.

Officers had taken an enforcer out with them in case they needed to hammer the door in, but it was not needed.
An open-backed truck parked in front of the property was full of what looked like copper cables, and also contained a metal bedstead, although it is unclear at this point if they were connected with the arrest. The raid was part of Operation Saruman, and followed months of hard work gathering evidence against people suspected of stealing metal – mainly lead and copper.

Inspector Billy Bremner, who was overseeing today's operation this morning, said the man had been arrested on suspicion of theft and had been taken to Huntingdon for questioning. He said: "As more people have become aware of these thefts, we have seen an increase in the amount of intelligence which has been passed on to us. Some offenders have been risking their lives to steal metal and don't seem to care where they take it from."

Police visited two properties in Great Gidding this morning, making an arrest at the second home. The move to arrest the man sparked outrage from a woman who was also in the bungalow. She shouted abuse and proceeded to pull her top up and expose her underwear. The raid was one of three carried out in Cambridgeshire this morning, while victims of metal theft were visited and given crime prevention advice.

Officers also carried out checks on roads leading to scrap metal dealers using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) technology. Detective Inspector Andy Gipp, who leads Saruman, said: "I hope today's action sends out a clear message that metal theft is taken very seriously in Cambridgeshire, and we will arrest those involved.
"These thieves are costing the county thousands of pounds, in both lost goods and damage. However, I would stress that police cannot tackle this crime alone and I would urge members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour."
In October, 800 homes in Alconbury Weston, near Huntingdon, had their phones cut off after someone stole copper phone wires. Lead has also been stolen from churches, doctors' surgeries and schools in the Peterborough area.

From Peterborough Today www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk

January 08 Top

PHONE lines have been restored to two villages hit by cable thieves in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Engineers restored lines shortly after midnight this morning (Thursday 3) after working through the night to re-establish connections to Great Gidding and Steeple Gidding.

Approximately 500 metres of phone cables were stolen from Great Gidding yesterday - the third such theft in north-west Huntingdonshire in four months. Police had stepped up patrols in the village, setting up a mobile police station in the village hall for worried residents. In October and December last year thieves struck in Alconbury Weston, leaving homes and businesses cut off on both occasions. Anyone with information on the theft, which was reported at 3.26am, should contact Cambridgeshire police on 0845 456 456 4.

From Hunts Post http://www.huntspost.co.uk

Paul Crank – January 08 Top

Cable thieves leave Great Gidding and Steeple Gidding homes cut off

Thieves made off with about 500m of cabling from Great Gidding, early on the morning of January 2nd, leaving villagers without telephone lines.

Homes in the village of Steeple Gidding have also been left without telephone lines, as a result of the theft. BT said it would take about 48 hours to carry out repairs to the cabling and restore the lines. Cambridgeshire Police have increased patrols in the area and set up a mobile station at the village hall in Great Gidding.

Thieves previously stole cabling from Alconbury Weston in December and October of last year. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Cambridgeshire Police www.cambs.police.uk.

From BBC website More info at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7167928.stm

Paul Crank – January 08 Top

A 'Great' Gidding Christmas present

Do you have your copy of the Millennium History of Great Gidding yet? Do your Children and Grandchildren have their copy? If not what about giving it as a Christmas present ? There are only a few copies of the book remaining so Hurry Hurry while stocks last...

Data and Photo CDs also available. More info

Book and CDs each priced £13.00 from Great Gidding Village Shop (or by post from Patrick Ellis - email prc.ellis@ndirect.co.uk for more details).

Price £13 plus postage and packing)"

Patrick Ellis – November 07 Top

Hughes family graves at Great Gidding

We have had a request from Des & Debbie Hughes in Western Australia to try and locate the graves of their ancestors. Unfortunately, due to wear, many of the headstones in Great Gidding churchyard no longer display any names. Does anyone know where the graves are of William Hughes (died 24 April 1845), Alice Hughes (died 18 April 1820), or any other Hughes graves that may be related?

Krystyna Wojcik – October 07 Top

Oundle exhibition of watercolours By great Gidding Artist

An exhibition of 40 watercolours by Great Gidding artist Krystyna Wojcik entitled LandscapeCityscape starts at The Dolby Gallery in Oundle on Saturday 1st September.

The paintings are a mix of landscape and cityscape images – "I paint landscapes because I love the different moods they reveal – whether dark and stormy or bright and colourful. In cities I like watching the way people move – without knowing who they are you get a great insight into their character".

The exhibition runs until 22nd September. Open Monday-Friday 10–12am and 2–5pm, Saturday 10am–1pm and 2–5pm. Further details can be found on the Dolby Gallery website www.dolbygallery.com or by phoning the gallery on 01832 273801. Visit Krystyna's website for a preview of some of the paintings: www.krystynawojcik.co.uk

Paul Crank – August 07 Top

Stolen Puppies Alert

A colleague of mine has had seven Springer Spaniel puppies stolen from her home in Deene near Corby.

1 black and white dog
4 liver and white dogs
1 liver and white bitch

7.5 weeks old. If anyone is offered a puppy without papers, they should contact the police.

Deni Underwood – August 07 Top

The Gidding Picnic and Plays 23rd June

Midsummer arrived in Great Gidding on Saturday evening. Whilst all around rain clouds threatened, Gidding stayed dry for us to witness two delightful plays performed in the Millennium Wood.

The first playlet, 'Jack's Return Home', featured that ole timer Joshuarr (aka Sudso) hamming it up as the devious husband of brilliant newcomer to stage and screen, Martha, (aka Sue Jarvis). Excellent performances also from Jonathan - was that his name? (Patrick Jarvis) and Jack (Sam Read). Wigs flew off, gun fire crackled and the ending was wonderfully daft!

A short interval followed for shared picnics, a rush to the beer and Pimms bars before the Gidding Players presented 'Curses,Foiled Again' - a Victorian melodrama set in Lady Flawless's conservatory (a great story about actors rehearsing a play which therefore featured double performances from all six members of the cast! ) Once again, wonderful acting by all the cast with a surprise leading role from the man of the music, Peter Comeau, playing the arch rotter Jasper Rotten. Emily Read played a charming Lucy/Kate. Mum Mary's wonderful legs appeared akimbo behind the couch and Karen Hawley (Nell/Stephanie) and Vera Woolmer (Lady Flawless) were ....flawless. Steve Smith (Victor Pureheart/Peter) is just dammed good whatever he does. It was lovely, funny, with extra witty asides that make you laugh ("I'll do the dog this time").

From a spectator's point of view the evening went incredibly smoothly which must be down to the legions of people who put in so much effort behind the scenes as well as in front - a big thank you to all. The Giddings really does have hugely dedicated people and talented players - not to mention Direction. Deni Underwood - when are we going to see 'Curses, Foiled Again' - the Director's Cut?

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Krystyna (Photos Michael Trolove) – June 07 Top

GREAT & LITTLE GIDDING PARISH COUNCIL Vacancies

PARISH CLERK – VACANCY
This part-time position (approximately 4 hours per week) calls for a basic knowledge of accounting, word processing and a sound administrative ability and an interest in community life. Training will be offered as appropriate and remuneration will be based on experience
This Council includes a flexi time system. Hours are related to the needs of the job as some evening meetings will be required and also partly to the discretion of the applicant.
Closing date Monday 23 July 2007 (noon)
For more information or for a job description please contact Gail Stoehr on 01954 210241 or email giddingspc@lgs-services.co.uk.
Letters of application with CV to Great & Little Gidding Parish Council, 30 West Drive, Highfields Caldecote, Cambridge, CB23 7NY.

TWO COUNCILLORS
The Parish Council warmly invites all parishioners who would like to serve on the Parish Council to write to the Council expressing their interest.
The Council will co-opt to fill the vacancies at its next meeting on Tuesday 24 July 2007 at 7.30pm in the Parish Room, Village Hall
For more information on the vacancies and/or the work of the Council please contact the Clerk or a member.
Mrs Gail Stoehr
Clerk to Great & Little Gidding Parish Council
30 West Drive, Highfields Caldecote,
Cambridgeshire, CB23 7NY
Tel: 01954 210241
Email: giddingspc@lgs-services.co.uk

Andy Alexander – June 07 Top

Jacqui Sinn

Jacqui passed away peacefully on Wednesday 13th June 2007 surrounded by her family and friends.

She had been suffering from cancer for the past 16 months and fought her illness with great courage. She very much appreciated the support and good wishes she received from people in the village throughout this time.

Her funeral will be held at Glatton Church at 1 p.m. on Tuesday 26th June. All friends are welcome to attend.

Her family would like to thank those who have expressed such kind words of sympathy and condolence. They are a comfort to us at this difficult time.

I'd especially like to thank the person who planted the flowers at the front of the house; it was such a lovely gesture and a beautiful surprise when we got home. Jacqui had the 'green fingers' of the family and we hadn't been able to spend much time in the garden this year.

Rob Sinn – June 07 Top

GIDDING PLANT SALE AND OPEN GARDENS – SUNDAY MAY 20

We seeded, we pricked out, we potted on, we scavenged plant pots from near and far (thank you to the anonymous gentleman who delivered hundreds of pots to the Troloves), we watered, we pinched out the growing tips, we met, planned, labelled, priced…..and worried about the weather!

As Sunday morning dawned, we could hardly believe the number of plants that, between us, we’d accumulated; nor the generosity of all the people who brought along yet more plants to swell the horticultural bounty on offer.

From 2.00 until 4.00p.m. under brilliant blue skies, there was a positive scrum with what seemed like hundreds of buyers turning up to buy plants and produce and enjoy wonderful afternoon teas provided by our team of gingham-clad helpers.

Yet more gardening delights were to come in the evening when 12 village gardens were opened for visitors to stroll around, followed by a barbecue in the garden of Willowfields, courtesy of Margi and Peter Comeau with chefs Comeau and Underwood catering to the ravening hordes! They were ably abetted in their endeavours by the provision of salads and puds from many volunteer cooks.

All in all, it was a great day and one that, without exception, people said they’d like to see repeated. People not only enjoyed the plant sale but the open gardens provided a peek over the wall into gardens big and small, cottage and classical, all with something different to offer.

Overall, we made in excess of £500 profit for the Village Amenites Fund – a fantastic result and one we know we couldn’t have achieved without the help of so many people.

So our thanks go to all the tea ladies, girls and boys, the produce and plant providers, the barbecue cooks and other foodies, the generous people who opened their gardens for us to see and everyone who bought a plant or a ticket!

It’s in the diary for next year……. now we’re all off for a manicure!!

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Deni Underwood, Margi Comeau, Julie Trolove, Sue Jarvis – June 07 (Photos: Mary Read and Michael Trolove) Top

3rd Great Gidding CD available

CD3 - contains more records of the history of Great Gidding.
This CD contains ;
1) Maps from 1641, 1802, 1851, 1858, 1869, 1901 and 1924
2) Maps showing the Furlong and field names
3) More than 1000 Property Transactions Indexed and where possible, summarised
4) Rents and taxes for 15 years between 1599 to 1832
5) Lists of the 50 or 60 poorer families in the village from 1784 to 1816
6) Baptist records from 1790 to 1900
7) School records from 1880 to 1970
8) Quarter Session records from 1740 to 1920
9) An analysis of where each family lived from 1841 to 1910, with Maps to show the location
10) 60 Inventories transcribed and 20 additional Wills summarised (now totaling 170)

This CD can be obtained from Patrick Ellis : Phone 01332 - 840064;
Email prc.ellis@ndirect.co.uk

Price £12.50 (plus P & P)

Copies of CDs 1 and 2 are each available at the same price
Copies of the History Book are also still available at £10 (plus P & P)

Patrick Ellis June 07 Top

Plants and seeds wanted for Great Gidding Plant Sale

When you are planting seeds, taking cuttings or dividing plants, would you please consider donating any surplus items to the village plant sale (see Events).

The sale, together with other gardening events and activities, is being organised by the Leisure and Amenities Committee. Further information to follow in the Parish News and Posters. Date

Julie Trolove April 07 Top