Is it possible? Less than a week to go before the Gidding Village Show !!

Is it possible?  Less than a week to go before the Gidding Village Show !!

Just a reminder that there’s less than a week to go before the village show and BBQ on Sat 6th September from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. We hope that there will be plenty of entries this year and know that it’s been a difficult year (again) but don’t be put off from entering your produce even if it isn’t up to the standard you would like. Remember, it’s the taking part that counts and people are only allowed to laugh at their own entries – Gidding rules.

Don’t forget the BBQ

Don’t forget the BBQ starts at 4.00 p.m. and all are welcome, whether you have entered the village show or not. We will be asking for a small contribution towards a drink and a burger (delicious veggy options will be available , even if true carnivores find the ‘delicious’ bit hard to believe) and there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully the sun will be shining and it will be time for the lucky winners to enjoy their glory and the rest of us to discuss what went wrong.

Auction

The sealed envelope auction will also take place then and for those of you who haven’t come across this before (like most of the committee) it SHOULD go something like this. You put an unspecified amount in an envelope, mark it with your name and produce preference e.g. cakes rather than veg, and we will endeavour to match your envelope with a bag of goodies. It sounds relatively simple but I suspect there could well be a few amusing glitches along the way so come along and be part of the fun.

Hope to see you there, just remember to get your entries in by mid-day on Sat, and if you haven’t got a schedule you can check the classes out on this website. Good luck!

The Show Schedule

Public Viewing 3.00 to 4.OOpm
Presentation of Cups and Certificates at 4.00pm followed by B.B.Q. and brown envelope raffle.
Everyone welcome!

Vegetables and Fruit

  1. Carrots – 3
  2. Potatoes (white) – 5 on a plate
  3. Potatoes (coloured) – 5 on a plate
  4. Courgettes – 2
  5. Shallots – 5
  6. Onions – 3 (each over 125g)
  7. Runner Beans – 6
  8. Longest Runner Bean – 1
  9. Leeks – 3
  10. Dwarf French Beans – 6
  11. Beetroot – 3
  12. Sweetcorn – 2
  13. Tomatoes – 5
  14. Cherry Tomatoes – 8
  15. Vegetable marrow – 1
  16. Apples (dessert) – 5
  17. Apples (cooking) – 5
  18. Pears – 5
  19. Plums – 5
  20. Collection of cut herbs, 4 varieties in one container
  21. Biggest Pumpkin
  22. Largest Onion
  23. Largest Marrow
  24. Top Tray, collection of 3 kinds of vegetables on a tray, selected from the following, number as indicated in brackets. Onions (3), Potatoes (3), Runner Beans (6), Tomatoes (6), Carrots with tops (6), Parsnips with tops (3).

Plants and Flowers

  1. Three decorative Dahlias
  2. Cut Chrysanthemum – single stem
  3. Gladioli – 3 stems of same variety
  4. Vase of crocosmia – 3 stems
  5. Cactus or succulent – 1 specimen
  6. Best pot plant
  7. Top vase – between 5 and 10 stems of at least 2 varieties of any flower
  8. Five cut roses

Jam and Chutney – made since 2013 Village Show

  1. Jam – Any fruit
  2. Jelly – Any fruit
  3. Chutney – All ingredients to be listed on label
  4. Marmalade – Any fruit
  5. Curd – Any fruit

Baking

  1. Blueberry Muffins – 3 on a plate
  2. Ingredients and instructions for Blueberry Muffins

  3. Fruit cake – any size /type of fruit
  4. Plain Scones 5 on a plate
  5. Cheese Scones 5 on a plate
  6. Sausage Rolls 5 on a plate – shortcrust pastry
  7. Bread – 5 White rolls,made by hand
  8. Bread – Wholemeal loaf
  9. Millionaire Shortbread 5 on a plate

Craft Section

  1. Knitted handicraft item completed since last year
  2. Hard handicraft item completed since last year (woodwork/pottery/metal)
  3. An item of patchwork or quilting
  4. A hand-made greetings card.
  5. Any sewn item, including clothes
  6. Photography – Title – People’s pets

Miscellaneous

  1. Six Brown eggs
  2. Six White eggs
  3. Bottle of Home made wine
  4. Bottle of home made sloe gin. Made in last 2 years
  5. Bottle of home made miscellaneous liquor, any flavour/type

Children’s Section (under 15)

  1. Photograph Title ‘People’s pets’
  2. Animal made from vegetables and/or flowers
  3. A scarecrow (as big as you like)
  4. A decorated ginger bread man Age up to and including 10 years
  5. A decorated ginger bread man made by entrant Age 11 and over
  6. A decorated hard boiled egg
  7. Something made from a kit eg. Woodwork,models, Soft toy
  8. Painting Title ‘My house’ Age up to and including 10 yrs
  9. Painting Title ‘My house’ Age 11 and over
  10. Food for Life Lunch box (not more than 6 items total)

RULES AND CONDITIONS

  1. The show will be under the management of the Great Gidding Show Committee 2013.
  2. It is not necessary to live in Great Gidding to exhibit at the show.
  3. All exhibits must be the work of/or grown by the exhibitor.
  4. The Committee cannot be held responsible for the loss of any exhibit.
  5. Entry Fee is 20p per exhibit. There is no restriction on the number of entries in any one class but only the highest placed points will be counted towards cup awards.
  6. The schedule will be strictly adhered to and any exhibit not according to the schedule will be disqualified.
  7. Exhibits may be brought to the Village Hall on the day of the show between 10 am and 12 noon. No entries will be accepted after 12 noon.
  8. Cups/Trophies will be awarded to the exhibitor gaining the most points in all sections. The winner will hold the cup for 1 year. The Cups/Trophies remain the property of the Committee.
  9. Certificates will be awarded for 1st 2nd and 3rd in all classes, except those of the longest, heaviest, etc, when a certificate will be awarded to the winner only.
  10. Point scoring will be: 1st 6 points, 2nd 4 points, 3rd 2 points. The best entry of multiple entries to score.
  11. The Judges’ decision is final and the committee reserves the right to cancel or amalgamate classes.

NOTE
All exhibits will be raffled unless exhibitors indicate otherwise at registration. Exhibitors must remove non-raffle items immediately after the prize giving. The proceeds of the raffle will be given to a Parish Charity.

Aunt Sally at The Fox & Hounds – photos

Aunt Sally at The Fox & Hounds - photos

The weather didn’t deter us hardy villagers from turning out to join in the fun of playing the now traditional August Bank Holiday Monday game of Aunt Sally at The Fox & Hounds. Contestants came in all ages (2 and upwards) and nationalities (Slovakian, Folksworthian to name just a couple) and the new pitch layout proved a great success as there were several ‘oooohhhhs’ and ‘aaaahhhhs’ as dolly legitimately hit the dust (soggy grass). A hushed whisper went round the crowd when Michael produced his own set of ‘sticks’ from a shopping bag… but we soon realised they weren’t magic ones after all.

Yummy feast

The mid-game break was a yummy feast as several people had been very busy making a variety of pies and sandwiches. Lesley Alexander’s ‘Breakfast Pie’ with quails eggs and Julie Trolove’s Fidget pie were delicious – as I’m sure were all the other goodies on offer.

And this year’s winner…

So, onto the final scores and I’m especially delighted to announce the winner of this year’s trophy is… da dah… Paul Crank! Paul also received the bottle of bubbly stuff and, as is customary, a kiss from the bubbly stuff sponsor’s wife.

Thank you very much to Michael, The Fox & Hounds and all of the contributors to a great afternoon.

UPDATE – Village History Day

UPDATE - Village History Day

Great Gidding History Day

This Saturday, new material,new maps, new documents.

History Day Update

History Day takes place between 11am and 5pm on Saturday 18th October, in the Village Hall. There will be a display of photographs and documents showing Who Lived Where, in addition we have researched those villagers who served in World War 1, and this will be accompanied by work from the schoolchildren on World War 2. We will have a series of village maps and aerial photographs on view.

Help the archaeologist

Also an archaeologist will be digging a test pit (or 2) on the day and continuing into the Sunday too – he is wanting people who will join him in excavating the test pit and cleaning and cataloging the finds. Most important – we want people to bring along photographs and documents, and memories, of the Giddings. Entry is FREE (donations to the History Group would be most welcome). Refreshments will be available.

This years Village History Day

18th October 2014

The 2014 Village History day will be an update on what has been discovered since the last Open Day ( 3 years ago ) In addition we would like to meet people who have had connections to the village in the past and to see photographs / documents that have been unearthed from cupboards.

World War 1 researcher

The Gidding History Group is looking for a World War 1 enthusiast, someone to research the impact on the Giddings and those involved in the conflict.
We will display the findings at the Village History Day

Featured Image details

This is a north easterly view along Main Street. Outwardly nothing has changed. The steps are the same but different now. The distant cottage has been demolished and has just been rebuilt in 2013/14 in the interim it was a pony paddock and riding school.

Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Great Gidding June 2014

Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Great Gidding on Tuesday 17th June 2014 at 7.30pm

Present: Cllrs Alexander (Chair), James (Vice-Chair), Hayden, Hodson, Giddens, Trolove, County Cllr Bywater, District Cllr Tuplin and Clerk

343.14 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Howden. These were accepted.

344.14 Chair 2014/15 signed Declaration of Acceptance of Office, as per item, 326.14.

345.14 Cllrs provided with Declaration of Pecuniary Interests forms, as per item, 351.14. To be returned to Clerk.

346.14 Minutes of 20th May 2014 were approved and signed.

347.14 Matters arising (information only) – Cllr Hodson requested his name be struck from item 326.14, because he was not in attendance at the meeting.

348.14 Introduction of new Clerk.

349.14 Annual update from the Police and Community Support Officer (PCSO). Approximately 30 members of the public attended. Aaron Murphy (PCSO – Cambridgeshire) and Paul Richardson (PCSO – Northamptonshire) addressed the public. Two useful addresses were provided, as below.

www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk (public awareness of crime in the area)
ctu@northamptonshire.gov.uk (Countrywide Traveller Unit to report crime and nuisance) – leaflets in Parish Council offices (village hall).

Public were reminded to also call 101 if non-emergency and 999 if emergency. PCSO advice was to report all crime, no matter how minor, as it is numbers that make the difference.

350.14 District and County Councillors updated the Parish Council and public.

351.14 The Parish Council adopted the amended Code of Conduct.

352.14 Anglian Water discussion regarding water pressure issues. Parish Council requested that Clerk investigate how data for leaks is recorded and report back. Parish Council raised concern for the future of the village given plans for increase in population.

353.14 Planning – none. Parish Council requested Clerk to investigate if Gains Lane will be resurfaced once works are complete. Clerk to report back.

354.14 Internal Audit to be circulated to all Cllrs, to be discussed at the next meet. Parish Council agreed to pay Internal Auditor, £184.50, as per invoice.

355.14 Reconciliation of Accounts and payment of cheques were agreed and signed by two Cllrs. One Cllr raised that there may be a discrepancy with the Recreation Ground fund. Clerk to investigate and report back.
Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch – £72.00
CGM Grass Cutting – £205.77
Salaries – £116.60
Salaries – £159.00

356.14 Adoption of Parish Cllr responsibilities, as below.
Cllr Giddens – Rights of Way
Cllr Trolove – Tree Warden
Cllr James – Highways/Police/Public Transport
Cllr Alexander – Community Liaison

357.14 Adoption of Great Gidding Charity Trustees responsibilities, as below.
Cllr Howden – Allotments
Cllr Trolove – Jubilee Wood
Cllr Hayden – Farm Business Tenancy/Grazing Land

358.14 Village Hall & Recreation Ground Charity. New members and responsibilities announced.
Steve Smith – Finance
Lesley Alexander – Social Secretary
Richard Downer – Maintenance
Clerk to add information to the Parish Website.
Boundary of village hall discussed. Clerk to write letter advising the owner of the bungalow that access must be gained via their land. Parish Council to mark out boundary with fencing. Options to be costed and discussed at the next meet.

359.14 Members of the public were asked to leave and staffing of the new Clerk was discussed. A contract between the Parish Council and the Clerk was signed and it was agreed that the Clerk will draft a letter of confirmation to include the start date of 9th June 2014, to be signed by the Chair at the next meet. It was agreed that the Clerk should investigate pension scheme options and report back. The Parish Council also agreed for the Clerk to enrol on the ILCA training course at a cost of £99.00 plus VAT. Clerk to investigate a bursary option and report back.
Meeting closed at 9pm

Date of next meeting 15th July 2014, 7.30pm

NB.

Agenda item 347.14 – Cllr Howden should replace Cllr Hodson’s name.

Agenda item 349.14 – Aaron Murphy is a Police Sergeant at Cambridgeshire and Paul Richardson is a Police Constable at Northamptonshire.

Agenda item 359.14 – “Clerk to write letter advising the owner of the bungalow…”, should read, “A discussion was had suggesting the Clerk write a letter advising the owner of the bungalow… It was unanimously agreed not to go ahead with this, at present. To be reviewed.”

Minutes of Annual General Meeting of Great & Little Gidding Parish Council May 2014

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Great & Little Gidding Parish Council on Tuesday 20th May 2014 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Present: Cllrs James (vice chair), Hayden, Howden, Giddens, Trolove, District Cllr Tuplin, Tysoe, clerk and one member of the public

325.14 Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Alexander, Hodson and County Cllr Byawater

326.14 Election of Chairman 2014/15 It was proposed by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Hayden that Cllr Alexander be re-elected – all agreed

327.14 Election of Vice Chairman 2014/15 It was proposed by cllr Trolove and seconded by cllr Giddens that Cllr James be re-elected – all agreed

328.14 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests – notice had been received from the District Council of an amendment to the Code of Conduct and updated Register of Members’ Interest forms. These will be brought to the next meeting.

329.14 Minutes of 22nd April 2014 were agreed and signed

330.14 Matters arising from minutes (information only)

331.14 Review of Standing Orders – it was agreed to ask the new clerk to review these as it would be a good way to see how the council works.

332.14 Review of Financial Regulations – it was agreed to ask Cllr Hodson if there were any changes to be recommended

333.14 Audit Commission Annual return to complete Section 2 – Chairman and Clerk to sign section 1 and 2. Cllr James read out the annual governance statement, completed the form. Cllr James and clerk signed section 1 and 2.

334.14 It was agreed to continue to pay the councils Direct Debit Payments to BT and Anglian Water

335.14 Review Risk Management – this had been reviewed in October 2013

336.14 Procedure for handling £1,000 grant from Milton Estates on behalf of History Society. Notification had been received that the History Society are opening a bank account. It was therefore agreed that the grant given by The Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust could be accepted and transferred to the History Society to administer for recording the history of Great Gidding

337.14 Village Hall and Recreation Ground AGM 12thMay 2014 – With a new management committee elected it was agreed that Parish Councillors would take it in turns to attend meetings. Once dates of meetings are known, parish councillors can then indicate which meetings they can attend – making sure that PC is always represented.

338.14 Neighbourhood Watch street signs – request for funding at £12 each. It was agreed to fund the purchase of 6 signs to be placed at the entrances to the village. Clerk to contact Kim Wells, Neighbourhood Watch to organise.

339.14 Reconciliation of accounts and payment of cheques were agreed with the addition of the annual rental of the room in the village hall for the Parish Council office of £550

S Dalley (clerk) – £298.68
CGM( grass cutting) – £205.77
Aon UK Limited (insurance renewal) – £492.58
Village Hall and Recreation Ground – £550.00

340.14 Planning –
It was noted that HDC had written to the Fox and Hounds with reference to the yellow sign that had been attached to the gable end of the building.
The vegetation at 48 Main Street had been cleared from the front of the property and a large tree taken down. Access to the property would need to be monitored as this is on the boundary of the village hall land.

341.14 Correspondence received – notification of Bromswold Bike Fest 14th June

342.14 Staffing matters – the applicant who had been offered and accepted the post has since declined. The position has been advertised again on the noticeboards for 2 weeks – closing date 22nd May with interview 29th or 30th May.

NB. Agenda item 326.14. Cllr Hodson was not in attendance at the meeting. This should read Cllr Howden.

The 2014 Great Gidding Village Show

The 2014 Great Gidding Village Show

Village Show Update

Another challenging year for gardeners but we feel sure that even after all the difficulties we’ve faced with the weather, the village show is going to have some great entries. It’s always a pleasure to see the fantastic results people achieve with their vegetables and fruit and more than anything it’s being part of a fun village event so please don’t think your entry isn’t worth showing – it will be!
As to the baking side of things, there are all sorts of classes and hopefully you’ll get a chance to try some of the entries. This year we are doing a ‘sealed envelope’ auction where people can put an undisclosed amount of money in an envelope with their name on and we’ll then pick out a bag of goodies from the show and match it with the envelope. People will still be able to retrieve their entry before this auction but if you donate vegetables, fruit or cakes we would be very grateful .
We look forward to seeing you at the BBQ even if you can’t make the show so come along with the family and enjoy a relaxing time with the rest of us. Remember, anyone can enter you don’t have to live in Gidding!

Sue Jarvis

Aunt Sally and Pork Pies

Aunt Sally and  Pork Pies

August 25th 2pm Gidding Time @ the pub

The Annual August Bank Holiday Aunt Sally Tournament

Its back, the tournament you can’t say no to. Monday August 25th sees the annual Aunt Sally Tournament starting at 2pm Great Gidding time. This is in addition to the regular Thursday evening game which has been extended from its original 8 week run to the end of August. Three things of note, that  the weather has been quite summery, we now have some regular players and the skill level is still woeful. There are occasional glimmers of fine play but these are usually short lived.

My thanks to Ian Alexander for taking on the game for the rest of the summer and our hosts at the Fox & Hounds for allowing such a silly game to be played.

If anyone would like to sponsor this event, I’m sure we can find a suitable category to place your donation.

This year the food theme is Pork Pies. Currently patrons of the Fox & Hounds are researching quality Pork Pies and the Aunt Sally Tournament is an ideal event to expand the research so if you have a favourite Pork Pie either bought or home made then bring it along for a taste test,  actually any pie will be warmly  welcome  Game, Vegetarian or  Sausage.

 

Previously……….

A Millennium History of Great Gidding

Due to popular demand this fascinating book by Patrick Ellis & David Shepherd has been re-printed. Full of wonderful photos and facts of how the Giddings once were, the book contains 40 colour and 20 black/white modern photos and 80 black/white historical photos, plus 7 maps. A must for anyone living in and around the Giddings, for those who used to know the area or a delightful present to send to relatives living at a distance.

A Millennium History of Great Gidding

Price £15 (plus Post and Packing)

Available from Great Gidding Shop and also from
Julie Trolove
Email: julie.trolove@gmail.com
Phone 01832 293 598

Music at St Michael’s Church

Music at St Michael's Church

gg-music-church-2014A delightful and varied programme of music is in store 
at St Michael’s Church this summer.

An evening with Ball & Socket

Saturday 7th June 2014 at 7.30pm

Ball & Socket captivated an enthusiastic audience here two years ago, and we are delighted to welome them back with their mix of Flanders and Swann songs and other material in similar vein.

Tickets: £12 (includes finger buffet and glass of wine). To purchase tickets, please telephone: 01832 293357

Proceeds in aid of Chancel Roof Restoration Fund

William Russell

Saturday 14th June 2014 at 4pm

An illustrated talk by Dr Gillian Ward Russell on the London organist, and her forebear, William Russell (1777-1813).

Tickets: £10 (available at the church door on the day)

Promoted by Peterborough & District Organist’s Association

Choral evensong

Sunday 22nd June 2014 at 6pm

Sung by Peterborough Chamber Choir

Voluntary: Choral Dorien (Alain)
Introit: One thing I have desired (Sumsion)
Responses: Barber
Canticles: Ridout in F
Anthem: Never weather-beaten sail (Parry)
Address: Reverend (Wing Commander) Mike Elliott, Royal Air Force (Retd)
Voluntary: Fantasia in A minor BWV 904 (J.S Bach)

Organ Recital

Saturday 28th June 2014 at 7.30pm

Steven McIntyre (Organ Scholar, Peterborough Cathedral)
Leslie Crowson (tenor)

Music by Bach, Stanley, Mendelssohn, Stanford and Mushel

Tickets: £6 (available at the church door on the night)

Proceeds in aid of Chancel Roof Restoration Fund

Choral evensong

Sunday 21st September 2014 at 6pm

Sung by Divers Voyces

Voluntary: Choral Prelude ‘Nun danket alle Gott’ (Kauffmann)
Introit: In omnem terram (Giovanni Francesco Aneiro)
Opening responses: Caesar de Zachariis
Magnificat: Francesco Soriano (octavi toni)
Nunc Dimitis: Ivo de Vento (quarti toni)
Responses after the Creed: plainchant
Anthem: Beati eritis (Giovanni Croce)
Address: Reverend Paul Skirrow, Honorary Warden, Ferrar House, Little Gidding
Voluntary: Te lucis ante terminum (John Redford)

Local Figure Skater Triumphs Again

Local Figure Skater Triumphs Again

Calum Titmus (20) from Great Gidding has just returned to the UK having competed last weekend in Reykjavik at the Icelandic Inclusive Skating and Special Olympics Figure Skating Championships. He competed alongside competitors from Iceland, Great Britain and Canada. After two days of intensive competition, he came away with two Gold medals. These medals were presented to Calum by the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson. This now means that Calum has won 8 Gold Medals at National and International level in three different sports.

 This is all the more remarkable when you realise that Calum is Autistic with severe learning difficulties.

Three golds for Calum
Figure Skating as a Special Olympics sport was brought to Britain for the first time in 2012, and last year Speed Skating was added to the event. Calum entered the Speed Skating event at three distances, winning Gold in each race, and is now the first British Special Olympics Speed Skating Champion. Calum is also heavily involved with Inclusive Skating. This is a charity that is trying to set up a family orientated group at each ice rink in the UK. This group will be for anyone with any visual, hearing, bio-mechanical or learning difficulty, along with family and carers who want to learn to skate. Please look out for local fundraising events for Calum and Inclusive Skating.

Calum’s next competition will be the British Inclusive Skating and Special Olympics Competitions at the beginning of November 2014.

Calum attends Huntingdon Regional College and trains twice a week at Planet Ice in Peterborough. He also trains at the gyms in the One Leisure group and with the Piranhas Swimming Club in Huntingdon as well as the Peterborough Special Olympics Swimming Club. He represented the Eastern Region region in the National Special Olympics Games in Bath last August as a swimmer, winning a gold and silver medal.