Rounders and The Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch – photos

By on June 8, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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Rounders and The Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch - photos

After a very wet Sunday (see Michael’s Jubilee Wood report) we were all glad to see a glimmer of blue sky for the Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch and village rounders match on the Recreation Field.

With a marquee to shelter from the predicted showers the villagers tucked into their picnics, washed down with FREE beer (a very nice Nene Valley Brewery ale) and wine from the bar.

Rounders – old ‘uns v young ‘uns

No sooner had we finished our first courses then the rounders match began. With two teams – oldies v young ‘uns – there was a wide range of ages (and batting styles) evident and much cheering. In between rounds (and showers) the wellie chucking event took place further along the field, with some spectacular throws and some near misses!
The event was rounded off with a prize giving ceremony most of which seemed to go to the young ‘uns!

Fields in Trust

Another reason to celebrate this weekend was the confirmation that the Great Gidding Recreation Field was now under the ‘Fields in Trust’ scheme which means that the facility is protected for future generations and can no longer be sold for development. More about the ‘Fields in Trust’ project.

Many thanks

Thanks to Michael and Julie Trolove (and many others) for organising the event, installing the marquee, arranging parking, sorting the drinks and the hundred other things that no doubt needed doing that made the event such a success.

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More photos from the Jubilee Dinner Dance

By on June 8, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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More photos from the Jubilee Dinner Dance

A few more photos of the Diamond Jubilee Dinner Dance kindly supplied by Michelle Woodley.

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A wet Sunday in the Jubilee Wood

By on June 8, 2012   /   Home page latest news, Jubilee Wood news, News stories and reports   /   Leave a comment
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A wet Sunday in the Jubilee Wood

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with a special tree planting ceremony

It seemed a good idea at the time, a coffee morning in the Jubilee Wood with a special tree to be planted in recognition of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration. Oh how it rained, the ground waterlogged, the long grass sopping wet but we are made of stern stuff in the Giddings and we didn’t let a major weather event dampen our fortitude (42mm of rain over Saturday night and all day Sunday)

To help us celebrate, our special guest Mr Neil McKittrick,  a deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire planted  a tree, a Cratageus  Prunifolia. This is an attractive Hawthorn that has good autumn colours and long lasting red berries that the birds will enjoy. The tree will remind all those who attended  of the atrocious conditions and the absurdity of drinking coffee in the temporary visitor centre.

Special thanks.

A special thank you to Tony and Pat Scott for the suggestion of the tree and the link to our special guest. We know that Tony is not enjoying the best of health at the moment so we we wish him well for the future.

Thanks to all who supported the event and Rachel for coping with the coffee duties in trying conditions.

 

 

 

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Summer Picnic coming sooner than summer itself !

By on June 7, 2012   /   Forthcoming events, Home page upcoming events   /   Leave a comment
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Summer Picnic coming sooner than summer itself !

The annual Jubilee Wood Summer Picnic

 

This will be the 9th annual Summer Picnic. Although the wood was  suggested in 2002 planting took place the following spring and the first picnic was held in June of 2003.  It has often been cold , wet and miserable but only once have the conditions been so unfavourable to not even venture to the wood.

This year the European Monsoon as its known is again spoiling early summer but we will press on and hold this much loved event.

Sunday 24th June any time after 4pm.

The picnic will be enhanced this year by a few extra goodies on offer.

A folder has been created to list and inform visitors about some of the trees and wild flowers that you can expect to see.

Activity packs for youngsters with a woodland theme.

Weather permitting we will be studying moths either trapped previously or seen live with a moth expert.

Competitions for young and old, prizes to be won!

 

 

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Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Dinner Dance

By on May 29, 2012   /   Forthcoming events, Home page upcoming events   /   Leave a comment
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Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Dinner Dance

We invite you to join us on June 2nd from 7.00pm onwards to mark, in true Gidding style, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

A professional swing band will provide a taste of 1950s nostalgia and glamour, and with the company of good friends you can enjoy delicious food as well as excellent wine and beer, so what could be better?

We hope you will be able to help make this a very special night and join us at the exclusive Great Gidding Village Hall!

Dress code – posh frocks and best bib and tucker [head scarves optional]

Contribution – £15 per head including hog roast and cocktail on arrival

To reserve your tickets for family and friends please contact Sue Shepherd, phone: 01832 293479 or email: shepnsue@btinternet.com

Tickets on sale from April 28th but numbers have to be limited so please book early.

See you there
Sue Jarvis & Sue Shepherd

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New fence for the Recreation Field

By on May 10, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports, The Environment, Uncategorized   /   Leave a comment
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A new fence has been installed by the main entrance of the Recreation Field.
A tired wire link fence has been replaced by a smart wooden post and rail fence along with remedial work to the gate posts. Look out for another special addition on The Big Jubilee Lunch day which is the 4th of June 2012.

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Clarion Spring 2012

By on May 3, 2012   /   Home page latest news, Parish Council News & Notices   /   Leave a comment
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Clarion Spring 2012

Great & Little GiddingParish Council

Clarion – Spring 2012

 

ELECTIONS of District and Parish Councillors will take place on Thursday 3rd May – see noticeboards

BLOOM IN GIDDING – following on from the successful Anglia In Bloom Silver Award of 2011 we are looking for volunteers to co-ordinate the 2012 entry.  An excellent start was made last year in this community initiative and many hands make light work.   If you are interested in helping in anyway please let the PC office know and we will put you in touch with each other.  

ALLOTMENTS – there is a half allotment available from the 10 new ones provided last year   Full plots are £15 per year (£20 from 2013) and subject to a tenancy agreement.       

JUBILEE WOOD – a new pond has been excavated in the Jubilee Wood and it is hoped to have it established for the Diamond Jubilee.   Fourteen new trees have been planted including mulberry, pear, peach, nectarine, plum, cherry and apple. There is to be a JUBILEE Coffee Morning (and activities) in the wood on Sunday 3rd June.

RECREATION GROUND – our application for Queen Elizabeth II Field Status has been accepted and a commemorative plaque will be unveiled at the JUBILEE lunch being held on 4th June.   The idea behind the Big Lunch is to get as many people as possible to join with their neighbours for friendship and fun.   All you need to do is turn up with your picnic and for the energetic amongst you games will be available!   

VILLAGE HALL – a textile recycling bank has been located in the car park.    The District Council is trying to encourage residents to recycle clothing and shoes.   The materials put in the textile banks are sorted and sent to Africa, any clothes not suitable are cut into rags for industry.   A small income may be generated from this (£150 per tonne) for the village.

A group are organising a 1950s dance night in the hall on Saturday 2nd June to celebrate the JUBILEE and the Parish Council have allocated funding to support this community event.

The AGM of the Village Hall & Recreation Ground committee will take place on Monday 16th April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall – please do go along and show your support.  

VILLAGE WEBSITE -The Lottery Funding received by the Parish Council has funded the new village website including the newt trail.       

AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING SURVEY – This has been organised by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in consultation with the Parish Council and distributed to all houses within the village. The details of results will be presented at the Annual Parish Meeting on 17th April.

STREET LIGHTING – the County Council have changed to a white light source which should not impact upon the visibility on the street.

THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING will be held on Tuesday 17th April at 7pm prior to the Parish Council Meeting.

THE PARISH COUNCIL meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in the Village Hall at 7.30pm – members of the public are very welcome to attend but if you would like to speak on a particular subject, please let us know prior to the meeting.  

 

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Chipping The B660

By on April 28, 2012   /   Home page latest news, News stories and reports, The Environment   /   1 Comment
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Chipping The B660

Every few years on a rolling programme most the roads in the parish receive a new surface coating of stone chippings, rather than explain the finer details of the process take a look at The Idiots Guide To Highway maintenance, a really excellent and detailed web site about how our roads are maintained.

This series of photographs were taken on 22nd July 2010 as the B660 was being resurfaced from the Lutton crossroads to Great Gidding.

We all know something is imminent when the signs appear and the road sweeper starts hoovering up beyond the village boundary. Above we see the convoy of vehicles proceeding down the hill. Traffic management is by stop/go boards and radio communication.

The bitumen or tar lorry as they were known is always a site to behold, clouds of water vapour emerging from the spray applicator as the hot bitumen meets the cooler atmosphere.

This is the crunch part of the operation, the bitumen emulsion being sprayed out on to the road surface quickly followed up the stone spreader with an 8 wheeler tipper keeping the spreader topped up. The rate of application of bitumen and the stone chippings will have been predetermined in the contract. The idiots guide to highway maintenance will inform you of these things in greater detail. Click the link and have a read.

The stone spreader operator has a commanding view of the operation, he has to judge forward speed and the width of spread whilst keeping an eye on the hopper load.

The job has several hazards, passing traffic, moving machinery, hot liquids and obstructions to deal with such as overhanging branches that get hooked up on the passing tipper lorry.

Immediately following the first stone spreader another one follows on putting a finer layer of chippings down.

To make sure that the chippings adhere to the bitumen base layer, road rollers are used to compress the two elements together. Road rollers have evolved from the first steam rollers, diesel powered rollers, multi tyred rollers and now site rollers. Another useful reference site is the Road Rollers Association

Finally as the convoy makes its way to Great Gidding we see some of the work force in a lighter moment. These chaps are the stop /go board operators for traffic approaching from behind. Now the road has been resurfaced it takes on the feel of a skid pan as loose stone chippings accumulate. This is where drivers always observe the speed limit signs and drive diligently according to the road conditions. A road sweeper will follow up this operation with two or three passes in the forthcoming weeks.

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