Ely Book Trail Winners

 

This year’s winners of the Ely Book Trail were Caitlin, Isaac and Noah Maclellan, Sophie and Edward Rooke and Grace Pavitt who were presented with their book tokens at the library coffee morning.

The Book Trail is an annual event, organised by the Friends of Ely Library, for local children in the summer half term. The aim of the competition is for entrants to follow a set of clues enabling them to find 25 books which have been placed in the windows of various shops in Ely.

Congratulations to all entrants who managed to complete the trail.

Pat Bryant

Ely Library

 

Report on ‘An Evening of Music and Poetry'

The cool of the building was very welcome in St Andrew’s Church Witchford on June 13 when a number of poets and The Isle Singers’ presented ‘An Evening of Music and Poetry’.

The poets were competing for the Tedora Cup which is awarded annually by the Tedora family.  

Enid Bedford, who knows the family very well, presented the Tedora Cup to the winner who was Lucy Short with her poem Emptiness. 

The external examiner really liked this poem and commented that it achieved a powerful rendition of the world of the homeless with some striking imagery.  

The winner of the children’s section was Emily Riley with Springtime.  

Springtime,  

Other commendable poems included Womenopause by Lucy Short.; It Never Used to be Like This by David Maud; Incentive or How to get him our of Bed by Sukie Rix, Losing me to Dementia by Pam McCarthy; Crowning Changes by Mike Axford, The Company of Little Boats by Sarah Martin, A Slash of a Lightning Strike; by Rosemary Westwell, Turning Point by Lucy Short, Hope not Hate by Sukie Rix; Greyhound by Mel Abraham; Wash Day Blues by Andrea Buckley and A Changed Life by Jennifer Kearn 

The Isle Singers sang a number of popular songs. Delicious homemade biscuits and tea, coffee and cool drinks were served at the interval by willing volunteers and Dan Cellini acted as technical consultant and played the accompaniments from the computer with aplomb.   

The retiring collection raised £91 for the church. 

The next opportunity to hear the Isle Singers will be at their carol concert on Tuesday December 12 in St Andrew’s Hall, in Witchford, at 7pm.  

The next Evening of Music and Poetry will be in June next year,. 

Rosemary Westwell

 

Soham Community Reports

 

Soham Community Care Group

On the morning of Monday, June 12, members of the club met once again in the Causeway Community Centre. On arrival, they were welcomed by the volunteers before being served a selection of cakes, sausage rolls and scones with coffee or tea.

Ann Fleet took the food order and sold raffle and bingo tickets. The entertainment was Robbie, a friend of Claire’s who played guitar and sang.

Due to the heat, Lily the Pat dog and her owner Angela did not attend. On the menu for lunch was a choice of scampi and chips and peas or fish and chips. Ann Fleet organised the raffle and more refreshments were served. The afternoon concluded with games of bingo and the caller was Claire who was assisted by mum Jean checking the books. All prizes were donated by Andrew Fleet.
 

Community Care Coffee Morning

Numbers were slightly depleted at the coffee morning on Tuesday, June 13 as a few members were on holiday. However, the 17 attending enjoyed the morning chatting and catching up on the latest news while being served coffee, tea and biscuits. A raffle was organised during the morning by Diane Wheeling. These regular coffee mornings are held from 9am till 11am in The Pavilion.

Comrades Club

A successful bingo evening was held in the Comrades Club on the evening of Tuesday, June 13. Birthday greetings were sung to Hilary who had brought along sausage rolls and birthday cake for everyone to enjoy during the break. Everyone is welcome to these bingo evenings and doors open at 7pm for eyes down 7.30 pm.

Phoenix Club.

Sheila Abbott welcomed everyone to a coronation lunch on the morning of Wednesday June 14. The morning started with the raffle, followed by a bring-and-buy auction with Sheila and Kathy.

Three members had made crowns for a competition, and the winner was Audrey Brand. Members then adjourned to the dining area for a splendid buffett lunch organised by Sheila, Linda, Daphne and Kathy.

Members made a toast to the King. Sheila thanked everyone who had contributed prizes for the raffle and the bring-and-buy auction and also the ladies who had organised the lunch. The next meeting on July 12 will be an outing to the Twentypence Garden Centre. All members should meet at The Causeway at 10.30am.

Soham Bowls Club

On Wednesday afternoons, from 2pm, the bowls club is open to non-members who wish to try playing bowls. No need to book just turn up and talk to organisers Paul and Pam Gordon. Flat shoes to be worn, sets of bowls available to borrow at the club.

Over 60s Club

Ruth Ginn welcomed members to the meeting in The Pavilion on the afternoon of  June 16. Several members had taken part in the quiz to raise funds for St Andrew’s Church and the answers were available and these were read out by Ruth and Howard Laver.

Howard was also the speaker for the afternoon. It was time for a geography/history lesson with Howard on ‘disease and pestilence’ from the 16th Century onwards. It was a very detailed and informative illustrated talk. Ruth gave the vote of thanks. Refreshments were served and Roger Holliday organised the raffle. Members joined in the singing of the club hymn at the close of the meeting. The club would welcome new speakers and entertainment if you can help please contact Ruth on: 01353 720128.

Yvonne Long

Soham Correspondence