Letters to the Editors
Music at the Lion
Dear Editors,
I am writing to express my dismay on hearing that a close neighbour of The Red Lion has complained to the Licensing Authority about Live Music being played on New Year's Eve.
Living as I do next door to The Red Lion I believe I am as justified as anybody in complaining should there be a genuine reason. In fact living within a stones throw of the pub/church/school/village hall and a busy road junction, I cannot think of anyone else who suffers as much disturbance as we do. However we have long learnt to accept it as all part of a vibrant village's life and we put up with it.
Whilst I accept that there is nothing more annoying or unpleasant as being kept awake at night by the sounds of other people partying, we do have to make allowances; this was an exception not the norm; it was New Year's Eve after all! I can only recall 2 other live music events held in the pub during 2005, is 3 nights out of 365 really so bad? I think not, believe me it could be a whole lot worse. To those of you who think this is just the start of something, and more music events would be held should they be allowed to get away with it, they should speak to the current landlords, Dave and Lorraine Nichols, who would tell them that the pub is far too small to hold such events regularly and they have no intention of doing so. They make far more money from the food side with a lot less hassle. These music events are run at a personal loss to them as they pay for the singer out of their own pockets, not the pub's, and do it as a thank you to their regulars for their support through the year.
I was in attendance on New Year's Eve along with my Husband and Mother and the pub was full with a broad cross-section of mainly village residents, young and old alike, all getting along and having a thoroughly good time. There was none of the trouble or bad behaviour that you read about so often in the newspapers. Even though the pub was licensed for entertainment to 2am and to serve drinks until 2.30am, my husband and I were some of the last to leave at 2.30am, the singer had long since finished and the bar closed, but according to the complainant the singer did not finish until well after 3am and the pub closed after 4am. So I would respectfully suggest they get their watch checked as it is obviously seriously malfunctioning.
Unfortunately the sorry outcome of this person's actions will be that future events will not take place, including the summer jazz night, which is an annual fund raising event in aid of the church.
We have already lost all our other village pubs and shops, the Red Lion is all we have left, is that to go too?
The Dencora Field
Dear Editors
In my piece last month I was wrong about everything. "Who was your source about the price?" many asked. I never give my sources but I'll be very careful next time. Take away a nought from the 1.5 and 5 million pounds and you have it about right. The English Land Partnership (look them up on the web) were the underbidders. The new owners of the field are three local people. So all is well.
Pylons
Dear Editors,
"The" pylon down on the Fen road seems to have taken up an awful lot of space in the last edition of the Crier. There are several points that I would like to make.
Firstly, land owners have very little say as to where pylons are situated. The only stipulation that we made on this occasion was that if it was to be sited in our field the land drains would have to be made good as it was going to be erected over an outlet. We already have seven pylons on our fields so one more really makes no difference to us at all. It appeared that EDF was not willing to repair any damage that may be caused to our land drains and that is why they chose to place the pylon on the edge of the road.
Secondly, with reference to the excellent report from the Parish Council Meeting where it incorrectly stated that "some agricultural machinery is 6m wide even folded up". Wrong - the maximum width is 3m, as stated in the 1986 Road Traffic Act. If it were much wider how would we get past the school? All the farmers that I know who either farm on the fen, or pass through with implements, do not breech these regulations.
Thirdly, when there were numerous travellers camped all the way along Station Road, for most of last summer (before moving onto the football pitch!), I don't remember reading any letters from "Honest Tom" (Tom Robson - we did say so, James! Eds) then, whoever you may be. There were, if you can cast your mind back, children, vans, rubbish, human excrement, fires and some very neglected horses - ALL on the very edge of the road!!! I do not remember reading anything relating to the problems that we had to put up with then.
I suspect a pylon is an easy option to have a moan about.
Christmas Holly
Dear Editors,
Once again Elisabeth and Alastair Everitt organised, advertised and sold holly for us all to buy to decorate our homes for Christmas. It really is very much appreciated and we are very grateful for all their hard work. In spite of thoughts that there was not as much holly as in recent years the grand sum of £123 was raised which will be divided between the St Mary's Flower Fund and St Mary's Church.
Crier profile of Margaret Tattman
Dear Editors,
I was very interested in MargaretÕs memories of the Land Army. Arthur Thompson, the ganger from Swaffham Bulbeck, was my late father. He used to tell us all about the days he worked with them.
The tobacco he chewed was Magpie Shag, as I used to queue up in my lunchtime while working at Pye's all the war years. It was a habit he got when he emigrated to America as a young lad but he didn't stay out there very long. He came back and married a Swaffham Prior girl, Maud Sheldrick.
I am the last surviving member of the family, in my 88th year.
Yours sincerely
Bella the Cat
Dear Editors,
Bella's a beautiful, friendly three-year-old spayed tabby cat. A vet friend found her months ago, with a number of injuries which could only have been deliberately inflicted. She's skillfully put Bella back together again,and the cat is now completely recovered.
The vet has four female cats of her own, however, who've taken against Bel now that she's fit and well, so we're looking for a permanent home with a family she can trust. Amazingly, she still loves people, but would probably prefer to be an only cat.
For further information call Maggie.
Collapse of Old Barn Alas,
January saw the collapse of the Old Barn in the High Street. Owners Lord and Lady Soulsby were disturbed by a strange rumbling in the night, but thought nothing of it... The sorry story was revealed in the morning light. Roof support beams are thought to have given away.
