Follow the guidance and have a Merry Christmas !!

Follow the guidance
     and have a
Merry Christmas !!

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Following the lockdown in the
summer, Spike and Violet made the
short move to new, much larger, air-
conditioned premises in High Street,
March.

The Unisex Hair Studio offers a wide
range of hair treatments.

                               In addition to regular treatments they also
                               offer special adult one-to-one hair tutorials as
                               well as Dads and Daughters sessions where
                               fathers can learn hair care skills.

                               Owner Vicky Viles, from Doddington, says
                               they were very happy to welcome back loyal
                               customers after the enforced break, and also
                               delighted to see some new faces.

Vicky set up the business nineteen
years ago and currently employs
three stylists and two apprentices.
Visit their website or Facebook
pages for more information.

     Opening Times: Monday 9am –5.30pm; Tuesday 9am-5pm;
               Wednesday and Thursday 9am-8pm;
               Saturday 9am-4pm. Closed Sunday

                    31 High Street, March. PE15 9JA
                  Email: spikeandviolet@hotmail.co.uk
                   Website: www.spikeandviolet.co.uk
                    Facebook: www.facebook.com

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

                              3

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Dear Residents of Doddington,

This is the last Diary of the year and for the first time it is a double edition,
as we will not be printing a Diary in January. If there is any news, we will
publish a smaller edition on our website (like we did in the summer during
the first lock-down).

THANK YOU to all of our advertisers, without you there would be no
Diary, and despite the uncertainties of the year we have welcomed new
advertisers. The only funding the Diary receives is through advertising or
fundraising so their support is vital. We would encourage our readers to
consider using the local advertisers when looking for services so do let
them know that you saw their advertisement in the Diary. We have no
plans to increase our advertising prices for 2021 so if you would like to
advertise with us, please get in touch. Full details of our prices and terms
and conditions can be found on our website.

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported fundraising events or
donated money over the last twelve months. Whatever the amount, large
or small ,every penny has gone towards our printing costs.

THANK YOU to our regular contributors from community groups who
have kept our readers informed of their activities. THANK YOU
especially to David Edwards for his extra contributions this year. The
history of the village is always a favourite.

THANK YOU to Chris Richards for his continued support and the
professional service he and his team always give.

Finally we must say THANK YOU to all of the good ladies and gentlemen
who deliver the Diaries to over 1,000 homes every month.

Bringing the Diary to your door every month is a real team effort so
THANK YOU to everyone involved. We hope you have enjoyed reading
it and we look forward to reporting the activities of the village again next
year.

    Merry Christmas and
          Stay Safe
    from the Diary Team
4

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Women’s Institute

W O W MINCEMEAT
(WALNUT, ORANGE & WHISKY)

If you are making mince pies why not make your own mincemeat too? A nice
relaxing task for a cold morning. Recipe makes about 1.3 kg. and 40 minutes
preparation time.

450g cooking apples, peeled and
chopped
225g sultanas
225g currants
115g candied peel
115g finely chopped walnuts
175g melted butter or vegetable suet
225g light soft brown sugar
Juice and grated zest of 1 large orange
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp grated nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
4 tablespoons whisky

Cook the apples with 4 tablespoons of water until pulpy. Mash down and allow to
cool.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Allow to stand overnight.
Pack into cooled, sterilised jars and cover with cellophane or lid, or store in a
polythene tub with a lid.

                       SEASONS GREETINGS
                     From Doddington Women’s Institute.
 Keep well and safe and let us hope that we can all get back to the activities we
                              are missing in 2021.

Doddington Diary Deadlines and Contact Details
Advertising: All copy and payment to be received by the 15th of each month
Contributions: All editorials to be received by the 15th of each month
Contact us by Email: doddingtondiary@gmail.com
Contact us by Post: 14 Miller Close, Doddington. PE15 0NZ
Doddington Diary is printed by: David J Richards Ltd, West Park Street, Chatteris

                                                                                    5

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Thoughts from the Rectory

The Season of Cheer or of Fear?

Many look forward to Christmas. People look
forward to the Christmas lights being switched on
in our villages, Christmas cards are sent to loved
ones and friends. Christmas decorations are
brought down from attic spaces and children count the number of sleeps until
the big day. In past years family and friends have gathered to celebrate in one
form or another, but because of Covid 19, I suspect that the gathering will not
take the same form this year.

But there are those who dread this time of the year. I remember meeting a
woman with an alcohol addition who said she was scared of Christmas because
her party friends might inadvertently encourage her to fall off the wagon. There
are those who dread the financial expense that Christmas has come to mean for
them and the real fear of going into debt with an already unknown New Year
ahead. Some are afraid of Christmas because they find it the loneliest day of
the year. For those who have lost a loved one, even the sight of an empty chair
on Christmas Day can be upsetting. I wonder if people were anxious when the
very first Christmas took place.

The Bible tells us that Joseph didn’t understand God’s purpose in sending his
Son Jesus into the world; I suspect that Joseph was fearful about his
responsibility in the role of Jesus’ father. As for Mary she couldn’t quite fathom
God’s power in bringing about her pregnancy. Her fear was so evident that the
angel had to tell her not to be afraid. As for the shepherds in the fields, they
were so amazed and scared or as the King James Bible put it ‘sore afraid’, that
they ran to the manger as fast as they could.

But the overriding message behind God’s encounter with people on that first
Christmas was ‘do not be afraid’ (Luke 1:30 NIV) and two thousand years later,
that same message still stands. Whatever happens over this Christmas time
and whatever restrictions we may find ourselves under because of the Covid 19
virus, remember that God came into this world in the
form of his Son, Jesus, to bring hope and peace to all
of us.

For that reason, we don’t need to be afraid.

Have a great Christmas, keep safe and keep well.

Rev Ian Brady

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Remembrance Sunday

THANK YOU to everyone who followed the national
guidance and respected the request of the Parish
Council and the Parochial Church Council, and
observed the two minute silence at home.

The short service (which was printed in our
November issue) was led by the Rev Sheila Tooke.
There were just four representatives there to lay the
wreaths, one on each
side of the memorial.
Ms Ruth Hufton read
out the names of the
fallen.

The Church bells rang
at 11am to mark the
beginning of the two
minute silence and rang
continuously for a
minute to mark the end.
There was also a
recording of The Last
Post and Reveille.

Later that morning wreaths were laid by other members of the community
who were unable to attend the service. The whole event was short but
poignant as the village was still and quiet. Altogether a fitting tribute of
remembrance in a year that none of us will forget.

                                                                               7

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

          BUILD-TEC

RETIRED BUILDER WILL TAKE CARE
OF YOUR CARPENTRY, PLUMBING &
       ELECTRICAL WORK
    Phone: PETER 0750 821 3354

                                                 9

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

History of the Lights Committee

1990 was the first time that Doddington was illuminated with
Christmas lights when the late Councillor Beryl Double
organised lighting around the clocks on the Clocktower with
the help of electrician Kevin Casbon.

In 1991 a successful request was put out to the villagers of
Doddington to form a Christmas lights committee.
Throughout the following years the Christmas lights display grew and grew, until
2008, when problems with insurance and not enough help to erect the lights, the
remaining committee members had no choice but to disband the committee.
Their bank account was frozen and Doddington would remain void of Christmas
spirit until a new committee could be formed.

In 2014 a few residents of the village came together to see if there was sufficient
interest to form a new committee so that Doddington could once again be lit up
for Christmas. A new committee was successfully elected with the help and
under the watchful eye of David Curtis, who had served on the previous
committee. The old lights were located and after many hours of checks and
repairs, lights were erected on the Clocktower and the square around it. A small
craft fair was also held to raise much needed funds.

The committee elected in 2015 still remains in place today. Over the years we
have raised funds, applied for many grants, spent lots of man hours repairing
illuminations and we have gradually expanded the lights display by adding more
silhouettes and strings.

Our Christmas Event and craft fair has grown each year and has surpassed all
of our expectations. We can’t thank the community and villagers enough for
their continued support.

The committee are very proud of what we have achieved over the past 6 years
and are immensely proud of the display with something new being added every
year; although this
has not been
possible this year
due to COVID-19.
Hopefully 2021 will
see extra
illuminations for
everyone to enjoy.

Our team are seen
here enjoying a well
earned cup of tea,
very kindly supplied
by a local resident.

10

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Christmas Lights Committee

We are a small committee of eight, most of us are over the
age of 50 and several over the age of 70. We work hard
behind the scenes to bring a fabulous display of Christmas
Lights to Doddington. With everyone else’s Christmas
beginning in November and December, our Christmas really is
all year through!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who help us
every year. THANK YOU to the shops of the village who support us all year
through, Brian and Paul Jackson for loaning and driving the teleporter and
helping us to erect the Christmas Lights in these uncertain times. THANK YOU
too Adam Lavender, Roger Moyes and Michael Kilby for their help in erecting
the Christmas Lights for 2020. THANK YOU to the homeowners and
businesses for supplying food and refreshments to the team throughout the
erection. THANK YOU to all homeowners for helping to illuminate the village by
kindly donating electricity. THANK YOU to Megaplants for the donation of a
Christmas tree and to Ann Southern for the kind offering of a Christmas tree. A
massive THANK YOU to the community this year for all of your support
throughout the year and your kind words, they really do make it worthwhile.

The biggest THANK YOU of this year has to go to our Chairman David Curtis.
He was on the first Doddington Christmas Lights Committee and re-joined in
2014 to watch over us and to help us out. He became Vice-Chairman and then
in 2018 became our Chairman. David spends many hours working on the
display and is our chief repairer. If a job needs doing he is always there to
support us and help in any way he can. Without David, this year more than
ever, the Doddington Christmas Lights really would not have happened.
Throughout the last nearly 30 years (with a little break) he has always whole
heartedly supported Doddington Christmas Lights.

This year we have not been able to complete the street collection or hold the
Christmas switch on event, so if you would like to make a donation to the
Christmas Lights, there are many ways you can do this.

Collection Tubs are available in One Stop and the Newsagent.

Drop off Points are:
30A High Street, Doddington, PE15 0TH
6 Manor Estate, Doddington, PE15 0TN
32 Bevills Close, Doddington, PE15 0TT

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all once again for your
continued support and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.

                                                                                11

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Best Lit House and Window Competition

We have listened to you this year and now it’s our turn to ask
you all to help us. We are running the Best-Lit House and
Window competition this year and would love as many entries
as possible, but not only that, we would really love to see
Doddington the brightest its ever been.

If you would like to enter please contact Laura on 07950 226 723 or fill in the
details below and post them back to:
Laura Kilby, 30A High Street, Doddington, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 0TH,
or email laurajkilby@btinternet.com.

Entries should be in by Wednesday 16th December 2020 and will be judged by
independent judges.

Entry Details Required are

Name……………………………………………………………………...………………

Address ……………………………………………………..……………………………

12

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Census 2021 - A Snapshot of Modern Society

In March all household will be asked to take part
in Census 2021. The ONS have reviewed the
Census plans in light of COVID19 and they are
confident that everyone will be able to provide
their information safely and securely.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate
estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been
carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter
with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on
their computers, phones or tablets.

“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities
can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” said
Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics.

“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport
routes and that’s why it is so important everyone takes part. We have made it
easier for people to do so online on any device, but with help and paper
questionnaires for those that need them.”

Census day will be on 21st March 2021, but households across the country will
receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education,
household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question
asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as
voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and
gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be
locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

If you would like to get involved or apply for a temporary role working on the
Census, information can be found at www.censusjobs.co.uk

For further information, please contact the Census Engagement Manager,
Christine Doody on 07452 942 381 or christine.doody17@field.census.gov.uk

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Carnival and Sports Committee

This year has been a difficult year for everyone but Santa will still be
visiting our village as normally as possible. The committee faced a lot of
uncertainty in regards to the planning of the visit from Santa due to COVID
-19 restrictions. But after discussions with Fenland District Council we
have been
given the go
ahead as long
as the
necessary
precautions
are put in
place.

 We look
forward to
seeing the
whole village
come out and
give Santa a
clap and wave,
as he travels
around the
village over
three nights.
The committee
wishes
everyone a
merry
Christmas and
happy new
year. For more
information
check out our
Facebook or
website.

                                                                           19

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

              DODDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

      PROPOSED CONSULTATION WITH REGARD TO
INSTALLING A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON THE HIGH STREET
         OUTSIDE THE LIONEL WALDEN SCHOOL.

Your Parish Council have been in consultation with Cambridgeshire
County Council for nearly two years, to establish whether we could
pursue installing a pedestrian crossing on the High Street, outside
the Lionel Walden School.

We have established that a traffic light controlled crossing would cost
us circa £55.000.00, have been accruing monies to enable us to do
this, and are still looking for additional funding. We have
commissioned traffic and footfall surveys, which served to prove that
a crossing was needed, both for ensuring that children and parents
accessing the school were safe and also offering all our residents an
established crossing place.

The Parish Council are now giving notice that we will conduct a
consultation to gain residents views on this project in March 2021.
Hopefully, Covid19 restrictions permitting, we will hold an open
public meeting, but if this is not possible, we will use voting forms in
the Doddington Diary, a number of Zoom video meetings for those
able to join on line, and give out telephone numbers for those
parishioners who would like a one to one consultation, in order to
gain your input. More information on this will be given nearer the
time, in the Doddington Diary.

A plan of the proposed crossing, together with a Google earth image
of the site are on the opposite page, for your information.

Ruth Hufton, Chair Doddington Parish Council
Roger Wilkin, Clerk to Doddington Parish Council
December 2020

                                                                          21

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

22

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

1st Doddington Scout Group

I imagine we are all wondering what 2021 will bring…for the Scout Group we
hope to return to some element of normality and resume some face to face
Scouting for all our sections. The Scout motto is “Be Prepared” but 2020 was a
year that took us all by surprise, bringing sadness and challenge. But our adult
leaders and Young People carried on Scouting, albeit in a virtual way!

At the end of October, we held our AGM and have welcomed new Executive
Committee members to help oversee the running of the Group and development
for the future, as well as new section leaders joining as well. Thank you to all
our adult volunteers – without them Scouting would not be available within the
village.

During November we held an online Remembrance Service for both Scouting
and Guiding members, so we were able to pay tribute in our own way to the
fallen and have time to reflect. Usually our young people would parade and lay
wreaths; Scouting this year was represented by an adult leader in each of four
local villages - Doddington, Wimblington, Manea and Benwick; the leaders took
videos of wreath laying which formed part of our online service.

During our last week of term in December, we enjoyed Jack and the Beanstalk –
an Online Pantomime, starring Peter Duncan (you remember….from Blue
Peter!) who created the pantomime in his garden during the first lockdown in
2020!

Our young people continued to have fun during our online meetings as well as
earned more badges. They have learnt about fire safety, undertaken personal
challenges such as learning to iron, feeding a pet daily, or completing Couch to
5K (one of our Scouts has written about her running experience for the Diary!).
We have explored fake news, played Just a Minute and Among Us, we have
met reptiles online, made and played musical instruments, and run “Cub
Olympics” including the need to be able to quickly pair socks (learning
#SkillsForLife can definitely be fun!!), and the Beavers have been designing and
building machines to “help at home”.

During 2020 our section members have continued to earn badges, and we were
very proud to be able to award Chief Scout Bronze Awards, Chief Scout Silver
Awards, and also a Gold Award (the highest badge you can earn in the Scout
Troop). We hope that 2021 will see many more badges and awards earned as
well as us enjoying all the fun, friendship and development of Life Skills that
Scouting has to offer.

If you have a child aged between 5 ¾ and 14 who is interested in joining, or if
you would like to become an adult volunteer and join in the fun, please contact
us! www.doddingtonscouts.org.uk

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

My Couch to 5K, by Izzy – Scout aged 13y

Like many others during lockdown, I
wasn’t doing very much. I decided
enough was enough and that I had done
too much sitting around the past six
months and I needed to change
something.

I am not ashamed to admit that I was a terrible runner. I hated it. My
excuse had always been “but I love swimming” and I didn’t have the
right muscles to run because of the amount of swimming I did. So, I
started the nine-week couch to 5K running program

The programme starts with a five-minute warm up walk followed by
intervals of walking and running. Over time, the running increases and
the walking decreases. The hardest run was in
week 6. This seemed impossible. I had to run
for twenty minutes with no walking. The run was
hard, but my mum came with me to keep me
motivated.

The weeks went quickly and before I knew it, I
was in my final week about to finish all my hard
work. Thirty minutes running was what stood
between me and completing the couch to 5K.

I put my everything into the final run. My parents
cheered me on from the front drive as I sprinted
up the road back to the house.

The couch to 5K is the hardest thing I have done,
but completely worth it. I would say to anyone
thinking of doing it to go for it!

Find out more: www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/
couch-to-5k-week-by-week

24

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

                             25

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

26

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

  Mobile Beauty Therapist offering treatments in the comfort of your own home
Fully insured ~ VTCT & NVQ level 3 ~ CRB checked with over 10 years experience

         Waxing                              Microdermabrasion
         Sterex Electrolysis                 Hopi Ear Candles
         Eve Taylor Facials                  Body treatments
         Manicures                           Aromatherapy massage
         Pedicures                           Swedish massage
         Gel polish                          Sports massage

           Please call Laura on 01354 740518 07921 540917

                        www.beautyelegance.co.uk

                                                                                 27

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21
Doddington – Christmas Past by David Edwards

This is a look at some events that have happened in Doddington during Christmas
and the New Year in the last 200 years.

The first account we have is of Christmas at the Workhouse in 1839. The
Workhouse opened in the summer of 1839, so this was the first Christmas. The
250 inmates were “supplied with a sufficiency of beef and plum pudding, and a pint
of ale each. They are exceedingly thankful to the Guardians, whose good health
they most cordially and cheerfully drank”.

The Rev Algernon Peyton, who was rector of Doddington from 1811 until his death
in 1868, gave gifts to the poor of his parish, which then included March, Benwick
and Wimblington, every Christmas during this period. The gifts included warm
clothing, blankets, coal and beef. In 1820 he gave 150st (950kg) of beef to 500
families.

In 1857 “several hundred” received “bedding and clothing of a very superior
description, consisting of blankets, rugs, sheets, flannels, gowns, stockings,
shirtings etc; and also, furnishing from his own table, several of his poor
neighbours with an excellent dinner on Christmas Day”.

This year the Workhouse inmates
received roast beef, plum puddings
and ale for Christmas dinner, with
plum cake for tea and nuts and
oranges for the women and
children. (Picture: Workhouse
Christmas dinner 1927)

After Rev Peyton’s death in 1868
his son, Major General Francis
Peyton, provided an annual gift of
around £5 which was usually used
to buy coal for the older villagers. This was continued by his wife, after his death in
1905, until her own death in 1921. In her will she left £2000 to provide an annual
gift of 10s [50p] to the elderly residents at Christmas, which continued until the
1980s.

At Christmas 1865 the district was hit by an outbreak of cattle plague, now known
as foot and mouth disease. A number of cattle had to be destroyed and
restrictions on the movement of cattle were in place for two months. Pits were dug
on the Turf fen to bury the dead cattle.

In 1868 The Workhouse residents received their usual Christmas dinner, but an
additional feature for the first time this year was a Christmas tree with 200 gifts for
the children.
 28

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

    In 1873 a Christmas lecture was given by Mr Robinson of Chatteris on
optical illusions. The evening also included some musical items by Mr and
Miss Sanders of Benwick and songs by Miss Southwell and Miss Annie
Wilson. The event was held in the Schoolroom.

In 1881 the children of the Church Sunday School were given a treat at the
School. A Christmas tree was loaded with prizes and decorated with
coloured candles and Chinese lanterns. Nearly every child received a prize
in addition to buns, lemonade, nuts, sweets etc. The rector and teachers
appeared in gaily coloured costumes much to the amusement of the children.
Songs were sung culminating in the National Anthem.

In 1887 conditions were right for a skating match and a meeting was held at
the Tuns to form a Skating Association. The match was held on the Turf fen
with 16 entrants. 500 people watched Elijah Skeels of Wimblington beat
John Heaps of Doddington in the final heat.

The first Parish Council meeting was held on New Years Eve 1894 with the
recently elected councillors in attendance: Rev FC Marshall (elected
Chairman), John Tibbett jun, John Welcher, Robert Vawser, Robert Wade,
William Bellamy, William Neville, John Butcher and Isaac Fovargue.
Mr Fovargue declined to accept the office and Mr William Miller was
appointed to replace him.

The Church Rooms were opened at Christmas 1895. The first event held
was a talk by Col TW Harding on his visit to Egypt, illustrated by magic
lantern slides.

At New Year 1903 the school children performed the operetta “Golden Hair
and the Three Bears”.

Doddington’s popular rector, Rev Frederick Marshall, died on Christmas Day
1914. He had been rector for 27 years. He had begun a tradition of ringing
in the New Year, after which the bell ringers were treated to supper at the
rectory. A tradition carried on by several of his successors.

In 1922 a demonstration of the Wireless was given in the Church Rooms.
Fossett’s Circus also visited the village.

The village was lit by electric street lighting for the first time at Christmas
1931, replacing the previous oil lamps..

                                                                                  29

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21
At Christmas 1933 the Church Sunday School put on a performance of “Alice
in Wonderland”. This fell foul of the Inland Revenue when Rev Ridge failed
to get the necessary entertainments tax exemption certificate. An official
even attended the performance and began taking names and addresses of
members of the audience, before the indignant rector intervened and the
problem was resolved with the issue of a retrospective certificate.

The British Legion Hall, the old village hall, was built during 1936 with the first
dance held on December 28th
and a party on New Year’s Eve
at which Mr TW Hudson
played “Old Father Time” and
a young Rossie Southon “Miss
1937”. The hall served as the
village’s main entertainment
venue for the next 65 years.
The current hall was built on
the same site in 2001. (Picture:
Nativity Play 1937)

In 1942 a New Year party was
held in the hall for 200 children
including 90 evacuees.

An annual children’s Christmas
or New Year party was
organized by the WI for many
years from its foundation in
1919. (Picture: WI Party 1949)

New Years Honours List – In 1955 Mr Bertram Smith of Brankley House,
New Street, received an M.B.E. for services to the Ministry of Food. In 1959
Mr AD Burton of Askham House received an M.B.E. for services to local
government. He was also the last Doddington resident to be appointed High
Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, in 1949/50. Geoffrey Harper received a C.B.E. in
1995 for services to the Conservative Party. Jonnie Peacock received his
M.B.E. in 2013.

At Christmas 1972, Mr Stanley Payne retired as Headmaster of Doddington
School, a post he had held since 1936.

At Christmas 1974 a fire devastated the 7 acre green house site in Benwick
Road, then owned by the David Johnson Group.

1990 saw the Christmas street lights go up for the first time.
30

Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21

Village Shop Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
Bowls Bi-Us in Doddington celebrates its 10th Anniversary in December. It’s hard
to believe that it was 10 years ago since the Elmore family decided to go on a new
adventure and open a Bowls Equipment Shop.

All members of the Family played the sport in the various formats of the game
including Short Mat, Indoor & Outdoor Lawn Bowls competing at club, county,
National and International level for a number of years prior to opening. Back in
2010 they felt there was demand locally for such a shop and therefore decided to
take up a new challenge and open Bowls Bi-Us. Giving the shop a name was one
of the biggest decisions that needed to be made, so where did the name come
from? Those who play the sport will know that one of the biggest characteristics
of a Bowl is it’s bias (the part of the bowl that makes the bowl turn) so a play with
the letters is how the name was made. Over the last 10 years this name has
become well established and the shop now supplies Bowls and equipment all over
the UK through its retail shop in the village, on its Roadshows and via the online
website. The support from the leading suppliers and Bowls manufactures who
were all willing to supply their products enabled the business to launch and open
its doors to the public on 1st December 2010. Back then the shop stocked the
basic essential bowling requirements but over the years this has developed and it
now stocks a wide range of products from the top brands in the market. Bowls Bi-
Us gives all its customers a personal service when it comes to choosing
equipment. There are several things to consider when choosing a set of bowls in
particular and therefore it is important for customers to make the right purchase so
they enjoy the sport and give them the best chance of success on the green.

Thanks go to all the local bowlers and customers from the surrounding area who
supported the shop when the doors opened back in 2010, along with everyone
across the country, some who have travelled a number of miles to visit the village
shop. All these customers have made Bowls Bi-Us a well known name in the
market today.

To celebrate this special anniversary Bowls Bi-Us will be giving away a brand new
set of bowls in December to one lucky customer. Full details of this offer can be
found on the Facebook page or website (www.bowlsbi-us.co.uk). It’s not only
bowls that the store stocks, Christmas Items and gifts continue to be sold leading
up to the festive period.

Finally, this 10th year of trading is not only a
milestone the shop is delighted to hit but is
also a perfect time to launch into another
market. With immediate effect Bowls Bi-Us
is delighted to announce it will now be Darts
stockists including brands such as Winmau,
Target and Unicorn. All your Darts
requirements can now be purchased or
ordered in store. Keep an eye on Facebook
to see the latest releases!!

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Doddington Diary Dec 20 / Jan 21
Neighbourhood Watch

Trust this finds everyone keeping well and, where you can,
looking after those who are vulnerable and isolated during
these crazy times. A phone call or a wave through the window
would be most welcome particularly at this time of the year.

Local crime and incidents are still quite low but no doubt these will increase as
the opportunists do their ‘Christmas shopping’ around and about! Please
remember to always report any suspicious or actual criminal activity direct to
the police by ringing 101 or if a crime is in progress, 999. Don't forget you can
also easily report online at www.cambs.police.uk/report; the more incidents
reported the easier the crime patterns are to establish. Repeating incidents
should be reported on each occasion.

Unfortunately, some of our NHW signs on the lamp posts in Wimblington have
been cut down. Yes cut! Sad but there you go. If anyone does see this
happening, please, please do report it to the police.

With Speedwatch patrols again suspended during lockdown we have to wait
to resume. But with no volunteers coming forward we might well be
struggling. We’re sure you’ve noticed that speeds of cars has noticeably
increased particularly on the through road. Patrols do help, however small
that may appear, but more volunteers would mean more patrols and a bigger
difference. The whole future of this scheme is in your hands so it’s up to you.
The training is simple, taking only about an hour.

For further information the NHW or how to join contact Andrea Harrison 07766
658701 or email Community Speedwatch at csw.wimblington@hotmail.com.

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