January 2016

Fighting Wildlife Crime

For our first meeting in the New Year, the Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust will present an illus-

trated talk entitled ‘Bird Crime - Fighting Wildlife Crime’. This will be held on Wednesday 13th January at 7.30pm

at Brampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton, PE28 4TB.

Our speaker will be Bob Elliott who has been with the RSPB as Head of Investigations since the inception of the

unit in 1989. His team concentrates on species of conservation concern and work closely with the police and stat-

utory agencies to further the enforcement of the law. Bob will talk about recent cases and explain where the prob-

lems still exist today.

Anyone interested in wildlife is most welcome to attend. Entrance charge £2.50 (accompanied children free). No

need to book. Please contact Tim on 01480 457795 for further information.

Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Registered Charity No: 1000412

Buckden Local History Society

A log fire and the aroma of mulled wine welcomed members and guests to the December

meeting. Sarah Doig of Ancestral Voices shared her Tudor Christmas presentation starting

with the tune of Ding dong merrily on high played on renaissance guitar, bagpipes and

bass curtal, reminding us how tunes have been passed down through the years. We

learned about how traditions common in Tudor times have carried on to the present day, including bringing green-

ery into the house, feasting and the giving of presents. Twelfth Night ended the Christmas festivities; an evening

of games and entertainment ruled over by a king and a queen, the lucky ones to have found a bean and a pea

baked in a cake.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 6

January in the Conference Room at 7.30pm when Liz Davies will tell

us about Crime and punishment in St Neots.

Friends of Buckden Towers

FOBT held its annual Beetle Drive at The Towers on 20th November. There was a good attendance

and great fun was had by all. It’s a very sociable event as players move round the tables, playing

different opponents.

At the half way point we stopped for mulled wine and mince pies which went down very well. My

thanks to Anne Petty and her team for some lovely mince pies.

Work on the new viewing platform in the Knot Garden is progressing well. The new king post is in place with its

supporting structures. The only jobs now left are putting on the roof and the lattice work panels around the sides. I

thoroughly recommend taking the time to have a look before the roof is finished, to see how it is constructed. The

key to the garden is usually available on request from the office in the house. John Davies and Keith Lawrence

have worked very hard on the platform and have done a great job. They hope to finish before Christmas, weather

permitting.

Our next event will be the annual quiz night on 4

March 2016 at The Towers.

John Thelwall

, Chair

Royal British Legion

So far we have banked almost £4,000 towards the 2015 Poppy Appeal with Gift Aided to be calculated along with

late donations. Hopefully a more accurate figure will be available for next month. Thank you does not seem an

adequate response to the generosity of every House to House collection and the businesses in Buckden and Per-

ry (including HMP Littlehey staff, visitors and inmates).The collection, as usual, has been overwhelming. None of

this could be possible without the help of everyone involved from the churches, the Village Hall Trust and every-

one else too numerous to mention here. And to you and everyone who contributed.

It was necessary to abandon the RBL Branch AGM in November because of lack of interest. I would ask any and

every member to please try to attend on Wednesday 20 January 2015 at the Millennium/Village Hall. If this is the

only RBL meeting you attend come along. We cannot move on unless you do.

Veronica Hunstone

, Secretary, RBL Buckden Branch, 01480 810070