March 2023

12 Buckden Roundabout March 2023 Village News Buckden Neighbourhood Watch RICHARD WEST Village Coordinator 01480 811467 / 07841 866630 To contact the police: 999 in an emergency; 0800 555 111 Crime Stoppers; 0300 123 2040 Action Fraud. EMAIL burglarycrackdown@cambs.pnn.police.uk or visit www.crimestoppers.uk.org or you can telephone 101 Suspicions or concerns can be reported via the police force ’ s online web chat function here https://bit.ly/3tfssQF Or via the online reporting forms here https://bit.ly/3ck9z85 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU OR A FRIEND HAS BEEN SCAMMED Tell someone don ’ t feel ashamed – this happens to people of all descriptions and ages. If you have parted with cash, shared your bank details or no- ticed a suspicious transaction on your account, contact your Bank as quickly as possible. They may be able to put a stop on it, also may be a need to cancel or replace cards. REPORT IT TO THE POLICE. Report it to Action Fraud on actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. If you feel that you need advice the Age UK advice line is open 365 days of the year, 8am to 7pm and can give confidential advice and support. Call 0800 678 1602. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I received message that I had won prize and there was cheque waiting for me. All I had to do was telephone a given number and pass on my bank details and a cheque would be paid into my account. Do not be conned! As the rising cost of living continues to bite, the false promis- es made by fraudsters become even more tempting, This is example bogus claims that a big cheque is waiting (you have to pay a fee to receive it) can be very enticing when times are hard, do not ring the number or pass on account details. To suffer financial losses at the hands of scammers in the cur- rent climate the impact is serious that is reason not to feel ashamed share with others. Friends of Buckden Towers Supporting the conservation of Buckden ’ s Important Scheduled Monuments The Friends Refectory The Friends Refectory at Buckden Towers provides facilities for social refreshment for the Parishioners, and for FoBT Tour Guides who use it during the Tour Season to provide refresh- ments for tour groups after their informative visit to The Tow- ers. It occupies part of the ground floor of the Inner Gatehouse and has been serving the people for centuries. In one of its walls there is a “ dole ” window from which passing travellers once could receive free food and drink to help them on their way. There is even a stone bench built into the wall opposite the window on which the passing travellers could rest whilst waiting. That part of the Inner Gatehouse is a Grade 1 Scheduled Mon- ument in its own right. But today the interior of the refectory is in a sorry condition, with the plaster falling off the walls, and the outer surfaces of the walls in need of extensive re - pointing and replacement of missing or badly eroded bricks. In fact, it is the poor condition of the outer walls that has led to the failure of the interior plaster, through its permeability to rainwater. But now things are set to improve. The Friends of Buckden Towers have carried out all the necessary liaison with Historic England, and supported by Conservation Architect Robert Da- vies, have established a contract for these essential repairs, funded primarily by FoBT. The Contractor, appointed after a tender invitation to four companies, is a local firm called “ Herringbone Restoration ”. This contractor has wide experience in conservation work of this nature. The contract will be administered by FoBT, supported by Con- servation Architect Robert Davies, and always under the watchful eye of Historic England. FoBT will be providing over £10,000 in funding for this project. Work is due to start at the beginning of March this year and is due for completion in early May. During this time unfortunate- ly the Refectory will not be available for use. Keith Lawrence Chairman, Friends of Buckden Towers. For details of forthcoming events see adverts in the “ Roundabout ”, or on our web page https://friendsofbuckdentowers.co.uk/newsandevents email: admin@friendsofbuckdentowers.co.uk