Category: Features

  • We’ll meet again, we know where… and hopefully when!

    Belonging to a choir and singing together is an activity at the heart of village life, with many residents valuing the camaraderie of belonging or attending regular concerts. Eddy Moore reports on the impact of the pandemic on this vital source of pleasure for so many.

    Covid 19 has brought to a standstill the usual activities of Histon & Impington’s local choirs, which have been unable to meet and rehearse normally since March 2020. As Lynne Purchase, of Choir 2000 told HI HUB: “The last time that the Choir ‘met’ in person was a rather melancholy evening returning scores to librarians at Histon Baptist Church.”

    The Zoom year

    Nevertheless, choir members were determined to keep things ticking over during the interminable weeks of lockdown and turned to Zoom. Sue Lee, Chair of the Impingtones, explained how they started to explore the use of technology: “We had our first Zoom choir session on 1st April 2020 and tentatively explored how this might work for us. Just seeing each other on screen and the infectious enthusiasm of our choir leader, Bridget Hardy, was uplifting and our weekly Zoom choir quickly became part of our ‘new normal’.”

    Unlike online meetings the use of Zoom for a large choir is not at all straightforward. Lynne Purchase explained: “We knew at the outset that Zoom wouldn’t allow us to ‘sing together’ in real-time; we had to have everyone with microphone ‘off’ to avoid a complete cacophany. When singing in a choir it is not just your voice; you hear others around you in your section singing one part, you watch the conductor for tempo and direction; you hear other sections in the choir and the soloists and accompanist/orchestra.

    “In the absence of that support, it’s a bit daunting to sing on your own from a sheet of music with no-one else around you, even in the privacy of your own home!”

    The Impingtones had to overcome the same obstacles: “Taking part in a choir over Zoom isn’t without it’s challenges, not least because you are singing on your own; but most importantly, it enabled us to keep on singing. We knew how important our singing community is to our members and we desperately felt a need to be there for them and to stay connected. We’ve had loyal support from our members and this has meant that we’re still here and looking forward to the next chapter.”

    Ten Sing Cambridge, a youth group offers a variety of creative and performing arts activities from singing and music, to dance and drama. They too moved to online meetings enabling their members to keep in touch.

    One Impingtones member, Sarah Strickland, summed up the value of online connections: “I’ve been part of this lovely, local choir for over five years. For me, continuing via Zoom has maintained that sense of connection, so that we’re ready to pick up where we left off 18 months ago”.

    Moving outdoors

    Choir 2000 – social distancing, hats and scarves all essential!

    In a resourceful move, some choirs moved outside when the Covid restrictions permitted only outdoor singing.

    The last live performance by Choir 2000 was a programme of festive music performed socially distanced on the Green in December. They were also able to sing together in the gardens of Histon Manor and were grateful for the support of Mrs Katherine Mann for allowing the choir to meet there.

    The Impingtones – singing in tune with nature

    The Impingtones met up at the Histon & Impington Community Orchard in July: “What a joy it was to be able to sing together!”, said Sue Lee. “We must admit, the singing wasn’t great at first but we quickly got used to socially distanced singing and over a few weeks regained our confidence in the beautifully calm and inspiring space among the apple trees.”

    Return to ‘normal’

    As the months went by and parts of lockdown eased, hopes of returning to normal for choirs were dashed by guidance issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It was only after Step 4 on July 19th that restrictions were fully lifted.

    Both Choir 2000 and The Impingtones will be restarting in the autumn. Sue is delighted The Impingtones will be moving to a new venue from September, singing in the hall at the new Park Primary School on Wednesday evenings. “The school has agreed to us hiring this lovely space and the plan is to return to in-person singing, with much work going on in the background by a committed and enthusiastic committee to ensure we can be as Covid safe as possible. We are determined to make it happen.”

    Choir 2000 are also proceeding cautiously and will restart rehearsals at Histon Baptist Church in October. Lynne Purchase explained: “These will probably be somewhat different to how rehearsals were previously; we now, for instance, have to factor in new processes such as ‘ventilation breaks’ into our schedule for each evening.

    “Until October, we continue to work on our repertoire with rehearsals held outside, taking advantage of the good weather and long summer evenings. It’s so good to see familiar faces and be able to raise our voices together again, at last. We hope that we will be able to organise a December concert performance of Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ together with some of our lockdown repertoire and some carols. A cheerful programme after so many months away.”

  • Shop Local – supporting and strengthening our community businesses

    As we move into Step 4 of the Roadmap out of lockdown, HI HUB reports on four female-led independents hoping to walk away with a 2021 ‘Muddy’ award, and plans to support all local businesses through the months ahead.

    On 19 July we entered Step 4 of the UK government’s roadmap out of COVID, lifting many of the legal restrictions imposed during the pandemic. Timed to coincide with the end of the school term and the warmer months, when more activities can take place outdoors, this relaxing of the pandemic rules brings with it both relief and confusion as our local businesses strive to ensure that visiting customers continue to feel safe and secure.

    Keeping it local

    Shopping locally brings many benefits. For us personally, it brings with it the chance to get to know our community better, benefiting our mental health and wellbeing. For the community as a whole, it strengthens our economy and provides employment. And for the environment, it lowers our carbon footprint with more opportunities to make journeys on foot or by bike. All great reasons to keep it local!

    The past 16 months has seen our local businesses tested in ways nobody could ever have anticipated and the support of the community as they claw their way back will be vital if we are to hold on to the diverse range of businesses we are lucky enough to enjoy here in Histon and Impington. It is with this in mind that HI HUB, in collaboration with our Parish Council, is planning a village-wide initiative this autumn aimed at promoting the benefits of ‘Shop Local’ with some great deals for business owners and the community alike. Look out for more news on this exciting project here on HI HUB in early September.

    Leading the way

    Coming out of the restrictions with a few minor scratches but still with big smiles on their faces are four female led H&I independents, all hoping to earn a 2021 Indie business Muddy Stilettos award. Now in its eighth year, the much coveted ‘Muddies’ showcase lifestyle businesses across 25 counties in 27 categories ranging from Best Art Gallery to Best Yoga/Pilates studio.

    Taking up position in the shortlist for Best Beauty Salon is Estelle’s Histon High Street, fronted by Estelle Ashdjian. Having been open officially for only 16 weeks, and faced several setbacks due to the various lockdowns, Estelle told HI HUB “We are so happy and grateful to all our clients for nominating us. It is amazing being up for our first award, especially with us having been open such a short time. It would be incredible to win!

    Read also: ‘My salon door is always open’

    “The support we have received locally since opening has been amazing with people constantly messaging to compliment us or book in after being recommended by friends. We have had the best start we could have asked for. It is marvellous too that the three other H&I finalists are all run by remarkable business women”.

    Overjoyed with her nomination in the Best New COVID Biz category is Sarah Barnes with Cool Beans Coffee Co. Sarah and her little blue van has been a sight for sore eyes during lockdown, dispensing joy in the form of lattes and tasty bites across our villages and beyond.

    Read also: New business is booming in H&I

    Cool Beans Coffee Co in action : Photo Cool Beans Facebook page

    I asked Sarah what it meant to be a finalist in this very unique category: “I can’t really take it in that, from serving my first coffee as the sun came up on Christmas Eve 2020, I am now in the finals for the Best New Covid Biz, and that really is testament to the amazing community that we live in.

    “I am so grateful to all of you who have come out regularly in all weathers for a coffee and a chat at my little blue van. It has been a privilege to get to know you all and a massive thank you to everyone who nominated Cool Beans to get me into the finals. Please take the time to get behind all our fantastic local businesses who have overcome many hurdles during the last year. It would be brilliant if Histon & Impington could claim to be home to all the winners!”

    The interior of the newly refurbished shop.

    Blooming happy in the category of Best Florist is Lucy Hill and the Gin House Flowers team. Since popping up in the previously empty School Hill unit (now occupied by Stir) Gin House has built up a strong community relationship here in H&I and is now finally happily embedded in its new home on Histon High street where their beautifully decorated shop brings joy to passers by.

    Lucy, Mr Gin House and Frankie – described by Lucy as ‘the real boss, florist extraordinaire, Prosecco lover and maker of the most beautiful bouquets’ – have fought their way through the many challenges thrown at them over the last 16 months coming out smelling of roses on the other side.

    Read also: “I can’t put into words how much I missed being here”

    Lucy is thrilled to be nominated and told us: “It’s amazing to be recognised after such a tough 16 months. The support from the village has been overwhelming; not just for ourselves but the other nominees also. To win would be incredible but to just get this far has been fabulous”!

    The fourth local finalist, and nominated in the category Best Gift Shop, is Topiary Tree.

    Located adjacent to our beautiful village green, in the unit previously occupied by Daisy Chain, Topiary Tree’s opening has also been thwarted many times along the way by COVID lockdowns and restrictions. But owner Alison Douglas was determined not to allow lockdown to stop sales and, for several months, the shop went online with Alison offering local deliveries. Fully open since April, Topiary Tree customers are now, once again, able to enjoy gift browsing in person.

    Read also: Histon & Impington is back in business

    Alison shared her joy at being nominated: “I feel privileged to be a finalist for Best Gift Shop in Suffolk & Cambs. The support from customers (old and new) has been inspiring since re-opening on my own and I would like to thank all those who have voted for me. It proves what a great village Histon is to live and work. Good luck to everyone.”

    Voting in all categories closes at 5pm on 23 July so there is still time to vote for your favourites. Winners will be announced on 29th July.

    The past 16 months of uncertainty have brought with them many hurdles to jump for all of the businesses here in Histon & Impington. If you are an H&I business and wish to register an early interest for our autumn Shop Local campaign, or would like to join our growing list of Business Directory members, please drop an email to Mel Lerway, Publishing Manager, via admin@hihub.info and she will ensure all relevant information is sent out to you before launch.

  • Active travel – have your say on future planning consultation

    New proposals would see the middle section of Station Road closed to motor vehicles travelling south. County Councillor Ros Hathorn urges residents to have their say in a public consultation.

    The pandemic gave us a glimpse of living in a low traffic world; families walking and cycling around the village, empty roads, low levels of traffic noise, parents more relaxed on the streets. The village felt calmer and shopping locally by bike felt good.

    I was not the only one to notice the change. Confronted with the twin perils of a national health crisis and the climate emergency the government is encouraging active travel, announcing ‘PM kickstarts £2bn cycling and walking revolution’

    Among the schemes proposed – all funded by central government – is one for Histon & Impington, and a consultation is running so please get involved and share your thoughts.

    The scheme

    The section of Station Road after the Baptist church towards Firs House surgery is narrow and is normally lined with parked cars. Under the proposed scheme ‘modal filters’ will be placed on Station Road near the War Memorial/ Baptist church, and this stretch of road, by The Geographer and Firs House Surgery, will become a no through road to southbound motor vehicles.

    Cyclists, pedestrians, mobility scooter users etc will have full access, but motorists travelling south through the village from the High Street will have to detour along Bridge Road (B1049) to access this middle part of Station Road and those travelling from the south to the High Street will also, instead, have to use the B1049.  There will, however, be full access to this stretch for all vehicles from the Chequers Road/ Firs House surgery end.

    A Cambridge modal filter, using planters. Photo: Cycling Dad UK

    ‘Modal filters’ determine the types of traffic that can access a stretch of road, but are designed not to impact on emergency services access. They are positioned so that bikes, cargo bikes etc can get round them, but the road is blocked for cars and other motor vehicles. In Cambridge, some schemes use large planters for this. The Bell Hill trial has used a water filled barrier which is less attractive, but cheap and good for trialling changes. The proposals here are for a barrier on both lanes of Station Road in line with the Baptist Church car park with a water filled barrier (like on Bell Hill) blocking the southbound lane which is removable for emergency access and a barrier to stop cars and vans on the northbound lane.   

    The consultation points out that the bus stops outside the Baptist church will be lost under this scheme, and this is a downside of the proposal. If the modal filter was a camera the bus stops might be saved as it would allow bus access to continue, but this option is expensive so the consultation is important for gathering views. The loss of this bus stop is a concern and, if you think this is important, please add your voice to the request for a camera modal filter – or just express clearly how important you feel this bus stop is.

    Safer, quicker, easier

    This is not a ‘traffic scheme’, but an active travel scheme that will encourage our community to be people focussed rather than car focussed, and support people to cycle or walk.

    Although it will make some car and van journeys slightly longer, it will make active travel more attractive and the easier, quicker, choice for those who can walk and cycle. For those who rely on a car, low traffic environments are also safer as there are fewer other cars.

    Despite the infant school relocation, Station Road remains a key school route and safety is a major concern. Those cycling north towards the High Street meet a stream of drivers coming towards them, and high traffic levels at the Cambridge Road/ Bridge Road junction by the camel sculpture junction confirm that large numbers of drivers use that route as a rat run.

    For drivers on the High Street turning right at Station Road currently presents an attractive alternative to waiting for the zebra crossing and queuing at the traffic lights to join the B1049. By turning into Station Road those cars are driving head on into the flow of families cycling and walking to school. There is not enough room for cars to safely pass cyclists but they regularly try and there are many reports from parents on social media and in conversation about near misses on Station Road.

    This proposed scheme will make Station Road a significantly less attractive rat run as drivers would have to join the busy traffic on Water Lane/B1049 at the war memorial junction from an uncontrolled crossing, which can be difficult.

    Wider impact

    There are concerns that this proposal would push more traffic onto the B1049 and make other places busier, but previous road closures suggest this may not make a significant difference. The B1049/ High Street junction was closed for a number of weeks 2 years ago when the junction was modified. Whilst there were initially traffic jams at peak times, after about 3 days the traffic jams disappeared. It seemed as though those using Histon and Impington as a cut-through found alternative routes when Histon and Impington became less convenient.

    There are also implication for residents. Traffic noise will drop and the area would feel a lot calmer, so parents should feel more confident about their children moving freely in the space. Residents will, though, have to drive further to access the centre of the village.

    For wheelchair users, mobility scooter users and those with mobility issues, these measures should make this stretch a more pleasant accessible space to move around. If crossing the road is challenging – for example with a large buggy or if you move slowly – it is easier in a low traffic environment. On the downside, some disabled drivers will have to drive slightly further.

    Neighbourhood plan

    The neighbourhood plan was recently voted through with over 90% of voters in favour. A community where people walked and cycled locally was a key theme. The shift to active travel will not just magically happen, we need to restructure where we live. Our spaces must be people not car focussed.

    On this basis, my assessment is that the positives significantly outweigh the negatives:

    • Station Road Dental surgery – no negative impact
    • Firs House Doctors surgery – no negative impact
    • Pharmacy – possibly some impact, but trade is closely connected to prescriptions from Firs House
    • The Geographer (sadly now closed) was always largely used by locals. Whilst there may be some impact on passing trade, these changes would also create new opportunities. The outside area was always well used and there may be an opportunity to spread tables further onto the road in a low traffic environment.

    If you have strong feelings about this proposal please comment on the consultation now. This is your opportunity to have a say make your voice heard. Consultation closes 24 August 2021.

    Access the consultation online at https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/cats

  • Beating Long Covid – the village steps forward

    With Covid on the rise yet again in the village, the spectre of increasing cases of Long Covid is looming, affecting young and old alike. Neil Davies explains how HI Friends is supporting those suffering from this debilitating condition.

    For 10 years, HI Friends has been working with the Ely-based charity Posability to organise specialist exercise classes and groups at the Histon & Impington Recreation Ground pavilion. These classes provided vital support for people living with long-term neurological conditions, such as Stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy.

    Posability provided specialist instructors and HI Friends organised the sessions, provided the venue and used the community minibus as transport for some of the participants.

    Like so many other activities, the classes came to a halt when Covid took hold, and with many of the participants being clinically extremely vulnerable, it’s still unclear when these activities will be able to restart.

    But Covid has brought other challenges too, not least Long Covid, which is thought to affect about 10% of acute Covid sufferers.

    A dedicated class

    During the Pandemic HI Friends manager Neil Davies has been in regular contact with Posability, and for a couple of months now, has been discussing with them the possibility of running a dedicated exercise class for those living with Long Covid.

    Neil explained: “Posability have been looking at the needs are of Long/Post Covid patients. The main difficulties are breathlessness, continuing cough, fatigue, back and shoulder pain, ‘brain fog’, anxiety, isolation and depression. Posability instructors can really help with these.

    “Exercise is recommended for these patients, with caution, so as not to exacerbate shortness of breath and fatigue. The general advice is to make gradual progression towards pre-Covid activity level.”

    Posability advises that ‘Resistance Band exercises’ – large elastic bands that you can use to exercise all areas of the body – are particularly good as they build strength without over-taxing the cardio-vascular system. Similarly, a static bike – which HI Friends has – is helpful as the read­out gives an accurate evaluation of time, speed, distance, which be useful in tracking the user’s progression.

    “Then there’s the social element of a class, offering peer support to relieve the emotional impact of Long Covid. That’s an important part of recovery too”, said Neil.

    Making it happen

    A £1,400 grant from South Cambs District Council to support the start-up has made it possible for these classes to become a reality – not just for Histon & Impington residents, but for people across the whole District. The very first class will start next week on Tuesday 27th July at 2.30pm.

    Neil explained: “The Group will be a maximum of ten, and if there is greater demand an extra could be organised. If numbers are less than that, the activity will be opened up to those recovering from Strokes from the Covid period.

    “The weekly sessions will be led by a specialist instructor, supported by an assistant, and each session will last 75 minutes and include time for social interaction as well as exercises.

    “At present we envisage the activity being for an initial period of 6 months. We’re offering the first week free, so that people can try it and see, and there will be a small fee after that for those who can afford it.

    “I’d urge everyone suffering from Long Covid to give it a go. If it’s not you, but a friend or relative who is suffering, tell them about it. Like every community, many people around us have suffered during the pandemic, and we want to see everyone back to health as soon as possible.”

    Long Covid classes start Tuesday 27th July 2.30pm to 3.30pm at the Histon & Impington Recreation Ground pavilion.

    For more information and to register your interest, contact Christina 07565 598193

    For help with transport to the Rec, contact Paul 07772 437789 or email info@hifriends.org.uk

  • Waffly stylish Histon Station House Café opens its doors

    As our brand new busway brunch stop welcomes its first customers this week, Amanda Borrill has been checking out what we can all expect to find inside.

    In the space of less than a fortnight, two new independent brunch venues have opened their doors here in Histon & Impington. The latest of these arrivals, Histon Station House Café, is the venture of local man David Harrison and its opening on Wednesday this week has brought with it an added buzz of activity to the area around the Guided Busway. The lure of a refreshment stop here for cyclists and walkers alike is likely to be strong and dog walkers will be delighted to hear that well behaved dogs are welcome at the café – with water bowls readily available.

    READ ALSO: Station-house-on-track-for-new-lease-of-life-this-summer

    Behind the facade

    So, what exactly can we expect to find behind this attractive new facade? Owner, David Harrison, reveals: “Lots on offer! We will be serving brunch all day from 8:30am until 3:30pm with the doors closing at 4:30pm. There will be healthy brunch dishes on Fitzbillies’ sourdough & English muffins, sweet treats including waffles and cakes, Hot Numbers coffee, milkshakes and smoothies. It will be table service throughout with a take-away option also available.

    The new menus. Available to view on Instagram and Facebook. Photo Jemima Borrill.

    “Our menus can be found on Instagram or Facebook and a website is currently under construction – just awaiting a few photos before launching. 

    “For now, I have taken the decision to open six days, with us being closed on a Tuesday. As a new business with a new team, I wanted to make sure I prioritised a good working balance and one of my team, quite rightly, pointed out that this includes me. We will review things after the first month; with an extension on the opening hours on the cards too when the time is right”.

    One person who has been finding it especially hard to contain her excitement about this week’s opening is David’s five-year-old daughter Mila who, David tells me, has spent the duration of the building works playing ‘spot the difference’ as things progressed and now has David’s entire staffing problems resolved with the recruitment of her year 1 classmates!

    Early experiences

    Station House Café’s arrival has been equally eagerly anticipated within the community and I tracked down a couple of visitors happy to share their early experiences.

    Setting a record at four visits in this opening week, is Impington resident Nick Wood. Nick went along for David’s pre-opening trial run on Monday and now seems to be single-handedly striving to ensure these doors stay open. I asked Nick how he feels about having this inviting new coffee stop just a few minutes walk from home:

    Tea for one. Photo Nick Wood.

    “At the pre-opening trial day I ordered the ‘modern breakfast’ as opposed to the traditional one – salmon, poached eggs, avocado and some other stuff. Well presented, tasty and well priced. My brunching partner had a raspberry macaron, which she declared ‘delicious’. The coffee was also very good. The staff were very helpful and courteous and, considering it was their first day on the job, did brilliantly.

    “It’s a splendid setting and it’s been so good to sit outdoors watching the world go by. My wife has told me I need to spend less money in cafés but, with quality like this, I suspect I’ll be in even more trouble than usual. A great addition to the south of the village. Expect house prices in South Impington to rise exponentially. I’ll be back!’”

    Also there for the pre-opening was Impington resident John Gooch:

    Tomato, chickpea and egg stew, as enjoyed by John Gooch this week. Photo John’s own.

    “I went along with three friends to the soft opening on Monday. The service, the coffee and the brunches were really tasty and not your ordinary food – great work by David and his team! We tried their bruschetta, overnight oats (to die for and so simple) and a tomato, chick pea and egg stew – which had a hint of spice and was delicious. We all loved it – now if only he could get Fitzbillies Chelsea buns there…”

    Across the community

    Amid the excitement of recent new arrivals, this weekend sees long time resident, The Geographer, closing its doors after eight years here in our village with their business taking a change in direction and heading online. COVID and its restrictions has certainly challenged the hospitality industry right across the UK and here in Histon & Impington we have seen our village venues, including Vision Park’s d:licious and Histon Smokehouse, forced to continually evolve and adapt to survive over the last sixteen months.

    Newcomer Stir CB24 is continuing to attract new regulars and has now submitted its application for the creation of an external drinking/dining area behind its School Hill unit. You can view the application and submit your thoughts, here.

  • Full steam ahead for Histon FC

    Following a turbulent period of uncertainty for Histon FC, the team is all ready to go as the new season begins – and the supporters will be with them all the way! John Payne reports.

    The fixtures schedule for Histon FC’s first season in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division was released yesterday and the reaction from Bridge Road is one of relief and positivity. There was some trepidation within the camp over the possibility of players and fans having to make round trips of 200 miles or more to fulfil evening fixtures away from home but that fear has largely been alleviated.

    These concerns followed the FA’s rejection of Histon’s appeal against being moved into the Northern Premier League on the basis of the disproportionate travelling times the club and its fans will face.

    First team fixtures

    The club welcomes the League’s announcement despite the season kicking off with a 235-mile round trip to Belper Town on 15th August, which is the furthest the Stutes have been asked to travel for a league fixture for many years.

    “The schedule has been quite kind to us on the whole” said a club spokesman. “The trip to Derbyshire to play Belper Town had to be made at some point over the season and to get it out of the way so early on is a positive. There are worse times of year to be making a visit the edge of the Peak District and, with it also being the club’s first ever match in the Northern Premier League, many of our fans will want to be able to say “I was there”. I wouldn’t be surprised if some take the family and turn the trip into a mini-vacation.

    “It is good to see that the fixtures list has thrown up only one evening match away from home which is not within a one-hour journey time, and even this trip to Bedworth United near Coventry is in September rather than later in the season when the risk of last minute postponements becomes greater.”

    The Stutes host Daventry Town in their opening home fixture on Tuesday 17th August, which will be the first time fans have been permitted to attend a league match at Bridge Road for almost nine months. The following Tuesday the club makes the trip to Wisbech Town to meet another of the four Cambridgeshire-based clubs allocated to the NPL Midlands Division, followed by a home fixture on 28th August against Sutton Coldfield Town.

    Other notable early fixtures at Bridge Road are Soham Town Rangers on Sat. 25th September, Yaxley on Sat. 23rd October and the Cambridge City “away” match on 27th December.

    The full fixture list is available on the Histon FC website at First Team – Histon FC

    The build-up begins!

    The Stutes pre-season campaign is currently under way with the club fielding a mixture of First Team players, Youth team members and trialists in their two matches to date. The first was a 0-2 defeat against Walsham-Le-Willows in the Stephen Parker Memorial Trophy match followed by a 1-0 reverse at Enfield last night. The build-up to the new season continues with a friendly match against Biggleswade Town on Tuesday 27th July, kicking off at 7.45.

    Enjoyed supporting the UK teams in the Euros? Supporting your very own local team can be just as much fun – with matches on your own doorstep. Admission to Histon FC v Biggleswade Town is just £5.00 with accompanied Under-14’s admitted free. See you there!

  • Art for all – the Open Studios are back

    Ten local artists are opening their studios to the public this month, relieved to be able to display their work and welcome visitors back after being restricted to virtual exhibitions last year. Eddy Moore reports.

    This year’s Open Studios run over four weekends during July. All ten of the Histon & Impington artists will be open this weekend, 10th and 11th July, and some of them during the following weekends too. Participants in the county-wide event will have yellow flags outside their premises, and full details of their work, and maps of how to find them, are on the Open Studios website or via the Open Studios app.

    All the artists are very positive about the opportunities provided by the Open Studios event – which opened last weekend – particularly the chance to interact with the public.

    Sarah Vigliotti finds the event is a great way of becoming better known as an artist locally: “It’s good to be able to talk to visitors about my work and the techniques involved”, she said.

    As an amateur artist, Matthew Dando particularly appreciates the chance to gain invaluable feedback on his art. “The biggest joy from last weekend was having the opportunity to talk to so many different and kind people”, he said.

    His views are echoed by Clive Dawson, who said “I love taking part in the Open Studios as it gives an opportunity to engage with people viewing my art, something that is normally denied the artist. Getting people’s opinions is important to me, I particularly enjoy the comments of the younger generation.”

    Facing the lockdown challenges

    In common with many of us, the lockdown was very challenging for the artists. Andrew Goyder found that “opportunities to market myself and meet potential customers were very limited and work was hard to come by. Things have picked up a lot in recent months and hopefully this year’s Open Studios will confirm that many are ready to spend to add something special to their home that they haven’t been able to during lockdown.”

    Clare Crouchman found lockdown to be a productive time: “I have changed my work from ceramic wall panels to paintings over the last couple of years. I had a commission for the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre for six large paintings which I managed to complete in February this year and they have now been installed in the building.”

    For some, their focus turned to the outdoors as an antidote to lockdown. Janet Hathiramani found the demands of the early months of lockdown consumed her usual enjoyment of studio work, so she took every opportunity that arose for sketching outside. Later, throughout the autumn and winter, working these sketches into paintings, she found her work to be far more focused on small details than previously. 

    Angie Wocha found inspiration on her lockdown walks, “I spent a lot of time thinking ‘Ooh that vista would look good in glass and I have a lockdown walks series in mind’.”

    The Histon & Impington artists exhibiting during Open Studios this year are:

    Clare Crouchman in Shirley Road produces mixed media paintings and fine art prints inspired by the natural world, finding order in this natural chaos through abstracted, non-linear patterns and mathematical forms. www.clarecrouchman.com

    Matthew Dando in Aingers Road works in wood and is showing fluid abstract pieces which echo natural forms and look at home in his garden setting. He says: The sculptures I am creating are made from planks of mainly reclaimed hard wood that have been shaped to reflect the natural movements related to fire, water and air.’ www.mattdando.com

    Clive Dawson is in Narrow Close. His work is mainly acrylics, using a bold colourful palette with texture also playing a big part. You can expect to see animals, local scenes, florals and more in his exhibition.  https://clivedawsonart.wordpress.com

    Andrew Goyder is a furniture maker based on The Green, Histon. He designs and makes furniture, mainly from English hardwoods and says, ‘I am particularly interested in chairs because they represent a challenge: the need to combine comfort and function with style.’ www.agfurniture.uk

    Janet Hathiramani is displaying her work in nine windows at her home in St Audrey’s Close. There are delicate drawings and paintings from the natural world. Plant art drawings with painting, mixed media and collage. Inspired and influenced by our East Anglian woodlands, farmlands, and beaches. www.instagram.com/drawnbyjanet

    Andrew Oliver based in The Crescent, Impington.  He is exhibiting large landscapes and says, ‘I seem to be drawn to the colours and bareness of dry landscapes and really like southern France and especially southern Spain.’ During the lockdown he has been working on a series of still lives reflecting the restricted lives we have all been living. www.andrewoliverart.co.uk

    Sue Smith is based in Bell Hill. She is an artist and illustrator working in watercolour, ink and coloured pencil. She paints scenes of Cambridge and the surrounding villages. www.suesmithart.com

    Daniela Stief of The Coppice, Impington is a ceramicist, she makes small sculptures, vases and experiments with different versions of the same or similar objects. She says, ‘It is great to welcome visitors and get inspired by their comments or questions. I often let children try to make something small themselves, which they enjoy, and which is interesting for me, too.’  www.dksceramics.co.uk

    Sarah Vigliotti can be found on Shirley Road. She is a print maker and photographer whose work is inspired by the urban and rural landscape of East Anglia with a focus on pattern, texture, surface and detail. www.sarahvigliotti.co.uk

    Angie Wocha of Mill Lane makes useful and decorative contemporary fused glass pieces inspired by vivid colours and the invigorating skies and landscapes of Norfolk and The Fens. www.instagram.com/angiewochafusedglass

  • Sharing and caring – a Deep Well of support for the village

    A request earlier this year for contributions to a book of poems and visual art about mental wellbeing has culminated this week with the publication of ‘Deep Well’. Rebecca Strivens has been coordinating the efforts.

    Rebecca explained the origins of the book telling HI HUB: “For many, the journey to becoming and staying mentally well has resulted in some astonishing insights, and creative outlets, but sharing them can involve risk – of being judged crazy, weird or, sometimes, attention-seeking… There is so much to be gained from sharing: the connections made by others who struggle, seeing they are not alone and that someone else understands; communicating to the well what it can feel like to suffer, making for a more empathetic and understanding community”.

    The book of poems and artwork is on sale now through The Topiary Tree shop, at the St Andrew’s Centre, and will be sold from a stall on the Green in the mornings of Saturday 3rd and 10th July. All proceeds go to the charity HI Friends.

    Rebecca will also be selling copies of ‘Little Steps’, a poetry book about bereavement and life’s journey by Carol Key, a local Histon lady. She published her book in 2015 and has given copies to sell alongside Deep Well, contributing her profits to the charity. Both books will sell for £5 per copy.

    Among the beautiful and heartfelt contributions to ‘Deep Well’ is one by Rebecca’s own daughter, Anna.

    My mind is a sky  -by Anna Strivens

    On clear days, I shine

    Brightly

    Blindingly

    My warmth saturates the world

    I bring colour

    I bring life

    Clouds pass across me

    Casting shadows

    They pass, fleeting as a thought

    When they gather in multitudes

    I am grey

    I am dulled

    Overcast, I walk

    Sap colour

    Sap life

    To those not watching

    I am normal

    I am fine

    Grey turns to black

    The thunder in my head is my voice off the walls

    The lightning flashes are ice in my veins

    Rain pours

    I flood

    I weep

    The world weeps with me

    My heaviness lifts

    On the horizon, it is grey

    Grey, again

    But the rain heals the damage of the storm

    Roots grow strong and new growth blooms

    Clouds may stay

    The rain is gone

    Was it ever there?

    Overcast, I walk

    The clouds break

    Light shines through

    (And the rain is gone)

  • Histon children through to LEGO League Challenge National final!

    Two outstanding coding students from Histon are in the winning team for the regional round of the 2021 LEGO League Challenge and are now set to compete at national level. Amanda Borrill shares the story :

    On 24th June, the fourth Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) LEGO® League Challenge, a global science and technology tournament for 9 – 16 year olds, saw seven teams of school children from across Cambridgeshire come together to engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. Part of the FIRST LEGO League Challenge RePLAYSM season, teams participating in the Innovation Project were tasked with identifying problems related to human inactivity, researching the problem and designing a new piece of technology, or improving an existing one.

    Taking place virtually for the first time this year, the event saw teams joining live remote sessions with a panel of industry judges from companies including: Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., Arm, Marshall, Capgemini and Evonetix, as well as the University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.

    Representing Team CERC from Cambourne Electronics and Robotics Club, were keen young coders Avni and Aaron Balan from Histon and, as overall winners of the regional Champion’s Award, the team will now go on to compete in the National finals on July 2nd.

    Avni and Aaron’s championship medals. Photo permission of the Balan family.

    Getting competitive

    Year 8 Impington Village College student, Avni, and her Year 6 Histon and Impington Junior School brother, Aaron, are well known locally for their coding skills and their love of sharing this passion with others. I asked them how they heard about the competition and what was involved:

    “As we were both always interested in coding, we joined a coding club in Cambourne called Cambourne Electronics and Robotics Club (CERC). Through that Club we came to know about this LEGO League and joined the team for this year’s competition.

    “On the day of the competition, we were asked to show our Robot design and explain to the judging panel the reason for that specific design.  To gain more points, we also needed to programme the Robot to complete all the set missions within the allocated time.

    Their competition robot in action…photo with permission of the Balan family.

    “After the Robot Run, for the Innovation Project, we needed to demonstrate our solution and explain to the judges why we chose this particular solution. The Judges then asked questions about the Robot design, the Innovation Projects and the Core Value of the Team which can lead to more points for your team”. 

    Regional Champion’s Award Trophies. Photo with permission of the Balan family.

    As winners of the Regional Champion’s Award, Team CERC will now compete with all Regional Champions at a National level where two winning teams will be selected. Those two teams will then go to the USA to compete in the Global Challenge!

    The next level

    I asked Avni and Aaron if they were able to reveal what ideas they have stored up for the next level and to share a few competition highlights:

    “We’re planning on modifying our Robot game to get more points and making our Innovation Project presentation smoother. As we are all from different schools, meeting up is a challenge and Sundays tend to be the only day we can all meet.

    “As we are new members for the Team our focus was to observe and learn about the Robot design. But our strength is coding, so when it came to coding the Robot we contributed quite a lot.  Also for the innovation project, we came up with lots of ideas and implemented them. The best part was having fun with the little drama we sketched to showcase our app for the Innovation Project solution called ‘Get back your Back’ – an app we developed to tell computer users about their sitting posture and whether it is good or bad!”

    Avni shares a few of her personal thoughts from the experience:

    “The thing I enjoyed most about being part of the team was what I was able to learn about construction and innovation. I learned about how effective different structures are in different situations and, in the Innovation Project, I helped us find a final project to present to the judges. It was especially fun being able to do this with my teammates, and working as a team with them taught me so much”.

    Sharing the knowledge

    Avni and Aaron began their coding journeys aged 9 and 7, respectively. Running workshops to share their knowledge is a real passion for them both and they are optimistic that, as COVID restrictions ease further, they will be able to get more involved with some local coding activities. It is hoped that, once the library reopens, they will be able to find a space to run regular weekend coding workshops showing others that coding is not only easier than you might think, but also a very enjoyable thing to do. Both children have already run workshops for the local Guides, Brownies and Cubs and these were received warmly across the community by both children and parents with, in Aaron’s words “some nice emails sent to my Dad about the experience”. 

    Furthermore, after their success in this competition, Impington Village College (IVC) is really keen to establish their own team and has asked Avni to help them set it up.  The Head of Computer Science, Mr Gee, is very keen to make this possible and confident that, for next year, there will be a team from IVC to compete in this challenge.

    Into the future

    One thing seems certain, both these children are not sitting still for long and I asked them both to share a little of their ambitions for the future:

    Aaron – “I am passionate about maths and would like to study more advanced maths and do some research about abstract maths, where you aren’t working with concrete numbers. I also enjoy learning physics (mainly quantum mechanics) and generally STEM subjects. I also do Taekwon-Do and am shortly going for a grading. Hopefully then, I will be just two belts from achieving my black belt”.

    And from Avni – “I really enjoy teaching programming and having fun with my family. I probably want to become an app developer, or a solicitor, maybe an agile coach like my mum, who knows. But I do know I’ll always work hard to make time for what I love. As a Taekwon-Do student, I’m keen on learning self defence and developing my agility and strength, but as a chorister with St Catharine’s College girls’ choir, I like singing and broadening my vocal range. I enjoy learning new things too; new coding concepts, how the UK law and courts work, electricity physics and circuits, chemicals. It’s all very random but I enjoy it. I hope I get to teach more young people different things about programming and technology. I’ve run a few workshops before, and even ran a school club which was successful for a while. One of my proudest moments though was entering our local Girl guides into Mission: ZERO which involved writing a small piece of code to be sent up to the International Space Station’s AstroPi!”

    For anyone who might be thinking of taking part in next year’s tournament, the theme for the IET FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge 2021-22 season has now been announced: Cargo Connect. More information on how to register can be found here.  

  • £1 for a share in the future of the village

    Have you ever thought ‘our community ought to own that building/land’? Well the Histon and Impington Community Land Trust has been set up to do just that. Eddy Moore explains why it has a vital role – and how everyone can show their support.

    Residents of Histon and Impington will shortly be receiving a brochure through their doors from Histon and Impington Community Land Trust (HICLT). The Trust was set up last year to help create affordable and sustainable housing that will meet the growing needs of the village.

    As well as looking for opportunities to purchase land for building much needed homes, it can support a range of other needs in our community, such as helping to save a building or improve local amenities.

    READ ALSO:  Local community land trust needs your support

    Meeting local needs

    As a not-for-profit organisation, HICLT intends to be an organisation which will help meet housing needs and also ensure that the assets developed locally stay local and are invested to benefit our community.

    Look out for this leaflet

    The Trust is a truly local organisation, run by volunteers who are committed to creating affordable housing in the community, so that fewer young people and local workers have to move away to find a home of their own.

    People have lost faith in developers and Housing Associations to provide the type of housing needed for the whole community. Housing costs in Histon and Impington are very high and when other organisations develop homes the financial gains made do not stay within our local community.

    Because it is owned by the local community, HICLT is also well placed to ensure that developments meet the design aspirations of local people and preserve the nature of the local environment.

    Community owned

    We have all heard people say “The Community ought to acquire that”. Well, here is a local organisation that can make this happen. HICLT can obtain grants, take out loans and accept donations to purchase land, to hire contractors, and to build and manage properties of a type that are needed in our community.

    But HICLT will not only be concerned with housing. As a registered charity, it will be able to provide associated facilities, amenities and services for the advancement of health, wellbeing and leisure, and provide workspace buildings.

    A nearby CLT in Haddenham, set up in 2015, has recently completed a development on the edge of the village. This is providing nineteen new homes, a mix of one, two and three bedroom properties seventeen at affordable rents and two for shared ownership.  The first residents moved in in January.

    Naturally, the HICLT needs to be self-sufficient. In the early days, most of the income will come from the grants and loans available to Community Land Trusts. Later on though, rents paid on properties or shared ownership will generate profits, and these must be ploughed back into the community. 

    Looking at CLTs already running just in Cambridgeshire, it does not take many years before these new income streams can start supporting more community ventures.

    Get involved

    Importantly, the assets generated will be owned by the community and anyone who lives, works or has a close relative in the village can buy a £1 membership share and get involved. Follow the link and sign up here https://hiclt.org/membership/

    Everyone potentially has a say. All members will be able to vote at the AGM and any other general meetings called to take major decisions. There are also lots of opportunities for volunteers with enthusiasm and skills to make a difference to our locality.

    To register your interest, or to buy your £1 membership, email hello@hiclt.org   

    For more details, see the website at  https://hiclt.org or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/hiclt