Tuesday 25th November from 7.30 – 9pm at Histon Methodist Church.
The last talk before Christmas – Did Cromwell Cancel Christmas? – by Stuart Orme, Curator of the Cromwell Museum.
Non-members require a ticket for both in-person and Zoom. Members are only required to book if attending in person.
Our community is gearing up to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two with the Royal British Legion (RBL) club leading efforts to mark the occasion here in H&I. Lucy Callington tells more.
To mark Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) the RBL on Saffron Road is hosting an afternoon tea party, including children’s crafts and games. The club is inviting members of the public of all ages to join in celebrating VE Day 80, as they plan to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the Second World War generation.
Dave Blakesley of Histon RBL said: “We’re so excited for this special national celebration. Coming along to a VE Day Tea Party is a wonderful way to come together with family, friends, and community to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day and a year of commemorations marking 80 years since the end of WWII. It also supports the Royal British Legion, and helps make a real difference for those who have served”.
The tea party on 5 May is free to attend, and scones and refreshments will be available at no cost, although the RBL is welcoming donations to the Poppy Appeal.
The Royal British Legion will also hold a short service at the Peace Memorial on Water Lane at 6.15pm on VE Day, Thursday 8 May, as well as on Victory over Japan Day (VJ) Day on 15 August.
80 years on
Victory in Europe Day commemorates the official surrender of all German military operations in World War Two on 8 May, 1945.
However, the original VE day in Histon and Impington was not celebrated quite as fervently as in some other parts of the country because so many Cambridgeshire men were captured at Singapore by the Japanese. The H&I Village Society does however have some records of events that took place here at the end of the war.
A photo, donated by Margo Tolliday to the society, shows a street party in Saffron Road, Histon in June, 1945. It took place a month after VE day to allow time for planning, and featured fancy dress costumes for the children. Ongoing food rationing at the time meant the food available had to be carefully planned. There was also a parade through the centre of the Village.
H&I residents are planning their own celebrations including a similar street party, organised for residents of Park Avenue, Histon in the afternoon on Sunday 4 May, where organisers say, “bunting and scones are encouraged”.
Boost for pubs
Nationally, pub goers will be able to enjoy an extra two hours on Thursday 8 May to raise a toast to veterans to celebrate this historic anniversary as venues with a usual closing time of 11pm will be able to keep their doors open till 1am. This echoes what happened on VE Day, 80 years ago.
While it’s unclear at the moment if any of H&I pubs will offer their patrons longer hours, Susie at the King Bill is planning to get into the commemorative spirit by hanging bunting and painting a commemorative display on the window panes of the pub.
Visit Royal British Legion | Armed Forces Charity and VE Day Celebrations 1945 — Histon and Impington Village Society for more information.
Histon & Impington Village Society (HIVSoc) has announced the election of Linda Holland who will replace long-time Chair, Max Parish. Max will continue at the Society as a committee member whilst Linda steps up as Chair with immediate effect.
Linda joined the Village Society committee after being inspired by the Chiver’s exhibition and, since then, has been involved in organising coffee mornings as well as leading the CALH Conference hosted by HIVSoc last April.
Talking to HI HUB, she said: “The role gives me an opportunity to be more involved with activities in the village and to get to know more people.
‘”It also allows me to use skills developed during many years working in the third sector as well as keeping the ‘grey cells’ working!”
Professional experience
Professionally, Linda has over 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, working at a national level with charities in social justice, disability, and retail.
More recently, she was a management consultant helping organisations strengthen governance and grow their capacity. She also serves on the boards of two other Cambridgeshire charities.
Involvement
Originally from London, Linda spent nearly 20 years living on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders before moving to Impington in 1996. “What drew me here was the house and its proximity to Cambridge”, she said “but, since retiring, I’ve come to truly appreciate all the wonderful facilities and activities our village has to offer.”
A keen gardener, Linda is involved with the Histon & Impington Garden Club and is also a member of the University of the Third Age (U3AC) in Cambridge. Her daughters currently live locally and she has a grandson at Impington Village College.
Keep up-to-date with Histon & Impington Village Society news and events here.
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Histon and Impington Village Society is holding a talk on Tuesday 30th January from 7.30pm at Histon Methodist Church and on Zoom.
The talk is entitled “Exploring Cambridgeshire Churches” by John E Vigar.
Histon and Impington Village Society is holding a talk on Tuesday 25th April from 7.30pm at Histon Methodist Church.
Michael Watson, owner of Abbey Farm, will share some of his discoveries about the history of the farmhouse and bring us up to date with this extraordinary project.
All welcome but please book on Eventbrite.
Histon and Impington Village Society is holding a talk on Tuesday 28th March from 7.30pm at Histon Methodist Church.
There will be a panel of four local guest speakers who will give an insight into their memories of growing up and working in Histon and Impington. This will be followed by a fun and relaxed Question & Answer session where we hope audience members will share their own memories or ask questions of those who lived here when the villages were much smaller.
Tickets are free for members, and £4 for non-members (either in-person or on Zoom). Please book your place via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/residents-memories-of…
Histon and Impington Village Society is holding a members’ coffee morning on Saturday 25th February from 10am – 12pm at Histon Methodist Church.
This is an opportunity to catch up with friends and meet other members. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be served free of charge to members. Members of our history group will also be available to chat to anyone who is thinking about a research project.
A joint talk will be held by Histon and Impington Village Society and Histon and Impington Archaeology Group (HIAG) on Monday 27th February at 7.30 p.m. at Histon Methodist Church and via Zoom.
We are delighted to invite Alison Dickens of Granta Heritage who will give a talk entitled ‘Beneath the Choir Stalls of King’s College, Cambridge’. Alison will talk about the amazing finds discovered during a programme of treatment of the timber of the choir stalls in 2001 when over fifty sacks of debris and dust were removed. After careful hand sieving 544 items were recovered. Alison, an archaeologist with over 30 years’ experience, examines the significance of these objects and the light they shine on people who have used the chapel.
Book Now via Eventbrite or call 07956 720023.
Histon and Impington Village Society is holding a talk on Tuesday 31st January from 7.30pm at Histon Methodist Church.
Mary Burgess will talk about the photographic studio in Post Office Terrace, Cambridge which was home to many photographers throughout its 120-year lifespan from 1865 through to 1985. All the great and the good of Cambridge were photographed here including authors, local gentry, academics and sportsmen. It was also the home of Ramsey and Muspratt, famous women photographers in Cambridge from the 1930s through to the 1970s.
Book via Eventbrite
Histon and Impington Village Society is holding a talk on Tuesday 29th November from 7.30pm at Histon Methodist Church.
The proposed Trinity College Science Park is one of the most significant planning developments in Histon and Impington for decades. The site is next to the Impington Village College, bounded by the Busway. Trinity College, which owns the Science Park, has taken an option on 400 acres of greenbelt farmland owned by the Chivers Farms Ltd and has purchased a plot of land that would provide vehicle access onto Butt Lane.
The session will involve a full presentation and plenty of time for a Q and A. We welcome our members and residents to come along to find out more directly from the team behind it.
Please note booking required via this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/proposed-plans-for-a-new-science-park-in-impington-tickets-463655324557 . Alternatively call 07956 720023 or email handivsoc@gmail.com.