Benwick in The News

July 2nd - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

They're All Good Sports

YOUNGSTERS at Benwick School celebrated their healthy week with sports day on Thursday. Pupils from the schools gymnastic club - run by Caron Robinson and Suzanne Curson - gave a demonstration and there was also keep fit by three classes.

Youngsters took part in a series of eight games devised by year 6 pupils. The theme of the day was fruit and the teams were named after fruits and wore their fruits colours. Parents dressed in the same colours and brought fruit for their children to eat.

Winners were the Cherries. A cup awarded for the year 6 pupil who has shown the most support for their team was jointly awarded to Jordan Thacker and Rhinna Kennington. The pupils taking part in sports day were each given a medal provided by the Friends of Benwick School.

June 20th - Courtesy of The Cambs Times

Fleeced!

The story of the Mythical Greek hero Jason and his quest for the golden fleece was scaled down for the small stage last week, by pupils from a Fenland School.

It was Benwick School's Key Stage 2 production, called Fleeced - and was derived from the Classic film Jason and the Argonauts. Benwick Village Hall was packed with parents, grandparents and friends last week for three performances. Assistant Headteacher Jackie North said: "There were lots of laughs and a number of well choreographed parts."

June 23rd - Courtesy of The Cambs Times

Man charged after firearm incident in Fenland village involving prisoner on leave

A FENLAND farmer has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence after an incident at his home involving a prisoner on weekend leave.

Police firearm specialists and the Cambs Police helicopter were called to Benwick on Saturday afternoon following a 999 call made by farmer Barry Smith.

The 30 year farmer and heating engineer was at his Plantation Farm home when the incident - which involved damage to Smith's pick up truck- happened.

The day release prisoner, Lee Elmer also Benwick, has been charged with criminal damage and will appear before magistrates in Peterborough on July 8..

Smith was released pending further investigations and was bailed to return to Wisbech Police Station on July 7.

Eye witness accounts report that a gun was fired during the incident and a stray pellet hit one of the occupants of a blacked out people carrier that had arrived outside Smith's home.

Smith is understood to have made the 999 call to police.

June 4th - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

Do you have any Benwick Bygones?

A new book on the history of Benwick is being put together by Janet Foutain and Adam Keppel-Garner. "Benwick Bygones is due to be released this year, and the authors have put in a lot of work bringing the history of the village together.

Already, a few people have contributed photographs and history of the village and Adam has used pictures from his website, www.lilyholtroad.co.uk.

But there are some photographs they would like. In particular these are: The George Pub, The White Hart Pub and The Benwick Feast. They also need photographs and programmes from the 1953 coronation and the same from the 1977 silver jubilee.

Adam is keen to receive information on the New World Chapel which was near the Swann Inn alongside Dykemoor Drove. If you have any of these or any other photographs, newspaper cuttings, general information or anything else then Janet and Adam would like to hear from you.

They are looking for anyone who has any memorabilia from the village. Contact Janet on 01354 677228 or Adam on 01354 677494 or adam@lilyholtroad.co.uk

April 30th - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

New club for Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons fans

A NEW Warhammer, Dungeons and Dragons Club has opened at Benwick Village Hall.

The club has been started by two brothers who enjoy playing these table top strategy games but had no venue since the Chatteris club stopped running.

The club is open to anyone over ten years-old who likes to play Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons, or would like to learn how to play.

Members meet on alternate Saturdays from noon to 3pm paying a £3 fee.

Snacks and drinks are also on sale.

February 6th - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

Traffic Trouble

RESIDENTS in Benwick are concerned about extra traffic in the village in the wake of the Forty Foot Bank being closed due to part of the bank collapsing.

There have been three accidents in the village within days of each other - one at Ramsey Road and two at Doddington Road.

Residents are concerned about the traffic and think the sharp corners along Doddington Road are catching drivers out.

The bends have been the site of accidents in the past but recently, two vehicles have crashed within two days - one going across a resident's garden. The Doddington Road is restricted to 30 mph and the bends are just outside the limit but are signed.

Nearby residents feel some drivers use the village as a "race track" and the matter was due to be raised at yesterday's parish council meeting. Chairman Howard Langford said he understood residents would raise the matter at the meeting, if not, he said it would be raised by councillors.

Mr Langford said he isn't sure what can be done but he hoped possibly police could carry out speed checks. He said the council had asked for a weight limit through the village but was told this couldn't be done because it would divert traffic round the Forty Foot Bank road which is a blackspot.

Mr Langford said traffic has increased since the Forty Foot diversions went up - particularly at rush-hour times. "Cars come down here like merry stink," he said, claiming people are making their way to work at Huntingdon.

February 2nd - Courtesy of The Cambs Times

Pupils Lend Themselves to Run Library

PRIMARY school's new lending library was opened by Richard Young, Cambridgeshire County Council's library services manager.

The library at Benwick Primary School has been organised by pupils in Years 5 and 6 to develop independence and enterprise skills.

They will run the library, which will be open to primary school children and pre-school children at Benwick Butterflies.

Jackie North, Years 5 and 6 class teacher and literacy co-ordinator at Benwick School, said: "The children have decided which books are available to lend, labelled and ticketed them, and advertised their library via posters and competitions.

January 30th - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

New Lending Library For Benwick School

BOOK worms at Benwick School can benefit from a new service being promoted by the children - for the children. A new lending library has been opened up by Richard Young, of Cambs County Council's library service.

It has been organised by pupils in years 5 and 6 to develop independence and enterprise skills.

The pupils have decided which books will be available to lend, labelled and ticketed them. They also wrote letters to parents and authors inviting them to the official opening.

Author Emily Gravett replied and although unable to attend, she sent the school one of her illustrations from her book "Wolves" which has been framed and put up in the library.

The lending library will be run by years 5 and 6 and will be open to primary and also to pre-school children at Benwick Butterflies. Jackie North, class teacher and literacy co-ordinator, said: "We are trying to get the children something to get their teeth into and promote. This year is national reading year and this also promotes awareness"

Village Online

On Friday a new genealogy section is launched on Benwick website www.lilyholtroad.co.uk, along with the other monthly updates. The section was created to help people research their family trees. Website organiser Adam Keppel-Garner has transcribed all the graves in the Baptist cemetery and will be doing the other two village graveyards soon.

There are also extracts from school logs taken from A J Whitney's book "Diary of A Victorian Village School" There is information on all the soldiers on the War Memorial and documents on the Baptist Chapel naming the people who donated to help get it re-built in 1874, plus copies of death certificates.

Adam is looking for old photographs of village people and old newspaper cuttings. If you can help contact Adam through his website.

Other updates this month include pages on the Benwick Residents Association, Parish Plan and Benwick Junior Ametu Dramatics, as well as the launch of a guestbook for people to leave comments on the site.

January 9th - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

Boost for Benwick

The proceeds from the two competitions organised by Adam Keppel-Garner through his Benwick website www.lilyholtroad.co.uk were presented the village hall committee on Thursday.

Through his photography competition and treasure hunt he raised £284 for the village hall, with the competitions being sponsored by Whitehall Plastics and March Stationery & Print (photography competition) and the treasure hunt being sponsored by Greenvale.

Adam said "A big thank you to all who entered the competitions, and I hope that the next time I organise some there will be even more people entering and even more money raised for the village."

Adam launched the website last September to raise more money for the village. Not only does he run the website but he is also on the Village Hall Committee, Benwick Residents Association and Parish Plan Steering group.

January 2nd - Courtesy of The Fenland Citizen

Village Photographers Snap Up Prizes

THE winners of a Benwick photography competition were announced at a Tombola at the Village Hall. Winner of the adult category was Albert Sismey, who won a Fuji A820 digital camera supplied by March Stationery & Print.

The winner of the children's category was Laura Pottinger, who won a digital camera which, along with the other prizes, was sponsored by Whitehall Plastics. Richard Emmitt was second and Chris Paice was third in the adult category.

There were four other runners up - Christine Rickards, Janet Fountain, Joyce Webster and Carolyne Pottinger.

Second in the children's category was Rebecca Paice with Kieran Pottinger third and runners up of Kieran and Laura Pottinger.

The competition raised £46 for the village hall. Organised Adam Keppel-Garner plans to hold it again, possibly for another village organisation.

"Judging was quite hard, there were some really good entries, and we all had a difficult time choosing a winner" said Adam.

Hunt Spot on For Hall

A treasure hunt organised by Benwick resident Adam Keppel-Garner raised £238 for the Village Hall.

The competition was sponsored by GREENVALE, who donated money for all the prizes. Top prizes were a DVD player, digital radio and a set of 5 mobile house phones.

The winner of the digital radio was Doreen Guy. Winner of the DVD player was Mr. J Coe and winner of the home phones was Lisa Beevor.