Compiled by the Misses E R Gill and M Davy

1975

September 25th

1. A sponsored walk in aid of the three Anglican Churches in the Littleport area raised £500. There were 60 walkers and all finished in good spirits. The walk covered roughly (!) fourteen miles over the fen roads.

2. The Flower Arrangement Club gave a cheque for £37.50 to Mr John Crane for the Day Centre Appeal. The proceeds were the result of a Coffee Morning held in Mrs Peacock's garden.

October 2nd

1. An Alsatian was found caught in a gin trap in Littleport. It was freed and the RSPCA Inspector said at least half a dozen animals had been hurt and maimed by these illegal traps in recent months.

2. Tourist accommodation in the village will be increased by next season if Law Bros gain planning permission from the Council to build a set of holiday homes at Sandhill.

3. Mr Keith Layn and other local farmers predict a possible shortage of carrots. This is because of the hot weather and the attacks of pests.

October 16th

1. Mr George Elsegood, 56 year old bandmaster of the Littleport Brass Band, has been "sacked" and replaced by a musician he used to teach, Mr Brian Halls, County Music Teacher.

2. Mr Samuel Goodge closely missed death when his tractor was hit by a train at an unmanned crossing near Littleport. Mr Goodge, 83 years old, was comparatively unhurt. His tractor was destroyed.

3. The firm of R E Thornhill Ltd was charged with serving a contaminated loaf - the loaf contained a two inch piece of metal rod.

4. The new A10 road bridge at Littleport should be opened next summer. No date has been set for the continuing of the Ely-Littleport by-pass.

5. An Autumn Fayre, organised by the Pony Club, raised £142 for Club funds.

October 23rd

1. Progress is being made towards the provision of a new memorial outside St. Mary's Church, Ely. The stone tablet, commemorating the execution of the leaders of the Ely and Littleport Riots, is deteriorating because of the weather,

October 30th

1. The Harvest Supper held on Monday after the Harvest Festival in St George's Church on Sunday, October 19th, raised £75 for Church funds. The Supper was held in the Constitutional Hall.

2. The Salvation Army hope to raise £50 by a sponsored cycle ride.

3. The Day Centre Appeal is making steady progress.

4. Over 100 representatives of surrounding churches held an Archdeanery meeting at Littleport Village College on Wednesday, October 29th. The meeting was organised by the Littleport St. George's Young Peoples Group under their leader, Mrs T B Gordon.

November 13th

1. Although the Church Service was fairly well attended on Armistice Sunday, the only organisations to parade were the British Legion and the Girl Guides.

November 20th

1. Members of the Parish are complaining about the street lighting - some comes on at daylight - some at night and others not at all.

2. The East Cambs District Council are requesting more off street car parking in the village - they wish to acquire the car park of the Medical Centre for use on Saturday afternoons.

November 27th

1. Littleport is one of several villages in the area picked for a growth centre in the development plans for East Anglia.

2. The A10 road bridge is beginning to take shape. There must be a time lapse to allow the ground to settle. The new bridge will have a two-line road to allow the traffic to flow with greater ease. The weight limit will be 280 tons.

3. The Poppy Day Fund realised £370 in the village - a substantial increase on last year.

December 4th

1. Mrs Hazel Keen won the Heart of Gold Contest, organised by a Sunday Paper.

2. Littleport Parish Council precept on the rates is likely to increase by 25 per cent for the next financial year.

3. Miss Dorothy Defew, deputy Head of Ely High School until 1964, died last week. Miss Bertha Tilley, former Head Mistress, wrote a very warm tribute to her memory for the local paper.

December 11th

1. Council house tenants in East Cambridgeshire are facing a 60 per cent increase in their rents, with garage rents rising as well.

2. A memorial service was held in St. George's Church for Miss D Defew.

3. £253 was raised at a Christmas Fayre on Saturday, December 6th, by members of St. George's Church.

December 18th

1 An application to close St. George's Churchyard has been made to the Department of the Environment by the Vicar, The Rev W Hodgson. The scheme has the support of the East Cambs Councils and the local Parish Council.

December 24th

1. Groups of Carol singers have patrolled the village collecting for various good causes - including "Help the Aged", and Tower Hospital.

2. Mr George Elsegood, former Littleport Bandmaster for over 28 years, has been invited to accept office as a Vice-President of the East Anglian Brass Band Association.

December 30th

1. Julie Howe, member of the Littleport Pony Club, collected her 100th rosette. She is also being presented with the Member of the Year Trophy at the Littleport Village College, in recognition of her achievements.

3. The Friends of Tower Hospital collected over £1,350. This money is going towards building a new sun lounge.

4. The Black Horse Inn has raised a record amount of just over £706 for Cancer Research at its annual Christmas Sale and by different efforts throughout the year.

1976

January 8th

1. On Friday, January 2nd, a gale struck the area, bringing down trees, power lines, greenhouses, sheds, etc., and ripping tiles from roofs. Hundreds of council houses were affected and all emergency services were called out. Many homes were without electricity for several days.

2. Richard Hart of Upton Place, Littleport, has gained a degree in Chemistry. He has an upper second class Honours degree from Portsmouth Polytechnic.

January 15th

1. Mrs Ivy Sparrow of Littleport received compensation for an accident which took place in 1928. The man causing the accident was a bankrupt, who now wants to clear his debts.

January 22nd

1. The Church Clock is to have a face-lift. The Parish Council have agreed to take responsibility for this.

2. No more houses are to be built in Littleport at Wisbech Road or the Hempfield because the East Anglian Water Authority say the sewage works would be inadequate.

3. Car parking space at the Medical Centre has been refused, on the grounds that Doctors on duty might need the space.

January 29th

1. Councillor and Mrs Henry Crabb and Mr and Mrs F Clack celebrated their golden weddings on January 23rd.

2. Snow storms and blizzards caused electricity cuts in the area on Sunday and Monday of this week. There have been several very sharp frosts.

3. At the Annual Women's Institute Party on January 23rd the Drama Group entertained the members with a production called "Down Memory Lane". The show was a huge success and the party was voted "one of the best ever".

February 5th

1. The River Ouse was frozen over this week for the first time for several years. Many people have been looking out their skates!

2. The Youth Club of the Littleport Village College gave a party for the Over 70s of the Village on Saturday. Money for the venture was raised by a sponsored walk last Autumn and the Young People were wholly responsible for the meal and the enjoyable entertainment which followed it.

February 12th

1. Miss Catharine Hopkin was saved from drowning by Mr Dick Kerridge and his son, David. Miss Hopkin's car had skidded off the road and into the dyke at Gil Gal.

2. Mr F G Starling left an estate worth almost one and a half million pounds. All employees who had worked for at least five years received £10 for each year of service. Some employees benefited more under the terms of the will.

February 19th

1. Mr John Rampton has given free potatoes to the children of Little Ouse School. The price of potatoes has made them a luxury!

2. The latest news from the Anglian Water Authority is bad for both Ely and Littleport. Development restraint on the Littleport extensions of the sewerage treatment will not be lifted until 1978. This should have been completed in 1977.

3. The City of Ely Councillors have agreed to contribute £60 to the restoration of the stone tablet commemorating the Littleport Rioters, on St. Mary's Church in Ely.

March 4th

1. Theft from Page's Gift Shop. A man "paid" for a bracelet worth £95 with a stolen cheque.

2. The Transport and General Workers Union Centre at The Grange is having a complete "face-lift" this year. It is becoming a recuperation and holiday centre, instead of just a Convalescent Home for Union members

March 11th

1. Pupils of the Village College celebrated National Tree Week by planting over one hundred trees in the area.

March 18th

1. Mr George Elsegood, sacked Littleport band leader, has accepted the position of bandmaster of the March Railway Silver Band.

2. After a number of personal bequests the remainder of Miss D G Defew's property has been left to St. Etheldreda's Roman Catholic Church, Ely. Miss Defew, who died in November 1975, left just over £30,000.

3. The memorial to the Littleport Rioters of 1816, which has been attached to the wall of St. Mary's Church, Ely, since the lime of the Riots, is to be placed, with a suitable plaque, in the Parish Church at Littleport.

4. An announcement on Look East, BBC 1, on Wednesday, March 17th, stated that unless there was an extremely heavy downpour of rain in the Spring, water rationing was a certainty during the Summer. The use of hoses for cars and gardens is to stop as from Saturday, March 20th.

March 25th

1. The Ely and Littleport By-Pass is put forward for construction in the next five years in the first consultation draft of Cambs C C Transport and Policies Programme for this year.

March 30th

1. The guest of honour at the Festival 1976 Dinner at the Village College was Miss Joan Bakewell of television fame. Other events are taking place during the week.

April 8th

1. Councillor Henry Crabb is very concerned that Littleport could become a lifeless, dormitory town. More and more shops are closing and Mr Crabb feels that lack of industry in the town is the trouble.

2. The Day Centre fund now stands at £1,625.

April 29th

1. The Parochial Church Council devised a week of festivity to honour the festival of St. George and to raise money for Church funds. The organiser was Mrs June Bird.

2. Five team members of the Littleport Pony Club represented the Club at Ipswich on Wednesday at the Area Competition of the Prince Philip Mounted Games. On Sunday the club was represented at the Hunter Trials at Beck Row. On both occasions successes were achieved.

3. The Football and Cricket Clubs of the village have decided to organise a Gala Day to be held on July 31st, The day will be held as a sporting occasion and is reminiscent of the old Show Day.

4. Mr Dick Kerridge is not to be awarded any medal by the Royal Humane Society for his action in saving Miss Catharine Hopkin from drowning. Miss Hopkin says she is prepared to pursue the matter as she considers Mr Kerridge risked his life for her.

May 6th

1. Today is Polling Day for the local Parish Council and the East Cambs District Council.

2. The organisers of the effort to raise money for the Church during St. George's week were pleased with their total of £490.50

3. The local Scouts celebrated St. George's Day in St. George's Church, Littleport, on Sunday. They were joined by local Guides and Brownies. Eighteen colours were carried on the Parade.

May 13th

1. Mr Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the Liberal Party, visited Littleport on Friday, May 7th, when he toured the Constituency with Mr Clement Freud, MP.

2. Members of the W.T. are having a sponsored knitting marathon. They are knitting squares for blankets to send to the Rheumatism and Arthritis Council.

May 20th

1. Church history was made in Littleport last Sunday when, for the first time ever, Anglicans, Methodists and Salvation Army congregations united in an evening service to mark the beginning of Christian Aid Week.

2. Littleport Parish Council have turned down an idea to buy the Constitutional Hall, because of the present economic circumstances.

3. Councillor John Crane has been re-elected as Chairman of the Parish Council, whilst Councillor Heber Martin was re-elected Vice-Chairman.

4. The landscaping of Mill pond, Ely Road, is progressing. The Parish Council are undertaking this work.

May 27th

1. The new Ten Mile Pumping Station was opened on May 26th. The Littleport and Downham Internal Drainage Board was responsible for the building of the Station. It replaces an old station built in 1819.

2. Lieut and Mrs Knott, Salvation Army Officers, are leaving the village and being succeeded by Lieut and Mrs Nigel Reece.

3. St. George's Festival Week, held in order to raise funds for St. George's Church, resulted in a total of £500.

4. Work has been carried out on the Church clock. Contributions for this task have been made by local residents.

5. Littleport Methodists' sponsored walk has raised a total of £850. It was in aid of Methodist Circuit Funds.

June 10th

1. Two Haddenham boys, riding a motor cycle, crashed into a concrete post on Station Road, Littleport, on Sunday evening. One of the boys has since died.

2. Lieut Reece and his wife moved into their quarters on Hempfield Place last Thursday. They are also responsible for the Corps at Soham

June 26th

1. The Littleport Day Centre's Sponsored Walk raised £400. The Walk was organised by Councillor and Mrs John Crane.

2. Flower arrangements representing "The Wealth of the World" were on display at St. John's Methodist Church last weekend. The event raised £127.

3. Acting Littleport Girl Guide Commissioner, Mrs Pamela Buxton, was presented with a gift at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday. She and her family are moving to Scotland in the Summer.

July 1st

1. The St. George's Summer Fete raised £214 for Church funds.

2. The weather during the past fortnight has been the hottest in living memory. Severe shortage of water is causing concern.

3. Littleport Area Schools show their skills and imagination in an exhibition called "Out and About".

4. Mrs Roakes, village correspondent of the Littleport Gazette, is retiring after holding the post for thirty years.

July 15th

1. The hot weather and drought continue with rivers becoming polluted, crops spoiling and grass turning brown. The East Anglian Water Authority has asked everyone to economise in the use of water.

2. The Women's Institute entertained the Over Seventies of the village to tea at the Village College on Wednesday, July 7th.

3. Ten pupils of the Village College have made a study of "Doorstep Blackspots" or accident blackspots in the village. The display won the County Road Service award.

4. Members of the Mothers' Union took part in their centenary celebrations at the Cathedral last week.

July 22nd

1. Mr and Mrs George Law have presented a House Diving Cup to the Village College. Mr Law is well remembered for his champion dives from Sandhill Bridge during the Swimming Sports of former years.

2. The East Anglian Water Authority are urging farmers to cut their consumption of water for irrigation. The freak weather conditions have upset the balance between sea and fresh water in the Great Ouse River system, causing the water to be too salt for use on farms.

3. The Salvation Army Summer Sale raised the sum of £130.

4. Littleport farmers, Messrs Henry Thompson, have had a double success at the East of England Show. They won both the Championship Class for farms over 501 acres and the Supreme Championship Award for all farms throughout the area.

5. Three local men, Mr John Lusher, Mr Sidney and Mr Alfred Durrant, have been awarded medals for forty years' service on the farms of Mr J N Martin and Sons Ltd.

July 29th

1. Pauline Wallace (nee Watson) has graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree after a year at Lucy Cavendish College.

2. The new correspondent for the Littleport section of "News in Paragraphs" in the local paper, is Mrs Greta Taylor of 6 Hoof Close,

August 5th

1. The Gala held on Highfield on July 31st was an outstanding success. Mr Clement Freud, MP, presented prizes for decorated floats, competitions, fancy dress and gymkhana events.

2. The Horticultural Society's Show was held on the same day and in spite of the abnormally dry weather standards were very high. The local W.I. put on a show of handicraft, garden produce and cookery which was admired and appreciated by everyone.

3. Ten enthusiastic Salvation Army members undertook a sponsored walk on Monday to raise money to send David and Shelagh Clift to the Salvation Army Training College in London.

August 12th

1. The Anglian Water Authority have announced that unless greater economies are made by consumers, stand-pipes will be erected in the streets by October 11th.

August 19th

1. The Anglian Water Authority are seeking permission to make the River Ouse flow backwards from Ely so that Grafton Water Reservoir may be replenished. The drought is very serious, and in spite of warnings, some farmers are still burning off straw, thus causing extra work for the fire Service.

2. Poppy Chilvers won a TV set in a competition run by Watney Mann.

3. A £100 cheque was handed informally to Mr Walton, Methodist Minister, who has been forced to retire through ill health. The cheque was presented by Mr Harold Gotobed on behalf of all the members of the church.

August 26th

1. Still no rain. The Anglian Water Authority have, today, issued a list of ways in saving water. If necessary the Board has powers to cut off water supplies and proposes to cut householders off from the mains from 6 pm to 8 am the following morning.

2. The Fire Service is being well and truly "stretched" with a serious forest fire in Thetford Chase, caused by an aeroplane which crashed after taking off from Lakenheath Aerodrome. Another fire occurred in the fish shop in Hitches Street.

September 2nd

1. Burglars tried to break into the premises of Fine Fare at the weekend but beat a hurried retreat after they had set off the burglar alarm!

2. The first measurable rain for months fell over the holiday weekend. This rainfall has made no difference to the drought but will, at least, help some of the garden produce to grow slightly better crops than had been anticipated.

3. Thirteen year old Joanne Lee of Friars Way was chosen Gala Queen at a swimming gala held in the Village College Pool on Friday evening.

4. The Day Centre funds now stand at £2,151.90p. This amount has been raised within the last eighteen months.

September 9th

1. The Rev Geoffrey Revett was welcomed as the new Minister of St. John's Methodist Church at a special welcome evening on September 8th.

2. The local Girl Guides held a Coffee Morning in the Vicarage Garden on Wednesday, September 1st and raised £54.33 for local funds.

September 16th

1. On Sunday, September 12th, the old standards of the British Legion, Men's and Women's Sections, were laid up and new standards dedicated.

2. R W Taylor & Sons of Padnal Road are building forty prefabricated houses to export to Saudi Arabia. If the operation is successful it may lead to the firm's expansion and thus to increased employment in the village.

September 23rd

1. Weekly lessons on "Better Driving" have been arranged at the Village College during the Winter Session.

2. The Marquis of Granby Restaurant is to become a Chinese Take Away Food Shop. .3. Mrs M Darby has been commissioned as Enrolling Member of the Littleport Mothers' Union.

4. The Sponsored Walk organised by St. George's Church and the Church at St. Matthew's raised £382 and £62 respectively.

5. The 1st and 2nd Littleport Girl Guide Companies joined over 1,000 Guides and Rangers for a special Guide Praise Service in Ely Cathedral on Sunday afternoon.

6. Saturday's Annual Garden Fete organised by Little Ouse PTA resulted in £325.

October 7th

1. On Wednesday, Littleport Village College held a Careers Convention for 4th and 5th year pupils. It was organised by Mr D H Speed.

2. During this present session the College is organising a course on Modern Maths for Parents.

3. Now that the Littleport Day Centre Appeal Fund is half way to its target of £5,000, enquiries are to be made to find a suitable site or building within the town's shopping area.

October 14th

1. Littleport said "farewell" to one of its Health Centre doctors last week. Dr J L Burnet has retired after nearly 40 years in the town. A special fund was launched and at the Annual Harvest Supper at the Constitutional Hall the Vicar, the Rev T W Hodgson, presented Dr Burnet with a radio set and gold watch on behalf of the Littleport residents. Councillor John Crane expressed thanks to Dr Burnet for all he had done for the community and wished him and his wife a long and happy retirement. Bouquets were presented to Mrs Burnet and also to Nurse Thompson, who is emigrating to Australia.

October 21st

1. The first phase in a multi million pound plan to improve the A10 through East Cambridgeshire will be completed on Tuesday, when the new Littleport Road Bridge is opened to traffic.

2. Mrs Kathleen Thornhill of 57 Upton Place has been awarded the silver medal for the best all round nurse to qualify at Newmarket Hospital, during the period 1974-76.

3. Mr Clement Freud, MP for the Isle of Ely, is to be a guest at the Village College on Friday.

4. The new Littleport Bridge was opened to traffic on Tuesday, October 19th.

October 28th

1. The acute shortage of housing in Littleport may soon be at an end. East Cambs D C are to buy 26 flats on Parson's Lane.

November 18th

1. The first meeting of the Littleport Silver Jubilee Committee was held at the Village College last Wednesday. The Committee agreed upon a full programme of events for Jubilee Day. They are also giving a silver coin to every child under 17 in the town.

2. Plans to tidy the Littleport St. George's churchyard are to go ahead despite some opposition.

3. Littleport Parish Council are supporting a move by the Great Ouse River Division to build free moorings along the river from the Dock to Littleport Bridge.

November 25th

1. Mr and Mrs B Wright held a Coffee Evening in their home and realised £50-£60, which will be used to purchase a number of chairs for use in the Church and the Parish Room.

2. A sum of £62 was raised for the mentally handicapped at a bazaar organised by Mr and Mrs A Copsey and family.

December 17th

1. Littleport is to have a week of concentrated fund raising to reach its target to finance the Jubilee celebrations in the town. The week of activity will be launched on March 1st.

December 24th

1. On Wednesday, December 22nd, Dr J L Burnet died very suddenly at his home, Mow Fen Hall, Littleport.

2. Various parties of Carol Singers have toured the village. The Church Choir, the Guides and Brownies, the Salvation Army and British Legion Bands, as well as the Round Table from Ely. The latter collecting as usual for Tower Hospital. The Guides and Brownies came round just to give pleasure to their listeners.

1977

January 6th

1. Honour for local farmer - Mr John Sinclair Martin has been made a CBE in the New Year's Honours List: for services to the Agricultural Research Council.

2, Dr J L Burnet, whose death was reported last week, was cremated on Wednesday, December 29th, 1976.

January 13th

1. On Thursday, January 13th, a blizzard struck the country and 39 villages and towns were blacked out as snow affected the power lines in East Anglia.

2. A cornea graft at Addenbrooke's Hospital has given nine year old Tina Jackson sight in one of her eyes. She had been blind ever since birth.

January 20th

1. Voluntary Wild Life Work on the Welney Wild Life Reserve by six local schoolboys has been recognised by naturalist, Sir Peter Scott. He presented each of the boys with a copy of his book 'The Swans'.

2. Littleport's Constitutional Hall has been bailed out of its financial difficulties with an increased grant from the town's Parish Council

3. Littleport's estimated precept for the coming financial year is £200 up on last year's figure.

February 3rd

1. Local farmers are furious because the Ely Beet Sugar Factory has closed, leaving local farmers with thousands of tons of beet still in the ground. The wet conditions have prevented many from working in the fields.

2. The County Council's decision to cut Education costs by 35 per cent has caused much worry and indignation to parents and teachers in the region.

3. Mr Raymond, a local postman, was bitten by an Alsatian dog belonging to Mrs Smith of 26 Kirby Cross Avenue.

4. The Rev Henry Housman, a past curate at St. Matthew's, Littleport, is claiming that he was unfairly dismissed by the Bishop of Ely. An Industrial Tribunal to enquire into the matter is to be held in early March.

February 18th

1. The Housing Development on Parsons Lane is to be called Limes Close. The site used to be gardens belonging to "The Limes".

2. Judith Crook and Jacqueline Taylor of the 1st Littleport Guide Company have both been presented with their Queen's Guide Award at a special ceremony this week.

February 24th

1. The Police Station at Littleport is going on short time opening because of the spending cut back.

2. Mr Berridge, Manager of Barclays Bank, is being promoted to become Manager of the Great Shelford Branch. His place is to be taken by Mr Frank Richards from St. Neots.

3. Thirty Girl Guides from Littleport and Little Downham travelled to London for the Thinking Day Service in Westminster Abbey on February 22nd.

March 10th

1. The case of the ex Littleport curate, the Rev Housman, was brought before an industrial tribunal in Cambridge on Thursday last. The tribunal was adjourned.

2. A Concert Party, the Rol-de-Fols from the Littleport and Black Horse Drove WIs, gave a concert in the Village College on Thursday evening. The hall was filled to capacity and the concert was a great success. It was produced by Winnie Law and Joyce Brown.

March 17th

1. The Littleport Jubilee Committee hope to raise approximately £1,200 before June 7th. A week of fund raising events is to be held from March 19th-26th, inclusive.

2. Littleport Hunter Club held their hunter trials on Sunday at Ely's Highflyer Farm by permission of Mr Peter Lee.

March 31st

1. Cambridgeshire County Councillor Henry Crabb is "disillusioned" with the Authority and has decided not to seek re-election in the Littleport Ward at the May elections.

2. Littleport Jubilee Committee's Fund Raising Week was a resounding success. A target of £1,200 was set and by the end of the week it was estimated this had been exceeded by £500.

3. Littleport born Dr Alfred Spinks has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society.

4. Broadcaster and Commentator, Mr Brian Johnston, was the Guest of Honour at the Village College end of term dinner run by the Evening Centre.

April 7th

1. Mr Heber Martin is contesting the Littleport seat in next month's Cambridgeshire County Council Election. Another contestant is Mr J Gowing. Both men are Independents.

April 14th

1. It was with deep regret that many local people heard of the death of Mrs Dorothy Wilson, wife of Dr Wilson, who practised for many years in the village before moving to Rhodesia. Mrs Wilson died in Sale, Cheshire, near the home of her daughter, Islay.

April 21st

1. Littleport Pony Club took second place to Enfield in an area round of the Prince Philip Cup near Enfield on Tuesday. The Club also won the Daily Mail Rosette for the best turned-out team. They now go to the zone finals to be held at Skegness in August.

April 28th

1. Three members from Littleport Village College appeared on Anglia Television's "Chatterbox" on Tuesday.

2. A Littleport woman, Squadron Officer Angela Moffatt, is to be invested as an Officer of the Order of St. John for her services to humanity, at a special ceremony next month.

May 12th

1. Mr Heber Martin won the scat in Littleport at the election for a member of the Cambridgeshire County Council. The percentage poll was 23.8.

2. The local Jubilee Committee are finalising their plans for the Celebrations on June 7th.

May 19th

1. It is feared children may have started the blaze which destroyed a barn in Littleport on Friday evening. The barn was the property of Law Bros Ltd, and the estimated cost of the fire is £1,000.

2. Littleport's Constitutional Hall Company, which has provided a Social Meeting place in the town for the past ninety years, may face liquidation during the next few months. The Hall became a limited Company in 1890 and 329 ordinary shares of £5 were issued.

3. Following a request from Councillor Roger Crook to the Parish Council, efforts are being made to set up a Youth Liaison Action Committee in the town, so that young people may take an active and constructive part in a number of schemes for the benefit of the Community.

May 26th

1. Littleport County Primary School raised £116.03 for the Thandigudi Goodwill Children's Village in Southern India last week.

2. On Saturday, June 4th, members of the Littleport Flower Arrangement Club will join thousands of other flower arrangers throughout the country in staging the biggest floral tribute ever to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee. They will place an arrangement of flowers in every place of worship in the village.

June 2nd

1. A Committee has been set up to look into the whole question of a community hall for the village as the Constitutional Hall is no longer a paying concern.

June 9th

1. On Tuesday, June 7th, the whole village celebrated Jubilee Day in grand style. A street festival was held in the morning, sports and tea for children in the afternoon and a "disco", dance and barbecue in the evening. All this was rounded off by a torchlight parade around the village,

June 16th

1. Mrs Muriel Thornhill of 8 Queen's Road received one of the 30,000 Queen's Silver Jubilee Medals. These are personal awards from the Sovereign given for outstanding service to the community. Mrs Thornhill has worked for the Gas Board for many years.

June 23rd

1. A newly formed Committee of young people have got together under the auspices of the Parish Council to tidy up the village and make it a smarter place. They call themselves the Littleport Youth Liaison Action Committee.

2. The Church Garden Fete realised £240 for Church funds.

3. Mr and Mrs H Saul of 15 City Road celebrated their diamond wedding this week.

4. The Rev Hodgson, who has been Vicar of Littleport for three years, is retiring because of ill health.

June 30th

1. The Primary School presented a Cavalcade of History on Wednesday, June 22nd, to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Five hundred children dressed in period costume paraded through the streets to Highfield, led by the Town Band. On Highfield they performed plays on wagons, sited around the field, in true medieval fashion.

July 7th

1. Mrs Dixon and Mrs Gotobed both won first prizes for their flower arrangements in the Jubilee Competition "Vivat, Vivat Regina" held at Rowley Mile, Newmarket. Mesdames Gilbert, Bowers, Palmer and Browning were very highly commended for their arrangement for the section "Times Past - Times to Come".

July 14th

1. Littleport children will not receive their Jubilee Crowns until September because of the hold-up over presentation cases.

2. The money left over from the town's Jubilee celebrations is to be given to the Schools in the Littleport Group plus £100 which will go to the Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal.

3. The Littleport Youth Liaison Committee has begun its good work by tidying up the Old Cemetery and painting the Church Lane bus shelter.

4. Children from the Primary School took part in a performance of "Noye's Fludde", by Benjamin Britten, in the Cathedral last week.

July 21st

1. Littleport's second Gala Day proved another outstanding success. The Chairman, Mr Albert Ware, said that around 3,500 and 4,000 people attended and around £2,000 was raised.

2. The Primary School pupils took part in a "Kaleidoscope of History" around the Cathedral in Ely on Wednesday, July 20th.

August 4th

1, The Annual Show organised by the Littleport Horticultural Society and the Women's Institute was again a great success. The Show attracted more entries than in the past two years, particularly in the vegetable section.

August 18th

1. Preliminary drawings of a village hall for Littleport have been drawn up. One consists of the possibility of a complete conversion of the existing Hall, another is for a completely new building.

2. The Littleport Youth Liaison Action Committee, having cleared the overgrown patch of land on Ely Road, have now turned their attentions to cleaning up the Playing Field.

September 22nd

1. Miss Ann Garvey, a part-time lecturer at the Cambridge Technical College, has caused a great stir in the district following her article on "Fen Tigers" in the magazine "New Society". Many letters have appeared in the local Press defending our ways of life in the Fens.

2. Two proposals were put to the Parish Council on Monday concerning a Village Hall. One suggested buying the Constitutional Hall; the second building a new Hall on part of the Playing Field.

3. The newly opened Littleport Bridge had to be closed last week while repairs were carried out on one of the supports of the Bridge.

4. At Little Ouse a Gala Fete on Saturday was well attended and over £250 is expected as a result. The Fete was organised by the PTA.

5. Long bread queues have been a common sight in the village during the recent bread strike.

6. It is expected that £360 will have been raised for St. George's Church and £90 for St. Matthew's by a sponsored walk held last Saturday.

7. Mr Neville Murfitt of 70 Kirby Cross Avenue has been co-opted onto Littleport Parish Council.