v4 LIVE MAR-APR 2017 20pp - Huntingdon First fileAf te rno .Hu igd Lbay 1 . 3 0pm- 4 52 17Th eE astrBIG Fmil yunD unti gd oRa c e rs .F m £ 1 0. 48 5 37 8GoRac ingEv eFxtur H unti

H U N T I N G D O N

March / April 2017www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk FREE

H U N T I N G D O N

Award Winning HuntingdonAchievements galore!

Time to Move House?Check out our check list

Spring CompetitionWin £50 to spend in town

Events DiaryWhat’s happening in

Huntingdon?

www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk

2 To advertise call 01954 267444 or email [email protected] you saw it in Huntingdon LIVE when replying to advertisers

March/April 2017H U N T I N G D O N

H U N T I N G D O N

March/April 2017

3www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk Join us on Facebook/HuntingdonFirst Follow us on Twitter @ /HuntingdonFirst

Inside Huntingdon LIVEthis month...

Please note: Huntingdon LIVE cannot take responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts,photographs or illustrations or for errors in articles or advertisements in the magazine.

Your Huntingdon First team01480 450250 [email protected] www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk

Huntingdon has had a happy run of

award-winning businesses. Find out who

won what and why. And be sure to come

along to the latest Vintage Craft Fair –

always popular.

WIN £50 in our Spring Competition on Page 18.

If you have any news or events, do let usknow as we can always promote them on our website orFacebook page.

Extra sockets • Lighting • ExtensionsRe-wires • Security LightingShowers • InspectionsNo job too small. Free estimatesEstablished in 1996Tel: 01480 432154Mob: 07976 797111

Frank Plater Electrical

Huntingdon LIVEis the regular bi-monthly magazine promoted and published by

Symmetry for and on behalf of BID Huntingdon.

Tel: 01954 267444 Email: [email protected] DPM Ltd. Elsworth Cambridge CB23 4GB

Advertise in Huntingdon LIVEand let your potential customers know YOU’RE THERE.Call 01954 [email protected]

We CAN boost your business

Huntingdon FirstOne Town, One Goal

RAMSEY MOBILE FOOT CLINICMobile Foot Health Care

• Corns • Callus • Fungal Nails • Ingrown Toenails • Diabetic Footcare • Toenail & Fingernail Cutting

Hilary O’Hagan MCFHP MAFHPProprietor

t: 01487 208917m: 07526 131480

e: [email protected]

H U N T I N G D O N

4

March/April 2017

To advertise call 01954 267444 or email [email protected] you saw it in Huntingdon LIVE when replying to advertisers

H U N T I N G D O N

March/April 2017


EVENTS DIARYMarch2 TESCO From Back Door to FrontDoor: EngAGE in the Afternoon.Huntingdon Library. 1.30pm-3.30pm. 0345 045 5225

3 Science Fiction, Fantasy andHorror Book Sale Huntingdon Library. 0345 045 5225

5 Steve Lockwood Live music.Samuel Pepys. 1pm-3pm. Free

5 The Cambridge National Family Fun Raceday HuntingdonRacecourse. 12.20pm-6pm. From£12. 01480 453373

12 Wedding Showcase The GeorgeHotel. 12 noon-5pm. Free. 01480 432444

15 The Festival Fever Go RacingRaceday Huntingdon Racecourse.11.45am-5.40pm. From £10.01480 453373

18 Spring Craft & Vintage FairCommemoration Hall. 10am-4pm.Free entry. Organised by CambsLock Antiques & Collectables andHuntingdon First

19 Wedding Fair HinchingbrookeHouse. 11am-3.30pm. 01480 420538

25 Choral & Orchestral ConcertHunts Phil. HinchingbrookeHouse. 7.30pm. £14.00/£12.00.01480 375678

25 Boogie Night 70’s themed discoCommemoration Hall. 7.30pm ‘tillate. £5

29 Thai culinary event Outside Pre-mier Travel, Huntingdon. 12noon- 2.30pm. Sample typical Thailandcuisine. 01480 371777

Looking for something to do or a local venue? www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk

31 10th Bossendorfer Piano Concert Masayuki Tayama.Hinchingbrooke House. 7.30pm.£12. 01480 375678

April2 Steve Lockwood Live music.

Samuel Pepys. 1pm-3pm. Free3 Midweek Go Racing Raceday

Huntingdon Racecourse. From£10. 01480 453373

6 Picture The Past EngAGE in theAfternoon. Huntingdon Library.1.30pm-3.30pm. 0345 045 5225

17 The Easter BIG Family Fun DayHuntingdon Racecourse. From£10. 01480 453373

28 GoRacing Evening FixtureHuntingdon Racecourse. From £10. 01480 453373

As far as possible the above information is accurate. BID Huntingdon takes no responsibility for information published incorrectly.

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SHOPMOBILITY Shopmobility provides a service, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-3pm,from premises in Princes Street carpark. For more details contact:01480 432793

Traditional MarketsMarket SquareEvery Wednesday & Saturday

For further information01480 388388

FREE AFTER SIX PARKINGComing in to eat, drink and meetfriends in the evening? RememberHDC car parks are FREE after 6pm

H U N T I N G D O N

March/April 2017


6

01954 231545 [email protected]

20 Norman Way Industrial EstateOver Cambridge CB24 5QE

We are open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday

No catch – we’ve been making great quality prescription glasses and sunglasses for over 30 years – and now you can buy your glasses directly from us.Visit our factory shop – where you can choose from a wide range of contemporary frames with the help of our friendly and knowledgeable team.We’d love to see you – please ring to book an appointment (we get quite busy!) and bring along your up-to-date prescription.

BEAUTIFUL EYEWEAR AT DISCOUNT PRICES – SO WHAT’S THE CATCH?

H U N T I N G D O N

7www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk Join us on Facebook/HuntingdonFirst Follow us on Twitter @ /HuntingdonFirst 7

March/April 2017

For helpful andfriendly advice,

pop in and talk toJon or Emma Pratt,

your local tilingexperts

H U N T I N G D O N

Music StreetDiscover why Huntingdon is lucky to have such a top note business

As worthy winners of the ‘Hunts Post Retailer of the YearAward 2016’, Music Street is a well-regarded and muchsought after business in Chequers Court, Huntingdon.

Primarily dealing in guitars, thevariety on offer coupled with theexpert advice on hand is secondto none. From beginners toprofessional musicians there issomething for everyone andevery ability.

Starting from under £100 therange currently extends up to a £15,000 limited edition2002 Taylor LTG ‘The Liberty Tree’ guitar. One of only 400made from the last of the 13 original ‘Liberty Trees’ in theUS and one of only three that came to the UK.

But it’s not just about guitars; Music Street’s offeringextends to amplifiers, drums, woodwind instruments andPA systems, not forgetting a vast choice of associatedaccessories and music, a veritable Aladdin’s cave of allthings musical.

Tuition in both guitar and drums is also available fromRoger and Barry and with its own in-house workshop forset-ups and repairs this is a winning combination.

Whilst Music Streethas an excellentonline presence witha vast customerbase from as farafield as Australiathere is nosubstitute for beingable to ‘try beforeyou buy’ soHuntingdon is really

8

Award-Winning Businesses in Townfortunate to have this exceptional business with itswelcoming atmosphere.

Longstanding music industry retailer and Music Street’sDirector, Tony Rawson, firmly believes that an ethos ofcustomer satisfaction comes first alongside high qualityproducts and the bestcustomer service possible.By making sure staff aretrained to offer bothassistance and support hebelieves that the awardfor Huntingdonshire'sRetailer of the Year isrecognition of theirconstant passion to be thebest.

So if you’re a budding Eric Clapton or Brian May, or alreadya great musician in your own right, you can be sure of anaward winning service from all at Music Street.

10 Chequers Court, Huntingdon PE29 3LJ

01480 431222www.musicstreet.co.uk facebook.com/musicstreetuk

Premier Travel HuntingdonAs reported on Huntingdon First website and Facebook,Premier Travel Huntingdon has won and been nominatedfor a number of awards over the last few years thanks to itsexceptional customer service and experienced team oftravel consultants.

Last year staff celebrated two important tributes; Premierscooped an industry award for Cruise Agent of the Year forlarge agencies by The Travel Network Group – the largestindependent travel network in Europe – for its success inselling and promoting cruise holidays to the public. Theaward was presented at a cruise conference for travelagents across the UK held in Birmingham. The Huntingdonbranch in particular has seen strong sales in cruise holidays

March/April 2017


and manager,Holly Shotter, hasextensiveexperience andknowledge of thesubject havingbeen on anumber of cruisescovering theMediterranean,Norway and theCaribbean. Towards theend of 2016, PremierTravel was awarded aplace in the Top 100Businesses inCambridgeshire fromGrant Thornton.

Located on Huntingdon High Street, the branch offersmore than 60 years’ combined experience in sellingholidays. Holly said, “Between us we have travelledextensively everywhere from America to Australia andcountless more countries in-between. Customer service isof the utmost importance in everything we do and wealways go the extra mile to provide the best possibleservice. We’re incredibly proud of our award nominationsand wins over the years – it proves we are definitely doingsomething right.”

On 29 March the branch will be holding a Thai culinaryevent outside from 12noon - 2.30pm in conjunction withthe Thai Tourist Board. A food truck will be offeringcustomers, their families and friends the chance to samplesome typical Thailand cuisine, which will be cooked andprepared on site.

45 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3AQ

01480 371777 www.premier-travel.co.uk facebook.com/PremierTravelAgency


March/April 2017H U N T I N G D O N

Niche Comics & BookshopIf ever there was a business that has found its niche in themarket then it is Niche Comics & Bookshop. And don’t letthe word ‘niche’ fool you as there is far more on offer herethan your Desperate Dan or Marvel Heroes, Spiderman andIronman.

Welcome to a family runbookshop with books, comics,graphic novels, superherofigures, board games, tabletop games, a large children’ssection upstairs and a warm,friendly welcome.

Adam Mackey, who runs Niche Comics together with hisbrother Guy, recently won the prestigious ‘Best

Independent Store Manager orEmployee’ category of The Great BritishHigh Street of the Year Awards 2016 forhis ‘creative comic-themed events’ and‘innovative ideas’. As well as organisingthose many events and themed daysAdam also organises gaming sessionsand book signings. The team at NicheComics firmly believes that a shopoffering this more traditional approach

to leisure time is vital to the town.

The shop is located in premisesdating back to 1573 and hasbeen lovingly restored by theMackey family who are happy toshow people around and sharesome of its diverse history.

With two floors of stock, plenty ofplaces to sit and browseincluding a beautiful courtyardgarden, Niche Comics is a realgem of peace and calm in a hurried world.

147 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TF

01480 412315

www.nichecomics.co.uk facebook.com/NicheComics

The Premier Travel Huntingdon team;from l-r: Rebecca Mitchell, trainee travel

consultant, Emma Brazier, senior travelconsultant, Holly Shotter, branch manager,

Sinead James, travel consultant, and Steve Guy, senior travel consultant

H U N T I N G D O N


March/April 2017

Buy Direct From The Grower

� Best Range – the owners of Cranbrook Plants started their careers in the flower seed supply industry, itwas their job to source the best varieties from all over the world, and they are still doing that on their ownnursery. Come and see the fantastic range of flowers and plants available at Cranbrook Plants.

� Best Quality – 99% of the plants we sell are grown here on our nursery, attention to the quality of plantswe offer is of paramount importance.

� Best Value – we think we offer the best plants around and because we grow them here on the nurserythere are no heavy on-going margins to be added to the price.

� Best Service – Cranbrook plants are renowned for their personal service, for instance many of our cus-tomers want their hanging baskets specially tailored to their own colour themes, we really have to talk tothe customer to get that one right!

CRANBROOK PLANTS COLNE ROAD SOMERSHAME: [email protected] T: 01487 841234 www.cranbrookplants.co.uk

cranbrookplants

H U N T I N G D O N

March/April 2017


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H U N T I N G D O N


March/April 2017

Your Local Energy Efficiency& Heating Specialists

Web site: www.ruleandparker.comEmail: [email protected]

Established 1968

23A West Street,St. Ives. PE27 5PL(01480) 465731

New & Replacement Central Heating

MCS Approved - Solar PV & Solar ThermalCentral Heating & Hot Water

Vaillant & Glow worm Boilers Bathrooms - Designed & Installed at competitive prices

Solar Photovoltaic Panels, Solar Hot Water andAir Source Heat Pumps.

Gas, Oil, & Solid Fuel Boilers Servicing & Maintenance

H U N T I N G D O N


March/April 2017

MethodPreheat oven to 180C / gas 4. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.Mash three bananas to a pulp and chop the fourth.Sift the flour and baking powder together into a separate bowl. Addthe butter, egg and caster sugar. Using a mixer mix everythingtogether for a minute or two. Add the mashed and chopped bananasand briefly whisk them into the mixture. Fold in the chopped walnutsand lemon zest.Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin. Sprinkle with Demerarasugar.Place in the pre-heated oven so that the top of the tin is in the centre.Bake for 60-70 minutes until a skewer inserted into the cake comesout cleanLet the cake cool for 10-15 minutes then turn out on to a cooling rack.This cake is good served warm with crème fraiche, cold, or eventoasted.

Banana and Walnut LoafPreparation time: 20 minutesCooking time: 60-70 minutes

Ingredients• 225g plain flour • 2 level tsp baking powder

• 80g softened or spreadable butter • 1 large egg (beaten)

• 110g caster sugar • 4 medium bananas (peeled)

• 50g walnuts (chopped) • Zest 1 lemon •Demerara sugar (sprinkling)

LIVE RecipeSaturday 18 March10am-4pmCommemoration HallOh you loved it, so much so it’s back for thethird time!

With spring just around the corner andMother’s Day fast approaching shake off thosewinter blues and head to Huntingdon’s SpringCraft & Vintage Fair (yes we know, springofficially starts on 20 March but let’s celebrateearly!).

Organised by Cambs Lock Antiquesand Collectables and Huntingdon First,it’s FREE to get in so make a date andhave a good old browse around afabulously varied mix of the beautiful,the unusual, old and new, genuinelyhandcrafted and authentic vintageeverything!

Awaiting you is a treasure trove of cherry-picked and exclusivelyinvited exhibitors; you will be hard pressed not to find somethingto tempt you, either for yourself, friends or family.

Are you a keen crafter? Then feast your eyes on products that willhelp you create those personalmasterpieces. Want to makethat gift a little more special?Many traders will personaliseyour purchase and add thatlittle bit of extra thoughtfulnessto your gift.

Having a fun day out can prove to be thirsty work so it’s good toknow you can enjoy a refreshing drink and treat yourself to atempting slice of cake.

Saturday 18 March! Make a date and be part of theSpring Craft & Vintage Fair.

Spring Craft & Vintage Fair

March/April 2017


H U N T I N G D O N

14

Across7 Innumerable, unspecified amount (7)9 Photograph, picture (5)10 Girls' hairstyle or a small cake (3)11 Oval form (9)12 Sarcasm, incongruity, used to comic effect (5)14 Objects of attention or attack (7)16 17th century Spanish warship (7)18 Go into a place (5)19 Aboriginal hunting weapon (9)20 Type of seabird (3)21 Perfect, desirable (5)22 Feeling, sentiment (7)

Down1 Effervescing, simmering (8)2 Unlocked, unsecured (4)3 Crisp salad vegetable (6)4 Hesitate, waver (6)5 Most contented or

delighted (8)6 Curve, twist (4)8 Drab bird which sings

beautifully (11)13Eyewitness, observer (8)15Caressing, soothing (8)17Calmly, smoothly (6)18 Festive drink (6)19 French creamy cheese (4)20Opposite of alkali (4)

LIVE Crossword – Take a break!

Solution on page 18

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H U N T I N G D O N


Capability Barns • Huntingdon Road • Fen Drayton Cambridge CB24 4SD Tel: 01954 231666

Open 6 Days • Mon-Fri 07.30 till 5.00 • Sat 09.00 till 1.00

www.bannold.co.uk

• Natural Paving • Setts & Paviours • Stone Walling • Decorative Gravels • Rockery • Boulders • Waterfeatures • Topsoils • Soil Improvers • Bark Mulches • Sands • Hardcores & Cements

March/April 2017

H U N T I N G D O N


A time for new beginningsSpring! The time of year when we shake off those winterblues and get moving, quite literally!

With the onset of lighter evenings and, hopefully, warmerweather your home will look more welcoming to a potentialbuyer. The garden will also look inviting and help buyers tovisualise those summer barbecues in the garden with familyand friends.

Here are our top five tips to maximise the appeal ofyour property for that welcome sale:1. Kerb Appeal – first impressions count. Make sure thefront garden is tidy, if necessary plant some instant springflowers.

2. Clear Clutter – if you don’t have room to store thingsaway then a potential buyer will struggle to visualisethemselves living in your home. Pack (you’ll have to anyway)and store things away temporarily.

3. Kitchen and Bathroom – a bit tired? Don’t fully replacebut perhaps update door handles and taps to give that littleextra ‘lift’.

4. Clean It – buyers expect to see an immaculate homewith no signs of dirt. Have a quick check before viewings fordusty corners or muddy shoe prints.

5. Back Garden – often seen as an extra space forentertaining or a safe place for youngsters. Even if thosegreen fingers elude you ensure the area is clean and tidyand, if you are the proud owner of a four legged friend,have a quick check there are no lurking ‘surprises’.

Your top questions to consider when buying:1. Are the rooms big enough/are there enough powerpoints? How much storage is there?

2.Which way does the house face? Important for sunshinelovers.

3.What’s the area like? Are there noisy roads or train tracksnearby?

4. Can you walk to shops to get a pint of milk or do youhave to drive? What are the schools like? And publictransport?

5. People often ignore the loft. How easy is it to access? Isthere much storage space? Could it be converted into extrarooms? Is it insulated?

It’s Spring officially starting 20 March – yahoo!

March/April 2017


H U N T I N G D O N

So, what’s next?Contact estate agents to arrange the valuation and sale of your property and start the process of seeing what property isavailable for you to buy.

Huntingdon has a super choice of estate agents; Belvoir, Harvey Robinson, Oliver James, Peter Lane & Partners, Taylorsand Thomas Morris all with a wealth of knowledge of the local area. Estate agents can also help with mortgage and

conveyancing services or try the banks and building societies, most of which you willfind in Huntingdon High Street.

And then there’s the legal nitty gritty; again some estate agents may be able to helpotherwise there are several Huntingdon solicitors offering a conveyancing service –Adlams, Copleys, Hunt & Coombs, Leeds Day and Warren Boyes & Archer.

For information and contact details for estate agents, banks, building societies andsolicitors, see our ‘Find a Business’ section at: www.huntingdonfirst.co.uk

Happy house hunting!

March/April 2017


H U N T I N G D O N

Solution to crossword from page 14How to play?Simple... Fill the grid so that eachrow, column and 3x3 box, contains

the numbers 1through to 9, with no repetition.Answer, far right.

Sudoku Crossword

WIN £50 voucher tospend in Huntingdon

Enter our competition and you could be better off with a £50 voucher to spend in one of our excellent Huntingdon

independent businesses.

Check out our tips on Page 16 for Moving House in Spring andsimply tell us when the first official day of spring is.

Send your answer by the 7 April 2017 along with your name,telephone number and email address [email protected] or post to

Competition, Huntingdon First, c/o CambridgeInteriors, Trinity House, Trinity Place,

Huntingdon. PE29 3QA

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March/April 2017


H U N T I N G D O N

March/April 2017


H U N T I N G D O N

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Documents

v4 LIVE MAR-APR 2017 20pp - Huntingdon First fileAf te rno .Hu igd Lbay 1 . 3 0pm- 4 52 17Th eE astrBIG Fmil yunD unti gd oRa c e rs .F m £ 1 0. 48 5 37 8GoRac ingEv eFxtur H unti