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Browsing Posts published by John McCullough

Community oil buying scheme

Friday 13 April 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Bulk purchasing
The 'Pembroke Fisher', Belfast Lough
© Ross and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

We all know the advantage of bulk buying. Lower costs. But did you know you could be helping to reduce noise, wear and tear on the road and generally help reduce carbon emissions?

As reported recently in the Ely Standard, the Cambridgeshire ACRE charity has set up a community oil buying scheme in the Cambridgeshire area which can save up to £50 per delivery per customer. For Little Thetford residential customers, the scheme costs £20 per year to join. The membership form can be obtained from our village coordinator, Steve Merrell, or from Cambridgeshire ACRE here.
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See this booklet (PDF) for further information or contact us. We will pass your details on to Steve Merrell.

The Wheatears are back

Monday 9 April 2012 John McCullough Comments off

John Parish sends us this recent report:

The Wheatears [Oenanthe oenanthe] are back. They pass through in Spring and Autumn and stop for up to two weeks. They are two weeks earlier this year than last, and [recent] night temperatures of minus 4°C might have caused them to regret their early arrival. A member of the Thrush and Chat family, they will head to the upland areas of northern Britain to breed. This is a male and is much more colourful than the [female].

Wheatear in Little Thetford
Photo: John Parish

Comments …

Wildlife none

Rare Red Kites seen in the village

Monday 9 April 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Photo: Thomas Kraft

There are more and more sightings of this near threatened falcon species of Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in the village. This photo, from Wikimedia Commons by Thomas Kraft, shows a Red Kite in flight. We would be delighted if one of our readers could furnish us with a photo of this bird taken within the village.

Comments …

Wildlife none

Parish Newsletter April / May 2012

Friday 30 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

The latest village newsletter is now online. If you’re in the village – a printed copy should have already come through your door.

News & Events none

Roman bronze coin

Thursday 29 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Roman bronze coin
Photo: John Parish

John Parish tells us that this is a “Roman bronze coin of unusual and as yet unidentified type. Emperors head on reverse too corroded to identify”.

Edit: We have been told that “this is either a cut down/worn away Antoninianus or a barbarous copy commemorating Claudius II Gothicus after his death AD 270. The reverse is an Altar type ‘CONSECRATIO’, the IO is visible. It is close to the Garlanded Altar type RIC Vol V Part 1 Cladius II Gothicus No 261. There are barbarous types copying those made in a Roman Mint. It is a coin type we find quite commonly these days.”

“RIC = The Roman Imperial Coinage; Vol V = Volume 5. This RIC book volume was originally printed 1927 by Spink & Son ltd under Editors Harold Mattingly M.A. and Edward A Sydenham M.A and Part 1 is primarily the work of a Percy H Webb M.B.E. It was Reprinted in 1998 and 2001 by Bookcraft (Bath) Ltd. The actual book page designating RIC ‘CIIG’ Coin Number 261 is page 233 of the Vol 5 Pt 1″.

Thank you to Richard Ashford.

Comments …

Archaeology none

Village short-eared excitement

Thursday 29 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Villagers are excited about the short-eared owls now resident. These two images were taken recently by John Parish. See also Dave Fletcher’s recent short-eared owl images.

Short-eared owl
Photo: John Parish

Comments …

Wildlife none

Grunty Fen in the news

Tuesday 27 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Rheum rhabarbarum
(rhubarb to you and me)

Local historian, Mike Petty MBE, publishes a regular nostalgia column in the Cambridge Evening news. With Mike’s permission, we provide a copy of his 19 March article on Grunty Fen. In the article, Mike discusses the draining of Grunty Fen commencing in 1838—see also The catchwater–drain. Mike might also reveal the location of the infamous Grunty Fen great rhubarb plantation, oft mentioned by our local radio celebrity, Denis of Grunty Fen (the late Peter Sayers). Or does he? Read Mike’s article to find out.

Comments …

History none

Just a ‘Qwiki’

Friday 23 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Qwiki is a web site that reads Wikipedia to you whilst showing you related pictures. It is not new, although it does seem to have improved since its early 2011 launch. Admittedly at its best as an app on the iPad, it still works just as well on a PC or Mac. Try it yourself by viewing Little Thetford.

Comment …

Village Information none

Differently similar?

Wednesday 21 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

Bob Young points out that the Bronze Roman rams head found in Little Thetford by Dave Fletcher is similar to a bovine head found in Little Thetford by Philip Randall; see pictures below. Both these artefacts are probably votive offerings. Judge the similarity yourself.

Dave Fletchers Roman Rams Head find

Philip Randells bovine head find

Comments …

Archaeology none

Short eared owls in Little Thetford

Wednesday 21 March 2012 John McCullough Comments off

21 March 2012: Dave Fletcher tells us that he saw three short-eared owls today in the fields beside the railway line. He admits his images of two of them (below) are not brilliant as the owls were really far away. Nevertheless, it is good news that these owls are in our village.

Short-eared owl

See also the sightings we mentioned earlier by Gill Norman and John Parish

Comments …

Wildlife none

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Browsing Posts published by John McCullough