Patient Participation Group
Staploe Medical Centre in Soham are setting up a Patient Participation Group to give people the chance to have a say about the services provided there.

If you are interested, Staploe will email you every now and again to ask you a question or two.

To join the group, you can call Staploe Medical Centre on 01353 624123 and leave your email address with them. Or you can call into the centre and complete a form.

They really need to hear your views!

Book Signing
Haunted Soham – Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeist
At long last the Soham Ghost book has arrived. To mark the publication, Elizabeth Johnston, author and founder of Soham Ghost Walks, will be signing 100 copies of the book at Budgens (James Craven & Sons Ltd), in Soham. The signing will take place on Saturday 4th February from 11am. The 46 page book costs £5.95 and is packed with stories relating to Soham's past inhabitants with related history to help bring the stories back to life. Copies of the book are also available from Chatterbox and Soham Books.

Friends of Soham Cemetery
Volunteers are required to help look after our beloved and historic cemetery. For more information and registering of interest please contact the Soham Town Council at: or visit the office at the Pavilion during opening hours.

Community/Adult Education
Cambridgeshire C.C., Soham Village College, Soham Town Council and the Soham Town Forum are working together to bring a programme of Community/Adult education courses back to Soham. As a first step we would like to ask you four simple questions:

1. Would you like to have Community/adult education courses?
2. What courses would you like to see provided?
3. Would you attend courses?
4. How much would you be prepared to pay?

If you could spare a few minutes to answer and email these questions to: editor@sohamtf.co.uk, by 4pm on Weds 8th February, it would be much appreciated.

Please help us bring back a much needed and missed resource for all.

Future plans – Shade (Industrial Area)
Last weekend saw the unveiling of proposed plans for the development around the shade.
Plans include:

• An Industrial Area
• A Petrol Station
• A Superstore
• Some Open Green Space

The land involved is based between Scampers, the bypass and Barnwell Furniture towards Northfield.
The Forum would love to know what you think?

Please contact us with your comments at: editor@sohamtf.co.uk

Italian Food Market
On 9th December from 7.30am to 5pm, Soham saw its first market in years return for one day.

Simon Faro brought his traditional Italian Food market to Soham’s Market Street to start the day of festivities. It was well received and attended by residents and the local community. A whole range of traditional food was on sale from speciality breads and cheeses to olives and confectionary.

Well down Soham for supporting this venture.

Christmas Lights Switch On 26th Nov 6pm
Chris Burgess, Soham’s Town Person of the Year had the honour of turning on 2011’s Christmas Lights.

The highly regarded street cleaner has won the award for three years running and was also presented with his trophy, on the night, which he is now entitled to keep.

Our thanks go to the lighting committee who put up the lights which have been extended this year from Red Lion Square through to Churchgate Street. Enough money was raised to put in these extra lights as well as those along the church yard. I think we can all agree at how wonderful they look.

Budgens To Receive Award From James Paice
James Graven & Sons (Budgens), are delighted that the Rt Hon James Paice MP, Minister for agriculture will be coming to their Soham store on Friday 25th November at 9am to present them with their certificate for being a finalist in the:
Parliamentary Best Small Shop Competition 2011

Soham Christmas Lights – Switch on Celebration

Soham Christmas Street Fair – Friday 9th December
Italian Food Market – from 8.30am
Begin the festivities of the day by visiting the Italian Food Market being held in Market Street, Soham.

Invitations are now going out to any club, charity, organisation or group who want to have a stall at our ever popular Street Fair.

The stalls places are FREE and you will need to supply your own tables.
If you would like to reserve a place please contact the editor by 26th November please.

The Soham Town Council have very kindly paid for the childrens rides again this year, so all under 10 can ride for free.

There will be hot food, sweets, gifts, trees and Father Christmas in the church, so please come along and support this fantastic annual event.

NO TRADE STALLS.

Set up from 5.30pm and official opening at 6pm.
The event closes at 8pm

All Welcome

Soham Village College Performing Arts Centre
The 3rd of November saw the official opening of the new Soham Village College Performing Arts Centre.

Guests were entertained by various groups of talented musicians, actors, singers and dancers from the school.

A tour of the new building was made after a buffet lunch.

The Centre was opened by Dan Schumann, producer and ex Village College pupil along with Dr Carin Taylor, Principle of the College.

The Centre is hoped to become a major part of the arts within the College and wider Community.

Meet Your councillor Event
Councillors Tony Parramint, James Palmer and Rosemary Aitchison met with residents of Soham at the event held on 5th October at the Walter Gidney Pavilion.

The evening included a formal question and answer session, Chaired by Elizabeth Johnston, followed by a personal meet and greet. Everyone was treated to free refreshments, baked by Soham Town Forum and Soham Town Council members as well as exhibitions of Soham related items from The Soham Museum and a private collector.

Our thanks go to our three councillors, K & S Bussingham and C & B Warner for their personal efforts in bringing the exhibitions together.

Last but by no means least a personal thank you all those who joined us for the evening

Viva Coffee Shop
Hurrrrahhhhhh!
The new Viva Coffee Shop is open.

So now you can both browse and take a few minutes to sit back and enjoy a drink or snack.

Windmill Open Day
Last Sunday saw a steady stream of people visit the Downfields Windmill in Soham. The event was hosted by the owner, Mr Kite and ably supported by the Soham Heritage and Historic Building Preservation Trust, Soham Museum and others. Displays, stalls and refreshments added to a fantastic and unique day for all.

Allotment Thefts
The Soham Town Council have been informed of a large number of significant thefts from local allotments throughout the town. As well as items from owners sheds, there has also been a disturbing increase in the removal of crops, including rows of potatoes and beans. Allotment holders and local residents have been asked to be extra vigilant. The Town Council are also considering the offering of rewards to anyone who can supply information on the perportraitors. This is yet to be decided.

Jak Hibs Opens In The High Street
What a refreshing change to see someone opening a new shop along Soham's High Street, rather than one closing.

Jacky Hibbet has taken the brave step to open her shop, selling, toys, stationery, household goods & craft items. The shop is located at number 11, which used to house the Viva Charity shop, whilst Viva was being refurbished.
Please show your support and visit, so we may maintain a business and our High Street.

Read our interview with Jacky here.

Soham Town Forum - Car Boot Sales
This year saw the first of our car boot sales, orgainsed to help raise money for the Forum and Soham charities. Growing each month and going from strength to strength we are delighted to say that we have organised more for 2012, due to popularity. So pencil in the following dates:

Dates remaining for 2011

• 6th August
• 3rd September

Dates for 2012

• 7th April
• 5th May
• 2nd June
• 7th July
• 4th August
• 1st September

Pitches are only £5 each and each sale starts at 7.30am and finishes at 12noon.
Please do not arrive before 7am for set up.

Weatherall's Expansion
Soham residents are to be given the chance to have their say over plans to expand the Weatheralls Primary School.
Cambridgeshire County Council is planning to extend the school by 210 places to meet demand. An exhibition is being held, at the school, on Wednesday 6th July from 2.30pm to 8pm.
Comments on the proposal will be invited before, the county council applies for formal planning permission in September.

Soham Town Forum Online Magazine
The latest issue of the online magazine is now available for May - June 2011

Criminal Damage
Vandals have wrecked the adiZone play area, opened by Tim Henman just two and a half months go. The Olympic themed play area based on the Barley Fields estate in Soham, has sustained heavy damage ranging from: broken signs, scorch marks on the rubber safety surface and metal spikes left uncovered when the canopy above was removed. Lewd graffiti has also been scrawled on the tennis wall making the whole area unsuitable for any type of play to continue.

One local resident said, “They are the first to complain that they haven't got anything to do and yet they do something like this. It's crazy.”

The adiZone was paid for with 106 money and includes a climbing wall, basketball court, tennis wall and outdoor gym equipment. It was the sixth adiZone to be built in the east of England and only the second in east Cambridgeshire, which makes this criminal activity all the more shameful.

£4.2Million Fire Service Cuts?

Fire stations in Soham, Ely and Burwell could face losing staff and equipment following an announcement that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue must make cuts. One of the money saving proposals put forward includes removing a fire engine from stations in Soham and Ely and the only fire engine from Burwell. However the Fire Brigade Union in Cambridgeshire has criticised the proposals.

East Cambs Will Be Attending Forum Meeting
At our next meeting on 28th July a representative from East Cambs District Council will attend Soham Town Forum to give a presentation on the new governments 'sustainable communities' strategy.
This means that unlike the previous government, communities will have greater power and input into what is built and established within their towns. As part of a wider scheme on the right infrastructure and amenities being in place before expansion if any.
This is a great opportunity to meet and discuss what you want to see for Soham's and your future.

Free Viva Theatre Performance
The Viva Theatre Company are performing 'The Ark' by Helen Griffin at the Haverhill Drama Festival on the 10th June, and they have decided to perform an entirely free preview at The Brook, Soham at 8pm on Thursday 9th June.

The play which won awards and acclaim when first performed in the 1990s, is a bitter sweet one act performance starring three well known local actresses, Lesley Wook, Kirsten Green, and Esther Hiller.

The story is set in the aftermath of a funeral and shows the ups and downs of a mother and two adult daughters after the man of the house has died. Exploring issues of loss, regret and the nature of human companionship, this play does so in a manner that will bring both smiles and tears.

Tickets are entirely free, If you are interested in attending please call us on 01353 722228

Tim Henman Opens The Addizone Site - 25th February 2011

Tim Henman came along for the official opening of the newly built Addizone Site
on the Kingfisher Drive Estate.

He was greeted there by some of the local children and councillors as he viewed the equipment, which was supplied as part of the 2012 Olympic funding for local councils

SVC Are District U16 Boys' Hockey Champions
The boys played extremely well and had to work harder than usual having only 10 players.
After a tense opening ten minutes, Soham finally found their passing game and began to exert a great deal of pressure on the Impington defence. This led to Soham's first goal being scored by Miguel Goncalves after a mix up in the Impington goal area.

After half time Soham managed to withstand the Impington attacks and extended their lead by a great finish by Euan Gilmour in Year 8 from a penalty corner.

Final result: Soham 2 - 0 Impington.

Kieran Brady Joins Flanders Racing Team
Young cyclist Kieran Brady can hardly believe how far he has come in such a short space of time.

The 16-year-old cyclist, from Soham, only started the sport two years ago, but he has already been snapped up by the junior Flanders Racing Team which is a feed to top Belgian side, ASFRA Racing Team.

He is the youngest of six British junior riders to be named in the squad and secured his spot on the basis of some impressive performances last year and his undoubted potential.

Read more here...