WHITTLEWOMEN: This month's meeting of Whittlewomen will take place on Tuesday January 17 at 8.00pm at the home of Catherine Ravenscroft, 9 High Street. An entertaining and enlightening evening is guaranteed when guest speaker Robert James will give a talk

WHITTLEWOMEN: This month's meeting of Whittlewomen will take place on Tuesday January 17 at 8.00pm at the home of Catherine Ravenscroft, 9 High Street. An entertaining and enlightening evening is guaranteed when guest speaker Robert James will give a talk entitled 'Junk Addict - a story of collecting!'. New members are always welcome - contact Chairman Lindsay Button on 01223 837038 or Catherine on 01223 834397.WOMEN'S INSTITUTE: Two days later, on Thursday January 19, women from Whittlesford and other local villages without WI branches are invited to the monthly meeting of Duxford Women's Institute at 7.45pm at Duxford URC. The guest speaker will be the warden of Milton Country Park, Malcolm Busby. For more information please contact the branch secretary, Mollie Chambers 01223 500491PTA TABLETOP SALE: It's time to start planning for the hugely popular regular on the New Year Calendar - the William Westley School PTA Table Top Sale to be held at the school on Saturday January 21. It's always a marvellous opportunity to make a little cash after the expenses of Christmas by doing some early spring-cleaning and getting rid of out grown toys and goods replaced by Christmas - or unwanted gifts, come to that! and book your table as soon as possible. A pitch is just £10 - (proceeds to PTA) - and tables always go fast! Call Heather on 01223 839 225. The Sales takes place from 10.30- 12.30 and the school will be open from 9.30 for stall-holders to set up. The PTA would be grateful for nearly new / good condition toys, Children's books and videos for their own 'table'. This a fun event, when tea and cakes are served - and there are great bargains to be had! Mark the date in the diary!OH YES IT IS! It's time again to be buying tickets for the annual Whittlesford Pantomime! This year WADS (Whittlesford Amateur Dramatic Society will be presenting Aladdin at the Memorial Hall on Thursday and Friday January 26 and 27 at 7.30 pm and on Saturday January 28 with a matinee 2.30 pm as well as the evening performance at 7.30 pm Tickets. Tickets costing £6 & £4 concessions (Saturday 7.30pm £6 only) are available from Whittlesford Post Office or from Janet Dean - 01223 830977 WELCOME TEA-PARTY: On Sunday January 23 in the Memorial Hall from 4 - 5pm there is an informal opportunity for newcomers to Whittlesford over the past year or so to find out more about village activities and to meet representatives of various clubs, committees and churches. Ian Hinton asks people to give him a call on 01223 832838 if they know of anyone who has recently moved in or if you they themselves and their families might like to come to the tea party. URC: News was given at the Four Churches Together meeting held at the end of November that the four churches in the Ecumenical partnership (Whittlesford and Duxford URCs and Whittlesford and Pampisford Anglican churches) had voted separately in favour of continuing with the present arrangement with a URC Minister in succession to Rev Gordon Smith. The hard work now begins with the Diocese of Ely and the URC District Council to work together to see if it is possible and can be accepted. In the meantime the URC have appointed an interim Moderator to look after the Whittlesford congregation until the vacancy is filled. He is the Rev Keith Riglin who is also Minister of St Columba's United Reformed Church in Cambridge and Fulbourn URC.Church members have been appointed to assist the interim Moderator: Peter Smith 01223 833606 will be the contact for Baptisms & Funerals Gill Taylor 01223 830461: Joan Woodley 833152 and Sarah Gower (group secretary) 835768 for the steering committee and: Peter Smith and Gill Taylor plus Marjorie Slipper 835742 and Ruby Medcalfe 832479 for Pastoral Care. For Weddings please contact Revd Keith Riglin 01223 314586. 2005 POPPY DAY APPEAL: lan Forster and John Frampton, the voluntary co-ordinators of the village's Poppy Day Appeal, are pleased to announce another good result - just beating last year's record by £8! The total of £1,422.18 raised for this excellent cause included almost £870 from house-to-house collections, over £420 from static collections in various businesses locally, £100 for wreaths and £40 from the church donations. Many thanks again to all the helpers who gave up their time to make another successful year.