The Welney Website Contents and Headlines

Parish Council what they (should) do, and who they are. Minutes of meetings from Jan 2005 to Aug 2008 (minutes now in quick-load easy-read format with new improved 4-year index).

Parish Hall

Pavilion

People prominent past & present

Playing Field

Postal services

Pubs.

Rivers

Roll of Honour of servicemen who died in two world wars

School History & old photos. See also 2008 School profile and the school's own NEW site

Shop

Skating Club

Skating in the Fens, a brief history.

Suspension Bridge History of the area

Tipps End/Tipsend Including an amusing article by former resident David Lewis

Washes

Webmasters postbag

Website archives of reports, articles, comments, obituaries and other pages from earlier website editions.

"Welney News" The history and archives of a great village newsletter. Plus details of the current team.

William Marshall - our great benefactor

Local news headlines

More details and photos may be available on the "news & views" page or by clicking the links below.

2008

The year the Queen came to Welney (WWT) and 'People Power' stopped a Sewage Works.

Oct 4th. Church Fete. short report

Oct 3rd. Celebrities at our Cricket Club's Presentation Evening at the Lamb & Flag. See short report

Sept 27th. Harvest Supper, 6.30pm in Church

Sept 20th. The second "Children of Welney Fayre" was due to be held at the Playing Field, but it must have been cancelled. Shame, last year's was quite impressive.

Sept 15th. Mobile Post Office service starts. daily Mon to Fri, 1.15-2.30pm, Lamb & Flag car park.

Sept 8th. Mrs Amy Hankins (nee Rudland) died aged 90 at her home in Hampstead Cottages, Wisbech Road. Funeral service at St. Mary's Wed 17th Sept.

Aug 22nd. Sarah Markham died at home from cancer, aged 25. Sarah lived in Main Street with her 3-year-old son Kieran and her parents Dennis and Margaret. Funeral at St. Mary's, Sept 1st.

July 21st. Stolen JCB found abandoned near Parish Hall. Short report

July 2008. Demolition of Three Tuns has started photos

July 19th. Motorcyclist killed on Wash Road (not in Main Street as originally reported by BBC). short report (updated July 25th)

July 13th/14th. EA open days at Denver Sluice. Report

June 29th. Welney Croft Cricket Club raised £288 for charity at the Peter Bedford Cup match against Brentwood & Havering. See reports.

June 24th Royal Mail website gives details of the new outreach postal service: "Welney branch New Road, Welney, Wisbeach, PE14 9RA Welney Mobile Service Lamb and Flag Publich House car park Main Street Welney PE14 9RB Mon - Fri 13:15 - 14:30" Let's hope their new service is better than their spelling/proof-reading.

June 12th. Yet another crash at Suspension Bridge. See news and views

June 1st. "A Fen Tiger's Tale" at the WWT, 1-4pm. Traditional crafts, music by 'Eel Pie', miniature steam roller, watch & try Molly Dancing or roller skating. photos

May 6th. Parish Council co-opt Mrs Vija Pratley. Cllr Goodger again re-elected as Chairman. Cllr Bennett elected Vice-chairman (in place of Cllr Kerr).

May 4th. Another win for our Cricket team. See reports.

May 1st. Gang charged with 30 offences including burglary at Chestnut Avenue last Aug. Story so far

April 26th. Welney Croft Cricket Club won first match of season. Fixtures

March 26th. Post Office Ltd propose a mobile post office service for Welney on one morning and 3 afternoons a week starting in Aug.

March 24th. The Parish Action Plan is delivered to Welney residents. See news and views

March 23rd. Easter Sunday, 4 inches of snow.

March 14th. Caravan in ditch at Tipps End. Report & photos to follow.

March 4th. Susan Dobson co-opted onto Parish Council.

Feb 21st. TRAGEDY STRIKES TIPPS END FAMILY. Nine-year-old Charlotte Walker, of March Road Tipps End died in Peterborough District Hospital from injuries sustained in a car accident on Wednesday 20th Feb on the B1098 Sixteen Foot Bank approx 350 yards north of Bedlam Bridge. Charlotte had been trapped in the rear of a Citroen car which plunged into the river at about 3.40pm and then sank into the near freezing water. Charlotte's mother managed to escape suffering from shock and minor injuries. Inquest report

Feb. Work started on new 38 hectare (94 acres) wet grassland site for Wigeon east of the WWT centre. Managed by WWT, funded by EA.

Feb 14th. SEWAGE WORKS plans changed. The AWS application to discharge treated effluent into the Old Croft has been withdrawn. Anglian Water Services have chosen a new site for the Works in the region of grid ref 500954, 1¼ miles west of their original choice. Discharge will be into field drains leading to the Sixteen Foot Drain near Bedlam Bridge.

Feb 13th. Public meeting in Parish Hall regarding lack of a post office in Welney. Rev. Fitzgibbon suggested using the Church 2 mornings a week, possibly combined with a community meeting place with refreshments & local produce.

Jan 28th. The Queen visited the WWT, toured the visitor centre & later watched a 'swan feed'. She was presented with a posy by 7-year old Sarah Ward and a toy swan by 3-year old Kieran Markham.

Jan 10th(?) Mark Wallington resigned from Parish Council.

January. Yet again, the Wash Road (referred to by the EA as the 'Welney Causeway') is flooded.

Some special features

Welney is a parish in the fens, as our page titles used to proclaim, so the site would not be complete without some references to the fens, rivers and washes. This site gives a general overview; for those wanting more detail there are hundreds of books, guides, technical reports & learned treatises available elsewhere.

This website receives no grants or public money and is free from local authority, commercial or ecclesiastical control or influence. There are no adverts or pop-ups; no recipes or articles about pets; no safety warnings or details of events elsewhere. The content is 100% about, or connected to, Welney (although some links may take you outside the parish if you choose to follow them).

Oh, and why change the page banner? Well, for six years from 2000, the Welney Website was the only website for the whole community of Welney and adjoining areas, including the Welney Parish Council for 16 months until May 2006. When the Parish Council started its own site, it seemed appropriate to put our name forward to ensure that everyone knows this is not just the community website, it's 'The Welney Website'.

If you have something to say, or can help in any way, or provide news, articles, photos, etc, please contact the webmaster.

Over the years we have posted numerous in-depth reports of particularly important features or issues including:

Wash Road flooding. Mar 07. Background history, Ouse drainage, current press articles, letters, statement from the EA, comments from WWT & RSPB, MP's question in the Commons & Government's reply, cut in EA flood budget.

Sewerage. The plan to site a sewage treatment works close to properties in Tipps End was successfully opposed by residents.

Welney Millennium Arts Project. Philippa Mitchell describes how a community worked together to mark the Millennium and create the Welney 'MAP', the Welney Archives - and The Welney Website. (first posted in 2000, available again in original MS word format).

The WWT Centre. A pictorial guide of the new building, inside and out.

History of Welney . An illustrated article covering 2,000 years, written in 1997 by the late Helen Barry for the village appraisal. Includes a section on housing by Ken Sorenson, also for the appraisal. (First posted in 2001; photos now out of place)

The Colony A utopian dream, war against France, the Poor Laws, the Littleport Riots, all on one page!

William Marshall School An historical account based on Ken Sorenson's files, and a photo archive slideshow from 1910 onwards. If you were a pupil in the 50's-80's, you may now be on the internet! My thanks to all those who have sent in details, and apologies if your information hasn't been added yet, still having technical problems. (Note: for current school details go to the School's own website)

Suspension Bridge A short history of the area, and a connection between the 1826 bridge designer and a 1999 Brighton Bus.

Earlier news headlines and links to reports

200X

2007

The year our post office and shop closed and the Wash Road was flooded for three months

Dec 11th(?). Mike Jones resigned from Parish Council.

Oct 15th. More than 70 people attended the Action Groups's 2nd Public Open Meeting to discuss Anglian Water's proposed Sewage Works at Tipps End. See Special Report

Oct 5th. Welney Croft Cricket Club, a club for all ages, see Presentation Evening

Sept 22nd. Harvest Supper at Parish Hall. Photo

Sept 22nd. "Children of Welney" Fayre at the Playing Field from 11am - "a traditional village fayre with fun & events for all ages". An enjoyable and well attended event, full report to follow.

Sept 21st. A new post box at last, next to phone box opposite Lamb & Flag

Aug 18th. Burglary in Chestnut Avenue. Elderly widow robbed of jewellery

Aug 12th. New date for the Peter Bedford Cup cricket match at the Playing Field.

Aug 11th. Church Garden Fete cancelled

July 27th. Combine Harvester caught fire at Tipps End.

July 25th. Radio Norfolk reported closure of Post Office and lack of replacement Post Box. Royal Mail were unable to comment.

July 13th. Our MP, Christopher Fraser, visited Welney with his mobile office, 3.30-4.30pm

June 16th. presentation to Wendy & Pete and to Carole Conor from Welney villagers. Report

June 16th. Village shop closes

June 13th. Post office closes.

June 13th. Claire Freer co-opted onto Parish Council

June10th, "Farm Sunday" open day at Pates Farm, Tipps End.

June 1st. Getting to know Ken Goodger

May 30th, car in ditch off Wash Rd

May 26th. Presentation to Wendy & Pete from Tipps End residents. Report

May 26th, Church Fete, 1.30- 4pm

May 6th, Fire at stables in Tipps End

May 2nd. David Rowlett failed to lodge papers to re-stand as Parish Councillor

Mar 14th. Wash Road NOT flooded!!

Mar 12th. Theft of Nissan 4x4 & caravan in Tipps End.

Mar 2nd. Wash Road still flooded and the EA flood defence budget cut by a third! Are our fens to be abandoned to nature? We have brought together press reports, letters, local comments & statements from all & sundry, and some background information in a new special feature.

Feb 26th. Local MP Christopher Fraser raised the flooding issue in the House of Commons. See full transcript. This is a lengthy item, but essential reading.

Feb 15th. Wash Road has been flooded again for a couple of days. Depth at mid-day was 50cm (20 inches)

Feb 8th. An application has been made to Norfolk County Council to make Meadow Lane a right of way.

Feb 5th. Service of licensing of our new Parish Priest, 7.30pm at Welney St. Mary's.

Feb 2nd. For one day only, free entry to WWT reserve. Guided tours, swan feeds

Jan 31st. Wash Road NOT flooded!

Jan 20th. Wash Road still flooded. Businesses continue to loose trade. Parish Council acts. EA say it's not their fault. Report.

Jan 15th. Wash Road Flooded - Helicopter rescues idiot driver. Letters to local papers. Report

Jan 20th. Molly Dances visit Welney

Jan 7th. Walter Carter died. Obituary

2006

The year the Parish Council revealed their plans for a new Community Centre

December 26th. Horace Watson died. Obituary

December 20th. Christmas Tree outside Church. Lights go on with carol service around tree.

December 17th. "Christmas Fair" at Parish Hall.

December 13th. Parish Clerk gets early Christmas present - salary increase, backdated to April

December 10th. "EventsRUs" informed Parish Council that "they will be folding" at the end of 2006.

December 10th. Reg Rowlett died. Obituary

December. Wash Road flooded for most of month. Local businesses lose trade.

November. Wash Road flooded

November 23rd. Lorry in ditch at Tipps End. Full report & photos.

November 11th. Car hit street light outside Welwyn in New Road

October 3rd. Tony Palmer died

Sept 23rd. Harvest Fayre/Church fete? Photo

Sept. An old & rare 'cigarette card' depicting a famous Welney skater has been donated to our local skating club. report

Sept 20th. The new WWT visitor centre officially opened by a celebrity naturalist. report

Sept. Parish Council launch own site. Their sub-site on this web was then removed.

Sept. A local business has donated a unique new piece of sports equipment to the village school. report

Sept. Parish Council chairman to personally remove play equipment at the playing field. report

Welney Parish Council launched their own website.

Aug 13th, Nordelph's Fun Day and raft races put back to Sunday due to wet weather the previous day and was a huge success.

Aug 12th. Welney's Summer Fayre & Car boot sale on Saturday 12th Aug organised by new community group, "Events R us" had good food but bad weather. Photo

Success for local business (1) Giles Landscapes has won a prestigious award for its work at Gunpowder Park, Enfield. report

Success for local business (2) John Loveday's company 'Johnjac Cricket Supplies' has delivered a large order in the Caribbean. report

Aug 1st. Change of booking arrangements for Parish Hall and Pavilion

July. Break-ins at Pavilion and Parish Hall.

June 14th. Welney Parish Council decided not to renew agreement for this website to host their pages

June 11th, "Farm Sunday" open day at Pates Farm. A day of sun and fun at the Goodger's family farm at Tipps End. report

June 3rd, Parish Council open meeting. A well prepared and amiably presented report about the possible sale of the Parish Hall, and a suggested new community centre overlooking the playing field near Sandgate Corner.

Gala 2004/Play equipment funds. The Council have sat on this money for two years, and seem likely to do so for another couple of years.

April 4th, 'Tall Pines', the former Mission School on the Hundred Foot Bank was badly damaged by fire. report (new photo 11th Apr)

Apr 1st. Press release (a PDF document - see below)

March 24th, WWT visitor centre to close for a month prior to opening of new building on Apr 24th. report

8th Feb. Grant Tomkins co-opted onto Parish Council.

To open and read an article in "PDF" format you must have 'Adobe Reader' installed. You can get it free by clicking the link on the right.

Even earlier News headlines, 2000-2005

home and introduction

contents & headlines

reports & comment

sports and social

information centre

local government

links

commerce

other