Call Me John – words, sounds and images from the life of E. M. Barraud, WWII land girl will have its first performance at The Eversdens Village Hall on Wednesday July 1st 2026 at 7.30pm. It will be followed by a question and answer session and, we hope, some refreshments.

Help with refreshments and stewarding will be needed on the night – if you are willing to assist, please mention this when booking. Thank you!

Please note that the show also goes to Downing Place Church in Cambridge on July 9th. Details at www.janebower.com . The Eversden performance is intended for Eversden residents and the family of E.M. Barraud.

Haslingfield Little Theatre would like to invite you to come and see their forthcoming production on 14, 15 & 16 May at 7.30 pm at Haslingfield Village Hall:

The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard

A funny, thought-provoking play parodying Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries, the play focuses on two pretentious theatre critics, as they observe a fictional whodunnit. Their commentary blurs with the unfolding drama with unexpected consequences!

Trapped! by Michael Green

A hilarious send-up of a country house thriller, in this ‘coarse’ play within a play, the cast try their best to put on a high-quality show – it’s just that everything keeps going wrong!

Tickets are available at: www.haslingfieldlittletheatre.co.uk at £15 each (£12 concessions, under 18/65+, no concessions on Saturday).

The East Anglia Really Useful Family History Show is BACK for 2026!

Following our successful show in 2024, we are back with an even bigger and better show on Saturday 18^thApril 10AM – 4.30PM at the Burgess Hall, St Ives.

This FREE event will be jam packed with exhibitors and experts:

Ask the local experts of fourteen family history societies covering East Anglia and beyond for help and advice

Receive help researching your military ancestors and their medals

Browse thousands of old photographic postcards and buy images of where your ancestors lived

Buy genealogy supplies, books, maps, data CDs, war medals and more

Attend a talk with renowned DNA expert Donna Rutherford

Find new ways to break down your brick walls at our research session hosted by a panel of family history experts

Take part in tutorials with the team at Family Tree Maker and learn how to make the most of their software

Learn about the new additions to their website with FamilySearch

Plus much much more!

Join us for a great day out whether you are an experienced family historian or a complete novice – we have something for you!

Follow us on Facebook #rufhsstives2026 for more information

*Free parking is available at the venue and light refreshments will be available to purchase*

As the property is listed as an Asset of Community Value (until March 2026), our villages and wider local community have a legally protected six-week window in which to register an interest to purchase the freehold. Ultimately we therefore have an opportunity to protect the future of this valuable asset, which has served the local community as a licensed premise since the 1830s.

At the Parish Council meeting on 13 November, councillors agreed to submit a formal Intention to Bid on behalf of the village. This action has triggered a six-month moratorium, giving our community valuable time to explore whether we can secure the freehold – and therefore sustain a future for The Hoops – through the most viable leasehold arrangement or business model.

A number of residents who attended the meeting have already expressed enthusiasm for forming a community steering group – likely to be formally set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC), to lead the project and assess the appetite for community ownership.

We now need further support from the community to get involved in the CIC, as well as understand interest for securing The Hoops’ future.

Although we have gained extra time, the overall deadline to submit a full community bid, which would involve raising sufficient funding, is midnight on 16 April 2026, so maintaining momentum is essential.

Village Survey

One of the first actions is completion of a resident survey which will gather valuable thoughts and opinions in to the future of our pub. We encourage you to share your honest thoughts.  The link is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FZKBD9N, plus circulated on Eversden Online and the Eversden Facebook Page. We have created a webpage on this site for all Hoops information so keep an eye out for updated and results on there. Survey will close on 31st December 2025.

If you are interested in joining the CIC steering group, contributing specific skills, or simply want to hear more about what’s involved, please email hoops.eversden@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support. We are looking forward to exploring the possibility of saving The Hoops!

Jane Bower writes:
Readers will recall that I put out a request for any memories or information about former Lt. Eversden resident Enid M. Barraud, known as John, as I am preparing a presentation about her life and work. It is proving a fascinating project, taking me to London and Rochester to meet family members, and making contacts in Devon and Surrey. Huge thanks to the many people who offered assistance of any kind. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to meet and talk with you. Every contribution has helped me to build up a picture of the remarkable person who is the subject of my fifth solo show. (I had decided to stop at four but John changed my mind!)

Call Me John – words, sounds and images from the life of E. M. Barraud, WWII land girl will have its first performance at The Eversdens Village Hall on Wednesday July 1st 2026 at 7.30pm. It will be followed by a question and answer session and, we hope, some refreshments. A second performance will be given at Downing Place Church, Cambridge CB2 3EL on Thursday July 9th 2026, also at 7.30pm. This is an inclusive church and a beautiful, light, spacious and recently refurbished concert venue right opposite John Lewis, with the large Grand Arcade car park beneath.

We are not yet at the stage of ticket and booking arrangements, but I wanted you to have the dates in case you wish to attend and/or to tell others about the events.

Many thanks to Anne Francis who has been very helpful in organising hall arrangements and a visit for myself and my technician. If I may put out a further plea in advance, we will need helpers to organise refreshments, take bookings for seats and to hand out programmes on the night. If this is something you are able and willing to help with, please do contact me on 07753435151 or jane-bower@ntlworld.com. I would be most grateful for your help – thank you! – and I do hope to see you at Call Me John.

Jane Bower

The Eversdens Recreation Area Charity trustees invite fellow automotive enthusiasts to join them for the “Cars on the Rec”, classic, vintage and sports car meet.

Whether you have a vintage, classic, modern classic, sleek sports car, or interesting trikes/bikes, come and join like-minded enthusiasts to discuss each other’s journeys and vehicles. Cars on the Rec is taking place on Sunday 7th September, from 10 am until 1 pm. Our aim is to encourage the village community to participate and we ae looking at options for activities that can run alongside this monthly event.

This is a fundraising event for The Eversdens Recreation Area Charity, and is run on a voluntary basis, with all proceeds going towards the construction of our planned new sports pavilion and community hub. If we can make this a success the event will become a regular in our calendar, so please come and support the meet:

· Entry is free

· Refreshments will be available for purchase, Inc. hot drinks, bacon rolls & cakes

· It is helpful to get a feel for the number of people interested in coming, so please show you interest against our Facebook post

· You can also write to us at info@eversdenrec.co.uk

Thank you for your support, we look forward to meeting you all

The Trustees

The Eversdens Recreation Area Charity

Harlton Road, Little Eversden, Cambridge, CB23 1HL

Important Information:

· We have limited spectator parking on-site

· Respect our local communities and the Eversdens residents

o No revving of engines, or pops and bangs

o No loud music

o Drive responsibly and observe speed limits

· On-site speed limit: 5mph

· Respect marked areas and keep the venue clean

· Respect our marshals and follow their instructions

· The Police will be aware the event is taking place

· Compliance with these guidelines helps ensure a safe and enjoyable day

I am happy to correspond by email, phone or to visit you. My aim is to create a staged reading to be performed for charity and to introduce this delightful, intelligent and gifted local character to any who may not have heard of her. She contributed greatly to village life, and it is a joy to be discovering more about her. Please do get in touch if you can help. Thank you!

You can find out more about me on my website www.janebower.com
Jane Bower
jane-bower@ntlworld.com
07753435151

Gina Foster will bring her trio and play some of the hits from one of her idols Joni Mitchell.

Joni’s Soul began as a collaboration between much loved “from-the-heart” singer Gina Foster and world-class guitarist Ronnie Johnson, attracting some of UK’s very finest players with a shared love for one of the greatest singer/songwriter and guitar innovators of the last half century.

Coyote, Hejira, Edith and the Kingpin, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, A Case of You, Trouble Child, Help Me and Gina Foster’s gorgeous version of Both Sides Now – it’s through songs like these that the band explore the unique songwriting and gift of performance Joni Mitchell revealed in her iconic albums Blue, Court and Spark, Hejira, The Hissing of Summer Lawns and beyond …

Drawing on their own emotional response to these songs Joni’s Soul have looked beyond merely the faithful reproduction of the Joni Mitchell songbook to shine a light on the most soulful aspects of her words and music.

Bar opens 6pm, home cooked food available, music starts 8pm. Entry £10.

12-4pm

– Classic and vintage tractors (we have more tractors this year)
– Food stall
– Bar with real ale
– Tractor rides

Free entry for children, adults £6.