Teresa Weston is hoping to gauge interest in starting a Willingham Dance Club so if you are one of those who love ‘Strictly’ and would like to join a group to dance and with the possibility of having lessons then please contact her. There is much more detail in the January 2019 Willingham News, page 7.

The Board members of Willingham Action Group would like to wish all residents a very happy festive holiday and a wonderful year in 2019.

Our thanks and best wishes go to all volunteers in the village, and although there are too many to thank all, we should mention those members of the Parish Council, the WI, WYT, WSA, along with many others. And, of course, all those WAG volunteers who have helped over the last year.

The photo gallery can be seen here with thanks to Derek Law, our official photographer and occasional scurry timer. (This link takes you away from WillinghamLife)

The Dog Show was a great success with a good number of competitors for each of the nine rounds – Waggiest Tale, Most Appealing Eyes, Best Trick, Most Sociable, Best Veteran over 7, Best Rescue Dog, Best Brace (2 alike), Best Irish Brace (2 different), Best Six Legs (Dog and Handler), and then all the winners vying for Dog The Judges Would Most Like to Take Home. There was also a scurry (timed run using hay bales as hurdles) and a Hoopy obstacle course kindly run by behavioural specialists Cambridge Dogs (cambridgedogs.wixsite.com) who also donated their takings to our chosen charity, Wood Green Animal Shelter (represented on the day with a stand run by Karon and Cheyenne). Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone and their dog for turning up and making the day so enjoyable.

As always the event could not have happened without huge help from volunteers and the kind loan of local resources. The arenas were erected with fencing from the Fen Edge Community Association, the bales of hay were provided by Kerry and Owen Garner, and the venue – so ideal – was the beer garden of the Duke of Wellington, thanks to the willingness of Barry and Fran Todd to take a chance on the organising committee. This was an ad hoc WAG group comprising Frances and James Watts, Sara Croft, Kath Doggett, Graham Mumby and Paul Knighton, with further invaluable assistance from Liz Cosford and Mike Tidball. 

The judges – Amanda Radford, Graham Mumby, Kim Harding our brave postlady (familiar with dogs, recently sacrificed hair for McMillan Cancer Support) and her friend David (a genuine expert)  – did a fantastic job in scrutinising the competitors and presenting the prizes, with certificates, rosettes and goody bags going to places 1 to 3. The goody bags were donated by FishDelish, the rosettes by Frances and James.

Willingham Youth Trust ran the BBQ, having leaped to WAG’s  assistance at the last minute. They raised about £250 for the youth club – hats off to them for all their hard work this year – and the Dog Show itself made £200 for Wood Green.

Willingham Action Group has instigated many improvements to our village life. Working with the Parish Council we helped with purchase and design of the play equipment by the Ploughman Hall. WAG volunteers planted 1300 trees around the village and in the Community Orchard. In the past we have organised litter picking, started several social groups and each year we coordinate the Feast events. These things are just a small sample of all we do but we want to do more and for that we need more volunteers. As a volunteer you might give a few hours once a year running the bar at the Fen Gallop, alternatively you could join our Environment Group and spend many hours helping maintain the orchard – the fruit is free! It’s your choice as to how much you do, and when. 

Our volunteers become great friends and we have our own WAG social lives. If you want to join us or want more information please contact us here