These are the pages where you can air your views on village issues or about this web site. They have been added to provide feedback or comments on items too large or unsuitable for the Guest Book.
E-mail your comments by clicking on webmaster@wood-ditton.org.uk and they will appear on this page unless you request otherwise. The views expressed are those of the contributor and not necessarily shared by the webmaster.(Please note that if your PC does not have a mail link programme you will need to send an e-mail in the normal way)

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April 27th 2008 - from a concerned local resident.
May I draw attention to the planning application for 17 Little Ditton, which is by Darley to demolish the existing house and outbuildings and replace with a 3 bedroom house and 1 bed dwelling over the carport: the reference is 08/00381/FUL and can be searched on line at: http://pa.eastcambs.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchresults.aspx Comments to East Cambs must be in by 8 May. It seems to me that it would be a great pity to lose yet more of the local architecture in an area which already has its fill of modern houses, plus the loss of a mature garden. There is also some indication that this is contrary to the local development plan which would be worth exploring.

March 27th 2008. From Rural Peace (the campaign for making people aware of the proposed new stacking plans for aircraft flying in and out of Stansted and Luton airports).
We have looked at the map for the other 'recipients' of new stacks, and can see that your village is either within or very near to the proposed new hold for Stansted (ours is for Luton).
Part of the problem has been that many people living in the affected area remain unaware of the process altogether. As the consultation ends in May, we have launched a campaign to inform as many residents as possible about the impact these plans could bring.
It is acknowledged by all, even NATS themselves, that the impact of such airtraffic circling over quiet rural areas will be greater as there is no background noise to absorb it. This is only one of several major concerns we have about the introduction of this new airtraffic.
There are some disturbing reports that residents subject to similar consultation processes in the past feel that the impact of the aircraft was minimised, and that the reality of the stacks is a source of great annoyance and loss of tranquility.
We are not sure if there is a campaign to oppose the new stack in your part of Cambs/Suffolk, but we would very much like to link up with other residents who do wish to oppose the plans or who may wish to find out more about it.
Please forward this email to anyone who may be interested. Our group has set up a website so that people can access information which is not just reliant on NATS - who of course have an interest in the success of these proposals.
The website is www.ruralpeace.org.uk and we have also set up an E-Petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ruralpeace
We hope that you will help us to spread the word so that at the very least, everyone living in or near the selected area has an opportunity to take part in the consultation process.
Many thanks, P Timbrell On behalf of RuralPeace working to protect our countryside.

February 11th 2008
As a regular walker on the Devil’s Dyke it came to my notice last week that a large number of healthy mature beech trees have been marked with fluorescent paint dots on the section between Wood Ditton and the Newmarket/Stetchworth road. I do not believe it is right to cut down these trees and I hope I am wrong in assuming that they have been painted for this reason. The paragraph below is taken from the Devils Dyke web page and indicates that mature trees in this area are to be allowed to grow. Can you please tell me who is responsible for marking these trees and whether it planned to cut them down?
Devils Dyke Restoration Project:
Some trees and shrubs will be retained on the banks in order to provide suitable habitat and cover for birds and act as wildlife corridors and as a buffer to surrounding arable land. The southern section of the Dyke is mature woodland. This is to be maintained with some areas of hazel being traditionally coppiced on rotation.

Yours sincerely, Nick Stubbs. (Newmarket resident)

February 16th 2008
My genealogy family (Kilbourne & Woodhull) research efforts led me to your wonderful website. Thank you.
David L. Schram Enid, Oklahoma USA

February 11th 2008
I was just talking on the phone with an old friend who was extolling the virtues of this website, and urging me to consult it - her daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter all live in the village - in what was the post office. If you run into Zoe or John or Sofia, please give them my love! I'll doubtless be back to see what life is like in your corner of my homeland (I was born in Suffolk 75 years ago.)
Thank You Peter Smith Buffalo NY USA
We have Peter's e-address should anyone wish to reply - webmaster

October 5th. 2007
Hello visitors to this site.
I am researching for a book on Cambridge aviation history from 1909-1945 and am covering aircrash incidents 1939-45. I am particularly interested in the German Dornier 217 that crashed and broke up on Duchess Drive near the entrance to Dalham Stud.
I would love to hear from anyone who saw or who has relatives who witnessed the event. Does anyobe have any parts taken from the wrecked aeroplane? My books are very locally orientated and I hope oneday will provide a genealogical source as well as an aviation one. All persons who contribute are named in text. Several eye-witnesses have recounted to me how they remember several local people (including the then owners of Dalham Hall) taking photographs at the crash scene in 1942. This was normally strictly forbidden, however often the Home Guard would turn a blind eye, such photographs can now be an immensely invaluable source to the modern researcher.
I can imagine many residents will have moved since 1942, and some of their relations may even be abroad, so if your relative did live in the area of Wood Ditton - Cheveley in 1942 and you know they have a photo album please ask or look through the album to see if there are any images of soldiers/ civilians standing next to any twisted or mangled debris. So I was wondering can anyone assist me in tracing the photographs? Again I would be delighted to hear from anybody whoi has information and or artefacts that could be photographed for publication. I can be contacted on j.evenhart@ntlworld.com
Kind regards Julian Evan-Hart

October 3rd 2007
Dear Sir/Madam, I'm a resident of Woodditton, Kirtling Rd. I'm hoping to find a paddock to rent in Woodditton or Kirtling to put my horse. Thanks. Kelly

August 2007
Hello,
I am writing a short article on the horse Pinza, who I understand is buried at Woodditton Stud. I wonder would you be able to inform me of Pinza’s date (and cause) of death ? If you have this or any other information I would be most grateful.
Thanks you very much Fintan Farrell
Email address supplied. The correspondent has been put in touch with Hilary Salzmann, who was the Stud Groom at Wooddditton Stud at the time Pinza won the Derby.

June 2007. From Rodney Vincent.
Friends of The Devil's Ditch are concerned that Stetchworth Park Stud has converted four stables into two residential properties close to the west bank of the Ditch, not far from the Court Barns Road crossing. The Stud had requested retrospective planning permission for what many considered unsuitable development so close to this important national monument.
In a letter dated 20th June 2007 East Cambs D.C. Senior Planning Officer reported that 'the proposal has been considered by this Authority and it was resolved to refuse the application'.

May 2007 from Lynn in Australia.
I have been tracing my husbands family tree and many of his ancesters came from Woodditton and surrounding areas, I found the website to be very informative and there are obviously still relatives living today in the area. I love the look of the country side around the area.
Names that are associated with his tree are Haylock , Starling, Jaggard, Nunn, Chandler, Wilson. My husband was born in Manchester but has lived in Australia since he was 15. We will be visiting the UK in June and have definately put Woodditton on our places to visit.
Anyone who shares any of the names above and would like some information this branch of the tree please feel free to contact me. lynnmjones@hotmail.com and I am happy to share my tree. Regards Lynn

April 2007. From Roger Allen
Congratulations on your excellent website
My mother was born and raised in Wood Ditton; her maiden name was Cates and there's a picture of her, along with the other children at Wood Ditton School, in the book "A Tanner Will Do" by Rodney Vincent. The picture was taken in 1927 and my mum must be the youngest child there (she was born in 1923). Her name was Ruth Cates and in the picture, she's flanked by my aunts Doris and Muriel.
There's also a picture of my Uncle Son (his given name is Francis and he hates it!) in the Wood Ditton and Saxon Street Home Guard...and one of my grandfather, John Cates.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I thoroughly enjoy the website.
I live and work in South West London - which is about as far removed from Wood Ditton as could be imagined. I find it refreshing to read about life in the village.
There is just one question I'd like to ask. According to Mr Vincent's book, my grandfather's nickname was "Chicken". Can anybody tell me why?
The Cates family used to be very well represented in the village up to the post war decade, now there is no longer anyone of that name left. John Cates was a well respected hard working horsekeeper who survived into his nineties. He acquired the nickname 'Chicken' because of a habit of clearing his throat with a noise a bit like a clucking chicken. (Webmaster)

January 2007.
Milton Country Park is due to be closed by South Cambs District council. All the details are on www.savemiltoncountrypark.com There's an online petition and background information all about it. The petition is for anyone who has ever been to the Country Park, thinks they might go to the Country Park or just thinks that Country Parks are important and they shouldn't be closed. www.SaveMiltonCountryPark.com

January 10th 2007 from Paul Mason.
I was very pleased to find your website, my name is Paul Mason I now live in America but once lived on Camois Hall Farm in the cottage at the bottom of the hill (the one pictured bottom left of the photo you have posted on the web site). I have many fond memories of my time spent there as a young boy, I was 7 years old when we moved there from Yorkshire in 1967 and we only stayed about a year before moving to Cambridge. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers us,
pmasoninus@aol.com Kind regards Paul Mason
And a follow-up from Paul January 11th.
Dear Mr Vincent Thanks for the reply, I remember the big house being demolished and my father saying it was a shame for it to go, after talking with my mother she remembers a Mr Stanton (probably Mr Hutton the Stetchworth Estate land agent Ed) and a Mr Scott one was the farmer and the other the owner. There was another cottage at the top of the hill and I recall their daughter's name was Melanie, she was about the same age as I. I remember very clearly the race horses in the paddock next to our cottage one was called LAMPKIN the other BEAU NORMAN, we also had a chicken hut and it was my job to feed them with old bread from the shop at the top of the lane, Oh what great memories.
My father had an old black Ford popular that he never did put on the road and i would drive with him around the farm when I was not out on the tractors. I also recall a girl called Amanda Potter, My father worked in Cambridge at Pye TVT. Sadly my father passed away in 2003 and while sorting through some of his belongings I came across a reel to reel audio tape of us on the farm trying to start that old ford popular, I will look for any photos and email them on to you during my visit in the summer.
Regards Paul Mason

"There’s something magical about Wood Ditton, for all that its name means ‘wood-ditch-town’. In particular, there’s something magical about the church of St Mary, for it sits in a churchyard quite a way from the village, surrounded by the fields and sheltered by big trees."
Comment made by visiting Cambridgeshire Churches historians Ben Colburn and Mark Ynys-Mon (see their webpage)

October 27th 2006 from Charles Smith
Recently Sheikh Mohamed purchased Hambleton House, and the surrounding field, in Vicarage Lane. Subsequently this field was partly surrounded by a 6 feet 6 inch high close boarded fence which not only completely removed our lovely view across this field, but also made the end of our garden extremely dark and gloomy.
We wrote to Liam O'Rourke, the stud director for Darley, sending before and after photographs, and politely requested that Darley might consider a different sort of fence at the point where it crossed our boundary.
Within two days the fence was cut down to a height of about 4 feet, thus restoring our light and our view.
I don't know whether you have any space for recording our appreciation but if so I would like to take this opportunity of giving Darley the good press I feel it deserves in this particular case.
Charles Smith. The Garden Lodge B&B

October 22nd 2006.
Hi. I'm a Silver Surfer and I hope I have come up trumps in finding your Website.
I have just taken an interest with Family History and it has come to pass that my origins resided in your area of Wood-Ditton.
My Grandfather Frederick Mason was born Cheveley 1862 Great Grandfather William Mason born Saxon Street Abt. 1834 who in 1857 Married Susan Hubbard Born at Stetchworth Abt. 1834
I request Any Good Samaritan with information on these folk to contact me. I have Census Returns for 1851 to1901. Are there any Historians about? It would be very satisfying to gather some more info. regards Frederick Leaving your area and getting married in London in 1887 also pre the Marriage of William and Susan in 1857
Regards Mr G Mason.

October 1st 2006. Good Evening
I wonder if you could help I have traced my ancestors and found that many lived and died in Woodditton, the last of these was ELFIE FREESTONE. I have visited the Church at Woodditton and was unable find any graves. Is there anyone that could help me, perhaps with parish records? Look forward to hearing from you Sue Crowther (nee Freestone)

October 2nd. Reply to Sue Crowther from Webmaster.
I remember Elfie very well. I lived in Wood Ditton while a schoolboy from 1934 -1943 and Elfie lived just around the corner in West End Cottages. She was a kind and gentle spinster living alone, who spoke with a husky voice and never spoke an unkind word. I often used to talk to her and she would visit the Post Office and shop that my parents kept where she spent her pennies very carefully as she was quite poor, although she kept herself and her little terraced house very tidy. Long after I had moved away from the village I visited her, I think in the early seventies, which must have been towards the end of her life, and she remembered me very well. I seem to recall she and a brother who served in the Great War, but I do not remember meeting any of her relatives.
She was a dear lady and I have mentioned her more than once in my book about Wood Ditton village life called 'A Tanner Will Do'.
I have checked the Wood Ditton Church buriel records, but her name does not appear so she may have been cremated or buried elsewhere. If I can find out more about dates I will let you know.

September 28th 2006. Dear Webmaster
I am 83, a retired doctor living in Ulverstone, Tasmania. When I was a medical student after the war. I and two other student friends from Guy's Hospital spent many happy weeks of our summer vacations at Camois Hall, where we lived with the family and spent our days harvesting and doing odds and ends around the farm.
It was then run by Lionel and Pam Long, both deceased, and there were four young children. The years concerned were '48 certainly, and probably '49 (perhaps '47).
Going through old photos I have found two black and white photographic prints of Camois Hall and feel that these should be in the hands of someone interested either in the house or in Wood Ditton itself. I shall be happy to post them to any interested person if you can furnish me with a postal address. I hope that fine old house still stands.
Sincerely Tony Large

September 29th. Reply to Dr Tony Large's email from Rodney Vincent.
Dear Tony,
Your email is most interesting. I lived in Wood Ditton (at the post office) from 1934 - 1943 and of course remember the Longs and Camois Hall very well. At the time I was a schoolboy and did not have much direct contact with the family, although I occasionally used to talk with Josephine Long. A year after leaving the village I joined the Royal Navy and lost touch, but I am pleased to say that in more recent years, and not long before she died, I contacted Pamela Long who was then living in a flat in Newmarket, and we became friends, with many reminiscences about the old village. Sadly the old Georgian building was demolished in the architectural vandalism years of the 1960s, along with the charming little cottage further along Camois Hall Lane that we used to call the Witch's Cottage. If you go there today all you see is some fine old trees and the drive leading up to the former house from the north.
Farmer Lionel Long was an ex-Rhodesian police officer and was the platoon commander of the Wood Ditton Home Guard during the war and you can see a picture of him on the Wood Ditton website together with his platoon. See the History page - memories of the Home Guard.
Hazel Woollard, who lives in Newmarket, is the daughter-in-law of Winnie Woollard decd., long term servant and friend of the Longs. She tells me that Jo (Collins) is living in Australia, Barbara died, Billie we believe lives in Cambridgeshire or Suffolk and Geoff lives in Rhodesia, or Zimbabwe as it is known today.
As I am probably the nearest person to qualify as a Wood Ditton historian I would be very pleased to receive the photographs of Camois Hall, as I only have one taken from a Brownie snap. Thanks for your offer.
PS One of the pictures can now be seen on the 'Memories of Camois Hall' page select here
Rodney.

August 1st 2006. From Chris Winch.
I attach a picture of Hambleton House garden where Darley seem to be mashing up any sort of wildlife habitat they can find to present another sterile face to the outside world. Is this all necessary when bird nesting sites are at a premium in this increasingly manufactured landscape ­ what is wrong with a bit of rambling hedgerow and spinney with fallen leaves, twigs and rotting debris to harbour insects and grubs for birds and wildlife to feed on ­ they can do it down Duchess drive why not here?

July 2006.The many comments on the official closure of the Devil's Ditch path now appear on a dedicated page, please select here

21st April 2006 from Derrick Aspland (Editor of 'The Link' magazine).
Church bells, and Bellringers
When on holiday in August 2005 we (Veronica and Derrick Aspland, and Jill and Roy Steggles) climbed the 176 steps to the roof of All Saints Church Bell Tower at Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland. A fantastic view across the Lochs and Mountains. Being bellringers we were obviously intrigued with the bells ~ a ringing peal of ten bells. The total weight of the bells is nearly 8 tons. The tenor bell weighs 2116 kgs, the other nine bells progressively less as their pitch rises. They are the second heaviest rings of ten bells in the world, the heaviest bells being at Wells Cathedral. The bells at Woodditton Church Tower, in comparison, five in number, total a weight of 42.25 cwts., the heaviest one weighing in at a mere 12.5 cwt. (30% of the Scottish one).
The five bells of the Church of St.Mary the Virgin, Woodditton ring out each Tuesday evening for practice, at weddings and other special services, kept alive by a small but dedicated team of bell ringers.
Basic bell ringing is not too difficult to learn, although care must be taken not to become entangled with the bell-rope, as it leaps upward to the swing of a half-ton or more of bell. More of a challenge is keeping time with the other ringers and effecting the changes, as when the tower captain calls out a new sequence, such as "3 to treble, 2 to 3, 4 to 2". One hundred and twenty different changes are possible with five bells (at Inverary over 5,000 changes are possible) and considerable co-ordination of mind and body is needed to bring in the new order of ringing and quickly recover the timing. This certainly shows up well by the concentration on the faces of the ringers. The team are always looking for new recruits so if you would like to try your hand give Roy or Jill Steggles a call on 01638 730 899.
Regards Derrick.
To listen to the Wood Ditton bells and learn more details go to the dedicated page on this website select here

28th March 2006
Hello, Ken and Judy Peck here. We lived at Willowtree Cottage, 60 Ditton Green from 1995 to 2003. We loved the village and had many happy times there especially at the Blackbirds when Ted and Joan Spooner were in residence. I wrote this poem for our good neighbours Jim and Joyce Hooper and our friends Jack and Doris Scrivener.

WOODDITTON

A TINY VILLAGE KNOWN TO FEW,
SO SMALL IT HAS NO SHOP,
THE ONLY PUB IN WHITE AND THATCH,
REFRESHES THOSE THAT CARE TO STOP.

ITS GRASSY LANES AND FOOTPATHS WIND,
AROUND THE FIELDS AND WOODS,
COW PARSLEY DANCES FORMING AISLES,
WHERE THOSE BEFORE US WALKED AND STOOD.

HORSE CHESTNUTS HIGH AND IN FULL LEAF,
CONCEALS FLINT CHURCH SO PROUD AND TALL,
THAT PASSERS BY WILL HAVE NO GLIMPSE,
OR THINK OF THOSE THAT SLEEP BENEATH.

NOR KNOW OF THOSE RECORDED THERE,
WHO FOUGHT FOR US IN FAR OFF LANDS,
THAT WE MIGHT PASS THIS SUMMERS DAY,
OUR FUTURES THEN WERE IN THEIR HANDS.

NOT MUCH YOU THINK TO THIS SMALL PLACE,
THIS VILLAGE CALLED WOODDITTON,
BUT PEOPLE MAKE IT WHAT IT IS,
FAR MORE THAN CAN BE WRITTEN.

Terrific website, very professional. Ken and Judy.

23rd February 2006. From Gary Brown in the Channel Isles, who is proposing to hold a reunion for pupils of Wood Ditton School during the nineteen sixties.
Thanks for your reply regarding the school reunion. I have spoken to my friend, Alan Clutterham who I was at school with and who I am still in regular contact with, and we decided that a good date would be April 22nd as I will be in Newmarket at that time, at a venue to be arranged nearer the time depending on what response we get to the idea. It is envisaged that it will be a very informal gathering with just a few drinks and no pre-arranged food ect. Anyone is welcome who was at the school between 1961 and 1967 (or thereabouts) as this is when we think we have worked out that were there. Our teachers were Mrs Cates and Miss Nevard during that time, we are not sure if Freda Swann had yet started by the time we left. If anyone would like to contact either Alan or myself our contact details are as follows;
Alan Clutterham 01353 777378
Garry Brown 01534 758654 or email ggcjb@jerseymail.co.uk
Gary has since confirmed that the reunion will be at the Three Blackbirds Pub commencing at 7.30 pm on Saturday 22nd April 2006. He would like to know who is coming but in the event it will be sufficient just to turn up, as no special booking is required.
22nd April. The reunion, I am told, was quite successful with a dozen or more former pupils turning up, but they had some difficulty in remembering each other (Webmaster).

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