Last week we were talking about how those writers of murder mysteries set in rural communities didn’t have much of an inkling about real village life or the actual people who live in them.

One thing that does have the ring of truth about it is the toffee nosed attitudes of the characters that live in the big houses, remote from the villages, always similarly pretty accurately described, towards the locals.

One writer caused such a character to opine, ”You’re turning into a village drab woman. You’ll be joining the WI next.”

That author, reflecting perhaps her own ignorance, like many town-dwellers, obviously didn’t know enough about the Women’s Institute as an organisation, or the fact that the rather far from drab monarch, Her Majesty the Queen, is the WI Honorary President and a member since 1943 of the Sandringham WI.

Littleport WI are an extremely friendly, fun and welcoming group. The next meeting, which is open for all women of all ages, is on Tuesday May 10 at 7.15pm in the Village Hall, when they will be entertained by Sara Copsey-Batts who will talk about why and how she trained to give facials and hand treatments.

Two lucky members whose names were drawn from all who had put their names in the hat at last month’s meeting, will be the models, as Sara, who is WI treasurer Iris Copsey’s daughter, demonstrates a ‘mini’ facial and ‘mini’ manicure. There is always a competition linked to the speaker, and this month is ‘a pretty bracelet’.

Somewhat more energetic pursuits are on offer at Littleport Leisure Centre. It has a squash court and a gym with picture windows so you can see the huffing and puffing as it goes on from the car park. Or to gaze through from the inside of course.

If you’re a roller skating aficionado there’s no end of activity. Grade 4 coach Brian Paddington teaches Thursdays from 4-8pm and on Saturdays during the youngsters’ fun skate session from 10am until noon with music.

The excellent skater and well-liked Russ Place is also on hand to supervise proceedings.

If all that’s made you tired, you can always take time out in the bar upstairs, with a terrace that overlooks the field where there may be a dog show, football or a cricket match going on.

While the cricket season has just begun for Littleport’s Cricket Club, Littleport Town FC has just concluded its end of season double cup battle, winning one and losing one.

I bumped into goal-scoring mid-fielder Jamie Gayfer in Erika’s barber shop in Main Street getting the traditional sharp haircut before that second cup match of the season.

He’d already put in a day’s hard work like most of his team mates. You could say that’s a warm-up in itself!

As reported in the Standard they put up a fine performance only to be denied the double in a penalty shoot-out. Happens to the best teams in the country so Littleport Town are in good company.

This weekend kicks off with the Farmers Market at Adams Heritage Centre opening 9am to 1pm. And those charity events that Littleport is famous for are not to be missed.

This Saturday evening the Ex-Servicemen’s Club is hosting a dance raising funds for PULSE, Littleport based, ‘Patients and Users Lenders of Special Equipment’, that’s Chaired by Councillor Geoff Norman.

Tickets are £6 on the door and the music (60s to 80s) is supplied by the popular band Catch 22. You can boogie on down from 8.45pm until midnight.

The annual Littleport bikers club bash for charity moves into top gear this Saturday. The 363MCC commemorates the 1816 Littleport Rioters and five hanged men in its name and logo. So 200 years on the ‘Crowning Around’ event has even more significance.

There’s all day music and refreshments, both in the Crown Inn where it’s being held and in the road outside, Crown Lane, that’s cordoned off for the bike show as usual.

A multitude of stalls sell everything any self-respecting lover of all things motorbiking could wish for plus the ever popular great prizes raffle.

Their committee, headed by Mark Robinson, have secured a flypast at approximately 12.20pm by a Battle of Britain Spitfire. Well you can’t top that can you?