Littleport’s brass band has been lifting the spirits of Littleport’s population since the 1880s, from when the village numbered around 4,000 residents, to this year’s newly designated town of nigh on 12,000.

And they represented Littleport for the first time in their 140 years at the Whit Friday Saddleworth and Oldham District contest, marching and playing through seven villages to packed and cheering crowds.

You can hear the grand sounds of the Littleport Band, under the baton of musical director, Littleport’s own Ian Johnson, in Littleport this Sunday (June 11) from 3pm. £7 for adults, £4 concessions, at St George's Church, a five-minute walk/jog away from Littleport Leisure centre.

As well as being famous as the assembly point and refreshment hub for Littleport parkrun, the centre is becoming well-known for its vast and varied programme of sociable and healthy activities for every age group. 

There’s even netball for children aged two to five. Next sessions are Wednesday 14 from 1-1.45pm and 1.45-2.30pm. More info www.pivotnetballsquad.co.uk 

Or tots football for two to five-year-olds on Tuesdays, at 3.30pm and 4.15pm and Saturdays at 9am and 9.45am with Nathan Mitchell’s Fun Factory. Contact nathan@thefootballfunfactory.co.uk

If you pop in, you can pick up a timetable for June from one of the welcoming crew on reception.

Next Monday (June 12) has been designated ‘Loneliness Awareness Week’ by the Marmalade Trust, brought to our attention by the town council’s community link worker Kathryn Buck.

However, I am glad to note that the majority of the suggestions for alleviating loneliness - like sports, bingo, walks and skill-swaps - are already available to anyone in Littleport!

Enjoy sports galore at Littleport Leisure, bingo at the Littleport Ex-Servicemen’s Club Wednesdays, weekly walk meets at the Harley Memorial on Tuesdays at 10.30am, and Time Bank – get help and volunteer via email: littleportandelytimebank@btinternet.com.

But I don’t think that the Trust’s prompting to ‘smile at a stranger’ is a good idea.

And Littleport Women's Institute meets on Tuesday (June 13) at the village hall; 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. The speaker will be Mike Wabe, on 'life in a Victorian gaol'.