Issue 126 • Friday 26 February 2021 Emailed to over 1,400 local homes
Our AGM talk: a must for all wildlife enthusiasts
Next Thursday (4 March) the Queen Edith’s Community Forum is excited to present an online talk by Craig Bennett, CEO of The Wildlife Trusts and Queen Edith’s resident. Craig has been described as “one of the country’s top environmental campaigners” and by The Guardian as “the very model of a modern eco-general”. Craig’s talk will be about 7.20pm, following the Community Forum’s brief AGM (details here) on Zoom and YouTube.
No booking is necessary, but to receive an emailed reminder about the event on the day, with details of how to watch, please click here.
Cambridge Festival 2021 unveiled
The University of Cambridge has announced the full programme for its exciting new ten-day event, the Cambridge Festival, which brings together the hugely popular Cambridge Science Festival and the Cambridge Festival of Ideas. The series of free, online events can be viewed by anyone, anywhere in the world between March 26 and April 4 this year. There are over 350 events, including debates, discussions, talks, exhibitions, lab tours, workshops, films and performances, presenting new ideas, research and insight into our daily lives and the issues that are affecting us all.
The Cambridge Festival features hundreds of prominent figures and experts in the world of science, current affairs and the arts, including broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, leading expert in carbon footprinting Professor Mike Berners-Lee, statistician Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, marine biologist, broadcaster and writer Helen Scales, naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham,Costa Rican climate champion Christiana Figueres, Professor of politics David Runciman, human rights barrister and author Philippe Sands, TV presenter Liz Bonnin, former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, and – if you look very carefully – our very own Sam Davies.
We remain under the government’s ‘National Lockdown’ restrictions. This means we must stay at home, other than to work if this cannot be done from home, to shop for basic necessities, provide voluntary services, exercise once per day, seek medical assistance or attend education if eligible.
The government has published its ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’ document, setting out the ‘roadmap’ out of the current lockdown for England. This explains how the current restrictions will be lifted over time.
Sport and exercise
If the government’s plans go ahead, outdoor sports facilities including tennis courts and open-air swimming pools will be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports, in just over 4 weeks’ time, from Monday 29 March. Indoor leisure facilities including gyms can reopen (for use by people on their own or in household groups) two weeks later, from Monday 12 April. The David Lloyd Clubs venue in Coldhams Lane has already announced it will open qualifying facilities on these dates if permitted, and we will bring you news of other local gyms when we have it.
Apply for your Postal Vote for May
Your latest copy of Queen Edith’s magazine includes an application form to get a postal vote for the local elections in May. We recommend that everyone applies for a postal vote this year, as there are no fewer than four ballot papers to complete, and voting will require a fair amount of consideration for most people – this might be best done at home. Note that you don’t have to post your ballot papers back – you can still go to the polling station on Election Day (6 May) and hand them over there. If you haven’t got your magazine any longer, or if you need more than one application form, you can print one off from here.
Having building work done? Read this first.
If you’ve got builders in, or are planning to get some work done, stop everything. In a new article produced in conjunction with Queen Edith’s magazine, local building expert Steve Jackson takes you through what you should consider when taking on builders, and when things go awry, how to avoid the builders coming out on top. You can read Steve’s article here.
Mindfulness and Meditation and more
Mindfulness and Meditation for Beginners is amongst a whole range of online courses taught by Jeremy and Sally Lander which have just begun a new season. There’s also Yoga for Beginners, Thursday Morning Meditation, Very Early Morning Yoga, Gentle Yoga for People Living with Cancer, in association with Maggie’s Cancer Care, Gentle Yoga and General Yoga. Find out more at the Nightingale Yoga website.
Springtime for giants
Cambridge Junction has a new family show streaming online from Sunday week, 7 March. Inspired by the touching children’s story The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, Bristol’s two leading family theatre experts are combining to explore how even the grumpiest giant’s heart can melt when Spring finally comes. Pay What You Feel tickets are from £2.50 per screen. More details here.
Bracelets, necklaces and earrings
There’s a fun range of very low cost bracelets, necklaces and earrings now available from one of our local artists at the CaitlinsDen online store. Prices start at just £2.50. More details here.
Much more than fruit to your door
Local food supplier Cambridge Fruit Co tells us it has now delivered well over 1000 fruit and veg boxes to vulnerable families via The Red Hen Project. When the company first went to offering home delivery last year, it offered just two products: two sizes of fruit and veg box. Now it has over 150 lines, with more every day, although the ‘Essentials’ and ‘Family’ fruit and veg boxes are still the most popular products. Fitzbillies’ Fridays is now a ‘thing’ – spend over £30, place your order for Friday delivery, and receive a free loaf of Fitzbillies Bread. This has been going great guns so far. More seasonal offerings are promised – Indian Alphonso mangoes are just a few weeks away, then there’ll be a focus on local summer produce such as Histon Strawberries. See what they have to offer straight to your door here.
Boots Pharmacy is closing
A reminder that Boots Pharmacy on Cherry Hinton Road has announced that it will be closing from tomorrow (27 February). For customers who live on the Cherry Hinton side of Mowbray Road/Perne Road, the nearest pharmacy will probably be Kays Chemists on Wulfstan Way. If you’re the city side, your alternative is Numark Pharmacy on the corner of Rock Road and Cherry Hinton Road.
Food Hub open this Saturday
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship. It is open this (and every) Saturday, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Issue 125 • Friday 19 February 2021 Emailed to over 1,400 local homes
Queen Edith’s magazine is here!
Coming through your door over the next few days is the Spring issue of Queen Edith’s magazine, our free magazine for local residents. Produced entirely by local residents, for local residents, we hope it’s got something of interest for everyone. Find out why we got the ‘wrong’ Queen Edith, and learn about the flood of local elections this May. There’s even a postal voting application form included. The stunning cover art is by Nina Burgess – see below for details.
Live at The Belvedere or down Fulbourn Road?
We wouldn’t mind extending the delivery of Queen Edith’s magazine to a couple of areas on the edge of Queen Edith’s. If you live at The Belvedere in Homerton Street, or anywhere down Fulbourn Road, would you be able to deliver a few copies to homes around you? It shouldn’t take long. Please email hello@queen-ediths.info if you can help.
Latest Coronavirus news
We are under the government’s ‘National Lockdown’ restrictions. This means we must stay at home, other than to work if this cannot be done from home, to shop for basic necessities, provide voluntary services, exercise once per day, seek medical assistance or attend education if eligible.
The Cambridge City 4 Primary Care Network – which covers all of our local surgeries – will be undertaking more vaccinations next week at Cornford House Surgery on Cherry Hinton Road. Non-medical support on the day is being provided by Queen Edith’s Community Forum ‘Happy To Help’ volunteers. We have plenty of volunteers for ‘meet and greet’ and car parking duties, but we could do with a couple more for what’s called ‘Clinical Observation’. This is mainly to keep an eye on patients in the 15-minute period after their vaccinations. You’ll need some clinical or appropriate experience, but there will be a health professional present. If this sounds interesting and you’ve got two hours free on Thursday or Friday, please email hello@queen-ediths.info
Calling all pet owners
Cambridge Veterinary Group on Cherry Hinton Road has put together some excellent links (below) for pet owners. The practice has just taken on a new vet, Mikel Sabater, who has a diploma in avian medicine and years of experience in exotic practice, so CVG will now be able to offer diagnostics, treatments and surgeries for even more cases than previously.
Several people have noticed that Nisbets, the kitchen and catering equipment store at The Marque on Hills Road, has emptied out. However, the company tells us that the store is only “temporarily closed” and “should re-open”. You can see updates when anything changes here.
…but Boots Chemists is closing
Boots Pharmacy on Cherry Hinton Road has announced that (after several hinted earlier closure dates) that it will be closing for good next Saturday (27 February). For customers who live on the Cherry Hinton side of Mowbray Road/Perne Road, the nearest pharmacy will probably be Kays Chemists on Wulfstan Way. If you’re the city side, your alternative is Numark Pharmacy on the corner of Rock Road and Cherry Hinton Road. Do please support these important businesses; as Numark said last year: “Community pharmacy is all about providing patients with an accessible and high quality service. While patients might think that an online dispensary is an easier option, not only do they miss out on the other services a local pharmacy offers, but it is also potentially less efficient and less safe.”
Council helps residents in need get online
The City Council has released additional funding to provide data and devices to residents and families so they can get online during lockdown. Cambridge Online has new and refurbished computer tablets, laptops, and 4G internet connections. All recipients will also have access to the Cambridge Online training and digital skills help line via phone and email. More information here.
Contemplative Walking at St James
Most faiths have a tradition of contemplative or prayer walking (such as walking meditation in Buddhism), and this Lent a simple spiral labyrinth has been laid out in the side garden at St James’s Church on Wulfstan Way. Thanks to G and Tom Davies, who did the maths and painted it! If you’d like to try it out, follow the notices in the car park from this Saturday. All are welcome.
A Kind Of Magic – live on Zoom
Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a bit of magic! Tomorrow night (Saturday) Cambridge Junction presents internationally acclaimed magician Magical Bones, fresh from his hugely successful Britain’s Got Talent appearance, as he invites you to not just watch but to take part in a truly unique show. You only need one ticket for the whole family. More details here.
‘Twilight at Home’ family activities
Twilight at the Museums is traditionally a time when our local museums offer an evening of torch-lit exploration. Despite not being open, the museums have created a load of twilight-themed activities, games and videos for families to enjoy. Whether it’s getting outside and trying your hand at a bit of stargazing, or staying warm and having a go making shadow puppets, there’s plenty for you to watch and do. Take a look here.
Footlights Spring Revue next week
The annual Footlights Spring Revue stands out as one of the biggest events on the Cambridge comedy calendar, and this year it’s online! Written and recorded by finalist members of the renowned Cambridge Footlights, it’s a “dose of brand-new sketches and some of the best bits of our performers’ writing to chase away those lockdown blues.” It’s next Tuesday (23 February) at 8pm and free tickets are available here.
Lost Eons is a new Public Art Commission for Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It mixes board game with role-play gaming, and its creator David Blandy says: “I am looking for people from across the Cambridge community: scientists, doctors, clinicians, administrators, support staff, to join the game; everyone is welcome whatever level of experience.” The group currently meets on Zoom online, every Wednesday and Thursday, from 7pm to 8pm. More details here.
Food Hub open this Saturday
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship. It is open this (and every) Saturday, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
‘Window Wanderland’ packs were given out at the Food Hub and St James Church a couple of weeks ago, and thanks to Geraldine and Chloe who made the stained glass window and heart to brighten up their windows, and Jelena, Christiana and Gabriel who made the beautiful Dove of Peace now flying across the doors of St James church. There’s still time to make one, and we’re happy to give yours a home at St James’s! Contact Anne at stjamescurate@gmail.com.
Helping refugees in Europe
A local charity helping refugees in Europe – Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group – collects clothes, sleeping bags, tents and hygiene items to alleviate the misery of winter in Europe’s camps for displaced people. They usually organise donation drop-offs at St. John’s Church, but his year, due to the pandemic, a local member has agreed to take donations at his home in Blinco Grove. From there, items will be checked, sorted and passed along to the main storage facility. This means people don’t have far to go to drop off donations and can do it at any time in a safe manner. If you can donate anything, please email CAMCRAG directly at blincogrove@camcrag.org.uk to make drop-off arrangements.
Latest Coronavirus news
We are under the government’s ‘National Lockdown’ restrictions. This means we must stay at home, other than to work if this cannot be done from home, to shop for basic necessities, provide voluntary services, exercise once per day, seek medical assistance or attend education if eligible.
Queen Edith Medical Practice tells us alongside all of our local medical practices, it is working hard to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible patients in the priority groups, at the same time as providing care to all those who need it. As at 1st February 92% of its patients over the age of 80, and 91% of those over 70, have had their first COVID-19 vaccination. Please be assured that all of our GPs will continue to contact those outstanding. Nobody will be forgotten!
Anyone needing to get to the Grafton Centre for vaccinations can get a complimentary taxi ride if needed via Uber – more details here. This is in addition to the offer applying to any local vaccination centre, from Panther Taxis.
Queen Edith Medical Practice is part of the Cambridge City 4 Primary Care Network, which also includes Cherry Hinton Medical Centre, Brookfields Medical Practice, Cornford House Surgery, Fulbourn Health Centre, Mill Road Surgery (and Cherry Hinton Branch Surgery), Petersfield Medical Practice and Woodlands Surgery at Eden House. Vaccinations for all these practices are being held at Cornford House Surgery on Cherry Hinton Road. Non-medical support on the day is being provided by Queen Edith’s Community Forum ‘Happy To Help’ volunteers.
Thank you from Addenbrooke’s
The latest newsletter from the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust talks about the efforts to keep the staff healthy and resilient in these times, and how we can all help. It also points out that as of this Wednesday, the hospital was caring for 128 patients with COVID-19, of which 27 were in Critical Care but 101 were on inpatient wards. It’s well worth a read.
Ideas for supporting local families needed
Queen Edith’s Community Forum chair Sam Davies tells us: “I’ve been talking to the County Council’s Child and Family team about whether there are new ways volunteers could help support their work with local families, in a COVID-19-secure way. We’re thinking about very simple things like accompanying a family on a walk, or to a play group once they are back up and running. Volunteers wouldn’t need any special background or training, and it would be a limited commitment, set up to avoid building dependency. I’m aware this all sounds a bit vague, but that’s because we’re still working out what might be possible! However, if you think you might like to be involved please email me at sam@queen-ediths.info ideally with some thoughts about what you might be interested in doing and what would make it rewarding for you.”
Donate an unused laptop PC
Help make sure every child in our region can take part in school during lockdowns and clear old clutter at the same time, through a newly launched campaign via Cambridge 2030. Unused laptops can be taken to any local library, from where Cambs Youth Panel will collect them, destroy all hard drives (and data) and refurbish them before they are given to schools across the county. There’s a great website here explaining more.
Free online kids activities from ChYpPS
Cambridge City Council’s Children and Young People’s Service (ChYpPS) has put together a programme of free online activities for families in Cambridge. These include Fun and Games for ages 8 to11, every Monday 4 to 5pm, and Draw with Adie for ages 7+, every Tuesday – a weekly session to learn some basic art techniques. Details are here.
Local artist and illustrator Emma Bennett provided the cover for one of our Queen Edith’s magazines last year. Now, along with thirteen year old daughter Molly, Emma has written and illustrated a children’s book called Finn and the Five Flies.The book is 32 pages and is available online from this weekend for just £7.99. Go on, get yourself a copy. Find out more here.
New family show ‘Explodes with energy’
Upcoming online family shows from Cambridge Junction include Dust, performed at Half Moon Theatre and professionally filmed and edited. Put the best seats in the house into your own home! Suitable for ages 4 and up. Available to watch next Thursday (18 February) with pay-what-you-feel tickets. More information and a trailer to watch here.
‘Return to Fitness’ for women of all ages
The free Get Moving Cambridge‘Return to Fitness’ initiative is designed for women who have been away from physical activity for a while. The programme features 9 different sessions, from Yoga to bootcamp as well as meditation and a nutrition talk; instructors who will adapt exercises to suit individual needs and abilities; and a supportive group environment. The next programme will be held live and online on Mondays from 7pm to 7.45pm, starting on 22nd February. Did we mention it was free? You just need to complete this short form to show you’re interested, preferably today.
News from Westminster
MP Anthony Browne reports back in his latest newsletter here. Subjects include East West Rail, chalk streams and new towns.
Food Hub open this Saturday
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship. It is open this (and every) Saturday, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
This week, big thanks go to our friends at Taj Tandoori on Cherry Hinton Road (below), who dropped by this afternoon with some amazing donations. The restaurant also joined in with a wider initiative to supply hot meals to Addenbrooke’s staff, as you can see here.
Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.
The City Council’s Planning Committee approved the proposals for the controversial 200-home ‘GB1’ housing estate on Wednesday, by the slimmest of majorities (4 councillors for approval, 3 against). At the meeting, several members of the public, including Queen Edith’s residents, made formal objections to aspects of the development. There are various takes on the decision which you might like to read:
Yesterday evening (Thursday), the Queen Edith’s Community Forum held the first of a series of online talks with a local theme. Around 40 people ‘tuned in’ on Zoom and YouTube to hear Jeremy Lander race through over 1000 years of local history in 50 minutes. The presentation is now available to watch on our YouTube channel here, and we’d thoroughly recommend it.
Latest Coronavirus news
We are under the government’s ‘National Lockdown’ restrictions. This means we must stay at home, other than to work if this cannot be done from home, to shop for basic necessities, provide voluntary services, exercise once per day, seek medical assistance or attend education if eligible.
This week’s news from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reports that critical care units “remain under significant pressure, running at around double their normal capacity”. You can read the report here.
Vaccination news
GPs are working through their patient lists in line with the national prioritisation guidance and they will contact you. The priority groups are illustrated in this poster. Panther Taxis is offering free travel to vaccination centres for anyone without transport, or who is vulnerable or needs assistance. More details here.
There are several vaccination studies going on, but one which seems easy to join is VAC4COVID. You can help them by signing up before or after you’ve had a vaccination.
Kindness from the garden
The Nightingale Garden volunteers have found it makes an enormous difference to us to get outdoors and do ‘something positive’ in the garden, and have now decided to start a ‘Kindness project’. This is a simple idea that they hope can reach out to any individuals and groups in the area. There’s more about it on this new webpage.
Penelope is a star
5-year-old Penelope has won a Mayor’s Award for Volunteering for her work in the Red Cross area. She has been out recently dropping off crafts, window project packs and chocolates to cheer residents through the 2021 lockdown. “Penelope is an inspiration to us all”, says the RedCross Areas Residents Association.
Our MP wants your views on housebuilding
South Cambridgeshire MP Anthony Browne has launched a survey to get residents’ views on housebuilding in the constituency. It seems very geared up to the villages, so it would be nice to get a lot of Queen Edith’s residents to complete it, to ensure Mr Browne doesn’t forget we’re here. You can complete the survey here.
The Go Glass shop on Cherry Hinton Road is closed during the national lockdown, but can still supply mirrors locally through its excellent website. Much better than buying them from some unknown online vendor! The Mirror Shop is here. There’s 20% off everything in February too.
Steak & Honour on Thursday nights
Although its old Swiss Laundry pitch is unavailable, the wonderful Steak & Honour burger van is now serving outside the Go Glass shopon Cherry Hinton Road every Thursday evening, from 5pm to 8pm. Order online here then pick up from the truck. You won’t regret it.
Food Hub open this Saturday
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub offers free fresh and packaged food supplies and household goods for anyone experiencing hardship. It is open this (and every) Saturday, at St James Church in Wulfstan Way from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Queen Edith’s ‘Happy To Help’ volunteering service
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ initiative has a team of 200 local residents ready to help anyone who needs it because of COVID-19 isolation. Frequently-received requests include picking up prescriptions from local pharmacies and collecting shopping. However, please note that we are a volunteer service run by your neighbours, and although we try to respond to requests within 24 hours, please don’t make last-minute, urgent requests.
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Chris Rand
