Queen Edith’s news 2021 vol.05 – May

Queen Edith’s News

Issue 139 • Friday 28 May 2021
Emailed to over 1,500 local homes

The joy of getting together

A year ago, Graham and Heather from Hinton Avenue had the idea to take photographs of residents in their immediate neighbourhood, capturing images of living in the area during the pandemic. In years to come this would provide a record of who was living in this little corner of Queen Edith’s during the first ever national lockdown. One year on, they invited everyone who participated to view the photographs, with the array of photos displayed along a wall. Residents enjoyed a socially distanced viewing and opportunity to catch up or even meet for the first time. As one of them said: “The joy of getting together with neighbours has become even more important during these times.”

Holiday lunch returns for a trial session

St James’ Church hasn’t been able to host any of its Holiday Lunch sessionssince February 2020, for obvious reasons! But they’re dipping their toes into the water again this half-term, with the first one anywhere in the city. The ChYPPsteam will be running crafts in the church garden, and Cambridge Sustainable Food are providing lots of lunches for families to take away and heat up at home. Last time, people from all over Queen Edith’s came together to bake potatoes (thanks to the QE Chapel!), manage and put on activities (thanks Immy, Ingrid), prepare world-beating risk assessments (thanks Rebecca and Mary) and chop fruit (thanks Sam). There may be more lunches over the summer holiday, so you’d like to be part of the team in future, do email Anne at the church. And if you know anyone who’d like the meal and crafts do please get in touch.

Well, we won’t miss this eyesore, will we? Congratulations to our new City Councillors Daniel, Jenny and Sam who tell us they have just had confirmation from council officers that contractors MEADS will start the long-awaited demolition of Nightingale Pavilion on Monday 14 June. Once the existing building is removed, which should take about a week, the foundations will be assessed to see how much can be retained for re-use as the base for the modular replacement building. Progress at last!

Events for young people over half term

Speaking of ChYPPs, the City Council’s Children and Young People’s Participation Service has a programme of free online bookable events and outdoor play sessions aimed at local children and their families organised for half term. They’ve teamed up with Cambridge University Museums to give families the chance to explore their wonderful collections online and the teams will also get together on the city’s parks to host in person events. Sessions on offer will include learning about the Greek alphabet with the Museum of Classical Archaeology, testing your knowledge with an animal quiz with the Museum of Zoology and getting creative with ChYPPS on an insect themed drawing session. More details here.

Bins a day later next week

The City Council will empty bins one day later than usual following next week’s bank holiday on Monday 31 May. Friday’s collections will be on Saturday 5 June, and normal service resumes on Monday 7 June. More details here.

Latest Coronavirus news

Robin Hood roadworks update

Cambridgeshire County Council tells us that “there have been over 40 unforeseeable changes since the start of the project which could have resulted in the programme being extended beyond the 18 June 2021. However, resources have been managed throughout to ensure that the current end date is achieved and to have the new traffic signals installed and commissioned by that date. Any works required beyond the the 18 June 2021 (e.g. installation of the bus shelter) will be undertaken off peak to avoid further congestion.”

Support playing out in Gunhild Way this summer

A group of local parents are applying to Cambridgeshire County Council for a ‘Temporary Play Street Order’ for part of Gunhild Way on selected Saturday afternoons during the summer. This will give children the chance to play safely near home and help foster a sense of community. They hope residents of all ages, with or without children, will enjoy having the street free of traffic for a short time though! To find out more, and to support the event through a quick survey, please see the letter from the organisers here.

Would you like to join a group of sociable, friendly and inclusive women to begin cycling on quiet roads? HSBC Breeze is run by British Cycling and supported by a network of volunteers and cycling groups to provide free cycling to women who would like to get out on their bike more, but find ‘club cycling’ a bit intimidating. The Breeze groups are free to sign up for and run several rides every week from villages around Cambridge. Find out more here.Local volunteer ride leader Nancy Minshull-Beech is hoping to run a free beginners course for women of all ages (over 16) who would like to progress from not feeling comfortable on roads to cycling up to 20miles or more with a group of likeminded women. She is hoping to start some rides from Nightingale Park. “We are all shapes and sizes”, she says, “including many in our 50s, 60’s and 70’s. We go out for chatty cycles and usually end up at a cafe for tea. It is very supportive.” If you would like to have an exploratory chat, please come and meet Nancy on the grass by the old pavilion on Tuesday (1 June) at 6pm to talk about your experiences of cycling and what you might like to achieve.

Get water fit

Following up on our item last week about ordering a water butt for your garden, Cambridge Water has also pointed us to the Get Water Fit website, which aims to help you save water in the home. There’s a 5-minute questionnaire, after which you can request a range of free water saving products. You can also book an advisory video call and set yourself water-saving challenges. Take a look here.

Discover Cambridge from a fresh perspective

The city’s traditional Bridge the Gap Walk has historically hosted upwards of 2,000 walkers each year, enjoying a close-up view of the city and colleges. Last year, with the colleges closed to the public, a replacement walk with a difference was well received, and this year it’s being done again: the family-friendly fundraiser can be completed in one day, or over several days, between 13 August and 10 September, raising funds for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill. The carefully crafted route covers about 5 miles and will include locations and highlights that have not previously featured on Bridge the Gap walks. Find out more and register now here!

Anyone for Tennis?

Cocks and Hens Cambridge Tennis Club – a featured Queen Edith’s Magazinesupporter –  is a friendly club with modern facilities situated off Grantchester Road. There are various membership rates to suit individuals as well as family groups, and players of all standards are very welcome. Visit the club’s website for more information and for the latest news on coaching and social playing – including holiday camps next week for 6–16 year olds.

This Week at Cambridge Junction

Our local arts venue is enthusiastically getting back into swing, and has two events this week: comedian Ahir Shah tonight (Friday 28 May) and folk duo Belshazzar’s Feast on Tuesday (1 June). The Box Office remains online only.

This Week at The Light Cinema

Our multi-screen cinema is open again, and this week’s films include A Quiet Place Part II; Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry; Cruella; Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train; Godzilla vs. Kong; Judas and the Black Messiah; Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb; Minari; Nomadland; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway; Raya and the Last Dragon; Scoob!; Sound of Metal; Spiral; The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It; The Father; Those Who Wish Me Dead; and Tom & Jerry: The Movie. Film times and other details can be found 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. Thanks as ever to all the wonderful volunteers and donors. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.

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.

Our ‘Happy To Help’ Web page

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

How to contact our local councillors

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum has produced a guide to our local councillors to ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.

City councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will highlight it here.

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Click here to request your own copy each week. It’s free!

 

Queen Edith’s News

Issue 138 • Friday 21 May 2021
Emailed to over 1,500 local homes

10,000 jabs at Cornford House

The medical team at Cornford House Surgery tell us that 10,000 local residents have now been through our local COVID-19 vaccination centre, with over 16,000 jabs dispensed as many get their follow-up too. Every single person has been welcomed on arrival and where necessary observed before departure by local volunteers, rain or shine. Over 200 people have taken part in the volunteering programme, which continues for a couple of days nearly every week. Thank you to everyone involved!

Free regular updates from your local councillor

New city councillor Sam Davies says that in line with her recent election campaign promise to improve communication from our local councillors, she is now writing a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. This sounds like an excellent idea, and it should be worth everyone signing up for. If this inspires our other councillors to do anything similar, we’ll let you know straight away.

Latest Coronavirus news

The number of positive cases in Cambridge remains low, and below the national average (see the government figures here) and is steady. This week the government lifted many restrictions on social contact, businesses and events. The ‘rule of six, or two households’ now applies indoors, with gatherings of up to 30 people permitted outdoors. For those heavily interested in the data, the MRC Biostatistics Unit has a new report on real-time tracking of the pandemic. If you want a lot of questions answered about COVID-19 issues as diverse as future lockdowns, Indian variants and groceries, we think you’ll enjoy this 10-minute video from Professor Tim Spector, one of the experts behind the ZOE COVID Study app.

Light Cinema reopens

Our multi-screen cinema reopened today, and like so many local businesses, it needs our support! Some films (in the weekend and holiday Family Specials lineup) include a family favourite for £3.75, or a selected new release for just £5.75. The cinema’s COVID-19 measures can be found here. This weekend’s huge film selection features Godzilla vs. Kong; Judas and the Black Messiah; Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb; Minari; Mortal Kombat; Nomadland; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway; Raya and the Last Dragon; Scoob!; Sound Of Metal; Spiral; The Unholy; Those Who Wish Me Dead; and Tom & Jerry: The Movie. Film times and other details can be found here.

How your support is transforming the care of children

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is holding an online seminar next Thursday morning (27 May) to give the teams across Children’s Services at Addenbrooke’s Hospital the chance to show how public support is transforming the care of children at Addenbrooke’s. Find out how recent funding for lifesaving kit for a new children’s emergency ambulance service will revolutionise how the region transfers critically ill younger people, as well as the hospital’s ambitions to build a new, state-of-the-art dedicated children’s hospital. More details here.

New signs and a bug hotel have been added to the lovely Kindness Garden at Wulfstan Way shops. Decoration was by the talented gardeners Jill, Clare and Francesca; the bug hotel by Julian. It’s a wonderful addition to the neighbourhood.

Helping nature to recover and thrive

The Cambridge Nature Network vision is for the wider area to have significant areas of downland, fens, meadows and woodlands, where nature can recover and thrive and where people can experience a wilder countryside and nature on their doorstep. A report prepared by the Wildlife Trust and Cambridge Past Present and Future highlights the best opportunities to create new habitats and large-scale natural green spaces in five priority landscape areas around and through the city, including the countryside to the south and south-east of Queen Edith’s. You can read the report and find out more here.

Put that rainwater to work

Thinking of a water butt for your garden? Cambridge Water tells us that Save Water Save Money has delivered 2.75 million water saving devices to more than 1 million customers, saving over 51 billion litres of water. Its range of garden products can be seen here, and delivery of a large water butt is only £5.00.

Plant sale in the library garden

The Friends of Rock Road Library have a plant sale in the lovely library garden this Saturday morning (22 May) from 10.00am to 12.00noon. There’ll be a one way system, with plant tables more than 2 metres apart and simple pricing. Note cash only, and please bring small denominations as change facilities will be limited.

Back to eating out

Most of our local restaurants opened their doors again this week, and we’re busy compiling a list for you. Here at the Queen Edith’s News team, our first port of call was the award-winning Taj on Cherry Hinton Road (last night, above), this week’s featured supporter of Queen Edith’s magazine. Enjoy authentic Bangladeshi dishes, good old ‘British curries’ as well as fusion dishes with Indian, British and even Chinese twists. Open six days a week – reserve a table here.

Corporate venue hire at the Arthur Rank

The Education and Conference Centre at Arthur Rank Hospice Charityis reopening for corporate venue hire, and with the recent installation of specialist equipment, it can additionally now facilitate video conferences and streaming, to provide virtual and hybrid events. Between its initial opening and March 2020, the 90-capacity centre hosted over 350 different training sessions, conferences, meetings and events. The facility hopes to raise £50,000 in revenue through venue bookings this financial year, making a vital contribution to the £10.5million it will cost to deliver the Hospice’s care across its frontline services. More details here.

Watercolour workshops this summer

Local artist Denise Schoenberg, who provided a recent Queen Ediths magazinefront cover, is resuming her popular watercolour art days at St John’s Church on Hills Road. These start with watercolour painting days for beginners in June, flower painting in July, painting sunsets in September, and weekly classes in September. The workshops are  a great opportunity to meet other local watercolour enthusiasts. More details here.

Jazz at Wandlebury in August

On Sunday 8 August, the paddock at Wandlebury hosts an afternoon of jazz with the Duxford Saturday Workshop Jazz Band. Bring your own picnic or visit the pop-up café. Tickets are on sale now.

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. Thanks as ever to all the wonderful volunteers and donors. Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.

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.

Our ‘Happy To Help’ Web page

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

How to contact our local councillors

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum has produced a guide to our local councillors to ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.

Queen Edith’s News

Issue 137 • Friday 14 May 2021
Emailed to over 1,500 local homes

How to contact our local councillors: new guide

Following last week’s elections, the Queen Edith’s Community Forum has produced a new guide to the councillors that residents should contact with any concerns. It explains which type of councillor you need to contact (City or County, depending on the issue), and which ward you’re in (Queen Edith’s, Cherry Hinton, Coleridge or Trumpington). Take a look here, and make a note!

Lilac Court planning application refused

An appeal by developers wanting to build eight houses on the west side of Lilac Court has been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. The decision says that the proposed scheme “would overwhelm and appear unacceptably dominant and overbearing to the occupiers of Nos. 11-29 (Hinton Avenue)” and would unsuitably overlook the flats in Lilac Court opposite. There had been a huge number of objections from local residents over the past year. The proposal can be seen here (scroll down to ‘Design & Access Statement’.

Latest Coronavirus news

The number of positive cases in Cambridge remains low (see the government figures here) and is falling. The south of the city does have the most cases though, thanks to a small spike in Trumpington, so do continue to take precautions. This is particularly important in light of news today that the so-called ‘Indian variant’ has been found in Cambridge. This may be more transmissible than others.

As most readers will be aware, on Monday (17 May), the government is lifting many restrictions on social contact, businesses and events. Full details can be found here.

In summary, the ‘rule of six, or two households’ will now apply indoors, and gatherings of up to 30 people will be permitted outdoors.

Indoor hospitality will reopen, although customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated. This means that our local pubs which have been serving outside (the Queen Edith, the Robin Hood and the Red Lion) will now be able to open indoors too, and the Rock pub on Cherry Hinton Road will be re-opening for the first time since the current restrictions began. It looks like most local restaurants should be re-opening – contact them directly to reserve a table.

The Light Cinema reopens next Friday (21 May).

Everyone aged 38 or over can now book a vaccine using the national booking system. Symptomatic PCR tests can be booked online – see ‘Get a PCR Test’ here.

Vaccinations continue at Cornford House surgery. Thank you so much to the many Queen Edith’s residents volunteering to help with this.

Council service centre reopens

The City Council’s Customer Service Centre at Mandela House reopened to the public on Monday. Customers will be encouraged and supported to use digital options to have their query resolved, including making payments. Those who are vulnerable, need extra support or who do not have ready access to the internet should call 01223 457000 so staff can support them with advice or assistance.

Citywide events on Facebook

Regular Facebook users might like to follow a City Council initiative called the Cambridge Virtual Community Centre. This Facebook page lists free events which you might not hear about elsewhere; if you have any free events of your own that need promoting, or anything you think would be of interest to city residents, please private message the Facebook page or email Steph Burwitz.

New look takeaways

Two favourite takeaways on Cherry Hinton Road have had a makeover, and look very smart. Cyprus Kebab is now Marmaris Charcoal Grill, and Cherry Box Pizza is now New Cherry Kitchen, offering a wider selection of fast food. Give them a try.

Talking Together for older adults

COPE is launching a new series of its Talking Together initiative that offers weekly telephone-based discussion groups which are joined from the comfort of your home. From Exploring Kettle’s Yard to Classical Music through the Ages,there’s a whole range of subjects. There’s an explanatory leaflet here.

Making young people’s voices heard

Cambridge City Council is looking for young people aged 10–16 years old who want to work with them to make their voices heard in the community. Details of how to get in touch are in this Facebook post here.

Will Writing and Estate Planning

This week’s featured supporter of Queen Edith’s magazine is Inheritance Legal Services on Cherry Hinton Road, who are the region’s specialists in will writing, lasting powers of attorney, protecting your home and funeral plans. They’re a local, family-run company with low cost, fixed-fee services, who we know you can trust. Find out more here.

Oyster Bar at Cambridge Cookery

Cookery classes, private parties and team events will resume from Monday (17 May) at Cambridge Cookery off Purbeck Road. Starting next Wednesday (19 May) will be a weekly oyster and cocktails bar, from 5pm. No reservations required. Details here.

Live comedy and music back at Cambridge Junction

Live performances – with socially distanced seating for now – return to Cambridge Junction from next Sunday (23 May). Comedy stars in the first few days include Simon Munnery, Rich Hall and Ahir Shah. There’s also music coming, with Belshazzar’s Feast and The Rheingans Sisters. See the full line-up here.

The curtain rises again at the Arts

The Cambridge Arts Theatre is back from early next month, and there’s an online version of its familiar looking brochure available to read here. Opening shows include David Mamet’s Oleanna and Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black.

Volunteer Management moves forwards

Support Cambridgeshire’s annual Connecting Communities conference talks about volunteering across the county, and this year will be held from 8–10 June. Its theme will be Volunteer Management and how the voluntary and community sector can move forwards from the past year. The Re-examining Volunteering panel session on Thursday 10 June features the Queen Edith’s Community Forum chair Sam Davies. More details here.

The Science Centre is back!

The excellent Cambridge Science Centre on the Clifton Road estate behind Cambridge Leisure is re-opening for the May half-term. A week of fun-filled shows and workshops starts with a chance to explore an astronaut’s life in an interactive show. See the full list of events here.

Plant Sale – make a date

The Friends of Rock Road Library have a plant sale coming up next Saturday (22 May) from 10am to 12noon. This will be in the Rock Road Library garden, and they promise “a range of plants available at excellent prices, including geraniums and busy lizzies”.

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. The Hub marked a year of service last weekend, with cake and balloons. Thanks as ever to all the wonderful volunteers and donors.

Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.

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.

Our ‘Happy To Help’ Web page

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

Queen Edith’s News

Issue 136 • Friday 7 May 2021
Emailed to over 1,500 local homes

Alex, Daniel, Jenny and Sam elected in local elections

11:30pm It’s just been announced at the University Sports Centre (above) that Alex Beckett, Sam Davies, Daniel Lee and Jenny Page-Croft will be our next local councillors, following yesterday’s elections. Turnout in Queen Edith’s was amongst the highest in the whole county! Congratulations to all those elected, and thanks to all of the candidates for offering their services to the community in this way.

Queen Edith’s City Council election results 2021 (3 councillors)

  • Elected: Sam Davies (Independent) – 1,874 votes
  • Elected: Jenny Page-Croft (Liberal Democrats) – 1,074
  • Elected: Daniel Lee (Liberal Democrats) – 816
  • Richard Eccles (Liberal Democrats) – 709
  • Indy Vadhia (Labour) – 647
  • Dan Zahedi (Labour) – 647
  • Connor Hanagan Morrissey (Labour) – 554
  • Al Dixon (Independent) – 536
  • Christine Butler (Conservative) – 512
  • Jacqueline Whitmore (Green Party) – 473
  • Peter Price (Green Party) – 377
  • Simon Whitmore (Green Party) – 318
  • Shoaib Shahid (Conservative) – 279
  • Suhaib Shahid (Conservative) – 199

Queen Edith’s County Council election results 2021 (1 councillor)

  • Elected: Alex Beckett (Liberal Democrats) – 1,355 votes
  • Steve King (Labour) – 1,168
  • Donald Douglas (Conservative) – 647
  • Jacqueline Whitmore (Green) – 599

Robin Hood junction roadworks to continue

The County Council has informed residents that the remodelling work at the Robin Hood junction, which was originally due to end this weekend, is now not expected to be completed until towards the end of June. The reason given is that it was decided to allow a utilities company to put in fibre ducting for internet connection at the same time. There’s a Cambridgeshire Live story here.

Latest Coronavirus news

The number of positive cases in Cambridge remains low (see the government figures here) and is falling again, which is a relief. The recent outbreak in the east of the city seems to have subsided somewhat.

Everyone over the age of 42 can now book a vaccine using the national booking system. Symptomatic PCR tests can be booked at Abbey Leisure Centre – see ‘Get a PCR Test’ here.

Vaccinations continue at the well-run sessions at Cornford House surgery. Thank you so much to the 100+ Queen Edith’s residents volunteering to help with this.

The current government roadmap can be found here. Meeting other households indoors is still planned to be permitted in a fortnight’s time, alongside the reopening of indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes.

Let the children play on your street

Playing Out Events can be organised by residents to allow children’s play on quiet residential streets that do not affect the wider road network. Cambridgeshire County Council would like to hear from residents who would like to organise a Playing Out Event this summer. Interested? You can find out more and let them know you’re interested here. You may also like to let us know at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, in case we can help.

Mindfulness and meditation classes

Mindfulness and meditation are techniques for calming the mind, enjoying the moment and creating insight. Local resident Philip Guildford, who teaches on the programme for University students is now offering teaching here in Queen Edith’s. A beginners course of eight classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 19 May. The sessions will be held online until venues open and participants are comfortable to meet. There is no charge for the teaching, but donations to help with venue costs would be welcome when face-to-face sessions become possible. To reserve a place or find out more, just email Philip here.

Online Volunteering Fair next week

Interested in voluntary work? Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is holding a free online volunteer fair next Thursday (13 May) from 12 noon to 2.30pm. Organisations taking part include Safe Soulmates, Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambs & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Rape Crisis, Cambridge Street Aid, Healthwatch Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and East Anglia Air Ambulance. Each charity will give a short presentation about what they do, the difference their volunteers make and what opportunities they have on offer and there will be the chance to ask questions. Find out more here.

Building and home improvements

This week’s featured supporter of Queen Edith’s magazine is Great Cambourne Construction, specialists in house renovations, kitchen and bathroom fitting, garage conversions and loft conversions. See what they’ve been up to recently and get in touch here. Many local references available.

Help the Arthur Rank plan for the future

The Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will be launching a new long-term strategy next year, and wants to hear from patients, families, supporters, volunteers, or anyone who knows the charity with ideas for its future direction. There’s a survey if you’d like to help, and it can be found here.

Walk 5km for Maggie’s

If some of the sponsored walks being organised recently have been a bit ambitious, cancer support charity Maggie’s at Addenbrooke’s is asking people to walk 5km on a route that means something to family and friends. “Tell them about why you have chosen your walk,” they say, “and ask them to join you over the weekend.” Register for free now and get your ‘Together We Walk’ pack with a free Maggie’s t-shirt and lots of fundraising tips to help you raise as much money as you can to make sure people with cancer get the support they need.

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. The Hub reaches its first birthday this weekend, and it’s rumoured there may be cake on offer too! Food donations may once again be brought to the church on Friday afternoons from 3pm to 4pm.

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.

Our ‘Happy To Help’ Web page

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.