Issue 222 • Friday 30 December 2022 Emailed to over 1,750 local homes
Find out how to have a healthy new year
The 2023 Healthy You Virtual Festival is a free event organised by local organisations including Cambridge City Council, to help any of us looking to improve our lifestyle. It’s a month-long programme of free classes, workshops, talks and events focusing on physical activity, mental wellbeing and healthy eating, starting next week. There’s something for every age or activity level. Sessions will be hosted on a variety of different virtual platforms including Zoom, YouTube and Meetupcall. Give it a go!
Register now to be sent all the programme information, including all the booking information for individual sessions. All the information you need is here.
Volunteer work at Wandlebury
Help our local country park care for its green spaces and wildlife – get active, meet others and enjoy learning! The next session is on Tuesday (3 January) at 10.30am. All ages from 12 upwards – instruction, equipment and tools provided. Wear tough clothes and footwear and bring packed lunch. No need to book, just turn up. More details here.
Where to get a workout in the new year
January is a great time to start getting fit, with new year’s resolutions in mind, and the area has a number of fitness centres and gyms. These include:
South Cambridgeshire MP Anthony Browne put out his latest newsletter before Christmas, and it features nine-year-old Sofia Sanchez from Queen Emma Primary School, who won his Christmas Card competition. The card was even shown to the Prime Minister, as you’ll see! There are also a number of city-related items. Read it here.
Bus fares up and down
Stagecoach East is increasing its fares from 8 January, with a DayRider ticket rising to £4.50 from £4.20. However, at the same time, all single fares will be £2 or less between January and March 2023 as part of the government’s single fare capped scheme. We are assuming that the £1 fares on parts of certain services (such as the 1 and 7) will also continue. More here.
No sofas at Recycling Centres
After direction by the Environment Agency, Household Recycling Centrescannot accept upholstered domestic seating waste (such as sofas, cushions, chairs or beanbags) from 1 January. Please retain these items until a further update. The centres can still accept mattresses, carpets and curtains. Also, until further notice, bulky waste collections for all items have been suspended, except for hazardous materials such as large electrical items. The Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service are looking into bulky waste collections that had already been booked for the new year and will shortly be in contact with residents to advise where necessary. There’s a news item here.
Permanent planters coming to Luard Road and Nightingale Avenue
Construction of permanent planters for the Nightingale Avenue and Luard Road road closures should take place between 9 January and early in February. The current temporary wooden planters will be removed and stored for potential re-use by the County Council. Planting of the new planters will be undertaken in the spring.
Campus railway station approved
The £184million Cambridge South railway station on the Biomedical Campus will be built after plans were approved by the Department for Transport. A planning inspector’s report noted the impact that construction of the station would have, including to nearby Hobson’s Park, but it determined that this was outweighed by the benefits of enabling rail travel to the campus. News story here.
Warm Welcome Events
The Queen Edith’s Warm Welcome programme is for anyone looking for a warm space, refreshments or just some companionship through the winter. Upcoming events are open to all, and are free of charge. Just turn up!
Friendship Cafe at St James church, first Tuesday of the month, 11am to 3pm, including soup and a roll. Next event 3 January
Family Winter Warmer lunch* at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12noon to 2pm. Next event 4 January
Warmer Together Cafe at Queen Edith Chapel, fortnightly Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm. Next event 4 January
Film Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm. Next event 5 January
Friday Lunch Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Fridays, 12.30pm to 2pm. Next event 6 January
Food Hub Cafe at St James church on Saturdays, 10.30am to noon. Next event 7 January
Friendship Cafe at St John the Evangelist church, Mondays, 3pm to 5pm. Next event 9 January
Warm Space Event at Rock Road Library, second Tuesday of the month, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Next event 10 January
‘You’ve got a friend in me’ Club* at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, second Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 4pm. Next event 12 January
* For TLC Cherry Hinton Care Home events, please email bdm@cherryhintoncarehome.co.uk to let them know you’re hoping to attend. ** At Heathlands House, a lateral flow test is required before attending, and bring evidence of the negative result; or the venue can provide the test but arrive 20–30 minutes early to allow time for it.
There are now a number of local drop-off points for small electrical items such as toasters and phones. These include Gwydir Street Car Park (off Mill Road), Fulbourn Tesco car park, and Hawkey Road on the Clay Farm estate. More information here.
Featured Queen Edith’s magazine supporter
Yoga classes at Netherhall School
Harmonise your body, mind, emotions and soul. Everyone is welcome to Vedanta Wellness yoga classes, where there’s a synchronised and easy-going atmosphere for beginner and intermediate level practitioners. There are now classes at Netherhall School on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Your first class is free as a trial. More information here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s huge lineup of upcoming films includes A Man Called Otto; André Rieu in Dublin; Avatar: The Way of Water; Berliner Philharmoniker live: New Year’s Eve Concert; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Corsage; Empire of Light; Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile; Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical; Strange World; The Amazing Maurice; The Gruffalo; The Menu; Violent Night; and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
The Community Food Hub will not be open on New Year’s Eve.
Coronavirus Update
The government’s recommended steps to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 are as follows: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.
Cambridge City Council wants residents’ views on the services it provides, and views on its draft budget. The council needs to reduce its net spending by around 20% in the next financial year. Runs until 10 January 2023.Have your say here.
The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston, would like us to take a few moments to provide our views as he considers increasing the policing part of the council tax by 5.8%. This equates to 19p per week for a property in Band A, or 29p per week for a Band D. Runs until 13 January 2023. Have your say here.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is asking members of the public and stakeholders to have their say on its draft Medium Term Financial Plan, covering 2023-2027. Runs until 13 January 2023.Have your say here.
Cambridge City Council wants residents’ views on the Winter Event on Parker’s Piece, which was not held this year. Runs until 31 January 2023.Have your say here.
There’s a wide range of educational and recreational classes and courses for adults available locally, this autumn and into next year. Find out more details here:
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here. Click the ‘Today’ box and select ‘Next two weeks’ for future works.
Cambridge City Council maintains a web page listing various forms of help that are available to anyone struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. These range from additional payments from the council or discounts on things like your Council Tax, to support from partners such as food vouchers, energy grants and help managing debt. The page can be found here.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your issue and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s 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 also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
Issue 221 • Friday 23 December 2022 Emailed to over 1,750 local homes
Another year for the Food Hub
Originally opening at the start of the pandemic to run for a short period, the Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub has now been operating for an incredible two and a half years. Every week local residents continue to fund groceries and essential supplies for our neighbours in need, and the queues at Wulfstan Way on Saturday morning have never fallen.
On behalf of the hundreds of people who have used the Food Hub, we would like to thank our volunteers (about 24 hours of their time goes in each week), and of course the heartwarming number of local residents who make financial contributions, either with one-off gifts or regular donations. This month alone we have had two wonderful Christmas contributions from local charitable organisations to boost the funds. We also appreciate the donations of food and toiletries! A big thank you to Cambridge United women’s team (above) for all their goodies, including mince pies and chocolate, for distribution on Christmas Eve, organised by player and fabulous longtime volunteer, Gisela. The Food Hub is an incredible community initiative, for which we thank you all.
Midnight Communion, 11.30pm, St John The Evangelist
Christmas Day
Holy Communion, 8am, St John The Evangelist
Christmas Day Service, 10am, St James Church
All Age Communion with Nativity, 10am, St John The Evangelist
All Age Celebration Service, 10.30am, Queen Edith Chapel
Watercolour workshops next month
Bookings are now being taken for five watercolour painting one day workshops at St John’s Church on Hills Road, taught by local artist and teacher Denise Schoenberg. If you have ever wanted to learn how to paint with watercolours there is A Complete Beginners Introduction to Watercolours workshop on 14 and 21 January and for those with some experience there’s a Painting Spring Flowers with Watercolour workshop on 24 March, Painting Birds in Watercolour on 21 April and Painting an Iris in Detail on 22 April. For further information and to book a place, please visit Denise’s website. Gift certificates now available!
Christmas Bin Collections
Bin collections from 26 December through to 13 January will all be at least one day later than usual due to bank holidays. Collections return to their regularly scheduled days from Monday 16 January. Also as usual for this time of year when less garden waste is generated, collections of green bins will switch from their usual fortnightly collection pattern to monthly collections until 18 March. Check when your bins will be emptied here.
Warm Welcome Events
The Queen Edith’s Warm Welcome programme is for anyone looking for a warm space, refreshments or just some companionship through the winter. Upcoming events are open to all, and are free of charge. Just turn up!
Food Hub Cafe at St James church on Saturdays, 10.30am to noon. Next event 24 December
Family Winter Warmer lunch* at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12noon to 2pm. Next event 28 December
Warmer Together Cafe at Queen Edith Chapel, fortnightly Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm. Next event 28 December
Film Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm. Next event 29 December
Friendship Cafe at St James church, first Tuesday of the month, 11am to 3pm, including soup and a roll. Next event 3 January
Friday Lunch Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Fridays, 12.30pm to 2pm. Next event 6 January
Friendship Cafe at St John the Evangelist church, Mondays, 3pm to 5pm. Next event 9 January
Warm Space Event at Rock Road Library, second Tuesday of the month, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Next event 10 January
‘You’ve got a friend in me’ Club* at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, second Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 4pm Next event 12 January
* For TLC Cherry Hinton Care Home events, please email bdm@cherryhintoncarehome.co.uk to let them know you’re hoping to attend. ** At Heathlands House, a lateral flow test is required before attending, and bring evidence of the negative result; or the venue can provide the test but arrive 20–30 minutes early to allow time for it.
Green tip: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle at Christmas
Reduce and re-use wrapping paper by using fabric wrapping that can be used over and over again, or pages from magazines which can look rather good! Do not use plastic gift-wrap, or paper with glitter. Otherwise, wrapping paper can go in the blue bin, as can cards without plastic or glitter.
Featured Queen Edith’s magazine supporter
Family Christmas Show tickets on sale
Bursting with joy, dance and music that will blow your socks off, The Nutcracker takes you on a wild and festive adventure! This exciting, all-inclusive show takes inspiration from the original story from 1816 and cranks it up to 2022. Experience a high energy celebration with giant sweets, dancing nutcrackers and singing mice. It’s a fun-filled Christmas extravaganza that will leave you and your children feeling full of holiday cheer. Performances run until 31 December. More information and tickets here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s huge lineup of upcoming films includes A Man Called Otto; Avatar: The Way of Water; Berliner Philharmoniker LIVE: New Year’s Eve Concert; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Corsage; Empire of Light; It’s a Wonderful Life; Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile; Polar Express; Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical; Strange World; The Amazing Maurice; The Menu; The Muppet Christmas Carol; The Nutcracker and the Magic Flute; The Polar Express Pyjama Party; and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
★ The Cambridge Junction lineup this week includes: Secret Affair; The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Christmas Jumper Club; and of course the Christmas Show, The Nutcracker
Food donations may be brought to the church on Saturday mornings from 10.00am to 10.30am. The team tells us it’s usually particularly in need of items like condiments, jam, sauces in jars, tinned fish, breakfast cereals, tinned fruit and tinned rice pudding, but all donations are welcome. More details on food donations here.
Financial donations are also more welcome than ever. The project continues only through the generosity of local residents and businesses.
The Community Food Hub is open on Christmas Eve but will not will not be open on New Year’s Eve.
Christmas hamper thanks
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub received 40 Christmas hampers from an initiative organised by Cambridge City Council, Cambridge City Food Bank and Cambridge Sustainable Food. These were distributed via local schools, who identified families in need. Thank you to all involved!
Coronavirus Update
The government’s recommended steps to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 are as follows: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.
The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston, would like us to take a few moments to provide our views as he considers increasing the policing part of the council tax by 5.8%. This equates to 19p per week for a property in Band A, or 29p per week for a Band D. Runs until 13 January 2023. Have your say here.
Cambridge City Council wants residents’ views on the services it provides, and views on its draft budget. The council needs to reduce its net spending by around 20% in the next financial year. Runs until 10 January 2023.Have your say here.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is asking members of the public and stakeholders to have their say on its draft Medium Term Financial Plan, covering 2023-2027. Runs until 13 January 2023.Have your say here.
There’s a wide range of educational and recreational classes and courses for adults available locally, this autumn and into next year. Find out more details here:
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here. Click the ‘Today’ box and select ‘Next two weeks’ for future works.
Cambridge City Council maintains a web page listing various forms of help that are available to anyone struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. These range from additional payments from the council or discounts on things like your Council Tax, to support from partners such as food vouchers, energy grants and help managing debt. The page can be found here.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your issue and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s 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 also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
Issue 220 • Friday 16 December 2022 Emailed to over 1,750 local homes
Carol services this weekend
Both of our local Church of England churches have carol services this weekend. On Sunday (18 December) St James Church on Wulfstan Way has Holy Communion at 8am, Parish Eucharist at 10am and the Carol Service at 7pm, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. St John the Evangelist Church on Hills Road (above) has Parish Communion at 10am with coffee afterwards, and the Carol Service at 6pm. Full lists of Christmas services: St James • St John’s
Footpath reopening delayed
The reopening of the footpath from Babraham Road up to Worts Causeway, due to take place in November, has been delayed until the end of February 2023. This is due to discovering that the water main on Worts Causeway was deeper than expected. The second phase of archaeological digs is still progressing, with the uncovering of multiple bronze-aged artefacts, and is expected to finish before Christmas.
Mince pies, mulled wine …and art!
Drop by the AKA contemporary Gallery this Saturday (17 December) any time between 11am and 5pm, to enjoy mince pies and mulled wine while viewing the current exhibition “Visions of Sugarplums”. AKA has assembled a collection of 10 artists including Kate Giles, David Hayward, Lydia Corbett nee Sylvette David, Danielle Hacche, Lucy Threlfall, Lesley Jones, Sophie Capron, Ashley Hanson and Eugenie Vronskaya. The gallery is at 54a Cherry Hinton Road, next to the EACH Shop. More here.
Here’s a new addition to the magnificent response from local venues offering free meals, refreshments, warmth or company to local residents who need it this winter. TLC Cherry Hinton Care Home, on the corner of Cherry Hinton Road and Kelvin Close, is offering free lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 12noon and 2pm. All welcome, just book (a day or two ahead if possible) by email at bdm@cherryhintoncarehome.co.uk
Missed Bin Collections
Some roads did not receive a bin collection in the last week, due to the freezing conditions. The Greater Cambridge Shared Waste service will be trying to return to those areas this week, but this only applies to black and blue bins. If yours were not emptied this week, please put them back out on Sunday evening and they’ll attempt to empty them by Friday afternoon (23 December).
Christmas Bin Collections
Bin collections from 26 December through to 13 January will all be at least one day later than usual due to bank holidays. Collections return to their regularly scheduled days from Monday 16 January. Also as usual for this time of year when less garden waste is generated, collections of green bins will switch from their usual fortnightly collection pattern to monthly collections between 26 December until 18 March. Check when your bins will be emptied here.
Council grants for activities
Area Committee Community Grants of up to £5,000 are available to voluntary and community groups from Cambridge City Council each year. Could this help something you’d like to organise? Find out more here.
Help the council set its budget
Cambridge City Council is keen to understand residents’ views on the services it provides, and wants to hear your views on its draft budget. The council needs to reduce its net spending by around 20% in the next financial year and expects that annual net spending will need to be nearly 60% less in five years’ time for the council to be financially sustainable. You can now submit your views by completing this survey. We approached our three city councillors for their thoughts, but only one (Cllr Sam Davies) replied to us, pointing readers to this recent article, which you might like to read first.
Warm Welcome Events
The Queen Edith’s Warm Welcome programme is for anyone looking for a warm space, refreshments or just some companionship through the winter. Upcoming events are open to all, and are free of charge. Just turn up!
Food Hub Cafe at St James church on Saturdays, 10.30am to noon. Next event 17 December
Friendship Cafe at St John the Evangelist church, Mondays, 3pm to 5pm. Next event 19 December
Family Winter Warmer lunch at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12noon to 2pm. Next events 19 December and 21 December
Friday Lunch Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Fridays, 12.30pm to 2pm. Next event 23 December
Warmer Together Cafe at Queen Edith Chapel, fortnightly Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm. Next event 28 December
Film Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm. Next event 29 December
Friendship Cafe at St James church, first Tuesday of the month, 11am to 3pm, including soup and roll. Next event 3 January
Warm Space Event at Rock Road Library, second Tuesday of the month, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Next event 10 January
‘You’ve got a friend in me’ Club at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, second Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 4pm Next event 12 January
** At Heathlands House, a lateral flow test is required before attending, and bring evidence of the negative result; or the venue can provide the test but arrive 20–30 minutes early to allow time for it.
Because of this week’s extreme weather conditions, the Queen Edith’s Community Forum has had to cancel our planned Christmas event on Saturday afternoon. Apologies for this, but we think it’s more important that everyone stays safe and warm!
Don’t let food waste freeze
Organic waste put into our green bins can easily freeze at the moment, meaning it can stick to the bottom and remain left in the bin for weeks. The council Waste Service suggests wrapping food waste in newspaper, and if possible placing the bin in direct sunlight during the day. Other tips include placing a piece of cardboard at the bottom of the bin (but only in cold spells), and placing a small stick under the lid to prevent it becoming frozen shut.
Featured Queen Edith’s magazine supporter
A home with a heart
Heathlands House, the new care home in Bullen Close, has been designed to exceed your expectations of care home living. The experienced team provide a full range of personalised care services with the flexibility to meet every need. And for some extra support after a stay in hospital, there’s short-term respite care too. Read all about it here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s huge lineup of films this week includes Avatar: The Way of Water; Bing’s Christmas and other stories; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch; Home Alone; It’s a Wonderful Life; Love Actually; Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile; Polar Express; Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical; Royal Ballet 2022/23 Season: The Nutcracker; She Said; Spirited; Strange World; The Amazing Maurice; The Grinch; The Menu; The Muppet Christmas Carol; The Polar Express Pyjama Party; The Snowman & The Snowman And The Snowdog; The Stick Man; Violent Night; Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody;
★ The Cambridge Junction lineup this week includes: Devising Techniques – Halfpace Theatre Workshop; Rize Up: Aries + Phibes + Sully; The Albion Christmas Band; The Christmas Fiver; The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Christmas Jumper Club; and of course the Christmas Show, The Nutcracker
Food donations may be brought to the church on Saturday mornings from 10.00am to 10.30am. The team tells us it’s usually particularly in need of items like condiments, jam, sauces in jars, tinned fish, breakfast cereals, tinned fruit and tinned rice pudding, but all donations are welcome. More details on food donations here.
Financial donations are also more welcome than ever. The project continues only through the generosity of local residents and businesses.
The Community Food Hub is open on Christmas Eve but will not will not be open on New Year’s Eve.
Can you donate any toiletries?
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub team would like to distribute toiletries as well as food on Christmas Eve, as a little extra for Christmas. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please bring it along to St James Church tomorrow (Saturday 17 December) between 9.30am and 12.30pm. Ideas include shampoo, soap, moisturising lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, facial and body washes or razors. Please note we cannot accept any medication items.
Coronavirus Update
The government’s recommended steps to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 are as follows: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership has launched the consultation on the dramatic proposals to change transport in the city over the next 5–10 years. From as early as next year, it is proposing to transform the bus network with more services to more locations, and cheaper fares set at £1 or £2. The plans include new sustainable travel schemes, such as better walking and cycling links, and controversially, the eventual introduction of a ‘Sustainable Travel Zone’ in the form of a road user charge. You’ll want to know all about this. Runs until 23 December.Have your say here.
Cambridge City Council wants residents’ views on the services it provides, and views on its draft budget. The council needs to reduce its net spending by around 20% in the next financial year. Runs until 10 January 2023.Have your say here.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is asking members of the public and stakeholders to have their say on its draft Medium Term Financial Plan, covering 2023-2027. Runs until 13 January 2023.Have your say here.
There’s a wide range of educational and recreational classes and courses for adults available locally, this autumn and into next year. Find out more details here:
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here. Click the ‘Today’ box and select ‘Next two weeks’ for future works.
Cambridge City Council maintains a web page listing various forms of help that are available to anyone struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. These range from additional payments from the council or discounts on things like your Council Tax, to support from partners such as food vouchers, energy grants and help managing debt. The page can be found here.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your issue and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s 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 also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
Issue 219 • Friday 9 December 2022 Emailed to over 1,750 local homes
Data theft at Cambridge Water
Many readers will have had a letter this week from Cambridge Water, announcing that data on its customers who pay by direct debit was stolen several months ago, and made available online. This includes your name and address, bank account sort code/number, “and other personal data which (the company) processes about you to provide you with clean water and related services”. We contacted Cambridge Water and were assured that this “other” data only relates to the amount of water supplied and frequency of payment. There’s a report from the Cambridge Independent here.
Has this affected me? If you’ve not had a letter yet, possibly not, but you can call Cambridge Water on 01223 706050 to enquire. What can happen? This information should not enable anyone to access your bank account directly. But in previous such data thefts, criminals have used the details to set up direct debit mandates from victims’ bank accounts. What should I do now? Please do not worry unduly. It is unlikely you will have any problems. But follow the steps in the letter from Cambridge Water if you’re able. One of these requires signing up to an online service, so if you know anyone who’s had the letter and isn’t confident with following what’s suggested, do please offer to help them. Where can I find out more information? Questions and answers can be found here. They’re well worth reading.
If any readers (especially those with knowledge of IT and banking security) have any advice or further information that they feel readers should know about, please email us and we can pass this on next week.
Queen Edith’s magazine is here!
The Winter edition of Queen Edith’s magazine should come through your door in the next 2–3 days. It includes articles on the proposed road user charge, our local violin making school, Rock Road Library’s new writer in residence, and more. If you see one of our volunteer local resident deliverers out and about in the cold, do give them a cheery hello! There are over 110 of them this time!
Get in the Christmas spirit at Fair
Cherry’s Winter Fair takes place tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 10 December, from 2pm) at TLC Cherry Hinton Care Home on Cherry Hinton Road at the corner with Kelvin Close. There’s live music from a brass band, a Christmas Choir, stalls with complementary hot dogs, hot chocolate and mulled wine, a range of stalls, “and a special visit from our mini donkeys”! All welcome to drop in.
Quiz Night at Wine Bar
Get your team together and come and test your general knowledge in a loosely wine-themed, fun quiz next Wednesday (14 December) at Cambridge Wine Merchants on Cherry Hinton Road. Teams can be up to 4 people, at £10 per team. To book, email cherry@cambridgewine.com and please include your name and contact number.
Can you donate any toiletries?
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub team would like to distribute toiletries as well as food on Christmas Eve, as a little extra for Christmas. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please bring it along to St James Church on either Saturday 10 December (tomorrow) or Saturday 17 December between 9.30am and 12.30pm. Ideas include shampoo, soap, moisturising lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, facial and body washes or razors. Please note we cannot accept any medication items.
Science Centre on the road
From Saturday 17 December to Saturday 24 December, Cambridge Science Centre will be open every day at The Grand Arcade in the city centre. Each day there’ll be a range of seasonal activities to do and take home. Why not try making your own glitter globe? Work out why every snowflake is unique? Or make your own colourful stained glass window? No need to book – just come along.
News from Nightingale Garden
The latest Nightingale News is out for friends of the Nightingale Garden. It includes all the latest goings-on in our lovely community garden, as well as first impressions from a new volunteer and details of how to get involved yourself. Read it here.
Don’t tempt the burglars
Police are asking people to consider not putting wrapped gifts out on prominent display through windows until Christmas Eve. It’s one of a number of tips to help avoid opportunist burglaries. Detective Sergeant Justin Parr said: “Many people go away during the festivities, and I would advise against advertising it on social media. I would suggest only telling trusted friends, family, and neighbours if your house will be unoccupied. If you are discarding packaging for your new gifts, break down any boxes and put them in the bin, not beside it. Burglars target properties where they can see expensive gifts have been opened.”
Warm Welcome Events
The Queen Edith’s Warm Welcome programme is for anyone looking for a warm space, refreshments or just some companionship through the winter. Upcoming events are open to all, and are free of charge. Just turn up!
Food Hub Cafe at St James church on Saturdays, 10.30am to noon. Next event 10 December
Friendship Cafe at St John the Evangelist church, Mondays, 3pm to 5pm. Next event 12 December
Warm Space Event at Rock Road Library, second Tuesday of the month, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Next event 13 December
Warmer Together Cafe at Queen Edith Chapel, fortnightly Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm. Next event 14 December
Film Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm. Next event 15 December
Friendship Cafe at St James church, first Tuesday of the month, 11am to 3pm, including soup and roll. Next event 20 December
Friday Lunch Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Fridays, 12.30pm to 2pm. Next event 23 December
‘You’ve got a friend in me’ Club at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, second Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 4pm Next event 12 January
** At Heathlands House, a lateral flow test is required before attending, and bring evidence of the negative result; or the venue can provide the test but arrive 20–30 minutes early to allow time for it.
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum will be hosting a Christmas event at Wulfstan Way next Saturday (17 December) from 3.30pm to 5pm. Music, refreshments and – if you’re good – maybe a very special Christmas visitor! More details next week.
Featured Queen Edith’s magazine supporter
Residents vote in support of a new Community Centre
Following a community engagement event hosted by developer This Land, a huge 84% of respondents support the development of a new community building in the new Eddeva Park housing development between Worts’ Causeway and Babraham Road. Incorporated in This Land’s proposals is the delivery of a central ‘village’ green which will act as Eddeva Park’s social centre and will include the planting of trees and the community building. Read the full story here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s huge lineup of films this week includes Aftersun; Batman Returns (30th Anniversary); Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Casablanca (80th Anniversary); Cbeebies Christmas Show: Dick Whittington & His Cat; Die Hard; Elf; Emancipation; It’s a Wonderful Life; Lord of the Rings Trilogy; Lyle Lyle Crocodile; Polar Express; Quintessential Quintuplets; Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical; She Said; Snowman; Spirited; Strange World; The Menu; The Polar Express Pyjama Party; The Snowman & The Snowman And The Snowdog; Top Gun: Maverick; Violent Night; and White Noise
★ The Cambridge Junction lineup this week includes: Big Fish Little Fish; Ezio; Kitty & Ella’s Christmas Cracker; The Christmas Fiver; The Nutcracker; The Nutcracker: Late Edition; and The Trials Of Cato.
Food donations may be brought to the church on Saturday mornings from 10.00am to 10.30am. The team tells us it’s usually particularly in need of items like condiments, jam, sauces in jars, tinned fish, breakfast cereals, tinned fruit and tinned rice pudding, but all donations are welcome. More details on food donations here.
Financial donations are also more welcome than ever. The project continues only through the generosity of local residents and businesses.
The government’s recommended steps to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 are as follows: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership has launched the consultation on the dramatic proposals to change transport in the city over the next 5–10 years. From as early as next year, it is proposing to transform the bus network with more services to more locations, and cheaper fares set at £1 or £2. They’re planning to invest more in new sustainable travel schemes, such as better walking and cycling links, and controversially, it is proposing the eventual introduction of a ‘Sustainable Travel Zone’ in the form of a road user charge. You’ll want to know all about this. Find out how to have your say here.
The Sawston Greenway will provide a safer and better route for people walking, cycling and, where appropriate, horse-riding, linking Sawston, Stapleford, Great Shelford, Addenbrooke’s/ Biomedical Campus and Cambridge. There’s a survey open until 9 December to give your views on the design proposals, which you can find here along with the supporting documentation.
Police & Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston wants to hear from young people (years 7 to 13) about about the neighbourhood in which they live and how they feel about the issues of crime and disorder in the community.The survey can be found here.
There’s a wide range of educational and recreational classes and courses for adults available locally, this autumn and into next year. Find out more details here:
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here. Click the ‘Today’ box and select ‘Next two weeks’ for future works.
Cambridge City Council maintains a web page listing various forms of help that are available to anyone struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. These range from additional payments from the council or discounts on things like your Council Tax, to support from partners such as food vouchers, energy grants and help managing debt. The page can be found here.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your issue and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s 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 also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
Issue 218 • Friday 2 December 2022 Emailed to over 1,750 local homes
Award for Homerton Dining Hall
Homerton College’s Dining Hall has been chosen as the UK’s best new timber building, winning the Gold Award at the Wood Awards in a ceremony last week. The dining hall was praised by the judges for how it “celebrates the integrity and inherent beauty of its materials, from its design through to its incredible craftsmanship, and for the space, it creates which is both welcoming and inspiring to students. A combination of high-performing engineered timber with traditional joinery achieves an elegance which echoes traditional collegiate halls in its aesthetics, but also exploits the compressive strength of timber in its structure.”
Charity cards from local photographer
If you’re looking for a few high quality Christmas cards to send this year, including some Cambridge designs, Queen Edith’s based photographer Cara Cooper may have what you want. Local delivery is free if you type in “NOPOST” in the code box at checkout. At least 20% of card sales revenue is being donated to Romsey Mill. See the designs here.
Winter Wreath Making at Wandlebury
Make a beautiful wreath for your door from 100% natural materials this weekend at Wandlebury Country Park. There are sessions on Saturday and Sunday for individuals or families, and for adults/older teens to enjoy mulled wine and mince pies too. It’s £25 per wreath/family with refreshments included. More details here.
Christmas Fayre at Blinco Grove nursery
There’s a fun-filled Christmas Fayre with games for young children tomorrow at YMCA Childcare in Blinco Grove. The event runs from 10am to 12noon, and includes seasonal food treats, a Christmas Grotto, cake stall and raffle. All welcome!
New art exhibition opens
Visions of Sugarplums is a specially curated exhibition of paintings and sculptures by ten distinguished artists at AKA Contemporary Art Gallery on Cherry Hinton Road. The curators have selected “a diverse mix of the most gifted talent to light up the gallery rooms and engage our senses into 2023.” The event opens tomorrow (Saturday 3 December). They’re welcoming everyone “to indulge in these wonderful timeless works of art, enjoy, savour and even acquire one for yourself or someone very special.” There’ll also be mulled wine and mince pies on Saturday 17 December. More information here.
Taste and buy your Christmas wines
There’s a special Christmas Wine Tasting at Cambridge Wine Merchants on Cherry Hinton Road next Tuesday (6 December) at 7pm. Come and try the shop’s top recommendations for Christmas Day wines, perfect to set the mood for a wonderful celebration with loved ones. Tickets are £30. To book, email cherry@cambridgewine.com and please include your name and contact number.
Afternoon tea offers company
TLC Cherry Hinton Care Home’s monthly ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ event is next Thursday afternoon (8 December) from 2.30pm to 4pm. It’s a free afternoon tea aimed particularly at anyone seeking some company. Just send an email to bdm@cherryhintoncarehome.co.uk if you’d like to come along.
Carol Singalong around the Christmas Tree
There’s going to be Carol Singing around the Christmas tree with The Salvation Army at the Biomedical Campus next Friday (9 December). The events take place on The Green & The Gardens, from 12.15pm to 12.45pm and from 1pm to 1.30pm. All welcome.
Make your own Christmas-themed glass panel
There’s a wonderful opportunity to create some real glass art coming up, with a workshop at Go Glass on Cherry Hinton Road. The session will be led by glass designer Clive Sparkes, and takes place on Saturday 10 December at 9am and 1pm. Proceeds go to Cambridge City Foodbank, and there’s a minimum donation of £25, but this includes all materials and refreshments. There are only 10 spaces available on each session, so be quick. Email tsaunders@goglass.co.uk to request a place.
Puddings and Board Games at St James!
Whether you like something quiet, like chess or a jigsaw puzzle, or love a good noisy game, like Dobble or Linkee, come and join in at Puddings and Board Games on Saturday 10 December, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at St. James Church on Wulfstan Way. Games will be provided but please bring a pudding/cake to share. Hot drinks and soft drinks are also available. All welcome!
Improving Sleep – free online seminar
An upcoming Cambridge Biomedical Campus Wellness Campaign webinar will help you understand why you need to sleep, the links between your sleep and your mental health, why you may find it difficult to sleep at times, and some tips for improving the quality of your sleep. The presenter will be Anne Streather, who is a trainer with local mental health charity Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind. All are welcome to watch: you don’t have to work at CBC and there is no charge. More details here.
A chance to hear Carols at St Johns College Chapel
Local charity Maggies Cambridge has organised a special Christmas Carol Concert which will offer an opportunity to experience the glorious St John’s College Chapel. The event takes place on Friday 16 December at 6pm, and tickets are just £15. One not to be missed. More information here.
Warm Welcome Events
The Queen Edith’s Warm Welcome programme is for anyone looking for a warm space, refreshments or just some companionship through the winter. Upcoming events are open to all, and are free of charge. Just turn up!
Friendship Cafe at St John the Evangelist church, Mondays, 3pm to 5pm. Next event 5 December
Friendship Cafe at St James church, first Tuesday of the month, 11am to 3pm, including soup and roll. Next event 6 December
‘You’ve got a friend in me’ Club at Cherry Hinton Care Home, Cherry Hinton Road, second Thursday of the month, 2.30pm to 4pm Next event 8 December
Friday Lunch Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Fridays, 12.30pm to 2pm. Next event 9 December
Food Hub Cafe at St James church on Saturdays, 10.30am to noon. Next event 10 December
Warm Space Event at Rock Road Library, second Tuesday of the month, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Next event 13 December
Warmer Together Cafe at Queen Edith Chapel, bi-monthly Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm. Next event 14 December
Film Club** at Heathlands House, Bullen Close, fortnightly on Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm. Next event 15 December
** Lateral flow test required before attending, and bring evidence of the negative result; the venue can provide the test but arrive 20–30 minutes early to allow time for it.
Bookings are now being taken for two watercolour painting one day workshops at St John’s Church on Hills Road, taught by local artist and teacher Denise Schoenberg. If you have ever wanted to learn how to paint with watercolours there is A Complete Beginners Introduction to Watercolours workshop on 21 January 2023 and 10 February and for those with some experience there’s a Painting Spring Flowers watercolour workshop on 24 March and Painting Landscapes on 25 March. For further information and to book a place, please visit Denise’s website. There are also gift vouchers for Christmas so you can gift a workshop to a friend or as a treat for yourself.
Featured Queen Edith’s magazine supporter
Family Christmas Show tickets on sale
Bursting with joy, dance and music that will blow your socks off, The Nutcracker takes you on a wild and festive adventure! This exciting, all-inclusive show takes inspiration from the original story from 1816 and cranks it up to 2022. Experience a high energy celebration with giant sweets, dancing nutcrackers and singing mice. It’s a fun-filled Christmas extravaganza that will leave you and your children feeling full of holiday cheer. Performances start on 7 December and run until 31 December. More information and tickets here.
Help with Queen Edith’s magazine delivery?
The third and final edition this year of Queen Edith’s magazine will be arriving from the printers next week and should be ready for delivery on 9/10 December. We’ll be convening the usual team of deliverers, but we could always do with a few more of you! It only takes an hour or so to deliver a bundle, and we’ll try to get you a ‘delivery round’ in a street near your home. If you haven’t delivered for us before, and would like to help out, please let us know here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s huge lineup of films this week includes A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story; Aftersun; Aliens; Black Adam; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Bones and All; Cbeebies Christmas Show: Dick Whittington & His Cat; Cezanne; Drishyam 2; Frozen Sing-A-Long; Gold; Goodbye, Don Glees!; Highway Rat; India Sweets and Spices; Living; Lyle Lyle Crocodile; Minions: The Rise of Gru; Nanny; Neil Young: Harvest Time; Quintessential Quintuplets; Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical; She Said; Spirited; Strange World; Terminator 2: Judgement Day; The Banshees of Inisherin; The Highway Rat; The Menu; and Violent Night
★ The Cambridge Junction lineup this week includes: Dr Feelgood/John Otway; Megson Christmas Show; Eliza Carthy & The Restitution; The Nutcracker; Bad Manners; and The Trials Of Cato.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOOD HUB WILL NOT BE OPEN ON SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER AS IT IS THE ST JAMES CHURCH CHRISTMAS MARKET (more information)
Food donations may be brought to the church on Saturday mornings from 10.00am to 10.30am. The team tells us it’s usually particularly in need of items like condiments, jam, sauces in jars, tinned fish, breakfast cereals, tinned fruit and tinned rice pudding, but all donations are welcome. More details on food donations here.
Financial donations are also more welcome than ever. The project continues only through the generosity of local residents and businesses.
The Food Hub would like to distribute toiletries as well as the normal items on Christmas Eve. If you have anything that you would like to donate, please bring it along to St James Church on either Saturday 10 December or Saturday 17 December between 9.30am and 12.30pm. Please note we cannot accept any medication items.
Coronavirus Update
The government’s recommended steps to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 are as follows: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership has launched the consultation on the dramatic proposals to change transport in the city over the next 5–10 years. From as early as next year, it is proposing to transform the bus network with more services to more locations, and cheaper fares set at £1 or £2. They’re planning to invest more in new sustainable travel schemes, such as better walking and cycling links, and controversially, it is proposing the eventual introduction of a ‘Sustainable Travel Zone’ in the form of a road user charge. You’ll want to know all about this. Find out how to have your say here.
The Sawston Greenway will provide a safer and better route for people walking, cycling and, where appropriate, horse-riding, linking Sawston, Stapleford, Great Shelford, Addenbrooke’s/ Biomedical Campus and Cambridge. There’s a survey open until 9 December to give your views on the design proposals, which you can find here along with the supporting documentation.
Police & Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston wants to hear from young people (years 7 to 13) about about the neighbourhood in which they live and how they feel about the issues of crime and disorder in the community.The survey can be found here.
There’s a wide range of educational and recreational classes and courses for adults available locally, this autumn and into next year. Find out more details here:
One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here. Click the ‘Today’ box and select ‘Next two weeks’ for future works.
Cambridge City Council maintains a web page listing various forms of help that are available to anyone struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. These range from additional payments from the council or discounts on things like your Council Tax, to support from partners such as food vouchers, energy grants and help managing debt. The page can be found here.
How to contact our local councillors
The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your issue and the street where you live. Find it here.
Queen Edith’s 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 also highlight it here.
Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
Queen Edith’s News Issue 226 • Friday 27 January 2023 Emailed to over 1,750 local homes Photographic exhibition open at the library Nepal: Resilience and Recovery is a free exhibition of photographs by Simon Howarth and...
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Chris Rand
