Issue 191 • Friday 27 May 2022 Emailed to over 1,700 local homes
Big changes to local roads proposed
Our local councils’ Greater Cambridge Partnership project is proposing a reclassification of the roads in the city. How they are classified determines the types of vehicle that are encouraged to use them, whether they’re designed as a through route, and more. Under the proposals, some Queen Edith’s roads will remain as main roads into and around the city, but others will be downgraded in importance, which could result in less traffic. Queen Edith’s News editor Chris Rand takes a look at the initial ideas here.
Wandlebury Wildlife Day this Saturday
Launching the month-long Cambridge Nature Festival this weekend, there’s a free Wildlife Day at Wandlebury this Saturday (28 May). Activities include marvellous moths and mammals, guided wildflower walks, pond dipping, sweep netting, green woodworking demonstrations and have-a-go sessions. No booking required, just come along any time after 11.30am. More details here.
Make a Butterfly Feeder for your garden
Also part of the Cambridge Nature Festival, the Cambridge Science Centre on the Clifton Road estate is hosting a Butterfly Feeder Workshop at 12.30pm tomorrow (Saturday 28 May). Explore the different stages of the fascinating lifecycle of butterflies and make a special flower that will help to attract them into your garden. More details of the event, and the other activities included in admission to the Science Centre, can be found here.
Sunday services for buses on bank holidays
Stagecoach buses will be running Sunday services on the Jubilee bank holidays next Thursday and Friday (2 and 3 June). Normal Saturday and Sunday services will run over the weekend. There are small service changes coming after the weekend (from 5 June) to the Citi 1 and Citi 3 services, but a major change to the Busway A service between Cambridge and Trumpington, which will no longer operate. This means that there will now be a 20 minute frequency between Cambridge and Trumpington Park & Ride. More details here.
Whippet has announced that its Universal U bus will no longer serve Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Homerton College on weekends and public holidays, instead terminating at the railway station. New timetable here.
Saturday dance classes for kids
Local dance teacher Jessica Morgado is running a series of Creative Dance classes on Saturday mornings for Years 1–2 (9.20am) and 3–4 (11.35am), starting tomorrow (28 May). These take place at Queen Edith primary school and the first class tomorrow is a free taster session. More details here.
Telephone-based discussions for older adults
Talking Together has announced its summer programme. This unique initiative from Cambridgeshire Older People’s Enterprise (COPE) brings older adults together for telephone-based conversations about topics of shared interest. Topics include the art of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Mary Anning and Adam Sedgwick, the history of Burwell, short stories and David Hockney’s pictures. See the leaflet here.
A date for your diary: The Cambridge University Centre for Music Performance, in conjunction with Cambridge University Sinfonia and Musical Theatre Society, are presenting Broadway and Beyond! at Cambridge Junction on Monday 20 June. There will be show tunes and songs from Broadway and the West End, featuring music from Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weill, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein and more. Tickets are available here.
New Cambridge mayor announced
Councillor Mark Ashton from Cherry Hinton was elected as the new Mayor of Cambridge at this week’s Annual Council meeting. Our congratulations. He follows other recent mayors representing our part of the city including Cllr Russ McPherson, Cllr George Pippas and Cllr Robert Dryden. There’s a Cambridge mayoral history here.
Platinum Jubilee events locally
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend will see a number of events locally and in the city. Here’s some more information!
The celebrations kick off with the lighting of the Beacon on Thursday 2 June 2022 at Cambridge Mound, Shire Hall, in the city. Everyone is invited up to the Beacon site from 8.45pm where there will be “music and excitement for all to enjoy.”
On Sunday 5 June at Wulfstan Way, there’s a community bring and share ‘Big Lunch’ at Queen Edith Chapel, followed by a fun programme of activities. Come along at 12.30pm, and bring some food to share. There are also all-age celebration services in the morning at St James Church and Queen Edith Chapel, and afternoon tea and cake at St James at 3pm. There’s a Jubilee Cake Competition, a Coronation Chicken Competition and a Decorated Bicycle Parade.Much more information here.
Also on Sunday 5 June, the church of St John the Evangelist on Hills Road will be holding a Jubilee Thanksgiving Service at 10.00am. This will be followed by a Parish Picnic, on the Church Lawn (bring your own food, drinks will be provided). All welcome.
Later on Sunday 5 June, residents of Red Cross Lane, Stansgate Ave and Greenlands are invited to the RedCross Areas Residents’ Association Neighbourhood Celebration at the Bell School Playing Field from 2pm to 4pm. There’ll be food, drinks, music, conversation, crafts, sports and fun. We suggest watching the RARA website for details.
Later in the month, Morley area residents are invited to the Rock Road Community Street Party, which takes place on Friday 24 June from 6pm. Volunteers will be needed to help with the organisation – email us if you’re interested and we’ll pass on the message.
Queen Edith’s magazine supporter of the week
The restaurant everyone’s talking about
Take a look at the TripAdvisor highest rated restaurants in Cambridge and there you’ll find it at number 1 – Taj Tandoori on Cherry Hinton Road. Offering Bangladeshi dishes, good old British curries and newer fusion dishes, the restaurant has built up an enviable reputation and a loyal fanbase. Customers are welcomed with enthusiasm and made to feel like they are part of the family. Book a table here or order online here. Open 6 nights a week (closed Tuesdays).
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s lineup of films this week include Boonie Bears: Back to Earth; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Downton Abbey: A New Era; Everything Everywhere All At Once; Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore; Men; Sonic The Hedgehog 2; The Bad Guys; The Bob’s Burgers Movie; The Lost City; and Top Gun: Maverick
★ Another extensive Cambridge Junction lineup this week includes Alexandrina Hemsley/Yewande 103 Film Screenings; An*Dre Neely & Moa Johansson: With Echoes Filling Up The Orbit, But Damaged; Arts & Minds: Creative Café; Bombay Bicycle Club; Boo Hewerdine; Club Urania: May; Disrupt Festival Pass; Figs In Wigs: Big Finish; Hang Massive; Hannah Ringham & Sue Maclaine: No-One Was Harmed In The Making Of This Work; Harry Clayton-Wright: Mr Blackpool’s Techno Tea Dance; Hester Stefan Chillngworth: The Extinction Trilogy; Jenny Gaskell: Hopelessly Devoted; Katy Baird: Get Off; Kris Drever & Rachel Baiman; KSI; Mandla Rae: As British As A Watermelon; Selina Thompson: Salt:Dispersed; Sleepwalk Collective And Christopher Brett Bailey: Psychodrama; Sue Maclaine And Hannah Ringham: The Untethered Joke; Tink Flaherty: Benched (Work In Progess); Ugly Kid Joe; and Yolanda Mercy: Dance Body.
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.
For details of how to book first, second or booster vaccinations, please visit The Vaccinators website and click on your age group.
A further 30 people went into hospital in Cambridge with coronavirus this week (fewer than the week before); there were 3 coronavirus patients in hospital with a mechanical ventilator on Tuesday, but no deaths reported this week within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. Data here.
Cambridge’s infection rate of 165.5 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 8 May was the third highest area rate in England, according to UKHSA data. Only Eden in Cumbria and Newark & Sherwood in Nottinghamshire had higher figures. South Cambridgeshire was just behind, in seventh place.
Are UK coronavirus cases actually going down, or are they just harder to count? New COVID-19 cases in England have been plummeting since the end of March, according to government numbers, but the story looks different when you compare government numbers to those from the ONS. This Guardian article is an interesting read.
Food Hub news
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub is open tomorrow (Saturday) as usual, from 10.30am to 12noon at St James Church on Wulfstan Way. All in need are welcome, no questions asked. The Coffee Chat is open too!
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 tinned beans (not baked beans) and tinned fish, but all contributions are welcome.
NEW A review of the road classifications in Cambridge will consider how roads and streets are classified based on the type of vehicles and traffic that they are used by in the future. Full details and a link to the survey of your views can be found on the consultation web page here.(Open until 18 July)
We’re all being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the region’s transport future from the Combined Authority. There’s lots of information, including a link to the survey, at the Local Transport & Connectivity Plan website here. The draft plan is here.(Open until 4 August)
Cambridge Police want us to have our say on what our neighbourhood policing team should be tackling: there’s a survey 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.
Welcome to our guests from Ukraine
Ukrainian families are arriving in Queen Edith’s. Welcome! And thank you to the households who have offered to act as hosts. Here is some information that might help.
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 190 • Friday 20 May 2022 Emailed to over 1,600 local homes
Queen Edith Primary School fete tomorrow
Please bring lots of change to spend!
Events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
It’s a couple of weeks away, but the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will see a number of events locally and in the city. Here’s some more information!
The celebrations kick off with the lighting of the Beacon on Thursday 2 June 2022 at Cambridge Mound, Shire Hall, in the city. Everyone is invited up to the Beacon site from 8.45pm where there will be “music and excitement for all to enjoy.”
On Sunday 5 June, residents of Red Cross Lane, Stansgate Ave and Greenlands are invited to the RedCross Areas Residents’ Association Neighbourhood Celebration at the Bell School Playing Field from 2pm to 4pm. There’ll be food, drinks, music, conversation, crafts, sports and fun. We suggest watching the RARA website for details.
On Wulfstan Way, there’s a big community bring and share ‘Big Lunch’ at Queen Edith Chapel, followed by a fun programme of activities. This starts at 12.30pm, after all-age celebration services in the morning at St James Church and Queen Edith Chapel. There’s also afternoon tea and cake at St James at 3pm. There’s a Jubilee Cake Competition, a Coronation Chicken Competition and a Decorated Bicycle Parade.Much more information here.
Later in the month, Morley area residents are invited to the Rock Road Community Street Party, which takes place on Friday 24 June from 6pm. Volunteers will be needed to help with the organisation – email us if you’re interested and we’ll pass on the message.
Tennis and Multi-Sport Camps for Half term
Hills Road Sports & Tennis Centre is running sports camps for 5- to 13-year olds this half term, on Monday 30 May, Tuesday 31 May and Wednesday 1 June. The sessions run all day 8.30am to 4pm. The cost is £45 for one day, or £120 for all three days. For more details or to book a place, email holidaycamps@hillsroad.ac.uk
Learn about surveying small mammals
As part of the Cambridge Nature Festival, there’s a chance next Friday evening (27 May) to join the Cambridgeshire Mammal Group in setting up small mammal traps around Wandlebury Country Park. Come and learn about how to survey small mammals! More details here.
Street food on the Biomedical Campus
If you work on the Biomedical Campus, the foodPark collective of local street food trucks is now there every Friday from 12noon to 2pm. You’ll find them on The Green and The Gardens between Royal Papworth Hospital and AstraZeneca’s DISC. Ordering in advance is recommended and you can place your order online.
Clothing collection next Friday
The Friends of Morley Memorial School on Blinco Grove are organising a clothing collection next Friday (27 May), and would like to invite local residents to sort through your cupboards and get rid of your unwanted clothes etc, to make money for the school. Details of when and where you can drop off your clothes can be found here.
Book sale and breakfast for Christian Aid
A Christian Aid Week Book Sale & Breakfast is being held in the St John’s Centre on Hills Road tomorrow (Saturday 21 May) from 9am to 12noon. This will support Christian Aid to empower the world’s poorest at a time of rapidly rising global poverty. Christian Aid week envelopes are being distributed within St John’s Parish and completed envelopes should be returned via the letter-box of St John the Evangelist church – or e-envelopes can be used.
Arthur’s Shed is back!
Arthur’s Shed at the Arthur Rank Hospice is a purpose built studio open to the public, and activities return in June. You do not need to have a connection to the charity to take part. Sessions are provided on a range of topics such as sugar craft and card making, and are free of charge, with materials provided. Carers or support workers are welcome to attend. More details here.
Queen Edith’s magazine supporter of the week
Have a spare room?
Beat the cost of living crisis by giving an international student a home away from home. Turn your spare room into extra income, with prompt payment. To register your interest, visit the Bell website today.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s lineup of films this week include a-ha The Movie; Benediction; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Downton Abbey: A New Era; Everything Everywhere All At Once; Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore; NT Live: Straight Line Crazy; Operation Mincemeat; Sonic The Hedgehog 2; The Bad Guys; The Lost City; The Northman; and Top Gun: Maverick.
★ This week’e extensive Cambridge Junction lineup includes A Triple Bill – Work In Progress Evening; Alexandrina Hemsley/ Yewande 103 Film Screenings; Alfie Moore: Fair Cop Unleashed; Bowling For Soup Acoustic Sing-A-Long; Dervish; Disrupt Festival; Hannah Ringham & Sue Maclaine: No-One Was Harmed In The Making Of This Work; Hester Stefan Chillngworth: The Extinction Trilogy I: Monster Show; Jenny Gaskell: With My Ear To The Wall (Audio Installation); Jesterlarf Comedy Club: Tom Davies & Friends; JP Cooper; L’Entourloop; Mischief And Mystery In Moomin Valley; New Routes: Imlac & Flo Perlin ; Patrick Kielty: Borderline; Peter Doherty; Sleepwalk Collective And Christopher Brett Bailey: Psychodrama; The All Or Nothing Experience; and Yolanda Mercy: Dance Body.
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.
For details of how to book first, second or booster vaccinations, please visit The Vaccinators website and click on your age group.
A further 59 people went into hospital in Cambridge with coronavirus this week (identical to the week before); there were 6 coronavirus patients in hospital with a mechanical ventilator on Tuesday, but no deaths reported this week within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. Data here.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has provided interim advice on an autumn booster programme for 2022 so that the NHS and care homes are able to start the necessary operational planning. This calls for a further round of boosters to be offered to more than 25 million people in the UK. Those eligible include staff and residents in care homes for older people, frontline health and social care workers, all those aged 65 and over, and adults aged 16 to 64 who are in a clinical risk group – some 25 million people in all. More here.
Food Hub news
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub is open tomorrow (Saturday) as usual, from 10.30am to 12noon at St James Church on Wulfstan Way. All in need are welcome, no questions asked. The Coffee Chat is open too!
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 tinned beans (not baked beans) and tinned fish, but all contributions are welcome.
We’re all being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the region’s transport future from the Combined Authority. There’s lots of information, including a link to the survey, at the Local Transport & Connectivity Plan website here. The draft plan is here.(Open until 4 August)
Cambridge Police want us to have our say on what our neighbourhood policing team should be tackling: there’s a survey 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.
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 189 • Friday 13 May 2022 Emailed to over 1,600 local homes
Get yourself a bargain!
It’s a jumble sale with a difference …and it’s tomorrow! Hunt & Darton invite you to their Jumble Sale, a day of brilliant bargains and light refreshments with all proceeds donated to East Anglian Children’s Hospices. There will be an opportunity to walk the catwalk in your latest high fashion finds throughout the day, as well as games for all the family. How many items of clothing can you put on in 20 seconds? Hunt & Darton have even invited a friend to offer you a personal shopper experience for you to feel like a VIP. Everyone will be delighted and bemused as they browse amongst the piles of under-priced riches. If you can offer any clothing donations, these should be brought to Queen Edith Chapel on Wulfstan Way tonight (Friday 13 May) from 6.30pm to 7pm.
Event information Where? Queen Edith Chapel, Wulfstan Way When? Saturday 14 May, 11am to 4pm Entrance Free.
New food truck tonight
The Wandering Yak visits Cambridge Wine Merchants on Cherry Hinton Road tonight (Friday 13 May) from 6pm. The award-winning, Middle Eastern and North African inspired street food is not to be missed, and can be taken away or eaten in at the wine bar. Steak & Honour continues its regular weekly visit on Thursday evenings.
An evening of acoustic music
There’s an evening of acoustic music with local singer-songwriter John Meedand Thursday’s Band at St John the Evangelist, Hills Road tomorrow (Saturday, 14 May) at 7pm. You can hear John’s music here and Thursday’s Band here. Free entry, just turn up.
Garden History Walk at Wandlebury
Join the wardens for a stroll around Wandlebury next Wednesday (18 May) and discover some of the Iron Age and 18th Century history of this Scheduled Ancient Monument, country estate and stables. Finish at the Tadlow Granary for a look at some archaeological finds. Free event, suggested small donation. More information here.
Garden sketchers at Nightingale Garden
The garden sketchers meet-up volunteers are taking a break next Thursday (19 May) but will support another seven sessions from 26 May to 7 July. Meet from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Thursdays. All welcome, no need to book. Bring your own kit but there is a tray of simple resources to borrow. See the garden website for more info.
Nursery places available
There are still spaces at the “Ofsted – Outstanding” Homerton Early Years Centre nursery for 2-4 year olds from this September. If you are looking for a nursery place for your child, come and have a look round at the Open Morning tomorrow (Saturday 14 May). Drop in between 9:30am and 11am to chat to the experienced staff. Homerton Early Years Centre is on Holbrook Road. More here.
Overnight closure at Shelford roundabout
As part of the Linton Greenway project, overnight works are to be undertaken to resurface the A1307 carriageway approaches to the Hinton Way (‘Shelford’) roundabout. This means the A1307, Hinton Way and the Cherry Hinton Road adjacent to the roundabout will be closed overnight (8pm to 6am) for six nights from Thursday 26 May to Tuesday 31 May.
Major funding award for the Junction
Cambridge Junction has received a grant of £461,678 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme. Artistic Director Matt Burman said: “We’re delighted and incredibly grateful for this significant award to make a number of key improvements to our building. These will help us be more accessible to audiences and communities and allow us to do a major and much needed upgrade to our AV equipment. It is a fantastic sign of how valued our programmes are to the city, county and region.”
Update from our MP
Subjects covered in MP Anthony Browne’s latest newsletter include the future of East West Rail, fraudulent online advertising, oil protests, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the CSET Busway. You can read it here.
Influential post for Councillor
Queen Edith’s councillor Alex Beckett has been elected as chair of the County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee. There are 15 members of this influential committee. Our congratulations.
New book about the fields around Nine Wells
The fields just south of Queen Edith’s have become a haven for farmland wildlife, and above all for six iconic birds of the arable countryside. Local resident John Meed has studied these fields for over ten years, following the changing seasons and braving the elements in a quest to know the remarkable birds and animals that live there, and to understand what makes the fields so special. In ‘A Haven For Farmland Birds’ he describes the remarkable behaviour, subtle communication and complex social lives of these fascinating creatures, and explains why they may thrive on our doorstep while suffering catastrophic declines across the wider UK – all in his lucid and ‘transportive’ writing style. You can order online from specialist nature bookshop NHBS here or from John’s website here. Local residents can also request a copy for £10 by emailing john@johnmeed.net.
East West Rail developments
Those following the progress of the proposed East West Rail link between Cambridge, Bedford and Oxford will be interested in a new report by Network Rail. East West Main Line Strategic Statement presents Network Rail’s position on “the long-term opportunity to expand the scope of the East West Rail (EWR) programme – as currently remitted – to more fully integrate with the wider rail network.” You will definitely want to read the interesting explanation and commentary by Trumpington Residents Association’s David Plank in their most recent newsletter here.
Platinum Jubilee celebration details released
Thanks to those who sent in details of local events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at the start of next month. We’ll be covering them in due course. Perhaps the largest in the area will be the Jubilee celebrations at Wulfstan Way,organised by the Queen Edith Chapel and St James Church. More on this in the next two issues of this newsletter, but if you can’t wait, find out all about the event here.
Bush Lettings is one of Cambridge’s leading letting agents, offering a professional service to both tenants and landlords. Bush manages and lets a wide range of properties in a variety of ways for clients – from apartments and flats through to terraced, semi and detached houses. The Cambridge lettings team is committed to ensuring that tenants and landlords have a great experience. Find out more here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s lineup of films this week include Brief Encounter; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Downton Abbey: A New Era; Everything Everywhere All At Once; Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore; Firestarter; Little Mix Live – The Last Show (For Now…); Operation Mincemeat; ROH: Swan Lake; Sing 2; Sonic The Hedgehog 2; Swan Lake; The Bad Guys; The Lost City; The Northman; Top Gun Maverick – Charity Screening; and Twenty One Pilots Cinema Experience.
★ This week Cambridge Junction lineup includes Alfie Moore: Fair Cop Unleashed; Apple’n’Spice; Chipperlarterart Party: The Board Game; Clubbercise Clubbathon Fundraiser For Ukraine; Dub FX; Jonny & The Baptists: Dance Like It Never Happened; Karine Polwart & Dave Milligan; Peter Doherty; Seann Walsh: Back From The Bed; Showwomen; The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In; and Will Varley.
The government has removed remaining domestic restrictions in England. It says: “There are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.”
For details of how to book first, second or booster vaccinations, please visit The Vaccinators website and click on your age group.
A further 59 people went into hospital in Cambridge with coronavirus this week (another drop on the week before); there were 5 coronavirus patients in hospital with a mechanical ventilator on Tuesday, but no deaths reported this week within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. Data here.
Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals have reduced some of the visiting restrictions introduced in response to the Covid pandemic. Mask wearing remains strictly compulsory and visitors should not attend if they have Covid-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for Covid-19 within 10 days. However, Addenbrooke’s will now allow two visitors at a time for patients in its adult inpatient and critical care wards between 11pm and 8pm, with the exception of meal times. These visits do not have to be booked in advance.
Food Hub news
The Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub is open tomorrow (Saturday) as usual, from 10.30am to 12noon at St James Church on Wulfstan Way. All in need are welcome, no questions asked. The Coffee Chat is open too!
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 tinned beans (not baked beans) and tinned fish, but all contributions are welcome.
NEW We’re all being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the region’s transport future from the Combined Authority. There’s lots of information, including a link to the survey, at the Local Transport & Connectivity Plan website here. If you can’t find it but want to read the draft plan, it’s here.(Open until 4 August)
NEW Cambridge Police want us to have our say on what our neighbourhood policing team should be tackling: there’s a survey 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.
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 188 • Friday 6 May 2022 Emailed to over 1,600 local homes
Daniel Lee wins our city council election
Daniel Lee has been re-elected as a Queen Edith’s city councillor. The full results of yesterday’s election were:
Daniel Lee (Liberal Democrats) – 1202 votes (42%)
Steve King (Labour) – 881 (31%)
Jacqueline Whitmore (Green Party) – 396 (14%)
David Owen (The Conservative Party) – 382 (13%)
Congratulations to Daniel and thanks to all of our candidates for putting themselves forward. Daniel joins our existing councillors Sam Davies and Jenny Page-Croft, who did not have to stand for re-election this year.
Our ‘Meet the candidates’ video had over 360 views, so we were delighted to see such interest in this and will definitely try to continue doing this in the future. Russ McPherson (Labour) was re-elected in Cherry Hinton, and Anna Smith (Labour) was re-elected in the Coleridge ward. .
Information for our guests from Ukraine
We’ve been hearing about Ukrainian families arriving in Queen Edith’s. Welcome to you! And thank you to the households who have offered to act as hosts. If that’s you, we’ve compiled all the information we can to help here.Please check back for updates.
New hairdresser at Adkins Corner
Cherry Hinton Road has become the home of hairdressing in Cambridge over the last few years, with about 8 salons now open. The latest is IC Coiffeur at Adkins Corner (the old ‘Budgens roundabout), next to the Co-op. This very impressive setup offers women’s and men’s hairdressing and a range of treatments. It’s open six days a week by appointment or for walk-in. More information here.
Plant Sale and children’s fun at the library…
Tomorrow (Saturday 7 May) at 10am sees the hugely popular annual Friends of Rock Road Library plant sale and children’s fun morning. Bring the family. There’ll be bargain-priced plants (flowers and vegetables); refreshments (coffee and home-made cakes); Lego and children’s activities; and books for sale (fiction and children’s). At 11am, local author Emma Bennett will be reading her latest story, Bella and the Bees, ‘a funny, vibrant book about friendship, a journey and just being yourself’. Emma and her co-author, Molly, will also be leading a children’s drawing session. Do pop in also to admire the garden, which is looking glorious in its spring finery thanks to the hard-working volunteers.
…and more plants at St John’s!
It’s a doubly great weekend for plant growers and buyers, because St John’s Church on Hills Road also has its Annual Plant Sale at Sunday (8 May) from 11.00 to 12.30! You will find a wide variety of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants and house plants in the church garden. There will also be advice if needed about the plants and when and where to plant them. There’ll be geraniums ready for planters, and vegetable plants include tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, sweet corn, aubergines, sugar snap peas, climbing French beans, brassicas. Please bring boxes/bags.
Clothes and cake needed
Sort out all your unwanted clothes! The Queen Edith’s Community Forum has teamed up with Cambridge Junction and artists Hunt & Darton to bring a selection of wonderful, creative and silly activities throughout the area this year, and the season kicks off with their twist on a “Jumble Sale” next weekend (Saturday 14 May). This is a day of brilliant bargains and light refreshments with all proceeds donated to East Anglian Children’s Hospices. There will be an opportunity to walk the catwalk in your latest high fashion finds throughout the day, as well as games for all the family. Before all this however, we need donations! Bring any clothes to Queen Edith Chapel on Wulfstan Way from 6.30pm to 7pm next Friday night (13 May). Cake donations can also be brought to the chapel at the same time, or dropped off at 268 Cherry Hinton Road any time after 10.30am on the Friday.
Organising anything for the Jubilee?
This year the Queen becomes the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service, and the Jubilee Central Weekend takes place from 2–5 June. We know of a few local events to mark the occasion, but if you’re involved in organising any, please let us know so that we can include details here. Send any information to us at hello@queen-ediths.info.
Get fit in the park
Parkfit aims to bring outdoor fitness to local people, at affordable prices, and has sessions in Cherry Hinton Hall park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sessions last for 45 minutes or one hour. There’s loads of information at their excellent website here.
Football at Netherhall
For men who enjoy playing football but don’t have the time to commit to a team, a weekly Football For Wellbeing Serotonin Session at Netherhall Sports Centre offers those aged 20 and above the opportunity to get involved in a one hour game-based football session. Although friendly competition is encouraged, these sessions will always come back to respecting one another, having a good time and just enjoying playing football! Find out more at the FA website here. Note that sessions have moved to Thursday evenings, although the website may not have updated yet.
Fitness for adults with long-term medical conditions
Cambridge City Council’s exercise referral service can help participants manage their long-term medical condition or disability with a prescriptive programme of activity at Netherhall Sports Centre. Each programme lasts 12 weeks or longer and includes support, assistance and supervision as required from specialist exercise professionals. Find out more here.
Doing our bit for our hedgehogs
About 20 back gardens in Hinton Avenue are now linked through hedgehog holes which are about the size of a CD. There has been a thriving population of hedgehogs in the road for years and many residents put down food and water to help them, but the numbers seem to be going down. The hedgehogs need to travel about a mile every night foraging for food and looking for mates, so the ‘highway’ makes sure they can roam freely through the gardens. Residents would like to thank the City Council’s Community Engagement Officers – Vic Smith who suggested this project, and Ian Colley who visited in April with his special circular drill-bit to make the holes. If you think you could organise something of a similar scale in your road, please email Vic Smith at victoria.smith@cambridge.gov.uk
Cambridge Veterinary Group is holding an ongoing charity sale in aid of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for the next week. There are lots of lovely items to buy including beautiful cards by Jess, crocheted and knitted items from Cat and Ashley, jewellery from Claire, and various home grown plants and bakes and cakes from other members of the team. Cambridge Veterinary Group is on Cherry Hinton Road, nearly opposite the junction with Rock Road. Cash only please.
Queen Edith’s magazine supporter of the week
Welcome to Heathlands House
Heathlands House is Care UK’s latest new care home in Cambridge, located in Bullen Close, off Cherry Hinton Road. As well as permanent residential, nursing and dementia care, it offers sensitive end-of-life care and short-term respite care too. You can take a 360-degree tour, watch a video, book a show-round and find out much more at the website here.
This Week at The Light Cinema
★ Our multi-screen cinema’s lineup of films this week include Cabaret (50th Anniversary); Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Downton Abbey: A New Era; Everything Everywhere All At Once; Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore; Operation Mincemeat; Sing 2; Sonic The Hedgehog 2; The Bad Guys; The Lost City; and The Northman.
★ This week Cambridge Junction has another fine lineup including Ana Silvera; Arts & Minds: Creative Café; Brothers Osborne; Cambridge Regional College – Final Major Project Showcase; Chipperlarterart Party: The Board Game; Confidence Man; Flook; Hammer & Tongue May; Inspiring Creativity Cambridge 2022; My Darling Clementine; Osees (Oh Sees); Roald Dahl And The Imagination Seekers; Sleeper; The Fiver – May; The Grahams; The Noise Next Door’s Comedy Lock-In; and The Ukrainians.
The government has removed remaining domestic restrictions in England. It says: “There are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19: get vaccinated; let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside; and consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces.”
For details of how to book first, second or booster vaccinations, please visit The Vaccinators website and click on your age group.
A further 93 people went into hospital in Cambridge with coronavirus this week (an encouraging drop on the week before); there were 3 coronavirus patients in hospital with a mechanical ventilator on Tuesday, and 1 more death reported this week within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. Data here.
Food Hub news
Hard to believe, but this weekend is the second birthday of the Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub. In this time, our volunteer organisation has helped hundreds of families, and distributed many tonnes of donated and purchased food. On behalf of all those who’ve so gratefully used the facility, a huge thank you to the hundreds of residents who’ve supported – and continue to support – this amazing effort. We made this short video last year to thank everyone, and it’s well worth watching.
The food hub is open tomorrow (Saturday) as usual, from 10.30am to 12noon at St James Church on Wulfstan Way. All in need are welcome, no questions asked. The Coffee Chat is open too!
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 tinned beans (not baked beans) and tinned fish, but all contributions are welcome.
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.
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.
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Chris Rand
