Ely

Family Triathlon Raises Money for Teenage Cancer Trust

A 12 year old student from Witchford Village College has raised £1,350 for the East Anglia Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of three Grandparents. For the past 5 years, Oliver Chapman and his family have raised over £4,000 for various charities. Last Saturday the Chapmans completed a sprint triathlon by cycling from Ely to Littleport, …

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Ely Cathedral Tower to be lit up in rainbow lights to celebrate “all God’s children” during Pride

Ely Cathedral’s Octagon Tower will be lit up in rainbow colours to celebrate Pride in Ely 2019. On August 9th and 10th, the Octagon tower will display rainbow lights to show its support for “all God’s children”. Ely’s second ever Pride Festival will take place on August 10th outside the Maltings. The Very Reverend Mark …

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Plogging in Ely

Some Ely Trail Runners have started plogging in and around the City and it’s trails. Plogging combines jogging and litter picking, and it’s surprisingly hard work given there is sadly no shortage of litter, it involves the odd run, bending, reaching down into ditches and carrying a bin liner with you! Unfortunately, litter is a …

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Mayor opens valuable new service for patients in Cambridge

People in Cambridge, Ely and surrounding villages are now able to attend GP and nurse appointments in the evening and at weekends thanks to a free, new NHS service. The service, which was officially launched by Cambridge City Council Mayor, Cllr Nigel Gawthrope last night (21 November), is run by Cambs GP Network (CGPN) – …

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Exam Breakfasts from Waitrose at Witchford Village College

Year 11 students at Witchford Village College were given breakfast by Waitrose, Ely prior to their first GCSE mock exam today. Debbie Walker, Head of Community Liaison at Waitrose arrived laden with boxes of food donated by the store. Waitrose have generously backed the College’s initiative and will be supplying healthy breakfasts for the two-week …

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Bon Appetit! Flavours of the World market returns to Ely

Ely will welcome the world to its doorstep this coming Bank Holiday when its celebrated international market returns for a 12th year. The Flavours of the World market will sell everything from authentic North African food to French cheese, Mexican churros and Baltic amber jewellery. Julia Davis, of Ely Markets, said: “People love seeing something …

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Cineworld Ely Celebrates Fantastic First Year

Cineworld Ely rings in its one-year anniversary on Saturday, 12th May, after welcoming nearly 260,000 cinema-goers in its first year. The 954-seat state of the art cinema has shown over 150 films across over 10,000 screenings, showing the biggest blockbusters and thousands of hours of movie magic for local residents. Hungry film fans have also munched …

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American Park gone forever

An iconic Ely adventure playground, recently plagued by litter and vandalism, has gone forever. However, the Ministry of Defence told Spotted in Ely that the decision to remove the playground, known locally as the American Park, was unrelated to its recent troubles. On April 27 the play equipment was dismantled from its site off Heaton …

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Beanie BOOM!

Ever wondered what a Llamacorn is? Or where you might find a Beanie Flutter? Kids’ creative skills have been put to the test during a special competition hosted by the City Cycle Centre’s Toy Department in Ely. Over the past three weeks, the store’s been running a competition to see who could invent the best …

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East Cambs youth invite US school shooting survivors to Ely

A local youth group is fundraising to bring survivors of one of America’s deadliest high school shootings to Ely. During an exclusive interview with Spotted in Ely yesterday, members of the East Cambs Youth Consultation Panel revealed they needed to raise at least £10,000 to bring eight students and two chaperones over in October. They’re …

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Double decker coffee rig launched to keep up with Ely's demand for caffeine

Possibly the UK’s only double decker coffee rig has opened this week to help residents get their caffeine fix amid a stunning backdrop of Ely Cathedral.  Silver Oak Coffee has unveiled its brew-ti-ful coffee rig to coincide with the launch of Ely Mini Markets today. Susanne Stent, who runs Silver Oak with husband Bruce, told …

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Two-thirds of patients visiting Ely's Minor Injuries Unit would have gone to A&E

Two-thirds of patients attending the revamped Ely Minor Injuries Unit say they’d have travelled to Accident & Emergency, had the service not been saved from closure. This staggering figure is revealed in a just released report by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group. Spotted in Ely launched a campaign in July 2016 to #saveourminorinjuriesunit, …

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Lack of hotel near new retail park a “missed opportunity”, Ely’s mayor says

Ely’s mayor has welcomed the arrival of three major retailers to a new, out of town development, but says not including a hotel is a “missed opportunity”. Councillor Richard Hobbs told Spotted in Ely that a family hotel would “boost the tourist economy in the area”. Mr Hobbs said: “This is something which I would …

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"No child will lose their meals during the rollout of universal credit" – MP Lucy Frazer

MP Lucy Frazer has defended her decision to vote in favour of government reforms to free school meal entitlements, saying “no child will lose their meals”. The South East Cambridgeshire MP has rejected claims by the Children’s Society that 10,400 children in poverty across Cambridgeshire will miss out on free meals. Ms Frazer told Spotted …

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Three major retailers coming to Ely – but only if bats and voles are protected

Three major retailers are coming to Ely – as long as developers can satisfy planners that water vole and bat populations will be protected, Spotted in Ely can reveal. Last week, East Cambridgeshire District Council gave the green light for the construction of budget supermarket chain Lidl, bargain store B&M and DIY chain Wickes, in …

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Brave Oliver to take on London night walk to raise funds for autism charity

When Oliver Chapman contacted meningitis as a baby, his parents were told he might not survive the night. A decade on, amazing Oliver’s gearing up for a nocturnal trek through London – his fourth epic charity mission to help causes close to his heart. This Saturday Oliver, 10, and mum Tracey are planning to take …

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The Hive due to open in May

Fitness fans will be able to get their exercise buzz at The Hive in May, when Ely’s new sports centre opens, Spotted in Ely can reveal. Massive leisure company GLL, who’ll be running The Hive, are advertising for lifeguards and fitness instructors in readiness for the grand opening. Spotted in Ely has today gained exclusive …

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Bridge repairs will mean fewer delays between Ely and Kings Lynn, Network Rail says

A £1 million package of repairs to a railway bridge between Ely and Littleport was carried out last week to prevent future delays between Ely and Kings Lynn. Had the work not been carried out, speed restrictions would have been imposed on the line, leading to delays and cancellations, Network Rail says. Between February 12 …

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East Cambs Cadets face "heartbreaking" closure unless new leader found

Find a new leader or face closure. That’s the “heartbreaking” message for Police Cadets in East Cambridgeshire. The hugely popular unit has been running for almost three years, catering for 30 teens, aged between 13 and 18. The team volunteers in the community, supporting local police, delivering crime prevention advice and acting as mystery shoppers …

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"Selfish" drivers putting lives at risk at Chettisham crossing

It’s only a matter of time before there’s a serious smash at the Chettisham level crossing, comes the chilling warning from Network Rail. Today the body responsible for managing railways issued a warning, blaming “selfish” drivers for endangering lives at the crossing on Lynn Road, Ely. Cameras have caught motorists recklessly ignoring red lights, shooting …

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Ely rail "bottleneck" key priority, Transport Secretary tells Spotted in Ely

The Ely area rail “bottleneck” must be sorted before investigating reopening Soham Station or building a new train station in the North of Ely, Chris Grayling says. The Secretary of State for Transport visited Ely Station on Thursday (January 11) to talk about ways of “improving” track and train reliability in the area. He told …

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Littleport Station car parking spaces to double from tomorrow

Littleport commuters are in for a pre-Christmas treat, with 79 new car parking spaces opening at the station tomorrow (Friday, December 22). Parking facilities in the village will be doubled as a result, with residents able to use the new spaces from 8.30am. East Cambridgeshire District Councillor Bill Hunt, assisted by Littleport Councillors David and …

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Answers to missing landlady’s fate “lie in Ely”, police say

Two decades after an Ely landlady disappeared without trace, police hope members of the public will help them solve the tragic mystery and find closure for her family. Those in charge of investigating the case believe Deborah Steel was murdered – and that someone in Ely holds the answers. The former Royal Standard landlady was …

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Ely College students raise almost £2000 for good causes

Christmas has come early for five charities, thanks to the fundraising efforts of Ely College students. The college held its first Charity Day yesterday, with the five houses competing to raise the most cash for their chosen charities. This action packed event, raising almost £2000, was one of the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust’s (CMAT’s) PLEDGES …

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Diocese of Ely praised for its running of faith schools across East Anglia

The Diocese of Ely, which runs 27 primary schools across East Anglia, has been praised by OfSTED for its “wholehearted commitment to improving life chances of children”. Government inspectors have praised the ‘journey of systematic improvement’ at the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust (DEMAT), saying the quality of education in many of its schools had …

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Winter Wonderland comes to Ely with Best Christmas Window Competition – Editors Column

Last week I was asked to judge Ely’s shopfronts along with Mayor Richard Hobbs and Councillor Alison Arnold and if I am honest was very honoured to be given the responsibility. The three of us trawled the High Street, Forehill, Market Square, The Passages, The Cloisters and Market Street in search of the best “Winter …

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No to Littleport being in No-rfolk, council says

The council has said no to Littleport becoming part of Norfolk under a radical shake-up of Parliamentary boundaries. During a full council meeting last week, East Cambridgeshire District Council agreed to ask the Boundary Commission for England to review its controversial plans for new constituency boundaries which would see Littleport becoming part of a new Norfolk …

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That's £1300 up in smoke but all to worthwhile charities.

Ely Fireworks organiser Richard Stewart dropped into the Lantern School yesterday to give away what money they had left from the successful night of lights and explosions on Cherry Hill. The Guy competition winning school received a cheque for £150 alongside the Royal British Legion. Marc Beveridge from the Poppy Appeal said, “This is a really generous …

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Two Ely schools celebrate "good" OfSTED ratings

Two Ely schools are celebrating after getting a prestigious “good” rating by OfSTED inspectors. Ely St Mary’s C of E Junior School and The Lantern Community Primary School have both been rated as “good” in all areas following recent inspections by OfSTED (the Office for Standards in Education). OfSTED praised St Mary’s headteacher Rebecca Ireland-Curtis, saying …

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Holy cow! Train struck cow has lucky escape but causes udder chaos for commuters

A lucky cow caused udder chaos for rail commuters this morning but escaped uninjured after being hit by a train. While passengers may be used to hearing about “leaves on the line” causing disruption on some rail networks, it was a cow on the line which caused delays this morning, leaving some commuters una-moo-sed. An …

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International packaging firm makes significant relocation within East Cambs

Local company Faerch Plast (formerly Anson Packaging) recently opened the doors of its impressive new UK headquarters and design facility on Lancaster Way Business Park in Ely. Hosted by the company’s Managing Director, the MP for South East Cambridgeshire, Lucy Frazer, joined East Cambridgeshire District Council’s economic development officers for a behind the scenes look …

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Russian doll rock boards train to Kings Cross to make her fortune

A rolling stone may gather no moss – but a Russian matryoshka doll created in Ely has travelled to London to make her fortune. The doll, one of a pair of twins painted on rocks by Ely College teacher Fleur Patten, was hidden at Ely Station on Friday morning. Greater Anglia train dispatcher Jessika Ransome told …

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Ely College thespians take part in world's biggest youth drama festival

Budding thespians from Ely College recently took part in the world’s largest youth drama festival this autumn. The students were part of a record 280,000 young people to have participated in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, run by Shakespeare Schools Foundation. Earlier this month the Ey College students performed an abridged adaptation of William Shakespeare’s farcical …

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New craze rocks Ely

A quirky new craze is rocking Ely – one psychedelic stone at a time. Hand painted rocks with different designs have been left at strategic destinations across the city by Ely resident Fleur Patten and her son George – with the hope that they will melt even the stoniest of hearts. The idea behind these …

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Latest addition to Ely Police Station causes of-fence

Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s previous campaign used the slogan “Get Closer, Support the Force” – but this may become harder in Ely with the construction of a fence surrounding its police station and adjoining land. The wooden structure has been causing of-fence amongst local residents – but police say it will prevent injury and preserve the area. …

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More hard-up residents using Foodbank – and problem likely to get worse, its boss warns

More residents in crisis are seeking help from Ely Foodbank than ever before, its boss says, warning that the problem is likely to get worse. Project director Cathy Wright told Spotted in Ely that despite East Cambridgeshire being perceived as an affluent area, many working people are struggling to keep up with the cost of …

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Train operator hopes to give “leaves on the line” disruption the slip

Greater Anglia is hoping to give “leaves on the line” disruption the slip this autumn by fitting special wheel protection on some of its trains. The operator, working together with Network Rail, has fitted special anti-slip “Wheel Slide Protection” (WSP) technology on its class 156 trains, which include services running between Ipswich and Cambridge/Peterborough. WSP …

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Junior stylists turned salon bosses Claire and Hannah are a cut above the rest

When best buddies Claire Farrow and Hannah Smith became junior hairdressers over a decade ago, they dreamt of one day running their own salon. Today that dream becomes a reality. The two mums, who met while studying at Ely College, are celebrating the opening of Farrow & Smith Hair Design. The funky salon opened today …

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Train doors opened on wrong side during rail strike, Greater Anglia investigating

Greater Anglia is investigating why train doors were allowed to open on the wrong side, allowing two passengers to disembark, on Tuesday. The incident happened on the 1350 Peterborough to Ipswich service, which calls at Ely. It took place while members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) were on strike regarding the …

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