THE EDITOR'S NEWS ARCHIVE
This Page features interesting news articles from recent times.
e-mail: ednews@elyonline.co.uk

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Bomber Riddle Solved On-Line

An Ely man has the power of the internet to thank after solving the 59-year-old mystery of his brother's death. Gerald Stell lost his brother John when the RAF bomber he was flying was shot down in Holland in June 1942. Of the seven crew members, two were captured by the Germans and three other bodies were recovered. The bodies of John Stell and a fellow crew member were never found. Although Mr Stell made two visits to the crash site north of Alkmaar, in north-west Holland, he never found the wreckage of the Halifax bomber. The 73-year-old had given up hope of ever finding out exactly what had happened to his brother until he visited Ely library for a family history day. After being shown how to use the internet for the first time, Mr Stell entered his surname and searched for details about his brother. "I must admit I got the shock of my life when my brother's name came up on screen," he said. Mr Stell had discovered a posting from a group of people who tour Europe searching for the wreckage of downed airplanes. The team had found his brother's bomber and said they were hoping to give his remains a proper burial. "It would be nice if he could be buried alongside his fellow crew members," said Mr Stell, who lives in Sycamore Lane, Ely. He admits to being a novice as far as computers and the internet go. "I just went along because I thought it sounded interesting that you could trace your family tree," he said.

Fears raised over threat of malaria in the Fens

Global warming could bring malaria back to the Fens. That is the surprising revelation of a report, Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK, prepared for the Department of Health. The fears were raised by Dr Steve Lindsay, who investigated the effect of climate change on the spread of diseases such as malaria. Dr Lindsay, a disease ecologist at the University of Durham, said: "What the research shows is that in certain marshy areas of the south the climate may be sufficient, by 2050, for a benign form of malaria to survive. "Although it is not impossible that outbreaks will occur in these areas in the future, they would probably be small." Dr Lindsay explained that, up until around 1850, malaria was relatively common in this country. It died out with the advent of better housing, drainage of marshland and a cheaper anti-malarial treatment becoming available. Dr Lindsay added: "There is no malaria here at present and for it to be re-introduced it would need an infected person to visit one of these favourable areas, be bitten by a mosquito, that mosquito to survive for 10 days while the parasite developed, and then for that mosquito to bite another human. "So you can see that the chances of malaria becoming re-established are really quite small. "What we are trying to do is to flag to the health authorities that there is that possibility." A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The chief medical officer has recently published the Infectious Diseases Strategy for the UK - Getting Ahead of the Curve - which states that by 2050 it was estimated that the climate of the UK may be such that indigenous malaria could be re-established. "If this comes to pass, precautions may need to be taken by those living in low-lying salt-marsh districts to avoid mosquito bites. "Malaria due to the more severe form, Plasmodium falciparum, is unlikely to become established owing to conditions being unsuitable for the breeding and survival of the particular species of mosquito that can act as its vector."

Footnote: Thanks to Georgie for sending me this interesting piece if info: "Oliver Cromwell, that well-known local boy made good (or bad, depending on your viewpoint) died of malaria. And he died because he refused to take quinine - purely because it had been widely used by Jesuit priests (to the extent that the substance became known as "Jesuit Bark"), and he wouldn't tolerate swallowing anything so Romish." Talk about sticking to your beliefs no matterwhat!

Christmas In Ely...
I see that the Ely Christmas Tree on the Market Square has now been enclosed in steel fencing to prevent local Terror Gang* (*with thanks to the Ely Weekly News) members from smashing the lights on it.

Never mind - cheer yourself up by listening to this sound sample of the good people of Ely singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful". Click here for the sound sample.

And don't forget the annual Ely On-Line xmas meet-up at the Prince Albert from 7.30pm this Friday (21st) !

Ely Might be Short of Lights This Christmas..but...
these two houses  side by side in nearby Needingworth have enough lights between them to brighten Ely twice over! Go and see them if you get chance - well worth a look....

Raid Turns Signs Back To Imperial

A team of campaigners disguised as council workers swooped on Ely city centre over last weekend changing 124 metric distance signs to show miles and yards. The team of six activists from the United Kingdom Independence Party's Guard the Yard Campaign changed 62 double-sided metric finger posts on Saturday. Derek Norman, chairman of the Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire branch of the UKIP, said: "The original metric signs were illegal and breach the Traffic Signs, Regulations and General Directions 1994 Act. "We feel that this is a surreptitious way of forcing the people to accept metrification. "The people should be consulted as was originally promised in 1969." He said East Cambridgeshire District Council had dismissed the UKIP complaints about the signs, telling them to contact the council's solicitor. Mr Norman added: "This left us with no alternative other than direct action to remove the signs."

Altering the signs with white reflective lettering and industrial adhesive cost the campaigners £350. The raid was timed as a gesture of solidarity with Steve Thoburn and The Metric Martyrs. Mr Thoburn, a greengrocer from Sunderland, will have his appeal against convictions for selling produce in pounds and ounces heard on November 20 at the High Court in London.

Mr Norman said he was certain that the public were behind the campaigners' actions. He said: "It is sensible to use one system for distance indication, and one that we all understand and prefer - the traditional British system of yards and miles." Councillor Ian Allen, chairman of the council's Environment and Transport Committee, said: "The law is soon to change anyway to make it compulsory for such signs to be entirely metric, so is it really a good use of ratepayers' money to change them now for the sake of a few months? "We don't think so." A police spokesman said that no action would be taken against the activists unless an official complaint was received. A spokesman for the council said there was no intention to prosecute.

Editor's Note (we have received the following mail from Damian Hockney): "Just a quick line about Cllr Ian Allen's comments regarding metric signs. He says that they will soon be compulsory. I'm afraid I don't know where he got that from - it is simply not true. There are no plans to impose metric signs, and his remarks are clearly designed to cover for the fact that his current council has wasted money putting up illegal signs for which there are no official plans to change." Regards Damian Hockney.

And a further response from Chris Keenan of the UK Metrication Association: "In response to Damian Hockney's comments on these being illegal signs: There are local authorities who disagree with the interpretation of the law on signs which are intended purely for pedestrian use. It is scandalous that we are now the only country in the world to ban even the use of metres (part of the UK's official units of measure) alongside yards. Even the USA permits metric-only signs! The law is unclear. If messrs Thoburn et al. can challenge the validity of weights and measure legislation, then there is even more reason to believe a challenge to the traffic signs regulations would succeed. Ely Council should charge these vandals for the damage done to public property, not to mention impersonating council staff." -  Chris KEENAN, Director UK Metrication Association: www.metric.org.uk UK Correspondent, US Metric Association.

New Feature- Ely Skyscapes!

We present a new exclusive feature - Ely Skyscapes - as mentioned on the Gerald Main Radio Cambs show! Sit back, relax and watch as over 100 pictures of Ely Skyscapes pass before you eyes...- click here for the SkyScape slideshow......

Vacancies on the Ely bench

A SEARCH has been launched for new magistrates in the Ely area. Magistrates are required to listen and judge primarily criminal cases, although a small number of cases will be civil family matters. Applicants must be aged between 27 and 64, of good character and be able to undertake at least 26 half-day sittings each year. No formal qualifications are required but applicants must be able to demonstrate good communication and listening skills, sound social awareness, good judgement and maturity. For more information about becoming a magistrate, contact Janice Beal on (01223) 718199.

Service Gears Up For New Paramedic

Ambulance bosses are recruiting a new paramedic for the Ely area. The new paramedic, who will be equipped with a car and life-saving equipment, will be one of 20 across East Anglia who provide ambulance back-up.

The paramedic will be based in Ely or Soham at a cost of £30,000. Moves to recruit a paramedic come as new Government targets state the East Anglian Ambulance service must reach 75 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes.

The new target comes into effect in April, replacing the current target of 50 per cent. Matthew Ware, ambulance service spokesman, said: "At the moment we are reaching about 65 per cent of these calls. "Ely or Soham has been earmarked for the new paramedic and hopefully they can start in February."

Report highlights need for new transport system

ELY residents could soon be on the buses if an ambitious scheme for a new public transport system gets the green light. The City of Ely Perspective's design group has drawn up a list of recommendations to find an alternative to the city's car-based culture. In advance of a public consultation due to be undertaken by Cambridgeshire County Council, the group has produced a number of radical recommendations contained in a paper, Shaping Ely's Transport Strategy. One of the key issues highlighted in the report is the need for a frequent bus service - every 15 minutes - on circular routes round the city. The buses would converge in the city centre and serve key points such as the rail station. The group would like to see some form of residents' card which could be used for discounted fares, or even free travel. The card could also be used as a loyalty card for shops in the area. Taxis could also be used at times of low demand, such as evenings and Sundays, to keep cars off the road. Design group chairman Nick Abbey said: "We want to focus debate on alternatives to the car. "This means making alternative transport, such as buses and cycle routes, a more attractive option." The group also puts forward proposals for buses to be easily accessible to the disabled and people with pushchairs. A copy of the paper is available from Nick Abbey on (01353) 652648 or Geraint Hughes on (01992) 588625.

Four-year Plan to Stop Floods

A huge scheme costing £2.5 million to secure flood defences near Ely and help protect homes is being planned. Approval for work on a 13-mile stretch of the Middle Level Barrier Bank (MLBB), between Sutton Parish and Little Downham Parish, has been sought by the Environment Agency.

It involves reinforcing the northern bank of the Old Bedford River with concrete erosion protection. Similar emergency measures were carried out on a one-and-a-half mile stretch of the bank during the summer at a cost of £400,000. If approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council, the work will take place for four months, from July 1 to October 31, during the next four summers, ending in 2005. Halcro, a firm of consultancy engineers based in Swindon, has been advising the agency on the scheme. A spokesman for Halcro said: "Water is stored to a low level in the Washes during most winters and wind-generated waves have caused erosion of the toe of the MLBB over 13 miles of the 26-mile total length. "The extent of some erosion was so severe that it was necessary to carry out emergency repairs in the summer." He added: "The normal stored water level in the Ouse Washes and associated rivers is above the surrounding ground level. "If the MLBB were allowed to deteriorate, some 20,000 hectares of high-grade agricultural land would revert to a fen, some of the 16,000 houses in the protected area would become untenable and roads and other infrastructure would be lost."

Peter Cowie, project manager, said: "The work will secure the long-term safety of the flood defence capability of the MLBB. "A very important consideration has been that the Ouse Washes are an internationally-renowned area for wintering wildfowl. "All work must comply with the Government's Habitats Directive." The RSPB, English Nature and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust were all consulted about the plans. It is anticipated that the work will be undertaken by the Environment Agency's in-house workforce.

Fears Over Housing As Homeless Figures Rise

Homelessness is set to rise in East Cambridgeshire with the district council facing the prospect of turning to bed and breakfast accommodation for help. Pressure is set to increase on the three homeless hostels, which are based in Ely, Littleport and Burwell, as new Government guidelines will mean more people are classed as homeless. More than 170 people have been accepted by East Cambridgeshire as homeless this year, which is well below the national average. The council currently endeavours to only use bed and breakfast accommodation as a last resort and there has only been one case this year when that type of accommodation was used. But under the Government's new Homelessness Bill, local authorities will have a new responsibility to review the extent of homelessness. The categories of applicants regarded as being in priority need are expected to increase to include, 16-17-year-olds, young people living in care aged 18-21, people who are vulnerable as a result of an institutionalised background and people fleeing violence. Philip Lewis, chairman of East Cambs Strategic Development Committee, said it was important that the council continued to think ahead. "It's right to say that fortunately we do have a low level of homeless people in East Cambridgeshire," he said. "However, current trends do suggest numbers are increasing and will go on increasing due to national causes. We also have to take into account the Bill which is going to increase the categories of people who can be classified as homeless. "As a strategic development committee we need to think ahead to deal with these changes." The implications of the Homelessness Bill will be discussed by the committee at a meeting on Tuesday.

The number of people in East Cambridgeshire classed as homeless is set to rise, putting pressure on hostels. New Government guidelines mean that extra categories of people, including 16 and 17-year-olds, young people aged 18-21 who are living in care and people fleeing violence, will be classed as being in priority need of being found a home. If the district's three hostels at Ely, Littleport and Burwell are unable to cope, places will need to be found in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Tesco Expansion Given Go-Ahead

PLANS to extend the Tesco superstore in Ely have been approved. In return for the approval, which could create 100 new jobs, Tesco has agreed to give £450,000 towards Ely's local transport and town centre strategies.

The proposals were voted through at a meeting of East Cambridgeshire District Council's Planning committee yesterday. Fears had been raised over the effect on local businesses, as the store's sales area is set to increase by 37 per cent. Geoff Hall, principal forward planning officer at the council, said: "To put the scale of this proposal in some context, the extension is 23 per cent larger than the proposed Budgens at Soham and is only 18 per cent smaller than Waitrose." However, further to the recommendations of its planning officers, the committee voted to request an extra £50,000 from Tesco and for additional  consideration of an access link at the extended store.

Steven Butterworth, director of GL Hearn Planning, which is advising Tesco on the application, said: "Naturally, I am pleased that the councillors have approved the application, the basis of which, though, I will have to discuss with Tesco."

Mr Butterworth, reacting to the calls for an additional £50,000 and the extra transport issue, said: "The contribution offered already covers transport improvements. It is up to the council to decide how it spends it." The plans have raised concerns over the impact on town centres in the area and lack of public consultation. Nigel McCurdy, principal development control officer at the council, said he felt the town centres of Ely, Soham and Littleport would not be badly hit. Under the plans, parking spaces at the site will be reduced in an effort to encourage the use of public transport, as traffic in the area is set to increase by 17 per cent.

Committee members in favour of the proposals noted the need for more shops to complement the boom in housing in the area but Coun John Palmer, who voted against the proposal, said it seemed to him that anything would be passed as long as the money was sufficient. A spokesman for Tesco said: "This decision allows us to continue our ongoing partnership with the people of Ely, which has now been established over many years. "Ely is a fine city and it is only right that local people should have the very highest standards of quality and choice in their food shopping provision. "The council's decision will also help to keep shoppers in the city, rather than having them leave to shop in other large towns in the county."

Official Opening of Human Sundial

Ely's human sundial will be officially opened on Friday. The analemmatic sundial, located in the centre of Ely's market square, will be opened by the Mayor, Coun Sheila Friend-Smith, at noon. It was commissioned by the City of Ely Council and was made by local sculptor Quin Holick. Instruction boards have now been erected nearby to enable people to use the sundial correctly.The boards also give information about the various stones which surround the sundial.

One of the ornate stones represents Ribe, the Danish town with which Ely is twinned. Other stones portray the Cambridgeshire Regiment and Ely Cathedral. The cathedral stone depicts three keys, showing the Arms of the Prior and Covenant and the successors, the Dean and Chapter. A windmill and a basket of eels are portrayed on other stones. Everyone is welcome to attend the official opening on Friday.

Volunteer Conservation Group Calling it a Day

A conservation group which has helped keep the area's countryside beautiful for the last 16 years is closing down. Ely Conservation Volunteers took the decision to disband at its Annual General Meeting. David Ellis, publicity contact for the volunteers, said the decision had been taken due to lack of interest and support. Mr Ellis said: "It was a very hard decision and not one that was taken lightly but we felt that there was nothing else we could do. "We had found that we simply weren't getting the support that we used to. "It was the same old members turning up and organising things all the time. "We had a similar situation about three years ago so I guess it's probably been coming for a while." There is at least a glimmer of hope, though, as Mr Ellis said that, if sufficient new volunteers were found, the group could still be resurrected. He said: "It would need quite a large influx of people willing to run the group and do the work on the weekends. "We would need at least two or three people to help form a new committee and others for the work."

The group met for its final task in the Ely area on Sunday, when some brambles from the railway footpaths in Lisle Lane were cleared away. Its last job before folding will be at Cavenham Heath, Suffolk, on Sunday, December 9, where it will be carrying out some fencing work for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The volunteers will not be officially disbanded until January 1. Details of other conservation groups in the area can be obtained from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers on (01603) 767300.

'UP THE WORKERS'!
Johnny Dee and the "Up The Workers" team visited Ely On-Line recently. The whole sorry episode was "webcast" onto the Ely On-Line webcam!

Fireworks Display on Sat. 3rd Nov....
The usual Ely firework display took place last Saturday in Cherry Park. Local radio station X-Cel now rebranded as Star, were on hand to pump up the crowd and play some tunes. It was shall we say, short and sweet!

Actual pictures from this years, spectacular Ely FireWork display...if you were 10 minutes late, you missed 'em..!

Ely Statue Makes News Of The World....

Sunday's News of The World carried a small article about the "controversial" statue by David Wynne in the Cathedral's Lady Chapel - it stated under a small headline of "Quite contrary over Mary" - "A controversial new statue of the Virgin Mary in Ely Cathedral has failed to grow on visitors. They moan the strawberry blonde Madonna looks like bra-less TV gardener Charlie Dimmock."

OK - so what do you think ? Give us your verdict - e-mail : madonna@ely.org.uk - You can see a large full length view of the statue here: www.ely.org.uk/cathedral/virginmarystatue.html

New Shop Opens In The Cloisters

Another new shop has recently opened in the Cloisters shopping centre. Ocean Cargo offers all manner of luxury goods including lighting, furniture etc. Some nice stuff in stock - take a look!

More Archeological Exploration

Pic left shows Cambridge archeologists at work on what will become "Cathedral View" housing development on West End Road. From the amount of little numbers pinned to the ground I think they may have found "something"!

Update:

Having this morning spoken to one of the archeologists, I can confirm that fragments of Anglo Saxon and mediaeval pottery have been found. However, I was disappointed to hear that what I thought was a stone wall of some undiscovered monastery building was actually the underlying bedrock.

Shop/Office News

Recently a new sports shop, 3Q Sports, opened at the top of Forehill in the old MAC Construction office (see pic left).......meanwhile local estate agents Clark and Stewart have taken over the old launderette and have tastefully refurbished their office which now features a solid oak shop front with matching window displays (see pic right)....nice....

Ladbrokes the bookies settled for a move around the corner into the old Haart estate agents premises, which used to be Woolwich Property Services, which used to be Prudential Property Services which used to be Ekins Dilley & Handley estate agents.

Bad news however, for Fagins Bookshop who are closing their High Street business - 50% off all stock! This makes Fagins the second Ely Bookshop to close in recent months following the retirement of Jenny Burgoyne and  closure of her Bennets Bookshop operation.

New Shop On Forehill - Closed Down Already!

I recently reported the opening of two new shops on Forehill, one of which has unfortunately closed already! Fiddlestix, which offered a total service to all musicians and which recently relocated from Market Street will now presumably only be offering this service from its website at www.fiddlestix.co.uk

Jurassic Croc is spineless!

Dinosaur experts at the University of Cambridge's Sedgwick Museum have excavated a Jurassic crocodile, found by amateur fossil hunters in Cambridgeshire. The dinosaur, thought to be around 150 million years old, was discovered by Serena Queeney and Ed Mullett on an old airfield site in Mepal, near Ely, which is currently being cleared to make way for a fish farm. The pair contacted the Sedgwick Museum which sent experts to examine the find. Leslie Noe, one of the Museum's palaeontologists, identified the fossil as a Stenosaurus, a type of marine crocodile that lived around 150 million years ago. During a two-week dig, a team from the Museum managed to uncover a large part of the animal's skeleton, but curiously, they found its backbone had completely disappeared. Dr Noe, explained: "This is a really exciting find - we have excavated a large number of Stenosaurus bones and have already identified teeth, ribs, a number of knuckle bones and quite a large part of its jaw. "In the next few weeks we will be working hard to clean the bones and assemble them so we can see how complete the skeleton is. One obvious omission is the animal's backbone, which we could find no trace of in the clay and at the moment there is no apparent reason for its disappearance." He added: "We were particularly pleased that Ed and Serena contacted the Museum when they realised what they had found, as we will be able to conserve the remains, and hopefully learn more about the Stenosaurus."

Nigel Viney, Managing Director of OceanFresh (UK) Ltd., the company developing the farm, said: "We were very pleased to be able to allow the Sedgwick Museum to excavate the site. "Our fish farm has been designed to principles of sustainable development. We want to protect the environment and it is very important that we also do our best to preserve what treasures are found on the site for the benefit of future generations."

The bones will be on display at the Sedgwick Museum on 20 September, when Dr Noe, will be giving a talk entitled Swimming with Sea Monsters: Life in the Jurassic Period. This is part of a series of talks and events called Cambridge Discovery, which are organised by the Museum's Outreach Office.

Local Musician Takes Bagpipes To Scotland!

In what might be termed a "coals to Newcastle" type scenario the work of local musician, mediaevalist and instrument maker David Marshall may soon be featured in a museum on the Isle Of Skye. H & A Manwaring-Spencer of the museum state "First of all, congratulations on an interesting and informative site. We have a museum on the Isle of Skye, incorporating the history of the MacCrimmon Pipers (hereditary pipers to MacLeod of Dunvegan) and early exponents of pibroch. Due to interest from visitors from all over the world we have extended the information therein to include all pipes from wherever and whenever. We wonder if you have any objection to us downloading and displaying/using some of the pictures and information on your site. We would, of course, accredit you with these. Best Wishes. H & A Manwaring-Spencer.BORRERAIG PARK"

It is likely that David will allow such usage - see his website at Ancestral Instruments.

Dreams Of Empire

Local Roman Music group PRAECONES PROVINCIAE BRITANNIAE  are recording of CD of Roman music. The album will be called "Dreams Of Empire"- (more info here.) Radio Cambridgeshire have expressed an interest in this project and I recently spoke to Gerald Main on the radio and played sections of a couple of tracks. More samples from the project can be found at www.ancestral.co.uk/romanmusic.htm . The Radio Cambs website can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiocambridgeshire/

Historic city blends the old with the new

HISTORIC Ely is becoming a model city for the best in modern design. With more than 1,000 new homes planned over the next three years, the city's planners have won accolades for producing a design guide for developers. The blueprint for house-builders includes precise examples of what is acceptable "Ely style". The close relationship between the developers and East Cambridgeshire District Council is producing some exceptional standards of modern architecture, according to Nick Abbey, chairman of the city's Perspective Design Working Group. So successful is the builder's brief to make new housing fit in with Ely's mixture of old buildings, that prospective purchasers of riverside townhouses at Quai d'Orsay have contacted the council asking if the properties are listed - even though they are less than a year old. "Ely has a lot to be proud of in the way it has ensured that new building is sympathetic to the existing architecture of the city," said Nick Abbey, who is also chief executive of Hereward Housing. "To showcase the city's achievements we intend to hold a conference on good design involving planners and conservationists from other market towns." The conference will be held at The Maltings later in the year and will be used to re-launch the East Cambridgeshire Conservation Awards. The last time the competition was held, in 1997, winners included the Old School at Stretham, the new city council offices in Market Street, Ely, and the creation of housing at the former Birch's Garage, in St Mary's Street, Ely. Coun Ian Allen, vice chairman of the Environment and Transport committee, said a lot of work had been done with developers to ensure that new housing bore a close resemblance to the historic core of Ely. "Our planners have been vigorous in demanding that homes are in keeping with existing stock and the developers have been flexible in meeting those demands," said Coun Allen. "The results are beneficial to all concerned." Adrian Evans, technical director for Persimmon Homes, which is currently building 70 houses off West Fen Road, in Ely, said it had a very positive relationship with East Cambs District Council. "Operating within the design guide helps our relationship with the council tremendously," said Mr Evans. "It gives us a clear framework to base our house designs on and the local planners are always available to monitor and guide us where necessary."

Expansion plan for Wicken Fen

WICKEN FEN nature reserve is set to expand by 10,000 acres in a visionary proposal designed to create a "green lung". The Fen, which was the first nature reserve to be acquired by the National Trust, currently covers just 915 acres. One of the first steps towards the expansion is to buy the 168-acre Burwell Fen Farm. Adrian Colston, property manager at Wicken Fen, revealed the National Trust has been talking to various landowners about purchasing plots of land. The first piece of land, the 115-acre Guinea Hall Farm, was purchased in October last year. Mr Colston said Burwell Fen Farm would be the most significant acquisition to date.

East Cambridgeshire District Council was deciding today on providing a grant of £386,000 towards the scheme. Council officers have recommended members on the Strategic Development Committee express support and enthusiasm for what is described as a visionary proposal. The decision to expand the Fen was originally taken last year by the National Trust Properties, Finance and Executive committees. The 100-year plan is designed to create a "green lung" for Cambridge, protecting the north of the city from over-development. Mr Colston said: "It might eventually take 100 years to complete but we rather hope we'll make a difference in the next few years." The aim is to create an extensive wetland habitat by converting arable land to grazing pasture, reed beds and open water. The National Trust would also look to increase rights of way through the farmland and link into circular walks over the footbridge to Wicken Fen. The Trust hopes this would lead to increased visitor numbers.

More Park News!

A COUNTRY park could be built on the outskirts of Ely to protect the countryside from the hundreds of new homes springing up in the city every year. The park, including a wildlife reserve, would be built between Ely and Queen Adelaide on Thistle Corner. It is envisaged it would stretch towards Chettisham, smothering the northern tip of Ely. Plans for the park were revealed this week in the first environmental capacity study for Ely. Although the study is not technically a planning document, it will play a major role in future developments in the city. Philip Lewis, chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council's Strategic Development Committee, said it was a "significant" work. "The consultants have come up with the idea that a country park would be a good idea," said Coun Lewis. "As we all know, there is tremendous pressure at the moment on building houses in Ely, so it is a very relevant topic of discussion." He added: "It seems right to me that we should get this kind of environmental study in the bag before we go and look at other implications." The document warns against over-development in the north east of Ely, as new homes would be highly visible when approaching the city from Queen Adelaide or from Littleport along Lynn Road. Instead, it suggests the development of a country park to create a "fen island" landscape. The study also mentions the introduction of a wetland reserve to help provide a clear barrier between Ely and the surrounding countryside. Members of East Cambridge District Council's Strategic Development Committee adopted the study as supplementary planning guidance at a meeting yesterday

Hi-tech warning at bridge

A NEW infra-red height detector is set to be installed at Ely's notorious railway bridge in a bid to prevent lorries getting wedged under it. The bridge, which carries trains travelling between Cambridge and Norwich, is a notorious accident blackspot. A lorry driven by Little Downham man Stephen Gilbert was the latest vehicle to become trapped under the bridge on Friday morning. But wedged vehicles could become a thing of the past with the announcement by Cambridgeshire County Council that a new ?50,000 high-tech system will be installed within the next few weeks. The system, which will be installed on both sides of the road leading under the bridge, features an infra-red beam, which, if broken, will trigger warning signs if a vehicle is too tall to pass safely through. David Brace, team leader of the traffic management section at the county council, said he was pleased to see the system set to be installed. He said most accidents were the result of local people switching onto "autopilot." "It's generally local people who hire a truck for the day and it's not until they hear the bang that they realise what's happened," said Mr Brace. The latest accident involved Mr Gilbert, who was driving a lorry for a Stowmarket-based refrigerated transport company. The roof of the Mercedes lorry, which was carrying frozen food and ice cream, was ripped off, scattering insulating panels all over the road. Mr Gilbert said he had driven under the bridge hundreds of times in his car and had just switched off. "I can't believe it," said the 51-year-old driver. A spokesman for Railtrack welcomed the introduction of the new system. "We would welcome a system which cuts down the number of accidents at the bridge," he said. "These incidents cost us time and money as we have to call out an expert to check the structure of the bridge has not been damaged. "It's also annoying for passengers who suffer delays to their journey."

City hit by spree of vandal attacks

VANDALS have run riot in Ely causing thousands of pounds worth of damage all over the city. Ely Community College was the worst hit with more than 40 windows smashed in just two days. A CCTV camera covering the campus was also destroyed by vandals who threw stones and other objects at the college. Although no precise value has been placed on the damage as yet, it is expected to reach around £7,000. The college, which is empty during the school summer holidays, was targeted on Monday.

A police spokesman condemned the attacks and urged members of the public to report any incidents of vandalism. "This was a very serious attack and we are keen to catch whoever was responsible for causing this substantial damage," he added. The trail of vandalism continued in other parts of the city with windows and car windscreens targeted. Vandals threw a beer bottle through the window of the tandoori restaurant in Broad Street at around 1.15am on Sunday. Two cars were also damaged in the early hours of Sunday with £250 worth of damage caused to a Honda parked in the New Barns area between 2am and 3am. Vandals also smashed the windscreen of a Rover car parked in Upherd's Lane on Sunday night. A Renault parked in Dunstan Street was one of the latest vehicles to be targeted when vandals smashed the windscreen on Friday night. The damage has not just been restricted to vehicles with the ground floor window of a house in St Andrew's Way being smashed by stones in the early hours of Monday. A brick was also thrown through a window in Priors Court the same evening. The latest incident occurred on Sunday evening when the door of a property in Fairfax Court was smashed by a stone.

* Anyone with information about any of these incidents should contact Ely police on (01223) 358966.

Volunteers urgently needed in Ely

VOLUNTEERS are urgently needed to help out at local hospitals. Lifespan Healthcare Cambridge says it is short of volunteers at sites including Brookfields Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely. Those willing to help out need only give a few hours a week and do not have to have previous experience. Work can include driving, plant care, shopping, organising activities, library work and fund raising. For more information, contact Glenda Rapaport, Lifespan volunteer services co-ordinator, on (01223) 723013.

Public to have say on strategy

THE public is to have its say on major proposals to improve transport and the environment in Ely. The final stages of the Ely Market Town Strategy should be completed by October and both Cambridgeshire County, and East Cambridgeshire District councillors have agreed to a public consultation of the findings. Initiatives could include sustainable bus services, a major review of parking, improved public transport, and proposals for an Ely Southern bypass. Brian Hayes, chairman of the East Cambridgeshire Environment and Transport area joint committee, said: "It is very important for the public to have their say on the proposals put forward. "This is a golden opportunity to create a blueprint for the future of Ely which will help relieve some of the problems we face today and help in the continued prosperity of the city and the surrounding area." Residents will be able to have their say in a number of ways, including a mobile exhibition covering Ely and the surrounding area. The consultation exercise is planned to take place after the joint committee's October meeting.

Cardinal name is sin

A NEW street in Ely will be called Cardinal's Way despite no cardinal ever having lived in Ely. The decision has left some city councillors questioning the rules and regulations regarding the naming of new developments. Hopkins Homes chose to call the new development ­ off Broad Street ­ Cardinal's Way and Cardinal's Walk. But members of Ely City Council said the name is inappropriate as the city has never had a cardinal and prefered a name reflecting the brewery links to the site. A spokesman for Hopkins Homes said the name reflected the location near to the cathedral.

Under Construction - The Changing Face of Ely

Our feature "Under Construction - The Changing Face of Ely" has now been updated to show the progress of the Broad Street Development. Yes work to block out the view of the Cathedral from the Riverside continues apace as the first 3 story houses to be built reach their summit! See the latest pic here!

Aquafest!

Lovely weather for the annual Aquafest recently (see pics left and right below). I attended for a few hours and saw the Soham Fenlander Majorettes in action again - having also seen them at Soham carnival and every other local event of recent years the attraction of twirling batons and shaking pom poms is beginning to wear a bit thin...... still it's great that they exist!

Some of our message board regulars also attended so let's see what they thought:

"Went to the aquafest yesterday, I'm sure it's good for kids but some of the charity stalls had tombola prizes that included secondhand mens shoes and washing up sponges! Not to mention fray bentos pies for one. How did they ever expect anyone to buy a ticket?" - beardy

"Fray Bentos pies? When I were a lad you won a lump of furnace slag at tombolas, aye, and were glad of it - there were allus folks as were worse off than thee." - Hard done by Yorkshireman

"I won a 500ml botle of Tesco Value bath foam. How can you complain about the quality of the prizes. All of Ely shops were represented, well all of Ely's charity shops. I know we're going to get slated for being 'uncharitable' but it did lack a certain something. How does one get involved in helping organise next year's event?" - Rufus T Grumblefly Brundlefly Firefly

"It would have been better and more original if they'd had a 'tombola trash' stall, where a range of awful and disgusting objects were raffled and when you won one you took it straight to the bin. oh, that's what they did. I've never even heard of New Day Sugar Frosted Flakes" - beardy.

"You surely aren't telling me that a box of minor own-label breakfast cereal was a tombola prize? That's terrible! Sounds like we didn't miss much at this event." - Aira

"As for the majorettes, as much as I think that such things are good for young kids, i.e. having a group to do something after school, they don't exactly do energetic routines! moan moan. I know they did a few 'sets' on the day but quality would be better than quantity for that sort of thing." - beardy

"At the risk of continuing to appear to be a moaning old git (yes, was perhaps too critical of the aquafest - I know I'm not exactly the target audience and it was very successful (certainly very busy)) I was expecting the aquafest to be slightly... well..... wetter. Water related events at the Ely Aquafest.
1. Raft Race
2. Errr that's it."

Rufus T Firefly

So not a great reaction then! If you think you can help to improve the Aquafest then why not contact the organisers (the local Rotary Club) - see their website at www.elyrotary.co.uk

Johnny Dee live on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Johnny has recently been entertaining folks in Towns around the area has been very successful to the point where he may well be invited back by popular demand..!

Why not join him? Or tune in to 96 FM-95.7 FM ON BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

Pic left shows Johnny and his assistant Patrick on Ely Market Place recently. More info about Johnny Dee here.

Local Polling Station Understaffed

Local politician Dill Owen and labour parliamentary candidate has written to Norman Topliss, the acting returning officer, seeking answers as to why the polling station at Sutton was unable to cope with the amount of people wishing to vote. Apparently some had to queue for a considerable time to mark their cross and some didn't bother queuing or couldn't wait. Mr Owen stresses though that this made no difference to the result in that constituency which was held by Tory Malcolm Moss.

Row over street name

An unholy row is brewing over a developer's decision to name a new street after Ely's clerical connections, rather than the former brewery site it was built on. Hopkins Homes has angered city councillors by calling its development, off Broad Street, Cardinal's Way and Walk Members of Ely City Council claim the name is inappropriate, as the area has never had anything to do with cardinals or any other members of the clergy. "The site was originally part of the Harlocks brewery and I would have thought any development should have made reference to this old Ely name," said Coun Mike Rouse. "I don't understand the choice of this inappropriate name, but apparently it's all to do with marketing and not about the preservation of strong local connections." However, Mark Peters, sales and marketing manager for Hopkins Homes, said this was the first he had heard about any objections to Cardinal's Way. "This is a lovely development in the city centre and we wanted a name that reflected its location near to the cathedral," said Mr Peters. "The name was considered suitable by East Cambridgeshire District Council and there is no question of it being altered now as people are already living there." * Detailed plans for conversion of the listed barrel store at the end of the street are to be put before district planners on Wednesday. Hopkins Homes is applying to partly demolish the Grade II building to create three homes and to build two houses adjoining the store. Their original plans were amended to address concerns from English Heritage and the city's conservation officer.

Musician missing

STAFF at the Cottages Day Hospital at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely are looking for a singing teacher to lead and inspire a small group of music enthusiasts. Manager Glenda Dyer said she was ideally looking for a retired music teacher or someone with experience of working with a theatrical or musical group. The volunteer would be required to offer his or her services every Thursday between 1pm-2pm. If you feel able to help the group, contact the day hospital on (01353) 652090.

Worry over 'rave' title forces cathedral to act

A popular Christian youth event has been forced to change its name after parents associated it with drugs and all-night parties. Ely Cathedral's Rave in the Nave will be renamed after concerns were raised by parents and some members of the organising committee over interpretation of the title. Raves became notorious the from the mid- 1980s for their links with illegal drugs such as Ecstasy. The annual Ely event, which has been running for 10 years, will continue, but the name will be changed in time for next year. David Waters, diocesan youth officer, said some people saw the word rave as a negative image. "As I've gone round the diocese and met with church councils, the use of the word rave is something that has cropped up," he said. "Some parents are worried. Many think there's just something not quite right about the word rave. "They're worried their kids may want to go to other raves, which may not be as safe."

Despite the problem with the name, Mr Waters, who organises the rave with Canon John Inge, said tickets for this year's event were selling well. More than 400 have already been sold for the event, which takes place on June 29. There will be more emphasis placed on the Christian message at this year's event, and all the bands performing are from local churches or Christian organisations. There will also be a carnival atmosphere, with the nave set out as a busy street scene. Circus performers, clowns, singers and Chinese rickshaw rides will all add to the colour. For more details about Rave in the Nave, visit www.raveinthenave.com or contact (01353) 652725 or (01353) 652715 to purchase tickets.

Anne Debondt Releases Her First Novel

The wonderful Anne Debondt who contributes regularly to this website and to the Ely Standard has released her first novel entitled "Suddenly" (pic right). Guest reviewer Johhny Swift has a copy and will spend his christmas break digesting every word to bring us an exclusive review shortly. The book is available from Ely On-Line (cost £4.95) and anyone interested in buying a copy please e-mail suddenly@ely.org.uk  for ordering details.

Special week to give boost to tourism

Thousands of residents in East Cambridgeshire are being urged to beat election fatigue by joining in local leisure activities. More than 20,000 leaflets are being sent out to householders promoting a new leisure and environment week organised by East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC). It is aimed at dispelling the damper the foot-and-mouth crisis put on the start of the year by boosting attendances at Ely's premier tourist attractions. Organisers are hoping to forge stronger links between residents and the countryside and leisure amenities on offer. Darren Dixon, ECDC's cultural services team leader, said very few of Ely's attractions were visited by people actually living in the area. "All the statistics show that it's tourists who go to Oliver Cromwell's House and Ely Museum and not people living locally," said Mr Dixon. "The foot-and-mouth crisis got the year off to a bad start, but we hope that by taking the initiative to encourage more local people to visit the attractions, it will end on a much brighter note."

During the week, scheduled to start the day after the General Election, June 8, there will be a variety of activities and events happening around the district, including free guided walks around Ely, Littleport, Soham and the opening of a new cycle route in Newmarket. During the week, Oliver Cromwell's House will be offering reduced ticket prices to residents, while Ely Museum will admit children free when accompanied by an adult. A family picnic is being held on Palace Green on Saturday with free organic food available for children.

Other events planned include drama and musical productions, a sports day and an art exhibition using recycled materials. Councillor Hazel Williams, chair of the community services committee, said: "Our local leisure facilities and environment contribute a lot to the high quality of life we have in East Cambridgeshire. "The aim of the week is to help to raise the profile of these wonderful facilities."

Further details from the Tourist Information Centre on (01353) 662062.

Rave In The Nave - a message from Diocesan Youth Officer David Waters

Well over 200 people have now taken advantage of the discounted ticket offer for this year's 'Rave in the Nave'. This offer ran throughout May and is due to end tomorrow (31st May). Groups have saved at least £3 per person if they booked during this period. Some groups have saved even more money if they booked more than ten tickets at one time. However, if you (your youth leader or youth group) have not yet sent for tickets for this year's 'Rave in the Nave', then all is not lost. I am prepared to keep this offer open over this coming weekend (2nd-3rd June). All orders placed for tickets that arrive at the diocesan office up to, and including, the morning of Monday (4th) can receive tickets at the discounted price. Please note that after this date, tickets issued from the office will be sold at the full price of £8. So if you want to save money and only pay £5 - instead of £8 - to get into 'Rave in the Nave' - time is running out!

There will be more emphasis placed upon the Christian message at this year's event and all the bands performing are from local churches or Christian organisations. There will also be a carnival and festival atmosphere. The Nave is being set out as a street scene with circus performers, clowns, street theatre, singers and Chinese rickshaw rides - as well as all the usual computer games, 'bungee run', inflatables, fun activities and sideshows associated with past events. A quieter fringe programme and cafe is taking place in the Lady Chapel. Meanwhile on the main stage, '3:16' will be performing at 8.15pm with worship led by 'Expression' taking place at 9pm. 'Activate' (visiting some of our secondary schools in the two weeks leading up to the event) are due live on stage at 10pm.

I guarantee that your church youth group, parish youth club or uniformed organisation will have a really good night out!

Ticket orders: Resources Centre, Bishop woodford House, Barton Road, Ely, Cambs. CB7 4DX

Ticket Hotline: 01353 652725 / 652715

resources.centre@ely.anglican.org

For further details contact the Diocesan Youth Officer: David Waters. Tel: 01733 361080 david.waters@ely.anglican.org

Rave in the Nave Website: www.raveinthenave.org

Lib Dem pelted with an egg

A Yob pelted a Lib Dem candidate with an egg as he was campaigning in Ely. But, unlike deputy prime minister John Prescott, who lashed out at his attacker in a street brawl, county council hopeful Gareth Wilson had no time to react. "Suddenly I felt this sharp blow on the side of my head," said the 58-year-old. "At first I thought I had been hit by a baseball bat. When I turned round to see what had happened all I could see was a car speeding off." Mr Wilson had been putting up posters in Fieldside, Ely, on Saturday with East Cambridgeshire District councillor Gordon Frankland. The former Redbridge councillor, who is looking to take over the Ely West seat from Sheila Friend-Smith who has stepped down, said he was amazed by the attack. "I would never have expected to have been attacked like this in Ely," he said. "At least I can understand how Prescott feels now," he joked. Mr Wilson, who still sports minor bruising and scratching around his eye, said the attack will not affect his campaign. He has taken early retirement from a job with Cambridge Housing Society to focus on the campaign to become a Cambridgeshire county councillor. His opponents in the Ely West ward are Labour candidate Stephen Hartley and Conservative Andrew Mair. The attack on Mr Wilson comes just days after another Lib Dem councillor had the fuel pipes cut on his car. Coun Donald Adey, who is also a candidate in Ely North and South in the forthcoming elections, had already e-mailed fellow party members urging them to be vigilant.

Call to ease traffic chaos

New mayor Sheila Friend-Smith has suggested a park-and-ride style scheme could be used to ease traffic outside an Ely school. Coun Friend-Smith feels the traffic which builds up outside Acremont House could be reduced. She was speaking in light of a planning application to build a temporary classroom and toilet block at Acremont House, the pre-prep school for King's School. Ely City Council expressed concern at the extra traffic the development could bring and, despite recommending approval of the plans, asked the school to look into ways of reducing the impact extra vehicles could bring. At the meeting, the council discussed a letter from a concerned Egremont Street resident, suggesting children were dropped off at at a central point and ferried into the school on buses. Coun Friend-Smith, who lives in Egremont Street herself, said she was very interested in the idea. "I'm pleased for the school and it is good that it is expanding but it must realise it is in the heart of a residential area," she said. Fellow councillor Nora Covell, who also lives in Egremont Street, said traffic had always been bad. Nigel Clarke, assistant bursar at the King's School, said the park and ride style scheme was "not a starter".  However, he said the school had been in consultation with parents over other potential schemes, including a walking bus.

TV boost for city tourism

ELY'S television stardom is set to boost the number of visitors to the city this summer.

More than three million viewers tuned into Channel 4's Time Team Special on the archaeological dig at Broad Street. The 90-minute programme showed archaeologists excavating the former Jewson site and unearthing finds dating back to Saxon times. Some of the pottery is now on display at Ely Museum, which will also be showing a video of the programme. Coun Jack Waterfall, who appeared on the show, said: "It was a fantastic showcase for the city and we are confident it will result in more people coming to have a look for themselves. "On the Time Team website there has been plenty of positive feedback, with lots of people saying they intend to visit. "People were surprised to see what a jewel Ely is."

Cash call in bid for park 'extras'

Jubilee Gardens ­ the first municipal park for the people of Ely ­ has received more than 40 offers of sponsorship from the public. Councillors said they were "overwhelmed" by the level of interest shown for the planned park linking Broad Street with the riverside. Now officers at East Cambridgeshire District Council are drawing up plans to target local traders and businesses in seeking out donations from the corporate sector. They have already set up a scheme to receive financial contributions of as little as £10 for park "extras" that will not be met by the public purse. Coun Jack Waterfall, chairman of the Broad Street working party, which has been responsible for the park, said it was "all systems go" for a summer 2002 opening ­ in time for the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. "We've had a great response from the public, who are very keen to be involved in the creation of Jubilee Gardens," he said. "The more sponsorship we get, the more additional features we can include in the scheme." The district council is responsible for the main landscaping and planting of the gardens, which is costing £280,000. Following public consultations, the working party has drawn up a shortlist of additional features people would like to see incorporated in the park. Top of the list is a formal garden area with feature beds. A bandstand, water feature and toddlers' play area also figure prominently. The cost of the extras has to be met by sponsorship. Ely's new mayor, Coun Sheila Friend-Smith, is hoping some of the proceeds from her charity, Golden Jubilee Trees, will enable trees to be planted near the park's entrance. "I'm hoping to get some kind of sponsorship from local nurseries to allow us to buy suitable specimens to make a big impression at the entrance to Jubilee Gardens," said Coun Friend-Smith.

'Brawn drain' leads to sundial delay

A NATIONAL shortage of building workers is being blamed for the delay in installing the "people's sundial" in Ely Market Place. The Millennium project, sponsored by Ely City Council, was due to be open shortly after Easter in time for the summer sun and busy tourist season. But a "brawn drain" of the region's building workforce to more lucrative employment in house-building programmes has led to a three-month delay in completing the project. Ely mayor Coun Sheila Friend-Smith, who chaired the Millennium group which commissioned the sundial from Comberton sculptor Quinn Hollick, said she was extremely disappointed at the delay. "We really hoped to have it installed by the end of April but because the contractors have had difficulty recruiting staff, all the improvement works in the city are behind schedule," she said. "Because there is so much house-building going on in the area, workers are in short supply and the contractor has had a hard job replacing men who have left." The installation of the sundial, which will consist of a series of inscribed slabs allowing people to tell the time from their own shadows, can only take place after new ducting carrying electricity cables is put in place. At present, workmen are still replacing the pavement in Fore Hill with stone slabs and are not due to finish that project until the end of June. They will then turn their attention to the Market Place, with a completion date for the sundial now re-arranged for the end of July. A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council, which is responsible for the works, said its contractor, Ringway, was suffering from the national shortage of skilled workers. "It is very regrettable that this massive programme of works has got so delayed," said the spokesman. "However, Ringway has now employed another gang and work should progress much more quickly from now on."

City-to-city walk by river returns with diversions

WALKERS can now bypass closed sections of the 17-mile trek from Ely to Cambridge beside the Cam, thanks to a new guide. A new edition of the popular Walk Guide Pace has been produced by Cambridgeshire County Council for the bank holiday weekend. The guide will include maps showing walkers how to avoid those sections of the Fen Rivers Way which have been closed due to foot-and-mouth disease restrictions. The walk gives unbroken views across the fens with the peace and tranquility of the waterside. Avoiding the few closed sections usually involves crossing the river and rejoining the path on the other side. A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said: "We're working with farmers to open as many footpaths as possible in time for the bank holiday. "Paths crossing pasture land will be closed for the immediate future." Walkers are asked to avoid contact with farm animals and use disinfectant pads where provided. He warned that some sections which have not been used for many weeks were likely to be quite overgrown but that maintenance work should soon rectify the problem. Copies of the walk guide pack (normally £2) are available free of charge from the countryside services team on (01223) 717445 until Friday, May 25. They will then be available in local libraries and tourist information offices at the normal retail price.

Phone exodus leaves GPs in dark

DOCTORS in Ely have been left in a muddle after scores of patients switched to new telephone numbers. New cable television and telephone offers from NTL have tempted a number of customers in Ely to make the switch. The change means many have new telephone numbers, making it difficult for doctors to contact them to remind them of hospital and surgery appointments. Donna Goss, of East Cambridgeshire Primary Care Group, said problems getting hold of patients were clogging up the whole system. She added: "It is vital the surgeries have the correct details. The practices also have to call patients to advise when test results come in and to inform them of the times of special clinics." Christine Sparrow, practice manager at the Octagon surgery in Ely and for Dr Horne and partners in Sutton, said: "It seems almost all of our Octagon patients have new numbers. Our staff are always having problems getting hold of people, it makes life very difficult. "Communication is vital between doctors and patients, they just need to let us know they have changed numbers." A spokeswoman for NTLsaid thousands of customers in the Cambridge area, which includes Ely, were switching to the package deals every week. Customers are attracted by all-in-one deals with the same service provider offering cable television, internet, telephone and cable modems for high-speed internet access. She said NTL's penetration in the Cambridge area had risen to around 60 per cent. She stressed that customers can keep their old telephone numbers if they choose when they make the switch.

One Day in May captured for eternity

ONE Day in May 2000 has been recreated in the Red Square Art Gallery in Ely. More than 3,000 people from towns and villages in East Cambridgeshire took part in the special event last year, documenting their day in film, drawings, photo albums and words. Their work will be on show in the Market Square, before it is donated to the county's archives. The massive input from individuals, schools and groups was also the inspiration for a community play. The Chestnut Box was written with the help of Tony Ramsay, from Norfolk, screenwriter for ITV's Where the Heart Is. Included in the play is a story about the most unusual One Day entry. Graham Waterhouse, chairman of the One Day in May team, said: "One lady sent in an album of pressed flowers including every single plant, flower and weed growing in her garden on that particular day." Other entries included a video diary of a milkman's round at Littleport - starting at 3am - a photo diary of a day in the life of veterinary surgeon Digby Milwright and a song about a walk from Haddenham in Buckinghamshire to Haddenham in Cambridgeshire. Mr Waterhouse added: "The free exhibition will give everyone a chance to see all the wonderful contributions." The One Day in May exhibition will be open at the Red Square Art Gallery from tomorrow until June 22. The gallery is open Thursday to Saturday from 10am-4pm. Tickets are on sale for The Chestnut Box from The Babylon Gallery, Waterside, Ely, on (01353) 669022. Performances will be held at the Ellesmere Centre, Stetchworth, Soham Village College and The Maltings throughout June.

NEW CCTV scheme for East Cambridgeshire is in jeopardy because of a cash row.

The crime-busting venture to set up 31 new 24-hour surveillance cameras in Ely, Soham and Littleport netted a £634,000 Home Office grant in March. Celebrations have soured, however, with parish councils claiming the cost breakdown of the £1.2m scheme would see them subsidising Ely's 20 cameras. Soham, which is to have only six cameras, has been asked to contribute £68,000 and Littleport, with five cameras, would pay £52,000. Ely City Council has confirmed it will contribute £100,000 and East Cambridgeshire District Council will pay £114,000. Joanne Rogers, East Cambridgeshire District Council's town centre manager for the three towns, warned the money may have to go back if they cannot agree. She said: "We're trying to find a way round it, but they're making life impossible. To have to give the money, or some of it, back would be highly embarrassing. This is the last chance for us to have 24-hour CCTV." She said it was unclear whether pulling out of the scheme for Littleport and Soham would spoil Ely's own bid, adding: "People should look at the district as a whole and not just in proportion to their immediate population." Coun Barry Houghton, parish councillor for Soham, said: "Ely's had its fair share of the pot in the past. Now it feels like we're being asked to pay the full whack without much coming from Ely." He added the council was in favour of having CCTV in Soham, which saw violent crime rise by 91 per cent (34 to 65 incidents) from 1998-99. Figures for Ely show a 99 per cent rise - from 75 incidents to 145. Coun Sue Kerridge, chairman of Littleport Parish Council, which met recently, said: "It's an awful lot of money, it doubles our precept and works out at around ?20 extra per household if you are on a low income. "We need to consult the public before we commit ourselves." Both parish councils agree to the scheme in principle.

Free rail parking is just the ticket

CONCERNS that pay and display machines at Ely Railway Station are out of reach of wheelchair-users have been allayed with news that disabled badge holders can park for free. Disabled rights activist Arthur Cutter, of East Cambridgeshire Access Group, was angry that the ticket machines are situated on a raised island bed, making it inaccessible to wheelchair-bound travellers. "Fortunately I am able to lift myself out of my wheelchair if necessary, but there are many wheelchair users who would be unable to purchase a ticket without seeking help," said Mr Cutter, who lives in Witchford. But members have now welcomed the news from train operators WAGN that cars displaying a valid disabled badge are exempt from parking charges. A spokesman for WAGN said that although there were only three designated disabled parking bays at the station, it was company policy to allow free parking for all vehicles displaying a disabled badge. "If the bays are full, it is perfectly all right for disabled passengers to park elsewhere in the car park," said the spokesman. He added that if this was the case, the driver should tell station staff about it. Mr Cutter said the access group welcomed the news, but was sorry WAGN had not made its policy more public. "I'm very pleased that the disabled are exempt from charges at the station and will be making that fact more widely-known to our members," he said.

Arts magazine is launched

ARTS Development in East Cambridgeshire has launched a new magazine to raise the profile of dance and drama in the region. Prompt, the magazine for the performing arts in East Cambridgeshire, will be available three times a year. The first edition is free, so this year's subscription will be £4, rising to £6 for next year. Prompt's editor Gilly Lancaster, said: "We're including a diary of events and we've been generously supported by advertisers, but there's always room for more." To receive a copy of Prompt or to advertise future events, contact ADeC at The Babylon Gallery, Babylon Bridge, Waterside, Ely, on (01353) 669022.

Owners of strays to be collared

OWNERS of dogs found straying in East Cambridgeshire will now have to stump up an on-the-spot £25 fine to recover their pets. From this week, all stray dogs rounded up in Ely and surrounding villages will be taken to Wood Green Animal Shelter in Godmanchester. Owners will have to pay East Cambridgeshire District Council a £25 fine and kennel fees of £6.50 a night before obtaining a release certificate to reclaim their wandering pets.

Last year, dog warden Veronica Avory picked up 150 dogs found wandering the streets. Nearly three-quarters were returned to their owners. Ms Avory will take photos of all recovered dogs so their owners can identify them at the council offices in Nutholt Lane. "Unfortunately the number of stray dogs isn't getting any less and I urge all owners to take part in the council's free registration scheme," she said. For £2, owners can register their dog at the council and get an engraved identity disc, a much cheaper alternative to micro-chipping. Coun Donald Adey, chairman of the environment panel responsible for operating the dog warden service, said: "The dog warden does an excellent job in retrieving strays and it is only right that owners pay for that service."

May exhibition

THERE will be a chance to see the One Day in May exhibition in Ely Market Place from this Thursday until Saturday, June 23. Following on from last year's successful One Day in May, this exhibition shows a selection of the 2000 material, including some audio and visual recordings from the day. Admission is free. For more details contact (01353) 669022.

Parade's demise is country fair's rise

A police staffing crisis that caused organisers to pull the plug on Ely's traditional Hospital Sunday parade has resulted in the staging of the city's first country fair. Bumper crowds are expected for the Bank Holiday weekend event being organised by the Friends of the Princess of Wales Hospital. Last year, organisers were told the police could no longer provide cover for the popular parade through the city involving more than 50 floats. Philip Cox, Friends secretary, said: "Because of a police shortage in the area which meant the parade could not have the benefit of police protection, we took the decision to cancel it." "We decided to hold a country fair instead, which we hope will raise a record amount for the hospital and become an annual event," he said.Last year's parade raised just over £2,000, which, added to the proceeds from the Friends' door-to-door Christmas collection, amounted to £15,000 for hospital equipment and patients' comforts.

The country fair, which will be held on Sunday, May 27, at Ely Rugby Club at Downham Road, will include a display of more than 50 vintage vehicles. These will include a full-size steam engine, 19 vintage cars, tractors and motorcycles. March Vintage Cycle Club will stage a display and there will be a collection of Tonka toys and ice skates on view. As well as trade stands and a craft marquee, there will be face painting, dough craft, pyrography and bric-a-brac stalls. In the main arena, choreographed entertainment will be provided by the Littleport Lancets, the Newmarket Hotshots and the Soham Fenlanders Majorettes.Ely Rocket Club will give a display and there will be tractor games. The organisers are keen to hear from anyone willing to enter the fair's tug-of-war competition. To enter teams of eight men or women for the fun event, contact Joe Jefferson on (01353) 665107.

Visitors line up to see model railway show

A record number of visitors made the Ely Model Railway exhibition the biggest and best ever. More than 1,000 people attended the exhibition at The Maltings on Saturday. Fourteen layouts built by model enthusiasts from as far afield as Derbyshire and the West Midlands were on display.  Pride of place was the Ely society's replica model of Thurston Station in Norfolk, which has been created by the 20 members over the past four years. Exhibition manager Martin Spence said he was delighted with the turnout. "We have been holding an annual exhibition for over 20 years, but this is our biggest so far," said Mr Spence. "We were pleased so many people attended and have already started planning next year's event."

ELY will go European when guests from twin towns in France and Germany arrive on Friday. Fourteen representatives from Kempen and Werdau, in Germany, and Orsay and Wambrechies, in France, will help revise twinning activities which have taken place over the past year and plan more. Stronger links could be formed between Ely's swimming and rugby clubs and Orsay. School exchanges and the annual international adventure camp for disadvantaged children, held in Ely last year, will be reviewed. The different countries' approach to environmental and transport problems will also be explored. The visitors will view the strawburning plant at the Elean Power Station in Sutton and the Turners transport operation at Soham. The new Mayor of Ely, Coun Sheila Friend-Smith, a member of the East Cambridgeshire Twinning Association, said the exchange gave an ideal opportunity to pick up practical ideas to help achieve best value for services to the public. "Twinning activities also gives the younger generation the chance to experience and understand our partners' cultures and help build closer links within the European community," she said.

Body of boatman is found

THE body of a missing man whose boat was found adrift near Littleport has been recovered from the River Great Ouse. Norfolk police divers assisted local officers with a search of the river after the boat of Herbert Putz, 61, was found adrift near Littleport with its engine running. Mr Putz was last seen at the Black Horse pub in Littleport at 5.15pm on Monday. He set off for a nearby marina just north of the pub, but his boat, The Liberty, was found four hours later. Police last night confirmed a body was recovered from the river shortly before 8pm. It has not been formally identified, but is believed to be that of Mr Putz. The cause of death has yet to be established. Sgt Steve Flint, of Ely police station, said: "A body has been recovered from the river and I'm satisfied that this is the person who was reported missing last night. "I need to trace the next of kin to inform them of the tragic events surrounding his death, and I would be grateful to hear from anyone who can put me in touch with any friends and family so we can offer them support at this distressing time." Anyone with information should phone police on (01223) 358966 or (01480) 456111.

City Forced to Snub Twinners

CONTINENTAL towns and cities are clamouring for closer links with Ely. That is the message from the city council, which has been forced to turn down numerous requests for twinnings from towns and cities in Italy, France and America.

The council has been forced to decline these offers, as the necessary staffing and resources needed are not available. Ely Mayor Richard Hobbs said the decision to reject the twinning applications was not a case of the council being "pompous". He added: "Our funding is on a parish level so it would be very difficult to afford another twinning." Coun Hobbs believes Ely is an attractive proposition for many foreign towns and cities. "Obviously Ely has an awful lot going for it such as the history and the ease of access," he said. Coun Hobbs said he was happy to stick with just the one existing twinning ­ Ribe in Denmark. The link was established in 1956, when twinnings were set-up on a "like for like" basis. Ribe, like Ely, has a cathedral and is located in an area similar to the Fens. More than 40 residents from Ribe arrived in Ely recently for a  celebration of the twinning. During the visit Coun Hobbs and his counterpart from Ribe signed a twinning charter to re-affirm the link first established 45 years ago.

'Super-surgery' plan to cope with homes influx

ELY could have its very own "super-surgery" within the next year to cope with a rapidly increasing population. The news comes just weeks after the city's two existing doctors' surgeries turned down an offer to build a new surgery on land just off Bereford Road. St Mary's Surgery and The Octagon at the Princess of Wales Hospital are already under huge pressure.

Patient lists were open at St Mary's yesterday but a spokesman admitted they were continually having to be closed. But the strain on existing services could be eased after East Cambridgeshire Primary Care Group (PCG) announced a third surgery could be built in the city within the next nine to 12 months.

The "super-surgery" would also include a dental practice, a physiotherapist and a community nurse. Both existing practices recently rejected an offer by the developers of Bereford Road to base a surgery in the development as neither viewed it as commercially viable.

David Heeley, head of service development at East Cambs PCG, said: "After talking to both practices recently we've recognised a need for a third surgery in Ely. We are now waiting to find out if our application for extra GPs is successful." Mr Heeley said no site had yet been earmarked for the new surgery. The news was welcomed by Ely city councillor Reg Kemp who was worried the housing developments currently springing up around the city would not have the facilities to match. "It's quite obvious additional facilities are required," said Coun Kemp.

Calling All Community Groups - an open message from Teresa Jones - Community Outreach Worker

Earlier this year Cambridgeshire ACRE received funding from the National Lotteries Charities Board to deliver a unique and important programme entitled "Our Communities Our Future". The programme will survey Cambridgeshire's rural-based voluntary organisations and community groups (see below), develop a series of training programmes and provide a range of advice and support mechanisms for Cambridgeshire's voluntary sector.

The initial phase of the project is being launched in January 2001. This involves a questionnaire will be sent to each voluntary organisation and community group situated within rural Cambridgeshire. Given the survey is just the start of this exciting project, Cambridgeshire ACRE is keen to ensure all voluntary organisations and community groups 'have their say' and are able to benefit from the project's longer-term objectives.

For clarification, voluntary organisations and community groups are:

· Not for profit organisations (e.g Playgroups)

· Run by volunteers (e.g Meals on wheels, Womens Institute)

· Registered charities

· Working for local communities (e.g Village Hall Committees, Village Appraisal Groups)

· Dedicated to particular issues (e.g Sports / Hobby Clubs)

East Cambridgeshire District will be the first area to be surveyed, therefore, if you represent a voluntary organisation or community group within that area, please contact me as soon as possible and I will ensure you receive a copy of our questionnaire.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Teresa Jones
Community Outreach Worker
Cambridgeshire ACRE, Old School House, Green End Comberton CB3 7DY
Tel / Fax - 01223 264997. Email - teresa.jones@cambsacre.org.uk

W.H. Smiths Arrive In Ely

W.H. Smiths new shop in Ely is now open ! Having popped in there I can report that they are selling newspapers, magazines, drinks, books cds, inkjet cartridges and stationery. The shop is situated on Market Street where Pecks Ironmongers used to be.

For some reason I suspect that this shop will not be short of customers and will be unaffected by the pedestrianisation scheme..;-)

Pedestrianisation Scheme Suspended on Thursdays

TRADERS in Ely have welcomed the decision to partly suspend the controversial High Street pedestrianisation scheme. The trial scheme, which shopkeepers and market traders claimed was ruining business in the city, has been suspended until further notice on Thursdays. It will continue to run on Saturdays, but will not be made permanent unless a number of conditions are met. These include a full review of car parking in Ely and consultation with groups such as the Ely Taxi Rank Association and the East Cambridgeshire Access Group. The news was welcomed by Nora Covell, chairman of Ely Chamber of Trade, who said it amounted to a compromise. "I do hope things will pick up on Thursdays," she said. "Many people use their cars to pick up groceries from the market on Thursdays, while Saturday is more of a wandering around day."

The decision to suspend the trial scheme on Thursdays was made by East Cambridgeshire Environment and Transport Area Joint Committee yesterday afternoon. A proposal tabled by Conservative councillors was passed unanimously after a few minor additions by the Liberal Democrat group. Lib Dem councillor Donald Adey, chairman of the joint committee, suggested further environmental improvements needed to be made, and the street scene improved for shoppers and retailers.

Councillors also agreed a programme of street entertainment, including school music groups, could help to promote the pedestrianised area. Some councillors had wanted the trial scheme to continue unchanged through the tourist season, but others wanted the experimental scheme to be scrapped permanently on Thursdays. The ban on traffic on Thursdays will be lifted in around three weeks, with the possibility of it being reintroduced at any stage until the end of the trial scheme next March.

Look East - Best Commmunity Website Award

BBC Look East's Jonathan Samuals and his cameraman (see pic left) visited us recently as Ely On-Line were joint winners of the "Best Community Website Award". They spent about 1 and half hours here which we "broadcast" over the net.

This was actually the fourth time in the history of Ely On-Line that Look East have visited us - the first was to profile the pioneering online soap Cauliflower Drove, the second time was to film the Ely Witches, and the third time was when the local Internet Class War was raging!

Check out the Look East website here.

Expensive Cathedral Photo

A Black and white photograph of Ely Cathedral which is more than 140 years old is set to fetch a staggering £15,000 when it is auctioned by Sotheby's in London next month. The photograph of the cathedral's Galilee Porch, taken between 1855 and 1860, is the work of the world's first accredited war photographer, Roger Fenton. The Very Rev Michael Higgins, the Dean of Ely Cathedral, said he would be following the sale with great interest. "If anyone would like to buy it and donate it to the cathedral I would be absolutely delighted," he said. The Galilee Porch has recently been restored at enormous cost, with work finished in July last year. Fenton, who was also the founder of the Photographic Society, photographed the cathedral while touring the country taking pictures of various buildings. Juliet Hacking, a photographic expert for Sotheby's, said he travelled around in a converted car, which housed his photographic equipment. "He had travelled to the Crimean War with the blessing of the Royal Family and took Albert and Victoria around the first ever photographic exhibition. "No-one had ever taken pictures of war before, and he was accorded a higher status because of this," she said. Fenton's photographs from the battlefields of Europe now fetch tens of thousands of pounds. The Ely Cathedral picture is one of 223 mainly Victorian photographs which belong to New York collector Paul F Walter. They are expected to fetch a total of around £2 million at the sale on May 10.

New Business Park

We have now overhauled the Business Area within Ely On-Line to make it directory style which we hope will make it easier to use and also more attractive for local businesses to be part of. We also have a new entry within the business section - welcome to Michael Voice (Ely Accountancy). Soon to be added companies include Cloisters Antiques, W.Rayment Butchers and Springfields Guesthouse. Click here to access the Business Area.

Jubilee for Creation of New Garden

THE creation of a new park for Ely is nearer becoming a reality with the announcement it is to be called Jubilee Gardens. Members of the Broad Street working party have formally adopted the name, which was one of the most popular suggestions made by members of the public who took part in a consultation exercise.

They are proposing to call a cyclepath through the park Merchants Way to reflect the area's historical connections. Chairman of the working party, Coun Jack Waterfall, said there had been an excellent response from the public. "More than 500 people took part in a questionnaire about the park which has given us a very clear idea of what people want to see," said Coun Waterfall. "Five features stood out as clear favourites with formal gardens the most popular choice."

Other features the public want to see incorporated in the park include a water feature, a bandstand, picnic benches and a children's play area. Landscape architects have produced a plan for the park which includes a series of 'outdoor rooms' drawing people down from Cherry Hill through Jubilee Gardens to the river. Hard landscaping with a formal entrance and seating area featuring a pleached tree screen, will act as a reception area to the park. Now East Cambridgeshire District Council is to seek public sponsorship to top up the £280,000 ear-marked for the project to provide the additional features.

Eel trail moves step closer

AN "Eel Trail" which would link Ely city centre with the riverside and the cathedral has moved a step closer. The plan could now go ahead thanks to a ?250,000 grant from the East of England Development Agency. Other projects which could now get the go ahead include extra facilities in the new Ely Business Centre, support for a new family centre for the High Barns estate and a wide range of initiatives to encourage tourists to the city. Jeremy Friend-Smith, vice-chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council's strategic development committee, said the grant would be spent to good effect. "The money will be very well used to enhance the city as well as to provide new facilities for families and to help those setting up their own small business," he said.

Ely On-Line Contributor Helps Save a Life!

Ely On-Line contributor Al Kitching has helped to save a life by donating bone marrow - read the full story here.

Time Team in Ely

See our exclusive report here!!

Further Information about the Time Team dig in Ely can be found here : MORE INFO ON TIME TEAM DIG

Why?

The road work at the High Street/Market Place/Forehill junction seems to be nearing completion, and I have to ask why was this work needed? All that seems to have been done is that a section of road has been "cobbled" (see pic left). I am all for making Ely look as "olde worlde" as possible for tourists and locals like, but was the cost of the work actually worth  it for the end result? I cannot see how safety has been improved - in fact because of the work traffic was re-routed across an area of the market place that is normally "pedestrian only" which nearly resulted in accidents involving unwary pedestrians not expecting cars zooming along that area (see this week's Ely Weekly News for details about that). Plus although I am generally in favour of pedestrianisation of this area of Ely, the closure of Forehill during the work cannot have been welcomed by already unhappy traders allegedly suffering from the regular Thursday and Saturday closures of the High Street.

Councils Reply!

Since we published the above we have received responses both from the city council and from E.C.D.C. as follows:

Reg Kemp of the City Council writes:

"Could I enlighten you about the Market Square/Forehill? This came about as a City Council initiative linked to the plans,now well advanced, for a 'human' sundial to celebrate the Millennium.

We also wanted to take the opportunity to make the Market Square more user friendly by opening up the somewhat 'dead' corner where the pedestrian platform work is currently nearing completion, by removing some of the safety barriers and planting shrubs and providing seating so that hopefully more people might be persuaded to traverse the square from thazt corner as well as making more use of the Forehill shops on the 'Lunn Poly' side.

In order to secure funding for the project, the City Council submitted a bid to the County Council under their 'minor improvements' scheme which I'm pleased to say was successful and the County is carrying out the work on our behalf which I personally, along with my City Council colleagues, feel will greatly enhance the appearance of the square and just as importantly,provide additional trading opportunities on Forehill.

I can assure you that we on the council take our responsibilities to the residents of the City very seriously and we would not have voted for this scheme to go ahead unless we were convinced it would bring about tangible benefits

I accept that the necessary work is an additional irritant to the already vexed retailers in the High St and the diversion route is a bit scary but it is only for a relatively short period and the alternative would have been to close High Street altogether,something which I suspect would not exactly have been universally popular!

Best wishes"

Reg

And Simon Higginson of E.C.D.C. writes:

"Dear Lee

You should put your question to the County Council and the Parish Council. This Olde Worlde cobble scheme is nothing to do with East Cambs District Council.

I sympathise entirely with you, and in my humble opinion it won't add to safety, ... people can take a speed bump at 20mph down the Gallery just as they can drive at 20mph around a blind corner with a new bump. I readily expect them to ride up onto the pavement and roll down this down Forehill  now.

The fact that it impacts on the County Council's pedestrianisation trial, and that some traders are complaining about this and lack of any notice, underlines the point in our recent Ely North & South Focus, that the County Council is lousy at consultation - again.

And lest you or anyone else who write on your website forget, although Donald Adey is our Lib Dem County Councillor for the ward, he is not 'in control' at the County council - the Tories are. Although he chairs the committee that decided unanimously (all parties) to hold the trial, the Tories control the County Council officers who are running the trial scheme without consulting Donald."

Cllr.Simon Higginson (Ely North Ward of East Cambs DC)

And Paul Blake (ex City Councillor) replies:

"Lee,

A glance at your Editors page sees Cllr Higginson (Lib Dem) denying all knowledge of the road works at the top of Forehill and as usual 'slagging off' the other political parties (in this case the Conservatives) the Parish and the County Council.

Cllr Higginson should be reminded before he starts stone throwing and placing his ECDC butt on the fence as ECDC so often do and recall that indeed the Parish Council asked for this and it was Cllr Friend-Smith (Lib Dem ECDC) who was the leader on this - oh? isn't she the leader on ECDC too?

Selective memory again - leave the Parish Council alone at least the majority there albeit often in their own way care about Ely - are polarised and politically partisan ECDC cares very little for Ely (unless you are a cyclist!)

Regards"

Paul Blake

Have The Council Lost It Completely?

Refuse scheme put out to grass

A ROMANTIC notion to replace dustbin lorries with the horse and cart on the streets of Ely has been scrapped.

District councillors had asked officers to look into the possibility of using dray horses to collect materials for recycling from towns and villages in East Cambridgeshire. They hoped the idea would raise the public's awareness of recycling and encourage people to get involved with green issues. But at a full council meeting the idea was laughed off as impractical. Coun Graham Steward said: "It is a lovely romantic idea bit it's simply impractical. "You couldn't have dray horses trotting out to Bottisham and what about the re-shoeing and care of the horses?"
Coun Donald Adey, who first suggested using dray horses at a meeting of the Environment and Transport Panel, said the idea had been a little bit too revolutionary for other councillors. "I still think we should look at it but you can't when you haven't got any money to do it," he said. "If you don't field at the time what may seem a hairbrained suggestion then nothing moves on," he said.

Liberal Democrat councillor Hazel Williams said she didn't want the dray horses issue to overshadow the great strides being made in recycling in the district. She pointed to a pilot green waste scheme which is set to be introduced soon and the possibility of selling compost bins at Grunty Fen. "The aim of the dray horses was to raise awareness,"she said. "In the end there was too much concern about how much officer time would be spent on it. "I was concerned everyone got caught up in the dray horse issue and everything else got lost."

Coun Williams said the council was close to providing every household in the district with a black plastic box to collect items such as cardboard, aluminium tins and glass. "We want to get out the message that recycling is important in East Cambridgeshire," she said.

Spring Arrives In Ely!

Yes Spring has definitely arrived in Ely as the picture left shows! An ancient undiscovered spring which has been bubbling under the ground since the time of Etheldreda this week burst forth from the ground spraying holy water all around. Click here for the full story.

Ely On-Line Now Achieving 7000 Visitors Per Week!

The log file for Ely On-Line website for the week January 14, 2001 to January 21, 2001 reveals that we are now achieving over 6000 visitors per week from all over the world. We have published this log file as a webpage available here - what is interesting is the search terms used by visitors in various search engines which lead them to Ely On-Line - some of the more obvious examples are "Ely Cathedral", "witches", "Oliver Cromwell", "living in the 17th century", "accommodation ely uk", "new property ely cambridgeshire", etc. whilst there also some rather obscure ones such as "armour and swords", "needed a girls for marriage in uk", "inertiaderrickantarctictippycromwellian", "sphacelateprelocatesulphureansolifluctionalcoholometric", "Hippies", "dance", "quodbike", "inner dimension of 40 feeth box containers", "rocketfuel", "Frederick Swift gilder" and "crystal healing techniques"! All interesting stuff! Have a look here.

From The Eastern Daily Press Friday 20th November 1998

By CHRIS BISHOP

Ewan McGregor, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Keanu Beeves have all been picked to star in a new soap opera set in East Anglia - without their permission, it was revealed last night. Pictures of the actors have been downloaded from the internet to illustrate an on-line murder mystery called Cauliflower Drove.

But while the drama has become a cult series with fans around the world, its producers last night admitted they had not sought permission to use images of the stars. Lee Gillett, who adapted a soap written by his friend, John Glover, for the internet, said the series was "tongue in cheek". But a spokesman for Trainspotting star Ewan McGregor, who is currently making his London stage debut, said: "Ewan has not been asked if he wants to appear like this and we are going to be investigating it." And an aide to Sir Anthony said: "We have not been approached for permission." Joyce Rae, agent for former EastEnders actress Anna Wing, who appears as a landlady on the Website, stormed: "Nobody has come to us at all about this and we are very cross. "They can't just go around using people"s names and images like that." Keanu Reeves, Liz Taylor and Glenn Close, who also appear in the cyber series, could not be contacted last night.

Cauliflower Drove's producers reckon the misty Fens can give Weatherfield and Albert Square a run for their money. "Collie", as fans affectionately call it, follows sleuth Yaxley Farcett's hunt for the killer of labourer Reg Dixon. Reg was found dead, with a pitchfork through his heart, by fellow Fenlanders Clunch Parsons and Hummer Thompson. Farcett (Ewan McGregor) sets off in search of Reg's assassin - with the help of his assistant Worthington (Sir Anthony Hopkins).

The drama was dreamed up by Mr Glover and adapted for the internet by his friend, Mr Gillett. After the first few episodes, e-mails started flooding in from around the world, suggesting who killed Reg. "We have had some good responses and several suggestions as to who carried out the murder," said Mr Glover. Pam Moulton, a fan of the soap, said: "I lived in Littleport for seven years and now live in the States. I wouldn't miss it for anything. Another e-mail message said: "There's just something about the whole thing that really gives your funny bone a good tickle."

Fan James Brown has his own theory about who killed Reg: "I suspect the pitchfork fell from one of the helicopters ferrying a local farmer to the offices of KLFM."

Another fan said: "I think that Monica woman did it." · You can catch up with Collie at www.ely.org.uk

Eastern Daily Press Comment

Web of Intrigue

Down at Cauliflower Drove, the Mayhem Parva of internet Fenland fiction, the murder of Reg Dixon may soon be eclipsed in the shower of threatening correspondence from the agents of such as Sir Anthony Hopkins and Keanu Reeves. Unsolicited images of these and other stars have been cunningly downloaded into an on-line murder internet soap that has become something of a world-wide cult. The affronted stars are clearly strangers to the direct methods sometimes favoured in Fenland. A gangmaster will not be helping them with their inquiries.

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