Letter: Treat to welcome customers back say tearoom team

We’re open indoors again - and we’ve added a fourth room and our lovely back garden.

But that’s it now: there’s absolutely nowhere else for the tearoom to expand.

It’s a treat for us to welcome customers back, and we try to offer a corner of peace and normality.

GEORGE & RACHEL PEACOCK, Peacocks Tearoom

All grandads now I guess

Many years ago, my older brother Phil, or ‘Pip’ Read, well known later as a councillor, would drag the teenage me out on a Saturday to make up the numbers of the new Ely Rugby Club team.

I was new to the game so got parked out on the wing somewhere in West Norfolk where, freezing cold, nobody gave me the ball.

Ely Rugby Club's annual dinner about 1960-2, held in The Lamb Hotel. (Image: ROD READ)

If they did, I hardly knew what to do with it.

But, I really enjoyed the beery and vulgar sing-song in the wooden club house on Paradise after a home game or at some exotic part of East Anglia.

The shared hot tub in a wee hut (if someone had remembered to light up the water heater) was soon a muddy pool, but very welcome too.

And I was shocked, but really got stuck in, when it became a riotous debacle as it turned into a thrown food sight after the speeches.

Rod Read, now well retired in Sutton Gault

Parking frustration

Peter Wells and Councillor Anna Bailey have stated their frustration in your newspaper recently at the vehicles parked along Fore Hill in Ely.

I agree entirely with them. There is no deterrent therefore lazy drivers will just park on the double yellow lines.

I welcome any solution from the council but I urge them not to forget the other areas in the district where this also happens regularly such as Haddenham High Street.

Stephen Thompson

Delighted with article

Thank you for your recent coverage of me and my book.

I was absolutely delighted with it and it prompted
BBC Radio Cambridge to contact me for an interview.

What an experience for a 77-year-old first time author!

Brenda Styles aka Nannie B

Waste of food?

I'm writing in relation to your recent item ‘departing head gets a bean ‘bath to remember'...

Did the extraordinary irony never occur to the head and the PTA that this stunt was intended to raise funds and generate donations to the Ely food bank?

I wonder how such a waste of food feels to those who depend on the food bank to be able to feed their family?

Perhaps readers might consider alternative ‘bath to remember’ contents.

For example kitchen waste or compost, both of which would have the benefit of being usefully recyclable and not a waste of food.

Tony Whatling

Open gardens interest

I just wanted to thank you for last week's coverage of the Ely open gardens event.

You really did us proud - the amount of interest has increased, so we're hoping for a good day.

Ken Ellis

Sustainable living conference

Ely Cathedral is one of five cathedrals in the east of England that is encouraging anyone with an interest in environmental issues to book in now for their conference on Sustainable Living.

Taking place online on Saturday June 12 from 10am to 12.30pm, the free-to-book conference will look at food and farming.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Revd Graham Usher, will open the conference.

The other speakers are:

· Dr Hilary Marlow of the University of Cambridge, who will examine how biblical faith underpins current environmental concerns;

· The Revd Professor Simon Oliver of the University of Durham and Durham Cathedral, who will explore the claim that creation is fundamentally characterized as 'gift';

· Professor Mike Rayner of the University of Oxford, and Chair of Sustain, who will discuss how our food system might become more sustainable; and

· Jake Fiennes, Director of Conservation at the Holkham Estate in Norfolk, who will give an overview on sustainable farming.

Information and resources emerging from the conference will be remain online afterwards as a reference point for environmental groups, churches and cathedrals, and for future development.

Full details and registration links are available on the Sustainable Living Conference website at www.sustaininggodscreation.org/events/sustainable-living.

Bookings can be made via the conference website, or direct via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-living-eastern-cathedrals-online-event-tickets-152500722767.

The cathedrals who have planned the Sustainable Living Conference are Chelmsford, Ely, Norwich, Peterborough and St Edmundsbury.

Lesley Ann Thompson, Ely Cathedral

Business recovery post-Covid

I hope you can join us for Ely Cathedral Business Group's virtual forum next Tuesday on business recovery post-Covid.

We will be discussing personal stories of success and the challenges you and your business have faced during the pandemic and successive lockdowns.

We will also be sharing ideas for building resilience and keeping ahead of the curve in this most uncertain business climate post-Covid.

As with previous sessions, you do not need to have any previous affiliation with ECBG to take part.

All are very much welcome whether a business owner, leader, employee or interested member of the public.

Register your place via https://www.ecbg.org.uk/events/business-recovery-post-covid/register

James Fletcher, Ely Cathedral Business Group

Take action

This World Environment Day, Cambridge Carbon Footprint is joining the international movement to raise awareness and generate action on environmental issues by hosting a virtual mass sign up day.

On June 5 Cambridge residents, businesses and organisations are being asked to take part by calculating their carbon footprint and join others across the city in becoming a signatory of the charter.

The city council’s Cambridge climate change charter, developed by Cambridge Carbon Footprint, gives everyone the opportunity to discover more about their carbon emissions and pledge to take climate action, playing a central role in Cambridge’s journey to net zero.

Jasmine Clark, Cambridge Carbon Footprint

Charity says thank-you

The theme of this year’s volunteers’ week (June 1-7) is ‘time to say thanks’ and I’d like to extend my gratitude on behalf of EACH to our dedicated supporters, without whom we couldn’t function.

The last year has been a difficult time, our volunteers have been stood down for many months, but as we emerge from lockdown their support has never been more important.

Understandably some of our volunteers have been unable to return and we’re looking for new people to join us.

Whether lending a hand in our shops, tending to hospice gardens, supporting fundraising events or providing practical help at the homes of our service users, volunteers are at the heart of what we deliver.

I’d encourage anyone looking for companionship, to develop new skills and to do something that changes lives, to get in touch and join us. Your time will make a real difference.

A friendly welcome is guaranteed no matter which of our sites you volunteer at and there’s usually a cup of tea, too!

If you’d like to know a bit more please visit www.each.org.uk/volunteering or contact EACH volunteer services: 01223 205183/volunteerservices@each.org.uk.

Phil Gormley, EACH chief executive