Littleport has had a relationship with the Isle of Ely’s other villages and towns since it was settled even prior to the Roman occupation. 

And in latter times you could say with Soham more than the others after the heroic saving of the town from being blown to smithereens by a train carrying 400 tonnes of bombs on June 2, 1944, by Littleport railwayman James Nightall.  

The 22-year-old fireman ran to uncouple a burning bomb-laden carriage from the other 50 as the train approached the station.  

Successful in averting major destruction of the town, he was killed as the wagon blew up just after.  

He was awarded a post-humous George Cross. The Littleport Society were represented at the unveiling of a memorial to James’s heroism on the Littleport Library wall in 2004 and across the road in Victoria Street at the village hall the society holds its first Tuesday of the month meeting, September 5 7.30-9.30pm admission free, with speaker Mike Wabe on medieval England’s life of its peasants and Sergeants Templar.  

Littleport Time Bank members provided a spectacular fundraiser event last Saturday at Soham’s Downfield Windmill for its custodian Andrew Kite who is restoring it into its former glory!  

The tuneful Littleport Choir entertained the many visitors too.  

There’s a roll of honour to the fallen of Littleport in both wars in the foyer of the Littleport Ex-Servicemen’s Club as you enter, and now the members lounge is refurbished, you can hear the music of top act Bondy on the big reopening Saturday September 5, wafting through from the event hall from 8.30pm, in plush comfort. Members free, visitors £5.  

Littleport Leisure Centre has a fantastic gym and hosts a myriad activities – go to the Littleport Town Council’s www.Littleportwhatson.co.uk for a calendar of theirs and other Littleport events. 

Noted is the popular Littleport parkrun 9 am every Saturday that celebrated its 200th anniversary last week when 228 participants from Littleport, Ely and the surrounding villages and towns showed up!