Screams and cheers filled Ely when hit boy band The Overtones performed and switched on the city’s Christmas lights.
The much-loved five-piece male group were only formed last year but have already hit the top five in the charts with their album, Good Ol’ Fashioned Love.
This year they were also the house band for ITV show, Dancing on Ice.
Organisers of Ely’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-on extravaganza, held on Friday (November 25), managed to secure the band – much to the delight of the crowds.
The guys, Mark, Mike, Darren, Timmy and Lachie, took to the stage and performed six songs, including festive classic, White Christmas.
Mark said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be asked to turn Ely’s Christmas lights on.
“The crowd were great and we’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”
Local artists Michael ‘Azubuike’ Smith, from Ely, and Lewis Mokler, from Newmarket, also performed on the night, as well as dancers from the Soham Fenlander Majorettes and the Feathers School of Dance.
The event, organised by Ely man Ian Newstead and an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers, was hosted by Star Radio DJs Ryan Taylor and ‘Blondie’, and as ever featured dozens of stalls, fairground rides and family-friendly attractions.
Mr Newstead said: “I’d like to thank everyone for helping to make this year’s switch-on the huge success that it was.
“The current economic climate is tough so for people to sponsor and donate to the switch-on is massively appreciated.
“The crowds were huge and The Overtones were a massive hit, as well as our local artists, and I couldn’t be happier with how it all went.”
The lights themselves, all put up by the city’s dedicated Ely Lights Brigade, were switched on by The Overtones, Ely’s Mayor, John Yates, and Kayleigh Wadsworth, 12, from Haddenham, who won the Weekly News’ missing Big Switch competition.
A man who knocks on doors and cons money out of people has been given an ASBO.
Cambridge Magistrates’ Court imposed the order on Paul Green to run for two years.
Green, 34, of Baker’s Corner, Ely, is banned from approaching any person, known or unknown, to beg or make false representation to obtain money or goods.
He pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation, with a further 26 offences of fraud taken into consideration.
Green was also sentenced to four weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and a supervision order.
Brian Tully, anti-social behaviour co-ordinator for East Cambridgeshire said: “This is the result of a lot of hard work.
“Green would knock on doors, mainly in Ely, but in other places in Cambridgeshire too, and say his wife was ill and he needed to take her to hospital but had run out of petrol and money. He would then ask to borrow some money.
“It is very important that residents help us to enforce this order by informing us about any breaches.
“I hope it sends out a strong, clear message that we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour.”
Anyone who sees Green breaching the order should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
The mother of a young man who committed suicide by inhaling helium – because of worries and debt problems – is urging students with similar anxieties to seek help.
Toby Thorn, 23, a student at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, took his own life on July 10. His body was found by a dog walker, lying in a field off Lynn Road, Ely.
The “articulate and friendly” student, who was a lodger at the Ely home of his friend Graham Henderson, had tied a bin liner filled with helium around his head and suffocated himself.
Mr Thorn’s mum, Anne Thorn, is urging people who have suicidal thoughts to speak about their problems instead of trying to deal with them alone.
Speaking to the News, she said: “I don’t want Toby’s death to be in vain. He was an extremely intelligent young man. He was articulate and friendly.
“His death was a huge shock to us all – it came completely out of the blue. Neither myself nor any of his friends had any idea that he was considering taking his own life.”
At the inquest on Friday, coroner William Morris recorded a verdict that Mr Thorn killed himself.
The inquest heard how Mr Thorn had dropped out of studying computing at ARU last summer before returning in September. He then dropped out completely.
Speaking at the inquest, Mr Henderson said: “Toby was an extremely funny and carefree person. We were very close friends. There was never anything that made me worry that he was considering taking his own life.”
The inquest heard Mr Thorn was £3,000 in debt.
Next to his body, police found a cylinder of helium, a suitcase and a notebook. Letters and bank statements were inside the suitcase. There was also a half-litre bottle of vodka, of which there was a third left.
Mrs Thorn said: “I would urge anyone out there, especially students, who are having suicidal thoughts to seek counselling or speak to someone. There is help available.”
Julie Walkling, ARU’s director of student services, said: “Anglia Ruskin’s student services provides a range of support to students who may be experiencing challenges with their study, emotional wellbeing or financial worries.
“We would encourage all students to seek help as soon as possible.”
Worried parents insist a child will be killed unless major safety improvements are made to a road in Ely.
Mums with children at Ely St John’s Community Primary School have launched a campaign calling for a reduced speed limit in St John’s Road, as well as pedestrian crossings, speed bumps and better signs.
Parents say numerous children have been clipped by vehicles near the school and that it is only a matter of time before a serious, or fatal, accident occurs.
Mum-of-two Zoe Camilleri, 31, of Churchill Close, has spearheaded the campaign and already more than 800 people have signed the petition, which the mums plan to present to Cambridgeshire County Council.
Mrs Camilleri said: “St John’s Road has a primary school, a playing field, a Scout hut, a skate park and a basketball court and is used by hundreds of children every day.
“But all we have for our children to cross the road is a useless zebra crossing.
“I was crossing the road recently with my 6-year-old son, Aidan, and young daughter, Ava, when Aidan was clipped by a car.
“The same has happened to numerous children in recent months and it is only a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt or even killed.
“We need major safety improvements before something bad happens – not afterwards.”
She added: “We need the speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph, we need clear signage alerting motorists that children are in the area, plus we need proper pedestrian crossings.”
The campaign comes months after hundreds of people signed another petition calling for the county council to build pedestrian crossings in Downham Road, Ely, which is used by thousands of pupils at Ely College, Lantern Primary School and Harlequin Nursery.
Mum-of-two Anna Rogers, of Dunstan Street, spearheaded that campaign after her 4-year-old daughter, Lana, was hit by a car there earlier this year.
But last week county council bosses wrote to Mrs Rogers to say they did not have enough cash to fund the crossings.
Mrs Rogers is now in talks with the schools about possibly raising money to pay for a crossing themselves.
A council spokesman said it would meet those behind the St John’s Road campaign once the petition had been received.
The RSPCA hopped into action to help rescue a wallaby which had escaped from her owner’s home.
Officers from the RSPCA were called out after the owner spotted that the red-necked wallaby had escaped from her enclosure in Isleham.
Although she had not ventured too far, she was running loose in nearby fields, and her owner was unable to catch her and bring her back home.
Wallabies can cover the ground exceptionally quickly and can reach speeds of up to 30mph.
After desperately trying to catch the wallaby, called Sheila, the owner then rang the police, who in turn contacted the RSPCA.
RSPCA chief inspector Mark Thompson attended the incident with his colleague inspector Richard Lythgoe and vet Rob Gould from Aquarius Veterinary Centre.
They managed to get close enough to Sheila to tranquilise her, collected her up and returned her to her partner Bruce. When she came round, she was none the worse for her adventure.
Chief inspector Mark Thompson said: “In my 25 years with the RSPCA this is the first wallaby I have had to tranquilise. We had a call asking us for help, and we were more than happy to assist with this rescue.
“Wallabies can travel at exceptionally fast speeds, so it was essential that we managed to get her back safely.
“We are just pleased to have helped in this instance and been able to return her back to her owner.”
The owner, who does not wish to be named, has owned two-year-old Sheila for six months, he said he was relieved she had been caught – but was exhausted from trying to catch her.
Sheila currently has a little Joey in her pouch, but the youngster is still growing so not visible at this stage.
Her owner added: “I really had no idea how we were going to get her back, so we are so relieved that she was returned safe and well and no worse for her ordeal. I am just very grateful to the RSPCA and everyone who helped with this rescue.”
A dad who had not been seen by his family or friends for three months has been found safe and well.
Clyve Wood, 22, left his home in Queensway, Soham, on August 16 and was last seen by his sister when she dropped him at Trumpington Park and Ride.
Mr Wood, who has a young child, had recently broken up with his girlfriend and was on anti-depressants when he told his family he planned to go to Dorset to “clear his head”.
But months went by without Mr Wood contacting his family and without them being able to contact him.
His family contacted the police and missing persons but were told there was nothing they could do as Mr Wood was 22 and had made his own decision to leave.
But he has now been found safe and well following an appeal in the News and on social networking site, Facebook, and has even been in touch with his family.
One of his sisters, Fae Wood, 26, from Littleport, said: “Clyve is now safe and well.
“He has been in touch with us and we are all so relieved.
“A friend who lives locally saw our plea in the News and told Clyve about it.
“Clyve said he then went online and saw the story, which made him realise how much we are missing him and how worried we were.
“He seems to be settled in Dorset and is currently looking for a job.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us get back in touch with Clyve.”
Ely’s streets will soon be sparkling with festive lights.
The tree is in position in Market Place, the baubles are on and the big Christmas lights switch-on is being held tomorrow.
Five-piece male vocal harmony group, The Overtones, who supported Peter Andre on tour, are headlining the event.
They will be joined by Michael ‘Azubuike’ Smith, from Ely, and Lewis Mokler, from Newmarket, as well as dancers from the Feathers School of Dance and Soham Fenlander Majorettes.
Star Radio DJs Ryan Taylor and ‘Blondie’ will host the event, and as well as the entertainers there will be competitions and giveaways on stage.
Organiser Ian Newstead said: “This year’s switch-on will be one to remember. There’s going to be a real buzz and I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved.”
The fun starts at 4pm, with the lights being turned on at 6.45pm.
An elderly woman with horrific bedsores who care home staff failed to turn for nine days did not die as a result of neglect, a coroner has ruled.
However, coroner David Osborne insists there was a “gross failure” by staff at the Old Vicarage residential home in Littleport to provide Ana Dunmore with basic medical care.
Mr Osborne recorded a narrative verdict at the end of a three-day inquest yesterday, which heard staff at the Old Vicarage had failed to turn the 74-year-old for nine days.
District nurses were called on November 14, 2009, after carers noticed bedsores on Mrs Dunmore’s buttocks, ankles and heels.
The inquest heard staff were told by nurses to order a special air mattress and to turn Mrs Dunmore at least every two hours. But a chart filled out by staff showed she was turned just four times between November 14 and November 17 – and not at all between June 18 and 27.
Mrs Dunmore was moved to Holmwood House Nursing Home in Swaffham, Norfolk, on November 19 for emergency care. But she died of pneumonia, dementia and pressure sores on July 10, 2009.
Bosses at the Old Vicarage insisted nurses told their staff to order an air mattress and Mrs Dunmore would not need to be turned. But nurses said they would never have given such instructions.
Mr Osborne described the carers’ evidence as “unreliable”. He said it was clear there was a “gross failure” by carers.
But he said he would not write a formal report to the care home as its owner, Michael Paling, had since taken steps to improve procedures.
Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Dunmore’s daughter, Begonia Hammond, from Downham Market, said: “We are disappointed. We believe mum was neglected at the Old Vicarage and we would have liked that to have been the verdict.
“We are not currently considering taking further action against the home.”
In a statement, Mr Paling said: “Everyone was deeply saddened to learn of Mrs Dunmore’s death in 2009.
“We accept the findings of Her Majesty’s Coroner and can confirm that we have already implemented a range of measures to improve record keeping at the home.
“Our thoughts remain with Ana’s family at this difficult time.”
Nature lovers from far and wide are flocking to Fenland to catch a glimpse of one of autumn’s greatest spectacles.
Thousands of swans are now settling in front of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Welney’s main observatory each night, enabling people to see the stunning birds close up and watch them feed.
A count carried out by wardens this week revealed that there were more than 5,000 Whooper swans currently on the Ouse Washes.
Having migrated more than 1,000 miles from their breeding grounds in Iceland, the Whooper swans are now busy fattening themselves up for winter.
An increasing number of Bewick’s swans are also starting to arrive at the reserve.
A combination of mild temperatures and westerly winds have stalled their movement to the UK from Arctic Russia but there are currently more than 3,000 of them in the Netherlands, ready to make the final leg of their journey to Cambridgeshire.
Leigh Marshall, reserve manager at Welney, said: “The reserve is looking fantastic at the moment, thanks to the hard work put in during the summer by our staff and volunteers.
“When everything comes together like this, with the reserve in top condition and perfect water levels, the swan spectacle is at its best.
“Hopefully the Bewick’s swans will arrive in large numbers soon to make this picture complete.”
The reserve holds a host of activities to enable people to see the swans and learn more about them.
Swan feeds are held daily at 3.30pm until March, plus there are midday swan feeds, early morning feeds and even floodlit feeds, which are at 6.30pm Thursday to Sunday.
For more information, call (01353) 860711 or visit www.wwt.org.uk/welney
Trains between Ely and Downham Market will be cancelled on Sunday, November 20 and November 27.
Network Rail says the recent dry weather has caused the tracks to become out of line with overhead power cables and that the tracks need to be moved to their correct position.
A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “We recognise that the timing of these closures is not ideal and we apologise for any disruption this may cause.
“It is absolutely essential that we carry out this work to keep the railway running efficiently and safely.”
The work will take place between 12.45am on November 20 to November 21 at 3.50am and the same on November 27.
For full details on changes to train services, go to www.nationalrail.co.uk.