Great Shelford news
News headlines
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Distraction burglary in Great Shelford
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Arthur Rank Hospice might have to cut nine beds
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Shelfords named as one of the best places to live
Great Shelford distraction burglary
Police are urging residents to be vigilant following a series of distraction burglaries including two in Great Shelford and Stapleford.
At around 5.30pm on 19 September, two women knocked on the door of a property in Station Road, Great Shelford, and offered massages to help back, knee and leg pain, specifically to the elderly, disabled and vulnerable individuals.
One woman walked in through the front door into the front room and told the victim she was there to massage her. The woman was told by the victim to leave.
There has also been a similar incident in Stapleford.
Detective Sergeant Jonathan Lockwood, from the Southern Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “We’re encouraging residents to stay alert, especially when answering he door to unexpected callers.
“Distraction burglars often pretend to be officials or tradespeople to trick their way into your home. Always request identification and verify it with the relevant organisation before allowing anyone inside.
“If you’re uncertain, it’s best not to open the door. Report anything suspicious to us straight away by calling 101.”
Here are some simple steps you can take to help protect yourself:
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Check who’s at the door using a viewer or spyhole.
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If you do open the door, keep the security chain on.
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Always ask for ID and confirm it with the company before letting anyone in.
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Use a trusted phone number from a directory or official website – don’t rely on the number shown on their ID card, as it could be fake. For utility companies, contact their customer service team. Close the door while you make the call.
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If you’re unsure, arrange for the visitor to return when someone else can be with you.
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Posted September 28 2025
New book from Shelford creative writing group
A group of writers in South Cambs have put together a book of original works along with a history of this wonderful charity
The book called For the Want of A Nail is for sale for £10 every penny of which goes to EACH. Phone 834271
Christmas is the time for children so what could be more appropriate than to support EACH They make ideal "Stocking Stuffers" or "Secret Santa" presents or a "thank you" gift
Don't give wine or flowers give "For Want of a Nail" for this is a gift that will last forever
Jill Adderley
Tel: 01223 834 271
Posted Oct 13 2025
Hospice could be forced to cut beds
The Arthur Rank Hospice might have to close nine of their 21 Inpatient Unit beds at Shelford Bottom.
Annual funding of £829,000 which Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), who run Addenbrooke’s Hospital, has paid to the Charity since 2018, is being cut from April 2026..
This essential funding enables people, who are at the end of life, to move from a busy acute ward in the hospital to be cared for in a bespoke palliative care environment.
CEO Sharon Allen said: “The removal of this funding has truly devastated us all. Although we sympathise with the financial pressures that the hospital and indeed the whole NHS are under, the ending of this service will, without doubt, have huge implications for our local community.”
“Essentially, this now means that over 200 people a year will no longer have the option of being cared for in the comfort of our Hospice and instead will sadly be dying in a busy hospital without the level of privacy for lasting memories, nor the expertise and outstanding care provided by our experienced, compassionate palliative care nurses,” Sharon Allen continued. “For us, this is truly heart breaking.”
You can make a donational to the Arthur Rank hospice appeal fund here.
Posted October 2 2025
Potholes campaign launched
Hardly a day goes by without someone from Great Shelford complaining to the Shelford Online team about the state of the roads in the village. They seem to be as bad as ever - and winter is just around the corner.
So we have decided to try and do something about it. But we need your help.
Where are the biggest potholes in Great Shelford? And which streets have the worst road surfaces?
Send us your photos and your reports and we will publish them on the Shelford Online website as well as giving them to our County Councillors in the area.
Posted Sept 22 2025
Shelford bus round-up
Stagecoach service 7, Sunday to Saturday between Cambridge (Emanual Street), Addenbrooks, Gt Shelford Sawston & Saffron Walden, runs along A1301 Tunwells Lane, Cambridge Road
Stagecoach Tiger Service T3, Monday to Saturday between Fulbourn (Capital Park) and Granchester runs along Hinton Way Tunwells Lane and Cambridge Road
A2B service 17 , Monday to Saturday between Guilden Morden, Royston, Harston Hauxton the Shelfords & Stapleford to Addenbrookes and City Centre (Drummer St) runs via High Street, Tunwells Lane, London Road and Stapleford Bury Rd, Haverhill Rd, Gog Magog Way & Hinton Way. The 17 service also serves Mingle lane between Gog Magog Way and Hinton Way
Myalls service 132, Sunday and Bank Holidays only between Saffron Walden and Cambridge Only one journey each way through Gt Shelford via A1301
Full time tables available on Bustimes Bus Times
By John Wakefield
Posted September 24 2025
Photo of the Great Shelford and Stapleford fire by Matthew French
Houses evacuated due to field fire
A number of houses had to be evacuated after a large field fire in Stapleford and Great Shelford.
Up to 50 firefighters has to deal with the blaze on August 20, including crews from Hertfordshire and Suffolk.
Ten fire engines rushed to the scene near Gog Magog Way, Dukes Meadow and Mingle Lane between Haverhill Road and Hinton Way.
One local resident dsecribed the fire on Face book as "really frightening."
The fire spread quickly close to residential gardens.
Smoke affected local roads, including the M11 where drivers were asked to slow down.
People living nearby were advised to close their windows.
Firefighters arrived ar around 2pm to find a well-developed fire involving a tractor that spread to large area of field.
Firefighters worked incredibly hard to surround the fire and successfully managed to prevent it from causing any damage to properties.
"We are deeply grateful to the emergency services and local farmers for their rapid response," said a statement from Stapleford Parish Council.
"At our next Parish Council meeting on October 2 , we will be looking back at the situation and reviewing what we as a village could do to prevent any such fires happening in our local community."
The operation lasted a total of four hours.
The cause of the fire was accidental.
Posted August 26 2025
Memorial Hall changes in the pipeline
Changes could soon be happening at the Great Shelford Memorial Hall.
A survey about the possible changes ends on September 12.
According to the survey, possible changes could include;
✅ Removal of the Fixed Stage
To create a more flexible layout for events and activities, the current permanent stage will be removed. In its place, they’ll introduce a modular, portable stage system that can be configured, or removed, according to each event’s needs.
✅ New Storage Solutions
Dedicated storage areas will be built for chairs, tables, modular stage sections, and equipment hired by user groups, helping keep the hall tidy and clutter-free.
✅ Separate Meeting Room
They’re creating a fully soundproof meeting room that can be hired independently from the main hall. This allows for multiple events or bookings to run concurrently, maximising community use and income. A glass frontage will bring in natural light and make the space more open and inviting.
✅ Enhanced Accessibility
The refurbishment will include the installation of a Changing Places-style facility, designed to meet the specialised needs of less able members of our community and their carers, ensuring dignity and comfort for all.
✅ New External Accessible Toilet
An externally accessed accessible toilet, available directly from the recreation ground, will be added, ensuring that park users have access to suitable facilities.
Posted Aug 26 2025
An artist's impression about what the Memorial Hall could look like after proposed changes @Great Shelford Parish Council
Bee attack at Great Shelford allotments
Two villagers have been stung 15 times at Stonehill allotments, according to information given to Great Shelford Parish Council.
The statement published in the Parish Council papers said that two people were stung while collecting fruit.
One of the villagers, who has serious allergies and carries an Epi Pen, was stung on the head, face and neck around 15 times.
Other people have apparently also been swarmed by bees at the allotments too.
The Parish Council report cited two other bee-related incidents. It stated:
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"18th September 2023 A child from the rugby club was stung by a bee while playing rugby on the pitch next to the allotments. The bees also surrounded another child and a few adults but they were not stung.
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"16th June 2024 Allotment holder was swarmed by the bees and stung multiple times. Possibility that a dog disturbed the hive.
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"16th June 2024 Another allotment holder reported the above incident as he witnessed it. He reports that he has also been stung a couple of times, although usually by only one or two bees.
The Parish Council has decided to meet with the Beekeeper to discuss the situation with the bees.
This article is published as a warning to people who use the allotments and people walking near the allotments to take extra care.
The victim's statement to the Parish Council can be read in the Parish Council papers for their meeting on June 18 (page 60).
Posted July 29 2025
Grand opening of Barley Manor Care Home
Barley Manor Care Home in Great Shelford was officially opened by TV star Sherrie Hewson on July 10.
The Grand Opening Ceremony for the Care Home in Station Road included some of their first residents who moved into Barley Manor last August. It also included pupils from Great & Little Shelford school whose Eco Gardening Club visit regularly to work with the residents.
Star of the day was Sherrie Hewson (pictured) who is an English actress who has played Martha Blake in Hollyoaks since May 2024. She is also well known for her roles as Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street.
"I wish there had been care homes like this when my mum was around," said Sherrie.
The event was well attended by the local community who have supported Barley Manor since opening. The delightful afternoon tea made by the home’s chef team included local ingredients from Cam Cattle, The Cambridge Cheese Company, Cambridge Distillery and Wylde Sky Brewing.
Posted July 16 2025
Scotsdales new cafe opens
Posted July 24 2025
Shelford man cycles almost 1,000 miles for local charity
Villager Steve Pearce cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats to support local charity SSYI.
A long-held ambition of Steve’s was to cycle from Lands’ End to John O’Groats and retirement has presented the perfect opportunity to tick it off the list. The ride covers over 1,000 miles from the southernmost tip of England to the northernmost point of Scotland, it’s a journey that tests both physical and mental limits as well as a fabulous opportunity to see the many beautiful areas of the UK. This challenge is a great chance for Steve to push personal boundaries and have a great adventure and a chance to promote and support an organisation that makes a lasting impact in our local community.
Steve, who lives at London Road in Great Shelford, is raising funds for SSYI, a local charity that provides support for young people, community facilities, clubs and activities in the Shelford's, Stapleford, Sawston and Duxford - villages in South Cambridgeshire. SSYI does excellent work in promoting the physical, mental, educational, social and spiritual welfare of young people in the villages.
The idea of cycling solo from one end of Britain to the other isn’t just about the thrill of the ride. It’s about giving back to the community and ensuring our youth have the resources and support they need to thrive. SSYI’s initiatives make a tangible difference, offering help where it’s needed most. Through this fundraising, with your help, hopefully every mile Steve cycles will contribute to empowering our youth to reach their full potential.
Log on to his sponsorship page at: www.justgiving.com/page/steve-pearce-lejog-ssyi
Posted June 30 2025
Village buses update
The No 31 bus service was withdrawn as from 30th June and replaced with the 17 service running between Guilden Morden and Cambridge, Drummer Street. There will still be 4 journeys per day (Monday to Saturday but not public holidays) each way running at revised times, the route and stops are still the same through Hauxton, the Shelfords and Stapleford, but they now all go on to Cambrirdge, Drummer Street. Also in the opposite direction the bus goes to Royston calling at the bus station and also Tesco and the Gateway retail park. This is the first direct bus to Royston from Great Shelford since the one day a week Wednesday service the 139 stopped running in the early 2000's.
The service will be run by A2B under contract to Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority. A2B also operate the 26 service which also runs between Cambride and Royston, there have also been changes to that route, Little Shelford which was served by the 26 will now be served by the 17.
See the revised timetable here
Posted July 2 1015
Memorial Hall refurb in the pipeline
Great Shelford Memorial Hall could soon be refurbished.
The projects involves the creation of a new mezzanine inside the hall along with more storeage within the existing Memorial Hall.
The kitchen and toilets are likely to be updated and moved as part of any changes.
An option is also being considered to put picnic tables immedaitely outside of the current main door on what is currently part of the car park.
Proposals considered by the Parish Council earlier this year priced the refurbishments at over £700,000.
No decisions have yet been made by the Parish Council.
They have promised to consult with the local community before any final decision is made.
Posted May 28 2025
New Shelford bus service
A new T3 bus service for Great Shelford started on May 27.
Buses are running every hour along Hinton Way between Granchester and Fulbourn Ida Darwin Hospital.
They are calling at Trumpington P&R, Barbraham Rd P&R sites and Addenbrookes Hospital.
Buses leave at 19 mins past hour from Chaston Road, & Orchard Road stops and 22 mins past from opposite Orchard Road, a new stop near Mingle Lane in Hinton Way towards Granchester.
The operator is Stagecoach.
This new service re-establishes the direct connection between Great Shelford and Trumpington that was lost when the citi 7 was re-routed via Addenbrooke's Road instead of Long Road. It is also handy for anyone needing to get to Trumpington Park and Ride to catch the National Express or Flixbus coaches.
Posted May 27 2025
Shelford Day Nursery takes on its own allotment
Shelford Day Nursery has taken a bold and exciting step on our journey to becoming a truly eco-conscious setting – they’ve secured a 22-metre allotment plot and we're transforming it into a thriving, sustainable growing space for our children, families, and the wider community!
Thanks to the generosity of Timotey Playscapes, they now have beautiful, low raised beds perfectly designed for little hands to explore and grow.
They have laid accessible pathways around them, making sure all theirchildren can get involved. Even the babies have been helping out with watering cans in hand
They’ve made amazing progress:
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Bases laid and sheds installed to safely store tools and resources.
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A water butt set up, ready to teach the children about rainwater harvesting and sustainable water use.
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Three tonnes of fruit and vegetable soil moved to fill the first three of our six raised beds.
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Generous allotment neighbours have donated strawberries and rhubarb, and they are deeply grateful for their support.
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Planting is underway – our little eco-explorers have already planted potatoes, onions, leaks, broccoli, and wildflowers.
This project is about community, collaboration, and connection. They're putting up a board on-site to let families know what tasks need doing each weekend – from weeding to watering to harvesting. We’d LOVE your help so look out for this addition coming soon..
Come and join them on The Hectare Allotments Great Shelford. Many hands make light work – and big dreams grow faster together.
This initiative is not only a fantastic outdoor learning opportunity, it’s also a vital part of their application for Green Flag accreditation with the Eco-Schools Award. They are committed to helping our children understand the importance of sustainability, nature, and working as a team – and they want the whole community to be part of it.
More at https://shelforddaynursery.org/
Posted May 27 2025
Lib Dems win both local election seats
The Liberal Democrats won the two Cambridgeshire County election seats in this area on May 1st.
The Lib Dems now have full overall control of the County Council.
The results in the Sawsston and Shelford seat were:
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Peter Robert Spencer Fane, Liberal Democrats - 2,577 - elected
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Laurence Peter Damary-Homan, Liberal Democrats - 2,075 -elected
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Rebecca Louise Shiret, Conservative - 1,411
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Richard Lynn Williams, Conservative - 1,406
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Miranda Fyfe, Green Party - 1,085
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John William Lamble, Reform UK - 926
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Daniel Edward Laycock, Green Party - 546
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Brigitta Naunton, Reform UK - 813
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Uroga Okello, Labour - 669
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Anand Pillai, Labour - 655
Posted May 5 2025
Wheelchair donation for GP practice
Shelford Country Market is thriving at the moment. The café area is very well supported by their friends and customers.
So much so that at the end of March theywere delighted to be able to give something back to the local community. Market members agreed to purchase a new wheelchair for use at the Shelford Health Centre.
This was received by Ian Duthie from the Granta Medical Practices.
Posted April 25 2025
Shelford Friendship Club update
Great Shelford Friendship Club is for older men and women, new members and returners.
We meet in St. Mary’s Church Community Room from 2.15 for 2.30pm until about 4pm on Thursdays in term time. Regulars pay £3 subscription for refreshments, room hire etc. at meetings. Guests and new members are always welcome.
Our programme is guided by members’ interests. It includes talks by local speakers, sharing quizzes and experiences etc., and occasional gentle outings to places of interest.
The group is independent of St Mary’s and other village churches, but some of their folk attend/speak sometimes. We aim to offer friendship and varied activities, with some seasonal events, rather than to supplement what is happening elsewhere.
Dates for 2025: 24th April to 26th June; 25th September to 18th December
Some additional activities may happen in summer and at other times.
Inquiries always invited:
Rosey Feuell (Anna Chaplaincy trained) 01223 213305 / roseyleaf@talktalk.net.
Posted April 25 2025
Shelford restaurant hits the headlines
A Great Shelford restaurant has hit the national headlines after its owner started using CCTV evidence to hit back at negative reviews.
Jackie Wan, the owner and head chef of the Forum Chinese restaurant in Woollards Lane for 11 years, has used footage to “clarify” problems raised by unhappy customers who have used TripAdvisor, Google or Facebook to leave poor reviews.
In one example, after a customer complained that they had had only had four prawns in their stir fry, Wan claimed he was able to prove they had had seven prawns.
The story originally appeared the Times before being published in the Mail Online, the Guardian and the Daily Mirror.
Mr Wan, who was born in Hong Kong, came to the UK as a teenager, working in kitchens at luxury Hyatt hotels in London.
He said that the CCTV footage was only used if a complaint did not match his or his staff’s recollection of events, or if a problem was raised a long time after the customer had visited.
Mr Wan told the Times: “If there are issues on our side or whatever happens is our mistake then of course we try and make up for it. But there are some customers that it doesn’t matter what you do, you cannot please them. Those are the things I really can’t stand because we’ve done nothing wrong. I will not kneel down for anyone. I will stand up and fight when the fault is not on our side.”
Overall the restaurant, rates 4.5 on Trip Advisor and 4.6 on Google.
When another customer complained about the restaurant charging for chilli oil, Mr Wan wrote: “Try asking for peppercorn sauce when ordering a steak in any steak house and see what happens.”
He acknowledged that his combative approach was risky: “Yes I will lose on some business, but then at the same time, I protect my name. I’m proud of what we do and I’m proud of the product and service that we deliver so I stand up for myself, my staff.”
Posted March 17 2025
Pothole priority for Great Shelford
One road in Great Shelford have been prioritised to have its' pot holes fixed and the road fully re-surfaced.
£460,000 will be spent on re-surfacing Tunwells Lane, in Great Shelford from Granhams Road to and including the traffic signals junction.
Cambridgeshire County Council is spending £59m to spend on roads, paths and bridges in the year from April.
More than £28.7m will be spent on carriageway structural and preventative work, with a further £7.2m earmarked for structural and preventative work on pathways and cycleways.
The budget also includes £3.1m towards bridge strengthening work, and £735,000 for maintaining the county’s rights of way.
You can read the full list in the Cambridge Independent.
Posted March 24 2025
Shelford arsonist book published
A new book about the infamous Shelford arsonist John Stallon was published in May.
Shelford writer Fraser Grace published his book Firestarter about the 12 farm fires that made national headlines in 1833 before Stallon was hanged for his crimes.
"Four years, twelve fires, the best of London’s detectives – and still no one knows the identity of the ‘devil’ with the gift of fire. With land reform sweeping through South Cambridgeshire, the scandal is choking the columns of the nation’s newspapers, wrecking the reputation of the ‘ill-fated village’ of Shelford," says a press release about the book.
"Fraser Grace trawls through history, sifting out a tragedy rooted in the undocumented, hard-pressed agricultural labourers of nineteenth century England."
Three events are being held by Fraser to promote the book.
Thursday 8 May 7-8pm, online - in Conversation with Midge Gillies
https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/event/conversation-midge-gillies-and-fraser-grace
Weds 14 May 6.30pm - Hart’s Books, Kings Street, Saffron Walden.
*Firestarter was published by Galileo Publishing, on 1 May 2025.
https://galileopublishing.co.uk/firestarter/
Posted May 5 2025
The Shelfords named one of the best places to live
Great and Little Shelford have been named as one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times.
While Saffron Walden was voted the outright winner, the Shelfords were highlighted in the top 75 places.
The Sunday Times said:" This is one of the country’s most desirable commuter hotspots
"These villages have similar good looks and pretty thatched cottages, though each has its own identity. Great Shelford is the larger, and has the lion’s share of the amenities, including the library, medical centre and dentist, plus the railway station. Its many clubs and societies offer plenty of opportunities for growth, from Scouts to WI to tennis. Shelford Rugby Club is one of the biggest community sports clubs in East Anglia, fielding five men’s and two women’s XVs plus 17 youth teams," the Sunday Times said.
"The highlight of the social calendar is the Shelford Festival and Feast, a week-long celebration of music, comedy and entertainment. Last year, its 30th anniversary, it raised £20,000 for local causes and this summer will feature the 1980s icon Jason Donovan and the Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills.
"Little Shelford may be smaller but it has plenty going on, including badminton and bowls clubs and the biennial Village Fun weekend, which returns in September. Clear your diaries that month because it’s also when the Shelford Fun Run takes place.
"Great Shelford has a Tesco Express and a Co-op, a post office/general store, a pharmacy and an optician. The Memorial Hall holds an occasional repair café and, every Wednesday, the Great Shelford Country Market. You can pick up locally sourced meat from Barker Bros butchers, which also sells packaging-free vegetables; stock up on groceries at the upmarket Shelford Deli; and buy excellent plonk from the knowledgeable NYWines (its bar is open from Thursday to Saturday)."
"There’s a brace of pubs, the Brunch Base café and Chinese and Indian restaurants. Bangladeshi takeaway Shelford Spice was named the best takeaway of the year in Cambridgeshire in the Asian Curry Awards 2024, and Cara Coffee is a social enterprise created in partnership with Great Shelford Free Church. The café is run mostly by volunteers and is a place of friendship — “cara” means “friend” in Gaelic and has several meanings in Latin, including “valued” or “beloved”," said the Sunday Times.
"Little Shelford has a Chinese takeaway, while the old Navigator pub has reopened as the Side Quest Inn; it’s only open for drinks but is expected to start serving food in the spring. Also nearby is the lovely Gog farm shop and café, which runs sell-out events including fermentation workshops."
Writer Adele Geras, who lives in the Shelfords, said she was " proud" for the Sunday Times accolade.
Posted March 25 2025.
Trim trail plans for Great Shelford
There are plans to introduce a trim trail at Woollards Lane Recreation Ground.
A survey has been launched to find out what people would want to see as part of the trim trail.
The active trail would be a fitness-friendly path with wooden workout equipment like monkey bars, pull-up bars & balance beams.
Great Shelford Playscape is also proposing a 3×3 basketball court—turning the lonely hoop into a fast-paced Olympic-style game zone.
To make this all happen, Playscape needs your support. Your feedback helps secure funding.
https://shelfordplayscape.org/phases/08-active-trail/
Posted April 1 2025
Business changes in Woollards Lane
There have been two changes to businesses in Woollard's Lane.
SWT Estates have moved into the offices previously run by Technical Moves.
The company, which provides estate/block Management Services can be found at swtestates.co.uk
And the Turkish Barbers re-opened on March 3 after a refurbishment.
Posted February 25 2025
Great Shelford Online village website is more popular than ever
The Great Shelford community website had a bonanza month in February, with 1672 unique users.
In the same month, there were 1062 unique users to the sister Little Shelford online website and 807 unique users for the Stapleford Online community website.
Posted Feb 26 2025
Traffic improvement options for Great Shelford
Two traffic improvement options are being considered for Great Shelford.
The first option is a pedestrian crossing on Cambridge Road near Scotsdales. This is split into three types:
1. Pedestrian Refuge (A pedestrian refuge island is a raised section of pavement between two lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions) – the cost is estimated at £17,000. The 10% contribution would be achievable within the current budget.
2. Zebra Crossing – the cost is estimated at £48,000. The Local Highways Improvement (LHI) funding would be £25,000, but the remaining £23,000 would not be achievable within budget so would require a council tax increase of around £3 per band D property.
3. Puffin Crossing (signal controlled) – the cost is estimated at £125,000. The LHI funding would be £25,000, but the remaining £100,000 would not be achievable within budget so would require a council tax increase of around £41 per band D property.
The second option is a raised table at the zebra crossing on Church Street – the cost is estimated at £35,000. The LHI funding would be £25,000, and the remaining £10,000 would be achievable within budget.
Great Shelford Parish Council is currently running a survey to explore which option to prioritise.
The survey is open until December 13.
Posted November 22 2024
New toilet for Great Shelford village centre
There's a new public toilet in the centre of Great Shelford.
The new portable toilet is now available for public use at the Recreation Ground. The toilet can be found to the left of the skate park at the top end of the smaller parking area.
The toilet has disabled access and baby changing facilities.
The Parish Council has provided the toilet after feedback from Playscape and Rec users, and will be trialing it for one month.
Please do let them know your thoughts as to whether you would like it to stay. The council will assess all feedback at the end of the trial.
Posted Oct 29 2024
Shelford parking fines on the increase
The number of motorists being fined in the village is on the increase.
Over the last six month, 75 parking tickets have been issued with the majority happening in Woollards Lane and the High Street.
The most common violations were parking on yellow lines, parking in disabled bays, exceeding time limits and parking over pedestrian crossing.
Posted September 2024
Shelford's new Care Home opens
Great Shelford’s new care home opened its doors on August 12.
Barley Manor boasts specialist residential, dementia and nursing rooms.
Barley Manor Care Home at the heart of the village on Station Road has already created 40 jobs in the village.
Six residents are already enjoying the modern facilities at the Care Home.
Facilities at the home include everything from a dedicated cinema, gym, hairdresser salon to their own vegetable garden. And they are already planning a joint project with some of the pupils from Shelford School in their spacious gardens.
Residents and their families also have the use of a private dining room.
From the moment you walk in, Barley Manor has more of a feel of an upmarket hotel than a care home. The reception leads straight on to a “free” café/ bar which is included in the monthly fees.
Manager Narcis and some of the 40 staff will be familiar faces for some of the residents, having managed and worked at other local care homes.
“We are delighted to have welcomed our first residents and we are certainly looking forward to building links with the Shelford community,” said Denise Gilchrist, Client Services Manager.
Barley Manor is owner Porthaven’s 20th Care Home.
Posted August 23 2024
A new garage with local links
A new garage has opened in Great Shelford that is offering offer a free pick up and return service and free courtesy cars.
Park Vehicle Services have just moved into the ex-Cambridge Motorworks premises at 11 High Green, Great Shelford.
They are experienced motor engineers, with over 30 years experience in Great Chesterford.
“We are offering servicing, MOTs, Cambelts, Clutches, Tyres, Exhausts, Brakes and all vehicle maintenance and repairs to all makes and models” said owner Barry Rule (pictured)
“We already have customers from the Shelfords and Stapleford. We think our focus on good customer service and really listening to what our customers want will be really popular.”
The new business is a real homecoming for the Rule family. Barry’s grandparents ran the Douglas of Shelford store (now the Tesco Express) in Woollards Lane for a number of years when he was a child. His grandparents and mother lived on Church Street, Stapleford and then Mingle Lane, Stapleford.
The phone number for the Shelford site is 01223 794008
Their website is www.parkvehicleservices.co.uk
Email is parkvehicleservices@hotmail.co.uk
Posted June 10 2024
Shelford writer's book to be on TV
Great Shelford writer Sarah Vaughan's thriller is to be made into a TV series.
Little Disasters, her psychological thriller published 10 days after the first lockdown, and in paperback in the third lockdown (so again no bookshops open) is coming to Paramount Plus.
"I'm so delighted that my exploration of the darkest reaches of motherhood is going to reach a new audience," said Sarah.
The cast will include Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner, Shelley Conn and Emily Taaffe starring as my quartet of mothers.
The "husbands" include JJ Feild, Stephen Campbell Moore, Derek Riddell and Ben Bailey-Smith.
Filming is taking place in Budapest and Richmond, London.
Read Sarah's profile here.
Posted June 19 2024
New Shelford MP
Pippa Heylings is the new Shelford MP.
The Liberal Democrat won the local seat in the General Election with a majority of more than 14,000.
It was previously held by Conservative Anthony Browne.
Her first official task in the new role was to visit the Shelford Feast on Sunday July 7.
Miranda Fyfe from Stapleford, standing for Green Party, came fourth.
The results were:
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Chris Carter-Chapman (Conservatives) - 15,063
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Harrison Edwards (Reform) - 4,897
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Miranda Fyfe (Green Party) - 2,656
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James Douglas Strachan Gordon (Independent) - 459
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Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat) - 29,704
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Luke Viner (Labour) - 6,106
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Posted July 8 2024
Dry cleaners closes
Great Shelford Dry Cleaners has closed. The shop is now up for sale.
Looksmart dry cleaners has put a sign on their door saying that they have closed and that they are not taking any more dry cleaning orders.
The High Street shop was taken over by the Royston cleaning company Look Smart several years ago.
Look Smart have been approached for a comment about why the store has closed.
The news means that Shelford residents will now have to drive to Sawston or Cambridge for the nearest dry cleaners.
Posted April 22 2024
Northern Lights spotted over Great Shelford
The Northern Lights were potted over Great Shelford on Friday May 10.
These are some photos of the historic night.
Have you got local photos of the big night? Share your Northern Lights photos with davidm1961@gmail.com
Posted May 13 2024
Photos by Ann White, Penny Ramsay & Raj Sondhi
Potholes fixed 12 times claim
A Shelford Councillors says he knows of potholes that have had to be fixed 12 times in the last 5 years.
Shelford and Stapleford county councillor Brian Milnes said the “cheap and cheerful” repairs for some potholes only last months before they have to be fixed again.
Cllr Milnes told a meeting of Cambridgeshires the Highways and Transport Committee on March 5 that he knew of a pothole that had been fixed by the county council 12 times in the last five years.
“We are making use of [the] dragon patcher because it is very cost effective. It is cheap, but it is cheap and cheerful," he said.
“The material that the dragon patch puts in its potholes is quickly removed, sadly often into drainage gullies adjacent to where the work has been done, and then we have to go back and do it again.”
Cllr Milnes said he had just received his 221st email about potholes on Granhams Road in Great Shelford, which have been repaired “three times in the last year”.
He said: “That Granhams Road example is pertinent because it just lasts three or four months maximum before potholes reappear.
*See a full report in the Cambridge Independent
Posted March 12 2024
Shelford Co-op ram-raided again
The new Shelford Co-op has been ram-raided for the second time.
The latest raid was in the early hours on Friday June 7.
The first raid took place on March 15. The cash machine from the shop was taken.
Police were called to reports of a ram raid at the Co-op in Great Shelford just after 4am.
Officers later found the stolen cash machine in Grange Road near Duxford.
They also found a white Mitsubishi L200 believed to have been used in the ram raid.
Thieves are believed to have abandoned the pick-up van and cash machine in Grange Road, Duxford.
The new Co-op in High Green, Great Shelford opened on January 26.
Updated June 7 2024
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Pictures courtesy Harriet Heywood/ BBC
E-scooters heading for Great Shelford
E-scooters will soon be available in Great Shelford.
An extension of the Cambridge e-scooter trail to the village has been given the go ahead by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Places for the extended area being considered include Great Shelford, Grantchester, Teversham and Fulbourn.
Greatr Shelford gave the thumbs up to the idea at their meeting on February 21.
The green light was given by the Transport and Infrastructure Committee on March 13.
Updated March 14 2024
Green light for guided bus
The guided bus is back on track.
The bus will travel on a new track on green belt land on the edge of Great Shelford and Stapleford, crossing Hinton Way as it travels between Babraham and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
The plans were paused in September 2023 because the £162 million price to deliver it was so high.
But following an announcement of extra cash in the budget on March 6, the plans are back on track.
A £7.2million boost to progress the Cambridge South East Transport (CSET) busway plans was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
He said: “In addition, £10.2 million is being invested to support the development of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s leading centre for medical research and health science. £7.2 million of this will unlock improvements to local transport connections for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and the city, and £3 million is for Cambridge University NHS Trust to support plans for growth.”
The Greater Cambridge Partnership has confirmed that this funding will allow them to progress the CSET scheme to the next stage.
Cllr Elisa Meschini, chair of the GCP executive board, said: “We are pleased the government agrees with us about the strategic importance of this connectivity scheme by providing £7.2 million to progress it to the next stage."
Posted March 7 2024
Scotsdales expansion
Work has just started on a new 450 seater restaurant at Scotsdales.
The new restaurant is part of a major building project at the popular garden centre.
he demolition team are currently at Scotsdales, taking down the last remaining original green houses.
This work on creating the new restaurant will take over a year.
Their current Sunflower Café will remain open throughout this project, until the new restaurant opens in 2025.
Scotsdales are embarking on phase two of their major development to build a brand new restaurant and improvement to their internal retail space having created a brand-new purpose built, weather proofed plant area and gardening department,
This has improved the plant area and garden shop, and seen an impressive new glazed Planteria area built.
Scotsdales Managing Director Caroline Owen said: “The garden centre at Shelford has had little investment since 1990, and the plans to develop the site have gone back many years. We began work in July 2023, with the aim of investing in the future of the business and making Scotsdales standout.
"With horticulture being at the heart of what we do here, the new weatherproofed plant area and gardening department were the priority, and we are delighted with the space that has been built. We are really excited to begin construction on the new restaurant area, the enlarged food hall and improving some of the facilities and retail areas. We cannot wait until the work is completed in 2025.”
Posted March 20 2024
New Co-op opens
By Olivia Bridgen
The new Co-op opened on Friday January 26.
The new 2,400 sq ft convenience store is located at De Freville House, High Green, Green Shelford. It opens between 7am-10pm daily, and supports 12 local jobs.
The new shop includes an ATM to provide access to cash in the community.
Co-op manager Dessent said that they have received a “great response” from the public .
Michael Dessent said: “Our aim is always to operate at the heart of local life, and we’ve worked to develop the range, choice, and added services to create a compelling offer to serve and support our community, conveniently.”
The shop will include an in-store bakery, alongside the focus on fresh and healthy food, everyday essentials, alcohol, ready meals, and free-from, vegan, and plant-based products.
As well as facilities to recycle soft plastics such as crisp packets, bread bags, biscuit wrappers, pet food pouches, and more.
Deliveroo and Just Eat offer online grocery delivery services from the store.
It was due to open on Dec 1st. But delays in installing a power meter mean that the opening has been delayed to mid-January.
Proposals for the Co-op to move out of the centre of the village were given the go ahead in January 2023 by South Cambs Council.
The switch was first proposed in January 2018.
The building, which was originally the De Freville Arms, was previously used as a furniture showroom. The new Co-op is next to Noel Young Wines and Bryan Turner Kitchens.
Updated Feb 1 2024
Great Shelford population is growing
The population of Great Shelford has increased to 4,537 according to the 2021 Census.
The latest figures show that the population of the village has grown by 304 over the last 10 years, a 7% increase.
The population of Great Shelford in 2011 was 4,233.
The new data shows there were 2,111 households in Great Shelford when the Census was carried out in 2021.
The population of Stapleford has grown to 2,005.
The population of Little Shelford has shrunk to 779 according to the 2021 Census.
The population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in 2021 was 894,522 people.
The most recent Census was carried out in 2021. The results of the Census have only just been made public.
You can read all of the 2021 Census details here.
Posted Jan 29 2024
Award for Shelford station staff member
A Greater Anglia staff member has been given an award at a national rail ceremony.
Angela Milton, who has worked at Shelford station for 14 years and has been on the railway for almost 30 years, received a ‘highly commended’ award in the station staff category of the RailStaff Awards.
The nominations noted that she has an ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of the railway timetable’, is ‘unfailingly helpful’, and ‘provides an exceptional service to every customer that walks through the door’. Angela was also commended for turning Shelford station into a community hub.
Angela has created a small library, hung a mirror in the waiting area by the ticket office, and regularly offers fresh fruit to give customers a little morning pick-me-up.
Angela Milton said:
“I am so pleased to have received the ‘highly commended’ award – I am very proud and this is the icing on the cake of my career.
“I often find myself being a listening ear for customers too, in between my normal duties of selling tickets and making that sure everything is OK at the station. I think Shelford really is a home from home.”
Posted Jan 152024
CBE for Great Shelford resident
Professor Anne Prentice’s has been awarded a CBE award in the New Year’s Honours list.
She lives on Tunwell’s Lane in Great Shelford
Prof Prentice is an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow at the University’s MRC Epidemiology Unit, was awarded a CBE for services to British and Global Public Health Nutrition.
A former director of the MRC Elsie Widdowson Laboratory (previously MRC Human Nutrition Research) at Cambridge, and programme leader of the MRC Nutrition and Bone Health Research Group at Cambridge, she was also head of the calcium, vitamin D and bone health research team at MRC Unit The Gambia. Her research is focused on life-course nutritional requirements for population health, with an emphasis on calcium and vitamin D, and encompasses the nutritional problems of both affluent and resource-limited societies.
She said: “I am delighted to receive this honour on behalf of all the people, in this country and worldwide, who have worked with me to improve our understanding of the links between nutrition and health.”
Posted Jan 4 2024
Church Street is Parish Council's traffic priority
Church Street is the Parish Council's priority for traffic management changes following the traffic survey in 2023.
Survey responses highlighted the safety of children arriving and leaving school.
The Parish Council is preparing a Local Highways Initiative bid for " safety initiatives on Church Street - comprising a give way feature with build outs (possibly to include a signalling option as this is preferred giving benefits for cyclists and pedestrians) combined with removal/replacement of two/three parking spaces and addition of two wooden gateway features after the two bridges and near the Plough."
Any final decision on the bid will be made by Cambridgeshire County Council.
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The Parish Council has commissioned a report from traffic consultants to explore potential one way solutions for the village using computing modelling. If a one way system is proposed, this would only be after further analysis, potentially a trail and a full public and business consultation.
Posted Jan 2 2024
Motorworks go from strength to strength
Motorworks are going from strength to strength following their expansion earlier this year.
"I just wanted to take a moment to thank all old and new customers of Cambridge Motorworks Ltd, we have been inundated with new happy customers at both sites (Shelford and Wimpole) since we now do all make and models repairs/servicing whilst still specialising in Bmw Minis," said owner Blake Elkins.
"As a goodwill gesture I would like to give back to the local community, maybe sponsoring or something along those lines?
Contact Blake at blake@mworks.co.uk
Posted Oct 27 2023
Local celebrant Mum marries daughter to son-in-law
Corinne Davidson trained as a celebrant - and her first ceremony was her own daughter's marriage.
"Having completed my training, I was delighted to write my very first ceremony," said Corinne from Great Shelford.
"What could be more special than to generate a service from scratch for my daughter’s wedding! Emily and Jon both studied in Cambridge, but they didn’t meet until they were working in London a couple of years later.
It was over the Christmas holiday that I finally decided to train as an Independent Celebrant.
"The idea had formed a few years ago, but I needed courage to leave safe employment (I used to be a Secondary School teacher at Comberton before working at Peterhouse) to generate my own business.
"Writing ceremonies for people’s key life events felt like a natural choice. I like working with and helping people, and I enjoy creative writing. Therefore, creating a bespoke and personal ceremony at a time of high emotion for people feels like a good blend of my interests and skills.
Carefully chosen words to mark the safe arrival of a baby, or the loss of a loved one, or the union of a couple in love, can inspire, heal, and bring joy to those who need it. It is an honour to be part of these times and events.
"The beauty of a celebrant wedding is that you can have exactly the elements you want without restriction – the readings, music, everything… Jon and Emily wanted a traditional hymn and so that was part of the service – drawing together friends and family in a united voice. They wanted four readings – there was no restrictions on how many or which ones they could choose.
"The main advantage that comes with a celebrant wedding is being able to get to know the couple and to write up their love story, personally and uniquely. Knowing your celebrant before the big day helps with comfort and support as well as with championing the couple through carefully chosen words. It was very special to have married my daughter to her new husband as my first celebrant job.
"Since then, I have begun work with bereaved families writing ceremonies for their loved ones’ funerals. This is rewarding work, ensuring that you capture the essence of the person being remembered as well as covering all the things the family want to share with people at the funeral.
Corinne Davidson – Insight Ceremonies
https://www.insightceremonies.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/insightceremonies/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090079070614
Photos: www.andyandszerdi.com #andyandszerdi
Posted Aug 16 2023
Great Shelford author's family photos turn up in Norfolk auction
Photos from Philippa Pearce's family have emerged at a Norfolk auction.
Photos stretching back to the 19th century were sold at a recent auction in Snettisham, Norfolk.
They included photos (below) of Philippa Pearce's family - she wrote the famous book, Tom's Midnight Garden.
Old photos of the Great Shelford mill also appeared at the auction.
Details emerged in a Facebook group called Find My Family.
"I looked at the photos and noticed many of them were of the house, and some of the mill. There were also photos of Philippa's grandparents wedding, and other family photos," said the Facebook post.
"I would love to reunite these photos with the family. I will write some stories on the individuals in the photos and hopefully a descendant will see a post. In the meantime, if anyone can find a descendant that would be fantastic."
Read about Philippa Pearce here.
See old photos of the Mill and Kings Mill Lane here.
Posted Aug 30 2023
Shelford couple scammed
A Great Shelford couple have been swindled out of thousands of pounds in an online scam.
They have decided to share the details of what happened to them to serve as a warning to other people after losing £10,000. They have asked not to be named.
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February decided to sell some old shares . Started the sale registration process but didn’t complete it
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April had a call offering to buy the shares .Said they would call back in a few days time
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As had already decided to sell the shares, we said yes when they called back
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The caller said they were an Agent representing a large buyer who was buying a mixture of corporate and small shareholder holdings. He was very pleasant ,did not pressure us and in time we felt we got to know him
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Due the nature of the sale I was asked to sign a non-disclosure Agreement. I used to deal with these at work ,read it in detail and it all seemed in order
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Another week or so went by and had another call confirming the purchase price per share. We had a number of large bills coming up which having taken early retirement meant us dipping into savings so some additional income was an attractive option and we agreed to go ahead.
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Received a number of documents relating to the sale as well as website links for all parties involved
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Were advised that an insurance bond needed to be in place with monies from the buyer and seller. We would receive our insurance premium payment back along with interest and the share monies owed to us when the full sale had gone through. Again, there was a detailed ‘legal ‘ document sent over detailing all of this
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Did a bank transfer of the monies to the Metro Bank, Philippine’s, account details anonymised.
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Issue with the transfer so took a three weeks to happen. Agent said there was ‘no hurry’
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Three weeks later confirmed full sale would happen
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Advised there were some shares on offer that we could buy at a cheap price and resell at the higher price that we had been offered. Take a day or so to decide
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We decided to proceed due to financial commitments and paid a first instalment the following day
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It was the next morning that we became nervous and read the Martin Lewis website . Read an Article about typical characteristics about scams and realised that this matched our experience. Called the bank straight away because the monies had left our account a few hours earlier to try and do a recall. This was unsuccessful
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At no time did we hand over bank account information or give remote access to our laptop which would have alerted us
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If we had been at work this probably would not have happened because we would not have been easily available for calls
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Barclays bank say they can do nothing to help as the recall was unsuccessful and Metro Bank are still investigating
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Next step is contacting the Bank Ombudsman.
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And of course when you read it you will think how were we so gullible. When we look back on it we think EXACTLY the same !
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Posted July 26 2023
Major changes at Scotsdales
Scotsdales have started major development work at their flagship store in Great Shelford.
The considerable development will enable Scotsdales to significantly enhance the experience for their customers. Phase one of the project began in August, which will see the plant area being covered by a roof, as well as the construction of a purpose built garden care department.
This will be completed in Feb 2024, before moving onto the second phase of the development which includes building a new restaurant and more advanced food hall.
Scotsdales, Great Shelford, will remain open throughout the entire refurbishment period. They have created a temporary outdoor plant area, and relocated their perennials, trees, shrubs to offer our customers the same quality and range of garden plants. Their team are excited about the next chapter in the Scotsdales story, and they are on hand to help any of our customers along the way.
Posted Aug 16 2023
Friendship group
Great Shelford Friendship group for older men and women meets in St Mary’s Community Room on THURSDAYS at 2.30pm in term-time
A big thank you to all of you for your support so far
We will be meeting again from Thursday, 28th September.
We have space for more members - maybe some from church congregations would like to join us as we cover all kinds of interests.
Please contact Rosey Feuell, LLM - 01223 213305 / roseyleaf@talktalk.net – or come along one Thursday.
Posted July 26 2023
Radical traffic plans for Great Shelford revealed
Proposals as wide ranging as stopping motorised traffic using Church Street and to make Woollards Lane and High Street one-way have emerged to improve traffic management in Great Shelford.
Moves to switch parking on Church Street to the opposite side of the road, extending weight limit restrictions and the introduction of all day parking charges in the village are highlighted in the report.
“A very radical option would be to consider if a permanent closure of Church Street to motorised traffic would be possible or desirable,” says the report, commissioned by Great Shelford Parish Council.
“The closure of Church Street to through traffic would reduce traffic along Woollards Lane and High Street, particularly the rat running identified from the traffic surveys.
“Other options have been considered, such as introducing one-way operation in High Street and Woollards Lane,” the report states.
The 45 page traffic report has been carried out by consultants Intermodal Transportation, who were commissioned by the Parish Council. It has been published on the Parish Council website. Great Shelford Parish Council, who commissioned the report are planning wide consultation before considering the options and exploring the viability of some of the ideas. No decisions have yet been made by Great Shelford Parish Council.
The report highlights illegal parking near the school which it says could be addressed with “a camera option which would likely to be the most effective deterrent.”
“There may be a benefit in switching the parking adjacent to the Church from the northern side of Church Street to the southern side as that would increase inter-visibility,” the report states.
“A one-way scheme for High Street and Woollards Lane could be included with a segregated cycle facility incorporated if roadside parking is removed in part,” the report proposes.
Further work was commissioned by the Parish Council in February 2023 to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing a one way system. This work will measure traffic flows and the potential impact of changes.
“A survey of local people indicated a high level of concern relating to congestion, speeding and parking,” said the report.
The report states: “Great Shelford Parish Council intends to implement ongoing improvements in the village and after initial priorities are addressed, will explore additional measures such as one-way systems, pedestrianisation in parts, increasing parking potential on the perimeters of the village and introducing all day parking charges.”
Next steps suggested in the report include:
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“Consider the detailed revisions to parking in Church Street and introduce a formal priority working arrangement to facilitate wider footways where possible.
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“To discuss potential weight restrictions in Church Street with the Local Highway Authority (the County Council.)
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“To undertake further studies including exploring if a one-way traffic system could be implemented in High Street and Woollards Lane.”
Lyn Disley of Great Shelford Parish Council commented “We asked the consultants to ‘think out of the box’ and so the ideas are varied and some pretty radical. Of course, some considerations are just unworkable, but as with all problem solving, ideas can lead to further thought and eventually to solutions. No action is being considered yet as we are only part way through the process of gathering data and ideas. It is helpful to see a wide gamut of thoughts and this will inform debate. The closure of Church Street to through traffic is not an option that is being actively considered.”
Proposals arising from this work and other investigative work will be shared with residents and feedback invited on practicable initiatives that could be discussed with the Highways Department of Cambridgeshire County Council and then any improvements that could be viable would be trialled and reviewed.
Any changes would need to be approved by Cambridgeshire County Council.
Posted June 1 2023
East West Rail WILL travel through Great Shelford
The East West Rail route between Cambridge and Oxford WILL travel through Great Shelford a new report has confirmed.
The proposed new line will run alongside the existing King’s Cross line through the Shelfords before merging with the Liverpool Street line in Great Shelford.
Under the current proposals, EWR has stated that this junction, located to the west of Granham’s Road in Great Shelford and known for historical reasons as the Shepreth Branch Junction, will need to be re-built to accommodate the additional trains. This may require the King’s Cross line to cross the Liverpool Street line on a new bridge in Great Shelford, before the four tracks merge and run side-by-side into Cambridge Station. Technically, this is known as a grade-separated junction because the railways cross at different heights.
Assuming this happens, the impact on Great Shelford will be significant. The bridge structure is expected to be many hundreds of metres long (perhaps over a kilometre) and several metres high – roughly the height of the current footbridge across the railway. The new structure may be located south of Addenbrooke’s Road bridge as that is where there is most space, but EWR has not said.
At present, only two tracks run into Cambridge. But this will become four tracks under the proposed new layout. To accommodate the widened railway, the DNA cycle path running alongside the current tracks will probably need to be moved according to the proposals.
Read more about the impact on the Shelfords here.
Posted May 26 2023
New girls football team for the village
Shelford & Stapleford Strikers Football Club are hoping to start a Girls team for the 23/24 football season. This is to add to our super successful mixed teams from the age of U6s to u18s.
Training will begin for the girls team this summer, ran by John Rush, coach and chairman at SASS FC. (Volunteers will also be required)
If you (or you know someone) with a daughter in Year 2 or 3 that is keen to play, please contact John.rush@sass-fc.com.
SASS FC also take on U6 boys and girls (year 1) for our mini striker teams.
Please visit www.sass-fc.com for more info
Posted May 23 2023
Square and Compass is back
The Square and Compasses has re-opened.
The village pub opened its doors again on Easter Sunday after Hans and Justine Pinkard took over the reins.
Traditional pub food is now back on the menu.
And new benches at the front of the pub are also on the way in the next few weeks.
Hans and Justine have many years experience, having previously ran popular pubs at Balsham and Ashdon.
“We have been out for three years after because of the pandemic but the timing for the Square was just right,” said Hans.
“We have lots of experience of pubs. We hope we can offer the village something fresh alongside the traditional pub offerings.
“Hopefully the Square can recover from the pandemic and people rediscover the joy of the village pub, rather than it being down on its luck
“We are child friendly and dog friendly – we want to make this a pub for the whole village,” he said.
“Overall we think we need to keep it simple, with good quality beer and reliable reasonably priced food.”
You can stay across their opening hours through their new Facebook page
The Square and Compasses pub in Great Shelford closed in January.
Posted April 24 2023
New barbers for Great Shelford
A new barbers has opened in Woollards Lane, Great Shelford.
Istanbul Barbers opened on November 21 in the former Solutions hairdressers.
The new barbers will be open seven days a week, offering what owner Çetın Tasdoğan describes as the best traditional Turkish services including wet shaves.
They are opening Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm with no appointments necessary.
Solutions Hairdressers in Great Shelford closed on October 13.
The Woollards Lane business has been going strong for 13 years.
"Its a really sad day for me and a really day for the village," said owner Sharon Footman.
She said that Solutions had never recovered after the pandemic.
"The climate has changed so much since then. People are trying to save their money, men are cutting their own hair. Mums are cutting their kids's hair. And people are cutting back on colouring.
"I feel really sorry for our elderly customers as there will no longer be a hairdressers for them in the village."
Sharon is now mobile hairdressing. Her number is 079969898375.
Victor is going to retire after more than 60 years as a barber.
"I would like to say a massive thank you to all our lovely clients for their support throughout the years,” said Sharon. “It feels like the end of an era, it's just awful.”
Updated Nov 23 2022
Planning approved for 39 new retirement apartments in Great Shelford
Permission has been given to build 39 brand new independent living retirement apartments in Great Shelford After a successful planning appeal,
Regenerating the vacant former commercial yard site on Station Road, the new development will bring a new community to the heart of Great Shelford, supporting around 78 jobs both during and after construction and contributing over £300k a year to the local economy.
In the appeal decision notice, the Government’s Planning Inspector R Norman dismissed concerns about the design and impact of the development, concluding that the plans “would represent an improvement on the existing site frontage,” and “would improve the character and appearance of the area.”
The new development will provide high quality, secure and self-contained accommodation in landscaped grounds. Owners will enjoy independent living and a sense of community, with a communal owners’ Lounge, a Guest Suite, a Lodge Manager, and a 24 hour emergency call alarm service.
Stuart Goodwill, Managing Director of Churchill’s planning consultancy, said: “This is a very positive result and we will now look forward to starting work as soon as possible on this new development in Great Shelford. Retirement housing is the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, supporting local jobs, and increasing high street spend. The new apartments will also help improve the health and wellbeing of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in Great Shelford and the surrounding area.”
For more information on the development, please call 0800 458 1857 or visit www.churchillretirement.co.uk
Posted Oct 5 2022
New cafe for Great Shelford
The empty shop next door to Shelford Spice is a new cafe.
It is a full English breakfast cafe, eat in and takeaway.
It is called Brunch Base. The operating hours are Monday to Friday 8am till 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:30am till 2:30pm.
It opened on Jan 11th 2023.
You can see their website at www.brunchbase.co.uk
The next door takeaway, Shelford Spice opened in Woollards Lane on July 19.
Shelford Spice is in the former McColls newsagents which closed almost four years ago.
Updated Feb 16 2023
Three new streets for Great Shelford
Three new streets are being created in Great Shelford with the arrival of 21 new almshouses
The 21 homes will be ready to be lived in early in 2023.
The homes are ion three new terraces:
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Martin Terrace
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Pearson Terrace
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Oliver Terrace.
Martin Terrace
Great Shelford was one of many villages to benefit from the generosity of Lettice Martin. On her death in 1562, this wealthy landowner from Chrishall, some 8 miles south of Shelford, left money to found charities for the poor across 36 parishes. In 1890, Great Shelford’s Lettice Martin’s Charity merged with two other local charities to form The Parochial Charities.
Pearson Terrace
In addition to housing, the charity in its early years provided other benefits to those in need, most notably the provision of coal but also nursing aid and equipment. Their records show that between 1893 and 1895, the Parochial Charities paid for nursing duties provided by Elizabeth Pearson, a widow living in Abberley Wood.
Oliver Terrace
Before the Great Shelford health centre opened in 1980, the village surgery was located on the corner of Tunwells Lane and Station Road. Here Dr Hugh Oliver MBE practised, firstly as a locum in the late 1950s and latterly – from 1976 to 1988 – as a much-loved village GP. In between, he served as Medical Superintendent at the Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Dr Oliver was for many years a trustee of The Parochial Charities, stepping down in 2014. He died in 2017 aged 87.
Read about the 21 new homes at the Great Shelford Parochial Charities website.
Posted September 27 2022
Nursery offers £1,000 bonus to new staff
Shelford Day Nursery is offering a £1,000 bonus to new staff.
The Nursery is currently advertising on Heart Radio for qualified and experienced Early Years Educators as well as Lunch Time Supervisors.
" We are encouraging new staff to join us as soon as possible and as such, we are offering new starters a joining bonus of £1000; please spread the word," said the Nursery
Potential staff can apply for roles by calling Debs at the nursery, popping in to see us, online via our website (shelforddaynursery.org) or by emailing info@shelforddaynursery.org.
https://shelforddaynursery.org/
Posted June 27 2022