Category: Cambridgeshire

Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one

Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long standing tradition and we are proud of the trust placed in us to make these important announcements. Every notice published to our newspaper and news site also appears on funeral-notices.co.uk – the UK’s number one site for death notices and memoriams. Every notice remains online forever providing friends and families with a lifelong tribute to their loved one, a safe place online to share memories, add tributes, photographs and make donations in memory.

Each week we pay tribute to the loved ones remembered in our area with a funeral notice and online tribute page. To read the latest announcements and add tributes to those from our area who have passed away, or to create a funeral notice yourself, click here. Alternatively, you can create a notice by calling the team on 01482 908084.

Here are a selection of notices published earlier this week.

Death Notices

Joyce ABRAHAM

Passed away at St George’s Court Care Home on Tuesday 31st March 2026, aged 95 years. Beloved wife of the late Kenneth. Loving mum to Linda, Claire, Ian, Keith (deceased), Bruce, and Lesley. Wonderful grandmother to all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Joyce will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral service to take place at Cambridge Crematorium, West Chapel on Monday 27th April at 3.15pm. Family flowers only but donations if desired for the benefit of Alzheimer’s Research UK may be made online via Joyce’s personal InMemory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk. All other enquiries to 617 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8PA 01223 415255

Bernie CARTER (NÉE FERRIS)

(NÉE FERRIS) Of Peterborough. Passed away on Tuesday 31st March 2026 at Peterborough City Hospital, aged 61 years. Devoted Wife to Jon. Dearly loved Mother to Joseph and Samuel. Treasured Sister to Maria, Brenda, Tom, Eddie and Brian. Bernie shall be deeply missed by all. Funeral service to be held on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs, Cambridge at 12:15pm followed by the committal at Fulbourn Parish Cemetery. The family welcome all floral tributes. All other enquiries to 617 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8PA Tel: 01223 415255

Deborah Elizabeth (Debbie) DENNIS-JONES

Passed away peacefully on Sunday 22nd March 2026 aged 76. Loving mum to Tim and Sarah. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Funeral to take place at St Andrew’s Church, Sutton on Tuesday 21st April 2026 at 13:30. Donations, should they be desired are for Cancer Research UK. All enquiries to Ely Funeral Service, 4 Tower Road, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4HW. Tel: 01353 666566

Helen Ruth GORDON

(née Lyttle) of Comberton, Cambridge, died peacefully on Thursday 26 March, 2026, aged 77 years. She was the much loved wife of Robert, mother of Graham, Claire and Alasdair, grandma to Eva and Sophia, and mother-in-law to Ruth and Suzi. A service of thanksgiving for Ruth’s life will be held at St Andrew’s Street Baptist Church, 40-43 St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge, on 29 April at 2.15 pm. Family flowers only, but donations in memory of Ruth may be made to Smile Train UK or Samaritan’s Purse UK, and can be forwarded via H. J. Paintin Ltd, 43 High Street, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4HS.

Anne Frances (Ward) LEONARD

Leonard, Anne Frances (nee Ward) of Sheringham, previously of Cambridge. Passed away March 17th 2026 aged 90 years. Beloved wife of Roger (dec) dear mum of Susan (dec), Alan, Brian and Karan (dec), mother-in-law to Stephen and Jane, grandmother and great-grandmother at the seaside. Anne’s funeral is at Cromer Crematorium on Friday 17th April 2026 at 1:30pm. Family flowers only but donations made payable to Lakeshore Health Care Limited can be sent c/o Blyth and Sons Funeral Directors, 4 Cremer Street, Sheringham, NR26 8DZ.

Margaret (Née Nichols) OCHOTNY (Betty)

(Betty) (Née Nichols) Of Fulbourn, passed away peacefully on Monday 30th March 2026, aged 94 years. Beloved wife of the late Zygmunt, devoted mother of Elizabeth, Ingrid, Anna, Ryszard and Janina, a much loved grandma, great grandma and aunt. Funeral Service at St. Vigor’s Church, Fulbourn on Wednesday 29th April at 12.00 noon, followed by burial at Fulbourn Cemetery. Traditional funeral dress preferred. All flowers may be sent c/o R. J. Pepper & Son Family Funeral Directors, 1, Telegraph Street, Cottenham, Cambridge, CB24 8QU Tel: 01954 251919

Sheila Ann SOLANKI

Passed away peacefully at Hunters Down Care Home. Beloved Mum, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends. Funeral service to take place on Thursday 30th April at 1.15pm at Huntingdon Crematorium, followed by burial at Sapley Road Cemetery. Family flowers only – donations if desired to Alzheimer’s Society. All enquiries to Central Coop Funeralcare 3 St Peters Road Huntingdon PE29 7AA Tel: 01480 410388

Anthony (Tony) STUBBINGS

(Tony ) Of Milton, passed away peacefully on April 6th 2026 aged 92 years. Beloved Husband of the late Brenda. Dearly loved Dad of Alison. Much loved Grandfather of James and Grace. Loving Great-Grandfather of Skye, Zach and Milo, also a dear Brother, Uncle and Father-In-Law. Funeral Service at All Saints Parish Church, Milton, on Friday May 1st 2026 at 2pm, followed by private cremation. Family flowers only, donations if desired made payable to The Scout Association, may be left at the service, or sent c/o F W Cook Funeral Service 49 Church Street, Willingham Cambs, CB24 5HS

In Memoriams

Robert (Rob) ARBON

Dearest Rob, 12th April 2016 – 10 years have passed. And we keep you close in our hearts and in our memories always. Jacqui, Kate, Mia, Izzy, Dolly, Mary, Jean; dear friends and all our families.

To add your own tributes to the loved ones from our area, or to publish a notice for your loved one, visit funeral-notices.co.uk

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost.

The garden centre not only sells plants and garden furniture but also has fresh food, a boutique and even a mini-golf course.

If you are looking for a garden centre that not only has a wide range of plants and flowers to choose from but also plenty of activities for the whole family, you might need to take a trip to Wilburton. The village is home to the Twenty Pence Garden Centre that you could easily spend a day exploring.

You can spend some time walking around the outdoor section to get some inspiration for how to design your garden with statues, bird baths, and garden paints to add some colour. You can also find a range of garden furniture and plants to make your space more homely.

If you are looking for houseplants, the garden centre has plants for all spots in your house from bathrooms and shady areas to places that get loads of light. There are plenty of items to help you grow and manage your house and garden plants.

Twenty Pence Garden Centre could also be a great place to pick up a gift for someone with lots of soaps, reed diffusers, and kitchenware. The Blossom Boutique is home to a few different fashion brands selling clothes, accessories, and on-trend designs.

Alongside home and garden items, the garden centre has its own food hall where you can do some grocery shopping. The in-store bakery sells savoury and sweet options from sausage rolls to scones and cakes and the butchers has plenty of meat to choose from including BBQ bundles and roast dinner specials.

Lots of the products have been made by local produces including the chutneys, jams, and sauces. You can also find some everyday essentials from eggs and cheeses to Wilcox cakes and a few other sweet treats.

To keep the children occupied, you can take a trip to the Putting Shed, a nine-hole mini golf course found at the garden centre. The course will take you through garden-themed challenges and costs only £3.99 for adults and £3.50 for children under 13 years old.

If mini-golf isn’t quite for your children, there is also an enclosed play area with climbing frames, a sand pit with buckets and spades, and things to explore to allow them to let off some steam. There are also a variety of go-karts available for kids to drive around the racetrack.

After exploring the garden centre and spending sometime outside with your children, you might need somewhere to enjoy some food. You could visit the Applejacks Restaurant where you can have a freshly prepared breakfast or lunch.

The restaurant also serves a roast on Sundays if you want to get the family together for a weekend treat. Throughout the spring and summer, you can pop into the Orchard Ice Cream Parlour for some Devon ice cream, a sundae, or a fresh waffle.

The Twenty Pence Garden Centre can be found on Twenty Pence Road in Wilburton. The centre is open from 9am to 5.30pm on Mondays to Saturdays and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.

Cambridge has a rich history dating back hundreds of years and many ghosts are believed to haunt the streets and buildings of the city. One place said to be one of the most haunted sites in Cambridge is Magdalene Bridge.

Now a popular place to start a punt tour, the bridge was once where suspected witches were punished. It was also used for ducking stools to humiliate people and is often said to be haunted by those who were believed to be witches.

One of the most ghostly tales to come from the bridge is one of a drowned woman who died in the river near the bridge centuries ago. Her spirit is said to linger around the river and bridge.

Some say she was a heartbroken lover in search of her special someone, or she was someone who fell into the river by accident. Locals and students have reported seeing a female figure near the water, especially at night or at dusk.

People have also reported suddenly feeling cold while on or near the bridge. It’s also been reported that people have heard unexplained splashes or footsteps while on the bridge.

The nearby college, Magdalene College, is also said to be haunted. Outside the college, it is said that a former student mysteriously disappeared within the walls.

The former student’s ghost has reportedly been seen lingering in staircases or older rooms, while others have heard footsteps along empty corridors. If you have an interest in the haunted world, the Magdalene Bridge is worth a visit.

The pub is located in a village set in open countryside ideal for the warmer months ahead

Those who live in Cambridge may often find that they choose not to venture far from the city, since there are plenty of great meal spots dotted around. Around 15 minutes from Cambridge by car, nestled in the countryside, is the quaint village of Madingley, home to The Three Horseshoes.

The Three Horseshoes is an award-winning pub which was voted Cambridgeshire Dining Pub of the Year in 2018 and holds two AA Rosettes. It features a garden with plentiful space, two dining pods, and a fully enclosed, heated garden room that sits at the back of its dining room.

The dining pods are fully enclosed with heating and pretty lights and the garden is spacious and picturesque. Described by the pub’s website as a ‘romantic’, Madingley is a beautiful countryside spot.

Offering a rustic and charming appeal, the thatched country pub has earned a positive reputation online. One person described the pub as having a “cosy atmosphere” on Google and another said it was the “best Sunday roast” they have had around Cambridge.

The Three Horseshoes has a unique wine list focusing on the Langeudoc-Roussillon region of France, where the team pride itself on visiting and meeting wine makers many times. It also offers four local real ales and a range of lager and fruity cocktails.

With a modern British and European style for food, the menu offers classics like pie of the day and a 14oz sirloin on the bone to signature dishes like BBQ guineafowl and an aubergine schnitzel dish. A pie of the day sounds like the perfect way to indulge while sunning in their beer garden.

The Department for Work and Pensions is providing Universal Credit claimants with a £5,098 benefits increase from April. Single claimants aged 25 and over will now receive £424.90 per month, rising from £400.14, which amounts to approximately £5,098 per year.

Benefit rates are adjusted every April. This year, rates officially increased on April 6 (the start of the 2026/27 tax year), with the new figures taking effect for many benefits from April 7.

For some Universal Credit claimants, however, the higher rates will not kick in until around June. This is because the new rate will not be paid until the first assessment period commencing on or after April 7.

Couples claiming Universal Credit will also see their payments increase, with those under 25 now receiving £528.34 per month, up from £497.55.

For couples where both partners are aged 25 or over, monthly payments have risen from £628.10 to £666.97, reports Birmingham Live.

Single claimants under 25 have likewise seen an improvement, with the standard allowance climbing from £316.98 to £338.58 per month.

Labour Party Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “The welfare system we inherited has for too long locked disabled people and people with long term conditions out of work.

“Laws coming into force will change that, reducing projected expenditure on Universal Credit by almost £1billion.”

He continued: “Simultaneously boosting the standard allowance and investing £3.5billion in employment support means we’re creating a welfare system that backs people to work and helps them build a better future.”

Those claiming benefits are not required to take any action, as the uplifts will be applied automatically. Universal Credit is set to rise by 2.3 per cent, with the full breakdown of the updated rates as follows:

• Standard allowance, single under 25 – rising from £316.98 to £338.58
• Standard allowance, single 25 or over – rising from £400.14 to £424.90
• Joint claim, both under 25 – rising from £497.55 to £528.34
• Joint claim, one or both 25 or over – rising from £628.10 to £666.97

Locals praise the town’s transport links and green spaces – but they’d like to see more added to the town

People who live in a ‘new’ Cambridgeshire town have praised its transport and green spaces – but they’d like to see more pubs and restaurants. Up until 26 years ago, Cambourne near Cambridge didn’t exist.

Since then, the town has grown with more people moving in, and more facilities opening. However, some residents still feel the town could have more. As part of the Exploring Cambridgeshire series, we spoke to residents about what it’s like to live in Cambourne.

Aaron Kersey, who has lived there since 2022, wants to see more pubs and restaurants in Cambourne. “We have three dentists, but only one pub,” said Aaron.

He added: “Something like another supermarket would also be good. However, it [Cambourne] has what you need. The road networks are fine and safe. The only thing it needs is a train station, but there is talk about one coming.”

A long-term resident, who wished to remain anonymous, likes Cambourne’s green spaces. He said: “It’s got quite a lot of good community things going on as well, like a lot of different clubs and activities.

“I think it’s also good for transport.” However, the man would also like to see other things come to the town. He added: “Things like a public swimming pool and a change of shops would be good. It would bring more footfall in.”

Michael Abbott moved to Cambourne around 10 years ago, and admitted its “great” transport. He said: “We have regular buses that take you to Cambridge, so you can get into the city centre quite easily.

“We have a good supermarket, but it would be good to see one more to add a bit more variety. Cambourne is also a cheaper place to live if you need to commute to Cambridge for work.”

Just like Aaron, Michael would like to see more places to eat and drink. He added: “The local pub is good, but it would be good to have another one, again for more variety.”

Kin Leu moved to Cambourne a few years ago with his wife and two children. He said: “My wife chose our house because we have two young children, and it’s close to bus stops. So, they can get on the bus safely.” Kin also wants to see more added to Cambourne.

He said: “For me, I would like one more petrol station and maybe another supermarket. I used to walk to Morrisons sometimes, but another supermarket would be nice.

“We have a good football pitch, but sports could be a bit better. A public swimming pool would be good.”

Christina Church has “no complaints” about living in Cambourne. She said: “Being in the centre means I am only a few minutes away from what I need, especially Morrisons.

“We have some fast food places like fish and chips and Domino’s, which are good.” Christina praises the transport, but also wishes the town could have a train station.

“If somewhere like Waterbeach can have one, why can’t we?,” added Christina. She said: “It’s a growing town and we need that sort of thing. It would also make it more desirable to live here.

“I also love the green spaces here. They are lovely to walk my dog around.”