💬 This Week from the Cambridgeshire Spotlight Team

Hello, Cambridgeshire!

June’s here, and with it comes that familiar mix of warmer evenings, local events springing up, and people making the most of longer days. This week, we’ve rounded up some of the good stuff happening across the county — from Ely to St Neots, Cambridge to Wisbech.

You’ll find practical things to do, a few uplifting stories, and some brilliant local people and places that deserve a nod. So whether you're reading this with a morning brew or a late-night snack, thanks for letting us be part of your week.

Cambridge Buskers & Street Performers Festival

When: Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June
Where: Various venues across Cambridge

No tickets, no stage — just the city turned inside out for a weekend of music, magic and mayhem. Over 250 acts will be popping up in unexpected places with everything from soulful ballads to fire juggling and beatboxing. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s very Cambridge.

Arbury Carnival

When: Saturday 14th June
Where: Arbury, Cambridge

A proper neighbourhood knees-up. This carnival’s been going strong since the '70s, and it’s still packed with parades, music, stalls and that unbeatable local buzz. If you like your fun with a side of community spirit, you’ll feel right at home here.

Wilburton Beer Festival

When: Friday 20th – Saturday 21st June
Where: St Peter’s Hall, Wilburton

Picture a village hall full of good beer, local bands, and the kind of Friday night where the whole pub sings along to “Wonderwall.” With 30+ real ales and ciders on tap (and soft stuff too), it’s a proper friendly do — the kind you end up staying at far longer than planned.

Greenoaks Gathering

When: Friday 13th – Sunday 15th June
Where: Mad Hatters Campsite, near Ely

This one’s all hammocks, hay bales, and happy campers. A chilled-out weekend with grassroots music, wood-fired pizzas, and the kind of atmosphere where strangers become mates by Sunday. Bring your tent, your wellies, and a big appetite for local food and fun.

Wicken Fete & Dog Show

When: Saturday 28th June
Where: Village Green, Wicken

Think old-school village fete — tombolas, tray bakes, coconut shy — with the added joy of dogs in fancy dress. Whether your pooch is up for Best Trick or you’re just there for the scones and bunting, it’s a lovely afternoon in one of the prettiest corners of the county.

Cambridgeshire Plein Air Artist of the Year

When: Saturday 14th June
Where: Histon Manor, Histon

If the idea of wandering round a stately garden while artists bring the view to life sounds like a dreamy way to spend a Saturday — this one’s for you. Histon Manor is flinging open its gates for a relaxed, arty afternoon where painters set up their easels and turn the grounds into one big open-air gallery.

You can stroll, chat to the artists, maybe even snap up a painting before anyone else does. There’ll be tea, cake, and a proper village vibe — and every penny raised goes to Break, a brilliant charity supporting young people who’ve had a rough start in life.

It’s gentle, it’s lovely, and it’s all for a good cause.

Hidden Gem: The Pear & Olive, Hildersham

We’d heard the odd whisper about The Pear & Olive – “oh, that little place near Linton,” someone said. “Surprisingly good,” said someone else, with the kind of tone that means really good.

So last Friday night, we booked a table, hopped in the car, and headed into the countryside to see what all the quiet fuss was about.

From the outside, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a smart farmhouse or someone’s impossibly tidy cottage. Inside, it’s warm and low-lit with a kind of lived-in charm – mismatched candles, gentle chatter, and the comforting smell of something sizzling in butter. It’s got just the right level of polish without trying too hard.

We started with a beetroot carpaccio (the kind of thing you order thinking you’re being virtuous, then end up loving more than anything else on the table). It came with a goat’s cheese mousse that was light, tangy and disappeared far too quickly.

Mains were a bit of a decision crisis – everything sounded tempting – but we ended up with the sea bass for one of us (crispy skin, fennel salad, bright little hits of orange) and a wild mushroom risotto for the other (creamy, earthy, just the right bite). You know when a fork sneaks over to your plate “just to try a bit”? That happened both ways.

Dessert was the real scene-stealer. A dark chocolate tart with a tiny chilli kick, and homemade honeycomb ice cream that should probably win some sort of local award. If we hadn’t been so full, we’d have ordered another to share. Or not share.

The service? Spot-on. Friendly, helpful, knew the menu inside out, but never hovered. Just proper hospitality, like you’re being looked after without even noticing.

It’s not fancy in the tablecloth-and-silverware sense. But it’s the kind of place where the food’s done with love, the atmosphere makes you stay for one more drink, and by the end, you’re already talking about who you’re bringing next time.

If you’re after a meal that feels like a bit of a find – The Pear & Olive delivers, and then some.

Mary Twitchett – Running on Hope

If you ever find yourself at Coldham’s Common on the last Saturday of the month, you might spot a group of people walking or jogging gently together.

They’re not chasing PBs. They’re not in fancy kit. But they’re doing something powerful — and at the heart of it is Mary Twitchett.

Mary’s a nurse, a double cancer survivor, and a quiet force of nature from Trumpington. A few years ago, she co-founded the Cambridge branch of 5K Your Way — a monthly meet-up that gives people affected by cancer a chance to move, connect, and breathe out, together.

She knows first-hand how much that matters. After two rounds with cancer and a long career in healthcare, she’s built something that offers strength without pressure and community without judgement. Just gentle encouragement, a shared 5K, and usually a decent cup of tea at the end.

Last month, she was named Community Hero of the Year in the 2025 People’s Choice Awards — and no one was surprised. As one regular put it: “Mary doesn’t just show up for people — she lifts them.”

It’s not about grand gestures. It’s about steady kindness, month after month. The kind of impact you can only make by walking the same path, again and again, with other people by your side.

Winners with Heart: SME Cambridgeshire Awards

Awards ceremonies aren’t just for the champagne and shiny trophies — they’re for the stories behind them. This year’s SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards reminded us just how much graft, grit, and goodwill is behind the county’s business scene.

One standout? Cambridge Support, scooping Service Excellence and Employer of the Year. They don’t just talk the talk about workplace culture — they walk it, caffeinate it, and send it home with a thank-you note. Proper people-first business, and we love to see it.

Big Plans, Big Changes: Cambridge Business Park Makeover

There’s a massive transformation brewing at Cambridge Business Park — and it’s not just a new logo and some potted plants. We’re talking 5,000 jobs, 350 homes, and green spaces to actually enjoy your lunch break in.

If it all goes to plan, it’ll be one of the biggest shifts in the city’s working landscape. Could it be the fresh start Cambridge’s office scene needs? Watch this space (and maybe buy a sandwich shop nearby).

150 Years in the Fast Lane: Thurlow Nunn Hits a Milestone

Here’s one for the “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” file: Thurlow Nunn, the family-run motor group from Littleport, just turned 150. That’s 150 years of selling, fixing, and revving up vehicles — from horse-drawn carts to hybrids.

They’ve weathered wars, recessions, and the rise of online car-buying, and they’re still going strong. Not many businesses can say that. Hats off to staying power — and to a legacy built on trust, elbow grease, and decent coffee in the waiting room.

Innovation with Intent: A New Cambridge Hub

What happens when you mix big brains, bold ideas, and a postcode that makes investors swoon? You get a new Innovation Hub — coming soon to Cambridge.

This isn’t just a glass box with beanbags. It’s a space designed to connect founders and funders, thinkers and tinkerers. If all goes well, it’ll be the birthplace of the next big “why didn’t I think of that?” idea. And maybe a few decent meet-ups along the way.

 Worzals – A Farm Shop With Soul in Wisbech

You know how some places just get under your skin in the best way? That’s Worzals. It’s not flashy. It’s not part of a chain. But tucked just off the A47 near Wisbech, this family-run farm shop and restaurant feels like the heart of Fenland in bricks, mortar, and a lot of lovingly arranged produce.

It started back in 2011 when the Worzals team (yep, that’s the family name) decided to bring a bit of country warmth to their patch of Cambridgeshire. What they built is the sort of place people pop into for milk and leave with a smile, a loaf of fresh-baked sourdough, and probably a plant they didn’t plan on.

We stopped by on a Thursday morning — the kind of grey day where you just want to be somewhere comforting. Inside the shop, shelves are stacked high with local cheeses, jams, handmade pies, and vegetables that still smell faintly of soil.

The staff? Friendly in that proper, unfussy way — happy to chat, quick with a recommendation, and clearly proud of what they do.

Then there’s the restaurant. The full English is a crowd favourite (and for good reason — crispy bacon, sausages with real bite, eggs you could write poems about), but we went for the chicken, bacon, and leek pie. It came out golden and bubbling, with a side of seasonal veg and mash so fluffy it might have had a diploma in comfort.

What makes Worzals special isn’t just what they sell — it’s the feeling. It’s grandparents picking out petunias in the garden centre. It’s kids getting excited over the pic’n’mix. It’s a teenager behind the till who greets an elderly customer by name and asks how her dog’s doing.

Worzals isn’t just serving food or selling plants. It’s serving community. And in a world of rushed checkouts and soulless retail parks, that matters more than ever.

If you’re anywhere near Wisbech and fancy a reminder of what local business at its best looks (and tastes) like — Worzals is your spot.

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From village greens to riverside pitches, sport in Cambridgeshire is less about corporate stadiums and more about muddy knees, shared pints, and lifelong friendships forged over one more lap or one last try. Here’s some of what’s happening across the county this month.

Junior Glory at the Ely Sprint Triathlon

When: Sunday, 16th June
Where: The Hive Leisure Centre, Ely

It’s not just grown-ups getting the glory. This year’s Ely Sprint Triathlon has added a new Junior Tri event, and kids from across East Cambs are diving in, pedalling out, and sprinting home with serious determination. Expect proud parents, jelly legs, and medals earned the hard way

Village Cricket: Blazers, Bats & Biscuits

When: Every weekend in June
Where: Grounds across the county – March, Chatteris, Littleport & more

The sound of leather on willow is back, and village cricket is having a bit of a moment. Clubs like March Town, Chatteris CC, and Littleport CC are fielding strong sides and welcoming new players, young and not-so-young. Pop down for a match – there’s usually a brew on and someone’s Nan has brought excellent cake.

Tour de Fenland: Local Lanes, Big Rides

When: Sunday, 23rd June
Where: Starting in Whittlesey

Fenland’s flat, scenic roads are perfect cycling country, and the Tour de Fenland makes the most of it. With 25, 50, and 100 km routes, it's a chance to test your legs and spot herons along the way. All funds raised go toward keeping local youth sports clubs running, so every mile helps.

Touch Rugby Returns to St Ives RFC

When: Friday evenings in June
Where: St Ives Rugby Club

Tackles are out, high-fives are in — Touch Rugby Fridays at St Ives are a brilliantly fun, inclusive way to get moving. Open to all levels and all ages, the post-match pint tradition is alive and well. Bring your trainers and your sense of humour.

Paddle Together – River Sessions for All

When: Saturdays, June–August
Where: St Neots Rowing Club

New to kayaking or just fancy a peaceful paddle down the Ouse? St Neots RC is running taster sessions every weekend — no membership, no experience needed. Great for clearing your head and seeing the county from a new angle.

From sidelines to sprints, Cambridgeshire’s sports scene is fuelled by community, enthusiasm, and the joy of just getting stuck in. Whether you’re pulling on your boots or just cheering with a sausage roll, we salute you.

Summer Recipe:

Charred Corn & Halloumi Salad with Chilli Honey Dressing

The vibe: A little smoky, a little salty, a little sweet. This is the salad that thinks it's the main event — and honestly, it is.

Perfect for: Lazy lunches, BBQ sides, garden gatherings.

🛒 You’ll Need:

• 2 fresh corn cobs (or a tin of sweetcorn in a pinch)

• 1 block of halloumi, sliced

• 1 red chilli, finely chopped (deseeded if you’re spice-cautious)

• 1 tbsp honey

• Juice of 1 lime

• A handful of fresh coriander or parsley

• Olive oil

• Salt & pepper

• Optional: sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, or rocket to bulk it out

👩‍🍳 Method:

1. Fire it up:
   If using fresh corn, char it on a griddle pan or BBQ until golden and slightly smoky. Slice off the kernels once cooled a bit. If using tinned corn, dry it off and give it a quick fry to add a bit of crunch.
2.  

2. Fry the halloumi:
In a hot, lightly oiled pan, cook the halloumi slices for 2–3 mins each side until golden and crispy.

3. Make the magic sauce:
Mix honey, lime juice, chopped chilli, a glug of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust — more honey if you're sweet, more chilli if you're feisty.

4. Build your bowl:
Toss the corn with fresh herbs, layer on the halloumi, and drizzle over that glossy dressing. Add extras if you're feeling fancy.

🥤 Pair It With: Minty Iced Green Tea

Steep 2 green tea bags with boiling water and a handful of fresh mint. Cool, then chill in the fridge. Serve over ice with lemon slices and a dash of honey. Feels virtuous but tastes like a treat.

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