LOVE LOCAL
Harston hairdresser launches curly hair guide Phie Kirk, a Cambridge-based hairdresser and owner of Phie’s Salon, has written and self-published a new book. The Curly Hair Guide is the result of Phie’s 15 years of experience in the hairdressing industry and her passion for helping people understand, embrace and properly care for their curls. “I wanted to create something that would make professional curly-hair knowledge more accessible and help people feel more confident looking after their own hair,” she explained. Visit phies-salon.wixsite.com/salon
NEWS IN BRIEF
Calling all fearless fundraisers!
Share your memories What’s your earliest memory of Glasswells? As it celebrates its 80th anniversary, the independent home department store is inviting the local community to share their stories connected to Glasswells over the past eight decades. Whether it’s a memory of your own or a story passed down, you can add it in the comments under the ‘Share Your Memories’ post on the Glasswells Facebook page, or on Instagram @glasswells A Dragon Boat record Teams at this year’s Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival have smashed last year’s fundraising total to raise more than £50,000 for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital – with a last-minute surprise donation taking them over the finish line. Buffaload Logistics became the team to raise the highest amount for the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival ever, following a surprise donation of £5,000 from one of its clients.
The Red Hen Project is challenging the people of Cambridge to walk barefoot across red-hot coals as it launches its second Fearless Firewalk! Following the success of last year’s event, which raised £7,000+ to support local children and families, the charity is inviting individuals, businesses and community groups to take on the challenge on 21 October at the Cass Centre. Expert training will be provided. redhenproject.org/firewalk Big thanks to Foodbank volunteers Between January and June, Cambridge City Foodbank volunteers donated almost 14,000 hours, which equates to over £175,896 if they were paid at the rate of the National Living Wage. Volunteers at the Foodbank are vital to its operation and, this year, will ensure that more than 250,000 meals are provided. cambridgecity.foodbank.org.uk
Cambridgeshire grower wins award Alan Shipp from Waterbeach,
Cambridge is the recipient of this year’s Brickell Conservation Award, which celebrates excellence in cultivated plant conservation by National Plant Collection holders. Alan has held his National Plant Collection of Hyacinthus orientalis since 1993, and it has become one of the most comprehensive hyacinth collections in the world. From an initial 50 to 60 cultivars, by 1998 he had increased the collection to 108 cultivars. As his success became known nationally and internationally, further discoveries emerged from Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania and Switzerland. Today, his National Collection is incredibly impressive, with 243 cultivars, one species and 261 taxa overall. Judges for the award – which is named after Chris Brickell, the former RHS director general and
TEN YEARS OF IBIS CAMBRIDGE Ibis Cambridge Central Station is celebrating its tenth anniversary, marking a decade of welcoming visitors to the city. Since 2016, the hotel has hosted thousands of guests travelling for business, leisure, university visits and special occasions, as well as those spending valuable time with family and friends. “As we celebrate ten years of Ibis Cambridge Central Station, we’re grateful for the people who have shaped our story. To our guests, colleagues, partners and community: thank you for your support, trust and friendship throughout the years,” said general manager Shivani O’Brien.
founding member of conservation charity Plant Heritage – praised Alan’s research in finding lost cultivars and keeping those out of favour in cultivation, as well as his international collaboration and maintenance of historical cultivars. They were also impressed by his endeavours to keep such a large collection, and to continue the cycle of lifting and propagating his plants each year.
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