Is Cambridge worth a visit?

[Pete S]

Get the bus/taxi to the town centre, walk along King's Parade, go into Cats, along Queens lane past Queens to Silver Street.

(Short memorable/worthwhile diversion: just about opposite Cat's off Kings Parade is Benet Street: 20 yards down there on the left is the Eagle whose bar still bears on its ceiling the candle smoked signatures and WW2 graffitti of the pilots who frequented it.)

Walk down the lane behind the Anchor (reasonable grub) to the pedestrian bridge and get a punt along the Backs.

You can't have more fun with your clothes on.

TopTip1: Go early (10.30) to beat the hoardes of Japanese tourists with their wheelie cases.
TopTip2: If time is short do the Backs rather that Granchester.

Ifany of your group is a Cambridge graduate ask for a discount at the punt booking office, better still flash your Alumnus card.

Cambridge is a fine City.

Peter

[Rob P]

The Eagle was closed for refurbishment last time I was in the city - about four weeks back. Probably just as well after the recent prosecution and conviction for insanitary kitchens.

Rob P

[Delta Juliet]

http://www.cambridgeairport.com/airfield-information/fees-charges

[johnm]

A development proposal was mooted while I was still living there (in Cherry Hinton). It was and is a mad idea, the planners told me with a straight face that they'd assumed almost no additional traffic from a 6000 house development because it was ideally placed for public transport and cycling! The proposed alternative for Marshall's aerospace business was RAF Wyton.

[Gertie]

So, if you do go, and then into town, it could do no harm to pop into the Tourist Information Office and casually mention that your group flew in in light aircraft just to see their fine city and spend money in their eateries ..

The most that could possibly result from that is that your comments would be reported on to the people who run the council ... ie me and my mates ...

Yes the plan was to build on the airfield, but Defence Estates could not get their act together to agree anywhere for Marshalls to move to. Some of us still think it makes sense to move Marshalls to Waterbeach and build houses on Cambridge airport, where residents would be able to cycle to work, rather than keep the airport where it is and build houses on Waterbeach airfield, which would be bought by London commuters (thus doing nothing for the Cambridge housing shortage).

[ozplane]

Rumour Central had it that Sir Arthur Marshall said he would move (a) if they found somewhere for his operations to move to and (b) the developers picked up the tab for the whole move and his employees were not out of pocket due to the move. I bet that caused some sucking in of cheeks. Alconbury and Lakenheath were also in the frame I believe.

[Gertie]

I heard rather different rumours. If I did actually know anything for sure about Marshalls' internal politics I wouldn't publish it here!

[Rob P]

Nothing to do with company confidentiality. Everything on here is in the public domain.

Rob P

[Gertie]

Not sure what you're getting at. I said:

If I did actually know anything for sure about Marshalls' internal politics I wouldn't publish it here!

and refrained from posting anything that I may, or may not, know. I imagine that most people can work out the reasons.

[Highland Park]

There was a very lovely young Australian (?) lady in the GA reception the last time I was there at the end of March. Both her and her colleague were very helpful...

[matspart3]

Did you go then Lefty? Tis a lovely city. Flew in there years ago, got the bus into town and went punting on the Cam.

[Bepy pilot]

Did you go then Lefty? Tis a lovely city. Flew in there years ago, got the bus into town and went punting on the Cam.

Answering as one of those on the regular Waltham Saturday fly-out to which Lefty refers: No we didn't.

The purpose of the Saturday Brunch Club at Waltham is to help those with fewer hours or indeed still in training to get out of the normal routines that get embedded during the PPL course. Usually we fly to more than one airfield and eat at the airfield restaurant, allowing time to get onto another in a different area or of a different type.

Today was all about flying in very strong winds. We did Lydd and Sandown. I had a low hours ATPL student (PPL) and a PPL who had done minimum post PPL hours and gone straight to IMC and passed, good abilities but needing a confidence boost about flying on a marginal day.

For more relaxed group tourism we have a Friday afternoon club which tours the UK and further afield with more experienced pilots, they are more likely to go to Cambridge and spend the rest of the day in the city.

[Flyin'Dutch']

Did you go then Lefty? Tis a lovely city. Flew in there years ago, got the bus into town and went punting on the Cam.

Answering as one of those on the regular Waltham Saturday fly-out to which Lefty refers: No we didn't.

The purpose of the Saturday Brunch Club at Waltham is to help those with fewer hours or indeed still in training to get out of the normal routines that get embedded during the PPL course. Usually we fly to more than one airfield and eat at the airfield restaurant, allowing time to get onto another in a different area or of a different type.

Today was all about flying in very strong winds. We did Lydd and Sandown. I had a low hours ATPL student (PPL) and a PPL who had done minimum post PPL hours and gone straight to IMC and passed, good abilities but needing a confidence boost about flying on a marginal day.

For more relaxed group tourism we have a Friday afternoon club which tours the UK and further afield with more experienced pilots, they are more likely to go to Cambridge and spend the rest of the day in the city.

Brilliant and a brilliant initiative!

[doconnor]

Unlikely as it is, being an Ely resident I'd love a move to Waterbeach !

[rml133]

Likewise, I too thought that Waterbeach would be a sensible move. Existing Marshall employees themselves would not have to relocate. The airfield at Waterbeach is a wasted asset. But then, my business is located next to it and I'd be able to fly to work ......