Members of Ely Inner Wheel club met at the end of January.

President Mary Rone welcomed many members to the meeting, including guests Cat Wilson and Doreen Cutchey. 

She then also welcomed East Cambs District councillor Richard Hobbs, who addressed the meeting on the subject  of ‘How life has changed during 70 years in Ely’.

Richard told the audience he is proud to be a local Fenman, born and bred in Ely more than 70 years ago, and he spoke about the changes during his lifetime.

Richard first worked with his father in their Barber’s Shop in Ely and after a few years ‘escaped’ Ely by joining the crew of the QEII, providing hairdressing on board.

During this time, he met many famous people such as Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Henry Kissinger.

The pull of Ely and the Fens was very strong and Richard returned to the city to marry. He immersed himself in Ely life becoming a councillor and being elected mayor four times. 

He recounted the history of major thriving industries in Ely in the 19th/early 20th centuries and mentioned the Ely sugar beet factory, the jam factory and brewery, all of which closed many years ago.

On a more positive note, Standens engineering company still exists on a new site. The King’s School is now a major employer, as is Ely Cathedral, but the employer of the largest number of people in Ely is actually Tesco.

During Richard’s early years, the Cathedral was an unwelcome, dark and unfriendly place but it has evolved into a thriving asset bringing in tourists and pilgrims in great numbers, along with visitors to Cromwell House. 

Ely is a popular tourism destination and now brings in £380m a year in tourist revenue.

Richard chaired the council committee, which brought to fruition the £15m Ely Leisure and Cinema Complex, which has proved to be very popular, and Ely’s population continues to grow.

Richard hopes that free parking will continue and is confident about Ely’s future.