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Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

Joanna Taylor
BBC News, Peterborough
HARRIET HEYWOOD/BBC Ms Chantal is standing outside the Cresset building. It has brown bricks and electric glass doors at the entrance. She is smiling with her hands behind her back. HARRIET HEYWOOD/BBC
New director Louise Chantel wanted to see more original music performed at The Cresset Theatre in Peterborough

A new director hopes to invest in the future of a Peterborough theatre and arts venue, while a striking orange-and-yellow railcar from the 1950s is on track to re-enter service at a heritage railway in the city.

Here are five stories from Peterborough you might have missed this week.

Head 'ran to call 999' after Benedict collapsed

FAMILY HANDOUT A young boy with dark blond hair is sitting on a step outside a blue door. He is wearing a burgundy school uniform with long grey socks and black shoes. The school uniform's jumper has a yellow circular logo, and he has a matching school bag next to him. He is looking up to the side and smiling.FAMILY HANDOUT
Benedict went to Barnack Primary School, between Peterborough and Stamford

A head teacher said she "ran straight to the phone" to call 999 after she saw a pupil lying on the floor in a Peterborough school, suffering from an allergic reaction.

Benedict Blythe, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, was treated with an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) and given CPR after he was sick twice and collapsed at Barnack Primary School in December 2021.

Head teacher Amy Jones told an inquest that a caretaker called her to a classroom, where she saw the five-year-old on the floor being treated with the AAI.

Benedict, who had asthma and a number of allergies, including to milk and eggs, died due to food-induced anaphylaxis. The inquest continues.

Director plans to invest in future of theatre

HARRIET HEYWOOD/BBC Ms Chantal is sat in the theatre seating smiling at the camera. She has medium length blonde hair, blue eyes and pink lipstick. She is wearing earrings and blue, red and gold flower print dress. She is also wearing glasses on top of her head. HARRIET HEYWOOD/BBC
Louise Chantal hoped the new direction for The Cresset could lead to more local events

A new director hoped to invest in the future of a Peterborough theatre and arts venue.

Louise Chantal said The Cresset in Bretton was undergoing an "incredible programme of transformation" as the site required funding and reimagination.

She said she wanted to see more original music played at the theatre, including jazz, opera, classical and country and western.

Retro Swedish railcar back on track after re-fit

NENE VALLEY RAILWAY A orange rail cart, made up of two carriages, is on the tracks on a sunny day. It is rounded at the sides with yellow paint around the windows, orange on the body and black on the top and bottom. NENE VALLEY RAILWAY
The Swedish railcar 1212/1987 will re-enter service on 9 July after an extensive restoration

A Swedish Railcar is on track to be re-entered into service after an extensive restoration.

The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) said the diesel mechanical railbuses, built for the Swedish State Railways in 1958, would be open for passengers to ride on 9 July.

The retro-looking vehicle is made up of two carriages - a 1212 Motor Car and 1987 Trailer Car - which have been affectionately nicknamed Helga and Hagar.

Businesses 'struggling' during roadworks project

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Mohammed Farooq wearing black glasses, a navy jacket and lighter blue shirt is smiling at the camera and resting his hands on a white counter. Behind him are silver counters with fried chicken laid out, red takeaway boxes and posters with price lists. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Mohammed Farooq said customer numbers to his fried chicken shop have more than halved

Businesses along Lincoln Road said they were struggling while a "café culture" redevelopment project took place.

The improvement works in the heart of Millfield would widen walkways and include a new pedestrian crossing, but Mohammed Farooq, owner of Chicken Palace, said, "about 65% of our business is gone."

Peterborough City Council said it was "trying to put in as much mitigation as possible" for businesses.

'Running helped save me after my cancer diagnosis'

JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Graham McMillan is wearing black glasses and a black-and-white t-shirt. He is smiling at the camera and holding Maisie, a white and beige Jack Russell and Yorkie cross. She is licking her nose and wearing a blue harness that reads 'Service Dog'. Behind them is part of a sandstone wall and blue double-doors on the side of Bewiched Coffee in Peterborough. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Graham McMillan is preparing to take on the Great Eastern Run and the London Marathon

A frontline health worker said running helped save his life after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and a heart murmur.

Graham McMillan, 59, from Peterborough, an emergency care assistant with the East of England Ambulance Service, has been treated for neuroendocrine cancer which starts in hormone-producing nerve cells.

"I think a lot of my recovery has been because I've been fit and running," he said. "It's not competitive, [doing] fast running and silly distances, just 5ks every now and again that have kept me going."

The week in politics

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority said it would help provide two 'shopper-style' Ramsey to Peterborough trips after the only bus connecting them was cut.

Stagecoach said the 31 route would no longer serve passengers in several rural towns and villages including Ramsey after 31 August due to "extremely low passenger numbers".

Local people said those without cars would be "stuck" as there are no alternative buses, affecting those trying to reach work, school, college, shops, medical appointments and other services.

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Patricia Chalkley, 76, has light blonde short hair with a turquoise V-necked jumper on with a gold chain around her neck. She is sitting on the blue and orange seat of a bus with a shopping bag beside her and empty seats behind her. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Patricia Chalkley says people in Ramsey and the surrounding villages will be left isolated when the 31 route ends

Meanwhile, local MPs and councillors were among those who attended a summit aimed at bringing a public pool back to the city.

Peterborough City Council hosted the event after the government announced funding could be available for a new facility earlier this month.

Finally, a housing development of 95 homes on the southern edge of Glinton was approved after the council U-turned on its original decision.

In January, Peterborough City Council planners rejected the Larkfleet Group's application to build on fields on the southern edge of the village, arguing the development would result in "significant harm to the character and appearance of the area".

But days before a public inquiry into the decision was due to start, the council was unable to demonstrate plans for a five-year housing supply, meaning its most important policies for determining the appeal were "out of date".

The week in sport

Peterborough United have signed goalkeeper Alex Bass from League Two side Notts County on a three-year deal.

The 27-year-old moves for an undisclosed fee, but Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAntony confirmed on social media that the former Sunderland and AFC Wimbledon keeper had cost more than £300,000.

Several former Posh players transferred elsewhere. Winger Kwame Poku was signed by Queens Park Rangers, centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez was signed by Rangers and striker Malik Mothersille was signed by Stockport County.

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