I didn't realise the old Manor Community College in Arbury had been pulled down. Has it really?
To our minds, it's a shame - but yes, the Manor disappeared a few years ago. We wish the council had used the money to upgrade the existing buildings and install a swimming pool for local community use.
The site had first known split use in the 1980s, with the Cambridge Regional College's 'Arbury Centre' being accommodated there.
In later years, the old tower block was used as student accommodation by Bellerbys language school. It's hard to imagine actually living in the tower block, but students on the top floor would have had a fine view over North and South Arbury, with glimpses of some of the villages beyond, and Cambridge.
We would love to hear from people who lived in the tower block.
Bellerbys named their student accommodation 'Manor House', which is interesting as there was no manor house in Arbury. But there was the old Manor Farmhouse, which was known locally as the 'manor house' during the farm years.
The Arbury Archivists recently lost a cherished member, Debbie Brett. She died in August. We've had a lovely comment from somebody who knew Debbie in her capacity as a care and support worker:
I was stunned to read of the death of Debbie Brett who was my keyworker some years ago when I experienced mental health problems and was at my lowest ebb.
She was wonderful, kind, knowledgeable and as you wrote in your piece here she REALLY listened.
She stopped me from feeling alone.
I was tortured by my mind, lost. She gradually assisted me to work through that and emerge into reality. I was on medication too and still am, but Debbie was a real live human being who made a difference simply by letting me talk and scream and be. She was always kind, and taught me the meaning of the word empathy by example.
I can't begin to tell you the difference she made. She never tried to force my decisions, never murmured platitudes, never made me feel odd and out of place. She simply entered my space and became a support and a great comfort.
I didn't know she was involved in the Arbury project which I began reading in July and to read of her death was a shock.
RIP dear Debbie. You were a wonderful person and I shall always remember you with gratitude.
Thank you very much indeed for that.
Debbie was a very special person.
Things are a little quiet here at the moment as we are all experiencing grief and rallying around our 'Arbury Guru', Andy, Debbie's husband, who is devastated at her passing.
They were amazingly close - two sides of the same coin.
We are going on. Badger has several articles in preparation, and our exploration of the historic Arbury district - Carlton Way to King's Hedges Road (including the 1977 version) - will continue.
Debbie would certainly have wished it so.
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