Shailesh Vara MP visited Ferrar House and St John’s Church in Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire, following recent renovation works.

Mr Vara, who is a member of Ferrar House’s Advisory Council, was welcomed by the Very Revd Dr Philip Buckler, the Chair of The Trustees of Little Gidding, and he also met fellow trustees and members of the Advisory Council.

Whilst Ferrar House was closed during the covid-19 pandemic, renovations were carried out to its rooms and underfloor heating was installed. Mr Vara saw first-hand all the improvements to the House and the church, set in their beautiful rural surroundings.

Ferrar House has been a place of pilgrimage since 1625 when Nicholas Ferrar established it as a “Household of Faith,” providing a place of peace for people of all faiths and none. When Nicolas Ferrar purchased the Manor of Little Gidding, he found that St John’s Church was being used as a barn and the house was in desperate need of repair. Renovations and a rebuild ensued. On his death in 1637, Nicholas Ferrar was buried in a table tomb in front of the entrance to the church.

Ferrar House has received many prominent visitors in the past, including poets George Herbert and T.S. Eliot, and in 1642 King Charles I sought refuge at the House.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“I was very pleased to see the Very Revd Dr Philip Buckler and his colleagues again, as well as Ferrar House and St John’s Church, following the recent renovations work. I was particularly pleased to see inside the church, a place where visitors can enjoy its peace and beauty as well as its history.

Ferrar House is a special place for those seeking reflection and tranquillity, where people have the opportunity to enjoy a quiet retreat.”

The Very Revd Dr Philip Buckler commented:

”We are very pleased to welcome Mr Shailesh Vara MP and other members of our advisory Council to view the recent improvements to Ferrar House and the Church at Little Gidding. This has been a place of pilgrimage for many since 1625 when Nicholas Ferrar established an ‘Household of Faith’ here. The poet George Herbert, King Charles 1, and more recently the poet T.S.Eliot all have links with this place – the latter naming one of his Four Quartets after Little Gidding and describing it as a place ‘where prayer has been valid’. The Trust seeks to encourage those of all faiths and none to visit and experience what many have found to be a place of special holiness and peace.”

Photos: Shailesh Vara MP with Trustees and Advisory Council in front of Ferrar House.

Shailesh Vara MP with Trustees and Advisory Council in front of the church and behind Nicholas Ferrar’s table tomb.

Shailesh Vara MP today met with Professor Ross Renton, Principal of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Peterborough.

ARU Peterborough is currently under construction on the Embankment, close to the City Centre and it is aiming to open its doors to students later this year in September.

Mr Vara and Professor Renton discussed a variety of issues, including progress of the construction works, funding and working with local businesses and the community.

The campus has been developed in partnership with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University. The University will offer state-of-the-art facilities to local students, as well as bringing significant investment to the area. The University will also offer online courses and company based learning through local outreach centres.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“I had a very good meeting with Professor Renton during which we discussed a number of issues. The University will provide the students with a number of educational pathways and it has huge potential for the future.

“It will be playing a crucial role in the future of Peterborough and our regional and I look forward to continuing to work with Professor Renton as we move forward.”

Professor Renton added:

“It was a pleasure to meet Mr Vara and have the opportunity to discuss the range of employment-focused courses we are co-creating with over 170 local employers to enable students to access rewarding high-skilled jobs across the region, including in Mr Vara’s North West Cambridgeshire constituency. 

“We also talked about the significant opportunities ARU Peterborough has to collaborate with businesses and other organisations by developing research and innovation links between the university and industry.

“I was delighted to be able to talk with him about the fabulous new facilities that are taking shape, which will have a transformative impact on both the city and the region. I was also able to share with him that our builders, Bowker and Kirkland, are confident the building work is on track for opening, including a series of events over the summer”

Photo: Professor Renton and Shailesh Vara MP.

Shailesh Vara MP today met with Sandra Currie, Chief Executive of Kidney Research UK, at the charity’s offices in Lynch Wood, Peterborough, to discuss current research and awareness campaigns commissioned by the charity.

Kidney Research UK is the largest charity in the country dedicated to preventing, treating and curing kidney disease. In the UK, over three million people are affected by kidney disease, and the charity uses public donations to fund research into both prevention and improved treatment methods, such as dialysis and transplantation. Kidney Research UK also spends twenty five per cent of donations received on public awareness campaigns.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“Kidney Research are doing fantastic work and it was a pleasure to meet Sandra and her team. So many people in the UK have kidney disease and Kidney Research play a vital role in helping the public appreciate the importance of healthy kidneys. Kidney Research’s work and research is impressive and I look forward to working with them in the future.”

Ms Currie added:

“Around one in every 15 adults in the UK have kidney disease. Despite this, and despite their incredibly important role in keeping our body functioning, the kidneys are often overlooked. Kidney Research UK is striving to put kidney health at the top of everyone’s agenda. We were delighted to host Mr Vara at our offices in Peterborough and show him how important our research is for kidney patients, and to share some of our breakthroughs. His support will help us to increase opportunities for all kidney patients to have their voices heard in Parliament.”

Photo: Suzanne Ostler, Shailesh Vara MP, Sandra Currie, Mae Smith and Alison Railton.

Shailesh Vara MP today attended the Eastern Powerhouse Reception at the Key Theatre on the Embankment in Peterborough.

Mr Vara was welcomed by the Chair of Eastern Powerhouse, James Palmer, and met several local business people at the event, from across the region.

The Eastern Powerhouse aims to promote the East of England by attracting and working with businesses across the eastern region. By doing so, the organisation seeks to build links, share businesses knowledge and help improve business prospects in Peterborough, both for individuals and companies.

There is a strong need locally for skills growth and retention. It is hoped that the new Anglia Ruskin University will help to address this issue by creating opportunities for people to learn new skills and bring new skilled jobs and businesses  to the East of England.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“This event was a great opportunity for businesses in our region to meet and discuss ideas of working together with a common goal and I congratulate Eastern Powerhouse for organising it.

“By bringing businesses together and sharing their knowledge and experience, we can help to benefit businesses and jobs and thereby help create a better and stronger regional economy.

“I am pleased to support Eastern Powerhouse in their ambition to help generate more business and investment opportunities in the East.”

Mr James Palmer added:

“Peterborough is an ambitious and forward-thinking city that has a crucial role to play in driving development across the UK. However, at present the city faces two key barriers to its success: the economic damage wrought by Covid 19 on the one hand, and lower than average skills attainment on the other. Recent initiatives like the regeneration of the city centre, improved connectivity in public transport, and the founding of a new Anglia Ruskin university campus, are a fighting start in addressing these issues. The Eastern Powerhouse applauds these efforts, and our hope is that by offering a platform where new solutions can be formulated and honed, our partnership could play a small yet vital role in helping Peterborough achieve its full potential”.

Photo: James Palmer, Shailesh Vara MP and James Sutcliffe, Chief Executive, Port-Evo  

Shailesh Vara speaks in the House of Commons to congratulate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her Platinum Jubilee.

Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

It is a great privilege and honour to congratulate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on her platinum jubilee on behalf of my constituents of North West Cambridgeshire.

On a tour of Africa, the then 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth took a vow, which has been referred to by earlier speakers. Taking that vow, she said:

“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be dedicated to your service”.

Her Majesty has truly kept that vow. With her matchless sense of duty, she has worked tirelessly and given the nation and the Commonwealth 70 years of dedicated service. Throughout that period, until very recently, she had the unwavering support by her side of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

During Her Majesty’s reign, there have been 14 UK Prime Ministers, the first being Sir Winston Churchill. There have been 14 US Presidents, starting with Harry S. Truman, and Pope Pius XII was the first of seven popes. There have also been 10 Speakers, beginning with William Morrison, covering 19 Parliaments. In 1952, there were only eight Commonwealth countries, compared with the 54 that we now have.

It has been an extraordinary reign, during which our country and the world have witnessed enormous change. To put matters into perspective, I was born in Kakira in Uganda at a time when Uganda was still part of the British empire. My family arrived here in the ‘60s and now I, the son of an immigrant carpenter, proudly stand in this House paying tribute to Her Majesty on behalf of my constituents from North West Cambridgeshire.

Compared with 1952, there are now in the UK more opportunities for people to rise as far as their talent and ability will take them, and more opportunities for education, home ownership, better health, more leisure time and more prosperity generally. As has been mentioned by previous speakers, we are a much more diverse nation—diversity of race, diversity of faith and diversity of culture. Through it all, Her Majesty has provided continuity, a platinum thread through the decades, a voice for good whose advice has been sought by world leaders across the four corners of the world. Her Majesty has also played a crucial constitutional role. She has been the guarantor of the constitutional integrity of our nation, providing stability and constancy throughout the decades.

On a more local level, my constituency is relatively new, having been formed in 1997. It comprises the southern part of Peterborough and 100 or so villages, including many in the northern part of Huntingdonshire. Records show that, in 1978, Her Majesty visited the national Shire Horse Society centenary show at Alwalton. She opened the Peterborough Building Society’s head office at Lynch Wood in 1988, and in 1991 there were traffic hold-ups as 3,000 extra visitors tried to see the Queen at the East of England Show.

Moreover, in June 2012, Her Majesty was the guest of Lady Victoria and Mr Simon Leatham, marking the Queen’s diamond jubilee picnic at Burghley House, when some 7,000 people came along to enjoy music and aerial displays.

My constituency has changed in many ways in the past 70 years. A large part of it—the Peterborough part —was, until 1974, part of Northamptonshire. However, while much has changed during Her Majesty’s reign, some things are timeless. I am sure that, were T.S. Eliot alive today, he would agree that the village of Little Gidding, of “Four Quartets” fame, is the same now as it was in 1945 when he published his poem.

Something else that is timeless is the love and affection that my constituents feel for Her Majesty. Sir John Colville spoke for many when he said in his book “The Elizabethans”:

“In an age of melting convictions and questionable needs the Queen’s unassuming virtues and faultless example have stood out like a rock in a sea of troubles.”

My congratulations again, and I thank Her Majesty for a lifetime of service to our nation and the Commonwealth.

Hansard

Shailesh Vara MP today spoke in the House of Commons on behalf of his constituents in North West Cambridgeshire, to congratulate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her Platinum Jubilee.

Mr Vara spoke of the huge changes that have taken place in the UK and across the world during the past 70 years, and how Her Majesty has been “The Platinum Thread” throughout this period.

He referred to Her Majesty’s reign covering, amongst other things, 14 UK Prime Ministers, starting with Sir Winston Churchill, 14 US Presidents, 7 Popes since Pius XII, and the expansion of the Commonwealth from 8 countries in 1952 to 54 countries now.

Mr Vara mentioned occasions when the Queen had visited parts of his constituency, including a visit in 2012 to Burghley House to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, along with 7,000 other visitors.

When speaking of the changes that have taken place in the last 7 decades, Mr Vara also mentioned being born in Uganda at a time when Uganda was still part of the British Empire and coming to the UK and proudly paying tribute to Her Majesty in the House of Commons on behalf of his constituents.