www.cambridgTuesday, August 21, 201216 CENTRESPREAD

LOOKINGBACKBy MIKE PETTY

Council housesstanding empty>> FROM THE NEWS, 1987The search for somewhereto live is increasinglydesperate. Yet more than400 council homes areempty. In Cambridge –where the council housinglist tops 4,000 – oneproperty in Fen Road hasbeen empty for a year,another in Long ReachRoad for nine months andone in Oak Tree Avenue for20. Officials say some needrepair, campaigners claim itis down to inefficiency.

Man sees twocrash landings>> FROM THE NEWS, 1962Two fliers parachuted tosafety when a Hunting JetProvost aircraft crashedinto a field at Girton – lessthan 100 yards from thespot where one of the firstflying machines in thecountry force-landed 50years ago. The same manwho ran to rescue the pilotthen was one of a few eyewitnesses to the recentcrash. He was 65-year-oldHerbert Moore of Histon, aspecial constable in theCounty Police.

First impressionsof Cambridge>> FROM THE NEWS, 1937Sir – as a small boy in the1880s my first impressionsof Cambridge were sodifferent from today as tobe almost incredible.Cambridge, boundedpractically by Mill Roadrailway gates, Paper MillsBridge, Hills Road Bridgeand Queens’ Road was aglorified village. It smackedof medieval times with itsSpinning House in StAndrew’s Street and breadand butter was retailed inyard length by Varsitytradesmen. The fastestvehicles on the road werethe tandem horses in dogcarts affected by richundergraduates andhansom cabs. I helped MrJoseph Sturton’s shepherdmove his flock to and fromParker’s Piece where theywere grazed – P.J. Wright

Traffic on SilverStreet a problem>> FROM THE NEWS, 1912A new scheme for relievingthe traffic in Silver Streetrecommends a new roadand bridge passing on theeast side of the old mill andalong the wall ofPeterhouse to Coe FenLane at a total cost of£14,246 (£1.3m today).The Corporation purchasedMr Foster’s mill. It was atpresent broken down andwould never be used as amill again. But there was astrong feeling against aroad across Coe Fen andSheep’s Green.

AWHIRL of swoon-worthy designer finds,bike riding adventures,

freshly-cut flowers andluminous photographs – not tomention a whole lot of Frenchmacaroons. . . this is thecharming world of Cambridgewriter Briony Whitehouse.

Well, one side of it at least. Infact, the eloquent 29-year-old leadssomething of a double life. Yet thisis no shadowy tale of espionage,but one of politics versus fashion.

A beguiling and award-winningsartorial blogger by night, Briony,(known as MissB to her avidfollowers), willby day be foundrunning aboutWhitehall as apolitical adviser.

“They’re notnaturalpartners,” sheadmits. “It is abit uncommon,but I love bothin equalmeasure.”

Her blog, AGirl, A Style, isn’tstuffed with thesecretive styledilemmas anddisasters ofcabinet ministersand partyofficials either(sadly), instead,the ‘Australiangirl inCambridge’decided to starttapping out her stylish musings as away of being creative outside ofpolitics, and has never looked backsince.

“It’s my rose-tinted view ofanything that I like really,” sheexplains, promising that the blogisn’t just about fashion, but food,travel, beauty and the cities sheadores, particularly Cambridge (“It’sso beautiful!”) where she lives withher boyfriend who works for theuniversity.

Three years on and herclandestine project has earned herthe coveted title of Red magazine’sBest Fashion Blogger of the year2011, and a ‘highly commended’ atCosmopolitan’s 2011 blog awards.

“I was justexpecting my twobest friends to readit!” she laughs,pleasantly surprisedby how much herlittle nook of theinternet has grown.

“I’m still blownaway by the

support of my readers, they are sodedicated and encouraging andloyal; it’s turned into such a littlecommunity.”

That community amounts toalmost 60,000 ardent readers, and,with a frantic day job to contendwith too, it’s impressive that Brionycan so gracefully and successfullymanage the two.

“I’m still learning how to juggle itall,” she tells me, snatching amoment during her lunch break fora chat. “Lack of sleep. . . I neverlack things to write about and share,there are always so many greatthings happening. It’s finding thetime to get it all down that’s theproblem.

“I’m my own worst critic. I feelhorribly guilty if I haven’t posted fora week.”

When she does have time topost, it’s definitely worth the wait.An enchanting antidote to theunaffordable frippery that so oftenspills from high-end fashionmagazines, A Girl, A Style is just asluxurious but much moreaccessible: “Glossy magazines are

always perfect, filled withsupermodels, and it can be hard torelate to, but I’m a real girl, anormal size, have a normal job – Ithink people can relate to that.

“I never take things too seriously,”she says, explaining the popularityof the blog, and that extends to herwardrobe too. “My style is a strangemix between hyper feminine andvery girly, and preppy, collegiate, a

bit Oxbridge boyfun twist. A frienddescribed it as ‘ch

All these themeeffortlessly througjust like her passiof Briony’s major

“I love Cambridbubbling over wit“We need to supindependent shoThere aren’t enoumore little indepeI’d like to see a loindependent stor

Citing Ark as thfor home bits, gifyou’ll also find Braround King Streedesigner pieces (“in need of a splurover heels with aThe Cambridge Sthat’s she’s plannsummer long.

For now thougof an A Girl, A Styhappening at somwould just be hap

Want to live like CoA political adviser inWhitehall by day,Briony Whitehouse isan award-winningfashion blogger bynight, whose musingsattract 60,000 hits amonth. ELLA WALKERchats to the award-winning 29-year-oldabout her fascinatingdouble life

� A new MulberryAlexa bag in a blushpink – “I always buya new bag (everyseason),that

sounds veryextravagant, but I’ma bag lady. . . and a shoelady!”

� A new Pashleybike in bluepoppy – “It’sjust so

Cambridge.”� A pair ofLouboutin’s withstudded heels – “Ithink every woman

shouldhave apair.”

What’s on Briony’s fashion wish list?

ge-news.co.uk Tuesday, August 21, 2012 29CENTRESPREAD

Yoga workshopfor mums-to-be

Collision leavescyclist injuredA CYCLIST sustained headinjuries after he collided with acar on a busy road.The 65-year-old man wasinvolved in the crash shortlyafter 6.30pm yesterdayevening on the A428 nearCambourne roundabout.Paramedics treated his minorinjuries at the scene andpolice were also inattendance.The scene was clearedshortly before 8pm.

Police to discusstheir priorities

PREGNANT women are beinginvited to a special yogaworkshop in Little Downhamon Saturday, August 25.A fully-qualified pregnancyyoga instructor will lead theevent at the village’s YogaStudio from 10am-12.30pm.The event will include a talkand yoga techniquesfocussing on postures,movements, breathingpractices and relaxationtechniques to relieve commonpregnancy ailments.For more information, call(01353) 698090.

Interested in anapprenticeship?ADVICE days are available ata further education college.

Cambridge Regional Collegein King’s Hedges Road isholding the post-resultssessions to give students thechance to talk to tutors aboutenrolling in full-time coursesor becoming an apprentice.

The advice days take placeon Friday, August 24, andTuesday, August 28, from9.30am-1pm.

For more information visitwww.camre.ac.uk or call(01223) 226315 or 418249.

POLICING priorities will bediscussed at a publicmeeting.The Comberton PanelMeeting, which will beattended by officers from theCambourne policing team,takes place tomorrow, atSouth Cambridgeshire DistrictCouncil’s headquarters onCambourne’s business park.It will start at 6.30pm andfinish by 8.30pm.Residents are welcome toattend and raise issues ofconcerns affecting theircommunity.

>> in Brief

TODAY ONLINE

What’s On

y – always with ad recentlyhic with a wink’.”es weavegh A Girl, A Style,on for the city, oner inspirations.dge,” she says,th enthusiasm.

pport ourps more though.ugh boutiques, it’sendent art galleries.ot moreres.”he perfect havenfts and vintage,riony potteringet’s Giulio for“When I’m feelingrge!”) and is headsilver satchel from

Satchel Companyning on carrying all

h, aside from talkyle book

me point, Brionyppy to see more

people getting involved with thecity’s online writing scene.

“I would like to see moreCambridge fashion bloggers,” sheenthuses. “I think I’m the only oneat the moment. There are lots ofcraft and foodie bloggers, butthere’s so much potential here, it’sa very stylish city, people are veryquirky, but I would love to see moreblog love for Cambridge –sometimes I think I’m Cambridge’sbiggest fan.”

And with that, she whirls off, backto her high-powered yet magicaland oh-so-stylish double life. Infact, she’d probably make rather agood spy.� Find Briony’s blog athttp://agirlastyle.com, contact hervia Twitter @AGirlAStyle anddiscover more about her stylishworld on Pinterest(http://pinterest.com/agirlastyle/).� Pictures © Sarah Steele. Sarah isavailable for commissions – to findout more, call 07768 653 130 oremail sarah.steele.photography@gmail.com

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