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Five stories in Peterborough you might have missed

Joanna TaylorCambridgeshire
WOODGREEN PETS CHARITY Ciara Pollen is smiling at the camera while Fern the dog eats treats from her outstretched hand. Ciara has blonde and pink wavy, shoulder-length hair and is wearing a pale pink sweatshirt. She and the dog are sitting on a sofa in a living room.WOODGREEN PETS CHARITY
Woodgreen Pets Charity behaviour and training specialist, Ciara Pollen, adopted a shiba inu and her five puppies found hiding in a tree in Peterborough

A litter of shiba inu puppies found hiding in a tree in Peterborough are thriving with their new foster family, while celebrity historians are due to host events at this year's Katherine of Aragon Festival at Peterborough Cathedral.

Here's five stories from the city you might have missed this week.

Pups found hiding in tree enjoy warm Christmas

WOODGREEN PETS CHARITY An adult dog is surrounded by small, fluffy puppies. She is ginger and white and has a pointed snout, a little like a fox. The puppies are various shades of ginger, brown and white. One is completely white. They are sitting in the corner of a room.WOODGREEN PETS CHARITY
Fern and her puppies are safe and warm in their foster home

An abandoned dog and her five newborn puppies, which were found sheltering in a hole in a tree, are thriving and learning how to socialise after being rescued.

The mother - a stray shiba inu now named Fern - was seen wandering for several weeks near Peterborough in November, before residents finally managed to catch her.

All six were taken to Woodgreen Pets Charity in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, and are now being fostered by its behaviour and training specialist.

Alison Weir among historians speaking at Tudor festival

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL Two performance artists dressed in costumes from the Tudor era. A man is wearing a white long dress and a red gown with a black velvet hat. The woman beside him is wearing a black and red dress and a headpiece. They are both smiling at each other and standing in front of a cathedral.PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL
The Katherine of Aragon Festival is held at Peterborough Cathedral in January

Eight historians including novelist Alison Weir will give new insights into the life and times of Katherine of Aragon at the annual festival dedicated to her.

It is held at Peterborough Cathedral, where the late Queen of England and first wife of Henry VIII is buried.

The Tudor Trio, made up of friends and historians Kate McCaffrey, Dr Owen Emmerson and Dr Nicola Tallis, are also due to speak at the festival in January.

New book looks back on Billy Bragg's rise to stardom

PA Media The head and shoulders of Billy Bragg, wearing a thick navy blue shirt. He is holding a microphone in his right hand, and is pointing upwards with his left hand. He is inside. He has white or very blond hair and a beard.PA Media
Billy Bragg gigged and recorded around Peterborough and Northamptonshire in the late 1970s

A new book about the musician and activist Billy Bragg looks back on his rise to stardom in and around Peterborough.

The 68-year-old recorded some of his earliest works in a converted barn in Oundle on the River Nene in the late 1970s and gigged at The Bull and Dolphin in Peterborough.

Billy Bragg: A People's History is written by Bragg and contains hundreds of testimonials from fans and friends.

CV clinics to help young people with employability

ARU PETERBOROUGH A photograph of ARU Peterborough's campus. The building is built on two sides, with a black-clad and white-clad building on the left and a black and yellow clad building on the right. In front are trees, grass, paths and car parking. ARU PETERBOROUGH
The free course is being held at ARU Peterborough's city campus on Bishop's Road

A free course for 18 to 21-year-olds who are not in work, training or education will launch at a university in Peterborough and help young people sharpen their employability skills.

The course at ARU Peterborough will include help with CV writing as well as the opportunity to visit workplaces including offices, construction sites and engineering plants.

Upskill Peterborough will begin on 3 February.

Doctor named in King's New Year Honours

NORTH WEST ANGLIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Suzy Lishman with short black hair, wearing a pink jacket, smiling for the camera.NORTH WEST ANGLIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Dr Suzy Lishman has helped train more than 2,000 medical examiners

A medical examiner at Peterborough City Hospital said being made a dame in King Charles III's New Year Honours was a "wonderful way" to start 2026.

Dr Suzy Lishman was recognised for her work improving patient safety and supporting bereaved families through the introduction of the national medical examiner service.

Meanwhile, Girlguiding's chief guide, Tracy Foster from Peterborough, was appointed OBE.

The week in politics

The BBC looked at Peterborough City Council's vision for the city, which it wanted to achieve by 2026.

The authority laid out goals which were agreed in 2013, which included making Peterborough "more attractive, vibrant and distinctive".

It also included ideas for infrastructure which remain in the works, such as building a bridge over the Embankment and upgrading the railway station, and others which have never materialised, such as a new Bronze Age museum.

The council has managed to bring a new cinema to the city centre, while Fletton Quays has been redeveloped.

PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL An artist's impression of a large, metal suspension bridge over the River Nene. Pedestrians can be seen walking across the white and grey bridge. In the background is the top of Peterborough Cathedral, surrounded by trees. PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL
The council said work on building a new bridge across the Embankment would begin in 2026

In other politics news, it was confirmed the arrest of a 66-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and misconduct in a public office relates to Peterborough City Council.

Cambridgeshire Police said the man was taken into custody at Thorpe Wood Police Station on 18 December.

He has been released on police bail until 18 March pending further inquiries.

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