Links between Cambridge University and Belgium have always been strong -much stronger than is often realised.
Arguably, this is natural given the geographical proximity between the two places.
One example of this bond is the Cambridge Society of Belgium, founded in 1994 which draws its membership from amongst the Cambridge alumni who are in Belgium.
It was an initiative by a number of long-term residents of Belgium and exists to enable those who live in Belgium and have connections with Cambridge University to maintain contact with each other, and to share a number of common interests.
Speakers at its showpiece event, the annual dinner, include, former Nato spokesman Jamie Shea, Dirk Frimout, Belgium’s astronaut, Jonathan Faull, a former spokesman for the European Commission and Sir Nigel Sheinwald, ex UK Permanent Representative to the EU.
There are also the historical links in the fields of law, medicine, and other academic subjects since the time of Erasmus, and inevitably in commerce, shipping, banking and industry.
Sadly, due to Brexit, the excellent opportunities under the Erasmus educational scheme have become much more limited to young people on both sides of the English Channel.
However, Cambridge continues to be a real visitor attraction for people from mainland Europe, including Belgium.
And some of the historical links between the two are touched on during one of the highlights of any visit to this fine city: punting on the River Cam.
Punting is one thing you really should try to do if you find yourself in this “city of dreaming spires.”
It’s by far the best way to explore Cambridge’s eight riverbank colleges (there are 31 in total in the city with over 24,000 students), particularly if you are on a short time schedule.
Punting, in fact, began in the 19th century to transport cargo along waterways and for other river-related tasks such as fishing.
A punt’s flat base makes it a very stable watercraft and its lack of keel enable it to pass through shallow areas of water.
Today, it’s used for another kind of service to meet the tens of thousands of visitors who flock to this city each year.
Scudamore’s is an award winning and very long respected local operator with punt stations at Mill Lane or the Quayside.
Like the Uni, the company has a long history and was launched first way back in 1910 by Jack Scudamore with just one boat station at each end of the College Backs.His introduction of pleasure punts was embraced by both the locals, students and visitors, so much so that, by the early 1920s, punting had overtaken every other boating activity in Cambridge.
His punts, in fact, were so well crafted that they were much in demand across the country within a few years.
Jack died in 1938 but, today, over 100 years since the company was founded, punting is still one of the most popular river activities in Cambridge.
Guided by expert guides like Matt, (an engineering student, not at Cambridge but Sheffield University) you pass the Wren Library, which houses original works of William Shakespeare and Sir Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica along with the nine famous bridges, including the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge.
The company operates no less than 150 watercraft for hire, including punts, kayaks and canoes and employs some 200 staff during the summer, an important boost for the local economy. There are various tours of the river offered but all provide a rich and varied source of learning more about this fascinating city.
A company spokesman said, “We pride ourselves on our warm welcome, unrivalled service and have designed our services around the customer.”
So, if you find yourself in this fine city why not treat yourself to one of the company’s award-winning Cambridge tours or maybe just explore the river yourself on one of their self-hire boats.
Further info:
www.scudamores.com
