The Columnists
Who the hell is Karl Bedingfield?
Karl is the designer and driving force behind Ely Online's new look. He doesn't take life too seriously and maybe needs to grow up a little. Karl's life evolves around music, this stems from an early age when he discovered his fathers eclectic record collection with such artists as Mario Lanza and The Mamas & Papas.
In his teenage years he was heavily immersed in the mod revival of 1979 and was co–founder (with friend Chris Hunt) of the influential modzine 'Shadows & Reflections'. In 1985 Karl, heavily influenced by the electronic acts of the day (Heaven 17, Bronski Beat & Paul Haig) brought a drum machine & synth and embarked on a brief encounter with music creation. This resulted in a demo tape with John Glover and becoming keyboardist with Ely band 'Refugee'. Karl left the band in late '86, the band would eventually mutate into Ely legends Crossland.
He is a workaholic spending far too much time in front of the computer at the expense of his friends. He can be seen in the Prince Albert every-so-often with the his drinking buddies John & Lee, affectionally known as the 'Folk Boy Three'.
A bunch of fives! — 5 inconsequential facts about Karl!
- Once in a 'Goth band'!
- Co–founder of the fanzine 'Shadows and Reflections'!
- Had a song named after him — 'Karl's New Haircut'.
- He rides a Vespa PX200E.
- He was a MOD.
Karl's Articles
Ely Urbex
UrbanX is an Ely based urban explorer. The definition of an urban explorer: the study of [continued]
Ely Maltings Closed For 6 Months
The Maltings, the historic centre for conferences, exhibitions and banqueting in Ely has now [continued]
Ely Will Be Eeltastic This Saturday
Ely will be eeltastic this Saturday for the city’s fifth Annual Eel Day. The day, to [continued]
Armed Robbery At Ely Tescos
Armed raiders targeted a security van at Tesco in Ely yesterday afternoon. Offenders, who were believed [continued]
The Chronicle Of A 200th Anniversary Celebration
The Boat Race Founders Society was very pleased that so many of the Merivale family [continued]
St. Martin’s Jam Factory, Ely
If you go back several decades you may be surprised to learn just how industrious [continued]
Ely Folk Festival 2008 Box Office Now Open
After last year’s gloriously successful festival, plans are well under way for an even more [continued]
Babylon Gallery To Close! Ely Cinema Survives!
Back in October we wrote about the slashing of funds to ADeC. One of the [continued]
Ely’s ‘Johnny Cashback’ Play Highpoint Prison
Ely-based Ca$hBack play the music of Johnny Cash and recently commemorated the 40th anniversary of [continued]
The Boat Race Founders’ Ely Celebrations
Commemorating Charles Merivale (Dean of Ely 1869 – 1893) and Charles Wordsworth (Bishop of St. [continued]
New Cycle Path Proposed For Ely
Keen cyclists in Ely could be set to benefit from a new section of cycle [continued]
Plans For New Parking Regulations Explained
In order to ensure a smooth transition for the new car parking arrangements in Ely, [continued]
Have Your Say On Ely’s Transport Strategy
Residents in East Cambridgeshire are being asked to have their say on how to improve [continued]
Permits Planned For City Workers
Council Chiefs will be debating three key aspects of the Ely Transport Strategy today to [continued]
Spineless Councillors Uphold ADeC Cutbacks
Councillors yesterday agreed to uphold the decision made by the Members of the Community Services [continued]
An Ulterior Motive For Reducing ADeC’s Funding?
Many of you will be aware about the current funding debacle at ADeC. If not, [continued]
Work in Ely and need to park all day?
District Council officers are appealing to businesses in Ely for information as they seek to [continued]
Mereham’s Highway To Hell
Driving to Cambridge on the Twenty Pence Road is going to be a whole new [continued]
Your Views On Conserving Ely City
Residents of Ely are getting their chance to see and comment on the future of [continued]
Ely Cathedral. Too Expensive?
Yet another news item on BBC's Look East about Ely. A columnist in this month's edition [continued]
Ely Waterway Reopens After Derailment
BBC's Look East ran a short news item on the reopening of the stretch of [continued]
Ely’s New Parking Regulations
Car parks designed to meet the needs of shoppers, visitors and commuters are on the [continued]
Beware The Ides Of July
One of the highlights of Ely’s Amateur Dramatic calendar is the annual ADS open air [continued]
Farmers Market 7th Birthday
This Saturday (14th July), Ely’s Farmers’ Market is celebrating it’s seventh birthday and 'MP's support [continued]
You Are Lawful But We Dislike You!
Planners at East Cambridgeshire District Council have received an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness [continued]
Peacock’s Tea Room, BBC One & The One Show
Back in June we ran a brief article when the BBC visited Ely for a [continued]
Folkin’ Hell 2.0 - It’s Festival Time
Fellow Folkster's, the 22nd Ely Folk Festival begins this evening and once again Ely Online [continued]
No Butts About It - Ely Is Smokefree
From Sunday 1st July, the Health Act 2006 becomes law. This means smoking in all [continued]
Nutmeg Live At Redmere Festival 1986
Recently I decided it was time to purge my old videos having amassed far too [continued]
Derailed Train Salvage Begins
Two rail trucks full of ballast were left dangling over a bridge crossing a river [continued]
Sample 2007’s Folk Festival
If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket for this year's Ely Folk Festival then [continued]
Friend’s Pay Respect - Tabloid’s Go ‘Wild’
Two teenage sisters found dead in their own home died from stab wounds, allegedly inflicted [continued]
Roswell Planning, It’s The Pits
The new Planning Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council yesterday (Wednesday 6th June) heard the [continued]
Afternoon Tea With The BBC
Hardeep Singh Kohli, the popular writer, presenter and broadcaster was in Market Square this afternoon [continued]
Ely Folk Festival Need’s You
Stewards are a vital part of Ely Folk Festival's organisation, handling a huge variety of [continued]
David Dimbleby In Awe Of Ely Cathedral
Last night the BBC aired the first episode of their landmark series, How We Built [continued]
Organists In Concert
The King’s School Ely created new interest in the much maligned instrument: the organ. In [continued]
No Place Like Home
Crossland and the Ely music scene 1989-1992 By Chris Williams Ian Brown of the Stone Roses once [continued]
Turn Detective To Uncover Ely’s Secrets
This weekend, detectives are needed to uncover clues throughout the historic city of Ely [continued]
All The Fun Of The Fair
Ely's biennial fair is back in the city later this month, but did you know [continued]
Conservatives Take Control In East Cambs
The Conservative Party has been elected as ECDC’s ruling party with a majority of nine. Following [continued]
Monster Eel Spotted In Ely
Reports of a thirty-foot eel slithering down the High Street in Ely would normally [continued]
Timeslip 1970: Little Downham & The Giant Balloon
When one recollects childhood memories, invariably there are many that standout. For me - growing [continued]
Come And Have An Eely Good Day
Ely is set to be inundated by all types of eels on Saturday 28th April [continued]
BBC Countryfile In Ely: The 1944 Boat Race In Ely
Here is the final feature that made up BBC's Countryfile episode from Ely. Not many [continued]
BBC Countryfile In Ely: The Eel Catcher
In our third instalment featuring video from the BBC's Countryfile in Ely episode we present [continued]
Timeslip: Spy Was Parachuted Into Ely
A British double agent offered to assassinate Adolf Hitler in a suicide mission but his [continued]
BBC Countryfile In Ely: Wicken Fen
Earlier in the week we published video of Ely Cathedral from BBC's popular rural program [continued]
Ever Thought About Running For Office?
Have you ever thought about running for office? Do you think you could help improve [continued]
Ely Book Launch For Patrick Lennon’s Corn Dolls
April 19th see the book launch of Corn Dolls, a chilling and atmospheric debut from [continued]
Swimming Sessions A Success For The Disabled
After a successful trial, swimming sessions especially for people with disabilities and their families has [continued]
The Ely Cookery Lectures By Alison Sloane
Food throughout history has had a huge effect on the culture and development of nations [continued]
BBC’S Countryfile Visit’s Ely Cathedral
Last week, BBC's popular countryside and environmental show 'Countryfile' themed a whole episode from Ely. The [continued]
Relax, Enjoy, Recycle In Jubilee Gardens
Visitors,who come to the Jubilee Gardens in Ely to relax, read a newspaper and drink [continued]
Ely’s Four-Pint Bridge World Record Attempt
The next time you pour the last dregs of milk from your four-pint milk carton [continued]
Ely Scholars Prepare For Historic Hoop Trundle
Ely King’s and Queen’s Scholars are preparing for one of the most fiercely contested events [continued]
Ever Get The Feeling Of Déjà Vu?
Ely Online: April 2nd 2006: Absolutely Quackers - ECDC To Suffocate Ducks: In a move that [continued]
Award-Winning Show Comes To Ely
An award-winning one–woman show comes to King’s on Wednesday 14 March when Rohan McCullogh presents [continued]
Ely Cathedral Pictorial
Ely Cathedral is probably the most photographed landmark in Ely City. With this in mind [continued]
Council Buys Land For 180 Space Car Park
A new car park specifically to meet the needs of commuters has moved a step [continued]
The Old Fire Engine House Telegraph Review
The Old Fire Engine House Restaurant & Gallery has been one of Ely's most popular [continued]
Ely Online Welcomes Rosemary Westwell
I’m delighted to announce that Ely Online is adding some new contributing authors, starting with [continued]
White Lines (Cambs CC Don’t Do It)
On the Cambridgeshire County Council website it states under their maintenance policy that 'All carriageway [continued]
Ely Misses Out On ‘UK Best Market’ Award
Ely just missed out on the coveted 'Market of the Year 2007' award last Wednesday [continued]
Orchestral Play Day In Ely
Compared to Cambridge just down the road - and even Kings Lynn - Ely doesn't [continued]
ECDC Commissions Lulu Quinn’s ‘Ely Sluice’
East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee has today approved a landmark lighting project for Ely. [continued]
Look East Visit Little Downham Pub (1984)
1984: Arcade games such as Space Invaders, Galaxian and Donkey Kong were worldwide hits but [continued]
2007: Ely’s New Year Revolution? Doubtful!
Yes, yes we know, it's been forever (4 months in fact) and if we are [continued]
Breakin’ Down / Donald Elsey’s Big Decision
This week's video is is an early incarnation of The Traceys. Donald Elsey’s Big [continued]
Folkin’ Hell, It’s Festival Time
With the Ely Folk Festival 5 days away Ely Online decided to wet the appetite [continued]
BBC’s ‘The Big Dance’ Coming To Ely
As you may or may not be aware, Ely has been chosen as the Cambridgeshire [continued]
Ely Folk Festival ‘06 – Pre-Event Gig & Ticket Offer
Ely Folk Festival kicks off the festival with a pre-festival Gig at The Lamb Hotel, [continued]
Les Français Envahissent Ely
Ely's French Market brought a huge range of continental food and drink to the Market [continued]
The Car Parking Controversy & Ely Cathedral
The Dean & Chapter of Ely Cathedral have released a statement to deny claims that [continued]
Southery 2006 Subbuteo World Cup
Last weekend saw Ely Subbuteo Premier Leauge host their first Subbuteo World Cup event from [continued]
Daily Telegraph Letters & Ely Cathedral’s Meadows
As the controversy continues to surround ECDC's proposal to extend a car park onto land [continued]
Film Crew Besieges Ely Cathedral
If you live in Ely you will (probably) know that Ely Cathedral was chosen as [continued]
Another Late Night Mix #2
Ely Online’s editor likes to mix and a few months ago completed yet another mix [continued]
Spotlight On: Ely Museum
Ely Online's 'Spotlight On' is an occasional series that aims to unlock the secrets of [continued]
Ely’s Illegal Pavement Signs - Official Response
A few weeks ago Ely Online ran a somewhat tongue-in-cheek article about Cambridge County Council's [continued]
Memories Of Little Downham’s ‘Lofts’ Shop
When one recollects childhood memories, invariably there are many that standout. For me - growing [continued]
Thousands Visit Ely’s Eel Day
People came in their thousands on Saturday to celebrate what is fast becoming one of [continued]
Ely Author’s World Cup Stories
When the 2006 World Cup kicks off this summer, local Ely author and journalist Chris [continued]
F**k, Gordon Ramsey Almost Joined Eel Day
A source close to ECDC tell's me that celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey had considered filming [continued]
Absolutely Quackers - ECDC To Suffocate Ducks
In a move that King Herod would be proud of, East Cambridgeshire District Council plans [continued]
Court In The Act: Ely Mods, Rockers & Skins
In an occasional feature Ely Online peeks into the archives of our local newspapers to [continued]
Council Snatch Squads, Ransom Demanded
Tuesday saw the East Highways Division of Cambridgeshire County Council sanction a snatch squad to [continued]
Ely Online In South Mississippi
I once again find myself sitting on a plane on my way back from a [continued]
Hollywood Movie Stars To Visit Ely
Ely will once again pay host to some of Hollywood's latest A list movie stars [continued]
Hat’s Off To Ely’s Hereward Pub
As I am currently in Mississippi I am a little late running this article that [continued]
Mississippi’s Invisible Coast
I will be away for the next couple of weeks visiting my girlfriend in the [continued]
Finally, ECDC See Sense With Ely Car Park Plan
Finally ECDC have seen sense and taken heed to the outcry caused by their aborted [continued]
21st Ely Folk Festival 2006 - Provisional Line-Up
Can it be only 4 months away? It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were [continued]
The King’s School Ely In Cannabis Shocker
Ely's King's School has grown accustomed to their students being high achievers, but last Thursday [continued]
Tesco Ely Axe Free Bus Service
It would appear that 'Every little hurts' when it come to Tesco helping it's needier [continued]
Do As I Say, Not As I Do!
Now I don't wish to appear sardonic, but ECDC have served an enforcement notice on [continued]
Raffle Shenanigans At Ely Charity Disco
With no real news of any importance (parking debate & Mereham on hold here for [continued]
One Man, A Scanner, One Shoebox Of Negatives
Santa was kind enough to bring me a shiny new negative scanner this Xmas, so [continued]
Ely’s Forgotten Bands: The Sokkets
OK, this isn't strictly one of Ely's forgotten bands but I thought it would be [continued]
ECDC Planners Reject New Town ‘Mereham’
In a widely expected move, ECDC Planning Committee rejected the planning application by Multiplex Stannifer [continued]
Ely Online 2005 Year-End Introspective
As the pulse of 2005 ebbs away and we prepare to welcome 2006, Ely Online [continued]
Hereward The Greedy
It appears Ely's newest pub, the Hereward in Market Street, got somewhat greedy on Christmas [continued]
Ely’s Forgotten Bands: This Property Is Condemned
Ely Online has had a long association with many Ely bands over the last twenty [continued]
The Ely Online Christmas 2005 Mini-Mix
The Xmas spirit hasn't really grabbed Ely Online this year, something to do with the [continued]
Potential Christmas Number One?
I don't normally have too much time for Christmas single releases these days but I [continued]
Ely Rail Station is ‘Cycle-Rail’ station of the year!
One (the train operator) and Ely Rail Station were awarded 'Best Cycle-Rail Station' at the [continued]
Its Been A While
Sorry for the no-show in recent months. To quote Booker T & The M.G.’s, 'Time [continued]
The Case For Parking Charges In Ely
Ely Online has been forthright in it's opposure to proposed parking charges for Ely. Recently [continued]
Ely Parking Charge Decision Deferred
The much anticipated decision by East Cambs District Councillors whether Ely shoppers and visitors will [continued]
Ely Parking Charges Demonstration
A massive demonstration of shoppers and shop owners marched through the streets of Ely today [continued]
Ocean Springs & Hurricane Katrina
Nina, my girlfriend, lives in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and has done so for several years. [continued]
Parking Crises Update - Peak Time Parking
Recently ECDC claimed that 'central car parks are full on market days', I was not [continued]
A Visitor’s View Of Ely
Ely Online recently had a comment posted about Starbucks opening in Ely by someone who [continued]
The Friday Focus: Parking Charges For Ely
Ely Online intends to periodically evince issues facing the Catherdral City of Ely, in general [continued]
Starbucks To Open In Ely August 8th
Starbucks will open in Ely High Street on Monday 8th August. Although there is still [continued]
Ely Ales & Forehill Brewery - A Brief History
I recently redesigned the website for Ely Museum and while gathering information I came across [continued]
The Sun Sets on Ely Folk Weekend 2005
Although decidedly chilly on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday was blessed with sunshine from dawn [continued]
Ely’s Forgotten Bands: The Approachable Pigeons
In 1982 Lee Gillett and John Glover formed a band - The Approachable Pigeons. Multi [continued]
Karl’s ‘Another Late Night’ Mix Tape
Ely Online's editor (that's me) likes to mix and a few weeks ago did a [continued]
Le marché d’Ely va Français
Ely's market went French this weekend and with temperatures in the 90s the market [continued]
Starbucks Coming To Ely
Ely will have it's very own Starbucks coffee shop by mid-summer. Planning permission has now [continued]
Medieval Pageant Hailed A Success
East Cambs’ first Medieval Pageant was hailed a great success as thousands of spectators turned [continued]
French Market in Ely
Next Friday (June 17th) see's the welcome return of the Marché de France (Market [continued]
Blind Drunk In Ely
Its not everyday a local person makes it into a national tabloid but thats exactly [continued]
Ely Battered By Tornado
Ely was battered by a tornado yesterday , the tornado was up to 30 feet [continued]
Hereward Wakes - Ely’s New Pub Opens
Tonight sees the grand opening of Ely's newest public house 'The Hereward' located in Market [continued]
High Street - Time For Pedestrianisation?
It's a daily event - either a delivery vehicle blocks the road and causes gridlock [continued]
The Radio One Experience With Crossland
In 1990, Crossland, were one of Ely's most popular bands with a loyal local following [continued]
The Hibernation Of Hedgehog Records
It's just over a year now since Hedgehog Records ceased trading in Market Street and [continued]
Ely Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee
Ely Online recently received an email from tourist Thomas Bewley and he was far from [continued]
The Hereward Pub
Ely's newsest pub is to be called 'The Hereward' (formerly tagged as 'The Barracuda Pub'). [continued]
Election Results: Cambridgeshire North East
Just in case you missed the election results for Cambridgeshire North East here they are. Top [continued]
Tony Blair Can’t Win
As election day is virtually upon us I thought I would share this email I [continued]
Jeff @ Man on the Moon, Cambridge
'This is the embarrassing bit where I talk in the microphone expecting it not to [continued]
Ely Cathedral - The Magnificent Norman Cathedral
Written by Dr Carol Davidson Cragoe, April 2002 Ely has been a place of Christian worship [continued]
Hereward The Wake - 1066
Most English know of Hereward the Wake (meaning 'wary'), the Fenland's most famous hero, who [continued]
C4’s Time Team Excavate In Ely
September 2000: Ely took a step back in time when actor Tony Robinson (pictured right) [continued]
