Henlow june 14 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 67 - June 2014

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

Donkey Derby in Eltisley

Eurotiles

and Bathrooms

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Langford, Henlow, Shefford, Stanford, Hinxworth, Ickleford, Caldecote, Radwell, Shillington, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, Holwell, Meppershall, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey, Hitchin & Letchworth

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Open house We’re opening the doors of our newly renovated and redecorated guest bedrooms so you can have a look at the results of all our hard work. Each room has been individually styled in keeping with our seventeenth-century coaching inn, but with some extra-special finishing touches that we hope will make guests comfortable. Pop in during our summer open day to find out more and take home a tasty treat…

Saturday 5 July 10am–4pm

Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP 01767 260221

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Contents Eurotiles & Bathrooms

Avoid Those Holiday Scams..............................................4 The Fawns Preschool, Southill..........................................6 D-Day 1914......................................................................9 The Only Way Down.......................................................10 Real Live Donkey Racing................................................12 Don’t Break Down..........................................................14 Child Safety Week..........................................................17 Beach Ready Beauty......................................................18 Culinary Master’s Recipe.................................................21 The Leaning Tower of Pisa..............................................22 Shefford Open for Business............................................24 Credit Where Credit Is Due..............................................27 Helen’s Helpful Tips........................................................28

VILLAGER The

Issue 67 - June 2014

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

Donkey Derby in Eltisley

Eurotiles

and Bathrooms

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Don’t Sell Yourself Short.................................................31 Eurotiles and Bathrooms................................................32 Plotting a Vegetable Garden..........................................35 News from RSPB.............................................................38 Fun Quiz.........................................................................41 Always Mix Your Drinks..................................................42 Animal Heroes................................................................44 Wordsearch....................................................................47 Puzzle Page....................................................................48 Competition Winners.....................................................53 Prize Crossword..............................................................54 What’s On.......................................................................58 Ampthill & District Lions Club........................................60 Book Review..................................................................62

Skydiving in Australia

9,500 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Henlow, Langford, Astwick, Edworth, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Newnham, Radwell, Bygrave, Shillington, Holwell, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Ashwell End and Stanford (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Arlesey, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin and Stotfold)

Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Ted Bruning, Melanie Ridley, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Louise Addison, Helen Taylor, Culinary Masters, Solange Hando, Ann Haldon, Helen Springer, Pippa Greenwood, Mark Brandon, Nick Clare, Catherine Rose, RSPCA North Beds Branch and Bruce Edwards Advertising Sales Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Ann Dudko and Catherine Rose Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

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Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

Three Counties Radio

Avoid those Holiday Scams By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

With the holiday season almost upon us, I thought this month would be a good time for me to warn you about some of the most common holiday related scams that sadly people fall for year after year. It’s seems a basic start, but only book holidays with good reputable companies THAT YOU’VE HEARD OF! It never ceases to amaze me how many people simply google ‘Cheap holiday’ and then part with hundreds of pounds on some website that may or may not be genuine. Always do your research to make sure you are paying a proper UK based company with a good reputation. It’s also advisable to use a company that is both a member of ABTA and ATOL for your protection. Having booked your holiday with a genuine company, the next mistake some people make is to purchase their travel insurance from scamsters rather than a bona fide company. Again use a quality British insurer that will actually answer the phone if you find yourself in need of making a claim from the poolside in Faliraki. Whilst you’re organising your health protection for your holiday, you should be aware that applying for your EHIC European health insurance card (which provides you with free or reduced health care in European countries) SHOULD be FREE! There are lots of websites out there that will charge you a fee for applying for the card on your behalf. Apply directly with the NHS or the post office and avoid be being ripped off! If you’re like me, you’ll probably hire a car while away. There are of course various scams to watch out for with hire cars. Only ever use good, recommended firms, avoid the dodgy little backstreet hire car company that charges half the price of anyone else. You’ll probably find out why they’re so cheap when the wheels fall off. One very important thing to watch out for when hiring a car abroad is that you ensure you have signed paperwork from the hire car company to confirm the condition of the car. Very often people drop off their hire car in a rush to get their flight home and don’t insist on this. It is imperative! I have known several people (sometimes using well-known companies) who have returned to the UK, checked their credit card, only to find a £500 charge for ‘damage’ to the car. Trying to prove that you didn’t cause it, when you’re no longer in the country and with no paperwork to support your argument, will be a nightmare. The final holiday scams you MUST be aware of regard the dreaded ‘Timeshares’ or ‘Holiday Clubs’. I lose track of the number of times I’ve dealt with complaints from consumers on my radio programme about these. Picture the scene: You’re strolling down the seafront, all bronzed and relaxed when a lovely, attractive (probably British) person approaches you and offers you either an invitation to an event or a scratch card that will provide you with the invite. Your guard is down as you’re on holiday so you agree. You’ll then be whisked off to a luxury venue, plied with pinot grigio and then forced to endure a hard sell on the advantages of joining their club. Sadly I have known even the most forceful, confident, savvy consumers get caught like this and the results have been awful. Very often timeshare and holiday club contracts are difficult (and in some cases impossible) to get out of. What many people also fail to recognise is that these holiday club memberships are sometimes to be passed down to your children, meaning many years of misery not only for you, but for your family when you’ve died! My advice is that when approached by anyone offering you something ‘for free’, particularly when your guard is down on holiday – KEEP WALKING!

Jonathan Vernon-Smith not only offers you his consumer advice here but you can listen to The JVS Show tackling your consumer problems every weekday morning from 9am. 44

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Local News

The Fawns Pre-school The Fawns Pre-school is a small, village pre-school that accepts children from the local and surrounding areas of Southill. The children are between the ages of 2 and 4 years. The pre-school has a friendly, family feel to it. It is a charity-run preschool that is assisted by a committee consisting of parents of children that attend. We have a strong link with the community and most of the children attending pre-school will move on to the local Lower School. The pre-school is regulated by Ofsted; the last inspection carried out in 2012 with the pre-school receiving a ‘good’ rating. We also have strong links with the local Children’s Centre and Toddlers group. The pre-school staff are all qualified to level three in childcare and the play leader has a degree in Early Childhood Studies. Between them, they have a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes the pre-school a safe environment for the children. The children spend their days learning through play, following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. Each child is treated as an individual who develops at their own pace. There are a large variety of activities that are planned around the individual interests and experiences of the children. The pre-school also has it’s own outside area so that the children can experience all of the British weather, carry out bug-hunts and get to know their environment. The day-to-day routine consists of lots of play opportunities; some of which are new experiences

Southill

for the children. Children will learn about science and maths, build up their skills for writing and using scissors, develop their physical skills, build friendships, enhance their life skills and language. All of these skills are important skills that ensure the children are ready for school when the time comes. The staff are dedicated to each and every child, working with families to design the learning around each one. They have key-groups so that they are each responsible for a small group of children which means that there are regular meetings with parents/carers. We consider it important that the relationship between preschool and home is strong, open and honest. Parents and carers are included in individual planning for each child and are regularly updated on their progress. Every effort is made to get to know our families and to include them in the child’s development. We offer flexible sessions of either mornings, mornings and lunch, lunch and afternoon or all day. The children are offered a snack in the morning sessions and if they are staying for lunch parents provide a packed lunch. Snack and lunch times are used as a social learning time when children and staff will sit down together, chat and listen to music. The preschool has an open door policy so if your child is ready for pre-school, please come along and see us. Our induction process is tailored to each child as we like to ensure they are settled and feel safe; therefore, ready to learn. Charity number: 1022800

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History

D-Day 1944 Democracy 1 - 0 Tyranny. By Ted Bruning On 6 June we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory of democracy over tyranny. And while most of the coverage of this great day will rightly focus on the unflinching selflessness of the 50,000 Allied soldiers, it’s worth sparing a moment to contemplate why democracy won. The young men confronting the Third Reich on D-Day may not have known it, but the soldiers opposing them had already been fatally undermined. A leadership that was corrupt, incompetent, divided, toadying and alternately swollen with pride and prostrated by fear, had made so many idiotic decisions over the past two years that no heroism on the part of its troops could redeem it. And at the heart of all the double-dealing, betrayal, and rottenness stood Adolf Hitler. After the invasion of Russia, Hitler more or less retreated to his Eastern HQ, surrounded by a small cadre of placemen, yes-men, courtiers and cronies who told him only what they thought he wanted to hear. He governed via a maze of overlapping bureaucracies fighting for his favour. And despite his remoteness he insisted on making even the smallest tactical decisions himself. This chaos effectively crippled the Germans defending Normandy.

They had almost no armoured support. Rommel, the commander on the ground, knew that tanks couldn’t move from rear to front because of Allied air-power, and wanted the armour right at the water’s edge. To the commander of Panzer Group West, Geyr von Shweppenburg, this was heresy. Hitler’s compromise was that the armour should be divided between them, but that von Schweppenburg couldn’t move without Hitler’s express orders – which, of course, came too late. Then there were the mythical divisions in Kent and Sussex that appeared to threaten the Pas de Calais. Their existence was conjured up by Allied deception specialists, and 15 German divisions remained north of the Seine to meet them. But these divisions had been fabricated by German army intelligence as part of a plot to discredit Himmler’s rival intelligence agency. There should have been a fleet of war-winning jet fighters overhead, for the Germans had been ahead of the Allies in the technology. But Hitler cancelled work on a feasible jet because a crony, Willi Messerschmidt, persuaded him to favour the Komet rocket-plane instead. As a result the Me262 didn’t appear until far too late. The occasions on which Hitler accepted bad advice that chimed

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with his preconceptions and fantasies and ignored sound advice that didn’t, are too numerous to relate; but they cost the Germans dear on D-Day, and they probably cost Germany the war. And here’s the contrast between tyranny and democracy. Churchill wasn’t short of bad ideas himself, trying to stop Nazi bombers by dropping parachute mines on them being one. And the Allied leaders argued bitterly. But Churchill and Roosevelt surrounded themselves with strong, capable advisers who weren’t afraid to argue their corners. Dowding, in charge of Fighter Command, threatened to resign in May 1940 when Churchill proposed to send more fighter squadrons to prop up the French. And Churchill bowed to his superior judgement! The Allies made mistakes. But the reason that the 159,000 troops who landed in Normandy broke through with fewer than 5,000 killed was that their leaders weren’t driven by fear of a despot; laid rational plans based on professional expertise and sound intelligence; and represented a society that could bury its differences and make sacrifices in defence of shared values. On D-Day, democracy proved to be strong and tyranny weak.

Travelogue

The Only Way Down... By Melanie Ridley

When we began our travels along the east coast of Australia at the beginning of February, April 20th seemed like a distant date in the calendar. This would be the day I would fulfil one of the top three on my bucket list: a skydive! Not only was I going to be jumping out of a plane, but I was booked to do the highest skydive in Australia. I would be falling 14,000 feet with a free fall of 60 seconds, whilst taking in views of the Great Barrier Reef before safely landing on the beach. During the days and months leading up to this day, I hadn’t felt nervous. This may have been due to two reasons: one being I believed it would be easy to back out and the other being that my brain was struggling to comprehend what was actually going to happen. Upon arrival at the office, I sat with my eight fellow jumpers waiting to be called. When the time came we all went downstairs where we were met by the gentlemen who we would be trusting with our lives. Putting your life in someone else’s hands is always a daunting prospect but speaking to the expert I was about to jump with and learning he had completed over 2,000 sky dives helped put my mind at ease. Once we were secured into our harnesses, we were lead to a shuttle bus which then took us to the runway where our tiny plane was waiting. During the ascent everyone in the plane was fairly quiet

apart from the professionals and you could feel the tense and anxious atmosphere. I was fourth to jump and watching the three people jump before me and disappear as they were sucked into gravity’s pull made my heart race. The only thing that was keeping me calm was thinking that hypothetically I was about to endure something similar to the Big Dipper at the fairground. As I stood poised and ready to jump out of the plane, or I should say before being given a helping hand out of the plane, the last words I heard were “1...2...3... Banana!” The adrenaline that pumps through your body as you free fall for 60 seconds through the sky is beyond measurable and, as one fellow skydiver described, it was incredible “to feel the cold mist of a cloud on my face”. When the free fall was over and my parachute opened, a large sense of relief rushed over my body. The view as we paraglided down towards Mission Beach was truly breathtaking. I could see parts of the Great Barrier Reef on one side, and on the other I could see the four mile beach which I would shortly be landing on. When my feet safely touched the ground, I knew one of my greatest experiences was sadly over.

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Local News

Real Live Donkey Racing On a Village Green?

The normally quiet Cambridgeshire village of Eltisley will again be running a Donkey Derby on the 12th July with many more attractions added including a full size ox roast and an aerobatic air display. The whole event takes place on the village green with visitors expected from far and wide for what promises to be a great family day out. The event will be free to attend and there will be free parking. The day will start at 1pm and the donkey races will be taking place all afternoon with a “tote” betting system in place for people that think they can spot a winner! For those that want to be even more involved on the day, the event’s website (www.eltisleydonkeyderby.co.uk) has details of how to apply to be a rider or driver

in one of the races as well as details of how to sponsor a donkey. Alongside the donkey derby there will be a village fete running all afternoon with traditional stalls and free attractions. There will be teas and cakes on offer as well as the rare spectacle of a full size ox roast. Donkey rides and a children’s play area will also be set up for the day. Once the donkey racing and village fete has closed down the evening’s big event will start at 6pm. A Live Music Stage will be set up on the village green featuring local bands from the surrounding area. For more details go to: www.eltisleydonkeyderby.co.uk

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Motoring

Don’t Break Down! By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Shortly after taking delivery of a new-to-me car, I absentmindedly started filling the fuel tank with petrol, until I suddenly remembered it took diesel! Fortunately, I immediately stopped refuelling and phoned for breakdown services who flushed the tank clean, thus avoiding serious engine damage and expensive repair bills. Fuel-related problems are one of the major causes of car breakdowns, with running out of fuel ranked in Green Flag’s top five. But many breakdowns can be avoided with a little forethought. For example, make a commitment to never let your car run on less than a quarter full, and you should never face the embarrassment of an empty tank! Most of us have had a flat battery. Sometime this occurs due to a genuine fault, but more often happens after leaving the lights or radio on, or because the terminals are dirty, or the clamps loose. Regular maintenance and servicing can eliminate problems like this, but as we are all human and make mistakes from time to time, keep a set of jump leads in the car ‘just in case’! Also, if you tend to make only short journeys in your car, give it a good run every week or two to give the battery chance to recharge itself. Flat or damaged tyres are another common problem. Check your handbook to keep tyres at the

correct pressure and be careful to avoid hitting the kerb, as the impact can damage tyre sidewalls and rims. A good practice is to check tyre pressure and tread every time you fill up, watching out for nails or glass in the tyres and paying special attention to the tread depth. If it is uneven, the tyres may be misaligned. Does your vehicle have a second set of keys? Keeping a spare bunch in a safe place will prevent big headaches should you ever lock yourself out of your car, or worse still lose your keys. Most modern cars now have a ‘transponder’ key which combines a conventional mechanical key with an encrypted electronic chip to prevent theft. Replacement is often available only through an authorised dealer and could take several days. Much better to keep a spare! Finally, there are a number of mechanical and electrical faults that might cause a breakdown, such as the starter motor or spark plugs. At the first signs of any problems (like difficulty starting the engine for example), get your car checked over by a garage to avoid further problems. Owning a vehicle is an essential part of life for the majority of us these days. Let’s keep them breakdown-free by carrying out good, regular maintenance, and by using a bit of common sense!

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THE BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER

Local news, for Local Listeners by Local volunteers supported and funded by Local organisations

• The Biggleswade Talking Newspaper is one way that the Blind and partially sighted person can independently access Local news. • If you know anyone who you feel would like to have a ‘’talking newspaper’’ on a memory stick each week, free to the listener, please contact David Gentle on 07840 504940 or visit our web site. • We are the official “talking newspaper’’ for Biggleswade, Arlesey, Potton, Sandy, Shefford, Stotfold and the surrounding villages. • If the listener does not have the facilities to listen to the MP3 sound file contained on the memory stick we can lend them a player, free. • A note for the diary Saturday 12th July 2014 is BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER DAY – come and meet the team, we will be at ASDA Biggleswade between 9am and 3pm. • Giving details of the service and showing how we edit and record the week’s news.

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Child Safety

Child Safety Week

By Louise Addison

Did you know that accidental injury is the second biggest killer of children in the UK. Only childhood cancer accounts for more deaths. Every week in the UK one child dies in a preventable accident, and around 300 children end up in Accident and Emergency departments every day! Children from the poorest UK families are 13 times more at risk, and are also more likely to be admitted to hospital with accidental injuries. Child Safety Week runs from 23rd – 29th June and is organised by The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT). They stress that although the number of children killed in accidents is shrinking due to everimproving emergency medical care, near-fatal accidents can leave lifelong mental as well as physical scars, and put families through hell. CAPT run awareness campaigns to explain how most accidents can be easily prevented. Parents often misunderstand the dangers their children face daily. For example, a child is hundreds of times more likely to be killed crossing a road than by a predatory kidnapper. But the media focus on paedophile scarestories, so parents over-estimate the risk of stranger danger and

underestimate the risks involved in more mundane scenarios. To put it in perspective, fewer than eight children per year are murdered in the UK, whereas nearly 400 are killed in household or traffic accidents. As mornings can be a particularly stressful and accident-prone time, for this year’s campaign CAPT have enlisted the help of the Safety Superheroes, who will do battle with the villainous Morning Mayhem! Watch out for them in events this June. Here are three top tips to keep your kids safe! Make sure they STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN when crossing the road on the way to school (and again on their way home). Teach your kids about burn and scald risks: Don’t overfill the kettle, never use a knife to fish toast out of the toaster, take care with hairstraighteners, and always turn them off after use. Make sure your child knows how to call for emergency help - they might save someone’s life! Check out CAPT’s website www. capt.org.uk. Remember: Most safety is just common sense. Children’s brains are their most important defence against accidents, so let’s teach them to THINK.

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Health and Beauty

Beach Ready Beauty by Helen Taylor You’ve been toning up and getting into shape for months, ready to flaunt your bikini body on the beach. So, now your holiday is just around the corner, it’s time plan your holiday beauty routine. Fake it First Winter pale skin does not look great in a bikini, so you’ll need to fake the golden glow. Head to the beauty salon (for best results) or to the shops (if on a budget) and prepare your skin. Thorough exfoliation is key and it’s best done the night before. Concentrate on those areas prone to dryness like knees, ankles and elbows. Allow at least 24 hours between waxing and tanning. If you tan too soon after waxing your pores and hair follicles will still be open and you may find that the product builds up leaving you with dark dots. Be really generous with your moisturiser and put plenty on your knees, elbows and feet. If you are going for the DIY option, don a pair of latex gloves, squeeze a dollop of fake tan on to your hand and then work quickly and methodically, covering every inch of your skin evenly. Don’t forget you are likely to need help to do your back. Heavenly Hair If your hair is a bit dry, or has split-ends, a couple of weeks in the sun and in sea-water or chlorinated pools will make the matter far worse. Book a trim before you head off. At the poolside, slather a leave-in conditioner onto your hair. This will help to protect against sun damage and will leave your locks looking thoroughly shiny, as the heat makes the product even more effective. Always rinse your tresses with fresh water after swimming in the sea or pool. Both salt and chlorine will really dry your hair out.

If your hair is long enough keep it pinned up during the day and preferably covered up too. Not only will this protect your hair, put it will also protect your head which can easily burn along a parting line. Sumptuous Skin The three important steps which you should follow at home are cleanse, tone and moisturise, and it’s even more important on holiday. Regularly apply and re-apply sunscreen. Ensuring that your entire body is protected against damaging UV rays is a must. Use a high factor, and remember to re-apply after swimming. And use a nourishing balm for your lips too. Wear a large hat on the beach. Not only will you look chic, you’ll also be protecting the delicate skin on your face too. Always apply after-sun lotion. A long day on the beach calls for plenty of after-sun when you get back to the hotel. Minimal Make-Up Keep make-up light in the day by swapping a full-coverage foundation with a tinted moisturiser. Cover imperfections with a little concealer. Wear one coat of quality water-proof mascara on your top lashes for definition. Better still, arrange a trip to your beauty salon for an eyelash and eyebrow tint before you jet off. A peachy coloured blush will look fabulous with bronzed skin and is much better than pink hues which only serve to add more redness to already flushed cheeks. Unhealthy hangover Drink plenty of water each day, more if you’re out in the hot sun for long periods of time. Of course you are on holiday so if you do indulge in cocktails and beers, try to alternate each alcoholic drink with water.

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FRIENDS OF CHAMPNEYS HENLOW We are looking for a small number of volunteers to support our guests at our Health Resort in Henlow by welcoming them, doing tours, and helping out mainly in Reception. This is not to cover any employment jobs and is purely voluntary. If you have a few regular hours to spare and you want the opportunity to socialise or learn new skills then contact Leane Hilditch on leane.hilditch@champneys.com or telephone Leane 01462 811111

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Our award winning magazines offer a unique local advertising platform. Printed on high quality paper we are still able to offer incredible prices along with a second-to-none service, professional advert design and a team just waiting to help you. With over 9,500 copies being delivered door to door every month can your business wait any longer to be in The Villager? Advertising in The Villager and Town Life could not be easier, for further information or to book your advertising space please call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com or visit our website www.villagermag.com

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Food and Drink

by Culinary Masters

Chilli Beef, Chorizo and Mature Cheddar Burgers

Spice up your summer barbeque with this month’s tasty recipe for homemade burgers. INGREDIENTS

For the mix 500g lean mince beef 200g chorizo sausage chopped into small chunks 4 x large fresh chillis 2 x red onions finely diced 4 x cloves of garlic finely diced 1 tsp oregano ½ tsp salt ½ tsp pepper To serve Mature cheddar Iceburg lettuce, shredded Four large floured baps, toasted Sliced fresh tomato 1. Preheat oven to 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4. 2. Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix

thoroughly. 3. Separate the mix into four patties. 4. Seal off the patties in a preheated pan with a small amount of cooking oil. 5. Once both sides are sealed in the pan, place into the oven for 10 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and top each burger with a slice of mature cheddar then return to the oven for 2 minutes. 7. Remove once more from the oven and serve in a toasted bap with the shredded iceberg and sliced tomatoes. Based in Bedfordshire, Culinary Masters can supply a professional chef to cater for you in your home, whether it is a romantic meal for two or a dinner party for friends and family, you can enjoy the luxury of a meal out with all the shopping, cooking and clearing up done for you. Call 07872391726 for competitive quotes, menu options and more details.

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Travel

The Leaning Tower of Pisa By Solange Hando

On 5th January 1172, a widow named Berta di Bernardo passed away in Pisa, a prosperous city bristling with thousands of impressive towers. Yet, the cathedral didn’t have one of its own so the pious Berta left 60 ‘soldi’ in her Will to put things right. The foundations were laid 18 months later. Problems arose almost straightaway. The marshy ground struggled to accommodate the heavy marble blocks and for the next two centuries, it was all stop and start for the free-standing tower. Completed at last in the 1370s, it is the only monument in the cathedral ground which does not bear a signature. The tower kept on leaning throughout the ages, though little was done until the belfry of St Mark’s in Venice collapsed in 1902. The time had come to keep a close eye on Pisa and after long years of deliberations, it was decided that the tilt would be checked every year in June on the same day with the same instrument. All sorts of plans were hatched, injecting 90 tons of liquid cement, which almost led to disaster, lifting the tower to strengthen the foundations, which never came to fruition, but eventually in 1990, the ‘Iron Lady’ was forced to close her door. A new commission set to work, binding the weakest point with concealed steel cables, then piling tons of lead on the north side while Alpine climbers

22 22

installed a new monitoring system. For fear of vibration damage, the bells fell silent for seven years. In 1995, ‘Black September’ struck in the middle of the night as, following the injection of liquid nitrogen to secure anchors, a successful technique used in the London underground, the tower suddenly tilted at an alarming rate, causing great anxiety as diggers and cranes were frantically moved to the north side to increase the counterweight, before lead could be added. The battle was finally won in 2001 with tons of earth painstakingly removed under the tower, a few hundred grams at a time, to lower the side opposite the overhang. After 12 years and millions of lire, the leaning tower re-emerged, safe and beautifully pristine, despite its somewhat diminished iconic slant. Today, the visitors are back, just 30 at a time, climbing the 293 marble steps spiralling inside, slippery and smooth, hollowed out in the centre by millions of footprints. The incline takes you by surprise before you even step through the door and is most apparent on the lower floors as you lean one way then the other, but the view from the top is superb, the entire piazza at your feet, the cathedral and baptistry gleaming on extensive lawns, the red roofs of Pisa, the Tuscan hills and the blue waters of the Mediterranean glistening in the distance. But whether you climb up or stay on the ground, the tower remains a unique focal point in this superb World Heritage site. Rising to a lofty 56 meters, it looks like a giant wedding cake, eight creamy tiers decorated with a total of 207 delicate columns. Yet, it is an amazingly resilient building with over 32,000 marble blocks encircling a hollow cylindrical centre. Monitoring continues on a daily basis but experts are confident now that the tower is safe for at least 200 years. The pious lady of Pisa would be pleased.

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Local News

Shefford Open For Business New Shefford Business Community The business website www.sheffordopen4business has been created to increase awareness of the diversity of retail, commercial and industrial services available in and around Shefford. Originally suggested and facilitated by Shefford Town Council, the organisation behind the website has now grown, with a Business Committee recently formed to improve communication between businesses, and to improve awareness of the wide variety of service providers available for residents of the town. Shefford Open 4 Business aims to: • Improve the profile of businesses in Shefford and surrounding villages • Improve communications within the business community • Represent the business community with local and central government etc. Monthly meetings are now being organised, offering an informal opportunity to meet other business owners/directors/partners/senior managers of

national companies and to hear speakers offering an insight into various aspects of business. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month (Tuesday following Bank Holidays) at 5.30 pm – look out for further details in the local area. The website offers a business directory listing (currently free of charge) for all Shefford businesses, and paid advertising will also be available. Membership of the Shefford Open 4 Business community is currently free of charge for all local businesses – go onto the website and sign up for the Directory - and come along to the meetings, the next will be on Tuesday 27th May at the Airman Hotel, and Monday 30th June (venue to be confirmed).

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Finance

Credit where credit is due Ann Haldon www.cornerstonewebcontent.com

If you’ve ever been refused credit, you’ll already know how demoralising it is to be held back in life. Being unable to buy your first house or a new car is bad enough but poor scores can affect your ability to take out a mobile phone contract, hire a car and can even make insurance premiums more expensive. However, you can improve the situation, and they all start with checking your credit file. How to access your credit file Three main credit reference agencies exist in the UK – Equifax, Experian and CallCredit. Equifax and Experian offer a 30-day free trial (but be aware you will be charged if you don’t cancel within 30 days) or just £2 for a statutory report. CallCredit provide free access for life. Why you should check your report It pays to check your credit file at least once a year for a number of reasons: • Lenders can make mistakes which you may be able to rectify • An overall view of historic and current borrowing is provided • The chances of identity theft are reduced • Control of finances is significantly improved Are repairs to your credit file possible? Lots of options exist to boost your credit rating, and taking several small actions adds up to a big improvement over time. It’s important to remember that having no credit file at all can also hold you back. Young people just starting work are often penalised because they can’t demonstrate their ability to make regular repayments on time, and find themselves in a ‘Catch-22’ situation. Below are some easily implemented short-term fixes: • Cancel all unused credit cards by writing to the provider and cutting up the card. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

• Make sure you are on the electoral register so lenders can identify you and reduce the chances of fraud. • Stop or reduce the number of credit applications. • Include a landline phone number on your file, rather than just a mobile number. • Check that all information is indeed correct, including any late repayments and outstanding loan amounts mentioned. • ‘Unlink’ yourself from a former partner – if they have a poor credit rating it also affects yours. Starting from scratch For those with either no existing credit rating or a very poor score, you will need to find a way to demonstrate financial responsibility. One option may be to apply for a high interest credit card with a low limit, known as ‘creditbuilder’ cards. Provided you make payments on time for a minimum of six months, you will build a good credit file. Don’t forget to stay within your credit limit or this will damage your rating. The interest rates on these cards can be eyewatering though, with APRs of up to 39.9% not unusual, so make sure it is always paid off in full. Alternatively you could apply for a ‘credit-builder’ prepaid card. This type of card involves signing an agreement for a small loan – typically around £60 – which is then repaid at over 12 months. Similarly, if you have a mobile phone contract, no payment defaults will lead to a good credit score over time. Lending criteria A long employment history, living in one place for a long time as a homeowner, and a significant period with the same bank, all contribute towards a positive credit report. The cost of not keeping an eye on your credit file is high, so check and take action before you are presented with an embarrassing ‘declined’.

Couples Counsellor

Helen’s Helpful Hints No. 1 - Take good care of your relationship Do you find yourself bickering with your partner then you can barely remember what it is about? This is a sign that there is some discontent in your relationship but you cannot work out just what it is or you do not feel justified in complaining about it. What can you do? You need to make a change in how you communicate with each other. Set aside a time that you and your partner can discuss what is bugging you? Ask this question of each other. What was the worse thing that happened to you today? Take it in turns to listen to the answer. Give full attention to what the other replies. When you have heard and understood what is upsetting the other, ask “what can I do to make it better for you”? Then agree one thing that each of you will do in the next week that will make it better for the other. Just the fact that you have taken time to listen and

hear each other will make you both feel more appreciated and loved. I am a couples counsellor who trained with Relate and have 28 years experience. During that time I have helped hundreds of couples to improve or repair their relationships, leading to greater contentment for them and happiness and more security for their children. Call me, Helen Springer for an appointment. I can fix a fee to suit your pocket. It is important to me that you achieve the kind of relationship that you desire. Tel: 01462 713685 or email: hspringer@btinternet.com I am located in Pirton, Herts.

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TEMPLARS CROSS LODGE www.templarscrosslodge.co.uk Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking. • continental breakfast • large luxury en-suite rooms • free wifi internet access • sky tv/dvd player • fridge in room • private location • close to train station • major credit cards taken

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CV Tips

Don’t Sell Yourself Short!

Top 10 CV writing tips

4. Grab attention! Your personal statement is an opportunity to sell yourself. Be short and positive with your key strengths, skills and experience and avoid vague, sweeping statements. Ensure you keep three or four sentences tailored to the specific vacancy you’re applying for. 5. Employment history Place each position you have held in reverse chronological order (i.e. most recent first). Make sure there are no unexplained gaps. Use bullet points for clarity and conciseness. 6. Achievements Use between three to five achievements for each role and quantify your main contributions for each, e.g. money you saved or brought in for your employer, deals closed, and projects delivered etc. 7. Tailor your CV Once you have your main CV, always tailor it for each role you apply for which should also be reflected in your covering letter showing why you are the best person for that role and the organisation. Use keywords from the advert or job description. 8. Images Don’t add embedded tables, pictures, or other images to your CV. Applicant-tracking software can be confused by this data so where possible, leave them out. 9. Language, spelling and grammar Never write in the third person because everyone knows you’re the one writing it (unless it’s been written for you). It’s also an extra unnecessary word taking up valuable space! Always ask a family member or friend to read through your CV for any basic spelling or grammar errors and general feedback. 10. Other It sounds obvious, but use one contact number for a phone that will always be answered or has a voicemail function you’ll regularly check. This is also the case for an email address. Don’t include salary details but do say ‘references available upon request’. For further guidance on CV writing and the interview process as an applicant or employer, contact Sarah Reid via email – sarah.reid@solashr. com or visit her website at www.solashr.com. To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 31

It’s a sobering thought that for every apprenticeship vacancy there is an average of 12 applications, and for graduates this year UK employers are receiving around 85 applicants per job. A job advert will usually attract 30 applications. These figures are likely to be higher in areas such as London and Cambridge. It’s therefore imperative to make your CV stand out from the competition. Follow my top ten CV Writing tips to give yours the competitive edge: 1. Layout There are no rights or wrongs with layout, just ensure it’s clear, logical and relevant. A winning CV needs to reflect your unique style and personality – by and about you. 2. White space White space on a CV is like taking a breath and draws a reader’s eyes to important points so avoid dense blocks of text. 3. Number of pages If possible, limit your CV to two pages. Employers take an average of ten seconds to read your CV, so keep it short and relevant.

By Catherine Rose Tucked away at unit 13 of the Arlington Business Park, just off Whittle Way in Stevenage, Eurotiles & Bathrooms has been trading in the town for the past eight years. Over that time, the reputation it has earned with both tradesmen and retail customers alike has meant that it is growing annually and now looks set to even outstrip its London-based founding branch. Catherine Rose met Tony Watts, showroom manager to find out why they are the “most up and coming tile showroom in the area”. Eurotiles & Bathrooms sells to both the trade and the public, although their main business comes from supplying tradesmen in an area that stretches from Stevenage, Knebworth and Welwyn Garden City to Biggleswade, Potton and even as far as Royston in Cambridge. When visiting their showroom, which is just off junction 7 of the A1, it is noticeable that you don’t exactly ‘fall over them’ as you enter the trading estate. But taking the second turn left and going that little bit further is

definitely worth it as the company’s growth has come about primarily through word of mouth recommendation. Over the years, Eurotiles & Bathrooms has earned a great reputation with local tradesmen who will stay loyal to the company once they have used them. “We look after our tradesmen and they look after us” explains Tony. As a company, Eurotiles & Bathrooms has been in business for 35 years so they know all there is to know about tiles and sanitaryware. At the Stevenage showroom, as well as a large selection of tiles and bathroom appliances from Europe and China, they also supply underfloor heating and every type of tool a fitter could possibly need, along with all the necessary accessories from coloured grout to cleaning products. Looking around their showroom the attention to detail becomes evident. They sell to hundreds of local tradesmen but retail customers are welcome too.

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Tony believes that as well as offering a good service, their strength lies in giving competitive discounts. “We always give the customer the best price” he says. Tiles are their most popular product and when I ask Tony what is fashionable at the moment his answer is “big and shiny”. One range that is currently flying off the shelves is the Tibet which can be used for both kitchens and bathrooms and comes in a range of earthy colours with some wonderful sheens and textures. Another popular choice is the Elixir which is an extremely convincing wood-effect tile in a wide range of natural looking shades - perfect for those who want a wood effect in their bathroom which is totally waterproof. The big difference with the Eurotiles & Bathroom’s showroom when compared to others is that it is easy to see tiles and sanitaryware on display in specially constructed bays so that a customer or tradesman can get an instant impression of what a finished bathroom will look like. Says Tony: “When you walk into most tile shops they have a lot of book board displays but here you can see exactly what you are getting and the customer is not being overloaded. We change the bays regularly as new styles come in.” The company currently has five showrooms with Stevenage coming in a close second as the most profitable after Twickenham: no mean feat when you consider the latter serves one of the wealthiest areas in London. The other three showrooms comprise large premises

at Rustingdon in Sussex, another in Braintree and a new shop that opened in Guildford last month. The Stevenage business is currently expanding with revenue increasing monthly. “We are very busy” admits Tony and just to prove it, while I am there the phone doesn’t stop ringing. So although Eurotiles & Bathrooms may at first sight appear to be a tradesman’s secret, news about what makes this company special is clearly travelling fast.

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Unit 13 Arlington Business Park Whittle Way, Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 2BD Tel: 01438 729900 Visit To advertise our newincommunity The Villagerwww.beds-local.co.uk and Town please call 01767 261122 Web:Life www.eurotilesandbathrooms.com

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Garden

Plotting a vegetable garden By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com Even the smallest garden can find space to grow vegetables. Start now and you can enjoy delicious home-grown salads all summer long. Producing useful quantities of your own vegetables doesn’t take up as much space as you might imagine. There’s a lot you can plant out or grow from seed right now that will give you some super-tasty, succulent, and top-quality salads in just a few weeks’ time. And salad leaves grown in ornamental pots can be as decorative as they are nutritious. Before you get sowing or planting, choose the right containers. Big ones are easier to maintain than small ones; and of course bigger pots mean more produce. Go for something of at least 30cm (12in) in diameter, larger if possible. As salad crops tend to be pretty short-term there’s no need to spend a fortune on compost. Ideally choose a good-quality multi-purpose compost, but you can get perfectly acceptable results with the contents of a growing-bag. I find the quality of the compost in these isn’t all that brilliant, but for the time you need it – and provided you keep it well-fertilised – it’ll be adequate. If you grow your own salad leaves you can get precisely the mix you like best. There are plenty of eye-catching lettuces such as the frilly Lollo, either a gorgeous bright-green standard Lollo a burgundy-tinged Lollo Rosso or a mixture of both. Treat them as cut-and-come-again crops, snipping off the leaves as you want them but not cutting into to the base, then they’ll put out new shoots and keep cropping for longer. Baby beet leaves are a popular salad ingredient, too. Choose a variety like Bull’s Blood for the prettiest leaves or grow any of the standard varieties, and you’ll also get a great-tasting root

crop later on. I generally harvest the young leaves a few at a time but let the plant produce a root too. There are still plenty of tomato plants in the shops now, but hunt carefully to find the ones that are still in top condition. If you choose an outdoor variety it can be grown in a pot on its own, and if you have a big enough container you can grow some other salad ingredients around the edge of the container. If you’re after some fire in your cooking, a chilli pepper thrives in a pot in a warm and very sheltered spot as do sweet peppers. Fresh herbs can make a salad more interesting too. Choose your favourites and either grow them in a dedicated herb pot with extra grit in the compost for good drainage, or even consider popping a few in with your main crops. Vegetables, like most plants, do best in a relatively warm spot with plenty of sun, so site your containers carefully. You want them to be easily accessible from the kitchen, but it’s more important to ensure they’re sheltered from the wind yet still get enough sun. You may prefer to raise some of your crops in pots and grow them on a bit before planting them out. The garden containers will always be full and looking their best, even while you’re harvesting them. The new plantings will very quickly blend in with the old, and all summer long you’ll have a garden that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the tastebuds. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for the AskPippa Q&A ervice, Nemaslug, natural pest controls and lots more besides!

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RSPB

News from RSPB

by Mark Brandon The Lodge nature reserve and gardens As we head into the main summer months our breeding birds take centre stage. The major habitat and conservation work is put on hold until the autumn to avoid any disturbance to the birds, and our volunteers take to other tasks at this time. With the welcome warm, spring conditions this year, many birds raised their young early and have taken advantage of a good supply of insects throughout the season. Cold frosts and heavy rain can have a devastating effect on young birds in the nest and disrupt the all-important supply of food, so it was good news to have such a settled pattern of weather this year. The ravens were feeding their young on the hill fort nest at the end of April and into early May. This is the third consecutive successful year of breeding at The Lodge for this once scarce Bedfordshire species. Along with the common woodland birds, nuthatches, mistle thrush, green and great spotted woodpeckers and buzzards have all been seen and heard as they started nesting and raising young. As I write, the first hobby, a falcon that migrates here for the summer, has arrived and will be seen dashing over the heaths in search of dragonflies and insects in coming weeks. As spring turns to summer, The Lodge is a wonderful pace to see dragonflies and many types of exciting insects, bees and wasps. Another species that is doing well at The Lodge is the natterjack toad. These creatures are rare across the UK and normally breed around coastal dunes. Natterjacks have very specific requirements, so we manage the areas around the ponds for them. The only problem is that they are nocturnal, so hardly seen!

It goes without saying that summer is a busier time than normal for our events programme at The Lodge kicking off with our Spring Fayre on June 1 which has the exciting addition of The Beds Artist Network coming to show local artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work and hold workshops for youngsters. And our archaeology and history event, Time Explorers on June 15 will be full of hands on activities, including new additions of thatching and brick making. There are lots more events in June. For details please visit: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge. The RSPB Lodge reserve is open every day from dawn to dusk. Entry is included in the car-parking fee - ÂŁ5 a car for non-members, free if you are members or just visiting the shop. The shop is open every day (9am-5pm and 10am-5pm weekends and Bank Holidays) and has everything for people who love nature. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity. In England and Wales, no: 207076. In Scotland, no: SC037654. RSPB The Lodge nature reserve and gardens, Potton Road, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL 01767 680541

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Fun Quiz - Inventions 1. Which toy was invented by accident in 1943 after a naval mechanical engineer knocked something off a shelf and watched the way it dropped onto a stack of books, a table and the floor? 2. In 1970, inventor Douglas Engelbart received a patent for what he called an “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System”. By what name is this device commonly known today? 3. According to a well known proverb, what “is the mother of invention”? 4. Invented in the late 19th century by a chemist called John Pemberton, what was once advertised as a “valuable brain tonic, and a cure for all nervous afflictions”? 5. In the film Edward Scissorhands, which actor played Edward’s inventor? 6. In 1957, what was accidentally invented by Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes when they were attempting to create three-dimensional plastic wallpaper and realised that what they had created had a more practical use? 7. Which was invented first? The pop-up toaster or sliced bread? 8. In 1974, a Hungarian with the first name of Erno invented what is considered by many to be the world’s best-selling toy of all time. What was his surname? 9. Invented by Henry Bessemer, the Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of which metal? 10. The first commercial version of what was invented in 1884 in Paris, when it was made from deer tallow, castor oil and beeswax, and was covered in silk paper? 1. The slinky 2. A computer mouse 3. Necessity 4. Coca-cola 5. Vincent Price 6. Bubble wrap 7. The pop-up toaster 8. Rubik (he invented the Rubik’s Cube) 9. Steel 10. Lipstick

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Food & Drink

Always Mix your Drinks! By Nick Clare

In recent years there has been a big movement in craft beers. These are beers that are not made just for mass production but to truly add something to the art of brewing, coming out of breweries like Harviestoun, Meantime, Brewdog and many more. If you are local to Henlow then The Engineers Arms is a great pub that always has a wide selection of good craft beers, so check it out! The other ‘big thing’ in the drinks world over the last decade has been cocktails and even more recently people have been merging the two and creating beer cocktails (or beertails). It is important to note however, that although this is a current trend, drinks like Huckle My Buff which is a porter, cognac, muscovado sugar and egg yolk cocktail traditionally heated with a hot poker, have been around for hundreds of years. So it would seem we are just adding to a delicious British tradition with a modern twist to bring out the best in our great British beers. Here are a few recipes that you can try yourself:

Atlas 77 This is a variation on the champagne-based French 77. 25ml Sipsmith gin 35ml of Bramley and Gage elderflower liqueur 25ml lemon juice 7ml sugar syrup Harviestouns’ Schiehallion lager Add the first four ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake until well chilled. Fine strain into a coupe or cocktail (martinistyle) glass and top up with the Schiehallion. Delicious!

Atlas 77

Jalisco Highlander Jalisco Highlander 30ml Patron XO Café 30ml fresh espresso 30ml Old Engine Oil porter 15ml double cream 3ml sugar syrup (this may vary slightly on the bitterness of your espresso) Cinnamon (good quality ground) Shake everything together except the cinnamon in an icefilled shaker until well chilled. Strain into a coupe or martini glass and dust generously with the cinnamon.

Meantime Raspberry Daiquiri 25ml raspberry liqueur 25ml rum 25ml lime juice 6ml sugar syrup Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake until well chilled. Pour into a martini glass and top up with around 40ml of Meantime raspberry wheat beer.

Jalisco Highlander

For more information on beertails or the ingredients used, contact me via my site www.mixedupbars.co.uk. Or to hire a barman for a hen party, wedding or any other event email nick@mixedupbars.co.uk 42

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Pets

Animal Heroes RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch

Stories told about the heroes who help our animals. Our charity doesn’t have a rescue centre so we rely entirely on volunteer foster carers to look after our animals prior to re-homing. Be a hero – become a foster carer! Cat fostering Have you ever thought about fostering? We provide food, litter, toys, bedding and pay for any veterinary costs. You provide love and security. When a cat is in foster care the chance of finding a good match with new owners is increased. The foster carer is able to give much more information about the cats’ nature, and likes and dislikes – than if the cat was kept in a cattery. If you think you could become a cat fosterer, discuss with everyone in the house if it is something they would be happy to do. Don’t forget to take into consideration your own pets and how you think they would cope. Decide if fostering cats could fit into your home, family and lifestyle – for example, as a foster carer you’re responsible for keeping the cat secure in your house at all times. Some of the cats we help are initially quite timid. Have you the space, and patience, to give them a quiet place in which to settle? Also, are you prepared to have prospective new owners coming to your home to meet the cat? Our home check team assesses all prospective new owners, before being allowed to meet

the cat. The cat may also need to have regular visits to the vets for treatment, neutering or vaccination; so ideally you need your own transport. If you decide it’s a ‘YES’ to fostering – THANK YOU! Please contact us on 01234 266965, or via our website. We’ll then provide you with the food and equipment you need – and you’ll have our support at all times if you’ve any worries or questions. The cat, or kittens, will stay with you until the time comes to move to their new home – this can be anything from a few days to a couple of months. The tough bit is saying goodbye, but when you receive pictures and stories of how they’re getting on in their new lives – you’ll know it will have been worthwhile. Our heroes – the foster carers who’ve recently said goodbye to Tom, Mick, Malcolm and Una – will testify that fostering can be the best job in the world. ANIMAL HEROES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca.org.uk/local/ bedfordshire-northbranch

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TYNEHILL Boarding Kennels and Cattery

The kennels your dog would choose! 10% discount for new customers • • • • • •

Top quality kennels and cattery Fully licensed and insured Clean and hygienic environment Highly competitive rates Discount for family groups Our dogs are happy dogs!

Better kennels are only minutes away...

www.tynehillkennelsandcattery.co.uk 01462 850606

Lambourn MOT and Service Centre Ltd Your LOCAL MoT, tyre and service centre in Shefford

01462 811333 Pay us a visit – we’re near Morrisons! Lambourn MoT & Service Centre Unit 10, Old Bridge Way, Shefford, SG17 5HQ

Visit: lambournservicecentre.co.uk

Shillington Road, Lower Stondon, Beds, SG16 6JX

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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 48

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ROOFLINE PRODUCTS INSTALLED BY THE PROFESSIONALS

PVC-U soffits, fascia, guttering and cladding in flat and woodgrain effects and a choice of colour

10 year guarantee Very low maintenance Quality approved zinc-free plastics to eliminate rusting Seamless colour-matched products across the entire range For a free quotation please call Langford Windows

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www.langfordwindows.com langfordwindows@hotmail.co.uk Langford Windows advert.indd 1

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24/01/2014 14:19

Fully qualiFied â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 25 years experienCe

PlumbinG & heatinG ltd

gas

Gas installer Boiler installation with 5 year warranty Boiler breakdown & power flushing Frozen condense pipe rectified Boiler service and landlord certification

water PlumbinG and heatinG

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Solar thermal for hot water Solar PV installation by MCS approved installers Solar cylinder upgrades & breakdowns

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14 Pear Tree Close, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire SG16 6ND Email: dave@dhplumb.co.uk Website: www.dhplumb.co.uk

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Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

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Crossword Solution for The Villager May Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mr P Keating from Stotfold

May’s Wildlife Competition The solution to the puzzle in the last issue of The Villager was MIGRATION. The winner, selected at random, was Mrs G Davison from Ickleford, who has been sent the prize, a copy of ‘Wildlife through the Year’ signed by the author.

Battle Of the Proms Competition The winners are Chloe Alder from Biggleswade, Miss C Ray from Stotfold, Jim Mynott from St Neots, Tim Croft from Granchester, Peter Rutt from Biggleswade and Miss C Chester from Willington

Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Type of pudding (7) 5 Trimmed (5) 8 Large pebbles (5) 9 Brutal (7) 10 At right angles (13) 11 Without effort (6) 12 Grieves for (6) 15 A protest (13) 18 Financial system (7) 19 Beverage (5) 20 Stairs (5) 21 Hauled (7)

18th June 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

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Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

Down 1 Sticky liquid (5) 2 Accompanies (7) 3 Assorted (13) 4 Split (6) 5 Book of facts (13) 6 Snarl (5) 7 Removes weapons (7) 11 Goes on forever (7) 13 Fence (7) 14 Remained (6) 16 Large deer (5) 17 Nude (5)

24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

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A TOUCH OF GLASS Quality UPVC Windows, Doors & Conservatories

ALL REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN Broken locks, handles, hinges, replacement misted glass units, catflaps, draughty windows

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Visit our beautiful

Bathroom Showroom ...With more than 50 displays of bathrooms, furniture & fittings Free in-house 3D design service Quality products from leading manufacturers Experienced staff offering impartial advice Free delivery within a 20 mile radius of our showroom

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Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS 56

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James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance • plastering services available • free estimates • fully insured

References available t: 01462 817 122 m: 07899 888 545 e: go_on_james@hotmail.com www.cullippaintinganddecorating.co.uk 10 Mill Lane, Campton, Shefford, Beds

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KPC Property Services • • • • • •

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n O s ’ t Wha 4 June Field Marshall Sir William Robertson 7pm for 7.30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by John Spencer about William Robertson and his impact on the British Army in France and Flanders. Non-members most welcome. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com 5, 12, 19 & 26 June Sapphire Social & Singles Club 8.30pm Meet in Hitchin Run purely by the members, this social group caters for unattached people over 45 and organizes a variety of events throughout the year. No joining fee for the first two weeks. Tel: Joyce 07960 440417 for information Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 6 June An Evening of Clairvoyance and Psychic Artistry Stondon Village Hall, SG16 6LQ Tickets £8 An Evening of Clairvoyance and Psychic Artistry with Dawn Russell and Jennie Ashwell. All proceeds to Stondon Lower School. Tel 07887 741789 to book 6 June The Lastminutecomedy Club Doors open 7.30pm, show 8.30pm Woodside Hall, Walsworth Road, Hitchin Tickets £10, members £8 Great comedy from Nick Revel and Luke Benson plus MC Paul B Edwards. Tel: 079939 081391 Web: www.lastminutecomedy.com 7 June Garden Square Craft Market 8.30am-4.30pm Garden Square Shopping Centre, Letchworth Garden City The market specialises in the sale of genuine, high quality, hand made goods and offers local artisans and craft workers the opportunity to show case their work.

7 June The Signals Museum 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID is required to get an entry permit from the Guardroom. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

7 June Cactus and Succulent Show 10.30am-4pm Pirton Village Hall, High Street SG5 3PS Organised by the Luton Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society. Refreshments, tombola and plant and book sales. 8 June Barton Run and Fete 10am Arnold Academy, Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay A 10k race and a 5k fun run over the Barton hills, with a Summer Fair at the school. Email: FriendsofArnold@gmail.com Web: www.arnold.beds.sch.uk Direct online entry at www.racetimingsystems. net (June events) 8 June Charity Fun Quiz 8pm The Five Bells, Henlow Village £2 per person In aid of Cerebral Palsy Society. Cash and other prizes. Raffle. Teams of up to 8 people. Tel: John 01767 631045 8 & 22 June Stotfold Mill: “The Mill in Miniature” Free admission. See a remarkable scale model of the mill showing the milling process from beginning to end! 11 June Classical Music evening with the Hitchin Symphony Orchestra 7.30-9.30 pm Stotfold Mill Works by Elgar, Boyce, Gluck and J. C. Bach. Booking essential. Tel: 01462 734541 Email: events@stotfoldmill.com

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11 June Railway Correspondence and Travel Society Doors open 7pm, talk starts 7.30pm Hitchin Christian Centre, edford Rd, Hitchin Brian Ringer will give a presentation entitled Strictly Freight Only Part 1, something for the freight enthusiast! Refreshments and sales table. 12 June Luton & Dunstable University Hospital Engagement Event 7pm Christchurch (opposite Waitrose), Hitchin Meet the Consultants, senior staff and Governors with your local MP Rt. Hon. Peter Lilley. Hear how you can choose to be treated at the L&D and how the hospital is seeking to meet your needs. There will be ample opportunity to put questions to the panel of speakers. 14 June Car Boot Sale 12 noon-4pm Pitches £4, Buyers free Booking not required - as much room as you like. Proceeds to Friends of St. Mary’s Church for church restoration. Tel: 01462 834108 for further information 14 June Peregrine Recorder Orchestra Concert 7.30pm St Faith’s Church, Woolgrove Road, Hitchin Tickets £7, Concessions £5 Supported by Soprano Jackie Mitchell. Usual eclectic mix of wonderful music. Proceeds to Phase and Street Angels charities. 15 June Paws in the Park 10am-2pm Butts Close, Hitchin Bring your dog to a fun-filled event. Win a prize in the dog show from 11am, lots of categories and have a go at the dog agility course and fly ball; find out about free micro-chipping. Owners must be kept on leads! Organised by North Hertfordshire Homes.

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21 June Fused Glass Workshop 11am-1.30pm The Art Nest, West Alley, Hitchin £45 Design your own fused glass pane, approx. 15 x 15cm. This class will make a fabulous treat or gift for someone. Tel: Call 01462 454019 to book 21 & 22 June Stotfold Scarecrow Festival 10am-5pm Come and view the many scarecrows on parade around the town. Trails showing locations of scarecrows and refreshments available from St. Mary’s Church Hall, Church Road, Stotfold. 22 June Gardener’s Question Time 1.00-4pm Stotfold Mill Free Admission “Gardener’s Question Time” with experts from the Letchworth District Gardener’s Association. Interesting and unusual plants will be for sale. 28 June A School at War 10am-1pm British Schools Museum, 41-42 Queen St, Hitchin Normal museum admission costs apply Opening of our ‘Great War’ exhibition and launch of ‘Remembered with Pride’ by Jean M. Handley. This book charts the family and military histories of 68 former pupils of the British School in Hitchin who lost their lives in the ‘War to end all wars.’ The author will be present to sign copies of the book. 28 June Stotfold Art Group 11am-4pm Memorial Hall, Hallworth Drive, Stotfold Free admission and parking 6th Annual Summer Exhibition. Paintings and handmade cards for sale. Refreshments. 29 June The Sunday Dance Club - Summer Masked Ball 7.30-10.30pm The Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth, SG6 4ET Our music providers play a range of Ballroom, Latin and Popular Sequence dances. Visitors very welcome, tickets on the door. Tel: David 01234 300179

Local News

Ampthill & District Lions Club

Well done to the Flitwick Eagles Girls Football Team who took part in the Dutch Easter Open winning all their games. We were happy to help them with a donation and delighted that they had a wonderful experience playing against high Academy teams from Denmark, Belgium and Holland. Our congratulations to the Team’s coaches for such a successful trip and I am sure we will hear a lot more about their continued success in the future. The Lions celebrated this year’s Charter Anniversary with something completely different, an afternoon’s cruise down Bedford River on the John Bunyan Community Boat. We were joined on board by members from other local Lions Clubs, plus Royal British Legion Flitwick Branch and Orchid Lawns Residential Home. The boat is manned by volunteers and a collection on board enabled us to donate £57 to the Captain on the day (John) towards the maintenance and running costs of this Community

Project. We wish them every success for the future. Lions work within the community, would you like to get involved? Call 0845 8332 883 or visit our website www.ampthilllions.btck.com for more information. We also have a Facebook page linked through from our website.

Member of BESCA

Safe Contractor approved/accredited

providing Competent Person and Energy Assessor Certification Schemes for the building services industry

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1st Glass Window Repairs 30

years experience

IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken Kitchens, Bedrooms, Doors, Windows 25 years experience Free estimates Please call 01462 851695 or 07967162448 E-mail ij_simpson@hotmail.com

FULLY INSURED! Local company who can fix all types of problems with your double glazing, call us now for a free quotation. Steamed Up Glass Faulty Window or Door Locks & Hinges Draughty Windows and Doors Leaking Conservatory Roofs Fascias and Gutters New Conservatory Roofs

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Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Books

BOOK REVIEW

By Bruce Edwards

The Boys in The Boat Daniel James Brown Pub: Pan Books p/b £8.99 Wars affect people - a very simplistic truism and undeniable; as individuals, we can often consider how the World Wars and successive modern conflicts affect us. In this factual account, one man - Joe Rantz - may not have considered how the potential conflict of the Second World War would affect him when he broke free from a depressive lifestyle in 1930’s America. He developed a passion for rowing as a means of escape and the story explains his success. For any one who has a depth of interest in competitive sport, this true story - immensely detailed - documents how a dedicated team of young men took their rowing eight to Hitler’s Olympics in 1936, and against stiff competition, won the Gold medal. There’s a deep sense of emotive pride throughout the saga - for saga it must be - extending to the challenging achievements of the team. Not only did they win the specific event, but they also set a goal for others to aspire to - to win against all odds. As the UK soccer World Cup Squad sets out for Brazil, is there a comparison? The Games of 1936 were grand, impressive and a morale boost for Hitler, but the boys from America took home the medal - and eventually, we won the war. Suggestion and queries to: writerselect@gmail. com. We’re always happy to consider specific titles for review, though without obligation. Can’t find a title? E-mail your details and we’ll try to help.” Villager Readers: Had a book published? If you’d like a chance to see it reviewed here, send us a copy.

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Classifieds Aerials and Satellites AERIALS & SATELLITES T/A Broadband Communications Established 1993

Aerials & Satellites • Digital Aerials Freesat & Satellite Installations Commercial IRS Systems All Work Guaranteed • CAI Approved C.1616 Based in Stotfold www.broadbandcommunications.co.uk

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Drum Lessons DRUM LESSONS

Ponds

Water Features and Aquaria Gary Clarke Mob: 07768 070674 Tel: 01767 601198 Design, Construction, Maintenance, Cleaning, Troubleshooting. Specialising in Japanese Koi and Fish Health. 25 Years Experience www.echigo-imports.com Email: info@echigo-imports.com

Property Maintenance Fun and inspirational lessons in the art of drumming. Grades taught. 20 years experience as a professional musician and teacher. References available. Current CRB Disclore. Based in Clifton but able to travel to surrounding towns and villages.

Contact Jasper Morrissey on 01462819256 / 07773764536 or email jasper_morrissey@yahoo.com

Electricians

R. CHAPMAN

Home & Garden Services

Patio’s Driveways Fencing Brickwork Painting & Decorating Tiling 20 Years Experience - No Job Too Small!

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Removals and Storage removals, storage, archive and shipping • House and office moves • Large and small vehicles • Local/long distance and overseas removals • Containerised storage • Extremely high quality customer service Call for a no obligation quotation

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Gardening Services

FORK & SPADE Find Gardening hard to do? Let Jeff do your garden for you. All garden and household maintenance. Reasonable price per hour per hour. Over 30 years experience

Contact Jeff 07429 703774 or 01462 432591

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Van Hire

3/12/12 11:44:54

Chris’ Man & Van

For hire

Collections, Deliveries, Light Haulage...anything considered. Cheap rates Please call for further details

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