VILLAGER The
Issue 93 - May 2014
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
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Message from the Editor: I am delighted to be taking over as Editor of The Villager magazine, an award winning community publication which reaches around 60,000 of you throughout Beds and Cambs - and not just because I can gaze out at a lovely view of the old Potton Market Square from my desk. The saying ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’ certainly seems to apply to the magazine and I shall not be sweeping in with the proverbial broom as clearly, The Villager works very well and the advertisers would vouch for that. I do hope, however, to gradually introduce some more local features to the various issues we produce across the counties and explore new areas alongside the excellent writers and local contributors we already have on board. If there is anything you would like to see included in the magazine, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Likewise, if you have any articles of local interest in your area, I would be delighted to hear from you. This month we have a history of basket making and straw plaiting in the region, a new travelogue by aspiring journalist Melanie Ridley, and a heart-warming story from a couple who have fostered through Alliance Foster Care. So enjoy this spring edition of the magazine! You can contact me at editor@villagermag.com or telephone me at the office.
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Contents
The History of Plaiters and Wickermen.......................................4 Buying and Selling Houses the Savvy Way...............................13 Battle Proms Competition........................................................17 Where Am I?............................................................................18 News From RSPB......................................................................20 Cuddly Kangaroos and Cool Koalas...........................................24 Sandy Tourist Information Centre.............................................26 Bodnath, Kathmandu...............................................................29 Starlight Hike...........................................................................31 Potton Bowls Club....................................................................33 Age-Proof Your Hair..................................................................34 Banish Emotional Clutter.........................................................37 Sleep - You Can Do It With Your Eyes Closed..............................38 Where There’s A Will There’s A Way...........................................40 Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Chickens......................................43 Realistic Revision.....................................................................44 Biggleswade Sandy Lions.........................................................47
Catherin
Alliance Foster Care..................................................................48 Water, Water Everywhere.........................................................51 Plants With Attitude.................................................................53 The Science Behind The Smile..................................................54 May Day Foraging....................................................................57 Messing About On The River.....................................................59 Animal Know-How...................................................................61 National Vegetarian Week........................................................62 Wordsearch..............................................................................53 Children’s Page.........................................................................65 Fun Quiz...................................................................................66 2014 Mitsubishi ASX................................................................69 Toblerone Brownies..................................................................73 What’s On.................................................................................74 Sandy Cricket Club Open Day....................................................77 Puzzle Page..............................................................................80 Crossword Solution and Competition Winners..........................85 Prize Crossword........................................................................86 Book Review............................................................................92 Classifieds................................................................................92
Editor - Catherine Rose Publishers Villager Publications Ltd Editorial - Catherine Rose, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, 24 Market Square, Potton, Mark Brandon, Melanie Ridley, Solange Hando, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Helen Taylor, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Alison Runhan, Tel: 01767 261122 Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Wharton, Louise Addison, nigel@villagermag.com Derek Thompson, Susan Brookes-Morris, North Beds RSPCA, www.villagermag.com James Batchelor, Bruce Edwards and Culinary Masters Advertising Sales Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the Photography - Oleg Doroshin Darren Harbar, content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any Bernard Ormrod and Nigel Frost statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be To advertise in The Villager- Design and Town Life please call 01767 261122 reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher. Design and Artwork 9 Tel 07762 969460 3
History
Plaiters and Wickermen A history of basket weaving and straw plaiting in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire
By Catherine Rose As an antidote to stuffing supermarket fare into flimsy mass-produced carrier bags, there is something rather satisfying about carefully tucking paper-wrapped groceries bought from a small local supplier into a basket as our grandmothers would have done. In the same way, picking blackberries or gathering cut flowers has an added sense of pleasure and purpose when using a beautifully handmade trug. People have been weaving materials to make basketry for all kinds of purpose for centuries and not only as a means of carrying groceries and flowers. From hazel screens for fishing, which date back to 5000BC, to sturdy and quirky wicker furniture – think of the iconic 1970s hanging basket chair or a collectible Lloyd Loom rocker – the art of basket weaving has found its way into all aspects of human existence. According to The Basketmakers’ Association, in recent years there has been a renewed surge of interest in this ancient worldwide craft with people increasingly growing their own willow to make a variety of items using traditional methods. Modern artists have also seen the creative potential of this versatile skill and are using basket weaving techniques to produce
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striking pieces of contemporary art, often on a grand scale. The Royal Horticultural Society gardens at Wisley in Surrey boast some huge basketware sculptures which being made of natural material, also blend beautifully into the botanic landscape. Weaving willow or any other organic material to produce basketware can be both rewarding and therapeutic. The scent alone released by working with willow is said to be a fragrant delight. Farmed using coppicing to give an ongoing supply of material, a willow plant can be cut down to a stump and the following season it will still go on to produce long stems known as poles or rods which can then be harvested. There are a variety of natural colours that can be used to create patterns in the basket weave with willow stems ranging from black (a dark reddish brown) to buff (natural colour) and green. To make a basic willow basket, dried willow rods are soaked to make them pliable. If the willow has been stripped then this soaking process will only take a couple of hours, but if the bark is left on then the rule is one day of soaking per foot of length. A bunch of willow rods cut to the same length are then split in the centre and threaded through
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with another bunch of rods to make a cross or slath. This forms the base of the basket. Long thinner shoots are subsequently woven through and the spokes of the original rods separated out to resemble a bicycle wheel. After the base is formed, the ‘spokes’ are then bent upwards. The weaving process continues using different methods depending upon the pattern desired and type of basket being made. Basketry can be produced not only from willow but from a variety of different plant materials so long as they are fibrous and pliable, making them easy to weave. Cane, flax, grasses, vines and rattan are a few well known examples but did you know that you can use the stems of dog rose, briar and honeysuckle? Different materials can also be combined together in a single handcrafted item to produce strength, pattern and variety. During Victorian times and the first half of the 20th century, basket making was an important industry in Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. There was an abundance of reed and osier (willow) beds around the Rivers Lee, Ouse and Ivel which would be cut and stripped ready for to be worked by local craftsmen known as wickermen. The three main areas of production were at Bedford, Biggleswade and Pavenham.
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Pavenham was once known far beyond local county borders for its rush matting, the production of which can be traced back to the 17th century. Bulrushes proliferated along the River Ouse in that area and during autumn, the rush cutters would wade waist deep into the water to harvest stems that could grow as thick as a man’s finger and reach up to eight feet in height. These would then be flattened and woven into mats. It was a tough job as the men invariably did not wear waterproofs, dressed only in thick woollen clothing that frequently stayed wet until the following day. Rush matting was used in cottages to add a touch of homeliness to wood or stone floors. However, Pavenham’s reputation for high quality rush matting meant that its mats furnished the homes of the nobility and even at one time, The Houses of Parliament. The industry only foundered when carpets came into fashion but baskets continued to be made both at Pavenham and neighbouring Harrold. Alongside basket making, straw plaiting was also prominent in all areas of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. And by the mid-1700s, Luton had become the centre of hat making (hence the town football club’s nickname The Hatters). Production included women’s straw hats and the men’s famous straw boater. The town even boasted its own plait hall where dealers could
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bring their straw for trade. The advent of the Great Northern Railway saw the industry flourish with 2,000 to 3,000 cases of hats being collected daily during the high season of November to May. For the remainder of the year, railway coaches would be filled with locally made baskets containing home-grown produce destined for the London markets. Dunstable also had a thriving straw plait industry. The 1805 Commercial Gazetteer states: “…Baskets and fancy articles were, many of them at least, made of split straws dyed in different colours, flattened and pasted on wood or cardboard, and shaped into baskets, work-boxes, mats, etc. These articles obtained a ready sale among the travellers passing through the town on the coaches of that period”. The Bedfordshire hat industry was possibly born out of the tradition where women and girls from local farming families would make their own straw bonnets. In an article in the 1834 edition of McCulloch’s Dictionary of Commerce, Robert Slater says: “It is within the remembrance of some of the old inhabitants of the straw districts, i.e. Bedfordshire and contiguous counties, now alive, that the wives and daughters of the farmers used to plait straw for maicing their own bonnets, before straw-plaiting became established as a manufacture”. But although they gained popularity in the Victorian era with the advent of factories and mass production, like baskets, straw hats have also been around for centuries as proved by their appearance in old paintings, for example, the Flemish merchant Giovanni Arnolfini’s imposing black plaited straw hat in Jan Van Eyck’s famous 1434 Renaissance painting, The Arnolfini Marriage (now in The National Gallery). Writing about Hatfield in 1667, Samuel Pepys noted that “straw hats are much worn in this part of the country”. The trades of basket and hat making overlapped and straw was also frequently combined with rushes to make baskets. With Bedfordshire and parts of Cambridgeshire heavily reliant on the market gardening industry, baskets were essential in the gathering, storing and transportation of vegetables, fruit and flowers so it is no surprise that these two industries grew up side by side. It is documented that Bedfordshire basket makers were renowned for their skills and attended markets as far away as Oxfordshire. And
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such was the quality of plait from the area that it was known abroad as ‘English Brilliant’. While men toiled in the fields or carried out heavier manual labour, plaiting was often done by women and children on a piecework basis. For example, by 1851, over 10,000 Bedfordshire women were employed in straw plaiting although this number had dropped significantly by 1900. During Victorian times, plait schools were set up where children as young as three and four would learn to plait straw in return for pennies, staying at the school until they were old enough to go out and earn a living using their skills. Those too young to master plaiting would have a pair of scissors tied to them and be tasked with cutting off the loose ends of the straw. The ‘schools’ were usually in a small single room with an older lady acting as school mistress and conditions were harsh and unsanitary. Biggleswade had several of these plait schools, and with osier beds at Bells Brook, around Biggleswade Common, and in Clifton and Old Warden, the town was also full of basket makers with well-known families engaged in the trade. There was even a basket makers’ union. To make the basketware so demanded by
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the area, reeds were cut, soaked and woven into specialised containers in various sizes for packing every type of flower and vegetable grown in the region. Each type of basket had its own name depending on what it was to be used for. Flowers for example were cut and packed into wicker boxes known in Bedfordshire as flats. The flowers were then held in place by a willow cane soaked in water which was fixed across the top. There are many old English names for types of basket which date from the days when they were widely used in everyday life for different purposes. Sadly, most have now disappeared from use with the demise of the basketmaker’s art and modern day packaging replacements (like that ubiquitous carrier bag). For example, today, we tend to think of a canister as a metal container but once upon a time a canister was a special kind of basket for bread. A dorser was a basket that was carried on the back (presumably an early version of the back pack whose name derived from the word ‘dorsal’ which means pertaining to the back). On the other hand, contrary to its name, a frail was a sturdy basket made of rushes that was designed to hold large quantities of fruit, while a hanaper was a basket made for documents or money. A few basket names have lingered in the English language such as the hamper
- a basket made to carry food and these days associated with picnics and Christmas; a punnet for small quantities of soft fruit; and a skep which is a specialised type of straw basket made to hold bees. There are also old sayings and phrases associated with baskets that are still in common use, such as ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’, ‘he/she can’t carry a tune’ (which was originally ‘he/she can’t carry a tune in a bushel basket’), and to be a ‘basket case’. This latter phrase, which we now use as a derogatory term about someone’s mental faculties actually has a grim and unrelated origin. During the First World War, soldiers who had lost all their limbs on the battlefield were referred to as being “a basket case” because they would have to be carried around in a basket made especially for the purpose. Today, like many once flourishing local industries, basket making and straw plaiting have largely fallen by the wayside but this month on the May Day Bank Holiday at Ickwell Green in mid Bedfordshire you can still watch maypole dancers perform Strip the Willow – a timely reminder of the area’s osier growing days – with ribbon plaiting instead of straw.
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Buying and selling houses the savvy way! By Jonathan Vernon-Smith
They say that death of a loved one and divorce are the top two most stressful experiences in your life. Well number three must be moving house! Anyone who has moved will remember the stomach churning worry and the logistical nightmare that is buying and selling houses. However, there are some things you can do to not only make the process easier, but also demonstrate that you’re a savvy consumer. Here are my top tips: When you decide that you want to move (please really do make sure you do as there’s nothing as unfair as a seller who changes their mind when emotions and money have been spent), assess the market. Is it a buyers or a seller’s environment? At the moment, property prices in most areas are increasing, which for sellers is great, but means buyers are having to dig deeper into their pockets to secure a deal. During tough economic times, property prices tend to fall which means a savvy buyer can bag a bargain. Always get at least three good, reputable, local agents round to value your house. Ask them for a sensible price at which to market your property and ask them what they will do to get those prospective buyers through the door. Always establish their fee and NEVER agree to pay any money upfront. Always ensure that you pay their fee on completion of a deal and for goodness sake, haggle! If one of the agents is prepared to market the property for a 1% fee as opposed to the other two who want 1.5%, why would you even consider paying more? Get them to agree to match the other agent’s fee. If they’re not prepared to reduce their fee, then they’re not hungry enough for their commission and will not try hard enough to find a buyer. Look at their pictures on websites like Rightmove and Zoopla to ensure that they make other houses and flats look nice and ensure their descriptions are nicely written. Generally it’s better to sell your property before you agree to buy somewhere. Ultimately until you know how much you can achieve for your property, you don’t really know how much you can afford to spend on another. You should stipulate to your estate agents though that any buyer will afford you reasonable patience while you find somewhere to buy. Always employ the services of a totally independent mortgage advisor with access to all companies and who is prepared to recommend the best mortgage for you and NOT for them. You will find that most estate agents will try to persuade you to use the services of their own conveyancing solicitor. I personally do not like the idea of this. To me, it’s a complete conflict of interest (particularly if both the buyer and seller use the same solicitor). You need a legal advisor who is completely independent and looking out for your interests, not someone who is under pressure from an estate agent to hurry up and complete a sale. My advice is to ask friends and family members who have moved recently to recommend a good conveyancing solicitor to you. Also, remember that you should get some different quotes for this service and never be afraid to haggle with them. When it comes to you putting in an offer for the house of your dreams, you will need to again assess the market environment you’re working within. If the market is good and there are not many properties available, but lots of buyers competing, then it’s normally better to go in with a high offer on the basis that marketing of the property is ceased immediately. In a falling market, then a cheeky, low offer may just bag you a bargain. One final piece of advice I would like to share with you, is to be open and honest with people. Sadly property deals in this country can be messy, unpleasant affairs. However, I do not think we should sink to the levels of others. Be upfront with both your buyers and the vendors of the property you’re buying and treat them in the way you would like to be treated. Always ask to meet both parties so they get to know you and find it easier to also be transparent. Remember, once you’ve accepted a deal, to mess people around is utterly unacceptable.
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. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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COMPETITION
WIN a pair of tickets
to The Battle Proms Open Air Picnic Concerts The Perfect Summer Celebration for 2014! The Battle Proms are back for another explosive season at stunning locations around the country, including Burghley House in Lincolnshire (Saturday 5 July) and Hatfield House in Hertfordshire (Saturday 19 July). These stately settings provide the perfect backdrop for a summer celebration with music, fireworks, Spitfire, cannons and cavalry! In addition to a full orchestral programme of sublime classical music, these unique open-air picnic concerts feature a carefully choreographed and highly emotive Spitfire aerial display and stunning firework finale. This year the thrilling and ever popular mounted skill-at-arms display by an expert cavalry troop will be carried out in WW1 regalia to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, just one of many elements in the 2014 programme that will pay homage to this important historical anniversary. Battle Promenaders will also be treated to the Battle Proms signature piece – Beethoven’s Battle Symphony – performed as he intended with the full complement of 193 live firing cannon providing a thunderous percussion! Conducted by Douglas Coombes and performed by the New English Concert Orchestra, the programme will also include soul-stirring classical favourites suited to the grandeur of the historic settings. From Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (which also gets the ‘Battle Proms treatment’ of live cannon fire) to a sing-along finale packed with favourites such as Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia.
Much loved Songs of Praise presenter and celebrated compère, Pam Rhodes will be hosting the event, there will be a virtuoso performance of Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 as young clarinettist Jordan Black makes his first Battle Proms appearance. We are delighted to welcome back superb soprano Denise Leigh who will perform enchanting arias before bringing the finale to life - and the crowd to their feet – as the spectacular firework display lights up the summer sky. Widely regarded as the most exciting summer proms concerts in the country, these are events that fans return to year after year, to enjoy a romantic evening as a couple, a night out with friends or for a significant celebration. For more information, or to book tickets for these spectacular events, visit www.battleproms.com or call on 01432 355 416. The Villager Magazine is delighted to announce we have 6 pairs of tickets to give away to either of the Battle Proms! To enter the draw simply send your name, address and email address to: Battle Proms Competition Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Deadline for Entries Friday 6th June 2014. The winners will be drawn at random.
2011 Spitfire - Darren Harbar To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Where AM I?
Do You Know?
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Local News
News from RSPB
by Mark Brandon The Lodge nature reserve and gardens Life is always varied working for the RSPB! In recent weeks, I’ve been out helping to put up nest boxes for house sparrows with the First Capital Connect team at Sandy station, and planting an area of the station with insect and nectar rich pants to help the sparrows when they search for food to raise their young on. Although we may take them for granted in our gardens, house sparrow numbers in both rural and urban populations have dropped by 71% since 1977 and in some areas of the country, such as London, have almost completely disappeared. Although sparrows are seed eaters, they feed insects to their young, so it is crucial that they have an abundant supply of them during the breeding season. I have also been to St Albans, where we are showing the breeding herons in Verulamium Park as a Date with Nature event. It’s surprising how many people walk past the island in the lake and don’t realise that these huge birds are sitting on nests in the tree tops with their punk haired youngsters peeking out! The RSPB set up an array of Date with Nature events in towns, cities and wild places across the UK, showing the public close views of amazing wildlife spectacles. People that rarely connect with nature can see peregrines zipping around city cathedrals and even at the Tate Modern in London, bringing in food for their young. Other Date with Nature
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events show ospreys, dolphins, seals, white-tailed eagles, black grouse, red kites, hen harriers and sea bird colonies including puffins. It’s a great way for The RSPB to get out and show birds and wildlife to people who may not visit our nature reserves. Back to The Lodge – The first spring migrants arrived early, with a wheatear on 21st March and swallow, willow warblers and blackcaps all seen on 1st April. In the mild early season, butterflies, insects, bees and wasps have all been flying and the blossom trees have looked stunning in the spring light. Soon we can enjoy the bluebells that fill the area around the gardens and are always so popular. The RSPB Lodge reserve in Sandy, Bedfordshire is open every day of the week, from dawn to dusk, for everyone to enjoy and there are plenty of organised events: just ring to book. Entry is included in the car parking fee - £5 a car for nonmembers, free if you are members or just visiting the shop. The shop (01767 680541) is open every day (9am-5pm and 10am-5pm weekends and Bank Holidays) and has everything for people who love nature. Our website; www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge is the place to look for all of the events you can enjoy here at RSPB The Lodge this year. 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, SG192DL 01767 680541
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Travelogue
Cuddly Koalas and Cool Kangaroos By Melanie Ridley
Aspiring Bedfordshire journalist Melanie Ridley is spending two years backpacking across the other side of world. In this first of her travelogues, she shares her experience of meeting Australia’s most well-loved animals, the koala and the kangaroo. Many people believe that koalas are bears when in fact they are marsupial mammals related to the kangaroo and wombat, most commonly found in Australia. So the next time someone mentions koala ‘bears’ you now know this to be incorrect! They gained their nickname due to looking like every child’s favourite friend, the teddy bear. The scientific name for them is Phasclarctos Cinereus. Travelling with my partner, it has taken me over nine months of being in Australia to finally tick off something from our bucket list: cuddling a koala! Up until a few years ago, members of the public were able to cuddle koalas anywhere in Australia, but now this is not the case. It is against regulations to touch or handle the koalas in New South Wales, so because of this we had to wait until we travelled to the next state along the east coast, Queensland. Even though we were under the impression that koalas are unsafe to handle, when our female koala called Minty was handed to us, she couldn’t have been sweeter. Once she was in my arms she wrapped herself around me and nestled in my neck. Her fur was so soft and her body so warm, it really was one of the best hugs
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I’ve ever had! I was able to hold her for a short while, during which time I had a few photos taken. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is 16532km away from London and is the world’s largest of its kind. It has been named ‘one of Australia’s best known and most popular animal sanctuaries’ by Lonely PlanetAustralia. Not only is it a sanctuary for koalas, but also for kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils and even platypus. An interesting fact about the coat of arms of Australia includes a kangaroo and an emu. The reason is that both animals are unable to walk backwards and it therefore portrays the Australian mentality of always moving forward. With this in mind we had no worries about the kangaroos backing away from us! As we walked into the kangaroo run, a particular kangaroo really caught my attention. This was because he only had one eye. So I crouched down next to it and offered him my hand of food. This was the closest I had ever been to such an extraordinary animal. He was so content with me feeding him and also patting him. Inside there were approximately 50 kangaroos starting from a young joey age. We saw one mother with a joey still in her pouch. Cuddling a koala and feeding a kangaroo will be two of the moments I will cherish since being in the beautiful land of Australia.
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Local News
SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Guided Walks 2014
The Everton Walk Don’t forget the second Sandy Tourist Information Centre’s Guided Walk to be held on Friday 9th May. This is the Everton Walk. This Walk was originally due to take place on Saturday, 24th May but has been re-arranged and will now take place on the 9th May. We will meet at the Parish Church in Everton at 3.pm. As there is very little space to park near the church can you please park your cars on roads within the village. Everton is a small rural village on the top of the Greensand Ridge and has far reaching views over to the west. The church is built of local ironstone and dates to the 12th century. From the church, we will walk along the drive to the wooded park of Woodbury Hall. After a delightful walk in the wooded park, we will descend the hill and walk through agricultural fields and on reaching the bridleway, which is in fact the Roman Road leading from Sandy to Godmanchester, we will turn southwards until we reach the Barn, the only remaining building of Gibraltar Farm. During the war, Gibraltar Farm was requisitioned by the Air Ministry, who chose this isolated spot to build an airfield. Many top secret missions flew from Tempsford Airfield to drop supplies to the resistance across occupied Europe as well as to drop SOE agents and pick up VIP’s, etc. The Barn has been preserved and carries an appropriate plaque acknowledging its historic past. (We will hear more about the SOE and RAF Tempsford on the Tempsford Guided Walk which takes on Thursday, 10th July). From the Barn we will take the footpath that ascends the hill and which returns to Everton. The cost of the Walk is £5.50 per person (payable on booking please)
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A Guided Tour of The Lodge, Sandy The third Guided Walk of this year takes place on Thursday, 5th June and this will be a special visit to The Lodge at Sandy, now the UK Headquarters of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. This Tour will give you a rare opportunity to view the interior of this handsome Tudor style mansion and to walk around the beautiful gardens that surround it and to hear the history of the house, the gardens and the famous families that lived here. Meet outside the main front door of The Lodge at 7pm. With regard to parking, drive along the main drive and go past the main house to the car parks beyond. The guided tour of the house will be given by Barry Groom of the TIC and Derek Niemann of the RSPB. The Peel family came to Sandy in 1851 when the Hill Estate or Warren was purchases by Captain Sir William Peel, the third son of Sir Robert Peel, the famous Prime Minister. Peel was a famous naval hero and one of the first recipients of the Victoria Cross which he won in the Crimea War for various acts of heroism. Peel built a house (now the RSPB Gatehouse) in the then fashionable Swiss style and which he called the Swiss Cottage. At his death during the Indian Mutiny in 1858, the estate passed to his mother and thence to his younger brother Arthur Wellesley, who had been named after his god- father the Duke of Wellington. Arthur Peel was a liberal politician and was to become a famous Speaker of the House of Commons and later created 1st Viscount Peel of Sandy. On inheriting the Sandy estate he and his family initially lived in the Swiss Cottage and in 1870 he commissioned Henry Clutton, the famous architect to build a new house overlooking the greensand ridge. The mansion was designed in a simple Tudor style and built of yellow brick, dressed with Bath stone. Clutton was later to design Old Warden Park
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for the Shuttleworth family and he also undertook much work for the Dukes of Bedford, including designing the magnificent church at Woburn. The entrance front of The Lodge overlooks natural meadowland and woodland, whilst the garden front overlooks the ridge with far distant views over Biggleswade Common. The gardens and grounds have many stately and unusual trees, many of which were planted by Lord Peel, tree collecting being one of his main hobbies. In Victorian times the gardens consisted of a small central pool and fountain, the whole being surrounded by beds of bedding plants and clumps of rhododendrons. There was also a large walled kitchen garden. Amongst the shrubberies there stood a Crimean War canon and a gun muzzle, relics from Captain William Peel’s exploits in that war. In 1934 the Peel family sold the estate and it was purchased by Sir Malcolm Stewart, who was Chairman of the London Brick Company. The Stewart’s made great changes to the interior of the house. They added a number of important 18th century, Tudor and Victorian Tudor fireplaces and filled the house with many treasures and objects d’art, important paintings, medieval and Georgian tapestries and important furniture. Although these furnishings are no longer in the house you will be able to see the sumptuousness of décor of the house’s beautiful rooms. The great joy of the house is that only the entrance hall, large reception hall and the grand main staircase face north overlooking the entrance front, whereas all the reception rooms face south and overlook the gardens and the ridge. The aforesaid halls and staircase are all panelled in light oak and in the time of the Stewart’s were hung with Tudor and Elizabethan portraits and tapestries, one of which was the famous fifteenth century Millefleurs tapestry of a knight on horseback commissioned by the town on Tournai in 1477-9. The reception rooms are in various styles of decoration. At the eastern end of the house in a Victorian/Tudor style is the billiard room, where we will be able to see the raised seating where spectators could watch the game and the hidden cupboards where the cues were housed. The large drawing room and library are in a classical
Georgian style and each has important marble fireplaces and a sprung floor for dancing. The latter also has a marble frieze depicting cherubs and Bacchus. These rooms once were decorated by a number of portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds. The dining Millefleurs tapestry of a knight room has linen fold on horseback panelling and a large stone Tudor style fireplace. The walls were once hung with Tudor portrait. Ascending the main staircase we will see the former main bedrooms all which have wonderful views over the gardens. Many of these had en-suite bathrooms and one in particular is decorated in the art deco style with the walls and other areas painted in a marble effect. We will descend the secondary staircase to the service wing on the ground floor, where we will see the butler’s pantry and kitchens. Returning to the master rooms we will end the tour by seeing the Study and the Sitting Room which are in a classical style, the former having a French Empire fireplace. At Lady Stewart’s death in 1960 there was a two day sale at The Lodge when many works of art, household artefacts and garden furniture was sold. The most important works of art and furniture were bequeathed to the National Trust and can be seen at Montacute House in Somerset. After a tour of the house we will walk in the gardens. The Stewarts made great changes to these, greatly simplifying them and re-designing them a simple Italianate style. They built the large swimming pool in front of the house and added much statuary, urns and stone seats. There were also small gardens created near the house, including a Water Garden and a Rose Garden. Captain Peel’s cannon stood at the entrance to the house , in front of the stables with their fanciful cupola and chiming clock. The cost of the Guided Tour is £5.50 per person (payable on booking please)
Sandy Tourist Information Centre, Rear of 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy Telephone 01767 682728 – email tourism@sandytowncouncil.gov.uk OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday 10am – 3pm Saturday 10am-2pm Sundays and Bank Holidays Closed Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk
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Travel
Bodnath, Kathmandu By Solange Hando
In the fabled city of Kathmandu dotted with so many temples and shrines, Bodnath shines above all others, protected by UNESCO and hailed as the most sacred site in the whole valley. Framed by the snowy peaks of the Himalaya, it claims one of the world’s largest stupas, throbbing with Tibetan culture, almost at the heart of Nepal’s capital. Built around the 9th century AD, possibly earlier, as a shrine for holy relics, the 36 metre high structure is shaped like a mandala – the Buddhist cosmos - and designed to symbolise the five elements, from earth at the base to water, fire, air and ether at the top. Draped in garlands of prayer flags, the concentric terraces rise towards the central column where the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha look in every direction. It’s a massive gleaming monument, whitewashed every year and blessed with saffron water at festival time. Set on the ancient trade route heading for the Bagmati river, Bodnath has long attracted Tibetan merchants. In the 1950s, when the Chinese invasion sent refugees across the border, many settled in Bodnath, an auspicious place where their ancestors had prayed on their way to distant lands. Today, some 50 monasteries are scattered in the area, all glistening roofs, golden banners and paintings and gardens fragrant with roses and juniper. In the nearby alleyways, silversmiths, stone carvers and sculptors turn out all sorts of auspicious items while on the edge of the stupa, one-man shops trade in Tibetan craft and Buddhist memorabilia. Tourist groups pop through the gate now and then but they don’t stay
long, a few souvenirs, a couple of pictures from a rooftop café and they’re off. The stupa returns to its true self, a deeply spiritual place calling you back wherever you are, tinkling with prayer wheels and bells, echoing with the chanting of monks, cymbals and gongs. By late afternoon, the Tibetans arrive, hundreds of them, old folk leaning on bamboo staffs, women with babies on their back, young men with mobile phones, pretty girls chatting to their friends, child monks following their guru, others skipping around. It’s a daily ritual, a religious and social gathering all in one and whether you watch or take part, you will gain merits for the afterlife. Jeans, T-shirts or Tibetan dress, all walk clockwise around the temple, seven times, fingering prayer beads or spinning wheels. There’s time to gossip and exchange news, take a rest on a bench or buy grain to feed the pigeons for luck. Monks in red robes meditate in lotus position, worshippers place offerings in the alms bowls, rice, coins, bananas, green oranges, and the clapping of wooden boards sends shivers down your spine as the most devout prostrate tirelessly, all the way around the stupa. Up on the hill top, the peaceful nunnery of Kopan looks down on the scene, starting its own devotions as the sun sets over the city. But Bodnath really comes into its own at festival time, be it the full moon, Diwali - the festival of lights - or most spectacular of all, the Tibetan New Year. When darkness falls over the Kathmandu valley, myriad oil lamps glow around the stupa. Eerie shadows move in the flickering light, masked dancers spin and twirl on the flagstones and the stirring call of long horns rises towards a starlit sky.
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APampering ROM ATICS & Beauty Holistics Welcome to Aromatics – a haven of peace, pampering and relaxation in the heart of Potton. We have a new member joining the team – Jess and if you book you get 25% off your treatment Brand new deep tissue massage now available! We have now moved to 58 King Street, Potton SG19 2QZ
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matics Villager advert May.indd 1
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06/04/2014 12:25
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Starlight Hike Event Registration Now open!
After a successful year in 2013, Sue RyderSt John’s Hospice Starlight Hike returns on Saturday 13th September and promises to be a star-studded evening! The 10k night-time walking challenge starts at 10pm. The route this year will be in and around the hospice itself with time for reflexion as well as having fun. The Starlight Hike is something everyone can get involved in so why not challenge yourself while having a fantastic night out along the way? Last year, the Starlight Hike raised £100,000. Every year St John’s Hospice needs to raise £2.4 million to keep its doors open and provide the care so needed by its patients along with support for their families. Fay Boissieux, event organiser at St John’s Hospice, said: “The Starlight Hike is a fun way of getting family, friends and colleagues together in a beautiful location. On the night there is the opportunity to remember loved
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ones in our Starlight Avenue, a space where people have the chance to reflect on memories of loved ones who are no longer with us.” The night kicks off with on stage entertainment and a warm up for the hundreds of hikers taking part. Walkers will follow a safe marshalled route around the grounds of M St John’s Hospice and the surrounding countryside with entertainment all along the route. For those who missed the event last year, you can get a taste of the atmosphere at: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GWOkT_ZmEUg. After crossing the finish line, hikers will be rewarded with a luxury goody bag, in the knowledge they have all been stars themselves for a night and done something incredible for people living with incurable illness. To get involved please visit www.starlighthike.org or call 01767 642422
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“I can’t thank you enough, the course was worth every single penny and enabled me to have a quick calm birth and a very content, alert baby Ronnie” Sam, Melbourn
Bedfordshire Foot Clinic Podiatry/Chiropody Yvonne Siudak
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01767 769153 / 07772 102792 breezebirthing@hotmail.co.uk www.breezebirthing.com
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Reg No. 12352
www.yourfootclinic.co.uk Also Cambridge Foot Clinic Tel: 01223 358 431
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Local News
Potton Bowls Club Established in 1917
Potton Bowls Club was first ‘ formed’ in 1917. At that time it was a very informal group of players and the games were played on lawns belonging to 3 of the players (messrs Kitchener and Saville and the Rev. Bagshaw). The club was named formally as Potton Bowls Club in 1927, when it also used the tennis club’s lawn to play on. In 1938 the club moved to the rear of ‘The Old Coach House’ then ‘The Rose & Crown Hotel’. Bowls were played at this venue for many years, During the 1970’s the Club moved to the rear of ‘The Red Lion’ public house in Station Road. Fund raising had to begin to put all the necessary buildings up including changing rooms and a clubhouse. All this was achieved with a lot of hard work from all the members, and the Clubhouse was donated by Potton Timber. In 1998 the club had to move and rented the present site from Mrs. Manning. In 2008, it was realised the clubhouse was literally falling apart. Charity money was very scarce, but we got £10,000 from Lafarge and, in 2010, bought 6 second hand building site portacabins! When they were delivered, we thought we had made a big mistake, but an unbelievable transformation took place. The Late Phil Judd was instrumental in bringing this
about as ‘Project Manager’ and a number of our members worked day after day for months to erect partitions, doors, etc. Members donated money for carpet, blinds, doors. Other people donated building materials. We were fortunate to have a carpenter among us and a builder. A friend of the club was a plumber. It was a fantastic achievement by all involved and was formally opened in May 2011 Sadly Mrs. Manning died and left the Freehold of the land to the National Trust. They offered to sell it to the club as ‘first refusal’ . They only gave us a few weeks to make a decision before putting it to auction. The day was saved by one of our long established members offering to pay for it and charge us a nominal rent. But for that very generous offer, we may not have survived. Our future is now safe. We are a very friendly club with a very active social committee, arranging events throughout the year. As well as internal club games, we play matches against other Bedfordshire clubs and go on a short tour in September. New members, beginners or experienced will all be given a very warm welcome. Bowls is a very friendly and social activity. Give it a go! Contact George on 01767 260361
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Health and Beauty
Age-Proof Your Hair by Helen Taylor You’re probably all too aware that you need to look after your skin if you want to stay looking younger for longer – but have you ever thought that you might need to age-proof your hair as well? Hair, like skin, suffers two types of ageing: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic ageing is the effect of everything that your locks are exposed to, like heat-styling, sun damage, and colouring. Intrinsic ageing comes from below the scalp and reveals the signs that your hair is past its prime: reduction in melanin, decline in sebum production, and a change in hair diameter. What that means is that greys start to appear, the shine starts to disappear, and your hair loses its bounce. Hair growth also begins to slow over the years, so it’s harder to achieve the length you loved when you were younger. Ageing a natural process, but there’s plenty you can do to slow it down. Always Be Aware of Your Hair Try to limit extrinsic damage. Lay off the heated styling tools; prevent your hair from being frazzled by the sun by applying a deep conditioner to the lengths and ends when you’re on the beach; and cut right back on products that can dry your hair, like hairsprays. Reconsider Your Colour Although you might colour your hair to hide greys, choosing the wrong hue can be very ageing. An all-over colour can be hard to wear as you get older. Instead of opting for a block shade, choose a base colour that’s no more than two shades lighter or darker than your
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natural hue, and add highlights. Not only will your hair look younger, your face will too. Condition, Condition, Condition Smother the lengths and ends of your hair with a rich deep-conditioning treatment once or twice a week. Try hair oils and products that are specially formulated for ageing, thinning, or dried-out hair. Try a New Hairstyle It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but out-of-date, unflattering styles really do make you look a lot older than you are. That’s why it’s important to take a fresh look at yourself every so often. Talk to your stylist, or try a new salon. The opinion of someone who doesn’t already know you and your hair can result in a fantastic new look. Any hairdresser worth their salt can advise on what styles work best for thinning or ageing hair, but generally it’s worth considering the following: Length – Long locks look lovely if they’re bouncy, thick, and full of life, but if that’s not the case then they really aren’t worth holding on to. Chopping long hair into a flattering, blunt, midi-cut is a quick way to create more youthful-looking hair. Ridding your tresses of dead split-ends improves condition, and a blunt cutting technique will create the look of fullness. Frame Your Face – Try a fringe, or have some soft layers added to the styling around your face. This lifts your features and makes you look younger. A Professional Opinion is Best Although it’s normal for your hair to show signs of change such as thinning over the years, it’s worth seeing your GP if you notice any sudden changes. Hair loss can be caused by hormone deficiencies – low thyroid levels, for example – a deficiency in nutrients, stress, and the side-effects of various medications. So if you’re in doubt, ask your doctor’s advice.
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SUMMER HAS NOW ARRIVED! 18 HOLES ON THE ABBOTSLEY COURSE AVAILABLE FROM £35 CROMWELL COURSE FROM £20 DISCOUNTED TWILIGHT RATES AVAILABLE FROM 3PM Abbotsley Golf Hotel, Potton Road, St Neots PE19 6XN Tel: 01480 474000 www.abbotsley.com
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Health & Beauty
Banish Emotional Clutter!
By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
When my brother was in his late teen he would go to bed at night with a maths text book under his arm, which he would study avidly until the early hours of the morning. His unusual choice of bedtime reading reflected his passion for a subject he would later study at University, and use to launch his career. Imagine my surprise then, when he confided in me recently that he hadn’t looked at a maths book for years, and that he didn’t intend to do so in the future. There was no hint of regret – instead he seemed accepting of the fact that his love affair with maths was over, and that now was the time to do something different. Many of us give our homes a good clean and clear out at least once a year, but what we may not realise is that our own lives need a periodic clear out too, to get rid of damaging spiritual or emotional clutter that might cause us stress or unhappiness, and prevent us from making the most of our lives. Clutter is anything that we no longer have a use for, that we no longer like or love, or that has become totally disorganised. Because our lives are constantly changing, new experiences, interests, people and ideas may enter whilst others may leave. To make room for the new things, it’s important to have an occasional clear out of the old that we no longer have a use for. We all experience negative feelings from time to time – possibly feelings of low self-esteem, failure, sadness, loneliness or worry that could be associated with events from our past. If we don’t deal with these feelings they could fester and grow, and become destructive to our wellbeing and our ability to move forward. We must get rid of useless emotional clutter that won’t make room for happy thoughts and feelings. Think back over the past year or two. Identify the most painful experience you’ve had. What was the event or mistake that led to it? When you think of this today, what feelings does it trigger in you? If the memory still evokes negative emotions get rid of them, by first acknowledging
that this thing happened, forgive yourself for any part you played in the event, and finally release it from your heart and your mind. In ridding ourselves of our emotional clutter, no matter how hard this may seem, the outcome is usually bright. We enjoy more energy, a renewed enthusiasm and zest for life, clearer priorities, and a better understanding of ourselves, and what is important to us as we move on to the next stage of our lives.
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Health & Beauty
Sleep
You Can Do It With Your Eyes Closed Sleep is supposedly involuntary. So we take it for granted when we can sleep, and often ignore it when we can’t. But we shouldn’t. Research has proved that sleep is as important to our health as diet and exercise. Lack of sleep affects memory, mood, concentration and reaction times, and long-term it can affect language processing, planning abilities and our sense of time. Some sleep disorders can contribute to serious health problems. So what stops us getting the sleep we need, and how can we improve the quantity and quality of our sleep? Our sleep has recurring cycles of around 100 minutes, starting with Non-REM sleep. Non-REM (non rapid eye movement) sleep progresses from Stage One (light sleep), through Stages Two and Three (when heart rate and breathing drop) to Stage Four’s deep sleep (when bed-wetting, night terrors or sleepwalking occurs). REM (rapid eye movement) sleep (dream time) follows. Our brain is active, breathing and blood pressure rise, and our eyes move; but we can’t move our bodies. Afterwards, the cycle restarts. Sweet Dreams aren’t made of this Enemies of good sleep include pain; the need to urinate; stress or depression; the menstrual cycle (hormonal changes affect temperature and melatonin production), the menopause and snoring. There are also sleep disorders, including night terrors; sleep walking, talking and paralysis; teeth grinding; restless limb syndrome; and the more serious sleep apnoea (which can starve the brain of oxygen). To help you sleep soundly: • Eliminate Physical Factors Cure snoring with nasal strips, sprays or minor surgery. See your doctor about physical or mental health issues and sleep disorders; they may recommend Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or sleeping tablets. PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) treatments may help if you sleep badly before a period. • Drink Warm Milk Eat a carbohydrate-rich snack beforehand to improve the efficacy of the milk’s tryptophan (a raw material for the sleep hormone melatonin). Milk may help by making you feel warm and full.
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• Don’t Go to Bed Hungry Avoid large, late meals but have a light snack if you’re hungry. • Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine in the Evening, and Stop Smoking Caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you awake. Alcohol makes you sleepy, but impairs sleep quality – as does nicotine. • Get enough Sunlight and Exercise Light and exercise help regulate our body clock and mood, so try to spend time outside and get regular exercise. • Avoid Light in the Evening However, bright light before bedtime will suppress melatonin secretion, so dim the lights. Either avoid TVs, laptops, tablets and smart phones within two hours of bedtime, or turn down their brightness settings (some screens have a night mode). • Establish a Routine Establish a relaxing routine before bed. Avoid watching TV in the bedroom or reading anything too emotionally charged or terrifying. • Make your Bedroom a Haven Avoid using your bedroom as a work or dump space; clutter will nag to be cleared up. Ensure your bedroom is well ventilated, dark, and not too hot or cold. Consider earplugs to eliminate noise, and invest in a really comfy mattress (try before you buy). • Declutter your Brain. Download your brain by jotting down tomorrow’s jobs and any worries (particularly therapeutic if you write a positive action beside them). • Have A Warm Bath Before Bed Add relaxing bath oils, too. • Try not to worry about it Worrying about lack of sleep could start a vicious circle. If you can’t sleep, leave the bedroom and do something absorbing but calm: read a magazine or do a jigsaw until you feel sleepy. Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
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Finance
Where There’s a Will… By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Whether you are old or young, married or single, rich or poor, you really ought to make a will! If you don’t, the only way to divide up your property after death will be according to the Law of Intestacy – and the result may not be to your liking! For example, if you are married, your other half may not automatically get everything. Brothers, sisters, parents and children may also inherit. And if you are an unmarried couple, you could be classed as a single person and your surviving partner could receive nothing. If a parent, consider who you would like to look after your children in the event of your death. For single parents or unmarried parents living together, a valid will that nominates guardians is invaluable. If no one knows your wishes, the court will decide on the future care of your children. A will gives single people the chance to have their estate divided amongst friends, relatives or charities, and even if you have made a will already it is a good idea to review and possibly update it, to ensure that it reflects your current wishes. Making a will is the one and only way to make sure your wishes are carried out after your death. There are several choices available when making a will. The ‘Do It Yourself’ option can be completed with the aid of a ‘Will Pack’ available from stationery
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shops or online. Though relatively cheap, this option offers no advice, so the will may not accurately reflect your wishes and best fit your circumstances. Professional bodies such as banks and solicitors offer will writing services. Typically, a representative will take down your instructions and draft a will accordingly. The skill and qualifications of individuals may vary, so check they are properly trained. Finally, you could use a professional will writer. Most firms send a specially trained person to your home to record your instructions. Your will is then drafted by someone qualified in will writing. Will writing firms are generally covered by professional indemnity insurance, and are members of a professional will writing body such as the Institute of Professional Will Writers. The cost to make a will depends on the complexity of your requirements. A simple single or mirrored will typically cost around £150 to £200, whereas more complex wills may be between £400 and £800. The original signed copy is the only legally binding version and if it gets lost, stolen or damaged it will be worthless- so keep it in a safe place! Tell your friends and family that you’ve made a will - but not necessarily what’s in it – and let them know how to find it.
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Ash Tree Financial Services Independent Financial Advisers For friendly and expert advice in your financial planning including: Mortgages and Home Insurance Life assurance Critical Illness Cover Income Protection Pensions and Annuities Investments and Savings Contact Christopher Goodwin Ash Tree House, 48 Sutton Mill Road, Potton, SG19 2QB Tel: 01767 262760
goodwin@ashtree.uk.com www.ashtree.uk.com
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Hobbies
Beginner’s Guide To Keeping Chickens
Keeping chickens has become one of Britain’s most popular pastimes. Chickens aren’t just productive; they’re also absorbing and friendly; they become pets; and they are relatively inexpensive to keep. General Considerations Firstly check with your local authority in case there are restrictions on keeping livestock on your property. Next bear in mind they do need a certain amount of daily maintenance to keep them in good condition. Then you need to decide how many birds you would like to keep. As a beginner two to six is a good start and will supply enough eggs for the average family. Housing For such a small flock, a henhouse measuring 6ft by 4ft will provide all the space the birds need, provided they have an outside run and the house is just for sleeping. A ready-built house can be expensive, but if you’re handy you can build your own. Either way, it needs to be easy to access and maintain – that is, both chicken- and keeper-friendly. You should also check for good, but not draughty, ventilation, enough perches and nest-boxes, and robust, secure construction . You don’t just want to keep the chickens in, you want to keep the foxes out! But you need to be able to move the henhouse from time to time as the soil on which it stands becomes fouled and soggy. Suitable Breeds If you’re looking purely for egg-laying birds then go for commercial hybrids. Isa Brown, Black Rocks, White Star, Lomans, and Bluebell will all lay in good quantities for most of the year: an average of 300 eggs per bird isn’t unusual. If you’d prefer something a little more special, then you need to track down a recognised breeder and get expert advice. There are some spectacular pure breeds that will still give you a good supply of eggs. Look for breeds such as Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex, Barnavelder, Maran, and Wellsummer. Water A constant supply of clean, fresh water is absolutely central to your flock’s wellbeing. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk
Chickens are happy to drink out of a bucket, but a proper poultry font is better. Keep it outside the henhouse – if it’s left inside it can create damp which can easily lead to health problems – but it needs to be under cover to protect the water from wild bird droppings. And change the water every single day. Food A balanced feed is very important. It generally comes either in pellet or mash form and both should contain all the nutrients the birds need. You can, however, add extra vitamins and minerals and even cod liver oil to give them that extra boost. General Maintenance Like all domestic animals, chickens need to be looked after. Muck out the henhouse regularly and use dry, dust-free shavings for the bedding – not straw. Straw gets damp and then goes mouldy, which will cause respiratory infections. Outside The chicken run also needs to be kept as clean as possible. It is very important that the birds are not running on soiled and sour ground. Giving the chickens’ outdoor area a good digging over from time to time helps keep it fresh. Insects There is a variety of fleas and mites that will regard your chickens as free board and lodging. Control them with good-quality powders and sprays. Chickens are beautiful and endlessly fascinating birds, and keeping them is a very rewarding pastime, with the fringe benefit of a steady supply of eggs.
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Time of Year
Realistic Revision For Students (and Parents!) This month, thousands of students will start study leave in preparation for exams. Ideally, they’ve been revising as they go, so their parents are confident they’re well prepared. But in reality, students and parents may be panicking; how do they structure all this ‘free’ time and how much revision is enough? So here are some study leave survival tips: Students Plan • Check the time, date, structure and content of your exam. Check revision books before purchase, ensuring they’re specific to your course – there are often several versions, each focussing on a different examining board, topic or text. • Make a realistic timetable. Vary subjects throughout the day and week, and concentrate initially on subjects with the earliest exam dates. Factor in commitments, longer breaks and unfinished work. • Revise somewhere without distractions – remove your mobile, turn off the TV and laptop (or block social media sites). • Pace your work, allowing for unexpected delays and particularly tough topics. Organise • Collate everything on a topic in one place. • Mix old topics with new, and easy with difficult; revise easy, recent topics at the start of the day as a confidence boost, or the end, when you’re tired. • Have a specific target for each session – ‘I’ll revise osmosis’
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is woolly, but ‘I’ll summarise osmosis down to 1 A4 page’ ensures you’re achieving a measurable outcome. • Keep sessions short - around 30 minutes – then take a short break. After four or five sessions, have a longer break for lunch or watching TV. Tips for Better Revision Passive reading does not work. Effective revision is active; you must engage with the material. Here’s how: Note-taking helps you to focus and make sense of your reading in words and ways you understand, and it’s great revision in itself. Reducing notes to a card or A4 page makes them portable and easily digestible. Use colours, highlighting, underlining, tables, patterned notes, bullet points, mind maps or diagrams. Why? Read on. Engage Your Senses You’re far more likely to visualise that fluorescent spider diagram you did, with underlined keywords, than to a closely written page of one-colour, linear notes. Try using post-it notes in eye-catching places, or make ‘washing lines’ across your room. Make good use of your ears too - record key phrases and equations; march around first whispering facts, then increasing volume until you’re shouting. Use helpers Revising with friends can be more fun and help you fill gaps or understand tricky topics. Make question cards and ask parents or friends to play Trivial Pursuit with you.
Practice answering exam format questions Gather relevant facts and write an outline for essay answers, or design a multiple-choice quiz. Beware the Internet Some websites feature worryingly inaccurate quizzes and facts uploaded by students. Stick to reputable ones with contributions from teachers, e.g. BBC’s Bitesize. Parents & Helpers Be interested and positive – ensure nagging isn’t your only input, and don’t impose your own anxieties and ambitions; they have their own. Don’t compare them to others. Listen to their worries and reassure them that exams are important, but not the end of everything; your affection isn’t dependent on exam results. Don’t expect them to work every waking hour – brains need time to sort and assimilate information. Ensure they get enough rest and relaxation. Be an active helper – Test them, play quiz games or time their practice runs. Pre-arrange an end-of-exams treat. Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
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ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND BUILDING DESIGN SERVICES Professional and affordable architectural design services provided for all types of private residential building projects with all necessary council approvals obtained.
For free estimates and advice, contact Jason Dixon on:01767 677540 or 07908 004816 e-mail: JTDixon101@aol.com No VAT payable for design and drawing services on residential projects Jason Dixon, 101 Meadow Road, Great Gransden, Sandy, SG19 3BB.
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Local News
First and Foremost Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club
Community First Responders (CFRs) are groups of local volunteers set up and trained on a free 3 day course over a weekend, by the East of England Ambulance Service in our area (EEAS). Following a 999 call for a life threatening emergency, such as breathing difficulties, a cardiac arrest or severe asthma attack etc., the call centre contacts the local CFR. Because the CFR is local, they can be with the patient in just a few minutes, ahead of paramedics and provide quick and vital medical assistance. This prompt response saves lives. There are already 65 groups in Beds, Herts and Cambs. In 2013 the groups in Beds attended 1599 incidents. The Stevenage group deals with about 300 calls a year. Each CFR group has to raise funds to buy the group kit which consists of a defibrillator, pulse oximeter, kit bag and first aid supplies of oxygen masks, airway management tubes, bag valve and mask, bandages/dressings and suction vac. Replacements are obtained free of charge.
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Biggleswade Sandy Lions were delighted to present Kevin Whitthread, who is forming the Sandy group, with a cheque for £1500 to buy the group’s kit. Kevin is currently recruiting volunteers for the Sandy group –more are needed. Can you help – become a volunteer CFR. To find out more you can phone EEAB on 01954 712400, but why not speak to Kevin direct on 07557146934 or email Kevinwhitthread@btinternet.com. Is there a CFR group in your town or village? If not, why not form one, and be part of a life saving team. Biggleswade Sandy Lions fully support this project, as every minute counts to save a life. Do contact Kevin. For more information about Biggleswade Sandy Lions, visit our website www. biggleswadesandylions.org.uk. Or you can call 0845 833 9749 and talk to Dave or Judith Hagger. You are very welcome to come to our meetings and find out at first hand what we do. LIONS CARE: LIONS HELP
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Alliance Foster Care Based in Northampton, Alliance Foster Care covers a wide area that includes Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Working with local authorities and foster parents, they provide supportive homes for children who have been taken into care within a time frame that can be anything from a few days to several years. They also run various events for carers and their families from activity days and trips out to pantomimes and coffee mornings. Catherine Rose went to meet an experienced foster couple to find out about their experience. Lesley and Hugh Minty, who live near Bedford, have been fostering through Alliance Foster Care for a decade and are currently caring for two small girls: sisters aged two and a half and four who have been with them since December 2013. Having had four children of their own (now well into adulthood), their involvement with the company came about after Lesley’s mum died very suddenly and she felt that the time was right for a career change. Previously working in a school, she had always warmed to children seen as challenging and a close friend suggested she might take to fostering. The friend worked for Alliance Foster Care so Lesley had an initial chat with them and “was sold”. “It was good to have a personal recommendation” says Hugh “and when our friend had a problem with her foster child’s school, we were very impressed that someone from Alliance Foster Care got there before she did.” The couple went through an initial assessment process which normally takes a few months but despite having to answer lots of questions and supply references, they did not find it daunting. Lesley says: “It was all very relaxed and it gave us an opportunity to think about our parenting, the impact on us and our children, and how we would approach fostering.” At the time, the couple’s youngest daughter was eleven, and Lesley and Hugh were impressed with the fact that Alliance Foster Care goes to great lengths to include the foster family’s birth children in all their activities, even sending them a card and voucher at birthdays and Christmas. “The Birth Children’s Support Group means that their voices are heard” explains Lesley. Once the Minty’s had decided to go ahead, they attended an introductory training course ‘Skills to Foster’ which was based at Grafham Water and “included a nice lunch” says Leslie. There they
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by Catherine Rose
met staff and four or five other couples who were starting out in fostering like themselves and who they have kept in touch with. Alliance Foster Care offers a comprehensive support programme with regular support group meetings, activities during every school holiday and a 24/7 telephone helpline. Hugh and Leslie describe the agency as having “a friendly, inclusive atmosphere”. “You always see people you know at events as people tend to stay with the agency” says Leslie. The Minty’s are short term foster carers which means they are often called on for respite and emergency situations. Once, they had to take in a baby at short notice and Hugh needed to dash to the supermarket for emergency provisions. “You need to be flexible” says Hugh “as you can be caring for a child for three months or three years.” Their first fostered child was a girl of three and a half, who has now been adopted, followed by a boy who was also three and half when he came to them. They then looked after a brother and sister who exhibited challenging behaviour and had come to them in an emergency. Despite the fact they clearly have admirable parenting skills, Leslie and Hugh are never on their own as they are constantly working with the professional team surrounding the child which includes their support worker, teachers, health visitors, child psychologists and paediatricians. “Our support worker Harriet is brilliant” says Leslie. “She always goes above and beyond what is necessary.” Alliance Foster Care also have someone in place whose job is to work alongside the foster parents and child’s school and will attend Personal Educational Plan (PEP) meetings if the child has special educational needs. There is an ongoing training programme with courses and workshops by specialists on everything from trauma and attachment to managing challenging behaviour. The training links into an appraisal system and there is an independent annual review which then goes to a fostering panel. “It is not bureaucratic and very child focused” explains Hugh “with the emphasis on helping the child to grow and develop.” When asked about the rewards of fostering, Leslie doesn’t hesitate to say how she always feels valued and explains how when their second child arrived,
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Lesley and Hugh Minty Fostering through Alliance Foster Care for over a decade
he was incredibly anxious, unable to manage his emotions and didn’t trust anyone. As time went on, although he still had a number of difficulties, he attended school regularly and came to enjoy it, and he joined Boys Brigade. “You could see his self-esteem rising” says Leslie. Although Hugh and Leslie both knew that he would move on, they felt that he had been prepared for the next step in his life journey. Alliance Foster Care gives a lot of support when the time comes for a child to be handed over and
the couple have stayed in touch with their foster children. Leslie says: “I feel blessed and honoured that we can still be a part of these children’s lives.” Alliance Foster Care is an independent fostering agency that provides children in care with high quality foster placements. The agency has been described as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED, meeting or exceeding all National Fostering Standards. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, you can visit their website at www.alliancefostercare.co.uk or telephone them on 01604 879373.
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Garden
Water, water, everywhere By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com A water-feature adds magic to any garden. The sound of tinkling water and the movement of light on its surface can be just the finishing touch you need either for a patio or for a much larger garden. There’s a plentiful choice of water-features of all shapes, styles, and sizes; but before you commit yourself, what are the main points to bear in mind? First, position. For moving water, your feature will use an electric pump, so there has to be a powerpoint nearby – something often overlooked. Do you want an eye-catching centrepiece for a formal garden, or just the music of running water as the soundtrack to your alfresco Sunday lunch? In either case, you need to consider carefully the appropriate position. Water-features can turn bright green in summer due to the build-up of algae. You can go a long way towards preventing this by positioning them away from direct sunlight. Make sure they’re well away from deciduous trees, too, as falling leaves will clog everything up. For smaller spaces you’re best off with a selfcontained feature. There are lots of lovely ones available such as terracotta or glazed pot stacks with the water continuously pumped from one container to another, so you’ll only need to top it up in the hottest weather. Spouts and fountains are great fun. A spitting fish, frog, or gargoyle adds a touch of art – or humour – while oxygenating a pool, reducing algae and keeping the pond-life happy. If you want moving water but perhaps have toddlers, a millstone with a low, centrally-positioned jet is both beautiful and safe. Plants are integral to any pond. Surface-floating plants such as waterlilies not only look gorgeous but their leaves also shade the water – again, reducing algae. Waterlilies need still water, so are Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk
best avoided if you have a fountain; but a single spitting feature at one end of the pool shouldn’t create too much turbulence. Plants around the edges of a pools and ponds are called marginals and do best in shallower water or boggy ground. Use plenty: they look gorgeous, they hide the liner and they’re a haven for wildlife. Marginals to consider include yellow-flowered marsh marigold (caltha palustris); white-flowered bog arum (calla palustris); miniature reed-mace (typha minima); pale blue water forget-me-not (myosotis scorpioides); and purple-bloomed water and bog iris (eg iris laevigata). You’ll need about two plants per metre. For a more formal look choose shapely rushes or ferns. Water-features attract wildlife, and in summer you might be visited by dragonflies or mayflies. Birds may also come to drink and bathe. And even a small pond needs a safe exit-route in case hedgehogs pop by for a drink and tumbles in. A shallow beach of pebbles should do the trick. If your feature has a sizeable surface, net it in the autumn to catch falling leaves. Garden netting stretched taut is ideal. Remove it as necessary to tip off the leaves. Left in the water they’ll both clog the pumps and produce methane, which is toxic. In winter, don’t let the water-feature freeze up. If extreme cold is forecast smaller features are best emptied, and the pump cleaned and stored in the shed. Fish need an ice-free area on the surface or they’ll be killed by methane building up under the ice. Floating a football on the surface helps. 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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GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE
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Garden
Plants with ‘Attitude’ Rural Ramblings. By Geoff Wharton I remember as a child reading about an indoor plant grown for it’s decorative foliage. In the picture it looked very attractive with it’s large variegated pale green leaves. However as I continued to read, there followed a clear warning - this plant is poisonous and has the common name of “Dumb Cane” (Dieffenbachia). Apparently, if the foliage was eaten (why would you do this?) it would cause the throat to constrict and you would die a horrible death from suffocation! Consequently I became almost paranoic about even touching the leaves and avoided it like the plague. There are many plants which I would have reservations about planting even though they can be extremely attractive. There are some which at first sight seem to be so small and innocuous that you would never imagine them to cause problems. Ivy and some varieties of bamboo are good examples of plants which can ‘take over’ and be very difficult to remove or control. Others like the Dumb Cane which are poisonous or have irritating sap or leaves include Laburnum (all parts are very toxic) but Euphorbia (milky white sap) Fremontodendron (irritating hairs from the leaves and stems) and most poisonous of all Ricinus (castor oil plant). Although not toxic, I think that many people are not aware of the difficulties in dealing with and managing some of the spiky shrubs we plant in our gardens. Most make excellent hedges but can be difficult to handle. There is a variety of Berberis which has extremely long and sharp spines called B. gagnepainii and it is a real pain at times! Others slightly less intimidating include the widely grown Pyracantha (firethorn), Mahonia and Sea Buckthorn. Even Roses and Bramble can case painful injuries. Pampas grass can become a bit of a problem as it grows quite large and the centre of the plant dies off. The real issue with this is the leaves which are serrated, very sharp and extremely good at slicing through skin so it is a good idea never to try to pull them out without gloves. Yucca make a splendid show when planted
individually. However they do have a disadvantage and the tips of the leaves have very sharp points . Finally, there is a great looking type of Agave which needs some protection when grown in the UK. It has yellow variegations to the leaves and is called A, americana. It has a striking appearance but I would strongly advise that it is kept in the greenhouse and given a lot of room. The leaves are edged with appendages like fishing hooks and if this wasn’t enough to deter potential herbivores or the grower (you!) the tips of the leaves are armed with a 3 cm spike which has an uncanny ability to penetrate flesh and bone!! So next time you see a pretty little plant which would be ideal for the patio, it may be worth considering that just like a fluffy lion cub can grow into a ferocious beast, the small spiky one is best left and the pansies could be a better bet.
Geoff Wharton Gardening Services
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Reliable, experienced, well qualified. General and specialist garden work: Jungle clearing, Pruning, Hedge and grass cutting, Regular maintenance, Licensed waste disposal. Full public liability cover. Geoff Wharton - BSC honours Hort.Science Email:geoffwharton@hotmail.com
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Science
The Science Behind the Smile By Louise Addison
Mother Teresa said, “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” Haven’t we all experienced feeling good because someone smiled at us. Yet science tells us that there is nothing simple about a smile. Imagine an appealing child or a cute kitten and you probably smile. Electrical signals travel from the cortex of your brain to the brainstem (the part that deals with basic body functions such as breathing, heart rate etc.). From there, cranial nerves carry the signal onwards to muscles in your face and you smile. But have you ever noticed that as you smile you actually feel happier? This is due to a positive feedback loop whereby electrical signals are fed back to the brain from the smiling-muscles, reinforcing our feeling of joy. Our brain feels good so tells us to smile: we smile and this tells our brain we feel good. Researchers have found that smiling can be as happiness-inducing as receiving a large unexpected cash bonus! Did you know that there are two sorts of smiles - the fake smile and the genuine smile? In both the fake and the real smile, the zygomaticus major muscle - which controls the corners of your mouth - is activated. But in a genuine smile, the obicularis occuli muscle - which encircles our eye socket - is also activated. Scientists call the first smile a social
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smile, and the second a Duchenne smile, named after the scientist who first discovered it. We are surprisingly good at distinguishing between a real and fake smile, and we do this in three ways. First, we unconsciously compare the geometry of a person’s face to a standard smile. Second, we think about context and judge whether a smile is expected. Finally, we automatically mimic the smile, to feel for ourself whether it is fake or real. In fact if we are prevented from mimicking a smile (e.g. by clenching a pencil between our teeth) our ability to differentiate a real smile from a fake smile decreases dramatically! Smiling reduces stress and generates more positive emotions. This is why we often feel happier around children – they smile more. Children smile on average about 400 times a day. Happy adults smile 40-50 times a day, but most of us only smile a maximum of 20 times. Yet smiling more is good for our health. Our brain even keeps track of our smiles - a smile scorecard if you like, so it knows our emotional state. Scientists discovered that people who smile the most are mentally more healthy, and live on average some seven years longer than the rest of us. The good news is, smiling is contagious so spread yours around. As Louis Armstrong sang, “When you’re smilin’, keep on smilin’. The whole world smiles with you…”
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Better Life
May Day Foraging By Derek Thompson
The 1st of May usually means one thing in our house - a trip to the Obby Oss festival at Padstow, on Cornwall’s north coast. It’s generally a glorious day, especially when it doesn’t fall on a weekend or a bank holiday (less traffic). We like to get to Padstow early and soak up the atmosphere. There is drumming and singing, streets bedecked with greenery, and people wearing sprays of cowslips and other flowers. Some say it’s a half-remembered nature and fertility festival, but even if its origins lie in the 1800s it’s a great way to welcome in the summer. And after the winter we’ve had - and the spring too - our garden needs all the help it can get. Mixed in with all the folklore is a tradition of our own - the annual Padstow crazy golf match in which, invariably: a) Anne will forget to write down her score and then introduce a new version of mathematics. b) I will play one or two epic holes yet somehow still end up losing by a wide margin. In keeping with our greener aspirations, a trip out is a perfect opportunity to do a bit of foraging. Our first stop is a lay-by that has fresh mackerel on sale (top tip: always check the eyes). From there, with our trusty wild food guides stowed aboard, we head west a little, still hugging the north coast, to visit friends on the north coast who are blessed with both fields and patience. We don’t travel up country that often, so knowing more experienced foragers is a real bonus. Left to my own devices I can easily find wild garlic and nettles, but that’s not much of a meal. Successful (i.e. safe and bountiful) foraging requires knowledge and experience, as well permission
from the landowner. Last time we ventured north, we managed to forage for cow parsley, chickweed and the aniseed flavoured sweet cicely. We thought we were doing brilliantly until our friends told us that they had created a variety of soil types and seeded them to encourage wild food. Even so, a find is a find. When we get home, while Anne cleans the fish (I can’t help it if I’m squeamish), I introduce the foraged leaves to a homegrown lettuce and usually we wrap the mackerel in foil with butter and pop it in the oven. Once, in a spirit of adventure, I tried smoking mackerel indoors, following Alan Titchmarsh’s Complete Countryman (an encouraging gift from a neighbour). To be honest, it was a bit of a kerfuffle, what with salting the fish beforehand, lining the pan with foil, adding the smoking mixture; laying the fish on chopsticks, popping it in the pan and then covering it with a lid. Smoking fish is one talent I’ve yet to master properly, but if you haven’t put the pan lid on properly it’s also a great way to test your smoke alarm. A foraged salad has a surprising range of subtle and bitter tastes, while steamed chickweed really tastes like spinach. As summer finally reaches our garden, it is possible to forage there for wild garlic, nettles and dandelion leaves (yes, really). Sadly, though, in my experience, you can never find a wild strawberry when you want one.
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Time of Year
Messing About on the River
By Susan Brookes-Morris
If you are looking for something a little different this year, why not try a canal boat holiday. You do not need any previous experience or a boat licence to hire a canal boat, and you and your crew will be given all the training you need before you set off on your holiday. You will be taught how to use the controls which are fairly simple: the tiller controls left and right, and you push the lever forwards to go forward and backwards to stop or reverse. Life jackets are supplied to children and non swimmers for extra safety. You can go to many different parts of the UK and choose your own itinerary. You can choose to moor up near a quiet canal side village or in a city centre. Birmingham for instance is famous for having more canals than Venice. It’s a good idea to look at maps and guides in advance, and talk to your hire company to plan a realistic route. Remember that the pace is slow. The speed limit on canals is just four miles an hour. Kids or grandparents will love helping at the locks, and as you will be in a different place every day, you can find something to suit everyone along the way. This type of holiday is also ideal for dogs as there will be plenty of open spaces and traffic-free walking. You will
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gain a new love of nature as you spot birds and wildlife along the way. You might also choose to do some fishing from the boat or the banks, but do remember you may need to buy a rod licence. There will also be many other highly decorated craft to see along the way. It’s great fun waving to those on the tow path, and some of your party might choose to cycle on the paths or walk parts of the route whilst you steer. Today’s holiday boats are bright and modern and all the comforts of home are available. The Galley is fully equipped with oven, hob and fridge and in some cases a micro wave. You will find all the utensils, crockery and glasses that you need on board. Lounges are fitted with comfortable seating, and some have DVD’s as well as TV’s. Bathrooms have hot and cold running water to the showers and sinks and a flushing loo!. There is usually a mix of single and double beds and often central heating. If you are really looking for complete rest and relaxation, why not try one of the canal hotels that can also be found on the water. You get your own skipper and crew, who know the history of the canals, and you can share the trip with like-minded people. It’s the perfect way to unwind.
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TYNEHILL Boarding Kennels and Cattery
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Pets
Animal Know-How Special homes for special animals By adopting an animal from the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch, you can enjoy the wonderful feeling that you’ve given a special home to an animal that needs it. Most of the animals in our care have had a difficult start in life, having been victims of cruelty or neglect. For that reason we need to find special homes, with special people, who can help our pets to learn what it’s really like to be in a loving, caring environment. That’s why we work really hard to find each adopter the right pet. Animals that come into our care often require a period of rehabilitation before they’re ready to be re-homed. We have a team of lovely volunteers who look after them in their own homes for as long as it takes – sometimes just a few weeks, other times much longer. When we believe they’re ready, we’ll observe their behaviour and give them a health check – this helps us match their needs to a suitable person or family. Many of the animals in our care have had a tough time so it’s very important that their next home is the right one and a home for life. That’s why we ask anyone who’s thinking of re-homing from us to fill in an application form (via the website or we can fill it in for you) before being interviewed by one of our re-homers. We find this is the best way to learn more about you and help you to choose the right pet. We carry out a home visit for all animals and in some cases might suggest minor changes that help ensure your home is as pet friendly as possible. We’ll also call or visit afterwards to make sure you and your new pet are adjusting well to your new life together. We really believe there is a home to suit every animal in our care. Sometimes it just takes a little time to find the perfect home. To view some of the animals in our care needing a forever home – look out for
our re-homing posters which are displayed in various shops and vets throughout the county, or go to the website listed below. Adopt an animal…. enhance your life.
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ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a eries of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshire-northbranch
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Time of Year
National Vegetarian Week 19th-25th May
Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry. Among the many reasons for being a vegetarian are health, compassion for animals, and religious beliefs. Recent research commissioned by the Eating Better Alliance discovered that: • 25% of the British public say they are eating less meat than a year ago • 34% are willing to consider eating less meat • One in six (17%) young people say they don’t eat any meat A vegetarian diet can meet all known nutrient needs. The key to a healthy vegetarian diet, as with any other diet, is to eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, plenty of leafy greens, whole grain products, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Sweets and fatty foods should be limited. Statistically, if you choose the diet above you are choosing an option which should boost
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your chances of living a long and healthy life. Compared to meat eaters vegetarians have up to 30% less heart disease, up to 40% less cancer, 20% less premature death, less obesity and lower blood pressure...but why? Well the good vegetarian diet outlined above contains more carbohydrate, more vitamin C, more fibre and more cancer fighting phytochemicals than one where a high proportion of the calories come from meat. So why not make your greengrocer your new best friend this month and get cooking in celebration of all things veggie! By Louise Addison
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Word Ladder
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C a l l He ather on Tel: 01767 631053 Mob: 07885 516561
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Fun Quiz - Red, White and Blue 1. Who wrote the novel The Hunt For Red October? 2. From which European country does Blue Nun wine originate? 3. Which of the following is not a character in the film Reservoir Dogs?... Mr. Red, Mr. White or Mr. Blue? 4. Which TV series was based on a character who is shot and killed in a 1950 crime film called The Blue Lamp? 5. In a famous scene from the James Bond film Dr. No, is the bikini that Urusula Andress is wearing red, white or blue? 6. A witch called Jadis, also known as the White Witch, features in which series of novels? 7. Are Viagra pills red, white or blue? 8. On which planet would you find the Great Red Spot? 9. White pudding is similar to black pudding, but what ingredient is missing? 10. What is the most common colour to appear on world flags, appearing on the national flags of approximately three quarters of the countries in the world?... Red, white or blue? 1. Tom Clancy 2. Germany 3. Mr. Red 4. Dixon Of Dock Green 5. White 6. The Chronicles Of Narnia 7. Blue 8. Jupiter 9. Blood 10. Red
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Motoring
2014 Mitsubishi ASX by James Batchelor
Crossovers are fast becoming the default car choice of the masses. Consumers love their commanding driving position and pumped-up looks while it seems manufacturers can’t stop releasing new versions. Pretty much all the mainstream makers now have an SUV in their range and that boom in choice for buyers has also meant those manufacturers that arrived early to the crossover party have been forced to up their games and release refreshed models. Skoda has recently renosed its Yeti, Nissan has worked its magic on the built-in-Britain Qashqai and now it’s Mitsubishi’s turn with its ASX. When it first appeared in 2010, the ASX was one of the more niche models in the segment, but even then it managed to chalk up 8,000 sales in its first year. However, a devastatingly high Yen put up the price of imports and buyers fled to rivals. A year later sales had dropped to just 3,000. But Mitsubishi is bouncing back. The exchange rate has moved back in the maker’s favour, prices have dropped and the ASX has had a makeover. Mitsubishi has slashed prices of the ASX by an average of 10 per cent and for 2014 it’s been treated to a nip and tuck with plush interior fittings, new suspension tweaks and a panoramic glass roof with LED mood lighting on the top-of-the-range models. Joining the 1.6-litre petrol and 1.8-litre diesel is a 2.2-litre diesel unit poached from the larger Outlander off-roader. The larger diesel develops 148bhp and 380Nm of torque. Naturally that means more power and shove, but thankfully not at the cost of fuel economy. At 48.7mpg on the combined cycle, the ASX4 2.2
diesel is more economical than a number of rivals’ 2.0-litre diesel offerings, including the sector’s allconquering Nissan Qashqai. There’s also a new automatic gearbox thrown into the mix. Some models get a switchable four-wheel drive system. One press of a button on the centre console sends 30 per cent of the car’s power to the rear wheels, while a second prod locks the centre diff and splits power 50/50 front and rear. The ASX’s small dimensions always meant it was good to drive, but road noise was a bit of a let it down. These new 2014 models come with improved sound deadening, which has helped a little, and the bouncy ride of previous ASXs has disappeared thanks to retuned suspension. That’s not to say it’s a perfect driving experience. The steering still lacks crispness, there’s a fair degree of body roll and the ASX is sadly just not as refined or as comfortable as a Kia Sportage or Skoda Yeti. Mitsubishi has splashed out on upgrading the interior. There are some more up-market plastics, “piano black” materials now adorn the dashboard and the top spec ASX4 gets that aforementioned panoramic glass roof, which makes the cabin wonderfully light and airy. But despite Mitsubishi’s efforts, compared to rivals, the interior still lacks a certain sparkle. That said, with revised pricing, unique styling and an enviable reputation for reliability, the ASX certainly deserves a second look if you’re in the market for a crossover – and if the sales figures are anything to go by, there’s a high chance that’s most of you. The range kicks off at £14,999, while the range topping ASX4 2.2 (tested here) is £23,899.
Stats Model: Mitsubishi ASX 4 2.2 Di-D 4WD Auto Price: £23,899 Engine: 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel Power: 148bhp, 380Nm Max speed: 118mph 0-60mph: 10.6s MPG: 48.7mpg Emissions: 153g/km
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Food and Drink
Toblerone Brownies by Culinary Masters
These delicious brownies are a tasty and easy twist on what has become one of our favourite sweet treats in recent years, and as a tray bake, they are really easy to make. INGREDIENTS 185g butter 185g dark chocolate 150g Toblerone chopped 85g plain flour 40g cocoa powder 3 eggs 275g caster sugar 1. Melt the butter and dark chocolate together over a bain marie. (If you don’t have a bain marie just use a Pyrex bowl over a saucepan of boiling water.) 2. Sift the flour and cocoa powder together and mix in the chopped Toblerone. 3. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl until nice and fluffy (you want lots of air in this).
4. Pour the butter and dark chocolate into the sugar and egg mixture and carefully fold into one another without beating out the air. 5. Add and fold in the flour mixture being careful to keep as much air in as possible. 6. Gently pour into a deep tin lined with baking parchment and bake for 25 minutes at 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4. 7. Allow to cool then cut and serve. 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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n O s ’ t Wha 2 May Performers & Pints 21: The Rising Sun Beer Festival Special 9pm-midnight Free entry The Rising Sun, 11 Everton Road, Potton A great community night out of fresh live music. Four exceptional performers x 30 mins each. Come and help us kick off the Rising Sun Beer Festival in style! Web: www.facebook.com/performersandpints Twitter: @PerformersPints 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Meets every Friday night. Visitors and new members welcome for a sing and a strum. Email: Sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com 2, 16 & 30 May Whist Drive 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Fortnightly Friday Whist Drive. All welcome. Refreshments included. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 3 May Renaissance to Broadway and Beyond 7.30pm St Swithun’s Church, Sandy Tickets £8 including post-concert refreshments East Bedfordshire Chamber Choir presents a concert of popular vocal music through the centuries from madrigals to jazz standards. Tel: Tickets Juliet Jones 01767 226123 5 May Maydate Fete 10am stallholders, 11am public The Hollow, Potton Usual attractions plus some new ones. A day out for the family! Stallholders or car Boot pitches can be reserved from £5-£10 Tel: 01767 261431 for pitches 6 May Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm The Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Potton Visitors £3, to include light refreshment Speaker for May will be Andy Garner - “My Story as a Games Maker at the 2012 London Olympics”. 6, 13, 20 & 27 May Groovy Tuesday 8pm Queen’s Head, 2-4 Cambridge Road, Sandy Local live musicians with an open mic opportunity once a month, a folk night once a month and iPod Jukebox in between. Every week has a theme and guests are invited to suggest tracks they would like to hear played, with the added fun of a “beat the DJ” challenge - if someone suggests a track that the DJ can’t play, they win a small prize.
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7 May Folk Evening 7pm Moggerhanger Village Hall First Wednesday every month. Open floor folk session evening. Tel: Chris 01767 640242 for more info 7 May Poor Little Belgium 7pm for 7.30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester, PE29 2AY The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by John Chester about the role of and experiences of Belgium on the Great War. Non-members most welcome. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com 7 May Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm WI Hall, Gamlingay Visitors £2.50 Talk by Gerald Sinclair on Hardy Geraniums. The Club meets the first Wednesday of most months. Visitors always welcome. 9 May Bingo Night 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Monthly Bingo Friday night with cash prizes, raffle and licensed bar. Also open the box. All proceeds to support the Village Hall. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 10 May Sandy Horticultural Association Trip 9am £26 per person Coach trip to Bressingham Gardens, Norfolk. Tel: Bookings 01767 448795 10 May Pampered Chef Brunch 11am Eyeworth Village Hall Come along to share fun filled brunch Pampered Chef style. Learn to prepare simple recipes requiring minimal effort allowing you to save time in the kitchen. Come and experience delicious taste satisfaction while the products simply promote themselves. Raising funds for All Saints’ Eyeworth. Tel: Abi 01767 631864 for more info or to book a place on this ready, steady, cook style experience 10 May Friends of St Mary Auction of Promises 7pm for 7.30pm Northill Village Hall Tickets £5 including fish/chicken or veggie burger & chips supper. Lots include a trip to the House of Lords, a ride in a helicopter and a meat hamper amongst others. To raise money for church roof repairs. Tel: 01767 627746 10 May Karaoke Night 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Tickets £4 Disco and karaoke, raffle and licensed bar. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 for tickets
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13 May Visit to Stud Farm & Pub Meal, Langford Ladies Circle is a modern, vibrant club for women aged 18 to 45 who want to make new friends, have lots of fun, do things they’ve never done before and maybe do a bit of fundraising along the way! We’re a varied bunch and everyone’s welcome to come along and just be themselves! Twitter: @BwadeCircle Email: biggleswade.circle@yahoo.co.uk Facebook: Biggleswade Ladies Circle 16-18 May Moggerhanger Plant Sale Fri 10am-1pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm The Pink Cottage, 64-66 Blunham Road, Chalton, Moggerhanger Friday – coffee morning; Saturday – Ploughman’s Lunches and cream teas. Herbs, Vegetable plants, Bedding, Perennials, Tomato Plants, Planters, Baskets, Cake, Stall, Raffle, Pickles & Preserves and more... All proceeds to St John’s Church, Moggerhanger. 17 May 10-12 noon Everton Village Hall Homemade cakes, produce and plant stalls. Raffle and refreshments. Proceeds in aid of St Mary’s Church. 18 May Biggleswade Antiques Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £1.50 This antiques fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this monthly fair is the place to visit. Cafe serving breakfast, lunches and afternoon tea. Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 19 May Sandy & District Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Association AGM 7.30pm Sandy Conservative Club Hall Annual General Meeting 2014. Members and nonmembers welcome. 20 May Family History 2-4pm The Labour Hall, Crab Lane, Biggleswade Fee £8 Are you interested in tracing the history of your family, but are unsure how to start? If so why not joint our Study Session led by Rob Bollington, who will share his own experience of researching family history. The session will involve an interactive mixture of presentation, discussion and review of materials. Light refreshments available. Free parking nearby. Event organised by Biggleswade WEA – The Workers’ Educational Association. Tel: Clive Bandy 01462 730147 Email: Biggleswade.wea@virginmedia.com 20 May Gamlingay WI 7.30pm W I Hall, Gamlingay The speaker will be Mrs Christine Elsey ‘Forget Me Not’ - Dementia Awareness. Visitors welcome.
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22 May An Evening with Julia Allnatt 7pm Sandy Library Tickets £1.50 Judith will be talking about her latest novel ‘The Moon Field’. A poignant story of love and redemption during World War I. Refreshments provided. Central Bedfordshire Council event. Web: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 25 May Wildlife of The Lodge - in Watercolour 11am-3pm RSPB The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, SG19 2DL Free event, car park £5 for non-members Local wildlife artist Steve Kershaw will be painting the birds and wildlife that he encounters on his regular walks around The Lodge reserve and gardens, and demonstrating his amazing art work. Find him at the Visitor Information Centre. Paintings for sale. Donations from sales to the RSPB. 25 May The Michael Campbell Memorial Cup Kick-off 1pm Riseley Barbarians F.C vs Riseley Sports F.C XI. Riseley Playing Field BBQ, Raffle and Bar. Text: Mcup90 £(your donation) to 70070 to donate 27 May Knit and Natter 10am-12 noon St John’s Church, Blunham Road, Moggerhanger This popular group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Wools, needles and know-how are available and the nattering is quite as busy as the knitting. Newcomers are always very welcome so why not come and join us. 27 May QH Book Group 7pm Queen’s Head, 2-4 Cambridge Road, Sandy The QH Book Group meets on the last Tuesday of the month and is actively seeking new members. 29 May Potton History Society Meeting 8pm Church Hall, Hatley Road, Potton ‘Farming in Sutton’ by Dudley Smith. A life time farmer at Sutton recounts his experiences with the ups and downs of local farming. Visitors and new members always welcome. Light refreshments provided. Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.com 31 May The Thankful Village 7.30pm Waresley Village Hall Tickets £10/£5 Badapple Theatre Company presents ‘The Thankful Village’ – a World War One story about the lucky soldiers that survived this conflict. A touching comedy drama from one of the UK’s top touring theatre companies. Tickets: Chris Thorne 01767 651239
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Country Stoves Quarter page MAY Advert:Layout 1 10/
COUNTRY STOVES & SWEEPS STOVE INSTALLATION CHIMNEY SWEEPING
Est. since 1988
• Wood burning & multi fuel stoves • HETAS certified installation • Chimney lining • Twin wall flue systems • Free survey & quotation • ICS Qualified chimney sweeps • Insurance certificates issued • Bird guards fitted • Local, professional & reliable
www.countrystovesandsweeps.co.uk
Tel: 01767 627591 07950 705479 Northill, Beds.
INSTITUTE of CHIMNEY SWEEPS
PK Cleaning Services z Professional
Carpet and Upholstery cleaning z Window cleaning z UPVC Fascia cleaning z Patio and Driveway cleaning z Gutter and Soffit cleaning Free Estimates. Friendly and reliable service.
Paul Kaiser
Home 01767 222822 Mobile 07812 335860 Visit us on www.pkcleaningservices.net For all your oven cleaning needs, using a Non-toxic, Non-caustic cleaning solution
Prices
s/oven (all inc.)...£40.00 d/oven (all inc.)...£52.00 extractors from...£16.00 microwaves.....£16.00 hobs from....£12.00 BBQs, Agas and Ranges individually priced.
We cover Beds - Herts - South Cambs Contact us now
Tel: 01767 681 667 Mob: 07817 011 957 email: enquiries@ovenmaestro.co.uk www.ovenmaestro.co.uk 76
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Local News
Sandy Cricket Club Open Day Come on down and join in!
Saturday 17th May 2014 - 10am to 5pm Jenkins Pavilion, Sunderland Road Recreation Ground Sandy Cricket Club is delighted to announce a club open day on Saturday 17th May 2014 starting at 10am. So come on down and take in a bit of cricket on what, we hope, will be a beautiful, sunny day! In the morning, the club is going to run fun Kwik Cricket for juniors to play against their parents, just to add a bit of spice to the occasion. Kwik Cricket is an easy play version of the game and a lot of fun for all ages and concentrates on the basics of bowling, batting and fielding. We will then break for lunch where the club will provide low cost refreshments including burgers, hot dogs and cakes! In the afternoon, we invite seniors and parents to battle it out for the single wicket trophy! This is a form of the game where individuals play off
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against each other, with one bowling and one batting. This promises to be a lot of fun too! Once this is done, I am sure there will be time for a crafty half at The Bell, Station Road, Sandy. So come on down and join us, young and old will have a lot of fun! Finally, the club would like to thank John from The Bell Public House, Sandy (pictured with our new kit for 2014 with President, Mick Reynolds) for all his continued support. Thank you John!
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D.S. LEWIS CARPENTRY & BUILDING
• Property Maintenance & Improvements • Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms • Flat Pack Furniture Assembly • Extensions, Garage Conversions • New Build & Refurbishment
Carpentry Contracts Welcome
01480 473 524 M: 07967 184 163 T:
E: danlewis.carpentrybuilding@gmail.com Fully Insured Established 1990 78
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T&R Roofing Ltd
Family Business Est. 1985
• Felt Roofing Specialists (10 year & 15 year guarantee on high performance felts) • Tiling, Slating, Guttering • UPVC Facia/Soffits • Chimney Work
All NEW work guaranteed Fully insured for employer & Public Liability Call Tony Simpson for a FREE estimate on:
01767 314847 mob. 07831849847
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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. 80
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81
Mark Dilley Electrical Part P Registered Company 22386 Extra sockets - Lighting Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers Inspections No job too small Free estimates All work to BS7671 regulations City and Guilds qualified
Tel: 01767 261008 Mob: 07990 895430
mark.dilley@btinternet.com
DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery
Gary Tasker Plumbing Complete bathroom refurbishments All trades covered 25 years experience
Tel:- 07967 022016
Email: gary.tasker@hotmail.co.uk 82
Conservatories • Doors • Windows Staircases Handmade Kitchens Handmade Bedroom Furniture
Unit 12, Gracious Farm, Southill, Beds SG18 9JB T: 01462 816695 F: 01462 850915 E: info@driftwoodjoinery.com
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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
01462 701828
www.langfordwindows.com langfordwindows@hotmail.co.uk Langford Windows advert.indd 1
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24/01/2014 14:19
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1st Glass Window Repairs 30
years experience
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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• Supply & fit at competitive prices • Free home calls to estimate & advise • Friendly reliable service For all enquiries, please call or email:
01480 509 685 M: 07833 222 199 T:
E: pgscarpets@hotmail.co.uk 84
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Crossword Solution for The Villager April Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Martin Cooper from Biggleswade
April’s Wildlife Competition The solution to the puzzle in the last issue of The Villager was MIGRATION derived from the initial letters of Mistle, Ivy, Ground, Robin, Adder, Thrush, Ivy, October and Nightjar. From the correct solutions, the winner, selected at random, was Natalie Bartlett (Offord Cluny), who has been sent the prize, a copy of ‘Wildlife through the Year’ signed by the author. If you did not win, this book, largely concerned with the wildlife of Bedfordshire, is available through your local bookshop (ISBN 978-1-291-66252-8) or for £9.95 + £1.80 p&p from Wildlife book, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.
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The Villager Prize Crossword
Prize
ÂŁ25
Across 1 Stove (4) 3 Confessed (8) 9 Remove (7) 10 Tall structure (5) 11 Current (12) 14 Married woman (3) 16 Smooth surface (5) 17 Perceive (3) 18 Clarifications (12) 21 Fine porcelain (5) 22 Passion (7) 23 Calamity (8) 24 Small room (4) Down 2 Devoured (5) 4 Small spot (3) 5 Road junction (12)
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before
16th May 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP
6 Defeats (7)
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1 Conquer (8)
7 Terrible (4) 8 Butterfly larva (12) 12 Simple (5) 13 Private (8) 15 A swinging time? (7) 19 Small fruit (5) 20 Not alkali (4) 22 Female sheep (3)
Name: Tel: Address:
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KEMP GARAGE DOORS SALES • INSTALLATION • REPAIRS • Family Run Business • 25 Years Experience • Up and Over • Sectional and Roller Doors www.kempgaragedoors.co.uk • Security Shutters
• Remote Control Door
SANDY • POTTON • All Major Brands
Supplied and Serviced
BIGGLESWADE • Call for a Free AND SURROUNDING AREAS
Quotation
• OAP Rates Available
01767 260165 Sandy
01480 210410 Eaton Socon To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Sureclean
Window Doctor Repairs to Windows, Doors & Conservatories • • • • • • •
Misty Units New Locks Draughty Windows Dropped Doors Broken Hinges/Handles Extra Security Installation of New Windows, Doors and Conservatories
DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
25 Years Experience Contact Stewart Gyles on T: 0798 444 1638 or
• Spot stain and odour removal • Anti-stain protection • Leather suites cleaned and reconditioned • Tile and grout cleaning • The very latest equipment used • All work guaranteed • Fully insured • Local company
01767 400127 or 07870 338074
01767 221 057
E: stewy_133@msn.com
Tel: 01767 261622 Mob: 07947 732883 Email: dialporter01@tiscali.co.uk 88
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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.
Drier. Cleaner. Healthier
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HomeValet Covering the whole of the Ouse Valley Restore, Don’t Replace, Let ChemDry G&S Revitalise & Extend The Life Of Your Carpets & Upholstery
Enjoy the many advantages of choosing ChemDry G&S: • •
• 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 12th July 2014 is BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER DAY – look out for more details.
www.biggleswadetalkingnewspaper.org.uk We are a registered charity No 281316 established in 1981
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Dries in 1-2 hours, not 1-2 days ChemDry resists resoiling - so your carpet fibres stay cleaner longer Carpet and Rug Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning Hard Floors Cleaned and Repaired Oriental Rug Specialist Cleaning Leather Cleaning Dust Mite Anti-allergen Treatment Carpet Spot and Stain Removal Carpet Protection Stone and Tile Flooring Amtico & Karndean Flooring
Call Us Today on 01604 621562 or 01234 880567
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Comet Cleaning Services Commercial & Residential Cleaners • Commercial and Domestic Cleaners • Builders/Landlord Cleans • Experienced and Personal Service • Regular, Weekly/Spring Clean • Fully Insured/Ref's Available • No up front fee's/contracts
01767 631402 Mob: 07762 462866 Tel:
Email: comet.services@virgin.net
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J. Jenkins
Building Services Extensions New Build Renovations Garage Conversions Loft Conversions Kitchen Fitting Driveways and Patios
For all your building needs Call John on 01767 222219 or 07831 283296 Email: chippyjenkins@gmail.com References available on request
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The
Ironing Fairy Do you hate ironing, or just don’t have time to do it?... ...Then let me do it for you! • Friendly, reliable 1 to 1 service from a business that cares! • Affordable prices, and can pick up and drop off to your door. • Non Smoking home with plenty of references from happy customers. Call Sue for more information on:
M: 07963 031 538 H: 01767 261 899 Julian Biggs Plumbing Advert:Layout 1 17/05/2013 14
Julian Biggs Plumbing& Heating All aspects of plumbing & heating work Oil fired boilers - Servicing, Repairs, Installation Bathroom, showers and taps leaking taps to full installation
NO CALL OUT CHARGE • COMPETITIVE RATES
Tel: 01767 627591 07950 705479
www.julianbiggsplumbingandheating.co.uk located in Northill, Beds
Fully qualified and insured • All work guaranteed Free Quotations • Local, professional & reliable
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Books Alterations
BOOK REVIEW
By Bruce Edwards
LADY BETTE and the Murder of Mr THYNN N A Pickford Pub: Wiedenfeld & Nicolson h/b £20 ISBN 978 0297 87085 2 At first glance this would appear to be an intriguing fictional historical novel, and in some ways reads as such, but no, a quote from the blurb offers us this: ‘the true story of a scandalous marriage and a sensational murder in late seventeenth-century London’. Hence it is a factual and deeply fascinating account of the mores of the social world of its time. Who today would countenance the marriage of a fourteen year old heiress Lady Bette - merely to bolster the fortunes of a despicable ‘gentleman’? This is no less than the Mr Thynn of the title. Using set piece locations as stepping stones, chapter by chapter, Pickford takes us on a journey of exploration into the world of Charles II and the devious machinations of the fanatical figures of the day. We can easily develop a fondness for young Bette with her ability to work out her own salvation despite the overwhelming selfishness of her treacherous grandmother, the Dowager Countess Howard, and we may be forgiven for saying ‘serves you right’ when three assorted villains carry out a devious plan to assassinate Mr Thynn. There’s a colourful Count.behind the plot - somehow he escapes justice but the others . . . we follow their demise in chilling detail. A marvellous and accurate ‘history without tears’ whodunit. 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.”
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Chauffeur Cars
Decorating Services
Decorating Services
DECORATING SERVICES
• Over 25 years experience • No job too big or too small • Free estimates T: 01767 222 028 M: 07887 618 832
email: topcoat@ntlworld.com
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Classifieds Domestic Repairs
Garden Specialist JB Domestic Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers No Call Out Charge!
Local, honest, professional service
Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490
Domestic Repairs
Garden Specialist
Hatley Garden Services
Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines • Cookers Fridges • Vacs • Dryers
Reliable Trustworthy Service Fully Insured
Border Care/Shrub Pruning, Hedge Trimming, Fence repair/Painting, Lawn Care, Turf laying Long Term Garden Maintenance, One Off Garden Tidy
Bill Tangye
Beds Tel By or appointment only - 4 Stratford Road, Sandy, Mob 01767 650750Tel: 07711 07802 393331 257105
Please call me (Kevin) for a free estimate: Tel: 01767 631174 Mobile: 07742 832810
Garden Machinery Service/Repair
Electricians
Garden Machinery & Mowers Expert Service and Repair Collection & delivery available Unit 12a Whites Farm, Great North Road, Biggleswade SG18 9BE Tel: 01767 600085 Mob: 07593 553581
Foot Health Practitioner Amy Hobbs MAFHP, MCFHP
Foot Health Practitioner Please contact me if you have any footcare problems as I offer a domiciliary service and can help with corns, callus, nail cutting, verrucae and ingrowing toenails.
Handy Man
MIKE NEIGHBOUR
Mobile: 07500 046012 Tel: 01767 222282 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
Carpenter and Joiner Glass Splashbacks for Kitchens Cupboards, Fitted Wardrobes, Loft Ladders etc 30 Years Experience
01767 677898 or 07711 311956 93
Classifieds Plastering Services
Handy Man
James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding Tel: 07792 415356 or 01767 317161 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk
Plastering Services
Kitchen & Bathroom Fitter
Steve Swain
M. Philmore (Phil) - Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter Disabled showers supplied and fitted. General plumbing.
Plastering, Painting & Decorating Painting & Decorating Plastering, Pebble Dashing Rendering, Screeding
57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414
Painting Services
Mob: 07887 861881 Tel: 01767 226404
Ponds
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
Pet Services
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Private Car Hire
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Classifieds Private Car Hire
Property Improvements
Mats Cars Private Hire Potton Based
4+7 Seater Cars Available
Airport/Stations/Nights Out etc Local and Long Distance
GB
Tel: 01767 261871 Mob: 07983 218367 www.mats-cars.co.uk All major credit/debit cards accepted
Property Improvements A professional property maintenance service
Property Improvements by
Gary Hare Carpentry • Kitchens • Bedrooms Decorating • Flooring Bathrooms •Tiling • and more...
Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420
Property Improvements
Business gone a bit slow? Let us help! Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com
GARY BERRIDGE Plasterer & General Maintenance Including UPVC Doors and Windows Tiling, Painting and Decorating Free Quotes
T: 01767 316485 M: 07582 485155 E: garyberridge@ymail.com
Removals & 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
01767 313230
enquiries@stephensremovals.com
Security Services
Stephens Dinky ad_03.indd 1
3/12/12 11:45:18
Storage Domestic & Commercial Storage (Near Potton)
Caravans and Cars Welcome Short and long term rates Secure site, cctv with full gated access 7 days a week New storage containers just arrived Please call 01767 260248 or 07970 292055
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A great day out for all the family!!! £7 per person (children under 10 years free)
BEDFORDSHIRE YOUNG FARMERS’
Y R S T H N O U W O C RALLY 2014 &
Tractor driving... Trade stands... Craft stalls... Livestock... Cookery... Flowers... Handicrafts... Decorated floats... Children’s attractions... YFC competitions... and much, much more!
Sponsored by
Saturday 17th May – Gates open 10am
Church Farm, Eyeworth, Sandy, Beds SG19 2HH BG’s Country Store & Cafe