Potton oct 14 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 98 - October 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

The Great Airship Disaster

Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair

Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages 11,000 copies delivered to over 30 towns and villages every month

ur Yo EE FR1copy

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Contents A Class Kitchens

The Great Airship Disaster................................................4 Should You Bother With Loyalty Cards..............................9 Shannon Express............................................................10 The Festive Gift Fair Competition....................................12 Isle of Sweetness............................................................14 A Class Kitchens of Bedford............................................18 Variety Express Annual Charity Show.............................20 Where Am I?..................................................................22 Luang Prabang - Ancient Capital of Laos........................24 Sandy Tourist Information Centre...................................27 Wordsearch....................................................................31 Big Boost for Potton Town Cricket Club...........................33 An Idiot’s Guide to Fireworks..........................................34 P & R Bathrooms............................................................36 Halloween - History and Traditions................................38 Get Crafty with Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre...............41 Travelogue - Bula!..........................................................42 School Phobia................................................................44 Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Catherine Rose, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Susan Brookes-Morris, Solange Hando, Melanie Ridley, Ted Bruning, Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Wharton, North Beds RSPCA, James Baggott, Potton Vets, Alison Runham, Sunita Bedhi and Bruce Edwards

VILLAGER The

Issue 98 - October 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

The Great Airship Disaster

Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair

Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages 11,000 copies delivered to over 30 towns and villages every month

ur Yo EE FR1copy

Beer of the Month..........................................................47 Maxwells Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Salon.........48 Conifers..........................................................................51 Rural Ramblings.............................................................52 Fun Quiz.........................................................................55 Ask Alan - Your Pet Questions Answered........................57 Animal Queries...............................................................58 Children’s Page...............................................................60 Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club.......................................62 Tea and Coffee - The Good and the Bad..........................65 Best 4x4s........................................................................67 Carers in Bedfordshire....................................................69 The Indian Kitchen.........................................................70 Mushroom and Chicken Pot Pies....................................72 What’s On.......................................................................74 Puzzle Page....................................................................80 Prize Crossword..............................................................86 Book Review..................................................................92

Maxwells

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any Advertising Sales responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the Photography - Bernard Ormrod, Emma Porter, editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or Catherine Rose, Merlinul and Nigel Frost Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460 stored without the express permission of the publisher. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 3

History

The Great Airship Disaster By Catherine Rose

Autumn 1930 saw news headlines filled with tragic disaster and loss of life when the flagship R101 – one of two giant airships stationed in Bedfordshire - crashed and burned on its maiden voyage killing 46 of those on board. Today, the hangars at Cardington, Bedfordshire stand as a historic landmark and reminder of the brief life of two mammoth airships – the R101 and its sister the R100. The R101 left Cardington at 7pm on Saturday, 4th October 1930 for India with 54 passengers. It had only got to France when it crashed into a hill near Beauvais, near Paris, at approximately 2am. Sleeping passengers were engulfed in flames including the airship’s designer Col. V C Richmond, Assistant Director of Airship Development, Lord Thomson, and Minister for Air and Air ViceMarshall Sir Sefton Brancker. There had been no warning and the last contact from the airship was sent 15 minutes before the crash which said: “At the moment, the passengers, after an excellent meal and after enjoying a number of cigars, are getting ready to go to bed” followed by a “thank you” when the French Air Ministry informed them they were 1km from Beauvais. Low lying clouds had prevented the airship flying to its designated height. When a storm hit, it resulted in masses of rainwater settling on the top of the ship which subsequently forced her down further until she struck a hill near the village

of Allonne. Her droning engines woke French eye witnesses who stated that as she left the town “she appeared to be completely out of control…. lurching and travelling crab-wise in the air.” A passing motorist watched the giant ship “fighting for feet” and “her belly” only touched the top of the hill. The lights in the cabin went out, the propellers dug into the earth and the 585 hp Tornado engines were pushed up into the airship itself. The hydrogen gas inside was ignited immediately and the explosion could be seen within a radius of seven miles. It was later described as being like “Dante’s Inferno” and “a sight so awful and terrible that one could not take it in at first”. Photographs of the scene the following morning show the ship’s colossal charred skeleton and bodies (described as burnt beyond recognition) littered across the French countryside and shrouded in sheets that had been donated by local villagers. Miraculously, there were eight survivors, five of whom were severely burned. They are said to have owed their lives to the fact that the water tanks burst and washed them through the flames to safety. Ship’s captain, Flight Lieutenant Irwin remained at his post giving orders until flames

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enveloped him. Twelve men were on duty when disaster struck. Engineer H J Leech was in a cabin with two colleagues and said: “We shook hands and swore we would not be burned to death but that somehow we would make our way out.” Another survivor, Mr Bell, described his experience: “I had just got to my bunk when the explosion occurred. I saw a sheet of flame and then the rush of water from the water tanks swept me out of my bunk and kept off the flames. I managed to scramble to safety but without the aid of the water I should have been killed”. Mr Church, told the press: “When the explosion occurred it rent in two my compartment and I fell to earth. One of my comrades was trapped. I tried to climb to him but the flames beat me back”. Wireless operator Mr A Disley described biting and tearing his way through the fabric, saying: “I used my teeth and nails. I became exhausted then suddenly fell through a raging tornado of fire and found myself safe on wet grass.” At 777 feet long and 132 wide at its maximum point, the airship’s construction began in 1924. Accommodation was contained within a doubledecked structure slung inside the hull. On the upper deck was a large lounge with promenades and there was a separate dining room that could seat 50 people and a number of two-berth sleeping cabins. Downstairs were the kitchen, the captain’s control room, the wireless room, the smoking room and the crew’s quarters. The ship was designed to reach 75 mph. After the crash, it came to light that the airship had had problems three months earlier on her first official public unveiling at Hendon - a fact that had allegedly been concealed. Her departure was delayed by 35 minutes when the starting engine failed. When she finally got going, a roar and a shower of sparks shot from the exhaust pipe, scaring the 3,000-strong crowd and witnesses

were later to describe how her “slow, struggling ascent” from Cardington meant that the “wives and sweethearts who were clustered around the base of the mooring mast” were left to wonder if all was well with the ship as their men on board flashed torches through the windows of the gondola cabin in farewell. When news of the tragedy hit Shortstown – the small hamlet on the edge of Cardington built to house airship workers and their families – the blinds of almost every cottage remained drawn. Virtually every family suffered some sort of loss, whether it was a father, brother or friend. After the crash, the R101’s sister ship, the R100 was broken up and all further development on the project abandoned. The survivors were all crew, mostly from the Cardington area: Mr H J Leech of Shortstown, foreman engineer; Mr A V Bell of Shortstown, engineer; Mr J H Binks, engineer; Mr S Church of Cardington, rigger; Mr A Disley of Shortstown, wireless operator; Mr W G Radcliffe of Bedford, rigger; and Mr V Savory of Shortstown, engineer. Following a state funeral procession from London, today there is a mass grave at Cardington cemetery containing those who died. Drawings by Keith Lawrence whose father Geoffrey worked on the R101.

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Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

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Three Counties Radio

Should You Bother With Loyalty Cards? By Jonathan Vernon-Smith From the Tesco Clubcard to the Boots Advantage Card. The Morrison’s miles card to the Sainsbury’s Nectar card. All the big companies are doing it – encouraging us to be LOYAL to them and not to stray elsewhere. But which of these schemes should we bother with, and which should we completely ignore? The first thing you need to understand about loyalty schemes is that they’re NOT giving you anything for free. The shops that offer rewards for your loyalty, build the cost into their schemes. Ultimately their customers pay for it, but indirectly. Therefore it’s up to you to be a savvy consumer to maximise the benefit. They’ll be furious at me for telling you this, but DO NOT LET THE LOYALTY CARDS MAKE LOYAL! Just because you get points for shopping at a certain supermarket doesn’t mean you’re getting the best deal on your groceries. Keep your eyes open and be prepared to shop around, and maybe even do your shopping at a company that doesn’t reward you in any way. When you empty the bags in your kitchen, you may still end up better off than you would have done with all your so called ‘loyalty’ points. Remember you can use cash in more shops than you can points! If you’ve saved cash, it means more. That said, it’s still worth having them. You’ll notice I said ‘them’. I did so deliberately. My advice is to get THEM ALL! Either online or in-store, you should apply for ALL the (free) loyalty schemes in the shops you frequent. That way you can benefit both in price and in points. If you’ve researched and found the best price for a product you want to buy AND you benefit from getting loyalty points (that can eventually be redeemed for something meaningful), then you really have earned the right to consider yourself a ‘SAVVY’ consumer. Some energy providers now provide points for certain loyalty cards. For example if you have your gas or electricity with E-On, you can link your account with your Tesco Clubcard and earn points every time you switch a light on. If you’re already with E-On and feel they offer you the best price, then this is an added benefit, but as I mentioned earlier, these loyalty incentives are rarely enough to switch supplier based on loyalty points alone. Most petrol stations now provide a loyalty scheme for fuel. For example you can earn Nectar points by filling up at a BP garage. That’s fine if you were going to fill up at a BP station anyway, but please remember that it’s still more important to shop around for the best price on fuel, rather than choosing a garage based on the loyalty points you can earn. In the end you’re saving may be worth much more than the points are worth. It’s also worth noting that many credit cards offer a ‘points’ system to keep customers loyal to them. This can be very beneficial. I recently had a statement telling me that I have used my credit card so much in the last year that I’m entitled to 24 bottles of Pinot Grigio! Considering I practically bathe in the stuff, this made me do a little dance in my kitchen. I would have purchased the items anyway, but by ensuring I paid for them on my credit card (whilst paying off the balance in full), I have earned myself a little treat!! Always do your research before you get a credit card. Make sure you look at the loyalty scheme they operate and ensure they reward buying things in shops you use the most. Finally don’t forget to use them and ensure you have a big purse or wallet. If you follow the advice above, you’ll need one!

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. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Local News

Shannon Express Singing is our pleasure

It is a strange fact that the majority of people will tell you that they cannot sing. What they probably mean is that they have not been taught to sing and as a result, would be embarrassed to get it wrong in front of others. We understand this completely. Most of us in Shannon Express started out that way! Our next recruitment evening followed by a Learn to Sing Course over six weeks is aimed at those with little or no experience and is completely free. We will guide you from the first tentative steps through to public performance. We sing as a group and never put you on the spot to sing individually. Confidence will grow and you will be amazed at what you can achieve. Our music is slick, varied and thoroughly entertaining. Sentimental lullabies, stirring upbeat

numbers, timeless classics, hits from the musical theatre and modern standards all have their place. Ladies, play your part and win a £150 prize in our free draw. He sings in the shower, it’s time he took up a new hobby and you know that singing brings health benefits through physical and mental exercise. First prize is a £150 Maxwells Experience for the ladies and second prize for one of our lucky recruits is a £50 Maxwells Makeover, both courtesy of Maxwells Professional Hair and Beauty, Biggleswade. Send your man to our Recruitment Evening on 9th October 2014, 7.30pm at the Holiday Inn, Sandy, SG19 1NA (A1 Sandy Roundabout) and we will do the rest. Accomplished singers welcome too, of course. Register on 07848 972689 or email pro@shannonexpress.org.uk Singing is our pleasure. Join us and make it yours.

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COMPETITION

Christmas

is around the corner!

More to see, try, touch, taste, enjoy… and buy at The Festive Gift Fair Join in the fun at the fabulous FESTIVE GIFT FAIR, the biggest and best Christmas Shopping Fair, returns to the NEC for four days from 20 - 23 November. Christmas means gifts for your loved ones, hanging decorations on the tree, excitement on children’s faces, party clothes, stockings hanging over the hearth, a table fit for a festive feast! The run up to Christmas Day involves lots of planning! The hardest and often most time consuming part is buying the presents. There’s no need to be stuck for ideas, Festive Gift Fair makes it so easy. From the moment you arrive, you’ll get into the Christmas spirit, and be caught up in the excitement of browsing round over 325 stalls hunting for your perfect gifts. And when your bags are full, you can drop them off at the Present Crèche and continue to shop, stop for a bite to eat and enjoy some great Christmas music by bands and choirs. It’s no wonder this is one of the most popular events at the NEC! We love the challenge of finding unusual gift ideas – with so many to see at the Fair, selecting the best is a challenge indeed! EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY! Raise a glass! That’s the spirit! FOR THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE. Mum, Wife, Sister, Aunt, Girlfriend There’s nothing more satisfying than finding a special thoughtful surprise they will love. …. FOR THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE. Chaps can be notoriously difficult to buy for – you’ll find Whisky, woollies, watches, clever gadgets and silly stocking fillers at Festive Gift Fair………. KIDS STUFF. You’ve managed to keep the presents out of sight from little prying eyes for weeks, and NOW the big day is here. All smiles on Christmas Day! SET THE SCENE FOR A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS. Dressing the tree is just the start! Dressing your table, your hall, your mantle-piece can all help make Christmas Day really special. Light lots of twinkling candles, use elegant glasses, colour coordinated linen… you’ll find lots of inspiration at Festive Gift Fair.

We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away Simply send your name and address by Fri 7th Nov 2014 to: Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The Winner will be drawn at random. If you are not a lucky winner, adult tickets are priced from just £8.50. Book now by calling NEC Ticket Hotline on 0844 581 0808/0809 or online at www.theticketfactory.com (£2.50 per booking transaction).

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Go on... You deserve it!

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*Strictly one offer per person. OFFER EXPIRES NOVEMBER 30th 2014. Present this ad for a no obligation FREE CONSULTATION with Dr Ahlowalia. Free consultations do not include comprehensive examinations nor any X-rays. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.victoriaplacedental.com for full details. 3 VICTORIA PLACE, BIGGLESWADE, BEDS SG18 9RN - 01767 313896 - CALL NOW Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Isle of Sweetness By Catherine Rose

A visit to Barbados and you instantly understand why it has become one of the most popular playgrounds for the rich and famous. And not necessarily for the reasons you would think. Years ago, I was captivated by the Caribbean with its volcanic mountains, iridescent humming birds and absence of roads. But what to expect of 21st century Barbados? Would this idyll of the rich be over-developed: subdued by tarmac while towering hotels jostled for sky space along congested beaches? Within an hour of our arrival, my fears proved unfounded.

Planning laws are strict on Barbados. From Bridgetown Airport, a road dotted with flaming frangipanis took us past a cocktail of interesting low-rise buildings, including the traditional, often colourful, wooden chattel houses. The most easterly Caribbean island and the only one formed from coral, Barbados or ‘the bearded one’ was first named by Spanish sailors impressed by its many bearded fig trees with their dense twisted trunks and long hanging tendrils. Not all the trees are so benign however. Lewis Carroll might well have written ‘beware the manchineel tree’ in his poem Jabberwocky as its leaves and berries are so acidic you must not stand under one when it rains. Our destination was Cobblers Cove Hotel on the west coast, adjacent to a protected turtle nesting beach and situated between the unpromisingly named Holetown and Speightstown (pronounced Spitestown and once known as Little Bristol due to its English shipping links). Barbados was founded on sugar cane and the hotel’s colonial building, originally named Camelot, was built in 1941 by sugar plantation owner Josh Haynes. It stands

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the ampthill masonic centre is delighted to invite you to either of our

OpenDays on Sat 13th September and Sat 25th October

at The Old Courthouse, Church Street, Ampthill, MK45 2PL from 11.00 am

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DISCOVERING MORE ABOUT FREEMASONRY IN OUR REGION?

If you are curious to learn more about Freemasonry within Bedfordshire then why not come along to attend either of our two Open Days? All visitors, including ladies, will be assured of a very warm Masonic welcome. You will discover more about the guiding principles of Freemasonry and also how Freemasons raise substantial funds in order to continue their support of many worthy and essential charities, throughout the UK, and specifically how we have raised and donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to both Masonic and non-Masonic charities, within our own communities, here in Bedfordshire.

Complimentary refreshments will also be provided. Email freemasonsinampthill@gmail.com for further details or write to the address above. To Clophill

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For information about Freemasonry please visit: www.ugle.org.uk or www.pglbeds.org

It’s Ampthill’s best kept secret...Revealed! To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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back from the road amidst lush gardens of plumbago, bougainvillea, sago palm and the occasional glimpse of a green monkey. Our accommodation in the grounds resembled a beach house with shuttered doors opening onto a miniature lawn and a view straight from a travel brochure. What appeared to be rats scurrying across our threshold turned out to be wild mongooses that thrive on the bounty of lizards and crabs. Speaking of bounty, it was Crop Over Festival. Crop Over is Barbadians’ harvest festival that between May and August brings much celebration including calypso and soca music, lavish costumed parades, and a huge market. Events rejoice in names like Cohobblopot and Foreday Morning Jam where, one local told us, normally sensible, educated and respectable Barbadians go ‘jumping up’. Daubing themselves in a rainbow of paint, people street party until daybreak, fuelled by boundless Bajan rum. On Bank Holiday Monday, along with most of the island, we descended on the scorching capital Bridgetown to celebrate Grand Kadooment, the all-day carnival parade and Crop Over finale. Barbados has 275,000 inhabitants, and it would seem that each one is delighted to make your acquaintance. From the hotel staff, including the chef, who lined up to greet us on our arrival to the local children frolicking in an impossibly turquoise sea, everyone had a friendly greeting and a story to share. There is an island saying: ‘Barbados is 20 miles long and a smile wide’ and visiting it, it is easy to understand why. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

In A Class of their Own A Class Kitchens of Bedford

A Class Kitchens of Bedford has been operational for just over a year and as well as providing high quality but affordable bespoke kitchens, they are possibly the most ethical kitchen company around. Catherine Rose met the founders, husband and wife team Jon and Jemma Hough. Working from home to fit around their small daughter, Jon and Jemma have strong ideas about what a kitchen company should not be. With a background in kitchen design, Jon got fed up with having to toe the company line when it meant using unscrupulous methods for putting profit before customers. He also hated the high pressure selling that seems to go hand in hand with buying kitchens and wanted to get away from it. “We don’t have a flashy showroom. We bring the showroom to you” explains Jon. “There is no hard sell, no hidden agenda and any special deals we offer are genuine. We pass on all our cost savings to the customer.” Above all, the company believes in good old fashioned honesty. They do not use cheap carcasses on their cabinets for the simple reason that these often result in sagging doors and misaligned drawers a few years down the line when the panels shift. Instead, all A Class cabinets have solid tops and backs for stability and durability.

“A kitchen is a big investment” says Jon. “We want ours to last at least 20 years whereas most kitchen companies will aim to get you to replace them after around eight.” A Class Kitchens’ customers are Jon and Jemma’s best advocates. What makes the company most unusual is that new customers are able to visit former ones to have a look at a previously installed working kitchen. “If you are welcomed back to your customer for a cup of tea after having fitted their kitchen, then you know you have done a good job” says Jon. All feedback is encouraged and the company has an open page on Facebook where customers can post comments, in addition to customer reviews on Checkatrade.com. Jon is the designer. On his first meeting, he will measure the space and spend time with the customer to understand the style and functionality preferred for the kitchen. “It’s important to have time to listen to what the customer wants from their kitchen, so this can be incorporated into the design” says Jon. A second meeting is then arranged to review the initial design and make any modifications. At this meeting, samples of the customer’s preferred door styles and colours can be seen. The company employs a group of dedicated

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tradesmen who are all expert in their fields, rather than a ‘jack of all trades’ who does everything. Each customer is allocated a project manager throughout and is able to choose their own preferred appliances, unlike some kitchen companies that restrict you to certain makes and models. Currently, A Class Kitchens fits around two to three kitchens per month and Jon does not particularly want to see this increase as he would prefer to take the time to do a job properly rather than rush it. The company can make cabinets to any size and in almost any colour and will paint kitchen doors if that is what the customer wants. “The one way we definitely differ from other kitchen companies is that we can offer an almost exact colour match of the cabinet to the door” says Jon which has the benefit of giving their kitchens an upmarket appearance without the high cost. “Country cottage-style greys and greens are popular at the moment” says Jemma. ‘Soft close’ is standard on all their drawers and doors which means that they shut slowly and smoothly so little fingers won’t get trapped. The company primarily covers the Bedford area but has also fitted kitchens in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire and as far away as Slough and Wisbech. While Jon does the designing and manages the team, Jemma deals with the administration and finances. She is also in charge of marketing and has written the company’s website content. Possibly the most unique aspect of A Class Kitchens however is that they are very community focused and directly support their local Alzheimer’s Charity – a cause close to Jemma’s heart having worked for them previously. She explains: “Providing they are in good condition, we re-sell the old kitchens we remove, sometimes even adapting them for other uses such as handmade chalkboards, and we then donate the money to the charity. Last year we bought the Alzheimer Society a P.A. system.” A Class Kitchens of Bedford is certainly a family-run company with a conscience. Going forward, the couple even hopes to one day set up their own charitable foundation. In the meantime, their aim seems to be firmly on making their customers happy. “Ultimately we want customers to have the kitchen to fit their life, not the other way round” says Jon. “And we take great pride when we have been told that the finished kitchen is better than they had imaged.” To find out more about A Class Kitchens of Bedford visit www.aclasskitchensbedford.com or telephone 01234 589136 to arrange a visit.

Local News

Variety Express Annual Charity Show Children benefit from ‘Best of British’ Two local charities supporting children with special needs are set to benefit when Variety Express performs their annual charity variety show Best of British at St Francis College Theatre, Broadway, Letchworth from Wednesday 29th October to Saturday 1st November. Best of British will take audiences on a coach tour of the British Isles through song, dance and comedy. Starting in England and travelling to Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the cast of Variety Express will pay homage to Adele, Van Morrison, Lulu and Rod Stewart. It promises to leave audiences “feeling proud to be residents in our great country”. Producer Lindsay Head said: ‘We guarantee fun and enjoyment for everyone. All those involved have worked so hard to put on a great show and the more people we have coming, the more ‘feel good’ factor we get while raising money for two well-deserved charities”. The charities that were chosen by the theatre company are St John’s Special School Association, Kempston and The Autism Avenue, Biggleswade. St John’s Special School Association will use its

donation to create an outdoor sensory area for students who have profound and multiple learning disabilities. While The Autism Avenue, a support group run by families for families that have a child who has autism, will use their donation to expand the support available to enable more families to attend and to fund child-led activities at their holiday groups. Variety Express was conceived over a few drinks in the pub in 1980 when a number of people, several of whom had previously been involved in amateur theatre productions, suggested forming a new entertainment group. They thought a combination of singing and dancing with a little comedy thrown in would be a good recipe. This group could then perform locally and raise some much needed money for local charities. The proceeds of that first show, some £200, were tripled the following year and have increased substantially ever since. In fact, since its conception back in 1980, Variety Express has donated over £104,000 to charities including nursing homes, Lister Hospital and dozens of specialist care organisations. Variety Express is still going strong and involves a team of well over 30 members with each person providing an essential role, from backstage to sound and lighting technicians to the cast itself. Variety Express has come a long way in its thirty four year history and its aim is to provide fabulous entertainment at a very reasonable price while most importantly giving its chosen charities the biggest donation possible. For tickets and further information visit www. varityexpress.org.uk or if you would like to know how you could become involved with Variety Express from starring in the show to stage crew or front of house, contact Diane Humberstone on 07786840535. Evening performances start at 7.30pm and Saturday matinee at 2.00pm. Tickets are now available online and cost £9 adults and £7 concessions.

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Sixth Form Open Evening

Professional Balloon art and Event decoration Beautifully arranged balloon clusters, arches, columns and more

Thursday 13th November, 6.30pm

Delivery and set up available Like us on Facebook for portfolio and special offers

07792 985994 or 01767 223675 bunchesballoons@hotmail.co.uk www.bunchesballoons.co.uk

Bold Imaginative Reflective Three words to define your daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. Add three more:

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Where AM I?

Do You Know?

1 3 Do you know where these pictures were taken?

Last month’s answer Last month’s images were taken in Pembroke Castle. The lucky winner of the Argos voucher was Mr J Taylor from Gamlingay.

Where Are we?

VILLAGER The

The Villager and Town Life magazine is delivered door to door throughout:

LOCAL NEWS •

LOCAL PEOPLE

• LOCAL SERVICE

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and can be found in most shops, pubs, garages in all of the above and more including Biggleswade and Sandy. Booking your advertising space is easy just call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com

22 22

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Dealing with

Abbotsley, Beeston, Broom, Caxton, Cockayne Hatley, Cople, Croydon, Dunton, Eltisley, Everton, Everton Heath, Eyeworth, Gamlingay, Haynes, Henlow, Ickwell Green, Ireland, Langford, Lower Caldecote, Moggerhanger, Northill, Old Warden, Potton, Shuttleworth, Southill, Stanford, Sutton, The Gransdens, Thorncote Green, Upper Caldecote, Waresley and Wrestlingworth

Issue 97 - Septem

and Town

ber 2014

Life

ES • LOCAL PRODUC

Dyslexia Ickwell Cricket

Club

Celebrates 100 Yea rs

Win £25

in our Prize Crossw ord

VILLAGER The

Bringing Local

in Biggleswade,

Business to Local

Sandy, Potton,

11,000 copies delivered

People

Gamlingay and

to over 30 towns

all surrounding

and villages every

villages

month

LOCAL NEWS • r LOCAL u PEOPLE Yo

EE FR1copy

Issue 96 - August

• LOCAL SERVICE

and Town

S • LOCAL CHARITI

2014

Life

ES • LOCAL PRODUC

Inside this issu

World War I Postcards

from the Front

Going to Uni?

Money Tips

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Travel

Luang Prabang - Ancient Capital of Laos by Solange Hando

In the lush northern hills of Laos, the old city of Luang Prabang is a delightful maze of pristine alleyways festooned in potted plants and bougainvillaea. The fragrance of frangipani lingers under the blue sky, mingling with the aroma of French baguettes and freshly-brewed coffee. Heavy traffic is banned from the historic centre where pedestrians and cyclists wander through the lanes. Time seems to stand still. Tucked on a scenic peninsula, Luang Prabang nestles at the confluence of the Mekong, all silvery waters dotted with boats and islands, and the emerald green river Khan, spanned by bouncy bamboo bridges washed away every year during the monsoon. Rustic hotels and quaint al fresco restaurants line the left bank where spirit houses ensure good luck. Across the water, tiny allotments tumble down the steep slopes, crickets sing in the trees and myriad frogs join in the chorus at night. In 1995, Luang Prabang was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO for its natural sites, including the nearby Kuang Si waterfalls and the Buddha caves of Pak Ou, and its finely restored architecture, from gilded temples to colonial bungalows and mansions. Often converted into guest houses, the latter boast stylish verandahs and pastel-hued faĂ§ades framed by lofty palm trees. Here and there, a traditional bamboo hut peeps through the greenery while a wooden house on stilts mirrors its amber-coloured walls in a lily pond. Buddhist flags flutter in the breeze and every morning at 6.00, drums beat in the temples to announce the start of the alms procession. Even before the first rays of the sun light up the river Khan, the people of Luang Prabang line the main street, heads bowed, holding offerings of sticky rice, bananas, biscuits and more. For the

monks, this is an act of humility, for the faithful an opportunity to share food and earn merits. Barefoot and clad in saffron robes, hundreds of monks hurry past in single file, taking only what they need and leaving plenty for families to take home. A few tourists join in but it is a dignified affair full of spiritual vibes. Among the 30 or so temples in town, the 16th century Wat Xieng Thong claims centre stage with its overlapping roofs sweeping down almost to the ground, its Buddha images and its gold-stencil and mosaic decorations. At the far end of the complex, a stone lion guards the steps leading down to the Mekong where royalty used to land, paying respect in the temple before heading for their palace. Right across town, tucked among flowering trees, the monasteries offer wonderful oases of peace sprinkled with shrines, chapels and stupas. All is quiet except when the haunting chant of evening prayers rises all around. The former Royal Palace is now a museum, reached along a regal avenue of palms and filled with memorabilia. It was built to replace a wooden palace in the early 20th century, Lao style with a French touch. The gates close late afternoon then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for the night market to set up its stalls along the street, brimming with silk scarves, tribal blankets, ceramics, bamboo lamps, silver and ethnic bags. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place to sample the local delicacies, from Lao noodles to barbecued fish and fried river moss. Meanwhile, locals and visitors gather on the Phusi Hill to enjoy the most fabulous views over the peninsula, the river Khan and the legendary Mekong turning all shades of gold in the setting sun.

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Local News

SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

October 2014

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; So wrote John Keats about Autumn. This beautiful season is very much upon us and the countryside is changing to all variations of gold. It is a wonderful time of year to walk in the countryside and at the Tourist Information Centre we have a large selection of local walk leaflets. So why not take a stroll in Bedfordshire’s delightful landscape. This month sees the start of the TIC’s annual Autumn/Winter Local History Talks. All three Talks will be held in a new venue this year, the Sandy Baptist Church Hall, which is on the junction of the Bedford Road/Market Square. With regard to parking we suggest that you park in the Town Car Park in the High Street. The first Talk is about one of Sandy’s most famous son’s and is called the Life and Times of Francis Pym. This will be held on Monday, 13th October and will be given by Mr Andrew Pym of Everton. Andrew will speak about the life of his father Francis Leslie, Baron Pym of Sandy.

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The Pym’s have lived in Sandy on their Hazells Hall estate since the mid-18th century and the late Lord Pym was the fourth member of the family to be a member of parliament. Francis Pym was born in 1922 the son of Leslie Ruthven Pym, MP and the grandson of Walter Ruthven Pym, Bishop of Bombay. In the Second World War he had a distinguished military career and was awarded the Military Cross and mentioned in dispatches. On the death of his father in 1945 Francis Pym inherited the Hazells Hall estate and he and his mother and sister lived in the Hall for nearly two years. It was then leased to the Women’s land Army and then to the North West Metropolitan Hospital Board. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, Francis Pym entered Parliament in 1961 and held various cabinet offices in the 1970’s and 1980’s, including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Defence Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. He became Foreign Secretary during the Falklands War in 1982, following the resignation of Lord Carrington, but was removed by Margaret Thatcher in the following year after her election victory. He stood down at the

1987 election and was created a life peer taking the name Baron Pym of Sandy. Francis Pym and his family had moved back to Sandy in 1969 having built a new house in the grounds of The Hazells, and due its position in the park it was named Everton Park. Lord Pym died there in March 2008 and was buried in Sandy Churchyard. The Talk starts at 7.30pm and will cost £5.50 per person. Refreshments will be available for which donations are asked for the Sandy Branch of The Leprosy Mission. Please book in advance. The second Talk is called Sandy and the Great War and this takes place on Tuesday, 4th November at 7.30pm. This year marks the centenary of the outbreak of the beginning of the First World War. We have local historian and author Steve Liddle coming to speak about different local aspects of the Great War. This will include stories about the many men who joined up and who came from Sandy and the surrounding villages and about the many that were never to return. We will also hear about the home front and the local Bedfordshire Regiment. It is poignant to point out that Sandy was then a large village of 3330 souls and by 1918 it had lost 126 men in the War to end all Wars! The Talk starts at 7.30pm and will cost £5.50 per person. Refreshments will be available for which donations are asked for the Sandy Christmas Lights. Please book in advance. The third Talk takes place on Tuesday, 2nd December at 7.30pm when we will again welcome David Fowler who will speak about the Rise and Fall of the Cardington Airships’. David gave this Talk last November, but such was the great interest that we had to turn down over 50 people and so as promised we are holding this Talk

again this year. David will speak about the history of airships and Cardington through two World Wars to the present day. The massive hangars at Cardington were built during World War 1 to accommodate the construction of airships by Shorts. David will speak about this industry and the famous Airships including the R31, R100 and the R101 bringing the story to modern times. This Talk also starts at 7.30pm and will cost £5.50 per person. Refreshments will be available for which donations are asked for the Sandy Branch of The Leprosy Mission. Please book in advance. SANDY CALENDAR 2015 For the fifth year, Sandy Tourist Information Centre has published a Sandy Calendar. The Sandy TIC Calendar for 2015 has various colour views of Sandy, including Winter at The Lodge, Sandy horse riders, autumn woods, St Swithun’s Church, Stone Lodge on the Everton Road, Sandye Place, etc Please call into the Centre to see the Calendar and purchase copies either for yourself or for that special gift. WHAT’S ON Local events in the area are now published in the Tourist Information Centre section of the Sandy Town Council website (www.sandytowncouncil. gov.uk) . If you are looking for something to do or have guests staying, etc and would like to see what is going on in the area please have a look at the website. If you would like us to include information about your event please forward us details. Also please forward us a poster to display in the TIC For further details about any of the Talks and any of the above items please contact the Tourist Information Centre

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

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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 two new members of staff joining us. Book with them and receive 25% off your first appointment.

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Local News

Big Boost

for Potton Town Cricket Club Potton Town Cricket Club is among 324 local sports projects to secure a share of £17 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund. Since 2011, Inspired Facilities has been helping breathe new life into tired community sports facilities and converting existing buildings into venues suitable for grassroots sport. The Jack Hutchinson Pavilion at The Hollow has served Potton Town Cricket Club very well for over 20 years. Now, thanks to Sport England and other generous local donors, PTCC are undertaking a massive extension to the pavilion to provide: • A new large function area, big enough to support a broad range of social and sporting activities • Two additional, larger changing rooms • Kitchen and bar facilities • New players’ lounge and outdoor entertainment area • Umpire, scorer and new scoreboard facilities • Improved WC’s • Refurbishment to the existing pavilion • First floor ancillary space and viewing gallery. Potton Town Cricket Club will receive £50,000 of National Lottery funding to carry out these works, along with over £22,000 from Potton Consolidated Charities, nearly £20,000 from the England and Wales Cricket Board, £10,000 from Potton Charitable Trust, £5,000 from Wixam Tree Trust, and nearly £5,000 promised by Central Beds Council from Section 106 contributions. Club chairman Steve Highland said: “We are thrilled to have secured this investment for our extension that has been many years in the planning. This means we can upgrade the quality of our facilities to match our ambitions as a club. We welcome any new players, young or old; supporters and anyone who is interested. With our new facilities we look

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forward to hosting Bedfordshire County matches, initially at youth level. Importantly, the facility will be available to other local sporting and social groups to serve the whole community.” Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP for NE Bedfordshire has said he is delighted to hear that Potton Town Cricket Club has been given the award, adding: “I have been privileged to see the upcoming plans for the new facilities which will be an excellent addition to the town, and add even more to the thriving and vibrant community. Nothing quite beats a good sports facility for ensuring a community has a hub. It all takes many voluntary hours and I wish everyone at the club all the best for this project.” Explaining more about the Inspired Facilities Fund, Sport England Property Director Charles Johnston says: “The Inspired Facilities Fund has had a huge impact on grassroots sport across the country. Since 2011, we’ve invested £88 million into more than 1,600 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs. It’s great to see Potton Town Cricket Club join the long list of successful clubs to benefit from this fund.” The club is especially grateful to their architectural designer TMV, their builder Lee Harris, Potton Town Council, Councillor Adam Zerny and the army of local tradespeople, suppliers and experts who have undertaken to help them achieve their goal.

Time of Year

An Idiot’s Guide to Fireworks By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Fireworks have come a long way since the ancient Chinese used red firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. Here’s a summary of the various types. Sky Rocket – Launched into the air it can climb up to 200 feet before exploding with a loud bang in a variety of colours and effects. A variation is the Colossus which whistles as it ascends before exploding.

Roman Candle – Enclosed in a cardboard casing, individual balls shoot out stars periodically after ignition. Noise effects include hums and crackles. Fountain – Enjoy the beauty but not the noise of a firework as a shower of sparks is quietly released in either a single or variety of colours. Catherine Wheel – A tube filled with gunpowder is coiled to produce a wheel effect. When the fuse is lit, the wheel rotates at speed, producing a spiral effect of coloured flame and sparks. Noise effects include crackles and whistles. Mine – The loudest firework, its effect is dramatic and spectacular but short-lived. The mine is shot from a mortar shell on ground level and shoots coloured stars into the sky with flashes and bangs. Sparkler – Held by hand on a metal stick, a constant stream of white or coloured sparks can create dazzling shapes and patterns. In today’s modern world, there really is a firework for everyone!

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Newly refurbished, relaxing and comfortable environment. Stockists of a wide selection of dancewear and accessories from: Bloch, Capezio, Topline, Roch Valley, Supadance, Werner Kern, Grishko... We cater for all major dance disciplines ballet, tap, jazz/modern, contemporary street and ballroom Specialist Pointe shoe fitting by experienced qualified fitters. Please call to make an appointment Unit 2 Fishers Yard, Market Square, St Neots, Cambs PE19 2AG Tel: 01480 477212 Email: info@kellymariesdancewear.co.uk Website: www.kellymariesdancewear.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

P and R Bathrooms

Here to Help as You Grow Older

Although most of us enjoy planning for the future, planning for a future with the most practical view is not always a comfortable experience. Paul Kynoch from P and R Bathrooms explains how they advise their customers:

‘No one wants to go to the trouble and expense of replacing their bathroom on a regular basis, that’s why, when it comes to planning your bathroom, it makes real sense to think of the future. As we grow older certain practical measures can make using the toilet, bathing or showering more pleasant or even possible. A slightly higher toilet, a very low shower tray, easyclean shower screens and a lower bath with a strong handrail make all the difference. And even if they are not needed straight away, our designs make these features so stylish, there’s no need to compromise your tastes.’ I would certainly agree with Paul as I wander around the large Bedford showroom and discover that it takes real effort to spot the slight modifications that he has described. Next to one bath is a grab bar which looks exactly like a chrome soap dish while next door is a wet room with a colour-matched flip-down seat that blends so seamlessly, so elegantly, it really is just a part of the furniture. ‘We have made a real effort to source not only good quality bathrooms from only the most reputable and reliable companies but we have also included features which are musts for our older customers and those planning for the future. We stock non-slip tiles in many styles

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and offer the option of single lever basin mixer taps which are brilliant for both the very young but also anyone suffering with arthritis who may struggle to grip another kind of tap. We specialize in fitting thermostatic showers which do not alter their temperature when water is used elsewhere in the house – much safer and more comfortable for all the family.’ I ask Paul more about design. ‘We offer a design service as well as the complete installation package – as much or as little as our customers need and we really listen to what they want as well as taking on board what will work in their home and with their personal tastes – now and in the future. For example, if someone has a bath installed we will always recommend that they purchase a few more tiles so that if the time comes that they feel that a shower tray would be more practical, they are able to have one installed and there are enough tiles to avoid buying new ones for the whole room. ‘Our wet rooms can be installed both downstairs

onto concrete or upstairs onto wooden floors and we can also save customers so much upheaval by using Mermaid paneling, a type of waterproof boarding that is quick to install and makes transforming your bathroom so much easier – it looks really lovely too.’ ‘Basins are not necessarily static items’ Paul continues to explain, ‘They can be set higher than usual for anyone who has difficulty bending and we can supply and fit baths which are lower and so much more easy to access. ‘None of these items, whether they are part of a complete bathroom package or modifications, need to look like medical or specialized equipment. The fact is they are not, they are just variations of the norm which make life more comfortable for so many people who like a stylish bathroom as much as they always have.’ P and R Bathrooms, with their impressive showroom and team of designers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and installers are just a phone call away. Why not consider your future and plan a bathroom that will be not only a delight to use now but also an invaluable an investment in times to come?

P&R Bathrooms

9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 0845 434 8401 Website: www.pandrbathrooms.co.uk Open 9:00am-5:00pm Mon - Fri 10:ooam-4:00pm Saturday To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Time of Year

Halloween History and Traditions

The origins of Halloween are unclear but many believe it is over 200 years old and associated with ancient pagan festivals, which were held around the end of October. People believed that at this time of year, the spirits of dead people could come ‘alive’ and walk among the living. They thought that it was important to dress up in costumes when venturing outside, to avoid being harmed by the spirits. There are many traditional activities associated with Halloween. A common game is apple bobbing, sometimes known as apple ducking. Competitors - who have their hands tied behind their backs - use their teeth to try to catch apples which are floating in a container of water. Some say this reflects the way women accused of witchcraft were tried in the Middle Ages. They were tied to a chair and ducked repeatedly in a river or pond. If the woman drowned she was declared innocent but if she

survived she was found guilty of witchcraft and burnt at the stake! Some aspects of modern Halloween celebrations, such as carving lanterns out of vegetables, originated long ago. Whilst we now commonly use pumpkins for this (because they are large and easy to carve), in the past turnips, beets and potatoes were used. Other more recent Halloween celebrations such as Trick or Treat have American origins, though one of the alternative names for 31 October: ‘Mischief Night,’ has its origins firmly in 18th Century Britain. By Susan Brookes-Morris

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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

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Computer Supply & Repair Fast, friendly and local support for all your computer and technology needs. Repairs, Upgrades, Custom Builds etc. Virus and Spyware Removal, PC Health Checks, Software/Hardware Sales, Networking and Wireless

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Local News

Get crafty

with Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre! During the past year, the community of Bedford has been able to enjoy the opportunity of developing creative skills in the beautiful Victorian building of Raleigh House known as Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre. Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre has seen numerous events over this year such as Christmas and summer open days, exhibitions with demonstrations, live jazz music and unique arts and crafts for sale. The development of the new centre has been possible due to a handful of dedicated individuals and the community of Bedford has benefited by attending the courses and supporting events. Many Caldon, pottery tutor, said: “The centre is a perfect environment to feel at ease and unlock the hidden talents of one’s creative abilities. Students enjoy learning new skills in the pleasant and tranquil environment so much so that they return term after term”. New courses are being included within the

programme this year to accommodate learner requirements. They are: lace making, weaving, upcycling, upholstery, book making and restoration, dressmaking and textiles, jewellery, floristry, pottery, body casting, mixed media, stained glass, fabric dyeing, sewing, art and more. Courses are available during the day, evenings and weekends with weekend workshops in potterythrowing and smoke firing, floristry, stained glass, silver jewellery making, crochet, sewing, spinning and weaving, all at very reasonable prices. For more information contact: 01234 266510 www.bedfordcraftscentre.co.uk.

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Travelogue

Bula!

By Melanie Ridley

Fiji is situated in the south west Pacific sea above New Zealand and Australia and consists of 322 islands, 106 of which are inhabited. Once my adventures and travels down under had come to an end, the next stop was to be the Yasawas Islands, a group of islands situated to the north west of Viti Levu on the mainland. While scuba diving in Australia, I had the privilege of swimming with an array of relatively small sharks, namely white tip and black tip reef sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, but this wasn’t enough to satisfy my adrenaline needs! So while staying at Coralview Island resort, Fiji, I signed myself up for another dive. However, this was no ordinary scuba dive. It was one specifically designed to feed sharks! And after looking through my Dive Masters photographs from previous dives, I felt as though there was nothing I could do to prepare myself for what I was about to endure. The dive was arranged for my last morning on the island. So after packing up my things (this seems to be all I ever do) and heading for breakfast, I was ready for my dive, physically rather than mentally. As I headed for the dive site - Cathedral Reef - along with the 10 other divers and four dive masters, you could sense everybody’s mixed emotions. After jumping into the turquoise water,

I dunked my head under to check how much visibility we had. Little did I know, I already had three bull sharks lurking below! Once we had reached our maximum depth for the dive of 25 metres, we were led to a long line of rope which had been secured at both ends to the sea bed. In front of us was a metal box containing the sharks’ breakfast - tuna heads. While we were watching a local Fijian man hand feed bull sharks, lemon sharks, grey reef sharks, and white and black tip reef sharks, I could feel my heart racing in my chest. To see them this close in their own habitat was something I believe I will never experience again. Even though I was so terrified I could hardly move, I still could not take my eyes off these beautiful aquatic animals. Before we had set off on the dive boat that morning, one of my dive masters had explained I should keep an eye out not only for the sharks but also their teeth! However, I didn’t realise he meant the ones that had fallen out of their mouth! Part way through the dive, he came up to me and placed his hand out towards me. In return, I outstretched my palm into which he placed a freshly shed shark tooth! Once all the tuna heads had been devoured, I began our return to the surface, the whole time checking over my shoulder to catch my last glimpse of these monsters of the sea.

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Before

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After

Education

School Phobia By Susan Brookes- Morris

There seems to be growing evidence of a condition known as School Phobia. It was first recorded in America around 1941, then gained further attention in the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and has become more commonly diagnosed in recent years. Kay Mawson, the mother of sufferer Andrew, describes School Phobia as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fear of school,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which brings on debilitating symptoms. She says that to avoid the fear, children exhibit behaviour often called School Refusal. For her son the causes were a sensation of feeling trapped and out of control in school and therefore feeling insecure and unsafe. He also suffered from separation anxiety resulting from being apart and out of contact with those he cared about, and being fearful that something might happen to them. Kay feels it is important to raise awareness of the condition because it is commonly misunderstood, and often remains untreated. Many parents become distressed at finding themselves struggling with courts, schools and truancy issues. Last years Netmums and the TV programme This Morning carried out a poll of 1,054 parents. This suggested that one in five British children suffer from School Phobia but only half of parents are aware of it. Children aged five to six and 10 and 11 were the most frequent suffers. Common behaviours include

faking illness to try to avoid school, or going for registration and then leaving. Many sufferers have temper tantrums and scream and kick if forced to attend. Forty six percent of those referred to in the study also became ill with genuine stress related conditions such as headaches and stomach aches. Many had difficulty sleeping. Whilst in some cases the factors were not related to specific instances at school, the parents of other sufferers felt the condition had been triggered by bullying, under-performance or a general sense of being overwhelmed by school expectations. The study suggests that many parents struggled to get help; indeed some experts claim that parental behaviour has sometimes made cases worse. Some parents have been able to get their children medically diagnosed with School Phobia, and pupils in the UK have obtained places at special units for anxious and school phobic children. There remain differences of opinion on the best way to handle the condition. Some feel that getting the child into school is crucial even if it involves parental accompaniment and perhaps arranging special acclimatisation sessions. Some parents have found that moving their child to a more supportive school helped tremendously, while others believe that home schooling provides the solution. Kay Mawson advises parents to research all of the available options and discuss them with their child and perhaps an educational psychologist. That way there is a consensus on the best way to move forward, though arrangements should be reviewed on a regular basis.

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Food & Drink

Beer of the Month by Ted Bruning One of the difficulties of being a composite nation like the UK is celebrating one’s nationhood without upsetting any of one’s constituent parts. I therefore declare October to be UK month because it includes the anniversary of our first great military triumph as a united country. The Battle of Trafalgar was fought on 21st October 1805 when a fleet manned by English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh sailors trounced the navies of France and Spain. Trafalgar was an all-British affair with no allies involved. But what beer to drink in October? Why, Bateman’s Victory, of course, from the plucky little Lincolnshire family brewery, celebrating its 140th anniversary this year, which in the 1980s faced a seemingly impossible fight to retain its independence and won. Victory Ale was first

brewed soon after. The colour of turning leaves, it’s warming enough at 6% alcohol and although it’s a fresh, clean-tasting beer with a touch almost of pine in the nose, its underlying malty richness, suggestion of chocolate, and spirity finish are perfect for the season. October’s second beer has been chosen to celebrate another great British oddity... Prince Charles. Duchy Originals Organic Old Ruby is brewed by Wychwood for Waitrose from a very old strain of malting barley, Plumage Archer, which HRH decided to revive on his Highgrove Estate. More coppercoloured than ruby, it’s got some heft at 5% abv but what marks it out as apt to October is its warming toffee-ish, caramelly nose, flavour, and finish. Like a beery Werther’s Original, really – very comforting.

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A Cut Above the Rest Maxwells Professional Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Salon Maxwells Professional Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy has been operating in Biggleswade since 2001. During that time, the stylish salon has become a well-known local venue synonymous with the latest developments in hair and beauty care coupled with outstanding customer service. Following an exciting refurbishment in September, a brand new face has now been unveiled for autumn. Catherine Rose went along to find out more. Maxwells, owned by husband and wife team Ian and Dolores Hendry, originally opened in Hitchin Street 23 years ago as Cuts on Parade. In those days there were four stylists: Ian, Nic, Catriona and Sue – all of whom are still with the company today. Shortly after the turn of the millennium, the salon moved to its current location and was renamed after Ian and Dolores’ son. A few months later, the beauty salon was opened upstairs and in 2009, Maxwells for Men was launched in the premises opposite. Today, the Maxwells salons boast a team of 35, including 20 stylists, five therapists, six trainees, three receptionists and two barbers, with a footfall of around 400-600 customers a week. Although one of the smartest hairdressers around, this year it was decided that the time had come for a totally new look. Sarah Purbrick, Marketing and Communications Director, explained: “Everything

needs to evolve and we thought it was time for a change. Clients’ expectations are higher than they used to be. These days it’s not just about a haircut, it’s about the whole package, so we have gone for a complete rebranding under the Maxwell’s banner”. The sophisticated new update comes in the wake of a host of awards over the past few years which Sarah describes as having been “a great boost for team morale”. 2007 and 2008 saw them win the Hairdressers’ Journal Business ‘Salon of the Year’ Award, as well as the 2008 Marketing Award which were presented at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel. The salon has also won local business awards with newspaper Beds on Sunday. Refurbishment took place in the second week of September and included replacing everything from ceilings and flooring to basins and seats. While it was going on, clients were kept abreast of developments through daily updates using time-lapse cameras linked to the salon’s Facebook page. And it was business as usual with everyone decamping to Maxwells for Men for the week (with the exception of the beauty salon which had to close temporarily). Changes include the installation of a stylish ‘wavy wall’, carpeting on the floors for additional comfort,

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and natural lighting panels above seating bays so that customers can see what their hair colour actually looks like in daylight rather than under artificial lighting. There are also new retail displays, refreshment selections and even luxury new toilets. Local tradesmen have been used for the work, including Biggleswade-based Spectra Carpets. The smart new facelift was unveiled at an open evening on Friday 26th September with drinks, canapés, and offers and demonstrations for Maxwells’ regular clients. “The refurbishment has been a huge focus” explains Sarah. “We have concentrated on the look, feel and vibe of the salon, hopefully injecting some ‘wow factor’ in the process.” Much of the inspiration has come from Mayfairbased Richard Ward in London where Maxwells’ staff has attended courses. “Richard Ward is a state-of-the-art top quality salon and has been our inspiration in the refurbishment” says Sarah. And it’s not only the customers who are happy. Maxwells’ team clearly enjoy working there too. “We have a good staff retention rate” Sarah agrees. “We aim to breed a loyal stylist which in turn hopefully feeds through to our clients.” Training is ongoing and London-based to keep abreast of the latest hair and beauty developments. Beauty therapists Nick Purvis and Laura Gill have just been on a week’s intensive course with Guinot in Ascot to learn about the latest in Hydramdermie facials; and hair stylist

Abi Preslent has recently qualified as a L’Oreal colour specialist. New products unveiled with the refurbishment included the latest L’Oreal Techni Art styling range. Such is staff camaraderie that in addition to regular social events, they also get together to raise money for charity. Sadly, this year one their stylists, Kirsty Buttigieg, succumbed to cancer. £6,000 has already been raised for Cancer Research in her memory and last month, 15 Maxwells employees participated as Team Buttercup in Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice Starlight Hike. It is something they intend to continue. With a stunning new look, Maxwells is firmly placed to stay a cut above the rest. “It’s the extras that make the difference” says Sarah “from serving people their tea in a nice cup and saucer, to being able to offer our customers the opportunity to stay at a luxury villa in Spain.” Maxwells Professional Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Salon is based at 5-7 Hitchin Street, Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 8AX Tel. 01767 313702, www.maxwellshair.com. If you would like to contribute to Maxwells’ Starlight Hike Virgin Money Giving Page in memory of Kirsty, please visit http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/ fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage. action?userUrl=Buttercup

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Garden

Conifers

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Conifers are a great way to add colour, texture and living sculpture to your garden 365 days of the year. With several hundred different cultivars of conifer to choose from in the UK, there really is one to suit every situation. Dwarf Conifers - There are many conifers which reach a maximum height of 1m (3ft). These are obviously particularly useful for small gardens and will often add a great extra dimension to a rock garden or a small-scale border. They may need an occasional trimming, but generally hold their shape well. Recommended: Picea abies ‘Little Gem’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Gnome’ , Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Vilmoriniana’, Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ Tall and Narrow - Very stylish, many of the columnar or tall, slim conifers look especially stunning when used to create a screen, or to add height to a mixed border or a shrub border. Being rather like a living sculpture they are also good grown as a single specimen tree in a lawn. Recommended: Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata Aurea’, Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’, Thuja plicata ‘Fastigiata’. Pyramid-shaped Conifers - With their relatively wide bases and narrow tops, pyramidal conifers can bring welcome shape, texture and evergreen colour to your garden and if carefully position are often useful to hide an eyesore. Recommended: Picea albertiana ‘Conica’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Yvonne’ or Thymus occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’ Spherical Conifers - With their prominently rounded shape these conifers naturally produce a sculptured look and are perfect for growing either side of a gateway or house entrance. They also look great in a mixed border, adding colour, texture and Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

interest when many of the other border ingredients are below ground. Recommended: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Sunset’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Glauca’, Thuja occidentalis ‘Danice’ Ground-Cover Conifers - Great for hiding low-lying eyesores such as manhole covers, an evergreen groundcover hides them all year long. Low growing conifers also work well for covering steep slopes and edging paths and beds. They will help to keep weeds at bay and are very low maintenance. Recommended: Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Coat’, Juniperus conferata, Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’. Conifers for Containers - Conifers can look great on their own or in a mixed planting where they help to bring structure, texture and colour. Recommended: Juniperus compressa ‘Compressa’, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwood’s Gold’, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan-Sugi’ , Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Springtime’, Pinus leucodermis ‘Schmidtii’ Conifer Planting and Growing Tips - Make the planting hole a minimum of 1m wide by 30cm deep and incorporate plenty of bulky organic matter such as garden compost, proprietary planting mix or well-rotted manure. Tease or spread out the roots well and backfill the hole with garden soil mixed with planting compost. Make sure that only the roots are below the soil surface, water in well. Keep the soil moist at all times, especially during late spring and summer.Feed in April using a proprietary fertiliser to keep the growth good and ensure it is a good colour. Trim conifers regularly but remember if you cut back into old or brown growth you’ll end up expose all the old growth as they don’t produce dormant buds.

Garden

Good Times Rural Ramblings. By Geoff Wharton At this time of the year the roads seem to be full suddenly of enormous agricultural vehicles all trying to reach distant fields in order to harvest the crops. Throughout the spring and summer months, the plants have been quietly growing and now the race is on to get them into storage before the weather deteriorates. Almost as soon as this is done, heavy duty land cultivation machinery emerges and the pulsating sound of large volume diesel powered engines can be heard even from afar. They say that the cereal yields are high this year because the growing conditions have been favourable - something that still cannot be fully controlled! On a slightly smaller scale, it is so good to walk into the garden and see all the fruit developing and even better to taste them. Just like growing your own vegetables offers the opportunity for greater choice of particularly tasty varieties, the same goes for fruit. I am a great fan of Marjorieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seedling plum. The fruits are gorgeous vivid purple in colour and the taste is an exquisite combination of sweetness balanced by the sharpness of acidity. They always produce a bumper crop as the trees seem to have no problem with pollination. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require any spraying to keep away pesky insect pests and only occasionally need the odd branch to be removed due to the fact that the great weight of fruit may have pulled it down! Occasionally in a large bunch of fruits you may get the odd one going mouldy, but they can be easily removed and then left on the ground for other creatures to enjoy. I was picking some the other morning when it had been rather cold the previous night and I happened to look down on the ground and saw an unusual and incongruous dark green coiled shape hidden in the leaves. I eventually worked out that it was some kind of animal, but only when it slowly started to uncoil and expose the yellow band encircling itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neck, could I work out that it was in fact a large grass-snake still too cold for it to make a quick retreat. It had obviously been disturbed by the noise of my harvesting activities and ever

so slowly eased itself through the vegetation and away from the annoying vibrations. I felt so privileged and appreciative to be harvesting deliciously sweet fruit and being treated to a wildlife show as well! Harvest Festival is such a productive and positive time in the English calendar and encourages us to celebrate the all good things we have been given and enjoy.The birds and beasties are happy because there is a lot of food still available and our gardens and fields are awash with produce. Let us hope the winter is not as bad as the last one, one thing about the British climate is that it certainly is not boring!

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Fun Quiz - Creepy Crawlies 1. What type of insects would you keep in a formicarium? 2. The Colorado Beetle is particularly known for attacking which crop? 3. Which insect has a two word name with the first word being named according to the stance it typically adopts, and the second word being the Greek work for “fortune teller”? 4. The name of which insect comes from an old wives’ tale that it would burrow into the brains of humans and lay eggs? 5. Insects have bodies that are split into three parts. The head and the abdomen are two of these, but what name is given to the third part that lies in between these? 6. How many eyes do most spiders have? 7. By what three word name is the crane fly commonly known in the UK? 8. With a name derived from a Greek term meaning “stomach footed”, what is the name given to the class of animals to which snails and slugs belong? 9. What name is given to the fear of spiders? 10. Which traditonal Spanish song has a title that literally translates as “The Cockroach”?

Before

After

1. Ants 2. Potatoes 3. The praying mantis 4. Earwig 5. The thorax 6. Eight 7. Daddy long legs 8. Gastropods 9. Arachnophobia 10. La Cucaracha

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Ask Alan Hi Alan, my cat Dillon is getting thinner despite eating a lot. I have been told he might be suffering from hyperthyroidism. Is this possible? Many thanks, Jon

Dear Jon, Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) is a common disease of older cats. Thyroid hormone controls the metabolism. If it is overactive, it has an effect on the body which is a bit like over-revving your car, it uses more fuel and wears moving parts down faster than necessary! Does your cat show some of the following signs: • Weight loss even though hungry and eating well • Restlessness and irritability • Faster heart rate • Poor or unkempt coat • Diarrhoea and/or vomiting If he does, then hyperthyroidism is a real possibility. However, kidney disease and diabetes can cause similar signs so an accurate diagnosis needs to be made with bloods tests. The good news is that it is usually a very treatable condition.

Pets

Treatment options: 1. Medication – daily tablets to suppress the thyroid 2. Surgical removal (thyroidectomy) - this is generally very successful. 3. Radioactive iodine therapy - very safe and successful but only done in specialist centres and your cat needs to be quarantined as they become radioactive for a while. 4. Dietary treatment – an iodine restricted diet is fed exclusively which suppresses thyroid production. You will need to discuss with your vet which treatment option would suit you and your cat best. Response to treatment will need to be monitored with regular blood tests and rechecks Hyperthyroidism is most successfully treated when the diagnosis is made early, which is why regular health checks are an important part of Potton Vets Pet Health Club. For more information visit www.pottonvets.co.uk or pop into the clinic in Potton Market Square.

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Pets

Animal Queries Dear RSPCA vet, We have just bought an 8-week-old kitten. He seemed fine for the first few days but now seems to be sneezing and his eyes are running. Is this because he is in a new house, or could it be more serious? Miss K Doyle, Potton

Dear Miss Doyle, Kittens can become very poorly, very quickly – so it is vitally important that you take him to see a vet as soon as possible. From the information you’ve given me, I would be concerned that he might have ‘cat flu’. This is seen most commonly in kittens (but older cats can also get it) and the symptoms include, fever, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, conjunctivitis and occasionally ulcers on the surface of the eye. Ulcers may also develop on the tongue. Anorexia can be a problem, especially in kittens, leading to dehydration which can be life threatening. If caught early enough, antibiotics can be prescribed and your kitten should recover. However, to prevent further problems – or your

kitten becoming a carrier of the virus, which can affect other cats – it is vital to have him vaccinated around nine weeks of age, with the important second dose being given at 12 weeks. A booster vaccination one year on is important to enhance the initial level of immunity. Regular boosters throughout a cat’s life will help maintain a good level of protection against ‘cat flu’, feline parvovirus and feline leukaemia. Your vet can advise you on the frequency of these boosters. These are still, unfortunately, quite common illnesses that can generally be avoided by vaccinating our kittens and cats. As responsible pet owners we should all consider the impact our actions have on the wider cat population. It is generally our in-action – such as not seeking a vet’s advice, failing to vaccinate, neuter or microchip our pets – that causes the most distress to our animals. ANIMAL QUERIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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Professional Dog & Cat Grooming Hydro Massage Bathing Bespoke Dog & Cat Grooming Handstripping Specialists De-shedding Treatments Open Plan Grooming 38 Shortmead St Biggleswade www.hollywooddogs.co.uk 01767 600 212 Find us on Facebook

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A flexible day nursery for children from 6 weeks to 5 years with extensive and well resourced grounds. ur o y f f o Excellent links to s onthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1st m es the A1, St Neots and fe Sandy railway station.

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Now Under New Management We offer fun, stimulating and structured before and after school care for children aged 4 to 11 years. We provide a balanced breakfast and a home cooked evening meal from our purpose built setting. Monday to Friday: 7.45am to 8.40am and 3.20pm to 6.00pm Come along and see us during our Open Week starting Monday 10th November for more information. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Local News

Why Not!

Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club Why are you not a Lion? Probably because no one has asked you. Well, this is an open invitation to you to come and meet us at Biggleswade Sandy Lions and find out firsthand what we are all about. Everyone can be a Lion – you don’t need to be a rocket scientist or have a University degree. You don’t need to be wealthy – all we ask is for some of your time. By raising money from the public we can help those who need help. 100% of money raised goes directly to charity A pride of Lions is a close knit family and our family is worldwide. In the words of our International President, “Pride” is also a feeling of happiness that you get when you or someone you know does something good. It is not the pride of being boastful, it is the pride of accomplishment, in building communities, doing good and reaching out to others. Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organisation. Why not be part of it – it brings new friends, new opportunities, new activities. Lions are local and global, with emphasis

on things local. Our local area is bounded by Gamlingay, Dunton, Moggerhanger, Cliftton, Arlesey and Stotfold and includes the towns of Biggleswade and Sandy. Whilst we get involved in national and international projects, this is the area we are involved in most. Helen Keller, who asked us to be “knights of the blind” said “alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” and that is what the men and women of Biggleswade Sandy Lions try to do in our community, as well as having a social side. New members bring new ideas which we welcome. The more members we have, the more we can do. We do a lot each year to help those who need our help and we would like to achieve even more, so why not come and be a part of our team? For more information visit www. biggleswadesandylions.org.uk. Or call 0845 833 9749 ans talk to Dave or Judith. They would love to hear from you. Come and join us!

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Health

Tea and Coffee The Good and the Bad By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

We meet up for coffee; invite friends for a cuppa. But are these drinks friends or foes? Caffeine The good: Caffeine increases our alertness, and may temporarily sharpen our cognitive abilities. Substantial research suggests that coffee and tea drinkers are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, most likely due to caffeine, which may help with symptoms. The bad: Caffeine can raise blood pressure and adrenaline levels. It can relax pelvic muscles, making you urinate more frequently. High levels may be linked to low birth weight or miscarriage. The truth: Maximum protection against Parkinson’s disease seems to come from just three cups of tea or coffee daily. While lab results seem promising, there’s no definitive evidence linking tea and coffee drinking with reduced Alzheimer’s risk. Our bodies can become accustomed to caffeine. Without it we can become tired, irritable, headachy and even shaky and nauseous. So how much is too much? Recommended limits average at 400-600mg per day and just 200mg if you’re pregnant. • cup of green tea: 40mg • cup of normal tea: 70mg • mug of instant coffee: 100mg • filter coffee: 150mg • average latte: 150mg • large Americano: 200mg

Don’t forget other caffeine sources too: energy drinks, chocolate and some painkillers and fizzy drinks. Antioxidants The good: Antioxidants mop up free radicals which can damage our cells. We all know green tea contains antioxidants, but so do black tea and coffee - just at lower levels. The bad: It’s unclear how much we benefit from these antioxidants once our body has processed our cuppa. But active compounds in green tea are being used in research with nanotherapeutics – the development of microscopic compounds that escape processing to find and target diseases, including cancer. The truth: Many foods contain antioxidants, often at higher levels than tea and coffee, so there are better sources. Diabetes prevention and management The good: Some evidence suggests that moderate amounts of coffee or tea, drunk black or with little milk, may slightly reduce the risk of Diabetes Type 2. The bad: There’s also research showing that high coffee intake may impair insulin resistance, making it harder to stabilise blood sugar levels. The truth: You’re likely to see both theories in the media, but more research that eliminates other influential factors is needed.

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Reducing stroke, coronary heart disease risk and cholesterol levels The good: Some studies suggest that drinking tea and coffee reduces stroke, coronary heart disease risk and cholesterol levels. The bad: Contradictory evidence. One study found high tea consumption, and low and high coffee consumption reduced stroke risk most,– moderate consumption made no difference. Reported reductions in cholesterol levels were small. The truth: Once again, more research is needed to exclude other factors and study long-term effects. Liver health The good: Research suggests moderate consumers of coffee and green tea are less likely to suffer from NALD (non-alcoholic liver disease). The bad: High intake of green tea supplements has been linked to liver damage, although it’s not clear whether green tea extract or another ingredient is guilty. The truth: Tea or coffee can’t prevent or reverse liver damage if you drink or smoke heavily. So moderation seems best. Three or four cups of tea or coffee daily appear to give maximum health benefits and minimum risk, and without milk or sugar they’ll be calorie free - but practically nutrition-free too, so drink fruit juices and dairy-based drinks as well.

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Motoring

Best 4x4s

by James Baggott, Car Dealer Magazine (CarDealerMag.co.uk) With rugged looks, commanding view of the road and the ability to get you out of some sticky situations, a 4x4 makes sense for lots of drivers. From mummies collecting at the school gates to business owners who need a reliable working vehicle, there’s plenty of choice in the off-road category. What’s more the latest crop of pumped-up SUVs also offer clever technology, luxurious interiors and don’t have to cost the earth. Here we take a look at five of our favourites for you to put a new reg plate on. Nissan Qashqai - Price: From £17,595 The Nissan Qashqai has recently been revamped – giving it fresh looks to keep it firmly placed in the top 10 best-selling cars in the UK chart. It’s a compact SUV that’s easy to live with every day, affordable and extremely comfortable. The new exterior design tweaks look superb, it’s wonderfully refined and the interior is packed with helpful new technology. With plenty of engine choice it’s hard to beat. Dacia Duster - Price: From £9,495 The budget brand offers no-nonsense, affordable and practical cars – and the Duster is our pick of the range. With chunky off-road styling, genuine 4x4 capability and prices that wouldn’t look out of place in a cash and carry it’s certainly worth a look. Think more functional than luxury, with the base spec coming without a radio and air-con. We’d say for the top-of-the-range model that’ll still be less

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than most hatchbacks. BMW X3 - Price: From £30,990 The BMW X3 is the little brother to the Range Rover-rivaling X5, but don’t let that you put you off. It’s got the cache of that blue and white propeller badge on the bonnet, is beautifully trimmed and is built for comfort. Some say the styling isn’t as sharp as it needs to be, but with plenty of spec and low running costs it’s well worth a look. Jeep Grand Cherokee - Price: From £37,705 With fresh new looks straight out of Stateside, the Jeep brings a slice of American Pie to a sometimes-bland car category. Beefy looks match its proportions and it’s certainly recognisable on the roads with an imposing stance. Packed with technology, a sumptuous interior and a surprisingly economic 2.0-litre engine choice, the Grand Cherokee is a leftfield choice that shouldn’t be ignored. Mitsubishi Outlander - Price: From £23,984 With an innovative plug-in hybrid variant that can do 30 miles on pure electric, combined with a combustion engine for longer journeys, the Outlander is carving a niche in the SUV market. Ok, so the looks won’t set the world on fire, but it’s well-made, extremely capable off road and is comfortable to drive. With very competitive pricing thrown into the mix, you really should try an Outlander.

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Local News

Fancy doing something new

and meeting some amazing people? Two local befriending charities are currently looking for volunteers to help make a difference in the community. Both Carers in Bedfordshire, who look after people suffering from dementia, and Hospice at Home Volunteers for those with life limiting illness, are currently recruiting befriending volunteers in the Biggleswade area. This is your chance to make a positive and immediate impact on the lives of people living with dementia or life limiting illnesses and providing much needed and valuable support to their carers in your local community. If you have a couple of hours to spare each week or fortnight, enjoy spending time chatting and listening, have a sense of humour and want to meet some genuinely

interesting and inspiring people then this an opportunity for you. As part of our befriending team you will receive full training and support as we will match you with one of our families who are looking for a little extra companionship and help in living as well as possible with serious illness. As a volunteer, you do not have to have prior experience of dementia or a life limiting illness, but you do need to have a personality with warmth, reliability, empathy, common sense and a ready smile. For more information about how to join the team, please contact Sarah Russell at Carers in Bedfordshire on 0300 111 1919 or email sarah. russell@carersinbeds.org.uk or Hospice at Home Volunteers, Nicola Mills 01234 743063 or email hospiceathome.westmidbeds@aol.co.uk

EBAY COLLECTIONS

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Local & Reliable

Food & Drink

The Indian Kitchen By Sunita Bedhi

The heart and soul of the home

In any Indian home, the kitchen is considered the sacred hearth. Food is a focal point in Indian culture as it is believed that good food is more than just nourishment for the body. The mindfulness required in preparing for and cooking sumptuous home-style meals is often considered food for the soul. Traditionally Indian food catered for vegetarian palates, but as time evolved and people migrated, the influence of other cultures impacted on Indian cuisine which saw the rapid emergence of nonvegetarian food.

The Indian meal and everything in it

A typical Indian meal is truly an all-rounder. It encompasses a fine blend of the qualities of a healthy varied diet. All four food groups are usually represented in the daily meal. Carbohydrates are obtained from the breads, rice and certain vegetables. The bean and lentil family and a variety of dairy products, namely yoghurt and paneer, are an important source of protein for vegetarians. In addition to these products, non-vegetarians also obtain protein from meat, chicken and fish. Healthy fats and oils are used for cooking and an abundance of fibre in the daily diet is available from the array of ingredients used in Indian cooking.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spice it up

The spices used in Indian cuisine not only act as flavour transforming agents, but also have medicinal qualities and values that are still used in homeopathy and ayurvedic medicine. Turmeric or Haldi is known to heal weak bones

and is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory. Asafoetida or Hing - rather distinct in taste, flavour and smell - is very often added to lentils and beans and acts as a digestive agent, known for its antiflatulent properties. Another spice known to have analgesic qualities is red chilli. In India there is a special blend of red chilli powder that is used to reduce arthritic pain. A daily dose of a tablespoon of this powder stirred briskly into a glass of warm water is said to help with joint aches and pains. Chai simply means tea and is a take from the masala chai usually served after an Indian meal. The ingredients are black tea leaves, boiled milk and a blend of ground spices such as cinnamon, fennel seeds, cardamom seeds and cloves. The cinnamon enhances flavours while the cloves, cardamom and fennel seeds work to promote healthy digestion. On another note, in Indian folklore, fresh chillies, when eaten raw, provide stimulating effects to our system. The intense pain on the tongue caused by biting into a hot chilli is what releases endorphins, one of the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural sexual stimulants, giving us a boost of energy and renewed passion!

Good food sense

Besides having nutritional and medicinal qualities, Indian food is easy to prepare and keeps well even if it is prepared ahead of time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a great bonus for any busy working individual in Great Britain. Indian food goes a long way and hence it is economical and ideal to entertain with.

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Food and Drink

Makes 4 Ready in 1 hour

Mushroom and Chicken Pot Pies These perfectly portioned individual pies make a filling lunch or supper simply served with steamed vegetables. You can use any mix of mushrooms but it’s worth looking out for packs of mixed exotic mushrooms for extra flavour.

INGREDIENTS 25g dried porcini mushrooms 25g butter 2 tbsp olive oil 2 shallots, peeled and chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 400g mixed mushrooms, chopped if large 250g chicken breast fillet, diced 200g tub crème fraiche 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 300g puff pastry Beaten egg, to glaze 1 Place the porcini in a heatproof bowl and cover with 150ml boiling water. Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 220°C, Fan 200°C, Gas Mark 7. 2 Heat the butter and half the olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the shallots for 5

minutes until softened. Add the garlic and fry for a further 3-4 minutes then stir in all the mushrooms and fry over a high heat until softened. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. 3 Add the rest of the oil to the frying pan and fry the diced chicken for 5-6 minutes until golden brown all over. 4 Drain the porcini mushrooms and add the soaking liquid to the chicken. Bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes until reduced. Meanwhile, finely chop the porcini mushrooms and stir into the fried mushrooms and shallots. 5 Return all the mushrooms and shallots to the pan and stir in the crème fraiche and thyme leaves. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Divide the mixture between four individual ovenproof pie dishes. Brush the rims of the dishes with water. 6 Roll out the pastry to about 4mm thickness. Cut out four circles of pastry big enough to fit on top of the dishes with a little pastry overlapping the edges. Drape the pastry circles over the filling. Decorate the tops with leaves cut from the pastry trimmings and brush the pastry with beaten egg. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden.

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n O s ’ t Wha 1 October Folk Evening 7pm Moggerhanger Village Hall First Wednesday every month. Open floor folk session evening. Tel: Chris 01767 640242 for more info 1 October The Battle of Assiago 18th June 1918 7pm for 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by Dale Hjort examining this successful defensive action against Austro-Hungarian forces. Non-members most welcome. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com 2 October Optics Demo 10am-4pm The Lodge Shop, RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Free event. Our friendly expert will be on hand to demonstrate the latest binoculars and telescopes. Give them a try to find the best pair for you, while enjoying the birds coming to the nearby feeders. Car Park and entrance charge of £5 apply to all events for non-RSPB members Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 2 & 16 October Biggleswade Cancer Support Group 1-3pm The Meeting Room, Biggleswade Baptist Church Sessions free – donations welcome An informal, confidential group for cancer patients, families and friends in the Biggleswade area. It is a place to meet with others and provide mutual support. The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Tel: 07812 796581 Email: csgbiggleswade@gmail.com Facebook: Biggleswade Cancer Support Group 3 October Bedfordshire Family History Society 7.15pm Mark Rutherford School Drama Hall, Bedford, MK42 9RX. Members free, Visitors £2 Illustrated talk is “Wills – Not just a source for your better off ancestor by Celia Heritage”. Bedfordshire Family History Society welcomes new members to its talks. Library and bookstall are available at meetings. Next meeting will be 7 November. www.bfhs.org.uk 3, 17 & 31 October Whist Drive 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Fortnightly Friday Whist Drive. All welcome. Refreshments included. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 for more information

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

4 October The Signals Museum 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry permit from the Guardroom. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

4 October Wildlife of The Lodge - in Watercolour 11am-3pm The Lodge Shop, RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Free event. 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 Steve at the Visitor Information Centre (in good weather only). Paintings for sale. Donations from sales to the RSPB. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 4 October Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Speaker will be Dr Keith Ferguson ‘Trilliums and the woodland plants of North America’. Keith is a trained botanist and was Deputy Keeper at Kew Gardens. Plant may be on sale. Visitors welcome - small charge which includes refreshments. 4 October Chas & Dave and The Ouse Valley Singles Club 7.30pm The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, NN8 1AX Tickets: £25. Chas ‘n’ Dave are great musicians and know how to give an audience a good time. They have gained a cult audience of both young and old and due to public demand they are about to be seen together on stage once more. Guest support will come from The Ouse Valley Singles Club. Tickets: The Castle Theatre 01933 229022 or www.thecastle.org.uk Web: www.thepadpresents.com for more information 7 October Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm The Pavilion, Mill Lane Guests £3 including light refreshment Guest Speaker will be Lesley Lewin on “A Crafty Life”. 10 October Harvest Supper and Charity Auction 6.30pm for 7.30pm start Sandy Village Hall £8.50 per person Sandy Horticultural Association. Ploughman’s supper with dessert followed by an auction of produce for a local charity. All donations of produce gratefully received. Tel: 01767 680067 Mobile 07775 980861

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10 October Bingo Night 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Monthly Bingo Friday night with cash prizes, raffle and licensed bar. Also open the box. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 11 October Car Boot and Table Top Sale 10am-1pm Stuart Memorial Hall, Tempsford Pitch or table top £5, Buyers free admission Tel: M Besant 01767 640873 11 October Split Whiskers 7pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Tickets £10 Live Blues Band, 2 course hot supper raffle and licensed bar. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 11 October Concert by Peregrine Recorder Orchestra 7.30pm The Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy Concert by Peregrine Recorder Orchestra in aid of The Royal British Legion. Varied programme of music will include the glorious singing of Karen Beer and piano duets. Bar available. 11 October The Vauxhall Male Voice Choir Concert 7.30pm St Andrew’s Parish Church, Langford Tickets £8 each including light refreshments The Friends of St. Andrew’s Church Langford present the Vauxhall Male Voice Choir in Concert. Programme includes Bridge Over Troubled Water, My Way and Autumn Leaves. Tel: Jim Dickson 01462 700355 or John Searle 01462 634698 for further information & advance tickets 14 October Sandy History Society 7.30pm Sandy Village Hall (adjacent to Upper School) Members free, Non-members £2 Talk entitled “A Walk through Sandy’s History” (via the Group’s extensive archives). Tel: Richard Barlow (Group Secretary) 01767 226392 for further information 16 October RSPB Bedford Local Group 7.30pm ARA Club, Manton Road, Bedford Members £1, Non-members £2 ‘Our Local Patch’ a presentation by Jim Stevenson, the Warden at Paxton Pits. All welcome. Tel: 01234 783484 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bedford 18 October St Mary’s Singers Potton St Mary’s Singers Potton will be performing some Gilbert & Sullivan melodies in the Sandy Sangerstevne.

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18 October Sing-along ‘The Sound of Music’ 6.30pm St Mary’s Church, Gamlingay Adults £5, Children free One of ‘My Favourite Things’ is singing along to sound tracks from those great family films and if you enjoy it too, why not come along to ‘The Sound of Music’ singalong. All words are up on the big screen. Come early armed with a cushion to get a good seat and enjoy a pre-show drink. If you feel like really getting into the mood, come in costume! Refreshments available. Tel: Jan 650178 23 October Potton History Society Meeting 8pm The Community Centre, Brook End, Potton ‘Potton Maps’ Our archives hold copies of Potton Maps from a detailed Estate Plan of 1754 to the present day. Come along to see how the Parish has evolved and grown. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Light refreshments provided. Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.com 26 October Walking on the Roof 7.30pm Little Gransden Village Hall Tickets £10 By MsFits Theatre Company. “Yvonne has a guilty secret - and she’s not the only one! How long before she is found out? Wild and wicked women, fugitives and fraudsters, gangs and guilt, they’re all here in this hilarious, poignant and nail-biting drama.” Walking on the Roof was shortlisted for the London Weekend Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Tickets from Great Gransden Village Stores or telephone 01767 677906. 28 October 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. 30 October The Rotary Club of Sandy 7.30pm The Anchor Hotel, Great Barford Open meeting for prospective members. Light refreshments. Come join us and learn more about the Rotary movement and its projects in the community. Email: Dudley Smith DPSmith4@aol.com for details 31 October & 1 November Family Halloween Event 5.30pm Adults £6, Children £8.50 Spooky tours of The Swiss Garden and woodland start at allocated times from 5.30pm onwards and are followed by games and activities. Max. 2 children per adult. Please bring a torch. Book online or telephone. Tel: 01767 627924 Web: www.shuttleworth.org

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Sureclean DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

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T&R Roofing Ltd

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For all your oven cleaning needs, using a Non-toxic, Non-caustic cleaning solution

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Artexing, Coving, Paper Hanging Quality Painting and Decorating Insurance work undertaken No obligation free quotation Friendly reliable service Contact info: Tel: 01767 601351 Mob: 07970060891 E-mail: robertwendon@aol.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 80

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For all your Home Improvements and Repairs • Bathrooms • Bedrooms • Brickwork • Conservatories • Decorating • Electrical work • Fencing • Kitchens • Maintenance And much more…

• Painting • Patios • Plastering • Plumbing • Refurbishments • Roofing • Tiling • Windows • Doors

For a free no obligation quotation call 01767 600431 or visit our website

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Country Stoves Quarter page MAY Advert:Layout 1 10

COUNTRY STOVES & SWEEPS STOVE INSTALLATION CHIMNEY SWEEPING

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Quality PVC-U Windows & Doors MANUFACTURERS & INSTALLERS Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Bi-Folding Doors & Composite Doors

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Potton Windows Limited was established in 1987 84

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Crossword Solution for The Villager September Edition Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner - Mrs P Bowles from St Neots

Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

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

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Cars, vans and buses etc (7) 5 Type of sailing boat (5) 8 Enhance (7) 9 Perfect (5) 10 Severe (5) 11 Playhouse (7) 12 Reliable (6) 14 Shovels (6) 17 Extremely old (7) 19 Endangered species (5) 22 Tracks (5) 23 Sportsman (7) 24 Father (5) 25 Female relations (7)

17th October 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

ď&#x20AC;˘

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

Down 1 Works hard (5) 2 Type of fruit (5) 3 Grimaced (7) 4 Crates (6) 5 Dagger (5) 6 Given medical care (7) 7 Assistants (7) 12 Exchanged (7) 13 Elated (7) 15 Throws (7) 16 Used for drinking (6) 18 Assignment (5) 20 Waterfowl (5) 21 Scottish dances (5)

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

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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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Window Doctor

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:

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Books

BOOK REVIEW

By Bruce Edwards The English Girl

Margaret Leroy Published: Sphere p/b £7.99 ISBN: 978-1-4055-3095-8 One of the essential characteristics for an intriguing and captivating story is the writer’s ability to portray mood, to have a feel for the period and the ambience of the setting. All too often we come across stories written in the ‘he said - she said’ simplistic manner, but not here. Our country is presently gripped with grim nostalgia (the word originally coined to describe a disease) engendered by a plethora of war time anniversaries; it is therefore apposite to read Leroy’s extraordinarily atmospheric version of how the oncoming political unrest and anti-Semitic actions in the late 1930’s Vienna affected a refreshingly naïve English girl. Young Stella comes to the city to further her piano playing skills and becomes intoxicated with the pre-war Austrian life style. She meets and falls in love with a young Jewish doctor, maybe all too readily and thus to her practical disadvantage. Alas, the dark underside of the oncoming Anschluss affects her world; reveals aspects of her intriguing past and jeopardizes her future. Throughout the story Stella’s emotions and thoughts cut deep into the reading; this is no straightforward tale but encompasses a much broader view of how politics can influence everyday humanity with tragic consequences. As a thought provoking and tense read, it’s also well pitched for today’s complex world. 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.”

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

Classifieds Builders “YOUNG’S BUILDERS” “YOUR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MASTER BUILDERS” “QUALITY AND VALUE FROM START TO FINISH”

Garage conversions from £5.9K

Extension - Sunrooms

Call 07811 985568 or 01767 261803 www.youngsbuilders.co.uk “Free quotes • Excellent references”

• • • • •

Extensions & Sunrooms Garage & Loft Conversions Walls, Patios & Decking General Building Work Property Maintenance

Chauffeur Cars 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

PK Cleaning Services

Decorating Services

Est. since 1988

• • • • • •

Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Leather Cleaning Window Cleaning UPVC Fascia Cleaning Patio and Driveway Cleaning Gutter and Soffit Cleaning

Free Estimates Friendly and Reliable Service

Paul Kaiser Home 01767 222822 Mobile 07812 335860 Visit us on

www.pk-cleaningservices.co.uk Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

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

Domestic Repairs

Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines • Cookers Fridges • Vacs • Dryers

Bill Tangye

Beds Tel By or appointment only - 4 Stratford Road, Sandy, Mob 01767 650750Tel: 07711 07802 393331 257105

Classifieds Domestic Repairs

Kitchen & Bathroom Fitter JB Domestic Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers No Call Out Charge! Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490

M. Philmore (Phil) - Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter Disabled showers supplied and fitted. General plumbing. 57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

Electricians

Painting Services

Garden Machinery Service/Repair

Pet Services

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

Handy Man

Photography

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Classifieds Plastering Services

Steve Swain

Property Improvements A professional property maintenance service

Plastering, Painting & Decorating Painting & Decorating Plastering, Pebble Dashing Rendering, Screeding

Property Improvements by

Gary Hare Carpentry • Kitchens • Bedrooms Decorating • Flooring Bathrooms •Tiling • and more...

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

Mob: 07887 861881 Tel: 01767 226404

Private Car Hire

Property Improvements

Private Car Hire

Removals & Storage

Mats Cars Private Hire Potton Based

4+7 Seater Cars Available

Airport/Stations/Nights Out etc Local and Long Distance Tel: 01767 261871 Mob: 07983 218367 www.mats-cars.co.uk All major credit/debit cards accepted

Property Improvements

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

Replacement Lenses

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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 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

01767 682789

We offer our clients at Friends; • London trained stylists • Award winning products- Redken, Ghd & L’Oreal • The only salon in Sandy to offer Redkens colour range containing ‘ No Ammonia’ • Fantastic loyalty scheme for all clients • 3 tier price system • 2 late evenings until 9pm • Free consultations and colour clinics • Private backwash room • Wedding packages • On-going training for all stylists

Special offer

Complimentary cut and finish with all full head colour services with selected stylists Please call 01767 682789 to book this amazing offer

Raise money for breast cancer at Friends this October

During October we will be selling raffle tickets for our fantastic raffle. Also don’t forget to come along to our Bakeoff on Sat 18th October. Call the salon for more details. Look at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/friendshair or call the salon

Opening Hours: Mon, Tues & Fri 9.30 - 6.00pm, Wed & Thurs 9.30 - 9.00pm, Sat 8.30 - 4.00pm www.friendsfivestarhairdressing.com facebook.com/friendshair Friends Five Star Hairdressing 1 Market Square, Sandy, Beds SG19 1HT Tel. 01767 682 789