CONTENTS
BOOK OF BEDFORD | 4
See Bedford through the eyes of its youngest inhabitants
ANTIQUES FAIR | 5
A father & daughter duo introduce Bedford Antiques Fair
WHAT’S ON | 6
Diaries at the ready
Introduction
Thank you for picking up the May issue of the Bedford Clanger - your guide to the best of Bedford’s art, culture, live music, theatre, shopping, heritage and more this month.
As Spring arrives, take a trip off the beaten track and become a Hometown Tourist (page 14) at the mini golf course in Russell Park and on the Longholme boating lake. And what better way to find your way around than with the Book of Bedford - a child’s eye view of our wonderful town (page 4)
MEET THE TEAM
THEATRE | 8
best of this month’s theatre
LIVE MUSIC | 10
Bring the noise
FOOD & DRINK | 13
HOMETOWN TOURIST |
14
GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 15
Our Great Bedfordian (page 15) is Matthew Wolton, co-owner of Herd on St Cuthbert’s Street, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. You can also read our food review on page 13.
Have a great month and see you in June!
Team Clanger
Even more events are included in our weekly What’s On Guide, published every Wednesday on our website at bedfordindependent.co.uk
Editor: Erica Roffe / clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk
Food & Drink: Paul Hutchinson
Theatre: Paula Walker
Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk
The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing
The
Herd
Take a stroll off the beaten track...
Co-owner of Herd, Matthew Wolton
Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson (Image: Two-D Photography)
THE BOOK OF BEDFORD
The Book of Bedford - a place of rivers and greenery and architecture
A new illustrated guide book of Bedford has been created by pupils from four of the town’s primary schools, to give adults the chance to see Bedford through the eyes of its youngest inhabitants.
The Book of Bedford has been created by 265 children from Brickhill, Kings Oak, Priory and Putnoe primary schools, with the help of the team at Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) and artists Andy Fieldn and Beckie Darlington.
Illustrated by Katie Allen, it is part-fiction, part-real guidebook and provides a heartfelt and often hilarious insight into what children think is special, scary, unique and valuable about Bedford.
By exploring what children find significant about their town, this large-scale socially-engaged project offers a fresh perspective on the familiar and the predictable. It invites adults to see the sights that children deem important and to navigate through real and imagined streets in their footsteps.
Andy and Beckie
Over 250 children spent weeks writing, drawing, and crafting and then a team of 15 children acted as book editors to sort through the material and make selections for this original book. The finished book is available as a free download from BCA’s website.
“Bedford is a place that is teeming with joy. A place of rivers and greenery and architecture.
The book was launched at a VIP event attended by Councillors, the MP, local creatives and teachers at Bedford Central Library in March with the children reading their favourite extracts and interviewing attendees about their views.
Elaine Midgley, Director of BCA said: “This project is a way of expanding what we as adults think we know about a place and to notice the very different values and meanings that adults and children ascribe to the things they encounter in the world around them.
“It invites us to question; who decides what is or isn’t worth seeing? Who tells the stories that define the identity of our towns and cities, and how can we begin to empower young people to tell new stories, and challenge those with power to listen to them?
“It’s also pretty hilarious and very inspiring and we hope will make people proud to live in Bedford, whatever age you are”.
The Book of Bedford project has been made possible through generous funding from Bedford Educational Association, The Harpur Trust, Gale Family Charity Trust and Arts Council England.
The book will be available for sale from The Eagle Bookshop from the end of April.
All Image credits: Katie Allen / Illustrator of The Book of Bedford
A very historical and educational place full of exciting things.” What do you call a pony with a cough? A little horse.
WHAT’S ON
Explore Bedford’s rich tapestry of history with new guided walks added for 2025
Bedford Association of Tour Guides have added some new walks to their popular roster, so this year there’s even more to discover. Each walk is led by a qualified guide and offers residents and visitors alike the opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of the history of Bedford and to meet some of the people who have helped shape our town.
This year, a Tour of St Paul’s, the church at the heart of Bedford, has been added. In addition, Plaques & Plinths is a new walk that will reveal the stories behind the town’s Blue Plaques and statues. Bedford’s South Bank Show which focuses on the medieval past and the more recent lost industry, buildings, public houses of Bedford’s south bank, plus its importance to the development of the town.
The walks take place each Sunday morning and the first and last Wednesday morning of the month and there are ten walks to choose from.
£4.00 per adult/£2.00 for children over the age of eight. Booking is via The Higgins website or the Box Office on 01234 718044 bedfordtourguides.org
‘Fake or Forgery - an expert eye’
22 May @ 7pm
Bunyan Meeting Church | Tickets: £10 / Friends of the Bunyan: £5
The Bunyan Meeting Church is hosting a talk this month by Nicholas Burnett ACR, one of the regular experts on the BBC’s ‘Fake or Fortune’. He will share fascinating insights into the world of art forgery and guide guests through the details of examining artwork for clues to their history.
Nicholas says “One of the joys of my work is solving problems and developing innovative techniques. Often this is in response to a challenging artwork; it’s the difficult jobs that develop us the most. Tailoring each job to the needs of the object and the client provides the best outcomes and means the work is ever changing.”
May Day Morris Dancing
This 1 May you can catch Red Cuthbert Morris as they dance to mark May Day, a European festival of ancient origins, marking the beginning of summer, around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere’s Spring equinox and June solstice.
Red Cuthbert will be marking the occasion in the best way they know, by dancing in Bedford Town Centre and then at a pub. They’ll be at the Silver Faces at 8pm and then at The Three Cups on Newnham Street at 9pm. You can also catch them in Black Tom on Thursday, 22 May at the Kent Arms on Salisbury Street at 8pm followed by the Burnaby Arms on Stanley Street at 9pm. redcuthbert.uk
John Bunyan Boat cruises are back
Take to the water this summer on one of the John Bunyan Boat’s speciality cruises on the River Great Ouse. From the sounds of Detroit with the Motown and Soul Music Cruise on 1 May to afternoon tea at the Kingfisher Bedford with a return cruise to Sovereign’s Quay on 14 May, there’s lots to choose from.
For full details of all the cruises this month, head to the John Bunyan Boat website here: bmkwaterway.org/johnbunyanboat
Cream teas in the Panacea Museum gardens
Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 May @ 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm / Tickets: £7
What did one hat say to the other? You wait here, I’ll go on a head.
Image: John Bunyan Boat
Enjoy a pot of tea, a scone, cream and jam, all served on vintage and antique china in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the Panacea Museum gardens.
Pre-booking recommended. Reserve your spot and pay on the day by card or cash.
11 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX panaceamuseum.org/events
Exhibition: INTERIM
Monday, 19 - Sunday, 25 May
Basement @ Bunyan / Free entry
INTERIM brings together recent works of painter Giacomo Verdura, and photographer Cameron Scrimgeour in an exhibition which reflects the artists’ close working proximity, and how this permeates into their respective work. These intermediary pieces from both artists look back on this year so far, and hint at new directions being shaped for the future.
Private View takes place on Monday, 19 May @ 6-8pm and all are welcome.
Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce market
Sunday, 11 May @ 10am - 3pm Harpur Square
It might have changed location, but Bedford Flea is still a great reason to forego a Sunday lie-in. Grab a coffee, mooch around
Harpur Square, take a stroll along the river and enjoy a lazy Sunday in beautiful Bedford.
Lunchtime music recitals
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square | Free with retiring collection
The lunchtime music recitals at St Paul’s church are completely free to attend and are an oasis of calm in the heart of the town centre.
Tuesday, 6 May 1pm - piano recital by Leo Little piano recital
Saturday, 10 May @ noon - organ recital by Perrin Ford
Tuesday, 13 May @ 1pm - flute recital by Jen Townsend
Tuesday, 20 May @ 1pm - recital by mezzo soprano, Annabel Astridge and Martin Jones (piano)
Tuesday, 27 May @ 1pm - violin recital by Teryl Zau
Saturday Workshops
Saturday, 10 May @ 10am
Rothsay Education Centre, 6 Rothsay Gardens, Bedford
Choose from seven exciting one-day Saturday workshops (did we mention they’re on a Saturday?), from the history of Bletchley Park to the impact of AI on education. There’s gardening, Roman history, self publishing and more. The perfect way to find out more about the Rothsay Education Centre.
Images: Left - Cameron Scrimgeour / Right - Giacomo Verdura
Image: Bedford Flea
LIVE MUSIC
Live music: Mad Mods & Englishmen
Saturday, 10 May
The Cellar Bar @ 10.30pm / Free entry
Mad Mods have a reputation of packing every venue they play at, and then bringing the house down. Their repertoire includes hits from The Who, Small Faces, The Kinks, Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis, Yardbirds, The Jam and many more, and yes, they’ve even been known to smash the odd guitar up on stage!
Dance music: Jaguar Skills
Saturday, 10 May
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 10pm - 2am / Tickets: £15
Jaguar Skills’ journey through seemingly unmixable genres and tempos remains one of a kind, as he traverses the broad musical spectrum with dizzying aplomb. His sets have been experienced at festivals across the globe, whipping crowds into a frenzy at some of the biggest dance music events on the planet. Don’t miss the balacalvad hero of DJing wizardry at the Corn Exchange this month.
What do you call an apology written in dots and dashes? A Re-Morse code.
Live music: Pom Poko
Sunday, 11 May
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £16
Oslo’s finest, Pom Poko are back to Esquires, following their near sold-out show during Independent Venue Week 2022. The band visit Bedford as part of an intimate UK tour and off the back of their Bella Union released third album ‘Champion’ in late 2024.
Live music: Crash Test Dummies
Thursday, 15 May
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm | Tickets: £35
With one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian music history, alternative rock band Crash Test Dummies are a three-time Grammy nominated and JUNO award-winning group, who soared to the top of the worldwide charts in the early 1990’s with hits “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” and “Superman’s Song”. Their cover of “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” was a highlight of the soundtrack to the blockbuster film, “Dumb and Dumber”. They come to Esquires as part of the venue’s 35th anniversary celebrations.
JOURNEYS
DAVID EAREY
SAM ROSS
EMMA CONSTANTINE FAYE DUNMALL
HOMETOWN TOURIST
Landmark mini golf - 12-hole tour around the Borough
Now that Spring has sprung, it’s the perfect time to get friends and family together to enjoy Bedford’s great outdoors - and what better way than a round of mini golf alongside the beautiful River Great Ouse?
Landmark Mini Golf opened in Russell Park in August 2024 and is gearing up for its first full season this summer. Each of the 12 holes on the course features a unique Bedford landmark and a handy QR code for anyone that wants to brush up on their history and find out more. From the John Bunyan statue to Stevington windmill, mini-golfers can take a tour of the Borough without leaving the course!
The course is open every day from 10am (please do check closing times at kioskinthepark.com) and you can combine it with hiring a boat on Longholme Lake.
You can purchase golf and boat hire in one voucher for the best rates on both activities, or you can purchase a voucher just for the golf itself, ahead of time, for a pre-purchase rate.
All pre-purchased vouchers are delivered via email and they can also be gifted.
Find out more about boat hire opening times at thelongholme.com
For a round of play through all twelve holes, it is £7.60 (13 and over), £6 for those aged three to 12 and just £3 for anyone younger.
Prices include a team scorecard, a putter and a ball for each person playing.
COMPETITION
Win a round of golf, boat hire and a meal at the Longholme for four people by entering our competition.
Simply find the competition Instagram post on our page, make sure you follow both the Bedford Independent, The Longholme and the Kiosk at the Park and like and share our post. You can share it as many times as you like.
A winner will be selected at random on Friday, 23 May. You can find the full terms and conditions on our website.
What did the shark say when he ate the clownfish? This tastes a little funny.
Image: Bedford Borough Council
The Longholme Cafè
GREAT BEDFORDIAN
This month’s Great Bedfordian is the co-owner of Herd, Matthew Wolton.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Herd on St Cuthbert’s Street has been the go-to burger joint in Bedford since it opened.
Matt worked for Pizza Express until his mid-20s, followed by a few years as a DJ. “I started a removals company that is still going under Hader’s stewardship and then came Herd, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the story of how it came to be is probably another article in itself!”
I think we (me and my wife Jess) have made it to ten years because we have constantly evolved and adapted. Obviously a massive part of the journey has been our staff especially Frank and Annie who have been there since the beginning. The most important part of Herd is the Herd that comes in, many that have now become lifelong friends. It’s been the best adventure.
Matthew Wolton, Co-owner Herd
Name:
Occupation: Restaurateur.
Born here or blow in?
Born in Clifton, came to Bedford in my early 20s.
Best breakfast in Bedford?
Bedford Cheese Company at The Barn in Cardington.
Best boozer?
The Welly (Wellington Arms) or The Castle on Newnham Street.
Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford?
Hard to beat Nile Roger’s in the Park, but My Baby on a Tuesday at Esquires has to get a mention.
Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress? Never.
Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger?
Never eaten a clanger.
An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about?
Samras, The Spinney, they have everything. Whenever I pop in, Mrs S still gives me the warmest greeting, “Hello dear”.
Best Bedfordian?
Dave Denton our window cleaner. He’s 86 years old and still cycling and working every day. He’s the best advert for keeping moving.
Three words that best sum up Bedford?
Image: Matthew Wolton
Matthew Wolton
Image: Bedford Cheese Company / Facebook
Image: Cameron Scrimgeour