Bedford Clanger March 26

March 2026

bedfordindependent.co.uk

CONTENTS ST. PATRICKS DAY | 4

THEATRE | 9

HOMETOWN TOURIST | 14

Sláinte!

The best of this month’s theatre

Sean at the Kings Arms

RIVERCARE| 5

FILM | 11

GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 15

Bedford’s Community Clean-up

Grab the popcorn

Samantha Hughes

WHAT’S ON | 6-8

LIVE MUSIC | 12

Diaries at the ready

Bring the noise

Introduction This month, we’re taking our lead from Queen’s Park Community Organisation and celebrating Bedford’s Irish community, just in time for St Patrick’s Day (17 March).

Find out more about QPCO’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations on page 4, and raise a glass of the black stuff to Sean at the King’s Arms on page 14.

Continuing the Emerald Isle theme, our Great Bedfordian is Samantha Hughes, who is at the forefront of the Irish music scene in Bedford. She’ll be performing at the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, or you can catch her at The Castle on Newnham Street every month.

We hope you have a wonderful March.

Sláinte!

Team Clanger

Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson (Image: Two-D Photography)

Even more events are included in our weekly What’s On Guide, published every Wednesday on our website at bedfordindependent.co.uk

MEET THE TEAM The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

Editor: Erica Roffe / clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk Theatre: Paula Walker Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing

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ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Image: Queen’s Park Community Organisation

A day of Irish community, culture and craic Bedford town centre will once again come alive with Irish culture, music and community spirit, as Queen’s Park Community Organisation (QPCO), in partnership with Bedford’s Irish community, brings its St Patrick’s Day craic to Harpur Square.

ages to connect with their heritage and with each other. St Patrick’s Day is a joyful focal point, but the work happens all year round.”

The free fun for all the family takes place on Sunday, 15 March, and is part of QPCO’s Back to Our Roots programme, which celebrates the diversity of Bedford’s cultural heritage.

Last year’s event saw hundreds of revellers sharing in the celebrations, and organisers are hoping for an even bigger turnout this year.

From dance and music, to food, drink, history and heritage, the day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the contribution Bedford’s Irish community has made to the borough. From 11am, Harpur Square will host performances from some of Bedford’s best-loved Irish musicians, including The Castle Session Band, Sheryl Hunter, The Also Rans and The Black and Gold. Stuart Irish Dance Bedford will perform throughout the day and run a taster session inside the Harpur Suite.

Irish food will be served in the Harpur Suite by Sean and the team from The King’s Arms on St Mary’s Street, with drinks also available in the square. There will also be an exhibition of Irish history and heritage to enjoy.

QPCO’s Alexander Quinn said: “Back to Our Roots is about honouring where our communities come from and creating spaces where culture, identity and belonging can be shared openly. From exhibitions and school workshops to public celebrations, we’re creating meaningful ways for people of all

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Image: Queen’s Park Community Organisation

The event has been made possible thanks to The Harpur Trust, the National Lottery and Bedford Borough Council, but as Alex says, the project is more than a single day of festivities. Back to Our Roots is a continuous cultural heritage programme working with Bedford’s communities to platform and share their traditions, stories and creativity.

Through exhibitions, school partnerships, workshops and public celebrations, the programme recognises and preserves cultural heritage while strengthening intergenerational connections and community pride.

Delivered in collaboration with local cultural organisations, schools, churches and community partners, the programme brings history and tradition to life for new generations.

For more information, visit qpco.org.uk

Irish you a happy St. Patrick’s Day!

RIVERCARE members and the Environment Agency, who will be picking up surface rubbish.

Once again, the John Bunyan Boat will be moored up on the lower river, providing refreshments and a place to rest to all taking part. The Longholme are also offering volunteers a warm drink to keep spirits up enroute.

Image: Bedford Borough Council

Take part in Bedford’s most popular community clean-up Rivercare, the annual Embankment community clean-up, is returning this Spring and everyone is invited to take part.

The event takes place from 10am - noon on Saturday, 21 March and after registering, you just need to turn up - all equipment is provided*.

Bedford Scuba Divers and Dive with Jimmy will have divers pulling out waste from the river, alongside Viking Kayak Club

Image: Bedford Borough Council

The whole day is the perfect way to feel part of the community and make a difference to our town. To take part, you can register by emailing volunteering@bedford.gov.uk *If you are an existing community champion and have your own litter picking equipment, please bring it with you as we are often in short supply!

EXCELLENT EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD

31 March, 1,2,7,8 & 9 April Enjoy awesome animal encounters and learn skills to become an Archaeology Detective. Create your own character badges from clay, make a mosaic mandala from felt plus lots more.

To find out more and book your place, visit www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk, call the Box Office on 01234 718044 or scan the QR code

A ‘Stanny Stu’ swimmer, Commercial Road Baths (1903) ©BPEOSA Collection

A Glimpse into Women’s Sporting and Social History The Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, Bedford 6 November 2025 to 31 May 2026 Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD T 01234 718618

The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

E thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk

www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

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WHAT’S ON view is on Thursday, 5 March, when you will be able to enjoy a free glass of prosecco as you stroll amongst the blooms. This exhibition is a fundraiser for the Centre for Women’s Justice.

Senior Badminton Sessions

Art & culture: Bedford Art Society Meeting

The new season of Senior Badminton Sessions are a fun way to keep moving and meet new people; the perfect mix of light exercise, friendly competition and plenty of laughs. better.org. uk/leisure-centre/bedfordshire/john-bunyan-sports-centre

Matt Waruszynski will be demonstrating how to create a pencil portrait. Contact Jean Paterson on 01234 307210 or bedsartsociety.co.uk for further information.

Bedford Mindful Embankment Walk

Saturday, 7 March Albero Lounge (upstairs), Riverside Square @ 10.30am - midday

Starting from 1 March John Bunyan Sports and Fitness, MK42 9TS @ 9am - 10am / 10am - 11am / £6.15 “ | Image: Bedford Borough Council

Tuesday, 3rd March Meet outside the front of Swan Hotel @ 6.15pm / Free / just turn up | Image: Rachel Hegarty

Friday, 6 March Putnoe Heights Church, MK41 8EB @ 7.15pm for 7:30pm start Image: Pixabay

Bedford Artists’ Social

A regular informal gathering of like-minded visual artists to network, share aspirations and chat. There will be information on the community art gallery project, too and how you can get involved.

Friends of the Higgins presents: Talk: Professor Paul Coldwell / Woodcuts Tuesday, 3 March St Andrew’s Church Hall @ 7.30pm

Artist Paul Coldwell talks about his new book ‘Woodcuts’.

Enjoy a mindful walk along Bedford’s beautiful Embankment, based on meditation and mindfulness techniques. This is a safe space and community for everyone. Monthly walks all year round.

Exhibition: BLOOM! by Mo Lea

Talk: Perry Staker on Women in the Civil War Tuesday, 24 March Zoom lecture @ 7.30pm | Image: Perry Staker

Friday, 6 March - Thursday, 19 March The Arc, Howard Street @ 9am - 5pm (Mon - Sat) 10am - 3pm (Sun) / Free | Image: Mo Lea

Brighten up your day with a visit to this colourful exhibition of large flower pictures at ‘The Arc’ by artist Mo Lea. The private 6

Perry Staker is the month’s Zoom guest lecturer, speaking about the role of women in the Civil War. This talk is generously sponsored by Marion Maule.

Let’s make some pour decisions.

March workshops and courses

The Rothsay Education Centre, Rothsay Gardens | Image: Pixabay

Health & Wellbeing: From Stress to Strength Science: Neurodiversity - continuing the conversations Find out more and book online at recbedford.co.uk

Men’s Health Zone

Thursday, 19 March John Bunyan Sports and Fitness @ 12.30pm - 2.30pm / Free Image: Bedford Borough Council

The REC has a brilliant line‑up of workshops and short courses on throughout this month, the perfect chance to learn something new, get creative, and explore a new topic. Open to everyone - including non‑members.

Highlights include:

Saturday, 7 March: Galileo and the Telescope Sunday, 14 March: Chinese Brush Painting: Spring Flowers Sunday, 21 March: Wintering into Spring Birds

Short three-week courses include: Art History: What’s in a Picture?

The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

Healthwise and Better, in partnership with bpha, are hosting their first-ever male health event. This is an opportunity for you to speak to different organisations, hear from guest speakers and have a go at some taster sessions. For more information visit healthwise.bedford@gll.org

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Community: Castle Mound and Castle Bailey Gardens litter pick Saturday, 14 March Castle Mound @ 11am / free to attend Image: Bedford Borough Council

Join local artist Anne-Marie Abbate to make art on the Panacea Museum’s antique printing press. Suitable for ages six to 96! panaceamuseum.org/events

Sport: Doubles Badminton Tournament

Sunday, 29 March John Bunyan Sports and Fitness Centre / Junior doubles £5 per player and Senior doubles £6 per player Image: Bedford Borough Council

As part of The Great British Spring Clean, join in a litter pick on and around Castle Mound. Wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear. All tools provided.

Contact paul.edmonds@bedford.gov.uk to register.

British Science Week: Science Labs

Saturday, 14 March The Higgins Bedford @ 11am onwards / Free entry (some events require booking) Explore different aspects of science through a range of free, hands-on activities at The Higgins Bedford as part of British Science Week. From experiments to exploring nature; engineering to archaeology, there’s something for everyone to try. higginsbedford.org.uk

Easter Holiday activities: Teaching Talons - animal encounters Tuesday, 31 March The Higgins Bedford @ 10.15am, 11.30am and 1pm - 2pm / £6.05/child

With categories for both juniors and adults, this will be a great day of competitive and social play. To express an interest, email johnbunyan@gll.org

Art & culture: Bedford Art Society Spring exhibition 2026

Tuesday, 24 - Saturday, 28 March Basement at Bunyan Church, Mill Street MK40 3EU / Free entry An exhibition and art sale featuring works by members of Bedford Art Society.

Poetry: Reading & book signing by Matthew Edgeworth

Wednesday, 26 March John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street MK40 3EU @ 2pm Image: Friends of John Bunyan Museum

Get ready for an awesome close encounter with the animal ambassadors from Teaching Talons.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults do not need to book a place. higginsbedford.org.uk

Creativity and craft: Printing at the Panacea

Saturday, 28 March Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd MK40 3NX @ 11am - 3pm / Free drop-in | Image: Panacea Museum

Friends of Bunyan Museum present a poetry reading and book signing with Matthew Edgeworth from his chapbook of poetry “Embodied Things - Bunyan’s Flute and other poems” based on Bunyan objects, as well as from his new book “ Embodied Places”. Members of a local theatre group will also read a selection of Bunyan’s poems. The event will end with a book signing, sale of books with tea and cakes.

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It ain’t over till it’s clover.

THEATRE Theatre: A Walk in the Park

Saturday, 7 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16

Poetry: Read Poets Society

Sunday, 1 March Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm / Tickets: free but please book via the Place website

70% of women in the UK have experienced sexual harassment in public. Meanwhile, a social media poll finds that, in a hypothetical world without men for a day, the overwhelming majority of women said they’d use the opportunity to go for a walk alone after dark.

The Read Poets Society’s second monthly meeting of 2026 is on the theme of The News. These meetings take place at the Eagle Bookshop in St Peter’s Street. theplacebedford.org.uk

Theatre: Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Monday, 3 - Saturday, 7 March Sharnbrook Mill Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £18

Taking these findings as a starting point, A Walk in the Park is a participatory performance combining authentic conversations, startling statistics and choreographed movement to create an atmospheric exploration of what it can feel like to walk alone in the dark. The performance ends with an invitation to the audience to leave the space together and walk through a nearby park or green space.

Audience members are free to participate as much or as little as they wish. theplacebedford.org.uk

Community Theatre: Hamlet

Tuesday, 10 March - Saturday, 14 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm each evening; Saturday matinée @ 1.30pm / Tickets: from £12

The multi-award-winning Sharnbrook Mill Theatre presents Waiting for Godot, a fast-paced tragicomedy packed with heartfelt, tender, and touching moments. It starts with two men waiting by a lonely tree, their conversation spinning between the tragic, the comic and the absurd. What are they waiting for, will they or won’t they ever arrive and what does it all mean?

Profoundly funny and endlessly thought-provoking, this iconic play invites you on a journey into the heart of human existence and the endless wait for answers. sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk/ The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

Hamlet remains one of the most powerful, unsettling, and timeless plays ever written. In this Swan Theatre Production, the play is stripped back to its human essence. The setting is minimalist and stark, placing the focus on the characters themselves. Music, newly composed for this production and performed live, creates a soundscape that amplifies the intensity and atmosphere of the production. theplacebedford.org.uk 9

Theatre: A Knight of Terror

Thursday 19 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16

Children’s Theatre: Pixiematosis

Saturday, 21 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16 Everything was perfect in the midnight garden. The flowers grew and the fairies flew and then one day, without warning, the deranged gardener from next door threw the shed door wide, and the pixies of this nocturnal paradise realised, far too late, that they were being exploited for a distinctly sinister purpose. Featuring sqwonky puppets, odd-automata and a slew of charity-shop rejects, ‘Pixiematosis’ is not unlike watching a lost episode of Bagpuss, filmed by the Tales of the Unexpected crew… or witnessing Fingermouse being folded up and used to stop a pub table wobbling. theplacebedford.org.uk

Theatre: StageWrite Spring 2026

Sunday, 29 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £5

Embark on this hilarious Victorian ghost story of a witless young man and a cast of eerie locals, with curses, skulls and shin-kicking. Created by Bonnet Dog, A Knight of Terror is a Victorian Gothic ghost story that mixes the uncanny tales of M. R. James with the silliness of classic British humour.

Join us as we recite this ripping yarn that promises laughs as well as chilling spooks. theplacebedford.org.uk

Theatre: War of the Worlds (on a budget)

StageWrite is a hothouse for the development of new writing for theatre, designed to help plays grow from page to performance.

It supports writers in the process of getting their work up on its feet and in front of an audience for the very first time.

Friday, 20 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14 (ages 12+)

Step aside, HG Wells, take a break, Jeff Wayne, go back to your trailer, Tom Cruise, the Lamphouse Company is tackling War of the Worlds, and they’re doing it… on a budget.

War of Worlds (on a budget) features one actor, a loop pedal, lots of cardboard, many, many hats and at least two absolutely terrifying (definitely not made out of paper) tripod puppets.

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Can our hero outrun the aliens, play 25 characters, unwind himself from the microphone cable, stop for a tea break and save the day before it’s too late? Featuring a full soundtrack of brand new music, and paying homage to HG Wells’ story with a few extra silly additions, War of the Worlds (on a budget) is the musical comedy action adventure we didn’t know we needed!

You shamrock my world.

FILM Holy Cow

Tuesday, 24 March

Film: Bedford Film Society

University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue @ 7pm Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5

After the tragic death of his father, 18-year-old Totone must look after his younger sister and their failing family farm. He assumes even more responsibility when he enters a cash competition for the best Comté cheese made in the western part of the French Alps.

Radical

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Tuesday, 3 March

Tuesday, 31 March

Wonderful multi BAFTA-nominated independent film starring Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as a folk duo who reunite to perform for a wealthy fan (Tim Key) on a remote British island. bedfordfilmsociety.org.uk/

Stevington Cinema Club

Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT @ 6.45pm Tickets: £6

The Choral

Thursday, 19 March

Sixth-grade students at Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary are among the worst performing students in Mexico, with their world one of violence and hardship, not possibility. It might seem like a dead end, but it’s the perfect place for new teacher Sergio Juarez to try something different.

An uncompromising new choirmaster (Ralph Fiennes) sets an ambitious task for a Yorkshire town’s choral society after a number of its members leave for the battlefields of the First World War. stevingtoncinemaclub.uk/tickets/

Good One

Tuesday, 10 March

Sam, a teenage girl, goes hiking with her father, Chris, and his friend, Matt. Her excitement for the trip soon starts to wear down due to the men’s problematic behaviour.

Memoir of a Snail Tuesday, 17 March

This stop motion odyssey of hope triumphing over life’s despair with humanity to spare makes Memoir of a Snail a deft, heartfelt tale. A bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel, a hoarder of snails, romance novels and guinea pigs.

The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

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LIVE MUSIC The Cords

Friday, 6 March Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £12

35 years. The band are a full-throttle nod to Irish folk music and dance-along shanties, with dancing shoes compulsory. Make this a Paddy’s Day to remember at Esquires! bedfordesquires.co.uk

Mae Stephens

Tuesday, 31 March Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15

C86 indiepop sensations The Cords will be appearing at Bedford Esquires this month. Tipped for big things in 2026, the teenage sisters released their absolutely ace self-titled debut LP earlier this year to universal acclaim and will be supporting The Charlatans on their upcoming UK tour. bedfordesquires.co.uk

One of pop music’s brightest young stars, Mae Stephens, visits Esquires as part of an intimate tour, courtesy of the good people at Music Venue Trust. Mae burst onto the scene with her viral TikTok track, ‘If We Ever Broke Up’, so you might need to ask your kids about this one… bedfordesquires.co.uk

The South

Music: The Kerry George Show

Saturday, 14 March Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £28.50

Wednesday, 18 March The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £18

The South are back on the road and doing what they do best – performing the songs of that great British pop institution, The Beautiful South, to the thousands of fans of these timeless classics. The South are an impressive nine-piece band featuring former members of The Beautiful South, including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles. Since the demise of The Beautiful South in 2007, this exciting live band have spent 14 years touring the theatres and festivals of the UK up and down the country. bedfordesquires.co.uk

Life of Riley

Tuesday, 17 March - St Patrick’s Day Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £ 6 / £12

Having formed in Bedford in 1991, the Life Of Riley are one of Bedford’s best-loved bands and are still going strong after over

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International vocalist Kerry George brings her powerhouse voice and captivating stories to the Place Theatre this month, performing iconic songs and heartfelt tales from on the road (and at sea). From headlining the UK No.1 tour of Annie the Musical to leading roles on luxury cruise ships, Kerry has enchanted audiences worldwide. She’s also known for a viral video of her singing to her neighbours during lockdown.

Joining Kerry is the talented Joe Connors, a gifted singer and longtime collaborator with whom she has toured extensively. theplacebedford.org.uk

Irish you a whole pot of gold!

Bedford Choral Society presents: Verdi’s Requiem Saturday, 21 March Bedford Corn Exchange @ / Tickets: £5 - £19

When Rossini died in 1868, Verdi proposed that a requiem should be written in honour of the great man. The resulting piece of music is often described as the greatest opera he never wrote due to its dramatic intensity and theatricality. The powerful ’Dies Irae’ has been used in many film scores (The Shining, Star Wars, and It’s A Wonderful Life), and it’s safe to say, it has more than stood the test of time. Conductor – Ian Smith with Bedford Sinfonia. Featuring Katy Crompton (soprano), Nancy Cole (alto), Joseph Doody (tenor) and James Oldfield (bass). bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

Music: Harry Baker & Tom Syson

Saturday, 28 March The Quarry Theatre Bar @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £5

Award-winning pianist, vocalist, and composer Harry Baker, and renowned trumpeter, vocalist and composer Tom Syson join forces in this exciting new cross-genre project. The duo was formed to create unique and ‘beautiful’ music, exploring the relationship between classical and jazz while drawing on singer-songwriter influences such as Laura Mvula and Billy Joel.

Other artistic references include Keith Jarrett, Thomas Adès, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Stuart McCallum.

Their music aims to be rhythmically and harmonically sophisticated, structurally active, and sound/texture-led, aiming to make conscious stylistic choices, using a broad stylistic knowledge base, to create compositions/arrangements that are both original and expressive. quarrytheatre.org.uk

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HOMETOWN TOURIST

Image: The Kings Arms

The King’s Arms: Irish heritage, community and legacy in the heart of Bedford

That identity is expressed most powerfully through music.

The pub has become one of Bedford’s key venues for live Irish music, hosting regular sessions that keep traditions alive. Sean runs Irish music nights most Tuesdays, alongside other weekly events that bring diverse audiences together, and live music fills the pub every Saturday night, giving locals a lively end to the week.

Over the years, bands such as Out of the Hat, Skimmington Ride, and Hair of the Dog have all performed there, helping to make the pub a recognised home for Irish sound and storytelling in Bedford.

Sean O’Donnell of The Kings Arms / Image: The Kings Arms

In a town where much has changed, The King’s Arms pub remains a constant. A living link to Bedford’s Irish heritage, music, memory and community and at its centre is Sean O’Donnell, a landlord whose own story mirrors that of the town’s Irish diaspora.

“Mum and dad are both Irish… Dad’s from Tipperary, Mum’s from Leitrim. They came over in the mid ’60s,” Sean says. His family began running pubs in Bedford in 1978, and he has now spent 27 years at the helm of The King’s Arms, bringing the family’s legacy close to 50 years in the town’s pub trade.

Growing up immersed in Bedford’s Irish community, Sean saw firsthand how pubs and churches formed the backbone of community life. And while he doesn’t label The King’s Arms simply as an “Irish pub”, its roots are undeniable.

We’ve got our roots in this… we celebrate everything that we can, because we’re Irish.

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Nowhere is that cultural role clearer than on St Patrick’s Day. “We’ve always done huge things on St. Patrick’s… it’s the place to be in Bedford,” Sean says. With traditional food, live bands and generations of families returning year after year, the day is less about novelty and more about reunion. “It’s just bringing the community together… people don’t see each other from year to year, but they will always meet up on St. Patrick’s Day and have a good craic.”

Despite the challenges facing independent pubs, rising costs, changing habits and fewer young people drinking regularly, Sean remains focused on legacy. “I would like to get to the milestone of running pubs in Bedford for 50 years… hopefully that will be my legacy.”

As Bedford prepares for this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, including QPCO’s Celebration Party in Harpur Square (read more on page 4), The King’s Arms stands as a cultural anchor. It is a stage, a kitchen and a community hall all in one. A place where traditions are kept alive around the bar, the band and the table.

The King’s Arms, 24 St Mary’s Street, Bedford MK42 0AS thekingsarmsbedford.co.uk

by Alexander Quinn of Queen’s Park Community Organisation

You’ll be Dublin your fortune soon.

GREAT BEDFORDIAN In keeping with our Irish theme this month, our Great Bedfordian is a stalwart of the Irish music scene in Bedford, Samantha Hughes.

For the last six years, Samantha has been running monthly traditional Irish music sessions at the Castle pub on Newnham Street and is part of the organising committee behind the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Harpur Square (see more on page 4).

A proud Bedfordian, she’s not only read the Pilgrim’s Progress, but has given us an interesting historical fact too. Over to you, Samantha…

Born here or blow in? Bedford born and bred...and proud of it.

Best breakfast in Bedford? Tough one! I love breakfast! I’ve

actually had quite a few nice breakfasts at Albero Lounge. It’s just so chilled in there. I also like having breakfast at Archer’s Rest in Great Denham. It’s a lovely walk from Kempston too via the river, so win-win!

Best boozer? There are so many wonderful pubs in the town centre that really support live music, but I think I’d have to say The Castle. They’ve been very supportive in hosting my traditional Irish music session these past six or seven years. It’s also the kind of pub you could walk into on your own (especially as a woman) and feel completely safe.

Image: Samantha Hughes

one step further and say I’ve visited many of the landmarks mentioned/inspired by Pilgrim’s Progress, including Houghton House (did you know the staircase was taken from here and put in the entrance of The Swan Hotel?), Moot Hall and John Bunyan Museum & Meeting House.

Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger? I’ve eaten half of one... can you guess which half? I do prefer Chocolate Toothpaste though...

An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about? I think I’d have to say The Twinwood Museum. It’s

an absolute must, just oozing with history. The Twinwood Festival itself is definitely worth a visit too! I’ve been going for nearly 20 years and have even had the fortune of performing at it.

Another quick mention would also be Moggerhanger Park. My Grandma worked here when she came over from Ireland, as a TB nurse during the war. Another wonderful place steeped in history. You can now visit the house and grounds and stop off at their delicious tea rooms!

The Castle / Image: Wells & Co

Best coffee or cuppa? This is tough, as I love a good cup of

tea...but I think this has to be Coffee With Art. I just love the ambience in there. I’ve sat here for hours with friends, having a good old natter..

The Twinwood Festival / Image: Twinwoods

Best takeaway? I’m not really a takeaway girl; I prefer a lovely

meal out, but Blue Ginger and Diya Royal in Kempston are both very good options.

Best Bedfordian? Well, this is an easy one, my wonderful Mum.

I’ve seen 100s of gigs in Bedford! From Martha Reeves at the Corn Exchange, to Olly Murs in Bedford Park, from Esquires, to bands performing in local pubs. To pick one, though, The Proms in the Park were pretty spectacular, and I should probably mention The Rogue Traders gig last year at Esquires, which was definitely a highlight for me...I heard they had a pretty good support band too ;-)

She’s Bedford through and through, winning ‘Miss Kempston’ in 1970 (apparently, the owner of Dowling Butchers in Kempston was so proud, he had a sign up stating ‘Miss Kempston shops here’) and was also crowned ‘Miss Granada’ in 1977. She’s been my biggest supporter throughout my life. From taking me to music lessons as a child, to travelling all over the UK and Ireland as I competed in national and international competitions in Irish music, to supporting me through my singing. And to this day, she’s still there at the front cheering me and the band on. I definitely wouldn’t have achieved any of this without her.

Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress?

Three words that best sum up Bedford?

Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford? How do I answer this?

Funny enough...yes! I studied this at school. I can even go The Bedford Clanger / March 2026

AMAZING live music!

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