Beds Bulletin Borough edition April 2023

BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

APRIL 2023

Love style in Bedford

See page 3

Och aye – Hamish will be a

champ

Tess Sharman has been working with four-year-old, Hamish, a Dandie Dinmont Terrier for just eight months He has been training at Ringcraft sessions in Wootton and Sharnbrook, run by Andrea Douse, who thought Hamish was a potential Crufts winner early on. It turns out she’s a pretty shrewed judge of dogs because Hamish picked up a runner-up award in the Post Graduate Class at the recent Crufts Dog Show Tess from Bolnhurst has spent many hours grooming the ‘wee doggie’, getting him to show standard in only his third competition outing The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was formerly known as the ‘Mustard and Pepper Terrier’ also the ‘Gentleman of Terriers’, bred in the border regions of Scotland and England for the hunting of vermin It looks as if Hamish has the temperament and class to become a champion best of breed very soon – och aye!

WEDDING STATIONERY

STYLE Kings and Queens will be taking to the catwalk at the annual Hair and Beauty Show in Bedford on May 25

Staged at the Bedford Corn Exchange, the event will continue the coronation theme of the month with fun fashions

Tickets are on sale in advance from https://www tickettailor com/events/bedfordcollege/61

5844

The show is being sponsored by Love Bedford which represents hundreds of town centre businesses

More than £500 worth of Love Bedford shopping vouchers will be donated as prizes to the many category winners, together with goodie bags from BodyShop and an overall top prize of £150 from Baker Brothers Jewellers

In addition there will be a competition for the best show-related photo posted on Instagram with the #beautifulcareers with a prize of £25 Love Bedford vouchers

The show is organised by staff and students from Brooks Hair & Beauty Salon on the High Street, Bedford, part of The Bedford College Group Aged from 16 upwards, full-time students and hair and beauty apprentices from a range of salons will showcase their creative talents on the catwalk

Said Christina Rowe, Director of Love Bedford, run by the BedfordBID: “This is always a fun, glamorous highlight of the year Our Chair Samantha Laycock will represent hundreds of Bedford businesses on the night and remind the audience that

we are always glad to welcome Bedford College staff and students into the town centre ”

Want to know more about Love Bedford go to www lovebedford co uk

Want to know more about careers in Hair & Beauty go to bedfordcollegegroup ac uk 2022 Video of show https://www facebook com/lovebedford/videos/thebrooks-hair-beauty-show-made-its-long-awaitedreturn-on-thursday-26th-may-an/522337279619237/

Zipyar d launches clothes drive for the homeless

BEDFORD-BASED clothing alterations business, The Zip Yard, has launched a warm clothes campaign for the homeless in partnership with local charity SMART Customers of The Zip Yard and local Bedford residents are being encouraged to drop off their unwanted warm clothing to The Zip Yard for distribution to the SMART Prebend Centre – a safe place for people who have no home, have been rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times As part of the campaign, The Zip Yard is offering its seamstressing skills free of charge to repair any donated items

Graeme Mulheron, owner of The Zip Yard Bedford, commented: “Our Zip Yard store celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, and we wanted to give something back to the local community The very nature of our business means people are always bringing in their clothes for repairs and alterations So, as part of the warm clothes campaign with SMART Prebend Centre, we’re offering our services to repair items brought in by the public so that they are all in good condition to go on and keep people warm in the continuing cold weather and into spring

“At this time of the year, lots of people are having

MP calls on Chancellor to think again

NORTH East Bedfordshire MP, Richard Fuller, has led a cross party, cross region group of MPs calling on the Chancellor to rethink plans for growth in the “OxCam Arc”

Chancellor in his budget rightly focussed on promoting economic growth

clear-outs or preparing to ditch their winter clothing for a springtime wardrobe, so it’s the perfect time to drop off coats, hats, thermals, gloves and thick winter jumpers Through its outreach, SMART Prebend Centre offers urgent and ongoing help with free hot food, showers and clean clothes, as well as advising on issues including housing, health and debt We’ve worked with the charity in the past and have seen firsthand the incredible job it does We’re looking forward to helping them gather and distribute donations ”

Sarah Grimes, fundraising and volunteering manager at Prebend St Day Centre, added: “It is a particularly difficult time for those experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough – the temperature often dips extremely low and our day centre is often the only source of warmth and comfort

“Support from local businesses like The Zip Yard is incredible for us, and the clothes drive will allow the Bedford community the opportunity to give otherwise unused items that might have gone to landfill or charity shops straight to our clients It’s a brilliant initiative and we hope people will utilise Zip Yard’s drop off point when they are clearing out their wardrobes ”

The MPs say that the existing plans, based on a 2016 National Infrastructure Report are falling short –citing the abandonment of the Expressway, the difficulties with the East West Rail business case and the rise in environmental expectations

Commenting, Richard Fuller MP said: “The

“Our part of the country is well placed to contribute, but he needs a better plan: one that is more locally driven and with our Net Zero ambitions at its core ”

In a letter to the Chancellor, the MPs also draw attention to the existing pressure on public services and call for an improved balance between adding more primary care capacity and additional housing

Consolidating colleges across Bedfordshire

ALL the three colleges in Bedfordshire – Bedford, Shuttleworth and now Central Beds are now part of the same powerful group Central Beds College officially merged with The Bedford College Group on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 – creating an organisation worth nearly £80 Million, with up to 2,000 staff and 18,000 students, said CEO Ian Pryce CBE Ian and team joined a photo

road show around the Central Beds College locations which included the main campus in Dunstable, the Motor Vehicle and Engineering unit on Luton Road, and the centre at Leighton Buzzard

As part of the consolidation, Central Beds College will now, like the rest of the Group, be an official University Centre, meaning students can complete degrees in a wide range of subjects

Dan’s in the frame for Teacher of the Year

COMPUTING Course Manager

Daniel Hulatt has been short-listed in the prestigious Pearson FE Teacher of the Year Award 2023 Students and staff will be invited to share their stories of Daniel’s outstanding support in this world class department at The Bedford College Group with those judging the final stages of the awards

The Bedford College Group has a track record of success in the Pearson Teaching Awards with Steph Lee Vae from Tresham College being featured on BBC’s One Show for being the winner in 2022 Steph was the latest in a series of staff members who made the finals of the Pearson FE Teaching Awards

Daniel is one of many in the computing arena who have been recognised on the national and world stage along with colleague Christian Nunez Fuentes Daniel was featured in a national FE sector advertising campaign asking people from industry to consider sharing their skills with the next generation by becoming college lecturers

Daniel was also a bronze medal winner in the BTEC Tutor of the Year 2021

He originally studied at BTEC Computing at Central Beds College gaining a record 18 distinctions

Recently Daniel was one of four staff from The Bedford College Group who completed a special Centre of Excellence World Skills training Daniel has been sharing what he learned on that master class with colleagues across The Group and his efforts has been recognised at the highest levels As a result he is off to the Netherlands to take part in a Global Benchmarking exercise

sharing expertise in cyber security

Said Daniel: “This is all about sharing our very best teaching practices here at The Bedford College Group with our friends across the world ”

Evidence of uplift in learning by students as a result of the practices developed by Daniel under the Centre of Excellence World Skills work are seen here:

Out of 10 learners to take part in pilot events for WorldSkills pressure testing in total, three have taken part twice

Of the three learners to take part twice, two have shown a positive improvement in their overall score

On the first pass at the test in December, the average score was 57% On the second pass at the test in March, the average score was 65%

Developer promising state-of-the-art life sciences campus

by John Guinn – L ocal Democracy Reporter

PLANS for up to 400 new homes in Elstow are in the pipeline as an application for a ‘screening opinion’ has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council.

Before submitting a planning application, developers can apply for a screening opinion to see if their planned development is to be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

In this case, it is for the development of up to 400 dwellings on land at Abbey Fields, Elstow and includes ‘green infrastructure’ and the provision of a pedestrian/cycle bridge across the A421

The site is located on the southern edge of Bedford, to the north of A421, east of A6 and south of B530 West End

The site has been identified as a residential allocation in the presubmission version of the emerging Bedford Local Plan 2040

The applicants have also submitted a screening opinion application for the provision of up to 95,000sqm of commercial floor space on land at Pear Tree Farm on the other side of the A421

Jason Matthews, Director of M&S Estates, said: “Our vision for Pear Tree Farm, which is allocated in the Submission 2040 Bedford Local Plan, is to deliver a state-ofthe-art life sciences campus

“This has the potential to put Bedford on the map in the life science sector and create a significant number of high-quality career opportunities and jobs

“This opportunity is coming forward as one, connected vision alongside new homes at Abbey

Food waste collection has been ‘kicked down the road’ for too long say the Greens

Fields, which has been earmarked for residential development by the Borough Council

“An EIA screening opinion is a standard and early part of the process and we look forward to sharing our ideas with the local community in due course ”

Host a str eet par ty?

THE UK will mark the Coronation of King Charles III with a threeday bank holiday weekend from Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8, 2022

To help residents celebrate the Coronation, Bedford Borough Council is waiving the usual administration fee for street party road closures Street parties are a great opportunity for communities to come together, usually organised by groups of residents who get together and make arrangements to celebrate with their neighbours

For anyone wishing to hold a street party over the extended bank holiday weekend, the Council asks that applications are submitted by April 1, 2023 Residents can email road closures@bedford gov uk to

FOLLOWING the introduction of the Environment Act 2021, by the government, Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that Bedford Borough Council will be introducing a new weekly food waste collection service.

Residents will be able to dispose of food waste sustainably into a caddy bin provided by the Council

The service will be introduced during the 2024/25 financial year

by John Guinn

request a street closure

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “The King’s Coronation marks an unprecedented event and an opportunity for our towns and villages to come together to celebrate The council has been able to waive the application fee for holding a Coronation street party ”

“We want to make it easy for local residents and communities to organise a street party and celebrate this special occasion ”

To find out more about applying for road closures to celebrate the coronation in Bedford Borough visit www bedford gov uk/coronation

For guidance, advice and support on organising a street party, visit www gov uk

Mayor Dave said: “This new service will allow residents to dispose of food waste in a more sustainable way

“Our current plans are that the food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digester plant to produce clean energy and compost ”

Commenting on the plans, Mayoral Candidate and Cllr Tom Wootton commented: “After 14 years in office the current Mayor has finally decided to implement a food waste collection service, the cynic in me tells me there is an election shortly

“I do however welcome the scheme I am surprised he is so critical of the Government given that he is waiting on the allocation for Bedford which will go towards funding this new service

“I am also very disappointed

we still have no kerbside glass recycling service Introducing this service would reduce the Borough’s landfill costs, reduce the amount of glass going to landfill, reduce the Borough’s carbon footprint and raise our recycling rate ”

Lucy Bywater, Green Cllr (pictured) for Castle Ward said:

“Separate food waste collections by the Council are something we are on the record as having raised back in 2019, especially as well over 100 local authorities have been collecting food waste separately, some, for many years

“The much-delayed Environment Act has made it a requirement for local authorities to take this action and funding was always the sticking point, meaning it seemed to get kicked down the road by Bedford Borough

“Every year delay has meant more food waste going into back bins and therefore previously onwards to landfill and currently to incineration, neither of which are at all sustainable

“The sooner this weekly food collection starts, the better!”

The Mayor ’s announcement comes during Love Food Hate Waste Week This year ’s theme is ‘Win Don’t Bin’ aimed at showing residents how you can save time and money by making the most of the food you buy

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Carpet baggers jumping on the band wagon

POLITICAL parties in Bedford have been accused of ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ in a debate over estate management fees.

“It’s very interesting to hear members of other parties suddenly jump on the bandwagon as we have an election approaching,” the leader of Bedford Borough’s Council’s Conservative Group said.

Councillor Graeme Coombes (Wilshamstead) was speaking during a debate on estate management fees during the council’s full meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2023

The debate started with councillor James Weir (pictured) Conservative, Kempston Rural) giving members a presentation of his research into estate management charges

This was part of a petition that councillor Weir had given notice of at the previous full meeting

“Most, if not all [of you] will be aware of the charges suffered by a large majority of residents living in new developments across the borough,” he said.

“The charges are levied for a myriad of items, but rarely explained or justified when residents paying these charges ask for a breakdown

“The petition calls on all local authorities to represent their residents and lobby and make their voice heard by asking the current planning and housing minister to abolish this system going forward

“And to make the current system fairer and more transparent to stop the exploitation of buyers and renters on new developments,” he said

ethemarket finds Bedfor d’s r oad

ar e

IF YOU are road user in Bedford Borough you might find this hard to believe but Comparethemarket’s insurance team has found Bedford Borough’s road conditions are some of the best in the country.

After analysing government data of the road conditions in each local authority in England they have published the study which can be viewed here: https://www comparethemarket com/car-insurance/ content/superior-roads/

y!

“It’s very interesting to hear members of other parties suddenly jump on the bandwagon as we have an election approaching with planted questions and all the usual things asking the mayor what he thinks of things ”

During the questions from the public part of the meeting the LibDem candidate for Great Denham, Joanna Szaub-Newton, asked mayor Dave Hodgson why the government had not introduced the changes to estate management charges that it “said they would do back in 2017 ”

Obviously the mayor is keen to let you all know about this good news – 86% of the roads have been found to be good condition

They also considered how much improvement work is needed against the number of repairs planned

Bedford Borough was found to have 86% of its roads in good condition

This places it in the top six local authorities for the study The full study can be viewed at https://www comparethemarket com/car-insurance/ content/superior-roads/

Mayor Dave Hodgson, said: “I would like to thank our Highways and Engineering Services teams and our dedicated Pot Hole Hit Squad, who are responsible for both the proactive and reactive maintenance of Bedford Borough Roads

code, and then tap / click to drop a pin

Any road problems that have already been reported are marked on the same map with red pins

Once resolved the pin will be removed

“Can I ask the mayor and his executive members to write and publish a letter to the Levelling Up, Communities, and Housing secretary expressing the need for a change at speed and that all 40 councillors add their names,” he said

Following the presentation, the council’s portfolio holder for town centres and planning, councillor Henry Vann (LibDems, De Parys) put forward a motion based around councillor Weir ’s request but expanded it by encouraging all councillors “particularly those whose party is in government” to help the council to lobby the government to take action

Councillor Coombes said:

“What I find interesting is that councillor Weir has been banging on about these charges and since the day he was elected

“I know [he has] certainly bent my ear about it, and raised it in our group meetings

“No I don’t know why the government is failing to act, but I urge it to do so,” the mayor replied

Councillor Coombes added: “I support this motion that councillor Vann has brought forward, I agree with it in principle

“And I think we should do whatever we can to address this point, which is really hurting the people having to pay the charges

“Other than councillor Weir, I haven’t heard another member mentioning service charges in this chamber in recent years,” he said

The motion was carried

“With a higher number of potholes than usual this year due to extreme weather conditions in December, I encourage anyone that discovers a road problem to help us and report it as soon as they can, so that it can be investigated ”

Road problems in Bedford Borough are assessed and then scheduled for repair The most severe road problems are repaired first while others are planned for as soon as resources allow Any dangerous road problems are usually inspected within 24 hours Less urgent road problems are normally inspected within ten working days

If people are concerned about a pothole or other road issue they can report it on the Bedford Borough Website at www bedford gov uk/roadproblems

Use the map to zoom in, or enter a street or post-

Councillor Sarah-Jayne Gallagher (pictured) commented: “Has Aprils Fool’s day come early?”

The Borough’s own internal Road Condition stats reveal that almost 60% of the Borough’s roads are local roads for local traffic which have become considerably worse in the last 14 years

Back in 2009 only 4% of the Borough’s roads were in the red, meaning they required intervention

This has now reached 24% under the current Mayor Residents, especially in rural parts of the Borough, are being left with horrific driving conditions as roads are left to disintegrate – the A428 through Turvey is in a very poor condition, the A600 between Cotton End and Haynes and Willington Road in Cople are in a complete state of disrepair

Compar

conditions

some of the best in the countr

Flytippers hit with £400 fine

A MAN who dumped a bag of waste next to a litter bin in Biddenham Turn, Biddenham this month has paid a Fixed Penalty Notice for fly-tipping The Council’s Street Cleansing team found evidence that lead to the offender being tracked down

Rather than attend an interview with Council officers under caution the man elected to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice offered

The Fixed Penalty Notice for fly-tipping is £400 which can be reduced to £300 with an early payment discount

Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “I would like to thank our Street Cleansing and Environmental Crime Teams who have been invaluable in helping us crack down on fly-tipping and keeping our streets clean in Bedford Borough

“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and we are seeking to clamp down and enforce any case

we possibly can, either through the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice or through a prosecution Fly-tipping can ruin our countryside and our communities, we will continue to raise awareness that it is criminal and unacceptable

“Our enforcement teams work tirelessly to find and prosecute people who are carrying out unlawful activities If you witness an incident of fly-tipping, please report it as soon as you can to give our officers the best chance of catching the perpetrators

“We also encourage all local residents to help identify individuals who have been caught fly-tipping at www bedford gov uk/ caughtoncamera ”

Cllr Royden added, “If you have extra waste please take it to the Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Barkers Lane ”

If you see fly-tipping on the street or someone actually fly-tipping “Report It” to www bedford gov uk/fly-tipping

Leisur e contractor branded ‘dr eadful’ by Tor y leader

by John Guinn – L ocal Democracy Reporter

FUSION Lifestyle is a “dreadful organisation” who has managed Bedford Borough Council’s leisure provision “extremely poorly”, a councillor has said.

Cllr Graeme Coombes was reacting to a report on the council’s review to recommission its leisure services in 2024, which was presented to the Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, March 2

“We as a committee have spent a long time holding Fusion’s feet to the fire,” the Conservative ward councillor for Wilshamstead said

“They are a dreadful organisation, they have managed our leisure provision extremely poorly

“There was a national exposé in the Daily Telegraph about 12 months ago saying how poor they were

“What I would like to see as a member of the Scrutiny Committee is to have the performance data to show how Fusion has performed over time, so that we can scrutinise that

“If I could give one word of advice, that we don’t use Fusion next time around

“I really feel we are being let down by not having Fusion here in person to answer for their performance

“Because many of the things that we have criticised over the years haven’t gone away

“You still hear the same criticisms from users, about unclean facilities not managed properly, and it really is only right that we scrutinise Fusion on that

LET OFF THE HOOK!

“Why are Fusion not here in person? Why have they been let off the hook?” he asked

The report was presented by the portfolio holder for leisure and culture, Cllr Doug McMurdo (Independent, Sharnbrook) said the report was an update on the procedures needed to put the new contract out to tender

Paul Pace, head of environment at the council added: “If we were asked to bring a performance [report] to the committee we would have done that

“The reason Fusion hasn’t come to this one is obviously we wanted to give you an insight into what we’re doing, and procurement wise that does impact on Fusion

“So we obviously didn’t want to

have been in a situation where we’re talking about procurement where we could be challenged by another provider, [who could say] why were Fusion allowed to be involved with that process?” he said

Responding to councillors Coombes suggestion of not using Fusion next time, Cllr McMurdo said: “In terms of who will win the bid and who will bid is not something I’m going to predict

“If Fusion wants to bid they will be perfectly entitled to bid, as will any other operator, organisation, etc,

“I would be failing this council, and it would be open to legal challenge, if we obviously wrote people in

“But if we wrote people out at this relatively early stage that would not be good

“And I’m not advising that, and I would caution any member of this authority at this point in time to be writing people out

“We can take comments about performance, and that I think should be a very separate discussion,” he said

A spokesperson for Fusion Lifestyle said the company has no comment to make at this time

Star t the day the Livingstone way! So many choices after A Levels

EXCITING employers and universities joined a line-up at The Bedford Sixth Form in Bromham Road for a careers event which include lectures and informal chats at stands

Bedfordshire Police, ASHE Construction, Pell Frischerman, the House of Commons, Bedford & District Cerebral Palsy Society, the Foreign Commonwealth Development Organisation, Social Work Academy, Swissport, A Star Future, Ladies be Architects (Systems Architects), National Citizen Service, Bedford Volunteer Centre, Healthwatch Bedford, Simply Education and Woburn Estates were among the speakers and exhibitors together with:

Keele University

University of Northampton University of Lincoln

Anglia Ruskin University

Michael Worthington, student Services Coordinator: “At The Bedford Sixth Form we aim to help each student make an informed choice about their future career plans, as well as to help them to progress into university, apprenticeships or employment Events like The Bedford Sixth Form Careers and Wellbeing Fair are a key part of this

“On 16th and 17th of March Sixth Formers had the opportunity to listen to talks from leading employers and top universities, attend a careers fair and complete interactive activities (as part of The Bedford College Group Virtual Careers Fair)

“Students also had the chance to find out more about the student services available at TBSF, includ-

ing the learning resources centre and our new mental health wellbeing service

“The employers attended ranged from engineering firms, such as Lockheed Martin and MBDA, through to key public service providers such as Bedfordshire Police, NHS England and even Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Services

We were also joined by universities ranging from Lincoln through to Keele, and important agencies from the voluntary sector (such as the Samaritans and Headway)

“We are thrilled that so many top quality organisations have agreed to help support this event This is sure to inspire our students to work hard in order to achieve their goals and enrich their learning experience ”

University’s new Chancellor announced

OVER more than two years and with the support of the National Schools Breakfast programme, the whole school breakfast initiative at Livingstone Primary has gone from strength to strength

As well as offering a variety of cereal, almost 800 bagels are prepared each week.

Headteacher Peter Thornes

said: “We now have a dedicated team, known as Team Bagel, which includes students from Years 5 and 6, who arrive early every morning to ensure bagels are prepared and ready to be distributed to every class for the start of each school day.

“With breakfast now part of Livingstone’s morning routine, the feedback from pupils and

members of staff is overwhelmingly positive, reporting that pupils are ready to learn and tend to remain focused for longer ”

As the National Schools Breakfast programme is extending provision well into 2024, it looks like Whole School Breakfast at Livingstone Primary is here to stay ”

THE University of Bedfordshire have announced that Sarfraz Manzoor – author, broadcaster and screenwriter – will be the University’s new Chancellor Manzoor who was born in Pakistan and grew up in Luton, has seen critical acclaim for his writing which has often reflected on identity, belonging and the challenges and opportunities of multiculturalism

He gained international recog-

nition when his memoir ‘Greetings from Bury Park’ (2007), which described his childhood growing up in Luton in a British Pakistani family, was adapted into the 2019 feature film ‘Blinded by the Light’

Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, said: “We are proud to have Sarfraz join the University as Chancellor His

ethos, and the passion shown throughout his career and life experiences, embody all that we strive to instil in our students and staff during their time at Bedfordshire

“We believe his values and desire to positively showcase diversity in Britain as well as his affection for the local area makes him stand out as a truly inspirational person to hold the position of Chancellor ” Manzoor started his career as a broadcaster and journalist, before scripting and presenting documentaries for BBC television and radio

In his most recent book ‘They’, Manzoor aims to understand and bridge the antipathy and mistrust between Muslims and nonMuslims, telling us ‘we must leave

our silos of certainty and get to know people who are different’

Ahead of his inauguration, Manzoor commented: “I am thrilled to be joining the University of Bedfordshire as Chancellor I grew up in this town, went to school and college here, spent many teenage days in the central library and the Arndale Centre trying to imagine a life and world larger than the world into which I had been born

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-1pm Call

Brothers jailed af ter £10,000 drugs and £20,000 cash seized

TWO drug dealing brothers have been jailed for almost nine years after drugs and cash worth £30,000 were seized in Bedford

Shabaz Miah, 29, alongside Shazad Miah, 28, were arrested by Bedfordshire Police during a warrant at Shabaz’s home address in January

Police had received reports both brothers were involved in a organised crime group dealing both cocaine and heroin

Further information suggested they used children as drug runners to sell their products and would threaten these same children with violence if they failed to do so

During the search officers found bundles of cash throughout the property amounting to £20,0000, which was seized

Large amounts of cocaine, heroin, and cannabis later valued at up to £10,000 were also found in a shed, as well as other items associated with drug dealing

Several burner style phones were also located in bedrooms which belonged to the dealers

Text message exchanges from one of the phones retrieved shows Shazad text a buyer the following:

“3pm g im live”

A drugs expert interpreted the message and explained the term live is used when the user of the phone is ready to supply drugs, further implicating Shazad

Miah and Miah, both of Oldfield Road, Bedford, pleaded guilty to six drug dealing offences covering the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis, as well as possession of criminal property

The pair were handed four-year jail terms for drug offences at Luton Crown Court on Friday, March 17, 2923

Shazad was given an additional nine-month sentence in connection to an unrelated affray in

Peterborough

Rightsize your way to happiness at the Newells

We ’ re firm believers in rightsizing, not downsizing. When it comes to moving, we all want to feel excited about the possibilities of our new home. We certainly don’t want to feel that we ’ re settling for less. Instead, we want to know that the outcome will be uplifting, liberating and life-enhancing

Adlington Retirement Living’s latest community ‘The Newells’ in Kempston, is a place where you can enjoy more of all the important things in life. More time for the things you love, more space to enjoy as an extension of your home, plus more support from the on-site team who are available 24/7, 365 days a year

Spacious apartments and first-class facilities

When you move from a family home to a retirement community, you ’ re gaining access to the outstanding on-site facilities and gardens, which are an extension of your own home Alongside the range of 60 brand-new one, two and three-bedroom retirement apartments, The Newells will have an on-site restaurant serving freshly cooked meals daily*, a homeowners’ lounge, hair salon*, coffee lounge, therapy suite*, activities studio and beautiful landscaped gardens

Adlington homeowner Bess said: “My new apartment is the perfect size for me

It’s lovely, and it looks onto the garden, which is great I was surprised by how much storage there is I’ve got room to spare I’ve got the best of both worlds because I’ve also got all the communal areas to enjoy ”

Fellow Adlington homeowners Michael and Pat had been living in their four bedroomed detached house for 41 years before moving Michael said: “The thing we liked most about our apartment was the space and the fact that it opens out onto

the garden. We can walk straight out and sit in the sunshine or walk around the paths in the communal gardens and go to see the vegetable gardens ”

Fewer chores and more fun

Maintaining a home can start to feel like a full-time job and for many of our homeowners the appeal of leaving all of that behind, was one of the reasons they decided to move

Alexandra Johnson, Sales and Marketing Director said: “One of the main benefits of a retirement living community is not having to worry about maintaining a house and garden anymore. It’s lovely to hear many of our homeowners at our other communities comment on the free time and energy they have to enjoy life They often remark how much more ‘ me time’ they discover not having to worry about repairs, DIY or mowing the lawn ”

Adlington homeowner Margaret adds: “We’d lived in our house for 47 years and had spent a lot of money on it We’d had three or four kitchens and bathrooms and I’d reached the point where I thought ‘I’m not prepared to spend any more money on this house’ because we wouldn’t get it back It was 62 years old, so it was going to need

a new roof and pointing. We were already paying for a gardener I just didn’t want the hassle of it all It was a burden for me, worrying about it

“We really enjoy having a beautiful garden to sit in that’s been maintained by somebody else This year we had a lovely hot summer and we regularly ate outside. It was like being on holiday. Out came the Sangria and it was lovely We had a garden party too in the summer and that was really nice, with a jazz band, BBQ and drinks

“It’s amazing how much more time and energy you have when you don’t have to worry about the never-ending ‘to-do list’ around the house.”

Register your interest

The Marketing Suite is open from Saturday 1st April on Manor Drive in Kempston, where a selection of apartments will be available to reserve off-plan

Call 01234 988200 to register your interest and find out more about the lifestyle you can enjoy at The Newells, or visit adlington co uk/BBR

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Mayfair House 11 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 01234 964911

Free Will & Testament

The Will Writing Company is celebrating its 26th Year in business and is offering a free Will & Testament (joint or single) to all readers. If you have been meaning to make a Will, now is your chance to take advantage of this exclusive offer and give you and your loved ones peace of mind. By making a Will, you decide who takes care of your children and who inherits your estate. Storage facility optional.

To take advantage of this offer and book an appointment or for further information please call our offices on the above number between the hours of 9:00am-5:30pm Monday to Friday.

OFFER ENDS 30th April

THE final member of a Bedford drugs gang involved in the “torture and humiliation” of vulnerable adults has been jailed

Four men behind the ‘Ginge’ county drugs line are now facing almost 26 years in prison for what a judge said was the exploitation of vulnerable people by the gang, including “extreme violence with weapons”

Detectives have now called on communities across Bedfordshire to be wary of the practice known as cuckooing in order to keep vulnerable people safe from this kind of exploitation by organised crime

Events in March 2020 saw two gang members mete out “significant violence and derogation” to three residents at a flat their gang was cuckooing in Bedford when around £300 of cocaine was alleged to have gone missing

Gang members Shamadul Islam and Mohammed Ali at various stages forced an antique shotgun into one of the victim’s mouths, hit another around the head with a machete, as well as forcing some to strip naked in order to find where the drugs had gone

One of the victims was then marched to a cash point and forced to pay the gang over £200

“This was a small flat, there was a gang of six, the gang acted aggressively and violently to the occupiers in their home – you instilled such terror and fear they were prepared to do what they didn’t want to do,” said Judge Steven Evans

“The victims were vulnerable and terrified This is a very serious example of false imprisonment and were you older and but for the principle of totality, double figures would be appropriate for this terrifying ordeal ”

The day after this, the same drugs gang was captured on CCTV armed with weapons attempting to break into another flat in Bedford in order to retrieve their drugs

Islam was the head of the drugs line, supported by Ali, Amirul Hussain and Naimour Ahmed

Two other younger drug runners were also involved in the gang and their activities.

The court heard the group were a “frightening sight” which would sit in the cuckooed flat and brandish weapons

“The residents were frightened – and with good reason,” said Judge Stevens

One of the occupants of the flat was able to escape and sought refuge at a homeless shelter, whose staff notified police about what had happened

Bedfordshire Police executed a warrant at the cuckooed location that day and initially arrested five members of the gang, recovering weapons including a BB gun, machete, axe and a mallet

They were able to link these weapons to the gang using CCTV of the second incident where the group attempted to break into another flat

The same CCTV was also used to match the clothing of the different suspects to identify them

Islam, 23, of Ampthill Road, Bedford, the suspected head of the county line, had almost £6,000 in cash seized from his bedroom

On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, he was sentenced to eight years eight months in prison, having been found guilty of two counts of false imprisonment, blackmail, possession of an imitation firearm, two counts of assault and criminal damage

GUILTY

He had pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply both cocaine and heroin

Last month Ali, 22, of Cavendish Street, Bedford, was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison, with a further three years on licence, after being found guilty of two counts of false imprisonment, conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin, two counts of assault, criminal damage and having a bladed article

During a hearing in May last year, four others were handed sentences for their involvement:

Hussain, 24, of Elstow Road, Bedford, was sentenced to four

years for conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon

Ahmed, 23, of Faraday Square, Bedford, was sentenced to four years for conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin

The youngest two men involved pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and heroin as well as criminal damage They were each handed a two-year youth community order Detective Constable Lindsey Cook, from Bedfordshire Police’s Boson guns and gangs team, led the investigation and was commended by the judge for her work

She said: “The ordeal that this gang put these people through was justifiably described in court as torture and humiliation

“This is the brutal reality of the illegal drugs trade We have a relentless focus on tackling the organised criminal gangs behind drug dealing because they pose huge risks in terms of carrying out extreme violence or inhumane exploitation, both of which we have seen on full display in this truly shocking case

“We all have a responsibility to stop this People can be vulnerable for many reasons, including alcohol or drug addiction, poor mental health or not having English as their first language Many times, they may not see themselves as victims

“But we must all look out for our neighbours and vulnerable people in our communities to protect them from this kind of exploitation ”

Member of Parliament for North East Bedfordshire

ADVICE SURGERIES

Richard holds regular surgeries across North East Bedfordshire. If you would like to book an appointment, please call 01767 313385

Rt Revd Richard Atkinson – Bishop of Bedford Rejoicing

Over a three-year period I have committed to visiting each of our Parochial Church Councils (PCCs); the committees that have local trustee responsibilities for our parishes, their churches and local mission

There are about one hundred and forty PCCs in our county I have so far met twenty-seven of them!

Each conversation with a PCC starts with prayer and then time to reflect on St Mathew’s account of the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) It is a rich time with many themes emerging that connect with the life of the church

There is Jesus’ compassion for the hungry; the transformation of the loaves and fishes through the blessing of God; the baskets left over that speak of the abundance of God’s love and grace

There is one theme that particularly excites me When asked to feed the people the disciples reply that they only have five loaves and two fishes. What is that amongst so many? They only see what they haven’t got – an individual picnic box for each person or maybe Judea’s best outside catering Jesus in contrast encourages them to rejoice in what they have, rather than bemoan what they don’t have All too often – and churches and community groups are no exception – we spend excessive time focusing on what we haven’t got It can be that nostalgia that looks back (often through rose-tinted glasses) to some past time – if only it was like then. But it isn t and it probably won t be again Focusing on the past all too often becomes an excuse for avoiding the present;

Dave Hodgson – Mayor of Bedford Ambitious for Bedford Borough

I recently launched the Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats’ 2023 Manifesto and our key priorities:

• We will Support People

• We will protect the Environment and tackle Climate Change

• We will ensure there is Opportunity for All Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats will do this by standing up for Bedford Borough and working hard for residents all year round

The Manifesto highlights some of the many successes the Liberal Democrats have had whilst running the Council, including creating and protecting over 8,000 new jobs, reducing the Council’s carbon emis-

sions by over 62% and supporting the poorest by offering a 100% Council Tax Reduction Scheme The document also outlines future plans to reduce debt levels further from the £90 million left by the Conservative County Council, to introduce a new food waste service and continue to tackle homelessness

I will always do what is best for Bedford Borough and make sure that council taxpayers’ money is well spent We have proved year on year, through some very difficult times, that we can run the Council finances responsibly. The Liberal Democrat Team will work to keep protecting and supporting people, especially the most vulnerable in our Borough We will

There’s still time to visit this brilliant exhibition

rejoicing in what we have now

Alternatively, the emphasis turns to the ‘what ifs’ What if we had a million pounds in the bank or we had a team of youth workers – for most settings idle dreams that won’t come about A different way of bemoaning what we don’t have, rather then rejoicing in what we do

Whether we are involved in the world of work, or the life of the community, or in a faith group or church, the priority is to rejoice in what we have – rejoice in the people we work and partner with; rejoice in the gifts and resources that we do have; rejoice in what can be Jesus takes and blesses those loaves and fishes. What is, becomes food for all. Rejoice in what we have for then we realise its possibility and potential

THERE is still time to visit the brilliant ‘Changing Times: A Century of Modern British Art’ exhibition at The Higgins Bedford

The exhibition is open until Sunday, April 16, 2023

Almost one hundred paintings, works and sculptures from the 20th century are featured

Works come from The Higgins Bedford’s collection and The Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art

Visitors can enjoy works by some of the biggest names in British art, such as prints and watercolours by David Hockney and Eric Ravilious and large scale sculptures by Elisabeth Frink

The Higgins Bedford has welcomed over twelve thousand visitors since the exhibition opened in October 2022

Entry to ‘Changing Times: A Century of Modern British Art’ is free

continue to tackle climate change and protect our local environment by investing in sustainable technology and reducing carbon emissions to achieve a Net Zero Carbon Council by 2030 We will ensure that the Borough is a hive of opportunity for learning, skills development and business growth We will respect and celebrate our many different cultures and traditions We will stand up for Bedford in the face of government cuts to transport and health services We will lobby government to ensure that our current and future communities have the necessary infrastructure to allow them to thrive

To view the Manifesto please visit www bedfordlibdems org uk/manifesto

Mohammad Yasin – MP Kempston and Bedford Funding secured for new SEND is a huge success

I am delighted that following a concerted campaign by Portfolio Holder for Education and Children s Services Councillor James Valentine, other Labour Councillors and myself, a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school on the site of the former Robert Bruce school in Kempston will be built.

This 200 place new SEND school has been designed with significant input from both parents and teachers, helping to ensure that it gets off to the best start possible. Too often parents are left out of the conversation by governments on education policy and that needs to change I am pleased that Labour representatives locally made it a priority to ensure that parents and key stakeholders have been involved in this project from day one

Once built, the school will be a significant upgrade on our current SEND education capacity in Bedford and Kempston It is shameful that due to Government delays some students have had to travel outside of Bedford Borough to access the education support they need, putting additional pressure on families. It s time for that to change

There is no question that this school will make a huge difference to the lives of its students and I am grateful to everyone involved who helped to push the Department for Education for the funding needed

The location of the new school, on the former Robert Bruce school site will also help to rejuvenate this large and wellpositioned plot of land that had been left in

disrepair since its closure

We need to use this announcement as a catalyst, let it be just the start, rather than the end, of our efforts to improve SEND education across Bedford and beyond SEND students have been failed by the Government both in terms of funding their education and of proper consideration to their needs in order to fulfil their potential Teachers do a remarkable job to teach the next generation all while receiving limited funding from the Government We need to enable teachers to be the best they can be, with constraint and provide schools with the resources they need, so that the focus of schools can be on tailoring education to each student rather than worrying about whether they can even afford text books, pencils and other essential materials

Fifty years of Milton Ernest Garden Centre

Milton Ernest Garden Centre opened in the kitchen garden of Milton Ernest Hall at Easter 1973.

Milton Ernest Hall was the home of a Milton Ernest family called Starey It was built between 1854 to 1858 and designed by the famous gothic church architect William Butterfield for his sister who married Benjamin Starey It is the only country house he built

During the Second World War the US Army Air Force were billeted at the Hall along with Glenn Miller He played a concert from there before his last flight from Twin Woods Airfield opposite when his plane was lost

The house and grounds were then left derelict until 1972 when the estate was bought by a London based Advertising Company Maureen Catlin purchased a lease to open a Garden Centre in the old kitchen garden and started work in the winter of 1972 clearing the overgrowth and restoring the original Victorian Green Houses The Outdoor Plant display beds were constructed to emulate a “Herbal Knot Garden” radiating out from the central Pear Tree originally planted in 1902

Milton Ernest Hall Gardens opened at Easter 1973 with a happy little staff of five and traded from there until 1993

In 1992 when Milton Ernest Hall now a Nursing Home would not renew the lease Milton Ernest Garden Centre was charged with finding a new home

Clifton Ibbett OBE a successful Farmer, Developer, and a Benefactor to many local causes, offered another site in the village and Milton Ernest Garden Centre moved home

by Maureen Catlin

The Garden Centre which at the time was “State-of-the-Art” in design opened its doors in September 1993 It now included a pet and aquatic centre, a coffee shop, an art and craft shop and a variety of local small entrepreneurs with niche markets Our numbers rose to a total of 48 staff

MEGC quickly became integral with the village opening the first Post Office within a Garden Centre in the country at the request from a petition instigated by the Vicar “Our post office is still greatly supported by local people from the surrounding villages for its many other banking and postal services The easy parking, a friendly face and the promise of a coffee afterwards provides a weekly outing for many people living alone

“Milton Ernest Garden Centre was again ahead of the multinational stores”

“Along with the new Garden Store came New Technology

We were a first to introduce customer Loyalty Cards A popular scheme still in use today with customers taking great advantage of the “Save as you Spend” slogan Savings and special offers are regularly emailed directly to customers “to help save money”

A Village Grocery Shop, a Dog Grooming Parlour, a Car Valeting Service and Shed and Greenhouse Concession increased the range of product and services available all under one roof Our annual fun days like The Horticultural Show, The Dog Show, Vintage Car Day, Wildlife Day, Monthly Car Boot Sale and Book Launches are always very well supported and raise money for local charities

Over the years we have seen Santa arriving in his cart with the Shire Horses accompanied by elves and magicians and the staff in fancy dress Now our wonderful festive fayres contribute to make a fun Christmas Family Outing for all

“Chris and Stewart love getting stuck into our popular Kids Gardening and Craft Clubs Held during school holidays children can “learn by doing” and take away their masterpieces Stewart will also tempt you back into the garden with his “something for the weekend” posts on Facebook and Instagram All our events and special offers can be found on our website and social media channels ”

At Milton Ernest Garden Centre we are open every day of the year except Christmas Day Boxing Day and Easter Sunday We hope you can find time to pay us a visit and enjoy a pleasant, relaxed shopping experience with us

music

T he Ar tful Dodger at the Corn Exchange

the most commercially successful UK Garage act to have ever emerged from the scene to date

The Ar tful Dodger is comprised of producers David Low and MC Alistair, the name Ar tful Dodger is already established world-wide as the most commercially successful name to ever grace the UK garage scene

They have a total of 15 years experience between them both playing garage music throughout a wide array of European cities and have also been credited for many international tours

by Tony Hendrix

The biggest Club event to look for ward to over the Easter period is an event I covered a few months ago where I urged you to grab some early tickets to see The Ar tful Dodger

The legendar y char t topping Garage Guru ‘The Ar tful Dodger ’ is scheduled to per form live at the Bedford Corn Exchange on Friday April 4, 2023

The Ar tful Dodger is cer tainly

Ready, Steady, Go – the Searchers are

in town

con club

Join us for a mixed night of swing, soul & Reggae with the smooth LEE FOXALL

Saturday 8th April

Yep we did it you asked we provide its only karaoke night with the host with the most SHAUNY H

THE CONCLUB’S BIG CHARITY EVENT – THIS YEAR’S CHARITIES ARE:

Now you have the chance to enjoy their sweet Old Skool Garage at The Corn Exchange Here s a few of their biggest char t buster , ReRewind, Moving Too Fast, Think About Me Twenty four seven Woman Trouble the list is endless!

If you are a devoted Old Skool Garage fan you need to grab a ticket NOW there are not many lef t this will be an awesome event, don’t, get lef t outside in the cold!

There s a new underground enter tainment venue located on Bedford High Street that has been trading now for pretty much three months The venue is called The Cellar Bar

The Victorian aged space has been transformed from a basement into a unique, underground venue, ready for live bands, comedy and events, whilst keeping traditional features The venue is open from Thursday to Sunday weekly the Cellar Bar offers specially selected craf t beers, including IPAs and guest ales, along with speciality cocktails created by skilled mixologists There’s a wide range of live enter tainment on offer ranging from quiz nights, open Mic nights and karaoke to top end live music enter tainment

Dress code is smar t if your not dressed right you will not be allowed entr y!

The Cellar Bar is located at 75A, High Street, Bedford, I will be covering this quaint venue again soon

WHEN John McNally formed the searchers in 1957, aged just 16, he could never have imagined the phenomenal success that his band would enjoy: 50 million record sales, thir teen UK char t hitsincluding three No 1’s - and a sound that inspired some of the greatest ar tists of all time including The Byrds, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen

This is a chance to experience a truly legendar y band, possibly for the last time Original members John McNally (guitar, vocals) and Frank Allen (bass, vocals) are joined by Spencer James (guitar, vocals – Spencer has been par t of the line-up for 37 years) and the newly recruited, highly rated Richie Burns (drums)

Frank said: “It’s been four years since our last tour We all needed a break but now we are ready to come back and do what we do and love best Mind you I do sometimes shudder at what we’ve taken on – 43 dates in 3 months –that’s quite a schedule for a band of a cer tain age! But I’m really up for it as are the rest of the guys ”

John said “I set this band up in 1957 and so far things have worked to plan I thought we would probably do a 43-date UK tour 66 years later I’m joking of course! Who would have imagined that we are still able to do this – touring the best towns and cities in the UK and still playing to thousands of fantastic fans I can’t wait ”

The band has chosen to call

this the ‘Thank You Tour ’ as a mark of respect and appreciation for the legions of fans who have suppor ted them over the years Fans will be treated to a full set of The Searchers best-loved songs, including: ‘When You Walk In The Room’, ‘Goodbye My Love’, ‘Sugar & Spice What Have They Done To The Rain’ as well as their three UK No 1 hits ‘Sweets for my Sweet’ (1963) ‘Needles and Pins’ (1964) and ‘Don’t Throw Your Love Away’ (1964)

Also included will be material from the 70s and 80s, when the Searchers were signed to Sire Records, becoming label-mates with some of the hippest acts around including Talking Heads, The Cure, Madonna and The Ramones – who covered ‘Needles and Pins This was one of the band’s favorite creative periods and saw them recording at Rockfield Studios in Wales (famous for Queen’s recording of Bohemian Rhapsody) Keep an ear out for gems including ‘Hear ts in Her Eyes’, ‘Love’s Melody’, ‘Infatuation’ and ‘It’s Too Late’

The Searchers are the longest running band in pop histor y They have been in constant demand for 66 years Not even The Rolling Stones can match that: they’ve only been going for 61 years!

The Searchers Thank You Tour runs playing at Bedford Corn Exchange, Friday, April 28 Tickets: www the-searchers co uk

EASTER SUNDAY IS PARTY DAY we start with the kids’ Easter party with prizes for best decorated egg and bonnets + games, prizes and disco and of course conclubs got talent so get those eggs, bonnets and cheeky jokes or songs ready

Then into the evening we have our fantastic WATERLOO ABBA duo and yes let's dress up – you have to when it's Abba

Saturday 15th April it’s soul and Motown and Regae with the fantastic CEE CEE EFF

Saturday 22nd April

The beautiful BIANCA L'EGO

Saturday 29th April have we got a special night for you – join us for the amazing CLAYTON STEVENS who has sung with the Drifters a night not to be missed

ST JOHN'S MOGGERHANGER BEDFORD DIALYSIS UNIT REACH OUT FOR CHILDREN WITH UPPER LIMB DISABILITY PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT US THIS YEAR FOR AN AMAZING CHARITY DAY WITH SINGERS NICKI POVEY BIANCA I'EGO

CEE CEE EFF STEPTH + BRIAN JAMIE CALLIS

WE ALSO HAVE RAFFLES AND AUCTION THAT HAS A VILLA FOR 4 IN SPAIN AVALIABLE WE START AT 12PM WITH FANCY DRESS IT’S A KNOCKOUT SCHOOL DAYS AT ADDISON PARK THEN ON TO THE CONCLUB FROM 2PM FOR A GREAT DAY OF FUN AND MUSIC AND FOOD – ALL WELCOME AND PLEASE IF YOU CAN DONATE A RAFFLE PRIZE OR AUCTION PRIZE PLEASE CALL IN DIARY DATES

KING’S CORONATION

WEEKEND

Sunday 7th May

We have a QUIZ NIGHT at 5 30pm only £2 a player 6 per team – then into the evening with a fantastic night of ska with one of the best skankers around with the lead singer of Bubounce

LORD BAKER

Saturday 20th May

Our fantastic Freddie Mercury tribute night with JOEY LINDON

Sunday 28th May FUNK ODDESSY

Having recently relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, multi award nominated singer/songwriter and Bedford native Danni Nicholls returns for a hometown show at Esquires suppor ted by a full band Opening the show will be fellow Bedfordian, Luke Tuchscherer –acclaimed ar tist formerly of Alt Countr y band The Whybirds

Danni will be per forming numbers spanning the American Roots Music spectrum from countr y to soul, there are songs to make you move, weep and smile With comparisons to ar tists such as Linda Ronstadt Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile and Roseanne Cash, Danni’s vibrant, captivating per formances are all but guaranteed to melt your hear t into the soles of your boots

Her passionate deliver y, captivating voice, mesmerising guitar skills and charmingly engaging between-song banter compel you to fall under her spell

Smokey soul, folk-pop and heart-wrenching alt-country,

Sharnbrook Men’s Group:

Oakley Rural Day Centre

Holy

Biggleswade Sandy

Facebook page

Contact Karen 07943940021

Bedford Folk Dance Club: Friendly Country and Folk Dance Club

Thursdays 8:15pm to 10:15pm St Mary’s Church Hall Church Lane Goldington Bedford MK41 0HL No partner required Good fun for only £3

Contact: Ron Law 01234 825574

Tudor Reeds Folk Dance Club:

Barn dance group meets every other Wednesday 8-10pm, St Mark’s Church Hall, Brickhill £3 inc refreshments Contact: Jenny 01234 217621t

Sandy Women’s Institute:

Meets on the third Tuesday of every month

(except

Kempston & District

Model Railway Society:

Contact: 01234 340163 | admin@stpaulschurchbed

Biddenham Gardeners

Association: Tuesday 18th April at 7 30 Biddenham Village Hall Diluted By Darren Derrigo Visitors very welcome

Admission £5 per meeting for non members –includes Raffle & Refreshments

Contact: www biddenhamgardenersassociation org uk

Bedford RSPB Local Group:

Meet at the ARA club Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7PF 7 30pm Thursday 20th April Steve Lovell Lincolnshire s birds and reserves As a Fully

Qualified self-employed Garden Designer and Landscaper, Steve has a passion for creating wildlife friendly gardens A Lincolnshire resident with a life long love of all natural history his knowledge of its birds and reserves is considered second to none Entrance fee, group members £1 Guest £2 annual group membership £5 under 18s enter free

Contact: www rspb org uk/groups/bedford or call 07905 199769

we are like then please contact The band rehearses Thursdays 8-10pm at Kempston East Methodist Church Contact: info@bedfordbrass.com

Tuesday Art Group Kempston:

Small self-help art group that meets every Tuesday in school term time from 10 00 to 12 00 at Kempston East Methodist Church Participants are free to do their own thing in any medium of their choice and the group participants can chip in with help, encouragement and advice New members welcome

Contact Matthew on 01234 295433.

Bedford Probus Club: Join our semi-retired or retired group from all walks of life to include business and professional men & ladies Meet on the first Monday of the Month at Bedfordshire Golf Club, Stagsden MK43 8SR Starting at 12 30 with a two course lunch followed by an interesting speaker Contact: Dawn Rice Tel 01234 750651 or email rdawn615@gmail com

Grand Jumble Sale: March 25, Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club – Clifton Community Centre Doors open 1:30 Entry

£1 Contact: Karen 07943940021

Yoga: Monday 10:30 am Higgins Museum & 2pm Priory Methodist Church, Bedford

Tuesday in Hitchin: 11am at Sun Hotel,

Clapham School for Seniors:

Bedford Floral Art Society: 7 30pm Tuesday, April 4th at the Addison Centre, Kempston when Louisa Rigden will be giving a flower arrangement demonstration entitled “Spring Delights”

Visitors welcome £7

Contact: www bedfordfloralartsociety co uk

Sandy Historical Society:

A G M followed by The History of the RSPB by Peter Bradley 7 30pm Friday 28th April Stonecroft Hall St Swithins Way Sandy SG1 1BB Membership £12 - Visitors £3 Includes refreshments Members & Students free Contact: 01767 680171

Bedfordshire Family History Society: Friday 21st April, our talk will be’ In the Name of God’ Amen: Wills for Family Historians By David Annal

To be held in the Drama Hall at Mark Rutherford School, Wentworth Drive, Bedford MK41 8PX The doors open at 7 00 pm and the talk begins at 7 30 p m Members free, visitors £1 Contact: secretary@bfhs.org.uk

Bedford Folk & Acoustic Club: Acoustic and folk music round-theroom, every Thursday evening from 8:30pm at the Bowls Pavilion of Kempston Hammers Club, MK42 7BN Musicians, singers and poets all welcome, at every level

Contact: us on facebook, or come and meet us at the Bowls Pavilion

Kempston Probus Club:

Are you retired or semi-retired and at a loose

Hardy Plant Society:

Meeting and talk Around the world in 80 plants by the head gardener of Bressingham Hall, at 2pm Saturday, April 1, Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade SG18 8JH £3 entrance, includes tea and biscuits For more information

Contact: 07756 478760

Biggleswade Sandy Lions

Club: 5th April Meets every 1st and 3rd

Wednesday of the month at 8pm at Biggleswade Sea Cadets Hall, Station Road

Visitors welcome Contact: Karen

07943940021 for more details

Biggleswade Sandy Lions

Club: 19th April Meets every 1st and 3rd

Wednesday of the month at 8pm at Biggleswade Sea Cadets Hall Station Road

Visitors welcome Guest speaker: EVAN with Tales of the Auction Room Contact: Karen 07943940021 for more details

North Beds Ramblers:

We walk every Saturday afternoon approx 68 miles plus extra walks 2nd and 4th Saturday of month walks approx 12 miles Please be sure you are fit to walk and wearing the appropriate footwear and clothing

April Walks

1st 1 30pm Great Denham, Park and Ride

8th 10am Woburn Church

8th 1 30pm Cranfield Church

15th 1 30pm Emmaus Centre, Carlton

22nd 8 10am train London

22nd 1 30pm Sharnbrook

29th 1 30pm Radwell

Contact: Margaret Sawyer 07780 933 729 for more details www ramblers org uk/north-bedfordshire

St Paul’s church music:

St Paul’s church, Bedford MK40 1SQ

Spring Recitals on Tuesday lunch times in term time and a monthly organ recital on second Saturdays Musicians, professional and amateur, come from a wide area and many countries; they include outstanding students from London colleges

Tuesdays lunch time recitals: 1 00 pm FREE with retiring collection in aid of church funds Suggest min £5

Monthly Saturday organ recitals 12 noon also FREE with retiring collection in aid of church funds

APRIL

Tuesday 18th 1pm Qianyi Ma (piano)

Tuesday 25th 1pm Yoko Sakakura (piano)

MAY

Tuesday 2rd 1pm Antonio Morabito (piano)

Tuesday 9th 1pm Hannah Hopmann (Cello)

Saturday 13th May 12 noon Thomas Oliver, Freiburg (organ)

Tuesday 16th 1pm Xiaoxuan Guo (Violin)

Tuesday 23rd 1pm Anna Cranford (Cello)

No Lunchtime Concert 30th May

For more information

Contact:01234 340163 www stpaulschurchbedford org uk

Massage: Experienced masseuse available I have been practicing as a masseuse for more than 30 years and now have clients in North Bedfordshire on Fridays The timing is such that I can take on a few more clients and so if you want someone to help you with a massage and treatment then I would be happy to take you on In the first instance, please

Contact: Robert on 01234 823402

Kempston Senior Citizens

Club: DANCING WHIST BINGO Meets

Wednesday 10am-12noon Friday 10am-4 pm Centenary Hall, behind Kempston Town Hall, Contact: Sheila Cobban, on 01234 347306

Car Boot Sales: Milton Ernest Garden Centre Sundays April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1 Pitches: Cars £5, Vans £10

Sellers: From 9am Buyers: 10am - 2pm To book your pitch Contact: Call 01234 823033

Bedford Art Society: Spring Art Exhibition April 25-29 Exhibition and Sale of Paintings/Artwork The Basement at Bunyan, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford MK40 3EU Open 11am to 4pm Free admission For further information

Contact: www bedsartsociety co uk

Man Cave: Unemployed home worker retired widowed or just need to talk to someone then look no further that the Man Cave in Sharnbrook Scout Hut Coffee and toast from 10am-1 30pm every Friday Contact: Bernard Brown on 07711 664451 or Steve Marvell on 07904 176698

Craft Fair: Riding for the Disabled Bromham 23 April 11am-3pm at Elisabeth Curtis Centre, Chestnut Avenue, Bromham, MK43 8HP Free entry, Refreshments For more information Contact: www elisabethcurtiscentre co uk

11th bir thday bash for Castle Comedy

Castle Comedy celebrates its 11th Bir thday in style! There will be star names, rising talent, bir thday cake

for all and a Jazz DJ in the bar

Thursday April 13, The Quarry Theatre, Bedford

PAUL ZERDIN is the UK’s number one comedy ventriloquist and winner of Series ten of America’s Got Talent!

Zerdin and his sidekicks have since gone viral of YouTube, receiving millions of views from around the world

He has appeared on countless TV shows including ‘Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford’ (ITV1), ‘Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show’ (BBC1) and three appearances at ‘The Royal Variety Per formance’!

Super funny, super talented and super professional there is nobody that wouldn’t enjoy your per formances” David Walliams

JOSH PUGH an English Comedian of the Year winner and star of ‘Live at the Apollo’(BBC2) ‘Comedy Central Live’ and Dave’s ‘Hypothetical’ Josh has amassed over three million views on his Twitter videos and regularly headlines the biggest clubs in the countr y

The show features full suppor t and Castle Comedy favourite Paul Revill will host the show

Doors 7, shows star t 8pm Show finishes 10 45pm Tickets www castlecomedy co uk

sport

Will Real Bedford win the league?

by Rowland White

APRIL sees the end of the football season and Step 6 team Real Bedford look nailed on to win the league. With seven league games remaining, three wins will be enough for Bedford to lift the title. And with 27 wins from their 31 league games, it would take some unforeseen disaster for the club, who have sat at the top of the table all season, to be knocked off the top spot

The game against second-placed Rugby Borough on February 25, was make or break for Rugby Win and they could potentially overtake the league leaders – and after a poor run of form for Real Bedford with shock defeats to lowly Langford and Wellingborough Whitworth, and a draw against Amersham – it certainly looked possible

Rugby are one of only three teams to beat Real Bedford this season and if they managed to do the double over Bedford then they would have been still in with a chance of pipping them to the top spot A Real Bedford win, however, would create a nicepoint gap between the first and second placed sides

The game was a tight affair with plenty of action as the two strong sides cancelled each other out for much of the afternoon Bedford held on to the possession for much of the game but it was Rugby who had the better of the chances in front of goal Rugby twice hit the woodwork and Hitchcock and Walker both missed chances for Bedford

But in the final minutes of the game, Tom Hitchcock put a fantastic ball to Jordan Brown down the left side, who controlled it magnificently, racing past the Borough defence before squaring to Eddie Corbit, who smashed the ball home from just three yards

PENALTY

A minute later Corbit was back in action again but brought down in the box, captain Luke Knight converted the penalty making it 2-0 to the visitors A huge victory for Bedford and a devastating loss for Rugby

Real Bedford were back at home the following Tuesday night and put six past visiting Buckingham

Athletic Curtis Hartley got his first goal in Real Bedford colours when he expertly headed in a corner from Luke Knight on the 12-minute mark Bedford’s strikers were shooting on site, peppering the keeper who made a number of excellent saves but he couldn't stop a sliced volley from Kevin Owusu from finding the back of the net, as the winger netted a rebound from Tom Wood's strike

An own goal made it three, as Luke Knight’s corner was clattered into the back of the net by a Buckingham defender Just before half time some fantastic Bedford interplay saw Tom Hitchcock finding Jordan Brown who raced down the wing and found Eddie Corbit, who delicately backheeled the ball into the path of Hitchcock, who picked his spot in between Buckingham defenders to find the back of the net

The second half was a quieter affair but Buckingham never gave up and pushed to get back in the game but it was Bedford again who added to their already hefty score line After

Jordan Brown had a goal wrongly chalked off as offside, minutes later he tapped in a goal on the back post following a superb cross from winger Claston Gordon It was Brown again who put the nail in the coffin, picking up a marvellous cross from Archie Culley to shoot past the keeper and end the game with a 6-0 victory

BACK IN FORM

After struggling in January and early February Real Bedford were back on the trajectory they started earlier in the season and smashed Holmer Green at McMullen Park 7-

1 Jordan Brown once again got the first goal, following a lovely threaded ball from Eddie Corbit Only a minute later Andy Sinclair connected with Luke Knight’s corner to head in the ball to the top corner making it two Eddie Corbit ran through the Holmer defence to fire a ball directly at the goalkeeper only for it to go through the young keeper ’s legs

The second half saw Holmer come out guns blazing and caught Real Bedford napping as Kobi Ambrose found the back of the net with a half-volley deflected shot Only ten minutes later and Bedford were back at it, with Archie Culley finding the net after the keeper had parried away a Jordan Brown shot

Dan Walker got on the score sheet as he stole the ball from the keeper and fired the ball home, and finally defender Tom Wood’s netted an almost identical brace in the final five minutes of the game

Visting Burton Park Wanderers couldn’t have picked a worse time to visit McMullen Park as Real Bedford really started to hit their stride Although Burton have climbed from the bottom to the mid of the table thanks to a newly refreshed team line up, it was no match for the in-form Bedford The Wanderers made some magnificent saves as their defenders put the body on the line in the opening stages of the match but Brown once again broke through the defences and let Tom Hitchcock take the glory with the opening goal

NEW DEFENDER

Lewis Burgess, a new addition to Real Bedford’s defence, launched a long throw into the box, which was met square on by Tom Wood’s head, bringing the defenders tally to three goals in two games However, it was Burton who nicked the next goal, Josh Drain beating James Ducket before slotting past Real’s Tyler McGregor

With only a one goal lead Bedford came out in the second half guns blazing and it was Jordan Brown’s by-line

cross to the awaiting Eddie Corbit, that give Bedford a two-goal cushion once again Next up was Archie Culley who headed a Luke Knight set piece into the top corner Not content with making two of the goals, Jordan Brown took the last goal as his own, running at the keeper and having no problems in slotting past him to end the game 51, and taking his goal tally to 26

Real Bedford visited Rushden and Higham for the first of five away games on the trot but being the away team did little to slow their goalscoring prowess Ben McGrath rose up to head in Eddie Corbit’s pinpoint cross from the left and knock the ball into the top corner on 15 Five minutes later it was the same move but down the right and Dan Walker providing the ball and Tom Hitchcock providing the head

The second half saw plenty of chances for Corbitt, and Walker but it was Hitchcock again who received a great through ball from and Corbitt who turned on the spot, and slotted it home into the bottom corner Substitute Kevin Owusu was next on the score sheet, picking up a loose ball from a defender to half volley into the goal from just inside the area with his first touch of the game The last minute saw the final goal as an attempt from James Ducket that deflected off the cross bar fell to the feet of new signing Ben Fitzjohn who had no problem turning into the net from close range and getting his first goal

GREAT FOOTBALL

The games continue to come thick and fast as Real Bedford travelled to high-flying Northampton Sileby on Tuesday, March 21, and managed to come home with all three points A superb cross from Dan Walker was headed in perfectly from Tom Hitchcock on the 15 minute mark before Walker himself doubled the lead on the stroke of half time with a wonder strike from the edge of the box Bedford played some of their finest football in the second half, with excellent one-touch football and linkup play, stifling the best efforts of Sileby But the game was put to bed in the last minute with an incredible goal by Luke Knight direct from a corner Real Bedford will play Elstow Abbey in the final of the Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy at the Eyrie on Wednesday, March 29 Real Bedford will be hoping to lift their first piece of silverware of the season at their neighbour Bedford Town’s home ground

As the club sits a comfortable twelve points clear with a game in hand, Real Bedford hope to have the league sewn up before their home game against Ampthill on April 10

Real Bedford vs Burton Park Wanderers

Relegation looms large for Eagles

by Michael Jarman-Webb

Loss of talented players hasn’t helped

Without a league win this year, and now in a relegation position, eight points adrift from the Kings Langley above, and nine from safety, it really is becoming difficult to see where the points will come from

Things have been made worse with two players jumping ship in recent weeks Talented midfielder Hugh Alban-Jones, took the decision to move to National League North side Peterborough Sports, it was a no brainer for him as he lives locally and would be playing a division higher

The timing of course couldn’t have been worse for Bedford

Also, out of the door is Charley Sanders who left to team up once again with former Eagles manager Gary Setchell, this time at his new club Corby Town The move follows a matchday visit of Setchell to the Eyrie a few weeks ago His spectacular goals and strength in defence will be a massive loss

Recent signings have included the return of Connor Furlong, signing from league rivals Royston Town, the attacking midfielder played

for Bedford under Jon Taylor after being released by MK Dons, he then went on to play for Barton Rovers and Biggleswade Town before moving to step three sides AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Royston

Also returning to the Eyrie is Lucas Kirkpatrick He played in the ‘blue and white’ in the 2018/19 season before playing 200 games for Hitchin Town, later signing for Braintree and Berkhamsted

A new face in is Rio DaSilva, the twenty three-year-old winger joined from Hitchin Town where he has been for most of his career since leaving Luton Town academy

Bedford has a run of three home matches starting on April 1, against Basford

The following Tuesday its Nuneaton and on Good Friday Redditch, before an Easter Monday visit to bottom side AFC Rushden & Diamonds

If Bedford are to escape relegation, they will be needing maximum points from most of those games.

The players and management will be going all out to just do that, and as ever will appreciate the support of a noisy supporting Eagles crowd

Sean Theobald holds off the Rushall Olympic opposition