Construction on Sandy’s new high quality concrete skatepark at Sunderland Road Recreation Ground has been completed and, having passed a full RoSPA inspection, it is now available for use It is already proving very popular with local skaters, BMX riders and scooter users, the official opening event a Skate Jam takes place on Saturday, September 24, 2022. The afternoon is organised by Rubicon who are a partner to Maverick, the contractors who have designed and built the skate park
Sandy’s skate park is now OPEN! 1,500 HOME DEVELOPMENT HAS STALLED by Euan Duncan L ocal Democracy Reporter
on page 2 C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N 2021 ESTATE AGENT N BEDFORD We won! Talk to us...Bulletin BEDS COUNTY EDITION SEPTEMBER 2022
But inflationary pressures need to be taken into account, according to Independent Biggleswade South Cllr Hayley Whitaker “Much has changed since this original application was granted,” she told Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee “We now have a retail park with a discount super store and a fast food chain, so the flow of traffic in the area has increased significantly,” she explained “I’ve a huge question about whether that previous approval is still valid It would cause huge problems for residents of london Road if this application went ahead and we put traffic controls at that junction “The applicant indicated a desire to pay far less in Section 106 contributions A reduction of around £12m was suggested, which would cover our Schools for the Future programme or make a huge contribution to that Continued
THE Secretary of State for Transport has decided to grant planning permission (a Develop ment Consent Order) to upgrade the route between the A1 Black Cat roundabout and A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout with a brand new 10 mile dual car riageway Both existing roundabouts will be upgraded to modern, free flowing junctions with a new junction at Cambridge Road, improving access to St Neots town centre and train sta tion The new road will fill in the missing link of dual carriageway on the strategic road network between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, helping drivers save up to an hour and a half on their journeys every week.
Dualling of A428 Black Cat to Ca xton Gibbet gets go ahead
BIGGLESWADE will be “shortchanged” if rising costs fail to be reflected in developer contribution talks about a multi-million pound planning scheme east of the town, a meeting heard. UK Regeneration limited’s outline plans for housing, a primary school, and commercial and leisure development on a 263 acre site has been deferred for discussions to take place between the applicant and planning officers
2 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing com C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N SANDY TOWN COUNCIL 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy SG19 1JE Tel: 01767 681491 Fax: 01767 692527 admin@sandytow g www.sandytowncouncil.gov.uk Councillors’ contact details BEESTON WARD Cllr M P Scott The Gowans Seddington Nursery Great North Road Seddington Sandy SG19 1NZ 07894 476808 scott729@btinternet com FALLOWFIELD WARD Cllr L Ivanciu Wilkinson C/o Sandy Town Council 10 Cambridge Road Sandy SG19 1JE 07525 744926 lorraineiwsandytc@gmail com Cllr P Sharman 3 Swallow Crest Sandy SG19 2SN 07889 599556 Cllr Dr N Thompson 46 Kestrel Way Sandy SG19 2TE 01767 683137 IVEL WARD Cllr P Blaine 19 Poplar Close Sandy SG19 1HH 07973 255676 peterblaine blaine@gmail com Cllr J Ivanciu Wilkinson jenniferi40@gmail com C/o Sandy Town Council 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy SG19 1JE Cllr M J Pettitt 42 Swansholme Gardens Sandy SG19 1HL 01767 680082 martin pettitt@virginmedia com Cllr S Sutton C/o Sandy Town Council 10 Cambridge Road Sandy SG19 1JE 01767 227589 PINNACLE WARD Cllr P N Aldis 7 Mayfield Court Sandy SG19 1NF 01767 686758 nigel aldis1@gmail com Cllr J Hewitt Clock Tower Cottage Hazells Hall, Everton Road Sandy SG19 2DD 01767 512002 cllr@hewitt10 co uk Cllr R Lock 2 Havelock Close Sandy SG19 1TE sandye lock767@googlemail com Cllr C Osborne M B E , J P Summercourt 2 Leeds Smith Drive Sandy SG19 1LU 01767 682032 b y Euan Duncan – L ocal Democracy Reporter Councillor vacancies Could you be a Councillor? Do you have an interest in town affairs? Can you make a difference? Do you have spare time to help us do the best for the community? Sandy Town Council is looking to co opt two new members onto the Council, to fill one vacant seat representing Ivel Ward and one vacant seat representing Pinnacle Ward We welcome applications for co option from everyone in the community (includ ing former applicants) with an interest in making Sandy a better place to live and work The Town Clerk and existing members of the council are pleased to talk to potential candidates about what is involved; please contact members direct using the details on our website and/or contact the Clerk via the Town Council office to arrange a visit and find out more Expressions of interest are invited from applicants who must be over 18 and be an elector, live or work in or near Sandy and be a citizen of the EU or the Commonwealth Application forms and more information can be found on the Town Council’s website www sandytown council gov uk in the news section, or by direct application to the Town Council offices at 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy Completed application forms must be submitted to the Town Clerk no later than noon on Friday 23rd September 2022 The Council intends to select its new members at a meeting on Monday 3rd October 2022 For further information please contact: Nicola Sewell, Town Clerk Sandy Town Council 10 Cambridge Road SANDY SG19 1JE Telephone: 01767 681491 Email: admin@sandytowncouncil gov uk Councillor surgery
Community Services and Environment 6
“That had access from Baden Powell Way and has expired now A second application was submit ted and proposed alternative access arrangements, one off Baden Powell Way and the other to the south of Dunton lane “This was approved in November 2019, subject to plan ning conditions and a Section 106 agreement “It was reported back in September 2021 asking whether officers should engage in develop er contribution negotiations requested by the applicant “The committee resolved the Section 106 heads of terms should materially be the same as originally agreed, and that officers should have reasonable talks with the applicant “Officers have been trying to speak to the company about this since then After the report was published, a representative of the applicant has indicated a willing ness for talks with the council ”
the
of discussion to
“There’s £230m available to invest (nationally) and as a council we should be jumping on that “In Central Bedfordshire, there are houses being built elsewhere in Stotfold, Cranfield and Flitwick Other towns have developers more in tune to delivering on promises
Commitments on leisure facilities not being met
BIGGLESWADE is the ‘cash cow’ of Central Bedfordshire generating considerable amounts of money, which are spent in other parts of the county, a meeting heard.
she
Deputy mayor Madeline Russell said: “I’m somewhat embarrassed, having been a councillor for 20 years We’ve lobbied in the past, but we’re not the planning authority ”
AMBITIOUS PLANS Ben Weldan presented the club’s vision of some suitable facilities for the town covering up to 15 acres, saying: “It’s ambitious, but for ward thinking for the community “This site was designed for multi use with football, netball and indoor sports, also including a splash park, a regular park for chil dren and an overflow car park “The project could be built in phases, when the funds and the need would allow ” Mayor Grant Fage replied: “leisure is clearly a real priority of the town, as commitments were made over 20 years and not deliv ered on We must ensure the promis es are kept now ”
home development has stalled Sandy man amongst defendants
except those specified below and Development
“Surely someone in the planning department needs to look at health centres, GP surgeries, leisure and recreation They can’t keep letting developers build without giving anything back to the local commu nity ”
1,500
Human Resources
some
Community Stand, Market Square, Sandy, SG19 1HU All members of the public are welcome to attend, to meet with a Councillor and raise any queries or concerns sandy skate Jam saturday 24th september, 12pm s4pm andy skatepark, sunderland RRoad ecreation ground, sandy, sg19 1QY Join us for the official launch of the new SSandy katepark, including informal acompetitions nd free skate sessions for skateboard, BMX s& cooter Everyone is welcome no matterwhat level of ability, or age, you will have achance to participate FORTHCOming EvEnTs Council meetings All meetings commence
this application
our position
The three men have also been charged with five counts of holding a person in slavery or servitude, in connection to the same investiga tion
Representatives of Biggleswade Football Club were invited to speak to town councillors about the press ing need for leisure facilities local ly Mark Inskip led the presentation from the club, which groundshares with Bedford Town “Nothing’s being delivered on the leisure side, despite the empha sis today on people’s wellbeing and mental health, with sport and recre ation playing a large part around that,” he told the council NOT DELIVERED
which
Saturday 24th September, 9.30am 11 30am at 7 30pm Scrutiny (Planning) starts at 6 45pm, in Council Chamber, 10 RCambridge oad, Sandy, SG19 1JE (unless other wise stated
Committee
on the Agenda)
Referring to the Kings Reach draft development plan for 2007, which contained areas for football pitches, he said: “None of those have been delivered “Even if they provided these pitches now, the ground is full of stones and slates, and isn’t fit for purpose There’s nowhere to park and no changing rooms It’s danger ous and unsuitable ” He described an area near Edward Peake Middle School as one which “shouldn’t be built on and instead set aside for leisure and recreation”, such as football pitches, hockey pitches and netball courts “There’s nowhere in Biggleswade for anyone to train,” he explained “We have to travel to Stotfold, Cranfield, St Neots, Bedford and Baldock The FA has highlighted Biggleswade as the worst area in the country for facili ties
“I keep hearing the term Biggleswade is a cash cow of Central Bedfordshire We need to be thinking about tomorrow and the next generation “The swimming pool is over subscribed,” he added “There’s a queue for swimming lessons If you want to learn to swim as a youngster there’s a waiting list For me that’s not good enough “Biggleswade Athletics Club is based in Sandy Biggleswade Hockey Club moved to St Neots Within two years the club folded All this time later, there’s still no 2G/3G training pitch in Biggleswade
Monday 5th September 2022 Scrutiny Monday 19th September 2022 P30pm olicy, Finance & Resources 8 00pm Monday 26th September 2022 Scrutiny
Conservative Caddington Cllr Kevin Collins said: “It was acknowledged by the applicant’s agent that in reviewing the basis of Section 106 items there would be a possibility things could go up, as well as down RISING COSTS “If costs have risen since the determination to approve, subject to Section 106 contributions, the applicant needs to reflect on the time it’s taken to engage ” Councillors deferred the plans until October, with eight votes in favour, two against and two abstentions
Development
Town Council See our website for details ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND ADVICE SURGERIES Richard holds regular surgeries across North East Bedfordshire If you would like to book an appointment, please call 01767 313385 Member of Parliament for North East Bedfordshire Continued from page 1 “There were some social hous ing cuts in the request, and a few other elements We didn’t agree to enter negotiations,
THREE men have been charged with a total of 15 modern slavery offences and 12 drug supply charges as part of an investigation into drug dealing in Sandy and Biggleswade Tyrone Baker, 25, of Carisbrooke Road, Rushden; Oliver Hamilton, 20, of Russell Way, Higham Ferrers, and Declan Welch, 20, of Coopers Close, Sandy, have all been charged with conspiring together to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis
Development
Monday 3rd October 2022 but sort clarify “The best route would be to refuse Since 2019, costs have gone through the roof,” added “So I don’t want us to get a mirrored agreement 25% INCREASE “If this is going through, we need to see an uplift of 25% because otherwise the residents of Biggles wade will be shortchanged ” Head of planning delivery Jennie Selley said: “Outline plan ning permission was granted for this site in March 2019, subject to a Section 106 agreement to secure planning obligations
development
house They will generate new income as we can now offer a new quality MOT service for residents and businesses It also means that our hackney and private hire vehi cles are tested within the licensing authority area, something we have not been able to achieve previously “Our Non Emergency Patient Transport services enable us to provide residents with a safe and well assisted form of non emer gency transport throughout Central Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas Residents can be confident when they travel in one of our vehicles that they will receive the highest quality level of care and attention ” EDITORIAL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@rosettapublishing com SEPTEMBER 2022 3 C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N 4Servicing: All Makes & Models 4MOT 4Tyres: budget to Premium, most sizes in stock 4Free Collection & Delivery 4Courtesy Cars Available 4Guaranteed Parts & Labour 4Manufacturers’ warranty Protected 4New & Used Cars 4Competitive finance rates 4Minimum 12 month Warranty 41 years’ road side assistance 4Part Exchangea vailable 4Take a look at the range of vehicles on our website www.johnrford.co.uk Your Local Ford Dealer & Service Centre specialising in New & Used Fords SHEFFORD 11 Ampthill Road, Shefford SG17 5BE 01462 628628 ROYSTON 50 Kneesworth Street, Royston SG8 5AH 01763 250100 Tel: 01234 857800 2a Howard Street, Kempston MK42 8EA elliottelectricalsuppliesltd@hotmail.co.uk Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-1pm Call or visit for all your electrical supplies Trade & Public Welcome Visit our website or find us on Facebook www.elliottelectricalsupplies.co.uk Your local LED lighting specialist specialist Raising aspirations in Bedfordshire A GROUND breaking scheme has been set up to support students in Bedfordshire aspiring to be accepted into Oxbridge and Russell Group universities The Connolly Foundation are giving annual grants of up £3,000 to year 12 and 13 pupils to improve their chances of being accepted by the country’s leading universities as well as those aspiring to take top degree apprenticeship places Wadham College Oxford and Pembroke College Cambridge are part of the project, giv ing the chance for young people
CBC
MoT testing stations You could
country
the voice of your community
MOT testing stations and Non Emergency Passenger Transport services officially open in Sandy and Dunstable Central Bedfordshire Council has opened two MOT testing sta tions, offering a brand new service to residents and businesses Council officers were joined by their Chairman Cllr Perham, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services, Cllr Eugene Ghent, Dunstable Ward Cllr, and the Mayor of Houghton Regis Cllr Yvonne Farrell and Mayor of Dunstable Cllr liz Jones, who were given a tour of the MOT centre at Thorn Turn, Houghton Regis, following the official ribbon cutting ceremony located at the council’s Thorn Turn and Sandy depots, the testing stations will provide MOTs on Class 4, 5 and 7 vehicles, ranging from cars and mobile homes to mini buses and goods vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles The team will also carry out annual compliance tests for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles (taxis) and use the modern stations to maintain and test the council’s own fleet of vehicles a service that will save money MOTs are available to book online at: www centralbedford shire gov uk/MOT Following the official opening at the MOT bay, a tour was given,and information was also providedaboutthe council’s Non Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) service which opened last year, providing children and adults with varying health needs, a safe and assisted non emergency trans port NEPT provides transport to stu dents with special educational needs, NHS and private hospital patients, care home residents and hospice patients The NEPT drivers and care assistants on each vehicle are trained to provide the level of assistance that clients require and know how to respond to their spe cific needs, according to their indi vidual Health Plan Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services said: “Both of these services are a welcome addition to our Fleet Transport Service, both for resi dents and local businesses “The new MOT service will save money as we can now main tain our own fleet of vehicles in to attend two of the most prestigious seats of learning in the
A successful meeting, hosted by the University of Bedfordshire and chaired by Nick Martin, Principal of Samuel Whitbread Academy, was held recently, with the partici pating head teachers and leaders of 6th forms to officially open the project and design support packages for each school Prof lee Hubbard of Samuel Whitbread Academy, Best Trust, will be leading the project including developing support of the initial teacher training programme to help new teaching staff in working with high attaining students Yvonne Ashby, from the Wootton trust will be using her considerable experience leading support for Degree Apprenticeships
Potential candidates can download the booklet and register their interest in attending the event at www centralbedfordshire gov uk/be a councillor opens be
WITH local elections planned for May 4, 2023, Central Bedfordshire Council is inviting residents to consider standing as local councźllors If you are passionate, proactive and want to make a difference then it could be for you It’s an opportunity for you to repre sent the views of local people and shape the future of your local community For those considering becoming a councillor there is a range of information and advice avail able A booklet has been produced which, amongst other things, explains in detail who is eligi ble to stand, the role of a coun cillor and explains the steps involved to become a candi date Keen to encourage a diverse range of candidates from a cross sec tion of the community to this form of public service, the booklet explains that council lors don’t have to be highly educated or have a profession Skills gained through raising a family, caring for a sick or dis abled relative, volunteering or being active in faith or commu nity groups can be just as valu able An informal event to give potential candidates the opportunity to hear first hand from councillors and officers about what’s involved and to chat with them about their experience, is planned for September 27, from 4pm to 6pm in the Priory House Council offices in Chicksands Councillor Tracey Stock, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Communities said: “Being a local councillor is one of the most rewarding things you can do You’re helping make a difference to people in your wider local community Although it can seem daunting, there’s lots of support available I really would encourage any one who is considering it to come along to the event to find out more ”
with
The three Bedfordshire based Cranfield, Milton Keynes and the University of Bedfordshire have joined as academic students They also assist staff training and Twelve secondary schools are currently signed up to the project: Wootton, Van Dyke, Harlington, Biddenham, Redborne, Stratton, Samuel Whitbread, Queensbury, Sharnbrook and Mark Rutherford, Cedars Upper School and Sandy Upper School The funding supports the employment of experienced teachers to manage the school aspects of the project, support the students and arrange attendance at events organised by the academic partners Headteacher of Biddenham International School, David Bailey, said: “The importance of ensuring our students have all the skills and capabilities at the highest level cannot be overstressed ”
universities,
partners supporting
The project is ready to start in September
4 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin com B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N Telephone: 01234 273 172 www.angliamobility.co.uk 7 Brunel Road (off Barkers Lane) Bedford MK41 9TG Open: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm ————————————————WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON ————————————————— Visit our showroom or if you are housebound we can offer a home visit to discuss your needs. GREAT RANGE OF SCOOTERS ON DISPLAY GREAT RANGE OF FIRESIDE CHAIRS FROM ONLY £299 20 RISER RECLINER CHAIRS ON SHOW THREE AND FOUR WHEELED WALKERS FROM ONLY £59 H MADE USTABLE BEDS FROM ONLY £699 WHEEL CHAIRS IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY KINGSLEY COMPACT RISE/RECLINER CHAIR, DUAL MOTOR £899 Available for next day delivery in a range of fabrics Good clean used scooters bought for cash Bedford’s leading mobility specialist LSTAIR FIFTS REE SHOME URVEY Walk in showers and baths supplied and fitted S A L E S • H I R E • S E R V I C I N G • R E P A I R • S P A R E S
DEVELOPMENT PLAN In a social media post, Independent Potton Cllr Adam Zerny said: “The inspector attached significant weight to the fact that the land was included in CBC’s 2011 development plan “The inspector also noted CBC’s legal team acknowledged ‘the site has capacity to accom modate significant residential development ’ “This last statement is particularly frustrat ing given such a comment wasn’t in the formal conclusion of the planning committee of coun cillors which turned the application down “He waved away residents’ concerns over vehicle access, although the developer is now forced to provide more detailed schemes of environmental protection for the few areas of green space which will be preserved “Despite the lack of support from CBC, Potton residents couldn’t have done anything more to fight this off “For the dozens who fought it every step of the way, and the many hundreds who objected, you should be proud regardless,” added coun cillor Zerny “If one looks for silver linings, the developer will be forced to make more than £1 3m finan cial contributions to the local community ”
“Two and a half acres of green open space will feature an orchard and play area, with 1 2 acres designed as a community allotment Homes will have swift and bat boxes to encour age wildlife to the area “We know the acid grassland is important locally, which is why we’re relocating the most significant area of this within our green space “Residents set up a community garden after our initial application was submitted last year “But the planning inspector deemed the highway verge may be used for road widening, as this is important for site access, highway safety and parking ”
Councillors had rejected the scheme because of loss of amenity and biodiversity, with ten votes in favour, none against and two absten tions But an appeal was submitted in January with the hearing held in April A Tilia Homes spokesman said: “The com pany will deliver 97 homes in Potton, with 38 of these affordable properties Our revised scheme also includes bungalows “We’ll provide £1 3m to support local edu cation, sports and leisure facilities, and other community services OPEN SPACES
Environmental issues, traffic and access were the parish council’s main concerns at the local authority’s development management committee meeting last summer “There were 759 responses opposing the project compared to nine in favour,” the meeting heard, while a petition against the development attracted more than 800 signatures Independent Potton Cllr Tracey Wye described the land as “nationally rare irreplace able acid grassland, home to a number of pro tected species”, referred to as “paddock land” in the committee report
Democracy Reporter
Task force set up to examine school transport costs
EDUCATIONAl transport costs are costing Central Bedfordshire Council £64,210 per school day, a councillor has warned The impact on its budget prompted Central Bedfordshire Council to set up a school transport task and finish group to discover the extent of the problem The executive’s proposed response to the group’s recommen dations was presented to a commit tee meeting by Conservative Cranfield and Marston Moretaine councillor Sue Clark She suggested a review of catchments is done on a cluster by cluster basis, once the Schools for the Future programme for each one has been agreed, saying: “I would like to add ‘earlier if circumstances require it’, which introduces flexi bility SCHOOLS BUS NET “A new system is being intro duced called Schools Bus Net This will enable routes to be properly optimised and to understand the cost drivers and options to min imise those “It also invoices our approach to procurement, and this should lead to much better efficiency and planning The Schools Bus Net programme is currently being embedded in the system ” The group recommended “an annual travel survey to accurately capture public feedback and scruti ny uses its function to support a call for evidence from users as appropriate”, explained a report to the executive “We undertake an annual travel survey and I’m happy to agree to the scrutiny request,” added coun cillor Clark, the executive member for families, education and chil dren Independent Woburn and Aspley councillor John Baker said: “We’re making progress, but I don’t feel it’s enough on this issue “There are usually 190 school days a year This council is spend ing £64,210 per school day on transport Since the last executive two months ago, we’ve spent another £2m on school transport “We’ve some new software It’s disappointing it’s taken so long to implement We need to get moving quickly “The transport working group discovered duplicate routes and children travelling long distances to school because catchments are out of date Yet we still don’t seem to be putting that as a priority now,” he added QUALITY TRANSPORT “I want shorter journeys to school I don’t want duplicated routes I want better quality trans port “I hope the first reports are brought to scrutiny committee by the middle of next year “I don’t see why that should be difficult if the school transport software has been implemented by December ” Councillor Clark replied: “We’re fully aware of the costs schools transport is putting on our budgets “The current pressures around fuel costs are only adding to all councils’ woes when it comes to school transport costs “The budget strategy identified more work needs to be done, so our transport expenditure is spent as cost effectively and as efficiently as possible “We’re introducing the Schools Bus Net programme, which is being piloted currently I under stand there’ve been some teething issues It’ll be ready to use towards the end of the year “It’s frustrating this is taking that long We’re using it now and I’m hopeful this will help us improve efficiency ” The executive unanimously agreed the package of measures planned by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter by Euan Duncan Local
Tel: 01234 823033 Radwell Road (just off the A6) Milton Ernest MK44 1SHwww.miltonernestgardencentre.co.ukM I L LT O N E R N E S T G A R D E N C E N T R E FOTHERGILLS SEEDS OFFER SAVE 50% WITH THIS VOUCHER OFF ALL COUNTRYJOHNSON’SFOTHERGILL,ORGANICVALUESEEDS While stocks last with this voucher✁ TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@rosettapublishing com SEPTEMBER 2022 5 C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N Featured Brands: + LOADS MORE 18 ST MARTINS WAY, BEDFORD, MK42 0LF 01234 216720 TUE FRI: 9 5 / SAT: 10 4 • WWW.QPINTERIORS CO.UK Developer wins appeal over 97 homes in Potton PlANS for 97 homes at Potton labelled “hugely unpopular” by local councillors have been allowed on appeal, threatening a popular com munity garden nearby A planning inspector found in favour of Tilia Homes limited (formerly Kier living limited), whose full proposals also include 1 2 acres of allotments on land to the south of The Ridgeway The demolition of two homes would be required as part of the scheme, which was rec ommended for approval by Central Bedfordshire Council planning officers in June 2021
Building site blues treated as a joke
FlITWICK Dolphins’ swimmers have had a fantastic summer season In early July, on one of the hottest days of the year, 17 swimmers took part in the East Region Open Water Championships in Norwich lily Farr, by winning the 13 14 age group in the three km qualifying distance, won a place in the National Age Group championships in August Yasmine Ollerenshaw did a sterling swim in the two km qualifying event, just missing out on a national qualifying place Other medallists at Regional level were: Francesca Baber (Gold 15 16 yr; two km), Charlotte Joyce (Bronze 17 19 yr; three km) Alistair Shaw (Silver 40 49 yr; three km), Niamh Bunker (Silver 11 12 yr; one km) lochlan Shaw (Bronze 11 12 yr; one km) and Thomas Allen (Silver 25 29 yr; five km) As the championships also dou bled up as the County champi onships, Dolphins’ swimmers took back an impressive haul of Senior & Junior County medals and Trophies There were eight Golds, seven Silvers and a Bronze It was great to see the family tussle for the Bedfordshire trophy in the men’s three km event, with Harrison Shaw coming first, ahead of dad, Alistair Younger brother lochlan also had a strong swim in the 1km event (along with other first timers, Niamh Bunker, Eva Thomas and Osian Morton), to go on to finish third in the Bedfordshire championships and gaining Silver in the Junior competition
6 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin com C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N Using Technology that YOU can depend on! • Batteries • Brakes • Clutches • Cooling Systems • Diagnostics Tuning • Exhausts • Oil Change • Rotating Electrics • Steering & Suspension 01234 216662 56 College Street Kempston MK42 8LU MON FRI 8am 5 30pm SAT 8am 1pm Bedford Vehicle Servicing & Tyres DUST and noise from a building site has made the lives of nearby Biggleswade residents ‘a liv ing hell’, a meeting heard A petition highlighting their concerns over the Orchard Chase development in the town has been presented to Central Bedfordshire Council at an executive committee meeting Sandra Sparrow, who lives at the Stratton Park Drive mobile home site, likened it to ’living in a fish bowl’, saying: “For 22 months we dealt with the site manager over the dust and the fence, but weren’t listened to and just fobbed off FENCING ISSUE “At the outset we asked for a high fence to protect us from building works We were told before Christmas 2021 that a fence would be started in January It wasn’t Work started on this on July 13 “We were promised a higher fence to give us privacy This hasn’t happened, as we’ve got the same six foot fence “The site is now four feet higher than our gar dens, which have flooded in the last two years That never happened before this work started “We complained about our washing on the line being covered in dust, and were told to wash it again as a packet of soap powder could be sup plied Everything we complain about is treated as a joke “This big construction site has made our lives a living hell Our mental health is also affected The dust is just horrendous “We’ve been let down by CBC’s planning department, which should have ensured we’ve a safe place to live during this construction,” she added “We feel we’re due some form of compensa tion to clean and paint our houses because there’s so much dust ” Conservative Caddington Cllr Kevin Collins replied: “I’ve received information from yourself and asked the planning department for more details, part of which I’ve had, and Cllr Hayley Whitaker has forwarded some material “ I ’ v e a l s o h a d a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h m y c o l l e a g u e C l l r I a n D a l g a r n o , w h o s e p o r t f o l i o i n c l u d e s t h e p u b l i c p r o t e c t i o n e l e m e n t o f t h i s “So I certainly hear what you’re saying and understand your concerns I’m more than happy to come out and have a look to see how we can move this forward “And I’ll properly collate all the information which has been put in front of me to see what we can continue to do to improve the situation,” added Cllr Collins, the executive member for regeneration and planning “We’ll try to make sure you get some form of unified response, rather than different ones at different times from different people ”
Fantastic successes for Flitwick Dolphins
APOLOGIES A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “We apologise to local residents for any disruption caused as a result of construction work at our Orchard Chase development “A range of mitigation measures are in place to keep the dust and noise impact to an absolute minimum Some of these actions, such as road sweeping and watering, occur daily on site “We consulted the local authority about our approach and it confirmed Taylor Wimpey is doing all it can to minimise disruption to residents ”
The Dolphins girls were also in the medals, with lily Farr taking silver for both the Seniors and Juniors to add to her Regional gold medal, and Elspeth Morton the Junior bronze, with Darcey Hepworth a very creditable 4th Francesca Baber won the Bedfordshire women’s Senior tro phy and gold medal in the two km race, making it a County/Regional double gold for her, with Yasmine Ollerenshaw taking the Senior sil ver medal and Junior gold July 16 17 saw 40 swimmers from across the squads take part in the City of Cambridge Swimming Club’s Jeanne Baker Open Meet There were some spectacular per formances with many swimmers achieving a number of Personal Best times (PBs), totalling a mas sive 142 PBs The star of the com petition with regard to this was Roux Cook who managed to achieve 13 PBs Overall 88 medals were won, with 32 Golds, 28 Silver and 28 Bronze On July 23, Abs Wicken, one of our para swimmers, had a fantastic experience at the British Summer Championships held at Ponds Forge in Sheffield Making the finals with a PB and scoring 497 points in the multi classification 400m freestyle, she went on to do another five sec ond PB, scored 521 points and placed 7th in Britain August 5 9, Abs was in action again alongside Ida Corcoran, Francesca Baber and Harrison Shaw at Swim England’s National Meet, again at Pond’s Forge It was a great experience for all of them to be competing at such a level; they came away with six PBs between them and Francesca Baber achieved two silver medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle For the rest of the club to be able to watch via the live streaming, it showed what can be achieved through hard work and determination
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TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@rosettapublishing com SEPTEMBER 2022 7 C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N GARY BERRIDGE Plastering and general maintenance INCLUDING: ● UPVC doors and windows ● Facias and guttering ● Tiling ● Free estimates ● Painting & decorating Tel: 01767 316485 07582 485155 YOUR LOCAL CLEANING COMPANY HOMEBRIGHT Fully vetted and insured cleaners at affordable rates Call Angela for a FREE quote Office 01767 222141 Mob 07807 452974 ■ Weekly house cleans ■ One off spring cleans ■ Ironing ser vice w w w h o m e b r i g h t c l e a n e r s c o u k Looking to raise the profile of your business in Sandy and Biggleswade? Call 07894 935952 to discuss advertising options BEDFORD’S PREMIER BUSINESS HUB https://provident.house 44 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 2QT Rent a desk only £75pm all inclusive Upgrade gets positive support from councillors A £700,000 investment in one of Central Bedfordshire’s “core facilities” has been backed by the local authori ty’s executive. But an independent councillor has warned against cramming too much into too small a space Biggleswade library is set to become a multi functional building in the current financial year under Central Bedfordshire Council’s improvement project, the com mittee heard
“The plans include a major renovation for the library to upgrade it to the latest standards,” explained Conservative Arlesey councillor Ian Dalgarno “A children’s centre is part of this programme in what’s back office space and a large garage “Other proposals are to have the regis tration service in the library, with a waiting area for customers and a private meeting room, and for a small satellite office for council staff reducing their need to travel to other offices
CORE FACILITIES
Independent Biggleswade South coun cillor Hayley Whitaker described it as “a quart into a pint pot”, acknowledging “some of this is fantastic” With planned growth for the town, she said: “We need to be mindful of creating something which isn’t just fit for purpose now, but also in the future “It’s a little disingenuous to say there was support for the whole plans “The library service proposals were generally quite good, but clearly we’re struggling for space already “Basing the children’s centre there is widely supported But the results were at best ambiguous over the registration services and satellite office provision “We’ve a highways depot in Sandy, a few miles away, where it’s easy to build extra office space I question why we’re trying to crowbar a satellite office for CBC workers into this library “That area could be used for more books to make it a future proofed design The concerns around the registration services are ensuring there’s privacy if you’re reporting a death, when there’s so much else happening in that space ” Councillor Dalgarno, the executive member for community services, replied: “The registration services will be at the front of the building ” by Euan Duncan
“The children’s centre doesn’t have a permanent base and this would provide one,” said the report “The registration service and satellite office’s inclusion would result in a small overall reduction in public library space, but a new layout would help minimise the impact
“Overall comments showed a positive support for the scheme I welcome the extra support from Biggleswade Town Council “There’s significant funding with an investment of £700,000 in this financial year ’s budget Building costs are rising substantially by between 15 and 25 per cent “The library’s electrical and mechani cal infrastructure is outdated This would upgrade these to a more sustainable and efficient system within the premises
Registration services are currently delivered from The limes in london Road, according to a report to the execu tive
– Local Democracy Reporter To advertise to over 13,000 homes in Sandy and Biggleswade just call 07894 935952
“Biggleswade library is one of our core facilities,” he added “Delivering an improved information technology zone, a larger children’s library space and new book ranges, better wireless internet facil ities and study and reading space, as well as teen and young adult areas, will boost the offer in the town considerably ”
NATIONAl healthcare charity Sue Ryder is calling on Bedford residents to pull on their trainers this October for the return of a special 5k or 10k walk under the stars to celebrate the memory of loved ones Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Bedford, sponsored by M&DH Insurance Services ltd, will return to the town’s Everard Meadow on the evening of Saturday, October 15, for the first time in three years And it is hoped that hundreds of individuals, fami lies and friends from the local community will come together to remember and pay tribute to loved ones who have died, raise funds and help Sue Ryder create a future where everyone has access to expert compas sionate care and support at the end of their life or following a bereavement Registration begins at 6 30pm with pre walk enter tainment to build the party atmosphere and a fun warm up At 8pm walkers sporting fancy dress, flashing headwear and neon face paint will set out on a 5k or 10k route around Russell Park and along the Bedford Embankment last year Sue Ryder provided over 830,000 hours of care to thousands of families across the country, including from its Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger Hayley Webb, Community Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “Our specialist teams make all the difference at the end of someone’s life or following a bereavement, and by taking part in Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Bedford you’ll be helping Sue Ryder to provide even more expert and compas sionate care The Sue Ryder teams work tirelessly to ensure that our patient’s symptoms and pain are managed so that the end of people’s lives can instead be filled with friendship, family and love in those final moments together “We’d like to extend our thanks to M&DH Insurance Services ltd for sponsoring this event We are extremely grateful for their support ” Richard Hames, Managing Director at M&DH Insurance Services ltd said: “Sue Ryder is a charity that is close to many people’s hearts in the local community and we are really proud to be able to support Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Bedford ”
A Level results day for Bedford Sixth Form
THE Bedford Sixth Form is cele brating how students have won places at their first choice universi ties and careers following A level results Head Helen Smith said: “I am so proud of our staff and students who have achieved such positive results during such challenging times ” Students won first choice places at the best universities in the country: Oxford, Cambridge, York, East Anglia UEA, Durham, Exeter, liverpool, Northampton, Kent, Nottingham, Bristol and Kings College and Royal Holloway in london, as well as the closer to home University of Bedfordshire
8 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin com
Successes also included Diplomas (equivalent to 3 A levels) such as Charlotte Fisher, of Clapham and Isabella Hayes Templeton (pictured above), of Biddenham, who both achieved Triple Distinctions in Health and Social Care and are both off to Brighton University to study Paramedic Science
Kwaku Amoah, aged 22, of Milton Keynes gained an A Grade in Maths, and Bs in Chemistry and Physics The results secure his apprenticeship with Deloitte as a Data and AI Analyst He achieved his results despite a diagnosis of bilateral profound hearing loss He said: “It was great at The Bedford Sixth Form, I had an amazing experience The teachers were truly helpful and supportive ” Walk under the stars for loved ones
Millie Burnapp, (pictured above) of Kempston, is off to study Zoology at Exeter after gaining a B Grade A level in Biology in just a year, alongside a Diploma in Forensics and Criminology Millie started off doing Maths and Photography courses but realised during lockdown she wanted to work with animals, won a work opportunity at a local vets and is now looking forward to university Jake Swift (pictured above) is off to study Criminology at Keele University after travelling by train from Central Beds to The Bedford Sixth Form to take A levels in law, History and Psychology
Zipporah Korangteng, of Bedford, is heading for a course in Social Work at the University of Bedfordshire after passing three A levels She said: “The staff here have been amazing and worked so hard to help us all during Covid ”
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THE Air Cadets, Army Cadets, Boys Brigade, Fire and Rescue Cadets, Girlguiding, Girls Brigade, Police Cadets, Scouts, Sea Cadets and St John Ambu lance in Bedfordshire have all seen an increase in young people wanting to join them. Nigel Taylor, Chairman of Bedfordshire Youth United said: “All of the organisations have seen the numbers of children and young people wanting to join rise over the last six months.” He added, “Children aged 4 can join some of the bril liant youth organisations in the County With some of the other organisations the minimum age to join is 12.” Karen Keeling, Lead volun teer for Bedfordshire Girl guiding said: “We have lots of girls across the County who want to join, and we are looking for volunteers to get involved. If we can recruit some more volun teers, then more girls can join and get some brilliant opportuni ties We provide training and support for all our volunteers ” Nigel added: “There are great opportunities to work with young children from age four and upwards or to work with teenagers What we can guaran tee is that you will have a great deal of fun as a volunteer and you will be proud seeing those young people develop new skills. As a volunteer myself, I have seen children and young people develop their confidence, work as a member of a team and participate in activities including caving, climbing, and kayaking. Volunteering is incredibly rewarding and it’s also a lot of fun ” If interested in A BEDFORD allowed his to be has been given a 12 month com munity Jason Chand, 54, was one of those arrested when the police raided Chandos Court in the town on July 30, 2020 Chand, previously of The Plaza, St Peter ’s Street, appeared for sen tence at luton Crown Court, hav ing pleaded guilty to permitting his premises to be used for between June 13 and July 30, 2020 and possessing cannabis Mohammed Bashir, defending, said Chand had been a long user of Class A drugs “Drug came to his They stuck him in the bedroom and told him to wait there They did not give him drugs or
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becoming an adult volunteer with any of the uniformed organisations please visit https://forms centralbedford shire gov uk/officeforms/Volunteer form for bedfordshire organisations.ofml TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@bedsbulletin com SEPTEMBER 2022 9 The Will 11MayfairCompanyWritingHouseLurkeStreet,BedfordMK40 3HZ Tel: 01234 964911 The Will Writing Company is celebrating its 25th 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 SEPTEMBER 2022 Terms and Conditions. Office appointments only. This voucher can not be exchanged for cash. The voucher must be produced at your appointment. FREE WILL VOUCHER This voucher entitles you to a FREE Mirror Will (normal cost £125) or a FREE Single Will (normal cost £85) Valid until 30th September 2022 The Will Writing Company Mayfair House, 11 Lurke Street, Bedford, Beds, MK40 3HZ Tel 01234 964911 Email enquiries@thewillwritingco.co.uk ✁ Free Will & Testament www.thewillwritingco.co.uk Volunteering – opportunities abound across the County Man allowed dealers to use his flat
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Over two full days we visited The Pegasus Memorial and Museum, which housed part of the original Pegasus Bridge which was captured by the British forces on the eve of the Normandy landings Then on to the Merville Gun Battery situated on Normandy’s Northern Coast, which was a coastal fortification used by the Nazi’s to try and prevent the attacks Stopping for lunch at Ouistreham, we then drove along Sword, Juno and Gold landing beaches to arrive at The British Normandy Memorial, probably the highlight of the visit for most of us, with our Men’s and ladies Presidents jointly laying a wreath on behalf of the Club, in remem brance of all those who fell during this invasion To complete the first day we visited The Musee du Dembarquement (D Day Museum) A permanent exhibition with guid ed tours, films etc The following day we set out firstly to visit the Areville Gun Battery, a complete defence system and underground complex This was a major target for the invasion and saw some of the first action of the landings On to Sainte Mere Eglese, home of the Airborne museum, a French museum dedicated to the USA Airborne divisions To complete the tour a drive along Utah Beach and on to Pointe Du Hoc A free day followed in Caen to visit at leisure and a return home the next day Our annual BBQ was once again held at Ickwell by kind per mission of the Ickwell Cricket Club On a very hot day over 70 members and guests had an enjoy able time with an excellent BBQ provided by “Boss Hog” and strawberries and cream afters arranged and served by the ladies Club A successful raffle was held with many prizes evenly distribut ed with many thanks to all those who donated them Our monthly Pub lunch was held at the Wheatsheaf Perry where 27 members and partners enjoyed an excellent lunch The Monthly lunch of the Men’s & ladies Clubs were due to be held at The Sandy Conservative Club on Thursday, July 28, but due to a serious water leak in the area not yet being resolved we have had to cancel the event as without water the facilities at the Conservative Club were not able to function
Paying for the privilege to be poor
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As one commentator says: “In general prepayment customers have access to fewer tariffs, typically pay more for their energy and are more likely to be in vulnerable circumstances than those paying by other means You pay for the privilege of being poor! It is a principle that applies again and again If you live in a more deprived area the range of shops is likely to be poorer, prices will be higher, and banks will be absent It will cost more to travel to find what you need If you need to borrow money, then the options will be limited for many, unofficial lenders charging huge rates of interest In contrast you will be excluded from many offers of lower rates and lower prices. The poor often have less access to justice that often costs so much The Old Testament Prophets are especially hard on those who exploit the poor The prophet Amos condemns them: You trample on the poor you oppress the righteous and take bribes, and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts, Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times for the times are evil (Amos 5:11 12) Except we should not keep quiet We are the fifth richest nation in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product. It is not right that the poorest carry the heaviest burdens Not right for families who will, and are, struggling to make ends meet Of course, these are challenging questions but how much more important for us all, than how we might save an extra penny or two Trampling on the poor is not just a feature of ancient times You pay for the privilege of being poor! D Goodwin R Swinnerton M Gaylor 13 S Garratt R Andrews I Randall 18 Wednesday 27th July County League Div 1 Sandy Town 80 Kempston Hammers 57 Keith Goddard A l chfield J Brophy I Buckle 21 C Ross, K Oakes, G Day A Jones 19 Mark Howlett Keith Blankley J Gurney R Swinnerton 25 M love D Matthews A Howarth N Martin 7 Dale Goodwin David Sabey J Seamer M ck Gaylor 11 B Ogle, R Wood, K O Connor J Usher 22 Kevin Hurry James Sargant lee Swain Dom Mussino 23 B Johnson, D Flory, A Barnes, S Mousley 9 Monday 1st August East Beds Bowls League Div 6 Sandy Town C 40 Ampthill C 29 Keith Goddard John Beaumont Alan lichfield 13 S Cavender, P Carter, C Beal 18 Keith Redman David Sabey John Brophy 27 C Perry, J Merkelet M Oliver 11 Monday 1st August East Beds Bowls League Div 1 Sandy Town “B” 30 Potton “B” 30 K Hurry, l Swain, R Swinnerton 17 Potton B 17 D Goodwin J Seamer M Gaylor 13 Potton B 13 Tuesday 9th August East Beds KO Cup Fourth Round Sandy Town B 34 Maulden A 23 Kevin Hurry Ian Buckle Mick Gaylor 9 P Hauley P Hart M Garner 18 Mark Howlett, Ray Swinnerton, lee Swain 25 M Vowles C Tarren E Edwards 5 Sunday 14th August Harmsworth Cup Semi Final Sandy Town 64 linslade 92 Monday 15st August East Beds Bowls League Div 1 Sandy Town B 38 Ampthill A 31 Kevin Hurry Jim Seamer Mick Gaylor 10 M Wade I Nash T lynch 23 Mark Howlett, lee Swain, Dom Mussino 28 D Oliver M Read G Holmes 8 Tuesday 16th August East Beds KO Cup Semi Final Sandy Town B 45 Baldock A 20 Kevin Hurry Dale Goodwin Mick Gaylor 16 J Russel , M Ingham, P Hashings 12 Mark Howlett lee Swain Dom Mussino 29 H Chambers, A Heath, R Dempster 8Monday 20th June Mussino 19
View from the pulpit
L AWN DOCTOR
AROUND THE CLUBS
‘THE new normal’ is a phrase I see and hear quite a lot these days whether it be applied to living with the continuing menace of Covid 19 or more recently, with the hot, dry spell with are currently strug gling with Even if being almost fried on a daily basis is to your taste, the impact of drought is to many, a disturbing sight and there have been many articles in print and online that are concerned with water conservation or collection But there is another approach to keeping one’s garden looking healthy and vibrant and that is by cultivating those plants that are considered to be drought tolerant If this summer’s conditions really is ‘the new normal’, although I would always warn about the folly of generalising from a particular in any walk of life, then the Darwinian mantra of ‘adapt and survive’ needs to be fully embraced and that means a serious rethink on what your garden looks like A client of mine who has been interested in the weather all of his long life mentioned to me recently that he was looking through an old gardening book in his possession Printed just after the second world war, it stated that in this country, ‘July was generally the hottest month’ and that ‘in some years, the temperature reached as high as 32°C’ Given that the temperature in some places in July of this year reached the record breaking 40°C and that as I write, 36°C is once again being mooted, will these figures become the new normal? I certainly hope not! Time will of course tell but along with this year’s drought the driest year in this country since 1976 strong winds have also been a very regu lar feature which also has the effect of drying plants and the ground that supports them In short, the current conditions are very trying And that is without a hosepipe ban in place But simply put, young plants do not have the root structure to sustain their growth and without sufficient water will perish so I would advise caution when considering exten sive future planting At least factor in, a contingency to cope with a scarcity of water and that includes the use of plenty of organic matter when planting which is effective at helping retain moisture below the surface Another feature of the lack of rainfall is its impact on the fauna that we may have in our gardens Have you noticed any differences with the amount or species you are seeing? Fewer butterflies or birds? More wasps perhaps? Please let me know if you have The answer to last month’s ‘just for fun’ quiz question that is, just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, your straw coloured lawn is suddenly peppered with tiny conical shaped mounds of soil What is causing this? And what can be done about it? The prime suspect is ants The damage done to a lawn is in exposing bare soil so that weed seeds can settle and then germinate but if regularly maintained, mowed once a week etc , ants are not terribly damaging If you are prone to only cutting the lawn every now and then, mounds can form which make for an uneven, undulating surface Do nothing and if you are very lucky, you might be visited by a Yaffle; that is, a green woodpecker, arguably one of this country’s most beautiful of birds who eat ants If remedial action has to happen, spike with a garden fork, pour ant powder into the holes and firm with a foot This month’s just for fun ques tion then is another concerning the nomenclature of the natural world and this one is inspired by a ques tion recently received from a local lady, why is The Passion Flower so called? As always, many thanks to all of you for contributing to this column, keep them coming, and please contact me with any garden ing tasks or queries you may have, lawndocgardens@aol com or tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855
10 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing com C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N
Starting with the Spring Break, something different this time We embarked on a five day trip to the Normandy Beaches, with our base in a hotel on the outskirts of Caen, to visit as many as possible of the historic areas covering the Normandy landings, in June 1944
It is a small example but typical all the same Because I and my wife could buy a slightly larger amount of foreign currency for our summer holiday, we got a marginally better rate of exchange The less you have the more you pay It is not the first time I have noticed that you pay for the privilege of being poor! As our nation enters a period of significant financial challenge, especially in relation to utility costs, but also with rapidly rising inflation, what is already a great injustice, becomes all the more severe In particular, for those on pre payment meters, the additional cost of fuel on top of the vastly inflated prices is significant.
Rt Revd Richard Atkinson – Bishop of Bedford
01767 sales@henlowbuidlingsupplies.co.uk www.henlowbuildingsupplies.co.uk312800 3a Pegasus Drive, Stratton Business Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 8QA Opening Saturday8.00am–12.00pmMonday–Friday7.30am–5.00pmTimes “…competitive prices and friendly advice” ● Timber & Building Materials ● Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom ● Landscaping & Paving Displays ● Fixing & Tool Supplies ● Window & Door centre SAVE TIME, MONEY AND EFFORT 9am-9pm – 7 days a week Free UNDERLAY WITH HESSIAN BACKED CARPETS Call today for your free no obligation quote MOBILE SHOWROOM WE COME TO YOU www carpetline co uk Established 1993 0 7 9 7 1 2 7 6 7 4 0 0 1 9 0 8 6 1 4 7 7 7 SANDY BOWLS Recent results over the last month Monday 18th July East Beds Bowls League Div 6 Sandy Town “C” 37 Potton “C” 33 Keith Goddard, Ron Hampson, Alan lichfield 21 Colin Pell Walpole Steve Holdsworth George Allan 16 Keith Blankley, Pat Hawkins, John Brophy 16 Kevin Tilleard Adrian Groves Stephen Black 17 Monday 25th July East Beds Bowls League Div 1 Sandy Town B 34 Henlow B 32 M Howlett l Swain D Mussino 21 D Barford P Wright, P Bryant 14
Probus Club of Sandy and District
It has been a busy late spring and early summer for the Probus Club of Sandy and District, with the 5 Day break, annual BBQ and Pub lunches together with the regular monthly lunches
TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@bedsbulletin com SEPTEMBER 2022 11 B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N
Tropical cannas have lush green or bronze foliage and brightly coloured flowers from cream yellow and orange to deepest red They appear from midsummer until autumn They thrive in moist soils in full sun, and look fantastic when grown in exotic ornamental displays in mixed borders or large containers, especially when planted with other exotic looking plants, such as Alstromeria and Crocosmia
B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N 12 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin com
The huge purple veined leaves of Canna ‘Wyoming’ make a bold statement in any garden In late summer warm apricot orange flowers with slightly frilled petals appear on long stalks above the foliage Protect the rhizomes from frost in autumn with a thick layer of mulch or move the pots to a very shel tered place for winter Anemone Japonica is a charming hardy perennial for sun or shade flowering from August until late October The pretty star shaped single or double flow ers with yellow centres are produced in abundance in amazing shades of pink and white that open above attractive foliage The “Fantasy” varieties are only 30cms tall and give a stunning display in patio pots or taller varieties like Anemone Queen Charlotte double pink or Honorable Jobert pure single white which are 1metre, are excellent for the mixed herbaceous border Anemones are a great source of late nectar for polli nating insects Rudbeckia Sunbeckia Victoria, The Black Eyed Susan, is a short variety growing to about 50cms It is upright with huge bright orange yellow daisy flowers with dark brown centres on strong sturdy stems It will flower from the middle of august into autumn when grown in a sunny place in soil that drains well or in pots It makes an excellent cut flower for the house Other good large flowering varieties are Rudbeckia Butterscotch, Peacan Pie and Electric Shock Helenium Short and Snazzy another strong grow ing late flowering hardy herbaceous perennial has daisy like flowers with cone shaped centres which Bees, Butterflies and other pollinating insects adore Plant it in full sun in soil that drains well Another name for Helenium is “Sneeze Weed” In times gone by it was very popular when the leaves were dried and used as Snuff It was believed it would rid the person using it of evil spirits “Autumn would not be without the colour of Sedum Spectabilis “The Ice Plant” flowers This tradi tional cottage garden perennial has graced our garden for centuries It is an essential late summer source of nectar for bees and butterflies Sedum flowers are held on big flat easily accessi ble flowers on which butterflies rest and bask in latsummer sunshine The Green buds appear from midsummer colouring to pink into autumn The stems are thick and succulent with blue green fleshy leaves It is essential to support this plant with a wire herbaceous frame to enjoy this long lasting feature of the mixed border as the flowers become heavy as they mature Grow in a sunny position in soil that is not too rich, even verging on the malnourished The succulent stems cope well with dry positions leave the flowers on the plant after they fade and they will dry and catch those glistening, ephemeral hoar frosts
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AS our summers extend the colour in our gardens needs to as well Plants for the Indian summer reflect the alteration in the length of daylight hours but can retain the brilliant hues we expect from hotter climes Some even bear the name Alstromeria Indian Summer reflects just that It is an exotic looking strong growing perennial with coppery orange flowers that are ideal to brighten the garden in late summer It flowers continuously from late July with new buds emerging all the time well into the autumn A perfect choice for long lasting displays in pots or mixed borders Protect the new growth in spring from slug damage like you would for Hostas but otherwise it is trouble free They look lovely planted with Kniphofia, Echinacaea, Rudbeckia, Heleniums and Ornamental Grasses
At 7pm Amine Edge took to the stage with another hour of awesome house The legendar y Todd Terr y soon graced the stage spinning some amazing dance anthems with the formidable Toddy twisters he had the crowd in the palm of his hands right from the beginning to the end The DJ sets were soon given a shor t rest with a live P A from Shingai per forming their latest single Then at 8pm the Lord of House David Morales took to the stage in my opinion without a shadow of doubt stole the show with the crowd erupting ecstatically when he dropped in a few tunes from his massive catalog of number one dance anthems He worked the crowd with his club classics and some refreshing new Ibiza anthems, an absolutely shocking set Finally Mark Knight came on at 10pm with a pretty hard act to follow, I didn’t feel he quite touched the clouds like Morales but still put together a fantastic pumping set To summarize this was an amazing event, there were dance music veterans from ever y corner of the UK, what was par ticularly inspiring about this event was all the sets from the DJs were predominantly tunes that most people knew unlike last year ’s agenda in which Pete Tong was the headliner and the DJ sets were a bit more underground
This incredible open air show was one of the biggest and most spectacular Mambo events in the UK in 2022 and follows on from the success of the 2021 ‘In The Park’ show, which saw thousands of par ty goers enjoying iconic sets from some of the best house music talent in the business, let’s hope this becomes a yearly event and just gets bigger and bigger
TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@bedsbulletin com SEPTEMBER 2022 13 B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N NEW LOOK –NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs 2pm–Midnight –Fri-Sat Noon-1am –Sunday Noon-Midnight Bedford Road, Kempston 01234 851143 “Sweetasanut” ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ FSFUNCTIONROOMFORHIREUITABLEFORALLOCCASIONSNEWLYREFURBISHEDHoldsupto120LEXIBLESEATINGARRANGEMENTSCALLFORMOREDETAILS ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Email:www.facebook.com/daleysclubdaleysclub@outlook.com Daley’s ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ SNOOKER £3 PER HOUR POOL TABLES FROM 50p A GAME ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1stSaturdayOctober JENNYTHEROCKCHIC Saturday 10th September SINGLE FILE BAND Saturday 17th September PALMA VIOLET & LUSHES LIPS DRAG SHOW ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Thursday 24th September JONNY B DISCO pop rock and a bit of punk ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ (Strong functionhumour)Adultintheroomtickets£5fromthebar ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ out & about by Tony Hendrix Brilliant night at Café Mambo Ibiza THE con club KEMPSTON 01234 851120 Saturday 3rd September the fantastic RICKY SOLO Saturday 10th September it’s soul and motown night with PETE COVINGTON & SAM COVIE Saturday 17th September Fantastic ska and reggae nine piece band ROCKSTEADY DROP an epic night not to miss this is one of the biggest and best bands we have had here Saturday 24th September the beautiful and amazing STACEY LEE she is definitely one of the Conclubbers’ favourites Saturday 1st October RED MICK One of the best Mick Hucknall of Simply Red tributes there is so don't miss this guy DIARY DATES NOT TO MISS Saturday 15th October LEIGH CASLING one of the best Elvis tributes Saturday 29th October the Conclub’s legendar y HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS PARTY for kids and adults get them costumes ready Saturday 5th November we welcome back our RAG & BONE TRIBUTE and the beautiful RAINY
Well the build up to one of Bedford s most prestigious outdoor event’s Café Mambo Ibiza finally came to the show down on Friday July 29 2022 in Bedford Park , Bedfordshire For over 25 years, Café Mambo Ibiza has been recognized for its specific brand of quality dance music It became the place to meet for guaranteed good times and to watch the incredible Ibiza sunsets It has played host to all the big names in dance music, not to mention the infamous BBC Radio 1 Ibiza weekends Café Mambo Ibiza I was privileged to have been issued with a pair of press tickets for this special open air event which I soon upgraded to The Green Room status The first thing that caught my attention was the age diversity at the event ranging from 18 to at least 50, I had expected to see a slightly younger age range of more like 25 to 40, however the crowd no matter what age were cer tainly fired up for a big house par ty The Green Room pass gave us the additional privileges of the exclusive use of dedicated toilets and access to a bar we were cer tainly glad to have upgraded our tickets to the Green Room as the bar and toilets within the main arena were pretty busy! The atmosphere was electrifying and it was obvious that ever yone there who had par ted with their hard earned cash was there for one thing only and that was to par ty It was great to see that the village idiots were nowhere to been seen hence the event was a trouble free zone throughout The show kicked off at 5pm with the house soon warmed up with Bedford’s ver y own Mark Russell, unfor tunately I only caught the last 30 mins of his set, but what I did hear was awesome Mark was soon followed by the lovely Laura and Ben Santiago who once again delivered an outstanding pumping set
Contact: Jenny 01234 217621t Sandy Women’s Institute: Meets on the third Tuesday of every month (except August) at Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy New members are always very welcome Visitors are charged a small fee of £4 For further information contact: Ann Patterson 01767 680644
MAD RON The Third Hardest Man in Uxbridge, is a comedy creation of Steve Lee, first appearing on the comedy circuit back in December 2015 Since then Mad Ron has gone on to win awards threats
14 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin com B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N
made? Who can say! PAUL REVILL will host the shows Doors 7 30pm Shows star t 8 00pm Show finish 10 45pm Tickets £12/£14 + Booking Fee Tickets available from www castlecomedy co uk
Bedford Music Club: Contact: www.bedfordmusicclub.co.uk Tudor Reeds Folk Dance Club: Barn dance group meets every other Wednesday 8 10pm, St Mark’s Church Hall, Brickhill £2 inc refreshments
Biddenham Gardeners Association: Contact: www biddenham gardenersassociation.org.uk Car Boot Sale: Milton Ernest Garden Centre, Radwell Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1SH, Cars £5, vans £10 Sellers setup 9am, Buyers 10am 2pm September 4, October 2 Family Fun Day & Dog Show Sunday September 11 Contact: (01234) 823033 or enquiries@miltonernestgarden centre.co.uk Shanbrook Men’s Group: Unemployed, working from home, retired, widowed or just need to talk to someone The Man Cave in Sharnbrook Scout Hut could be for you We have men from all over north Bedfordshire who come along and have coffee and toast from 10am 1 30pm every Friday Contact: Bernard Brown on 07711 664451 or Steve Marvell on 07904 176698 Kempston & District Model Railway Society: Meets every Wednesday evening, from 7 30pm to 10 00pm in Kempston East Methodist Church, entrance from the Car Park Our members have a wide range of expe riences, backgrounds and ages Anyone interested is welcome to drop in one Wednesday evening and get to know more over tea and biscuits OPEN MORNING Come along between 10am and noon on Saturday September 10, when we will have our club layouts running in Kempston East Methodist Church, entrance from the Car Park Bring along any models you would like to give a good run on our new test track Contact: 000000 Bedford RSPB Local Group: Invite you to join us as we kick off our Autumn series of Meetings Meet at ARA club, Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7PF. Thursday, September 15, 7 30pm aiming to finish by 9 30pm Jo Thomas presents ‘Wildlife of Panama from the Canal to the Sky Jo runs the travel company ‘Wild about Travel’ and has a vast and interesting knowledge of much of the world’s spectacular wildlife Tonight, as the title suggests, is devoted to Panama Suitable for experts and novices, RSPB membership not essential Entrance fee, group members £1 Guest £2 annual group membership £5 under 18s enter free www rspb org uk/groups/bedford or Contact: 07905 199769 Oakley Rural Day Centre for the elderly: The Old School, lovell Road, Oakley, Beds, MK43 7RX We provide a fun filled day of activities, games and good old conversation The day includes refreshments and a two course lunch Contact: Lynne, Tuesday to Thursday on 01234 824935 or Mobile: 07733 227374 www oakleyruraldaycentre weebly com Email: oakleyruralday centre@yahoo.com Bedford Floral Art Society: meeting on Tuesday, September 6th at 7.30pm at the Addison Centre, Kempston, MK42 8PN when our floral demonstrator will be Beverley Short with “All the World’s a Garden” Visitors £7 Contact: www bedfordfloralart society.co.uk Man Cave: If you are looking for some male company 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
TERRY ALDERTON is one of the most exciting comedians around, regularly per forming all over the globe, and picking up the odd award He is recognisable to fans as character ‘Terr y Spraggan’ in Eastenders Peeking inside the Technicolor mind of one of Britain’s finest comic talents and you will find him desperately doing battle with “The Voices”, two unpredictable and hilarious Voices in Terr y’s Head Oh, and let’s not forget his talking shoes His numerous TV stand up credits include, Live At The Apollo, Dave’s One Night Stand and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Road Show ‘He’s proved himself as a comedian of dizzying inventiveness’ The Times
Andy Stedman (pictured above right) will host the show Saturday October 1 The BIG October Show at The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade A classic mixed bill of comedy featuring TV names and rising stars!
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Quar ry hosts heat of Comedian of the Year
O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N comedy diary To advertise your
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Kempston Senior Citizens Club: DANCING, WHIST, BINGO Meets Wednesday 10am 12noon Friday 10am 4 00pm, Centenary Hall, behind Kempston Town Hall, contact: Sheila Cobban, on 01234 347306 Bedford Folk & Acoustic Club: Acoustic and folk music round the room, 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 Yoga: Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ 2pm Mondays Contact: June for details: juandhannigan@yahoo co uk: Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust: Wednesday 14th September, Meeting 7 15pm for 7 30pm Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnham Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ AGM and Illustrated talk ‘An Introduction to Bedfordshire’s Geology’ By Bev Fowlston Plenty of parking available all welcome, no charge but voluntary contributions are appreciated Further details at www wildlifebcn org or Contact: 01234 266057 Walking Football: Sessions every Tuesday at Upper Caldecote 1 30pm to 2,30pm taking place at Harvey Close Upper Caldecote SG18 9BQ Contact: Colin Harries on 01767 317099 Sandy Historical Society: Secret Bedfordshire by Bill Stedman, (Military Intelligence Museum Chicksands) 7 30pm Friday, September 30, Stonecroft Hall St Swithins Way Sandy SG191BB Annual membership £12 50 Visitors £3 00 Contact: 01767 680171 B E F club, society bedsbulletin.com These
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Thursday September 22 British Comedian of the Year Bedford Heat at The Quarr y Theatre Castle Comedy and the Quarr y theatre host the British Comedian of the Year: Bedford Heat This competition has the biggest comedy prize in the UK, a whopping £10,001 This will be a special show where some of the UK’s best acts do their best 10 minute sets in the hope of going through to the final for the chance to win the mega cash prize! The standard of entrant has been outstanding with established headliners putting themselves for ward and some of the most exciting upcoming talent The quality will be sky high Judging at each heat will be by the audience!
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Roz Hodges, Principal at Stratton Upper School, said: “It is a pleasure to see the incredible results that our A level students have achieved They have overcome significant challenges over the last few years and the commitment and ambition they have each shown has been truly inspiring “They were not able to sit their GCSEs and so this is their first set of public exams and we could not be more proud of their achieve ments At Stratton Upper School we promote a ‘can do’ culture in which every student is encouraged to strive for excellence We are extremely proud of the bright, independent individuals this cohort have become and wish them the best of luck in their future aspira tions
• Technical level Students: Average point score per entry for Technical Level Students is 38.07 average Distinction+ Grade 12 06 points increase from 2019’s average point score (26 01 Merit)
REDBORNE UPPER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Nine students achieved at least three A* grades at A level and five were successful in getting into Oxbridge SAMUEL WHITBREAD ACADEMY Samuel Whitbread Academy Principal, Nick Martin, said: “I would like to congratulate all of the students in Year 13 on their hard work and determination that they have shown over the last few years, which I am pleased to say has been richly rewarded This year group has certainly had to overcome their fair share of challenges, throughout the pandemic, but they have taken all of this in their stride and man aged to achieve a great set of exam results I couldn’t be any prouder as a headteacher and I wish them all the luck in the world on the next stage of their journey
HARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL Mrs Helen Harris, Headteacher at Harlington Upper School, said: “There were jubilant scenes at Harlington Upper School as our A level students received their results They made us incredibly proud, as we knew they would, with a fantastic set of A levels and Vocational qualifications 25% of grades achieved were the top grades of A and A* and 50% were A* to B Our students have a range of fantastic futures ahead of them with most taking up high level apprenticeships or university places to study a wide range of subjects in a wide range of places from Music at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to Medicine at Oxford University We wish them all every success in the future ”
• Academic Students: Average point score per entry for Academic Students is 35 39 average B grade 5 13 points increase from 2019’s average point score (30.26 C)
• Ayran Patel who achieved two A*s and two As who will also study Computer Science at the University of Southampton • Daniel Anderson who received two As, one A and a B and will go onto study Mathematics at the University of York
• Kayleigh Mackormick who achieved one A* and two As and is going on to complete a Nursing degree • Emily Collett received two starred Distinctions, an A and a C and will study International Business with Mandarin at the University of Hertfordshire
Cllr Sue Clark, Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said: “A level results day is one of the most important days in a student’s life and this year this is, of course, on the back of the disruption caused by the pandemic Teachers and pupils have worked extremely hard during the pan demic, and it is lovely to see that hard work rewarded I congratulate our students in securing these won derful results and I wish everyone the very best in deciding upon their next steps ”
The DfE Provisional Key Stage 5 First Statistical Release will be published in October 2022 The results will fluctuate because of the school performing the Key Stage 5 Checking Exercise during the Autumn Term 2022 Students who didn’t get the grades they required, or who have questions about clearing, next steps or options for further or higher education can contact UCAS via: www ucas com
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Stick ‘em up! TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@bedsbulletin com SEPTEMBER 2022 15 B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N
The Summer term culmunated in the much anticipated summer camp, postponed since 2020 Over 50 Cubs and Scouts camped away for a week (with Cubs also having a shorter three day option) in the middle of a tranquil campsite by Chalfont St Peter They had days packed with activities, cover ing archery, climbing, abseiling, 150m twin zip wires, crate stacking, tomohawk throwing, a gladiator challenge, outdoors laser tag and more, alongside a range of other activities being put on by the adult volunteers that took them for the week Hannah Reeve, one of the Scouts who attended, said: “Everyone hadn’t been on Summer Camp for three years, so it was great to be back and all of the activities were brilliant!”. With a huge range of activities, the adult volunteers were on hand to support and encour age the young people Cub Leader Jane Lee said: “We had Cubs who didn’t fancy the abseil but braved the zip wire and can’t get enough now. So proud of them and so rewarding to see Cubs having ‘their best day’ ” Everyone came home full of stories and memories One parent, Vicky Jellis, said: “Thank you so much everyone who made this such an enjoyable week, we appreciate the amount of work needed on your part. Evie has had a fantastic time and has talked about everything she has tried and can’t wait until next time Such an amazing experience for them all ” find out more about scouting visit
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A lEVEl results are in across col leges and sixth forms in Central Bedfordshire, early indications of the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) provisional A level results show an increase in the average points score per entry across Central Bedfordshire compared to 2019’s figures This year ’s A level results end two years of teacher assessed grades due to the COVID 19 pan demic Headline information on DfE’s provisional Key Stage 5 data for Central Bedfordshire shows:
The school’s notable pupils include:
STRATTON UPPER SCHOOL
• Applied General Students: Average point score per entry for Applied General Students is 33.40 average Distinction Grade. 8.09 increase from 2019’s average point score (25.31 Merit) And there have been plenty of individual success stories too, here are just a few examples
“I would like to say a huge thank you to all our staff who con tinue to deliver exceptional teach ing, raising their standards to help our students realise what they are truly capable of ”
Central Bedfordshire’s provisional A level numbers are up on pre-pandemic f igures
DELIVERY AGENTS REQUIRED We are looking for reliable people to deliver the Beds Bulletin’s and Kempston Calling We have several rounds available NOW To apply go to: http://www bedsbul letin com/ door door deliveries.php
WITH Summer Term well under way, all the young people at Flitwick Scout Group have been outside, having fun, going on adventures and learning skills for life Squirrel Scouts (boys and girls aged 4 and 5) have prepared to go on an adventure, followed a treasure map through Flitwick Woods, and invented their own super heroes A first for Flitwick Squirrels, nine Squirrel Scouts also earnt the top award for Squirrel Scouts: The Chief Scout Acorn Award Beaver Scouts (boys and girls aged 6 and 7) have been looking for minibeasts at Wadelows, have spent time at Flitwick Moor, and had some reptiles visit them They finished the term with a Teddy Bear’s picnic at Ampthill Park Cub Scouts (boys and girls aged 8 to 10½) have also been out and about, with a walk at Sharpenhoe Clappers, Footgolf, and a visit to the animals at Shuttleworth. They have also been cooking on an open fire Scouts (boys and girls aged 10 ½ to 14) have been out hiking around Houghton House and Barton Hills, and have gone on a couple of cycle rides. They have also had some water activitiy days in Luton where they were able to row, canoe, kayack, sail, paddleboard and build a raft
https://www.flitwickscoutgroup.org.uk/
• Jonathan Roberts who achieved three A*s and will study Computer Science at the University of Birmingham
• A level Students: Average point score per entry for A level Students is 35.31 average B grade. 5.14 points increase from 2019’s aver age point score (30 17 C)
Saturday August 14 Berkhamsted ..............................1 Biggleswade FC .........................0 FC opened their account to the season with an away game to last season’s runners up, Berkhamsted Right from the off, FC were on the back foot An early free kick for the home side proved FC’s undoing, Tommy Smith rising well and guiding his back post header beyond the diving Dan Green FC continued to play good foot ball, however, the final ball just let them down In contrast, the home side played much more direct and were a constant threat throughout the game, especially at set pieces Man of the Match Charlie Hayford
Late winner sees FC go through
16 SEPTEMBER 2022 TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin com B E D F O R D S H I R E B U l l E T I N C O U N T Y M I D B E D S B U l l E T I N sport LC Dr iveway Solutions Ltd Long Lake Meadow, High Road, Seddington, Sandy SG19 1NU www.lcdrivewaysolutions.co.uk PROBLEM DRIVEWAY? • Resin Bonded • Block paving • Patio slabs • Tarmacadam • Fencing • Turfing • Brickwork • Graveling • Landscaping and much more Tel: 01767 360076 or 0800 781 6343 Mob: 07428 511932 SUMMER SALE 20 % OFF Call: 01767 360076 FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE BULLETIN We’ve got it covered Waders’ mixed fortunes Saturday August 13 BIGGLESWADE TOWN .........0 CIRENCESTER TOWN ..........0 Well, we are off with the conditions a plus 30° temperature not adding to the ease and enthusiasm of the game The air temperature was sti fling, no envy for the players or officials on the pitch with no shade Biggleswade from the off attacked the visitors goal with Jon Clements and Ashley Hay proving a handful for the big Cirencester defenders Cirencester who came with the tag of hot favourites to top the divi sion in eight months time were res olute in their play Strong and determined the Waders were not able to play to the game plan Clements had two efforts saved in the first period where Cirencester threatened but pro duced nothing At the break 0 0 After the well earned cooler, it was nearly visible that the heat drained the life out of the players and hence the game Chances in the second period were few and only Cirencester had a shot at goal brilliantly saved by Timmy Smith diving quickly to his right The final whistle brought some relief for the players and a well earned point to kick off the cam paign Premier Plus Man of the Match Harry Draper Tuesday August 16 WARE .........................................3
Preliminary Qualifying Sunday August 21 Biggleswade ................................3 Cambridge City ........................2 A dramatic 94th minute winner from Pat McCafferty saw FC come from behind to face East Thurrock Utd in the First Qualifying Round After a couple of early warning signs, it was the visitors who grabbed a 12th minute lead In the 50th minute FC were level, a corner to near post by Charlie Hayford was kicked into the net by Scott Bridges in his attempts to clear Alex Marsh was quick to react steering home to equalize Cambridge City, restored their goal advantage just after the hour mark Sub Michael Davis checked back on the left hand side teeing up Sharman to guide the ball home Jack Dreyer came on for FC a much needed injection of energy He who supplied a fine pass for Alex Marsh to rattle the post with fourteen minutes to go FC had to dig deep to level eight minutes from time and it was certainly a goal worth waiting for Nathan George sent a long diag onal down the left for lawrie Marsh to chase lawrie did bril liantly to keep the ball in play before checking back The result ing cross was out of this world as Dreyer flung himself at it acrobati cally to volley home at the far post One final sting in the tail as Pat McCafferty broke City hearts deep into injury time he guided home the finish into the bottom corner to spark wild home celebrations Man of the Match Alex Marsh
BIGGLESWADE TOWN .........1 A lively start for the Waders push ing on at every opportunity Personnel changes from Saturday saw Jake Bunyan and Charlie O’Keefe come into the side, adding a touch of class to the quick passing game favoured by Biggleswade But it was Ware that took the first honours through Tyriq Hunte on 10 with an unstoppable shot into the top corner, giving Timmy Smith no chance Clements and Hay did well up top against the very experienced defenders, not prepared to give an inch A mix up on the right saw the ball fall to liam Dulson whose run into the box on 30, firing across Smith for a 2 0 lead Wounded, the Waders upped the game and two minutes later Ashley Hay got his first goal for the Waders, a shot from the edge of the box beating the keeper in the top corner Biggleswade continued to dom inate play for the remainder of the first 45 but not able to add to the score although chances were creat ed Out for the second half, contin uing where they left off, the pass ing accurate and quick sometimes magical, but unable to get the deci sive touch in front of goal Aaron Austin, liam Smith and Marcus Gouldbourne were all sent on to add fresh impetus to the Waders play, chances created and missed when it seemed easier to score, but it is easy sitting in the stand Pressing forward looking for that elusive strike left gaps at the back, taken full advantage of by Hunte again on 87 to make a final score of 3 1 This was a very encouraging performance and wins are definite ly on the way Man of the Match Ashley Hay Saturday August 20 BIGGLESWADE TOWN ........4 WHITTON UNITED ................1 FA CUP 1ST PRElIMINARY ROUND
Saturday August 27 DIDCOT TOWN .......................1 BIGGLESWADE TOWN .........0 It only occurred to me this morning that if a pitch is too wet to play, then it follows that it could be too dry Such was the case at Didcot where the pitch had suffered the long draught and as a playing surface certainly did not suit the diamond, quick passing game of the Waders Even during the warm up it was obvious that the ball was never going to run true and acted more like the oval ball of a rugby match, with the bounce unpredictable The game started well enough with the Waders attacking but the home side, certainly knowing the pitch got into their stride The only goal of the game came as a deflec tion after a shot by Connor Barrett on 23 Timmy Smith in the Biggleswade goal performed hero ically, one outstanding double save and a penalty at the end Man of the Match Timmy Smith by Antony Molinari
Wednesday August 17 Biggleswade FC .........................2 Waltham Abbey .........................1 FC’s first home game of the season saw Waltham Abbey visit the Eyre Stadium on what turned out to be an entertaining evening with FC collecting their first points Both sides started brightly Early chances saw FC go closest, Charlie Hayford collecting the ball from a deep corner at the far post, before cutting inside and sending a wonderful curling shot off the bar It was Abbey that went one up A loose pass from the back saw laurent collect it and beat the FC defender More chances came and went at both ends but it wasn’t until midway through the second half that FC opened their account for the season The impressive Hayford with a free kick saw FC skipper Tom Coles raise well and score with a bullet header FC won it late on, when in the 83rd minute, last season’s top scor er Alex Marsh got on the end of a long goal kick from Dan Green and head it over the advancing keeper Man of the Match Tom Coles FA Cup
The start of the road to Wembley against Whitton United, a team that the Waders have never played, took off with gusto Whitton had first dibs when captain James Gaffer had the goal at his mercy on 6 min utes only to see his power shot graze the bar on an upward trajec tory Warning served Biggleswade started to take the task at hand seri ously, producing again the football we saw at Ware on Tuesday Sharp, quick and accurate passing saw the Waders through the mass ranks of Whitton defenders Jon Clements it was with the first goal on 14 as the ball fell loose, Clements mak ing no mistake On 27 minutes Harry Draper headed back across goal for Clements to nod in for goal number two Marcus Goldbourne was prov ing a real thorn as Charlie Smith and Jack Bunyan sprayed the ball around the park Goldbourne it was with a dazzling run, putting the ball across the face of the goal for Bunyan to finish The back line of Howe, Draper, Brathwaite, cap tain for the day, and O’Keefe who kept the Whitton forwards in check, Timmy Smith in goal not much troubled Ashley Hay upfront was the target man and certainly had the better against the massed defend ers On 37 Clements it was who secured a hattrick to knock another loose ball in At the break 4 0 was seemingly a winning score With Harry Draper replaced by Aaron Austin at the turn round, Biggleswade decided to shut up shop, defend the lead and stay clear of injuries This they did for 38 minutes when a fine solo run by Benjamin Judge beat the keeper across his goal No panic although it did spur Whitton onwards creat ing chances not taken Premier Plus Man of the Match Jon Clements
