Henlow may 15 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 78 - May 2015

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Win Tickets

to see Craig Charles

History

of Champneys

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Langford, Henlow, Shefford, Stanford, Hinxworth, Ickleford, Caldecote, Radwell, Shillington, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, Holwell, Meppershall, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey, Hitchin & Letchworth

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Message from the Editor: It is hard to believe that I have now been editor of The Villager and Town Life magazine for a year. I hope you have continued to enjoy the articles and are still finding the information on local businesses useful. We have now taken on a new issue. The Great Ashby Directory based in Hertfordshire became The Villager in March, meaning that we are now your local magazine within Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Each issue is tailored for your area so please do send us your local news, features and details of community groups. We would love to include you! The winners of our Ska Festival tickets last month were Catherine Jenny Jefferies and John Butler. Congratulations go to them both.

Contents

The History of Champneys................................................4 Ladybird, Ladybird, Fly Away Home.................................8 Should it be Home or Away for Grandparents.................10 Win Tickets to see Craig Charles......................................13 Local Oxygen Changes Lives...........................................14 Roger Bannister: The Man Behind the Mile....................16 The Alabama Hayriders..................................................18 Bedfordshire’s Garden Secrets........................................20 Animal Heroes................................................................23 Patient Participation Awareness Week...........................25 Top Tips for Healthy Teeth...............................................26 On the Run.....................................................................28 Helen’s Helpful Hints......................................................31 Employment Matters.....................................................32 The Best Car Gadgets for 2015........................................34 Champneys 13th Annual Bike Ride................................37

Inspired by the Orient....................................................38 Grow Your Own..............................................................42 Why Buy a Luxurious Bed for your Elderly Dog...............45 Tobago - The Quieter Side of Paradise............................46 Bank Holidays................................................................48 New Forest Adventures..................................................51 Seasonal Delights...........................................................54 Horoscopes.....................................................................56 Puzzle Page....................................................................60 Who Dreamt Up That One?.............................................64 Wordsearch....................................................................66 What’s On.......................................................................68 Prize Crossword..............................................................74 Fun Quiz.........................................................................77 Book Review..................................................................78 Classifieds......................................................................79

9,500 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Henlow, Langford, Astwick, Edworth, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Newnham, Radwell, Bygrave, Shillington, Holwell, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Ashwell End and Stanford (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Arlesey, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin and Stotfold)

Editorial - Catherine Rose, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, RSPB, Kate McLelland, Alison Runham, RSPCA, Nooshin Hassan, Helen Springer, Carol H Scott, Katherine Sorrell, Pippa Greenwood, Solange Hando, Susan Brookes-Morris, Tim Saunders, Russell Grant and Bruce Edwards Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Bernard Ormrod and Darren Harbar Photography Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

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

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

By Catherine Rose

The History of

Champneys Owned by Mrs Dorothy Purdew OBE and her son Stephen, the well-known Champneys luxury spa resorts celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. With two of its resorts in the rural areas of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, it maintains its holistic founding philosophy that ‘true beauty can only come through health and wellbeing’.

Over the years, Champneys’ heritage has become synonymous with luxury and its resorts have attracted many celebrities with a combination of pampering treatments, healthy food and fitness. Dorothy Rose Sanders was born on 4th March 1932 in London. During this difficult period her parents, Dick and May, worked hard, and with the onset of World War II and the Blitz, Dorothy was evacuated in her early childhood. Later, after passing all her exams she left school at 14 and started a dress-making apprenticeship. In 1957 she married Robert Purdew and went on to have two children, Stephen and George. She was subsequently inspired to set up her own slimming club business and opened her first club on 25th June 1970 at Frimleys in Northampton. It was a great success and led to over 100 clubs opening throughout the South East. This was to be the beginning of her interest in health and beauty. Hertfordshire A magnificent mansion set in 170 acres of rolling parkland, Champneys Tring, in Hertfordshire was once an elegant English

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stately home owned by the Rothschilds, and the Champneys name originates from Ralph de Champneys who owned the manor in 1307. It was actually first opened as a health farm in 1925 by Stanley Lief, a celebrated naturopath who pioneered the concept of holistic wellbeing. Today, as well as being a health and beauty spa resort, the building is an international college of health and beauty – Champneys College. The college was founded in 1976 and over the past 40 years has become a leading UK training school renowned for its success rates and professionalism in the beauty industry. Although the college enjoys a tranquil park setting, it has excellent transport links to London and major motorways and its reputation - offering the internationally recognised CIDESCO and nationally recognised CIBTAC diplomas - attracts health and beauty students from all over the world. The Purdews acquired Tring in 2002, along with the Champneys name, which led to the rebranding of all the resorts. Although a £14 million refurbishment has recently been completed, including a state-of-the-art gym and cardio-fitness theatre, it retains a delicious hint of history. You can still take tea in the graceful drawing room, play snooker in the games room or roam the manicured grounds. Bedfordshire Henlow Grange is a traditional country retreat nestling in 150 acres of parkland and steeped in history dating back to the 16th Century. Occupied by Cistercian Monks for 330 years, it was later rebuilt in its present Georgian style. Alan Lennox-Boyd, M.P. for Mid-Bedfordshire lived in it with his family from 1936 to 1950. By 1961 when Leida Costigan bought the house, it had been unlived in for many years and was virtually derelict. She converted The Grange into a health farm, with an average of a maximum of just six guests! By the early 1970s, it had become a favourite with celebrities. In September 1981 the Purdew family purchased Henlow Grange at a time when the face of health farms was changing. Dorothy’s son Stephen had a career in accountancy at that time with no intention of working with 6

his parents but when he stepped in to assist for a couple of weeks at the age of 21, it was a move that would prove permanent. Today, he manages the entire Champneys group and has been pivotal in its growth, development and success. In 1985, Henlow was extended to include more than 20 new rooms. Sadly, Robert Purdew died in 1990 and the Cupola Clock Tower at The Grange is dedicated to him. Today, Champneys Henlow has a cosy, comfortable atmosphere, offering beauty treatments that include a paraffin wax bath (a skin-softening treatment) that has been exclusive to Henlow for over 40 years. Following a fire, the resort was reburbished and now includes a Thalassotherapy pool, a Laconium and a Rasul Mud Chamber. After Robert’s death, Dorothy and Stephen continued to run and develop the family business. In 1990 they purchased Springs Health Farm in Leicestershire. As their success continued they expanded the company once again, purchasing Forest Mere in 1995 which subsequently won Spa of the Year two years running. Inspired by Champneys’ therapists, their own brand of spa products was launched in 2004. And in 2008, six Champneys Day Spas also opened across the UK, offering a scaled down version of its beauty treatments and therapies in a local shopping environment, in effect taking Champneys to the high street. That same year Dorothy Purdew was recognised by the Queen in the 2008 birthday honours list, with an OBE for her ‘services to the health spa industry and charity’.

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Veggie Week 1-2 page_ppl.pdf

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Wildlife

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Ladybird, Ladybird Fly Away Home? Last weekend my husband and I spent a long overdue day tidying the garden. During our labours I became intrigued by the number of ladybirds populating the leaves and bushes, which made me curious about the world of this mini beast. Popular with children and adults alike, I wondered how much we actually know about them and thought I’d do a little research. The ladybird is actually a member of the beetle family and its scientific name is Coccinellidae, meaning ‘little red sphere’. There are over 42 different species in the UK, the most common being the bright red variety that has seven spots and is thought to have given the insect its name: “Lady” referring to the Virgin Mary (Our Lady) who in early paintings is seen wearing a red cloak, and the seven spots being symbolic of the seven joys and seven sorrows of Mary. The ladybird starts life as a tiny, shiny, yellow egg, laid in a cluster on a leaf from late spring into summer. Each egg hatches to release a small, black, 6-legged larva which eats greedily and increases in size by shedding its skin three times in its lifetime. The full grown larva eventually attaches itself to a leaf and forms a pupa, from which the adult beetle emerges 1-2 weeks later. Beetles and larvae feed through the summer and ladybirds that hatch early will produce a

new generation of beetles during mid to late summer. During its short life span, a ladybird will lay around one thousand eggs. When the colder weather comes it looks for somewhere warm to hibernate for the winter, where it may stay for up to nine months. Very few will survive to hibernate a second winter - one year is the common life span of a ladybird. They emerge from hibernation in late March to April, to feed and mate and begin the process all over again! Ladybirds have brightly coloured wings which beat about 85 times per second while flying. The wings are also used to warn off predators. In times of danger, ladybirds are able to roll over and play dead. They secrete a fluid from the joints in their legs that gives off a foul tasting fluid that prevents their enemies from finishing them off! Ladybirds are a gardener’s friend and should be made welcome as they are one of the best deterrents against garden pests. They eat aphids (tiny soft-bodied insects) that destroy foliage and plants such as roses and tomatoes, their particular favourite being greenfly. They also eat small caterpillars, mealy bugs, mites and even some scale insects. A ladybird will consume around 5000 aphids during its lifetime. Ladybird, ladybird, don’t fly away home. Stay close by and keep looking after our gardens for us!

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Time of Life

Should it be home or away for grandparents? If you’ve ever watched TV programmes such as “Escape to the Country” or “A Place in the Sun: Home or Away”, you’ll appreciate the dilemma. Each week these shows focus on couples who dream of making a new start in life, either by moving to a different part of Britain or emigrating to a new country altogether. In many cases the show’s subjects are older couples. The show takes them to their dream location and follows them as they seek advice on property from a real estate professional. At the start of each programme we learn something about their lives then eavesdrop as they explore various houses. But as soon as the door closes on the final viewing, the TV presenter’s expression changes from light-hearted to deadly serious: it’s decision time. This is often a moment of mixed emotions, particularly if the couple is concerned about leaving grandchildren behind. For all their excitement and anticipation there’s often a trace of regret even guilt - behind the smiles. It’s a tough dilemma that many of today’s grandparents face: should they move, or stay? Having been through parenthood themselves, grandparents understand how quickly children grow up. While you can always come back for important events such as sports days and the Christmas nativity play, missing out on the small, everyday things may be difficult. It’s also possible that your children

depend on you to provide regular, unpaid childcare services while they work. In those circumstances your move away may have significant economic implications for the family. But is it right that grandparents, who may have struggled to bring up their own children, should now feel trapped by a sense of obligation to the next generation? Jules and Gareth Bowman from Essex were faced with that difficult question when they retired. “We had always dreamed of living in the country but my job kept us in town,” says Gareth. “Retirement brought the chance to move but our daughter Ellie worked full time and relied on us for childcare. Although we didn’t want to let the family down, Jules suffers from ill-health and we felt we only had a few good years left.” The Bowmans finally confided their feelings to their daughter and son-in-law. “I don’t think they’d ever considered that we might want to live somewhere else. Ellie spoke to her boss, who let her work flexi-time, and she found a good créche for the holidays. The move has been good for us and the family enjoy coming to visit.”

The Bowmans were lucky that their family could adapt to changing circumstances, but what works for one family may not work for another: other grandparents have felt there is no alternative but to continue offering support. It seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes relocation can work better for everyone involved. Without the stresses and strains of close-up living, family visits become more like holidays, celebrated with lots of outings and treats, while Skype calls via a webcam help to bridge the gaps between visits. Although it may help to discuss future plans with your children, ultimately it’s up to you to decide on the best long-term solution for your health and happiness. But however you choose to go forward, one thing is certain: real life decisions are more complex and challenging than they appear on those reality TV shows!

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N O I T I T E P M O C Win Tickets to see

Craig Charles Straight no Chaser & The Pad Presents: CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL SHOW Bedford Corn Exchange Friday 15 May 2015 Doors 9pm – 2am Live on stage: Nicky Prince & Soul Selecta! DJ Mark Russell (Suburban Beats) Dj Gian (Magic Bus) Room 2: Hammy & Geoff (Northern Soul) Number 13 Bar from 8pm - Robbie Bryson (Too Fly) Robert Marin (Bakura) Rob Gipson (field maneuvers) Craig Charles is bringing his legendary Funk and Soul Club to Bedford for the first time for a night overflowing with groove-ridden-beats, rare-discotreats and soul-jam-shakers for all those dance-floor funksters. Building on sell-out performances at clubs up and down the country, huge headline festival appearances and a prime time radio slot, the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club guarantees only the funkiest tunes will make it into the best party in town! The legendary actor, host, poet and broadcaster who you will know from his roles in Red Dwarf, Robot Wars and Coronation Street just so happens to be one of the UK’s best loved Funk and Soul DJ’s with a popular primetime Saturday night BBC 6 Music radio show. “When BBC 6Music asked me to do a radio show I only had one condition, it has to be a funk & soul show otherwise I wasn’t interested” Having been broadcasting live every Saturday Night for over 10 years Craig has garnered global support and recognition as one of the UK’s foremost Funk and Soul commentators, DJ’s and promoters of new music whilst still championing the classic golden age funk artists of the 60s and 70s. The list of guests that have featured in The Funk And Soul Show speak for itself........ Gil Scott Heron, James Brown, Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse amongst many hundreds more in a list that just gets better and better each week! After hundreds of successful DJ appearances

at summer festivals across the UK including Glastonbury and Big Chill, club residences in Brighton, London, Bristol, Manchester and Leeds, Craig ‘King of Funk’ Charles has packed up his ‘trunk of funk’ and is heading down the M6 to Bedford to tear the Corn Exchange roof off!! Support on the main stage comes from Bedford’s finest DJ Gian (Magic Bus) and Mark Russell (Suburban Beats) as well a live band Nicki Prince & the Soul Selecta! Further more there are an additional 2 rooms of music with Hammy & Geoff who will be spinning Northern Soul in room 2, and in the Number 13 Pre-show Bar from 8pm onwards the underground ‘Too Fly’ team takeover with dj’s Robbie Bryson, Rob Marin & Rob Gipson. Over 18’s. Craig Charles Set Time is 12-2am Ticket Info: Tickets are £13 advance Outlets: Bedford Corn Exchange 01234 718112 www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk www.undergroundtickets.net www.seetickets.com www.onionheart.co.uk (no booking fee) Boutique Planet, Bedford (no booking fee) Mario’s Hair Design, Kempston (no booking fee) www.thepadpresents.com The Villager and Town Life has a pair of tickets to give away for the Craig Charles Event. To enter, simply email editor@villagermag.com with the heading ‘Craig Charles Entry’ and include your name, address and telephone no. A winner will be picked at random. Closing Date: 12th May 2015

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Local News

Local Oxygen Changes Lives! Breathing pure oxygen is known to help our bodies’ healing process. In particular, many people going through treatment for cancer have found it tremendously helpful. Julia Bradbury is recovering from her second bout of breast cancer and says that the oxygen therapy she received in Letchworth has literally changed her life. “I was first diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. After surgery and radiotherapy, I thought I’d beaten it,” explains Julia. “But in 2012 it returned.” “I started oxygen treatments to help promote scar healing after my reconstructive surgery,” she adds. “The affect was amazing – it accelerated my hair growth following chemotherapy and gave me loads of energy too!” “I missed my weekly sessions whilst I was on holiday and felt the difference almost immediately. They have literally changed my life by helping my cancer recovery in such a huge way. My cancer hates oxygen!” Mark Boscher from Letchworth’s Oxygen Therapy Service has seen a wide range of people benefit from oxygen treatment. “From physical healing after

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy help you? Who do you know with:

surgery to energy boosts, many people with cancer have felt the benefit of something we all take for granted: oxygen.” “Many people are unaware of the tremendous benefits that breathing oxygen within pressurised conditions - or Hyperbaric Oxygen - can offer.” Part of registered charity the Herts MS Therapy Centre, an experienced, friendly team runs the service. “Our ‘dives’ are closely supervised and everyone is thoroughly screened before using our oxygen chamber,” explains Mark. Do you know someone affected by cancer? Maybe they too could benefit from oxygen treatment. Call Mark or Claire at the Oxygen Therapy Service on 01462 684214 to find out more.

Oxygen Therapy Service

• Cancer? • A neurological condition? • Fibromyalgia? • Sports Injuries? • Diabetic or Leg Ulcers? • TBI? • Broken Bones? • ME/CFS/Extreme Fatigue? Find out if Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can improve your health, accelerate healing, give you more energy. Search online for ‘hyperbaric’ and your condition. This Charity has delivered 60,000 Oxygen Therapy sessions since 1988 – all carefully supervised. Our friendly team responds fast to all enquiries.

Call Mark today on 01462 684214 or email oxygen@hmstc.net

Registered Charity 299524 Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, Herts SG6 2JF www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk

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Adoption information evenings: First Wednesday of every month At our Milton Keynes and Peterborough offices - see website for details

Adoption Connections

Many children are currently in care and need a new family… could you be that family?

St. Francis’ Children’s Society is a voluntary adoption agency, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. We welcome all kinds of adopters for all kinds of children, regardless of age, race, cultural background, religion, marital status or sexual orientation.

www.sfcs.org.uk enquiries@sfcs.org.uk

Connecting the Adoption Circle Registered Charity No. 211670

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Milton Keynes: Peterborough:

01908 572700 01733 475581

History

Roger Bannister:

Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

The Man behind the Mile 6th May 2015 marks the 61st anniversary of Roger Bannister’s ‘four minute mile’. But the last year’s anniversary interviews and publication of his autobiography, Twin Tracks, revealed that the man behind the mile doesn’t want to be remembered solely for his record-breaking achievement. Testing Times - Bannister had enjoyed running at school and chose to study medicine at Oxford because of its record for “creating [runners] who managed to reach the Olympics and... lead full academic and social lives.” He ran 4:52 in the freshman’s mile and competed abroad, delaying his medical exams. But he wanted time for other interests. “I must be the international athlete who trained least,” admits Bannister. He only did “the minimum amount of training [necessary] to improve,” and this attracted criticism. Bannister found competing stressful and avoided competitions as the 1952 Olympics approached, saving himself for Helsinki. “Running was only my secondary interest and I could not afford to spend another four years jeopardising my medical future with this exciting distraction.” However, his training hadn’t prepared him for 1500m heats, semi-finals and a final on consecutive days. His fourth place was a “shattering blow”. The Four Minute Mile - Undeterred, Bannister focussed on the four minute mile. A 4:03.6 Britishrecord-breaking run proved “that the four-minute mile was not out of reach,” and desperate to achieve it before his chief rival, John Landy, he named the day: 6th May 1954. At the Iffley Road track Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4 seconds, becoming an overnight sensation. Landy broke his record 46 days later, but Bannister beat him at the Commonwealth Games. He retired on a 1500m win at the European Championships, running 3:43.8 – which would have won gold at Helsinki.

Changing Track - “My whole life was medicine. I wanted to become a specialist.” Bannister believed neurology offered the chance to demonstrate “kindness and effectiveness in dealing with patients and clinical problems.” Some fellow professionals doubted his commitment though. “How can Bannister, a mere athlete, probably spoilt... aspire to neurology?” But he let his work speak for him. He focussed on the autonomic nervous system, and founded the Clinical Autonomic Research Society in 1982. He and his colleagues made a host of significant discoveries in autonomic failure, identifying rare disorders, and he has said he would rather be remembered for this work than for his mile. Giving Something Back Chairmanship of the independent Sports Council gave Bannister the chance “to use the experience of both my sports and medical careers; my twin tracks.” He campaigned for random drug-testing and arranged development of a sensitive urinary test for anabolic steroids. “That’s up there with anything I did on the track,” he insists. Meanwhile his successful ‘Sport for All’ campaign encouraged greater sporting participation and access, with the number of multipurpose sports centres rising from 4 to 400. He also chaired the International Council of Sport and Physical Education improving international sporting relations and reducing ethnic and social divisions. A Worthy Legacy - Bannister’s work with the Sports Council laid the foundations for the successful 2012 Olympics and he is rightly proud of all his achievements, but he carried the Olympic torch at the scene of his magic mile (now Bannister Stadium) and acknowledges the fame and opportunity the achievement brought him. So perhaps his legacy is inspiration; to not only set goals, but be prepared to adapt them, and pursue more than one. It’s rather humbling. Evening class, anyone?

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The

Alabama Hayriders Still making hay while the sun shines! Legendary country swing band of the sixties and seventies, the Alabama Hayriders has recently reformed after 36 years and is about to embark on a string of gigs in the local area. Catherine Rose went to meet the five members of the band, who joke that between them, they are now over 300 years old. The Alabama Hayriders were a big name on the country music scene for many years, particularly during the seventies, and in their time, they played the Albert Hall and knew and performed alongside many well-known names in the music and show business industry including Tommy Steele, Charlie Drake, Marty Wilde, Kiki Dee, Peter Noon, Herman’s Hermits and the New Seekers. Their version of ‘Rocky Top’ with its B-side of ‘Easy Loving’ topped the country music charts for weeks. The band’s roots began in the 1950s, formed by US servicemen on the local American bases under the name Johnny and the Hayriders. Then as the members completed their tours of duty and returned home, they were gradually

replaced by country music-loving British musicians including George Brown (who took over the group) and the late Gordon Huntley who left in 1976 and became a respected session player and member of Matthew’s Southern Comfort that had a number one UK record chart hit with ‘Woodstock’. Today, the Alabama Hayriders remains the same line up as in 1976 with John Lindsay on rhythm and vocals (he is also their manager), Mick MacKay on lead guitar, Bryn Sharpe on base and vocals, John Davis on the pedal steel guitar and Terry Vials on drums. All are ‘local lads’ with John Lindsay hailing from Hitchin, Mick from Dunstable, Bryn from Hemel Hempstead, and both John Davis and Terry originally coming from St Neots. Throughout the sixties, the band regularly made live broadcasts with the BBC at the Nashville Rooms in Kensington, later moving to the BBC’s studios at Maida Vale. “We were a household name during the 60s and 70s” says John Lindsay. “We played on BBC Radio Two

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regularly with Wally Whyton’s Country Club produced by Bill Bebb. We also did quite a bit on TV.” John’s wife Iris looked after their wardrobe which included some impressive sequined suits. “We were the smartest band around” says John. The group reckon they must have performed thousands of live gigs over the decades before they went their separate ways at the end of the 70s with a final appearance on Anglia TV. They got a lot of their work through the same agency as the Barron Knights and used to play regularly at Caesars Palace in Luton and Blazer’s Nightclub in Windsor, as well as many other venues and music festivals. They were also on the ‘Fuller’s Circuit’ of pubs. One of their most notable concerts was at Wormwood Scrubs in the early seventies, where Ronnie Biggs and the rest of the ‘great train robbers’ were in the front row. “We never stopped working” says John Lindsay. “We would have ten gigs on the trot.” By 1980 they decided they had had “a good run” and needed a break. Each had other projects they wanted to follow so the members parted ways. John Lindsay went on to run The Chequers pub at Wrestlingworth. It was John Davis who instigated the Alabama Hayriders’ reformation around two to three years ago, setting out to search for all the former band members. Bryn proved the most elusive. They looked for him for ages, eventually tracking him down to a small village outside Swafham. Although sadly, as the group points out, a lot

of their fan base is now gone, their music still appeals to everyone of all ages and they can perform many well-known and loved country tracks. They are also very respected on the music scene: “There are so many musicians who claim to have worked with us” says Terry. “A lot of groups are making comebacks these days” he adds. “During the seventies we were so busy we didn’t know what day it was. Now we can go back to it, relax and enjoy it.” However, they have found that the music industry has changed a lot in their absence, and not necessarily for the better. “It’s hard to get into the country circuit now” says John Lindsay. “Venues are booked up for a year in advance with someone on a guitar and a few backing tracks.” There is no doubt that the amiable five-piece are traditional and experienced musicians and live performing is clearly in their blood. “We are not going to go away quietly” says Terry. John Davis agrees, saying: “We come alive at a gig”. The Alabama Hayriders will be performing free at the following venues: 7th June - The Oddfellows Arms, Apsley, 4.30pm 27th June - The Plough at Langford, 8.30pm 4th July - Opening Langford Fete at 1pm 13th September - Goodwill Day to raise money for local causes at The Chequers in Wrestlingworth, 12pm The group is also available for charity performances. You can check them out on www.youtube.com.

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RSPB

Bedfordshire’s

Garden Secrets Revealed More than a million people took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this year, witnessing some exciting and interesting changes among our most popular garden birds. UK survey results came in from around 90,000 people across the east who spent an hour during the weekend of 24th and 25th January watching their garden and recording any feathered friends that made a flying visit. Over 1.3 million birds were spotted across the region, making it another bumper year. Refreshingly, in Bedfordshire, sightings of almost every bird that featured in this year’s top 10 increased on the numbers recorded in 2014, apart from goldfinch. There was no change in the top two birds spotted across the county since last year with house sparrows retaining the top spot: at least four birds were seen on average in well over half of the gardens surveyed. This popular garden visitor was followed closely by the noisy and gregarious starling in second place. The wellknown blackbird pipped last year’s number three to the post, pushing the colourful blue tit down to fourth position in the survey. However, both the house sparrow and the starling remain on the ‘red list’ for Birds of Conservation Concern which means they are both species needing urgent action. Nationally, starling populations have dropped by an alarming 80% since Birdwatch began in 1979. There is slightly better news for the house sparrow as its long term decline appears to have continued to slow although numbers have dropped by 57% since 1979.

Gardens continue to provide an invaluable resource for birds and are likely to have a significant effect on their numbers, perhaps even playing a pivotal role in reversing some declines. And for the second year running, participants were also asked to log some of the other wildlife they see in their gardens, such as slow worms, grass snakes, deer, squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs, frogs and toads. This will help build an overall picture of how important our gardens are for giving all types of wildlife a home. The parallel event, Big Schools’ Birdwatch, continued the record breaking theme with more schools and children taking part than ever before and revealed that the blackbird is the most common playground visitor for the seventh year in a row. The Big Garden Birdwatch and Big Schools’ Birdwatch are a part of the RSPB’s Giving Nature a Home campaign, aimed at tackling the habitat crisis facing the UK’s threatened wildlife. The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their own gardens and outside spaces – whether it is putting up a nest box for birds, creating a pond to support a number of different species or building a home for a hedgehog. To find out how you can give nature a home where you live, visit: rspb.org.uk/homes

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Pets

Animal Heroes Be a hero – leave a legacy While thinking, talking and planning for your own death may feel uncomfortable, you need to consider how much worse the situation would be if you died or became incapacitated – through illness, accident, old age or emergency – without sorting it. So, please just take a deep breath and get a Will organised. Not only can you make life easier for your friends, your own pets and your family; you can also make a huge difference to a charity too. A gift in your Will can help the RSPCA be here for animals in the future, every single day. We’re the only organisation that is here for all animals in England and Wales, and over half of our work is paid for by gifts people leave to us in their Wills. A gift in your Will, however small or large, can help ensure we can always be here for animals, protecting them and giving them new beginnings. Over the years, gifts have helped the RSPCA build and maintain our animal centres and hospitals. Today, these gifts are as vital as ever, allowing us to invest in essential new facilities like an on-site veterinary suite at Blackberry Farm Animal Centre in Aylesbury. As well as preparing animals for rehoming, Blackberry Farm looks after case animals, whose owners are awaiting court verdicts. This can mean long periods of kennel and cattery time for animals that have already been through a great deal. At any one time Blackberry Farm can be responsible for the care of more than 200 domestic animals.

The RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch is a small independent animal charity working under the guidance of the national RSPCA. Like other branches, it is self-funding and raises money locally to support the animal welfare work it performs. The branch doesn’t have a rescue centre and relies largely on the generosity of volunteer foster carers who provide a safe place for the animals that the national RSPCA Inspectors collect and rescue. Two charity shops in Bedford – on the High Street, and in Thurlow Street – help raise funds – so donations are always needed. In the future, when an animal comes to us hungry or neglected, a gift in your Will can mean we are able to care for them. If they come to us injured, we can treat them and help them recover. If they come to us having endured fear or trauma we can help them rebuild their trust and begin a new life. These days, the process of making or amending a Will is relatively straightforward. Find out how you can remember the RSPCA in your Will by looking on our website: www.rspca.org.uk. By specifically naming the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch in your Will, you can ensure that your gift goes directly to local animals. We, and local animals in need, thank you for your support.

ANIMAL HEROES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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Local News

Patient Participation Awareness Week There are many changes happening to healthcare in our locality both now and in the near future. As patients and members of the public, we can help shape these changes and challenges. Patient Participation Awareness Week is taking place from 1st to 6th June and hopes to highlight the activities of the new Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) that have been set up to provide a proactive and decision-making link between healthcare services and the general public. The awareness week aims to promote the role and benefits of PPGs to patients, the public and health professionals, to create more understanding of the value of true patient participation and to promote the support available from the National Association of Patient Participation (NAPP) – a charity set up in 1978 whose aim is to see a Patient Participation Group in every GP practice with each group based on the mutual interests of the Primary Care Team and patients of the practice. PPGs are groups of active volunteer patients that work in partnership with practice staff and GPs. This unique partnership between patients and their practices is essential to achieving high quality and responsive care. The groups operate by meeting face to face with practice staff at mutually agreed intervals. ‘Virtual PPGs’ now also exist operating alongside ‘real’ groups, enabling a dialogue with the whole patient population through email, online surveys and social media. PPGs work on mutual trust and respect to provide a patient perspective ensuring services, plans and

activities respond to patients’ needs and priorities. They also foster communication with the wider patient population building stronger patientdoctor relationships and provide practical support to practice teams e.g. conducting and analysing patient surveys, organising health awareness events etc. In addition, PPGs encourage those with long term and/or multiple health conditions to gain confidence in managing and taking control of their health and care; and help other patients take more responsibility for their health in order to make informed decisions. In the Ivel Valley Locality Commissioning Area there are nine practices involved in this scheme in Potton, Biggleswade, Sandy, Stotfold, Stondon and Shefford. Details are as follows: Greensands Medical Practice (Potton), Practice Manager Nicola Gauge on 01767 260340; Larksfield Medical Partnership (Stotfold), Practice Manager Philippa Joseph on 01462 732200; Arlesey Medical Centre, Practice Manager Richard Stead on 01462 732144; Ivel Medical Centre (Biggleswade), contact Julie Broomfield on 01767 312441; Kings Road Surgery (Sandy), contact 01767 682277; Lower Stondon Surgery, Practice Manager Jill Watson on 01462 850305; Shefford Health Centre, Practice Manager Lynnette Brannan on 01462 818620; Biggleswade Health Centre, Practice Manager Clare Saravacos on 01767 316346; and Sandy Health Centre, contact 01767 682525. For more information about the scheme and Patient Participation Groups, please visit: http://www.napp.org.uk/ppgawarenessweek.html

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Health & Beauty

Top Tips

for Healthy Teeth

National Smile Month starts on 18th May, and with researching linking gum disease to serious health problems, it’s obvious our oral health is important. So instead of dodging dental check-ups, follow our tips for healthy teeth. Brush Properly: Look after your toothbrush. Check regularly for splayed or split bristles, rinse and dry it after every use to remove bacteria and store it somewhere clean. Change your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three months, even if it looks pristine. Use the right toothbrush. Firm bristles may damage gums, so choose a brush with soft to medium bristles and a small to medium head. Electric toothbrushes are proven to be more effective. Use floss or an interdental brush to penetrate the crevices between your teeth. Develop good brushing technique. Hold your brush at a 45° angle to the gum line for outer surfaces of your teeth, and tilt it vertically to reach inner surfaces, using small circular movements. Vary the place you start brushing so that the same teeth don’t suffer from your dwindling enthusiasm. Keeping Plaque at Bay: Brush often. Brush at least twice a day after meals, but not more than three times daily; it may do more harm than good. Follow a teeth-friendly diet. Acidic drinks and foods (e.g. citrus fruit, pure fruit juices) and sugary products are major tooth-damage culprits, as are fizzy drinks – even diet versions contain high phosphate levels that damage teeth. Reduce the risk by saving them for meal times and using a straw, or make healthier fizzy drinks by combining

sparkling water and sugar-free squash. Don’t chew the ice cubes either (see ‘respect your teeth’ below). Carbohydrates can damage teeth too, so think twice before tucking into pizza or crisps. Remember: Prevention is better than Cure, so: Find a dentist you’re happy with. While location is important, it may be worth travelling further to find a dentist you trust. The NHS website lists dentists in your area and indicates which accept NHS patients: http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/ Dentist/LocationSearch/3. Private dentists often offer payment plans, but ensure you’re clear about what’s included. Check opening hours suit you, read testimonials and ask friends and family for recommendations too. It’s also worth checking their credentials and what other services they offer, such as implants, cosmetic dentistry or orthodontics. The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England, and their reports on dentists can be found here: http://www.cqc.org.uk/search/services/ dentists. Visit your dentist regularly. It’s not always pleasant or cheap, but it could save you money (and pain) long-term. Use dental products approved by a professional dental association (e.g. the British Dental Association). Buy high-fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes to keep tooth enamel healthy and reverse tooth damage. Respect your teeth. Using them as bottle openers or scissors can cause tiny cracks that may be invisible now, but could cause decay or splintering later. Get things straight. Crooked or overlapping teeth can make good oral hygiene difficult, and some braces are now invisible. Ask your dentist for advice. Give up smoking. Smoking stains teeth and reduces blood flow in the gums, making smokers more prone to gum disease and tooth loss. With healthy teeth and fresh breath every month could be National Smile Month, so grab that brush and make a date with your dentist.

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Summer is here... Get ready for the sun!

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Well Being

On The Run What is it with this running malarky? Everyone seems to be at it, or talking about it. It’s impossible to wander through your local park or residential area without seeing at least a couple of Lycra-clad people, gadgets strapped on to their arms, and a determined look on their face as they dash past in their fluoro-gait-analysis-approved trainers. In the office people can be seen excitedly talking about the training regime they’re doing ahead of the next half-marathon, or exchanging information on the latest protein shakes. Even on the social scene there’s no escape; who’s been out for dinner and

heard someone (A Runner) utter: “it’s got to be an early night for me I’m afraid - I’m doing a race tomorrow…” as they wolf down their meal selected purely based on nutritional content and with complete disregard for flavour (unlike me as I tuck in to my steak, fries and salad). What about those of us for whom the concept of base layers only ever related to nail polish? And who never realised the importance of left and right support socks? What of those of us who see going out for dinner as a treat? Well I’ll tell you. They get to you in the end. It might take time, and you might fool

By Nooshin Hassan

yourself in to thinking you’re just doing a little ‘fast walk’ to the supermarket and that there’s nothing wrong with doing that in your old jogging bottoms, but before you know it you’re signing up for a 10k and wrestling yourself in to the tightest leggings in the world. Of course I jest a little with these extreme descriptions of runners, although we probably all have one friend who is fairly close. We all know that running, jogging or even a brisk walk can be very good exercise when done at the appropriate levels and in the correct way (don’t forget to stretch!). With obesity now a major problem in the UK it’s clear that too many of us are consuming more calories than we are burning off. Since obesity can increase the risk of further health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer, we should be taking action, and how much easier could it be than stepping outside for twenty minutes? It can be daunting to a nonexerciser to start up running or walking, but just smile at the guys and girls sprinting past wearing all the expensive sportswear and checking their bpm, and focus on your own goal - namely getting some exercise. The pressure to do more and get faster can be high but actually the beauty of running is that it’s all about you; you choose when and where, and you choose your pace. Be warned though; if you start to use phrases such as ‘carb-ing up’, or find you’ve accumulated more running clothes than normal clothes, then you have become ‘A Runner’.

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TEMPLARS CROSS LODGE

Peace of Mind Counselling Service

I am a Counsellor working throughout Bedfordshire. I work with a variety of issues and aim to help individuals understand their problems and work through them in a safe and comfortable environment. I provide a relaxed atmosphere within sessions and each one is guided by you the client so that you work through your issues at a pace that is comfortable to you.

www.templarscrosslodge.co.uk Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking. • continental breakfast • large luxury en-suite rooms • free wifi internet access • sky tv/dvd player • fridge in room • private location • close to train station • major credit cards taken

For further information call Nicky on 07554 425570 or email blakenicky7@gmail.com

Tel: 07970 162753

Email: ami@amcofm.co.uk or sally@amcofm.co.uk North Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire SG7 5DN

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WObUrN FOreST HOLIday VILLage

career OPPOrTUNITIeS

Nestled in a 365 acre forest, Woburn Forest boasts beautiful undulating woodland landscapes, the largest Subtropical Swimming Paradise, magical views over the lake and forest with modern Lodges bringing guests closer to nature. We have a variety of positions with hours to fit around your lifestyle. There are various contracts available. You will come into regular contact with our guests so you will need to have a pleasant and helpful nature. Transport is available for some of our positions in the local area. To apply please visit centerparcscareers.co.uk, click on Job Search, then choose the Woburn location or alternatively sign up to receive regular job alerts. Center Parcs, Woburn Forest Holiday Village, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2HZ

at center Parcs, we want our people to share in the success their hard work brings, enjoy a sense of wellbeing and a good lifestyle, and make the most of their time with us. We offer unique benefits such as: • discounted center Parcs breaks • day visitor passes • Free use of village facilities

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EBAY COLLECTIONS

Local & Reliable

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Couples Counsellor

Helen’s Helpful Hints No. 10 - Allow Life

Stop striving to get it, and start living to be it. Do you find yourself focusing on what you don’t have instead of what you do? We take for granted the things that make us feel good but can become very aware of things that are lost to us or that make us feel low, self critical, anxious or even depressed. Acknowledge how you feel, dwell on it for a while, talk about it and cry if you want to. Write down all your negative feelings, then tear them up and throw them away. Do this as often as you need to. Life changes may trigger a new direction that could be better for you. Talk it through with friends and family and start noticing the possibilities open to you; allow life to guide you to your future. Each day decide on one thing that you would like to achieve and do it. You will feel more positive. Relax and allow the process of life to occur. If you need to talk, do give me a call.

I am a certified Relate couple counsellor, MBACP with 29 years’ experience located in Pirton, Herts. Before you decide, you can have up to a half hour free counselling on the telephone or on Skype to assess if it’s right for you. Call me, Helen Springer for an appointment. I can fix a fee to suit your pocket. Telephone 01462 713685 Email: helen@experiencedcounsellors.com Website: www.experiencedcounsellors.com sprinsib@globalnet.co.uk www.counsellorsandcounselling.co.uk

BEDFORDSHIRE WALKING FESTIVAL 2015 We are currently putting together the Bedfordshire Walking Festival Programme for 2015 This will go out in June and the Festival will take part in September. We are looking for advertisers to go into this programme for the followin : Taxi services, Pubs, Restaurants, B & B, Places to Stay, Eat, Visit etc. There will be a large amount of visitors from all over Bedfordshire taking part in these walks. If you would like to advertise into this programme please let us know A.S.A.P. Contact Barbara.

Tel: 01767 261122 Email: voucherbook@villagermag.com To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

Employment

Employment Matters Calculating Holiday Pay The Latest Changes

No one can have failed to read about the latest landmark cases in relation to some employees being paid more than basic salary when calculating holiday pay, so as the holiday season approaches what should be taken into consideration? What overtime should be included? Certain overtime should now be included into average salary for holiday pay and calculated only on the four weeks’ annual leave entitlement. Guaranteed overtime Guaranteed overtime is where the employer is obliged by the contract of employment to offer and pay for agreed overtime. Workers should have their normal guaranteed overtime taken into account when they are being paid annual leave. Non-guaranteed overtime Non-guaranteed overtime is where there is no obligation by the employer to offer overtime but if they do so, then the worker is obliged by the contract of employment to work overtime. Workers should have their normal non-guaranteed overtime taken into account when they are being paid annual leave. NB: Following an Employment Appeal Tribunal decision that holiday pay should now include non-guaranteed overtime in relation to four weeks holiday pay, this decision is binding on the Tribunal but is subject to any appeals although no appeals have been lodged to date. Voluntary Overtime Voluntary overtime is where the employer asks the

worker to work overtime and the worker is free to turn down the request as there is no contractual obligation on either side to offer or refuse overtime. There is currently no case in law to suggest that voluntary overtime needs to be taken into account when calculating holiday pay. How to calculate average pay An employee’s pay while they are on holiday - and when they leave – will be calculated to reflect their average pay over the previous 12 week period. In addition, employers will need to review the records for the past year and where there is not a three month gap between holidays, make retrospective top up payments. Holiday pay and sickness When a worker takes paid or unpaid sick leave, their annual leave continues to accrue. If the worker is unable to take their annual leave in their current leave year because of sickness, they should be allowed to carry that annual leave over until they are able to take it, or they can choose to take a period of annual leave while they are sick and be paid at their usual annual leave rate. Commission Payments The ECJ has ruled that commission must be factored into holiday pay with regards to four weeks leave. This wording has not been added to the UK’s Working Time Regulations yet so at the moment it would be sensible for employers to set aside money to meet any potential liability until this area is more certain. Carol H Scott (HR and Business Consulting Ltd)

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Reassurance when you need it most

Neville Funeral Service

24 Clifton Road Sheﬀord SG17 5AE t: 01462 813258 e: sheﬀord@nevillefuneralservice.com

96 Walsworth Road Hitchin SG4 9SU t: 01462 444910 e: hitchin@nevillefuneralservice.com

(inc George Squire & Son since 1976)

(inc David J. Binks since 2005)

www.nevillefuneralservice.com Martin Lewis is not the only person that can help you save money! The team at Will Trust and Protect are money saving experts too! We want to make sure that the families in our area benefit from our expert advice. If you want to pay lower taxes to the government, reduce monthly premiums on your insurance plans and get the best interest rate available on your mortgage, then speak to us today and we will provide you with the solution that will fit your needs.

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PROTECT Will/Trust Advice You decide where your money and children go, not the government.

Lasting Power of Attorney If you become incapacitated, you choose who decides your future.

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Insurance Advice We’ll help you find better cover and cheaper premiums.

Mortgage Advice We will find you the best mortgage rate available in today’s market.

Conveyancing We will price-match legal costs for buying and selling your home.

Please call us on 01462 615233 to arrange a convenient time for an informal consultation or email info@willtrustandprotect.co.uk You can visit us Monday to Saturday at Will Trust & Protect, 17a High Street, Shefford, Bedfordshire SG17 5DD YOUR HOME IS AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

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Technology

The best car gadgets for 2015 How to hang onto your licence and keep the kids happy too

We’ve come a long way from the days when the most interesting accessory you could get for your car was a set of fluffy dice. There are all kinds of useful accessories for in-car entertainment, navigation and safety, and you can even get gadgets that can help you hang on to your driving licence. If you’ve ever worried that you might be over the drink driving limit (which has just been lowered in Scotland), a portable breathalyser is a good investment. The well regarded Alcosense range starts at £25 and rises to £60 for the Elite model, which knows about the lower limits in Scotland, Ireland and much of Europe. If that’s too pricey Alcosense makes disposable tubes at £4.99 for two. Garmin’s £120 Dash Cam 10HD also has safety on its mind. It is a video camera that sits on your windscreen and continually records what’s in front of you, eliminating any doubt about who’s to blame in the event of an accident. The camera uses microSD memory cards and it does everything automatically so you don’t even need to remember to turn it on. If you’re worried about damage occurring when you’re parked,

such as people shunting you in a supermarket and fleeing the scene while you’re still shopping, look for one with a Park Mode to catch the culprits.

If entertainment is your thing you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can pick up an in-car DVD player for £70 or a twin pack for £120, or you could invest in a cheap Android tablet and let the kids watch movies on that: headrest holders are widely available. If your car stereo is showing its age, you can replace it with an all-singing, all-dancing model for as little as £43, although if you want the ultimate in audio you’ll pay a bit more than that: for example, Pioneer’s SPHDA120 car stereo, which uses Apple’s CarPlay technology to work with an iPhone, is currently £339. You don’t need to spend that much for a smartphone connection, though: there is a wide range of good quality

car stereos for around £50 to £70 with connections for smartphones and/or USB flash drives. If you’d rather go wireless, gadgets can help with that too. Parrot’s MKi9200 adds Bluetooth wireless technology to your existing car stereo, enabling you to stream music (or audiobooks, or podcasts) from your phone. It also adds hands-free calling and voice control, meaning you can navigate your music library without taking your eyes off the road. It’s currently £139.99, and (optional) installation is around £50. One of the most useful in-car gadgets may be EE’s Buzzard 2, which provides a Wi-Fi hotspot in your car via the magic of 4G mobile broadband. That’s brilliant if you tend to have a carful of smartphone or tablet-wielding children, or if you need to get online with your laptop when you’re out and about. You can pick one up for free if you sign up for a two-year, £10 per month contract, but keep an eye on the data limits: that £10 gets you 1GB of data transfer per month, so it’s not a great idea to let the kids stream endless Netflix programs when you’re on the road.

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To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

BEFORE

AFTER

Builders Ltd. General Builders Paul Crane 07815 578768 / 01438 357757 infocranebuilders@gmail.com

www.cranebuildersltd.co.uk 1 PARK LANE – HENLOW – BEDS – SG16 6AT

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Local News

Champneys

13th Annual Bike Ride On Sunday 10th May 2015, Champneys will be holding its 13th Annual Charity Bike Ride at the famous health resort in Henlow, starting at 11am. The bike ride is a sponsored event where teams or individuals can choose to cycle either a 22 or 36 mile route and is followed by a garden party in the grounds of the house at Henlow. All funds raised will be split between the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Silver Star Appeal and Champneys Charitable Foundation - three very worthy causes. This year, in conjunction with Champneys 90th Anniversary, the company is aiming to double the funds that were raised last year and continue the great success of this event. Individual entry costs £25 with a team entry fee of £100 for up to five people. This fee includes a water bottle, use of a high visibility tabard, snacks at designated check points along the route, and attendance and dinner at the garden party

afterwards. In addition, bike hire is available and riders can also purchase tickets for friends and family to attend the garden party at £15 for adults, £7.50 for children up to 14 years and children under five free. The entry fee will be refunded to those who raise more than £100 in sponsorship and there will be a prize for the most sponsorship money raised and spot prizes on the day. To enter, please visit http://www.champneys.com/ news/charity-bike-ride-2015/ where you can download the entry form. This page also has more information about the bike ride.

To the tasteful homeowner in pursuit of a thoughtfully designed kitchen and living area. At we understand the pleasure good kitchen design brings to everyday life. From materials, colours, craftsmanship, clever storage and ample worktop space for any size of room, can make your vision for the perfect kitchen real.

For more information visit arcandbe.com call us now on

01438 729 610 Showroom – Open by appointment: 9 Weston Barns, Hitchin Road, Weston, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 7AX 1/2 page.indd 1 To arc+be advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

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Home Interiors

Inspired

by the Orient Furnishings and accessories from the Far East seemed wonderfully exotic when they first arrived here centuries ago. Now silk and lacquer, blue-and-white china and bamboo have become a highlight of our interiors, says Katherine Sorrell. Exciting, mysterious, irresistible… rumours of the treasures of the East encouraged 16th century Western explorers to push back the boundaries of the known world, but it was not until the late 17th century that the English East India Company secured its trading post in Taiwan and began to trade regularly with China. Tea was the first import of significance, and raw silk, too; while buying and displaying costly furnishings from afar became a way for the higher echelons of society to show off their wealth and importance. The ‘Chinese room’ was a feature of many a stately home, from Chatsworth to the Prince Regent’s Royal Pavilion in Brighton, the latter an extraordinary Orientalstyle palace, crammed with objects and furniture from China. As time went on, not only did Chinese factories begin to fuse European and native styles to suit their buyers’ tastes, but also English designers and craftspeople began to imitate Oriental designs. Thomas Chippendale was one well-known example, employing latticework and lacquer in his influential furniture pattern books. And then came another enormous shift in style when, in 1854, Japan resumed trade with the West after a break of more than two centuries. Europe was flooded with imports: everything from bronzes and silks to kimonos, lacquers, fans and woodblock prints (the latter a huge influence on Impressionist painting and the Art Nouveau movement). Christopher Dresser was the first European designer to visit Japan after 1854, and both his book on the country’s art, design and architecture and his own designs for textiles, wall coverings, ceramics, glassware and metalware helped perpetuate the fashion for Japonisme at the end of the 19th century.

The fashion for Eastern objects and designs had taken firm hold, and eventually percolated down from the piles of the aristocracy to reach ordinary people’s homes. Take the almost ubiquitous Willow Pattern, for example, which has been found in households up and down the country since the early 19th century. And who these days does not own a piece of blue and white porcelain, a ginger jar, a Chinese rug, a ‘coolie’ style lampshade or a rattan side table, for example? Oriental-inspired fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and accessories can be used to make a statement in any room, or can blend gently into an eclectic interior, while the colours – rich, warm red, gorgeous blues, yellows and greens, touches of black and highlight of gold – are highly appealing and can be employed as subtle touches or all-over schemes. Whether it be a precious, hand-made antique, an item specially mass-produced for the European market or a Western item that has been influenced by Oriental designs, we love to incorporate beautiful pieces that demonstrate the craftsmanship, the materials and the styles that have become symbolic of Eastern cultures… just like the aristocrats of the 17th and 18th centuries. Fashions may come and go, but Oriental style has become a timeless staple.

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Garden

Grow Your Own By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com I’m a great fan of home grown vegetables, particularly as growing my own allows me to choose to eat only organically grown fruit and vegetables, which are free from chemical pesticides. Even if you only have a tiny patio garden or backyard, you can brighten up your supper table with some good looking vegetables, home grown in containers. It is important to use large containers. Smaller ones may look fine but most vegetables need an evenly moist compost around their roots at all times, and so a larger volume of compost is much easier to look after. They will need to be positioned in a sunny spot as vegetables won’t crop well in a gloomy position. Growing bags will do but they don’t exactly look good. In addition, they often seem to contain pretty poor compost and, when it comes to keeping growing bags adequately watered, they are nothing short of a nightmare. Large flower pots or planters are the best bet, and you can use terracotta, plastic or glazed pots. Make sure that the containers are well supplied with drainage holes, and that you have a layer of broken pots on top. I suggest using either a standard multi-purpose or a multi-purpose compost mixed with a loam based compost – both produce good crops and are fairly easy to maintain. You can incorporate some controlled release fertiliser granules or feed regularly with a liquid feed. There are lots of different vegetables that can be grown in containers but sometimes getting the right variety can make all the difference to how well they perform. Check labels or seed catalogues as those particularly well suited to life in a pot are described as so. If you like home grown beans you can use

any variety of dwarf French bean, or if you prefer, a runner. The miniature runner, ‘Hestia’, has pretty red and white flowers and doesn’t need a support to climb. Cucumbers can be grown in pots; choose a variety such as ‘Patio Pick’ which should manage to crop well despite its small size. Provided you have a large and deep container then courgettes are also worth a try, and do remember to keep them well fed. If you like hot pepper and have a sheltered, warm spot then try the crazy looking, heavy cropping ‘Medusa’ or the pretty but hot ‘Etna’. Salad crops can all be grown in a growing bag or other container, and are guaranteed to look good. For some really wacky colour try growing the richred stemmed Ruby Chard or ‘Bright Lights’ chard with stems in pink, orange, red, yellow and white. When it comes to maintenance, remember that anything growing in a pot needs more TLC as its roots will not be able to tap into the further reaches of the soil to find moisture and nutrients. Plenty of food and water is a must, and I tend to use a high potash liquid tomato feed, which works a treat. To keep your pots free from slug and snail attacks, try using sticky-backed copper tape stuck in a complete ring around the top of the pot or planter. Once everything is growing well and cropping, don’t forget to pick patio veg regularly if you want the plants to keep cropping. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system, biological controls, fleece, copper tape and lots more besides.

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TJP April.pdf

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Pets

Why a Luxurious Bed

is Important for your Elderly Dog A comfortable place to rest their head, extra support for arthritic bones and a little extra TLC - dogs need all of these things as they grow old. You can make their twilight years a happy time for both of you simply by being aware of the issues they face, and what you can do to help. An orthopaedic bed with a memory foam mattress will support their joints by moulding itself around them, helping with blood circulation and providing a comfortable place to rest. Problems such as hip dysplasia often show themselves in middle age, so even if you don’t consider your dog to be elderly, it may be worthwhile investing in this type of bed. What types of luxury beds are there? Self-heating - Metallised insulation is placed below the lining, and radiates heat. Covered with a sheepskin or fleece outer layer, this would have therapeutic benefits particularly if your house is

draughty. Elevated - On the theme of draughty houses an elevated bed keeps your dog away from a cold floor, and is available in a range of sizes. Luxury materials - One of the most important considerations is the material used to make the bed and mattress. You can buy alpaca fibre and soft fleece fillings, but it’s also important to think about practicality, so zip-off covers should be a priority to maintain hygiene. A luxurious place to sleep is important for dogs of all ages, but particularly so for those in their later years.

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Travel By Solange Hando

Tobago

The quieter side of paradise

At the southern end of the Caribbean, smaller than the Isle of Wight and a world away from its big sister island Trinidad, Tobago is a gem of golden beaches and pristine rainforest with low rise developments mostly confined to the airport area. On this bucolic island, life moves at a gentle pace and little disturbs the peace but the occasional beat of a steel drum in the morning or the call of fishermen hauling their nets on the beach. Goats graze on waste land, men carve calabash into bird feeders and candle holders and on the cliff tops, old colonial forts scatter their ruins among banana and sea grape trees. Even Scarborough, the local capital, seems little more than an overgrown village, sprinkling its pastel-coloured villas on the leafy slopes framing the harbour. Only the arrival of a cruise ship brings a semblance of life on the waterfront. Meanwhile along the coast, blue parrot fish and fire coral glow on the Buccoo Reef and the sun shines on meandering sands and crescent coves, such as the idyllic Englishman’s bay, laid back Castara, beautiful Parlatuvier or Charlotteville, draped in bougainvillaea and famous for fresh fish and ‘cow heel’ soup. Boats bob on crystal-clear water, babbling streams come down to the sea and swaying coconut palms mirror themselves in the lagoons. The north coast is a perfect Caribbean postcard but the south is rugged and wild, sprayed by Atlantic waters, dotted with islands, a few sheltered coves and fishing villages. Just inland from Prince’s Bay, the Argyle waterfall tumbles almost 200 feet into an emerald pool where local women come to

bathe, sitting all dressed in the water. The path is lined with bamboo and teak, mahogany and silk cotton trees rising from massive buttressed roots. Then there’s Speyside, its near-deserted beach and verdant hills, and Little Tobago island, just 20 minutes offshore, where frigate birds hover around precipitous cliffs and in the forest red-billed tropic birds nest on the ground among fallen foliage, fanning their tail as you approach. Tobago is a haven for wildlife, both along the shore and the Main Ridge which rises to over 1600 feet and stretches almost from coast to coast. Prickly palms, trumpet trees, mimosa fern, wild nutmeg, tangled roots and lianas where heliconia add touches of red and gold, the forest is home to myriad creatures, from leaf cutter ants and whistling frogs to whipping spiders, the odd boa constrictor and over 400 species of birds. But what matters in this jungle is not how far you walk but how much you see, here a yellow and black sugar bird, there a white-necked thrush, a blue-backed mannekin, a noisy chacalaca, an iridescent parrot or a humming bird, or a blue-crowned motmot, the ‘king of the forest’. When a sudden breeze sweeps through the canopy, the trees burst into song as a welcome shower of ‘liquid sunshine’ washes everything clean. Later, when the sun dips into the ocean, the pelicans wake from their slumbers, skimming the waves, wings outstretched before diving razor sharp into the deep in search of supper. In the summer months, the giant leatherback turtles return to Tobago Island, ready to nest on their favourite beaches under the starlit Caribbean skies.

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Time of Year

Bank Holidays Many of us will rejoice at the thought of two bank holidays during May. UK bank holidays have been in existence since the 1871 Bank Holidays Act when initially four specific days were created as days off. There have been additions over the years including New Years Day in 1974 and the first Monday in May in 1978. An extra bank holiday was created as a one off event in 2011 for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29th April, and in 2012 for the Queens Diamond Jubilee on 5th June. Bank holidays can be declared by statute or Royal proclamation, the latter is also commonly used to move those holidays that would otherwise fall on a weekend to a week day. There is no automatic right to time off on these days but many employers do pay staff to take the day off or if they work they pay them additional wages. There are frequent campaigns for further bank holidays to be added, commonly in relation to

By Susan Brookes-Morris

the main Saints days, St David’s, St Patrick’s, St Andrew’s and St George’s for example. Bank Holidays are now frequently chosen as dates for special events and many will choose to book holiday for the full week that includes a bank holiday in order to spend time with family and friends.

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For a free no-obligation site visit, please call Ian Clemson on

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Travel

New Forest Adventures By Tim Saunders

New Forest artist Claire Wiltsher loves watching how the light dances amongst the forest shadows. She says it becomes a natural cathedral when a backdrop of light comes into play among the trees. It is something we experience while staying in our Premium Lodge at Sandy Balls holiday village. It is so lovely and toasty warm inside the lodge that when we emerge into the chilly cold of the forest it is quite a shock but very refreshing nevertheless. With a bike and trailer from the cycle centre I take my daughters on an early morning ride around the local area while mum Caroline has chance to relax. An extremely good aid to relaxation is the bathroom incorporating a shower and a large corner bath with its water jets that provide a good massage. The beds are also extremely comfortable. This break is all about relaxing for us; we have such a fast paced life that there is generally very little time to do mundane things like curling up and watching television of an afternoon. A real luxury is to have a meal out and The Forest Table restaurant is a fabulous place offering surprisingly good value for money, too. Thumbing through the menu with my chilled Peroni in hand I notice that a coffee and a slice of cake is under £4. Convivial surroundings, friendly and attentive staff and a really buzzing atmosphere with numerous families eating provide a really memorable occasion. Sandy Balls, which has been a holiday village

for over 90 years, provides everything for the holidaymaker. From The Forest Table restaurant to The Woodside Inn pub and takeaway there is something for every budget. There’s even a good value onsite supermarket, The Village Store, so there really is no need to venture into the outside world. And there is plenty to entertain the children too from the Toddlers’ Wood and two indoor play areas through to the outdoor play areas and swimming pool. There are even craft activities laid on throughout the year and this is particularly enjoyed by Harriett and Heidi. It is so nice to be able to spend time with your children seeing them be creative. Sandy Balls runs a programme of weekly activities, including biscuit decorating, fabric painting, working with wood, woodland walks, collage making and bug hunting. Parents wishing to pamper themselves can do just this at the Retreat where they can book a haircut or a massage. It is idyllic setting where unlike many holiday parks there is privacy and the lodges are not overlooked. You really do get a chance to explore the inner oasis of the forest and it is lovely to watch the birds. Stay at Sandy Balls for a week and you will feel rejuvenated. Watch the videos at www.travelwriter.biz Claire Wiltsher’s book Journeys from the Forest to the Sea published by Creative Coverage is available for £9.50 from May 2015.

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A&N Home & Garden Services 1-2 page_ppl.pdf

16/04/2015

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WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

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Food and Drink Serves: 2-4 Ready in: 1 hour

Seasonal Delights Herby Stuffed Baked Tomatoes

Large and juicy beefsteak tomatoes are the perfect shape and size for stuffing and make an economical midweek supper. Serve hot or cold with a crisp green salad drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze. INGREDIENTS 4 firm beefsteak tomatoes 3 tbsp Virgin olive oil 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 75g fresh white breadcrumbs 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley 1 tbsp fresh chopped mint 2 tsp capers, drained and rinsed Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1. Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F, Gas 5. 2. Use a sharp knife to slice the tops off the tomatoes and slice a thin sliver from the base of each tomato to prevent them wobbling in the dish. 3. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the seeds and flesh from each tomato. Finely chop and reserve the flesh but discard the seeds. Place the tomato shells in a shallow ovenproof dish. 54

4. Heat half the olive oil in a medium-sized frying pan. Add the chopped onion and fry over a medium-high heat for 5 minutes until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and fry for a further 4-5 minutes until tender and golden. Stir in the chopped tomato flesh, breadcrumbs, parsley, mint and capers and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. . Spoon the breadcrumb mixture into the tomato shells, pressing it down gently then top with the lids. Drizzle over the rest of the olive oil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the tomatoes are just tender. Serve hot or cold. TIP Replace the breadcrumbs with cous cous if liked. Place 115g cous cous in a heatproof bowl and pour over boiling water to cover. Stir once then place a plate on top of the bowl and leave for 10 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. Fluff up the grains with a fork then stir into the fried onion mixture as above. Add some toasted pine nuts, chopped dried apricots, fresh chopped coriander a little harissa paste for a more exotic flavour.

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Local News

New

Dementia Group for Henlow, Langford, Clifton and surrounding areas....... all welcome If you have Dementia or are a Carer this can be a lonely challenging place so please feel free to join this FREE group to simply talk and find support and strength from others. Everyone responds to these challenges in different ways. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in awe of Carers and how they manage. Some Carers do get affected by depression, exhaustion, sleeplessness, irritability and health problems. Some of the negative aspects of caring if you are affected are: Denial, Anger, Grief,Thinking positively, Resilience, Social isolation and Anxiety about the future.

HERTS OVEN CLEAN Herts Oven Clean is a domestic oven cleaning specialist in Hertfordshire. Non-caustic, fume-free solution individually prepared for each customer. Ovens, Hobs, Grills, Extractors, Agas, Microwaves and Gas Barbeques. Call Richard on 01438 813492 Bring a sparkle to your kitchen today. To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

Russell Grant’s

Horoscopes

AQUARIUS January 21st - February 19th

LEO July 24th - August 23rd

PISCES February 20th - March 20th

VIRGO August 24th - September 23rd

The Full Moon on the 4th brings an aggravating situation at work. Money becomes available on the 6th. The New Moon on the 18th is ideal for buying a home, signing a lease, or expanding your current abode.

The Full Moon on the 4th forces you to cancel a trip or settle a lawsuit. The 16th will prove wonderfully romantic. The New Moon on the 18th will be equally gratifying. You’ll feel pressured to spend money on home improvements during the second half of May.

ARIES March 21st - April 20th

The Full Moon on the 4th forces you to juggle your finances but the New Moon on the 18th brings more money. Organisation won’t be your strongest suit around the end of the month.

TAURUS April 21st - May 21st

The Full Moon on the 4th forces you to make some radical changes to a close relationship. The New Moon on the 18th is perfect for improving your appearance.

GEMINI May 22nd - June 21st

The Full Moon on the 4th brings an end to a difficult work assignment. It will be difficult to make a logical decision on the 9th; choose your heart over your head. The New Moon on the 18th invites you to relax and rejuvenate.

CANCER June 22nd - July 23rd

Don’t discuss your private life at work in early May. The Full Moon on the 4th marks a turning point in a romantic relationship. The New Moon on the 18th is ideal for social pursuits.

The Full Moon on the 4th forces you to take care of some domestic problems. Your boss will have high praise for you. If you’re unemployed, take this opportunity to apply for work.

Juggling your personal and professional lives will be a source of strain. Don’t neglect your family. The New Moon on the 18th is ideal for scheduling an overseas trip.

LIBRA September 24th - October 23rd

The Full Moon on the 4th brings disappointing news about money. A good job is within your grasp. It will be necessary to get additional training as May turns to June.

SCORPIO October 24th - November 22nd

Take the opportunity to ask for a favour, apply for a grant, or go on a first date on the 6th. The New Moon on the 18th finds you celebrating an engagement, wedding, commitment ceremony or business partnership.

SAGITTARIUS November 23rd - December 21st

The Full Moon on the 4th brings an embarrassing secret to light. The New Moon on the 18th is perfect for landing a steady job. Be more attentive to your best friend or lover as May draws to a close.

CAPRICORN December 22nd - January 20th

May finds you in a rather gloomy mood. The Full Moon on the 4th prompts you to leave an organisation. Fortunately, your love life will shimmer with excitement on the 5th.

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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 60

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Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

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18/03/2015 09:22 63

Motoring

Who Dreamt Up That One? Iain Betson Asks What’s In A Name? In the seventies, car names conjured up far flung places of style, with sun kissed beaches and rolling countryside. Ford were masters at this: Cortina, Capri, and Granada, although let’s brush over the Escort. Then they completely lost it with the likes of Ka and Mondeo and Probe. British Leyland had the lame offerings of Marina (it’s a car not a boat, but it should have sunk without trace all the same), Allegro (it was hardly quick), or Dolomite (more like Termite). But the Japanese have cornered the weird name market starting with The Bongo Friendee and the Suzuki Mightyboy. From Toyota: The Lucinda Joyful Canopy (it has two sunroofs apparently) and from Mitsubishi the Cyborg-R. Europe, anxious not to be left out, entered VW with its Golf Club and Golf Driver. After that they decided to stay with a simple, descriptive name, so came up with Bora. Vauxhall/Opel had a go as well.

There is an urban myth circulating that amongst Spanish speaking countries the Nova enjoyed poor sales as, translated, it means “No Go”. The Koreans unleashed a whole raft of silly, inappropriate or misunderstood monikers: Hyundai “Accent” - nothing wrong with that per se, except the script style typeface at a quick glance looks like “effluent”. From Kia: The Cee’d (don’t forget the apostrophe!) Hyundai again: The Pony never a truer word said. But it won’t end there, because coming over the horizon are the Chinese. With a manufacturing industry geared to produce just about everything, mass car export is just a matter of time and with it some more silly names.

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CM ROOFING Family run business Est. 20 yrs • • • • • • • • • • •

Repairs & Re-roof Lead Specialists Slating & Tiling Guttering and Drainage Gutter Clearing Fascias & Soffits UPVC Wall Cladding Moss Removal Flat Roofing Single Ply/3 Layer Felt Liquid Plastics

We will beat any written quotation For more information & free estimate

01438 517166 / 07432 624335 chrismead.roofing@yahoo.co.uk www.cm-roofing.co.uk

James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance • plastering services available • free estimates • fully insured

References available t: 01462 817 122 m: 07899 888 545 e: go_on_james@hotmail.com www.cullippaintinganddecorating.co.uk 10 Mill Lane, Campton, Shefford, Beds

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n O s ’ t Wha In May 17 February-7 July Jill Grey - Life & Legacy Exhibition See website for opening times British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 2TS Collector, Curator, Code Breaker, Correspondent and Campaigner, Jill’s story, told mainly in her own words. A truly remarkable life. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk

4 May May Day Celebrations at the British 10.30am-12.30pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Free admission Fun for the Bank Holiday: Maypole & Country Dancing, plus a visit by Offley Morris Men. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: http://britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk

1 May Allegri Quartet 8pm Benslow Music, Hitchin Tickets: £12, Free entry for under 27s Haydn: String Quartet Op 1 No 3. Mendelssohn: String Quartet Op 1 No 12. Schubert: String Quartet No 15 D887. Tel: Box Office 01462 459446

4, 11, 18 & 25 May Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out is a medium-sized social club for single people and meets every Monday night. It was formed in 1995 to bring together single, divorced, widowed and separated people, aged 40 upwards, from the Herts, Beds and Bucks area, to socialise and enjoy one another’s company. The club organises regular events. Web: www. branch-out.org.uk

2 May The Signals Museum 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 2 May May Day Celebrations 10.30am-12.30pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Free admission Family Fun for the Bank Holiday. Maypole & Country Dancing, plus a visit by Offley Morris Men. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: Contact 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk 3 May National Dawn Chorus Day 5.30-8am RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy AExperience the magic of an English woodland as it wakes up and comes alive with the sound of birdsong at Dawn. Enjoy a tasty full English breakfast after the walk. Vegetarian option available, please advise on booking. Book and pay in advance essential. www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

6 May 2015 Liners and passenger ships sunk by U-boats in the First World War 7pm for 7.30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by David Gray. Non WFA members most welcome. A small donation is encouraged at the door to pay for the running of the branch. Web: www. westernfrontassociation.com 6 May North Herts Association of National Trust 7.30pm and 8pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 1HF Non-members £2 7.30pm AGM. 8pm ‘Art & the Inspiration behind the Manor House at Stevington’ by Kathy Brown. Tel Colette House 01462 815585 Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nhertfordassoc

6 May-30 September Luton Hoo Walled Garden 11am-3pm Luton Hoo, LU1 4LF Entry £5 including guided tour Open every Wednesday. Guided tour times: 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Purchase produce from the Garden Stall. Enjoy a light lunch in beautiful surroundings of homemade cakes, snacks and savouries. Please pre-book dedicated tours for more than 15 people. Tel: 01582 721443 Web: www.lutonhooestate.co.uk 7, 9 & 10 May Binocular and Telescope Event 10am--4pm RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy Impartial, friendly advice on choosing the best binoculars, telescopes and accessories to suit your needs. Take your time comparing the different models and try them outdoors. Some of these open days are run with Viking Optical. www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 7, 14, 21 & 28 May Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm Meet in Hitchin This social club caters for the unattached aged 50+ with varied events during the month. No joining fee for the first two months. Tel: Joyce 07960 440417 Web: www. sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 8 May Red Diesel - Live Covers Band Doors open 7.30pm Clifton Community Centre, Whiston Crescent, Clifton Tickets £6 Red Diesel play popular cover tunes from the 60’s to the present day, from artists such as The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, Oasis, James, Blur, Pharrell Williams plus loads more! Book your tickets NOW! Tel: Jane 01462 811967 8 & 9 May “When the Lights Go On Again” Curtain up 7.45pm Meppershall Village Hall Tickets £10 (no Concessions) including food Meppershall Players Present “When the Lights Go On Again”. A Musical Play commemorating and celebrating the 70th anniversary of V.E. Day. Tickets available from Roger’s Bakery 01462 813398.

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n O s ’ t Wha In May 9 May Chiltern West Gallery Quire Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Baldock Tickets £10 including interval drink The Chiltern West Gallery Quire sings and plays music heard in the 18th and early 19th centuries. We perform in costume including dance and march tunes from N Herts and Beds as well as church and folk melodies! Book online or by phone. In aid of Church Building Repair Fund. Tel: Tickets 01462 892838 Web: www.cwgq.co.uk 10 May Ashwell at Home 2015 11am-5pm Entry by programme: £6 adults, Under 18s free Open gardens, free children’s workshops, live music, veteran cycles, Morris Dancing, cow milking, funfair, lunches & teas and much more. Programmes available in advance from the website. Free parking. Web: www.ashwellathome.org.uk 11 May Icknield Quilters 7.30pm for 7.45pm start Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock SG7 6DH Cost £4 Speaker is Kate Finch - “Finkstuff”. Visitors welcome. Web: www.icknieldquilters.co.uk 16 May Nursery Rhymes 10am-1pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin May’s drop-in activity session is Nursery Rhymes. We love Nursery Rhymes. What about you? Follow our nursery rhyme trail and join us for nursery rhymes at 11.00 and 12.00. Ideal for younger visitors and their adults, but all are welcome. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: http://britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 16 May Bedford Brass 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Langford Tickets £8 including light refreshments Friends of St Andrew’s Church invite you to an evening with Bedford Brass. Tel: Jim 01462 700355 or 01462 634698 for information and tickets

16 May Meppershall Festival 2015 1.45pm onwards Meppershall Village Hall, Beds SG17 5LX Now in its 6th year, this popular local community event will once again showcase local talents. Street Dance 1.45pm for 2-3pm session where children and young people can take part in street dance session with qualified instructions from Rodney’s School of Dance. £1.50 per person. Folk Dance 3.30-4.45 pm - led by the Staplers, Hitchin. Come and give it a go, no experience necessary. Adults £3, Up to 17 years £1.50. Discount for families and groups of 4 or more. Refreshments of tea, coffee and cake from the famous St Mary’s Church tea team will be available during the afternoon. Come and watch the dancing and have a chat with friends. Meppershall Musical Concert 7.30pm. Adults £4.00, Up to 17 years £2.50. Tickets available from 20 April from the Post Office and Roger’s Bakery. 17 May Biggleswade Antiques Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £1.50 This antiques fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this monthly fair is the place to visit. Café serving breakfast, lunches and afternoon tea. Tel: 01480 382432 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 17 May Birds for Beginners 10.30am-12.30pm RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy Adults £6, RSPB Members £4, Children £3, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £2, car park and entrance charge applies to non-members Our ever popular walk. Discover how to identify the birds that you see on your walks and in your gardens, and how to get the best out of your optics. Booking highly recommended limited numbers. www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

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21 May Sandy Horticultural Association 7.30pm Sandy Village Hall Members £2.50, Visitors £3.50 Talk entitled ‘Dig For Victory’ with well-known speaker Russell Bowes. Optional two course meal afterwards £7 per person. Please telephone to book meal. Tel: 01767 680983/01767 681457 Web: www.sandyshow.org 25-31 May Springwatch Trail RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy Cost £1 per trail sheet plus car park and entrance fee for non-RSPB members Come and discover our trail that will get you finding out about wildlife and nature at The Lodge nature reserve. www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 28 May Victorian Child 10.30am-2pm (last admission 1pm) British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin £4 per child, Adults free Drop into the Museum and find out what it was like to be a Victorian Child. Try some washing and cleaning in our Victorian house. Knitting, and games that children played in the past. Even go back to school with pen and ink and slates! Tel: 01462 420144 Web: http://britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 29 May Bingham Quartet 8pm Benslow Music, Hitchin Tickets: £12, Free entry for under 27s Philip glass: String Quartet No 2 ‘Company’. Lutosławski: String Quartet. Mendelssohn: String Quartet Op 44 No 1. Tel: Box Office 01462 459446 31 May Spring and Artists Fair 10am-5pm RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy The Spring Fair is set in the grounds of The RSPB headquarters. Treat yourself to exciting gifts, arts, crafts, plants and produce and visit the Beds Artists Network zone with some fun art workshops and activities for the children. Refreshments for sale. Some small charges for activities. www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

Fully qualiFied â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 25 years experienCe

PlumbinG & heatinG ltd

gas

Gas installer Boiler installation with 5 year warranty Boiler breakdown & power flushing Frozen condense pipe rectified Boiler service and landlord certification

water PlumbinG and heatinG

Full heating & bathroom installation Under floor heating Mains pressure upgrades General plumbing work & maintenance

solar solar

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Call: 01462 292247 / 07566 118 247 218627

14 Pear Tree Close, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire SG16 6ND Email: dave@dhplumb.co.uk Website: www.dhplumb.co.uk

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WINDOW REPAIRS

Serving all of Herts - Based in Stevenage Specialising in replacing misted units

BEFORE AFTER email: info@jmlwindows.co.uk website: www.jmlwindows.co.uk 07977 911 926 / 01438 906300 • Misted/broken double glazed units • Sticking doors or windows adjusted • Broken/loose handles • Leaded or Georgian units replaced • Hinges for gapping windows • Leaks ﬁxed • All types of locks replaced • Energy saving Planitherm glass • Cat/dog ﬂaps in glass or panels • Door re-alignments Visit our website for over 30 customer reviews 72

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April’s Crossword, Codeword and Suduko Solutions Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr P Colt from Hitchin

Easy

Hard

Building, Roofing Maintenance

• General building • Roofing and roof repairs • Roof windows supplied and fitted • Carpentry • Repairs and Maintenance • Brickwork • Renovations • Flat roofing • Block paving • Kitchens and Bathrooms

• • • • • • • • • •

Concreting Site clearance Patios Fencing Guttering Decking Cabins and Sheds Tiling Fascias and Soffits Flooring supplied and fitted • Garden sleeper walls

Free non obligatory Call Russell on Tel 01462 625690/07960 967937 quotes Email: homeworxbuild@outlook.com 1 Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 To Homeworx.indd advertise in The

07/04/2015 15:39 73

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Small tunnel (6) 4 Rubbed out (6) 9 Stretchy (7) 10 Young females (5) 11 Type of music (5) 12 External (7) 13 Translated (11) 18 Window covering (7) 20 Nip (5) 22 Smell (5) 23 Passion (7) 24 Female relation (6) 25 Harsh (6) Down 2 Highways (5) 3 Result (7) 5 Correct (5) 6 Outlive (7)

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

15th May 2015 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

ď&#x20AC;˘

1 Combines (6)

7 Bowls (6) 8 Escorted (11) 14 Becomes thinner (7) 15 Blow up (7) 16 Reverberates (6) 17 Alter (6) 19 Consent (5) 21 Innocent (5)

Name: Tel: Address:

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To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds

Alan George

SELECT AT HOME CARPETS

Suppliers and fitters of all types of carpet, vinyls and laminates

FREE home calls for advice and quotations. Wide range of sample books to choose from. Friendly and reliable service. Senior citizens â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Uplift of old carpets for free.

Call Ernie for a free quote on

07767 251106 01462 615582 All messages returned

Select at home carpets 1/4.indd 1

14/04/2015 13:58

Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com 76

IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken Kitchens, Bedrooms, Doors, Windows 25 years experience Free estimates Please call 01462 851695 or 07967162448 E-mail ij_simpson@hotmail.com

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Fun Quiz - Slogans 1. What word comes after “inspire a” to give the official slogan for the London 2012 Olympics? 2. Which breakfast cereal has been advertised using the slogan “keeps hunger locked up until lunch”? 3. “We open governments” is the slogan of which company? 4. What initiative was trialled in Northampton in 2003 and rolled out to the rest of Britain in 2004 on the back of an advertising campaign that used the slogan “safety in numbers”? 5. What item appears above the slogan on most “keep calm and carry on” posters? 6. With the slogan “more human than human”, the Tyrell Corporation features in which 1980s film? 7. In 1979, which country introduced a policy known as the “one-child policy”, using slogans to advertise this that translated as “have fewer children, raise more pigs” and “one more baby means one more tomb”? 8. “Good to the last drop” is the slogan of which coffee brand? 9. In the run up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the main group campaigning for a “no” vote changed their slogan from “better together” to what other two word phrase? 10. In which TV series might you come across a fictional drink called Buzz Cola, which has the slogan “twice the sugar, twice the caffeine”?

Before

After

1. Generation 2. Shreddies 3. WikiLeaks 4. Chip and pin (for making secure payments) 5. A crown 6. Blade Runner (the company makes androids) 7. China 8. Maxwell House 9. No thanks 10. The Simpsons

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Books

Book Review By Bruce Edwards There Will Be Better Days Elizabeth Waite Pub: Sphere p/b £7 .99 ISBN: 978-0-75155690-2

Better days indeed, for Chloe; for whether seen as protagonist or heroine, she’s a lucky, lucky girl. From a back street childhood where life can be appalling, she vows not to succumb to the grot and becomes the ‘P.A’ to a charmer of a boss who’s charmed by her youthful innocence. She ends up with a small fortune as a reward for her ‘indiscretions’ (euphemism!) when he decides to end his invalid wife’s suffering and commits suicide thereafter. A twist of fate provides her with yes, another lover of influence. You’ll perhaps know (if from hearsay rather than actuality) something of how “fifty somethings of an indeterminate colour” works - well, our Chloe (a far nicer girl) goes through a wardrobe of dresses and undies which seem to fall off or get removed without the trauma. Perhaps the intriguing aspect to this tale is working out what she’ll wear next, or the constant worry that something dreadful will happen to the girl, as it all sounds too good to be true. Fear not, for she becomes proper mum to two children and acting as occasional foster mum to another. It’s a relationship tale of a rather sickly sweet nature, but then, if you try, girls, you might get lucky and find the wellheeled man of your dreams. And guys, you can read and dream-on too, for she comes across as a rather too lovable gal. All this said, it’s a nice read from a veteran lady story-teller.

Suggestion and queries to: writerselect@gmail. com. We’re always happy to consider specific titles for review, though without obligation. Can’t find a title? E-mail your details and we’ll try to help.” 78

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Classifieds Carpentry and Joinery

Plastering Services

Tim Jordon

Lawes Plastering

Carpentry and Joinery Made to measure quality timber products supply and fit. Doors, Windows, Stairs, Gates, Kitchen Worktops, Wood staining, painting and varnishing Station Road, Lower Stondon, Beds. Tel: 01462 850363 or 07544 790071

Experienced local plasterer based in Gravenhurst. Quality workmanship, clean and tidy

Contact • Plastering Paul on • Coving 07731 649628 • Artex

Electricians

Property Maintenance Lawes Plastering.indd 1

R. CHAPMAN

02/11/2014 10:3

Home & Garden Services

Patio’s Driveways Fencing Brickwork Painting & Decorating Tiling 20 Years Experience - No Job Too Small!

01462 850575 or 07950 311881

Pet Services

Removals and Storage removals, storage, archive and shipping • House and office moves • Large and small vehicles • Local/long distance and overseas removals • Containerised storage • Extremely high quality customer service Call for a no obligation quotation

01582 572967

enquiries@stephensremovals.com

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Van Hire

Plastering Services

James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding Tel: 07792 415356 or 01462 490598 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk

3/12/12 11:44:54

Chris’ Man & Van

For hire

Collections, Deliveries, Light Haulage...anything considered. Cheap rates Please call for further details

07747 828259 / 01525 754218

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