Bedford Borough Bulletin April 2019

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a GoVernMenT report is suggesting that towns up and down the country follow the example of Bedford by having a Business Improvement district (BId) for the town centre.

BedfordBID was formed in 2005 as one of only 12 towns to pilot the business-led project, since then 300 have followed and a report out now says they are an example for all towns.

The report lists a of catalogue of ideas, many of which replicate what is already happening in Bedford http://www.placemanagement.org/special-interestgroups/welcome-to-the-bid-found ation/bid-news/more-bids-andnew-forms-of-bids-to-help-towncentres/ Said BedfordBID, which is led by a Board of business volunteers and promotes the town under the Love Bedford brand: “Love Bedford is the customerfacing brand which represents 500 town centre businesses large and small, retail, services and experiences. If you want to see just what great work in already being done, what investment is being made and which innovations are being introduced by real rent and rate paying businesses in the town centre go to www.lovebedford.co.uk and come on down to town

BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

to support them when you can.

“The business-funded Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) organisation which is behind Love Bedford, works closely with the council, and other agencies, across a variety of local and nationally-led initiatives and we naturally welcome all and any ideas which encourage entrepreneurship or which ease the challenges facing our town centres.

“At Government level BIDs, of which there are now 300 and of which Bedford was one of the founding 12 in 2005, are now recognised as a way to bring together the best business expertise in any town centre location.

“Show you Love Bedford by supporting the town centre brand www.lovebedford.co.uk “

Art win for Ellie

FeW 17-year-olds can boast that their work has been included in an exhibit attached to the Victoria and albert Museum, the world’s leading museum of art and design, but ellie Scorer of Clapham can do just that.

The former Sharnbrook School student is now taking Graphics, Photography, Media and english literature a levels at The Bedford Sixth Form - and via her art class has won first prize in a competition which will see her design work all over london.

Via teacher nikki Mansell, ellie and classmates entered the challenge run by TraId, a clothes recycling charity, to design a “wrap” for their bins across the capital.

“I couldn’t believe when my name was read out,” said ellie, “I can’t wait to see the finished item which is now going into production.” ellie beat entries from more than 13 schools across london.

There are plans for her work to be unveiled at the V & a in the coming months.

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Lunch is being served THE former Délices bakery within the Art Centre is now in new hands - serving hot lunches alongside delicious fresh baked bread and pastries as The Gallery.

Avocado brunch with poached/scrambled egg and bacon, Feta lunch and a bacon sarnie with meats from the famous Linger’s Butchers nearby make for a mouthwatering meal .Ask about our own recipe sausage roll and prepare to be delighted.

On top of this are locallysourced cakes to add to the daily produced bread and more from the Companions Bakers who are working in the bakery at the back - the difference is now you can see them kneading the dough via a giant interior window.

Eat-in or take-away the cheese scones go faster than the team can turn them out.

The new owner Simon Gillett who comes from in quality national restaurants in London has returned to Bedford to bring some of his bright ideas to his home town.

The Art Centre side has been redesigned to make moving from one to the other a more natural progression so browse some paintings whilst waiting for a takeaway sandwich, pick up a creative card, enjoy a Portuguese custard tart, or refresh yourself with a super pot of peppermint tea.

A lovely spot - just what Bedford ‘kneaded’.

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APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Council marks start of work to upgrade A421 into Milton Keynes CENTRAL Bedfordshire Council formally recognised the start of its project to upgrade a key section of the A421 road into dual carriageway with a groundbreaking event held 15 March.

A remaining 3km of the road is being upgraded to better link Junction 13 of the M1 motorway in Central Bedfordshire with Milton Keynes. The stretch runs from the roundabouts by the junction up to the new Eagles Rest housing development and the Altitude Magna Park logistics and distribution site in Milton Keynes.

As the majority of this section falls into Central Bedfordshire, Central Bedfordshire Council is leading on the

project and is working with Milton Keynes Council. The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) is contributing £23.5million from the Local Growth Fund towards this £28.5million project, and both councils are each contributing up to £3million. Key team members from both councils, from the contractors and from the funders, SEMLEP, attended the formal ground-breaking event.

The council started initial preparatory site work on the road last September, and has cleared the site, put in new fences, and relocated utility pipes and cables.

This month they are starting the actual construction phase of the dual carriageway.

Councillor Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “This section of road is used by around 30,000 vehicles a day. The new dual carriageway will help ease congestion and take traffic away from local parishes, so increasing safety and benefiting local businesses and commuters.

“Work on converting this last section of the A421 into dual carriageway has gone really well so far. Last month we put in a temporary bridge that carries utility company pipes and cables, so they are out of the ground. This means we’re now able to start the main construction of the dual carriage in earnest.”

The new A421 dual carriageway is expected to be finished by the end of 2020.

Ahead of that, the widened carriageway will need two bridges to be extended: the Cranfield Road bridge, plus another footbridge towards Hulcote.

There are no safe routes for pedestrians across the A421 currently, so the new footbridge will greatly improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, who will benefit from four extended public rights of way.

There will be a new cycleway and a 3-metre wide footway along the southern side of the carriageway, leading to the new bridge.

From May 13, 2019, the current Cranfield Road bridge will be closed for up to 12 months whilst the improvements are done. The council is working with its contractor to reduce this period if possible.

The A421 forms a key section of the strategic east-west corridor, and helps underpin the proposed future Oxford-Cambridge Expressway.

The Expressway is part of the proposed infrastructure which will help to create opportunities for the wider area to become the UK’s Silicon Valley, delivering growth in science, technology and innovation.

The upgraded A421 road will help improve access to planned developments in Central Bedfordshire, such as 5,000 homes proposed in new villages in the Marston Vale area (which is within Central Bedfordshire Council’s submitted Local Plan), as well as 40 hectares of employment land that are anticipated to bring 2,500 jobs.

The upgraded road will also help improve access to Ridgmont train station, which is due to be enlarged as part of Network Rail’s East-West Rail project.

Residents can read more about the A421 road improvements, get progress updates and sign-up for email alerts at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/a421.

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21 years and still key to community 5th AVENUE in Bedford now has the key to the door as owner Kerry Cash has been in business for 21 years.

The dynamic, award-winning businesswoman who is always on the cutting edge when it comes to marketing and customer care has new plans too for 2019.

“We recognise that women have less time to spend on themselves between work and family commitments so our 2019 opening days and hours mean they can come to us on some evenings or on days when other salons and spas are shut. We’re here to provide a service when our clients need us,” explains Kerry.

5th Avenue invests in the best stylists and training. “We have sent a senior therapist on a “train the trainer’ course. Now we have the ability to certify therapists in the brands we use. We have crossed skills with hair and beauty and two stylists are now fully qualified in eyelash extensions.

The salon received recognition and runner-up status for customer service and stylist for the East Region of the National Hair & Beauty Awards 2019.

“Our past successes are important but it is what we do on the next visit of our clients which is vital to keep us in business,” added Kerry, “Over the past two decades pricing points have become even more competitive, keeping the best staff is always a challenge.

We invest in continual training and sometimes that has meant our staff being lured away by other salons or spas, even to cruise ships, But we’re happy to report that the best have come back and bring with them some useful experience and ideas.”

Being central to the

community and “giving back” has always been part of the 5th Avenue way. Kerry has served as a volunteer Chair of the Beds Businesswomen’s Club, a board member of the Business Improvement District and of Bedford College Services Ltd. She and her team have helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity over the last 21 years. A recent contribution was vouchers for raffle prizes for the Eagle Travel raffle at a Charity Cruise Night on January 12th in aid of Motor Neurone Disease, an appeal inspired by Bedford woman Debbie Burrells.

“When you are in our line of work a sense of good will is so important. We know how important it is that businesses support each other because we all want customers and clients to keep coming back to Bedford.”

News Flash: The most recent charity event was a curry buffet night on March 12th at Indian Summer restaurant where Kerry and friends raised nearly £4,500, for local child Lulu De Vries whose family are hoping to fund medical treatment for her in the United States.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

Keeping it local

BEDFORD-BASED familybrewer Charles Wells has challenged local Bedford College students to come up with branding design ideas for its new multimillion investment brewhouse and visitor destination, due to open to the public in early 2020.

The new brewery development will have capacity to produce up to 5.5 million pints a year serving Charles Wells’ 197 pub-estate across the UK and France. The site will also house fantastic facilities for the community, including a visitor centre offering tours of the brewery, a bar and restaurant that can be hired out for events and conferences, as well as a retail space stocked full of exclusive beers brewed on-site.

In March, 30 students from Bedford College’s graphic design department will have the opportunity to pitch their individual creative design ideas for the brewery’s branding to a team at Charles Wells, who will review and choose one concept to develop further. The panel judging the entries includes former Bedford College BA student Marcus Finch, who studied graphic design and is now working at Charles Wells as a Retail and Brand Marketing Executive.

Charles Wells’ commercial director Peter Wells said: “The local community is at the heart of the Charles Wells business, not just in Bedford where we’ve been based since 1876, but across all our sites. We want our new brewhouse development to be a destination that locals are proud of and want to visit so getting them involved from the outset is crucial. Bedford College is full of talented and creative individuals and we truly value their ideas and feedback on what would work well in terms of the look and feel of our new branding. It’s a great opportunity all round to channel some fresh thinking into an established brand.”

Jeffrey Tribe, graphics lecturer at Bedford College added: “The creative challenge from Charles Wells is to come up with an identity for its new home to include a logo and supporting merchandise and branding for one of the new beers. It is a fantastic opportunity for our higher education graphics students. It’s especially inspiring to have one of our former graphic design alumni, Marcus Finch, now working at Charles Wells and demonstrates how the business supports our students from education to employment.”

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The Bulletin is an independent publication, part of Rosetta Publishing Ltd. Published by ©2019 Rosetta Publishing Limited, 30 Radwell Road, Milton Ernest Bedford MK44 1SH. Tel: 07894 935952 or 07724 905406 Editorial: pat@rosettapublishing.com Advertising: martin@rosettapublishing.com Printed by: Reach Printing Services, Kimpton Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 0SX.

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Bedford Hospital changes its staff LETTERS TO THE EDITOR training after Alex Skeel case Democracy 4—

APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

FolloWInG the recent case of alex Skeel, a victim of domestic violence, Bedford Hospital has changed the delivery of staff training on domestic abuse to place more focus on recognising signs within male victims who may present to the hospital.

Claire knight is an Independent domestic Violence advisor (IdVa) at Victim Support Charity and is based at Bedford Hospital. Claire provides vital support to staff when dealing with patients who are victims of domestic violence. Claire also supports any member of staff who may also be victims of domestic violence BEB001_00012019_ISS001.qxp_Layout 1 18/12/2018 14:08 Page 9 themselves.

Bedford Hospital staff undertake mandatory training within this area and following the alex Skeel case, this training

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has been developed to include more focus and emphasis in recognising male victims and ways to help them access the right guidance and support services.

Claire has also developed specific gender based information packs for hospital staff and patients affected by domestic violence who access hospital services to help remove any social misconceptions and myths around male victims.

Claire knight, IdVa, based at Bedford Hospital said: “The hospital fully supports all initiatives that helps raise awareness and improve access to services for both men and women affected by domestic abuse. alex Skeel’s case was horrific and we want to do all we can to ensure this isn’t repeated. “alex recently visited Bedford Hospital

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to talk to staff about his case and this has led to the changes in staff training that we are now delivering.

“His input has been crucial is helping us make essential changes to support others who may present in similar situations and we would like to thank him once again for all his support.” nichola keer, associate director of nursing for Safeguarding said: “It’s good to know that our staff are getting the training and support they need in order to provide a safe, caring and excellent service to our patients. I would also like to extend my thanks to alex Skeel for his visit which was incredibly useful and beneficial for all those who attended. We wish him well in his continued journey to recovery.”

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN JANUARY 2019 — 9

S erio us ly i s yo ur driv ewa y l ook in g a s go od as th e s e ?

in action?

TO THE EDITOR: So you’ve only just discovered that democracy is no longer relevant in Biggleswade.

Quite a few residents have tried to question the steady expansion of Kings Reach and all the other developments to no avail. I ‘enquired’ about the sheltered housing due to be built where Chambers Way meets Baden Powell Way and didn’t even get an acknowledgement. The land has been sold and fenced off, but nothing built.

The land adjacent to Kennel Farm Road, access road to the allotments, has not been farmed for two years – sold, but no further action. If I didn’t get to read the notes from Biggleswade Town Council I wouldn’t know that the application is to build over 200 luxury, unaffordable homes beside the only viable vehicular access to our allotments.

Whatever the BTC objects to gets waved through by CBC, done deal.

Maggie McLoughlin

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TO THE EDITOR: As our elected representatives battle with Brexit, the SG19 Road Group, looks forward to ‘normal service’ resuming in the corridors of power.

We await the meeting to be arranged by our MP, Alistair Burt, and the Area Director for Highways England to discuss local concerns. It is hoped that this will be an opportunity to present our petition showing the support from local residents together with those from further afield who use this stretch of substandard major trunk road and know it needs bypassing.

Chris Grayling stated in May last year that, following completion of work on the A1 near Catterick, there is now a motorway standard road all the way from the north to the M25.

How ill informed! It is well known that the A1 is a major north-south route that is vital to the economic

well-being of the country but the section between Junction 10 – Baldock - to Junction 14 – Alconbury - is the only section that is not motorway standard.

It includes four of the five roundabouts on the entire length of the A1 from London to Scotland, mainly in Bedfordshire. It suffers from high levels of air pollution, congestion and delays that cause noise and nuisance to residents living alongside this road, frequently in very close proximity to it.

Recent WHO reports on air quality show Sandy as joint 2nd in the UK for levels of PM2.5 - this is a measure of airborne particle matter caused by pollution.

In 1994 a detailed plan was proposed to upgrade the road to full motorway status to assist local and national economic growth while taking traffic away from communities currently severed by it. Regrettably funding to implement the proposals was cancelled.

Now that Highways England receives a greater share of the income from road tax it is to be hoped that some of this will be directed towards implementing this long overdue improvement. It is vital that Highways England acts swiftly to ensure that ‘bolting down’ the Black Cat in the location that has been proposed in the recently announced report will not prejudice the position of those of us living with the present dangerous road that bisects our community.

Please watch our website for future developments.

Stephen Allen, Chairman, SG19 Road Safety Group,

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

SEMLEP Board gains There’s plenty to do new SME Champion this Easter in Bedford THE South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) has announced the appointment of a new Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Champion and Chair of SEMLEP’s Growth Hub Board.

Business Growth and Innovation Consultant and Federation of Small Business (FSB) lead for Buckinghamshire, Yvette Lamidey, has taken on the role. Yvette is perfectly placed to oversee this challenge with experience of running a business, together with the insight and knowledge gained as FSB lead.

In the role of SME Champion, Yvette will work with the Board to promote the economic ambitions of the SEMLEP region, alongside addressing the needs of the vast SME community. The Growth Hub Board represents the interest of the SME businesses, ensuring that their needs are firmly embedded in SEMLEP’s business support programmes.

Yvette says, “It is so important SMEs have a champion. They are the backbone of our economy and contribute so much throughout the supply chain, in retail, services and so much more. Not all businesses want to grow, and we need to recognise this and provide the support to help these businesses to be sustainable.

“These businesses need a voice and in my role here I want to listen to their needs and champion them. As a small business owner and FSB lead I work with and talk to many businesses in the area. This also gives me the opportunity to tell them about the important role of SEMLEP and SEMLEP’s Growth Hub in the local economy. This is an extremely important message, as SEMLEP can help voice the needs and challenges of the SME community.

“We can make a real difference to businesses, whether they are established, growing or new by making sure there is the opportunity to thrive.”

You can find out more about SEMLEP’s Growth Hub which provides access to business support for SMEs in the South East Midlands area: www.semlepgrowthhub.com

WHEN the sun shines in Bedford it really enhances the natural beauty, the river and history that the town has to offer. It puts us all in a better mood and heightens the desire to spend time out and about.

With the schools on Easter holiday this month, what better reason than to come into town for a spot of shopping in the newly refurbished Harpur Centre or one of the arcades, grab a bite to eat at one of the great cafes and restaurants, or perhaps even watch a show! lets start a fantastic weekend with a Take That tribute band on the 5th april or perhaps you would prefer the sounds of the Bedford Town Band celebrating 125 years on the 6th april, both at the Corn exchange. also on the eve of the 6th there is a Pop-up Bistro: american BBQ at roosters Sandwich Bar on St Cuthberts. Pre booking is essential. Make an evening of it and visit the new Blue Glass wine bar on St Peters Street or a cocktail or two from Bears & Tales.

Sunday 7th, Made in Bedford is holding its Spring Artisan Fair in the Harpur Suite/Corn Exchange.

Enjoy a great selection of local sellers with handmade arts and crafts. Perhaps you are or know a motorbike fan as also on this day is Boyds of Bedford’s first bike meet outside La Piazza from 1pm-4pm. All welcome!

Treat the children on Monday 8th and bring the kids to the easter pantomime show of Beauty and the Beast, matinee and evening performances available to book at the Corn exchange. also being held here from 10am-6pm on Tuesday 9th is a free day of fun filled music making for young musicians so bring the kids along.

—5

For the arty, crafty ones amongst us the Higgins are hosting activity workshops inspired by their new ‘Round and Round the Garden’ Exhibition. From the 9th-11th and 16th-18th there are three sessions a day and are aimed at 5-13 year olds.

The record Store day at Slide records this year is on 13th april in The arcade so music lovers be sure to head along for some tunes on vinyl. and for the sweet tooth fans amongst us and more particularly vegan fans, Treat Street is hosting its bi weekly Vegan day on 16thapril so make sure you find the time to grab a sumptuous Vegan dessert!

Back at the Corn Exchange on Thursday 18th is another treat for the little ones. You are invited to Marty Macdonalds farm for Pongo’s Birthday Party.

Tickets are available online or in the box office.

Then of course it is the big bank holiday weekend of CHoColaTe eaTInG! easter eggs are aplenty in town but if you head to arcadia sweet shop for the more unique offering of chocolate truffles, fudge and bespoke chocolate/sweetie trees.

During the holidays from Saturday 6th to Monday 22nd April Love Bedford along with Mini Mapmakers are running an Easter Trail. There are a number of collection points for the form and then clues to be found. Once completed forms can be handed in to Arcadia Sweet shop where a treat awaits!

The love Bedford team wish you a very Happy easter and remember to visit www.lovebedford.co.uk for all the news and events in town. Sign up to the mailing list too to be one of the first to hear news!

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APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Waitrose in Ampthill raises £700 for St John’s Hospice

(l-r): Gordon and Cilla Impey (local residents), Councillor Stephen Addy (Ampthill’s Mayor), Hayley Webb and Lucy Owens (Community Fund Raisers, St John’s Hospice).

The big-hearted customers of Waitrose in Ampthill raised over £700 for their local Hospice, Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger. Ampthill’s Mayor, Councillor Stephen Addy came along to lend his support.

Stephen told us: “It costs £10,000 per day to run St John’s Hospice, and that in the last year St John’s cared for over 550 patients, 100 of whom lived in Ampthill and the surrounding villages.” He went on to tell us: “St John’s is holding an Open/Coffee Morning in the White Hart in Ampthill, on Thursday 6th June between 10:00 – 1:00. He urged local residents to come along, and meet staff

from St John’s, to find out for themselves what a Caring and Compassionate place St John’s is, and how it supports local patients and their families, through the most difficult time of their lives.

Hayley Webb, a Community

Fund Raiser at St John’s told us: “We are so grateful to the customers of Waitrose for their generous support. The £700 raised could fund one of our hospice nurses for five days which is remarkable”.

Apprentice of Year award

KIRSTEN Moore, a first-year apprentice in the local authority’s Public Health Stop Smoking Team, has triumphed to become joint-winner of the PPMA* Apprentice of the Year 2019.

Kirsten, who has been at the council for nine months and lives in Lidlington, entered the national competition to ‘take her out of her comfort zone and to push herself’. Those shortlisted were invited to attend a two-day assessment process at the University of Warwick, where Kirsten and 15 others were put through their paces. Tasks included public speaking, timed group challenges and problem-solving with fictitious scenarios (like how to deal with your line manager if you’re about to miss an important deadline).

Kirsten said of her experience: “I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet other apprentices from around the country, all working in public sector and felt privileged to represent Central Bedfordshire Council. As someone who isn’t naturally keen

on public speaking and quite shy about meeting new people, I’m really pleased and surprised that my presentation on ‘My personal journey’ about what a ‘good fit’ an apprenticeship has been for me, was so well received. It’s been a great to challenge myself and I’ve a learned a lot.”

Cllr Steve Dixon, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said: “The council is a firm supporter of apprenticeships and we are delighted that Kirsten has been recognised in a national competition, which demonstrates our support and commitment to the programme. It builds on our success in 2016, when another of our apprentices won the competition.

“We really value what our apprentices bring to the council in terms of their skills, fresh ideas and enthusiasm. We have apprentices working in a number of our teams throughout the council with many of them receiving formal learning and training through our own training centre, The Academy.”

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

—7

Tributes to Bentley loving GP dr Brian Haley Hamilton

by Neil Roy

29.1.1933 – 12.2.2019

TWO vintage Bentleys were parked proudly outside the main door at the Bedford Crematorium for the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of popular retired GP Brian Hamilton.

Dr Hamilton, who lived for nearly 20 years in Parkside, Milton Ernest, died, aged 86, on February 12 after a long illness.

He fought bravely to the end with his trademark joie de vivre which was fondly remembered by neighbours as well as by patients at the de Parys practice where he was a partner.

A dedicated car man, he stayed behind the wheel for as long as he could, often driving himself for treatment at Addenbrookes Hospital.

Brian’s great passion was the Bentley motor car - a passion which he developed as a young

man and as a medical student at St Mary’s, Paddington. He was an inspiring sight driving his 1925 Le Mans model around the village like a 1950s film star out of the film ‘Genevieve’.

He lived an exciting life. He used to regale locals with stories about how he funded his early cars by appearing as an extra in films with the likes of Peter Sellers. An early version of Titanic was another film he was in.

Philip Strickland, his friend of 45 years from the Bentley Driver’s Club, gave the main tribute at the service and organised the cars at the crematorium. He drove his own 1925 3litre model – a sister car to one once owned by Brian. The other was provided by another enthusiast, Graham Moss. It was

the 1924 3litre model that convinced Bentley to enter Le Mans.

Mr Strickland said: “you don’t know where these passions come from. You just have them. We all do. Brian always had a Bentley until he became too ill. He bought his first in 1954 when it cost about the same as a terraced house. We went to places like Le Mans together. Once, I remember, he drove from John O’Groats to Land’s End in one go.”

Dr Hamilton was born in West Ham, London, the son of a dentist and dental nurse who moved to Essex. He went to the independent school, Brentwood, where he decided against following his parents in favour of becoming a surgeon. “But” said Mr Strickland,”he was persuaded against that path and became a

GP because he wouldn’t see his patients just once but throughout their lives. He liked getting to know people and making them better. He was a people person.”

Besides his family, friends, patients and cars, his other passions were clocks, golf, the Goon Show and jazz. At the service on March 5, conducted by civil celebrant Sarah-Jane Seymour, the opening music was the Goons’ ‘Ying Tong Song,’ the

entrance music was Sidney Bechet’s ‘Si Tu Vois Ma Mere’ and the exit music ‘The Black Bottom Stomp’, by Jelly Roll Morton.

Brian’s daughter Melanie paid her tribute and read a poem. She, her brother Peter and the extended family hosted a wake at the Swan Hotel. Brian, whose wife Anne predeceased him, moved to be near them in Southwell, Notts, last year.

And the winner is…!

ONCE again the pupils at Bedford Free School (BFS) are winning awards. Pupils from the Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Club at BFS recently entered ‘Aspire to Engineer: The Genetic Engineering Challenge’, a UK wide school challenge, and were awarded Second Prize.

The competition invited pupils to submit an original presentation addressing questions such as ‘How can genetic engineering change the world in the future?’

The team captured the judges’ attention by highlighting the ethical implications around genetic engineering by using roleplay to act out real life case studies.” The prize is a video call with Kathy Niakan who was named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world

by Time Magazine in April 2016.

She was also the first scientist in the world to gain regulatory approval to edit the genomes of human embryos for research using CRISPR gene editing technology.

Chanel McPherson-George, Head of Science at BFS said: “It’s

been great to see such an inspirational group of young girls working so hard to promote STEM at BFS and in the community. Their enthusiasm has led to a genuine interest and confidence boost to pupils right across the school and further afield; what’s more, they are delving into current research within the disciplines of technology and genetic engineering developing a deeper understanding for its real world application.”

One of the pupils who took part, Maddie Felts-King added: “We loved the experience as we were able to explore new areas of science. It’s made us more interested in discovering different STEM careers too, especially within genetic engineering.”

Stuart Lock, Executive Principal, said that it comes as no surprise: “The pupils and staff have worked so hard and we ensure our knowledge-based curriculum is learnt so well that it prepares the pupils to apply this in real-world problems and issues.

We could not be prouder.”

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

—9

‘Speed networking’ event opens the door for Wootton Upper pupils YOUNGSTERS from top-performing Wootton Upper School met with 50 employers as part of a ‘speed networking’ careers event to prepare them for the future.

Many of the local company directors in attendance were former pupils of the school, returning to showcase their success and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and high-achievers.

The event, which attracted more than 300 Year 9 pupils, was also attended by a host of university representatives who were available to advise those considering further education.

Michael Gleeson, school principal, said: “We’re absolutely delighted so many of the top employers in Bedford supported this event and gave up their time to talk to our pupils about their future career options.

“Taking those first steps in the world of work can be a nerve-wracking experience, even if you are planning to go on to further study to enhance your skills, and I’m really

grateful for the insight of so many successful professionals, many of whom are former Wootton Upper pupils.

“We take our nurturing responsibilities very seriously and want to help our students make the right decisions for their future. This speed networking event is just one of many opportunities provided by the school to allow students to explore their talents and strengths and research the myriad of pathways available to them in the future.

“We are already looking forward to next year’s event.”

The event was organised by Yvonne Ashby, careers education and employer engagement lead for Wootton Academy Trust.

Wootton Upper School, based in Hall End Road, Wootton, provides a broader range of subjects to study than many other schools, allowing pupils to choose ideal combinations to assist them on their future career aspirations.

Making instax stars

A wide range of new course options will be available from September which will be of interest to students currently in Year 8 and 9.

Wootton Upper School recently became one of only nine schools in the UK to receive the coveted Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM) in recognition of “excellence in teaching and learning in geography” in the 2018 awards scheme.

The award, presented by The Geographical Association, follows a rigorous assessment process in which the National Moderation Team examined how well the school embraced new and innovative approaches to teaching, pupil attainment and achievement levels, student understanding and knowledge of geography and the quality of teaching available.

For more information on the new courses available from September 2019 contact Linda Gray on 01234 767123.

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PHOTOGRAPHY giant Fujifilm which has its UK headquarters in Bedford, is testing the talents of local students on its new instax cameras.

The instant prints cameras are aimed at the Instagram generation and so engaging with photography teens and twenties at Bedford College was a happy partnership.

The students have been given cameras and were set a challenge to come up with six of the best photographs which will then be displayed within special wall frames. The images will cover “the passage of time” and will be taken in and around the college riverside and town centre campus.

The students are on a Level 3

UAL (University of Arts London) Extended Diploma in Art & Design course and leader Julie Davies says using the limited instant films will encourage a new way of thinking about photographs.

“This isn’t digital where you can take 100s of shots and find the good one or photoshop it afterwards, the skill is in seeing the potential of the image before you click the shutter.”

Students on this course undertake a range of interesting development opportunities and experiences within the photographic industry. If you are interested in a creative career then visit www.bedford.ac.uk for the full range of courses available.

(l-r) Natalie, Tareq and Lia test out the instax.

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APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Bedford blokes urged to ‘slim like a man’ A SLIMMING Consultant and Team Developer who supports people in Bedford to lose weight each week says men shouldn’t be shy about joining a slimming group as more and more blokes are giving it a try and the evidence shows they actually lose more weight than women.

Susan Phillips, who runs the Bromham Slimming World group was talking about the dangers of carrying excess weight around the waist. Latest data from NHS Digital shows that 68% of men are overweight or obese compared to 58% of women.

Slimming World and the Men’s Health Forum are calling for men to get support to lose weight.

Susan says: “Weight problems are common among both men and

women, but figures show that men typically keep weight worries to themselves for as long six years, as many just don’t like

Have you a property related problem?

THE PROPERTY DOCTOR CAN HELP Wow, what a scorcher of a February WAS that our summer and are we in for snow in May? You can never predict the weather and we are all seeing a change in the seasons as the years pass by. Combined with the government’s desire to reduce our Carbon Dioxide output this all suggests a need to better insulate our property whether we live in it, work in it or do both.

In our homes there are many ways to improve energy efficiency and restrict heat loss. Easy ways are to increase the quilt in the loft area to 300mm deep. This will put a blanket on the house. If the walls are cavity construction then filling this with insulation will be like putting a coat on. Older windows can have seals fitted to reduce air passage or the addition of secondary glazing can assist with heat retention like ear muffs. A timber suspended floor can also be insulated with quilt, like putting furry slippers on!

Now is the time to do the improvement as climbing in the loft in summer or winter is very unpleasant.

The introduction of additional insulation will also help protect from the heat of the sun during summer periods providing a double benefit.

All of these improvements need to be sensibly considered as they have the potential to present concerns over condensation and damp if undertaken without clear understanding of the impact on the other building components.

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I am buying my first house and want to know what survey to have. I am thinking Q of just having the valuation survey. What do you suggest?

The valuation survey is not for your benefit and provides little information about the property. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have 3 levels of survey for a purchaser. These are a “Condition Survey” (Level 1) which is a basic note of issues; Homebuyers Report (Level 2) is more detailed and can include a valuation; Full Survey (Level 3) is the most detailed report and inspection. I refer you to the RICS website (www.rics.org) to review the survey most appropriate for the type of property and purchase you are interested in. Alternatively call our office and we can assist.

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to ask for help”.

“The good news though, is that more and more men are becoming open to the idea of getting support and there are now more than 60,000 men using Slimming World groups around the country – some of them are in my Bromham group!”

We know that for some men, the idea of joining a slimming group to lose weight is daunting.

We asked some of our men in group how they felt about coming to join their group. Greg said “I was extremely sceptical going in” Richard said he felt “Extremely apprehensive about joining” “There are lots of reasons why the programme works well for men. Our generous Food Optimising eating plan means it’s possible to satisfy even the biggest of appetites and, whether

it’s steak and home-baked chips, a Sunday Roast or a spicy curry, you can still enjoy all of your favourite meals – and with a beer on the side too, if you so wish. We asked some of our men locally what they love to eat. Richard’s favourite is “Pulled pork and homemade chips”, whereas Paul loves cooking “I love to cook and love the fact that there is a Food Optimising version of all my favourite meals that taste just the same! When the Japanese Katsu curry recipe was published, I ate nothing else for a week”.

And, in group, men love the mix of support and healthy competition they get from being part of a club, as they are cheered on their journey to success. They also love the fact that, as they lose weight and gain confidence, they are supported and rewarded to get more active, if they want to.

“And it’s definitely not a oneway street – the men in my group bring an enormous amount to the rest of us too. They’re fun and friendly and help ensure that our group is always full of laughter.

We’d love to welcome more blokes to group – we asked our members what they would say to anyone thinking of joining. “Join a group… don’t think about it, just do it” was James’s response.

Anyone who’d like to lose weight and join Slimming World Bedford, visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call Susan on 07717 870513.

Safety group needs members

OUR Group was established in 2009 to promote community safety within Ampthill, Clophill and Maulden. We are fortunate to live in this lovely area which has some wonderful historic buildings and lovely green areas to enjoy but we need your help to keep it that way. We have achieved success in many initiatives over the years working with Ampthill Town Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and the Police.

We meet for ninety minutes every six weeks at the Fire Station in Oliver Street, Ampthill.

Cauldwell student gets new bike

DAVID, a pupil at Cauldwell School has been awarded a new Frog Bike by Sustrans following last year’s Santa Challenge.

Cauldwell School pupils together covered more miles than other local schools during last year’s Santa Challenge, and the school nominated David to win a new bicycle.

The Santa Challenge saw over 2,000 children across Bedford Borough walking, cycling or scooting to school building up miles towards an imaginary journey all the way to Lapland to meet Santa Claus.

Heather Watkins, PE Coordinator at Cauldwell School said: “It’s the first time Cauldwell have taken part in the Santa Challenge and the children loved it, with a visual display of the

One million trees by 2020

THE Forest of Marston Vale has been awarded funding from Defra, to help deliver Defra’s public commitment to plant one million trees with primary schools by 2020. Community Forests across the country will be planting 164,600 of these trees connecting children from over 1000 schools in and around Community Forests with nature and the environment. The Forest of Marston Vale spans the 61 square mile area between Bedford and Milton Keynes, in Bedfordshire.

This year, children from Ridgeway Special School, Houghton Conquest Lower, Wootton Lower, Forest End (Marston Moretaine), Kempston Rural Lower and Lakeview School (Wixams) have planted over 3700 trees across their sites. The aim of the

We discuss issues such as antisocial behaviour, speeding, parking, fear of crime etc, so if you have an issue that concerns you, help us to do something about it. We need more members to make an effective voice in our community so come along to our next meeting and let’s tackle the problems together. Please see our website for current initiatives and a contact form.

Please join us to get things done, we need your support. ampthillcommunitysafetygroup. org.uk

project is to engage children with planning, planting and aftercare of new trees and woodlands, which will connect them with nature whilst improving their school grounds and communities.

Teacher Heather Burry from Wotton Lower School said: “It has been a very memorable week and one I am sure over 300 children and adults will remember for a long time. Thank you for organising and ordering all the little trees ( I can’t believe nearly 1500 were planted!) and for [making] our school environment so much better for our children and for all the generations to come!”

For more information about your local Community Forest, visit marstonvale.org or call 01234 767037. Love your Forest!

imaginary journey to Lapland at the school.

“Congratulations to our winner, David, who won a brand new bike! was selected randomly from the class who tallied the most miles.”

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Guides celebrate World Thinking Day

(l-r) County Commissioner Karen Keeling, girls from across Luton, County President Betsy Marley, Leader Linda Oliver.

ACROSS Bedfordshire Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have celebrated World Thinking Day. Celebrated since 1926, World Thinking Day, is a day of international friendship, speaking out on issues that affect girls and young women, and fundraising for ten million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.

Over 2,000 girls and leaders from across Bedfordshire attended celebrations across the county which saw the girls taking part in lots of fun activities

focussed on taking an adventure through time.

There was also time to rededicate their promises and think about their Girlguiding sisters across the globe.

County Commissioner Karen Keeling said: “We were delighted to see so many girls and young women taking part in celebrating World Thinking Day. It is such an important date in the Girlguiding calendar as it gives us a chance to get together and connect with our Girlguiding family across the world.”

Rolling fun-draiser

loCal business woman, lian longlands, from rolling Tots Preschool Gymnastics, is organising a fun-draising event on Sunday 30th June at The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade for The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of her father.

Lian began Rolling Tots Preschool Gymnastics just over a year ago for babies and children and her father was a keen advocate but sadly passed away before he saw the successful venture take off.

Lian said: “I know my dad was proud of me and understood how important gymnastics has always been to me from being a gymnast to a gymnastics coach. And by raising money we will hopefully promote awareness of brain tumours and give support to other families who are going through the same thing.

My goal is also to secure permanent premises in the expanding Biggleswade area which will be an asset to the local community.”

Numerous exciting activities are being planned for all age groups from 6months to 90years +. Jason from Tiny Talk Biggleswade is delighted to have the opportunity to support a good cause while promoting sign language for babies and children.

Lisa Hillier Fitness is supporting this event by teaching a Zumba gold session for mature participants and her popular Glow Beatz session for all adult ages. Further activities to be announced.

Any raffle donations will be greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Lian on 07946 464825 or email rollingtots@gmail.com

It IS rocket science

ACCESS to apprenticeships with international giant Lockheed Martin is on offer through The Bedford College Group, heard parents at the £5.2 million riverside Advanced Engineering Centre.

Careers in engineering and many other fields at the global giant, such as finance, can be reached via the conduit of the college.

To demonstrate the paths which can be taken as an alternative to university, Mark Lawson, explained how he started as an apprentice at what was then Hunting Engineering and is now Head of Engineering Technical Facilities at Lockheed Martin UK - Ampthill.

“I attended Bedford College at the Mander Site and today I am so committed to the quality of training on offer that I am a Governor of the college,” Mark told mums, dads and teenagers at the event,

“Just as an example, I worked on the Beagle 2 which landed on Mars on 2003. Who can say their career has taken their work to another planet?

Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill which employs 900 people offers a range of apprentices in engineering, electrical and electronics. There are progression paths on to BSc degrees - which can funded by the company rather than via student loans.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

— 11

Marking 60 years of skills as part of National Apprenticeship Week CELEBRATING its 60th anniversary this year, Wadys Electrical and Mechanical Building Services is an outstanding example of investing in skills for the future.

The family firm, based in Dean Street, Bedford has a rolling programme of apprentices, some of whom are pictured here on site at Cotton End School.

It was established in 1959 by John Wady and his son Doug, now Managing Director, and colleague Dave Bishop, Operations Director, are keeping ahead of the changing times in the industry by delivering projects up to £3 million.

Wadys have been working closely with Bedford College for a number of years to develop their workforce of the future by training their apprentices who

attend courses regularly.

For more information about

apprenticeship training available visit www.bedford.ac.uk and for

more information about Wadys visit www.wadys.co.uk

12 —

APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Heartfelt event for Papworth Hospital charity

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LOCAL fitness instructor Lisa Hillier, organised a three-hour charity event to raise money for Papworth Hospital Charity. The charity has been chosen to celebrate the continued life of one of Lisa’s students Paula Evetts.

In 2013 at the age of 35, Paula suffered severe heart failure while pregnant with her third child and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. The damage to her heart was so severe that a heart transplant was needed and after medication and care was given by Papworth Hospital, Paula was then put on a waiting list in 2015.

Paula received the life changing call in March 2016 that there was a heart for her and the operation was a huge success. So much so that Paula is now living a full and active life with her husband and two children and she attends Lisa’s Zumba Gold class on a weekly basis. This is all down to the hard work and dedication of Papworth Hospital.

Lisa decided to run a charity event for all of her students to

come together for three hours of dancing and fitness to raise money for such a worthy local charity.

Lisa said: “Paula is a complete inspiration to us all and I love having her in my Zumba Gold class every week. I am so excited

we ran this event and raised lots of money for the Papworth Hospital Charity.”

Lisa ran Zumba Gold, Beatz and Glow Beatz at the Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade in March and the event was sold out with 135 tickets sold in record time!

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A BULLETIN COMPETITION IN ASSOCIATION WITH MS CAMPBELL

Would you like to be a fashion stylist?

Interested in attending London Fashion Week?

Fashion brand MS CAMPBELL are launching fashion styling masterclasses in the Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire areas. Designed and hosted by a Celebrity Stylist, we’re giving two lucky readers a chance to attend the workshop for free!

Get a certificate, a signed copy of fashion guide ‘Intern to Stylist’ and tickets to the upcoming London Fashion Week shows in September 2019!

Don’t miss out on the chance to ignite your passion for fashion today!

MS CAMPBELL are bridging the gap with their industry connections to help students throughout the UK. As seen at London Fashion Week and spotted on celebs – MS CAMPBELL is the wardrobe essentials brand for every woman. www.mscampbell.co.uk COMPETITION

Email the answers to the following two questions to: competition@rosettapublishing.com with “competition” in the subject line 1: When is London Fashion Week, August or September?

2: Which one of the following is a supermodel, Cara Delevigne or Kris Jenner?

Competition closes midnight April 18, 2019

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

— 13

Bedford homeless hostel celebrates successful year

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government figures have shown that there are a third fewer people sleeping rough in Bedford than there were one year ago. Clarence House has been credited as a key initiative which has helped to tackle rough sleeping in the borough.

Richard Hill, Chief Executive at One Housing, said: “The success of Clarence House is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, residents, volunteers and local partners. We are delighted the scheme has been so well-received and are committed to continue to work with the local community to end homelessness in the borough” The celebration took place on the afternoon of Friday 15th March.

Mark Rutherford School celebrates its partnership with Bedford Blues!

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CLARENCE House, a Bedford homeless hostel run

by One Housing, celebrated its first birthday with a visit from Mayor of Bedford Borough Dave Hodgson MBE and Mohammad Yasin MP alongside councillors Anthony Forth and Luigi Reale.

Over the past year, Clarence House has provided specialist, intensive support to some of Bedford’s most vulnerable people. The combination of independent-living apartments, care and support has meant that people with complex needs have been supported to break free from the cycle of homelessness.

When Clarence House opened last year, Bedford had the seventh highest number of rough sleepers in England with 76 people on the streets. Latest

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HERBS OR ALPINES their time to help mentor students at the school over the past 18 months, with more anticipated in the future. The mentoring scheme, supported

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Mark rutherford School rugby academy forms an official community partnership link with Bedford Blues.

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APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

TEL: 07724 905406 or 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: pat@rosettapublishing.com

In Focus with

View from the Rt Revd

In Focus with

Dave

Richard Atkinson

Yasin

by Dave Hodgson Mayor of Bedford

MAKING THE CASE FOR MINIMAL DISRUPTION

With Network Rail’s part-closure of Bromham Road bridge well underway, local road users are demonstrating remarkable patience and resourcefulness.

The westbound closure (eastbound remains open in this period) continues until April 18th, and Network Rail’s full closure of the bridge will come later in the year. The disruption suffered by local road users is especially hard to stomach in light of the fact we’re actually due to get a downgraded rail service after it’s finished!

The Government is intent on almost completely removing Bedford from its historic place on the intercity rail network, and instead make it a stop on ‘commuter-style’ services between Corby and London, with changes required to get to or from anywhere north of Kettering.

I’m making the case against that, and I’m making the case to Network Rail to minimise disruption caused by their bridge works.

Longer term on our roads there’s a more positive outlook, with our Transporting Bedford 2020 project involving congestionbusting works at key traffic hotspots.

A number of the works are already underway, with improvements to come at key sites such as Cow Bridge and Ampthill Road, Clapham Road/A6, Britannia Road, Bromham Road/Shakespeare Road and more.

These works are designed to make a real, positive difference to the day-to-day experience of local road users. Plus, with rapid jobs growth in recent years far in excess of regional and national rates, we need to keep our roads moving if we are to keep attracting and retaining investment.

Less slow moving and stationary traffic will also be good for local air quality, as well as improving the roads for those on buses, on bikes and on foot.

We’ve got a record of delivering on major projects on time and on budget, such as the final section of the western bypass, and you can follow progress on these critical works at www.bedford.gov.uk/transportingbedford2020

The Bishop of Bedford

MP for Bedford and Kempston

BEATING SWORDS INTO PLOUGHSHARES

On Friday we woke to the terrible news that 50 innocent lives had been taken in New Zealand’s worst terrorist attack on two mosques.

This abhorrent act, carried out by a right-wing extremist, has shocked the world.

One of the most distressing aspects of the attack was that the terrorist live-streamed his appalling acts on social media. Footage was available many hours later and can still be found. Some of our national newspapers even carried the footage on their websites and one national paper uploaded the attacker’s full 74-page manifesto, deleting the document only after being accused of spreading terrorist material.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded quickly and decisively, pledging to cover the cost of funerals offering financial assistance for those affected and most importantly promising changes to her country’s gun laws. Her compassionate leadership has been praised globally. But this was an act of terror designed to send fear across the globe by use of digital media, and now the legislative response needs to reflect that.

Although Facebook claims that it removed 1.5 million videos of the attack globally, of which over 1.2 million were blocked at upload, but questions remain about why an account displaying white supremacist material was not already banned.

The social media oligarchs have the tech to control output on their platforms but have so far resisted doing so. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg refused Parliament’s request to be questioned by MPs over data abuse in their inquiry into ‘Disinformation and Fake News’ which issued its final report in February. The report was highly critical of media platforms; their illegal harvesting and use of our data and the threat to democracy in the UK and elsewhere.

Defenders of the media platforms always cite free speech as the reason why any regulation would be wrong, but free speech always comes with responsibility and does not trump the rule of law.

I am pleased that the Home Secretary agrees with Labour policy that new laws are urgently required to force the oligarchs of Silicon Valley to face up to their responsibilities, but meaningful action must be taken before more innocent lives are lost.

On Sunday March 17, 2019, I dedicated a splendid new stained glass window in St Andrew’s Church, Bedford. Installed in memory of Bill Smyly, a former member of the church, it consists of three panels. In the centre is an image of Christ as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). A celebration of the divine purpose of peace and reconciliation that is at the heart of creation.

Christ is flanked on both sides by two blacksmiths and their anvils. On them the blacksmiths are beating swords into ploughshares; weapons of war into items of peace.

It is first and foremost a tribute to a man who bravely served this country as one of the Chindits in Burma during the Second World War; and then spent the years after the war as a reconciler building bridges with his former Japanese enemies.

The window is also a compelling challenge to us all about the priority of peace-making and bridge-building. Swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:4) is as relevant today as ever in a world of automatic rifles, improvised explosive devices and nuclear weapons. Installed during the week in which the massacre happened at the Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand it spoke immediately into a broken and violent world.

In 2017, £1.7 trillion was spent on the military, approximately $203 per person across the globe. In the same year Britain almost doubled the value of defence equipment, it cleared for export. One newspaper wrote: “In 2017… (Britain) vies with Vladimir Putin’s Russia to be the world’s second largest weapons supplier.”

If you look closely the two blacksmiths in the window at St Andrew’s have halos. They are angels and at one level the window tells of the work of heaven, where war is no more and peace reigns.

And yet as always the Christian gospel is about heaven touching earth. In a world where there is so much violence and the weapons of war use up so many resources that could otherwise be committed to saving lives, what can we do through our prayer, our advocacy and our actions to create a more peaceful world. Beating swords into ploughshares is as much a priority as ever!

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40th Anniversary of the Fire: Bedford School, the school that never closed TEL: 07724 905406 or 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@rosettapublishing.com

ON SUNDAY 3 March Bedford School commemorated the 40th anniversary of the horrific fire that devastated its Main Building, leaving nothing but a charred, smoking shell in its wake. The heart of the school stood strong, however, and many positives aro Saturday 3 March 1979 began like any other Saturday. There was a morning of lessons, followed by a play rehearsal. At around 7.00pm, the heavy, velvet curtains of the main hall were drawn as approximately 100 boys gathered to watch a film. After the film ended, the Great Hall was tidied ready for school on Monday. The Head Porter locked the school up at around 10.00pm as usual. At around 11.30pm two boarders returned from a dance at Dame Alice Harpur School – this was to be the last time Bedford School was seen before the dramatic events of the night unfolded.

At precisely 11.58pm, the Post Office emergency switchboard received the first of 36 calls to report a fire at Bedford School. The caller, calling from a telephone box on Kimbolton Road, told the operator that he thought that Bedford School Chapel was on fire with “whopping great flames coming out of the roof and lots of smoke”.

The Fire Brigade received notification of the fire one minute after midnight at their Headquarters in Kempston. They contacted the Barker’s Lane Fire Station where Sub Officer Pat Wheeler immediately deployed two fire engines in the direction of Bedford School. Sub Officer Wheeler told us: “As we drove along the Embankment, we could already see the flames, which must have been 30 to 40 feet higher than the roof, and there was a glow in the sky.” He later recalled that a fire engine coming a while later from Luton could see the fire clearly from the hill above Barton-le-Clay.

Meanwhile, the fire grew and spread with exceptional and extraordinary ferocity. Local resident, Jean Brown, who witnessed the fire at this time, said: “We could see all the sparks go up and it was just the most amazing fire, we couldn’t believe our eyes and it was crackling. As the fire got going on the roof timbers, great piles of slates dropped down so you could hear the crashing and banging. Then suddenly the bell tower keeled right over and flopped down.”

As Sub Officer Wheeler and his crew approached Bedford School, he saw at once that the situation was desperate and radioed the base to request immediate assistance. He then directed two water jets, but with the height and grip of the flames this was pitifully inadequate, so he confined himself to a single hose in

order to get more pressure. It was Fire Officer Steve Spring who had the job of climbing to the top of the fully-extended, 100 ft ladder with that hose. Recalling the moment, Officer Spring said: “Once I got to the top, I was faced with probably one of the most frightening scenes I have ever experienced.” The flames were licking way up into the sky and the wind caused timber and debris to swirl all around him. It was at this point, a mere seven minutes after arrival, that Sub Officer Wheeler sent a radio request for the police to evacuate the houses in Glebe Road (adjacent to the school) – a shrewd assessment of the situation.

Fire-fighting reinforcements continued to arrive until all 13 fire stations in the county were contributing with a total of 18 fire engines.

Tea for Tibbs Dementia with Claytons

THe quality men’s and women’s wear retailer Claytons hosted coffee and cake for £5 to raise funds for the very local Tibbs dementia Foundation. long established Claytons, now within the Hatters furniture outlet on Goldington road, is a great champion of good local causes and chose the Tibbs dementia Foundation for

its efforts on Saturday March 16th. They generously offered a £150 voucher prize for a £1 ticket raffle, as well as donating 10% of sales from the Spring range to the charity.

Tibbs dementia Ceo Sarah russell joined the morning gathering with friends (photo) and thanked Claytons for their generosity.

“We are a local charity supporting local families and individuals who are dealing with dementia and rely on the kindness of companies like Claytons,” said Sarah. Find out more about on www.tibbsdementia.co.uk Claytons is open seven days a week and has free parking for customers.

BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

The fire at its height was inextinguishable. The 400 gallons of water in the fire vehicles were not enough. Their thirsty pumps even sought the supplies of the school’s open-air swimming pool, but that too was soon exhausted. Since the flames were deemed uncontrollable, the fire brigade’s efforts concentrated on containing the fire and preventing it from spreading. Meanwhile the flames continued to develop with horrifying speed and violence, devouring the building and showering sparks into the air like a spectacular, yet macabre, firework display.

Eye witness and local resident, Chris Brown, recalls that one of his resounding memories of the night was: “Seeing the Head Master, Ian Jones, going into his study by the side door several times, dragging

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

— 15

filing cabinets onto the grass while the fire raged above him”. It was later learnt that his priority was to secure all the documents relating to the boys.

A sizeable crowd soon gathered. Amongst those present was the arsonist who started the fire. He later admitted that he had cheered at the moment the tower fell. The fire continued to burn through the night with ever decreasing vigour, and as it did so it relinquished some of its spell on the spectators who slowly began to drift away. It was at around 5.00am that the last of the watchers left, leaving just the fire-fighters to continue with their unenviable task.

Speculation was rife about what might happen in the next few days, weeks and months. With 30 classrooms and over 90% of the school destroyed, how could the school possibly continue? There was no question in the Head Master’s mind that the school would even consider closing or that boys would be sent home. The thought simply did not cross his mind, and he immediately set about finding 30 temporary classrooms.

The resilience and organisation demonstrated were quite remarkable. The boys did not miss any lessons whatsoever. By Monday morning the 30 temporary classrooms were in situ and off the boys went to their lessons. A notice placed at the various entrances to the school read, “Bedford School – Normal School on Monday March 5th at 9.00am”.

In the Head Master’s address to the school on that day, he said: “We must remember though that life is also about people, and fortunately this school has a very fine staff and a first rate set of boys, and together we must all set about the task of dealing with the problems that have been created for us. Our first priorities have been to ensure School continues.

“We want people to say of masters and boys and everyone at Bedford that they have big hearts. So aim for the sky in your work, in your games, your music, your drama, and all your other School activities. Hold your heads up high both inside and outside the School, during term and in the holidays, so we can look back on this darkest of hours and we can be justifiably proud of our efforts.”

Amazingly, the school continued to function entirely as normal until the restored main building was unveiled in the autumn of 1981.

The stoicism, tenacity and resilient characteristics are deep rooted in the school’s character and ethos.

The way the community supported one another in the aftermath of the fire is a proud reminder of this and leaves a legacy which is ever-present today.

England rugby star coaches Year 4 ON Wednesday, March 13, current England Rugby Co-Captain, Dylan Hartley, visited Bedford Modern School to run a training session with their Year 4 boys. He was joined by Bedford Blues Assistant Coach, Paul Tupai, to work on the principles of going forward in attack and supporting the ball carrier.

After the session Dylan ran a questions and answers session with the group and was able to offer the boys lots of expert advice and feedback on how to develop their skills and become the next generation of BMS Rugby Players.

Dylan currently plays for England and the Northampton Saints, and has captained England since January 2016.

He currently co-captains alongside Owen Farrell and is the country’s most capped hooker. He

captained England to the Grand Slam in 2016, the first time that England had achieved this since 2003 and to a 3-0 series win in the 2016 Cook Cup against Australia.

Bedford Modern School’s Head of Rugby, Brett Richmond, said: “It is a huge honour for the school to have someone of his playing ability offer to come down and coach. The boys really took advantage of this opportunity and have shown real progress through the morning’’.

Head of Junior School Sport, Tim Bucktin, commented: “This was a fantastic experience for our Year 4 boys to receive professional coaching from the co-captain of England. It was thoroughly enjoyable for everyone involved and I’m sure the boys will remember it for a very long time to come.”

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Yasin and Stephen Mangan help Scouts keep growing! launch Marie Curie’s Daffodil Appeal

BEDFORD and Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin, and actor Stephen Mangan joined forces last month to help Marie Curie provide care and support to more people living with a terminal illness.

Mohammad Yasin and Marie Curie Ambassador Stephen were pictured together with Marie Curie Rapid Response Healthcare Assistant Patricia McDonnell at the parliamentary event to celebrate the launch of the Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraising campaign, held every March.

Mr Yasin pledged their support to the Appeal and is encouraging local people to donate and wear one of the charity’s daffodil pins to help fund vital care and support for people living with a terminal illness, and their families.

Mr Yasin said: “Every five minutes, someone in the UK dies without getting the care and support they need at the end of their life. The money raised from the Appeal will help Marie Curie be there for more people living with any terminal illness such as terminal cancer, dementia, heart failure, and motor neurone disease.”

Launched in 1986, the Appeal is crucial in raising much-needed funds to enable the charity to continue to provide nursing and hospice care, fund research and campaign on behalf of everyone affected by terminal illness.

The charity’s free national Support Line now also offers clinical support, enabling anyone

with a terminal illness to access a Marie Curie Nurse. The Information and Support Nurses can answer any clinical questions or concerns people may have, from understanding a diagnosis to explaining treatments, or talking about painful and distressing symptoms.

Actor Stephen Mangan, said: “I experienced first-hand the difference they make when they cared for both my mum and later, my dad at home.

“Chances are, we all know someone who’s been affected by a terminal illness. That’s why I’m delighted to be here with Mohammad Yasin to help launch Marie Curie’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal.

“Whether its worn in celebration, in solidarity or in memory of a loved one, by donating and wearing a daffodil pin during March, you and thousands of others in Bedford will help make sure thousands more dying people get the care and support they deserve.”

To find out more about the Great Daffodil Appeal, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil.

Share your memory using #everydaffodil. To Donate £5 to Marie Curie, text DAFF to 70111.

FLITWICK Scout Group continues to grow as their annual census return showed an increase of nearly 6%. They now have 216 boys and girls aged 6 to 14 in the Group. Lead volunteer for the Group, Jonathan Smith said: “The continued growth of children in the group is due to the brilliant programmes run by all of the leaders in the Group.”

One of the highlights for the Beaver Scouts was the visit from some members of the Jamboree Unit who ran an international themed evening. This included learning about Canada, Mexico and North America, trying on some traditional costumes and tasting some food! They also spent an evening learning about the Chinese New Year. This included acting out the story of the Chinese Zodiac and sampling Chinese food. Shrove Tuesday was celebrated by the Beavers designing their own pancake

Ampthill’s Christmas Lights

THE 2019 series of fundraisers got off to a brilliant start.

Our sold-out general knowledge quiz with hot cooked supper at The Cross Keys, Pulloxhill was very keenly contested and we have a new name on the ‘champions’ board. Superb prizes very kindly donated by The White Hart Ampthill, Waitrose and Partners Ampthill, Tesco Flitwick and many individuals helped boost the amount raised to a magnificent £496.50.

We would like to recruit more people to join our committee – just three more meetings this year – and welcome extra helpers for switchon Sunday which this year will be 5pm Sunday November 17 with stalls, funfair and entertainment to enjoy before the town’s incredibly popular icicle lights go live.

Crowd control remains a concern, Church Street will be closed to traffic up to Church Avenue between 2.30pm and 6.00pm, more marshals are needed in the town centre.

If you wish to volunteer or would like more information please contact Donna Searle on 01525 404355 or Richard Holden on 01525 403141.

Richard Holden The Friends Of Ampthill’s Christmas Lights

toppings, mixing the batter and then enjoyed eating them once they were cooked.

The Cub Scouts enjoyed an evening making pancakes, cooking them on ‘tin tops’ heated by a candle, and then eating them.

They have also been working towards their scientist badge which has included making a torch, growing cress, cleaning dirty coins with vinegar and discovering how flowers draw up water through their stems. They spent an evening holding snakes, spiders, Madagascan hissing cockroaches and a Chameleon, along with being able to stroke a champagne skunk. They also spent two evenings drawing maps and planning a route around the Town followed by giving these to other Cubs to follow the route.

The Scout section has been very active; they have been working towards their Creative Challenge, Skills Challenge, Digital Citizen and Cyclist badges. This has included mending a puncture, making camp gadgets and having a forum on internet safety. Astronomy, Morse code, night hike, photography and a skills challenge have all been on the programme. They have also been doing some pioneering and carrying out a ‘Chip Shop’ survey in the town.

Leon Packman said: “I’m really looking forward to the two camps this year. I have been on weekend camps before but the week camp is going to be a great adventure. It will be great fun trying some of the activities we are going to do.”

The Group have a weekend camp planned for June with over 110 children already signed up for it. They then have a week long camp in August with over 40

children participating.

Adult volunteer, Nigel Taylor said: “Scouting provides brilliant opportunities for children to learn skills they will use throughout their lives. It might be some basic first aid, cooking, finding out about other Countries or conquering a fear of water or spiders. It also gives adult volunteers the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, hobbies and knowledge to the children.”

He added: “All of the volunteers in the Group have a key role to play. Whether they are the Group Treasurer or a young leader helping with the Beaver section they get a tremendous amount of pleasure supporting young people.”

For further information about Flitwick Scout Group, please visit www.flitwickscoutgroup.org.uk

ESCAPE TO THE BARNS HOTEL Sunday Lunch at Barns Hotel

Cruise The Ouse

Are you ready for the best Sunday banquet in Bedford? Enjoy unlimited starters from our incredible buffet before moving on to the main course. If you’ve got room for something sweet, our unlimited dessert station awaits...

Enjoy a leisurely spot of sailing along the Great River Ouse in our very own self-drive boat, available to hire for up to four adults two children. Great for Easter school holiday.

Two courses £19 | Three courses £24.50 Under 12 years £12.25 | Under 2 years - Free

Monday to Friday £35 per hour Saturday to Sunday £40 per hour

Please call us on 01234 270044 to reserve your place Barns Hotel | Cardington Road | Bedford | Bedfordshire | MK44 3SA T +44 (0)1234 270044 | E weddings@barnshotelbedford.co.uk

Hotel • Dining • Events

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

Sabre Gold for Bedford New sixth form for Weatherfield School Sixth Former BEDFORD School Sixth Former Oscar Hill emerged as the Eastern Region’s U18 Sabre gold medallist on Saturday 2 February after a tough series of games in the Eastern Regional Youth Championships held in Stevenage.

Bedford School Sixth Former Oscar Hill emerged as the Eastern Region’s U18 Sabre gold medallist on Saturday 2 February after a tough series of games in the Eastern Regional Youth Championships held in Stevenage.

It was an early start for Oscar and he fenced hard and strong to win the title. Oscar has been training hard after school and is fencing in a category that includes boys in the age group above.

Oscar will go on to take part in

the British Fencing Youth Championships in May.

New Primary School officially opens in Cotton End PUPILS, Staff and developers were joined by Mayor Dave Hodgson to mark the official opening of Cotton End Forest School and Preschool.

Pupils and staff from Cotton End Forest School were joined by the Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, and representatives involved in the building project to celebrate the new school opening by sowing seeds and burying a time capsule, created by the pupils, staff and governors of the school.

Cotton End Forest School has been designed as a Forest School to embrace outdoor learning. The Council and colleagues from Pick Everard and Wilmot Dixon along with pupils, staff and governors were all involved in creating this unique learning concept, serving local communities in and Cotton

End and Shortstown.

Head teacher Karen Headland said: “Children, staff and governors are delighted with our new school. It is a fabulous spacious environment and gives children great opportunities for learning both inside and outside the classrooms. It was a pleasure to welcome colleagues from Bedford Borough and Wilmot Dixon here today to officially open Cotton End Forest School.”

The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “Good schools are central to their local communities, and I was delighted to congratulate staff and pupils on the opening of Cotton End Forest School. As a forest school, staff here will be able to provide a unique, high quality learning environment for local children.”

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A BRAND new sixth form centre has been opened at a special school in Dunstable.

The centre has been built with the help of the Connolly Foundation, a Bedfordshire charity.

Weatherfield Academy is a school that teaches children with special educational needs from all over Central Bedfordshire The school is for pupils whose needs are categorised as having Moderate Learning Difficulties.

The Academy is for young people who find it difficult to maintain progress in mainstream education settings.

It has an excellent learning environment, including a sensory garden and a smallholding, with some livestock, which the students mainly look after themselves.

The curriculum is tailored to

Left Nigel Croft, Trustee of the Connolly Foundation, right Joe Selmes, Headteacher of Weatherfield Academy.

— 17

the needs of the pupils.

Due to ever increasing numbers, however, space was at a premium, particularly for the growing sixth form. So with the help of the Connolly Foundation a brand new sixth form centre has been built.

Head Joe Selmes said: “We have a vision of providing the best possible opportunities for pupils with learning difficulties from Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

“On behalf of the Governors, staff and pupils of Weatherfield Academy Special School, I would like to thank ‘The Connolly Foundation’ for their generosity.

The bespoke nature of this new classroom will allow our learners to work on their vocational and independence skills, which are a crucial area of their development”.

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APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Choral success for BMS at Bedfordshire Festival

ON Saturday 02 March, the Year 5 and 6 choir from Bedford Modern School competed in the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama at Bedford Corn Exchange. After winning their category they were subsequently awarded the Bedford Choral Society Cup, given to the most outstanding choir of the junior choirs section of the festival, together with a prize of £200.

Competing against choirs from five other schools, they sang three songs from Hart and Cooling’s ‘Going West’:

Welcome to Rustin Creek, Song of the Prairie and Ballad of Big Tex. Adjudicator, Sarah Jefferies, was particularly impressed by the vitality and commitment of their performance, and commented on the accuracy of

Bringing book characters to Westfield school ONCE again it was a wonderful World Book Day at Westfield School.

Pupils dressed up as a great cast of characters to celebrate the day. The school was full of Harry Potters, Where’s Wally’s, and characters from favourite fairy tales. The staff joined in too and included a Cruella De Vil and Mary Poppins.

Head Teacher Karen Watts said: “We all had a great day she said and the children loved bringing their favourite book characters to life. Reading is such an important part of our everday lives and something that we value highly at Westfield.

World Book Day is a great way of encouraging reading whilst having a lot of fun.”

Biggleswade Carnival is looking for a new Carnival Court 2019 Queen 12-18yrs £100 cash prize

PrInCeSS 6-11yrs £30 cash prize Hair and make up on carnival day by Sapphire Hair and Beauty for Queen and Princess PrInCe 6-11yrs £30 cash prize

SeleCTIon day Sunday 14th april 2019, 2pm Start Biggleswade Social Club, Church Street

Application forms can be found on biggleswade-carnival.org or at Biggleswade Social Club, Angeliques hairdressers, Havelock Road. The Silver Box , High Street.

Or Phone/text 07722 761140 Email: yswinburn@outlook.com

The court must be available for Carnival day Saturday 22nd June 2019

The Theme for this years event is Colour Association If you want to be part of this years carnival, its still not to late to enter, look up biggleswade-carnival.org for further information

their two-part singing.

Head of Junior School Music, Mr Bishop, said: “The children rose to the occasion magnificently and sang beautifully; clearly enjoying the experience of performing to a packed hall.

There was a lovely, exciting atmosphere and our choir appreciated the warm welcome that they received. They are very much looking forward to visiting again next year.”

The Bedfordshire Festival of

Music, Speech and Drama is an annual event which provides a showcase for the wealth of talent in the amateur performing arts in Bedfordshire and the surrounding area. The Festival offers a wide range of classes for all ages

covering most musical genres including Classical, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Asian music, as well as many varied Speech and Drama classes including Verse Speaking, Acting, Mime and Improvisation.

Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey STUDENTS from Mark Rutherford School celebrated Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, Members of The Royal Family, UK and Commonwealth dignitaries and 800 schoolchildren and young people from across the UK. On Monday 11 March, students from Mark Rutherford School in Bedford traveled to London to join 800 children and young people from across the UK in celebration of Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.

The Service took place in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and The Duke of York. The event is the world’s premier, inter-faith event to

celebrate the Commonwealth of Nations and provides an opportunity to focus attention on this voluntary association of 53 countries and their commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.4 billion citizens.

The theme for this year’s Service, ‘A Connected Commonwealth’, seeks to highlight the practical value and global engagement made possible as a result of cooperation between the culturally diverse and widely dispersed family of nations, who work together in friendship and goodwill.

This will be a particularly special event, as the Commonwealth begins to celebrate its 70th anniversary. For the fourth consecutive year, the Commonwealth Service will be broadcast live on BBC One from 14:15 GMT. It will also be relayed live

England Cap for Lizzie Adam EX-BEDFORD Modern School student Lizzie Adam has received her first England cap for her part in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 in Sydney. This comes after an extensive tour in New Zealand and Australia, playing some of the best teams in the world.

Lizzie first played rugby aged 16 for Olney RFC before graduating to the Tyrrells Premier 15s playing for her university side, Loughborough Lightning.

She was named in all three of England U20’s teams in 2018, coming off the bench in the side’s historic 20-27 victory against France in Lille.

On receiving her first cap for England, Lizzie said: “I am still buzzing from the whole experience, it doesn’t seem real yet that I am a capped England player.

The tour was amazing; we all really get on so everything was very relaxed and great fun. This is only the start and I look forward to pushing on and taking advantage of any more opportunities that come my way.”

Director of Co-Curricular Activity at Bedford Modern School, Ashley Tapper, commented: “Lizzie was instrumental while at BMS in encouraging other girls to have a go at rugby. She was very committed to her training and aside from rugby was a great athlete. It’s no surprise that she has done so well and I look forward to seeing her go from strength to strength.”

on the BBC World Service and streamed live on the BBC YouTube channel.

Highlights of the Service will include special performances by the Grammy-winning British group, Clean Bandit, and acclaimed tenor and renowned star of the stage, Alfie Boe; with a reflection by endurance swimmer, ocean advocate and the UN’s Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh.

The event will also feature performances by The Dhol Foundation, who performed at the 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony and The Queen’s Birthday Party concert; William Barton, the internationally celebrated didgeridoo artist who’s prodigious talent featured at the 2018 Invictus Games; and the B Positive Choir, featuring Lurine Cato, 2018 finalists in Britain’s Got Talent.

Commenting on the theme of

this year’s event, Chief Executive of The Royal Commonwealth Society, Dr Greg Munro said, “The Commonwealth Service celebrates a unique network of countries - all distinct and all equal. It is a day for us to recognise our similarities and celebrate our differences, and look to the future of the Commonwealth and at what we can all contribute by working in partnership.”

Commonwealth Day has been celebrated across the Commonwealth every year since the 1970s. The Royal Commonwealth Society encourages schools and youth groups to take up this opportunity to begin to explore and engage with the core Commonwealth values and principles of human rights, rule of law, democracy and stewardship of the environment, as they become increasingly relevant to young people’s daily lives.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

gardening How to successfully grow your own fruits this year

new varieties Grapes can be grown very successfully on a warm south facing wall in the garden in the UK. Muscat Bleu is a black grape which reliably produces a good crop of large berries of a rich sweet flavour in September. Phoenix is a white dessert/wine grape that produces large yellow berries with a fine flavour ripening early October.

by Maureen Catlin Milton Ernest Garden Centre HIS month is the last in the triology Grow your Own for a Healthy Life Style. This month it’s the fruit basket. The activity of gardening is more and more being hailed as beneficial to both our physical and mental health apart from the nutritional benefit of fresh produce.

In January and February we talked about growing vegetables.

This month let’s look at the fruit we can successfully grow in our garden. It is very satisfying to watch the bushes flower produce the fruit and for it to ripen before eating it at its optimum ripeness freezes well. Joan J is an outstandand enjoying those scrumptious ing autumn fruiting variety which flavours. If you produce more again extends the season if planted than you can eat it will freeze well with a summer type. The berries although it may lose structure the are large, a superb flavour and flavour and nutritional goodness is freeze well. You can now grow well preserved. You can also make the new variety Ruby Beauty homemade jams and preserves.

Raspberries in a pot on the patio.

Strawberries are very easy to The canes are one meter tall and grow and require very little space. produce an abundance of well They can be grown in the ground, flavoured fruit so ideal for a small a tub using compost like Jacks garden.

Magic or a Grobag. They need a Blueberries are expensive to sunny spot and if planted in late buy in the supermarkets but will autumn the plants will produce grow well in lime free compost in strawberries the following summer. It is recommended to replace the plants every 4 years to ensure good crops. Two exciting new varieties to try are Vibrant which produces large bright red sweet flavoursome berries in July and Malwina which has a heavy crop of large delicious berries with a gorgeous aroma in August. By planting both varieties you can enjoy two months of fresh strawberries. Both varieties are resistant to mildew and need netting to stop the OFFER birds taking the fruit.

ENDS 30/4/19 Raspberries are a very productive crop. The long canes should be planted 40cms apart supported on a wire framework.

Chemainus Radwell Road (just off the A6) is heavy cropping withErnest good MK44 1SH Milton disease resistance and excellent flavour. It fruits in July and

The Lawn Doctor

T

pots or in the garden. They produce neat bushes which require little maintenance apart from feeding monthly in the growing season with ericaceous feed. In spring they are covered in white bell flowers then the blue fruits appear in July and in October the leaves turn to vibrant autumn colours so a very decorative plant as well.

Two good varieties are Bluecrop and Chandler. Both produce heavy crops of large delicious flavoured berries.

With the introduction of some

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Rhubarb is a delicious dessert which is easy to grow and requires little space. Think of Rhubarb and Custard. It will grow in sun or shade in well-drained soil or in a large container. When the Rhubarb crown has established cover it with a Clay Rhubarb Forcer in February and get very early crops.

Honeyberries are another super food like blueberries full of antioxidants. They look and taste quite like Blueberries, are very hardy and grow well in lime soil in an open sunny place. You will need two plants to ensure pollination.

We all love Blackberry and Apple Pie so instead of fighting the wild thorny blackberries we can grow our own without thorns.

Loch Tay is an excellent variety producing a heavy crop of shiny black berries of excellent flavour.

It is compact and easily trained on a wire frame. Black Cascade is a new variety which will grow in a large hanging basket or patio tub.

It produces masses of large sweet berries on thornless stems.

Reuben is a new variety with a compact upright habit that can also be grown in a large pot. The berries are huge and taste fantastic when freshly picked. They are exceptionally sweet and juicy and very easy to grow.

MILTON ERNEST GARDEN CENTRE

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www.miltonernestgardencentre.co.uk

Tel: 01234 823033

MILT ON ERNEST GARDEN C ENTRE Radwell Road (just off the A6) Milton Ernest MK44 1SH

JUDGING from my correspondence, I know I am not the only one to bemoan this but it feels like, no sooner have the daffodils gone into flower than we are having to dead head them!

I have read recently that many florists may struggle to provide daffs in arrangements for Mother’s Day this year and although the speed with which these traditional harbingers of spring have completed their life cycle this year may disappoint us there is a lesson to be learnt for future years: plant more than one kind.

There are so many varieties of daffodils readily available these days and all flower at different times so, with a bit of planning, prolong the impact of them in your garden by planting so that as one type, goes over, another will come into bloom.

This is a lovely thing to do; few plants make as big an impact as Narcissi.

Of course the other difficulty faced in the garden this past month has been the frequency of very strong winds. Although, I always find it amazing that plants that can break so easily when a clumsy old gardener such as myself knocks them in error, many are surprisingly good at standing up to the wind.

That said, some gardens are more exposed than others, so planting daffs en masse can provide ‘safety in numbers’. And some of the smaller varieties, tete a tete in particular, are far more robust than some of their taller and more slender relatives.

Many of the star performers found in gardens throughout the summer months can be sown now but not directly into the ground.

A windowsill that is bright or a basic propagator or a glasshouse can all provide sufficient protection, given

— 19

‘normal’ conditions. And if you have never grown anything from seed before, I urge you, as I do every year, to try! It is such a satisfying thing to do but be warned, it can also be highly addictive. The other reason why sowing plants from seed is a good idea is simply the choice one has.

Any reputable nursery or garden centre will have row after row of brightly coloured packets to choose from and by simply following the instructions to the letter, you will soon have plants to be rightly proud of rather than simply buying someone else’s handy work!

The answer to last month’s just for fun question is, a neighbour’s cat insists on using your garden as a litter tray: what common place household ingredient can be safely used to prevent this from happening without hurting the cat?

Although there are many purpose made products available these days, the thing I have repeatedly found to be more effective than any other is that staple of most kitchens, white pepper! Simply shake over the ground and the cat avoids the area. Remember to reapply after rain but I found that after a few bad experiences, the cat soon learned to go elsewhere. How I wish cat owners were as responsible as responsible dog owners!

This month’s question, a much loved rose is looking rather feeble; compared to other roses in the garden, its growth is poor and reluctantly, you decide to remove it and replace it. Why shouldn’t you do this?

As usual, thank you very much for those of you who have been in tough and please contact me with any gardening tasks or queries you may have, lawndocgardens@aol.com or tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855.

AT YOUR SERVICE

20 —

APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

See the weekly online edition www.facebook.com/RosettaPublishingLtd/ TEL: 07724 905406 or 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: pat@rosettapublishing.com

TO BOOK YOUR AD CALL 07724 905406 PRICES START AT £18 + VAT PER MONTH

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Lawnmower Sales, Service & Repairs Specialists Scott James Hertfordshire & 07588 751325 Bedfordshire areas

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01234 871366 07947 575124 GREAT BARFORD

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Consumer Unit replacements Shower replacement/install New Installations Security Lighting Rewires, Extensions PA Testing Testing and Inspecting Fault finding, minor maintenance Landlord safety certificates Emergency lighting upgrades

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WASHING MACHINE REPAIRS

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G.J. Watkinson Electrical

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Plastering and ● UPVC doors and windows ● Facias and guttering ● Tiling ● Free estimates ● Painting & decorating

FIXED PRICE BOILER SERVICE FOR £60

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GARY BERRIDGE

• All makes of washing machines, cookers, dishwashers, hobs and hoods repaired • No call out charges on accepted quotes • Member of DASA 30 years • 35 years local work experience • Used as expert on BBC Watchdog

Same Day Service & FREE Estimates

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Fully vetted and insured cleaners at affordable rates

Call Angela for a FREE quote

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BOARDING KENNELS The Kennels are situated in a rural environment, yet with easy access from A1 (Black Cat Roundabout). Fully insulated and heated kennels with spacious outer run.

Dogs walked three times a day, inspection welcome.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

— 21

out & about

Making us laugh for seven years

For seven years the best comics on the UK comedy circuit have been coming to Bedford. So join the celebration on Thursday april 11, at the Gordon Arms Ent Shed. There will be star acts, balloons, party poppers, competitions and of course birthday cake!

Headlining the show is Stephen Bailey, who had a stellar 2018.

He made his acting debut (and his dream come true) in Coronation Street and recorded his very first stand-up special for Comedy Central. He is the presenter of Channel 5 and 5Star’s new show Celebs on the Farm and flew out to America to host Celebs on the Ranch! He has also starred on Comedy Central’s Live at The Comedy Store & Roast Battle and is the resident agony aunt on Zoe Ball on Saturday/Sunday for ITV. Stephen’s friendly and open brand of gossipy humour has made him one of the most sought after acts on the UK comedy circuit today.

“He’s an arch-bitch with a

winning smile, everyone’s favourite gay best friend. Bailey’s confident, funny & suitably rude” The reviews Hub Opening the show is Mark Simmons. Mark is an exceptional one-liner comedian. It won him a place in Dave’s prestigious Best Joke of The Fringe in Edinburgh 2017. His solo show at the festival, One-Linerer was also a huge hit, with sell out shows every day and was nominated Best Show by the Amused Moose Comedy Award Fringe Show 2017. He has supported Seann Walsh, Rob Beckett and Rob Brydon on their national tours.

Recently he made his television debut on ITV1’s new stand up show, Out There.

“Master of one liners” one4review ★★★★★ The show will be hosted by Paul Revill.

Show starts at 8.15pm and tickets are £10 or £18 with pre show meal & glass of wine. To book call 07736 060541, email castlecomedy@hotmail.co.uk online at www.castlecomedy.co.uk Castle Comedy – Bringing Comedy Royalty to Bedfordshire.

Make it hot, hot, hot THe only dedicated uk Cheese and Chilli Festival will be coming to Bedford for the first time this year, taking place in Bedford Park over the weekend of Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th, bringing with it an amazing array of taste, colour and experiences. a ‘must go to’ event ! a fantastic family friendly, fun-filled weekend spiced up with all things cheese and chilli. The two days will be packed with a whole host of tasty treats, amazing entertainment and fiery food competitions for those that can handle the heat!

Perfect for cheese lovers who can try and buy from an incredible range of local and regional products. attractions include free cooking displays, tastings, beer tent, live music, street theatre, crazy golf, human-sized table football, children’s rides, treasure hunts, balloon modelling, craft and shopping stalls and lots more.

If you’re a cheese or chilli fan the day is a must. Buy tickets in advance on line and save money. Free parking and under 16’s go free! The festival will also be supporting local charity FaCeS with a team raising funds over the weekend.

For more details go to www.cheeseandchillifestival.com

22 —

APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

See the weekly online edition www.facebook.com/RosettaPublishingLtd/ TEL: 07724 905406 or 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: pat@rosettapublishing.com

–––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– WESTONING PLAYERS STeady aCouSTIC BEDFORD FLORAL ART SOCIETY MS THERAPY FLITWICK & BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB ASHWELL AT HOME BEDS & NORTHANTS present CENTRE Meeting at the addison Centre FOLK SESSION AMPTHILL LAWN kempston on Tuesday, april 2nd at Sunday 12th May 11am-5pm AGATHA CRUSTY COUNTRY AND FOLK MONTHLY SALE 7.30 last Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm.

Entertainment for all the family with open TENNIS CLUB AND THE HEALTH THe BurnaBy arMS, DANCE CLUB There will be a floral demonstration by gardens, free workshop for children and Third Saturday of every month STanley STreeT, Jo Poulter entitled adults, live music and a wide range of OPEN DAY SPA MURDERS 10am - 12.00 noon Thursday evenings 8pm – 10pm BedFord Mk41 7ru. street and indoor entertainment, cow milkSaurday april 6 1-4pm ‘All Shapes and Sizes’. funfair, lunches & teas and much ing, 50p Adults Entrance abilities All a comedy thriller by CHurCH Barn, CHurCH end

Derek Webb

Thursday 4th - Saturday 6th april 7.30pm WeSTonInG VIllaGe Hall TICKETS £10 Box Office 01525- 719695

BIddenHaM Mk40 4rS

Its good fun for only £2.50 including refreshments No partner required.

Ron Law 01234 825574 www.bedfordfolkdanceclub.com

–––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– BUGGY FIT POTTON MUSIC 4 CLASSES MEMORY Thursday 1pm-2pm The Weatherly Centre orchard Close Biggleswade SG18 0ne Email: robyn1.sg@gmail.com or 0300 300 5125.

Tuesday 12-2pm Saxon Pool and leisure Centre, Biggleswade £2 per session

WALKING FOOTBALL

Tuesday 2pm-3pm @ Saxon Pool & leisure Centre, Biggleswade £1.50 per session Please note: all classes are subject to change, physical.activity@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

–––––––––––––––––––– THE IVEL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT CENTRE

HAS A LOVED ONE DIED? Perhaps we can help you at our drop-in centre at: The Community Rooms, Baptist church, 24 London Road, Biggleswade SG18 8EB Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon Telephone: Carole or Jill on 07704 734225 for more information.

• A place of friendship, compassion and understanding.

• Fully trained bereavement support volunteers are always on hand to listen while you talk through your grief.

• Somewhere to meet others coping with bereavement issues.

• Come and make new friends

every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30pm-4.00pm at Potton Community Centre, Brook end , Potton.

The group is facilitated by a qualified and experienced music therapist and supported by a friendly welcoming and supportive team. If you are living with memory problems, dementia or are a family carer this could be the group for you.

We meet together to sing songs old and new, dance, recite poetry in a relaxed space.

We always start with tea, coffee and cakes and a chance to chat and catch up with friends or speak to our dementia specialist.

When the music starts we are all encouraged to share as fully as we feel able as a valued member of the group. no musical experience required, just come along, relax and enjoy.

Please contact us for more information on 01234 210993 or email contact@tibbsdementia.co.uk or just turn up and give it a go.

Potton Music 4 Memory is one of the services provided by Tibbs Dementia Foundation a local charity support people to live as fully as possible with dementia.

–––––––––––––––––––– THE SANDY UKULELE GROUP

Meet every Friday at the Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford road, Sandy.

7pm till 9pm.

For more information on joining the group please email the group:

Beginners very welcome.

Info from Mike 01234 308449 Facebook: Burnaby steady session see also Bedfordshire beginners melodeon playgroup

–––––––––––––––––––– WORLD SHIP SOCIETY Kempston Constitution Club 196A Bedford Road, Kempston

BEDFORD BRANCH 3rd THURSDAY in the month Telephone: 01234 352014 18 april 2019 Bill Mayes (WSS Treasurer) making a welcome return to give a presentation “liner evening” 16 May 2019 WSS Show by Maurice napier on “Peru to argentina”

–––––––––––––––––––– BEDFORD FLORAL ART SOCIETY addison Centre kempston Tuesday, april 2nd at 7.30pm.

There will be a floral demonstration by Jo Poulter entitled

‘All Shapes and Sizes’ Visitors very welcome £7

Friday 5th april 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Interested in Family History?

Then come along to the next monthly talk on

––––––––––––––––––––

“How Far Did Your Ancestors Travel Before the Advent of the Railways?”

By Celia Heritage 7.15 p.m. drama Hall, Mark rutherford School, Wentworth drive, Bedford Mk41 8PX Members free, visitors £1. www.bfhs.org.uk

–––––––––––––––––––– Sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com –––––––––––––––––––– www.Sandyukulelegroup.com SANDY !! CHANGES TO !!

ASTRONOMICAL –––––––––––––––––––– MOGGERHANGER SOCIETY BIDDENHAM GARDENERS Founded in 2014 by residents of Sandy PLANT SALE 2019 ASSOCIATION and surrounding areas, we are a group of keen astronomers of all abilities.

We meet on the first Thursday of every month at Mamas Coffee Shop (High Street, Sandy) and have regular viewing sessions on the grounds of Sandye Place Academy.

You don’t need to own a telescope to join in. Club members are always willing to share their equipment and expertise, and if you become a member our club telescopes are available for hire for a small fee.

Wrap up warm and we’ll see you there!

Tuesday 16th april 2019 at 7.30pm Biddenham Village Hall

“Strictly Daylilies”

By Paula Dyason

Visitors very welcome

Admission £5 per meeting – includes Raffle & refreshments

PlouGHMan’S lunCHeS CreaM TeaS 10am to 4pm Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May Sunday 19th May – Closed 14 Blunham road (half way down from The Guinea) Moggerhanger, Mk44 3rB

–––––––––––––––––––– 3T’S TODDLER –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– GROUP SANDY WALKS BEDFORD TREFOIL GUILD We are a (non-profit making) Toddler Group who meet at Centenary Hall, 4 HEALTH 104 Bedford road, kempston on GUIDING FOR Sandy Walks 4 Health meet every Tuesday from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm Wednesday. (term time only) ADULTS These are free short walks ofabout an hour, with a trained walk leader.

No need to book; just turn up.

Walks start at 10am, meeting in SandyLibrary in the Town centre.

For more information contact: Cathy Bailey 01767 692182, or Jane Janaway 01767 691455, or Mike Fayers (Health walks manager) 01234 832619

We offers members (women and men 18+) personal and social opportunities, both daytime and evenings, whilst supporting Guiding and Scouting.

For more details contact secretary kategroves67@gmail.com or 01234 301575

–––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– SPA SANDY ART EXHIBITION & CONSERVATIVE SALE BOWLING CLUB Our well-established and friendly club with one of the best greens in the county is situated behind the Conservative Club in Bedford Road.

We are always happy to welcome new members, whether experienced or new bowlers who will be offered coaching.

For further details Phone 01767 680697

–––––––––––––––––––– MAYFLOWER 50+ SOCIAL CLUB We meet 2-4 pm on Wednesdays at the Labour Hall, Crab Lane, and 2-4pm Fridays at St Andrews Church - both have disabled access. We also run a lighthearted bingo 2-4pm at the Labour Hall on the 2nd & 4th Monday of the month.

We play games, cards etc. or just socialise.

We have occasional speakers and outings.

Entrance £1.50 (plus £1 if bingo) and door-to-door minibus transport is available at £1.50 return.

Please contact Iris on 01767 318434 or call or text Brian on mobile 07988 822678 or landline 01767 448954 BIGGleSWade Weekly lunCH CluB We meet every Wednesday 12-1.45 in the Labour Hall, Crab Lane to enjoy a hot 2 course meal and good company. Food is supplied by a local school. Door to door transport is available at £1.50 and the meal costs £5. Mainly for over 50s.

For more details contact Shirley Legate on 01767 448954 or 07988 822678.

Saturday 4th May 10am - 5pm Sunday 5th May 10am - 4pm Refreshments Available

FLITWICK VILLAGE HALL

–––––––––––––––––––– ALL SAINTS PARISH CHURCH KEMPSTON

AFTERNOON TEA & A GUIDED TOUR

of this historic church to visiting groups of 10 or above at a cost per head of £7.95.

Contacts are Janet Fardell on 01234 855158 or Frances Leonard on 01234 852480

Contact: Debbie on 07975 –772-058 or Suzanne on 01234-857467.

–––––––––––––––––––– BIGGLESWADE WALK 4 HEALTH REGULAR WEEKLY WALKS Walks for beginners and those looking to improve Two regular weekly walks of 40 – 90 minutes Wednesdays at 10.00am Walking with John and his team Dan Albone Car Park, Shortmead Street SG18 0BQ Thursdays at 10.00am Walking with Rosario and his team from Stratton School, Eagle Farm Road SG18 8JB For THoSe lookInG To do a SerIouS Walk oF 5 MIleS PluS: Tuesday afternoon at 2pm Booking essential (This walk is not part of Walk 4 health and walkers walk at their own risk) Walking with Janette: approx. 90 mins.

Start points vary – phone or email Janette for details Janette Sibley Tel: 07771 540117 email: janette@sibley.me.uk Mike Fayers Bedfordshire Health Walks Manager, Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity Tel: 01234 832619 email: mikef@bedsrcc.org.uk The Old School, Cardington.

MK44 3SX

more.

Entry by programme: £7 adults (under 18s free with accompanying paying adult) available on the day at the event, or £6 in advance from the website. Free parking. www.ashwellathome.org.uk Location: Ashwell is in north Herts, near Junction 10 of the A1(M)

FREE PARKING Clothing, Bric a Brac, Books, Linen, Toys and Games Refreshments available 155 Barkers Lane, Bedford. MK41 9RX Tel: 01234 325781 www.mscentrebedsandnorthants.com

at Saxon Pool SG18 8Su

by David Szymanski

–––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– SANDY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BIGGLESWADE The History of Bedford WATERPOLO Brick Works every Monday 8.30pm 12 and older, both sexes come along and join the fun

–––––––––––––––––––– SANDY TOWN BOWLING CLUB Play bowls at this friendly local club adjacent to Sandy Village Hall. Excellent green. Experienced and new bowlers welcome. Coaching available.

More details: Secretary Michael Groom: 01767 227523 sandytownbowlingclub.org.uk

–––––––––––––––––––– BEESTON WALK FOR HEALTH We meet every Monday at 9.00 a.m. by the letter box at the junction of The Crescent and The Green. The walk is a first level gentle walk so we do about 30 – 40 minutes in the flat fields beyond Beeston Green.

I will walk as slowly as the slowest person needs. It’s a ‘just turn up’ walk.

Gillian Wilkes 07890 232685 grewilkes@gmail.com

––––––––––––––––––––

TENNIS FOR

BEGINNERS CHILDREN – ADULTS SENIORS EXPERIENCED PL AYERS jack@bremed.co.uk Jack: 01767 692242

ALL WELCOME www.biggleswadetennis.co.uk

–––––––––––––––––––– BLACK CRICKET KIDS CLUB

Great for aspiring animal keepers, entomologists and herpetologists.

First Wednesday of every month in Shortstown Village Hall, Southcote, Shortstown, Bedford, Mk42 0Ql. Fun, educational and entertaining sessions for children aged 5 - 13 who love animals, pets and wildlife.

Children with SEND are warmly welcomed and sessions are differentiated to meet individual needs.

Sessions are £5 per child (siblings £3). Registration is required. www.blackcricket.co.uk/kids-club www.facebook.com/blackcricketkidsclub Email: kidsclub@blackcricket.co.uk

–––––––––––––––––––– TIDDLYWINKS TODDLER PLAYGROUP

Meeting at kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club every Thursday 9.30 till 11.00am school term time only All children welcome from new born to preschool age. Large range of toys,activities and a craft table. Refreshments supplied for both children and carers.

Non profit making playgroup If your require further information just come along or ring Ruth on 01234 854657

A.G.M.

Friday 26th april @ 7.30 Stonecroft Hall, St Swithins Way, Sandy, SG191BB Admission £2.50. Including refreshments Members & students free For further details contact 01767 680171

–––––––––––––––––––– STeady aCouSTIC

FOLK SESSION

7.30 last Tuesday of the month at The Burnaby arms, Stanley Street, BedFord Mk41 7ru.

All abilities Beginners very welcome.

Info from Mike 01234 308449 Facebook: Burnaby steady session see also Bedfordshire beginners melodeon playgroup MOGGERHANGER KEEP FIT GROUP

GET FIT KEEP FIT

at the Village Hall, Fridays 9.30-10.30.

Tina or Josh take us through a lighthearted sequence with a warm-up, exercises designed to improve muscular fitness, brain co-ordination, balance and general well-being, then a cool-down.

It’s not over-strenuous, we have fun, feel good – and pay only £5 a session.

So why not come and join us?

For more information call Tony or Judith on 640124.

GreaT BarFord VIllaGe Hall Mk44 3Ha WedneSday 15 May 10:30 - 12 NOON Bring and buy, produce, cakes, raffle, refreshments.

Please bring your friends.

–––––––––––––––––––– BEDFORD RSPB LOCAL GROUP Meet at ARA club, Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7PF. Thursday 18th april 7.30 pm Ken Davies

‘Rutland Water Ospreys’

Ken, a member of the Osprey conservation team, tells us more about these magnificent birds and the RutlandWater Osprey conservation programme.

Suitable for Experts and Novices, RSPB membership not essential.

Entrance fee, group members £1 Guest £2 annual group membership £5 Reg. Charity No. 207076, more info www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bedford

––––––––––––––––––––

£2 per session – first evening free No partner required. Beginners welcome.

The reading room, 1, Barkers lane, Bedford.

Ring Pat 01234 308224 for more details.

St Swithins Way, Sandy on the third Monday of each month 7.30pm.

Transport can be arranged.

Speakers, outings & entertainment througout the year.

Please contact 01767 680503 for further imformation.

If you are interested gardening why not come along to our meetings.

We meet the second Wednesday of most months of the year in All Saints Church Hall, Cemetery Road Kempston. We have speakers and demonstrations covering every aspect of gardening For further information contact Trevor on

01234 855288 –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– We invite all stroke survivors & their carers to join our –––––––––––––––––––– POTTON LADIES’ IRISH CEILI AND CLUB KEMPSTON SENIOR IVEL STROKE CLUB SET DANCING CITIZENS’ CLUB Meetings are held at Stonecroft, Potton ladies Club meets on the first Wednesdays 8pm to 10 pm Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at Mill lane Pavilion, Mill lane Potton. SG19 2PG

We have a range of speakers, a lunch club & numerous day trips.

Visitors are always welcome for £5, to include light refreshments.

DANCING, WHIST, BINGO

Meets Wednesday 10am-12noon Friday 10am-4.00pm CENTENARY HALL, behind Kempston Town Hall, Bedford Road For further information telephone: 01234 347306

PASSIONTIDE BRING AND SING CONCERT

kempston Musical Society will be performing Stainer’s Crucifixion for Passiontide on Saturday 6th april at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Midland road, Bedford.

Proceeds will be donated to St. Francis Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Northern Uganda charity.

Singers - £5. Rehearsal – 4pm. Music and Refreshments provided. Dress – white top, Black bottom.

The concert will start at 7.00pm. Tickets for the evening concert will cost £6, to include refreshments.

This will be a most enjoyable evening and we look forward to seeing you.

To find out more about this concert, all our forthcoming concerts or information about the choir please call 01234 781010 or email prestissimo@btinternet.com.

–––––––––––––––––––– BIDDENHAM GARDENERS ASSOCIATION Tuesday 16th april 2019 at 7.30 Biddenham Village Hall

“Strictly Daylilies”

By Paula Dyason Visitors very welcome Admission £5 per meeting – includes Raffle & refreshments

MID BEDS FLOWER CLUB are looking forward to our next meeting on Thursday 11th april when the very popular and entertaining demonstrator Neil Gurney will be their demonstrator.

His title is

‘The Original April Fool’

and I am sure his flowers will be fantastic but he is very funny and will live up to his title.

If you would like to join us in Flitwick Village Hall, doors open 7.15 pm, please do visitors very welcome cost £10.00 . For more information contact Marion Tucker tel 01234 742396

Flitwick & ampthill lTC astwood drive Flitwick, Bedfordshire Mk45 1en

–––––––––––––––––––– TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH

aPrIl Thursday april 4th Short service at 11.30 in church followed by monthly lunch at 12 noon.

Sunday april 7th 10.30 a.m Cafe style service led by Helen Boshier Bring and Share lunch to follow.

Sunday april 14th 9.30am Communion service led by Rev. Dalwyn Attwell 10.30 am service to be led by Rev. Stan Short.

Monday april 15th 7.30 p.m. Circuit Taize service at Trinity Thursday april 18th Maundy Thursday 7.00pm. Agape meal at Trinity with communion Sunday april 21st 8.00 a.m Led by Rev Dalwyn Attwell to be followed by Breakfast 10.30 a.m service to be led by Stewards 6.00pm. No service at Trinity but Mission Group will lead a service at Beeston Methodist together with Sandy Methodist church. to be led by Rev. Dalwyn Attwell.

Sunday 28th april 10.30a.m Rev. Dalwyn Attwell to include Communion.

–––––––––––––––––––– CHRIST THE KING PARISH HALL Harrowden Road, Bedford MK42 0SP Sat 13th april

TABLE TOP SALE

9am to noon. Entry 50p Refreshments available, Tables £5 - must be prebooked.

For information call on 01234 965497 Friday 26th April

AFTERNOON VINTAGE TEA 2pm to 4pm

–––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––– Admission £4 - Tea, home-made cake and dancing RNLI (OUSE RIVER BRANCH) MUSIC ON For Information call 01234 404563 THURSDAYS COFFEE MORNING –––––––––––––––––––– Fenella Humphreys violin,

01234 856040 or Marian on

KEMPSTON GARDENS ASSOCIATION

KEMPSTON MUSICAL SOCIETY

–––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––

do your BInS Go ouT More THan you? THen ladIeS CIrCle IS For you!

Ladies Circle is a membership club for women aged 18 to 45 who want to make new friends, have lots of fun, do things t Whether you’re new to the Biggleswade area, or are just looking to broaden your social life. The group is a perfect way of getting more out of life.

Members include single and married women, those with children and those without, working and not working,everyone’s welcome to come along and just be themselves!

Email: biggleswadecircle@gmail.com Twitter: @BwadeCircle.

Facebook: Biggleswade Ladies Circle

––––––––––––––––––––

Visitors very welcome £7

––––––––––––––––––––

Robert Thompson piano Bedford School Music recital Hall Tickets £18, Students 18-24 £5, Under 18 £2 on the door or from 01234 261811 www.bedfordmusicclub.co.uk

–––––––––––––––––––– KEMPSTON AND DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY

Wednesdays from 7.30pm-10.00pm at kempston east Methodist Church New members welcome For further details contact Brian Woodcock on 07795251988 or brianwoodcock@btinternet.com

–––––––––––––––––––– WREST PARK VOLUNTEER OPEN DAYS Thursday 11th april 2019.

Would you like to be a part of an outstanding team?

Would you like to spend time in one of England’s most prestigious and fascinating Gardens with a story that spans over 600 years?

Would you like to share your enthusiasm and love of history?

Would you like to meet likeminded people and try something new?

Then why not come and volunteer for English Heritage at Wrest Park.

Whether it is welcoming and chatting to visitors or telling the stories of our unique house and garden, there are plenty of ways to get involved here at Wrest Park. Come along to our open day and find out more about what’s involved and how you can help our visitors ‘Step into England’s Story’.

If you would like to get involved come along to one of our volunteering drop in sessions on Thursday 11th April from 13pm and 5-7pm to find out more.

The sessions will be held in the Antelibrary of the Mansion house. There is no need to book, just come along to either session but please note if you are coming along to the evening session please park opposite the Mansion and enter through the Mansion front door.

MUSIC ON THURSDAYS

Roderick Williams baritone, Kathryn Rudge mezzo soprano, William Vann piano 7.45pm, Thursday 11 apr 2019

A Springtime Garland of Song and Opera Bedford Girls’ School Tickets £18, Students 18-24 £5, Under 18 £2 on the door or from 01234 261811 www.bedfordmusicclub.co.uk.

–––––––––––––––––––– COWPER & NEWTON MUSEUM april Three Hares Art Gallery - Olney Middle School at The Three Hares Gallery

EXHIBITION

SHOWCASING THE WORKS & TALENTS OF THE PUPILS OF OLNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL easter Treats Trails & Things to do April 5th - 27th 10:30 am - 4:30 pm £1.00 per child Come along to easter Family Fun at the Cowper & Newton Museum from 5th April – 27th April.

Try the Easter Egg maze in the Gardens, Animal Easter in the House, be crafty at the Craft Table in the Dressing Up Room. Extra craft activity on Tues 9th April (10.30 - 3.00) Get your prizes & enter the Prize Draw.

Includes a voucher for 20% off when you spend over £10 at the Pancake Parlour.

Usual adult admission applies

–––––––––––––––––––– SANDY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Sandy WI was formed in March 2017 and is still going strong.

We welcome new members from all age groups and backgrounds.

We meet on the third Tuesday of each month (except August) at 10.00am in Sandy Conservative Club.

We have a full programme of speakers and activities and you are very welcome to join us. If you want to give us a try before committing to full membership you can attend as a visitor, cost £4.

Contact our President, Val Haygarth, for further information on 01767 691711 valeriehaygarth@btinternet.com.

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film music albums games books jazz musical theatre opera rock bedfringe theatre comedy poetry CAR BOOT SALES literature motor sport crafts dance REDUCE PAIN motown quarry theatre 01767 680041 performing arts

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The Take That Experience

Bedford Corn Exchange 7.30pm Friday 5th April

As Take That celebrate over 25 years as the UK’s number one boy band, The Take That Experience mark over a decade together as the ultimate tribute act with their best show yet!

Wowing audiences everywhere

they go with their amazing vocals, replica costumes and electrifying dance routines, they continue to successfully recreate the magic of Take That with the ‘Greatest Hits Tour 2019.’

The Take That Experience bring you all the classic songs you know and love from the 90’s through to the present, including smash hits ‘Pray’, ‘Relight My Fire’, ‘Patience’, ‘Shine’, ‘These Days’ and ‘Giants’.

SUNDAYS 10am-2pm:

28th April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July, 25th August, 22nd September & 20th October

Sellers set up from 8.30am, £5 per car £10 per van

MILTON ERNEST GARDEN CENTRE Radwell Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1SH Teas, Coffee, Breakfast, Snacks in Café

For pitch enquiries contact Simon 01234 823033 E: simongoatley@miltonernestgardencentre.co.uk

BACK, HANDS, FEET, SPORTS INJURIES

Self Treatment equipment to aid rehabilitation and reduce discomfort

For help call Judy

www.bremed.co.uk

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

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HAVE A HAVE AGO GO WITH HARPUR WITH HARPUR The show also features the one and only “Robbie Williams” who brings alive songs such as ‘Angels’, ‘Rock DJ’ and ‘Candy’ to an already explosive show!

The boys don’t just give you a night you’ll ‘Never Forget’… they give you The Take That Experience!

Tickets priced £20 available from www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk or in person from the box office.

Sunday19 19May May2019 2019//11am 11amto to4pm 4pm Sunday Bedford Park Bedford Park

CLIMBING • ZORBING • ARCHERY • FOOTBALL • POTHOLING INFLATABLE ASSAULT COURSE • GENTLE EXERCISE & RELAXATION CYCLE COURSE • ARTS AND CRAFTS • COMMUNITY CHOIRS BOWLING • DANCE DEMOS • CULTURAL & SPORTING GROUPS AND MUCH MORE

www.harpurtrust.org.uk/have-a-go

#haveago

ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FREE, SO COME ALONG AND HAVE A GO!!

To advertise to over 58,000 homes in Bedfordshire just call 07724 905406 or 07894 935952

24 —

APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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John Bunyan Boat Team reveals their 2019 Cruise Programme Following their most successful season in 2018, the John Bunyan Boat Team have now published on their website their cruise programme for the 2019 season.

The Public and Special Cruise favourites are included along with some new ones.

This year’s public cruises launch in time for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend with their first monthly Jazz Cruise of the season which sails from The Barns Hotel on Thursday 18th April. Music from Rachel & Friends.

On Easter Saturday Evening at 6.30pm there is a Fish and Chip Supper Cruise from Sovereigns Quay (next to Star Rowing Club, and close to Riverside Bedford,) On Easter Sunday there is an Afternoon “Tea For Two” Cruise from Priory Marina at 2.30pm sailing downstream through Cardington Lock.

On Easter Monday there are short cruises along the Embankment, leaving from Sovereigns Quay (next to Star Rowing Club, and close to Riverside Bedford.)

The usual Thursday Afternoon Public Cruises from Sovereigns Quay to Cardington Lock, commence on Thursday 25th April Other favourite cruises such as the Sunday Afternoon Cruises, the Barns Hotel Afternoon Tea Cruise, are running from May onwards.

The Motown-Soul Cruise with DJ Keith

Spring Flowers The Old Rectory Garden Westoning MK45 5JW Sunday April 7

There has been a house on the site of the Old Rectory since Elizabethan times but much of the present house is early Victorian.

Its garden will be open for charity on Sunday 7 April as part of the National Garden Scheme. The garden will be open from 2-5.30 and the entry cost is £5.00 for adults with free entry for children.

Ancient box and yew hedges surround the colour coordinated beds of this 2-acre garden. Spring is early this year but there should still be hellebores and daffodils in

GREAT DAYS OUT FULLY ESCORTED RETURN COACH TRAVEL FROM BEDFORD AND RUSHDEN

EAGLE TRAVEL

To book your Great Day Out call: 01234 348882 Quote: ROSE19 11 Goldington Road, Bedford MK40 3JY office@eagletravel.co.uk

Bedford Town Centre with a walk back alongside the river to Priory Marina (visiting the cafes etc. on the way!)

The “Folk On The Boat” cruises run in association with Mill Race Folk and featuring various folk music artistes commence on Thursday 23rd May. Full details of the cruises, times, prices etc. can be found on the website www.johnbunyanboat.org

Stewart runs on a monthly basis commencing on 9th May. The Anchor Lunch Cruise to The Anchor Inn, Great Barford with return by coach sails from Priory Marina, the first one being 20th June @ 10.00am.

The Walkers Special run on Thursdays @ 1.30pm offering a one way ride from Priory Marina to Sovereigns Quay (in the Town Centre) The passengers are then free to enjoy

CALL THE MIDWIFE – CHATHAM HISTORIC DOCKYARDS

THURSDAY 25th APRIL – £75pp

Includes entry, 2-course lunch & guided tour Your day will begin with free time to explore this historic dockyard which is home to warships, RNLI lifeboat collections, the Victorian Royal Naval Ropery & more! Your ticket includes a 2-course lunch at “The Mess Deck”, followed by the official “Call The Midwife” walking tour.

Guided by a costumed midwife, you will experience just how this 400 year old site was transformed into 1960’s London for the hit show.

MAMMA MIA

23rd MAY – £99pp Includes theatre ticket & 2-course lunch

LAST FEW SEATS

Your day will start at Tutton’s in Covent Garden where you will enjoy a 2-course pre theatre lunch.

A short walk away is the Novello Theatre, where you will take your seats for Mamma Mia, the smash hit musical based on the legendary songs of ABBA. Seen by over 50 million people worldwide, it tells the tale of a mother, a daughter, three potential fathers, a Greek Island and an unforgettable trip down the aisle!

GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE

NEC BIRMINGHAM, 13th JUNE – £59pp Includes entry to Gardeners’ World & Good Food Summer Indulge your passion for gardening at Gardeners World Live!

With thousands of exhibitors, live demonstrations, show gardens and much more this years event is packed full of lots of new features for. Your ticket also includes entry to BBC Good Food Show Summer, featuring live stage demos from top chefs and a wealth of speciality producers.

LADIES’ DAY AT ROYAL ASCOT

THURSDAY 20th JUNE – £129pp Includes entry to The Queen Anne Enclosure

Watch the worlds most famous race meeting from the epicentre of Royal Ascot, the Queen Anne Enclosure, situated close to the parade ring and the winners enclosure. With atmospheric raised terraces from where to enjoy world class racing and the Royal Procession, followed by the uplifting tradition of singing around the Bandstand, this enclosure ensures you are right at the heart of the action! Please note a formal dress code applies

LAST FEW SEATS

BURGHLEY

THURSDAY 4th JULY – £69pp Includes guided tour of the house, entry to house & gardens, plus 2-course lunch Burghley is one of the greatest Elizabethan Houses, built by William Cecil in the 1500’s. You will enjoy a tour of the house with a specialist guide which will bring the intricate 450 year history of the Cecil Family to life, after which a 2-course lunch will be served in The Orangery Restaurant. After lunch you will also have time to discover the Sculpture Garden and the Gardens of Surprise, and the vast surrounding parklands, landscaped by the great Capability Brown.

CROMER END OF PIER SHOW

THURSDAY 18th JULY – £85pp Includes theatre ticket & 2-course lunch

flower with magnolias and cherries blooming in profusion.

Hyacinths will perfume the air and snake’s head fritillaries be at their best in the meadow.

Primroses will light the darker corners.

A further reason to visit is the mouth-watering cream teas and other refreshments that will be available in the fourteenth century church next door.

Further details about the garden, other gardens in the scheme and a full list of charities supported are in the 2018 National Garden Scheme Bedfordshire booklet which is now freely available or at ngs.org.uk

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR & FESTIVE LUNCH

WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER – £99pp

The award wining show returns to the end of the pier for another season of traditional and contemporary variety including show-stopping vocal performances, magic, conjuring, and dancers that bring the glitz and glamour of the West End to this historic theatre. You will also enjoy a pre theatre lunch at the Tides Restaurant, also situated on the pier.

Includes festive lunch & deluxe theatre seats Prior to the show you will enjoy a 2-course festive lunch at The Hourglass, a new venue for this season, in the nearby village of Sculthorpe. Upon arrival at Thursford you will take your “Deluxe” seats for the famous Thursford Christmas Spectacular – the largest Christmas show in the country! Set in the magical surroundings of theatre organs and fairground carousels with world-class performers, this festive theatrical extravaganza is the perfect way to kick off your Christmas celebrations!

THE BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM

LAST FEW SEATS

8th AUGUST – £59pp

Includes Introductory talk & entry to the attraction Experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Black Countries historic past. Set in over 26 acres, the museum celebrates the scale, drama and intensity of the Industrial Revolution. With charismatic ‘residents’, shops, heritage vehicles to ride, a fairground, places to eat and a host of live demonstrations. Witness the glow of the forges, hop on a tram or experience life as a coal miner or life along the canals. MINES AND CANAL TRIPS PAYABLE LOCALLY.

BRICK LANE MUSIC HALL ‘COCKNEY SING-SONG’

WEDNESDAY 11th SEPTEMBER – £85pp Price includes pre show 3-course lunch & theatre ticket Due to demand from last years sold out trip, we return to the Brick Lane Music Hall, tucked away in London’s Docklands.

You will be served a traditional 3-course lunch at the venue before enjoying a ‘right royal knees up’ celebrating the spirit of the East End and iconic songs made famous by our iconic Purley Kings and Queens.

BOOK NOW USING THE CODE: ROSE19

CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

SUNDAY 22nd DECEMBER – £85pp

LAST FEW SEATS

WADDESDON MANOR AT CHRISTMAS

THURSDAY 5th DECEMBER – £75pp

LIMITED AVAILABILITY Sing-along to festive favourites in the spectacular surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall this Christmas at what’s set to be London’s finest carol concert!

These special concerts, suitable for all ages, have become a festive favourite over the years. This year join us for a scintillating show of traditional carols, modern arrangements, and festive favourites brought to life by world class musicians - A great way to start your festive celebrations!

Your ticket includes return escorted coach travel, and your seat for the matinee show.

Further details on dining options at the Royal Albert Hall prior to the concert are available upon request

Price includes house tour, garden entry & festive lunch Experience this breath-taking stately home beautifully decorated for Christmas. With exceptional architecture, art collections and gardens, the estate was built to delight a small circle of Baron Ferdinand’s friends. Your day will begin with a 2-course festive lunch in the Manor Restaurant, followed by a self guided tour of the house.

There will also be an opportunity to browse the Manors own Christmas Market set in the grounds.

AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT RESERVE YOUR SEATS NOW

SS WAVERLEY PADDLE STEAMER THE MAIL RAIL & POSTAL MUSEUM

SEPTEMBER 2019

WITH LUNCH OCTOBER 2019

ADVANCE REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

ADVANCE REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

rock bedfringe theatre comedy poetry literature motor sport crafts dance photography motown art quarry theatre film performing arts music albums games books jazz musical theatre Day Charity Golf opera rock bedfringe

poetry literature motor sport photography crafts art dance film motown music quarry theatre albums performing arts games books jazz musical theatre opera rock bedfringe theatre comedy poetry literature motor sport crafts

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fe headings whats on.qxp_Layout 1 20/03/2019 09:44 Page 1

From Monday 15th to Saturday 27th July, Bedford will host the OVER 150 13th International Bedford Festival Fringe bringing to the 13 town a carefully selected programme of comedy, theatre, live music, film, dance & physical 5 theatre, spoken word and poetry to your doorstep. This year, events will be held at The Quarry Theatre and The Place Theatre.

Expect to see 150 events in 13 days across 5 venues! Hopefully in this event. It's one of the best in there will be something for the Bedford calendar and the everyone!

Confirmed acts far include Jan garden stage is such a great location.” said Neil Frankel. “We Ravens (Dead Ringers), Simon love new music and Bedford Brodkin (Channel4’s Lee looks set to up its game this year, Nelson), Shlomo (world record with some new emerging young beatboxing champ)! There is also bands breaking through. a busy children’s theatre Hopefully we will have one or programme including The Splash two of them on show at Test Dummies and The Amazing Bedfringe”.

Bubble Man. Event Director, James Pharaoh Blender collaboration: added. “I'm looking forward to Blender, who produce Pop-Up working with blender. They love Record Shops, run The Friday music and I'm sure they will bring Night Blender and who managed in the best local talent to perform the new St Mary's stage at last the festival, which compleyear's River Festival, will produce 1at20/03/2019 fe headings whats on.qxp_Layout 09:44 will Page 1 ment what we have on offer at the line-up of live music for the The Quarry that weekend. We three evening slots on Saturday and Sunday on the garden stage at look forward to a busy fortnight and an even busier weekend with The Quarry theatre. blender.”

“We can't wait to get involved PRINCIPA L SPONSOR:

15- 27 July 201 9

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FANTAST IC EVENTS

DAYS of

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exciting venues

CHILDREN’ S THEATRE

Round and Round the Garden

Wixamtree Gallery April 6-28 September

Celebrate all things gardens and gardening with The Higgins Bedford at the new exhibition ‘Round and Round the Garden: A Celebration of Horticulture in Art’.

Featuring works by major artists from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Collection, this exhibition celebrates our human fascination with gardens and looks at how gardens and gardening have provided inspiration for artists.

Members of the public are also invited to send in photos for the #BedfordLovesGardening display at the exhibition entrance, making this a truly unique exhibition.

Artists have always been inspired by gardens. PreRaphaelite John Everett Millais saw them as settings for tragic love stories. Walter Sickert brought the garden inside for his still life

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pieces, while Joan Eardley braved the weather to paint Scottish wild flowers.

Edward Bawden depicted the large botanical gardens at Kew whilst Paul Nash painted village gardens. Camden Town artist Charles Ginner painted his own suburban garden, whilst Lucian Freud and Graham Sutherland travelled further afield to paint continental gardens and exotic plants.

There will also be a sensory installation in the gallery created by the Theatre of Widdershins with The Wynding Wixam Tree, a sculptural piece by local puppet maker and storyteller, Andy Lawrence. Alongside the exhibition there will be gardenthemed events including garden tours, plant sales, a British Sign Language tour and workshop with Access Bedford, lunchtime lectures, Easter and May HalfTerm holiday activities and more.

The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with Christiana Payne, Professor of History of Art at Oxford Brookes University.

ST PHILIP & JAMES GOLF SOCIETY

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The Ampthill Literary Festival, under the auspices of The Ampthill Festival, will take place at Parkside Hall on 27th April 2019.

Details can be found on www.ampthillfestival.com, and tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite under AmpLiterary and from No.14 in Ampthill.

Vintage Be will return, by popular demand, with an extended menu to feed the body, whilst our guests provide a cornucopia to feed the soul.

A short, locally based film “Car Keys” will be premiered, with Robert Daws and the team behind this project in discussion thereafter.

Robert will also chair a discussion with local authors Anthony Lowery and Adam Croft. Claire McGlasson will speak about The Bedford Panacea Society, on which her debut novel “The Rapture” is based.

Ruth Hogan returns to present prizes awarded for the writing competition ( please see our Facebook page for more detail) and share her latest book with us; and hopefully also “premier” some fabulous boots. Journalist and novelist Allison Pearson will

discuss her hilarious and thought provoking books “I Don’t Know How She Does It” and “How Hard Can It Be?” which investigate the challenges of developing both family and career.

“The Antipoet” will entertain during the day. These innovative performance artists are gaining in reputation and will bring a further new dimension to our festival.

Our workshops include a session at Ampthill Library for under 9s, a session for adult writers and children’s story telling activities. Tickets for these will be limited.

We hope to achieve another joyous day, akin to 2018, celebrating the written and spoken word. The bookshop will be open and there will be the chance to get copies signed where appropriate. The bar will again, we feel sure, be an area alive with discussion of the delights on offer.

The Ampthill Literary committee look forward to welcoming everyone, especially all those who have so wonderfully supported our “ Beer and Books” and quiz evenings throughout the year, the proceeds of which go towards supporting this festival. It is our hope that the whole day will inspire and entertain new and returning aficionados.

Monday 1st april Sara Dowling Vocals (above) Back by popular demand, we welcome back Vocalist Sara Dowling who’ll be paying tribute to some of her favourite composers/songwriters.

Monday 8th april The White Horse is excited to present Pianist Alexander Bryson who will perform an evening of Piano Trio, featuring the talents of Darren McCarthy on Bass & Mark Hale on Drums.

The Trio will play two sets of music from 8.30pm with a short interval. Suggested contributions of £5 asked of each audience member to ensure a fair fee is paid to the musicians.

On april 15th Double Bassist Joe Downard will lead a Quartet this Monday alongside Guitarist Will Arnold-Forster.

Originally from Brighton, Joe moved up to London to focus on applying his abilities in both Double bass and electric bass and

after 5 years he’s become one of the most in demand bassists in the city.

22nd april - Gabriel Latchin Piano – Pianist, composer and bandleader, Gabriel Latchin has made a name for himself as one of the UK’s finest musicians, praised by critics and world renowned musicians alike.

Known for his effortlessly swinging feel, deep repertoire and compelling performances, Jazzwise recently described his playing as “impeccable... the clarity of his lines evoking something of Hank Jones or Tommy Flanagan”. april 29th - Mark Crooks Tenor Saxophone & Clarinet Mark began his musical training by earning a degree in music performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. He moved to London to study on the postgraduate jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music after winning the Young Jazz Player of the Year Competition in 1991.

Literary Festival

Over 150 events in 13 days!

at Pavenham Park Golf Club on Friday 31st May 2019.

The event will raise money for two local charities” Carers in Bedfordshire and FACES. If you wish to: sponsor a hole for as little as £50 or the main par threes for £255 play on the day Tee off times are 09.30 to 13.30, cost £20 donate a raffle or auction prize, attend the 3 course dinner commencing @ 19 30, cost £25.

Then contact Mike Chappell on 07973-703340 or at mikechappell43@btinternet.com.

jazz musical theatre opera rock bedfringe theatre comedy poetry literature motor sport crafts dance motown quarry theatre performing arts

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Parkside Hall, Ampthill April 27

White Horse Jazz

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

Bonnie & Clyde the Musical

The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE 7.30pm April 9-13

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow find infamy and love in this

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brilliant, fast-paced Tony Award nominated musical.

Featuring a superb soundtrack of blues, gospel and rockabilly music, Bonnie & Clyde is a thrilling and sexy new musical from lyricist Don Black (Tell Me on a Sunday, Aspects of Love) & composer Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde).

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APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

Blackthorns Sun Club

Tucked away in Pippin Wood between Sharnbrook and Riseley you can find a little piece of paradise going under the name of Blackthorns Sun Club where you can enjoy peaceful, woodland walks, marvel at the bluebells in Springtime.

You can check out the wildlife, bask in the sun, take part in sports, use the outdoor heated pool, cook on the barbeque, join in the banter on the south facing patio whilst your children are occupied in their play area and clubhouse, attend monthly socials of a meal and either a disco or live music and meet a whole new crowd of people for conversation and friendship.

Oh, and when it’s plenty warm enough we do all this without our clothes! Yes, we are a naturist club and very proud of it too!

There is nothing better than a dip in the pool on a hot day without the wet, soggy swimwear when you get out! Air dry in the

film music albums games books jazz musical theatre opera rock bedfringe theatre comedy poetry literature motor sport crafts dance motown quarry theatre performing arts

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sunshine! So many like an all over tan and who wants white strap marks? Soak up some natural, much needed Vitamin D. But what about when it gets cold, I hear you ask; we get dressed!

It’s as simple as that!

However, we do have a lovely sauna to use and a wood burning stove in the clubhouse so we continue to use the club all year round.

Pippin Wood became home to the American Forces during the war when they used the cover of the trees to protect their ammunition stores. They replaced some of the trees with Nissan huts and we still use the circular road they laid down.

After they left, the wood was clear felled for timber in 1951, leaving very few original trees which was a great shame. It was then abandoned and left to become overgrown with brambles, blackthorn and various native plants.

We took over the management of the wood in 1959 after a small group of people attended the

World Naturist Congress held at Woburn Abbey in 1958 and decided it was the lifestyle they wanted. There were no facilities back then; no mains water, no electricity and no telephone. Can you imagine camping somewhere with no flushing toilets; they were definitely pioneers of their time and we are so grateful for their vision for the future.

Over the years the club gradually took shape as some of the central ground was cleared and laid to lawn. We paid for the utilities to be brought from the A6 and gradually built the clubhouse, showers and toilets that we take for granted today.

We have been turning the savaged woodland back to the semi-ancient woodland of its day, when it was listed in the Doomsday Book as being the outer reaches of the nearby Bletsoe Castle.

We’ve planted native trees and we’ve nurtured the environment to suit the wildlife. Our members can learn the art of coppicing and hedge laying.

We strive to help the animals and plants flourish and we’re pleased to share it with all the small creatures you might imagine; rabbits, voles, moles, stoats, even badgers, and seeing a family of fox clubs play in the early morning sun is a delight. We take for granted the tapping of the trees by our resident woodpeckers and have even named our resident pheasant, Paxo!

We can’t help but get to recognise the various wild flowers including native orchids and we look out for the red kites, kestrels and sparrow hawks that hunt from our skies. We know the calls of the various owls and delight in the huge variety of birds we see every day.

It’s an amazing place to spend time away from the hustle & bustle of everyday life and a superb environment to educate children who learn so much without even realising it, as it becomes second nature for them to have all this wonderful natural life around them.

Now you know what goes on, or rather, what comes off, amongst the trees of Pippin Wood and you are very welcome to come along for a visit if you feel like giving naturism a try.

Contact us to arrange a visit: 07759 971899.

The Brand New Heavies

Bedford Corn Exchange Friday 31st May

Pioneers of the London Acid Jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies, are a British music institution whose unique mix of jazz, funk and soul has lit up the UK music scene for well over two decades.

Over the years The Brand New Heavies have been responsible for some of the UK’s biggest R & B/ soul tracks, scoring 16 top 40 singles including ‘Dream On Dreamer’ and ‘You’ve Got A Friend’, as well as over two million album sales.

It was old school friends Jan,

Andrew and Simon pursuing their near-obsessive love of soul music and ‘70s funk that inspired them to form The Brand New Heavies.

Early hits ‘Never Stop and ‘Dream Come True’ were original chunks of organic funk that earned the band a reputation as a formidable live act and their reinterpretations of popular standards, such as ‘Midnight At The Oasis’, Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend ‘and the Stevie Wonder classic ‘I Don’t Know Why (I Love You)’, brought major global chart success.

Having made their mark originally with the immensely talented vocalist N’Dea Davenport, the core trio of Jan Kincaid, Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy

were later fronted by Siedah Garrett and Carleen Anderson.

The Brand New Heavies have been ploughing their own furrow the British music scene for over a quarter of a century and are respected the world over.

“It’s fantastic to be bringing such great talent to play in Bedford, which has a thriving music scene. Brand New Heavies are incredible live, they have infectious energy and get everyone up for a guaranteed non stop party.

This is a band that deliver every time and I am so excited to have booked them for Bedford.” Said Mark Harrison, Promoter, LPH Concerts

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2019

sport

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ANOTHER POINT IN TITLE CHASE

by Mark Wood

LUTON TOWN........(1) 2 GILLINGHAM........(0) 2 FruSTraTed Town were twice pegged back as they were held to a disappointing 2-2 home draw against lowly Gillingham at kenilworth road on Saturday.

An opportunistic strike from Danny Hylton had given Luton the lead on the stroke of half time only for them to allow target man Tom Eaves a free header to level early in the second half.

Jack Stacey’s near-post strike restored Town’s advantage only for Luke O’Neill to equalise with a brilliant late free-kick and, although Town had chances to win it, they were denied by a battling Gills side who belied their lowly league placing.

Straight from the kick-off Town almost took the lead when Hylton chested into the path of James Collins and his first-time effort was beaten away by Tomas Holy.

Gills were looking to top scorer Eaves at every opportunity as Town continued to play the better stuff into a strong wind.

James Justin stepped inside and curled over after a quarter of an hour before his powerful freekick from a narrow angle was well parried by the keeper five minutes later, after a free-kick rather than a penalty had been controversially awarded for a foul on Stacey.

During this time Town’s custodians, 2020, were serenaded by the home faithful on 20 minutes as they were recognised for gaining planning permission for a new ground at Power Court with an enabling development at Newlands Park that will help to transform the town.

Collins’ cross then ran agonisingly across the face of goal with no-one gambling on the far post before the Gills enjoyed a brief purple patch.

Brandon Hanlon mishit a good chance from a cross, while at the other end Elliot Lee released Luke Berry and his curler from a tight angle flashed just over.

Gillingham could have taken the lead on 35 minutes when O’Neill picked out Hanlon, but he put his free header wide.

The strong wind seemed to trouble Luton’s defence as Graham Burke fired well wide before Hanlon skipped around Sonny Bradley but fired straight at James Shea.

Town finished the half the stronger as Andrew Shinnie whistled just wide of the top corner from range before, in the final minute, Callum Reilly turned a half-cleared corner back into the box and the ball held up in the mud for Hylton to steer home from close range and give

GILLS: Tomas Holy, Luke O’Neill, Max Ehmer (C), Brandon Hanlan, Tom Eaves, Graham Burke, Barry Fuller, Callum Reilly, Leo Da Silva Lopes (Josh Rees 87), Mark Byrne, Connor Ogilvie. Subs not used: Bradley Garmston, Regan Charles-Cook, Tahvon Campbell, Elliott List, Billy King, Tom

HATTERS: James Shea, James Justin, Sonn Bradley (C), Matty Pearson, Jack Stacey, Luke Berry (Dan Potts 65), Danny Hylton (Harry Cornick 90+1), Elliot Lee (Kazenga LuaLua 80), Andrew Shinnie, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, James Collins. Subs not used: Alex Baptiste, George Moncur, George Thorne, Harry Isted.

Hadler.

Bookings: Hanlon 90+1.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Assistant Referees: Mark Scholes and Paul Lister.

Fourth Official: Rob Smith.

Attendance: 9,963 (Gills 601).

Star Hatter: Danny Hytlon – Signs Town’s talisman is returning to his best.

The multi award winning team of cruise experts at Eagle Travel are delighted to showcase this Silversea Caribbean Voyage, which gives you the chance to fully immerse yourself in the rich cultural history of Cuba, whilst experiencing the personal service and attention to detail a Silversea Cruise has to offer

DISCOVER

Cuba

Danny Hylton.

23rd January 2020, 11 days – Silver Wind Santiago de Cuba – George Town, Grand Cayman – Cienfuegos – La Havana – Bimini

SERENADED

WELL WIDE

deflected behind and in injury time Stacey’s far-post cross found Collins but he could only head wide with the goal begging.

However, the result gave Luton another valuable point as they stayed five points clear at the top of the table after the weekend’s fixtures and extended their unbeaten run to 25 league games.

James Collins.

Luton a deserved half time lead.

Gillingham were on top for periods of the second half as another free Hanlon header lacked venom on 47 minutes.

A great Luton move moments later saw Shinnie release Hylton and his strike was turned home by Collins, only for Town’s leading scorer to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

And it proved costly as two minute later Reilly got down the right and Eaves outmuscled his markers at the far post to head home the equaliser.

The game ebbed and flowed as Town re-took the lead on 67 minutes when Shinnie renewed his telepathic link with Stacey as his through ball saw the rightback’s effort creep inside the near post.

A long-range effort wrongfooted Shea as he managed to save with an outstretched foot while Eaves’ opportunistic lob was easy for Shea.

However, a controversial freekick, given away by Lee, allowed Gillingham to level as O’Neill’s brilliant 79th-minute effort found the top left-hand corner leaving Shea no chance.

Luton looked for a winner late on as sub Kazenga LuaLua’s driven effort was somehow

Although Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean Islands, it is also the most mysterious, shining like an unpolished diamond amid a sea of sparkle.

Well-heeled travellers have long awaited the chance to visit its powder white beaches and verdant tobacco fields. With long stays in port you can experience the island’s many charms in a ‘revolutionary’ way. Begin with bright, beautiful Santiago de Cuba, before some gentle R&R onboard and ashore.

Cienfuegos beckons with her cars and colour before an overnight in Havana hypnotises you with a heady mix of romance and music.

Silversea’s small luxury ships are designed for those who delight in the thrill of discovery while indulging mind and body in the most lavish surroundings imaginable. All accommodations are spacious, oceanview suites that include butler service, and most include private verandas.

Renowned for culinary excellence and innovative spirit, Silversea’s luxury cruises offer a choice of open-seating dining options throughout the fleet, as well as several specialty venues.

Enjoy the ease, convenience and value of an all-inclusive cruise fare that includes almost all of your discretionary onboard expenses, including unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi, plus beverages including champagne, wines and spirits both in suite and throughout the ship.

Prices from £5040pp* E A R LY B O O K I N G B O N U S Save 10% when you book and pay in full by 30th April 2019

PLUS LIMITED OFFER FOR EAGLE TRAVEL CLIENTS:

Book by 30th April and receive $200 on board credit per suite To check availability and for the most up to date promotions, speak to the Silversea Advocates at Eagle Travel on 01234 348882 *Subject to availability, price based on 2 adults sharing a Vista Suite.

Price shown includes Early Booking Bonus and is subject to change.

TO BOOK OR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL:

01234 348882

Quote: ROSE19

Eagle Travel, 11 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3JY www.eagletravel.co.uk office@eagletravel.co.uk

28 —

APRIL 2019 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

TEL: 07724 905406 or 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: pat@rosettapublishing.com

Spectacular celebration for Bedford’s Harpur Centre refurb

THe Harpur Centre revealed their sensational new look in March, with a special visit from the Mayor of Bedford, dave Hodgson and a dazzling carnivalesque celebration. on Saturday 9th March, the Harpur Centre hosted an unprecedented event for Bedford’s shoppers to celebrate the relaunch of its brand new refurbishment. at 11am, Mayor david Hodgson commenced the carnival celebrations by cutting the ribbon on the Centre’s brand new elevator to unveil the astonishing new interior to the public. isitors to the Centre reveled in the carnivalesque entertainment and jumped at the chance to get involved, with a large number of the public joining in with the spectacle.

Visitors to the Centre enjoyed an array of remarkable entertainment including the Harpur Centre’s fabulous showgirls, a lively samba band and exciting carnival acts that performed at intervals throughout the day.

Children also immersed themselves in the celebrations at the face painting station, where they transformed into glamorous carnivalesque characters, all

of which was completely Free. Plus, following the Centre’s online carnival competition, one lucky winner was overjoyed to receive a brilliant hamper from retailers within the Harpur Centre! alongside all of this outstanding activity, both retailers and groups from the wider Bedford community got involved in the celebrations.

WH Smith hosted a Gruffalo competition where in which children could hunt for Gruffalo toys within the store to be in with the chance to win vouchers to spend within.

Bruno’s Brazilian Soccer Club also came along to play games with visitors during the event in order to promote local sporting activity and add to the grand carnival theme.

In addition, Tilly’s Teashop, Bedford, set up a cake stand to allow visitors on the day to enjoy a delicious handmade treat.

Samantha laycock, Centre Manager at Harpur Centre (pictured right reading the printed edition of the Bulletin), commented: “We are so proud to have unveiled the Harpur

Centre’s highly anticipated refurbishment at our exciting carnival celebration! our investment programme has been a fundamental part of our vision for the future and ensuring that our visitors have the best shopping experience possible.

“It’s an exciting time at The Harpur Centre and we were delighted to share this event with our community who thoroughly enjoyed an array of exciting entertainment throughout the day – it was great to see visitors of all ages getting involved in the exhilarating activity!”

Featured in this exciting new refurb is a space that provides the community with a lifestyle and community hub that will ensure visitors enjoy an enhanced shopping experience.

The changes include: a revitalised central atrium feature also known as the Harpur Tree, a lift and new stairway from the car park, refreshed ceilings and floor finishes and even new décor. new customer toilets and a brand new open area have also been added to the refurbished lower Ground floor.

info@kitramlettings.com