The Vine Villages - October / November 2019

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Covering The Villages Surrounding Dunstable

www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Local News

What’s On Puzzles

’s Whant .co.uk Oirectory VineD ectory ess Dir News in s u B l al • Loca vents • Loc E s l r a e c ff lO • Lo • Loca LISTING

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OUR ADD Y DAY! TO

Connecting local people to local businesses

Home Home Counties Counties Loft Loft Ladders, Ladders, Quality You You Can Can Trust!

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These days most These days most homeowners suffer from homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. a lack of storage So many preciousspace. items So many items that needprecious to be kept that toto bestore kept it – butneed where – but where to store it all?

That’s where Home all?

That’sLoft where Home Counties Ladders Counties come in. Loft Ladders come in.

The company, The company, based locally, offers based locally, the offers homeowners homeowners opportunity tothe maximise opportunity maximise their storageto space their storage space with a loft ladder, with a loft ladder, and 50sqft of boarding 50sqft and a light -ofallboarding fully fitted a - all fully fitted inlight less than a day from in less than a day from just £355!

But it’s not just But it’s not just £355! the affordability just the affordability of the package that of the package that makes Home Counties makes Homestand Counties Loft Ladders Loft as Ladders stand out, manager Jamie out, as manager Oakley explains: Jamie ‘Our Oakley explains: ‘Our

watchwords are Quality, watchwords Quality, Integrity and are Value.

Integrity Quality inand theValue. materials Quality the materials that wein use for all our that we use for our installations andallthe fact installations and the fact that all our loft packages thatfitted all ourbyloft packages are time served are fitted byso time tradesmen, ourserved tradesmen, so our customers are assured customers of the best are job.assured of the best job.

Integrity in that we Integrity in that wetime will turn up at the will turnand up make at the sure time we say we andismake sure the say house spotless the house is spotless when we leave, and when wethat leave, value in we and offer value in that at wea offer our services price our services at a price people can afford. people can afford.

Our business relies on Our business relies referrals and we geton a referrals and we get calls a huge amount of our huge people amountwho of our calls from have from have been people referredwho to us by been referred to us by our existing customers our existing customers

- that simply wouldn’t -happen that simply if we wouldn’t didn’t happen if we adhere to ourdidn’t overriding adhere to our overriding principles. principles.

At the end of the day the At endthat of the day the oldthe adage happy old adage that customers leadhappy to more customers lead toismore happy customers true happy and wecustomers work hardistotrue and we work hard to make that happen for make that happen for

every installation we every installation we carry out!’ carry out!’

So, if you want to make So, want make use ifofyou your loft to space, use of yourfree lofton space, call Jamie 0808 call Jamieand freehe’ll on 0808 301 9560 be 301 9560 and he’ll beand happy to pop round happy to pop round and give you a no obligation give you no too obligation quote so ayou can quote use so you too can make of your loft! make use of your loft!

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CALL CALL FREE: FREE: 0808 0808 301 301 9560 9560 Issue 45 • October / November 2019

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Editor: Scott Nightingale Editor: Scott Advertising & Nightingale Editorial:

• Local Business Directory • Local Events • Local News • Local Offers

ADD YOUR LISTING Advertising Shelly Nesbitt & Editorial: TODAY! Shelly Nesbitt Tel: 01525 222379 / 07852 453043 Tel: 01525 222379 / 07852 453043 Email: info@thevinemagazine.co.uk Email: info@thevinemagazine.co.uk

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the content of advertising articles in Whilst every care hasand been taken published to ensure the this magazine are accurate, publisher content of advertising andneither articlesthe published in orthis its magazine editorial contributors accept and are accurate, can neither the publisher hereby disclaim contributors any liability to any party and to loss or its editorial can accept orhereby damage causedany by liability errors. Neither do they disclaim to any party to loss reflect the opinion ofby this publication. or damage caused errors.

NeitherThe do Vine they does notthe officially endorse any advertising reflect opinion of this publication.

The Vine material thisany publication. does notincluded officiallywithin endorse advertising No part of this publication reproduced material included withinmay thisbe publication. without permission.

No partprior of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission.

Re-home stray & abandoned 10 Eden On Our Doorstep?

Cats 6

Revitalising Dunstable

12 Local News

near- Competition Toddington, 20 Based TeamSport 22

Bedfordshire.

Martin Lewis: Money Matters

We always have lots of beautiful 26 At Home: Caring For Houseplants cats waiting for loving homes.

28 In The Garden Cats of every age, colour, size, 32 Body Change 4U: Calories shape and personality.

34 Autos: Mercedes C220 AMG Ring the shelter on 01525 875993 36or Puzzles Sue on 01582 650167 to Theto Gunpowder Plotcats.

38 Snippets: arrange a visit view our 46 A Pensioners View

Or check our website Copy@ deadline for next issue: www.straycatrescue.org.uk 48 Out & About

November 18th

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Contact us today: enquiries@stotengillam.co.uk www.stotengillam.co.uk @stotengillam Issue 45 • October / November 2019

5

PRESS RELEASE

The biggest and most lively indoor christmas shopping fair in

FESTIVE GIFT FAIR AT THE NEC, BIRMINGHAM the midlands is back!… And we’ve got 20 tickets to give away!

Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th November 2019 With BIGGEST so much choice, fabulous bargains and THE AND MOST LIVELY INDOOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FAIR great musical entertainment, this ever popular IN4-day THE MIDLANDS IS BACK! …

WITH SO MUCH CHOICE, FABULOUS November Fair is a cracking start to the BARGAINS AND GREAT MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT. Christmas season for those in the know!

This ever November is a cracking start to the Christmas season for those in the know!

From thepopular moment4-day you arrive, you’llFair be caught

up inthe the moment fabulous atmosphere, anticipation ris- up in the fabulous atmosphere, anticipation rising as From you arrive, you’ll be caught ingbrowse as you browse 300+overflowing stalls overflowing with you 300+ stalls with thousands upon thousands of unusual gifts, stocking fillers, thousands upon thousands decorations and artisan foodof&unusual drink atgifts, prices worth celebrating! stocking fillers, decorations and artisan food &

It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling stalls offering more choice, more variety and more fun than the High drink at prices worth celebrating!

Street, and it’s all under one roof.

It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling stalls offering

The run up to Christmas involves lotwhile of planning and most of us have so much to do and so little a huge choice and varietyDay gifts, lots of afun No otherand Christmas fair in presents the UK hasyou as much time do and it! Take theunder pressure out of Christmas shopping find all the wantentertainment at the youto shop it’s all one roof!

in one hall to get you in the Christmas spirit… one-stop shop Festive Gift Fair.

Whena your The run up to Christmas Day involves lot ofbags are full, just drop them off at the Present Creche and continue to shop some more!

• Father Christmas will be mingling. planning and most of us have so much to do and

little time to do it!fair Take outmuch of entertainment soother • The Grinchinwill up to to get his usual menacing antics!

No Christmas in the thepressure UK has as onebe hall you straight into the Christmasspirit… shopping and find all the presents you Christmas

• The Stilt Jazz Band will be legging it up the aisles! want at the one-stop shop Festive Gift Fair. When • The UK’s largest snowman will be amazing the children. your bags are full, off atmenacing the Presentantics!

The Grinch willjust be drop up tothem his usual * Creche • The outrageous Panto Dame will be causing havoc. and continue to shop some more! * Father Christmas will be mingling.

• The fabulous CHRISTMAS BAND will be performing.

The Jazzare Band willfavourite be legging it up the aisles! byStilt demand many stallholders * Back THE BASETONES will have you toe-tapping as you shop, The UK’s largest snowman will be amazing the * including Magical Story, The Perfume Shop, the •children. with their Motown-style Christmas harmonies.

The outrageous Panto Dame will be causing havoc around the hall Cheshire Cheese Company, Condessa Welsh

* The fabulous BAND will performing throughout the day. and EastCHRISTMAS 2 Eden. In addition, thisbe year’s * Liqueurs THE BASETONES will have you toe-tapping as you shop, with their Motown-style Christmas harmonies.

WIN TICKETS Gift Fair will be welcoming over 100 NEW * Festive stallholders.

To be in with a chance of winning one of

10 pairs of ticketsstalls, simply tell us...

Christmas is all about family, friendships and… food! Make a beeline for the FOODIE where you Christmas is all about family, friendships and…

will discover mouth-watering treats from cheese to chutneys, spices to spirits, preserves, How manypuddings stalls willto you find at food! Make a beeline for the FOODIE stalls, where chocolates to Champagne, beer to brownies, popcorn to Prosecco and hampers toGift hogFair roasts!

The Festive 2019?

you will discover mouth-watering treats from

A) 100+ B) 200+ or C) 300+ Back by to demand arespices manyto favourite stallholders cheese chutneys, spirits, puddings to including Magical Story, The Perfume Shop, the Cheshire Email your answer to Cheese Company, Condessa Welsh Liqueurs this year’s Festive Gift Fair will preserves, chocolates to Champagne, beer toand East 2 Eden. In addition,win@thevinemagazine.co.uk Enter online at www.thevinedirectory.co.uk bebrownies, welcoming over 100 NEW stallholders, we’ve a selection of these >>> popcorn to Prosecco and hampers to highlighted hog roasts!

10 winners will be chosen on Monday 4th November

The Fair is open daily from Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th November, 9.30am-5pm, Tickets available now from just £6 per adult (plus fulfilment fee) online at www.festivegiftfair.co.uk or call the Ticket Factory hotline on 0844 581 0808. (calls cost up to 7p per minute from a BT landline, plus your phone company’s access charge).

For more information, including videos, show highlights, exhibitor list and show offers visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

7

Revitalising Dunstable

local News

8

The Regeneration Of Dunstable Gathers Pace Central Bedfordshire Council is going full speed ahead with a host of further schemes to continue the revitalisation

Similarly, the demolition of the old library on Vernon Place opens up other regeneration opportunities.

As well as affordable housing and homes designed for older centre and High Street. people, there is also potential to build a new health hub on the The new £20m Dunstable Centre Original pool after draining - 10th Court July Drive site. A hub would is winning plaudits and removing not only provide modern facilities railings, widening pavements, for GP practices, but patients planting trees and a grant scheme would also be able to access a for independent traders to range of other relevant services, refurbish tired shop fronts are such as social care. also making the centre a more attractive and livelier place.

The new funding will also help the council with its schemes that Central Bedfordshire Council are re-shaping and re-designing will invest most of £6.2million the High Street with new it won from the government’s benches, cycle racks, bins and Housing Infrastructure Fund tree planting and to make further (HIF), to unlock land in a joinedimprovements to town centre up way in the High Street area roads. for regeneration. and regeneration of the town

For example, the current artificial pitch in Court Drive is already closed as it had reached the end of its life. Providing a new one elsewhere then frees up all the derelict land behind Go Bowling for redevelopment.

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The council has been funding improvements to the High Street to encourage people to spend more time in the town. It’s already made it safer to cross and installed and promoted measures to make the area more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. They

include an HGV ban except for deliveries and widened pavements.

The basics have not been ignored either. The toilets in Ashton Square are benefitting from a six-figure facelift which includes new brighter but more eco-friendly LED lighting, changes to the disabled facilities to up-to-date standards and a full re-decoration.

The council believes that the process of unlocking sites for redevelopment should lead to 400 new homes. And that this, in turn, will be another step forward in revitalising the town centre, recovering its market town heritage and keeping it a vibrant place where people want to spend their time.

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local News

Local Residents Offer Helping Hands In Toddington And The Surrounding Communities

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Toddington Area Helping Hands also collect and deliver prescriptions. www.mabplastering.co.uk (TAHH) started in 2007 and has Some of our volunteers do not drive been helping the elderly with trans- but they can often do a prescription on Area Helping Hands port in the village and surrounding run or buy the odd loaf of bread. area (Tebworth and Wingfield) ever on Area started in 2007 and has been helpin since. ItHelping is entirely runHands by volun- (TAHH) We have recently been trialling a teers offering as much or as little befriending service where people sport in the village and surrounding area (Tebworth and Wingfield time as they can. That flexibility with few friends or visitors can All types of y run byit attractive volunteers offering as much oroneas as they makes to people who, receive regular visits from of little time plastering work can. though they want to help, only have our volunteers. undertaken attractive to people who, though they want to help, only have a a limited amount of time to spare – Call John: o spare – one morning or even every couple of weeks, ma one morning a week, or even everya week, All of our volunteers have enhanced couple of weeks, makes a difference DBS checks, which is organised by johnhannigan1966@gmail.com ne. to someone.

TAHH. We are always looking for people who can offer some of their Whenand we’re fitactive, and active, with a to help villagers who needand our access ’re fit with atime driving licence toCanaMakecar, Small Businesses A Big Impactit’s e driving licence and access to a car, support. for granted.

Going to a doctor’s appointment, getting a prescripti it’s easy to take mobility for granted.

Going to a doctor’s appointment, We would love to hear probably from anyone ressers for a little confidence boost involves a walk or a getting a prescription or visiting the in the village,` or nearby, who would forhairdressers residents without may be of limited mobility for a little confidence transport, like to join us in who this rewarding boost probably a walkaway, or a organisation. can journey offer embers may involves live far even Volunteers a short can become almo For As Little AS quick car drive. However, for resias much or as little time as they make life very difficult, lonely and dents without transport, who may want and there is no isolating. pressure. Our be of limited mobility and whose lovely duty officers, who manage family members may live far away, the volunteers’ schedule, very Per month hy TAHH makes such a difference.

Weareoffer the comfort of a fam www.thevinedirectory.co.uk even a short journey can become al- understanding – we know everyrs are trusted our mostaimpossible.

Thislifeline can make life for one has busyclients. lives and people help Small Businesses Can Make A Big Impact very difficult, lonely and isolating. where they can.

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local hospital and other medical look forward to talking to you recently been trialling a We befriending service where people with fe appointments, and to social events, soon! an receive regular visits from one of our volunteers. www.thevinedirectory.co.uk the shops or the hairdressers.

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

11

local News

Honours Even In Battle Of Leighton Linslade Bars

More than 2000 took part in a public vote for their favourite licensed venues of 2019 across Leighton-Linslade to discover who had been crowned ‘Best Bar None’.

There were 14 accredited venues in the running this year, with the winners announced at an award ceremony at Dunstable’s Creasey Park Football Club on Monday evening (16 Sept).

Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “This award scheme goes from strength to strength with the numbers taking part in the public vote nearly doubling this year.

The Picture House and The Lancer emerged as joint overall winners with The Swan Hotel runnerup on points and Ollie Vees runner-up in the people’s vote.

“It is a great pleasure to reward the winning venues as they truly are the best of the best. The Best Bar None venues continue to drive positive change in our communities and are a guarantee of a safe, well-run social space for their customers.

This was the fifth Best Bar None scheme award evening in Central Bedfordshire, part of a wider national government and drinks industry initiative to promote responsible management and operation of alcohol-licensed premises.

The aim is to encourage pubs, clubs and leisure venues to be safe and welcoming places for visitors.

Participating local pubs, bars and clubs submit themselves to assessment procedures to meet the specific standards required by the scheme.

“Congratulations to all of our finalists for their commitment to excellence in achieving accreditation under the scheme and who have demonstrated that public safety and customer care are their top priority.

“Regardless of your choice, customers can have confidence when visiting any of the accredited premises bearing the Best Bar None logo. They’ll be reassured that the venues have undergone a rigorous assessment to demonstrate that they are consistently meeting high standards.

In Dunstable Creasey Park community football club emerged as overall winner with The Old Sugar Loaf taking the people’s vote. The White Swan was “But the highest praise has to go to the category runner-up both on points and in the people’s vote winners who have demonstrated the ability to go while in Houghton Regis, Go Houghton won both that extra mile.” the points and the public vote.

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

13

nstable In Blo u D o

m

The Best Large Town In The Region!

Well done to Dunstable!

The contribution and efforts of many Volunteers in our Town - Dunstable in Bloom team; local businesses, community groups, schools and young people, care homes as well as the hard work of Dunstable Town Council’s Grounds Team paid off when the results were announced at the Anglia in Bloom Awards ceremony held in St Ives, Cambridgeshire on September 10th.

Dunstable faced outstanding competition from villages, towns and cities across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, so to receive an 8th Gold was well deserved but even better was to be judged BEST LARGE TOWN IN THE REGION!!

A Gold each for Grove House Gardens and Priory Gardens and another Overall Winner in the small Parks went to Grove House Gardens!

In the Large Cemetery category another Gold and Overall Winner!

Priory View, gained a Gold and special award for their Community Floral Display planted and cared for by residents.

The lovely and unique Tudor garden newly 14 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

created at the Old Palace Lodge won a Silver Gilt for the Hotel.

Hugh Garrod, Chairman of Dunstable in Bloom, was nominated for a special award for all his hard work and received a certificate.

Representatives of the groups including the Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Liz Jones, received the certificates and attractive organic wood trophies presented to the four overall winners. George Dawson, Anglia in Bloom Chairman, said ‘Once again the Anglia region has bloomed with communities coming together to clear, clean and brighten their local environments which benefit residents, visitors and businesses in their areas’

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15

local Notices

Get Jitters With The Critters

Boo at the Zoo at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Saturday 19th October – Thursday 31st October For hairy, but not too scary, Halloween fun, families can trick-or-treat themselves to a trip to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for a special October half-term event, Boo at the Zoo. From Saturday 19 to Thursday 31 October, the Zoo’s animals and visitors will be celebrating all things spooky, with a fang-tastic day out for the whole family to enjoy.

Fearless families can head to Ghoul School, where they can create devilishly delicious treats for the Zoo’s animals to enjoy, as well as making Creepy Crafts and Menacing Masks. They can also carve their own Petrifying Pumpkins, as well as transform into black cats, spiders and other Halloween creatures with the help of the Zoo’s Fearsome Face Painters.

Animal-lovers will enjoy the terrifying talks and devilish demonstrations that are sure to amaze even the cleverest little monsters. Little ogres can also try to match animals to their foul creations in the funfilled game Poo at the Zoo.

I’m Mabel the resident dog at Appledown.

This young lady is Alesha Dixon, a Border Collie who was born in 2018. She came to us in quite a poor state, but is now looking very well and is ready to start a new life in a loving home. Typical of her breed, she is bright and smart but can be a little wary to start with. She will need an active home with lots to keep her occupied. She would benefit from training classes and would love agility! She could probably live with a male dog pending introductions.

Please see our website for full details of the rehoming process. We are open for visits and phone calls every day between 10 am and 4 pm. There are restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under seven years of age.

Appledown Rescue & Rehoming Kennels, Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Beds. LU6 1QY Call 01525 220383 .

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local Notices

Give An Assistance Dog The Best Start In Life

VOLUNTEERS are needed to offer the best start in life to a puppy training to be an assistance dog for charity Canine Partners.

The national charity is looking for puppy parents in Luton and Dunstable to provide their puppies with the love, care and skills they need to get ready for the next stage of their training.

Canine Partners trains amazing assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with disabilities, boosting their confidence and independence.

The dogs are taught a range of everyday tasks including picking up and fetching items, opening doors and dressing a person. They can even help to load and unload a washing machine and they can fetch help in an emergency.

Puppies-in-training live in the volunteer’s home from around eight-weeks-old until they are ready to start advanced training when they are between 12 and 14 months, at the Southern Training Centre near Midhurst or the Midlands Training Centre in Leicestershire.

Canine Partners’ expert trainers are on hand to support puppy parents, as training involves home visits, one-toones, town visits and puppy classes in order to socialise the puppy and get them used to all situations they may need to be in as a fully trained canine partner.

To become a puppy parent in one of Canine Partners’ 13 puppy satellites across the country including Luton and Dunstable, you need to be aged 18 or over, work less than full-time and be willing to make a long term commitment of at least 14 months.

To find out more about becoming a puppy parent visit caninepartners.org.uk/puppy-parents/ call 08456 580 480 or email puppyoffice@caninepartners.org.uk

20 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Musical Director Required Luton Male Voice Choir are looking for a new Musical Director , one who will have a high standard of musicianship, leadership and experience . We have been in existence for 27 years and currently have 24members. We rehearse every Wednesday throughout the year 7.30 pm - 9.30pm.We recognise that the fashion with male voice choirs is changing and we must adapt both in style and content. So in addition we are looking for someone to lead us fearlessly into the future .

Duties will include - Managing all choir rehearsals, and concerts - Selecting and/or arranging the music the choir will perform; - Developing and inspiring the choir with a mix of songs from warmups and simple arrangements to more complex pieces.- Teaching new pieces in a supportive way, to both readers and non-readers of music, mentoring choir members through rhythmically challenging parts, so that the choir is performance ready - He must also be able to work confidently and firmly with the choir ensuring that we are musically and verbally competent, bringing us to a pitch that will compete well with the best of choirs and entertain audiences of varied types.

Interested parties should email their CV to Bill Forrester chairman@lutonmvc.com. Applications close end of September.

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An acquired brain injury can happen to anyone at any time. A road traffic accident on the commute to work, a poor rugby tackle, drug and alcohol misuse, a sudden stroke, a tumour, a medical condition - any damage to the brain since birth - can be the cause of an acquired brain injury.

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www.thevinemagazine.co.uk Issue 45 • October / November 2019

39

23

Snippets By Paul Heley

Dunstable’s Disasters, Plague, Pestilence & Famine

1470 Priory (courtesy of Tony Woodhouse)

The popular idea of the Middle Ages being the era of “Merrie England” can be far from the truth in actual fact; there were many times and periods when life was extremely brutal, and/or when fate played a very nasty tick indeed.

When the town (as we know it) had been in existence for little more than a century - 1222 in fact - the newly built Augustinian Priory was in the direct path of a freak tornado such that great damage was done to the west front. The two original large towers were brought down and these smashed into the roof and ruined the Prior’s house and much of the west front. Clearly a great amount of rebuilding was required and in 1240 there was a new church. There have been many other rebuilds and alterations over the centuries but perhaps it was at its most splendid by 1470 and before its large scale destruction during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry 8th.

Later in the 13th century, and during the reign of “bad” King John, the country was in a state of civil war against him. As leader of his army, he had a mercenary thug called Faulkes de Breaute whom John richly rewarded for services (and atrocities) committed. In particular, Faulkes held a great deal of property and possessions 24 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

in Bedfordshire and, after John died in 1216 and the country returned to near normality, he was Lord of the Manor of Luton, Keeper of Bedford castle and Sheriff of Bedfordshire. From these powerful positions, he acted as an out-of-control war lord and terrorised the whole of south Bedfordshire from his other castle at Luton. Dunstable was especially selected and here he demanded food and provisions at the point of a sword.

His “reign of terror” finally ended after the young King Henry 3rd sieged Bedford castle and forced Faulkes into exile where, deservedly, he died of food poisoning in the south of France in 1226.

The opening of the 14th century saw a series of rainy summers and cold winters resulting in many years of crop failure, murrain disease in cattle, famine, starvation, and death. Those who survived were in poor physical condition so when, in 1349, the terrible plague known as the Black Death hit England, people were in no fit state to resist. It is thought that upwards of a third of the population died - in some places considerably more. Dunstable on its crossroads and therefore with a

constant stream of visitors, travellers, businessmen and pilgrims bringing the disease with them, was badly hit.

Grave diggers and coffin makers were unable to keep up with the demand. But such was the insistence that cadavers should be buried as quickly as possible so that the Devil could not get at their soul, old coffins were dug up and recycled. In later years, when further outbreaks of plague caused a similar demand, it was found that roughly 1 in 20 of the Black Death coffins had scratch marks on the inside indicating that some victims had been buried whilst still alive. What a horrible thought!

But the Black Death had an unexpected and beneficial outcome. Due to the shortage of workers on the land, peasants could now demand better wages and conditions.

The nobility and great landowners (such as the Church) did not welcome these changes and heavy penalties were imposed on anyone, peasant or small landowner, who flouted them. The unrest which followed was the start of the so called “Peasants’ Revolt” of 1381 led by Wat Tyler and with strong following in Kent and East Anglia.

At the time, the “boy-king” Richard 2nd was on the throne but was under the control of a guiding Council.

However, Richard met Wat Tyler and a group of supporters, listened to their grievances, and promised to consider their demands. But the Council had no such intentions of compromise and Wat Tyler was killed and many of the ring leaders hanged, drawn and quatered. A contingent from Dunstable had gone to a similar meeting in St Albans with the result that the Abbot of St Albans had the local ringleaders hanged. Mercifully, the Prior of Dunstable was not so brutal so the Dunstable contingent received a much lesser punishment.

However, there were further outbreaks of plague in 1361 and 1369 so the labour shortage continued such that, although feudalism was not completely dead after this time, it had been severely wounded.

The 15th century brought the unpleasant effects of the Wars of the Roses to Dunstable. Due to its important position on a major crossroads, armies of both York and Lancaster passed through the town demanding food and provisions and did not take NO for an answer. In particular, the Lancastrian army camped at Dunstable

before the first Battle of St Albans in 1455 and before the second Battle of St Albans in 1461. On both occasions, the town suffered greatly at the hands of these troops and its provisions were sorely depleted leading to considerable hardship. But perhaps, just perhaps, one of these encampments might be where the Dunstable Swan Jewel originated having been lost in the mud by a high ranking officer.

In the 16th century, the annulment of the marriage between Henry 8th and Catherine of Aragon took place in the Lady Chapel at Dunstable Priory on May 23rd, 1533. This was a tumultuous moment in the history of both England and continental Europe. Dependent upon your religious point of view, this was either a wonderful opening for the Protestant Reformation to come, or a disastrous loss of Roman Catholicism and the break with Rome. But it was undoubtedly an earth shattering event (with a similar event looming today!)

Then in the 17th century there was the English Civil War with the Royalist forces (under Charles 1st) against the Parliamentary forces (under Oliver Cromwell). Unfortunately for Dunstable it was situated between the Royalist headquarters at Oxford and the Parliamentary headquarters at Newport Pagnell. As a consequence, there were frequent “visits” by either side who, as per usual, demanded food and provisions, trampled over fields with their heavy horses thereby ruining future crops, and were also adept at pressganging any young man into service. People were in fear of these marauding troops and, although Dunstable supported the Parliamentary side, each was as bad as the other. For example, the Eleanor Cross which had stood on Dunstable’s crossroads for something like 350 years was destroyed by Parliamentary troops in 1643. And on Sunday, June 23rd, 1644, a Royalist contingent shot up the minister and his congregation whilst in church (witness the bullet holes in the old door of the church) and in the following August, another Royalist contingent demanded horses from the owner of the “Red Lion” and, upon refusal, shot him dead.

These brief notes illustrate that, on many occasions, “Merrie England” in Dunstable wasn’t very merry at all when looked at rather more closely.

Issue 45 • October / November 2019

25

Puzzles

An Answers swers on on pa page ge 62 30

Across 6. Copse (7) 7. Faithful (5) 9. Sick (3) 10. Teeming (9) 12. Of inferior quality (6-5) 15. Foot-soldiers (11) 17. Happy (9) 19. Charge (3) 21. Laziness (5) 22. Perceive (7)

9

7 JOKES

5

Down 1. Charm (5) 2. Finish (3) 3. Pavement edge (4) 4. Venetian boatman (9) 5. Embellish (7) 8. Several (6) 11. Lay waste (9) 13. Trip (6) 14. Exalt (7) 16. Gay (5) 18. Revise (4) 20. Frigid (3)

2

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COWED

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

27

Printing Silver Birch Trees In 5 Minutes

By Dr Lorna Moore

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I used a wooden lolly stick and black poster paint on white paper. Mix your black poster paint (kids paint) into a plastic tub and add some water until it’s a good consistency (not too thin). I dipped the edge of my lolly stick (a ruler would do, or anything with a hard straight edge) into the paint to create lines and texture. Just make sure your stick fits in the tub.

The print

Dip the side of your stick into your paint so the edge is covered in paint and press onto your paper. At the same time scrape the stick across the page from left to right to the desired tree trunk width. You should end up with something that represents a tree trunk. If you want a longer tree just print another line until it’s the right length. You may want to leave the right side of your tree trunk lighter or you may want to print a line down it if you like. The closer the trees are to you the darker the lines and the further away the trees they should be lighter. I also broke my stick in half to create some smaller branches coming off my trees. I used dried flowers dipped in paint to create ground textures. #TheVineMagArtCourse

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

29

Looking Up!

Steve Harris

Property Maintenance Bedfordshire’s Night Sky October & November 2019 Test your Eyesight like the Romans: Step outside on any clear evening this autumn and look north. Slung low across the horizon are the seven bright stars that make up the distinctive constellation commonly known as the Plough. But can you see an eighth star in the pattern? Concentrate your gaze on the middle star (a star called Mizar) of the three that form the handle of what might look like a giant saucepan. Very close in and just to the upper left of Mizar you might catch a fainter star called Alcor. It can be tricky to see with the naked eye, and for that reason was used as an eyesight test in Roman times!

See a Red Supergiant Star: As the sky darkens after sunset in October you might catch a bright orange-coloured star sparkling away low down to the west. This is Arcturus – a red supergiant that is maybe 30 times the size of our sun. It’s a dying star that one day in the distant future will likely explode as a bright supernova. Until then its sunset hues at dusk this time of year indicate that winter is just around the corner!

Watch the Transit of Mercury across the Sun: Throughout the afternoon of Monday 11 November the tiny planet Mercury will move across the disc of our Sun. To see this rare event you’ll need specialist equipment. Fortunately some of Bedfordshire’s astronomical societies are arranging drop-in viewing events. Search online for latest details.

By Seb Jay - Image: Paulius Malinovskis Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk

30 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

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Pets

Wood reen, Th G

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Char ity

Wood Green’s aim is to help every pet and pet owner that comes to them. With support from the public, the charity helped almost 8,000 pets in a single year!

Wood Green, The Animal Charity’s aim is to bring pets and people closer together, providing pets with loving homes that they deserve whilst empowering owners with the knowledge to take the very best care of their beloved pets. Wood Green offers free pet advice to anyone who needs it, whether you are considering having a pet in the future and need guidance on pet choice, or you already have a pet and need some general advice or intensive support. In a year, Wood Green found loving homes for more than 4,000 pets and reunited 164 pets with their owners.

Their dedicated team gave one-to-one care and support to 2,343 pets and their owners, with more than 10,000 veterinary consultations and around 3,200 operations carried out.

Sponsoring a pet pen is a meaningful way to be part of rescue pets’ journeys at Wood Green and help the financial effort in providing the best quality treatment and care possible – from shelter, regular nutritious meals and veterinary care to training, love and affection. Pets at Wood Green stay for an average of 30-35 days, meaning you will play a vital role in giving a number of adorable pets the happy ending they deserve. You will receive regular updates from your dog, cat or small animal pen and follow pets’ amazing journeys, seeing first-hand how your support is making a difference.

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Fax: 01525 850281 Email: Enquiries@gca-law.com Bridge House, Bridge Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. LU7 1EB Issue 45 • October / November 2019

33

What makes gin, gin?

Gin and the humble juniper berry

by Kate Marston, co-founder Puddingstone Distillery

I

t’s not been difficult to notice the huge rise in the popularity of gin over the last five to eight years. For decades it was seen, or so people keep telling me, as a very old fashioned drink, something only Grandma’s drank, but I’ve always been a fan. The fresh piney juniper scent combined with little quinine filled bubbles of tonic water make for a drink to be savoured and enjoyed with just a few cubes of ice.

One of the reasons for the recent gin boom is London’s Sipsmith Distillery gaining a distillery licence from HMRC, something that hadn’t been issued since 1820. Previously, gin still volumes were quite prohibitive to the small scale distiller but rule changes mean smaller equipment can now be used.

GIN FACTS Gin is a juniper spirit drink which must be over 37.5%ABV Gin is made from neutral spirit, botanicals and water London Dry is a process of making gin, all London Dry gins will taste different Other heritage gin styles include Navy Strength, Cask Aged and Old Tom

34 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Food and drink fashion trends will come and go and gin is just about reaching it’s peak. It’s a spirit category that is diversifying quickly into gin liqueurs which are lower in alcohol and have added sugar but at Puddingstone Distillery our focus is very much on juniper forward heritage gin styles.

Gin stems from the Dutch spirit genever which is made from a malt wine base and juniper. For me this is very much an acquired taste. The alcohol base from which gin is made can technically be anything of agricultural origin.

Nowadays this is mostly a wheat grain spirit however some gins will be made from potato, whey, grape must or sugar beat.

For our gins we want the alcohol base to impart no flavour, it is there as a carrier for our botanicals (the ingredients), that together create flavour, aroma and mouth feel. For instance, it comes as a surprise to many when they learn that distilling nuts as one of the botanicals adds not just flavour but oils that coat the palate and smooth off the alcohol.

An interesting point to note is that the allergens present in nuts do not carry over during the distillation process. They are heavier weight proteins that remain in the still once the distillation is over.

Traditional gin botanicals are juniper (no juniper, then it’s not gin!), coriander seed, orris root (it binds the flavour compounds to the alcohol base), angelica and possibly a citrus such as lime or lemon.

Today, gin distillers are using not just those botanicals but hundreds of others to help define and add character to their gins. Juniper does grow in Britain but recently many bushes were wiped out by disease. The majority of juniper comes from eastern Europe – ours is from Macedonia but we have been given access to some Hertfordshire juniper for a special limited edition gin that launches this October. About 2% of oil can be extracted from a good quality juniper berry which is not actually a berry but a cone. You therefore need an awful lot of juniper per distillation.

Creating a gin is like creating a perfume, you need top, middle and base notes for a balanced taste and aroma.

If you fancy learning more about the history of gin, the different styles and the distilling techniques we use then book onto one of our distillery evenings.

Visit puddingstonedistillery.com/ distillery-tours for more information.

Ben Marston, co-founder and head distiller at Puddingstone Distillery pours juniper into the 200 litre still named after Amelia Earhart.

Award winning small batch gins distilled in Tring

Head over to our distillery shop on Friday or Saturday to discover and sample the full Campfire Gin range.

PUDDINGSTONE DISTILLERY

Wilstone, Tring, Herts HP23 4NT puddingstonedistillery.com Issue 45 • October / November 2019

35

AUTUMN CHILL

There’s no getting away from it, Autumn is well and truly here.

Although it’s always a shame to say goodbye to the lovely summer weather, there is something reassuring about pulling out those cosy comfy clothes and preparing for the cooler days ahead...

This Autumn, fashion is on our side, with the cosy, snuggly sweater emerging as a key trend. Plus, you can wear the look in many ways. Although the skinny jean remains a consumer favourite, perhaps consider teaming your sweater with a feminine midi skirt or play around with the contemporary culotte for an up to date look..

Following the success of the blouse during the summer, there are plenty of new takes on the trend for Autumn. Choose plain or printed blouses in pretty fabrics or go for the new style belted shirt dress. I love this one with the polka dot and crane design by YaYa. Don’t forget to get your new Winter coat early. There are some fabulous styles to choose from this year.. Take your pick from classical checks, wool shearling, teddy fur and lightweight puffas..

Remember that people see you in your coat more than anything during the winter months, so wear yours with pride.

When it comes to footwear, we love an ankle boot or flat loafer style with this seasons key looks.

Experiment with something a little different and try something embellished or one of the textured leathers.. we love unusual footwear at KINGS ROAD and always find something different that you don’t see anywhere else… (but we never compromise on comfort, you have to try them to see for yourself!)

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GreenThumb – pioneers in British lawn care – have been treating the nation’s lawns for over 30 years. We have grown from humble beginnings in North Wales to become the UK’s largest and most recommended provider, with over 220 branches across the UK. Over the last three years, we have developed a unique Lawn Makeover – specifically designed to create a new and beautiful lawn.

We use the best materials, including our bespoke ‘Diamond Green’ grass seed, our premium NutraGreen® feed, and a 100% organic topdressing.

Best of all, as well as creating a luxurious new lawn, GreenThumb’s Lawn Makeover is a fraction of the cost compared to re-turfing. The process takes approximately one day to complete and within 6-8 weeks, you’ll have a luxurious new lawn.

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Anyone who wants the best lawn available Lawns full of unsightly weed grasses Lawns with very little grass – almost all moss & weeds Worn-out lawns, maybe many decades old New-build homes or properties with poor quality turf

For your free Lawn Makeover analysis, locate your local branch at www.greenthumb.co.uk/branch

38 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

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Our Enhanced Programme customers have the option of either an Oasis treatment or to have their lawn aerated – a process that creates deep channels into

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www.greenthumb.co.uk Issue 45 • October / November 2019

39

‘Stir-up Sunday'

Sunday 24th November is so gather the family and put on your apron, it’s time to make a Christmas pudding...

It's also the day when wishes are said to come true, so get stirring!

The last Sunday of the Christian year is the fifth before Christmas.

It is known as 'Stir-up Sunday’ and is the day traditionally when the Christmas pudding should be made.

These days we mostly buy our Christmas puddings ready-made from the supermarket so the whole story and tradition behind them is at risk of being lost.

But not so long ago every housewife made her own Christmas pudding on Stir-up Sunday which meant that the flavours had plenty of time to develop before Christmas. The pudding was traditionally made with 13 ingredients to

represent Christ and his Disciples.

On Stir-up Sunday families returned from Church to give the pudding its traditional lucky stir. The pudding mixture was always stirred from East to West in honour of the three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus. Whilst stirring the pudding mixture, each family member would make a secret wish.

A coin was traditionally added to the ingredients and cooked in the pudding. It was supposedly to bring wealth to whoever found it on their plate on Christmas Day. The traditional coin was an old

silver sixpence or threepenny bit.

Other traditional additions to the pudding include a ring, to foretell a marriage, and a thimble for a lucky life.

The name 'Stir Up Sunday' comes from the opening words of this prayer: "Stir-up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Ingredients

Stir It Up!

1oz mixed peel 1oz ground almonds 2 medium sized eggs ¼ teaspoon almond essence 2 teaspoons brandy 1 can of stout 2 teaspoons cocoa powder ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon mixed spice 4oz plain flour 4oz breadcrumbs 4oz beef suet 4oz brown sugar 4oz raisins 4oz sultanas 4oz glace cherries 1 grated lemon rind ½ apple grated ½ carrot grated

1 Place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix together

You’ll also need: 2 pint pyrex bowl

2 Add the eggs and the brandy and mix then pour in the stout gradually and keep stirring until your mixture is the consistency of a loose cake mix.

3 Grease you pudding bowl with a little butter and pour in the pudding mix.

4 Cover with foil and then a tea towel or pudding cloth and tie it to the top of the bowl, this is to prevent any water getting in.

5 Place in a large boiling pan and fill with water ¾ of the way up the side of the bowl.

6 Boil on a moderate heat for 6 hours keep topping up the water with boiled kettle water if the level starts to drop.

7 When the pudding is ready turn it out and leave to cool. These puddings can be stored wrapped in foil from now until Christmas, to reheat just place the pudding back in the bowl and boil for an other 2 hours on Christmas day.

Serve with a sprinkling of icing sugar on the top or pour on ¼ brandy and light for a flaming Christmas pudding

40 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

41

DISCOVER Ashridge

Visitors Centre, Moneybury Hill, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire. HP4 1LT

Ashridge In Autumn Walk Sat 12th Oct. 10:00 - 14:00. Adult £8 Child £5

Deer Rut Walks 18th, 19th, 20th & 25th, 26th, 27th Oct. 07:00 - 09:00. Adult £10 Child £8 Join our rangers for an early morning walk to search for fallow deer. They’ll take you to some of the best spots to try and see this seasonal spectacle. Bring you camera and binoculars for our deer rut walks. Our rangers are brimming with knowledge about the fallow deer that thrive here. This walk takes place on unsurfaced footpaths and is unsuitable for wheelchairs. Not suitable for very young children.

Haunted Ashridge Trail And Craft Mon 21st Oct - Fri 1st Nov. 10:00-16:00. £3

A guided walk through Ashridge at one of the most scenic times of year. Enjoy a kaleidoscope of warming autumn colour as the leaves start to fall. Join our volunteers for a walk through the estate to see our best autumn colours.

This walk takes place on unsurfaced paths so is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Autumn Photography Workshops Sat 12th & Fri 18th Oct 10:00 - 16:00. £99 Join local photographer Lyndsey Abercromby to learn how best to capture Ashridge’s autumnal hues with your camera. Bring your camera for a beginner and intermediate level photography workshop at Ashridge. Lyndsey will teach you about composition, exposure and light before taking you out into the woods to put your new skills into practice. Lunch and refreshments are provided.

Gentle Stroll - Deer rut Wed 16th Oct. 10:30 - 12:30. £3 Join our knowledgeable volunteers for a gentle walk to search for fallow deer during the rutting season. Rutting deer are one of nature’s true spectacles. Our volunteers will take you to some of the spots where you’re most likely to see them. Bring your binoculars and your camera. There’s no need to book, just pay on the day.

Cash only please. This walk takes place on flat footpaths but some are unsurfaced and Children welcome with accompanying adults. Dogs on leads are welcome.

42 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Things are getting spooky and there’s a chill in the air this October half term at Ashridge as the ghosts of residents past return to the estate. Come along, if you dare, for our haunted trail and creepy craft and join the dinner party in our spooky cabin in the woods.

Haunted happenings... There’s ghosts from times gone by appearing on our Halloween trail, As you follow the panels through our woods, you’ll be able to meet our former residents ranging from the Bronze age to the Brownlow family. Deep within the woods, you’ll reach our spooky cabin. Will you be brave enough to join the ghosts at their dinner party?

After your trail, come back to the visitor centre to make your own craft to truly get into the Haloween spirit.

Come to the visitor centre reception anytime from 10am-4pm to start the fun.

Watercolour Workshops Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd Nov, 13:00-16:00. £35 Join local artist Liz Rogers to create your own watercolour painting of Ashridge at one of the most beautiful times of year. Liz will help you to capture the essence of autumn in your work, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or seasoned painter. She has years of experience and will help you make your painting a piece to treasured in years to come. Not suitable for children.

Nikki, Phil & The Team Welcome you to...

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"For Food & Gifts we Love!"

From a Meal for 2 or Looking to Celebrate…Let us Help!

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01582 872460 Dunstable Rd, Studham, Beds. LU6 2QG Email: info@thebellinstudham.co.uk 10 % OFF FOOD WITH THIS ADVERT FOOD~DRINK~GIFTS~SWEETS~COFFEES~PRESERVES~VOUCHERS Issue 45 • October / November 2019

43

What’s On

Akeman Street Tring Hertfordshire HP23 6AP

Until 11th October

For Information Tel: 020 7942 6171

Explore exhibitions and events at www.nhm.ac.uk/tring.

Toddler Time at Tring Weekdays until 14th February 2020. 14.30 - 17.00. Free

Museum by Torchlight 1st November, 17.00 - 20.00. Suggested donation £2

Borrow something special and help your toddler explore and play around the Museum. Enjoy five different activities which rotate from day to day: Daring Explorers, Ocean Adventure, Find your Friends, Butterfly Quest and Animal Safari. Pick up your resources at admissions and enjoy them in the galleries.

Every day in term time. Suitable for children aged 3 - 5.

Get ready for a spooky time in the galleries. Join us for this special drop-in event where the Museum will be open out of hours and in the dark. Handle real skeletons, take part in our big draw and have a go at our spooky gallery trail (£1). Dress up in a ghoulish or scary animal costume and bring along a torch!Suitable for ages 5+

The Man and the Museum tour Weekdays until 19th December 14.00 - 16.30. £10, subject to availability

Rudolph Christmas Trail at Tring Daily 5th November - 5th January 2020 10.00 - 17.00 . £1 per trail

Discover the extraordinary history of Walter Rothschild and the stories behind the Museum at Tring, one of the largest private collections of natural history specimens.

The tour of the galleries, which lasts 45 minutes to an hour, is suitable for adult groups of six to 30 people. Tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Hot drink and slice of cake in our Ugly Bug Cafe included. Call 020 7942 6163 for details or to book.

Birds and Beasts: Linoprint for Beginners 17th October, 19.00 - 22.00. £20 Join Alex and Sasa to learn how to lino and nature print. . This lino cutting workshop is a fantastic opportunity to create a series of unique prints using the Museum’s specimens as inspiration. Ideal if you are a beginner or have a bit of experience. Drinks and nibbles welcome. Advance booking required. Call 020 7942 6163 for details or to book.

Delightful or Deadly Tues - Thurs, 22nd - 31st October, £2 per child.

Regular 30 min workshops all the day until 15.05 Uncover the truth about animals and the ones we should fear.

Fascinating facts about animals we think are delightful or deadly and create your own craft spider to take home. Ages 5+.

44 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Follow Rudolph around the world as he delivers gifts and meets new animals. Take a journey around the Museum with Rudolph to explore his new friends. Spot hidden reindeer and have a go at some games. Complete the trail and receive a chocolate treat! Suitable for all ages. No booking required

Christmas Creatures in Colour 28th November, 19.00 - 22.00. £22 Give your Christmas cards a unique touch with your very own lino print. Create beautiful linoprint Christmas cards with artists Alex and Sasa. Learn how to create colourful prints using simple two colour reductions. Ideal if you have some previous experience. Drinks and nibbles welcome.

Advance booking required.

Call 020 7942 6163 for details or to book.

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Wentworth House, 83 High Street North, Dunstable, Beds LU6 1JJ

Issue 45 • October / November 2019

45

Wrest Park

Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4HR

A Taste of History

Saturday 5th & 6th October, 10.00am - 17.00pm Adults £12.70, Children £7.60, Concessions £11.50, £33.00 for a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children).

Entry is free for English Heritage members.

Wander through the beautiful grounds at Wrest Park, Silsoe on a discovery of food through the ages, when expert historians join cooks and chefs to dish up a feast of activities delving into cooking and eating over the past 2000 years.

Foodies can hear expert historians talking about everything from Roman delicacies to discovering how Georgian ice-cream was made. They include food writer Mary-Anne Boermans, runner-up in The Great British Bake Off and historian Dr Annie Gray, regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Kitchen Cabinet,’ who dishes up the dietary titbits of the ‘Greedy Queen.’

Elsewhere, they can listen in on a discussion exploring food and women’s activism in the 20th Century, enjoy a fungus foray with a member of Wrest Park’s gardens team, watch impressive falconry displays and find out how birds of prey were used to help bring food to the table. There are craft activities for youngsters and familyfriendly musical workshops using instruments made out of recycled kitchenware.

Historic traders will give live demonstrations on everything from hot chocolate making and pottery to herbs for medicine and wood carving.

Visitors can browse their products and pick up a Victorian basket, medieval-inspired herbs and honey or Georgian cookware. There will even be a selection of jerk meats such as zebra and kangaroo and delectable delicacies to try out at food stalls - from sweet Dutch pancakes to local beers.

46 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Saturday Archaeology Club Sat 19th October, 10.30 - 12.00 £4 per child.

Open to everyone aged 8–16 years. If your child has an interest in archaeology, history, heritage or all three Wrest Park is an amazing place to learn about them – with over 90 acres of historic grounds and gardens, historic buildings and the Archaeological Collections Store housing over 153,000 historical artefacts. Youngsters can find out about the past and how English Heritage explores and conserves it through hands-on activities. Parents are welcome to explore Wrest Park (charges apply) or enjoy the cafe and visitor centre while they wait.

Call 01525 860000 (option 2) to book onto this or other sessions, held monthly.

Park as gruesome guides take you on a journey into the puzzling past – use all your wits to solve the riddles and claim a terrifying treat. Have a go at carving your very own petrifying pumpkin to take away.

Additional charge of £4 applies for pumpkin carving - sessions at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm on a first come first served basis.

Spooky Woodland Walk

Fri 25th & Sat 26th Oct Tours at 17:30, 18:30 and 19:30 Adults £7, Children (5-17) £6, Discounts for English Heritage members.

Call 0370 333 1183 to book tickets.

Wander through Wrest Park’s woodlands after dark as Obadiah Squires and Mrs Botton, ghost hunters and storytellers extraordinaire, lead you through rarely trodden paths recounting a mixture of spine-tingling and humorous Spooky Wrest Park stories to keep and old enthralled.

Sat 19th Oct & Sun 3rd Nov, 11.00 - 16.00 Tales that will tease and thrill and startle and shock (just a little) are Adults £12.60, Children £7.60, Concessions £11.50, family £33.00. part of this unique event.

English Heritage members free.

Please note that this walk takes Grab your cloaks and steady your places outside so please wear apnerves as your little horrors scare propriate footwear and clothing.

Tour is suitable for 5-12 year olds themselves silly this Halloween and lasts approximately 45 mins. half term. Mysterious goingson await you at petrifying Wrest

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01525 222379 07846 126515 Issue 45 • October / November 2019

47

Park Rd N, Houghton Regis, Dunstable. LU5 5FU

www.houghtonhallpark.org

• PARKLAND • CAFE • VISITORS CENTRE • DOG FRIENDLY TS • WALKS • KIDS ACTIVITIES • ADULT ACTIVITIES • EVEN Day of the Dead Mask Workshop *

Monster Mash Halloween Dance workshop *

22nd Oct, 11:00am - 12:30pm Free

23rd Oct, 10:00am-12:00pm Free!

Bought to you by Houghton Regis Art Town a fun dance workshop for children. Learn a spooky dance routine with professional dance practitioner SJ. For children aged 6 - 12 years.

Book of Life Film Screening * 23rd Oct, 2:00pm - 4:00pm Free!

Look like a character from The Book of Life and create your own Mexican-inspired mask.

For children aged 6 - 12 years.

Explorer Halloween 22nd Oct, 11:00am - 1:00pm Free!

Xplorer is back! Join this free activity from 11am to 1pm (last entry 12.30pm) Collect your maps from the foyer in the Visitor Centre and take on the Xplorer challenge! Explore the park, find the markers, complete the challenge & have fun together! Make sure you visit the Centre after completing to get your answers marked. This is a fun, free activity for all the family to enjoy, even the dog!

Clay Gargoyles workshop * 22nd Oct, 2:00pm - 3:30pm Free

Create your own Clay Gargoyle with artist Anne-Marie Abbate. Create your own fantastical and gruesome gargoyle out of clay. For children aged 6 - 12 years.

48 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Bought to you by Houghton Regis Art Town a Cinema screening of a family favourite.

Watch The Book of Life, an animated comedy telling the story of Manolo, who embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds. You will also have the opportunity to do your own Day of the Dead face-painting after the film. For children aged 6 - 12 years.

* Parents do not need to stay at the screening but must complete all information on the booking form which can be found on the event page on our Facebook page. Please be prompt when collecting your child.

If you book your place and then find out that your child will not be able to attend after all, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your child's place to someone else. Spaces are limited.

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Issue 45 • October / November 2019

49

What’s on Bedfordshire Day Saturday 30th November 2019 Dunstable, D-Day and World War Two Free events at the Priory Church of St Peter

Old Weekend Linslade Rd, and Reach, Easter 14 - Heath 17 April 10am – 3pm LU7 0EB. Tel: 01525 234260

www.greensandtrust.org/rushmere-country-park Although it's free to visit Rushmere Country Park, a £3 parking exit fee applies.

Magical Autumn lantern walk 24th October 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Ticket price £12 (adults and children) includes a personalised lantern and all materials to take home and a hot drink on return. Experience the magic of the autumn Easter woodland and learn about its night time Bunny Hunt creatures through wonderful stories told by Jane Complete the trail and win an egg!

Lambourne, local professional storyteller.

Come and find eight wooden rabbits hidden  Tickets £3.50 per child beautiful (pre-made) toadvance at in Decorate the park, answerathe questions andnatural win an lantern To avoid disappointment book in Easter egg. (search Easter Bunny meander through the woods www.eventbrite.co.uk at dusk and light up a Hunt) Pick up your question sheet from the Herons’  Or you can just turn up on the day of your whole world before toHerons’ TheHatch Working Hatch, return itnew there with your answers to returning choice at the but numbers receive your chocolate egg reward. are limited Woodlands Centre for refreshments.

Halloween Disco 2019 24th October 6.30pm – 9pm

Tickets just £12 per child (accompanying adults do not require a ticket).

Treat the kids to an evening of spooky Halloween fun in the Tree Tops Café. Suitable for ages 5 -12 - come to the park after dark! Make sure you come in your Halloween costume! Ticket includes hot dog, juice, fancy dress competition, games and dancing.

Bar open and food available for adults.

Feed the Birds 2019 27th October 11am – 3pm

A whole day of family-friendly fun at the end of the Half Term holidays. Come and learn more about our feathered friends and how we can help them thrive.

Aimed at the whole family - all children must be accompanied by an adult. Free to take part though there may be a small charge for some activities - £3 exit fee applies. Don’t forget your binoculars! · Get messy making a bird feeder · Fun crafts including badge making · Guided bird walk · Make a bird box · Bird ringing demonstration · Birds of prey display

50 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

The Met Office at Dunstable—where D-Day was forecast 10.30am – 12.00noon - a talk by Jean Yates

Wartime Dunstable 12.30pm – 13.00pm - a walk by Dunstable Town Guides

D-Day—the logistics of getting an army to Berlin and the battle for Tilley-sur-Seulles 2.00pm – 3.00pm - a talk by Stephen Williams 10.00am—4.00pm: Exhibitions Dunstable’s war – The Home Front, POWs, The Secret War and Defending Our Town Died in the line of duty — the town’s war dead and the refurbishment of the war memorial Hear an evacuee’s story There will be a Coffee morning and light lunches at the church. Lunches available at Priory House Tea Rooms with Bedfordshire Clangers, please book with Priory House to reserve your lunch table on 01582 891420.

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What’s on CHILTERN GATEWAY Dunstable Road, LU6 2GY Tel: 01582 500 920

50 Things Club

6th Oct & 3rd Nov. 2pm - 3.30pm Free There is a new list of 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4 out this month so come along to find out more. There will be a variety of activiities from the new '50 Things' handbook, depending on the weather. Come along and join in to add another sticker to your record.

Pumpkin Trail

19th - 31st Oct. £3 10.30am - 3.30pm Come and help Jack O'Lantern find his friends. Jack is throwing a big Halloween party for his friends but they have all got lost in the woods around his house. Follow the trail to help him find them and guide them back to the visitor centre in time for afternoon tea!

Apple Day

20th Oct. 10am - 3pm Free Come along to our Jubilee Orchard to enjoy all things 'apple'. Have a go at pressing some apples, or get some inspiration for apple based desserts. To celebrate National Apple Day we are having lots of apple based fun. We have our own apple press so bring along a bottle and take some freshly pressed juice home with you. Find out how to maintain your own orchard (or maybe a single apple tree) and learn how to prune fruit trees properly . There is something for everyone!

Pixie and Goblin Afternoon Tea

21st - 31st Oct. 1pm - 2.30pm/3pm - 4.30pm Adult £13 Child £8 Enjoy a Halloween themed afternoon tea this October HalfTerm. Have a spooky scone, a chilling cup cake and a scary sandwich, along with a terrifyingly terrific tea or creepy coffee. Enjoy an afternoon tea with the kids this Half Term and see the Gateway Centre all dressed up ready for Halloween.

Storytelling Evening for Adults

1st & 2nd Nov. 6.30pm - 9pm Adult £20 The Chiltern Gateway Centre is hosting its first ever Adult Storytelling Evening. Join us up on the Downs and enjoy tales of demons and other folklore creatures. An evening of stories for adults told by The Travelling Talesman including a two-course sit down meal. Tales from yesteryear brought to life with good food and good company. (Drinks not included in ticket price).

52 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

TEA TIME TALES AT PRIORY HOUSE

Talks of local and national interest Join us on alternate Thursday afternoons between 2.30 pm and 4.00 pm for talks of local and national interest with a cup of tea or coffee and a homemade cake. Tickets are £6 each and we strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance as they often sell out before the day.

3rd October A Mish-Mash of Dunstable’s History Tony Woodhouse 17th October Mary Fielding Smith - Bedfordshire Pioneer Woman - Alan Campbell 31st October James Tissot - Romantic Artist Pat Sutcliffe 14th November The 1905/05 Albert Brown Runsmotorcycles thundering through Dunstable - Bryan Marsh 28th November Queensway Hall - Punks, wrestling & Tatoos - Penny Silford For more information contact Priory House on 01582 891420

Events At Whipsnade Village Hall Bingo Friday 11th October 7.00 - 900pm Psychic, Holistic & Well-Being Fair Saturday 19th October, 10 30 -3.30pm Bingo Friday 15th November 7.00 - 9.00pm Christmas Fair Sunday 1st December 10.30 - 3.30pm Any enquiries please contact Carole on 01582 873717 or carole.chant@sky.com

Issue 45 • October / November 2019

53

What’s on Houghton Regis Town Council Fireworks Display Sunday 3rd November 7pm.

Tithe Farm Recreation Ground Once again, Houghton Regis Town Council will be holding its annual Fireworks Display! The free family event is shaping up to be an exciting evening and the gates at Hillborough Crescent will be open from 4pm for the Fairground rides. The event will be hosted by DJ Big Man Craig and there will also be food, hot drinks and some essential glowing items for sale (also open from 4pm).

To enhance the safety of the event, there will be road closures in place from 6pm until 9pm from Tithe Farm Road (with the junction of Recreation Road) to Hillborough Crescent, and from Hillborough Crescent shops to Grove Road, although the roads may re-open earlier than 9pm if it is deemed safe.

Remembrance Sunday Service 10th November 9.45am

An Evening At The Circus 15th October from 6pm - 8.30pm

A spectacular show performed by the award winning John Lawson Circus, in aid of the Mayor’s nominated charities. Special VIP tickets to include popcorn & a performance programme.

For more details, please contact 01582 708540 or sarah.gelsthorp@houghtonregis.org.uk

The Service of Remembrance will be held at All Saints’ Parish Church, Houghton Regis commencing at 9.45am on Sunday 10th November and an Act of Remembrance will follow immediately at the Memorial Stone on the Village Green at 10.55am. The Service and Act of Remembrance will be officiated by the Parish Priest, Father Diego Galanzino and light refreshments will be served afterwards at the Memorial Hall.

Armistice Day Service 11th November 10.40 am

On Monday 11th November (Armistice Day), Members will gather at 10.40am at the Memorial Stone for the service to commence at 10.55am with light refreshments served afterwards at the Council Offices.

The Act Of Remembrance will be officiated by Father Diego Galantine.

Halloween Pantomime Monday 21st October Start off half term with the Halloween Pantomime coming to Houghton Hall Park.

This production is also SEND friendly! Tickets are now on sale and are only available in the Visitors Centre, £4 each, cash only.

54 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Houghton Hall Park Sunday 1st December 10:30-15:00 A perfect opportunity to buy some local unique gifts just in time for Christmas!

Spaces are limited, stalls cost £12, if you are interested please contact: hhp@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Dunstable Fireworks Display Dunstable Annual Fireworks Display is back at Creasey Tuesday 5th November Creasey Park Community Football Centre

Gates open at 5.00 pm.

Display starts at 7.00 pm

Pre-Christmas

Park Community Football Centre and it’s FREE!

This year, you and your whole family can enjoy the funfair rides, food stalls and the fantastic fireworks display all choreographed to music. Not to be missed will also be the special flames extravaganza that will set the night sky alight. Creasey Park Community Football Centre will be open for you to sit down to enjoy food and drinks served from the bar, so come along down to celebrate Guy Fawkes night and do not miss this fantastic FREE event.

For more information visit: www.dunstable.gov.uk (Photo by Anthony McGill)

N

R P i M i

Dunstable Torchlight Procession Friday 29th November Ashton Square – FREE From 7pm onwards

EATON BRAY

NEXT DATE:

NOVEMBER 24th Bigger and better Community enterprise sponsored by Eaton Bray Parish Council.

More info, and stallholders, contact mjhawkes@hotmail.co.uk

DON'T MISS IT!

DUNSTABLE LADIES CHOIR FESTIVE AFTERNOON CONCERT Saturday 7th December, 2:30pm

Come and join us for a wonderful afternoon of Christmas music and carols - festive fun for everyone!

St Augustine's Church, Mayfield Road, Dunstable Tickets: Adults £8, Under-12s £4, including delicious homemade refreshments

Middle Row Themed Markets

Christmas Tree Festival Priory Church, Dunstable Saturday/Sunday 7/8 December Open 11am to 4pm

On the second Saturday of each month from 9.30am 3.30pm, head to Middle Row for the Themed markets.

12th October - Street Food 9th November - Mystic Treats 14th December - Christmas Magic

Issue 45 • October / November 2019

55

TRAIN TO TEACH?

Wednesday 16 October | 7.30pm-9pm Join Jon Powell, Countryside Manager, to find out| ab Wednesday 26 February 7 local News Join Jon Powell, Countryside Manager, to find out expert Johnthese Curdwonderful brings us the about work that goesLocal into conserving What’s on The Shire Foundation, based in Luton, is a leading primary teacher training provider. We

the work that goes into conserving these wonderful to the intricate and colourfuland worp estates for the benefit of wildlife, archaeology offer personalised learning opportunities and unique facilities. estates for the benefit of wildlife, archaeology and people. damselflies Our tutors are leading practitioners in a variety of Growing Sticks a Living curriculum and professional subjectfor areas and are themselves outstanding teachers, many teaching in “Birds of Paradise and th Growing Sticks for a Living our local schools. Shire is part of Luton First TeachWednesday November | 7.30pm-9pm ing School Alliance and is13 situated on the site ofan adventure in Papua Here is what some of our traine HIillborough Junior School, rated as 'outstanding' Wednesday 13 November | 7.30pm-9pm Guy Lambourne of Wasseldine,about manages a small wo us......'the support I have had

by OFSTED. This gives our trainees access to opWednesday 18 March 7.30 mentors has beenfor truly fantastic'........'m portunities to observe high quality teaching and also Guy Lambourne of Wasseldine, manages a small woodland and willow plantation to produce sticks all| sorts Wildlife Talk Programme work with receptive and highly DETECTIVES: motivated children as was very attentive and gave very good PEGSDON NATURE and willow plantation to produce sticks for all sorts of which helped me grow as in a teacher'...... purposes.

Find out Join about thewildlife work involved copp part of training sessions. local enthusiast Dr. W heldinat Dunstable Community Fire Station, science sessions are brilliant, science w Established 1994, we have a superb employment purposes. coppicing hazel, growing willow andThursday how thisshares can benefit w 1st all Autumn Open Day Find out about the work involved inTalks of colour assubject he images and I thought IAugust would enjoy teaching after training record, with many of our trainees goBrewers Hill Road, Dunstable LU6If1AA hazel,30th growing willow and how this can all benefit wildlife. youGuinea want to train teach, train w ing on to either lead subjects or higher school 10.30am man- New to Papua toto experien Wednesday October 12.30pm agement. Last year, 2016-17, 100% of our trainees Tel: 01582 522121 Livestock Grazing Conservation £5/£3.50 members (onlinefor bookings only) obtained a teaching post after training.

10:30-13:00 £3Wildlife per child www.theshirefoundation.org Spring Has Sprung Livestock Grazing for Wildlife Conservation Our Autumn Open Day will include children's activities and (accompanying adults free) All talks will be held at:– Dunst At Luton Hoo Wednesday 22 January | 7.30pm 9pm there will be produce to buy.

Come and enjoy the Luton Pegsdon Hills Fire Station, Brewers Hill The season starts at the Luton Hoo Estate Walled Wednesday 22 January | 7.30pm – 9pm Come along and learn more about this historicRoad yet v Garden with a SpringGarden Open Day onin Wednesday Hoo Walled its autumn Pegsdon nr Hitchin, SG5 3JU Come along and splendour. learn more about this historiceffective yet very form of conservation April 4th from 10.30-13.00 with free children's management with M

Autumn/Winter Programme

North Chilterns Cha

Events

Bookings & Trust further infor £5pp/ members (onli effective form of conservation management with Matt Livestock officer Johnson, for£3.50 Wildlife BCN. Open Wednesdays on May 2nd and continue Talks Onbegin Fridays T: 01525 874317 until September 26th open from 10.30-16.00 and Johnson, Livestock for Wildlife Trust BCN. The Estate,officer which is a separate entity to the hotel, Although ourare Open has finished for this historic garden tours included inWednesday the £5 entry fee isseason hosting our second Open Farm Sunday event on E: Toddington@wildlifeb which goes towards the revival fund. In addition a June 10th after an extremely successful one last year. year, activities do not stop during winter our volunteer tour of the Victorian farm buildings may be availEntry is free and will be open from 1100-1500 with able. The garden is open from 10.30-16.00 Produce tractor trailer rides,conservation children's activities andteam farm and gardeners still come every as do the from the garden will be on sale including Lutonweek historic BLOW’S DOWNS NATURE DETECTIVES garden tours.

Hoo honey as well as plants. Refreshments will be Talksinvestigations and tours for groups areand also available and our researchers continue have available including light lunches from the cafe in thetheir please see our website www.lutonhooestate.co.uk which is accessed via the picturThursday 22nd August email office@lutonhooestate.co.uk or telephone aShooting part Lodge to play too in "Talks on Fridays".

The last Friday of esque woodland walk. Spring is a great time to visit 01582 721443 for more information and further Registered Office: The Manor House, Broad- Street, Great Camb when month the rhododendrons in full bloom.

10.30am 12.30pm details on all our activities andin events. can also the untilareApril hosts a varied programme theYouEstate follow us on FacebookHouse, to keep upBroad to date. Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6DH One of our greatest assets is ourRegistered 135-strong volunOffice: The Manor Registered inper England 2534145. R Price £3 child Office Upstairs Lecture Room 1030 £5 donation inteer force which includes conservationists, research- from We look forward to seeing you and don't forget, acers, children's activity leaders as well as gardeners cess isand via thegoes A1081 between Luton and Harpenden cludes tea or coffee before the talk towards the cost The Hay Field, Blow’s Do and Open Wednesdays are an opportunity to show West Hyde Rd/Newmill End turning LU1 4LE our progress to visitors when our volunteers are at there is no entrance to or from the hotel.

Jeans Way, LU5 4PW of the revival of the garden.

Managing Bedfordshire’s National Trust work. activities and historic garden tours.

25th October The Walled Garden in the 21st Century by our head gardener Mary Hamer

Bookings & further infor Wednesday 16th OctoberT: 01525 874317 E: Toddington@wildlifeb 7.30pm-9pm

Estates

Spring Has Sprung Join Jon Powell, Countryside Manager, to find 29 November TRESSES RAMBLE My Bute family - the people, the places, their creatures, pets AUTUMN out aboutLADY’S the work that goes into conservWildlife Talk Wildlife Talk Progra At Luton Hoo and pests

by Marietta Crichton Stuart WildlifeWildlife Talk Programme Programme ing these wonderful estates for the benefit of Sunday 25th August Talk Programme 2019-20wildlife, archaeology and people.

2019-20

2019-202019-20 31st January 2020 10.30am - 12.30pm The season starts atBedfordshire’s the Luton National Hoo Estate Walled Managing Trust Estates Managing Bedfordshire’s Trust Estates introduction to Dragonflies &National Damselflies An introdu Formation and organisation of the Women's LandEstates Army in An £5, £3.50 for members Managing Bedfordshire’s National Trust An introduction to Dragonflies & Damselflies Garden with a Spring16 Open Day on Wednesday Managing National Trust Estates An to Dragonflies & Damselflies Wednesday OctoberBedfordshire’s | 7.30pm-9pm Wednesday 16 October |a7.30pm-9pm Wednesday 26 introduction February | for 7.30pm-9pm Wednesda Growing Sticks Living WW1 Alex Amos Knocking Hoe Nature Re Wednesday October Manager, | 7.30pm-9pm Wednesday 26 Curd February | 7.30pm-9pm Join Jon Powell,16 Countryside to find out about Local expert brings us anManager, exciting introduction Join JonJohn Powell, Countryside to find out about Local expert April 4th from 10.30-13.00 with free children's Wednesday 16 October | 7.30pm-9pm Wednesday February | 7.30pm-9pm Joinwork Jon Powell, Countryside Manager, to wonderful find out about Local expert John Curd brings us November an of exciting introduction 13th the that goes into conserving these to theWednesday intricate and colourful world dragonflies and the work that goes into 26 conserving these wonderful to theHitch intric Pegsdon, Shillington Nr 28th Feb estates Join Jon Powell, Countryside Manager, to find out about Local expert John Curd brings us an exciting introduction work intoofconserving these wonderful to theestates intricate of dragonflies and forthat thegoes benefit wildlife, archaeology and people. damselflies forand thecolourful benefit ofworld wildlife, archaeology and people. damselflies activities andthe historic garden tours.

7.30pm-9pm the work goes into conserving wonderful of dragonflies and estates for the benefit ofthat wildlife, archaeology andthese people. damselflies to the intricate and colourful world Bookings & further info Luton Hoo Memorial Park Howard Chandler estates for the benefit of wildlife, archaeology and people. damselflies “Birds of Paradise and the big Sing-Sing – Growing Sticks for a Living Growing Sticks for a Living

T: 01525 874317 Guy Lambourne of Wasseldine, of Paradise theNew big Sing-Sing Growing Sticks foron a Living an adventure in and Papua Guinea” –manages a an a Open Wednesdays begin May 2nd and continue “Birds 27 March “Birds of Paradise and the big Sing-Sing – Wednesday 13 November | 7.30pm-9pm Wednesday 13 in November | 7.30pm-9pm Growing Sticks for a Living an adventure Papua New Guinea” E:plantation Toddington@wildlifeb small woodland and willow to pro-Wednesda Wednesday |manages 7.30pm-9pm 18 March | 7.30pm-9pm A Country House Opens13 toNovember thefrom Public - Luton Hoo 1950 - Wednesday an adventure in Papua New woodland Guinea” Guy Lambourne of Wasseldine, a small woodland Guy Lambourne of Wasseldine, manages a small until September 26th open 10.30-16.00 and Wednesday 13manages November | 7.30pm-9pm Wednesday 18 March | which 7.30pm-9pm The Estate, issticks separate toJointhe ho Guy willow Lambourne of Wasseldine, a small woodland and plantation to produce sticks for all sorts of and willow plantation to produce foranallevening sorts ofentity duce sticks for all sorts of|a7.30pm-9pm purposes.

Find out Join local wildlife enthusiast Dr. Wilf Powell for local wi Pat Livesey Wednesday 18 March Guy Lambourne of Wasseldine, manages a small woodland and willow plantation to produce of historic garden tours are included in for theallinsorts £5 entry fee Join local wildlife enthusiast Dr. Wilf Powell for anrecent evening purposes.

Find out about the worksticks involved coppicing purposes.

Find out about the work involved in coppicing of colour as he shares images and tales from his trip of colour as isNew hosting our second Open Farm even plantation to produce sticks for all sortsofofcolour about the work involved inDr. coppicing Join local wildlife enthusiast Powell forhazel, anSunday evening purposes.

Findand out willow about in coppicing as growing heRANGERS shares images and tales from his recent trip hazel, growing willow andthe howwork this involved can all benefit wildlife. hazel, willow and how thiswildlife can allWilf benefit wildlife. toYOUTH Papua Guinea to experience its and culture. to Papua Ne 24 April which goes towards revival fund.

In addition purposes. about the work involved of colour as he shares its images andand tales from his recent trip hazel, growingthe willow andFind howout this can all benefit wildlife. inacoppicing to Papua New Guinea to experience wildlife culture. growing willow and this can all benefit one las June to10th after anhow extremely successful hazel, growing willow and how this can all benefit wildlife.

Papua Newfor Guinea to experience its wildlife and culture.

Gertrude Jekyll in Bedfordshire Felicity Livestock Grazing Wildlife Brimblecombe Conservation Livestock Grazing Wildlife Conservation will be held at: Dunstable Community Thursday 1st August tour of the Victorian farmforbuildings may be avail- All talks All talks wil wildlife.

Livestock Grazing for Wildlife Conservation Entry is free and will be open from 1100-1500 All talks will be held at: Dunstable Community Fire Station, Brewers Road, Dunstable LU6 1AA Fire Station Wednesday 22 January | 7.30pm – 9pmConservation Wednesday 22Hill January | 7.30pm – 9pm Livestock Grazing for Wildlife All talks will be held at: Dunstable Community Pegsdon Hills Nature Re able.

The garden is open from 10.30-16.00 Produce Fire Station, Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable LU6 1AA Wednesday 22 January | 7.30pm – 9pm alongthe andtalks learn more this historic yet very Come along and learn Brewers more about this historic yet activities very LU6 1AA and far tractor trailer rides, children's Further detailsCome about can about be found on www.lutonFire Station, Hill Road, Dunstable Wednesday 22 January |yet 7.30pm – 9pm £5pp/ Come along and learn more about this historic very £3.50 members (online bookings only) £5pp/ £3 Pegsdon nr Hitchin, SG5 3JU effective form of conservation management with Matt effective form of conservation management with Matt For more information or to book a place from the garden will on sale learn including Luton Spring Summer 2018 Come along andmanagement moreall about this historic yet very £5pp/ £3.50 members (online bookings hooestate.co.uk as well asbe information about our activities. historic garden tours. effective form of conservation with Matt Johnson, Livestock officer for Wildlife Trust BCN. Johnson, Livestock officer for Wildlife Trustonly) BCN. £5pp/ £3.50 members (online bookings only) effective form of conservation management with Matt contact: Sarah Cowling on: 01525 874317 or Thursday 22nd August Johnson, officer forRefreshments Wildlife Trust BCN. Hoo as wellLivestock as plants. will be Or byhoney 'phoning 01582 721443.

Talks and tours for groups are also available Johnson, Livestock officer for Wildlife Trust BCN. Blow’s Downs Nature Re available including light lunches from the cafe in the emailToddington@wildlifebcn.org please see our website www.lutonhooestate.co.

Entry is via the A1081, between Luton and Harpenden. Take West details tbc on booking Shooting Lodge which is accessed picturHyde Road/Newmill End turning and turn left via into the entrance gate, email office@lutonhooestate.co.uk or telepho Bookings & further info follow the signs to thewalk.

Walled Garden.

Postcode LU1 4LF. There is 6DH no esque woodland Spring isBroad a great time to CB23 visit Registered Office: The Manor House, Street, Great Cambourne, Registered England 2534145.

Registered charity No. 1000412 RegisteredinOffice: The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6DH Registe 01582 721443 for more information and furth Registered Office: The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6DH Registered in England 2534145. Registered charity No.01525 1000412 T: 874317 entry to the walled garden from the Luton Hoo Hotel. when the rhododendrons are inThefull Registered Office: Manor bloom.

House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6DH Registered in England 2534145. Registered charity No. 1000412 details on all our activities and events. You can E: Toddington@wildlifeb follow us on Facebook to keep up to date.

One of our greatest assets is our 135-strong volun56 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk teer force which includes conservationists, research“Birds

Diwali Themed Charity Garden Opening Harlington Society of Art & Crafts Like us on

Saturday 26th October, 6 - 8.30 pm Adm £5, children free

Child ren u Acco nder mpan 12 ied b y FREE an adult

Adults £1

!

Annual Exhibition & Sale FREE to enter Competition. Open to All.

Title ‘100 years, Making a Difference’ to commemorate 100 years of the WI. For details on how to enter call Meryl 01525 873875

Saturday 12th October 2019 10.30am—5pm Harlington Village Hall LU5 6SL Homemade cakes, Tea & Coffee, Christmas Present Ideas!

Guest Artist Roz Down from ‘Roz’s Art house’ rozdown.wixsite.com

Totternhoe Players

Townsend Farmhouse, Steppingley, MK45 5AT Join us for an enchanting evening of garden, lights and rangoli patterns. Nearly 1000 lanterns, candles, tealights and diya lamps transform a country garden into a magical world for adults and children. All proceeds to the National Garden Scheme charity and all welcome.

Refreshments include homemade bakes, hot chocolate, samosas and mulled wine.

present

Hotel of DEATH Based on an original script by Joyce

Brown

Performance at Totternhoe Lower School on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October at 7.45pm.

Raffle in aid of Starlight Children’s Foundation Charity.

Tickets cost only £9 and include a Ploughman‘s supper and dessert. Please advise us in advance of any special dietary needs. Please bring your own drinks and glasses.

01582 758108 for tickets or contact us via our Facebook site: Totternhoe Players Amateur Dramatic Society.

Call the Box Office on

Our website is: www.totternhoeplayers.org.uk advance – no tickets available at the door.

All tickets must be ordered and paid for in

Issue 45 • October / November 2019

57

Clubs & Groups HARE & HOUNDS HASH HOUSE HARRIERS H5 are a social running and walking club for mixed abilities, meeting every week in the Bedfordshire area.

Our trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering between 3 and 4 miles.

We are family and dog friendly and full details of our trails can be found on www.H5hashers.org.uk alternatively contact us by email info@ h5hashers.org.uk DUNSTABLE & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY The society, founded in 1991, meets at 7.45pm on the second Tuesday of each month (except during the summer break) at the Methodist Church Hall, The Square, Dunstable, where visitors are welcome.

Annual membership costs £8 (June - December fee £4). Entrance fee for non members is £2 per meeting.

Visiting speakers cover a wide range of subjects.

Our Research Room in Priory House, High Street South, Dunstable and open to the public on a Thursday morning 10.15am – 2.00am.

DUNSTABLE & DISTRICT ART CLUB

We meet at Chew’s House 77 High Street South, Dunstable on Monday mornings from 10.00am. Monday afternoons from 2.00pm and Thursday evenings from 7.30pm. We are an informal club who meet to paint together, all abilities are welcomed, the club has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where we all try to encourage and help each other.

We also run social painting days. A club exhibition is held every year where members are encouraged to enter paintings for display.

Contact: Derek 01582 611607

DUNSTABLE MEN IN SHEDS

We are a group of slightly older men who meet on Monday, Wednesday

and Friday’s between 10am and 1 pm to chat, drink tea and sometimes make useful items for local schools, charities and for ourselves from a range of materials. We have been loaned a Council building on the Meadway allotment’s as our manufacturing hub.

Come and visit, all are welcome. For further information visit our website www.dunstablemeninsheds.org.uk or find us on Facebook.

Ring or leave a message on our Shed phone 07707 359 395 or message us on our website.

CURTAIN CALL THEATRE GROUP & YOUTH THEATRE Youth theatre open to children aged 5 - 16 Mondays 5pm - 7.30pm Eaton Bray Village Hall. Acting, Singing, Dance, Fun & Games!

Adult group (16+) Mondays 8pm 10pm Eaton Bray Village Hall. New members always welcome wheather on or off stage.

Call Gavyn 01525 220525 www.curtaincalltheatregroup.co.uk WEDNESDAY CLUB at NORTHALL VILLAGE HALL Are you or do you know of an elderly person in the Northall, Dagnall, Edlesborough, Eaton Bray or surrounding villages who might benefit from a social day out once a week? Why not come along to the Wednesday Club from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Our own minibus can pick you up, morning coffee and biscuits, home cooked lunch with pudding, afternoon tea and cakes. Play games and bingo, sale table, entertainment by visitors and outside club visits.

Join in as much or as little as you like, make new friends, very friendly atmosphere. Only £9.00 per week including transport.

Contact Barbara on 07854 230243, please leave a message if no answer.

BEDFORDSHIRE GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS & DYERS. A friendly group of textile crafts people who meet in

58 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Flitwick Village Hall twice a month.

First Tuesday evening of each month 7.30 - 9-30 and Third Saturday, all day, 10.30 to 4.30.

We welcome visitors interested in seeing what we do, so please pay a visit to our website www.bedsguildwsd.blogspot.co.uk BEECROFT CRAFT & CHAT Beecroft Community Centre Westfield Road, Dunstable We meet on the 1st Wednesday of every month between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m on a “drop in/drop out” basis.

We meet to have a cuppa, chat and craft together in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

ALL CRAFTS WELCOME The first session is FREE Annual subscription £5.00 Session Fee: £3.00 Tel: Dorothy on 01582 606812 DUNSTABLE PROBUS CLUB Dunstable PROBUS Club meets on the second Monday of the month and membership is open to retired or semi-retired professional and business men. The Club’s main purpose is the promotion of good fellowship.

Members enjoy a variety of social activities and occasional organized visits throughout the year and at their regular monthly meetings they are entertained by after-lunch speakers. If you are interested in joining the Club, please contact the Secretary, Philip Savage on 01582 662462.

SAPHIRE SOCIAL CLUB We meet every Thursday at The Orange Tree Stevenage Rd Hitchin from 8.30pm. A small and friendly group for single people aged 50+. We offer a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no joining fee for 2 months. For further info call/text Ian 07900 890583 or Joyce 07952 678021 www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

FRIENDS OF STUDHAM COMMON We are a friendly,voluntary group whose aim is to conserve,maintain and promote Studham Common as a haven for wildlife and a place for everyone to enjoy. For this purpose we meet as a work party on the third Saturday of each month (except Dec.) The work is not onerous and we enjoy the exercise and the good company –and a picnic lunch is provided!

Tel Pam on 01582 872608 pamrumfitt@btinternet.com LANGDALE CHURCH Langdale church communities: Art group every week, Friends and Neighbours open to everyone speaker and refreshments every second Thursday, Toddler group every Wednesday term time only, Saturday coffee morning second Saturday every month, Carers drop in 1st Thursday every month.

Neighbourhood chaplains befriending and support in the local community.

Sunday morning services at 10.30am.

Please contact 01582 602980 langdalechurch@talktalk.net SOCIAL GROUP We are a small group of people age 45+. If you like to have fun and enjoy yourself then please get in touch. No Membership required, just ring Tina for more information between 10am & 8pm week days 01582 619035 NORTHALL TODDLER GROUP Northall Village Hall, LU6 2EX Join new mums, dads, grandparents and carers.Every Tuesday 9:30 – 11:30am (including school holidays) For children aged 0-5 years.

Tea, coffee, juices and healthy snack.

Come join in the fun, games and learning (inside and out) £2.50 during term time (per family) £1 per child during school holidays (Adults free & older children welcome) Tel. Sarah Cox on 07765 158182 THE BOGTROTTERS The Bogtrotters (Dunstable and District Walking and Hostelling Group) are a group of about 90 walkers, hikers

and hostellers. We run a surprisingly diverse range of activities, including half and full day walks, hostelling trips, meals and evening activities.New members are always welcome. Prospective members are invited to get in touch via the website, give us a ring or just turn up to an event or walk.

Contact Eila: 07964291892 ARTS & CRAFTS Art & Craft for adults with learning difficulties every Wednesday 10.30am - 12.30pm & every Sat 11am - 1pm at Arttrend, rear of 440 Dunstable Road.

Please see the website www.arttrend. co.uk for all the details or phone 07794987796 DUNSTABLE DAOS

Tuesdays and Fridays, 7:45pm - 10:00pm

We are Dunstable’s premier Musical Theatre group. We perform out major shows, once a year, at The Grove Theatre in Dunstable along with concerts, small shows and so on. Find our Facebook Group or Facebook page for more details.

Email: daosuk@gmail.com BREATHEASY Do you suffer from a lung condition?

Then why not come and join our local Support group - breatheasy - Part of the British lung foundation. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at peter newton pavilion (Behind Tesco) 2 - 4pm carers also welcome As well as supporting each other we have a variety of speakers and also arrange day trips out.

New members most welcome Tel: Amanda Fletcher 01582 404479 DUNSTABLE BAPTIST CHURCH St Mary’s Gate (Middle of Ashton Square Car Park) Our Friends and Neighbours meetings are open to everyone on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

For more information contact David tel: 01582 872106

NATIONAL TRUST

All meetings are held at the Salvation Army Centre, Dunstable.

This year also The Grove. Guests welcome at £3. We run outings and holidays. Interested? Contact Lynda 01582 696193 or Jane 01582 606838 DUNSTABLE SALVATION ARMY FRIENDS TOGETHER (Over 60s ) Weekly Subscription £2 We meet every Weds at Bull Pond Lane,Dunstable,LU6 3AH. We have a Cup of Tea or Coffee at 1.00pm then the the meeting starts at 1.30pm 2.30pm. The Programme consists of Various Speakers.Quizzies, Sing-ALongs, Musicial Artists. Lunch Club for Members on the first Weds of the month @£3 Also lots of good fun and Christian Fellowship. For more information tel: Maureen Dunn - 01582 759509

THE BEACON COMMUNITY CHOIR

A friendly local choir that is open to all ages and all abilities – there are no auditions, all you need is a love of music and a sense of humour.

We sing a wide range of musical styles from classical choir repertoire to pop, jazz, gospel and folk. Our conductor is a highly qualified and experienced musician.

Rehearsals are held on Thursdays at 8.15pm in St. Mary’s Church Ivinghoe.

If you would like to know more, contact Lindsay Hewlett (01296 660670, lhewlett@btinternet.com) or Richard Cooper (01296 661725).

TODDINGTON MUSICMAKERS Toddington MusicMakers is an instrumental all age all ability music group based in Toddington. We aim to provide a safe non-judgemental space where people can enjoy making music together, whatever their level of ability. We meet every Friday evening in term time in the Methodist Hall in Toddington 6.30-7.30 pm.

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Clubs & Groups ALL IN ACCORD MUSIC GROUP Mondays but could be at any time T: 01438 515177 E: georgecaple@aol.com We are a small Accordion based amateur group who play for pleasure and give occasional concerts to friends and relations, with about 30 in the audience. We need a couple more enthusiastic Accordion players in order to rebuild to around nine members or so. We also need a good pianist and would be delighted to include Clarinet and perhaps Saxophone. Music from marches to classical to blues, but not modern Pop. We have a good following around Hitchin.

STRONG ELEGANT BODY Mondays, 1-2pm Join friendly church ladies for group fitness games like tug of war and tag in a private gym or up Dunstable Blows Downs. (Weather permitting!) All ages looked after to strengthen and encourage one another. First session is free and donations of £1 welcomed.

For more info contact Zoe on 07535 990 505. or zoe@strongelegantbody.com BRAMINGHAM WOOD VOLUNTEERS We the Bramingham Wood Volunteers in conjunct with the Woodland Trust and looking for volunteers to help maintain the floor of this beautiful ancient wood, famous for it wild flowers and Spring bluebells. If you think you can assist with either ground work or administration we would like to hear from you. We meet every other Saturday for a few hours. If you would like more information please contact us at info@braminghamwoodvolunteers.co.uk www.braminghamwoodvolunteers.co.uk

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP

ARE YOU TROUBLED BY SOMEONES DRINKING. Al-anon Family groups are an organisation that offers support and understanding to families of alcoholics.

We do this by sharing our experiences , strength and hope in order to solve our common problems. Al-anon groups are completely confidential and free of

financial obligation.

For details of local meetings Contact National Helpline: 020 7403 0888 10am-10pm, www. al-anonymity. Org.uk

STUDHAM WI

Studham WI meet on the first Thursday of every month, 7.45pm at Studham Village Hall. An open and friendly group of around 30+ ladies, we enjoy laughing and socialising, be it at our meetings, our monthly lunch outings, darts matches, quiz evenings, or at group and county events. If you’re interested in joining us, then come and try the WI! We’re always happy to welcome visitors to the majority our meetings. www.studhamwi.wordpress.com

If your interests are in one of the backstage disciplines, eg. lighting, sound, set construction, costume, admin, then you will be particularly welcome! We meet Wednesdays and most Fridays, 8pm 10pm in Totternhoe to rehearse. Come along and meet us! Please call Els on 01582 758108 or Jo on 01582 603287

DUNSTABLE LADIES CHOIR

Houghton Regis Baptist Church, Houghton Regis, LU5 5RG We’re a friendly local choir, always looking for new voices to join us - no audition required! We sing a bit of everything, from traditional choral pieces to songs from top musicals, with a few pop classics thrown in for good measure. Why not come along to a rehearsal, and see how you get on? Every Tuesday, 7.30pm to WOMEN’S WORLD 9.30pm Meet 3rd Wednesday of the month, at St For more details, contact Lia on 07767 Anne’s Church Hall, 007 534 or Crawley Green Road, at 8pm. find us on Facebook Join our friendly group of ladies for talks, activities and outings. For more informa- LUTON AND DISTRICT tion about our next meeting ring Lynne PHILATELIC SOCIETY on 01582 617470.

If you collect postage stamps, postcards or postal history why not come along TEA DANCE and meet fellow collectors? We usually Houghton Regis Memorial Hall. Modern meet on the first Friday of the month* Ballroom Dancing (Waltz Quickstep at Bushmead Primary School, Luton, Slow Foxtrot etc) and popular seLU2 7EU from 7.00pm to 10.00pm. quence dancing (Cindy swing, Rumba Your first visit is free! New members one etc) 2.00pm to 4.00pm every are always welcome.(*Dates may Monday afternoon. Excellent dance change if the school is closed). floor with large free car park at the rear Call Fin on 01582 453244 or of the hall off Drury Lane, opposite the email finodon@hotmail.com for a Green Houghton Regis. programme or more information.

Music by Derrick Farman. Tea/Coffee & biscuits included in the admission price ACTIVITIES AT STUDHAM of £3.50 per person.

VILLAGE HALL Opportunity to practice your dancing Monday Evening - Jive. and meet new friends in a nice friendly Tuesday Morning - Mums and Tots, atmosphere.

Afternoon - Scrabble Club, For additional information call Evening - Salsa.

Derrick 01525 210568 Wednesday Evenings – Bingo. or Mike 01525 635904.

Thursday Morning - U3A Carpet Bowls, Evening - Carpet Bowls Club.

TOTTERNHOE PLAYERS 1st Thursday evening in month – We are a friendly, supportive group for Women’s Institute (WI). keen Am. Drammers aged 16 - 80+ and Main Hall and a Meeting room available always welcome new members. We for hire. Modern kitchen. Contact Des usually put on a panto, a murder mystery Salmon T: 01582 872082. and either a comedy or variety show E: desstudham@btconnect.com each year. We aim to make the most of the talents you can bring to our group.

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PRIORY’S LITTLE ANGELS

formerly known as Priory Pram Service We hold a service for under 5’s, including babies even from a few weeks old, on the 1st Tuesday of the month. We sing, dance to songs, have a bible-linked story, play percussion, make a simple craft activity and have a prayer. All are welcome and we finish with refreshments, chatting and Christian fellowship. We meet in the Priory Church and start at 2pm. Dates for future services: June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th (with Teddy Bears’ picnic afterwards), September 4th, October 2nd, November 6th and December 4th

You will learn four-part harmony and music includes show songs, spirituals, Welsh hymn tunes, light opera as well as Traditional Male Voice Choir standards. Rehearsals at High Town Methodist Church in Luton, Weds 7.00 -9.30pm.

Joining a Male Voice Choir can seriously enrich your life! VMVC offers concerts for a variety of causes and occasions at reasonable rates. Tel: Brian Matthews, 01525 841077

EDLESBOROUGH WI

Edlesborough WI meets on the second Tuesday of every month, at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall on the corner of the High Street and Pebblemoor. There is car park across the road. We have a varied programme of speakers and outings (to places of interest, meals and theatres) as well as a craft group and trips further afield by coach. We are going to Brighton on 1st July. We have DUNSTABLE WI over 50 members, and more are always Dunstable WI meet two evenings a welcome. We would be very happy to month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at see you. Do come along and give us a try.

Watling Lower School Bullpond Lane A warm welcome awaits you. at 7.00pm. We are friendly group and DANESBOROUGH CHORUS like to enjoy ourselves. We have a DUNSTABLE CROQUET CLUB The Danesborough Chorus meets on wide range of speakers with different Meets in Priory Gardens on Tuesdays & Wednesdays 7.45 - 9.50 pm in Aspley talents crafts, and also Quizz nights Fridays 10.00am - 3.00pm & WednesGuise Village Hall. The new season to test our brains. We welcome new days 10.00am – 1.00pm started Wednesday 6th September, and members so join us and make new Ever wondered what croquet is all we will be rehearsing Brahms’ German friends. about? Join our small and friendly club Requiem . If you’re interested, why 10th October - A talk on st judes clinic for a trial game or two during our sumnot bring your vocal chords along for a and what help they provide mer season. We can provide the malfew sessions? Please contact member- 31st October - Halloween night lets and pair you with a club member ship secretary Carol Yirrell on 01296 14th November - A talk by major who will explain the game to you when 680328, or via our website at www. ralph walter on the salvation army you come along. danesborough.org.uk. She’ll invite you 28th November - Raffle & quiz We play an inclusive form of the game to come along to a few rehearsals and For more information telephone called Golf Croquet, where everyone see how you find it.

Barbara Fisher 01582 665252 is involved in the play throughout, and with the beautiful Priory gardens as a INCREDIBLE EDIBLE DUNSTABLE. BEECROFT RESIDENTS backdrop, summer days were never ASSOCIATION: We are a group of neighbours that better.

OUR MEETNGS: The first meeting of have come together to grow food on Call into the tourist information office, the year is always on the last Thursday public land and offer it for free. Since or contact our secretary Ronnie Richin January with meetings continuing 2013 we have been striving to create ardson on 01525 220600 bi-monthly through out the year until a kinder, more confident more connected community through the power November, meetings start at 8.00pm DUNSTABLE GARDEN CLUB of food. Small actions really do make a and are held in the Beecroft Community Winter Programme starts again on Centre Westfield Road. difference.

Monday 9th September with the AGM We meet at the community garden on WHAT DO WE DO: We partner up & Plant exchange. with Dunstable Town Council twice a the junction of Katherine Drive and Monday 14th October – ‘Making of a Duncombe Drive Dunstable LU5 4NP year for free events with children, these Japanese Garden’ events include free arts and crafts and on the first Saturday of the month Monday 11th November – ‘Unusual planting out the four wheelbarrows we 1-3pm free tea and coffee for all our bulbs and how they get to your Garden’ currently have on Beecroft Estate. We incredible volunteers. Please bring Held in Salvation Army Hall, Dunstable your own gardening gloves. Find us on support the Alzheimer’s Society with starting at 7.30 pm. Annual sub £10 or a coffee morning each year and will be Facebook or email: visitors welcome £2. Details from Mary joining in with this years Dunstable Town incredibleedible395@gmail.com Chapman 01582 603710 Councils Spring Clean (litter pick).

If you are interested in joining us, or VAUXHALL MALE VOICE CHOIR Established for 75 years, this friendly choir would like our support with a problem of 45 members is looking for new singers. you have please contact Sue on 07847 381960. If no answer leave a message, I You don’t need to read music, we only will get back to you. ask for the ability to hold your note!

Issue 45 • October / November 2019

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Answers Step On It JOKES JOKER POKER POWER COWER COWED

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CARERS DROP-IN

(Langdale Rd, Dunstable) Would you like to volunteer with Dunstable Good Neighbours or receive some help from us?

Volunteers provide occasional help with small tasks around the house or garden, assistance with form filling, occasional lifts to the doctors, shops etc. or friendly visits to those who are lonely or isolated.

…please call our Good Neighbours number on

07491 455777 (between 9am and 5pm)

All of our volunteers are police checked, and our visits are free Supported by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity Serving communities across Bedfordshire

62 www.thevinedirectory.co.uk

Caring can be very isolating and our carers drop-in/ support group is intended to be a place where carers can meet with other carers, gain support, and have some time away from their caring roles.Tea, coffee, sandwiches and a friendly face are always available for anyone who drops in.

Who is the group for? Anyone who is or was a carer for another person.

How much does it cost? There is no charge to come but there is a cost of £1.50 if you would like to have lunch with the rest of the group.

When does the group meet? On the Þrst Thursday of every month.

CARERS DROP-IN

Meets on the 1st Thursday every month at 10.15am, Community room, Langdale Church

LANGDALE CHURCH, LANGDALE ROAD, DUNSTABLE LU6 3DA Email: langdalechurch@talktalk.net

Tel:01525 602980

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