BedsLife Magazine June 2022 by BedsLife Magazine

FREE JUNE

2022

inside We Celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bedford Daycare Hospice 30th Anniversary Bedford Park Concerts Competition £25 Prize Crossword What’s On 37,000 copies Delivered to selected areas of Bedford and North Beds Villages

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Richard Fuller MP Mohammad Yasin MP Council News In the Stix Volunteer Opportunities Bedford Daycare Hospice Books Bedford Park Concerts Competition Prize Crossword Lyd Eats Food – Bromham Mill Coffee Shop Clubs & Groups Jennie Bond – A Portrait of the Queen Queens Jubilee: Platinum Pomp The Queen in her own words

Contents

About Town with Love Bedford

6&7

14 16

24 26

34 35

Local Jubilee Events

What’s On

Milton Keynes Theatre Competition

Milky’s Music Matters

Forest of Marston Vale – Orchids

Acorn House Pet Advice

Gardening

Advertiser Index

Last Months Crossword Answers

Don’t forget to check out our website

www.bedslifemagazine.co.uk

for even more local articles and lots of interesting and helpful local information! LIKE our Facebook page BedsLife Magazine to keep up to date with events, offers and local businesses and services. FOLLOW us on @bedslife_magazine and @bedsLife ADVERTISING Christa: Tel 01234 962929 | 07827 015170 E: christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk DESIGN AND ARTWORK www.dougdawson.co.uk DISCLAIMER

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

FR EE

Welcome

JUNE

2022

June 2022 is a big month for insid e the UK, since we finally get to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over an extended Bank Holiday weekend. There are plenty of official events planned for our region as well as countless street and garden parties to attend. Let’s hope the weather holds up, although we have vivid memories of getting rained on heavily during the last jubilee celebrations! We Ce Qu ee leb ra te Th n’s e Ju bi lee Pla tin um Be df or Ho sp iced Da yc ar e 30 th An niv er sa ry Be df or Co mp d Pa rk Co nc er ts et iti on £2 5 Pr ize Cr os sw or W ha t’s d On 37,00 0 co

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Did you know that June used to be the fourth month in the year? Before Julius Caesar came to power, the calendar year only had 10 months. In 46 BC he created the Julian calendar by adding two more months to the year, which made June the sixth month. June has some incredibly varied national days and observances, such as World Environment Day on 5th June, Bike Week and Child Safety Week from 6th to 12th June, and World Giraffe Day on 21st June! And if you’re looking for something a bit different, how about Open Farm Sunday on 12th June? This is a wonderful chance to showcase British farming, and if you can’t find a participating farm near you then you can always make a virtual visit! You can find more information at their website farmsunday.org. Not forgetting of course Father’s Day on 19th June. Many of our local businesses, attractions and restaurants have special Father’s Day offers so take a look through this month’s adverts and please try to support local businesses wherever possible.

Christa & The BedsLife Team May Issue Competition Winner Billionaire Boy Theatre Tickets – Susan Amor Tom Grennan Tickets – Vicky Potts x 2 and Alison Dey x 2 The Specials Tickets – Heidi Rodd x 2 and Diane Boyd x 2

JULY ISSUE DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE

Ne w s

w n o T t u o b A Beerfly to bring craft beer experience to Bedfordshire Gin Festival – Saturday 25th June Russell Park will come alive this summer with Bedfordshire’s largest outdoor Gin Festival on Saturday 25 June, from 12noon to 9pm. Featuring many local and national gin brands, with bars, samplings, street food and live music, there’ll be something for everyone! Bedford’s independent craft beer shop Beerfly will be manning a craft beer bar – with a range of modern style beers from local brewers; Three Hills, Duration and newcomers Baron Brewing. Tim Edwards of Beerfly commented “Following the success of our Hops & Dreams festival a few years ago, we’re excited to have a bar at GinFest and open up the wonderful world of beers to a new audience. With the brewers on hand to talk through the beers it should make for a fun afternoon.” More info: www.bedfordshireginfest.co.uk

Bedford Hosts Armed Forces Day – Sunday 26th June 2022 Bedford will once again host Armed Forces and Veterans Day, on Sunday 26th June, from 10am until 4pm. The parade will commence from De Parys Avenue at 10:30am, and will include among others the Army Reserves and Royal British Legion Riders, convening at Merchants Yard, in Riverside. There will also be static displays from the Poppy Appeal and SAAFA, and in Harpur Square, live entertainment will feature a swing band, singer6

comedian Adam Hoffman, and 40’s-themed singer May Blossom. Tilly’s Teas will also be on site to provide some tasty refreshments. More info: lovebedford.co.uk

Vanilla Tree and the Swan Hotel nominated for Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022 The Muddy Stilettos Awards were created to showcase and show appreciation for local indie lifestyle businesses. The awards champion quality, originality and creativity, and winners are chosen by consumer vote. Vanilla Tree, of St Cuthbert’s Street, has been nominated for Best Café in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Tracy O’Hare says, ‘’We are so grateful for the nominations we have so far received. We have the most amazing team and we would all be over the moon if we could get to the final and win! We are planning a few updates in the coffee shop and are excited for the future.” The Swan Hotel, has also been nominated for Best Hotel in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Rich Cooksley comments, “I, and the rest of the team are delighted to be nominated for ‘Best Hotel’ in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022. The nomination is a testament to both our hardworking staff and customers. It’s an honour to be recognised and to win the award would be a huge achievement for the whole team.”

To w n to Ce le br at e Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee has arrived! Here’s just a taste of what you can get involved in…

Love Bedford Jubilee Window Dressing Competition

Queens Jubilee Tea Party at Bedford Guild House – Friday 10th June Bedford Guild House cordially invite you to get dressed up and join them to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee! On Friday 10th June from 2pm, they will be hosting an afternoon tea, with entertainment and lots and lots of fun! Call 01234 352038 to book your places. More info: bedfordguildhouse.org

BedfordBID are inviting all Bedford Town Centre venues to take part in a Jubilee Window Dressing Competition! You’ll be able to vote for any venue you choose, online on our Jubilee Hub, until Sunday 5th June. We’ll announce the winning display on Tuesday 7th June. We’ll also place all those who voted into a random prize draw to win £50 of Love Bedford vouchers, which can be used at more than 280 locations across the Town Centre. More info: lovebedford.co.uk/Jubilee.php

Jubilee Champagne & Oysters at BlueGlass – 3rd & 4th June In partnership with the awardwinning fishmongers GCH, BlueGlass will be celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee on both Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th June, between 12.30pm – 5pm, Join them for a flute of champagne and three Colchester Bay fresh oysters for just £20 per person. Ticketed event; call 01234 910570 or visit BlueGlass to book. More info: theblueglass.co.uk

Postcards to the Queen Children’s Competition – Bedford Central Library If you could send a postcard to the Queen, what would you say? You can pick up a blank postcard from any of our libraries, then once you’ve completed it, pop it in one of our special Jubilee post-boxes. The winning postcard from each library will be shared on social media, and the winners will each receive a Love Bedford Voucher! Prizes have been donated by BedfordBID. This activity is for children aged 12 and under. More info: bedford.gov. uk/leisure-and-culture/arts-and-culture/queensplatinum-jubilee/free-activities-for-children/

Keep Up to Date with All Things Jubilee in Bedford Town Centre! There’s plenty more! The Love Bedford Jubilee Hub will brings together Jubilee-themed events and information for visitors to Bedford Town Centre, so to check out the latest, please visit: www.lovebedford.co.uk/Jubilee.php

About Town content is supplied by BedfordBID. For the latest updates on Bedford Town Centre activities and events, as well as a full Business Directory, please visit: www.lovebedford.co.uk

words from

Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire June provides all of us with a genuinely historic opportunity to give thanks for the extraordinary commitment and service of our monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

For the first time we will celebrate a Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years on the British throne and I know villages and towns across Bedfordshire will be holding special events over the four-day Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend which takes place from 2nd – 5th June. For me, the Queen sets the standard for dignity, decency and commitment to service. It is a standard to which all those who lead or aspire to lead any organisation should aspire. She has been a focus of constancy throughout my life, and the lives of the vast majority of Britons. It will be an honour to express my thanks to her. In the lead up to the Jubilee weekend, the Queen’s Green Canopy was launched – a tree planting initiative which invited everyone across the UK to plant trees from October 2021, when the tree planting season began, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. The Queen’s Green Canopy will create a network of individual trees, avenues, copses and woodlands in honour of The Queen’s service and the legacy she has built. Parish councils and voluntary groups have already planted thousands of trees in my constituency, and it has been my pleasure to join them as these initiatives will create a green legacy of their own, with every tree planted bringing benefits for local people, wildlife and the climate. Primary schools across the United Kingdom have received commemorative books to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The books cover the extraordinary series of events, inventions, achievements and changes during Her Majesty’s reign in the Commonwealth and across the four nations of the UK. The material woven together through a story in which a young girl learns from and is inspired by items collected in a treasure box owned by her great grandmother. The lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacons by communities, charities, and groups throughout the regions of the UK at 9.45pm on Thursday 2nd June will commence the four-day Jubilee Weekend and Commonwealth Beacons will be lit in all 54 capital cities of the Commonwealth. On Friday 3rd June, a Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral and on Sunday 5th June, people will come together for The Big Jubilee Lunch. The weekend of celebrations will draw to a close with the Platinum Jubilee Pageant bringing to life iconic moments from the Queen’s reign. To find out about events near you or to register an event that your organisation or community is holding, please visit https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/

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Prince Charles stood in and began by saying that the government’s priority was “to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families”. But what followed was 38 pieces of legislation that had almost nothing to say about either. Not a single piece of legislation was included to address the biggest issue of the day – the cost-of-living crisis with the risk of “stagflation” – the perilous combination of soaring inflation and little if any, growth. In his response to the Queen’s speech, Keir Starmer, said the Government was “bereft of ideas or purpose, without a guiding principle, or a road map for delivery”, and called for an emergency budget including a windfall tax to get money off people’s bills now. Under pressure in the Commons, Boris Johnson hinted at an announcement addressing the cost-of-living crisis in the “coming days”, which the Treasury and the Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, were quick to deny.

Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston The State Opening of Parliament is the main ceremonial event of the parliamentary calendar, marking the formal start of the parliamentary year, with the Government setting out its agenda for the coming session in the Queen’s speech.

The Queen’s Speech was more about rhetoric than a serious programme to help the millions struggling with household finances. We learned the Tories are no longer committed to reaching their manifesto target of building 300,000 new homes a year and plans for an Employment Bill to strengthen workers rights following the spate of fire and rehire debacles failed to appear. The most consequential piece of legislation was buried in a footnote which said, “In the interests of all communities of Northern Ireland, the Protocol needs to change.” Boris Johnson is now working on getting Brexit undone by threatening to rip up the international agreement he signed and boasted about as “great” only a year and a half ago against the wishes of people in Northern Ireland who in May voted in the majority for parties who wanted to retain the Protocol. There were no bold ideas to tackle the climate emergency or help reduce regional inequality. Bills on planning, transport and education could all have an impact on the levelling up agenda but the work to tackle regional disparities will only get harder as living standards are squeezed. We need a real plan for growth to get our economy firing on all cylinders, with a Climate Investment Pledge and a commitment to buy, make and sell more in Britain. We need legislation that tackles the issues really affecting people’s day to day lives – to fix the NHS, the broken justice system, near stagnant wages and growth and to deal urgently with the cost of living. People need money in their pockets now not waste of time legislation about selling off Channel 4, a much-loved cost neutral public asset and abolishing the Human Rights Act.

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council news Mayor Dave Hodgson Announces Solar Panel Scheme Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced a scheme to encourage residents to come together to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage – ‘Solar Together Bedfordshire’. Solar Together Bedfordshire (www.solartogether. co.uk/bedfordshire) helps homeowners feel confident that they are paying the right price for a high-quality installation from pre-approved installers. This innovative scheme builds on four years of highly successful Solar Together programme run across the UK. To date Solar Together has delivered over 7,000 installations and over 130,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions. Bedford Borough residents can join the groupbuying scheme which offers solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points,

as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate as well as increase their independence from the grid. It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation. Mayor Dave Hodgson said “Solar Together Bedfordshire gives local residents the opportunity to come together in a group-buying scheme, to get high quality solar panels at the right price, with installation from pre-approved installers. “At this stage, we are inviting people to register online to become part of the group. There is no obligation to go ahead with the installation. So if you are interested, please visit www.solartogether.co.uk/bedfordshire.” Registration closes on 13 June.

High Street Joins the River Festival for the First Time This year, the High Street will be closed for the River Festival weekend as it plays host to the ONE HUNDRED Motoring Display. Over 100 dazzling vehicles will be displayed down the length of the High Street and around St Paul’s Square. This High Street closure is sponsored by Bedford BID, and will really see the town centre brought into the River Festival as part of this fantastic weekend which, also includes the Embankment, Russell Park, Mill Meadows and St Mary’s Gardens. One of the oldest cars in Britain is expected to appear, a stately 1904 Ford Model C from America. From that to a McClaren 720s supercar, and a whole host of motoring goodies in between with iconic cars from every era and every type from the last century.

While all this is happening on the High Street, Riverside Square will become home to a bevvy of American cars, most of which are too large to be positioned anywhere else. Mayor Dave Hodgson said “It’s fantastic to be able to bring the High Street into the mix of the River Festival hosting the Motoring Display. There will be some spectacular historic and modern sights to see, all adding to the excitement and events of the River Festival which is sure to have something for everyone.” Adrian Grubb, motoring display organiser on behalf of Bedford Borough Council, said “Each vehicle has a story to tell, this is truly a very select collection! Hopefully, something that will be a regular attraction within the River Festival in years to come.”

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I N TH E STI X Bromham boasts new café A new café serving light lunches, homemade cakes and locally roasted coffee has opened in Bromham.

The Bakehouse is owned and run by Bromham resident, Lucy Elliot. “I have always had a passion for baking,” explained Lucy. “Who doesn’t love great coffee and cake?” The café is on the first floor of Avoca House in Mollivers Lane, a space completely renovated by Lucy’s partner, who is part of local carpentry firm P.Huckle & Sons. Lucy bakes on-site daily, so the cakes are always changing with the cherry Bakewell and peppermint slice proving current favourites. Savoury panini, sausage rolls and bacon baps are also on the menu. Newly opened in April, Lucy told Bedslife that The Bakehouse already has a variety of regulars: “Early risers take away their favourite cuppa, walkers come in for a mid-morning caffeine fix, and workers arrive for lunch. We also have a ‘Naughty Corner’ for the kids, with toys to entertain, while parents treat themselves to a well-deserved piece of cake!” The Bakehouse is open Wednesday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 3pm. They 14

will also have a stall at The Bromham Show on Sunday 3 July. Follow @thebakehousebromham on Instagram and Facebook to find out more.

Rooms for Ukrainian refugees

Emmaus Village Carlton has signed up to the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, offering accommodation at their site. The scheme allows people to host Ukrainian refugees, who don’t have family ties in the UK, for up to 12 months. One family group has already been welcomed with another group arriving soon, totalling 13 guests from Ukraine. The Ukrainian guests are being offered rent-free accommodation in addition to clothing, food and other essential supplies. Emmaus Village Carlton is now seeking local volunteers who are willing to offer help and support to the Ukrainian families. To find out more please contact martinclitheroe@emmausvc.org

Summer Fair in Carlton Head to Carlton on Saturday 2 July for a super fun day out. Carlton Primary School has joined forces with Carlton Village Hall Committee to host a Summer Fair which takes place from 11am to 3.30pm.

Visit the artisan stalls selling beautifully crafted merchandise, locally brewed and distilled drinks,

homemade cakes and delicious Riverside Dairy ice cream. There will be outdoor fun for the children too! The fair takes place at Carlton Village Hall and entry is £1 for adults. If you are interested in holding a stall, please email rainbowbeadsandsupplies@gmail.com

Lottie’s van is coming to you! Village folk seeking a sweet treat will be delighted to see Lottie’s van parking up in their neighbourhood soon.

Lottie’s Sweets & Treats started life as an old-fashioned sweet trailer on Charlotte Willams’ driveway in Milton Ernest. “We don’t have a shop where the kids can come out of school and spend a bit of pocket money,” explained Charlotte. When covid restrictions eased, Charlotte expanded the business to include hot mini donuts, churros, Belgian and bubble waffles, diddy pancakes, ice cream, candy floss and milkshakes which all proved incredibly popular: “I had customers coming from as far as Rushden and Wellingborough for the donuts and churros and the feedback was always, I wish you were mobile and could come to us.” Now, equipped with a new van, Charlotte is ready to do just that and will be bringing her delicious treats to the local villages. As this is a new venture, Charlotte will be trialling the project in most Bedfordshire villages to see the response. You can follow @lottiessugarrush on Facebook and visit www.nextdoor.co.uk to find the locations and times when Lottie’s van will be coming to you.

Village Hall 30th Anniversary A celebration will take place on 9 July to mark the 30th anniversary of Sharnbrook Village Hall.

The fun begins at 2pm with cake cutting, free refreshments, demonstrations and displays. The day’s events wind down with a celebratory toast at 6pm. In the evening, travel back in time with a 90’s Night from 8 ’til late, including buffet supper, complimentary drink and licensed bar. Tickets, £7.50 adult and £5 child, are available from Pick-aLily Florist in Sharnbrook or by emailing svhmc@sharnbrookvillagehall.co.uk.

Village indies crowned best in county

Three local businesses have been voted best in the county in the Eastlife 2022 Awards. The newly launched awards celebrate the independent businesses that make East Anglia a great place to live and visit. Winners are nominated by the regional magazine’s readers who then vote for the overall winners in each county. Sharnbrook’s Mill Theatre won best Theatre in Bedfordshire, The Sun Felmersham picked up the best Gastro Pub award and Woodland Manor scooped two awards, winning best Accommodation and best Wedding Venue. Congratulations to our fantastic local businesses on your well-deserved success!

Do you have some village news to share? Email jacqui@bedslifemagazine.co.uk Copy deadline for the July issue is 10th June.

Volunteering Opportunities Food collection Volunteer SMART CJS is looking for someone who enjoys driving and has use of a car to collect donated food from Queens Park and Midland Road and deliver to Prebend Centre. You would need to be available on a Monday or Tuesday evening. You will be supporting people in emergency accommodation experiencing homelessness, and rough sleepers.

Cookery Workshop Facilitator If you like cooking and would like to help other people make healthy, nutritious, and cheap meals FOOD ETC CIC would love to hear from you. They are looking for volunteers to work with a variety of groups in and around Bedford.

Support Worker

Here is our volunteering pick for June 2022. It gives a flavour of the many opportunities we hold at CVS Bedfordshire from organisations across the area, so do investigate further if you can’t see something that appeals to you. You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.cvsbeds.org.uk/ volunteer-newsletter for all the latest opportunities and other volunteering related news.

Oak Housing works with local support services to reduce re-offending in prison leavers by providing accommodation and support to reduce re-offending rates. In this role you will be offering appropriate support to residents to meet their every day needs within their own home. You will need to write support plans and risk assessments.

Play and Learn Activity Session Volunteer One YMCA is looking for help with the work of the Children Centre Practitioner Team in supporting parents, carers and children under the age of 5 years at their ‘Play and Learn’ Sessions. You will be able to help with welcoming, engaging parents and children in activities and in conversation, supporting planning and evaluation sessions and other hands-on tasks.

Translator-Punjabi Panacea Charitable Trust is looking for someone fluent in English and Punjabi, to translate their basic Museum leaflet into Punjabi. This can be done from home, liaising with the Museum Officer.

43 Bromham Road, Bedford Call 01234 354 366 or Email: volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk www.cvsbeds.org.uk

Search for and register an interest in all the listed roles above and many more, by adding the name of the organisation into the keyword field on our Simply Connect opportunity search at cvsbeds.org.uk/volunteer. Call us if you need any further information on 01234 354366.

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30th Anniversary

The opening of a new extension completed during lockdown, offers the opportunity for more people to experience the care and compassion that this fantastic setting has to offer. “We are really excited to be celebrating this anniversary”, continues Stephen. “It gives us an opportunity to look back and reflect on how far we have come and to thank all those who have contributed time, energy and funding to support our evolution”.

Founded in 1992 by former surgeon Donald Parsons and local businessman Clifton Ibbett, Bedford Daycare Hospice was created to meet the palliative care needs of adults with a lifelimiting illness in Bedfordshire. Now some 30 years later, the Hospice has provided individualised care to thousands of patients and their families. “We endeavour to enhance patients’ well-being and quality of life for however long the patient needs our care and support”, says the hospice General Manager, Stephen Murphy. There are still many people who fear the word hospice but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Hospice is a positive empowering environment with lots of fun and laughter, sometimes shared tears, where the focus is on living life to the full.

In 2022, the daycare services include education programmes for specific conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Cancer and respiratory illnesses, complementary therapies, exercise sessions, counselling, bereavement and social support. As a small local charity, Bedford Daycare Hospice relies heavily on fundraising and volunteers which are vital to the work of the hospice. The Hospice needs additional patient drivers, van drivers, complementary therapists and volunteers for roles in-house and within one of five charity shops in the local area. The Hospice would also welcome the addition of new trustees to the board to help steer the direction of the hospice for future generations. For more details on roles available and opportunities to join the dedicated team at Bedford Daycare Hospice, please call on 01234 352015 or visit www.bedforddaycarehospice.org.uk

Bedford Daycare Hospice Caring for people with life-limiting illnesses

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Far-Flung Fiction

This month, a smorgasbord of titles to transport you to wherever your imagination desires.

Before Take-off by Adi Alsaid

Old Rage by Sheila Hancock

Two teens, James and Michelle, meet and fall in love during a layover-gonewrong at the Atlanta airport, intrigued by a mysterious flashing green light, which turns out to be a button.

At one point, Sheila Hancock looked like she was managing and even thriving in old age, yet shocking diagnoses, Brexit and bereavement seemed to knock her from every quarter. And that was before lockdown. Home alone, classified as ‘extremely vulnerable’, she finds herself yelling at the TV and talking to the pigeons.

Michelle presses it, kicking off a chain of strange and seemingly impossible events, from snowstorms inside B terminal to jungles sprouting up in C terminal, as earthquakes split the ground apart in between. The duo must team up to find their families and escape before it’s too late. Published by Knopf Books on June 7th

My Name is Jason. Mine too by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin A poet and an artist, Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin have always pursued a single unity and journey on the way to making their dreams come true. Willing to have a life not un-hard, so long as it wasn’t unhappy, willing to let New York swallow them whole, so long as it gave them their chance, this is the story of how they have gained global recognition through art and creativity. From light-hearted recollections to deeply thought-out concepts – “what if painting was a sin, and the poetry became taboo, and no one ever clapped for me again; my question is, would you?” – this is a glowing tribute. Published by Simon and Schuster on June 28th

Yet in Old Rage, Hancock can at least take a good long look at life – her work and family, her beliefs (many of them the legacy of her wartime childhood) and, uncomfortable as it might be to face, her future. Published by Bloomsbury on June 9th

Access All Areas by Barbara Charone To know Barbara Charone is to know music. First as a journalist and then a publicist at Warner Bros for nearly 20 years, Charone has experienced, first-hand, the changes in the cultural landscape. Access All Areas is a personal, insightful, and humorous memoir packed with stories of being on the cultural frontline, from first writing press releases on a typewriter driven by Tip Ex, then as a press officer for heavy metal bands, to launching Madonna, an unknown girl from Detroit. Published by White Rabbit on June 23rd

Ageing Well Festival and Exhibition Wednesday 13th October 2021 Bedford Corn Exchange, 10am to 2pm

EVERYBODY WELCOME Free Information, Advice, and help on a wide range of topics including care, housing, money benefits, leisure and many more. The Mayor of Bedford will be holding a clinic to meet and chat with attendees. Refreshments served in the Howard Room accompanied by mindfulness music, hand massage and Age UK Bedfordshire offers.

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COMPETITION

COMPETITION COMPETITION

COMPETITION

BEDFORD PARK CONCERTS IS BACK FROM THE 28TH TO THE 31ST JULY IN BEDFORD PARK WITH FOUR SPECTACULAR SHOWS.

Thursday 28th July Simply Red will headline the first show, supported by the amazing Lisa Stansfield. Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. Lisa Stansfield has 3 BRIT Awards, 2 Grammy nominations, and enjoy a string of hits.

Bedfordshire’s most prestigious al fresco Proms event. The Welsh opera star and BBC radio presenter Wynne Evans will be the headline vocalist along with Broadway and West End sensation Marisha Wallace.

Friday 29th July sees Café Mambo Ibiza ‘In the Park’, touching down from the White Isle! The legendary Ibiza brand will bring thousands of dance music fans together for an unforgettable experience under the stars. Serving up the classics are some of the biggest DJs in dance music; these include Mark Knight, Amine Edge & Dance, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago and Todd Terry along with support from Bedford DJ, Mark Russell.

Four nights of amazing entertainment, await you in Bedford Park this July, for further information please got to www.bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk

Saturday 30th July will see the modfather himself Paul Weller headlining. As frontman of The Jam, Weller spearheaded the Mod revival in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, scoring a string of hits, including Going Underground and A Town Called Malice. On Sunday 31st July the Bedford Park Concerts series ends with a firm family favourite show ‘Bedford Park Proms – Part 2’ and it’s

You can bring your own picnics to this show and as well as an amazing music bonanza it is accompanied by a stunning laser show and finishes with a firework spectacular. If you are an NHS worker you can also qualify for a ticket for just £1.00!

WIN!

We have 2 pairs of tickets up for grabs for all 4 shows!!!! – To enter simply email competitions@bedslifemagazine.co.uk and pop the name of the concert you would like to be entered for in the subject line by Friday 10th May. (Entrants must be 18+ Tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, nonexchangeable and cannot be re-sold. No cash alternative will be given)

Want to earn £798? Looking for Host Families in Bedford Why not host one / two Spanish students in July / Sept/ Oct? • Busy itinerary Mon – Sat • Great rates of pay!

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Prize Crossword Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before Friday 10th June. Prize Crossword, BedsLife, 17 Foxbrook, Stevington, Bedfordshire MK43 7QY

Last Months Crossword Winner – Mrs Smith, Bedford For last months answers please turn to P66

Across 1 4 8 9 10 12 14

Frog noise (5) Devoted, obedient (7) Remains on a plate (7) More timid (5) Accept, trust (7) Backslide (5) Burdened with urgent business (4, 7) 18 Artist’s stand (5) 19 Supposed site of a US UFO crash (7) Name: Address: 26

21 Remove from bank account (5) 23 Vacation (7) 24 Defamation, misrepresentation (7) 25 Addendum, codicil (5)

Down

1 Stout, plump (6) 2 Weigh down to excess (9) 3 Controversial far right columnist _____ Hopkins (5) Tel:

4 5 6 7 11 13 15 16

Hideaway, sanctuary (3) Brawls, scuffles (7) Take to the air (3) Pantry, cuddy (6) Mistake (5) Made-believe (9) Watered down (7) Stones with a central cavity lined with crystals (6) 17 Sports participant (6) 20 Cosmic (5) 22 Female undergarment (3) 23 Opposite of him! (3)

An independent family business continuing to provide a caring & professional service to Bedford, Kempston & the surrounding villages. • 24 Hour Personal Service • Pre-Paid Funeral Plans • Private Chapels of Rest • Home Arrangements • Civil Services Available • Green Burials • Bereavement Listening Service (Free to our families)

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The Pheasant It’s so nice to be enjoying the warmer weather and the latest opening in Bedford is be the hottest place to be this summer! The Pheasant pub has had an incredible refurb and looks gorgeous inside and out. The garden is huge with lots of seating, the perfect place to spend the long evenings over drinks and tasty pub grub. Inside is cosy and bright, with lots of wood and beautiful wallpapers which give it a modern and inviting feel. The menu is classic pub food with a modern twist. There is a lot of choice and there will be something to please the whole family. We tried the velvet houmous and cauliflower wings to start which were really tasty. For mains, I would recommend the fish and chips. Great portions and all at a really reasonable price. The bar is very well stocked with beers brewed locally by Brewpoint, a good selection of wines and spirits. If you head down on a Friday, you can get a bottle of Prosecco for £15! I am so excited to head down on a sunny day and enjoy this beautiful pub some more. A wonderful asset to the Bedford pub scene!

For more local foodie finds, make sure to check out my Instagram @lydeatsfood

Browns of Stagsden... A proper farm shop on a proper working family run farm

Stop at Stagsden for all your local produce

Home reared/local meat & poultry Fruit/vegetables. Homemade pies New: The Wine Cellar in Olney

Licensed Tearoom & Garden

OPENING TIMES:

Tues - Thurs 10am to 4pm Fri 10am to 5pm | Sat 9am to 3pm

01234 822330

www.brownsofstagsden.co.uk info@brownsofstagsden.co.uk Manor Farm, Stagsden MK43 8SH

Jubilee opening Thurs 2nd 10am - 1pm, Fri 3rd 10am - 3pm, Sat 4th Closed

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CLUBS & GROUPS JUNIOR TABLE TENNIS CLUB EVERY MONDAY IN MAY & JUNE 6PM-7.15PM Youngsters from ages 6-15 are welcome to come along to Lincroft Academy in Oakley. Bats and balls provided. A new Summer Junior League will also be running throughout July/August. Visit revolutionttc. co.uk/shop to book a place. Lincroft Academy, High Street, Oakley, MK43 7RE. OAKLEY RURAL DAY CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY We provide a fun filled day of activities, games and good old conversation. Day includes refreshments and a two-course lunch. The Old School, Lovell Road, Oakley, Beds, Mk43 7RX For details contact Lynne Tuesday to Thursday on 01234 824935 Or Mobile: 07733 227374 Email: Oakleyruraldaycentre@Yahoo.Com www.Oakleyruraldaycentre.Weebly.Com BROMHAM SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB MONDAYS 2PM – 4.30PM & TUESDAYS 7PM – 9.30PM Do come along and try your hand at short mat bowling in Bromham Village Hall. All abilities welcome, training will be given if a beginner. First two sessions are free together with a cup of tea/ coffee, biscuits and a chat at half time. Telephone Ron chapman 01234 822755 or Sue Amor 01234 823610 or just come along. CARERS TOGETHER 2ND AND 4TH TUES OF THE MONTH AT 2.30PM We are a group in Sharnbrook offering support for Carers and Activities for the person you care for. Meet with other Carers for tea, cake and a chat at the Methodist Church, Park Lane. Sharnbrook. Contact Linda Hoar 07791214148. MEN’S MONTHLY CLUB FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH A safe place to talk with like-minded people. Free pool, experts on hand to help, guest speakers. For more info call 07947 417663 or 07497 938963 The Exec Club, 3 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB THURSDAYS 8.15PM TO 10.15PM Friendly Country and Folk Dance Club. No partner required. It’s good fun for only £3 For more info call Ron Law 01234 825574 St Marys Church Hall, Church Lane, Goldington, Bedford MK41 0HL CARERS SOCIAL GROUP FIRST THURSDAY EVERY MONTH - 10AM TO 12PM Join this friendly group where you and the person you care for can meet others in similar circumstances over a cuppa. There is no need to register and there is no charge – just turn up! Carers in Bedfordshire Office, Emerald Court, Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7PZ GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP CLUB - FOR THE OVER 50’S EVERY THURSDAY - 2PM TO 4PM, ENTRY £1 Refreshments, raffle, bingo, games, crafts and more Also occasional meals and outings. For information call Marion on 01234 304382 Christ the King Parish Hall, Harrowden Road, Bedford MK42 0SP BEDFORD FOLK & ACOUSTIC CLUB EVERY THURSDAY 8:30PM - 11PM Acoustic and folk music round-the-room. Musicians, singers and poets all welcome, at every level. Find us on facebook or come along. The Bowls Pavilion of Kempston Hammers Club, MK42 7BN. CARERS SATURDAY SOCIAL GROUP FIRST SAT OF EVERY MONTH - 10AM TO 12PM Do you look after someone who can’t cope without your support? This could be a parent, child, partner or other family member or friend, with any condition. Join this friendly group where you and the person you care for can meet others in similar circumstances over tea and cake. Only £2 entry. Priory Methodist Church, 63 Newnham Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9QJ

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Countrywear

www.lodgeway-countrywear.co.uk 01462 816122 OPEN: TUE-FRI 10am-4pm SAT 10am-4pm

Chicksands, Shefford, Beds SG17 5QB

Sharnbrook House Care Home is set in the picturesque village of Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire and we specialise in high-quality residential care.

The team at Sharnbrook House are exceptional and wholly committed to providing the very best care. They are loving, caring, compassionate and have all been selected because they genuinely care and treat our residents with the respect and dignity that they deserve. Please call us on 01234 781294 to arrange a viewing of Sharnbrook House to ensure you know it is the right home for you and your loved one. Or e-mail sharnbrook@greensleeves.org.uk for any other information or to request a brochure. We are now recruiting for staff in a number of different roles, contact us for more details. Sharnbrook House,High Street, Sharnbook, Bedfordshire MK44 1PB Greensleeves Homes Trust is a registered charity in England & Wales No 1060478

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A portrait of the

Queen by Jennie Bond.

Jennie Bond worked as Royal Correspondent for the BBC throughout the Nineties, covering some of the happiest, most tragic and scandalous moments that have befallen the family in recent times. “At the heart of it, I am fan of royalty and a fan of the family unit,” she says. “The trials that the Royal Family have been through are really no different to our own, and that should reassure them as well as us. They are human beings, and fate doesn’t shine brighter on them, because the everyday gains and losses that are just part of being alive. “Ultimately, it is how you come back from the challenges that really matters – and the Queen has, over the past seven decades, truly shown herself to be the most resilient person possible.” Bond is certainly relieved our Head of State has styled and positioned herself with such a brand of quiet authority. “You could arguably look at almost everyone around the Queen and pick out faults and failings,” she says. “We’ve seen so many in recent years, to the extent we don’t need to name the culprits or the dealings. “Yet when you shine that light on the Queen it’s really difficult, at any point, to say, ‘you got that wrong’, or ‘this could have been done better’. “I think with Elizabeth we tend to take that for granted – we tend to just accept she is like that

without contemplating what sort of royal landscape we would have with someone less capable at the helm.” As far as privacy goes, the Queen values it, but respects the need to be visible and approachable. “Elizabeth is funny, charismatic, sharp as anything, but I think worn down at times by the sheer weight of what it is she has to do. It’s no easy task for someone in their nineties and no amount of wealth or privilege will compensate for what is an incredible commitment to her people,” says Bond. “I have had the honour of covering a lot of royal moments of great importance… moments in history I suppose – Princess Diana’s death, the Queen Mother’s death, the divorce of Charles and Diana. All those were very important moments I had to report on. But honestly, I think the jubilee celebrations and the pomp and pageantry is the most important. I know it signifies a simple anniversary – just a date in the calendar – but more than that it’s a way of looking back over the continued efforts of someone so brave and inspiring, and is the perfect way to say ‘thank you’ to a very special lady.”

The Queen’s Jubilee: Platinum Pomp The Derby at Epsom Downs. The event itself is over 240 years old and has garnered a different winner every year, and is open only to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies who have qualified for the race in the months preceding it. It remains the race that offers the biggest prize pot in the British racing – over £1.1million.

The work that goes on behind the scenes to mark Jubilee celebrations, which begin on Thursday, June 2nd. Soldiers, horses, and musicians It all starts to come to fruition on the Thursday, as Trooping the Colour marks the Queen’s birthday celebrations. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade. This is the first Jubilee celebration in which women will be included in the regiment, so additional preparations have been made to ensure the influx of first-time participants. RAF fly-past The traditional RAF fly-past completes the parade. The routine will have been practised countless times, though contrary to popular belief, this isn’t just a privilege reserved for the Queen. In the lead-up to the event, local communities have been invited to apply for their own fly-pasts. Jubilee beacons A fortnight before the Jubilee, 1,500 Platinum Jubilee beacons will have been distributed across the UK. This lighting of beacons first took place in 1897 to mark

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and are a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries, and continents. St Paul’s Cathedral On Friday, June 3rd, attention switches to the Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Public safety elements come to the fore here, with tens of thousands of well-wishers lining the streets around the Thames as the Queen and family members attend. The Derby A day of leisure follows on the Saturday as the Queen visits

10,000 charitable tickets In the evening, Elizabeth returns to London for a party at Buckingham Palace. In the months leading up to the event, which features music and drama celebrating some of the most significant cultural moments from The Queen’s seven-decade, over 10,000 tickets have been made available to charitable organisations. This has been two years in the planning. Street celebrations Finally, on Sunday, June 5th, communities across the UK are invited play out their own Platinum Jubilee street celebrations. Named The Big Lunch and launched in 2009, communities have been planning for months how they wish to mark the special day, with up over 1,500 applications made. 200 silk scarfs At the same time, the Platinum Jubilee Pageant sees artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers, and volunteers tell the story of the Queen’s 70-year reign. It includes a ‘River of Hope’ section comprised of 200 silk flags made by primary and secondary school children.

The

Queen in her own words

Quiet, impeccably mannered, but always addressing with poise and precision, what Queen Elizabeth II says is always worth hearing.

Serving her country Upon the Queen’s coronation, she declared herself fully at the service of the nation she was serving, as have all Monarchs coming to the throne. While the words are regularly spoken, the intensity with which they were said perhaps should have given some indication that Elizabeth truly was giving herself over to the nation, a fact that has been borne out in the 70 years that have followed. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Struggles Taking strength from all around her, the Queen has never professed to have all the answers. “I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”

The Queen and Diana The idea that the Queen was in some way unapproving of Diana is one that has permeated the popular press and, it might be said, has left an indelible stain on the reputation of both. Yet many biographers have noted that the relationship between the two was excellent, even after the break-up of Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles.

Family Bringing the royals back to a status where people can empathise and share in the joys and pain of the family unit, is something Elizabeth has excelled in.

“No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her.

Contrition Finally, the Queen has not only had to reference and apologise for events that occurred long before she was born.

“She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her – for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”

“Like all best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.”

“To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.”

LOCAL JUBILEE EVENTS HM THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION THURSDAY 2 JUNE 2PM TO 5PM. Best Crown Competition, Best cake competition. Raffle, music, children’s entertainer, £1 BBQ or bring your own picnic. Free and open to all Christ the King Parish Hall, Harrowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP For information call Sue on 07977 569053 QUEENS JUBILEE VINTAGE TEA PARTY AT COLMWORTH GOLF CLUB FRIDAY 3 JUNE 1.30PM Come along and enjoy scrummy cakes and refreshments at Colmworth Golf Club. Open to all – not just golfers! Enjoy listenening to Miss Alex Jones Vintage Jazz singer from 2pm No tickets needed – just come and enjoy our homemade cakes and live music. Tables can be reserved in advance (deposit required) – call 01234 378181 New Road, Colmworth MK44 2AP QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT OAKLEY SOCIAL CLUB FRIDAY 3 JUNE 12 NOON – 6PM Enjoy a pre-packaged picnic basket from OSSC and / or a BBQ on our field whilst listening to Simon Gutteridge perform live. There will be plenty of activities for kids and adults alike and fancy dress is encouraged! Book your picnic now by messaging us on Facebook or email steward@oakleyssc.com Church Lane, Oakley MK43 7RJ STEWARTBY QUEEN’S JUBILEE PICNIC SUNDAY 5 JUNE 12PM – 4PM The Parish Council invite all the community to come together to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. Bring your own picnic, Live music and dancing, Licenced Bar, Afternoon Tea Stall, Bouncy Castle, Kids Games and more. The Sports Field, Park Crescent, Stewartby, MK43 9NQ 36

JUBILEE GARDEN PARTY AT WOODLAND MANOR HOTEL SUNDAY 5 JUNE THE PARTY STARTS AT 1.30PM, WITH FOOD SERVED AT 2PM, AND LAST ORDERS AT THE BAR AT 6PM. Is there a better way to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee that a traditional English Garden Party in the grounds of the 18th century Manor House Hotel? Traditional Afternoon Tea will be served and includes a variety of home baked cakes and scones, homemade sandwiches, classic tea from the Manor and fresh coffee, you can also enjoy a range of garden games and music throughout the event. Booking is essential, and full payment at the time of booking. If you would like to attend, or would like further information, please contact 01234 363281 or email reception@woodlandmanorhotel.co.uk Green Lane, Clapham, Bedford MK41 6EP BROMHAM PLATINUM JUBILEE PICNIC PARTY SUNDAY 5 JUNE 11AM Celebration service and Jubilee picnic party with free bouncy castles, games, glitter tattoos, music and more.Free event but bring your own chairs and picnic.Bromham Village Hall Playing Field, Bromham, MK43 8JP. For more info visit www.bromham.org QUEENS JUBILEE TEA PARTY AT BEDFORD GUILD HOUSE FRIDAY 10 JUNE 2PM Bedford Guild House cordially invite you to get dressed up and join them to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. They will be having an afternoon tea with entertainment and lots and lots of fun! Call 01234 352038 to book today 56 Harpur Street, Bedford MK40 2QT

A r o ma C l e a n o f f e r a f r i e n d l y , r e l i a b l e &h o n e s t d o me s t i c c l e a n i n g s e r v i c e t a i l o r e d t o y o u r n e e d s P o l i c e C h e c k e d &F u l l y I n s u r e d

T a k i n g c a r e o f a l l y o u r h o me c l e a n i n g . . .

C a l l 0 7 7 9 1 2 5 8 3 4 1 o r 0 7 4 3 5 6 3 3 9 8 6 o r e ma i l D o n n a a r o ma c l e a n @ma i l . c o m To advertise with us, please contact christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk

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a family run FORD dealership for over 50 years

RGR Garages (Cranfield) Ltd, High Street, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0DG

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WHAT’S ON

STORYTELLING WITH GRANDMA MO WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE WORKSHOPS START AT 11:15AM, 12:45PM AND 2:15PM Listen to Grandma Mo’s story in the galleries, then make seedling pots and plant your own sunflowers. Suitable for 3 to 7 year olds. £3.05 per child Book online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 – line open Monday to Friday 11am-3pm. www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Book_Online/ Book_Online.aspx PARTY WITH A PRINCESS AFTERNOON TEA THURSDAY 2 JUNE 12PM – 2PM Sing, play games and enjoy afternoon tea with everyone’s favourite Ice Princesses £15 per child Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine, Bedford MK43 0PR. Book online at marstonvale.org/events BEDFORD ART SOCIETY MEETING FRIDAY 3 JUNE 7.15PM FOR 7.30PM START Jill Buckingham will be painting a portrait in soft pastels. All her life an artist, Jill has been “enthused, touched and excited by nature and humanity”. Jill is here to share that enthusiasm and excitement with you through her wealth of experience in art and her art as a lifestyle. Entry free for members, £5 for visitors. Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact Jean Paterson on 01234 307210 www.bedsartsociety.co.uk SHAKESPEARE IN THE RUINS – TWELFTH NIGHT AT ELSTOW ABBEY FRIDAY 3 JUNE 7PM (DOORS OPEN 6PM) The Three Inch Fools present Twelfth Night. 5 actors, music and mischief. Outdoor performance Please bring picnic, chairs and appropriate clothing Elstow Abbey, 6 Abbey Close, Elstow MK42 9XT For tickets visit www.threeinchfools.com 40

BEDFORD FLORAL ART SOCIETY TUESDAY 7 JUNE AT 7.30PM We welcome Gill McGregor with her floral demonstration entitled ‘Platinum Panache’. Visitors welcome £7 Addison Centre, Addison Howard Park Bedford Road, Bedford MK42 8PN www.bedfordfloralartsociety.co.uk BEDFORD FLEA, AFFORDABLE ART & LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET SUNDAY 12 JUNE 10AM – 3PM Local Produce section; grown-not-flown seasonal flowers, sheep cheese & milk, freshly baked bread, savoury goodies & sauces, Indian food, Bedfordshire brewed cider & distilled gin, free-from cakes and doughnuts. Doctor’s House will also be there with their Refill Station and locally made artisan body care and candles too! The Affordable Art section will be filled with a dozen local artists of varying disciplines. The Flea section will be FULL with the best antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, second hand vinyl and all the treasures you never knew you needed! St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SQ BEDFORD URBAN SKETCHERS JUNE SKETCH CRAWL SUNDAY 12 JUNE 11AM – 1.30PM MEET OUTSIDE THE CORN EXCHANGE ENTRANCE A chance to sketch the delights of our town centre market square – choose the bustling market and practice your people skills, the antiques and collectables of the Flea section, the artists selling their creations, or even the food and drinks producers. Or, turn out and face the county hall, the newly regenerated high street or even the Corn Exchange. There is a rich collection of architecture from across the centuries to be sketched! We welcome all ages, backgrounds and artistic abilities. This is not a taught class, but, we all encourage and learn from each other. Please bring your own materials. THE 39 STEPS AT SHARNBROOK MILL THEATRE TUESDAY 14 JUNE 7.30PM Two spies, a blonde and a guy go North by Northwest in this fast-paced whodunnit packed

with non-stop laughs, an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs and some romance! Get your tickets here: www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk/tickets/ BOLNHURST VINTAGE & COUNTRY FAYRE SATURDAY 18 AND SUNDAY 19 JUNE Vintage vehicles, local craft stands, arena events and much more. Supporting local Bedfordshire Charities. Adults £7, OAP’s £5, 10-16 Years £5, Under 10 Free Family 2xAdult & 2x10-16: £22 BALLIOL PRIMARY SCHOOL HARRY POTTER SUMMER FETE SATURDAY 18 JUNE 1PM-4PM Stalls, Raffle, Bouncy Castle, BBQ, Scavenger Trail Fun and Games and lots more! You can even visit Diagon Alley! Balliol Rd, Kempston MK42 7ER FRIENDS OF BEDFORD CEMETERY GUIDED TREE WALK SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2.15PM – MEET AT THE CHAPEL 10 MINS BEFORE THE START Join Jo Roberts from Marston Vale forest and discover some of our wonderful veteran trees which have been bought here from all corners of the world. The walk will last approx. 1.5 hours All walks are free but a small contribution to the Friends would be appreciated. Refreshments available at the end of the walk for a small charge. www.fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk BIDDENHAM GARDENERS ASSOCIATION TUESDAY 21 JUNE 2020 AT 7.30PM “A portrait of a Victorian Garden” By Russell Bowes Visitors very welcome Admission £5 per meeting for non-members – includes Raffle & Refreshments Biddenham Village Hall, Biddenham MK40 4BJ www.biddenhamgardenersassociation.org.uk AFTERNOON VINTAGE TEA FRIDAY 24 JUNE 2PM TO 4PM Entry £4 Includes tea, home-made cake and friendship

For information call Myriam on 07590 558275 Christ the King Parish Hall,Harrowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP BEDFORD GINFEST SATURDAY 25 JUNE 12NOON – 9PM Over 20 Gin Distilleries ranging from local independent companies from Beds, Herts and Bucks to your better-known favourites, a Craft Beer marquee offering a large range of local, national and imported modern beers and ciders, a Street Food market and much more! Russell Park, The Embankment, Bedford MK40 3RH CHOIR CONCERT AT ST MARKS BRICKHILL SATURDAY 25 JUNE 3PM U3a Harmony are delighted to announce our Summer Concert 2022 Expect old songs, folk songs, show songs and of course a sing-a-long Free admission (donations welcome) The Best Tea Ladies in the County will be in attendance! Glorious raffle prizes!! St Marks Church, Calder Rise, Brickhill MK41 7UY OPEN GARDENS, CHURCH END, BIDDENHAM SUNDAY 26 JUNE 2PM-5PM Explore the wide variety of gardens in Church End, Biddenham MK40 4AR. Afternoon teas, home-made cakes and plant stall. Tickets just £5 per person for all gardens that are open, available on the day from the Church Barn. Children under 12 free. For more information, email churchendgardens@gmail.com. In aid of The Friends of St James, Biddenham.

FOR MORE WHAT’S ON EVENTS VISIT WWW.BEDSLIFEMAGAZINE.CO.UK BedsLife Magazine cannot be held responsible for any event changes, amends or cancellations. Please ensure to check ahead before attending.

To list an event in our July issue please email christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk by Friday 10th June. Priority will be given to non profit events.

From the award-winning West End producers of Gangsta Granny and Horrible Histories comes this amazing new production of David Walliams’ best-selling story! Joe Spud is twelve years old and the richest boy in the country! He has his own sports car, two crocodiles as pets and £100,000 a week pocket money! But what Joe doesn’t have is a friend. So he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comp. But things don’t go as planned for Joe and life becomes a rollercoaster as he tries to find what money can’t buy! Billionaire Boy performs at Milton Keynes Theatre from Thu 30 Jun to Sun 3 Jul. Tickets from ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes

a family ticket (4 tickets, max 2 adults) for the performance on Tuesday 13th September at 7:30pm T’s & C’s: • The tickets are valid on Tuesday 13th September at 7:30pm • Tickets will be sent via email in advance of the performance. • Tickets are non-transferable, nonrefundable, non-exchangeable and cannot be re-sold. • No cash alternative will be given.

To be in with a chance to win, email your name and phone number to competitions@bedsLifemagazine.co.uk and tell us how many brothers Joseph had. Entries must be received by Monday 13th June.

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MILKYS MUSIC MATTERS INTERVIEW: Chris Cleverley © Abbie Barton

Chris Cleverley was born under a solstice moon, in an aura of honeysuckle mysticism. With a visceral lyrical style, inspired by the American greats Elliott Smith & Sufjan Stevens, his Altfolk songwriting explores the place of acoustic music within the 21st Century emotional landscape. BedsLife: Hi Chris, i hear you’re a resident of the area, have you lived here long? I recently moved to Bedford from Birmingham. It’s been good connecting with an area with such a strong sense of community, so many vibrant opportunities for the arts, and a great independent spirit. I’m loving local businesses like The Store, Beerfly and The Flying Cork. Everyone here seems to be on the same page, championing the diverse sense of culture. 44

BL: As labels go, are you comfortable with “altfolk” being used to describe your sound? I ask because there are some tender ballad style songs in your repertoire that perhaps break free from such labels. Labels are always tricky, especially with folk having become an all-encompassing term for anything with an acoustic guitar. I have broad musical tastes and draw on a lot of different influences from folk to electronic to indie to orchestral. A label like ‘alt-folk’ can help set the scene, but my fanbase knows that’s only a starting point. They trust me to do something different with each album, allowing space for both the punchier full-band arrangements and the stripped-back tender stuff. As an artist, I find this diversity of sound crucial for staying interested in what I’m doing. BL: How did you formulate your current sound? Did you start off in rock bands at all? Any dodgy old band names you can reveal? I played in rock bands when I was a teenager. Fortunately, it was in the days before social media so those cringey band names, haircuts and outfits have been written out the history books! Maybe there’s still an attachment to those days which comes out in my heavier full-band arrangements. I think the starting point for my current sound was discovering acoustic-based American indie artists like Elliott Smith, Anais Mitchell and Bright Eyes. They have a strong sense of melody and combine this with raw, visceral lyricism. When I first heard these artists it made me think, that’s the type of music I want to make.

SUPPORT THE BEDFORD LIVE SCENE – UPCOMING GIGS FOR YOUR DIARY ESQUIRES Thur 2nd June Sun 5th June Tue 7th June Wed 8th June Fri 10th June Sat 11th June

The Royston Club Stiff Little Fingers The Courettes Wayward Sons Verb T + Strange U Morderstein – The Ultimate Rammstein Tribute

Tue 14th June Fri 17th June Sat 18th June Sun 19th June Sat 25th June

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The Specials Tom Grennan

+ many more, check listings at bedfordesquires.com for details or facebook.com/bedfordesquires Tickets available from Esquires, Slide Record Shop and online at seetickets.com

BL: You’re playing at The Place in Bedford on the 2nd of June, what can we expect from the live show? The Place is a beautiful theatre that is wellpositioned for an intimate acoustic performance with a strong connection between artist and audience. I’m going out solo for this tour with stripped-back acoustic arrangements of both my old and new songs. I’m passionate about giving live audiences something different than they get from hearing just the record. Fingerstyle guitar has always been my thing: fast picking, percussive techniques, alternate tunings. The new album is coming out in November and I’ll be sharing some songs for the first time. I’m lucky to be joined by Hertfordshirebased songwriter Kelly Oliver who has been championed by BBC6 Music and the Sunday Times. BL: A track such as Apparitions has a really haunting melody and the additional female vox really elevates this – any plans to record duets? It’s funny you mention this as I’m working on a side project with more stripped-back arrangements and a big focus on vocal harmony and blending female and male voices. It’s in its early stages so I can’t reveal much but it will definitely be for anyone who’s particularly enjoyed that aspect of my music so far. BL: What can we expect from the next record? It’s a big transition and so different from anything I’ve done before. I’ve been working with an incredible producer called John Elliott, from the ‘Reveal Records’ band ‘The Little Unsaid’. He’s a

great innovator and has helped me to break out of the ‘acoustic music’ that has defined most of my career. He’s brought in contemporary sonic references like synths, samples and programmed beats. It still has the golden thread of my voice and my lyrical style, but otherwise the sound is incomparable. I’ve been inspired by artists like Sufjan Stevens, Ben Howard and Bon Iver who have had hit acoustic records followed by pure synth pop on their next release. As a fan of their music, it challenges my listening preferences and I think that’s an important thing as an artist to aspire towards. There are some challenging lyrical themes: a mixture of telling my own story and adding to the conversation of the wider issues. There’s a lot in there about the climate emergency, pervasive artificial intelligence and inequalities within our societies. But there’s also hope, drawing peace and inspiration from connection to the natural world and the value of human connection, especially when we’ve been starved of it these last two years. Tickets for the show can be purchased here – https://theplacebedford.ticketsolve.com

COMING UP, COMING UP Bands who will go onto bigger things (do not miss your chance to see them before they play much bigger venues) – The Royston Club Punk – Cockney Rejects, Stiff Little Fingers Big names – Wolfsbane Ska – The Specials Indie – The Parrots Phil Spector meets garage rock – The Courettes

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Applications by Email to Hope, with details of working background, your availability and suitability for the role. Contact hope.empathycare@btinternet.com

Experience: Customer relations, background in care/nursing or working in clients’ homes useful but not necessary as training is given.

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Orchids

The orchids that people most often encounter in the UK are those gracing the shelves of supermarkets and garden centres – bold, brightly coloured specimens such as Phalaenopsis, which are native to South Asia but are now extremely popular in British homes. And although you might not find anything quite as showy as the tropical species we grow as house plants, you might be surprised to learn that you can discover many different orchids in the British countryside too. A total of 52 different species are native to the UK, and almost 30 of these have been recorded in Bedfordshire. One of these – the bee orchid – has even been crowned the county’s official flower.

As the name suggests, part of the flower (the lip) of this stunning species resembles a bee. The function of this mimicry – which even extends to the scent of the flower – is to tempt a male bee to ‘mate’ with it, accumulating pollen in the process, which is then transferred when it visits another bee orchid. However, the strategy is ineffective here in the UK as the bee species it is designed to attract does not live here. As such, bee orchids in this country self-pollinate in order to reproduce.

This exotic-looking species can be found in many different places – in grasslands, woods, road verges and railway embankments. Occasionally they’ve even been known to pop up in gardens. Peak flowering time is June. Among the first to orchids to flower are the early-purples around April. Found in a variety of habitats including grassland, woodland and road verges, the early purple orchid is larger than the bee orchid, growing to around 40cm in height. The deep magenta flowers are arranged in a cluster of up to 50 around the stem, and the glossy leaves are covered in dark purple blotches. Another distinguishable feature of the early purple orchid is its scent. When they first appear, the flowers give off a sweet fragrance, but after fertilisation the scent is more akin to urine! Far more pleasant to the nostrils is the chalk fragrant orchid, a species which has a sweet vanilla scent that intensifies towards dusk in order to attract nightflying moths. Chalk fragrant orchids begin flowering around mid-May, and normally grow to around 40cm. Up to 200 pinky-purple flowers form in a cylinder shape around the stem. As the season progresses our most widespread orchid, the common spotted, starts to bloom. Easier to find than most other species, you can see it flowering in many different places – on grasslands, in woodlands, roadside verges, hedgerows, old quarries and marshes – between May and August.

The flowers are arranged in tight clusters and come in a range of colours from white to pink and through to magenta. All have distinctive darker purple markings on their three-lobed lips and the leaves are also spotted with purple. Although relatively common – for an orchid at least – finding one of these flowers is still a magical experience. Look closely and you can’t help but be won over by their beauty. Not all British orchids have colourful, exquisite flowers though. One very interesting exception is the bird’s nest orchid – an extremely rare species that grows in shady woodland. This orchid does not use sunlight to produce energy through photosynthesis as it lacks chlorophyll – the substance that makes our plants green. Instead it relies on its host for nutrients, living parasitically on the roots of trees. Food is stored in the tangle

of roots that gives the plant its name. The flower of this orchid is very distinctive – a rather sicklylooking beige due to the lack of chlorophyll. Another of the less showy varieties of orchid – which is also much more widespread– is the common twayblade. It grows in woods, grassy places and scrubland, but is sometimes overlooked because of its rather inconspicuous green and yellow flowers. Despite growing up to 75cm in height, this orchid is sometimes missed because it blends in so well to its surroundings. Do let us know about any orchids you find while out exploring the Forest of Marston Vale, and tempting as it may be, please don’t pick the flowers. Orchids look their best out in the wild, and many are legally protected so you could be breaking the law.

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Why choose Acorn House ?

Acorn House was the first Veterinary Hospital in Bedford To be awarded hospital status, a veterinary practice must: • Pass regular rigorous inspections by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons • Ensure that nursing staff are on site 24 hours a day • Ensure that veterinary surgeons are available 24 hours a day • Provide specialist equipment for diagnosis and treatment • Employ veterinary surgeons with advanced qualifications and experience

The highest accreditation a veterinary practice can be awarded is Veterinary Hospital status

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Neutering female dogs

Neutering female dogs is known as spaying. It involves the removal of the ovaries so that the dog will not come into season any more. Vets recommend that female dogs not intended for breeding are spayed. Spaying prevents unwanted pregnancy and avoids the inconvenience of seasons. It also prevents the development of life-threatening womb infections which commonly develop in entire females; and when performed in young dogs, it dramatically reduces the risk of developing mammary cancer in the future. In small-breed dogs (those with a predicted adult weight of 15kg or less), spaying can be carried out at 6 months of age, before any seasons take place. At Acorn House, we recommend that larger breed dogs wait to have a first season and are then booked in for spaying 3 months after that. This is because neutering dogs before they have finished growing is thought to increase the risk of joint problems later in life.

Spaying is carried out under a general anaesthetic with full monitoring and support. In a traditional spay a single incision is made along the underside of the belly and the ovaries are brought up to this incision to be tied off with surgical thread and removed. In a laparoscopic (keyhole) spay there are three very small incisions made in a line instead, so that long, telescopic surgical instruments can be inserted to visualise the ovaries on a monitor and use a heat sealing device to carry out removal of the ovaries. In general, the keyhole method results in much smaller wounds and less tissue handling, so recovery is faster and more comfortable. Contact your vet for further information about spaying your dog.

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Gardening Tips and Advice from

Flaming June is with us already. It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was scraping ice from my car windscreen. Traditionally, the 6th of June heralds the arrival of warmer weather with June 2019 being the hottest on record. ‘Flaming June’ is also a beautiful painting by Sir Frederick Leighton. Timely then for an economical tip on watering your shrubs, especially with soaring living costs worrying us all. For us gardeners, this means sustaining our gardens with frugal use of water. As the weather gets hotter and drier, make a ‘trickle hose’ to water your shrubs and trees. Just punch holes in a length of old hose pipe, thread it through your shrubs at the roots, and leave running for a short while each evening; just long enough to enjoy a gin and tonic while you admire your garden. Remember that the bedding plants you put out last month will need watering too. They have not yet anchored themselves to your soil and will deteriorate if they become too dry.

THE G

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NTLEM GE

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If you have a greenhouse, the final potting of your chrysanthemums should be completed, along with your cyclamen and hydrangea cuttings. Here’s a tip: if you want blue hydrangeas, use John Innes number 1 potting compost and add no lime. Don’t forget to lift your tulips and dry them before storing them, tie in your blackberries and loganberries, top dress your cucumbers and broad beans, and thin your grapes. For a better grape harvest, when they are bunching the size of peas, cut a third off. You’ll be pleased you did later in the year. I was at my nursery grower the other day and the topic came round to old, forgotten flower names. Who remembers gillyflower (now carnation) eglantine, sweetbrier, French willow, love-in-amist, soapwort, meadowsweet, sweet Cicely? It made me quite nostalgic. Remember, gardening adds years to your life and life to your years. So, with my tools cleaned and my potting shed door locked, I wish you enjoyment from your gardens, whether window box, cottage, or castle. The Gentleman Gardener

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MAY PRIZE CROSSWORD

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OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE FULLY INSURED Free Estimates, Testing and Condition Reporting, Fuse Boards, Smoke Alarm, Domestic, Commercial, Industrial Installation Works, Emergency lighting, Fire Alarms, new builds, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, external sockets, hot tub, sauna power. L.E.D Lighting Upgrades Lighting Design ELECTRICAL CAR CHARGING

ALL STAFF FULLY CRB CHECKED AND QUALIFIED *NO JOB TOO SMALL*

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The Will Writing Company Mayfair House 11 Lurke Street Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 01234 964911

Free Will & Testament The Will Writing Company is celebrating its 22nd Year in business and is offering a free Will & Testament (joint or single) to all readers. If you have been meaning to make a Will, now is your chance to take advantage of this exclusive offer and give you and your loved ones peace of mind. By making a Will, you decide who takes care of your children and who inherits your estate. Storage facility optional.

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

OFFER ENDS 30th June 2022

FREE WILL VOUCHER

This voucher entitles you to a FREE Mirror Will (normal cost £125) or a FREE Single Will (normal cost £85)

Valid until 30th June 2022 The Will Writing Company

Mayfair House, 11 Lurke Street, Bedford, Beds, MK40 3HZ

Tel 01234 964911

Email:enquiries@thewillwritingco.co.uk

Terms and Conditions. Office and telephone appointments available. This voucher can not be exchanged for cash – The voucher must be produced at your appointment.

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