Barton Villager December 2012

VILLAGER The

Issue 1 - Dec 12/Jan 13

and Town

Life

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

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VILLAGER The

In this Issue

Issue 1 - Dec 12/Jan 13

and Town

Life

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

10 Barton’s Lost Aerodrome A Tale of a Missing Airfield

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Bringing Local Business to local people in Barton, Harlington, Ampthill, Flitwick, Westoning, Pulloxhill and all surrounding villages

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Advertising Sales Mary Williams mary@villagermag.com Tel:- 07549 661441 Additional Editorial Pippa Greenwood, Claudia Leaf, Katharine Sorrell and James Baggott

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Top Tips for ChristmasDecorations.....................................4 A Very Vintage Christmas.......................................................6 Your Perfect Christmas............................................................9 Bright World Guardianships............................................... 13 Board Games............................................................................ 15

Front Cover Photo: Sandra Cunningham

Winter Planters........................................................................ 18

Design and Artwork Design 9 - Tel 07762 969460

Ford B-Max................................................................................ 20

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122

Puzzle Page............................................................................... 24

Email:nigel@villagermag.com

VILLAGER The

Seasonal Delights................................................................... 23

What’s On?................................................................................ 26 East Anglian Air Ambulance............................................... 30 Fun Quiz..................................................................................... 31

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

and Town Life

Disclaimer

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

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Top tips for

xmas decorations Have your festive decorations lost their sparkle?

Are they gaudy rather than gorgeous, tacky instead of terrific? Katherine Sorrell has some ideas to bring back your home’s Christmas cheer with wreaths, baubles and garlands galore Choose a theme - Rather than assembling any old cacophony of decorations, choosing a theme brings unity to the overall look. It should suit the style of your house and the way your family celebrates the festive season, whether laid-back and relaxed, sophisticated or formal. For some, that might mean a traditional, living fir tree and a colour theme of red, green and gold. For others, a kitsch fake tree with fluorescent ornaments; or perhaps a minimal, modern style with pure silver and glass. A Scandinavian theme would involve simple decorations in red and white, while a colourful, contemporary theme would be based around one or two bright colours.

Dress the tree - Start by winding it with lights – making sure they’re evenly distributed by occasionally switching them on and standing back for an overall impression. Use a small stepladder if necessary to reach the top. Next, drape your garlands, again aiming for evenness and an impression of generosity without overloading the tree. On small or slim trees, use slender garlands; on larger trees you can afford to go for heavier, fancier garlands. Last, hang your ornaments, with the largest first, filling in around them with smaller ones. Don’t hang all the ornaments on the tips of branches – placing some nearer the trunk creates a sense of depth and interest.

Hang a wreath - For some, the making of a family wreath using foraged leaves, flowers, seeds, nuts and fruit is a significant part of the holiday season; for others, creating a decorative wreath offers the chance to experiment with exciting new materials, from tinsel to feathers, pearls to buttons. Alternatively, ready-made examples are available in any style imaginable, from classic to contemporary, heart-shaped or circular, small or large, utterly simple or lavish and complex.

Whatever its style, a Christmas wreath always provides a wonderful sense of festive welcome.

Make some decorations - Home-made Christmas decorations can be as elaborate or simple as you wish, be they charmingly childish or ultrasophisticated. Multi-coloured paper chains are

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the ultimate in family favourites, as are cutwork paper stars and clove-studded oranges. How about pom pom snowmen, peg-doll angels or glitter-covered pine cones? Or mini stocking shapes cut out of felt and ginger biscuits to hang from the tree? It’s all great fun and will create happy memories for years to come.

Wrap your presents - Transform present-wrapping from a chore to a pleasure by taking a little extra time and trouble. When they’re piled under the tree they will look so much better if they’re colourcoordinated and criss-crossed with ribbons and bows. Inexpensive paper – even brown paper or newsprint – looks lovely if adorned with a home-made label, while sequins, feathers, glitter, stamped designs and wired beads can all provide additional allure. For a frivolous finishing touch add a tiny pine cone, iced biscuit or small bauble.

Sort out your cards - An abundance of cards can soon appear to cover every available surface, so it pays to establish a system as soon as they start arriving. The most straightforward option is to clear a shelf or two, and arrange them close together, large at the back and small at the front, in neat rows. Smaller cards can be tucked around a mirror or picture frame. An alternative is to staple them to ribbons (weighted by a bauble or pine cone) to hang in rows from a mantelpiece or along the side of the staircase.

Create displays - Nothing says Christmas like poinsettias in pots, scented candles on the mantelpiece and ivy, holly and mistletoe draped over every available surface. Bowls of clementines or nuts are both ornamental as well as edible, while baubles or fairy lights (the latter placed near a handy socket) can also be bundled into a glass bowl or vase for a glittery effect. Now’s the time to dig out that special table runner and your best crockery, glassware and cutlery for an eyecatching table display, finished off with a dish, tray or platter filled with greenery, candles and other festive decorations.

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A very vintage Christmas

By Claudia Leaf

It’s mid December and your newly-bought Christmas tree is standing naked in the corner of your living room. So it’s to the loft, garage or shed to dig out that battered old box of decorations.

If your box is anything like mine, you’ll probably find a past-its-best fairy with drooping wings, some purple and silver baubles from the Millennium and two crushed crackers from last year’s Christmas lunch (couldn’t bear to throw them away) tangled together with swathes of tinsel, garlands, non-functioning fairy lights and springs of plastic holly.

Most of my hoard is cheap, garish and ultimately disposable. But there’s one very special part of the collection that I will never throw away. It’s a treasured set of old-style, hand painted tree decorations, made out of wafer thin glass.

Vintage tree ornaments are an evocative sight for those of us who were children in the 1950s and 60s: each year when I unwrap my collection it takes me back to a time when Christmas seemed truly magical and exciting. Although I understand the reasons why hanging delicate glass baubles on the Christmas tree – within grabbing distance of little hands - is no longer a good idea, it’s sad to think that such beautiful items are no longer readily available.

The tradition of making glass tree decorations dates back to 17th century Bohemia (the modern day Czech Republic) and Germany. Today’s familiar ball shapes had their origins at a place called Lauscha in Germany, where legend has it they were first created when glass blowers competed to see who could blow the largest sphere before the molten glass popped.

Those that survived were kept by the glassmakers’

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wives, swirled with silver nitrate and sold at local markets as magic talismans, offering protection and blessing during the holy season.

In 1848 a picture of the young Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree, hung with decorations brought from her husband Prince Albert’s native Germany, was published in the Illustrated London News. This sparked a copycat craze throughout Europe and soon whole families in the town of Lauscha were employed to mass-produce decorations – the menfolk blowing the glass and the women and children painting and finishing the ornaments.

Later that century, German immigrants brought the same passion for glass decorations to America. Thanks to entrepreneur Frank Woolworth - who bought millions for his popular chain stores - what began as a cottage industry in Lauscha became an international phenomenon.

By the mid-20th century new molding techniques had sped up mass production and reduced the cost of manufacture. In addition to the more conventional round and oval shapes, there were decorations shaped like musical instruments, stars, lanterns, mushrooms, snowflakes, snowy cottages and little figures of Santa Claus. My favourites were the exotic birds with silky fibre glass tails that clipped onto your tree and trembled like real birds.

Nowadays most Christmas tree ornaments are made out of plastic, but if you do happen to find a Lauschan treasure lurking at the bottom of your decorations box, take good care of it. Vintage tree ornaments are becoming highly collectable and you can find sets on Ebay and other online auction sites for between £15 and £30.

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Your perfect Christmas

celebrate your way!

The perfect family Christmas – we’ve all seen it on the telly. Adoring parents watch beautiful children open immaculately wrapped gifts, their faces full of joy and wonder. So why is it that so many festive seasons consist of weeks of frantic present-buying, culminating in arguments, tantrums and burnt sprouts?

I think that a lot of the stress of Christmas comes from our unreasonable expectations of the day. We can feel pressurised to celebrate in a way that is never going to work.

Difficult as it may be, the most important thing is to think about what you really want from Christmas and to stick to it. Maybe you’d like to spend the day just with your partner, or to eat curry instead of turkey for once?

If this ruffles people’s feathers, try a compromise – you could agree to do things one way this year and another the next. To avoid simmering tensions, say no to things you are really against, but offer an alternative. For example, you could suggest meeting up with friends or family during the quiet days between Christmas and the New Year.

If you are the one who hosts the family Christmas lunch, ease the pressure by asking people to bring specific contributions, and allocate jobs beforehand. It may seem bossy,

but things will go much more smoothly if everyone knows what they are doing.

On the day, designate one room as a chill-out place, where people can go to escape if they need to. And try to take a break from the sofa for a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to stagnate over Christmas and a dose of the great outdoors is good for everyone.

Worrying about money is one of major causes of stress at Christmas and can spoil your enjoyment of the day. This year, why not challenge yourself to choose smaller gifts that are really special?

You can look in local independent shops for unusual items, or try Christmas craft fairs and charity shops.

Last year I decided to have a real budget Christmas and made food gifts for my friends and family. Ask a foodie friend, or search online if you’re stuck for recipes. (Nigella’s Chilli Jam is a good one.) Another idea is to give your time to help someone. Or you can buy pretty boxes, or bags, and make your own bespoke gift sets or kits.

Christmas is said to be all about children, but I think for it to really work, the adults also need to have fun. So arrange some treats for yourself and make this Christmas really special – for you too!

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Barton’s lost Aerodrome

A tale of a missing airfield!

F/O STODART DURING THE LUTON BUZZARD’S TEST FLIGHT AT BARTON AERODROME (1936)

Barton’s airfield came in to existence on 1st January 1935 after the field had been acquired from Brookend Green Farm by the Luton Aircraft Company.

Today we think of ‘airfields’ as big long tarmacked runways, a tall control tower and a terminal but back in 1935 ‘aircraft’ and tourism flights was in its infancy... Barton’s airfield was in reality nothing more than grass field just over 500mts at longest point and nothing more!

The field was bounded on all sides with hedges, a large section to the east that bounded the Barton Brook was so boggy that it was deemed off limits, the only access was along Faldo Road where the field bordered the road leading to Faldo Farm.

Location wise it was far from perfect the ground

bordered by hills sweeping round anticlockwise from Pulloxhill in the north as far as Hexton in the east, with the mighty Sharpenhoe Clappers bearing down a mere 3/4 miles to the south with its canopy some 120 meters in height above the field.

Luton Airport Limited was born from the union of two great men in aviation, th highly talented William Manuel and the skilled Cecil LatimerNeedham. These were two men with two very different backgrounds and two very different methods but only one goal... the pursuit of aviation excellence.

The first flying aircraft to emerge from the companies hangars was the Luton Buzzard, a curious mix of glider and conventional aeroplane, with its wide low wings and high mounted 2 cylinder Anzani engine borrowed from a Morgan Aero car this ‘Pusher’ glider was an amalgamation of both many ideas and borrowed parts!

Barton & District History Group www.bartonleclay.org/history TELEPHONE: 07837 873514 Find out what happened to the Luton Buzzard in the next issue!

CAPTAIN CH LATIMER-NEEDHAM AND LUTON BUZZARD (1936)

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Kindly supplied by Jenna Leigh-Thompson Acting group secretary, Barton & District History Group www.bartonleclay.org/history TELEPHONE: 07837 873514 For more information on Barton Le Clay visit the Village website http://www.bartonleclay.org/

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Culture Lesson at the Breakfast Table

and a great way to boost your Income Given the continuing huge demand for places at UK boarding schools from overseas, Bright World Guardianships, a Sussex based company, is predicting yet another increase in the number of students who will be joining schools in the UK in September this year.

Bright World Guardianships is a long established Guardianship company charged with offering care to international students in UK boarding schools whose parents are not living here. These bright and brave young students are full boarders at schools but need host family accommodation when schools close for short breaks such as Half terms and exeat weekends. With so many excellent independent schools in the UK, it is likely that an increase in demand will be evident here.

Hosting international students is a very fulfilling and rewarding role. Bright World do, of course, pay a generous nightly rate to cover expenses for visiting children which can offer a valuable

DO YOU WANT TO HOST AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FOR BRIGHT WORLD GUARDIANSHIPS? Bright World Guardianships Ltd is an AEGIS Accredited, UK wide guardianship organisation and takes care of international children studying at UK boarding schools.

We are looking for families to host our students for some weekends and half terms during the academic year when their school is closed but they are too far from home to return to their Mum and Dad. Please get in touch if you are interested.

‘hosting an international student has been a rewarding experience.

It has given a valuable income as well as being a fun and cultural experience’

extra income to families. More than this though, hosting a young international student can make their entire experience in the UK a happy one.

If you welcome them into your home they will actually look forward to exeats and half terms and it will enhance their overall experience and impression of the UK. Your children will also benefit from the exposure to sharing their home with an international student and will learn about new cultures and countries - think of it as a geography and culture lesson at your breakfast table.

So becoming a Bright World host family can not only help pay for that annual holiday but will help to educate your own children to new cultures and at the same time make a young international student’s life so much better.

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Board Games

They’re anything but boring?

Despite the increasing popularity of computer and electronic games, good old fashioned board games still have their place. There are websites dedicated to fans of the genre, and when I posted a request on Facebook for recommendations, I was inundated with suggestions. Yes, a passion for this type of gaming is still very much alive!

As a child I spent rainy Saturday afternoons sprawled across the living room carpet engrossed in a game of Monopoly. British weather being what it is, mum would entertain us three children for several hours with this rather long winded game that has aptly been renamed ‘Monotony’ by some!

The most memorable games always involved dad.

He was kind, fair and compassionate by nature, but once involved in a game of Monopoly, a much darker side would emerge. If he met with bad luck at the start, he would tug at our heart strings, persuade us to part with valuable properties for next to nothing, talk us into letting him off rent, and then end up winning by placing about fourteen hotels on Park Lane! Merciless, totally merciless.

Scrabble is another favourite. Mum and I have enjoyed many an hour challenging one another’s wits and word power. It’s a great way to improve vocabulary and spelling skills, but neither is actually required to win. Dad was notorious for

his somewhat unorthodox spellings and when it was his turn, he would pour over the board for what seemed like hours, giving mum time to make a drink, eat a round of toast and watch the latest episode of Coronation Street, before placing his three letter word that included an x and z over a triple letter word-score and earning himself in excess of 100 points. Strategy was always the key, and he was not lacking in that department!

I remember the time the family played Pictionary on a caravan holiday. We laughed and teased and giggled at one another’s attempts at drawing, but none were as funny as dad’s rendition of a horse. It took us the best part of an hour to identify it and the cup and saucer that followed weren’t much better!

Fun, friendship and family time together are all reasons why board games continue to be as popular now as ever. Nothing can replace that feeling of camaraderie that comes with physical proximity as you nudge elbows and knock knees, or even the board itself, while engrossed in the very serious business of trying to beat down your opponents. All the better if those opponents are blood-relatives!

More recent additions to our games cupboard include Blokus, Rummikub and Uno, but there is a whole host of games out there just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed! Go get yourself one!

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Winter Planters

by pippa Greenwood Even if you’re sure you’re not going to venture out in to your garden much in the colder months, make sure you have every possible encouragement by creating a winter planter or two. A pretty planter on the front steps or gracing the patio will not only look gorgeous from the warm comfort of the house, but will also help to coax you outside from time to time. Grab a container, some compost and a selection of plants and be creative.

Larger is better, as once temperatures drop a larger container is more likely to protect the roots on the plants due to the greater volume of compost. Frozen roots are fatal, so this is really worth bearing in mind. I’d avoid any container less than 30cm (12in) diameter if possible, unless you live in a very mild area. Remember that summer bedding displays can be pulled out now, so you can always re-use suitable containers once the plants have been cleared.

Any container will insulate the roots a little, but one made from thick wood (such as a wooden trough or window box, or a half-barrel) will be very effective. Good quality, fairy chunky plastic also works quite well. Try to avoid metal as this tends to conduct cold.

Warm undergarments are all the rage for winter planters. A lining of bubble-wrap polythene or even a few layers of old fabric or carpet, sandwiched between the sides of the container and the compost will help to keep both compost and roots warm. I always save packaging materials from parcels for this sort of thing; why not pull out the bubble-wrap inner lining from a large padded envelope and use that?

If you live in a particularly cold area, or simply want to decrease the risk of winter damage further, try to position winter planters out of the windiest areas. If possible place them fairly close to a house wall on the south or west side as this will help to provide a little extra warmth.

A visit to your local plant nursery or garden centre at this time of year should fill you with inspiration as you’ll be amazed at the range of plants available for adding winter colour and interest to pots and planters. Some of my favourites are the universal or other winter flowering pansies or even hardier smaller flowered violas.

For some seriously sturdy winter colour, try the winter flowering heathers as these make a good

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base for the display and you can, if you wish, add trailing plants such as variegated ivies to help provide extra colour, texture and interesting leaf shapes. All these plants will last for years, not just the winter months.

At this time of year you are likely to find many garden centres offer very tiny versions of shrubs such as skimmias, Pieris or hollies and many of the dwarf conifers. Although these obviously have the potential to grow considerably larger, they will provide good colour and interest in a container for a year or two and can then be planted out into the garden and allowed to reach their full size.

In warmer areas, you will also be able to add bright patches of colour to your display using the ‘winter cherry’ or solanum which has bright yellow and orange fruits and also many of the polyanthus whose super-sized, primrose-like flowers come in a wide range of really showy colours. You could also use a few winter flowering cyclamen but these definitely need a very sheltered spot such as a window box on a protected wall.

Finally, don’t forget to prolong the time which the planter will look gorgeous by adding in a few early spring flowering bulbs such as miniature narcissus, crocus and miniature iris. There are many different forms, colours and shapes of all these bulbs available and if hidden beneath the roots of your winter bedding plants, you will forget they are there until they burst out in spring and produce a lovely flush of fresh, pretty colour and often some delightful perfume too.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and sign up for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’. Choose from a fantastic selection of vegetables that Pippa will send to you at just the right time for planting AND each week you receive an email telling you all you need to know to ensure great results – from just £29 for up to 66 garden-ready plants.

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Ford B-Max

BY JAMES BAGGOTT Ford has ditched its forgettable Fusion and replaced it with a bold car sporting no B-pillars, but is it any good? We find out.

What is it?

It is the first car in a massive product offensive from the Blue Oval, designed to keep the car giant profitable in Europe. The B-Max replaces the forgettable – but much-loved among certain UK buyers – Fusion and goes up against rivals from Vauxhall, Honda, Nissan and Citroen in the B-segment MPV market. But to steal sales away from these firms, the B-Max has a party-piece – no B-pillars.

What’s under the bonnet?

Petrol buyers will be able to choose between the new 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine with 99bhp or 118bhp. There’s also a 1.4 litre Duratorq with 89bhp and a 1.6-litre Ti-VCT unit with 104bhp and an automatic gearbox. Diesels include a 1.5 with 74bhp and a 1.6 with 94bhp. Ford says the best seller will be the 1.6-litre diesel, but, in time, the 1.0-litre could claim that title.

What’s the spec like?

The range kicks off at £12,995 for the Studio 1.4-litre petrol which comes with electric mirrors and electric windows front and rear, while prices top out at £18,895 for the Titanium 1.6-litre diesel.

That model comes as standard with 16-inch alloys, auto headlamps and Ford system – a clever voice control and device integration system. It’s a £250

option on all models bar the Titanium.

What’s it like to drive?

At launch we drove the 1.0-litre Ecoboost 118bhp and the 1.6-litre diesel. The 1.0-litre is a blast yet still offers agreeable fuel economy figures – 55.4mpg combined is quoted – while the 1.6-litre diesel is sluggish. It has light steering and the ride is supple. The B-Max retains the Fiesta’s fun handling – a car on which it’s based.

What do the press think of it?

The Telegraph said: ‘After the execrable Fusion, Ford has worked hard to produce something different and worthwhile. This is a wellengineered car, safe and good looking.’ Honest John adds: ‘And anyone already contemplating a Citroen C3 Picasso, a Hyundai ix20, a Kia Venga, a Toyota Verso S or a Vauxhall Meriva should get down to their Ford dealers and take a look.’

We asked Ford of Britain MD Mark Ovenden how much of a change the B-Max is over the old Fusion.

‘It’s a completely different vehicle. Fusion did pretty well for us and our dealers, but with B-Max the wow is the door system. B-Max also has lots of style, a large range of clever features and, of course, there’s the 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine. The B-Max is an excellent car – whereas the Fusion was essentially just a high-riding vehicle. B-Max has a got a lot more strength to it. As one of my younger colleagues said to me, the B-Max is more of an automotive app than a car!’

What do we think of it?

This could well be the new class-leader as it makes other cars in this sector seem terribly conservative. Without having the benefit of trying all the engines and specifications, we can only really recommend the 1.0-litre Ecoboost 118bhp Titanium model which retails at £17,595.

It’s not cheap but it’s probably worth the money.

Model: Ford B-Max Price: £17,595 (as tested) Engine: 1.0-litre, petrol.

Power: 118bhp, 169Nm Max speed: 109mph 0-60mph: 13s MPG (comb’d): 55.4 Emissions: 119g/km Residual values (three years): 37 percent

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SEASONAL DELIGHTS MINI CHRISTMAS CAKES These delightful mini fruit and nut topped cakes are perfect for giving as a festive foodie present. Simply wrap in clear cellophane and tie with gold ribbon or place in small gift boxes.

Makes 9 Ready in 4 hours, plus cooling

INGREDIENTS 250g butter, softened 250g dark muscovado sugar 4 medium eggs, beaten 350g plain flour 2 tsp ground mixed spice ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground cloves Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 800g mixed dried fruit 100g glace cherries, rinsed, dried and chopped 100g chopped mixed nuts For the decoration 750g marzipan Icing sugar, for dusting 4 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved Mixed coloured glace cherries, walnut halves, Brazil nuts and chopped dried apricots 1 Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas 2. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake tin with a double thickness of greased, greaseproof paper.

2 Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and cream together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs. Sift together the flour and spices then fold into the creamed mixture.

Fold in the lemon zest, dried fruit, glace cherries and nuts and mix thoroughly.

3 Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the surface. Use the back of a metal spoon to make a slight dip in the centre (this will help to give an even rise). Bake in the preheated oven for 3¼ - 3 ½ hours or until firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin.

4 When the cake is completely cold, use a sharp knife to cut it into 9 smaller square cakes.

Brush the sides of each cake with a little apricot jam. Divide the marzipan into 9 pieces.

Dust a surface lightly with icing sugar and roll each piece out to a strip long enough to go around each cake. Wrap the strips around the cakes pinching the ends together to seal. Top each cake with a selection of cherries, nuts and apricots. Tie a ribbon around each cake if liked.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

9 X 9 PUZZLE

How to play It’s simple! Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

Use your logic to solve the puzzle.

Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

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Please Life when when responding responding to toadverts adverts Please mention mention The Villager and Town Life

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what’S ON?

IN DECEMBER

4, 11 & 18 December Tuesday Morning Walkers 9.30-11.30am RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Adults £3, RSPB Members free. £4 per vehicle to non-RSPB members Weekly walks around the reserve with a leader, looking for birds, wildlife and enjoying the site.

Everyone welcome.

Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge Every 3rd Friday of the month Hexton Farmers Market 1pm – 4pm St Faith Church, Hexton Free Parking at rear of school Wednesday 12th December Blood Donating Toddington Village Hall 1300 -1545/ 1700 – 1930 Friday 14th December Toddington Village Hall 7.30pm Toddington Town Band Christmas Concert Thursday 27th December Toddington Library 3 – 4 pm Festive Fun Craft Session for children Sunday 9th December Christmas Market Westoning Village Hall, Chruch Road, Westoning MK45 5JW 9 December Christmas Shopping Afternoon 12.30-4pm Arlesey Social Club Lots of stalls, Children’s entertainment, Christmas music, BBQ, raffle and much more.

15 & 16 December Christmas Tree Festival Saturday 12 noon-5pm Sunday 11.30am-5pm St. Peter’s Church, Arlesey

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Entries into our What’s On sections are free. If you have an event you would like us to publicise please email the details to whatson@villagermag.com Sunday 16th December Santa Run Wardown Park Luton in aid of Keech Hospice Care 22 December Christmas Mostly Music 11am to Midday St Mary’s Church, Baldock THE Saturday Morning event Contemporary music with a Christmas feel.

Come and enjoy coffee, tea and Cake with Praise Be! St Mary’s modern music band; The only Christian Band to play at this year’s Balstock Festival.

30th October-9 January 2013 Xhibit @ Priory House Office hours Priory House, Shefford Free admission An exciting mix of pastel, painting, photography, prints and ceramics by Artists’ Network Bedfordshire artists Michael Brace, Janis Coles, Ian Grinham, Carol Mountford, Anja PengerOnyett, Ruth Rickwood and Jamie Stevenson.

31 December New Year’s Party Moggerhanger Village Hall Tickets £4 Bring and share buffet.

Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 for more information 10 January To the Edges of the Universe Course £50 for 10 1½hr sessions.

Various concessions available.

St Andrews Church Hall, Church Street, Langford, SG18 9QA Langford WEA. Many exciting discoveries are being made by giant telescopes and space probes combined with computer techniques are pushing our knowledge of the Universe to its edges.

Tutor Tony Woodhouse.

Tel: Jean Chapman 01462 7003

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Oven Cleaning! - It’s a dirty job!

Why do it yourself?

Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256

We clean ovens using non-caustic, non-toxic products in your home.

Ovens • Ranges • Hobs • Extractors Agas • Microwaves • Barbecues (May - Sept) Single Oven (all racks/pans inc)........................£35 Single Oven & Grill Oven (all racks/pans inc).....£45 Single Separate Grill Oven (racks/pans inc)......£15 Microwaves & Combination Ovens....................£20 Extractor Fan (free filter for next clean).............£12 Hob..................................................................£12 . . .

Agas and Ranges priced accordingly Oven Bulbs replaced for free in all jobs V.A.T free

Contact James on: 01767 260188 or Mobile: 07812 666081 email: ovenmen@live.co.uk You can also book at www.ovenmen.com

parent company est. 1998

or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

We are an experienced company offering solutions to all aspects of electrical work, domestic and commercial.

We are fully insured and all work is guaranteed.

We are registered with Napit through the Part P scheme and also registered with Trustmark for peace of mind.

Land Lord Test Certificates Extra sockets to full re-wires

security lighting Fault Finding and trouble shooting

Underfloor Heating Consumer unit upgrades

24 hour call out These are just a small range of the works we carry out.

Please call for a free quotation, no job too small.

0800 511 8985 / 07956 467 411 www.mjtelectricalservices.co.uk enquiries@mjtelectricalservices.co.uk

Fully Serviced Office suites & Conferencing facilities to Rent Central Beds Location off the A6, M1 & A1 accessible in minutes

• Flexible license – easy in / easy out terms • • High speed Internet, WiFi & telephony provided • • Manned reception & ample parking on site • • Training rooms & virtual offices • • Suites for 1 to 50+ staff available •

Call: 01525 863900 Or email: info@capabilityhouse.co.uk

www.capabilityhouse.co.uk

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Ty Interiors Prize Crossword

1st Prize £25 Name:

Sponsored by Ty Interiors, The Olde Watermill Shopping Village, Faldo Road, Barton Le Clay, MK45 4RF

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before 14th December 2012.

Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel:

Address:

Please enter me into the prize draw to be drawn at end of 3 months for £1000 off a fully fitted kitchen. T&C’s apply. (Please tick)

Across 1 South American animal (6) 4 Clans (6) 9 Whirlwind (7) 10 Male duck (5) 11 Casseroles (5) 12 Surprised (7) 13 Source of power (11) 18 Cars, buses etc. (7) 20 Dangerous (5) 22 Tacks (5) 23 Graceful (7) 24 Eighth month (6) 25 Flow (6) Down 1 Painter (6) 2 American handbag (5) 3 Masterpiece (7) 5 Wireless (5) 6 Woollen cover (7) 7 Fast (6) 8 Assembled (11) 14 Departing (7) 15 Right (7) 16 Lines of a verse (6) 17 Method (6) 19 Clenched hands (5) 21 Frighten (5)

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Pleasemention mentionThe TheVillager Villagerand andTown TownLife Life when responding adverts Please when responding toto adverts

Fully qualiFied — 25 years experienCe

PlumbinG & heatinG ltd

gas

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

water PlumbinG and heatinG

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

solar solar

Solar thermal for hot water Solar PV installation by MCS approved installers Solar cylinder upgrades & breakdowns

Call: 01462 292247 / 07566 118 247 218627

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

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East Anglian Air Ambulance

Tourist Information-style Councillor Angela Barker, Chair of Central Bedfordshire Council, was snapped up on her offer to open a shop for East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) on Thursday 1 November in Ampthill.

The charity – which provides Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk – launched its ‘Illuminate & Inspire’ Night Flying Fundraising Campaign at the end of October, with the Ampthill premises acting as a high street information point for the next 3 months.

The charity hopes to obtain approval from the Civil Aviation Authority to carry out emergency landings at the scene of serious incidents during the hours of darkness with its new Eurocopter EC135T2E helicopter – an approval which it is hoped will see East Anglian Air Ambulance become the first dedicated air ambulance in the UK to do so.

Bedfordshire Area Fundraising Manager, Paul Airton, says “I became involved with the charity in March 2007 – when the Bedfordshire Appeal aimed to provide the county with an air ambulance, an appeal

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which through the hard work and generosity of our supporters was so successful we have had our helicopter, Anglia Two, since September of that year. Today, we hope that the county which hadn’t an air ambulance five years ago will soon have the benefit of probably the singularly most important air ambulance in the Country. Hopefully, it won’t just be Santa that’s flying in the dark at Christmas!”

The shop is located at 11 Bedford Street, Ampthill, and will be open Monday to Saturday 10am until 4pm. The charity will be operating it not as a traditional charity shop, but as an information centre, and retail outlet for its branded merchandise. If you would like to find out more about the charity, its ambitions, and how you can help it save lives, simply pop in and have a chat! As part of the “Illuminate & Inspire” Campaign the shop will remain open until 31 Jan 2013.

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Classifieds Logs & Kindling

Removals and Storage

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

01582 572967

enquiries@stephensremovals.com

Fun Quiz - Christmas

Stephens Dinky ad_02.indd 1

3/12/12 11:44:54

1. Which of Santa’s reindeer comes first alphabetically?

2. Ending with the line “we’ll keep the red flag flying here”, The Red Flag is a song that is sung to the same tune as which Christmas carol?

3. Which snack food introduced a special Christmas Dinner flavour in 2010, describing it as a “fusion of turkey and stuffing with all the trimmings”?

4. What was Cliff Richard’s last UK Christmas number one hit single?

5. In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, what does Scrooge anonymously send to Bob Cratchit and his family on Christmas morning after being visited by a number of ghosts during the night?

6. Which EastEnders character was murdered on Christmas Day in 2009?

7. What is the nearest country to Christmas Island?

8. Which character from a Christmas themed book lived on Mount Crumpit and had a heart that was two sizes too small?

9. Which double act from Wigan feature on the 2010 Christmas postage stamps issued by Royal Mail?

10. Which Christmas song has been the biggest selling single in the UK never to have topped the singles chart?

Before

After

1. Blitzen 2. O Christmas Tree 3. Pot Noodle 4. Saviour’s Day (in 1990; note that Millennium Prayer peaked at number two in 1999) 5. A turkey 6. Archie Mitchell (accept Archie) 7. Indonesia 8. 9. Wallace and Gromit 10. Last Christmas (by Wham)

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31

Fabian Perez

Celebrate the New Year with

Gallery 1066 Enjoy a fine art experience, complimentary glass of wine and artwork from over 70 artists from around the world. This leading Hertfordshire Gallery has so much to offer including fabulous works from artists such as Rolf Harris, Dylan Izaak and Doug Hyde.

Our team is on hand to guide the first time buyer to the connoisseur – with an array of collectable signed limited editions, originals, sculptures and gift sets.

Come along to Baldock and enjoy a fine art experience! open tuesday - saturday 10am - 6pm, private viewings available

Willow Mews 6a Hitchin Street Baldock Herts SG7 6AE tel : 01462 622233 www.gallery1066fineart.com