VILLAGER The
Issue 3 - March 2013
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
£25
Prize Crossword See Inside
Bringing Local Business to local people in Barton, Harlington, Ampthill, Flitwick, Westoning, Pulloxhill and all surrounding villages
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VILLAGER The
In this Issue
Issue 3 - March 2013
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
16
£25
Prize Crossword See Inside
Gallery 1066
Danielle O’Connor Akiyama 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 Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Solange Hando, Helen Taylor and James Baggott
Prize Crossword £25 could be yours!
How to Holiday for Less................................................4 The Reshaping of Britain’s Railways..........................6 Gadgets...............................................................................8 Hidden Algarve..............................................................11 New Year New Resolution..........................................12
Front Cover Photo: Christian Jung
Ampthill by the Sea......................................................14
Design and Artwork Design 9 - Tel 07762 969460 Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email:nigel@villagermag.com
AWD XJ..............................................................................18 Seasonal Delights..........................................................20 Puzzle Page......................................................................24 What’s On.........................................................................26 You are now able to view the Villager Magazine online at
www.villagermag.com
VILLAGER The
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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3
How to Holiday for Less
in 2013
As winter draws to a close, conversations about where to go for summer holidays are on the increase and the difference between what we can afford and what we would ideally like often represents something of a discrepancy. However, there are steps which can be taken to bridge the gap and help us afford a summer holiday which may otherwise be financially out of reach. Book Early or Book Late As far as saving money is concerned, there are two choices on the table and they are booking either late or early. Whether you book far ahead using low-cost airlines and advance bookings for accommodation or snag a last-minute bargain from a package holiday company, either of these approaches can work wonders for your budget. The key is to decide which suits you best and to plan your holiday around that. Indecisiveness will cost you money, so take the time to make a clean decision on your strategy. For advance accommodation bookings, websites such as holidaylettings.co.uk are fantastic and when booking flights, try skyscanner.net or travel.kelkoo.co.uk to track down the cheapest ones. If you’re flexible about both when and where to go and are just looking to find a great deal, then companies such as markwarner. co.uk, kuoni.co.uk and wandotravel.com all offer fantastic higher-end packages for less money when you book at the last minute. Plan Your Budget While it’s a nice idea to lounge around in the luxury of a five-star hotel, your accommodation is really only a place to sleep and store your
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luggage. This is a good example of how stripping some aspects down to the bare necessities can save you money. Do some research into the restaurants and other holiday expenditures in the area you’re visiting to track down ways to eat, sleep, drink and sightsee for less money rather than just turning up and paying for what you find. Travel Light Airlines these days charge a great deal for excess baggage. This is especially true for the low-cost airlines and this represents another area where some advance planning can save you cash. Take some time to put together a packing list which will make the most efficient and effective use of space so you don’t have to take any extra or unnecessary items that will bump up your budget. Be Prepared to Travel Out Of Season While summer may be a mere figment of our imagination here in the UK, other countries do see sunny weather in May and June as well as into September and October. July and August are peak seasons for UK holidaymakers so if you’re not bound by school holidays, travel either earlier or later in the year to avoid peak season and its associated costs. Consider a House Exchange A house exchange is a great way to get some decent accommodation at a very minimal cost. This is especially true if you have a family as exchanging a nice home in the UK can go a long way when travelling to countries where things are a bit more affordable. Websites such as homeexchange.com are trusted, reputable and have been running for a great deal of time.
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5
The Reshaping of
Britain’s Railways
It must have happened to you – and it’s certainly happened to me – that you throw away something you think you don’t need any more and then some time later you find a use for it, and it’s too late. It’s gone. It happened to the whole country in the years 1963 to 1970, when we closed a third of our railway stations and something like 4,000 of our 18,000 miles of railway line. The axe man always blamed for this carnage is Dr Richard Beeching, chairman of the British Railways Board from 1962 to 1965 and author of the report, ‘The Reshaping of Britain’s Railways’, published in March 1963, which started the slaughter. He died in 1985 but who was he? And was he entirely to blame? A physicist by discipline, Beeching rose through the ranks of ICI to become an expert in production efficiency, working on the mass manufacture of new products including zips and terylene. In 1959, he was seconded to a committee of the British Transport Commission which was looking at ways of cutting the railway network’s losses. These had risen from £15.6m in 1956, just after the ambitious modernisation plan that started the replacement of steam by diesel and electric, to £42m in 1960. Beeching was a great advocate of deep cuts in the network, clashing with committee chairman Sir Ivan Stedeford – a stance which earned him the favour of Transport Minister Ernest Marples. Marples was an apostle of road transport – a fact entirely unconnected with his family firm’s roadbuilding contracts: he sold his shares when he took office, albeit with a clause allowing him to buy them back at the same price – and clearly, Beeching was the man for him. The good doctor was given the chair of the BRB (at a salary more than twice that of the Prime Minister’s) and in
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March 1963 came out with the required report which was duly rushed into action. The following year Labour came to power on a promise to stop the bitterly unpopular programme – John Betjeman and the musical comedy stars Flanders & Swann were among its celebrity opponents – but, lured by the promise of easy savings, it reneged. Beeching himself returned to ICI in late 1965 after the summary rejection of a second report advising even deeper cuts; but Labour continued to implement the 1963 recommendations right up to 1970. The promise was a cruel illusion. The 70,000 jobs, 2,600 country stations, 300,000 goods wagons, and 4,000 miles of branch line that disappeared saved nothing, and in 1970 British Rail lost not £42m but £100m. Beeching may have been a production expert, but he had no understanding of logistics. Hideously unprofitable many lines may have been – 30% of them carried just 1% of all passengers between them, while 50% of all stations raised just 2% of overall ticket revenue – but they fed the main lines and had made them profitable. Freight carriage, too, dwindled as large factories lost the branch lines that connected their sidings to the network: the nation’s haulage industry, perforce, took to the roads. The suspicion remains that Beeching’s recommendations were as much political as operational. Road was the coming thing, and not just because of Marples’s rumoured venality. Powerful forces both in business and in the trade unions favoured road; and the railway, with its long record of failure (3,300 miles of branch line had already been closed in the 15 years before Beeching’s appointment), had no counterargument. Beeching did not even consider the huge efficiency savings available through slashing the horrendous over manning of the branch network: his brief was to cut, and cut he did. He later described his programme as “surgery, not mad chopping”: he was certainly not the kind of surgeon you would want operating on you. We could do with those 4,000 miles of line now, as our roads strain and burst; and the moral of the Beeching story is – don’t ever chuck things out, because you never know when they might come in handy.
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7
The gadgets that make
the outdoors even greater Technology isn’t just something you use at home - it can be handy when you’re out and about too, even if your idea of out and about means going far off the beaten track. One of the most useful kinds of outdoor technology is GPS, the satellite system that can work out where we are and help us find where we want to go. There are all kinds of dedicated GPS receivers, ranging from cheaper devices such as Garmin’s £100 eTrex 10 to more expensive navigators such as Magellan’s Explorist 710, which currently costs around £350. You don’t necessarily need to invest in standalone GPS kit, however, especially now that smartphones and tablets can run very accurate mapping apps - although if you’re taking a phone or tablet into the wilds, onto a boat or anywhere else nature can destroy it, it’s a very good idea to invest in some protection. You can spend ridiculous sums on all-weather protection, but cases such as Griffin’s Survivor (around £25 for phones, £29 for tablets) - something Griffin admits is “ridiculously over-engineered” - wraps your device in military-spec protection for a very reasonable price. It isn’t pretty, but it’s tough and that’s what really matters here. Technology has even made its way into the humble torch, which these days boasts LED illumination and innovative designs. Nite Ize’s BugLit LED (around £13) has low, high and strobe modes, is visible from a mile away and has rubber feet that you can twist to attach to almost anything, while head-mounted LED lights range in price from around £35 to well over £100. Petzl’s Nao Headtorch (£135) is a bit over the top for the odd walk in the woods, but for serious
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running and other sports its sensor ensures a uniform level of brightness irrespective of how light or dark conditions become. The most famous outdoors gadget is probably the Swiss Army Knife with its array of tools, but these days you’re more likely to carry a Leatherman or one of its many imitators. With prices ranging from around £30 to £100 for originals and considerably less for clones, the range offers all-in-one devices with tools such as pliers, knives, saws, bottle and can openers, wire cutters, screwdrivers and even scissors. If you’re planning to be outside for a long time, you’ll need to eat - and gadgets can help you with that too. Jetboil’s Zip Stove (£75) is a gas stove given a high-tech twist: its heat exchanger means it can boil half a litre in just over two minutes, and its neoprene jacket keeps things warmer for longer. Meanwhile the BioLite CampStove (£150) takes the humble campfire into the 21st century: as it burns twigs, bark or pinecones it generates electricity, which powers a fan, which fans the flames for better heat efficiency and less smoke - and there’s enough power left over to recharge your lights, phone or MP3 player. If you need to recharge gadgets but don’t fancy lugging a stove around, no matter how portable, you might be better off with a monkey - and by monkey we mean a Powermonkey, such as the Powermonkey Discovery. Charge it before you go, and when your phone or other digital device runs out of puff the Powermonkey can recharge it twice if it’s an iPhone and three to four times if it’s a standard mobile phone. Expect to pay around £45.
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The Unforgettable Close Up and Cabaret Magic of Steve Dean Immerse yourselves and guests in the close up magic of Steve Dean or enjoy a Cabaret Show that includes mentalism and much more. Have you ever witnessed unexplainable events or illusions so convincing that they leave you fascinated and completely spellbound? This is Cabaret, close up mix and mingle and table magic at it’s very best. Not only enter the unbelievable world of close up professional magic that is second to none, you can now see a cabaret show that will leave you gasping, your guests enthralled and audience participation that is not only professional but will cause laughter throughout and will be something to remember for a very long time. This is ideal for any corporate or private event. Steve is a master of his craft and a member of the prestigious Magic Circle. He has had many letters of thanks and testimonials from people from all walks of life. From a small dinner party to performing on a British Cruise Liner this sort of entertainment is second to none and will give your guests unusual and fantastic entertainment that they can get involved in and will talk about for months to come. (Steve is a member of Equity with full public liability insurance). Please phone or email for details
07719 261147 • 01767 260671 www.stevedeanmagic.co.uk email: stevedeanmagic@aol.com
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Hidden Algarve
BY SOLANGE HANDO Long ago in the Algarve, says the legend, a Nordic princess pined for her frozen homeland until her husband, the King of the Moors, planted thousands of almond trees. The snow-white blossom soon brought a smile to her lips and to this day almost every house in the Algarve looks out to an almond tree. In the lush rolling hills of the interior, the trees herald the first days of spring, flowering among vineyards, orange groves, fig and carob trees. Just a stone’s throw away from the coast, it’s a quiet land of orchards and meadows, meandering lanes and forests and red-roofed villages tucked in the greenery, their whitewashed houses topped by filigree chimney pots, in Moorish style, and rooftop terraces where laundry and fruit dry side by side. Goats wander across the road and sometimes a donkey and cart rattle along the cobbled streets. Up there, the cool wooded slopes of the Serra de Monchique are dotted with rivers and lakes, moors and dark forests where rosemary and oleander splash colour in the clearings. The fragrance of eucalyptus and pine follows you along the trails but you find swathes of chestnut and oak and ‘strawberry trees’ whose innocent-looking berries are eagerly collected to make the local firewater. It’s a paradise for ramblers and birdwatchers hoping to spot goshawks and royal eagles. With a subtropical micro-climate, mountain and sea all in one, the Serra claims over 1000 species of plants but now and then a church bell chiming in the distance betrays the presence of an isolated village, perched on a terraced slope where vegetables and fruit compete for space.
The road to the top winds past the spa resort of Caldas de Monchique, once the site of Roman baths and the place where King Joao II came to take the waters in search of a cure, in the late 15th century. Now the emphasis is on beauty and well being, pampering and relaxation. In a deep wooded glen, quaint buildings gather around a shaded square and you are welcome to stroll in the park, quench your thirst and best of all, make a wish at the Fountain of Youth. Beyond this charming watering place, you reach the rustic hill town of Monchique, once a prosperous weaving centre for wool and cloth, still famous today for a wide range of craft, linen, wicker baskets, tree sculptures, wooden spoons, dried flowers and scissor chairs, invented, some say, by the Romans and so-named because of the way they fold up. All sorts of goods spill out on the pavements but step inside and you may find the shopkeeper quietly nursing her baby while grandma is shelling peas for the family’s supper. Then follow the lanes climbing up to the square and the whole town is at your feet, tumbling down the hillside among camellias, hydrangeas and fruit trees. The panorama is superb but anyone with a head for heights and twisty roads will also enjoy the drive up to Foia, just five miles away and the highest point at nearly 3,000 feet. Standing on the summit, battling with the wind, you feel like the knights of yore surveying the wild rolling lands of the Algarve, from the verdant slopes of the Serra to the coastal plain and the Atlantic glistening like silver on the horizon.
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11
New year
new resolutions? Now the first rush of New Year Resolutions have come and gone with many already abandoned, perhaps you have time to consider something a little different? Have you thought of volunteering? Agate House, Ampthill, part of Leonard Cheshire Disability, is looking to increase their volunteer numbers. They have a range of positions from drivers, to maintenance crew, to enablers. There are no minimum hours everyone is welcome to give a much time as they are able; be it one hour to several, to coin a well-known phrase, every little helps! They are particularly looking for drivers to assist the people who use their services to get out and about: to medical appointments, shopping trips to Milton Keynes and Bedford, cinema trips so they don’t miss out on the latest releases; local clubs; meals out, to name just a few. Volunteering is not only a great way to give to the community but it looks good on your CV and is a fantastic way of gaining new experience and
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setting personal goals and challenges. Leonard Cheshire Disability supports thousands of disabled people both in the UK and in more than 50 other countries. We help people with physical impairments, learning difficulties and long-term health conditions, as well as their carers, friends and families. The needs and aspirations of disabled people is at the heart of what we do. By providing services and helping everyone to understand disability and combat discrimination, we aim to remove the barriers that can stop people with disabilities from pursuing their goals and living their lives to the full. (http://www.lcdisability.org/) If you think you have what it takes contact Carol Solaiman at Leonard Cheshire Disability, Agate House, Ampthill and kick start your New Year challenge. Call 01525 403247 or email carol. solaiman@LCDisability.org or even pop-in, she’s waiting to hear from you.
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01525 860688 117 Clophill Road Maulden To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122
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AMPTHILL……
BY THE SEA!!?!!
No, don’t panic! This is not the latest doomsday scenario of global warming! This is the wacky, quirky theme of Ampthill Festival 2013! It is a great opportunity to indulge in some seaside fun, fantasy and frolics and join the revellers at AmpRocks in the Park on 5th July, Ampthill Proms on 6th July and the fun-packed Gala Day on the 7th. Whilst, alas, we cannot promise miles of golden beaches, surfing, crab pools and snorkelling, we can promise another amazing show at AmpRocks (like us at AmpRocksLive on Facebook to keep updated on the headline and support bands – possibly not The Beach Boys sadly!). Lounge in your seaside deckchair at Proms in Ampthill Park: relax to our fantastic orchestra: sing-along to Land of Hope and Glory; ooh-aah at the brilliant fireworks. (Keep an eye on www. ampthillfestival.com for more information) Our Gala Day is free and has fun things to do and see for the whole family. The Parade will
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be especially challenging this year for all the schools, dancers, bands taking part – lots of scope here for imaginative and original ideas on the seaside theme! (To take part contact Lanie on melaniebryer@hotmail.co.uk) To ensure a successful Gala Day we need to raise money! There are many events planned during the whole year which help to pay for this fantastic event. There will be fun quizzes, boozy wine tastings, and gastronomic progressive suppers, Ampthill Open Gardens, Boules Competitions and (possibly!) another fun dog show! More details of these events will follow in local press and around the town posters.
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Gallery 1066
Danielle O’Connor Akiyama
One of the world’s leading modern impressionist artists Danielle O’Connor Akiyama is flying in from Canada to visit this stylish gallery on March 17th launching her latest collection ‘Illumination’ at a champagne reception. This latest collection is typical in the vibrancy of palette and the loose formal structure certainly recalls Danielle’s celebrated floral, and yet we see her moving into a radiant new world of abstract interpretation. An uninhibited vigour and freedom of style combines with a luminous hand finished glaze to give these magnificent canvases an unprecedented impact and international appeal. Danielle’s style is loose and impressionistic,
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however she has always believed in the importance of each and every brush stroke. In order to gain a greater understanding and technical skill she studied sumi-e, Japanese brush painting. Her distinctive fusion of eastern and western artistry has led to her works being highly prized by art collectors from both sides of the Pacific. Hayley Norman, Gallery Owner commented ‘We are absolutely delighted to welcome Danielle to the gallery this year, it is a very exciting time in the art world and people are opening their eyes not only to the investment opportunities available but also to the transformation quality art can make in the home and workplace. We are working with over 70 acclaimed artists and the demand for their work has spiralled since opening and we are thrilled that we are now recognized as a major player which helps us to welcome these acclaimed artists to the gallery. This event is open all weekend to the public and we welcome people to come to the gallery to enjoy a fine art experience.’ To find out more please contact either Hayley or Sophie at the Gallery on 01462 622233 or email info@gallery1066fineart.com. To view their range of artists please visit www.gallery1066fineart.com
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AWD XJ
BY JAMES BAGGOTT Jaguar has introduced a clever all-wheel drive setup for its luxury XJ - we head to Canada to try it out Jaguar’s star is rising fast. Sales across the world are booming, especially in growth markets like China where sales are up a staggering 84 per cent this year. It’s a similar pretty picture in the US and even in the troubled European markets the prestige brand is still up 20 per cent. Jaguar Land Rover’s global brand director John Edwards attributes the success to the Indian company Tata taking over the company in 2008. “I look back to the days of BMW and Ford ownership and think of them as foster parents,” he said. “They had their own parameters of what we could and couldn’t do and we had to live by those rules.” But since Tata took over, the manufacturer has been able to set its own rules once again – and Edwards thinks it’s this that has helped the Jaguar and Land Rover brands flourish. “When Tata took over it was like we became 18 – we could make up our own rules. We have a careful guardian watching over us but we can come up with our own plans and go our own way. That’s liberating. It’s opened our eyes to the long term.” What is the AWD XJ? It’s an all-wheel drive version of Jaguar’s luxury limo, the XJ. Using a part mechanical, part electric set-up Jaguar’s engineers have created a clever four-wheel drive system for markets where cold weather is the norm, like the car’s launch location, Canada. The system allows 100 per cent of the power to go to the front or rear wheels, depending on where the grip is needed. The good news is that no driving characteristics are lost during normal conditions as just five per cent of the power is sent to the front wheels. What’s under the bonnet? The highlight is the new 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6. Producing 335bhp and 450Nm of torque it hits 60mph in 6.1 seconds, achieves a top speed of 155mph and returns 28.8mpg. It’s a corker of a unit and mated to the eight-seed automatic it’s incredibly smooth. What’s the kit like? It’s plentiful. Leather upholstery, a frankly sensational Meridian sound system, Bluetooth, cruise control; in fact pretty much everything you’d want and more comes as standard.
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Any rivals? The biggest rivals come with four-ringed badges on the bonnet. Audi has always made a big deal about its Quattro models, as the firm’s four-wheel drive system is one of their biggest selling points. With that in mind the Audi S8 would be the Jag’s biggest rival. Is it any good? It’s brilliant. Jaguar took us to Canada to test the system in the snow and I’ve never felt as safe on the slippery stuff. However, it’s worth noting that these AWD Jaguars aren’t due to come to the UK. Sales of four wheel drive saloons are small, says the manufacturer, and it doesn’t warrant the development costs, but a spokesman did tell AOL Cars that it hasn’t been ruled out completely. The verdict It’s a shame they aren’t coming to the UK as they are very accomplished and with the weather we’ve been having recently, they’d make wise buys. However, there is a slim chance we’ll see the technology here and it’s always nice to see a success story for British car manufacturing elsewhere around the globe. The knowledge Model: Jaguar XJ AWD Price: £68,000 (est) Engine: 3.0-litre, petrol supercharged Power: 335bhp, 450Nm Max speed: 155mph 0-60mph: 6.1s MPG (comb’d): 28.8 Emissions: 229g/km
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SEASONAL DELIGHTS
LEMON CHICKEN WITH TABBOULEH
This is a great way to turn simple and very economical chicken portions into a delicious Mediterranean-style supper. If you have time, make the tabbouleh a few hours in advance to let the flavours fully develop. Serves 4 Ready in 45 minutes INGREDIENTS 1 lemon, thinly sliced 4 large chicken thigh portions (or 8 small thigh portions) 4 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp clear honey, warmed 225g bulgar wheat (see tip) ½ cucumber, finely diced 4 spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped 2 tbsp fresh chopped mint 2 tbsp fresh chopped coriander Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Preheat the oven to 190C, 375F, Gas 5. Push a lemon slice under the skin of each chicken thigh. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan 20
and fry the chicken over a medium-high heat until golden brown all over. Transfer to a shallow roasting tin and arrange the rest of the lemon slices around the chicken. 2 Mix together 1 tbsp of the lemon juice with the honey and pour over the chicken. Roast for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. 3 Meanwhile, place the bulgar wheat into a bowl and pour over enough boiling water to cover. Leave for 30 minutes until grains are soft. Stir well and drain off any excess water. 4 Stir in the rest of the olive oil and lemon juice and season with plenty of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the cucumber, spring onions, mint and coriander and mix well. Serve the hot roast chicken on the tabbouleh with any juices from the roasting tin poured over. Tip Bulgar wheat is a type of wheat grain that has been parboiled, dried then finely crushed. It is similar to couscous but has more texture and bite. You’ll find it in most large supermarkets or health food shops.
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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 MARCH
1 March (4 week programme) Relaxation for Carers 2-3.30pm The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Rosehill, Hitchin Road, Letchworth £2.50 per person per session Do you care for someone with mild to moderate dementia? A unique programme for Carers and those they care for - to come together; separately but at the same time! Carers can participate in activities which can give support and teach ways of relaxing and reducing stress and worry? Carers are able to enjoy singing popular songs around the piano. Each session is followed by refreshments and time to chat! Call or email for further information and bookings. Tel: Jaqui Derrick 01462 678804 Email: jaqui@letchworthcentre.org Web: www.letchworthcentre.org 2 March Garden Square Craft Market 8.30am-4.30pm Garden Square Shopping Centre, Letchworth Garden City First Saturday of every month. Our market specialises in the sale of genuine, high quality, hand made goods and offers local artisans and craft workers the opportunity to show case their work. 2 March The Signals Museum 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry permit from the Guardroom. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 2, 9, 16 & 23 March Lent Lunch 12.30-1.30pm Shefford Community Hall Organised by Shefford Churches Together. Tel: Steve 01462 812 564
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 8 March An Illustrated History of RAE Bedford 7pm for 7.30pm RAF Henlow Station Theatre Tickets £5 on the door Barry Tomlinson presents a lecture on the history of the former Royal Aircraft Establishment Bedford airfield. Covering the development of the site and the unique aircraft that flew there. 8 March Ampthill Festival and Gala Launches 2013 with Fun Quiz! 8pm Ampthill Rugby Club £5 each including light supper The first fundraising event of 2013 gets off to a flying start. The bar is open (Rugby Club bargain prices!), the Quiz is guaranteed ‘FUN’, the winners get a trophy to be treasured and the losers a special wooden spoon! Get there nice and early in plenty of time to have a relaxing drink and soak up the atmosphere. Advance tickets from Dunstable Street The Cottage Bakery or just turn up on the night! Tel: Jill on 07840 932930 or Belinda on 07880 734148 14 March Mid Beds. Flower Club 7.45 pm Flitwick Village Hall Visitors £5 Come and see how the popular local demonstrator, Doug Howard, interprets his title “Wake up Call “. Visitors very welcome. Tel: 01234 742396 for more details 16 March Men’s Breakfast 8.30am Shefford Community Hall Tel: Steve 01462 812 564 16 March The Roderick Swanston Lectures 2pm Benslow Music, Hitchin Tickets £10, free for young people and students The Roderick Swanston Lectures ii: Dowland, Campion and the world of the Lute Song. Devoted to the refined, often deliciously melancholic music and poetry of the Elizabethan and Jacobean Lute song. Tel: 01462 459446 Email: info@benslowmusic.org Web: www.benslowmusic.org
5, 12, 19 & 26 March Morris Dancing 8-10pm Redborne Upper School (South Gymnasium), Flitwick Road, Ampthill, MK45 2NU Every Tuesday. Morris Dancing for women and girls, and male or female musicians. Please wear running shoes. Closed in school holidays – check website for information. Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 26 Web: www.bedfordshirelace.org.uk/
what’S ON? IN MARCH
16 March A Musical Banquet 8pm Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, Hitchin Tickets £10, free for young people and students Michael Chance (countertenor) and Nigel North (lute). A Musical Banquet: Songs and lute pieces by Dowland, Danyel, Frescobaldi, Luzzaschi, Monteverdi, Palestrina and de Rore. Tel: 01462 459446 Email: info@benslowmusic.org Web: www.benslowmusic.org 17 March Biggleswade Antiques Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £1.50 This antiques fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this monthly fair is the place to visit. Cafe serving breakfast, lunches and afternoon tea. Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 22 March Maggini String Quartet 8pm Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, Hitchin Tickets £10, free for 8-5 year olds Programme includes works by Schubert, Bridge and Britten Tel: 01462 459446 Email: info@benslowmusic.org Web: www.benslowmusic.org 23 March Indoor Car Boot/Table Top Sale 10am-12.30pm St. Mary’s Church Hall, Stotfold To book a stall please contact Lyn Hayes on 01462 834165.
23, 24, 29, 30, 31 March & 1 April Easter Egghead Hunt 10.30am-4.30pm Dunstable Downs, Chilterns Gateway Centre, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Tickets £2 (for trail and prize) plus normal admission Join us for an exciting egg hunt with our sponsors Cadburys. Complete our trail exploring the Downs and win a yummy Cadburys chocolate egg! There will be lots of family Easter fun happening too, all in the glorious surroundings of Dunstable Downs. Booking advisable. Tel: Chilterns Gateway Centre Shop 01582 500925 Email: dunstabledowns@nationaltrust.org.uk Web: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunstabledowns/ 24 March Fundraising Danceathon 12 noon-2.25pm Knights Templar Sports Centre, Baldock Classes are £6 for 1, £11 for 2 or £15 for 3 Come along and enjoy 3 x dance lead fitness classes whilst raising vital funds for a very worthy cause Herts Community Foundation. Bring your friends and family. There are 75 places to fill, 25 per class. Web: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Latinercise/441980462504732 29, 30, 31 March & 1 April Easter Hunt Trail 10am-3pm RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Trail sheet £2. Admission £4 per vehicle Follow the Easter trail and spot all of the pictures hidden in the woodland with a crème egg to collect when you finish! Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 30 & 31 March Easter Weekend for Children Sat 10am-1pm (last entry 12 noon) Saturday 30th March 10am-1pm (last entry 12 noon) Sun 2-5pm (last entry 4 pm) British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Adults £4.50, Children £2, Under 5s free, Family £12 Be an “Egg Head” and eggsplore the British Schools museum by following our Easter Egg trail, and take part in our Design your own “Egg Head” competition. Normal admission prices apply. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.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 15th March 2013. 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) Last Month’s Crossword Winners. Congratulations to: 1st prize - Mr T Hopton from Gamlingay and 2nd prize - Lisa Brown from Bedford For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com Across 1 Outermost (7) 5 Six sided objects (5) 8 Turn (5) 9 Woman’s holdall (7) 10 Media notice (13) 11 Relaxed (6) 12 Idiotic (6) 15 Exhibition (13) 18 Not quietest (7) 19 Very angry (5) 20 Perfume (5) 21 Meals (7) Down 1 Additional (5) 2 Robbers (7) 3 Amusement (13) 4 Racial group (6) 5 Deep thought (13) 6 Religious text (5) 7 Seen (7) 11 Hugs (7) 13 Not public (7) 14 Commented (6) 16 Small rodent (5) 17 Requirements (5)
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Pleasemention mentionThe TheVillager Villagerand andTown TownLife Life when responding adverts Please when responding toto adverts
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Premier Barton
Convenience Store • Newsagents • Lottery • Off License • Newspaper Delivery • Groceries
• Dry Cleaning Service T: 01582 881466
5/6 Windsor Parade, Windsor Rd, Barton-le-Clay, Beds. MK45 4NA
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Full Range of New Carpets Supplied and Fitted Samples delivered to your Home Fully Trained and Skilled Fitters Furniture moved and replaced We remove all waste + Vacuum and tidy
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Tarot Reading With Alix Mc Gill affectionately known as “Mystic Al”
Alix is a natural clairvoyant with over 25 years of professional experience. Positively reviewed in the ‘Guardian’ newspaper, Alix will read your life with incredible accuracy • Also available: Reflexology & Reiki To book a confidential Reading or Healing Session Please call Alix on:
07715 109 650 / 01582 515274 Situated in North Luton 30
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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
Painter & Decorator
Stephens Dinky ad_02.indd 1
Business gone 3/12/12 11:44:54 a bit slow? Let us help!
Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Christa on 07868 369257 or email christa@villagermag.com
Oven Cleaning! - It’s a dirty job! Why do it yourself?
TV AERIAL & SATELLITE SPECIALIST
We clean ovens using non-caustic, non-toxic products in your home.
See our website for a comprehensive list of our services www.allbandaerials.co.uk
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
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22 Bedford Road Lower Stondon, Beds SG16 6EA To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122
parent company est. 1998
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