Potton july 14 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 95 - July 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Work-Life Balance Is Yours Unbalanced? Happy Birthday Brownies

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Contents Uplands Healthcare

Happy Birthday Brownies.........................................................14 Employing a Tradesman and NOT a Cowboy.............................13 The Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth...........................................14 Where Am I?............................................................................16 The Art of Breathing Underwater.............................................18 The Ionian Dolphin Project.......................................................22 Party On Potton........................................................................25 Competition Time.....................................................................26 Is Your Drinking Becoming Problematic?..................................29 P&R Bathrooms........................................................................30 Beer of the Month....................................................................32 To Hell and Back.......................................................................34 Become a Fundraising Hero......................................................36 Sandy Tourist Information Centre.............................................39 Ivel Sprinter.............................................................................43 Potton Tennis Club....................................................................45 Is Your Work-Life Balance a Little Uneven.................................46 Uplands Healthcare Ltd............................................................48 Mediterranean Magic...............................................................51 Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Catherine Rose, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Melanie Ridley, Eeva Whybrow, Ted Bruning, Tim Saunders, Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Wharton, North Beds RSPCA, James Baggott, Andrew Johnson, Culinary Masters, and Sunita Bedi

VILLAGER The

Issue 95 - July 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Work-Life Balance Is Yours Unbalanced? Happy Birthday Brownies

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages 11,000 copies delivered to over 30 towns and villages every month

ur Yo EE FR1copy

Rural Ramblings.......................................................................53 Ladies Circle.............................................................................54 Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club.................................................57 Animal Queries.........................................................................59 RSPCA North Beds Branch Fun Day...........................................61 Children’s Page.........................................................................62 Stars of the New York Motor Show...........................................65 Jubilee Project..........................................................................66 Top Tips for Saving Money on your Heating Oil.........................48 Culinary Masters Recipe...........................................................71 Flirting with Indian Spices.......................................................73 What’s On.................................................................................74 Puzzle Page..............................................................................80 Competition Winners...............................................................85 Prize Crossword........................................................................86 Fun Quiz...................................................................................88 Book Review............................................................................92 Classifieds................................................................................93

P&R Bathrooms

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the Advertising Sales content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be Photography - Tatiana Gladskikh, Catherine Rose reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher. and Nigel Frost Design and Artwork 9 Tel 07762 969460 To advertise in The Villager- Design and Town Life please call 01767 261122 3

History By Catherine Rose

Happy Birthday Brownies! written by Juliana Horatia Ewing in 1870 about This year the popular worldwide activity group two children named Tommy and Betty who for girls, Brownie Guides is 100 years old. To learn the difference between being helpful mark the anniversary, Catherine Rose takes a Brownies or lazy Boggarts. In fairy folklore, look back at its history. Brownies were kindly goblins who did chores The Brownie movement for girls aged around the house at night in return for food approximately seven to ten years was started while Boggarts were in 1914 by Lord Baden “…I can clearly remember the day I malevolent spirits who Powell following a caused mischief and demand by this age was invested into Brownies in 1970. group for something Brown Owl had placed a mirror on the mayhem and turned milk sour. A condensed similar to Girl Guides floor with a toadstool beside it. I had to version of this story which had been set up make my Brownie promise and then two appeared in Brownie in 1910. Baden Powell girls spun me around saying ‘Twist me handbooks for many gave its management years. to his sister, Agnes and turn me and show me the elf, and named them the I looked in the water and there saw…’ A change in name meant a change in Rosebuds with the at which point I had to look in the uniform and the colour intention that they mirror and complete the rhyme by became brown while would ‘blossom’ into adding ‘myself ’.” the promise badge Guides. featured an acorn. Initially, Rosebuds wore By the 1920s this badge had evolved into a a navy blue uniform that was very much like Brownie figure on a metal bar pin which was their bigger Guiding sisters but although they worn on a brown tie over a brown cotton were happy with their uniform, they weren’t dress. The dress had chest pockets and could as keen on their name so in 1915 Baden be worn with a brown leather belt. It was Powell changed it to the Brownies after a story 4

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astes f summer

Dine with us on Saturday19th July to enjoy a special nine-course summer tasting menu designed by our chefs. Flavours of gazpacho ~~~ Brixham crab salad

brown crab emulsion, crispy bonbon, cucumber, avocado, mooli

~~~ Tasting of wild rabbit

liver parfait, plum gel, rillette, pain d’épices, carrot pickle, tea-smoked loin

~~~ Beetroot soused Cornish mackerel

green apple, salt-baked young beets, horseradish potato salad

~~~ Tempsford beef ‘two ways’

seared fillet, braised cheek, Swiss chard, salsa verde, chanterelles, caramelised white onion purée, slow-cooked carrot, Cabernet Sauvignon

~~~ Chèvre

apricot, roasted hazelnuts, frisée

~~~ English strawberries

blowtorched marshmallow, strawberry gel, basil soup, meringues, lime

~~~ Peach Melba ~~~ Coach House chocolate truffles

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topped with a hat that resembled a pith helmet. In addition, it was stipulated that girls wore brown knickers and these were often checked at uniform inspection time! When Baden Powell’s wife Lady Olave subsequently took over responsibility for Girl Guides in 1918, she also took over Brownies from Agnes and it was at this time that the Sixes were named after fairy folk, in keeping with the Brownie theme. Consequently the badges of the different Sixes were: Elf (blue), Gnome (white with a black broom), Sprite (green with a tricorn hat), Imp (yellow), Pixie (green with pointed hat), Fairy (yellow with wings), Little People (yellow and green) and Leprechaun (red) along with additional Welsh and Scottish names. Each Six was depicted on a rectangular badge embroidered in coloured thread and led by a Sixer who had two yellow stripes on her sleeve. The Sixer was helped by her Second who was identified by one yellow stripe. Metal service stars were issued for each year of membership and proficiency badges were triangular and worn on the sleeve. The official opening ceremony - the Brownie Ring – would be where the girls joined hands and sang ‘We’re the Brownies, here’s our aim, lend a hand and play the game’. Each Six also had its own song. After being invested into Brownies by making their Brownie Promise, girls could only start gaining proficiency badges when they had achieved their Golden Hand and been given their Brownie Wings badge which helped them ‘fly up’ to Guides. In 1934, a yellow tie was introduced which proved more popular than the brown. Fiveday camps would take place in village halls or rural schools with a programme of activities including simple cooking. Despite the fact that Brownies had been set up at the advent of World War One, World War Two had a huge impact on the movement. With children being evacuated from towns, many urban groups shut down while rural ones doubled and tripled overnight. Due to the blackout however, meetings had to take place during the daytime, usually weekends. Materials for badges were difficult to obtain 6

1st Cambridge Brow nies Hobgoblin Six 1919

Retirement of Lady Cambridge as president of coun ty guides 1976

The Hon Miss Pearl Lawson-Johnston who brought guiding to Bedfordshire

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and the metal ones became smaller and thinner as the demand for metal grew with the war effort. Brownies were given tasks to do that helped on the home front including collecting fruit for making jam, sewing and holding concerts for the Red Cross. It was during this time that berets started to be worn. The 1950s and 60s saw Brownies flourish again with the post-war baby boom but by 1968, it was felt the movement needed updating. The dark brown dress was changed to a chestnut brown and the pockets, always to be filled with useful things including string and a pencil, moved to the skirt. The traditional yellow tie was shortened and turned into a crossover one held in place by a new metal promise badge – a Brownie in a trefoil. Brownies no longer had to earn their ‘wings’ but instead a series of progress badges based on the Ordnance Survey map was introduced along with replacement fabric service badges instead of metal stars. A new Brownie song was written and the Little People and Fairy Six groups were dropped. In 1971, the brown beret was replaced with a brown knitted hat topped by a pom pom. In 1987, Rainbows was introduced for girls aged five to seven and in 1990, the old Brownie dress was replaced with a range of more modern and practical clothing in yellow

Brownie Camp 1934 and brown that subsequently incorporated trousers and a gilet. A brown sash was introduced for badges along with a more upto-date baseball cap. All the badges had a revamp too. Today, the proficiency badges are large and diamond shaped and the promise badge has become a small round yellow enamel one with the trefoil logo on it. This year’s Big Brownie Birthday has ongoing challenges, badges and events for a quarter of a million Brownies in the UK.

1st Cambridge Brownies May Day parade in Ely 1920 8

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Elf (Blue) This is what we do as Elves, think of others, not ourselves Fairy (Yellow) We’re the Fairies glad and gay, helping others every day Gnome

(White with Black Broom) Here you see the laughing Gnomes, ‘helping mother’ in our homes

Imp (Yellow) We’re the ever-helpful Imps, quick and quiet as any shrimps Leprechaun (Red) We’re the Irish Leprechaun, guiding strangers when forlorn Little People (Yellow/Green Diagonal Stripes) We, though known as Little People, aim as high as any steeple Pixie (Green) Look out, we’re the jolly Pixies, helping people when in fixes Sprite (Green) Here we come, the sprightly Sprites, Brave and helpful like the knights Photos courtesy of: Mrs Ann Mitchell MBE Archivist Girlguiding Cambridgshire East Natasha Emery Paul Hunt Archivist Girlguiding Bedfordshire

St Neots Eynesbury Brownies c.1990

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Three Counties Radio

Employing a Tradesman and NOT a cowboy!

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Sadly over the years I have dealt with far too many cases of consumers who have employed the services of a rogue tradesman and have paid a heavy price for their mistake. But how do you find a good tradesman to carry out work in your home or garden? Here are my top tips: NEVER employ the services of someone who knocks at your door offering their services. If a builder, roofer or plumber has time to cold call people, then they’re obviously not very busy. Why are they not very busy? BECAUSE THEY’RE PROBABLY NOT VERY GOOD! A good tradesman will be busy with work for weeks in advance. I am always similarly sceptical of anybody who tells you on the phone they can do a job for you that day. Always ask your friends and neighbours if they can recommend a good tradesman when you decide you need some work doing. It may sound simple, but the best way I have always found to employ the services of someone good, is to use your trusted contacts. Chances are if they did a good job for your best friend or next door neighbour, they’ll do a good job for you too. Make sure you always get at least 3 quotes from different people before you decide who to use. Don’t necessarily use the cheapest, but at least if you have a range of quotes you can ensure that you are not overpaying for work to be undertaken. I generally go for the quote in the middle as long as I have a good feeling about the tradesman and feel I can communicate effectively with him/her. Always ask for references (particularly when you’re using someone to carry out a large job). Don’t be afraid to make contact with their previous customers and ask if you can go and look at the job they did. Ask them if they had any problems and what the tradesman/company was like at resolving those problems. It is very important that you agree a method of payment before work begins. I personally do not pay for work until it has been completed. If the builder/electrician/plumber needs to buy parts etc for the job, then I am happy to pay for that on the basis of a receipt, however I insist on paying for labour costs on completion of the job. When you’re dealing with a large job (e.g. an extension), then I would agree a payment plan in writing. However, you should always ensure a large enough final payment is retained to act as an incentive for the job to be completed to your satisfaction. Finally, NEVER agree work without a written quote. Verbal contracts and quotations are of course legally binding, but trying to prove what was agreed weeks down the line is normally a nightmare. Of course, as always if you follow my advice, but still come unstuck and find yourself dealing with a cowboy, then remember you can always call my consumer programme on 01582 637450.

Jonathan Vernon-Smith not only offers you his consumer advice here but you can listen to The JVS Show tackling your consumer problems every weekday morning from 9am. To13 advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Local News

The Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth

New woodland trail with themed wood sculptures The Swiss Garden project at Shuttleworth in Old Warden is finally drawing to a close and the garden is due to open to visitors again this month, July 2014. After over a year of conservation works, which has included re-thatching the Swiss Cottage and the restoration of both the garden’s paths and its beautiful ironwork structures, the final touches are being done. The team is looking forward to revealing an exciting new phase in the Swiss Garden’s history, which will reflect both Lord Ongley’s creation of his picturesque late Regency landscape in the 1820s and Joseph Shuttleworth’s Victorian embellishments. Cecilia Ridley, a visitor to the

garden in 1839, described it as a “fairyland”, and it is hoped modern visitors will find it every bit as magical when they see the newly restored landscape. As well as a new woodland trail, which includes seven themed wood sculptures designed by local schoolchildren and created by chainsaw sculptor Patrick Brown, one of the most noticeable changes is that the important view lines radiating out from the Swiss Cottage and up to it from other parts of the garden have been reinstated. Extensive tree surveys have taken place, and several diseased and self-seeded specimens removed in order to restore the structure of the garden’s original planting schemes. A few rare trees have been grafted by experts at Kew Gardens and will be replanted in the Swiss Garden in due course. A series of planting plans have been implemented and include a mix of plants inspired by the Ongley and Shuttleworth periods. Evergreens, a staple of the Swiss Garden, provide structure and the ‘bones’ of the garden, but the plans also contain a proportion of appropriate deciduous flowering shrubs and climbers to provide screening and floral interest at key points. A sinuous border of herbaceous plants and box balls forms the front of each bed in accordance with Ongley’s desire for a three-tiered system of planting – with deciduous shrubs in the middle and an evergreen spine, while the flowering plants in the mix vary from bed to bed. The Shuttleworth elements of the planting include a combination of appropriate ferns, ground cover plants and bulbs to clothe the banks of the Grotto and which reflect the importance of Shuttleworth’s intervention and works to the Grotto in the 1870s. The Swiss Garden team is now complete following the recruitment of two garden apprentices and a volunteering officer. Anyone interested in volunteering at the Swiss Garden is encouraged to contact Ann Wise on ann.wise@shuttleworth.org or to telephone her on 01767 627911 (Tuesdays and Thursdays). A variety of roles will be available, and duties will include ‘meeting and greeting’, gardening, conducting guided tours of the garden and helping out with educational and other garden activities.

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Where AM I?

Do You Know?

1 3 These pictures are all taken in our distribution area. Do you know where they are?

Last month’s answer Last month’s images were taken in Eltisley Pub in Eltisley.

Where Are we?

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The Villager and Town Life magazine is delivered door to door throughout:

Abbotsley, Beeston, Broom, Caxton, Cockayne Hatley, Cople, Croydon, Dunton, Eltisley, Everton, Everton Heath, Eyeworth, Gamlingay, Haynes, Henlow, Ickwell Green, Ireland, Langford, Lower Caldecote, Moggerhanger, Northill, Old Warden, Potton, Shuttleworth, Southill, Stanford, Sutton, The Gransdens, Thorncote Green, Upper Caldecote, Waresley and Wrestlingworth

and can be found in most shops, pubs, garages in all of the above and more including Biggleswade and Sandy. Booking your advertising space is easy just call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com

LOCAL NEWS •

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Travelogue

The Art of Breathing Underwater

By Melanie Ridley

If there was one thing in life I would recommend anyone to experience, it’s scuba diving. Having the ability to breathe underwater and for it to feel so natural, while witnessing wonderful creatures in their natural habitat seems unimaginable until you actually do it. The first time I was baptised into this underwater world was on the beautiful island of Ko Tao, Thailand, with its turquoise transparent waters and white sandy beaches and after four days of intense training, I achieved my PADI Open Water qualification. A year later and I had booked myself onto a twoday, one-night dive package aboard the Sea Quest, where I would explore the iconic Great Barrier Reef. My itinerary consisted of seven dives and to say I was excited was an understatement! My navigation above water is questionable, so underwater it’s non-existent. Embarrassingly, I did get myself and my fellow divers lost on one occasion. During my second dive we came face to face with what has to be my favourite animal, the turtle. We were close enough to touch him and even spent a few minutes knelt beside him on the sea bed. As we descended for dive three, we were welcomed by a peculiar looking fish, the size of a large dog, called the Maury Wrasse who have coined the nickname ‘Dog of the Sea’ because of their friendly and affectionate demeanour. This

being a particularly inquisitive one, we felt inclined to tickle his - or her - giant lips as we were told they were partial to a bit of lip tickling! Little did I know that when I booked this dive package, dive four was to be a night dive. With this only being my eighth dive, I was petrified, even more so because the ship’s crew began throwing left over food overboard which attracted approximately 30 white tip reef sharks. Jumping in amongst these was a fearful prospect and on the way down I was in fits of panic, not only because of the lack of visibility and sharks lurking in the shadows, but due to the fact that my flipper had decided to slip off! Fortunately, my fellow divers were on hand to rescue me and my rogue flipper that was slowly descending into the black depths below. Once the dive was over and we were all safely back on board, my instructor congratulated me on how quickly I had controlled my breathing and explained that many divers would have turned around and sacrificed the dive. The following morning we dived the same site at 6:30am and everything looked so different. The sun was rising and beaming through the water, which was surprisingly warm. Before 11:30am I had completed three more scuba dives and my time on the Sea Quest and the Great Barrier Reef was over. With this incredible experience under my belt and a new passion in my heart, I look forward to my next scuba dive adventure...

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Professional Balloon art and Event decoration Beautifully arranged balloon clusters, arches, columns and more Delivery and set up available Like us on Facebook for portfolio and special offers

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THE BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER

Local news, for Local Listeners by Local volunteers supported and funded by Local organisations

Saturday 12th July BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER DAY Come and meet the team, we will be at ASDA Biggleswade between 9am and 3pm • • •

Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com

Giving details of the service and showing how we edit and record the week’s news, listen to that week’s edition. You may have family or friends who could benefit from the service. You may be looking to do some Voluntary Work? We can help you become a Sorter, Technician, Despatch Officer, or Editor, say 20 to 90 minutes a month. Training available. • Come along and talk to the team. Call David Gentle on 07840 504940

www.biggleswadetalkingnewspaper.org.uk We are a registered charity No 281316 established in 1981

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COMING SOON TO ABBOTSLEY… NEW HOLE-IN-ONE GOLF COMPETITION 42-BEDROOM HOTEL ON SITE – WHY NOT STAY A WHILE ? …… AND DON’T FORGET THAT WE ARE DOG-FRIENDLY TOO ! Abbotsley Golf Hotel, Potton Road, St Neots PE19 6XN Tel: 01480 474000 www.abbotsley.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

The Ionian Dolphin Project

A Local Couple’s Adventure By Catherine Rose Dolphins have long fascinated humans with their playfulness, curiosity and intelligence and there can’t be many of us who would not enjoy getting up close to one of these amazing aquatic mammals. Richard Lawson and Elaine Massie who live in Sandy have been committed to environmental charity Earthwatch projects since 1998 and have had close encounters with dolphins on no less than ten separate occasions by participating in the Ionian Dolphin Project. Since discovering Earthwatch 16 years ago, Elaine and Richard have become “serial attendees”, volunteering in 30 different teams to help research all kinds of animals from elephants to badgers. The charity matches up self-funded volunteers with scientists who then teach them how to collect and collate information on the animal being studied while observing it in its natural environment. The seasonal projects take place worldwide. “It’s a win win situation” explains Elaine. “Through volunteers, the scientists get the funding they need and assistants to collect data, and you get to participate first hand in something exciting and worthwhile.” The couple went on their initial Ionian Dolphin Project in 2004 but their very first was with sea turtles in Mexico where only one in a thousand hatchlings reach adulthood. They also undertook studies of British mammals including voles and badgers in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire: ancient woodland owned by Oxford University with limited access to the public. “Earthwatch projects are really hands on and

educational” explains Elaine. The couple are devotees of the week-long cetaceous expedition studying around 150 bottle nosed dolphins that live in the inner Ionian Sea gulf off the Greek coast. The entrance into the gulf from the Ionian Sea is very narrow at only 350m, meaning that the water takes a very long time to circulate. The dolphins appear to remain almost entirely in these waters, making them very susceptible to pollution from local agriculture and sewage, and hence they need constant monitoring to ensure that the population continues to thrive.” After meeting the scientists and fellow volunteers on the first day, the team is trained on protocols in preparation for the first morning’s boat trip. “You spot dolphins every day” says Elaine “and you record their behaviour and count them which is a lot harder than it sounds.” They both recall the thrill of seeing wild dolphins for the first time. “It was really amazing. You are in a very small boat and you don’t expect to get so close. We saw newborns, identified by their ‘foetal folds’ and watching a pod of four or five become a 30-strong group as other dolphins joined them was incredible. “Dolphins will have real spells of playfulness. You might follow a group, see them feeding, then suddenly they are jumping out of the water. Then when they sleep, they will rest stationary at the surface, but only for about ten seconds or so.”

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As well as collecting data on behaviour, the scientists also collect skin samples both from the dolphins and the fish they’re eating to test for disease and look at the clarity of the water in relation to their feeding patterns. Taking a skin sample from a swimming dolphin would seem like an impossible task but Elaine explains that because the dolphins love to ‘bow wave ride’, it is actually not too difficult and can be done without disturbing the animal, using a pole with a small piece of scouring cloth attached to the end. Conscious not to disturb the dolphins too much, Elaine explains that if any of the mammals exhibit “percussive behaviour” (tail slapping in layman’s terms), it suggests they are becoming agitated and the boat will move away. Up to 2,000 photos are taken on a research outing so that dolphins can be identified later and matched with a catalogue of known individuals. Some are very easy to identify as a dolphin’s skin becomes marked through the numerous injuries it sustains throughout its life mainly through social interactions with other dolphins. However, it is not all plain sailing. Richard explains: “Marking can evolve over time. A superficial scratch may heal whereas an aggressive interaction might result in the loss of a bit of fin which doesn’t grow back.” Once data collection has taken place, volunteers are allowed to get out their own cameras for souvenir snapshots. “Dolphins really do interact with and look at you” says Elaine. The couple was also thrilled on one expedition to see a Mediterranean Monk Seal, the second rarest in the world (the first is the Hawaiian Monk Seal). “There are only 300 Mediterranean Monk Seals left in the wild and less than ten live in the Ionian Sea” says Richard. “Our researcher had been there 14 years and had never seen one.” During the afternoon, the sea becomes choppy so the boat will return to the research base at the Tethys Institute to examine the data collected. The project also involves educating local people as there are many farmers in the region who believe that dolphins damage nets and steal their catch. Education also takes place in the local schools and Elaine and Richard have participated in free Dolphin Days held in the local town Vonitsa although as this is not a tourist area, English is largely not spoken so it can be a challenge. Elaine, a teacher herself, did some face painting at one event, and children’s artwork was put on display at another. The region is one of the poorest in Greece. Thankfully, possibly aided by a new sewage treatment plant, the Ionian bottle nose dolphin population remains stable although common dolphins have dwindled due to overfishing. But it is a fragile existence. Oil tankers frequently pass through these waters and one spillage could wipe out the whole population. Although the IDP is no longer working in partnership with Earthwatch, it’s still looking for volunteers through the Tethys Research Institute and Elaine and Richard will be returning in August for another two teams. We’ve made some really good friends from all over the world” says Elaine, “and many of the best experiences of our lives have been on Earthwatch projects, and in particular on the IDP. As well as having a great time, we also feel like we’ve really made a difference both to the conservation of the species being studied and to the local communities where the projects are based.” Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Potton & District Club NEW MEMBERS WELCOME. Keeping LIVE MUSIC live! every week!

JULY 2014

Saturday 5th - Folding Stars (Mod style live band) Friday 11th - Quiz Night with Mike Saturday 12th - Disco Inferno Sunday 13th - World Cup Final & BBQ Saturday 19th - The Ploughmen Saturday 26th - Heroes Journey

AUGUST 2014

Saturday 2nd - Banned Saturday 23rd - The White light Band Sunday 24th - B/H Disco Saturday 30th - The Rock Face The Soulman returns on Friday 19th September All information is provided in good faith, always check the web page pottonclub.co.uk for changes/updates.

Potton CIU Club, Charities Hall, Station Road, Potton Tel: 01767 261465 (Evenings) Website: www.pottonclub.co.uk 24

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Local News

Party On Potton August Bank Holiday Weekend

I know you’re been thinking where are Party On Potton - I apologise. To cut a short story long the committee are on fire and I got burnt (not really) so went to the chiller for a cool down. It’s crazy, mad, fun and very busy at POP HQ and basically someone forgot to send through an update of the happenings. It’s true that only in Potton can a few phone calls, emails or chats in the pub bring about a 4 night, 3 day event. It works a little like this – I am a volunteer for Party on Potton which is a group of locally minded individuals wanting to put on a fun, something for everyone, massive, community event. Would you be interested in being involved? Pretty much everyone says what the Del Monte man says. There is a little thing of organising, coordinating and getting it all done but I don’t understand all that! Let’s wriggle onto Monday, 25th August 2014 - it’s the bank holiday Monday you’re aching a little from partying the night away on the Henry Smith playing field. You drag a comb across your head, find your way downstairs and drink a cup, looking up you notice you are late, grab your coat and hat and speed on down to the field for the POP Sports Themed Day (organised well before Bedfordshire Council decided to do their Potton Sports Day). After the great success of their Potton Sports Day and the fantastic support of so many Sports club we have decided to continue with

ours. In the words of 1 famous Italian, Georgio Cornetto, ours will be ‘magnifico’. In true Potton style everyone has pitched in. There will be a walk lead by the History Society, a fun run, a not so fun run, an extreme and a family cycle ride, a football tournament, there will be work out sessions, Zumba, a ballet display by little people (so get your tissues ready) and a whole lot more. There will be loads of clubs coming to show you their sport and to let you join in to whet your appetite, things like archery, dance, karate and football skills as well as a whole heap of team games such as sack races, egg throwing, wheel barrow and Tug of War. So get your face painted (kid zone open from midday each day), shoot an apple off my head, run, walk or cycle to the Henry Smith playing field because this is where it’s at. Next month we’re coming from the actual month of The Big Weekend so if you want to volunteer please check out our website and let us know. www.partyonpotton.org.uk. It’s hot, hot, hot in POP HQ.

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Competition

Competition Time Win a signed copy of

‘The Wildlife Quiz Book’

by local author Tim Sharrock and learn more than 1,500 fascinating facts about the flora and fauna of the natural world. Simply answer the following easy questions which appear in the book for a chance to win. 1. Which small, dog-like Chinese deer has now become established throughout much of southern England, sometimes occurring even in suburban gardens? 2. Which cat has been tamed by human beings and used for hunting, being hooded like a falconer’s hawk, since at least 2300 BC? 3. Which animal has a single tooth that grows to 8ft (2.5m) in length that has been passed off as a ‘unicorn’s horn’? 4. In what year was the killing of whales completely banned worldwide? Send your answer by post to Catherine Rose – Editor, Wildlife Quiz Competition, he Villager Magazine, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP or by email to editor@villagermag.com.

The closing date is 16th July 2014

The winner will be the sender of the first correct set of answers selected at random by the editor on the closing date. You can also buy a copy for £9.95 from your local bookshop (ISBN 978-1-291-81321-0) or from Wildlife Books, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Please include £1.80 p&p. 26 26

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Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

£5 for 2 classes New customers or those returning after 6 months only. Other restrictions may apply • Bring this Ad with you.

Sandy - Sandye Place Academy, Park Road Mon & Wed 7.30pm, Tue 8pm, Thur 7pm & 8pm Express (30 min) Mon 6.45pm & Tue 7.15pm No need to book • Classes also in Cambourne, St Neots & other areas. For further info go to

www.jazzfitness.co.uk or call 01480 216090

THE CUTTING MILL

HAIR AND BEAUTY SALON MILL STREET, GAMLINGAY • Tel: 01767 650 250

Is Celebrating 17 Years of Business A big thank you to all our loyal customers from Jane, Ami, Jacqui, Deb & Jayne Our ever expanding services now include a full range of hair and beauty Treatments • Beauty Treatments - Hair Extensions, Eyelash Extensions, Universal Contour Wraps & Tanning. Using Paul Mitchell, Juvexin The Best - Defrizzes and strengthens hair for up to 3 months, Dermalogica & O.P.I.

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Value! Personalised Packages of services always available with 10% off! 28

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Health

Is your drinking becoming problematic? By Eeva Whybrow

Alcohol plays a big part in our culture with regular media reports on the increase in binge drinking and availability of low-cost alcohol. Would a price increase stop people drinking? Probably not. The reasons behind excessive drinking are much more deep-rooted. Problem drinkers don’t just start drinking for the sake of it - there is always a reason and this is what needs tackling. Excessive drinking is a problem, but it is not the problem. Before considering counselling for alcohol dependency issues, it is important to reduce the amount you drink (if you are drinking daily). Since counselling brings many emotions to the conscious level, it isn’t beneficial to use alcohol to numb them. Over the years I have noticed how often clients with alcohol issues don’t necessarily know the reasons behind their problematic use - it has become a habit. But when we start exploring, we often find issues such as childhood trauma,

abuse, bereavement and relationship problems. It also seems to be fairly common to have other addictions simultaneously, such as gambling, codependency and excessive working. If you feel you are drinking too much or using alcohol to numb painful emotions, it might be worth seeking help. Monitor your drinking by keeping a diary: be honest, measure your drinks (home measurements are often very different to pub measurements), calculate units and how much money you spend on alcohol which itself might be an eye-opener. If you are concerned about a family member’s or friend’s excessive drinking, it is also beneficial to seek help and advice. Problematic drinking, like other addictions, affects people around the drinkers as well.

PrivateCounselling Struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, trauma, bereavement, or maybe excessive drinking? Looking for someone to talk to - someone to support and help you?

Call Eeva on 07852 801 283 eeva@private-counselling.co.uk www.private-counselling.co.uk Counselling rooms in Gamlingay (SG19), Graveley, near Stevenage (SG4), and North London (N7 and N11) To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

P and R Bathrooms

Here to Help as You Grow Older

Although most of us enjoy planning for the future, planning for a future with the most practical view is not always a comfortable experience. Paul Kynoch from P and R Bathrooms explains how they advise their customers:

‘No one wants to go to the trouble and expense of replacing their bathroom on a regular basis, that’s why, when it comes to planning your bathroom, it makes real sense to think of the future. As we grow older certain practical measures can make using the toilet, bathing or showering more pleasant or even possible. A slightly higher toilet, a very low shower tray, easyclean shower screens and a lower bath with a strong handrail make all the difference. And even if they are not needed straight away, our designs make these features so stylish, there’s no need to compromise your tastes.’ I would certainly agree with Paul as I wander around the large Bedford showroom and discover that it takes real effort to spot the slight modifications that he has described. Next to one bath is a grab bar which looks exactly like a chrome soap dish while next door is a wet room with a colour-matched flip-down seat that blends so seamlessly, so elegantly, it really is just a part of the furniture. ‘We have made a real effort to source not only good quality bathrooms from only the most reputable and reliable companies but we have also included features which are musts for our older customers and those planning for the future. We stock non-slip tiles in many styles

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and offer the option of single lever basin mixer taps which are brilliant for both the very young but also anyone suffering with arthritis who may struggle to grip another kind of tap. We specialize in fitting thermostatic showers which do not alter their temperature when water is used elsewhere in the house – much safer and more comfortable for all the family.’ I ask Paul more about design. ‘We offer a design service as well as the complete installation package – as much or as little as our customers need and we really listen to what they want as well as taking on board what will work in their home and with their personal tastes – now and in the future. For example, if someone has a bath installed we will always recommend that they purchase a few more tiles so that if the time comes that they feel that a shower tray would be more practical, they are able to have one installed and there are enough tiles to avoid buying new ones for the whole room. ‘Our wet rooms can be installed both downstairs

onto concrete or upstairs onto wooden floors and we can also save customers so much upheaval by using Mermaid paneling, a type of waterproof boarding that is quick to install and makes transforming your bathroom so much easier – it looks really lovely too.’ ‘Basins are not necessarily static items’ Paul continues to explain, ‘They can be set higher than usual for anyone who has difficulty bending and we can supply and fit baths which are lower and so much more easy to access. ‘None of these items, whether they are part of a complete bathroom package or modifications, need to look like medical or specialized equipment. The fact is they are not, they are just variations of the norm which make life more comfortable for so many people who like a stylish bathroom as much as they always have.’ P and R Bathrooms, with their impressive showroom and team of designers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and installers are just a phone call away. Why not consider your future and plan a bathroom that will be not only a delight to use now but also an invaluable an investment in times to come?

P&R Bathrooms

9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 0845 434 8401 Website: www.pandrbathrooms.co.uk Open 9:00am-5:00pm Mon - Fri 10:ooam-4:00pm Saturday Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Food & Drink

Beer of the Month by Ted Bruning

It’s July, and July means Independence Day in the USA when they have cook-outs and parades and fireworks and... beer! American beer used to be bland. The malt was padded out with rice, and the hops were introduced only briefly to the brewing-kettle. They were served so cold and gassy that whatever character they did possess was obliterated. Thirty years ago a friend of mine used to take a phial of hop oil and a swizzle-stick with him on trips to the States to add flavour to his beer and dissipate the CO2. Thankfully, things have changed since microbrewing started in earnest, and here are two beers that don’t need dosing and stirring. Sierra Nevada was founded in 1980 in Chico, California, and the 5.6% abv Pale Ale was its

firstborn brew. It’s bottled with yeast, so the fine mousse and deep head are natural. Its aroma has the piney freshness characteristic of the American Cascade hop, but there’s also toffee in both aroma and flavour. The finish is only slightly bitter (which is how Americans like it), and gives way to more toffee sweetness. From Goose island Brewery in Chicago (founded 1988) comes the 5.9% India Pale Ale. IPAs were brewed strong and hoppy to survive the long sea-voyage to India in the days of the Raj; but here the hops are American rather than British so don’t have the aggressive bitterness we would expect. The beer is light for its strength, and the dominant note throughout is fresh hay. It smells and tastes like a stable with a short, fresh, tangy finish.

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Bedfordshire Foot Clinic

APampering ROM ATICS & Beauty Holistics

Podiatry/Chiropody Welcome to Aromatics – a haven of peace, pampering and relaxation in the heart of Potton.

Yvonne Siudak

BSc (Hons.) MChs, HCPC Registered

Podiatrist / Chiropodist

Book a treatment with new member Sarah and receive off your first treatment

Private Podiatry / Chiropody Care in Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK A comprehensive service for all your foot care needs

Hard Skin • Corns • Nail Cutting Ingrown Toe Nails • Fungal Nail Infections General Foot Care • Verrucae Treatment • Laser Treatment • Diabetic Assessments • Biomechanical Assessments

Chec our website k world cup specfoiar our enjoy some pam ls, while the footbapering ll is on

New Wimbledon offers also available! We have now moved to 58 King Street, Potton SG19 2QZ

Treatments include:

Full details of our specialist treatments available, call Yvonne for an appointment:

Bedfordshire Foot Clinic

17 Georgetown Cottages, Tempsford Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2AE

• • • • •

T: 01767 681 704 M: 07562 748 352 E: yvonne@yourfootclinic.co.uk

www.yourfootclinic.co.uk Also Cambridge Foot Clinic Tel: 01223 358 431

Facial & Body Treatments Holistic Treatments Waxing Eye Care Lash Perfect Eyelash Extensions

• • • • • • • •

Teen treatments Manicures & Pedicures Pregnancy Massage Spa Packages Hen & Bridal Packages Bio-Sculpture Sports Massage Pedicures

Tel: 07711 204409

www.aromaticspotton.co.uk

Aromatics Villager advert July.indd 1

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Travel

To Hell and Back… By Tim Saunders

“It’s not a place where travellers first think of staying,” smiles Shige Takezoe who, with his wife Diana, owns Hell Barn Cottages in North Chideock, Dorset. “Basically nobody knows why it is called Hell but it’s a beautiful place.” Shige purchased the holiday business with its three cottages in 1996. “It’s very much an international business - holidaymakers come from as far away as India.” I have driven through Chideock on the way to Devon many times and never really given it a second glance until now. And it is a beautiful revelation with country lanes that at times are so narrow it is scary, especially when driving a large Range Rover Evoque which seems to create its own lay-bys. What brings a Japanese man to this remote part of Dorset? Shige explains: “Diana was an English teacher in Tokyo and we moved back to the UK. I haven’t visited Japan since.” He worked for a Japanese company in Newcastle. “It’s only when you’re making money that you have the luxury to reflect. Realising that I wanted a better quality of life we moved to Dorset and found Hell. We’ve never looked back.” It’s an idyllic location where there is almost continual bird song, no road noise and children are well catered for with a large garden, slide and swings, an enormous games room and Wendy house. We stay in Rosemary Cottage, which has two extremely comfortable bedrooms and a downstairs bathroom. Shige cooks Japanese cuisine and

delivers it to the cottages. He’ll even take away the plates so there’s no washing up which enables tired parents to enjoy the restaurant experience at home without worrying about the children disrupting fellow diners. We try the salmon and chicken teriyaki, which comes with rice, miso soup and salad with Japanese dressing. A highlight of this holiday is our trip on the historic Seaton Tramway. We board at Colyton and enjoy a 30 minute ride, able to fit our tandem pushchair on board in the open part of the tram. It’s a delightful way to travel to Seaton with breathtaking views of the River Exe estuary and we spot rabbits and pheasants. Seaton suffers from a seagull problem but bird control comes in the form of a 246mph peregrine falcon named Morgan - a television celebrity. Our return journey is more relaxing than driving and having to look for a parking space. There are many attractions and places to visit along the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A la Ronde, a National Trust property at Exmouth is a spectacular 16-sided house built by two wealthy cousins who wanted to make the most of daylight. Venture down the road to Golden Cap and you will be richly rewarded with magnificent coastal views. From seaside destinations such as West Bay to Lyme Regis and Bridport and just over the borders to Sidmouth in Devon and Chard, Somerset there is never a dull moment. www.hellbarn.co.uk

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Local News

Become a Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice

Fundraising Hero! Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice is appealing to local people who would like to make a difference to the community by becoming a Fundraising Hospice Hero in Bedfordshire. If you are looking for an exciting new challenge and want to use your skills for a good cause, St John’s would love to hear from you. There are many volunteering roles on offer, from running fundraising events, organising coffee mornings, assisting with collections, or helping out at one of our flagship events. How about being based at the hospice and having a specific role such as corporate researcher, fundraising assistant or an ambassador? These roles are flexible and you choose when and how much time you can commit. By being part of the healthcare charity in this way, you can help to raise the vital funds we need to

continue to deliver incredible care to people with life-changing illness. Paula Priestley, Regional Fundraising Manager, at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice said: “Volunteering with Sue Ryder is not just rewarding, you’ll get to share and develop your skills, meet new people, and you’ll have a really good time along the way. You will also make a massive difference to the lives of those we care for. “The role of a Fundraising Hospice Hero is really important as you will become a key part of the team and help to run some great fundraising events that will not only be a fulfilling experience, but will also help the whole community.” If this is something that would interest you, please contact the Fundraising Team by emailing stjohnsfundraising@sueryder.org or telephone 01767 642421.

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Relationship at breaking point? Caring, confidential legal advice about: • Divorce & separation • Cohabitation

• Financial settlements • Child contact & residence

Visit www.family-lawfirm.co.uk or email tamara.glanvill@family-lawfirm.co.uk Local meetings arranged at a time and place to suit you.

FREE

half hour telephone appointment

Call locally based family and divorce specialist Tamara Glanvill on 0845 680 2136 (local rate) Woolley & Co is a member of the Law Society and authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

Head office: Warwick Enterprise Park, Wellesbourne, Warwick. CV35 9EF

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life W&Co_TamaraAd131.93mm07.13.indd 1 please call 01767 261122

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Local News

SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

Guided Walks and Talks 2014

A Guided Tour of Tempsford Don’t forget the next Guided Walk which will be led by local historian Steve Cooney around the historic Village of Tempsford and which takes place on Thursday, 10th July. We will see, amongst many other buildings and historic points the site of Gannock Castle, which is a medieval moated site and a scheduled ancient monument. We will visit St Peter’s Church and see the Memorial Chapel dedicated to those who flew from RAF Tempsford, perhaps the most secret airfield in the Second World War and which was home to the Special Duties Squadrons, No 138 which dropped Special Operations Executives (SOE agents) and their supplies into occupied Europe, and No 161. We will see a number of historic buildings on the way to the Millennium Garden Sanctuary, an area which was originally the entrance to Tempsford Hall and which after years of neglect local residents have transformed into a wildlife sanctuary and woodland walk. We will also see the new memorial recently unveiled by HRH the Prince of Wales to honour the 75 World War Two women agents who helped resistance movements in occupied Europe and who flew from nearby RAF Tempsford. We will then walk to the Stuart Memorial Hall and visit the Tempsford Museum and Archives. The museum was opened in 2013 and houses a vast collection of memorabilia, artefacts, deeds, estate maps, etc. Refreshments will be served in the Hall. There will be much else to see in this very

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interesting and historic village. Meet outside Tempsford Parish Church at 7pm. Please park in the village street. The cost of the Guided Tour is £5.50 per person (payable on booking please). A Guided Walk in Southill Park The fifth TIC Guided Walk is to be held during the afternoon of Sunday, 10th August and is a ‘Walk in Southill Park’, by kind permission of Mr Charles Whitbread. On this rare occasion we will be able to walk through the ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parklands of Southill Park, seat of the Whitbread family since 1795. After a short walk from Old Warden’s Village Car Park we will walk through the picturesque village of Old Warden and enter the 800 acre Southill Park via Warden Lodge. During the walk we will hear about the history of the Whitbread’s and the story of this magnificent estate and house. This famous Bedfordshire family made their fortune in brewing and a number have served as members of parliament. We will walk through a typical English parkland landscape in which you may see grazing the rarebreed white beef cattle. We will pass close to the north or entrance front of the house with its central gateway of wroughtiron gates and screen which are aligned with the centre of the house. The magnificent regency house was remodelled for the Whitbread’s by the famous architect Henry Holland (1745-1806). Holland undertook work for

the Prince Regent and his architecture can still be seen at Woburn and Althorp. Holland’s work at Southill was completed in 1800 and the interior of the house retains much of Holland’s original decoration. It has been written that the house at “Southill is one of the most exquisite English understatements.” Continuing through the park we will pass the handsome All Saints Church, burial place of the Byng family, including the famous Admiral John Byng, who is best known for the loss of Minorca in 1756 at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War. He was court-martialled and was sentenced to death and shot by firing squad on the quarterdeck of his ship in March 1757. The walk continues round part of the 34 acre lake and passes the 18th century bridge built by John Smeaton, often called “the father of civil engineering”. Smeaton also undertook work for the Whitbread’s at their London Brewery and the delightful bridge over the brook at Cardington. We will then leave the park passing the delightful Fishing Temple and cottage (designed by Henry Holland in c1800) which stands close to the edge of the lake and return to Old Warden via the wooded Warden Warren. We will meet in the Village Car Park, in Old Warden at 2.30pm The cost of the Guided Tour is £5.50 per person (payable on booking please). The Everton Walk The Everton Walk was due to take place on 9th May, but due to the inclement weather and other matters this had to be cancelled. The Walk will now take place on Friday, 15th August at 2pm. This delightful walk starts from Everton Parish Church and enters the wooded parklands of Woodbury Hall. After passing the 18th century house we will descend the hill at the edge of the park and then cross over agricultural fields before joining the Roman road (bridleway). We will pass the Barn, once part of Gibraltar Farm. This Barn also formed part of RAF Tempsford and was used as the holding point for SOE agents immediately before they were taken to the aircraft that took them on various dangerous missions into German occupied Europe. Here agents were also supplied with their equipment, etc. We will then ascend the hill and return to the village of Everton.

We will meet at the Parish Church in Everton at 2pm. As there is very little space near the church can you please park your cars on roads within the village. The cost is £5.50 per person (payable on booking please) Other TIC Walks:The Potton Sutton Guided walk Friday, 12th September 2.45pm A Guided Walk around Willington Thursday 18th September 6.30pm TIC Autumn/Winter Talks The actual dates and venues for this year’s three Talks have now been arranged and will be as follows:The Life and Times of Francis Pym Monday, 13th October at 7.30pm Sandy Baptist Church Hall Sandy and the Great War Tuesday, 4th November at 7.30pm Sandy Baptist Church Hall The Rise and Fall of the Cardington Airships Tuesday, 2nd December at 7.30pm Sandy Baptist Church Hall For further details of the Walks and the Talks contact the Tourist Information Centre.

Sandy Tourist Information Centre, Rear of 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy Telephone 01767 682728 – email tourism@sandytowncouncil.gov.uk Monday to Friday 10am – 3pm

OPENING TIMES Saturday 10am-2pm Sundays and Bank Holidays Closed Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND BUILDING DESIGN SERVICES

Ash Tree Financial Services Independent Financial Advisers For friendly and expert advice in your financial planning including: Mortgages and Home Insurance Life assurance Critical Illness Cover Income Protection Pensions and Annuities Investments and Savings

Professional and affordable architectural design services provided for all types of private residential building projects with all necessary council approvals obtained.

Contact Christopher Goodwin Ash Tree House, 48 Sutton Mill Road, Potton, SG19 2QB Tel: 01767 262760

goodwin@ashtree.uk.com www.ashtree.uk.com

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For free estimates and advice, contact Jason Dixon on:01767 677540 or 07908 004816 e-mail: JTDixon101@aol.com No VAT payable for design and drawing services on residential projects Jason Dixon, 101 Meadow Road, Great Gransden, Sandy, SG19 3BB.

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To arrange an appointment please contact: Wayne Bacon DipFA MIFS a truly Independent Financial Adviser T: 01767 650 477 M: 07738 120 127 E: wayne.bacon@2plan.com

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Local News

Ivel Sprinter Volunteer drivers required

The Ivel Sprinter is a community minibus service providing a lifeline for many people that have no other means of public transport. It links many out-lying villages such as Tempsford, Langford, Potton, Upper Caldecote, Everton, Barford, Blunham and Sutton with the main towns of Biggleswade and Sandy. These services run on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Services are also provided to Bedford, St Neots and Cambridge on other days of the week. The Sprinter not only assists our senior citizens to maintain their independence, but it is a public service for all ages. Organised and maintained by an unpaid management committee, it is staffed by volunteer drivers.

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And currently the committee is looking for more volunteers who can give one or two mornings per month. Suitable drivers require a car licence with D1 to drive a minibus and training will be given. You could also become better qualified. Recently 13 Ivel Sprinter drivers passed the MiDAS training (Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme). If you think that you are suitable and would like to give something back to the community, please contact:

01462 701323 or visit the website:

www.ivelsprinter.org.uk

Anstee Gorst

Chartered Certified Accountants

- Accounts preparation for Sole traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies - Self assessment tax returns - Cash Flow Forecasting - Vat, Payroll & Bookkeeping - Business Start Up

Free Initial Consultation Phone: Antoinette Gorst ACCA or Sally Anstee FCCA 01767 650700 Ground Floor Offices, Unit 30, Green End, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds, SG19 3LF Email: office@ansteegorst.co.uk Website: www.ansteegorst.co.uk

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Tennis

Potton Tennis Club Established in 1994, Potton Tennis Club is now in its 20th year and remains small and very friendly. Located adjacent to Potton United Football Club at The Hollow, they have two hard courts with floodlights. Adult club nights are on Thursdays from 8pm 10pm where mainly social doubles tennis is played but depending on numbers they may also play some singles. Afterwards a few carry on talking about tennis at the Royal Oak pub! Social nights are also held by the club which include Christmas dinner, a BBQ and wooden rackets tournament around Wimbledon and a balanced double tournament in September. Potton Tennis Club also runs men’s, ladies’ and mixed teams in the Bedfordshire County League. There are summer and winter leagues where teams consist of four players and matches are four doubles matches, ie. two matches per pair. They are usually played in the evening and take around three hours. Each team plays between five and eight matches per season, around half of which are home and half away. The courts can be used by members at any time unless an organised activity is in progress. Members can purchase tokens for the floodlights, but there are no other costs for a member’s court usage.

There are various options for membership: adults £75, juniors (U18) and students (U25) £20, U25s £35, two adult families £150, one adult family £95. There is also a winter membership available from October to March for £25. One of the benefits of belonging to the club is the Wimbledon draw. To be in the draw you have to be aged nine or over, a paid up member of Potton Tennis Club and a member of British Tennis. British Tennis membership is free to club members. Head Coach Claire Norman is an LTA Level 3 coach who has also taught in America. She is an experienced mentor and leader with over six years’ experience working with children and young adults. Claire currently offers various coaching sessions: Tots, Adults, Juniors, Mini, Wheelchair, Deaf, Visually impaired, Learning Difficulties, Cardio and Rusty Rackets. To contact Potton Tennis Club: Email: potton@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.facebook.com/pottontennisclub Phone: Claire 07545334805 Email: claire@claireelizabethtennis.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ claireelizabethtennis/info Twitter:@cnorman21

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Employment

Is Your Work-Life Balance

A Little Uneven? On 30th June 2014, the right to request ‘flexible working’ was extended to cover all UK employees with at least 26 weeks’ continuous employment, rather than just those with children under the age of 17 (18 if the child is disabled) and certain carers. Employees now have the legal right to make one flexible working request each year (but not to demand a change). Employers have a legal obligation to consider all requests in a reasonable manner. However, they will still be able to refuse requests where they have good business reasons (or could suggest an alternative arrangement). Flexible working requests can include: part-time working, working from home, job-sharing, termtime working, and compressed hours (fitting a five-day week into four days). For many employees, the Flexible Working Regulations could be the catalyst to start reviewing and adjusting their work-life balance. If a Flexible Working request triggers greater transparency and open communication between employee and employer (even if the request isn’t granted), this can only be a positive step all round. There is some concern that the changes will bring a flood of requests, making it more difficult for those in greater need to have a request granted. However, feedback from some of the 90% of

companies already offering flexible working has indicated a boost in productivity and profits, along with reductions in sickness absence. There have also been indications of increased morale, more commitment and stronger employee loyalty. An increase in these types of family-friendly policies being rolled out and economic growth often go hand in hand. A recent survey from the IBM Smarter Workforce Institute, indicates clear evidence that a good work-life balance not only improves job satisfaction and employee retention, but is also linked to faster career progression! It was interesting that employers offering at least one flexible working option, not only benefitted from significantly higher levels of job satisfaction but, as a result, were retaining a greater mix of workforce talent. Our expectations for work-life balance are actively changing, and this quiet revolution will have a long-lasting and positive impact in the workplace of the future. So, if you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to address your work-life balance, it’s arrived!

By Sarah Reid

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Uplands Healthcare Specialising in Experience Set up in January 2013 by husband and wife Wayne and Becki Smith from home, Uplands Healthcare Ltd has grown from strength to strength and is now based in offices in the centre of Biggleswade. It primarily provides professional care services to the elderly living in residential and nursing homes and has just launched a new service called Home-Help that provides a helping hand for elderly people who are still living independently in their own home but require a little assistance to manage their daily routines. A company that prides itself on its experienced staff, Catherine Rose found out more. Becki has a background in medical recruitment that spans several years working for a healthcare agency. Seeing first hand some of the deficiencies in the services being offered, it was always her dream to set up her own company and to do it better. When husband Wayne was made redundant in December 2012, using Becki’s contacts and good reputation, the couple seized the opportunity and Uplands Healthcare Ltd was born. They decided from the outset that they would only take on fully experienced staff with a true passion for caring for others and although this makes their job of recruiting more difficult, Wayne says: “It is very important to not only our clients but the service users that they are getting the very best level of care and we would never take on people just to fill the books. When our staff go out, they know exactly what they are doing”. Consequently, when Uplands interviews applicants, Becki and Wayne ensure that all their certificates are up to date and will then supply ongoing training to keep them that way as well as offering extra training courses to staff if they feel it would benefit the level of care they give or fit around the needs of their clients. The company is very much the couple’s own. Impressively, they have designed their attractive logo and website themselves, with a strapline ‘The new generation of Care Agency’. The administration team includes sister-in-law Nadine. “Family has a vested interest in the business” explains Wayne. Currently, they employ 25 professional healthcare workers. Wayne and Becki are also trained care workers themselves and although mainly office-

Ltd

based, they like to go into the community as much as possible carrying out hands-on care in order to be fully aware of their clients’ needs. They mainly provide staff to residential care and nursing homes either on a permanent or temporary basis and always under the direction of the home managers. The company has expanded the best way: through word-ofmouth recommendation and has forged strong relationships across the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, currently being preferred suppliers to 18 care/nursing homes. Due to this success they have now decided to branch out in to Home-Help to open the doors to people who simply need a helping hand with everyday domestic jobs around the home, leaving them feeling safe in the hands of a fully trained care assistant who has been enhanced DBS and reference checked. Rather than personal care, Uplands provides services like shopping, meal preparation, gardening, housework or just company for an elderly person who is lonely. There is no enforced time limit, and Wayne is dismissive of care firms who offer rushed 15 minute slots. “If the client wants two hours, that’s what they get” he explains. “Many elderly people living at home don’t need personal care. They just want help and companionship.” Looking to the future, Wayne and Becki say they would like to slowly expand further, possibly building on their services in domestic care, and are currently looking to take on some more experienced care assistants and nurses. Priding themselves on being able to provide reliable staff, in turn they reward them by ensuring they are well looked after. “If they want flexibility in their working hours or even a two week holiday at short notice, it’s not a problem” says Wayne. And the couple’s overall philosophy? Wayne and Becki’s response is immediate: “We want to try and change people’s perception of care agencies for the better”. If you are interested in the services of Uplands Healthcare Ltd, or are a professional healthcare worker who would like to apply for a position with this friendly family-led company, please log on to www.uplandshealthcare.co.uk for more details.

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Pottons Specialist Welding and Fabricating Company

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Garden

Mediterranean Magic By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com If you can’t get away this year, how about creating your own Mediterranean hotspot in your garden? Even if you do manage to escape to the sun for a week or two this year, you’ll still have the rest of the summer at home and a little slice of Italy, France or Greece outside your back door will bring happy memories flooding back. The first thing to do is to choose the sunniest spot available – it’ll not only make sitting out there more enjoyable, but will also mean that you can install some serious sun-loving plants too. Painting the nearby house, shed or garage wall with white masonry paint will help to create the right atmosphere and look. At the same time it will help to reflect our sunlight – often a bit washed out compared to more southern climes - so providing a stronger light for the type of plants that appreciate it. Mediterranean gardens often make full use of the walls and any other vertical surfaces, so put up hanging baskets, pots and wall baskets and cram them full of plants. Plants in pots are a must and if possible choose stone or terracotta containers. If you want to make brand new pots look more weathered try painting them with a solution of plain yoghurt as this will help to encourage rapid colonisation by mosses, algae and lichens. Any new hard landscaping such as wall, paths or patios and terraced surfaces will look best in natural stone and there are now also terracotta tiles available that are suitable for use in the garden. Terracotta tiles can also have a storageheater effect too – after a long, hot day they will have absorbed a good deal of heat and this will then be released gradually in the evening. Add interest to a vertical surface by planting Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

a vine. They have attractive leaves and there are plenty to choose from that will fruit well in our climate. You may not be able to create your own vintage but the vines will look particularly authentic when draped with a few bunches of grapes. Glazed tiles, wall-hangings and even the odd ornament or two can also add to the Mediterranean look, but make sure you choose items that won’t be instantly bleached by the sun. Try growing your own oranges or lemons. With our generally milder winters some gardeners are even managing to keep these plants outside all year round with only the minimum of protection. Growing your citrus tree in a good-sized terracotta pot means that you can move it into a more protected spot if necessary. With their wonderful silvery grey leaves and their often rather untidy or gnarled shape, olives too are a plant well worth considering. Olives are best grown in a large container unless you have a warm garden and a very well-drained soil as they hate winter wet. Some plants just spell out Mediterranean Magic – try geraniums and pelargoniums, aeoniums and sempervivums, rosemary, thyme, oregano and pretty well anything with silvery foliage. Go for the brightest coloured flowers and your new holiday destination will also benefit from a subtle Mediterranean aroma too. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for her ‘Winter thru’ Spring’ vegetable collection, great plants for September and regular advice emails from Pippa, and a super range of gardening products including Nemasys caterpillar, slug, ant and other biological controls, Enviromesh & Envirofleece

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Garden

Uninvited Party Poopers Rural Ramblings. By Geoff Wharton Summer is a time to get outside and enjoy the fruits of our labours in the garden. Of course there always seems to be something wanting to spoil our fun. You happen to be sipping a lovely fruit cordial or even a bottle of ice-cold beer when along comes small but extremely irritating a visitor which is equally interested in the outdoor refreshments seemingly especially provided for them. It measures no more than a centimetre at best and is coloured and yellow and hated by all. It is of course the insect for which it is difficult to find any good words - the wasp. The havoc and fluster which they can induce in a previously placid group of children and adults can be most amusing especially if you are watching from a distance! Once the evening draws in, the problem of marauding wasps seems to go and we can all start to relax again and enjoy the rest of the evening in peace. DO NOT BE FOOLED into lowering your guard. The following morning, the red itchy sots appear, indicative of the undetected feeding of yet another unwanted guest - the mosquito. For a few days, the irritating bites of this vampirelike tiny flying pest can be itchy itchy scratchy scratchy but at least in this country we do not now have the serious disease of malaria which can be carried and transmitted in the saliva of some mosquito species. However, travelling abroad can be another matter and when visiting some parts of the world, serious precautions have to be made in order to reduce the risk of contracting this disease. We should not be too complacent in this country it now appears. Warmer towns and cities, together with an increase in breeding opportunities because we are using more water storage butts and containers, may be adding to the risk of Malaria becoming a problem. More people are now travelling further afield and they may return with the parasite in their blood. They say that the risk of infection in this country is low, but the possibility cannot be ignored. I remember only recently an old plastic dog basket I had left outside had filled up with rainwater and on closer inspection was full of small wriggling black insect larvae so I quickly emptied it out and was most proud to have killed thousands as a result! Summer evenings, I hide indoors, turn on the light and hide behind the

window. You can see the adults trying to claw their way in order to feed on your blood. I can mock them from behind the window now their efforts have been thwarted! I wonder how we would feel about wasps if they carried malaria - they are horrid creatures at the best of times (even if they are marvels of millions of years of genetic engineering). I tend not to think too much about the wonders of evolution when being bitten all over by mosquitoes or stung by a swarm of disturbed and angry wasps!

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Local News

Ladies Circle The Ladies Circle is a modern, vibrant club for women aged 18 to 45 who want to make new friends, have lots of fun, do things they’ve never done before and maybe carry out a bit of fundraising along the way. It’s for women just like you! The circle has more than 140 groups around the country meeting at least once a month for a wide variety of activities and events. Whether you’re new to the Biggleswade area, or are just looking to broaden your social life, Biggleswade Ladies Circle group is a perfect way to get more out of life. Members include single and married women,

those with children and those without, working and not working - they’re a varied bunch and everyone is welcome to come along and just be themselves. Upcoming events include a visit to Hitchin Lavender on Tuesday 1st July, a birds of prey evening on Thursday 10th July and a hot ‘n’ spicy night on Friday 11th July. Contact us to find out more about how you can get involved and for details of our next events. What have you got to lose? Email: biggleswade. circle@yahoo.co.uk. Twitter: @BwadeCircle. Facebook: Biggleswade Ladies Circle.

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SURECLEAN DRIVEWAY AND PATIO CLEANING SPECIALISTS ROOF MOSS REMOVAL AND GUTTER CLEANING We use a revolutionary industrial pressure rotary cleaning system to restore exterior hard surfaces to as new condition.

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Local News

Well Done Charles Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club

Charles Wicksteed was born in Leeds in 1847, the son of a clergyman. At 16 he began an engineering apprenticeship and at 21, with the support of his family, set up a steam plough engineering business, working in Norfolk and at times on the Sandringham Estate. In 1907 he created the Wicksteed Speed Change Gear, a form of automatic transmission, a forerunner of gear boxes used in Grand Prix Cars. After the First World War, he purchased his first plot of land near Kettering, at what is now Wicksteed Park. Originally, he thought of building a model village but his main aim was to create a park for families who lived in homes with no gardens, where that children had to play in the streets. By now, his company was in Kettering and it supplied the park with seats and playground equipment worldwide, as it still does to this day. Wicksteed Park became the first leisure park in the UK. In 1921 he created the lake and five years later installed the water chute, described by some as being in a skip and being thrown into a river! Work

began in 1930 to build a railway but sadly he died in 1931, a few days before the opening. Thanks to the initiative of Charles Wicksteed and the support we receive in our fundraising, we have again been able to take a full large coach load of disadvantaged families and a group of Young Carers to Wicksteed. We provide a picnic lunch and free admission to all the rides. This annual event is thoroughly enjoyed by all who go. This is just one of Biggleswade Sandy Lions community service activities. Would you like to join in and help our community as well as joining some of our fundraising activities? We are non political and non religious, meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at Biggleswade Conservative Club at 8pm. Come and meet us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you will be very welcome. More information is to be found at www. biggleswadesandylions.org.uk. And you can always speak to Dave or Judith Hagger on 0845 833 9749 HAPPY TO HELP

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Pets

Animal Queries

RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch

Dear RSPCA vet, My friend is a farmer and he’s scared me by talking about something called fly-strike that can be fatal in sheep. He says I should be careful with my pet rabbits – is this true? Hassan, Kempston Dear Hassan, I’m afraid, your friend is correct. Fly-strike (also known as Myiasis) is when flies lay their eggs on a rabbit’s skin (usually around the bottom). The eggs quickly hatch and the maggots chew their way into the rabbit’s skin. This can happen within hours and can very quickly become fatal. This is particularly common in the warmer summer months so it’s vital that owners always check their rabbit’s bottom twice daily, and every time you pick him up. Any rabbit can get fly-strike but the risk is highest for rabbits with dirty bottoms, wet fur or wounds. If your rabbit often has a dirty bottom you may have to change his diet. To avoid this horrible problem, keep your rabbit’s living quarters clean and dry: flies are Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

attracted by damp, smelly conditions. If any rabbit becomes quiet and listless, or appears restless and shows signs of discomfort, pick them up immediately and check for eggs or maggots. If you do find maggots, don’t just try and clean him yourself – telephone your veterinary practice IMMEDIATELY. Fly-strike is a true emergency – day or night – and treatment cannot wait. As long as it doesn’t delay your trip to the vet, pick off any visible maggots with tweezers. Do not dunk the rabbit in water as fur in the affected area may need to be shaved and wet fur clogs the clippers. Fly-strike is a very serious condition and is, sadly, often fatal. However, rabbits can make a full recovery if the condition if found and treated quickly. Fly-blown rabbits are usually in pain and severe shock, and need skilled veterinary and nursing care. ANIMAL QUERIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshire-northbranch

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Local News

If you love animals, you’ll love this…..

Saturday 23 August, 10am-4pm

Did you know that the Fire Brigade attend to a trapped animal incident, on average, once every 14 hours? Or that the most common behavioural problem affecting dog owners is unwanted barking? See a demonstration of Bedford’s Fire and Rescue Service in action. Discover simple tips to stop your (or your neighbour’s) dog barking with Malcolm Johnson, canine trainer and behaviourist, who’ll be running two taster training sessions during the day for only £1. And there’s loads more to do at the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch’s Fun Day. It’s on Saturday 23 August from 10am-4pm at Milton Ernest Garden Centre – and it’s shaping up to be a great day out for all the family. This community event will showcase the fantastic wealth of animal-based charities and businesses in Bedfordshire, with many stalls and displays

demonstrating their products and services for the day. Highlights include children’s entertainment, craft activities, face painting, a children’s fancy dress competition and a fun pet show with classes such as waggiest tail, best trick and cutest eyes. We’re also running a photographic competition for pet lovers that will be displayed and judged on the day. As well as great prizes, there’ll also be opportunities to sponsor a pet and buy pet-related products – whilst, importantly, raising money for charity. Our August Fun Day is all set to be a fantastic family day out, so please put it in your diary! For more information, please go to: www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshire-northbranch or call 01234 266965 Email: welfare@rspcabedfordshirenorth.org.uk Find us on Facebook and Twitter If you’re interested in having a stall contact: manager@rspcabedfordshirenorth.org.uk

The Fire Brigade asks people to make the RSPCA their first port of call to report an animal in distress – they are then able to make a decision whether to call on the services of a fire crew. The RSPCA advises that it’s important not to overreact in some situations as animals often escape unaided. A spokesman said: “If you see a cat up a tree, we'd advise you to leave it for 24 hours before calling the RSPCA as they usually manage to get themselves down. all, when and was the lastLife timeplease you sawcall a cat's skeleton up a tree?" Call 0300 1234 999 to report cruelty or an animal in distress. To advertise in After The Villager Town 01767 261122 61

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Motoring

Stars of the New York Motor Show

by James Baggott

The New York Motor Show might not be the biggest event on the automotive calendar, but there were some still some treats in store for car fans in the Big Apple. Land Rover Discovery Concept - It was launched on an aircraft carrier, next to a spaceship, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop - this launch is a massive deal for the manufacturer. It’s packed with tech, including augmented reality that can project sat nav directions onto the smart glass windscreen, gesture controls that open doors without touch and the ability to remotely drive the car using a tablet or smart phone. How much will make it into production is unclear, but it’s exciting stuff. Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe - The world’s chief executives are sure to make their next meeting on time thanks to this luxury missile. With 577bhp under the bonnet, the monster S63 AMG Coupe can hit 60mph in just 3.9 seconds. It has a 5.5-litre turbocharged V8 engine and an interior that’ll please those used to five star hotels. Air suspension, an imaginatively-titled Magic Body Control system and other trickery helps keep caramel lattes from spilling on Saville Row suits. On sale in November it will cost £100,000. BMW M4 Convertible - Convertible? Cabriolet? We’re not sure which term the Germans prefer, but all we know is the BMW M4 looks absolutely stunning with its roof chopped off. The M4 features a clever three-piece folding metal roof and some not-so-subtle design tweaks. These include quad tailpipes, a larger front bumper and a tweaked kidney grille.

The convertible will go on sale in September costing £60,730 with a 3.0-litre turbocharged six cylinder. The 0-60mph time is now down to 4.6 seconds. Ford Mustang 50th Anniversary - It wouldn’t be an American motor show without some muscle, and thankfully Ford has been taking its protein shakes and come up with this. The night before the show, Ford chopped one up and rebuilt it on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, recreating a stunt they pulled off with the original back in 1954. It’s only available in blue or white, has a retro four speed auto box and chrome detailing. Under the “hood” is a 5.0-litre V8 producing 414bhp. Kia Sedona - At last, Kia’s not-so-pretty Sedona MPV has been given the same plastic-surgery treatment as the rest of the range. The new model might still be a little bit van-like, but with the trademark Kia tiger nose and smart headlights, it looks a lot more stylish – and it needed it. The MPV has seating for eight as well as some clever trickery that can fold seats away and remove them. BMW X4 - There were a number of models that didn’t make our top cars of the show cut, and this X4 was very nearly one of them. Let’s face it, the crossover fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. The maker has form here - apparently 240,000 people bought the equally visually-challenged X6. Borrowing engines from the X3, the X4 will go on sale priced from £35,590 – that’s a lot of money for a car only a mother could love. So why’s it included here? Well, we like manufacturers being brave – and revealing this with a straight face was certainly that...

Local News

Another Best Day Ever with the

Jubilee Project The Jubilee Project is a joint initiative by Potton Vineyard Church and Potton Consolidated Charity. Based at 24 Market Square, Potton (home of PVC) Nicola Watson and her volunteers coordinate a range of activities for adults with additional needs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The emphasis is on getting out and about and learning new skills, whether they be practical, social, educational, sports or community service. Our most productive activities last summer were regular visits to the Everton Road allotments to learn about growing vegetables, while helping Eddie Rooks with his kitchen garden. Gardening isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but with Eddie’s patient tuition and kindness, new skills were gained and all experienced the satisfaction of tending their own plants. Everyone enjoyed eating spinach, potatoes, carrots, lettuce and beetroot we had grown ourselves. An extract from the Jubilee Project log gives a flavour of some of the more intangible benefits: “Everyone went home with a smile on their face, especially one member whose whole demeanour had changed during the afternoon becoming much more her usual chatty self as a result.” We have painted pottery, made jewellery, constructed a flat pack cabinet and developed our photography skills. Cooking sessions are enjoyed by all. We have hacked back hedges, cleared paths, weeded gardens, and picked up litter. We helped

By Andrew Johnson

process Christmas shoe boxes bound for Ukraine at the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse. We have received special tuition from our friends at Potton Bowls Club, enjoyed swimming at the Oasis in Bedford and the outdoor lido at Hitchin. We have punted in Cambridge and love to plan our own special birthday and Christmas celebrations. Food and drink features heavily in our socialising together! I hope you can see why ‘Best Day Ever’ has become a popular catchphrase. In March, we visited the Wimpole Home Farm lambing event right on time for the 284th birth of the season which the shepherd told us would be “soon”. Our patience was stretched (why does it take so long?) but rewarded with the amazing sight of a lamb being born and taking its first steps. Our log recorded the emotions of the day: “We all agreed it was a truly wonderful thing to witness the birth of a lamb, and worth all the patience. We had the best day ever at the farm and all loved every minute of it – well, maybe not the smells, said one!” We have four regular members, which is a good start, but we are hoping to expand as better transport arrangements are made available in the future. If you know someone who might benefit from the Jubilee Project, or to find out more please contact Nicola on 01767 261764 or email nicola@ pottonvineyard.org.uk

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Boiler Juice

Top 10 Tips for Saving Money

on your Heating Oil With fuel poverty on the rise and energy bills rocketing, heating oil users across the country are feeling the strain. If you’re looking to make a difference to your bank balance, check out our useful tips for smart, simple ways to save money on your next heating oil order. Watch the weather Oil prices typically decline during the spring and summer months, when temperatures are high and demand is low. By topping-up your tank this summer, you can take advantage of these great prices and stay warm in winter for less. Compare prices You might have a regular supplier, but are they offering you the best price? By shopping around, or using an instant, impartial comparison service such as BoilerJuice, you’ll always get the best quote for your oil. Buy in bulk Did you know that several small orders of heating oil will generally cost you more than one large order? Instead of topping-up your oil levels on a regular basis, fill-up in one go to cut-down on delivery costs and get a great bulk-buy price. Keep an eye on the news Political issues in oil-producing countries, civil unrest and fluctuations in currency exchange rates can all affect the price of heating oil. By keeping an eye on the news and watching how international issues impact oil prices, you can often work out when the best time to buy is.

Order early Set a regular reminder, mark it on your calendar or simply plan ahead of time to beat the rush, avoid costly emergency deliveries and take advantage of cheaper delivery options. Add an additive An inexpensive way to upgrade your fuel, oil additives prevent tank sludge build-up, improve overall efficiency and save you money by reducing expensive maintenance costs, operating problems and boiler breakdowns. Sign up for email alerts The web is full of special offers, vouchers and codes. By signing up to newsletters and email bulletins with independent sites such as BoilerJuice, you’ll be the first to know about any seasonal offers, vouchers or price drops. Check the price charts If you’re not a keen news-watcher, online oil price charts give you an accurate, up-to-date report of current prices, as well as helping you to predict seasonal increases and decreases. Group buy Buying as a group is the best way to get a discount on your oil, but did you know that you can also do it online? Websites like BoilerJuice automatically group your delivery with others in your area, to help you qualify for group discounts every day of the week. Spread the cost with a payment plan While payment schemes often mean an expensive contract with a specific supplier, signing up for a monthly payment plan with an impartial site such as BoilerJuice gives you the ability to spread your oil costs, while guaranteeing you the best quote from a range of suppliers across the UK.

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by Culinary Masters

Food and Drink

Wild Mushroom and Spinach Tagliatelle INGREDIENTS 150g wild mushrooms (e.g. porcini, chestnut, oyster) 50g baby spinach 50g parmesan cheese (and some parmesan shavings to serve) 100ml double cream Onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 100ml white wine Tagliatelle Salt and pepper 1. Put on a saucepan of water to heat, with a teaspoon of oil and salt added, and bring to boil. 2. Meanwhile, sweat off the onions, garlic and wild mushrooms in a pan. 3. When the water has come to the boil, add the tagliatelle and cook for 10 minutes or until soft. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

4. Add the white wine to the pan with the onion, garlic and mushrooms and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. 5. Stir in the double cream and continue to simmer for a minute. 6. Add the parmesan cheese and seasoning to taste. 7. Stir in the baby spinach and cooked tagliatelle and serve with rocket and parmesan shavings. Based in Bedfordshire, Culinary Masters can supply a professional chef to cater for you in your home, whether it is a romantic meal for two or a dinner party for friends and family, you can enjoy the luxury of a meal out with all the shopping, cooking and clearing up done for you. Call 07872391726 for competitive quotes, menu options and more details. 71

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Flirting with Indian

Food and Drink

Spices

By Sunita Bedi This month we welcome local writer Sunita Bedi of Potton who shares with us the secrets of Indian spice. There is a variety of spices which are used in Indian cooking. Each has its own distinct flavour and these must be synchronized with each other like musical instruments to provide a fine tune of flavour to the food. Black mustard seeds - Rye These seeds are used whole in many vegetarian dishes. Although they don’t lend a significant flavour to a dish, they can’t be completely ignored in a recipe. The crunch and tangy aftertaste is worth it though. Black peppercorns - Kali Mirch I add them whole to meat dishes and a rice pilaf but have to be careful not to chew or bite into them as they are strong. Ground black pepper can be used freely. It is often boiled in water along with Indian basil leaves and drunk as a cold remedy. Cardamom - ElaichI These seeds have a sweet flavour and are often used when cooking desserts. Cinnamon sticks - Dal Cheeni This spice is used whole too in Indian cooking and adds a strong flavour to the dish. It is primarily used in meat dishes because it works as a tenderiser.

Cloves - Laung This is an expensive spice introduced to the Indian sub-continent by the Portuguese. It is a warm spice and can be hard to digest if over-used. It is an effective mouth freshener. Cloves are known to have medicinal qualities - clove oil being used to cure toothaches. Coriander - Cilantro - Dhania Fresh coriander has a distinct aroma and can be easily differentiated from regular parsley. However, as much as I am a fan of this herb, there are people who dislike it just as much. Crushed to a fine paste with garlic, ginger and lemon juice, it forms a good base for a marinade for shrimps and boneless chicken. Fresh coriander should be washed thoroughly to get rid of the gritty mud. Cumin seeds – Jeera These seeds have an exotic, delicate flavour and are used in richer, creamier Mughlai cooking. They are expensive to buy yet readily available. Fennel seeds - Saunf They are the most flavoured part of the tall, feathery fennel plant. They have a mild liquorice flavour and a bitter aftertaste. In Indian cooking they are used in both sweet and savoury dishes. They also have remedial qualities that aid digestion and boiled fennel water is often used to calm colicky babies.

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n O s ’ t Wha 1 July Trip to Hitchin Lavender Ladies Circle is a modern, vibrant club for women aged 18 to 45 who want to make new friends, have lots of fun, do things they’ve never done before and maybe do a bit of fundraising along the way! Everyone’s welcome to come along and just be themselves! Other July events include: 10 July - Birds of Prey evening in Wilstead 11 July - Hot & Spicy Evening – an evening of eclectic culinary delights in Biggleswade 21 July - “Great Circle Cake Off” Email: biggleswade.circle@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @BwadeCircle Facebook: Biggleswade Ladies Circle 2 July Folk Evening 7pm Moggerhanger Village Hall First Wednesday every month. Open floor folk session evening. Tel: Chris 01767 640242 for more info 3 July Strawberry Tea 3-5pm Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade Come and join us. Lots of choice! 3, 10, 17 & 24 July Potton Youth Club 7-9pm Potton Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton Run by Groundwork Bedfordshire. Every Thursday for young people aged 11-19 (Year 7 +). Wide variety of activities for all. Web: www.groundwork.org.uk/beds 3 & 17 July Biggleswade Cancer Support Group 1-3pm The Meeting Room, Biggleswade Baptist Church Sessions free – donations welcome An informal, confidential group for cancer patients, families and friends in the Biggleswade area. The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Tel: 07812 796581 Email: csgbiggleswade@gmail.com Facebook: Biggleswade Cancer Support Group 4, 11, 18 & 25 July Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy The Sandy Ukulele Group meets every Friday night. Visitors/new members welcome for a sing and a strum. Email: Sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.comWeb: www. sandyukulelegroup.com 5 July The Signals Museum 10am-4pm Open to the public. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

6 July Concert Band at Shuttleworth Gates open 1.30pm, concert starts 3pm Shuttleworth College (Old Warden village entrance) Adults £6, Concessions £4, Family £15 East Beds Concert Band will be performing their annual summer concert at Shuttleworth. A wide range of music - from the ﬁlm music of Laurence of Arabia, Handel’s Fireworks Music, to a Deep Purple Medley. Bring a picnic, and rugs or chairs. Not forgetting the opportunity to purchase fantastic home-made icecream from Mr & Mrs Maynard.

8 July Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm Potton Lower School Visitors £3, to include light refreshment The Club is pleased to welcome Potton Ladies Phoenix Barber Shop. Cheese and wine will be served. 11 July Southill Lower School Annual Fun Night 5-7pm Southill Playing Field, School Lane, Southill Free admission Kids Zone with lots of games/activities including coconut shy, hook-a-duck, BBQ and refreshments, bouncy castle, family raffle. Supporting the Friends of Southill Lower School. Registered Charity No. 1149549 11 & 25 July Whist Drive 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Fortnightly Friday Whist Drive. All welcome. Refreshments included. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 for more information 12 July Everton Village Hall 10am-12 noon Come this time and browse the homemade cakes and produce and plants; enjoy the refreshments and enter the raffle. A great way to spend a Saturday morning and support your local parish church of St Mary. 12 July A Summer Celebration 7.30pm St. Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford Tickets £6, Children £3 including refreshments Opus 18 Community Choir. Raffle. Proceeds to St. Johns Hospice Moggerhanger and Swaziland schools Tickets available from St Andrew’s Church Office 01234 216881, Evelyn Sutherland Tel: 07974 742552 or email: evsutherlandmusic@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.opus18communitychoir.org.uk 12 & 13 July Flower Festival Sat 10am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm St Swithun’s Church, Sandy Free admission Festival of flowers entitled “Our Wonderful World”. Birds, bees and butterflies made by the local children will also be on display. Tea/coffee and cake will be available in church each day. Tel: 01767 681999

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12 July-6 September Summer Reading Challenges Bedford Borough Libraries Bedford Borough libraries have two fantastic summer reading activities: ‘Mythical Maze’ Summer Reading Challenge and ‘imagiNation’ (11-16 years). Both challenges start 12th July and finish 6th September. Tel: Sue Shead 01234 718178 for more information. Web: www.mythical-maze.org.uk and http:// imaginationeast.org.uk 13 July Summer Fair 11am St Mary Magdalene Church, Dunton Free admission Refreshments, including cream teas, a host of games and stalls run by the Church and local community groups. Come along and enjoy the fun! 13 July Open Day - Family Fun Day 12-4pm Elizabeth Smith Veterinary Practice, Ickwell Road Upper Caldecote Meet the staff, have a look ‘behind the scenes’, pony rides, face painting, balloon modelling, Safari Stu exotic pet demonstration. Dog agility, bring your dog along and try flyball. Tel: 01767 627317 Web: www.esmithvet.com 13 July Pet Service 3pm St Mary’s Church, Gamlingay A special service of celebration and thanks for all pets and other animals. Bring your animals to church, write a poem, draw or paint a picture or create a piece of artwork about your favourite pet or animal. Scan and email your poems or artwork to phil@a-b-s.biz or take your entries to church, 43 Green End or 2 Charnocks Close and they will be put out on display. All entries in by Sunday 6th July. Don’t forget to put your name and age on your entries as you and your pet will receive a certificate. All animals are welcome but owners must accept full responsibility. 13 July Eltisley History Society Tribute to our Tommies 6pm Eltisley Church Tickets £5 including refreshments The concert is in memory of the 14 men from Eltisley who died in WWI. Tickets: 01480 880268 15 July Gamlingay W I 7 30pm Gamlingay W I Hall Speaker Mr Andrew Sankey with amusing quotes from famous Gardeners. Visitors welcome. 15 July The Rose Consort of Viols 8pm Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £12 including programme The Eclectic English: A programme of six-part consort music by Peter Philips, Henry Purcell and others. Tickets also available from Hitchin Town Centre Initiative. Tel: Box Office 01462 459446 Web: www.benslowmusic.org

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18 July Bingo Night 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Monthly Bingo Friday night with cash prizes, raffle and licensed bar. Also open the box. Tel: 01767 640727 22 July Knit and Natter 10am-12 noon St John’s Church, Blunham Road, Moggerhanger This group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Wools, needles and know-how are available and the nattering is quite as busy as the knitting. Newcomers are always very welcome so why not come and join us. 24 July Potton History Society Meeting 8pm Church Hall, Hatley Road, Potton ‘Potton Market Square’ Potton is one of the most historic Bedfordshire town centres. Peter Ibbett will tell is story with first-hand accounts of life living in the square. Visitors and new members always welcome. Light refreshments provided. www.pottonhistorysociety.com 26 July Sandy Horticultural Association 2pm Entrance and guided tour £8 per person Swiss Garden, Old Warden, SG18 9ER An opportunity to be amongst the first to visit the refurbished Swiss Garden. The Swiss Gardens have been closed for eighteen months during a multimillion lottery grant funded refurbishment. Refreshments may be purchased in the restaurant after the tour. Booking essential. Tel: 01767 448795 26 & 27 July Caldecote Fuchsia Festival 1-5pm Church of St Mary Magdalene, Caldecote Free admission but donations welcome towards the work of Friends of the Friendless Churches Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Fuchsia Society will be displaying and selling all kinds of specialist fuchsia plants and arrangements. Tel: 01462 742440. 26 & 27 July Annual Flower Festival Weekend “Memories” Beeston Methodist Chapel, The Baulk, off The Limes, off A1, Beeston Sat 26 10.30am-4pm. Various stalls, refreshments, lunches, afternoon teas. Display by Sandy Historical Research Group. Sun 27 Morning service at 10.30am conducted by Barbara Winner. Lunches 12.15-1.30pm. Church open from 12 noon-3.30pm. Car park at rear of Church. 31 August Old Warden Grand Village Fête 2pm Old Warden Cricket field Free admission and car park Traditional village Fête with games, stalls, tombola, raffle and teas and cakes; Tug O’ War competition. Bumper prizes. Stalls phone Rebecca 01767 627055/ email bexquenby@hotmail.co.uk Sponsorship/advertising in Fête handout phone Simon 07971167522/email simon@oldwarden.com General enquiries and to enter Tug O’ War competition phone Luke 01767 627055/email lukequenby@ hotmail.co.uk

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Country Stoves Quarter page MAY Advert:Layout 1 10

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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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 puzzles. 80

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For all your oven cleaning needs, using a Non-toxic, Non-caustic cleaning solution

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Crossword Solution for The Villager June Edition

Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Mrs D Driver from Wrestlingworth

Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Unable to hear (4) 3 Previously (8) 9 A lawn game (7) 10 Tease (5) 11 Produced (12) 14 Period of time (3) 16 Stop (5) 17 Feminine pronoun (3) 18 In spite of (12) 21 Shoreline (5) 22 Placing (7) 23 Daily (8) 24 Requests (4)

18th July 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

ď&#x20AC;˘

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

Down 1 Twelfth month (8) 2 Embellish (5) 4 Not in (3) 5 Dimensions (12) 6 Entrants in a race (7) 7 A toy (2-2) 8 Adequately (12) 12 Map or diagram (5) 13 Communications (8) 15 Mean (7) 19 Departs (5) 20 Land measurement (4) 22 Small vegetable (3)

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KEMP GARAGE DOORS SALES • INSTALLATION • REPAIRS • Family Run Business • 25 Years Experience • Up and Over • Sectional and Roller Doors www.kempgaragedoors.co.uk • Security Shutters

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Fun Quiz - Numbers 1. What is the largest prime number that has just two digits? 2. Looking like a particular number that has been rotated by 90 degrees, the lemniscate is used in mathematics to represent what? 3. On a standard UK keyboard, the pound sign appears on the same key as which number? 4. What service would you get if you dialled 123 on a BT phone line? 5. If all of the whole numbers from one upwards are written out in word form, which would be the first where all the letters in it appear in alphabetical order? 6. If the word “MIX” was taken as Roman numerals, what number would it represent? 7. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is the fear of which number? 8. What mathematical symbol can be put between the numbers 7 and 9 to give a number bigger than 7, but smaller than 9? 9. The word for which number from one to ten is written the same in French as it is in English? 10. Pi Day is an annual American celebration that commemorates the mathematical constant Pi. On what date is this held? 1. 97 2. Infinity (it looks like a rotated “8”) 3. Three 4. The speaking clock 5. 40 6. 1009 7. 666 8. A decimal point 9. Six [pronounced “seece” in French] 10. March 14th (relating to the first three digits of Pi - 3.14)

Before

After

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Julian Biggs Plumbing Advert:Layout 1 17/05/2013 14

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Books

Bedford Doors

BOOK REVIEW

By Catherine Rose

We make a grand entrance!

Top Ten for Men by Nick Harper Described by the Daily Mail as ‘a must have for fact fans’, national journalist Nick Harper’s book aims to bring together men’s favourite subjects – sport, cars, women, gadgets, beer and meat – in a catalogue of Guinness World Record-style top tens to fire the imagination and “feed a manly desire for knowledge and trivia”. This is not a book to challenge the intellect but it may help with some male bonding if you can quote the top ten sexiest female characters of all time or the ten greatest footballers ever. The lists are categorized under chapters that include Film, TV, Music, Celebrities, Technology, Sex, Life and Death, Food and Drink, Transport, Sport, History and The World amongst others. Want to appear clever? Memorise the ten words that will make you sound more intelligent. Another fuzzy head the morning after one too many? The ten most unconventional hangover cures will soon come to your rescue. The lists go from the sublime (ten great opening lines of British classics) to the ridiculous (the top 10 places at risk of alien invasion in the UK). And in between, there are fascinating gems such as ten songs with bizarre hidden messages, ten delicious insects and spiders, and the top ten UK places where men live longest (and die soonest). There are also such poignant facts as the ten ‘last meal’ requests and the top ten TV themes played at funerals. This book may not qualify you for Mastermind but it will certainly pique your interest, surprise you, make you laugh (the eighth most memorable country music song title - ‘You’re the Reason our Kids are Ugly’) and it may even ensure you are on the winning team for your next community quiz. Top Ten for Men by Nick Harper (ISBN 978-0-60062916-0) is published by Hamlyn, a division of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, and is available from Amazon priced £10 in hardback.

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www.cometcleaningservices.co.uk

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Classifieds Domestic Repairs

Alterations

Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines • Cookers Fridges • Vacs • Dryers

Bill Tangye

Beds Tel By or appointment only - 4 Stratford Road, Sandy, Mob 01767 650750Tel: 07711 07802 393331 257105

Chauffeur Cars

Domestic Repairs JB Domestic Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers No Call Out Charge! Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490

Decorating Services

Electricians

DECORATING SERVICES

• Over 25 years experience • No job too big or too small • Free estimates T: 01767 222 028 M: 07887 618 832

email: topcoat@ntlworld.com

Business gone a bit slow? Let us help! Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

Garden Specialist

Local, honest, professional service

Classifieds Garden Machinery Service/Repair

Painting Services

Garden Machinery & Mowers Expert Service and Repair Collection & delivery available Unit 12a Whites Farm, Great North Road, Biggleswade SG18 9BE Tel: 01767 600085 Mob: 07593 553581

Handy Man

Pet Services

MIKE NEIGHBOUR Carpenter and Joiner Glass Splashbacks for Kitchens Cupboards, Fitted Wardrobes, Loft Ladders etc 30 Years Experience

01767 677898 or 07711 311956

Handy Man

Photography

Kitchen & Bathroom Fitter

Plastering Services

M. Philmore (Phil) - Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter Disabled showers supplied and fitted. General plumbing. 57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding Tel: 07792 415356 or 01462 490598 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk

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Classifieds Plastering Services

Steve Swain

Property Improvements

Plastering, Painting & Decorating Painting & Decorating Plastering, Pebble Dashing Rendering, Screeding Mob: 07887 861881 Tel: 01767 226404

Private Car Hire

Property Improvements

GARY BERRIDGE Plasterer & General Maintenance Including UPVC Doors and Windows Tiling, Painting and Decorating Free Quotes

T: 01767 316485 M: 07582 485155 E: garyberridge@ymail.com

Private Car Hire

Removals & Storage

Mats Cars Private Hire Potton Based

4+7 Seater Cars Available

Airport/Stations/Nights Out etc Local and Long Distance Tel: 01767 261871 Mob: 07983 218367 www.mats-cars.co.uk All major credit/debit cards accepted

Property Improvements A professional property maintenance service

Property Improvements by

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

01767 313230

enquiries@stephensremovals.com

Storage

Stephens Dinky ad_03.indd 1

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Gary Hare

Domestic & Commercial Storage

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

New storage containers just arrived

(Near Potton)

Caravans and Cars Welcome Short and long term rates Secure site, cctv with full gated access 7 days a week

Carpentry • Kitchens • Bedrooms Decorating • Flooring Bathrooms •Tiling • and more...

Please call 01767 260248 or 07970 292055

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122