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JULY 2022
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Plans for transport hub get huge boost July 21-32
by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter
July 23-24
FOUR highways projects associated with the £2.3m Biggleswade transport interchange have been given a seal of approval by the local authority. The parking, public safety and traffic flow measures were agreed at a Central Bedfordshire Council traffic management meeting. The schemes included ‘No waiting at any time’ restrictions on Station Road, which should enable buses to turn out of the new Interchange and allow the free flow of traffic along the road, according to a CBC report. “The implementation of the ‘No stopping at any time except for pick-up and drop-off’ restrictions are intended to address indiscriminate parking and to ensure that junctions aren’t obstructed by parked vehicles,” said the report. “The introduction of the limited waiting restrictions are intended to address indiscriminate parking and help with access to the shops and services in Biggleswade town centre.”
The second measure was to extend the 20mph zone on Station Road 184m to the south of where it currently ends. The third change is the prohibition of left turns on the exit of Palace Street at the junction of Saffron Road and Station Road for safety reasons. “There will be a section of road where only right turns will be allowed as turning left would be into oncoming traffic now,” added the report. “And a zebra crossing in Station Road will provide access to and from the railway station and the transport interchange for everyone using the area.” Conservative Arlesey councillor Ian Dalgarno, who chairs the meeting, referred to an overall ambition “to encourage more pedestrians into that area of the town centre”. He described it as “a big
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Continued on page 8
New A6/M1 link road costs spiral A WARNING over the potential impact of rising costs on Central Bedfordshire Council’s £61.4m M1/A6 link road project has been issued by two Independent ward councillors.
The 2.75-mile route is situated on 170 acres of greenbelt land between junction 11a of the motorway and the A6 Barton Road. The local authority’s executive was considering a recommendation to adopt compulsory purchase orders (CPO) under the Highways Act 1980.
Continued on page 8
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TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
Jubilee celebrations in Sandy Investing over J
£30m in ‘Centre of Excellence Schools’ for autistic children by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter
SANDY TOWN COUNCIL lected mayor and Deputy mayor Re-e He commented
At the Annual Meeting of Sandy Town Council on Monday 23rd May 2022, Councillor Martin Pettitt was re-elected to serve as Mayor of Sandy Town Council and Councillor Joanna Hewitt was reelected to serve as his Deputy Mayor. Cllr Pettitt thanked everyone for their support and confidence in voting him
Mayor for another year. that while the past year had been challenging at times, broadly speaking things had been satisfactory, adding, now is the time to redouble our efforts. He continued by saying he looked forward to bringing outstanding projects to fruition, working with the Clerk and
eries councillor surg g 2022. All number of Councillor Surgeries durin
Sandy Town Council is holding a and raise any to attend, to meet with a Councillor members of the public are welcome below. s date the on noon 12 from 10am queries or concerns. Surgeries will run are Squ ket Mar d, Stan ity mun Saturday 20th August at the Com munity Stand, Market Square Saturday 24th September at the Com Chamber, 10 Cambridge Road. ncil Cou Saturday 22nd October in the
councillor vacancies
Sandy Town Council is looking to co-o pt two new members onto the Council to fill one vacant seat representing Ivel Ward and one vacant seat representing Pinnacle Ward . We welcome applications for co-option from everyone in the community (including former applicants) with an interest in making Sandy a better place to live and work. The Town Clerk and existing members of the Council are pleased to talk to potential candidates about what is involved; please contact members directly, using the details on our website and/or contact the Clerk via the Town Council office to arrange a visit and find out more. Expressions of interest are invited from applicants who must be over 18 and be an elector,
live or work in or near Sandy and be a citizen of the EU or the Commonwealth. Appl ication forms and more information can be found in the news section of the Council’s webs ite www.sandytowncouncil.gov.uk or by direct application to the Town Council office s at 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy. Completed application forms for the Ivel Ward vacancy must be submitted to the Town Clerk no later than noon on Friday 1st July 2022. The Council intends to select its new member at a meeting on Monday 11th July 2022 . Completed application forms for the Pinnacle Ward vacancy must be submitted to the Town Clerk no later than noon on Friday 12th August 2022. The Council intends to select its new member at a meeting on Monday 22nd Augu st 2022.
FORTHcOming EvEnTs
Meet the Cows: a talk by Guy Kiddy
Sunday 3rd July, 10am at the Riddy, off Mill Lane, SG19 1NL. Free. No booking required.
summer sandy green Wheel Walk
Date TBC - see our website for details Join us in walking the Sandy Green Wheel and explore our lovely countryside, including the Pinnacle, the Riddy nature reserve and the banks of the River Ivel. Enjoy meeting new people while getting fresh air and exercise. The full route takes about 2½ hours, but you can find a pace that suits you and walk as much or as little of the route as you like. Dogs are welcome too!
council meetings
All meetings commence at 7.30pm except Development Scrutiny Committee (Planning), which starts at 6.45pm in the Council Chamber, 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy, SG19 1JE (unless otherwise stated on the Agenda).
Monday 4th July 2022 Development Scrutiny Human Resources Monday 11th July 2022 Town Council Monday 25th July 2022 Development Scrutiny Community Services & Environment Monday 8th August 2022 Policy, Finance & Resources See our website for details. ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
10 Cambridge Road, Sandy SG19 1JE Tel: 01767 681491 Fax: 01767 692527 admin@sandytowncouncil.gov.uk www.sandytowncouncil.gov.uk
“Our four special schools have had increased funding during the past two years. We hope to develop centres of excellence for autism in our new provision, one in the north and one in the south of the district. We’ll also have a programme of outreach and training.” CBC’s executive recognised the need for more places following feedback from parents to a ‘Have your say’ consultation and updated forecasts, according to a report to the committee. “It was agreed to continue work on the delivery of the short-term to medium-term need for extra places within Central Bedfordshire, while working on the strategic specialist place plan to meet longer-term need,” said the report. “The council committed £26.745m capital funding in February to support the delivery of this plan, and £30.282m is allocat-
SPECIAL SCHOOLS
ed in the capital pipeline. “Demand for education, health and care plans (EHCPs) has doubled in Central Bedfordshire during the last two years. “Most children with an EHCP will have their needs met in mainstream schools, but the rise in numbers is leading to an increased pressure for specialist education provision. “The number of pupils with an EHCP maintained by CBC is forecast to increase significantly to rise above 3,000 by January 2025 and more than 3400 by January 2030.” An undertaking was made by the executive to deliver an extra 80 additional resource provision places by September 2023 in line with the need identified, added the report. “This included more autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) provision required in the Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Harlington and Leighton-Linslade area, and more provision for children with SEMH needs in the Shefford area. “There are some gaps in meeting the short-term need, specifically the expansion of ASD places in Sandy, but we’re seeking to address these as part of the longerterm plan. “There was strong support for increasing capacity at all four special schools locally, and for the 2021 to 2024 academic years 370 more places have been delivered or are planned.” Deputy director of children’s services Sarah Ferguson said: “In the reset Schools for the Future programme, that SEND question of where the opportunities are at every school and ‘Are we getting it right?’ is definitely part of the revised work. A further report including phase two of the plans (medium-term to longer-term need) will be presented to a future committee meeting.
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Come to the millpond in the Riddy nature reserve to hear a fun, educational talk about these beautiful creatures. Guy Kiddy is part of a local third-generation farming business and has been grazing cattle on the Riddy for many years. He also has experience as Head of Agriculture at Shuttleworth College, lecturer at the College of West Anglia and Chairman of the British Pig Association.
Much Ado About Nothing: Outdoor Theatre from The Pantaloons Wednesday 27th July, 7-9pm at Beeston Green, SG19 1PE. Tickets at: www.thepantaloons.co.uk There’s plenty to shout about in The Pantaloons’ take on Shakespeare’s timeless summer comedy of masks, music and mistaken identities! The boys are back from war and it’s time for celebration, but devious Don John plans to spoil everyone’s fun.
Mayor’s Secretary as well as other Members of the Council, and the admin and outdoor staff teams. Cllr Hewitt stated it had been great to work with the Mayor over the past 12 months. She said it had been a huge learning curve and was aware she still had more to learn.
TWO centres of excellence for autistic children are planned as part of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in Central Bedfordshire, which also includes capital investment of more than £30m, a meeting heard. One will be in the north of the county in the Biggleswade area, and the other in the south serving the Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard area, the local authority’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee was told. Trying to keep pace with demand will always be a challenge, warned Central Bedfordshire Council’s chief SEND officer Jackie Edwards. “Children on the autistic spectrum and those with social, emotional mental health (SEMH) difficulties are the ones we require the greatest spaces for and remain focused on in the short- and medium-term,” she explained.
JULY 2022 —
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Biggleswade Council pauses for breath on allotment rent increases
PLANS for a ‘huge increase’ in by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter allotment rents and the refundTransport standard of aggregate over it. The able deposit fee in Biggleswade what your expectations of good order are.” If vehicles are restricted when the ground is road isn’t owned by us and we’ve never been are on hold for further talks wet and soft, she wondered if that includes committed to tarmacking it. about the town council’s overall council tractors, saying: “They’re responsible “We’re doing the other internal routes and for the ruts. I couldn’t walk to my plot. It’s a have ordered another 30 tonnes of this material. policy. health and safety issue.”
Small plot rents would be £36 and large plots £52 for September this year until August 2023 under the new policy. This compares to £19 and £31 under a previous policy document in 2016/17.
The town council was due to finalise the paperwork at a meeting of its public land and open spaces committee, but deferred the item for more consultation. Julia Duffin, from the Biggleswade Allotment Association, asked for a written plan before anything is finalised.
“The rise of the deposit from £50 to £150 is a huge increase,” she said. “When combined with the proposed rent increase, the initial outlay for a plot will be taken out of the hands of the very people who need them most. “Withholding (the deposit) if the plot isn’t in good order is subjective. We need to be clear
HUGE INCREASES
Suggesting several other items could be made clearer, she added: “Consultation together could save you time and energy, and from some anger on our part.” Independent Biggleswade South CBC councillor Hayley Whitaker suggested the town council should be “offering these allotments as a service, rather than trying to make a profit” from it. “That sends out entirely the wrong message about the mindset we have here.” Town clerk Peter Tarrant explained the amount of work being planned for the allotments during the next year. “As you enter the allotment area, there’s a rigid gate, which hasn’t opened for many years,” he said. “We’re considering making good that gate or replacing it, as one of the problems our allotment holders come back to us with is security. “The main entry has got Ministry of
“There’s overgrown shrubbery which will be cut back near the entrance. Near the compost areas there are large mounds of earth and rubbish which people pile on. We’re committed to cleansing this. “We’re going to make it as tidy as we possibly can, but the allotment association has asked we retain this as a barrier to discourage people entering the site who aren’t allotment holders.”
Monthly meetings with the association are being held to chart progress and hear any concerns, according to Mr Tarrant. Deputy mayor Madeline Russell suggested reflecting on everything to do with the allotments, saying: “A completely new proposal should come to the council, so we can make a proper overall decision, whether it’s the fees or anything else.” Councillors agreed to accept this.
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New Vicar says: “Don’t be a stranger come and say, hello” THE new Vicar of St Peter and St Paul Church, Claire Harald, has said, “Come and say, hello”. Whether you see her in the Post Office, Tesco or in the Village Hall, she invites you to go and chat to her. Claire and husband Toby, with their three daughters moved to Flitwick from Letchworth in early May. Claire shared that she has received a wonderful welcome from the people of Flitwick, and also remarked how lovely it was to live and minister in a town that has both an urban and rural feel. Claire, who previously worked as a Children and Families Worker and who discovered her faith when she was in her 30s, said she was drawn to Flitwick Church because it was a church that embraced variety and creativity and alongside that, is an inclusive church for all people.
She added that she was looking forward to the Church continuing to build its relationship with the community as we move on in recovering from the pandemic. Flitwick Church is currently getting its groups and activities back off the ground, by reinstating the choir for children, young people, and adults; Little Fishes toddler and baby group; and continuing with the wonderful work of Flitwick Food Extra, which has provided ingredients, recipes, and activity booklets to families in the town. They are also planning to look at new ways of serving the needs of the community in the months ahead, specifically to include activities/groups for all ages. Church on a Sunday offers a variety of services for all – young, slightly older(!), new to faith or having been to church all their lives.
These services include a 9.00am Sunday Celebration on the lawn outside the Church, (bring a chair, picnic rug and maybe your dog too!) with refreshments after the service. This is followed by the 10.30am service inside the Church... again with refreshments after! Additional services, including a ‘Baby Loss’ and ‘Blue Christmas’ service occur during the year, as well as a variety of celebrations.
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Hair and Beauty spectacular Aspiring young photographers win local school competition
BUSINESSES of Bedford rallied to make the return of the Bedford College Hair & Beauty Show a success. The catwalk event at the Corn Exchange, a highlight of the social calendar in town, had been sadly missed for two years due to lockdowns and restrictions. It came back with a bang on Thursday 26th May with the anticipated fantastic fashions. Hair and Beauty students from the Brooks High Street training salon, which is part of The Bedford College Group, prepared a range of outstanding styles. The event was sponsored by Love Bedford, which represents 600+ businesses in the town centre. The BedfordBID organisation gave £500 worth of Love Bedford shopping vouchers as prizes. BedfordBID also arranged for professional filming of the big day – which will be
shown across various channels in the coming months. In addition goodie bags were donated by Body Shop in Silver Street and the finale was a fantastic £150 voucher from Bakers Brothers of St Peter’s Street. Said Gemma Jones from Brooks said: “This has been an enormous journey for many of our students and to be part of this event is a highlight of training. “We are very grateful for the backing we have received from Love Bedford and businesses.” Sam Laycock, Chair of the BedfordBID said: “Hair and beauty are two services which cannot be accessed over the internet, these businesses, represented here by their young apprentices and by the trainees of the future, are at the heart of the town centre of Bedford.”
Afghanistan conflict inspires Alice THE arts at The Bedford College Group continue to win national applause with the latest student to be exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition. Alice Hibbert of Flitwick was still only 17 when selected from among 21,000 entries across the UK to be included in the Young Artists’ Summer Show. Alice, formerly at Redborne School, is a Level 3 Fine Art student at the South Bank Arts Centre at the riverside Bedford College campus and is progressing on to Anglia Ruskin University in the autumn. Her work Women and Girls is an A2 size linoprint inspired by the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2021, and the subsequent reduction of women’s rights. “I think that it is pivotal for women and girls all around the world to be given the same access to education as men and boys. It’s important for us in this country to recognise the privilege we have to be able to attend school, and strive for the same equality worldwide. “I hope that my poster will raise awareness of this issue in a clear and impactful way,” said Alice In previous years, students from the South Bank Arts Centre have scored well in RCA activities. Course Manager Steven Harris said: “This is a tremendous achievement for Alice’s work to be selected as only one of the 100 to be exhibited from the 21,000 entries. We hope that people recognise that
here in Bedford creative students have a route to exciting opportunities in further and education in the arts.” For more information: bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk
THREE talented children have each won a camera after taking part in a local photography competition organised by local charity Creating Memories and supported by Fujifilm UK, and professional photographer Rob Johns. The children received their own instax instant camera and myFUJIFILM photo printing gift vouchers during a special assembly, after each submitting five photographs that best captured ‘joy’ – the theme of the competition. Fujifilm, with its UK arm headquartered in Bedford for nearly 40 years, donated cameras for the competition, with 18 children taking part from Ridgeway School and Kempston Challenger Academy. Both schools will now get to keep the cameras for future projects. Ridgeway School also received an X Series digital camera as a result of one of their pupils being the overall winner of the Creating Memories is a Bedford-based charity that make the wishes of life limiting and terminally ill children come true locally.
competition. Over 80 entries were received, each depicting an interpretation of joy. A lovely mix of images were submitted, including photographs of loved ones, pets, favourite toys, the local area and even chocolate! The judging panel consisted of local photographer Rob Johns, who had the idea to run the competition, alongside representatives from Fujifilm and Creating Memories. Rob said: “Each of the children captured joy so well in the
wonderful pictures they submitted. They made me smile and I was impressed with the great choice of subjects and compositional skills. I would like to thank each of them, and their schools, for taking part. They should all be enormously proud. This has been a very special photography project to be involved in.” Gloria McCann, Fujifilm UK, said, ‘It was a pleasure to be involved in this competition and see the talent from Bedford’s next generation of photographers. At Fujifilm, we know all about the importance of capturing joyous memories in photos, and it has been really special to be part of inspiring the participants to keep taking photos and seeing what joy really means to them.’ THE WINNERS WERE AS FOLLOWS. Individual Photograph Award: Carys Ayling Ridgeway winner: Lene Patterson Kempston Challenger winner: Eli Elliott Highly Commended: Irfanul Haque - Ridgeway Brooke Williams - Ridgeway Zack Trachoshas - Ridgeway Albert Stephens - Kempston Challenger
Works begins on exciting upgrade of play area THE play area at the east of Bedford Park, nearest the lake, will be having a major upgrade as part of Bedford Borough Council’s £500,000 investment in children’s play areas this year. The new playground will be fairytale themed, with a toddler and junior zone and a magical enchanted forest area. Also being created within the play park is a new sensory picnic area, with accessible benches and sensory play features. A range of new equipment is being installed including play units, a seesaw, roundabout, trampoline and swings. This new play equipment will include inclusive items along with improvements to support accessibility to help open up the play experience to more children. These works are due to start later this week and the play area will need to be closed throughout to ensure the works can be delivered safely and efficiently. They are expected to be complete and the new play area open by the end of July. This project is one of a number of play area improvements taking
place this summer, with works completed at Fairhill playground by Sainsbury’s, ongoing at Balliol Road and upcoming at Jubilee Park. Exciting works are also happening at Russell Park with the creation of an inclusive and accessible outdoor play area in partnership with the Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum, also expected to be open by the end of July. Mayor Dave Hodgson said:
“This will be a really exciting and inclusive play area at Bedford Park. “Play is a really important part of a child’s development, and fun in the park or in the local playground with family and friends form part of really happy memories for so many of us. “I am looking forward to work being completed, and there still being plenty of the summer holidays left for children and families to get out and get playing.”
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Scouting movement on the up – needs volunteers DESPITE missing meetings due to the pandemic, Evelyn Baldwin from Flitwick Scout Group has earnt all 23 Beaver activity badges by completing them at meetings and at home. Beaver leader Louise Rutt, on presenting the last badges, congratulated Evelyn saying: “Well done – it is a great achievement to earn them all. Not only has she earnt all of the Beaver Badges, but she is the first in the group to get the new Money Skills one too. “It doesn’t happen very often and shows what you can do if you put your mind to it.” Helping other people is core to Scouting, and young people at Flitwick Scout Group have been giving back and finding out about its importance. Squirrel Scouts (boys and girls aged 4 and 5) had a visit from local Police Community Support Officers to learn about what they do to help the community. Beaver Scouts (boys and girls aged 6 and 7) were visited by Canine Partners, a charity that partners specially trained assistance dogs with people who have physical disabilities. Both Squirrel Scouts and Beaver Scouts have celebrated the Jubilee with a teddy bear picnic or tea party. Cub Scouts (boys and girls aged 8 to 10 ½) walked around the local area with maps to mark off all the community buildings they could find. One Cub, Josh Boyle, organised a community Easter Egg Treasure hunt with certain houses in Flitwick displaying pictures of Easter Eggs with letters in windows for children to find and unscramble to get a message for the chance to win a prize. Some of the Scouts (boys and girls aged 10 ½ to 14) planned and ran activities for the three Flitwick Cub Packs to showcase what sort of activities they can look forward to when they move to Scouts themselves. One Scout, Charlie Reid, collected colouring/activity/puzzle books and colouring pencils/ crayons which he donated to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital Childrens Ward over Easter. The adult volunteers at the Group have been leading by exam-
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ple with their involvement in the community by serving tea, coffee and cake at Flitwick Market, and running the tea, coffee and bacon sandwich tent at the Flitwick 10K finish line. The return of Jamboree On The Trail saw fifty young people hike on the same day other Scouts around the world hiked together. Nearly thirty Scouts attended a water activity day with First Luton Sea Scouts where they had taster sessions on rowing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddleboarding and raft building. Beaver Scouts had a campfire evening at Milton Bryan campsite with other Beaver groups in the local area where they played games, toasted marshmallows, ate S’mores and sang campfire songs. Shortly before the Beavers arrived, Flitwick Squirrel Scouts attended to toast their own marshmallows for S’mores and have their own little campfire with songs – a first for Flitwick Squirrels, but by no means the last time they’ll be singing around a campfire. Flitwick Scout Group were chosen to represent UK Scouts while BBC Breakfast News were reporting on the national increase in Scouts numbers – starting with breakfast on an open fire and end-
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ing in the middle of a parachute game the reporters were able to see a wide range of activities that Flitwick Scout Group offers. CJ Ledger, Deputy UK Chief Commissioner for Scouts said: “We’ve seen a massive resurgence, the biggest rise since the Second World War with 140,000 adult volunteers supporting our young people, but we’ve got 90,000 young people waiting to join. We need more adult volunteers so that more of these young people can take part and experience the wonders of Scouting’’ To find out more about Flitwick Scout Group, including how you can support as an adult volunteer, visit their website at https://www.flitwickscoutgroup. org.uk/
Memorial day at the American Cemetery in Madingley ON Memorial Day at the American Cemetery, Madingley on Monday, May 30, 2022, the Biggleswade Branch of the Royal British Legion was represented by Vice Chairman and Parade Marshal Terry Harragan who laid a wreath on behalf of the Branch.
The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading Armed Forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations. Membership is open to everyone. If you have an interest in the objectives of the Legion and want to help and support for those who have served and their families, come and join
NEW MEMBERS
us. We welcome men and women of all ages, whether they have served in the Armed Forces or not. Members get together through the network of branches and clubs all over the country and overseas to participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities. The Biggleswade Branch meets on the last Wednesday of the month at the Church Rooms, St. Andrews Church, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade SG18 0AT. Please contact the Chairman Diane Keogh on 01767315061, 07963464465 or E Mail: dikeogh2401@hotmail.com for further details.
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TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
Council to accept recommendations
A LOC A L au t h o rit y in Bedfordshire accepted its fault over a child protection complaint and has agreed a way to remedy it.
The response from Central Bedfordshire Council to its actions persuaded the local government and social care ombudsman to decide no further action is necessary. The complainant, referred to as Mrs B, was unhappy about how the council dealt with the assessment and support of her daughter. CBC completed the statutory children’s complaints process, which means the issues have been independently investigated, and a panel has reviewed the investigation, according to the ombudsman,
“There’s no fault in the investigation and no basis for me to recommend that CBC takes further action,” said the report. “Mrs B says the council failed to assess her family properly, failed to provide support and delayed in referring them for a clinical diagnostic assessment. “She claimed her daughter was put to further risk of harm and her situation deteriorated, as a result of the local authority’s failures. “Councils have a duty to investigate if there’s reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is
NO FURTHER ACTION
by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. “They must decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare. “If, following a referral and an assessment by a social worker, a multi-agency strategy meeting decides the concerns are substantiated and the child is likely to suffer significant harm, the council convenes a child protection conference, which decides what safeguarding action is needed. “An adopted person or adoptive parents can request the council assess their needs and arrange for these to be met,” explained the report. “The services offered must be in a draft plan and include counselling, mediation, therapeutic support, respite care and financial support.” In January 2021, the daughter was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A hospital report made 14 recommendations, including therapy, medication, a safety plan and active case coordination with the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). The council should have a structured approach that moves
from assessment and diagnosis to treatment and then evaluation, added the ombudsman’s report. “Mrs B had asked CBC for respite in her home for three years, including practical help with cleaning and shopping, and for a crisis phone number. “The council instead offered the family training courses and respite outside the home, which Mrs B said didn’t meet their needs. “CBC acknowledged an earlier trauma-based assessment would have meant the recommendations were implemented sooner.
“But it said this didn’t lead to a deterioration in the daughter’s health or place her at risk of further trauma. “The complaints suggested the council should have given her adoption support plans, which would allow Mrs B to understand what support was in place and to make representations about this. “Overall, Mrs B’s complaints have been properly addressed via an independent investigating officer and the panel. “There’s no fault in the complaint handling. CBC accepted the recommendations and has written to Mrs B to explain how it will implement these.”
NOT AT RISK
scheme for Biggleswade”, while acknowledging that “space outside the railway station is limited”. And, having spent time there last weekend, “the current yellow lines could be reduced to put some parking back in as inevitably spaces will be lost as part of the project”, he explained. Independent Biggleswade South councillor Hayley Whitaker said in a statement that the Palace Street segment affects “a gateway to the town often overlooked”. Conservative Biggleswade North councillor Ian Bond agreed space is restricted, saying about the left turn ban: “It makes sense. It’s not a clever junction.” CBC’s principal project manager Nick Shaw said there was one
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objection to the zebra crossing from the town council, which suggested it “takes away parking” and “isn’t on the desire line” route preferred by pedestrians. He accepted it would take away some parking spaces, “which was unavoidable”, but “it can’t be too near a junction”. Councillor Bond added the area needs to be made as safe as possible and, while understanding the town council concerns, “hopefully other parking spaces will be provided along Station Road”. Councillor Dalgarno, who’s also the executive member for community services, sat in a bus shelter to observe the area, saying: “The crossing has to be put in the next best place it can be.”
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Continued from page 1
Agreements have been put in place over certain areas of land around the site, just north of Luton, but some have elapsed now. Describing it as a “highly unpopular road”, Independent Toddington Cllr Mary Walsh said: “My main concern is cost and what quality we arrive at over the green bridges as costs inevitably grow. “Department for Transport (DfT) funding was approved in October and £28.75m paid in March 2022. Whatever has happened to this road, the cost has remained static at £61.4m. “We’ve seen already an unexplained increased funding allocation in the capital budget from £47m in 2021/22 to £51m in this financial year. “What’s the final cost estimate the council can spend, including legal fees, given there’ll be no increase in funding from the DfT?” she inquired. “What will be the impact on the provision of affordable housing on the site?” Independent Toddington Cllr Silvia Collins asked: “Are current costs still predicted to be £61.5m? “It looks like we’ve missed the Dft deadline to commit the local growth fund allocation, so has that been extended? Where are we now with our preferred contractor? “Will we need to retender and how will that fit in with the DfT deadline?” she wondered. “And what’s our position regarding agreements with Prologis and the consortium? “Has time to reclaim forward funding been agreed? What are the
consequences if we miss our deadlines because our partners in this are failing to deliver on promises they made?” Conservative council leader and Arlesey councillor Richard Wenham replied: “I feel we may be straying on to commercial issues with some of your questions.” The executive was asked to delegate authority to senior officers to obtain any parcels of land required to deliver the M1/A6 link road, with the necessary documentation. Conservative Arlesey Cllr Ian Dalgarno said: “In April 2021, the executive approved a CPO to buy a small plot of unregistered land to avoid uncertainty of ownership. “At the time, it was expected all the other land would be provided by the council or through third parties via a series of complex and comprehensive agreements and contracts. “These are no longer fully suitable with the passing of time. To ensure the link road is delivered in its entirety it may be necessary to use CPO powers to acquire all of the land. “The CPO powers provide CBC with a fallback position,” added councillor Dalgarno, who’s the executive member for community services. “Should agreement be reached with landowners to acquire land by private negotiation, that land would remain within the CPO until talks are concluded.” After Cllr Wenham, who chairs the executive, took advice from CBC’s monitoring officer, the meeting went into private session.
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Oldham, Chief David Executive of the Connolly Foundation said: “We are very pleased to help these students and are looking to expand the scheme to other schools in the county. We are holding meetings with heads of the sixth forms to encourage schools to make maximum use of the scheme.” David Bailey, Headteacher of Biddenham International School in Bedford said: “We are extremely grateful to the Connolly Foundation for the generous awards that they have given to our students over the past 10 years. It has made a very big difference to them and helped them through each year they are at university.”
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A LEADING Bedfordshire charity is offering grants to high achieving A level students in the county. The Connolly Foundation is supporting students with higher grades up to £1,000 to support them in their first year at university. They can subsequently claim a further £500 per year for as long as they continue their undergraduate studies. Schools are also being encouraged to award up to six discretionary grants to students who are unlikely to achieve the necessary grades but merit an award due to personal circumstances or for their contribution to other aspects of school life.
Plans for transport hub
Continued from page 1
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New primary Amount of compensation called in to question school for Potton agreed THE final stage of a formal process has been agreed for a new primary school in Potton, which will coincide with the closure of the town’s middle school. by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter
Combining Potton Lower and Potton Middle from September 2023 is part of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Schools for the Future programme. The move towards a two-tier primary and secondary model of schooling by the local authority aims to raise educational standards. Conservative Cranfield and Marston Moretaine councillor Sue Clark told CBC’s executive: “This is to note the outcome of the statutory notice consultation regarding the proposal to close Potton Middle School and change the age range at Potton Lower School.
CAPITAL FUNDING “The purpose of the report is to agree these changes and seek approval for the capital funding to enable these changes and create a primary school,” she explained. “The statutory consultation followed the earlier ‘Have your say’ engagement exercise for the Biggleswade cluster and attracted 32 responses, with nearly 70 per cent supportive. “The reason for pushing ahead with these changes in the town before the rest of the cluster is the very low pupil numbers in years seven and eight at Potton Middle School. “It’s not possible to support the financial viability and continue to run really good key stage two provision. “The council and the school consider it in the interests of the children and the school to make the changes now,” added councillor Clark, who’s the executive member for families, education and children. “The next step will be for these measures to take place ready for September 2023.”
A need to address declining numbers in the middle school provision arose as a result of schools in surrounding areas already having transitioned to a two-tier model, according to a report to the executive.
The buildings and infrastructure of both the Potton Lower and Potton Middle sites are to be used as far as required, said the report.
Independent Potton councillor Tracey Wye said: “I’m glad to see this looking like it’s about to happen now. It’s unfortunate to be part of the Biggleswade cluster because of the chaotic set of schools.
“Given where Potton Middle School is currently and the aspirations of local parents for it to be a primary feeding into the secondary schools in Bedford and Cambridgeshire, I think it’s a great move.”
Conservative Sandy councillor Tracey Stock seconded the proposal, saying: “I fully support this, as the local community does, and look forward to it happening.”
FULLY SUPPORTIVE
The executive unanimously agreed the formal closure of Potton Middle School.
The committee also authorised senior officers “to enter into all appropriate legal documentation to implement the schemes, including the building contract, development agreement and other terms required to secure delivery”.
The capital budget required to deliver the schemes has been approved within CBC’s medium-term financial plan, added the report.
THE former director of children’s services Sue Harrison received a compensation payment of nearly £83,000 when she left Central Bedfordshire Council, a meeting heard. Ms Harrison, who was one of the local authority’s highest paid employees, said in an email to councillors in September it was time for her “to find a new challenge”. Her departure followed at the end of October, and she was announced soon after as the executive director for education and skills at Birmingham City Council. CBC paid Ms Harrison £82,707 in “compensation for loss of office”, according to a report to its audit committee. The annual accounts show she received almost £199,000 between April 2021 and April 2022, including a pension contribution of near-
ly £24,000. The salary band for her position is £155,000 to £159,999. In a social media post, Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker said: “Given Ms Harrison didn’t turn up to a special children’s services scrutiny meeting in September, at which parents protested, it’s hard to understand how such a significant sum of money could be justified.” Her department came under pressure after a critical Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in November 2019. Their report highlighted significant areas of weakness in the local area’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) performance, and a written statement of action was required from CBC and BLMK Clinical Commissioning Group. A reinspection is thought to be imminent, after the council com-
mitted extra finances and staff appointments to improve its SEND provision. Councillors raised another concern as the educational transport budget now costs CBC more than £9m each year. Parents subsequently criticised the slow pace of change, despite the impact of the pandemic across council services. Central Bedfordshire SEND Action Group staged a protest outside the council’s Chicksands HQ over a lack of SEND school places, lining up 52 pairs of shoes outside the building, one for each child without a place for last September. Ms Harrison’s absence from the subsequent children’s services overview and scrutiny committee meeting was attributed to illness. CBC said about her departure last year: “Sue led the successful transformation of children’s social
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care to achieve a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted in 2017. “Following the inspection of local SEND provision in 2019, Sue has developed a comprehensive improvement plan with partners and leaves the council having set the firm foundations for the team to continue this journey.” Ms Harrison described it as “a huge wrench to leave such a brilliant, dedicated team here in CBC”, saying: “They make a positive difference to children and their families every day. “My passion and where I believe I really add the most value is helping organisations at the start of their improvement journey. “This is the role I fulfilled successfully at Blackpool and here at Central Bedfordshire, but now it’s time for a new challenge.” She was responsible for a gross revenue budget of more than £76m.
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— JULY 2022
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
AROUND THE CLUBS
View from the pulpit
BIGGLESWADE IVEL TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD
Rt Revd Richard Atkinson – Bishop of Bedford Away from it all The Mothers’ Union is one of the all too often hidden gems of the Anglican Church. Inaugurated 146 years ago by Mary Summer to support mothers, rich and poor, as they brought up their children, it continues today across our county. As with many organisations its membership is often not as young or plentiful as would be desired. Yet it remains committed to supporting family life and wider social justice projects. More than that the Mother’s Union is global in its presence. On several occasions I have come across large and active groups around the world. A real powerhouse for the local church. One project that has now been going for nearly sixty years is ‘Away From It All’ (AFIA), a scheme to provide holidays for disadvantaged families. Over the years it
has allowed many people to have a few days away that otherwise they could not afford. In itself a real blessing. For all of us, a reminder that who-ever we are, time away is crucial for our flourishing As we come to the summer holiday season, I invite us to treasure our time off and days away. The word ‘Holiday’ comes from the Old English word hãligdæg which means holy day. Originally just time off for saints’ days and other religious festivals, those days when people were free from labour, it now encompasses all our time off. However, at the root of ‘holy’ is the sense of ‘being set apart’, not just for spiritual matters. For holiday at its best is when we set ourselves apart from the demands of work and other commitments. Yet that isn’t always easy. In an age of social media, all
too often we get caught up in continuing business, rather than having the full break that we need. Far from a ‘setting apart’ we take everything with us. We need something of that free spirit of which Cliff Richard and The Shadows sang: We’re all goin’ on a summer holiday No more workin’ for a week or two Fun and laughter on a summer holiday No more worries for me or you For a week or two In a time of austerity opportunity for holiday will for many be reduced. Let us both treasure the times away that we have, and also think about how we might help others through schemes like AFIA. Holy-days, holidays should never just be taken for granted
Have you ever thought of joining Biggleswade Rotary Club?
By Barbara Hazell
A FEW years ago I was asked “If |I had ever thought of joining Rotary”. I replied, “It’s a professional business men’s club isn’t it I don’t think women can join, you
had better check your details and get back to me.” My answer was ridiculous or course and the person asking me knew that he was right and well within the membership rules of the club. However, he left it a couple
of weeks and asked me again. He told me the club meets every week for lunch and then continues with a meeting, discussion, a speaker or activity. I knew nothing about Rotary but joined and have learnt all about
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it by going to the meetings. It is the best thing I have ever done and I can recommend it. The members meet on a Tuesday lunchtime for the first three weeks of the month and meet in the evening on the fourth Tuesday. We have a one course meal and tea or coffee. I enjoy it and I have done many things and met many people I would not have done if I had not joined. If you feel like trying something new, plan to come along to a few meetings. You can come for a few weeks to try it before joining. You can attend the meeting without having a meal if that is what you would rather do. If Tuesday lunchtime is does not suit you we would still like to hear from you as we are considering opening up other options and making changes to our meetings to suit new members. If you would like to book in for lunch or would just like further information contact Barbara on 01767 601813 or email Biggleswaderotary@hotmail.com
Tel: 01234 823033
MILTON ERNEST GARDEN CENTRE Radwell Road (just off the A6) Milton Ernest MK44 1SH
CHAIRMAN Ann Taylor welcomed members to the meeting on Monday, June 13. Birthday greeting were given to Gill Damen. Since the last meeting a small group of members had a walk from Eaton Scoon to St Neots. They were very impressed with their lunch at the Ambience Café Restaurant at St Neots. The next walk has been arranged for Mill Lane, Langford meeting at 10.45am Thursday, June 30. The speaker for the afternoon was Steve Papworth from the charity cats protection. He gave a very enlightened talk about the whole of the cat family. Cats have been on the planet for about 30 million years, and apart from pumas and domestic cats they are all considered to be an endangered species. There are 41 members of the cat family around the world, the Sand cats have the most direct link to domestic cats. House cats have a life expectancy of 12/15 years, farm and feral cats much less at 5 years. The charity was formed in 1927, has 252 branches and 5,500 volunteers. The competition for something beginning with “Y” was won jointly by Barbara Gould with a Yorkshire pudding and Liz Stirratt a yellow golf ball.
Tempsford Museum and Archives: The Sandy Guild is a group of local people offering friendship, support and fundraising within Sandy and the local community. During lockdown did you wish there was a skill you could learn, if so these talks could be the opportunity you are looking for. Our next event is a Talk on Tempsford village and a bit about Tempsford Airfield. There will also be an opportunity to look around Tempsford museum afterwards. The event is being held on Saturday, July 2, 7.30 pm, at the Stuart Memorial Hall, Tempsford. Tickets £8 each from: sandyguild2019@gmail.com via our Facebook, page or by calling 07500 907715. All profits will go to our chosen charity, which this year is St John’s Hospice, Moggerhanger.
A READER recently contacted me via the details below saying that her young daughter was interested in attracting more wildlife into the garden, what could she do? Happily, this is a question I regularly get asked and it would appear providing the parents do not infect the young minds around them with negativity and even hostility, children often delight in the fascinating and miniature world of insects, arachnids and invertebrates. Tragically, one of the most extreme reactions I have ever seen to bees and wasps came about because, in poet Philip Larkin’s famous phrase, (no, not that one but that does also sum it up!) ‘man passes misery onto man’; a mother’s total freak out when glimpsing or hearing a wasp or a bee has been observed and then ‘absorbed’ by her tiny child so that any attempt to teach the child about the insect’s vast contribution to the world already has a major stumbling block to overcome. As all psychology students will tell you, ‘fear is a learned response’. Contrast that attitude with another child of my acquaintance whose mother is a biology teacher and who from day one has explored the natural world with her young children. In this instance, the young girl in question recently celebrated her eighth birthday by holding a tarantula! If you would like to see more birds in your garden, a process needs to be begun whereby your garden is safe from predators and abundant with insects and other foods. Please remember that, though I love them to bits, cats naturally predate on many garden visitors and recently released figures by the University of Reading claim that in rural areas, each cat kills a whopping 34 animals a year. Water is another great way to attract all sorts of wildlife into your garden and even a very basic pond, or even a submerged bucket where rainwater can collect, will attract all
sorts of previously unseen ‘guests’. According to the BBC radio 4 programme, The Unbelievable Truth, human beings share 35% of their genes with daffodils, so rather than view the world as us and them, far better to see it as all connected. Most people I have ever spoken with hate flies but love swifts. The simple truth is without the former, we would not have the latter. And this symbiotic relationship within the natural world is ubiquitous. Everything is connected to everything. David Attenborough once revealed that bear have learned that at a particular time of the year, large quantities of salmon swim upstream a particular river in a faraway land. The fish are so abundant, the bear can be fussy; it prioritises particular cuts and then discards the rest. This then rots down into the soil whereupon a nearby tree takes from it nutrients. One such is an amino acid found only in the decomposing salmon without which the tree cannot produce fruit. But because of rotting fish flesh, the tree is laden with fruit, a rare bird flocks to it. So, without the river, no salmon. Without the salmon, no bear. And without the bear, no birds. And then, who eats the birds? And what eats that? And so on, and so forth! Everything is connected to everything. As I regularly say, it is all evidence of the most perfect system. The answer to last month’s ‘just for fun’ quiz question then is, what very prevalent plant is known by some as ‘Twitch’ is couch grass (pronounced ‘cooch’). This month’s just for fun question is: Why is a Red Admiral so called? Answer next month. As always, many thanks to all of you for contributing to this column, keep them coming, and please contact me with any gardening tasks or queries you may have, lawndocgardens@aol.com or tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855.
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The next meeting is Monday, July 11 when the speaker will be Rosemary Williams talking about the workhouse. The guild meets on the second Monday of the month 2pm at the Orchard Community Centre, Sullivan Court, Biggleswade new members and visitors are very welcome to join us, the first visit is free further visits will be £4.00.
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John Bunyan Community Boat receives The Queen’s Award THE John Bunyan Community Boat, a completely volunteer based group in Bedford have just been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. The John Bunyan Community Boat, launched in 2013, is run as a
Social Enterprise by B&MK Waterway Enterprises Ltd. Funds raised are used to provide public cruises on the River Great Ouse in Bedford at an affordable cost, surplus profits from both special and charter cruises being donated to The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. The John Bunyan Boat is
managed by a committee of volunteers and all the crew give their time voluntarily and are trained in the art of being cabin crew, deck crew, helm, or boat masters. The volunteers show their commitment to the project with the training they do, and the time and service they provide to the public. Supporting those on the boat are a
Farewell to much-admired Graham
GRAHAM MABBUTT, best known in Bedford as the man who navigated the John Bunyan Boat project to become the most successful town centre tourism operation, has died after a long illness. With Graham at the helm of the organisation, the boat has taken 40,000 people on trips on the River Great Ouse, repaid all its start-up loans, recruited scores of volunteers and most recently won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in May. Earlier, Graham and team won a Pride in Bedfordshire award in 2013 for Raising the Profile of the Town. However, there was very much more to Graham – his home was decorated with Silver, Gold and Platinum discs dating back to his days in the record business. And his collection of 5,000 ‘vinyls’ would spin the heads of today’s retro collectors . Graham started selling record players in the Co-Op in Abingdon Street, Northampton in the late 1950s becoming Manager of the Record Bar in 1965. In 1969 he moved to Carlow Radio (a familiar name to older Bedford record buyers). There he worked with a young man who now runs the Motown discos on the John Bunyan Boat: DJ Keith Stewart. In 1973 Graham joined Magnet Records where his first big job was promoting the newly named Alvin Stardust (formerly known as Shane Fenton) and his record My Coo Ca Choo, followed by the No 1 Jealous Mind. Other groups
at the time were Bad Manners and Match Box. When interviewed by ‘Beds Bulletin’ in 2019, Graham talked about his career in the music business: “As regional promotions manager it was my job to get all these new commercial stations to play our records – giving free copies to DJs. Eventually I became General Manager of Magnet Records. During the 1980s our biggest name was Chris Rhea and I put together an album of his greatest hits: New lights through Old windows. “Company owner Michael Levy became a millionaire when he sold to Island Records. He is better known now as Lord Levy supporter of Tony Blair. I stayed on at Island for a six month hand-over working on the new look CDs as well as cassette tape and record packaging.” As the music business was spinning off in new directions, Graham came to land locally in politics for the LibDems, first as a parliamentary candidate in Northampton, then Milton Keynes and finally Mid Beds. He served as a Councillor for Olney until 2006 including as Cabinet Member for Transport and Strategic Planning – gaining useful insights in setting the course for the waterway project which he had joined in 2002 as a volunteer. From 2002–2011 he worked as a paid political adviser in Northamptonshire where his skills in consensus-building were put to good use. Then he ‘retired’ to Lavendon, Milton Keynes and devoted his time to the boat project.
number of land-based volunteers involved in roles such as sales, marketing, publicity and crew rostering. The John Bunyan boat has carried more than 45,000 passengers since it was launched, and the 2022 season is underway with charters and public cruises available to book. The John Bunyan Community Boat is one of 244 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Representatives of The John Bunyan Community Boat will receive the award crystal and certificate from Helen Nellis, LordLieutenant of Bedfordshire later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from The John Bunyan Community Boat will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023.
Local college is now University Centre
THE Bedford College Group has been officially designated as a University Centre. The news is a recognition of the long-standing commitment to Higher Education or degree-level learning. Now the new title ‘The Bedford College Group and University Centre’ will be applied across all their campuses. Higher Education has previously been on offer at Bedford College, Shuttleworth College and Tresham College campuses in a variety of subjects up to and including full BAs and BSc degrees, and post graduate awards in teacher education. Welcoming over 100 Higher Education teachers and support staff to the event at the theatre in the Bedford College riverside campus, CEO Ian Pryce CBE said: “The term university has a real significance, it means something special to so many people and we are proud now to have the term in our corporate title. “I am of the generation where I was the first person in my family to go to university – fewer than 20% of people progressed to
HE learning then. “All of my children went to university and the expectation is that in future, lifelong learning to reach upwards to Higher Education qualifications could be something everyone can aspire to. “This no longer means having to go away to university, but to consider obtaining an employer-recognised series of qualifications at your local campus in Bedfordshire or Northamptonshire. “A degree by degrees accessed via your local college, and often in conjunction with an employer, demonstrates the great links our college group has with the real world of work.” Leading the launch event was Director of Higher Education Alex Mortby and his team who had arranged a series of seminars for HE teaching and lecturing staff at the college group. “This was a fantastic event to launch our new University Centre status. This will be the driving force for delivering national policy developments on higher technical level skills for Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire,” said Alex.
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— JULY 2022
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin.com
Lord-Lieutenant Cadets treated to a trip to see the Guards in London
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire took her seven Cadets on a trip to London on Monday, May 30, to the Guards Museum at Birdcage Walk. The Cadets were given a tour of Wellington Barracks where they saw King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery cleaning their field guns and tending to their horses in preparation for the Royal Salute they were to fire in Hyde Park after they took part in the ceremony of Trooping the Colour which marked the start of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee weekend festivities. They also witnessed the first part of the ceremony of Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. A world-famous ceremony which is unchanged since 1837! They saw the Royal Gurkha Logistic Regiment getting on parade and being inspected before they marched away to Buckingham Palace behind their regimental Band, Pipes and Drums which was truly stirring. They then had a tour of the museum as well as tour of The Guards Chapel. The museum tour was paused while they popped outside to see the Coldstream Guards march back into barracks having finished their duty guarding the palaces.
What could be more quintessentially British than scarlet tunics and bearskin caps on a summer’s day in London? Photo opportunities were grabbed to record a memorable day after which they tucked into a sandwich lunch in the Director’s office. The visit was kindly hosted by the Director of the Guards Museum, Andrew Wallis MBE DL, who is also the Honorary Colonel for Beds & Herts ACF. The Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets are: Cadet Corporal Benjamin Cornforth – Bedfordshire Sea Cadets Cadet Sergeant Matthew Brewer – Bedford Modern Combined Cadet Force Cadet Sergeant Major Chloe Bezer – Beds & Herts ACF Cadet Warrant Officer Toby Shortman – Beds & Cambs ATC Leading Cadet Cameron Moore – St John Ambulance Drill Cadet Lukas Wescott – Bedfordshire Police Cadet Crew Manager Keown Seldon – Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
A Big Bang at Wrest Park
ON June 18 and 19, 600 Brownies from across Bedfordshire were delighted to take part in an aptly named Royal Garden Party – Dragons in Tiaras, hosted at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire. With the help of the HMS Wales Historic Reenactment Society and a very naughty Dragon the girls were taken back to Nelson’s Navy in 1805 and took part in lots of fun games and activities across the grounds. The event ended with a big bang on the bowling green as the HMS Wales’ Captain and his crew fired a salute across the lake in a very loud display. A fantastic time was had by all and the event allowed girls from wide-ranging backgrounds to take part in a unique and exciting day out. Karen Keeling, Girlguiding Bedfordshire
County Commissioner said: “We were delighted to work with the team at Wrest Park on this event and it is marvellous that the Bedfordshire Girlguiding partnership with Wrest Park has gone from strength to strength.” Karen added: “It is a wonderful opportunity for our members to explore a historic gem located right on their doorstep.” Girlguiding Bedfordshire is a charity and is looking for volunteers, so if you feel you could get involved they would love to hear from you – please call 0800 169 5901 or visit www.bedsguiding.org.uk/ You can also follow them on Facebook at: facebook.com/GirlguidingBeds and on Twitter @BedsGuides
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1 million new donors over the next five years of all blood types. As the NHS treats more patients, we need to grow the total number of donors too. “We carefully manage stocks to ensure we do not waste any precious blood. If you cannot get an appointment immediately it is because we have enough of your blood type right now. Please book for a later date or respond when we contact you.” Blood donation generally takes up to an hour and you will be doing something amazing. Once donated, blood is taken to NHSBT laboratories where it is divided into: l Platelets: Platelets help to stop bleeding and can be donated directly. Donors with A negative, A positive or AB negative blood are mostly needed. 69% treat people with cancer, 17% helps people after surgery, 8% treat diseases, and 6% help adults and babies in intensive care. l Red cells: two thirds are used to treat a vast range of conditions including sickle cell, anaemia, cancer and blood other disorders. One third is used in surgery and emergencies including childbirth. l Plasma: 17,000 people are treated with medicine made from plasma. Plasma can be used to stop blood loss in trauma patients and is also made into a medicine for people with weak immune systems. People can also donate plasma directly. NHSBT carefully manages blood stocks to ensure the system is as efficient as possible. Red blood cells have a shelf life of 35 days, although some of the ultrarare types are stored in NHSBT’s frozen blood bank. Appointments to donate blood are arranged based on a donors’ blood type to meet future patient needs. Knowing our type is an essential part of being a nextgeneration donor. A mass public campaign is being held to identify people with most needed blood types. Young people and those of Black African or Black Caribbean heritage are being urged by the NHS to find out their blood type, by making their first donation at one of the many events being held at Blood Donor Centres in England. Book an appointment by visiting blood.co.uk, downloading the GiveBloodNHS app or by calling 0300 123 23 23.
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NHS Blood and Transplant are urging people in Bedfordshire to give blood as new targets reveal 1,000 new donors are needed in the region to save lives over the next year. Nationally one million more blood donors are needed over the next five years to ensure patients receive the right type of blood to save and improve their lives, with a particular need for Black African, Black Caribbean and younger donors. The five-year Blood Service Strategy, sets ambitious plans to recruit up to a million new donors and double the number of regular donors with the rarest blood types. This will ensure better matched blood types for patients in the future and reduce health inequalities. Most people know the main blood types – O positive (35 per cent of the population), O negative (13 per cent), A positive (30 per cent), A negative (8 per cent), B positive (8 per cent), B negative (2 per cent), and AB positive (2 per cent). But the public is less familiar with the many sub-types that can provide an even better match to improve their treatment. There is a particular urgency for more donors of Black African and Black Caribbean ethnicity to treat people with sickle cell. Sickle cell is the fastest growing genetic blood disorder in the UK and mostly affects people of Black heritage. It requires regular transfusions – most often with the specific blood sub type Ro. Most patients are children, and demand for Ro blood is projected to double from 2016/17 – 2025/26. Fifty five percent of Black blood donors have the Ro subtype compared to 2.4% of donors from other ethnicities. Stephen Cornes, Director of Blood Supply at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “Currently we can only meet around half of the demand for Ro blood through our existing donor base and demand for this rare blood type is rising. This means many sickle cell patients often receive less well-matched blood which, while clinically suitable, can pose a longer-term risk to patients who receive regular transfusions. We urgently need new Black African and Black Caribbean donors to come forward and donate blood. “In addition to the rarest blood types, we also need
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15
out & about Stylistics performing live this November at the Corn Exchange
Hillgrounds Park, Hillgrounds Road, Kempston This tournament is dedicated to late Balbir Singh Atwal, ex-chairman of Shaheedi Sports Council Bedford and former Mayor of Kempston Town Council. Many thanks to all our sponsors and supporters it is a family event. Please attend with your children.
by Tony Hendrix The legendary Stylistics have now officially confirmed that they will be making Bedford part of their UK tour scheduled for Monday, November 28, 2022, to many this may well sound like a long time coming but tickets have already gone on sale and are already close to a sell out. Direct from Philadelphia USA , one of the most Legendary Soul Artists Of all time. The Stylistics with a record breaking run of 12 top tens including the Grammy nominated ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ ,plus numerous classics including ‘Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’, ‘Lets Put It All Together’, ‘Stop Look Listen’ , ‘You Are Everything’, ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, ‘Sing Baby Sing’, ‘I’m Stone In Love With You’ and many more. The Stylistics have under their belt: seven Gold albums, five Gold singles, two Double Gold singles, eight Platinum albums, one Double Platinum album, four Platinum singles, along with a Grammy nomination in 1974 for “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and a plaque on the Walk Of Fame in 1994, in Center City, Philadelphia. In May 2004, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. The Stylistics remain the real deal, fabulously entertaining and Musically breathtaking. They have included The Bedford Corn
Balwant Singh Gill – Sec SSC Bedford Exchange within their UK 2022 tour which will be a total sell out within the next few weeks. Before booking your tickets be aware that there are currently two Stylistics groups currently on the circuit today, there’s The Stylistics who are headlining this 70s Soul Jam Tour and another group called The New Stylistics, this can be pretty confusing for fans when trying to determine exactly what group will be performing. The original Stylistics from the 70s was hosted by lead singer Russell Thompkins Jnr with his distinct amazing voice, in 2000 Thompkins left The Stylistics and launched his own group called The New Stylistics. He was replaced by another soul legend called Michael Muse who is the lead singer currently on tour with the Stylistics. Tickets are available on 01234 718044 standard tickets will cost £34.50 remember tickets are on sale now and selling fast.
CAFÉ MAMBO IBIZA Finally don’t forget The legendary Ibiza brand will be coming to Bedford Park on Friday, July 29, bringing thousands of dance music fans together for an unforgettable experience Serving up
the classics are some of the biggest DJs in dance music; these include Mark Knight, Amine Edge & Dance, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago and Todd Terry (pictured below) along with support from Bedford DJ, Mark Russell. This incredible open-air show will be one of the biggest and most spectacular Mambo events in the UK in 2022 and follows on from the success of the 2021 ‘In The Park’ show, which saw thousands of partygoers enjoying iconic sets from some of the best house music talent in the business. The VIP Upgrade Ticket gives you access to ‘The Park Lounge’ with prime viewing position, seating and fast track entry to the park. Adding the Green Room upgrade onto your ticket will allow you to enjoy dedicated bar and food facilities and luxury toilets. I will be attending this event and look forward to doing a full review of what I can see is going to be a fantastic house party in the park, limited tickets are still available for this event at: ticketweb.uk and songkick.com
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The much loved Daxtonbury Festival is back
— JULY 2022
8/9/10 July 2022
With no event possible in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic, the team behind this boutique festival are now about to host “The best three day party in Bedfordshire” during the weekend of 8/9/10 July. Held on farmland near the village of Podington in North Bedfordshire, the festival features over 30 bands including local favourites such as Pearl Handled Revolver, The Workshop Boys, Lost For Words and Easydread together with the classic rock band Stray. Everyone involved with the festival – bands, organisers, volunteers and backstage crews etc – give their time for free in order to raise money for cancer charities. Originally just a friends and family barbecue, Daxtonbury has grown into a memorial to Chris Kelly, one of those friends, who passed away a few years ago. After the 2019 event the organisers were able to donate over £11,000 to help the fight against this awful disease Daxtonbury is totally about the chill and the vibe. Glastonbury it ain’t but then the ticket prices won’t leave you broke for the rest of the year, you won’t have to walk two miles to reach the main stage and the loos (probably) won’t overflow! This is a festival experience on an intimate scale. Music from mid-day to well past midnight, a chance to make a shed load of new friends and a weekend relaxing in beautiful surroundings. Together with an exciting lineup of live music there are high quality food stalls, beer tents, a cocktail bar and a unique range of other activities such as, kids entertainment, clay pigeon shooting, air gun shooting, welly wanging, street artists, craft stalls, line dancing, chain saw carving, massage, yoga, and a fantastic charity auction. On-site camping and car parking is free, glamping is an option and dogs and their wellbehaved owners are welcome. This festival is about fun and goodwill and about contributing to a good cause. Festival-goers are invited to become part of the Daxtonbury family – people who will share the vision of a peaceful, family friendly event where nothing is left behind except footprints and where great memories are taken away. Some things are just too good to miss. To find out more and to buy tickets go to www.daxtonburyfestival.co.uk
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Why not enjoy a relaxed and entertaining journey back through the ages and find out more about the characters and buildings that are the fabric of Bedford’s thousand year history. All walks are led by qualified members of the Bedford Association of Tour Guides. The summer walks take place on Sundays and Wednesdays at 11:00 am. Starting from outside the Old Town Hall in St. Paul’s Square, Bedford close to the golden
painted letter box. Each walk is designed to last approximately 90 minutes at an easy pace and should be suitable for those with limited or restricted mobility. Wheelchair users should however advise the Box Office at the time of booking so that suitable routing provisions can be made. Public walk charge is £3.00 per adult and children over eight years of age £1.50. Due to their popularity however please note that pre booking is essential.
Places and Faces of Bedford
the 12th century. Walk through the old castle grounds, see the mound on which it once stood and hear the story of the castle and its demise in the siege of 1224. 19 June, 21 August, 25 September, 19 October
REGULAR WALKS FOR 2022
Bedford has many impressive properties, often built as homes for the professional and the wealthy, many survive though few are still family homes. Join us to find out who lived where and why these Bedfordians were important to the town. 29 June, 31 July, 31 August, 2 October
I Never Knew That
Bedford has a story waiting to be told. Discover some surprising facts and stories about Bedford that will hopefully leave you saying... ‘Well I Never Knew That! 12 June, 6 July, 11 September, 5 October
The Life And Times Of John Bunyan
Discover the story of Bedford’s most famous son, who was imprisoned for his nonconformist preaching. Visit the site of the cottage in which Bunyan and his family lived, the churches in which he worshipped and the site of the gaol in which he spent 12 long years where he began to write of one of the bestselling books in history, The Pilgrim’s Progress. 17 July, 3 August, 7 September, 18 September
The Jewel In Bedford’s Crown
The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown is undoubtedly the River Great Ouse and its Embankment. This entertaining and informative circular walk takes you along the banks of the river, which has been described as one of the finest riverside settings in England. Learn the story of the Victorian Embankment development and enjoy a walk in the ornamental gardens. 15 June, 10 July, 14 August, 28 September, 23 October
The Rise And Fall Of Bedford Castle
The Norman conquest of Britain witnessed the introduction of castles to the landscape, and, in Bedford, a major castle was built in
The Silent Faces Of Bedford
Bedford has many impressive statues and memorials. They cannot speak for themselves, but our guides can tell you their story and why they take their place in Bedford’s history. 3 July, 7 August, 4 September, 16 October
Bedford In World War II
A walk that reveals the way of life in Bedford and some of the little-known facts about the role it played during World War II. Learn how Bedford became the main hub of the BBC during the war and how it also became a centre of wartime entertainment. Discover a ‘secret’ Bedford and the connections of the town to the code breakers at Bletchley Park. 26 June, 27 July, 9 October
GROUP WALKS
If your group, society or organisation would like a walk during the daytime, an evening or weekend, this can be arranged by contacting the Tour Guides at info@bedfordtourguides.org. Simply choose from the seven walk titles on offer and get in touch.
HOW TO BOOK
Book tickets for your chosen walk online at www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk Tickets can also be booked by calling the Box Office on 01234 718044, or by visiting the Box Office, Harpur Suite, Harpur Square, Bedford MK40 1LE Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. www.bedfordtourguides.org
KEMPSTON 01234 851120 Saturday 2nd July the fantastic
LAURA CHURCH Saturday 9th July A quality night of SOUL MOTOWN and classic disco with the smooth voice of
CECIL
Saturday 23rd July It’s band night with the fantastic
SOUL PROJECT Not to be missed Saturday 30th July We welcome back the amazing
GEORGIE MASON
Saturday 16th July New to the Conclub is the beautiful
Saturday 6th August We welcome back another top ac
CLAUDIA MEWS
JAMIE CALLIS DIARY DATES Saturday 13th August
NEW HARMONY
LEE FOXHALL
Monday 11th July 2022 7.30pm Kempston East Methodist Church Raising funds for
Myla’s Mission Refreshments and Raffle Tickets £6 and £4 concessions www.kempstonconcertband.com
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Bank Holiday Weekend Saturday is SOUL & MOTOWN DISCO with PETE COVIE Sunday KIDS PARTY 6.30pm QUIZ – 8.30pm
Summer Concert
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diary
comedy Thursday July 14th – Comedy in the Garden @ Brewpoint, Bedford Castle Comedy returns to the Brewpoint garden where you can enjoy brilliant comedy, craft beer and delicious food.
Castle Comedy has a packed July with three brilliant shows “Fosters Comedy God” Tom Binns. Tom wrote and starred in his own BBC One sitcom ‘Hospital People’ and Ivan stole the show on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. ‘Laughs per minute the funniest show at the Fringe’ Time Out
JARLATH REGAN is a hugely talented comedian who has numerous TV credits, awards and a hit podcast on his hands. His podcast ‘An Irishman Abroad’ has a legion of loyal fans, millions of downloads and The Daily Telegraph went as far as to forecast that it “could turn out to be one of the biggest podcasts since Ricky Gervais picked up a microphone.” PAUL McCAFFREY starred on Live At The Apollo and was also the star of the UK version of Impractical Jokers alongside Roisin Conaty and Joel Dommett. He has appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News and Stand Up Central on Comedy Central. ‘Born to be a comic’ The Scotsman Friday July 29th – The Rufus Centre, Flitwick
Children’s Theatre | Comedy | Theatre Dance & Physical Theatre | Poetry & Spoken Word Music | Film
Bedford’s largest performing arts festival returns
binge the fringe! book now
SEANN WALSH – He is described as ‘the best observational comedian of his generation’ by The Guardian and is an Edinburgh Award nominee. As seen on seen on ITV’s ‘Bad Move’ and ‘Play To The Whistle’, E4’s ‘Virtually Famous’ and ‘Conan’ on TBS. JAKE LAMBERT – As seen on Comedy Central and ITV. Writer for Mock The Week, The Royal Variety Performance, Ranganation, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and The News Quiz.
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Sunday July 31st – ‘Best Of’ Castle Comedy at Bedfringe SUZI RUFFELL – has had five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival and has recorded comedy specials for both Amazon Prime and the BBC. Also seen on Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, The Last Leg, Hypothetical and The Jonathon Ross Show. ‘On the cusp of stardom’ The Evening Standard IVAN BRACKENBURY - he’s bonkers! Ivan is the creation of
All shows feature full support from top UK comedians and Paul Revill will host the shows! Doors 7pm shows start 8pm. Shows finish 10.45pm To book visit: www.castlecomedy.co.uk
Sandy Historical Music and theatre at St Research Group: is holding a Paul’s: Tuesday lunchtime recitals
photographic exhibition at the Beeston Summer Festival on Saturday, July 16. The Festival at Beeston Methodist Church, 4 The Baulk, Beeston, Sandy SG19 1NR is from 10am until 4pm. The exhibition will be in the vestry of the church. You are invited to attend and learn about the history of Sandy and Beeston. Contact: secretary@shrg.uk
Biddenham Gardeners Association: Tuesday, July 19
at 7.30. Biddenham Village Hall. “AGM” Visitors very welcome. Admission £5 per meeting for non members – includes Raffle & Refreshments Tuesday, September 20 at 7.30. Biddenham Village Hall, “A Bulb for all Seasons” by Chris Day. Visitors very welcome. Admission £5 per meeting for non members – includes Raffle & Refreshments Contact: www.biddenham gardenersassociation.org.uk
Car Boot Sale: Milton Ernest
An Edinburgh Preview Special from two of the best comedians in the UK!
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Garden Centre, Radwell Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1SH, Cars £5, vans £10. Sellers setup 9am, Buyers 10am-2pm. July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2 No need to book a stall, bring your own table Horticultural Show Bank Holiday August 29 Family Fun Day and Dog Show Sunday September 11 Contact: (01234) 823033 or enquiries@miltonernestgarden centre.co.uk
Music and theatre at St Paul’s: Tuesday lunchtime recitals
at St Paul’s Bedford. June-July, 1pm. FREE with retiring collection in aid of church funds. Suggest min £5.00. Monthly Saturday organ recitals 12 noon, also FREE with retiring collection in aid of church funds. Contact: St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford, MK40 1SQ. Tel: 01234 340163 Email: admin@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk JULY – 5th Lorraine Augustine, Piano. 12th Six on Sax. Contact: Ann Collett-White, Tel: 01234 266839 Mobile: 07989 837819
Car Boot Sale: Milton Ernest
Garden Centre, Radwell Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1SH, Cars £5, vans £10. Sellers setup 9am, Buyers 10am-2pm. July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2 No need to book a stall, bring your own table HORTICULTURAL SHOW Bank Holiday August 29 FAMILY FUN DAY & DOG SHOW Sunday September 11 Contact: (01234) 823033 or enquiries@miltonernestgarden centre.co.uk
THE
QUEENS
at St Paul’s Bedford. June-July, 1pm. FREE with retiring collection in aid of church funds. Suggest min £5.00. Monthly Saturday organ recitals 12 noon, also FREE with retiring collection in aid of church funds. Contact: St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford, MK40 1SQ. Tel: 01234 340163 Email: admin@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk JULY – 5th Lorraine Augustine, Piano. 12th Six on Sax. Contact: Ann Collett-White, Tel: 01234 266839 Mobile: 07989 837819
Contact: www.bedfordmusicclub.co.uk
Bedford Music Club: Bedford Floral Art Society:
Contact: www.bedfordfloral artsociety.co.uk
Tudor Reeds Folk Dance Club: Barn dance group meets
every other Wednesday 8-10pm, St Mark’s Church Hall, Brickhill. £2 inc refreshments Contact: Jenny 01234 217621t
Sandy Women’s Institute: Meets on the third
Tuesday of every month (except August) at Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy. New members are always very welcome. Visitors are charged a small fee of £4. For further information contact: Ann Patterson 01767 680644.
Kempston Senior Citizens Club: DANCING, WHIST,
BINGO. Meets Wednesday 10am12noon Friday 10am-4.00pm, Centenary Hall, behind Kempston Town Hall, contact: Sheila Cobban, on 01234 347306
Bedford Folk & Acoustic Club: Acoustic and folk music round-the-room, every Thursday evening from 8:30pm at the Bowls Pavilion of Kempston Hammers Club, MK42 7BN. Musicians, singers and poets all welcome, at every level. Contact: us on facebook, or come and meet us at the Bowls Pavilion.
Yoga: Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ. 2pm Mondays Contact: June for details: juandhannigan@yahoo.co.uk:
To advertise your club, group or society in these columns please email your copy to: advertising@ rosettapublishing.com Please include a contact telephone number. These columns are for non-profit making organisations
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HOTEL NOW OPEN Queens Head, Rushden Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1RU
Tel: 01234 822412
Mon-Sat Noon-11pm Sunday Noon-10.30pm
18
— JULY 2022
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@bedsbulletin.com
gardening T
with Milton Ernest Garden Centre
Ten treasures for garden colour
by Maureen Catlin
HE Roses and Clematis have finished their first flowering. The Lupins, Delphiniums and Geraniums have been cut back to produce a second colourful show and so we need plants to carry on the dazzling display.
Hydrangea Paniculata Strawberry Blossom is a deciduous shrub which grows to 1m and produces long ice cream cone like flowers from late June until October. These open creamy white and pale pink blooms then develop strawberry red edges to the petals. A delightful addition to any mixed border preferably in dappled shade. Rudbeckia Butterscotch Biscuit, Electric Shock, Orange and Pecan Pie are all new varieties of this brightly coloured daisy. They are very hardy, compact,
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love to be planted in full sun and flower continuously until late autumn. The flowers are yellow orange and red with chocolate brown centres. They are a magnet to bees and butterflies and give a good display if planted with Salvias, Penstemons and Ornamental Grasses. Helenium Mariachi Siesta, Salsa and Fuego are compact plants with small daisy shaped flowers. They are hardy producing lots of claret red flowers with yellow markings rich in nectar well into autumn. The blooms make excellent cut flowers and attract many summer butterflies. They are ideal for smaller gardens, can be planted in patio tubs and are very disease resistant. Salvia Hot Lips, Pink Lips and Amethyst Lips are charming neat growing perennials with unusual two tone half coloured flowers in red/white, pink/white and purple/white accordingly. The flowers give at least 5 months of summer colour attracting bees and butterflies with a bonus of blackcurrant scented leaves. These plants are very easy to grow. Crocosmia or Monbretia are exotic plants that
will thrive in even poor stony soils and tolerate drought. The broad sword-like leaves are architecturally attractive even before the arching flower stems emerge. The flowers appear in summer on wiry stems and last for many weeks. They also make good cut flowers. Noteworthy varieties are Walbertons Yellow, bright orange yellow, Walbertons Bright Eyes, very free flowering orange with a red centre and Miss Scarlet dazzling scarlet. Planted with Ornamental Grasses, Helleniums, and Rudbeckias Crocosmias give a stunning display. Astrantia Roma is a great favourite and was first seen in paintings from 16thcentuary so has certainly
stood the test of time. It is a pretty cottage garden plant with papery soft pink flowers that looks delightful planted with Ferns or Ornamental Grasses. It is quick growing and flowers continuously from June to September. Begonia Tropical Sunset is a stunning plant for tubs or hanging baskets producing copious amounts of fluorescent apricot peach coloured flowers throughout summer. Plant in a sunny place where the serrated green leaves form mounds which the flowers drape over. This plant is very easy to grow. Agastache Beelicious Purple is a very insect friendly plant a rich source of pollen and nectar much loved by bees and butterflies. It is a hardy perennial which appears each year and has purple flowers from July to September. The compact blue green evergreen leaves have a minty scent so plant along a path way so when the foliage is brushed the perfume is released. This plant is really easy to grow and will not be eaten by slugs rabbits or deer. Salvia Roman Red is a hardy perennial and a unique new variety with deep ruby red flowers on tall black elegant stems. The foliage is aniseed scented. Butterflies love fluttering around these flowers from July until autumn. This beautiful plant was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Finally and my favourite summer flowering perennial is Agapanthus Midnight Star. This beautiful African lily produces rich blue round heads of trumpet shaped flowers which erupt from deep blue buds. They appear on 70cm tall strong upright stems from a whorl of strap-shaped leaves. This star performer will also grow well in large tubs on the patio.
AFTERNOON TREAT
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MILT ON ERNEST GARDEN CENTRE Tel: 01234 823033
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sport SENIOR PLAYERS REQUIRED We are looking to increase the number of senior players across both teams. The 1st XI play in the Hunts County League whilst the 2nd XI play in the Beds Invitation Cricket League. Senior practice is every Wednesday at Sunderland Road Recreation Ground, 6.30pm start. Alternatively, come along to a home match any Saturday afternoon or contact the club via email: cricketclubsandy@gmail.com RESULTS
SANDY CRICKET CLUB
Sandy CC 2nd XI 80-10 (Hudson 38, Armstrong 4-16), Harrold CC 1st XI 83-1 Harrold CC 1st XI won by 9 wickets Sandy CC 1st XI 138-10 (K. Mor-
rallee 62, Bonsall 5-14), Sawtry CC 1st XI 141-4 (Scarff 60*, Bream 42) Sawtry CC 1st XI won by 6 wickets Sandy CC 2nd XI 239-9 (Carswell 126, Jhala 5-43), Luton Caribbean CC 2nd XI 240-1 (Durrcani 145*, Wilson 68*) Luton Caribbean CC 2nd XI won by 9 wickets Sandy CC 1st XI 213-10 (K. Morrallee 42, Z. Hussain 85*, K. Hussain 4-29), Peterbrough Town CC 3rd XI 187-9 (Eplett 4-28) Sandy CC 1st XI won by 26 runs Nassington CC 1st XI 233-4 (Anslow 45, Taj 46*), Sandy CC 1st XI 115-10 (S. Summers 55, Nawaz 3-10, Hammond-Lewis 3-18, Maqbool 3-30) Nassington CC 1st XI won by 118 runs
Sunday 12th June National Two Fours Round 1 (Bedfordshire) Sandy Town 31 Shefford 28
SANDY TOWN BOWLS
Monday 13th June East Beds Bowls League Div. 1 Sandy Town ‘B’ 30 Shefford ‘A’ 42 Mark Howlett, Kevin Hurry, Ray Swinnerton 20 C Kane, A Allen, C Hart 15 Dale Goodwin, Jim Seamer, Mick Gaylor 10 C Hogan, R Ford, A Peacock 27 Wednesday 15th June Harmsworth Cup 2nd Round Sandy Town 101 Maulden 71
Thursday 16th June Friendly Mixed Triples Sandy Town 48 Russell Park38 Christine Buckle, John Beaumont, Ian Buckle 20 Russell Park 10 Tony Goss, Pat Hawkins, Phil Donohue 10 Russell Park 21 Christine Foskett, Clive Foskett, John Brophy 18 Russell Park 7
Ben nets BMW honours at 24hr of Nürburgring
THE 24 Hours of Nürburgring is widely recognised as one of the toughest endurance motor racing events in the world. Whilst it’s more famous cousin, the 24 Hours of Le Mans following close on its heels in the motorsport calendar takes much of the limelight, the demanding and unforgiving nature of the Nürburgring together with its notoriously unpredictable weather means that it stands alone as the ultimate challenge to driver and machine. And so it proved to be in 2022. Whilst the weather this year largely behaved itself, the attrition list contained some of the biggest names in the racing world. However, through it all BRDC SuperStar driver Ben Tuck and his crew survived the full 24 hours, bringing home the sole surviving BMW GT3 to still be rolling. Coming from a technical retirement at the preceding qualifier
were for an uphill battle at the daunting 24Hr race for the 4-man Walkenhorst Motorsport crew, led by Sandy’s Ben Tuck. The epic weekend at the notorious Nordschleife circuit is famous for the party atmosphere brought by more than 100,000 fans camping in the picturesque Eiffel mountains.
races 3 weeks earlier, the omens
As part of the premier class, the
weekend really started for Ben’s Walkenhorst crew in the final ‘top qualifying’ session on Friday evening, Ben had piloted the #102 Alpecin liveried BMW M4 GT3 to 18th on the starting grid. The big race started at 3pm UK time on Saturday with Ben at the wheel. Almost immediately, trouble found his #102 car when an engine problem developed, holding back the potential of the Walkenhorst BMW. In as little as 4 laps Ben had tumbled down to 26th position where, after the busy opening battles, he managed to stabilise his position and begin a valiant fight back, posting lap times quicker than the front runners. After handing the car over to the rest of his crew, ex-BMW pro driver Jörg Müller, Jörn SchmidtStaade and Mario von Bohlen, Ben again took to the track for a 15-lap stint later that evening. As the BRDC SuperStar drove into the closing darkness, he began to post lap times comparable to the front runners, particularly impressive in the context of the technical problem still burdening his BMW, eventually bringing the car back safely in 20th position. The early morning was Ben’s next duty and as he readied himself in the dim light of the dawn, news arrived that the car had been involved in a collision. It arrived minutes later, and the team got to work making repairs. Miraculously, 90 minutes later Ben tested the car on track in an 8lap stint where he moved up to 18th position.
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