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BEDS BOROUGH EDITION
COUNCIL HAND OVER £600K TO FUSION LIFESTYLE
FOLLOWING the bail-out from Bedford Borough Council to re-open Robinson Pool, Fusion Lifestyle Ltd, the company that operates the Borough’s leisure facilities has given out redundancy notices to staff employed at the town’s other leisure centres. The redundancy notices state that: “These centres will not re-open in the foreseeable future – the foreseeable future is clarified as six months.” Fusion had requested assistance from the Borough Mayor, Dave Hodgson, who agreed to pay Fusion £45,500 per month for the next six months to reopen Robinson Pool and for Mowsbury Golf Course which had already reopened earlier. Bedford’s Athletics stadium is open for club use but with limited facilities. Along with this financial help, the council have also agreed to defer the Fusion management fee of £7,342 per month for six months, and continuing to defer their loan repayments of
Fusion Lifestyle Ltd are a management company contracted to run the Borough’s leisure facilities; Kempston Pool, Oasis Beach Pool, Kempston Outdoor Centre, Robinson Pool, John Bunyan Leisure Centre and Bedford Athletics Stadium.
£52,625 per month (which the council have already been doing since March). This will cost the Borough around £105k per month, (or £630k in total) just to get Robinson Pool open. The £45,500 per month is to be allocated to the council’s Covid-19 Impact Cost Centre. Cllr Sue Oliver said: “Labour Councillors are trying to get to the bottom of the issue with Fusion Lifestyle, who have performed poorly for some time. “We are disappointed with their lack of communication throughout this pandemic with both the Borough Council and residents, who are users of their facilities. I hope that the reopening of Robinson Pool has proved instructive to them on how to operate safely during the Covid 19 pandemic, and they will now prioritise the opening up of other Borough wide facilities.”
Probably… the best merger in the world…
THE Competition and Markets Authority has allowed the £780m merger between Carlsberg and Marston’s.
A joint venture between Carlsberg UK, which has a brewery in Northampton, and Marston’s PLC to form the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company has now been approved. In 2017 Marston’s came to an agreement to purchase the Charles Wells brewery in Queen’s Park, Bedford. This purchase also included a number of Charles Wells’ beer brands. Carlsberg CEO Cees’t Hart said: “The creation of the joint venture with Marstons is an important step forward for our UK business. “The joint venture’s brand portfolio will allow us to offer a significantly stronger beer portfolio to our UK customers, and at the same time extend distribution into the Marston’s pub estate. “In addition, the combined business will bring our customers wider choice, greater capacity, product innovation, and marketing and distribution efficiency benefits.”
NOVEMBER 2020
Sarah wears her poppy with pride Sarah Medhurst manages her family’s high-class jewellers in Mill Street, Bedford. Her father, John is still actively involved in the business – well until he finds the time to retire! Since returning from the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown Sarah has been busy overseeing a revamped website for the business. www.johnmedhurst.co.uk
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Still time to visit Whipsnade and watch the sea lions before they go up north WHIPSNADE Zoo’s colony of sea lions recently featured in a TV documentary as they are preparing to move to the awardwinning Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The six playful animals – male Dominic, 13, and females, Lara, 12, and Bailey, 13, and two-year-old youngsters, Hanno, Oakley and Maui – featured in a two-part ITV documentary that charts behind-the-scenes zoo life. The colony will be moving in November and they have been in training to get used to their transport crates for the cross-country move from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. They will enjoy life in Yorkshire in a new purpose-built facility which opens in Spring 2021. Tina Campanella, speaking of Whipsnade’s plans said: “The opportunity to move the sea lions came at the perfect time, as our exhibit is due a significant revamp and, like we do with all of our animals and enclosures, we reviewed our overall plans to make sure we’re caring for the animals
that we can do the most for. “We’ve decided that there are new animals that really need our help and conservation expertise, while the sea lions will be in the excellent care of the dedicated zookeepers at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.” London Zoo (ZSL): An Extraordinary Year, which was broadcast on October 1, it illustrated the efforts of the staff to care for animals during the challenges of the pandemic and re-opening to the public. Dr Matt Hartley, Head of Animals at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton, near Doncaster, said: “We are very excited to welcome the sea lions and have been in close contact with ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to make the journey as smooth and easy as possible. “It is a relatively short journey, but everyone is focused on making it comfortable for these charismatic animals who I’m sure will be a big hit with our visitors. “The documentary was fascinating and shows clearly how much love keepers have for their animals and how wonderful the
sea lions are. “The sea lions were be a big hit in the documentary, and we will ensure they have a great, happy home here in Yorkshire.” Transport arrangements from Bedfordshire to Yorkshire have been meticulously planned with a team of keepers and vets on hand throughout the journey as well as a careful plan to gradually introduce the sea lions to their spacious travel containers. ZSL Whipsnade sea lion keeper Alex Pinnell (pictured), who features in the documentary, said: “Though we will miss our intelligent and playful colony of sea lions, we’re delighted they will be going to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, who are building an amazing, brand-new exhibit, custom designed for sea lions – it’s also great that they’re moving together as one colony, so will remain a family unit.” The new facility is part of an expansion which will double the size of the park from its current 150 acres of spacious animal reserves with over 450 animals of over 70 species.
Higher gear in engineering
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NEW Director of Engineering at The Bedford College Group is Dr Frank Dzokoto. From a background in industry and pioneering digital processes in manufacturing, Frank is planning to move engineering education across the Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire college into a higher gear in motor vehicle and motor racing. The Group’s Motor Vehicle Technology Centre at Kempston, is already switching to electric and hybrid transport training in keeping with modern car manufacturing, and the National College for Motorsports at Silverstone, Northants is in the fast lane when it comes to helping young people into Formula One careers. “In both areas we want to ensure our students can overtake others and progress on to higher levels of education, to move from technicians into engineers,” said Frank who divides his time between the NC4M at Silverstone and the Brundtland Building of green technologies at Bedford. Bedford College already offers a range of BSc degree courses in technology and engineering. The plan is to close the gap between 16-year-old apprentices, and achieving those higher qualifications, and promotional aspirations in advanced manufacturing and digital engineering careers. HNC and HND courses will be familiar names to those who have studied in skilled sectors, but now Frank wants to offer fast-track courses. “Not everyone is able to study full-time, many people want to study part-time to increase their qualifications. Some people want to go up a gear and complete courses which are traditionally taken over three years part-time and instead take them in, effectively, 18 months.”
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BEDS BORO
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2020
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Wytch craft supports Bedford Council has local artists to pay costs to
developer after amateurish errors
HALLOWEEN is the official opening day of Bedford’s newest independent retailer: Hippy Wytch Cottage in the delightful Claire Court off Lime Street. The Hippy Wytch herself is Amanda Dennis, a runic counsellor, who believes that the ecolifestyle favoured by our forebears makes for a happier way of life. Her new shop stocks handmade crafts made by local artists using natural, bio degradable products, including wooden staffs (or wands) carved by her husband Robert. As an organiser of psychic fairs for many years, Amanda has a huge range of contacts who will be supporting the Cottage. These range from holistic healers to sculptors and psychics. The Lancashire lass, now of Stewartby, is a champion of women’s empowerment, very
much a theme of the traditional beginnings of “witch craft”, and as a counsellor encourages people to be a one with the universe. She has travelled extensively and has selected some of the best ideas from the famous Salem, Massachusetts for her business. “Witchcraft has been mixed up with horror thanks to people like James Herbert in modern culture, but in fact historically pagans were simply people who were in touch with the Earth and the Environment. “This is resonating with people today who are seeking some sort of guidance on how to live at with nature,” said Amanda. In readiness for Halloween on October 31st, Amanda is promoting a children’s painting competition online and will be decorating the courtyard area with some of the works.
THE prospective Hall End Road development in Wootton that community leaders including Cllr John Wheeler fought hard against, has been formally rejected by the Planning Inspectorate. This good news came on Thursday, September 17. Cllr Wheeler (pictured right) who was constantly at the front of battling this development said: “I am glad that the Planning Inspectorate have agreed with the decision to refuse permission for the Hall End Development, it was clear that this development was not suitable for the area and the correct decision has been made for the people of Wootton” He also added “I would again like to thank the residents of Wootton for their continuous support in the long fight against these proposals and the Parish Council for their constant support and for providing a planning professional who were a great help in achieving a just outcome” Despite the good outcome, there is however, large question marks over how the application was not instantly rejected by Bedford Council. A lack of coherence between the planning department and Councillors led to the
Your waste to be burnt at Stewartby
Replacement kitchen doors planning committee submitting evidence after the appeals stage, which should have been available during the original application, because of this the Planning Inspectorate ruled that Bedford Council must now pay costs to the developer. Cllr Graeme Coombes a expressed his frustrations at how the Council have handled this matter: “The failure to lead on this matter by the Council has led to amateurish, costly mistakes which will now have to be paid for by the residents of Bedford. Simply put this all because of a lack of trust from Council officers towards local Councillors who have been ignored when expressing local problems with planning applications.”
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WITH the current contracts to treat residents’ black bin residual waste coming to an end, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils have been taking part in a procurement process to award a new contract for this vital service.
The process received only two bids, both of which included the waste being treated at an Energy Recovery Facility. Veolia represented the best option in terms of quality and price, saving the councils over £1,000,000 per year, in line with their duty to obtain best value. As part of the contract, Veolia are, over time, intending to treat waste at the Energy Recovery Facility at Rookery South.
Cllr Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Bedford Borough Council said “As a Council we were strongly against this facility being built at Rookery South, which was approved by national government in the face of strong opposition from both local people and the two local councils. Indeed Bedford Borough Council provided financial support to try and stop the facility being built. “Veolia was the company selected under the strict government procurement regulations because they offered best value. The council has no alternative since we need to have in place a way of disposing of our waste from over 75,000 households and businesses across the Borough. “This is for black bag waste and will not compromise the council’s efforts in increasing recycling going into the future. We carry out a fortnightly recycling collection and we would always encourage residents to reduce the waste they create, reuse what they can, and recycle as much as possible. These are
simple steps we can all take to reduce our impact on the planet.” This black bin waste from local residents and businesses will help towards generating electricity equivalent to meet the needs of 112,500 homes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Central Bedfordshire’s Executive Member for Community Services, said: “The facility at Rookery South was approved by national government in the face of strong opposition from both local people and both councils. “But in awarding the contract we were also aware that Rookery South’s operator has started to allocate the waste disposal capacity to various waste producers, such as local authorities, and waste could be brought into Bedfordshire from further away. “Using a local facility means that waste that we collect uses this capacity rather than sending it to facilities further away. Its location in Bedfordshire means we can directly deliver our waste to the plant, lowering emissions from transporting the waste when it becomes operational in 2021.”
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Country clothing award adds up
Mufti Day raises £537 for Captain Tom’s Foundation
SCHOFFEL, manufacturers of the finest country clothing, were delighted to sponsor an award for rural Shuttleworth College. Lecturer in Maths David Jarvis thought it would “add up” to ask the country wear company to link up with agriculture students, by sponsoring a GCSE award. The winner of the award Dion Braid-Feasey, who passed his GCSE maths in the summer of 2020 showed “determination, consistency, a positive attitude and a hard-working ethic” to become the worthy winner. Dion was awarded the premium high quality £150 Oakham fleece gilet by Schoffel in recognition of his efforts. Dion, from Newport Pagnell, MK said: “I really enjoy my agriculture course here and it simply made maths easier to study in this setting.” Students who fail English and maths GCSEs at school have to retake them if they join college. Success rates at The Bedford College Group, of which Shuttleworth College at Biggleswade is a part, are high because students can see the relevance of the subjects in the context of their vocational courses. Apprentices must have GCSE English and maths as a base line of educational achievement. If you are interested in a countryside career then look at www.bedford.ac.uk for links to Shuttleworth College.
BEDFORD School is helping to build on its partnership with Captain Sir Tom Moore by making his foundation one of its charities of the year. The leading independent
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school, which is attended by Captain Sir Tom’s grandson Benjie Ingram-Moore, will back the Captain Tom Foundation which was set up following the phenomenal success of the 100year-old’s lockdown fundraiser. The pensioner captured the hearts of the nation after he pledged to walk 100 lengths of his garden – a quest which saw him raise nearly £39million for the NHS throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Susie Spyropoulos, Head of Charities at Bedford School, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the Captain Tom Foundation throughout the current academic year. “It was the natural step for us to take to continue the inspirational work that Captain Sir Tom and his family have undertaken in such a short space of time and inspire hope when it was needed the most. “We are keen to work with the Ingram-Moore family and the Foundation to raise as much money as we can for their charity partners; The Royal British Legion, Mind, Helen & Douglas House and Willen Hospice.” She added: “Our pupils have a long and proud tradition of working hard and undertaking various activities for charity. “We recently held a Mufti Day in school, raising £537 for the Captain Tom Foundation and £1,612 in total. The school as a whole usually raises somewhere in the region of £30,000 over the course of the school year, and although we are faced with
COVID related challenges, the boys are getting creative and coming up with new ways of raising money.” In addition to supporting the Captain Tom Foundation, Bedford School will also support St John’s Hospice, the Red Cross, Bedford Foodbank and Movember this term. In April, Bedford School hosted a display of thousands of Captain Sir Tom’s 100th birthday cards. The school’s Great Hall was transformed into a sorting office, with more than 100 pupils, parents, staff and Old Bedfordians volunteering to set aside envelopes and separate gifts, cheques and donations. They then created a spectacular sea of cards which led to visits from press from around the world. Hannah Ingram-Moore of the Captain Tom Foundation, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be one of the chosen charities for Bedford School’s fundraising. “We are passionate and committed to continuing the legacy of my father. “The mission of the foundation is for a more hopeful world and we will be supporting causes that are close to our hearts. “We thank Bedford School for choosing to support us on this mission.” The newly formed Captain Tom Foundation has four pillars: to combat loneliness, support those facing bereavement, champion education and equality and support friends overseas. For more information, visit www.captaintom.org
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HM Lord-Lieutenant’s cadets ready to serve
Cadet Warrant Officer Abby Bierton from Beds & Cambs Air Training Corps receiving her Lord-Lieutenant certificate.
HM LORD-LIEUTENANT of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, recently appointed her Cadets for 2020/2021 at a ceremony held virtually online. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lack of opportunities for Lord-Lieutenant Cadets, the Lord-Lieutenant extended the appointment for six of her Cadets from 2019/2020 and commissioned Cadet Warrant Officer Abby Bierton from Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire Air Training Corps (Flitwick Squadron). The role of Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets is to support the LordLieutenant in carrying out her duties as The Queen’s representative in the county and their selection and appointment acknowledges their outstanding contribution to their Cadet service and to the community. This year’s Cadets are • Petty Officer Cadet Elisabeth Allison (Flitwick & Ampthill Sea Cadets) • Cadet Warrant Officer Abby Bierton (Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire ATC) • Cadet Colour Sergeant Leah Flores (Beds & Herts Army Cadet Force) • Police Cadet Connor Fossey
(Bedfordshire Police) • Fire Cadet Ryan Harper (Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service) • Cadet Sergeant Harilaos Karavaggelis (Bedford School Combined Cadet Force) • Leading Cadet Kate Travers (St John Ambulance) The Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets are the finest of the many talented young people in the Cadet Forces and Emergency Services within Bedfordshire. They are excellent leaders and a credit to their organisations and to the county. Speaking after the commissioning, the Lord-Lieutenant said “It is a genuine privilege to work alongside some of the finest young people in Bedfordshire and I would like to thank the dedicated volunteers who devote so much time to helping to develop our cadets. I am delighted to welcome CWO Bierton to my team of LordLieutenant Cadets who have already impressed me with their commitment, maturity and professionalism when supporting me at key events in the County prior to the pandemic. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the Cadets and hope that they have an exciting year ahead.”
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Festus does 200 hours as a ‘Special’
FESTUS Akinbusoye is the Conservative Candidate to be your next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Bedfordshire in 2021. PCCs are elected by the public to set the strategic priorities for the policing area and hold the Chief Constable accountable for delivering these, ensure support is there for victims, and work with the Chief Constable to oversee the reduction of crime in the area. In short, PCCs are there to be the voice of the public in dealing with the police. Here in Bedfordshire, we have seen the investment in police increase from £102m in 2010 to just over £120m in 2020/21. This has also meant officer numbers are increasing again after the cuts of a few years ago. Festus commented on this investment: “I have seen the valuable addition these new officers are to our police force having done over 200 frontline duties as a Special Constable in two months. I commend our police officers for their remarkable work in keeping us safe. “While I welcome the increased investment, we absolutely need it to be sustained and increased. Under successive governments, we have been funded as a rural area, when in fact, we have similar crime challenges compared to larger urban areas like Birmingham, Manchester and parts of London. I want to work with the government, in making the case for this unfair funding formula to be fixed once and for all if elected as your next Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2021. “I live in rural Bedfordshire and have done so for ten years. My children attend school in the area, and I recently volunteered over 200 frontline hours in two months as a Special Constable with Bedfordshire Police. “I run a business which employs about sixty staff and have mentored young offenders in prison, served as a link governor for the Offender Learning and Skills Services at a further education college, and currently am a board member at a YMCA.”
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Named as a Rising Star 6 —
NOVEMBER 2020 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
BEDFORD School pupil Benjie Ingram-Moore, the grandson of the inspirational Captain Sir Tom Moore, has been lauded for his work on the phenomenal £38.9million fundraiser for the NHS throughout the coronavirus pandemic. A teenager who took a leading role in the biggest positive news story of the year has been recognised with a prestigious award. Bedford School pupil Benjie Ingram-Moore, the grandson of the inspirational Captain Sir Tom Moore, has been lauded for his work on the phenomenal £38.9million fundraiser for the NHS throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He has now been unveiled as the winner of the Rising Star category in the 2020 Independent School of the Year awards. Benjie played an important role in his grandad walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday, with the aim of raising £1,000 for the NHS. Benjie, a Lower Sixth student at Bedford School, said: “I have been absolutely blown away by how life has changed over the past five months or so. “During this time, I was lucky enough to go to Windsor Castle and meet the Queen for Grandad’s investiture and meet the likes of David Beckham and Michael Ball, which is just incredible. They are all experiences I never thought would happen. “Thank you to absolutely everyone who helped me on this journey. “Having been preparing to sit my GCSEs, this isn’t close to anything that I had expected this summer, but it is an absolute pleasure to have won this award. “I hope to be able to push on from here with the Captain Tom Foundation and continue Grandad’s legacy.” Benjie, who set up a Twitter account which gained a following of more than 75,000 in a week, secured a much-coveted spot on The Michael Ball Show on BBC Radio 2 and messages of support from celebrities including Dame Kelly Holmes, Lord Sugar and Jason Donovan. He also worked with his family to gain the support of BBC Breakfast and Piers Morgan at Good Morning Britain for Sir Tom’s exploits. For Sir Tom’s 100th birthday, Bedford School’s Great Hall was turned into a sorting office, with more than 100 pupils, parents, staff and Old Bedfor-
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dians volunteering to set aside envelopes and separate gifts, cheques and donations. They then created a spectacular display of cards which led to visits from press from around the world who wanted to see the display and speak to Benjie. James Hodgson, Head Master of Bedford School, said: “Benjie is an incredibly modest, humble young man with a strong determination to succeed. “He is consistently reliable and when given extra responsibility, will always perform the task to an exemplary standard, going above and beyond what is asked of him. “It is these qualities, as well as his ability to build positive relationships, that have led him to the success that he has had fundraising with Sir Tom and his family for the NHS. “We are incredibly proud of Benjie; he has always been a rising star. It’s an absolute delight that he has been recognised in this way with the Rising Star award.” Benjie was unveiled as the winner during a virtual Independent School of the Year awards ceremony on Thursday .
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Raising thousands of pounds running the virtual London Marathon
TWO dedicated runners have sprinted to success, raising £3,472 for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice. Jacob Fordham from St Neots and Angus Macdonald from Potton took to the streets on a very soggy Sunday (October 4) to complete 26.2 miles. They were due to take part in this year’s London Marathon, which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. But it didn’t stop them – and they decided to do the distance ‘virtually’ on what would have been the day of the marathon instead. Jacob Fordham chose a route around his local area of St Neots and Cambridge in memory of his grandfather Bill, who was cared for at the Bedfordshire hospice in November 2018. “The thought of grandad looking down on me with a massive smile on his face as I crossed the finish line means the world,” said Jacob, who raised £1,532. “I had heard about Sue Ryder but I didn’t really know what they did until my grandad was taken into Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice. “My grandad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and the nurses were amazing in their care in the last days of his life. They were also amazing for the support that they gave to my nan and the rest of our family during these difficult times. “It was only then that I really understood how much the charity does and how much the charity relies on donations, as big or small as these might be. I wanted to run the marathon for Sue Ryder as I can’t think of a more deserved charity and one which has touched the hearts of so many.” Elsewhere, fellow marathon runner and town councillor Angus Macdonald took to the streets in and around Potton. He braved the elements to do a 23 mile run before breakfast, followed by a 3.2 mile dog walk to make up his marathon miles. “We are fortunate here in the north east corner of Bedfordshire to have Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, providing excellent care and support for those who need it,” said Angus, who raised £1,940 through fundraising activities such as selling face masks and pocket dolls with his
daughter on Potton market. “I’ve seen the difference it makes to friends and neighbours who have needed to use St John’s Hospice for their loved ones, and listened to the praise they have for the dedicated staff and health professionals. “It is essential that these hospices are around to support all of us, if we are ever in need.” Hayley Webb, Community Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “A huge congratulations to Angus and Jacob who pulled on their trainers to complete the cancelled 40th London Marathon virtually in support of our hospice. “At Sue Ryder, we give supporters such as Angus and Jacob the name ‘Team Incredible’ because they take on amazing challenges and raise vital funds to ensure we can continue providing our compassionate palliative care and bereavement support. “We are really grateful to Angus and Jacob; their support will help us to be there for people at the most difficult time of their lives. “If you are feeling inspired to take on your own challenge of a lifetime, applications are now open to join the 2021 team at www.sueryder.org/london”
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WINTER COLOUR Bedford College Group wins FE College of the Year nated with Ofsted’s recent announcement that The Bedford College Group, (including Tresham), is rated Good in all areas, with adult and young learners developing “excellent” study skills. The Skills Funding Agency has also formally confirmed the College’s status as Outstanding for financial health with a £1million surplus. The College has invested in its seven campuses, including a £3.65 million Zoological Education Centre at Shuttleworth which opened in September 2019, the first of its type developed with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and providing a unique learning environment for students. The College has also been awarded £7.5million from SEMLEP to redevelop the Wellingborough campus, enabling 1,000 additional students to study locally. The College’s new Buchanan Centre for advanced engineering opened in October 2018 and is specifically designed to meet the needs of businesses in the region. The building received £2.5 million funding from SEMLEP, £170K from HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund and the Connolly Foundation of Bedfordshire funded a virtual reality suite. In 2018 the College was also granted membership of the Chartered Institution for Further Education under its Royal Charter in recognition of its exemplary position in the sector. At the 2020 event, The Bedford College Group also won the Professional Services Team
While stocks last award for these developments. Said Ian: “Our Estates Team is so unassuming, yet so committed to making the student experience special from the minute they arrive on campus. This year they have performed exceptionally in the most difficult circumstances, keeping us safe, yet still managing to complete three major construction projects on time and budget. “I hope every college estates team will feel the award recognises their work too.” In 2017 Judith Larsen won TES FE Teacher of the Year, in Road (just off the A6) 2018 KeithRadwell Haynes was named Milton Ernest MK44 1SH TES FE Assessor of the Year and in 2019 Samantha Jones won TES FE Teacher of the Year.
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THE Bedford College Group has won the title of FE College of the Year in the prestigious Times Educational Supplement (TES) Further Education awards (October 16 2020). The Group, which comprises Bedford College, Shuttleworth College and The Bedford Sixth Form in Bedfordshire, and National College for Motorsport and Tresham College in Northamptonshire has risen to become one of the top FE establishments in the UK and a leading provider of employer-related education. Ian Pryce CBE, Principal and CEO who has steered the Group to this success said: “The awards night was a wonderful celebration of the work of our extraordinary sector. I’m still in shock. “The shortlist for College of the Year was very strong, so to be judged the winner is one of the best moments of my two decades at The Bedford College Group. It has been a very special year for us on so many fronts. “The congratulations of so many friends and colleagues in the sector is overwhelming. I am so proud of our 1,200 staff and 16,000 students and so privileged to be allowed to be their Principal. I never thought an online event could be so emotional.” Bedford College took on a huge challenge merging with Tresham College in 2017. Tresham was a large college in a different county, rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2016 and with extensive financial deficits. However, passion, determination and exceptional hard work from staff at all levels of the College has culmi-
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NOVEMBER 2020 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
BEDS BOROUGH
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
In Focus with
View from the Rt Revd
In Focus with
Yasin
Dave
MP for Bedford and Kempston
Richard Atkinson
The Bishop of Bedford
SPORTS CLUBS CAN’T BE CASUALTIES OF COVID
CELEBRATING FAMILY
NEW CORONAVIRUS TIERS AND ALERT LEVELS
It’s been a harrowing and uncertain time for live events businesses in Bedford and Kempston – they’ve been hanging on by a thread and may not have even made it this far without the financial help of their loyal fans. I was relieved and delighted when earlier this month, Esquires and The Place Theatre benefitted from a rescue package but the fate of many other businesses in our town like the Bedford Blues – our premier sporting team, still hangs in the balance. As a sports-fan with a lifelong passion for cricket, I know sports clubs are the beating heart of our communities and following sport, whether amateur or professional plays such a huge role in our personal lives. Our sports clubs were clinging on to the hope they could reopen in some form from October 1, but many found out just days before that they couldn’t. Boris Johnson admitted that it could be at least another six months before crowds can attend sporting fixtures. To help community clubs through this crisis, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport funding body, Sport England announced a £210 million emergency fund earlier in the year, but the financial assistance schemes are now either coming to an end or being substantially reduced. Rugby league, rugby union, cricket and swimming are all in a perilous situation, losing millions of pounds in revenue, but so much more in the value that each sport brings to those engaged with it. A support package is urgently needed. As the virus is on the rise again, most recognise that meeting in big groups is not on the cards any time soon. Which is why it is unforgivable that the Government has failed so miserably to get the Serco test, trace and isolate system working effectively. It is the only solution at our disposal to ensure only that infected isolate. Spectator sports clubs are the beating heart of Bedford. We must fight to ensure they are not the next casualties of this dreadful virus.
Family and families are important. They are different for all of us. They are a fundamental building block of society where the young find their identity, the old receive care, the generations meet together, the sick are supported and there is a commitment to mutual flourishing. Yes, at times they can be dysfunctional and even deeply damaging. It is always salutary to remember that since Cain murdered Abel families are the locus of much violence and abuse. However, we must never let the challenges of being family blot out their potential and promise. During these testing Covid 19 times, however, it can sound as if we are more concerned about who can drink with whom in a pub or use the gym, than whether or not we are celebrating families. There are, of course, really difficult issues about cross generational meeting, especially where parents or grandparents are in care. The need to protect those who are vulnerable in health terms can apply to all ages. There must be limits to family gatherings – as much as I would like to meet up with our extended family that is not reasonable. But doing what we can to affirm family life, to value the contribution of grandparents, to enable meetings of siblings and parents needs more attention. The ‘rule of six’ is fine but does that really mean that my wife and I have to decide who is left out from our three children and two partners. Ultimately this is not about the detail of regulations, although they need to be worked out. It is about a celebration of family that recognises that strong and supported family life will help us through these challenges, not diminish our capacity. More than that as we enter ever more difficult economic times with rising unemployment, increased household need and real hardship for people, we need stronger family life, not weaker. Whilst the state can provide essential funds (and it needs to do so), it can’t supply that necessary love and mutual support. All too often the real and complex questions about family life (there is no one model) means that policy makers tend to shy away from speaking about it. That helps no-one. Celebrating our families, with good support where there is family breakdown, is good for us and good for society, especially during a Pandemic.
by Dave Hodgson Mayor of Bedford
At time of writing the Government has announced three new Coronavirus Tiers to help clarify any local restrictions. Bedford Borough has been placed in Tier One/Medium Alert Level. I am reminding local residents to keep washing your hands, wear a face covering and keep two metres away from others and limit your contact with people you don’t live with. It is important that we remember and stick to the guidance and regulations. We do not want a Liverpool-style Lockdown locally. There is more information on the Medium Alert Level at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-medium and a summary of all three tiers/levels at https://mayordave.org.uk/en/ article/2020/1379053/new-coronavirus-tiers-and-alert-levels. The last few weeks have seen increasing numbers of positive Coronavirus tests locally in Bedford Borough and across the country. We still need to be careful and follow the regulations and guidelines, I would urge everyone to regularly check the latest guidance at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. Of course it is not all doom and gloom. Since I last wrote my monthly column we have seen a new Lidl and Home Bargains open at the Rope Walk Retail Park. We have also seen an increase in footfall at shops. Bedford, Kempston and the parishes are all gearing up for Christmas. Whilst it will be very different this year, I am hopeful we can make the most of it and enjoy it however we can. You will have hopefully seen that we are not able to commemorate Remembrance Day as normal this year. Government guidance is that some services can continue, but it urges members of the public to stay away. We are looking into broadcasting the Bedford service online and I know a number of parishes are working on their plans currently – please do keep an eye out for further information from the Borough Council and town and parish councils.
CORONAVIRUS
GOT SYMPTOMS? GET TESTED! HIGH TEMPERATURE, NEW PERSISTENT COUGH, CHANGE IN SENSE OF TASTE OR SMELL Free tests are available in Bedford. Book your test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 now. If you have any of the symptoms of coronavirus you must self-isolate and get tested. No one in your household should leave home if anyone has symptoms. If you test positive for coronavirus, you must share information about where you have been and who you have met with the NHS Test and Trace service, helping us all to stop the virus spreading and save lives. #ProtectYourFriendsandFamily #ProtectBedfordBorough
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Aerospace company signs lease on land at Cranfield MARSHALL of Cambridge has confirmed that, as part of the ongoing work to find a new home for its Aerospace and Defence business, it has signed an Option Agreement for a 150-year lease on a parcel of land on Cranfield University’s proposed Air Park development. Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group Chief Executive, Gary Moynehan (pictured), explains: “Whilst it is important to note that the signing of the Option Agreement does not represent a final decision to relocate Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group to Cranfield, we are pleased to have reached an agreement which provides us with a credible relocation option. “We are very excited by Cranfield’s ambitions to create a Global Research Airport and are already collaborating closely with them on a number of R&D projects. As such, the signing of this Option Agreement represents a further strengthening of a valuable relationship that I am sure will deliver significant benefits to all parties over the years ahead, irrespective of where we ultimately make our new home. “However, there are still a wide number of factors that we need to take into account before
making any definitive decision about the best location or locations for the MADG business when we ultimately relocate by 2030.” Professor Sir Peter Gregson, ViceChancellor and Chief Executive of Cranfield University, said: “We are delighted to be progressing our talks with Marshall through the signing of this Option Agreement. “Located at the heart of the OxfordCambridge Arc, Cranfield with its Global Research Airport and MADG would provide a vibrant ecosystem of research, technology demonstration and innovation in aerospace that is unrivalled in the UK. “We believe the relocation of MADG to Cranfield would further strengthen the partnership between one of the UK’s leading privately-owned aerospace and defence companies and one of the UK’s leading aerospace and defence universities.”
In a separate announcement Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (MADG) announced that they had won a ten-year multimillion dollar contract with the US Marine
Multi $m contract
Corps to provide depot-level maintenance to its 66-strong fleet of KC-130J tanker aircraft deployed worldwide. The contract, one of the biggest in the company’s history, enables MADG to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in support of Naval Air Systems Command’s Tactical Airlift Program Office (PMA-207). The Multiple Award Contract (MAC) was issued by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka after a rigorous international competition that included extensive pre-solicitation audits and demonstration of past performance. MADG Chief Executive, Gary Moynehan, comments: “This really is fantastic news that represents a very significant step forward in our strategy to grow our share of business in North America. This win builds on more than 50 years of service to the Royal Air Force which has, and continues to be, the bedrock of our Military Aerospace business. I am very proud that the US Marine Corps is prepared to place its trust in a privately-owned British company to undertake this important work.”
The Bedford Higgins celebrates Black History Month 2020 TO mark Black History Month 2020, The Higgins Bedford is putting on a Black History Month Trail in partnership with the Legacy of Windrush Descendants (LOWD) Learning Hub and Nubian Teachings. Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements and contributions to the UK made by black people for generations. In the UK, it has been celebrated every year since 1987. The Black History Month Trail introduces visitors to historic and
modern day black people, inspired by the exhibitions and displays across the galleries at the museum. On arrival at The Higgins Bedford, visitors can pick up a trail sheet that will ask questions about the people included on the trail. By visiting the various exhibitions that the museum has to offer, visitors will find answers to the questions on their sheet. This event will feature Polar explorers, designers, opera singers, Chaplains and Victorians. Cllr Doug McMurdo, Portfolio
Holder for Leisure and Culture said, “Globally, and increasingly more, people are becoming aware of the challenges that black people have faced and continue to face. With people and societies becoming more aware of the issue of the racial inequalities that exist, this year’s Black History Month is a chance to promote education on this very important matter.” “As a community in Bedford Borough we celebrate diversity and the rich multicultural history we have in and around our
Borough. Black History Month is a time to turn the spotlight to the achievements of black people and celebrate their contribution to the Borough and the wider United Kingdom.” The Black History Month Trail at The Higgins Bedford starts on runs until the end of October. If you’re looking to test your knowledge or learn more about black history in Bedford and the UK, visit The Higgins Bedford to take part in the event. See page 14
Save Great Denham golf course
AT A Full Council meeting on Wednesday, October 14, Bedford Borough Council voted through a motion proposed by local Great Denham Cllr Jim Weir who has tirelessly campaigned to put a stop to an unwanted development on Great Denham Golf Course. Cllr Jim Weir presented the motion after a petition which had 2863 signatures at the time of presentation. The golf course has previously provided a community role of being a place for local residents to meet
up for various leisure activities such as playing golf and using the clubhouse for various community and social functions. The Golf Course is due to close on 16 October after the landowner “Old Ford End Trust” decided to close the course and put sheep on the land to graze (strip grazing) and repurpose the clubhouse as a nursery and the greenkeepers compound to let to business. Even though the landowner’s agents Bidwells failed to mention the clo-
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sure to the communities affected (Great Denham and Biddenham) or to Bedford Borough Council until July 2020 it transpires that the decision was taken in 2018. The threat to over 5,000 residents living around the golf course which provides an Urban Gap and Open Green Space has not been welcomed and major concerns about what will eventually happen to the land have gone unanswered. Bidwells state that there are no plans for “development in the short term” – whatever that means? A save Great Denham Golf Course and Urban Gap Group has been formed and raised funding to get legal advice regarding the legitimacy of their actions. They eventually gained access to a meeting with Bidwells and have along with Cllr Jim Weir put forward proposals for a 9-hole course and public recreation area which as yet are unanswered. The motion states that the Council must uphold rulings that the Golf Course acts as an urban gap and that any development in the area must be made in connection with a golf course. Kempston Rural Ward Cllr Jim Weir commented: “I was extremely pleased to see Councillors provide support for my campaign against the repurposing of the Urban Gap provided by the land that is Great Denham Golf Course. It is vital that
this area remains green and provides a gap between the urban area settlements of Great Denham and Biddenham. I would like to thank all the local residents of Great Denham and surrounding areas who signed the petition and supported this campaign. My thanks also go to the two Parish Councils and the Save the Golf Course & Urban Gap Group.”
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2020
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Well-known Imam passes peacefully at home
IMAM Mir Irshad Ali passed away at home on Wednesday, October 7 2020, aged 80. He had led a life dedicated to the service of God and the communities in which he lived. Imam Ali, or simply the Imam as he was known to many, was born in Hyderabad, India in 1940. After completing his Masters degree in Commerce from Osmania University in Hyderabad he came to Liverpool in 1963 to pursue further postgraduate studies in Management at the University of Liverpool and to qualify as an accountant. As a student he took an active role in the United Nations Students Association and Students Islamic Society, becoming President of both. He also founded a weekend school to help the local Muslim children learn about their faith in English and established a Quran study group at the YMCA. Imam Ali first came to Bedford in 1978. He was in the enviable position of having both a job offer as Comptroller at Texas Instruments and a funded PhD at Cranfield University. He started a children’s Sunday school at his house but eventually moved to a room at St. Mary’s Church on Church Lane. Subsequently it outgrew St Mary’s and moved to Putnoe Heights Church. The Al Mizan School (as it is now known) based at Bedford
University. Over the course of the next 25 years he became the Muslim Chaplain at Bedford Hospital, the Muslim Chaplain at Bedford Prison and at Yarlswood Detention Centre. He was the first person in Bedford to insist that women should have exactly the same access to Friday prayers and Eid prayers as the men, just as it had been at the time of Prophet Muhammad. He was the first to insist the Friday sermons be delivered in English. He took part in numerous interfaith meetings with the Bedford Council of Faiths and his unique ability to explain Islam correctly and in a straightforward way meant that he was invited to many meetings and to sit on committees at the Council, Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire Service and the Ambulance Service. “As his eyesight faded in recent years he became self-conscious about no longer being able to recognise the faces of lifelong friends and family, leading him to slowly withdraw from the community he had so wholeheartedly and selflessly served for the last forty years.” Imam Ali is survived by his wife, Hajra, who was his rock and constant companion over the last 52 years, three sons and nine grandchildren all of whom will miss him dearly.
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First Class degrees in IT
NO NEED to go “away” to university to get a First Class degree in Digital Technologies, 13 of 20 students at the Bedford College have achieved that result in their home town. With 100% pass rate and 13 First Class Grades, we could not have prouder of the world and effort of our students, and the amazing support of the teaching team throughout the year and the lockdown period. These results are all the more exceptional because this is the first year the course has been delivered at the Bedford College Cauldwell Street campus, and the finale came during the Covid-19 crisis. Lindsey Francis, (pictured front) Course Manager for Higher Education – Computing said: “It has been a challenging year for both the students and the teaching team with the college closure and the need for remote teaching and support. “However, despite these challenges the results are in, and all of the students are thrilled with their grades. “With 100% of our 20 students passing the degree and 13 First Class Grades we could not be prouder of the work and effort of our students, and the amazing support of the teaching team throughout the year and the lockdown period.”
The degrees are validated by the University of Northamptonshire. Bedford College works closely with universities to deliver a wide range of degree courses. The Bedford College Group is known as a high performing Further Education for 16 to 18 year olds. But it delivers so much more now with increasing number of students progressing on to Higher Education, degree level learning. There are variations with Higher Education courses, including the full three years being studied at the college campus, some titled Top Ups, and some requiring students to complete their third and final year at a validating university campus. The critical difference in today’s “new normal” is that remote learning means students can gain critical degrees without the cost, or inconvenience, of going away to university campus. Comment from one student: “Thank you for all you have done for me over the past 5/6 years from Level 3 all the way up to me getting a degree… I really didn’t think I’d ever get a degree after failing most of my GCSEs so now I’m walking away with a 2:1 I’m over the moon.” — Jake Higgs If you want to learn more about how to start and progress on to Higher Education courses visit www.bedford.ac.uk
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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2020
— 11
Students benefit from a specialist laboratory
THANKS to two local charities, Mark Rutherford School has remodelled an existing science laboratory, with state of the art facilities now better enabling the delivery of the demanding practical skills work required by the A Level Chemistry course. Mrs Bloor, Headteacher said “The generous donations from both the Gale Family Trust and the Connolly Foundation have made it possible for us to continue our focus on delivering
an excellent education and providing students with opportunities to further their academic development.” “This investment in our
teaching facilities will enable the school to increase capacity to accommodate more students, wishing to undertake A Level Chemistry in a specialist purpose built laboratory. “This will enable us to deliver relevant chemistry practical skills to students, in readiness to access high quality A Level courses, Apprenticeships and University places as they enter a period of transition moving from one phase of life to another.”
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NOVEMBER 2020 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
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Jail for would be ‘freerunning’ robber A MAN who was spotted by police committing a robbery and then attempted to hide in a basement has been jailed for more than four years. Bedfordshire Police officers spotted Mohammed Sada, 25, of The Embankment, Bedford, in a scuffle with another man in Midland Road on April 22. As officers approached, Sada was seen dropping what turned out to be the victim’s wallet before he ran away. Sada attempted to evade officers by climbing over a six feet tall wall down an alleyway off Church Street before climbing onto the roof of a building. Police established a cordon in the area and a member of the public directed officers to a basement door, which was usually open but had been locked. Officers forced entry through the door, despite mattresses having been placed up against it to prevent access. Inside they found Sada laying on the floor. At the time Sada was also subject to a criminal behaviour order which banned him from entering Midland Road, which had been put in place to due to previous offending. Sada was found guilty of robbery and breaching a criminal behaviour order. On Monday, October 5, he was sentenced to four years and three months for the robbery offence, as
well as 10 months for the criminal behaviour order breach. This will be served concurrently. PC George Mallen, who investigated the offence, said: “This was a nasty and cowardly attack, with Sada grabbing his victim from behind. “He then showed a complete disregard for the law by making off from our officers and attempted to hide. “Sada’s experience should serve as a warning to others – if you commit crime, there is nowhere to run or hide where we won’t find you.” If you have been affected by crime, the Signpost Hub offers free and confidential support to victims in Bedfordshire, whether it has been reported to police or not and irrespective of where and when the crime occurred.
Four parks receive Green Flag Award
BEDFORD Park, Addison Howard Park, Priory Country Park and Harrold-Odell Country Park have all received this year’s Green Flag Award. This announcement marks the 19th year in a row that Priory Country Park has won the award. The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world. Mowsbury Hillfort and the Hill
Rise Nature Reserve, two of Bedford Borough’s volunteermanaged sites, have also received the Green Flag Community Award for a third year in a row. Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said: “In Bedford Borough, we are very proud of our parks and open spaces. We’re fortunate to have such high-quality spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.” “Our parks and open spaces have been even more important this year with more residents using them during the pandemic crisis.”
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NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR LICENCE
TAKE NOTE that an application for the grant of a Premises Licence has been made to Bedford Borough Council by Lotte Rose Bridal Boutique Ltd in respect of premises known as:
8-12 Bromham Road, Bedford MK40 2QA
Proposed licensable activities: Supply of alcohol: Monday–Saturday 11.00–20.00, Sunday 11.00–17.00 (for consumption on the premises) Hours open to the public: Monday–Saturday 09.00–20.00, Sunday 11.00–17.00 Representations: ANY PERSON wishing to make any representation to the application should write to the Chief Officer Legal & Democratic Services, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP specifying the grounds for making representations. Interested parties or responsible authorities may make written representations, these should be sent to the Chief Officer Legal & Democratic Services by 20th November, 2020. Applications can be viewed during office hours at the Council or via the council's website on https://www.bedford.gov.uk/licencing/ It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application, the maximum fine for this is unlimited. Dated: 26th October, 2020
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Safe and secure WFH scene Working From Home is not always the fun it sounds – distractions abound and the need to feel ‘normal’ by going out of the door to ‘the office’ is suddenly very appealing. A Covid-secure, cost-effective and creative setting is Provident House in Harpur Street. Here you can hot-desk in a variety of spotlessly clean rooms for a little as £10 a day or £25 a week, with FREE coffee, scanner and printers If you secure a dedicated desk for £75-£100 a month you enjoy the same fringe benefits
BEDFORD’S PREMIER BUSINESS HUB 07475 763200 https://provident.house 44 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 2QT
AND FREE wi-fi and on-site technical support is available if your laptop won’t link up, or you can’t log into ‘Teams’ or any one of those many technical hitches which arise when WFH. An added bonus is two hours FREE parking Monday – Saturday at the Queen Street multi-storey, and at 50p an hour after that, is the cheapest in town.
The building was a popular co-working space destination pre-lockdown with freelancers, and has now been upgraded and adapted to take on board all social distancing and sanitised requirements in the ‘new normal’. Already Provident House has won the approval of organisations running a series of new Government and Council supported courses for those learning English. In addition to the office spaces, Provident House is the home to Bedford Radio. A brand new recording studio, ideal for those keen to present themselves via Podcasts, is on site and can be hired for £3 for 30 minutes. Just bring your script. “WFH is not for everyone. We offer respite in a professional, comfortable and inspiring setting. “We’re here to help those looking for an uplifting change of scenery.” www.provident.house
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NOVEMBER 2020 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
BEDS BORO
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out & about The story of a Bedford boxer
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
DESMOND MORRISON came to Bedford from Jamaica in 1960 when he was 10-years-old. His parents were already living in the town having moved to England in the mid 1950s. His dad had been a builder at home but he found working outside in England so cold that he moved to working in a rubber factory in Huntingdon. Desmond stayed in Jamaica with his grandmother where they lived in Enfield in the region of St Mary, about 15 miles north of Kingston, the country’s capital. In January 1960 she put him on a plane and his father picked him up at London Airport and brought him to Bedford. His first memories of England was that is seemed to rain all of the time. Desmond went to Goldington
Road School. He was only one of two Jamaican children in the school. “I got on straight way with the children at the school,” he said. “I became close friends with boy
called Joe Bugner who also went on to become a champion boxer.” He loved sport – when he was in Jamaica, he played cricket with the big boys’ from eight-years-old. But
he got his first taste of boxing when he saw a film called Somebody Up There Likes Me starring Paul Newman. “On Saturdays a projectionist
used to come to Enfield from Kingston and show movies in the school house. I saw this film when I was nine-years-old, based on the life of middle weight boxing legend Rocky Grazian. After I saw it, I told everyone that that was what I wanted to be – a champion.” Desmond was first introduced to Boxing by his PE teacher at Goldington Road School, Mr Rowe, who on a rainy day when they couldn’t play sport outside, put the boys into the changing rooms, cleared an area and made a boxing ring. From there Desmond started training with Joe Bugner in Bradgate Road and began school boy boxing. He won the Bedfordshire School Boys Championship, as a Lightweight, at 12-years-old in 1962. As well as training he left school in 1966 and was given an apprenticeship at WH Allen to train as a diesel engineer. This involved him combining training and studying at college. My grandmother said to me: “Desmond, you cannot do two things at once.” “I said, Grandma watch me – I do three things at once, and I did, train, study and work!” At WH Allen he worked on the first British nuclear submarine – Dreadnaught. He left the company in 1984. Des then moved onto fights across the region in amateur competitions and turned professional in 1969. His first professional fight was in Bethnal Green, London which he won. Over
by Tony Hendrix
Nightlife taking a hammering – again!
Just as we thought that nightlife in the town may be getting a kick start back to the road of recovery by Christmas, nightlife takes yet again another major hammering! The few pubs, bars and clubs courageous enough to reopen have now been hit with new government covid-19 restrictions compulsory forcing them to close at 10pm. I still find it pretty difficult to grasp why the hospitality sector appears to the first to be targeted for closure and the last to be assessed for reopening , this ridiculous 10pm curfew begs to asks the question does covid-19 only come out at 10pm every night in search of pubs clubs and bars, and when it finds you, if you’re in a group of six people or more only then will you get infected! All this new government legislation has caused is for hardened drinkers to start drinking earlier and faster and have a hang out party outside pubs at 10pm. Following a devastating eight months of closure Esquires will be finally opening its doors again for some very select socially distanced shows commencing the weekend of Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7. The venue has recieved much love and support from the community which has certainly been a major factor in reopening the venue. The opening of the venue will coincide nicely with the end of
the next 12 years he took part in competitions around the world including Denmark, France, America and Nigeria. He became the British Light Welter Weight Champion in 1973. He also fought in European competitions. He won 36 of his 50 fights. After he retired from boxing, he went on to train boys at Bedford Amateur Boxing Club until the 1990s. Des said: “The main thing that I learned from boxing was selfdiscipline to achieve your goals. My boxing hero was Cassius Clay, later to become Mohammed Ali a beautiful boxer and man but the greatest man was Nelson Mandela for bringing the different races and cultures together.”
furlough, hopefully so long as events are allowed to continue with the new social distance formula in place staff jobs will be saved and this awesome nostalgic live music venue will be up and running again. The venue has applied to the Cultural Recovery Fund from Arts Council England should this be successful the venue will definitely be taking every conceivable opportunity to put shows on but this could still be several months away. Unfortunately any future events will not honor any crowd funder cards however this will definitely change as soon as the recovery phase sets in. Current guidelines allow tickets to be sold in groups of four only with a maximum capacity of 60 people. The opening weekend sees Pearl Handled Revolver which has ready sold out on Friday, November 6 the second show on Saturday, November 7, of the opening weekender sees ex Inspiral Carpets front man Tom Hingley who will be delivering a huge back catalogue of some of the finest Indie tunes on record, Tom will be supported by local artist Sunsinger and The High Seas, a few limited tickets are still available for this show. Please note at the time of writing this article the above mentioned gigs were scheduled to go ahead however you are advised to visit Esquires website for any changes or cancellations.
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gardening
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2020
— 15
with Milton Ernest Garden Centre
Berried B
TREASURE by Maureen Catlin
ERRIED fruits are very productive and really worth growing. They produce some of the healthiest food we can grow and many can be accommodated in quite small gardens.
They are rich in Fibre, Vitamin C and Antioxidant Polyphenols and so are important for a healthy heart, for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol slowing cognitive decline and diabetes. Some can be grown in tubs but many are better grown in the border or veg patch to achieve maximum crops. The birds also like the berries that we find tasty so it is vital that you provide some protection. A fruit cage is the ideal solution which allows easy maintenance of the crops and easy picking at harvest. It is also vital to water often during the months when the fruit is forming and ripening so a ground irrigation system like Drip or Seeper Hoses will produce amazing crops of rich berries to eat fresh or freeze for winter use. This initial outlay will pay for itself time and again. For example you should expect at least 0.5 to 1 kg of fruit per raspberry cane per year. I have seen raspberries in the supermarkets costing £1.99 for 20 berries! So Raspberries are really worth growing. For early and midseason varieties I like Glen Proven and Tulleman and for autumn fruiting Joan J or Autumn Bliss. But wait there’s a new kid on the block, Ruby Beauty is the world’s first compact variety. It is summer fruiting, the canes are short and stout so no need for support wires. It will even grow in a large pot. Useful tip feed with Rose Fertiliser in April. It is high in Potash producing lots of flowers and therefore fruit. Blueberries are another very prolific fruiting berry a super food which is also expensive to buy. It is recommended that you plant 3 plants together to get good pollination and large yields. Grow in lime free compost and feed with ericaceous feed as they like acidic soil. Put sulphur chips around the base of each plant every couple of years to reduce the soil ph. Blueberries grow very well in containers Chandler and Sunshine Blue are both recommended varieties with masses of large berries that are easy to pick and will freeze very well for winter use. The flavour of freshly picked ripe Straw-
berries is to be relished. Probably the favourite berry for children to eat they can be grown in tubs and even hanging baskets. Choose a spot that enjoys six to eight hours sunlight per day. Plant three plants in a 14 hanging basket and five in a similar size deep pot. Feed with tomato food every week in the growing season and water copiously. I grow Strawberry Pegasus, Elsanta and Hapil for sweet juicy berries of excellent flavour. Blackberries are much valued for Blackberry and Apple Pie, Jam or to eat fresh with Breakfast Cereals. You need space to grow good varieties like Adrienne and Oregon Thornless which grow vigorously and need a framework to be trained for easy harvesting. Opal however is small enough to grow in a container. All have delicious sweet juicy berries that freeze well. Tayberries and Loganberries are both hybrids from Blackberries and Raspberries.
They produce a lot of long stems so need space to be trained on a wire frame. Loganberries are used mostly for culinary purposes but Tayberries produce long sweet berries of excellent flavour. Gooseberries are an undervalued soft fruit that is beginning to resurge in popularity because it is so versatile. A variety like Invicta can be used as dessert or for cooking and preserves so well either by freezing or for making jam or chutney. It will grow in poor soil even in part shade. Invicta trains very well as a fan shape on a wall which makes harvesting easy. Jostaberry is a natural cross between a Gooseberry and a Blackcurrant. This soft fruit looks like a Blackcurrant and has the same refreshing flavour with a hint of gooseberry. It has prolific crops which ripen in July. Most of the berry fruits are easy to grow and are a great addition to GROW YOUR OWN.
16 —
NOVEMBER, 2020 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
BEDS BORO
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
sport MANAGER DETERMINED TO TAKE EAGLES HIGHER NEW manager Gary Setchell has hit the ground running at Bedford Town as his strengthened squad has remained undefeated under his tenure. Two draws, followed by two wins in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, has seen them rise from 19th in the table to just outside the playoff positions.
by Michael Jarman-Webb
Success has also come in the Buildbase FA Trophy, reaching the third qualifying round with a win at Spalding United, thanks to a goal from Rene Howe. Speaking at a recent fan’s forum Setchell and
his assistant Darren Edey spoke of their determination to take the club where it should be into the higher levels of non-league football. His track record has seen him win promotion both as a player at Rushden & Diamonds and as a manager at Kings Lynn where in his seven years in charge he took the club up two divisions. After his opening draws against Berkhamstead and Barton, Setchell recognised that defence was the area that needed strengthening and was quick to bring in defensive players, including big centre back Charley Sanders. Sanders who has more often played as a centre forward scored against North Leigh on his Eagles debut. After starting his career at Boston United, he played for clubs such as Kings Lynn, before signing for Bedford from league rivals Yaxley. A run of wins, including the FA Trophy have followed those defensive changes. Upfront former Peterborough United players Craig Mackail-Smith and Rene Howe are forming what looks to be a promising partnership. Their experience, together with the pace of younger players such as former Hatters Connor Tomlinson and Drew Richardson give a good mix to the Eagles attacking options.
The team will need to be in top form with a tough run of matches coming up. In a seven-day period they will face some of their toughest matches this season. First in a midweek fixture they travel to current top of the table Aylesbury United in the league, before turning their attention once again to the FA Trophy when they face Louthborough Dynamos who like Spalding United
TOUGH RUN OF MATCHES
Craig Mackail-Smith in action.
Drew Richardson, Matt Harriot, Ross Watson and Rene Howe celebrate Charley Sanders goal against North Leigh.
ply their trade in the Pitching In Northern Premier League South/East division, where they sit top of the table and undefeated in seven outings. Then come title favourites Halesowen in a home league match. The club are offering a special discount package for entry into both the Halesowen and rearranged Kempston Rovers match a week later. Full details at www.bedfordeagles.net.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
28th October 19.45 – Away v Aylesbury United 31st October 15.00 – Away v Louthborough Dynamo 3rd November 19.45 – Home v Halesowen 7th November 15.00 – Away v Wantage 10th November 19.45 – Home v Kempston Rovers 14th November 15.00 – Away v Daventry Town 21st November 15.00 – Home v Bedworth United 28th November 15.00 – Away v Coleshill Town All home matches are by prepaid ticket only available from www.bedfordeagles.net
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