DECEMBER 2021
UNHOLY ROW OVER GRACE LAND Wishing all of our readers, advertisers, deliverers and contributors a Happy Christmas and a huge thank you for your support
Cllr James Valentine
A MEETING of 120 residents of Kempston was organised on 19th November, with the support of local Bedford Borough Councillor Cllr James Valentine, to discuss the Grace Evangelical Church development ideas for Cemetery Road. Grace is consulting about its proposal to build a large church (600 seats) and meeting room complex with parking for 225 cars, enabled by building 70 houses and 10 flats on the site between Kempston Hammers and the Great Ouse viaduct on Frank Branson Way. The meeting heard a presentation from Paul Vicary of DevComms on behalf of
Pupil had shotgun in rucksack
by Jane Bird
Grace. He outlined the need for Grace to have a permanent home, and the services they provide to the community. This site has been chosen because its owners have agreed to donate it to the church. Grace has employed consultants to
KEMPSTON CALLING
AT Luton Crown Court on Thursday, November 25, 2021, a woman was found guilty of being in charge of the sawn-off shotgun that a 15-year-old boy took into a Kempston school in his rucksack. Other pupils alerted staff at the Kempston Challenger Academy and the boy was taken to Head Ian Evason’s office. When the black rucksack was searched, a gun was found wrapped in a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms inside a sports shop bag. There were also six live 12 bore cartridges, Luton crown court heard. Prosecutor George Heimler told the jury that as the boy was being taken from the school, the defendant Keesha Kalyan, now 20, took a photo which she circulated on social media. He alleged that she attached a caption that read: “Free my yung G… got bag with the Dotti” Mr Heimler said that Dotti was urban slang for a shot gun and G stood for gang member. Keesha Kalyan’s fingerprint was found on the draw string of the sports shop bag inside the rucksack. Keesha Kalyan, previously of Bedford but now living in Church Road, Cowley, Uxbridge, denied being in charge of a prohibited weapon on October 10, 2018, but was convicted by a jury. She will be sentenced on January12, 2022, by Judge Gary Lucie. The jury was told that the boy had pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon at the school at 9.15am in the morning of Friday, October 19, 2018. Mr Heimler said messages were “critical” in the case. On October 10, 2018 he said Keesha Kalya had texted the boy saying: “I am grabbing a dotti ffs don’t tell anyone.” Keesha Kalyan's case is that when she used the word Dotti it had nothing to do with a shotgun. She said she was referring to a religious artefact she had got as a present, relating to the Hindu festival of Diwali. She told the police she sent the photo of the boy being escorted from the school and had deleted it. She said somebody else had added the caption: “Free my yung G…….”
look at the biodiversity of the site, as planning law states that there must be a 10% net gain in biodiversity for developments. They have also employed flood risk specialists, who will develop a drainage strategy. Respondents included: Bill Ogle, Treasurer of Kempston Hammers Sports and Social Club (KHSSC), who pointed
Kempston loses out
A BID to win £15 million from the Levelling Up fund for Kempston has failed. The government’s levelling-up fund is designed to combat regional inequality by investing in infrastructure that “brings pride to a local area”, according to the scheme’s prospectus. The Kempston bid was focused on the Transport and Regeneration investment themes of the Levelling Up Fund, and included the following elements: Investments in walking and cycling infrastructure, including the reconstruction of two river bridges and structural maintenance of local roads. This will provide enhanced access to the town, particularly for people using bikes, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, prams or pushchairs, and create better connectivity between and within key retail, employment and leisure sites. Improvement of the public realm around the Saxon Centre, including the creation of an “event space” at the Saxon Centre Plaza and designing out opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour, Regenerating key sites in order to encourage new businesses and public services to locate there, including the refurbishment of the Saxon Centre office block, to provide a new, flexible space for local businesses. Among the projects set out in the bid for Kempston were two foot bridges, cycle and foot path improvements (including street lighting), a cycle park, an e-bike charging hub and funding towards a new health hub. Kempston, which has five Labour party councillors and one Tory, on the Bedford Borough Council, has been short-changed over recent years, claim older residents who have seen their rural area turn into huge housing estate. Since the opening of the Bedford Bypass, 1,000s of new homes, most paying between £1,000 – £3,000 a year in local Council Tax paid to the
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out that KHSCC is a secular, non-profit organisation, who support a large number of indoor and outdoor sports. Without the income stream from hiring out their facilities (function halls etc), these sport facilities could be lost, as they are supported from this revenue. Further community facilities are not needed in Kempston, which has at least nine halls available for
hire, plus the school halls, and facilities in nearby villages. Competition from this new proposed development could make many of these unviable, leading to their loss A local resident, Peter Irving of Church Walk, spoke about the effects of the 2020 Christmas flood on himself and his neigh-
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— DECEMBER 2021
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THE Bedford College Group Achievement Awards Celebration emerged more powerfully than ever before from the challenging Covid timeline of 2020/21. Online, but with a wider reach than ever before, the ceremony on Thursday November, 18, marked the successes in adversity of students and staff. For the first time the Group gave awards highlighting the commitment of companies to training tomorrow’s employees. Ian Pryce CBE, long standing CEO of the Group, which was voted the FE College of the Year in 2020, said: “At The Bedford College Group we have always seen our job as helping people develop into resilient citizens who are able to navigate their way in the world. That journey is never easy, nothing worthwhile ever is.” Allan Schofield, Chair of the Corporation added: “We are investing heavily and this year sees the Corporation agreeing an ambitious new strategic plan to take us towards 2030.” Winners announced on the evening: Outstanding Student of the Year: Katie Moreland (pictured right) also celebrated being as Apprentice of the Year. Katie overcame dyslexia to achieve Distinctions as a Business Administrator Apprentice at Kettering General Hospital. Joshua Crook was announced as FE Student of the Year. A performing arts students at Tresham College who not only excelled but supported his peers across the department. Molly Kirton is the Higher Education Student of the Year, from among a wide range of degree-level learning candidates. At the South Bank Arts Centre at Bedford College, Molly studied Graphic Design. Jonathan Entwistle shared the Student Participation Award for his work with the Students’ Union and has been an active member of the Q Agenda. Megan Winham jointly won the Student Participation Award for her work with the SU at Tresham College. The first employer awards by the Group were won by: n Kettering General Hospital as Workplace Placement Provider of the Year n Leibherr as Apprenticeship Provider
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n Anyvan UK for Employer Engagement. n The Elizabeth Nash Unsung Hero Employee Award went to Amy Cleary, Senior Customer Contact Manager whose team dealt with 1,000s of calls and inquiries from lockdown in March 2020 onwards. The first Bedford College was established in 1882 and in 1976 the Bedford College of Higher Education was created through a merger of three colleges. In 1992 the ‘Mander’ site in Cauldwell Street achieved independent status from local authorities and was rebranded as Bedford College. in 2009 Shuttleworth College became part of Bedford College and in 2017 it merged with Tresham College in Northants to create The Bedford College Group.
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Mill Bridge re-opening delayed until early 2022 Statement from Bedford Borough Council
DUE to protracted discussions over the ownership of both the bridge and land surrounding it and current shortages of building materials and appropriate specialist contractors, Bedford Borough Council regret to advise that Kempston Mill Bridge will remain closed for the remainder of 2021 and will now be replaced in early 2022. Whilst this is symptomatic of the current state of our industry in terms of access to people and materials we had hoped and planned to be on site for the Autumn. However, the moving feast around access to both of these elements has seen this programme move to the right and into the new year. Even up to the back end of the summer our discussions with contractors had been positive over our original timescale but when time can to commit (via open tender which we had to run twice due to lack of returns) the escalating issues with both have seen programmes driven by these factors presented. We were unable to engage for-
mally with contractors until late in the summer due to the ownership status of the bridge. Whilst the Borough Council is responsible for the bridge deck due to its status as a public right of way, the bridge structure itself is owned by a third party. Only on thorough investigation of the ownership of the land surrounding and including the bridge did we find we had to negotiate with over half a dozen separate land owners owning different parcels of land in and around the bridge which all required agreement to progress with design and construction works. Whilst we had been informally engaging with contractors across the Spring and the Summer we could not commit to a scheme until the legal practicalities were completed. Whilst we have term service contracts in place with contractors they too are feeling the pinch over resources and materials on our programme of major projects in the Borough and are managing supply chains for materials ordered (and paid for) >12 months ago and are having to continually shuffle resources nationally to keep live sites moving. Unfortunately, when we were in
a position to formally let the tender for the scheme, the tender process had to be extended as no tenders were returned within the initial timeframe so an extension of time was granted to facilitate some returns. Feedback as part of this exercise was principally around lack of access to materials and staff to be able to meet our original timescale of a reopened bridge in the Autumn of this year.
Once the contract was let a start-up meeting was held in early October and there then followed a period of contractor design and Technical Approval, plus initial submission of method statements/ risk assessments from the contractor. The agreed design drawings for the works and method statements/risk assessments were all required as part of the permit application to the Environment
Agency which was submitted in late October. We will keep on making additional representations to the Environment Agency to ensure we keep to our revised programme of being on site in early January with the contractor provisionally scheduled to be on site on the 10/01/2022. Further updates will be provided by the project team as and when available in the run up to this date and a
wider press release with the key points will be released shortly and further information will be posted at the bridge itself advising of the scheme coming forward early in the new year. A straightforward job on the surface, the combination of extended and protracted negotiations over land ownership and coming to tender in the midst of people and material shortages has seen the slippage.
Unholy row over Grace land Continued from page 1
bours, one of whom is still unable to live in her house because of the water damage. Rev. Eric Lomax of All Saints Church then discussed the problems of living near a flood plain, he had been refused insurance for the Vicarage because of this. Councillor Doug McMurdo, who has responsibility in Bedford Borough Council for both Planning and Flooding matters, told the meeting that the proposed site is in Flood Zone 2. The Bedford Local Plan 2030 has been finalised, and the land needed for development identified. The housing proposed on
this site is not required. A number of points were then made from the floor. There was a lot of concern about the loss of the green, open space, as original Kempston has been surrounded by the new trunk road and the subsequent development around it. Traffic on Cemetery Road was seen as a potential problem, also that the car park may be inadequate for the numbers attending, leading to them parking in local streets. The Grace consultant stated that it was policy in Planning to have smaller car parks to encourage people not to use cars. However, as it appears that 60% of Grace Church members are not from Kempston, it seems likely that
cars will be used to get to Sunday services. The MP for Bedford and Kempston, Mohammad Yasin then spoke in support of the residents concerns. He attended the meeting as he had received so many emails about the proposal. He asked that the message be sent back to Grace that there was no support for this development in the community, and that the housing proposed was not needed. Cllr Valentine summed up by stating that planning permission had not yet been applied for. He asked that Grace reflect on what they want to achieve in the community, and whether this proposal would further these aims.
KEMPSTON CALLING
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— DECEMBER 2021
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
Pupil-inspired airship sculpture unveiled at Shortstown school THE pupils of Shortstown Primary school in Cardington are now benefiting from a beautiful, bespoke airship sculpture which they helped to inspire. Local Culture Challenge artist, Paul Pibworth, hosted a workshop with children from the school and asked then what emotions the airships would have inspired. He then used this to help create his artwork. The words the children chose were then translated into various languages, all of which are spoken by children of Shortstown Primary School. Paul said: “The shape of the airship R101 was always going to be the form. Wanting to give a nod to the engineering structure behind the shape led us to having the window, which let us take a look inside at my representation of the airframe. “Choosing the text being recreated on the sculpture was simple. I listened to the words and phrases in the different languages and took a look at the written text too. If I liked the look and the sound, I used it. “Each word was carefully etched into the sculpture by hand, which then has the text engraved beneath in English, stating the meaning and telling us the
language being illustrated. “All of the words and phrases came from the children, see if you can look and find a favourite.” The sculpture is part of a wider Airship Dreams project hosted by Bedford Creative Arts. As Elaine Midgley, Director of Bedford Creative Arts explains: “One of our goals was to engage the local community in the engineering heritage of the local area, and our links to the airship industry. Children and young people are a core part of this community, and our education programme is designed to engage with schools in a way that supports their curriculum needs. Denise Cottam, Head Teacher said: “The R101 now sits proudly in Adam’s garden. The opportunity to collaborate with Bedford Creative Arts and work with the artist Paul Pibworth, was so exciting. The children were able to share their ideas, which were then incorporated into the design. The whole R101 project was an amazing experience and to have such a significant piece of artwork, in the school, is a privilege.” The sculpture, which now has pride of place in Shortstown Primary School, was specifically funded by the Gale Family Trust.
£10,000 raised by foot ball
A popular fund-raising event arose from the ashes of Covid to raise £10,000. The 5th AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ball was held at the Mercure Bedford Hotel (still known as the Moat House to some). Organised by Gary Ingerson, Michaela Martingale (pictured far right) and Kelly Jeffries of Greycourt Florists & Events (pictured left), the event was in memory of two special people taken too soon: Sara Ingerson and Alan Ward. The Knottleys band stepped up at the 11th hour to replace the original group as they sadly cancelled due to the lead singer having Covid. Compere was Lee Partridge and five award-winning chefs were Raj Mandal, Rob Kennedy, Steve Scuffell, Stu McCleod and Terry Woolcock. A cheque for £10,000 was presented to Sophie Samways of Cancer Research UK (second from right). This brings to £100k the amount raised for charity over the past decade by Gary and Michaela. The next ball will be on October 15, 2022. Contact garyingerson627@gmail.com
Donating her hair to Little Princess Trust
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of her father alive. As you can see from the photograph Amber has beautiful long hair which she is going to donate to the Little Princess Trust and she is also raising money for a suicide prevent support charity. Amber is asking you to support her by donating something however small at: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/amber-madelinemead
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WHEN 16-year-old Amber Mead tragically lost her father Grant Mead to suicide this summer, you can only imagine how heart broken she was. Amber who is a student at Tresham College, Kettering, where she is studying Health and Social Care and is hoping to progress to be a paediatric nurse. Devastated by the loss of her father she wanted to do something to keep her memory
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Kempston loses out Continued from page 1
Borough Council have been built in Kempston but few facilities have been delivered. Existing GP surgeries in Cater Street, King Street and St John’s have merged, but hopes for extra facilities have not materialised. The Saxon Centre has been the subject of controversy and despite the giant flower pots, remains a dowdy “town centre”.
Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder for Town Centres and Planning Councillor Henry Vann said: “There is a real risk that the Department for Levelling Up is becoming the Department of Letting Down. “When you examine the allocation of funds across the country, it raises a lot of questions and I think the people of Kempston deserve answers and investment in our communities.”
LEVELLING DOWN
Conservative Deputy Group Leader, Councillor Roger Rigby commented: “It is a disappointment that the Borough Council’s bid for levelling up funding in Kempston has failed. However, we all realise these government funds are very scarce and not everywhere can be a winner.
COUNCIL’S CONTINUED FAILURE
“My real grouse is not with the Government, it is with the Liberal Democrat Mayor and Kempston’s Labour Councillors who have been supporting the borough’s administration for many years when it could have been providing local levelling up funding in Kempston. “Instead they did little, I understand how the blame game works locally: the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party having not invested significantly in Kempston, they now want to use a failed government bid as a fig leaf for their own continued failure.”
Kay Burley, Leader of Kempston Town Council and a Borough Councillor for Kempston said: “It is a massively disappointing blow to people in Kempston that the bid has been rejected. Once again Kempston has missed out on much needed funding. “It would have been used to enhance the Saxon Centre, make a contribution to a Kempston medical hub, and to refurbish some roads and pavements. Areas of our town continue to deteriorate due to lack of central government investment. “Hardly a budget for the ‘new age of optimism’, for Kempston! However, we are continuing to discuss options with the Portfolio Holder.”
DISAPPOINTING BLOW
Former Mayor holds book launch Balwant Singh Gill a former mayor of Kempston (2000/2001) held a book launching ceremony on November 21, 2021 at Christ the King Parish Hall, Harrowden Road, Bedford. His book entitled ‘Indians Abroad’ is a series short stories about the problems faced by migrants from India to the UK. Bedford and Kempston’s MP, Mohammad Yasin attended and gave a introductory speech.
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Chocolate competition winners announced SIX lucky children will see their chocolate creations brought to life after winning a local competition with award-winning chocolatier Aneesh Popat. The Chocolatier, who is based in Sandy, teamed up with local charity Creating Memories to grant six lucky children the
chance to become a mini chocolatier for the day! Local children from across Bedfordshire with special educational needs, disabilities or lifelimiting illnesses aged eight and over were asked to submit their designs to a judging panel. Over 50 entries were received
and last month Aneesh, 5/5 AA Rosette and multi-Michelin Star award-winning Chef Jean Christophe Novelli, his fellow chef and colleague Patti Sloley, and founder of Creating Memories Pritti Saggi chose the six winning designs that form part of a special box, which is available to buy.
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KEMPSTON TOWN COUNCIL Would you support a café in Addison Howard Park? Lockdown restrictions certainly helped Kempston residents appreciate how lucky we are to have the award winning Addison Howard Park to walk in, exercise and meet friends. However, as we have all become more accustomed to socialising outdoors, it has become even more apparent that it lacks a café where users of the park can buy a drink and light refreshments. Most of the Borough’s large parks have a café and many residents have told us, as ward Councillors, that they remember such a facility at the Grange and would like to see part of the building once again serving a community use in this way. Bedford Borough Council has recently carried out major structural repairs to
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Kempston Town Councillors and staff wish you all a very Happy and safe Christmas and New Year! Centenary Hall improvements
Wild flower meadow The ‘meadowing’ of part of the ‘Wood Park’ (adjacent to Camestone School) is all set to go ahead. The grass has been mown short in preparation. The Kempston Climate Change Group, which is independent of the Council are ready for the next stage. This is to rake the area and plant the Yellow Rattle seed. This is the key to success with any wildflower meadow. It is parasitical on grasses and so weakens them, giving wild flowers a chance to compete and gradually establish themselves. In the meantime it may look a little ‘scruffy’ but eventually residents will be able to enjoy the traditional meadow flowers and plants. Patience is needed but hopefully it will be worth waiting for!
Councillors have been busy looking at where improvements can be made to the Centenary Hall. It is hoped that some Cllrs Sue Oliver and Sam Blacklaws aesthetic and practical additions both inside and outside by the extensively repaired will help to smarten up the environment. The Council is Kempston Grange. particularly keen to take advantage of any available grant the Grange following subsicould be made for reinstating funding to move to a more ‘climate change’ friendly building. Solar panels, new LED lighting and window blinds dence. A condition survey is a café there, but we would are a distinct possibility. It is also planned to install a more now being carried out on the need to show that such a up-to-date sound system and Wi-Fi facilities. Other buildings before deciding venture would have the upon their future. support of residents and be improvements may also include re-marking the carpark and more planting around the outside of the hall. well used by visitors. Mrs Howard left the Grange and surrounding land in trust If you would like to see a for the benefit of the people café in Addison Park please of Kempston in memory of let Cllr Sue Oliver know by her son, Addison, who died emailing her on in the 1st World War, so sue.oliver@bedford.gov.uk there are restrictions on its or by ringing 01234 All future meetings will be held in Centenary Hall until further notice use. We think a strong case 303029.
6.30pm Tuesday, December 14 – Planning 7.30pm – Town Council
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Sailing to freedom
Left to right: Vicki Davy celebrating 30 years Service, Mary Cope celebrating 50 years service, and a Bedfordshire Brooch, Kate Groves celebrating 30 years Service and Bedfordshire Brooch.
Rachel Hayler, Caroline Dickman celebrating a County Good Service Award, Ann Crome celebrating a Laurel Award, Betsy Marley Girlguiding Bedfordshire’s VP, Debbie Docherty Girlguiding Bedfordshire’s President.
Celebrating over 2000 years of volunteering received their award for 50 years and 40 years of service, an exceptional achievement. Mary, who received her 50 years service award said: “Girlguiding has become part of my life, being a member of the Guiding movement has given me so much over the past 50 years, fun, friendship, and adventure.” Mary added: “I am now very much looking forward to the next 50!”
There was also a special award for Ann Crome who received a Laurel Award. The Laurel Award celebrates exceptional service and is awarded to an active member of Girlguiding who has made an outstanding
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
contribution to guiding. This is Girlguiding’s second-highest honour and as such there are relatively few awards given each year. County Commissioner Karen Keeling said: “We are delighted that so many girls and young women are joining Girlguiding Bedfordshire. It is a testament to our Leaders and Volunteers that Guiding is seen as a fantastic organisation to be a part of.” Girlguiding is a charity and is looking for volunteers, so if you feel you could get involved please call 0800 169 5901 or visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/ You can also follow on facebook.com/ GirlguidingBeds
Charlie Whewell says: “NGB certificates such as our sailing qualifications enable people to work in the UK and overseas, where British qualifications with their high standards mean instructors can spread their wings and travel as well as work in the UK. With the current restrictions on travel more people are holidaying in UK and taking up outdoor activities, so organisations in the outdoor sector are busy, making jobs readily available for our students”. And don’t think this route means you can’t get a degree. Level 4 and 5 Higher National courses are a natural progression from Level 3, building ‘ownership’ of learning.”
HM Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets ready for Service
Photography: June Essex hotography
FROM 18 to 80 you’re never too old to volunteer as a Girlguiding Bedfordshire Leader. Saturday October 16 and November 6, saw the annual, Girlguiding Bedfordshire Valuing our Volunteers Awards Ceremony, being hosted at Shuttleworth House, near Biggleswade. Having been cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic this year’s Awards were more special than ever with awards being presented in a number of categories, from five years’ service to an outstanding 50 years of service. The ladies honoured have, between them, given 2110 years of volunteering, to work with girls and young women from all across Bedfordshire. Twelve leaders from across Bedfordshire
THE freedom and adventure of a two year sailing trip around the world as part of a crew on a private yacht awaits 21-year-old Shuttleworth College former student Rachel Brazier. Rachel completed her level 3 Extended Diploma in Outdoor Adventure over two years, before gaining her Yacht Master qualification, working on the Isle of Wight teaching water sports, and then in the Greek Islands before boarding this latest adventure. She was due to set sail from the Canary Islands in mid November 2021, before visiting fabulous destinations including the Caribbean, the fantastic Galápagos Islands, French Polynesia, South America and South Africa and Indonesia. “I can’t say who owns the yacht but it will be a two year adventure,” said Rachel. The Level 3 Extended Diploma in Outdoor Adventure covers a wide range of adventurous activities, from Sailing, Kayaking and Canoeing, Powerboating, Rock Climbing and much more. Along the way students can obtain National Governing Body (NGB) leadership qualifications recognised around the world alongside enjoying trips and expeditions in the UK and winter sports trips abroad. Outdoor Adventure Lecturer and Head of Higher Education
Left to Right: Keown Seldon, Benjamin Cornforth, Matthew Brewer, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis, Chloe Bezer, Toby Shortman and Lukas Wescott
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis recently appointed her cadets for 2021/2022 at a ceremony held at Bedford Modern School by kind permission of the Head, Mr Alex Tate. Dignitaries present at the ceremony, which was held in line with current Covid-19 guidelines, included the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Eric Masih, Speaker of Bedford Borough Council Cllr Jane Walker, Mayor of Luton Cllr Mahmood Hussain, Chairman of Central Bedfordshire Council Cllr Brian Saunders, Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson, Deputy Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst, Chief Executive of the East Anglia Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association Colonel Ray Wilkinson QVRM TD VR DL and the President of St John’s Ambulance Anthony Duggan OBE. They were joined at the ceremony by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Chris Sharwood-Smith MBE, representatives from the various Cadet organisations, Deputy Lieutenants and cadets’ family members. The role of Lord-Lieutenant’s cadets is to support the Lord-Lieutenant in carrying out her duties and their selection and appointment acknowledges their outstanding contribution to their cadet service and to the community. This year’s cadets are Cadet Corporal Benjamin Cornforth (Luton Royal Marines Cadet Detachment), Cadet Sergeant Matthew Brewer (Bedford Modern School Combined Cadet Force), Cadet Staff Sergeant Chloe Bezer (Beds & Herts Army Cadet Force), Flight Sergeant Toby Shortman (Henlow Squadron, Air Training Corps), Cadet Sergeant Cameron Moore (St John Ambulance), Drill Cadet Lukas Wescott (Bedfordshire Police Cadets), Cadet Crew Manager Keown Seldon (Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service). The Lord-Lieutenant’s cadets are the finest of the many talented young people in the cadet forces within Bedfordshire. They are excellent leaders and a credit to their organisations and to the county.
PAGE 9 KEMPSTON CALLING
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— DECEMBER 2021
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
Bigger – better – bins in Bedford’s parks ALL the bins in Bedford’s parks are being updated to provide more capacity for rubbish and recycling provision. A report to Bedford Borough Council’s Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Thursday, November 18) said the council is responsible for the emptying of 1,129 litter bins, 620 dog bins, 59 dual recycling bins and 40 lay-by bins, across urban and rural locations. It added that the council does not have a legal duty to provide litter and dog waste bins, but it does have a duty to keep council-owned land and public highways clear of litter and refuse as far as practicable. In a summary of the report, Paul Pace, chief officer environment at the council, told the committee that all the litter bins in the borough’s parks are being updated with larger bins – and recycling provisions are also being provided. “When people are out about and they finish their plastic bottle, can, newspaper, whatever the case may be, there’s an opportunity there to recycle their items whilst they’re on the go,” he said. Mr Pace said that in the past, bins had been installed ‘willynilly’ and they weren’t looked at from either a user’s point of view or how convenient they were to service. “We’ve had issues where dog bins have been located in places where we can’t get vehicles to, and an operative had to carry a 50-litre
bag of dog waste, which is a considerable weight,” Mr Pace said. “So we have to think about manual handling and things like that as well.” The replacement bins in the parks are being installed where the bins can be serviced from the road or a convenient place, rather than having to drive into the parks. “So what we’re doing now is locating a lot of our litter bins in more strategic places, both for when people leaving the parks can dispose of their litter and recycling in easily located areas, but also we
can service them a lot better than what we did in the past,” he said. Cllr Kay Burley (Labour, Kempston Central & East Ward), the committee’s chair was concerned that the new locations could lead to more littering. “Knowing that some people can be quite anxious to get rid of it [litter] immediately rather than carry it to the nearest bin, is this going to work?” she asked. Mr Pace replied: “I think it’s important to say that, actually, we’re increasing the capacity out there by some significant amount.”
Heart-warming at Wixams Wixams Tree Primary school students have donated toiletries, gloves, scarves, water and snacks to SMART, the Rough Sleepers and Homeless Support charity. The students collected boxes of goodies from their families which will be distributed to those in need in Bedford. Head Teacher Mary Langley, left, welcomed Louise Smith Deputy Manager from the charity to the school for the official hand-over.
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£1.4m study to improve children’s language & communication skills A PIONEERING study led by University of Bedfordshire to support children with language and communication needs – in collaboration with the Universities of Essex, York and the Open University – has just received £1.4m funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for a new strand of the ‘E-PLAYS’ project. E-PLAYS-2 (Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication impairments) will help inform and shape the vital learning support provided by schools for children with social communication impairments and language needs. Pioneered by researchers from the University’s Institute for Health Research (IHR), the EPLAYS-2 project will evaluate the effectiveness of a fun, interactive game with the aim of improving communication in children with language difficulties. The E-PLAYS game is played by children in pairs on interlinking school laptops. The game aims to develop children’s perspective-taking skills and language abilities by developing their confidence during social interaction. The four year study will take place in schools between now and August 2025. The study will involve over 1,000 children aged between five and seven years old, from primary schools across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and North
London. Dr Suzanne Murphy, Principle Research Fellow with the University of Bedfordshire, is project lead and will oversee a team that includes colleagues from IHR, the University of Essex, the Open University and the York Trials Unit at the University of York. About the E-PLAYS-2 project, Dr Murphy said: “I am thrilled that NIHR have decided to support this substantial trial into language difficulties which are so often misunderstood and overlooked. We hope to be able to provide schools with a useful programme to work with these young children.” Professor Gurch Randhawa, Director of Bedfordshire’s IHR, added: “The Institute for Health Research has a proud tradition of applied health research. We are
honoured to host this research that contributes to pandemic recovery and seeks to focus on the needs of children with communication difficulties.” Collaborative and teambuilding skills are recognised as vital to children and young people, shaping future adult employment and the way they participate in society. It has been well-documented that children’s language and communication skills have been hit by the pandemic, so the University and its partners are excited to get this innovative project off the ground. Kamini Gadhok MBE – CEO of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists – was delighted that NIHR had been able to fund this important project. She said: “Through this funding, the University of Bedfordshire
will be able to explore new ways of improving children’s language and communication skills. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on many children’s development, so it’s more important than ever that schools, families and speech and language therapists come together to provide innovative support.” Professor David Torgerson, Director of the York Trials Unit at the University of York, commented: “This study builds upon a successful pilot trial and the team have expertise from a number of studies among children and we are looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver a successful evaluation.” Professor Andrew Church, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research & Innovation at the University of Bedfordshire, added: “We are delighted with this substantial funding from NIHR to undertake research addressing social inequalities for which the University has a strong local and international reputation.” A full report of findings from E-PLAYS-2 will be available in August 2025. Follow @UOB_IHR and @NIHRresearch on Twitter for updates and news relating to the project and its progress. Details about research and PhD opportunities with the University of Bedfordshire’s Institute for Health Research can be found online: www.beds.ac.uk/ihr
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NEWS IN BRIEF n Zichfridas Surkus, 57, has been given a suspended sentence for running a cannabis factory in Bedford. Police raided the house in the town on March 6, 2020, and found three rooms had been converted in to growing areas. 26 plants producing 78 grams of cannabis in a harvest were seized. It would give a return of £8,000 every three months, Luton Crown Court was told on Monday, November 22, 2021. n Eight teenagers have been arrested in connection to two robberies and a serious assault in Bedford town centre as detectives continue to appeal for information. Bedfordshire Police is investigating the incidents which happened in quick succession from around 1.30am on Sunday, November 21, 2021. n A prolific perverted doctor was jailed for 32 months at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, November 19, 2021, for spying on housemates, friends, colleagues and hacking the details of 2000 potential women victims. Vinesh Godhania used a tiny pinhole camera to secretly record women at his address having sex, showers and using the bathroom. n A man has been charged in connection to a stabbing in Bedford. Naseem Khan, 25, of Chestnut Avenue, Bedford, was arrested in connection to the incident at an address in Cromwell Road in the Queens Park area on Saturday, November 13. He has been charged with wounding with intent. n A dominating and bullying husband who stabbed his wife to death and then wrapped up her body in a duvet before hiding it in their garage was sentenced a minimum of 22 years in jail, on Monday, November 15, 2021. n
n Anil Gill, 47, knifed his wife Ranjit 18 times in the living room of their Milton Keynes home, but it was four deep and significant injuries to her chest that caused her death. After wrapping up her body and dragging it to their garage, he waited hours before calling the police and set about cleaning the murder scene. n Police are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated burglary in Kempston on Monday, November, 8, 2021. At 1.30am the occupants of the property in Littledale Street were alarmed to find intruders in their property after four offenders broke into the house. A large amount of cash, jewellery and electronics were stolen. The offenders are described as in their mid-20s, wearing dark clothing and having their faces covered. Two of them were carrying machetes and the remaining two were carrying baseball bats. n A serious health and safety breach at the Holiday Inn Express in Dunstable has seen the responsible parties have to pay fines and costs totalling £16,830. Central Beds Council prosecuted The Gateway Hotel Dunstable (known as The Holiday Inn Express) and RBH Hospitality Management for failings under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974). Both companies pleaded guilty at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Monday, November 9, 2021 that on Sunday, November 11, 2018, an employee was instructed by a manager to empty and clean the deep fat fryer. The employee picked up the full container and was immediately burned from oil melting through plastic container. The individual, slipped and fell into the hot oil.
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
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— DECEMBER 2021
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
King Street Surgery gives an update In Focus with Yasin on the current levels of service IT HAS been a challenging 18 months for everyone, and we recognise the sacrifice all members of the community have made in dealing with COVID. At a national level we know the demand on GPs is at an unprece-
dented high. Even before COVID, practices were struggling to cope, and many surgeries have been required to merge as in Kempston. Cater Street and St John’s surgeries have now merged under the banner of King
Street Surgery, driven by the needs of survival rather than any commercial enterprise and providing many challenges as well as opportunities for the new organisation. We have managed to stay
open throughout the pandemic and in July were able to open the doors of all three of our premises. We recognise that the constraints of a COVID service did not meet everyone’s needs and we have been keen to normalise our service as soon as we have been allowed to, and as soon as it has been safe to do so. We have extended our appointment availability to allow patients to book ahead, including directly into face-to-face appointments as well as allowing for the flexibility of telephone appointments and online access.
CHALLENGES Working across three sites brings its own challenges and we are working with the CCG, borough council and local councillors to develop a Kempston hub to provide an integrated healthcare service for our patients. One of the strengths of general practice is that we are grounded in the community we serve; as a practice team we have dealt with staff absences due to isolation, shielding, and serious illness and have supported each other through family bereavements. We have lost many patients to COVID and each loss brings an intense sadness to the whole team.
We are extremely grateful to all our staff for their hard work and commitment. We are currently recruiting additional doctors, receptionists and managerial staff to support the delivery and expansion of our service. At King Street Surgery we remain committed to providing a high quality, responsive service for our community of patients. We know we face massive challenges locally and nationally, but we are determined to do our best.
HARD WORK
KEMPSTON RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council is responsible for a number of local services, including: roadside seats, Bus shelters, Litter bins, Dog waste bins, Wood End Play Space, the closed church yard at Church End. In addition, the Parish Council liaises with the Borough Council on matters that are their responsibility such roads and footways. It also considers and responds to local planning proposals and other matters that might affect the lives and well-being of residents. The Parish Council meets on the third Thursday of the month (except August and December), at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall. There is always 15 minutes set aside for public questions. CONTACT DETAILS:
CORRUPTION MUST END
Chaos, cronyism and corruption stories continue to engulf the Conservative Government as the lobbying scandal continues with new stories each day of MPs making vast sums of money from second jobs. But the details that emerged about the VIP-fast track system for Covid contracts is even more obscene. At least 47 companies won billions of pounds worth of COVID-related contracts via the VIP fast-track referral system. Every single one of the companies, many of whom had no previous experience in manufacturing medical supplies, was politically linked to the Tory party. The Government’s lame defence is that there was no time to procure equipment through the usual channels, but legitimate UK companies specialising in the manufacture of PPE, were bypassed for Tory donors and friends. Some of the contracts weren’t even honoured or the stuff they produced was defective and unusable. At the time, health and social care workers were dying for lack of PPE, care home managers and thousands on the frontline were trying desperately to procure their own PPE, making their own or relying on the kindness of local businesses and even schools to donate materials. The priority for this Government in the worst public health crisis in a century was to line the pockets of their mates. And we don’t yet know about the VIP lane for the £37bn of public money spent on Test and Trace contracts which was an abject failure. This week, Labour gave the Conservatives the chance to do the right thing and vote to immediately stop MPs working on dodgy second jobs. They didn’t do it and instead presented a watereddown version of Labour’s plans. Fewer than 10 MPs are likely to be affected by Boris Johnson’s proposed rule changes on second jobs, despite the prime minister conceding it was a “total mistake” to back disgraced MP Owen Paterson, admitting to his own backbench MPs that his handling of the corruption scandal was bungled. He said “on a clear road I crashed the car into a ditch.” Britain deserves better than a Prime Minister steering us deeper into corruption. We need a government that governs in the public interest not in their own.
In Focus with
Dave by Dave Hodgson Mayor of Bedford
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
You cannot miss that we have entered the Christmas season with the adverts on television, mince pies in the shops and even Christmas songs on the radio. The Christmas lights have now been switched on in Bedford town centre. The Christmas lights in Kempston town centre will be switched on 7th December at 6pm. There will be stalls, fair rides and music from 4pm and Father Christmas will also be attending. There will also be lights and decorations in a number of the villages around the Borough and I am looking forward to seeing as many of these as possible. Throughout December there will be three weekends of Festive Fun this December in Bedford town centre. Events will include a visit from the Cairngorm Reindeer and a special Christmas Eat Feast at Riverside on 5th December, Christmas Artisan Market in partnership with Made in Bedford on 11th and 12th December, performances from local bands and choirs and face painting and balloon artistry. There will also be a Festive Christmas Trail and a Christmas Window Competition organised by Love Bedford. You can find out more about Bedford’s weekends of Festive Fun and the Christmas Trail at https://www.lovebedford.co.uk/. It is good that we are able to have a more normal Christmas, even if not completely normal, after last year. Of course, we all still need to be aware that Coronavirus is prevalent in the community and we should all be taking care of ourselves and others. Please do meet friends outside if possible, or open windows when meeting inside, do wear a face covering on public transport and in enclosed spaces or at busy events and try to leave a social distance whilst out shopping. I would like to also take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
KEMPSTON CALLING
The Parish Clerk, Mrs Sue Bottoms 17 Willow Springs, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0DS 01234 751300 sue.x999@btinternet.com http://kempstonrural.bedsparishes.gov.uk
MP for Bedford and Kempston
DECEMBER 2021 —
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NEWS IN BRIEF n More caravans will be allowed at two controversial travellers’ sites, avoiding the need to spend £9m to return them to local authority ownership. A fall back position has been approved by Central Bedfordshire Council over The Stables and Greenacres in Billington. Plans to increase the authorised number of caravans on the sites from 46 to 77 were approved by CBC’s development management committee. n Police found a cannabis factory with 49 plants in Luton after being alerted by neighbours who reported a break-in. Loud smashing noises and shouting were heard during the robbery at the house in Chester Avenue. Police found 25-year-old Albanian, Vexhi Noka, who was bleeding from a head wound. A baseball bat and a machete were recovered. Noka, an illegal immigrant, had been acting as the ‘gardener’ watering plants in the house. n A Closure Order has been granted for a property in Luton after a police investigation found evidence it was being used for drug dealing. Officers from Bedfordshire Police’s Community Enforcement Team (CET) conducted a warrant in Albert Road, after receiving intelligence it was being used by people selling and using drugs, despite the owner believing it was empty. n Two men involved in the supply of Class A drugs have been jailed for more than six years. Armstrong Ikoro pleaded guilty to 10 separate drug offences. Police were called by a teenage girl saying that her ex-partner, Ikoro, was intimidating her. Police searched a flat in Stirling Drive, Luton and arrested Ikoro inside. In a separate case, Nikhil
Lama, 23, of Tomlinson Avenue, Luton, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
n A man has been charged and remanded in custody for a number of offences in connection with a disorder in a supermarket in Luton on Monday, October 18, 2021. Shortly after 8.45pm on Monday, Police received numerous calls from members of the public reporting a man throwing glass bottles of alcohol in Lidl supermarket in Francis Street, Luton.
n A teenager who raped three young people over an eight month period when he was just 15-years-old has been was given an 10 year jail sentence. Sentencing the boy who is now 17, Judge Richard Foster told him: “You are a very troubled young man, you are a very dangerous young man.” In 2019 the teenager had raped a another teenage boy at knife point in a park in Hitchin; he attacked a 13year-old girl in his bedroom after drugging her and finally an 18year-old girl in the grounds of a school in Luton.
n A report on the case of more than £1m regeneration money which disappeared in the coffers of Luton Council is due to be presented to a committee meeting. An update was called for by Liberal Democrat Cllr David Franks at a meeting of the council’s scrutiny finance review group. An investigation in June last year after £1.1m funding destined for the redevelopment of Mark Rutherford School in Bedford mysteriously vanished.
Mud-nificent!
TERRIFIC trio complete muddy obstacle race in honour of muchloved father and grandfather A motivated mum and her two sons took on a mud-splattered 7k obstacle race to raise £1,135 for a Sue Ryder hospice. Rachael Foster from Riseley, accompanied by her sons Tom (aged 20) and William (aged 17), completed the ‘Nuclear Races Fallout’ in Essex earlier this month. They braved the cold to scale over a range of challenging natural and man-made obstacles on farmland slathered with slippery mud. This included free-falling down a ‘Deathslide’, a zip-wire into freezing water and hanging off steel gorilla bars. The family members have raised £1,135 for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in memory of Rachael’s much-loved father, and Tom and William’s grandfather, David Foster. David was cared for in his final months by the team at the Moggerhanger hospice. He passed away from cancer in December 2020. Rachael said: “We did it in support of Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice because the care my dad received there last year was amazing. Even with Covid restrictions, we were given time with my dad in his last weeks. Every member of staff we encountered from cleaner to consultant - was kind and compassionate. They made sure the final weeks of his life were comfortable and dignified, allowing him to have peace
in his last moments. We just wanted to give something back.” Joanne Landucci, Senior Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “Thank you so much Rachael, Tom and William for your incredible support – and congratulations on braving the mud to complete your obstacle race! The vital funds you have raised will help our hospice’s care teams to be there for more local families – filling their final days with love.” You can support Rachael, Tom and William through JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ rachael-bailey11
Rachael and her two sons Tom and William took on a mud-splattered 7k obstacle race to raise £1,135 for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice.
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— DECEMBER 2021
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Wootton Upper School welcomes tree gifts to celebrate a blossoming friendship STAFF and pupils at a Bedfordshire school have taken receipt of a special delivery as part of a national celebration of the friendship between Japan and the UK. Wootton Upper School, part of the Wootton Academy Trust in Bedfordshire, has received two Japanese cherry trees – or Sakura in Japanese – as part of a unique gift to the UK through the JapanBritish Society. The trees were planted during a special ceremony on Monday (22 November), complete with commemorative plaque, and are among 6,500 cherry trees being donated to parks, gardens and schools across the UK to celebrate the long-standing friendship between the two nations. The ceremony was attended by staff, pupils and several dignitaries, including High Sheriff of the County of Bedford, Mr Eric Masih and a former High Sheriff of the County of Bedford and the
recently retired Vice Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Colonel Colin Mason and was celebrated in festival style with musicians, dancers and Japanese folk music. One of the trees has been planted at the front of the school while the other has been given a prominent position in the school’s newly-created Peace Garden. Michael Gleeson, Executive Principal of Wootton Academy Trust, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive these gifts and be part of such a special nationwide celebration. “The trees will continue to be enjoyed and celebrated by our pupils for many years to come, reminding the school and the wider community of the generosity and compassion of the Japanese people and the longlasting friendship between the UK and Japan.” The project is part of a legacy from the Japan-UK Season of
Culture 2019-20 which aimed to showcase Japan’s treasured attractions in the UK through a series of arts, sports, cuisine and performance events. The Sakura Cheery Trees are
being distributed to more than 400 schools and 160 sites across the UK from St Ives to Aberdeen and Londonderry to Cardiff. The project was formally launched with a tree-planting
WHAT’S ON this Christmas in Bedford Town Centre
home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Three Weekends of Festive Fun with Love Bedford & Bedford Borough It’s Panto! Christmas Tree Festival @ Council. Saturday December 4 St Paul’s Church – December 1-5. Daily community concerts, children’s MUSIC – Festive Tunes from The ‘Spot the character’ competition, Salvation Army Band, Harpur Square take a tour of this year’s Christmas HOG ROAST – From Linger’s Butchers trees, dressed by local businesses – Harpur Square and other organisations. 10am to MARKET – Bedford’s traditional 5pm (Wed-Sat), Noon-4pm (Sun) Charter Market – St Paul’s Square Christmas Jumper Party @ The Arc & Sunday December 5 The Gallery. December 3. From 5pm until 9pm, head down to The Arc and SEE – 11am to 2pm – The Cairngorm Reindeer – Harpur Square The Gallery café for fizz, food, and shopping. With a £100 voucher to TREAT – Hog Roast from Linger’s give away to the best Christmas Butchers and Sweet Treats from Jumper of the evening. Dessert Boss – Harpur Square FREE – 10am to 3pm – Face painting Christmas Stars Workshop Free and balloon artistry – Howard Centre Family Christmas Crafts – Sundays: December 5 & 12. Free Entry, 2pm – MUSIC – Live performances from 4pm – Pop into The Higgins Bedford Bedford Town Band and Kempston and create your own paper Christmas Hammers Community Choir – Harpur Square star to add to your decorations at
EAT FEAST – 12pm to 9pm – A Christmas Special event – Merchant Square, Riverside. Saturday December 11 & Sunday December 12 MARKET – 10am to 3:30pm – The Christmas Makers Market in collaboration with ‘MadeInBedford’ – Harpur Square MUSIC – Live performances from May Blossom, Rock Choir and Bedford Town Band – Harpur Square FREE – 10am to 3pm – Face painting and balloon artistry – Harpur Centre Saturday December 18 & Sunday December 19th MUSIC – Festive music and live performances from May Blossom – Harpur Square RELAX – Sit in the square and enjoy refreshments – Harpur Square The Tendons Xmas Party @ The Bear. Friday December 10, Bedford punk stalwarts return to The Bear for their Xmas party. It’ll be loud, it’s
with the Bedfordshire Community that saved the day. The Mangled yarn gang worked with local Bedford folk, The Place team and Arts Council England to put together the digital pandemic – proof show ‘Every Time a Bell Rings’. This year they are thrilled to return to The Place Theatre and finish what they started. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is an incredible new, actor/musician adaptation of the classic tale, filled with joy, laughter and perfect for the
whole family. Whether the story of George Bailey and Clarence Odbody, Angel Second Class, is an old favourite or you’re discovering it for the first time, you’ll love it! “A story of salvation, of a community coming together in the face of adversity. A story for our time.” Christopher Smart. Join us December 14-31 as Mangled Yarn brings Bedford Falls to Bedford. Book now! www.theplacebedford.org.uk/shows /its-a-wonderful-life/
Christmas Disco Party Night @ The Bedford Swan, December 2, Enjoy a delicious three course meal and then dance the night away!
It’s a Wonderful Life The Place Bedford
“COVID-19 tried to stop us from telling the story of George Bailey’s salvation!” In 2020 Mangled Yarn were gearing up for Christmas with us at The Place Theatre, Bedford. Like the world around us, the pandemic stopped the plucky creatives in their tracks and we were all forced to think again. It was collaborating
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ARMISTICE REMEMBRANCE AND BOROUGH INandBEDFORD War Memorial, Bedford EVENTSceremony march-past will be held at the down the
march A wreath laying November 14. A parade will in Harpur Square. Embankment at 11am on Sunday, Street and St Paul’s Square, finishing Embankment, across the High place at the South African Campaign Memorial (outside Ceremonies will also take and in villages across the Borough. the Swan Hotel), at Elstow Abbey,
Northern ‘Good progress’ on hot spot Gateway congestion
right turn lane into Sainsbury’s. the ‘Northern Gateway’ unnecessary traffic using WORKS started on the around the This will reduce in June 2021 to ease congestionroundabout, Clapham Road roundabout. widening of Lane the Clapham Road/Manton A6 roundabout. Further works include and the instalwhich will also benefit the been widened Clapham Road roundabouthelp traffic to has to lation of traffic lights To date, Clapham Road Way roundduring rush between the Paula Radcliffe flow, and ease congestion with a new kerb about and Manton Lane hour. has started cyclist crossings and pavement, construction lane from Improved pedestrian and make it easier to on the dedicated left-turn Lane, and will also be installed, to TO THE EDITOR Clapham Road to Manton cross this busy junction. : It is hard to believe for northeast the apologise on “We said: that, in these days Charles Royden extensive road widening of increased in the Road roundabout Cllr congestion that has been seenconcern about climate corner of the Clapham the vital works. anyone could seriouslychange, is largely complete. area as we carry out these our contracthis month, building on the flood propose continue to work with plain in Once these works are completed Kempston. begin on the “We will deliver these Northern Gateway (October) works will then dual carriagetor to This development on schedule the would be on central reservation of works, and we are currently fields that were flooded Way and 2022.” way between Paula Radcliffe to complete these in Spring recently as December as a permanent you can see from the 2020. As Manton Lane, introducing attached
parking spaces, plus defences of the catastrophic there will be nowhere80 houses, flooding we suffered water to go. It is time else for that that mas. Why did you last Christbuilding on flood plains not was huge car park which mention the stopped to protect existing homes. water to run into the will cause river or Lorna Ogle Church Walk, Kempston express concerns for the new residents who will be at high risk of flooding and find difficulties TO THE EDITOR : I have enjoyed getting a doctor or Kempston Calling picture, which was for a place for their taken children at local schools? waters had gone down when the and am shocked by many years the blatant far enough propaganda in this for us to get down The fields are one the lane, there article. of the few remaining green spaces is still flood water Are you being sponsored in the for local by residents to enjoy the developers? These fields are also field. and are rich in biodiversity. absorb the excess water, needed to This is the first time I have as that heard this scheme would This is the wrong PAID otherwise be channelled being PRICES the wrong place. I scheme in ‘Amazing’ by anyone called towards existing homes TOP CASH hope who is not a in both RY Etc to print the other side you intend member of Grace Church. Kempston JEWELLE & and Great Denham. to this threat NOT FOR COINS ORare to the flood plain as I would call it ‘DisGraceful’ If they BROKEN concreted over to it is causing great distress to many that any church would provide WIND UP WATCHES: the Grace Church DEALERS consider with a HIGHAM dents who are in fear local resibuilding on a flood 700 seat auditorium FRIENDLY LOCAL plain with 300 for their homes. one of our few remainingthat is Y HOUSE Antiques) (Ex of: CRANBERR Elizabeth Jones, Kempston chat = No obligation for advice or
freeze has announced a further MAYOR Dave Hodgson council run car parks. been through on parking charges infor our residents who have already
WANTED!
successive He says: “This is great newsTAKE park charges for the fifth car HOME! – freezingME months, last 18 COPY in the so much FREE YOUR the council can provide support.” do so administration would year is one way in which derision by Conservative up.
‘START MOREE TROUBLE & W COULD CRUSH’ YOUR VEHICLE
you Have your say: What do of think? Will the freezing car parking charges in incentivise you to shop Bedford Town Centre?
impact.”
internet.com ntiques@BT E: CranberryA
NCE REMEMBRA ICES SUNDAY SERV
Memorial 10.50am Service at the War Service at HIGHAM FERRERS s BRITISH LEGION: RUSHDEN ROYAL 10.50am, which any organisation to attend. Rushden War Memorial, will be most welcome BRITISH LEGION: at the DISTRICT ROYAL assembles at 2.30pm RAUNDS AND parade in Raundsto the War Memorial Remembrance proceeds Saxon Hall and for 3pm. at St Peter’s Church day at be held on the services will also , at 10.45pm, Remembrance in STANWICK at There will be a church St Laurence Churchin HARGRAVE, at 9am, and 3pm. at service at Kempston All Hallows Church Church, in RINGSTEAD, WE all need a touch of Christmas magic Mary this year. That’s why Santa’s workshop East Methodist Church The Blessed Virgin British Legion: on Sunday, November open, and Santa and his elves are busy & FINEDON Royal10.45am is and at followed by a parade 14, at 2.30pm, writing, IRTHLINGBOROUGH 11am. sealing and posting letters that down to the War leave Finedon School starting atwill Memorial on Kempston put smiles on the faces of children The parade will the service High Street Cenotaph, with for a minutes silence everywhere! proceed to the of the unveiling and the laying of wreaths. With a letter from the 100th anniversary Historical and the town’s magical tales from Santa, you’ll bring This year also marks the North Pole right on ugh War Memorial of Irthlingboro will mark it with an exhibition Chapel. to your doorstep. There are eight fantasSociety Methodist town’s tically the festive designs, from traditional 13, at Christmas to a North Pole Safari – so Saturday, November there
Get your order in to Santa for a Christmas letter
really is something for every child, or even the family pet! Whichever letter you choose, each one is more personalised than ever this year. You can add your child’s name, age, hobbies, what they want for Christmas and your very own P.S. message. Plus, it will be addressed and posted directly to your child via sleigh mail – so
g vehicle activity targetin received a month of planned drivers who FOLLOWING have warned riders and cause trouble, their they nuisance, police that the next timebe crushed. to be used even an official warning such as if it’s foundwe can and seized and could some circumstances, tax or insurance, anti-social vehicle will be or without
We won! 2021
NOVEMBER 2021
they’ll feel like they’re at the very top of Santa’s good list! After sending a massive 170,000 letters year, we’re looking forward to reaching last even more children this year. And with a donation to the NSPCC, you’ll help Childline be here for children who someone to listen. That’s the true spirit need of Christmas.
ESTATE AGENT IN BEDFORD
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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Sandy Town Council, the Royal British Legion Sandy & District Branch and St Swithun’s Parish Church are glad to be able to invite people across the come together again and participate in town to a communal act of Remembrance in a more traditional way this year.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Don’t leave your engine running – warns council
in crime made tackling activity The Force has a matter of priority for will have it crushed.” from the month’s of traffic range Further results behaviour, (ASB), teams have focussed on dealing with a 2021/22 and policing from resident reports included officers vital intelligence about ASB to 63 e-scooter offences, gathering county. the top issues identified and giving advice areas across the an overall from residents, in eight hotspot
So, what are you waiting for? Order your personalised letter from Santa by December 14, to make sure yours arrives before Christmas. To order your letter please visit: nspcc.org.uk/santa Emma Motherwell Local Campaigns Manager NSPCC East of England
10:50am Parade will march from Swan Lane to the War Memorial on Bedford Road 11:00am Act of Remembrance, two-minute silence and wreath laying at War Memorial. 11:15am Parade will proceed along Bedford Road and to the Market Square, via the High Street and Cambridge Road. 11:30am Parade will be dismissed at the Market Square and the outdoor Service of Remembrance will begin. Noon End of the Service of Remembrance.
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FINES could be handed out to inconsiderate motorists who leave their engine running when parked across Central Bedfordshire, affecting air quality.
Local authorities can adopt extra legal powers, enabling fixed by Euan Duncan – Local Democracy Reporter penalty notices to be given to drivers who let their vehicle idle which we won’t fulfil? will end and refuse to switch off. “The council will get lots of issued.” up with a fine being “Engine idling isn’t enforced examples Conservative Leighton Buzzard by Central Bedfordshire Council officers of engine idling where currently,” according to a report to thing. are unable to do some- South councillor Amanda Dodwell explained: “I’ve had a lot of comboth its executive and general pur“Most examples occur when plaints poses committee. from residents about this people go in “Doing so will enhance the in the car to shop and someone’s problem. listening to music, or in “Some work being done already to the summer air conditioning themselves,have tried to tackle it improve air quality and support the doesn’t so it’s good to see the work if the engine’s not on. council council’s sustainability plan,” said taking action. “I’m not suggesting we should “When we’re doing patrols on the report. ignore it. Clearly something’s in engine idling the far greater probThe issuing of a fixed penalty place and we need to support lem is notice would be a last resort for national around parking on pavelegislation.” ments and obstruction near civil enforcement and safer neighHead of public protection Jo schools. bourhood officers, it added. I would like you to tackle Borthwick Conservative Arlesey council- be some replied: “I agree there’ll both.” need to manage public Conservative Cranfield and lor Ian Dalgarno told the executive: expectation of what this might lead Marston Moretaine “This issue can have a detrimental to councillor Ken about impact on air quality and the result- notices. issuing fixed penalty Matthews said: “I don’t see this is going to be a serious problem. It’s ing effect on public health. “The effort “This council has a commit- communicatingneeds to be put into important the publicity indicates the need to turn what could happen ment to help people make the right engines if people don’t choices and become greener,” he behaviouroff, improving driving comply.” and raising awareness Conservative Linslade councilsaid. of the problem. lor Gordon Perham suggested: “We “We’ve put £5,000 in the bud“There’s some fairly old but need get which will go towards signage useful plenty of signage around guidance that goes with the schools in areas where we know there are legislation, and where people generalwhich explains how we ly do this.” instances, such as outside schools.” should enforce it The general purposes commitAt CBC’s general purposes “By adopting this, we’ve got tee agreed to recommend to full committee, Independent Potton the opportunity to do that in a for- council councillor Adam Zerny asked: mal capacity, even though the sanc- scheme an amendment to the “While it’s a laudable objective, tions of delegation in the constiavailable are limited. tution to allow enforcement action are we potentially opening “Hopefully most drivers’ are to be taken, following the up something that will lead to already with us on this. Only the Department expectations from the public very for Transport guidfew who choose to ignore us ance.
4pm turday 10am– Open Tuesday–Sa 0PE , Rushden NN10 118 High Street 15
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likely to be messy, but it’ll be brilliant! Christmas Movie Magic @ Cinema @ 3 St Peters December15 – Die Hard December 22 – Love Actually Screenings of undeniably classic Christmas movies – 7pm to 11pm. Castle Comedy Christmas Special 2021 @ Quarry Theatre. December 16. Featuring star names, mince pies, crackers and loads of Christmas cheer! The Big Band at Christmas @ Quarry Theatre. December 19. A dynamic Big Band performance of all your favourite Christmas songs – from Glenn Miller, Sinatra, Basie and Nat King Cole.
Pantomime: Beauty and the Beast @ Bedford Corn Exchange. December 22 – December 31. A traditional, professional Pantomime, with audience participation throughout. Matinee and Evening performances available.
Back in the spotlight
Castle Newnham School’s 4SIXTEEN Theatre Company is back bigger than ever! This school year the company is expanding its production schedule to include three major productions. ‘Legally Blonde’ is coming in Spring 2022 with a cast of pupils from years 8-11. Rehearsals have begun, and the whole cast and team are looking forward to bringing this fun musical to life. Also in Spring, the company will be putting on their first Year 3 and 4 production of ‘Cinderella’, an original script written by teacher, Tara Hutchings. Finally, ‘Matilda the Musical’ arrives at Castle Newnham in July bringing the beloved story by Roald Dahl to the stage in this fun musical adaptation. This will include a cast of pupils from years 5-7. Tara Hutchings, 4SIXTEEN Resident Director says “We are delighted to be bringing live theatre back to Castle Newnham School with three full scale productions. The response from children signing up has been amazing – we had over 70 children at our workshop and audition sessions. The children are really excited to be doing something new and different, and are really looking forward to performing for their friends and families.” You can view details for all 4SIXTEEN performances and other performance events on the school website www.castlenewnham.school
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
nuisance was alsoJudgement, riders. there – extra Preventing vehicle work does not stop victims of umbrella of Operation given out to And the Force’s given to repeat affected theme, under the is already being seized and 56 warnings 59 of the Police support of ASB, to make sure those most with three cars a real under Section all forms right time, to make riders and drivers right help at the are on a one- have the in improving their lives. Reform Act 2002. vehicle owners This means theseif they are found to be using difference ALONE as or in DON’T SUFFER strike warning, focusing ely or carelessly, or distress Basham said: “We’re the their vehicle inconsiderat to cause alarm, have the Chief Inspector we understand forms because life, and it’s not officers a manner likely others again, on ASB in all its quality of people’s annoyance to to it. few impact harm it does and remove power to seize “At the start of right that the actions of an inconsiderate Basham said: all Chief Insp Pete it clear that we’d be using to ensure all can on the many. made are working hard either by September we to stop people who think they officers “Our effectively, comwith available powers way that is harmful to their and reports of ASB are dealt a partner agencies. suffer ride or drive in use of Section 59 warnings us or the relevant you, please don’t to help munity, and our seized shows we’re doing exactly we can “If ASB is affecting we will do all matter, you’ll three cars being – report it and should alone action, and if it’s not a police to deal with that. agency one of these warnings a and take with the right “Anyone given if we find them causing be put in touch that seized be doubt no will it have with that vehicle it back – and in the issue.” nuisance again get have to pay to and they will
ISSN 2634-453X
£25,000 raised and still counting
IN September’s edition wrote about Richard of Kempston Calling we Hart’s fundraising and St Thomas’s for Guys hospitals. Richard was aiming We can report that to raise £20,000. he is fast approaching MID BEDS £25,000 mark! EDITION the He recently took for which he receivedpart in the London Marathon Richard said: “The a great deal of sponsorship. marathon went really had a lot of fun, well, I it total has gone up was a great atmosphere and the to nearly £25.000, amazing. People which is have been so incredibly generous.” kind and He is raising money hopefully his daughter, for the hospital where Emily will receive transplant shortly. a kidney Richard added: Kidney transplant “We still have no date for a as she is so near for Emily but it can’t be far away the point where they will take action.”
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Committee meeting blasted as ‘hypocri and irresponsible’ tical
COUNCILLOR Kay Burley (Labour, Central and East Ward) asked the BedfordKempston by John Council committee’s Guinn Borough 11 was convened chair why the meeting on October – Local Democracy as a face-to-face one chamber, and not virtually. in the council Reporter The committee chair personal belief that said the council was we need to have face-to-face by example’ – and ‘leading ings. meetadded that the government extended the period had not “In order to allowed to hold virtual where local authorities were committee has actually transact business properly, the to meet as meetings. “As you are a member Councillor Coombes an in-person meeting.” of the local outboard, added he is aware will therefore be aware you members do not hold the that other of the recent increase same view, but that avirus infections,” in coron- from “up top” is needed guidance Councillor Burley said: “You’ll also be aware that this council “I do think it is the on the matter. is encouraging agile right thing [to meet for employees, and working face],” he said. “But face-toit has committed I have to say there to reducing cli- anything that mate change. has not been has come “Do you not think what we are doing’.” from the top that says, ‘this is irresponsible to have that it’s both hypocritical and Councillor whom have travelled 15 or so people here, many of answered, and Burley said that her question was not added that coming car, when everything some distance, presumably by not a good example into the chamber was to give to council employees, the same conclusions could have been discussed, and are asked to who come in only if it is reached, necessary. The chair, councillor by meeting virtually?” “I did Graeme Coombes ical and ask you whether you thought it was hypocrit(Conservative, Wilshamstead Ward) said: “Personally, answer irresponsible,” she said. “But it seems I have always felt you clearly don’t.” by your that we need to get back to business [as usual] as soon “I disagree, we’re as possible,” he said. not being hypocritical,” “And I have a Continued on page 3
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with with Christmas coming This news has been met Their Deputy much more give three hours free car park“We would the Borough’s Conservatives.Rigby said: “A Sunday and we Group Leader, Cllr Roger mustard here, the ing every day and all day going forward the cut car parking prices freeze just does not cut free and cheaper would successful town centre is re-estabtown desperately needs more until a car parking. footfall in the lished. economic revival “In July 2018 there was “Bedford town centre’s squeezing the million, by July on the Mayor realising that anymore. town centre of over 1.282 NTS work recovery since the restsNORTHA 2021 despite some small motorists just won’t doesn’t to encourhalf at 688k.& EAST almost FERRERS is it lockdown He is creating a perfect backdrop end of , HIGHAMcurrent year the towns or on the RUSHDEN “Furthermore, in the age people to shop in other reduction of £1.279m Council is forecasting a includes the fewer people are internet.” also as income decision parking Mayor’s The in car which was hours free parking deal, coming to town. centre businesses two by him in 2013. “Our struggling town Mayor. Indeed, a introduced As well as two hours free need much more from this on Saturdays in council town centre car parks, is Queen Street car park free for the first two hours every weekday as well. Mayor Dave added that pro“This decision will also vide a major boost to Bedford town centre, attracting shoppers to our local businesses. “I know that local people full centre town a want to see of life and the free parking deal really helps, especially in the run up to Christmas. Providing affordable parkour ing options incentivises helpresidents to shop locally ing to reduce the carbon BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
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ceremony at The Regent’s Park attended by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, the Japanese Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine, Joint Chairman of the Sakura Cherry Tree Project Keisaku Sandy Sano
and local schoolchildren. All the varieties of cherry trees are of Japanese origin and the majority are being supplied by Frank P Matthews nursery in Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire. Yasumasa Nagamine, Japanese Ambassador to the UK, said: “We hope that people all over Britain will join with us in embracing this chance to deepen mutual understanding, thus helping to create an enduring legacy. “Yet the Sakura Cherry Tree Project will not just represent the lasting impact of the Japan-UK Season of Culture but will be a wider celebration of the cordial ties between Japan and the UK. Just like our relationship, these trees will grow stronger as they mature and, each year when they blossom, I hope they bring joy to people across the UK and remind them of the deep friendship between our two nations and peoples.”
DECEMBER 2021 —
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Diary
film review
‘Music on Thursdays’ Concert Season. January 20, a concert of classical Indian ragas by a true master of the sitar: Mehboob Nadeem. February 24, a recital of songs by Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninov, Brahms and Schubert by the Russian-British baritone Theodore Platt who joins us from his day job at the Bavarian State Opera. March 24, a programme of trios by Haydn and Beethoven, together with a recent work they commissioned from local composer Cherlyl Frances-Hoad. The Season concludes on April 28 with a brilliant young quintet, Connaught Brass, who took first prize in the inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Competition in 2019. Contact: www.bedfordmusicclub.co.uk
Bedford Music Club:
Kempston Senior Citizens Club:
DANCING, WHIST, BINGO. Meets Wednesday 10am-12noon Friday 10am-4.00pm, CENTENARY HALL, behind Kempston Town Hall, for further information contact: Sheila Cobban, on 01234 347306. 1-5 December. Theme: ‘It’s Panto!’. St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Sq, Bedford, MK40 1SQ. Wed-Sat 10-5, Sunday 12-4. £3.00. Free under 16 years. Daily community concerts and competitions. Festival concert: Minerva Piano Trio Friday 3rd December 7.30 pm. In aid of the church and Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends. Further details at www.stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk/ Minerva Piano Trio: Friday 3rd December 7.30pm. Works by Ravel, Stravinsky, Mozart, Vivaldi and others. Contact: Tel 01234 340163
Christmas Tree Festival:
The Railway Children return
‘The Railway Children Return’ is a sequel to the 1970 film ‘The Railway Children’ based on E. Nesbit’s classic book of the same name. The original 1970 feature portrays three children who, following their father’s forced disappearance, go to Yorkshire with their mother to investigate the cause for his abduction. The sequel picks up over forty years after the events of the previous film,
following a fresh group of children who are evacuated to a Yorkshire hamlet during WWII. Jenny Agutter reprises her role as Roberta from the original ‘The Railway Children’. She is joined by BAFTA winner Sheridan Smith, best known for her work in ‘Cilla’ (2014), Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner Tom Courtenay, and John Bradley, best known for his role as Samwell Tarly in HBO’s fantasy TV series ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019). Beau Gadsdon, who portrays young Princess Margaret in ‘The Crown’ (2016-2019), K.J. Aikens, Eden Hamilton, Austin Haynes, and Zac Cudby play the new
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generation of Railway Children. Morgan Matthews, a BAFTAwinning filmmaker who rose to prominence for ‘A Brilliant Young Mind’ (2014), directed the film. The screenplay was based on a script by BAFTA-winning producer Jemma Rodgers and adapted by Danny Brocklehurst. Rodgers also served as the film’s producer for Studiocanal. ‘The Railway Children Return’ was filmed on locations in Yorkshire, including Haworth, The Bronte Parsonage, and Oakworth Station. The well-known rails featured in the film are all part of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. The film will be released theatrically on April 1, 2022.
Kempston Musical Society: Christmas Carol
Concert, Kempston Musical Society will be performing a selection of Christmas carols and festive music on the evening of Saturday 18th December at Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford. Tickets £7.50 on the door, which will include refreshments. This concert is guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas. To find out more about all our forthcoming concerts or information about the choir. Contact: 01234 781010 or email prestissimo@btinternet.com MKNTA and £4 for non-members
Yoga: Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ. 2pm Mondays Contact: June for details: juandhannigan@yahoo.co.uk
Sandy Women’s Institute: Meets on the third
Bedford National Trust Association: 2.15pm, Tuesday
January 18, Addison Centre, Kempston. MK42 8PN. The speaker will be Ian Keable on “The Century of Deception - The Birth of the Hoax in Eighteenth - Century England”. Hoaxes were written about extensively, and depicted by satirical artists such as Hogarth and Gillray. They are imaginative, and the tricksters had varying motives. An entertaining talk. There will be a small admission fee. Everyone welcome. No need to book. Plenty of parking space. Contact: Betty Thomas on 01480 860 421
Brass, Bells & Tinsel: It’s
beginning to sound a lot like Christmas: Its jingle all the way at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Dunton, Biggleswade on Saturday December 11 at 7pm when Bedford Brass will be giving a traditional Christmas Concert. This will be the Band’s first concert since before March 2020 and will be raising funds for Sue Ryder St.John’s Hospice. Band Member Jenny Gellatly said: ‘We are bringing back the sound of Christmas in 2021. This concert will have you rocking around the Christmas tree.’ Doors 6.30pm. Adult £5.00 Children/Students £3.00. Tickets on the door. Contact: Conservative Club Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy SG19 1EL. Saturday December 4. Open to all Christmas Show, Christmas Demonstration by Gill McGregor – Floral Festive Flair and Fun, Doors open 2pm - Starts at 2.30pm – Tickets £12.00 includes refreshments. Contact: Marianne Attfield on 01767 226275.
Sandy Flower Club:
Bedford Floral Art Society: 7.30pm Tuesday,
December 7. Floral demonstration by Barbara Collins entitled ‘All Spruced Up’. Visitors very welcome £7. Contact: www.bedfordfloralartsociety.co.uk
Christmas services at St Paul’s Bedford: Saturday
4th December 4.00pm Christingle Saturday 18th December 4.00pm Festival of Lessons and Carols Saturday 24th December 11.30 pm Midnight Mass Sunday 25th December 10.15 Christmas Family Service Contact:
Bedfordshire Family History Society: Monthly
meetings in the Drama Hall of Mark Rutherford School, Wentworth Drive, Bedford, MK41 8PX on Friday, January 7 and our talk will be The Brooks Family of Flitwick Manor by Richard Morgan. Doors open at 7.00 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. start. Members Free, Visitors £1. Contact:
Bedford RSPB local group: ARA club, Manton Lane
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
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. We have a musician, Jacen Bruce, booked for our meeting on 21 December. At our meeting on 18 January, Jane Kennedy will be teaching us the basics of British Sign Language. For further information contact: Ann Patterson 01767 680644.
Bedford MK41 7PF. Thursday 20th January. Meeting 7.30pm. Wilf Powell - “Jewels in the Air”. Wilf, previously Chairman of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society, will describe aspects of the biology and behaviour of hummingbirds. With photos taken in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Trinidad, Cuba and Brazil. Members £1 Guest £2, under 18s enter free. Contact: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bedford
Bedford Folk & Acoustic Club: Acoustic and folk music
Wednesday January 12, 7-15pm for 7.30pm. ‘Bedfordshire’s Wild Life and Wild Places: 20 years into the new millennium. an illustrated talk by Graham Bellamy. Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnam Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ. www.wildlifebcn.org or Contact: 01234 266057. Contact:
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.
Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust:
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— DECEMBER 2021
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
comedy Spreading the mirth across Bedfordshire this Christmas
Castle Comedy are holding four Christmas Comedy Specials throughout Bedfordshire. This year they are going all out to bring you Christmas Cheer! The shows will feature star names, mince pies, crackers, and lots of laughter.
Thursday December 2, at Henlow Bridge Lakes, Henlow. Headlining the show is IAN STONE. The Independent ranks him amongst the top ten stand-ups in Britain! Ian is the star of BT Sports ‘The Football’s On’ and has also appeared on ‘Nevermind the Buzzcoks’ and ‘Live at the Comedy Store’. “Seriously funny” The Guardian Also appearing will be OLAF FALAFEL. He is a Swedish comedy sensation and multiple award winner. In 2019 he won Dave’s Best Joke at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! With a unique mixture of one-liners and Scandinavian-tinged stories he has earned the purely fictitious title of ‘Sweden’s eighth funniest comedian’. Saturday December 11, at The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade. Headlining the show is ZOE LYONS. With a mixture of silliness, satire and caustic one liners she is
one of the one of the UK’s favourite comedians. She is a regular on Mock The Week and has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (BBC1) and hosts her own teatime TV quiz show, Lightning! (BBC2). “Probably the most impressive British female comic on the circuit.” The Skinny
Also appearing will LUKE TOULSON. He is a Perrier Comedy Award Nominee who has starred on Russell Howard’s Good News. Wednesday December 15, at the The Crooked Crow Bar, Leighton Buzzard. Headlining the show is JONNY AWSUM. A comedic whirlwind, Jonny has a special feel-good brand of musical comedy. He is the gag slinging guitar hero who rocks every gig he plays! You may also recognise him from Britain’s Got Talent where he roped in Ant and Dec to bring the house down and receive a standing ovation from the judges. “Guaranteed to lift your spirits” HHHHH Daily Mirror Also appearing is EL BALDINHO. He will be bringing his mind-boggingly daft magic to the show! He has appeared on Britain’s
Got Talent and is a regular comedy pundit on BT Sports The Football’s On! Thursday December 16, at the The Quarry Theatre, Bedford. Headlining the show is RICKY GROVER. He is quite literally and in more ways than one, one of the biggest names in modern British comedy. Born and bred in the East End of London, Ricky was an exchampion boxer and hairdresser before taking the comedy scene by storm. His numerous TV credits include Eastenders, Parkinson, This Way Up, Porridge, Zapped, Black Books and Red Dwarf. “The funniest person I’ve ever seen” The Independent
Also appearing is TOM HOUGHTON. He is the Edinburgh Fringe’s favourite posh boy, star of Comedy Central’s ‘Roast Battle’ and critically-acclaimed star of BBC and Channel 4 and First Dates! Tom is the ultra-privilaged master of making the seemingly unrelatable, relatable. All shows feature full support from top UK comedians and Paul Revill will host the shows! Doors 7.30pm for 8.15pm start. Show finishes 10.45pm Book: castlecomedy.co.uk
Celebrating the Hope of Christmas in Kempston! Church of the Transfiguration, Bedford Road (opposite Addison Park, next to Banana Moon)
Sunday 12th December: .......4pm Christingle Saturday 18th December: .....4pm “Messy Christmas” (Christmas crafts, carols, fun and food for 2-12yrs plus) Christmas Eve: ....................4pm crib service with carols 9pm Mass (early midnight!) Christmas Day: ...................10am Christmas Celebration Boxing Day:........................10am Communion followed by mince pies
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music
Tony’s guide to a great night out by Tony Hendrix
Gone are the days of the local thumping night clubs offering music, drinks, and food. Usually this would comprise the perfect night out, listening to your favourite tunes, downing as much cheap alcohol you can then spending the last hour of the night in the club diner demolishing a hot dog or two. Well if that’s what rocked your boat many years ago it’s coming back, you can enjoy an exclusive Brunch collaboration at Mist, 66 Bedford High Street on Saturday, December 11. This event will be hosted by the Legendary garage MC KIE (Fly Bi) with special guest appearance from Sweet Female Attitude (Flowers). Those of you who like your chicken may well be familiar with a chicken shop in Luton’s Round Green area called Chicken George who undoubtedly manufactures the most delicious chicken known to mankind, the award winning restaurant now with a Junior branch in Hitchin has joined forces with UK Garages MC Kie for a Brunch Special, the event starts at mid-day until 6pm, expect an awesome day of UK Garage, 60 minutes of bottomless Prosecco, live performances from Sweet Female Attitude, and off course some mouth watering chicken from Chicken George Jnr. Tickets are available from Skiddle, over 18s, simply search Chicken George. Here’s another gig I can
recommend during the festive season, Esquires Bedford is proud to announce at night in with The Dekker Tones on Saturday, December 27, Doors at 8pm till 11.30pm The DekkerTones are a nine piece ska/reggae/rocksteady/2tone covers band playing authentic ska and reggae from the late 60s Trojan and Bluebeat scene right through to the 2tone era. The band return to the venue for their third Christmas following sellout shows in previous years. Support comes from Dr Ska. Tickets are on sale now, priced £10 plus booking fee in advance from Seetickets The Drifters are back on tour in the UK, they will be at The Bedford Corn Exchange on Wednesday,
December 15, from 7.30pm performing all their classic hits from the last six decades!
Here’s just a few of the hits they will be performing: ‘Saturday Night at the Movies’, ‘You’re More Than A Number’, ‘Come on Over to My Place’, ‘Up On The Roof’, ‘Under the Boardwalk’, ‘Kissin In The Back Row’, ‘Save The Last Dance for me’, ‘Down On The Beach’, ‘Hello Happiness’ and many, many more! Tickets can be purchased at £26.00 by calling 01234 718044. Looking for a sophisticated New Year’s Eve Party with a 007 theme? Well this one is on top of my list for New Year’s Eve, 3 St Peters is a elegant venue catering for a variety of clientele located in St Peters Street. New Year’s Eve you can fine tune your gambling skills at the Black Jack table no cash involved just for fun! You’ll be welcomed with a complimentary glass of Champagne, accompanied later by three courses of sweet and savoury canapés all night long created by a top chef and served on platters at your table. Music will be provided by the glamorous Laura Menozzi singing all your favourites including those bond hits and the In2Beat DJs take over at 11pm. Dress code is Black Tie/ 007 theme you will be charged £59 as a member and £69 for non members. Well these are my festive tips for 2021, have a great Xmas to you all and I wish you all the best for 2022.
THE
QUEENS HEAD M I LT O N E R N E S T
Wishing yo all a Merryu Christmas
Food served: Mon-Sat 12-2, 6-9 Sunday 12-4 See our Facebook page for upcoming events
HOTEL NOW OPEN Queens Head, Rushden Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1RU
Tel: 01234 822412
“Sweet as a nut”
Mon-Sat Noon-11pm Sunday Noon-10.30pm
NEW LOOK – NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
Daley’s FUNCTION ROOM FOR HIRE
Saturday December 18
FREE BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
ENTERTAINMENT 9pm-midnight
Saturday December 4
DR SKA
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PETER WEBB AS
ELVIS
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SATURDAY NIGHTS
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ALL TORQUE BAND Friday December 24
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JONNY B DISCO AND FUN NIGHT ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ NEW YEAR’S EVE
JENNY THE ROCK CHICK
Tickets £7 each available from the bar
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Bedford Road, Kempston 01234 851143 ★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★
SUITABLE FOR AL L OCCASIONS
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Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs 2pm–Midnight – Fri-Sat Noon-1am – Sun-Mon Noon-Midnight
22
— DECEMBER 2021
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
gardening
with Milton Ernest Garden Centre
Winter garden delights in December I
by Maureen Catlin
N the depths of winter there are still some treasures to be found to brighten the dull grey landscape in our gardens. The evergreen backcloth is vital to give structure and form but there
are also some flower and berry delights. Viburnum Lilla Rose is an evergreen that produces creamy pink buds in late autumn which open to fragrant cream white flowers from December to spring. It is a valuable winter plant for sun or shade and a useful source of nectar for pollinating insects. It is easy to grow with low maintenance and is equally good in a tub, grown as a clipped hedge or associated with variegated Euonymus with crocus snowdrops or dwarf Narcissus planted underneath. Cotoneaster Microphyllus is another ground covering evergreen with bright orange red berries from autumn throughout winter to spring. It is a great source of food in December and January for Blackbirds, Thrushes,
MS Tree Care Martyn Smith – Arboculturist with over 10 years experience ● ● ●
Redstarts and Fieldfares. The herring bone fan shaped branches are best displayed when it is grown against a wall or fence. Grow in a sunny place with Lavender or Christmas Box planted at the base. The variegated evergreens with their bright shiny leaves are really colourful additions. Eleagnus Gilt Edge whose bright golden leaf margins will lighten any winter border makes a good grouping with Choisya Ternata, Physocarpus diabolo and Brachyglottis Silver Waves. It can also be grown in a tub and trained as a small standard tree. It is hardy and easy to grow with white flowers in summer and red berries in autumn. Another shrub with brightly coloured leaves is Holly, Ilex Madame Briot or Ilex altaclerensis Lawsoniana are good examples. Both varieties will produce pillar box red berries if pollinated by a male type and both also have bright yellow leaf margins. They are versatile and can be grown as hedges or trained as a standard to grow in a tub. The
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foliage makes lovely Christmas decorations and the birds of course enjoy the berries. Mahonia Winter Sun is a quick growing evergreen with gorgeous brilliant yellow upright flowers that are richly perfumed from November until March. An architectural plant for sun or dappled shade which makes a lovely grouping with Hellebores, evergreen Ferns and Brunnera, the variegated perennial Forget me not. Hamamelis Arnold Promise, Witch Hazel is a fascinating plant that bears bright yellow orange spidery flowers on bear stems from December to April. It is a hardy plant and grows well in a large pot in ericaceous compost. Feed with a sequestered iron. The autumn foliage colour is vibrant and looks dramatic if planted with white stemmed Birch and coloured bark Cornus under planted with Christmas Roses. Winter flowering Clematis is one of the few climbing plants in flower at this time of year. They need a sheltered place probably against a wall or fence with the support of wires or trellis. They can also be allowed to wander over other shrubs or even as ground cover. If grown in a large pot with an obelisk support this must be put in a sheltered place protected from severe weather. They are a great source of winter nectar for bumble bees. Clematis Winter Beauty is evergreen with small creamy nodding flowers from October to February, Clematis Balearica also has cream flowers with maroon markings on the inside of the petals followed
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period but must be hardened off in a sheltered cool place before returning to the garden afterwards. The Snow Rose is a cross between Helleborus Niger and H. Corsican. It is very hardy and produces lots of flowers from December to March. Some good varieties are H. Mahagon Snow, creamy pink, H. Ice and Snow pure white and the amazing H. Barola which is garnet red. So here are some useful additions to the winter garden. These brave plants all put on a great show in spite of our grey cold winter days.
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IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
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FESTIVE CHRISTMAS LUNCH
ADVICE SURGERIES Richard holds regular surgeries across North East Bedfordshire. If you would like to book an appointment, please call 01767 313385
by fluffy seed heads which are great when sprayed gold for Christmas decoration. The Christmas Rose, Helleborus Christmas Carol, is a truly Christmas flowering plant. The glistening pure white waxy looking single flowers have lemon yellow stamens from December to March. They gradually turn pinkish with age and are a welcome source of nectar for the pollinating insects. It can be grown in a pot and brought indoors along with the Christmas Tree from mid December for the Christmas
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Tel: 01234 823033
MILTON ERNEST GARDEN CENTRE Radwell Road (just off the A6) Milton Ernest MK44 1SH
BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
Two courses £16 per person
Succulent roasted turkey crown with all the trimmings gravy and cranberry sauce, crispy roast potatoes, glistening carrots, parsnips, brussel sprouts, and Yorkshire pudding. Followed by traditional Christmas pudding and brandy butter or white chocolate and raspberry roulade and cream. Tea or coffee.
DECEMBER 2021 —
TEL: 07894 935952 ADS: advertising@rosettapublishing.com
23
sport
by Matthew Vine Youth development Officer
P. J. ASHPOLE ❖ High Class Family Butcher ❖ Friendly and personal service
Taking Christmas orders now 8 Bedford Road, Kempston, MK42 8AD
Tel: 01234 358794
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Kingsley Garage a FaMiLY ruN BuSiNESS SiNCE 1978 www.kingsleygarage.com
All makes of cars serviced from £90
● MOTs ● Repairs PLEASE PHONE FOR A QUOTE ● Car Sales FREE local collection & delivery + courtesy cars by appointment
267-271 Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8BP
Tel: 01234 855757 Email: service@kingsleygarage.com
20
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Quote Bulletin Call: 01767 360076
Thame United..........................11 December Biggleswade FC .......................1 January AFC Dunstable.........................15 January Barton Rovers..........................29 January Ware FC..................................5 February Berkhamsted FC ......................19 February
For information on kick off times, please refer to our website: kempstonrovers.org. Admission for all other fixtures is priced at £9 adults, £5 concessions and students, £1 children. For those who have a son or daughter playing for any of the Kempston youth teams, players will get for free, with an accompanying adult half price. Our social media channels are listed above, drop us a follow to stay up-to-date with all happenings at Kempston Rovers.
WITH YOU WHEN IT MATTERS MOST An independent family business continuing to provide a caring & professional service to Bedford, Kempston & the surrounding villages. This year Abbotts have chosen Project 229 and CHUMS as our Christmas charities. The work they do is so vital to our community with a strong emphasis on mental health and bereavement support. We would like to wish all of our families and the community a safe and contented Christmas. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost someone precious this year.
Abbotts Bereavement Listening Service
Project 229
To donate to CHUMS text CHUMS *amount* to 70490, for example, CHUMS 5 to donate £5. Our Bereavement Listening Service is available to our families, please give us a call for more details.
Tel: 01234 843222
www.abbott-funerals.co.uk support@abbott-funerals.co.uk 150 BEDFORD ROAD, KEMPSTON MK42 8BH
RESIN • BLOCK • PAVIORS • TARMAC We’ve got it covered
KEMPSTON CALLING
Telephone: 01767 360076 Freephone: 0800 781 6343 Mobile: 07428 511932 www.lcdrivewaysolutions.co.uk Resin Bonded •
KEMPSTON ROVERS are offering Kempston residents the opportunity to watch a first team match for FREE over the winter months. During the busy and expensive time approaching, KRFC are delighted to announce the following games will be available for FREE admission on presentation of the voucher with this article. Please cut the voucher out (above right), bring to the turnstile and entrance to one of the below Southern League Division One fixtures will be no cost to you:
Cut me out
!
Come and support the Rovers for free
LC Driveway Solutions Ltd Long Lake Meadow, High Road, Seddington, Sandy SG19 1NU
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KEMPSTON CALLING PAGE 24