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PLANS to demolish a Biggleswade care home rated ‘outstanding’ have been submitted by Central Bedfordshire Council.
A Biggleswade councillor has proposed that the site be used for a much-needed health hub in the town.
Abbotsbury Residential Home at Mead End is to close once the remaining residents have been moved to new accommodation. Cllr Hayley Whitaker It will shut as part of the local authority’s programme to modernise and improve by Euan Duncan facilities for older people. – Local Democracy Reporter The process of moving residents to alternative homes is well under way, with the majority going to Mantles Court on London Rebuilding Abbotsbury would have involved Road, according to Independent Biggleswade moving the residents multiple times, so was ruled South councillor Hayley Whitaker in a social out as an option, Central Beds Council’s executive media post. was told in April.
Councillor Whitaker said: “The proposed demolition of the care home comes hot on the heels of a similar application to demolish the registry office on the same site. “This only leaves the adult day centre building on the London Road site, which I also expect CBC will apply to demolish at some point. The council’s officially remaining tight lipped for now about its future. “Once empty, I’ve proposed the 12-acre site is used to house the much-needed Biggleswade health and social care hub.
“This has been delayed for years because of problems agreeing a lease at the proposed Biggleswade Hospital location. “Here’s hoping that putting the hub in a more sustainable location and using the London Road site to benefit the community comes before selling the land to the highest bidder for more development.” Central Beds Council started consultations on the future of the home in October 2020.
YEARS OF DELAY
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Not-for-profit operator Quantum Care presented the council with an offer to replace the 32-place capacity at Abbotsbury by opening a new 76-bedroom care home in the town.
The planning application describes the premises to be demolished as vacant and includes “the removal of all hard standing areas”. It adds: “This is a 50-year-old building with an area of 2,730sqm. The building is no longer in use.” Giving the reason for its plans, the council said: “There’s no other purpose it can be used for in its current state, as any work would have to be substantial before any remedial work could be done. “This is because of its age and condition, and the presence of asbestos. The demolition of the building will allow for future redevelopment of the site. “This will be subject to a separate planning application in the coming years. A specialist contractor will be involved in the process. “Where possible all materials will be recycled. Windows and doors are to be removed before the work begins.” Abbotsbury was given an ‘outstanding’ rating after an inspection by the CQC in 2019. The local authority has been reviewing the future of seven care homes which it inherited from Bedfordshire County Council in 2009. Abbotsbury was built by the county council in the 1970s on the site of a large former Victorian workhouse.
TO BE DEMOLISHED
SCHÖFFEL ADDS UP AT SHUTTLEWORTH Schöffel, manufacturers of the finest country clothing, were delighted to sponsor for the second year an award for rural Shuttleworth College. Lecturer in Maths David Jarvis thought it would “add up” to ask the country wear company to link up with agriculture students, by sponsoring a GCSE award. The winner of the award was Outdoor Education and Adventure course student Charlotte Smith, of Wootton, who passed GCSE maths in the summer of 2021. Charlotte, completed much of her work thanks to the pioneering Artificial Intelligence teaching platform Century Tech pioneered by The Bedford College Group. She answered more than 1,000 questions across a range of Foundation GCSE topics, including maths. Students who fail English and maths GCSEs at school have to retake them if they join college. Success rates at The Bedford College Group, of which Shuttleworth College at Biggleswade is a part, are high because students can see the relevance of the subjects in the context of their vocational courses. Students must have GCSE English and maths as a base line of educational achievement for further education. Photo shows Charlotte with her prize gilet, Jess Evans of Schöffel country wear and lecturer David Jarvis.
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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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The Beds Bulletin and Kempston Calling are independent publications part of Rosetta Publishing Ltd. Published by ©2021 Rosetta Publishing Limited 30 Radwell Road, Milton Ernest, Bedford MK44 1SH Tel: 07894 935952 Editorial: editorial@rosettapublishing.com Advertising: advertising@rosettapublishing.com Printed by: Iliffe Print Cambridge Ltd. Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP Regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC IMPRESS. 16-18 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6AG T 020 3325 4288 E complaints@impress.org.uk w impress.press To view our complaints policy, please visit our website www.rosettapublishing.com
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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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Tons of rubbish Top collected tractor CENTRAL Bedfordshire Council collected 2,239 tons of green waste during its one-off garden waste collection last month, a meeting heard. Councillor Ian Dalgarno (Conservative, Arlesey Ward) the executive member for community services, gave the Council’s Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee an update on the recent green waste collection. “Obviously, you know we stopped the food waste collections for a period so that we could go back and collect and clear green waste,” he said. “In a normal four week period on green waste collection we collect, on average, 1,631 tons. “During the two weeks that we collected green waste we actually picked up 2,239 tons. “There were a few streets missed on odd days, but we had the teams working Saturdays and Sundays and managed to clear the backlog,” he said. Councillor Dalgarno added that most people continued to put their food waste in the brown bins during the two weeks and it was collected when this went back to normal. Councillor David McVicar (Conservative, Dunstable Icknield Ward) said that councils charging for green waste collection has been flagged in the media: “I don’t know whether you dare tell me Ian [Dalgarno] that you’re never going to charge for green waste. “We collect rubbish anyway, so why shouldn’t we collect green waste free of charge? I would hope
by John Guinn – Local Democracy Reporter
in the wisdom of the executive they decide they’re not going to charge for green waste in the foreseeable future,” he said. Councillor Dalgarno replied: “The council has a statutory duty to collect waste, but it doesn’t have a statutory duty to collect green waste, which is why many authorities across the UK actually do charge. “We have endeavoured and continue to endeavour to provide that service to our residents within the cost of their council tax,” he said. Cllr Charles Gomm (Con Flitwick Ward) wondered when the service would start again. “Normally around this time of year it would have been suspended anyway,” Cllr Dalgarno said. Councillor John Baker (Independent, Aspley and Woburn Ward) asked about suspending food waste during the winter to allow for extra green waste collections. “Obviously this would require consultation, I have absolutely no idea how popular or unpopular this would be,” he said. “Would this be a sensible and economic way of perhaps delivering garden waste collection during the winter months when there is less of it, and that’s one of the justifications for not running the service? “And to actually provide that service to residents to a minimal extra cost to the authority?” he asked.
training SHUTTLEWORTH College students are now training on the very latest type of tractor used in the UK farming industry. Shane Durham enthuses about the equipment which will prepare students to become professional operators of this expensive equipment: “The John Deere 6155 R Ultimate edition is a modern midsized farm tractor operating between 155 and 200 horse power. It has John Deere’s Direct Drive transmission which is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) similar to an automatic transmission in a car. This gives it the ability to seamlessly change gear to reduce engine load and give speeds from 2.5kph to 50kph. Hydraulics are load-sensing to adjust flow rate dependant on your application and features ISObus for seamless integration into most modern farm attachments. “The tractor has GPS and autosteer so once you have driven a straight line in the field the tractor will do the rest! All you have to do is program your commands in and press the button to activate them. “The GPS system is so good you can match up your ploughing with it! You can even program the system to slow you down, lift the plough, drop out of four-wheel-
Left to right: Agriculture expert Dr Matt Horne and Head of Land Learning Shane Durham with the top tractor
drive and diff-lock and turn the plough. “It is a serious tractor for a professional operator not just a tractor driver!” Shane is Head of Land and Environment and Outdoor Adventure at the Shuttleworth College parkland campus at Old Warden near Biggleswade, Beds which has for 75 years been training young farmers in arable and animal management. Students from the college progress on to “outdoor” employment in a wide range of fields across the world, from agriculture and conservation to super yacht crewing. Students can join at 16 to sign up for Level 2 qualifications and go on to obtain degrees in various related subjects including Agriculture. https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/
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MID BEDS BULLETIN
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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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£16m in Council Council questioning whether there Tax discounts to will be enough trees available be awarded in the coming year by John Guinn – Local Democracy Reporter
FEWER pensioners are being given help with their council tax bills, a meeting heard.
But the council said that the change was because pension income is rising faster than the inflationary increases that apply to Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme, and not because they are “falling off the edge”. The Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to review and comment on the council’s draft Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 at a meeting on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Councillor David Shelvey (Conservative, Arlesey Ward), the executive member for corporate resources explained that the council is required to review the local council tax support scheme each year and approve it by March 11. “Or we revert to the less favourable government default scheme,” he said. He added that the council expects to award discounts of just under £16 million this year. “Which is slightly up, but not unexpected given the circumstances,” he said. Gary Muskett, head of revenues and benefits told the committee that this will be the tenth year of its local council tax support scheme, which has remained “largely unchanged” since 2013. The scheme requires everybody of working age to pay 25 per cent, at least, of their council tax liability, unless they fall within one of the five vulnerable groups. Mr Muskett said the claimant groups can be broken down into three distinct categories; the pensioner group, the working age – exempt group and the working age – not exempt group. “Since 2013 there has been quite a change in the breakdown of this group, percentage-wise,” he said. “We had a 22 per cent reduction in our overall claimant numbers since 2013, with a reduction in our pensioner caseload of 30 per cent, our working age – exempt caseload has actually increased by 28 per cent and our working age – not exempt, ie having to pay 25 per
by John Guinn Local Democracy Reporter
cent of their liability increased by 41 percent.” The report showed that the number of pensioners claiming fell from 7,464 in 2013 to 5,242 in October 2021. The committee chair, Council Paul Duckett (Conservative, Ampthill Ward) was interested to know why the number of pensioner claimants had decreased. He asked: “Why has that gone down when we have an ageing population, is that simply because of people falling off the edge or what?” Mr Muskett replied: “I believe it will be linked to the pensioner income increasing at a faster rate than the inflation increases that apply to our scheme each year.” Councillor Duckett said: “That’s very elucidating, yes, I haven’t thought of that one.” Gareth Mackay (Independent, Flitwick Ward) asked: “What kind of discretion is available on that 25 per cent, is it an absolute that you must pay that or do we have any form of discretion with someone who clearly cannot even pay the 25 per cent? “Perhaps we don’t take that and perhaps prevent them going into a spiral of debt that might become really quite burdensome.” Mr Muskett replied: “As far as the assessment is concerned, there’s no discretion. The rules are applied based on the income declared, but we as an authority have something called a section 13a hardship policy. “So that gives us the discretion if someone presents with particular exceptional circumstances, but then we have the discretion to effectively write off that liability.” Councillor Duckett said: “It’s an interesting one, isn’t it? Because unless you are in the system is very hard to understand how it works, and how it can work in your favour or against you.”
THE demand generated by the Queen’s Green Canopy has led a council to wonder where it will get enough trees for its tree planting programme, a meeting heard. Central Bedfordshire Council’s Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee was given an update on its Sustainability Plan last month. Stephen Mooring, head of sustainability at the council, told the committee: “This report represents the first of a more formal annual progress update that the sustainability plan commits us to. “It sets out the breadth of activity across the council and highlights contributions to the milestones set out in the plan.”
He added that the council has supported tree planting with grants which led to 1,600 trees being planted over the last planting season (January to March) and there was also 2.5km of new hedgerow. “We currently have a pipeline of projects that will see around 11,000 trees and a further 1km of hedgerow planted,” he said. “Although I envisage we will add to this, especially as we are now linking into Green Canopy celebrations, the initiative for the Platinum Jubilee. “To further support this, we have been successful in securing a further £300,000 from the Forestry Commission’s Treescapes Fund to focus on planting specifically in urban areas. “This includes funding for maintenance of the next three years which is key to making sure this tree planting works and
that the trees survive,” he said. Councillor Steven Dixon (Conservative, Stotfold and Langford Ward) the executive member for sustainability and transformation, said: “I think one of things that strikes me in the report was the Queen’s Green Canopy. “That’s acted as an enormous trigger for people’s appetite to get involved to the point where we are sitting here thinking, where are we going to get the trees from. “I know some of the more smaller commercial providers are saying that you’ve got to order now if you want trees for next season. “We are working closely with a couple of smaller local providers to see what we can do to try and ring-fence to satisfy that appetite because we are getting a lot of demands. “And it’s great, it’s just what we need,” he said.
MID BEDS BULLEITIN
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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.
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Thank you for Remembering with us
SANDY Town Council extends its heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of people throughout our community who came together on Sunday, November 14, 2021 to honour those who have served during all conflicts and sacrificed themselves for our freedom. After having to greatly reduce the scale of Remembrance activities in 2020, the Council was glad to be able to work with the Royal
British Legion Sandy & District Branch and St Swithun’s Parish Church to organise the town’s traditional Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service again this year. Members of 25 different organisations took part in the parade and were supported by a great number of local residents, who lined Bedford Road to watch the parade and take part
in the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial. After the two-minute silence and wreath laying, the parade, flanked by spectators, marched to the Market Square where the town’s first outdoor Service of Remembrance was held. There was a wonderful feeling of togetherness as people gathered around the Community Stand to sing hymns and listen to prayers and readings. The town centre was a fitting venue for the service, having been adorned with Remembrance lamppost banners and large poppies, as well as the Royal British Legion’s new memorial bench
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and the Unknown Tommy statue which the Town Council recently purchased and installed in St Swithun’s Churchyard. The Council’s gratitude goes to all those whose participation helped to make this important community event possible. In particular, our thanks go to Bedfordshire Police who supported road closures, Parade Marshal SSI Roberto Marino; Council volunteers Andrew Havergal and Steve Liddle, Revd. Davies, Revd. Macaulay and volunteers from St Swithun’s Church; and the Royal British Legion Sandy & District Branch.
Photography: Steve Liddle
SANDY TOWN COUNCIL
Squirrels join Flitwick Scouts!
OVER 40 Squirrels (boys and girls aged 4 and 5) have recently joined Flitwick Scout Group. The Scouts had given approval to the newest and youngest section to start for 35 years. The Group made the decision to open two dreys as they had over 40 children on their joining list that could join immediately. Within a very short space of time both of the dreys were nearly full. Volunteer, Nigel Taylor said, “We made the decision to have one drey on a Thursday starting at 4.00pm for an hour and the other one on a Saturday morning starting at 9.30am. Within a couple of days word had got around and we had more children wanting to join. The first meeting included a song, some games and an activity where the children were given a template of a squirrel and they had to glue leaves to make a bushy tail which they then took home. Meetings planned for the next few weeks include completing the Super Chef badge where the children will learn about food. They will cook marshmallows over a tea light which they can squash between two chocolate biscuits and then they will make a fruit kebab. Nigel added, “There are many badges the children can earn and these include science, knowing about people who work in the community, being active, exploring and knowing about animals. It’s wonderful to see the children engaging
with others, playing games and doing different activities. It’s been really positive that some adults have stepped forward and offered to help run the sessions for the children. With two dreys, four Beaver Colonies (boys and girls aged 6 to 8), three Cub Packs (boys and girls aged 8 to 10), two Scout Troops (boys and girls aged 10 to 14) and an associated Explorer Unit (boys and girls aged 14 to 17) there are close on 300 children and young people involved with the Group. Some of the Explorers are Young Leaders and are developing their skills volunteering with the younger sections. Darren Reeve, Lead volunteer for the Group said: “We opened the Squirrel Dreys and this gave 40 children the opportunity to get involved. “However, we still have many children on the waiting list and we would like to accommodate them. If you would like to become a member of an award winning team, please contact us. If you can offer an hour a week we would find a role for you, if you are available to help one week in four, we would find a role for you. If you want to volunteer with young children, teenagers or on some admin tasks, we will find a role for you.” For further information about Flitwick Scouts, please visit www.flitwickscoutgroup.org.uk
IVEL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT CENTRE
Are you recently bereaved? Have you been struggling with coming to terms with your loss? Would it help to talk with someone? FOR MORE INFORMATION TELEPHONE MID BEDS BULLETIN
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Bereavement Support Volunteers Sharing your loss can make the burden of grief easier to manage. Please don’t grieve alone.
03/22
COunCil MeeTinGS
All meetings commence at 7.30pm except Development Scrutiny Committee (Planning) and Human Resources Committee, which start at 6.45pm in the Council Chamber, 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy, SG19 1JE (unless otherwise stated on the cil Agenda). Due to the size of the Coun of ber num ntial pote the and ber Cham and people present, Councillors, officers ed members of the public are encourag to wear face coverings during the meeting.
Monday 13th December 2021 Development Scrutiny Town Council Monday 20th December 2021 Human Resources Community Services & Environment Monday 10th January 2022 Development Scrutiny Policy Finance & Resources r See our website for details of othe meetings. AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC END. PRESS ARE WELCOME TO ATT
Shop Sandy with Christmas Offer Vouchers Residents of Sandy and Beeston received an early Christ ma last month, as ‘Shop San s gift dy’ packed with festive special leaflets offer vouchers for Sandy Hig h Street businesses dropped ont o doormats across the area. There are a fantastic deals, savings and loads of free gifts to be claimed in the run -up to Christmas. If you haven’ t seen the leaflet, just pop into the Co offices during open hou uncil rs one. The leaflets were pro to collect duced using funding from the gov ment’s Welcome Back Fun ernfacilitated by Central Bed d, fordshire Council.
The Mayor ’s Christmas Message
Time has flown by since that hurriedly convened Annual Town Council Mee ting held by Zoom on Thursday 6 May when my fellow members put their faith in me and I became Sandy Town Mayor in succession to Cllr Michael Scott. Such circumstances were forced upon us by the Covid-19 pandemic and central government’s decision not to extend temporary legislation on remote meetings. It was a strange beginning to a new role for mysevery lf and no doubt also for my colleague, Cllr Joanna Hewitt, who was elected the Deputy Mayor at the same virtual meeting. During the ensuing months, the pand emic has remained with us and, despite the considerable success of the vaccine programm e, continues to affect the way we live our lives. Throughout the last two years, Sand y Town Council has had to learn to adapt so that its work on behalf of all residents of the town could continue despite the restriction s placed upon all of us. Remote meetings, home working and social distancing measures were only some of the changes which had to be put in place to comply with legal restrictions. For all this we
Community Grant Funding available
Sandy Town Council has some funding available which local community organisations can apply s for, to help with project ich wh ves iati and init benefit local people. To learn more about available grant funding or to apply, please contact the Town Council using the details below.
Councillor Martin Pettitt Sandy Town Mayor
owe a debt of thanks to our Town Clerk , Chris Robson, who took on additiona Mr l roles, liaising with outside agencies and volu ntary organisations who were supporting the of the more vulnerable in our commun needs ity. The pandemic is not over, however, and I strongly urge everyone to continue takin steps to help protect themselves, their g loved ones and our community, such as takin g regular rapid lateral flow tests, wearing a covering when in confined spaces and face in company of those you do not live with the and getting your vaccinations or boosters when invited to do so. Thoughts are now turning to Christma s with it, the sincere hope that everyone and might be able to enjoy a more normal holid ay season with family and friends. My than ks at this time go out especially to all thos e who continue to serve in the community to look after and care for the sick and vulnerab le. I wish all the people of Sandy and Bees ton a Happy, Healthy and Safe Christmas and a Good New Year
Sandy Green Wheel winter walk
Please drive safely on our High Street
Recently, residents have On Sunday 9th January ut 202 expressed concerns abo join us for the Sandy Gre 2, en at the junction fic traf ng edi spe Wheel Winter Walk. Sta h rt the of Ivel Road and the Hig New Year well, with a tou y larl ticu r par is ich wh , Street through our winter cou chilntr dangerous for the young including the Pinnacle, yside, the St Swithun’s nature reserve and the ban Riddy dren attending . The Council ks ool of Sch ry ma Pri the River Ivel. Meet us at e to Central the issu the ed has rais community stand in the il’s Safer unc town Co ire Bedfordsh centre at 9:15am to collect m, who have tea you ties r uni mm Co map and be ready to set drivers off attended to engage with that 9:30am. The full wheel is at ask uld wo 6 miles We a. are in the and takes around 2½ hou ays rs residents make sure to alw walk but you can join for to and observe as lly efu car e driv much or little of the rou ng in te speed limits when travelli you like. Dogs are welco as me too. n. our tow
10 Cambridge Road, Sandy SG19 1JE Tel: 01767 681491 Fax: 01767 692527 admin@sandytowncouncil.gov.uk www.sandytowncouncil.gov.uk
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— DECEMBER 2021
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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.
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— DECEMBER 2021
LAWN DOCTOR’S QUIZ
Thank you very much to everyone that has contributed to this column over the past year. Your questions, comments, suggestions and observations are always fascinating and as I often say, the hope is always that by addressing a particular concern for one reader it might also be useful for others. So, please keep them coming. Likewise, do keep sending any of your DIY suggestions for the garden that you feel might help others. Somewhat incredibly, it’s that time of the year again for the Annual Gardening Quiz! Complete the answers and if yours is the first one pulled out of the bag, you win an hour’s gardening time from yours truly! Some of you thought that last year’s was too tricky while some thought it was not quite challenging enough, so hopefully this year’s is an improved mixture. First, the answer to last month’s just for fun question is: often to be seen walking the fields in agriculture, although also regularly employed in horticulture, what is the precise job of the agronomist? An agronomist is expert in the science of soil management and crop
Win an hour’s gardening!
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production. So, if you are sitting comfortably, here is this year’s quiz: 1. Which flower’s name comes from the Ancient Greek word for star? 2. What name do the Scots sometimes call the weed noxious ragwort in memory of the infamous Duke of Cumberland’s? 3. Which plant, widespread in Britain, if touched causes a serious chemical reaction which makes skin hypersensitive to ultraviolet light? 4. What is the common name for salix babylonica? 5. Which flower is also the goddess of the rainbow in Greek Mythology? 6. Most species of eucalyptus are native to which country? 7. True or false. Ericaceous plants like acid soil? 8. Who designed the Blue Peter Garden in 1974? 9. The Avenue of the Baobabs is a group of famous trees in which African country? 10. Which garden in the Cotswolds is notable for its miles of sculptured hedges? 11. True or false. Tulips were once so valuable in Holland that their bulbs were worth more than gold? 12. Which king created the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Entries can be emailed to LawnDocGardens@aol.com or posted to: Lawn Doctor Garden Services, 14 Sand Lane, Northill, SG18 9AD but must be received by 15th January 2022. As usual, please contact me with any gardening queries you may have. Best wishes all for a Merry Christmas and a very Happy & Healthy New Year.
AROUND THE CLUBS SANDY TWINNING ASSOCIATION
We are pleased to welcome Francoise Koester and her husband to the Association. The couple recently moved to Sandy from Brighton to be nearer family and are enjoying their new surroundings and the many lovely walks in the area. It is an amazing coincidence that sometime in the past Francoise actually lived in Malaunay and we will be fascinated to learn what were her experiences of the Normandy town. In all of France new cases of the Delta virus are creeping up but remain well below what they are here. In Poland the country is currently in some turmoil over the abortion issue and there have been mass protests across the country. Poland is still a devoutly Catholic country and a recent law has made abortion illegal other than in exceptional circumstances. Another separate crisis is happening along the forested border with Belarus where thousands of Asian migrants are assembled hoping to cross over and so enter the EU. The Polish government is determined to keep them out. It is believed the authorities in Belarus have been deliberately peoplesmuggling, in part as a reprisal against the EU for its on-going sanctions. On the Covid front new cases are still extremely low and the pandemic seems to have paled into insignificance given the political crises. Nevertheless, people are still widely wearing masks, particularly the older generation. Finally I would like to wish all members of the Association a very happy Christmas and New Year. Let’s hope that 2022 gives us the opportunity to renew our contacts
with Friends In Europe. For information about any of the Association’s activities please contact Martin Pettitt on 680082 (martin.pettitt@virginmedia.com) or Max Hill on 681469 (amaxhill@outlook.com)
BIGGLESWADE SANDY LIONS CLUB
I understand that the elves have been hard at work preparing the sleigh for Santa. The reindeer have been booked to pull the sleigh and Santa is getting ready to visit again this year. We can confirm that he will be at Tesco in Sandy on 3rd to 5th December, ASDA in Biggleswade on 11th to 13th December and Sainsbury in Biggleswade on 18th to 20th December. Other venues will be announced as soon as they are confirmed. We were able to be at several events during August and September and I hope you were able to speak to us on those occasions. The next event is the Christmas Dance at the Weatherley Centre on 27th November 8pm to midnight. Tickets at £25 per person including supper can be obtained from Lion Ivor 01767 226419 or Lion Judi 01462 814693. For further details please see our website bslions.org.uk. We wish you all a very happy Christmas and a good New Year. We all hope that 2022 will be a more relaxed year than the last two years. John Bennewith Public Relations Officer Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club
Ann Taylor, Chairman, welcomed the members of the Ivel Valley U3A to their November meeting in St Andrew’s Chapter House on Tuesday 9th. Following the Annual General Meeting in October, it was heartening to see so many members and some new faces at the meeting. The members will be represented at the Remembrance Day Parade in Biggleswade when Brian Tobin will be laying the wreath. Members were reminded the subs of £22.00 were now due. There was also a
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reminder of the Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 15th December at Roxton Garden Centre and that food selection and payment was also due to the treasurer, Audrey Yexley. The chairman then introduced the speaker Eric McLaughin who was to speak about ‘Filming at Hatfield House’. Eric Gave some background information as to why the owners needed to raise large sums of money for the maintenance of the house and grounds. Having come from a background where he served in the Royal Household organising events, he then became an indispensable part as ‘Supervisor’ during many films, music videos, documentaries and other programmes. He recounted many amusing anecdotes and gave the members a glimpse of the background details that go into producing a film or programme. He spoke of various well known stars telling us of their private personas. He was thanked by Chris Davies for a most entertaining and amusing afternoon. The chairman gave a final reminder about the Christmas Lunch and the speaker on the 14th December who will be Jon Hill talking about ‘Red Rubber ball Foundation’.
BIGGLESWADE EVENING TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD
Chairman Ann Taylor welcomed members to the meeting on Monday, November 8. Birthday greetings were given to Marian Todd and Jan Wilkins. In October the walking group visited Radwell Round followed by lunch at Bickerdike’s Garden Centre. The speaker, Thelma Rogers
gave a wonderful and descriptive talk on a typical Christmas in the Welsh valleys in the 1940s. She evoked many memories amongst members with her talk and how different they were to todays consumer driven times. They would hang up a sock on Christmas eve and in the morning there would be a tangerine, a walnut and if lucky some sweets. She recalled the year she had a knitted white bikini and the result of going in the sea during a summer day trip, when the bikini stretched and left her nearly nude. her brother suffered the same fate with his knitted trunks. The gifts received were always handmade and she showed an example of a piece of pit prop that had been fashioned into a train for her brother. Christmas Eve they were visited by carol singers, the next morning would be church followed by chicken for dinner and a visit to Nan’s for tea. Her father who worked at the pit would only have one day off. Thelma never fails to entertain and she was thanked by Rosie Body. The competition for the afternoon, something beginning with the letter T was won by Alison Careless with a thistle emblem, 2nd Chris Davies – tea towel and 3rd Barbara Gould – TePe. The next meeting will be held on the Monday, December 13 and will be our Christmas party. Members to bring a plate of finger foods. There will be a bring and buy stall. The guild meets on the second Monday of the month 2 pm at The Orchard Community Centre, Kings Reach, new members and visitors are very welcome to join us.
View from the Rt Revd
Richard Atkinson
The Bishop of Bedford
COURSE NOT
One of my blessings is my study window that looks out over our front garden and the lane that leads to our house. It is a celebration of the natural world; of God’s gifts to us in creation. As I write there is the richness of the autumn colours as the leaves turn and fall from the trees. At other times of the year there is glorious colour as the fruit of my wife’s gardening comes into bloom. As the Psalmist said: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! It is a green space that is regularly visited by animals and birds from the fields roundabout. In the sweet chestnut there are blue tits who live in one of the hollows. Squirrels compete with each other to race up and down, or to collect the nuts. Occasionally a pheasant struts by, a Muntjac deer grazes or even an errant sheep wanders in from the field down the lane. To my mind, most stunning of all are the occasional hares who visit. D.H Lawrence once wrote: “Don’t you find it a beautiful clean thought, a world empty of people, just uninterrupted grass, and a hare sitting up?” These wonderful creatures with their powerful hind legs can often be seen loping across the fields. Creatures that sadly are also often hunted by dogs as a form of vicious sport cheered on by crowds of on-lookers. A recently posted video shows it in all its cruel reality. Yet what is doubly disturbing is the damage and intimidation that accompanies the hare coursing. Vehicles driven across crops, threats to those who try to stop them and even assault. On our local walks we see the trenches that have been dug and the barriers erected to try and prevent vehicles accessing the fields. It is a consistent concern for our farmers and land-owners who do so much to ensure our well-being through the provision of essential food. I am grateful to Richard Fuller, our North Bedfordshire MP, for putting forward a bill in Parliament to deter the sport, increase the penalties and aid the Police in their actions against the crime. But more than that, all of us need to play our part in protecting our countryside, cherishing our farmers and celebrating the richness of creation. Combatting hare coursing is just one modest but significant way of doing just that.
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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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Scald End Farm Sunday Lunch Menu
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Mill Road, Thurleigh, Bedford MK44 2DP Email: info@scaldendfarm.com www.scaldendfarm.com OPENING HOURS Thursday - Friday 9:30am-5pm
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— DECEMBER 2021
TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
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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2021 ESTATE AGENT IN BEDFORD
NOVEMBER 2021
EDITION
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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
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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.
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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:
20
— 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.
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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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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
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sport FOOTBALL – WADERS ROUNDUP BY MIKE DRAXLER
Sensational night of end-toend football, what a match! BIGGLESWADE TOWN ...3 LEISTON ............................2 Tuesday October 26 Certainly, being a Wader fan takes you through all the emotions, sometimes in 90 minutes or over on a few matches. After last Saturday at Rushden, comparable to an end of season game, which Waders would turn up tonight? Leiston fresh from an emphatic win at Tamworth, riding high for a play-off place, fancied their chances against the Waders. BUT, yes and you know there is always a BUT, right
from the off we knew which Waders were at the Yvette Brewer Stadium tonight. The fired up, free flowing football we all know they can play. Joe Neal leading the line backed up by Squires, Cardines, Silva and Junior Muyembe. Dazzling, the Leiston defence looked nervous under the forward pressure. 14 gone and Joe Neal is bearing down on goal after escaping his marker. We know the keeper well, Sam Donkin who spent some time as a Wader. Neal hit the
shot so hard and true to give the home side the lead. Within 90 seconds Ronan Silva robbed the centre back after a slip and repeated Neil’s goal to rapturous applause to make it 2-0. Going well and thoughts of a few Tuesdays back with mutterings of 7. Pure dreaming as Leiston got their act together, Donkin floating in a free kick, misjudged by most to fall to Adam Mills whose perfect shot reduced the deficit on 24. End to end the game flowed, captivating unable to miss a
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moment. 38 gone and Leiston are on level terms through Jake Hutchings to level the game up before the break. Out for the second half, Nunney working his magic as the Waders continued to press. Joe Neal able to slip his marker on a few occasions, with Donkin showing his very best to thwart the green number nine. But not so on 58 as Neal got his boot to a corner to give the ascendancy back to the home side. It was going to be a tense, exciting last 30 minutes as
Leiston set about the equaliser. They pressed and pressed but the back line of Farrell, Howe, Hall and Parker did a great job containing the visiting forwards to see the Waders out 3-2 winners. A great advert for grass roots football. To the neutral, great football and excitement to the last.
More reports on next page Man of the match: Joe Neal.
MID BEDS BULLEINT
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TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com
sport FOOTBALL – WADERS ROUNDUP BY MIKE DRAXLER
Never going to be easy against Wisbech FA TROPHY 3rd QUALIFYING ROUND WISBECH TOWN ................ 0 BIGGLESWADE TOWN .....2 Saturday October 30 Not too far from the coast with the ground just a metre above sea level, one of the most exposed pitches in the football pyramid the home side took to the conditions quicker than the visiting Waders. The match was never going to be easy with Biggleswade not taking a grip on
the game from the off. The ball spent long periods of time in the air as both defences attempted clearances which denied the crowd of 189 a game of flowing football. The best chance of the half went to Wisbech 5 Jon Fairweather whose powerful header from a corner grazed the bar. Not too much more to recommend the first 45. Out for the second period and more like the Waders we love as the ball stayed nearer to the pitch,
with Joe Neal, Luca Cardines and Junior Muyembe able to gather some ground and pace. Joe Neal it was who broke the deadlock on 60 with a powerful run and finish beating the keeper low to the left. Blake D’Arcy replaced Cardines on 66 and had his name on the score sheet on 67. A header at the back post sealing the win and deflating Wisbech who never really got back into the game. In the end a sufficient and efficient win in a potential banana skin
match. Biggleswade progress to the next round.
BIGGLESWADE TOWN......0 HITCHIN TOWN ..................0 Saturday November 6 Life is like that, we know the potential of the Wader’s squad, having witnessed October, moving into November has seen a fall in form. But the next game against Enfield beckons and hopefull! Always passionate affairs, Man of the match: Russell Short.
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STOURBRIDGE .......................2 BIGGLESWADE TOWN .........0
Saturday November 20 The longest travel in the fixtures, saw us once again return with nil points. Recalling a win at
Man of the match: Jake Alley.
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matches against your nearest rivals, this failed the billing by a long way. Hitchin have not won a game for many weeks, the Waders stuttering along. The form book gave this fixture no chance of enthralling the 342 spectators. Hitchin took up the offensive with the Waders defending well with Russell Short back after injury to fill in for injured Shane Bush. A great save by Jake Alley in the home goal denied Hitchin midway through the first half. Chances after that 0. After the break both sides warmed up for the second period with a chance a piece but unable to break the deadlock. From there it was all downhill, as the sides cancelled each other out. With James Peters receiving a second yellow in the 76th minute Biggleswade defended in depth and kept the score line intact.
Stourbridge would certainly test the memory banks. On the wall in the club house is a picture from 2013, when in the 1st round proper of the FA cup, we were soundly beaten 4-1. Yesterdays game started off with a severe test for Jake Alley as he pushed a thunderbolt of a shot round the post. From there on the first 45 went to sleep with neither side creating although Stourbridge did the better but no conversions. At half time and 0-0 all to play for. After the break certainly the Waders came out fighting and creating with Neal, Squire and Silva linking up with Ben Stevens to give the travelling fans and your reporter something to cheer. But and you know, in front of goal the forwards went all shy and failed to apply the finish or it was off target. 72 in and Stourbridge 9 Reece Styche got his head to a ball and broke the deadlock and a few Wader hearts as it was impossible to see where an equaliser was coming from. On 83 Styche again, breaking through the defensive line slid the ball past the advancing Alley to make it two.