Sticks May 2015

Issue 30 May 2015

In this edition of The Sticks Exclusive interview with Comedy Legend Jimmy Jones Our Hero Cheese of the Month Advice from Consensus HR BBC’s Radio 2’s Janey Lee Grace on Garden on a Roll We road test the Seat Alhambra Relationship Advice And much more Plus pages of events listings across Herts, Beds & Bucks

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Welcome to the May edition of The Sticks Magazine!

The most talked about magazine in Herts, Beds & Bucks With over 16,000 readers a month

In this issue: Exclusive interview with Jimmy Jones HR Column from Consensus HR Curwens Column Relationship Advice Art Column Janey Lee Grace – Garden on a Roll Car Test – Seat Alhambra Hero Cheese of the Month Big Barn Food Column Listings – Herts, Beds & Bucks

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Contributors: Terry Sullivan, Janey Lee Grace Andrew Merritt-Morling, Jo Coker, Sharon Struckman

See you in June!

Editor & Sales: Terry Sullivan Tel: 07756 274444 Email: thesticks9@gmail.com www.the-sticks.co.uk Follow us on twitter @thesticks9 www.facebook.com/sticksmag

Listen to The Sticks Radio Show at 10am on Mondays on Secklow Sounds www.secklowsounds.org

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Exclusive Interview with Comedian Jimmy Jones Jimmy Jones is the biggest British comedy star never to have had his own television series. For five decades Jimmy has been Britain’s most successful live comedian – performing around 275 sell-out live shows every year.

They call him ‘the Guvnor’ and Godfather of Adult Comedy.

Jimmy’s life in comedy is the subject of this exclusive interview and what a life it has been. Summoned by Michael Jackson to his suite at the Dorchester… swapping gags with Prince Philip … pouring brandy for Princess Margaret out of a teapot … performing for some of Britain’s most notorious gangsters … Jimmy is very much in the vulgar but popular tradition of Max Miller … which isn’t surprising, since it was a youthful encounter with Max that inspired him to go into show business!

The Beatles, Dudley Moore, Tom Selleck, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd and Benny Hill. They’re all fans, most have been friends, and Jimmy has hilarious tales to tell.

What you’re famous for are the live shows and the fast and furious gags and the political incorrectness. Yes I tell gags, I see lots of the new generation of comics and they tell some lovely stories but they don’t make me laugh and I am waiting for the punchline. I like to see a belly laugh I don’t like to hear that ‘ha ha’!

What do you think of current comedy and sit-coms on the TV? Not much, I have spent the last two Christmases watching Morecombe and Wise, The Two Ronnies and everything else like that and they are the only things that made me laugh, although I do like Mrs Browns Boys, Brendan O’Carroll is a very funny and nice guy.

You have been in show business for 50 years; a lot of things must have changed?

Actually you are a bit light, I am just coming up to my 55th year, I used to do 275 shows a year but times have changed. I used to go to Bailey’s at Watford and I would start on a Sunday night and be there till the following Saturday, that does not happen anymore, it is one-nighters now and few venues can do 2 maybe 3 nights but not many do weeks. Even summer season is not the same; years ago I worked Great Yarmouth did the Britannia and Wellington piers, on the Wellington pier I did 12 weeks then I changed from there and went to Bournemouth to do the pier there and I would be there for 16 weeks, but now it is only 6 weeks during the school holidays and it is a different show each night. I remember I would be on one pier Russ Abbot on the other and Freddie Starr would come down and do the Sunday show. I can remember going on tour and there was only 2 of us on the bill Bob Monkhouse and myself, I would do the first half basically singing, as I was singing in those days with just little bits of comedy and Bob would take over the

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second half and we would spend weeks down in places like Margate and Ramsgate as they were close to one another then Folkestone and Eastbourne.

I first met Bob when I was a kid, I was seventeen and I sneaked in to this show called “A Night at the Comedy” in London and the compere was a fella called Ray Martine and it was like a talent show. When I appeared on it, on the bill was Kim Cordell, Mrs Shalwick, I was one singer and the other was a lady called Queenie Watts and closing the first half was an up and coming comedian from Liverpool by the name of Jimmy Tarbuck and closing the show a guy by the name of Jimmy James (who we all called Stumpy Marsh) and his comedy stooge the late Roy Castle. I used to work with Roy for weeks on end at places like Jollies in Stoke. I was his support act and we used to have people like Peter Gordeno and Tony Christie also Sid Little and Eddie Large on the bill.

Your act is know for being blue and you like to engage with the audience. Yes, so anyone who is easily offended it is not for them and if anyone moves while I am on stage we will have a chat. I don’t go out of my way to insult people, I make humour out of what they are doing, like on one of my videos I followed a lady in to the toilet and I said “I am on the stage” and she said “I could not hold on any longer” it I that sort of thing I do and the crowd love it.

Tell us about your Catchphrase “Kin’ell”.

There have all sorts of stories how I got Kin’ell but the real reason behind it is, for my sins I happen to be a Spurs supporter and Spurs were playing Sunderland, and Sunderland had a player called George Kinnell and they got a penalty and George missed and all the Sunderland supporters went “Kinnell” and I thought I like that, so I used from then on.

You are the biggest comic never to have your on TV show, why was that? Believe it or not do you know who tried to get me my own TV show - it was Benny Hill but they were frightened of me and I look at TV now and I hear the likes of Alan Carr. I don’t know why but I was not even allowed to use “Kin’ell”. Johnny Hamp wanted me to use it on The Comedians show but it meant that he had to spend a few minutes every time explaining why I was using “Kin’ell” so he told me, you can’t use it Jim, you only had 12 minutes and that was your 12 minutes and Johnny cut that around exactly as he wanted it. It was a great showcase, it changed me from being a singer/comedian to a comedian/singer, but there are not many of the original guys left unfortunately, there’s only Jim Bowen, Duggie Brown and me.

What did you do before you got in to show business? I was a lorry driver for a long time around the docks, I got married at a very young age and had 6 children and I 5

had to work and the entertainment business was a little up and down in those days.

I used to go out and sing every weekend, I was known in those days believe it or not as the “whistling wonder” as I used to do bird impressions and Bob Wheatley phoned me up one day and a guy called Don Whiteman (who had a band) had just phoned him to say he was looking for a compere tonight at The Royal Standard at Walthamstow “are you interested?”, I said of course I am, so I had to be there for 7pm so I finished work at 5pm and got myself dressed and shot straight over to the Royal Standard. I had taken over from a very good comic called Charlie Smithers and that was not an easy task, but of course I was singing mainly in those days and I got to see the comics performing on the show and that was how I learnt my trade.

One day I had this very bad throat and I was drinking brandy & port thinking it was going to clear it up and the doctor said you have to stop talking and stop singing in particular and stop drinking brandy & port, because it is melting your vocal tissue together. That night I had an act there by the name of Ronnie Twist and he said “why don’t you help yourself to my gags but just remember if ever we are on a show together you don’t do my gags also always remember who you nick a gag off too”. So I did more comedy and less singing, it stretched from one or two gags to a 15 minute break in the middle of the show, which the band liked because they could go have a pint etc. and that just put my wages up.

Is this right you originally wanted to be a priest? Yes I did. I’ll be honest with you I was brought up a Catholic. In 1938-39 the church moved the family out of London to Rainham in Essex and we got a house out there and by the age of 5 I was an altar boy and the order we had there was an American order and they were lovely priests and I thought this is what I want to do, because they would go around the world to lots of different places and I also when to a Catholic school called St Peters in Dagenham and it meant a great deal to me.

I got 2 good hidings and here I am at 77 years old and I still remember them, I got caught smoking at the age of seven in the toilets and Sister Stephanie whacked me with her belt across the backs of my legs and I have never touched a cigarette from that day to this and I got another good hiding at school this time from Sister Dominic for not paying attention in music classes and I finished up becoming a singer. At the age of 11 that’s what I really thought I wanted to be but Sister Dominic sat me down and said I think God has given you the talent to be an entertainer. Would you believe it, 2 weeks later I won “Carroll Levis Discoveries”. Carroll Levis was the big man in those days and I went on tour with him but I had to be out of the theatre by 9pm as I was so young. I made a fatal mistake in that I was asked to do radio for a fella called Hughie Green and I went and did Opportunity Knocks on Radio Luxemburg and when Carroll Levis heard about that he gave me the sack that night as they were rivals and I lost my £8 a week wages which was a lot of money then but it is all part and parcel of my life story.

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Is it right that members of the Royal family are big fans of yours? Yes they are I am pleased to say. I used to work in a London night club called Gulliver’s and they had a downstairs room and we called it Kin’ells and I went on every night around about midnight and I used to entertain nothing but foreign visitors, Jewish clientele and people from the entertainment business because they had all finished work and used to come down to the club; also Princess Margaret used to come in regularly to see me and she brought Prince Charles down. I ended up doing a couple of Royal command performances for them. I have also worked for both The Krays and The Richardsons and also done shows for villains the length and breath of Britain along with lots of charity events for numerous police forces.

Read more about Jimmy’s Life in his Autobiography “Now This Is a Very True Story” which you can buy either from his website www.jimmyjones.co.uk or from Jimmy in person at his live shows.

See Jimmy Jones live - Jimmy Jones: Return of the Guvnor at The Main Hall, Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ on Saturday 20 June 7.30pm in a very special charity show in aid of Transitions UK (charity no 1160105 www.transitionsuk.org) Tickets: £20 Box Office: 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk

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The Arrival of Shared Parental Leave From this month, parents who are expecting a baby or adopting a child will be able to share parental leave. How do the UK's new rules on parental leave work?

In October 2014 we wrote a blog telling our clients and followers how this would affect their business. Now that the new rules have been introduced, we would like to remind everyone of what is involved: Shared Parental Leave (SPL) has arrived.

Shared Parental Leave is a new right that came into force on 1st December 2014 that would affect people who are going to have a baby due to be born on or after the 5th April 2015.

It will now enable eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to choose how to share time off work after their child is born or placed. This could mean that the mother or adopter shares some of the leave with her partner, perhaps returning to work for part of the time and then resuming leave at a later date.

The options to use the new Shared Parental Leave rights will apply for parents who meet the following eligibility criteria: • Going to have a baby which is due to be born on or after 5 April 2015 • Adopting a child or children whose are placed for adoption on or after this date Shared Parental Leave is designed to give parents more flexibility in sharing the care of their child in the first year following birth or adoption. Parents will also be able to share a pot of leave. They can decide to be off work at the same time and/or taking it in turns to have periods of leave to look after the child.

“Managing and administering SPL may be hard for businesses with a small headcount, particularly where a husband and wife are working together,” says Matthew of Consensus HR. “You will need to ensure that the correct procedures are put in place so as to minimise any disruption to the business”.

Five key points of Shared Parental Leave: •

Employed mothers will continue to be entitled to 52 weeks of Maternity Leave and 39 weeks of statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance

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If they choose to do so, an eligible mother can end her Maternity Leave early and with her partner or the child’s father, will be able to opt for SPL instead of Maternity Leave. If they both meet the qualifying requirements, they will need to decide how they divide their total SPL and pay entitlement between them.

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Paid Paternity Leave of two weeks will continue to be available to fathers and mothers or adopter's partners. This must be used in a single block of leave and taken within 56 days of the birth.

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Adopters will have the same rights as other parents to Shared Parental Leave and pay

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Intended parents in surrogacy who meet certain criteria will be eligible for statutory adoption leave and pay and Shared Parental Leave and Pay

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Who is eligible for SPL? To qualify for Shared Parental Leave and pay, a mother must share the main responsibility for caring for the child with the child's father or her partner. In addition, she must be entitled to: • • •

Maternity or adoption leave, or Statutory maternity or adoption pay, or Maternity allowance

In addition, they will be required to follow a two-step process to establish eligibility.

When can SPL be taken?

Shared Parental Leave may be taken at any time within set dates. This period of time begins on the date the child is born (or date of the placement). It ends 52 weeks after that date. Leave must be taken in complete weeks. An employer cannot refuse leave requested as a continuous period; however leave in a discontinuous period can be refused. The mother must take a minimum of two weeks’ leave after the birth of the child or four weeks if they work in a factory. It will be for the mother or adopter to continue on Maternity Leave or opt to take Shared Parental Leave.

Consensus HR Comment: “We updated our clients about the new SPL rules back in October 2014. We also took the opportunity to highlight that when a pregnancy or parental leave request is announced, a business should celebrate with the employee. It’s important to generate good morale,” says Matthew. “Employees feels supported as the business fully understands their wish to share time with their children.”

“From the business’ perspective, solutions to cover the absent parent’s leave periods should be sought immediately. This can involve rearrangement of duties or recruiting a temporary employee, for example.”

“I am waiting to see how this affects sexual equality of workers in the workplace” adds Matthew. “It will be up to the parents to decide who takes the time off. The pure capability of the person - regardless of sex – will be the main factor of employment. It will be interesting to see the impact of this new Government family friendly scheme upon businesses. I will keep you all informed!”

Consensus HR advises businesses to seek professional HR advice and support in these circumstances. This ensures that the employer’s actions do not contravene of the law in general and the Equality Act 2010 in particular.

The BBC published an excellent article on the new Shared Parental Leave rules this week.

Read it here.

If you would like more information of have any specific queries, contact Matthew at Consensus HR via Matthew@consensushr.com or call 01462 621 423.

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YOUR LOCAL SOLICITORS

Has the Court opened the door for your ex-partner to claim financial support from you - even after many years of divorce?

The case of Vince v Wyatt has made the headlines recently when the Supreme Court decided that the Wife could make a claim for financial support from her Husband. They had been divorced for 22 years!

During their short 2 year marriage, they lived a ‘New Age traveller’ lifestyle and relied on state benefits for the most part. They had one child together. When they got divorced, they had little or nothing to divide between them, so did not bother entering into any financial settlement.

Some years after the divorce, the Husband became a multi-millionaire founder of a WindPower firm, whilst the Wife remained on a basic, low income.

The Wife decided the difference in their positions was unfair and so applied to the Family Court for a lump sum payment from her Husband - and for an order that he should help pay toward her legal costs. She argued that she had shouldered the responsibility of raising their child and had not received much financial assistance from the Husband.

The Husband applied for the Wife’s application to be struck-out because it had been so many years since they divorced.

The Supreme Court finally decided in March that the Wife did have the right to make her application against the Husband. One of the most notable reasons for this decision was that the Court agreed the Wife had raised the child, for the most part, by herself.

However, this “child” is now in his 30’s!

There has not yet been a final decision as to what, if anything, the Wife will actually be awarded as a result of her application. The courts may be wary to award her anything substantial for fear of opening a “flood-gate” of similar claims.

Couples increasingly want to save costs so deal with their own divorce proceedings.

However, the divorce does not automatically stop the parties having financial claims against each other – which is not widely known. It is therefore vital that parties get some specialist legal advice on divorce – to clarify what they need to finalise the financial position between them.

If you would like more information on Divorce, Financial Settlements, or family law issues generally please contact: amanda.thurston@curwens.co.uk Curwens have offices in Royston, Hoddesdon and Enfield.

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I’ve Looked at Life From Both Sides Now….

Perhaps a bit of a cliché but I was reminded of this when I recently attended a meeting for The College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT). The content of the meeting is not what is important here but rather the relationship between the twelve participants around the table, all of whom were female. I was one of those participants and, although I knew a few of the members, I was the new girl in respect of attending a formal meeting. It has been more than 8 years since I attended a similar meeting and back then it was under entirely different circumstances, as all participants had been male, including me!

I found myself reflecting, at this most recent meeting, on how the two meetings differed due to the genders of the participants. My earlier meetings were, more often than not, quite confrontational, dealing with progress on construction projects – someone had to take the blame!

The construction meetings which I attended always had the same format. They began with talk about sport over the pre-meeting coffee with perhaps a side chat about progress on site and who was in the firing line this week. As the client it was very rare for me to be the subject of the side negotiations but I was often involved in order that I was aware of what was going on. The topic of sport was never an interest and on that basis alone I was often the outsider and a bit different from the others. Part of my camouflage was to try to guess which match would be discussed and do a bit of homework. I was OK with it but never really felt a part of the ‘boys club’. The meetings could be heated and testosterone-induced aggression was often present particularly if a project was going badly and everyone was looking for someone else to blame. Even in calmer meetings there was often an air of one-upmanship, as participants tried to show just how good they and their companies were.

This most recent meeting was much calmer; it was a friendlier environment in which to work and certainly no rivalry was evident to me. Of course, it was not a commercial meeting but I somehow feel that, even had it been so, the whole ambience would have remained on a more feminine and friendlier basis. My one faux pas – when introduced to a new colleague I reached out and shook hands. She took it well but I suspect it is not a greeting she is used to. I was slightly worried by my return to a more masculine approach to the meeting environment but soon recovered and had a thoroughly enjoyable day – warmth, laughter and learning: quite a new experience after so long.

Of course there is also the interim period of transition when I became the only female within my usual male environment. I am not sure who was more ill at ease during the early encounters but my position as client certainly provided a great deal of protection. I was never openly challenged or ridiculed but of course I have no idea what was said about me in private. I had always been somewhat of an outsider and that isolation grew exponentially for the 12 months or so that I managed to stay the course. Eventually it became too much and I moved on. The experience however will always stay with me and I am sure colours my approach to

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meetings now that I approach them entirely as a woman. I will continue to learn but I certainly know which side of life I prefer.

Kirstie is an integrative therapist, a general member of the College Of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Having spent 25 years working in commerce and achieving Director level in a medium-sized architectural practice, I found I could no longer live the lie that I had for so many years. In January 2010, at age 55, I had sex reassignment surgery, after completing the required two years’ living in my acquired gender as a woman. My aim is to be a positive role model for the transgender community and to provide therapeutic help to others thinking about, travelling or having completed the transition journey. I work from premises located in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Web: www.transgendercounselling.co.uk If you are having relationship difficulties, why not speak to one of our specialist therapists. Sessions are available from just ÂŁ15.00. Contact Kathy Freeman on 01462-674671 option 2.

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Artists Profile - Peter Deighan

By Sharon Struckman - Art Gallery Owner Internationally renowned portrait painter Peter Deighan will be exhibiting at Mardleybury Gallery, Datchworth, from the 6th to the 31st of May. Deighan’s raw talent, his artistic eye, elevated him from a Luton-based Vauxhall welder to an artist of incredible calibre – whose work is hanging in private collections from North America to the Vatican.

Peter Deighan is widely regarded as one of the countries finest Portrait and Sporting Painters. Born in Ireland but living and working in the UK, he predominantly works in the medium of oil paint. His subjects vary from portraits, to sporting scenes and still life studies plus an abundance of wildlife paintings from his many visits to Africa.

He held his first major exhibition in the Duke of Bedford’s stately home, Woburn Abbey. Among his earlier commissions were portraits of the comedian Eric Morecambe, footballer Jimmy Greaves, speaker of the House of Commons Selwyn Lloyd, Cardinal Basil Hume Archbishop of Westminister (this portrait hangs in the Vatican), Frederick Forsyth, Lester Piggott, Steve Davis, and the first official portrait of Prime Minister, John Major. Some of his more noteworthy Irish portraits were of Peadar O’Donnell, Sean McBride, Charles J. Haughey and Michael O’Hehir which were unveiled on RTE’s Late Late Show in Dublin.

As Peter’s reputation grew, he began to receive commissions from North America. His notable patrons included Payne Stewart, Peter visited Payne Stewart’s home in Florida to paint his portrait, there he met and was commissioned to paint Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara. Shortly after the tragic death of Payne Stewart, Peter’s portrait of the golfer sold for £1.4 million.

Peter quickly established a reputation as one of the leading Sporting Painters and received commissions from prominent members of the racing fraternity, including Vincent O’Brien, JP McManus, Robert Sangster, Captain John MacDonald-Buchanan, Lord and Lady Tavistock, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum. With the popularity of his equine paintings, Peter continued to receive commissions from the world of Football, Golf, Rugby, Boxing, Formula 1 and Snooker and was commissioned to paint the 2006 European Ryder Cup team by Dr Michael Smurfit, for the K Club. He has had his paintings displayed in the annual exhibitions of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Society of Equestrian Artists in London.

Peter will be taking part in Herts Visual Arts Open Studios at Mardleybury Gallery in September this year. www.mardleyburygallery.co.uk

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Garden On A Roll

You – like me may not be green fingered but it’s the time of year when most of us are thinking of a nice garden.

I always thought that companion planting meant planting near other plants but then I found the weeds strangling my plants or the slugs eating them.

Enter the innovative award winning ‘Garden on a Roll’ by Hertfordshire expert garden designer Antony Henn. Antony Henn has been designing and creating amazing gardens since 1993. He and his family developed The Dutch Nursery in Hertfordshire selling plants and garden sundries through the eighties and nineties to this day.

Antony’s vast plant knowledge and experience has enabled him to present many gardening shows and hosts his own gardening phone-in with his brother Alex on the BBC. “I have always tried to help people who know very little about plants to get the best out of their gardens. As a designer I have created many stunning gardens and always felt that lots of people would love to do it themselves but are too afraid to admit they know nothing about plants. Most people go to a garden centre and load their trolleys with what they think looks good, but when they get home they forget what they were told – planting them too close together and with no design theme or idea. The plants may grow but more often than not they are in the wrong place, may not have continuity of flowering and don’t necessarily compliment each other.

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Antony said “Having heard many disaster stories of people wasting time and money, only to then totally lose interest in gardening, that’s when I thought of Garden on a Roll.” How easy it would be if non-gardeners could use a template so they could guarantee success every time!

Garden on a Roll makes DIY gardening so much easier You get everything you need to create your very own professionally designed garden border. You can choose from Evergreen, Mixed Border, Mediterranean Border, Bee and Butterfly and many more.

The ‘planting by numbers’ approach works surprisingly well. It’s all delivered to your door. They offer a revolutionary, bio-degradable, paper template which is all marked up to help you position the plants perfectly and suppresses weeds for up to 3 months.

All you need to do is Mark out the border width on the ground. Prepare the ground by digging to a depth of at least 8 inches. (I got the kids to do that bit!).

Roll out the paper plan and peg into ground (even the pegs are supplied). Place the pre-numbered plants on their indicated positions which ensure correct spacing and then remove the pots and slip the plant into the ground through the holes cut into paper.

The paper plan stays in place and can be covered with a layer of top soil or bark chippings and of course it’s biodegradable. Water your plants and … Voila, a beautiful border! www.gardenonaroll.co.uk 18

Efficient New Engines Headline Mid-Life Facelift for Seat Alhambra

Seat has officially unveiled a refreshed version of its Alhambra MPV that boasts a range of three revised engines capable of emitting as little as 130g/km whilst returning 57.6mpg.

The only visual clues to the Spanish car’s makeover are new LED headlights and tail lamps, a redesigned radiator grille and new alloy wheel designs.

Inside, there is a new steering wheel carried over from the smaller Leon, a revised centre console and chrome trim. The interior trim is also available with a choice of new colours. Massaging seats are also available along with keyless entry and start.

More significantly, the company says it has “completely redeveloped” the engine line-up with the company claiming that “the turbocharged direct-injection units are up to 15% more fuel efficient.”

There are two 2.0-litre diesel units and a 148bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine to choose from. The diesel unit is available with outputs of 148bhp or 182bhp. The lowerpowered unit returns a decent 57.6mpg and emits 130g/km of CO2.

All the engines comply with the latest Euro6 emission regulations and can be mated to a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The only exception to this rule is the entry-level diesel model.

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The latest generation of Easy Connect Infotainment system is also being made available on the revised Alhambra. It brings a high-resolution touch screen and satellite navigation.

Safety equipment has also been improved with the standard fitment of multicollision brake preventing further accidents after a collision. Blind spot monitoring and DCC adaptive chassis control have been made available as optional extras.

The latest Alhambra will arrive in the company’s UK dealer network during the summer with order books opening in May. Before that, full pricing and specifications will be released closer to the launch date. www.first4auto.com www.facebook.com/first4auto Twitter: @first4auto ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.the-sticks.co.uk To advertise your event, show, restaurant or business on our website or in our digital magazine. Prices from ÂŁ10 per month Call 07756 274444 or email thesticks9@gmail.com

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Hero Cheese of the Month - Beaufort Beaufort is a remarkable cheese, one of the noble Alpine cheeses. It's produced exclusively from unpasteurised cow's milk in the French Alps of the Haute-Savoie, from the milk of cows that, in the best examples of the cheese, graze on sustainable mountain pastures, imparting unique grassy, flowery aromas to the meaty cheeses, which have a firm yet buttery taste which melts easily in the mouth.

It's a behemoth of a cheese, with wheels weighing up to 130 pounds. Beaufort is without doubt one of the finest hard cheeses produced in the world today.

To make Beaufort, first, the milk is heated and then cast into a beechwood hoop or mould which gives the cheese its distinctive concave shape. It is pressed for 24 hours, taken out of the hoops and then cooled for another 24 hours. Once cooled, it is soaked in brine and then stored on spruce shelves for one to two months. During this part of the process, one side of the cheese is hand-salted each morning, then turned over and massaged each afternoon. Once the cheese rind has reached a level of maturity, the cheese is smear-ripened with a mixture called morge which produces its strong flavour and pale yellow rind. The prepared cheese must then age for 6–12 months, or even longer, in a cool mountain cellar.

Beaufort cheese is pale yellow, with a smooth and creamy texture and lacks holes like other Gruyère-style cheeses. Beaufort also has a very distinct aroma, sometime described as strong or mildly pungent and reminiscent of the pastures on which the Tarentaise and Abondance cows graze to provide the milk used for the cheese.

Beaufort is a good table cheese and is commonly used to make cheese fondue because it melts easily. One of the many cheeses that go well with a white wine like a Sancerre, made from Sauvignon Blanc

26 High Street, Buntingford, Herts, SG9 9AQ www.thecheeseplate.co.uk Tele: 01763 271533 Email: Toby@thecheeseplate.co.uk 21

The Dangers of Processed Food. New Book from Joanna Blythman

BigBarn hero, Joanna Blythman went undercover and gained unprecedented access to the food industry in writing her latest book “Swallow This” which is an exploration of the food processing industry – not just the more obvious ready meals, chicken nuggets and tinned soups, but bagged salads, smoothies, yoghurts, bread and fruit juice we don’t usually associate with arrays of additives.

“Forget illegal, horse-meat-scandal processes, every step in the production of these is legal, but practised by a strange and inaccessible industry, with methods a world-away from our idea of domestic food preparation, and obscured by technical speak, unintelligible ingredients manuals, and clever labelling practices.”

Here are some extracts to whet your appetite.

Food engineers can now create a ‘natural’ mature cheese flavouring within 72 hours Joanna: “My growing preoccupation was how little we know about the food that sits on our supermarket shelves, in boxes, cartons.

Over the past few years, the food industry has embarked on an operation it dubs “clean label”, with the goal of removing the most glaring industrial ingredients and additives.”

A factory pantry looks nothing like yours. When the home cook decides to make a Bakewell tart, she or he puts together a lineup of familiar ingredients: raspberry jam, flour, butter, whole eggs, almonds, butter and sugar. The factory food technologist, on the other hand, approaches the tart from a totally different angle: what alternative ingredients can we use to create a Bakewell tart-style product, while replacing or reducing expensive ingredients – those costly nuts, butter and berries? How can we cut the amount of butter, yet boost that buttery flavour, while disguising the addition of cheaper fats? What sweeteners can we add to lower the tart’s blatant sugar content and justify a “reduced calorie” label? How many times can we reuse the pastry left over from each production run in subsequent ones?

What antioxidants could we throw into the mix to prolong the tart’s shelf life? Which enzyme would keep the almond sponge layer moist for longer? Might we use a long-life raspberry purée and gel mixture instead of conventional jam? What about coating the almond sponge layer with an invisible edible film that would keep the almonds crunchy for weeks? Could we substitute some starch for a proportion of the flour to give a more voluminously risen result?

With a food industry obsessed with profit and reducing cost our prediction at BigBarn is that it will not be long before these kind of practices end in another big food scare.

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of some of today’s most incredible adventurers, see amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports and be inspired by thought-provoking pieces shot from the far flung corners of the globe. An inspiring and festive evening with lots of free prize giveaways! Visit www.banff-uk.com for more details. Tickets £14.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Herts Listings Oliver! - til Saturday 2 May The award winning St Albans Operatic Society presents Lionel Bart’s Oliver! The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD Radlett Players Presents: Tons of Money - til Saturday 2 May Unsuccessful inventor Aubrey Allington inherits a small fortune, and then fakes his own death in order to avoid paying his creditors. He ‘resurrects’ himself as cousin George, who is thought to have died abroad.

The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

An Evening Of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show - Sat 2 May 8pm Embarking upon its 5th Anniversary tour An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show is a 5 star homage to the greatest movie soundtrack of all time.

Often imitated but never bettered, this is the original celebration of the iconic music from the multi-award winning soundtrack to Dirty Dancing. A high energy emotional rollercoaster of an evening with breathtaking choreography and buckets of nostalgia. Put your dancing shoes on and get ready to have the time of your life! Includes the classic songs: Big Girls Don’t Cry, Hey Baby, Wipeout, Do You Love Me, Hungry Eyes and the Oscar-winning (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. Please note this production is not affiliated with Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage on tour in the UK and worldwide Tickets £20.50, £18.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

The Small Hours by Francis Durbridge - til Saturday 2 May What do a koala bear, a devious chef and an emerald necklace have in common? Carl - a hotelier - nearly loses his life in finding out, in this thriller of international intrigue which bears all the Durbridge hallmarks of suspense, mystery and murder. Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8BE Vamos Theatre - Nursing Lives - Fri 1 May A heart-warming wartime tale of bravery and love from the UK’s leading full mask theatre company The story ... When Flo, a feisty seventy-something, learns that the hospital she trained at during the Second World War is being demolished. Rhodes Arts Complex, South Road, Bishops Stortford, CM23 3JG Kimpton May Festival - Fri 1 to Mon 4 May “All the fun of the Fair” is the theme of this year’s Kimpton May Festival our 51st. KMF is set be to four days of fun filled events.

Kimpton SG4 8RB

Birds Of Bray at Christopher Place Mall - Sat 2 May Come and visit Christopher Place favourites The Birds of Bray. See these beautiful birds up close and learn about the amazing work the people behind the Birds of Bray do. Christopher Place, Upper Dagnall Street, St Albans AL3 5DQ

Kimpton Art Show - Fri 1 to Mon 4 May As part of Kimpton May Festival weekend, Kimpton Art Show brings together more than 100 artists from across the region exhibiting oils, watercolours and mixed media. The art, priced from £30 to £3,000 Kimpton Parish Church St. Peter and St. Paul SG4 8RR

Hertfordshire Garden Show - Sat 2 to Mon 4 May Get your garden into shape for the new season. Choose from a wide range of plants and garden accessories. Book tickets online to save 10% - your ticket includes admission to the Gardens and Park, Dinosaurs and Adventure playground. Knebworth House SG1 2AX

Banff Mountain Film Festival - Fri 1 May 7.30pm Attracting sold out audiences across the globe, the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival is visiting Watford for the first time with a brand new selection of extraordinary short films from the world’s leading adventure film makers. Exhilarating and thought provoking, this is a must-see for anyone with a spirit of adventure! Through the big screen be transported to the world’s last great wild places, follow the expeditions

Think Floyd - Sat 2 May This extraordinary show, dubbed The Definitive Pink Floyd Experience, is renowned for its stunning celebration of one of the world’s greatest musical phenomena. Rhodes Arts Complex, South Road, Bishops Stortford CM23 3JG

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May Market - Sat 2 May A warm welcome awaits everyone at our ’first Saturday in the month’ event.

Popular stalls selling homemade cakes and marmalade, bric-abrac, toys and books, clothes for adults and children, and cards. Letchworth Free Church Hall, bottom of Leys Avenue, on Norton Way South, Letchworth SG6 3HS

Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon Lane, Hertford SG13 8NY Aldbury May Fair - Mon 4 May A great day out for all the family, with plenty to see and do. From the traditional May Pole dancing, crowning of the May Queen and Morris Dancers to the excitement of the Laser Arena, Climbing Wall and Fairground Rides. Aldbury Village, Nr Tring HP23 5RT

Stapleford Flower Festival - Sun 3 and Mon 4 May The Stapleford Flower Festival is an annual event that has been running for 46 years. Every year our beautiful 12th century church is decorated with flowers, all in arrangements which fit the chosen ’theme’ of the year. St Marys Church Church Lane Stapleford SG14NB

Lemsford Village Fete - Mon 4 May As is traditional, this splendid event will provide a true English country fete experience with maypole dancing, coconut shy, tea-cup ride, live music and Pimms. St. Johns C of E Primary School, Lemsford Village, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City AL8 7TR

Magnificent Music Hall - Sun 3 May This glittering galaxy of stars from BBC TV’s The Good Old Days will once again present a spectacular and nostalgic trip down memory lane into the world of Victorian Music Hall.

They will delight and entertain with songs, dance, magic. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Local artists - Tue 5 to Fri 29 May Some of our area’s top artists come together in an exhibition featuring a range of styles and media. Exhibitors include Adrian Mallett, Claire Moynihan, Nigel Markham, sculptor Paul Bainbridge, Martin Rigg and Bruce Tompkinson. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Discover Ashridge Walks - Sun 3 May Discover some of the highlights of the Ashridge Estate on a series of walks led by volunteer rangers Arthur and Mike. Each walk is about 6 miles in length. Dogs on leads are welcome. Wear good walking shoes and bring a drink. Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre HP4 1LT

An Evening With Pasha and Katya - Stars of Strictly Come Dancing - Weds 6 May Pasha and Katya along with their stunning dancers, bring you their spectacular brand new Ballroom and Latin show. It’s a carnival of music, dance, costumes and sparkles. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Lytton Way SG1 1LZ

Barkway Antiques & Vintage Fair - Sun 3 May In it’s fifth year, this antiques fair is set in the picturesque village of Barkway in North Hertfordshire. Featuring a range of fabulous stalls with a wide variety of stock from, jewellery to ceramics, curios to clothing.

Barkway Village Hall, Cambridge Road, Barkway SG8 8BS

The Kilkennys - Weds 6 May If you haven’t heard of them yet, then you are in for a very pleasant surprise! These four hugely talented school friends have taken their love of traditional Irish music and reinvigorated it, enabling them to tour the world. Rhodes Arts Complex, South Road, Bishops Stortford CM23 3JG

May Day Music & Arts Extravaganza - Sun 3 May Howard Park & Gardens will be filled with music and arts in a May Day extravaganza. Come along for an afternoon of maypole and ceilidh dancing, storytelling, arts and crafts workshops and a showcase of local community arts. Howard Park & Gardens, Letchworth SG6 1NY

Jazz Evening - Weds 6 May 7.30pm A relaxed evening of fine food and fine music.

Sit back, take a sentimental journey or tap your feet along to some superb live jazz, whilst enjoying a delicious three-course meal.

The perfect evening for all music lovers.

Tickets: £35.00 includes a three-course meal and the evening’s entertainment Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Beltane Summer Festival - Mon 4 May Celebrate the start of Summer with a funpacked day of activity for all the family at Celtic Harmony, the Iron Age Settlement just outside Hertford. Live Music, Drumming Workshops, Fire Procession, Fire Breathing.

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Friday Night Is Music Night - Thur 7 May 7.30pm As the BBC Young Dancer competition draws to a close - join the BBC Concert Orchestra and the London Swing Orchestra for an evening of music from the world of dance.

Radio 2’s Ken Bruce presents music from ballroom, ballet, swing, tap, disco - from the Sleeping Beauty to Saturday Night Fever - we pay tribute to some of the world’s greatest hoofers plus some memorable dance moments from the musicals and at the movies. Tickets: £27.50, £25.00, £22.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Night at the Movies - Fri 8 May GREASE! 6pm Outdoor film event run by 6th form pupils at the college. Burgers, hotdogs and licensed bar on site. Princess Helena College, Preston SG4 7RT

Hertford House Comedy Night - Thur 7 May This time with award winning Adam Bloom as the headline act, supported by the brilliant Jessica Fostekew. As always, hosted by James Redmond. 1 Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1DA

Jimmy Tarbuck - Sat 9 May Top television comedian Jimmy Tarbuck OBE swaps The London Palladium for The Radlett Centre.

Tarby, as he is known to millions of TV viewers, is one of the country’s most evergreen performers and a master of light entertainment. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Waterloo - The Best of Abba Tribute ShowFri 8 May Introducing Waterloo - The Best of Abba Tribute show presented by Sweeney Entertainments and Produced and Directed by James Baker. This brand new show celebrates the music of one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

It Started with Jason Donovan - Fri 8 May Sarah Blanc explores her past dating life using the songs of her first love Jason Donovan to help all you hopeless daters who have been messed around by the lyrics of your late 80s/early 90s pop idols. This is Sarah Blanc’s first solo show. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Yamato Drummers Of Japan - Sat 9 May 7.30pm Yamato Drummers of Japan return to the UK with a brand new show ‘Bakuon’ Now seen by over 6 million people worldwide, Yamato’s acclaimed performances of authentic Japanese Taiko drumming awakens all five senses. Using their whole bodies to expertly control the rhythms, Yamato leaves audiences exhilarated by this high-energy, explosive production. The sheer physical strength and dynamic movement of the drummers is as impressive as the music, in this visually spectacular and highly entertaining show. Yamato’s captivating music has both delicate beauty and heart thumping bass power and the drummers’ remarkable strength and skill defies belief.

Premium Seats £29.50.Tickets £25.00, £21.00.Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Alan Carr - Fri 8 May 8pm No stranger to yap Alan Carr will be yapping his way around the UK & Ireland with his brand new stand up show ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’ The BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning comedian, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand up roots with his hilarious take on life. Age Restriction 15+ Tickets £30.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Baldock Bookfest - Fri 8 to Sun 10 May An exciting literary weekend of talks, presentations and workshops from local, nationally and internationally acclaimed writers and illustrators. Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre, Old Town Hall, Baldock SG7 6AR

Grove House Spring Ball - Sat 9 May You are invited to attend the Grove House Spring Ball: Join us for an evening of fine dining followed by live music to dance the night away!

Tickets: £60 (includes a three-course meal and wine) Time: 7pm arrival for 8pm meal Aldwickbury Park Golf Club, Harpenden AL5 1LB

Who Killed the Holiday Rep? – Fri 8 and Sat 9 May A fully interactive murder mystery evening set in the holiday resort of Benidorm.

Who killed the holiday rep, can you establish the motive and did the murderer have an accomplice? Work in teams of 6 to solve the crime Meldreth village hall, Meldreth SG8 6LX

Nightingale Yard Sale - Sat 9 May Taking place in the Nightingale area of Baldock, our annual Yard Sale is free to visitors so come along and grab a bargain whilst supporting

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your local community!

Baldock SG7 6JP

Nightingale

hero of stand-up comedy - the current master of this underrated art’. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

area,

Hertford Museum Stores Open Day - Sat 9 May 11am – 3pm drop in • Go behind the scenes at Hertford Museum stores. • Discover how we store and care for our vast and varied collection. • Visit the Roman corn drying oven and learn more about the fascinating Foxholes Farm. The Seed Warehouse, Hertford SG14 1PX

Barkway Village Market - Sat 9 May Now a Hertfordshire tradition in its own right, the market’s origins can be traced back as far as 1270 and is set in the grounds of one of Barkway’s oldest, and most beautiful, houses.

Church Lane, Barkway SG8 8EJ

A May Miscellany - Sat 9 May A summer’s evening light, bright concert of music, poetry and comic songs with Ros Holbrow, John Witchell and Sarah Harrison. You are invited to sit back and listen to music including Baker Street, Stranger on the Shore and Moon River.

St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Reed, near Royston SG8 8AP

May Fair/Heritage Day - Sat 9 May An annual event held in the High Street of Hoddesdon town centre. It incorporates an array of craft and charity stalls alongside a full entertainment programme and performances from local dance and theatre groups. High Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8TL Plant Fair - Sun 10 May Stock up at our Annual Plant Fair, with plants from our volunteer growers and local nurseries.

Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre HP4 1LT

The Grand Vintage Fair- Sat 9 May The Grand Vintage Fair, St Albans, full to the rafters with retro relics and kitsch collectibles! Come and find vintage fashions and accessories, gold n silver jewellery, upcycled furniture, art glass, china, books and more. The Jubilee Centre, Catherine Street, St Albans AL3 5BU

The Little Hadham Antiques Fair- Sun 10 May An established fair known for its wide range of quality antiques at reasonable prices. Little Hadham Village Hall (Signposted off the A120 between Puckeridge & Bishop’s Stortford) SG11 2BP

Roller Derby!!!

South East British Championships Kick Off- Sat 9 May Full Metal Roller Derby and their womens team Herts Breakers are proud to kick off to the South East Regional British Championships games.

Roller Derby is a full contact sport played on quad roller skates. Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ

Church Secrets - what to look for. - Sun 10 May A talk by Richard Taylor - author of the bestselling "How to Read a Church" and writer and presenter of BBC TV’s "Pugin: God’s Own Architect". Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG

Watford Model Railway Exhibition - Sat 9 May Model Railway Exhibition with more than 20 layouts in a variety of scales and gauges.

Trade support attending. Free parking, full disabled access, refreshments. Queens School, Aldenham Road, Bushey WD23 2TY

Radlett Light Opera Society Presents: Children of Eden - Weds 13 to Sat 16 May This musical is based on the book of Genesis and covers the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, followed by Noah and the flood.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (composer for Wicked) has created a show about second chances and learning. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Jumble Sale in aid of Cats Protection Hemel Hempstead & Berkhamsted- Sat 9 May Jumble sales are great fun so if you have never been to one do come to ours! Books, toys and games, clothes of all shapes and sizes (some of them nearly new) from baby to adult, shoes, bric-a-brac, sheets, curtains, cushions. The Village Hall, Potten End, nr Berkhamsted HP4 2QG

The Bee Gees Story - Thur 14 May 8pm The Bee Gees Story unites the UK’s hottest talent for a truly inspiring evening of everything Bee Gees. This is the show that Bee Gees fans everywhere have been waiting for. Featuring the stunningly convincing vocals of brothers Darren and Gary Simmons as Barry and Robin Gibb, as well as Jarrod Loughlin as Maurice Gibb, these three leading men have collectively starred in London’s West End,

Comedy Club: - Sat 9 May Another anarchic evening of great comedy featuring Tim Clark and Tobias Persson, hosted by Paul B Edwards. Licensed bar. Tim Clark: ’An unsung

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Museums at Night - Sat 16 May 6-9pm Join us for a special evening opening to celebrate the Museums at Night initiative! Enjoy a drink and listen to live music from local bands. Drop in Its Free!

Donations welcome.

Pay bar Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford SG14 1DT

performed on numerous worldwide TV appearances and even performed live with the Bee Gees themselves. The Jive Talkin’ band features some of the greatest performers in the country today and recreates with perfection the extensive Gibb Brother’s repertoire. Never before has there been a more complete Bee Gees experience, making audiences’ both young and old feel as if they are actually at a Bee Gees concert! The show also features a stunning acoustic medley of some of Bee Gees earlier hits showcasing the uncanny voices of the three lead singers creating a truly emotional musical journey.

Tickets £21.00, £18.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Hoddesdon Methodist church- Sat 16 May Michael Lunts will be presenting a concert entitled Flanders and Swann Revisited, through the eyes of St John Betjeman, An evening of musical comedy featuring the songs of Flanders and Swann. Hoddesdon Methodist Church EN11 9ED Broxbourne Big Band Dance - Sat 16 May St Clare Hospice supporters Jean & Dave Roberts invite you to come along to their annual Big Band Dance party at Broxbourne Civic Hall.

The dance features music from the Joe Loss Orchestra and singers, and there will also be a raffle on the night. Broxbourne Civic Hall, Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8BE

The Songs of Leonard Cohen: Keith James in concert - Fri 15 May Keith James brings the music of Leonard Cohen, with each song stripped back -- desolate, naked and sensual.

Enigmatic, mysterious and sub textural, songwriter Leonard Cohen is an unflinching character, with an exact sense of prose, a wry humour. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Evening of Gilbert & Sullivan by the Potters Bar Choral Society - Sat 16 May Potters Bar Choral Society presents an evening of Gilbert & Sullivan. Pirates, fairies, policeman, all in the days Britain really ruled the waves.

What’s not to enjoy! St Mary’s Church, The Walk, Potters Bar EN6 1QQ

iMagician - Fri 15 May 8pm Jamie Allan explores the work of history’s greatest illusionist then demonstrates how modern technology can make them even more mind blowing. Tickets £22.00, £20.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Race for Life 2015 – Pretty Muddy Hertfordshire - Sat 16 May It’s time to take the fight to cancer at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. We need an army of women to join forces this year and take part in our 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events across the country to help beat cancer sooner. Phasels Wood, Rucklers Lane, Kings Langley, WD4 9NA

UB40 - Sat 16 May 7.30pm Naming themselves after the unemployment benefit form, UB40 formed in 1978, before releasing their debut album ‘Signing Off’ in August 1980 – considered by many to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band. It was the start of a career that has since seen the band have over forty UK Top 40 hit singles and achieve sales of over 100 million records, making UB40 one of the most successful British groups of all-time. The band’s latest Top 30 album 'Getting Over The Storm’ was awarded BBC Radio 2’s ‘Album Of The Week’ accolade and received 5-star reviews from the UK’s music press on its release in September 2013. Standing Tickets £30.00. Seated Tickets £32.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Hertfordshire Help to Buy New Home ShowSat 16 May 10.30 am – 4 pm. Housing Associations, Developers, Solicitors and Financial Advisors will be on hand. Ramada Hotel (The Comet), St Albans Road West, Hatfield AL10 9RH Letchworth Food and Garden Festival - Sat 16 and Sun 17 May The Letchworth Food and Garden Festival takes over the town centre with local food heroes showcasing the best produce from the region in our market place plus celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EA Antiques Market at Stable Yard at Hatfield House - Sat 16 May Visit our monthly antiques market for a huge range of antiques

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Big Summer Sounds- Sun 17 May Following the release of her critically acclaimed third album, Lady Sings The Blues, X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson is headlining this one day music event. Pack a picnic, kick the kids off the consoles and head to Big Summer Sounds!

The Parade by the pond, Watford WD17 1NA

and collectibles. Pick up unusual curiosities including furniture, mirrors, hats and ornaments. Stable Yard at Hatfield House, Hatfield AL9 5NF Welwyn Garden City World Food Festival Sat 16 May The event, which is brought to you by Oaklands College and WGC Town Centre Partnership, will bring together different restaurants and cuisines from around the world. Town Centre, Welwyn Garden City AL8 0HA

Herts Auto Show - Sun 17 May Join us at this years charity car show in aid of Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, their will be classic vehicles as well as latest models. The show is free to exhibit. It will be a fun and lively day our for all the family. Stanborough Park, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6DQ

Hitchin Symphony Orchestra Concert - Sat 16 May 7.30 p.m. St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin Leader: Janet Hicks Conductor: Paul Adrian Rooke Gabriel Faure: Suite: Pelléas et Mélisande Piotr Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Soloist: Fenella Humphreys Camille. St Mary’s Church, Churchyard, Hitchin SG5 1HP

Farmers’ Market at Stable Yard at Hatfield House - Sun 17 May Local traders visit Stable Yard at Hatfield House every third Sunday of the month to sell their produce in the courtyard. The small market has grown in popularity over the years and 2015 promises to be bigger and better still!! Stable Yard at Hatfield House, Hatfield AL9 5NF

Newgate Street Village May Fayre & Fun Dog Show - Sun 17 May 1pm Come and enjoy all the fun of a Village May Fayre - Traditional family fun including - Fun Dog Show - Best Puppy, Most handsome dog, Prettiest bitch, Best Veteran dog/bitch, Best condition dog/bitch, Best rescue, Scruffiest dog.

Newgate Street Village SG13 8RA

Brahms Requiem- Sun 17 May A Concert to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Holy Saviour Church Hitchin. Singers drawn from choirs in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire combine to perform Brahms Requiem, with Sally Ann Hayes - soprano, Simon Williams baritone, Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG

Hertford Castle Craft Market & Open Day Sun 17 May Part of the Hertford Arts Festival 12:00 - 16:00 Free Entry although donations are welcome. This event marks the end of the Hertford Arts Festival. Hertford Castle will open its doors to the public for the first time this year. Hertford Castle and Grounds, Hertford SG14 1HR

The Ashes Of Darts! - Weds 20 May Each night will see two professional dart players joined by local players in a tournament of England versus Australia! Walkabout, Watford WD17 1AW

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, License To Thrill – The Music Of James Bond - Sun 17 May 7.30pm Every Bond song is an event in itself and this exciting, fast and sexy show brings you hit after hit! A streak of genius and genuine passion for our beloved hero makes the songs, iconic themes and incidental music a full-blooded, joyous celebration, bringing the house down every time. Goldfinger, Thunderball, Diamonds are Forever, You Only live Twice, The Man With the Golden Gun, Golden Eye, Casino Royal, Live and Let Die, Skyfall and many, many more. With a cast of top London singers and a star studded Orchestra; this dynamite show will conjure up dreamy visions of a suave charismatic bond and dangerously thrilling baddies.

Tickets £21.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Niall McCann - Adventure: Red in Tooth & Claw- Weds 20 May TV Presenter Niall McCann (Lost in the Amazon: The Enigma of Col. Fawcett and Biggest & Baddest) is an Explorer, Adventurer and Biologist who has travelled the planet, turning his hand to a variety of expeditions; rowing the Atlantic, biking trips. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL The Cavern Beatles - Wed 20 May 8pm As ambassadors of “The most famous club in the world”, The Cavern Beatles begin 2015 with a new cast and a new attitude, to once again bring to the stage the music that has now influenced 3 generations. The band’s members, as well as being talented instrumentalists and singers, are hugely dedicated Beatle fans, intent on recreating their individual character to an

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unprecedented standard. Countless hours of study and rehearsal have gone into the show, which emulates with uncanny detail and meticulous accuracy, the rise of the greatest band in the world from the days of the Cavern through to the rooftop in Savile Row, London in 1969. Drawing on an extensive repertoire of hits and album tracks, the Cavern Beatles perform their entire 2 hour show completely live, using no backing tracks, producing a fully authentic representation of the music. The band’s breath-taking attention to detail extends to the use of genuine 1960’s instruments and all of the equipment seen on stage is the same as that used by the Beatles wherever possible. With their widespread appeal being more apparent than ever in the varying age groups that continue to follow the band, the Cavern Beatles are widely regarded as being as close to the real thing as they are ever likely to get. Tickets £19.50, £17.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

The Magic Of Motown - Sat 23 May Celebrating 50 years of UK number one hit singles, the Magic of Motown brings its brandnew 2015 REACH OUT® Tour to town. // Motown singles first topped the UK charts in 1964. Today the legend of the label lives.

Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8BE

Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Thur 21 May Puttin’ on the Ritz! Since 1969 the Pasadena Roof Orchestra has been faithfully re-creating the glories of popular music from the 1920’s and 1930’s. This fun-packed show features timeless classics from the great American song book. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Markyate Plant Sale - Sat 23 May Come along to Markyate’s Party of the Year! The perfect event for those who love their gardens & The Hospice of St Francis! Held in a delightful, private family garden in the middle of the village.64 High Street, Markyate AL3 8HZ

Spring Special - Sat 23 to Sun 31 May Sheep Shearing, Pony Displays and plenty of springtime fun. With farmyard animals, adventure play, fun fair rides, JCB Young Drivers Zone, bouncy castles and inflatable slide. You can pan for gold and take a ride on Tristan the Runaway Tractor. Willows Activity Farm. Coursers Road, London Colney, St. Albans AL4 0PF Big Sing - Sat 23 May Join us for a fabulous day of singing, socialising and performing with Penny Manser and her team of experienced leaders. Great Ashby Community Centre, Whitehorse Lane, Stevenage SG1 6NH

Jackson - Sun 24 May 8pm Michael Jackson is not only remembered as one of the most influential artists of all time, but many of today’s artists have been inspired by his iconic style. Jackson Live in Concert sees long-time fan and hugely talented Ben recreate the Michael Jackson experience with his stunning rendition of all his favourite songs. Ben’s portrayal of Jackson has to be the most accurate and exciting tribute to the King of Pop to have ever toured UK theatres.

Ben is joined on the stage by his Incredible Band and Dancers who work their way through all the hits. He’s got the look, the moonwalk and the voice! His renditions of Thriller, Beat it and Billie Jean are truly sensational.

Jackson Live in Concert features all-live vocals and superb musicians and dancers, fabulous costumes, and of course all the signature dance moves associated so fondly with the undisputed King of Pop. Pure MJ! Tickets £19.50, £17.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Ladies Night - Fri 22 May 8pm Join us in the auditorium for an evening full of gorgeous male entertainment, a cheeky drag queen, a devilish cocktail on arrival and a scrumptious three-course meal - the night is set to tantalise all your senses! Over 18s only.

Contains nudity! Tickets: £35.00 includes 3course meal and the evening’s entertainment Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Kidz Praise - Sat 23 May 3pm Hallelujah Kidz Praise is a celebration of Easter performed by children and teenagers from age 7 to 19.

Through singing, dancing, drama and multimedia, they will tell the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Join us for a special time of reflection, entertainment and celebration with children from around the UK. Tickets £0.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Knebworth Festival of Transport - Sun 24 and Mon 25 May A wide range of classic and collectable cars. Arena events, autojumble

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stuck in some yucky brown muck. A sheep in a jeep and a frog in a bush saw the truck stuck and gave it a push. But the truck stayed stuck! The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

and trade stands. Tickets include admission to the Garden and Dinosaur Trail as well as the Adventure Playground - a great family day out! Knebworth House SG1 2AX Love Your Zoo Week - Mon 25 May Celebrating achievements throughout the year, with fun filled events all day. Shepreth Wildlife Park, Station Rd, Shepreth SG8 6PZ

The Basil Brush Show - Fri 29 May Basil Brush is a star with an outstanding ability to entertain and make people of all ages laugh and smile. He’s cheeky, irreverent, charming, naughty, quick-witted, scheming and foxy, but at the same time he’s kind, caring and affectionate. Rhodes Arts Complex, South Road, Bishops Stortford CM23 3JG

Watford Celebration - Mon 25 May This is the tenth anniversary of our colourful multicultural free festival with performances of music, dance and drama, as well as demonstrations of martial and other arts, international lunch time food from the communities in Watford. Multi Cultural Community Centre and St Michael and All Angels Church, 70, Durban Road, Watford WD18 7DS

The Magic Porridge Pot and Other Tasty Tales - Fri 29 May Theatre of Widdershins.

Suitable for all dietary requirements aged 3+.

Splodge that porridge! Slurp that soup! Snap that biscuit! Three familiar tales to delight all tastes. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Image Theatre Presents: Merlin the Sword in the Stone - Weds 27 May The mystical story of the ‘Sword in the Stone’ follows the life of Arthur, a young squire destined to become king. Guided by Merlin, he has many adventures culminating in him successfully pulling the sword from the stone. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Jackson - Live in Concert - Sat 30 May Ben’s portrayal of Michael Jackson in his prime has to be the most vocally and visually accurate tribute to the King of Pop to have ever toured UK theatres. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, Hertfordshire WD7 8HL

The West End Men -Thur 28 May 8pm Direct from a West End run and a sell-out tour of Asia, The West End Men are heading for Watford Colosseum with a brand new show celebrating the leading men of the West End. Performing songs from the biggest shows in the world as well as a selection of some of the best rock and pop classics, The West End Men showcases the talent and prowess of some of the finest performers of this generation. This spectacular show, which features pop star and X Factor finalist Marcus Collins, promises to take you on a journey to the very heart of the West End and its leading men. Tickets: £29.00, £27.00, £23.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom - Sat 30 and Sun 31 May 10am, 1pm and 4pm on both days “Somewhere, hidden amongst the thorny brambles is a little kingdom where everyone is very, very small…” From the makers of Peppa Pig comes this BAFTA award-winning television animation live on stage! Holly is a young Fairy Princess, who is still learning how to fly and her magic doesn’t always go quite according to plan. Her best friend, Ben the Elf, doesn’t have wings and he doesn’t do magic, but he runs very fast and flies on the back of Gaston the Ladybird. They live in the Little Kingdom, a tiny land where flowers and grass rise high above them and every day is an adventure. Ben and Holly have fun and games helping Gaston the Ladybird clean up his messy cave, they go on a trip into The Big World with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum, even plan a surprise birthday party for King Thistle, and oops, let’s hope there’s not another jelly flood! Join Ben and Holly, and their friends on this exciting, enchanting and magical musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter. This beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence will delight all the family! Tickets £16.50, £14.50, Family Offer (4 Tickets) £58.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,

Puppets workshop: For ages from 3 upwards - Thur 28 May Watching, Playing, Making: An Introduction to Puppetry from the renowned Theatre of Widdershins. This workshop is an hour and a half long and starts with a demonstration of a variety of puppets.

Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Duck In The Truck - Fri 29 May This is the tale of a duck in a truck - a truck that was

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WD17 3JN 0845 075 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Pirate Weekend at Mead Open Farm - Sat 2 to Mon 4 May The brand new Shaggy’s Cove sand and water play area at Mead Open Farm officially opens on 2 May 2015 with a funfilled Pirate Weekend guaranteed to raise plenty of “ooooh-aaaarrrhhhs”! Mead Open Farm, Stanbridge Road, Billington, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9JH

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St.Albans Steam And Country Show - Sat 30 and Sun 31 May A full day’s entertainment will be available for everyone. In addition to the old engines and farm equipment there will be stalls, a fairground and refreshments including a licensed bar. Oaklands College, just off the A1057 Hatfield Road, St. Albans AL4 0XR

Season Premiere Airshow (Commemorating VE Day) - Sun 3 May Celebrate this important anniversary with us as we mark 70 years since Victory in Europe Day. Marking the formal conclusion of Hitler’s war, Tuesday 8th May 1945 was an official celebration day across the country. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden SG18 8EP

Hatfield House Garden Show - Sat 30 and Sun 31 May Held on the Elizabeth Oak Field, the Garden Show will feature Specialist nurseries, a wide range of plants and seeds, the latest garden equipment, gardening experts hosting Gardening Question time.

Hatfield house, Great North Road, Hatfield AL9 5HQ

Wilden Village May Day - Mon 4 May Come and join us for a fantastic day of entertainment at Wilden May Day. A procession will take place from the School to the Village Hall at 1pm followed by the crowning of this years May Queen. Traditional May Day and Irish dancing. Wilden Village Hall, High Street, Wilden, Bedford MK44 2PB

Handbell Concert - Sat 30 May The East Anglian Regional Handbell Team are playing 165 handbells and handchimes and presenting a varied programme including Dancing Queen, Stairway to Heaven and Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. Ware Drill Hall, 17 Amwell End, Ware SG12 9HP

Car Boot Sale - Mon 4 May St Mark’s Church & Community Centre Calder Rise/Avon Drive, Bedford MK41 7UY

On Your Bike for Isabel Hospice - Sun 31 May Isabel Hospice’s annual bike ride returns for its sixth year and 2015 promises to be the best yet! Starting and finishing at Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club there are three circular distances to choose from (25k, 50k, 100k).Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club, Silver Leys, Hadham Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2QE

Stamp, Coin and Other Collectables Advisory Day - Tue 5 May Warwick and Warwick, the leading stamp, coin and collectables auctioneers, will be visiting your area shortly. We will be pleased to advise on the sale of stamps, coins, banknotes, postcards, cigarette cards, medals, die cast toys. Barns Hotel, Cardington Road, Bedford MK44 3SA

Miss Caledonia - Sun 31 May The year is 1955. Desperate to escape the chicorypulling, stall-cleaning, hay-baling drudgery of her life, Peggy Ann Douglas has a plan.

Standalone Farm, Wilbury Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 4JN

Bedford Girls’ School Open Morning - Tue 5 May Join us for our Open Morning at 10am (registration from 9.40am in the Assembly Hall). This is an opportunity for you to visit the school and gain a true flavour of the vibrant and exciting atmosphere our girls generate. Bedford Girls’ School, Cardington Road, Bedford MK42 0BX

Beds listings Live Music Night and Fun Casino - Fri 1 May Come and join us for an evening of entertainment with live music provided by ’The Guitar Club’ and special guests ’Snake Eyes Fun Casino’! With some classic sounds of the 60’s and 70’s plus some Bond favourites.

Flitwick Town Council, The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH

Work Your Soul (60s Soul Night) - Fri 8 May Work Your Soul bring you another fantastic night of Ska, Reggae, Soul, RnB and Latin, all played on vinyl. As always entry is free all night. George II, 70 Bute Street, Luton LU1 2EY Handbell Concert - Sat 9 May Biddenham Handbell Ringers and The Barn Ringers with guest soloists are presenting a concert to

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A Traditional Village Fete - Sat 16 May St Mary’s Church Clophill is holding a traditional fete in the Church Grounds. Lots of stalls, exhibitions, music, children’s entertainment with refreshments (lunches, tea and coffee) and a barbeque. Entry is free. St Mary’s Church Grounds, High Street, Clophill MK45 4BE

support Christian Aid Week. Music will include jazz, music from the shows, spirituals hymns and popular tunes. St. Peter de Merton Church, de Parys Avenue, Bedford MK40 2TX Stotfold Mill Steam Fair and Country Show Sat 9 and Sun 10 May This is the 13th year we have held this popular event which continues to go from strength to strength. It started from very humble beginnings and has gradually built up over the years to be a firm favourite for the local community .Mill Lane, Stotfold SG5 4NU

Meppershall Festival - Sat 16 May Now in its 6th year, this popular one day only, local community event will once again showcase local talents. All welcome. Be there for 1.45 for 2pm to 3pm for Street Dance. Meppershall Village Hall, High Street Meppershall SG17 5LX

Indoor Table Top Sale - Sat 9 May Indoor table top sale, tables provided.

Refreshments. Adults 50p children under 12 10p. St Anne Church, Crawley Green Road, Luton LU2 0RB

Swiss Garden Photography Workshops - Sat 16 May This day workshop will include expert tuition from a professional photographer who will teach you not only how to capture images around the gardens, but also how best to use your camera settings. The Shuttleworth Collection and Swiss Garden near Biggleswade SG18 9EP

Strings and clarinet - Sat 9 May Bedford Sinfonia, Michael Rose (conductor), Malcolm Green (clarinet). Mozart - Divertimento in F major, Finzi - Clarinet Concerto, Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht. At 16 the young Mozart was probably pretty proud of this Divertimento. St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SQ

’Vive la Difference!’ - Sat 16 May Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra, Michael Rose (conductor), Tim Lowe (cello). Wagner Siegfried’s Rhine Journey (from Götterdämmerung), Walton- Cello Concerto, Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D Major. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square, Bedford MK40 1LE

Luton MrBead Bead Show - Sat 9 May String & Loose Bead & Pearls Supplies for the Home Jewellery Maker. Many different gemstone beads like jade, turquoise, pearls, agates, jasper, carnelian, coral etc. Stockwood Hotel, Stockwood Crescent, Luton LU1 3SS

Crafts, Cake and a Cuppa - Sun 17 May There’ll be a wide variety of high quality local handmade art and craft items, with many different crafters attending as well as a charity stall. Tea, coffee and light refreshments available all day. Free admission and free parking. Woburn Village Hall, Crawley Road Woburn MK17 9QD

Swiss Garden Plant Fair - Sun 10 May An opportunity to buy a wide variety of plants from local nurseries. In addition there will also be stalls selling local produce and arts and crafts. Plus the chance to look around the stunningly restored Swiss Garden. The Shuttleworth Collection and Swiss Garden SG18 9EP

Vegetable Planter Workshop - Mon 18 May Anyone yearning to grow their own vegetables but struggling with space will love this workshop as Frosts’ expert demonstrates how to get a bumper harvest from a container vegetable garden. Sandy Road Bedford MK44 3QP

Philharmonia Orchestra: Schumann & Mendelssohn - Wed 13 May At the age of 21, Mendelssohn undertook his second ‘grand tour’ of Europe where inspiration struck for an Italian symphony. Mendelssohn was drawn to, as he put it, the vivacity and “supreme delight in life” he found in Italy. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL

7th Mentmore Arts Festival - Sat 23 to Mon 25 May Every year money is raised for local causes. In 2014, over £10,500 worth of art was sold and £5,000 was donated to Florence Nightingale Hospice and £2,500 to local charities including Mentmore Village Hall and St Mary’s Church. St Mary’s Church Mentmore

Forest Folk and Roots - Launch Night - Thur 14 May Our acoustic and roots live music nights launches with the Fantastic Fred’s House - plus support The College Arms, Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield MK43 0AL

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Butterfly Walk - Sat 30 May Join the countryside team for a guided walk to look for the butterflies that thrive on the rare chalk grassland of Dunstable and Whipsnade Downs. Chiltern Gateway Centre, Dunstable Downs LU6 2GY

and Mentmore Village Hall, The Green, Mentmore LU7 0QF Music at St Mary’s - Dunstable Ladies Choir Sat 23 May Dunstable Ladies’ Choir are a lively group of about 35 ladies spanning all ages who love to sing. St Mary’s Church, Eaton Bray LU6 2DP

Bucks Listings

Dixieland cmc live county music club - Sat 23 May A live country music with line and partner dancing. Barton Village Hall Hexton Rd Barton MK45 4JY

Northern Ballet: Elves and the Shoemaker Fri 1 May Following the fantastic sell-out success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs, Northern Ballet is delighted to announce our latest ballet for children, Elves & the Shoemaker. Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ

Classic Wheels Picnic - Sat 23 May Join us for a picnic with plenty of photo opportunities.

Along with a two-hour airshow, discover the Collection’s vintage vehicles and classic motorcycles. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden SG18 8EP

Cupcake Decorating At Frosts - Fri 1 May Master the craft of cupcake decorating with Frosts Garden Centre’s Cupcake Decorating Masterclass. Newport Road Woburn Sands Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Car Boot Sale - Mon 25 May St Mark’s Church & Community Centre Bedford MK41 7UY

Christ Church Art Exhibition 2015: Celebration - Sat 2 and Sun 3 May This year’s annual art exhibition features paintings and crafts on the theme of ’Celebration’, all created by amateur and professional artists from the Chesham area. Christ Church Waterside, Chesham HP5 1PY

Build a Buddy - Tue 26 to Sun 31 May It’s raining cats and dogs this half term! Children can choose a soft toy puppy or kitten to make their very own cuddly buddy. Each animal comes with a birth certificate and take home carry box. Sandy Road, Bedford MK44 3QP

Eden’s Pop Up Spring Fashion Show - Sat 2 and Sun 3 May Be ready for surprises as Eden creates a fashion show like no other! This year’s event combines runway-style with a twist, as pop up shows appear spontaneously around the centre. Eden Shopping Centre HP11 2DQ

Marston Mud - Kids’ Outdoor Activity - Tue 26 May By popular demand mud modelling is back. Be prepared to get in a mess as we create mud animals, mud faces and mud pies in the Forest out of the Marston clay. Sessions cost £4 per child and run for approx. 1hr15 minutes at 10am, 11.30am, and 1.30pm.

Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

Vale Harvest Local Food Market - Sat 2 May A monthly market featuring a range of awardwinning produce from across the Aylesbury Vale. With over 20 stalls each month selling a wide variety of hot and cold food and drink. Banks Park, Haddenham Village Hall, Haddenham HP17 8EE

Pop Factor, The Concert! - Wed 27 May Pop Factor tributes the very best of now! A show that’s a celebration of the top artists and biggest chart hits! Calling all Directioners!

Mixers & Katy Cats! Are you a Belieber? A Swiftie, or one of our favourite Little Monsters! Grove Theatre, Dunstable LU5 4GP

Flower Festival - Sat 2 to Mon 4 May Flower Festival at Holy Trinity Church, Light lunch available followed by afternoon teas until 5.00 pm and tempting plant stall. Holy Trinity Church, Main Road at top of hill, Drayton Parslow MK17 0JS

Summer Food & Wine Fair - Fri 29 to Sun 31 May Free Admission. Stalls & tastings of local and national quality fine food & wine. Large Food Hall with a wide selection of our home made meals & pies, farm assured meat, preserves, wines, cheeses, biscuits, desserts.

Harpers Food, Half Moon Lane, Pepperstock, Nr. Luton LU1 4LL

BBOWT Plant & Produce Market - Sat 2 May Excellent value plants; tasty homemade produce; books, crafts, gifts, refreshments; free entry, free parking (1hr). Great Missenden HP16 9AE

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Longwick Village Fete - Sat 2 May A fun day out for all the family. Starts at 12 noon with traditional May Day celebrations. Lots of activities, entertainment, music, craft and food stalls.

Go Karts.

Fairground.

Competitions including Tug of War and the Great Longwick Bake Off. Longwick Village Hall Playing Fields HP27 9QY

soloists, with other excerpts and solos from Bizet and Gounod. All Saints Church, The Causeway, Marlow SL7 2AA May There Be Music - a piano & soprano concert- Sat 9 May A piano and soprano charity concert. Proceeds to the funds of Cosgrove Parish Church. Christ Cornerstone Church, Milton Keynes MK9 2ES

Spring Steam Gala & Model Railway Exhibition at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Sun 3 and Mon 4 May Spring Steam Gala and Model Railway Exhibition (Including Rewley Road layout) Industrial Steam Gala including up to 7 locos in steam, double heading, freight trains, Driver for a Tenner and Brake Van Rides. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Little Chalfont Farmers’ Market- Sat 9 May Great selection of quality, locally produced food at this monthly market. Buy rare-breed pork, bacon and sausages, buffalo meat, lamb, game and poultry. Plus seasonal fruit and vegetables, free range eggs, artisan breads, pies and baked goods. Village Hall car park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP8 4UD The Classical Saxophone - Alastair Penman in Concert - Sat 9 May While the saxophone is often thought of as a jazz instrument, in this programme Alastair explores the extensive classical repertoire for the instrument, including Debussy’s Rhapsodie.

Christ Church URC, Oxford Road, Marlow SL7 2NL

Buckinghamshire CCC v Oxfordshire CCC Sun 3 May Gates Open 10.00am • Play begins 11.00am • Scheduled Close of Play 6.30pm Local rivals Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire clash in the group stages of the Unicorns Knockout Trophy competition. The Wormsley Estate Stokenchurch HP14 3YG Gong Show with Suzi Ruffell - Wed 6 May Where better to hold a competition than in the largest casino outside of London, situated inside the Xscape building. 8 acts will battle it out to be named the winner of The Comedy Cow Gong Show! The Casino MK, Xscape, 602 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3XS

Marlow May Fayre - Sat 9 May Organised by Marlow & District Round Table to raise money for local charities and causes. Higginson Park, Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2AE A Handful of Brass - an evening with the Chiltern Brass Quintet - Sun 10 May Chiltern Brass Quintet, led by Paul Speed (trumpet) Paul grew up in this area and continues to perform and teach locally, including at the Chiltern Music Academy and the Royal Grammar School. Christ Church URC, Oxford Road, Marlow SL7 2NL

Make a Quillow Quilt Class - Fri 8 May Come and put a quillow together - make a very simple quilt which can be pfolded and tucked away into a pillow - the ideal snuggle companion! Suitable for Confident beginner Quilters. Threads and Patches, 15 Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2BU

Aston Clinton Village Market - Sun 10 May Don’t miss a wonderful opportunity to sample and take home a huge selection of farmers’ market produce including bread, cheese, pickles and chutneys, home-reared pork, free-range eggs, cakes and locally produced apple juice, wine, cider. Aston Clinton School, Twitchell Lane, Aston Clinton HP22 5JJ

A Spring Celebration - Brass Band Concert featuring trumpet virtuoso Mike Lovatt - Sat 9 May Amersham Band and Amersham Community Brass are holding a Spring Concert with special guest Mike Lovatt. Mike has been a principal trumpet player in many London West End musical productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Saturday Night Fever. The Kings Church, Raans Road, Amersham HP6 6LX

Militaria Fair - Sun 10 May Arms and Armour UK are very proud to present The Bedford Militaria Fair at Stantonbury and hope that you will join us at the next event. As the press say, Bedford is the miltaria fair with the big queue, come and find out why! Many top UK dealers. Stantonbury Leisure Centre MK14 6BN

Vive La France! Bizet and Gounod- Sat 9 May A concert of music by French composers, featuring Georges Bizet’s Te Deum and Charles Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass, performed

by Marlow Choral Society with professional

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Abigail’s Party - Wed 13 to Sat 16 May It’s 1977 and Beverly is throwing a little party for her neighbours, newlyweds Tony and Angela, and divorcee Sue. Dishes of cheese and pineapple are on the coffee table. The social get-together from hell is about to begin.

Stantonbury Theatre MK14 6BN

If you are partial to a bit of magic with your comedy Firman is the best of the bunch’ The Old Town Hall, Market Square, Buckingham MK18 1NW Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally - Sun 17 May Our new venue proved a great success and this year rally should be even better.

There will be up to 1000 vintage vehicles to admire, everything from buses, tractors and lorries to cars, motorbikes and steam engines.

100+ trade stands to browse. Weedon Park, Weedon Hill, Near Aylesbury HP22 4NN

The Best Bands in the Land - Sat 16 May We strike up the band in a gala concert featuring the Bisham Concert Band, Chiltern Hills Brass Band, Maidenhead Concert Band and High Wycombe Music Centre Big Band. All Saints’ Parish Church, High Street, Marlow SL7 2AA

Afternoon Tea at Frosts - Mon 18 to Sun 24 May Britain’s most prestigious flower show, the Chelsea Flower Show, is fast approaching, with keen gardeners up and down the country flexing their green fingers ready to see cutting-edge garden design, new plants and exciting ideas. Newport Road Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Enchanted Museum: Once upon a time ... Sat 16 May Special late opening from 5.30pm9.30 for Museums at Night. This year’s Enchanted Museum theme is ‘Once Upon a Time’ come along to our special night time opening, part of Culture 24’s Museums at Night. Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4AB

Al Stewart - Tue 19 May Al Stewart Classic Album Concert - Year of the Cat Live On Tuesday October 15 2013 at The Royal Albert Hall, London for the first time ever Al Stewart performed the album “Year of the Cat” in its entirety. Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ

The Chiltern Camerata performs ‘Music in the Great War’- Sat 16 May The Chiltern Camerata, Conductor Sam Laughton, performs ‘Music in the Great War’ Programme: The final concert in our 2014/15 season is the orchestra’s contribution to the Wycombe Arts Festival. The Church of St. Lawrence, West Wycombe Hill, West Wycombe HP14 3AP

The Big Outdoor Show - Sat 23 to Mon 25 May A fun-filled three-day event for families and outdoor enthusiasts offering non-stop adventure and entertainment on land, water and in the air. Find out what it takes to be an intrepid explorer from legends like Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Mark Woods. Willen Lake, Brickhill Street, Milton Keynes MK15 0DS

Fabulous Funky Chair Cover Class - Sat 16 May Join Vanessa Noonan to make a chair cover that can be made to fit most standard chairs - why not add pockets for your favourite crafting items so they are right at hand or modernise some tired furniture with a new bright look. Threads and Patches, 15 Watling Street, Fenny Stratford Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2BU

Bucks Open Studios Fanfare - Sat 23 May to Thur 4 Jun A glorious mix of paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery and more showcasing the work of artists and makers taking part in the 30th Bucks Open Studios (6 – 21 June) . Work is for sale. Free entry.

Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Race for Life 2015 - Sun 17 May Waddesdon Manor, Silk Street, Waddesdon HP18 0JY Ruby’s Vintage & Retro Fair - Sun 17 May After our first sensation event at the Old Town Hall, we are back, this time on Sundays!

The wonderful Old Town Hall is adjacent to the Wycombe Swan Theatre right in the centre of town opposite the Council Offices.

The Old Town Hall, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2XE

Half term antics, crafts and orienteering photo competition - Sat 23 to Sun 31 May Keep the kids busy this half term! Choose from our selection of craft bags starting at £1 each. Use our craft area to be creative. Take part in our picture orienteering competition, bring a camera or phone if you have one. Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Comedy Night - Featuring Pete Firman - Sun 17 May Buckingham Town Council is pleased to present a night of comedy and magic with Peter Firman star of BBC1’s ’The Magicians’.

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Dickinson’s Real Deal - Sat 23 May Is coming to High Wycombe Why let your antiques collect dust in the attic when you can sell them for cash? Take money on the spot from a dealer OR if you think your item is worth more …. take a gamble at auction! Wycombe Sports Centre, Marlow Hill, High Wycombe HP11 1TJ

children under 6 please. College Lake Nature Reserve near Tring HP23 5BJ Creative Clay Activity - Tues 26 May Have fun creating your own clay works of art. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny- Sat 23 May Peter Rabbit knows very well that he is not to go into Mr McGregor’s garden; especially as it was there that his father met his untimely end! Stantonbury Theatre MK14 6BN

Scavenger Boat Race - Wed 27 May Scavenge the woods to find natural materials to help you make a boat to race and take home. Will yours sink, float or win? Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Denham Village Fayre - Mon 25 May A Charter Fair with its origins in the 15th century when a market was held in Cheapside Lane. Denham Village UB9 5BH

Stamp, Coin and Other Collectables Advisory Day - Wed 27 May Warwick and Warwick, the leading stamp, coin and collectables auctioneers, will be visiting your area shortly. We will be pleased to advise on the sale of stamps, coins, banknotes, postcards, cigarette cards, medals, die cast toys and model. Abbey Hill Hotel, Monks Way, Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes MK8 8LY

Jewellery Making Activity- Mon 25 May Be inspired by jewellery on display and make your own to take home. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book.

Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

Marvellous Mosaics Art Activity - Wed 27 May Get creative and design your own amazing mosaic pictures. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book.

Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

Annual Bus Rally & Veteran Cycle Club of Great Britain at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Mon 25 May The 31st Annual Bus Rally takes place, with both single and double-decker buses of all eras, including some that adults will have ridden on locally travelling to school, to work – or even to the railway station! Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Fantastic Felt Art Activty - Thur 28 May Come and have fun making fantastic things from felt. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

Build a Buddy - Tue 26 to Sun 31 May It’s raining cats and dogs this half term! Children can choose a soft toy puppy or kitten to make their very own cuddly buddy. Each animal comes with a birth certificate and take home carry box. Newport Road, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Miniature Traction Engine Rally - Sat 30 and Sun 31 May Miniature Traction Engine Rally organised by the VAMES Miniature Railway, with ride-on traction engines all faithfully built smaller versions of the real thing. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

River Dipping Workshop - Tues 26 May Join our activity leaders for a river dipping workshop, be shown how to river dip, and how to identify creatures. Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Dinner and Magic Show - Sun 31 May Finish off May with an afternoon to remember as Frosts presents a spellbinding magic show and a delicious Sunday dinner for the whole family. Newport Road, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Children’s Workshop: Pond Explorers - Tues 26 May Visit us for a pond dip, and meet the creatures that live in our pond. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No

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