What’s On in December

1 DECEMBER Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group

1pm. Shuttleworth ‘The Royal Flight’ with Graham Laurie. Meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Free parking. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

1-5 DECEMBER Christmas Tree Festival

Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12 noon-4pm St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford. Adults £3, Under 16 free Theme is ‘It’s Panto!’. Daily community concerts and competitions. Tel: 01234 340163 www.stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk

2, 9 & 16 DECEMBER Biggleswade & District Camera Club

8-10pm. Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Non-members £3 www.biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk

3 DECEMBER Bedfordshire Family History Society

7pm on Zoom. Members free, Visitors £1 ‘A Plague Upon All Your Houses: Epidemic Disease And Our Ancestors’ by Dr. Janet Few. www.bfhs.org.uk

3 DECEMBER Christmas Tree Festival Concert

7.30pm. St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford Tickets £17.50. Minerva Piano Trio performing pieces by Ravel, Stravinsky, Mozart and Vivaldi. In aid of the church and Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends. Tel: 01234 783181/01234 340163 Tickets: www.peoplesfundraising.com/ concert-tickets

3, 10 & 17 DECEMBER Sandy Ukulele Group

7-9pm. Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Meets every Friday. Visitors welcome. Email: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com 74

3-5 DECEMBER Beauty and the Beast

Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2pm & 7.30pm, Sun 12 noon. Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Rd, Biggleswade Biggleswade Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) pantomime. Sunday matinee is a relaxed performance. Tickets www.ticketsource.co.uk/bats

4 DECEMBER Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society

2pm. Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Talk by Timothy Walker, retired Head of Oxford Botanic Gardens and wellknown speaker. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

4 DECEMBER Sandy Flower Club Christmas Show

Doors open 2pm, starts 2.30pm Tickets £12 inc. refreshments Conservative Club, Bedford Rd, Sandy Christmas Demonstration ‘Floral Festive Flair and Fun’ by Gill McGregor. Open to all. Admission by ticket only. Tel: Marianne Attfield 01767 226275

5 DECEMBER Sunday Stroll

10.30am. Forest Centre, Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine Free - donations welcome. Gentle walk around the park lasting approx. 2 hours. No need to book. Tel: 01234 767037 for more details Web: www.marstonvale.org

5 DECEMBER Warden Abbey Vineyard Christmas Wine Sale

11am-4pm. The Garden Suite, Shuttleworth House, Old Warden Free entry. Local food and crafts. Free tasting, mince pies (while stocks last) and parking. Tel: 07981 113714 Web: www.wardenvineyard.org.uk

5 DECEMBER Christmas Quiz and Raffle

7-10pm. Forest Centre, Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine £5. Test your wits against friends and family, with all the usual popular rounds plus some special seasonal theming. Raffle. Full bar, snack and special food items (card payment only). Six per table. Web: www.marstonvale.org to book

6 DECEMBER Learning Lunchtime

11am-12 noon. Forest Centre, Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine. Free - donations welcome Bedfordshire has a rich and varied flora - join County Recorder and Bedfordshire Flora Group’s John Wakely to discover more. No need to book but limited spaces. Tel: 01234 767037 for more details Web: www.marstonvale.org

6, 13, 20 & 27 DECEMBER Branch Out Social Club for Single People

8.30-10.30pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Medium-sized social club for single people aged 40 upwards. Meets every Monday night. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

7 DECEMBER Gamlingay & District Gardening Club

7.30pm. Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay Non-members £3. AGM followed by a talk by Zsazsa Serer on Hungarian Christmas traditions with mulled wine.

11 DECEMBER Santa’s Grotto

10am-3pm. 1 King Street, Potton Entry £8. Enjoy a magical experience meeting Santa in his beautiful grotto and receiving a special gift. Mince pies, mulled wine and hot drinks on sale. No need to book. In aid of Keech Children’s Hospice Care.

WHAT'S ON IN DECEMBER

11 DECEMBER Brass, Bells & Tinsel Christmas Concert

Doors open 6.30pm, concert 7pm St. Mary Magdalene Church, Dunton Adults £5, Children/students £3 Traditional Christmas Concert with Bedford Brass raising funds for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice. Tel: Band Secretary Mrs Pat Vought 01234 852949 Email: info@bedfordbrass.com

11 DECEMBER The Big Christmas Show

Doors open 7.30pm, show 8pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Rd, Biggleswade Castle Comedy is the monthly comedy club that brings you fabulous entertainment in Bedford and Biggleswade. A great night out in a friendly environment with some of the UK’s finest comedians on the bill! Tel: Tickets 07736 060541

13 DECEMBER East Beds Concert Band Christmas Concert

7.45 pm. Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Tickets £10 inc. refreshments and raffle ticket Mask recommended. Tickets available on the door. Email: eastbedsconcertband@gmail. com

18 DECEMBER Kempston Musical Society Christmas Carol Concert

Priory Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue, Bedford Tickets £7.50 inc. refreshments on the door A selection of Christmas carols and festive music which are guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas. Tel: 01234 781010 for more info about the concert/choir Email: prestissimo@btinternet.com

19 DECEMBER Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair

9am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Café serving food and drinks all day. Free parking. Wheelchair/pushchair access. Tel: Marcel 07887 648255 Web: www.marcelfairs.co.uk

19 DECEMBER Not Strictly Jazz Club

5-7pm. Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade. Tickets £20 inc. refreshments, 10-18 years £10 Vocalist Gavin Skeggs accompanied by Dave Foster. They will perform popular songs and jazz standards from The Great American Songbook. Call or email for tickets. Tel: 01767 312176 Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

21 DECEMBER Sandy Women’s Institute

10am-12 noon. Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy Visitors £4. Meets third Tuesday of every month, except August. Musician Jacen Bruce will entertain members at the Christmas meeting. Visitors very welcome. Tel: 01767 680644 Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com

21, 23, 28 & 29 JANUARY The Sleeping Beauty

Fri & Sat 7.30pm, Sun 1.30pm & 5.30pm Meppershall Village Hall Adults £12, Children £7, Family of 4 £34 HATS present The Sleeping Beauty. Traditional family pantomime by Norman Robbins. www.ticketsource.co.uk/hats-drama