What’s On in July

1 JULY

Bedfordshire Family History Society 7pm and 7.30pm on Zoom Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘Fleshing out the bones’ with Ian Waller. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

1 JULY

Bedford Art Society 7.15pm for 7.30pm Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford Members free, visitors £5 Jo Allsopp is a fully qualified and experienced art tutor and will demonstrate the use of watercolours and inks. Tel: Jean Paterson 01234 307210 Web: www.bedsartsociety.co.uk

1 JULY

Great Expectations 7.30pm Sutton Village Hall Tickets £15 The talented theatrical group, Hotbuckle, return to perform their own adaptation of ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens. Tickets: www.suttonvillagehall.org. uk/events

1 & 2 JULY

The Best of Times 7.45pm, Saturday matinee 3pm Woodside Hall, Hitchin Tickets £15. Hitchin Thespians is proud to present a song and dance showcase featuring music from throughout their 120 years of performance. Highlights include numbers from Calamity Jane and West Side Story, into the modern era with Miss Saigon and Hairspray, and right up to date with The Greatest Showman. www.hitchinthespians.org.uk

1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 & 29 JULY

Open Door 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tea, coffee and chat. Mondays (not bank holidays) and Fridays. Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 261138

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 JULY

Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Meets every Friday. Please email for more information on joining. Visitors welcome. Email: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail. com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com

4, 11, 18 & 25 JULY

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

2 JULY

Coffee Morning 10-11.30am. Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade cakes, cards, Bric-a-Brac, Books and jigsaws etc. Held on the first Saturday every month except January. Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 261138

2 JULY

Craft & Food Fayre 10am-3pm Jordans Mill, Broom A fantastic range of stalls including sweet treats, hand-made items, locally made foods and more. In the front car park and throughout the grounds of Jordans Mill.

3 JULY

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

3 JULY

Red Kite Concerts 2022 5-6pm St. John’s Church, Cockayne Hatley Tickets £15, under 18s free Sarah O’Flynn is joined by Clare Finnimore and Tomos Xerri in a programme of evocative music for flute, viola and harp, including works by Debussy, Ravel, Bax and Takemitsu. Tickets available online or on the door. Web: www.redkiteconcerts.com

5 & 12 JULY

Lunchtime Concerts 1pm St Paul’s Church, Bedford Free recitals with a retiring collection (suggest min. £5) in aid of church funds. 5 July - Lorraine Augustine (Piano) and 12 July - Six on Sax. Tel: 01234 340163

6 JULY

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Shuttleworth Guests £5 ‘Another Icarus: Percy Pilcher’ by Roy Smart. Meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Entry to Shuttleworth £15 (valid for one month). Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 JULY

Open Craft and Coffee 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 261138

6, 13, 20 & 27 JULY

Hinxworth Art Society 10am-12pm Hinxworth Village Hall Drawing, painting, coffee and chat. No need to book. Occasional oneday courses and demonstrations. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com

7 JULY

Sandy Astronomical Society 7pm Zoom general meeting followed by ‘One small step – the legacy of the Apollo programme’ by Dave Newton. Email: info@sandyastro.co.uk Web: sandyastro.co.uk Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

WHAT'S ON IN JULY

7 JULY

Roxton & District Local History Group 7.15pm for 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members free, visitors £4 ‘ABMC American Battle Monuments Commission’. Annual membership £20. Email: mariascreen1@gmail.com Web: roxtonhistory.org.uk

8 JULY

Ska Madness Tribute Night 7pm, show 8pm Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine Tickets £15 Featuring all the favourite Madness hits. Book online. Tel: 01234 767037 for more details Web: www.marstonvale.org

9 JULY

Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Everton Village Hall Coffee morning and stalls including cakes, plants, jams, books and raffle. Warm welcome to all. In aid of St Mary’s Church, Everton.

9 JULY

Craft Fair 10am-3pm Biggleswade Social Club Free entry Support local small businesses. Email: thestitchincraftcabin@ outlook.com Web: facebook.com/ crafteventsatbiggs

11 JULY

Sandy Flower Club 7.30pm The Conservative Bowls Club Pavilion (rear of the Conservative Club, Bedford Road) Visitors £5 The Flower Club meets second Monday in the month (excluding January, August and December). New members always welcome. Tel: Sue Alexander 01767 699729 or follow us on Facebook

12 JULY

Letchworth’s Poetry ID Book Launch 7pm David’s Bookshop, Letchworth Free entry. Meet authors and hear poems from the new anthology ‘Sackful of Clouds’. Featuring the work of twenty local writers who vary in age and background, who meet regularly to write poems. Bar open. Email your name to confirm attendance. Email: staff@davids-bookshops. co.uk

16 JULY

East Beds Concert Band 7pm Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Rd. Biggleswade 50 years of making music! Help us to celebrate at our Golden Anniversary Concert 7pm Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Rd. Biggleswade Featuring players- past and present- for a night of music and memories. Tickets: £10 for Adults £5 for Under 18s eastbedsconcertband@gmail.com

17 JULY

(Not Strictly) Jazz 5 - 7pm. Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade. SG18 0AA. Tickets £20, 10 - 18 £10 Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade. SG18 0AA. Featuring a quartet of professional musicians who will perform jazz classics. Refreshments are included. For tickets please contact Sarah Tel 01767 312176 or email sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

20 JULY

Sandy Women’s Institute 10am-12pm. Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy Visitors £4 Meets third Tuesday of every month, except August. Visitors very welcome. Tel: 01767 680644 Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com

23 & 24 JULY

Bedford River Festival A multitude of events and attractions, including countless river activities, live music and performance areas, raft and dragon boat races and Festival Market. Web: riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk

26 JULY

Bedford RSPB Local Group Trip 11am. Afternoon visit to RSPB Titchwell and a late-evening visit to Dersingham Bog. Abundance of biting insects at Dersingham Bog, so head nets and repellent spray are recommended. We may hear and see both Nightjars and Woodcock displaying at dusk. RSPB members only. Call to book. Tel: 01234 391060 Email: mhawkes104@gmail.com

27 JULY

Children’s Multi Sports Activities 2-4pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Free multi-sport activities for children aged 5-11. Bring a water bottle. Booking essential. Contact the Clerk to book - include full name of child, parent/carer’s name and contact telephone number. Tel 01480 470193. Email: clerk@ littlepaxtonparishcouncil.gov.uk

31 JULY

Castle Comedy ‘Best of’ Special Doors open 7.30pm, show 8pm Quarry Theatre, 26 St Peters Street, Bedford Featuring three headline acts - Suzi Ruffell, Ivan Brackenbury and Matt Richardson. Web: www. castlecomedy.co.uk/biggleswadehome

UNTIL 2 OCTOBER

Body & Soul Exhibition The Higgins, Bedford Free entry. Body & Soul is a new exhibition exploring how women have been represented in art over the past two centuries. Web: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk