What’s On in May

1 MAY

Bedford RSPB Local Group Dawn Chorus 5am Meet in the Priory Country Park, Barkers Lane, Bedford. Followed by breakfast in the Toby Carvery. Joint event with Beds Bird Club Tel: 07905 199769 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ bedford

1 MAY

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

1 MAY

Red Kite Concerts 2022 5-6pm St. John’s Church, Cockayne Hatley Tickets £15, under 18s free Christian Forshaw explores the ambient, absorbing sound world of music for saxophone, percussion, organ and bass clarinet, debuting his own new material alongside captivating works by Moondog. Tickets available online or on the door. Web: www.redkiteconcerts.com

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 MAY

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

4 MAY

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Shuttleworth Guests £5 ‘The Wooden Wonder – the Mosquito’ with Rod Dean. 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

4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 & 30 MAY

‘Open Door’ 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tea, coffee and chat. Mondays (not bank holidays), Wednesday and Fridays.

5 MAY

Roxton & District Local History Group 7.15pm for 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members free, visitors £4 Talk by Ken Lewis ‘The History of National Service. Did it make or break you’. Email: mariascreen1@gmail.com

5 & 16 MAY

Sandy Astronomical Society 5 May 7pm Zoom general meeting followed by talk on Astrophotography by Dr Steve Barrett. 16 May 2.15am-5.15am TBC at Blunham Playing Field Lunar Eclipse. Email: info@sandyastro.co.uk Web: sandyastro.co.uk

6 MAY

Bedfordshire Family History Society 7pm and 7.30pm on Zoom Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘Cholera in Bedford’ with Maurice Nicholson. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

6 MAY

Bedford Art Society 7.15 for 7.30pm Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford Members free, visitors £5 Keith Hornblower paints architecture in watercolour. His approach is dynamic, applying paint at speed creating a spontaneous effect. His subject this evening is Venice. Tel: Jean Paterson 01234 307210 Web: www.bedsartsociety.co.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 MAY

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

7 MAY

Craft & Food Fayre 10am-3pm Jordans Mill, Broom Support local, independent traders. 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.

7 MAY

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

7 & 14 MAY

Dawn Chorus and Bird Walk 7 May 4.30am, 14 May 7am Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine £4 per person. We’ll be looking and listening out for black caps, nightingales, song thrushes, terns, warblers and (hopefully) turtle doves on this guided walk. Book online. Parking charges apply. Tel: 01234 767037 for more details Web: www.marstonvale.org 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 MAY

7 MAY

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

8 MAY

(Not Strictly) Jazz 5-7pm Tickets £20, 10-18 years £10 Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade Featuring Dave Foster and Gavin Skeggs. Their quartet will perform songs from The Great American Songbook. Refreshments included. Tel: 01767 312176 Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

10 MAY

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

15 MAY

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

15 MAY

Locrian Chamber Choir Concert 3pm St Mary’s Church, Potton Tickets £12, under 18s free Music from the British Isles. Tickets available from Cameron’s Newsagents, Market Square. Tel: 01767 261431

17 MAY

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

19 MAY

Bedford RSPB Local Group 7.30pm ARA Club, Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7PF Group members £1, Guest £2, annual group membership £5, under 18s free ‘Ouse Fen: Creating the wetlands of the future’ by Chris Hudson. Chris is Senior Sites Manager Fen Drayton Lakes and Ouse Fen and is actively involved in the restoration of the Cambridgeshire Fens. Suitable for experts and novices. RSPB membership not essential. Facilities and refreshments at ground level. Secure parking. COVID restrictions may apply. Tel: 07905 199769 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ bedford

21 & 22 MAY

Sutton Plant Sale & Duck Race 10am-4pm The Old Rectory, Sutton Cream teas available all day. Duck race on Sunday at 3 pm. Proceeds to All Saints Church Tel: 01767 261910 Email joannahollington@btinternet. com

21 & 22 MAY

Swiss Garden Plant Fair 10am-5pm Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth Browse a range of plants grown by the in-house garden team and volunteers during your visit to Shuttleworth on this late spring weekend. Admission charge may apply if you are not a member of a relevant group. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

26 MAY

Bedford RSPB Local Group Evening Walk 7pm Evening walk at Stewartby lake. Meet in the old A421 lay-by eastern end of Marston Moretaine near MK43 0LE (TL 002 426). Tel: 07905 199769 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ bedford

27 & 28 MAY

Out of Focus Fri & Sat 7.40pm, Sat 2.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Potton Potton Playhouse presents Out of Focus, a hilarious tale of what goes wrong when five groups book the Church Hall on the same night! Doors open 30 minutes before curtain up.

5 JUNE

Jubilee Flying Circus Air Show 9.30am-5pm Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade From the moment you arrive, circus performers on the ground and in the air will leave you with wide eyes and open mouths, whilst a circus skills workshop will teach your children the ropes. A truly unique day out and memorable occasion for all the family to celebrate. Web: www.shuttleworth.org/ jubileeflyingcircus

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