June 2011 Bulletin - Biggleswade Rugby Club

Issue 6 Volume 3 JUNE 2011 Delivered FREE

2 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBiggleswadeTOWN COUNCILMEETING DATES:28 June.............COUNCIL MEETING12 July ..............PLANNING MEETINGAll Meetings commence at 7.00pmin the COUNCIL CHAMBER,SAFFRON ROAD, BIGGLESWADEAll members of the public arewelcome to attendTOWN COUNCILCllr Tim Woodward is the new Mayor for 2011/2012and the new Deputy Mayor is Cllr Mrs Wendy Smith.Albone, Cllr David (Labour)........................................david.albone@ntlworld.com48 Drove Road, Biggleswade SG18 8HD................01767 221385..............................IvelBond, Cllr Ian J (Conservative)...................................ian@shortmeadhouse.comShortmead House, Shortmead Lane, Biggleswade SG18 0FG ....................................IvelBriars, Cllr Bernard V (Labour) ..................................bbriars@btinternet.com61 Rowan Crescent, Biggleswade SG18 0PG ........01767 313197..............................IvelLawrence, Cllr David J (Conservative).....................david.lawrence@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk43 Shortmead Street, Biggleswade SG18 0AT.......01767 316030..............................StrattonLawrence, Cllr Mrs Jane G (Conservative) ...........jane.lawrence@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk43 Shortmead Street, Biggleswade SG18 0AT.......01767 316030..............................IvelMulchrone, Cllr Ms Sarah J (Conservative)............rosepub@hotmail.co.ukThe Rose, 75 High St, Biggleswade, SG18 0JH.......01767 312873..............................IvelRamsay, Cllr Mrs Hazel (Conservative) ...................h.ramsay@talktalk.net56 Holme Court Ave, Biggleswade, SG18 8PE ......01767 312874..............................StrattonRussell, Cllr Mrs Madeline A (Conservative)..........wychbrook@yahoo.co.uk31 Ivel Gardens, Biggleswade, SG18 0AN ..............01767312966 ...............................IvelA pilot series of LETS TALK TOGETHER meetingstook place across Central Bedfordshire in each ofthe seven Safer Neighbourhood Areas duringJanuary to March and was well received by bothElected Members, local residents and public serviceorganisations such as the NHS, fire and Rescue,Police. For further information about LETS TALKTOGETHER or community engagement pleasecontact Sarah Hughes 0300 300 6166 orsarah.hughes@centralbedfordshire.gov.ukSkinner, Cllr Rex G C (Labour) .................................rex_skinner@hotmail.co.uk6 Rowan Crescent, Biggleswade SG18 0PF............01767 600196..............................IvelSmith, Cllr Mrs Wendy P (Conservative) ................wendysmith194@btinterent.comDEPUTY MAYOR7 Brunel Drive, Biggleswade SG18 8BT...................01767 313062..............................HolmeVickers, Cllr Peter F (Conservative).........................peter.vickers@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk5A St Andrews Street, Biggleswade SG18 8BA .01767 316568..............................HolmeWatkins, Cllr Steven Watkins (Conservative)........watkins.steven@hotmail.co.uk85 The Rowlands, Biggleswade, SG18 8NZ ...........01767 314489..............................StrattonWilson, Cllr George ED (Conservative).................gwilson814@btinternet.com5 Jasmine Close, Biggleswade SG18 8SW...............01767 600816..............................StrattonWoodward, Cllr Peter (Conservative).....................peter.woodward20@ntlworld.com136 Drove Road, Biggleswade SG18 OHN ..........01767 223968 ...........................StrattonWoodward Cllr Timothy P (Conservative)..........tim@ivelmill.com.MAYOR6 Ivel Mill, Mill Lane, Biggleswade SG18 8AZ.........01767 312100 .............................HolmeBIGGLESWADE CARNIVALweek commences on Sunday 19 June with aDuck Race at Dan Albone Car Park20 June....Quiz Night at Biggleswade Working Mens Club21 June....Bingo Night at Biggleswade Working Mens Club22 June....Children’s Disco at Biggleswade Working Mens Club25 June....Grand parade Biggleswade Town Centre26 June....Grand Draw – Gardeners Arms Pub16 July .....Children’s 5-a-side Football at Stratton School17 July .....Adult’s 5-a-side Football at Stratton SchoolGENERAL MARKETSon the Market SquareTuesdays and Saturdays — 8am-4pmBiggleswade Town CouncilThe Old Court House, 4 Saffron RoadBiggleswade SG18 8DLTel: 01767 313134 Fax: 01767 601188Email: enquiries@biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.ukwww.biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.uk

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 3Student wins Parliament placementBEDFORD College student,Amy Garner, has won theNational Afternoon Teacompetition of the Craft Guildof Chefs held in London.Amy was given a ‘Masterchef’challenge of producing mouthwateringteatime treats in only threehours to include a selection of fingersandwiches, savoury and sweetscones and tarts, a decorated Victoriasponge cake, a fruit cake and avariety of teas.In her first year of a two yearHospitality course at BedfordCollege, Amy has won a week’swork placement in the House ofCommons, tea for two at the Ritz anda magnificent trophy. She aims tofollow in the footsteps of chefs thatgive her inspiration such as JamieOliver, Gordon Ramsey and DeliaSmith, and says: “It was a quite anerve racking experience taking partin the competition, but as soon as Igot to work in the kitchen the nervesvanished. It was a very goodexperience and I have learnt lots. Iwant to get out there as a chef andimprovise my own dishes. My dreamis to own my own restaurant.”Amy is continuing a tradition thatbegan in Bedfordshire in the early1800’s when the 7th Duchess ofBedford, Anna Maria Russell,complained to her butler at WoburnAbbey of ‘having that sinkingfeeling’ during the late afternoon.The solution was a pot of tea and alight snack. Later friends wereinvited to join her for ‘tea’. Beforelong all of polite society wasBen Tuck’s latest progressAT THE end of April, Ben continuedhis incredible progress by liftinghimself from tenth to sixth place inthe prestigious Whilton Mill JuniorRotax 2011 Championship with afifth place finish at the Daventrycircuit. Setting top ten lap times ineach of his three heats and thefinal race, Ben gained a net total of 20positions across the weekend againstsome of the country’s best drivers(building on the total 54 positionscopying the Duchess and thepractice spread to every corner of theempire.The competition was held atWestminster Kingsway College,with the award presented by 93 yearold Winnie Myers who has had alifetime of service in catering inWestminster.gained in January). This was superbnews and was the final proof forSaturn Systems Engineering Limitedto enter into a partnering arrangementand join Aviamics Limited assponsors of Ben.Saturn Systems is a local hightechnology engineering, softwareand consultancy business and islooking forward to the benefits ofbeing involved with Ben Tuck’sblossoming racing career.HarrisonsAccountancyCHARTERED ACCOUNTANTSSave money on your accountancy costs.Year round support for a fixed fee.FamilyFun DayA fun-filled event for all thefamily will be taking place onSaturday 2nd July, from 11amto 3pm, at Edward PeakeMiddle School. The FamilyFun Day is being run bythe Churches Together inBiggleswade to provide anentertaining community event,which will be very cheap for allthe family to enjoy. There willbe plenty of stalls, games,bouncy castles, jousting, arenaevents, all of which will be freeto have a go on, or just to watch.There will also be barbecuefood and drinks available forsale. For more information,searchfor ‘Biggleswade FamilyFun Day’ on Facebook.Under newmanagementTHE Crown Hotel, in the HighStreet, site of the Great Fire ofBiggleswade in 1785, is now underthe patronage of Patrick andDeborah McCarthy who look forwardto seeing you there. Lunch isnow served every day. They alsohave a function room available. Ifyou like live music, then visit themon a Friday and Saturday night.Accommodation is also available soyou can really enjoy your eveningand they have a special offer onaccommodation at present, call07902 583995.Published monthly, handdelivered to homes inBiggleswade, and selecteddrops in Wrestlingworth,Sandy, Potton, Langford,Gamlingay, Sutton and Dunton.The editorial team welcomecontributions from the publicbut will use its discretion andedit where appropriate withoutreference to the author.Biggleswade Bulletin acceptsno liability for any of the viewsexpressed in this magazine.Biggleswade Bulletin is anindependent magazine with noaffiliation to any otherorganisation.Published by© Rosetta Publishing Ltd1 Union Park,Triumph Way,Kempston, MK42 7QB.Tel: 01234 843905Fax: 01234 843901EDITORIAL:editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukADVERTISING:advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukOrigination by LG Digital Ltd,1 Union Park, Triumph Way,Kempston MK42 7QBPrinted by The Nuffield Press21 Nuffield Way, Abingdon,Oxfordshire.Issue 6 Volume 3 JUNE 2011 Delivered FREEFRONT COVER PICTURE:Returning No 2 Tactical PoliceSquadron, on parade inBedford on Sunday May 22nd,see page 5 for more picturesand storyPhoto: Martin Quince

4 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukLiving thedreamDreams Theatre Schools studentsare performing at The MarketTheatre in Hitchin on July 10th.They are hard at work rehearsingeach Saturday in Biggleswade sothey can show off their actingtalents to friends and family. TheMarket Theatre is a fantasticvenue well worth visiting forbrand new exciting plays foradults and children alike. FromSeptember 2011, we have a brandnew class opening on Fridayevenings for all budding upperschool students that want to Act,Sing and Dance.This fantastic class aimed at ages13 years and over gives all theteenagers and young adults inBiggleswade, Sandy and the surroundingvillages a chance to learnabout the performing arts and performin shows.We also coach students inLAMDA Exams which can counttowards UCAS applications. Formore information call 01462 700191/07813204196 or visit www.dreamstheatre.co.uk for all the latestinformation.THE FUTUREIS COLOURIn response to numerousdemands, from nextmonth your favouritecommunity magazine willbe printed in full colour.We will be offeringadverstisers theopportunity to put theirmessage over in a moreattractive way. See younext month.Don’t fall behindKip McGrath of ShortmeadStreet, have a special offer thismonth, book and pay for threelessons, get the fourth free.They are open during the summerholidays so students cankeep up with their studies andnot fall behind. Sounds like asensible thing to do!Mead House, 34 Shortmead St, Biggleswade SG18 0APTel: 01767 601800Email: kipbiggleswade@yahoo.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 5Henlow’s RAF Police return from HelmundPhotography: Martin QuinceSunday May 22nd saw large crowds turn out to greet thereturning No 2 Tactical Police Squadron, many based atHenlow, they have just completed a six month tour of dutyin Afghanistan. Over 100 service men and women wereon parade, some of whom have been on operations in theFalklands and the middle east.Among the dignitaries attending the parade was AlistairBurt, MP for North East Beds and Richard Fuller MP forBedford and Kempston.Cubs from the Sandy Saxon pack were also there to givevocal support!Alistair Burt MP, North East Beds and Richard Fuller MP, Bedford, wereamong the many dignitaries to welcome the RAF Police back to Blighty.Pool is ‘excellent’ it’s officialSaxon Pool and Leisure Centre in Biggleswade is the first withinthe county to be rated as ‘excellent’, following its recent Questinspection.Quest is the recognised UKQuality Scheme for Sport andLeisure: a rolling two year processcomprising of Mystery VisitInspections, a one day improvementassessment, and a two day assessment.Saxon Pool and LeisureCentre underwent its assessment inApril, and was awarded a score of85%, ranking it in the scheme’shighest category (Excellent).This score is the highest receivedby any centre in Bedfordshire,Hertfordshire or Cambridgeshire,and puts Saxon within the top 5% ofall leisure centre’s nationally.The Quest scheme, which isendorsed by all four home countrySpots Councils, allows leisurecentres from across the UK to comparethemselves against each otherby focusing on 22 areas of a centre’smanagement and operation. Keystrengths identified during Saxon’sassessment included: Health andSafety Management, Marketing,Staff Supervision and Planning,Maintenance, Customer Feedback,Programme Development andBusiness Planning.Nicky Sharky of Quest commented:“The centre has key departmentalstaff who are clearly as asset to thecentre and the cleaning, housekeepingand maintenance standards weregood throughout the assessment”.Stevenage Leisure Ltd (SLL),who manage Saxon Pool and LeisureCentre, are committed to continuousimprovement and work closely withCentral Bedfordshire Council, todeliver high quality services to thecommunities of Biggleswade andthe surrounding areas. NatalieTaylor, Centre Manager at Saxon,added: “This exceptional Questscore is a reflection of the hard workthat SLL and the team at the centrehave put in over a number of years.We are extremely proud to be able tosay that Saxon is now an “Excellent”rated facility and are already lookingto develop new activities toencourage even more people toenjoy using their local leisurecentre”.

6 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011YOUR LOCAL FAMILYBUSINESSA. J. DAYBUILDING MAINTENANCE• Plumbing• Tiling• Plastering• Painting &decorating• Carpentry• Alterations• Kitchens• Bathrooms• Insurance work• Free estimates• Free call out• Free adviceTel: 01767 314445 /07802 530951A TO B LIGHT REMOVALSFriendly, professional local service – testimonials available■ Light removals■ Emergency service available■ Deliveries all areas covered ■ Single items■ Leaflet & catalogue deliveries ■ Reasonable rates101 POTTON ROAD, BIGGLESWADECall Chris 01767 315279LETTERS TO THE EDITORTHE DAY AFTERFOLLOWING the recent electionresults in Central Bedfordshire, Iwould like first of all to congratulateall the elected Councillors, secondlyall the candidates who took part inthe race and thirdly the 646 votes ofthe Sandy ward who placed theirtrust in me. The biggest disappointmentwas that only around 35% ofthe people voted, indicating the poorinterest and the loss of trust.More or less it is the sameConservative Council that will runfor four years, but this time, I fear thelack of a serious opposition.However, they do not have the usualexcuse to blame the previousCouncil and therefore I wouldpersonally like to raise the bar ofexpectations higher and I am suremost of you would agree.The performance indicators that Iwill use to objectively evaluate theirperformance over the next four yearsare mainly common sense, such asturning off the silly taps, rather thancutting necessary services from thecommunity. In particular I wouldlike to concentrate in three areas:Reduce the amount of the highearners that currently costs thetaxpayer £30m or 23% of theCouncil tax rates.Reduce the pension fund deficit,mainly caused by the above salarystructure. In 2009 that was standingat £360m and the interest accruedwas £29m, expecting to increase toover £35m when the 2010 accountsare finalised.To improve the accuracy of theaccounting information, because in2009 the auditors disclosedsignificant errors in the financialstatements.Furthermore, I expect that theCouncillors would take responsibilityand be held accountable for theirmistakes. In absence of a seriousopposition, I would like to invite youto join me in forming a Councilwatch Committee. This is to ensurethat they are kept on their toes,deliver on their promises and actwithin due bounds. Controlling thecosts responsibly is not aboutnational politics, but about the futureof our children. Please join me fromall political or non political backgrounds,and attend the Councilmeetings. Just bring the commonsense with you.George Konstantinidis, SandyCONSIDER THIS!WE have had a few complaintsabout some of the datesadvertised in the magazine being tooshort notice. So advertisers get yourdates in the month prior to the eventhappening. I know my own diaryfills up months ahead of time, so youalso need to be in advance if youwant your event to be well attended.Listen to our readers and don’t leaveit until the month of the event.Pat WallerWRITE TO USHave you got something to say,why not get it off your chest?Please send your letters to:Biggleswade Bulletin, 1 UnionPark, Triumph Way, KempstonMK42 7QB, email to: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 7COUNTRY CLIPSis pleased to sponsorAT THE BEDFORDSHIRECOUNTY SHOWOld Warden ParkJuly 9/10, 2011For all things doggie this is the place to be,we are holding a dog show on both dayswhich will have fantastic Petface prizes topick from, Country Clips groomingdisplays and advice, nail clipping andmicro chipping, charity displays, pet tradestands along with much more to enjoy forthe whole family at The County Show.The Dog Show classes are:ANY BREED PUPPY... We will be lookingfor personality as well as looks.ANY BREED WAGGIEST TAIL…We will be looking for activity/attitude/awarenessANY BREED MOST BEAUTIFUL EYES…We will be looking for expression,attention and appealMOST MIXED-UP BREEDBEST CHILD HANDLER… (10 and under)BEST JUNIOR HANDLER (11 – 16)CANINE EGG AND SPOON RACE… Ownerholds egg/spoon and lead in the same hand. Under14 and over 14.OWNER LOOKING MOST LIKE HIS/HER/THEIR DOG…Come to meet TVVet, Joe Inglis, whois taking hiscampaign forhealthier pets onthe road thissummer and will beat the BedfordshireCounty Show with his Vet’s Kitchen HealthScan Roadshow.Joe Inglis starred in Vets in Practice and wasthe resident vet on BBC1’s Blue Peter. He nowappears regularly as a media vet on BBC 1’s‘The One Show’, ITV’s ‘Daybreak’ and ‘ThisMorning’.Joe said: “Using the latest ultrasoundscanning technology, the Vet’s Kitchen HealthScan will give Bedfordshire’s dog owners aunique and accurate insight into their own pet’sstate of health and body condition.”The Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan Roadshowwill also be an opportunity for BedfordshireCounty Show pet owners to learn more aboutJoe’s new Vet’sKitchen range of natural veterinary pet foodsand Active Sauce supplements which he haspersonally formulated to provide the very bestlevel of nutritional care for dogs and cats. Thehypo-allergenic range is now widely available insupermarkets, including over 300 Sainsbury’sstores across the country. Free samples anddiscount vouchers will be distributed tointerested pet owners.We won’t mind if the resemblance is real or if the people have dressed specially to match their dogsBEST OF DAY THE PREVIOUS WINNERSEntrance to the first class will be £4.50 but all subsequent classes will be £1.50.To enter please go tothe dog show arena from 10am at which time you can also see the class timetable for that day. rosetteswill be awarded along with Petface vouchers to use on the trade stand. If you would like to pre-bookplease phone Country Clips on 01767 260589 or email countryclipsretail@gmail.com.

8 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukArt exhibition in support of St John’s, Moggerhangerby Mary Lucas BoothAFTER the success of myExhibition last year I am revisitingThe Potton Community Centrewith an exhibition of retrospectiveand new work. The subject matterwill be Roxton Steam Rally, theTOYBOX is one of a number oflocal nurseries available to parentsin Biggleswade and the surroundingtowns and villages. It is proudto have been viewed asOutstanding by Ofsted when itsSandy nursery was inspected lastyear.As part of Toybox’s commitmentto local parents they have written anumber of articles covering the earlydays, months and years of a child’slife. Over the next months theBiggleswade Bulletin will be publishinga selection of the articles,however to keep up-to-date with thelatest news and advice relating toparenting please also see their websitewww.toyboxdaynurseries.co.uk.At this website you can also searchour archived content using the searchfacility. The content of these pagesand the article sin this magazine iscollected from a variety of sourcesincluding news providers, books,leaflets and other publications.Please note, any opinionexpressed does not necessarilyreflect our own views, and is providedfor your information only.WASHING AND BATHINGWashingWash your baby’s face, neck,hands and bottom carefully everyLake District, the New Forest andmany places I have visited. Forthose of you who are not familiarwith my work I paint in oil,acrylic, watercolour and pen andwash. I have been painting for anumber of years and haveexhibited in many locations.day. This is often called topping andtailing. Choose a time when yourbaby is awake and contented andmake sure the room is warm.Organise everything you need inadvance a bowl of warm water, atowel, cotton wool, a fresh nappyand, if necessary, clean clothes. Holdyour baby on your knee, or lay yourbaby on a changing mat, and take offall your baby’s clothes except for avest and nappy. Then wrap yourbaby in the towel.Dip the cotton wool in the water(not too much) and wipe gentlyaround your baby’s eyes from thenose outward, using a fresh piece ofcotton wool for each eye.Using a fresh piece of cottonwool, clean around your baby’s ears,but don’t clean inside them.Wash the rest of your baby’s face,neck and hands in the same way anddry them gently with the towel.Now change your baby’s nappy.In the first ten days you shouldalso clean around your baby’s naveleach day. Your midwife will showyou how.BathingBathing two or three times aweek is quite enough, but you can doit daily if your baby enjoys it.Don’t bath your baby straightwww.toyboxdaynurseries.co.ukThe exhibition will be at TheCommunity Centre, Brook EndPotton, on 18 June at 10-2, 19 June11-3, the preview will be byinvitation on Friday evening andbe opened by Douglas Coombes.I am raising money for St.Johns hospice at MoggerhangerParenting hints and tips – continuedafter a feed or when your baby ishungry or tired. Make sure the roomis warm.Have everything you need athand a baby bath or washing-upbowl filled with warm water, twotowels (in case of accidents!), babybath liquid (but avoid this if yourbaby has particularly dry skin) orbaby soap, a clean nappy, cleanclothes and cotton wool.Make sure the water is warm, nothot; check it with your wrist orelbow.Hold your baby on your knee andfollow the instructions given abovefor cleaning his or her face.Wash your baby’s hair with babysoap or liquid, then rinse carefully,supporting your baby over the bowl.Dry gently.Now remove your baby’s nappy,wiping away any mess. If you’reusing baby soap, soap your baby allover (avoiding his or her face) whilestill on your knee, keeping a firmgrip while you do so.Lower your baby gently into thebowl using one hand to hold yourbaby’s upper arm and support his orher head and shoulders; keep yourbaby’s head clear of the water. Usethe other hand to gently swish thewater over your baby without splashing.Never leave your baby alone inSANDYToybox Day Nursery7 Medusa Way, Sandy SG19 1TH01767 683602BIGGLESWADEToybox Day Nursery, The Saxon Centre,Kingsfield Road, Biggleswade SG18 8AT01767 313139STOTFOLDToybox Day Nursery70 High Street, Stotfold, SG5 4LD01462 734306on behalf of friends that haveneeded this service. There will be araffle, we raised £ 210 last yearthanks to all those that attended.I am also going to show mystudents’ work, some of thestudents have been with me for afew years and others a few months.the bath; not even for a second.Lift your baby out and pat dry,paying special attention to the creases.You may want to use this time tomassage oil into your baby’s skin.Many babies love this and it mayhelp your baby relax and sleep. Layyour baby on a towel on the floor asboth the baby and your hands mightbe a bit slippery.If your baby seems frightened ofbathing and cries, you could trybathing together, but make sure thewater is not too hot. It’s easier ifsomeone else holds your baby whileyou get in and out.Taking your Baby OutWalking it may be easiest to takea tiny baby in a sling, but if you use abuggy make sure your baby can liedown with his or her back flat. Incold weather make sure your baby iswrapped up warm in cold weatherbecause babies chill very easily.Take the extra clothing off when youget into a warm place so that yourbaby doesn’t then overheat, even ifhe or she is asleep. In hot weatherChildren are particularly vulnerableto the effects of the sun, as their skinis thinner and they may not be able toproduce enough pigment calledmelanin to protect them from sunburn.Children with fair or red hair,blue eyes and freckles are especiallyat risk, as the paler the skin, the lessmelanin is produced, and the morelikely the child is to get burnt in thesun. Keep babies under six monthsout of the sun altogether. Older childrenshould always be protected,either by covering them up or with ahigh protection sunscreen (sun protectionfactor 15+). Babies and children’sskin burns easily, even in sunwhich wouldn’t affect your ownskin.In a car it’s illegal for anyone tohold a baby while sitting in the frontseat of a car. The only safe way foryour baby to travel in a car is in aproperly secured, backward-facing,baby seat, or in a carrycot (not aMoses basket) with the cover on andsecured with special straps.If you have a car with air bags inthe front your baby should not travelin the front seat (even facing backwards)because of the danger of suffocationif the bag inflates.Some areas have special loanschemes to enable you to borrow asuitable baby seat when you andyour baby first return from hospital.Ask your midwife or health visitor.

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 9Youth Aquatic ClubLaunching ng on Saturday 3rd JulyNOADULTSALLOWED!!!Look out for our Youth Aquatic Club, an allocated time in the pool for8-16 year olds where we will provide a different activity every week(e.g. Aqua aerobics, inflatable fun,water polo, aqua races, diving) lifestyles @saxonSaxon Pool & LeisureCentreSaxon Drive, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 8SU03000 300 8076E. enquiries.saxon@stevenage-leisure.co.ukwww.lifestylesatcentralbedfordshire.co.uke.co.ukSLL 24 hour Customer Information Line: 03000 012 0300

10 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukMilton Ernest Hall Care HomeMILTON ERNESTHALL was built in1856 and is the onlycountry house designed andbuilt by the noted architectSir William Butterfield. Animpressive Grade I Listedformer Home to the Stareyfamily, it is now beautifullyrefurbished to retain itscharacter. As well as manyyears as a private residence,the house has been a base forUS Armed forces duringWorld War II and a countryhouse hotel.The Hall stands in sixteenacres of landscaped groundswithin the picturesque villageof Milton Ernest, five milesnorth of Bedford, MiltonErnest Hall is accessible, withconvenient access to the A6trunk road and has goodpublic transport links.We have extremelyspacious all en-suitebedrooms and suites, all fullyfurnished and tastefullydecorated to a high standard.All our rooms have privatedirect-dial telephones, electricprofiling beds, televisionpoints, a lockable facility forvaluables, a nurse call alarmand smoke detectors.We provide personal andnursing care on a long term,convalescent and short staybasis. Twenty-four hour coveris provided by a qualified,experienced and committedcare team specificallyrecruited for their sensitivity,dedication and professionalexpertise in this area of care.All specialist equipment isavailable.All Majesticare’s Homesput Residents’ choices first,and at Milton Ernest Hall youare free to eat your meals inour dining rooms or in yourown room. We are happy toprovide meals for visitors aswell. Our fresh home-cookedfood is nutritionally balancedand we cater for specialrequirements such asvegetarian or soft foods.At Milton Ernest Hall wehave a dedicated activitiesorganiser who arranges alively social calendarincluding arts, entertainment,exercise, trips such asshopping, and events in theHome. We also arrangeregular visits fromhairdressers, chiropodists,dentists, opticians, local GP’sand a range of otherprofessionals.For more information on Milton Ernest Care Home please contact the Home Manager on 01234 825305.Milton Ernest is a 2 star care home and is part the Majesticare home group which has 16 othercare homes across the country. For further information visit www.majesticare.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukThe truth behind the allegeddental check-up scamYOU may have recently read newspaperarticles, and I am sure there will be manymore in future months, about dentists andwhether the recommended six monthlycheck ups really are necessary. Thesearticles appear to have been leaked by themany government ‘spin-doctors’, whoare constantly looking at new ways to tryto save money. The articles are based onthe National Institute for ClinicalExcellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE is abody which has frequently been in thenews for refusing costly treatment on theNHS, and in these articles they have carefullyselected their comments, and usuallyout of context, and claim that NICErecommend that patients only need to adental check-up every two years.THIS IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!In fact when you read the guidelines,they quite rightly say that patient dentalexamination intervals should be tailoredto the individual patient, ranging fromthree months to two years for adults andthree months to one year for children.Ballard and Tucker totally agree with thisand you can read the guidelines for yourselfat www.guidance.nice.org.uk/CG19.At an examination, your dentist willcheck the health of your teeth and gumsand all the surrounding tissues for signsof decay, infections or early abnormalities.For some patients, two years is fartoo long a gap between visits. Of coursethere are always exceptions to the rule; ifa patient has a full set of dentures or haveexcellent teeth and healthy gums, thentwo years between examinations is fine,but these patients are in the minority.Most of us, including us dentists, need tobe seen moreoften to maintainour oral health.In somecases patientsare seen at varyingintervals. Forexample, manypatients sufferfrom gum diseaseso will needfrequent visits tothe hygienist aswell as an annual check up with their dentist.Some may have active tooth decayand require a three monthly visit for atime, or they may have a wisdom tooththat needs regular reviewing.It is also important that children arechecked on a regular basis. This is not justto maintain healthy teeth and gums butalso to get them used to the ‘visit to thedentist’. Sometimes children’s permanentteeth may grow crooked and a regularreview helps us assess whether they needan orthodontic brace so they will developnice even teeth.So there is no hard and fast rule. Eachpatient is an individual and the frequencyof dental checkups will vary.I’ll never forget one patient who saidto me: “Mr Tucker, I would rather pay tohave no dental treatment than pay to havetreatment done.” A valid point, butunfortunately one that the governmentdoesn’t seem to share!For more information about oralhygiene and dental care visit www.ballardandtucker.co.uk or to arrange anappointment call Ballard and Tucker on0844 576 9888.BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 11Using your own car as anemployee or directorby Smyth & CoChartered AccountantsA MODEST but nonetheless welcomeincrease in the mileageallowance on which you can claimtax relief applies from 6 April 2011.Instead of a maximum claim of 40pper business mile, you can now get45p. However, as before, this appliesonly for the first 10,000 businessmiles in the tax year, with the excessmileage only qualifying for amileage allowance of 25p per mile.If your employer will not pay asmuch as 45p, you can claim tax reliefon the shortfall. If you receive morethan the statutory rate, the excess istaxed.If you drive your own car on abusiness trip and take colleagueswith you, your employer (which ofcourse includes your own company)can also pay you a tax-free 5p permile per passenger. But if they won’tdo this you cannot claim tax relief on5p per mile – confusing but typicalWaresley Park Garden BuildingsThe completeservice for yoursectional buildingsSPECIFICATION TOINSTALLATIONSHEDSLOG CABINSTOOL STORESGREENHOUSESGARAGESSUMMERHOUSESWORKSHOPSFENCINGPATIOSwhen it comes to the tax system foremployees!Despite the increase, the systemstill penalises high business mileageemployees driving a car of over twolitres. This again raises the old questionof whether it is better to have acompany car, or whether to get a carallowance for your own car. If youhave the choice, we will be pleasedto advise you of what is the betteroption.Smyth & Co. provide a range ofaccountancy and taxation servicesand are proactive in helping theirclients develop their businesses. Toarrange a free initial consultationplease call Greg on 01767 220214 oremail greg@smythaccountants.co.uk.Every effort has been made toensure that the information given inthis article is accurate and not misleading,but the writer cannot acceptany responsibility for any loss or liabilityperceived to have arisen fromany such information.Call 01767654951WE ALSO OFFER THEFOLLOWING SERVICES● Erecting services● FREE Site and survey visits● Disposal of old buildings● Slab and concrete base laying● FREE deliveryWaresley Park Garden Buildings LtdAT THE GARDEN CENTREWaresley, Sandy SG19 3DBALTERATIONS&REPAIRSZIPS REPLACED – EVENING WEARPick up and delivery for elderly non-driversFAST, INEXPENSIVE SERVICEMens, Womens, Childrens, new and nearly new clothes101 POTTON ROAD, BIGGLESWADECall 01767 315279

12 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukANNOUNCEMENTSThe Festival of Britain opened on 3May 1951 – sixty years ago – anditself marked the centenary of theVictorian Great Exhibition of 1851 atCrystal Palace. After the austerity ofthe Second World War the Festival ofBritain, a national event, celebratedthe recovery and a new modernBritain. It was a great morale booster.Perhaps some of you will have visitedthe principal exhibition site on theSouth Bank in London. The RoyalFestival Hall became a concert hallafter the festival closed and was thefirst post-war building to be Grade 1listed, in 1988.We now have a date and venue forthis year’s Christmas gathering:Tuesday, 6 December at theConservative Club. Further detailsabout the evening to be given nearerthe time.Biggleswade History SocietyWilliam and is inscribed with hisname and address, two original Ivelcycle catalogues of 1891 and 1902 andan original Ivel Agricultural Motorcatalogue of 1908. This collection,together with some items previouslyhanded into our care and others to beadded by Mr Irvine at a later date, is tobe known as The Dan Albone Archivefor Biggleswade.Lee Irvine is connected by marriageto Dan Albone’s family. Hiswife, Maude, died last year at the ageof 89. Maude’s mother Edith was bornin Biggleswade in 1884, the eldestchild of Edward Albone, a farmer andone of Dan’s elder brothers. Edwardand his wife moved to Lincolnshireand six more children were born there.Dan was therefore Maude’s greatuncle.Maude’s family maintained itslinks with the family here and Maudeand Lee later came to live inBiggleswade for a while, before finallysettling in the Brighton area.For many years Lee has been anavid fan of Dan Albone and in thecourse of his research has collected agreat deal of material about him as aperson, cyclist, inventor and manufacturer.With Kathy Hindle he publishedhis first book in 1990: ‘A ThoroughGood Fellow – The Story of DanAlbone, Inventor and Cyclist’. He iscurrently collaborating with memberRay Miller to produce another book,which is expected to make its appearanceby the end of this year. LeeThe Biggleswade History Society meets monthly at MillenniumHouse, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade. Doors open at 7.45pm for an8.00pm start on the first Tuesday of the month unless notified.Meetings are free to members; visitors will usually be welcome to ourindoor meetings at a charge of £2.00 per meeting.intends to release further donations ofhis source material when Ray hascompleted work on this book. Lee andMaude very much wished that thismaterial should eventually find ahome in Biggleswade and, in theabsence of a town museum, felt thatour History Society should be itsguardian. We look forward very muchto the publication of the book andhope to showcase it, together with TheDanAlboneArchive for Biggleswade,early in the NewYear, 2012.EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONSWell organised, with good displays –Very interesting. – Good to visit alocal place. – Great to hear the bell forthe first time after living locally for thepast 35 years. – Relative buried here. –My first visit, having lived here for 40years. – Please open again. Thesewere some of the comments written inthe Visitors’ Book when we openedDrove Road Cemetery Chapel to thepublic last September as part of thenational English Heritage Open Daysscheme. The Society will be openingthe Chapel and Cemetery again thisyear, on Saturday and Sunday, 10-11September. All are invited, so pleasenote those dates in your diary and besure to come along with friends andfamily for a fascinating morning orafternoon discovering Biggleswade'slandmark Victorian cemetery, its WarGraves and memorials.GREAT NEWS!Mr Lee Irvine of Portslade has made agenerous donation to our Society of aForthcoming Programme (2011)collection of material relating to Dan 5 Jul: Visit to Biggleswade Fire Station Sewell on the use of mustard gas inAlbone, his family and his Ivel manufacturingbusiness. It comprises sever-2 Aug: Visit to Shuttleworth Aircraft WW1.Collection for private members 6 Dec: Members’ Christmas Event to beal large, professionally framed imagesevening guided tour.held at the Conservative Club.of the Ivel Agricultural Motor (Dan’sDetails to follow nearer the time.tractor) and many other images and6 Sep: Harris’s Fun Fairs – A slide showDiary dates – other organisationsmemorabilia, including some originalpresentation by Ken Page.13 Jun Sandy Tourist Information Centrefamily photographs, a family will, a 4 Oct: Maps and Mapping (Part 2) – a Local Guided Walks – ‘Old Wardensmall printed poetry anthology which talk by Eric Lund– The Lords & Gentry Walk’ phoneonce belonged to Dan’s elder brother 1 Nov: Death Clouds a talk by Geoff 01767 682728 for details.For further information contact: Jane Croot 01767 650340, editor@biggleswadehistory.org.uk www.biggleswadehistory.org.ukThe Murder Bridge MysteryCompiled by Jane Croot, NewsletterEditor for Biggleswade History Society,from past issues of the Society’s monthlynewsletters.As a child growing up in Biggleswadein the 1950s I was aware that there was aplace people called 'The Murder Bridge'on the B1040 Potton road leading out ofthe town. I clearly remember, one day inthe school summer holidays, cycling witha school friend over a bridge crossing astream at the far end of BiggleswadeCommon, just before Turnpike Farm. Sheremarked casually that we had just goneover the Murder Bridge. When I asked myDad about it he insisted the MurderBridge was not a bridge as such, but a culvertor drain passing under the road pastTurnpike Farm and just past the pair ofsemi-detached villas on the other side. Hesaid the body of a murdered woman hadbeen hidden there a long time ago. Lots oflocal people of my generation, and thoseof my parents and grandparents, seemedto know of the Murder Bridge but were allvery vague about the murder that supposedlytook place. I have certainly neverseen the name 'Murder Bridge' on anyprinted map of the area.Much later, when I joinedBiggleswade History Society in 1993, Ithought that Ken Page, Biggleswade's'Mr. History', must surely be able to providesome answers. He was of the opinionthat the bridge on the Common was theMurder Bridge but, as for the historybehind the name, he was as much in thedark as I was. Did it have its origin in ahistorical event, or was it just folklore thathad developed from who knows where,when and who knows how?Ken appealed for information to theHistory Society’s members, through themonthly newsletter. The followingextracts represent the Society’s file on theMurder Bridge mystery.NEWSLETTER 104,DECEMBER 1993:Most local people know the 'MurderBridge' on the road to Sutton and Potton atthe far end of 'The Pastures' part ofBiggleswade Common. We would bepleased to hear from anyone with informationon the event which gave rise to thisname. Legend tells of a murder whichtook place over 70 years ago!NEWSLETTER 105,JANUARY 1994:Mary Stonebridge has written to saythat the Murder Bridge was situated onthe bend going up the hill towards SuttonCross Roads. [Ken identified this asWatermill Bridge, which is marked assuch on most maps but is not the samebridge as the one on BiggleswadeCommon.] There were two stone bridges,the main bridge and a smaller bridge. Thesmall bridge was the 'Murder Bridge',used for the mill race. The mill stone isstill there. When I moved into one of thepair of houses in 1955, the house wascalled Water Mill Cottage, but also locallycalled Halfway House. When I was toldabout the Murder Bridge [the person]called the two houses (now one) HalfwayHouse. The bridges were altered in 1966.A man died when the old stone bridgenearest collapsed on him. I was told that aman on a motorbike killed a girl by strangulation.A bridge is also under the roadnear Turnpike Farm, with no indication ofone on the surface. Peter remembers as aboy walking under it.Colin King was told that a man wasdriving a pony and trap from Potton toBiggleswade. The pony stopped, he gotout to lead the pony and found a dead girlunder the bridge. Diana Meyhew rememberscycling over the bridge very quickly,as she understood that a nurse was murderedthere. Eva Norman is convincedthat the murder happened a very long timeago, before 1891. Don Hill has informationabout an ancient murder in thevicinity, when it was part of the vanishedsettlement of Kinwick.The extract from a recent map appearsto be before 1966, and shows WatermillBridge quite clearly. It is in Sutton Parishand carries the brook from Potton and

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 13The Parish Boundary Bridge on the Common near Turnpike FarmWatermill Bridge on the bend before reaching Sutton Cross RoadsThe sealed off culvert under the road just past the villas, looking back towardsBiggleswadeSutton Splash… to BiggleswadeCommon and the Ivel. Watermill Bridgeis shown on maps of 100 years ago, but nomill. However, Peter Ibbett from PottonHistory Society provided a copy of theoriginal Biggleswade to Ramsey Turnpikesurvey in 1764 and this shows a buildingon the Sutton side to the east. The mill isnot mentioned in any surveys ofBedfordshire mills. This is anothermystery.Before we move on to the nextNewsletter it will be helpful to makesome remarks about Ken’s pre-1966map, and to show another map from100 years earlier. see left.An enlarged portion of the map KenPage added to Newsletter 105 clearlyshows the two Watermill bridgesdescribed by Mary Stonebridge – the largerbridge just before the bend, and the smallerone, which Mary identified as the MurderBridge, right on the bend. On the right youcan see where the stream divided beforepassing under the road. She said bothbridges were demolished and replaced bythe present single Watermill Bridge justbefore the bend. Modern maps show onlyone stream and bridge there today.From an Ordnance Survey map of the1860s. Watermill Bridge, on the sharpbend in the road just past Simply Oak andBeds Growers today, is where the streamfrom Sutton Splash passes under the roadon its way to the River Ivel. Mike Strangehas highlighted the other bridge that someidentified as the Murder Bridge, andlabelled it 'Parish Boundary Bridge'because the stream it crosses marks theboundary between Biggleswade andSutton parishes. This bridge, on the edgeof Biggleswade Common, where therewas once a horse racing course, is close toTurnpike Farm and the site of the oldSutton toll gate. Finally, the culvert underthe road (the third candidate for theMurder Bridge) was somewhere betweenthese two bridges but is now no longervisible, except for a slight bump runningacross the road.NEWSLETTER 106, FEBRUARY 1994:We have no further information todate about the Murder Bridge, apart fromthe controversy of which bridge it was.Some people say Watermill Bridge andothers say it was the bridge by theCommon (Pastures).NEWSLETTER 107, MARCH 1994:THE MURDER BRIDGE. MarcKing [1919-2000] writes: As schoolboyswe crawled through the tunnel under theroad, just beyond the two villas oppositeMr Ball's Turnpike Farm. Mrs BruceThompson [Vera Thompson] of MeadEnd, who lived in one of the houses andwas born in the Toll House which wasopposite near to the farm, says the policesealed the ends of the tunnel as childrenwere exploring there, but their bicycleswere causing a traffic hazard! None of ushad bicycles as we had to walk everywhere.We were no doubt on our way toDeepdale to gather chestnuts or to pickblackberries. Incidentally, Omar Bartleoperated his 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred'buses and he would stop and enquire ofanyone walking along the road whetherthey would prefer a comfortable ride,though you were still expected to pay the2d fare!MEDIEVAL MURDER MYSTERY ATKINWICK– a feature article by Don Hill.Whilst research and discussion continuesabout the name Murder Bridge, andthe possible connection with events ofaround 100 years ago, it may be worthrecording an earlier murder that occurredin the area. Over 700 years ago in 1270,Gilbert the Shepherd met an untimelyend. The precise location where the murderoccurred is unknown, but it may evenhave happened at Murder Bridge.The location of Kinwick. a settlementat Kinwick is first recorded in DomesdayBook (1086), when it had a population ofaround 35 people and was clearly a fairlytypical agricultural estate with arable andmeadow land, and a watermill.Most local people appear to haveheard of the lost village of Kinwick.Though nothing is visible today, traditionseems to locate it somewhere near thenorth end of Biggleswade Common. In1920 George Herbert Fowler,Bedfordshire’s leading medieval historianat that time, investigated the problem ofKinwick's location and, from a study ofvarious medieval documents, he proposedthat the estate or manor “…covered thesouth-eastern or Hasells corner of thepresent Parish of Sandy and so much ofthe present [Parish of] Sutton as wouldinclude Millhouse Fen and WatermillBridge.” [Don illustrated this with asketch map of his own, but we could getan approximate idea of the extent of themanor of Kinwick by looking at our1860s map. Imagine a strip of land coveringthe central part of the map, fromSandy Warren at the top, as far as theBiggleswade to Potton Road between thetwo bridges, and bounded on the left byBiggleswade Common and on the right,by a line from High Mount running souththrough the present Carthagena andPortobello Farms.] Where the actual villagelay within this boundary is uncertain,but the possibilities are few, for much ofthe central area was formerly fen and thustoo marshy for settlement. Documentssuggest there may even have been two settlements.One of these sites was certainlyin Sandy Parish….and the name KinwickField immediately south-west of HasellsHall is surely significant here. The patchof well-drained gravel by Turnpike Farmis another possibilityThe murder. In Volume 41 of theBedfordshire Historical Record Society(Bedfordshire Coroners Rolls) is the followingaccount: “After Vespers on 9October 1270 Gilbert the Shepherd ofKinwick went from his house in the hamletof Kinwick in the Parish of Sandy tohis sheepfold a furlong [220 yards] outsidethe town on the east and did notreturn that night. His wife Rose searchedfor him with her neighbours, and on thenext day through the neighbourhood intowns and fields and could not find him.On 13 October Gilbert's son Hugh waswatching his sheep on Sandy Heath andthere found his father slain, being struckthrough the middle of the hattrel [crownof the head] apparently with an axe, raisedthe hue and cry and ran to thetown……Inquest before the coroner bySutton, Potton, Everton and Sandy foundthat they did not know who killed Gilbert,but they knew he was not killed where hewas found.”Watermill Bridge. The nameWatermill Bridge which is shown onmodern maps is interesting. Clearly anywatermill situated here must havebelonged to one of the adjoining manors:Biggleswade, Sutton or Kinwick. InDomesday Book Biggleswade had twomills, Kinwick had one, whilst none arerecorded for Sutton. It seems probablethat Biggleswade's two mills were situatedon the Ivel and therefore that WatermillBridge is named after the Domesday millbelonging to Kinwick, or its successor.Don Hill 1994.NEWSLETTER 108, APRIL 1994:THE MURDER BRIDGE. There wasan article in 'Week by Week' in the NorthBeds Courier, October 15th 1957. Beingin the centre of a bound copy it does notreproduce, so is typed out.Spinney fenced in at Murder Bridge.For many years gypsies have camped inthe spinney near Murder Bridge, halfwaybetween Biggleswade and Potton.Recently the ground has been used veryheavily by these folk and complaints ofthe rubbish that has accumulated thereand generally untidy appearance of thespot have been made. The authoritiesresolved at last a few days ago to clear thespot. Those living there at the time weremoved out by the police and a three-strandbarbed wire fence erected right round theroad edge of the spinney.Mr John Ream, the farmer on whoseland the spinney comes as part of theSutton Estate, tells me that a great deal ofnuisance has been created thererecently…….[The Reams of PortobelloFarm farmed all the land on the north sideof the road as far as Turnpike Farm. Thespinney where the travellers camped wason that side of the road just beforeWatermill Bridge and the left-hand bend.Therefore the writer of the 1957 articlesaw Watermill Bridge – one of the twobridges at the bend – as the MurderBridge.]Finger Proof. Many people, like me,may wonder where the name 'MurderBridge' comes from.. It is difficult todetermine how these names first came tobe written down, but there is a well knownlegend locally, that a murder was actuallycommitted at this spot about 150 yearsContinued on page 17

14 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBiggleswade Ivel Evening Townswomen Guild May 2011CHAIRMAN Chris Davies welcomedmembers to the BiggleswadeIvel Evening Townswomen GuildMeeting on 9th May. Birthday greetingsfor May were given to RosemaryBadley, Margaret Henegan and VivPalmer.The guild display at the LibraryBig Day had been a success with anumber of people visiting the standBiggleswade Circle newsARE you female and aged 18-45?Don’t miss out on all the fun!Have fun and meet new people,Circle offers you this and more…Our unique organisation for womenaged 18 – 45 has a 70 year history,we’re proud of our heritage but aim tobe progressive and forward thinking.Explore our web site and find out whatCircle has to offer you www.ladiescircle.org.ukOur members promote friendship,fun and fundraising by way of monthlymeetings including only two businessmeetings per year. Our programmesare varied – e.g. food and drink, theatre/cinema,pampering, creativethemes indoors and out and even girlieweekends away! See some upcomingevents below.Charity projects include plantingcrocuses to help raise money toeradicate Polio worldwide, making upOperation Christmas Child shoeboxesand helping compile a recipe book toraise funds for the Kasiisi PorridgeProject in Uganda. We volunteerand expressing an interest in joiningthe guild. Briefing papers for theNational AGM had been received andthe primary topic was Geriatric Carein Hospitals. A certificate had beenreceived from the Air Ambulanceacknowledging the swimming teamand subsequent donation. Mrs Daviesgave details of the recent FederationAGM including details of offers toat women’s events such as Race/Relay for Life, Breakthrough forBreast cancer. We host events such asThink Pink evenings, MacmillanCoffee mornings and Tea for Diabetesraising valuable funds whilst havingfun and meeting new friends in theprocess.Whatever you want to do, orachieve, you can be sure we’ll help youdo it – the possibilities are endless. Ifyou are interested in finding out moreabout your local Circle (Biggleswade).Don’t be shy, we’re a friendly bunch!Please contact: Julie Masterstel: 07879 417484 or email for aprogramme and find out for yourselfJulie.masters@virginmedia. comWhat’s to come? We’ve just had adiary dates meeting and this is whatwe’ve planned for the coming year:making up hanging baskets and pots,walk and picnic, volunteering at Racefor Life, helping at the SandyHorticultural Show, afternoon tea atWoburn Abbey, a trip to Henlow dogracing among many others.TG members to attend matineeperformances of West End shows athalf the normal price. She also madean appeal for any Beatrix Potter itemsthat could be used at the SocialStudies display and a mystery trip hasbeen arranged for Wednesday 27thJuly. Entries for the summer specialare to be in by the June meeting andthe National Carol Service has beenarranged for Monday 5th Decemberat St Albans Abbey, tickets for thisevent are very popular and applicationshave to be made immediately.Members were reminded of the needfor items for a car boot sale during thesummer.During April members hadenjoyed the monthly stroll around thelakes at Broom followed by lunch atthe Crown Hotel in Biggleswade.After a break for refreshments theChairman introduced the speakers,David and Mary Whitehead from thefriends of Keech Bedford who gavean extremely interesting talk aboutKeech Hospice Care at Luton whogave palliative care and support tochildren and their families who weredealing with life limiting situationsand were under the age of 18 years.They give this care to young people inBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and thewhole of the Milton Keynes area.Help is available 24 hours a day, 365days a year. Over 200 children a yearare cared for and this number is rising.The aim at Keech is to look afterthe whole family, a lot of care is performedin the patient’s home and theyhave a dedicated team of CommunityNurses who make regular visits toadminister drugs, specialist treatmentor just have a cup of tea and a chat.Keech hospice itself is a fun andcolourful place, it has a playground,hydrotherapy pool, sensory room,music therapy, sibling groups,teenage groups, outdoor activities,and a dedicated bereavement area.The hospice requires £3m a year torun and the children’s section costs£8,219 per day which equates to£5.70 per minute. 75% of these fundscome from the community and 25%from statutory sources. Corporatedonations have decreased in recenttimes but they are hopeful that thesewill return when the general economyimproves. They have a number of volunteerswho help with the administration,serve meals, do gardening andrun their shops. Diane Keen gave thevote of thanks for this very interestingand enlightening talk.Winners of the raffle wereYvonneCrane and Liz Stirratt. The competitionfor a childhood toy was won byWendy Walters, second Bobbie Balland third Audrey Purkiss.The next meeting will be onMonday 13th June when the speakerwould be Mrs Burr 'Send a Cow' andthe competition would be for aFavourite Jug. The guild meets on thesecond Monday of the month 7.30 pmat the Weatherley Centre new memberand visitors are very welcome. The first place for plants!WE GROW NEARLY 3000DIFFERENT SORTS OFPLANTSCome and see for yourself!The Ridgeway, Blunham MK44 3PH01767 640148www.asterbyplants.co.ukJust of the A603 near the A1 at Sandy P J Private HireCOMPETITIVE RATES FORLOCAL RUNS, AIRPORTSAND LONG DISTANCETEL:PLEASE CONTACT MOB:01767 262415 – 07895 744891

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 15Best selling author takes us from Antarctica to SouthillWHY, you may wellask, is Sara Wheeler,a well respected internationalbest sellingauthor and broadcaster,giving a talk atSouthill Church onthe 18th June? Aswell as educating andentertaining us, theevent is being stagedto help BiggleswadeIVEL Rotary Clubraise funds for it’scharities; both localand international charities.During the evening of 18th June,Sara will take us on a virtual triparound the World, introducing us to“the bits a tourist does not see”.Born in Bristol, a place wellknown for its sea-borne explorers,Sara developed a burning ambitionto travel around the World. Educatedat Braesnose College Oxford, whereshe read Classics, she decided on acareer in journalism, after realisingshe had a passion to write.A natural linguist, at 18 Sara leftBristol, and took a job in a fashionhouse in Paris. Having a lot of funthere she saved enough from herearnings to fund a Trans-Americantrip, after which she returned toEngland and Oxford University. Inher gap year she lived and worked inGreece, her experiences were later toprovide the material for her book“An Island Apart”.Before turning to writing, she hadworked as a commissioning editorfor Robert Maxwell. Sara recallsWeddingPhotographsWould you like to see your specialday in this magazine – then getyour photographer to send a pictureand a short report to:editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukIT’S FREE!being fired for rejectinga book, the subjectof which was perhaps,too close forcomfort. She thenbecame Editor ofPublishing News.However the wanderlustbug was alive andwell, soon she wasdeparting again. Thistime to Chile.Living in Chileshe found inspirationfor “Travels in a ThinCountry”. While in Chile, Antarcticawas irresistibly close. But the questionwas “how to get there?”. Thiswas indeed a challenge and failurewas not an option. She persuaded theChilean Air Force to fly her down toAntarctica. However, she could notpersuade the British AntarcticSurvey Team to take her with them.The Americans, on the other handhad an artist and writer in residencefor their programme. After muchpestering, the Americans did accepther. Sara was indeed the first non-American on the programme.Sara recalled being out on the ice,with the scientists, taking coresamples and hiking, and beingworried about the possibility ofgetting lost. She found comfort in aparticularly pointy mountain whichthe Glaciologists had christened“The it doesn’t Matterhorn” whichprovided a guide point. For them.So why is Sara supportingBiggleswade IVEL Rotary Club?Sara explained “Like all charitiesthey need to raise funds for theirwork which is truly international,Malaria nets for Masai, Shelterboxes for disaster areas, abolitionof Polio and their various localcauses.Having travelled the World Iknow how valuable their type of helpis to so many less-fortunate people. Ihave been involved with a charity inAfrica myself and I know how hardit is to raise the necessary funds.”Sara is a gifted writer whobelieves that a book must be fundamentallyabout something other thanjust the journey. It also must give asnapshot impression of life from afleeting, but revealing angle. To hearher speak about her exploits, youwill not be disappointed.So come along on 18th June andhear Sara, numbers are limited byTicket only, £10 (which includeslight refreshments, a bar will beavailable), telephone 01462 701491/or 01234 838238. Alternatively, popinto Cambridge Coins, in the HighStreet Biggleswade… or log on tothe Biggleswade Ivel Rotary Clubweb site. www.ivelrotary.org.ukAll proceeds are going toBiggleswade IVEL Rotary Club.Both Sara and the Southill Churchare making no charge for this event.Tina’sCake Shop offersacomplete bespoke service forcelebration and novelty cakes,from design to delivery, for alloccassions.Now available – DIY or pre-made wedding favoursandcake boxes to order, to add to our professional weddingcake service. Also, we can supply cupcakes and bakes foryour summer garden parties, BBQ’s and weddingreceptionsand have over twenty flavoursfor you tochoose from.Contact us on 01767 660839, tina@tinascakeshop.co.uk,or see us on Biggleswade market every Saturday.Find us on Facebook, Follow tinascakeshopuk on Twitter, or log on to www.tinascakeshop.co.uk

16 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukSPORTRugby Club 2010–2011 Season AwardsBIGGLESWADE’S most successfulseason for many years culminated inthe annual Club Dinner and AwardsNight. The chairman had invited formerWales fly-half Paul Turner tospeak about his experiences duringthe tumultuous era when rugby wentprofessional and his time at BedfordBlues, Harlequins and NewportGwent Dragons. Paul gave an insightinto his rugby career and praisedBiggleswade for being a ‘proper’rugby club that recruits players fromthe Mini and Youth section. Paul isno stranger to Biggy having lived inBedford and been a guest coach atthe club in 1996! The Annual dinnerwas also addressed by Joe Jordanand outgoing captain Ross Taylorwho wished his successor JonathanHamilton continued success nextseason:The awards are as followsPlayer of the Year:George MatthewsMost Improved Player:Luke HaverleyPlayers Player:Michael Haddow (First XV),Luke Haverley (Pirates),Nigel Hutchinson (Third XV)The Malcolm Carlisle Trophy:Gareth GriffithsClubman of the Year:Dave TysomChairman’s unsung hero:Graham PlaceHonours Tie:Mike AdamsThe Malcolm Carlisle trophy is inmemory of the founder of BiggyMinis, Malcolm farmed at Henlowand leaves the trophy as a legacy ofhis work in developing Mini andYouth rugby at Biggleswade.The clubman’s award is presentedto the individual, not necessarily aplayer who has contributed to theclub over the past season, this year’srecipient is Dave Tysom who hasworked wonders with the Third XV.The clubs highest honour is theHonours Tie. Presented in recognitionof someone who has gone(l-r) Joe Jordan, Ross Taylor (former captain), Steve Matthews (Chairman) Paul Turner ( Wales, Bedford Blues &Newport Gwent Dragons), Mike Williams (President).beyond what is expected and put ahuge effort into Biggleswade Rugby.The Honours Tie is presented onvery rare occasions, no one deservesit more that Mike Adams!Biggy’s epic season is now over,but the hard work has only just started.The club head grounds manageris Mike Adams, who along withMartin Harwood looks after thepitches on a voluntary basis.Biggleswade Rugby Club are unusualin that the ground care is all done‘in house’ giving the grounds menfreedom to prepare the pitches howthe club wants rather than relying oncontractors. “Mike is very practicaland can fix or make just about anythingand together with my agronomybackground we can manage thegrass to suit the club” said Martin.Biggleswade have been fortunateenough to receive a grant of £250from RBS as part of the RBS RugbyForce weekend in June. Clubmembers plan to decorate the clubhouseand make other improvements;in fact the work has alreadystarted with refurbishment of thechanging rooms etc.The club have six full size pitchesand mini rugby grids which areprepared using a slitter which aeratesthe ground, the club purchased theslitter a few years ago and it hasproved invaluable.“Many pitches become compactedover the winter and we use the slitterat least twice a year” commentedMike. The Biggleswade RUFC pitchesare on either side of the LangfordRoad and both are free draining. Onedownside is that they are all laid onthe old “ridge and furrow” system ofploughing, so have a gentle undulationmaking straight line marking difficult,(at least that is their excuse andthey are sticking to it).The grass cutting is done on aweekly rotation using a 1950s Dextatractor kindly loaned to the club byRichard and Peter Kendall with otheragricultural equipment borrowedfrom Joe Jordan. Because the grassis cut to 70mm, much longer than amunicipal pitch the lines are cut inusing hand movers, which takes along time but looks good. The normallypristine pitches have receivedonly 10mm of rain since the beginningof March to mid May and aresuffering from the drought, an irrigationsystem is planned but willneed capital expenditure to introduce.Advice is taken from varioussources including the Pitchcareorganisation and no lesser expert thatthe Twickenham head grounds men,whose best advice was to not roll thepitches! Martin has taken a course ingrounds maintenance and uses professionalqualifications to ensure thatthe pitches get the best treatment.Mike added: “We are very awarethat the first impression of the clubhas to be right, so a lot of effort istaken to make sure the little thingsare done well, lines are markedbrightly, there is no litter about,signage is clear and the visitors feelwelcome, presentation is everything”.It is perhaps no surprise thatBiggleswade has been chosen to hostmore County matches, school finalsand club finals than any other club inthe area.“Rabbits and moles are a continuousmenace, as is the dry weather”said Mike, adding that the club haverecently appointed Langford basedGlade Pest Control to help controlthe mole problem.Summer Touch RugbyTHIS competition is well under wayand has official backing from theRFU, the competition is still open forthose who would like to join one ofthe existing teams. Just come alongon a Thursday evening and join in.The competition is open to all fromthe age of 16.

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukIvel Valley U3A – May 2011CHAIRMAN Anne Jones greetedmembers of the Ivel Valley U3A totheir meeting on Tuesday, 10th Mayat Holmemead School canteen. Shethanked Brian Tobin for the magnificentdisplay boards, which he hadconstructed and thanked the team formanning the display. As we hadmany enquiries she hoped we wouldget more members.The secretary, Ann Taylor, gavedetails of the U3A’s National AGMon 17th-19th September at the eastMidlands Conference Centre atNottingham University. There wasalso an opportunity to order a U3Adiary for 2012. She read out a letterof thanks From Jill Napper, TeamLibrarian, for participating at theBiggleswade Library Big Day. TheArt group was unable to meet at theirnormal venue last week but set up inthe car park at Old Warden Churchwhere they had a splendid afternoon.Their next meeting is on 7th Junewhen the subject would is still lifedrawing. Margaret Drake will hostthe next Book Group meeting on13th June. As there are members onthe waiting list for the Book Group,Beryl Morrell has offered to lead asecond group. The Music Groupmeets on 17th May at MargaretDrake’s house and the Craft Groupon 19th May at Ann Taylor’s housewhere the subject is Blackwork. EricLund gave details of the next walk on18th May starting at Hatley StGeorge at 2.30pm. Anne Jonesthanked Chris Davies for organisingthe successful outing to the flowerfestivals and Springfields. Chris isorganising another trip to theNational memorial and Arboretum atLitchfield on 30th August at a cost of£14.00. Names will be taken nextmonth. Jean Curwen was collectingunwanted foreign currency for theEast Anglian Air Ambulance andrequested members to look out anythat may be hiding away in drawers.Anne Jones introduced the speaker,Dr Tony Maisley, who was to talkabout Spare Part Surgery. Beginningby explaining that he was a retiredGP, Tony gave the best and funniesttalk the U3A had ever heard. Talkingabout replacement parts he coveredthe subjects of hips, knees, eyes,hearts and various other parts. Hetalked about breasts, glasses, hearingaids, bowels, bladders and birthmarksand although the subjectswere of a serious nature he broughthumour and laughter to his audience.He brought samples of various partsof the body and the audience wereable to examine them. Most dislikedthe feel of the implant and siliconbreasts although the box containingseveral false eyes was slightly offputting. His one serious piece ofadvice was that when a memberwent to see a doctor expecting badnews to always take a companion asthe recipient wouldn’t take in anythingthat the doctor was saying afterbeing given bad news. Ann Taylorgave the vote of thanks for a wonderfultalk.The Murder Bridge Mystery – from page 13ago. [That would be about 1800] The victim,so it is told, was a woman and themurderer was eventually hanged for hismisdeeds.Another tale attached to this spotmight be interesting. It is always rather aspooky, eerie place after dark, with thenearest house two or three hundred yardsaway now – perhaps there were nonenearer than Portobello Farm years ago –and people out late hurried past as quicklyas possible. The tale is told of a certain MrTasker, who was in business as a grocerwhere Wren’s fish shop is in ShortmeadStreet, now returning in his delivery cartvery late from Potton many years ago. Hisjourney was a regular one, and known tomost people, and it was also known thathe might have up to £40 in cash on him asa result of his business transactions. MrTasker was equally well aware that hisbusiness was well known and was usuallyvery wary.Thus it came about that on one darknight, as his cob trotted round this bend,there was a sudden scuttle and a man'shand appeared over the edge of the cartpreparatory to leaping aboard. Quick as aflash Mr Tasker lashed out with his baconknife, which was laid handy, and the handdisappeared with a scream. Mr Tasker hadno difficulty in proving his story when hegot home. There in the cart lay two fingersto bear him out!That is the sum total of BiggleswadeHistory Society’s file on the MurderBridge. If Biggleswade Bulletin readershave anything to add we shall be verypleased to hear from you. We havesearched newspapers going back to the18th century and found no mention ofsuch a murder. The BiggleswadeChronicle goes back to 1891 and nothinghas emerged there either. If someone hadbeen arrested and tried locally for such amurder we would expect to find somerecord of it in the Bedford QuarterSessions and Gaol Registers, but no suchluck. Perhaps the murderer was nevertracked down, or maybe the dark deedtook place much earlier than we thoughtand has passed into folklore and gotmuddled along the way. Surely it can'thave been the man on the motorbike,which would place it in the 20th century -if that were the case everybody wouldknow and agree on the details. Perhaps itcame about as a result of children makingup tales to frighten each other. Theroad certainly was a dangerous place. Iknow of at least two more recordedattacks that took place there in the 19thcentury. Possibly we have been barkingup the wrong tree, and 'Murder' meanssomething else. The bridge nearTurnpike Farm is on the Common, whichis grazing land, or meadow. Knowing thelocal accent this could well have beencalled the 'Medder Bridge', to distinguishit from the Watermill Bridge. 'Medder'could easily be misinterpreted as'Murder'! Finally, all are agreed that theMurder Bridge is on the B1040 toPotton, but which bridge is it? 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18 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukOUT AND ABOUTExercise and good conversation on offerFOR the Ivel Valley walkers, Junesees a very full programme thatincorporates evening walks in additionto our regular daytime offerings,The evening walks, usuallyabout four miles in length, shouldappeal to those who are unable towalk during the day. They are free,just come along wearing suitablefootwear and introduce yourselvesto the leader, it’s as simple as that.I am still amazed after a number ofyears of rambling how beautiful ourlocality is and just how much of it liesclose to the roads that we regularlydrive through. The Ramblers help youto discover this hidden world, besidesthe benefit of exercise and conversation.This month on the Saturday 25thfeatures a day trip to Staffordshire(see below) where we will walkbesides rivers and canals, past historichouses and through forest areas,thispromises to be a most interestingwalk, as you will see from the programmethat the meeting point isMilton Keynes Station.Tue 14th June 10:00am ArleseyVillage Hall Car park, 9 miles.Bernard 01462 700387Wed 15th June 10:00amDunstable Downs – ChilternGateway Centre, 6.5 miles. Car parkcharge (free to National Trust members).Carol 01582 882628Thu 16th June 7:30pmSharnbrook, near the Church, 4 miles.Mary C 01234 781220Sun 19th June 10:00am Turvey, inlayby on A428 north of river, 12miles. David 01234 350644Tue 21st June 10:00am WeekdayAmble. Clifton near Church, 4 miles.Pat & Olga 01462 813848Wed 22nd June 10:00am MauldenWoods. Car park off A6 north ofClophill, 7 miles. Jim 01234 301948Wed 22nd June 7:30pm AmpthillPark car park, 4 miles. Jim 01234301948Sun 26th June 10:00am & 2:00pmWilden, opposite Victoria Arms PH, 7& 5 miles. Barry 01234 353704Tue 28th June 10:00amSharnbrook, near the Church, 12miles. Jim 01234 301948Wed 29th June 10:00am AshwellHigh Street near Three Tuns PH, 6.5miles. Marcus 01462 812005Wed 29th Jun 7:30pm RowneyWarren Wood car park, Sandy Lane,off A600 NW of Shefford, 4 miles.Marcus 01462 812005Railway Walk Saturday 25th JuneStaffordshire Distance 10.6 milesRivers, canals, an historic townand forest. Walk in the footsteps of afamous author and through thegrounds of the nations bestUpstairs/Downstairs experience.Easy and enjoyable walking.Meet inside the entrance to MiltonKeynes Station at 8.10am to catch the8.25 am London Midland Train toRugeley Trent Vale. (This train is theLondon Euston to Crewe train). Ourjourney takes around 95 minutes.On alighting at Rugeley we crossthe bridge into the car car park anddown the slope to the road. At theroad we turn right under the railwaybridge and further on cross the RiverTrent. Away to our left dominatingthe skyline is Rugeley Power Station.Continuing towards the town cross anew road and after a short descentthen ascent turn right onto theStaffordshire Way. The StaffordshireWay and tow path of The Trent andMersey Canal and the nearbye RiverTrent will be our companion for thenext few miles and is far from being aboring old canal path. passing WharfCottage, Taft Farm, Bishton Hall,SMITH & CLAREHome Improvements■ PAINTING ■ DECORATING■ KITCHEN INSTALLATIONS■ DECKING ■ FENCING■ WOOD FLOORING■ FREE ESTIMATESwww.smithandclare.co.ukEmail: smithandclare@aol.comTel: 01767 600801/ 07583 807383Wolseleybridge Farm, and ColwichLock. At Little Haywood we join'The Way for the Millennium' toGreat Haywood. Boat activityincreases along this section and continuesto beyond the junction of theTrent & Mersey and Staffordshireand Worcestershire Canals. Slightlyfurther on is an aquaduct where theS&W Canal crosses the River Trent.Retracing our steps some 500 yardsturn right and cross the River Trentvia Essex Bridge, a narrow packhorsebridge built between 1600-1650, intothe grounds of Shugborough Hall,now owned by The National Trust.Follow the Staffordshire Waythrough the park, viewing first, theHall on the right and by the railwaythe great monument built on the hillsideover the tunnel. On reaching theA513 at the end of the Park turn rightand follow the footpath alongside theroad for a few hundred yards then justbefore a car park bear right into thewooded area of the Satnall Hills. Aclimb through the woods followed bydescent brings us again to the A513where we turn right and proceed pastthe entrance to Shugborough Halland across a large triangular openspace into the village of Milford. Ourlunch stop is The Barley Mow, aGreene King Public House offeringlocal Shugborough Ales as well asfood.Leaving our lunch stop we retraceour steps across the green triangle andat the road junction turn left and followthe road over the Railway andRiver Sow to rejoin 'The Way for theMillennium' at Tixhall Bridge.Turning left we follow theStaffordshire & Worcestershire Canaland soon reach the aquaduct over theRiver Sow. Over the next mile or sothe peace of the canal is frequentlyinterrupted by both Virgin andLondon Midland Trains. On the left,before reaching St Thomas Bridge,are some Trailer homes with wellmaintained gardens stretching downto the Canal. Soon after St Thomasbridge we leave the canal by crossinga style on the right then over a bridgecrossing the River Penk and leftacross the fields and along the RiverSow to Littleworth Road Bridge. Turnright cross the bridge then left alongthe river under two bridges intoStafford.Leaving the river walk at Bridgestreet turn right along GreengateStreet towards the market square andon the left hand side is The AncientHigh House. Built in 1595 this isEngland’s largest timber framedhouse and one of the finest Tudorbuildings in the country. At theMarket Square turn left through StMary’s passage past the Church andafter crossing Earle Street enterVictoria Park and from there alongVictoria Road to the Station.There should be time for refreshmentsand look around before departingon the 16.21 train to MiltonKeynes arriving at 18.05.Cost and Booking: Book returnticket from Milton Keynes toStafford. The cost is currently £8.60return with senior railcard and £13return without. Tickets should beobtained in advance and can bebooked on line via London Midlandweb Site. If you are not sure what todo I am prepared to obtain your ticketsfor you but would ask for paymentwith your booking. (Please don’tclaim you have a railcard if youhaven’t as they check tickets on thetrains).*Please note new train timetablesoperate from 11th May and timesmay be subject to change.Parking MK & Travel: Parking inthe car park on the Station side ofGrafton Gate opposite Santander isfree at weekends. All other car parksare not free or not accessible. The carpark is approximately two minuteswalk to the Station.If you are going and consideringsharing transport to Milton Keynesplease make your own arrangements.The X5 bus from Bedford Bus Stationdeparts at 7-00am and arrives at MKRailway Station at 7-45am.For further information pleasecontact Barry Ingram 01234 353704or Email walking@madasafish.com.

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 19FOREST OF MARSTON VALEEVENTS JULY 2011Sunday Stroll 10.30am 3 JulyA Gentle Sunday WalkCome and join us in the Country Park for agentle walk to hear how the Park was set upand a little about the surrounding area. Thewalk will keep to hard surfaced tracks inthe Park which are mostly level. Call01234 767037 or email: guy.lambourne@marstonvale.org for moredetails. Cost £1, payable on the day – noneed to book. Meet at reception. Walks lastapproximately two hoursHerbal Medicine walk2pm-3.30pm 10th JulyJoin local Medical Herbalist, MaggieHaworth, for one of her popular herbalmedicine walks. Each walk will focus onone seasonal plant and includes aninformation sheet to take away. Learnabout natural plant based recipes, traditionaleconomic and medicinal uses of plants,modern day uses including currentresearch and old plant myths and legends.Booking is essential as places are limited.Cost £5 per person. (£2.50 of the ticket costis donated to the Forest of Marston Vale).To book call 01234 767037.Meet the Ranger- Summer walk10am Sunday 17th July 2011Join one of The Millennium Country ParkRangers for a guided walk. Learn about therole of a Park Ranger, management of thePark, wildlife and much more. Walk lasts1½-2 hours. Some rough paths and gradientsof over 1:6. Book in advance on 01234767037 – adults £3, Children £2.Conservation Task10.15am Saturday 23rd JulyRagwort pullingJoin our volunteer team to do somethingfor the environment, get some exercise andhave fun. We carry out a variety of practicalprojects throughout the Vale. Wear oldclothes and bring lunch if you want to stayall day. We provide tea and biscuits. Comeand help us clear the grazing meadows ofthis noxious plant. Hard work but very satisfyingand the sheep and cattle will thankyou for it. Meet at the Forest Centre – finishesabout 4.15pm. Please contact us andlet us know if you would like to attend.Further details contact stephen.gascoyne@marstonvale.org or 01234 762614.Kite making and flyingFriday 29th JulyThree sessions: 10.30am-12noon, 1pm-2.30pm, 3pm-4.30pm. Inside andout. Event aimed at 4-10 year olds. Allmaterials provided. All children to beaccompanied by an adult. £3.50 per child.When booking please specify names andages of children, name of adult attendingand contact phone number in case there areany changes. Ring 01234 767037 or emailinfo@marstonvale.org for more details orto book your place.Getting hot under the collar on Father’s Day!GENERAL Manager of TheMansion House, Raj Mandal,was feeling the heat recentlywhen he met up with chilliconnoisseur Joanna Plumb.The duo are planning afabulous Chilli Fiesta to be heldin the grounds of The MansionHouse, Old Warden Park onFather’s Day 19th June 2011.Award winning chilli expertJoanna has won numerousaccolades for her hot cropsincluding ‘Grower of the Year’and ‘Local Food Hero for EastAnglia’. Joanna’s companyEdible Ornamentals growschillies for famous names likeFortnum & Mason and for thefirst time will be bringing thecream of the crop in the chilliworld to Old Warden Park: “Weare planning to make TheMansion House the hottest placeto be on Father’s Day this year!”said Joanna.Every possible edible combinationwill be on offer from chilliwine to chilli ice cream and forthe bravehearts a chilli eatingcontest, but there is still plenty toenjoy for those who prefer amilder taste sensation.‘Taster Day’s’ fishing at beautiful Broom LakeSHEFFORD & District AnglingAssociation are running a fishing‘Taster Day’ on Saturday June 18that our beautiful Broom Lake, situatedin the countryside betweenBroom & Stanford. A sessionconsists of a 45 minute, one to oneintroduction to the tackle and the fishin the lake and is heavily orientedtowards having the participantsfishing for themselves, even if this istheir first contact with fishing andmodern tackle. These ‘Taster Days’are the first part of an effort toprovide a structured approach tolearning about fishing for interestedparties in the area. A session costsonly £2.50.We are then offering the SheffordDAA Coaching Course for bothangling beginners and for thoseGeneral Manager of The Mansion House Raj Mandal (left) with JoannaPlumb of Edible Ornamentals and chilli ice cream!“Rather than buying himanother pair of socks why nottreat your Dad to a day out.There will be a funfair, currytasting, a hog roast and you caneven challenge Dad to a lazerbattle in our combat zone,” saidinternationally renown currychef Raj, who will be givinganglers who wish to have a betterbasis to their sport. Starting onSaturday July 9th, the course will,over five 2½ hour sessions, cover athorough introduction to still waterangling and there will also be anoptional sixth session, a six hourintroduction to carp fishing.All our coaches are qualified tonational standards through coursesrun by the Angling DevelopmentBoard, a part of the Angling Trust.Importantly, all coaches are alsoCRB-checked.Application forms and brochurescan be found at Walkers Pitch, 69High Street, Biggleswade; Andy’sAngling, 19 High Street, Sheffordand at Mainly Tackle, 41 HighStreet, Arlesey. They can also bedownloaded from our website,cooking demonstrations on theday.Gates open from 10.30amuntil 4pm. Tickets are availablein advance by calling 01767626262, £5 adults and £2.50under 12’s and Dad gets in free!Visit www.themansionhouse.orgfor more details.www.shefforddaa.org.ukWe can also be contacted on07767 074064 should you wish todiscuss these events directly or toreserve places.Everyone who attended last yearsTaster Days had a great time. Don’tdelay, apply today!We can offer you acost effective, reliablemeans of getting yoursales message acrossto BiggleswadeCall the Bulletin on01234 8543905● All Domestic Plumbing● Radiators● Complete BathroomInstallations/Re-furbishments● Disabled Adaptions● Tiling● PlasteringTel: 01767 317948 or 07786 783486 E-mail: glenn.spearing@ntlworld.comGLENNSPEARINGPLUMBING AND BATHROOMINSTALLATIONSFRIENDLY ● LOCAL ● RELIABLE ● FREE QUOTATION

20 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukOUT AND ABOUTGuided tour of Sandye PlaceTHE first of this years GuidedWalks organised by Sandy TouristInformation Centre took place onMonday, 9th May when 32 peopleenjoyed a guided tour of theGeorgian mansion, Sandye Place,the former manor house of SandyManor and now a middle school.The walk was led by BarryGroom.The walk started at the FireStation in Ivel Road, the site of thevery attractive thatched archway andcottage, which was the main carriageentrance to the mansion and wassadly demolished in the early 1950’s.The group then walked across theformer parklands to see and hearabout the entrance and garden frontsof this historic house.The group heard about theEdwardian landscaping of the formalriverside gardens in a willow patternstyle. They were able to see the ironstonedovecote, the only remaininggarden structure from that landscapedesignThe group were then able to tourthe interior of the mansion with itspanelled rooms, including the formermain reception rooms, theJustice Room, the barrelled staircase,the Jacobean Gallery and thewarren of servant’s rooms in theservice wing and basements. In thebasement walkers were able to seeBIGGLESWADE CARNIVALweek commences on Sunday 19 June with aDuck Race at Dan Albone Car Park20 June ....Quiz Night at Biggleswade Working Mens Club21 June ....Bingo Night at Biggleswade Working Mens Club22 June ....Children’s Disco at Biggleswade Working Mens Club25 June ....Grand parade Biggleswade Town Centre26 June ....Grand Draw – Gardeners Arms Pub16 July......Children’s 5-a-side Football at Stratton School17 July......Adult’s 5-a-side Football at Stratton Schoolthe remains of the medieval stonehouse and the unusual hinged banisteron the secondary staircase whichcould be lifted across the stairs tostop shooting and hunting dogsgoing up the stairs and entering themain reception rooms.The group then heard a generalhistory about the house, the familiesthat lived there and the famousSandy Show, once the largest oneday horticultural show in themidlands.Amongst the group there was avisitor from Derbyshire who hadmade a special journey to pay a visitto the school where she had been apupil.One of the talking points of theevening was to hear about therecently discovered brick tunnelsleading from the house to the churchand to the river.The next Guided Walk is onMonday, 13th June and is called‘Old Warden – the Lords and GentryWalk’.This walk will centre on thebeautiful landscape of Old Warden.The walk starts in the churchyardwhere we will hear about the Ongleyand Shuttleworth families – the‘Lords and Gentry’ of Old Warden.We will then walk through thewooded Warden Warren and reachthe recently restored early 18thSt Andrew’s Lower School SummerFETESaturday 11th June, 12noon-3pmat St Andrew’s Lower School,Brunts Lane, Biggleswade.Stalls, raffle, bouncy castle, refreshments,arena events. Free admission.NATIONAL CHILDBIRTH TRUSTCHEEKY MONKEY’STEA PARTY,Sunday 3rd July 2.30-4.30Everton Village Hall, EvertonCrafts, games, raffle, bring along apicnic and help us raise money for theNCT to help new parents andparents-to-be in your area.Admission £3.50 per family.century folly – Queen Anne’sSummerhouse. It served as apavilion and summerhouse throughthe estate’s golden years, but was leftwithout purpose in reluctant derelictionafter the Second World War. Ithas recently been restored by theLandmark Trust and a representativewill speak about the work of theTrust and the history of the folly.We will then be given a guidedtour of the interior of theSummerhouse and then be shownthe exterior of the nearby Keeper’sCottage, built in 1877-1878 to housethe Shuttleworth’s Head Keeper.The cost of the walk is £5 each,for further enquiries call at SandyTourist Information Centre, 10Cambridge Road, Sandy or tel:01767 682728 or emailtourism@sandytowncouncil.gov.ukWine ClubMARTIN’S wine Club wasrecently established inBiggleswade to give membersan opportunity to learn aboutwine in an informal socialsetting. The next monthly meetingwill be on Monday, June 20at 7.30pm at Stratton HouseHotel. It will feature summerwines, with a selection of sixavailable to taste. They will bepresented by local wine expertMartin Straus and there willbe a chance to discuss andcompare them.The charge is £12 per personper event for members and £15for guests, to cover the cost ofthe wines and a light buffet. As aspecial introductory offer thosebooking early will receive freeFull Membership worth £25.Members can obtain a discounton wine, glasses and events.For more information pleasesee www.martinswineclub.co.uk or phone Club Secretary,Alan Dansey on 01767 310163.TRINITY METHODIST CHURCHShortmead Street, BiggleswadeCONCERTBY THE CITY OFCAMBRIDGE BRASSBANDWednesday 22nd June, 7.30p.m.Tickets £6 to include intervalrefreshments, from Bernard Newman,91 Sun Street, Tel: 01767 313798)The Trinity Wesley Guild Sessions havenow closed for the summer but willre-start in October the new programmewill be advertised at a later dateSUTTONFLOWERFESTIVALJune 18/19Church open from 10.00am-5.00pmNumerous stalls-craft, jewellery,book, bric a brac, charity cards etcCream teas Saturday andSunday in Keeper’s Cottage.Duck Race Sunday at 3.00 at theBrook.

TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 21Golf 4 Allat theCromwell Golf CentrePay & Play£15 per round all day every day, (after 12noon weekends and Bank Holidays). Bookin advance or turn up and tee off.01480 408900 or check the websitewww.abbotsley.com Cromwell Pay & Play.Season TicketsJust £40 a month for life! Unlimited weekdaygolf, (£10 a round at weekends andBank Holidays). Price fixed for the life ofyour season ticket, pay by standing order.BIGGLESWADE WORKING MENS’ CLUBChurch Street, Biggleswade Tel: 01767 312409YOUR CHANCE TO PLAYAGAINST A PRO!SINGLES AND DOUBLES TOURNAMENTSSaturday June 18th, 3pmSunday July 10th, 7.30pmSaturday July 30th, 3pmSunday August 7th, 4pmEntry £2 eachThe winners of these tournaments will go on to playtheir selected Pro at theDARTS EXHIBITIONSunday August 14th, 4pmWith 21 world championship finals between them... four of dartsall time greats take on the public before going head to head.It’s a show packed full of entertainment and complete with fullstage set and walk on music, hosted by Dunton’s ownLittle Richard Ashdown.MARTIN ADAMS (Wolfie)ERIC BRISTOW (Crafty Cockney)BOBBY GEORGE (King of Bling)DENNIS PRIESTLEY (The Menace)Tickets just £8 from Shane Walker01767 312409 (Club) 07765 692488 (Mobile)swalk940@hotmail.comDriving RangeUnlimited range balls, plus weekly clinicsand coaching with our PGA professionals,from 19.95 per month – call Craig Thorburnon 01480 408900.Junior GolfStarting Saturday 28th May, junior classes,get your kids into golf – a game for life.Contact Craig on 01480 408900FitnessAbbs fitness centre – the best value for life!Membership £19 a month for as long as youare a member!Golf for all the family and much moreCromwell Golf CentrePotton Road • St NeotsCambs • PE196XNwww.abbotsley.com01480 408900

22 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBIGLESWADE BULLETIN TALKS TO JAMES PHAROAH, BEDFRINGE’S CHIEF EXECUTIVETheatre, dance, comedy, live music, story telling,mime, magic…50 performances in two weeks!Bedfringe 5 will be bigger and better than before…how important is it to the area?It’s very important for any town which wants to groweconomically to host these kinds of events so from thatpoint of view its existence is fundamental. Bedford isquickly becoming a festival town what with our Proms,River Festival, Twinwood, International Kite Festival (plusmany more I am sure!) so like other towns and cities, itwas integral that we added a fringe festival to thispackage.poetry, mime, magic and improvisation at this year’sfestival. Families with young children or fans of the HarryPotter books (think there are a few out there) may want togo and see “Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harryexperience” at the Corn Exchange on 28th July… Or dropinto The Place theatre to see Japanese mime artist MakotoInoue perform is brand new award winning show“Richard” on July 24th… In fact we have around 50performances in two weeks which should yield a wideenough choice to cover a variety of tastes!Do you find that the acts are clamouring totake part now?Each year the festival becomes more known; not onlyto the general public but also industry folk such as otherfestival organisers (Brighton, Camfringe and EdinburghFringe). The world festival network also keeps tabs onevents like Bedfringe and acts as a point of contact. As aresult, we have had a massive number of applications thisyear from local groups to performers from as far as Japan.Are the general public supportive?Box office sales are growing each year so we are veryhappy with the level of support here. We also receive helpin other forms such as people getting the word out bydisplaying our brochures and other marketing material.Can you give us a précis on the types of actsparticipating?This year we have definitely covered the disciplines!Expect theatre, dance, comedy, live music, story telling,I understand there are more venues this yearare they easily accessible?We have a number of venues taking part this yearincluding The Corn Exchange, Howard Room, Ent Shed,Bedford School Theatre, The Place Theatre, Esquires, ThePad, Russell Park Club, The Devonshire Arms, and theSouth Bank Arts Centre. Take a look at the Bedfringe websiteto find out how to get to all our performance spaces.Bedfringe is produced by Future Legend canyou tell us a bit about this organisation?Future Legend was created back in 1996 by myself,Richard Mann and Jonathan Tompkins… three Bedfordboys and graduates of Sharnbrook Upper School (wherewe all met) all with a keen interest in film and theatre. Wecontinue to make films and produce theatre along side theBedfringe festival. Our most recent production is a shortfilm exploring one of the conspiracy theories surroundingthe disappearance of Major Glenn Miller (adapted fromour successful stage show “The Glenn Miller Mystery”).James Pharoah.Richard Mann.

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24 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN JUNE 2011 TELEPHONE: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.uk2011Fathers Day19th June - 10.30am - 4pmChilli plants, chilli chocolate,chilli ice-cream, chilli sauces, chilli sausages,hog roast, live cooking demonstrations,chilli eating competitions, free parkingand much much more…..For those who don’t like chilli’s there is still plenty to seeFor a special treatDAD comes free!ePre booked tickets Adult £5 - Under 12’s £2.50On the gate Adults £7 - Under 12’s £3.50Call 01767 626200to book your ticketsThe Mansion HouseOld Warden Park, Biggleswade,Bedfordshire e SG18 9DXwww.themansionhouse.org