villager potton aug 12

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VILLAGERThe

and Town Life

Issue 82 - August 2012

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In this Issue

14Party OnPotton Big Weekend 2012

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VILLAGERThe

and Town Life

Issue 82 - August 2012


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The History of Weather Forecasting .......................................... 4Where Am I? ............................................................................... 12Travel - Gdansk ...........................................................................17Why Water Works ......................................................................18Smokey and Bandit .................................................................... 21Sandy Tourist Information Centre ............................................ 24Fancy Singing? ............................................................................27Summer Savings ........................................................................ 28Working from Home ................................................................. 30Feel Great This Summer ............................................................ 33P-A-R-T-WHy? Because we Have Houmous ............................... 34The Perfect At-Home Manicure ................................................ 37Cool Kit for Hot Days .................................................................40The Queen’s Honours Local Conductor and Competition ...... 47your Plants Don’t Want a Holiday .............................................51Rural Ramblings ........................................................................ 52Inventions - Elevators ................................................................ 54Make a Time Capsule ................................................................ 59Could you Become a Cat Foster Carer......................................60Children’s Page ..........................................................................64Transition Trouble ..................................................................... 67BMW M5 ....................................................................................68How to Choose a Driving Instructor ......................................... 70Fun Quiz ..................................................................................... 73Seasonal Delights ...................................................................... 74What’s On .................................................................................. 76Puzzle Page ...............................................................................80Creating Space........................................................................... 83Space Out ..................................................................................84Crop Circles ................................................................................90Wordsearch ............................................................................... 92

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We’re all tired of this weather in our house - where is the summer? I swear to you that summers were real summers when I was a child – eternally long dry days one after another after another from May to the end of September, even beyond. And I am not the only one who remembers those days. Ask anybody over the age of twenty to describe their summer holidays and it’s always the same – long days at the beach, even longer, hotter days working on the harvest or cutting hay, riding horses or bikes or picnicking by the river and fishing at the local lake. I am a glass half full kind of person but it is hard to encourage children to spend time outdoors when it is chilly and wet. I know, I know, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes’ but even waterproofs are not waterproof after a couple of hours and besides, I am sure that phrase was just made up by the weather inventors to placate us moaning Brits.The famously bad British weather has had its uses throughout history though. Says one source, ‘It was not considered polite to discuss, when in society, anything that provoked an emotional reaction. To raise the subject of politics, religion, a charitable cause, even one’s children was risky. The weather and the consequent state of the roads, or the roses, was a safe subject and very useful at formal gatherings.’ In fact we are pretty notorious for our long discussions about the weather, there are jokes in France, Greece and Portugal about the British and

THE HISTORY OF WEATHER FORECASTInG By MELANIE HuLSE

their obsession – maybe they should try living here, then they’d be laughing on the other side of their faces!Of course, the truth is that there are no weather inventors to blame, and although it is possible that the way the natural environment as a whole is treated could have an effect upon our climate, there is still no single guilty person. According to the Meteorological Office, much of the problem lies in our expectations. If we woke up each morning wanting rain, the chances are we would complain for the lack of it. Looking for something apparently makes it seem further away…hmm. Considering the records does show however that we could be slightly off in our innate weather predictions – e.g. that the sun ought to shine all day, every day throughout the school summer holidays. August is in fact, and has been for a long time, the wettest month of the year in England. It seems that we only remember the famous heat-waves and all the other years where we have been slopping about in wellingtons are wiped from our memories like bad dreams. My trusty Ladybird Book of The Weather does shed some light on our predicament: ‘ The weather in the British Isles is changeable because of our geographical position, with the land mass of Europe and Asia on one side and the Atlantic ocean on the other. The Arctic and the tropical regions are the sources of cold and warm air masses, which move to meet over the Atlantic Ocean.Each of these air masses carries with it its own kind of weather, and what happens when they meet over the Atlantic largely decides the weather of the British Isles.’So, if we mainly have our high expectations and bad memories to blame for our discontent, and we aren’t in any position to drag this green and pleasant land southwards, who can we get annoyed with when once more water is pouring down the windows and that camping holiday turns into more of a bog survival boot camp? Tradition has it that the weather forecasters are the ones at fault – I can’t be the only one sneering my injured contempt at their five day prophecies. But how did the tradition of weather forecasting begin and how dare they carry on when their track record is so utterly dismal?The first kind of forecast recorded for the weather are weather-lore and sayings such as ‘When the windows won’t open and salt clogs the shaker, the weather will favour the umbrella maker!’ and ‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.’ Is there any truth in such


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traditional rhymes? The two mentioned above are actually fairly accurate predictors – salt, being very absorbent, reacts to the moisture levels in the air, as do wooden doors and window frames. A high level of water in the atmosphere usually means an increase in the likelihood or precipitation. A red sky is caused by sun shining on the undersides of clouds at either sunrise or sunset when the sun’s light is passing at a very low angle through the greatest thickness of atmosphere. The shorter wavelengths – green, blue and violets are scattered out causing the sunlight to be appear red. If the skies are clear to the east then the sky in the morning will look red as the moisture-bearing clouds coming in from the west will be lit by the rising sun. As weather systems typically move from west to east then the chances of rain will be high when these skies are seen. The converse is also true – the sun, setting in the west lights the eastern skies meaning that if the sun has a clear path to light up the moisture bearing clouds in the east and to make them look red, it is because they have passed and finer weather can be expected.Early civilizations also recorded astronomical and meteorological events and used their findings to try to predict weather conditions as well as to monitor the seasonal changes in the weather. Around 650 B.C., the Babylonians tried to predict short-term weather changes based on the appearance of clouds and optical phenomena such as haloes. By 300 B.C., Chinese astronomers had developed a calendar that divided the year into 24 festivals, each festival associated with a different type of weather.According to NASA ‘Around 340 B.C., the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote Meteorologica, a philosophical treatise that included theories about the formation of rain, clouds, hail, wind, thunder, lightning, and hurricanes. In addition, topics such as astronomy, geography, and chemistry were also addressed. Aristotle made some remarkably acute observations concerning the weather, along with some significant errors, and his four-volume text was considered by many to be the authority on weather theory for almost 2000 years. Although many of Aristotle’s claims were erroneous, amazingly, it was not until about the 17th century that many of his ideas were overthrown.However, by the end of the Renaissance, it had become increasingly evident that the speculations of the natural philosophers were inadequate and that greater scientific knowledge was necessary to further our understanding of the atmosphere. In order to do this, instruments were needed to measure the properties of the atmosphere, such as moisture, temperature, and pressure. The first known design in western civilization for a hygrometer, an instrument to measure the humidity of air, was described by Nicholas Cusa (circa

1401-1464, German) in the mid-fifteenth century. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642, Italian) invented an early thermometer in 1592 or shortly thereafter; and Evangelista Torricelli (1608-1647, Italian) invented the barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure in 1643.While these meteorological instruments were being refined during the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, other related observational, theoretical, and technological developments also contributed to our knowledge of the atmosphere; and individuals at scattered locations began to make and record atmospheric measurements. The invention of the telegraph and the emergence of telegraph networks in the mid-nineteenth century allowed the routine transmission of weather observations to and from observers and compilers. using these data, crude weather maps were drawn and surface wind patterns and storm systems could be identified and studied. Weather-observing stations began appearing all across the globe, eventually spawning the birth of synoptic weather forecasting, based on the compilation and analysis of many observations taken simultaneously over a wide area, in the 1860s.’Regional and global meteorological observation networks began to be established in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries which made more data available for observation-based weather forecasting. It was not until the invention of the electric telegraph in 1835 that the modern age of weather forecasting began. Before this time, it was not widely practicable to transport information about the current state of the weather any faster than a steam train (and the train also was a very new technology at that time). By the late 1840s, the telegraph allowed reports of weather conditions from a wide area to be received almost instantaneously, allowing forecasts to be made from knowledge of weather conditions

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further upwind. The two men most credited with the birth of forecasting as a science were Francis Beaufort (remembered chiefly for the Beaufort scale) and his protégé Robert Fitzroy (developer of the Fitzroy barometer). Both were influential men in British naval and governmental circles, and though ridiculed in the press at the time, their work gained scientific credence, was accepted by the Royal Navy, and formed the basis for all of today’s weather forecasting knowledge. To convey information accurately, it became necessary to have a standard vocabulary describing clouds; this was achieved by means of a series of classifications and, in the 1890s, by pictorial cloud atlases. A great stride forward in weather prediction was taken in the 1920s with the invention of the radiosonde – equipment still used today. Small, lightweight boxes equipped with weather instruments and a radio transmitter are carried high into the atmosphere by hydrogen or helium filled balloons that ascend to an altitude of about 30 kilometers before bursting. During the ascent, these instruments transmit temperature, moisture and pressure data (called soundings) back to the ground station. There, the data are processed and made available for constructing weather maps or insertion into computer models for weather prediction. Today, radiosondes are launched every 12 hours from hundreds of ground stations all over the world.The possibility of numerical weather prediction was proposed by Lewis Fry Richardson in 1922, though computers did not exist to complete the vast number of calculations required to produce a forecast before the event had occurred. The first computerized weather forecast was performed by a team led by the mathematician John von Neumann; von Neumann publishing the paper Numerical Integration of the Barotropic Vorticity Equation in 1950. Practical use of numerical weather prediction began in 1955, spurred by the development of programmable electronic computers.The British Meteorological Office (now Met Office) was founded in 1854 as a very small department in the Board of Trade, under Captain Robert FitzRoy (famous for commanding HMS Beagle on Charles Darwin’s historic expedition). It was set up to provide meteorological and sea current information to mariners.By 1861 it was issuing gale warnings to shipping: harbourmasters, on being telegraphed with a warning, would hoist north or south cones up a mast. Regular forecasts to the press began in 1879 and published forecasts have continued since that date.On November 14, 1922, the BBC broadcast the first radio weather bulletin to the public when an announcer read a script prepared by the Met Office,

and on March 26, 1923, daily radio forecasts began.On November 11, 1936, the world’s first television chart was transmitted at the start of a trial series. BBC Television closed down during World War II but, in July 1949, weather maps with captions began to be broadcast again.One of the most famous wartime forecasting problems was for Operation Overlord, the invasion of the European mainland at Normandy by Allied forces. An unusually intense June storm brought high seas and gales to the French coast, but a moderation of the weather that was successfully predicted by Col. J.M. Stagg of the British forces (after consultation with both British and American forecasters) enabled Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, to make his critical decision to invade on June 6, 1944.The face of weather forecasting literally appeared to the nation in 1954. States the BBC News website: ‘The idea of personalised weather forecasting on BBC Television was first raised at an executive lunch in 1953. The BBC’s then Director-General, Sir Ian Jacob, noted that “a young but highly professional meteorologist who was in the party” had made the point that it would be better if, instead of just weather maps and charts, the forecaster himself appeared on screen.Within a year, the anonymous young man’s idea had become a reality … with the help of “an easel and treatment to walls for background” at a cost of £50.On January 11, 1954, George Cowling of the Met Office became the first person to present a weather


forecast on British television. The broadcast was live and lasted for five whole minutes. The Radio Times for that week highlighted the new service:“From Monday onwards the television weather report and forecast will be presented by a Meteorological Office forecaster who will explain and comment on the charts shown. The change is designed to stress the continuity of the reports provided; the forecaster will show, for example, how the weather expected tomorrow is conditioned by the weather experienced today.”“Two Forecast Officers, will for the time being share the job. They are: George Cowling, a 32 year old yorkshireman, married and the father of a five year old son; and TH Clifton, a 42 year old Londoner, married and the father of four girls and one boy.”’So, it would seem that as much relief as it provides, the state of the British weather cannot actually be blamed on the forecasters - shooting the messenger comes to mind. Sadly, the British summer is a wet summer and the winter is not too dry either. As a useful topic of conversation the weather is invaluable however and our diplomatic English reserve would not be the same without it! Perhaps then we ought to be glad for all the rain. As someone who lived for a time in Southern Spain where even our African neighbours complained of the heat, I try to be grateful for the water that maintains the green

of our English trees and the softness of our very English grass; and we could have it worse – I once visited Ireland where not only was the countryside greener than any I’ve seen here, but everything also smelled of cows. That same trip one of my Irish friends remarked – ‘The sun? I saw that once in a catalogue…’ so be glad - at least we Brits had a good long look at it in 1976.

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Last month’s pictures were taken in Potton.

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The Party On! Potton Big Weekend 2012 takes place over the 24-27 August Bank Holiday. This year’s Big Weekend promises to push the high standards set in 2010 to be bigger and better. On Friday night we have changed the line up in the main marquee, in addition to the popular family disco we are really pleased to be able to present ‘Almost Abba’, the singing sensations who have grown from their first ever performance at the 2010 Potton Got Talent to an entertainment act performing all around the county. Saturday 25th by popular demand we see the return of Big Band ‘Sound Express’ from Potton’s twin town of Langenlonsheim in Germany. Sunday 26th we will be working with the team who brought you the 2010 Circus night, to bring you another spectacular show with the theme of Magic and Illusion in Wonderland, which promises to offer a fantastic mixture of stage and participation acts to amaze and surprise you.Monday 27th we present ‘Potton’s Got Talent’, the auditions for which take place on the 4th June

PARTY On! POTTON BIG WEEKEND 2012

at St Mary’s field. If you want to participate then contact Helen at [email protected] you may have read we will not be running the soap box derby this year. Instead we have a new event that will take place on the playing field - this is Wheelie Bin Racing. So why don’t you get a team together and see if you could be the inaugural Potton Wheelie Bin Racing champions. This year we are also having a Kids Zone that will be running activities for children throughout each afternoon. Tickets are on sale, available from Cameron’s and the Post Office, but with the high demand for tickets and to avoid disappointment, make sure that you get yours as soon as possible. As usual we will be selling Golden Tickets which give you access to Saturday, Sunday and Monday evening celebrations saving you a couple of pounds in doing so.We look forward to seeing you at the Big Weekend and we hope that you enjoy some of the many activities for the whole family.


3 festivals offering 3 days of great entertainment on 6 stages plus “fringe” events. Comedy. Theatre. Madam Miaow’s Culture Lounge. Children’s Entertainment,

including Panic Circus, Organised Football & Junior Olympics. Hemlock Morris. Groovy Movie Picture House. DJ Wheelie-Bag. Real Ales & Ciders. A Wide Choice of Superior Food plus Farmhouse Ice Cream. General Store. Markets. Supervised

Campsites. Luxury Loos. Hot Showers. Free Car Parking.Further details and tickets from:

www.rhythmfestival.com

RH

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HM

FO

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HY

TH

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BLU

ES

FRIDAY

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS JIM MORAY & BAND

JAMIE SMITH’S MABON • LUCY WARDSATURDAY

PEATBOG FAERIES DAVID KNOPFLER

THE TRAVELLING BANDIAN MCMILLAN ORCHESTRA RICHARD DIGANCE • WISHING WELL

SUNDAY

SHOW OF HANDSfeaturing MIRANDA SYKES

LAU• SCOTT MATTHEWSMOULETTES • KATRIONA GILMORE &JAMIE ROBERTS + more every day!

FRIDAY

WILKO JOHNSONGENO WASHINGTON

BUICK 6 • MITCH LADDIE BAND JERRY TREMAINE & THE RISING SONS

SATURDAY

THE BLUES BANDBIG BOY BLOATER

DAVE KELLY • CHANTEL McGREGOR ROADHOUSE • LUCY ZIRINS

SUNDAY

OLI BROWN BANDHAT FITZ & CARA

MICHAEL MESSER 2nd MIND BAND CROSSTOWN LIGHTNIN • CHERRY LEE

MEWIS • more every day!

RHYTHM FESTIVALS 2012RHYTHM FESTIVAL • RHYTHM FOLK • RHYTHM & BLUESAUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND – FRIDAY 24 to SUNDAY 26Mansion House @ Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire, SG18 9DX

3 Great Music Festivals for the Price of OneFRIDAY

HAWKWIND | THE SLACKERS | THE BEATEDDIE & THE HOT RODS • 3 BONZOS & A PIANO • MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG + more

SATURDAY

BOOKER T | THE DAMNED | ARDAL O’HANLON DENNIS ALCAPONE | KING MOB

HANK WANGFORD & THE LOST COWBOYS • CAPTAIN SENSIBLE BAND • THE GROUNDHOGS • HERE & NOW • THE MAGIC TOMBOLINOS • LEATHERAT + more

SUNDAY

KEN BOOTHE | JOHN COOPER CLARKE | CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN | DAVID RODIGAN

BOOMTOWN RATS • JOHN OTWAY BIG BAND • DELROY WILLIAMS & THE JUNCTION BAND • ATILLA THE STOCKBROKER • KING HAMMOND + more

villager_2012_110512.indd 1 11/05/2012 08:12


Spires and domes, gables, towers, elegant façades festooned with frescoes and dormer windows, Gdansk’s finest buildings reflect centuries of flourishing trade at the mouth of the Motlawa river. Ships from all over the world still dock for maintenance and repairs while ferries and yachts sail downstream towards the Baltic Sea.Meanwhile at the heart of town, Europe’s biggest medieval harbour crane looks down on the river. Once powered by four giant wheels, it rises, eerie and awesome, a dark silhouette jostling for space among gaily-coloured buildings, café-terrace and boutiques gleaming with Baltic amber. Gdansk loves amber, a local tree resin millions of years old, crafted into jewellery, trinkets and artwork. There are 100 different kinds, most precious the gems with a bluish hue, most common the yellow and orange colours shimmering like sunlight on the river. From the old fish market to the Green City Gate, the waterfront promenade is a perfect picture postcard, historic town tucked away on the left bank and on the other, a sprinkling of tavernas, old royal granaries, a small marina where riggings tinkle in the breeze, the Millennium bridge in the distance and a maze of canals and islands which feel like the Little Venice of the Baltic North. Now and then, an archway lets you peep into the old historic centre hiding behind the tightly-packed buildings along the riverfront.Gdansk suffered heavy losses in wartime but the Historic Centre has been beautifully restored and the city is as magnificent as ever. Stroll down the Longmarket towards the Golden Gate or delve into the flower-draped lanes and you want to stop every step of the way to marvel at such rich

GDAnSk On THE MOTLAWA RIvERBy SOLANGE HANDO

architecture, here the Main City Hall in Gothic Renaissance style, there Neptune’s monument, the city’s landmark alongside the crane, the Golden House on the Royal Route, the Great Armoury, a classic example of Dutch Mannerism, the balustrades and statues crowning so many buildings, the city gates and a dizzying number of churches from St Catherine’s the oldest to St Mary’s, the largest brick church in Poland. Bells chime now and then and when the sun sets, red brick towers and green domes glow like magic across the cityscape.For history buffs, there are museums to explore, from the amber museum, in the daunting Executioner’s House and Prison Tower, to the history and Solidarity museums. Here and there, monuments recall significant events and people, the local astronomer Hevelius, the Polish soldiers who defended Westerplatte on the first day of WWII or the shipyard Solidarity workers who, in August 1980, changed the course of history in Poland and beyond. Pop into the Main City Hall to enjoy the splendid interiors and superb panorama from the top of the 80 metre high tower.Far below the streets are abuzz; artists, buskers, shoppers and tourists filing into the pastry shops replete with cheese cake and Polish doughnuts. But sooner or later, the river calls you back. Just across the Green Bridge, the city’s favourite meeting point, sleek pleasure yachts prepare to cruise across the bay to the lovely spa resort of Sopot where the people of Gdansk like to relax at the weekend and myriad swans glide undisturbed, under the longest wooden pier in Europe.


Experts tell us that we need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, but have you ever stopped to wonder why? The human body is made up primarily of water. Around 85% of the brain, 80% of blood and 70% of muscle is water. Given these facts, it is easy to understand why maintaining our body’s water levels is so important. During a single day an average person loses around 2 - 4 litres of water in the following ways: urine 50%; sweating 34%; breathing 14%; and faeces 2%. In order to keep our body working at its optimum levels, this lost water needs replacing. Most of the lost water (47%) is replaced through drinks, a further 39% through food and the remaining 14% comes as a by product of metabolic activity.What does water do?Water helps remove the dangerous toxins that our body takes in from the air we breathe, the food we eat and the chemicals used in the various products we use on our skin and hair. It cushions and lubricates our joints and carries oxygen and nutrients into our cells. Water also helps regulate our body temperature and assists in digestion. What happens if we don’t drink enough water?If we don’t maintain the correct water levels, our bodies will start to dehydrate. Like a car’s need

WHY WATER WORkS By DEBBIE SINGH-BHATTI

for oil, if the oil level gets too low, the engine will start to run rough. If the oil runs out all together, the engine will stop running. It is the same with our body. Therefore it is easy to see why it is very important to drink eight glasses of water a day. Symptoms of mild dehydration include the following:• Reduced alertness• Reduced concentration• Slower reaction times• Tiredness• Headaches• Feelings of nausea• Low blood pressure• Constipation• Dry skinDrinking water can help us lose weightBelieve it or not, it’s true! If we are dehydrated the performance of the blood, liver and kidneys is affected, with the end result that the body can’t metabolise the fat stored in cells as effectively, so the fat remains in the body. In addition, water is a natural appetite suppressant so drinking plenty of natural water (not in tea, coffee or fizzy drinks!) will help us to feel full and not so likely to eat.So, let’s do what the experts tell us and look after our wonderful bodies by drinking plenty of water!


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A little dog, Xiao Sa, shot to fame earlier this year when he followed cyclists across China. Well, Potton now also has two little canine cyclists of its own. Smokey and Bandit have been covering the equivalent miles from London to Paris, raising money for the Spinal Injuries Association.Their mum, Cess Holden, is taking part in the SIA Cycle-a-thon. It’s a great event with 5 different distances allowing cyclists of all ages to participate, both able-bodied and disabled. you have 10 weeks to complete your chosen distance. Cess signed up after one of those moments when the brain lags a few seconds behind the mouth and didn’t quite manage to prevent the words “I’ll do Land’s End to John O’Groats” coming out. She used to regularly cycle between Bedford and Cambridge, beating the bus and saving the £1.30 fare, but as she puts it herself “That was 25 years and 3 stone ago!” Cess covers 15 miles a day and Smokey and Bandit join her for 4 of those miles round the Sandy Heath Quarry. They love it so much that they have also signed up for the Cycle-a-thon doing the London to Paris distance. They started in mid June, reaching Folkestone a month later, and are currently about 30 miles north of Paris in a little town called St Crépin Ibouvilliers. Both dogs list playing, walkies and chase among their hobbies, so they are perfectly suited to the event. Smokey also loves any kind of food, and the miles have certainly helped her reduce her “toast tummy”.Bandit is the pace maker, and there are sections where he trots along at a steady 6kmh, which is

SMOkEY & BAnDITPOTTON’S VERy OWN XIAO SA

quite a tricky speed to cycle at! Once the path opens up though, he zooms off as fast as his little legs will take him, and the others chase him. There are some very steep slopes round the quarry, and the dogs absolutely love overtaking the bike on the downhills. Sometimes Smokey gets so excited she accidentally barks and looks behind her to see where the noise came from.They always take a dog picnic of treats and water, and stop at the Viewing Area for more play, usually chasing fir cones or sniffing with other dogs. The dogs have their own Just Giving page, and so far they have raised over £500 including a very generous donation from Fat Cat and Ginger Ninja! If you would like to sponsor them please visit www.justgiving.com/Smokey-and-Bandit or find out more about the Cycle-a-thon at www.siacycleathon.co.uk

Smokey(r) and Bandit(l) in actionThere’s always time to play on the way round

Stopping for our picnic


Telephone: 01767 262777Email: [email protected]

www.thepottonflooringco.co.uk

7 Market Square, Potton, Beds. SG19 2NPOpening Times Mon-Fri - 9.00am to 5.00pm Sat - 9.00am to 1.00pm

Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays

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SUMMER WALKSDon’t forget to book up for the third Summer TIC Walk. This is a brand new guided walk and we will visit and hear about the historic village of Cardington. This Walk will take place on Sunday, 19th August.Cardington is an estate village belonging to the Whitbread family of Southill Park. We will see the picturesque houses, cottages and other historic buildings erected by the estate from the 18th century. We will also see the cottages erected by the Whitbread’s kinsman, the famous prison reformer, John Howard, whose delightful house can be found close to the parish church. We will have a guided tour of the interior of this beautiful church much of which was rebuilt in in 1901 and we will see the magnificent monuments to the Whitbread family and the tattered ensign of the R101 airship.Construction of the R101 commenced at the airship sheds at Cardington in 1926. These sheds were known as the Royal Airship Works and we will see these massive buildings from a good vantage point in the village.The R101 left Cardington in October 1930 for India carrying passengers and crew together with a number of dignitaries After losing height over northern France the airship crashed into a hillside at Beauvais. Of the 54 on board, 46 died at the scene while a further two succumbed to

SAnDY TOURIST InFORMATIOn CEnTRE AuGuST

their injuries in hospital. This disaster effectively brought to an end any further British involvement in Airship development in the 1930’s. We will visit the cemetery at Cardington and see the impressive grave and memorial to the 48 people killed when the airship crashed on that fateful flight. There will be other interesting things to see and hear about in this delightful village. Meet at 2.30pm at Cardington Village Hall, Southill Road, Cardington (opposite the Kings Arms PH). The cost will be £5 per person. The final Walk of the year is THE RIVER AND LAKES WALK – Sandy, Beeston and Blunham. This Walk forms part of the Bedfordshire Walking Festival and it takes place on Tuesday, 11th September. This walk is one of the six Walks around Sandy contained in the ‘Sandy – Jubilee Walks’ leaflet, which we recently published and which is available at the TIC. This walk goes along the paths and banks alongside the River Ivel between Sandy and Blunham and includes a walk around the picturesque Village Green in Beeston. We will see the Ivel’s rich water meadows and created lakes, together with local wildlife, including ducks, swans, heron and the magical kingfisher – if you are lucky - and grazing cattle and sheep. We will return to Sandy along the Route 51 Cycle track with its peaceful and pleasant landscape. Meet at the Tourist information centre at 2.30pm. As this walk is part of the Walking Festival the Walk is freeAUTUMN/ WINTER TALKS The first of this year’s Talks is called THE WHITBREAD’S OF SOUTHILL. This fascinating talk will be given by Sir Samuel Whitbread, who was brought up and lived in the beautiful 18th century house at Southill, designed by the famous architect, Henry Holland.Sir Sam will speak about the history of his famous family, their public life in Bedfordshire over two hundred and fifty years, the story of the brewery and the family home and estate. (Those who came on the Guided Walk last year to Southill Park saw the beauty of its landscape and the refined Regency mansion, and those coming on the Cardington Walk in August -see above - will see and hear much about that estate village,

An 18th century view of the famous Whitbread Brewery in the City of London*

(* en.wikipedia.org/.../File:George_Garrard,_Whitbread_Brewery)


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where the first Samuel Whitbread, founder of the famous brewery was born.)The Whitbread family has been a part of Bedfordshire life since the Middle Ages. From peasant farmers, through appointments as local officials, to the founder of the brewery in the 18th century (one of the great stories of the Industrial Revolution), and his son a famous Whig politician, the family have made their presence felt both in Bedfordshire and nationally. Six Whitbread’s sat

in the House of Commons for almost 130 years, whilst at the same time building roads, bridges, churches, hospitals, farms and cottages and serving as magistrates, High Sheriffs and Lord- Lieutenants of the county. This Talk will take place on Thursday, 20th September at 7.30pm and will be held in the Council Chamber of Sandy Town Council. The cost will be £5 per person. For further information about the above, together with the other Autumn/Winter Talks and to book your place please call into the TIC or contact us by telephone or email.

SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTREis at the rear of the offices of Sandy Town Council

at 10 Cambridge Road. Access to the Centre is either (a) via the Town Car Park in the High Street

– we are in the far left hand corner or (b) from Cambridge Road – via the path at the side of the

Town Council Offices.

Sandy Tourist Information Centre,Rear of 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy

Telephone 01767 682728 Email [email protected]

Southill Park www.rodneymelvilleandpartners.com/.../south-

ill_park_bedfordshire....


Sandy’s Community Choir has arrived! And NO! It is not just for ‘little, old retired ladies’ (as one of the brand new members questioned before joining!). It is open to anyone over 16 who fancies belting out some great songs in a very informal atmosphere. Dads and Mums, come and join us for half an hour before picking up the kids from school! Looking for work (whether young or older) and needing a break from job searching? Come and have a sing and a laugh! Retired and fancy doing something a bit different? Come and join us!you will not need to take a ‘sound’ test, you will not need to be a great singer or have a great voice, you will not be obliged to be there every week (things happen) and you will not need any money!All you need is enthusiasm!Sandy Community Choir is an initiative launched by Angela Knight, who is music teacher at St Swithuns Lower School in Sandy.

FAnCY SInGInG POP, ROCk, FOLk & SOUL IN SANDy

Angela has been teaching music for seven years at St Swithun’s and was herself educated in music performance at Birmingham Conservatoire and graduated in 1996, followed by a PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge.Angela has a wide and varied interest in all sorts of music, but for the Choir wants to keep it easy with popular songs that are recognisable to most people and are relatively easy to sing.With Community Choirs springing up all over the country, Angela felt that ‘something a little bit more in tune with today’s music than what is usually sung in formal choirs’ would attract people who would love to sing, but had never felt brave enough to give a formal choir a go.

It happens every Monday afternoon from 2.45 – 3.15pm during term time at St Swithuns Lower School, Sandy.

Just turn up and have a go!For enquiries, ring: 01767 680692

CLAYTON FAMILY BUTCHERS19, Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Shop Telephone: 01767 261503

We also supply catering establishments from our specialist unit in Sandy, Bedfordshire - Telephone: (01767) 699940

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As well as our Stornoway Black Pudding, White Pudding and Fruit Pudding, we now have Black Pudding Rings or Sticks, White Pudding and

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Oh the long glorious days of August. If you’re like me, all you really want to do is stretch out on a rug in the garden with a good book, host the odd barbecue and enjoy any sunshine summer deigns to throw our way. So you might think it odd that I’m now going to ask you to turn your thoughts to winter for a few minutes. I do have your best financial interests at heart though, and in these difficult economic times, that’s got to be worth a few minutes of anyone’s time…right?The long days of summer are not just lazy for us; they are also a quiet time for lots of tradesmen. Think about it; as soon as the temperature drops in mid October, people will begin to think about cold snaps and central heating. They’ll probably arrange for their boiler to be serviced...along with everyone else.Wouldn’t it make more sense to get ahead of the game and have your boiler serviced whilst there isn’t a queue? If your boiler is more than fifteen years old it probably needs to be replaced and you may well be able to negotiate a nice discount at this time of year.While you’re at it, if you have an open fire or a solid fuel range, order fuel now, in bulk, while you can take advantage of lower summer prices.

SUMMER SAvInGS By SARAH DAVEy

Summer is also a good time to organise a chimney sweep. There aren’t too many about and they tend to be swamped in the autumn as people think about using their fireplace again. Energy costs continue to rise week on week, so why not use this summer to improve your cavity wall and loft insulation. Most energy providers offer a free home survey and advise where you could save money. Think about it now and you’ll have plenty of time to organise improvements before the first frosts. Kerching!Other businesses with a quiet periodSummer is traditionally a quiet time for financial advisers and companies specialising in investments. Perhaps you could benefit from a financial makeover.It might sound odd, but this time of year is also quiet for train and coach travel, so you might be able to pick up a bargain ticket or two.Summer has always been a quiet time for politics, so now is a great time to tackle your MP about any local issues which are bothering you.And finally, if any of your electrical goods have seen better days, now is the best time to check out your local high street for a great deal on an upgrade.


The Royal Oak PottonJoin Colin, Jo and the team for a warm welcome at Potton’s oldest pub

4 Biggleswade Road, Potton, BedfordshireTel: 01767 261888 www.royaloakpotton.co.uk

Freshly prepared foodLunch served Tuesday to Saturday between 12noon - 2:30pmDinner served Tuesday to Saturday between 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Traditional Sunday Lunch served 12noon - 3pmSenior Citizen’s Menu Available Tuesday to Friday


I should be rolling in it, really. Well, not rolling in it exactly, but firmly in the black. Things have been looking up recently. I’ve been working consistently, nothing spectacular, but making new contacts and firing off bits and pieces here and there. So why do I have a dose of the butterflies whenever I approach the checkout? Why should I have to fear those dreaded words “card declined”?Cashflow! That’s the thing every self-employed person has to watch out for. It seems impossibly long ago that I could simply take for granted that at the same time every month a chit would land on my desk confirming that the money was in the bank. My wife never even used to bother opening hers: she has a drawer full of pristine little blue-edged window envelopes, and sometimes I would rip a few open and remind myself what it was like to be paid regularly. But life’s not like that anymore. We have, perforce, become our own accounts departments and if we were any good at accounts we would have

WORkInG FROM HOME DEBT COLLECTING

become accountants in the first place. Me, I’m a freelance journalist who failed his maths ‘O’ level three times.I have, in 20 years of self-employment, learnt how to keep my books tolerably tidy and (sometimes) up to date. The skill I have failed to master is the invoice chasing. Most of my clients pay on time, and I hope yours do too, but what I’ve found (and maybe you have too) is that the worst payers are the very biggest clients and the very smallest.The smallest ones are just a nuisance. I’ve been owed £36 by my smallest client since November. I have some sympathy for him: he’s focused, like me, on doing what he does to earn money and my invoice is hardly a priority. He forgets it, and as I’ve already spent about £36 in phone calls I’ve stopped chasing him. I won’t work for him again, but he probably doesn’t care. I’m certainly not taking him to small claims court for £36.The biggest ones, though, can be a real problem. I used to write beer reviews for the website of a big supermarket chain for a ridiculously inflated sum. On paper it looked terrific – but they were dreadful payers. First I had to go through the bureaucratic rigmarole of registering as a supplier for which I had to provide enough financial details to satisfy a con-man. Then I had to submit my invoices in a particular format and at a particular time, then I had to wait 90 days and then they didn’t pay me. Now this was serious money: late payment threatened my direct debits. I used to console myself that no-one in the history of the world would ever have said that what they really, really wanted to do with their lives was become a cog in a supermarket chain accounts department, and that working life for the people processing my invoice was a permanent Friday afternoon where everybody wanted to be somewhere else and everything was somebody else’s job. I used to spend hours on the phone, quoting my supplier number and invoice details frantically at anyone who could be induced to interrupt the bland hell of the hold music. Eventually somebody would wearily tell me to resubmit the invoice and wait another 90 days.I had the last laugh, though. Not once but twice, the repeat invoice and the original invoice were both paid. I never told.


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It’s never too late to start making yourself feel good - both mentally and physically - and summer is a great time get started. Giving a little attention to your diet, exercise and general wellbeing can really benefit to your overall health.Diet - you don’t have to radically alter your diet as even small changes will benefit you. • Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries and

strawberries are all high in antioxidants and fibre, are nutritious and eating great handfuls will fill you up with healthy energy

• All melons, but particularly watermelons are mainly water. They’re healthy and a great option if you need something sweet

• Courgettes, mushrooms, leeks, asparagus, onions, peppers and garlic are all delicious grilled or roasted with a light brush of olive oil. High in nutrition and flavour, low in calories

• There are no rules for salads - just put in any vegetables or fruit that you have, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and avocado. Combining different greens or lettuces, such as cos, romaine, Chinese leaf, rocket or watercress make salads more interesting and are cheaper than buying the ready-packaged salads. Add beans, couscous or tabouli for a bit of substance.

• Alcohol is high in calories, so reduce this by enjoying a white wine spritzer (50/50 wine with sparkling water) or going for a non-alcohol

FEEL GREAT THIS SUMMERBy PIPPA DuNCAN

alternative, such as lemon barley water or lime cordial with sparkling water.

Exercise - This doesn’t have to mean daily sessions at the gym or long-distance running. The key to weight loss is using up more calories than you’ve eaten, and there are lots of ways you can achieve this:• Walk. Sounds simple - and it is. Start by walking

locally three times a week for just 20 minutes. Build up the pace so that you can do the route more quickly and extend the time to 30 minutes by extending your route. If you can fit in four walks a week, or even every day, go for it - you will notice the difference.

• yoga is a great exercise for stretching and toning your muscles without having to break out into sweat. In the summer heat, your muscles are already warm and relaxed. Even better, find a class held outside to enjoy nature along with your session.

• If you are exercising in the heat, remember to keep to the shade and wear a hat to protect your head and neck. Wearing sunglasses will protect your eyes and help you to avoid squinting, causing lines around the eyes.

• Gardening is great exercise as you use a wide range of muscles and are constantly moving.

Wellbeing - We all have to deal with stress at some point and research shows that it’s actually the small things in life (being stuck in a traffic jam, forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning, missing a work deadline etc) that causes more tension and anxiety than the major life events. So, allow yourself some ‘me time’. This simply means doing things just for yourself and just for the pleasure of it. Allowing yourself 20 minutes a day to potter in your garden, read the paper, or even take a nap calms the mind, lowers blood pressure and, just as importantly, gives you a few minutes to just ‘be’. More recent research shows that we don’t necessarily need eight hours sleep. Many of us can exist quite happily on less but what’s important is the quality of your sleep rather than the quantity. Try to stick to a routine, even with the lighter summer nights, winding down and avoiding alcohol too late in the evening. If your room gets too warm, fans are a great way to cool the temperature and their low hum will help you drift off to sleep.


I went to a dinner party last week, and afterwards I started reflecting on how things change when you make those tentative first steps across the border into your thirties.There was a time when my band was throwing a lot of parties - just ask our neighbours (actually, please don’t) - but as we approached the end of our twenties, weekly blow-outs slowly became less frequent, eventually to be almost entirely replaced by The Dinner Party. This started me thinking about how The Dinner Party represents a microcosm of how the world subtly changes when you reach this oft-feared milestone.First of all, there’s that word ‘Dinner’. It crept in quietly, sometime around 28 years old, and now it’s hanging around casually in a corner of the room next to its evil twin ‘Party’ as if to say: ‘Hi there, don’t mind me - I’m just going to pop myself down here and make sure nobody turns the stereo up too loud or pukes in the herb garden’. Dinner used to be a thing you avoided in order to maximise just how trolleyed seven crates of Raspberry Hooch was going to render you. Now, however, it’s very much the raison d’être of your evening. But we’ll come to that later…upon your arrival at The Dinner Party, you’ll be keen to catch up on everyone’s news. And by news, I mean Who’s Getting Engaged, Married and/or Pregnant. If, like me, you’re doing none of these things, you will form a small sub-strata

P-A-R-T-Why? BecAuse We hAve houmousBy CHRIS RuSSELL

of society in some forgotten alcove of the conservatory; a whispering coven of maverick free-thinkers who believe there are things in the world worth talking about other than how massive Jemimah’s engagement ring is.With these people you will proceed to talk for at least half an hour about how massive Jemimah’s engagement ring is.Then it’s on to the food, which will definitely involve seeds and butternut squash. Everyone will praise the hosts for their use of artichoke hearts in the salad, because, as it turns out, being on the cutting edge of salad represents important social currency to the over-thirties.As the evening progresses, you’ll find out who’s on a diet (EVERyONE) and who’s taken up some over-priced alternative therapy that’s convinced them to give up totally normal things like red meat and socks. And if the Pinot Noir has done its job, eventually the conversation will turn nostalgic and you’ll all start gushing about how things were different when you were kids, more innocent somehow. ‘Radical’, for example, used to be how a Ninja Turtle described a high-risk skateboarding move. Now it means ‘Have dirty bomb, will travel’.Personally, I love being in my thirties. It feels more majestic than the hurried scramble of my twenties. And yes, it may now be a scant occurrence that I find myself tearing up the dance floor and drinking Guinness from a shoe, but perhaps those occasions will be more glorious for their rarity.Just don’t judge me if, now and again, I break into an excitable sweat at the sight of a nice bowl of vine-ripened tomato salsa. Everyone has their vices...Chris plays piano in South London power-pop band The Lightyears. Voted the UK’s BEST POP/ROCK ACT at the Indy Awards, they’ve played Wembley Stadium, toured across four continents and released a record with Sting’s producer. Chris is currently working on his first novel, “Mockstars”. Read more of Chris’ blogs and tour diaries at www.TheLightyears.com.


Bedfordshire Foot Clinic

Podiatry/ChiropodyYvonne Siudak

BSc (Hons.) MChS, HPC Registered

Podiatrist / ChiropodistPrivate Podiatry / Chiropody Care in Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK

A comprehensive service for all your foot care needs

Hard Skin • Corns • Nail Cutting

Ingrown Toe Nails • Fungal Nail Infections

General Foot Care • Verrucae Treatment

• Diabetic Assessments

• Biomechanical Assessments

Full details of our specialist treatments are available, call Yvonne for an appointment:

Bedfordshire Foot Clinic17 Georgetown Cottages, Tempsford Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2AE

T: 01767 681704 M: 07562 748352 E: [email protected]

www.yourfootclinic.co.uk

Also Cambridge Foot Clinic Tel: 01223 358431


1

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Issue 79 - May 2012



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Issue 78 - April 2012



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The key to looking perfectly groomed is paying attention to little details that make all the difference. It’s easy to overlook your hands and nails, but taking the time to include them in your beauty regime is a must for looking totally gorgeous from head to toe.The great news is, you don’t have to spend valuable time and money in nail salons to help them look fabulous; just follow our simple instructions for a brilliant at-home manicure.Getting StartedFirstly, remove all traces of old varnish using an acetone free remover. Acetone (even with conditioners) will dry your nails, leaving them brittle. Rinse off the remover with warm water.Shape It UpEnsure that you dry your nails thoroughly; filing wet nails weakens them and makes them more liable to break. Next, shape the nails by filing from one edge to the centre, then from the other edge back to the centre, using long, smooth strokes.Never file the nails in a ‘sawing’ back and forth action, as this can cause the nail layers to split and separate, leading to weakness and breakage. Hold the emery board at a 45 degree angle, so that you are filing mainly the underside of the nail. Aim to create a ‘squared oval shape’; this is not only a natural look for your nails, but also offers the most strength and durability.Refresh and RenewRefresh, soften and renew your hands and nails by using an exfoliator. use either a shop-bought product or create your own by mixing coarsely ground sea salt with essential oils. Soak fingertips in a bowl of lukewarm water, before gently scrubbing the nails with a soft bristled brush to completely remove any ingrained dirt. Dry hands thoroughly.Soften UpMassage cuticle oil or softener into the base of the nails. Leave to absorb for a few moments before gently pushing back the cuticles with a hoof stick. Clean any residue with a tissue and rinse nails in warm water.Tidy up the nail base by clipping away dry, ragged excess cuticle using sharp nail scissors, before moisturising with a nourishing cuticle moisturiser.Massage a rich hand cream thoroughly into the skin, working it into all parts of the hand.

The PeRfecT AT-home mAnicuRe By HELEN TAyLOR

The Perfect Hue For YouIt’s now time to select a colour that’s going to look great on your nails.Wearing the wrong coloured nail varnish can be really unflattering but how do you know what’s right for you?Choose your perfect shade as you would clothes - consider what best suits your skin tone. Cool complexions, mainly defined as having pinkish or blue undertones to the skin, suit bright pink, silver, purple and cool red.Warm complexions, with greenish undertones to the skin, look great in coral, gold, orange and warm red hues. Expert ApplicationRemove any trace of hand-cream from the nails. Apply a clear basecoat to act as a foundation for the varnish and prevent staining. Wait until dry before applying two thin coats of polish, in three strokes.Make the first stroke in the middle of the nail moving swiftly from base to tip. use a stoke to the left and then right to complete the nail. Allow the first coat to dry for three minutes and the second for five minutes. To finish, apply a top coat to lock in the colour and protect the polish.


Ash Tree Financial Services

Independent Financial Advisers

ContactChristopher Goodwin

Ash Tree House, 48 Sutton Mill Road,Potton, SG19 2QB Tel: 01767 262760

[email protected]

For friendly and expert advice in your financial planning

including: Mortgages and Home Insurance

Life assuranceCritical Illness Cover

Income ProtectionPensions and Annuities

Investments and Savings

Anstee Gorst Chartered Certified Accountants

- Accounts preparation for Sole traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies

- Self assessment tax returns - Cash Flow Forecasting - Vat, Payroll & Bookkeeping - Business Start Up

Free Initial Consultation Phone:Sally Anstee FCCA

01767 650700

Ground Floor Offices, Unit 30, Green End, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds, SG19 3LF

Email: [email protected]: www.anstee-accountants.com


Friendly, family run guest house in the heart of Biggleswade.

Ideal for the business or leisure traveller. All rooms ensuite and free wifi.

Stratton Guest House4a London Road, Biggleswade

Beds SG18 8EBTel: 01767 600920

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August tends to be the month we start looking for ways to battle against the heat. It’s boom time for fans, but if you have some cash to hand you can find something considerably smarter than the typical bladed job: Brookstone’s Bed Fan ($79.99 plus shipping from the US) is a height-adjustable fan that directs cool air over you when you’re in bed, while Dyson’s immensely clever Air Multiplier (£159) wafts a powerful blast of cooling air without the buffeting and chopping of traditional fans.Fans can only do so much: if you want to reduce the temperature rather than just move air around, you’ll need an air conditioner. There are lots of models to choose from, with prices as low as £160, but the biggest choice of portable models cost around £250. Models such as De’Longhi’s NF170 cools the air in the summer and doubles as a dehumidifier to prevent condensation and damp during the winter.f course, an air conditioner isn’t much use if you’re out and about, but clothing firm Columbia reckons it has the solution: Omni-Freeze, a specially developed fabric that transmits heat away from your body and feels cooler than normal fabrics, and Omni-Freeze Ice, which is activated when you sweat and, Columbia says, lowers the temperature of the fabric. It’s far from cheap - expect to pay around £40 for a base layer top or £45 for a polo shirt - but we’d rather see the great British male wearing such technical clothing than getting his top off and tummy out. The slightest hint of sunshine sends most of us into the garden for lounging and barbecues, and a big part of that is having a drink in the great outdoors. Luckily there are all kinds of gadgets designed to keep your drinks cool. The Ravi Instant Wine Refresher (£20) is chilled in your freezer, and when you want to use it you simply stick it on the neck of the bottle and let the wine pass over its internal coil, dropping the temperature by around 15 degrees. That means it’s best suited to red wine. For white, the Menu picnic wine cooler (£35) uses a thermal jacket to keep your wine chilled until it’s ready to drink. If the party’s far from home, there’s a huge range of car-powered portable fridges; expect to pay around £50 for a good one. If your tastes are more beery, the Tinchilla Instant Can Cooler

COOL kIT FOR HOT DAYSTHE COOLEST GADGETS FOR SuMMER

(£12.99) uses thermal conduction to cool a can of lager in just 60 seconds: all you need is a bit of ice and a pair of AA batteries. It’s even possible to find cool gadgets to help you sleep. The superbly named Chillow (£27.50) is a “personal cooling pad” with a foam core, rather like memory foam, that you fill with water. Although it’s designed as a sleep aid, the manufacturers also suggest that it’s a good way to stop your laptop making your legs too hot; they’ve even created the Compusooth (£39 in a pack with the Chillow) to go under your hands and keep them cool while you’re using your computer. While you’re at it, you might want to invest in a cooler for the laptop itself: they’re susceptible to warm temperatures, and a device such as Belkin’s laptop cooling stand (£21) can help prevent overheating.

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Living locally with his wife the soprano Carole Lindsay-Douglas, Douglas Coombes MBE, Conductor, Composer, Writer and Local presenter on Biggles FM was awarded the MBE for services to music in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June 2012.Douglas is the President of Potton’s “Shannon Express” a barbershop chorus, Patron of “Riverside Theatre” based in St. Neots and presents “Variations” on Biggles FM www.bigglesfm.co.uk a two hour classical music programme on Sunday afternoons, believed to be the only one broadcast on a rock and pop station.Apart from being kept busy locally, Douglas has been music consultant and music director of BBC’s “Songs of Praise School Choir of the year” Competition since it started in 2003, his work takes him to many European countries, Hong Kong, South Korea and most frequently to the uSA. He has accompanied Carole in many recitals and together they annually direct over 100 workshops for teachers and young people. In recent years he has conducted and led concerts for Barnardo’s in many cathedrals and concert halls throughout England and has composed a song book “A Chance to Sing” for the charity, which contains songs illustrating many of the problems for which young people turn to Barnardo’s for help. In 2009, with Carole, he was presented with the Barnardo’s President’s Award, the president being the Duchess of Cornwall.From an early age, Douglas has been interested

THE QUEEn HOnOURS LOCAL CONDuCTOR

in music in his home city of Bristol, being tutored by Horace Paul, he studied music at St. Paul’s Collage, Cheltenham and Dartington Hall, Devon. Douglas was a Music producer, writer and broadcaster for BBC Education working mainly on two programmes “Time and Tune” and “Singing Together”. Since leaving the BBC in 1988 Douglas has devoted more time to composing and conducting. The largest choir he has conducted was at Everton football stadium for BBC “Songs of Praise”, where the choir numbered 4,900 children.Douglas enjoys conducting the “Battle Proms” this is the 16th year; This year there are 7 concert’s which started on the 7 July at Burghley House, Stamford followed by Blenheim Palace 14th July - Hatfield House, 21st July - Highclere Castle, 4 August - Althorp Park 11th August - Ragley Hall, Alcester on the 18th August - finishing at Singleton Park, Swansea, 27th August. The Battle Proms are well worth seeing, apart from the “New English Concert Orchestra” conducted by Douglas, the programme at Burghley included Compere Pam Rhodes Soprano Denise Leigh and Violin Soloist Katy Smith, “The Rockabellas” todays answer to the Andrews Sisters, “The Blades Aerobatic Display”, “Napoleonic Cavalry and Infantry Display”, “Diamond Jubilee Gun Salute” and accompanying the Orchestra was a Spitfire flown by Carolyn Grace. Also included were Muskets, Cannon, fireworks, and a Musical ride by Crown and Empire. As one happy spectator mentioned “it is as good as the Proms, but louder”.

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c o m P e T i T i o n • c o m P e T i T i o n • c o m P e T i T i o n


The WhiTe hoRse – BRoomBy MELANIE HuLSE

The White Horse at Broom brings back some fond memories for me, so you may be able to imagine my happiness when my visit today found the old place looking clean and loved and welcoming once more. I met new landlord and lady, Charles and Sam Biswell for a chat and to discover their plans for The White Horse. ‘Our background is in catering for large functions – weddings, corporate events, office parties, special birthday parties.’ Sam explains. ‘We saw the opportunity to take on The White Horse and we fell in love with the pub, the village and the area, we could see the potential here to make a difference to local people and provide a place with great food, an outdoor space which is perfect for families and an atmospheric bar just right for a local pint.’

‘My father was in catering and I have been a chef all my working life.’ Charles joins in. ‘Three of our sons are currently completing their chef training too and have a real talent with food, so they are making a great contribution to the running of the kitchen here. The whole family is involved and we are really excited about the plans we have made.’Sam continues, ‘The pub itself is at least 18th Century and the bar areas are really atmospheric with the big inglenook fireplaces and beamed ceilings. We welcome anyone in for a drink and have cask ales as well as lagers on tap and all the usual spirits and soft drinks. We are planning a really tempting bar meals menu with tapas as well as traditional bar snacks too. ‘We have worked hard on tidying up not only the inside of the pub, but the immediate outdoor seating area too and it now has a pretty, Mediterranean feel with the pots of herbs and bright geraniums. We’re contemplating putting a pizza oven out here and having Italian evenings where families can enjoy the warmer weather along with a freshly cooked pizza, a delicious continental salad and a lovely, cold glass of white wine.‘We are intending to make better use of the lawn with some more children’s play equipment and a petanque piste too. We really want to welcome


THE WHITE HORSE30 Southill Road, Broom, SG18 9NN

Tel: 01767 313425Website: www.whitehorsebroom.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

families and have ensured that our menus cater for every taste and appetite by offering the opportunity to have a child-sized portion of any dish at half the price as well as the regular children’s choices.’‘We have some other themed evenings in mind,’ enthuses Charles ‘and I am intending the menu to carry first class steaks – locally sourced of course, as well as some brilliant and innovative dishes that will make sure that eating at The White Horse is an unforgettable experience. We are completely committed to sourcing all of our meat and vegetables as locally as possible and everything on our menu is always freshly cooked with real care and attention to detail. I feel strongly that vegetarians need to eat as well as anyone else and so we are determined to create some real vegetarian masterpieces, delicious food with every kindness!‘With our background – running a successful catering company since 1998, we are keen to host larger functions here at The White Horse. We have facilities to seat 70 outside or under a marquee in case of bad weather, and the rear lawn would easily hold a marquee with seating

for 200. We are happy to offer our catering expertise and experience to anyone to make their function – wedding, anniversary or birthday, that extra special and memorable occasion.So, whether you would like to bask in the sunshine among pots of lavender and thyme in true Mediterranean style with a pint of San Miguel and some delicious tapas; enjoy a few hours at the traditional bar of a local country pub, sampling cask ales and a freshly prepared, home baked, locally sourced gammon steak or sit down with all your family and friends at the party of your lifetime, The White Horse in Broom is the place for you. Why not drop in to meet the Biswell family and find out for yourself?

Dine at The White Horse and enjoy a two course set menu for just £9.95


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If you’re going on holiday shortly, don’t forget that your garden and plants will appreciate some TLC before you leave. An hour or two spent sorting out your plants can not only help to keep them going whilst you’re sunning yourself elsewhere, but also help to make your house look less abandoned in your absence. So before you grab a suitcase, make sure you spend some time in the garden.I’m certainly not a lawn buff, but whether your lawn is your priority, or like me it’s more of a patch of grass than a bowling green, sort it out before you go. Give it a thorough mowing, cutting it as short as you dare but without ‘scalping’ it by cutting too low. Next take a pair of lawn edging shears, a half-moon edger or simply a sharp spade and neaten all the edges, including those next to flower beds. The effect of edging lasts far longer than mowing and will not only stop the lawn moving into the flower beds, but also make the grass appear more recently maintained.Make sure that all plants, especially those in containers and those forming fruit whilst you’re away, are given a good feed before you go. Liquid feeds usually have the speediest response, but if you’re taking a long trip, controlled release fertiliser granules will last for longer. If you use a dry or granular feed, make sure that you water it in well unless it’s just about to rain.It really is worth persuading a friend, relative or neighbour to pop in to your garden and do the odd bit of watering. Make sure to suggest that they pick the sweet-peas, harvest some veg and so forth, then you’ll both benefit.A good, thorough watering of the garden will mean that plants in open ground should be unharmed by hot weather for a good while. Plants in pots and tubs are totally reliant on you if there is not much rain, so make these your priority, and tell your plant-sitter where all the containers are, especially those out of sight. Many plants cease flowering if faded flowers are left on them and allowed to start to form seeds. This means it’s extra important to remove every faded bloom before you leave. If you’re off for more than a week, I suggest ‘dead heading’ not only the faded flowers, but also those which are just starting to fade. A sharp pair of scissors or just your finger and thumb should do the trick.Hanging baskets are invariably in the hottest, sunniest pots in the garden and with their roots

YOUR PLAnTS DOn’T WAnT A ‘HOLIDAY’By PIPPA GREENWOOD

up in the air they are especially prone to drought. unless you have a really reliable watering helper lined up, it’s best to carefully lower hanging baskets and stand each one on its own pot in a shady spot where it will dry out less quickly.Planters and patio pots lose moisture very readily especially if the weather is hot, windy or, worse, a combination of both. By carefully grouping the pots together in one place you’ll not only make it easier for your holiday helper to find them all, but will also create shade around the roots of the pots, so reducing the risk of drought and heat damage. Try to position more drought tolerant patio plants such as pelargoniums, towards the outer edge of the group, and more drought prone plants towards the cooler centre of the group.Make sure that your garden sheds and other storage areas are properly secured so that there’s less chance that any light-fingered guests will burgle your belongings. It’s worth giving the padlock keys to a neighbour, just in case there is anything in the shed that might be needed in your absence.Ladders, mattocks, spades and other gardening items that could be used to break into your house (or the shed) should be removed completely, or locked away out of sight so that they don’t encourage burglary.Finally check that plants are healthy and that any new outbreaks of pests or diseases are treated or dealt with before you go - leave a handful of whitefly in your greenhouse, or a few greenfly on your roses, and there may well be a full-scale disaster zone when you return!Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and order your ‘Winter Thru’ Spring’ Vegetable Collection. Orders close soon. Whilst there, visit the new products area for a great selection of products including signed copies of Pippa’s books, Grower Frames, cloches, raised bed kits, delightful terracotta herb planters and wall plaques, biological pest controls and lots more!


There is little more upsetting than to find the feathery remains of a part-eaten beautiful bird such as a male bullfinch discarded and left to blow away in the wind. To see and hear the panic and screams of a bird being attacked by a predator is not for the squeamish. The food chain can be a gory business when seen close-up in high-definition on the TV and even more so when experienced in real life. The process of getting food by predators, is slightly less disturbing when it is appreciated that it is done for survival, but when the killing is gratuitous, as is the case by well-fed domestic animals such as cats, it is only reasonable to try to reduce the carnage. Attaching bells or attempting to impose a night -time curfew as suggested by some wild-life protectors, may not have the desired effect, but at least the problem is now being discussed. It was interesting to hear about the use of birds of prey to discourage pigeons and other lowly specimens disrupting prestigious events such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament and especially the outrage shown when it was discovered that the falcon had been stolen! Fortunately this hard – working and honourable hawk has now been returned to his rightful owner and can continue his good work of scaring off the hordes of distracting doves. I had previously heard that birds of prey had been successfully used to keep airport runways clear of other birds (which can cause disaster if they are allowed to be sucked into the intake of jet engines), but this is the first sporting event I have heard of being managed in this way. I was also intrigued to see the Norwich Cathedral webcam showing continuous coverage of a family of three peregrine falcon chicks. A platform had been carefully fitted two hundred and fifty feet above the ground and filled with gravel to provide ideal conditions for the two hard-working parents to rear their young. Many thanks for all the efforts for this successful project. The sights of parents

RURAL RAMBLInGS BY GEOFF WHARTOnWAR ZONE?

returning to their offspring with various birdy food parcels and carefully feeding them with tiny morsels, was incredibly touching (little thought of course being given to the hapless victims as their bodies were shredded and eaten!)Of course the birds themselves don’t have any hang-ups about the killing and eating of other animals. That is the way they survive. That is how they have evolved. That is how they live. They have wonderful adaptive features which allow them to be very efficient in how they obtain their food. They can be merciless killers but, at the same time, can be caring and protective parents. Predators survive by killing other animals and this can seem cruel when viewed through well-fed eyes. We can become disturbed at the scene of such killing and it is tempting to intervene to protect the victim. Should we always leave well alone?

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“Welcome to Canary Wharf - the office you require is on the 18th floor.” Or “Welcome to the Eiffel Tower. There are wonderful views of the city from the Observation Level.” A world without elevators is unthinkable.Elevators may be considered modern inventions however they are first referenced by Roman architect Vitruvius who reported that Archimedes (c287BC-c212BC) constructed one in about 236BC. One of the most famous ancient lifts, a cab on hemp rope elevated manually, is at the Sinai monastery in Egypt and the ’Book of Secrets’ by Ibn Khalaf al-Muradi in Islamic Spain described the use of an elevator-like lifting mechanism for heavy equipment. Early elevators used manual hoists or winders but by 1793 the first screw-driven elevator was installed in the Russian Winter Palace, built by Ivan Kulibin.By the mid-1800s, hundreds of goods lifts were in use. Operated by increasing water pressure inside a cylinder, a steel column below the cab caused

invenTions - eLevAToRsBy LEON F. JONES

it to rise, aided by a counterweight. As buildings grew taller, however, this proved impractical, as it required a pit as deep as the building was tall. In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced his revolutionary safety braking system, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable snapped. In 1854 he demonstrated his invention in a death-defying demonstration in the Crystal Palace and in March 1857, the first Otis passenger elevator was installed at 488 Broadway in New york City. Strangely enough, the first elevator shaft preceded the first working elevator by four years.Today elevators are everywhere and special adaptations are Dumb Waiters, exterior glass elevators on buildings and the Paternoster in busy commercial premises. Thank you Mr Otis.


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Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

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A fun summer holiday project to do with the children is to make a family time capsule, where photos and other mementos are stored away for years then opened again on an agreed date.Decide how long you want to store your capsule. It might be for a set number of years or until a specific date or anniversary.Decide where to put it. Burial may not be the best option because of the likelihood of damage or loss. If you do decide to bury it you’ll need your capsule to be airtight and waterproof. Special capsules can be purchased for this.Above ground options can include the attic or the garage. you can even buy hollow polyurethane rocks to disguise the capsule and allow you to leave it outdoors.Everyone in the family should contribute something. Items can include: newspapers, fashion magazines, photos, drawings, toys, It’s nice to get everyone to write something about what it’s like to live in 2012 and what special events have taken

MAkE A TIME CAPSULEBy SARAH DAVEy

place in their life. The contents should be sealed inside plastic bags and it’s a good idea to include some desiccant gel bags to absorb any moisture. Don’t include anything which might perish (rubber, wool, wood, or anything edible).When it’s filled hide it out of sight. Make a note of where it is in case you move. Also make a note at the end of each calendar year to remind you where it is and when to open it.


The RSPCA North Bedfordshire Branch currently has 30 cats in its care, with 55 waiting to come in from Inspectors alone. Most are housed with our volunteer foster carers in their own homes.Without these people we could not carry on. Have you ever thought about fostering? Could you look after a homeless cat until he, or she, finds their forever home? We provide food, litter, toys, bedding and pay for any veterinary costs. you provide love and security.When a cat is in foster care the chance of finding a good match with new owners is increased. The foster carer is able to give much more information about the cats’ nature, and likes and dislikes – than if the cat was kept in a cattery.If you think you could become a cat fosterer, discuss with everyone in the house if it is something they would be happy to do. Don’t forget to take into consideration your own pets and how you think they would cope. Decide if fostering cats could fit into your home, family and lifestyle – for example, as a foster carer you are responsible for keeping the cat secure in your house at all times. Some of the cats we help are initially quite timid. Have you the space, and patience, to give them a quiet place in which to settle? Also, are you prepared to have prospective new owners coming to your home to meet the cat? Our home check team assesses all prospective new owners, before being allowed to meet the cat. If you decide it’s a ‘yES’ to fostering – THANK yOu! Please contact us on the number below, or via our website. We will then provide you with the food and equipment you need.When a cat becomes available which needs a place, the Fostering coordinator or Branch Manager will then give you a call. They will ensure the cat

COULD YOU BECOMEA CAT FOSTER CARER?

is suitable for your set-up – we have to cater for a variety of different cats; pregnant, mum and kittens, nervous, older, young, recently castrated, feral and semi-feral. Arrangements are then made for he, or she, to be moved to your home. An RSPCA Inspector may bring them to you, or sometimes they need collecting from a vets’ practice. They may need to have regular visits to the vets for treatment, neutering or vaccination; so ideally you need your own transport.you will have support at all times if you have any worries or questions.The cat will stay with you until the time comes to move to their new home – this can be anything from a few days to a couple of months.The tough bit is saying goodbye, but when you receive pictures and stories of how they are getting on in their new lives – you’ll know it will have been worthwhile. The demand for cat fosters is greater now than it has ever been. Hundreds of animals are being made homeless daily, unneutered cats breeding and the population of strays growing – we just can’t house them all. But with your help we could at least start to make a difference.For more information please give us a call on 07769 322424 or www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk


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Call: 0844 248 8181 Visit: www.woodgreen.org.uk Or Email: [email protected]’s Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NH

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Wood Green, The Animals Charity is the registered Trademark of Wood Green Animal Shelters, registered Charity No. 298348.

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Animal Fun Day Sunday 16th September

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Please visit our website or call us for more information about any of our events at the

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A new school can be tough. Read our guide and help your child make the change with confidenceSome children find it easy to start at a new school. They are good at making friends and can adapt to new routines and surroundings. For others, it can be a traumatic experience as they struggle to settle in. It can also be a difficult time for parents, who may not know how to help. Most children will start a new school at some time – whether it’s because the family moves house, the child has been bullied, or simply as they move up through the education system. Fortunately, there are lots of ways that parents can support children through these changes. Here are some suggestions:• Make sure you attend the open days offered by

the new school. This is a good way to familiarise yourselves with the teachers, other children in the class and the layout of the buildings.

• Carefully read the information provided by the school. Make a note of key dates and get to know procedures before term starts.

• Children are likely to be experiencing a mixture of feelings – they’re excited about the changes ahead, but also anxious about how they’ll cope. Encourage them to talk about their fears and suggest solutions. If you can’t solve their problem instantly, talk about ways that you can find an answer.

TRAnSITIOn TROUBLE? By ALEX BROWN

• If your child isn’t moving schools with a close friend, try to identify at least one child they will recognise. Arrange to meet up in the holidays so the children get to know each other. Encourage your child to join a lunchtime or after-school club to meet children in other classes who share their interests.

• Keep praising your child for how well they are coping with this big change. If they are feeling confident, they will find it easier to deal with new situations.

• If your child is starting a new school in the middle of term, perhaps after a bad experience, reassure them that this is a fresh start. Keep calm and positive and your child will pick up on this.

• After the long summer holiday, it can be difficult to get back into the school routine. In the week before they return, start getting up early again and re-establish a regular bedtime.

• Be prepared: have a trial run of the route to school and get together uniform, bags and stationery supplies well in advance.

• A few wobbles are always to be expected when a child starts a new school, but if problems persist for more than a few weeks or seem more serious, arrange to speak to your child’s teacher. They would always prefer you to come to them early if you are worried.


BMW likes to do efficiency these days. That means big, brash and loud is out and in its place comes clever use of technology to excite drivers. That means big changes for the marque’s loudest cars, like the M5. The 5.0-litre V10 of the previous generation has been killed off, and in its place is a smaller 4.4-litre V8. Before you become too upset though, things aren’t as bad as they seem. yes, the powerplant may have lost a few cylinders and cubic capacity, but thanks to a brace of turbochargers this new lump is actually more powerful and more efficient (there’s that word again) than the engine it replaces.How much more? Well, power is up 10 per cent to 560bhp and torque increased by a whopping 30 per cent to 680Nm. Ok, so that’s a little off the Merc’s 800Nm of pull, but still mighty impressive.It all helps the new M5 hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and crack on to 155 mph. Equally impressive is the improvements at the pumps – fuel economy is up from 20mpg to 28mpg while emissions have been slashed 112g/km to 234g/km. A major achievement.But to be honest, we don’t really care about the latter. What we really care about is whether it feels as good as the V10? And the simple answer is no – it’s better. There’s no denying the M5 is a big car, but it feels the smallest, most compact here. It’s easy to jump in and drive – and drive fast. It’s flattering on the road, and hugely exciting on the track. With the traction control engaged, there’s just enough slip to put a grin on your face, yet save you from the kitty litter. With it off, it’s a tail out showboater. That 4.4-litre engine sounds brilliant too. Like a mini Bugatti Veyron it angrily sucks in air and spits out a venomous bark from its quad pipes. Equally thrilling is its rapid DCT seven-speed gearbox. Far superior to the Merc’s set up, this twin clutch box fires through ratios with a ferocity only seen before on a Ferrari 458. Inside it feels a lot more modern than the Mercedes – its closest rival here – with brilliant seats, a superb driving position and wonderfully direct and supple steering. Tech levels are understandably high for a £73k car with a head up display, DAB radio, 19-inch alloys, night vision and lots more.

BmW m5 (2012)By JAMES BAGGOTT

But it’s not the kit or space that puts the Beemer in the number one spot here – it’s the driving experience. This is one mighty M model that’s simple to jump in and drive fast. Masses of electronic trickery help, but that absolute peach of an engine (BMW’s most potent ever, no less), that visceral noise and that smile you’ll find hard to wipe off your face every time you drive it, help it secure the top spot.

Model: BMW M5Price: £73,040

Engine: 4.4-litre, v8 twin turboPower: 560bhp, 680nm

Max speed: 155mph0-60mph: 4.4s

MPG (comb’d): 28 Emissions: 234g/km

verdict: It has BMW’s most potent powerplant ever, sounds amazing and is as easy to drive as

a 520d.


DELIvERY PEOPLE

REQUIREDLocal people for

The Villager or people with transport

for additional contract delivery jobs.

Please email nigel for more details

[email protected]

ABOVE ALL AutocentreUnit 1, Sand Road Ind. Est., Great Gransden SG19 3AH

Tel: 01767 679000

10% discount with this advert

MOT TESTINGFor class 4 or 7 vehiclesClass IV Cars and vans up to 3000kgClass VII Vans over 3000kg up to 3500kg

DIAGNOSTICS - SNAP ON Diagnostic fault finding centre.

EXHAUSTS - Supplied and fitted to all makes of cars and vans.

BATTERIES - Supplied and fitted two and three year guarantee.

BRAKES - Discs Pads Shoes. Cylinders etc supplied and fitted.

CODE READING - Trace & rectify those alarming red dashboard warning lights.

TYRES - All makes inc. Budget Avon, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli.

SERVICINGGood Garage Scheme

Industry Standard ServiceOr to manufacturer specification


Freedom. Independence. Convenience. Time. Opportunity. These could all be yours once you have successfully passed your driving test, but as it now takes on average 47 hours of professional tuition at a cost of around £1,270 to qualify as a driver, what is the best way of getting there as quickly and cheaply as possible?you might think that being taught by friends or family will save you money, but research shows that learners who combine professional instruction with private practice ultimately do better on their driving test, with nine out of ten learners who pass first time being taught by a professional. So how do you find the best instructor for you? Personal recommendations are a good place to start, but just because a friend or family member got on well with a particular instructor is no guarantee that you will too. As you start your search you should consider four things: the instructor’s qualifications, rates, vehicle and personality. Check that your instructor is approved by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and that they display a green badge to show they are an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or a pink badge if they are a trainee. Also ask to look at their last grade report to see how they fared when their teaching was tested by the DSA (grade 4 is satisfactory and

HOW TO... CHOOSE A DRIVING INSTRuCTOR

grade 6 is the highest).Beware if your instructor is charging well below the average - they may well be cutting corners as well as prices – and you could end up paying more in the long run. Ask about discounts for block bookings or advance payment, and see if you can negotiate a better rate for longer lessons (ninety minutes is often more productive than an hour). Some instructors also offer the first lesson for free.Check the model, age and condition of the car. Many people find it easier to learn in a smaller car and if you are particularly tall or short, you will need a model with a fully adjustable seat and steering column. Make sure the car is clean, well maintained and fitted with air bags and dual controls.A good instructor should be reliable and punctual and give you their full attention throughout the lesson, with no stops to drop off, pick up, fill up or make phone calls. They should not shout nor make you feel otherwise uncomfortable – even if you do make mistakes!Choosing a driving instructor is like selecting any other commodity: shop around, compare the market and .then make your choice. And if, despite your best efforts, you are not happy with them or the way you are progressing, move to someone else!


Potton Based Local and Long Distance Private Hire

Airport/Stations/Nights Out etc

Can now carry up to 7 passengers + luggage in our new Luxury MPV.

4 Passenger car also available.

Airport Transfers From Luton £40, Stansted £65, Heathrow £80, Gatwick £130

Tel: 01767 261871 Mob: 07983 218367www.mats-cars.co.uk

All major credit/debit cards accepted

Mats Cars


Your ‘main dealer’ alternative………..Established over 20 years we have grown from strength to strength by word

of mouth referrals due to the quality of our work and service.

We provide vehicle maintenance, repairs and diagnostics for most makes ofvehicles and have invested in training and state of the art diagnostic

equipment to meet the demands of the modern car.We also provide:• Servicing & Repairs• MOT’s on Site, including 4 x 4 Vehicles• Air Conditioning • Tyres • 4 Wheel Laser Alignment• Batteries & Exhausts • American Vehicle Service & Diagnostics• Vehicle Recovery & Transportation Service • Collect & Delivery Service • Courtesy Cars

Telephone: 01767 680868Email: [email protected]: www.froodsautoservices.co.uk10 Darlington Close, Sunderland Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1RW

It is our policy to keep our customers informed at all times with the fault, cause, cure and estimated cost which will be reported to the

customer before we carry out any repair work. We recognise that it is important to use Original Equipment (OE) parts and the manufacturers recommended engine lubricants to prevent premature engine damage

and this is standard practice.Personal Attention and Professional Service

SANDY M.O.T CENTREWhile-you-wait testing on site

FROODS AUTOSERVICES

Follow us on facebookand find out the latest Special Offers


Before After

1. Who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics to add to the six he won in 2004, breaking the record for having won more career gold medals than any other Olympian?

2. Which country is due to host the 2016 Summer Olympics?3. After flying from Athens to RNAS Culdrose, in which English county did

the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay begin?4. Which European country holds the record for winning more medals than

any other in total at the Winter Olympics?5. Which famous person declared the 1936 Summer Olympics officially

open?6. In 2007, after claims that his hairstyle looked like the 2012 Olympic logo,

which politician said “you can say what you like about my hairstyle, but it’s never caused epilepsy and cost significantly less than £400,000 to design”?

7. Which country’s four man bobsleigh team at the 1988 Winter Olympics was the inspiration for the 1993 film Cool Runnings?

8. The 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow were boycotted by a number of nations due to the Soviet union’s invasion of which country?

9. In 2012, London became the first city to have hosted the Summer Olympics how many times?

10. The title of “world’s greatest athlete” is traditionally associated with the winner of which Olympic event, after King Gustav V of Sweden said “you, sir, are the world’s greatest athlete” to the winner of this event at the Olympics in 1912?

Fun Quiz - The Olympic Games

1. Michael Phelps 2. Brazil 3. Cornwall 4. Norway 5. Adolf Hitler 6. Boris Johnson 7. Jamaica’s 8. Afghanistan

9. Three 10. The decathlon


SEASOnAL DELIGHTSHOME-MADE BuRGERS - ALL yOu NEED TO KNOW

It’s the barbecue season and nothing tastes better than delicious home-made char-grilled burgers. Follow these top tips for great burgers.• Always choose good quality premium minced

steak for the best flavour but pick one that has some fat in it – don’t buy extra lean mince as the burgers will dry out too much during cooking. Try asking your local butcher to mince some rump or chuck steak with about 20% fat content. For four quarter pounder burgers you’ll need 500g mince.

• Mince is fairly bland so you’ll need to add plenty of flavouring. Grated or very finely chopped onion and minced garlic form the basic flavouring but you add whatever dried or fresh herb, spice or seasoning you like. you’ll need to add 5-10ml (1-2tsp) salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper too.

• A handful of fresh breadcrumbs and a little beaten egg will also help to bind the mince together and prevent the burgers from breaking up during cooking. Whizz all the ingredients in a food processor until the mixture starts

holding together or use clean hands to mix as thoroughly as possible.

• Shape the burgers into round flat discs with wetted hands. To get perfectly round shapes press the mixture into a metal pastry cutter. Don’t over handle the burgers or they will be tough and dry when cooked.

• Ensure that burgers are cooked all the way through and there is no pinkness in the middle. To check this press the burger down with a fish slice – if there are pink juices oozing out then cook for a few more minutes.

• If you want a change from the classic sesame seed bun why not serve the cooked burgers on top of wedges of toasted ciabatta bread spread with a little mustard mayo or pack into warmed and split pitta breads with salad or coleslaw.

• Try a fresh tomato relish instead of ketchup – just peel and finely dice a couple of ripe plum tomatoes and mix with a little olive oil, fresh chopped basil, a pinch of sugar and salt and freshly ground black pepper.


Oven Cleaning! - It’s a dirty job! Why do it yourself?

parent company est. 1998

Contact James on: 01767 260188or Mobile: 07812 666081

email: [email protected] can also book at www.ovenmen.com

We clean ovens using non-caustic, non-toxic products in your home.

Ovens • Ranges • Hobs • ExtractorsAgas • Microwaves • Barbecues (May - Sept)

Single Oven (all racks/pans inc) .......................£35 Single Oven & Grill Oven (all racks/pans inc) ....£45 Single Separate Grill Oven (racks/pans inc) .....£15 Microwaves & Combination Ovens ...................£20 Extractor Fan (free filter for next clean) ............£12 Hob .................................................................£12 Agas and Ranges priced accordingly Oven Bulbs replaced for free in all jobs V.A.T free

For all your oven cleaning needs, using a Non-toxic,

Non-caustic cleaning solution

Prices s/oven (all inc.)...£36.00 d/oven (all inc.)...£48.00 extractors from...£12.00 microwaves.....£16.00 hobs from....£12.00

BBQs, Agas and Ranges individually priced.

We cover Beds - Herts - South Cambs

Contact us nowTel: 01767 681 667 Mob: 07817 011 957email: [email protected]

www.ovenmaestro.co.uk

SEASOnAL DELIGHTSHOME-MADE BuRGERS - ALL yOu NEED TO KNOW

• Gift Shop• Garden Shop• Plant Centre• PYO in season• Free- range eggs

• Fresh Fruit & Vegetables• Delicatessen• Café• Butchery• Fresh Flowers

BURY LANE

Open 7 days a week all year round Monday - Saturday 9am - 5:30pm Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm

A10 Melbourn By pass, Melbourn, Royston, Herts01763 260418

w w w.bu r yl a ne fa r m s hop.co.u k


29 July-4 AugustCople Music Festival

29 July - Concert and Afternoon Tea in the Church from 2pm. Tickets £10.

1 August - Music Quiz, Five Bells from 6pm.3 August - Music in Five Bells from 8pm

4 August – Cople Proms in the Village Hall and Playing Fields from 3.30pm. Bands, Hog Roast, BQ, Bars and raffle. Bring chairs, blankets and

flags. Entrance Adults £2, under 16s free.The Charity of the year is the British Heart

Foundation.Tel: 01234 8386597 Email: [email protected]

Web: www.cople.org.uk/events.asp

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 AugustChildren’s Nature Discovery

2-4pm RSPB The Lodge, SandyAdults free, Children £4, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £3Enjoy a fun and informative walk spotting birds,

butterflies and dragonflies and get hands-on with some bark rubbing and other great

activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 01767 680541

Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

1, 15 & 29 AugustWhist Drive 7.30pm

Conservative Club, Brook End, PottonFortnightly Wednesday Whist Drive.

All welcome.Tel: Anita 01767 260726 for more information

1 & 17 AugustDate with Nature Dusk Watch

7.30pm til late RSPB The Lodge, SandyRSPB Members £4, Non-Members £6 including

car park and entryAn exciting evening event, experiencing the sights and sounds of the reserve as darkness

creeps over and secretive nocturnal creatures begin to emerge! Booking essential. Tel: 01767

680541Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

3, 6, 10, 17, 20, 24 & 31 AugustMinibeast Safari

2-4pm RSPB The Lodge, SandyAdults free, Children £4, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £3Kids love to delve and discover the bugs, beetles

and beasties living in the undergrowth on the

WHAT’S On?IN AuGuST

reserve. Booking essential. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

3 & 4 AugustThe Importance of Being Ernest

7pm RSPB The Lodge, SandyAdults £12.50, Children £8, under 7s free, Family

2+2 £35We welcome the return of the Pantaloons for their fourth successful year with an outdoor

performance of The Importance of Being Ernest on the lawn of The Lodge. Bring your blankets,

picnics and chairs and a bottle of course, to enjoy a fun, outside performance. Please note

no dogs at the performance.Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

4 & 5 AugustThe Brothers Grimm

2pm RSPB The Lodge, SandyAdults £12.50, Children £8, under 7s free, Family

2+2 £35We welcome the return of the Pantaloons for their fourth successful year with an outdoor

performance of The Brothers Grimm on the lawn of The Lodge. Bring your blankets, picnics and

chairs and a bottle of course, to enjoy a fun, outside performance. Please note no dogs at

the performance.Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

5 AugustAugust Military Pageant Air ShowGates open 9am, flying starts 2pm,

vehicle parade 1.30pmThe Shuttleworth Collection, Shuttleworth

(Old Warden) Airfield, BiggleswadeAdults £20 in advance, £25 on the gate, children

freeThe Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant Air Show with vintage and modern aircraft. Ticket

also gives entry to Swiss Garden and Bird of Prey Centre. Web: www.shuttleworth.org

10 & 24 AugustWhist Drive

7.30pm Moggerhanger Village HallFortnightly Friday Whist Drive. Refreshments.

Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 for more information

Entries into our What’s On sections are free. If you have an event you would like us to publicise

please email the details to [email protected]


11 AugustBat Night

8.30-10.30pm RSPB The Lodge, SandyAdults £5, RSPB Members £4, Children £4, RSPB

Wildlife Explorers £3Our popular night walk, searching for the bats

that live and feed on the reserve. Please bring a torch. Must book and pay in advance.

Tel: 01767 680541Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

11-12 AugustKnebworth Country Show

11am-5pmKnebworth House, nr Stevenage

Adult £8, Children £4, under 4 free, family £28Family Country show with all day entertainment,

birds of prey, working dogs, children’s entertainment, arts and crafts, gifts, food

marquees and more.Tel: 01438 812661

Web: www.knebworthhouse.com

17 AugustBingo Night

7.30pm Moggerhanger Village HallMonthly Bingo Friday night with cash prizes,

raffle and licensed bar. All proceeds to support the Village Hall.

Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727

18 AugustMessy Church 10.30am

Trinity Methodist Church, BiggleswadeThe theme will be ‘Beaches’ activities based on

Bible stories.Tel: Christine 01767 681402.

19 AugustCountry Fete

11am-4.30pm St John’s Hospice, MoggerhangerEntry £1.50, children under 14 free

In the grounds and field behind the hospice. Steam engine and fairground rides, trade stalls, dog show, pony rides, animal demonstrations, classic cars, children’s entertainment, dance & music, BBQ, hog roast, cream teas and more.

Tel: 01767 642412Email: [email protected]

Web: www.sueryder.org/events

23 AugustTrip to Southend

£15.00Dunton, Sutton & Eyeworth Over 60’s Club day

trip to Southend. Non-members welcome.Tel: Jackie 01767 317025 or Pat 01767 315832

23 AugustPotton’s Sporting Heroes

8.00pmCommunity Centre, Potton.

Potton History Society will recall the feats achieved by Potton Sportsmen and Women and

the Clubs that supported them. Bring along your memories, medals and photographs.

Visitors always welcome - light refreshments are provided.

Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.com

25-27 AugustFlower Festival “This England”

12-5pm All Saints Church, KempstonRefreshments, Bric-a-brac, Face painting.

www.allsaintskempston.com

1 SeptemberOld Warden Grand Village Fete

2pm Free entryVillage Hall & Garden

Traditional stalls. Free children’s entertainment. Teas & cakes, produce stall and Tombola.

Tel: Stall bookings Debbie 01767627753Tel: Rod 01767 627756 or Dawn 01767 627753

9 SeptemberCompanion Dog Show - Pedigree and Novelty

ClassesRegistration from 9.30am. Pedigree Classes

commence 11.00 am /Novelty classes commence 11.30 am

G & M Growers, upper Caldecote, Nr Biggleswade SG18 9Bu

R.A.T.S. (Re-homing Animal Telephone Service). Stalls, home-made refreshments available. All proceeds go directly to helping the animals in

our care.Tel: 01234 871174

Web: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk

WHAT’S On?IN AuGuST


DFC Electrical ServicesELECTRICIAN

Established local electrical contractors.

All electrical work undertaken from complete installations to

single sockets including landlord inspections.

For further details visit ourwebsite at

www.dfcelectrical.co.uk or call Dave Cooke

for a free no obligation quote on

07818 442 900 01767 682 601

We look forward to hearing from you

Comet Cleaning ServicesCommercial & Residential Cleaners

• Commercial and Domestic Cleaners

• Builders/Landlord Cleans

• Experienced and Personal Service

• Regular, Weekly/Spring Clean

• Fully Insured/Ref's Available

• No up front fee's/contracts

Tel: 01767 631402 Mob: 07762 462866


www.cometcleaningservices.co.uk

Artexing, Coving, Paper HangingQuality Painting and Decorating

Insurance work undertakenNo obligation free quotation

Friendly reliable service

Contact info:Tel: 01767 601351 Mob: 07970060891

E-mail: [email protected]

Painting and Decorating by

Fine Textures


DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTDSpecialists in Bespoke Joinery

Conservatories • Doors • WindowsStaircases

Handmade KitchensHandmade Bedroom Furniture

Unit 8, Gracious Farm, Southill, Beds SG18 9JBT: 01462 816695 F: 01462 850915

E: [email protected]


How to play It’s simple! Fill in

the grid so that

each row, column

and 3x3 box,

contains the digits

1 through to 9 with

no repetition.

use your logic to

solve the puzzle.

Watch out! Sudoku

is highly addictive.

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

13 14

15 16

17 18

19 20

21 22

23 24

25 26

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T u V W X y Z

9 X 9 PUZZLE

COD

EWO

RD

80 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts


SurecleanDOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

•Spotstainandodourremoval •Anti-stainprotection •Theverylatestequipmentused •Allworkguaranteed •Fullyinsured •Establishedfor22years •Leathersuitescleanedand reconditioned

01767 652971 or 07870 338074

TV AERIAL &SATELLITE SPECIALIST

See our website for acomprehensive list of our services

www.allbandaerials.co.uk

CALL FREE0800 7317988

To discuss your requirements or to make an appointment

ALLBAND AERIALS22 Bedford Road

Lower Stondon, Beds SG16 6EA


Are you feeling cluttered, chaotic and claustrophobic at home? Katherine Sorrell offers six quick and easy tips to help create more spaceStep One: Clear out that clutterIt’s boring but simple: sort through your stuff. All your stuff. unless you’re absolutely certain you want to keep it where it is, then put it into boxes or bags marked for rubbish, recycling, giving away, mending or storing elsewhere. If it’s too painful to do this all at once, aim for one room per week, or else do ten minutes a day – then make a habit of keeping on top of it, with regular sort-outs. you’ll be amazed how much extra space you find when your house is no longer crammed full of unnecessary clutter. Step Two: Create super-efficient storageEvery nook and cranny around your home can be used to store your possessions in a neat and organised fashion. Built-in cupboards make the most of space, as they can be made to fit into the most awkward of corners, and stretched right to the ceiling for maximum capacity. Paint them the same colour as the walls and they will blend in brilliantly. On the other hand, off-the-shelf storage tends to be cheaper, more flexible and whether it’s a vintage French armoire or a cheap coloured plastic bucket, can be tailored to suit your style and budget.Step Three: Lighten upStart by ensuring that your windows are brilliantly clean, that curtains or blinds don’t block them, and that furniture is placed in just the right spots to make the most of natural light. As for artificial lighting, bear in mind that the traditional central pendant, used on its own, creates gloomy corners and offers no atmosphere. Instead, think about employing a more interesting combination of different types of lighting for flexibility, comfort and interest. For a quick upgrade on a budget, simply replace main light switches with dimmers, and plug in a selection of table or floor lamps at key points, to layer the lighting and emphasise special features.Step Four: Be flexible with furnitureWhen you have run out of space, it makes sense to take a long, hard look at your furniture and make sure that every single piece is worth its place in your home. Simple, slender styles have the least impact in a small space, while pale or

CREATInG SPACEBy KATHERINE SORELL

transparent pieces blend into the background, and anything raised on legs will make your room seem larger (because there is more visible floor area). In general, avoid deep upholstery, bulky outlines and fussy detailing. Special foldaway or compact furniture can help – but don’t sacrifice comfort or function – and with a touch of lateral thinking you can turn ordinary furnishings into dual-purpose ones, such as a chest of drawers that doubles as a bedside table or a coffee table that includes space to store magazines. Step Five: Add glass and mirrorsWith a little thought and not too much expense, simply hanging a mirror can create the illusion of space where it does not exist and double the apparent size of a room. One positioned opposite a window will distribute the maximum amount of natural light; near a light fitting, a mirror will reflect its brilliance around the room. Glass, too, provides vistas from room to room or from inside to out, really opening up a home. If you are having building work done, consider glass walls, floors or even stairs, but for quicker, cheaper solutions you could opt for glass doors, glass or acrylic furniture or see-through accessories such as lamp bases, door knobs and vases. Step Six: Use clever colourColour can manipulate our sense of space enormously. Pale colours seem to recede, enhancing a sense of spaciousness, while darker colours absorb light and therefore appear more enclosing. Colours on the ‘cool’ spectrum, such as blue and green, are more distancing than ‘warm’ colours such as red and yellow. Whites, off-whites and cool pastels are, therefore, perfect for making small spaces seem larger – and they look sophisticated and contemporary, too, especially when combined with the natural textures of materials such as timber and stone.


Reg no. 193542

P.E. JAMES & SONSDOMESTIC PLUMBING, HEATING & GAS

Small Repairs to Major Installations Showers, Pumps and Wet RoomsBathrooms and Ceramic Tiling

Heating Problems & InstallationsNew BoilersSolar Hot water

25 YEARS IN THE TRADE CITY & GUILDS CERTIFIEDCOVERING HERTS, BEDS, BUCKS & CAMBS

CALL MR. JAMES NOW FOR A QUOTE 01767 317356 or 07816 586777 NO VAT!

Garden sheds are not what they used to be, and that’s a good thing! Once they were nothing more than a glorified cubbyhole for hiding gardening equipment and other little-used household items. Today they have come of age, providing stylish and valuable extra space. Many of us need more room but in the current economic climate are unable or unwilling to move house. A home extension can be pricey, but it doesn’t have to be the end of all our dreams. Erect a wooden structure at the end of your garden and you could solve your space-related problems without breaking the bank.For around £3,000 you could enjoy the benefits of an additional room (a saving of around £7,000-12,000 on a brick built version). A fully insulated summer house, with its own floor, windows and electricity supply could serve a number of purposes - from a home office to a fully fitted gym, guest room or simply somewhere for to escape the hustle and bustle of family life.

SPACE OUT!By DEBBIE SINGH-BHATTI

Outdoor wood-built rooms don’t require planning permission or building regulations and can be fully operational in about six weeks from the time of order. In addition they can be built to your own specification and are fully portable - so that if you do eventually move, you can take your room with you!Now who says sheds are boring?


BKRESTORATIONS

Antique Furniture RestorationCarved Wood and Lettering

Bespoke FurnitureBookcases, Cabinets, Fireplaces etc

to Period Designs

Tel: 01462 892640

Tel: 01767 261622 Mob: 07947 732883Email: [email protected]

J. JenkinsBuilding Services

ExtensionsNew Build

RenovationsGarage Conversions

Loft ConversionsKitchen Fitting

Driveways and Patios

For all your building needs

Call John on

01767 222219 or 07831 283296


References available on request

T&R Roofing Ltd

Family Business Est. 1985• FeltRoofingSpecialists (10year&15yearguaranteeon

highperformancefelts)• Tiling,Slating,Guttering• UPVCFacia/Soffits• Chimney Work

AllNEWworkguaranteedFullyinsuredforemployer&

PublicLiability

CallTonySimpsonforaFREEestimate on:

01767 314847mob. 07831849847


Across1 Cut short (4)3 Adversary (8)9 Error (7)10 Board game (5)11 Very eager (12)13 Informal (6)15 Small piece of food (6)17 Books giving meanings of words

(12)20 Relating to the moon (5)21 Absence of sound (7)22 Moving very fast (8)23 Spheres (4)

Down1 Business (8)2 Start of (5)4 Written in rhyme (6)5 Now and then (12)6 Protect the eyes (7)7 Throw (4)8 Produced (12)12 Small bunches or groups (8)14 Physics or chemistry (7)16 untie (6)18 Lying within (5)19 Add to (4)

86 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

sponsors of

THE VILLAGER PRIZE CROSSWORD

Name:

Address:

Tel:

2nd Prize£15

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below

before 17th August 2012 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

1st Prize£25

Last Month’s Crossword Winners

Congratulations to:1st - Mrs. C Stevens from St Neots

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KEMP GARAGEDOORS

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SANDY • POTTONBIGGLESWADE AND SURROUNDING AREAS

01767 260165

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It’s August, and although the crop circle season is nearing its end, now is the best time to go out and see what delights the Andy Goldsworthys of the skies have left us to marvel at this year.Actually, crop circles “appear” around the world throughout spring, summer, and autumn – whenever and wherever there’s a standing crop. But with a fair chance of decent weather and the kids on holiday and needing some diversion, August may be the right month to go and see one, perhaps as part of a day out in the country which might include a pub lunch and a couple of hours in a traffic jam on the A303 (because an awful lot of crop circles “appear” in the Stonehenge area).I say “appear” in quotation marks because of course the contentiousness about them is how they’re made, or more especially who or what they’re made by: freak weather, outer space visitors or human pranksters.Crop circles have been reported sporadically since the 17th century, and the first investigation of their cause, in Surrey in 1880, put them down to “cyclonic wind action”, extraterrestrials having not yet been thought of. From the 1970s, though, they were reported more and more often, attracting more media attention and more theories about their origin. I needn’t go into detail, but by 1991 there was a large body of opinion that they were the work of uFOs or their occupants.unfortunately for the uFO theorists, in that year a couple of blokes called Doug Brewer and Dave Chorley claimed to have made most if not all of them using nothing more sophisticated than a plank and a length of rope, and were more than

CROP CIRCLE SEASOnSPECIAL REPORT

happy to be filmed doing so. Since then there have been crop circle competitions and manufacturers including Nike have used their logos rendered as crop circles in advertising. There’s even a group called Circlemakers that specialises in creating ever more intricate patterns and, like Doug and Dave, is happy to be filmed doing it.But it takes more than a video of a couple of guys with a plank and a length of rope to convince the uFO theorists and although I don’t wish to be disrespectful of sincerely-held views it always seems a bit strange to me to favour a theory you can’t prove over an alternative that can be demonstrated, filmed, and repeated on demand. The uFO theorists – who, given their refusal to believe the evidence of their own eyes, ought to be called the “sceptics” in this case – can point to lots of oddities and anomalies that suggest that Doug, Dave and their successors didn’t create all of the crop circles in the world; but then, we don’t know who painted all of the paintings in the world, but that’s no reason to suggest that extraterrestrials did.I raise the subject of paintings deliberately, because I don’t really care whether it was a couple of blokes or alien astronauts: my point is, crop circles are beautiful and they serve no practical purpose - to me that makes them art. Anyway, believe what you want to believe. But if you’re having one of those Dunkirk-spirit make-the-best-of-the-recession “holidays at home” this August, just Google one of the million or so regularly-updated websites devoted to the subject, choose a crop circle near you, and visit it. you’ll love it. Who needs art galleries?


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