The Bedford Clanger March 2016

THE BEDFORD

CLANGER

MARCH 2016

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR

It is with a heavy heart that we
bid farewell this month to one
of our favourite contributors,
the Reverend Sharon GrenhamThompson. Sharon (you can
follow her on twitter as @
glamvicar) has been contributing
to the Clanger since 2014 and
never fails to deliver a concise,
spiritual and though-provoking
column written from the
perspective of her role as Prison Chaplain at HMP Bedford. Time
spent with Reverend Sharon is always entertaining and engaging
and we hope that her new parishioners in Milton Keynes give her
the warm welcome that she deserves. Sharon spent part of 2015
penning her memoirs, so we look forward to reading all about
her life ‘behind bars’, which we know will be written with her
trademark compassion and empathy. *sniff*
As ever, Bedford is abuzz with things to do this month. From
the BedPop Science Lab to the Bedford Jazz Festival there’s also
great theatre, film and live music. We’ve got interviews with
Esquires’ new owner, Gareth Barber and Skeptics in the Pub’s
March contributor, Iszi Lawrence plus we chatted to Bedford’s
very own Blanket Boy (see right).
Have a great month, Bedford and see you in the Spring!
Erica, Julia & Team Clanger

TH E
C L A NG E R

NEWS IN BRIE

BLANKET BOY –
BEDFORD’S
FOLK HERO!

Sam Ashworth is a 21 year old former Mark Rutherford pupil pursuing a career
in engineering. Nothing too unusual about that, except Sam is also known as
Blanket Boy – his superhero alterego (he’ll hate that! – Ed), determined to help
and humanise Bedford’s homeless. “In August 2015 I walked past a homeless
guy outside Lurke Street car park. I was about to walk on when I glanced down
and noticed he was reading my favourite book, The Great Gatsby,” said Sam. “I
went off, bought the guy a cup of tea and sat down with him to chat about the
book. That moment made me realise that there is an element of dehumanisation of
homelessness in Bedford. I’ve realised that people’s opinions are quite hardended
– they believe that these people deserve to be homeless, that they are all addicts,
or that they are commercial beggars. I want to change those opinions and
encourage Bedfordians to see the human beings who are suffering on the streets.”
Sam began by giving out blankets to rough sleepers and now puts together
and distributes Help Kits which include essentials including blankets, water,
face wipes and food. “The future of Bedford’s homeless is very bleak,” said
Sam. “There is limited social housing, so they have less chance of getting off the
streets. Many that I see are malnourished and have stomach ailments.”
If you would like to help Sam help Bedford’s homeless, then please go
to his Go Fund Me page and contribute to Outside Help: gofundme.com/
z3wqhvx4. You can also keep up with the work they are doing on the streets
of Bedford by following their Facebook page: facebook.com/OutsideHelp.

FIND OUT ABOUT SHEWALKS
FITNESS WALKING
We’re always keen to find new ways to exercise.
Fitness Walking is a total body workout that
engages 90% of your skeletal muscles by
incorporating the upper body into the walking
motion, burning up to 40% more calories than
regular walking.
The first SheWalks programme launched in
January with taster sessions from The Kiosk in
Russell Park. The 10 week programme progresses
through from learning the fundamentals of walking
for fitness to becoming a confident fitness walker.
There are a maximum number of ladies on each
course to allow for individual attention.
“There are many health benefits,” said Larissa
Clarke. “From improving your fitness to better
quality sleep, the brisk pace will get your heart
pumping but you’ll feel energized and buzzing
rather than uncomfortable and sweaty!”
Larissa will take you through a series of stages
to enable you to reach your fitness goals with the
option of working towards a team challenge. “We
are now taking bookings for the next beginner
groups which will kick off in April, so book your
place now!”
For more info or to book your place on the next
programme call Theresa on 07758 205455 or
email [email protected]

The Cochin

2

F

“I’ve realised that people’s
opinions are quite
hardended – they believe
that these people deserve to
be homeless, that they are
all addicts, or that they are
commercial beggars.”

Photo: Cat Lane

THIS CLANGER WAS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Editor: Erica Roffe @bedfordclanger
[email protected]
Graphics: Adam Boreham www.reactionvm.co.uk
[email protected]
Advertising: Julia Crofts @ClangerAds
[email protected]
Great Bedfordian contributor: David Fowler
bedfordtourguides.org
Photography: Cat Lane cat-lane.co.uk
Musos: Lloyd Lugsden @lloydlug,
Richard Smith @thefabness
Foodie: Stephen Bywater @authorbywater
Film Buff: Paul Hutchinson
@Hutch_PR bedfordfilmfestival.org
Gardening guru: Jane Perrone
@janeperrone perrone.blogs.com
Columnists: Neil Frankel @riversidebeds
riversidetennisbedford.co.uk,
Kris Wilkinson-Hughes @euphonioushoney
The Last Word: Reverend Sharon Grenham-Thompson
@glamvicar
Challenge Chris: Chris Demott
chrisdemottphotography.com

At The Cochin we specialise in South Indian cuisine from Kerala and our food is unique,
full of tradition, flavour and spices. Come and try for yourself one evening or lunchtime!

Lunch Special Menu
Keralites
love their food
and for them cooking
and sharing a meal
with a guest is the
ultimate sign of
hospitality.

MARCH 2016

Monday-Friday 12noon – 3pm
Business Lunch £4.95 – A combination of four
Chef’s special dishes served with rice and bread
Executive Lunch £7.95 – Choice of meat or vegetable
starter served with the Business Lunch.  Or choose a
wine or beer instead of a starter
 

Opening Times

Thursday to Sunday: 12noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm
Monday & Wednesday: 6pm to 11pm
Closed Tuesday

Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten
Free Options Available
 

Free Home Delivery

Within a 5 mile radius
15% Discount on collection
 
76 Tavistock Street, Bedford MK40 2RP

01234 364038 / 01234 328388   
[email protected]
www.thecochinbedford.com

BOOK YOUR PLACE ON THE NEXT SHEWALK TODAY!

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

KITCHENALIA

MARCH 2016

TH E
C L A NG E R

UNIQUE BE

DFORD

HOMETOWN TOURIST:
THE BUTTERFLY BRIDGE

70 HIGH STREET, BEDFORD MK40
1NN AND IN HATTERS, BEDFORD
TEL: 01234 262440
KITCHENALIAONLINE.COM
@KITCHENALIA
Twenty two years ago, Kitchenalia first opened its doors in
Bedford town centre. From its humble beginnings on Lime
Street (the building is now Lost & Found) to a unit double the
size in the Arcade, Kitchenalia has remained the go-to place
for the bakers of Bedford. Recently they opened a branch at
Hatters on Goldington Road and last month the shop moved
from the Arcade to the High Street.
“All retail businesses have to evolve to adapt to what’s
happening in the outside world,” said owner Suzy Allen.
“Over the years we’ve expanded and our floorspace at Hatters
and the High Street is now the equivalent our shop in the
Arcade but we now have a town-centre and out-of-town
presence. I really didn’t want to leave the town centre, so we
had to adapt the business. We’re developing our website, so
can now offer customers the choice of two locations plus a
click and collect service.”
It’s not just the great products that make Kitchenalia such
a popular shop. Its staff is one of the store’s greatest assets.
“All the girls have worked here for such a long time,” said
Suzy. “They really know the products, we all care about each
other and we all care about the business.” Suzy is optimistic
about the future and believes that its Bedford’s independent
retailers that give the town the edge over Milton Keynes. “Our
independent shops are our USP. All of us are trying our best to
make Bedford a great destination for shoppers.”

Photos: Cat Lane

By David Fowler, Bedford Tour Guides
bedfordtourguides.org
The Suspension Bridge has always presented a
problem to the disabled and to pushchairs, so it was
no surprise when a public consultation carried out
in 1990 emphasised the situation, together with a
desire to draw more visitors into Russell Park and
improve access for the River Festival. The Borough
Council decided to spend over £1 million on
“Embankment Renaissance 1995” rejuvenating the
whole embankment area, our ”Jewel in the Crown”,
part of that sum was to be spent on a new footbridge
over the River.
A RIBA sponsored design competition was set up to reinterpret John Webster’s 1888
Suspension Bridge, with a new river crossing which would similarly mark the end of the
20th and beginning of the 21st century. The competition amazingly drew 79 national and
international entries, all were exhibited anonymously and the judge’s unanimous verdict
was that the joint design by the London Architects Wilkinson Eyre and Jan Bobrowski,
Engineers, was the winner. This top rated architectural practice has since won many awards,
including that for the “Blinking Eye” footbridge over the River Tyne and is currently
working on the refurbishment of Battersea Power Station.
The design was for 30m span parabolic tube arches set at 90° in a butterfly position,
supporting the timber deck with diagonal steel tension rods. There were many excellent
design details, floodlights were recessed into the concrete abutments and there was fibre
optic lighting provided to the deck. Discussions were held with the Environment Agency
to reduce the head room from a standard 3m to a more fitting 2.4m, but the south side
ramp could not turn immediately to follow the footpath, it had to follow the flood flows
towards Longholme Lake. Compensatory excavation had to be carried out to replace
the ramp footprint that would be lost in a flood! The bridge was built in Sussex by The
Littlehampton Welding Co who arrived on site to erect the bridge using two mobile cranes
in September 1997. It was quite difficult to determine the position of the foundations bolts
to the bottom flange of the bow tube which was quite flexible, but the arches were landed
after a couple of goes. It was opened by Mayor Frank Garrick in November 1997 and a
competition was run to find a name –“Butterfly Bridge” being the winner.
On 18th of June 1998 the Prince of Wales accompanied by Mayor Tony Ruffin officially
opened the Butterfly Bridge.

MONDAY NIGHT IS QUIZ NIGHT AT

Alternating between Steve’s Brain Taxer or
The all new, exciting Smartphone quiz!

Only £2 per person. Starts 8pm.
Will you win the cash or the wooden spoon?!
GRAB
SOME FRIENDS
AND GET
A TEAM
TOGETHER!

TO FIND OUT MORE

Check out Facebook for full details
Facebook.com/theburnabyarmsbedford

66 Stanley Street | Bedford | Beds | MK41 7RU | 01234 330056

Real ales • pies & toasties • bar games • music • courtyard garden

STONES IN HIS POCKETS
15 - 16 March
7.30pm
Ticket price
£15
(£12.50 concessions)

Age suitability
12 yrs +
Running time
110mins (+ 15min interval)

A quiet Irish village community is
turned upside down with the arrival
of a Hollywood film crew, looking
for the ‘real’ Ireland for their latest
schmaltzy blockbuster. A pair of
extras, Charlie and Jake, watch
with amazement, envy and delight
as cultures clash, divas strop,
and everyone fights over the last
portion of lemon meringue pie.

The Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s is part of Bedford School, which is part of The Harpur Trust

WE ALL LOVE OUR HOMETOWN AND THE BUTTERFLY BRIDGE.

Box office
01234 362337
quarrytheatre.org.uk

3

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

MARCH 2016

TH
CL A N E
GE R

CREAT
IVE AR
TS

BEDFORD CREATIVE
ARTS & YOU

THERE ARE SOME EXCITING CHANGES TAKING PLACE AT
BEDFORD CREATIVE ARTS. WE ASKED BCA’S MARKETING &
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, EMILY FINNEY TO TELL US MORE:

1

2

Join Bedford Creative Arts on Saturday 12 March 2016
from 10am-4pm to help us create our new look. We are
popping up at the Lane on Castle Lane and need your
help! For 30 years Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) has
been fundamental in making art happen collaboratively
with the Bedford community and we’ve done some
brilliant and impactful work together over the years.
As an arts charity our work is about inspiring and
nurturing creative spirit so each year we commission
a new work that sets out to enliven and invigorate
communities. Here are some of our favourites:

3) A PORTRAIT OF BEDFORD:

1) THE BEDFORD PROJECT:

5) LACE IN PLACE:

Where artist Andre Stitt (andrestitt.com) led a delegation from the local
Italian community on a pilgrimage from Stewartby brickworks to the
Italian Vice-Consulate in the town centre as part of The Italian Job.
The survey and consultation will be open until Monday 4th April 2016.

2) ONLY A STRANGER CAN BRING GOOD
LUCK, ONLY A KNOWN MAN CAN HANG:

With artist Faye Claridge (fayeclaridge.co.uk) who worked with a group of
Morris dancers from Bedfordshire learning about their relationships to the
past and gaining an insight into their motivations for dancing.

3

5

4

4

By photographer Darren Marsh (darrenleemarsh.net), a portfolio of over
300 images featuring people of all ages who live in Bedford focusing on
the lives and history of local Bedfordians.

4) CONCERTO MAGNIFICENT:
AN ANTHOLOGY OF ALL THING:

Where together with composer Johnny Parry (johnnyparry.com), we
brought together a big-hearted army of local people to develop a cycle of
songs, written and performed in collaboration with the public. A sold-out
audience of 400 experienced grand gestures of love and death expressed
through an all-consuming spectacle.

By Arabel Rosillo de Blas rosillodeblas.com) was an impressive feat of
collaboration, creativity and craft. Nearly 200 people were involved in
making the work and it brought an increased awareness of Bedford’s local
lace heritage, increased people’s confidence in art making and creative
activities and increased people’s sense of pride in their local area.
From the 12 March 2016 we’re growing up & out & we want to give artists
& communities a local voice with real national impact. It’s time to grow, to
evolve. Time to take the great creative work from the Bedford community
out into the surrounding counties and beyond.
Now we want you to get involved and help take BCA into its 30s
and beyond - with an exciting new logo and launch event that gives
everyone a chance to be part of our new look for the future. Our new
logo, like our organisation and our work, wouldn’t exist without the
involvement of the public. As an organisation we are brought to life by
the people, artists and communities that get involved in the work we do
& this will continue to be at the heart of our ethos. It will also be at the
centre of our new visual identity.
We’re really proud to have worked with so many exciting local artists
and members of the public to create some wonderful pieces of work. We’ll
always be locally focused and we will continue to work closely with the
local community who have made us what we are today. Moving forwards,
we’re building on our local roots and spreading our branches wider. It’s a
brand new and very exciting chapter in our story.
Come along on Saturday 12 March 2016 from 10am-4pm to our
pop up space and help us create our new look. Bring yourself, your
creative spirit & we will provide the pen & paper! There will be artists
to help and some motivating music & cake! To find out where BCA
will be popping up, follow on twitter @wearebca or check out their
Facebook page /Bedford.Creative.Arts. All will soon be revealed!

INSPIRING AND NURTURING CREATIVE SPIRIT FOR 30 YEARS!

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

MARCH 2016

THE BEDPOP SCIENCE LAB
ON SATURDAY 12TH MARCH
SCIENCE * TECHNOLOGY * ENGINEERING * MATHEMATICS

THEATRE:
Backstage in Biscuit Land was a big hit at last year’s Edinburgh Festival so
it’s with great anticipation that we welcome Jess Thom and her biscuit-based
world to Bedford. You can catch the show at the Quarry Theatre on 22nd
March and we were thrilled to have the chance to email the star of the show
with some burning biscuit-y based questions:
Bedford Clanger: What did you want to be when you grew up? As someone
with Tourettes did you feel that your options were limited or did those around you
help you feel the world was your oyster?
Jess Thom: I’ve wanted to be an artist ever since going on a school trip to the Tate
Gallery when I was about seven and meeting an actual artist. I thought about a
number of other professions too including: nurse, farmer and sweet shop owner.
When I was growing up my tics were milder than they are now. I did I find
learning difficult though, and sometimes comments from adults around me would
impact on my expectations. There are very few jobs I couldn’t do because of
Tourettes but I might need to do some of them differently.
BC: What are your experiences of people’s reaction to your condition?

On Saturday 12th March, the BedPop Science Lab will take over
Bedford Central Library and the Higgins, bringing dozens of free
STEM* workshops, activities, demonstrations and challenges to
the heart of Bedford as part of British Science Week.
From circuit building to Lego Robot Wars, engineering
challenges to 3D design, there will be loads of activities to
encourage visitors of all ages to discover their inner scientist.
“Following the success of the BedPop Fun Palaces, we
wanted to bring a pure science event to the town centre,” said
BedPop founder Erica Roffe. “We have been very fortunate
be one of only 50 recipients of a British Science Week
grant which – along with the support of our other generous
sponsors including UTC Colworth and You Can Book Me
– has allowed us to offer every single event for free. From
circuit building to drone flying, rocket launching to brewing,
we really have got something scientific for everyone!”

BEDPOP SCIENCE LABS
@ BEDFORD CENTRAL LIBRARY

At Bedford Library, join the structural engineering challenge.
How tall can you build a free-standing structure using just 20
sheets of A4 paper and one metre of tape? Or take part in the 3D
drawing workshop with the Circus of Illustration. The Science
Lab has been awarded a grant as part of the Harpur Trust’s 450th
anniversary celebrations to purchase six 3D doodle pens and the
illustrators cannot wait to get their hands on them!

BEDPOP SCIENCE LABS
@ THE HIGGINS, BEDFORD

Why not head to the Higgins to watch science experiments in
action – thanks to Bedford Modern School - or take part in
a drone programming and flying workshop? Charles Wells’
brewers will be on hand to explain the chemical processes they
use to make beer, and the Royal Society of Chemistry will be
have lots of hands-on experiments to take part in.
The BedPop Science Lab takes place during Access Week
and will be offering as many events as possible that will be
accessible to all. Composer Roger Illingworth and the Bedford
Alchemists’ Choir have received Arts Council funding to create
a piece of music based on the periodic table of elements. By
working closely with Access Bedford, the choir will incorporate
specially developed sign language into their performance.
Everyone has worked really hard to develop not only a dynamic
and exciting piece of music, but also a useful learning tool for
the hearing and deaf community. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
will be on hand to demonstrate their super powers and their
human companions will be running sign language activities for
deaf and hearing visitors too.
You can find out more about the events and
download a full programme at bedpop.co.uk
Pop up space at The Lane, Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3NT

JT: Anything I’ve ever known can become a vocal tic and what I say doesn’t
usually relate to what I’m thinking. I say biscuit about 16,000 a day, but I don’t
think about them nearly as much as I talk about them. In addition to making
involuntary noises I have many motor tics (involuntary movements) and these
have quite a big impact on my life.
People’s reactions to tics can be quite unpredictable; most people respond with
understanding, but some respond more negatively.
I would always encourage someone to ask me about my tics rather than
make assumptions.
BC: You are definitely the poster-girl for Tourettes! Do you feel a responsibility
to others with the condition to raise awareness and emphasise the positive aspects?
JT: Talking about Tourettes doesn’t always feel like a choice; I see it as a tool
for living. Being open about my experiences is a crucial way of improving other
people’s understanding, and this makes a big difference to my day-to-day life (and
I hope to others too).
BC: What is the most popular misconception that you have to deal with?
JT: That Tourettes is the ‘swearing disease’. In fact, only 10% of people with
Tourettes have swearing tics.
BC: We can’t wait to see the show in Bedford. Can you tell us about the reason
behind the title of the show?
JT: “Biscuit” is my most frequent vocal tic and Biscuit Land is the surreal world
my tics create around me. Our show Backstage in Biscuit Land shares my journey
with Tourettes. Expect laughter, surreal tics and lots biscuits.
Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions) and are available from quarrytheatre.org.uk
You can find out more about Jess and follow her on social media
touretteshero.com / @touretteshero / facebook.com/touretteshero

WHERE COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Branding / Advertising / Direct mail / Packaging
Digital / Point-of-sale / PR / Strategy

facebook.com/reactionvm [email protected]

WE ALL LOVE SOME MAD SCIENCE FUN.

5

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

HARE ONE MINUTE,
GONE THE NEXT
STAGE WRITE 2016

FESTIVAL
OF NEW
WRITING
WEDNESDAY 9TH –
SATURDAY 12TH MARCH

Local artist and printmaker, Charlotte Tenneson, is
exhibiting in Bedford, this time at the Puddin Club, 120a
Castle Road. Her linocut prints range from quirky upbeat
messages, fishy River Great Ouse prints to this hopping
harvest hare. A linocut print is similar to the traditional
woodcut; hand tools are used to cut and chisel a linoleum
block to create a relief surface. Charlotte hand prints her
beautiful artwork using water-based inks that are free
from nasty additives and chemicals in her home studio
based in North Bedfordshire. The work will be available
to buy until the end of March. 
The Puddin Club, 120a Castle Road, Bedford, MK40
3RG tel: 07773 943586 thepuddinclub.co.uk

THE
CLANGER
PICK OF THE MONTH

MARCH 2016

HURRY TO THE HIGGINS

If you haven’t yet made it to the Higgins to see Edward Bawden’s nostalgic
and whimsical depictions of Britain’s seaside towns, then what are you waiting
for? From bathing beauties in Bexhill-on-Sea to children’s sand castles on
Clacton Beach, Bawden’s love of the seaside is demonstrated in his prints and
advertising material. Probably the most famous and much loved work inspired
by the seaside is Bawden’s large linocut Brighton Pier from 1958. Nearly a
metre and half in width, it is undoubtedly one of Bawden’s most impressive
works. The exhibition will feature the preparatory designs for Brighton Pier, the
finished print as well as the rarely seen original blocks, allowing a unique look at
Bawden’s working methods.
The Higgins, Bedford, Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD
thehigginsbedford.org.uk @higginsbedford

theplacebedford.org.uk/tickets • 01234 354321

STORY WEAVERS
TP Clanger 104x104mm FESTIVAL Advert.indd 1

22/01/2016 13:56

GROUNDBREAKING EVENT
AT PROJECT 229
This month Project 229 in Kempston is hosting its
second ever ‘Earthquake Conference’ run by staff
and students from Camestone Lower School. The
conference is a celebration of the achievements
of all the students who have taken part in projects
throughout the term.
On March 16th, Camestone pupils will take over
Project 229 to teach their parents and local people
about Earthquakes and Volcanoes including tectonic
plates, the cross section of a volcano and science
vibrations. Groups will present Design Technology
projects including homemade seismographs, clay
cross sections of volcanoes and many other exciting
and interactive displays.
Project 229 and Chiff-Chaff Café are open
from Monday to Saturday. For an up-to-date
programme of activities, telephone: 01234 840880,
email ‘What’s On’ to [email protected]
or visit facebook.com/project229

6

This March, Bedfordshire Archives will be launching ‘Weaving Narratives’ - a
project which will encourage people across Bedfordshire to visit the archives as
inspiration to create textile works celebrating the history of our county’s boroughs
and towns in this landmark year.
Anyone interested can take part. Participants will be offered an introduction to
the archives service, and the chance to take part in three workshops. Assisted by
archive professionals, they will be given special access to original archive materials
representing hundreds of years of Bedfordshire’s history. They will be encouraged
to use these to follow threads of research linking themes of community, identity
and growth. The form and nature of each textile work will be entirely up to the
participants, and works can be created by groups of participants if desired.
The project will culminate in the autumn with a series of exhibitions of the textile
works produced, to be held at venues in Bedford, Luton and Central Bedfordshire.
The themes of community, identity and growth will also be reflected in three small
exhibitions at the Archives during 2016: Luton Borough, 140 Years from 14th April;
Royal Towns of Central Bedfordshire from 7th July; and Bedford Borough, 850
Years from 5th October. Each of these will be accompanied by a free talk from one
of Bedfordshire Archives’ expert staff.
The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “Textiles themselves have
played their own important role in Bedfordshire’s economic and social history, so it
is fitting that this project will use all that the archives service has to offer, in order to
produce unique works.”
The workshops will be held at the Bedfordshire Archives, Riverside
Building, Borough Hall, Bedford on Saturdays 5th  March, 2nd April and 11th
June, from 10am - 12pm. Anyone wishing to take part should book a place
either by emailing [email protected] or telephoning01234 228833.
Places are limited and will be first come, first served. No charge will be
made for the workshops, but participants will need to provide their own
craft materials.

WHAT A GREAT BUNCH OF KNITTING NANNIES!

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

Skeptic, comedian and
voice of the Skeptics Guide
To The Universe, Iszi
Lawrence is bringing her
new show The Z List Dead
List to Bedford this month.
The Z List Dead List
is a comedy show about
obscure people from
history. As a skeptic, Iszi
has found a few people
from the past that will peak
your interest. Expect woo,
violence, sex and death.
And a competition. We
emailed Iszi some quick
questions to find out what’s
in store:

BC: What can Bedford Skeptics expect when they come to
see your show?
IL: Bedford Skeptics can be prepared to have their minds
expanded to the amazing quackery of the past. Never mind
modern day snake oil salesmen, homeopaths and ghost
hunters... what about the woman who convinced Europe that
she could give birth to Rabbits?
BC: The Z List Dead List has been described as ‘Like
Horrible Histories for adults.” Is that accurate?
IL: Yes. Z List Dead List is indeed a lot of fun, and has very
adult content with a fair amount of sex and swearing to boot.
BC: Who’s your favourite dead Z lister?
IL: My favourite so far is probably a woman called Julie
D’Aubigny a deadly word fighting bisexual nun who stole
the Prince’s girlfriend and was a star of the Paris Opera. She
was also the same height as me (6ft). To find out about her, I
suggest listening to the podcast. She has an entire episode to
herself here:  http://www.zlistdeadlist.com/post/2015/10/28/
en-garde-attack-of-the-killer-nun
Skeptics in the Pub, North End Social Club,
60 Roff Avenue, Bedford MK41 7TW
bedford.skepticsinthepub.org @SITPBedford

Exciting times in Bedford as the town’s
premier live music venue, Esquires is
under new ownership. Gareth Barber
(who also runs the Pad Nightclub and
Lost & Found on Lime Street) has a
long history with Esquires and we can’t
wait to find out what the future holds for
the venue. Here’s our Q&A with Gareth
to get the lowdown on his plans…

Bedford Clanger: Thanks for
buying Esquires. It feels like you’ve done a great service to the
community! Why do you think it’s so important to Bedford to
have a credible live music venue?
Gareth Barber: I’m just glad the place has accepted me!
Esquires has always had a history of being a venue that attracts
bands on the touring circuit. You look at other big towns around
us, and we always seem to get the cream of the crop when it
comes to upcoming artists. It’s down to the customers whether the
venue can sustain being a credible one - Support new bands that
come through town and we’ll keep putting them on. The aim is to
always try and be credible, it’s important to me, but you always
have to do the odd ‘banker’ type events to prop up some of the
risky fresh stuff! 
BC: How long have you been putting bands on at Esquires?
GB: I’ve been promoting at Esquires since 2007, so around 9
years altogether. Before that I ran mainly DJ based events at both
The Pad and The Angel. 
BC: What was the first band you put on there?
GB: The first band I ever put on here were called The Whip
(Great band, check em out!), with my good friend Chris Smith
under the moniker of ‘Hungry Bears Promotions’. At the time
nobody was really putting on the bands we liked, or the ones we
were playing out at The Pad when we Dj’d. At the time it was part
of that whole ‘Nu-Rave’ explosion, we managed a good run, with
bands like Metronomy, Crystal Castles, Les Savy Fav all coming
through, among others.
BC: How do you ensure you get a good cross section of
bands/events?
GB: I guess alot of the time it’s down to loving music as a whole,
and keeping your finger on the pulse. Myself and Kev, who I’ve
run ‘The Pad Presents’ with for a long time, both have a wide
range of tastes. The slight age difference helps, he picks up on
stuff I would never think of, and vice versa. At home I’ll listen to
alot of leftfield stuff, along with new bands and old Hip Hop, so
I don’t just have a singular taste, which hopefully comes across
when we book artists. We have some great stuff coming up that
isn’t straight down the line guitar stuff, like Hackney Colliery
Band and The Mouse Outfit.   
BC: What is your long-term aim for Esquires?
GB: The only thing I want for the place is to make it better. It’s
going to take some time to really put my stamp on it as I still have
The Pad and Lost & Found to look after, but I’m getting there. I
have a few things in the pipeline that I’m not able to announce
yet, and some more aesthetic type stuff getting put in place over
the coming months. I really feel this venue is an important part of
the towns history, it’s been going 25 years now, and I’m hoping
to take it up a few notches going into the next decade or so. Come
down and watch a show, and keep an eye on the gig pages at
either thepadpresents.com or the Esquires Facebook page. You
might just come and see your favourite new band. 

Beautiful,
non-intrusive
wedding
photography

All levels of
experience
and ability
catered for.

ACT ONE
THEATRE SCHOOL

Easter Holiday Course – 4th to 8th April
Minimum age 7 years. 10am to 4pm each day.
A show for family and friends at 3pm on Friday.

The Course Leader for the week will be
Richard Mann, a professional actor and director.
Cost £150 for the week with a £30 discount for siblings.
at The Place Theatre in Bradgate Road.
Please contact Sally Hammelev 07988 762170
[email protected]

g

ggg

1

g

g ACT

T H E A T R E

g

Bedford Clanger: What does a dead celebrity have to do
to make the Z List Dead List? Do they have to satisfy a
particular criteria?
Iszi Lawrence: Basically they firstly have to be dead - bit of a
tough one if you yourself are planning to get on the list. Also
they have to be obscure... so the majority of people haven’t
heard of them. For example, we’ve all heard of Sigmund
Freud but few of us have heard of his pal (and later enemy)
Wilhelm Fliess ... and you really should have. He thought all
sexual energy came from one particular body part... the nose.
Which leads nicely to... they thirdly and most importantly
have to be interesting. 

ESQUIRES: UNDER
NEW MANAGEMENT

g

SKEPTICS AT THE PUB:
Z LIST DEAD LIST
THURSDAY, MARCH
17 2016 AT 7:30PM

MARCH 2016

ONE

S C H O O L

g

New Training Opportunities
with Bedford Training and Assessment Centre (BTAC)

FREE

Learn more about
Childcare

Try a Level 1!

Intro to
Working with Children

Working with children
or in social care?
Ready for a Level 2!

Not sure?

Come and
have a chat!

See our website www.bedford.gov.uk/careersinchildcare
for our drop-in dates or give us a ring on 01234 228847
catlaneweddings.com
0770 684 8554
I SEE DEAD PEOPLE... OK,catlanewedddings-clanger_ad-50x75mm-jan15-v3.indd
I DON’T REALLY.
17/04/2015
1

Working in Bedford Borough with Children and Young People

14:12

7

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

ok

Bo

ur

yo

r

ty

pa

MARCH 2016
TH E
R
C L A NG E

to

AND DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT EACH
THEATRE’S WEBSITE FOR DETAILS OF ALL
THEIR OTHER SHOWS.

Now serving Sunday Roast every Sunday 12-3pm
2 courses, Adults £15 Children £7.50
Vegetarian option available
Book us for your office party, birthday,
engagement, baby shower, wedding anniversary,
christening, or posh afternoon tea!
Open 9am-4pm every day
for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch and Tea
and at other times for your private function.

t 01234 351104
e [email protected]
w www.attheparkbedford.co.uk
PavilionatthePark
@BedfordPavilion
The Pavilion, Bedford Park
Bedford MK41 7SS

pavilion
b e d f o r d

p a r k

ADERLEY DOGS
DAILY WALKS

Are you looking for a reliable
dog walker in the Bedford area.
We offer group walk slots daily from £10.
Great for socialising & exercise.

01234 305 956

www.aderleydogs.co.uk

the puddin club
Puddings • Cakes • Breakfast • Cheeseboard
Great Coffee • Prosecco • Wine • Beer
Cider • Ice Cream Milkshakes

Don’t let the weekend finish too early now open Sunday’s until 6pm!
Serving Coffee, Cocktails, Cake and more!
Last orders for puddings and alcohol is 5pm

You can either have private hire in the evening
(not Fridays) or for smaller gatherings we can
reserve you a table. If you need it to be in a
lunchtime then pre-order?

get your just desserts
07773 943586
www.thepuddinclub.co.uk
120a Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3RG

8

THERE’S A LOT OF GREAT THEATRE TO

ATRE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MONTH. CHECK
E
H
T
E
H
T
OUT PAULA WALKER’S PICK OF THE CROP

y
da

THE PLACE THEATRE
THE BEDFORD PLAYERS
TRUST PRESENTS:
A FILM SCREENING:
THE SECRET OF KELLS

Sunday 20 March at 3pm, Tickets: £6.50 (concessions (£5)
Age guidance: 7+
A young Irish boy, in a remote medieval outpost under siege from
barbarian raids, is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master
illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret
wisdom and powers. In contrast to big-budget Hollywood CGI
features, The Secret of Kells is a welcome reminder of how warm,
personal and compelling traditional-drawn animation can be. The film
lasts 75 minutes and is certificate PG, containing some scary scenes.
Tickets available at www.theplacebedford.org.uk
or 01234 354321

LIFEBOX THEATRE AND
NO LOSS PRODUCTIONS
PRESENT: STAGEWRITE 2016

Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 March 7.30pm
Tickets: £7 (£6 concessions) £20 Festival Pass
Age guidance: 15+
Bedford’s most
popular new writing
event has seen writers
from Bedford and
further afield compete
to see their play
performed at the
festival. From over
50 plays submitted
this year, StageWrite
will produce four evenings of new writing, including comedy and
drama on a range of themes. Plays are rehearsed and performed
by professional actors, ‘script-in-hand’. Audiences quickly forget
that they are not seeing a fully staged production and have the
opportunity to influence the development of the work though an
informal discussion following each performance. Playwrights who
have had work presented at previous festivals have gone on to win
off-West End awards and local playwright, Chris Loft, was recently
shortlisted for the British Theatre Challenge for a piece he presented
with StageWrite in 2014.
For full details of this year’s programme,
visit www.stagewrite.org.uk. Tickets available at
www.theplacebedford.org.uk or 01234 354321

THE PASSION PLAY
RETURNS TO BEDFORD

Easter Saturday 26 March 2016
It has been three decades since a full-scale, open-air production of The Passion Play has been performed on the streets of
Bedford Town Centre, however this year, that is set to change.
On Saturday 26th March, the Play will start at 10.30am in
Church Square then proceed through the town centre to finish
in the Castle Quarter at approx 12.30. This amazing live theatre
performance, directed by Cally Lawrence, recreates The Passion
Play or Easter pageant. A new script has been written which will
retell the story of Jesus’ trials, crucifixion and resurrection in a
fresh and direct way. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch this
unique Easter story unfold!
Find out more at bedfordpassionplay.com
Facebook : Bedford Passion Play
Twitter: @bedspassionplay

SHARNBROOK MILL
THEATRE PRESENTS:
ROMEO AND JULIET

Monday 14th to Saturday 19th March at 7.30 pm
Tickets: £9
To help commemorate the 400th anniversary of William
Shakespeare’s death, a rather special production of the classic
Romeo and Juliet is coming to the award-winning Sharnbrook
Mill Theatre. Set in ‘Verona-on-Sea’, this tragic tale of starcrossed lovers will transport you straight back to the 1960s
where it’s the Mods versus the Rockers. Taking inspiration from
real events in the South of England in 1964, Shakespeare’s
classic words will transport you to the sights and sounds of
that iconic time. You’ll be able to hear the music from the era,
see authentic costumes, a real Lambretta and a 1964 Norton
motorbike on stage, as well as movement that depicts a time
of violence and changing attitudes. Think ‘Quadrophenia’
meets ‘West Side Story’. You won’t want to miss this moving,
memorable and modern theatrical experience.
Tickets available on line from:
www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk or phone 01234 718044

QUARRY AT ST LUKES
CK PRODUCTIONS
PRESENT: THE NOISE
NEXT DOOR: NOISE
IN THE HOOD

Friday 4 March at 7.30pm
The unstoppable comedy juggernaut that is The Noise Next Door is
turning up the volume for their third national tour! Get ready for a night
of mind-blowing songs, jaw-dropping characters and sidesplitting punchlines from the undisputed masters of off-the-cuff comedy. After a huge
year, with their eighth consecutive sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival and appearances on BBC One, ITV2, BBC Three and BBC
Radio One, this show is set to be their biggest and best yet. They have
been performing their own distinctive brand of off-the-cuff comedy since
they met at university, so that’s 8 years + 8000 miles travelled together
= amazing comic chemistry! With absolutely no script, they have an
uncanny knack of transforming audience suggestions into fantastically
funny scenes and songs in the blink of an eye, with a perfect blend of
ludicrous characters, witty one-liners, epic stories, and explosive physicality, underpinned by their infectious, feel-good brand of humour.
Tickets available from www.quarrytheatre.org.uk or 01234 362337

TOURETTESHERO
PRESENTS: BACKSTAGE
IN BISCUITLAND

Tuesday 22 March at 7.30pm, Tickets: £12 (concessions £10)
Age guidance: 14+
Jess Thom has Tourettes, a condition that makes her say ‘biscuit’ 16,000
times a day. Her unusual neurology gives her a unique perspective on
life; one she’s about to unleash on the world. This two-woman show
weaves comedy, puppetry, singing and incredible tics to explore spontaneity, creativity, disability and things you never knew would make you
laugh. Geranium-bashing may or may not feature – no two shows can
ever be the same. Jess is neurologically incapable of staying on script,
and that’s when the fun begins.
Tickets available from www.quarrytheatre.org.uk or 01234 362337

DO YOU BITE YOUR THUMB AT US, SIR?

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

DUB PISTOLS + KUENA
I TAMBU + EASYDREAD

TH E R
E
C L A NG

YEAH!
H
O
.
.
.
C
I
M US

Friday 18th March, doors at 8pm Bedford Esquires
A night of amazing music awaits as three brilliant bands take
to the Esquires’ Main Stage on 18th March. Headlining are
the Dub Pistols who have collaborated with everyone from
Terry Hall to Ashley Slater of Freak Power. The Dubs have
played in Bedford many times and always bring the party
vibe with them. Support comes from the brilliant Kuenta I
Tambu who played at Esquires back in November 2105, and
nearly blew the roof off the venue with their traditional Afro
Caribbean music from Curacao and European dance. Also on
the bill are the excellent Easydread, an 8 piece ConsciousRock-Reggae band from Luton. Easydread’s influences
are from punk to rap, soul to ska, as they seamlessly blend
powerful political imagery with sweet harmonies and heavy
grooves.Easydread will get you thinking as well as skanking.
Tickets £13 in advance from:seetickets.com/event/
dub-pistols-guests/bedford-esquires/928065 and also from
Esquires Bar, Boutique Planet and Mario’s Hair Design,
Kempston. Doors: 8pm 14+, under 16s to be accompanied
by an adult.

CC SMUGGLERS + THE DREAMING SPIRES
+ CHARLOTTE AT BEDFORD ESQUIRES
Saturday 5th March, doors at 8pm
Hurrah! CC SMUGGLERS are returning to Bedford
Esquires on Saturday 5th March as part of their upcoming UK tour and we cannot wait! If you haven’t seen
the local lads live before, then make sure you catch
them this month. They never fail to get the crowd
going, and often mingle with the crowd to perform their
totally acoustic encore.
The last 18 months has been an incredible one for
the Shefford lads, seeing them play nearly every major
UK festival, from Glastonbury in June, to Bestival in
September then back recording new material, and countless sell out tours of the UK and Europe.

Very special guests are The Dreaming Spires, the
Oxford-based band formed from the ashes of the much
loved band GOLDRUSH. Opening the evening is
Charlotte Carpenter. Charlotte has previously selfreleased four EPs and recently toured with Marika
Hackman and has also played alongside George Ezra
and Ethan Johns. Charlotte has also seen early support
from Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6Music and Huw
Stephens on BBC Radio 1, one to watch in 2016.
Tickets are £8 in advance from:
seetickets.com and also from Esquires Bar, Boutique
Planet and Mario’s Hair Design, Kempston.
Doors: 8pm

MARCH 2016

CONSCIA JAZZ PRESENTS: THE
BEDFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL 2016
Great news, jazz fans! The Bedford Jazz Festival
2016 is coming to town on the 19th and 20th March.
Over the weekender and in four different venues
more than 20 acts will take to the stage.
The Main Stage will be at The Quarry Theatre,
with four acts between midday and 4.45pm on
Saturday and Sunday. As well as being able to buy
tickets for each individual event, there are also
‘Main Stage Passes’ available for each day. These
allow you to go to all four events on the ‘Main
Stage’ on that given day with one ticket; at £29 for
adults and £21 for students.
Saturday’s headliner is New York-based
trumpeter and Blue Note artist Ambrose
Akinmusire and his quartet featuring Sam Harris,
Harish Raghavan and Rodney Green. To close the
festival on the Sunday, husband-and-wife duo, of
British jazz diva Jacqui Dankworth and American
vocalist/pianist Charlie Wood with their band will
be performing their ‘Just You, Just Me’ project
in the main auditorium at The Corn Exchange.

This project celebrates some of the great musical
partnerships of the 20th century, including Ray
Charles & Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis
Armstrong and George & Ira Gershwin.
There are also a couple of fringe events, including the film High Society, in partnership with
Bedford Film Festival (see page 11), and a Jazz at
the Park event at the Pavilion in Bedford Park.
For more information regarding which acts are
performing, ticket prices and more, please go to
www.conscia.org.

Jacqui
Dankworth

T.REXTASY RIDE A WHITE SWAN TO THE STABLES MK
T.Rextasy – the hugely respected T.Rex tribute band - have now been gigging
around the world for over two decades, a career that ironically out lives the original
band. The newest member of the line-up is bassit Rob Butterworth, former owner
of Esquires and Bedford local. T.Rextasy are heading to the Stables MK this month
to play homage to Bolan’s biggest hits, such as ‘Ride a White Swan’, ‘Jeepster’,
‘Telegram Sam’, ‘New York City’, ‘Debora’, ‘Teenage Dream’, ‘Hot Love’,
‘Telegram Sam’, ‘Metal Guru’, ‘The Groover’, ‘20th Century Boy’, ‘Truck On Tyke’
‘Children of the Revolution’, ‘Get it On’, and of course ‘I Love to Boogie’. If you
want to know exactly what a Marc Bolan rock’n’roll concert felt like in the 1970s, this gig is for you!
T.Rextasy at the Stables MK on Saturday 26 March at 8pm and tickets cost £22.50
Tel 01980 280800 stables.org facebook.com/t.rextasy

FREE e-books, e-audio, e-magazines, & e-music...

Grab a cuppa, put your feet up, join the library

Search Bedford Virtual Library to join & start downloading

JAZZ HANDS ARE GO!

9

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

TH E
R
L
C A NG E

D DRINK
FOOD AN

MARCH 2016

A DIFFERENT
BREW
106 Clapham Road, Bedford MK41 7PJ 01234 352899

DESIGNS ON
BROMHAM MILL

A Different Brew is a marvellous café with a unique difference.
Inside the décor is pleasant and light, having almost changed
beyond recognition from The Angler’s Rest. The portions
are ample and some of the dishes, such as the tomato soup,
couldn’t be bettered in the finest of restaurants. It’s a place
everyone should visit at least once, and not only for the beef
burgers or toasties or fruit teas, but to experience a service that
overwhelms you with their desire to get it right.

RINGING THE CHANGES
AT THE BURNABY
It’s all change at Black Tom’s Burnaby Arms as the pub has undergone a major
facelift. The surroundings may have changed (gone is the massive bar in the back
room replaced with lots more seating) but the popular quizzes, live music, toasted
sandwiches and great booze remain.
The Burnaby Arms, 66 Stanley Street, Bedford, MK41 7RU

Former Clanger designer/Circus of Illustration collaborator/
musician/artist and all round renaissance woman, Marisa
Straccia has designed a wonderful new logo for the Café at
Bromham Mill. Make sure you check out the events on at
the Mill, including Mill Race Folk – at which Marisa will be
performing. See more on page 9

THE BLUE
DOT BISTRO
127 CASTLE ROAD, BEDFORD MK40 3RF,
ENGLAND, 01234 910606
BY STEPHEN BYWATER @AUTHORBYWATER

The Blue Dot on the Castle Road has already gained a reputation for
being one of the best restaurants in Bedford. So it was with high
expectations that Lucy and I visited the establishment one cold
Thursday night in February.
It’s a small, intimate restaurant with a skinny kitchen where Michael,
the young chef and proprietor, creates dishes which fill a gap on the
gastronomic map. The décor is simple and unobtrusive: low lights, tiled
floor, a Welsh dresser and a Cat Stevens album cover on the wall. Service
from the ever-smiling Sophie is attentive and efficient. We order a glass
of Merlot and a bottle of Brewdog’s Dead Pony Club, a hipster craft beer
with a light, floral taste. On the menu there are four starters, four mains
and four puddings, a stirring list that’s both broad and focused. We opt for
Smoked mackerel pâté and a celeriac soup. Both arrive within a decent
amount of time and both are, needless to say, delicious. The pâté is cold,
creamy with a delicate cucumber granita on top, a subtly sweet liquorice
sauce drizzled round the plate. The soup, with a confit egg yolk and a
malt and thyme crumb, is rich and has a velvety texture. For mains there’s
sea bream and pig’s cheek, but we opt for the beef short rib with mashed
potato and roasted beetroot and the red onion and cauliflower tart. The
beef is braised for five hours and is tender and moist and comes with a
beetroot meringue, the like of which I have never seen before. The tart is
a work of art, a flower on a plate; orchid-like and almost too beautiful to
touch. Eating it feels like an act of vandalism, but to destroy is to create
and the pleasure of eating gives recompense for the beauty lost.
We end with the custard ’apple’, which comes with a wedge of white
chocolate and almond fudge and a blackberry puree. The whole thing is
as pretty as a picture and the custard apple is, like the beetroot meringue,
an amazing creation. Michael is a chef who likes to experiment, likes to
keep it fresh, but clearly knows the difference between inspirational and
outlandish. His dishes work beautifully and, with Sophie and Craig, The
Blue Dot functions ever so smoothly.

10

THE DOT HITS THE SPOT!

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

GARDENING:

DENING
R
A
G
&
M
FI L

SCIENCE, OR ART?
BY JANE PERRONE @JANEPERRONE
PERRONE.BLOGS.COM

Is gardening a science, or an art? For most of us, it’s a mix of both, but
there’s a lot of old myths that we stick to, despite the fact that they’ve
been disproved by science. Here are three myths we can debunk right
here, right now:

CROCKS IN POTS HELP DRAINAGE.

When you’re planting up a new pot, it’s probably your habit to put some
shards of terracotta in the bottom “to improve the drainage”. Stop it.
Right now. This practice does nothing more useful than provide a place
for you to put those bits of pot that shattered in the frost: and make your
pot even heavier.
Research by Which? Gardening found that crocks don’t make a
difference to drainage, and may encourage water to pool in the bottom of
the pot. Why? Because when compost is not soaking wet, water will not
flow freely from compost - which is fine-grained - to the much coarser
material of the crocks: it only does so when the compost is saturated. If
you want to find another way of saving on compost by putting something
in the bottom of the pot, you could use broken polystyrene, but I don’t
like doing this because the pieces get mixed in with the compost. Instead
I just put a scrap of cardboard in the bottom of a pot to stop the soil
falling out. And what do you do with your crocks? You could use them as
a mulch on the top of the pot instead, to save water and suppress weeds.
Or make a wildlife rock pile in your garden, which makes the perfect
bolthole for our local specialty, the midwife toad.

So what can you do instead? If you’re desperate to add something to
the soil, organic matter such as homemade compost, composted manure
or composted bark will do some good, absorbing moisture and making
the clay more workable. Digging clay soil is back-breaking and doesn’t
help improve soil structure, so a no-dig approach is ideal: mulching with
chipped bark or homemade compost will allow worms to work their
magic, drawing humus into the soil without any work on your part.

JOBS FOR MARCH

If you have a few clumps of snowdrops in your garden but want to
spread them wider, now is the time to lift and divide. Snowdrops perform
much better planted “in the green” than as bulbs, so if you have a friend
with a garden full of them, offer to help lift and divide congested clumps
and you can take care of the excess.

WATERING IN SUNSHINE BURNS LEAVES.

If as a child you’ve ever done an experiment with a magnifying glass
harnessing the sun to burn a hole in a leaf, you may assume there’s some
logic to the idea that plants shouldn’t be watered in full sunshine because
droplets of water left on the leaves can concentrate the sunlight and burn
the leaves. WRONG! For a start, if this were the case, we’d be able to
see burn marks on plants when a rainstorm clears away and is followed
by bright sunshine. Hungarian scientist Gábor Horváth tested this out
with drops of water on acer and gingko leaves and found that they didn’t
burn. But it’s worth pointing out that there is another good reasons not to
water in the heat of the day: namely soil evaporation is greater, meaning
not all of your water will go where it is intended. But, if needs must and
your plants are wilting, the one thing you don’t have to worry about is
scorch marks.

MARCH 2016

TH E
R
L
C A NG E

FILM

By Paul Hutchinson, Co-founder and
Director of Bedford Film Festival
Just a short phone call can lead to some exciting partnerships as
we discovered when we screened Disney’s ‘The Jungle Book’ and
wanted to add some live music.
After a call out on Facebook for someone who “likes a bit of Jazz”
we were put in touch with Tom Syson of Conscia Jazz. Tom came
along and during the film played a trumpet solo along to King Louie’s
“I wanna be like you”. It went down a treat and a great friendship
between Conscia Jazz and Bedford Film Festival was born.
Back then it was clear that we’d work together again and when
Tom told us about his forthcoming Bedford Jazz Festival, we knew
the timing was right to do something.
We looked through a long list of films featuring Jazz music,
documentaries about Jazz musicians and films that had a great Jazz
score and settled on High Society (1956).
High Society is a classic of the silver screen and a Jazz film
through and through. With a score by Cole Porter, musical elements
also see Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra doing what they do best
with solo numbers. Duets also get the foot tapping too with Sinatra
and Crosby’s ‘Well Did You Ever’, Crosby and Louis Armstrong’s
Jazz/Swing number and even Grace Kelly plays a part when she
joins Crosby on ‘True Love’.
The film follows Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly) a spoiled heiress who
is about to marry George Kittredge (John Lund). Her ex-husband
C.K. “Dex” Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby), to whom she was
married for a relatively short time, is a musician who lives next
door. Things get even more complicated when Spy magazine
assigns one of its reporters, Mike Connors (Frank Sinatra), to cover
the wedding. Soon, he too finds himself falling in love with Tracy.
With three men now wanting her, Tracy finds herself having to
decide what she really wants in life.
Whether you’re long-standing fan of Jazz or would like an
introduction to Jazz in film, High Society is a must for all music
and film fans.
High Society – Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s,
St Peter’s Street, Bedford on 20th March at 5.30pm
Tickets on sale at quarrytheatre.org.uk/shows/high-society

ADDING SAND OR GRIT TO CLAY
SOIL IMPROVES DRAINAGE.

Well, yes, maybe, but the amount you’d have to add would be so
incredibly large (at least 250kg per square metre) that you’d kill
yourself adding it, it would cost a fortune and it still probably wouldn’t
work. Clay particles are smaller than sand or grit particles, so they
have a larger surface area: in other words, you need to add an awful
lot of sand or grit to make a difference to the clay. If you just add a
bit, in a limited area, the sand will suck in a load of water and create
waterlogging rather than solving it.

Snowdrops

Where s Wally
Fun run

www.rogansbooks.co.uk

russell Park 1o:3O
sunday 2Oth march 2O16

run our family friendly 3.5km fun run
in costume and turn russell park
into a scene from where’s wally !!

www.kiosk.attheparkbedford.co.uk
Kids £3

Adults £12

Family tickets £24

www.facebook.com/kioskatthepark
@kioskatthepark
www.youtube.com/kioskatthepark
pinterest.com/atthepark

Tel: O1234 271877
www.kiosk.attheparkbedford.co.uk

Ethically Sourced Coffee, Organic Tea, Homemade Cakes & Snacks, SaNdwiches & Panini

TIME TO GET OUT IN THE GARDEN.

11

THE BEDFORD CLANGER 

A ND F

CHALLENGE CHRIS

MARCH 2016

TH E
C L A NG
ER

INALL
Y...

SCIENCE VS DEDICATION
BY NEIL FRANKEL,
DIRECTOR OF TENNIS AT
RIVERSIDE TENNIS CLUB

Each month we challenge photographer Chris Demott to capture a unique image of Bedford.
Chris explains the background to this month’s picture:
It was suggested on the We Are Bedford Facebook page that I take a photo of the performers of
Bedford Fire and Flow Arts. It turned out to be one of the hardest things I have had to photograph!
They practice with fire at night so it’s dark and there is a lot of movement which makes keeping the
performer in focus really tough, especially as you have to have a slow shutter speed to record the
interesting shapes of the fire. I went down to two of their meetings and finally got something I was
happy with, the trick is to use flash to freeze the action of the performer.
Bedford Fire and Flow are a local group and are available for both performances and
tuition, you can contact Zeb Ediah for information, you can find the group on Facebook and
website is www.kundalinifiretribe.co.uk
Would you like to Challenge Chris? Send your suggestion to:
[email protected] or comment on the
Bedford Clanger Facebook page. chrisdemottphotography.com

SEEDS IN SPACE!

Pupils at Bedford Girls’ School are
preparing to become space biologists by
growing seeds that have been into space
with British astronaut Tim Peake.
In September, 2kg of rocket seeds
were flown to the International Space
Station (ISS) on Soyuz 44S where they are
spending several months in microgravity.
The seeds have been sent as part of Rocket
Science, an educational project launched by
the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and the UK Space Agency.
Bedford Girls’ School will be one of up to 10,000 schools to receive a packet of 100
seeds from space, which they will grow alongside seeds that haven’t been to space and
measure the differences over seven weeks. The nationwide science experiment will
enable the girls to think more about how we could preserve human life on another planet
in the future, what astronauts need in order to survive long-term missions in space and the
difficulties in growing fresh food in challenging climates.
Follow the project on Twitter via @RHSSchools and #RocketScience.

Edward Bawden (1903 – 1989) Brighton Pier, 1958 © The Edward Bawden Estate

Hey Clanger fans – you may remember way back in early
2015 we launched our ‘Riverside Tennis Foundation’. The
Foundation massively changed the way that people accessed
tennis in the town. We saw over 2,500 children in 2015 and
delivered over 50 hours of free coaching in the town. We’re
gearing up for 2016 and have made some tweaks to the plan
for this year, selecting 10 local schools to receive five hours
of taster sessions with our team. We’ll be getting in touch with
our selected schools soon but please contact us if you’d like
to find out more about how you can get involved through our
Tennis Foundation. Alongside our work with schools, we’ll be
running a block of coaching sessions for Adults in the summer
so keep your eyes peeled for more info on this.
On top of our work with the Foundation which aims to get
more children accessing the game our Talent ID roadshow
will also be visiting more schools in the town and will be
selecting young players for our ‘Golden Envelope Sessions’
based on Athleticism, Co-ordination, Enthusiasm, Reactions
and Speed of Learning. There has been an important shift
in recent years away the notion of pure ‘talent’ and our
philosophy at Riverside is to maintain an environment where
we reward effort and challenge our players to learn quickly.
If there is a science in producing a champion, we are
also conscious of the value of sport can have in everyday

life and that some of us are just want to have fun taking
part. To reduce the effect of the biggest/oldest kids always
having the advantage throughout the early years of sporting
competition, the governing body for tennis recently
introduced a 2 tier system which allows players to compete
against others within a 6 month age gap. This is going some
way to address the difficulties that some children face in
getting off to a positive start in competitive sport and we’ve
also added a series of StartUP tournaments to our regular
events at Riverside which encourage first timers to play
without the worry of coming up against a superstar in their
formative competitions.
We’re determined that our Tennis Foundation activities
alongside our Golden Envelope sessions will allow the game
to flourish in our town for many years to come. Who knows,
the next Andy Murray or Joanna Konta could well be out there
waiting to be introduced to the game !
Riverside Tennis Club,
Goldington Rd, Bedford, MK40 3EA
Tel: 01234 352726
riversidetennisbedford.co.uk @riverside

THE LAST WORD
BY REVEREND SHARON GRENHAM-THOMPSON,
PRISON CHAPLAIN, HMP BEDFORD
When I was a youngster
at school, my headmistress
was keen on John Bunyan,
and would read chunks of the
‘Pilgrims Progress’ to us ‘gels’
in assembly. Our school song
was the famous hymn ‘To be
a Pilgrim’ which also drew on
Revd Bunyan’s writing. How
ironic that all these years later
I should find myself not only in
Bedford, but also the chaplain
of Bedford Prison (although
not the original jail where JB was incarcerated in the 1660s).
Probably a sign that God has a sense of humour!
Well, pilgrims make their journeys, and now, so do I. After 14
years living in the Bedford area, and 12 years since I first served
Queen and country in prison, (nearly 5 of those at HMP Bedford)
it’s time to move on. I’m being released to Milton Keynes, and
will be a ‘proper vicar’ with a church, and maybe even cucumber
sandwiches! But like the men who walk out of those enormous

prison gates, I’ll never forget my time inside.
I’ll never forget because during these years I’ve seen the best
and worst of human beings. I’ve seen courage and cowardice,
despair and determination, and I hope I’ve brought a touch of
hope and humanity. I’ve written a book about my time inside,
out in July 2016, called ‘Jail Bird.’ I hope you’ll give it a whirl,
because in that book I tell a few stories, but also demonstrate that
sometimes lives can be turned around.
Despite his early, self-confessed days as a bit of a ‘scallywag’,
and despite his run-ins with ecclesiastical authority, John Bunyan
went on to be an inspirational preacher, a passionate writer and a
bold advocate for redemption. Centuries later, another Bedfordian,
Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, stood for similar values of
freedom, restoration and peace in South Africa. Today, my own
faith tells me that the worst we do does not have to define us, and
there is a better road ahead, if we can only choose to take it: that’s
the Easter message, overflowing with the offer of new life.
I hope, as I set off down my own new pathway, that I leave
behind enough signposts to a better life for others just emerging
from behind those forbidding prison walls. And I pray that you,
my friends and readers, will be able to help them on the way.

BAWDEN BY THE SEA

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The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane, Bedford MK40 3XD
Visit the website at

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www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

or call us on

01234 718618