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ODELL VILLAGE NEWS 

 March 2014

Water logged seat in the park.  Photo courtesy of Jo Martin . 

 

Senior Citizens’

Fish and Chip Lunch

Wednesday 12th March

12.30 for 1 o’clock

Village Hall

Let Jill (720261) know by 2nd March

Due to lack of funds there will be a charge of £4 for the fish and chip meal.

                                

Odell Fete 2014: Saturday 14th June
Do keep the date free for this wonderful chance to celebrate our community.

Theme

This year we are going to remember the Odell of 1914, to commemorate the men who left for war and not just those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but also those that returned changed for life by the horrendous experiences that they had been through.
If you have any historical details, pictures, photos or paper cuttings of the men who went to war, or anything to do with the village at that time, would you share them with us?  The fete committee would like to have a display at this year’s fete to show what Odell was like as a village and as a community.   We want to tell the story of people living in the village as well as trying to tell the story of the men who left for war.

If you do have anything that you would like included please contact The Rev'd Christine Clark, The Rectory, Church Lane, Odell, 01234 720234 cmclark99@uwclub.net or Mandy Hinds, 7 Horsefair lane, Odell, 01234 720414 alsodell@plus.com

We want to give a view of the village in 1914 using research and village histories as well as personal stories, and to remember the men who left for war and experiences so far from what they had known.  We would like to take this opportunity to " Remember” them.

 ODELL FETE AND DOG SHOW: getting involved

It is hard to imagine a summer without the annual Fete and Family Dog Show, but if it is to continue we do need HELP with getting it ready. 

The first date to put in your diary is Fete Preparation

Morning at 10.00am on Monday, 5th May, hosted by Jill and Doreen at Linden House, when we clean and repaint the signs for the stalls and side shows and prepare the roadside boards.  Then we reward ourselves with a tasty BBQ.  Please bring your own meat and nearer the time we shall be asking for contributions of puddings, wine etc. 

The big preparation will be in the afternoon of Friday, 13th June, when we need muscles, good senses of humour, wheels, trailers and anyone willing to collect tents, tables, chairs  and stall signs, and set these all up in the Scout Field down Horsefair Lane ready for the big day.

(Tea and Cake supplied to keep you going!)

 

SATURDAY 14 th JUNE 2014, 2 PM

Remembering the Odell of 1914

(In the Scout field, Horsefair Lane, Odell)

ENTRY Adults £1.50, Children Free

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

2.00 PM Grand Opening

2.00-4.00PM        Dog Show

4.00 pm  Raffle Draw and Prize Giving

ATTRACTIONS

Bedford Brass Band, Boys Brigade, Bouncy Castle, Teas, Pimms, Children’s Sports, Tombola, Ice Creams, Cakes, Books, Refreshments, Bottle Stall, Coconut Shy, Children’s Sports, White Elephant, Produce, Gifts, Raffle

 

FAMILY DOG SHOW

(entry fee - £1 50 per dog per class)Classes:

  1. Children’s Handling (14 years and under)
  2. Puppies under 1 year
  3. Country Sporting Dog
  4. Country Sporting Bitch
  5. Best Condition Dog or Bitch
  6. Best Rescue Re-home Dog
  7. Best Rescue Re-home Bitch
  8. Best Cross Breed Dog
  9. Best Cross Breed Bitch
  10. Dog or Bitch with Most Appealing Eyes
  11. Most Handsome Dog
  12. Most Handsome Bitch
  13. Championship (winners of each classes)

 

Car park attendants are on duty at the field opposite The Bell public house.  Disabled parking next to Scout Field 

 Round and About 

 Where’s Alfred? 

Last year I wrote a couple of articles about the discovery of the last remains of Richard 111 under a Leicester car park.  At the same time I remarked on the fact that another group of archaeologists were trying to locate the last resting place of Alfred the Great.  Due to the fact that Alfred had been dug up and re-buried on a number of occasions and nobody really knew where his final resting place was,  I remember being rather sceptical about any progress to this story ... I was wrong   ...   here goes! 

It is a known fact that Alfred died in 899 and was buried at Winchester at the Anglo Saxon Old Minster Church (Winchester Cathedral had yet to be built).  Alfred had started to build a new, magnificent, church nearby and had expressed a wish to be buried at this new church.  His son, Edward the Elder, was now King and he completed the building of this church and it became known as New Minster, and he re-interred the bodies of Alfred and his Queen Aelswith, amidst much pomp and ceremony, at New Minster.   In due course Edward was laid to rest alongside his parents and there they remained until the Norman invasion in 1066. 

William, in his eagerness to suppress the Saxon population, carried out many savage acts.  Amongst these was the destruction of many of the fine buildings and monuments that the Saxons had any affection for.  Amongst those destroyed was New Minster – it was razed to the ground.   Many of the graves and tombs were, however, left untouched.  In 1110 the monks were granted permission by the Crown to remove the remains of Alfred and his family and re-inter them at Hyde Abbey and there they remained until the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry V111.  Hyde Abbey was demolished along with many other religious houses.  However, it was hoped that Alfred’s family tomb had been buried so deep that it had remained safely below ground, undisturbed. 

 In 1788 a prison was planned to be built on the site of the Abbey and convicts were brought in to clear the ground and to help with the building of the new prison.  It is recorded that as they dug over the ground a number of graves were disturbed, including an impressive stone tomb containing lead-lined coffins which contained jewels and precious objects.  At that time nobody seems to have thought much about it and it was only later that the tomb was thought to have been that of Alfred and his family.  By the time the authorities realised the importance of what was going on the graves had been looted and the skeletons widely dispersed across the site.  When historians finally descended on the scene there was nothing left. 

Rumour had it, however, that the local vicar of nearby St. Bartholomew’s Church, horrified at the disrespect being shown to the various human remains,  hurried to the site, collected up as much as he could and carried the bones back to his own church.  Here, he is reputed to have placed the bones into a large chest and buried them in the churchyard at St. Bartholomew’s Church.  The vicar claimed that amongst the bones he had rescued were the last remains of Alfred and his family and he erected a stone to this effect over the chest he had so recently buried in his churchyard.  Nobody really knew for certain whether or not they actually were the remains of Alfred and his family. 

Alfred the Great is something of a legendary figure in English history.  He is the only English king to be given the epithet “The Great”.  He was born into a land locked in conflict with the Viking onslaught.  The Danes were bent on taking over Britain and the small English kingdoms were being steadily overwhelmed as the Vikings pushed further and further across England.  He was born at Wantage, probably about 850 and was the youngest son of Aethelwulf, King of Wessex.  Aethelwulf had six children at least four of whom were boys.  The eldest son died in his father’s lifetime and the remaining three all ruled over Wessex in their turn.  At the time of Alfred’s accession there were nephews with a stronger claim to the throne but they were all children and with popular acclaim Alfred took the crown.  A proven statesman, an excellent leader of men and a wily strategist, he was considered the right man for the job.  

Alfred spent the first years of his reign fighting off the Vikings.  It was at a low point in these battles that the legend of the burnt cakes is reputed to have taken place.  However, he managed to rally his forces, gaining the support of neighbouring kingdoms and together they drove the Vikings back towards the East Coast.  Finally he agreed with Guthrum, the Viking leader, to accept a division in the land.  This was the start of the Danelaw and it brought a certain amount of peace to the land.  This allowed Alfred to concentrate on the wellbeing of his people.  He was an ardent Christian and had visited Rome at least twice.  He believed in education and set about an impressive building programme, both restoring existing towns and creating new ones.  Above all he wanted to unite the people both in language and religion.  He had a dream – “The Kingdom of all England” and began working to this end.   (It was not, however, until the reign of his grandson, Athalstan, that these plans really began to take shape.)  Alfred also started to lay the basis for laws to govern the land and many of his early ideas can be recognised in the country today. 

Historians have been pressing for years for permission to open the grave at St. Bartholomew’s Church and finally, in 2013, this permission was granted.  A group of historians led by Dr. Katie Tucker, gathered at the site and anxiously raised the stones protecting the chest containing the ancient bones.  The coffer was found to contain the jumbled remains of six nearly complete skeletons, at least one of which was a woman.   Bone samples were taken and sent off to be carbon dated.  With great disappointment our group of historians learned that the tests proved that although one skull dated back to the 1100’s, others were as recent as 1500, all far too recent to be that of Alfred or his family. 

In desperation Dr. Tucker returned to Winchester Museum to seek out the earliest bones she could find.  Here she stumbled across references to an excavation that had taken place at the site of Hyde Abbey in 1997, when a few isolated bones had been recovered....mainly animal bones.  Dr. Tucker anxiously scoured the remains in this latest box and found a few human bones.  She took samples from these bones and sent them off to be carbon dated.  The wait seemed interminable but finally she received a reply.  Three samples of human bone dated to the 1300s - but one ... a piece of male pelvic bone, was much older and dated to around 800/900. 

Could this bone belong to Alfred or his son Edward?  The team is now waiting for permission to return to Hyde Abbey, to the site of the excavations in 1997 where the last mentioned bones had been located.  Potentially, there could be more bones to be uncovered at this location ... and they do know exactly where to dig ...the hunt is definitely on.                                                                           Barbara Corley

 

 

W.I. News

Our speaker in February was Wally Thrale who has a life-long passion of Bee Keeping and is currently Secretary of the Bedfordshire Bee Keeping Association.  He showed an excellent power point presentation and explained bee keeping is very demanding and a very steep learning curve for the first ten years.  Hives and protective clothing are expensive.  He encouraged us to plant bee friendly plants.  Pollen from aconites is collected by bees at this time of year when the weather is good.  He bought along honey collected by the bees from Borage and a variety of flowers.  Hives, at this time of year, need checking for food reserves and damage by wasps, mice and woodpeckers.  One way to find out about Bee Keeping is to join Bedfordshire Beekeepers and go along for training. 

The next meeting will be held in the Village Hall on Tuesday, 11th March at 7.30pm when Maggie Goodchild will talk about Bedford Guild House.

Hostesses are Rachel Halton and Jill Cheadle. 

All members are welcome to put forward ideas for Next Year’s Programme at a meeting on Tuesday, 4th March, at 3.00pm at the home of Jim and Doreen Wheeler.  Please do come along. 

New members are always welcome and if you need any more information please ring Karen Boyes, 720952.  Ladies, just come along to the Village Hall on the second Tuesday at 7.30pm of each month and see what we do and how we enjoy ourselves.  To find out more about the WI go to www.theWI.org.uk or the local Bedfordshire Federation website www.thewi.org,uk/bedfordshire Jane Eshelby 

Odell Parish Council (OPC) – Spring Update 

HOCP Odell Play Area

Despite recent flooding there appears to be no damage as such with little, if any, loss of bark to the area.  The bark will be topped up in the spring, prior to the Easter holidays. The soil erosion on top of the tube is being monitored and awaiting recommendations of RoSPA at the annual inspection due in May.

Footpaths

The overgrown area on Bridleway 37 (Granary Farm/Airfield/40 Acre Wood) has now been cleared. Some clearance of Yelnow Lane has taken place however conditions remain very poor underfoot resulting from the recent rain.

Any concerns regarding footpaths should be reported to BBC (Bedford Borough Council – link below).  You will be given a report number to help you track progress of your complaint.

Highways:

Despite some investigations by BBC into drainage outside The Folly at Little Odell, water continues to run off the ditches across the road and down into Harrold.  This will again be raised with BBC.

Hi Speed Broadband

It appears that Odell is not in line for upgrade at present.  Rural businesses within Odell Parish who have concerns about the impact on their businesses are invited to share their concerns with Borough Councillor Alison Field-Foster.

HOCP

The park has suffered flooding over recent weeks arising from heavy rainfall.  There is a new fishing bailiff – Paul Oliver – who is considering introducing new features such as a fishing school.  There are ongoing concerns over anglers who park at the bottom of Horsefair Lane.  As a condition of obtaining a licence to fish they are not supposed to do this and this will again be raised with HOCP by the Chairman.

Parish Fields:

The field shelter on the Parish Fields has been repaired.  Debris to be removed when the land dries out.

Village Farm track – access to rear of Village Hall.

The owner of the track has been asked to improve the state of the path in order that wheelchairs can reasonably access the VH.

Neighbourhood Plan:

Although there has been some debate in previous meetings on the subject, OPC has taken the opportunity to debate at length the need for such a plan.  The pros and cons were considered with the conclusion that although OPC recognizes the benefit of such an approach it currently does not have the very considerable resources (manpower, funds) to take this lengthy and time consuming process on.  However, OPC are prepared to review as necessary in the future.  Ideally this initiative would require someone to project manage this on a voluntary basis with input from OPC.  It is understood that there are some opportunities to apply for funding to support such a development.  If anyone has any questions or particular interest in the Neighbourhood Planning initiative they should contact the Chairman, Rachel Halton.

BBC Local Plan 2032 – Invitation to submit development sites.

Details of the planning initiative BBC Local Plan 2032 are published on the Parish noticeboard and on BBC website.

Christmas Tree – OPC would like, on behalf of the whole community, to convey its thanks to the Swifts for providing the decorated Christmas Tree on the village green.  Once again a lovely display which withstood days of heavy winds shortly after being put in place!

Next meeting of OPC will take place on Monday 17th March 2014, 7.30 pm. All are welcome to attend. 

Useful Information: 

OPC Councillors:

Chairman: Rachel Halton rhalton49@gmail.com

Vice-Chairman: Mandy Hinds

Brian Cheadle  Nick Goodman  Steve Robinson  Tim Freeman  Gillian Clark

Bedford Borough Councillor: Alison Field-Foster afield_foster@btinternet.com

Bedford Borough Council: www.bedford.gov.uk

Floodline – 0345 988 1188 

Flooding – To dredge or not to dredge? 

The recent floods have raised the thorny issue of maintenance of our waterways again.  The Environment Agency and other authorities have come in for a lot of criticism and local people in areas that have been flooded have been very quick to point the finger at the apparent lack of waterway maintenance as a major contributory factor. “We told you that the river needs regular dredging”, is one of the calls.   

Whatever the cause of the recent unprecedented spell of almost continuous wind and rain this winter, the result has been catastrophic for many people.  Climate change, building on flood plains, covering swathes of land with concrete and tarmac, lack of waterway maintenance, sheep grazing on uplands, protection of rare river species, lack of funds and joined up thinking by the government and the authorities responsible are undoubtedly all contributory factors.  One thing is for sure the increased rainfall, whether it is part of a natural cycle or not, is not going to stop overnight and plans have to be made to protect us all from flooding in the future.

I am a resident of Odell and my property and land is along the banks of the Upper Great Ouse.  I am also an angler who runs the local fishing syndicate and an enthusiastic amateur wildlife lover.  I see the river rise and fall much quicker than it used to even in the relatively short period of eighteen years that I have lived here.  As a member of the Angling Trust I have been forwarded this reference to a very recent report (February 14) from The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) that draws some very interesting conclusions.   

 ‘We Need a Reality Check on Dredging’ says New National Report.

Widespread dredging could make flooding in some communities worse in future - not better - according to a new report published by The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and endorsed by the Blueprint for Water coalition of environmental NGOs which includes the Angling Trust.

Far from advocating dredging the report suggests that solely relying on dredging can make some downstream communities more vulnerable to flooding by moving water more quickly down the river catchments. 

There is a also a BBC News article that refers to the report - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26175210  It all makes very interesting reading and shows how complex the situation is.  Dredging any river is part of a very complex balancing act to ensure that downstream communities are not made more vulnerable and although it makes for good sound bites for politicians it should not be seen as a simple solution.     Del Romang   

 

News from Harrold Odell Country Park

Like many other parts of the country, the weather has been a hot topic here this winter.  It is hard to remember a period that has seen quite so many intense storms.  The park has been seriously affected as saturated soils and severe gales have picked out the slightest weakness in our trees.  I described a bit about this this in my previous article but since then we have lost even more.  The Valentine's Day storm brought down a Poplar in the shelterbelt, another willow alongside the small lake adjacent to the main car park and another 40yr old specimen alongside the bridleway leading to the bird hide.

We have spent many days on the chainsaw making these safe and tidying up.  Alongside all this there have been the floods.  Much of the river meadow, Otter Holt Wood near to the Odell Playground and parts of the footpath around the large lake have all been under water recently.  Please, whenever you see the warning notices we've put up around the park, take heed because they are there for your safety. 

We have to rake out the culvert at the back of the large lake daily due to the huge volume of debris, including tree trunks, that has been swept into it.  Debris has been left strewn on the paths as the water has receded making it hazardous in places.  It is going to take weeks to clean up.  Rubbish is also festooning fence and hedge lines alongside the river.  Let's hope that there is an end to all this soon. 

We have been laying the hedges around parts of the park especially around the bird hide.  These will re-grow and will be a haven for birds and small mammals as the tight re-growth will prevent magpies and squirrels raiding their nests quite so readily.  The stakes and binders used are all harvested from the willow coppices within the nature reserve.  Willow is such a brilliant resource as it re-grows very quickly.  Ideally we would use hazel or ash for this but we have very little compared to willow. 

Another job we're close to completing is regenerating the small copse at the back of Kingfisher Lake.  The Friends Group has bought 250 native saplings to fill gaps and generate a woodland edge.  This copse is going to be dedicated to Trevor Smith, a long standing friend of the park and wider community who passed away last August.  His family are coming here in April to plant an oak tree in his memory and we have commissioned a bespoke oak bench for him to be installed in front of

Tea-Zels cafe next to his work area.  The customers of The Muntjac and Oakley Arms pubs in Harrold and various individuals have given donations towards the cost of this.  He has been greatly missed. 

This coming Easter Monday, we hope to be arranging another Easter Egg Hunt.  Publicity for this will be forthcoming nearer the time but there will be 25 places in the morning and 25 in the afternoon.  Participants will be paying £1.00 each.  Booking is essential as this is being sponsored by the Friends of Harrold Odell and we will only have 50 eggs available.  Please keep an eye out for posters plus information on our website www.hocp.co.uk  

In addition, we are hoping to arrange a Mini Woodworks event on May 25th focussing on how we use our woodlands as a source of raw materials.  Peter Hall is bringing his mobile sawmill and firewood processing machine; there will be chainsaw demonstrations, wood turning and basket making exhibitions.  Make sure you bring your wallets and purses as there will be the opportunity to buy some of their products.

You'll be pleased to learn that the Friends Group have been spending some of your car park donations on training for our key volunteers who undertake a variety of conservation tasks throughout the year.  We've been able to train some on basic chainsaw use and soon some will be trained on the proper use of strimmers and brushcutters.  Car park money has also paid for re-vamping the workshop facilities, new signage and shortly, a new trailer and log loc - a device to enable us to cut up tree trunks safely.  We'd like to thank everyone who puts their pound in the box.  You make a huge difference. 

We're looking forward to welcoming the spring migrants very soon.  The winter thrushes are now thinking of departing for Scandinavia.  The snowdrops and aconites are flowering and there's even some blossom appearing on some of the bushes, mostly cherry plum and blackthorn.  It doesn't seem possible that the clocks are about to go forward once again.  The cycle of life moves on. 

Tree felling: Janet with Simon and Yianni 

Photo courtesy of Trevor Sudds.

 

 

Dates for your diary 

Health Walks 

We walk every other Thursday at 10.30am.  Meet outside the cafe entrance for registration.  Please wear suitable clothing and shoes for the weather.  Improve your fitness and wellbeing and make new friends with an option for coffee and a natter in the cafe afterwards.  Leader Janet Munro tel. 01234 720016 or e-mail janet.munro@bedford.gov.uk for more information. 

Thursday March 13th

Thursday March 27th

Thursday April 10th

Thursday April 24th 

Friends Conservation Tasks 

On the last Monday of the month (a week earlier if a Bank Holiday) there is a conservation task for those that are interested in getting involved.  Meet at the Ranger's office at 10am and wear sturdy clothing and footwear and bring a packed lunch.  We provide tools, gloves and refreshments. 

Leader Richard Dowsett tel. 01234 720016 or e-mail richard.dowsett@bedford.gov.uk  for more information. 

Monday March 31st

Monday April 28th

Janet Munro,      Ranger 

Alison Foster, Borough Councillor for Odell 

Update for February

Contact Alison by telephone on 07773371190 or email at afield_foster@btinternet.com

Broadband 

In December the Council and BT Openreach announced the areas which would benefit from superfast broadband in the Local Broadband Plan.  The Plan aims to provide superfast broadband (24 Megabits per second or above) to 90% of properties and the basic provision (2 Megabits per second or above) to 100% of properties in the Borough. 

It would appear from the current plan that Odell will not benefit until Phase 8 which will provide a basic infrastructure in 2016 to deliver minimum of 2Mbps with a possible superfast extension project area 2017-2018.  Many residents in rural areas have complained as they have been told that they already have the basic provision.  In reality this tends not to be the case as the broadband speed often halves once it is fed in and out of a household’s wireless router.   

It is disappointing that for each property receiving internet speeds of less than 2 Megabits per second, the other councils involved in the scheme, namely Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire, spent £120 and £102 respectively per property of their own money to improve access to faster speeds.  This can be contrasted with the meagre contribution from Bedford Borough Council of just £32 per property. Alistair Burt has been in discussion with the Borough and BT about this and will push for further investment from the Government and I shall continue to pursue this with Borough. 

In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced that a further £250m would be available to extend the scheme to a minimum of 95% of premises nationwide.  The Borough should be eligible to bid for funding as superfast coverage does not and will not be at 95% or above following completion of the existing scheme.  An announcement should be made by the end of February on how much the Borough would receive of the £250m pot.  The Council will have to match fund any monies received.

AgeUK 

I have now arranged for a representative from AgeUK to visit Odell village hall on Monday 10th March, from 3.30pm. Also attending will be a representative from the Retirement Education Centre in Bedford which provides excellent courses for residents over 50 from its HQ at Rothsay Gardens in Bedford, and a representative from the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity which provides trained Village Agents who are able to visit residents at home or give advice over the phone. The Village Agents will give free information, help to make informed choices about issues such as feeling safer at home; becoming healthier, pensions and benefits, support for carers, or anything else that may be bothering residents. 

Bedford Borough Council Budget 2014/2015 

The Council’s budget for 2014/2015 was set at its meeting on the 5th February.  The budget includes savings of £10.586m in the coming year.  It is also proposed that Council Tax should be frozen following the receipt of a £758k government grant. 

Bedford Hospital Paediatric Services 

Other than patient stays beyond 24 hours, Bedford Hospital has now brought back all its paediatric services.  This means that ambulances can bring children to the Hospital, although if they need to stay beyond 24 hours, doctors will consider moving them to a nearby paediatric unit. 

NHS 

The NHS Direct service has been replaced by the 111 phone line.  Residents should call this number if they require any medical advice that is not urgent. 

 

Bedford Western Bypass 

The Council has reiterated its commitment to the second phase of the Bedford Western Bypass which will connect the Deep Spinney / Bromham Road roundabout at Biddenham with the A6 Paula Radcliffe Way / Clapham Road roundabout. 

The scheme has been delayed as an agreement has not been reached with developers on funding while objections were raised by several parties to the Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Side Roads Order (SRO) which were withdrawn.  The Council believes that progress can now be made on the submission of the Orders while it has also committed to funding the scheme itself following the receipt of funding from the Department of Transport (DfT).  However, it may still be the case that contributions are made by the developers.  The estimated cost of the bypass is £15m. 

Aspects Leisure Park 

The Council’s Planning Committee has approved an application to refurbish the cinema at the Aspects Leisure Park and for three new screens.  There will also be new restaurants on the site. 

The works will start in June and will be completed in 2015. 

Town Centre Development 

On Monday 27th January work began on two town centre development schemes.  Firstly, demolition work began at the Town Hall ahead of the Riverside North development.  The site will contain a new cinema, restaurants and residential and retail units. 

Furthermore, work started on the demolition of the bus station in the town centre.  This is the beginning of works to redevelop the bus station area, with a new bus station building, the refurbishment of the Allhallows multi-storey park and improvements to shop fronts.  Works have finished on the new Greyfriars surface car park and the refurbishment of the public conveniences beneath the Allhallows car park.

Leisure Facilities 

On Saturday 1st February the management of the Council’s leisure facilities transferred to the leisure management group, Fusion Lifestyle.  The 8 sites included in the agreement are as follows: Oasis Pool; Robinson Pool; Kempston Pool; the Bunyan Centre; Blue Peris Outdoor Centre (in North Wales); Kempston Outdoor Centre; Bedford International Athletics Stadium, and, Mowsbury Golf and Squash Club.   

More information on the leisure facilities and their timetables and bookings can be found at http://www.bedfordleisure.com/

Magistrates Court 

The Justices’ Issues Group (JIG) has agreed to move the vast majority of cases currently heard at Bedford Magistrates’ Court to Luton Magistrates’ Court.  This is despite concerns raised on access to justice grounds by Richard Fuller and Alistair Burt.  

Black Cat Roundabout 

Works to introduce traffic lights and extra lanes are due to begin in April as part of a £6.5m scheme to alleviate traffic.  It will take around 7 months to complete. 

Gypsy and Traveller Sites 

The temporary pitches have been closed at Meadow Lane as work has begun on developing a permanent site. 

The Bletsoe inquiry is due to conclude in March. 

The Planning Inspector has decided that there will be a full hearing to decide whether the site at Bromham Nurseries will be granted permission.  A date for the hearing is expected soon. 

The Roxton High Court hearing is now set for March 25th. 

Village Hall  

Village Quiz – Saturday March 15th, 7.30pm

The ever popular Village Hall Quiz returns on Saturday 15th March.  Be sure to book your place – tables of 6, doors open 7.30pm for a punctual start at 8pm.  Licensed bar.

Ring Rob 720730 to book your table. 

St George’s theme Night – April 26th 

April 26th promises to be a really good night of fun - come and enjoy a healthy dollop of nostalgia and step back in time. Tickets are £10 each which includes a good old English supper of boiled beef, carrots and mash with something traditional for “afters”.  There will be a bar serving traditional English ale.  We hope to decorate the hall with items celebrating Englishness over the past 100 years of so – ideas welcome!  We also encourage everyone to come wearing the colours of the English flag (red and white – OK and blue if you like!)  We are just finalising the choice of the great British movie which we plan to show – it is one which has been chosen to be fun and as English as they come! 

Tickets from Nikki 720893 and Rob 720730. 

The Mill Theatre, Sharnbrook 

Marching into Spring at The Mill…. www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk 

1st March – Antiques Appraisal Evening with Jonathan Reynolds - cancelled, with regret.

However tickets are now on sale for: 

On Golden Pond  - Monday 17th - Saturday 22nd March 7.30 pm

 

    The heart-warming love story of Ethel and Norman, returning for the 48th time to their summer home on a lake called Golden Pond.

    They are visited by their daughter, Chelsea, her fiancé and his young son. The play explores the sometimes tempestuous relationship between father and daughter as she was growing up, and the later relationships and difficulties faced by a spirited and loveable, aging couple, in the twilight years of a long marriage. 

Touching, funny;   warmly perceptive.

Tickets £9 - £11. On-line: www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk, (booking fee), or at Sharnbrook Post Office (in person); Bedford Central Box Office - 718112 (booking fee).  A ‘Warm up’ Appeal Event. 

 

Act 1: Drop of a hat.  Act 2: Bouncers -

27th – 29th March, 7.30 pm 

Improvisation  by John Godber

A Clubroom performance by Sharnbrook Mill Youth.  A light hearted and insightful evening!  Tickets: Adult £8     Student: £6

Please note change of programme: Drop of a Hat replaces Shakers, which will not now be performed.  

Tickets for both the above shows are on sale now!

ON-LINE: www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk, or at SHARNBROOK POST OFFICE (in person)

Also: BEDFORD CENTRAL BOX OFFICE* – 7 1 8 1 1 2 (Tourist Information Centre in St Paul’s Sq.) 

Movies at the Mill

8th March - – Argo, 7.30 pm, Bar. Tickets £5   from Sharnbrook Post Office. A “Warm up” Appeal Event. 

5th April – Boobs & Brass –all-female band. Concert proceeds to Mill ‘Warm Up’ Appeal & Breast Cancer Campaign. Tickets £10: Pat Abbott 01933 358319 / patabbott1936@yahoo.co.uk. (#) 

27th April ***An Evening with Joanna David***,

actress in Film, Theatre and TV; wife of Edward Fox, mother to Emilia Fox and Freddie Fox; in conversation with David Saint.

Also: The Milton Music Trio; Sparkling Wine Reception with canapés.

Ticket £20 from Brian Woodrow - 824323 / bwoodrow@btinternet.com.  Early booking advised!

A “Warm Up” Appeal Event. 

ADVANCE BOOKING FOR

Camelot - 19th – 24th May, 7.30 pm and Saturday matinee 24th May 2.30 pm

 The musically rich, legendary tale of Arthur, ‘The Once and Future King’ by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe - will be available during ‘On  Golden Pond’, but only at The Mill Theatre. 

Diary

March

5th 10.30am Meeting Point at Catherine’s, Manor Cottage, High St., Harrold

7th 10.30am Women’s World Day of Prayer Service, All Saints’ Church

11th 7.30pm W.I. Village Hall

12th 12.30 Senior Citizens’ Fish and Chip lunch, Village Hall

13th 10.30am HOCP Health Walk

15th 9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell

15th 7.30pm Village Quiz, Village Hall

17th 3.30pm Fusion Harrold URC

17th 7.30pm Odell Parish Council Meeting Village Hall

27th 10.30am HOCP Health Walk

29th 10am Churchyard Tidy-up All Saints’ Church

30th 10.30am Mothers’ Day Service All Saints’ Church

31st 10am HOCP Friends’ Tasks Day 

Magazine Deadline

Please send all entries for the April 2014 magazine to Tricia Hudson (ed at odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by March 12th at the latest.  May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted.  Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.

 

Odell Cheese

Wodehill Cheese — hand-made in Carlton 

Wodehill Blue is a semi-soft creamy blue cheese

made with milk from Jersey cows in Carlton 


Nearest stockists:  Hurleys in Sharnbrook and Carlton Village Shop

www.wodehill.co.uk

   

 

                                                                                                         

Alex Stubbs Flooring 

Carpets, Vinyls, Laminates, Safety Flooring, Adaptions, Refits, Repairs 

Supplied and Fitted 

07976 260572

01234 240954

 

Great local pubs

 

The Bell in Odell

As Featured in the 2010 Good Beer Guide 

With the relaxed charm of a village local and a varied menu of

quality, home-cooked food you won’t find any gimmicks here

 just a Great British Pub! 

Abbot Ale, IPA & Changing Seasonal & Guest Ales 

Telephone 01234 720254

www.thebellinodell.co.uk

 


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Last revised: February 27, 2014.