07 Oct 10 Festivals and Events in Bedford
Many things mark the passing of time throughout the Bedfordshire year such as Christmas lights, Easter eggs, lawnmowers, school holidays and autumn leaves. Another marker for those who like to go out is the annual round of fetes and Bedfordshire events which act like a heartbeat for the year.
February
Many Bedfordshire events cluster between Easter and autumn to take advantage of longer daylight hours and better weather, but this does not mean there is nothing on offer during the cold winter months. For instance, if you are keen on tasting ales and beers, why not visit the Luton Beer Festival in February at the Hightown Sports and Arts Centre? The only place you might get wet is the bus queue.
March
As we go into March after recovering from that hangover, Bedfordshire events include the Festival of Music, Speech and Drama in Bedford to appeal to your finer instincts. Alternatively, if you’ve got kids (or can borrow some), there is Easter Excitement at Mead Open Farm at Billington, near Dunstable. Here, kids can see and sometimes touch and feed all their favourite farm animals while following the Easter Egg Hunt.
April
Also at Easter, there is the Luton Easter Hat Parade and Show celebrating this town’s heritage as a hat-making centre (which is why their Football Club is called the Hatters). Another event in Luton is the parade and celebrations for St George’s Day that bring many locals and visitors out onto the streets. Pubs offer one-day-only special prices and restaurants serve up traditional English fare such as sausage and mash.
May
May, with its warmer and hopefully cloudless skies, sees the proper start to the year’s events. All that sunshine makes for thirst, so head off to the Bedford Local Beer and Food Festival at the White Horse. The keyword here is local, with a chance to sample foodstuffs made and grown in Bedfordshire. Dunstable and Luton both hold their carnivals in May, with Luton including a street party.
Traditionalists might want to see the Medieval May Day celebration at Bromham Watermill on the Ouse. Set in seven acres of beautiful land alongside the river, this 17th century mill makes for a good day out on any fine day. However, if you like your technology more recent but still want to visit a mill, then go to the Stotfold Mill Steam Fair and Country Show near Sandy. And finally in May, you might be thinking of improving your garden, in which case the Wrest Park Garden Show might be worth a try.
June
It’s June and the sun is now hopefully blazing down from a cloudless sky over Bedfordshire. With any luck, the wind will be blowing as it is time for the Bedford International Kite Festival at Russell Park. If the rain is pouring down and the wind has died, then you could always go to the movies via the Filmstock Festival in Luton and this one of the more popular Bedfordshire events according to local Bedford news.
July
July brings the ever-popular two-day Bedford River Festival with dragon boats, raft racing, a carnival parade, live music and lots of stalls to spend your money. You might want to try the Park and Ride facilities as parking in town will be difficult. Alternatively, there is the Bedfordshire Country Show at Old Warden Park or the Linslade Canal Festival.
August
This month brings the Proms in the Park at the Twinwood Arena in Bedford, and music lovers can also try the Glenn Miller Festival at Clapham or The Original Flying Proms at the Old Warden.
September, October, November
There’s now a Steam and Country Fair at Old Warden and a Folk Festival at Dunstable, plus a Woodworks Festival at Marston Moretaine. Visit the Annual Craft Fair at Great Barford for those Christmas presents. And finally there is the Dunstable Tudor Festival or see the Luton Lights go on.
Whatever the season, there is sure to be a wide variety of Bedfordshire events to be enjoyed. Check the local Bedfordshire newspaper, Bedfordshire on Sunday for all the latest information on what is happening in the region.
Tags: Bedfordshire newspaper, Bedfordshire on Sunday, Befordshire events
20 Sep 10 Luton Town Football Club
Like many of the UK’s current professional football teams, Luton Town Football Club in Bedfordshire first kicked off from the spot in the 19th century and only moved to today’s home ground at Kenilworth Road 20 years later. Starting out as an amateur side from an amalgam of two local teams (Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior), they were quick to reward their players with money, becoming the first-ever entirely professional team in the south of England by 1891.
In the Leagues
Initially helping to found the Southern League, Luton Town FC joined the Football League in 1897-8. However, the cost of participation, particularly that of travelling to the northern cities, proved too much so they rejoined the Southern League in 1900-1. In spite of their early start in professionalism, it actually took the club until 1920-1 to make it back to the Football League and it wasn’t until 1955-6 that they managed to reach the top division of English football. The year 1959 brought their first final in the FA Cup, which they lost to Nottingham Forest.
As so often though, after the rise, the fall! Successive demotions took Luton Town Football Club back to the Fourth Division but to their eternal credit they eventually fought back to reach the top flight by 1974-5. From 1982, they managed to stay up there until the end of the 1991-2 season, one highlight being winning the League Cup against Arsenal by a 3-2 margin in 1988. Their success in reaching this final was repeated next season though this time they were again defeated by a Forest side.
Money, Money, Money…
The 1991-2 season marked the beginning of a prolonged decline for Luton Town FC, occasionally yo-yoing up a division before further demotions. Ultimately, the old problem of money cost them their Football League place in the 20th century, putting them into administration with fatal point deductions as the price. Today, Kenilworth Road plays host to visiting sides in the Conference National, a long way perhaps from the glory days of the 1980s in the top flight of football but still providing sporting excitement and a major community focus for the people of Luton and south Bedfordshire.
Mad as Hatters
Luton was famous as a hat-making town for centuries so it’s no surprise that Luton Town FC became known as the Hatters (Any madness was associated with mercury poisoning from hat manufacture in the past and not with the town’s players’ antics on the pitch!) For much of their history, they wore a black and white strip but adopted orange and navy in 1973 to make them more recognisable. After all, a number of famous teams already wore black and white, e.g. Bolton and Spurs and full colour TV was now becoming available. Today though, they turn out to play their games in orange shirts, white shorts and orange socks.
Famous Names at Luton Town FC
Luton Town Football Club may not have enjoyed the more consistent fame of some other teams but it has been the home of some of football’s famous sons. Back in the 1930s, striker Joe Payne scored a remarkable 10 goals against Bristol Rovers, which is a record in the history of the Football League, while England centre forward Malcolm Macdonald helped promote them in the 1960s. Before managing Tottenham, David Pleat was both a player and manager for Luton Town FC and colourful manager Joe Kinnear also led them in a lower division.
So, although Luton Town FC might today be playing in the lower reaches of football, their pedigree would suggest that one day they may well be back to compete at the highest level.
Luton Town football club still has many loyal fans rooting for their team. Luton Town FC fans can find results and fixtures, as well as the latest team news at the Bedfordshire on Sunday.
Tags: Bedfordshire on Sunday, Luton Town FC, Luton Town Football Club
17 Sep 10 How Bedfordshire’s Industry has Evolved
A quick scan through the jobs section today shows how Bedfordshire jobs have changed and evolved since its basic farming days hundreds of years ago. Job vacancies for sales professionals, IT workers and banking staff dominate the majority of the job descriptions in the 21st century but this has been a long time in development to reach this modern-day era of jobs here.
Early Beds Jobs
Anglian settlers are thought to be the first people to settle on the land in and around what is now called Bedford. It is assumed they stopped here because of the abundance of water in the region and the fertile ground that proved ideal for agriculture. This meant that farmers relied on their families to make their living and everyone would be expected to play a role in the upkeep of the land.
With the post-Roman era, Anglian folk were the first people to have Bedfordshire jobs in the agriculture industry; something that would live long in the county’s working history. Farming became an institution in Bedford and it allowed the area grow into the size and success that it is today.
Earning off the Land
From the 13th-15th century, sheep farming grew at an amazing rate and created many Bedfordshire jobs. At one point in history, Bedfordshire wool was in high demand throughout the country and records prove that the county continuously met the quota of wool for the King; a feat that many others failed in.
Other industries over the years that have offered Bedford jobs include the intricate straw plaiting in which items such as hats, ornaments and bags were made from weaving straw grown in the region. Thousands of people were once employed in this industry but inexpensive imports made the local trade drizzle out and cease to exist.
Early Immigrant Workers
During and after the French Revolution, French refugees headed to England to work in the lace market. The influx of migrants reduced the number of Bedford jobs for locals but the lace industry began to boom as better quality material was created by the migrants who were so desperate for the jobs compared to the locals.
19th and 20th Century
Industry grew across Britain yet for the best part of this 200 years, Bedford was still very much concentrated in the agriculture sector as it progressed to making farming equipment. The market town continued to grow and jobs were made to bring the town up to standard with others across the country with many shops now also hiring staff.
Sewers were dug and maintained, a water company was brought in to provide piped, sanitary water and a hospital and library was opened. After WWII, London was in desperate need of rebuilding and The London Brick Company opened up a site offering many new Bedfordshire jobs. This led to a large invasion of Italian migrant workers that today still make up much of the population of Bedford.
Into the 21st Century…
As with many still-developing towns across the UK, more and more business parks are springing up in the Bedfordshire area creating thousands of new jobs for the residents. Much of this work is now centred on IT, as it seems the country is moving out of the industrial period and into the science era. The large shopping and entertainment areas that are fairly recent additions to the area have created a new line of shop, bar and waiting jobs that are often popular with school leavers and the young generation.
Distribution centres are creating many new Bedfordshire jobs as it boasts an ideal logistical location to reach most of the country in a short journey. The cost of setting up here is cheaper than in the capital and with the current economic climate the way it is, Bedfordshire looks set to continue on its successful roll of offering modern jobs to a wide range of people.
Anyone looking for Bedfordshire jobs will have a wide variety of industries to choose from. Visit the Bedfordshire on Sunday to browse through the Bedford jobs being advertised.
Tags: Bedford jobs, Bedfordshire jobs, Bedfordshire on Sunday
26 Jul 10 The Life Behind the Bedford Blues
There is an old saying about rugby that goes a little something like this: “Football is a gentlemen’s game played by hooligans but rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen”. The Bedford Blues are a true rugby team making their players true gentlemen.
The world of rugby is a tough one where ears are ripped, blood pours from wounds and backs are crumpled under the weight of burly players but it attracts many avid supporters. It is the second most popular sport in England and in spite of so much violence on the pitch; the game is often more beautiful to watch than the self-proclaimed beautiful game itself.
The Birth of the Blues
The Bedford Blues were founded in 1886 and since then the team has seen many losses and wins, cup finals and records and as rugby became more popular across England; the number of teams being established began to grow. Bedfordshire rugby was a major grower in the sport alongside the likes of Cambridge, Oxford and London, and the county seat of Bedford itself was home to two teams; the Swifts and the Rovers.
It would be less than 10 years before these two teams decided to amalgamate and become Bedford RUFC. The following years were great for Bedfordshire rugby and the Bedford Blues. Their first season was a huge success as they lost just one game. The second season was to be equal to their first, again only losing once to a combined London XV.
It was around the latter part of the 19th century when winger H M Morris would go into the record book for the highest try-scoring tally in one season with 38; a record that still stands today.
Early 20th Century
Not long before the turn of the century the team had cemented their home at Goldington Road. Not content with matches against some of the best teams from across Europe, they now envisaged themselves as world beating teams and were included on the British tour of the New Zealand All Blacks.
The club continued to grow stronger over the coming years but was disrupted by WWI and WWII, when the army took over their ground as a camp. Between the two wars, a new pavilion was built and it was then considered to be one of the best in the country and is still in use today.
The 1960s Onwards
The 1960s saw the team do well and contain three regular England players; two of them captaining their country. In the 1969-70 season, the Bedford Blues won the Sunday Telegraph English-Welsh Rugby Table but this was to be eclipsed just five years later when they beat Rosslyn Park 28-12 at the final of the Knockout Cup held at Twickenham. A record crowd of almost 18,000 attended the match to watch the Blues of Bedford romp home.
Before the start of 1996-97 season began, the club took the step forward to become a professional team, effectively meaning the players only job was now rugby. Further investment saw world-famous names come into the setup as well many promising youth players.
The team gained promotion at the second attempt and began playing in the Allied Dunbar Premiership. This was not how it was to stay and just two seasons later amidst financial issues with the owners, the club was relegated back into the second tier. During this time many players left for more stable opportunities but a loyal core of faithful players stayed to support the Bedfordshire rugby team.
The Bedford Blues have continued in the second tier for the past 10 years; their best place being second. In this time they have reached two finals of cup competitions sponsored by Powergen, walking away with the shield in 2005 and runners up the next season. The coming years look set to bring more success to the already established team.
Bedford is said to be one of the few towns where the rugby club is better supported than the football club. Bedfordshire rugby fans can find the latest Bedford Blues news, results and fixtures from the Bedfordshire on Sunday.
Tags: Bedford Blues, Bedfordshire on Sunday, Bedfordshire rugby
19 May 10 Bedfordshire Accommodation Guide
Hotels in Bedfordshire are often used by travellers who are visiting the area purely as a hub for journeys throughout the rest of England; mainly due to its central location. The M1 runs directly through Bedfordshire as does the A1; both major travel routes running from north to south. The region is also visited by those looking for a pleasant countryside getaway as well as those looking for a chance to do some shopping in the main town.
Bed & Breakfasts
For visitors on holiday in Bedfordshire, bed & breakfasts are a popular choice for short weekend trips. They are often found clean and homely, with promises of real home cooked food and a personal service unlike the usual monotone service given at a hotel.
Locations in the areas of Luton, Dunstable and Bedford are largely for business people and are generally busy during the week but head out into the countryside to find quaint cottages that have been converted to cater for visitors. The prices for bed & breakfasts can range from £30-£150 per night, depending on location and style of accommodation and pets are often welcome.
A Range of Hotels
Hotels in Bedfordshire do not differ from anywhere else in the country and you pay for location, class and often the name. On the A1 and the M1 road systems there are service stations that house convenience hotels; aimed at catching people who are too tired to continue travelling. These can vary in price but visitors should not expect much for their money as simplicity is the key to these rooms.
In the three big towns, Bedford, Luton and Dunstable, visitors will find a variety of hotels on offer from as little as £40 per night. Look out for special deals on a holiday in Bedfordshire as many of the hoteliers are looking to promote weekend getaways and are currently offering further enticing discounts on food and drink. These vary from Travelodges through to plusher options complete with restaurants and in-room amenities.
Special occasions such as a wedding anniversary or the partner’s birthday, a hotel located in the town centre will be ideal for those looking to enjoy a night on the town. There are also many hotels in the Bedfordshire area where one can relax in a spa-style resort in the countryside; far from the hustle and bustle of the town itself.
Self Catering Accommodation
A holiday in Bedfordshire can also be enjoyed in a self catering house, cottage or apartment. With a little internet research, it is fairly simple to track down a good deal and rather than being cramped into a hotel room, self catering homes provide a home away from home for many families looking to spend some holiday time in the Bedfordshire region.
Choosing to rent a home is a great way to save money while on holiday in Bedfordshire. With a kitchen, dining out every night is no longer necessary and there is plenty of space to utilise with areas for the children to enjoy as well as more private areas for parents.
The price range for self catering holidays largely rests on the location and the size. Even in the town centres, the cost is only slightly more than a three-star hotel room and the savings that are then made throughout the stay make up for the initial extra outlay.
However you choose to spend your holiday in Bedford, there are plenty of choices when it comes to accommodation. Location, star rating and size will determine the price with simple inner-town options usually matching plusher offers in the surrounding regions on price.
If you are planning a holiday in Bedfordshire, the first thing on your mind will be finding accommodation. Visit the Bedfordshire on Sunday website for information on hotels in Bedfordshire.
Tags: Bedfordshire on Sunday, holiday in Bedfordshire, hotels in Bedfordshire
26 Mar 10 Bedford’s Postcodes
Although the town is located in the shire named after itself, the postcode for Bedford and much of the surrounding area come from Milton Keynes, which is actually situated in Buckinghamshire. The Great River Ouse passes through the centre of the town and acts as a divider of two major postcodes for Bedford.
Town Centre – MK40
On the north side of the river is where you will find the majority of the town centre. This Bedford area is largely made up from high street shops and department stores as well as some pretty restaurants and pubs located along the banks of the river. The centre of town is popular with visitors from the nearby villages and surrounding estates in the Bedford area.
The Harpur Centre offers the only indoor shopping area in the town and is extremely popular during the cold and wet winter months. Originally, before there was such a thing as a ‘postcode for Bedford,’ this was the market town for the region and the tradition of market days has kept on and every Saturday and Wednesday there is a local market located on Harpur Square and St Paul’s Square.
In the evening times, and especially at the weekends, the central Bedford area comes to life with a number of pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs available to suit all tastes and budgets. Dining in the Bedford area can be done at fast food outlets along the High Street or more exclusive eateries around some of the back streets of the MK40 area. After dinner, the late night venues are frequented by revellers and having fun is the main priority for the night.
Southern Bedford – MK42
On the southern side of the Great River Ouse the postcode for Bedford changes to MK42. This side is slightly more subdued and relaxed although there is still plenty going on. First over the Bedford Bridge is the local college, home to new school leavers, adult education and overseas students who wish to study in the Bedford area.
This side of the water is more appealing for walks along the river’s banks as there are fewer roads and more parks and trees to enjoy away from the noise. The main hospital for the town is just a few minutes from the bridge and A & E is located here as well as the critical care and a number of other specialist wards. The North Wing is located about two miles north and handles out patient’s clinics, physiotherapy among other non-urgent practices.
Farther to the southwest of the town, and still under the MK42 postcode for Bedford, is a large industrial area where many businesses ply their trade. Services on offer around here include blind and curtain makers, car mechanics, conservatory showrooms and landscape gardeners to name only a few. These are found within a village called Kempston, which is an ideal spot for logistical regions as the southern Bedford by-pass travels to the A1 and the A421 reaches the M1 motorway.
Other MK postcodes for Bedford – MK43
There a number of smaller villages just outside the Bedford area ideal for scenic drives and walks through the country. Wootton, Cranfield and Marston Mortaine are just a few of these sleepy villages found in the MK43 postcode for Bedford. Local pubs and sleepy Post Offices are found throughout all of these charming villages along with schools, parks, churches and a warm and inviting ambience.
There are many postcodes applicable to the Bedford area. Visit the Bedfordshire on Sunday in order to find out the correct postcode for Bedford and the surrounding area.
Tags: Bedford area, Bedfordshire on Sunday, postcode for Bedford
04 Mar 10 The History of Whipsnade Zoo
We all love to visit the animals at a zoo but as we grow more aware of the plight that many animals face in zoo life, we are becoming far fussier about what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to spending a day at the zoo. Whipsnade Zoo is one of those zoos that is a pleasure to explore; a feat that many other zoos around the world should take note of.
Whipsnade Zoo – the early days
In its early days after its opening in 1931, Whipsnade Zoo was first known by the name of Whipsnade Park Zoo and later Whipsnade Wild Animal Park. It is run by the Zoological Society of London; the same company that operates London Zoo in Regents Park and the charity is focused on conserving animals as well as their natural habitats.
The zoo’s fist inhabitants were pheasants, jungle fowl, muntjac deer, wombats, skunks and llama. By 1932, the zoo’s collection of animals received a boost when a travelling circus handed over their animals after going bankrupt. Many of these animals arrived at the train station in Dunstable and were walked to the zoo along the country roads.
WWII
During WWII, the zoo was turned into a place of refuge. London Zoo in Regents Park was in danger of being attacked and the animals needed to be re-homed, as the noise of the bombings was terrifying them. Ming, Tang and Sung, the world-famous giant pandas, were part of the group of animals that were moved but unfortunately in 1940, Whipsnade Zoo was bombed and sadly, a three-year-old giraffe by the name of Boxer was scared to death by the explosions.
Nowadays, all that remains of the bombings are a scattering of ponds throughout the zoo that created craters when the bombs hit and were later filled with water and various birds and fish.
Free-roaming animals
Whipsnade Zoo is one of the few places where visitors can see some birds and mammals roaming freely. The zoo is proud to provide visitors with the chance to see Chinese water deer, muntjac deer, mara, wallabies, Indian peafowl, junglefowl and prairie marmots. In the past parrots, cranes and macaws also had free range of the zoo.
Recent years
The ‘Discovery Centre’ at Whipsnade is a huge hit with children as a whole range of animals are available for an up close and personal look. The primate, the reptile and the insect houses are all located here and small monkeys, crocodiles and various ants and spiders can all be seen here.
In 1996, a new house for the elephant population was built and the new paddock area outside was especially impressive. The old house is a Grade II listed building and remains at the zoo but became the home for the resident lemur population after being deemed too cramped for the elephants. ‘The Lions of the Serengeti’ section is currently home to three African lions and the zoo celebrated after a successful breeding programme welcomed four new cubs into the world in 2006. An Asian rhino calf was also born in the zoo that year and in early 2007, a baby Asian elephant was born.
In Easter that year, the new walk-through lemur enclosure was opened followed by the birth of a sea lion pup. The greater one horned rhinos enjoy indoor heated pools and their new enclosure allows the general public to get close to these magnificent but sadly endangered species. ‘Cheetah Rock’ is part of a conservation scheme in Tanzania and the zoo hopes that it will become part of a breeding programme for their nine resident cheetahs.
The arrival of Billy
Most recently, the zoo welcome William Windsor; AKA Billy the Goat. He was used as a mascot for the British Army for eight years and he is now living out his retirement years at Whipsnade Zoo.
Whipsnade Zoo is one of many attractions in Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire on Sunday has all the latest information on Bedfordshire events.
Tags: Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire events, Bedfordshire on Sunday, Whipsnade Zoo
