Archived News
April 2007
Pretty girls will lead the carnival
The launch of this year's spectacular St Mary's Carnival got off to a dazzling start when four little girls from Eaton Bray and Edlesborough were picked to star in the event.
Eight-year-old Melissa Sibley, from Edlesborough, has been chosen as this year's carnival queen. With her leading the carnival parade will be Eaton Bray youngsters Bethan Roberts, eight, as her princess, and Emma Baldwin, nine, and Katie Neal, 10, as attendants.
This year's carnival, being held on Edlesborough Green on July 7, has the theme of favourite adverts and will feature some new ideas, including a climbing wall for the more adventurous, and a silent auctions for those looking for a bargain.
As usual the day will kick off with a colourful parade through the two villages while the Green will play host to stalls, sideshows, games and arena events.
Proceeds from the day will be split between St Mary's Church, the Edlesborough Cemetery Access Project and local groups and organisations.
The carnival committee is always looking for volunteers to help make the day run smoothly. If you can offer any help contact chairman, Peter Bennett.
Pictured left to right are: Emma, Melissa, Katie and Bethan.
For more information, see the Carnival website - www.stmarysvillagecarnival.com.
Source: Village News, Leighton Buzzard Observer, 24 April 2007
Rats! This blaze is so a-gnawing
Rodents gnawing at electrical cables are believed to have caused a huge blaze in Eaton Bray that sparked a massive fire service operation.
A quarter of the county's firefighting team was called into action to quell the flames at the Honeywick Works in Totternhoe Road.
A motorcycle workshop and a cottage were devastated by the inferno, which broke out shortly after 1pm on Thursday.
It took 36 firefighters and five officers two-and-a-half hours to get the flames under control, and they had the added headache of removing nine potentially deadly gas cylinders to prevent a huge explosion.
No-one was hurt in the incident, but an ambulance was kept on standby as the fire spread through the building.
There was no-one in the timberframed building - which contains the motorcycle workshop, a carpenter's workshop and a twostorey cottage - when the fire broke out.
Station Commander Mark Barter, of Dunstable Fire Station, said that a call came in at 1.25pm and a fire engine was on the scene within eight minutes.
"We didn't bring it under control until 4pm," he said.
Mr Barter added that the blaze started between wall cavities and quickly spread.
Crews had to act quickly to remove nine acetylene gas cylinders, and an exclusion zone was set up to keep the public clear.
The fire chief said: "If we had not removed them it would have been extremely dangerous."
Penny O'Grady, manager of neighbouring sign makers Pinstripes, called the fire service after spotting smoke coming from the motorbike workshop.
At first she thought it looked fairly minor, but the blaze soon spread.
"It went up the walls and into the roof, and it just spread across the roof," she said.
"It was really bad. Everyone was frightened it would spread to the other units. It was scary."
Pinstripes lost its phone service as a result of the fire, but was able to continue trading the next day.
But Penny said that the house and the motorbike workshop had been severely damaged.
"There's no roof left, the top floor's all gone," she added.
And carpenter Graham Davis, who rents one of the units in the building, said: "The house has got it the worst, you can't live in there now."
But he added that the damage to his workshop was minimal.
Fire crews managed to salvage a number of custom-made motorbikes and specialist tools, but were forced to withdraw as the fire spread to the first floor of the workshop.
The blaze also hit the cottage, where firefighters using breathing equipment were able to save some of the owner's belongings.
Mr Barter said: "The crews did spend a brief amount of time getting the valuables out.
"We couldn't save everything but we did manage to save some paperwork and some items of personal effects before it was too unsafe."
Crews from Dunstable, Luton, Toddington, Kempston and Leighton Buzzard tackled the blaze from outside, using an aerial platform. Mr Barter said: "The house was severely damaged, the whole of the motorcycle workshop was severely damaged and the roof has collapsed."
He said that a preliminary investigation indicated that rats and mice were to blame.
"It's not uncommon, particularly in older buildings out in the villages," he added.
The fire chief said that regular electrical inspections are a key safeguard, and if anyone becomes aware of rats or mice they should call in pest control to prevent fires like this breaking out.
Source: Dave Burke, Dunstable Gazette, 25 April 2007
Musical mixture of entertainment
Dunstable Amateur Operatic Society is promising three exciting evening of entertainment in Eaton Bray this week.
Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, members will be staging an Olde Tyme Music Hall, where there will be a mixture of musical numbers, melodrama, comedy sketches and colourful dance.
The shows start at 7.30pm at Eaton Bray Village Hall. Tickets cost £7.50 and include supper.
To book a seat contact the society's box office on 0845 8386742.
And 2007 is shaping up to be a good year for the group, as a slot at Dunstable's new Grove Theatre, which was unveiled to the public at the weekend, is in the pipeline.
Rehearsals will start soon for 42nd Street, but publicity officer Manda Isiekwe said: "We can only perform at the theatre if we have the cast and most importantly the audience to keep us there, so please continue to support us."
Source: Dunstable Gazette, 25 April 2007
Youth Football: Eaton Bray Lions
EB Lions U13 - 0
Watling Youth U13 - 4
Initially the teams looked evenly matched, both forcing corners from good attacking play. It was fifteen minutes before Watling penetrated Lions' defence to score.
Watling's goalie blocked a shot by Morgan O'Connell and Lions failed to score from another three opportunities. Meanwhile, good tackling by Lee Cavendish and James Thiel and great work by goalie, Charlie Oliver, kept Watling at bay.
Just before half-time a Watling striker found himself with plenty of time to pick his spot for their second goal.
Frequent substitutions allowed both sides to keep the pace up in the warm conditions, and Watling made an impressive attack up the right wing to score their third. Watling's number 16 secured his hat-trick with a superb shot shortly afterwards.
Lions piled on the pressure up to the whistle, but they allowed Watling too much space midfield and couldn't match their opponents finishing skills.
Lee Cavendish was Lion's MoM.
Source: EB Lions
WiFi Theft
With all the coverage recently of people being arrested for WiFi theft, you may be wondering whether someone could be using your wireless internet access without permission.
If you have purchased your wireless device directly from BT or another Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the last few months, chances are that you already have security enabled on your WiFi, and you have already entered the security key delivered with your device.
If you are unsure, and would like a trained professional to come and check and secure your wireless internet device please contact Theo Gray for more information.
Youth Football: Eaton Bray Lions
EB Lions U13 - 0
Westoning FC U13 - 5
Lions faced a top team without two regular players, but never gave up.
Westoning attacked straight from the start and it was only down to excellent defending by James Thiel and Andy Broughton that the half time score was only 0-2.
Sam Marshall and Matt Audouard had good chances but the ball evaded the net every time. Westoning tactics were to pass the ball only about 15 yards at a time from end to end, basically keep possession and get it to a forward for the final shot. Or, on one lucky occasion, try a shot from the touch line and catch the keeper out.
The second half was lively as well. Lions prevented the score from getting really high by applying pressure and not letting Westoning totally dominate. Numerous substitutions by Lions kept them refreshed, but more tackling in midfield would have allowed Lions to go forward again. Jack Coates was Lions' MoM.
Source: EB Lions
Carnival Queen 2007
The Carnival Queen, Princess and Attendants for the 2007 St Mary's Village Carnival were chosen this morning in Eaton Bray Village Hall.
The results were as follows:
- Queen: Melissa Sibley
- Princess: Bethan Roberts
- Attendants: Emma Baldwin, Katie Neal
Pictures will soon be available on the St Mary's Village Carnival website.
The Carnival itself will take place on 7 July 2007. If you are able to offer your help, please get in contact with the Carnival Committee.
Update (19-Apr): Pictures are now available.
Source: St Mary's Village Carnival
Police response under fire
Police may be promising to come down hard on nuisance motorcyclists in the area. But their response to them so far has been dubbed "absolutely farcical".
Last week it was announced that bikers who break the law could face having their bikes crushed.
But now a police spokesman has admitted that responding to calls about two-wheeled troublemakers quickly isn't always the top priority.
An angry Eaton Bray householder has said that her efforts to get the police on the case have so far been in vain.
Marion Heyland of Manton Road rang police last Monday because of the problems bikers were causing.
But she claimed that she didn't receive a response until several hours later, by which time the youngsters had moved on of their own accord.
"I'm concerned about the lack of response with the police," she said. "It's absolutely farcical."
Source: Dunstable Gazette, 11 April 2007
Eaton Bray Lawn Tennis Club
First this month, a date for your diary. Saturday 16th June. Mark it in now, as that's when we'll be holding our Play Tennis Day at the School Lane courts. As part of the Lawn Tennis Association promotion to encourage more people to take up the sport, we'll be starting off around midday with free playing and coaching for everyone, with special sessions for the youngsters, and you don't even need your own racquet as we can lend you one! There'll be games and competitions, tennis clothing and equipment for sale, the ubiquitous tasty BBQ, and as I write we are in secret negotiations with Chiltern Radio to come along! We'll keep you informed on that one, as they haven't answered my e-mail yet! Plus, our local MP Andrew Selous will attend from midday for 45 minutes to try his hand at tennis against some lucky volunteers, and to officially open our resurfaced courts. Finally, there's half price membership for anyone who joins on the day! So please do come up and join us for an hour or two, and enjoy some good company, hopefully some sunshine, (it's bound to be typically English summer weather, i.e. rainy with sunny intervals, or sunny with rainy intervals), a burger or two and some gentle exercise on the tennis courts (maybe have that burger afterwards...). I'll have to make sure they're properly cooked - I could go to the tower for attempting to poison a Member of Parliament.
The onset of spring has thrown me a challenge. Over the previous few months, on a Sunday morning I've been able to peek through my bedroom curtains and persuade myself that it's either too wet / cold / foggy / dark / slippery or even too cloudy to go up to our Sunday morning social tennis sessions. This has given me the perfect excuse to dive back under my duvet and begin the traditional ritual of 'discussing' with my wife who's turn it is to get the coffee. I normally lose, and such were my expectations last Sunday when I nosed through the window at about 9am. Quelle Horreur, as they say in Germany. The sun was shining brightly. Not a cloud in the sky. The birds were singing and next door's cat was sunbathing on top of the guinea-pig hutch. I was all out of excuses, it was now or never. I slipped into my tennis shorts (which once again had shrunk over the winter months), donned my XXL t-shirt, which I really should have put in for washing after my last appearance on court back in September, collected my racquet from the back of the shed where it had been thrown in disgust after that last defeat, and drove to the courts to find that 12 other people had had the same idea. There was no getting out of it; I was going to have to play some tennis.
I must admit to being a tad rusty; in fact 12 gallons of WD40 wouldn't have helped me much, but at least I could still hit the ball most of the time. My serving was, lets say, unique, but not as weird as my first opponent Martin Clark, who's self-taught technique caused the ball to travel three sides of a square before it finally plopped down on my side of the court. I think it was all that running around back and forth, left and right, trying to return his serve that set off the alarm on my heart monitor, whereupon I decided that a nice sit down was called for, whilst everyone else discussed the next pairings for the subsequent set. I began to wish I hadn't left my iron lung at home. By a quirky chance of good fortune I was paired with a lady called Claire, whose day job is a paramedic.
I felt a wave of relaxation drift over me as I served off in the next game knowing that if I did keel over at any point then at least there was help close by; I was sure she'd have at least a defibrillator in her tennis bag, plus a wide variety of additional highly technical life-saving equipment, and probably knew a very quick way to the L&D although how she'd have got me in the back of her sports car I'm not sure.
Fortunately I saw out the rest of the morning without incident, and can thoroughly recommend our Sunday sessions as a way to blow away those winter cobwebs. If I can survive it, then so can you!
For any further information about the club, including when we get together for our social tennis sessions up at the School Lane courts, or our various activities, please call either Chairman Ross Bagni, Coach Nick Boys, or if they're all out and I'm not giving myself a medical, me, Andy Cross.
Source: Focus, April 2007
EB Lions AFC
A belated thank you to everybody who collected Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs vouchers for us at the end of 2006. As a result we have been able to obtain some very useful training equipment for the teams. We are also expecting to be able to use our new storage facility very soon, which has been partially funded by the AVDC Sports Grant team. Thank you to Edlesborough School for kindly allowing us to site the facility at the school.
If you would like to check up on the progress of the various teams in the club, please access our website at www.eblions.co.uk. Match reports for some of the teams also appear in the Leighton Buzzard Observer.
Looking to the future, a new U7 boys' team and an U10 girls' team will be formed for next season.
Also, the club is still interested in finding a permanent site where we could have room for a pavilion, about three junior pitches and a senior pitch. If anybody knows of a suitable site please contact the club chairman, Andrew Lancefield.
Liz Coates, Press Officer, EB Lions AFC
Source: Focus, April 2007
St Mary's Village Carnival 2007 - Favourite Adverts
Our Survey Said...
Thank you to those who sent in responses to our survey earlier in the year. You told us quite clearly that you love our carnival just as it is. There were some suggestions for things we already do... so make sure when you come to the carnival that you don't miss a thing, whether it's the cake stall, BBQ or the entertainment in the arena. Your carnival programme will give you full details. The carnival format will stay the same but we do like to introduce some new things to entertain you all.
Booking a Stall is so easy...
To book a pitch for your group or organisation, contact Chris Banks and you could be raking in the profits. And remember to give your stall the edge by dressing up for our theme... Favourite Adverts.
Advertise your local business
The carnival programme is widely distributed and read by several thousand households and many local businesses advertise regularly in this publication. You can book adverts at a competitive price to reach your customers.
Contact our website or chairman Peter Bennett for details.
Wanted...Helpers and... a 20 foot shipping container!
We would love to hear from people who would like to help with the carnival. The great community spirit of our villagers is the reason we have such a wonderful event each summer. If you've never experienced it, come and get involved, because that way you'll get even more out of it.
Contact us on: www.stmarysvillagecarnival.com
New for 2007
Climbing Wall
Especially for those who like a little adventure.
Scaling Mount Everest it's not, but we expect this one to be a big hit. Can you make it to the top?
Silent Auction
Shhhh... It's a great way to choose the price you want to pay for that special item,...but prepare for some fierce competition. We are expecting some very interesting lots for bidding, but you'll need to keep an eye on your favourites.
Source: St Mary's Village Carnival
Quiz Night
All proceeds will be split equally between Eaton Bray Tennis Club and Eaton Bray Village Hall refurbishment.
Prize for winners; Raffle; Teams of up to 8 people. Contact Ross or Katrina for tickets.
Round-Ireland Charity Ride
Though we moved out of Eaton Bray in the summer, we hope it's a case of gone but not forgotten.
Shaun is cycling around Ireland, give or take a peninsula or two, at a distance of about 1300 miles, starting on 24th March. So, by the time you read this, he ought to be about halfway round and heading down the west coast.
Whilst he may be enjoying one of his favourite parts of the world, and possibly the odd drop of Guinness to fortify him, such a distance is no mean feat for a man approaching forty, so he is raising money in aid of cancer-related charities as he goes. Your generous contribution would be most appreciated. Some of you may remember his articles in Focus in 1995 describing his ride from John O'Groats to Land's End, from which over £3000 was raised, so that sounds like a good target to try and beat this time.
All those years ago, the internet was just a glint in somebody's eye but, in 2007, if you have access to it, sponsorship is easy. Go to the website www.drude.co.uk you can read more about this venture and it will also direct you to an official charity giving site. For those of you who prefer more traditional methods, you can mark your pledge and leave your cash (or cheque) at Eaton Bray Lower School, who have kindly agreed to help out - if any queries on that, Liz Warby would be happy to hear from you, or speak to Liz Constable in the school office on 220468 (days).
With a warm hello to everyone who knows us.... I'll be there in the backup car with co-pilot Calum (and an oxygen mask!!!),
Beccy Haydon
Source: Focus, April 2007
A new service for Pensioners in your area
The Local Pension Service have officers who visit pensioners in their own homes, in this area and want to make sure you are not missing out on money from the Government - money that is rightfully yours.
A full benefit entitlement check is provided, as well as help to complete any application forms. This includes checking your eligibility to various entitlements such as Attendance Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
We can also help you to access services provided by other organisations who may be of use to you, for example, help with home adaptations/security or information on social activities in your area.
If you would like to take advantage of this service please call the Local Pension Service on Bedford (01234) 361710, to arrange a convenient visit in your own home.
Source: Focus, April 2007
Parish Council Minutes - April 2007
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting: Monday 2nd April 2007
The Annual Parish meeting is to be held at the Coffee Tavern on Tuesday 8th May 2007 at 7.30pm.
The next Parish Council meeting to be held at the Coffee Tavern on Wednesday 9th May 2007 at 7.30pm.
Salvation Sound - April 2007
The Foot of The Cross
I was there at the foot of the cross. I couldn't understand
Why following Him should be banned; I was just a young impressionable youth.
I was still searching for the truth.
Céasar was our living God; but we had many another.
I had come here to visit, the Tribune, my brother.
Jerusalem,.... this place, full of Jews. They talk of a Messiah;
A bringer of 'Good News', A deliverer, a shepherd for His sheep.
This place is so boring - I'm almost asleep!.
I came because a crucifixion meant at last some small measure of excitement.
But now I feel it's time to go home, life's far more entertaining
When I'm in Rome......
I was there at the foot of the cross, I am a Jew,
I had nothing better that day to do; I had to come here for the feast,
Go to the Temple, buy lamb from the priest;
There was a trial, Pilate asked, and sought an answer,
Are you a Lord, Man from Galilee?" Later he said, "Take Him to Herod,
He this farce will oversee". "Kill Him", we cried, "Let Him be crucified".
Me, a goldsmith, I went along with the crowd,and I saw the sad look on Jesus' face
And I knew then that that hill was a sacred place. We killed Him, the Nazarene
Son of God; that man had seen......
I was there at the foot of the cross, I saw his agony, felt the people's loss,
I heard Him call to His Father that day, "Forgive them", he said,
"They know not what they do or say".... The sky was black just as of night,
Lightning, wind, rain, the people took fright. The Temple curtain rent in two.
He called,"Father, I am cometh to You". After that, I too, went on my way,
But I'll not forget what I saw that day; for this was a man, full of love, I'm told,
A carpenter's son, who made so bold as to teach and promise a Spirit from God,
A life everlasting, washed by His blood!..A merchant I am, with spices to sell,
And time truth to tell, is something I cannot afford, to talk of someone who called
Himself, 'The Son of the Lord'.
I was there at the foot of the cross, I saw the soldiers as dice they did toss,
They were gambling for His cloak. He hung and died upon that tree,
To take the sin from you and me. 'Twas to His Father that He spoke;
But I was His MOTHER:...Oh,don't you see, why didn't He say a last word to me?.
My tears, they fell and mingled with His blood, as it ran down the hill,
And mixed with the mud... The heavens were dark, storm filled the air.
Where were His friends? Did they not care? He was my firstborn, my eldest son.
Why did they crucify Him? What had He done? He was so gentle, good and kind,
How could the people be so blind? They tested Him and put Him on trial,
Made Him carry that cross, mile upon mile. They scourged His back with many a whip
And gave Him vinegar, when He asked for water to sip.
They put on His head a crown of thorn, was this really why He was born?
On each of His sides they hung a thief; His life on this earth, had been so brief...
I was there at the foot of the cross; for it's with my mind that I can see.
I know when He died it was for me. That far away day yet very near.
I'm filled with wonder, and yes, sometimes fear; for my faith is not strong,
'Though it is sincere. Today it is to me that He calls. He lifts me when I stumble,
or fall. His presence is always at my side, and it's in His love, that I abide.
Yes, I am here at the foot of the cross, but I am not filled with a sense of loss,
For I know that He will come again,and when He does there will be no pain.
We will laugh and shout, and full of joy we'll sing, for He is coming again,
Coming as King....I am here standing at the foot of the cross, for it is here
Wherever we meet; the foot of the cross, the mercy seat.
The thought of love, its undying ember, I can't forget............ DO YOU REMEMBER...?
Maureen Richardson
Source: Focus, April 2007
Eaton Bray Methodist Church
BOOK SALE and PLOUGHMANS LUNCHES on Saturday April 14th. Sale from 11.00am and Lunches served from 12.00 noon until 2.00pm.
Anyone with books to donate please contact Sandra or Alannah and they will arrange to collect them from you.
The proceeds from this event are to be shared between;
THE TIGERS CLUB in Uganda which enables street children to realize their potential and discover their worth. This charity is now extending its work into Ethiopia and Kenya, helping their street children too.
SMILE INTERNATIONAL which is a charity helping to relieve suffering and poverty in over 20 countries throughout the world,by providing humanitarian aid and long term development projects.
The charity is perhaps best known for the "Shoe Box Appeal" which we take part in every year.
Please help us make this (what is for us a new venture) a successful event by donating books and coming along on the day for the Book Sale and Lunches.
DATES for your diary
- April 6th Good Friday United Service @ 10.30 am.
- April 8th Easter Day Family Communion Service @ 10.30am.
- May 4th Organ Encore with Len Rawle. Admission by programme only at £5.00 available from Helen.
- June 9th Garden Fete and Lunches from 12noon at the home of Jane and James McFarland.
Source: Focus, April 2007
Open Gardens - 10 June 2007
Following last year's wonderful day exploring the gardens of Eaton Bray, Edlesborough and Northall it is time to start preparing for this year's event. Once again various garden owners and allotment holders have been kind enough to agree to open their gardens for our delight, with more from Edlesborough than there were last year. The money raised will be shared between Chilterns Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and St Mary's Roof Fund.
Please see Open Gardens 2007 for full details.
Source: St Mary's, Eaton Bray
Organ Encore
Admission by programme only. These souvenir Programmes must be purchased in advance £5 each from Helen.
Profits from this evening's entertainment will be shared equally between Northall and District Age Concern and Eaton Bray Methodist Church.
We Need Friends!
Countless married couples will agree with visitors who say how lucky we are to have such an attractive Church in Our Village. Strange isn't it that we only wonder how such a building has survived for 800 years when we visit it for special occasions like christenings and weddings or at Christmas? Sometimes we try to forget that our forebears have left with us the responsibility of preserving the building for future generations. This is what belonging to The Friends is all about.
They will be a group of local people, old friends and others who want to be involved and whose sole aim will be to ensure that the Church building is passed on to the next generation in as good a state of repair as it is now. Achieving this goal will require the funding of a planned maintenance programme, for like any old building there is always something that needs doing to keep out the weather or to keep it safe. Over £200,000 has been spent in the last few years on the stonework and roof and more work is needed to finish off the roof project and to make the floor safe.
So this is an invitation to everyone to come along on the 24th to hear talks about the Church building, together with entertainments on the Bells and by the Organ & Choir. Meet The Edlesbray Players and talk about the 2008 Panto, discuss the 2007 Carnival with its organisers, meet staff from the Chiltern MS therapy Centre and talk to representatives from Fairtrade. If you are not free on the 24th and would like to talk about being associated with The Friends then do contact me.
Entry and light refreshments are free.
-- Peter Bennett
Source: Focus, April 2007