Archived News
July 2011
World's Biggest Coffee Morning is 21 and you're all invited
Macmillan Cancer Support's flagship event, World's Biggest Coffee Morning has reached its 21st year and we are asking you to join us and help those affected by Cancer by hosting your very own celebratory Coffee Morning.
WBCM is the UK's third biggest one day fundraiser. Last year 751 people hosted a coffee morning in Cambridgeshire raising more than £130,000. Together 43,000 people registered to hold a coffee morning across the UK, raising over £8million.
This year the event takes place on Friday 30th September and we're aiming to celebrate in style and hope you can join us. There are 2 million people living with cancer in the UK, so we need to raise even more money to pay for our vital cancer support services.
Taking part in Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning is really simple – choose a date that suits you, choose your event and send out invitations to raise the vital money to support people affected by cancer. More importantly WBCM is a chance to get friends and colleagues together to have fun.
Whether it's a traditional coffee morning at home, work or school, or something different altogether – a garden party, pub quiz, or karaoke night - the main thing is getting together with friends and knowing that your collective efforts are making a huge difference to people affected by cancer.
Register at coffee.macmillan.org.uk or for more information contact Michelle Pullen, Fundraising Manager on 01480 408982 / mpullen@macmillan.org.uk
How about a Cops v Kids football match?
Bedfordshire Police's Local Policing Teams (formerly Safer Neighbourhood Teams) have organised a series of Active Surgeries during the summer holidays. In addition to offering help and advice, the teams will be carrying out property marking and offering to secure car number plates.
Sporting activities for youngsters will also be provided!
So, why not come along and see how our Officers fair against youngsters in a game of football?
Wednesday 3rd August, 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Eaton Bray Skate Park (School Lane)
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Parish Council Minutes - July 2011
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting: Monday 4th July 2011
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 5th September 2011, 7.30pm, in the Coffee Tavern.
Parcel Delivery Scam - It's NOT your name on it!
Bedfordshire Police is warning the public to check labels carefully when taking delivery of parcels at their homes...
A new scam has come to notice whereby parcels are being delivered to residences with the labels showing a correct address, but an unknown name. The person receiving the parcel has been asked to sign for it and, in many cases, has done so.
Soon after the delivery, usually the following day, a woman visits the address saying she believes a parcel intended for her has been delivered there by mistake.
The woman takes the parcel and is not seen again.
Within a few days, occupants of the address invariably start to receive paperwork, often including payment demands for the parcel.
The woman is described as being of mixed race, aged in her 20s, large build and approximately 5'5" tall. She has 'significant red hair'.
Sergeant Andy Rivers said, "Even if you are expecting a delivery, make sure the label is correctly addressed to you or a member of your household.
"If you are not expecting a parcel, carefully inspect the label and if there are any discrepancies in the details, you must seriously consider declining the delivery."
If this has happened to you, or you have any information about the scam, please contact Sergeant Rivers on 01234 841212 or text 07786 200011, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously if preferred, on 0800 555111.
Thank you for your support.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Advice from Trading Standards
Buckinghamshire Trading Standards are warning residents to be on their guard against a company called DIRECT RESPONSE SECURITY attempting to sell "free monitored alarm systems".
Salespersons normally cold-call by telephone and advise residents that they have been selected to receive a "free monitored alarm system" and that a representative is in the area and will call on them to discuss the matter further.
The representatives calling at people's homes then make a number of false/misleading claims that there is a problem with crime in the area and convince residents to get a burglar alarm fitted. Once the alarm is installed, the residents are left with a large bill for future monitoring services they have been tricked into signing up to.
Trading standards across the country are reporting complaints of companies scaring consumers into accepting a free burglar alarm which then ties the victim to a contract costing thousands of pounds.
The Trading Standards Institute is urging consumers to say no to companies offering these free appliances, claiming they are working with the police or as part of a Government scheme, or that they are researching for a fire and security alarm system company.
The salesman will typically cold call, keen to make a home visit the same day to discuss the installation of a free or cheap alarm. The companies are reported to use high pressure tactics and to scaremonger about rising crime levels in the area, while some are reported to make misleading claims about the alarms being directly linked to the police or the availability of a hotline to police patrol cars.
What they fail to mention are the fees that residents will have to pay for the monitoring, upkeep and rapid response facilities, which can add up to thousands of pounds.
Some have found themselves tied to a six-year contract agreement costing up to £6,000.
Consumers who sign on the dotted line will have a seven day cooling off period during which they can change their minds.
Trading Standards are urging residents, especially pensioners and their families, to be on their guard and not to buy anything based on a cold-call. If you think you have been a victim of this or a similar scam and would like advice on your rights please call Consumer Direct on 0808 156 2259.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Launch of Central Bedfordshire Music Service
The new Central Bedfordshire Music Service has been launched - with a new "competitive" pricing structure starting in September. The local authority hopes that the new package will strengthen opportunities for group learning, and are aiming to increase the minimum number of guaranteed music lessons in schools from 30 to 33 a year.
The cost of attending Leighton Buzzard Music Centre, and other similar facilities in Central Bedfordshire, have also been set to ensure that more youngsters will be able to use them.
The council has redesigned the former Bedfordshire Music Service and is operating it on a cost neutral basis as part of the response to its budget challenge. This has allowed for a reduction in lesson fees again.
Councillor Mark Versallion, executive member responsible for children's services, said: "The vision of the service is to give children and young people the opportunity to become the best musicians they possibly can."
For revised lesson fees and charges, which will come into effect in September, visit www.inspiringmusic.co.uk
Summer Youth Music Courses will be playing on over the school holidays with more than 300 young musicians taking part. For the course and concert schedule, see Summer Youth Music Courses.
Big Butterfly Count 2011
Now is a good time to contribute to the Big Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation, for 2011. It only takes 15 mins of your time and can be carried out anytime between 16th and 31st July 2011.
The Count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping to assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and an impressive 210,000 butterflies and day-flying moths across the UK last year.
For more information and to submit your records please see: www.bigbutterflycount.org
St Mary's Village Carnival 2011
St Mary's Village Carnival has grown to become one of the largest events of its kind in the country.
Run entirely by volunteers to raise money for local good causes, the event displays a wonderful community spirit.
Many thousands of people flocked to Edlesborough Green where there were over 150 stalls of all kinds. In almost perfect weather the event was opened by Rev Coralie McCluskey, who has recently been appointed priest in charge of St Mary's, Eaton Bray with help from the Carnival Queen, Rebecca Baldwin, Carnival Princess, Stephanie Tate and two attendants, Melanie Tate and Chloe Tough.
2011 saw one of the biggest processions in recent years with around 40 vehicles including nine floats dressed to the Carnival theme of Pirates. As well as ships loaded with pirates, the floats included the whole cast of Peter Pan (with pirates led by Captain Hook) and modern day Somali pirates attacking a family cruising the oceans. Results of the procession were:
- Lower School: 1st - Edlesborough U5s, 2nd – Eaton Bray Academy, 3rd - Totternhoe Lower School
- Middle: 1st - 1st Eaton Bray & Edlesborough Cubs, 2nd - Edlesborough School, 3rd - 2nd Eaton Bray Brownies
- Adult: GIFT, Cats Protection Society, Janes
One of the features of the Carnival is the way so many households dress their houses with balloons, bunting and to the theme of the event – it is a joy to walk or drive through the villages. This year the standard for the prize of Best Dressed House was very, very high and there were at least 15 houses in contention for the prizes. Trophies, donated by Ben Wright, of Edlesborough Autos, were awarded to 44-46 High St Edlesborough and 39 Moor End, Eaton Bray, with commendations to the runners up – 9 The Green, Edlesborough and 9 High St, Eaton Bray.
The star prize winners at the Carnival were all local including the winners of a weekend for two in Rome, a beautifully carved statue created by our chainsaw carver, Dan Cordell and a cheque for Clarabelle, the Carnival's pantomime cow.
The amount of money raised is unquantifiable. The Carnival Committee expects to have raised a similar total to last year – in the region of 12-13 thousand pounds, which in the economic climate is a fantastic result; beneficiaries of this sum will include St Mary's Church, the Hospice of St Francis and Weatherfield School, plus many local good causes. In addition it is estimated that another £30,000 in total was raised by stall holders – much of this money will come back to the local community.
For pictures and more, see the St Mary's Village Carnival website and Facebook pages.