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ISSUE 2: JULY 2011

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

For: music-lovers, culture-vultures, crafters, artists, makers, gardeners, traders, foodies, fashionistas
Your finger-on-the-pulse, indispensable guide to whats going down in this town.
email: thebedfordclanger@gmail.com blog:thebedfordclanger.wordpress.com twitter:@bedfordclanger facebook: The Bedford Clanger Group Page
Illustration by: Marisa Straccia

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

Welcome to the July issue of The Bedford Clanger, which, as Im sure youve gleaned from the front cover, is a Bedfringe special.
Not only have we got details of every single show thats on offer from 15th 30th July, weve also interviewed local group the Ouse Valley Singles Club about among other things - being Bedford rascals. Not sure what to book? We asked Bedfringe Director of Programming, James Pharaoh to nominate his top three acts. As you will see from his choices, there really is something for everyone this year. Also coming up this month is the inaugural Bedford Book Festival, taking place in a variety of town-centre locations from 15th of July to the end of August. A celebration of the written word in its many forms, the Book Festival will bring poetry, prose, graphic novels and blogging to our town in quirky and intimate venues. www.bedfordbookfestival.co.uk As ever, the centre spread of The Clanger is our listings guide. From gardens to gigs via guided walks, let us help you pack as much culture into the month ahead as possible. Finally, a big thank you to everyone who came along to the Bedford Clanger launch events at Fancy, Bedfords new coffee and cake shop on Roff Avenue and to the Big Lunch at Castle Bailey Gardens. It was great to see real people reading and enjoying the first issue of The Clanger!

JULY 2011

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, 59 MIDLAND ROAD, BEDFORD Close Encounters has been attracting comic book fans to Midland Road since 2004. With a larger-than-life Batman figure standing guard outside the shop, chances are youll know exactly where it is.
Photo by: Shaun Armstrong

UNIQUE BEDFORD

The Bedford Clanger met up with MD Bub Chahal to get the story on this super(hero)store and discovered that you can even create your very own personalised comic

Q1. What inspired you to open Close Encounters?

Bub Chahal: The X-Man Factor I love the 90s as the Snes and N64 were fantastic machines from Nintendo with some brilliantly produced games that still stand up today. My favourite retro game is Zelda Ocarina of Time on the N64 (The Clanger would have to agree!). In fact Nintendo have just released a 3d version for its 3DS console. to the movie/show theyve seen. For example, fans of the Sin City movie often find that once theyre in the store, that they like the look of other crime books like 100 Bullets or Criminal. to get books that kids are interested in reading into libraries. Manga especially is incredibly popular with kids and teenagers so we make a big effort to have a dedicated area to Manga books and to have a Kids Corner with easy to read books.

I worked at MVC for nine years, but wanted the opportunity to combine my hobby with my career. Before we opened, if you wanted to browse a large non-superhero range of graphic novels you would have to go to London. I wanted to develop a mainstream store with a reading area and wider product range than had previously been available in Bedford.

Q2. How would you describe the shop to someone not familiar with it?

Q4. What is the most popular comic character?

Q6. What is the rarest/most expensive comic that you stock?

Were similar in some respects to the Forbidden Planet chain of stores but are more strongly focused on comics and graphic novels. We carry a range of about 3,000 graphic novels and 60,000 comics. We also carry hundreds of action figures, toys and retro video games. The store is real mix of pop culture stuff from Stephen King graphic novels to action figures of Elvis. We tend to find were a gifting store when people are looking for ideas or something a bit different to what chain stores offer.

That depends on whom you ask! Id guess that its either Batman or Spider-man. Marvel is definitely the most popular company in the UK as they had a UK branch set up in the 70s so you have a generation of kids who had easy access to Marvel comics.

Q5. There has been a spate of comic-inspired film adaptations. Does this bring new customers to your shop to find the original comics?

We dont really focus on the most expensive or rarest comics. Weve quite a few Silver Age comics that date from the early years of Marvel but Im far more interested in a comics contents than its value. As regards rarity its possible to have a completely unique comic made up for you in-store at one of our store signings. You can buy a blank cover comic and have it personalised cover drawn by an artist. I think that a rare comic like that is more valuable because its related to a personal experience of meeting the artist.

Q8. If you could make one improvement to Bedford, what would it be?

Someone really needs to open a CD/DVD store as its a shame that the town doesnt have one. I really miss music shopping as buying a CD at a supermarket really doesnt cut it...

Q9. Finally, sum up Bedford in three words...

Home - Diverse Historic www.closeencounters.co.uk 01234 270777 As part of the Bedford Book Festival, Close Encounters is offering a 20% discount on all comics from 14th July to end August, and a competition to win original artwork of pages from Green Lantern. Pop into the shop for details.

Erica Roffe (Editor)

Q3. You sell retro games consoles. What was the best decade for gaming and whats your favourite retro game?

GOOD movies definitely bring in new customers! Nobody came asking for Jonah Hex comics but we had a lot of interest in Walking Dead while the show was running on TV. Often a film or show will get someone through the door and they can discover other books related or similar could be seen for miles around. It was effectively the towns timepiece in the days before watches. Or the bull-shaped clock that stands out from the shopfronts on the High Street. This was the original site of John Bull jewellers and the clock was the symbol of their store. At 10am each day a ball would drop on the reverse side of the clockface to signify GMT. Fascinatingly, the years during the Second World War saw many departments of the BBC relocate to Bedford to avoid the bombings in London. During the Blitz it was deemed too dangerous for the BBCs Music Department to remain in London, and they were originally evacuated to Bristol. Unfortunately, as they arrived in the West Country, Bristol came under heavy bombing too. The Mayor of Bedford heard of their plight and offered the musicians a home in our town. A hired train left Bristol with the entirety of the BBCs musicians, band-leaders and technical crews and they established themselves in various buildings around

Q7. Do comics and graphic novels make reading more accessible to kids?

Definitely. There are quite a few studies that show that kids that start reading comics at an early age tend to have a higher reading age than kids who dont. Weve worked with local schools and libraries the town including The Corn Exchange. Other departments then followed including drama, news and religious affairs. The Daily Service was actually broadcast from St. Pauls Church everyday. It is no exaggeration to say that Bedford kept the BBC broadcasting during the war years, explains Trevor. We are running our popular WWII walk on Sunday 3rd July and again on Wednesday 14th August so please book a space if youd like to find out more. If you would like to find out more or to book a place on any of the Guided Walks, please contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01234 221712 or email: touristinfo@bedford.gov.uk

HOMETOWN TOURIST
GUIDED WALKS Take time to look at our town with fresh eyes. By being a tourist in your own town youll be amazed at what is right on your doorstep
With a wealth of knowledge and experience, what the Bedford Tour Guides dont know about our town isnt worth knowing! Established by the Borough Council over 20 years ago, the Tour Guides are your key to the hidden history of Bedford.

They run twice weekly tours on a plethora of subjects (see the Listings Guide for further information) and have a passion for sharing their stories. The Clanger met with Trevor Stewart to find out some of the secrets of the town centre. Our most popular walk is called I Never Knew That and even Bedfordians who join us for this tour are always amazed at how much history of the town is unknown to them, explains Trevor. I wont give away the secret, but there is something unusual about the statue of John Howard that never fails to astound people! (I can vouch for that! Ed) When we start a walking tour of the town, we always advise people to look up above the shop-fronts. In almost all cases, thats where all the interesting details can be found, says Trevor. For example, the clock on St Pauls church was known as Gods clock in years gone by as it

Will you be performing in Bedford this month?

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

JULY 2011

BEDFRINGE
James Pharoah: Bedfringe is bigger than ever

IN ASSOCIATION WITH EAGLE BEER

and there is more information about the Busking Festival on page 2, but if you want the lowdown from James on what you really cant afford to miss, here are his top three recommendations: Previewing their Edinburgh Fringe show, this is your chance to finally appreciate just how funny socks can be, says James. The stars of BBC3s Comedy Shuffle, MTV, GMTV, 4 whole seconds on The Culture Show - and now BBC1s The One Show - bring you a brand new show of songs, sketches, socks and violence. The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre are a comedy double act who have been compared, favourably, to Morecambe & Wise and Abbott & Costello, with a contemporary style which has seen them featured on shows as diverse as The Culture Show (those four seconds count!), The One Show, and Big Brothers Little Brother.

BUSKING FESTIVAL

It was in 2006 that Bedfordians James Pharoah and Richard Mann began working on a professional show to take to the Edinburgh Fringe. Their theatre company, Future Legends, produced a show featuring Alex Perkins (The Office/ Foyles War) and they headed over the border. Impressed by the sheer volume of events that came under the Fringe banner, they believed that something similar (although just a tiny bit a smaller) could be achieved in Bedford and Bedfringe was born.

Bane III

Everyones heard of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Each August it dominates the newspapers & the winner of the newcomer award is guaranteed rockgod-like status. But if you dont want to cross the border why not enjoy top quality acts from the comfort of your own town... Ladies & Gentlemen,we give you BEDFRINGE! Theres loads of local talent taking part this year. Heres our pick of Bedfords best:
The Great Brain Robbery
7.30pm Tuesday 26th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: 7.50 concessions 5.50 Bedford College film lecturer, Neil Fox is taking The Great Brain Robbery to Edinburgh this year, so heres your chance to catch a sneaky preview. During this one-hour sketch show youll see this five piece don wigs, put on voices and deliver songs and sketches in a classic way. Not for kids or the sensitive.

Richard and I felt that Bedford would embrace something like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, so when we returned we began the process of establishing the framework for the first Bedfringe. Our aim was to bring a mix of professional and local talent to a variety of venues in the town, said James. The first Bedfringe took place in 2007 over one week with a total of 35 shows. We received support from local businesses many who are still sponsors five years on and we made a profit!
Photo by: Shaun Armstrong

Building on the each years successes, Bedfringe has gone from strength to strength. And while it might have been slightly under the mainstream radar, those in the know have embraced Bedfringe as the place to see Edinburgh preview shows and top name acts for a fraction of the price and at quirky venues. This years event is our most ambitious yet. A fortnight of over fifty performances in venues including The Place Theatre, The Corn Exchange, The Devonshire Arms, Esquires and The Bedford Swan Hotel. In addition, We Are Bedford is hosting a Busking Festival in locations throughout the town, so wherever you are, you are likely to be able to enjoy an element of Bedfringe, said James. The full programme of events can be found in the Listings pages of The Clanger

8.30pm 29th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: 7.50 (5.50 concessions) Dont worry if you havent seen Bane I or II, this really is an unmissable show, says James. We didnt have enough room in the programme to list all the awards Joe Bone has won for this instalment of the Bruce Bane trilogy. Suffice to say, The Guardian called it A brilliant hour of comedy theatre... widescreen thrill with zero props, so youve got in on good authority that thisll be well worth seeing. From The Clangers point of view, just to know Joe holds the Guinness world record for most characters performed by one actor in a show is enough to convince us! Joe Bone brings this quick-fire comedy to boiling point with just his body, his voice and a live guitar soundtrack from one-man Morricone, Ben Roe.

Makoto Inoue Richard

From the team that brought you The Castle Quay Weekender comes The Bedford Busking Festival- part of this years excellent Bedfringe line-up.
ith the aim of bringing top-quality music to our town, We Are Bedford has brought together a host of talented performers to entertain you at five buskerfriendly pitches throughout the town. The buskers at the Castle Quay Weekender created such a great atmosphere that we wanted to take the concept further, said We Are Bedfords Kayte Judge. Music has the ability to turn spaces into places and we hope to make Bedford a more busking-friendly town as a result of the festival. If you want to catch some of our towns most talented musicians in action, you can find the busking sites at the following locations: Beside the Silver Faces Lime Street/Harpur Street Church Square Midland Road (outside the Harpur Centre entrance) Harpur Street (outside Burger King) From African drumming (Malcolm Smith) to ukelele-toting songstress Beth Fereday, Still Seeking (Seekers tribute act) to Kai Jenkins the 11 year old melodeon player, there will be something for every musical taste. In addition, The Riverside Grill at Castle Quay, The Bedford Swan Hotel and the Howard Centre will be hosting buskers too. Theyre everywhere, so make sure you catch them while you can and give generously! wearebedford.co.uk

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre Company

4pm 24th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: FREE!!!!! Were thrilled that the winner of this years Inspiration Award at the Prague Fringe Festival, Makoto Inoue, is brining his interpretation of Shakespeares Richard III to Bedfringe, said James. This performance forms part of the Free Fringe Weekend, so its absolutely free. Richard is based on William Shakespeares Richard III. Using traditional Japanese dance fused with modern Western European street styles this is the first mime show of its kind. Finally - your chance to experience neo-Japanesque mime art in Bedford! www.bedfringe. com

7pm 29th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: 7.50 (5.50 concessions)

LOCAL THINGS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

single scene. Want to know more about the OVSC? Then turn to the back page to read our interview with the ukemeister himself.

Hold

4.30pm 17th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: 7 (concessions: 5) Two Thirds Sky return to Bedfringe 2011 with Hold, a solo for two women who, in dancing become the same body. Performed by lecturers at the University of Bedfordshire, the women gradually morph to become fictitious caricatures of themselves.

The BIG DANCE @Bedfringe! All day 17th July at the South Bank Arts Centre (Studio Theatre) Age Guidance: 10+ DANCE WORKSHOPS
Come along to the South Bank Arts Centre at Bedford College in the morning for a chance to try out some new ideas with BYDCs talented dance leaders (Ideal for ages 11-18) BIG Dance workshops (25 places available on each): 10.30am - 11.30am Contemporary workshop 11.45pm -12.45pm Contact workshop 1.00pm - 2.00pm Commercial dance workshop Tickets 2 per workshop PERFORM YOUR DANCE If you have a solo dance or you are part of a duet or a dance group/school then you have the chance to show your dance as part of the BIG DANCE WINNERS section of the day. (max 25 entrants) Entry categories: a) under 10 yrs b)11 14yrs c)15-18yrs [The space will be available for rehearsal from 2.30pm 5.30pm] For more information how to take part, please go to bedfringe.com

Bedfordshire Youth Dance Company:

Theatre of Widdershins: The Kings Got Donkeys Ear Simon Munnery - Hats off to the 101ers

2:30pm 23rd July at The Place Theatre Potton-based puppetry fun for all the family, especially the over 4s.

Ouse Valley Singles Club

5.30pm 24th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: Free!!!!!!! Bedfords very own musical comedy duo, The Ouse Valley Singles Club, invite the audience for one night only to become honorary members and take advantage of the excellent advice from host Andy who bears the scars of his many years on the

7.30pm 16th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: 7.50 concessions 5.50 Perrier Award nominee and Bromhambased comedian Simon Munnery brings his one man musical about the R101 airship disaster of 1930 and some other new stuff to Bedfringe on his way to Edinburgh. Go see! said the London Evening Standard. Well, go on then, says the Bedford Clanger.

The Bedford Busking Festival 11am 3pm Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July Bedford town centre Following the success of the Castle Quay Weekender, the founders of We Are Bedford are turning their attention to the town centre for this years Bedfringe festival. With the aim to turn spaces into places, the Busking Festival will bring a wonderful mix of music and performance to locations in the town centre. Further information and locations can be found in our busking feature at the top of this page.

John Hegley

7.30pm 29th July at The Place Theatre Tickets: 7.50 concessions 5.50 As reported in last months Clanger, John Hegley (who hails from Bedfordshire) is previewing his Edinburgh show at Bedfringe. Expect his mix of awesomely mundane comedy and poetry to entertain and delight. Nothing slip-shod here!

Whoever says that there is nothing to do in Bedford is WRONG!

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

LISTINGS THIS JULY 2011
5 piece covers band at The Flowerpot 01234 294174 Lecarla + support Iron Maiden front-man says theyre like Bullet for My Valentine. See if you agree. Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Grace Trabucci & her band Jazz, blues & swing at Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com The Pads 9th Birthday Weekender Silent Disco - 2 DJs, 2 channels, every style of music played under the sun! The Pad thepadbedford.com Marry em off, Kill em off: researching a London family Bedfordshire Family History Society Talk Mark Rutherford School, Wentworth Drive bfhs.org.uk

JULY 2011
Fri 1 VIPeas Wind Down Wednesday ft. Elliot Morris + My First Tooth Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com
Follow in the footsteps of John Bunyan 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk Jam with Steve Jones at the Kings Arms 01234 354494 Ever walked past an interesting house in the town centre & wondered about its past? Nows your chance to find out! 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk 294174

The Life & Times of John Bunyan

Thurs 14 The Flowerpot Jam Night 01234 Fri 15 Driving Miss Daisy

Thurs 7 The Flowerpot Jam Night Fri 8 Hair of The Dog

Join Mat Roberts for his weekly jamming session at The Flowerpot 01234 294174

Bedford Busking Festival 23rd & 24th July Come and enjoy a wide range of acts playing al fresco in Bedford Town Centre between 11am and 3pm Expect African drums, acoustic folk rock and pop, Jazz, laid back funk, a capella barbershop quartets, melodeon players and much much more.

A professionally accredited, award winning and friendly branding and design consultancy. We take the complex and make it simple. Call 01525 841079 or visit www.bonreci.com

In aid of Help 4 Heroes. Tombola, cake stall, BBQ, hogroast, raffle, auction. Programme on website: www.whitehorsebedford.co.uk The White Horse, Newnham Ave Tel 01234 409306 Vintage Stuff Classic covers band at The Kings Arms 01234 354494 Single File Classic & modern rock covers The Flowerpot 01234 294174 Larry Miller + Cherry Lee Mewis Rock & blues Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Loaded Classic indie night 3 before midnight The Pad thepadbedford.com

Sat 2 12 hour music event

Irish folk rockers The Flowerpot 01234 294174 Rise Above + Support Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com The Pirate Sessions Drum & bass with DJ Outrage at The Pad thepadbedford.com The Lightning Seeds Ian Broudie & his band play AmpRocks festival. Oooh, lucky you! Ampthill Park amprocks.co.uk Lots of lovely handcrafted & vintage goodies for sale at this gorgeous market. Midland Road beserious@ntl.com Ska! Kings Arms 01234 354494 The Riffs + Support Rock n Roll/punk Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires. com Midnight Walk In aid of Sue Ryder - St Johns Hospice, Moggerhanger Bedford Athletics Stadium 01767 641044 stjohns.fundraising@ sueryder.org John Cutlers music quiz. Now in its 21st year! Kings Arms 01234 354494 The Jewel in Bedfords Crown A circular walk along Bedfords beautiful Victorian Embankment 7pm Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford. co.uk

1988 Pulitzer prize-winning play comes to Bedfringe The Place Theatre bedfringe. com 01234 269519 Tim FitzHigham: Gentleman Adventurer Multi-award winner & Perrier nominated comedian Bedford School Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Matt Kirshan & Kerry Godliman EdFringe preview of these fab comics The Ent Shed bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Spoonful Classic & modern rock covers at The Flowerpot 01234 294174

Sat 9 Handcrafted in Bedford

Floods + Support Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Hellfyre club night Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com

The Iconics

One Night Whip Electro party night at The Pad thepadbedford.com

Yum Yum club night

Ska & punk club night

La Petite Ecole Franaise provide both curriculum & after school French lessons across Bedford Borough and Mid Beds. Using dynamic teaching methods and mother tongue teachers we give your child the confidence to converse freely and develop the framework to acquire language skills whilst also having fun! tel: 01234 407915 email: info@likemindslearning.co.uk

John Cutlers music quiz. Now in its 21st year! Kings Arms 01234 354494 Thunderbird 5 Bedfords classic rock covers band Esquires Dannys Bar bedfordesquires. com WWII Bedford Walk Discover Bedfords wartime secrets 7pm Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk

Sun 3 Music Quiz

Ever-popular up-beat combo Kings Arms 01234 354494 Traditional Portuguese Hat Party 1pm - midnight at Baia de Cascais caf 4 Newnham Street, Bedford MK40 3JR Tel: 01234 364400 www.baiadecascais.co.uk

Sat 16 The Mighty Hub Whipley

Sun 10 Music Quiz

Ozzy Asbeen Ozzy Osbourne tribute Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com

Licensed cafe/deli Large range of spanish tapas, ingredients,cookware & gifts. Private catering/events hosted 120a Castle Road, Bedford www.andaluzshop.co.uk Tel: 0791 3342654

Flex those brain muscles! Kings Arms 01234 354494

Mon 4 General Knowledge Quiz Tues 5 Evan Dando (Lemonheads) + Support

Enthusiastic film makers and animators wanted For a new project introducing 14-19 year olds to filmmaking and supporting them to create their own short

Artist Opportunity with Bedford Creative Arts

Yes, its really him and hes really going to be in Bedford!!!!! Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Youre having a laugh Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Kathy Browns Garden These beatiful gardens are open to the public from 1-5pm. Bring a picnic, enjoy a tour with Kathy or feel free to wander on your own. Tea & cake from 3.15 - 4.15pm 2.50. Entrance: 4.50 The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington, MK43 7QB 01234 822064 kathybrownsgarden.com Tuesday Lunchtime Concerts: Monsoon Bow Violin, Royal Academy of Muisc, London St Pauls Church, St Pauls Square 01234 340163 school. 5 per head (includes a ploughmans). Team up to 6. www.whitehorsebedford.co.uk The White Horse, Newnham Ave, 01234 409306 Open Mic Night

Flex those brain muscles! Kings Arms 01234 354494 Tempsford - Bedfordshires Secret Airfield Find out about the Allies WWII base in Bedfordshire Bedford Central Library

Mon 11 General Knowledge Quiz

That Time of The Month comedy club

films

For more information call 01234 818670 or send a CV and examples of your work to: info@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk by 15th July

Beer chat at Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Kathy Browns Garden These beatiful gardens are open to the public from 1-5pm. Bring a picnic, enjoy a tour with Kathy or feel free to wander on your own. Tea & cake from 3.15 - 4.15pm 2.50. Entrance: 4.50 The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington, MK43 7QB 01234 822064 kathybrownsgarden.com Charity quiz in aid of the Save the Children Fund. 5 per head (includes a ploughmans). Team up to 6. www.whitehorsebedford.co.uk The White Horse, Newnham Ave 01234 409306 Open Mic Night Jam with Steve Jones at the Kings Arms 01234 354494 Wind Down Wednesday ft. Katie Buckhaven Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Who Lived In A House Like This

Tues 12 Beer Appreciation Club

Loaded Classic indie night 3 before midnight The Pad thepadbedford.com Summer Reading Challenge for Adults Runs until 10 September Bedford Central Library The Event One-man theatrical performance The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 The Rather Ridiculous Experiment! Family-oriented sciency kind of show The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Simon Munnery: Hats Off to the 101s Musical homage to the R101 airship disaster, plus Edfringe preview. The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519
Now in its 21st year! Kings Arms 01234 354494 2 Non Blondes Esquires Dannys Bar bedfordesquires. com Kathy Browns Garden Late-flowering clemetis festival The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington, MK43 7QB 01234 822064 kathybrownsgarden.com

Sun 17 Music Quiz John Cutlers music quiz.

Wed 13

Ofcial Bedford Clanger Photography Creating unique photo libraries to showcase your people, places, processes and projects. Take a peek at www.mubsta.com

Wed 6 Charity quiz: In aid of Ridgeway

The Starstruck Review Family revue show ft. sketches, songs and dance. The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Hold Dance The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Spitfire Solo Drama about a former Battle of Britain pilot at The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519

BEDFRINGE

MUSIC

WALKS

QUIZES & COMEDY

CRAFT

TALKS

GARDENS

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

The BIG Dance @ Bedfringe Dance workshops South Bank Arts Centre, Bedford College bedfringe.com 01234 269519 The Rise & Fall of Bedford Castle Bedford Castle was removed stone by stone. Find out more on this guided walk 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk
Flex those brain muscles! Kings Arms 01234 354494 Bedfringe FiveLive! Ft Priorite a Gauche Perrier award-winning hilarious French rock, rap, pop & roll artists Howard Room, The Corn Exchange bedfringe.com 01234 269519 walk to record and map the sounds of Bedford. 5. Bedford Creative Arts. To book & more info: www.echo-location.org.uk 01234 818670

JULY 2011
bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Guided Walk: Are You Being Served? A historical look at the High Street and how shopping has changed over the last 200 years. 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk

JC Moody & The Usual Suspects Blues band at Kings Arms 01234 354494 Beach Belles Burlesque Event An entertainment extravaganza! Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Loaded Classic indie night 3 before midnight The Pad thepadbedford.com

Mon 18 General Knowledge Quiz

These beatiful gardens are open to the public from 1-5pm. Bring a picnic, enjoy a tour with Kathy or feel free to wander on your own. Tea & cake from 3.15 - 4.15pm 2.50. Entrance: 4.50 The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington, MK43 7QB 01234 822064 kathybrownsgarden.com Luke Toulson: Fear, Love & Other Monkeys Edfringe stand-up preview The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Jam with Steve Jones Kings Arms 01234 354494

Tues 19 Kathy Browns Garden

Bedford Busking Festival Enjoy live music outside! All over the town centre wearebedford.com The Kings Got Donkeys Ears Charming puppetry for all the family The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Daphne du Mauriers Rebecca Irreverent look at this literary classic The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Kevin Tomlinson: On The Edge Improvised comedy/theatre show The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519
Local things for local people! The Ent Shed bedfringe.com 01234 269519

Join Mat Roberts for his weekly jamming session The Flowerpot 01234 294174 Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience Seven books in 70 minutes in this hilarous Hogwarts show Bedford Corn Exchange bedfringe.com 01234 269519 The Diaries of Adam & Eve Modern adaptation of Twains satire The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Come along and enjoy the relaxed craic of traditional Irish music in the bar Kings Arms 01234 354494 The Graduates ft. Dave Marks Amazing vocal performing original material & covers The Flowerpot 01234 294174 Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com Mutiny club night Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Grow Your Own A Down Memory Lane event at the library. Share your memories of homegrown fruit & veg! Bedford Central Library Battle of The Student Bands Bedford Corn Exchange bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

Thurs 28 The Flowerpot Jam Night

Take a fresh look at Bedford. 01234 359599

Fri 29 Traditional Irish Music

Excellent local pub offering great food & a relaxed atmosphere. The Ent Shed for comedy & live music. Available for private hire, weddings, birthdays, fund raising etc 118 Castle Road Bedford MK40 3QY tel:01234 348 668

Bedford is Funny!

Bon Giovi BonJovi tribute band

Wed 20 Open Mic Night

Bedford Proms in the Park Bedford Choral Society join Aled Jones & a host of stars at Bedford Park.
Kings Arms 01234 354494 Sweet Felicity Arkwright Dirty funk n groove. There aint no party like a Sweet FA party! Esquires Dannys Bar bedfordesquires.com Bedford Busking Festival Enjoy live music outside!All over the town centrewearebedford.com

Showroom with a wide varity of Antique Furniture, pictures, sliver and pottery. We also carry out Antique Furniture Restoration

J Moore Restoration

Wind Down Wednesday ft. Danni Nicholls Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Pip Utton is: Charles Dickens Discover the man behind the classics The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519

Sun 24 Music Quiz John Cutlers music quiz.

Visit our website for more details of the services we offer www.jmooreantiques.co.uk 01480 406993 Love wine and want to know more? Stuck in a wine rut but unsure what to try? Looking for a gift for a loved one? Swirl Wine School has the answers. Now open, in Bedford. Tel: 01234 761753 www.swirl-me.co.uk

The Silent Faces of Bedford A look at the statues and monuments in our town 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk

Join Mat Roberts for his weekly jamming session The Flowerpot 01234 294174 Patarick Monahan: Touch Me, I Feel Good Irish/Iranian/Teeside comedian The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519

Thurs 21 The Flowerpot Jam Night

Phil Nichol & Stephen Carlin Two full length shows from two great stand-ups at The Ent Shed bedfringe.com 01234 269519
modern rock covers The Flowerpot 01234 294174

Fri 22 2 Non Blondes Big Band Classic &

FREE FRINGE SUNDAY! Events from 2.30pm Mark Steinhardt:local storyteller bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Makoto Inoue: Richard 4pm at The Place Theatre Tickets: FREE The Ouse Valley Singles Club ukelele-based comedy musings Bedford Listening Walk 1-3.30pm Join artist Kathy Hinde on a walk to record and map the sounds of Bedford. 5. Bedford Creative Arts. To book & more info: www.echo-location.org.uk 01234 818670 I Never Knew That Discover Bedfords hidden history on this wonderful guided walk 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk
Flex those brain muscles! Kings Arms 01234 354494

The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre Co Puppetry shenanigans from these sockbased stars at The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Bane III EdFringe preview of this film noir parody The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519
3pm kick off for these Irish rockers Kings Arms 01234 354494

Sat 30 Out of the Hat

Charity music night with Quiet Life. www.whitehorsebedford.co.uk The White Horse, Newnham Ave, 01234 409306 Vintage Trouble Fresh from supporting BonJovi Esquires Main Stage bedfordesquires.com

Mon 25 General Knowledge Quiz Bob The Builder

Vintage Trouble The after-show party. Free with gig ticket/4 without The Pad thepadbedford.com Barry & Stuart Live! As seen on BBC1s The Magicians The Corn Exchange bedfringe.com 01234 269519 SPACE Hilarious & heart-breaking one-man show The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519
Northamton-based up & coming band South Bank Arts Centre, Bedford College bedfringe.com 01234 269519

Everyones favourite Neil Morriseyvoiced animated buider Bedford Corn Exchange bedfordcornexchange.co.uk The Memory of Water Family drama at The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519

Sketch show at The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Jam with Steve Jones Kings Arms 01234 354494

Tues 26 The Great Brain Robbery Wed 27 Open Mic Night When I Was Ten I Could Fly

Midsummer Nights Scene Acoustic night at Esquires - Holy Molys bedfordesquires.com Loaded Classic indie night 3 before midnight The Pad - thepadbedford.com Kinetic Vibes Family dance spectacular at The Place Theatre - bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think of You Moving dramatisation of 7/7 bombings The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Famous & Divine: Fugitive Songs The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 John Hegley: The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet EdFringe preview of his new show The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Bedfringe Closing Party Featuring Rebecca De Winter The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Sun 31 Music Quiz
John Cutlers music quiz. Now in its 21st year! Kings Arms 01234 354494

Learn to Sew. Adults and Teen classes. Modern and Stylish projects. Evening courses. Saturday Workshops. Crafternoons. www.schoolofcraft.co.uk or call Jo on 07900 905186 Get fit, make friends and join the UKs fastest growing sport - Roller Derby Bedfordshire Rollergirls are recruiting now - JOIN US! www.bedfordshirerollergirls.com

In association with...

An Army of Lights

1-3.30pm Join artist Kathy Hinde on a

Sat 23 Bedford Listening Walk

Eamonn Flemings insightful journey through his youth The Place Theatre bedfringe.com 01234 269519 Bravo Mr Lancaster Compelling drama at The Place Theatre

Henry Cluney (Stiff Little Fingers) Irish punk stalwart Esquires Dannys Bar bedfordesquires.com The Big Lunch 2 Join the Midland Road Residents Association for fun, games, food and music Alexandra Road

The Life & Times of John Bunyan Follow in the footsteps of John Bunyan 11am Tourist Information Centre 01234 221712 visitbedford.co.uk

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

JULY 2011

gastro-pubs to back-street boozers, community pubs to havens for real ale fanatics, Bedford has a wealth of diverse public houses. Lets keep it that way by supporting our town centre watering holes. This month we meet the new landlord of Castle Roads Gordon Arms: Chris Sweeting is synonymous with Bed-

Your Local: THE GORDON ARMS CASTLE ROAD From trendy

After three years, Chris sold the club (although it retained his name) and headed for the tranquillity of Clapham to temporarily run the Anglers Rest for Wells. We never intended to stay, but 17 years later we were still there! said Chris. In addition to the pub, we built a permanent marquee in the beer garden to host events. We created a unique, self-contained venue surrounded by beautiful scenery with the River Ouse flowing by. Plus, there were no neighbours to complain about any noise! It was perfect for a whole host of occasions, from charitable fundraisers (particularly for Dream Flight, a childrens charity I am involved with) to weddings. Over the last couple of years Chris and his partner Claire Bowes have become caretakers of a variety of Wells & Youngs pubs. Once again, we didnt intend to take on another pub on a permanent basis, but then The Gordon Arms became available and here we are!

CAF SOCIETY

Says Chris, The Gordon Arms is a wonderful pub that is used by the whole of the Castle Road community. We serve breakfasts from 10am, mums meet here for coffee, we have a great lunch and dinner menu, plus of course we have the added benefit of The Ent Shed Bedfords hidden gem! For those who dont know (shame on you!), adjacent to The Gordon Arms is a self-contained venue that is used for everything from top-class comedy to karate, gigs to private parties. We want to build on the excellent reputation of the Ent Shed and continue to bring a diverse mix of acts to Castle Road, said Chris. Come along to the Gordon Arms, enjoy and meal and then head next door for the entertainment. What could be better? The Ent Shed is hosting four comedy events as part of Bedfringe. Check out the listings guide in the centre pages of The Clanger for further details.

dinaire, Saffron Denton, owner of Bedfords newest cafe Fancy! in Roff Avenue.

Is it possible that anyone can love coffee and cake more than The Clangers Coffee and Cake Correspondent? Well, yes! Meet cake-maker extraor-

slices of cake which I served through a hole in the wall! Mainly I was baking desserts to sell through cafes and to order. Over time, I really needed more space, and as a supplier to other cafes, I started wanting to serve people on vintage china and create my own cafe. Thats why I moved to Roff Avenue earlier this year. I now get a real thrill out of that. Fancy! is located in the former Arcade Saddlery, which has been lovingly refurbished by Saffrons partner, Lee Hall. Hes done a wonderful job people compare the atmosphere to a London or Parisien cafe.

ford pubs and clubs. Since coming to the town in 1986 to build his own eponymous nightclub on St Peters Street, he went on to manage The Anglers Rest in Clapham for over 17years, developed a successful marquee-events business and has now returned to the town centre to make his mark on The Gordon Arms on Castle Road. Before coming to Bedford I had worked for Mecca Leisure for 10 years and built up the Cinderella Rockerfeller nightclub concept, says Chris. I was in my 30s and decided to use my knowledge and expertise of the industry to set up my own nightclub. Sweetings was born and Ive been in Bedford ever since.
Photo by: Shaun Armstrong

Chris Sweeting: Eat, drink & be merry

JULYS TOP TIPPLE

BY JOHN BARNES OF THE BLUE GLASS, ST CUTHBERTS STREET
Weather permitting, entertaining in the garden is now in full swing, With the advent of July I thought it might be a good idea to give a few ideas on summer drinking.
With many of us feeling the pinch and looking to save a few pennies here are a few ideas to keep the party going in style without breaking the bank. First off with some fizz to lift the spirits but without the hangover of a large drinks bill. Prosecco has to be the way forward as a great alternative to Champagne. Although the two do vary in taste, when making cocktail with bubbles its a very good alternative and usually half the price. Try adding putting half a teaspoon of crme de cassis into a long flute and topped up with a good quality chilled Prosecco for the perfect Prosecco Royale. You should be able to get about six glasses out of a bottle so apart from tasting fantastic on a summers day, it wont cost the earth. A family favourite in our house during the summer is of course that classic British summer tipple, Pimms. But did you know there is a simple homemade recipe that is remarkably like the real thing but at about half the cost, with the added bonus of making it to you own taste in terms of strength and flavour. The basic recipe is this; 2 parts good strength gin. 2 parts red vermouth. 1 part orange liqueur, triple-sec is fine. 1 dash of Angostura Bitters. Mix well into a jug and fill up with lemonade to taste and garnish with the usual mix of cucumber, chopped fruit, mint leaf and of course, plenty of ice. Its very similar to real thing and the beauty is that besides the obvious lower price, you can make it in your own style, just go easy on the gin as this cocktail can be deceptively potent especially on a hot summers day. Slinte ! 43 St.Cuthberts Street, Bedford. Tel: 01234 347732 www.theblueglass.co.uk

REDKENS NATURE RESCUE

Great news, Bedfordian ladies! Fifth Avenue Salon & Spa on Lurke Street has been prestigiously selected by Redken to exclusively stock their new Natures Rescue hair de-tox products. The four products help remove impurities and build-up while nourishing your locks. Nice! Want to be the first to know whats happening at Fifth Avenue? Then why not join their fan page on FaceBook? It will give you up-to-date offers, hair and beauty

I love cake and desserts its almost like a fetish. I The spacious love reading cafe is certainly about them, proving popular making them with customers. and eating them. Business people, As a child, I mums with chilwas always dren, school childisappointed by dren and students the desserts and provide a steady cakes served flow of customers in cafes and throughout the restaurants as it day. We have was so obvious wifi and qualthat they had ity newspapers been bought in. (including Saffron Denton: Let them eat cake! For me, dessert The Clanger should be the of course!), so loveliest part of people come in and the meal. Thats when I realised there read or work on their laptops. Serving was a market for home-baked desserts. freshly ground coffee and speciality teas, Saffrons cakes take centre stage on the A former food scientist, Saffron knows counter. Cupcakes, chocolate brownies her stuff when it comes to quality. I (her bestseller), victoria sponge, sticky used to do all sorts of food testing, like stem ginger cake and gluten-free cakes taking ice-creams up mountains in the are just some of the goodies on offer. So Alps to see how they would respond to why is the caf called Fancy? Well, changes in altitude! she recalls. says Saffron, You know what they say: a little bit of what you fancy does you In 2002, following the birth of her first good! son, Saffron started experimenting with Website: www.homebaked-desserts. cake making at home and began supplyco.uk ing cafes. Then in 2004 she opened her own bakery in Stanley Street. I never 35 Roff Avenue, Bedford, MK41 7TH advertised as a shop, but via word of Email:Saffron@homebaked-desserts. mouth, people started to come and buy co.uk 01234 930991
Photo by: Shaun Armstrong

EXCLUSIVE TO FIFTH AVENUE

tips and the latest photos from the salon. If you like the Fifth Avenue fan page you will automatically be entered into the free prize draw. Prizes include the exclusive Natures Rescue Pamper Hamper and a selection of Redken and Pureology goodies. Closing date is 29th July and winners will be notified. So like Fifth Avenue today and good luck! One lucky Clanger reader can win a free cut and blow dry at Fifth Avenue too. Just email thebedfordclanger@gmail.com with Natures Rescue in the subject and well let you know if youve won by the end of the month. www.facebook.com/ilove5thavenue and Like 5th Avenue today.

Midnight Walk for Sue Ryders St Johns Hopsice.

If you would like to help raise money for a brilliant cause, then youve still got time to register to take part in this years Midnight Walk in aid of Sue Ryder - St Johns Hospice in Moggerhanger. Now in its fourth year, the Midnight Walk invites ladies from Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to join in a late night stroll of either 5 or 10 miles on the evening of Saturday 9 July at the Bedford Athletic Stadium. Last years walk saw 501 women take part and raised 85,000. The reason for the event is to walk in memory of loved ones. By raising sponsorship you also help support St Johns Hospice which takes patients from the Bedford area. St Johns Hospice cares for patients aged from 18 years for relief from the daily symptoms they endure caused by illnesses including cancer, heart, lung and liver diseases, multiple sclerosis and end of life illnesses. So, if you are interested in taking part in Sue Ryder St Johns Hospices Midnight Walk then please contact the fundraising team on 01767 641044 or email them at stjohns.fundraising@sueryder.org

They have a lovely juke box in that pub.

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

JULY 2011

JULY IN THE GARDEN By Jane Perrone of The Guardian gardening editor

After such a dry spring, its worth doing everything you can to save water in the garden, even if its hammering down with rain as you read this.

TOP TIPS:
Personal trainers Stephen and Mark Gray divulge their credit crunch-friendly healthy eating tips
In the current economic climate were all looking for ways to save money on our food shopping. To help out our Clanger readers, weve come up with some top tips for eating healthily whilst not breaking the bank. Itd be churlish of us not to share, so here it is:

Forget the ready meals.

Not only are they expensive, but usually high in salt, fat or sugar. Once a month, put aside a day to cook up plenty of meals, and freeze them.

Swap branded products for supermarket own brands and value options.

Theyre often taste just as good and are much better for your wallet. Just check on the salt, sugar and fat content.

First off, please dont waste water on

your lawn. If its brown, so what? Your gardens not home to a Crown Green Bowls lawn, last time I looked, and its a criminal waste of water to keep it looking that way. Itll soon green up once the weather turns. No, instead use the precious contents of your water butts (you have got water butts, havent you?) to keep containers, hanging baskets and veg crops going, and to settle in things youve just put in, because if youre anything like me youve completely ignored the advice about avoiding planting in midsummer. Mulching will help to stop water loss from the soil: layer up old newspapers and corrugated cardboard then top with straw, grass cuttings or chipped bark and the worms will have a munch and improve your soil into the bargain. Dont forget to mulch pots either, as theyre the ones that need it most: you can buy all kinds of fancy gravel and glass chip mulches but again, grass cuttings or wood chippings do the trick and theyre free and they wont make your garden look like the horticultural equivalent of The Only Way Is Essex. Free wood chippings, you ask? Ask your local tree surgeon wholl probably give you a load of chipped wood for nowt provided youre prepared to collect it yourself. On the veg patch or allotment, now is not the time to sit on your laurels (theyre not very comfortable, anyway): you must ensure that your harvest doesnt peter out come September. Nows the golden moment to sow oriental greens that cost a gazillion quid in the supermarket and are so versatile: the young peppery leaves for salads, the bigger coarser ones for classy stir fries. Pak choi, mizuna, and mustard greens are all dead easy to grow in containers or your veg bed, and you

Does what it says on the tin!

Take advantage of the supermarket comparison websites. Dont shop when you are hungry or buy on impulse.

Tally-ho topiary can buy packets of mixed oriental greens that will be ready to harvest as cut-andcome-again leaves within five weeks. Its also worth a last sowing (or first, if youve been a bit slow off the blocks this year) of beetroots, carrots, radishes, spring onions and turnips. Try Wilkinson for a cheap town centre seed splurge. worry too much about slavishly following pruning advice on slanting cuts above outward-facing buds, just grab a pair of shears or hedge trimmers and hack away until it looks neatly mounded and respectable. Or, if you want to go that little bit further, what about starting work on a topiary masterpiece like this front garden in Castle Road, which is crafted from pyrancantha? You too could be the proud owner of Rupert Bear on a unicorn. And finally, perhaps I can save you a visit from a puzzled electrician. Have you been hearing a random electronic beeping sound in your garden, a bit like a smoke alarm with a failing battery? If youve spent hours trying to track down the malfunctioning piece of technology thats causing the sound, you can stop right now. The cause is nothing electrical, its much more exciting than that no less than one of Bedfords oddest and most intriguing residents, the midwife toad or Alytes obstetricians. Like many of us Bedford residents (me included), this little grey toad with coppery eyes isnt native to the town. According to the Bedfordshire Natural History Society, the midwife toad arrived in a shipment of plants delivered from France to a local nursery more than 100 years ago. Its call is the most youll probably see of this secretive beast, which hides out under stones and in crevices in your garden. And the name? The male toads carry fertilised eggs on their backs until the tadpoles (which are incidentally that shouldnt wait. This is just what the Sayers did, adding classy, solid raised veg beds made of railway sleepers down the narrow side passageway where crazy paving previously dominated, moving a shed to the rear of the garden, widening flower borders, extending the patio and building

Ways to include your 5 a day:

Take advantage of the supermarkets special offers as these usually include staple fruit and veg.

If youre hungry youll buy snack foods, so just dont do it. And whilst it might seem a bit nerdy to make a shopping list, believe us, it works. Especially when you need to keep to a budget.

Buy seasonal fruit & veg:

In the days before mass importation this was all that would be on offer. When produce is in season theres a glut of it, therefore its cheaper (or even better, grow your own!)

Check out the 2 for 1 offers. Look at the discount shelf. Theres a reason why people

Learn the supermarkets ploys:

crowd round this! Very often cuts of meat are discounted and can be cooked up for that evenings meal. Stephen and Mark Gray are personal trainers, authors and founders of The DoubleVision Conditioning Centre in Bedford. www.doublevisionpt.com to find out more.

Theyve spent millions on studying shopping habits and ways to get you to choose the higher valued products. One of these is to place higher valued items at eye level. Beat them at their own game and check out whats at higher and lower levels bargains!

Beep beep, beep beep- YEAH!

If you have a pyracantha (aka firethorn), and lets face it who doesnt its the Cheryl Cole of the garden, ubiquitous but loveable with its white flowers followed by red, orange or yellow berries - its a great time to tame this beast with a thorough pruning. This plant should be thick and hedge-like (think Cheryls hair), either as a shrub or a climber, not a mass of long thorny swords ready to jab the postman in the eye as he walks up the path. Dont

much larger than those of frogs) are ready to emerge. To find out more and hear the toads call, visit http://tinyurl.com/midwifetoad Other jobs for this month: prune back spring-flowering shrubs and also wisteria (no space here to explain how, but by the power of Google you can work out how to do it properly); harvest onions and shallots when the leaves turn brown and limp; give your tomatoes some tough love by removing lower leaves and side shoots to encourage fruiting; treat your houseplants There are a few problems here, to be sure - a plum tree thats probably a sucker or volunteer growing way too close to the garden wall, and Id like to have seen something else growing up the other side of the pergola - but its early days yet. This garden has a good pedigree and its great to see the Sayers adding to its charms. HPON verdict: HOT.

to a holiday outside in a spot out of direct sunlight; give your compost heap a soaking to keep it rotting away and put off rats and mice from making their home in it; and keep picking sweet peas to make sure you have armfuls for indoor display: itll keep them flowering longer, too. Jane Perrone is the Guardians gardening editor. Visit her blog at perrone.blogs.com

Hot Plot or Not? You Decide

A garden is made by the combined effort of all the people whove planted a rose or built a fence on that plot over the years.
If youre lucky enough to move into a place where previous owners have lavished attention on the outside space, even if its not quite to your taste, there will be mature shrubs, trees and climbers for you to use as a green canvas to build the garden you desire. A bare square of grass set against empty fences can be fixed, for sure, but it takes oodles of both time and money - mature shrubs are hellishly pricey to buy, or you opt for the tiny specimens and wait. And wait. So it was canny (or fortunate) on the part of Sara and Sam Sayer to pick a house with a mature garden already in place. When they moved to their Victorian terraced house in St Augustines Road a

year ago with their two young sons, the garden already had a good bone structure in the form of brick walled boundaries and mature plants including an array of climb-

How Hot Plot or Not? works:

Theres nothing better than the chance to have a nose around other peoples gardens, and thats just want Hot Plot or Not? is about? Every month I bring you a Bedford garden Ive visited, offer up my opinion on whether its a hot plot or not, and give you the chance to have your say. ers - roses, clematis, two grapevines and wisteria. When taking on a new garden, its wise to wait and see through a whole set of seasons before deciding on what plants need to go and what needs adding, but there are some structural changes a wooden pergola for the white grapevine that had previously enveloped the old shed to romp up and across. Its not radical or racy, its just sensible gardening with a young family in mind. Visit the Bedford Clanger website at thebedfordclanger.wordpress.com to have your vote.

Why not put your garden forward for the Hot Plot Or Not? Challenge. Email thebedfordclanger@gmail.com with a picture and your contact details and well pick the most interesting plot to pick apart in the August issue. For more from Jane Perrone on gardening, visit her blog at perrone.blogs.com

Naughty drinking tips on page 6 and healthy eating tips on page 7. Ha!

THE BEDFORD CLANGER

JULY 2011

BEDFORD RASCALS

The Clanger loves a laugh, so we jumped at the chance to meet Bedfords finest ukelele-based comedy act, The Ouse Valley Singles Club (OVSC), to discover what makes Bedford so funny.
With songs entitled Bedford Rascal, Weekend Dad and Facebook Blues, singer and co-songwriter of the OVSC, Tim Barron manages to evoke modern life in all its glory. Were like a musical, modern day William Hogarth, declares Tim. Our song Kicking Out Time is our Bedfordian interpretation of The Rakes Progress. We dont write about the glamour of Bedford (really? Ed), but rather the warts and all side of life and thats why people can relate to it and laugh at it. While training as an electrician, Tim began his show-business career with local band the 10 Ton Beavers. But when the band split up, he realised that his inner show-off could not be suppressed. Am Dram followed and Tim was told those immortal Cowellesque words: you could be a professional. Redundancy from his electricians job followed and Tim realised that this was his opportunity to use the money to follow his dreamto Loughton

in Essex. A contemporary theatre course at the East15 drama school was not only where he met his wife (and OVSC bass player Amy Martell), but also where he became inspired to take a show to Edinburgh. In August 2005, Tim and his East15 course mates took a show to the renowned Fringe Festival. Terrorist! The Musical became the toast of Edinburgh and provided the springboard for his next project something that hed been thinking about for a while a show about a Gary Glitter tribute artist whose career ends when Paul Francis Gadd is arrested on child abuse charges. Tim and his co-writer/director Jessica Beck took Up The Gary to Edinburgh in 2006 and then toured nationwide before heading to the New York Fringe Festival in 2008. Stardom beckoned! By now, Tim was living in London and following his dream of acting. But the lure of Bedford proved too strong and he soon moved back to his roots. When I was in London I was totally uninspired. I moved back to Bedford and material just started Ousing out of me (see what I did there?). I was surrounded by my kind of people and the humour of Bedford provided me with the basis for the OVSC. I write all the songs with my Uncle Sam a veteran predator on the Bedford singles scene so we had a wealth of experience to draw on, explains Tim. The Bedford Rascal song is based on me, but almost all the others use my various uncles as inspiration. Within English culture there is a strong history of humorous story-telling through music. From the Victorian music halls to

the songs from the wars, through to Peter Sellers, Pete & Dud, the Barron Knights (no relation) and Ivor Bigun, weve always enjoyed a laugh through music. Shame Richard Digance killed it really. This heritage is at the heart of the OVSC and is a vehicle for Tim to spread the joy of Bedfordshire throughout the land. Ive been inspired by Shane Meadows work and his devotion to Uttoxeter and the Midlands. I wanted to do that for Bedford. Although each of our songs speaks of our town, they are universally understood because were singing about all nondescript parts of the country. Tim and Amy can be seen at this years Bedfringe with a FREE show at The Place Theatre on Sunday 24th July. Performing songs from the OVSC concept album Aim Low & Early, the audience will be invited to become honorary members of the singles club for one night only. We performed Up The Gary at the first Bedfringe in 2005 and I take my hat off to James and the organisers for their dedication in building the festival up over the last five years. No-one expects a town like Bedford to have such a thriving Fringe scene, so were proud to be part of it. For your chance to win a copy of the album, email thebedfordclanger@gmail. com by Friday 15 July with 10cc as the subject.

Tim Barron: Big Man with Small Instrument

August bank holiday Bedfordbased fest fun!

FESTIVAL FEVER

Photo by: Shaun Armstrong

BIG LUNCH 2
Midland Road
If you live in the Midland Road area of town, why not get involved in the Big Lunch 2 that is taking place on Alexandra Road on Sunday 31 July from 2pm 5pm?
Organised by the Midland Road Residents Association, it is a great chance to meet your neighbours, enjoy music and games and get involved in the raffle. The Residents Association gets involved in a number of community activities including street clean ups, bulb planting and gardening projects, working closely with the Community Safety Forums and encouraging residents who live in the immediate areas either side of Midland Road to get involved in area improvement projects.

CHALLENGE DAVID
A DRAWING A MONTH by David Litchfield
Thank you to everyone who submitted a suggestion for the Challenge David feature in last months Clanger. After much deliberation, An aardvark in a top hat and monocle drinking a cup of tea by Sarah Dunn was chosen. Congratulations! If you would like to suggest something for David to draw in our next issue, please email thebedfordclanger@gmail.com. by 15th July and if youre chosen you will WIN a signed print of your picture. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Aardvark, Junes drawing by David Litchfield.

Want to get into the summer festival spirit but dont want to drive for miles to an inevitably muddy field in the middle of nowhere? Then dont! You can get that festival vibe without setting foot outside the Shire this August. For those of you who like your music of a certain vintage, then the renowned Twinwoods Festival in Clapham cant be beaten. Celebrating its 10th birthday, why not step back into the 1940s from 27 29 August and you can swing, jive and jazz yourselves dizzy. www.twinwoodevents.com/ For something more contemporary, Old Wardens Rhythm Festival boasts a stunning line-up from 26 28 August. We dont have enough space to list everyone, but if Buzzcocks, Toots & The Maytals, The Blockheads, Imelda May, Dodgy or Hazel OConnor float your boat, then get Biggleswade bound for some bank holiday dancing action! www.rhythmfestival.com/

The Mansion House hosts the Rhythmn Festival Festinho! is a laid-back family friendly festival at Hinwick House near Podington in aid of Brazilian street children. Tickets are only available until 15 July, so get your skates on if you want to get your groove on to Dr. Alex Patterson (The Orb), The Heavy (think P-Funk), electro My Tiger My Timing, Babyhead for a skanking good time and nu-folk aplenty. From 26 28 August, you can get five tickets for the price of four if you get in quick! http://festinho.com More info on all these events in next months issue

BASEMENT POETS

Calling all budding poets!

Local poetry group The Basement Poets meet once a month (usually the 3rd Thursday) at St Andrews Church on

Kimbloton Road and would welcome newcomers to join them. Although they do embrace the traditional forms of poetry, most of their work is more modern free verse. Poetry can be more descriptive than prose, said Sarah Davies, one of the Basement Poets. It allows you to be freer with language and has less constraints. We believe in poetry for all, Photographer: Shaun Armstrong www.mubsta.com Contributors: Caryl Jones, John Barnes, Jane Perrone, Stephen & Mark Gray, David Litchfield, all our advertisers and

so please come along and find out more. The Basement Poets will be taking part in the Bedford Book Festival. Go to bedfordbookfestival.co.uk for more details. If you would like to find out more about the Basement Poets, please email sarahlucydavies@hotmail.com

A BIG BEDFORD THANK YOU

The Bedford Clanger would not have been possible without the quite exceptional talents of the following people: Designer: Marisa Straccia

listers and of course, you, dear reader. Cheers! Cant wait til next month for your Clanger fix? Then check out the blog: thebedfordclanger.wordpress.

com Wed love to hear from you, so why not get in touch? You can email thebedfordclanger@mail.com

Finally... Congratulations to the Castle Road Community Society for saving St Cuthberts Church Hall and keeping it in the community. Good work fellas!

Good job, David!