Issue 30

May 2015

In this edition of The Sticks

Exclusive interview with Comedy Legend Jimmy Jones
Our Hero Cheese of the Month
Advice from Consensus HR
BBCs Radio 2s Janey Lee Grace on Garden on a Roll
We road test the Seat Alhambra
Relationship Advice
And much more
Plus pages of events listings across Herts, Beds & Bucks

-1-

Welcome to the May edition of

The Sticks Magazine!
The most talked about magazine in Herts, Beds & Bucks
With over 16,000 readers a month

In this issue:
Exclusive interview with Jimmy Jones
HR Column from Consensus HR
Curwens Column
Relationship Advice
Art Column
Janey Lee Grace Garden on a Roll
Car Test Seat Alhambra
Hero Cheese of the Month
Big Barn Food Column
Listings Herts, Beds & Bucks

Page
4
9
12
13
15
17
19
21
22
24

Contributors: Terry Sullivan, Janey Lee Grace

Andrew Merritt-Morling, Jo Coker, Sharon Struckman

See you in June!

Editor & Sales: Terry Sullivan
Tel: 07756 274444
Email: thesticks9@gmail.com
www.the-sticks.co.uk
Follow us on twitter @thesticks9
www.facebook.com/sticksmag

Listen to The Sticks Radio Show at 10am on Mondays on Secklow Sounds

www.secklowsounds.org

Exclusive Interview with Comedian Jimmy Jones

Jimmy Jones is the biggest British comedy star never to
have had his own television series. For five decades
Jimmy has been Britains most successful live comedian
performing around 275 sell-out live shows every year.
They call him the Guvnor and Godfather of Adult
Comedy.
Jimmys life in comedy is the subject of this exclusive
interview and what a life it has been. Summoned by
Michael Jackson to his suite at the Dorchester swapping
gags with Prince Philip pouring brandy for Princess
Margaret out of a teapot performing for some of
Britains most notorious gangsters Jimmy is very much
in the vulgar but popular tradition of Max Miller which
isnt surprising, since it was a youthful encounter with Max that inspired him to go
into show business!
The Beatles, Dudley Moore, Tom Selleck, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Pink
Floyd and Benny Hill. Theyre all fans, most have been friends, and Jimmy has
hilarious tales to tell.
What youre famous for are the live shows and the fast and furious gags and the
political incorrectness. Yes I tell gags, I see lots of the new generation of comics
and they tell some lovely stories but they dont make me laugh and I am waiting
for the punchline. I like to see a belly laugh I dont like to hear that ha ha!
What do you think of current comedy and sit-coms on the TV? Not much, I have
spent the last two Christmases watching Morecombe and Wise, The Two Ronnies
and everything else like that and they are the only things that made me laugh,
although I do like Mrs Browns Boys, Brendan OCarroll is a very funny and nice guy.
You have been in show business for 50 years; a lot of things must have changed?
Actually you are a bit light, I am just coming up to my 55th year, I used to do 275
shows a year but times have changed. I used to go to Baileys at Watford and I
would start on a Sunday night and be there till the following Saturday, that does
not happen anymore, it is one-nighters now and few venues can do 2 maybe 3
nights but not many do weeks. Even summer season is not the same; years ago I
worked Great Yarmouth did the Britannia and Wellington piers, on the Wellington
pier I did 12 weeks then I changed from there and went to Bournemouth to do the
pier there and I would be there for 16 weeks, but now it is only 6 weeks during the
school holidays and it is a different show each night. I remember I would be on one
pier Russ Abbot on the other and Freddie Starr would come down and do the
Sunday show. I can remember going on tour and there was only 2 of us on the bill
Bob Monkhouse and myself, I would do the first half basically singing, as I was
singing in those days with just little bits of comedy and Bob would take over the

second half and we would spend weeks down in places like Margate and Ramsgate
as they were close to one another then Folkestone and Eastbourne.
I first met Bob when I was a kid, I was seventeen and I sneaked in to this show
called A Night at the Comedy in London and the compere was a fella called Ray
Martine and it was like a talent show. When I appeared on it, on the bill was Kim
Cordell, Mrs Shalwick, I was one singer and the other was a lady called Queenie
Watts and closing the first half was an up and coming comedian from Liverpool by
the name of Jimmy Tarbuck and closing the show a guy by the name of Jimmy
James (who we all called Stumpy Marsh) and his comedy stooge the late Roy
Castle. I used to work with Roy for weeks on end at places like Jollies in Stoke. I
was his support act and we used to have people like Peter Gordeno and Tony
Christie also Sid Little and Eddie Large on the bill.
Your act is know for being blue and you
like to engage with the audience. Yes, so
anyone who is easily offended it is not for
them and if anyone moves while I am on
stage we will have a chat. I dont go out
of my way to insult people, I make
humour out of what they are doing, like
on one of my videos I followed a lady in to
the toilet and I said I am on the stage
and she said I could not hold on any
longer it I that sort of thing I do and the
crowd love it.
Tell us about your Catchphrase Kinell.
There have all sorts of stories how I got
Kinell but the real reason behind it is, for
my sins I happen to be a Spurs supporter
and Spurs were playing Sunderland, and
Sunderland had a player called George
Kinnell and they got a penalty and George
missed and all the Sunderland supporters
went Kinnell and I thought I like that, so I used from then on.
You are the biggest comic never to have your on TV show, why was that? Believe it
or not do you know who tried to get me my own TV show - it was Benny Hill but
they were frightened of me and I look at TV now and I hear the likes of Alan Carr. I
dont know why but I was not even allowed to use Kinell. Johnny Hamp wanted
me to use it on The Comedians show but it meant that he had to spend a few
minutes every time explaining why I was using Kinell so he told me, you cant
use it Jim, you only had 12 minutes and that was your 12 minutes and Johnny cut
that around exactly as he wanted it. It was a great showcase, it changed me from
being a singer/comedian to a comedian/singer, but there are not many of the
original guys left unfortunately, theres only Jim Bowen, Duggie Brown and me.
What did you do before you got in to show business? I was a lorry driver for a long
time around the docks, I got married at a very young age and had 6 children and I
5

had to work and the entertainment business was a little up and down in those days.
I used to go out and sing every weekend, I was known in those days believe it or
not as the whistling wonder as I used to do bird impressions and Bob Wheatley
phoned me up one day and a guy called Don Whiteman (who had a band) had just
phoned him to say he was looking for a compere tonight at The Royal Standard at
Walthamstow are you interested?, I said of course I am, so I had to be there for
7pm so I finished work at 5pm and got myself dressed and shot straight over to the
Royal Standard. I had taken over from a very good comic called Charlie Smithers
and that was not an easy task, but of course I was singing mainly in those days and I
got to see the comics performing on the show and that was how I learnt my trade.
One day I had this very bad throat and I was drinking brandy & port thinking it was
going to clear it up and the doctor said you have to stop talking and stop singing in
particular and stop drinking brandy & port, because it is melting your vocal tissue
together. That night I had an act there by the name of Ronnie Twist and he said
why dont you help yourself to my gags but just remember if ever we are on a
show together you dont do my gags also always remember who you nick a gag off
too. So I did more comedy and less singing, it stretched from one or two gags to a
15 minute break in the middle of the show, which the band liked because they
could go have a pint etc. and that just put my wages up.
Is this right you originally wanted to be a
priest? Yes I did. Ill be honest with you I
was brought up a Catholic. In 1938-39 the
church moved the family out of London to
Rainham in Essex and we got a house out
there and by the age of 5 I was an altar boy
and the order we had there was an
American order and they were lovely priests
and I thought this is what I want to do,
because they would go around the world to
lots of different places and I also when to a
Catholic school called St Peters in
Dagenham and it meant a great deal to me.
I got 2 good hidings and here I am at 77
years old and I still remember them, I got
caught smoking at the age of seven in the
toilets and Sister Stephanie whacked me with her belt across the backs of my legs
and I have never touched a cigarette from that day to this and I got another good
hiding at school this time from Sister Dominic for not paying attention in music
classes and I finished up becoming a singer. At the age of 11 thats what I really
thought I wanted to be but Sister Dominic sat me down and said I think God has
given you the talent to be an entertainer. Would you believe it, 2 weeks later I won
Carroll Levis Discoveries. Carroll Levis was the big man in those days and I went
on tour with him but I had to be out of the theatre by 9pm as I was so young. I
made a fatal mistake in that I was asked to do radio for a fella called Hughie Green
and I went and did Opportunity Knocks on Radio Luxemburg and when Carroll Levis
heard about that he gave me the sack that night as they were rivals and I lost my
8 a week wages which was a lot of money then but it is all part and parcel of my
life story.

Is it right that members of the Royal family are big fans of yours? Yes they are I am
pleased to say. I used to work in a London night club called Gullivers and they had
a downstairs room and we called it Kinells and I went on every night around about
midnight and I used to entertain nothing but foreign visitors, Jewish clientele and
people from the entertainment business because they had all finished work and
used to come down to the club; also Princess Margaret used to come in regularly to
see me and she brought Prince Charles down. I ended up doing a couple of Royal
command performances for them. I have also worked for both The Krays and The
Richardsons and also done shows for villains the length and breath of Britain along
with lots of charity events for numerous police forces.
Read more about Jimmys Life in his Autobiography Now This Is a Very True Story
which you can buy either from his website www.jimmyjones.co.uk or from Jimmy
in person at his live shows.
See Jimmy Jones live - Jimmy Jones: Return of the Guvnor at The Main Hall,
Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ on Saturday 20
June 7.30pm in a very special charity show in aid of Transitions UK (charity no
1160105 www.transitionsuk.org) Tickets: 20 Box Office: 01438 363200
www.gordon-craig.co.uk

The Arrival of Shared Parental Leave

From this month, parents who are expecting a baby or
adopting a child will be able to share parental leave. How
do the UK's new rules on parental leave work?
In October 2014 we wrote a blog telling our clients and
followers how this would affect their business. Now that the
new rules have been introduced, we would like to remind
everyone of what is involved:
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) has arrived.
Shared Parental Leave is a new right that came into force on 1st December 2014 that would
affect people who are going to have a baby due to be born on or after the 5th April 2015.
It will now enable eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to choose how to share
time off work after their child is born or placed. This could mean that the mother or
adopter shares some of the leave with her partner, perhaps returning to work for part of
the time and then resuming leave at a later date.
The options to use the new Shared Parental Leave rights will apply for parents who meet
the following eligibility criteria:
Going to have a baby which is due to be born on or after 5 April 2015
Adopting a child or children whose are placed for adoption on or after this date
Shared Parental Leave is designed to give parents more flexibility in sharing the care of
their child in the first year following birth or adoption. Parents will also be able to share a
pot of leave. They can decide to be off work at the same time and/or taking it in turns to
have periods of leave to look after the child.
Managing and administering SPL may be hard for businesses with a small headcount,
particularly where a husband and wife are working together, says Matthew of Consensus
HR. You will need to ensure that the correct procedures are put in place so as to
minimise any disruption to the business.
Five key points of Shared Parental Leave:

Employed mothers will continue to be entitled to 52 weeks of Maternity Leave and

39 weeks of statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance

If they choose to do so, an eligible mother can end her Maternity Leave early and
with her partner or the childs father, will be able to opt for SPL instead of
Maternity Leave. If they both meet the qualifying requirements, they will need to
decide how they divide their total SPL and pay entitlement between them.

Paid Paternity Leave of two weeks will continue to be available to fathers and
mothers or adopter's partners. This must be used in a single block of leave and
taken within 56 days of the birth.

Adopters will have the same rights as other parents to Shared Parental Leave and
pay

Intended parents in surrogacy who meet certain criteria will be eligible for
statutory adoption leave and pay and Shared Parental Leave and Pay

Who is eligible for SPL?

To qualify for Shared Parental Leave and pay, a mother must share the main responsibility
for caring for the child with the child's father or her partner. In addition, she must be
entitled to:

Maternity or adoption leave, or

Statutory maternity or adoption pay, or
Maternity allowance

In addition, they will be required to follow a two-step process to establish eligibility.

When can SPL be taken?
Shared Parental Leave may be taken at any time within set dates. This period of time
begins on the date the child is born (or date of the placement). It ends 52 weeks after that
date. Leave must be taken in complete weeks. An employer cannot refuse leave requested
as a continuous period; however leave in a discontinuous period can be refused. The
mother must take a minimum of two weeks leave after the birth of the child or four
weeks if they work in a factory. It will be for the mother or adopter to continue on
Maternity Leave or opt to take Shared Parental Leave.
Consensus HR Comment:
We updated our clients about the new SPL rules back in October 2014. We also took the
opportunity to highlight that when a pregnancy or parental leave request is announced, a
business should celebrate with the employee. Its important to generate good morale,
says Matthew. Employees feels supported as the business fully understands their wish to
share time with their children.
From the business perspective, solutions to cover the absent parents leave periods
should be sought immediately. This can involve rearrangement of duties or recruiting a
temporary employee, for example.
I am waiting to see how this affects sexual equality of workers in the workplace adds
Matthew. It will be up to the parents to decide who takes the time off. The pure
capability of the person - regardless of sex will be the main factor of employment. It will
be interesting to see the impact of this new Government family friendly scheme upon
businesses. I will keep you all informed!
Consensus HR advises businesses to seek professional HR advice and support in these
circumstances. This ensures that the employers actions do not contravene of the law in
general and the Equality Act 2010 in particular.
The BBC published an excellent article on the new Shared Parental Leave rules this week.
Read it here.
If you would like more information of have any specific queries, contact Matthew at
Consensus HR via Matthew@consensushr.com or call 01462 621 423.

10

11

YOUR LOCAL SOLICITORS

Has the Court opened the door for your ex-partner to claim financial
support from you - even after many years of divorce?
The case of Vince v Wyatt has made the headlines recently when the Supreme Court
decided that the Wife could make a claim for financial support from her Husband. They
had been divorced for 22 years!
During their short 2 year marriage, they lived a New Age traveller lifestyle and relied on
state benefits for the most part. They had one child together. When they got divorced,
they had little or nothing to divide between them, so did not bother entering into any
financial settlement.
Some years after the divorce, the Husband became a multi-millionaire founder of a WindPower firm, whilst the Wife remained on a basic, low income.
The Wife decided the difference in their positions was unfair and so applied to the Family
Court for a lump sum payment from her Husband - and for an order that he should help pay
toward her legal costs. She argued that she had shouldered the responsibility of raising
their child and had not received much financial assistance from the Husband.
The Husband applied for the Wifes application to be struck-out because it had been so
many years since they divorced.
The Supreme Court finally decided in March that the Wife did have the right to make her
application against the Husband. One of the most notable reasons for this decision was
that the Court agreed the Wife had raised the child, for the most part, by herself.
However, this child is now in his 30s!
There has not yet been a final decision as to what, if anything, the Wife will actually be
awarded as a result of her application. The courts may be wary to award her anything
substantial for fear of opening a flood-gate of similar claims.
Couples increasingly want to save costs so deal with their own divorce proceedings.
However, the divorce does not automatically stop the parties having financial claims
against each other which is not widely known. It is therefore vital that parties get some
specialist legal advice on divorce to clarify what they need to finalise the financial
position between them.

If you would like more information on Divorce, Financial Settlements, or family law
issues generally please contact: amanda.thurston@curwens.co.uk
Curwens have offices in Royston, Hoddesdon and Enfield.

12

Ive Looked at Life From Both Sides Now.

Perhaps a bit of a clich but I was reminded of this when I recently attended a
meeting for The College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT). The content
of the meeting is not what is important here but rather the relationship between
the twelve participants around the table, all of whom were female. I was one of
those participants and, although I knew a few of the members, I was the new girl in
respect of attending a formal meeting. It has been more than 8 years since I
attended a similar meeting and back then it was under entirely different
circumstances, as all participants had been male, including me!
I found myself reflecting, at this most recent meeting, on how the two meetings
differed due to the genders of the participants. My earlier meetings were, more
often than not, quite confrontational, dealing with progress on construction
projects someone had to take the blame!
The construction meetings which I attended always had the same format. They
began with talk about sport over the pre-meeting coffee with perhaps a side chat
about progress on site and who was in the firing line this week. As the client it was
very rare for me to be the subject of the side negotiations but I was often involved
in order that I was aware of what was going on. The topic of sport was never an
interest and on that basis alone I was often the outsider and a bit different from
the others. Part of my camouflage was to try to guess which match would be
discussed and do a bit of homework. I was OK with it but never really felt a part of
the boys club. The meetings could be heated and testosterone-induced aggression
was often present particularly if a project was going badly and everyone was
looking for someone else to blame. Even in calmer meetings there was often an air
of one-upmanship, as participants tried to show just how good they and their
companies were.
This most recent meeting was much calmer; it was a friendlier environment in
which to work and certainly no rivalry was evident to me. Of course, it was not a
commercial meeting but I somehow feel that, even had it been so, the whole
ambience would have remained on a more feminine and friendlier basis. My one
faux pas when introduced to a new colleague I reached out and shook hands. She
took it well but I suspect it is not a greeting she is used to. I was slightly worried by
my return to a more masculine approach to the meeting environment but soon
recovered and had a thoroughly enjoyable day warmth, laughter and learning:
quite a new experience after so long.
Of course there is also the interim period of transition when I became the only
female within my usual male environment. I am not sure who was more ill at ease
during the early encounters but my position as client certainly provided a great
deal of protection. I was never openly challenged or ridiculed but of course I have
no idea what was said about me in private. I had always been somewhat of an
outsider and that isolation grew exponentially for the 12 months or so that I
managed to stay the course. Eventually it became too much and I moved on. The
experience however will always stay with me and I am sure colours my approach to

13

meetings now that I approach them entirely as a woman. I will continue to learn
but I certainly know which side of life I prefer.
Kirstie is an integrative therapist, a general member of the College Of Sex and
Relationship Therapists (COSRT) and a registered member of the British
Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Having spent 25 years
working in commerce and achieving Director level in a medium-sized architectural
practice, I found I could no longer live the lie that I had for so many years. In
January 2010, at age 55, I had sex reassignment surgery, after completing the
required two years living in my acquired gender as a woman. My aim is to be a
positive role model for the transgender community and to provide therapeutic
help to others thinking about, travelling or having completed the transition
journey. I work from premises located in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
Web: www.transgendercounselling.co.uk
If you are having relationship difficulties, why not speak to one of our specialist
therapists. Sessions are available from just 15.00. Contact Kathy Freeman on
01462-674671 option 2.

14

Artists Profile - Peter Deighan

By Sharon Struckman - Art Gallery Owner
Internationally renowned portrait painter Peter Deighan will be exhibiting at
Mardleybury Gallery, Datchworth, from the 6th to the 31st of May. Deighans raw
talent, his artistic eye, elevated him from a Luton-based
Vauxhall welder to an artist of incredible calibre whose
work is hanging in private collections from North America to
the Vatican.
Peter Deighan is widely regarded as one of the countries
finest Portrait and Sporting Painters. Born in Ireland but
living and working in the UK, he predominantly works in the
medium of oil paint. His subjects vary from portraits, to
sporting scenes and still life studies plus an abundance of
wildlife paintings from his many visits to Africa.
He held his first major exhibition in the Duke of Bedfords stately home, Woburn
Abbey. Among his earlier commissions were portraits of the comedian Eric
Morecambe, footballer Jimmy Greaves, speaker of the House of Commons Selwyn
Lloyd, Cardinal Basil Hume Archbishop of Westminister (this portrait hangs in the
Vatican), Frederick Forsyth, Lester Piggott, Steve Davis, and the first official
portrait of Prime Minister, John Major. Some of his more noteworthy Irish portraits
were of Peadar ODonnell, Sean McBride, Charles J. Haughey and Michael OHehir
which were unveiled on RTEs Late Late Show in Dublin.
As Peters reputation grew, he began to receive
commissions from North America. His notable patrons
included Payne Stewart, Peter visited Payne Stewarts
home in Florida to paint his portrait, there he met and
was commissioned to paint Tiger Woods and Mark
OMeara. Shortly after the tragic death of Payne Stewart,
Peters portrait of the golfer sold for 1.4 million.
Peter quickly established a reputation as one of the
leading Sporting Painters and received commissions from prominent members of
the racing fraternity, including Vincent OBrien, JP McManus, Robert Sangster,
Captain John MacDonald-Buchanan, Lord and Lady Tavistock, Sheikh Hamdan and
Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum. With the popularity of his equine paintings, Peter
continued to receive commissions from the world of Football, Golf, Rugby, Boxing,
Formula 1 and Snooker and was commissioned to paint the 2006 European Ryder
Cup team by Dr Michael Smurfit, for the K Club. He has had his paintings displayed
in the annual exhibitions of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Society of
Equestrian Artists in London.
Peter will be taking part in Herts Visual Arts Open Studios at Mardleybury Gallery in
September this year.
www.mardleyburygallery.co.uk

15

16

Garden On A Roll

You like me may not be green fingered but its the time of year when most of us
are thinking of a nice garden.
I always thought that companion planting meant planting near other plants but
then I found the weeds strangling my plants or the slugs eating them.
Enter the innovative award winning Garden on a Roll by Hertfordshire expert
garden designer Antony Henn. Antony Henn has been designing and creating
amazing gardens since 1993. He and his family developed The Dutch Nursery in
Hertfordshire selling plants and garden sundries through the eighties and nineties
to this day.

Antonys vast plant knowledge and experience has enabled him to present many
gardening shows and hosts his own gardening phone-in with his brother Alex on the
BBC.
I have always tried to help people who know very little about plants to get the
best out of their gardens. As a designer I have created many stunning gardens and
always felt that lots of people would love to do it themselves but are too afraid to
admit they know nothing about plants. Most people go to a garden centre and
load their trolleys with what they think looks good, but when they get home they
forget what they were told planting them too close together and with no design
theme or idea. The plants may grow but more often than not they are in the wrong
place, may not have continuity of flowering and dont necessarily compliment each
other.

17

Antony said Having heard many disaster stories of people wasting time and
money, only to then totally lose interest in gardening, thats when I thought of
Garden on a Roll. How easy it would be if non-gardeners could use a template so
they could guarantee success every time!

Garden on a Roll makes DIY gardening so much easier

You get everything you need to create your very own professionally designed
garden border. You can choose from Evergreen, Mixed Border, Mediterranean
Border, Bee and Butterfly and many more.
The planting by numbers approach works surprisingly well. Its all delivered to
your door. They offer a revolutionary, bio-degradable, paper template which is all
marked up to help you position the plants perfectly and suppresses weeds for up to
3 months.
All you need to do is Mark out the border width on the ground. Prepare the ground by digging to a depth
of at least 8 inches. (I got the kids to do that bit!).
Roll out the paper plan and peg into ground (even the pegs are supplied). Place
the pre-numbered plants on their indicated positions which ensure correct spacing
and then remove the pots and slip the plant into the ground through the holes cut
into paper.
The paper plan stays in place and can be covered with a layer of top soil or bark
chippings and of course its biodegradable. Water your plants and Voila, a
beautiful border!
www.gardenonaroll.co.uk
18

Efficient New Engines Headline Mid-Life Facelift for

Seat Alhambra

Seat has officially unveiled a refreshed version of its Alhambra MPV that boasts a
range of three revised engines capable of emitting as little as 130g/km whilst
returning 57.6mpg.
The only visual clues to the Spanish cars makeover are new LED headlights and tail
lamps, a redesigned radiator grille and new alloy wheel designs.
Inside, there is a new steering wheel carried over from the smaller Leon, a revised
centre console and chrome trim. The interior trim is also available with a choice of
new colours. Massaging seats are also available along with keyless entry and start.
More significantly, the company says it has completely redeveloped the engine
line-up with the company claiming that the turbocharged direct-injection units
are up to 15% more fuel efficient.
There are two 2.0-litre diesel units and a 148bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine to choose
from. The diesel unit is available with outputs of 148bhp or 182bhp. The lowerpowered unit returns a decent 57.6mpg and emits 130g/km of CO2.
All the engines comply with the latest Euro6 emission regulations and can be mated
to a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The only exception to this rule is the
entry-level diesel model.

19

The latest generation of Easy Connect Infotainment system is also being made
available on the revised Alhambra. It brings a high-resolution touch screen and
satellite navigation.
Safety equipment has also been improved with the standard fitment of multicollision brake preventing further accidents after a collision. Blind spot monitoring
and DCC adaptive chassis control have been made available as optional extras.
The latest Alhambra will arrive in the companys UK dealer network during the
summer with order books opening in May. Before that, full pricing and
specifications will be released closer to the launch date.
www.first4auto.com
www.facebook.com/first4auto
Twitter: @first4auto
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.the-sticks.co.uk
To advertise your event, show, restaurant or business on our website or in our digital
magazine. Prices from 10 per month
Call 07756 274444 or email thesticks9@gmail.com

20

Hero Cheese of the Month - Beaufort

Beaufort is a remarkable cheese, one of the noble Alpine
cheeses. It's produced exclusively from unpasteurised
cow's milk in the French Alps of the Haute-Savoie, from
the milk of cows that, in the best examples of the cheese,
graze on sustainable mountain pastures, imparting unique
grassy, flowery aromas to the meaty cheeses, which have
a firm yet buttery taste which melts easily in the mouth.
It's a behemoth of a cheese, with wheels weighing up to
130 pounds. Beaufort is without doubt one of the finest
hard cheeses produced in the world today.
To make Beaufort, first, the milk is heated and then cast
into a beechwood hoop or mould which gives the cheese
its distinctive concave shape. It is pressed for 24 hours, taken out of the hoops and
then cooled for another 24 hours. Once cooled, it is soaked in brine and then
stored on spruce shelves for one to two months. During this part of the process,
one side of the cheese is hand-salted each morning, then turned over and massaged
each afternoon. Once the cheese rind has reached a level of maturity, the cheese
is smear-ripened with a mixture called morge which produces its strong flavour and
pale yellow rind. The prepared cheese must then age for 612 months, or even
longer, in a cool mountain cellar.

Beaufort cheese is pale yellow, with a smooth and creamy texture and lacks holes
like other Gruyre-style cheeses. Beaufort also has a very distinct aroma, sometime
described as strong or mildly pungent and reminiscent of the pastures on which the
Tarentaise and Abondance cows graze to provide the milk used for the cheese.
Beaufort is a good table cheese and is commonly used to make cheese fondue
because it melts easily. One of the many cheeses that go well with a white wine
like a Sancerre, made from Sauvignon Blanc

26 High Street, Buntingford, Herts, SG9 9AQ

www.thecheeseplate.co.uk
Tele: 01763 271533
Email: Toby@thecheeseplate.co.uk
21

The Dangers of Processed Food. New Book from Joanna Blythman

BigBarn hero, Joanna Blythman went undercover and gained

unprecedented access to the food industry in writing her latest
book Swallow This which is an exploration of the food processing
industry not just the more obvious ready meals, chicken nuggets
and tinned soups, but bagged salads, smoothies, yoghurts, bread
and fruit juice we dont usually associate with arrays of additives.
Forget illegal, horse-meat-scandal processes, every step in the
production of these is legal, but practised by a strange and
inaccessible industry, with methods a world-away from our idea of
domestic food preparation, and obscured by technical speak,
unintelligible ingredients manuals, and clever labelling practices.
Here are some extracts to whet your appetite.
Food engineers can now create a natural mature cheese flavouring within 72 hours
Joanna: My growing preoccupation was how little we know about the food that sits on
our supermarket shelves, in boxes, cartons.
Over the past few years, the food industry has embarked on an operation it dubs clean
label, with the goal of removing the most glaring industrial ingredients and additives.
A factory pantry looks nothing like yours. When the home cook decides to make a
Bakewell tart, she or he puts together a lineup of familiar ingredients: raspberry jam,
flour, butter, whole eggs, almonds, butter and sugar. The factory food technologist, on
the other hand, approaches the tart from a totally different angle: what alternative
ingredients can we use to create a Bakewell tart-style product, while replacing or
reducing expensive ingredients those costly nuts, butter and berries? How can we cut the
amount of butter, yet boost that buttery flavour, while disguising the addition of cheaper
fats? What sweeteners can we add to lower the tarts blatant sugar content and justify a
reduced calorie label? How many times can we reuse the pastry left over from each
production run in subsequent ones?
What antioxidants could we throw into the mix to prolong the tarts shelf life? Which
enzyme would keep the almond sponge layer moist for longer? Might we use a long-life
raspberry pure and gel mixture instead of conventional jam? What about coating the
almond sponge layer with an invisible edible film that would keep the almonds crunchy
for weeks? Could we substitute some starch for a proportion of the flour to give a more
voluminously risen result?
With a food industry obsessed with profit and reducing cost our prediction at BigBarn is
that it will not be long before these kind of practices end in another big food scare.

22

23

of some of todays most incredible

adventurers, see amazing footage of
adrenaline packed action sports and be
inspired by thought-provoking pieces shot
from the far flung corners of the globe. An
inspiring and festive evening with lots of free
prize giveaways! Visit www.banff-uk.com for
more details. Tickets 14.00 Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Herts Listings
Oliver! - til Saturday 2 May The award
winning St Albans Operatic Society presents
Lionel Barts Oliver! The Alban Arena, Civic
Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD
Radlett Players Presents: Tons of Money - til
Saturday 2 May Unsuccessful inventor Aubrey
Allington inherits a small fortune, and then
fakes his own death in order to avoid paying
his creditors. He resurrects himself as cousin
George, who is thought to have died abroad.
The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue,
Radlett WD7 8HL

An Evening Of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute

Show - Sat 2 May 8pm Embarking upon its
5th Anniversary tour An Evening of Dirty
Dancing: The Tribute Show is a 5 star homage
to the greatest movie soundtrack of all time.
Often imitated but never bettered, this is the
original celebration of the iconic music from
the multi-award winning soundtrack to Dirty
Dancing. A high energy emotional rollercoaster of an evening with breathtaking
choreography and buckets of nostalgia. Put
your dancing shoes on and get ready to have
the time of your life! Includes the classic
songs: Big Girls Dont Cry, Hey Baby,
Wipeout, Do You Love Me, Hungry Eyes and
the Oscar-winning (Ive Had) The Time of My
Life. Please note this production is not
affiliated with Dirty Dancing: The Classic
Story On Stage on tour in the UK and
worldwide Tickets 20.50, 18.00 Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

The Small Hours by Francis Durbridge - til

Saturday 2 May What do a koala bear, a
devious chef and an emerald necklace have in
common? Carl - a hotelier - nearly loses his
life in finding out, in this thriller of
international intrigue which bears all the
Durbridge hallmarks of suspense, mystery and
murder. Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street,
Hoddesdon EN11 8BE
Vamos Theatre - Nursing Lives - Fri 1 May A
heart-warming wartime tale of bravery and
love from the UKs leading full mask theatre
company The story ... When Flo, a feisty
seventy-something, learns that the hospital
she trained at during the Second World War is
being demolished. Rhodes Arts Complex,
South Road, Bishops Stortford, CM23 3JG
Kimpton May Festival - Fri 1 to Mon 4 May
All the fun of the Fair is the theme of this
years Kimpton May Festival our 51st. KMF is
set be to four days of fun filled events.
Kimpton SG4 8RB

Birds Of Bray at Christopher Place Mall - Sat

2 May Come and visit Christopher Place
favourites The Birds of Bray. See these
beautiful birds up close and learn about the
amazing work the people behind the Birds of
Bray do. Christopher Place, Upper Dagnall
Street, St Albans AL3 5DQ

Kimpton Art Show - Fri 1 to Mon 4 May As

part of Kimpton May Festival weekend,
Kimpton Art Show brings together more than
100 artists from across the region exhibiting
oils, watercolours and mixed media. The art,
priced from 30 to 3,000 Kimpton Parish
Church St. Peter and St. Paul SG4 8RR

Hertfordshire Garden Show - Sat 2 to Mon 4

May Get your garden into shape for the new
season. Choose from a wide range of plants
and garden accessories. Book tickets online to
save 10% - your ticket includes admission to
the Gardens and Park, Dinosaurs and
Adventure playground. Knebworth House SG1
2AX

Banff Mountain Film Festival - Fri 1 May

7.30pm Attracting sold out audiences across
the globe, the worlds most prestigious
mountain film festival is visiting Watford for
the first time with a brand new selection of
extraordinary short films from the worlds
leading adventure film makers. Exhilarating
and thought provoking, this is a must-see for
anyone with a spirit of adventure! Through
the big screen be transported to the worlds
last great wild places, follow the expeditions

Think Floyd - Sat 2 May This extraordinary

show, dubbed The Definitive Pink Floyd
Experience, is renowned for its stunning
celebration of one of the worlds greatest
musical phenomena. Rhodes Arts Complex,
South Road, Bishops Stortford CM23 3JG

24

May Market - Sat 2 May A warm welcome

awaits everyone at our first Saturday in the
month
event.
Popular
stalls
selling
homemade cakes and marmalade, bric-abrac, toys and books, clothes for adults and
children, and cards. Letchworth Free Church
Hall, bottom of Leys Avenue, on Norton Way
South, Letchworth SG6 3HS

Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon Lane,

Hertford SG13 8NY
Aldbury May Fair - Mon 4 May A great day
out for all the family, with plenty to see and
do. From the traditional May Pole dancing,
crowning of the May Queen and Morris
Dancers to the excitement of the Laser Arena,
Climbing Wall and Fairground Rides. Aldbury
Village, Nr Tring HP23 5RT

Stapleford Flower Festival - Sun 3 and Mon

4 May The Stapleford Flower Festival is an
annual event that has been running for 46
years. Every year our beautiful 12th century
church is decorated with flowers, all in
arrangements which fit the chosen theme of
the year. St Marys Church Church Lane
Stapleford SG14NB

Lemsford Village Fete - Mon 4 May As is

traditional, this splendid event will provide a
true English country fete experience with
maypole dancing, coconut shy, tea-cup ride,
live music and Pimms. St. Johns C of E
Primary School, Lemsford Village, Lemsford,
Welwyn Garden City AL8 7TR

Magnificent Music Hall - Sun 3 May This

glittering galaxy of stars from BBC TVs The
Good Old Days will once again present a
spectacular and nostalgic trip down memory
lane into the world of Victorian Music Hall.
They will delight and entertain with songs,
dance, magic. The Radlett Centre, 1
Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Local artists - Tue 5 to Fri 29 May Some of

our areas top artists come together in an
exhibition featuring a range of styles and
media. Exhibitors include Adrian Mallett,
Claire Moynihan, Nigel Markham, sculptor
Paul Bainbridge, Martin Rigg and Bruce
Tompkinson. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The
Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Discover Ashridge Walks - Sun 3 May

Discover some of the highlights of the
Ashridge Estate on a series of walks led by
volunteer rangers Arthur and Mike. Each walk
is about 6 miles in length. Dogs on leads are
welcome. Wear good walking shoes and bring
a drink. Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre HP4
1LT

An Evening With Pasha and Katya - Stars of

Strictly Come Dancing - Weds 6 May Pasha
and Katya along with their stunning dancers,
bring you their spectacular brand new
Ballroom and Latin show. Its a carnival of
music, dance, costumes and sparkles. Gordon
Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Lytton Way SG1
1LZ

Barkway Antiques & Vintage Fair - Sun 3

May In its fifth year, this antiques fair is set
in the picturesque village of Barkway in North
Hertfordshire. Featuring a range of fabulous
stalls with a wide variety of stock from,
jewellery to ceramics, curios to clothing.
Barkway Village Hall, Cambridge Road,
Barkway SG8 8BS

The Kilkennys - Weds 6 May If you havent

heard of them yet, then you are in for a very
pleasant surprise! These four hugely talented
school friends have taken their love of
traditional Irish music and reinvigorated it,
enabling them to tour the world. Rhodes Arts
Complex, South Road, Bishops Stortford CM23
3JG

May Day Music & Arts Extravaganza - Sun 3

May Howard Park & Gardens will be filled
with music and arts in a May Day
extravaganza. Come along for an afternoon of
maypole and ceilidh dancing, storytelling,
arts and crafts workshops and a showcase of
local community arts. Howard Park &
Gardens, Letchworth SG6 1NY

Jazz Evening - Weds 6 May 7.30pm A

relaxed evening of fine food and fine music.
Sit back, take a sentimental journey or tap
your feet along to some superb live jazz,
whilst enjoying a delicious three-course meal.
The perfect evening for all music lovers.
Tickets: 35.00 includes a three-course meal
and the evenings entertainment Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Beltane Summer Festival - Mon 4 May

Celebrate the start of Summer with a funpacked day of activity for all the family at
Celtic Harmony, the Iron Age Settlement just
outside Hertford. Live Music, Drumming
Workshops, Fire Procession, Fire Breathing.

25

Friday Night Is Music Night - Thur 7 May

7.30pm As the BBC Young Dancer competition
draws to a close - join the BBC Concert
Orchestra and the London Swing Orchestra for
an evening of music from the world of dance.
Radio 2s Ken Bruce presents music from
ballroom, ballet, swing, tap, disco - from the
Sleeping Beauty to Saturday Night Fever - we
pay tribute to some of the worlds greatest
hoofers plus some memorable dance moments
from the musicals and at the movies. Tickets:
27.50, 25.00, 22.50 Watford Colosseum,
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN
0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Night at the Movies - Fri 8 May GREASE! 6pm

Outdoor film event run by 6th form pupils at
the college. Burgers, hotdogs and licensed bar
on site. Princess Helena College, Preston SG4
7RT

Hertford House Comedy Night - Thur 7 May

This time with award winning Adam Bloom as
the headline act, supported by the brilliant
Jessica Fostekew. As always, hosted by James
Redmond. 1 Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1DA

Jimmy Tarbuck - Sat 9 May Top television

comedian Jimmy Tarbuck OBE swaps The
London Palladium for The Radlett Centre.
Tarby, as he is known to millions of TV
viewers, is one of the countrys most
evergreen performers and a master of light
entertainment. The Radlett Centre, 1
Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Waterloo - The Best of Abba Tribute ShowFri 8 May Introducing Waterloo - The Best of
Abba Tribute show presented by Sweeney
Entertainments and Produced and Directed by
James Baker. This brand new show celebrates
the music of one of the best-selling music
artists of all time. The Radlett Centre, 1
Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

It Started with Jason Donovan - Fri 8 May

Sarah Blanc explores her past dating life using
the songs of her first love Jason Donovan to
help all you hopeless daters who have been
messed around by the lyrics of your late
80s/early 90s pop idols. This is Sarah Blancs
first solo show. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The
Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Yamato Drummers Of Japan - Sat 9 May

7.30pm Yamato Drummers of Japan return to
the UK with a brand new show Bakuon Now
seen by over 6 million people worldwide,
Yamatos
acclaimed
performances
of
authentic Japanese Taiko drumming awakens
all five senses. Using their whole bodies to
expertly control the rhythms, Yamato leaves
audiences exhilarated by this high-energy,
explosive production. The sheer physical
strength and dynamic movement of the
drummers is as impressive as the music, in
this
visually
spectacular
and
highly
entertaining show. Yamatos captivating
music has both delicate beauty and heart
thumping bass power and the drummers
remarkable strength and skill defies belief.
Premium
Seats
29.50.Tickets
25.00,
21.00.Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth
Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Alan Carr - Fri 8 May 8pm No stranger to yap

Alan Carr will be yapping his way around the
UK & Ireland with his brand new stand up
show Yap, Yap, Yap! The BAFTA and British
Comedy Award winning comedian, author and
chat show supremo returns to his stand up
roots with his hilarious take on life. Age
Restriction 15+ Tickets 30.00
Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk
Baldock Bookfest - Fri 8 to Sun 10 May An
exciting
literary
weekend
of
talks,
presentations and workshops from local,
nationally and internationally acclaimed
writers and illustrators. Baldock Arts and
Heritage Centre, Old Town Hall, Baldock SG7
6AR

Grove House Spring Ball - Sat 9 May You are

invited to attend the Grove House Spring Ball:
Join us for an evening of fine dining followed
by live music to dance the night away!
Tickets: 60 (includes a three-course meal
and wine) Time: 7pm arrival for 8pm meal
Aldwickbury Park Golf Club, Harpenden AL5
1LB

Who Killed the Holiday Rep? Fri 8 and Sat

9 May A fully interactive murder mystery
evening set in the holiday resort of Benidorm.
Who killed the holiday rep, can you establish
the motive and did the murderer have an
accomplice? Work in teams of 6 to solve the
crime Meldreth village hall, Meldreth SG8 6LX

Nightingale Yard Sale - Sat 9 May Taking

place in the Nightingale area of Baldock, our
annual Yard Sale is free to visitors so come
along and grab a bargain whilst supporting

26

your local community!

Baldock SG7 6JP

Nightingale

hero of stand-up comedy - the current master

of this underrated art. Letchworth Arts
Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden
City SG6 3EW

area,

Hertford Museum Stores Open Day - Sat 9

May 11am 3pm drop in Go behind the
scenes at Hertford Museum stores. Discover
how we store and care for our vast and varied
collection. Visit the Roman corn drying oven
and learn more about the fascinating Foxholes
Farm. The Seed Warehouse, Hertford SG14
1PX

Barkway Village Market - Sat 9 May Now a

Hertfordshire tradition in its own right, the
markets origins can be traced back as far as
1270 and is set in the grounds of one of
Barkways oldest, and most beautiful, houses.
Church Lane, Barkway SG8 8EJ

A May Miscellany - Sat 9 May A summers

evening light, bright concert of music, poetry
and comic songs with Ros Holbrow, John
Witchell and Sarah Harrison. You are invited
to sit back and listen to music including Baker
Street, Stranger on the Shore and Moon River.
St Marys Church, Church Lane, Reed, near
Royston SG8 8AP

May Fair/Heritage Day - Sat 9 May An annual

event held in the High Street of Hoddesdon
town centre. It incorporates an array of craft
and
charity
stalls
alongside
a
full
entertainment programme and performances
from local dance and theatre groups. High
Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8TL
Plant Fair - Sun 10 May Stock up at our
Annual Plant Fair, with plants from our
volunteer growers and local nurseries.
Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre HP4 1LT

The Grand Vintage Fair- Sat 9 May The

Grand Vintage Fair, St Albans, full to the
rafters with retro relics and kitsch
collectibles! Come and find vintage fashions
and accessories, gold n silver jewellery,
upcycled furniture, art glass, china, books
and more. The Jubilee Centre, Catherine
Street, St Albans AL3 5BU

The Little Hadham Antiques Fair- Sun 10

May An established fair known for its wide
range of quality antiques at reasonable
prices. Little Hadham Village Hall (Signposted
off the A120 between Puckeridge & Bishops
Stortford) SG11 2BP

Roller
Derby!!!
South
East
British
Championships Kick Off- Sat 9 May Full Metal
Roller Derby and their womens team Herts
Breakers are proud to kick off to the South
East Regional British Championships games.
Roller Derby is a full contact sport played on
quad roller skates. Stevenage Arts & Leisure
Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ

Church Secrets - what to look for. - Sun 10

May A talk by Richard Taylor - author of the
bestselling "How to Read a Church" and writer
and presenter of BBC TVs "Pugin: Gods Own
Architect". Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe
Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG

Watford Model Railway Exhibition - Sat 9

May Model Railway Exhibition with more than
20 layouts in a variety of scales and gauges.
Trade support attending. Free parking, full
disabled access, refreshments. Queens
School, Aldenham Road, Bushey WD23 2TY

Radlett Light Opera Society Presents:

Children of Eden - Weds 13 to Sat 16 May
This musical is based on the book of Genesis
and covers the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain
and Abel, followed by Noah and the flood.
Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz
(composer for Wicked) has created a show
about second chances and learning. The
Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett
WD7 8HL

Jumble Sale in aid of Cats Protection Hemel

Hempstead & Berkhamsted- Sat 9 May
Jumble sales are great fun so if you have
never been to one do come to ours! Books,
toys and games, clothes of all shapes and
sizes (some of them nearly new) from baby to
adult, shoes, bric-a-brac, sheets, curtains,
cushions. The Village Hall, Potten End, nr
Berkhamsted HP4 2QG

The Bee Gees Story - Thur 14 May 8pm The

Bee Gees Story unites the UKs hottest talent
for a truly inspiring evening of everything Bee
Gees. This is the show that Bee Gees fans
everywhere have been waiting for. Featuring
the stunningly convincing vocals of brothers
Darren and Gary Simmons as Barry and Robin
Gibb, as well as Jarrod Loughlin as Maurice
Gibb, these three leading men have
collectively starred in Londons West End,

Comedy Club: - Sat 9 May Another anarchic

evening of great comedy featuring Tim Clark
and Tobias Persson, hosted by Paul B
Edwards. Licensed bar. Tim Clark: An unsung

27

Museums at Night - Sat 16 May 6-9pm Join us

for a special evening opening to celebrate the
Museums at Night initiative! Enjoy a drink and
listen to live music from local bands. Drop in
Its
Free!
Donations
welcome.
Pay
bar Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford
SG14 1DT

performed on numerous worldwide TV

appearances and even performed live with
the Bee Gees themselves. The Jive Talkin
band features some of the greatest
performers in the country today and recreates
with perfection the extensive Gibb Brothers
repertoire. Never before has there been a
more complete Bee Gees experience, making
audiences both young and old feel as if they
are actually at a Bee Gees concert! The show
also features a stunning acoustic medley of
some of Bee Gees earlier hits showcasing the
uncanny voices of the three lead singers
creating a truly emotional musical journey.
Tickets 21.00, 18.50 Watford Colosseum,
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN
0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Hoddesdon Methodist church- Sat 16 May

Michael Lunts will be presenting a concert
entitled Flanders and Swann Revisited,
through the eyes of St John Betjeman, An
evening of musical comedy featuring the
songs of Flanders and Swann. Hoddesdon
Methodist
Church
EN11
9ED
Broxbourne Big Band Dance - Sat 16 May St
Clare Hospice supporters Jean & Dave Roberts
invite you to come along to their annual Big
Band Dance party at Broxbourne Civic Hall.
The dance features music from the Joe Loss
Orchestra and singers, and there will also be
a raffle on the night. Broxbourne Civic Hall,
Cock Lane, Hoddesdon EN11 8BE

The Songs of Leonard Cohen: Keith James in

concert - Fri 15 May Keith James brings the
music of Leonard Cohen, with each song
stripped back -- desolate, naked and sensual.
Enigmatic, mysterious and sub textural,
songwriter Leonard Cohen is an unflinching
character, with an exact sense of prose, a
wry humour. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The
Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Evening of Gilbert & Sullivan by the Potters

Bar Choral Society - Sat 16 May Potters Bar
Choral Society presents an evening of Gilbert
& Sullivan. Pirates, fairies, policeman, all in
the days Britain really ruled the waves.
Whats not to enjoy! St Marys Church, The
Walk, Potters Bar EN6 1QQ

iMagician - Fri 15 May

8pm Jamie
Allan explores the work of historys greatest
illusionist then demonstrates how modern
technology can make them even more mind
blowing. Tickets 22.00, 20.50 Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Race for Life 2015 Pretty Muddy

Hertfordshire - Sat 16 May Its time to take
the fight to cancer at Cancer Research UKs
Race for Life. We need an army of women to
join forces this year and take part in our 5k,
10k and Pretty Muddy events across the
country to help beat cancer sooner. Phasels
Wood, Rucklers Lane, Kings Langley, WD4 9NA

UB40 - Sat 16 May

7.30pm
Naming
themselves after the unemployment benefit
form, UB40 formed in 1978, before releasing
their debut album Signing Off in August
1980 considered by many to be one of the
greatest reggae albums ever released by a
British band. It was the start of a career that
has since seen the band have over forty UK
Top 40 hit singles and achieve sales of over
100 million records, making UB40 one of the
most successful British groups of all-time. The
bands latest Top 30 album 'Getting Over The
Storm was awarded BBC Radio 2s Album Of
The Week accolade and received 5-star
reviews from the UKs music press on its
release in September 2013. Standing Tickets
30.00. Seated Tickets 32.50 Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Hertfordshire Help to Buy New Home ShowSat 16 May 10.30 am 4 pm. Housing
Associations, Developers, Solicitors and
Financial Advisors will be on hand. Ramada
Hotel (The Comet), St Albans Road West,
Hatfield AL10 9RH
Letchworth Food and Garden Festival - Sat
16 and Sun 17 May The Letchworth Food and
Garden Festival takes over the town centre
with local food heroes showcasing the best
produce from the region in our market place
plus celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EA
Antiques Market at Stable Yard at Hatfield
House - Sat 16 May Visit our monthly
antiques market for a huge range of antiques

28

Big Summer Sounds- Sun 17 May Following

the release of her critically acclaimed third
album, Lady Sings The Blues, X Factor star
Rebecca Ferguson is headlining this one day
music event. Pack a picnic, kick the kids off
the consoles and head to Big Summer Sounds!
The Parade by the pond, Watford WD17 1NA

and collectibles. Pick up unusual curiosities

including furniture, mirrors, hats and
ornaments. Stable Yard at Hatfield House,
Hatfield AL9 5NF
Welwyn Garden City World Food Festival Sat 16 May The event, which is brought to
you by Oaklands College and WGC Town
Centre Partnership, will bring together
different restaurants and cuisines from
around the world. Town Centre, Welwyn
Garden City AL8 0HA

Herts Auto Show - Sun 17 May Join us at this

years charity car show in aid of Make-A-Wish
Foundation UK, their will be classic vehicles
as well as latest models. The show is free to
exhibit. It will be a fun and lively day our for
all the family. Stanborough Park, Stanborough
Road, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6DQ

Hitchin Symphony Orchestra Concert - Sat

16 May 7.30 p.m. St. Marys Church, Hitchin
Leader: Janet Hicks Conductor: Paul Adrian
Rooke Gabriel Faure: Suite: Pellas et
Mlisande Piotr Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
Soloist: Fenella Humphreys Camille. St Marys
Church, Churchyard, Hitchin SG5 1HP

Farmers Market at Stable Yard at Hatfield

House - Sun 17 May Local traders visit Stable
Yard at Hatfield House every third Sunday of
the month to sell their produce in the
courtyard. The small market has grown in
popularity over the years and 2015 promises
to be bigger and better still!! Stable Yard at
Hatfield House, Hatfield AL9 5NF

Newgate Street Village May Fayre & Fun Dog

Show - Sun 17 May 1pm Come and enjoy all
the fun of a Village May Fayre - Traditional
family fun including - Fun Dog Show - Best
Puppy, Most handsome dog, Prettiest bitch,
Best Veteran dog/bitch, Best condition
dog/bitch, Best rescue, Scruffiest dog.
Newgate Street Village SG13 8RA

Brahms Requiem- Sun 17 May A Concert to

celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Holy
Saviour Church Hitchin. Singers drawn from
choirs in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
combine to perform Brahms Requiem, with
Sally Ann Hayes - soprano, Simon Williams baritone, Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe
Road, Hitchin SG5 1QG

Hertford Castle Craft Market & Open Day Sun 17 May Part of the Hertford Arts Festival
12:00 - 16:00 Free Entry although donations
are welcome. This event marks the end of the
Hertford Arts Festival. Hertford Castle will
open its doors to the public for the first time
this year. Hertford Castle and Grounds,
Hertford SG14 1HR

The Ashes Of Darts! - Weds 20 May Each

night will see two professional dart players
joined by local players in a tournament of
England versus Australia! Walkabout, Watford
WD17 1AW

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, License To

Thrill The Music Of James Bond - Sun 17
May 7.30pm Every Bond song is an event in
itself and this exciting, fast and sexy show
brings you hit after hit! A streak of genius and
genuine passion for our beloved hero makes
the songs, iconic themes and incidental music
a full-blooded, joyous celebration, bringing
the house down every time. Goldfinger,
Thunderball, Diamonds are Forever, You Only
live Twice, The Man With the Golden Gun,
Golden Eye, Casino Royal, Live and Let Die,
Skyfall and many, many more. With a cast of
top London singers and a star studded
Orchestra; this dynamite show will conjure up
dreamy visions of a suave charismatic bond
and
dangerously
thrilling
baddies.
Tickets 21.00
Watford
Colosseum,
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN
0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Niall McCann - Adventure: Red in Tooth &

Claw- Weds 20 May TV Presenter Niall
McCann (Lost in the Amazon: The Enigma of
Col. Fawcett and Biggest & Baddest) is an
Explorer, Adventurer and Biologist who has
travelled the planet, turning his hand to a
variety of expeditions; rowing the Atlantic,
biking trips. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham
Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL
The Cavern Beatles - Wed 20 May 8pm As
ambassadors of The most famous club in the
world, The Cavern Beatles begin 2015 with a
new cast and a new attitude, to once again
bring to the stage the music that has now
influenced 3 generations. The bands
members, as well as being talented
instrumentalists and singers, are hugely
dedicated Beatle fans, intent on recreating
their
individual
character
to
an

29

unprecedented standard. Countless hours of

study and rehearsal have gone into the show,
which emulates with uncanny detail and
meticulous accuracy, the rise of the greatest
band in the world from the days of the Cavern
through to the rooftop in Savile Row, London
in 1969. Drawing on an extensive repertoire
of hits and album tracks, the Cavern
Beatles perform their entire 2 hour show
completely live, using no backing tracks,
producing a fully authentic representation of
the music. The bands breath-taking attention
to detail extends to the use of genuine 1960s
instruments and all of the equipment seen on
stage is the same as that used by the Beatles
wherever possible. With their widespread
appeal being more apparent than ever in the
varying age groups that continue to follow the
band, the Cavern Beatles are widely regarded
as being as close to the real thing as they are
ever likely to get. Tickets 19.50, 17.50
Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road,
Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

The Magic Of Motown - Sat 23 May

Celebrating 50 years of UK number one hit
singles, the Magic of Motown brings its brandnew 2015 REACH OUT Tour to town. //
Motown singles first topped the UK charts in
1964. Today the legend of the label lives.
Broxbourne
Civic
Hall,
High
Street,
Hoddesdon EN11 8BE

Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Thur 21 May

Puttin on the Ritz! Since 1969 the Pasadena
Roof Orchestra has been faithfully re-creating
the glories of popular music from the 1920s
and 1930s. This fun-packed show features
timeless classics from the great American
song book. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham
Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Markyate Plant Sale - Sat 23 May Come along

to Markyates Party of the Year! The perfect
event for those who love their gardens & The
Hospice of St Francis! Held in a delightful,
private family garden in the middle of the
village.64 High Street, Markyate AL3 8HZ

Spring Special - Sat 23 to Sun 31 May Sheep

Shearing, Pony Displays and plenty of
springtime fun. With farmyard animals,
adventure play, fun fair rides, JCB Young
Drivers Zone, bouncy castles and inflatable
slide. You can pan for gold and take a ride on
Tristan the Runaway Tractor. Willows Activity
Farm. Coursers Road, London Colney, St.
Albans AL4 0PF
Big Sing - Sat 23 May Join us for a fabulous
day of singing, socialising and performing with
Penny Manser and her team of experienced
leaders. Great Ashby Community Centre,
Whitehorse Lane, Stevenage SG1 6NH

Jackson - Sun 24 May 8pm Michael Jackson is

not only remembered as one of the most
influential artists of all time, but many of
todays artists have been inspired by his
iconic style. Jackson Live in Concert sees
long-time fan and hugely talented Ben
recreate the Michael Jackson experience with
his stunning rendition of all his favourite
songs. Bens portrayal of Jackson has to be
the most accurate and exciting tribute to the
King of Pop to have ever toured UK theatres.
Ben is joined on the stage by his Incredible
Band and Dancers who work their way through
all the hits. Hes got the look, the moonwalk
and the voice! His renditions of Thriller, Beat
it and Billie Jean are truly sensational.
Jackson Live in Concert features all-live
vocals and superb musicians and dancers,
fabulous costumes, and of course all the
signature dance moves associated so fondly
with the undisputed King of Pop. Pure MJ!
Tickets 19.50, 17.50 Watford Colosseum,
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN
0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Ladies Night - Fri 22 May 8pm Join us in the

auditorium for an evening full of gorgeous
male entertainment, a cheeky drag queen, a
devilish cocktail on arrival and a scrumptious
three-course meal - the night is set to
tantalise all your senses! Over 18s only.
Contains nudity! Tickets: 35.00 includes 3course meal and the evenings entertainment
Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road,
Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk
Kidz Praise - Sat 23 May 3pm Hallelujah Kidz
Praise is a celebration of Easter performed by
children and teenagers from age 7 to 19.
Through singing, dancing, drama and
multimedia, they will tell the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Join us for a
special time of reflection, entertainment and
celebration with children from around the UK.
Tickets
0.00
Watford
Colosseum,
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN
0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Knebworth Festival of Transport - Sun 24

and Mon 25 May A wide range of classic and
collectable cars. Arena events, autojumble

30

stuck in some yucky brown muck. A sheep in a

jeep and a frog in a bush saw the truck stuck
and gave it a push. But the truck stayed
stuck! The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham
Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

and trade stands. Tickets include admission

to the Garden and Dinosaur Trail as well as
the Adventure Playground - a great family day
out! Knebworth House SG1 2AX
Love Your Zoo Week - Mon 25 May
Celebrating achievements throughout the
year, with fun filled events all day. Shepreth
Wildlife Park, Station Rd, Shepreth SG8 6PZ

The Basil Brush Show - Fri 29 May Basil

Brush is a star with an outstanding ability to
entertain and make people of all ages laugh
and smile. Hes cheeky, irreverent, charming,
naughty, quick-witted, scheming and foxy,
but at the same time hes kind, caring and
affectionate. Rhodes Arts Complex, South
Road, Bishops Stortford CM23 3JG

Watford Celebration - Mon 25 May This is

the tenth anniversary of our colourful
multicultural free festival with performances
of music, dance and drama, as well as
demonstrations of martial and other arts,
international lunch time food from the
communities in Watford. Multi Cultural
Community Centre and St Michael and All
Angels Church, 70, Durban Road, Watford
WD18 7DS

The Magic Porridge Pot and Other Tasty

Tales - Fri 29 May Theatre of Widdershins.
Suitable for all dietary requirements aged 3+.
Splodge that porridge! Slurp that soup! Snap
that biscuit! Three familiar tales to delight all
tastes. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade,
Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Image Theatre Presents: Merlin the Sword

in the Stone - Weds 27 May The mystical
story of the Sword in the Stone follows the
life of Arthur, a young squire destined to
become king. Guided by Merlin, he has many
adventures culminating in him successfully
pulling the sword from the stone. The Radlett
Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Jackson - Live in Concert - Sat 30 May Bens

portrayal of Michael Jackson in his prime has
to be the most vocally and visually accurate
tribute to the King of Pop to have ever toured
UK theatres. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham
Avenue, Radlett, Hertfordshire WD7 8HL

The West End Men -Thur 28 May 8pm Direct

from a West End run and a sell-out tour of
Asia, The West End Men are heading for
Watford Colosseum with a brand new show
celebrating the leading men of the West
End. Performing songs from the biggest shows
in the world as well as a selection of some of
the best rock and pop classics, The West End
Men showcases the talent and prowess of
some of the finest performers of this
generation. This spectacular show, which
features pop star and X Factor finalist Marcus
Collins, promises to take you on a journey to
the very heart of the West End and its leading
men. Tickets: 29.00, 27.00, 23.00 Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,
WD17
3JN
0845
075
3993
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Ben And Hollys Little Kingdom - Sat 30 and

Sun 31 May 10am, 1pm and 4pm on both
days Somewhere, hidden amongst the thorny
brambles is a little kingdom where everyone
is very, very small From the makers
of Peppa Pig comes this BAFTA award-winning
television animation live on stage! Holly is a
young Fairy Princess, who is still learning how
to fly and her magic doesnt always go quite
according to plan. Her best friend, Ben the
Elf, doesnt have wings and he doesnt do
magic, but he runs very fast and flies on the
back of Gaston the Ladybird. They live in the
Little Kingdom, a tiny land where flowers and
grass rise high above them and every day is an
adventure. Ben and Holly have fun and games
helping Gaston the Ladybird clean up his
messy cave, they go on a trip into The Big
World with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum, even plan
a surprise birthday party for King Thistle, and
oops, lets hope theres not another jelly
flood! Join Ben and Holly, and their friends on
this exciting, enchanting and magical musical
adventure packed full of games, songs and
laughter. This beautiful story of elves,
princesses and childhood innocence will
delight all the family! Tickets 16.50, 14.50,
Family Offer (4 Tickets) 58.00 Watford
Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford,

Puppets workshop: For ages from 3 upwards

- Thur 28 May Watching, Playing, Making: An
Introduction to Puppetry from the renowned
Theatre of Widdershins. This workshop is an
hour and a half long and starts with a
demonstration of a variety of puppets.
Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade,
Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW
Duck In The Truck - Fri 29 May This is the
tale of a duck in a truck - a truck that was

31

WD17
3JN
0845
075
www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Pirate Weekend at Mead Open Farm - Sat 2

to Mon 4 May The brand new Shaggys Cove
sand and water play area at Mead Open Farm
officially opens on 2 May 2015 with a funfilled Pirate Weekend guaranteed to raise
plenty of ooooh-aaaarrrhhhs! Mead Open
Farm, Stanbridge Road, Billington, Leighton
Buzzard LU7 9JH

3993

St.Albans Steam And Country Show - Sat 30

and Sun 31 May A full days entertainment
will be available for everyone. In addition to
the old engines and farm equipment there
will be stalls, a fairground and refreshments
including a licensed bar. Oaklands College,
just off the A1057 Hatfield Road, St. Albans
AL4 0XR

Season Premiere Airshow (Commemorating

VE Day) - Sun 3 May Celebrate this important
anniversary with us as we mark 70 years since
Victory in Europe Day. Marking the formal
conclusion of Hitlers war, Tuesday 8th May
1945 was an official celebration day across
the country. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old
Warden SG18 8EP

Hatfield House Garden Show - Sat 30 and

Sun 31 May Held on the Elizabeth Oak Field,
the Garden Show will feature Specialist
nurseries, a wide range of plants and seeds,
the latest garden equipment, gardening
experts hosting Gardening Question time.
Hatfield house, Great North Road, Hatfield
AL9 5HQ

Wilden Village May Day - Mon 4 May Come

and join us for a fantastic day of
entertainment at Wilden May Day. A
procession will take place from the School to
the Village Hall at 1pm followed by the
crowning of this years May Queen. Traditional
May Day and Irish dancing. Wilden Village
Hall, High Street, Wilden, Bedford MK44 2PB

Handbell Concert - Sat 30 May The East

Anglian Regional Handbell Team are playing
165 handbells and handchimes and presenting
a varied programme including Dancing Queen,
Stairway to Heaven and Arrival of the Queen
of Sheba. Ware Drill Hall, 17 Amwell End,
Ware SG12 9HP

Car Boot Sale - Mon 4 May St Marks Church

& Community Centre Calder Rise/Avon Drive,
Bedford MK41 7UY

On Your Bike for Isabel Hospice - Sun 31

May Isabel Hospices annual bike ride returns
for its sixth year and 2015 promises to be the
best yet! Starting and finishing at Bishops
Stortford Rugby Club there are three circular
distances to choose from (25k, 50k,
100k).Bishops Stortford Rugby Club, Silver
Leys, Hadham Road, Bishops Stortford CM23
2QE

Stamp, Coin and Other Collectables

Advisory Day - Tue 5 May Warwick and
Warwick, the leading stamp, coin and
collectables auctioneers, will be visiting your
area shortly. We will be pleased to advise on
the sale of stamps, coins, banknotes,
postcards, cigarette cards, medals, die cast
toys. Barns Hotel, Cardington Road, Bedford
MK44 3SA

Miss Caledonia - Sun 31 May The year is

1955. Desperate to escape the chicorypulling, stall-cleaning, hay-baling drudgery of
her life, Peggy Ann Douglas has a plan.
Standalone Farm, Wilbury Road, Letchworth
Garden City SG6 4JN

Bedford Girls School Open Morning - Tue 5

May Join us for our Open Morning at 10am
(registration from 9.40am in the Assembly
Hall). This is an opportunity for you to visit
the school and gain a true flavour of the
vibrant and exciting atmosphere our girls
generate. Bedford Girls School, Cardington
Road, Bedford MK42 0BX

Beds listings
Live Music Night and Fun Casino - Fri 1 May
Come and join us for an evening of
entertainment with live music provided by
The Guitar Club and special guests Snake
Eyes Fun Casino! With some classic sounds of
the 60s and 70s plus some Bond favourites.
Flitwick Town Council, The Rufus Centre,
Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH

Work Your Soul (60s Soul Night) - Fri 8 May

Work Your Soul bring you another fantastic
night of Ska, Reggae, Soul, RnB and Latin, all
played on vinyl. As always entry is free all
night. George II, 70 Bute Street, Luton LU1
2EY
Handbell Concert - Sat 9 May Biddenham
Handbell Ringers and The Barn Ringers with
guest soloists are presenting a concert to

32

A Traditional Village Fete - Sat 16 May St

Marys Church Clophill is holding a traditional
fete in the Church Grounds. Lots of stalls,
exhibitions, music, childrens entertainment
with refreshments (lunches, tea and coffee)
and a barbeque. Entry is free. St Marys
Church Grounds, High Street, Clophill MK45
4BE

support Christian Aid Week. Music will include

jazz, music from the shows, spirituals hymns
and popular tunes. St. Peter de Merton
Church, de Parys Avenue, Bedford MK40 2TX
Stotfold Mill Steam Fair and Country Show Sat 9 and Sun 10 May This is the 13th year
we have held this popular event which
continues to go from strength to strength. It
started from very humble beginnings and has
gradually built up over the years to be a firm
favourite for the local community .Mill Lane,
Stotfold SG5 4NU

Meppershall Festival - Sat 16 May Now in its

6th year, this popular one day only, local
community event will once again showcase
local talents. All welcome. Be there for 1.45
for 2pm to 3pm for Street Dance. Meppershall
Village Hall, High Street Meppershall SG17
5LX

Indoor Table Top Sale - Sat 9 May Indoor

table
top
sale,
tables
provided.
Refreshments. Adults 50p children under 12
10p. St Anne Church, Crawley Green Road,
Luton LU2 0RB

Swiss Garden Photography Workshops - Sat

16 May This day workshop will include expert
tuition from a professional photographer who
will teach you not only how to capture images
around the gardens, but also how best to use
your camera settings. The Shuttleworth
Collection and Swiss Garden near Biggleswade
SG18 9EP

Strings and clarinet - Sat 9 May Bedford

Sinfonia, Michael Rose (conductor), Malcolm
Green (clarinet). Mozart - Divertimento in F
major, Finzi - Clarinet Concerto, Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht. At 16 the young Mozart was
probably pretty proud of this Divertimento. St
Pauls Church, St Pauls Square, Bedford MK40
1SQ

Vive la Difference! - Sat 16 May

Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra, Michael
Rose (conductor), Tim Lowe (cello). Wagner Siegfrieds
Rhine
Journey
(from
Gtterdmmerung), Walton- Cello Concerto,
Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D Major. Bedford
Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square, Bedford
MK40 1LE

Luton MrBead Bead Show - Sat 9 May String

& Loose Bead & Pearls Supplies for the Home
Jewellery Maker. Many different gemstone
beads like jade, turquoise, pearls, agates,
jasper, carnelian, coral etc. Stockwood Hotel,
Stockwood Crescent, Luton LU1 3SS

Crafts, Cake and a Cuppa - Sun 17 May

Therell be a wide variety of high quality
local handmade art and craft items, with
many different crafters attending as well as a
charity stall. Tea, coffee and light
refreshments available all day. Free
admission and free parking. Woburn Village
Hall, Crawley Road Woburn MK17 9QD

Swiss Garden Plant Fair - Sun 10 May An

opportunity to buy a wide variety of plants
from local nurseries. In addition there will
also be stalls selling local produce and arts
and crafts. Plus the chance to look around the
stunningly
restored
Swiss
Garden. The
Shuttleworth Collection and Swiss Garden
SG18 9EP

Vegetable Planter Workshop - Mon 18 May

Anyone yearning to grow their own vegetables
but struggling with space will love this
workshop as Frosts expert demonstrates how
to get a bumper harvest from a container
vegetable garden. Sandy Road Bedford MK44
3QP

Philharmonia Orchestra: Schumann &

Mendelssohn - Wed 13 May At the age of 21,
Mendelssohn undertook his second grand
tour of Europe where inspiration struck for
an Italian symphony. Mendelssohn was drawn
to, as he put it, the vivacity and supreme
delight in life he found in Italy. Bedford Corn
Exchange, St Pauls Square, Bedford MK40 1SL

7th Mentmore Arts Festival - Sat 23 to Mon

25 May Every year money is raised for local
causes. In 2014, over 10,500 worth of art
was sold and 5,000 was donated to Florence
Nightingale Hospice and 2,500 to local
charities including Mentmore Village Hall and
St Marys Church. St Marys Church Mentmore

Forest Folk and Roots - Launch Night - Thur

14 May Our acoustic and roots live music
nights launches with the Fantastic Freds
House - plus support The College Arms,
Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield
MK43 0AL

33

Butterfly Walk - Sat 30 May Join the

countryside team for a guided walk to look
for the butterflies that thrive on the rare
chalk grassland of Dunstable and Whipsnade
Downs. Chiltern Gateway Centre, Dunstable
Downs LU6 2GY

and Mentmore Village Hall, The Green,

Mentmore LU7 0QF
Music at St Marys - Dunstable Ladies Choir Sat 23 May Dunstable Ladies Choir are a
lively group of about 35 ladies spanning all
ages who love to sing. St Marys Church,
Eaton Bray LU6 2DP

Bucks Listings

Dixieland cmc live county music club - Sat

23 May A live country music with line and
partner dancing. Barton Village Hall Hexton
Rd Barton MK45 4JY

Northern Ballet: Elves and the Shoemaker Fri 1 May Following the fantastic sell-out
success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs,
Northern Ballet is delighted to announce our
latest ballet for children, Elves & the
Shoemaker. Milton Keynes Theatre, 500
Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ

Classic Wheels Picnic - Sat 23 May Join us for

a picnic with plenty of photo opportunities.
Along with a two-hour airshow, discover the
Collections vintage vehicles and classic
motorcycles. The Shuttleworth Collection,
Old Warden SG18 8EP

Cupcake Decorating At Frosts - Fri 1 May

Master the craft of cupcake decorating with
Frosts Garden Centres Cupcake Decorating
Masterclass. Newport Road Woburn Sands
Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Car Boot Sale - Mon 25 May St Marks

Church & Community Centre Bedford MK41
7UY

Christ Church Art Exhibition 2015:

Celebration - Sat 2 and Sun 3 May This
years annual art exhibition features paintings
and crafts on the theme of Celebration, all
created by amateur and professional artists
from the Chesham area. Christ Church
Waterside, Chesham HP5 1PY

Build a Buddy - Tue 26 to Sun 31 May Its

raining cats and dogs this half term! Children
can choose a soft toy puppy or kitten to make
their very own cuddly buddy. Each animal
comes with a birth certificate and take home
carry box. Sandy Road, Bedford MK44 3QP

Edens Pop Up Spring Fashion Show - Sat 2

and Sun 3 May Be ready for surprises as Eden
creates a fashion show like no other! This
years event combines runway-style with a
twist, as pop up shows appear spontaneously
around the centre. Eden Shopping Centre
HP11 2DQ

Marston Mud - Kids Outdoor Activity - Tue

26 May By popular demand mud modelling is
back. Be prepared to get in a mess as we
create mud animals, mud faces and mud pies
in the Forest out of the Marston clay. Sessions
cost 4 per child and run for approx. 1hr15
minutes at 10am, 11.30am, and 1.30pm.
Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road,
Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

Vale Harvest Local Food Market - Sat 2 May

A monthly market featuring a range of awardwinning produce from across the Aylesbury
Vale. With over 20 stalls each month selling a
wide variety of hot and cold food and
drink. Banks Park, Haddenham Village Hall,
Haddenham HP17 8EE

Pop Factor, The Concert! - Wed 27 May Pop

Factor tributes the very best of now! A show
thats a celebration of the top artists and
biggest chart hits! Calling all Directioners!
Mixers & Katy Cats! Are you a Belieber? A
Swiftie, or one of our favourite Little
Monsters! Grove Theatre, Dunstable LU5 4GP

Flower Festival - Sat 2 to Mon 4 May Flower

Festival at Holy Trinity Church, Light lunch
available followed by afternoon teas until
5.00 pm and tempting plant stall. Holy Trinity
Church, Main Road at top of hill, Drayton
Parslow MK17 0JS

Summer Food & Wine Fair - Fri 29 to Sun 31

May Free Admission. Stalls & tastings of local
and national quality fine food & wine. Large
Food Hall with a wide selection of our home
made meals & pies, farm assured meat,
preserves, wines, cheeses, biscuits, desserts.
Harpers Food, Half Moon Lane, Pepperstock,
Nr. Luton LU1 4LL

BBOWT Plant & Produce Market - Sat 2 May

Excellent value plants; tasty homemade
produce; books, crafts, gifts, refreshments;
free entry, free parking (1hr). Great
Missenden HP16 9AE

34

Longwick Village Fete - Sat 2 May A fun day

out for all the family. Starts at 12 noon with
traditional May Day celebrations. Lots of
activities, entertainment, music, craft and
food
stalls.
Go
Karts.
Fairground.
Competitions including Tug of War and the
Great Longwick Bake Off. Longwick Village
Hall Playing Fields HP27 9QY

soloists, with other excerpts and solos from

Bizet and Gounod. All Saints Church, The
Causeway, Marlow SL7 2AA
May There Be Music - a piano & soprano
concert- Sat 9 May A piano and soprano
charity concert. Proceeds to the funds of
Cosgrove Parish Church. Christ Cornerstone
Church, Milton Keynes MK9 2ES

Spring Steam Gala & Model Railway

Exhibition at Buckinghamshire Railway
Centre - Sun 3 and Mon 4 May Spring Steam
Gala and Model Railway Exhibition (Including
Rewley Road layout) Industrial Steam Gala
including up to 7 locos in steam, double
heading, freight trains, Driver for a Tenner
and Brake Van Rides. Buckinghamshire
Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station,
Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Little Chalfont Farmers Market- Sat 9 May

Great selection of quality, locally produced
food at this monthly market. Buy rare-breed
pork, bacon and sausages, buffalo meat,
lamb, game and poultry. Plus seasonal fruit
and vegetables, free range eggs, artisan
breads, pies and baked goods. Village Hall car
park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP8 4UD
The Classical Saxophone - Alastair Penman
in Concert - Sat 9 May While the saxophone
is often thought of as a jazz instrument, in
this programme Alastair explores the
extensive classical repertoire for the
instrument, including Debussys Rhapsodie.
Christ Church URC, Oxford Road, Marlow SL7
2NL

Buckinghamshire CCC v Oxfordshire CCC Sun 3 May Gates Open 10.00am Play begins
11.00am Scheduled Close of Play 6.30pm
Local rivals Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
clash in the group stages of the Unicorns
Knockout Trophy competition. The Wormsley
Estate Stokenchurch HP14 3YG
Gong Show with Suzi Ruffell - Wed 6 May
Where better to hold a competition than in
the largest casino outside of London, situated
inside the Xscape building. 8 acts will battle
it out to be named the winner of The Comedy
Cow Gong Show! The Casino MK, Xscape, 602
Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3XS

Marlow May Fayre - Sat 9 May Organised by

Marlow & District Round Table to raise money
for local charities and causes. Higginson Park,
Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2AE
A Handful of Brass - an evening with the
Chiltern Brass Quintet - Sun 10 May Chiltern
Brass Quintet, led by Paul Speed (trumpet)
Paul grew up in this area and continues to
perform and teach locally, including at the
Chiltern Music Academy and the Royal
Grammar School. Christ Church URC, Oxford
Road, Marlow SL7 2NL

Make a Quillow Quilt Class - Fri 8 May Come

and put a quillow together - make a very
simple quilt which can be pfolded and tucked
away into a pillow - the ideal snuggle
companion! Suitable for Confident beginner
Quilters. Threads and Patches, 15 Watling
Street, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton
Keynes MK2 2BU

Aston Clinton Village Market - Sun 10 May

Dont miss a wonderful opportunity to sample
and take home a huge selection of farmers
market produce including bread, cheese,
pickles and chutneys, home-reared pork,
free-range eggs, cakes and locally produced
apple juice, wine, cider. Aston Clinton
School, Twitchell Lane, Aston Clinton HP22
5JJ

A Spring Celebration - Brass Band Concert

featuring trumpet virtuoso Mike Lovatt - Sat
9 May Amersham Band and Amersham
Community Brass are holding a Spring Concert
with special guest Mike Lovatt. Mike has been
a principal trumpet player in many London
West End musical productions including Jesus
Christ Superstar, Saturday Night Fever. The
Kings Church, Raans Road, Amersham HP6 6LX

Militaria Fair - Sun 10 May Arms and Armour

UK are very proud to present The Bedford
Militaria Fair at Stantonbury and hope that
you will join us at the next event. As the
press say, Bedford is the miltaria fair with the
big queue, come and find out why! Many top
UK dealers. Stantonbury Leisure Centre MK14
6BN

Vive La France! Bizet and Gounod- Sat 9

May A concert of music by French composers,
featuring Georges Bizets Te Deum and
Charles Gounods St Cecilia Mass, performed
by Marlow Choral Society with professional

35

Abigails Party - Wed 13 to Sat 16 May Its

1977 and Beverly is throwing a little party for
her neighbours, newlyweds Tony and Angela,
and divorcee Sue. Dishes of cheese and
pineapple are on the coffee table. The social
get-together from hell is about to begin.
Stantonbury Theatre MK14 6BN

If you are partial to a bit of magic with your

comedy Firman is the best of the bunch The
Old Town Hall, Market Square, Buckingham
MK18 1NW
Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally - Sun 17
May Our new venue proved a great success
and this year rally should be even better.
There will be up to 1000 vintage vehicles to
admire, everything from buses, tractors and
lorries to cars, motorbikes and steam engines.
100+ trade stands to browse. Weedon Park,
Weedon Hill, Near Aylesbury HP22 4NN

The Best Bands in the Land - Sat 16 May We

strike up the band in a gala concert featuring
the Bisham Concert Band, Chiltern Hills Brass
Band, Maidenhead Concert Band and High
Wycombe Music Centre Big Band. All Saints
Parish Church, High Street, Marlow SL7 2AA

Afternoon Tea at Frosts - Mon 18 to Sun 24

May Britains most prestigious flower show,
the Chelsea Flower Show, is fast approaching,
with keen gardeners up and down the country
flexing their green fingers ready to see
cutting-edge garden design, new plants and
exciting ideas. Newport Road Woburn Sands,
Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Enchanted Museum: Once upon a time ... Sat 16 May Special late opening from 5.30pm9.30 for Museums at Night. This years
Enchanted Museum theme is Once Upon a
Time come along to our special night time
opening, part of Culture 24s Museums at
Night. Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland
Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, HP8
4AB

Al Stewart - Tue 19 May Al Stewart Classic

Album Concert - Year of the Cat Live On
Tuesday October 15 2013 at The Royal Albert
Hall, London for the first time ever Al Stewart
performed the album Year of the Cat in its
entirety. Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton
Keynes MK9 3NZ

The Chiltern Camerata performs Music in

the Great War- Sat 16 May The Chiltern
Camerata, Conductor Sam Laughton, performs
Music in the Great War Programme: The
final concert in our 2014/15 season is the
orchestras contribution to the Wycombe Arts
Festival. The Church of St. Lawrence, West
Wycombe Hill, West Wycombe HP14 3AP

The Big Outdoor Show - Sat 23 to Mon 25

May A fun-filled three-day event for families
and outdoor enthusiasts offering non-stop
adventure and entertainment on land, water
and in the air. Find out what it takes to be an
intrepid explorer from legends like Sir
Ranulph Fiennes, Mark Woods. Willen Lake,
Brickhill Street, Milton Keynes MK15 0DS

Fabulous Funky Chair Cover Class - Sat 16

May Join Vanessa Noonan to make a chair
cover that can be made to fit most standard
chairs - why not add pockets for your
favourite crafting items so they are right at
hand or modernise some tired furniture with a
new bright look. Threads and Patches, 15
Watling Street, Fenny Stratford Bletchley,
Milton Keynes MK2 2BU

Bucks Open Studios Fanfare - Sat 23 May to

Thur 4 Jun A glorious mix of paintings,
ceramics, sculpture, jewellery and more
showcasing the work of artists and makers
taking part in the 30th Bucks Open Studios (6
21 June) . Work is for sale. Free entry.
Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald
Dahl Childrens Gallery, Church Street,
Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Race for Life 2015 - Sun 17 May Waddesdon

Manor, Silk Street, Waddesdon HP18 0JY
Rubys Vintage & Retro Fair - Sun 17 May
After our first sensation event at the Old
Town Hall, we are back, this time on Sundays!
The wonderful Old Town Hall is adjacent to
the Wycombe Swan Theatre right in the
centre of town opposite the Council Offices.
The Old Town Hall, Queen Victoria Road, High
Wycombe, HP11 2XE

Half term antics, crafts and orienteering

photo competition - Sat 23 to Sun 31 May
Keep the kids busy this half term! Choose
from our selection of craft bags starting at 1
each. Use our craft area to be creative. Take
part in our picture orienteering competition,
bring a camera or phone if you have
one. Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre,
Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Comedy Night - Featuring Pete Firman - Sun

17 May Buckingham Town Council is pleased
to present a night of comedy and magic with
Peter Firman star of BBC1s The Magicians.

36

Dickinsons Real Deal - Sat 23 May Is coming

to High Wycombe Why let your antiques
collect dust in the attic when you can sell
them for cash? Take money on the spot from
a dealer OR if you think your item is worth
more . take a gamble at auction! Wycombe
Sports Centre, Marlow Hill, High Wycombe
HP11 1TJ

children under 6 please. College Lake Nature

Reserve near Tring HP23 5BJ
Creative Clay Activity - Tues 26 May Have
fun creating your own clay works of art. Drop
in any time between 10am and 12 noon or
1pm and 3pm. 3 per child. All children must
be accompanied by an adult. No need to
book. Buckinghamshire County Museum,
Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin

Bunny- Sat 23 May Peter Rabbit knows very
well that he is not to go into Mr McGregors
garden; especially as it was there that his
father met his untimely end! Stantonbury
Theatre MK14 6BN

Scavenger Boat Race - Wed 27 May Scavenge

the woods to find natural materials to help
you make a boat to race and take home. Will
yours sink, float or win? Colne Valley Park
Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham
UB9 5PG

Denham Village Fayre - Mon 25 May A

Charter Fair with its origins in the 15th
century when a market was held in Cheapside
Lane. Denham Village UB9 5BH

Stamp, Coin and Other Collectables

Advisory Day - Wed 27 May Warwick and
Warwick, the leading stamp, coin and
collectables auctioneers, will be visiting your
area shortly. We will be pleased to advise on
the sale of stamps, coins, banknotes,
postcards, cigarette cards, medals, die cast
toys and model. Abbey Hill Hotel, Monks Way,
Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes MK8 8LY

Jewellery Making Activity- Mon 25 May Be

inspired by jewellery on display and make
your own to take home. Drop in any time
between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm.
3 per child. All children must be
accompanied by an adult. No need to book.
Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church
Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

Marvellous Mosaics Art Activity - Wed 27

May Get creative and design your own
amazing mosaic pictures. Drop in any time
between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm.
3 per child. All children must be
accompanied by an adult. No need to book.
Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church
Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

Annual Bus Rally & Veteran Cycle Club of

Great Britain at Buckinghamshire Railway
Centre - Mon 25 May The 31st Annual Bus
Rally takes place, with both single and
double-decker buses of all eras, including
some that adults will have ridden on locally
travelling to school, to work or even to the
railway station! Buckinghamshire Railway
Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton,
Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Fantastic Felt Art Activty - Thur 28 May

Come and have fun making fantastic things
from felt. Drop in any time between 10am
and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. 3 per child. All
children must be accompanied by an adult.
No need to book. Buckinghamshire County
Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP

Build a Buddy - Tue 26 to Sun 31 May Its

raining cats and dogs this half term! Children
can choose a soft toy puppy or kitten to make
their very own cuddly buddy. Each animal
comes with a birth certificate and take home
carry box. Newport Road, Woburn Sands,
Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Miniature

Traction Engine Rally - Sat 30 and Sun 31
May Miniature Traction Engine Rally organised
by the VAMES Miniature Railway, with ride-on
traction engines all faithfully built smaller
versions of the real thing. Buckinghamshire
Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station,
Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

River Dipping Workshop - Tues 26 May Join

our activity leaders for a river dipping
workshop, be shown how to river dip, and
how to identify creatures. Colne Valley Park
Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham
UB9 5PG

Dinner and Magic Show - Sun 31 May Finish

off May with an afternoon to remember as
Frosts presents a spellbinding magic show and
a delicious Sunday dinner for the whole
family. Newport Road, Woburn Sands, Milton
Keynes MK17 8UE

Childrens Workshop: Pond Explorers - Tues

26 May Visit us for a pond dip, and meet the
creatures that live in our pond. All children
must be accompanied by an adult. No

37

38

39

40