Crimes committed in the Parish
31/12/2011 and 2/2/2012
Incident Date & Time Location
Burglary in a dwelling 22/1/2012 15:00
Grange Road, Felmersham.
Criminal Damage - Other property (not buildings) 4/1/2012 17:00 Moor End Road, Radwell.
  
Vote for Helen
Helen Perry has entered the photograph below in an ActionAid Charity competition. It is entitled The Modernisation of the Church of England. Helen asks that you vote for her picture.
In order to vote please go to:
http://www.picturethedifference.co.uk/
gallery/?order=recent

Parish Council Notes
Meeting held on 3 January 2012.
Click here to view official report of the meeting
After heavy rainfall water still runs across the road at Radwell. The road becomes very hazardous if it subsequently freezes. Borough Council is aware of the problem.
The street light at the bottom of Memorial Lane is damaged and as a consequence is not working. The clerk will seek quotes for a replacement.
Borough Council Grant Scheme. Money is available to the Parish Council to spend on a project. An additional street light and gates were considered. Money is also available from the Rural Grant Scheme.
The parish trees were inspected.
Radwell needs a new notice board because the current board has been vandalised.
Cllr Maxine Boswell asked the Council if the parish intended to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Please contact her if you or your club is interested. The Council would help finance any parish wide celebration.

The parish council has installed a new dog bin half way between Felmersham and Radwell.

Pavenham & Felmersham Cricket Club
VALENTINE’S BRUNCH
at The Village Hall, Pavenham
Sunday, February 12th 2012
from 9.30am onwards. Last orders 11.45am
After a month of dieting since Christmas, join us to break your fast and all your New Year resolutions.
Book a single place or larger groups (up to ten per table) and indulge in the best
Brunch experience in the County.
Tickets £13 each. Under 16s £6.
(to include a welcome Cava tipple, choice of cereals, full cooked breakfast and all the coffee and tea you can drink) available from:
Ian McKenzie 01234 825867
Neil Blakemore 07920 144911
Advance bookings only – no tickets available on the day

Vanessa is New Headteacher
Andrew Evans, Chairman of the Governors, Pinchmill Lower School writes: "Vanessa Coleman has successfully completed her NPQH award meaning that she is able to become a headteacher. From January 1st, she will therefore be the substantive head at Pinchmill Lower School and not have the "acting" role she has held for over a year. The governors have been informed but I am sure parents in the villages would also like to know."
 
Jessie Turner - An Obituary
Jessie passed away on 6 December 2011, she was 92 years old. Her funeral was held at St Marys Church on 13 December followed by cremation. An Obituary

Burglary at Radwell
A burglary took place in Moor End Road, in Radwell. The offence took place between 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 3:30 p.m. on the 4th of December. The offender has gained entry to the rear garden and forced open a wooden framed ground floor window.
A messy search took place, but it is not yet known if any property has been taken.
 
and in Felmersham....
A garden theft took place in Marriotts Close, in Felmersham. The offence took place between 4:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 8:30 a.m. on the 3rd of December. The offender has gained access to the rear garden and removed a gas canister. No attempt was made to enter the house.
 

Campanologists Required! Revd Tom writes: "Over the past few years the eight bells of St. Mary’s have fallen silent. Indeed it is only on the hour that we are reminded that we have any bells in the tower at all. However with the Queens Diamond Jubilee in sight, the Church is looking to recruit bell ringers to help us ring the bells for some services and special village occasions, like the Jubilee. Are you interested? If you are, then come along to St. Mary’s on the 15th of October (2-4pm) when we’ll be opening the tower for people to come and have a look around and see what’s involved! All persons, of any age or ability who might be interested are very welcome. In the meantime if you want to find out more contact Revd Tom Sander 781 773 or turn up to on a Practice night."

Bell Ringing Practice starts on Wednesday 5th October and continues on the 1st Wednesday of every month at 19.30-2100. ALL WELCOME!

Michael Templeman has passed away
Michael passed away on Tuesday 24 January. Prior to moving to Turvey, Michael and his wife Jane lived in Tithe Barn. The funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Felmersham on the 9 February at 12 o'clock midday. After the funeral service a reception held at The Millhouse Hotel and Riverside Restaurant, Sharnbrook.
Family flowers only, please. Donations if desired c/o Arnolds Funeral Directors, 48 Roff Avenue, Bedford MK41 7TE to British Heart Foundation or Bedfordshire Music Trust (The Bedfordshire Music trust will administer ‘The Michael Templeman Memorial Fund for Young Musicians’. The aim is to support promising young musicians, especially string players, in Bedfordshire.)
   
Ronald James Smith
Ronald James Smith 1930 - 2012, An Obituary

Lawrence Arthur White
Lawrence Arthur White, An Obituary
 
Broadband in the Villages
Bedford Borough Council is working on a project to improve broadband speeds across the Borough. Go to:
www.bedford.gov.uk/broadband for details. The January 2012 Broadband Update makes interesting reading.
  
Residents Association Meeting
A very well attended meeting was held on 5 January 2012.

Crime Stats for December 2011
Click here.
 
Colin Payne - An Obituary
Colin's obituary

Sharnbrook Mill Bridge Open

Sharnbrook Mill bridge is now open. The bridge was closed due to a crack appearing in a section of the bridge and it needed replacing. This work is now completed.

Felmersham Burglary
Residents are asked to be vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity in back gardens, after a burglary took place in Marriotts Close, in Felmersham. The offence took place between the 15th of November and the 8th of December.

The offender had gained access to an enclosed rear garden. Tools had been left out in the garden, which the offender used to force open a ground floor window. It is not yet known if any property has been taken.

A Chance to Open your Garden
Are you interested in opening your garden for one afternoon next year in order to raise funds for the Bedfordshire branch of the Red Cross?
If you are interested then please contact Jane Wells 782462. The organisers would like to know if there is any sort of interest, within the parish, by Monday 12th December.

Christmas Trees for Sale
Robert Edwards has 10-15 Christmas tree's about 3-4 foot in pots which if kept watered could be planted in the garden after Christmas for £12 each.
He also has some larger tree's as per photo which can be dug up or cut as required for £ 22 to £ 27 each depending on size.
 

   
In both instances £2 will go to the church for each tree sold.    Contact Robert on 07747 664455 or email:
robert.edwards1616@gmail.com

Essex Wedding

Kathryn Margaret Spoor married Andrew Stuart Moss on Saturday 5th November 2011. The ceremony took place in the Norman keep at Hedingham Castle, Essex. Photo: Mike Spoor

Parish Council Notes
The notes for the November 2011 meeting of the Parish Council are now available online.
Click here for notes.                
 
Quiz Night
On Saturday 12 November the Village Hall committee organised a Quiz Night. The event was well attended. Good food, reasonably priced drinks and a successful quiz, won by the "Felmersham Trekkers", created a successful social event.
Who are the Felmersham Trekkers? I hear you ask. They're retired wannabe actors who can remember when "careless talked costs lives" but have difficulty in remembering where they went yesterday.

New Local History Picture Book Launched

Ken Shrimpton launched his new book "Bygone Felmersham and Radwell" on 20 March in the Village Hall Committee Room. He is shown here signing a copy. The book is priced at £9.99 and is available from:

Sally Carr Books, Milton Ernest Garden Centre Sharnbrook Post Office County Town Books, 7, High Street, Bedford Click here for book details