Archived News
June 2008
St Mary's Village Carnival - 5th July 2008
Carnival fun is coming to Eaton Bray and Edlesborough on Saturday, July 5 - the biggest event of the year in the villages.
This year, St Mary's Village Carnival will be opened by the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles. The dean, a former Dunstable Grammar School pupil, will officially launch the annual event at 1pm at Edlesborough Green, the Carnival site.
All sorts of entertainment has been lined up, and with more than 50 stalls, there is sure to be something for everyone.
A colourful carnival procession on a Fairy Tales theme starts off the fun, led by a steel band and majorettes. More than a dozen fancy dress floats and 30 vintage vehicles will start out from The Orchards, Eaton Bray, at 12 noon and make their way to Edlesborough Green. Neighbours living along the route decorate their houses in line with the carnival theme, to take part in the Best Dressed House contest.
Stalls at the carnival site will open for business at 12 noon.
Carnival entertainment will include a worm charming contest, chainsaw carving, martial arts, a big classic vehicles display and craft demonstrations. Other attractions will include birds of prey, an annual dog show, dancers, majorettes, basket-making and bee-keeping experts, giant inflatables, rides and a Big Wheel.
Clarabelle, the pantomime cow, will again be taking part in a contest, in which people have to guess where she will leave a special 'deposit' in the arena.
Last year, the carnival raised a record-breaking £11,000. Half of the money gathered in each year goes to the St Mary's Church Fabric Fund, and the remainder goes to charities and other good causes.
This year the East of England Air Ambulance Service will be the main worthy cause benefiting from that share of the proceeds.
To find out more, check out the Carnival website at www.stmarysvillagecarnival.com.
Gypsy site in Billington to be extended
A gypsy caravan site in Billington is to be extended despite objections from local parish councils.
The application was for change of use of a horse paddock to the siting of five caravans to the rear of the existing gypsy caravan site at 28 Stanbridge Road, Billington.
South Beds Planning Committee gave the go ahead after acknowledging the need for at least 40 travellers' pitches in the next five years. And the Housing Act 2004 requires local housing authorities to include gypsies and travellers in their accommodation assessments, including drawing up a strategy demonstrating how those needs will be met.
Objections included these statements from Stanbridge Parish Council: "There are large existing sites in the adjoining parishes of Stanbridge, Tilsworth and Eaton Bray. There is no justification for yet another site within the area.
"There are also concerns regarding land being purchased and illegally occupied. Also further erosion of the Green Belt by intensive development and the development is not in keeping with the surrounding area."
Get the Leighton Buzzard Observer every Tuesday.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 24 June 2008
New Nursery building complete
The new Nursery building at Eaton Bray Lower School is now complete.
Eaton Bray Lower School are holding their Summer Fair tomorrow (Saturday 28th June), and the new Nursery will be open for viewing during the day.
"Please do come on Saturday to sample a wonderful barbecue and desserts, as well as having fun on lots of stalls.
The Summer Fair will be on between 12.00noon and 2.30pm."
Eaton Bray Lower School has kept a weekly log for over a hundred years. Their blog continues this tradition in a modern way.
Source: EB Lower School Blog
Panto 2009 - A Space Oddity
Following the success of this year's Little Red Riding Hoodie, the time is nigh to start cranking the handle of the machine that's going to produce next year's effort. We have it in mind to do a modern, completely new Panto, a sort of Star Trek meets Dr Who.
As usual we need volunteers for all departments, but in particular we need someone to take charge of costumes, and someone to take a major role in set production.
Above all we need actors, male and female, large and small, young and old, experienced and novice. Whatever your interest we'll find something for you to do. It's great fun and very rewarding.
You know you've always meant to do something so do it now! Send us an e-mail to register your interest. You will not be committed to anything but we do need to know who's interested and we need to know NOW.
Don't wait. Do it now or we'll send round a space alien to turn you into a toad!
Contact Pete & Ronnie Farrar at www.edlesbrayplayers.co.uk
Neighbours fighting crime together
Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch groups across South Bedfordshire have been urged to work more closely together to help fight crime.
The South Beds Home Watch Steering Group has been formed to help bring different schemes together, allowing good practice to be shared across the district, and to give local people a platform to tackle issues that affect them.
Alan Woolridge is secretary of the group and lives in Eaton Bray: "All we've got in South Beds is lots of individual groups who do what they feel they should do. What we're trying to do is build it up. All this is helping police make safer communities."
Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch schemes are community initiatives that are supported by the police but are owned and run by their members. Members can be sent circular email messages warning of recent crimes in their neighbourhood and steps to prevent becoming a victim.
To find out more about the steering group or joining a scheme, contact Brendan Murray, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator at Dunstable Police Station on 01582 473158 or by emailing [email protected]
Andy's amazing cycle ride
Andy Gibbons cycle ride is now well under way.
Please sponsor Andy on his 2,000 mile cycle ride from one end of Great Britain to the other (and back!) in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Andy hopes to raise £2,000 for the charity and is confident he can complete the journey in three weeks.
"Cancer has touched all our lives and I am pleased that Macmillan was chosen by the church as our charity this year."
There is a sponsor list on the table by the notice board in St Mary's Church, or please contact Sheila Banks.
To find out how you can help raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, telephone Beds community fundraiser Caroline de Carpentier on 01582 606677 or see the website www.macmillan.org.uk.
Source: St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray
Comedy Cricket At Its Best
The short trip to Simmonds was made after the celebrations for Barmy's 40 birthday the previous night and it would be fair to say that few of the team were sober. After losing yet another toss, Bray were asked to field.
An early wicket for Martell and a sharp caught and bowled from Jones to dismiss dangerman Robinson for 0 left Simmonds in trouble. Anslow played the next delivery straight up in the air, 2 yards behind the bowler Jones. Martell called it but backed off as the sight of Jones' backside moving back towards him was a fearful sight. The ball landed in the 1 yard between them.
Next ball, same shot, straight up in the air back to Jones who didn't have to move and so duly dropped it. This then became a farce when the following also dropped this same batsman - Josh 'Cymbals' Peacock (x2), Barker Snr, McDermid along with the chap teasing the fielders. And he only faced 10 balls!
One man stood out from the crowd. One man was prepared to buck the trend. One man was prepared to rise above the rest and show his true colours. One man desperate to end this farce. One man who was sober. That man, of course, was Philip Spicer.
3 out of 3 catches for this legend taking his career tally to 4 in 6 seasons set him apart from the rest. Which led to a comment being heard, surely never to be repeated - "If only we had 11 Spicers."
Another never before heard comment was "Barmy, you're going to have to come off, you're too good for them". It certainly was bizarre.
Barker Jnr and Roff wrapped up the innings with Jake closing in on his Dad's tally of wickets for the season in 50 less overs, whilst Roff ended up with 4 wickets and his next ball will be a hat-trick delivery as Simmonds were routed for 98.
The early loss of Peacock and McDermid sent some jitters through the team but Harvey and that man Spicer steadied the ship. Spicer's bat, after 6 seasons, finally showed signs of being knocked in as he creamed the ball to the boundary.
Martell hit 22 with some back foot cuts but when he was out 15 was still needed with only 4 wickets remaining. Simmonds were frantically trying to work out who Bray had left and the captain was heard to remark "They've still got Barmy - he can bat." Looks like we weren't the only ones hungover.
Stanton and the local drunk ensured there were no more alarms and took Bray to victory. Stanton tried a Pieterson-esque reverse sweep off the final ball and a bye was duly run.
- Result: Eaton Bray CC - Friendly XI Won by 4 wickets
- Date: Sun 15th Jun 2008 @ 14:30
- Ground: Mentmore Park
- Type: Friendly
- Scoring: Standard
- Toss: Simmons CC - 1st XI won the toss and decided to bat
Source: Eaton Bray Cricket Club
Appledown Boarding Kennels & Cattery
Appledown, run by Julie Shelton, was established in 1993 and is located in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire.
The accommodation kennels were completely rebuilt in 2001/02 and in line with current standards, all the dog kennels and cat pens are individually heated and large enough to house a minimum of 2 pets.
Julie and her dedicated team of animal lovers take care of a variety of pets for long or short stays. They also offer additional services such as animal care advice, animal rehabilitation, rehoming services to name but a few. They have been involved in re-homing dogs for the last 6 years and have successfully re-homed between 400 and 500 dogs and are recognised within this field.
Appledown additionally takes in stray dogs on behalf of South Bedfordshire District Council, so they are the first point of contact if you have lost your pet within this area.
With so many animals to take care of, Julie is happy to welcome another pair of hands. So, if you've every fancied walking a dog, please drop by the Appledown Kennels. Providing you provide adequate proof if identity, you will be able to take a dog for a walk around the local area, just contact Julie for more information. Telephone 01525 220383.
Appledown Kennels will be running this year's Dog Show at the Carnival.
Eaton Bray Cricket Club
This season is a month old and the first eleven has already established a lead at the top of the Four Counties cricket league.
A win and 2 one-sided winning draws has set the pace. With the bat Wes Hosking, Andy Norris, Paul Harris, Josh Peacock, Lee Bearton have all recorded Saturday 50s, but James Flecknell has gone one better by scoring a century in the first league match at Aspley Guise. James has also starred with the ball taking 6 wickets in the winning draw with Olney.
Nick Pearson has re-modelled his bowling style and looks far more effective as a 'dibbly-dobbler'. And as always, Gary Ellerton has bowled quickly, sometimes even too quickly for the umpire to spot the dismissal.
The Saturday second team has had a tough time, failing to register a single win in the early season. However the seconds is not just about winning, it is also about development and nurturing of talent plus team for a few old boys to go out to graze.
The Sunday team, under the direction of Ian Jones has fared little better losing to Totternhoe for the first time in 83 years! But Barmy did mastermind a victory over Shenley Church End. Having totalled 280, the captain took the opportunity to bowl his lesser established stars. Joe Roff and Phil Spicer took their chances with both hands, taking 5 and 3 wickets respectively.
Despite a squad of over 30 playing members, there is always room for more. If you would like to join the club, or help in some way, please contact Treasurer Ian Jones. The club wishes to thank everyone involved for their support in the past. MJ
Home Fixtures for June:
- Sunday 1 - Roving Reporters
- Saturday 7 - New Bradwell 2
- Saturday 14 - New Bradwell
- Saturday 21 - Shenley Church End
- Saturday 28 - North Crawley
- Sunday 29 - Potten End
Source: Focus, June 2008
'Play Tennis' Day - 21st June
'Play Tennis' Day
Saturday 21st June 2008
at Eaton Bray Tennis Club,
School Lane, Eaton Bray
'Play Tennis' day is a FREE tennis taster session for adults and children. There will be lots of fun tennis related games and activities, competitions, free giveaways, tennis equipment and clothes for sale by racketsportsdirect.com, BBQ and much more.
Join the Fun
at Eaton Bray Lawn Tennis Club on School Lane
12noon to 3pm.
Contact Ross Bagni on 01525 221411
with any questions or queries
Eaton Bray Lawn Tennis Club
OK so I've been rumbled. I admit here and now that maybe I allowed my journalistic
juices to run a little out of control in my last article. Let me explain.
When I reported that the lady at the party (to celebrate my homecoming, or the chairman's birthday, I'll let you decide which one it was..) asked me to sign my Focus article for her, she didn't actually say, in as many words, 'Would you please sign this for me'?
What she actually said was more along the lines of, well nothing. It was me who said to her, in a somewhat pleading voice, 'Would you like me to sign that for you'? Or it might have been 'Please please can I sign it for you in front of all those people'? So I did, somewhat lavishly.
I have to reveal the truth this month because a little bird, who was listening in to our conversation, has told the Chairman who in turn has threatened to ban me from public office if I don't say what really happened. So I'm happy to set the record straight, and to assure everyone that I've put a contract out on that bird. No one likes a grass.
The recent heat wave has resulted in a queue to use the tennis courts! Last Sunday morning there were far more players than places available for them to stand (unless you put eight on each court and it gets confusing then, and it's really difficult to keep the score). So we had players sitting out occasionally so that everyone had a chance to play a few games. We'd decided to have a barbecue at the courts that morning, so as our exhausted members crawled off court, heavily perspiring in the baking heat, there was a cool glass of squash and one of my infamous burgers or hot dogs awaiting them!
There was the option of sizzling onions and several tasty sauces to complement the main meal; needless to say once a burger or two had been consumed it soon solved the problem of too many people on the courts. Most participants then just collapsed into a chair and sat in the sunshine watching the die-hards on court one finish their set. It proved a mammoth game, taking nearly an hour for Peter Hale and Ross Bagni to narrowly defeat Jon Moon and Simon Mitchener by six games to four. By then unfortunately all the burgers had been eaten, but there were plenty of onions left over, at which they unceremoniously turned up their noses. Can't please some people...!
The next outing for the barbecue will be on Saturday 21st June at our annual Play Tennis Day, and it's open to everyone to come along and try out some tennis for free.
Running from around 11am, we'll have both Fastest Serve, and Longest Rally Against the Coach competitions. Think I'll blindfold him to give everyone a chance. Racquet Sports Direct will be there with tennis racquets to try out and maybe buy, together with clothes and shoes at discount prices. With half price membership for any new members joining on the day, plus did I mention the barbecue, there can be no better way to spend an hour or two on the 21st. We look forward to seeing as many villagers there as we can squeeze onto the Green!
And finally Cyril. Can I pass on my congratulations to all Portsmouth FC supporters in the villages after I was lucky enough to witness their magnificent FA Cup victory against Cardiff at Wembley? A very well deserved victory, we can be very proud of our club! Oh by the way, if Cardiff won I'm sorry, but I had to get this article in the week before the final. I'm sure it'll all be fine. I did go along to a clairvoyant's convention to try to find out who will win, but it had been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
For any further information about the club, including when we get together for our social tennis sessions up at the School Lane courts, or our various activities, please call either Chairman Ross Bagni, Coach Nick Boys, or if they're all out and I'm not banging my drum shouting 'Play Up Pompey', me, Andy Cross using the contact page.
Source: Focus, June 2008
Desserts and Divas Evening
Macmillan Cancer Support -
St. Mary's Church 2008 Charity
Desserts and Divas Evening
Saturday 19th July 7.30pm
Tickets Price £7.00
A summer gala evening is to be held in South End Lane, Northall to raise funds for this very important charity. We invite you to bring along YOUR favourite dessert/pudding and sample other delicious desserts. Recipes of these to be provided if required. There will be music in the marquee.
We have been very fortunate that most of the members of the 'Just A Cappella' group have agreed to sing for us in two separate performances during the evening.
Price to include all the desserts you can comfortably eat, plus your welcome drink.
Other drinks will be available throughout the evening.
All welcome. Tickets available from Lyn Stubbs 01525 220731.
Source: Focus, June 2008
Open Gardens
We were blessed with a lovely afternoon on 8 June when ten gardens opened to the public. The sunshine bought out the best in the gardens and in the relaxed social atmosphere of the event - it was great to see so many happy people around in our villages.
Thanks must go to so many people who worked to make the event a success - most importantly for those who opened their gardens and worked so hard to ensure they were at their best. Thanks also to those who gave up their afternoons to help at the gardens or at the Village Hall and those who donated prizes or plants, with special thanks going to Garden Scene Nurseries in The Rye. Finally thanks to so many friends from the villages and beyond who came and visited the gardens.
As a result of everyone's efforts the event raised over £2,300 to be shared by the Macmillan Cancer Support and St Mary's Roof Fund. We expect to hold the event again next year on 14th June. If the event inspired you to open your garden next year please get in touch with Gordon Gray.
Photographs from this year's Open Gardens event are
now available in the Open Gardens photo gallery
Source: Focus, July 2008
Quiz Sold Out Again!
The latest quiz held jointly by the Village Hall fund raisers and the Tennis Club was sold out 3 weeks before the event and I was sitting on a waiting list of 10 good and honest people. Well maybe I should have sold them the tickets and not the team that won! They might not have been as good as them. The net result would have meant that our team came 11th instead of 12th. Well one must think up ways of getting better mustn't one.
It was a great night and our thanks must go to Keith Blackburn who generously gives his time to creating and presenting these quizzes. For all his efforts and our feeble ones in trying to answer the questions over £1,300 was raised on the night. Thanks to all of you who came.
Just a reminder; The next quiz is on Saturday 11th October in the Village Hall and the booking office is now open so don't be disappointed, ring Ross on 221411 to book your places!Source: Focus, June 2008
Motorist trapped
A seriously injured woman was trapped in a car after a crash in Eaton Bray on Saturday (7th June).
Fire fighters freed her from the Mitsubushi Shogan and she was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
Two people in a Vauxhall Vectra which was also involved are said to have left the scene.
The accident happened at the Dunstable Road and Bower Lane junction, just after 10.15pm.
If you have information about this accident, you are urged to contact PC Mark Casey on 01234 841212 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Get the Leighton Buzzard Observer every Tuesday.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 11 June 2008
Salvation Sound - June 2008
* Nobody knows the trouble I'm in, Nobody knows at all...*
Well, I think the line of the Negro Spiritual goes something like that. Where do you turn when in trouble ?
Some people hit the bottle; they turn to drink in the hope that they may find a way of drowning their troubles. Others turn to some other drug in the vain hope that the magic potion will bring them peace. They escape - but only for a short time; the problem doesn't go away. All that happens is that the power to deal with it has diminished.
Some turn to other, stronger people; that's good, for there they may find solutions to help them. Some turn to the Church - and why not ? After all one of the functions of the Church is to comfort people in trouble, to help them to find peace of mind.
Well, where should I turn ? Where do you turn ?
Psalm 121 Good News Bible begins,
"I look to the mountains, where will my help come from ?
My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
The writer of the Psalm asks the question, and then answers his own question. The hills tell us something about God - they have been there as long as anyone can remember.
Geologists say millions of years. God has been 'there' for even longer than that!!
Hills have a solid permanence, they are not here today and gone tomorrow. Neither is God. He never changes. So when trouble troubles you, look to the hills, press on to the summit, find the way, ask, pray.
Psalm 120 : 1 says; "When I was in trouble I called to the Lord, and He answered me.
Church or Chapel, Cathedral or Abbey, in a garden, or on a hilltop, it does not matter; what does matter is that you acknowledge your deep need of God; intuition tells you that there is a God, and that with His help you can be forgiven, restored and healed.
Remember the old saying, "A trouble shared, is a trouble halved."
Follow your instinct and you will come to a God who is the source of all goodness, truth and joy.
"There's always another tomorrow,
However dark the day.
There's always an end to sorrow,
Time wipes your tears away.
There's always a reason for living,
Though sad your heart may be.
There's always another horizon
Beyond the one you see."
Charles Wesley wrote,
Help us to help each other Lord,
each other's cross to bear;
let each his friendly aid afford,
and feel his brother's care...
Source: Focus, June 2008
The Five Bells under new management
The Five Bells in Eaton Bray is under the new management or Diane Sondhi and her team.
The Five Bells, situated in the middle of the village on the High Street, offers hot & cold food, draught beer & ales, along with a beer garden and children's play area.
The Five Bells has a public bar with a small snug lounge. There is a popular pool table in the public bar and a seperate function room for about 30 covers, plus the pub boasts well supported darts and dominoes teams. In addition, there is a large garden to the side of the pub with additional seating there and in front of the pub and a good sized car park.
For further details, phone The Five Bells on 01525 229 555.
Parish Council Minutes - June 2008
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting: Monday 2nd June 2008
The next Parish Council meeting to be held at the Coffee Tavern on Monday 14th July 2008 at 7.30pm. Items for the July agenda to be requested no later than Thursday 3rd July 2008.
Cricket: Campbell takes first ever catch
Colin 'Crocodile hands' Campbell took his first ever catch in fine style (certainly the first catch I've ever seen him take!) as Bray romped to a comfortable victory at Winslow on Saturday. Bray got off to a flier with a quick 47 from Wes Hosking, but several quick wickets and some tighter bowling meant Bray had to settle for 208 off their 44 overs. Skipper Norris top scoring with 64 not out and Flecknell scoring 52. Fenton Price as usual was the toughest Winslow bowler to score runs from.
In reply Winslow lost wickets quickly and regularly, and never really threatened Brays total. Victory arriving with 15 overs to spare. A pleasing win for Bray as last season Winslow chased down a first innings total of a similar size, to dash Brays title hopes.
Source: Eaton Bray Cricket Club
Mary Mayne's latest quilts
Details of Mary Mayne's latest quilts are now available on the Eaton Bray website.
- English Tomatoes, Home Sewn is made up of machine appliqued tomato slices then sewn down onto wadding and canvas backing and machine quilted.
- The Blue Prints for the Classics quilt was made for the Quilters Guild Challenge at the Festival of Quilts.
Paws for thought when buying a dog
As thoughts turn to warmer weather and evening strolls, you may be considering the patter of tiny puppy feet - but don't be taken for a ride when it comes to picking a pooch.
Julie Shelton from Appledown Kennels in Eaton Bray warns dog lovers to take extra caution when buying for the first time.
She said: "Definitely don't buy one on the Internet. If you're looking to buy a dog then really the only sensible way to do it is to go to a rescue centre or to go to a recognised breeder.
Appledown kennels are open seven days a week from 10am - 4pm.
St Mary's Village Carnival - 5th July 2008
Get ready for the big day!
That's what our Carnival Queen, princess and attendants will soon be doing, so make sure you turn out to see the girls in their finery and support them on their big day.
Seated in front: Carnival Princess, Jemma Flitton aged 8 from Northall, Carnival Queen Holly Potton aged 10 from Edlesborough.
Standing at back: Attendants Devon Brown, aged 8 and Isabel Dorrance, aged 8 both from Northall.
Goods Collection Day 12.00noon - 2.00pm, Sunday 8th June at Eaton Bray Village Hall: Clear out your attic and those unwanted gifts, get rid of clutter and donate it all to the carnival. Once again we are having a goods collection day. Drop off unwanted items (good quality only please and no large pieces of furniture please) when you visit Eaton bray hall for the Open Gardens Day.
Come and Join Us!
Don't miss our fantastic carnival -you can help us raise money for the Air Ambulance Service and a host of other local charities and good causes by being there on the day. Better still, come and join our team of helpers. You don't need to make a big commitment, but if you can spare even an hour to help, we'll find you a job, and guarantee a welcome and a very friendly team. Contact us on the website - www.stmarysvillagecarnival.com, or at the Goods Collection day.
Source: Focus, June 2008
Cricket: Reporters Have A Field Day
After losing yet another toss, Bray were duly asked to field and some indifferent bowling from Mssrs Peacock and Shepherd gave Rovers a flying start, 50 coming off the first 10 overs.
Skipper Jones introduced himself to the proceedings along with Stanton and these two kept it tight, Stanton claiming his first wicket of the season with a smart catch by the keeper and Jones unbelievably holding a caught and bowled.
Dropped catches were to make Bray pay, 2 from Burton and a dolly from Harvey off his own bowling and it took a smart catch from Barker Jnr to show these two how it's done.
229-4 looked a good score on a slow outfield and indeed it was.
Bray set about the chase with venom, Burton & Peacock sending the ball to the boundary on regular occasions, and at 59-1 off 10 overs a contest was underway. Peacock fell to a fine catch on the boundary and Kerins was bowled by a ball that went underground before reappearing to hit his stumps, and at 59-3 off 10.2 overs the game was up.
Bray didn't hold out much hope for getting close at this stage, although to collapse to 81 all out off 23 overs is embarrassing with no other batsman reaching double figures after the top 3.
Kerins' misfortune was further compounded when his popadom finger showed signs of yet again being broken despite having the keepers gloves and Harvey proved he did have a use for the day in selling the football card.
- Result: Roving Reporters CC - Friendly XI Won by 149 runs
- Date: Sun 1st Jun 2008 @ 14:30
- Ground: The Rye Gardens
- Type: Friendly
- Scoring: Standard
- Toss: Roving Reporters CC - Friendly XI won the toss and decided to bat
Source: Eaton Bray Cricket Club
Open Gardens - Sunday 8 June
Next Sunday, 8th June, 12.00-6.00pm.
Eaton Bray and the surrounding villages are looking forward to another enjoyable afternoon of Open Gardens in aid of St Mary's Roof Fund and Macmillan Cancer Support - our Parish from project for 2008.
Update: Photographs from this year's Open Gardens event are
now available in the Open Gardens photo gallery
The event will be based at Eaton Bray Village Hall from 11.30 to 6pm and ten gardens will be open to the public, including 4 from members of our congregation and the gardens at Edlesborough School, from 12noon; six of the gardens are being opened for the first time.
There is still time to offer your help on the day - doing so need not mean missing the gardens as helpers may attend a private viewing, with those who have opened their gardens, on 10 June. So if you can offer your help (selling programmes, refreshments, plant stall, raffle etc) please talk to Gordon Gray.
Source: St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray
Concert for Christian Aid 2008 - 12 June
Tickets are now on sale for a concert at St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray in aid of Christian Aid which is to be performed by the Edlesborough school choir together with selected soloists. They will be joined by some talented past pupils and young musicians from St Mary's Church.
The organisers are hoping for a really large audience for the concert in support of this excellent charity which helps the world's poorest communities including those in recently devastated Burma and China; please come along and ask your friends and family to come too. Tickets are available from Catherine Hayden or Barbara Morton.
Source: St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray
Andy's amazing cycle ride
Andy Gibbons has set himself the challenge of a 2,000 mile Cycle Ride from Eaton Bray to Lands End, up to John O'Groats and back to Eaton Bray.
The congregation of St Mary's Church have set themselves the challenge of matching him by raising 1 pound per mile for this year's Parish Project - Macmillan Cancer Support.
"Andy plans to set off in the middle of June and we hope to welcome him back with our target of £2,000 achieved!"
Please donate to this very worthwhile charity and to show recognition of Andy's sterling efforts. For further information, please contact Sheila Banks.
Source: St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray