Archived News
December 2011
Make Sure You Stay Safe This Christmas and New Year
It's that time of year again…..Christmas parties, office functions and so much food you don't know which way to turn and of course alcohol.
Bedfordshire Police would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year but would also like to take the opportunity to warn party goers about the dangers of excess alcohol.
"Many of us don't really indulge during the year as much as we do during the festive season and the consequences of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can be severe", warns Superintendent Dave Boyle, who is heading this year's Christmas and New Year safety campaign.
"I would like to remind members of the public not only to consider the drink drive laws and driving the day after a night out, but to take extra precautions about their personal safety when they are out enjoying themselves," he added.
Here are some easy safety tips that members of the public can follow to help keep them safe over the festive period:
- We all like to plan a night out but make sure you also plan how to get home safely.
- When out with friend's stay with them, stay together and stay safe.
- Watch what you are drinking – keep an eye on how much and what you are drinking.
- Always use a reputable taxi service and never get into a taxi which has not been ordered by you or is not displaying the Hackney licence details.
- And don't forget a good night out deserves remembering, have fun, be safe, hold on to your smile and walk away from any trouble.
Bedfordshire Police will be running Christmas initiatives throughout the festive season in the towns and busy areas throughout the county and together with their partners will crackdown on those being anti social whilst keeping an eye out for anyone who has over indulged and needs help.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Don't Let Jack Frost Assist Car Thieves
Bedfordshire Police are urging vehicle owners across the county to think twice about leaving their cars running outside their homes while unattended.
With the weather starting to turn a bit nippier, it is tempting for motorists to start their vehicles to warm them up before heading off on their journey. This means that vehicles are often left unattended which offers easy pickings for opportunist thieves.
This week there have been two incident in the Leighton Buzzard area where motorists have been left car-less after leaving their running vehicles unattended. The first happened at 8am on Monday December 19 when a Vauxhall Astra was stolen from outside a property in Bideford Green, Linslade as the owner cleared frost form the windscreen. About 20 minutes later, a similar incident occurred in North Court, Leighton Buzzard, when a Nissan Qashqai was taken.
Chief Inspector Neill Waring of Bedfordshire Police, said: "I know that it can be very tempting for people to wait in nice, warm houses as their cars defrost but thieves have become wise. You have to ask yourself whether it is really worth the risk of losing your vehicle.
"The last thing that we want is for people to make things easy for criminals - there are plenty of products on the market to prevent frost or remove it quickly but the best way, by far, is to stay with your vehicle while it is being defrosted, and it's free."
For more advice about how to secure your vehicles and property, please visit the 'crime info' section of our website.
If you have information relating to these incidents, contact Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 01234 841212, the non emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire Police: Making Contact: December 2011
Issue 16 - December 2011
We started 2011 with a new Chief Constable, whose leadership is ensuring performance improvements where it matters most. We have seen Bedfordshire Police successfully tackling crime on both a large and smaller scale. We have been assessed as delivering value for money in challenging financial times, and we have been judged to be well prepared to meet the savings target. However, regretfully, to achieve the necessary savings we have been faced with some difficult decisions which have seen our organisations losing valued members of staff.
We have seen Parliament agree to abolish Police Authorities and replace them with directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners and we are now working flat out with our partners to ensure that this is a success. We have seen the way the Force operates undergo a complete transformation and we have witnessed the introduction of the single non-emergency number, 101.
The news of our demise next November does not appear to herald a let up in the pressure of work. We continue to deliver 'business as usual' in addition to the transition programme.
In the coming months we will set our last and possibly most difficult budget. We will publish our Strategic Policing Plan and we will keep you informed of the progress we are making regarding transition.
Thank you for reading our publication. The feedback has been very positive and we are pleased to see our circulation growing by request! Hopefully we will maintain this next year.
Meanwhile, may we wish you, your family and colleagues a peaceful Christmas holiday and a very Happy New Year
1. Performance Update
Thanks to a lot of hard work, and despite a great deal of change, recorded crime has fallen by 4.5% (equivalent to 1325 fewer victims). Burglary, one of the pivotal crimes for public confidence, has dropped by a massive 20% and robbery is down by 5%.
Detections (the proportion of crimes that are solved) on the other hand, are up - in all crime categories. This is an important element of the drive to see the force among the top 20 in England and Wales and we are there, or thereabouts, in most categories.
The Chief Constable believes that this improvement is thanks to a very clear focus on the Force's purpose - as stated in the Strategic Policing Plan – 'to fight crime and protect the public'. This has led to the introduction of a tough performance regime that is delivering results.
In addition the growth of local policing, as a result of restructuring the way operational policing is delivered, has been well received and has enabled officers to be moved into frontline jobs, which is where people tell us they want them.
The focus on those who commit the most crime is also working, with targeted activities on crime and the underlying causes, supported by operations to tackle drug related serious and organised crime, which have led to significant arrests throughout the year. Criminals have learned the hard way that crime doesn't necessarily pay when their assets are seized and their ill-gotten gains taken away, which is a deterrent and appropriate sanction on their criminal activities.
One of the areas the Authority and the Force are seeking to improve is victim satisfaction and an action plan is being developed. The key areas where we want to see a difference is keeping people informed of what is happening, particularly when someone has been arrested. We want to see the victims kept informed throughout the process from arrest, to charge, to court appearances and sentence or acquittal.
All of this good news does not mean we have become complacent. Funding remains the biggest challenge for the year ahead and we need to find significant savings while continuing to enable improvements in performance. While it will not be easy both the Chief Constable and the Authority are determined that this will be achieved.
2. Strategic Policing Plan 2011-2016 – Tell us what you think
To ensure that our partners and the public have the opportunity to comment on the draft of our Strategic Policing Plan for 2011-16, we have placed it on our website and we are urging people to visit the site, consider the plan and give us their views.
The document can be found here and your opinions will be taken into account as we set the budget and priorities for policing Bedfordshire in the future.
3. Have Your Say
The Authority is asking the public to help it make the difficult choices ahead in a budget survey available on-line or by hard copy on request.
The new survey will also invite residents to give their views on the organisational changes introduced this year to deliver better value for money in challenging funding times.
In addition to questions about policing, satisfaction and resources, the survey asks searching questions about the amount of money people are prepared to pay towards policing Bedfordshire, not just this year, but in the future.
Bedfordshire Police and Police Authority need to identify £6million of savings in 2012/13 to place them on-course to achieving their overall target, which amounts to a further £13m over the next three years. Almost a third of the Force's budget is achieved through council tax income - however the Government is encouraging local authorities to freeze council tax for the second year running, with the offer of a grant equivalent to a 3% increase in the police's portion of the council tax bill as a one-off compensatory offer. This freeze would see council tax remain at £144.77 per annum for an average Band D property.
If the Police Authority decides to freeze next year's council tax at the current rate this will have no impact on plans in 2012/13 but would lead to increasingly difficult decisions being required for 2013/14 and 2014/15 in order to balance the budget. A lost income of £1.9m from local taxpayers will see the budget shrink by 2%, with the potential loss of 90 frontline posts. The online survey is available on www.bedfordshirepoliceauthority.co.uk until 26 January 2012. Information generated through the survey will be fed back to the Police Authority before it discusses next year's budget, which will be set in February.
4. Police and Crime Commissioners
In September 2011 the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill received Royal Assent and became an Act. One of the key aspects is the replacement of Police Authorities in England and Wales with directly-elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).
The introduction of PCCs is one of the most significant changes to affect policing in decades. The Government believes it will improve the democratic accountability of the police service and strengthen the relationship between the police and the public. The new governance structure will have little impact on the everyday policing services delivered by the Force and the Chief Constable will continue to retain independence for all operational policing decisions.
The elected PCC will ensure the force operates efficiently and effectively and meets the appropriate interests of stakeholders and the public. Functions will include holding the Chief Constable to account; ensuring the public, partners and stakeholders are consulted over policing issues; setting the budget for the force and publishing a Police and Crime Plan. The PCC is a full-time post and will receive a salary set by the Secretary of State. They will be required to employ a Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Finance Officer however all other staffing requirements will be at the discretion of the PCC.
5. Elections
The first elections for the new PCC are scheduled to take place on November 15 2012. The Police Authority will keep residents fully up-to-date with election arrangements over the coming months but are encouraging people to plan ahead to ensure they are registered to vote on Election Day. If you are not sure whether you are registered to vote or have changed your address details recently, contact your local Electoral Registration Office who will be able to assist.
The nominated Force Area Returning Officer is the Chief Executive of Luton Borough Council. PCCs will assume their legal responsibilities on Thursday, November 22 2012 - seven days after the election. Until this time, Bedfordshire Police Authority will continue all of its functions as normal.
6. Police and Crime Panel (PCP)
To ensure balance and democracy, Police and Crime Panels will be formed to hold the PCC to account on behalf of the public. PCPs will be the responsibility of the local authority within each force area and will perform a "check and balance" role to the directly-elected PCC. Membership of the PCPs will be made up of councillors from each local authority and two Independent Members but they can have no more than 20 members in total.
Responsibilities of the new PCP will include reviewing the draft Policing and Crime Plan, reviewing the Annual Report, reviewing the appointment of the Chief Constable and reviewing and scrutinising the decisions of the PCC. They will also play a wider role in community safety by working with Community Safety Partners to reduce crime and disorder.
Bedford Borough Council has agreed to be the host authority for the PCP in Bedfordshire.
7. Transition Board
A Transition Board has been in place for some months now, with membership from our local partners. Over the coming months, this newsletter will endeavour to keep partners, practitioners and the community informed of the changes to come.
And finally...
If you have any questions about any of the articles in this newsletter, or indeed any other area of our responsibilities, then please get in touch.
For further information or to contact us
Bedfordshire Police Authority
Bridgebury House, Woburn Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK43 9AX.
Tel: 01234 842066
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bedfordshirepoliceauthority.co.uk
Source: Bedfordshire Police Authority
Parish Council Minutes - December 2011
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting: Monday 5th December 2011
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 9th January 2012, 7.30pm, in the Coffee Tavern.
Police Authority Budget 2012-13 Survey
Bedfordshire Survey seeking local views on policing
Bedfordshire Police Authority is an organisation responsible for overseeing Bedfordshire Police. It is made up from elected councillors and independent members. The Police Authority appoints the chief police officers, sets the long term strategy and budget and scrutinises issues that concern local people.
The survey invites residents to outline their policing priorities to help shape service delivery over the next three years.
Please complete the survey here
If you would like a paper copy of the survey please email us at [email protected]
We would be grateful if you could forward this email to anyone you know who lives in Bedfordshire who might be interested in sharing their views on policing.
We'll Always Have Paris
By kind permission of Josef Weinberger
Front Row presents
We'll Always Have Paris
By Jill Hyem
Thursday – Saturday
9 – 11 February 2012
Eaton Bray Village Hall
Three ladies of a 'certain age' gravitate to Paris.
A retired headmistress, a recently widowed - and liberated - lady, and a divorcee in search of eternal youth indulge in activities which lead to some real comedy as well as pathos. This play will leave you charmed, amused, thoughtful - and singing!
Tickets £6.00 from Box Office: 01525 222283
Licensed bar from 7.00pm, performance begins at 8.00pm
Bedfordshire Police re-launch Domestic Abuse Prevention Scheme for Christmas
The Christmas period is often a mix of stress, alcohol and family disagreements and while for many people this is as much a part of the festive season as mince pies and roast turkey, for others it is a volatile mix that leads to an increase in domestic abuse.
Following the success of a pilot scheme in Luton last year, Bedfordshire Police will be running the project once again in the town using offender management techniques that were originally developed in relation to the fight against gun and gang criminality.
The Christmas period is often a mix of stress, alcohol and family disagreements and while for many people this is as much a part of the festive season as mince pies and roast turkey, for others it is a volatile mix that leads to an increase in domestic abuse.
Following the success of a pilot scheme in Luton last year, Bedfordshire Police will be running the project once again in the town using offender management techniques that were originally developed in relation to the fight against gun and gang criminality.
The initiative was designed to prevent domestic abuse offending and reduce the risk to potential victims and it achieved great success over the holiday period. Last year the top ten offenders identified did not commit a single offence over the Christmas period, whether or not it was related to domestic abuse.
Detective Inspector Richard Wall who is leading the scheme this year, believes that the successful results last Christmas and the work involving different teams within the force, is an example of what can be achieved when everyone works toward a single goal.
"Whilst Christmas is a time of great celebration, unfortunately it is also a period of the year when a significant number of homicides are related to domestic abuse and the risk factors for victims increase, especially where alcohol is involved," DI Wall explained.
"Last year the Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock set out a very clear message that our role as officers and staff of Bedfordshire Police is to continue to 'fight crime and protect the public'. This initiative played an important part in allowing us to achieve that objective and by putting the offender on the back foot we were able to reduce the risk to potential victims and we are hoping for much of the same this year."
He continued: "The scheme means that officers are trying to change the behaviour of domestic abuse offenders. We identify those that present the most serious risk to victims and over the holiday period, officers from our Local Policing Teams will be visiting these people to remind them that although we want them to enjoy a happy and peaceful Christmas, officers will be keeping an eye on them to make sure they don't commit any offences.
"By using this direct and targeted method we believe that if we have manage to cause a single person to think twice and change their behaviour, then we have achieved our aim."
Offenders are selected using a method devised by Strathclyde Police in the Glasgow area that took into account the gravity of offending as well as how often and recently the offences occurred.
As well as members of the Local Policing Teams, officers from the force's Public Protection Unit and Intelligence Teams continue to be key players in the scheme, which if it continues to be a success, will be rolled out throughout the county.
DI Wall added: "We are all aware of the reluctance of some victims to support police activity when we use traditional methods of policing this type of abuse. The pilot study in Glasgow and our own experience last year found that if support is provided to victims they are more likely to assist the police.
"I would reassure anyone who faces domestic abuse or anyone knows someone who is a victim of this type of abuse to contact the police. We can help and if they do not wish to speak to an officer direct we can put them in touch with organisations outside the policing family who can offer advice and practical support."
Bedfordshire Police works closely with the soLUTiONs partnership and if anyone wants confidential help and advice regarding domestic abuse they can speak to an Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor on 01234 844284 or to the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 08082 000247.
If you have information relating to Domestic Violence, contact Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 01234 841212, the non emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
EB Lions AFC - The Children's Village Football Club
Season 2011 - 12
We are THE village children's football Club – serving Edlesborough, Eaton Bray, Dagnall, Northall, Studham and Kensworth too. We provide village based safe, friendly, competitive and fun football for boys and girls of all ages, from 4 to 18.
This season has seen another record breaking number of teams and players - an amazing 22 teams and almost 300 children who play team sport in our villages every week, of which over 90% come from our rural villages!!!!
Furthermore the quality and skill of our players and teams just gets better and better.
We are now one of only 10 Charter Standard Community Clubs in Bedfordshire and one of the largest too – great for the villages!
Season 2011-12 - New Players Required
Whilst we have been hugely successful in stimulating huge demand for childrens football, particularly from the youngest age groups upwards, we do have a few places still available in certain teams.
This Winter we are keen to attract new players for the following teams, from the following school years;
- Boys and Girls – Reception year – entry level Reception year, for our U5's.
- YEAR 1 – Boys and Girls – just a couple of places left for our U6's,
- YEAR 4 – 2 Boys required to complete our third U9 team this season.
- GIRLS YEAR 3 and 4 – Girls to register interest in joining a new U10 Girls team 2012-13 next summer.
- GIRLS YEAR 5, 6, 8 and 11 – 2 Girls each, to join our vibrant U11's, U13's and U16's squads.
We would particularly like to hear from you if you fall into these age bands – but indeed from anyone who has a son or daughter of any age who wants to play competitive football for their village club. We have teams at every age group. Please email us at [email protected]
Training Pitch – Project 'E B Astro'
We are working on an exciting project to build an all weather 3rd Generation pitch within the village envelope. This is at an early stage, but would, if successful mean we can provide all weather all year around facilities on an artificial surface to all our teams.
Clearly this will be subject to funding (this is a highly expensive investment) and planning, both of which are detailed and complex, but would transform our facilities and vastly expand opportunities for our local children, improve their fitness and skills.
It would also reduce both travelling to training and be provided at only a minimal cost to parents. We are working closely with Eaton Bray Parish Council who have been extremely supportive of this project so far, which is budgeted to cost around £200,000, a massive investment in rural sport and a huge fund raising project is just underway.
Golf Day
We had a hugely successful Golf Day in September 2011 at Three Locks golf club, where almost 40 golfers enjoyed bright sunshine to play team golf and a fantastic day was had by all. Our sincere thanks to Paul Cook (from Eaton Bray, our U13 Coach) for running a brilliantly organised event and we raised almost £2,500 as early fund raising for our new training pitch.
Committee
We have been blessed with a very keen and enthusiastic committee for the last 9 years and moreover have a wonderful group of dedicated coaches, which is now in total over 40!
As part of our continued development there are several key roles we are now looking to appoint and we are seeking keen mums or dads interested in the Club – be them parent, coach, grandparent etc.
- ASST CLUB SECRETARY – to support our excellent Club secretary and help with general organisational matters. This would suit an organised IT literate helper and is only a couple of hours a week.
- ASST GROUNDSMAN – to help Adrian Bush with lining and looking after our pitches and goals.
- U5/6 COACHES – to support our youngest age groups.
All these roles are very much occasional/part time. Everyone on the committee and those coaching have busy lives, jobs and families, but in sparing a few hours a week we make a vital difference to the fabric and life of our children in the villages, without which there would be few healthy sporting opportunities without getting into a car and travelling. Please step up to help make a difference. All require full CRB clearance and Club acceptance.
Team Sponsors
We are delighted to have team sponsors for all our 22 teams this Summer, whom we are hugely grateful too. They include the following new sponsors;
- TAYLOR FRENCH DEVELOPMENTS LTD – kind thanks to Steve French for his sponsorship of our U16 Girls. www.taylorfrench.co.uk
- 1C PUBLISHING – Peter King for his sponsorship of the U9 Whites. www.1cpublishing.eu
- PDJ FINISHING – Paul Hurleys kind sponsorship for our brilliant U11's. www.vibratory finishing.co.uk
TALKTALK PROUDLY SUPPORTS E B LIONS AFC
NEXT GENERATION NETWORK COMES TO EATON BRAY BRINGING BEST VALUE BROADBAND
TalkTalk, the home phone, broadband and mobile provider, is proud to be sponsoring E B Lions AFC for the next twelve months. The donation will be used to maintain facilities at the club and to provide a personalised club training fleece for every coach. Alongside the sponsorship, TalkTalk is investing £50,000 in technology to bring best value broadband offers to Eaton Bray and surrounding areas. TalkTalk is expanding its Next Generation Network in the area, which gives customers access to fast, reliable broadband services for all of the family's needs. Tristia Clarke, Commercial Director at TalkTalk said, "We are delighted to be able to support E B Lions AFC for the upcoming year. We wish them all the best for their endeavours on and off the field".
Expanding its Next Generation Network allows TalkTalk to offer its best value for money packages to even more of the UK. With maximum speeds of up to 24 Meg, prices for broadband and phone packages start from as little as £6.50 plus line rental and include unlimited evening and weekend calls.
TalkTalk's Next Generation Network will cover Eaton Bray, Northall, Edlesborough, Slapton and Totternhoe.
For more information visit www.talktalk.co.uk/local
Keep the dedicated hard work going!
E B Lions AFC
Eaton Bray Lawn Tennis Club
December is a month for reminiscing; what we've done during the year, what we've enjoyed, what we may have done differently, and who we should have beaten at tennis when we actually lost 6-0, 6-0.
So it was that before sojourning to my laptop to pen this small offering, I decided to turn back the years for inspiration purposes, by looking back at the last 15 years of EBLTC Focus articles. There was good reason for this, which I shall come on to later...
That's when the trouble started. Apart from reading 150 editions of Focus, which meant not talking to my wife for over a week (every cloud etc....!) how do you pick your favourite moments?
I particularly enjoyed the story of our efforts to transform our courts into the new home of British tennis by extending out towards School Lane, turning the school into a multi-storey car-park, and making School Lane itself a dual carriageway with a Hemel Hempstead style funny roundabout at the junction with the High Street. It was all going so well until our Vietnamese financier, Phut Pholt, ran off with all our money.
And then there was the plan to ground-share our courts with Tottenham Hotspur, following their failed bid for the Olympic Stadium, with club training facilities to be based at committee member Glenn Wigley's house, but it then transpired that 'Arry their manager had a taste for Orange sauce, and with the Wigley's keeping ducks, well that was that.
But the true stories are the best, and nothing, but nothing can match that famous committee meeting held in March 2000, almost 12 years ago, when our 'International Liaison Officer' John Palmer (who only got the job because he had an old 'Letts' guide book) announced that he had scoured the internet - which in itself should have set alarm bells ringing - and successfully twinned our little club with one in Boulogne, France. He'd already arranged via e-mail for us to visit them and play a weekend tournament! This would comprise of a Saturday morning ferry over, a few games of tennis followed by some good food and wine, a hotel in St Omer, then a late ferry back on the Sunday after a spot of shopping at Tesco's beer shop in Calais. This very evening, we were to call their Chairman to finalise the arrangements. How exciting! What could go wrong?
We made the call all huddled around the speakerphone, used our best French pleasantries, and all was going swimmingly well until about three minutes in, when it became apparent that there were some crossed wires somewhere. Our French counterpart could not comprehend why we were reserving accommodation in St Omer, near Boulogne-Sur-Mer? As uncertainty grew into confusion, it slowly dawned on John that there were two Boulognes in France. One on the North coast, where he thought he'd arranged this tournament, and another Boulogne, a very small village 870 miles south of Calais, 10,000 feet up in the Pyrenees near the Spanish border, and the one from where our French colleague was now asking 'allo.... allo.... are you steel zere'? down the phone. Yes, the one where John had actually arranged the tournament. I should have mentioned that his guide book was on Persia.
Once we had regained our composure – and John had come round – I spent the next 20 minutes trying to explain in my best pidgin French to this very excited gentleman from a miniscule village that had never seen an outsider since the Romans came calling, (during which I apparently ordered seventeen beers), that it was simply not a good use of time or resources to drive 870 miles for a game of tennis, and back again the next day. He was crestfallen; the Mayor had laid on a civic reception, all police leave had been cancelled for both of them, and the eight schoolchildren had been given Union Jacks to wave along the Boulevard de Pyrenees as we arrived. Nonetheless, we eventually extracted ourselves from this delicate situation, assuring our new friend that, at some date in the future, we would try to visit him and his small but high and remote village. When John gets a new guidebook, probably!
So endeth the reminiscing, and also so endeth my monthly scribbles in Focus for EBLTC. After 15 years (with a couple of short respites!) it's time to hand the reins over to someone who talks sense. We're hoping that he or she will come forward at our AGM in January, so if you're interested, please let me know! In the meantime, to misquote some popular phrases, it's Goodbye from me, but not Goodbye from them. So long readers, and thanks for all the fish. It's been real. Was Nice to see you, to see you Nice!!
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, you can visit our website at www.ebltc.org.uk.
Source: Focus, December 2011
Christmas Puzzle 2011 - Snakes and ladders
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 21st annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 22 January 2012.
Gordon posted Puzzles on 5 December, so those already on the distribution list should receive their copies in the next few days. Anyone else who would like a copy of the Puzzle can access it from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk. Alternatively puzzles can be collected from St Mary's Eaton Bray.
All the money you donate, except for the prize-money, will go to charity.
Eaton Bray WI
The 90th Birthday buffet was held in the Methodist Chapel hall,which was decorated for the occasion and a beautiful array of food greeted the members. Only one member was unable to attend as she was on holiday, but sent a lovely card. Deirdrea welcomed everyone and past members and their valuable contributions were remembered. Various 90th Birthday cards were read out.
Gladys Deamer was given a card and good wishes for her birthday and good wishes were expressed to Helen Wilkinson, for the occasion of her daughter's forthcoming wedding.
Sheila's son Jeff prepared an excellent music quiz, which kept everyone trying to hum the tunes and guess the names of the singers. He really had chosen some very different and difficult tunes for us. Then the buffet began with everyone tasting a little of everything and pronouncing it excellent. Susan's quiz really challenged the brains and it was quite difficult to have all the answers when the alloted time was up. It was much harder than Mastermind. The quiz winners were given prizes and Susan and Jeff given a thank you gift.
A Birthday raffle was drawn with some very special prizes for the lucky recipients. The cake was cut and teas and coffees served. To continue the 90th Birthday celebrations, a meal will be enjoyed at the White Horse.
Two large boxes full of gifts for children, which would be delivered to, and distributed by the Dunstable Salvation Army, were collected.
The next meeting will be on Monday 5th December, when members of the Group WI's will be guests, for a Christmas celebration. The speaker will be Jenny, the Captain of the Salvation Army, who will speak about the Canal Path Patrol. Envelopes will be given out at that meeting in preparation for payment of the 2012 subscriptions, in January 2012. Visitors are always welcome.
Source: Focus, December 2011
Eaton Bray Methodist Church
Our next Cafe Community will be held on Saturday December 10th from 11-00 am until 1-00 pm . The Charity to be supported will be Amnesty International in this their 50th Anniversary Year. The Theme will be "Do Human Rights Help Heal Human Wrongs?"
Some of our ladies have been busy making special handmade gifts for Christmas. These will be on sale at our December Cafe Community and all proceeds from the Craft Stall will be for our Chapel Maintenance Fund. What better way could there be to get the Christmas Shopping done than to do it locally, in friendly surroundings, with a coffee and a hot snack available.
During January we will not be holding Cafe Community but we will be having our Sunday Cafe Worship Service. We will recommence our Cafe Community on Saturday February 11th 2012 when our Charity to be supported will be Luton Womens Aid Centre. This will also be our Charity for both March 10th and April 14th Cafe Communities.
We do extend a warm welome to you to come along and relax, leaf through the newspaper and chat with friends old and new, enjoy a cup of real coffee and stay for a light hot lunch if you have time, that is Cafe Community.
Source: Focus, December 2011
2011 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal - Eaton Bray
Many thanks to all the house to house collectors (including the new ones this year) and to all the shops and premises in Eaton Bray who hosted a poppy box. The total for this year is £2110.58 and this is just over 16% up on last year. Our real thanks though go to all of you who put your hands deeper into your pockets when times are getting tighter.
The children and staff of Eaton Bray Academy deserve an enormous merit star because they increased their donations by £40.00 to almost £128.00 - fantastic!
If you would like to join the Eaton Bray collecting team next year, or if you live in Edlesborough and would like to know what's involved with becoming the Poppy Appeal organiser for Edlesborough, then please contact us.
-- Roger & Helen Wilkinson – Poppy Appeal organisers for Eaton Bray.
Source: Focus, December 2011
Salvation Sound - December 2011
CHRISTMAS
What does Christmas mean?
Celebrating, food, and wine, parties, presents, yours and mine.
Cards, crackers, holly, and mistletoe, snow, frost, faces all aglow.
Laughter, gaiety, lots of mirth, BUT,
Does anyone think of the Saviour's birth?
In the bible, the stories of old, tell of a star,
Myrrh, frankinsense and gold,
Of Mary and Joseph, and stable bare, BUT,
Does anyone listen, does anyone care?
Do you at this festive time of year, really listen with your inner ear?
To the message from above, that tells us all of God and His love.
When bells ring out this Christmas time, stop, listen and hear
of what they chime; and then as when men in times gone by
Told the world where Jesus did lie; Let each of us spread the message on,
For although two thousand years have passed and gone,
This is still the headline news; talk to your neighbour,
Tell him your views, that as we holiday and feast
We should think of Him who had the least, but gave so much,
His life in fact, so that we this scene could enact.
Do you, just once a year, give thanks, when you participate
in childish pranks, do you, just once in a while
put on your face a cherubic smile and walk along to sing His
praise as with your voice a carol raise?
When will you give your life to Him, the babe, the man,
who will save you from sin? for that is the reason why He came.
So that all men Gods blessings could claim.
When this year you gather around the tree, and on the top,
the shining star do see, remember, the ox, and ass, and wise men three,
The angels, and shepherds, who worshipped on bended knee,
Then voice a prayer, and to Him say,
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR CHRISTMAS DAY...
Happy Christmas Everyone and God bless you
-- MAUREEN
News from the Lions Den
Do you believe?
There are 7 billion people living on planet earth. Over one-third live in poverty, meaning they don't have enough to eat, don't have access to clean drinking water, live in sub-standard housing, or they lack proper medical care. It is very likely that all of the above applies.
Poverty, homelessness, abuse, disease and disabilities, both physical and mental affect millions of people. Lions Clubs international can not provide responses to all of these people. Or can we?
I believe that we can make a difference. Helping just one person can set an example for others to follow.
The Yellow River is the seventh longest river in the world, stretching 3395 miles in length. It is often called the cradle of the Chinese civilisation, serving as the birth place of northern Chinese civilisations and giving prosperity to millions. And yet, at its source, high in the Bayan Har Mountains, it all begins with a very humble trickle of water. It gains its power and strength as it fl ows northwest, then northeast, turning southward and fi nally east, fl owing through seven provinces along the way and nourishing over 120 million people. Its astonishing that such a mighty force starts out so small.
Lions Clubs International also had a humble beginning. Our founder, Melvin Jones and a few of his colleagues, were similar to those few drops of water that today, some 94 years later have changed the world and touched millions of lives.
Believe that You can make a difference!
On 10th December we will be holding our Christmas, crafts and second hand book sale at Dagnall village hall from 10am until 4pm. Entry is free so why not come along and get some Christmas treats for your family and friends? A full list of the stall holders and books we are selling will be published on our website closer to the date so keep checking www.ebelions.org.uk for further updates. Santa has promised us he will be in attendance and will be found in his grotto all day giving out gifts to younger members of our community, (a £5.00 entry charge applies to the grotto but all children will receive a gift). Once Santa's duties are done at Dagnall, he will be making his way to the local children's ward and leaving gifts for some of those children that aren't able to visit him this year.
Please support us in any way you can, especially at this time of year when so many people are in need of our help both at home and abroad.
Ordinary people doing amazing things
Source: Focus, December 2011
Perry Mead Eaton Bray - Burglary car taken
Bedfordshire Police ask residents to review their home security and where they keep vehicle keys, after a burglary took place in Perry Mead, off High Street, in Eaton Bray, on Wednesday the 30th of November.
- The offence took place between 8:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
- The offender has gained access to the garden through a side gate that had been left unlocked.
- A patio door has been damaged, and a ground floor window has been forced open.
- An iPod and vehicle keys have been taken.
- The offender has used the stolen keys, to remove the owner vehicle.
- The car has since been recovered in Dunstable.
This crime is part of a series where the offenders have used keys stolen from a burglary, to also steal a vehicle.
- Keep doors double-locked at all times.
- Avoid leaving property like vehicle keys, handbags, or laptops in hallways, or where they can be seen from outside the house.
- Remove all keys from the locks and keep them in a safe place and out of view.
- Keep garden furniture, ladders, and Wheelie bins in a secure garage or shed, or locked up away from the house, where they might be used to climb onto a roof or access a first floor window.
- Be a good Neighbour.
- Be aware of sounds like breaking glass.
If you have any information about this crime or other suspicious incidents, please call the Force Control Room on 101, and quote crime reference, J D / 4 8 4 6 5 / 2011.
Alternatively text your message to (07786) 200011
Email your message to [email protected]
Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
Thank you for your support.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire