Archived News
July 2005
Eaton Bray Duck Race
A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered to cheer on the competitors in the second annual Eaton Bray duck race.
Winners Kelly Fury and Sue Thompson shared £75 between them, with second place going to Mandy Taylor and Sally Thorne, who shared £50. The "25 prize was shared by Mr Saccoccio and Mrs Saunders.
Teenagers from St Mary's GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) were on hand to collect up the bright yellow ducks after their exhilarating 100 yard dash for freedom.
Source: Dunstable Gazette, 27 July 2005
Victory puts Eaton Bray in pole position
Eaton Bray took over at the top of the Morrants Four Counties League Division One after beating Simpson and Walton by 84 runs on Saturday.
With previous leaders North Crawley losing to Tring Park 3rds, Eaton Bray snatched a narrow one-point lead at the top after collecting 30 points from Saturday's win.
Eaton Bray totalled 190-6 with James Flecknall scoring 57. Simpson were all out for 106 with Michael Jarrett taking 3-17.
It's all change at the top of Division Two as well after Stewkley's six-wicket defeat at the hands of Edlesborough.
Previous leaders Stewkley totalled 208 but Edlesborough reached their target for the loss of four wickets.
Top spot now goes to Winslow who drew with Mentmore. Winslow totalled 251-6 with 76 not out from Jamie Litherland and Mentmore replied with 180-7 with Matt Puddy hitting 71.
Source: Leighton Online
St Mary's Church Open Days
There are two more open Sundays this year at St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray. These are:
- 7 August, when parish records and photographs will also be on display
- 4 September, when guided tours will be available at 2.15pm and 4pm (no booking required, just turn up).
For further information, see the Church Tours section of the St Mary's Church website.
Source: St Mary's Church website
Bray-cing carnival atmosphere enjoyed by all!
More than £10,000 was raised for local charities and good causes when St Mary's Village Carnival took place on Saturday. About ten floats with a nursery rhyme theme made up the procession through Eaton Bray and Edlesborough.
Edlesborough Under Fives group won the preschool and lower school category, while the 1st Eaton Bray and Edlesborough Cubs took first place in the junior school organisations with their Grand Old Duke of York float. In the fmily and business category, first place went to St Mary's Growing in Faith Together (GIFT), a faith group for yojng adults. The procession floats were accompanied by carnival queen Amy Ryder; princess Elizabeth Ranson and their attendants, who travelled in style with Honeywick Carriages. Along the route, Eaton Bray's best-dressed house was 128 High Street, while 64 High Street was named Edlesborough's winner.
A procession of vintage cars also travelled the route to Edlesborough Green, where the carnival was opened by businessman Peter Janes. Belly-dancing, worm-charming and chainsaw-carving were among the more unusual attractions.
Country dancing was performed by Dagnall School pupils, while displays of basket-weaving and spar-making, Birds of Bray and Clarabelle the Cow all helped make the day a success.
Visitors could also buy a plastic contestant to take part in the annual duck race on the River Ousel, which starts at the Meads in Eaton Bray on Saturday at 1pm. Carnival chairman Peter Bennett said: "The carnival's success was overshadowed by the recent sudden death of Brock Shaw, much loved by all, and whose role as press publicist and arena maestro will be very difficulr to fill."
The money raised will be split between St Mary's Church fabric fund, the Dagnall Church extension and other local charities and groups.
Source: Catherine Lofthouse, Dunstable Gazette, 6 July 2005
Turn that tap off - before we run dry
Turn that tap off! Only a fortnight after assuring customers that supplies were safe for the summer, Three Valleys Water has done an about turn and issued a 'save it' plea to punters.
We need to cut down immediately on any non-essential water use, especially when using sprinklers, hosepipes and garden pools, it warns.
Company bosses say that demand for water is now so high that they're having to work harder than ever to keep supplies flowing.
And the soaring demand means that during peak demand times - from 7am to 10am and from 4pm to 9pm - there may be low pressure problems in some areas.
During the recent heatwave the firm pumped more than a billion litres of water over one weekend - 25 per cent up on the average demand.
Managing director Peter Darby said: "Our main concern is the extreme strain on the water supply network caused by surges of demand when people turn on hosepipes and psrinklers to water their gardens at peak times.
"The soaring temperatures resulted in a huge demand for water, much of which is simply wasted outdoors."
He warned that sprinklers and most garden pools should only be used when a water meter is fitted, and company sleuths are using state of the art equipment to track down anyone flouting those rules.
Anyone using a sprinkler without a meter can face a £1,000 fine, and although that doesn't apply to hosepipes, users are urged to be 'socially and environmentally responsible' by avoinding wastage and unnecessary use.
Source: Herald & Post, 7 July 2005
Carnival 2005 Pictures
Pictures from Carnival 2005 are now up on the St Mary's Village Carnival website. They are split into various 'albums', but it you start from the first one, the slide show will take you through all of the photos available.
Source: St Mary's Village Carnival website
Eaton Bray Village Hall
The second annual CAMRA beer festival went with a "Real" swing as many flocked to experience the delights of the weekend. This year saw an expansion in the programme with evening entertainment and even a magician, who with a little more "abracadabra" could have produced some more ale when the taps ran dry.
Two thousand pounds was raised towards the hall development costs and a great deal of thanks is owed not only to the CAMRA organizers, but also the small army of volunteers, who helped produce such a wonderful weekend. The Chair of the fund raising committee, Katrina Videtta, was obviously in the mood to celebrate as she prepared for her forthcoming wedding. We wish her and future husband Paul Hurley every happiness, and may their fund raising continue lnog into the future.
Source: Focus, July 2005
Carnival 2005 Results
Yesterday's St Mary's Village Carnival was a great success. Results and pictures will appear on the Carnival website over the next few days. Results include:
Carnival Procession
Pre-School & Lower School
- 1: Edlesborough Under 5s
- 2: Eaton Bray Pre-school Playgroup
- 3: Dagnall Under 5s
Junior School Organisations
- 1: 1st Eaton Bray & Edlesborough Cubs
- 2: Friends of Edlesborough School
- 3: Eaton Bray Lower School
Family & Business
- 1: St Mary's GIFT
- 2: The Bell PH
Chainsaw Carving: Won by Mrs Gwen Giltrow
Clarabelle: Won by Mr Chris Moseley
Best Dressed House
- Eaton Bray: 128 High Street
- Edlesborough: 64 High Street
Source: St Mary's Village Carnival website