Issue 22

July/August 2014

In this edition of The Sticks

Exclusive Interview with BBC Three Counties’ Nick Coffer Win tickets to see Bugle Boy Our new Hero Cheese of the Month BBC Radio 2’s Janey Lee Grace on Summer Ice We review The Embankment Restaurant in Bedford We road test the Toyota Aygo And much more

Plus pages of events listings across Herts, Beds & Bucks

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Welcome to the July/August edition of The Sticks Magazine!

The most talked about magazine in Herts, Beds & Bucks

With over 16,000 readers a month

In this issue: Page Exclusive interview with Nick Coffer 4 Curwens Column 10 Win tickets to see Bugle Boy 11 I Need the Toilet! 12 Art Column 13 Overcoming Anxiety 14 Car Test – Toyota Aygo 18 Janey Lee Grace on Summer Ice 20 The Embankment Restaurant 22 Big Barn Food Column 24 Hero Cheese of the Month 25 Listings – Herts, Beds & Bucks 26

Contributors: Janey Lee Grace, Terry Sullivan Donna Obstfeld, Andrew Merritt-Morling, Jo Coker, Sharon Struckman

See you in September!

Editor & Sales: Terry Sullivan

Tel: 07756 274444 Email: [email protected]

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

3 Exclusive Interview with Nick Coffer

Nick Coffer is a radio broadcaster on BBC Three Counties Radio, author, cook and dad. Nick recently sat down for a chat with The Sticks to talk about his career, his life and family.

How long have you been on Three Counties? August 2010 was my first programme, I think it was August 19 th and I had been doing about a years worth of guesting and talking head stuff and I just took the idea of the food show to Mark Norman, who was the then editor, and said how about we do this and he said what a great idea and I thought oh no what have I done!

Are you originally a local boy? Yes I am from Watford so I am very much a Hertfordshire boy. I love Hertfordshire, I moved around for many years, I lived in France and then in East London and somehow I ended up in Bushey and marrying a Bushey girl, not quite sure how that happened. It was where I was brought up and I always thought I was not going to stay here but you do end up gravitating back.

What had you done before you got in to radio? I had previously run my own businesses, I ran one when I was in France where I was supplying French retailers with English fashion brands then I came back to this country where I set up a business where I was supplying mineral water to the restaurant trade and it had it’s period when it did really well particularly around 2006/7 and then it started to get in to trouble in 2008, when the recession had started to hit and in late 2008, early 2009 I decided to close the business. It was a good decision as the business was losing money but I was able to close it with some money still in the business, by that I mean if I had carried on for another 3 months I probably would not have had a penny but by stopping there and then everyone was paid out, the business did no go broke, I just decided to stop. I had a chunk of money and then decided to become a stay at home dad, that was early 2009 and my wife went back to work, my son was a year old at the time. I then tried a number of things, I wanted to open a café and all sorts of other ideas came to mind. One of the things I did do was I filmed myself cooking with my little boy in the kitchen on a couple of occasions and thought they were quite cool, although never been in front of a camera before or recorded anything and then created a little wordpress blog called “My Daddy Cooks” and I registered the name “mydaddycooks.com” and that was September 2009 and between then and Christmas I put up 8 or 9 videos of me and Archie cooking and it all went a bit mad and then over the Christmas I withdrew my last £250 from the bank and I was not quite sure what I was going to be doing next, then straight after the Christmas holidays in January 2010 BBC London news phoned and said can we come and do a report on you and Archie and the videos, and that went out and the Evening Standard saw it and put Archie on the front cover and then I got a book deal. That’s the potted history, although at no point had I consciously set out thinking I am going to be a radio presenter, not at all. Often with radio I think life experiences are as important as other

4 experiences you are bringing that to your programme. I am quite pleased I lived my 37 years before going on air, I am not saying that’s the right way but it works for me. Ultimately people want to hear presenters with the life experiences, don’t get me wrong there are some brilliant 21 year old presenters out there but I think, particularly for the audience that I have got, they want people who are a bit lived and there are large chunks of radio you can’t teach, there’s lots you can learn and you learn every single day but there are large parts that are innate, it is just if you get the opportunity to show that or not, don’t get me wrong that’s only half the battle the rest is learning to do it well. The likes of Iain (Lee) and Jonathan (JVS) have this innate ability to be on air and communicate.

It was about 3 months after I signed my book deal with Hodder & Stoughton that I started my food show on Three Counties and all of those things came from me being very pro-active and having ideas and taking them to people and saying what about this and them saying, I quite like that! I had been doing my Saturday show for about 18 months and then took over the afternoon show (noon till 3pm) in March 2012, because afternoons are very different as in they are not news lead. Yes, it was an interesting jump and I love afternoons because it is a time when you can just kick back a little bit, relax and play your favourite music and it is all about the guests where as Iain and Jonathan are very much current affairs lead as is “Drive” with Rob and I love talking to the local mum who has founded a charity as much as I love talking to David Jason or Amanda Holden etc and that’s the beauty of the programme that I can get that scope of some one who is mad on matchsticks modelling all the way through to Jake Clemons, that’s why I enjoy it; then also I go out of the studio every Friday and that’s when I really get to eyeball the people who listen to me because if you don’t know who your talking too you’re, going to sound rubbish, you have got to know who you’re talking to, why they are listening and when you go on an outside broadcast that’s just the best opportunity because you get to meet the listener, for good and for bad, sometimes they don’t like you, but that is alright but more often than not I get a real sense of who my audience is. I am at my happiest if you plonk me in the middle of a busy pub with a

microphone.

Who chooses music and sources the guests for your show? That’s quiet an involved question so I will give you the simplified version. My producer Nia Visser books the guests, she is the one on the lookout for who to talk to and why to talk to them but it is a collaborative effort I will see things that I want her to find but predominantly she is forward planning the programme, the music is a mixture of our core play list and other things that I love and occasionally something that Nia fancies chucking in as well. I play in a 3 hour show anything up to 30 tracks and that gives me quite a lot of scope to mix up the well known stuff along with bits of me. I think music is another way to show the stuff you love and showing your personality a little bit, also the beauty of music is it shapes the programmes so I can shape the music depending on the guests etc., say Iam doing a really sad downbeat interview it’s likely that I will come out of it with quite an upbeat song and vice versa if I am talking to someone who is

5 really, really hyper, I would probably play Gabrielle Aplin or Leonard Cohen just to slow it down a bit, to me music is very important.

Being on the radio and having a new baby and young family must make your life extra busy? I think that I have never worked harder than I work at the moment but at the same time I have never been happier in what I do. Bearing in mind everything I do, one way or another is a creative thing whether it is being on the radio or all the hours of preparation that each show requires or writing a cook book or writing articles for newspapers, what ever it is it is going to be creative and with that in mind you never actually stop. I don’t have a job where I can just switch off when I come home, on the contrary I am always doing, doing, thinking normally about 3 am one of those creative periods, “oh I‘ve just got an idea” so yes I am juggling a lot. Conversely I am lucky I get to take my son to school and on a good day I am home by 5.30 pm so I can be making supper or worse case just after supper, that’s because of the time slot I have got. It is not just the 3 hour show, for each one it is a minimum of 2-3 hours preparation.

Have you had any disasters during a live broadcast? Not sure where on a scale of 1-10 this is, but I once spilt wine all over the mixing desk and put the studios out of action for 4 days, which was not ideal as it was the Saturday before the big schedule change on the Monday morning, that made me very unpopular. It was funny, as I spilt the wine my head was basically saying all the swear words in the world but somehow my mouth just carried on talking! Also I have had a kitten walk all over my buttons and play a strange medley of station jingles and trails. I have been lucky and not had a major disaster, I do occasionally press the wrong buttons but I think listeners are not always looking for slick perfection.

Tell us a bit about your cook books. In 2011 I brought out “My Daddy Cooks” and I have a new book out called “The After School Cook Book” I am chuffed with the new book, it is basically “My Daddy Cooks” grows up. It is what happened when I realised I had a school aged son and all the implications that has in our food and family life. He will come home from school absolutely knackered and he needs instant refuelling or he will turn up from school with a few friends that I was not expecting, so “The After School Cookbook” is what it says on the cover, it is a book for parents with children 4 to 18 and it just fills that need for food that is either quick and/or cheap and tasty. All the recipes are just my signature recipes, very simple, non fatty, non chefy, good grub that children will enjoy. The food side of my reputation has been built up by not being a chef, I am a dad that cooks food that works, and that children can get involved in cooking as well. I am proud of the new book, my favourite chapters are one called Mind The Gap which is all about what to give your kids in that horrible bit where you pick them up from school and you have another hour, hour and half before they are going to eat supper and one called 2+2=7 where you go pick you son up and their friends mum can’t pick them up you so have inherited 2 other kids. There is a lot of fun in the book, it was written with a smile, also a lot of work has gone into the book I have sweated blood, tears and onions; it is like having a new baby publishing a book.

6 What would cook for me if I came round for dinner? That’s a tricky question. There would be a 9/10 chance that if it was for a family meal, I would cook a pasta or stir fry dish, that is my turn to for the middle of the week. I always have a ready supply of bacon in the freezer and can normally do something in around 8 minutes.

Anything you would like to do i.e. dream job? I absolutely love what I do and I genuinely everyday never underestimate the privilege of going on air with an audience which has grown with me, of which I respect and it respects me and has been through things like my wife’s miscarriage and the birth of my baby. It was Stephen King that said “don’t forget to enjoy what you are doing” so even when I have only had 3 hours sleep when the baby keeps me up all night I realise that I am so lucky to be on air and that people listen which you can never take for granted as there are an awful lot of radio stations out there. I enjoy the theatre of TV but I have always been a radio listener, I have always gone to bed listening to the radio. Radio has withstood all the technological advances of the iphone, MP3s and has embraced them as well, to still be ultimately one person with a microphone talking to a load of other people. I love the absolute simplicity of it, which will never change the intimacy of it. I think radio has an ability to connect where other mediums don’t. I am comfortable going on air as I am comfortable about being exposed, I don’t mind that feeling, and I thrive on it. It is like this book, it has been with me and in my head for 2 years but for people reading it today it is the first view they will have of it so it is a weird feeling. I have a little theory about creative projects that is that if my listener has any idea of the work that has gone into a radio programme or my book then I have not actually done my job because actually it is irrelevant, so if I am giving them any sense that I have prepped for an interview the night before then I am not doing my job but if they listen and think that’s a really interesting interview then I have done it right. I take great pride that people want to be entertained, touched, moved and to connect with you, what they don’t want is a presenter to go on air and say I worked so hard on this.

Do you have time for hobbies and interests? Yes, I am a huge Arsenal fan so I go every home game or at least as many as I can and I am a very lapsed cyclist, I need to get back on the bike. Also at the point I am with my family I would be lying if I said I had this amazing social life. I regret not having more time to read and do stuff, but when you have a 6 year old, 3 year old and a 9 week old they are going to take up a lot of your time.

Are you a gig goer, theatre goer or comedy show goer? I am not really a comedy gig guy, the 25 year old in me would want to go to an indie gig as that’s what I was brought up with but I like live performance so the theatre would be the number one choice.

Who are your favourite singers or bands? My all-time favourite would be Bruce Springsteen, I love American female singers like Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter also Pink Floyd. I was brought up with a lot of reggae in the house so like Ska things like Toots and the Maytals and The Selecter, I have very diverse tastes.

Who would be your favourite dinner guests dead or alive? This is such a difficult question, I would invite Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith because her and Springsteen would be an interesting pair, and my granddad who died in 1983, so would be great to catch up with him, hope he would be proud of what I have done, as he was a professional after dinner speaker, he was a very funny guy, he was also in music halls.

7 How would you describe yourself? I would say I am very easy to read but at the same time private, I am very, very loyal and very discreet but at the same time I go on the radio and talk so it’s a bit of a paradox, also very passionate. If I had to use one phrase it would be passionate bordering on obsessive for things that I do and for getting things right. Fundamentally I am just a normal family guy who is not getting a lot of sleep at the moment!

Listen to Nick on BBC Three Counties Radio Monday – Friday 12 noon till 3 pm and Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen, Saturdays 12 noon till 2 pm

Also Nick could recently be seen across TV, print and online media as the face of Sainbsury’s ‘Make Your Roast Go Further’ campaign. In the adverts, Nick showed how to make delicious recipes with leftover pork roast. He also recently created and presented a video for Pancake Day in support of Lyle’s Golden Syrup’s ‘Save our Pancakes’ campaign. He is a regular contributor to Netmums.com, where he creates recipes and

presents cooking videos.

You can order Nick’s books via these links:-

My Daddy Cooks: www.amazon.co.uk/My-Daddy-Cooks-Recipes- family/dp/144471371X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

The After School Cook Book: www.amazon.co.uk/The-After-School-Cookbook- affordable-ebook/dp/B00IORP8BC/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

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. HOW TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS

The economy seems to be recovering, and things are looking up – so maybe now is the time to reach that secret goal of being your own boss.

Starting up your own business can be exciting and challenging, but you need to be prepared. Ask yourself some basic Questions:-

• Where is your funding coming from / have you done a Business plan? If you are hoping for assistance from your bank they will want to see that you have planned the way ahead.

• Are you going to be a sole trader / a partnership / a limited company? You will need the paperwork in place to clarify who owns the business, and what powers they have (often dealt with in Partnership or Shareholders Agreements). If you are formally incorporating a company, you will need specialist documentation including the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

• Do you need premises and/or staff? You will ideally need a formal lease agreement for the premises – to ensure you cannot be evicted without reasonable notice and also the correct “use” for those premises (such as retail or office) Every member of staff should have a contract of employment – to protect both you and them. Also, remember the implications of Auto-enrolment in respect of employee pensions.

• Have you got a friendly accountant to provide you with tax advice? It is important to know what tax you should be registered for and are liable to pay – otherwise how can you calculate what to charge for your products or services to ensure you make a profit

• Have you taken any legal advice? Unfortunately, the days of relying on a “gentleman’s handshake” are gone. Ensure any supplier contracts or Terms and Conditions protect your business as far as possible.

• Have you considered marketing / a website? This will all need to be budgeted for, and you need to be aware of what statutory information is required on emails and websites

• Have you got insurance? Most people consider it vital to insure their premises and stock, but what about equipment and even key members of staff?

At Curwens LLP, we are always happy to have an initial chat with you on the telephone to run through exactly what help you need. So if you have any questions just give us a ring on 01992 463727 or have a look at our website www.curwens.co.uk . Curwens LLP are your local solicitors based in Royston, Hoddesdon and Enfield.

10 Win 2 tickets to see Bugle Boy at Alban Arena, St Albans on Wednesday September 10

The Critically Acclaimed Hit New Musical ‘Bugle Boy’ exploring the life and work of legendary band leader Glenn Miller is set to tour the country again after its highly successful 2011; 2012 & 2013 UK Tours; including a full house standing ovation in the West End Garrick Theatre receiving terrific reviews from both critics and audiences alike and hailed a Triumph.

'Bugle Boy' by English Award Winning Playwright Den Stevenson; traces the life of legendary music Icon Glenn Miller from leaving college to play in various bands including his own as he searches tirelessly for over twenty years, with the constant support and love of his wife Helen, for a unique band sound.

When he eventually succeeds in his quest; he and his family only enjoy the fruits of fame for three short years. When America joined the Second World War after the bombing of Pearl Harbour; he joins the Army, forms the subsequently famed A.E.F Band and flies to Europe to play to the Armed Forces; then goes missing in mysterious circumstances.

Den Stevenson became obsessed with making a musical about the great band leader whilst being Booker for Glenn's younger brother Herb Miller and his Orchestra; honing his unique concept on English soil before presenting the Show in America - firstly in Virginia and then on Broadway

'Bugle Boy' features all of Glenn Miller’s famous and instantly recognisable tunes including amongst others Little Brown Jug; Moonlight Serenade; Pennsylvania 6-5000; Chattanooga Choo Choo; Kalamazoo; American Patrol and many others - which has seen this not to be missed Critically Acclaimed Show play to packed audiences and standing ovations across the Country putting everyone who sees it... In The Mood shouting for more!

The first correct entry drawn in our exclusive competition will win a pair of tickets to the show. To enter please answer this simple question:

The musical is called Bugle Boy but Glenn Miller did not play the bugle, what instrument is he famous for playing?

Email your answer together with your name, address and daytime phone number to: [email protected] Closing date: Noon Thursday 4th September

The prize will go to the first correct entry drawn on Thursday 4 th September. There is no cash alternative. Usual publication rules apply; the Editor's decision is final.

www.thebugleboy.info

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I Need the Toilet

Now I know this is a strange title, but on an increasingly regular basis, a client, an employee or a friend tells me they need the toilet! I have even caught myself announcing to the kids…. “I’m just going to the toilet”. On close inspection, I find I am justifying why I am not doing something else like supervising homework, cooking dinner or clearing up. Why do I need to carve out time to do something so natural and why do I have the need to justify myself? So the next time someone announced their ‘need’, I asked why they felt they had to tell me. The answer: because I’m so busy, I don’t really have time to go and as a result feel guilty going. As an employer this concerns me and I have even resorted to telling staff to go to the ‘little girls’ room’ and then call me back. As a friend I have pointed out that they can’t possibly do a good job at work (e.g. as a retail medical professional) if they are desperate for the toilet while seeing patients. So who is plying on the pressure? Is it family, our boss or ourselves? If it is family, we need to learn to manage expectations, they are allowed to go and so are we. If it is ourselves, then we need to improve our time management, work smarter not harder and ensure that we make time for regular pit stops, so that we don’t find ourselves caught short. If it is our boss, company policy or peer pressure, then the situation can be harder to manage. It is essential to stay well hydrated during the day to achieve optimum performance in any job. The water machine, the coffee machine and the staff room all encourage us to take on fluids, but our bodies also need us to get rid of toxins. By law, every restaurant must provide the public with access to a toilet and every workplace must have an arrangement for staff access to a toilet, even if it is a shared facility. In discussion with my gardener, I was surprised he made it home everyday for lunch – he confided that the reason for this was ….. because he had trained himself to not need the toilet before or after his lunch break. As an employee you must manage your time to ensure you are able to take regular breaks and make use of those breaks even if you don’t need to go at that point in time. You may not be able to go later! Employers need to be mindful of medical needs and a duty of care towards staff – when you gotta go, you gotta go!

is an HR practice working with the business, education and charity sectors to “make the workplace a better place to be”.

01923 504100 www.dohr.co.uk [email protected]

12 Complexity Sculpted Through Simplicity

There’s something so quintessentially human about Andy Thomas’ sculptures. They are beautifully elegant, figurative works which captures the purest moments of our experiences. Working from a studio within Welwyn Equestrian Centre in Hertfordshire, Andy Thomas creates abstract, ergonomic sculptures of the human form ‘combining the negative and the positive’. He was previously working in Welwyn at Digswell Arts Trust where he was granted a studio for three years.

The mark of a memorable, constantly satisfying sculpture,’ Andy believes, ‘is always underlined with the renewed interest and excitement generated when it's studied from every angle’, an idea which is an obvious influence in his work. ‘Heading for Home’, a bronzed and gently sloping depiction of a mother and her children, from the front displays a natural element of maternal exasperation, but from behind we see unquestionable maternal love. Warmth, born of the sculpture’s hues, radiates from the figures to touch the emotions of the viewer – whether they are mother or child. The delicate craftsmanship of Andy’s work, which he admits stems from genuine first- hand experience rather than formal education, is exquisite. The curves of ‘Heading for Home’ alongside the bumped texture of ‘Compassion’ equally reflect the natural complexity of human relationships, but without compromising beautiful simplicity. Oblivious to Andy’s audience, the embracing figures of ‘Compassion’ are similarly honest and captivating in their intimacy. The search of solace within sculpture is an overwhelming aspect of Andy’s creations. The reflection of philosophical tranquillity apparent in his sculptural representation of ‘Contemplation’ is a powerful front for his smaller figurines. It is a projection of the individual when unaware of her audience, engrossed in her own imaginings. Andy Thomas exhibits across the width and breadth of the United Kingdom. ‘Embrace’ (his newest sculpture) an ‘eternally loving couple entwined in happiness’ has recently been installed at the historic gardens of Compton Acres in Bournemouth, the first in the edition is held privately in France. Currently, his work is also displayed at Cecilia Coleman Galley in London, Art Van Go in Knebworth, Riverside Galleries in Barnes and Barnet and at PS Arts in Datchworth.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/pages/Andy-Thomas-Sculpture

Twitter - @andytsculpture

Written by: Meg Browne, an A-Level student at Barnwell School, hoping to work in photographic journalism, and currently studying English Literature, Media Studies and Photography.

13 Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety

Jeff Jeff woke up with a gasp, clutching his chest, fighting for his breath, as wave after wave of what felt like electric charge hit his body. This had happened every morning for the last three weeks. Every morning he thought he was going to die. The first time it happened his wife rushed him to hospital, convinced he was having a heart attack. It was there he was told that he was having an anxiety attack, not a heart attack, as all the tests showed his heart was healthy. Jeff was convinced that the doctors were wrong. He didn’t ‘do’ stress. He often said that, as the MD, he was the one who created stress not the one who suffered with it! How could he have anxiety? Sure, he’d had to remortgage the house to fund a precarious business expansion and his daughter had been hospitalised with anorexia, but he never considered for a moment that he wasn’t coping. Further medical tests continued to point to anxiety as the problem though and every morning without fail he would wake up gasping for air.

Sonia Sonia watched with horror as one of the mothers at the toddler group pulled out a sesame seed snack from her handbag. ‘I’m starving’ the mother said…I haven’t had a minute all morning…I’m so glad I remembered to bring my snack today’. As the mother opened the packet and started to eat the health treat Sonia’s body filled with fear and her mind started firing off one terrifying thought after another, ‘Oh no…those seeds and going to fall on the children and one of them will choke’ ‘What if my little girl is allergic to sesame seeds and stops breathing’ ‘I have to get us away from here’. Sonia smiled weakly, said she wasn’t feeling too well and excused herself. Barely noticing the sympathetic smiles of the other mothers and trying to look as normal as possible, she gathered up her little girl and rushed to her car. Once home, she stripped them both of their clothes and put them straight into the dustbin. Then she carefully and thoroughly bathed the baby and herself, until her fear started to ease. Sonia wore plastic gloves for the rest of the day so that she wouldn’t contaminate her little girl when she touched her or spread any of the sesame in her house. Sonia knew she wasn’t being rational but she simply couldn’t stop herself from behaving like this.

Clare As she reached the end of her run Clare allowed herself to feel pleased … she had managed the best time and distance so far in her marathon training. Almost immediately, she heard her mothers voice in her head, ‘How dare you be pleased with yourself you pathetic creature? You know you are no good at anything, never have been and never will be, bane of my life you were … not like your brother’. Clare felt the breath pull out of her body as her stomach turned in that horribly familiar way it did every time she remembered her mother. This time the sensation built to an unbearable level and Clare stopped dead in her tracks, doubling over in pain. Her mother had been dead for several years but the abuse she doled out when she was here was enough to last Clare a lifetime. Clare dropped to her knees and began sobbing in the street. I will never be rid of that woman she thought, how will I ever be happy?

Jeff, Sonia and Clare* are all suffering with anxiety, albeit in different forms and with varying causes. Mental Health Foundation statistics show that anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health problems in the UK. Whilst 2.6% of the population experience depression and 4.7% have anxiety problems, as many as 9.7% suffer mixed depression and anxiety, making it the most prevalent mental health problem in our population as a whole.

What Is Anxiety?

Essentially, anxiety is a product of the workings of our amygdala, a small, almond shaped part of our brain. The amygdala releases stress hormones - adrenaline and cortisol - to activate our fight or flight system when we are threatened. This is a crucial part of our survival mechanism, as it

14 gives us the where withal to run away from or stand and fight a source of danger. In Jeff’s case, his amygdala is releasing stress hormones in response to the financial threat of remortgaging his house and the emotional threat of his daughter being hospitalised. Unfortunately, Jeff believes he is coping with these challenges well and so is failing to understand his symptoms. Naturally, his amygdala is going to keep on sending him the message until he pays attention. The amygdala isn’t the most sophisticated part of our brain and it can’t distinguish between a scary thought and a real life threat, so Sonia’s amygdala responds to her fearful thoughts by producing stress hormones, making Sonia feel more afraid, increasing, in turn, her vulnerability to having scary thoughts. The only way Sonia feels she can break this cycle is by washing the threat away. Years of verbal abuse from her mother have left Clare (and her amygdala) on red alert for danger and, although her mother has died, her negative influence still goes on. The years of fear have now brought Clare to breaking point, with predictably acute anxiety symptoms.

How Is It Treated?

As Jeff, Sonia and Clare’s cases show, every individual has a different experience of anxiety and a unique set of circumstances creating their anxious symptoms. Effective treatments for anxiety need to be tailored to meet individual needs. Counsellors and Psychotherapists take varying approaches depending on their core training, or modality, as it is called. Some will look to resolve early life experiences that have created the vulnerability to anxiety, an approach that may be best suited to Clare’s experience. Others will use more solution focused approaches, like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), looking for practical ways to identify and break the patterns of anxious thinking, which would probably suit Jeff and Sonia well. At some point in most approaches to anxiety a professional will explore the client’s past and current environment; their home and work life, how much sleep they are getting, what and how often they eat and drink, how much exercise they are taking, how much contact with other people they have. This assessment allows the therapist to recommend actions to reduce anxiety, such as how to improve sleep patterns and increase physical activity. Some therapists will look at exactly how the client is experiencing anxiety, in which contexts, for how long, how often, how they behave when they feel anxious, how much they understand about anxiety. From this they can see ways to increase the client’s capabilities by teaching anxiety management skills, such as relaxation, breathing, redirecting attention, mindfulness and thought observation. The client’s beliefs about risk and anxiety may be challenged, to change the way that they think about the problem. At some stage in the treatment professionals may also explore the client’s sense of self, their values, identity and purpose in life, often demonstrating that anxiety is not who they are, rather it is something they have learnt to do.

What ever approach is taken, the key to recovering from anxiety is knowing that you have it in the first place and then finding a professional who you can trust to help you recover. No-one need suffer with anxiety for life.

Julie Sale UKCP Registered Psychotherapist COSRT Accredited Psychotherapist Operations Director Local Counselling Centre

If you would like help to recover from anxiety please contact us on 01462 674671 [email protected] www.localcounsellingcentre.co.uk

*names and details have been changed to protect anonymity

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17 Road Test –Toyota Aygo by Andrew Merritt-Morling

There is no denying that the Toyota Aygo is the more striking of the trio of city cars that includes Citroen’s C1 and Peugeot’s 108, with which it shares its platform. The front is dominated by an ‘X’ that is available in an array of colours to build on the increasing trend for personalisation of small cars and which is complemented by angular headlights and with project lenses and standard-fit LED running lights.

In the flesh, a more distinctive and we think masculine look has replaced the bug-eyed but cute looks of the previous generation. This second generation Aygo model has developed some attitude and confidence. The bold looks somewhat mask the aerodynamic attention to detail that starts with a front splitter and goes on to the double-bubble roof and ends with fins set into the rear lights.

Only one 1.0-litre engine is available, and that is related to the old Aygo’s. But don’t let this fact put you off. It weighs just 69kg, contributing to the total 60kg weight- saving compared to the previous generation. Output has been increased very slightly to 69bhp and in our test car, came with the optional x-shift automated manual transmission.

With the x-shift, the Aygo can officially return 67.3mpg on the combined cycle and emits just 97g/km of CO2, ensuring that if falls below the current 100g/km threshold for payment of annual road tax in the UK. Both figures are a marked improvement on the 62.7mpg and 104g/km of the previous model, but are still below the 68.9mpg and 95g/km of CO2 achieved with the standard-fit 5-speed manual.

18 But the x-shift gearbox lets the Aygo down. In E-mode and when you put the car under heavy acceleration, there are very noticeable delays in swapping from one gear to the next thanks to the single-clutch set-up. At the same time the engine revs hard before changing up. In more routine driving, the problem is not as pronounced, but is still evident which somewhat tarnishes the experience. Perhaps the best way of summarising the x-shift is that it needs patience.

On the move, the new Aygo is quieter at motorway cruising speeds and wind and road noise are well subdued, bringing a welcome bonus. The jolly thrum when the engine is revved remains, however, which is a good thing. We will look forward to seeing whether the composure evident on smooth Dutch roads gets translated to the more pock-marked surfaces associated with British roads. As it is, even on the roughest roads we were able to find in Holland, any kickback refused to be transmitted through the steering wheel and the ride was relatively pliant. With the emphasis on comfort rather than sporty prowess, the most likely fun to be associated with the Aygo is choosing from the myriad of personalisation options that will be available to you as an owner rather than from behind the wheel. However, it is possible to lift a rear wheel if you are able to safely push it into a corner.

Inside, the Aygo has matured into a sophisticated little runabout. The materials are very pleasant to the touch and those trading up from the previous generation to this one will notice that there is a lot less exposed metalwork. As you would expect for a new generation of car, interior quality has been heavily improved. Blocks of colour help to break up the scratchy plastics, but you still notice that it feels cheap in places, particularly the lower down the cabin you move. The standard-fit 7-inch x-touch system offers a simple touchscreen user interface for audio, phone and vehicle functions and it has all the technology you could need.

The boot opening is slightly wider than before whilst the available space has grown from 139-litres to 168. Despite the increase, it is still quite diddy – as is the accommodation in the back. Even if you are of average height, those sitting behind the driver will only want to endure relatively short journeys – although those sitting behind the front-seat passenger could be slightly better off. Access to the rear is fine though through the second pair of doors – even though they do not open particularly wide. We have not had the opportunity of trying the 3-door version, but obviously entry and exit to the rear will be more compromised.

Space up front is good though and excellent visibility is afforded thanks to the slimmer A-pillars. A fully adjustable driver’s seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for both reach and height makes getting comfortable a quick and easy affair. Storage is provided by good size door bins and in the front there are twin cup holders.

www.first4auto.com www.facebook.com/first4auto Twitter: @first4auto

19 Summer Ice

Summer, and the promise of long hazy days cycling and messing about are here. When I was a kid we used to disappear for hours rolling down grassy banks and then rock up home saying we were hungry and thirsty, if we were lucky we’d be offered an apple or a glass of water but try running that one past my kids now. Getting the teenagers out from behind their smartphones is no mean feat, rolling down a hill could mess up their designer hoodies (though it might make a good selfie to upload to Instagram) - and as for accepting an apple as a snack....Fail!

Soft drinks and fizzy drinks were for special occasions when we were kids, but now it’s constant, even those of us who pride ourselves on being health conscious parents feel obliged to provide fruit juices, cordials, or one of the seemingly healthy alternatives, such as organic cola or cloudy lemonade – if it’s organic or cloudy it must be healthy right? Sadly no, while a standard can of Coca Cola or Pepsi contains 9 teaspoons of sugar, a slightly bigger bottle of ginger beer, cloudy lemonade or sparkling elderflower can contain between 9 and 13 depending on the brand. Ouch! Let’s stick to ice lollies to quench our thirst then….. mmm perhaps not, in addition to the high sugar content there’s also usually all manner of preservatives, flavouring et al. Make your own lollies? Definitely - but don’t use the aforementioned juices, lemonades et al. For a super healthy lollie, blend some summer berries with Tiana coconut water and freeze, the coconut water is naturally sweet and great for rehydration – nothing added. www.tiana-coconut.com

For a great dessert try - Shrek green sorbet 1 tablespoon coconut water, the pulp of 2 kiwi fruits, 1 shot live wheatgrass juice – 2 teaspoons of Squeeze of lime Tiana raw organic coconut nectar Blend all the ingredients and freeze – serve with fresh mint.

It could give you (and the kids) the energy boost to roll down the hills. By the way, a great source for frozen wheatgrass is www.livewheatgrass.com

Meanwhile I’ll be holed up for much of the summer sampling and testing lotions, potions, makeup and natural cleaning products for the 2014 Janey Loves Platinum Awards, we aim to recognise the best of the best in organic and natural, on the shortlist are some Hertfordshire companies including Konjac Sponge (brilliant for cleansing and taking off make-up) Wholistic Research Company, a brilliant one stop shop for equipment et al, Welwyn Health Foods and of course the brilliant products unique to them, The Haramaki and The Bamboo Healing products and then just over the border in beds Logona Cosmetics who a brilliant range of natural skincare and make-up and even gorgeous bright nail polish that doesn’t contain some of the scarier chemicals As the title of my book says it really is possible to Look Great Naturally – without ditching the lipstick

Watch this space winners will be announced and of course at www.janeyleegrace.com

20

21 Restaurant Review -The Embankment, Bedford

Nestled along the riverside in Bedford is the rather aptly named Embankment Hotel and Restaurant. With the River Festival happening mid July, we thought we would go along to see what this award winning establishment is all about.

As we arrived the place was buzzing with the alfresco tables full as the diners enjoyed the weather. I was pleased to be shown to mine, in the cool inside the restaurant which was also busy. Every night, alongside the A la carte menu there is a themed special menu - on the night we visited (Friday) it was seafood evening.

Before ordering our food we both enjoyed some juicy olives along with some crusty, soft bread and creamy butter.

For starters we ordered from the fish menu Pinney’s smoked trout, golden beetroot, white bean & orange salad – a beautiful tasting fish dish from Suffolk with something I had not had before in the form of golden beetroot, which had a fabulous taste and together with the citrus salad, blended well with the trout. From the A la carte menu my colleague chose Grimsby Smoked Haddock Kedgeree with a poached free range egg - the kedgeree was creamy with a perfectly poached egg on top and had a good balance of flavours.

For main course I again chose from the Friday menu a whole roast plaice with crab & fennel butter, petit pois, along with Sautéed potatoes, this tasted so fresh and moist and not overcooked, my colleague enjoyed the free range chicken & ham hock pie with Madeira sauce and parsley mash – the pie filling was wonderfully moist and tender, topped with a crispy light pastry.

22

For dessert we ordered a bramble apple mousse with cider fritters – the mousse was so light with an intense apple taste, a really enjoyable pudding and red wine poached pear accompanied with Caramel sauce and Vanilla ice cream – pear tasted like mulled wine along side the smooth, creamy ice cream –a real treat.

Alongside some wonderful food we tasted some refreshing drinks including a really nice, False Bay Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa and, from the alcohol- free cocktail list, a Apple Mojito – made with cloudy apple juice, fresh lime, mint and sugar that was just perfect on a very warm evening.

Whether you are visiting Bedford for the River Festival or any other time the Embankment is well worth a visit for a full 3 course meal, light snack or a drink.

Embankment Hotel and Restaurant The Embankment Bedford MK40 3PD 01234 261332

www.embankmentbedford.co.uk

23 Local Honey

With the number of honey bees under close scrutiny by the experts as levels fall, it’s no surprise that we’re paying more than ever for a pot of this golden nectar.

Honeybees are the most important polinators and producers of honey. They gather nectar from flowers and plants and carry it to the hive or nest and in the process help plants reproduce. Other worker bees then take over, preparing it for storing by adding enzymes. Water evaporates away and this, together with the action of the enzyme, turns the nectar to honey.

Honey has long been recognised as a natural remedy and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. It has antiseptic properties that help ailments such as sore throats, burns and cuts.

No bees, no fruit?

Plus, it’s pretty damn delicious spread on toast, drizzled over yoghurt, stirred into warm roasted parsnips, or used as an alternative to sugar. The possibilities are quite simply endless, which is why we all love it so much.

More Honey Facts: - 80% of the pollination of the fruits, vegetables and seed crops in the US is accomplished by honeybees. - There are over 25,000 species of bees worldwide. - An adult worker bee’s lifespan is about 45 days during summer months. - A typical Bee colony consists of 30,000 to 60,000 bees. - Male bees are called “Drones” and they do not have stingers, their only purpose is to mate with the queen bee. - A queen bee can sting multiple times without dying. - 99% of the bee colony is made up of female bees known as worker bees. - The average honey bee’s wings flap over 183 times per second. Bees have an excellent sense of smell which allows them to find their hive. - Honey Bees actually dance when they return to the hive to tell the other bees where the flowers are. - Honey is the ONLY food source produced by an insect that humans eat.

Beekeeping is also becoming more popular than ever, with people erecting hives in their back gardens and producing their own delicious honey.

To find out more about honey and bee-keeping courses visit www.bbka.org.uk, or alternatively for fun, facts and trivia, head over to www.honeyassociation.com They say that eating locally-made honey can help alleviate hay fever symptoms, so the best possible honey is one made just down the road.

24 Hero Cheese of the Month - Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan)

This month’s Hero Cheese is Parmesan, as a table cheese? Why not! Although in England traditionally used as an ingredient cheese, parmigiana makes a great table cheese too.

A protected cheese that can only be made in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena. Bologna (west of the Reno) and Mantua (south of the Po).

Each cheese is made from raw milk of grass or hay fed cattle using natural whey starters and calf rennet, finely milled (about the size of rice grains) which is then pressed, floated in a brine bath for around 20 days. The cheese is then placed in a maturing room, turned regularly for 12 months.

Grading takes place in the form of a consorzi parmiagiano-reggiano, who by just using a hammer taps each cheese to identify any cracks and voids in the cheese, only then is the

consorzio's mark branded into the rind.

Parmesan is an excellent freezing cheese to, as it has a low moisture content. The rind can also be eaten and it makes a great ingredient to add to your pasta sauces.

Try this cheese with a Prosecco or even better a Franciacorta, Italy's answer to champagne! As it has a high lactic acid content (the crunch you find in mature cheese) the lactic acid reacts with the carbon dioxide in the fizz, creating a sherbet sensation on the palette which is truly remarkable!

26 High Street, Buntingford, Herts, SG9 9AQ

www.thecheeseplate.co.uk

Tel: 01763 271533

Email: [email protected]

25 July Air Force, one of the country’s very finest military bands, under the direction of the RAF’s Herts Listings Principal Director of Music, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, will perform both on its own and

with Mill Hill County High School’s outstanding Concert Band. The 240-strong Mill Hill County Art from the Hart - Tues 1 to Fri 11 Jul An High School Year 7 Chorus will also contribute to engrossing exhibition of painting and sculpture a varied and entertaining programme. The from Tina Hart, Karen Phillips, Michael Phillips, concert will also feature a performance from Brooke Phillips and Selda Khoy, artists based in Emma Kershaw, singer in “Women the Band” and the Netherlands and in the UK. Letchworth Arts West End performer having appeared in shows Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City such as Les Miserables and Fame. Tickets £16.00. SG6 3EW Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 Tea Dance -Tue 1 July 1pm Mr Wonderful return www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk to the Colosseum with a series of glittering dance events suited to beginners and seasoned - dancers alike. Come with a partner or on your Retail Independents’ Day Late Night Shopping Fri 4 Jul Local independent retailers will be own, come for a dance or just a chat - we'd love putting on an American Snack Trail around town to see you. Get your dancing shoes on and take with late night shopping for all. With to the floor for a graceful, elegant and nostalgic promotions, in store entertainment and samples afternoon of dancing. The Colosseum’s Tea on offer. Hertford Town Centre SG14 1DF Dance will evoke memories of a forgotten era and create memories of a new one.Tea, coffee and a selection of cakes will be available. Sonisphere Festival 2014 - Fri 4 Jul Headlined Tickets: £5.00. Watford Colosseum, by Iron Maiden, Metallica & The Prodigy. Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 Knebworth Park, Nr Stevenage SG1 2AX 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Ladies’ Night - Fri 4 Jul 8pm Calling all ladies! The Trials of Oscar Wilde - Weds 2 Jul Thursday An evening full of gorgeous male entertainment, 14 February 1895 was the triumphant opening a cheeky drag queen, a devilish cocktail on night of The Importance of Being Earnest and the arrival and a scrumptious three-course meal - zenith of Oscar Wilde’s career. Hawthorne the night is set to tantalise all your senses! In Theatre, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City AL8 July we welcome wickedly funny drag queen 6BX Davina Sparkle with entertainment from the breathtaking Blu Steel and magnificent Magic Sense and Sensibility - Weds 2 Jul Join Micky! Over 18s only. Contains nudity. Tickets: Chapterhouse Theatre Company this summer for £30.00 includes 3-course meal and the evening’s an evening of Regency wonderment as Eleanor entertainment. Watford Colosseum, and Marianne Dashwood make their first forays Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 into the exquisite world of eighteenth-century 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk society. Broxbourne Civic Hall, 67 Riversmead, Hoddesdon Art in Clay - Fri 4 Jul to Sun 6 Jul The 20th Art in Clay Hatfield is a large-scale ceramics event Work by Lizzy Lane - Weds 2 to Tues 29 Jul showcasing work by 200 carefully selected An exhibition of wall-based sculptures inspired makers. The festival continues its highly by the insect world, focusing on colour, pattern successful formula of individual makers’ stands. and texture, plus collographed prints that also Hatfield House, Hatfield AL9 5NQ draw inspiration from the insect world. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Childwickbury Arts Fair - Fri 4 to Sun 6 Jul A Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW three day arts fair featuring over 60 artists of all mediums including painting, ceramics, carving, Outside: Where I Have Been. Paintings by Jane textiles, jewellery, wood, glass, metal sculpture Glynn - Weds 2 to Tues 29 Jul Jane Glynn’s new and much more. Childwickbury Estate, St Albans work is a growing pictorial diary inspired by time AL3 6JX spent outside each day. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Comedy Club - Sat 5 Jul Paul B Edwards hosts another anarchic evening of great comedy, with Royal Air Force Band - Thu 3 July 7pm A Grand Pierre Hollins and Mandy Knight. Licensed bar. Massed Bands Concert in aid of the Royal Air "An unsung hero of new comedy. Don’t miss this Force Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading true professional at work. Letchworth Arts welfare charity. The Central Band of the Royal Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City The Magic Of Motown- Baby Love – 50 Years Of SG6 3EW No1 UK Hits Tour - Thu 10 July 8pm The all- new, all-star 2014 The Magic of Motown-Baby Radlett Art Society Annual Exhibition - Sat 5 to Love Tour is celebrating 50 years of UK No1 hit Sat 12 Jul An exhibition of over 300 paintings in singles at Watford Colosseum. Featuring more watercolours, acrylics, oil, pastel and mixed chart toppers than ever before, starring the media; also ceramics and 3D works and original music of the Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, cards, all for sale. The Radlett Centre, 1 Jackson 5, Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more, the show marks the official arrival of Motown style, The Art of Arms - Sat 5 Jul to Sat 30 Aug From sophistication and musical brilliance to these hand axes to samurai swords, this exhibition will shores. The legend of the great record label lives showcase our extensive weaponry collections on, live on stage: five-star performances revive from around the world. Hertford Museum, 18 Bull more than 36 back-to-back massive Motown Plain, Hertford SG14 1DT classics with all the dazzling dance moves, glittering costume changes and superb The Hut People - Sat 5 Jul Champions of the musicianship synonymous with the label. Book standing ovation, The Hut People are rapidly now, don’t let the magic of Motown stay away gaining more and more of a reputation as one of too long. Tickets: £26.00 £25.00 £22.50 Watford the hottest and most entertaining folk/world Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 acts on the UK roots circuit. Old Town Hall, High 3JN.0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Ware Operatic Summer Concert - Fri 11 and Oaklands Primary School BBQ and Fun Day - Sat Sat 12 Jul The Award Winning Ware Operatic 5 Jul An afternoon of entertainment complete present their Summer Concert, A Night Out in with BBQ, licensed bar, music, games, stalls, the West End. Come and enjoy listening to songs bouncy castle, displays and a raffle. Oaklands and music from your favourite West End shows. Primary School, Great North Road, Welwyn AL6 Ware Drill Hall, Amwell End, Ware SG12 9HP 0PX Vintage and Classic Vehicle Display - Sat 12 Jul The Herts Cycle Challenge - Sun 6 Jul The This year sees the event in its 20th year in Grove House Herts Cycle Challenge is back! Join Hoddesdon town centre and is as popular as ever us on Sunday 6th July 2014 and cycle your choice with visitors and exhibitors alike. Over 160+ of two fantastic routes – 25 miles or 50 miles – vehicles will be on display. High Street, through the scenic Hertfordshire countryside. Hoddesdon EN11 8UB The Old Albanian Rugby Club, St Albans AL3 6BB Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys - Sat 12 Songs of Praise with Pam Rhodes - Sun 6 Jul Jul Hailing from Prince Edward Island, Canada, Enjoy a picnic in St Leonard’s churchyard before the award-winning Gordie MacKeeman and His Songs Of Praise with Pam Rhodes. As part of the Rhythm Boys serve up old-time roots music with Sandridge 900 celebrations this event unites six an energy level that practically yanks you out of churches from that ancient parish. St Leonard’s your seat.Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Church, Church End, Sandridge, St Albans AL4 Hempstead HP1 3AE 9DL Highfield Park Summer Fete - Sat 12 Jul Come Big Band Bash - Sun 6 Jul Commencing at 12 and join us for a fun day at a traditional summer noon. This year featuring four local big bands. fete, there will be lots to do in the lovely setting The Old Bull Hotel, High Street, Royston, SG8 of Highfield Park. Enjoy a wide range of craft 9AW stalls and attractions. Highfield Park, St Albans AL4 0RA Oh! What a Lovely War - Tues 8 to Fri 11 Jul By Theatre Workshop, Charles Chilton, Gerry Raffles Is that a Balloon? - Sat 12 Jul Can you really and Members of the Original Cast Joan make anything out of balloons? Becky and Bobby Littlewood’s Musical Entertainment Directed by from The Balloon Show can! Through this fast, Coral Walton. Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, funny, interactive show, watch the story unfold Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST with the help of balloons and puppets. Gadebridge Park HP1 3AE Sculpture in the Garden - Weds 9 Jul to Sun 31 Aug An exhibition of contemporary sculpture in Dance Fusion- Sat 12 - Sun 13 July Sat 5pm, the stunning setting of the Garden at Knebworth Sun 2pm and 3pm. Rise Studios present their 6th House. Knebworth House SG1 2AX Summer Show, Dance Fusion . Showcasing a

27 variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, The Stars From The Commitments - Fri 18 July street, hip-hop, performing arts and 8pm Since 1993 The Stars from The contemporary dance. Talented performers from Commitments and their band have performed aged 3 to 18 years will entertain you with 1,500 shows to over 6 million people worldwide, contrasting routines, vibrant costumes and a playing all the soul classics from the award- variety of uplifting and funky music. Their winning movie, The Commitments . The show enthusiasm and love of the arts is plain to see. consists of 2 hours of sizzling soul including: Try We promise you will leave this show with a huge A Little Tenderness . Take Me to the River , In smile on your face! Tickets: £15.00. Watford The Midnight Hour , Chain Of Fools , Mustang Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 Sally , Treat Her Right , Hard To Handle , Nowhere 3JN.0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk To Run , Destination Anywhere , Dark End of the Street plus many more. Appearing from the Alan Muscle Warrior 10K & 5K Charity Race - Sunday Parker movie The Commitments of 1991 are: 13 Jul A 10K & 5K race set in the stunning Kenneth McCluskey as Derek “The Meatman” grounds of Haileybury Independent School in East Scully – Guitar, Michael Aherne as Steven Clifford Hertfordshire in aid of family charity The Muscle – Keyboards, Dick Massey as Billy “The Animal” Help Foundation. Haileybury School, Hertford Mooney – Drums.Tickets: £20.00, £18.50. Heath SG13 7NU Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 Race for Life Stevenage - Sun 13 Jul Ladies, www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk it’s time to take the fight to cancer at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. Let’s face it. Cancer St Albans Art Society Summer Art Exhibition - doesn’t care who it affects. It can ruin Fri 18 to Sat 26 Jul Old Town Hall, Market everything without a second thought. Fairlands Place, St Albans AL3 5DJ Valley Park, Broadhall Way, Stevenage SG2 8RH Codicote Village Day - Sat 19 Jul A fantastic Harpenden Lions Club Highland Gathering - Sun family fun day that kicks off with a parade at 1 13 Jul A fun day out for all the family, with a o’clock then continues on the field until 6 p.m. Scottish flavour and featuring Pipe Bands, Solo The Great Field, Bury Lane, Codicote SG4 8XY Piping, Highland Games and Dancing and so much more. Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2EF Hatfield House Battle Proms Concert - Sat 19 Jul The 14th annual Hatfield House Battle Proms Little Berkhamsted Fete, Craft Fair & Open Air Concert. Hatfield House, Hatfield, Fun Dog Show - Sun 13 Jul 11.30 - 4pm. Fun for Hertfordshire AL9 5NQ all the Family including Pony Rides, Punch & Judy Shows, Vintage Tractors, Birds Of Prey, The Knebworth Country Show - Sat 19 and Sun Bouncy Castle, Stalls, Refreshments & much 20 Jul All day entertainment which may include more. Church Road, Little Berkhamsted SG13 8LY birds of prey, working dogs, children’s entertainment as well as arts, crafts, gifts and Classic Motorcycle Event - Sun 13 Jul This year food marquees. Knebworth House, Knebworth Hoddesdon town centre will see its first Classic SG1 2AX Motorcycle Event in the High Street. This event is being held by Hertfordshire Superbikes in Hellfire Comedy Club - Thu 24 July 8pm What a conjunction with Broxbourne Council. High great night! A curry and three of the finest up Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8TN and coming comedians to entertain you. In July we’ll be welcoming Zoe Lyons who blends Romeo & Juliet - Thurs 17 Jul The Lord observations, stories and anecdotes without Chamberlain’s Men present their open-air, all alienating anyone who isn’t gay or a woman st male production of the greatest love story ever despite being named the 81 most influential told. Hatfield Forest CM22 6NE lesbian and gay person in Britain! Zoe will be joined by Roger Monkhouse one of the most Rare Productions Presents: Les Miserables original and distinctive acts on the comedy scene School Edition - Thurs 17 to Sat19 Jul Originally combining charm and menace to control any adapted from Victor Hugo’s timeless novel, Les audience. A great night not to be missed! Misérables School Edition introduces a new Tickets: £18.00 (includes curry and the evening’s generation to the grand and inspirational story entertainment) Watford Colosseum, that has touched the hearts of millions. The Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk WD7 8HL Captain Calamity’s Mega Party - Thurs 24 Jul Following the ’sell out’ popularity of Captain

28 Calamity’s Mega Party in January; he’s back Jul 10.30 am – 3.30 pm (last entry 3.00 pm) Meet again with another hour of marvellous magic, The History Man as he demonstrates a wealth of brilliant balloonery. The Radlett Centre, 1 arms and weapons used through the ages, for Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL very different reasons! Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, SG14 1DT George’s Marvellous Medicine - Garden theatre - Thurs 24 Jul Garden theatre for families - Pride and Prejudice -Sat 26 Jul Heartbreak performed by Illyria (equity approved Theatre Productions are delighted to present a fresh and Company) Knebworth House SG1 2AX contemporary adaptation of the world-renowned Pride & Prejudice. Hopleys, Much Hadham SG10 The ELO Experience - Fri 25 July 8pm The 6BU legacy left by Jeff Lynne & The Electric Light Orchestra barely needs any introduction – suffice Race for Life St Albans - Sun 27 Jul Ladies, it’s to say that between 1972 and 1986 they time to take the fight to cancer at Cancer achieved more combined UK and US Top 40 hits Research UK’s Race for Life. Let’s face it. Cancer than any other band on the planet! ‘10538 doesn’t care who it affects. It can ruin Overture’, ‘Evil Woman’, ‘Living Thing’, ‘Diary of everything without a second thought. Horace Wimp’, Don’t Bring me Down’ and of Verulamium Park, Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 course ‘Mr Blue Sky’ went on to become the 2DL soundtrack of our lives. Blending rock rhythms with classical influences, ELO also released many Summer Musical Theatre Workshop - Mon 28 classic albums such as ‘ A New World Record ’, Jul to Fri 1 Aug These popular workshops offer ‘Discovery ’ and ‘ Out of the Blue ’, and many sell a unique experience that is very similar to a out tours further established them as one of the professional rehearsal and performance of a most important and influential bands ever. musical. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Formed over 7 years ago, The ELO Experience Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL are the world’s foremost tribute to this great band. With a stunning light show and large Beds Listings screen projection to further enhance the experience, why not come along and enjoy this incredible show which accurately reproduces the Bedford School Theatre Play ’DNA’ by Dennis songs and sounds and takes you on a musical Kelly - Tue 1 to Thu 3 Jul Following the great journey through time. Tickets : £20.00, £18.00. success of ’Chatroom,’ by Enda Walsh, Matthew Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Gouldesbrough returns to produce and direct Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 another contemporary and thought provoking www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk play. Bedford School Theatre, Bedford School, De Parys Avenue, Bedford MK40 2TU Vision Of Elvis - Sat 26 July 8pm A Vision Of Elvis starring Rob Kingsley and his sensational American Themed Evening - Fri 4 Jul Come band and singers is recognised as Europe’s most dressed in your favourite American outfit or as authentic & successful tribute to Elvis Presley. an American Star! There will be light hearted This show brings you a full evening featuring all quizzes, activities and fun before a light supper – the classic hits, from the hip swiveling 50’s Sun included in ticket price. Whipsnade Village Hall, Studios to the Movie Years and the 1968 off B4540, LU6 2LG Comeback Special with the finale being the electrifying Jumpsuit Concert Years. Recognized Langford Family Fete - Sat 5 Jul A great day out as the “Official European Champion” by winning for the family, with the usual Craft stalls, Europe’s Largest Elvis competition, Rob Kingsley Children’s rides, Barbecue, Magic show, Dance has also the distinction of being the first Elvis and Sports displays. Langford Village Hall and Tribute Artist to perform live at the new Playing Field, Mill Lane, Langford SG18 9QB Wembley Stadium, with other prestigious venues Worldwide to his credit, he even has authentic Alive and Singing Rock & Pop Choir and the costumes that were made by Elvis’s personal Sam Lewis Rock Band - Sun 6 Jul A unique and costume designer. This show leaves the audience spectacular event in the history of Alive and in no doubt that they are witnessing a truly Singing as a 150-strong choir perform legendary authentic Elvis show as Rob Kingsley has the rock and pop repertoire in rich harmony LIVE total package. Tickets: £19.50, £17.50. Watford accompanied by the fantastic Sam Lewis. King’s Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford MK42 9AZ 3JN.0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Shefford Annual Duck Race - Mon 7 Jul Acorn Ready, Aim Fire at Hertford Museum! - Sat 26 Pre-School & the Mighty Oaks annual Duck Race.

29 As well as racing ducks down the river, there will Bedford River Festival Dragon Boat Race - Sat be Tombolas, a raffle, face painting, bouncy 19 Jul Raising money for local charities. Bedford castle, food and drink. Fun for all the family! Rowing Club, Bedford MK42 0AX The Bangkok Lounge, 2 Bedford Road, Shefford SG17 5DJ Bedford River Festival – Sat 19 and Sun 20 Jul The Embankment, Bedford Lillian Boutte - New Orleans Jazz Ambassador presents ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Evening’ - Fri 11 Bedfordshire County Show – Sat 19 and Sun 20 Jul St Peter’s Church, Bedford is thrilled to be Jul Old Warden Aerodrome SG18 9EP host to Lillian Boutte who will be performing a unique Jazz, Gospel and Blues Concert. St Cranfest - Sat 19 Jul A small festival with an Peter’s Church, De Pary’s Avenue, Bedford MK40 eclectic mix of music, craft, food and 2TX entertainment for all ages. Cranfield United FC, Crawley Road, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AA Flower Festival - Sat 12 and Sun 13 Jul The beautiful thirteenth century parish church which Crafts, Cake and a Cuppa - Sun 20 Jul There’ll lies at the heart of the village of Campton will be a wide variety of high quality local handmade be filled with floral displays, photographs and art and craft items, with many different crafters artefacts. All Saints’ Church, Campton SG17 5BN attending as well as a charity stall. Tea, coffee and light refreshments available. Woburn Village 750th Melchbourne Feast Day - Sun 13 Jul It’s Hall, Crawley Road Woburn MK17 9QD the biggest celebration that Melchbourne in North Bedfordshire has ever put on. And it’s all The Sooty Show - Thur 24 Jul Izzy Wizzy Let’s because we’re 750 years old! It’s a Summer Get Busy - It’s The Sooty Show! Direct from Citv, Fayre. Melchbourne Park, Melchbourne MK44 1BD Sooty heads into town in a fabulous new show to delight the whole family. Joining the nation’s Companion Dog Show - Sun 13 Jul 11th Annual favourite bear will be Sweep & Soo. Bedford Companion Dog Show Linslade Recreation Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 Ground, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2LR 1SL

Beds Garden Carers - Bedfordshire Fayre and Cafe in The Tower - Sat 26 Jul Drop in between Picnic - Sun 13 Jul There will loads to see, a 2.30-5.30 pm to sample a delicious range of blue’s band, loads of stalls including fab home cakes and cookies to go. All Saints Church, Odell made cupcakes, a retro sweetie cart. The MK43 7AA Anglers Rest site in Clapham Bedford. 106 Clapham Road, Clapham, Bedford MK41 7PJ Fibre-East - Sat 26 and Sun 27 Jul Two day event celebrating working with natural fibres Bromham Show - Sun 13 Jul Annual with the emphasis on British Wool....fibres, Village show attracting up to 3000 visitors. A yarns, notions, dyes, demonstrations for the large central arena with many exciting displays craft enthusiasts in the world of spinning & including sheepdog & duck display, mini football, weaving. Redborne Community College, marching band and much more. Village hall Ampthill, Bedford MK45 2NU playing field, Village Road, Bromham MK43 8JP Pre– World War 1 “Upstairs Downstairs” Picnic Close Up and Personal Airshow - Sun 13 Jul - Sun 27 Jul Dress up in clothes from the early This show gives you the chance to get up close to 1900s and bring your whole family along for a fun our amazing aircraft and speak to our pilots and day which will include an exhibition about pre ground crew. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old WW1 life Upstairs and Downstairs, activities for Warden Aerodrome SG18 9EP children. Whipsnade Village Hall, off B4540, LU6 2LG End of Term Summer Disco - Fri 18 Jul Celebrate the end of Summer term at the Forest Wings & Wheels Airshow - Sun 27 Jul Centre this July with an end of term disco party! Shuttleworth Collection is delighted to welcome Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, classic car owners and classic car groups to our Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS airshow. Coupled with all our own historic vehicles on display in the static arena. The High Street Heroes - Rock Band Concert - Fri Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome 18 Jul An evening of music by the Rolling Stones, SG18 9EP Stevie Wonder, Stereophonics, REM and the like – something for everyone! Whipsnade Village Hall, off B4540, LU6 2LG, Bedfordshire LU6 2LG

30 Minibeast Safari - Mon 28 Jul Recommended History Walk - Sat 5 Jul Join writer of the for ages 4-10 Kids love to delve and discover the popular book ‘Langley Park: A Brief History’, bugs, beetles and beasties living in the John Watson, on a walk around Langley Park to undergrowth on the reserve. Booking essential learn about its fascinating history. Langley Park, Children must be accompanied by an adult. RSPB Billet Lane, Iver SL0 0LS The Lodge Sandy SG19 2DL St Mary’s Village Carnival - Sat 5 Jul One of the Bucks Listings biggest rural Carnival’s in the country, set in delightful rural location below Dunstable Downs. Free admission, free parking & plenty of free Health Matters: Art and mental health - Tue 1 entertainment. Edlesborough Green LU6 2HS Jul Tom Cox, artscape project manager at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, discusses Vivaldi...Purcell...Charpentier: a summer the importance of art in hospital settings and concert of Baroque favourites - Sat 5 Jul An how this can benefit long term health and exciting summer concert of baroque favourites wellbeing. Conference room, Whiteleaf Centre, including Vivaldi’s Gloria, excerpts from Dido Bierton Road, Aylesbury HP20 1EG and Aeneas by Purcell and Charpentier’s Te Deum. Arts4Every1, Desborough Road, High Beers, Bevvies and Brewing - Weds 2 Jul Taste Wycombe HP11 2PU locally brewed beers from Rebellion, Malt and Chiltern breweries plus locally made English Roald Dahl Festival - Sat 5 Jul 11am - 3pm wines and cheeses. Wycombe Museum, Priory Buckinghamshire is home to the famous Avenue, High Wycombe HP13 6PX children’s author Roald Dahl who lived in Great Missenden and every year a festival is celebrated Family History Talk: Tracing Marriages: Legal in his name. Market Square, Aylesbury town Requirements and Actual Practice, 1700-1900 centre HP20 2QF - Weds 2 Jul Based upon years of painstaking primary research, including studies of thousands Craft and Vintage fair - Sun 6 Jul In the lively of couples, this talk explains how, when and Olney Centre, Olney High Street, we present our where people in past centuries married. Craft and Vintage Fairs, featuring a lovely mix of Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley, craft and vintage stalls; something for everyone Milton Keynes MK2 2HB and every pocket. The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney MK46 4EF BBC Antiques Roadshow - Thur 3 Jul BBC One’s ever popular Sunday evening programme Paul Lewis (piano) and Bjorg Lewis (cello) at Antiques Roadshow will be filming for its 37th Jordans Music Club Summer Festival - Sun 6 Jul series in the grounds of Chenies Manor, near Our season closes with Bach and Beethoven. Amersham WD3 6ER Bach’s suites for solo cello are a mainstay of every cellist’s repertoire, and have been Day Out With Thomas - Fri 4 to Sun 6 described as ’music to refresh the spirit’. Jubilee Jul Thomas & Friends™ fans have the chance to Hall, School Lane, Seer Green, Beaconsfield HP9 meet their hero over the weekend. 2QJ Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY Summer Celebration - Sun 6 Jul Country talks, guided walks, music, demonstrations and Open Air Shakespeare - Fri 4 Jul London displays. Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Contemporary Theatre Company presents their Keynes MK9 3NZ production of William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer’s Nights Dream’. Bring a picnic, Hazeldene Farm Annual Sheep Shearing Day, blanket, sit back and enjoy! Willen Lake, Milton Food & Craft Fair - Sun 6 Jul Come and watch Keynes MK15 0DT our sheep shearers hard at work at our annual sheep shearing event. All usual activities are Little Missenden C of E Infant School available including our food and craft fair and Summer Fete - Sat 5 Jul Please join us for a fun children’s activities. Hazeldene Farm, Ashridge family afternoon and help us raise money for our Road, Chesham HP5 2XD infant school. There’ll be bouncy castles, BBQ and bar, cafe, ice creams, coconut shy, tombola, Romeo & Juliet - Sun 6 Jul The Lord raffle & silent auction. Little Missenden C of E Chamberlain’s Men present their open-air, all Infant School, Little Missenden HP7 0RA male production of the greatest love story ever told. Waddesdon Manor HP18 0JH

31 Aylesbury on Sea - Sun 6 Jul You don’t need to stalls between 2 and 5.30pm. Fulmer Village SL3 leave town to be beside the seaside. For one day 6HD only this summer, Aylesbury-On-Sea transports a whole host of traditional seaside fun to Kingsbury Open air theatre - Sat 12 Jul Open air for a day. Kingsbury Square HP20 2QP production of Treasure Island. Willen Lake, Milton Keynes MK15 0DT Bucks in the Great War - a talk by Ian Beckett - Sun 6 Jul Professor Ian Beckett, Vintage Train Steaming Open Day - Sun 13 Jul University of Kent and Bucks Military Museum A chance to ride on our historic Vintage Stock Trust, will give a talk on the military in Bucks, dating from the 1890s with no extra charge. the impact of war on society and the legacies. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY Wycombe HP13 6PX Arts & Crafts Fair - Sun 13 Jul The Speen Group Rock Choir - Tues 8 and Weds 9 Jul Enjoy a 5th Annual Charity Arts & Crafts Fair will be magical, uplifting performance for UK’s favourite hosting many exciting local designers & artists of contemporary choir. 8 East Common, Gerrards jewellery, ceramics, wood, art, quilting, glass, Cross SL9 7AD greeting cards, plants, food and much more. Village Green, Hampden Road, Speen, Princes Valley of Song - a musical by Ivor Novello Risborough HP27 0RU presented by Wolverton G&S Society - Thurs 10 to Sat 12 Jul Valley of Song is Ivor Novello’s Wingrave village fete - Sun 13 Jul This year very last musical; left unfinished at the time of Wingrave will once again be hosting their fete at his sudden death, and completed by his long- the park. So come along and join us and let’s time collaborator Christopher Hassall. Holy make this year a great success. Wingrave Sports Trinity Church, Old Wolverton Road, Wolverton and Social Club, Wingrave HP22 4QB MK12 5 NJ Summer Fair and Craft Marketing - Sun 13 Jul Tiny - Fri 11 Jul Tiny Talk Time: Funny Faces A In support of the local charity, the Thomas Ball special time at Wycombe Museum for the under Children’s Cancer fund, the Missenden Abbey fives. Enjoy stories, trails and craft activities, summer fair raised £1500 last year. This year inspired by the Museum collection and gardens. we’re doing it all again, bigger and better! Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Missenden Abbey, London Road, Great Missenden Wycombe HP13 6PX HP16 0BD

Pearl Jam - Fri 11 Jul Milton Keynes Bowl, Penn Festival - Fri 18 to Sun 20 Jul The Family Milton Keynes MK5 8AA Friendly Boutique Music Festival Buckinghamshire's family friendly boutique music Caribbean Charity Summer Ball - Sat 12 Jul festival returns to The Big Park HP7 0PL Friends of the Caribbean’s theme for this year’s annual charity ball will be a celebration of Bob’s Kimblewick Country Fair & Horse Show - Sat 19 music. Hilton Double Tree Hotel MK1 1ST Jul A Great Family Day Out for all the Family! Parades, displays, Stunts & Relays, Traditional Hands-on Archaeology - Sat 12 Jul Meet Country Games , Vintage Vehicle Display Farmers archaeologist Jill Eyers, as seen on BBC’s Digging Market & Trade Stands , Horse & Family Dog for Britain, and other archaeologists and Show. Dodd’s Charity, Kimblewick, Aylesbury enthusiasts. Handle and identify local finds and HP17 9TA find out about local digs. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP13 6PX Juliet Lawson - Sat 19 Jul Juliet Lawson and Kelly Oliver. Christ Church URC, Marlow SL7 2NL Electric Daisy Carnival UK - Sat 12 Jul Artists performing: Fatboy Slim, Steve Aoki, Pendulum DNC Summer Production - Sat 19 Jul (DJ set), Simon Patterson, Laidback Luke, Danny Nikita & Co present their annual “Summer Howard, Steve Angello, Sigma, Jack Beats & Production” featuring up to 100 dedicated Sander van Doorn. Milton Keynes Bowl, Milton students, giving them a unique platform to Keynes MK5 8AA showcase their talents and achievements. Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 Fulmer Day Village Fete – Sat 12 Jul Fulmer 4PF Day is a fun-filled day of entertainment for the whole family; the centre of the village will be For The Fallen - Sat 19 and Sun 20 Jul A full of food, arts and crafts, music and activity musical evening presenting the music of the

32 times from 1914 to the present day. 8 East Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 Common, Gerrards Cross SL9 7AD 3NZ

Wing Carnival - Sat 19 Jul Free to enter. Theme Flicker and Flash Robots - Tues 29 and Weds this year ’Summer Holidays’ Arena Events to 30 Jul explore electric circuits and make a watch, Children’s Entertainer, Free Punch and flashing robot. Wycombe Museum, Priory Judy, Craft and Produce Tent & BBQ. Jubilee Avenue. High Wycombe HP13 6PX Green, Off Redwood Drive LU7 0TA Aylesbury Farmers’ Market - Tues 29 Jul Find Hovercraft Racing - Sat 19 and Sun 20 Jul The fantastic local produce at Aylesbury Farmers 4th round of the 2104 British Hovercraft Racing Market on the last Tuesday of every month. Also Championship. It will feature 70 of the country’s browse the stalls of the Vintage & Craft Bazaar top pilots. Claydon House, Middle Claydon to find unique handmade, antique and Buckingham MK18 2EY collectables. Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 1TW

Steaming Open Day & Harley Owners Group Tæppa’s Tump Ladies Morris dancers Rally - Sun 20 Jul A chance to ride on historic performing with Owlswick Morris - Tues 29 Jul Vintage Stock dating from the 1890s with no Come alone and enjoy the music and dancing. extra charge. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, The Swan Public House, Grove Lane, Great Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury Kimble HP17 9TR HP22 4BY August

Marlow River History Walk - Sun 20 Jul Learn Herts listings more about Marlow’s ancient and fascinating links with the River Thames on a guided walk Ultimate Elton And The Rocket Band - Fri 1 with members of the Marlow Society. The walk August Some tribute artists look like their idol, will take approximately one and a half hours. some sound like their idol. Paul Bacon as Sir Marlow Museum, Court Garden Leisure Centre, Elton John does both! Close your eyes and you Marlow SL7 2AE won’t believe your ears, open your eyes and you won’t believe them either! Rapidly established Big Litter Pick - Weds 23 Jul O ur annual big as the foremost Elton John tribute act in the UK, litter pick, help us clear the litter from one of Ultimate Elton and The Rocket Band present an our busiest parks. Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes uncannily accurate reproduction of the classic MK4 1GA live shows of one of pop music’s most successful and best-loved artists - performances that also Buckinghamshire Family History Society Open often feature some of Elton’s actual costumes, Day - Sat 26 Jul Buckinghamshire’s major bought from his ‘Out the Closet’ sales! Featuring family history event has something for everyone Your Song, Candle in the Wind, Don’t Let The - whether beginner or experienced researcher - Sun Go Down On Me, Sacrifice, Crocodile Rock, and wherever your ancestors came from. The I’m Still Standing, Saturday Night’s Alright For Grange School, Wendover Way, Aylesbury HP21 Fighting and many more. You simply won’t find a 7NH closer tribute to Sir Elton John. Tickets: £22.50, £20.50. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Fifty Great Bird Pictures - Sat 26 Jul 2pm- Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 3pm. A special talk providing a whistle stop tour www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk of bird art history by Katrina van Grouw, author and illustrator of The Unfeathered Bird - a Rhythms Of The World Festival - Sat 2 Aug beautifully illustrated book. Buckinghamshire Gates 11am, Hitchin Priory, Hitchin SG5 2DL County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP Eastern Electrics Festival - Sat 2 Aug Hatfield House AL9 5NQ Steaming Open Day & Sunbeam Rapier Owners Rally - Sun 27 Jul A chance to ride on our Hugless Douglas - Sat 2 Aug Hugless Douglas is historic Vintage Stock dating from the 1890s with a huggable, lovable young brown bear who wakes no extra charge. Buckinghamshire Railway up one morning in need of a hug. He tries to find Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, the perfect one, but none of them seem quite Aylesbury HP22 4BY right. Gadebridge Park HP1 3AE

World Picnic - Sun 27 Jul Our annual Rock at the Castle - Sun 3 Aug The Rock celebration of music, dance and culture from the Festival returns once again larger than ever. world. Bring a picnic, sit back and enjoy.

33 Come along to see the hottest local acts. Pyramids – The Cartoon Classic Comes to Life! Hertford Castle Grounds SG14 1HR Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne arrive in Egypt where they must solve the Royston Charity Kite Festival - Sun 3 Aug A mystery of Pharaoh Hatchepsout’s Pyramid. charity event run by the Rotary Club of Royston Easy, you say?... Not if the gang has to deal with which usually attracts more than 2,000 people to mysterious mummies plus the wrath of the see various displays by kite-flyers. Therfield Pharaoh who will transform anyone who dares to Heath, Royston SG8 5BG approach the pyramid… into stone! With hilarious physical comedy, popular tunes and special Creative Colosseum- A Summer Activity Week - effects, the whole family will enjoy this new Mon 4 - Fri 8 August Ages 7 – 14: All welcome, episode live on stage. Zoinks… book early for no previous experience necessary. Perfect for best seats! Please note: Scooby-Doo! The Mystery anyone who likes the performing arts. This brand of the Pyramid is a loud, vibrant, action-packed new creative arts week is designed especially for children's show which contains spooky fun and young people to try out new skills, brush up content that may not be suitable for children existing ones and work as a team on a great with a nervous disposition or certain linked variety of performing arts activities. The action- medical conditions. Parental discretion is packed week is run by a team of experienced advised. Tickets: £20.50 .Children: £15.50 . professionals and devised here in Watford for Family Offer: £62.00. Watford Colosseum, local people. At the end of the week everyone is Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD17 3JN. 0845 invited along to the climax of the week in a big, 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk colourful and fun packed carnival parade around the Colosseum. Course Fee - £180 for the week Family Discovery Morning: To Infinity and Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Beyond -Thurs 14 Aug Sun, moon and stars – you Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 will discover them all in the Cathedral. Find out www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk also how the Cathedral can act as a compass and tell you which direction you are looking at. St Elstree Film Studios/Dreamcatcher Media’s film Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans WD19 making Summer Camp - Mon 4 to Fri 22 Aug 6UH Students who enrol for our one week course will receive all the fundamental instruction they Flamstead Scarecrow Festival - Fri 15 to Sun need to get to grips with completing a short film. 17 Aug This festival is a Fun, Family, Fundraising They will make a 5 minute film in 5 days and get Event, held in the picturesque village of a DVD. Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood WD6 Flamstead, Hertfordshire. This highly successful 1JG and unusual three-day event grows in popularity each year. Village of Flamstead AL3 8DJ Textured Lives - Tues 5 Aug to Mon 29 Sep An exploration of the textured world using Can fish drink tea - Sat 16 Aug The watery photography. An exhibition of work by Charlotte adventures of a submarine in the street, a barbie Prior. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, in a fish and the sweet revenge of a teabag. Old Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Family Discovery Morning: War and Peace - Thurs 7 Aug To mark the centenary of the Tewin Classic Car & Craft Show - Sun 17 outbreak of the First World War this trail will Aug Upper Green, Tewin, AL6 0LY look at how conflict and resolution are depicted in the Cathedral. St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Brass Band Concert and Castle Open Day - Sun Yard, St Albans WD19 6UH 17 Aug Traditional Brass Band Concert on the lawn with a chance to explore the Castle and Classic Vehicle Day - Sat 9 Aug High Street, soak up its history. Enjoy the music with a cup of Waltham Cross, EN8 7AN tea and a slice of cake. Hertford Castle SG14 1HR

Romeo & Juliet - Sun 10 Aug The Lord Milkshake! Live - Wed 20 Aug 1pm and 3.30pm Chamberlain’s Men present their open-air, all Starring some of your milkshake favourites this male production of the greatest love story ever brand new musical spectacular is sure to have told. Hatfield House AL9 5NQ children up on their feet and singing at the top of their voices! Joining this fantastic show will Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Of The Pyramid - Thu be two milkshake presenters, who will take us on 14 - Sat 16 August Scooby-Doo and the gang are a fun milkshake adventure; bound to dazzle and back by popular demand and with even more delight! The show features brand new songs, Spooky Mystery and fun - this time in the classic favourites and funky dance routines, plus

34 plenty of laughter, bags of audience interaction new! Don’t miss it! Tickets: £13.00, Children: and bucket loads of fun for all the family too! £11.00, Family Offer (4 tickets) £42.00. Watford Tickets: Child £12.00, Adult £14.00. Family Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 Offer (4 tickets) £48.00. Watford Colosseum, 3JN.0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Bank Holiday Classic Motor Show - Sun 24 and Mon 25 Aug An enthusiast’s paradise with cars Angelina Ballerina - The Mousical - Live on on display, Arena events, autojumble and trade Stage - Thu 21 - Fri 22 August Everyone's stands. Tickets include admission to the Garden favourite little star, Angelina Ballerina, and Dinosaur Trail as well .Knebworth House SG1 pirouettes onto the stage in this sparkling 2AX musical packed full of singing and dancing. Angelina and her friends think their dreams have Ashwell Show - Mon 25 Aug This annual country come true when Camembert Academy wins the show offers a great day out for all the family. opportunity to appear in their favourite The regular highlights include the horse events, television programme ‘Dancing With Mice!’. But dog shows, vintage cars and tractors, superb when the girls and boys have very dıfferent ideas trade stands plus beer tent and food. Elbrook for the show and just can’t seem to agree on Meadow, Mill Street, Ashwell SG7 5NE anything, it’s up to Angelina as Dance Captain to ensure that the show goes ahead. So put on your Heydon Summer Arts and Crafts Drop In! -Thurs ballet shoes and join Angelina, Alice, Gracie, 28 Aug Join us for a fun filled arts and crafts Viki, AJ and Marco for the most stupendous day at our Heydon centre. There will be lots of Mousical of the year! Tickets £15.00, £12.50. gluing, painting and creative making to be done Family Offer (4 tickets) £55.00, £48.00. all with an animal theme! Wood Green, Heydon Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Centre, Highway Cottage, Chishill Road, Heydon Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 SG8 8PN www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Open Air Cinema Screening at Hertford Castle Mike Belgrave’s Krazy Komedy Show 4 Kidz - showing The Original Italian Job (PG) - Sat 30 Sat 23 Aug Stand Up comedian, children’s Aug Bring a picnic rug, bring some snacks and sit entertainer and star of the BBC Worldwide TV back, relax and watch an old favourite movie show Best In Town, Mike Belgrave invites you to with the Castle as a spectacular backdrop. his hilarious new kids show. Stupid songs & Hertford Castle Grounds SG14 1HR balloon slapstick. Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW WGC FC Craft Fair and Car Boot Sale – Sun 31 Aug Welwyn Garden City FC, Herns Way, HeARTwood Summer Festival - Sat 23 Aug The Panshanger, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1TA annual Heartwood festival will have many activities for all the family to enjoy including bird-box making, willow weaving, teddy bears Beds listings picnic and guided walks. Heartwood Forest, St Albans AL4 9DQ There’ll Always be an England - Fri 1 Aug Neil The Sooty Show - Sun 24 August Izzy Wizzy Sands and his great team are back with the new Lets get busy – It’s The Sooty Show! Direct from 2014 production of their amazingly popular Citv, Sooty heads into town in a fabulous new patriotic nostalgia show. Come and enjoy a show to delight the whole family. Joining the wonderful feel good afternoon filled with nations favourite bear will be Sweep, Soo and magical musical. Bedford Corn Exchange, St. Sooty’s TV Partner Richard Cadell - who will be Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL attempting to keep Sooty from getting up to mischief! Boy will he have his hands full! It’s Pond Dipping and Dragonfly Hats - Outdoor Sooty’s Birthday party and things aren’t going to Adventure - Mon 4 Aug Have a go at pond plan. Sooty and Sweep get messy baking the dipping and make a dragonfly hat. Look for Birthday cake and will Soo ever decide which dragonfly larvae in the pond and find out which dress to wear? Special party guests include dragonflies live in the park. Marston Vale Forest legendary Sooty favourites Butch the bulldog and Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 Ramsbottom the snake. So join in with all the 0PS fun and games at Sooty’s Birthday Party! There’s also a chance to meet Richard and Sooty after Minibeast Safari - Kids’ Outdoor Adventure - Fri the show. A spectacular mix of magic, music and 8 Aug Join us on a hunt for minibeasts in the mess- guaranteed giggles for Sooty Fans old and park. Search with sweep nets in the long grass,

35 look under logs and see what’s hiding in the Frosts Chilli Festival - Sat 16 and Sun 17 Aug bushes. All equipment provided. Marston Vale Whether you like it ‘meek & mild’ or ‘hot & Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine spicy’, Frosts have a sizzling bank holiday MK43 0PS weekend lined up for you! Frosts Willington, Sandy Road, Willington, Bedford MK44 3QP An Evening of Lewis Magic - A Magical Evening for all the Family - Fri 8 Aug Lewis Joss has Tribute Concert: Queen, ABBA, Robbie & more been performing magic since 2002 and has - Sunday 17 August This popular evening event worked with and met with the likes of Dynamo, features tribute acts performing classic hits from Derren Brown, Paul Daniels & Debbie McGee. the likes of Abba, Queen, Robbie Williams, Blues Drinks available. Whipsnade Village Hall, off Brothers, Elvis, Neil Diamond and Tina Turner. B4540, LU6 2LG Whether you’re a dancing queen, killer queen, or an angel - this night’s entertainment should get Summer Fete - Sun 10 Aug Held in the you all shook up! The Shuttleworth Collection, grounds and the 19 acres field behind the Old Warden Aerodrome, SG18 9EP hospice with steam engine rides, stalls, games, BBQ, hog roast, cream teas, fun dog show, Wolves and Woofers Companion Dog Show and Classic Car display & Archery. St John’s Hospice - GSD Rally with Rescue Rally - Sun 17 Aug Moggerhanger MK44 3RJ Annual dog show featuring Rescue Rally for all those special doggies who have been rescued, WWI Commemoration Airshow - Sun 10 Aug companion dog show with pedigree and novelty 2014 marks the centenary of the beginning of the classes, GSD Rally and CDC classes - 70 classes. First World War. As our nation prepares to come Top End Farm, Little Staughton, Colmworth Road together to mark this anniversary, Shuttleworth MK44 2BY holds this very special air show. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome Minibeast Safari - Kids’ Outdoor Adventure - SG18 9EP Mon 18 Aug Join us on a hunt for minibeasts in the park. Search with sweep nets in the long Pond Dipping and Dragonfly Hats - Kids’ grass, look under logs and see what’s hiding in Outdoor Adventure - Mon 11 Aug Have a go at the bushes. All equipment provided. Marston pond dipping and make a dragonfly hat. Look for Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston dragonfly larvae in the pond and find out which Moretaine MK43 0P S dragonflies live in the park. Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine, MK43 Kempston Fun Day - Sat 23 Aug Organised by 0PS Bedford Lions Club in association with Kempston Rotary Club. Addison Howard Park, Bedford Footprint Forest - Kids’ Outdoor Adventure - Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8PN Fri 15 Aug Time to get messy with this outdoor art project. Take off your shoes and socks to Edwardian Picnic and Evening Airshow - Sat 30 paint tree trunks with your feet and roll up your Aug Soak up the atmosphere at our elegant sleeves to make hand print leaves. Marston Vale evening airshow, our first Edwardian-styled Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine picnic with special features throughout the MK43 0PS evening. The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, SG18 9EP Flying Proms - Saturday 16 August Now in its 17 th successful year, join us for this most London Road Summer Family Fun Day - Sat 30 spectacular event, which is truly one of the Aug Lots and Lots of fun things to do and enjoy. highlights of the airshow season at The Lots of Business and Organisation Stalls. London Shuttleworth Collection. Experience the thrill of Road Methodist Church, corner of London Road/ seeing our unique vintage aeroplanes give Barford Avenue, Bedford MK42 0DS stunning aerial display sequences to a backdrop of classical music performed by the 50 piece Bucks Listings National Symphony Orchestra. The grand finale will be an exciting firework display. The Sense and Sensibility - Fri 1 Aug Join Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, Chapterhouse Theatre Company this summer for SG18 9EP an evening of Regency wonderment as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood make their first forays into Music at St Mary’s - Buffalo - Sat 16 Aug the exquisite world of eighteenth-century Buffalo are a local folk group who play blue-grass society. Waddesdon Manor Nr Aylesbury, music. St Mary’s Church, Eaton Bray LU6 2DP Waddesdon HP18 0JH

36 This Feeling - Sat 2 Aug This Feeling featuring entertainment, displays, owls, Noddy’s car, Hog The Rifles (acoustic), Sean Grant & The Roast & refreshments. Warwick Road, Wolfgangs and Swoons \'Like a mad 60\'s Beaconsfield HP9 2PL carnival\' Serge, Kasabian. The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes MK12 5LT BioBlitz - Sat 9 and Sun 10 Aug Come along and help local naturalists to record all the living Monks Risborough Horticultural Society things in Stony Stratford Nature Reserve over 24 Show - Sat 2 Aug One of the best horticultural hours. Activities will include guided walks, bird shows in the area. But it is also much more than watching & pond dipping. Stony Stratford Nature that and provides an afternoon of entertainment Reserve, Queen Eleanor Street, Stony Stratford, for all. Milton Keynes Rangers’ Football Ground, bottom of Peter’s Lane on A4010, Monks Risborough HP27 9LZ The Waddesdon Manor Country Fair- Sat 9 and Sun 10 Aug All day entertainment which may Pride and Prejudice - Sun 3 Aug Heartbreak include birds of prey, working dogs, children’s Productions are delighted to present a fresh and entertainment as well as arts, crafts, gifts and contemporary adaptation of the world-renowned food marquees. Nr Aylesbury Buckinghamshire Pride & Prejudice. West Wycombe Park HP14 HP18 0JH 3AJ Funny Faces in Clay - Tues 12 & Thu 14 Aug Get Peter Pan and The Lost Boys - Tues 5 Aug Grab busy with clay and model some funny faces in your skateboard and prepare yourself for a fast clay. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High and frenzied journey back to your childhood. Wycombe HP13 6PX Langley Park SL0 0LS Proms in the Park - Fri 15 Aug The Parks Trust Bug Eyed Beast Hand Puppets - Tues 5 & Thu 7 and Milton Keynes City Orchestra present an Aug Create your own amazing hand puppet with evening of uplifting music, fireworks and moving mouth. Wycombe Museum, Priory fizz! Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Avenue. High Wycombe HP13 6PX Keynes MK9 3NZ

Play in the Park - Weds 6 Aug Celebrate Roman Weekend - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 National Play Day by joining us at a fun packed Aug Join us for a fabulous re-enactment event with play activities for children ages 3 - 16 weekend, with historical falconry displays; years. Open 11am - 4pm. Vale Park, Aylesbury cookery demonstrations, and a chance to explore HP20 1DX the life of a Roman metalworker. Waddesdon Manor HP18 0JH MK Playday - Weds 6 Aug Biggest free playday in Milton Keynes. Come and join in the fun and play Drive In Cinema - Sat 16 Aug This year the Drive at annual event - MK Play Day. There will be lots In Movie will be the classic film Jaws directed by of games and activities and fun to be had by all. Steven Spielberg. Watch the hunt of the man Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 eating shark from the comfort of your car. 3NZ Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ Free Kids Daredevil Thursday - Thurs 7 Aug Get a birds eye view of Aylesbury town as you Open Air Film Festival - Sun 17 Aug See the brave the zip wire in the upper High Street, or movies like never before in the great outdoors! join a team and race to disarm a bomb in the Campbell Park, Avebury Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 bomb squad tent on Market Square. High Street, 3NZ Aylesbury, HP20 1SL Moving Mail Weekend with Postman Pat & Jess Archaeological Finds Identification - Sat 9 Aug the Cat - Sun 17 Aug Metropolitan No. 1 will be Every year thousands of objects are found by steaming following her triumphant return to members of the public. Ros Tyrell will identify London’s Underground System!! Buckinghamshire your finds and record them on the Portable Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Antiquities website. Wycombe Museum, Priory Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY Avenue, High Wycombe HP13 6PX Mosaic Madness - Tues 19 & Thu 21 Aug Design Bekonscot Model Village 85th anniversary a fab coaster using glass mosaic tiles. Wycombe weekend - Sat 9 and Sun 10 Aug 85 years as Museum, Priory Avenue. High Wycombe HP13 6PX the worlds oldest model village will be celebrated with a special weekend of

37 Frosts Chilli Festival at Woburn Sands- Sat 23 The Great War Centenary Event -Sat 30 Aug to Mon 25 Aug Whether you like it ‘meek & Join us for a special event in the Museum and mild’ or ‘hot & spicy’, Frosts have a sizzling bank Gardens to commemorate the start of WW1. holiday weekend lined up for you! Frosts Garden Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Centre, Newport Road, Woburn Sands, Milton Wycombe HP13 6PX Keynes MK17 8UE Open air theatre - Saturday 30 Aug Open air Rover Car Rally - Sun 24 Aug Rover Car Rally production of Alice in Wonderland. Willen Lake, This annual event attracts a growing number of Milton Keynes, MK15 0DT lovingly restored cars. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Steaming Aylesbury HP22 4BY Open Day - Sunday 31 Aug Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Beaconsfield Country Fayre - Mon 25 Aug Fun Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY for all the family at the Beaconsfield Country Fayre. Attractions this year include dog show, birds of prey flying display, giant inflatable slide, Bouncy Castle, climbing wall, great balloon. Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JW

Pre - 78 Vehicle Rally at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Mon 25 Aug This is the big one To be included in future listings that usually attracts around 200 cars and trucks. Email: [email protected] Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Putting ‘Listings’ in the subject line, giving Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY details of your event and contact details.

August Bank Holiday Fayre - Mon 25 Aug Why Deadline for September Issue not come along to The Woburn Sands Band 15 th August Annual August Bank Holiday Fayre. The Band will ……………………………………………………………………………… be performing throughout the afternoon and there are many stalls including Tombolas, The Grand Draw & BBQ. Mowbray Green, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8QQ

Aylesbury Farmers’ Market - Tues 26 Aug Find fantastic local produce at Aylesbury Farmers Market on the last Tuesday of every month. Also www.the-sticks.co.uk browse the stalls of the Vintage & Craft Bazaar to find unique handmade, antique and The No1 what’s on and lifestyle magazine in collectables. Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 1TW Herts, Beds and Bucks

Over 16,000 readers every month read about In a Flap - Tues 26 & Thu 28 Aug Make a large, animated bird with flapping wings. Wycombe what’s on, where to go and what to do Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP13 6PX Promote your event, show, restaurant or Children’s Week -Tues 26 to Fri 29 Aug 4 Come business in our digital magazine or on our to Willen Lake for the last week of the school website holidays for fun and games. Willen Lake, Milton Keynes MK15 0DT Call 07756 274444 Or email [email protected] The Bucks County Show - Thurs 28 Aug The Prices from £10 per month Show starts at 8.00am all the way through until Follow us on twitter @thesticks9 6.00pm. Weedon Park HP22 4NN

Finmere Festival - Sat 30 Aug Featuring a fun www.facebook.com/sticksmag dog show, 5k fun run, interactive dance events, beer festival with live entertainment in the Listen to the Sticks Radio show every evening. Also trade and craft stands, BBQ and Monday at 10am at www.secklowsounds.org other refreshments. Playing fields, Finmere MK18 4AT

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