BB_Sept 11.pdf - Biggleswade Rugby Club

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28 BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2011 TEL: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukOUT AND ABOUTSANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTREIF YOU travel to any part of thecountry and people ask you where doyou live and you mention “Sandy, ornear Sandy in Bedfordshire”, theywill often respond “Ah, the RSPB”.The RSPB (Royal Society for theProtection of Birds) has had its headquartersin Sandy since 1961 whenthe Society moved from EcclestonSquare in London to the Elizabethanstyle mansion standing in beautifulwooded grounds in the Bedfordshirecountryside.This year therefore marks the50th anniversary of the Society havingits home in Sandy and a numberof events are being held to mark this.Please see posters and flyers displayedin the Tourist InformationCentre.The Lodge reserve has manythousands of visitors a year. Perhapsyou are local and enjoy a walk in thelovely landscape or a meander in thegardens that surround the house, or avisitor from this country or abroadenjoying the same simple pleasure.You might be someone with aninterest in seeing the wildlife there orthe expert ornithologist armed withtelescopes, cameras, etc.Whoever you are, The Lodge isone of Bedfordshire main attractions.A. Do you know about The Lodgeand its fascinating history?Did you know that it was built byfor one of the most importantSpeaker’s of the House ofCommons?Did you know that in the 1930’s,large shooting parties were held atThe Lodge and one of the guests wasVon Ribbentrop, then GermanAmbassador – later a leading Nazi?The Peel family purchased theSandy Warren estate in 1851. It wasbought by William, third son SirRobert Peel the famous PrimeMinister and founder of the modernpolice force. William was a famousnaval hero and one of the first recipientsof the Victoria Cross. He builtthe Swiss Cottage (now the RSPBGatehouse) and also built his ownrailway line from Sandy to Potton.During the Indian Muting in 1858 hewas wounded and contracted smallpoxand died aged 33.Three marble statues were erectedto his memory in Sandy ParishChurch, at Greenwich and in India.All were carved by Queen Victoria’sfavourite sculptor, William Theed.His youngest brother, ArthurWellesley Peel inherited the estate in1862 and lived at the Swiss Cottagewith his family. He was a Liberalpolitician and was a famous Speakerof the House of Commons. In 1870he commissioned the architect,Henry Clutton to build a large mansionin the Elizabethan style closer tothe edge of the greensand ridge, thusgiving far reaching views over theBedfordshire countryside. Cluttonalso designed Woburn Church andOld Warden Park for theShuttleworth family. The Peel familylived at The Lodge until 1934 whenthe house, grounds and estate weresold to Sir Malcolm Stewart,Chairman of the London BrickCompany.Sir Malcolm had the gardens relandscapedin a classical but simpleItalian style, including the buildingof a large concrete swimming poolon the main lawns. The Stewartsfilled the house with treasures,including paintings byGainsborough, Reynolds, etcmedieval and Georgian tapestriesand fine furniture. The Stewart’s soldthe estate in 1960 and it was purchasedby a commercial forestrycompany. The following year, theRSPB moved its offices to Sandy,purchasing the mansion, gardens and24 acres of grounds from a commercialforestry company, for the sum of£25,000.Originally, the staff not onlyworked but lived in the house. Overthe years a number of new buildingshave been erected and now over 400people work at The Lodge, thus makingit Sandy’s main employer.B Do you know about the RSPB?The RSPB was formed to counterthe barbarous trade in plumes forwomen’s hats, a fashion responsiblefor the destruction of many thousandsof egrets, birds of paradise andother species whose plumes hadbecome fashionable in the lateVictorian era. The Society’s work isdriven by a passionate belief that weall have a responsibility to protectbirds and the environment. Bird populationsreflect the health of the planeton which our future depends.The nature reserve at the Lodgehas grown, along with the Society,which had 10,000 members in 1961but now has over a million. TheSociety manages four times moreland here than they did 10 years ago.There are new trails (which now total5 miles) to enjoy and the Society arerestoring 100 hectares of formerconifer woodland to a heath landlandscape. Plans for visitors in thefuture include a café, wildlife gardenand a children‘s discovery zone at theGatehouse.If you require more details aboutthe historic town of Sandy, TheLodge and the many events heldthere during the year, call in fordetails at the Tourist InformationCentre.Also we have details of walks thatpass through or close to the reserve,and many other local walk leaflets.We have so much information aboutthe locality and the whole country –call in and see us.
TEL: 01234 843905 ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.uk BIGGLESWADE BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2011 29OUT AND ABOUTPro Mods in action at the PodPhotograph: Martin QuinceTHE National Drag RacingChampionships return to SantaPod Raceway from the 24th tothe 25th of September for the VPRacing Fuels National Finalswhich sees the exciting conclusionof this year’s nationalchampionships, as over 200hundred race teams battle it outin the bid to be crownedchampion!Expect to see wild action fromthe fastest door cars on the planetin the form of the Pro Modifieds,cars which are capable of hittingspeeds in excess of 200mph in sixseconds, that’s in addition toracing from Top MethanolDragsters and Funny Cars as wellas action from the Nostalgia FuelAltered Association. Throw in aCraft FairGreat Barford Church, WI andthe Cricket Club will be holdinga Craft Fair in theVillage Hall,Fishers Close, Green EndRoad,Great BarfordSaturday 8th October2011, from 10am to 4pm.There will be a variety of stalls,including a homemade cake stall,tombola and also a raffle.Refreshments, hot and cold, willbe available all day.Entrance 50p, accompaniedchildren aged under 10 free.whole host of sportsman racingfrom various national classes andit all adds up to one action packedweekend at the track.As if that wasn’t enough therewill also be car crushing monstertruck action from Santa Pod’s veryown monster truck Podzilla, aswell as demonstration runs fromthe amazing 270mph FireForce JetCar, not to mention free weekendcamping, free evening entertainmentand fun fair.Advanced day tickets areavailable until the 16th ofSeptember for as little as £14, withweekend tickets costing just £25and don’t forget kids go free! Tobook your tickets please visitwww.santapod.com or call theteam on 01234 782828.Nearly New SaleGrab a bargain at the next NCTNearly New Sale onSaturday 1st October from2.15pm–3.30pm at StrattonUpper School.Run by Biggleswade, Sandy &District NCT, the sale will include theusual fantastic range of nearly newgoods for babies and children, includingclothes from 0-5 years, maternitywear, nursery furniture and equipmentand toys and games.Entrance is 50p per person, andNCT members will be allowed in from2pm if they show their membershipcard.Cheques will no longer be accepted,but cash and credit/debit cards are.Card payments will be charged anextra 50p to cover costs.For more information about thesale, or of you'd like to volunteer tohelp on the day, call 0844 243 6052.£5 PERSESSIONPAY ON THEDOORNo danceexperienceneeded... justfollow mylead!EVERY MONDAY7 - 8pm or 8.10 - 9.10pmTHE WEATHERLEY CENTREEagle Farm Road, Biggleswade,Beds SG18 8JHEVERY TUESDAY7 - 8pm or 8.05 - 9.05pmTHE HIGHFIELD SCHOOL(Off Highfield Rd) LetchworthSG6 3QAEVERY WEDNESDAY7pm - 8pmTHE HEATHCOTE SCHOOLShephall Green, Stevenage,Herts SG2 9XTZUMBA FITNESS FUSES LATINRHYTHMS & EASY-TO-FOLLOWMOVES TO CREATE A ONE-OF-A-KIND FITNESS PROGRAM THATWILL BLOW YOU AWAYDITCH THE WORKOUT & JOINTHE PARTY!Tel: 07966 988802www.lisaszumba.co.uk
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Page 32: Bedfordshire’sBest KeptWedding Se

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