A former teacher from Leighton Buzzard was killed on Saturday evening as she tried to cross a road with her dog.

Jan Short, 63, and her pet Toby were killed in Weymouth, Dorset after they were involved in a collision with a motorbike at about 5pm. The 23-year-old motorcyclist also died.

Jan’s family released a statement today. It said: “Jan, originally from Leighton Buzzard, moved to Weymouth with her husband Andrew to be closer to their family, after retiring as a teaching assistant 12 months ago.

“Her wonderful spirit, love and enthusiasm will be missed every day by everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.”

> Did you know Jan? Email news@lbobserver.co.uk

Steady batting in the middle order helped Eggington Foresters to one of their more promising batting performances of the season, but it wasn’t enough to beat Biddenham.

Despite losing the top three early on, Kamran Choudhary hit 38, with Asif Bhatti (22) and Naveed Ahmed (27) putting yet more on the board for the home side, but disappointment in the lower order too meant Eggington could only post 157.

And it took Biddenham just 22.4 overs to clear the total, 158-3, to win by seven wickets.

Division 2

Milton Bryan held out for a losing draw against big-scoring Newport Pagnell.

Liam Fox (72) and Paul Braddy (65) put Newport on the front foot immediately, putting on 117 for the first wicket.

Matt Pullan and Trevor Cox took two wickets apiece, but Newport came in at the change with 251-5 on the board.

Never looking likely to over-turn the total, reliable knocks from James Bailey (35) and David Shearn (28 not out) ensured Milton Bryan (141-7) took a share of the points.

Division 3

A great batting performance by Division 3 promotion hopefuls Westcroft saw Ivinghoe & Pitstone slip to defeat.

Adam Nice hit a patient 52, which featured five boundaries, as the home side scored 176-9.

And despite two quick wickets from Darren Badrick, Mustafa Iqbal lead from the front, rattling off an unbeaten 80 to guide Westcroft (179-2) home in good time.

Batting was once again Eggington Foresters 2nds’ downfall as they lost to Luton Cricketers.

Despite restricting the second place side to 188, Foresters suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse, all out for 129 to lose by 59 runs.

Division 4

Milton Bryan 2nds were on the wrong end of a 51 run defeat to Milton Keynes 2nds.

Craig Gentleman scored 62 as MK notched up 228-6, with Paul Dicker the key wicket taker for Milton Bryan, taking 4-41.

But despite Sam Houghton’s 52, Milton Bryan came up short in 177.

Stewkley Vicarage’s torrid season continued with a three wicket defeat to Wing with Wingrave.

Dan Wilson took 4-10 for Wing as they bowled out the visitors for 121.

But Anthony Galvin’s 3-18 in the middle order helped rock Wing’s boat, but despite losing seven wickets, Wing (122-7) made it home with plenty of overs to spare.

Division 5

Great Brickhill 3rds beat title rivals St. Andrews by eight wickets. Glenn Burrows, James Aldrige and Harry Kearns each took three wickets as St. Andrews were restricted to 162 all out.

In reply Andrew Hardwood hit 92 not out to anchor the innings as Brickhill reached 162-2 off 38.5 overs.

Division 6

Wing with Wingrave 2nds remain bottom of the table after a losing draw with Newport Pagnell 2nds.

The visitors posted 186 in the first innings, but Wing came up shy of the mark, scoring 135-9.

Cublington 3rds did enough in the first innings to secure victory over Old Bradwell 2nds.

Scoring 221-6, Cubs then bowled out Old Bradwell for 166.

McFly’s Harry Judd is urging women to sign up for the ultimate girls-only 10 mile star walk in aid of Keech Hospice Care. It takes place on Saturday, September 6.

He said: “I hope hundreds of ladies turn up.”

Register at www.keech.org.uk/starwalk

The approval of plans for up to 1,220 homes in east Leighton has provoked an angry reaction from residents fearful for the town’s future.

Last Monday’s meeting of Central Beds Council’s planning committee at Astral Park attracted more than 50 attendees, many of whom voiced their displeasure after two applications for large scale housing developments were approved.

Leighton-based developer Arnold White Estates Ltd will now commence work to build 950 homes on Chamberlains Barn Quarry and another 270 on The Stearn, as well as a link road from Heath Road to Vandyke Road.

One resident to voice concerns over the plan is Helen O’Connell, whose Blenheim Road home currently looks out over deer who graze in the land beyond her back fence.

Once construction is completed the picturesque landscape will be transformed into a housing estate.

Mrs O’Connell, 37, told LBO that the development was not flagged up before her family moved into the home last May.

She said: “Our solicitor did all of the relevant local authority searches but the planning application did not show up.

“We’ve taken legal advice as Central Beds should have declared it.

“It is lovely where we are at the moment but this will completely change the outlook, it will go up to our back fence.”

Howard Clark, 43, of Windermere Gardens added his doubts over Central Beds’ vision for Leighton.

He said: “I don’t think anyone is against new homes but there is a point at which it becomes unsustainable as a market town.

“There has to be a vision which will create an economical balance.

“I have real concerns about the future of the town.”

In a letter to the LBO, town and Central Beds councillor Amanda Dodwell appealed directly to the developer.

She said: “I understand they have expressed shock and dismay at the resistance shown by the town’s residents and councillors to this latest proposal.

“Seriously? Do they really expect us to welcome this with open arms?

“If they have any regard for the people of Leighton Linslade they should reflect on the damage they are causing.”

Mention Canada and most people immediately think of a trip through the Rockies from Calgary to Vancouver – but In the first of two features about one of the Commonwealth country’s lesser known provinces, travel writer Alan Wooding enjoys all that the prairie state of Saskatchewan has to offer.

“It’s been a joke for years that if your dog runs away in Saskatchewan, you can still see him three day later,” said Shane Owen, one of our two Canadian hosts for the trip.

But we were soon about to learn that this vast province known as Canada’s ‘bread basket’ is far from being flat or indeed entirely covered in flowing wheat and barley fields.

As guest of Tourism Saskatchewan on what was deemed a ‘Man Up’ trip, I made the seven-and-a-half hour flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Toronto’s Lester B Pearson International aboard an Air Canada Boeing 777, the time difference being five hours.

However I had to wait another four hours until an Air Canada Embraer 190 made the onward journey to Saskatoon’s John G Diefenbaker Airport where we were met by Tourism Saskatchewan media specialists Shane Owen and Jodi Holliday, the time difference now seven hours behind the UK.

Saskatchewan – which incidentally never changes its clocks as those around it does – is located in central Canada and is one of ten provinces in what is the second biggest country in the world.

It is bordered in the south along the 49th parallel by the US states of Montana and North Dakota while its neighbouring provinces are Manitoba to the east and Alberta to the west while to the north is the vast Northwest Territories which stretch way up into the Arctic Circle.

With a total population of just 1.2 million compared to the UK’s 65,000,000, Saskatchewan covers an area totalling 651,900 square kilometres leaving the UK at barely a third of its size. And while the province is made up of vast prairies, it also has more than 100,000 lakes, many linked by huge river systems, endless pine forests plus miles of sand dunes that would not be out of place in the Sahara Desert.

It’s capital city is Saskatoon – which rises up from the prairie and takes its name from the sweet berries that grow wild in the region while its second city is Regina which is somewhat larger.

Leaving Saskatoon’s John G Diefenbaker Municipal Airport we transferred to the 225-room grand railway-style Delta Bessborough Hotel, known locally as ‘The Castle by the River’. It’s an imposing turreted building set in its own grounds with all the facilities you would expect from a top class establishment: spa, sauna, steam room, indoor pool, gym, etc.

Saskatoon boasts many various cultural festivals and massive open air concerts, two of which were taking place the day we arrived along the banks of South Saskatchewan River. First there was the four-day Saskatoon food festival in the large park right next door to our hotel while Canadian rock star Bryan Adams was also due to play a sellout concert close by the following evening.

The South Saskatchewan River has seven bridges linking the east and west but we had little time exploring as we were whisked off to the nearby Ayden Kitchen & Bar Restaurant operated by Canada’s original Masterchef winner, Dale MacKay who gave us a tour of his establishment which features all the best gourmet food from the province.

With its own butchery department, Dale certainly produced the best sausage platter and rib-eye steaks that I have ever tasted, all from an open kitchen that was kept busy all night by a full house.

The following morning we were back at Saskatoon airport to catch the Transwest flight to the northern town of La Ronge aboard a 31-seat Saab 340 aircraft.

With just six passengers onboard (two locals plus us four travel journalists), we were kept royally entertained by Laurie, an air hostess who would not have been out of place on a comedy club stage doing a stand-up routine. Despite it only being 7.30am, she announced that it was “Free Beer Friday” … and amazingly she immediately had two takers while the rest of us had coffee!

The Transwest flight was more like a bus as it dropped into Prince Albert to collect a seventh First Nation passenger before it arrive at La Ronge where Jodi Holliday met us with an eight-seater Dodge Grand Caravan SUV.

The first thing we noticed coming out of the tiny La Ronge airport were the millions of fish flies which seemed to get into everything. We were then driven the onward 78 kilometres to the Otter Lake Resort run by Simon and Wendy Parsons on behalf of Thompson’s Camps. Incidentally Jodi had driven up to meet us from Saskatoon, having set off at the unearthly hour of 4am!

It was at Otter Lake that I had my first ever flight in a 1952 six-seater De Havilland Beaver float plane expertly piloted by Dan Striker. Soaring in an endless blue sky above what seemed to be hundreds of lakes, numerous river systems and waterfalls, we gained a true bird’s eye view of the whole area before landing gently back on the lake an hour later.

After lunch we boarded a pontoon fishing boat with local guide Dylan and made our way across the vast expanse of water to what he regarded as the best fishing grounds that day.

The fish flies were still in abundance as were some large biting horse flies while a massive new hatch of May and caddis flies meant that the lake’s surface often had a covering of spent larvae husks from which the nymphs had emerged as adults.

Despite this, amazingly we were all soon catching 3lb walleye (they’re known as zander in the UK) and Northern pike to around 5lb, all of which were skilfully gutted and cooked as the sun went down, thus enabling us to enjoy a fabulous lake shore dinner of fried fish (Dylan used a special mix of pancake flour and spices), potatoes and onions, all expertly cooked over a blazing camp fire.

With red squirrels in abundance, flying above us were bald eagles and pelicans while we heard the sound of loons calling across the vast lake as we bunked down for the night in the Otter Resorts’ comfortable lakeside lodges.

The resort can actually accommodate up to 169 people in 37 various chalets and cabins while a big black bear was spotted wandering around the encampment ... although none of us really wanted to have a face-to-face experience with it after dark!

The following morning we set off by road to Prince Albert National Park, the 192 kilometres trip taking around two and a half hours on mainly long and straight dirt and cinder roads which seemed to go on for ever.

With a slight diversion in Prince Albert itself, we popped into the famous Robertson Trading Post where you can still buy beaver and wolf pelts plus all the equipment you might need for a fishing, shooting or trapping expedition. It really does seem like you’ve turned the clock back a century or more!

Reaching the nearby Waskesiu township inside the park, we lunched at the Hawood Inn, the wooden building situated close to a sandy beach where several people were taking advantage of the hot summer sunshine (it was around 27 degrees) and swimming in the lake’s warm shallow waters.

It was then back to Saskatoon – another 224 kilometres on better roads – to check back into the Delta Bessborough Hotel for the another night. With the food festival still going on next to the hotel, it was certainly worth a visit just to taste those Saskatoon berries cooked in all sorts of cakes and dishes while I watched the jet-ski races along the South Saskatchewan River.

However, typical of what was a packed week-long programme, we then set off to enjoy an evening of a different kind of motor sport at Saskatoon’s Autoclearing Motor Speedway.

Just three days earlier, those good ol’ NASCAR boys from all over Canada and the USA had been in town for a round of their popular championship series, the Saskatoon event better known as the Velocity Prairie Thunder.

The track is a huge concrete oval which attracts thousands of race fans for the bigger events. Unusual for me was the fact that they run their races in an anti-clockwise direction – it’s usually clockwise in all European events – but we really enjoyed the action featuring the powerful Sportsmans tin-top class along with Mini Stocks, Sasks Legends and the little Bandeleros in which junior drivers as young as eight-years-old start to learn their race craft.

Naturally food plays a big part in any north American sporting event and this was no exception as we tucked into giant cheese burgers, battered onion rings and poutine (skinny chips covered in a cheesy gravy), all of which were washed down with a local ‘Original 16’ beer or two.

The following morning we set off with country music playing on the car’s radio to get us into the mood and, having hardly had time for breakfast, another early start took us south to the La Reata Ranch. Located close to the small town of Kyle, a woolly mammoth’s skeleton had recently been found there while this particular day quickly became an experience that I’ll certainly never forget.

En route to the ranch, if ever there was a township straight out of the movies, then Rosetown was it. You could imagine tumbleweed rolling down a street that was lined with bars, cheap motels and a few hitching rails on which to tie up the horses. It was a real gem!

As a country lad in the 1950 and 1960s, the wild west together with cowboys and indians played a huge part in my life. I would often dream of riding a horse out on the range alongside the Lone Rangers and Tonto or the likes of Gene Autry, Buffalo Bill and the Cisco Kid.

Well the La Reata certainly gave me that chance as we headed up into the hills high above the ranch buildings with its traditional saloon bar on the back of the pretty piebald mount called ‘Gus’, a quiet, sure-footed steed which responded to my every touch.

I’m certainly no riding expert but German-born ranch owner George Gaber certainly is. His knowledge of the two- and four-legged kind coming together to make it a thoroughly enjoyable three-hour afternoon experience.

Within the first 60 minutes or so in the saddle, my confidence rose enough to help round up some of George’s 200-plus long-horn cattle while I even entered a tougher competition in which I had to separate a cow and its calf from the rest of the herd.

George left Dusseldorf for Canada in 1996 where he purchased a huge swathe of hilly land (around 2,000 hectare) adjacent to the damned-up Lake Diefenbaker while his property now stretches around nine miles along its banks.

With 23 horses of varying temperament in his stock yard, he specialises in showing city slickers how to become cowpokes in one easy lesson and with his riding and roping skills, he himself has become a true 21st Century cowboy.

Learning to saddle up and get acquainted with your horse by brushing and leading him certainly worked, while a huge lunch of Texan chilli plus a fabulous beef dinner – yes, it came from George’s herd! – gave not only us travel writers, but fellow visitors from Sweden, Switzerland and the USA, a real taste of the cowboy’s lifestyle.

The La Reata saloon bar is as authentic as it can be with all manner of cowboy paraphernalia including guns, cowboy hats, boots and gloves littering the shelves. There was an endless supply of beer in the saloon’s big refrigerator plus plenty of shorts including a local strange vodka called ‘Lucky Bastard’.

Out in the hills you might come across cougars, porcupines and little prairie gophers while George says that there is also a big herd of around 100 wild antelope which runs free.

Saskatchewan province is known as ‘The Land of Living Skies’ and we certainly saw plenty of them. A big thunder storm passed through one evening while the temperature remained in the mid-20s … but it’s a different story in the winter which is a fact of life in Canada.

After heavy snowfall, getting around can be a real problem yet clearing crews will often work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to plow, grit and sand the roads to ensure that everyone keeps on the move.

And unlike the British, who are always worried that someone might take court action against them if they slip on a newly swept path, Saskatchewan citizens are expected to clear all the sidewalks following a major snow event and they certainly ‘snow’ what to do to keep you safe.

On the brighter side, Saskatchewan is also one of the sunniest places in Canada as it shines on over 300 days a year with its most enduring image being the endless fields of golden wheat waving in the breeze while dotted around are the big grain elevators and huge storage hoppers.

While it has already rained far more than usual this year, not all of last season’s grain has been distributed yet, such is the volume that the farmers grow. Saskatchewan is also the world’s biggest producer of potash and mustard and its claim to ‘flavour the world’ is not so far from the truth.

Next week I explore the town of Moose Jaw and its secretive tunnels made famous by gangster Al ‘Scarface’ Capone during prohibition times in the United States before I spend time with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a Boot Camp at their national headquarters in Regina.

FACT FILE

Delta Bessborough Hotel

601 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G8, Canada.

Phone: 306-683-6906

Website: www.deltahotels.com/Hotels/Delta-Bessborough

Ayden Kitchen & Bar

265 3 Avenue South, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M3, Canada.

Phone: +1 306-954-2590

Thompson’s Camps Otter Lake Resort & Canadian Fishing Outpost Camps Lodge

Managers: Simon & Wendy Parsons

Phone: (306) 635-2144

Fax: (306) 635-2134

Email: wparsons@adventuredestinations.ca

Auto Clearing Motor Speedway

Contact: Herm Hordal

PO Box 169 Saskatoon, SK S7K 3K4, Canada.

Direct: 306-956-3225

Phone: 306.651.FAST (3278)

Website: www.autoclearingmotorspeedway.ca

La Reata Ranch

Contact: George Gaber, Kyle, SK

Phone: 306-375-2225 or 306-375-2291

Email: info@lareata.com

Website: www.lareata.com

Holiday Inn Express – Swift Current

1301 North Service Road E, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X6, Canada.

Phone: +1 306-773-8288

Many thanks to Tourism Saskatchewan’s Media Relations Consultants Shane Owen and Jodi Holliday for making my Canadian experience so enjoyable. And to Angela Moore of Tourism Saskatoon – 101-202 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK Canada S7K 0K1, Phone 306 242 1955, www.tourismsaskatoon.com – for a very memorable couple of evenings.

Thanks also to Nim Singh, Media & Public Relations Manager of the Canadian Tourist Commission – visitcanada@dial.pipex.com and www.keepexploring.ca – for arranging the trip and to fellow travellers, Finnbarr Webster, Jack Palfrey, Stuart Foster and Octavia Pollock … it’s certainly a trip none of us will ever forget.

For Saskatchewan Province details, contact Tourism Saskatchewan, 189-1621 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4P 2S5 – www.tourismsask.com

Leighton Buzzard’s infrastructure will not be able to cope with further development after 1,220 homes are built in east Leighton, South West Beds MP Andrew Selous has told LBO.

Reacting to the approval for three planning applications which will dramatically change east Leighton, Mr Selous said that the town “cannot go on extending forever”.

He added: “Once these developments are in place I can’t see room for more extension.

“There is a point at which it is no longer acceptable as there is a natural limit.

“Leighton Buzzard is not Luton or Milton Keynes, it is a medieval market town.

“It is a very nice place to live due to its character.”

Despite this, Mr Selous said that new houses were needed.

He said: “We also need to recognise there is a more of a demand for homes, even with the same amount of people.

“This has come through an ageing population, people partnering later in life than previously and higher levels of separation and immigration.

“I do get letters from people asking why houses are not being built.”

Mr Selous added his intention to ensure infrastructure is given precedent over housing.

He said: “We have had a history of housing coming before the infrastructure and I will do everything I can to address this.

“That goes from GP practices, schools, leisure facilities and sports provision to the roads.

“I’m also focused on ensuring there are jobs for those wanting to move here.”

During this month’s searing heat, we’re sure most people have thought of diving headfirst into a pool to cool down.

And that’s exactly what the residents of nearby Whipsnade Zoo have been doing to cope with the ongoing heatwave – and they’re originally from the Indian subcontinent!

The animal attraction’s barasingha – also known as swamp deer – have been seen taking a dip in the lake at the warmest points this summer.

The breed is one of India’s largest deer, and the herd forms part of the Passage Through Asia attraction atWhipsnade.

The breed differs from all other Indian deer species in that their antlers carry more than three tines. The name barasingha in fact means ‘12-tined’.

Their yellowish-brown coats are often coloured by mud in the water which they use to keep cool.

For more about Whipsnade and events taking place this summer, visit zsl.org/
zsl-whipsnade-zoo

Too much time was lost to the weather for there to be a realistic chance of an outright result to Bedfordshire’s Unicorns Championship match against Norfolk at Norwich.

Rain held up play for more than an hour on the second morning and bad light chopped off another 90 minutes in the evening.

By then Norfolk had established a first innings lead of 53 runs and after losing four second innings wickets for 121 runs, Bedfordshire were content to bat out time for a draw on Tuesday.

Bedfordshire must have been surprised to have been put in to bat after losing the toss on Sunday. The wicket was good, conditions were sweltering and really the Bedfordshire batsmen should have made hay.

While Bedford School captain Charlie Thurston was at the crease it looked as though they would do. Thurston is the latest in the list of school captains to play for Bedfordshire, following in the footsteps of current England skipper Alastair Cook, Hampshire’s Will Smith and Northamptonshire duo Alex Wakely and James Kettleborough, and he could also graduate to the first-class game as he has already played for Middlesex 2nd.

In only his second game for his home county he batted beautifully and looked certain to reach a century until running himself out with his score on 90.

Although George Thurstance was also in good form, the Bedfordshire innings stalled for a time during the afternoon and then wickets were thrown away in a vain attempt to get maximum batting points after tea. Thurstance went for 89. Martin Weightman for 47 and Bedfordshire were all out for 298, the last five wickets going down for 13 runs.

Norfolk’s reply owed everything to Sam Arthurton who cracked a magnificent unbeaten 166 as Norfolk raced to 351-9. Bedfordshire skipper Andy Reynoldson, who brought himself on far too late, was the most successful bowler with 4-57.

Because of poor light, Bedfordshire did not start their second innings until the third morning and Thurston (35) again batted well, as did Luke Thomas (38) and Dan Blacktopp (56).

But the middle order rather fell away, ending any hope of Bedfordshire being able to set a declaration. A fine half-century by Alex Martin ensured there was no danger of defeat and Alex King. George Bacon and Shabbz Hussain all helped themselves to runs before Bedfordshire were bowled out for 309, at which point the captains shook hands on a draw.

The county start another three-day game on Sunday, taking on Staffordshire at Longton (Stoke).

Scores: Bedfordshire 298 and 309. Norfolk 351-9dec

At Manshead Upper School, Dunstable, young Gavin Spokes was the class clown, getting into trouble more than once for doing blisteringly accurate impersonations of his teachers and, in particular, his headteacher Graham Kellet.

He was also pretty sporty and was known to have a killer stroke at the cricket stumps and clever turns on the football field, writes Anne Cox.

Spokes was the sort of boy who caused teachers to sardonically sneer: “You think you’re so funny don’t you? You ought to be on the stage!”

Fast forward about 20 years and Gavin Spokes lives in Leighton Buzzard and is the undeniable hit in the National Theatre’s touring production of the hugely successful comedy One Man Two Guvnors, which comes to Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre next month.

The show is currently on the biggest tour ever programmed by the NT and Gavin, who plays the lead, hungry and dim-witted gopher Francis Henshall (a part originally created for James Cordon) has the biggest challenge of his acting career.

The story is set in 1960s Brighton where the ever-hungry Henshall works for the local Mr Big. By sheer stupidity he finds himself on the payroll of a second master and he comes undone trying to serve them both. The show, written by Richard Bean, is packed with physical humour that has Gavin in knockabout good form throughout.

“It’s going really well,” said 35-year-old Gavin. “My drama teacher at college said that I wouldn’t do much with my career until I was in my 30s and she was right. I did work on and off. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve rarely stopped working, but this is the biggest role of my career so far.”

In the last five years the solidly built actor, who still occasionally turns out for Dunstable Cricket Club, has played comedian Oliver Hardy in a stage play, and has appeared in Guys And Dolls, 1984, Noises Off and was last year’s Mr Toad in the Royal & Derngate’s Christmas production of Wind In The Willows.

Earlier he lived and worked in America while his wife, dancer and choreographer, Emma Annetts, worked with Celine Dion.

The couple later returned to the UK and Gavin made TV appearances in Utopia, Obsession, Hollyoaks and The Bill.

But his big break came when he became understudy and then leading man in the West End production of One Man. Before he knew it he was fronting a year-long national tour.

Locally the tour reaches Aylesbury Waterside on August 11; the Royal & Derngate in September; Wycombe Swan in December and New Theatre Oxford next February.

Gavin was born at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital. As a teenager he was a member of a Bedfordshire theatre group and the National Youth Musical Theatre Company.

“I went to Priory Middle School in Dunstable, but it was at Manshead I realised how much I enjoyed making people laugh.

“I used to do impersonations of the teachers like Mr Kellet and people off the telly.

“We came back from the US to London in 2006 and five years later moved to Wing before settling in Leighton Buzzard last year.

“One Man is a huge challenge. If you’ve got James Cordon or Rufus Hound as the leads then audiences know who they are but with me – well I’m just hoping to charm the pants off everyone – and it seems to be working!

“It’s such a well written play like a cross between panto, Morecambe and Wise and a musical. The tour is going really well and we’re playing to packed houses. We’re touring until next March and I do try to get home at weekends.

“On Sundays I turn into a vegetable. Literally I’m virtually in a coma all day as I try and recoup my energy. It is an incredibly physical part and it really takes it out of you – but I’m loving every minute of it.”

Planning proposals have been drawn up for two solar farms which could power around 4,000 homes .

Solar energy generator Lightsource Renewable Energ invited residents to participate in information evenings to discuss the two potential farms earlier this month.

The sites are at land north of Leighton Road, Eggington, as well as Church Farm, Slapton, and the aim was for locals to have an input into the initial design and planning, while Lightsource were also keen to emphasise their eco-friendly plans.

Conor McGuigan, planning and development director at Lightsource, said: “Energy security is an important issue for Britain at the moment, but it has to be addressed in the right way.

“We have chosen to progress our plans for these sites in particular because they are distanced from any designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the topography and vegetation allows us to position the solar farms sensitively within the landscape to keep views to a minimum.

“All surrounding vegetation and footpaths will be retained and we anticipate planting new hedgerows which will also provide valuable habitats for wildlife.”

With a new giant 6MW/10MWh battery already approved for installation at Woodman Close, Leighton Buzzard, it would allow excess energy from the proposed Eggington farm to be stored there to help meet high energy demands of the town at peak times.

Sheep grazing at both farms will be possible, while the solar panels will occupy less than 30% of the sites.

There is a biodiversity management plan for each farm, which will be put in place to ensure that native species benefit from planting, seeding and habitat creation.

The solar farms would take a two months to install.

For more information about Lightsource and its proposals, contact 0333 200 0755 or email: info@lightsource-re.co.uk quoting either ‘Church Farm Slapton’ or ‘Land North of Leighton Road’.

All Saints Church in Leighton Buzzard will be holding several services on Monday, August 4, as the nation marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

Rev Dr Chrichton Limbert, Curate of All Saints Church, will be leading a simple memorial service at 11am at the war memorial in Church Square. This will be followed by a Requiem Mass at 11.30am in All Saints for those who were lost or whose lives were affected by the events. The day will round off with a ceremony at the war memorial at 10pm, organised by the British Legion to mark the time that the “lights went out” across Europe. All welcome.

The planned closure of Sandhills Community House is proving a controversial decision, as angry campaigners argue that the alternative centre is not a suitable replacement.

Sandhills Community House, which helps residents on the estate who are feeling isolated, is due to close in 2016, but the Southern Residents Group (SRG) feel this may harm the community, with the replacement Astral Park facility not being easy to access.

SRG member Colin Johnson, said: “We are disappointed that Central Beds Council decided to go against an earlier commitment to continue with the community house for another five years in a new location, the development currently being built near McDonalds, Billington Road.

“The Astral Park facility is too far away from this part of Sandhills to have much influence on helping the new community there.

“Its manager is very good but the Astral Park centre lacks a cafe/drop in zone like the community house runs.

“It was disappointing of the council not to work with the community house to build the same community focus and ethos that has worked so well since the Sandhills Community House was opened.”

Central Beds Council says it has plans to ensure that community cohesion will still be abundant after Sandhills Community House closes.

Councillor Nigel Young, said: “We want to build communities not just homes so it’s really important to us that new developments have the right facilities for people who chose to move there.

“The community house on Sandhills was only ever intended to be a five-year temporary resource, which would then be returned to the owners.

“Brand new, alternative community facilities are now available at the Astral Park facility opened in March this year and at Greenleas Lower School which opened last September.

“Further facilities will be offered in the future when the Extra-care scheme on the west side of Billington Road is completed. This will provide facilities for all local residents similar to those at those of the community house, including the an informal ‘drop in’ café.”

Workers at Sandhills Community House, who wish to stay neutral in the debate, have asked Lodestar to survey residents and compile a report to give a clear understanding of how beneficial the house has been.

The report is expected to be finished by the end of 2014 and will provide feedback regarding the impact of community projects and will be used to assess the need for similar ventures.

Programme and partnerships officer, Gina Croxford, said: “It has always been envisaged that the house will close in 2016.

“However, many residents have said that they would like it to remain open for longer; but this would be dependent on a number of factors.”

Residents can find a link to the survey on the Sandhills Community House Facebook page. It needs to be completed by July 31.

If anyone does not have internet access they can visit Sandhills Community House who will provide them with a hard copy to fill in.

Sci-fi adventure DIVERGENT (12: Entertainment One) is a Hunger Games clone with enough menace and suspense to make it reasonably diverting.

Teens inhabiting post-apocalyptic Chicago are tested to determine their personalities before being separated into warring factions.

Tris (Shailene Woodley) is a so-called Divergent who doesn’t fit into any one group and is therefore seen as a danger to society.

She doesn’t mesh with the fearless ‘Dauntless’ faction and that makes her a threat to the budding fascist ‘Erudite’ brigade, led by a sinister Kate Winslet.

Information overload affects the film and Tris’s brutal initiation trials are a bit of a slog, while a romantic subplot doesn’t add much intrigue.

The action is more brisk than imaginative, but at least director Neil Burger, who also made Limitless, delivers a rousing finale.

> Threadbare fantasy tale THE LEGEND OF HERCULES (12: Lionsgate) is a low-budget trudge through Greek mythology by well-known director Renny Harlin, whose glory days are clearly far behind him.

Kellan ‘Twilight’ Lutz gets top billing as the son of Zeus, who’s betrayed into gladiatorial slavery, but fights his way back home for the love of a princess and revenge on his deceitful half-brother.

Although Lutz certainly has the muscle to play the demi-god, the script is one-dimensional and the movie borders on pantomime with its overdone villainy and banal dialogue.

With dodgy special effects, there’s little spectacle on offer and it’s enough to make you nostalgic for the cheap and cheerful Steve Reeves epics from the 1950s and ’60s.

> HALF OF A YELLOW SUN (15: Soda Pictures) is a harrowing, yet superficial, drama set during a tumultuous decade in newly liberated Nigeria.

After being granted independence from Britain in 1960, the Igbo people rise up to establish the Republic of Biafra with British-educated twins Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) caught in the maelstrom.

Olanna leaves Lagos to be with revolutionary academic Odenigbo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), while Kainene stays to run their father’s business and be with an English writer (Joseph Mawle).

But as civil war decimates the nation, Kainene winds up running a refugee camp and Olanna is forced to cope with Odenigbo’s infidelity, his disapproving mother and fixation with the houseboy.

The film’s tone lurches between highbrow and soap opera, but is elevated by committed performances and some memorable set-pieces, like a wedding under shellfire.

> VENUS IN FUR (15: Artificial Eye), Roman Polanski’s psychodrama exploring dominance and submission, is based on a hit Broadway play.

On a claustrophobic theatre stage, unknown actress Vanda (Emmanuelle Seigner, Mrs Polanski) arrives late to audition for an adaptation of 1870 novel Venus In Fur.

Convinced she’s too brassy and loud for the lead role, the director changes his mind when she gradually becomes the demure seductive heroine of the novelist’s, and his, fantasies. It’s similar to Death And The Maiden, which Polanski transferred from stage to screen 20 years ago.

Write Away: Leighton Buzzard Writers’ LBO Column. This week by Claire Fisher....

It’s all change in the Fisher household as son no.2 prepares to leave home for the bright lights of London and life as a student.

His big brother flew the coop three years ago and so his little sister and myself will be rattling around the house like peas in a drum come September.

So here’s the deal. Little sister now gets to move into the larger second bedroom and son no.2 gets her room as his ‘pied-a-terre’ from university. Any twinge of pique from son no.2 at eviction from his room is countered with a reminder that when son no.1 vacated the same room three years ago, son no.2 was waiting outside with a tin of black paint ready to turn it into a kind of goth-den.

Swapping rooms, both of which need a makeover is a logistical challenge to say the least. A casual glance in the junk-filled garage and loft suggest a rephrase to logistical nightmare. Cue a massive clear out, starting with a car boot sale like the one at Billington. A good car boot sale is brilliant fun; so long as I cover the cost of my pitch and a hot dog from the burger-van, I’m happy. There is something rather cathartic about the whole experience.

Some items for sale hold memories of happy times like the two bodyboards with which my sons spent hours of fun in the sea on holidays.

I had a little sniffle at the sight of a family with two young daughters walking away with those bodyboards tucked under dad’s arm. But I did smile when two pairs of outgrown wellies went off elsewhere to once again jump through puddles.

Sometimes there are surprise sales, like the offcuts of material snatched up at a pound a piece by enterprising cushion makers. Or the shell collection bundled into a pretty jam jar.

There are always the hard bargainers, like the gentleman who tried to knock down the price of a CD player – in good working order with remote control, I might add – from £2 to £1 because the speaker had a bit of a dent. Bargaining is such fun.

Then there are the things that don’t sell. I was more than a bit miffed by the keen vinyl-hunters whose shoulders drooped as they leafed through my meagre collection of singles (no market for Vienna by Ultravox? Really?). It was a wrench to put the singles on the table.

It’s a great feeling to go home with an empty car and a pocket full of cash. Well not quite empty; those singles are stashed away again ready for car boot round two in a few weeks time, bring it on!

A bitter dispute over a housing development has seen Luton Borough Council take legal action against Central Beds Council, Luton News can confirm.

On June 2 an ‘urban extension’ of Houghton Regis, which included up to 5,150 homes and 202,500 sq metres of space for commercial use, was approved by CBC.

In making the decision LBC claims that CBC ‘failed’ to co-operate with its neighbouring authority and has started proceedings for a judicial review.

The disagreement stems from Luton’s need for additional homes, with limited land within the authority’s boundaries to extend into.

Instead it has called on neighbouring authorities to assist with new housing and last year told North Hertfordshire District Council that it “must accept the need to help meet some of Luton’s unmet housing need”.

Within LBC’s submission CBC is accused of “failure to consider, adequately or at all, alternative sites or strategies” and “misdirection as to the application site’s planning pedigree”.

LBC also questions the approved application’s impact on green belt land.

Nigel Young, CBC’s executive member for strategic planning, remained defiant over the disagreement.

He said: “It’s the prerogative of any local authority to prepare a case for judicial review.

“This tactic, is not only lucrative for expensive planning lawyers, it is also used to delay and frustrate growth.

“It doesn’t mean however that such cases will hold any water when they come to be reviewed– as demonstrated by Luton’s unsuccessful challenge to the Secretary of State on this very development a few weeks ago.

“We are entirely confident that we will be able to robustly challenge the arguments put forward by Luton but for now, we are concentrating on preparing our submission and will be focusing on this rather than commenting on hypothetical arguments.”

As the school summer holidays get under way, a local homebuilder is warning youngsters to stay safe and keep away from its development sites.

New homes developments under construction may look like fun and exciting places to play, but David Wilson Homes South Midlands is warning children that they can pose serious dangers.

“Children of all ages are often on the lookout for somewhere new and exciting to play over the summer holidays, said Mark Penn, Construction Director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, “but construction sites are not adventure playgrounds.

“At this time of year it is important to remind children and parents about the potential hazards on construction sites and the need to stay well away from them.”

The developer holds regular safety talks and site visits for schools close to where it is building, to highlight the dangers of playing on or near building sites.

“We have active sites across the region,” Mark continued, “and while our construction teams watch out for children during the day and secure the sites at night, we would also ask local parents to warn their children and make sure they know where they are during the holidays.”

David Wilson Homes South Midlands is currently building quality new homes at developments across Buckinghamshire, including Windsor Park in Buckingham and Tattenhoe Park and the recently launched Brooklands in Milton Keynes

Losing more than three stone in weight was a bitter-sweet experience for Edlesborough man Jack Rollings.

All the hard work had left the 26-year-old car parts technician with confidence-crushing ‘man boobs’.

The realisation that working out in the gym had not paid off left him so miserable about his appearance that he was reluctant to remove his top in front of his family or even wear clothes that he liked.

Fatty deposits on his chest left him disliking his body so much that he reluctantly considered traditional liposuction. But thanks to Jack’s wife, 28-year-old receptionist Jennie, he found a far gentler option in Vaser 4D, a liposuction and body-sculpting treatment carried out under local anaesthetic rather than general.

Jack contacted Dr Ravi Jain, medical director and founder of The Riverbanks Clinic (www.riverbanksclinic.co.uk) and booked himself in for the procedure.

Gynaecomastia, known as ‘moobs’ or ‘man boobs’, is a relatively common condition usually caused by hormonal imbalances between testosterone and oestrogen. It causes one or both breasts to become larger than normal, with signs varying from a small amount of extra tissue around the nipples to more prominent breasts.

Jack said: “I had been overweight for years, so through exercise, diet and lifestyle change I managed to lose over three-and-a-half stone. I felt great about myself at first – losing all that weight was quite exhilarating – but it left me with excess fatty tissue on my chest, which again rocked my confidence. I learned to live with it, but my weight increased a little and with it came more fatty tissue, giving me the appearance of breasts.

“I constantly felt like people were looking at me and I had to wear bigger, baggier clothing to cover myself up.”

Jennie said: “When people meet Jack they all think he’s a confident and outgoing person, which he is, but his issues with his weight knocks his confidence so much behind closed doors. I wish he had done it sooner. The change in him already is amazing. He is so excited and it has given him the boost he needed to start exercising. I never thought in a million years I would see Jack running!”

With so many rides and great excitement on offer at Gulliver’s Land, Milton Keynes it’s easy to see the big attraction, writes Steve Sims.

I’ve taken my family along to the children’s themepark on several occasions over the years and now that my eldest daughter has reached the grand old age of eight(!) I was beginning to wonder if her interest would be waning.

Not a chance... judging by the protests when it was time to go home after an action-packed day trying out all the rides.

Sure, both my daughter and her younger brother (aged 6) have grown out of their former favourite – the Horses Carousel – which greets you as soon as you walk through the entrance to the park, but Gulliver’s is catering for those aged 2 to 13 so there’s bound to be a few attractions which will no longer hold their interest.

It’s perfect for families not yet ready for the cut and thrust of Alton Towers, and I’m glad we can stick with Gulliver’s for a few years longer at least. That’s because when children’s favourites at Gullivers like the Tree Top Swings of Adventure Land or The Tug Boat of Toyland leave me feeling a little queasy, goodness knows what I’ll be like when I’m dragged to themeparks aimed at teenagers/adults in a few more years (gulp!).

If you haven’t been before, there’s plenty to discover in the themed zones of Main Street, Lilliput Land, Lilliput Land Castle, Adventure Land, Junior Discovery Cove, Discovery Bay, Toyland and Gully Town.

There are more than 70 attractions including rides and shows to enjoy – including 31 rides for all the family, 16 rides for those under 90cm, 10 rides for junior thrill seekers, 15 rides under cover and 42 play attractions. There’s alsofive family dining areas with indoor seating, plus 10 stage and theatre shows.

The best thing about Gullivers is, although there’s always lots of people milling around, you never usually have to queue very long for a ride.

We visited on a Thursday during the school summer holidays and on the very odd occasion we thought the queue was a bit long, when we returned a little later the wait was much, much shorter. For example we gave the popular Jungle River Ride a miss initially in the morning but walking past a couple of hours later there were only a couple of families waiting.

The same thing could be said of one of the best rides in the park, the Log Flume. Quiet when we chose to go on before lunch, but for some reason more popular around 3pm (never fear as we’d been there, done that and got the fridge magnet photo of us looking terrified by then).

My personal highlights were without doubt that Log Flume, Runaway Train and The Python.

But it’s not really about me. I was just going along for the ride (pardon the pun). So what did my kids like?

My son’s top three were the Crazy Mouse, Cycle Monorail (a killer on the legs, parents) and the Log Flume, while my daughter loved the flume, the Drop Tower and the The Python.

A new ride for 2014 (Twist and Joust) was in the final stages of being installed so we missed out on that rollercoaster. Never mind, that’s the perfect excuse for a return visit!

> It’s not just theme park-thrills on offer at Gulliver’s. The resort is also home to a campsite, the Dinsosaur & Farm Park (a land of giant dinosaurs and real-life farm animals), the SplashZone (an indoor water-play factory), and the NERF Zone (an indoor “training facility” and “combat arena”).

For more information about Gulliver’s Milton Keynes, call 01925 444 888 or visit.

You can keep up-to-date with their latest news and offers by liking their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gullymouse) and by following them on Twitter (@gullymouse).

Litter bugs who throw rubbish out of their car windows are the biggest summer annoyance to other drivers, reveals the AA.

A third (34%) of drivers said this anti-social group topped the list of things that annoy them most about other road users in the summer.

This fell to just one in five (19%) of young drivers (18-24) and rose in the 45-54 age group to 37%,

Slow-moving caravans came second with one in six (15%) drivers getting hot under the collar when they encounter them.

Groups of cyclists are the third most unpopular according the AA/Populus poll of 23, 085 drivers, although there was significant regional variation on this.

Overall, almost one in six (13%) cited groups of cyclists as the thing which annoyed them most about other road users in the summer. But this fell to one in ten (10%) in the East of England, and rose to 16% and 18% in the South East and Northern Ireland.

The Highway Code contains rules for cyclists and drivers on how they should interact with each other. Drivers are required to leave ‘at least as much room’ as they would when overtaking a car; while cyclists are not supposed to ride more then two abreast and stay in single file on narrow or busy roads, and bends.*

The full list of results shows the top ten summer annoyances.

Drivers were asked which, if any, of the following annoy you most about other road users in the summer months?

Throwing rubbish out of the window 34%

Slow caravans 15%

Groups of cyclists 13%

Inconsiderate parking 10%

Dawdling / lost drivers 7%

Loud music with the roof down or windows open 7%

Sightseers stopping without thought or consideration 5%

Overloaded cars with no view to the rear 4%

Groups of motorcyclists 1%

Half naked drivers 0%

None of the above 4%

Edmund King, AA President, said: “Litter bugs have understandably emerged as the clear ‘winner’ in our summer top ten of driving irritants.

“Chucking rubbish out of a moving vehicle really annoys me as it is totally unnecessary, messes up the environment; it’s also dangerous to other road users and those that clean up. Previous AA/Populus research showed that many drivers would support tough penalties, such as points on their driving licence, large fines and community sentences for littering drivers.

“It is interesting that some motorists find anything that slows them down an irritant whether slow caravans or groups of cyclists. All road users need to show consideration for fellow road users whether on two wheels, four wheels, six wheels or even horse legs. Common courtesy and consideration on both sides can improve road safety and reduce road rage this summer.

“We’ve been enjoying some fantastic weather so far this summer, so hopefully these annoyances won’t stop Britain’s motorists enjoying the sun and having a brilliant few months.

Taylor Wimpey North Thames and Woburn Safari Park are celebrating a pioneering partnership project which is proving highly successful in helping raise awareness about the park’s new tigers.

In the first corporate sponsorship of its kind, Taylor Wimpey has sponsored Woburn’s new tiger house, which is now home to two Amur tigers from the European Endangered Species Program (EEP), Elton and Minerva.

Peter Gurr, Managing Director for Taylor Wimpey North Thames, visited the park to see the new enclosure, which allows visitors to enjoy the amazing spectacle of these beautiful animals, and brought along the housebuilder’s Taylor Tiger mascot to meet Woburn’s own tiger mascot.

Taylor Wimpey has organised a series of events which have raised awareness of the new tigers at Woburn, including a storytelling session for pupils from St Andrew’s Lower School in Biggleswade who enjoyed a special reading of the classic children’s tale The Tiger Who Came To Tea at the housebuilder’s nearby Saxon Fields development in the town.

Peter says: “We are very proud to be involved in this unique partnership with Woburn Safari Park and I was delighted to visit the park myself to see the enclosure which our sponsorship has helped to provide.

“Our investment will also aid the conservation of the species, as the safari park is hoping the tigers will breed successfully and nurture future generations.

“We have also been thrilled to organise a series of highly successful tiger-themed events, which have raised awareness of this exciting project at Woburn.”

There are only an estimated 400 to 500 Amur tigers living in the wild, in the birch forests of Eastern Russia. They face a number of threats, mainly poaching and loss of habitat, and the EEP is playing an important role in trying to preserve the species and prevent its extinction.

Woburn Safari Park Commercial Manager, Claire Rhodes, says: “We are delighted to welcome Taylor Wimpey as our first corporate partner and the sole sponsor of the new Amur tiger house in the Kingdom of the Carnivores. At the same time, this investment is a valuable contribution to our fundraising, conservation and breeding plans for these endangered animals.

“This partnership programme is a brand new concept for Woburn Safari Park, providing just a few select companies a truly unique, fun-filled way to deliver on their corporate social responsibility commitments. In addition, it provides organisations with an inspirational environment that allows them to engage with their staff and customers and access to a whole host of on-site facilities which are ideal for a wide variety of activities, from the small intimate occasions, right up to a family fun day for 3,000 guests.”