Fire Officers have said that people are putting lives at risk because they are using petrol to get their barbecue going.

On Thursday Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) attended two separate incidents where householders had “a very lucky escape”, after their BBQ got out of control and resulted in serious fires because of petrol.

The first incident occurred at 1 pm, when a resident in Wyatt Road, Kempston, attempted to put petrol from a can onto a lit BBQ. The fuel ignited and spread back to the can, and the occupier threw the flaming can across the garden, setting fire to the plastic patio furniture and a fence. The fire was out when firefighters from Kempston Fire Station arrived, and nobody was injured.

Four hours later, the same fire crew from Kempston was sent to another barbecue fire in Caister Road, Bedford, when a badly maintained BBQ fell over onto a nearby can of petrol. Once again the fire was out when the Fire and Rescue Service arrived, and nobody was injured.

In both cases, young children were present at the time of the fires.

Watch Manager Dave Wright, from White Watch at Kempston Fire Station, who attended both incidents said:

“Regardless of how difficult it may be starting a BBQ, or getting it going, you should never, ever use petrol. Or even have petrol anywhere near the BBQ. Petrol fumes are explosive and can ignite instantly. The consequences could be fatal.”

“Although neither of these fires resulted in serious damage to property, the outcome could have been devastating. In both instances, the situations had got out of control very quickly and the occupiers were in immediate difficulty and danger. The fact that young children were present on both occasions highlights they all had a very lucky escape.”

“When lighting your BBQ, allow time for the coals to heat up. Barbecuing is not an instant process, like turning on a cooker. Don’t place people’s lives at risk by forgetting about the dangers of putting petrol on or near a fire.”

The Woodland Trust has teamed up with Kelly’s of Cornwall to launch its Wild Summer Photography Competition, and is encouraging people across Bedfordshire to visit their nearest wood and get snapping over the summer holidays.

The two organisations are encouraging budding photographers in the region to capture their wild summer on camera for a chance to win a holiday in Cornwall, the home of Kelly’s. There will also be a range of prizes for three runners up. The competition is open to all ages and abilities, and is looking for entries that capture the essence of what makes our trees, woods and countryside so unique.

Beccy Speight, Woodland Trust Chief Executive, said: “Our trees, woods and countryside have provided inspiration for many iconic scenes and we want people to get out and create one of their own this summer. We have plenty of woods in Bedfordshire to visit and get up close and personal with nature.”

Some of the top Woodland Trust woods in Bedfordshire include Bramingham Wood near Luton, Reynolds Wood near Brogborough and Swineshead & Spanoak Woods near Kimbolton. Just 13% of the UK is covered by woodland, which is one of the lowest amounts in the whole of Europe. The charity hopes to reconnect people with the great outdoors and remind them why it’s so special.

Lucy Morrison from Kelly’s added: “Britain is filled with wonderful natural creations and that’s why we’ve teamed up with the Woodland Trust to encourage people to get outdoors and explore their local wildlife over summer. It’s the start of the summer holidays so while you’re out and about with the family, why not take a camera and capture your adventures on film – you could snap yourself an amazing ice cream experience in Cornwall!”

Last year more than 10,000 photographs were judged, featuring inspiring ancient forests and colourful wildlife. Last year’s winner, Ashley Chaplin saw his shot used across national media, including the Guardian, Times and the BBC.

People have until September 30 to upload a competition entry at woodlandtrust.org.uk/wildsummer.

Prepare to be blown away by the Guardians Of The Galaxy, writes Matt Adcock.

Marvel Comics’ new fantasy sci-fi feelgood summer smash hits the screen from relative obscurity to go toe-to-toe with The Avengers as the best superhero team the world has ever seen.

The Guardians include Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), an eccentric wisecracking maverick with more than a little Han Solo about him, and Gamora (Zoe Saldana), a walking female weapon with slinky looks, green skin and a host of deadly martial arts skills.

The team’s comedy double act are bounty-hunting genetically enhanced racoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and his muscle Groot (Vin Diesel), who is in fact a walking sentient tree.

Finally there’s Drax (Dave Batista), a violent rogue looking to avenge the death of his family.

Director James Gunn should be applauded for taking a risk on this lesser-known and slightly outlandish comic book tale. He delivers over and above expectations, confidently using a huge budget and quality actors like Glen Close and Benicio Del Toro in cameo roles.

The action is crunching and satisfying, but not overly gruesome. The special effects are jaw-dropping (especially in IMAX 3D) and the script crackles with well-observed humour. The Kevin Bacon references are especially hilarious if you’re of an age to remember his Footloose days. There is excellent chemistry between the characters who all seem to be having a great time delivering the sci-fi action film of the year.

The plot revolves around an ‘Infinity Stone’ – a source of unstoppable power – which is craved by evil alien warlord Ronan (Lee Pace), who plans to wipe the central planet of the cosmos. He’s in league with Marvel baddie Thanos (Josh Brolin), who popped up in the after credit scene of The Avengers, which also paves the way for a possible superhero team-up of epic proportions.

Guardians is an insanely entertaining two hours which every comic book fan on the planet needs to see. It’s really rare that a film lives up to the hype, but this one sets new standards for superhero adventures – and is destined for immediate cult-classic status.

Don’t deny yourself this incredible cinematic super treat!

The Bishop of Buckingham attended a service on the Stoke Hammond village green, on Sunday at 11am to dedicate a plaque on the village sign.

The plaque is in commemoration of all those who died in the First World War and was donated by the Welsh Bikers and the Royal British Legion Riders Branch who carried out a sponsored ride through all the Thankful Villages in England last year.

For Sunday’s service, villagers were joined by a delegation of the Royal British Legion Riders and Dave Holloway led the exhortation on their behalf. Robin Gurney read extracts of letters sent back to England from the Front and Bill Kirk laida special wreath commemorating the 100 years since the start of the First World War.

A ‘Thankful Village’ is one where all the men who went to war returned. Such villages therefore have no war memorial of course.

Photos: Neil Cairns.

Cedars Upper School said farewell to two of its longest serving members of staff, with a combined service of 44 years.

Both Judith Wood, with 23 years, and Linda Johnson, with 21 years, are taking well deserved retirement after contributing much to the school.

Mrs Johnson was deputy head of the school from 2001 to 2013, and for a while in 2010 was also associate headteacher. She led on the pastoral system at the school as well as being a history teacher.

Mrs Wood started her career at Cedars as a teacher of French and German but in recent years has managed the school’s Student Support Centre. This provides support for students struggling with school, for whatever reason, and is held in high esteem by all visitors to the school.

Cedar’s head Steve Palmer said: “Both Linda and Judith have contributed massively to the school over many years and they will be sorely missed. They are certainly amongst the best teachers I have ever worked with and I am sure there are countless ex-students across the town who will remember them fondly, really value the support they gave them, and would want to wish them well, as do I.”

The public is being reminded of the dangers posed by a flooded pit in Leighton, in the wake of several water-related tragedies in the region during the hot weather.

A man died and a woman was left in a critical condition after getting into difficulties in two separate incidents at the Blue Lagoon in Bletchley, while a teenager drowned at a lake at a quarry in Clophill last week.

Back in May, councillors, as well as the Southern Residents Group, called on Sibelco to take action at the Pratts Quarry site in Sandhills after youngsters got through fencing to wade into the water.

The quarry operator pledged to act swiftly to address the safety concerns with summer approaching.

Speaking this week, Councillor Amanda Dodwell said: “Following the concerns that were raised a few months ago, Sibelco took these on board and took a number of measures to further enhance safety around the quarry – including making improvements to the fencing and reducing the water level. They also produced a safety leaflet to distribute to neighbouring homes.

“However, residents still must consider that this is an operational quarry, and quarries are inherently dangerous places. They must heed the warnings given by Sibelco and keep away, and keep their children away. However inviting the water may look in this hot weather, it is extremely dangerous.

“I would again ask residents that if they see anyone in the water then they should contact the police on the non-emergency number. If they see anyone in difficulty then they should call 999 immediately.”

While rain forced Leighton Buzzard’s table topping 1sts into cancellation, there were brighter skies for the annual 6-a-side tournament finals.

Held across five evenings last week, local teams vying to reach the finals evening on Friday.

Each innings only lasts 5 overs with each player-except the wicket keeper- required to bowl one over.

Leighton played two games against Denbigh on Monday evening. Town were the victors scoring 134-2 from their 10 overs. Denbigh responded with 115-1.

On Tuesday, Flitwick scored 60-0 whilst Simmons responded with 28-5. In the second game, Long Marston scored 75-1 and Simmons responded with a more positive effort reaching 59-3.

The last game of the evening saw Flitwick score 66-1 against Long Marston’s 51-2.

Wednesday’s opening game saw Eaton Bray score the highest total of the week with 90-1 and Stoke Hammond replied with 45-2. In the second game Stoke scored 50-1 but this was passed by Eversholt with 51-1. The final game saw Bray comfortable victors against Eversholt scoring 59-3 against 39-5.

Current Trophy holders Eggington Foresters started Thursday’s games against a youthful Stewkley team who batted well to score 48-4. Eggington responded with 49-2. Great Brickhill scored 74-0 which included a Prasad half century with Stewkley responding with 45-2.

The final saw some big hitting by Great Brickhill who scored 75-1 with another Prasad half century. Eggington needed 36 runs from their 5th and final over. This included 5 sixes but was not quite enough as Brickhill progressed.

In the first semi final, Flitwick (50-2) beat Eaton Bray (35) while the second saw Leighton matched against Great Brickhill.

Leighton batted first and scored 66-2 with 41 from Phil Whatmore and 21 no from Antony Francis. Brickhill started well with 27 from the first two overs but the target was too far for Brickhill who ended just three runs short on 63-3.

Leighton faced Flitwick in the Tournament final and scored 48-4 with Francis contributing 15 and Benger 10.

Town took a wicket with the first ball of the Flitwick innings but the score had reached 30-3 at the end of the 3rd over with Flitwick looking favourites for victory.

Whatmore bowled the fourth over which conceded five runs and secured one wicket and Flitwick needed 14 runs from the last over bowled by Andy Roberts, and tension mounted as needed three runs to win from the final ball.

The batsman swept the ball to the deep square leg boundary, completed the first run but Leighton fielder Tom Light fielded the ball and threw it back in to keeper David Roberts who duly removed the bails to run the batsmen out by two yards.

So after a weeks effort the Trophy was won by a single run by Leighton Buzzard.

Three new champions have crowned at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club – with an 11-year-old stealing the show to take the junior title.

One of the star performances of the championship week was recorded by all-round sport enthusiast Ed Stephenson, who won the Junior Handicap trophy with a two-round nett score of 124.

The 11-year-old Gilbert Inglefield student, whose dad Adrian is a member of the management committee at the Leighton club, has been playing golf for only three years, starting his championship rounds with a handicap of 20.

Thirty-six holes and 164 shots later, he had won his first club trophy and had his handicap reduced to 16 after pipping 13-year-old Connor Briggs by 20 shots.

New champion of the Plantation Road club is former Junior Captain Matt Tizzard, who was presented with the trophy on Sunday evening by Captain Derek Lindley after grossing 148 for his two rounds.

The 23-year-old one handicapper delivered a Sunday-best gross 71, knocking six shots off his first round 77, to take the championship title for a second time in three years.

Runner-up two shots adrift was 18-year-old Richard Hill who days earlier had carded a gross 147 to take the Junior title from James Connew with seven shots to spare.

Mark Hammond finished third the club championships with a gross 155, a shot clear of John Latimer and two better than fifth placed Josh Banwell.

Vice Captain Debbie Pollard- Barns has been crowned Ladies Champion after two rounds totalling 172.

She beat the ever-improving Louise Eddy by two shots, while Jan

Harries claimed the Handicap trophy on countback after she and Sue Preston both returned scores of nett 146.

The new club Handicap champion is 21-year-old stock controller Jamie Stone whose nett 136 beat Mark Hammond by a shot.

Steve Richardson took third place ahead of Eddie Fender and Alex Eddy after all finished with a nett 138.

There were best-round awards for Richard Harris (gross 74) and Tim Martin (gross 77) and Phil Eddy (nett 66) and Stuart Leslie (nett 64).

Just days after losing out on a County girls title in a three-way play-off.

Freya Daniels, 14, was crowned top female Junior after shooting a nett two-round 159, while Brandon Waddington continued his progress by being top scorer with 38pts in a stableford competition for high-handicap juniors.

Former Ladies Captain Val Brown is the new holder of Leighton Ladies Croxford Cup, with her score of 38pts beating Lynn Newnham by a single shot.

Rosie Hartnell landed the Ladies Past Captain’s annual Bogey Bisque with a return of +6, a hole up on runners-up Paula Cox and Margaret Browning, with Val Brown and Beryl Wood in hot pursuit.

Leighton Town Youth are looking forward to one of the biggest seasons in their history.

Formed in 1999 as a feeder to the Town’s senior club, they now boast 16 teams from under 7 to under 21, who for the first time will be playing together at a new purpose built facility in Astral Park.

In addition to a new sports and community centre with changing facilities which will also be serving hot and cold refreshments on match days, there will be pitches to meet all needs from mini-soccer to adult.

Training facilities are also first-class and training takes place mid-week under floodlights on the superb facilities at Cedars and Vandyke Upper Schools.

The club holds the Football Association’s Charter Standard kite mark, which is a guarantee to the quality of coaching and governance at the club.

All coaches hold a FA Level 1 coaching qualification as a minimum.

Many have gone on to take their Level 2 badges as well as Age-Appropriate qualifications.

The club is always eager to hear from anyone looking to get into coaching and will work with new coaches to develop and fund a coaching pathway to meet their aspirations.

The life-blood of the club is its members. The club has boys and girls from all of the town’s schools and is always looking to add new teams at every age.

Leighton Town teams play in Bedfordshire and MK leagues on both Saturdays and Sundays, at all levels. Regardless of your ability or commitment there is every chance that the Club will be able to provide some form of football to meet your needs.

Many players who have come through the ranks of Leighton Town Youth have gone on to play for Leighton Town at Bell Close.

The club is now committed to providing a football pathway into adulthood for anyone wishing to continue their football beyond school.

Leighton Town Youth are keen to hear from any players, coaches or volunteers who are wanting to find a team over the summer or who are looking for a new challenge.

Please visit the Club’s website at www.ltyfc.org.uk to get the latest news and email contact details, or phone Chairman Ian Kirkwood on 07920 041198.

>> Pictured are the boys and girls from Leighton Town Youth Football Club.

Craig Bicknell feels his Leighton Town side are well prepared for the start of the new football season, which kicks off this Saturday.

Town’s pre-season campaign comes to an end tonight (Tuesday) against an MK Dons XI, before their first Calor League Division One Central fixture against Northwood on Saturday.

It was a dramatic finale to their game with Tring on Saturday, falling 3-0 down before half time, Phil Draycott continued his good scoring form to pull one back for Town.

Warren Garcia reduced the deficit to a single goal a minute after the restart, before Dan Watson levelled things up in the 63rd minute.

And Draycott found himself in the right place at the right time in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic victory for Leighton.

It sees Bicknell’s Leighton Town record read just one defeat in six matches - his first game against Chesham United Reserves.

And having scored 13 goals in those six matches, Bicknell thinks Leighton can cause more than a few upsets this season.

“No-one is really talking about us at the moment, so I think we could spring a few surprises,” said Bicknell.

“In the lower leagues, myself and my staff and players have been expected to get promotions, which we have done regularly.

“But in this higher division, people are talking about some of the bigger spenders so we’re a but under the radar.

“I think if we can win the games against teams around us in the table, we’ll be in a good position.

“I’ve got a settled squad now, and we can’t wait to get started.”

The pre-season campaign has been a tough one on his players though, with two players already sidelined for six weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Bicknell said: “It’s a manager’s worst nightmare! I lost my keeper, lost my centre back, and then my back-up keeper as well.

“But we’ve got players in place who are more than capable.”

And two months after taking on the job at Bell Close, Bicknell is beginning to feel at home in his new surroundings.

He said: “We’ve had a couple of games at home, both 1-1 draws, so we haven’t lost there, but we haven’t won there yet either!

“I’ve met a few of the fans, and they seem like good people, and the staff at the club can’t do enough for you.

“We really want people to come down and support us.”

Town’s game tonight against MK Dons kicks off at Bell Close at 7.30pm, while Saturday’s league opener against North wood starts at 3pm. Tickets are available on the door.

Leighton Buzzard Writers’ First World War publication has reached the editing stage and is due to be launched on November 4.

The group started planning Between Worlds 1914-1918: An Anthology of Leighton Buzzard, Linslade and the Surrounding Area in the Great War, 18 months ago.

The launch venue will be Leighton Buzzard Library in Lake Street, with the date coinciding with the 96th anniversary of the death in action of the poet Wilfred Owen, a week before the Armistice.

A writers group spokesman said: “Between Worlds has been the biggest project ever undertaken by the writers group.

“But it belongs to the large number of people outside the organisation, for without their enthusiasm and active support, the anthology would not have been possible.

“It is truly a collective piece of work by the community tapping into its past of a century ago, when the world changed so dramatically for Leighton-Linslade and the world.”

The anthology consists of 47 pieces of work produced by local people: poems; short stories; non-fiction and items of factual information.

In addition Between Worlds will have more illustrations than previous anthologies and for the first time they will be in colour, all produced by Paul Couchman, a member of the writers group.

The spokesman added: “Even though there are many different authors, a common theme appears in all the pieces contributed: that of people coping with a war unprecedented in history and coming to terms with vast social and economic changes.

“Between Worlds is a remembrance of our community during four tumultuous years.”

> Do you have a family connection to WW1? Email news@lbobserverco.uk.

> Part two of our series of articles commemorating the centenary of the start of the First World War is on pages 24-26.

Leighton-Linslade Town Council’s annual evening band concert takes place on Sunday, August 10 (6.30pm-9pm) in Parson’s Close Recreation Ground and will feature a programme of traditional Proms music.

More than 300 people turned out for the 2013 concert with bunting, picnics and flags and thoroughly enjoyed the music and the special atmosphere.

The public is being encouraged to support the event by wearing red, white and blue and bring along flags, banners, picnics and their voices to help create a vibrant and fun filled evening.

Heath Band will perform a two-part programme of music with the first part featuring music for a summer’s evening and the second, to include Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Rule Britannia, Pomp and Circumstance, Jerusalem and the National Anthem lead by solo singer, Jan Digby.

Leighton-Linslade Concert Band will be performing on the bandstand in the afternoon from 3pm to 5pm.

For further information, contact Leighton-Linslade Town Council on 01525 631916 or 631915 or email: info@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk

> Leighton fun-lovers can also look forward to a Pirates Day at the beach in Parson’s Close Recreation Ground.

It takes place on Saturday, August 9, between 11am and 4pm and features theatre shows, face painting, MK Dons soccer sessions, Punch and Judy and circus skills.

Swimmer Isobel Jones is one of 1,600 youngsters competing at this year’s Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games - a major multi-sport event for elite young athletes.

The 17-year-old from Ivinghoe will represent England East in the swimming, just one of 12 sports being contested at the four day event in Manchester which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

While at the event, Isobel will get a taste of the pressure and excitement of competing at the highest level.

She will experience an athlete’s village, take part in opening and closing ceremonies, and perform in front of a crowd of thousands.

A delighted Isobel said: “I am honoured to be selected to compete in the Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games.

“My main aims for competing at the School Games are to do my best and to try and get the best placing result as possible. I’m looking forward to the experience and competing against new people.”

A number of British stars have all been on the same journey as Isobel and experienced competing at the Sainsbury’s School Games before going on to success at a senior level.

In 2008 Team GB’s rising star of the heptathlon, Katarina Johnson-Thompson bagged a gold medal and with it the record of 1.78m in the Girls’ High Jump.

Paralympic Swimming Gold medallist, Ellie Simmonds took gold and two silvers in the pool in 2006.

Paralympic Gold Medallist sprinter Jonnie Peacock came first in 2009’s Ambulant 100m, setting a then record time of 12:85.

Alongside the competing athletes, there will be around 400 budding volunteers under 25 years old to help bring the Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games to life for the young athletes, along with thousands of spectators.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid said: “Congratulations to Isobel for being selected to take part in this year’s Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games in Manchester for what I am sure will be an extremely successful event and a chance for our young sporting talent to shine.”

The family of a former teaching assistant from Leighton Buzzard who was killed on Saturday, July 26, as she tried to cross a road with her dog, have released a more detailed tribute.

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

Before moving to Weymouth, Jan worked at Brooklands School.

The statement, sent to the LBO, read: “Many people in and around Leighton Buzzard will remember Jan Short.

“Janice Linda Short (nee Cosby) was born on 25 June 1951 at Luton and Dunstable Hospital to Leonard Albert and Ethel Jessica Cosby, their only child.

“Jan grew up in Oakley Green in Leighton Buzzard and trained and worked as a hairdresser at Josie Hair Fashions.

“She met her husband Andrew in 1969 when his mum Dorothy (Dimple) Short engineered a meeting between her younger son and Jan who she thought would be a very good match for him. It turned out she was right: Andrew, who worked at Vauxhall Motors in Dunstable at the time, offered to walk Jan home and the young couple married at All Saints Church in Leighton 18 months later on 23 September 1971.

“The newlyweds bought their first house in Vandyke Road and lived there for three years until the arrival of their son Adam Paul prompted a move to a larger family house.

“They moved into Brooklands Drive in 1974 where daughters Emma Jane and Caroline Anne completed their close knit family. Together Jan and Andy built a million happy memories over more than 30 years at their family home before deciding to retire to Weymouth in August 2013, fulfilling a lifetime wish to retire by the sea.

“During their time in Leighton, Jan and Andy held various jobs: Andy was a milkman for E J and P Newens for seven years and then a postman for Royal Mail in Leighton Buzzard before transferring to Bletchley.

“Adam, Emma and Caroline attended Clipstone Brook Lower School then Brooklands Middle and Vandyke Upper School.

“Jan took on an active role wherever her children attended but nowhere moreso than at Brooklands, which she and Andy had also attended when they were growing up – even being taught by some of the same teachers as their children!

“Jan started working at the school as the crossing patrol then lunchtime assistant, lab technician and teaching assistant; remaining at the school for over 20 years and earning friendship, trust and respect from all who worked with her.

“Tributes paid to Jan from colleagues and friends include:

“Jan was always positive and hugely supportive, a good friend. She also had a wicked sense of humour and regularly put herself out to help in hectic situations. She was so delighted with arrivals of grandchildren and very proud of the lives her children led.”

“Remembering Jan with sadness and disbelief. We were colleagues for over 20 years and Jan was always kind, caring, gracious and committed. It was a privilege and a pleasure to have worked with her.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Jan for many years at Brooklands. I’m so sad to hear she is gone. She was a lovely lady, who always smiled. What a tragic loss.”

“Jan was an amazing person who I learnt a lot from. It was a privilege to have known her.”

“Like so many other people from Leighton Buzzard, especially those with an association with Brooklands School, we have so many treasured memories of Jan. She was everything you could want in a friend.”

“Jan was one of the nicest ladies I have ever had the pleasure to know. Her kindness showed no bounds, always ready with a smile, a word of encouragement and a willing ear to listen. Our time together will be happy memories I will treasure forever of a very dear friend. She was simply the best and loved by all who knew her.”

“Jan and Andy loved travelling the world together, and were just as happy walking along the coast, breathing in the sea air and enjoying the views. They planned to have many more adventures with their family in the home they had just started building in Weymouth.

“Jan passed away on Saturday 26th July 2014 after a fatal traffic accident in Weymouth whilst she was crossing a road with her dog Toby, who was also lost in the accident. Andy was with her at the end.

“Jan and Andy would have celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary in September. As well as being a mum to three, she was Nanna to her six adored grandchildren, whom she loved more than we can find words to express.”

Andy said: “Jan was the centre of our world and in a split second, tragically taken from us all. The love that her young grandchildren will now miss out on is a void we can only hope to fill by finding the strength to pull together as a family.

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

Jan’s funeral will take place on Thursday, August 14 at 1.30pm at St Paul’s Church, Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth, followed by a cremation. Family and friends are welcome to the service and cremation, as well as to the wake which will be held after the committal.

The family has requested family flowers only and for donations to be split between Cancer Research and the RSPCA, Jan’s favourite charities. Cheques can be made payable to ‘Cotton and son donations account’. Those attending the funeral are asked to wear some colour “to fit in with Jan’s own vibrancy of spirit”.

In the second of his features about one of Canada’s lesser known provinces, travel writer Alan Wooding spends time with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at their headquarters in Regina and discovers the hiding place of one of America’s most notorious gangsters.

“Make sure you keep your googles and ear defenders on when the range goes live,” said our firearms trainer as we pointed our Smith & Wesson 5906 pistols at a row of body-sized paper targets.

The 100mindoor firing range was just a small part of a challenging Royal Canadian Mounted Police boot camp experience that I undertook at the national headquarters in Saskatchewan province’s capital city, Regina.

It’s no real surprise that the Mounties are Canada’s most recognisable institution. Originally called the North West Mounted Police and founded in 1873 to patrol the vast northern territories of what is the world’s second largest country, they were reformed as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920 and today their bright scarlet tunics and musical ride display team have give them iconic status.

A large purpose-built Heritage Centre has been erected on he doorstep of Regina’s Fort Dufferin Academy and it tells the story of the Mounted Police from its inception, the building annually welcoming thousands of visitors from all over the world.

However Hollywood’s image of RCMP members riding horses and paddling Canadian birchbark canoes is a far cry from reality, for today the organisation is so advanced that it helps train police forces right across the globe while retaining close links with its military past.

The film ‘Rose Marie’ was originally shot in 1936 in black and white and starred Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald while I still remember as a young boy going with my parents to see the updated 1954 MGM musical featuring Howard Keel.

I also remember being smitten by the image of Canada’s heroic police force … but Sergeant Pharanae Jacques-Croisetiere and Corporal Sean Chiddenton soon quashed any ideas that the film was for real as we went through a gruelling spell of boot camp-type training.

Arriving at the Academy late on a Monday afternoon and accompanied by three fellow British journalists, we were given a pre-boot camp tour of what is known as ‘Depot’ Division by the fort’s newest Cadets. What followed was an early 5pm dinner in the enormous dining hall while we were then shown to our quarters and told to be up again by 5.30am the next morning, ready to march to the Parade Square to witness the raising of the Canadian flag.

And what followed was a day of intense training which included learning how to march in a unified order in readiness for the Sergeant Major Parade. That was to due take place on the Parade Square later in the day along when we marched with the newer recruits while being watched by an audience. And it was all fine until the band suddenly struck up the Indiana Jones film theme, much to everyone’s amusement!

Our group had to appoint a ‘Right Marker’ (another name for a leader) and poor old Jodi Holliday immediately got our vote. Our popular Tourism Saskatchewan guide had hinted that she had gained experience with a marching band when she was younger – and she took to it like a duck to water. And despite our obvious and unwarranted protests, she professionally called us to attention under the watchful eye of an over-strict female RSM.

Circuit training in the Fitness and Lifestyle Unit was followed by a quick shower and a brief insight into Applied Police Sciences before our firearms session. And that was immediately followed by a driving lesson in a mocked-up Ford Crown Victoria (the same vehicle that the Mounties use) before even more firearms practice in the RCMP’s multi-million dollar simulator.

With everyone told to march everywhere on site with a ‘buddy’, it was also common to see whole squads of Cadets running at the double as they raced between different buildings to attend lessons on time.

However, after a day of various activities, we were presented with ‘passing out’ certificates by the RCMP’s Assistant Commissioner Louise LeFrance, who is also the commanding officer of Depot Division.

“I first came to the Regina Academy as a raw recruit some 29 years ago,” she said as we assembled in the academy’s beautiful old wooden chapel, adding that she never ever expected to return or to be in charge.

The chapel, with its impressive stained glass windows, is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the whole of Regina, despite half it having been destroyed by fire many years ago.

“I’ve been back here for four years now and I really love the job,” said Mrs LeFrance. “We have around 1,000 recruits pass through the Academy ever year – but it’s never ever a foregone conclusion that they will all become Mounties,” she said.

At the time we were sitting together to watch the Sunset Retreat Ceremony in which a division of newly-qualified men and women displayed their marching prowess watched by hundreds of onlookers as the Canadian flag was ceremoniously lowered and neatly folded to the sound of a lone bugle.

That night we checked into the Radisson Plaza Hotel Saskatchewan which is Regina’s premier hotel. It has 224 beautifully appointed rooms, including 27 regal suites and, as usual, there is a health club with all the facilities although we hardly had time to enjoy them as we had another full evening programme to enjoy first!

Unlike some other cities in Saskatchewan province, Regina – which was named after Queen Victoria (Victoria Regina) – rises from a treeless flat plain. Thanks to a small spring in Wascana Creek, a dam created a decorative central feature lake which is close to the impressive government building (sadly it was covered in scaffolding) and the central business district.

However years later, the lake turned out not to be deep enough so it had to be completely drained and manually dug out to the reasonable depth that it is today.

Another quirky addition to the city was the construction of the province’s longest bridge … but at 840 feet, Albert Street Bridge now span what is probably Saskatchewan’s shortest stretch of water.

Back in June 1912, a terrible cyclone killed 28 people and destroyed much of the city and it’s still easily the worst tornado that Canada has ever witnessed. Meanwhile in the 1930s, a riot brought further attention on the Regina area in the midst of a drought and the great depression.

Strangely if a township reaches 5,000 inhabitants in Canada, it officially becomes a city – and if it then droops below that figure, it is allowed to retain its city status. Thank goodness it doesn’t apply here in the UK as half of our villages would be claiming they were cities.

With the mosquitos and flies that we encountered further to the north now a distant memory – apart from those red blotches which were still visible on some of our arms and legs – prior to arriving in Regina we called in at the town of Moose Jaw to see its infamous tunnels which were once the hiding place of America’s most notorious gangster, Al ‘Scarface’ Capone.

Capone was listed in the US as ‘Public Enemy Number One’ for his evil deeds in and around Chicago. However, as a way of escaping from the law following a list of charges relating to murder, supplying alcohol, drugs, prostitution and tax evasion, he crossed the border and headed to Moose Jaw where he lived a secretive life, protected by a group of ruthless gangsters who were happy to gun down anyone who stood in their way.

‘Big Al’ as he was known, would hide away from the law in the notorious Canadian town during the USA’s prohibition period and today the tunnels under the main street have been opened up to give visitors the chance to get a flavour of those bad ol’ days thanks to a team of actors.

Like parts of Chicago in the 1920s, Moose Jaw’s River Street was known for its sleazy bars, brothels and protection rackets, all of which were run by Capone and his gang. And there are two sets of tunnels, one of which hid away hundreds of Chinese immigrants to Canada who lived in intolerable conditions as they tried to realise their dream while the other centred around Miss Fanny’s Bar.

Miss Fanny, who was played by a great actress, took us deep underground through a maze of tunnels to reach the bar manned by Gus, Capone’s right hand man and ‘Gus’ is played to start with by an automaton robot who relays the Capone story in true gangster style.

But as we pass along through various rooms, the role of Gus is then taken on by another actor. It’s all very amusing and is certainly played for laughs. Doors are flung open while a hail of bullets is likely to bring down anyone stupid enough to stand in an open passageways.

Sadly the tunnel experience is over all too quickly but it leaves you with a lasting impression of the period.

Our final night on Canadian soil took us to The Bushwakker, a famous Regina watering hole that brews all its own beer. We were introduced to current manager Grant, a good friend of Tourism Saskatchewan’s Shane Owen, who took us on a tour of what was once a huge Chinese laundry building.

Using only local produce and grain, his team produces millions of gallons of ale a year with titles like MacGregor’s Wee Heavy and Honey Thistle Wit to Cheryl’s Blonde, Dungarvon Irish Red and Stubblejumper Pils.

There is also a huge call for Bushwakker’s speciality products and especially their Blackberry Mead and Missiletow Ale at Christmas-time when there are apparently queues going right around the block. And it’s not just alcohol that The Bushwakker is famous for as its huge menu features just about every kind of ‘pub grub’ that you can think of.

Like the rest of Canada, Saskatchewan is a vibrant combination of peoples and cultures and nowhere is this diversity better reflected than in the range of flavours and styles that come together to define the province’s cuisine.

Native Indian tribes such as Cree and Sioux are now known as First Nation members and their traditional foods include a variety of dishes made from bison (buffalo). This healthy, low-fat meat is certainly increasing in popularity while a fried flatbread called bannock is commonly served at ‘powwows’ and other celebrations. Meanwhile, native fruits including Saskatoon berries, chokecherries and blueberries also find their way into many dishes.

The first wave of European settles to Canada came in the late 1800s and early 1900s, many arriving from the UK, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia and, to this day, family gatherings and restaurant menus feature hearty traditional dishes that reflect these heritages: sausage, perogies (also known by many variations including pieroshki), cabbage rolls, roasted meats and potatoes.

While Chinese-Canadian restaurants have been a staple of small towns and bigger cities for decades, the late 1970s saw a huge influx of new Canadians, the displaced Vietnamese boat people. Many of these families established restaurants and, as a result, Saskatchewan is blessed with an amazing array of Vietnamese dishes. And within the last ten years, a general increase in the popularity of Asian cuisine has led to a new wave of Japanese, Thai and Korean restaurants.

However, Saskatchewan’s doors remain open to new Canadians from all over the world while restaurants featuring the flavours of Italy, India, Mexico, Africa, France, Afghanistan and others allow Saskatchewanians and visitors to savour the flavours of the world.

Saskatchewan is a Canadian province that seldom gets a mention in Britain and it’s certainly not on many people’s radar. But believe me, if my seven days there are anything to go by, then there’s still so much more waiting to be discovered.

FACT FILE

Tunnels of Moose Jaw

18 Main St N, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J6, Canada

Phone: +1 306-693-5261

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre

RCMP ‘Depot’ Division

Tel: 3060780-8332

Radisson Plaza Hotel Saskatchewan

2125 Victoria Aveue, Regina, SKS4P 0S3

Phone: +1 306-522-7691

http://www.radisson.com/regina-hotel-sk-s4p0s3/skregdt

Many thanks to Tourism Saskatchewan’s Media Relations Consultants Shane Owen and Jodi Holliday for making my Canadian experience so enjoyable. Thanks also to Nim Singh, Media & Public Relations Manager of the Canadian Tourist Commission – www.keepexploring.ca or for information visitcanada@dial.pipex.com – for arranging the trip. And finally to my 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 of see www.tourismsask.com

There’s a treat in store for all you Black Sabbath fans in Leighton Buzzard on Friday (August 8) with the return of tribute band Blag Sabbath (pictured) at the Wheatsheaf in North Street.

Billed as “the closest you’ll see and hear to the real thing”, this group of four Sabbath fans will recreate the band’s classics from the start up to the present time.

Front man for the ‘blaggers’ is known as ‘Izzy Osbourne’ who purports to deliver his satanic message via a wireless microphone with his voice box engine lubricated by a few beers! This band went down a storm on their last visit and a repeat performance can be expected!

On Saturday, August 9, The Peppermint Store brings a couple of great bands to The Wheatsheaf. Lupo, with their indie sound and brilliant new release Stairway To The Stars (which has a definite early Floyd influence), and the band She – with a bit of Criticism, Father Knows Best and Kevin (Who is Kevin?).

She describe themselves as a Post-Neo-Psych-Punk-Shoe-Gaze-Fusion band and hail from Ware with sounds along the line of Joy Division, The Smiths, Jesus & Mary Chain, The Horrors and Nirvana!

Music starts at about 9.45pm and admission is free both evenings.

Tearing your hair out already and you’re not even halfway through the long school summer holidays?

Need somewhere to take your little monkeys to keep them entertained while also letting off plenty of energy?

You’ll go ape if you overlook Woburn Safari Park this August and it’s unlikely your children wouldn’t give a monkeys if a trip is on the cards, writes Steve Sims.

You may well have guessed, but the park’s primates were number one with my kids when we visited Woburn on Sunday.

Both the Barbary Macaques and the Patas Monkeys found on the road safari, plus the Common Squirrel Monkey in the Monkey Business area of the foot safai gave rise to plenty of shrieks of laughter and excitement from my children.

The animal magic starts from the moment you drive into the park. But a quick tip, if the road safari looks busy head straight for the leisure area and foot safari, and hit the road again mid-afternoon when the route is much quieter.

That’s what we did and we were rewarded by some great views of the animals, the highlights being two Amur tiger lazing about on the roadside just yards from our car, a North American black bear roaming in very close proximity, a herd of Rothschild Giraffe’s crossing the track right in front of us as the keepers brought out some fresh food, and a male African Lion majestically surveying his territory.

As for those monkeys, it’s fun watching them jump on other people’s cars, although my son was out of luck as he repeatedly willed them to clamber up onto our bonnet, wing mirror or roof.

Woburn is adding all the time to its animal encounters in the foot safari area, which is great if, like us, you’ve visited a number of times over the years. The Desert Springs attraction is a great recent addition and is home to the hilarious Slender Tailed Meerkats, as well as Yellow Mongoose and African Crested Porcupine.

Our other favourites were Rainbow Landing where it was great to have the chance to venture into an indoor aviary and feed Lories and Lorikeets in free flight, Land of the Lemurs where the excitable animals will probably surprise you by suddenly landing on the walkway’s handrail centimetres away from you, and not forgetting the Sea Lions, Penguins, Great Woburn Railway, Mammoth Play Ark, and the Bobcat (“just one more go, dad”) Astro Slide.

There’s far too many attractions to mention them all, and one day just wasn’t enough to take in all that the park has to offer, including the timetable of talks and demonstrations throughout the day.

Never mind, we’ll just have to return soon then!

For more about the park see woburnsafari.co.uk

It has been a busy, but rewarding term for a group of swimmers at Linslade Crusaders.

The Learn to Swim group, who train on a Sunday evening, have worked extremely hard to obtain certificates at many levels, throughout the year.

Their hard work was acknowledged at their last swimming session on Sunday July 20, and Learn to Swim coach, Karen Boud, said: “We saw good attendance across all levels, which was shown through the impressive number of certificates that were awarded.”

The swimmers earned many different awards, from those who had swum a long distance, to those who have moved up into another group.

Skills awards were given to the following swimmers:

Penguin 1: Jemima Kimber, Daniel Longstaffe, Thomas Longstaffe, Eloise Pack, and Tegan Williams.

Penguin 2: Lucy Banham, Alyssa Clark, Jake Fox, Elle Lefere, Jude Powell, Humza Sheik and Evie Lane.

Penguin 3: Theo Carter, Cameron Gell, Joshua Harisson, Louis Smith, and Rowan Swallow.

Otter 1: Jacob Clark, Oscar Lambert, Charlie Mills, Neathen Willis, Clara Wood and Caoimhe Todd.

Otter 2: Amber Cordes, Isabella Freeman, Edward Jackson, Joshua Lane, Rhys Nicholas, Jack Rickard and Phoebe Wood.

Efforts Certificates were awarded to: Corban Powell, Stanley Regan, Henry Smith, Joshua Parrott, Emily Darvell, Cambell Ewing, Toby Millar, Callum Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Callum Cooper, and Aimee Gurney.

Distance awards were given to:

5 metre badges: Jemima Kimber, Thomas Longstaffe and Eloise Pack.

10 metre badges: Jemima Kimber, Thomas Longstaffe, Eloise Pack, Alyssa Clark, Jake Fox, Elle Lefrere, Mia Lefrere and Evie Lane.

25 metre badges: Oscar Lambert, Caiohme Todd, Joshua Lane, Rhys Nicholas and Jack Rickard.

50 metre badges: Isabella Freeman, Edward Jackson, Joshua Lane, Jack Rickard and Phoebe Wood.

Linslade Wood is one of three open spaces in Central Bedfordshire to be recognised as some of the best community-run green spaces in the country in the National Green Flag Awards 2014/15.

Linslade Wood, Studham Common and Flitton Moor have all been awarded with the Community Award for managing and improving the sites for everyone to enjoy, visit, appreciate and use as green spaces for healthy activities and quiet enjoyment.

The sites are also carefully managed to help improve them for wildlife and biodiversity. All three sites are managed by the council, with invaluable help from ‘Friends of’ groups who run work parties, fund raising activities, educational and guided walks and other events.

Councillor Brian Spurr said: “This is really fantastic news and our thanks go to the ‘Friends of’ groups who have put in so much work to achieve this accolade. Our own Countryside Access team oversee the parks and offer advice, tools, training and support through management plans and so on but we can’t accept these awards without acknowledging the hard graft that many local people put in too.”

Ken Barry, from Friends of Linslade Woods, added: “We are delighted that Linslade Woods has once again received the Green Flag Award. It provides recognition of all the hard work of the many volunteers and the Greensand Trust staff who have put so much time and effort into looking after the woods throughout the year. Green spaces such as Linslade Woods provide a much needed refuge for wildlife as well as being essential for the health and wellbeing of the local community. We in the Friends Group are all very pleased that this has been recognised once again with this Award.”

The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 volunteer experts who visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, access, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

For a full list of countryside sites that the council manages, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/countryside and see where you could go this summer.

Leighton Town ended their pre-season preparations on a high with a well-deserved 2-1 victory over an MK Dons side.

Dons kicked off and held on to possession for the first couple of minutes, looking good on the ground, easily making passes stick with Leighton just taking a step back to assess how they played.

Waiting paid off because when a mistake was made Danny Watson stepped straight in for the ball and managed to cross it to Phil Draycott, who took a shot but it went high and over the bar. Another chance for Leighton followed soon after but Watson over hit the ball to Mark Bunker and went out for a goal kick.

The tables turned quickly and Kabongo Tshimanaga managed to slip through Leighton’s defence and found himself one-on-one with Dan Child but the keeper had it covered and no harm was done. With Leighton maintaining possession of the ball they had a few more chances at goal but without success.

Leighton’s constant battling paid off and in the 17th minute, with some great passing from Warren Garcia and Michael Lyon, Jamie Nicholls slotted the ball home in the bottom left hand corner of the net putting Leighton into an early lead.

Leighton continued to play some great football, breaking away from Dons, but just not getting near enough to have a go at goal.

In the 34th minute Watson played a fabulous ball through to Michael Lyon but his powerful shot was stopped well by Charlie Burns.

The last minute of the first half saw Dons awarded with a free kick near the edge of the box. Harry Hickford was completely unmarked and headed the ball straight into the back of the net, taking it to a 1-1 draw.

With the second half underway a chance at goal for Leighton was immediate, with Charlie Burns spotted lingering out of his goal by Watson, Watson tried to curl the ball past the post into the net but was slightly wide.

Taylor brought some much needed height to the game and straight from the word go he managed to win the ball in the air from a goal kick, to find Garcia who played the play to an offside Watson.

The 55th minute saw Leighton win a throw in, which was launched high and long into the air and managed to find the head of Nicholls and into the net, putting Leighton 2-1 up.

A triple substitution for Leighton saw new signing Rory Pendergast come on to add some experience to the team, original Leighton player Aaron Fitzjon and Alvin Rajaram to boast the morale of the team.

Another chance for Watson to score came in the 60th minute when a brilliant cross from Pendergast found his feet but once again he hit the ball just wide of the post. An injured Gary Ridgway had to come off for Leighton and Ash Farmer took his place.

Some good combination of play was seen by Taylor and Pendergast, they managed to find Watson who crossed the ball into the box but there was no one there to sink the ball into the net.

Ben Tilney for MK Dons made a fantastic run with the ball from one half of the pitch to the other and it looked like he was onto a winner, until he came up against Leighton’s defence and lost the ball.

A precarious free kick was award just outside the box for MK Dons in the 67th minute but was blocked by Pendergast in the wall.

A mistake by Harry Hickford saw Charlie Burns have to chase the ball down to stop Leighton being awarded with a corner, but in the end some brilliant tackling from Fitzjon saw Leighton keep the ball with ease as they neared the final whistle.

Another triple substitution for Leighton in the last remaining minutes of the match saw Stefan Kemonga replaced Watson up front, Garcia off to make way for Danny Mullins and Dave Murphy was replaced by Jerry Lyons, also an original Leighton player.

The final whistle was heard and the final score ended up Leighton Town FC 2-1 MK Dons. Both teams played extremely well, not giving in during any stage of the game.

Leightons’ first game of the new season kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at home against Northwood FC.