A young dad-to-be took his own life by ingesting a massive overdose of morphine, an inquest has concluded.

Apprentice Nathan Barlow, 20, left home on November 26 last year to walk in the fields near his home in Hartwell Crescent, Leighton Buzzard.

The young man phoned his mum lying in the field off Stanbridge Road, having already taken the lethal dose.

As his mum, Sarah Jane Neale, rushed to contact emergency services, Nathan switched off his phone.

His body was found by police three days later, lying in the field with a knife in his hand.

At Thursday’s inquest at Ampthill, Mrs Neale fought back tears as she described her last day with her son, who was depressed after breaking up with his pregnant girlfriend.

She said: “It was about two o’clock in the afternoon. He said he was going out for a walk. I had a strange feeling all day. I went upstairs and there were lots of empty tablet packets. I dialled him and asked about the tablets.

“He said; ‘I’m so sorry mum, I can’t take the pain. I’ve took more tablets than I’ve ever taken in my life.’”

Mrs Neale wept as she added: “He was just a normal 20-year-old lad, who wanted what normal 20-year-old lads wanted.”

Nathan, who had attempted an overdose twice as a teenager, had led a troubled history in the months before he died.

On October 19, he was arrested in Bridge Street driving naked on a motorbike through town. He was detained under the Mental Health Act for treatment at Luton and Dunstable Hospital. He was discharged on October 21.

On October 23, Nathan was arrested after climbing on to the roof of his home threatening to throw himself from a chimney.

Police and the fire service were called to bring him down.

On this occasion a referral was made to the mental health crisis team and Nathan saw specialists until he was discharged on November 12 having shown “remarkable improvement”. He was put under the care of the mental health team from Crombie House, Leighton Buzzard, with his next appointment due on November 20 – which he later cancelled.

In a report commissioned by NHS South Essex Partnership Trust, it was noted that beyond a failure to make a referral to the crisis team after he was discharged on October 21, no other failings were noted.

Dr Shah of NHS SEPT, said: “In actual fact the step [detainment under the Mental Health Act] is quite a serious one. Detainment happens when doctors and nurses agree there is no other realistic option.

“It seems Nathan was a risk to himself if he was under the influence of drink or drugs.”

He described the risk as “constant but unpredictable”.

In his closing comment, coroner Tom Osborne said: “Due to his circumstances on 26 November, he’d had a lot to drink, took a huge amount of morphine and I accept the evidence given to me that the medical cause of his death was a fatal morphine toxicity.

“My findings are that Nathan died within hours if not an hour of making a phone call to his mother on 26 November.

“I also find that the steps taken by police when Nathan was reported to them as a missing person was both timely and appropriate.

“I also find that his unfortunate death in my view was probably inevitable. I am satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Nathan took his own life.”

A cause of death was registered as fatal morphine toxicity as the result of suicide while suffering from a psychiatric illness.

Luton Town Cedars Football Development Programme is now recruiting for players to participate in the programme during Academic Years 2015-17.

This Programme is one of a very small number in the country that offer a joint Football / A Level Programme giving players the opportunity to study for a minimum of 3 ‘A’ Levels whilst training for 8 hours a week under the guidance of a Luton Town ‘A’ and ‘B’ Licence Coach.

Players will also have the opportunity to participate in games in the Football Conference Youth Alliance and the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League.

The aim of this programme is to provide a continued football and academic education for U18 players who might not yet have reached their full potential physically or technically, who have been missed by other clubs, or have shown signs of being a late developer.

This programme gives its participants another 2 years in a Professional Club environment where they can strive to achieve their goal of becoming a full time scholar or professional player at Luton Town.

If you perform, opportunities will be given to train and play with the clubs Full Time Scholars.

Success stories so far include Harry Tamplin’s move from the programme back into a full time scholarship at Luton Town.

To be considered for the programme you need to be a current School Year 11 pupil who Academically will achieve: 5 GCSE passes at A* to C.

The 3 chosen ‘A’ Level Subjects must have GCSE passes A* to B. If you are unable to undertake 3 ‘A’ Levels you will not be accepted.

Final Grades are not a guarantee of acceptance. Cedars Upper School will have the discretion whether they decline or accept applications.

If you would like to register for a trial, or receive more information, email Stuart Smith on stuartsmith.ltfc@hotmail.co.uk

Bedfordshire slumped to a disappointing six wicket defeat against Norfolk in their MCCA Unicorns KO Trophy Group Two clash at Manor Park on Sunday.

After winning the toss, the visitors opted to bat first, but were soon struggling at 33-4 with Luke Thomas (0), Matthew Good (1), George Thurstance (5) and Charlie Thurston (14) all dismissed.

Andy Reynoldson was then joined by James Middlebrook, back from his spell with Yorkshire, but he lasted just five balls, bowled for five as the lower order also failed.

In the end, Reynoldson played a lone hand, as he hit four fours and a six during an unbeaten 61 from 108 balls, with Beds all out for 122 in the 45th over.

Beds’ new ball bowlers couldn’t deliver early wickets until Ed Wharton had Ben France caught by Nick Barden for 27. Colin Griggs gave the scoreline a sense of respectability by taking 3-34 from his 10 overs, but with no other bowler in the wickets column, Norfolk eased to 124-4 in the 33rd over to seal the win.

Beds host Norfolk in their opening MCCA Championship fixture of the season, which starts on Sunday, May 24 at Luton Town & Indians CC.

A mother and son team will be among the designers creating a Beautiful Border at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.

Garden designers, Cheryl Sibley and her son Luke, 25, of Wharf Cottage, can expect over 100,000 people to see their garden over the four days of the show at The NEC in June.

The 25-year-old said: “It is really nice to be involved in the event and it is great to see parts of my design involved.

“I have been doing this for four years now and my mum has been doing it for eight.

“I love designing gardens and it is nice working outside.”

The theme for this year’s border is Industrial Heritage Of The West Midlands.

The design that secured Luke and Cheryl there place at BBC Gardeners’ World Live was A Glass Act.

Luke added: “The inspiration for A Glass Act stems from the glass industry based in the Stourbridge region of the West Midlands.

“The Stourbridge area is recognised for producing some of the finest glass in the world.

“However, due to the effects of globalisation the industry in the region has almost been obliterated.

“Our garden shows the use of glass in a modern medium as a recycled mulch and waterfall.

“This will be used to represent water in an ornamental pond and showcase alternative uses for glass.”

The family gardening business, Sibley Gardening Solutions, offer a complete garden service, from the design, to the build and the long term maintenance.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

Tottenham Hotspur’s Terry Dyson, from the 1961 double cup winning side, will be the special guest at a Spurs Legends charity football match.

The charity match has been organised to raise money for Checkemlads, the Spurs Legend team will feature players from the 1980’s and 1990’s.

All money raised will go to the Testicular Cancer Awareness and Support Site.

Darren Eckersley, one of the event organisers, said: “We have spent the last year organising the event and our aim is to raise as much money for our chosen charity.

“A friend had testicular cancer and there wasn’t much awareness of the cancer, we want to change that and make people aware of not only the cancer, but also the support that is available. We want it to be a real family day out, there will be something for everyone, from a bouncy castle and face painting for the children to a barbecue and licensed bar for the adults.”

Professional football free styler, Steve Gray, will also be attending. The game is at Leighton Buzzard Football Club on Sunday, May 24, at 2pm, tickets are £5 for adults and £1 for children and OAPs.

Police and crime commissioner Olly Martins has ripped into an MP for comments made during an interview, which was given after Monday’s council tax referendum result.

In a letter to Richard Fuller, Tory MP for Bedford, Olly Martins wrote: “Congratulations on your re-election but you were talking utter rubbish on BBC Look East last night (Tuesday).

“I was struck that your public position on the police referendum now seems somewhat clearer than it was before the vote/general election.”

Mr Martins went on to argue that the referendum was a necessary evil, before adding: “Of course if you think scoring political points is more important than presenting a united front to resolve the longstanding underfunding of Bedfordshire Police that is a matter for you.”

During the televised interview on Monday night Mr Fuller blasted the PCC for “very poor judgement”.

He added: “(Olly Martins) is the only PCC across the country who cannot live within a budget increase of 2%, he asked for 16%.

“He was pretty much given a open field to make his case, he failed to do so, lost the referendum and as a result the taxpayers in Bedfordshire are now £600,000 down on the amount of money we have to support our police.”

On Thursday voters across the county were asked if they supported a 15.8% police precept increase, amounting to 48p extra a week for band D homeowners.

The plan was roundly dismissed at the polls, as 207,551 of 301,799 votes cast (68.7%) were against the hike.

With the referendum costing the force £600,000– which includes the cost of refunding taxpayers– calls have been made for Mr Martins to resign.

However the PCC has signalled his intent to remain in place.

He said: “While this is a very disappointing result it would be self indulgent and irresponsible for me to walk away. A by-election would cost over a million pounds to hold and given that the issue is a lack of finances I don’t think that would be a very sensible use of public money.

“(The cost) was £600,000 but it was in an endeavour to fill a £6 million looming financial shortfall.”

Mr Martins said that the decision will result in a recruitment freeze in the next 18 to 24 months and a reduction of up to 135 police officers.

He added: “Bedfordshire Police faces serious urban challenges but is funded as though it is a small rural force.

“As a result it has the worst financial position of any police force in the UK.”

The referendum was orchestrated by Mr Martins to raise an extra £4.5m a year for the force.

Mr Martins planned to use the warchest to pay for a hundred new officers across the county.

The PCC and chief constable Colette Paul now intend to meet with Home Secretary Theresa May to make a case for extra funds

Fire safety officers are warning of the dangers of spontaneous combustion after attending six cases of the phenomenon in the last 16 months.

The latest instance occurred at a launderette in Tilgate, Crawley, on Saturday May 2.

Investigations revealed that a fire broke out as a result of essential oils that had not been washed out of towels properly. After being tumble dried and stacked in piles the towels had spontaneously burst into flames.

The fire in Crawley is just the latest in a string of similar incidents that West Sussex crews have attended recently.

Last month it emerged that a fire at a hotel in Chichester, which took more than 50 firefighters to extinguish, was caused by oil residue on tea towels left in a tumble dryer.

Fire Investigation Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Richard Bradley, speaking after the latest incident, said:

“Spontaneous combustion might seem like a strange phenomenon for people to contemplate but my fire investigation colleagues around the country and I have been identifying a growing number of these types of incidents.

“Residue of grease or oil – particularly from vegetable and animal based fats – not properly washed out of linen can start a fire. The problem seems to arise when the wash cycle has not been hot enough to remove oil residue. If laundry is then heated in a tumble dryer it can ignite.

“We are doing all we can in West Sussex to raise awareness of this issue. We’ve produced a simple guidance poster and are in the process of contacting hotels, pubs, launderettes and other businesses and urging them to display the advice in their laundry rooms.”

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service advice:

Do:

Ensure wash temperatures and detergents are suitable for the optimum removal of oil based contaminants

Allow laundry to complete the cooling cycle in the tumble dryer

Shake out laundry to ventilate before folding or place garments on hangers

Ensure stack or pile is well ventilated

Clean filters, remove fluff, lint and debris from dryers and keep them regularly maintained

Don’t:

Place warm, damp laundry in polythene bags or plastic containers/baskets or in poorly ventilated areas

Leave freshly laundered fabrics stacked overnight

Remove laundry from the tumble dryer before completing the cooling cycle

Forget to test your smoke alarm – only working smoke alarms give an early warning to a developing fire!

Businesses can access further advice by visiting www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire calling 0330 0222 3333 or following @WSFRSFireSafety on Twitter.

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A company from Leighton Buzzard pleaded guilty to safety failings after a 19-year-old trainee design engineer lost his life.

Grundfos Pumps Limited, based on Grovebury Road, appeared at Reading Crown Court on Monday May 11 and pleaded guilty to breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

The company was fined £300,000, with costs of £115,000.

On March 30 2009, 19-year-old trainee design engineer, Jake Herring, died after coming into contact with a live 3 phase electrical system while unsupervised.

Jake was carrying our electrical testing work at the Grundfos Pumps Ltd factory in Windsor and was testing a live electrical control panel.

An unsafe system of work was found to be the cause of Jake’s death.

Grundfos Pumps Ltd were judged to have not adequately risk assessed the testing of live electrical panels to identify a safe system of work and failed to provide suitable training and supervision to undertake 3 phase live testing.

Inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, Paul Williams, said: “This tragic incident could and should have been avoided. Grundfos Pumps Limited’s failure to adequately risk assess the electrical testing process led to an unsafe system work being in place. Training and supervision arrangements were clearly inadequate.”

Speaking after the verdict, a spokesman from Grundfos said that Jake’s death had been met with “tremendous disbelief” by all concerned.

She added: “The company pleaded guilty to two charges brought against it by the HSE and they accept the penalty imposed by the court and note that, in passing sentence, the company’s overall good record in terms of health and safety and its prompt remedial measures were recognised by the judge.

“As a company we remain deeply saddened by Jake’s death. He was a valued and well liked employee who showed much promise. We continue to extend our condolences to his family and friends who remain in our thoughts.”

Leighton Buzzard Hockey Club took their U12s to Shefford & Sandy HC on Sunday for the their final action of a successful season.

Their first game was won 2-1 against Luton U12s with goals from Alex Edwards.

Game 2 was a 3-1 win against Shefford & Sandy with Goals from Alex, Samuel Munday and Finley Bell-Taylor.

In game three, after going 0-3 down within 10 minutes they showed great character to come back to equalise against winners St. Ives only to lose 6-7. Samuel scored a hat-trick, with a brace from Alex and another from Kai Bailey.

The honour of LBHC final playing action for the season fell to the U14s, who were playing together for the first time since the Bedford tournament in November.

Their first game showed this up as although the skills were there, the team work took a while to come back, but after going behind 0-3 in the first half against St Ives ‘A’, they found their Mojo and replied with a second half performance of four goals - two from James Trumper, and one each from from Josh Farnfield and Abbie Lawrence.

Their second game was a ons sided affair with LBHC winning 6-2 with a hat-trick from Josh Gale, one from Abbie and four from James.

The third game was even better with a thumping 9-0 win against St Ives ‘B’ with another four from James, three from Josh G and a goal apeice from Abbie and Josh F.

Commendations to Megan Claggett, Neve Cox and Emily Heale whole substituted in defence to keep the clean sheet along with GK Daniel Koolman, who at still 11 years was playing U14’s.

The draw in the first game ensured a tie for first place in the table, so under the rules of the competition, a final play-off game was played against St Ives ‘A’ which was exceedingly close but losing by 0-1.

This tournament provided the final junior playing for many of the U14s with many already playing with the senior section.

Toyota and Nissan are recalling 6.5m cars globally due to potentially faulty airbag inflators made by Takata, it has been announced.

Just under five million cars are being recalled by Toyota, including the Corolla, Vitz and other models made between March 2003 and November 2007, the car giant has said.

Nissan is recalling about 1.56m cars due to the same issue.

Toyota and Nissan said the recall was for ‘investigative purposes’ and no accidents or injuries have been reported.

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A male swan died in agony after being left at the roadside by a hit-and-run driver.

The incident happened on the morning of April 20 on the A4146 at Leighton Buzzard, where the swan was hit by the motorist who sped off.

A female driver later stopped to pick up the injured swan, and took him to Tiggywinkles animal hospital in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire.

She said: “Whoever hit him drove off and left him on the side of the road in a puddle of blood.

“He has a broken leg, ruptured air sac and has a gash in his side where his intestines have come through. They are hopeful he will pull through as he is young and alert at the moment.

“All I can say is shame on the person who did this and drove off, I don’t know how you sleep at night.”

A Beds Police spokesman said: “We were called to reports of a swan being hit by a vehicle on the A4146 at 7.45am on Monday, 20 April. The swan was recovered.”

Les Stocker, founder of Tiggywinkles, confirmed that the cob later died from its severe injuries.

A countryside campaigner from Leighton Buzzard has been recognised for 20 years of dedication to the protection of the environment.

Thurstan Adburgham, 77, of Harrow Road, has been awarded the CPRE Countryside Medal by the charity and was presented with the honour at the annual meeting, and is the highest a branch can award volunteers.

Thurstan has been a staunch defender of Bedfordshire’s countryside, including the Green Belt and Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, campaigning and engaging in the local planning system against developments that threaten them.

He said: “I first became involved with CPRE in the mid-1990s, at the time the Linslade Western Bypass was being worked up into its final form. This local issue was one that led me down a path of involvement in countryside and landscape protection issues across Bedfordshire as a whole.”

Having been involved in numerous campaigns over 20 years, Thurstan has three particular highlights where CPRE played a key part in seeing off schemes that were very damaging to the Leighton’s surroundings – the Bloor Homes proposal for 199 houses on Green Belt land at the top of Stoke Road, the Haven Developments proposal for a ‘retirement complex’ on Green Belt land alongside Linslade Woods, and the Paul Newman proposal for a 900 home urban extension at Valley Farm, on the west side of Linslade.

He said: “All these cases went to appeal following initial refusal, and all three appeals – at which I gave evidence on behalf of CPRE - were dismissed. Unfortunately, Paul Newman have come back again with a revised scheme for 300 houses – CPRE is objecting to this also.”

Over the years there have been a few disappoints too, however.

He said: “Here at Leighton, the major one is our failure to prevent the 2,500 home urban extension on the east side of the town, which not just pushes sprawl out into attractive Green Belt countryside but will in our view have grossly unsustainable adverse impacts on the town and its surroundings, particularly in terms of traffic generation and congestion.

“We argued for a much smaller extension of up to 500 homes – one that would be tailored to the future needs of the town’s own population rather than supplying homes for people coming in from outside the local area. However, this line of argument did not prevail.”

CPRE Bedfordshire’s chairman Gerry Sansom presented the award and said: “Thurstan has established himself as a vigorous and dedicated local campaigner and is a hugely effective champion of the South Bedfordshire countryside.”

Thurstan added: “The task of protecting the area’s fine countryside from inappropriate developments is immensely important for future generations.

“Although there has inevitably been some disappointments over the years, there have also been many noteworthy successes, which has made the job hugely satisfying and worthwhile. It is work in which I have been both glad and proud to play a part.”

Four Cedars Upper school students have handed out a golfing lesson to rivals in the Bedfordshire Schools handicap championships.

Topping the Cedars hit-parade was 14-year-old Callum Campbell, who was crowned Champion after scoring a trophy winning 41 points in windy conditions at the South Beds club.

Callum, whose father Maurice is Director of Golf at Leighton’s Plantation Road club where he heads a three-strong professional coaching team, is now playing off a handicap of 18 after just two years in the sport.

Ben Proud, 14, a 10-handicap golfer, pipped by Callum for the individual title, teamed up with school friends Freya Daniels, 14, and Ollie Banwell, 15, to win the County Team Handicap title with 76 points.

Freya lost out on the Girls championship she won last year, defeated on the last hole by Georgia Staroscik from Bedford Girls school. A second team from Cedars finished fourth.

The Cedars golfers will now represent Bedfordshire in the NASUWT Schools team championships in July, while Callum, Ben and Freya have also been selected to join the Bedfordshire Schools squad for the George McPartlin inter-County Trophy where they will play against teams from Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Essex in July.

Buzzard Blinds boss Barry Wills won Leighton’s latest Stableford competition with 42 points, beating Peter Gadsden by a single shot.

Roger Guyver took third spot with 40 points ahead of David Roberts, with Shaun Harris, Jason Brooks, Steve Boud, Chris Yirrell, Mike Bluett, Mark Knight and Jeff Wood in hot pursuit with 39 points.

Three pairs tied for top spot each with 39 points in Leighton’s Mixed Greensomes competition, with Sandra Bellis and Mick Myatt taking the title on countback from Judy Ammon and Graham Richmond whose playing partners Mark and Kate Knight would have won had they scored a point on their last hole of the day.

Father-and-son Russell and Josh Rowles are the new holders of Leighton’s Dennis Jordan Trophy, winning the event with 43 points, three clear of runners-up Shane Bentley and Gary Hart.

Tim Hobday and Stuart Goodwin pipped John Ager and Barry Wills for third place after both pairs finished with 38 points, one ahead of Stuart Lesley and Mick Myatt.

A last hole win by Vice Captain Ada Stephenson and Simon Rossiter earned Leighton’s inter-club match team a 3-3 draw at Buckingham. Manny Barker and Steve Light and Mark Hammond and Nick King had earlier won for Leighton.

Leighton Seniors toppled The Bedfordshire 4-2 but their six match unbeaten run was ended – by their own club colleagues.

David Minister and Mike Bluett, Fred Ritchie and Terry Lingham, Harry Adam and Michael Turner and Robbie John and John Halstead won against The Bedfordshire, with skipper Terry Wright and Martin Broadley and Peter Jones and Geoff Allatt halving their games.

But they were no match for the Club team for whom wins by Graham Freer and Mark McLoughlin, Ada Stephenson and Derek Richards, Jamie Stone and Steve Kimber, David Hawkins and Simon Rossiter and Phil Coumbe and David Coleman secured a 5-1 win.

Die Hard in a forest – just with the Bruce Willis role morphed into a young teenage kid. If you like the sound of that, then Big Game is the film for you (writes Matt Adcock).

When Air Force One is shot down by terrorists over a rural mountainous area of Finland, the President of the United States (Samuel L Jackson) is stranded in the wilderness, and finds himself hunted down by a team of ruthless mercenaries.

Fortunately for the president, 13-year old Oskari (Onni Tommila) is passing on his own hunting mission – trying to prove his maturity to his kinsfolk by bagging a worthy trophy. But after meeting Jackson he decides to try and save the life of the most powerful man on the planet instead and a nail-biting game of hide’n’seek’n’kill ensues.

The scenario of tooled-up terrorists fighting the unlikely duo of heroes is a lot of fun and Big Game delivers plenty of quality action scenes. Director Jalmari Helander is obviously a fan of cheesy big budget action flicks, jamming in references and nods to previous classics.

Jackson is good as the president, playing him as less of an action guy than in some of the recent president-under-attack films such as White House Down.

This allows young Tommila to shine and steal the movie in what should be a career kick-starting role. The evil boss Hazar (Mehmet Kurtulus) is suitably nasty and without wanting to spoil anything – it may just be that there is a double agent somewhere too.

The juxtaposition of high tech weaponry sporting bad guys vs bow and arrow carrying hunter makes for great cat and mouse peril situations. There are echoes of Predator, Commando and Rambo scattered in this movie which will please 1980s action film fans.

There is also a wry sense of humour at work that really helps lift what could have been an entirely disposable enterprise to be film worth checking out. The only down time is in between the set-pieces, where it feels a bit of lag – the bods in the Pentagon control room who include Jim Broadbent humming and haaring over the action from afar via satellite footage just isn’t as fun to watch.

Big Game is the perfect introduction to the action movie for younger teens as it keeps the violence moderate and the swears minimal – but packs enough punch to make it watchable for all ages.

Mr Wrong, Mr Right and Mr I-Probably-Shouldn’t. Unravel the ever-perplexing world of dating with Sex in Suburbia at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 20.

Former Brookside star and television personality Claire Sweeney is back with a brand new comedy about life’s three biggest mysteries; dating, men and finding Mr Right.

Not content with her already rich and varied CV, Claire decided to add script-writing to her list of skills as the co-writer of Sex in Suburbia.

She found inspiration for the show during an impromptu chat with her friends about disastrous dating experiences – something to which many may be able to relate.

And when the audience was left in fits of laughter at the play’s opening, Claire knew that she had struck comedy gold.

Penny Crowe is the host of a late-night radio phone-in.

As Britain’s leading Agony Aunt, she takes calls about every date from hell and the occasional one from heaven.

She is more than happy to dish out relationship advice, but is she as happy to take it?

Packed full of sensational songs including I’m Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and Somebody Else’s Guy, this is a show that will make you laugh, cry and dance in the aisles.

Tickets cost £24 and £22, with discounts available for Friends of the Grove Theatre, concessions and wheelchair users.

For more information or to book tickets, call the box office on 01582 60 20 80 or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk

The Women’s Institute Centenary Baton has been officially passed on.

The baton arrived on April 28 at the end of the Buckinghamshire leg of its national tour, which marks the 100th anniversary of the WI’s formation.

It was a fitting climax to a journey round Britain’s oldest WI Federation, as Ivinghoe and Pitstone is Buckinghamshire’s oldest county institute, due to celebrate its own centenary in 2017.

The baton arrived at Ivinghoe Lawn carried by local president Tessa Smith.

The Lawn was set out like a mini-village fete and there was a special afternoon tea at Ivinghoe Old School Community Hub before a brief 
ceremony where the baton was passed to on to Bedfordshire WI.

Jenny Street, chair of Buckinghamshire Federation, said, “It’s been a fantastic week. The baton has travelled in and been escorted by a great array of modes of transport, including a fleet of six Harley Davidsons, six different vintage cars, a tractor, a canal barge and a push bike, as well as on foot.”

Gamers who place pre-orders for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 will get their hands on the beta for what is set to be one of the biggest releases of the year.

Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners can start pre-ordering the highly anticipated first person shooter ahead of its slated November release.

Those that do will get the chance to access the beta which Activision and developer Treyarch are said to be close to launching.

Microsoft has reported that pre-ordering the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Digital Edition will allow Xbox One players to get the base game as well as the exclusive access to the upcoming multiplayer beta, while the Digital Deluxe Edition will come with the base game, the Season Pass, exclusive access to the multiplayer beta AND a number of DLC packages.

The standard issue of the game on PS4 will include the exclusive beta access, as well as two pre-order bonuses in some regions – only North America has been confirmed so far.

They will also be available in the PlayStation Store edition of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Digital Deluxe Edition, as well as a Season Pass and other upcoming downloadable content.

So what’s the hype all about? Well the Black Ops series is one of the best selling video games franchises of all time with the first release in 2010 selling 25 million copies worldwide raking in more than $1 billion in the process.

The third instalment in the series will feature a number of new gameplay additions aimed at providing a “better shooter game experience’”

The game will introduce the first female playable character in the history of the Call of Duty game franchise.

Black Ops 3 will also be available on PC when it is released on November 6.

Leighton and Linslade Croquet Club won their opening match of the East Anglian Federation Level League, beating Chelmsford and Bentley.

The first game was the doubles between Roger Stroud and John Thorp (Leighton Linslade) against John Skuse and Tony Frewin ( Chelmsford and Bentley, and Jean and David ball (Leighton Linslade) against Bob Jones and Paul Bridgman (Chelmsford and Bentley). Two more games were played before lunch where the scores were even.

After a late lunch two more games each were played, and the visitors began to stretch their legs.

Their dominance after lunch saw them take a comfortable 11-5 victory.

The Chairman thanked John Cundell for being overall Manager and those who set up the lawns, scorers and caterers.

There will be three other level play games thoughout the summer not to mention the handicap league.

The club are also hosting a National B level competition for members with a handicap of 3-8 and a level C competition with the handicaps of 8-12.

A Leighton Buzzard couple had plenty to cheer about at the Mr and Miss Bedfordshire awards.

Tom Jones was crowned Mr Bedfordshire at his debut pageant and his girlfriend Emily Grace Batchelor came second runner up and was crowned Miss Charity Bedfordshire and Miss Fitness.

It was the third time that the 23-year-old had won the Miss Charity title.

She raised over £1,300 for Beauty With A Purpose, the Miss World charity that helps disabled and disadvantaged children in England.

She said: “We had a great night, a lot of the girls from last year were there and it was great to catch up with them.

“I am so proud of Tom, he did great to win. I want to thank everyone that kindly donated to Beauty With A Purpose, my sponsor Michael Di Meo, Fogarty for lending Tom his suit and Expressions Salon for helping me prepare for the day.

“I am proud to have won this title and will continue to raise money for such a great charity.”

Tom, 23, of Eggington, had no plans to enter the pageant, he was at the auditions accompanying Emily.

He said: “Sunday night was fantastic, Emily and I had a lot of support from family and friends and the rugby lads came down to support me as well.

“It feels great to have won, I did not expect but I am extremely competitive and am very glad I did.”

Tom used to play for Leighton Buzzard Rugby Football Club but has a prolapsed disc in his spine which has kept him out of action, he expects to get a lot of stick from his team mates about the award.

Next up for Tom is the Mr England final in August, he added: “Now I have had a taster I am taking it seriously to win!

“It would be a dream to be Mr England and represent our country at Mr World.”

Emily, a teaching assistant at Greenleas Lower School, has been awarded a place in the semi final of Miss England.

The highlight of the Young Farmers’ year took place on Saturday when the Bedfordshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs held their 68th Country Show & Rally at Herne Manor Farm in Toddington, writes Peter Humphreys.

This year the event was hosted by the Woburn & District Young Farmers’ Club and Heathcote Farms Ltd.

Over 2,500 people attended; 400 of who were members and the rest friends, family and public who had come out to see the young people take part in their competitions.

The county is made from seven clubs; Bedford, Biggleswade, Blunham, Leighton Buzzard, North Beds, Silsoe and Woburn who are all part of the 25,000 members in the National Federation.

The day started at 7am with the flower arrangers creating a variety of wonderful displays, some of which could easily be taken for those of professional florists.

Whilst this was happening other members were dropping off their prepared cookery and handicrafts entries, which ranged from fruit sculptures, knitting and sewing to wooden garden toys.

As well as individual members competing against one another, they were many club events. There was a live flower class to decorate a bicycle won by Bedford with Leighton Buzzard coming second. A life-size papier-mâché cow painted showing various cuts of meat was won by Leighton Buzzard. The junior tug of war was won by Blunham, the senior men’s team was won by Woburn and the senior ladies won by Leighton Buzzard. Other events included scarecrow making, pottery and sausage making.

Champion Ram was awarded to Henry Hunt, Dairy Animal to Jack Fuller, Beef Heifer to Will Ludgate and Best Breeding Pig to Henry Shaw. Biggleswade members Hettie Rogers won the under 14.2hh show jumping class and Ella Rogers won the over 14.2hh. Clare Kennedy of Woburn took home many pieces of silverware by gaining the most points in the handicrafts and cookery sections. She also left sporting a banner declaring her Miss Beds YFC along with Roger Parrish who was crowned Mr Handsome Harvester. Helen Humphreys won the trophy for most points gained in the flower arranging classes.

The final event of the day was the much-anticipated decorated floats. With the theme of famous families, trailers were dedicated to The Simpsons, Thunderbirds, Flintstones, Addams Family, Trotters, Mario Brothers and The Weasleys. After each club had paraded around the main ring, dressed in the style of their float and the judging had been announced, the long awaited flour and water fight took place.

A special thank you goes to the Robinson family for hosting the day and to the rally committee for organising this and several other events in the run-up.

> Split into Junior, Intermediate and Senior; people can join Young Farmers at any age from 10 to 26 and enjoy a wide variety of meetings and talks which take place at least once a week throughout the year. Further information and photos of all YFC events at www.bedsyfc.co.uk .