Arlesey Town kicked off their pre-season with a 3-1 win against an MK Dons development side thanks goals from James Hatch, Lorrel Smith and Nathan Hillare.

This weekend, the Blues travel to Crawley Green this weekend, while Arlesey will begin the defence of their Red Insure Cup at home to Biggleswade Town after the draw was announced.

Blues full pre-season schedule: July 23: Langford H (Jan Anderson Trophy). July 27: Aylesbury FC H. July 30: Barton Rovers H (John Milton Plate). Aug 3: Stotfold A. Aug 6: Royston Town A. Aug 10: Hayes & Yeading H.

Dunstable Water Polo retained their trophy as they triumphed in the annual Biggleswade Tournament on Saturday.

Teams from Ipswich, Biggleswade, Hatfield, Spalding and Milton Keynes also took part.

In the group stages Dunstable were on form as they thrashed Biggleswade 9-0 thanks to some excellent passing, moving and counter-attacking, before drawing 1-1 against Milton Keynes as both teams produced some fantastic goalkeeping.

Dunstable then played group winners Hatfield in the semi-finals as they clinched a 2-1 victory in the last minute.

In the final, undefeated Spalding scored an early game in a fast-paced encounter.

However, some excellent movement saw the goals flow as Dunstable eventually triumphed 7-4.

Dunstable: Matthew Ridout, Charlie Costin, Ian Williams, Tim Hutton, Dave Ridout, Sam Parry, Martin Hacket, Guy Venner, Ryan Currell.

Get closer to nature.

A walk at The Lodge RSPB reserve in Sandy will focus on stillness and silence using meditation, breathing and awareness.

It will be from 11am to 12.30pm on Saturday, July 20. Book on 01767 680541.

Motown fans will be in for a treat on Friday (July 19) when a top nostalgia night comes to Chronicle Country.

Whats Goin’ On? at Wyboston Lakes will include a three-course meal and a performance by leading Motown tribute band Sounds of the Four Tops.

There will also be a bar and disco until 1am.

For more information or to book tickets see www.wybostonlakes.co.uk

Those looking for a more rock-orientated night out might like to head to the Engineer’s Arms in Henlow on Friday. Four-piece 3 Days of Freedom will be playing rock covers and originals at the venue.

Rock, pop and blues will be on the agenda at The Chequers in Wrestlingworth when Vintage Stuff play there on Friday.

On Saturday (July 20) Ollie and Will are due to play modern covers at Potton & District Club.

PistonZ will be laying down some rock covers at the Roundabout Club in Sandy on the same night.

Punk rock will be the sound of choice at The Red Lion pub in Clifton, also on Saturday courtesy of The Synthetix.

You can also catch the Unbreakables at the Cornerstone in Shefford on Saturday.

“Today at the edge of our hope, at the end of our time, we have chosen to believe in each other! Today we face the monsters that are at our door, today we are cancelling the apocalypse!”

There are echoes of Independence Day as, in the near future, giant Kaijus monsters rise from a portal beneath the Pacific Ocean and start to lay waste to our cities, and millions die.

In order to combat these Godzilla-like monsters, we humans create a new type of weapon – massive, piloted battle robots called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are bound in a neural link which lets them share the mental strain which would otherwise overwhelm a single human noggin.

The Jaeger programme under the command of Stacker Pentecost (Idris ‘Luther’ Elba) looks like might just work as we take the fight to the monsters, but as new Kaiju begin to adapt and we start losing Jaegers at an alarming rate, earth’s leaders decide to divert funding into building a Wall Of Life to try and keep the monsters at bay.

All clear so far? Well, what you really need to know is that respected director Guillermo ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ del Toro takes on Michael ‘Transformers’ Bay at his own game here and comes away victorious with a totally epic big budget blockbuster that sees some of the best special effects ever committed to screen used to bring the action to edge-of-your-seat life.

There were moments when I couldn’t help watching my 12-year-old son’s reaction to the on screen fights – he was wide-eyed and completely captivated to the point where he was making punching motions urging on the heroic Jaegers.

“That was awesome,” he told me afterwards. The boy is right.

The brave Jaeger pilots include Raleigh Becket (Charlie ‘Byker Grove’ Hunnam), a washed-up former pilot called out of retirement by the Pan Pacific Defense Corps who has to team up with Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), who was rescued from the Kaiju that killed her parents as a young girl.

There are also a Russian team and a hotshot Australian team, who are obviously better at piloting giant robots than they are at cricket.

With the complete annihilation of the human race at stake, the few final Jaegers are marshalled in a daring attempt to get a nuclear warhead into the breach and stop the Kaijus once and for all. You’ll be cheering them all the way as Pacific Rim delivers a megaton thrill-ride that demands your attention on the big screen.

See what star Idris Elba has to say about the movie in our video report

More than £30,000 is to be spent on building new play equipment in Biggleswade.

Kitelands and Franklins Recreation Grounds and Foxglove Drive and Heather Drive have been earmarked for the new items by Biggleswade Town Council.

Funding will come from Section 106 money which has been paid by developers building new housing in the town.

The new equipment could include an aeroskate and a new climbing net.

The recommendations were made by the 
town council’s public land and open spaces committee .

All three sites are popular with young families in the town.

The recommendations were adopted at a meeting of the town council on Tuesday (July 9).

A painter will be putting on an exhibition for the public.

Artist Mary Booth will be holding the exhibition of her work at Potton Community Centre on Saturday, July 20 from 10am to 5pm.

Biggleswade Town kicked off their home pre-season friendlies with the high-profile visit of League One side Stevenage on Saturday.

More than 500 spectators enjoyed an entertaining game at the Carlsberg Stadium on the hottest day of the year so far, with Stevenage running out 6-0 winners.

The first half was a real battle with Waders holding their high-ranking opponents until just before half time, when Luke Freeman found the net with a sharp strike.

Omara Tounkara made it 2-0 with a bullet header shortly after the interval.

He grabbed a second as Stevenage exerted their dominance in the last half hour whilst Dani Lopez also bagged a brace and Matt Ball also netted.

Despite the lop-sided scoreline it was a good workout for the newly-promoted Waders who more than held their own for the first hour.

They now take on Conference side Luton Town in the Beds Premier Cup Final this evening.

The fire service was in action this morning (Monday, July 12).

This fire engine was parked by the side of UK Fried Chicken and Pizza as people were entering Biggleswade to go to work at 9am.

A hose led from the vehicle in St Andrew’s Street down the alleyway behind the fast food place.

A video can be seen, above.

A pub has become the heart of its community once more.

The Cock in Broom is set to become a free house at the end of the month.

The pub, which is currently owned by Greene King, was earmarked for closure and possible development last year.

But since licensees, Michelle Rowell and Nick Smith, took over in February the watering hole’s fortunes have been reversed.

It has been purchased by Mike Kane, whose company, Camelot Inns, is based in Shefford.

From July 31 Michelle and Nick will continue to serve customers under the new ownership.

The Cock has been serving locals since 1829. It is known as the pub with no bar as ale is dispensed directly from a cellar in the middle of the trading rooms.

The pub is a listed building with its interior listed by National Heritage.

Customers can stop by for drinks only or good pub food sourced from local suppliers.

Although I often try to offer helpful suggestions about how the world could be a better place, I don’t see it as part of my wide-ranging remit to set out the standards society expects when it comes to social situations.

Pippa Middleton and I have a loose agreement – she’ll have a clear field on blindingly obvious party planning tips and I’m free to tackle anything else, as long as I resist the temptation to slip on a figure-hugging dress and steal her thunder.

But this week I have to take a step onto unfamiliar ground in order offer the following simple guidance, which I hope will prove of use:

1. If you are attending a family gathering for approaching 30 people, and you are expected to bring a dish, just bring the dish that was expected. Please.

2. If you had agreed to provide a trifle, arrive at the appointed time with a finished trifle, in a bowl, with cling film on it. If you insist on hundreds and thousands, it’s your call. Leave out the banana, though, because it’s disgusting.

3. Resist the temptation to just wing it, having seen a finished conversation-stopper dessert in a picture in some glossy magazine and decided that it’s just what will help the party go with a swing. It isn’t. Particularly if you haven’t even got the recipe.

4. On arrival at the gathering in question, if the host is manfully laying out a buffet spread of sufficient size and range to satisfy a small town do not expect to be able to monopolise large areas of the kitchen at a moment’s notice.

5. Do not, on any account, produce a whole watermelon, some cartons of cream, and a selection of chopped fruit and set to work.

6. If you can avoid it, don’t buttonhole the host as he dashes from bread-chopping to salad-tossing to drink serving and ask him for a large knife, a chopping board, an electric mixer and bowl and two large plates.

7. Try to anticipate that, once you have hacked away at the watermelon, whipped up the cream, and arranged the fruit to your heart’s desire, creating something that looks like the bastard child of a baked Alaska and a pavlova, that your hard-pressed host – having carefully catered for a large group, with a range of main course and dessert options, may not easily be able to set aside about half the available fridge space to accommodate your double whammy surprise so that it doesn’t disintegrate before serving time on the hottest day of the year. The fridge is already full, and he’s got bread to chop.

8. Guinea pigs do not like watermelon. Well, they might like watermelon but not when it is covered with cream.

9. If you are hosting a family event in the near future, and you request similar support, be prepared for surprises. Revenge, as we all know, is a dessert dish best served cold.

By Alan Wooding

I’ve always been surprised how such a silly and ridiculous storyline with its host of weird and wonderful over-the-top characters has for over 40 years remained such a huge hit… but Richard O’Brien’s masterpiece still packs ‘em in!

Opening in Milton Keynes Theatre last night (Monday) for a week long run, The Rocky Horror Show is a theatrical gem which for the past four decades has encouraged audience participation in a big way.

With so many theatre-goers loving to dress up for what has become a classic cult show, just to see and enjoy some of their outrageous get-ups means it’s almost a separate show in itself!

Many know the script almost as well as the cast do. Some love to leap to their feet and join in by shouting comical observations (and often obscenities!) at the cast which, in years gone by has included such stars as Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Jerry Stringer and even Meatloaf.

On its previous tour to Milton Keynes, it featured the then disgraced politicians Neil and Christine Hamilton who were more than happy to put on basques, fishnet stockings and heavy make up amid cheer and jeers from the audience.

Perhaps better known as compare of the popular television show The Crystal Maze, Richard O’Brien is reputed to have written the whole show (music, lyrics and staging) in just three weeks. It opened to rave reviews at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square in June 1973 and was quickly transferred to the West End where it began to enjoy a cult-like status.

Alongside Richard in the original show – which had an audience of just 63 paying guests – were pop singer Julie Covington (Don’t Cry For Me Argentina), Tim Curry and Irish comedy actress/singer Patricia Quinn as Magenta.

Meanwhile the 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, still gets a regular airing and that makes it easily the longest running theatrical release in film history.

It’s a story about innocent sweethearts Brad (Sam Attwater) and fiancee Janet (Dani Harmer) and their meeting with charismatic transvestite Frank-N-Furter (Oliver Thornton) after their car gets a puncture a couple of miles from his castle. They then knock on his door and ask to use the phone as there were no mobile phones in those days!

Once inside they meet variety of grotesque characters who try to corrupt them in this bold, brash and often very rude musical. In many ways it’s a liberating experience while the simple but effective set is more akin to a cheap B-string horror movie.

Thornton is absolutely brilliant in the role of ‘Frank’ which was made famous by Tim Curry while he’s certainly no stranger to top West End shows having appeared in the likes of Phantom, Les Mis, Starlight Express and Chicago. His experience certainly shows through as he delivers ‘Sweet Transvestite’ and what is a real show-stopper, ‘I’m Going Home’.

As in the Frankenstein story, Frank-N-Furter has created the ‘ideal man’, a blonde and tanned muscular male named ‘Rocky’ (Henry Davis) who is an absolute nutter.

There are plenty of raucous moments, with the rather camp Olly attempting to ‘deflower’ Janet and that means it really isn’t a show for children under 16 as it has plenty of sexual content and innuendoes.

The Narrator’s part is brilliantly handled by Philip Franks who is perhaps best known for his role alongside David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones in television’s The Darling Buds of May while he was also the tiresome police chief in popular ITV series, Heartbeat.

Franks is a perfect stand-up comedian who professionally deals with all the heckles and boos and he gives as good as he gets. Seemingly taking everything in his stride, he almost remains aloof as the crazy action goes on all around him… but that’s only until he appears in stockings and suspenders at the end!

Former EastEnder and 2011 Dancing on Ice winner Attwater takes on the role of Brad with confidence and he’s got a pretty reasonable voice as has Harmer (Strictly Come Dancing and Tracy Beaker) who is excellent as the demure Janet.

However the show’s feature song in the first act is led by the screechy voice of Kristian Lavercombe in the role of Riff Raff and, with everyone in the audience on their feet, ‘The Time Warp’ goes into overdrive.

It’s a cracking number and is reprised at the end of this 100 minute show which makes little sense to anyone not familiar with O’Brien’s strange and weird sense of humour.

It is opened – and closed! – by blonde cinema usherette (Abigail Jaye) who also plays Magenta while Ceris Hine provides another high-pitched screechy voice as Columbia who also adds a little tap dancing number for good measure.

There’s a superb five piece band which needs to come in at the right time ahead of some difficult verbal cues as the audience is often making so much racket!

In reality The Rocky Horror Show is a good old-fashioned 1970s style rock musical which has a great cast, great music and plenty of silliness. But the highlight of the entire evening comes with the legendary ‘Time Warp’, the whole audience leaping from their seats to take part.

It’s really bonkers, often outrageous and is tongue in cheek but you can’t ignore it. The Rocky Horror Show certainly breaks the traditional mould of musical theatre and it’s still being played to packed audiences. In fact it’s even bigger than ever today!

The Rocky Horror Show runs in Milton Keynes until Saturday (June 20) and you can book by calling the box office on 08448 717652 or go online at www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Beds Premier Cup

Biggleswade Town 1 Luton Town 1 (Luton win 3-2 on penalties)

Luton Town picked up their first piece of silverware of the season with a penalty shootout victory over Southern League Premier Division side Biggleswade Town this evening, writes Mike Simmonds.

After the game had finished 1-1 with substitute Zane Banton netting for Hatters, it was Luton who held their nerve during the spotkicks, as keeper Ben Barnes saved twice, while Lee Allinson fired over to ensure Town had their name on the cup.

Although Town boss John Still had intimated the likes of transfer-listed duo Scott Rendell and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner might get a game, neither did, with Luton’s team made up mainly of youth teamers and trialists taking the field.

The most impressive of the new faces was midfielder Aman Verma, 26, on the books of Leicester City as a youngster and who had recently been with Maltese Premier League club Floriana.

Central defender Graham Hutchison, who was at Lincoln before earning a move to then Premier League club Birmingham also featured, as did former Norwich City youngster, striker Dominic St Louis.

With a gleaming cup up for grabs, Town made their intentions known from the off as Jim Stevenson slid in with a rash challenge on Brett Donnelly, with the pair booked after the Waders man retaliated.

A lively start from the hosts saw Deekan Napier nutmeg JJ O’Donnell, but his cross shot was blocked, while Waders skipper Steven Gentle nodded against the bar.

Town didn’t really get going in the opening half an hour, although Verma looked assured in possession and eager to keep things ticking over in the middle of the park.

Charlie Smith then started to show his box of tricks, wriggling away and seeing a blast charged down, while from the rebound, Jake Woolley’s swivel and drive forced a smart save from Sam Wyer.

Waders quickly made five changes with half an hour gone, on a night where rolling substitutes were allowed.

Town keeper Ben Barnes was called into action, parrying low down from Alex Witham, before clasping another daisycutter from Callum Lewis.

With time ticking down to the break, Stevenson almost opened the scoring, only to send his snapshot sailing over.

The deadlock was broken just minutes after half time as Dubi Ogbonna wreaked havoc on the right flank and his pinpoint cross was thrashed home on the volley by Witham.

Town then made four changes on the hour with Zac Stephens, Banton, Arel Amu and Inda Aujil all coming on.

The move paid dividends immediately as with the extra impetus Luton were level when O’Donnell’s delightful cross was deftly volleyed into the net by Banton with virtually his first touch.

Fellow sub Amu then almost scored with a screamer, but his dipping piledriver from fully 25 yards left Wyer a spectator but cannoned against the bar and out again as Jake Woolley made a mess of the rebound.

Hatters then were robbed of what looked a legitimate goal with Woolley collectinh a one-two and rolling his shot into the bottom corner, only to see the offside flag raised.

An exciting finale saw Smith’s neat effort come back off the post, while Banton’s skimming drive was well handled by Wyer.

Biggleswade also finished strongly, with Joel Mason inches away from a low cross, while Witham could have won it with virtually the last kick, but hammered against the post.

That meant penalties as ax York netted for Waders, with O’Donnell replying, before Kevin Kilroy and Indu Aujil both saw their efforts saved.

Callum Lewis and Charlie Smith traded successful finishes, before Barnes blocked Mason’s low attempt with his trailing leg.

Banton sent Wyer the wrong way and Allinson’s Andre Pirlo attempt didn’t pay off as he scooped over the bar, meaning it was Luton who were crowned champions.

Waders: Sam Wyer, Max York, Andrew Iwediuno, Kevin Kilroy, Steven Gentle, Lee Allinson, Craig Daniel, Luke Knight, Brett Donnelly, Deekan Napier, Joel Mason.

Subs: Cam Mawer, Mark Coulson, Dubi Ogbonna, Callum Lewis, Alex Witham.

Hatters: Ben Barnes, Brett Longden, JJ O’Donnell, Alex Lacey (Zac Stephens 60), Graham Hutchison, James Stevenson (Indi Aujila), Ian Rees (Charlie Smith 80), Aman Verma, Jake Woolley, Dominic St Louis (Zane Banton 60), Charlie Smith (Arel Amu 60).

Sub not used: Adam Whybrow.

For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, MOM poll, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our {http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/hatters-microsite|Hatters Microsite|Click here for the Hatters Microsite}.

What originally prompted Sandra Shevey’s visit to the Riviera markets is the proximity of France to Italy and that, based in Menton Garavan, you can virtually walk into Ventimiglia – the first market town on the Italian side of the frontier.

It was exciting to stay at Menton Garavan (the same precinct which Queen Victoria visited during her own stay) as the road in the run up to the frontier has not been enlarged and the cars which approach do so at a perilous pace.

This is the road which Mussolini traversed in consequence of or at the start of some big World War II summit and locals of a certain age still can remember the cortege of cars and the ceremony of that very visit.

Physically only minutes away from the Italian border, the journey, culturally-speaking, takes light years. The French and the Italian Rivieras are separated by a looming time gap.

Menton panders for tourism. It is a posh retirement city, becoming less posh every year with more yachts and more residential apartments crowding the place. The market, scaled down, is expensive and the restaurants, whilst probably still family affairs, generally have a resident chef and/or general manager.

Liguria in northern Italy which forms the other half of the Riviera is a working province. Ventimiglia is a working town with a harbour dominated largely by fishing boats. This is about to change with consent having been given for a yacht basin but which, hopefully, will not change the town too dramatically.

Ventimiglia hosts a massive general market on Friday which on Thursday is held in Bordighera and on Saturday in San Remo (where they have the famous music festival)

The general market on Friday merely supplements the daily food market which runs within the remit of the old Mediterranean market hall daily (8am-1pm). Similarity of architecture with food halls in Menton, Cannes and Nice confirms the Italian legacy via the Dukes of Genoa.

Ventimiglia`s market commenced as an open market selling flowers in 1900. Fruit and vegetables were added in 1920. The market was enclosed in 1951.

I enjoyed possibly the best latte I have ever tasted at Bar Canada at the Ventimiglia market. Locals engage in chat about the Pompeo Mariani Museum garden and olive tree and/or the bridge at Dolceaqua which was painted by Monet; about the unchanged hill villages and old towns of Ventimiglia and Bordighera.

There’s supposed to be an unsurpassingly good pizza restaurant just over the hill in Ventimiglia old town. Unfortunately my trip was too brief... but next time!

That said, the old market is located in the new town which is funny when you consider what they mean by new dates back to 1900.

Italians love their food, perhaps even more than the French and thus everything sold, including the fish, is local and probably caught and/or picked the same day. What fun it is to wander around Ventimiglia’s old fish market.

On display are huge swordfish, with swords ejecting from heads. There are large shrimp and sardines; fresh squid and octopus. Clams are so fresh they were crawling along the beach that morning. One kilo costs 8 Euros.

It is hard to get your head around it, but produce at this market is so fresh it remains ridden with dirt or sand or nettles or grass.

This is the first market where I have actually seen green olives which are sold unpickled. I am offered one to try. The taste is flat but succulent. There is fresh Genovese pesto (Liguria is where it originates because basil took root in Liguria) and many local cheeses. The smells stimulate the senses. Cured meats and fresh butter are purveyed.

Fresh chestnuts, walnuts (just picked from the forest), guava, and black olives (loose, unpickled) are stuffed into sacks or barrels in a manner reminiscent of the way many of us remember shopping from times past.

The days have all but disappeared when you can pinch a pickle from a barrel and walk around the Petticoat Lane market munching it. As a matter of fact the London Gherkin building if anything is but a symbol of the death of London`s old street markets- street markets which have been incorporated into something else- something much grander – foodie markets!

I swear it... I have never seen such beautiful produce anywhere in the world. Stall after stall showcases tires of fresh farmhouse cheeses; cured meats – Mortadella... slices so large they`d fill for a week... and `Testa Cassetta` (natural cut ham seasoned with salt, pepper, herbs, spices, pine nuts and wine) `The best cut`, they tell me.

Porcini (piglet and the ruling class of delicate fungi) mushrooms (with nettles) abound; so too white peaches, coil courgettes (as large as marrows and a specialty of the region) and huge avocados.

OK. A lunch stop at the pizza counter. In Liguria you have to say ‘white’ or ‘red’. ‘Red means pizza without cheese, anchovies or garlic and just with tomatoe sauce.

There are twenty types of pasta all fresh daily: fusilli, ravioli, orecchiette, tortellini, gnocchi and others. Sauces include olive, mushroom, tomato, Belgian, Bolognese, pesto, picante and black sauce.

There’s a wonderful table which flaunts EU health and safety regulations and where mushrooms are displayed loose. The smell – the wonderful deep rich aroma of fields and pine needles and herbs and nettles. I plump for some huge Porcini mushrooms which I’ll cook up later that night with some pasta. The mushrooms, like much fruit and veg on sale, is cut open so you can see first hand freshness and firmness.

Small farmers dump their produce in the centre aisle of the hall directly onto the tables. Some of it is not even in boxes and/or crates.

The delicacy of produce is remarkable. There are types and hybrids you never knew existed. Baby broccoli abounds as do baby peppers (a specialty of Liguria) which you eat raw but are best when grilled. Here too are peas in a pod (rare yellow pods).

There is a table laden with fresh tomatoe sauce which a lady farmer makes herself. Only a few jars are left (she only does 4/5 jars daily). Still available at 11am are jars of olive oil, pickled olives and pickled mushrooms. Another market gardener sells fresh apples just picked... warm and rosy and still with leaves. Yum!

So it is with great, great reluctance that I depart this town of culinary delights and make for Bordighera and the general market which swamps the town every Thursday. It’s only a short distance to Bordighera but I`d advise arriving by train to take advantage of the railway bar where you can buy a glass of house wine for 80p and knock it back whilst tucking into pro bono tapas (Parmesan cheese, ham, crisps and bread)

Bordighera is a real time warp. It remains within the 1920s orbit and surprising little engagement with the modern world. The general market which dates back to 1930 runs along the boardwalk and the sea. There is no yacht marina. The market boasts about 200 stalls. The general market starts at 7am and concludes at 1:30pm (sharp)

There is some imitation stuff from China... a few Asian traders selling Asian goods... but most of it is Italian... silk, cashmere, and leather. Great stuff at knockdown prices. Buyers arrive from all over the world.

I chatted to a Danish woman buying two hand-finished reversible leather handbags- brown on one side, grey on the other. Cost- 25 Euros. In London’s Bond Street shops these handbags would be priced at £300.

What a treat to walk along the boardwalk smelling the brine, basking in the sun, browsing, chatting... what a day!

Cashmere scarves single ply were selling for 30 Euros. Double ply for 55 Euros. Double ply sweaters retailed for 45 Euros. Voluminous wool shawls – Italian in all colours – were priced at 20 Euros. 100 percent pure silk head scarves priced at 10 Euros were quickly disappearing whilst cashmere/wool Italian shawls also went quickly.

The day ended with tea at a cafe- one of those for which Bordighera is famed – an interior which dates back to the Twenties, maybe centuries earlier. Who knows? I feasted on baciolis Bordighera (chocolate biscuits filled with chocolate cream) ‘Bac’ means ‘kiss’ in Italian.

My sojourn around the French and Italian Riviera convinces of one thing: if nothing else there remains in this world places whilst on the map are so remote, so unaffected, so unworldly you feel when there in a sort of dream or fantasy... a dream from which you really do not want to awaken.

Thomas Stearns ‘TS’ Eliot used to visit friends at Menton Garavan... friends who lived in a villa on the site of the accommodation where I was staying. Was this what prompted him to write about human voices awakening us and we drown? Perhaps!

Sandra Shevey runs English-speaking tours of the Italian and French Riviera street markets. For more details see http://sandrashevey.tripod.com/market.walks or contact her at sandra_shevey@yahoo.com while hospitality was provided courtesy of www.sudpre.com

A care home where a 100-year-old woman died following a fall has been forced to close down, it has been confirmed.

Meppershall Care Home had already been banned from accepting new residents by Central Beds Council following a highly critical report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC has taken the decision to remove the home’s licence, and residents will now be moved to other homes.

A spokesman for the CQC said: “The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent action to protect the safety and welfare of people at Meppershall Care Home in Meppershall, Bedfordshire.

“Following concerns about the service, and working with Central Bedfordshire Council, CQC has taken urgent action to remove the location from the provider’s registration. This means that the provider can no longer run a care home from the location.

“Throughout this time CQC has been working closely with Central Bedfordshire Council which, we understand, is now making arrangements to ensure people who have been using the service are found suitable care alternatives.

“CQC had already taken action to close part of Lavender House (the home’s dementia care unit) and to prevent the provider being able to admit any further people to home as a whole.

“We have been monitoring the service very closely and have been working with our partner agencies, such as Central Bedfordshire Council, with regard to the safety and welfare of people using the service.

“Any action CQC takes is open to appeal.”

A spokesperson for GA Projects, which runs the home said: “We are devastated by the decision of the CQC to enforce closure of Meppershall Care Home. “We were officially informed on Sunday (July 14) at 3pm.

“While we acknowledge that there were areas of poor care we believe that we should have been allowed to correct these deficiencies.

“We have proposed alternatives to the CQC, to prevent the relocation of residents as this should be a last resort as the disruption caused by relocation can be detrimental and in our opinion our residents are now facing greater risks than the authorities deemed them to be while in Meppershall Care Home.”

The home is still being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive after an 
inquest found that May Ward died of multiple injuries sustained in the fall from a hoist in 2010.

Volunteers are sought as a charity seeks to set up new Good Neighbour Schemes (GNS) around Chronicle Country.

The Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) is starting new GNSs in Sandy, Shefford, Stotfold and Meppershall.

The schemes provide help to residents in need, and see volunteers help them with everything from lifts in their cars to shopping and even changing light bulbs.

Rosie Kind from the BRCC, who is helping to set up the schemes said: “There are currently more than 30 parishes in Bedfordshire which have set up Good Neighbour and village care schemes with support from the BRCC.

“They are voluntary initiatives run by residents who recognise the value in having good neighbours, especially in rural areas where public transport and other similar services can be limited and where people’s family members may not live close by.”

All sections of the community can benefit from the schemes, Rosie said.

She added: “People tend to think that Good Neighbour initiatives are set up more to benefit elderly residents but they can help people at all stages of life.

“There was one scheme for example which came to the assistance of a young couple who had both been involved in a car accident and who needed their neighbours’ help for a month or so.”

Each volunteer decides what sort of help they are able to offer, how much time they can give and when they will be available.

All helpers are fully insured and CRB checked and a GNS mobile phone number is made available to residents who may need it.

Calls are answered by a phone handler who matches the request for assistance with an available volunteer.

The GNS in Biggleswade is also in need of new volunteers.

Anyone who would like to help out or find out more about the schemes can contact Rosie Kind on 01234 834936 or email rosiek@
bedsrcc.org.uk

The BRCC is the leading community development agency working across Bedfordshire.

The organisation believes that everyone should have the best possible opportunity to be involved in a thriving community, and to access employment, services, housing and the natural environment – regardless of where they live in the county.

In case you’ve missed the steamroller cum snowball of perfectly polite hype that’s been building over the past few weeks, this week’s big film is The World’s End and that’s a reason to be cheerful.

Why? Because it reunites the fanboy mashup dream team of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright who are routinely described as ‘the gang behind Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz’ – which, to be fair, they are.

The set-up starts with a familiar slacker storyline, with Pegg the perennial adolescent who is determined to get his old gang back together to complete an epic pub crawl that they never quite managed as teenage tipplers 20 years before.

Everyone else, of course – Frost, together with Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan – have all grown up, taken on adult responsibilities and are no longer ready to drop everything for a massive booze-up.

But pestering Pegg persuades them to come on board, and it’s just as well – because it turns out that this motley crew is all that stands between humanity and its ultimate destruction.

Quite how that all comes about isn’t really important – it’s just the set-up that allows another turn around the ‘ordinary and slightly hopeless blokes have to confront extraordinary peril’ scenario complete with a goodly supply of jokes, all sorts of movie references and a tight and controlled story that rattles along to its conclusion.

While Shaun Of The Dead became a massive cult hit on the back of the realisation that Pegg and Frost pretty much were a pair of real life slacker manchildren given the chance to play with a movie and paying homage to their favourite flicks, that connection is harder to believe now that both are bona fide movie stars, not to mention movers and shakers on the British comedy scene.

But as a team they know not to fiddle with a winning formula or give in to grandiose ideas once they have a couple of hits under their belts. The World’s End is a solid, if not spectacular, comedy conclusion to what people keep calling the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy without, you would suspect, knowing why.

See what Simon Pegg had to say at the film’s premiere in our video report

Busy bee Nicolas Cage is back in front of the camera in The Frozen Ground, a serial killer thriller based on a true story in which our sleepy-eyed star is an Alaskan state trooper doing his level best to bring a crazed kook to justice, with the help of his only surviving victim

John Cusack, who is increasingly becoming flavour of the month for buttoned-down psychos, is the grade A baddy who abducts women, takes them off into the snowy wilderness and then hunts them down for sport. There’s some well-crafted tension and stunning scenery as well.

One in five people viewing a potential home asks whether it is haunted, according to a new survey.

Research by property firm Move with Us uncovered a range of bizarre questions that estate agents are asked when conducting property viewings

200 independent estate agents were asked to contribute to the survey, with the query about ghosts being one of the most common.

One property viewer even tried to connect to the ‘other side’ in the hall way just to make sure. Another viewer said she would welcome spirits in the house as she ‘likes the company’

Another popular question, asked by 13 per cent of viewers, was about what’s included in the property purchase – and that doesn’t mean just the normal fixtures and fittings.

One man asked the estate agent: ‘Would the vendor be prepared to include the parrot?’

Also popular were questions about animals, and included ‘Does the roof have a squirrel problem?’, ‘Do the cows moo loudly?’ and ‘Are those cows always in the field?’

Only six per cent of questions were about the neighbours. The most random questions include ‘do the neighbours eat a lot of chips?’ and ‘How many cats do all the neighbours have?’

Some other somewhat bewildering questions included; ‘Is the kitchen inside or outside?’, ‘Can I try before I buy?’, and ‘Is there insulation in the garden?’

Move With Us director Robin King said: “Although the data that we’ve collated is amusing it does highlight the importance of buyers needing to be better equipped with as much information as possible before visiting a property.

“Knowing what questions to ask and doing a little bit of research is the best tactic and ensures that buyers have all the information they need to make an informed decision on their home purchase, avoiding any disappointments or regrets further along in the process.

“Jotting down the questions you want answering prior to attending a viewing is always a good idea as often your heart can take over and rule your head before you’ve considered the more practical aspects.”

Staff, governors and pupils at a middle school are celebrating after it received a glowing Ofsted report.

Inspectors who visited Edward Peake Middle School in Biggleswade earlier this month have 
given an overall rating of ‘good’, while the behaviour and safety of pupils is said to be ‘outstanding.’

Headteacher Mandy Reddick is especially pleased as the last Ofsted report published in 2009 awarded the school an overall ‘satisfactory’ rating.

Mrs Reddick, who has been headteacher at the school for four years said: “We have made a great deal of progress at Edward Peake since the last inspection was carried out and we are especially pleased with the rating given for the pupils’ behaviour.

“We believe strongly that learning improves significantly when children are happier and better behaved.”

Janet Law, chairman of the governors at Edward Peake Middle said: “This is an excellent report and it is a great credit to the hard work and dedication of Mandy and to that of all of the staff and governors that the school has been rated so highly.”

To watch a video about the report see www.biggles
wadetoday.co.uk

Friendly: Hitchin Town 0 (0) Luton Town 4 (0)

A fantastic end to the second half saw the Hatters net four quickfire goals to dismiss Hitchin Town 4-0 at Top Field this evening, writes Mark Wood.

A first half high on effort but low on action gave way to a goal-filled second half as Jon Shaw, Shaun Whalley, David Martin and Jonathan Smith all netted in a frantic finish as the Town recorded a comprehensive victory over their Calor Southern League Premier Division hosts.

Luton named a strong side for tonight’s game at Top Field as former Birmingham and Lincoln defender Graham Hutchinson, 20, was named on the bench having played against Biggleswade last night.

Solomon Taiwo flashed an effort wide from a half-cleared corner early on before Town forced a succession of corners that came to naught.

A good flick from Shaw released Andre Gray on 13 minutes but his final ball was poor and his touch then let him down when Martin’s short corner ran to him in the box.

Taiwo curled a promising free-kick harmlessly wide, before a positive burst from Whalley took him past two men, but Shaw was just unable to connect with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Another fleet-footed run by Whalley caused the crowd to stir on a sweltering evening as there was a frisson every time the former Southport man got the ball.

At the other end Robbie Burns’ touch let him down as he tried to latch on to Rogan McGeorge’s pass before the Canaries should have taken the lead on 32 minutes.

Another canny pass by McGeorge allowed Burns to sneak in behind Jake Howells, but ex-Hatter Ryan Charles could only stab against the bar from close range.

A dangerous Whalley cross was well gathered by Tahj Bell with Shaw lurking, but Hitchin were coming into the game more as Burns’ curler was well held and Callum Donnelly then struck tamely at Mark Tyler after a good pass from Charles.

The lively Whalley struck straight at the keeper and Charles whistled wide of the target as both teams seemed to lack a cutting edge.

But it was the Canaries who were finishing the half stronger and a mistake at the back allowed the ball to break to break to Charles with five minutes left whose bouncing bomb from 20 yards was helped past the post by Tyler.

Luton made three changes at the break as Alex Lacey, Gray and Taiwo were replaced by Smith, Mark Cullen and Hutchinson.

Town almost had too much time when Whalley’s cross went begging early on in the second half, before Shaw could only block Cullen’s goal-bound volley wide as he tried to divert it home from close range.

Lovely one-touch play between Luke Guttidge and Cullen ended in the former Northampton man seeing his shot blocked as Whalley then failed to get away an effort, while Hitchin broke at pace at the other end and substitute Michael King blasted wastefully over from Donnelly’s pass on 56 minutes.

Jim Stevenson replaced Guttridge on the hour and almost scored with his first touch when he burst on to Whalley’s clever pass but failed to connect properly as the chance went begging.

Cullen’s flick header from Martin’s free-kick then ran inches wide as the game started to become more stretched.

The Hatters then missed a gilt-edged opportunity as Cullen thundered against the bar from close range for the second game in a row. Shaw was just unable to turn Martin’s near-post free-kick home and Bell pushed the ball to Cullen a yard out, but he could only smash against the bar from a yard out.

But Luton did finally break the deadlock on 74 minutes when Whalley’s inviting cross was confidently glanced home by Shaw in a combination Town supporters will hope becomes all too familiar this season.

At the other end captain Ronnie Henry did well to block substitute Jack Gregson’s low drive, before the Hatters doubled their lead with 11 minutes to go.

Another teasing run saw Whalley jink his way into the area and a combination of Jack Beckett and Lewis Rolfe clipped the winger who tumbled to the floor as the referee pointed to the spot.

Whalley dusted himself down before confidently firing home down the middle.

Hitchin looked to respond as Charles’ drive was deflected just wide off Hutchinson, while a Whalley firecracker from the edge of the area was almost spilled by the keeper.

However, the Hatters blitzkrieg finished the job with a third goal in nine minutes as a brilliant pass found Martin in space and his low drive across goal nestled inside the bottom right-hand corner.

Martin whistled a sharp drive high into the side netting in the closing minutes before Town rounded off a fabulous night in the very last minute when Martin’s deep cross was powered home by the onrushing Smith at the far post to make it 4-0.

Canaries: Tahj Bell, Nyasha Sagwete (Michael King), Josh Bickerstaff (Lewis Rolfe 46), Ryan Frater (C, Jack Gregson 72), Daniel Webb (Myles Tang Unsure 88), Sam Barker (Lewis Rolfe 46), Rogan McGeorge (Unsure 83), Callum Donnelly, Ryan Charles (Unsure 88), Robbie Burns (Luke Donnelly 70), Michael Noone (Jack Beckett 66). Substitutes not used: Gary Wharton, Lucas Kirkpatrick, Adam Sartini.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ronnie Henry (C), Jake Howells, Alex Lacey (Graham Hutchinson 46), Andy Parry, Shaun Whalley, Solomon Taiwo (Jonathan Smith 46), Jon Shaw, Andre Gray (Mark Cullen 46), David Martin, Luke Guttridge (Jim Stevenson 60). Substitutes not used: Elliot Justham.

Referee: G Evetts.

Assistant Referees: L Jesspo and P Parkins.

Attendance: 1,103.

For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, MOM poll, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our {http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/hatters-microsite|Hatters Microsite|Click here for the Hatters Microsite}.