A 17-year-old boy from Shefford has been charged after a robbery in Langford.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with robbery and possession of a knife in a public place in relation to the incident on 30 July.
He was also charged with possession of a Class A drug in connection to another incident, and remains under investigation for a number of other violent offences.
The boy has been remanded and is due to appear in court again later this month.
A man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for multiple offences, including fraud, theft and criminal damage.
Mark Loveridge, 41, of Cople, pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle, and fraud by false representation, after using a bank card that he took from the car.
Loveridge was also convicted of criminal damage and attempted theft for using a drill on a parking meter in Luton. He was spotted on CCTV and apprehended by officers, who found him in possession of £37.67 in change.
A suspended sentence was also revoked as part of the sentence at Luton Crown Court on 3 August (Friday).
Luke Skelton, investigating officer, said: “I am really pleased that Loveridge has been sentenced at crown court today, following hard work to secure charges for multiple offences.
“He has no regard for the law, or the effect his actions could have, particularly on the young woman whose bank card he stole.”
Muslim women are forced to wear niqab headscarves to “hide their bruises” according to Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries.
The controversial Tory MP made the claim on her Twitter account this week, as she offered her support to former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
She wrote: “No woman in a liberal, progressive society should be forced to cover up her beauty or her bruises.
“Boris didn’t go far enough. France, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, they aren’t on their knees in apology.”
Ms Dorries was a supporter of Mr Johnson when he made his abortive bid to become Conservative leader in 2016.
He resigned from the cabinet last month, and in a newspaper column this week compared fully veiled Muslim women to “letter boxes” and “bank robbers”.
Bedford Borough Labour councillor Louise Jackson was unimpressed.
She said: “It’s just dog whistle politics.
“These remarks are not only deeply offensive, but are nothing to do with protecting the rights of any woman of Muslim faith or otherwise, and are instead everything to do with shoring up her choice of Tory party leader, Boris Johnson, who is himself a national disgrace.”
She added: “I am doubtful that she has actually spoken to many Muslim women to ask their views – but I’m just as uncomfortable with Nadine Dorries telling women what to wear as I would be anyone else.”
North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt also took the opposite view to Ms Dorries.
Mr Burt, who served with Mr Johnson as a Foreign Office minister, was the first Conservative frontbencher to publicly condemn Mr Johnson’s remarks.
He said: “I would never have made such a comment. I think there is a degree of offence in that, absolutely right.”
Ms Dorries was not available for comment.
Do you recognise these men?
British Transport Police would like to speak to them after bikes were stolen from Arlesey station on two occasions – on 13 and 17 July.
Officers would like to speak to the men in these images as they believe they may have information about the incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, with reference 1800050693.
Central Bedfordshire Council is asking residents for feedback on its leisure centres and how to encourage those who don’t currently use them.
The feedback will help to improve future services at the six leisure centres provided by the council in Chronicle country, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard.
It includes Sandy Sports Centre and Saxon Leisure Centre in Biggleswade which has a planned refurbishment of its pool changing rooms in 2018/19.
Activity can improve health and reduce the risk of major illnesses. People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
It can lower the risk of early death. Research also shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing the risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Councillor Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “One of our main priorities is improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.
“Back in January 2013, we adopted a new leisure strategy which provided £40million investment to support active lifestyles and help improve public health.
“At a time when public services across the country are being squeezed, we have invested in new and improved leisure facilities.
“We’ve seen the numbers of people using the leisure centres increase, but we want to know what else we can do to encourage more people to use them. We’re seeking feedback from users and non-users of our leisure centres.”
The survey runs until 16 September 2018, and is available at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations or the public can pick up a paper copy from a local library or leisure centre.
The future’s bright, the future’s two-tier primary and secondary education.
For Central Bedfordshire pupils that is considered the best way forward, as the council explores options to tackle extensive growth in the region.
With a proportion of its schools still within a three-tier structure, there’s a cautious approach on the part of Central Bedfordshire Council to fully commit to the two-tier structure at this stage.
But a report to a meeting of its executive said the council will “actively promote that any new schools to be built will be primary or secondary”.
And the local authority vows “to support schools and clusters that want to work towards a primary and secondary model”.
There are eight cluster areas in Central Bedfordshire including Biggleswade, Sandy, and Shefford and Stotfold.
“The challenge we face is up to 43,000 new homes in the area by 2035,” according to Stotfold and Langford councillor Steve Dixon.
“For the next five years, it will be something just shy of 10,000 new school places against a current capacity of just under 42,000, so a fairly substantial increase.
“That’s in the order of seven new secondary or 18 new primary schools,” he told Tuesday’s executive meeting.
The aim is to “facilitate, not to dictate,” according to Cllr Dixon, executive member for families, education and children.
Historically, Central Bedfordshire has operated a three-tier model of lower, middle and upper schools.
But a council statement said: “Schools have had more freedom to convert to academies in recent years, which are run by trusts and not the local authority.
“They can change their age ranges with more becoming primary and secondary. However, uncoordinated change can affect the viability of other schools in the local area,” according to the statement.
“So, the council has been working collaboratively with all Central Bedfordshire schools and the Department for Education to understand what will be required up until 2035.”
Silsoe and Shillington Cllr Alison Graham told the meeting: “If a cluster wants to work towards whatever, what happens if there’s disunity within the cluster?” she asked.
“What happens if the village schools wish to remain lower schools because they don’t fancy four-year-olds being bussed away to larger conurbations?
“There are enormous values to the local schools in terms of their communities,” explained councillor Graham.
But she questioned the feasibility of schools to convert their structure, saying: “My local lower school couldn’t begin to pay for its extensions.
Cllr Dixon admitted he doesn’t know what the cost will be at this stage, or what specific requests will be made by clusters.
Arlesey Cllr Ian Dalgarno said there was one area lacking, as there wasn’t much about special needs education provision.
But Cllr Dixon replied: “We are looking at enhanced SEND provision going forward.”
The executive unanimously approved the plan to “actively promote that any new schools will be primary or secondary” and “to support schools and clusters that want to work towards a primary and secondary model”.
A Detective Chief Inspector for Bedfordshire Police was found to have committed gross misconduct after searching the force’s database for details about the ex-partner of a family member.
DCI Chris Beresford resigned from his role in February after 20 years’ service.
He was found to have breached professional standards and would have faced instant dismissal had he still have been a serving officer.
A special case hearing held at Bedfordshire Police HQ on Wednesday (8 August) heard how Beresford had accessed force computer systems outside of his role on numerous occasions between November 2015 and October 2016.
An investigation was launched in January by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Professional Standards Department which found he had accessed a crime report, custody record, case documents and a restraining order and sent emails to outside agencies and websites in relation to the ex-partner of a family member with no policing reason.
He was interviewed and subsequently criminally cautioned for two offences under the Data Protection Act and Computer Misuse Act.
Although Beresford had already resigned from the force, a decision was made in 2017 that all gross misconduct cases must continue to their conclusion.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher chaired the misconduct hearing and formally dismissed Beresford, who did not attend the hearing but was represented by the Police Federation.
Mr Boutcher said: “Chris Beresford abused his position to repeatedly access personal information of an individual with no proper policing purpose. He accepted his criminal acts by accepting a criminal caution in May. Having looked at the circumstances of this case presented to me, I consider that he is fortunate not to have faced criminal charges.
“Police officers are trusted with access to a large amount of personal data and it is imperative that information is handled responsibly and appropriately.
“This was a breach of that trust and an abuse of his powers which let his colleagues down and could well damage the reputation of the force. Such behaviour has no place in policing and is gravely injurious to the relationship between the public and the police. It is in the public interest to ensure the swift and immediate cessation of the careers of any police officers who fail to live up to the high standards expected both by the organisation and the public in this regard.”
The 30C-plus heatwave won’t be the only thing likely to go off the heat scale.
Notorious British-grown hot chilli pepper, the Carolina Reaper, is set to be up to 20 per cent more potent this year because of the extra sunshine.
They are exclusively grown by Blunham farmer Salvatore Genovese, who is the UK’s largest chilli pepper grower.
Salvatore said: “I’ve found that chilli peppers become more potent the hotter the weather.
“Basically if the plant gets stressed because of extra sunshine and hotter temperatures or through drought then it will bear hotter fruit.”
Salvatore started growing chilli peppers after he took over his parents’ cucumber business and now grows around one million each week for the UK market. The chilli - the world’s hottest commercially grown pepper - is on sale from this week exclusively at Tesco.
Struggling to keep up to date with the major planning applications currently hitting Chronicle Country?
Welcome to our column of what’s planned, what’s been approved and what’s heading down the pipeline in the area.
Another month, and already two planning applications have been received by CBC.
On Stockbridge Road in Henlow there is an outline planning bid for up to 45 dwellings. And in Clifton, on land west of New Road, there is an outline planning application for up to 130 dwellings.
In the August CBC Development Control committee meeting next Wednesday a bid for 24 houses on land at the rear of 7-37 Barton Road, Gravenhurst is to be considered. There are 15 local objections to the plan.
A development of 44 houses on Barford Road, Blunham, is also seeking to change part of its approved plans, stating that making three bungalows only to be sold to the over 55s, is too restrictive.
In the pipeline:
> Up to 228 homes Sunderland Road, Sandy.
> Land at Bonds Lane and Foundry Lane Biggleswade, 50 apartments.
> Loft Farm and west of Church Street, Langford, Outline plans for up to 95 dwellings.
> Hitchin Road, Shefford, Outline plans for up to 150 homes.
> Arlesey Road, Stotfold, 161 dwellings.
> Land between 21 and 39 Thorncote Road Northill, outline plans for 10 dwellings.
> Baden Powell Way, Biggleswade, full planning bid for 240 homes plus outline plans for 1,260 dwellings
Total seeking approval so far in August - 175.
Total seeking approval so far in July – 2,194.
The total of approved homes and outline plans for June/July is 1,010.
Opinion by James Jamieson, leader of Central Bedfordshire Council
Following another “crunch” meeting at Northants County Council, the national press has been full of stories about the challenges local authorities face in funding core services with increasingly reduced funds.
Our core grant from Government which eight years ago represented a third of our funding has been reduced to zero, whilst demand for our services has increased.
Everyone tends to think of the council’s services being those things that we all use and expect, such refuse collection, libraries and street cleaning. These are the things that local people believe they pay for through Council Tax.
Whilst that’s true, it is in fact some of the less visible but equally vital services that put the most pressure on local authorities and council tax payers.
Services such as looking after the 300 children and young people who cannot be cared for by their natural families and for whom the council acts as parents, ensuring they are safe, cared for and supported to fulfil the potential each of them has.
And at the other end of the age spectrum is our growing population of older residents, who are living longer lives with increasingly complex care needs. Whilst many older people live amazingly active and independent lives, the demands on the council to provide care and support to adults who may be vulnerable as well as children are definitely on the up.
The Northamptonshire case has raised the profile of these challenges and the need for a long-term plan to ensure we are able, as a civilised society, to ensure we can safeguard care services.
Funding is key but it’s not the whole story in my view.
There is much we can do by changing the way we work across the health and care system to increase our efficiency and cost effectiveness.
We’ve based our discharge team in hospital to cut down the time people have to wait to leave hospital when they need care after they get home. Working across hospital and social work teams means they can get the right care in place quicker, and it frees up beds faster too.
We’re also taking on Community Wellbeing Champions across the area. They will work alongside existing local Good Neighbour or Village Care schemes and GPs to help people with long-term health conditions who might benefit from non-clinical services. Not only does this cut down pressure on your local doctors’ surgery, it improves wellbeing and reduces loneliness for those people.
It is right that we have a national debate about resourcing of health and care services and I am actively contributing to this at a national level. And its equally important that at a local level we are making sure the way we run and develop our services is always designed to avoid unnecessary spending, eliminate waste and maximise the value of investment for our customers.
A number of pedestrians have been injured after an incident outside the Houses of Parliament, police have confirmed.
A crash involving a car has taken place by the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament earlier this morning.
An armed response team is on the scene, as well as a significant emergency services presence.
The man driving the car has been arrested.
Metropolitan Police tweeted: ‘At 0737hrs today, a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament.
‘The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene. A number of pedestrians have been injured. Officers remain at the scene.
‘We will issue further info when we have it.’
Rare nocturnal birds have nested and raised chicks at the RSPB reserve in Sandy for the first time in almost half a century.
The RSPB has reported that nightjars are breeding at The Lodge nature reserve for the first time since 1973, 45 years ago.
A single pair of the birds have nested and raised chicks on an area of restored heathland on the reserve.
Birdwatcher Neil Bostock was the first to discover the birds on June 3, when, on a regular walk of the site, he heard the “churring” call of a male nightjar. Later, the male and female birds were seen engaging in mating displays, signally their intent to breed.
Nightjars nest on the ground, using their cryptic camouflage to stay hidden during the day, and only come out after dark to feed on moths and other flying insects, making them notoriously elusive and difficult to see.
This means that while all the signs point to their having a nest and chicks, confirmation that they have successfully reared young, and how many, will have to wait until after they have finished nesting.
Peter Bradley, senior site manager at The Lodge, said: “We’re over the moon, not only because these amazing birds have returned to the reserve and appear to be breeding here for the first time in so many years, but that they have chosen to nest on a part of the reserve where we expressly set about recreating the kind of heathland habitat used by nesting nightjars that has historically been lost for this and many other parts of the country.
“It is a great success story for The Lodge and for everyone who has been involved in the heathland re-creation work here over the last 15 years.”
Between 1972 and 1992, the nightjar’s population distribution, or range, in the UK contracted in area by almost 50% due primarily to habitat loss.
Since then there are signs that nightjar numbers at least have increased, even if they have not returned to a lot of the places where they once bred. This recovery is thought to be down to efforts to restore lost heathland habitat and an increase in clear felling of pine forests, creating young open woodland in which nightjars can nest.
In 2003, the RSPB purchased 59 hectares of forestry land adjacent to The Lodge nature reserve and started a project to restore the area back to heathland. Over two winters, the non-native commercial forest trees were felled and heather was sown using seed from existing heathland on the reserve.
Since then, as well as attracting nightjars to breed on the reserve for the first time in nearly half a century, the new heathland has benefited lots of other rare wildlife, including natterjack toads and woodlarks.
Work to restore The Lodge nature reserve’s heathland is continuing with the support of the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership.
Claire Poulton, programme manager at the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership, said: “We are working on a number of projects across Greensand Country, an area of distinct, beautiful and loved countryside stretching from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay, to restore and regenerate living heathland.
“The partnership is very excited by the announcement of breeding nightjars on the heath at RSPB The Lodge. The objective of our project is to create better habitats for wildlife, which provide sustainable homes for a number of species and improve the chances of retention and colonisation on heathlands across Greensand Country. The news of nesting nightjars is a huge success in working towards that outcome.”
The nightjar is a summer visitor to the UK, spending the winter in sub-Saharan West Africa.
At dusk in the breeding season, male nightjars emit a strange mechanical “churring” call that rises and falls as the bird turns its head and then takes flight, twisting and turning silently as it glides quickly across the heath.
When displaying, the males clap their wings, making a slapping sound, while showing their conspicuous white wing-patches to attract the female. At the same time, the male calls a liquidy “qwip qwip” in the air!
As ground-nesting birds, nightjars are particularly vulnerable to disturbance when they are nesting. RSPB reserve staff have been understandably keen to do as much as possible to give the birds the peace and quiet they need.
Peter added: “Thanks to the dedication of a fantastic group of volunteers we have been able to carry out watches each evening to monitor the birds’ nesting progress, engage with birdwatchers, and prevent disturbance. Visiting local birders hoping to catch a glimpse of the nightjars have played their part too, without exception behaving impeccably to avoid disturbing the birds while they nest.”
The nightjar is associated with many myths. In some European countries the nightjar is known as the “goatsucker”. The bird’s scientific name, Caprimulgus, comes from the Latin for “milker of goats”. Folklore had it that nightjars fed on the milk of nanny goats, with the myth probably arising from the fact that they were often found in close proximity to livestock. In reality, this insectivorous species would have been searching for prey associated with domestic animals. Others believed the calls of the nightjar were the sound of witches hiding in the bushes.
Find out more about the RSPB’s nature reserve at The Lodge and plan your visit rspb.org.uk/thelodge
Like the Facebook page @RSPBHertsandBeds to keep up with all the latest activity on the reserve.
Follow @RSPBintheEast on Twitter for news from around the region.
Learn about gardening in a small space as Jordans Mill celebrates National Allotments Week.
A new section has been created within the gardens for small space and container gardening to encourage people to eat healthier and grow more fruits and vegetables.
The historical site on Langford Road has a range of herbs and salad allotment beds open to the public from 9am to 5pm, free of charge, until Sunday, August 19.
Visitors can learn more about how to grow fruits and vegetables in small space and container pots, alongside some factual signs to get started.
Jenny Osborne, head gardener, said: “The gardens are truly inspirational, and we believe in getting the community involved and learning more about allotments.
“This year we have focused on small space and container gardening, so visitors can still enjoy growing their own tasty produce at home.”
“It is important for us to reduce our food mileage, get active outside and provide habitats for our struggling wildlife.”
“I encourage families to come and look at our full range of fruits and vegetables and create something similar at home.”
National Allotments Week is organised by the National Allotment Society, which was founded in the early 20th century.
This year the theme is called ‘Living and Growing’ and aims to encourage more people to grow their own.
There is also the popular Pirate and Princess trail which takes children on a fun adventure around the gardens, meadow and woodland, searching for clues to help find the missing pirate. The trail costs £1.50 per child and runs until August 31.
Visit www.jordansmill.com
Donald Trump and Gertrude Jekyll were both spotted in Sandy - just a couple of the impressive entries in the Sandy Show Scarecrow Competition.
There was a flurry of activity in and around Sandy when residents of all ages turned out to display their scarecrow creations, so they could be judged for entry into the Sandy Show, for class 103, which is being held on Saturday, August 18, noon to 5pm, at Sandye Place Academy.
From the entries received, the judge made a difficult decision and came up with the finalists for judging at the show.
As well as all the normal show exhibits there will be stalls, attractions and entertainment for all the family. Admission is £1 and accompanied children under 16 will be admitted free.
The Sandy Show has now been running, with a few interruptions, since 1868 - so this year marks 150 years.
On dear, here we go again. New management team, some new players, but the same old rollercoaster, the same inconsistency.
It would be an understatement to say this is not exactly the start to the season we envisaged here at Biggleswade United, although it all started so well. But our 5-1 opening league win against Cockfosters flattered to deceive and our subsequent performances - a 4-1 away defeat at Biggleswade FC and elimination from this season’s FA Cup - have, frankly, not been good enough.
Here at the club we are realistic and do not expect to win all the time. What we do demand, however, is that everyone strives to play to their full potential and after just four games nobody should be under any illusion. Nobody has got a place guaranteed in the line up and, even if we can’t, we aim to win every game. We cannot carry passengers.
We know we have players more than capable of producing the goods at this level, and that is why they were brought to the club, but they need to realise that we will not hang around waiting for them to demonstrate it.
There are a whole host of people putting a lot of effort and many hours of hard, thankless work at this club. They deserve better and the very least they, and our supporters, can expect is players who listen, act as they have been instructed and maximise their potential.
Our lacklustre performance on Tuesday means we will now be focusing predominantly on the league and the FA Vase and the last thing I want to contemplate is a scenario where we are one month down the road and out of all the major cups and trailing in everyone’s wake in the league.
I can’t remember the last time we lost in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup, certainly not during my time at the club. To get KOd this season is particularly galling especially when considering the extra money that the FA has put into the competition.
Just making it past the extra preliminary and preliminary rounds would have earned the club more than £5,000. And that kind of money is so hard to get for clubs like ours.
Falling at the first hurdle at Wellingborough means that we will earn just £750 as extra preliminary round losers as opposed to £2250 had we won.
On the plus side we have now a full ladies side at the club, something which used to be a feature at the club many years ago, and also something that will benefit our girls sides from a coaching point of view but also by giving them a senior side that they can now aspire to be a part of.
They start their season at the Arena, Baldock, with a friendly against Welwyn Pegasus this Sunday (2pm). Your support would be very much appreciated.
Let’s get back to winning ways with our visit to London Tigers on Saturday.
Students, parents and staff at Samuel Whitbread Academy are celebrating another set of fantastic A Level results with even further improvements on last year’s best ever results.
Just over a quarter (26%) of the grades achieved were A* or A and 76% of grades were A*-C or equivalent.
There were a number of incredible individual success stories, including Aislinn Hopkins who gained four A* grades and is off to read law at UEA.
Aislinn said: “I’m so pleased with my results and really looking forward to my course at uni. It’s been a lot of hard work over the last two years and I’d like to thank all my teachers for the huge amount of support they have given.”
Head Boy Kieran Darkes and Head Girl Emily Onagoruwa both achieved A*AB grades.
Kieran, who is off to Warwick to study economics, said: “We would like to thank all our teachers for their help and support over the last few years, we are so proud of the students at Sam Whit and wish them all the luck in the world in the next stage of our lives”.
Principal Nick Martin said: “There’s no doubt that the new reformed A Levels and BTECs are more challenging and more rigorous, but the students have risen to the challenge and produced another set of amazing results.
“They have been a fantastic year group and great role models for the younger students, both in terms of their work ethic and their boundless enthusiasm.
“The way they have led all the House activities and mentored younger students, displays everything we value at Samuel Whitbread.
“I wish them well on the next stage of their journey and look forward to hearing about all their future endeavours.”
A woman from Arlesey has died following a collision on the A5 at Milton Keynes on Saturday.
At 8.50am, a black Ford Focus and a red and black classic car, were involved in a collision on the northbound carriageway, just before the junction for central Milton Keynes.
Officers and the other emergency services attended the scene.
The woman, in her 60s, who had been travelling in the classic car, died at the scene. The male driver of this vehicle was taken to Milton Keynes Hospital with serious injuries, which are not believed to be life threatening.
He has since been transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he remains.
A man, who had been travelling in the Ford Focus, sustained minor injuries in the collision and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Roads Policing officers have been investigating the circumstances of the collision and the A5 was closed in both directions while emergency services attended the scene.
Inspector Scott Long said: “We are investigating the circumstances of this road traffic collision in which a woman sadly lost her life.
“I would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw the vehicles travelling prior to the collision. If you have any information, or any dash-cam footage, please come forward and speak to police.
“I would also like to thank the motorists who were affected by the road closure for their patience while emergency services were in attendance at the scene.”
If you have any information about the collision, please call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting the reference ‘329 11/8’ or contact us online.
A 28-year-old man from Milton Keynes was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink/drugs and is currently in police custody
Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses, following an attempted break-in at a supermarket in Biggleswade on Sunday (12 August).
At approximately 11.30pm at the Sainsbury’s food store in Sullivan Court, Biggleswade, three men gained entry to the shop by smashing a window.
They unsuccessfully attempted to gain access to the cigarette and alcohol counter, before making off in a black car without taking anything.
Detective Constable Dave Brecknock, investigating, said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who might have information relating to this attempted beak-in.
“We are currently following a number of lines of enquiry and would urge anyone who may be able to help to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bedfordshire Police through its online reporting centre or by calling 101 and quoting reference number 40/17974/18.
>Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Staff and students are once again celebrating outstanding A Level results at Bedford Modern School with a third of all students obtaining
three A grades or better.
Whilst the proportion of students gaining C grades or above has fallen nationally, an impressive 51% of grades achieved by students at BMS were A* - A, up 6% from last year. A* grades have increased to a fantastic 17%, against a national average of just 8%, and more than 80% were A* - B.
Eryk Sokolowski received the highest grades in the School with four A*s in Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths securing him a highly
sought after place at the University of Cambridge to study Engineering.
He said: “I joined BMS in Year 10 and it is the best school I have ever been to with teachers who work hard to get you where you need to be
and are always there to support you.”
Top performing female student Lydia Clewlow obtained three A*s in Chemistry, Physics and Maths. She said: “I am so excited to start the
Chemical Engineering course at the University of Birmingham as it’s what I have always wanted to do. I’ve had a fantastic time in the Sixth Form at
BMS; there are so many extracurricular opportunities here and I loved being involved backstage in the theatre and playing in the orchestra. All
the teachers have been really supportive and I am really happy with my results.”
Not all students have chosen the university path, for example Amy Leaning has already begun an apprenticeship at award-winning Soaring
Falcon Accountancy. Amy has been at BMS since Year 3 and achieved a fantastic A*AA in DT, Business and Economics.
Headmaster Alex Tate said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to watch this year group grow and develop during the past 12 months and they
should be very proud indeed of what they have achieved.
“It is a tremendous set of results and some of these young men and women have surpassed all expectations on the grades that they have
received. However the Class of 2018 has contributed so much more to the life of the school in numerous different ways and for that I would like to
extend my thanks. I wish them every success and look forward to hearing from them in the future.”
Ever wondered what to do with your excess of rhubarb this year?
The White Hart in Biggleswade is giving away FREE gin in exchange for your crop.
The pub on Market Square is offering a refreshing G&T to any locals who visit this weekend. All gin lovers need to do to claim their free drink is visit the pub this weekend (18 and 19 August), and swap the seasonal veg for a chilled glass of Whitley Neill rhubarb and ginger gin and tonic.
The unconventional offer has been launched to meet the rising demand for unique and quirky flavour combinations and botanicals in gin.
Mark Grundy, general manager at the White Hart, said: “Everyone loves a gin and tonic on a British summer day, and there’s no denying a chilled glass that you haven’t had to pay for tastes even better!
“Rhubarb and ginger is the perfect flavour combination – the tartness of the rhubarb is complemented by the depth and spice of the ginger – and when combined with the botanicals within the gin, it makes for the perfect refresher to enjoy in the warm weather.
“We look forward to inviting local gin lovers to enjoy a taste of rhubarb goodness on the house this weekend!”
To redeem the quirky offer, guests will have to visit the pub this weekend and swap their stick of rhubarb at the bar for a free Whitley Neills rhubarb and ginger gin and tonic.
There is one drink permitted per person and guests will need to be quick to get hold of one – as it is only available while stocks last. Tinned rhubarb will also be accepted as payment.
Terms and conditions apply, participating Greene King pubs only.