A 14 years old girl missing from her Bedfordshire home for the past two weeks has been found.

bedfordshire Police had appealed for her safe return earlier today.

Members of the public and media are thanked for sharing the appeal.

The latest results from Luton Magistrates court

On September 11

> Joseph Barrett aged 48 of Manor Farm Road, Waresley, was fined £592 and received 3 penalty points for speeding in Barkers Lane, Bedford on March 19.

> Jacob Busse aged 23 of Valerian Way, Stotfold, was fined £569 and received 4 penalty points for speeding at Cotton End on March 4.

> Mark Dickens aged 51 of Meadow Walk, Henlow, was fined £811 and received 6 penalty points for driving on St Francis Way in Shefford without insurance.

> Aaron Fuller aged 32 of Tansy Avenue, Stotfold, was fined £155 and received 3 penalty points for speeding on Drovers Way, Dunstable on March 12.

> James Gauge aged 21 of Derwent Avenue, Biggleswade, was fined £395 and received 6 penalty points for speeding on the A1 at Sandy on July 6.

> Graham Handley aged 26 of Bury Road, Shefford, was fined of £335 and received 6 penalty points for speeding on the A1 at Tempsford on February 20.

> Mrs Paterson Hayley aged 34 of College Road, Sandy, was fined £248 and received 3 penalty points for speeding on the A1 at Sandy on February 23.

> Ms Gail Izzard aged 40 of Pinemead, Shefford, was fined of £1,031 and received 6 penalty points for driving without an MOT certificate and insurance at Clifton on February 17.

On September 13

> Central Bedfordshire Council was given the authority to remove occupants and vehicles on land at the A507 in Stotfold.

On September 19

> Miss Jane Kean aged 58 of High Street, Blunham, was fined £280 and received 3 penalty points for speeding on the A1 at Sandy on November 21.

A Luton woman suffered life changing injuries after being mown down by a car outside a Wales nightclub

Best friends Emma Nicholls from Luton and Sophie Poole from Birmingham, were innocent bystanders when McCauley Cox ran them over following an earlier dispute with a separate group on April 28 this year.

The two woman, aged 23, were seriously injured as they waited for a taxi outside the Courtyard NIghtclub in Newport.

Today (Friday) they saw 19 years old Cox jailed for 12 years at a young offenders institute.

In an impact statment the friends said: “This week has been a whirlwind of emotions for the both of us. The events that happened on the 28th April 2018 are not something that we take lightly. We had planned a night out in the city, like every girl our age does most weekends. We did not expect anything like this to happen to us. We were innocent people trying to have a good time. 

“The actions of McCauley Cox have changed our lives and this is not an over exaggeration.

“This was a horrific ordeal and is not something you ever think will happen to yourself or to your best friend. Not only have we both suffered significant physical injuries, we have also suffered psychological injuries. When a life-changing event like this happens to you, your whole world is turned upside down. Both of us have had to seek out counselling to try and overcome issues such as anxiety and PTSD.

“The events of this night have not only affected us but also our family and friends. This is a hard situation for anyone to deal with especially when it involves a loved one. We are incredibly grateful for the support and love we have received from the people around us.

“We could not have got through this without the support they have provided at one of the lowest times in our lives.

“Given the severity of what happened to us on that night, we both feel very lucky that the consequences were not worse.

“As a final note, we would like to give a huge thanks to Gwent Police for keeping in contact throughout this ordeal and providing us with the information we needed to see this through. We would also like to thank the NHS for treating our injuries and doing a brilliant job of making us feel comfortable and safe following the events of that night. Our final thank you goes to the witness services for being a support network throughout and answering all of the difficult questions.

After the sentencing at Newport Crown Court, Sergeant Rob Webb praised the two women.

He said: “We welcome the sentence handed to McCauley Cox today, after his recent conviction for grievous bodily harm with intent following a crown court trial.

“Cox used his car as a weapon that night, as serious disorder broke out in a city centre street.

“His actions – captured in shocking CCTV images and shown to the jury - have forever changed the lives of two innocent young women who had enjoyed a night out.

“We would like to thank all the witnesses who came forward in support of this prosecution.

“This case highlights just how vital it is to speak out and share any evidence or information you may have about an offence – without this, we may not have been able to bring Cox to justice for this horrific crime.

“But most importantly, I would like to pay tribute to Emma Nicholls and Sophie Poole, who suffered life-changing injuries. Throughout the investigation and court proceedings, both women have been immensely brave and dignified. Their determination and positive outlook has been an inspiration to myself and my colleagues, and we wish them the very best with their ongoing recovery. We hope that today’s sentence offers a small amount of comfort, and can help them take a small step forward in their lives.”

Clockmaking brilliance from a Northill man has sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds at auction.

A Thomas Tompion bracket clock, circa 1690, soared to £200,000 when it went under the hammer at Hansons Actioneers’ Fine Art Auctioni n Staffordshire last week. The ‘masterpiece’ made by Tompion, who was born in 1639, was snapped up by an anonymous buyer.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: “It’s a truly magnificent and historically important object which thoroughly deserves to achieve this sale figure.

“It is a particularly fine example of this Bedfordshire man’s work – work which has stood the test of time. His bracket clocks are regarded as masterpieces.

“Tompion was an inventor as well as a maker of clocks of the finest quality. Fastidious when it came to detail, design and the use of quality materials, he set unrelenting high standards. He developed an unrivalled reputation worldwide and his work is still admired to this day. I call him Father Time.”

Tompion, the son of a Bedfordshire blacksmith, lived from 1639 to 1713. He opened a business near Fleet Street, London, in 1671 and was closely associated with mathematician and scientist Robert Hooke. This relationship was key to Tompion’s success as it opened doors to royal patronage and the latest technology.

When the Royal Observatory was established in 1676, King Charles II selected Tompion to create two identical clocks.

As England’s most prominent watchmaker, his workshop produced about 5,500 watches and 650 clocks which are renowned for their ingenious design and robust construction. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.

Police are appealing for witnesses after two men were seriously injured in a road collision in Sandy on Saturday evening.

At around 6.30pm, police were called to reports of a head-on collision between a silver Vauxhall Vectra and a silver Range Rover on the B1042, Potton Road, Sandy.

Emergency services attended the scene, and a 37-year-old man with life-threatening injuries was transferred to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, whilst a 50-year-old man was taken to Bedford Hospital with severe injuries.

The occupants of the other vehicle were transferred to the Lister Hospital, Stevenage, for medical treatment. One man sustained minor injuries, whilst a woman and two children, were unharmed.

Sergeant Stephen Andrews, investigating, said: “We would appreciate assistance from anyone who may have witnessed the collision to get in touch with us.

“We’d also like to hear from you if you saw the silver Vauxhall Vectra, possibly travelling in convoy with a black or dark coloured, unidentified car, before the incident.

“If any drivers have dashcam footage of the area at the time, that may hold vital information for our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or visit our online reporting centre, quoting reference 305 of 20 October.

Central Bedfordshire Council is conducting a preliminary consultation on a proposed expansion to Edward Peake Church of England Middle School for an additional 60 places in each year group.

This is in response to the increasing need for school places in Biggleswade as a result of additional homes that have been built and planned for the area. It is the second phase of the school’s expansion.

The full consultation document, which includes a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions, and how to have your say on the proposal, is available at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations.

Paper copies of the consultation document will also be available from the school. All responses must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, November 13.

Following this initial consultation period, councillors will consider the results and decide whether to progress the proposals further to statutory consultation.

If statutory notices are published, parents and other interested parties would have a further opportunity to put forward their views as part of a formal four-week statutory consultation.

A final decision will be made regarding the proposal at a meeting of the council Executive in April 2019.

If approved, the new places are expected to be ready for the 2020/21 academic year.

> A public drop-in session will be held at the school in Potton Road, Biggleswade, on Monday, November 5, between 5.30-7.30pm; interested parties wanting to discuss the proposals and raise any queries, are welcome.

It might be getting spooky outside, as the ghosts and goblins begin to descend on Central Bedfordshire, but research suggests that it’s the pumpkins that should be scared this Halloween.

Residents are being asked to go on a rescue mission and Central Bedfordshire Council is asking residents to save their pumpkins from a gruesome doom, and to re-use or recycle any unnecessary food waste.

Pumpkins are not just for decoration – they can also be used to serve up a very delicious treat during Halloween. The insides can be made into a number of recipes, and their outsides can later be either composted or recycled by the council into energy if you have a food waste collection.

Whilst as many as 10 million pumpkins are grown in the UK each year, 95% will be carved into hollowed-out lanterns for Halloween and only 5% will be used for soups, stews and pies say Pumpkin Rescue, a registered charity promoting the recycling of food waste.

Cllr Budge Wells, Deputy Executive Member for Community Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “I am thrilled that we’re sparing a thought for pumpkins this Halloween. We want to help our residents to make the most of leftovers and show their commitment to reducing, re-using and recycling food waste.

“Halloween is a great opportunity to help children understand where food comes from and to involve them in cooking a simple meal alongside their pumpkin carving. The pumpkins we display in our windows and on our front doorsteps are edible: you can use the carved-out flesh to create a variety of tasty meals.

“Once your Halloween pumpkin is ready for retirement, remember to compost it or place it in your food waste recycling bin. Home composting not only reduces your carbon footprint but is also a great addition to your usual recycling habits. It’s also fantastic for your garden and saves you money on commercial garden compost too.”

Children in Biggleswade have been helping to raise funds to fight polio.

Pupils at St Andrew’s Lower School East have been busy helping Biggleswade Rotary Club raise money to be used for the eradication of polio.

The children made donations and planted purple crocus bulbs just outside their classrooms to signify inoculation and raised £70.50, on Thursday, October 11.

When mass vaccinations are carried out, children have their little finger dyed purple as confirmation they have been treated, hence the purple crocuses.

Biggleswade Rotary Club would like to thank the children and all the staff involved at the school for such an enjoyable afternoon.

World Polio Day was marked on Wednesday, October 24.

Sandy’s Friendship Club had a special celebration this week when two members celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Peter and Rosanna Braybrook were presented with a bouquet of flowers, a helium balloon and a bottle of champagne to celebrate the milestone.

Club members toasted the happy pair and there were also slices of fruit cake to enjoy.

The couple, who live in St Swithuns Way, Sandy are regular attenders at the Club which is run by Sandy Good Neighbours. It meets every Monday morning from 10am to 12 noon. Activities include bingo, quizzes, flower arranging, talks by local residents, pot painting and visits out by minibus. There is also a raffle each week included in the £2 weekly charge.

There’s a bear hunt going on in Biggleswade town centre this week.

Biggleswade Ivel Rotary Club have joined a global campaign ‘Find the Bear’ in support of World Polio Day, marked on Wednesday, October 24.

Thanks to the support from local shops, 24 polio bears will be hiding in their windows and the public will be able to take part in a competition to find which shops they are in.

Entry sheets can be purchased for £1 each from Buttons, Howells, Red Kite and Sweet Alley. The first correct entry drawn by the Mayor on Monday, October 29 will win a £25 gift voucher.

Rotary members throughout Great Britain and Ireland are holding Purple4Polio events to raise awareness and donations for the Rotary campaign to End Polio Now and forever.

The campaign was named Purple4Polio because a purple dye is painted on children’s little fingers when they have received their polio drops.

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative over 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.99%, from about 350,000 cases a year in 125 countries to just 22 cases in 2017 and with just three remaining polio-endemic countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.

If you would like to know more about Rotary’s polio campaign or other activities contact one of your local Rotary Clubs – Biggleswade Rotary Club, Biggleswade Ivel Rotary Club or Sandy Rotary Club. Visit www.rotary1260.org.uk

Staff at Beaumont Park nursing home in Biggleswade have been formally thanked and recognised for their long and dedicated service.

The combined number of years between all 17 members of staff totals an impressive 214-years.

Housekeeper, Glenda Russell, was individually recognised for dedicating over 30 years to the home in Shortmead Street, while care assistant Lesley Sell was thanked for providing 26 years of continuous service.

Each staff member was presented with a framed certificate and personally thanked by the regional director for the Healthcare Homes Group, George Catanescu, alongside Julie Watts, operations manager for Beaumont Park.

Those recognised carry out a wide range of roles at the home, including care assistants, domestic assistants and an activities co-ordinator.

The group thanked were:

Glenda Russell, housekeeper – 31 years

Lesley Sell, care assistant – 26 years

Teresa Isles, domestic assistant – 20 years

Glyn Barker, maintenance – 17 years

Nong Desborough, domestic/laundry – 17 years

Annette Lenton, administrator – 17 years

Jane Ganderton, care assistant – 12 years

Mary Jando, domestic assistant – 11 years

Jo Woodward, activities co-ordinator – 10 years

Aurica Taut, RGN – 7 years

Lizzie Franklin, care assistant – 7 years

Pauline Freeman, care assistant – 7 years

Paul Heaven, care assistant – 7 years

Helen Keegan, activities co-ordinator – 7 years

Paula Roberts, care assistant – 7 years

Jenny Holmes, kitchen assistant – 6 years

Sharon Darlington, care assistant – 5 years

Julie Watts said: “It was such a pleasure to be able to spend time thanking our team members who have given so much to Beaumont Park over the years.

“Everyone we recognised has spent so much time caring for and helping people that need support, and it is lovely to be able to give back to them and say thank you. In fact, I speak for our residents and the entire team when I say a heartfelt thank you to each and every member of the team for their loyalty, dedication and care.”

The home provides residential and nursing care for up to 46 people.

Visit www.healthcarehomes.co.uk

Wrest Park will host the launch of The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in Bedfordshire on Saturday .

This year, the ‘Remembrance’ campaign will mark the end of the First World War centenary, withWrest Park chosen for the special part it played in the conflict.

The property, in Silsoe, became England’s first wartime country house hospital just a few weeks after the First World War began.

It was one of the first country houses to be offered to Winston Churchill – by its owner Auberon Herbert – as a place to treat wounded servicemen.

By September 7, 1914, it had been transformed into a convalescent hospital and was ready to welcome its first patients. It then functioned as an auxiliary hospital before being forced to close after a fire on September 14, 1916.

The launch event will be attended by local dignitaries and Royal British Legion members, along with the Ampthill Armistice 100 team who will be presenting a cheque to the charity.

There will be a two-minute silence at the event with wreaths laid at the foot of a Silent Soldier.

Over the last six months visitors to Wrest Park have been writing personal tributes and memorials on pairs of footprints, with each pair representing a soldier who passed through the rehabilitation hospital and these will be on display for visitors to view.

The event takes place from 10am. Visit: www.english
-heritage.org.uk/wrest

Fears that a much loved farm could be under threat are premature say school leaders.

There has been speculation that Stratton School Farm was at risk because of rising costs.

Facebook appeals and a go fund me account had been set up in a bid to save the farm, beloved of generations of schoolchildren.

But Cllr Madeline Russell, chair of governors of Stratton Upper School, said there were no plans to close the facility.

Concerned supporters of the farm, which opened in 1955, raised the alarm after what they believed was a increasing lack of investment into the facility.

They said essential work on the pig enclosure was not being carried out.

One person said: “No funds are being made available to get work done, it’s a bit of a sad situation.”

Appeals to get the community involved and a go fund me page, were later taken down at the request of the school, say campaigners.

A statement on the farm website said: “We have been made aware that there is a Facebook page and a ‘go fund me’ page that are saying they wish to raise funds to support Stratton School Farm. We need to inform parents, the public and our supporters that the school has not set up nor sanctioned either of these sites and therefore we recommend that you do not donate through these means. If you wish to support the farm please visit the farm website at strattonschoolfarm.org to get information about our shop opening times and events. We would be delighted to welcome you whenever you choose to visit.

“Whilst we recognise the genuine, well-meaning intentions of those who have set up these pages, we are working to get the sites removed. If you have any questions or concerns please email headteacher@stratton.beds.sch.uk”

Cllr Russell said: “the school is very much supportive of the farm, we want to keep it. It needs capital investment, there is quite a lot needs doing to the electrics.

“We are looking at ways to keep the farm going, we are lucky to have it.”

She said the trustees were in the process of putting a business plan together for the farm. “It has to be done properly through the trustees at the school,” she said.

Stratton School Farm totals 9.6 acres and is home to pigs, chickens, sheep and alpaca. It produces high quality, rare breed meat, has a well-established orchard and runs a community farm shop on weekend mornings.

A Henlow hero won two medals on the first day of the Invictus Games.

Michael Swain took gold in his criterium race and silver in the Men’s Handbike IHB2 Time Trial at the Games in Sydney, Australia.

The former soldier who was injured in Afghanistan when he was hit by an IED in 2009 when he was just 19, is a double amputee above the knees and suffered shrapnel wounds to both arms.

Since then he has pushed himself to excel at sport, taking up handcycling in 2016. In 2017 he was selected as part of the team taking part in one of the world’s toughest endurance cycling events, the 3,081-mile Race Across America to raise money for Help For Heroes.

At the time Michael said: “Taking on the RAAM is a big challenge and one that I couldn’t turn down. To be able to look back and say you were part of an elite team who took on this challenge would be great. We are all ex-military guys so to be back in that environment again with the guys will be really good; military companionship and banter will get us to the end.”

Earlier this year he was nominated for the Celebrating Excellence Award, in the Endeavour Fund Awards, for sporting or adventurous endeavour by wounded service members and veterans.

After his injury, Michael, who is now 27, struggled with traditional prosthetics before becoming the first British soldier to have the osseointegration procedure – attaching titanium rods directly to his thigh bones – in 2014. The revolutionary operation, which allowed him to walk again within a few weeks, was performed in Australia by Dr Munjed Al Muderis.

Dad-of-two Michael was awarded the MBE in 2014 for his work for charity causes such as Coming Home – which provides adapted homes for severe wounded veterans – and his efforts to inspire others.

The Invictus Games is the only international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.

The inaugural Invictus Games was held in London in September 2014 and was attended by more than 400 competitors from 13 nations.

An exciting school site development project has just been completed at Henlow Church of England Academy.

The new building provides a four-court sports hall with changing areas, and six classrooms in an attached block. Pupils will be able to benefit from a range of sports including netball, badminton, basketball, hockey and five-a-side football.

A giant projector with screen has been installed so the school can use the hall for assemblies and other teaching events.

The school’s intention is to make the sports facilities available for hire by the wider community.

Six new humanities and language classrooms provide the latest in educational technology with interactive whiteboards in each.

The £2.4 million investment was funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and the Education & Skills Funding Agency.

Architectural design and project management firm PCMS Design, which is based in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, was involved at the very outset taking the Academy from feasibility stage through to planning, detailed design and specification and finally construction management of the project.

Alex Bond of PCMS Design said: “We feel very privileged to have been involved with this exciting site development project at Henlow Academy.

“Effective communication between the design team, local authority staff, specialist consultants, builders and their sub-contractors was the key to its successful completion, ready for the new school year.”

Headteacher Caren Earp is thrilled with the new facilities: “A big thank you to PCMS Design - with all of their support, design skills and project management expertise we now have a fantastic new building which is going to be of huge benefit to our children, increasing the number and range of opportunities for sport that we can now offer.”

The first residents have moved into new affordable housing in Gamlingay – taking the number of new council homes built or under construction across South Cambridgeshire to 100 since 2015.

The redevelopment of the District Council’s Robinson Court site saw 32 old bedsits make way for 14 new council homes – ten of which are affordable.

Council tenants with local connections to Gamlingay have now moved in.

Lucie Brown from Gamlingay has recently moved into one of the affordable properties at Robinson Court. Lucie, who works in nearby Potton, said: “Me and my family love the new homes and are so pleased we got allocated one. Me, my twin sons and partner all love where we live. My family live close by so they support me with the twins. The people we have living around us couldn’t be any friendlier.”

The latest cases heard at Luton Magistrates court

On September 19

> David Smith aged 56 of Sunderland Road, Sandy, was banned from driving for 6 months and fined £811 for failing to provide the details of the driver of his car believed to have committed an offence on two occasions last year.

On September 24

> Miss Christine Smith aged 31 of South Road, Sandy, was fined a total of £275 and received six penalty points for driving without a licence and insurance on St Neots Road in Sandy on September 9.

On September 25

> Rickie Oakley aged 58 of Pinemead, Shefford, was fined a total of £335 for having a car on the road without a test certificate.

> Martin Williamson aged 39 of Winston Crescent, Biggleswade, was fined a total of £335 and received three penalty points for speeding in Barkers Lane, Bedford on March 17.

On September 26

> Christopher Doyle aged 69 of Lovelace Meadow, Shefford, was conditionally discharged for six months, and fined a total of £1,000 for damaging the side of a wall at a house in Luton in July.

> Gareth Davies aged 38 of Station Road, Blunham, was fined a total of £100 and received three penalty points for speeding on the A603 at Moggerhanger on January 23.

> Jamie Fletcher aged 32 of no fixed address was fined a total of £155 for stealing alcohol from Sainsbury’s in Biggleswade on July 29.

> Sonny Minnis aged 29 of Wynnefield Walk, Sandy, was fined a total of £635 and banned from driving for seven days for driving without insurance on High Street, Sandy on January 13.

>biggleswadetoday.co.uk

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.

In Shefford there are plans for around 110 new homes along with landscaping as an outline planning application has been put in for land at Ivel Road in the town.

In the pipeline:

>Arlesey, 14 dwellings

>Henlow, 38 dwellings

>Meppershall 60 dwellings

>Fairfield, 180 dwellings

>Shillington, 19 homes

>Willow Road, Potton, 10 dwellings

>Rear of Stondon Lower School, 40 dwellings

> Station Road, Blunham, 26 dwellings

> Stockbridge Road, Henlow, 45 dwellings

> New Road, Clifton, 130 dwellings

> The Lagoon, Arlesey, 151 dwellings

> Up to 228 homes Sunderland Road, Sandy

> Land at Bonds Lane and Foundry Lane, Biggleswade, 50 apartments

> West of Church Street, Langford, outline plans for up to 95 dwellings

> Hitchin Road, Shefford, outline 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, bid for 240 homes plus outline plans for 1,260.

In July/Aug/Sept, seeking approval is 2,795

October seeking approval 110.

Total approved/outline for past four months is 1,104.

A campaign to tackle the growing issue of child neglect in Bedfordshire is launching next week.

The NSPCC has teamed up with local authorities and health organisations to push the issue of neglect into the public eye and let Bedfordshire’s young people know where to find help.

Neglect is the continuing failure to meet a young person’s basic needs and is the most common type of child abuse with one in ten children experiencing it.

Neglect happens when parents or carers can’t or won’t meet a child’s needs. Sometimes this is because they don’t have the skills or support they need, and sometimes it’s down to problems such as mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems or poverty.

A young person who is being neglected may be left hungry or dirty, without adequate clothing, shelter, supervision, medical or health care.

In 2016/17, reports of neglect to the NSPCC’s Helpline in Bedfordshire reached record numbers; the NSPCC referred an average of three reports of child neglect every week to Bedfordshire police and social services.

The Neglect Matters campaign launches on October 30 and aims to raise awareness of neglect with free awareness sessions for professionals in Luton,

Central Bedfordshire and Bedford.

Local organisations can host the sessions for staff who come into frequent contact with families and children, such as those working in libraries, leisure centres and support roles in children’s centres.

As well has helping people to understand the basic signs and symptoms of neglect, the sessions will include information on reaching adolescents. This is because teenagers are often viewed as being more resilient than younger children, but research shows they still need dedicated care to meet their physical and emotional needs, support their education, and keep them safe.

A guide for young people, called Feeling Invisible, will also be distributed, and adults in Bedfordshire will be able to get advice about how to recognise neglect in GP surgeries, community spaces such as sports centres and libraries, and online.

The NSPCC’s campaigns manager for Bedfordshire, Emma Motherwell, said: “It is so important that we understand the true nature and scale of child neglect in Bedfordshire, so we can collectively tackle the fundamental causes and reach out to young people who need our help.

“Neglect can have a huge impact on a young person’s physical and mental health, and can even be an indicator of other forms of abuse. Neglect is the

most common reason for taking child protection action.

“If you suspect a young person is being neglected, please contact the NSPCC Helpline, so we can alert the authorities to quickly step in and help them.”

Cllr Shan Hunt, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Social Care at Bedford Borough Council, said: “No child should ever experience neglect. It is important that people are aware of signs and know how to raise their concerns.

“Ensuring the safety of all children and young people in the Borough is a priority for the Council and has led to the launch of this campaign with the NSPCC so that young people know how and where to find help.”

Fran Pearson, Independent Chair, Luton Safeguarding Children Board, said: “Adolescents can sometimes be wrongly perceived as needing less care and support than younger children, and we recognise that some professionals may find it challenging to identify some of the less obvious signs of neglect

particularly when it involves teenagers.

“Safeguarding children is everyone’s business so it’s important that we all - parents, carers and professionals- gain a better understanding of the issues so we can better support our vulnerable young people and let them know that neglect is never their fault and help is available so they don’t have to suffer in silence.”

Alan Caton OBE, Independent Chair, Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: “Neglect can have serious and long-lasting effects on children, so it is important that we are all able to take action to keep children safe.

“Whatever your role, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and I urge you all to take notice of the campaign and information so that you can play your part.”

For more information on the neglect sessions email emma.motherwell@nspcc.org.uk.

Adults can contact the NSPCC Helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0808 800 5000, or help@nspcc.org.uk.

Children and young people who are concerned they or a friend are being neglected can call Childline for help on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk.

Bev Beddall and Bruce Odell had a hard act to follow, after last year’s 20 Year Greene King Reunion when over 100 ex-employees and some of their family turned out.

Nevertheless, determined to make the reunion an annual event, they managed last Saturday to get a sizeable group together for the 21 Year Greene King Reunion which was held at The Biggleswade Conservative Club.

Bev said: “I was persuaded by former colleagues to get this off the ground, as they thought I was the best person for the job. Well, we were like one family and cared for each other. The unity was something we’ve never found since.”

Bev started out on post duty and progressed to order processing, followed by empties and return credits. There she met her husband Mick Beddall and, in fact, some of his family, as his father, Les Beddall, and two brothers, Stephen and Peter worked on the Dray.

Bruce Odell worked as a brewhouse operative.

His father, also Bruce Odell, was an area manager and Bruce senior’s wife, Connie, worked in the brewery canteen.

Bruce junior had numerous other relatives who worked at Greene King including his sister, Tracy, his uncle Ken Desborough, his cousins, Stan, Nick and Steve Desborough, as well as three second cousins, Ron and Peter Odell and Ken Page. It was also at Greene King where Bruce met his partner, Sonia Butcher (now his wife Sonia Odell), who is the niece of Linda Butcher, who also worked at The Brewery, as trade relations manager.

Linda’s son Mark carried out his work experience at Greene King and following the Brewery closure in October 1997 he joined a family business supporting Greene King for 20 Years.

There were, of course, other ex-employees who attended and were not related but felt equally a part of the big family. Laura Roberts, whom most remember as the junior, said: “It was great to see old friends.” Joan Dennis, who ran the staff canteen, commented: “It was good to meet up and reminisce without serving umpteen cups of coffee.”

Sue Mauksh who worked in order processing, said: “It was lovely to look back on a very happy period of my life.”

Sue Sheppard who worked alongside her, said: “It was lovely to see old faces, I mean from a long time ago.”

Roy Bacon summed up: “We didn’t realise how well off we were!”

Whilst the Greene King Brewery has been replaced with Asda and lots of its pubs have closed in the town, Greene King will be remembered in Biggleswade for generations to come.

>If you missed out this time, keep an eye out on the Greene King (Biggleswade) Facebook page for next October’s reunion.