Issue 18

March

2014

In this edition of The Sticks

Exclusive interview with Lee Brennan of 911 Crohn’s and Colitis UK celebrates its 35th anniversary BBC Radio 2’s Janey Lee Grace on sustainable food

Win tickets to see “Nabucco” & “Viva La Drag” We road test the Peugeot RCZ R

And much more

Plus pages of events listings across Herts, Beds & Bucks

- - 2

- - 3

Welcome to the March edition of the Sticks Magazine!

The most talked about magazine in Herts, Beds & Bucks

With over 16,000 readers a month

In this issue:

Page Exclusive interview with Lee Brennan 4 Crohn’s and Colitis UK celebrates its 35th Birthday 7 Curwens Column 8 Sickness – Absence and Pay 9

Win Tickets to see Nabucco 10

Road Test – Peugeot RCZ R 12 Win Tickets to see Viva La Drag 15 Janey Lee Grace on sustainable foods 16 Pancake week – Big Barn 17 Listings – Herts, Beds & Bucks 18

Contributors: Janey Lee Grace, Martin Wilson, Terry Sullivan Donna Obstfeld, Andrew Merritt-Morling, Jo Coker

See you in April

Editor & Sales: Terry Sullivan Layout and design: Martin Wilson

Tel: 07756 274444

Email: thesticks9@gmail.com

www.the-sticks.co.uk

Follow us on twitter @thesticks9 www.facebook.com/sticksmag

Listen to The Sticks Radio Show at 10am on Mondays on Secklow Sounds www.secklowsounds.org

- - 4

Exclusive interview with Lee Brennan of 911

911 are an English boy band consisting of Lee Brennan, Jimmy Constable and Simon "Spike" Dawbarn. They were formed in 1992 and released their debut single "Night to Remember" in May 1996. This was followed by their debut album The Journey in March 1997, which was certified Gold by the BPI in November 1997. 911 released two more silver-certified albums, Moving On and There It Is, in 1998 and 1999, respectively. There It Is also produced their only UK number-one single, a cover of "A Little Bit More", which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1999. 911 were one of only five music acts to score 10 consecutive Top Ten hits in the 90’s and the band enjoyed success with 4 hit albums between 1997-1999 including the top ten hit albums "There It Is" and "Moving On". The band soon became one of the biggest selling tour acts in the UK in that period with their jaw dropping stage shows thrilling fans all over the country! The band became known beyond these shores as they reached new and spectacular heights as the biggest UK ‘boy’ band in Asia where their first album 'The Journey', topped the charts across that region for a total of 20 weeks with the band's various records achieving platinum status more than 20 times in Asia. Lee Brennan spoke exclusively to The Sticks. You were big in the 1990’s and now you are back following the Big Reunion, which must be good? Yes to get a second bite of the cherry as such is great. In fact 2013 was one of the best years of our lives. What did you do before 911? Well I have always been creative so my first job was sign writing, I did stickers for cars and exhibition stuff that was when I was 16, then I worked at a ten pin bowling centre and I stayed there till I got in to 911. How did 911 get together? Spike and Jimmy have know each other since they were about fourteen and they used to do lots of road shows and then they appeared on the TV show “Hitman and Her“, (a dance show presented by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan) and they picked up a following from doing the shows all over the country and Steve Gilmour (who was our first manager) was looking after them and he thought he might as well make a boyband out of these guys dancing and Jimmy singing. I did not now them personally from the show though but I did see them switch on the Christmas lights one year in Carlisle (my home town) and I knew they were these famous dancers off the TV, so for us to get together as a band was quite cool for me as I knew who they were. I wrote a letter to my local radio station and the manager of the station knew Spike and Jimmy’s agent and he passed my information on, and we met up and all of us moved to Glasgow, in a flat with our manager. It was fate, right place, right time for the three of us.

- - 5

Where did the name come from? It was Steve our manager who sat us down and said what do you think of 911? He had had it in mind for along time when he thought about putting a band together. We thought it was short sweet and easy to remember so we went with it and it is obviously related to the American emergency services. You had a great deal of success in the 1990’s We independently released two singles which both made the UK top 40, "Night to Remember" and "Love Sensation". Following this, a major label bidding war ensued and we were eventually signed up by Virgin Records. Our song "Love Sensation" was also featured in the 1997 film “Casper: A Spirited Beginning”. We had been doing lots of shows in schools and teen gigs etc, just to build up our fan base and we could feel there was something starting to happen so we went over to America to promote it. What was it like having the girls chase after you? It was weird, cannot say I did not like it, I loved it! I also loved the thought of performing. From when I was young I wanted to be a footballer, snooker player so I have always had that performance thing going on, then when I have seen the likes of Bros, New Kids on the Block, Bad Boys Inc and Take That, I was like I would love to do that, but I did not have a clue how to get there. When was the first time you were recognised? It was in Glasgow as we did so much stuff there before we filtered down south and I got spotted by the school kids there. I think a lot of people thought we were Scottish.

Have you had any weird fan experiences? I guess there is always girls trying to get in to your hotel room and we had a girl chain herself to our tour van, (she padlocked herself to the wheel) plus some interesting objects sent in the post but it is part of being in a boyband. It is not easy with all the adulation to keep a balanced head but I think everyone who has been in bands, if they are honest, would have lost their ego a few times. It happens and you have then got to bring yourself back to earth.

- - 6

Why did you originally split up? We signed a four album deal with Virgin and that came to an end with our Greatest Hits being the fourth one and for us, three guys being together 24 hour a day for 5 years, all I can say for me it was the right time to finish, I need some space as it had been a whirlwind of madness. In my mind it was the right thing to do, Jimmy did not take it very well, he thought we could have got another record deal with someone else but I am not sure that would had happened to be honest. We were flying around everywhere Europe, Asia and we went to America a few times it was just constant, you feel like you’re on a treadmill you never get chance to acknowledge exactly what is going on around you. What did you do after 911 split? Took me a while to get used to not flying around, and having people doing stuff on my behalf. I think I was in a depressive state really, the come down of it and the thinking what am I going to do next and I didn’t have a clue and just trying to find myself. Then I remember thinking what job can I do now. So I had a go at song writing as I had a publishing deal but that was hard to get into as you have a small circle of writers who write for pop act so I tried to chip away at that. In 2005 you took part in “Hit Me Baby One More Time”? Yes, I got a call from ITV and we did that but it is quite a blur - a month or two before I had smashed my leg so I was on crutches. It was great to do it and get ourselves initially back out there. It was a one show thing. But it was another 7 years before we got back together on “The Big Reunion”, when we got a call from ITV early in 2012 again it seemed the right thing at the right time for all three of us. I was separated from my wife and was living by myself. We all went to the meeting and we all got drunk basically. The producers took us out for a drink and we told the stories that we eventually told on camera in the show. We got chance to do arena tours again and The Big Reunion TV show had the biggest viewing figures ever for ITV2 and we got to tour with Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, B*Witched, Five and Honeyz and some of the bands we had not met till the show. I think we all appreciated that this was a second chance to perform in front of thousands of people again and just enjoy the moment for what is was.

911 Illuminate.....The Hits and More –UK Tour

Sunday 30th March Stevenage – Arts & Leisure Centre Box Office No: 01438 363 200

Website: www.gordon-craig.co.uk

Check out 911’s official Twitter & Facebook pages Twitter: @911official

twitter.com/911official twitter.com/mrleebrennan

twitter.com/jimmyconstable twitter.com/MrSpikeDawbarn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theofficial911

For more information on 911, check out their website - www.911official.com

- - 7

Helping People Affected by Crohn’s and Colitis

St. Albans-based charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Widely recognised as the main patient support charity in the UK for these life-changing and incurable bowel conditions, Crohn’s and Colitis UK has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the spare room of its founder’s home. In the autumn of 1978 Robert and Patricia Annetts’ daughter became seriously ill. After struggling to find a diagnosis for her distressing symptoms, she was finally admitted to hospital and diagnosed with

Crohn’s Disease. Overwhelmed by thoughts of uncertainty about what this meant for their daughter, the Annetts turned to medical reference books but struggled to find information. With so few answers to their questions it became apparent that if they wanted help, they would have to provide a way to find it - the idea of a patients’ association was born. Along with the help of Professor John Lennard-Jones, the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (as it was first known) was created, with Robert Annetts as Chairman. From the inaugural meeting in 1979, the aims of the charity were to provide information and support for patients, relatives and medical professionals and to finance research. Fast-forward 35 years and Crohn’s and Colitis UK no longer operates from a spare room - it now has 28,500 members; 70 local groups across the country; thousands of fundraising and volunteer supporters; 40 members of staff and more than £6 million has been awarded to research projects.

Crohn’s and Colitis – fast facts

� The two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – not to be confused

with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

� Affect more than 260,000 people in the UK.

� Symptoms can include: severe pain; relentless diarrhoea, often with bleeding;

exhaustion; slowed growth; inflammation of the eyes, skin, liver and joints.

� There is currently no cure.

If you are affected by Crohn’s and Colitis and in need of local face-to-face support, join one of our Groups in the Herts, Beds and Bucks area

For more information please call: 01727 830 038, email:

enquiries@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk or visit: www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

- - 8

LASTING POWER of ATTORNEY Powers of attorney are useful documents to use if you are temporarily unable to manage your affairs – for example if you get stranded abroad, or cannot get out when recovering after an illness or operation. However, when the law was changed some years ago, the paperwork involved became more complex. The change was done to protect vulnerable people, but has resulted in the LPA being used less often - which is a shame as it can be a very useful tool. On death, you have the assurance that the executors named in your will have the authority to deal with your estate. However, if you become mentally incapable of managing your affairs, your next of kin may not be able to simply access your income and assets on your behalf. There are two types of Powers of Attorney, and you can always limit the power you are giving to an attorney. (1) Property & Financial Affairs LPA

- appoint someone you trust to manage your property and finances - it must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian to be effective - the attorney’s powers can be used as soon as the document is registered

(2) Health & Welfare LPA - allows your attorney to make decisions about where you live, what medical treatment

you receive etc. - can only be used once you are mentally incapable – regardless of when it is registered

TOP TIPS - you can appoint more than one attorney – to act altogether or independently - you can set restrictions on their powers - you can amend or revoke the document at any time whilst mentally capable - when registering the document, the attorney must tell up to 5 friends or relatives, so

there is an opportunity for any concerns to be raised - the attorney has to comply with the principles set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005

such as: • presuming you have capacity unless proven otherwise • giving you all the practicable help to do things for yourself • acting in your best interests at all times • acting in the least restrictive way to maintain your basic rights

and freedoms If you would like to make a Power of Attorney, please contact our James Blakemore on 01992 463727 or email him at james.blakemore@curwens.co.uk Curwens LLP is your local firm of solicitors offering most areas of legal advice – based in Royston, Hoddesdon, and Enfield.

- - 9

Sickness – absence and pay

Everybody reacts differently to being sick – some will ring in sick and curl up under the covers, while others will drag themselves into the office and infect everyone around them while playing the martyr! So, what is the right thing to do? Well, as with everything in life that depends on the situation – how sick are you, are you contagious, are you letting people down by not being at work, can you work from home, what is your company’s sick pay policy? The answer to these questions will usually guide employees as to whether or not they are too sick to work and will usually be sufficient for coughs, colds, headaches, food poisoning etc. But what about anxiety, stress and depression, what about post operation, how do you and your employer deal with the bigger issues from both a logistics and a financial point of view? The answer will again be different for each employer, but should be consistent among employees within a company. It is essential that employees are open, honest and talk to their employer as soon as they are aware of a problem. Whether it is cancer, a knee replacement or stress, being honest and open in the early stages will result in more clarity, more flexibility and greater engagement between the employer and the employee. As an employee as soon as you become aware of a problem which may affect your ability to do your job, get hold of a copy of your company’s sickness policy. Understand what the reporting procedures are and what your entitlements are. We then recommend asking for a meeting with your manager to discuss your individual situation and your expectations. Some employers will be very accommodating and will bend over backwards to help and support you, many often moving outside of their normal policies and procedures, but others will stick rigidly to their policies and procedures for reasons of both consistency and cost management. They have the right to do this and employees need to think about this and come up with a plan to manage on an income of £86.70 per week if your employer only provides for Statutory Sick Pay. When a employee is off sick, after seven calendar days, the employer also has the right to request a doctors certificate and may decide to ask for access to your medical records, especially in the case of anxiety, stress or depression as the illness and workloads need to be pro actively managed at work to minimise the impact on employee performance. Employers should seek to work with employees, their doctors and occupational health professionals to get employees back to work and to keep them there, happy healthy and able to contribute to business success. Donna Obstfeld is Managing Director of DOHR, an HR practice which specialises in making the workplace a better place to be. For more information, call 01923 504100, visit the website www.dohr.co.uk or email enquiries@dohr.co.uk

- - 10

Win a pair of tickets to see Nabucco

At The Grove Theatre in Dunstable on April 14

Twenty-One years after it launched her opera career, award-winning producer Ellen

Kent brings Nabucco back to the stage with the well-known and emotionally-haunting Va

Pensiero sung in its original setting and sure to bring a tear to the eye.

The ensemble number, a favourite of choral societies and choirs and often better known

as The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, is set on the banks of the River Euphrates as the

captured are taken to be slaughtered.

Since then Ellen has produced and directed about 100 operas and entertained more than

four million people with her tours of the UK and Ireland.

Nabucco was Ellen's first foray into opera in 1993 in an open-air production to an

audience of 7,000 at Rochester Castle with a cast flown over from Romania in

Ceausescu’s former plane borrowed from the country’s president.

The opera follows the plight of the Hebrews as they are conquered and sentenced to

death by the Babylonian King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar). A complicated romantic plot

provides the detail with a love triangle combined with power play, religion and death.

Amazing stage and lighting effects recreate the burning of Solomon’s temple as jealousy

and destruction drive the king to madness.

About 30 local dancers, children and adults, join the 80-strong cast as slaves and soldiers

on stage.

- - 11

Verdi composed Nabucco just after his wife and children had died, but saw it as the

opera with which his artistic career really began. A choir of 800 sang Va Pensiero at his

burial.

To win the tickets please answer this simple question:

How many years has Ellen Kent been producing opera?

Send your answer by email to thesticks9@gmail.com with your name, address, email address and daytime phone number. Closing date: Noon on Thursday 10th April.

First prize will go to the first entry drawn on Thursday 10th April. There is no cash alternative. Usual Sticks rules apply, the Editor's decision is final.

Tickets are on sale from the box office on 01582 602080 or go online at

www.grovetheatre.co.uk. For more information, go to www.ellenkent.com or follow us

on Twitter @OperaBalletIntl.

____________________________________________________________________________

www.the-sticks.co.uk

To advertise your event, show, restaurant or business in our April digital magazine

Call 07756 274444

Or email thesticks9@gmail.com

Prices from £50 per month

- - 12

Road test -Peugeot RCZ R

Andrew Merritt-Morling – managing editor of first4auto.com – gives us his views on the new Peugeot RCZ R which he tested at its UK-launch event in and around Oulton Park in Cheshire. Introduced originally at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor show, the RCZ symbolised Peugeot’s intention to put dynamic appeal and desirability as cornerstones of the French company’s regeneration. As long ago as November 2012, the company teased us with its announcements that it would be launching a high-performance version. Well, this is it – the RCZ R – the most powerful, performance-focused road car in the company’s history. Peugeot Sport – the firm’s in-house motorsport department - was given the job of turning the concept into reality: understandably so given its recent track record in international rallying, LMP1-class sportscar racing and building Sébastien Loeb’s record-breaking hill-climbing car that obliterated the Pikes Peak challenge.

And this isn’t just a cosmetic make-over. No – Peugeot Sport has undertaken a thorough engineering overhaul, including giving the car a wider track, unique wheel geometry, 380mm performance disc brakes and a Torsen lock on the front differential. It comes at an exciting time for Peugeot as its reputational stock continues to rise following the rave reviews of its 308 – Peugeot’s challenger to the highly credible but ubiquitous VW Golf. In turn, the 308 follows on the heels of the respectable 208 GTi hot hatch that signalled the company’s return to form last year. It seems as though Peugeot

- - 13

can do no wrong at the moment and as a result we have high hopes for the RCZ R. Do these hopes translate into reality? Let’s find out. On the road, the RCZ R soaks up the UK’s B-roads. We found it to be understated and civil. Yes, the ride can be taut, but it is rarely harsh. Peugeot Sport have tuned the damper’s wonderfully, providing enough suppleness to take the edge off of any sharpness. Feedback through the steering wheel is in abundance thanks to the wider, more sticky tyres, as well as the firmer springs and bushings. The torque-sensing ability is imperceptible for most of the time. Accelerate hard and you are rewarded with wheels that go where they are pointed, writhing of the wheel totally absent, even when reacting to camber angles. It is rare for a new car to have steering that has been so expertly judged that you can experience the road through your fingertips. There is very little body roll and on turn-in the chassis grips very hard. In common with the lesser RCZ’s, the front wheels mark the limits of your speed mid-corner but this is nothing that a realignment of balance could address come refresh time, along with a more aggressive diff on the overrun which would give the front wheels a bigger incentive to tuck in. But this is nit-picking because as taking the RCZ R on the track at Oulton Park clearly showed that the diff allows you to lay the power down early on exit from bends, and in greater quantities than you might have originally envisaged. Lateral grip is consistently strong – even in the wet and slippery conditions we encountered.

At £31,995 the RCZ R isn’t cheap but at this price point there are faster alternatives available – a BMW M135i, for example, but nothing is able to combine the pace, poise and sporting thrill demonstrated by the RCZ R. Meanwhile, a Renault Sport Mégane Cup is able to hint at a tad more handling vigour whilst a Volkswagen Scirocco R is more refined and practical on a day-to-day basis.

The RCZ R is well worth the £5,000 premium over the standard range-topper. But make no mistake, in the RCZ R, Peugeot have produced a convincing and entertaining package which deserves widespread recognition.

www.first4auto.com

- - 14

Sex with an Ex

Losing a relationship can be a very traumatic experience, even if you are the partner who calls time on the relationship. Often the longer you have been together the more difficult this can be, as greater attachment bonds have formed. In the case of parents, you have children who bind you together even when you separate, and this can make any separation, and the emotions evoked, very complex. As partners you also have a shared history, family and friendship groups. Letting go of this can be scary and lonely. As such at times the temptation to revisit familiar and comfortable sex can be overwhelming, bearing in mind that you once thought this person “hot” before the problems you experienced broke you up. Sex with an ex, however enjoyable, is not going to put right what broke you up. It can also give mixed messages between the partners and any children, who if they see Mum and Dad sharing a bed together, may interpret that as the parents getting together again. It can also be confusing if new partners are on the scene, as your involvement with your ex will involve dishonestly and compromise new relationships. Also, of course, there are the related health issues and safe sex to consider. Before you get intimate with you ex here are a few things to consider: ● Is the sex about love or fear of being alone? ● Are you trying to avoid the pain of an ending by holding on your relationship? ● Is sex with the ex going to stop you moving on and making the changes that you want and perhaps need to? ● What will the cost be to each of you of the confusion that may ensue from the sex? Splitting with a partner is about just that, and sex with an ex, may just delay the inevitable end, and prevent you moving on to a more stable healthy relationship. If on the other hand you want to make an ex relationship work, then it would be a good idea to work on the underlying issues that broke you up so that you can re-build the relationship before resuming the sex. A sex and relationship therapist can help you with this. Sessions are available from just £15.00 (subject to status)

Local Counselling Centre T: 01462 674671

E: hello@localcounsellingcentre.co.uk

W: www.localcounsellingcentre.co.uk

- - 15

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE VIVA LA DRAG

We've teamed up with the producers of brand-new stage show Viva la Drag! to give a lucky readers the chance of winning a pair of tickets to see the spectacular production at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage on Thursday 27th March.

If you’re ready to party like you’ve never partied before, Viva la Drag! comes fresh from a critically-acclaimed West End run. It’s the ultimate girls’ night out. . . with added extras!

The outrageous party night stage show to die for packs in more chart toppers than any other. Glee-style mash-ups blend classic hits with current No1s: Single Ladies, Stop in the Name of Love, Car Wash, Get Lucky, Rolling in the Deep, Jolene, Crazy in Love, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and scores more.

Starring sweet harmonies, wondrous costumes and cutting-edge variety –

including exquisitely-ripped male eye-candy – the famous dragtacular boasts real musical pedigree: directed by Kylie Minogue’s creative director; songs especially composed by Boy George; musical direction from No1 hit songwriter for the Sugarbabes, Emma Bunton and Kylie; vocals by arranger to Girls Aloud and Danni Minogue, costume design by Kylie’s famed world tours team.

Viva la Drag! charts the rise from rags to the queens of drag of an all-male/female close harmony group. Their razor-tongued manager navigates band splits and solo hits, against a backdrop of glitz, hits, fun and kitsch in the show of the year. Over-16s advised.

www.easytheatres.com

To win tickets please answer this simple question: Viva la Drag is coming to which local theatre?

Send your answer by email to thesticks9@gmail.com with your name, address, email address and daytime phone number. Closing date: Noon on Thursday 20th March

First prize will go to the first entry drawn on Thursday 20th March. There is no cash alternative. Usual Sticks rules apply. Editor's decision is final.

To buy tickets contact: Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage. Box office: 01438 363200

www.gordon-craig.co.uk

- - 16

Sustainable Food

Hertfordshire I deserted you over Christmas recently, only for a few weeks while I was in the Panto! Sadly, I have to say that I was underwhelmed at the standard of restaurants in the vicinity I stayed in the north east of England, (won’t name and shame so as not to offend) but the choice of decent eateries was minimal and compared to the many brilliant restaurants we have in our county, most were dubious quality and not even great value. On my return the very first thing I did was treat myself to lunch at the fabulous Lussmans, the award winning restaurant in St Albans. Giles Coren in Times recently said of Lussmans ‘it’s everything a modern local restaurant should be, so thanks heavens for that’

In addition to the food tasting fantastic its reassuring to know that they have an ethical and sustainable policy, ingredients are sourced from the best welfare-driven British suppliers and they take care to ensure that they offer sustainable fish, grass fed meat and notably they have won The Independent restaurant category of the national RSPCA Good business awards. And, it’s totally affordable. Lussmans are in Harpenden and Hertford too. www.lussmans.com Talking sustainability I LOVE the farmers markets in Herts, and if you are at Lussmans on the second Sunday of the month you can check out the St Albans Market, there’s usually live jazz, hot apple juice and even Ostrich burgers (not for the faint hearted) Along with some raw milk and goats cheese we bought some free range eggs and I kid you not everyone had a

double yolk – how lucky is that! As I can only make it to the markets every couple of weeks my trusty freezer has become my new best friend but let’s face it who knows how long an organic chicken can stay in the freezer and can berries be frozen ? The answers lie in the brilliant book Freeze (Orion books) by local Herts best selling author Justine Pattison. Advice, tips, easy fixes and brilliant recipes. Happy eating!

By the way if you are passionate about sustainable food and farming you might want to check out the work of the Weston A Price foundation, their London conference was held recently (all arranged by a Herts guy Philip Ridley) was an amazing packed event with renowned US speakers Sally Fallon Morrell author of best selling book ‘Nourishing Traditions’ and Cambridge based author Dr Natasha Campbell Mcbride who founded the GAPS programme (Gut and psychology) which has had amazing success with people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and even autism. I was lucky enough to interview them a bunch of other speakers on topics as diverse as – Do we need fermented foods in our diet, through to ‘ what can ancient medicine teach us ?

Listen in to the free teleseminar – click on Spotlight Interviews, Nourishing Traditions Weston A Price

http://imperfectlynatural.com/nourishing-traditions-weston-a-price-style/

- - 17

Pancake Week

Flipping Great Pancakes!

What could be better than a pile of delicious pancakes after a hard day at work? Well your luck is in, because Pancake Day is here!

Pancakes are the ultimate comfort food and best of all they are so cheap and simple to make. You can even serve savoury followed by sweet if you really want to fully embrace Shrove Tuesday!

Whether you like to flip them high, or carefully turn them in the pan, there’s one thing that really will make a difference to the quality – the ingredients you use.

To ensure your pancakes really are the best ever, source only the finest British flour, eggs and milk. Britain boasts some of the best millers producing high-quality flour that’s perfect for pancakes and any kind of baking. Look for free-range eggs too; your local farm shop, grocer, or even butcher is likely to sell the very freshest eggs, often sourced a stones-throw from their shop so head there for the best value.

Add fruit for health

To discover the very best flour producers visit the BigBarn MarketPlace where you can buy online. Or to find local shops or producers in your area use the BigBarn local food map.

Such a great food should not be restricted to one day a year, so enjoy all year. If you have a favourite pancake recipe you’d like to share

Herts Listings

That’ll be the Day - Friday 28 Feb and Saturday 1 Mar It’s party time again as the legendry That’ll Be The Day, the nations favourite Rock ’n’ Roll variety show, returns to Stevenage this spring. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Lytton Way SG1 1LZ What The Ladybird Heard - Friday 28 Feb and Saturday 1 Mar Based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks Two crafty robbers, one tiny ladybird, and a whole farmyard of fun! The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Rise Up! Empowering Women Through the Arts - Saturday 1 Mar Rise, release, dance! Enjoy five inspiring taster workshops and an arts and crafts market at this special event, with free entry. Bellydance, traditional Indian, cancan, stiletto workout. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Spring Bazaar - Saturday 1 Mar Welcome to our regular ’first Saturday in the month’ event, with popular stalls of homemade cakes and marmalade, fresh vegetables, bric-a-brac, cards, toys, books, and clothes for adults. Letchworth Free Church Hall, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3HS

The Young’uns - Saturday 1 Mar Nobody sleeps when The Young’uns are in town. They may have established their fast growing reputation in the folk world with sublime a cappella harmonies. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Vintage Allsorts Popup tearoom - Saturdays 1, 8,15,22,29 Mar For the month of March there will be a weekly event at books@hoddesdon. Every Saturday in March Vintage Allsorts will setup a vintage tearoom on the first floor of the store. Books@hoddesdon, 79 High St, Hoddesdon EN11 8TL Kidzstuf Nearly New Children’s Sale- Saturday 1 Mar A nearly new sale held by parents for parents. Come along and browse a large selection of pre loved toys, clothes and equipment for children 0-12 years. We have some fantastic New in the box toys. St Paul’s Church Hall, Bushey Hall Road, BusheyWD23 2EQ Fizeek – The Life and Times of Ronald Wright - Saturday 1, Tue 4 to Sat 8, Tue 11 to Sat 15, Tue 18 to Sat 22, Tue 25 to Sat 29 Mar This exhibition charts his rise from menswear assistant to celebrity portrait artist and world

renowned illustrator of gay magazines. Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain SG14 1DT Postman Pat Live - It’s Showtime - Sunday 2 Mar With songs Laughs and audience participation, together with brand new scenery and costumes, Postman Pat Live is the must see show for 3-6 year olds. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Watford Wedding Show - Sunday 2 Mar If you are a bride & groom getting married in 2014/15 then you must put this date in your diary. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD17 3JN Antiques and Collectables - Sunday 2 Mar Over 20 stalls including Clarice Cliff, glass, Victorian collectables, jewellery and furniture. Bishop’s Stortford Football Club, Woodside Park, Dunmow Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 5RG, Concert for Cats - Sunday 2 Mar An organ recital in aid of The Scratching Post Cat Rescue. As well as a selection of traditional and modern organ music, there will be performances by a couple of other musicians. St Mary the Virgin & All Saints Church, The Walk, Potters Bar EN6 1QQ Macmillan Cancer Support - Wine Tasting and Sunday Lunch - Sunday 2 Mar Wine Tasting with Mark Buckenham of The Wine Society followed by a delicious Sunday lunch with all the trimmings and a wonderful selection from the Sweet Trolley! Harpenden Common Golf Club Cravells Road Harpenden AL5 1BL The Hertfordshire Wedding Fair - Sunday 2 Mar The exhibition offers an excellent showcase for those very special touches that can add a personal feel to your wedding day. The Hertfordshire Wedding Fair, The Alban Arena, St Albans AL1 3LD Ray McVay Presents The Glenn Miller Orchestra- Sunday 2 Mar Ray McVay presents the world’s greatest Big Band ive in concert! The show features the fabulous harmonies of the Moonlight Serenaders and the swinging jazz band, The Uptown Hall Gang. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Octagon Music Society: Piatti String Quartet - Sunday 2 Mar Nathaniel Anderson-Frank & Michael Trainor (violins), David Wigram (viola), Jessie Ann Richardson (cello). Haydn: ‘Emperor’ Quartet, Op. 76 No. 3. Britten: Quartet No. 2 in C. The Clarendon Muse, Watford Grammar School for Boys, 70 Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD18 7JA

- - 19

Josh Widdicombe - Incidentally - Tuesday 4 Mar Star of channel 4’s Last Leg, BBC1’S Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week. Josh Widdicombe, returns to the road touring his brand new show incidentally. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage SG1 1LZ

Circus of Horrors - Wednesday 5 Mar The Circus of Horrors presents their greatest show to date London after midnight. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Reg Meuross at The Boot -Wednesday 5 Mar St Albans AL3 5DG

Tenors Unlimited -Thursday 6 Mar An evening with the Rat Pack of Opera. Covering songs from Bizet to Buble, Bocelli to Broadway theres something for everyone. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage SG1 1LZ

John Cooper Clarke -Thursday 6 Mar Britain’s best loved and most important performance poet John Cooper Clarke brings his biting, satirical, political and very funny verse to Letchworth. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Hopelessly Devoted by Kate Tempest - Thursday 6 Mar A Paines Plough and Birmingham Repertory Theatre production. A parent knows devotion. A football fan, an athlete, a scientist, and a priest - they feel it. No matter how hopeless it seems. Trestle Arts Base AL4 0JQ

The World’s Worst Serial Killers - Thursday 6 Mar This is a two-hour audio-visual show presented by retired murder squad detective Trevor Marriott, who in addition to concluding a long and protracted cold case investigation into the serial killer. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac - Fri 7 March Recognised internationally as the leading tribute to Fleetwood Mac and with founding member Mick Fleetwood’s golden seal of approval, this stunning show reflects on an epic journey of lasting relationships through changing eras and musical styles, from the exciting hub of the sixties London blues scene to staggering commercial success in the seventies and eighties, and beyond. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Derek Acorah - Friday 7 Mar Voted Britain’s ’Favourite Male Medium’ by Soul and Spirit Magazine. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ

Think Floyd - Friday 7 Mar Now in their 20th Year, the incredibly talented musicians who make up Think Floyd have managed to faithfully recreate all the atmosphere, visual magnitude and musical excellence of Pink Floyd. Concert Hall, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Coull Quartet Concert - Friday 7 Mar Programme includes works by Haydn, Gorecki, Bloch and Borodin. Free entry for full time students. Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin SG4 9RB The Sensational 60’s Experience - Saturday 8 Mar The Marmalade, Herman’s Hermits, Chris Farlowe and Steve Ellis’ Love Affair. Concert Hall, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ

Jackson - Live in Concert - Saturday 8 Mar Featuring all-live vocals and music, fabulous costumes and of course all the signature dance moves associated with the undisputed king of pop. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Think Floyd - Saturday 8 Mar Live in Concert This extraordinary show, dubbed ‘The Definitive Pink Floyd Experience’, is renowned for its stunning celebration of one of the world’s greatest musical phenomena. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Comedy Club - Saturday 8 Mar Paul B Edwards hosts another anarchic evening of great comedy, with Barry Castagnola and Olaf Falafel. Licensed bar. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

A Special Sunday Night With Singer/Guitarist Johnny Wheeler! - Sunday 9 Mar Johnny will be joining our members and their guests for a Sunday evening of music and dancing! Songs from all your favourite singers from the 50’s & 60’s through to the 2000’s. Chorleywood Working Men’s Club, Shepherds La, Chorleywood, Nr. Rickmansworth WD3 5HA Historical Dance Session - Sunday 9 Mar 17th century social and country dances led by Jackie Marshall Ward. St Stephen’s Church Hall, 14 Watling Street, St Albans AL1 2PX The Mercure London Watford Hotel Wedding Show - Sunday 9 Mar A chance to meet local suppliers, to help put that finishing touch to your special day! A41 Watford Bypass, Watford WD25 8JH

Pennyfarthing Antiques & Collectors Fair - Sunday 9 Mar A quality range of 70 stalls, including Porcelain, Jewellery, Glass, Small

- - 20

furniture and much more. Ideal for finding that individual gift. Wyllyotts Theatre Darkes lane, Potters Bar EN6 2HN

Ruby Wax - Sane New World - Sunday 9 Mar Ruby Wax is a much loved US born comedian, actor and writer based in the UK. Starting out as an actor at the RSC, she went on to write and perform in her own television shows The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Surfin’ USA -Sunday 9 Mar Surfin USA, starring Chris Madin, is proud to pay tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time, The Beach Boys. Concert Hall, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ BBC Canadian Concert-Tue 11 March BBC Concert Orchestra tips its hat to Canada in a Commonwealth Day celebration at Watford Colosseum. Bringing together all its versatility and style, BBC Concert Orchestra will perform a selection of classical, film and light music from both sides of the pond. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Book Crafts - Tuesday 11 Mar, Tue 18 Mar Learn useful and creative methods of bookbinding to create lasting memories and useable books and laperellos. Frogmore Paper Mill, Fourdrinier Way, Apsley HP3 9RY Mighty Materials & Flowing Forces - Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 Mar National Science & Engineering Week: A visit to the working mill to discover how it works when combined with the power of water. Two hands on activities - sorting and identifying materials. Mill Green, Hatfield AL9 5PD Anton du Beke- Wed 12 March The Nation’s favourite Ballroom dancer Anton Du Beke is back once again with a thrilling new show to wow audiences across the UK. Featuring memorable dances alongside sensational new choreography, timeless tunes and strictly dazzling costumes to conjure up the elegance of Ballroom at its best and the unmissable razzle dazzle of Broadway. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

High Society - Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 Mar Based on the hit MGM Musical , this show promises an evening of Hollywood Glamour littered with the sparkling music and lyrics of Cole Porter in songs such as ’Well Did You Evah’. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage SG1 1LZ

Art Society Lecture : Ruskin & the Pre-Raphaelites - Thursday 13 Mar Lecture by Dr. Patrick Conner MA Dphil The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood formed in 1848 believed that current art was decadent and sentimental. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL

Mike and The Mechanics - Friday 14 Mar The Living Years- 25th Anniversary starring Mike Rutherford/Andrew Roachford/Tim Howar plus special guests Sadie and the Hotheads(featuring Downton Abbey’s Elizabeth Mcgovern) Concert Hall, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Showaddywaddy - Fri 14 March ‘The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World’ is a bold statement but Showaddywaddy live up to that title as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. Formed in the 1970s, they have sold more than 20 million records and have toured the world. Don’t miss this dynamic and uplifting live show featuring all of their biggest hits. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Rd, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845075 3993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Emily - The Making of a Militant Suffragette -Friday 14 Mar By Ros Connelly, directed by Kath Burlinson, performed by Elizabeth Crarer A story about an extraordinary woman pushed to extraordinary deeds. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Dinosaur Zoo - Sat 15 & Sun 16 March Direct from Australia, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo brings these awesome prehistoric creatures to the stage as you’ve never seen them before, up close and personal! Observe and interact with these extraordinary life-like dinosaurs in this fun, entertaining and highly imaginative live show. But watch out - not all of these ravenous reptiles are as tame as they seem! Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to the creatures. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk One Direction, This Is Us - Saturday 15 Mar Acclaimed documentary filmmaker and Academy Award nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) directs this look at Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry’s meteoric rise to fame, from their humble beginnings. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Adult Craft Taster Day: Wood Turning - Saturday 15 Mar Learn from a local craftsman about different woods, using a lathe and produce something to take home at the end of the day.

- - 21

Bring a packed lunch. Mill Green Mill and Museum, Mill Green, Hatfield AL9 5PD Louis Schwizgebel - Saturday 15 Mar Leeds Piano Concerto Finalist, Louis Schwizgebel (piano) - Schubert | Haydn | Mozart | Chopin Louis Schwizgebel is recognised as one of the most talented pianists of his generation. Hawthorne Theatre, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX

Model Railway Day at Hertford Museum -Saturday 15 Mar 10.30 am – 3.30 pm A Model Railway Day for spring time for all you enthusiasts out there! Free, just drop in, donations welcome. Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain SG14 1DT Mum2Mum Market - Nearly New Sale -Saturday 15 Mar Buy top quality preloved baby and children’s goods at our award winning pop-up market. We bring lots of sellers together to give you a huge choice and the best bargains. Hoddesdon Methodist Church Hall, Middlefield Road, Hoddesdon EN11 9ED Hertford Choral ’Raise your Voice’- Saturday 15 Mar A singing fair and workshop in conjunction with Richard Hale School led by Ken Burton, judge on BBC ’the Choir’ programme (Gareth Malone) Have you ever wanted to sing? Richard Hale School SG13 8EN

Chipperfield Choral Society Spring Concert - Saturday 15 Mar Music by Mozart, Bizet, Dvorak and Karl Jenkins in this Spring Concert. St John’s Church, Station Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1JY

Stevenage Holiday Inn Wedding Fayre -Sunday 16 Mar Join us at this lovely wedding venue in Stevenage. Be Inspired - See the latest trends in weddings and meet some of the regions finest wedding specialists who will discuss your wedding needs and much more. Stevenage Holiday Inn, St Georges Way, Stevenage SG1 1HS Maggini Quartet Concert -Sunday 16 Mar Programme includes works by Haydn, Britten and Brahms. Free entry for full time students. Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin SG4 9RB Letchworth Hall Hotel Wedding Fair - Sunday 16 Mar The venue itself is purely stunning and its views and surroundings are a photographer’s delight, providing the perfect backdrop for your special day. Fashion shows featuring amazing dresses. Letchworth Hall Hotel, Letchworth Lane, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3NP

Shiatsu Introductory Day - Sunday 16 Mar A relaxing day giving and receiving basic Shiatsu techniques and first aid acupressure points. Shiatsu is clothed bodywork, carried out on a futon on the floor. Guide Hall, Hertford SG13 8EZ Abbots Langley Orchestra Spring Concert conducted by Scott Wilson - Sunday 16 Mar Sculthorpe - Quamby Bach - Violin concerto in E major Brahms - Symphony No. 1 This will feature local soloist Marion Garrett who is stepping into the spotlight for this concert. St Lawrence Church High Street Abbots Langley WD5 0AS 51 Shades of Maggie - Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 Mar Fifty One Shades of Maggie is the number 1 best selling comedy send-up of ’50 Shades of Grey. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Toddler Tuesdays - Delightful Dinosaurs Tuesday 18 Mar Come along and take part in themed crafty activities, play with toys and share a story! £1.50 per child including refreshments for all – please book in advance. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain SG14 1DT New Jersey Nights - Thu 20 – Fri 21 March This spectacular celebration of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and takes the audience on a nostalgic musical journey through the career of one of the biggest selling groups of all time. From the back street studio in New Jersey where it all began, this vibrant production includes all of The Four Seasons greatest hits. The Production features an award-winning cast of singers, dancers, unique stage sets and a rockin’ on stage band. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show -Thursday 20 Mar It’s fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool" swing into town, with a sensational show featuring The Greatest Music Of The 20th Century! Rhodes Arts Complex, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3JG The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer - Friday 21 Mar A highly acclaimed award-winning show for children that uses a unique blend of mime, puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation to present an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Concert by the Lea Singers - Cycles of Life - Brahms Requiem & Dove’s The Passing of the Year - Saturday 22 Mar The Lea Singers major

- - 22

project for this season is this performance of the magnificent Brahms Requiem coupled with Jonathan Dove’s sublime song cycle for double chorus and piano. St Nicholas Church, High Street, Harpenden AL5 2TP The Jack Bruce Band - Saturday 22 Mar Timeless! Soulful!! Electric!!! Euphoric!!!! Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Screaming Blue Murder -Saturday 22 Mar Elis James Plus special guest compere: Bennett Arron This Summer, this gig returns to its spiritual home The Cellar Club at The Old Town Hall. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Watford Philharmonic Society – War Requiem Benjamin Britten- Sat 22 March Come and experience the power of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. Written to celebrate the consecration of the new Coventry Catherdral, the War Requiem marks Britain's regeneration and European reconciliation after the Second World War. Britten skilfully uses traditional Latin text interspersed with poems by the war poet Wilfred Owen to express his deeply-held pacifism. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD17 3JN. 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Mimram Quilters 11th Exhibition - Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 Mar Always a popular event, this is a colourful and talented exhibition. Welwyn Civic Centre AL6 9ER Blighty Inc, plus support- Saturday 22 Mar A great night is in store with this up and coming Hertfordshire-based rock band, well-known from its gigs at Hitchin’s Club 85 and in Baldock and Stevenage. Letchworth Arts Centre. 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

SCS - Haydn’s "Missa in Angustiis" -Saturday 22 Mar Along with the marvellous Brandenburg Sinfonia we will be performing Haydn’s "Nelson" Mass. Additionally we will perform a new setting of John McRae’s poem "In Flanders Field". Church of St. Andrew and St. George, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage SG1 1XX Mercure Hatfield Oak Wedding Show - Sunday 23 Mar Come and meet all your Herts suppliers under one roof! Mercure Hatfield Oak Hotel, Roehyde Way, Hatfield AL10 9AF Half a Sixpence - Wednesday 26 to Sat 29 Mar Flash Bang Wallop – what a show! Love Musicals! Like to support local groups! Look no further than Kings Langley Light Opera Company’s

production of ‘Half a Sixpence’, a musical based on the novel by HG Wells. Kings Langley Community Centre, The Nap, Kings Langley WD4 8ET Hellfire Comedy Club - Thu 27 March What a great night! A curry, plus a beer, glass of wine or soft drink and three of the finest up and coming comedians to entertain you. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN.0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Viva La Drag- Thursday 27 Mar Ready to party like you’ve never partied before? Fresh from its critically-acclaimed West End run, it’s the ultimate girl’s night out….with added extras. Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Muscle Warriors Charity Quiz Night- Friday 28 Mar Quiz Night in aid of The Muscle Help Foundation Teams of 6 people Prizes and charity raffle Licensed Bar. Stevenage Borough Football Club, Lamex Stadium SG2 8RH Disco Inferno - Fri 28 March We're back with a red hot Disco Inferno Night! Our fantastic DJ, Owen "The Inferno" Andrew, our amazing compere, Rizzo "The Pimp Daddy" plus fabulous live vocalist Gemma "Bubble Gum" Samuels and simply stunning stage dancers "The Dream Team" are all guaranteed to get you in the party mood and transport you back to the decade that taste forgot - the funktastic 70s! Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993.www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Letchworth and Baldock District Scout Gang Show - Friday 28 and Saturday 29 Mar A family variety show with a cast of Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides and Explorers from Letchworth and Baldock. A fast running variety show suitable for everyone. St Francis College Theatre, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3PJ Accrington Pals -Friday 28 Mar, Sat 29 Mar, Mon 31 Mar to Sat 5 Apr By Peter Whelan. Directed by Yvana Reeves. Barn Theatre, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST Watford NCT Nearly New Sale - Saturday 29 Mar Nearly News Sale with over 40 tables selling good quality 2nd hand babies and children’s clothes and equipment, maternity wear, toys and games. 11am - 1pm Rudolf Steiner School, Langley Hill, Kings Langley WD4 9HG The Three Billy Goats Gruff - Saturday 29 Mar This is the much loved simple story of three hungry goats and a grumpy old troll, told with a

- - 23

gentle ecological message. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Choral concert - Elgar, The Apostles- Saturday 29 Mar An opportunity to hear this rarely performed oratorio for soloists, chorus and orchestra, first performed on 14 October 1903. It will be sung by the North Herts Guild of Singers Coptic Orthodox Church Centre, Broadhall Way, Stevenage SG2 8NP Sawbrigeworth Art and Photographic Exhibition - Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 Mar The event displays over 450 paintings and photographs so there is sure to be something for everyone. Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall, The Forebury, off Knight Street, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9BD The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show -Sunday 30 Mar It’s fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool" swing into town, with a sensational show featuring The Greatest Music Of The 20th Century! The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL 911- Sunday 30 Mar Fresh from The Big Reunion Tour the 911 boys are back. Concert Hall, Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre SG1 1LZ Blood Brothers - Mon 31 March - Sat 5 April Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi-award winning Blood Brothers. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN.0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Beds Listings

Comedy Is Us - Saturday 1 Mar Top stand up comedians Colin Cole, Ria Lina, Barry Castagnola & Miles Crawford appearing 1st March and tickets are selling out fast, make sure you don’t miss out. Wixams Village Hall, Brooklands Avenue, Wixams MK42 6AB An Introduction To Practical Horse Massage - Saturday 1 Mar This course provides an introduction to the use of massage on the horse and its benefits. Opportunities to practise massage strokes under the supervision of experienced, qualified staff. Shuttleworth College SG18 9HF Lady Gaga Tribute Live at Grosvenor G Casino Luton - Saturday 1 Mar 10:30pm Free Entry Join

in our payday weekend Live entertainment with Nicole Marie as ‘Lady Gaga’.35 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE 5 Rythms/Circle Dance - Sat 1 Mar 5 Rhythms: Explore movement through the rhythms of the body (based on the 5 rhythms created by Gabrielle Roth) The Courtyard Centre, 6 High Street, Biggleswade SG18 0JA Sandy Town Team Car Boot Sale - Saturday 1 Mar The Town Team Car Boot Sale in the Town Centre Car Park from 9am. (Pitches from Wood Green Charity Shop £4 in advance or £6 on the day) Sandy Market Square and Car Park SG19 1AG Bedford Nearly New Sale -Saturday 1 Mar Bump-Baby-Toddler Items at bargain prices! 1.30-3.30pm. Entry £2, Kids Free. Brickhill Community Centre, Avone Drive, Bedford MK41 7AF The 2014 Cruise & Travel Show - Sunday 2 Mar 10.00am to 3.00pm Over 40 exhibitors plus presentations throughout the day. Wyboston Lakes Hotel, Great North Road, Wyboston MK44 3AL

Charity Quiz Night -Wednesday 5 Mar Campaign to Protect Rural England Bedfordshire Branch are holding a Charity Quiz Night at the White Horse, Newnham Avenue Bedford MK41 9PX The Male Revue – Naughty But Nice Show at Grosvenor G Casino Luton -Thursday 6 Mar 8:00pm - £15 Per Person (Ticket Only) The Male Revue – Naughty But Nice Show Like the Dreamboys or Chippendales? 35 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE Evening Clear Round Show Jumping - Thu 6 Mar & Thu 20 Mar Evening Clear Round Show Jumping. This is a public Equestrian event. The College Equestrian Centre Keysoe MK44 2JP Fine Friday Dinners at The Courtyard Centre -Friday 7 Mar Our cafe transformed into a sophisticated but still very friendly restaurant with waitress service. The Courtyard Centre, 6 High Street, Biggleswade SG18 0JA Nearly New Sale - Saturday 8 Mar Come and grab a bargain at our Nearly New Sale! All proceeds to Kingsmoor Lower School. Flitwick Village Hall MK45 1HP Handbell Concert - Saturday 8 Mar Biddenham Handbell Ringers and The Barn Ringers are giving a concert in aid of the Macmillan Primrose Unit, Bedford. Music will include Stranger on the Shore, Ballet of the Bells & Disney Classics.

- - 24

Biddenham Village Hall, Nodders Way, Biddenham MK40 4BJ

Philharmonia Orchestra: Choir Of King’s College, Cambridge - Wednesday 12 Mar With millions of people tuning in worldwide for their carol service on Christmas Eve, the Choir Of King’s College, Cambridge embodies the great British choral tradition. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL Luton - Toy and Train - Four In One Show!- Saturday 15 Mar A special combination of four shows in one! The traditional Aircraft fair held twice a year combined with many others aspects of collection to include model buses and bus memorabilia, train models. Venue 360 Gypsy Lane, Luton LU1 3JH Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra - National Style - Saturday 15 Mar Khachaturian - Masquerade Suite; Grieg - Piano concerto, Opus 16; Dvorak - Symphony No. 6, Opus 60; Soloist: Robert Thompson, Conductor: Michael Rose. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, MK40 1LE British Dressage - Sat 15, Sun 16, Sun 30 Mar British Dressage. This is a public Equestrian event. The College Equestrian Centre Keysoe MK44 2JP Nearly New Sale (Sale of quality clothes, toys and equipment 0-5/6 years) - Saturday 15 Mar Items for sale include baby equipment, Children’s clothes from birth, bedding, sleeping bags, quality pre-school toys, maternity clothes and much, much more. Athletic Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford MK41 9SB Magic Of The Beatles - Saturday 15 Mar Celebrating the 50th anniversary of A Hard Day’s Night, the Magic of the Beatles is about to hit town. The critically-acclaimed stage show has embarked on a nationwide tour Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Dunstable LU5 4GP

Quiz - Saturday 15 Mar Quiz Evening prizes for winning table, raffle Teams of 6 or come along and make up a team. Bring your own drinks and nibbles Children over 10 years old.St Anne Church, Crawley Green Rd Luton Beds, LU2 0RB Face the Flames at the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Fire Walk - Saturday 15 Mar Fearless fundraisers are being encouraged to demonstrate their daring h at 6.30pm by walking on fire. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable LU6 2LF Biggleswade Antiques Fair - Sunday 16 Mar Over 45 stalls offering a range of antiques from

jewellery, glass, china, pictures, postcards, kitchenalia and militaria. Popular cafe serving lunches, hot and cold drinks. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade SG18 8JH LAS Observatory Public Observing Evening - Tuesday 18 Mar National Science & Engineering Week: An evening of observing Jupiter and the stars, star clusters and nebulae of the spring night skies at the LAS Observatory. University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury , Luton LU2 8LE Wild Animal Portrait - Demonstration by Lesley Longworth- Wednesday 19 Mar The Harlington Society of Art & Craft demonstration this month will be by local artist Lesley Longworth. Lesley specializes in portraits and animal art using a variety of different media. West Room, Parish Hall, Church Road, Harlington LU5 4LE LAS Observatory public open observing evening - Thursday 20 Mar National Science & Engineering Week: An evening of observing Jupiter and the stars, star clusters and nebulae of the spring night skies at the LAS Observatory. University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury, Luton LU2 8LE Reg Kensall’s Centenary Art Exhibition - Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 Mar Reg Kensall in an active, prolific artist and he celebrates his 100th birthday in March 2014. To celebrate Reg is holding an Art Exhibition; most paintings (60+) will be for sale. All Saints Church Rooms, Upper Caldecote, Nr Biggleswade SG18 9BL Bedford Choral Society and Bedford Sinfonia - The Power of the Voice - Saturday 22 Mar Brahms - Tragic Overture; Mahler - Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen; Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem; Soprano: Rebecca Goulden, Baritone: Marcus Farnsworth, Conductor: Ian Smith. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square MK40 1LE The Rufus Centre Spring Wedding Fayre - Sunday 23 Mar Free Entry and Parking, * Lots of Local Suppliers, * Free Glass of Fizz on Arrival, * Free Entry into our Prize Draw, * £100 Rufus Centre Voucher Giveaway, * Refreshments Available. The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH Unaffiliated Dressage - Saturday 29 Mar This is a public equestrian event. The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe MK442JP Indoor Car Boot Sale - Saturday 29 Mar Come along and spend a few hours browsing the stalls at our popular Indoor car boot sale. We are anticipating a lot of stall holders so there will be

- - 25

a wealth of goodies to buy! Ashton St Peters Lower School, Leighton Court, Dunstable LU6 1EW Scrapbooking / papercraft workshop - Saturday 29 Mar What to do with all those photos? Have a go at making a memory album scrapbook. Friendly workshop - come along with your scrap booking project or card making or start a new hobby. Leighton Buzzard LU7 8TD The Old Vicarage - Open Garden for NGS - Sunday 30 Mar A traditional 2-acre vicarage garden with box and laurel hedges, formal lawn, large magnolia grandiflora and many other mature shrubs and trees. The Old Vicarage, Westoning MK45 5JW

Bucks Listings

Exhibition of Art by Amanda Curbishley and Brenda Hurley - til Saturday 15 Mar Amanda Curbishley and Brenda Hurley will be showing a selection of their work. Both are contemporary artists in acrylic and mixed media. Queens Park Arts Centre, Queens Park, Aylesbury HP21 7RT Craft Bags! - Saturday 1 Mar Come along to the Visitor Centre at Denham Country Park while it’s wet and have a go at making an indoor craft. Pick a craft bag from our selection ranging in price from 50p to £3. Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre UB9 5PG The Marlow Antiques & Vintage Fayre -Saturday 1 Mar Discover a treasure trove of Antiques and Vintage items at the Marlow Antiques & Vintage Fayre. Held on the 1st Saturday of every month, from 9am to 4pm.Liston Hall, Chapel Street, Marlow, SL7 1DD Amersham Concert Club presents the Coull String Quartet - Saturday 1 Mar The Club is delighted to welcome back this outstanding string quartet for a record sixth visit. Dr Challoners High School, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP7 9QB The Chiltern Camerata presents a Concert of Choral Music - Saturday 1 Mar The Chiltern Camerata, Conductor Sam Laughton with The Camerata Consort, Director Mark Johnstone, perform a concert of choral music by Croft, Handel and Purcell. All Saints’ Parish Church, The Causeway, Marlow SL7 2AA

Archaeological Finds Identification - Saturday 1 Mar Every year thousands of objects are fund by members of the public. Ros Tyrrell will identify

your finds and record them on the Portable Antiquities. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue. High Wycombe HP11 1ET Danesfield House Hotel & Spa Wedding Showcase - Sunday 2 Mar Brides-to-be are invited to discover Danesfield House Hotel & Spa, the most enchanting wedding destination. The event, which commences at 11am and ends 4pm. Danesfield House Hotel and Spa, Henley Road, Marlow-On-Thames SL7 2EY

Winter Indoor Show Jumping - Sun 2 Mar This is a public equestrian event. Milton Keynes Eventing Centre MK19 7HQ

Dave O’Higgins Quartet - Tuesday 4 Mar Dave O’Higgins (saxes) with Geoff Gascoyne (bass), Graham Harvey (piano) and Sebastiaan de Krom (drums). One of the UK’s top jazz quartets appearing for the first time locally. Christ Church URC, Oxford Road, Marlow SL7 2NL Family History Talk: Debts, Debtors and Bankrupts - Wednesday 5 Mar They have always been a part of life. Ian Waller examines the various records generated by those of our ancestors who encountered debts, or even bankruptcy. Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HB Peter Matthew & Deborah Grantham - A demonstration of mediumship - Friday 7 Mar A two hour demonstration of their gifts, full of

�energy, humour and accuracy. They never fails to open the minds of even the most hardened Sceptics. Gawcott Village Hall - Buckingham

Road, Gawcott MK18 4JD The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust: Family Fun: March Hares And Other Mysterious Mammals - Saturday 8 Mar Join us at College Lake for a day of family activities. Discover the secrets of the mammals that live on the reserve. Spot signs and clues that solve the mystery of who has been about. College Lake Nature Reserve HP23 5QG Little Chalfont Farmers’ Market - Saturday 8 Mar Great selection of quality, locally produced food at this monthly market. Buy rare-breed pork, bacon and sausages, buffalo meat, lamb, game and poultry, plus seasonal fruit and vegetables. Village Hall car park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP8 4UD Unaffiliated Dressage - Sat 8 Mar This is a public equestrian event. Addington Manor Equestrian Centre MK18 2JR

- - 26

Bourne End Community Food and Craft Market - Sat 8 Mar Bourne End Community Food & Craft Market ~ Second Saturday of every month ~ 10am-1pm ~ Free Entry ~ Disabled Access ~ Public Car Park (reasonable charges 30p/hour) ~ on-site refreshments available. The Jackson Room, Bourne End Library, Wakeman Road, Bourne End SL8 5LX Aviation Talk - George Holt Thomas - Sunday 9 Mar Join Dave Scott for his latest talk on the aviation industry in Wycombe. Holt Thomas created AIRCO an Aircraft Manufacturing Company, and in 1914 he employed Geoffrey de Havilland Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue. High Wycombe HP11 1ET Chartridge Lodge Wedding Fair - Sunday 9 Mar Beautiful location in the heart of the Chilterns for a lovely wedding fair. Two stunning fashion shows at 12.30 and 2.30pm featuring Confetti Bridal, Tring. Chartridge Lodge, Chartridge Lane, Chesham HP5 2TU

Charity designer shopping evening - Monday 10 Mar At Sue Ryder Amersham, we are holding a designer shopping evening from 6pm - 8pm. You can expect brands such as Vivienne Westwood, MaxMara and Etro etc. Sue Ryder Amersham HP6 5BG Cliveden Open House - Thursday 13 Mar This is a unique opportunity to have an in depth tour of Cliveden House. See more of the exquisite rooms and treasures within this beautiful building. National Trust Cliveden, Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0JA

Hedda Gabler - Icarus Theatre Collective - Friday 14 Mar Icarus brings you one of the earliest challenges to modern patriarchy, a brazen precursor to feminism and gender equality. Recession and economic boom sit side by side in Hedda’s world. The Theatre, Stantonbury Arts & Leisure MK14 6BN Age UK Bucks Quiz & Curry Night - Friday 14 Mar Join us at Weston Turville Village Hall, Aylesbury at 7:30. Tickets are £10 each and include a scrumptious Curry meal. The event is also a "bring your own drinks night" Weston Turville Village Hall, School Approach, Weston Turville HP22 5RW

Hedsor House Taplow Wedding Fair - Sunday 16 Mar Hedsor House has built a reputation over the years of hosting weddings in both the House and the Grounds. The House offers a unique “blank canvas” opportunity allowing couples to create their perfect day. Hedsor House, Hedsor Park, Taplow SL6 0HX

Clear Round Show Jumping - Sun 16 Mar This is a public equestrian event. Milton Keynes Eventing Centre MK19 7HQ Hands - On Science - Sunday 16 Mar A lively afternoon of scientific activities for the curious and inquisitive, whatever your age. A National Science and Engineering Week event. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP11 1ET The Glory of Baroque - Sunday 16 Mar A concert of choral and instrumental works of the Baroque period. St Lawrence Church West Wycombe HP14 3AG

GL Brown Prize Lecture by Professor David Eisner at The Open University - Tuesday 18 Mar National Science & Engineering Week: Professor David Eisner (Manchester University, UK), an internationally renowned cardiac physiologist, will hold a GL Brown Prize Lecture .Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK3 5NB Trust Talk at Buckingham Old Gaol - Wednesday 19 Mar ’The Books of John Rudying, Prebend of Buckingham (d 1481): A New Discovery’ Dr James Freeman of the British Library gives a talk which includes the story of Rudyng’s Latin Bible. Buckingham Old Gaol, Market Hill, Buckingham MK18 1JX

Quiz Night at Clayton’s Marlow - Wednesday 19 Mar The Marlovian Maverick Quizmaster Tosh hosts their monthly charity quiz, raising money this time for Helen & Douglas House. Clayton’s Marlow, 16 Oxford Road, Marlow SL7 2NL Ladies Who Do Pizza / Tour of Duty - Thursday 20 and Friday 21 Mar Two wonderful plays by Yaw;s House Productions. Ladies Who Do Pizza: In life’s darkest corners, a slice of sunshine goes a long way. "When you met me, I was cooking my last supper". The Theatre, Stantonbury Arts & Leisure MK14 6BN Disability Family Quiet Saturday - Sat 22 Mar Thomley Activity Centre is a unique recreational facility for disabled children and adults, their families, siblings, and friends. Thomley Activity Centre, Worminghall HP18 9JZ Amersham Concert Club presents "One piano- Four Hands" - Saturday 22 Mar Anne Applin and Geoffrey Pratley are a well-established piano duo with an excellent reputation. Dr Challoner’s High School, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP7 9QB Ballroom Supper Dance - Saturday 22 Mar Why not come along for a fun and friendly evening. Our Annual Supper Dance is the time to practice your Ballroom dancing, join in with the party

- - 27

dances and enjoy a light supper. The Jill Foster Dance Centre, MK Snap, Bourton Low, Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes MK7 7DE

Primary School Maker Fair - Saturday 22 Mar National Science & Engineering Week: A selection of engineering and craft opportunities for all ages to participate in. Come and find out about race cars, green screen photography & soldering. Queensway, Bletchley MK2 2HB Go Wild About Nature - Sunday 23 Mar Join in the fun and go wild about nature with different activities each month including crafts, investigations and discoveries. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP11 1ET

The Great Missenden Orchestra Concert - Sunday 23 Mar Beethoven: Egmont Overture Faure: Pelleas and Melisande Schubert: 3rd Symphony. The Memorial Centre, Link Road, Great Missenden HP16 9AE Aylesbury Farmers Market - Tue 25 Mar Buy fantastic local produce direct from the people who grow and make it. Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 1TW Tiny Talk Time - Brown Bear, Brown Bear - Friday 28 Mar A special time at Wycombe Museum for the under fives. Enjoy stories, trails and craft activities, inspired by the Museum collection and gardens. Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe HP11 1ET Quiz Night - Friday 28 Mar Join us again for another Quiz Night, teams of four but these can be made up on the night. Buckingham Old Gaol, Market Hill, Buckingham MK18 1JX

Handmade Craft Fair - Saturday 29 Mar A craft fair, where all items are handmade. no traders are accepted at these Fairs. New Handcrafters Always Welcome - we accept a maximum of four Crafters per speciality. British Legion Hall, Queensmead Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe HP10 9XA Misbourne Symphony Orchestra concert -Saturday 29 Mar The Misbourne Symphony Orchestra, Jason Koczur (narrator), Conductor - Richard Jacklin. John Williams: Hymn to the Fallen, Copland: A Lincoln Portrait, Shostakovich: Symphony no. 10 in E minor. The Amersham School, Stanley Hill, Amersham HP7 9HH

Mother’s Day at Cliveden - Sunday 30 Mar Celebrate Mother’s Day by bringing your Mum to Cliveden for free. Treat her to a free wine tasting (while stocks last!) and why not make her

a lovely gift too. National Trust Cliveden, Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0JA Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Steaming Open Day - Sun 30 Mar Buckinghamshire Railway Centre occupies an extensive site in rolling Buckinghamshire countryside. Exhibits range from large express passenger locomotives to the humble shunting engine. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

To be included in future listings

Email: thesticks9@gmail.com

Putting ‘Listings’ in the subject line, giving

details of your event and contact details.

Deadline for April Issue

15th March

- - 28

- - 29

- - 30