Dunstable Carnival 2009

by Ian Posted on May 4, 2009

Harpenden Pipe BandWe were considering going over to Aldbury, a picturesque village in Hertfordshire, for their May Fair today, but true to form for a Bank Holiday Monday, it started raining. While it would have been great to see the dancing around the maypole and the morris dancers, standing in to rain to do so didn’t really appeal.

Anyway, this year, there was a carnival procession again. Last year the procession had to be cancelled as there were too few entrants. It was going to be leaving the council offices at 12:00 noon on the route through the town to the Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground. We walked up to the end of the road with some of our neighbours just before 12 and other than a policewoman, were the only ones there. As the rain was coming towards us, I took my camera to the other side of the road so it was coming from behind me. The road filled up quite a lot before the procession came by.

Clown in the rainThe parade was led by Harpenden Pipe Band, who led the 2007 Dunstable Carnival procession. They had dressed for the British weather! I got several photos of them, a couple of which I have put on in a gallery of Dunstable Carnival 2009 photos. I have tried to include photos of all of the entrants in the procession in my gallery, although, I seemed to have missed the mayor!

The one that made me smile the most was the clown at the end, she seemed in a world of her own walking in the rain, and then she realised she was quite a way back from the others and had to catch up. All in all it was all over in about 20-25 minutes, but worth watching.

It’s just a shame after the effort people put into the procession that the weather couldn’t have been better. I was very pleased with the clarity of the images I got considering the poor light. Not all the photos were good photos, more a record of being there.

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Gurkha veterans betrayed by UK government

by Ian Posted on April 24, 2009

The UK government released new rules today, clarifying the application criteria for Gurkhas who wish to settle in the United Kingdom.

The government had originally denied the automatic right to settle here to any Gurkha who had retired before 1997, but this was overturned in the High Court last year. The judge, Mr Justice Blake, said the Gurkhas’ long service, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown all pointed to a “moral debt of honour” and gratitude felt by British people. He ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision.

The Gurkhas have served all across the world in the defence of our Country for nearly 200 years. Over 45,000 died in the two World Wars as part of the British Army. They are still fighting in the British Army today.

The governments new rules mean that permission to settle in the United Kingdom for those who retired before 1997 may be granted if they meet one of the following:

  • Have spent at least three years continuous lawful residence in the United Kingdom during or after service;
  • Have close family settled in the United Kingdom with whom you enjoy family life within the meaning of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR);
  • Received a Level 1-3 Award for gallantry, leadership or bravery for service in the Brigade; (Level 1: Victoria Cross; Level 2: DSO/DCM, DSO/DCM Bar, IDSM (India Distinguished Service Medal); Level 3: Military Cross, Military Cross Bar Military Medal, Military Medal Bar, Jangi Inam)
  • Completed 20 or more years’ service in the Brigade;
  • Have a chronic/long term medical condition which is attributable to, or was aggravated by, service in the Brigade.

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The Mandolinquents at The Stables

by Ian Posted on April 23, 2009

Last night we went to The Stables in Wavendon for the first of our three trips over the next couple of months. Neither of us had been there before, so we didn’t really know what to expect. Following their directions on the website, it was really easy to find and the car park was quite large, although we were there about 45 minutes before it started, so I don’t know how full it gets. It is a smart modern looking building, which has a spacious entrance area. When you go in, there were tables down the right hand side before you get to the bar area. On the left is their shop and then the reception desk is past the first entrance to the Jim Marshall Auditorium. It is carpeted throughout the reception area and really looks smart as do the uniformed staff. We got a couple of drinks at the bar before looking around the CDs in their shop. While we were looking around the shop, Jo spotted someone we know from the Dunstable Music Centre, and so we went and chatted with him and his wife before we went in.

Just a brief aside on the history of The Stables.

Wavendon Allmusic Plan Ltd (WAP), a registered charity, was founded in 1969 by the world-renowned jazz musicians Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth, with an aim to provide a centre of musical activity which would break down barriers between music genres and introduce music to as many people as possible regardless of age or social background.

The vision was realised with the development of The Stables Theatre, in some outbuildings at their home, as a venue for concerts and education activities. In October 2000, the new Stables Theatre opened its doors on a 398 seat auditorium which now presents over 200 concerts and over 200 education sessions each year.

So about 5 minutes before it was due to start, we went through the entrance to the auditorium and made our way down to the front row. We had seats one and two and were sat about 5 foot from the stage. The stage was only slightly raised, about a foot, so you felt that you were almost on stage. They weren’t fully booked for the event, only the main seating area was full, the side areas weren’t used.

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Dunstable Music Centre Recorder Consort

by Ian Posted on April 20, 2009

Before Easter, the Dunstable Music Centre had it’s end of term concert. I play bass recorder in the recorder consort and we played a couple of pieces at the concert, Scarborough Fair and When I’m Sixty Four.

I have finally got around to putting up a piece of our work, so here it is.

Scarborough Fair & When I’m Sixty Four

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Bike and Kites

by Ian Posted on April 19, 2009

Last September we managed to get a Ridgeback MX24 bike off of Ebay for our son. We were originally looking for the smaller MX20, but a MX24 became available, so we took the chance that it wouldn’t be too big. It was a bit close last year, but at it’s lowest settings was rideable. This meant we all had Ridgeback bikes; my daughter had the Ridgeback Melody that we had got early in the summer.

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Urban Orchestra in Dunstable

by Ian Posted on March 15, 2009

The following information is adapted from the Orchestras Live website:

Urban Orchestra is a large community musical project involving South Bedfordshire District Council, Orchestras Live and Bedfordshire Youth and Music Services, working together with the Orchestra of the Swan to deliver high quality community work in towns and villages in South Bedfordshire.

Although the programme of events is diverse, ranging from a full classical concert at the new Grove Theatre, Dunstable to workshops in primary schools, a major feature of the activity is the evolution of the Urban Orchestra. This was launched on 2 November 2008 at the Grove Theatre in a concert by Orchestra of the Swan.

The Urban Orchestra is made up of groups of young people who work together with the professional musicians to compose a piece of original music, culminating in them performing it alongside the Orchestra of the Swan at the Grove Theatre on 18th April 2009. These groups will include Gifted and Talented young musicians, students with Special Needs and local young people who are sometimes hard to reach or difficult to engage.

It is an exciting way for local young people to explore classical music, and a Youth Steering Group has been working hard to organise the project. You can follow their progress on www.myspace.com/urbanorchestra08

A parallel strand of activity, Rural Rhythms, will see small ensembles from Orchestra of the Swan perform in village venues across the district. Over 2,000 young people and rural residents will be involved in the project over the next six months.

Orchestras Live forged the Orchestra of the Swan residency in South Bedfordshire in 2007, and has supported its development throughout the detailed planning, delivery and evaluation process, as well as building a funding partnership and leading on the fundraising strategy.

On Saturday 21st March between 10am – 2pm at the Grove Theatre Dunstable, the Urban Orchestra have an Open House.

There is an invite to drop in and see local young people from the Urban Orchestra project rehearsing their music with The Orchestra of the Swan. Chat to the orchestra’s players, Artistic Director, and the young people taking part. Have a go at drumming and music workshops with Beds Music Service.
Two groups from the Dunstable Music Centre have been invited to play during the event. We have a slot between 1pm-1:15pm.

The two groups are handchimes and recorder consort, the later both Jo and I are involved in. We have been practising Scarbourgh Fair and When I’m Sixty Four for the music school concert the following weekend and will play these pieces at the Grove next weekend. I’m still getting the grips with the bass recorder and remembering the treble/bass fingering, but I’m sure it will all be fine on the day.

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