Come to Dunstable for some Easter Fun this Saturday the 30th March 2013

This Easter Saturday why not join in the the fun of the Easter Egg Hunt in Ashton Square and Middle Row!
These wonderful people have donated money for the Easter eggs:

Becky’s Boutique
The Cake House
Latte Heaven
Simi and Lola
Dunstable Aquatics
Dunstable Eye Centre
Second Time Around
... Four Seasons Dry Cleaner
Mansworld
Hair Boutique
Wrigglies
Nifty’s
Travel Choices Hub
Shoe Repairs
DTC (Dunstable Town Council)
Last but not least a big thank you to Eugene ~ Clowns Fancy Dress, T-Shirt Printing & Embroidery for the 'outfit' for Saturday! Come down and see who is helping to hand out the eggs.

We are amongst the volunteers who will be maning the Easter Egg Stall on Saturday between 10am and 3-30pm. Collect a sheet with these businesses on, pop in their shop, collect the number under the colourful Easter Egg, return your sheet full and you will receive an *Easter Egg......

*The Hunt will continue until the last egg is handed out or at 3-30pm what ever is soonest ~ Come and have some Easter Fun!!
 

Professor Burrett The Inspector of Weird Objects arrived at Watling Lower School today.....

To find that the egg had gone........!

 

Head Teacher Mrs Pengalse takes Professor Burrett to see where the egg once nestled......

 

Professor Burrett looks quite horrified to see eggs shell and mess maid by the cracking of the egg!

 

........ a foot print, from the mother or from what came out of the egg?!

Professor Burrett and Mrs Penglase and myself reporting on this strange incident at Watling Lower School, went round to all the classrooms to interview the children.

 



 

The children will have a full assembly tomorrow to discuss and show their findings, on the week the giant egg was laid in the playground of Watling Lower School.

 

They were so lucky that this incident happened during science week!

 

 

The conservation and preservation of Tudor wall paintings wins Heritage Lottery Fund support.

 

The Friends of Priory House and Gardens, Dunstable have received £43,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, the conservation and preservation of    significant Tudor wall paintings. 

Sue Turner Secretary of Friends of Priory House and Gardens at the AGM announcing the good news of the HLF grant to the Friends.

 

Six panels were discovered in 1954 in the first-floor storeroom of a shop in High Street North, Dunstable and depict various woodland hunting scenes in colour, featuring a rabbit, stag and hunting dog, but the most remarkable panel includes a portrait of a man in Tudor costume smoking a clay pipe. Another seven panels, showing fruit and foliage, were then uncovered in the 1980’s when the shop underwent extensive alterations.

Further conservation work is now needed which will then preserve these precious artefacts as part of Dunstable’s heritage.

Man Smoking Pipe

An Elizabethan painters and stainers workshop, a presentation on clay pipe smoking, talks by volunteers about the paintings and a Tudor exhibition are just a few of the events the Friends have planned to which the local community, visitors and tourists will be invited.

Stag

Commenting on the award, Sue Turner, Secretary of the Friends, said: “We are very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project as it means everyone will now have the opportunity to see these beautiful paintings for many years to come.”

Talbot

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “HLF are delighted to fund this project which will mean that more people are aware of the paintings and what they mean to the Town. The project will also ensure that they are in an environment that will keep them safe for the future, meaning that future generations will also be able to enjoy them.”

About the Heritage Lottery Fund

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported over 30,000 projects, allocating £4.7billion across the UK, including over £334million to more than 3,120 projects in the East of England. Website: www.hlf.org.uk.

For further information please contact:

Sue Turner, Secretary, Friends of Priory House and Gardens, Dunstable on 01582 608318 or e-mail sue@turners.co.uk

 

 

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Friends of Priory House and Gardens also have a Facebook page at:

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Priory-House-and-Gardens/288906444484611?ref=hl#!/pages/Friends-of-Priory-House-and-Gardens/288906444484611

 

NEWS FLASH!

 

EGG appears in Dunstable School!

 

Watling Lower School children had an unexpected arrival over the weekend.

 

An emergency assembly was called for as The Head Teacher Mrs Penglase, Teachers, Assistants and children were told of the new arrival.
 

 

The area has been fenced of in Watling School grounds and everyone has been told to look but not touch the new egg.

 

I was asked to arrive at the school as soon as possible so that I could take a report from the children and anyone else who had seen the egg.
 

 

Several children believed they had seen what could only be described as scratch marks on the playground where the 'mystery' mother of the egg may have tried to have landed before it laid her egg.

 

The egg is nestled on some very soft material, possibly straw...... The egg is very large possibly 76 cm (30") in length. It is white with brown speckles.
 

 

The children are staying behind the fenced of area in case the mother returns to hatch the egg.

 

The children gave me some suggestions as to what they believe may have laid it, from:

 

A dodo bird, Teradactyl, Alien, Dragon, Giant Rabbit (The belief is that it could be made of chocolate) and a Phoenix.
 

Head Teacher Mrs Penglase and some very excited children 

We have been asked to return and continue to report of the excitement of the 'New Egg' during this week to see if the mother returns to hatch the egg....
 

 

 

Please watch this space for the latest news on the Watling Lower School's newest arrival!

NEWS FLASH!

YOUR TOWN NEEDS YOU!

 Dunstable Town Team has come together with the aim of improving and developing Ashton Square. One of the things the Town Team wants to see is The Square being used by the local community, creating a vibrant... community feel. Do you belong to a community group who would like to use The Square to stage a performance or activity? Are you a performer yourself and would like to use the space for FREE to showcase your talent? Perhaps you would like to hold an event that would bring lots of people to the area? If so the Town Team would love to hear from you.

It couldn’t be simpler; all you need is public liability insurance of £5 million and to have completed the booking form which can be found at: http://www.dunstable.gov.uk/destination-dunstable/town-centre-intiatives/town-team-needs/

For more information or to check availability and book your space please call Clare Brett – Town Centre Manager on 01582 891405 or email: clare.brett@dunstable.gov.uk

The Square is also available for commercial use. Please contact Clare Brett to discuss.

Do you remember the California Ballroom in Dunstable?

Press Release 

Ballroom California – A brand new musical - for music lovers everywhere!
Venue: Luton Library Theatre. Dates: 21st & 22nd March 2013 at 19:30 – 20:15.
Olympian Productions, a theatre company based in Bedfordshire have teamed up with The Hat Factory, Luton to present an extract of the highly anticipated musical…
The California Ballroom was a concert venue based closely to the Dunstable Downs, originally hosting swimming b...aths, roller-skating and go-karting during the 1940’s. The ballroom that would go on to become the iconic venue of the stars officially opened its doors on 12th March 1960 and fans attended in their thousands to see the biggest bands and musicians of the 1960’s and 1970’s to flirt, dance and soak up the atmosphere….
These stars included the likes of Stevie Wonder, Ike and Tina Turner, Ben E King, LuLu, The Rolling Stones, Al Green, Dusty Springfield, The Jam and Slade.
The production previews the life and times of * key characters as well as telling a story of young love blooming in the midst of this musical revolution….
Appealing to young and old alike, this musical would be of interest to anyone who remembers the Ballroom California or just enjoys the sounds of the 60s and 70s!
The musical has been written and produced by Kerrie Duggan and in his directorial debut - local TV and theatre talent, Tony Bignell is steering the show! Tony also has one of the principle roles…
Lewis actor Kevin Whatley, who one of our script mentors says “The sound and energy coming from this cast is truly inspirational! Can’t wait to see it on the stage!”

Venue and tickets:
£5 / £3 concs – available from www.lutonculture.com
or 01582 878100 / 01582 547474
Luton Library Theatre, St Georges Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2NG

Websites of interest:
www.olympian-productions.co.uk