Looking back at last weekend's River Festival, what a fantastic showcase it was for Bedford. It is estimated that over 300,000 people came out to join in the fun over the weekend. The arrival of the summer was excellently timed and no doubt encouraged many people to come out and enjoy the vast array of entertainment on offer.
On Wednesday I took part in the 'topping out' ceremony for the new main school building at Bedford Academy. The academy was formerly John Bunyan Upper School, where I was Chair of Governors, and I spoke at the ceremony about how important the new facilities are not only for the staff and students, but also for the local community.
This month has seen numerous shops in Bedford High Street and neighbouring streets take part in a 'Best Dressed Window' competition. A tremendous number of local businesses have taken part, including 25 independent retailers. It's a reminder of how fortunate we are to have many local retailers who make a real effort to attract people to their stores and in turn make our town centre more attractive and inviting for visitors.
So, River Festival Weekend has arrived. After numerous bouts of torrential rain this week, it appears that the weather may be ready to concede that it cannot defeat the Bedford River Festival, with the sun set to come out, particularly on Sunday. Both days will feature a huge range of activities for all the family, so do get along and enjoy the best of Bedford this weekend.
On Monday night I was at 'Bedfringe 6ix... Live!', a fantastic evening of music and comedy helping to get this year's 6th annual Bedfringe Festival off to a flying start. The festival got underway on Friday 13th July, and already there is a real buzz about the quality of performances taking place. It runs right through to 28th July, with a tremendous array of theatre, comedy, poetry, music, dance and more on offer, right here in Bedford across a number of venues. The festival has grown over the years since its inaugural year in 2007, and the high quality, wide range of performances on offer are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved on the Bedfringe Team.
The size of the crowds lining the streets of the torch relay in Bedford and Cotton End really was remarkable. Glancing at some of the footage of the relay in other towns and cities, I haven't seen such crowds out right along the route, and that's not to mention the enthusiasm on show. People of all ages came out to enjoy a real family occasion, with in many cases three generations enjoying the spectacle together. What is most remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that it was all in spite of some pretty dreadful weather, especially early on the Sunday morning when people will have been heading out. If the weather depleted the numbers at all, it certainly wasn't noticeable, with huge crowds not just along the Embankment and in Bedford town centre but all along the route.
