This afternoon I'm heading down to Bedford Central Library to take part in an information and taster session on researching your family history at the Borough's libraries, in support of a new project running throughout February. The Council's Library Service has linked up with Family History Detectives to promote family history at Bedford, Kempston and Wootton Libraries this month.
The family history information and taster session I attended at Bedford Central Library on Saturday really has whetted my appetite to find out more. Amongst the wide range of things I discovered in the short session I enjoyed are that a Great Grandmother was in the workhouse, while a Great Great Grandfather was a station master in Scotland. I also discovered previously unknown links to various parts of the country, including the West Midlands.
On Friday night, I am taking part in the King's Arms Project's 2012 'SleepOut 2012.' The King's Arms project is a Christian charity which supports homeless people in Bedford. It does fantastic work in support some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community, and I am very pleased that it is one of the causes which will be benefitting from the fundraising activities of the Mayor's Charity throughout this year.
The latest 'Pints in the Parishes' event is taking place tonight, at The Bedford Arms in Oakley from around 7.30pm. If you're in the area, please come along and let me know about any local issues of interest or concern, Council services or indeed anything at all you want to discuss. Here's a link to The Bedford Arms's website: www.bedfordarmsoakley.co.uk.
As was widely-reported earlier this month, Bedford Borough Conservatives sadly broke their pledge to cast aside party politics and deliver a joint budget for the benefit of local residents, and instead didn't even vote on the most important decision the Council takes. This was extremely disappointing as, as I've said many times before, the extraordinarily tough times we are in require everyone to work together to get the best for our borough. My monthly column in last week's Times and Citizen newspaper was on the subject of the difficult financial climate and the need to stand up to the challenges we face, and if you haven't seen it yet, the article follows below:
A number of residents have contacted me in recent times to ask if and when the Bedford Park Café building will be brought into use as a café, and my response to date has always been that I have authorised the necessary work there and hope to see it operating as soon as possible. That's why I'm very pleased that after essential safety and refurbishment work, I'm now able to say that the building is almost ready for full use as a cafe and the Council is advertising for potential operators to come forward and tender for the contract.
