Local News

Paulerspury Players have kicked off their 34th annual Pantomime “Robin Hood” in Paulerspury Village Hall, Towcester, NN12 7NA from Wednesday 21st February 2024 to Saturday 24th February 2024. Robin Hood is a traditional pantomime full of songs, jokes, slapstick and the odd inflatable palm tree. Robin, our hero and his friends Lady Marian, Dame Freya Tuck and Will and Scarlett are just some of the characters you will meet in this comic adventure. The story is one that everyone knows but with a some twists and turns along the way.  You can join in the fun and boo the Sheriff, King John and Hilda, and our baddie trio. But is panto just for kids… oh no it isn’t, panto is for everyone! There is something for all ages, an enjoyable evening of fun is guaranteed and not to be missed. Tickets are available by visiting paulerspuryplayers.com or by calling the..

As half term has approached, centre:mk have geared up for a week of family fun; offering visitors a whole host of entertainment and experiences to keep the kids occupied come rain or shine. Family Fair in Middleton Hall: 17th – 25th February Roll up to the Family Fair, enjoy traditional rides and games including tea cups and hook ‘a’ duck, have a bounce on the bungee trampolines, watch balloon modelling, enjoy the magic show and get your face painted. There’s something for all the family to enjoy. (Activities vary daily). Circus Skills Workshop, Middleton Hall: Monday 19th – Friday 23rd February. 12pm-2pm. Brush up on your hula hoop, or learn to juggle with a clown.. these free circus skills sessions run by the performing arts specialists from Black Sheep Collective are bound to entertain kids and grown-ups alike. Kids Club, Outside M&S: Saturday 24th February. 11am-4pm With a Mother’s Day..

A new workstream for The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity caring for MK’s parks, sets out to make green spaces and parkland activities more accessible to everyone. Following the successful introduction of improvements at Willen Lake, including a Changing Places toilet, the Trust has now begun enhancing Furzton Lake. The most recent works provide widened pathways, extended handrails, safety barrier edging, and the addition of picnic bench seating with dedicated space for wheelchair users. Hannah Bodley, Deputy Chief Executive of The Parks Trust said “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the great outdoors, and that's why we're dedicated to making improvements that will create a more inclusive environment for all.” To inform the best improvements, the Trust has formed an Access Ambassadors panel – a group who share a passion to make positive change. This collaborative and diverse panel of individuals bring personal..

When Olivia was told that her Mum might not live long enough to be at her Wedding, she was devastated. That’s when the incredible staff at Willen Hospice came together to bring her wedding to Willen Hospice, just so her Mum could be there. Olivia Lowen said, “On the Saturday, the day of the wedding, the nurses had decorated the conservatory at Willen Hospice and it was unrecognisable, it actually looked like a wedding venue. They’d put up bunting with our names on it, set all the chairs up so there was an aisle, there was a lectern, and they even sorted a buffet for all of our guests.  It also transpired that some of the nurses had come in on their days off to help get Mum ready, making sure that she was as pain free as possible so she could enjoy the day. Everyone who came to the..

February is undoubtedly the month of LOVE and to celebrate, Midsummer Place has installed a new pop-up ‘Wall of Positivity’ to help spread joy and happiness with positive affirmations. Over the past few weeks, shoppers were invited to share their inspiring comments, phrases and words of positivity – and the response was amazing! Over 240 positive affirmations were sent, each with a personal meaning and sentiment to pass on to someone else. Now, just after Valentine’s Day, they will be displayed across the ‘Wall of Positivity’ for all to see. "This time of the year can be a really happy experience for many people but it can also be a time when we feel most alone. It’s important for us to think about others and reaching out to people to remind them of the positive things in life and what it gives us. said Kirsty McGiff Marketing Manager at Midsummer..

A mum of three from Buckinghamshire, is staging a book launch and raising money for local charity Harry’s Rainbow with the support of the Mayoress of Milton Keynes, Mandy Legg. The event, which will also be attended by business and thought leaders from across the UK, is taking place on Thursday 29th February at Sultans in the theatre district of the city. 48-year-old Clare Deacon, an expert in positive psychology and personal growth, has written her transformational and motivational book Blooming Happya after losing her husband and ‘Superman’ Dave, to an unexpected heart attack in October 2016. After initially feeling bereft and broken at his passing, Clare turned to local charity Harry’s Rainbow for support as they help children who have experienced bereavement. Thanks to their guidance, Clare was able to think more clearly about their future as a family and it led her to re-train and launch her own..

Combining delicious street food with raising awareness and funds for charity, the date for the 2nd annual Milton Keynes-based Sophie’s Street Feast has been announced. The must-attend event will take place on Sunday, 22nd September 2024, from 11am to 4pm at the MK City Discovery Centre. Sophie’s Street Feast is a celebration of community, charity, and eclectic culinary delights. The 2023 event hosted by Sophie etc. and charity Toybox, welcomed an impressive 3,000+ visitors who sampled food from all around the world, while learning more about Milton Keynes-based charities and the work they do both here in the UK and internationally. New for 2024 is the addition of corporate partners, QLM Search and Brioche Pasquier, and charity partner YMCA Milton Keynes, who support young people locally with accommodation, employment and advice. Commenting on the opportunity to be involved, Lorraine Devereux, Fundraising Manager at YMCA MK, said: “YMCA Milton Keynes are thrilled to have been..

Newton Blossomville Church of England School has been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted. The First School, near Olney and Turvey, was awarded outstanding in all areas of the inspection, with the report highlighting that; ‘Pupils at the school receive a remarkable start to their education’. Newton Blossomville School was praised for its ‘highly developed curriculum’, ‘exceptional’ pupil personal development and described as being ‘at the heart of the community’. The school is part of The Village Schools Federation, a group of six rural schools. With high teacher/pupil ratios the schools work together sharing a curriculum, quality teaching expertise, all while securing the schools’ long-term financial future. Having last been inspected in 2009, Newton Blossomville has bucked the national trend and managed to maintain its Outstanding rating. Emma Wallace, Executive Headteacher of the VSF commented: “Newton Blossomville is an incredibly special school, giving pupils a fantastic start to their education. Our pupils are..

Kaisa Larkas triumphed in the historic Olney Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday 13 February 2024, completing the 415-yard course in a time of just 1.03.37. It was a fiercely contested race, with Eloise Krammer coming a very close second, and Rebecca Budd in third. Kaisa won the race back in 2017 and said “I can’t resist a challenge! And it’s great fun”. This has been a record-breaking year for entries, with 24 individual runners and 10 three-legged teams. Dressed in a skirt and head scarf and clutching their frying pan and pancake, the runners completed the packed course from the Market Place, down the High Street, to the race finish outside St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Olney. The race is reputed to have taken place since 1445 and has certainly run every year since 1948, except for 2021. Pamela Bolivar won the 75th International Race in Liberal, Kansas,..

If you need free and low-cost ways to keep the kids entertained in half-term, look no further than the city’s beautiful parkland. The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that looks after more than 6,000 acres of parkland in Milton Keynes, has lots of family fun planned, including: FREE Howe Park Wood Open Mornings: Animals In Winter 20 – 22 February, 9:30am-12:30pm Learn all about the natural world and Animals in Winter by exploring nests, skulls, feathers and more that have been collected from local parks. There are also nature-themed challenges, self-guided trails and friendly volunteers to help you get the most from your visit. Howe Park Wood provides a safe home to many endangered animal and plant species and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildlife value by Natural England. Open Mornings are completely free for everyone, simply drop-in anytime. Toddle Tots at Howe Park..

Milton Keynes Dons Football Club players Rhianne Rush and Stephen Wearne joined by the local community to officially open a brand-new gym at Thornton College. Student Voice is important at Thornton and the request for a gym was first made by students on the Senior School Council.  The sports department worked hard on the vision, plans and proposal for equipment and the project was generously funded by Friends of Thornton. The gym is now equipped with brand-new state of the art machines and senior students will have the opportunity to use the gym in curriculum time and co-curricular activities.  Senior students and staff are looking forward to using the gym facility. Thornton offers sports scholarships for..

Funstation Ltd has announced the official expansion of its Xscape Milton Keynes location due to popular demand, contributing to the company's nationwide growth. Leading the way in the family entertainment industry, Funstation provides great value and affordable fun for all ages. The concept is simple, load a fun card, play the games and win points to choose from high valued prizes such as iPads, Xbox consoles and much more! Unlike traditional arcades, Funstation takes pride in offering cashless technology to play on top-quality games, some of which you may not have seen elsewhere. The latest expansion at Funstation Milton Keynes has seen the attraction grown by a third, introducing more games, more value and more fun, featuring new additions like Step ManiaX, Toy Tower, Wrecking Ball, Over the Edge, and more. “We are thrilled to unveil Funstation’s expansion at Xscape Milton Keynes. Offering more space for families and friends of..

centre:mk has always prided itself on being at the heart of the Milton Keynes’ community and 2023 was no exception, with the centre delivering an array of world class arts projects, community-based initiatives and fundraising activations supporting the wider City and beyond. The top 10 rated shopping centre helped generate almost £500,000 in monetary and in-kind donations through various events and activities in the past year alone. What’s more centre:mk celebrated 275 days of hosting buskers throughout the mall - providing local artists with a unique platform to share their art forms - be it music, dance, or performance in a high-profile, high footfall environment. The real stand out for 2023 though, was the sheer number of community events and initiatives that the centre:mk hosted, totalling 784 – including the world class art installation ‘The Place Between’ as part of International Festival, and the ever-popular free kids club which runs..

The Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce now spearheads the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards, spotlighting local business success and offering enhanced PR and marketing exposure to celebrate regional innovation and achievements. This year's SME Bedfordshire Business Awards have taken on added importance for everyone at Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce. After several years as a major sponsor we are thrilled to be taking the lead in organising the Awards directly – a major milestone for the Chamber and a great addition to its already packed events calendar. Why did we do it? Because we believe we can provide local businesses a platform to have their successes recognised and achievements celebrated. We want to work more closely with the businesses who wish to enter and shine a stronger PR and marketing spotlight on entrants, sponsors and eventual winners. Chief Executive of the Chamber, Justin Richardson, said: “We have amazing and innovative companies throughout Bedfordshire,..

Milton Keynes husband and wife, John and Wendy Cunningham, are taking on the incredible challenge of walking approximately 1000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats. A long-held retirement plan that they thought might not be possible. Whilst selling his business in 2020, John was diagnosed with Stage 3 - 4 Bowel Cancer. John went through 5-weeks of intense chemo, radiotherapy and a 15-hour, radical life-changing pelvic exenteration operation, resulting in the formation of two stomas. Following an intense recovery period, the couple are more determined than ever to take on the biggest walk of their lives. They even think John may be the only person with two stomas to do it. To spur the couple on, they have decided to use their challenge to try and raise £10,000 for both St Mark’s Hospital where John had his surgery, and Willen Hospice, a local charity the couple has supported for..