What's On

Companies, clubs and organisations from across the region are getting their teams together and signing up to take part in the eagerly anticipated Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival which celebrates its 18thanniversary this year. The Dragon Boat Festival takes place at Willen Lake on Sunday 23rdJune in aid of MacIntyre and there’s plenty of time to get a crew together and guarantee a place on the start line. Each year the Festival attracts a complete mix of new and returning crews. The dragon boats and qualified helms are provided by organisers Gable Events, each team is guaranteed a minimum of..

Mark Davies from Milton Keynes is taking on this year’s London Marathon to raise money for leading cancer charity, Penny Brohn UK. Mark, who has never run a competitive race further than 5k, decided to run the London Marathon for Penny Brohn UK in memory of his friend, Abby Webb, who was supported by the charity when she was diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer. To help raise sponsorship, Mark is organising an event with Buckingham Ladies Hockey club on the 23 March when he plans to run from his old hockey club in Milton Keynes to Buckingham Ladies Clubhouse,..

A Victorian silver salver presented to a local man credited with revolutionising farming is the latest acquisition by Milton Keynes Museum. William Smith was convinced that replacing horse power with steam power would be a more efficient way to run his farm, and in 1855 he devised a system of winches and pulleys powered by a single steam traction engine to pull the plough around the field; the Steam Cultivation System had been invented. As a result of his work, improvements in ploughing speed contributed to the growth in farm productivity during the 19th century. The salver carries an engraved panel..

Rutland Cycling, the multi-award-winning Midlands-based independent bike shop, announces the further growth of its store network with the acquisition of Giant Store Newport Pagnell, in Milton Keynes. This is Rutland’s third Giant Store, and will be followed in Summer 2019 by the opening of a new Rutland Cycling multi-brand store in the city centre, at the re-developed Lloyds Court shopping mall.  The take-over of the Giant Store Newport Pagnell follows the retirement of local business man Roy Pink.   The Giant Brand Store will be stocking the latest 2019 models from Giant and Liv, covering all disciplines.  The store is the go-to shop..

'A thought-provoking exhibition of local women's lives, experiences and history' Milton Keynes Museum March 23 – July 28 2019 In 2018, to celebrate the centenary of the first British women getting the vote, Milton Keynes Museum asked local women to suggest objects which best represented their lives. The stories that accompany those objects are now being told in a thought-provoking new exhibition. The HERstoryin Objects exhibition has been inspired by the book, A History of Women in 100 Objects. “Like the fascinating collection of objects in the book - which features everything from the corset and contraceptive pill to the..

Since opening its doors, the newest independent restaurant in Stony Stratford - French Affaire - proves a firm favourite for friends, families and couples to enjoy from breakfast and lunch to evening meals, cocktails as well as a French twist Full Afternoon tea. French Affaire is an intimate French inspired restaurant based just off the high street in the quaint Odell’s Yard. Specialising in French cuisine, the beautiful restaurant is open Tuesday – Sunday and serves a range of sweet and savoury crepes, baguettes, petit plats - available to eat-in in the Instagram-able interior, or as a take away for..

Willen Hospice is set to host its first ever Car Boot Sale on Sunday 17 March. Sellers and buyers alike are invited to Queens Avenue Car Park in Newport Pagnell, from 9.30am – 12pm, for the event which will raise vital money for the local charity. Traders can sell their pre-loved items for just £10 a stall, perfect for anyone who is having a spring clear-out.  For those looking to buy, entry is just £2. Tracey Jago, Senior Events Fundraiser said, “We’re always looking for new and interesting ideas to raise funds for Willen Hospice, but sometimes you can’t beat..

When the word pilgrimage in mentioned, your first thought probably isn't of Milton Keynes. But actually, one corner of the city has proved a powerful magnet for not one but two waves of pilgrim – and almost a millennium separates the two. The first pilgrims arrived by foot or on horseback, having spent days slogging along Watling Street to reach the Chapel of St Mary within the grounds of the Benedictine Priory of Bradwell, known as Bradwell Abbey. They sought an audience with a statue of the Virgin Mary which had become famous for its powers of healing – it..

Works are well underway at Crest Nicholson’s Campbell Wharf site in Milton Keynes, where the newly completed marina is beginning to come to life, marking the latest milestone for this impressive development. Campbell Wharf marina was filled with an estimated 25,000 cubic metres of water from the Grand Union Canal over twenty days in January. This followed extensive preparation works, including the installation of 500 metres of sheet piles ranging from 7m to 12m deep. Sheet piles are used to create an underground ‘wall’ in order to retain soil or water. The marina will now be closed for a couple..

Willen Lake, Milton Keynes’ most popular park, is gearing up for the start of the new leisure season by creating up to 100 jobs, suitable for adults of all ages and abilities, and launching a selection of new activities. With Willen Lake offering such a wide variety of attractions both on and off the water, employees are needed for roles covering everything from wakeboarding supervisors, watersports instructors and Treetop Extreme instructors, to lakeside assistants, boat hire staff and cleaners. Those keen to apply for any of the positions available can do so online; www.willenlake.org.uk/discover-willen-lake/careers/current-vacancies/ The recruitment drive comes as Willen..

Mayor-to-be, Cllr Sam Crooks is encouraging all cyclists to take part in the Willen Hospice MK to Paris cycle ride this summer.  Following the success of the MK to Amsterdam cycle ride last year, Willen Hospice has arranged a new challenge, MK to Paris. Between 26 – 29 June, cyclists will follow the scenic paths of L’avenue Verte, taking in the beautiful countryside and villages of France as they pedal their way to the country’s capital. Deputy Mayor Cllr Sam Crooks, pictured with MK to Paris cyclist Amy Finch, will be waving everyone off as they leave from the Willen..

Milton Keynes Museum is calling on its supporters to sign up and become friends of the history hub. The new initiative is part of a fundraising drive to enable the museum to fit out its wonderful new galleries, as part of an extensive £7.5m expansion project. The two spaces will tell the complete history of Milton Keynes, from pre-historic times through to the present day. “Our supporters are the lifeblood of the museum,” director Bill Griffiths said. “The museum was founded by Milton Keynes people who wanted to preserve their heritage. “Support has flourished and we are thrilled that our..

Share your training highs for the chance to win a #MyMarathonMoment prize Organisers behind the Rightmove Milton Keynes Marathon Weekend have launched an exciting competition to showcase the beauty of Milton Keynes and other cities to the world of running! The 12,000 participants are being asked to post photos of their training runs on social media, using #MyMarathonMoment to document the sights and scenery they come across when out clocking up the miles. All entries will be entered into a competition, with the best photos winning a prize, including a night stay at the Holiday Inn in Central Milton Keynes,..

MK Gallery is partnering with Curzon Cinemas to bring audiences in Milton Keynes the very best independent film programme, from art house films to classic movies. Following a major expansion, the new MK Gallery will open to the public on 16 March with a brand new, state-of-the-art auditorium – the ‘Sky Room’. Audiences can look forward to a dynamic and exciting programme from the world of cinema beyond the mainstream. Expect affordable screenings of the latest breakthrough indie, cutting-edge documentaries, award-winning world cinema, and heart-warming family films – all programmed in partnership with the renowned Curzon Cinemas. Damian Spandley, Director of Programme..

Local businesses Woolfe Jewellery and charity cards specialists DoodleDoo are spreading some love this Valentines by showing their support for an appeal to help Willen Hospice reach more people living with life-limiting illnesses in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.  ‘Hearts in our Community’ aims to raise money that can help Willen’s specialist community nursing team to support more patients and their families in their own homes - where and when they need it most.  Businessmen John Woolfe and Glenn Wynsor have been supporting the Hospice for a number of years, more recently raising almost £1,000 through the sale of greetings..