Issue 4 - Bedford College

The latest news from Bedford College at Old Warden Park
Issue 4 | July 2012
incorporating Shuttleworth College & The Mansion House
The summer season is here,
and with it the Olympics.
Bedford and Shuttleworth College will be playing its very own
part in this special Olympic year – as an Olympic ‘Get Set’ education
provider. This prestigious status means we are recognised for
demonstrating commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values of Friendship,
Courage, Respect, Excellence, Determination, Inspiration and Equality through our
work within the College and the local community.
And we hope that you recognise our commitment to these values in your community
– did you know for instance that...
• 1,100 young people from Central Bedfordshire are students of Bedford College.
• 2,400 adults from Central Bedfordshire learn extra skills with Bedford College.
• 100 young people from Central Bedfordshire are in apprenticeships via Bedford College.
• 260 people who live in Central Bedfordshire are employed by Bedford College.
• 100 contracts each year are awarded by Bedford College to organisations and suppliers in the area.
• 1,000 students are enrolled at Shuttleworth College – more than ever before, with numbers increasing since being taken over by Bedford College.
• 90% success rates have been achieved by students at Shuttleworth thanks to Bedford College’s guidance.
• Over £950,000 has been invested so far in Shuttleworth College with another
£5.5 million to be invested in the coming few years.
Until the Autumn, thanks for reading Park Life and good luck to Team GB at this
summer’s Olympic Games – we hope you enjoy the spectacle and consider us to be
part of YOUR winning team.
Ian Pryce CBE
Principal & Chief Executive, Bedford College
Ian Pryce with the
‘Get Set’ plaque
Receive Park Life by email – win free tickets!
Want to receive your very own copy of Park Life by
email? Just contact mruckwood@bedford.ac.uk
with your name, postal address and email address
to sign up – and as a bonus, all email entries will be
automatically eligible for a free prize draw to win
a family ticket for The Mansion House’s Classic, Kit
& Performance Car Show on 12 August (see the
back page for more details on this exciting event).
Free Prize Draw Terms & Conditions
Only one entry per household within the Park Life distribution
area (Ickwell Green, Northill, Southill and Old Warden).
Closing deadline is 6 August 2012. The winner will be notified
by email. The prize is one family ticket to The Mansion House
Classic, Kit & Performance Car Show including up to 2 adults
and 2 children (aged 16 years or younger). The prize cannot
be exchanged for any other goods or money to the same
value. In the rare case that the event is cancelled, tickets to an
alternative event will be provided that are equal to the face
value of this event.
Talking of the Olympics...
A member of the Brazilian
Olympic Equestrian Team
has been improving his
English language skills
with Bedford College.
Saulo Tristao (pictured)
explains that he came to
England with his horse
‘Totsie’ as part of the
Brazilian Olympic threeday event team and
decided to prepare for
the Cambridge Advanced
English (CAE) exam with Bedford College.
We wish him the best of luck.
parklife | The latest news from Bedford College at Old Warden Park
The latest from Shuttleworth College
Drought? What drought?
The fantastic weather, near-drought
conditions and “hose pipe bans” that
were all the news in the last edition
have become a distant memory! The
very wet May and June has put a
damper on lots of the outside shows
and events that we do at this time of
year but the upside is that our crops
are growing very well indeed and the
animals have lots of grass to eat too.
Our students have also carried on the
successes in competitions that I reported on
in April – Equine students went to Norfolk
and, against very tough opposition, came
second out of the 12 teams competing,
while our cow came second in the Red Poll
breed at the Suffolk Show. Our animals are
looking very good but so too do everyone
else’s! Bad weather ruled again as the
second day of the event was cancelled – a
real disappointment as we had even more
on show.
We are very pleased to be hosting nine
more students from sub-Sahara this year,
who will be learning skills and techniques
including business management training
that they will be able to transfer back to
their homes when they finish the course in
July. And to add to the international flavour
of our work, some of our Horticulture
students have just returned from a Rotary
Club-sponsored visit to Quedlinburg,
Germany where they met students from
German colleges and were able to compare
notes and experiences. Take a look at some
of the pictures below to see what they got
up to.
Meanwhile recruitment for next year is
looking very strong indeed and we will
need to upgrade some of our facilities over
the summer to cope with the increased
numbers and to give them the best possible
educational experience, ensuring that they
have the skills and attributes to secure jobs
in these tough times.
Mike Johnston
Executive Director, Shuttleworth College
You may have spotted some huge machines
around at the moment – we have set up
a very good partnership with agricultural
equipment manufacturer Case IH to
ensure that our students, local farmers
and growers are being trained on the very
best up-to-date machinery. Developing
successful partnerships such as this is the
key to ensuring that we always keep in
touch with advancing technologies.
Take a look at some photos from our Horticulture students’ trip to Germany where they visited sites including a government research and training facility to learn about
various current trials on trees and raspberries, plus historic Berlin for a spot of sightseeing!
Read the latest Shuttleworth College news at online at www.shuttleworth.ac.uk
parklife | The latest news from Bedford College at Old Warden Park
News from The Mansion House
The Mansion House pulls in the prizes
At the Federation of Small Businesses
(FSB) Awards, The Mansion House
won the Enterprising Business award
– beating other businesses from
across the county. Sales & Marketing
Manager Kathy Birch was also runnerup in the Businesswoman of the Year
Award, gaining recognition for her
sterling work in customer service and
expanding the client base of the Old
Warden Park facility.
“I am thrilled that the work of our team
here at The Mansion House has been
recognised as contributing to reviving the
local economy,” said Kathy, pictured with
the award. “We have worked hard to
build upon the relationships which existed
when we took over the facility and have
introduced a much wider range of clients to
our lovely building and gardens.”
Kathy recieves
her award
Other awards won recently by The Mansion
House include catering prizes featured in
the last issue of Park Life, plus the Small/
Medium Sized Business of the Year Award
2011 at the Rising Stars Bedfordshire and
Luton Business Excellence Awards. And not
forgetting being placed 17th in the Top 50
Employers in Hospitality 2012!
A night of awards
Chilli Fiesta
The crowds gather for chilli cooking displays
draws in the crowds
Photo: Edible Ornamentals
Chilli Fiesta draws in the crowds…
As you will have read in the last issue, the summer’s hottest event
– the Chilli Fiesta 2012 – was hosted at The Mansion House on
Sunday 17 June. An amazing three and half thousand people
enjoyed the delights of chilli food and fun with the family.
The Mansion House goes local
The Mansion House are looking to strengthen their
team with the help of the local community to fill
vacancies as associate staff members and apprentices.
The positions are hourly-paid, providing service support
at weddings, conferences and parkland events.
If you are interested in applying please visit
www.themansionhouse.org or call 01767 626266
or email Caroline Ball at cball@themansionhouse.org
for further information.
Read the latest Shuttleworth College news at online at www.shuttleworth.ac.uk
parklife | The latest news from Bedford College at Old Warden Park
Upcoming events at Old Warden Park...
S h u tt l e w o r th c o l l e g e
News in brief
International tree climbing competition at
Shuttleworth College
Shuttleworth College hosted
the UK and Ireland round of
the international Tree Climbing
Championships in May, testing
the fitness, stamina and skills of
40 competitors over two days. Set
in magnificent, mature parkland,
Shuttleworth College is the ideal
setting for the international
competition with trees to test the
best tree climbers.
Competitors armed with ropes and the
latest tree climbing equipment scaled
trees to the height of 70ft in a gruelling
competition to find five men and women
to represent the UK and Ireland in the
next round to be staged in Germany in
June. The final will be held in the USA in
Portland, Oregon in August.
“This world class competition is the
Olympics of the tree world and is seen as
a badge of pride in the industry, testing
competitors in five disciplines:
The visitors enjoyed a buffet reception
on the Friday, farm tours, the AGM and
a dinner in the College’s Russell Hall on
the Saturday. A great weekend was had
by all thanks to the organising of John
Simpson, the year rep for 1962/64, and
the assistance of College staff.
Shuttleworth College Open Day
Come along to find out about our wide
range of animal care, land-based and
outdoor education courses, take a tour
of the campus or attend one of our talks.
When: 23 August 3.00pm-7.00pm
Where: Shuttleworth College
Price: Free Entry
More information: Call 01767 626222
events
the mansion house
footlocking, aerial rescue, throwline,
speed climb and the work climb,”
explained Tom Bowen, Arboriculture
instructor.
“Hosting the competition will give
Shuttleworth College a lasting legacy as
students will know that our magnificent
trees were climbed by tree masters.”
The event at Shuttleworth even attracted
the BBC who did a live radio and video
broadcast of a reporter attempting a tree
climb (pictured above).
A Shuttleworth College reunion
Over the weekend of 18-20 May more
than 140 ex-students and their partners
visited the college for a reunion, some
travelling from as far away as the
USA and Canada to be there. Many
of the students, who enjoyed seeing
all the fantastic new developments
and equipment during their tour with
Executive Director Mike Johnston, were
celebrating the 50th anniversary of
meeting for the first time when they
came as young students to Old Warden
in 1962.
events
To book tickets for these events
call 0 1 7 6 7 6 2 6 2 0 0
NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals
Showcasing some of the most unique hot
rod cars in the country along with great
family entertainment including a funfair,
special guests, stalls and a bar.
When: 29 July 10.00am-5.00pm
Price: Adults £8, Children £4, Family
(2 adults, 2 children) £20
The Classic, Kit & Performance Show
With hundreds of cars including classic,
sport, American, kit, custom and replica
plus club displays, stalls for autojumble and
crafts, a live action arena, funfair, go-karts,
giant inflatables and a chill-out zone.
When:12 August 10.00am-5.00pm
Prices: Adults £8, Children £4
Rhythm Festivals
Former students relive where they first met
This year’s Rhythm Festival promises to be
bigger and better than ever before! Join in
with the fun and music at the Folk Festival
Stage, the Rhythm & Blues Stage and the
Big Rhythms Stage.
When: 24-27 August 11.00am-midnight
Prices: Adults from £99, Children from £60
Other former student news
We have heard that Colin Rayner,
student in 1976/79, was recently
appointed Mayor of the Royal Borough
of Windsor & Maidenhead Council,
just in time for the Jubilee festivities!
Read the latest Shuttleworth College news at online at www.shuttleworth.ac.uk
Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre
This annual steam and country event has
many great attractions for all the family and
the ticket price also includes entry to the
historic aircraft collection, Swiss Gardens
and English School of Falconry.
When:14-16 September 10.00am-5.00pm
Prices: Adults £10, Children £5