14 November 2025
Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…
Duck to the future
Every so often, someone suggests an idea for Bedford that’s genuinely uplifting — something that makes you think, yes, this place could have a bit of fun again.
This week, that honour goes to Richard Pill, CEO of the British Regional Transport Association, who has floated the idea of a river bus between Newnham, the town centre and Kempston. A simple, scenic way to make more of the River Great Ouse.
In an email to the Mayor seen by my editorial colleagues here, he asked, “Could this be something for a novelty for making more of Bedford’s River?
“Thinking aloud here, Spalding has a river bus. But (in Bedford) Newnham-Town Centre-Kempston could be done easily?”
His inspiration comes from London, where the famous Duck Tours, now fully electric, are returning to the Thames. If amphibious buses can glide past MI6, they can certainly pass by Borough Hall.
And honestly, it’s a lovely thought. Using the river for something joyful and practical. Giving Bedfordians and visitors a new way to experience the town and adding a bit of charm to a place that deserves more of it.
It might never happen, or it might just be the start of something brilliant. But in a time when so many local conversations are about cuts and closures, it’s refreshing to hear an idea rooted in possibility.
So thank you, Richard. More of this, please — imagination, optimism, and a little bit of Bedford whimsy.
Commissioner chaos
The Government has announced that Police and Crime Commissioners will be scrapped in 2028, which is fabulous news for anyone who thought democracy had far too much clarity and not nearly enough committee-based confusion.
Read: Scrapping PCCs raises concerns over Bedfordshire’s policing oversight
In Bedfordshire, this means one police force could soon be lovingly supervised by:
- One elected mayor (Bedford Borough)
- One council leader (Central Beds), and
- One different council leader (Luton)
All trying to tell Bedfordshire Police what to do at the same time.
What could possibly go wrong?
PCC John Tizard (Labour) says it’s “business as usual” until 2028, which is admirable optimism for someone whose business has an expiry date.
Meanwhile, Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) is already staking his claim to ensure Bedford Borough isn’t sidelined, while the other two leaders are presumably doing the same in their own press releases.
And as for the Chief Constable, he’s sensibly staying out of it, no doubt praying that whatever replaces PCCs doesn’t involve three bosses all pulling him in different directions.
The government insists this will improve policing, save £20m a year, and bring “better local accountability”. Critics say it will create an “accountability vacuum”, which, to be fair, is still more measurable than the impact PCCs had on voter recognition.
(If you asked the public to name their PCC, most would still guess “that bloke from Line of Duty”.)
Until someone in Westminster remembers Bedfordshire exists and tells us how this will actually work, we remain in a holding pattern and have no idea whether the police will soon report to a mayor or a committee, it might even be a WhatsApp group.
God help us all.
Vintage embarrassment
Bedford Independent editor Paul Hutchinson recently had one of those moments where you suddenly wish the ground would open up and swallow you whole.
At a prestigious Remembrance dinner, with the Lord Lieutenant as guest of honour, the evening began smoothly enough.
Paul and others, all dressed to the nines, took their seats as waiters placed two bottles of wine on the table.
Paul was on a table of six, and two guests opposite helped themselves to a glass. Paul, seeing no reason not to join them, poured a modest glass, enjoyed a sip, then politely offered the bottle to the gentleman next to him.
He declined, and Paul put the bottle back.
At which point, the gentleman opposite leaned forward, kindly, but with the unmistakable tone of someone about to deliver bad news, and said: “I’m so sorry… that wine’s actually mine.”
Cue instant mortification.
Paul apologised profusely, the man was gracious, and everyone agreed it was no big deal. But Paul, determined not to be the kind of guest who accidentally freeloads at a formal dinner, quietly nipped to the bar and bought a replacement bottle.
The man insisted he didn’t need to. Paul insisted he very much did, and poured a glass in return.
After all, he said he’d already enjoyed the accidental glass… and wouldn’t have minded another.
All’s well that ends well, but if you see Paul at an event and on your table, be sure to keep your own wine close by just in case.
Harrold hero
If you’ve ever wandered through Harrold, you’ll know Dave the Cat. Dave, who is in fact female, has been a fixture on the High Street for years, living her best independent life between the chip shop and the Co-op.
She even has her own little house, a repurposed chicken coop by the chippy, which means Dave genuinely walks from coop to Co-op every morning for breakfast. A local legend.
At 16 years old and completely deaf, Dave has somehow mastered the art of crossing the High Street safely (a skill some humans could learn from).
Villagers adore her, schoolchildren stroke her, and she has almost certainly judged more passers-by than any of us will ever know.
But recently she’s been unwell. Losing weight, wobbling when she walks, and showing signs that she may need proper vet care.
A rescue centre has agreed to take her in, keep her safe, get her the treatment she needs, and eventually find her a loving home for her retirement years. So Harrold villagers have launched a GoFundMe for her… and it’s already flying.
That’s the kind of community spirit that makes Bedford Borough the brilliant place to live that it is.
So, here’s to Dave. Deaf, determined, and dearly loved – a proper local icon.
If you’d like to help give her the gentlest of landings in her twilight years, you can do so here.
See you soon, Bedford Ian.
PS: If you see anything Bedford Ian might find amusing, let us know at news@BedfordIndependent.co.uk.
