This month’s Great Bedfordian is Jessica Answer, owner and head dye-slinger at Boyds Printworks.
Born from the local indie creative scene, Boyds Printworks provides high-quality, sustainable, unique and human-powered printed products, and they recently collaborated with Gemma at The Arc to create a tote bag to promote our fave town.
“We’ve been big fans of The Arc since it opened, so when they got in touch to collaborate on what’s quickly become a positive message campaign for Bedford, I jumped at the chance to help create something that locals would be proud to own.”
“Seeing people using them daily around town and further afield, it’s a reminder to me that there are people here who are positive and optimistic about our town and not afraid to show it.”
Name: Jessica Answer
Occupation: Textile Screen Printer with my business Boyds Printworks.
Born here or blow in? I was born here in Bedford in ’85, I left to study Design Technology at the University of Liverpool for a few years, but I came back to work in engineering, prior to running businesses with my husband in Bedford.
Best breakfast in Bedford? I love eating outdoors, and so it has to be the Longholme for its location, vibe and the food; I always go for the feta & avocado toast.
Best boozer? Not much of a drinker, but The Gordon Arms is always nice for a relaxed drink and people watching from the front terrace.
Best coffee or cuppa? I can’t pick between Vanilla Tree and You For Coffee (at The Arc) for the best flat white.
Best takeaway? Naany’s for katti rolls is a real treat, it’s so tasty and fresh.
Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford? The local gig I’ve had the most fun at in recent years was DJ Yoda at Esquires, we had such a good dance.
Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress? I’m sure we did at school but I can’t remember any of it.
Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger? Yes, from Gunns Bakery when it was on the High Street.
An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about? Cottage Farm Nurseries in Cardington has the most friendly and helpful staff for anything garden plant related (and as a plus, it’s right next to The Barn for a great sandwich).
Best Bedfordian? Thankfully, there are so many people determined to do what’s best for Bedford and look after those more vulnerable than others, which makes this hard to answer without diminishing others’ efforts.
She’s not going to like it because she sent me this questionnaire but for me personally, it’s Erica Roffe [Aww, shucks – Ed] for pushing forward creative ideas in building Bedford’s profile and also for supporting us from the beginning of us starting our first business back in 2016.
Three words that best sum up Bedford? Diverse, creative, supportive.
