Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger’s what’s on guide lands every Wednesday and is the only guide you need to find out what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by Bedford Esquires.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Live music: Dead Dads Club + Tough Cookie
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12.50
When Chilli Jesson was 14 years old, he lost his father to drug addiction. Burying his feelings, he started a band (Palma Violets), and by 19, Jesson found himself plastered on the cover of the NME and hailed as the most exciting new British group since The Libertines.
Still only in his early twenties when his first band called time, Jesson set about trying to carve out something new. He started a second outfit Crewel Intentions, and then, struggling for money, answered a call from someone looking to hire an indie-minded songwriter to work on a pop project. “…it was brilliant – I signed again for the first time since Rough Trade with Palma Violets, which made me think I was definitely on the right road. And then the A&R who believed in me as this pop star left, and it all shattered again.”
Dead Dads Club is, from its knowing title outwards, a place for anyone who needs it. The first rule of Dead Dads Club is you can talk about whatever you want. Inspired by The Flaming Lips and their ability to write a truly narrative-driven concept record, Jesson wanted to put it all out there: no mystery, no metaphor. The MO was that it would be “very clear and direct. I didn’t want to hide behind anything. I just wanted it to be on the nose.”
Thursday, 21 May 2026
The John Bunyan Community Boat: Fish and Chip Cruise
From the KingfisherCardington Road Bedford, Bedfordshire GB MK44 3SA @ midday
Tickets: £35.50
A 2.5-hour round trip from Priory Marina with a fish and chip lunch included in your ticket.
Get £2 off every ticket by entering SPRING26at the checkout.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Bedford Skeptics: The Green Children of Woolpit with Deborah Hyde
North End Club, Roffe Avenue @ 7.30pm
Deborah Hyde revisits one of Britain’s most enduring and eerie tales: the Green Children of Woolpit.
As recorded by two medieval chroniclers, the story of the strange siblings, who claimed to have come from a place of eternal twilight, has fascinated and baffled readers for centuries.
Join Deborah as she carefully unpicks the threads of the story, tracing its roots, variations, and the possible truths hidden behind its luminous green glow.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Classical music: Philharmonia Concert Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Brahms
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Prices vary
Adam Hickox – conductor / Alim Beisembayev – piano
Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto is a masterpiece in piano music writing, a deeply intimate work that remains one of the composer’s best loved. Here, it is in the hands of Alim Beisembayev, winner of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2021.
Brahms’s magnificent First Symphony was many years in the making. The wait was worth it – it’s a 45-minute journey through all the poetry and power an orchestra can conjure.
First, is a performance of Mendelssohn’s overture, Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. Taking inspiration from poetry by Goethe, Mendelssohn’s orchestral seascape is a charming, evocative 10 minutes of musical storytelling.
Friday, 22 – Sunday, 24 May 2026
Children’s Theatre: There’s a Monster in Your Show
The Quarry Theatre @ see website for times
Tickets: from £14.50
Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series tours the UK in a brand-new musical show.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Magic: Hudson and Hudson Magicians: Married at First Sleight
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
A hilarious, feel-good magic show from a real-life couple who mix marriage, magic and mind-reading.
Hudson and Hudson are made up of magicians Alan Hudson and Kat Hudson. Both are established acts in their own right. Is it a good idea to work with your husband/wife?
In Married At First Sleight, they try for the ultimate trick…. getting through a whole show without killing each other.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Live music: Queen of the Night – a tribute to Whitney Houston
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £30
Established as the UK’s biggest Whitney Houston tribute, this breathtaking production honours the music, legacy, and unmatched talent of the legendary Whitney Houston. Celebrate Whitney’s remarkable musical repertoire in an electrifying production that honours her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.
Prepare to be captivated by an extraordinary journey through three decades of all-time hits such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody, One Moment In Time, I’m Every Woman, I Will Always Love You, My Love Is Your Love, So Emotional, Run To You, Saving All My Love, How Will I Know, Million Dollar Bill, The Greatest Love Of All, and many more.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Dance music: Leftfield DJ set + Ryussi
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Electronic music pioneers Leftfield take over Esquires with a rare, intimate DJ set for a night of legendary grooves, seismic bass and immersive, boundary-pushing, high-energy electronic dance music.
Very special support from Ryussi, resident DJ for queer party Feel It, and Loose FM radio host, based right here in Bedford.
From Saturday, 23 May
New Exhibition: Edward Bawden: Snails for All
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
In 1945, after returning from his duties as a war artist in the Middle East, Edward Bawden wrote and illustrated a book about snails for his two young children called ‘Snails for All’.
In 2025 The Higgins Bedford was gifted the book for The Edward Bawden Archive.
Read: Mythical molluscs take centre stage at the Higgins Bedford in new Bawden exhibition
To celebrate this new acquisition, the exhibition will display each page of the book alongside other works from the collection.
You will also be able to buy your own ‘Snails for All’ book from The Higgins Bedford shop. It is being published for the first time with an accompanying essay by design, architecture and art historian Alan Powers.
From Saturday, 23 May – 27 June 2026
Exhibition: Brilliant Corners
The Burnaby Arms
Free entry
Brilliant Corners is a selection of paintings from the series Screens by Roger Woodiwiss.
“I have been working on the Screens series of painted panels for a couple of years or so, they have the form but not the content of mobile phones, the blank screen being the equivalent of a blank canvas,” said Roger.
“This is the first time that I have exhibited a group of them together. The show is ‘a local show for local people’ in a local, but should anyone from further afield be interested they would be very welcome.”
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Gardens: Kathy Brown’s Garden
The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington MK43 7QB @ 10.30am – 1pm / 2pm – 4.30pm
Tickets: £11 / £5.50 | Booking required
Enjoy a guided walk around the beautiful gardens of the Manor House in Stevington, which have been created by Kathy Brown and her husband Simon over the last 30 years.
You can choose either a morning or afternoon slot, but numbers are limited to ensure the best visitor experience.
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Food & music: FoodDrunk
Bedford Esquires @ 1pm
Free entry
Is it even officially summer until FoodDrunk graces Esquires with its presence?
The 13th edition of the food and music celebration rolls into town on the bank holiday weekend, with some of the finest street food, live music and DJs.
Acts on the day include Blunt Cactus, Cameo, Cereal Milk, Joelio, Kye Lenette, Matt Astell, Safira Gabrielle, Sycamore, Tash Payton-Bruhl and T.R.A.T.S, plus an eclectic range of DJ sets curated by Roll Your Own Records.
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Riseley, near the Fox and Hounds, MK44 1DT @ 1.30pm
Parking at Keysoe International Centre, this seven mile walk follows the North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail to Riseley and back. The cafe will be open before the walk. Please leave plenty of time if using the cafe.
Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Theatre: Pride and Prejudice- But Funny
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £17
What do you get if you cross Jane Austen’s most famous novel with a bunch of buffoons?
Pride and Prejudice….but funny! A ridiculous romp through all the Bennets, Bingleys, bachelors and balls (not that kind), and not forgetting the De Burghs and Darcys.
Featuring at least one soaking wet shirt and some excellent boiled potatoes, this hilarious retelling of Austen’s most loved story is not to be missed!
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Classical Music: Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra concert
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: Prices vary
Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra ends its season with a programme of classics inlcuding Wagner’s Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for violin, cello and piano and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3.
Conductor: Bjorn Bantock Soloists: Mike Gemmill (violin), Julian Metzger (cello) and Stephen Meakins (piano)
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Live music: Foo Fighters GB
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Following numerous sold out shows at Bedford Esquires the FOO FIGHTERS GB are back for their annual gig. Five musicians at the top of their game, bringing to you the talent and stage presence to perform the Foo’s biggest hits.
Celebrating the hits of the Foo Fighters in full volume, Foo Fighters GB have been rocking out festivals and music venues since summer 2015 with their charismatic and adrenaline pumping show!
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Walking: “The Rise and Fall of Bedford Castle” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The Norman Conquest of Britain witnessed the introduction of castles to the landscape and in Bedford, a major castle was built in the 12th century. Walk through the old castle grounds, see the mound on which it once stood and hear the story of the castle and its demise in the siege of 1224. This year witnesses the 800th anniversary of the Great Siege of Bedford Castle in 1224.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Family fun: Klein Festival
Beefly car park, off St Cuthbert’s Street @ noon – 5pm
Free
All the action is taking place in the car park behind Beerfly this Bank Holiday weekend, with their Klein Festival, a nod to the Dutch heritage of one of the owners.
There will be four taps outside, plus visitors can enjoy a smash burger courtesy of the crew at Crown & Heel. The Flying Cork are serving their own wines and cocktails, and they will have Harrison & Simmonds with them for some cigars.
Live music throughout the day and the ever-fabulous Gemma from The Arc will be there with her Bedford resortwear merch – plus a craft table for the little ones. There’s the Wooden Hill coffee van plus sweet treats and sausage rolls too. You can even have a poem written for you on the spot by Cam from the Eagle Bookshop, who will be there with his typewriter.
The nearest parking is either Lurke Street multi-storey or St Peter’s Street and it’s completey free every Sunday.
Proost!
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Live music: The Black and Gold play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
The welcome return of Bedford’s Black and Gold to the Sunday afternoon session.
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Dance music: Fliptrix + DJ Jazz T
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
UK Hip Hop royalty and one quarter of The Four Owls, FlipTrix is in Bedford as part of his Elevation tour.
Monday, 25 May 2026
The John Bunyan Community Boat: Family Eye Spy Cruise
From the KingfisherCardington Road Bedford, Bedfordshire GB MK44 3SA @ midday, 1.30pm and 3pm
Tickets: £10 / £6.50
A 45-minute round trip from Mill Meadow Landing Stage with a free EyeSpy card for kids.
Monday, 25 May 2026
Family fun: Bromham Duck Race
Opposite Bromham Mill @ midday – 4pm
£1/ticket for the general race
Enjoy a fabulous Bank Holiday Monday at the bi-annual Duck Race in Bromham.
The afternoon kicks off with giant ducks taking part in the Business Race (1pm), followed by the Children’s Decorated Duck Race (2pm). The day culminates in the general race (3pm), where members of the public can purchase a number corresponding to a racing duck and compete for a cash prize.
Monday, 25 May 2026
Gardens: Kathy Brown’s Garden
The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington MK43 7QB @ 10.30am – 1pm / 2pm – 4.30pm
Tickets: £11 / £5.50 | Booking required
Enjoy a guided walk around the beautiful gardens of the Manor House in Stevington, which have been created by Kathy Brown and her husband Simon over the last 30 years.
Get £2 off every ticket by entering SPRING26 at the checkout.
You can choose either a morning or afternoon slot, but numbers are limited to ensure the best visitor experience.
Tuesday, 26 – Friday, 30 May 2026
Family fun: Half-term at the Higgins
The Higgins Bedford @ 11.15am / 12.45pm / 2.15pm
Tickets: £6.05 per child
This half term, the Higgins Bedford is hosting a selection of family-friendly events, including a printing workshop to create your own snail prints, a wildlife workshop and puppet-making.
Booking Essential, suitable for children aged 5-12 years. To find out more or to book a place, visit thehigginsbedford.org.uk or call the Booking Office on 01234 718044.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Gardens: Kathy Brown’s Garden
The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington MK43 7QB @ 10.30am – 1pm / 2pm – 4.30pm
Tickets: £11 / £5.50 | Booking required
Enjoy a guided walk around the beautiful gardens of the Manor House in Stevington, which have been created by Kathy Brown and her husband Simon over the last 30 years.
You can choose either a morning or afternoon slot, but numbers are limited to ensure the best visitor experience – and that there is enough cake!
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
North Beds Art Society: Alice White – Ways to Look at Painting
The Addison Centre, Kempston MK42 8PN @ 11.00am Refreshments from 10.15am
Tickets: £10.00
Artist and lecturer, Alice White, takes the audience behind the scenes of the creative process of some of the art world’s most renowned figures.
With rare glimpses inside the sketchbooks, paint-boxes and studios of four key figures in the history and practice of art, this sumptuously illustrated lecture showcases Alice’s clear, engaging presentation style as she uncovers a new way of seeing painting.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free with retiring collection
Step into the beautiful surroundings of St Paul’s church to enjoy a free piano recital by the Tethys Piano Trio.
Free with retiring collection.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Classical music: Bach for Solo Cello
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20 ( under 35s concession £5)
For Music in the Round’s first concert at The Place, Gemma Rosefield (Ensemble 360, Leonore Piano Trio) plays some of Bach’s most intimate works, interspersing music with conversation and questions.
You’ll be sitting just metres away from this amazing musician, performing spine-tingling music with her heart and soul in The Place, an intimate space where the audience surrounds the performer on three sides.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Creativity: The Circus of Illustration presents Drink and Draw
The Park pub, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm
Free. No need to book, just turn up / £2 donation welcome
Join The Circus of Illustration to doodle along to this month’s theme – still life drawing.
The team are raiding the pantry and have looted the larder for an array of familiar foodstuffs in bottles tins and jars to doodle. Feel free to rummage in your own store cupboards too and bring some packaged provisions to the table for us all to draw, especially if you have something quirky like a tin of Bisto from the 1960s.
Bring your preferred drawing materials or use theirs. These relaxed drink and draws are suitable for adults of all levels of artists and illustrators. New people always welcome.
Wednesday, 27 – Friday, 29 May 2026
Theatre: The Pantaloons present: Sherlock Holmes and the Hounds of the Baskervilles
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
How can one show possibly contain so much action and adventure? Elementary, my dear!
The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company present a brand-new riff on the fiendishly famous case. Features live music, audience interaction and more mystery than you can shake a magnifying glass at.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Walking:“Bedford’s South Bank Show” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The settlement south of the River Great Ouse is attributed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 915 to King Edward the Elder. During the latter half of the 20th Century, the south of Bedford changed dramatically as modern development took place.
This walk reveals the medieval past and the more recent lost industry, buildings, public houses and the importance of Bedford’s South Bank to the development of the town.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WALK CROSSES UNDER A LOW BRIDGE OF 4’ 9” HEIGHT TWICE EN ROUTE.
Thursday, 28 May 2026
NT Live screening: Playboy of the Western World
Stevington Cinema Club Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT@ 6.45pm
Tickets: £16
Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery.
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Meeting place: Riseley, near the Fox and Hounds, MK44 1DT @ 7pm
Gentle 4.5-mile wander around the Riseley area, 4.5 miles. Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Family fun: GrandSlam Wrestling
Bedford Academy @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15/£12.50/family ticket £50
BEDFORD – ARE YOU READY?! After sold-out shows across the UK, GrandSlam Wrestling is bringing the action to Bedford, so expect a night of explosive, edge-of-your-seat matches, larger-than-life wrestling superstars, plus plenty of drama, rivalries & unforgettable moments.
Tickets are on sale now.
Friday, 29 May 2026
Philharmonia Family Concert: Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
St Paul’s Church @ 2pm & 3.30pm
Tickets: £10/£5
Enter the Hundred Acre Wood and join eight Philharmonia cellists on an exciting adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and his lovable companions.
Follow Piglet as he attempts to catch a Heffalump, help Pooh and his friends find Eeyore’s missing tail, and try to figure out what Tigger wants to eat for breakfast…
Music composed by the Philharmonia’s very own Richard Birchall brings A. A. Milne’s beautiful landscape to life in this charming, heart-warming, family-friendly concert – perfect for celebrating the centenary year of one of the world’s most beloved stories.
Saturday, 30 May & Sunday, 31 May 2026
Convention: Tattoo Factory Bedford
Bedford International Athletic Stadium @ 10am – 5pm
Tickets: day ticket £20 / weekend ticket £35 / U18s free
Bedford Tattoo Factory is an annual tattoo convention with a festival-style, bringing together 120 talented tattoo artists and 10 unique traders.
Enjoy live entertainment, great food and drinks, plus free face painting and temporary tattoos. The perfect chance to meet artists, watch live tattooing, and soak up a vibrant, creative atmosphere.
Throughout the weekend, the organisers are raising money for Keech Hospice Care. Last year they raised over £1,000 and are hoping to raise even more this year.
Saturday, 30 May 2026
Live music: Mark Morriss (The Bluetones) + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £16.50
Best known as the lead singer for The Bluetones, and now having been a solo artist since 2008, Mark Morriss has spent the best part of three decades honing his craft as a live performer.
During that time, he has released six albums with The Bluetones, including 14 Top 40 singles, four solo albums and collaborated with Matt Berry and the Maypoles, Mike Wilton, and The Helicopter Of The Holy Ghost on tours and on record.
As a live performer, Mark is able to blend songs from his extensive back catalogue with stories of his time on the road, providing an entertaining show that prides itself on never being the same twice.
Saturday, 30 May 2026
Comedy: Daliso Chaponda: Tropical Storm
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
Daliso Chaponda has been writing jokes about the news for over a decade – on Have I Got News For You, Radio 4′ News Quiz, Australia’s Good News Week and many more besides.
But this show is not about THE news but about news itself. Journalists, bloggers, fake news, satirical news: have we lost the thread of it all? Is the reporting of news endlessly polarising us as a society rather than educating us?
Saturday, 30 May 2026
Live music: Dylan Gilbert
Clapham Village Hall @ 6.30pm
Tickets: £5
Don’t miss out on your chance to see 11-year-old guitarist Dylan Gilbert as he performs at his first live concert.
Dylan has been playing guitar since the age of eight, and is already a seasoned performer, having played regularly at The Cellar Bar and at several local events.
Read: Next stop Knebworth: 11-year-old guitarist puts on charity concert in Clapham
And despite not being born during Britpop’s 90s heyday, it is the bands of this era that most heavily influence his style, so expect tracks from Oasis, Blur, Pulp and more, plus some of Dylan’s own material.
Saturday, 30 May 2026
Live music: The Cuban Brothers
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
The Cuban Brothers are heading to Bedford Esquires for a fun-filled evening of debauchery and beats.
They may be a comedy act, but they’re simultaneously serious musicians who have played with Prince, been on the road with James Brown and supported Fatboy Slim, Chuck Berry and De La Soul.
If you’ve ever seen them before, we’ll see you there – if you haven’t, get some Cuban Brothers in your life, before it’s too late.
Sunday, 31 May 2026
The John Bunyan Community Boat: Sunday Afternoon Cruise
From the KingfisherCardington Road Bedford, Bedfordshire GB MK44 3SA @ 1.30pm (Priory Marina) and 2.30pm (Sovereign’s Quay)
Tickets: £20 / £12
A two-hour (from Sovereigns Quay) or four-hour (from Priory Marina) round trip with the option to add food to your ticket.
Get £2 off every ticket by entering SPRING26at the checkout.
Sunday, 31 May 2026
Walking: “The Life and Times of John Bunyan” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
Discover the story of Bedford’s most famous son who was imprisoned for his non-conformist preaching. Visit the site of the cottage in which John and his family lived, the churches in which he worshipped and the site of the gaol in which he spent 12 long years and began to write one of the best-selling books in history, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday, 31 May 2026
National Theatre Live: All My Sons
The Quarry Theatre @ 2pm
Tickets: £16
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, from visionary director Ivo Van Hove (A View from the Bridge).
Sunday, 31 May 2026
Live music: The Soho Dukes play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
World-renowned, critically-acclaimed, electrically-powered, rascally rock and roll from the Soho Dukes, who are back for another Sunday afternoon session in the Esquires’ bar.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Noel Carrington: Nothing Need Be Ugly
The Higgins Bedford @ extended until 2 September
Free entry
Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson, this exhibition tells the story of publishing’s unsung hero, Noel Carrington (1895–1989). Schooled in Bedford with his sister Dora, Noel Carrington became one of the most influential figures in 20th-century design. Through the Puffin Picture Books and Country Life he commissioned, edited and published some of Britian’s most loved children’s picture books.
Read: Celebrating Bedford’s unsung publishing hero: Noel Carrington and Puffin Picture Books
He saw the genius in artists such as Kathleen Hale, publishing books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat and championed emerging artists such as Hilary Stebbing. With Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden and Mervyn Peake, he commissioned books such as ‘High Street’, ‘Life in an English Village’ and ‘Captain Slaughterboard’.
Through beloved children’s books, forgotten gems and original artwork this exhibition will take Noel Carrington out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
Exhibition: Edward Bawden – Printmaker
The Higgins Bedford until 26 April
Free entry
Take a trip to the Higgins Bedford to explore the Edward Bawden Printmaker exhibition, which celebrates Bawden’s remarkable legacy as ‘The Master of the Linocut’ and offers visitors a chance to delve into his innovative techniques and artistic achievements.
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd @ Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a secretive Christian group formed in the early twentieth century that created its own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford.
The Panacea Museum is located across several Victorian buildings that formed the community’s headquarters. It tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups.
As featured on BBC Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town.
Every Tuesday
Community: Tuesday Chess Café
The Pavilion in the Park @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
If you’re a keen chess player or have always wanted to learn, then the weekly chess cafe at the Pavilion in the Park is for you.
Players meet every week, and there’s no membership.
