Rare Snail Spotted By Roundabout

Hello Beckworth. Just to let you know that the town has been blessed with a visitation by a very rare mollusc, the Common Shelless Snail (Latin: Communus Snailius With No Shellius). We’ve had a few wonderful sightings of the shy, 6cm long “naked” snails in the past couple of days, mainly around the A324 roundabout near McDonalds, and we are currently feeding the gastropods and helping them across the busy road junction, with the hope that Lord David Attenborough will come down with his film crew to make an award-winning documentary. The snail has become extinct in many parts of Europe, as they are thought a delicacy and are easier to eat by virtue of being shell-less, and are extremely rare in this country due to the fact they prefer to live by the road side and get squashed by careless motorists. So we are a very lucky town to have them visit. Yours, Clifford PinnerBeckworth_ShellLess_Snail

(Above) The very rare Communus Snailius With No Shellius avoiding traffic earlier today

Priceless Pickled Onions Stolen

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Hello. I am hoping you can help because Beckworth has this weekend suffered a tragic loss. Our renowned pickled onion collection, (pictured above) has had some of it’s rarest and pricless unique exhibits stolen. The onions, some dating back to the Norman conquest and valued at over £3.5 million, are usually on display in The Hayward’s Gallery at the Town Hall. Many prize examples were taken, and are probably already being eaten on the black market. We believe the theft occurred sometime between August 2012 and Monday morning just gone, but can’t be more specific as we seldom look at the items on view. The theft was only noted when pickle fan, and local celeb, Benedict Cumberbatch asked for his entrance fee back as most exhibits were missing. The jars of onions are irreplaceable and trace the evolution of pickling through history, the rarest probably being the Henry VIII’s pickles made during a time when only Royalty were allowed to make pickles and relishes. We are desperate to get the collection back, so if you have any information about the theft or where to buy some more please contact me directly, as the Police don’t seem interested. Stella Corby, The Hayward’s Gallery

Fish Race Won By Large Goldfish

Hello all. I trust you all enjoyed the annual Beckworth MayDay Fish Race as much as I and weren’t put off by the anti-vivisectionist’s scuba division trying to delay the race by swimming with the racing fish. The event was only held up by 20 minutes whilst the protestors were caught by local anglers and there weren’t too many serious injuries. Congratulations to Robson Green whose pet goldfish Rose won the race in record time. It was the third time Rose had raced in the event but she’d never got a podium position before, so well done. Perseverance and daily training really paid off. G.Grimsby. Mayor

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(Above) Rose proudly shows off her gold medal, with owner and trainer Robin Green

Take The Next Left, or Right, Said Fred

Hello World. Todays’ news is the hottest off the press for some time because its’ come straight from the horses mouth, almost. Richard Fairbrass of rock group Right Said Fred told his hairdresser, who phoned me, that he is the new voice of a well known make of satnav. Multi-millionaire Richard told Marge over a shampoo that ”it’s ironic Marge” he said “As I can’t drive, am rubbish with a map and get my lefts and rights all mixed up!” before adding “But hopefully drivers will forgive me if my instructions get them lost!” I think I speak for all Beckworth residents when I say I for one would let the deeply dippy bald Mr Fairground get me lost on the way home from Sainsco. LOL Ronnie. Psychic.
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(Above) Right Said Fred who’s obviously no longer too sexy for his shirt

Thank Cod For The May Day Fish Race

Hello all. Please note that tomorrow it’s the annual Beckworth MayDay Fish Race, and the good news is the bookies will be opening early so you can have a flutter on our scaley racers. So go on, treat yourself. The race is a must for all the family, but please remember not to bring any pet cats or kittens. We want to avoid any entries being eaten before and during the race, as has happened in previous years.

Competitors, please bring your race-prepared fishes (You should all have been issued with your race colours and unique numbers to paint on the sides of your aquatic entry) to the Pamela Anderson Memorial Room in the library at 12:30 for the weigh-in. Just to clarify, although sharks are fish they are still banned from the competition. The race will start at 2 sharp from the Ginsters Bridge, and the starter this year will be local celeb and TV’s Mr teetotal, Keith Chegwin (himself a big fan of angling). See you tomorrow, weather permitting (if it is stormy the race will take place in Beckworth High School’s swimming pool). G.Grimsby. Mayor
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(Above) Last year’s worthy winner Norma Neston with her trainer Des

MayDay P*** Up Tomorrow

This is a message to all of you who like heavy metal and getting drunk on cheap ale. Tomorrow, to celebrate May Day, local heavy metal covers bands, Bachman Turner Overdraft, The Whom, Motorshed, and Ron Maiden will be rocking our back room venue all day. We’re hoping headliners Zed Lepellin, coming all the way from Japan via Swansea airport, will clear immigration in time to play, but if not Bachman Turner Overdraft have offered to play their set all over again (and we doubt anyone will notice if they do). It’s only a fifteen quid on the door, from 10am, and Mayday’s featured ale at the pub is Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy. Warning: If you’re coming for lunch with the family it’s probably best to sit outside in the beer garden! Cindy Carmarthen, Bar Manager, The Blind Badger Pub & Venue

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(Above) Rock and Real Ale loving Blind Badger regulars arriving early for tomorrow’s gig

Found: Vital New Clue Found In Massacre Case (And Thank God It’s Not Another Ruddy Tie)

Hello. I don’t know about you, but PC Rozzer and I have been getting royally pissed off just finding grey nylon ties as clues to help us solve the Stag Do Massacre case. So it came as something of a relief when a discarded wrapper was found by an observant member of the public (Thank you Mr Simon “Drivetime” Mayo). Thank God for litter I say, because there is more to this wrapper than meets the eye. It is obviously a clue to the identity of the ring leader of the Stag Do Massacre gang, most likely left by getaway driver Les Gateshead as it was found near to the van where he left his tie. (Please don’t try and approach the area around the evidence as the anti-terrorist bomb-squad are in attendance as they believe the litter to be booby trapped and a threat to local wildlife). The real break through is that the wrapper once contained a peanut-based snack bar called either Mr Tim or Mr Tom. So Mr Gateshead is letting us know the gang’s Mr Big is actually called Tim… or Tom. It’s a very subtle clue but Les knew we’d crack it. Now Rozzer and I are good detectives but even we need some help now and again. So this is where you come in. Perhaps you know people with the names Tim and Tom who are crime lords? Maybe you’ve not seen them around since the day you saw the duo disposing of bodyparts in the recycling bins, and pointed out the bin men aren’t due for another three days? Or perhaps you are Mr Gateshead’s dentist and have told him not to eat so many sugary snack bars with christian names or else his teeth will fall out? If so CID would like to hear from you. Please ring 999 and ask for PC R Cowgrove at Beckworth Police station. PC Rozzer and I will be handling this mass murder case in between watching our collection of Columbo and Ironside videos. I’ll keep you posted on developments. Yours, PC Cowgrove. Beckworth Police

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(Above) A discarded sweet wrapper called Tim, or Tom, earlier today

Beckworth’s Oldest Resident Passes Away Nibbling Lettuce

Hello. It is with a heavy heart that I have to share today’s very sad news that Myrtle O’Flynn died this morning whilst eating her favourite breakfast of lettuce and rain water. Her close friends, who were with her at the painless end, say that even nibbling salad had become a struggle for the fine old lady. Myrtle was Beckworth’s oldest resident, and probably the World’s, living a staggering 762 years or thereabouts. A post mortem should give us her definite age, as i’m told they will cut her open and count some rings or something, a similar technique to finding the age of trees and bushes. Myrtle the turtle leaves a daughter Rose, aged 695 years and living in Seattle, and approximately 1.5 million descendents, to whom we pass on our sympathy.  Thanking you. Timothy Thetford. Head Zookeeper. Crewbury Zoo and Aquapark

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(Above) Ms Myrtle O’Flynn enjoying what was to be her last meal earlier today