Visit Beckworth, Back Up & Running

Hello Beckworthians, i’m so pleased to announce that at last the councils costly IT department are back in place, and we can once again become bloggers. My first post, this one, is for condolences: for the loss of our dear Queen, who spent many a moment driving through Beckworth on her way to places of interest to her, and condolences to us all that the Tories in their “wisdom” voted in Liz Truss to be the tenth PM in just five years (I have it on good authority that Ms Truss is keen to build both a motorway and high speed rail track on our doorstep.) As a mark of respect to our late monarch Beckworths’ public toilets will be closed until after her funeral on Monday and, once the new signage has been painted, be renamed the QE 2 Loos in her honour. Also a book of condolence has been opened in the library next to a picture of the late Queen when she visited Beckworth in her silver Jubilee year (those of us old enough to remember will recall her car broke down in the town and she went into the pub to call, and wait for, the AA). God bless her late Majesty, and God Save The King.
His humble servant, Mayor Gary Grimsby

We’re back… Almost

Hello all Beckworthians, it’s good to be (almost) back online…. We are close to raising enough funds to re-instate the councils costly IT department, and we’ve also caved into their demands to continue to working from home, or the pub; such is progress. When the IT department is up and running we can resume uploading resident’s blog posts and missives… so watch this space. Mayor Gary Grimsby

This Weekend’s Fan Convention Postponed (Again)

Apologies to all. This weekend’s News At Ten fan convention has been postponed for the second year due to the ongoing draconian lock-down measures being in place. As you will be aware only six are currently allowed to meet indoors, except at weddings and sporting events. The organisers had protested that a fan convention should be classed as sport but a licence was sadly declined. Although the scout hut location for the event is perfect for small gatherings, based on previous years we expecting crowds of 7 or 8 attendees. Organisers hope to host the event later in the year unless, thanks to the UK’s current very lax border control & lack of robust travel restrictions, we are in the midst of a fourth or fifth wave of Covid. I’ll let you know the new date when I have it. Gary Grimsby. Mayor 

Strong Smelling Market In Town Tomorrow

Hello all. Don’t forget that tomorrow, Sunday, the annual french Le Marche De Fromage Et Onion (Cheese And Onion Market) will be in town. It’s your once in a year opportunity to buy expensive french cheeses, breads, veg and onions directly from people who smell of garlic, swear profusely, eat amphibian’s legs for breakfast and are drunk and befuddled by mid-morning.

Once again wine won’t be offered after the many drunken altercations in recent years. Nor will we tolerate urinating in the street, not even down opened-manhole covers.

Due to a recent run of bad luck (incarceration, illness, strikes, deaths etc) the famous Emmental Fromagiers (“Cheese Soldiers”) will not, as is tradition, be parading and declaring the market open. Instead local girl Julie Walters will parade along with some girl guides and do the honours at 10am.

Weather permitting there will be events all day for the whole family, including morris dancing by The Beckworth Bothamers, donkey rides, a coconut shy, a daredevil kite display by local celebrity Noel Edmunds and of course in the afternoon the crowning of Beckworth’s Miss Garlic 2016.

Not to be missed this year the Beckworth & Crewbury Historical Re-enactors will be staging a recreation of the making of the Bayeux Tapestry. Using donated fuzzy felt.

So Bonjour to one and all, Mayor Gary Grimsby Beckworth Cheese-Soldiers

(Above) The famous battle-hardened French cheese soldiers who sadly will be absent from this year’s market

International Happiness Day

Happy Happiness Day To You All and apologies for missing it yesterday (and today). To be honest I’ve had a crap weekend so it past me by, but to make up for it I’ve hired Cornflakes The Clown to parade up and down the high street tomorrow for an hour at lunch time to put a smile on everyone’s faces. It’s lucky Cornflakes was available at short notice and allowed out of prison on day release (he’s also the only local clown I could afford to book due to council budget cuts). His parole officer says he’s not really supposed to be allowed near members of the general public unsupervised but i’ve said i’ll try to pop along to make sure he’s not up to his old tricks. Here’s hoping! Mayor G. Grimsby

Beckworth_Cornflakes The Clown

(Above) Cornflakes The Clown practicing his “happiness” face earlier today

Happy New From The Council

Happy New Year To You All. Well it’s back to work with a bump for me as we’ve had almost all of our computers stolen. In fact the only one left in the town hall is the one i’m currently using, which is an old pc we keep for emergencies. We eventually found it stashed behind the cisterns in the ladie’s loo, hence my delay in posting this message. But at least we were insured so should have brand new computers, macs hopefully, very soon. On a lighter note I trust everyone enjoyed new years eves’ council funded entertainment at the edge of the flooded sports field. The traditional burning of Old Man Beckworth to say goodbye to the old year went off without too much drama, it took a lot of petrol to ignite, but no one ended up in A&E which is a relief. This years’ effigy was made from old cereal packets and egg boxes by local handyman Duncan Bannatyne and is said to be based on a cross-dresser he met in a jungle!!! His close friend Tony Hadley made a very realistic Lego Baby Beckworth effigy that was paraded through the streets in the early hours to welcome in 2016. So thanks to both of them. My personal highlight was tucking into a kebab as the New Year fireworks went off whilst the local Scout’s brass-band covered the hits of The Arctic Monkeys and Status Quo. All the best for a healthy and prosperous 2016. Mayor G. Grimsby

Beckworth_Baby

(Above) The very realistic “Baby Beckworth” effigy made by the talented Tony Hadley

Remember, Remember The 6th Of November

Hello all. Just a reminder that this year’s bonfire celebrations will be happening on Friday 6th not Thursday 5th, so we can all stay out extra late. Attractions will include a video of a bonfire and fireworks on a quite large screen (due to health and safety concerns over real fires), a torch-lit choir, vegan food stalls and an effigy of Guy Fawkes lovingly made out of recycled rubbish from the local power station. Prof Brian Cox will tell the story of the gunpowder plot from a small marquee (weather permitting) and for the under-5s the local Peppa Pig tribute band will be playing on a small open-air stage. See you all on Friday! G. Grimsby. Mayor

Beckworth_PeppaPigBand

(Above) The Peppa Pig Tribute Band practicing their bonfire songs earlier today

It Was An (Almost Entirely) Happy Halloween

Thank you to all residents for an almost incident free Halloween. The carefully controlled trick or treating went smoothly. There were only forty-seven arrests and as usual, due to Police zero-tolerance policy, it was the under 10s causing the problems. The police chief has stated the rioting that ensued is most likely due to sweet induced sugar rushes. On a lighter note, congratulations go to the Beckham family who won both the under-18s and adult Halloween Costume competitions. G. Grimsby. Mayor

Beckworth-Halloween-Costume-Winners

(Above) Thrilled Halloween costume winners, Victoria Beckham and very tall son Romeo, photographed whilst out trick or treating last night