The John Bunyan Trail (13) Lidlington & Millbrook

I'm hoping for an interesting walk today! The weather forecast has improved greatly as we set off from the village of Lidlington. A small village in central Bedfordshire in the Marston Vale area.
 We are quickly out of the residential area and into open countryside, walking in an anti-clockwise direction. We are walking parallel to the railway line with Brogborough (also known as Lidlington Lake) further in the distance. We stumble upon a startled Chinese Water Deer in the undergrowth. It's a close call as to who is the most surprised. We watch as it makes its way up the hillside. Which is also the direction we need to head towards Upper Boughton End.  There are some great views as we get up on the ridge, looking back towards Lidlington.. 

The hamlet of Boughton End is mostly farm buildings and cottages.  An abandoned barn is always worth exploring, you quite often find a Barn Owl nesting in the rafters. No such luck on this occasion though. We pick up the Greensand Way, I have walked some of this in the distant past. Local speculation is that the ridge was the model for the "Delectable Mountains" in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.Lidlington Hill may also be Bunyan's "Hill of Difficulty".The Greensand Way in Bedfordshire a long-distance walk of 40 miles (64 km) that crosses Bedfordshire, with brief sections in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. From its southern endpoint at Leighton Buzzard, the route runs northeast to Gamlingay. We continue on a woodland path towards 'Jackdaw Hill'. We skirt the edge of Millbrook Golf Course  , between Woburn and the historic market town of Ampthill.Indigenous Pine and Silver Birch line many of the holes.The Greensand soil is very good for drainage and the course looks in great condition. 

We reach a point where we can see Millbrook Church in the distance. Away to our left is the Millbrook Vehicle Proving Ground. This is an amazing place, one of the last testing centres in Europe. Included are a wide range of testing tracks which include a Hill route, which includes a 'ski jump'. technical and twisty circuits and a high speed banked bowl. It's a lovely walk through the woodland and we spot another Chinese Water Deer.The terrain is what you might call 'undulating' as the path winds between the trees.  We have gone pretty much full circle around the golf course.  

1 in 1 slope!

Through one of the gaps in the fencing I spot the steepest of slopes, graded a 1 in 1. Not sure I would fancy going up or down that one... The afternoon sunshine is making for a lovely light through the trees. We are now also running parallel to the 300 site of Woburn Center Parcs. The lodges are dotted all over the site , right up to the fence. We cross the A507 towards Blackhatfields Plantation and Coney Hill.We carry on towards the other side of Jackdaw Hill.

Millbrook Trig

We climb steadily to reach Trig Point S6759 AT 133 metres, positioned midway between Millbrook and Liddington. It was built on the 26th of February 1952, at a cost of £10 16s 2d.Hidden in the brambles it is in good condition. We also get further glimpses of the Millbrook Vehicle Proving Ground. Millbrook has been used in the filming of many television programmes and films including; 'Top Gear', 'Britain's Worst Driver and most famously of all 'The Aston Martin' crash scene in the James Bond film 'Casino Royale'.  A world record was actually set for the most cannon roles by a car. Stunt driver Adam Kirley rolled an Aston Martin DBS seven times. The stunt was filmed on the Alpine handling course and three Aston Martin DBS stunt cars were destroyed during the filming of the sequence. A very interesting link to the filming is below.   

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fikyvgc-fOM

We are well on our way back towards the start point at Lidlington. The map is showing remains of 'All Saints Church'.The church, All Saints, fell into disrepair during the latter part of the 19th century and was demolished during the 1960s.

It has been a very enjoyable woodland walk , with some interesting points along the route. In total we have covered a total of 7.4  miles.

 

 

 

Mostly Autumn - The Stables Wavendon

Our third 'Christmas' at the Stables MK with Mostly Autumn.Does that qualify as a tradition? Well, it does in my book at least. Some things have remained constant during that time too. The roadworks around Newport Pagnell are still a work in progress. Admittedly we did get a bit further this time before finding the exit was closed. At least we got to see the Christmas lights in Moulsoe and Cranfield.Talking of being confused the 'High Viz' Stewards cradle you into a space, as though it were an episode of 'Worlds most dangerous roads'. Inside the 12 seats have all been taken hours ago, and there is a long queue at the bar. Please don't ever change.

Really excited to be seeing MA again though, hearing some of the new songs from the latest 'Seawater' album (Their 15th Studio album). The previous two Christmas concerts have been very special, and a great atmosphere. I get the feeling the band enjoy coming here too. It's a splendid auditorium sound wise, and not a bad seat in the house.  

The obligatory 'Representing'  photo taken for the Marillion fans Facebook page and we are just about ready for the off. I think we are in just about the same seats as last year, on the side stage right as you face it. The lady behind taps me on the shoulder, telling me I used to work with her husband! I tell her that I turned up at least , work might be overdoing it a bit.  
The show begins , some classical music gives way to the opening track from 'Seawater' 'Lets take a walk'. At over nine minutes it canters along like a thoroughbred racehorse. We also have 'Winter Dreaming' a 'bonus track' from the new album. The first big hitter of the night, and one of my favourites is 'Western Skies' from the superb 'White Rainbow' album (2018). Further tracks from Seawater follow which is a good thing. I've seen some bands that just play lip service to a new album. Maybe thinking the fans just want to hear the old stuff? Looks like we are going to get a good supply tonight.

Olivia

I've said it before and I'll say it again, 'Bryan Josh' has to be the most underrated Guitarist in 'Rock'. Combined with gravelly vocals he is up there alongside 'Blackmore' and 'Gilmour' no doubt. 'Passengers' seems to be a setlist staple from my experience. From their 5th studio album in 2003 the title track is haunting, perfect for Olivia's vocals. The floor is then handed over to fellow guitarist/vocalist 'Chris Johnson' for the equally haunting 'Silver Glass'. Another great voice and and extremely talented and versatile musician.That could be said for all of the band members though, blending together perfectly. Definitely a case of the sum of it's parts rather than individualistically. Another perfect illustration is the flute playing by Angela. The final track before the interval the atmospheric 'The Night Sky' a perfect example. Images of mountain valleys and star filled skies are conjured up in this song takes us to the break.

The band return to the stage, Olivia has had a costume change. we re-start with a couple more tracks from the 'Passengers' album  'Distant Train' and 'Answer the Question'. More tracks from Seawater follow on what is becoming another brilliant night. We are pretty much full, a few spaces dotted around, maybe they are still trying to negotiate a way out of Newport Pagnell?

Mostly Autumn are well known for their many varied influences from Celtic Folk themes to hard Rock. The harmonies combine so well together too, making them in my opinion an unmissable band. I manage a few hasty photos ... I'm quite well covered and take the risk of getting the dreaded tap on the shoulder that usually happens at The Stables. Keyboardist Iain Jennings is right in my sights and I get a decent result. Unfortunately Bassist Andy Smith is completely out of sight for much of the gig escaping my attentions. 

We get another lovely song from the wonderful 'Chris Johnson' repertoire 'Changing Lives'. I love this song and it always reminds me of something 'Fleetwood  Mac might have done. The set finishes with a brilliant version of the epic 'White Rainbow'. This is probably as 'Heavy' as MA get and very much in the Nightwish style as the song progresses. Some great drumming by Henry Rogers too and it's just great. The night wouldn't be complete without the stirring 'Heroes never die' But as we know with these Christmas shows that isn't the end of proceedings. Oh no, it is time for the band to put on their Christmas hats and tinsel.     

Let the Christmas party begin! Chris leads us into 'I believe in Father Christmas' . Bryan tells us that he has now mastered the riff. The crowd are all on their feet now clapping and cheering wildly. My Christmas favourite comes next with ' A Spaceman came travelling' with Chris on lead vocals and sounding as good as Chris de burgh and no mistake. The night is wrapped up with my wife's favourite 'Fairytale of New York' . I'm sure I saw a tear in her eye again. The Christmas songs set things up nicely for the celebrations to come. Combined with eight songs from the new album it has been a night to remember! 

Thanks to Kieran Chapman for the use of his photos (the first two). 

Kingdom Of Madness - Wolverhampton

 

It has been a horrendous Friday afternoon journey to Wolverhampton. Driving rain and accidents on the A14 and M1se e us take over 3 hours to arrive. A trip that should usually take half that time. But arrive we do, and it's good to be back at the Newhampton Arts Centre for Kingdom of Madness. There is a certain symmetry too as we saw them here in December 2018. The band then was very different with Chris Ousey on Vocals, Laurence Archer on guitar and Neil Murray on Bass. 

Unfortunately we have all but missed the support 'Tom Callinswood'. He sounded good though, from the brief snippet we did catch. Despite the late arrival we did manage to get close to the stage, on the far right of stage.

I seem to remember the previous time we saw KOM there were tables set up in the auditorium? A healthy crowd is in attendance on what promises to be a sell out show. The sad news is that this to be the last show ever by KOM. Unless they do a Motley Crue, Status Quo or Kiss style reunion in the future? I'm not sure quite why the end is near for the band. Making it pay is always an issue, especially with a large number on the stage. Whatever the reason, it is a great shame and we have enjoyed seeing them over the years. Another familiar face takes to the stage doing the introductions 'Roger Fauske' Heavy Metal DJ and all round rock fanatic.

Chris Dando on Vocals

Brian Badhams on Bass

The show tonight is going to be split into two sets, with an interval in between. The first set will focus on the early stuff 'The Jet Record Label Years'. The second set will be from 1985 onwards, On a Storytellers Night album up to 1994 and the 'Rock Art' album.

The show starts with 'Changes' from the Magnum II album. Followed by one of my early Magnum favourites 'Back to Earth' from 'Chase the Dragon'. We are well and truly up and running. It's great to hear the 'really' old stuff. With a band like Magnum there are over 200 high quality songs in the back catalogue to chose from. Therefore these songs rarely otherwise get an airing. Meanwhile over the side of the stage I spot my Old Mate and fellow Magnum stalwart Andy Howarth. A veteran of many a Magnum tour in his trademark Cap and check  shirt.

The sound quality is excellent as we move into a medley of songs from those early albums. Evergreen multi-instrumentalist Richard Bailey sets the challenge to identify the keyboard intros.I think as a whole we did alright as well.Vocalist Chris Dando has a versatile voice, from hard Rock to a softer level. He is ably assisted by the raspy tones of the irrepressible 'Mo Birch'. 'Soldier of the Line 'is a welcome addition to the setlist. The traditional Flute introduction from Richard takes us beautifully into the classic 'Kingdom of Madness'. The crowd participation notches up another couple of levels as we head towards the interval. The first set has passed in the blink of an eye, always a good sign.The excitement is far from over though as our favorite Nordic Headbanger 'Roger Fauske returns to the stage to conduct the memorabilia raffle. Sadly as has been the way of things with raffles in general, I draw a blank once again. You just can't rely on these Norwegians...

Mark Stanway, the driving force behind KOM looks a man happy in his work. The second session starts with a bang with the upbeat 'Just Like an Arrow' as we delve into the 'On a Storytellers Night' album from 1985. This was the song that really introduced me to the band Magnum. Probably my favourite Magnum song follows, with the title track from the previously mentioned album. For me this encapsulates Magnum in a song. The underrated 'Rock Art' is represented with 'Love's a Stranger. One of Marks all time favourites from Rock Art also appears later in the setlist 'The Tall Ships'. 

Chris introduces 'Vigilante 'from the album 'Vigilante' as the most 'Metal' that Magnum ever got. By now the entire crowd is jumping and loving every second. Mark describes hearing ' Wild  Swan' from Wings of Heaven' and the perfection of how Bob Catley sounded. He was literally blown away at the way it sounded after being laid down in the studio. 

A farewell

There is still time for a nod to the 'Sleepwalking ' album from 1992 with 'Only in America'. No show would be complete without the classic 'Les Morts Dansant' before the curtain comes down for the final time. An 'emotional'  Mark Stanway introduces and thanks all the band members for one final time. He was never allowed to have a microphone in Magnum he tells us. 

Fittingly the night ends with the haunting keyboard intro that can only be 'Sacred Hour' from 'Chase the Dragon'. His finest work almost without a doubt.  What a night it has been, a perfect send off for a great band. Tinged with sadness though, a sadness that only Magnum fans will have experienced and understand over many years. What the future holds for the band members is unclear at the moment. I do get a sense that some is brewing for the future. On the evidence of tonight it doesn't feel as though any of them are quite ready for the 'Rockin Chair' just yet. You could say that 'a lovely time was had by all'.

Thanks to Roger for the Set list, all is forgiven for the raffle!

 

The John Bunyan Trail (12) Cranfield

Against our better judgement we have ventured out on a particularly grim day. A steady drizzle greets us as we set off towards the village of Cranfield in Bedfordshire. On arrival the rain has worsened and is now blustery. Undeterred we set off in an anti-clockwise direction from close to the church of St Peter and St Paul. The area is best know for being the home of Cranfield University and Cranfield Airport (Airfield). The airport has a long history of aviation. The airport was formerly opened on 1st June 1937. It was initially the base for 62 Squadron RAF and 82 Squadron RAF NO. 1 (Bomber) Group. It was used after the war by the College of Aeronautics, which has now become Cranfield University. Moving on we pass a couple of houses already decked out for Christmas.A bit early if you were to ask me!

Early Christmas decs

We move out into open country on the Bunyan Trail, getting a soaking into the bargain. In the distance through  the mist is the Brogborough Landfill site. It has all been filled in now and covered over with grass. There will be more of that later as we get closer. For now it is a matter of trying to keep the driving rain off and keeping going. It isn't easy as we are very exposed and there is little cover. We pass Holcot Woods and Reynolds Wood. We keep going until we reach a busy stretch of road which we have to cross. Once over the other side we join up with the Clay Way. an 11.5 mile linear walk which stretches the length of the Forest of Marston Vale taking in spectacular views of the Vale, Greensand Ridge and other parts of Bedfordshire.  The route mainly follows public bridleways and passes through the villages of Bromharn and Cranfield. 

 

 

 

 

The weather shows no sign of improving, we are pretty much saturated. Leaving the safety of the path we have to negotiate a stretch alongside the main road. This would have to be the low point of the walk so far. Over to our right is a disused gravel pit that is now full of water and a home for nature. I saw a very nice Whinchat perched on a fence top. Over to our left we are looking for a footpath that will take us back to the other side of the road. Unfortunately the footpath seems to have been blocked off and is slightly overgrown. Not to worry though there is another path a bit further ahead. However that is completely covered in brambles and impassable.  We back track and tackle the first.option. Picking up a few scratches and splinters into the bargain. Get through we did though, thankfully getting out the other end was slightly easier. 

Gravel Pit

We emerge close to the site of the Brogborough Power Station. Brogborough is a 30MW station fed by waste gas from a landfill site. From a distance you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at a Golf Course with sprawling fairways. If you look more closely there are numerous outlet points and pipes. The station is managed for electricity production from the waste gases passing along these pipes. The site was previously used for landfill, mainly from London I believe. At the height of dumping there would be 40 trucks a day coming up from the capital to deposit their waste. It is a complicated process to cover the waste matter into re-usable power. I won't try and explain any further. At least the area is nice and green! We climb to a very wooded area called 'Marston Thrift'. A 92 acre biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. The site is ash and maple woodland on heavy clay, a habitat which has become scarce in lowland England. It also has areas of damp grassland, and a grassland valley. It is an important site for butterflies, including the rare 'Black Hairstreak'.  

Despite the weather there are some nice views from our elevated position. We carry on past 'Rectory Woods'. back in the direction of Cranfield. We emerge close to the Church of St Peter & St Paul Cranfield. 

In the graveyard is the grave of Captain William.Soldier, Civil Servant, Farmer and Politician who rose to the rank of Captain in the Royal Horse Artillery. He went on to fight in the Battle of Copenhagen in the Iberian Peninsula, and at Waterloo. In 1840 after retirement he and his family immigrated to Prince Edward Island Canada. There is also the grave of George Washington’s (the first president of the USA) niece and a number of war graves form both World Wars.  

War Graves