Eggington Farmers say goodbye to Pete
Tributes paid to Mr Woolhead
The morning of Monday January 18 found many of the farmyards of Eggington and the surrounding area quiet as the farmers attended the funeral of Leighton Buzzard manPete Woolhead. If you had pigeons or rabbits eating your crops or a fox taking your chickens,Pete was the man you rang and he soon had the job sorted. All his life Pete had been a shooting and fishing man and no one was more skilled at either. Now retired, but not for long enough,Pete had worked at famous Leighton Buzzard firmBossTrucksfor many years as low loader driver andfork lift demonstrator. He travelled the length and breadth of the country in his immaculately turned out rig.
Pete played an important part in the success of the company because, apart from his skilful demonstrating,if a truck design wasn't right Pete, in his no nonsense way, made sure the fact was known and things got changed.
Trevor and Neville Bowman Shaw, the originalowners and creatorsof Boss Trucks, along with family, army pals, work mates, farmers and manyfriends,were part of the funeral congregation that filled All Saints and then the Star in Heath Roadto say cheerio to Pete.
As a by the by,as the last ofcongregation arrived at All Saints, a fox came out ofsome cover at the edge of the churchyard,paused calmlyto look at the late-comers and then gazed longinto the open churchdoor before trotting off alongside the churchyard wall. Make of it what you may.
A far less inspiring event was Eggington Parish Council meeting on the same evening. The clerk, the chairman, four councillors, Central Beds councillors Norman Costin and Nicolsand two villagers, sat hunched in their coats in thevillage hall to hear of rising crime rates, ungritted roads and uncollected rubbish.
Councillor Nicols was roundly thanked for arranging the gritting of the village road in the recentsnow and ice conditionsto make possiblethe access of the milk collection tanker to Manor Farm. It saved the day as one day's collection had already been missed anddairy farmer Richard Sear was on the verge of having to cry over spilt milk.
It all ended happily as his problem was overcome with true grit.
Mr Nicols and Mr Costin announced that they were holding a surgery in Toddington Library on Feb 6 and April 24.
Mr Nicols gave a report on thelatest position regarding the local development and transportissues and Central Beds' future problems with waste management.
The chairman said that there was not enough provision for housing for the over 65son the proposed LB Eastern development. Mr Nicols replied that the parish council had approved theproposed development design plan which did contain flexibility.
The accounts were read and approved and planning was dealt with. There were only two planning matters; consent had been granted for work at Claridges and there was an application for internal repairs to Manor Farm.The chairman reported at length on various correspondence and meetings he had attended.
Councillor Sue Bradley gave a presentation on the newly completed Parish Plan questionnaire and the councillors all received a copy to road test before it is launched on the parishioners.
It was only when the chairman asked Councillor David Chapman if he had tendered his writtenresignation that his fellow councillors learnt of his and his wife Angela'smove from the village after over 30 years.
It was disappointing that no official recognition was madetothank Mr Chapman on behalf of the parishfor the manyyears of service andexpertisehehas given, attending council meetings and many outside meetings. On behalf of the village may I do so here and wish David and Angela a long, happy and healthy retirement in Scotland.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
