Glenn Miller Festival Twinwood Farm Bedford England August 2004

It was exactly 12 months ago or was it a month (time flies) that we once again found ourselves on the road heading towards Bedfordshire known to the locals and surrounding counties as 'Little America' sixty years ago because of the dozens of American bases here during WW 11..

My wife and I left Cornwall to make this journey on a dull, drizzly August day, the height of our 'so-called' summer here in England. It was only a few days before that the world got to know of the des- perate situation that occurred just 30 miles north of us in a quaint little village of Boscastle set in the valley right on the coast. We had visited this village last year with Big Band Buddy from the USA John Rouse, who was staying with us at the time, and we took this photo outside a little shop on that glorious sunny day.   The tragic events that took place in that village became even more vivid to us when we learned that the little shop was washed away by the torrent of water which rushed down from the surrounding hills, causing the river to rise fifteen feet bringing a massive wave of water through the village taking with it every thing it could in its path. Cars and caravans were swept off the car park into the river and out towards the sea. A major emergency was declared and within minutes fire engines, ambulances and most important, helicopters were rushing to the scene. Panic stricken holiday-makers and residents were plucked from their desperate situation as houses, their foundations being undermined by the fast flowing waters, began to collapse. Pictures of this desperate rescue effort were being beamed around the world, as it happened. How no one lost their life was a miracle, but if this had happened at night then the tragic events would have had a more devastating effect, and many lives could have been lost. Thankfully this did not happen and the village is rapidly returning to normality as the clean up operation gathers momentum.

The weather forecast for the coming weekend was still very unsettled and a fear was that after all the reparations and a great deal of money spent to make the Glenn Miller Festival a resounding and memorable success, the bad weather could force a cancellation and the thousands who had booked for this event would be unable to attend the open air event. This trip in particular was special to us, as Dave Wooding had invited Big Band Buddies to promote our club and magazine in an adjoining room within the control Tower complex. This was to be an ideal place to meet and talk with visiting members as well In addition to all the bands to appear during the festival Dave Wooding (Director) has brought in many clubs and societies who specialize in war time memorabilia as well as the thirties and forties nostalgia societies with their fashion show and jive dancing groups. Getting away a few days earlier than the August Bank Holiday weekend we planned to visit friends in Norfolk for a few days break, hopefully in the sun before returning to Twinwood for the Festival. The roads were not at all congested so we were able to make good time and arrived at the old wartime airfield known then as Twinwood Farm now called Brownswood Farm on Twinwood Road, just outside Clapham some three miles from Bedford, at 4pm. As we drove around the original perimeter track on the airfield we first saw many caravans. Bookings were heavy throughout the three-day event and many of them had already arrived on the site for the holiday period and were already parked and settled. Many improvements were noticeable as this year again the directors had invested heavily, restoring the original building as more and more interest is shown by the music industry as well as the media in several counties. Large pools or water had gathered on the hard gravelled and concrete areas due to the heavy rainfall during the day but the black clouds kept moving and bright warm sunlight spilled down as we pulled up alongside the tower and started unloading our display boards and tables. Within a couple of hours we were ready to leave having completed our display, and our next stop was for our accommodation which was on a farm at Milton Earnest, just three mile up the road. (This village well known to Glenn Miller fans, because it is often mentioned in the many publications on Glenn's stay here in 1944.)

Our room was in a converted stable, now luxury en-suite accommodation in the ground of the old 16th century farm. Outside the entrance is a large pond full of huge fish, some maybe 6 or 7 lbs. The farm housed is 50 ft away, down a gravel drive. Our car approaching on the gravel set the dogs in motion as they ran towards us tails wagging and barking their welcome. We knew the dogs were friendly after our previous visit the year before, so we greeted them with the same enthusiasm they greeted us, except for wagging our tails and barking of course! We'll save that for the concert.

A cup of coffee and we were soon unpacked. We both relaxed after the long day, Liz reading her paper, me oblivious to the world sleeping like a baby. Well, a baby with a loud snore according to my wife, but I don't believe her! The morning came rather fast but it was good to see blue sky with cloud rushing over-head, but it looked like we were in for a fine day. After a full English breakfast in our 16th Century farm-house we were back on the road heading toward Great Yarmouth and our Big Band Buddy friends Chris and Jean Nash.

We first stopped off at Cambridge for a couple of hours to take a look at this historic city. There were groups of young men talking in well spoken English, causing us to look with interest at them but we soon realized as we turned the corner that they were from the magnificent building that we were now looking at which was of course Kings College, Cambridge. The sun still shining, temperature rising we headed again toward Norfolk, where we were to spend the next two days with our friends Chris and Jean.

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The Music Supplied on this page by kind permission of Peter Roxburgh Pete now living in Australia arranges for the Australian Glenn Miller Tribute Band

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