Police have recovered the body of a teen, believed to be from Luton, who went missing at an old quarry in Clophill last night.

The 16-year-old boy got into difficulties swimming in a lake at the old quarry.

Bedfordshire Police were called to Jacques Lane in the village at about 6.40pm by the teen’s friends after they spotted him struggling to stay above water.

The boy’s body was found at 1.15pm this afternoon.

The case has now been handed over to the Coroner’s officer for formal identification.

Once this has been completed an inquest will be announced.

Search teams continued looking for the boy last night until it was no longer safe to carry on.

Villagers in Clophill have said that the teen is from Luton.

The boy’s family are with police at the scene.

Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, and the East of England Ambulance Service all attended the location to conduct the search.

Officers worked throughout the night and the search resumed this morning with a dive team coming in to continue searching the lake.

The family of the teenager are being supported by specially trained officers.

Residents of Clophill and people who use the surrounding woods are being asked to stay away from the area.

Central Bedfordshire Council meetings could soon be available to watch live online, as proposals are considered to install webcasting equipment.

Members of the public would be able to watch full council, executive, and development management committee meetings under plans for the video kit to be installed in the council chamber at Priory House, Chicksands.

Other meetings of significant public interest could also be broadcast from the chamber.

Councillor Maurice Jones said: “As a council we frequently use video to communicate with residents about our services, consultations and policies.

“To date, more than 26,000 people have viewed the council’s videos online.”

The new webcasting services would be from a third party supplier and it is estimated that the annual revenue costs would be £50,000 per year.

There will be recommendations to full council in September, and if successful, webcasting equipment would be installed by December.

Central Government is also considering Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, after publishing a draft on June 30.

If approved, this would strengthen the right of the public and press to film, audio record, photograph or use social media to record public council meetings.

In the hazy heat of mid-summer, there can seem little to do in the garden but water it and enjoy the scents, sounds and colours.

Of course, if you have vegetables and fruit then you will be busy picking, and don’t forget to record what you enjoyed growing and eating, so that you remember for the seed order in the winter. If you have an opportunity for propagation, then now is the time to look around your garden and see what seeds you might like to save.

Annual seed heads are easy to collect: nigella, marigolds, nasturtium, poppies, and so on, and need to be thoroughly dry before collection and kept so until you sow them next year. You can collect the seeds of tomatoes, cucumbers, squashes, and indeed any seed bearing plant but there will be some that require quite specialised treatment before they will germinate.

As for shrubs where the seeds are not so accessible, you can take good cuttings this time of year. For a novice it can be frustrating and it does take patience and a willingness to accept that some cuttings will die – so take plenty and celebrate the ones that take! Look for firm, fresh shoots which should be obvious – if the shrub doesn’t have any, don’t use it – and cut just under a leaf to give you a piece approx. 10 cm long.

Strip the leaves off the bottom half and place in firm damp compost. The compost should be a mix of half potting compost and half horticultural grit but you can try with just compost if you can’t get horticultural grit.

Don’t use flowering shoots as the flowers are energy drainers. Place a propagating lid over them or a clear plastic bag (not letting it touch the leaves) which helps keep in the moisture.

You could try taking cuttings from Mock Orange, lavender, and even hydrangeas – but keep an eye out for any shrub that looks in peak condition and give it a go!

Singers at the Barn packs up its troubles in an old kit bag and invites you to do the same at a special tribute evening to the heroes of the First World War in its centenary year, on Sunday 3 August at the Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City.

In a bewildering world of chaos and fighting, music gave brief respite by reminding soldiers of home with firm favourites such as ‘Goodbye Dolly Grey’, ‘If You Were the Only Girl in the World’, ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ and ‘Roses of Picardy’. All of these can be heard on Sunday alongside songs from other conflicts including from the Second World War the classic ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘Lili Marleen’ (actually written during WW1), and ‘Where have all the Flowers Gone’, which was adopted as an anti-Vietnam War anthem.

Singers at the Barn gives vocalists of all ranges and styles a chance to perform in a friendly atmosphere, an is an opportunity for singers wanting to improve their performance, try out new songs or get to grips with microphone technique. There is a professional pianist on hand and an opportunity for rehearsal in the afternoon. It takes place at the Barn Theatre, Handside Lane on the first Sunday of every month. There are still one or two performing places available for the special WWI tribute. To book or find out more contact Lesley on 01707 872125 or email singers@barntheatre.co.uk.

If singing on your own fills you with terror, don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunity for audience participation! Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm and tickets are just £7 for a guaranteed evening of entertainment. Performers also pay £7 or £5 if a Barn Member.

Earlier this week HMIC published a report which looked at how Bedfordshire Police has responded to the savings challenge laid down by the Government in 2010. It found that we are “moving in the right direction, and the pace of change is now increasing”.

Disappointingly, despite recognising the significant progress we have made in tackling a particularly difficult financial challenge, it felt that further improvement is needed and that the current number of frontline officers is too low.

Thankfully we identified the need to increase the number of frontline officers last year and put in place the money and processes necessary to undertake a recruitment campaign. This doesn’t happen overnight, but 58 new officers have been recruited and are now in training.

They will be policing Bedfordshire’s streets by December - ahead of a further 30 officers due to be recruited this Autumn - alongside the 28 PCSOs who have joined us this year.

This doesn’t mean that until then policing levels are too low to cope. We have already made changes to the way we work to alleviate the pressures on demand and indeed our officers, including the introduction of fast response vehicles in parts of the county where that is most needed, changing shift patterns for PCSOs to make them even more visible, and working hard to double the ranks of our special constabulary.

Moves designed to deliver the savings the Government demands AND enhance performance will see us remodelling the workforce mix to ensure it is fit for the future.

The good news is that the changes we’ve made so far are already delivering results. In Bedfordshire, 94% of officer resource is deployed on frontline policing roles, a lot higher than the national average.

Notwithstanding some glowing references, the report doesn’t really do justice to the incredible amount of work that has been done to meet the difficult financial challenge we face. Bedfordshire is fairly unique – it is a small force, with low funding, policing a kaleidoscope of rural and metropolitan issues.

I cannot conceal that there are still tough times ahead. It looks like government funding will continue to be cut and even with the new recruits our officer numbers will be about 150 lower in 2015 than they were in 2010. But there is a plan to find the savings whilst keeping officer numbers where they are and keeping our county safe.

WITH the schools now closed for summer - there may be a chance to enjoy rather than dread a summertime house move with the children around.

Moving home can be stressful enough for the adults, but spare a thought for the younger members of the family, and channel their energy in a positive and helpful way – say estate agents Harrison Murray.

In all the excitement of moving it may sometimes be difficult to remember that children are also facing a change.

Head of estate agency for Harrison Murray and The Nottingham, Su Snaith, said: “Selling the home and moving house can seem very daunting for some children, leaving them facing a huge change in their lives with new surroundings, new friends and possibly a new school.

“However old the children are, try and get them involved in the moving process by talking about the move, taking them on a fun trip to see a new school or new parks and places to eat, and give them little tasks to complete.”

Here’s how to get the children involved:

- Try chatting to them about the family’s plans, and get them on side when talking about moving to a new home in a new area – with lots to explore.

- Many children are expert hoarders, so introduce some eye-catching storage boxes and challenge them to sort out their toys/ belongings into things they really want to take with them and those to say goodbye to – this will help with de-cluttering too!

- For younger children, try and make sure that their boxed toys – with a label they can make themselves – are last into the removal van for easy access on arrival at the new home.

If possible, allow younger children to select their new bedroom, decide on a colour theme and treat them to some new cushions, throws etc – but don’t overlook the favourite belongings that they may insist on taking.

- Let children say goodbye if you are moving out of the area. Take photographs and collect contact details from your child’s friends so they know they won’t lose touch.

- Ideally on the day of the move, have friends or relatives look after your children. If this isn’t possible, keep the children in the loop as to what’s happening and try and give them small tasks to do – but keep them small so that it doesn’t make the process more stressful for you!

- On arrival at the new house, encourage them straight away to put out a few initial belongings in their rooms to help make their mark on the new home.

Wood Green is urging pet owners to take extra care of their pets when the temperature rises following an incident at the weekend where a dog collapsed from heat exhaustion.

The Charity attended the bustling Bedford River Festival on Saturday and Sunday, and one of the most popular features of its stand was a large paddling pool full of cool water for our four-legged friends to cool off in the exceptional temperatures.

Sadly, a seven-year-old Labrador collapsed at the event during the height of the heatwave on Saturday. This was a direct result of a new owner not understanding the risks to his pet of walking in the middle of the day. He had already walked some distance from home to the event and his dog collapsed to the ground in one of the busiest sections of the festival.

Faye Woods, (Outreach Volunteer) and Helen Bulgin (Community Education Officer) sprang into action immediately upon hearing of the dog’s plight. They ensured that the Labrador, called Lucky, was covered in wet towels and given tepid water a little at a time. Fortunately Lucky improved enough to be transported in an air-conditioned Police van to local veterinary practice, Scotts. The vet confirmed that, due to prompt action by Wood Green staff and fantastic support from the local Police, Lucky would make a full recovery. Within an hour of arriving at Scotts, Lucky was found to be bouncing around and wagging his tail in the cool of the air-conditioned surgery. The vets at Scotts very kindly treated Lucky with no charge.

Whilst we all love to spend time with our dogs, try to consider how they will be feeling in hot weather in their furry coat. Always check the temperature before going out and avoid walking in the hottest parts of the day, leave them at home if appropriate to do so and if you do go out ensure that you have plenty of fresh water available at all times. Some dogs cope less well than others so take extra care with brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, dark coloured dogs and those with thick or long coats, why not get them a summer hair cut to help keep them cool!

A recent survey by online medical provider VioVet has also revealed that a shocking number of people still believe it is acceptable to leave their dogs in their cars – 62% said that they would happily leave their dog unattended for an hour before returning to check on them, while 45% admitted to not realising how quickly a car can heat up in temperatures of as little as 19 degrees.

Wood Green advises that you never leave your dog unattended in your car in warm weather, even for a few minutes. In outside temperatures of 22 degrees, your car can heat up to more than double that within an hour, and leaving a window open will not make a difference. Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting or perspiring through their paw pads, but in an airless car they are unable to do this and they can die in as little as 20 minutes.

For further advice on keeping your pets safe in the warm weather please visit http://

www.woodgreen.org.uk/news/2754_keep_your_pets_safe_in_the_sun

There are lots of activities going on in Luton to keep everyone entertained this summer, particularly children and young people.

The Family Information Service have put together the Luton Directory, a list of all activities, exhibitions and play schemes. There are lots of things available from dance classes to holiday clubs.

Councillor Waheed Akbar, said: “The Luton Directory is a great way of finding out what activities are available in the town for children and young people during the school holidays.”

An online listing can be found at http://directory.luton.gov.uk/ or you can call the Family Information Services on 01582 548888.

Ramridge Primary School pupils enjoyed a special assembly recently to mark the achievement of their Sustrans Silver School Mark when they receiving a spectacular oil painting by a professional artist from Luton.

The work by Sophie Gresswell, depicting children participating in the Luton International Carnival, was commissioned by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

Pupils created carnival headdresses for their cycle helmets and then went on to ride in the parade

– the first for a Luton school.

Sustrans’ School Mark recognises and supports schools’ excellence in active and sustainable travel. There are three progressive levels for schools to work through – Bronze, Gold and Silver.

Silver is awarded to a school that continues to demonstrate its commitment to promoting active and sustainable travel with much of the energy and resource coming from the school and its community.

Sophie was the ideal candidate to create the celebratory painting as she works part-time for Sustrans at Central Bedfordshire’s Travel Choices Hub in Dunstable, where her role involves encouraging residents to cycle and walk. A trained contemporary artist, her most recent work was a series of oil paintings showing the faces of family and friends through patterned and broken glass. She has exhibited in London as well as on her website http://sophiegresswell.weebly.com/

and recently travelled to China on a residency.

British Formula 1 champion Jenson Button returned to Luton Hoo Hotel’s 1,065 acre estate last weekend to host his third triathlon in aid of The Jenson Button Trust.

Theevent was to raise money for Cancer Research UK,

There were also some high profile competitors, including two-time Ironman World Champion, Chris McCormack and Team GB international triathlete, Sophie Coldwell.

The first heat was a 300m lake swim and 9km bike ride, concluding with a 2.5km run in the eliminator round. The top 50 from each heat then took part in a 750m lake swim, 19km cycle and 5km run; remaining entrants took part in the “wooden spoon final”,, all of which took place in glorious summer sunshine. There was even a chance to race against Jenson Button himself. Following the race there was live music and a barbeque.

General Manager at Luton Hoo Hotel, Matthew Long, commented:

“I am thrilled to have welcomed back the Jenson Button Triathlon for the third year; once again it proved extremely successful for The Jenson Button Trust. Congratulations to everyone who took park in this incredibly challenging event and helped raise vital funds for such a worthy cause.”

Pupils marked 100 years since the start of the First World War by learning about what life was like during the war. They took part in activities and each class chose an item to place into a time capsule, to be opened in 100 years.

The Mall will be unveiling a poppy sculpture, to support the British Royal Legion, on Friday, August 1, at 11am.

The sculpture, designed by artist Mark Humphrey, can hold over 3000 poppies and shoppers can add a poppy to it for Service men and women.

Mark Humphrey said: “I wanted to create a low cost, easy to install commemoration sculpture that brings home to the public the great sacrifices that were made 100 years ago.

“The sculpture will inspire the community to mark the centenary of World War One.

“It will create a space for the public to reflect and remember those solders who lost there lives not just then but as a result more recent conflict”

Charles Byrne, director of fundraising at the Royal British Legion, said: “The sculptures are a moving tribute to the Service men and women who gave their lives in the First World War.”

The Mall’s general manager, Mark Broadhead, will be cycling the Remembrance Ride to Flanders, Belgium on Saturday, August 2, to mark the First World War centenary.

They are raising money for Help for Heroes, Luton Poppy Appeal and The Royal British Legion, the event has been organised by Love Luton.

They will cycle through the UK and arrive in Flanders on Monday, August 4, to mark the date the World War was declared.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 32-year-old woman, was robbed at knife point, on Thursday, July 24.

The victim was with her small child on Oak road at 8.45pm when an Asian man threatened to assault her if she did not hand over her cash.

He is described as 28 to 32 years old, with a chubby build, 5’7” tall with short cropped hair and stubble, he wore a green t-shirt and blue jeans. Call 101 if you have any information.

Detective Sergeant Simon Hancock said: ”Clearly this was a shocking experience and the victim was so frightened that she felt she had to comply with the offender’s demands as she was concerned for the safety of her child as well as herself.

“Luckily she was not injured during this ordeal but we need people to come forward and help identify this man to stop him from targeting other people within our communities.”

A woman was injured during a robbery in Moorlands Gardens, Luton, in the early hours of July 21..

The victim had spoken with the offender who then hit her, causing a 1” graze to her forehead before fleeing with her black and white handbag containing a Samsung mobile telephone, keys and cash.

The offender is described as a white man, 6’ tall, with distinctive bright blue eyes and a muscular build that is described as ‘not pumped up’. He wore a grey hooded top, blue jeans and black training shoes and spoke with a strong Polish accent.

DS Simon Hancock said: “We believe the man uses the names Adam and David and may have been seen in the area several times prior to the incident.

“I would urge anyone who can help identify this man to come forward and speak with officers, they can do so in complete confidence, or alternative they can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

Contact DS Hancock, at Luton Police, Station, in confidence, on 01582 394387, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Local PGA Professional, Paul Simpson, has joined the Stockwood Park Golf Centre team as their Ambassador of Golf. He said: “Being affiliated to Stockwood Golf Centre is fantastic as it’s not only a great course and golfing venue, but it offers so much more with its facilities.”

The role that Simpson has taken includes adding an extra teaching element to their coaching programme under the watchful eye of the centre’s three PGA Professionals, working alongside head professional Matt Green and centre manager Terry Nicholls to bring more exposure to the already busy complex.

Helen Barnett, chief executive of Active Luton, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have someone with Paul’s experience and expertise join the team at Stockwood.

“We have a lot of talented golfers coming through our academy and having someone like Paul on hand to hone their skills and improve their technique will ensure they meet their potential and hopefully go on to succeed on the national stage.”

A third electric car is now available for hire. The Nissan Leaf is based at the charging point at the junction of Bute and Guildford Streets.

The green scheme is operated on the council’s behalf by social enterprise Co-Wheels Car Club.

Mention Canada and most people immediately think of a trip through the Rockies from Calgary to Vancouver – but In the first of two features about one of the Commonwealth country’s lesser known provinces, travel writer Alan Wooding enjoys all that the prairie state of Saskatchewan has to offer.

“It’s been a joke for years that if your dog runs away in Saskatchewan, you can still see him three day later,” said Shane Owen, one of our two Canadian hosts for the trip.

But we were soon about to learn that this vast province known as Canada’s ‘bread basket’ is far from being flat or indeed entirely covered in flowing wheat and barley fields.

As guest of Tourism Saskatchewan on what was deemed a ‘Man Up’ trip, I made the seven-and-a-half hour flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Toronto’s Lester B Pearson International aboard an Air Canada Boeing 777, the time difference being five hours.

However I had to wait another four hours until an Air Canada Embraer 190 made the onward journey to Saskatoon’s John G Diefenbaker Airport where we were met by Tourism Saskatchewan media specialists Shane Owen and Jodi Holliday, the time difference now seven hours behind the UK.

Saskatchewan – which incidentally never changes its clocks as those around it does – is located in central Canada and is one of ten provinces in what is the second biggest country in the world.

It is bordered in the south along the 49th parallel by the US states of Montana and North Dakota while its neighbouring provinces are Manitoba to the east and Alberta to the west while to the north is the vast Northwest Territories which stretch way up into the Arctic Circle.

With a total population of just 1.2 million compared to the UK’s 65,000,000, Saskatchewan covers an area totalling 651,900 square kilometres leaving the UK at barely a third of its size. And while the province is made up of vast prairies, it also has more than 100,000 lakes, many linked by huge river systems, endless pine forests plus miles of sand dunes that would not be out of place in the Sahara Desert.

It’s capital city is Saskatoon – which rises up from the prairie and takes its name from the sweet berries that grow wild in the region while its second city is Regina which is somewhat larger.

Leaving Saskatoon’s John G Diefenbaker Municipal Airport we transferred to the 225-room grand railway-style Delta Bessborough Hotel, known locally as ‘The Castle by the River’. It’s an imposing turreted building set in its own grounds with all the facilities you would expect from a top class establishment: spa, sauna, steam room, indoor pool, gym, etc.

Saskatoon boasts many various cultural festivals and massive open air concerts, two of which were taking place the day we arrived along the banks of South Saskatchewan River. First there was the four-day Saskatoon food festival in the large park right next door to our hotel while Canadian rock star Bryan Adams was also due to play a sellout concert close by the following evening.

The South Saskatchewan River has seven bridges linking the east and west but we had little time exploring as we were whisked off to the nearby Ayden Kitchen & Bar Restaurant operated by Canada’s original Masterchef winner, Dale MacKay who gave us a tour of his establishment which features all the best gourmet food from the province.

With its own butchery department, Dale certainly produced the best sausage platter and rib-eye steaks that I have ever tasted, all from an open kitchen that was kept busy all night by a full house.

The following morning we were back at Saskatoon airport to catch the Transwest flight to the northern town of La Ronge aboard a 31-seat Saab 340 aircraft.

With just six passengers onboard (two locals plus us four travel journalists), we were kept royally entertained by Laurie, an air hostess who would not have been out of place on a comedy club stage doing a stand-up routine. Despite it only being 7.30am, she announced that it was “Free Beer Friday” … and amazingly she immediately had two takers while the rest of us had coffee!

The Transwest flight was more like a bus as it dropped into Prince Albert to collect a seventh First Nation passenger before it arrive at La Ronge where Jodi Holliday met us with an eight-seater Dodge Grand Caravan SUV.

The first thing we noticed coming out of the tiny La Ronge airport were the millions of fish flies which seemed to get into everything. We were then driven the onward 78 kilometres to the Otter Lake Resort run by Simon and Wendy Parsons on behalf of Thompson’s Camps. Incidentally Jodi had driven up to meet us from Saskatoon, having set off at the unearthly hour of 4am!

It was at Otter Lake that I had my first ever flight in a 1952 six-seater De Havilland Beaver float plane expertly piloted by Dan Striker. Soaring in an endless blue sky above what seemed to be hundreds of lakes, numerous river systems and waterfalls, we gained a true bird’s eye view of the whole area before landing gently back on the lake an hour later.

After lunch we boarded a pontoon fishing boat with local guide Dylan and made our way across the vast expanse of water to what he regarded as the best fishing grounds that day.

The fish flies were still in abundance as were some large biting horse flies while a massive new hatch of May and caddis flies meant that the lake’s surface often had a covering of spent larvae husks from which the nymphs had emerged as adults.

Despite this, amazingly we were all soon catching 3lb walleye (they’re known as zander in the UK) and Northern pike to around 5lb, all of which were skilfully gutted and cooked as the sun went down, thus enabling us to enjoy a fabulous lake shore dinner of fried fish (Dylan used a special mix of pancake flour and spices), potatoes and onions, all expertly cooked over a blazing camp fire.

With red squirrels in abundance, flying above us were bald eagles and pelicans while we heard the sound of loons calling across the vast lake as we bunked down for the night in the Otter Resorts’ comfortable lakeside lodges.

The resort can actually accommodate up to 169 people in 37 various chalets and cabins while a big black bear was spotted wandering around the encampment ... although none of us really wanted to have a face-to-face experience with it after dark!

The following morning we set off by road to Prince Albert National Park, the 192 kilometres trip taking around two and a half hours on mainly long and straight dirt and cinder roads which seemed to go on for ever.

With a slight diversion in Prince Albert itself, we popped into the famous Robertson Trading Post where you can still buy beaver and wolf pelts plus all the equipment you might need for a fishing, shooting or trapping expedition. It really does seem like you’ve turned the clock back a century or more!

Reaching the nearby Waskesiu township inside the park, we lunched at the Hawood Inn, the wooden building situated close to a sandy beach where several people were taking advantage of the hot summer sunshine (it was around 27 degrees) and swimming in the lake’s warm shallow waters.

It was then back to Saskatoon – another 224 kilometres on better roads – to check back into the Delta Bessborough Hotel for the another night. With the food festival still going on next to the hotel, it was certainly worth a visit just to taste those Saskatoon berries cooked in all sorts of cakes and dishes while I watched the jet-ski races along the South Saskatchewan River.

However, typical of what was a packed week-long programme, we then set off to enjoy an evening of a different kind of motor sport at Saskatoon’s Autoclearing Motor Speedway.

Just three days earlier, those good ol’ NASCAR boys from all over Canada and the USA had been in town for a round of their popular championship series, the Saskatoon event better known as the Velocity Prairie Thunder.

The track is a huge concrete oval which attracts thousands of race fans for the bigger events. Unusual for me was the fact that they run their races in an anti-clockwise direction – it’s usually clockwise in all European events – but we really enjoyed the action featuring the powerful Sportsmans tin-top class along with Mini Stocks, Sasks Legends and the little Bandeleros in which junior drivers as young as eight-years-old start to learn their race craft.

Naturally food plays a big part in any north American sporting event and this was no exception as we tucked into giant cheese burgers, battered onion rings and poutine (skinny chips covered in a cheesy gravy), all of which were washed down with a local ‘Original 16’ beer or two.

The following morning we set off with country music playing on the car’s radio to get us into the mood and, having hardly had time for breakfast, another early start took us south to the La Reata Ranch. Located close to the small town of Kyle, a woolly mammoth’s skeleton had recently been found there while this particular day quickly became an experience that I’ll certainly never forget.

En route to the ranch, if ever there was a township straight out of the movies, then Rosetown was it. You could imagine tumbleweed rolling down a street that was lined with bars, cheap motels and a few hitching rails on which to tie up the horses. It was a real gem!

As a country lad in the 1950 and 1960s, the wild west together with cowboys and indians played a huge part in my life. I would often dream of riding a horse out on the range alongside the Lone Rangers and Tonto or the likes of Gene Autry, Buffalo Bill and the Cisco Kid.

Well the La Reata certainly gave me that chance as we headed up into the hills high above the ranch buildings with its traditional saloon bar on the back of the pretty piebald mount called ‘Gus’, a quiet, sure-footed steed which responded to my every touch.

I’m certainly no riding expert but German-born ranch owner George Gaber certainly is. His knowledge of the two- and four-legged kind coming together to make it a thoroughly enjoyable three-hour afternoon experience.

Within the first 60 minutes or so in the saddle, my confidence rose enough to help round up some of George’s 200-plus long-horn cattle while I even entered a tougher competition in which I had to separate a cow and its calf from the rest of the herd.

George left Dusseldorf for Canada in 1996 where he purchased a huge swathe of hilly land (around 2,000 hectare) adjacent to the damned-up Lake Diefenbaker while his property now stretches around nine miles along its banks.

With 23 horses of varying temperament in his stock yard, he specialises in showing city slickers how to become cowpokes in one easy lesson and with his riding and roping skills, he himself has become a true 21st Century cowboy.

Learning to saddle up and get acquainted with your horse by brushing and leading him certainly worked, while a huge lunch of Texan chilli plus a fabulous beef dinner – yes, it came from George’s herd! – gave not only us travel writers, but fellow visitors from Sweden, Switzerland and the USA, a real taste of the cowboy’s lifestyle.

The La Reata saloon bar is as authentic as it can be with all manner of cowboy paraphernalia including guns, cowboy hats, boots and gloves littering the shelves. There was an endless supply of beer in the saloon’s big refrigerator plus plenty of shorts including a local strange vodka called ‘Lucky Bastard’.

Out in the hills you might come across cougars, porcupines and little prairie gophers while George says that there is also a big herd of around 100 wild antelope which runs free.

Saskatchewan province is known as ‘The Land of Living Skies’ and we certainly saw plenty of them. A big thunder storm passed through one evening while the temperature remained in the mid-20s … but it’s a different story in the winter which is a fact of life in Canada.

After heavy snowfall, getting around can be a real problem yet clearing crews will often work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to plow, grit and sand the roads to ensure that everyone keeps on the move.

And unlike the British, who are always worried that someone might take court action against them if they slip on a newly swept path, Saskatchewan citizens are expected to clear all the sidewalks following a major snow event and they certainly ‘snow’ what to do to keep you safe.

On the brighter side, Saskatchewan is also one of the sunniest places in Canada as it shines on over 300 days a year with its most enduring image being the endless fields of golden wheat waving in the breeze while dotted around are the big grain elevators and huge storage hoppers.

While it has already rained far more than usual this year, not all of last season’s grain has been distributed yet, such is the volume that the farmers grow. Saskatchewan is also the world’s biggest producer of potash and mustard and its claim to ‘flavour the world’ is not so far from the truth.

Next week I explore the town of Moose Jaw and its secretive tunnels made famous by gangster Al ‘Scarface’ Capone during prohibition times in the United States before I spend time with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a Boot Camp at their national headquarters in Regina.

FACT FILE

Delta Bessborough Hotel

601 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3G8, Canada.

Phone: 306-683-6906

Website: www.deltahotels.com/Hotels/Delta-Bessborough

Ayden Kitchen & Bar

265 3 Avenue South, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M3, Canada.

Phone: +1 306-954-2590

Thompson’s Camps Otter Lake Resort & Canadian Fishing Outpost Camps Lodge

Managers: Simon & Wendy Parsons

Phone: (306) 635-2144

Fax: (306) 635-2134

Email: wparsons@adventuredestinations.ca

Auto Clearing Motor Speedway

Contact: Herm Hordal

PO Box 169 Saskatoon, SK S7K 3K4, Canada.

Direct: 306-956-3225

Phone: 306.651.FAST (3278)

Website: www.autoclearingmotorspeedway.ca

La Reata Ranch

Contact: George Gaber, Kyle, SK

Phone: 306-375-2225 or 306-375-2291

Email: info@lareata.com

Website: www.lareata.com

Holiday Inn Express – Swift Current

1301 North Service Road E, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X6, Canada.

Phone: +1 306-773-8288

Many thanks to Tourism Saskatchewan’s Media Relations Consultants Shane Owen and Jodi Holliday for making my Canadian experience so enjoyable. And to Angela Moore of Tourism Saskatoon – 101-202 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK Canada S7K 0K1, Phone 306 242 1955, www.tourismsaskatoon.com – for a very memorable couple of evenings.

Thanks also to Nim Singh, Media & Public Relations Manager of the Canadian Tourist Commission – visitcanada@dial.pipex.com and www.keepexploring.ca – for arranging the trip and to fellow travellers, Finnbarr Webster, Jack Palfrey, Stuart Foster and Octavia Pollock … it’s certainly a trip none of us will ever forget.

For Saskatchewan Province details, contact Tourism Saskatchewan, 189-1621 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4P 2S5 – www.tourismsask.com

Pirton Hill Primary school’s year 5/6 indoor athletic team finished third in the national Sportshall Primary Competition. Phil Martin, PE lead teacher, said: “I’m delighted that the Year 5/6 Indoor athletics team have finished the year as the third best team in the county.”

The team have previously won the Luton Schools competition, the Bedfordshire County final and came second as the young team of the year at the Luton School awards.

In June the pupils achieved outstanding results in the six competitions they competed in at the Summer Games in Bedford, launched by Olympic gold medal winners Etienne Scott and Timothy Baille.

Year 3/4 Quad kids and Year 5/6 Quad Kids being named county champions and receiving gold medals, Year 5/6 dodgeball team and Year 5/6 tri-golf team obtained bronze medals and Year 4/5 Netball team and Year 6 netballers finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the county.

Mr Martin added: “Pirton Hill had more teams who had qualified for the Summer Games than any other school in Luton and once again the children were fantastic ambassadors for the school and demonstrating just how amazing our Luton pupils are.”

During this month’s searing heat, we’re sure most people have thought of diving headfirst into a pool to cool down.

And that’s exactly what the residents of nearby Whipsnade Zoo have been doing to cope with the ongoing heatwave – and they’re originally from the Indian subcontinent!

The animal attraction’s barasingha – also known as swamp deer – have been seen taking a dip in the lake at the warmest points this summer.

The breed is one of India’s largest deer, and the herd forms part of the Passage Through Asia attraction atWhipsnade.

The breed differs from all other Indian deer species in that their antlers carry more than three tines. The name barasingha in fact means ‘12-tined’.

Their yellowish-brown coats are often coloured by mud in the water which they use to keep cool.

For more about Whipsnade and events taking place this summer, visit zsl.org/
zsl-whipsnade-zoo

Tributes have poured in for a Luton teen who drowned after jumping into a lake at a quarry in Clophill on Thursday.

Former Lea Manor High School student Conor McColl, 16, got into difficulties after he joined two friends in the lake on Jacques Lane and he disappeared under water at around 6.40pm.

Police were called and atttended the scene with Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service to conduct a search.

Efforts continued until it was no longer safe to continue and the search resumed the next morning with a dive team coming in to assist.

A body was recovered at 1.15pm on Friday afternoon.

The Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner Service confirmed on Monday that the body had been identified as Conor, giving his cause of death as drowning.

An inquest was opened yesterday and adjourned to a later date.

Following the tragic incident a tribute page for Conor was set up on Facebook, prompting an outpouring of emotion.

> For the full story read today’s Luton News