BEDFORD YOUTH CHAMPION!

LYNNE FAULKNER IS CROWNED 2008 BEDFORD YOUTH CHAMPION!


'After a hard fought 2 week contest Councillor Lynne Faulkner was elected the 2008 Bedford Youth Champion today, beating Cllr Apu Bagchi and 4 other Borough Councillors'

Over 300 students from 9 Bedford Borough schools registered on line to take part in the "I'm A Councillor Get Me Out of Here" Event. During the two weeks students asked 557 questions of the 6 Councillors. Lynne answered 105 questions and chatted online to students from 3 Upper Schools and visited John Bunyan Upper School. Every day this week one Councillor was voted off and this afternoon Lynne was elected the 2008 Youth Champion for Bedford - the 3rd Conservative Councillor to win the Event.

"I am thrilled to have won this contest and worked very hard to interact daily with young people across Bedford Borough, answering their questions honestly and openly"

This event was part of Local Democracy Week, with various events run by all the Councils in Bedfordshire. As a County Councillor I also took part in Take Your Councillor to School, Political Speed Dating and Project X - meeting members of the Bedfordshire Youth Cabinet to discuss their Transport Project.

The aim was to engage young people in local democracy, letting them to express their views to local councillors and it was an exciting event and a great learning experience for us all.

BBC 3 COUNTIES RADIO INTERVIEW

GOOD MORNING ALL!

I have just been interviewed by Stephen Rhodes on BBC 3 Counties Radio for 8 minutes - a long time by radio standards. The interview was about Local Democracy Week and I'm A Councillor Get Me Out of Here! and went out live at 6.20am - a bit early for most people - and was repeated later in the morning.

Stephen Rhodes has a reputation as a tough interviewer but he allowed me free rein because I knew my subject well. Steve asked me about the contest and local politics and I mentioned my John Bunyan Upper School visit three times in the interview.

Today I am going back to school on "Take Your Councillor to School" day and will be shadowing a student at 4 lessons at John Bunyan Upper School - Maths, ICT, Science and PSHE - Personal,Social and Health Education. Last week Toby Reid, Head of Humanties had a Citizenship Class in PSHE. Toby and his students asked me several questions online. I have had 80 questions from the nine Bedford Borough Schools involved in Im A Councillor Get Me Out of Here - more than any other candidate.

Today the first Councillor will be voted off. I aim to survive and become Bedford's 2008 Youth Champion. I am the only "twinhatted" candidate out of the 6 Councillors, ie I am both a County and Borough Councillor and the only one who is taking part in the school vists and the Political Speed Dating on Thursday.

I'M A COUNCILLOR ...GET ME OUT OF HERE! Day 1

Day 1 of "I'm A Councillor .... Get Me Out of Here!" has arrived and already I have answered 5 questions on anti social behaviour, social activities for young people, education and local politics.

Pictured above are young people using their computers at school - perhaps to ask me more questions? - and students at John Bunyan Upper School which many of the young people who live in Elstow and Wilstead attend, and where I hope to visit next Monday on the 'Take Your Councillor to School' Day.

See you all tomorrow..............

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK 2008

As part of Local Democracy Week 2008 all the Upper and 2 Middle Schools in Bedford Borough are taking part in "I'm A Councillor ...Get Me Out of Here!"

This is an online event for young people to interact with 6 Bedford Borough Councillors including me over the next two weeks. Each Councillor has prepared a Manifesto and Profile and will reply to questions from students starting tomorrow. On Monday 13 October one Councillor will be voted off by the teenagers each day for
5 days, leaving one Councillor who will become the 2008 Youth Champion for Bedford Borough on Friday 17 October.

Local Democracy Week aims to increase young people's awareness and understanding of politics and local councils. We already have School Councils and a Youth Parliament and this is another way to encourage young people to engage in the democratic process and raise issues of interest to them.

During Local Democracy Week 13-17 October 2008 I am also taking part in other events. On Monday - Take Your Councillor to School, on Tuesday - You Decide 2008, on Thursday - Political Speed Dating and on Friday - Project X. During the 2007 Local Democracy Week I met some School Councillors and took part in the Political Speed Dating. I am looking forward to meeting young people online this week.

For more information you can log into www.bigvote.org.uk/councillor

ELSTOW ABBEY

Elstow Abbey Church held a lively family service today to celebrate our Holiday Club run by a willing team of volunteers led by Tracey Hinson and Margaret Baron. Up to 70 children attended daily and this year's theme was Batman and Gotham City, with leaders and children all dressed up as Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman or Rangers.

Elstow Abbey was founded in 1078 as a Benedictine Nunnery by Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror. King Henry VIII dissolved the nunnery in 1539 and it then became a Church. John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress was born in Elstow and baptised in Elstow Abbey in 1628 in the Font which is still used today for baptisms - our popular Vicar, Jeremy Crocker baptised four children this afternoon.

Like all historic buildings Elstow Abbey is expensive to maintain. In 1995 The Friends of Elstow Abbey were created to raise funds - so far £40,000 - to pay for church repairs. In May I was elected Chairman of the Trustees and we have just donated £2,000 towards organ repairs so the fundraising has to continue.

This Autumn we are holding Elstow Abbey's first Music Festival with 4 concerts starting on 1 November with the Flitwick Singers. On 1 December Hitchin Town Brass Band Ensemble will procvide a Christmas Concert. On 31 January there is an Organ Recital and on 28 February Luton Male Voice Choir - an interesting programme.

BEDFORD TOWN BAND

Bedford Town Band

Last Saturday Bedford Town Band celebrated American Independence Day with an excellent concert of American music including the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Star Wars, Love on the Rocks, Trumpets Wild and the haunting Schindler's List.

I attended this concert in Putnoe with Cllr Peter Hand and we were blown away with the high quality of musicianship, especially a superb euphonium solo by Kevin who owns the Mill Street Coffee Shop and a very talented young drummer called Craig.

During the Bedford River Festival the Bedford Town Band will be playing at the Swan Hotel on Saturday 12 July 2.00 - 5.00pm and also on Sunday 10 August at the Mill Meadows Bandstand. Do not miss the chance to hear superb live brass band music.

Welcome to my blog

Hi! My name is Lynne Faulkner and I represent the 5,500 residents of Wilstead and Elstow (birthplace of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress) near Bedford, on Bedfordshire County Council and Bedford Borough Council.

I have 25 years’ experience of local government politics, having served 12 years on North Hertfordshire District Council, including two years as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Council. After a short break to concentrate on my career as an International Human resource Manager, in May 2002 I was elected to Bedford Borough Council where I am Chair of Corporate and Resource Policy Committee and represent the Council on the East of England Regional Assembly.

In May 2005 I was elected as a County Councillor and I am now Vice Chairman of the County Council, Vice Chairman of Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Chairman of the Redundancy Panel.

Active in local village organisations, I am Chairman of Elstow Abbey Trustees, Patron of Wilstead Players, Vice Chair of Elstow Lower School Governors and also conduct regular help and advice surgeries for residents.

However, this is the 21st Century and like my local MP Nadine Dorries, I have decided to launch my own blog to communicate more easily with my constituents.

I plan to use this blog to offer my thoughts and ideas on local and national politics and to update you on my work as your local Councillor.

Join me on my 21st Century blogging journey.