message from frank branston (1939 - 2009)
"We are deeply saddened to report the death of Frank Branston, first elected Mayor of Bedford, who at age 70, died on 14 August 2009. A tribute to his support of the voluntary arts sector in Bedford appears below. Our thoughts and prayers are with Marlies and his daughters at this very sad time. Sandra Dudley - Festival Organiser."
BETTER BEDFORD! PRIDE IN BEDFORD!
FRANK BRANSTON’S BEDFORD!
Well known catchwords around Bedford over the last few years! Newcomers to Bedford at the turn of the millennium were aware of the decision for an elected Mayor of Bedford but perhaps not aware of the preceding years of local newspapers and local government. Nearly ten years on, it makes interesting reading, to see how Frank Branston who sadly passed away on 14 August 2009 age 70 was and became described in the many tributes abounding:
“He was one of Bedfords’ sons.”
“A passionate advocate for the people.”
“A unique and larger than life character who will be remembered as a great servant to the people of Bedford.”
“He leave a huge gap in the leadership of the community.”
See particularly www.bedsonsunday.com “An owner who believed in editorial backbone” by Steve Lowe, Group Editor, LSN Media.
Racing around Bedford in 2006 promoting at every opportunity the new art’icle magazine Bedford UK—the magazine for the Bedford Arts Forum, I chanced upon the Mayor for the first time ‘live’ only having seen his TV interviews often in his beloved Bedford. The Tenth Anniversary Concert of the residency in Bedford of the Philharmonic Orchestra had drawn its usual capacity audience at the Corn Exchange and as ‘clown’ musicians exchanged quick fire quips with everyone present, we were all invited to a party afterwards in the Harpur Suite. They had taken their biggest van to France and filled it with French gastronomic goodies and wine especially for the occasion! The leader described ‘genuine friendship with Bedford people’. The Mayor announced a further ten year term would commence. There was much cheering!
Having just experienced my first Edinburgh Fringe Festival covering Bedford artists for art’icle magazine, I watch Frank Branston ‘in action live’ for the first time. His own quick fire comedic timing with the Orchestra leaders was impressive! I wondered if he had every considered stand-up! The French wine and goodies certainly appreciated on such a happy occasion for local arts enthusiasts; I ventured an approach to ‘our leader’ he suggesting I chat to his wife Marlies for a while. My opportunity came to share the voluntary magazine work of promoting the local arts community, ‘Mr B’ indicating he hadn’t seen the copies delivered to the Town Hall. Shock—horror! . . . And one was promised for the next day. I, still a little mesmerized—and very new to journalism—received a parting gesture “You’re just an old hack!” Hacking? Isn’t that something to do with horses? Not me, I thought. A few days later I realised the description was that of a journalist!
A few months later, I was invited, as editor of art’icle magazine, to a Town Hall meeting to share ideas for a community arts festival, undertaking some feasibility studies with that innovative Borough Council Events Organiser, Andy Pigeon, to gauge interest with local arts groups. By then, Bedfringe 2007, created from art’icle magazine work, was at ‘foetus stage’: more a national fringe festival but with some local performers involved. Frank’s support of Bedfringe 2007 will never be forgotten by me both personally and financially. I am sure he was as thrilled as I to see it become an annual festival under the expert direction of James Pharaoh and Richard Mann. Bedfringe 2009 was the ‘mini-Edinburgh’ intended, packed with innovative all age productions at many local venues.
Frank began talking about writing a column for art’icle magazine featuring his favourite books. At his mayoral second term election rally at the Park Inn, I asked on behalf of art’icle magazine circles if the much threatened closure of Bromham Mill and the Civic Theatre would be part of his manifesto if re-elected. His reply was spontaneous, informed and detailed both from financial and managerial angles—and conveyed as if from the heart. He also shared breaking news and his enormous delight that Bedford’s application for unitary status had reached the next stage.
I was glad Frank was re-elected and when after 14 months of intensive work on Bedford Jersey Arts Festival, I actually found myself walking along the Embankment with time to ‘look up’, I realised how impressive had become not just the Castle Mound but Castle Quay and new Bedford Gallery, opened on 1 April 2009 with the new unitary Bedford Borough Council: the regeneration of Bedford arts quarter. With refurbishment of Cecil Higgins Gallery and Bedford Museum, the annual six month Summer Art Exhibition at Bromham Mill coordinated by Bedford Arts Forum, Bunyan Museum, Albion Centre, BCA Gallery and Eagle Gallery, Bedford arts venues hold much attraction for locals and visitors alike. Accepting that the recession has postponed the much needed Bedford bus station regeneration plans and that both Bromham Mill and the Civic Theatre are still open, Frank’s letter endorsing the Bedford Jersey Arts Festival and the work of voluntary groups such as Bedford Arts Forum ‘says it all’. Bedford is a county town to be reckoned with!
Newspaper owner, journalist, author, ‘mover and shaker’—and a pioneer; energetic, committed to exposes and known as a teenager as ‘the most sarcastic boy in Fleet Street’ but in later years as habitually recruiting journalists from anywhere other than journalism college, perhaps that’s how I was recognised as a ‘hack’! I am flattered! But I will miss him about town with his blogging and TV interviews, personal appearances and media correspondents alternately blasting and commending him. A celebrity Mayor was Frank: he wore those chains of office with accomplishment. Rest in peace; thoughts and prayers go to Marlies and her daughters.
SANDRA DUDLEY
21 August 2009
Frank Branston’s Better Bedford and Castle Quay development appear on many websites including
www.articlemagazinebedford.co.uk, www.bedfordarchive.com, www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk,
www.bedford.gov.uk, www.bedfringe.com, www.comearoundtobedford.co.uk
THE FESTIVAL TEAM SENDS BEST WISHES TO BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
AND CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE AS A NEW ERA BEGINS ON 1 APRIL 2009
Two new unitary councils add to the existing
Luton Borough Council and Bedford's first elected Mayor,
Frank Branston sends . . .
A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
1 May – 5 July 2009 in Bedfordshire UK
Celebrating 70 years of friendship 1939—2009
“Victoria College, Jersey children evacuated to Bedford School during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey in WWII”
site under construction
visit often-watch the site develop
This website is an ongoing project started in late January 2009.