April
Milton Keynes Museum has just seen its visitor numbers reach a new record; Over the 12 months to Easter, more than 52,000 people toured the hands-on hub, visited with a school or community group, or came to one of its events.
And it’s a special reason to celebrate as Director Bill Griffiths explained: “It’s brilliant news. When we were planning our expansion project the business consultants advised we’d reach the 50,000 mark a year after the opening of the new galleries.
“We’re still a year away from opening the first of those new galleries and we’ve already exceeded their target.
“It’s an incredible achievement and I certainly think it’s because of what our visitors find when they get here and then go away and tell others about.
He added: “This is also a chance to thank all the Museum volunteers who are such a vital part of this success, turning up whatever the weather to ensure our visitors have a good time.”
The nation’s biggest party venue Popworld launches on 12th Street.
Total MK sneaks in for an early visit to explore the brand new, shiny and ultra-retro £500,000 venue. Renowned for championing nineties’ cheese and noughties’ nostalgia, Popworld has forged a legendary status across the UK by providing memorable nights out filled with fun, laughter and the best pop tunes in town.
It is announced that Les Miserables is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre as part of a UK and Ireland tour in 2019
The show will be in town from May 14 - June 8, 2019.
It’s always nice to be able to share good news about homegrown talent, and Dan Stock is currently flying the flag for Milton Keynes. The young singer-songwriter, who cut his teeth as part of the duo Reporters, struck out solo some time ago.
Select shows out of town pricked the ears of labels, and a deal was eventually struck with Heavenly Recordings, which means he shares a working home with Mark Lanegan and Baxter Dury.
Talk about being among great company.
“It really is a dream come true to have signed to Heavenly,” he told Sammy Jones.
“Some of my favourite albums growing up through to now were released on their label, so to be a small part of that is a huge honour.
“The first band I ever saw live was The Magic Numbers when they supported The Who in 2005, so to be on the same label is pretty surreal!”
Shifting Sands Theatre company present the hilarious yet heart breaking The King Lear at Stantonbury Theatre.
May
The Hub’s award-winning independent Indian restaurant, Maaya, celebrated two years of business with an all-singing, all-dancing and all fire-eating party.
MK Museum secured a £75,000 grant for a permanent exhibition celebrating Jock Campbell, influential chair of Milton Keynes Development Corporation.
The grant from AIM Biffa Award is part of its History Makers scheme - funding museums to create new exhibitions that will inspire the public through the lives and achievements of extraordinary historical figures who have made a significant impact shaping the world we live in today.
James Bond comes to Bletchley Park. On display in Hut 12, a contemporary art exhibition celebrates Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, as well as the most recent 007 continuation novels written by critically acclaimed author Anthony Horowitz (pictured).
Bond at Bletchley Park: Illustrations and Inspirations includes artworks newly commissioned by Eazl from a carefully selected roster of emerging and mid-career artists from the UK and beyond.
June
Craige Els is starring as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday.
“There is genuinely nothing else like it out there – from the music and songs to the script and design, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears. It will make you laugh and cry, and no doubt want to watch it again straight away,” he said, selling the show.
Medical Detection Dogs shows how their training to detect disease is changing the way we test for cancers.
They show their talents to a couple of very special guests; Her Majesty The Queen and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.
An independent brewery in Milton Keynes appeals for beer lovers to back its crowdfunder campaign to open a taproom in the city. It works, and Blackened Sun raises £6,000.
The Stables in Wavendon is appealing to Milton Keynes Council to stand firm and refuse planning permission on a proposed housing development that would see three-storey blocks of flats built just 12 metres from its boundary.
The venue has been fighting encroaching housing development since the Strategic Land Allocation decreed that housing should be built to the North and East of the venue.
Monica Ferguson, chief executive and artistic director of The Stables is extremely concerned by the latest developments.
She said: “We have seen many music venues around the country forced to close in recent years when new housing schemes are built too close. "Subsequent complaints from residents about noise nuisance arising from the gigs, the traffic, car doors and customers lead to licensing restrictions which make the venues unable to operate.
"We are appealing to Milton Keynes Council to look to the future and ensure that it protects one of its most valuable cultural assets.”
The Stables was founded in 1970 by Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, with a major capital lottery award enabling a new state-of-the-art venue to be opened in 2000.
Author Joanne Harris visits intu Milton Keynes, and 102 year old adrenaline-junkie Eva Lewis took part in an incredible indoor skydive at iFLY Indoor Skydiving Milton Keynes.
Eva was fearless, flying several metres high in the wind-tunnel which circulates air into the flight chamber at around 110mph!
Two veteran Bombe operators opened the new Bombe Gallery at The National Museum of Computing on Bletchley Park, just three months after the completion of a successful £50,000 Crowdfunder to finance the new display.
Join us for another look-back over 2019 in Milton Keynes in the coming days...
