Cllr Terry Stephens - Manor South Ward

30/10/2026

30/10/2026

🚂 The Phantom Railway Porter of Bletchley Station

Following the Victorian railway boom, Bletchley Station became a massive, bustling junction town. It also became the setting for one of the town’s most enduring modern ghost stories.

Over the decades, railway staff working the quiet, late-night shifts have reported catching glimpses of a phantom railway porter.

Described as wearing a vintage, dark Victorian rail uniform, the spirit is said to walk purposefully along the edge of the older platforms before vanishing into thin air. Night-shift workers have frequently reported the sudden, unexplained smell of old pipe to***co smoke and the distinct sound of heavy boots crunching along the tracks when no one else is around.

👥 The Shadow Walkers of Fenny Stratford

Because of the chilling and unresolved 1916 Grand Union Canal Mystery, where six bodies were recovered from a short stretch of water in just three weeks, the towpaths around Fenny Stratford Lock have long held an eerie reputation.

Local folklore warns of the "Shadow Walkers"—dark, indistinct human silhouettes that witnesses claim to see walking closely behind unsuspecting pedestrians on foggy autumn nights.

According to local legend, if you turn around to look directly at the figures, they instantly dissolve back into the canal mist. Grounded in the historical panic of the 1916 "Canal Pusher" theory, the folklore serves as a lingering, spooky caution to those walking the waterways alone after dark.

28/10/2026

🌺❤️ REMEMBRANCE DAY 2026 – MILTON KEYNES, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Communities across Milton Keynes will come together on Sunday 8 November and Wednesday 11 November to remember the brave servicemen and women who gave their lives in service, and to honour all those affected by war and conflict.

From remembrance parades and church services to wreath-laying ceremonies and moments of silence, residents across our city are invited to come together, pay their respects and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

🌺 HERE’S YOUR GUIDE TO REMEMBRANCE EVENTS ACROSS MILTON KEYNES.

📅 SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER – REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

🌺 BLETCHLEY – REMEMBRANCE WREATH LAYING
📍 Elizabeth Square and Queensway War Memorial
⏰ 8:45am–10am

Residents will gather at Elizabeth Square at 8:45am before a silent community walk at 9am. The remembrance ceremony begins at 9:10am at the Queensway War Memorial, followed by refreshments at the Masonic Hall.

🌺 WOBURN - REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
📍 St Mary’s Church Woburn
⏰ 10.30am

Then a short walk to the Woburn memorial garden at the Woburn Hotel.

🌺 WOLVERTON – REMEMBRANCE SERVICE & PARADE
📍 St George the Martyr Church and The Square
⏰ Church service at 10am | Parade gathering by 10:45am

Following the church service, a parade will make its way to The Square for the Act of Remembrance at approximately 10:55am. Wolverton Town Band, cadets, scouts and community organisations will be involved.

🌺 WEST BLETCHLEY – ACT OF REMEMBRANCE & PARADE
📍 Bletchley Park to St Mary’s Church War Memorial, Church Green Road
⏰ 10am–12pm

The parade assembles at Bletchley Park from 10am before setting off at 10:45am. A two-minute silence, wreath laying and bell-ringing will take place at 11am, followed by refreshments.

🌺 NEWPORT PAGNELL – REMEMBRANCE PARADE & SERVICE
📍 High Street, Newport Pagnell
⏰ 10:30am–12:30pm

The town’s annual remembrance parade and commemorative service will bring residents together to honour those who served and sacrificed their lives.

🌺 NEW BRADWELL – REMEMBRANCE PARADE & WREATH LAYING
📍 The Clock Tower, New Bradwell
⏰ 1:45pm–2:45pm

A community remembrance parade and wreath-laying ceremony remembering those who served in the Armed Forces.

🌺 STONY STRATFORD – REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY PARADE
📍 Horsefair Green War Memorial
⏰ 3pm

Organised by Milton Keynes Lions, the event will feature uniformed youth groups parading from behind the C**k Hotel along the High Street to Horsefair Green.

A remembrance service and wreath laying will take place, alongside a collection supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

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📅 WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER – ARMISTICE DAY

🌺 MILTON KEYNES ROSE – ARMISTICE DAY SERVICE
📍 Milton Keynes Rose, Campbell Park
⏰ 10:45am–11:15am

Organised by The Parks Trust, this free public service will include readings, speeches, a procession of uniformed services, wreath laying and the traditional two-minute silence at 11am.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

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❤️ A TIME TO REMEMBER, REFLECT AND GIVE THANKS.

Remembrance is an opportunity for generations to come together, to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served and to ensure their stories are never forgotten.

Whether you attend a local parade, wear a poppy or simply observe a moment of silence, every act of remembrance matters.

🌺 LEST WE FORGET.

📢 PLEASE SHARE THIS POST so residents across Milton Keynes know when and where they can pay their respects.

If you’re attending a service, please arrive early and be mindful of any temporary road closures or traffic restrictions.

💬 KNOW OF ANOTHER REMEMBRANCE SERVICE IN MILTON KEYNES?

Please comment with the location, date and time so we can add it to our community’s awareness.

❤️ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.



📸 Paul Buchanan

28/10/2026

Whether you can make the St Mary's service or going somewhere else, we are open for our community for a place to come together for reflection & remembrance for all those who embrace our history.

26/10/2026

Anglian Water have had to close Dawson Road, Bletchley, urgently due to a burst main.

The road closure will be in effect as per the details below but is subject to change:

25th October - 21st October 2026

Dawson Road, Bletchley

24/10/2026

What else to do on a wet n windy afternoon, find out more about symbols you see on houses and bridges......

📏🔎 Hidden Survey Marks of Bletchley & Fenny Stratford – Have You Spotted One?

Next time you're out and about, keep an eye on walls, bridges, churches, pubs and historic buildings. You might notice a strange carved mark or cast-iron plate that many people assume is connected to the War Office. In fact, it's part of a remarkable piece of Britain's surveying and geological history: an Ordnance Survey Benchmark (BM).

These marks were created by surveyors to record precise heights above sea level using a national network linked to Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN), the official reference point for mean sea level in Cornwall. Using a precision telescope and spirit level, surveyors could calculate the elevation of thousands of locations across Britain.

🏛️ Local examples

📍 Bletchley Park Mansion
Benchmark height: 95.783m ODN

CUT MARK: NBM HO THE MANSION BLETCHLEY PARK N FACE 4.6M NE ANG (ODN 95.783m, AGL 0.5m)

Here's how to decode it:
Cut Mark = a carved benchmark, not a flush bracket.
NBM = National Bench Mark.
The Mansion = the benchmark was cut into the wall of the Bletchley Park mansion building.
N FACE = north-facing wall.
4.6M NE ANG = approximately 4.6 metres from the north-east corner.
ODN 95.783m = the benchmark's surveyed height was 95.783 metres above Ordnance Datum Newlyn (mean sea level).
AGL 0.5m = the mark itself is about 0.5 metres above ground level.

📍 Captain Ridleys Shooting party (AKA Bletchley Arms Public House) as referenced in the database.
South-west face, southern corner
Benchmark height: 74.304m ODN

That's a difference of 21.479 metres, showing how much higher the ground at Bletchley Park sits above the surrounding area and helping us understand local drainage, landscape and historic settlement patterns.

One of the most interesting local discoveries is the cluster of benchmarks around Bletchley Park. Historic mapping and benchmark records show several survey marks in and around the estate, reflecting the importance of the mansion and surrounding buildings as permanent landmarks for Victorian and Edwardian surveyors.

What are FBMs?

To ensure the entire surveying network was accurate, Ordnance Survey established around 190 Fundamental Benchmarks (FBMs) across Great Britain. These were the highest-precision reference points from which all other benchmarks were checked and calculated.

For our area, the nearest FBM was at Great Linford, making it a key link in the national height network. Think of FBMs as the "master reference points" and ordinary benchmarks as the local markers that extended the network into towns and villages.

What do the Benchmark Database colours mean?
https://www.bench-marks.org.uk/

If you explore the Benchmark Database, you'll see different coloured markers:

⚪ White circle = Benchmark known from records but not yet visited or verified.

🟢 Green marker = Benchmark found and confirmed by a surveyor or enthusiast.

🔴 Red marker = Benchmark searched for but missing, destroyed or inaccessible.

🔵 Blue/special symbols = Special survey marks such as flush brackets, trig pillar brackets, Fundamental Benchmarks and other survey reference points.

What should you look for?

✅ A carved benchmark cut into brick or stone

✅ Cast-iron OSBM flush brackets built into walls

✅ Rare projecting brackets used to support surveying equipment

✅ Marks often hidden by paint, vegetation, repointing or modern alterations

Many have survived for over a century and can still be found throughout Bletchley, Fenny Stratford, Water Eaton and Milton Keynes.

📸 Local History Challenge

Can you find an Ordnance Survey benchmark near you?
Look at the Ordnance Survey Map to help
https://interactivemaps.uk/os-benchmark-archive/ #13.81/51.99509/-0.73574

Take a photograph, tell us where you found it, and share it in the comments. You may have walked past one hundreds of times without ever noticing!

These tiny marks are more than scratches in stone. They are part of a hidden Victorian network that mapped Britain, helped build railways and canals, and still tells us fascinating stories about the landscape beneath our feet.



The hunt is on! 🔍📏

24/10/2026

📢 HAVE YOUR SAY: PROPOSED 280-HOME DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF STOKE ROAD, NEWTON LEYS

Residents may have received a consultation leaflet (Attached screenshots) regarding proposals for up to 280 new homes on land north of Stoke Road, Newton Leys. The scheme includes housing, affordable homes, public open space, play areas, a pump track, landscaping, drainage infrastructure and associated works.

Important - The site is located within the Newton Longville Parish boundary and falls under the planning authority of Buckinghamshire Council, not Milton Keynes City Council.

⚠️ The consultation closes on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

Representatives from Willis Dawson Ltd have been invited to attend our full council meeting on Tuesday 3rd November to present their proposals and answer questions before a formal response is agreed by B&FSTC.

While everyone recognises the need for housing, residents are increasingly concerned about the cumulative impact of development across the area.

This proposal must not be viewed in isolation. Alongside other developments, including the Kelly's Kitchen site, many residents feel that local infrastructure is already stretched to breaking point.

🚧 NO EXPANSION WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE 🚧

The reality is that many of the impacts of this development will be felt by residents in Bletchley, Fenny Stratford and Newton Leys, even though the site sits within Buckinghamshire.

Key concerns raised by residents include:

🚗 Traffic and Congestion

- Increased traffic on Stoke Road, Drayton Road and surrounding routes.
- Additional pressure on key junctions and routes into Bletchley and Fenny Stratford.
- Questions over whether existing road infrastructure can accommodate further growth.

🏥 Healthcare Provision

- Existing GP surgeries are already under pressure.
- Residents need clear evidence of how healthcare capacity will be expanded to support additional households.

🏫 School Places

- Concerns over whether local primary and secondary schools have sufficient capacity.
- Need for developer contributions towards education infrastructure.

🌧️ Flood Risk and Drainage

- Development on greenfield land can significantly alter natural drainage patterns.
- Residents deserve reassurance that flood risk will not increase elsewhere and that sustainable drainage systems are robust and future-proofed.

🌿 Ecology and Biodiversity

- Potential loss of habitats, hedgerows and wildlife corridors.
- Impact on birds, pollinators and other species.
- Questions about whether proposed biodiversity net gain measures genuinely compensate for the loss of open countryside.

🚜 Loss of Agricultural Land

- The site currently forms part of the rural landscape surrounding Newton Leys and Newton Longville.
- Development would result in the permanent loss of farmland and productive agricultural land and food security ??

🏛️ Archaeology and Heritage

- The wider area contains historic field patterns and archaeological interest associated with the historic settlements surrounding Newton Longville and Bletchley.
- Residents should ask what archaeological investigations have been undertaken and whether any heritage assets, historic landscapes or buried remains could be affected.

🌳 Loss of Open Countryside

- Concerns about the erosion of the remaining green spaces between communities.
- Potential impact on rural character, landscape views and the sense of separation between settlements.

💷 Who Pays?

If hundreds of additional homes are approved, who pays for the roads, schools, healthcare facilities and community infrastructure needed to support them?

- Will developer contributions be sufficient?
- Will funding follow the impact when many services used by new residents are located in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford rather than within Buckinghamshire?

Many residents support the principle of providing new homes.

However, housing growth must be accompanied by the infrastructure needed to support existing and future communities.

The key question is not simply whether 280 homes should be built. It is whether local roads, schools, healthcare services, drainage systems, community facilities and the environment can cope with yet more development before existing infrastructure deficits have been addressed.

There is also land for further expansion ? Money talks......

📝 Please take the time to respond to the consultation before Wednesday 11th November 2026 and make your views known.

Whether you support the proposal, oppose it, or believe substantial changes are needed, your voice matters.

Growth must be sustainable. Infrastructure should come first, not afterwards.

https://www.landnorthofstokeroad.co.uk/

21/10/2026

I’ve got plenty more but thought I’d give you a break to digest what we’ve learnt so far…….. back on Halloween for a spooky tale or two 👻💀🎃

🧱 From Prehistoric Clay to Modern Milton Keynes: The Story of Bletchley’s Brickworks! 💥

Long before it was a bustling urban hub, Bletchley was home to one of the biggest brick-making powerhouses in the UK. Driven by the discovery of "self-burning" Oxford Clay, the London Brick Company (LBC) operations grew so massive that at their peak, they were churning out an incredible 4.25 million bricks a week!

But the brickfields left behind a legacy far deeper than just building materials:

🤫 WWII Secrets: During the war, housing construction stopped, and the massive, blast-proof kilns were turned into a highly classified mu*****ns depot to safely hide military explosives from German bombers.

🇮🇹 The Italian Legacy: Faced with a massive post-war labour shortage in the 1950s, LBC recruited hundreds of workers from Italy. Their families stayed, permanently shaping Bletchley's wonderful, vibrant multicultural community.

🌳 The Landscape Today: The brickworks closed for good in 1990, and the iconic chimneys were demolished in 1993. Today, those giant, deep clay extraction pits have been reclaimed by nature to become the Blue Lagoon Nature Reserve and Willow Lake in Newton Leys!

💥 Watch the demolition footage on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai8BLqM3q9o

Did you or your family ever work in the brickfields? Or do you remember the day the chimneys came down? Share your memories and stories in the comments below! 👇

20/10/2026

💀 THE PLAGUE THAT WIPED OUT OUR MARKET:

The Dark History of Fenny Stratford 🛑🌾

We all know Fenny Stratford today as a bustling local hub, but back in 1665, a catastrophic event changed the town forever.

Because Fenny Stratford sat directly on Watling Street—the main highway out of London—it became a tragic magnet for the Great Plague. The impact was swift, devastating, and altered local history for over a century.

Here is how the plague transformed our local area:

📉 A Shocking Death Toll: Before the 1660s, the quiet parish of Bletchley averaged fewer than 20 burials a year. In 1665, that number skyrocketed to 126! Over 100 of those deaths happened right in Fenny Stratford.

🚷 "Grass Growing in the Roads": To stop the virus from spreading across Buckinghamshire, authorities completely blockaded the town. The main London-to-Chester stagecoach route was diverted away from Watling Street. With all the coaching inns forcibly shut, contemporary diaries poetically noted that the busy highway became a ghost town where grass grew right in the middle of the road.

💰 The Death of the Market: Before 1665, Fenny Stratford was a highly successful trading hub operating under a prestigious Royal Market Charter granted by King James I. The plague utterly killed it. Traders were too terrified to visit, commerce collapsed, and unlike other towns, Fenny Stratford's weekly market was abandoned permanently.

🏚️ Generations of Poverty: The fallout lasted for decades. The town sank into such deep poverty that central buildings fell into absolute ruin because survivors couldn't afford to fix them. By the early 1700s, it was described by travelers as just a "decayed, small, and disunited village."

It wasn't until the 1720s that Browne Willis stepped in to revive the town by funding the construction of St Martin’s Church and bringing back civic pride!

Next time you take a walk down Watling Street or pass through Fenny, think back to the summer of 1665 when the roads fell completely silent (a bit like Covid in 2020).

Chart shows High Wycombe deaths over that time but the spike in deaths in Fenny Stratford was the same !