This year the brief was a little different, each student had to create a puppet that might have been in a 1930s circus. I am sure you will agree they all look amazing! Introducing the characters:

Buffy Balancer

Buffy Balancer is Bekonscot circus’ newest trapeze artist, built like a strong woman and probably capable of lifting the entire circus tent if necessary. She spent her childhood hauling crates on her family’s traveling circus, but when one of the trapeze artists at Bekonscot fell off her rope, Buffy volunteers, desperate to get her name in the headlines. Flinging herself into the air with so much force that the tent is on the verge of collapsing, the audience finds great amusement in such an odd spectacle. 

The one problem though; her circus manager refuses to get her a new costume, so instead she finds herself in the previous artist’s frilliest and puffiest costume known to man.  Her big bug-eyed expressions of panic have become a crowd favourite. Audiences think her flailing arms and frantic face are part of a brilliant comedy routine, but Buffy is usually just trying not to swallow a loose frill. 

Madam Razoretta

Enter Madame Razoretta, the dazzlingly dangerous knife thrower. Despite the career path, this performer is terribly uncoordinated and her shows often result in near collisions. Rumour has it, Razoretta slipped out the back of a nightclub in Paris after a disastrous show, later joining the circus. Her clothes are always a bit singed, sliced, or patched – silent souvenirs of her own misfires.

Chuck Kniveswell

When Chuck was a young kid, his favourite yearly tradition was his family’s annual trip to the circus. He loved getting to see all the jolly clowns and performers making people laugh and smile. Chuck always wanted to help people so when it came to his professional career he began as an army surgeon. Eventually the stress and pressure of having to be responsible for his comrades’ lives got a bit too much for Chuck, so he decided to leave the army and pursue his childhood passion of joining the circus.

Unfortunately for Chuck, he was asked to fill a slot in the circus as a knife thrower due to his ‘steady surgeon’s hands’ so he is back having his coworkers lives in his hands.  Thankfully there haven’t been any accidents so far!

Will.E. Droppett

Will.E. Droppett is a plate spinner and juggler for Bekonscot Circus, currently on tour. Will is an upbeat lad who lives by the motto “If you’re going to drop something, at least make it look dramatic”.  He’s well known within the circus community for his determination to keep his act going no matter what life, or the audience, throws at him. 

Will ran away to join the Bekonscot Circus several years ago when they visited his hometown and he worked as a waiter for the local restaurant. He jumped at the chance to leave his old life behind him, figuring that if he was going to spend the rest of his life balancing plates he might as well do it wearing a better, shinier costume. Will loves his life with the circus and can’t wait to wow ‘em with the wobble at the Bekonscot show tonight!

Roy Enfield

Roy Enfield grew up wishing he was a cowboy in the wild west. After living the outlaw life he had to run away to hide in the circus changing his name to “Roy Enfield”. Too scared to learn to ride a horse he took to his bike starting off jumping over toys he made his name attempting to jump over 10 double-decker bus wheels. 

He was known for his amazing hair and glistening smile which he has maintained into his later years. Although he has never landed a stunt he is a natural showman, always making sure he puts on an entertaining show. He is many years past his prime but refuses to quit until people stop paying to see his shows. His body is now battered and bruised but his hunger for fame and fortune is still strong. Will he finally land a stunt?

Dr Popalot

Dr Popalot is the circus’ beloved balloon sculptor, he was raised among circus wagons, musicians and performers. Dr. Popalot spent his childhood watching jugglers, clowns and acrobats leap through the air. However, performing never quite suited him. Instead he discovered a lifelong passion, he loves shaping and selling balloon creations to all the excited children.

He’s been there for as long as anyone can remember, twisting colourful balloons into amazing shapes like dogs, swords, flowers and anything else children can dream up. He loves his work more than anything, but there’s one problem, his fingers are big like sausages, so sometimes his balloons go POP! before he’s finished! Though he officially retired years ago, he returns every season to “retire again,” much to the amusement of the circus crew. Most believe he simply adores the farewell cake, but deep down, everyone knows he cannot stay away from the joy of the circus!

Cornelia Crunchbucket

Miss Cornelia Crunchbucket is 46 years of age and is a socially awkward popcorn seller at her local circus. She’s been selling popcorn there for over twenty years and is basically part of the circus inventory by now. She doesn’t speak much, is always a little tired, always a little hunched and always very sweet. 

She secretly slips popcorn to kids when their parents aren’t looking. Cornelia loves children, though she doesn’t have any of her own and she loves popcorn too. She’s just been promoted to Inside-The-Tent-Popcorn-Seller Supervisor, looking after herself and one other seller in the tent. Cornelia doesn’t live a glamorous life, but she lives a happy one.

Eunice the Unicyclist

Eunice is a 17-year-old performer specialising in unicycling tricks. She was found as an orphan by Madame Razoretta, raised in her caravan and must perform nightly in the travelling circus. Her jacket has been fashioned from a WW1 military jacket which she found/stole as a young teenager. Crafting is her hobby and during the free mornings she is busy fashioning accessories for her outfit, like rosettes which serve as imaginary awards for her relentless unicycling.

She can comfortably cycle round the stage both forwards and backwards in front of a large, cheering audience, only occasionally becoming unsteady and falling to the hard ground, hence the elbow and knee pads she must wear as protection. Now nearing her 18th birthday, she has hopes and dreams to leave the circus and become a fashion designer in a big city.

Edward Teddy Bear

Edward “Teddy Bear” Pierre is the youngest in a family line of circus bears. Though the Bekonscot Circus insists that they have a man in a bear costume instead of a real bear for “ethical reasons”, the truth is far simpler; they could not afford a real one

His father, his grandfather and his grandfather’s father were all celebrated bears in their own troupes and Edward feels responsible for upholding that legacy. He has been dutifully filling the role of a circus bear since he was old enough to stand in his father’s oversized paws. In the circus ring, he appears whimsical and delicate, drifting through his act with the melancholy charm of a Pierrot clown. Audiences assume he is a light-hearted, playful spirit; but once the costume comes off, Edward is very serious and proud of his craft.

Fanella the Flying Flapper Girl

Fanella is a flyer on the trapeze and joined the Bekonscot Circus in 1932. She moved to Bekonscot from New York City, needing to fly free from the demands of life in the Big Apple. Since joining the troupe, she has become renowned for her fantabulous feats where she flips through the air in weightless elegance. 

Keep your eyes peeled for Fanella’s triple flick-flack-flop trick! When she’s not swinging, she loves a puff on her cigarette and a tipple, her favourite cocktail is a Sidecar. Fanella loves an excuse to celebrate and has become notorious for throwing the most extravagant parties where she dances the Charleston with castmates Will and Buffy. 

Albert Échasse

Albert Échasse was born in France. As a boy, he helped his parents look after sheep on the marshy heathlands. To walk across the soggy ground, Albert used giant wooden stilts, striding high above the grass. He was a gentle, quiet soul, with a special gift: he could copy the songs of the birds perfectly, joining them in bringing the fields alive with music. Life changed for Albert and he had to leave his farm behind. When a travelling circus came to town, Albert saw his chance. With his stilts and bird calls, he joined the troupe and began a new adventure.

Now, at Bekonscot, Albert is known as “The High‑Flying Bird Man.” Towering above the crowd, he performs daring tricks while chirping and warbling like the birds he loves. Children and grown‑ups alike marvel at his act, a joyful combination of circus fun and nature’s song.

Dorothy ‘Didi’ Mills

Dorothy is fairly new to the circus. She joined when they visited near her home in London as it looked like a lot of fun. She also wanted to get out of the city and see more of the country and this seemed like a great way to do it! 

She comes from a big family, she has two brothers and three sisters, all younger than her. As the oldest she is used to keeping all her siblings entertained, so clowning around comes fairly naturally to her.  She misses her family, but the circus is so busy she doesn’t get lonely. She can’t wait till her siblings get to come and see her act when the circus visits London again next summer.

Entrance to the NFTS exhibition is included in your entrance price. Don’t forget to book online at least 48 hours in advance to enjoy 10% off the standard entry price, click HERE to book your ticket.

The post The Circus is Coming to Bekonscot! appeared first on Bekonscot Model Village.

1. How long have you worked at Bekonscot?

I have worked at Bekonscot since June 2025, so just coming up for a year now.

2. What career path did you take to get here?

I have a lot of experience working in functions and wine management, but I initially studied Hotel and Catering Management at Birmingham Food and Art college. After that I started my career working in the wine trade and have been a Head Chef at a number of hotels, schools and colleges. I was also lucky to work at Denby’s Wine Estate over near Dorking, Thistle Hotels and the British Museum, London, looking after their after-hours functions.

3. Please explain a little more about what your role involves.

My role is really varied and things change from day-to-day. It mainly involves welcoming visitors to ensure they have a good experience with us. We have just started offering birthday parties again and if we welcome a group for afternoon tea they like to chat. Lots of people ask questions about the village and they expect you to know about the history which was difficult when I first started – I had to learn quickly.

4. How many people do you think you welcome to the tearoom each year?

It is difficult to say because the numbers on the till provide the number of orders rather than individuals, we welcome 75,000 people to the tearoom in a year. Some weekends there will be 800 people in a day, who generally come in for at least a tea or coffee.  

5. What do you most enjoy about your role?

I really enjoy my role, but it is the team which is really special, everyone helps each other out and our roles are interchangeable. It is a great team with a good team spirit; you can’t put a price on enjoying who you work with.

6. What do you least enjoy about your role?

I have never been in a role where the weather has such an impact on things and yet it is the one thing you cannot control. It is not like other roles I have worked in. It can be frustrating because sometimes you can prepare a really nice spread, but then it rains and no one comes or it is unexpectedly sunny, we are then really busy and rushed off our feet. 

7. Describe yourself in three words.

I would say, professional, enthusiastic and hard working.

8. What is the one learning that you would tell your younger self or those wanting to work in the catering industry?

In the hospitality, catering and leisure industries sometimes people will undermine your role, you need to be thick skinned about it. Be careful, pick the jobs you wish to do and ensure your qualifications take you to where you wish to go. Alongside my catering qualifications I have also completed quite a few psychology courses, so I can better understand the people side of my work a bit better. In a customer facing role, you deal with so many different people day-to-day that you have to understand how people work and think, not everyone is the same. At Denby’s Wine I was their Functions Manager which essentially meant I was working on about three weddings a week. For this role it was important to understand the family, their expectations and how they work, without this understanding it makes it difficult to be the best host.

9. What is your favourite treat in the tearoom?

Definitely a good cup of coffee, we get ours free, so it is even better!

10. What is changing in the tearoom over the 2026 season? 

After the successes of the festive season, we have decided to introduce more seasonal food into the tearoom. For example, we have hot cross buns coming in for Easter, scampi and chips, we are also currently offering a tea and cake for £6.99. We also plan to introduce strawberries and cream coming for Wimbledon. We are definitely busiest during the school holidays and we have the most wonderful entertainer/ magician, Greg Champman who comes in, he is really popular. We have also started offering birthday parties again and it was really nice to host a 50^th birthday party last weekend, with a buffet and drinks.

Thank you for your time, Cordelia, it was great to learn more about what goes on in the tearoom. Next time you are at the village, be sure to swing by and say hello! Click HERE to plan you next visit with us. 

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Established in 1929, Bekonscot is the oldest original model village in the world. Set in 1.5 acres of immaculately manicured gardens and finely detailed model buildings, the village perfectly captures rural English life in the 1930s. 

There’s so much to look forward to at Bekonscot this year, with new experiences, stories and moments designed to spark curiosity, inspire learning through play and create joyful family memories. We have lots planned this year and look forward to sharing things as they unfold. There is plenty to see and do at Bekonscot including . . . . 

🏘️ Exploring our seven model villages, don’t forget to check out the freshly repainted fairground, circus and the zoo scenes.
🚂 Enjoying a ride on our 7 1/4″ narrow gauge light railway.
🛤️ Seeing the 10 scale miles of our Gauge 1 model railway.
🎨 Enjoying theme crafts during the holidays.
🏴‍☠️ Going on a pirate adventure in our playground.
🚉 Shrinking down to size at High Shrunkham Junction.

In addition to the above we are also working away to create seasonal treats in our tearoom and an exciting line up of events to keep your little explorers entertained.

Toddler Takeover

Now that the big kids are back at school we are pleased to welcome back Toddler Takeover, every Monday during term time in the Education Centre. There are lots of games and craft ideas for your under-5s. Free as part of your entry ticket, it is the perfect way to enhance your village experience.

Easter Extravaganza!

We are busy planning our activities over the school Easter holidays (28 March – 12 April) and have lots going on to entertain your little adventurers. Not only do we have an Easter trail around the village, egg decorating crafts Tuesday – Thursday during the holidays, but we are also delighted to welcome back children’s entertainer, Professor Crump. He will be entertaining guests with his stilt walking, balloon modelling and silly jokes over the Easter weekend (03-06 April). 

May NFTS Circus Exhibition!

We are delighted to welcome back the National Film and Television School students again this year, who will be proudly displaying some of their models. If you saw the exhibition last year then you will have an idea of what to expect. This year we will have a different brief and focus, based on a 1930s circus theme, watch this space!

The Light Railway Silver Jubilee!

To celebrate 25 years of the Bekonscot narrow gauge light railway in August there are lots of exciting activities planned, to mark this milestone event. Watch this space to find out more.

We look forward to welcoming you back over the Easter holidays, click HERE to book online at least 48 hrs in advance of your visit and you can enjoy 10% off the standard entry price.

The post A New Season of Family Adventures at Bekonscot! appeared first on Bekonscot Model Village.

We have received some beautiful pictures and stories. Everyone who sent in their stories was entered into a prize draw to WIN a trip to Bekonscot. We are delighted to announce that Arlenne D was the winner! Congratulations Arlenne and thank you for sharing such a lovely memory of visiting Bekonscot with your granddaughter. We hope you enjoy your next adventure with us.

Below are just some of the stories we received . . . .

Nicola F – Weekly trips to Bekonscot . . .

I miss my weekly trips to Bekonscot now my boys are 13 and 15!  We have years and years of happy memories walking round looking in every window, at every scene, following every train.

I have hilarious pictures of us on the big train, walking round – rain or shine and it was so exciting when you finally opened the extra part of the town. 

You will always be my go to for visiting little people, not only is it a special and super interesting place but its SAFE and CLEAN. This is my very favourite picture of my youngest son, thank you for so many wonderful memories!

Ann C – Family adventures at Bekonscot . . . .

Arelene D – A beautiful miniature village

In March of 2015, when my granddaughter was two years and nine months, I took her to Bekonscot Village for the first time. Although I had lived in London for 20 years, I knew nothing about the village. Having a granddaughter made me research fun activities we could share on the three days a week she was in my care. I have always loved miniatures and was delighted at the opportunity to take her to Bekonscot, once I had discovered its existence.  She adored it, but since she moved to Spain a few months later and I then followed, we never returned, until . . . . For Christmas, 2023, I offered her a trip to London. 

As we made our plans and looked through my photo albums prior to the trip, I showed her all the different places we had visited when she lived there. As a lover of miniatures herself, she was most fascinated by Bekonscot, even though she could not remember her visit as a toddler. She asked if we could make a stop there during our stay. 

So, exactly nine years later, in March of 2024 we both returned to Bekonscot Village.  At 11 years and nine months, I think she had as much fun as she did all those years prior.  I decided to have her pose in the same spots as she had done when she was little, and these photos are a sample of the results. 

I am hoping that if she has children one day, she will take similar photos of them at Bekonscot Village; I have no doubt it will still exist in all its glory! I am also certain we will both return before another nine years pass. Many thanks for all you do to keep Bekonscot so charming and welcoming.

Glenda W – A joyful magical place . . .

This place to me is the most memorable of all my childhood places/adventures! It is a truly magical place and every visit just transports you back through time. Every time I visit I get so excited pointing things out and there’s always something different OR something I’ve missed.

I lost my lovely mum in February and my brother two years before. However, we were blessed with another grandchild in October 2024 – a little boy and a great granddaughter last May, I can’t wait to bring them all this year.

It is just so wonderful and nostalgic, being able to show our children and grandchildren and explain about the way things were when we were growing up and how things have changed.

Also, the train ride is lovely for the little ones. My Granddaughter insisted on four rides! We Love! Love! Love! BEKONSCOT! Thank you so much for this wonderful joyful magical place.

Maura B – A chance conversation . . .

The first time I visited Bekonscot was in 1968 when I came to England from Ireland (I was 15!) to stay with my aunt and uncle in Penn. It was a beautiful hot August day and I particularly remember standing near the castle looking at the fish and looking across the village and how utterly beautiful and unusual it was. I had never seen anything like it. I returned to England in January 1973 for a holiday but decided to stay and work – for a while – but never went back to live there. I next visited Bekonscot in the mid 80s with my children.

In 2007 I was looking to  change jobs and reduce my hours, so I kept an eye on the local paper.  I saw that Bekonscot was looking for an administrator but decided not to apply and recycled the paper.  A few days later I changed my mind and retrieved the paper which fortunately had not been picked up.  I telephoned and spoke to Brian and asked when the last date for applications was.  He said “today” so I said thank you and sorry for bothering you, he said hold on and asked me to come in for an interview. 

My husband brought me to Bekonscot and when I walked into the office I saw Brian but also commented – oh there’s Mallard.  Brian had a display of trains in the office then.  I said my husband was interested in trains and I recognised that one. 

I was offered the job almost immediately, virtually dismissed in favour of a chat with my husband and the rest is history! We like this picture, this is what the sundial looked like before the Sundial Society did such a wonderful job of restoring and mounting it.  We had a big celebration on a lovely sunny day in September 2016.

Cathy S – Three generations visiting Bekonscot . . . .

Many visitors to Bekonscot comment that multiple generations have visited the model village over the years, and I am no exception.

My first memory of visiting Bekonscot was as a small child in the late sixties. This image shows me and my older sister standing in front of the old Town Hall model, which is no longer standing. I remember asking my mum why I looked so grumpy in this picture and she told me that I went down with chicken pox the following day! I therefore apologise to any fellow visitors that I infected during my visit!

Fast track 30 years or so and I visited again bringing my own children and nephews. Keen football fans, they were excited to see the familiar sight of the Wycombe Wanderers stadium at Adams Park – again, a model that is no longer in the village, though Wycombe Wanderers can still be found playing a football match beside Wychwood Castle. 

Having started working at Bekonscot in 2017 I am now loving being able to bring the next generation to my favourite local attraction. Great nephews are now enjoying the village and its new features just as much as I did over 50 years ago.

Jenny E – A trip to Bekonscot in the 1970s

It was a fair few years ago, about 1971. I remember this as it was our school trip in Reception or year 1. I had the same lovely teacher through my infant years at Breakspear School in Ickenham. We must’ve arrived in a coach, a crowd of excited five and six-year-olds, in royal blue uniforms. We queued up and entered the village, buzzing with anticipation as to what we would see. The tiny houses and figures were a great surprise for many of us.

The little zoo was in on the left, with elephants, zebras, penguins and other miniature animals.  The trains whizzed along under the paths, startling those who weren’t expecting them, making their way to the terminus by the cafe.  Little shops with amusing names, that probably went over our heads at that age but were acknowledged on subsequent visits.

Massive fish in the pond alongside the fairground with its colourful carousel and swing boats. There was a horseracing track as well as a countryside hunt. We spotted the fox making its getaway across the field.  I’m sorry to say the most outstanding memorable event on this first trip was an elderly couple having a bit of a mishap. The gentleman was manoeuvring his wife along the path in a wheelchair. There was a bit of a kerfuffle as the wheelchair somehow ended up in the little pond on the right. Our teacher was involved in the retrieval of said wheelchair and lady!

We have visited the village many times over the years, including visiting with our own children during the 1990/ 2000s. Indeed, my son chose to come with his Granny for his thirteenth birthday treat. I still think of my first time, and my eyes always pass a glance to where the little pond used to be. 

Definitely must return soon, maybe for my sixtieth birthday treat this year.

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1. How long have you worked at Bekonscot?

I have worked at Bekonscot since December 2017, so 8 years. When I started working here I was given a blank canvas, tasked with producing the education space that you see today and developing the curriculum based workshops. It was a great challenge, and I had just two months to do it in. 

2. What career path did you take to get here?

I have taken a varied career path to get here. I started my working life at Amersham International as a research scientist with a degree in molecular biology. While I was at Amersham, my role evolved and I got involved in their school’s outreach programme, with the objective of inspiring the next generation of scientists. I did that alongside my usual role. I continued with this role when Amersham were acquired by GE and I then moved over to focus on this full time as part of the corporate social responsibility department.

GE made me redundant and I went to work for Science Oxford as the Head of Education, I ran the team who focused on primary and secondary school outreach activities across Bucks and Oxfordshire.  My remit was similar to my role at GE, our team promoted science careers and aimed to inspire a passion for science in young people. I was getting fed up with the commute to Oxford, when I saw the advert for Bekonscot and the opportunity to build the education programme from scratch, it was an opportunity too good to miss. 

3. Explain a little more about what your role involves

My role is really varied. I run all the school visits to Bekonscot, developing and delivering the out of classroom learning workshops. We reference a wide range of subjects including:  History, DT, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and English. I also coordinate the programme of family events that run in the village over school holidays, which are more craft based and linked to the model village. I am also responsible for running and coordinating the grants programme for the Roland Callingham Foundation, I collect applications and work with the board to allocate those funds to local charities in need.

4. How many schools and groups do you welcome to Bekonscot each year?

We welcome lots of children to the village across the year, but generally we have 120-150 school groups, which is equal to about 5,000 children. 

5. What do you most enjoy about your role?

I love the interaction with the children; it is the most rewarding thing to watch them get really passionate about something. I think that out of classroom learning is so important to help children to learn and grow, so for me inspiring them is what drives me to create a fun and educational day out.

It always makes me smile seeing what questions the children come up with, my workshops quite often go off at a tangent as their questions will take us in a completely different direction than the one I had planned. I always let them be curious and ask what they want, focusing on what they are interested in learning about.

6. What do you least enjoy about your role?

All the tidying up and cleaning away after a workshop, plus admin! But admin is an essential part of any role to ensure things run smoothly. 

7. Describe yourself in three words

Passionate. Caring. Inspiring children to be curious.

8. What is the one learning that you would tell your younger self?

Don’t be too restrictive and be prepared to go with the flow. You can’t be structured with children, you need to be prepared to follow their lead.

9. What is next for the Education Team at Bekonscot?

We are already starting to think about next year. I would like to develop some new workshops, focusing on different curriculum related subjects such as: Steam trains and how they work, people that help us and different communities. Watch this space for more details! As the demand for workshops grow, we will need extra resource to help implement them and get more people involved in it, so it is not just me!

I love working at Bekonscot, interacting with the visitors and hearing their stories. It is somewhere I came as a child, and I then brought my children when they were little.  I think the common thread, as with many of my colleagues is that we are all passionate about making Bekonscot the best experience it can be.

Thank you for your time, Cathy, it was great to learn more about what goes on with the Bekonscot Education Team. If you are a school looking to enhance your classroom learning next year, click HERE to find out more and how to organise your next visit.

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Next up is an interview with one of our gardeners, Clive Chilton who is part of the team that keeps the 1.5 acres of beautiful Bekonscot gardens so immaculate. Here is what Clive had to say:

1. How long have you worked at Bekonscot?

I have worked at Bekonscot since October 1998, so 27 years this year.

2. What career path did you take to get here?

I left school and started gardening straight away, I learnt my gardening skills on the job and as I went along. My first job was with the insurance company, Equity and Law based in Hazelmere, Bucks, I was one of the team that maintained their office grounds. When Sunlife merged with them, I was made redundant because they sold the site. In starting to look for another job, I was sending out CVs to local companies that I thought I might like to work for, one of those companies was Bekonscot and the rest as they say is history! 

3. Please explain a little more about what your role involves.

There are just two gardeners that look after the village grounds, Peter Crowther and I. My role is vary varied and changes at different times of the year and our core focus whilst the village is open is always to keep the gardens looking neat and tidy for visitors to enjoy.

In the spring we get the light foliage and bulbs coming through, this is when we buy in bedding plants and bring colour to the flower beds. We source lots of our plants from some great local nurseries.

In the summer our focus is very much on mowing the lawns, most mornings before the visitors arrive. We have to take all of the scenes off first, mow the lawn and then carefully put everything back. This can be quite tricky, especially if we are working on the zoo or aerodrome as there are lots of pieces. We have a lovely shrub that blooms in the summer called “Colletia” or “Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia Milii)”, it is from Chile and is very spiky with tiny white flowers but has the most amazing marzipan type smell that fills the village and attracts lots of bees. I love being outdoors but there is lots of bending and kneeling which my knees sometimes don’t like.

As we head into the autumn the village is full of colour with the Acers coming into their own. We need to shape and trim back the trees, not just in the village but also on the perimeter and behind the scenes. We are looking to replace some of the conifers at some point this year and are trying to find something a bit different. 

As we head into the winter we all get involved in with a lot of the maintenance, repair and structural work around the village.  Projects might include resurfacing paths, helping to build the new scenes and construction projects. 

4. What do you most enjoy about your role?

Bekonscot is a unique place to work and many of us have been here for years. There is nothing better on a lovely summer’s morning getting in early and mowing the lawn. It is so peaceful and tranquil before the visitors arrive. Having said that  I do really enjoy talking to the visitors and hearing how they came as a child, brought their children and are now bringing their grandchildren.

It is also really good to see something when it is finished, perhaps improving a scene and seeing it look neat and tidy. We have done quite a lot of work in improving and updating the Manor House country hotel this summer eg: improving the water feature, renovating the front of the hotel and working with Lauraine, our figure-maker, to add in new figures. It is nice to see it when it all comes together, visitors really appreciate it.

5. What do you least enjoy about your role?

The weather can sometimes be a little hard eg: cold, wet and muddy in the winter, but you still have to go out and continue to work on your projects. 

6. Describe yourself in three words

That is a hard question: detail orientated (in the village), being an outdoors person and I think I have a good sense of humour.

7. How do you decide what to plant, where?

What to plant and where is really dictated by the new scenes that are created in the village. It is important that the scene is colourful, fits together neatly and flows.

8. Which are your favourite plants?

The Acers (Japanese Maple trees) that provide some beautiful autumn colour in time for October half-term. 

9. What is the one learning you would tell your younger self or those wanting to work in a similar industry?

It is a good job if you can find somewhere to work like Bekonscot, it is unique, established and rich in heritage with lots going on. Being outdoors it is healthy for you and If you work with nice people it makes it worthwhile. Many of us have known each other for years, especially on the maintenance side, we are like a little family and have lots of fun.

10. What is next on the horizon for the Bekonscot gardens?

We are starting to think about preparing for winter, so we need to buy some new, interesting conifers, start to plan what maintenance work is needed and what new scenes we will create.

Thank you for your time, Clive, it was great to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes in the beautiful Bekonscot gardens. Next time you visit us, take extra special care to check out the seasonal plants in bloom, click HERE to book your ticket. Don’t forget if you book online at least 48 hrs in advance you can also enjoy 10% off the standard entry price!

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Further to our article HERE back in April where we launched the grant application process for 2025, we are now super excited to share with you a little more about the next step in the process.

This year we have received a record number of applicants for the grant and we are delighted to be able to award £90,000 to 55 local worthwhile causes. All successful applicants have been notifed that they have been successful and will be receiving their monies over the next few weeks. Each charity will receive funds of up to £1,000 for their chosen project. In addition to this, we are delighted to continue the legacy of supporting the Church Army and a donation will also be going to them.

All charities are working on brilliant projects and include:

• Improving the teaching environment of a Forest school.
• Running youth centres.
• Restoring a garden area and creating outdoors spaces.
• Training teams to better support their clients.
• Purchasing equipment, laptops, books and much needed provisions.
• Respite and hospice care for those looking after others. 
• Supporting children with additional needs.

Here is what some of the charities had to say . . . .

“Thanks to The Roland Callingham Foundation’s generous support, children in Buckinghamshire with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions are being cared for in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by the people and things that they love.”

The Pepper Foundation, Tring, Hertfordshire

“Our Home Support and Befriending Service is highly valued by our clients for its ability to reduce isolation, foster independence, boost confidence and provide companionship, support and often lasting friendships. Thank you for your support.”

Bucks Vision, Aylesbury, Bucks

“The funding from TRCF enabled us to host a whole school poetry festival. Our children were inspired by the visit from a professional poet to create their own poetry of which they were very proud.”

Cedar Park School, High Wycombe, Bucks

The grant process is now closed for 2025 and we look forward to hearing how all of the projects come to life. If you are a charity, do keep an eye out early next year, when we will open the 2026 grant application process, where we look forward to helping many more of our local worthwhile causes.

Next time you visit us, know that in just a small way, you are also giving back to future charities and local community groups. If you can Gift Aid your admission you will enable us to donate even more. Click HERE to plan your next visit and of course don’t forget to also book online at least 48 hrs in advance you can also enjoy 10% off the standard entry price!

The post Announcing our Small Grant Recipients appeared first on Bekonscot Model Village.

1. How long have you worked at Bekonscot?

I have worked at Bekonscot since 1992.

2. What career path did you take to get here?

My background is not in model making. Before joining Bekonscot, I worked as a private hire driver, driving SEN children to and from school each day. As I was self-employed, I needed another job to keep me busy in the school holidays. I was lucky to find a job at Bekonscot as a supervisor in the Kiosk (which was in place before the tearoom was built), making sandwiches and preparing hot snacks. I’d also serve in the Kiosk or Shop, wherever I was needed and I helped sweeping and cleaning around the models in the Village. 

Affer seven more years, my self-employed driving role came to an end. That’s when Bekonscot asked me if I’d like to work more hours. Shortly after I moved to full-time at Bekonscot, the previous lady who created all the figures left and they asked me if I would like to have a go. The first models were a bit like Frankenstein but over time they have improved. I’m still here so I must be doing something right!

3. Please explain a little more about how you create the models.

I focus on creating the figures. There are three other model makers who create the buildings, vehicles and the other elements that make up a scene. The process of creating a model starts with me visualising something that I want to mould e.g. a body frame, an arm, a leg, animal bodies too. I first create a rubber silicone mould. Once I have the mould I can pour in the two-part liquid resin and let it harden. Then I can join the components together to create a figure in whatever position it needs to be for that scene: drinking tea, running, standing on a bridge watching the world go by. . . . After that the figures need careful painting to match how they want to appear. This goes as far as making sure I had the correct colour of jacket for the day when Michael Portillo visited and met his model image. 

4. What do you most enjoy about your role?

I really enjoy watching a scene materialise and seeing how I’ve captured the illusion of the scene in the figures as I wanted.

5. What do you least enjoy about your role?

I find it really frustrating when something just will not work or come together as I picture it or if I have just finished something and then drop it!

6. Describe yourself in three words.

Attention to detail, making things work and being creative in producing new scenes.

7. How do you decide the characteristics you need to build into your model’s facial expressions and body language?

I don’t concentrate so much on the expressions on the models’ faces, it is more the movement and what they are doing e.g.: pouring a cup of tea, riding a horse, etc. I frequently ask my colleagues to pose for me so I can see how the natural position of the body is formed. I have been known to ask them to pose as if they were going into a rugby scrum, to pretend they were sword fighting or to sit cross legged, so I could see the shape of the body. We’ve really had some laughs! 

8. Do you have some favourite models and why?

No not really, I like lots of the scenes. I have recently made mini versions of the NFTS models to place around the village which have turned out quite well. I tried to capture as much as I could so that they really look like the bigger models. I am particularly pleased with Arthur Ripley (the soldier), Madame Rosa (the fortune teller), Ava Frost (the explorer) and Lady Chestington (the socialite). 

Last year Pete and Clive, our versatile gardeners, revamped the manor house and I needed to create some suitable ornamental finishing touches to go outside. That was also good fun. They asked me to create an urn with a pineapple shaped top. After researching numerous modelling books, I was getting nowhere. Then I had a lightbulb moment, “What goes at the end of curtain rods?”. There were hundreds to choose from! In the end, I made forty pineapples cast from a variety of moulds that I’d made. 

9. What is the one learning that you would tell your younger self or those wanting to work in a similar industry?

Have imagination about what you want to achieve. Also, never give up. If something is not working out, take a break and come back to it later. Everything is solved in the end and there is a way to achieve what you want.

10. What is next on the horizon for the Bekonscot model team?

At some point soon, we need to refresh the horse racing scene as it is starting to show its age. We are just in the planning phase to decide how to achieve this, if the scene needs to move, what else to do in that space? I am also currently working on the nunnery, notably their chicken run and herb garden. Watch this space!

Thank you for your time, Lauraine, it was great to learn more about the models in the village and what goes on behind the scenes to creative them. Next time you visit us, take extra special care to check out the models, click HERE to book your ticket. Don’t forget if you book online at least 48 hrs in advance you can also enjoy 10% off the standard entry price!

The post Team Spotlight: Lauraine Crowther appeared first on Bekonscot Model Village.

05 June is World Environment Day. We see that many of our visitors are increasingly keen to understand not just our environmental focus but also how we offer an inclusive experience at the village. In our blog this month, we wanted to share a little more about what we currently do and our plans for the future to ensure we are providing the best experience for all of our visitors.

It is our aim to make every visitor welcome at Bekonscot. We have recently refreshed our website and included additional functionality to enable our visitors to adapt the website to suit their needs. Whether that is making the text bigger, adding more spacing between the lines or other adjustments, just click the orange button on the left hand side to personalise the website.

Getting Here: We are easily accessible by car and train with disabled parking or drop off directly outside of the village, but please remember coaches are prohibited down Warwick Road. Our entrance is also very accessible with no steps, just a gentle, wide slope into the village.

Navigating the village

Our surroundings naturally lend itself to those with additional sensory needs with 1.5 acres of tranquil and beautifully manicured gardens, it is a calm and peaceful day out, which is rarely overcrowded.

Wheelchair access.  All facilities onsite, with the exception of the elevated walkway, are fully accessible to wheelchair users and small mobility scooters. Two wheelchairs are also available at the entrance for use by visitors, or they can be pre-booked in advance. 

Any Assistance dogs are permitted on site, providing they are wearing identifying harnesses or leads. 

Sunflower lanyards, we support the hidden disabilities programme and encourage visitors to wear their lanyards, asking for assistance when needed.

Other facilities include disabled toilets and changing facilities, large print and sensory maps, a quite zone and seating areas at various points around the villages.

Click HERE for more information when planning your next trip.

School and Home Education Groups

We regularly welcome school and home education groups to the village and with that often comes a wealth of different requirements. We recognise there are many different types of support people may need, and it is difficult to pre-arrange everything. Our Education Officer works with schools to provide the students with appropriate, interactive and engaging workshops that help the children to explore key curriculum based content.

Our staff are passionate about helping and providing every visitor with the best experience. This is achieved through our team’s attention to detail and overriding passion to ensure everyone enjoys their time at Bekonscot, here is what some of our visitors have to say:

“We loved everything about our visit. Your workshop was absolutely ‘spot on’ for the needs of these students. As you could see, we had some ‘natural’ actors! They loved to be given the opportunity to show off their acting skills and to dress up! The students who like to stay in the background were given the opportunity to do so. Indeed, your workshop was so ‘apt’ for each and every student. Best of all, it was ‘fun’. There was so much laughter!!!! It was also exactly the right amount of time for our students! “

The Oak Lodge School | London

“Our Home Support and Befriending Service is highly valued by our clients for its ability to reduce isolation, foster independence, boost confidence and provide companionship, support and often lasting friendships. Thank you for your support.”

Bucks Vision, Aylesbury, Bucks

“Thank you for an excellent workshop today! My son really enjoyed it. I thought it was pitched at just the right level and kept them all engaged. You were great with the children. I liked the way, when building the communities, you let the children put their various buildings where they wanted and didn’t correct them for their more ‘interesting’ decisions!”

Home Education Day

Our Sustainable Approach

Alongside our inclusive approach, we also strive to improve our environmental focus. we are continually reviewing how we achieve this. Current policies in place, include:

1. Printing: we are mindful of what we print and ensure we dispose of any unwanted documents in the correct recycling bins. 
2. Onsite Recycling Bins: we have recently installed separate bins to encourage our visitors to recycle things appropriately rather than combining everything together.
3. Recycled products: we seek to buy recycled and recyclable products with a lower environmental footprint.
4. Plastics: we have removed plastic from across the site.
5. External suppliers: we actively select and support suppliers who minimise use of packaging/ maximise use of recyclable materials.
6. Energy: we limit the amount of energy used as much as possible by: switching off lights and electrical equipment when not in use, adjusting heating with energy consumption in mind and take energy consumption, efficiency of new products or activities into account when purchasing them. 
7. Cleaning: we use environmentally friendly cleaning materials where possible.
8. Waste disposal: We only use licensed companies to dispose of waste.

Here is our statement of intent from our sustainability policy: 

“Bekonscot Model Village and Railway recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods. We will encourage others to do the same.”

Ongoing Improvement

We have lots of plans for Bekonscot over the coming years, especially as we start to think about celebrations for our 100th year anniversary in 2029. The key ways that we plan to evolve our offering with the accessible audience in mind are:

• To improve the disability and accessibility awareness of our team and as a result continue to improve the experience we provide for our visitors. 
• We plan to extend the light railway to cover more of the village. Whilst these are still very much plans in progress, it will be important to consider how we ensure this part of our visitor experience caters for all.
• Continue to build and expand our schools programme to facilitate more children being able to visit us. 

Bekonscot also plans to continue to be part of the “Bucks Inclusion and Access Manifesto” and identify potential partnership opportunities with other similar organisations.

Everyone deserves a fantastic day at Bekonscot full of fun and adventure, whether it is your first or tenth visit with us, we are here to make your experience the best it can be.  Click HERE to book your tickets and plan your next visit with us and of course if we can help enhance your experience, please let us know!

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