Milton Keynes Museum has announced the return of its popular history festival, which will be held over the weekend of 10 & 11 May.

The family-friendly event looks to offer visitors the opportunity to experience eras throughout the city’s past and gain a vision of ancestors who were living, working, fighting and playing during key periods in this area’s history.

From the Roman period through to the early 20th century, reenactors will be giving an insight into how life used to be in the area that is now a bustling new city.

The Vicus Romans will visit, and there will even be the opportunity to buy authentic Roman goods from a trader.

Patrons can also meet the Chanz des Reis, who will take you back to civilian, military and religious life in the High Medieval age – from the reign of King William the Conqueror to King Henry III.

Robartes Regiment Sealed Knot will then provide a window into the 17th century, the War of the Roses is represented by the English Free Companye, and the Redcoats and Revolutionaries – or Reds and Revs to their friends – look dashing in their regimental coats, explaining military life in the 1800s.

Re-enactors will be entertaining across the site all weekend, and taking turns to give demonstrations in the ever popular arena, which will include musket and cannon displays.

If you step off the beaten track while on your visit to the Museum, keep your wits about you – Highwaymen will be looking for easy targets to strip of their cash and riches. You’ve been warned!

Recent history gets a look in too, with banner waving suffragettes fighting for the right to vote – the martial arts and demos from the Enfield Reenactment Society thrilled visitors last year, and are sure to do the same this time around.

The Museum’s usual attractions will be open; you will be able to enjoy parlour games, browse the street of shops, discover more about the history of communication and transport, and the newly opened Ancient Gallery – home to the oldest resident of Milton Keynes, is a must-see.

If hunger bites, bite back with a visit to the Granary Tea Room with its affordable, tempting variety of hot and cold sandwiches and sweet treats, and the best cakes for miles around.

The Museum will be open 10.30am-4.30pm

Standard admission prices apply – which will also give you FREE entry for the following 12 months.

For more information visit miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk

Red Bull Racing have announced the return of race screening events at their F1 team’s factory in Milton Keynes.

The team will be screening six races at their factory, where fans are invited to watch the Grand Prix races in the company of fellow F1 fans.

The races will be the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1st, the British Grand Prix in Silverstone on July 6th, the Dutch Grand Prix on Augusts 31st, the Singapore round on October 5th, the Brazilian race in Sao Paulo on November 9th and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7th.

As part of this event, visitors will explore the Red Bull team’s Hall of Fame and experience exclusive access to the team’s Fleet of Race Cars.

Fans can also go behind the scenes with a series of activities, including Sim Racing and Trophy Tours.

Screenings will be hosted by an Oracle Red Bull Racing Ambassador who will also ask one of the strategists from the Ops Room questions about the strategy for the race and the season as a whole, with there also being an opportunity for fans to have their questions answered too.

Visitors will also receive food, drink and a gift to take home with them.

Tickets are priced from £250+VAT, with ticket information available on the Red Bull Racing website.

The police force that cover Milton Keynes confirmed they arrested multiple domestic abuse suspects following an event in the city earlier last week.

Seventeen suspects were questioned during Thames Valley Police’s day of action in Milton Keynes dedicated to raising awareness of domestic abuse.

Uniformed officers and detectives joined forces on Friday (25/4) to detain and question people wanted for domestic violence or threats, controlling and coercive behaviour, or economic, psychological or emotional abuse in the city.

Assistant Chief Constable Olly Wright said, “It was fantastic to see our teams working together to arrest these outstanding high-risk suspects as part of this day of action.

“As well as progressing numerous investigations, the operation also allowed our people to share skills and knowledge, helping them to constantly improve.

“We are committed to supporting domestic abuse victims and bringing offenders to justice.”

In addition to arrests, the Milton Keynes Neighbourhood Policing Team teamed up with local community organisations to engage with shoppers at a series of pop-up stalls in Midsummer Place shopping centre in the city.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg joined officers and partners raising awareness about domestic abuse, drink spiking and how to seek support – offering advice and resources to help people recognise the signs and report concerns.

Starting at 7am, the officers and staff were briefed on the plan for the day of action at Milton Keynes police station before heading out together to arrest the named suspects.

The teams visited 16 addresses across the city to make the arrests and then brought them back to the police station for questioning.

The custody officers were ready to book the suspects in once they arrived ahead of their interview with detectives from the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit.

The final day of the 2014/15 season is one that will live in MK Dons’ folklore.

At the end of a swashbuckling season that started with the famous 4-0 demolition of Manchester United at Stadium MK, the Dons had entered the final day hopeful that they could swipe automatic promotion.

This would something they duly did, as a 5-1 mauling of Yeovil Town combined with Preston suffering a 1-0 loss at Colchester had the effect of confirming promotion to the Championship for the team from Milton Keynes.

It is hard to believe that ten years have passed since that lively afternoon, and such is the passage of time, the players involved that day now find themselves in different places. Namely, they are now up to the following…

GK: David Martin

A fixture at Stadium MK for most of the 2010s, goalkeeper Martin made over 300 competitive appearances after returning to Milton Keynes following a spell with Liverpool. He would spend two more years with the Dons, winning Player of the Year in the following campaign, before moving on in 2017 after losing his place to Lee Nicholls. Martin is still active, having played Premier League football for West Ham and had a spell with Southend United before joining Ipswich as a player-coach last summer.

RB: Jordan Spence

Defender Spence had ended the season as first choice in a full-back role for the Dons, and would initially hold that in the following 2015-16 campaign before being losing his spot the second half of the campaign. Spence left MK Dons in 2016, and after spells with Ipswich and Dutch side ADO Den Haag, has since retired from the game, with his main prominence in recent years being seen at red carpet events with his movie star wife Naomi Scott.

CB: Kyle McFadzean

McFadzean would spend two years as a defensive fixture in Milton Keynes after arriving from Crawley Town in 2014, scoring against AFC Wimbledon in an early appearance and having a reputation as adding bite to a more attack-focused team. McFadzean left in slightly less harmonious fashion, handing in a transfer request after the Dons’ 2016 relegation. He would join Burton Albion, before spending 5 years as a mainstay at Coventry City. After a brief period with Blackburn, he now plays for Chesterfield.

CB: Antony Kay

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Kay had applied to be MK Dons boss, albeit unsuccessfully. The defender had a prior association with the Dons, making over 150 appearances for the club after arriving from Huddersfield in 2012. He would leave in 2016, joining Bury before a stint with Port Vale. He enjoyed his first spell as a manager with Runcorn Linnets, leaving the club in January.

LB: Dean Lewington

Next season will be a new era for MK Dons as it will be the first without Lewington as a player to call upon, with the now-40 year old deciding the time has come to stop playing. Lewington leaves after making over 900 appearances for the club, having been there for all the highs and lows of the journey since Wimbledon first moved to the city in 2003. This game ranks high on the memory banks, with Lewington having scored two and set up another two on their way to a romping win.

CM: Dele Alli

This game would mark Dele’s final appearance in MK Dons colours, with the midfielder having already signed for Spurs in January. It’s safe to say he hit the ground running in North London, becoming a first choice for the side under Mauricio Pochettino for a side that managed multiple top-four finishes. Things went sour the longer he stayed at Spurs, however, with Dele essentially allowed to join Everton on a free transfer. He now plays in Italy for Como, managed by former Arsenal & Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas.

CM: Darren Potter

A scorer in this game, Potter was usually renowned for the Dons in something akin to the Claude Makelele role as a deep-lying midfielder who would break up threatening situations. He left the Dons in 2017 after being swept away by Robbie Neilson’s scene change, and after spells with Rotherham and Tranmere, he has transitioned into coaching. Potter is now coming up to 4 years working in the academy set-up with Stoke City.

RW: Rob Hall

A late season arrival on loan, Hall enjoyed a breakout moment with a hat-trick against Leyton Orient a few weeks earlier. He would return to Milton Keynes the season after but made a controversial move to Oxford in 2016 despite receiving an offer to join MK Dons on a permanent deal. An injury sustained near the end of his time at MK Dons would prove to be the first of many injuries, however, but the now-31 year old winger remains active in football, last seen with Cheshunt in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

CAM: Samir Carruthers

Carruthers arrived in Milton Keynes with a high reputation after captaining Aston Villa at youth level, and he would be a regular for the Dons. He made over 100 appearances in all competitions before leaving for Sheffield United in 2017. Injuries checked his momentum in Sheffield, however, and after leaving Cambridge in 2020, he has since become a non-league regular, with Carruthers spending this season playing for Dartford.

LW: Carl Baker

Baker would be widely regarded as a catalyst figure for the Dons in this campaign, with the winger joining after his release by Coventry City and immediately establishing himself as a regular. His form saw him win the club’s Player of the Year award, and he would maintain a regular spot in the Championship. He left for Portsmouth in 2016 and after spells in India and in non-league, he has now retired. He now works as a personal trainer.

FW: Will Grigg

Having initially shared striker duties with fellow loanee Benik Afobe, Grigg would end the campaign as top scorer after scoring 22 goals. He continued this form at Wigan, leading to the famed “Will Grigg’s on fire” chant. Grigg then had a difficult spell with Sunderland, who sent him out on loan to Milton Keynes in 2021 and later another loan to Rotherham, before he had a single permanent season at MK Dons in 2022/23. He now plays for the Dons’ fellow League 2 outfit Chesterfield.

Sub 1: Dean Bowditch

Bowditch burst through by grabbing a hat-trick at Ipswich in 2004 and would be a fixture in his 6 years at MK Dons. He made over 225 appearances and would be a regular inclusion until being swept away by Neilson’s changes in 2017. After a spell at Northampton and in non-league, Bowditch retired and has transitioned into off-pitch roles, working in marketing for Milton Keynes-based music company Marshall.

Sub 2: Ben Reeves

Northern Irish international Reeves would be a regular when fit in Milton Keynes, with the midfielder also having a fair degree of joy in the second tier. He would leave like many other of the Dons’ 2015 promotion winners in 2017, joining ex-boss Karl Robinson at Charlton Athletic. After a brief one season return to MK in the 2019/20 season, and spells with Plymouth, Gillingham and Eastleigh, he now works in the under-21 set-up with Southampton, returning to the club whose academy he started out with.

Sub 3: Lee Hodson

Hodson had been signed as competition in the full-back roles but never quite managed to nail down a first team birth, making 50 appearances in three seasons at Stadium MK. He would leave on loan to Kilmarnock in January 2016 before making a permanent move to Rangers that summer. Having bounced around the English and Scottish game since, he now plays for Eastleigh.

Unused subs: Iain McLoughlin, Daniel Powell, Devante Cole, Lewis Baker

Irish goalkeeper McLoughlin struggled for game time in a time in Milton Keynes predominantly spent as Martin’s back-up, making less than 50 appearances. After a spell in Ireland with Waterford, he has moved away from football, with the now-33 year old running a gym in Ampthill.

After graduating from the Dons’ academy, Powell would be a regular pick in the Dons’ first team, making over 270 appearances from the club before leaving in 2017. He would enjoy spells with Northampton, Crewe and Barnet, but has now retired from playing and does youth team coaching and scouting work for Arsenal.

Cole’s time in Milton Keynes would be a brief one, making 14 appearances on loan from Manchester City as a replacement for mid-season departure Afobe. Spells with Bradford, Fleetwood, Wigan and Barnsley among others followed, before the son of former England and Manchester United star Andy Cole signed for Championship side West Brom in 2024.

Like Cole, Baker’s time in Milton Keynes would be brief, making 12 appearances after being a late season loan arrival from Chelsea. The Luton-born midfielder would have further loan spells with Vitesse Arnhem, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Reading and Fortuna Dusseldorf before joining Stoke in 2021, with the midfielder still getting Championship game time with the Potters.