The next in our occasional series from Generation Z is from Conner Keys, a student of The Bedford Sixth Form in Bromham Road.
Conner takes a sharp look at the communities which make up Bedford and how they live together today.
London is known for its cosmopolitan and sophisticated style and nightlife, Stratford-Upon-Avon for being home to one of the world’s most influential play writers, and Edinburgh is know for it being a great university city with a dramatic aesthetic.
But what is Bedford known for? Is it known for its parks?
Its hostile inhabitants and cat callers? Its love and support for locally-owned businesses?
Bedford encourages mixed views from both those inside it and those who are visiting; it can be thought of as a relaxing environment with an air of country kindness, or as a frightful area consisting of ‘unique’ characters and activities.
Varieties of globally-known and locally-owned businesses aggregate to form the diverse town centre. A mass of eateries and range of convenience stores are paired with endearing cafes, educational settings, and inviting open spaces.
This means… What? Most towns have cute parks and accessible cafes, so this can’t be Bedford’s defining aspect, can it? No. Let’s look a little deeper.
Throughout history, and still to this day, specific groups of people have been targets of abuse, discrimination, isolation, for simply for existing.
Communities like the LGBTQ+ community and refugees face heart breakingly difficult challenges throughout their lives.
Bedford however, is not a place for those with differences to need to hide away; it is accepting and culturally diverse.
Yes, there are still majorities and minorities, people still do face discrimination and hate for no real reason at all but, there are many places and people within the community that don’t judge others for their pasts or identities.
This is a massive highlight of Bedford and something us Bedfordians are proud of, nevertheless I do not find this Bedford’s key feature.
Bedford’s key feature and defining aspect, in my opinion, is its people. In its entirety, Bedford is a town full to the brim of differences and individuals.
Everyone in Bedford has a different background and their own personalities and identities that can never be taken away from them.
This town celebrates those individualities and doesn’t try to hide them. The people in Bedford, both the good and the not so good, are what the town is known for.
